The Playlist

The obsessives' guide to contemporary cinema via film discussion, news, reviews, features, nostalgia, movie music, soundtracks, DVDs and more.

Interviews

Interview: Kaya Scodelario On 'Emanuel & The Truth About Fishes,' Sean Durkin's 'Southcliffe' & Her Return To 'Skins'

By Oliver Lyttelton
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May 7, 2013 11:01 AM
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2 Comments

Interviews

Every year (at least in the last few), it seems there's at least one actress who, while already on many radars, comes to Sundance with a performance that launches her to true stardom. Carey Mulligan, Felicity Jones, Jennifer Lawrence, Elizabeth Olsen, Mia Wasikowska and Quvenzhane Wallis all went to Park City as complete or relative unknowns, and left at the top of casting wish-lists. This year, perhaps the most notable Sundance starlet to break out was Kaya Scodelario.

By Joe Cunningham
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April 18, 2013 6:44 PM
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1 Comment

News

“Emmanuel and the Truth About Fishes” made its debut at Sundance in January, and with Sundance London taking place next week, it seems like the perfect time to debut a new trailer for the film. Starring rising British star Kaya Scodelario (who replaced Rooney Mara), Jessica Biel, Frances O’Connor and Alfred Molina, the film tells the story of Scodelario’s Emmanuel, who becomes obsessed with a mysterious new neighbour who bears a resemblance to her dead mother.

By Cory Everett
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January 27, 2013 12:11 PM
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4 Comments

Reviews

There is a widely held stereotype that the Sundance Film Festival is just dour, depressing films – dramas about addiction and family dysfunction and infidelity and incest and on and on – and outside of the occasional “Little Miss Sunshine”-type breakout, the festival wouldn’t really hold much interest for a large portion of the viewing public. Of course festivalgoers know this is not the case at all and if you dig deep enough into any category you’ll find a wide array of films from comedies to dramas to science fiction to any combination thereof.

By Ken Guidry
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January 18, 2013 5:16 PM
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0 Comments

News

Now that Sundance ’13 is officially underway, as expected, more clips and trailers are popping up online from some of the festival’s most anticipated films. One such film is “Emanuel and the Truth About Fishes.” This upcoming drama, from "Tanner Hall" director Francesca Gregorini stars Jessica Biel and Kaya Scodelario and in the one-minute clip, we get to catch a glimpse of their characters, as well as the film’s style and tone.

By Jen Vineyard
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November 26, 2012 3:40 PM
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0 Comments

News

As Vera Miles in "Hitchcock," Jessica Biel doesn't get to demonstrate a lot of range -- this isn't the Hitchcock film that dwells on how the famed director tormented his actresses, particularly in Miles' case, how he worked her to exhaustion. (For that, go no further than "The Girl" on HBO, which claims Hitch sexually harassed and physically abused Tippi Hedren while making "The Birds" and "Marnie.") This version lets Miles off easy -- if slightly bitter that Hitch was a control freak who wouldn't forgive her getting pregnant before "Vertigo," requiring her role to be recast with Kim Novak. Despite this, Biel thinks it was harder to be a serious actress in Hitchcock's heyday, and sometimes even more so now.

By Kevin Jagernauth
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December 20, 2011 4:12 PM
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7 Comments

News

As it turns out, losing Rooney Mara wasn't so bad. Originally attached to the lead role but bowing out for younger, more age appropriate and recently cast "Skins" star Kaya Scodelario, "Tanner Hall" co-director Francesca Gregorini's "Emanuel and the Truth About Fishes" is getting a pretty nice boost of star power.

By Simon Dang
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December 14, 2011 10:45 AM
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0 Comments

News

Just yesterday, we reported that current "it girl" Rooney Mara had amicably split with "Tanner Hall" co-helmer Francesca Gregorini for her next feature, "Emanuel And The Truth About Fishes," as she had grown too old for the part of the 17 year old lead. Variety now report that another rising thesp, Kaya Scodelario, has taken over the part.

By Kevin Jagernauth
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December 12, 2011 12:04 PM
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2 Comments

News

Getting a first feature off the ground if no easy feat, but couple that with making a movie centered entirely around the perspective of four young women, and you've got a mountain to climb. "Tanner Hall" marks the debut outing of filmmakers Francesca Gregorini and Tatiana von Furstenberg, not only did they beat the odds, they also managed to luck into a dream cast. Even though stories about women are difficult to finance, not only did the directing pair get their story told, but they rounded up a cast that includes current "it girl" Rooney Mara, Brie Larson, Amy Sedaris and in a surprising dramatic (and partially comedic) turn, Chris Kattan. With the film arriving on DVD and BluRay this week, we caught up with the filmmakers to talk about the movie, and the talent Lisbeth Salander showed in her first leading role.

By Kevin Jagernauth
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February 9, 2011 8:05 AM
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0 Comments

Reunites The Actress With 'Tanner Hall' Director Francesca GregoriniWith a starring role in David Fincher's highly anticipated "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" in production and buzz still humming off her small, but integral breakout turn in "The Social Network, actress Rooney Mara is gearing up to be one of the most coveted actresses on the planet.