The Playlist

'Little Miss Sunshine' Helmers Dayton & Faris To Helm Huey Newton/Bert Schneider Movie 'The Big Cigar'

By Oliver Lyttelton
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December 12, 2012 8:15 PM
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4 Comments

News

As we lamented more than once over the years, it took a long time for Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris, the music video veterans who made their feature debut with the multi-Oscar-nominated "Little Miss Sunshine," to make a second film. Various projects came and went including the Demetri Martin-penned "Will," and adaptations of Thomas Perrolta's "The Abstinence Teacher," which would have starred Steve Carell and Sandra Bullock.

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Review: 'Ruby Sparks' A Delightful Romantic Comedy That Tugs At The Heartstrings & Rings Of An Instant Classic

By Katie Walsh
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July 26, 2012 5:11 PM
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1 Comment

Reviews

It’s been six long years since Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris’ narrative feature debut, the much beloved “Little Miss Sunshine.” But the directing duo is back with a new film, “Ruby Sparks,” and with it, they prove that some things are worth the wait. With a script by its 28-year-old star, Zoe Kazan, and co-starring her real-life boyfriend Paul Dano, “Ruby Sparks” is a winning, charming yet bittersweet exploration of love and relationships, those that exist in both reality and fantasy.

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'Ruby Sparks' Directors Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris Talk Lighting A Scene With An iPad, Digital Vs. Film & A Brewing HBO Pilot

By Kevin Jagernauth
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July 25, 2012 10:56 AM
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1 Comment

News

Six years in a long time. Back in 2006 when Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris' "Little Miss Sunshine" got huge buzz out of Sundance before hitting theaters, Steve Carell was just entering the third season of "The Office." Paul Dano was probably still best known as that guy from "The Girl Next Door." And when the little indie movie that could made its way into the Best Picture race, it was facing off against "The Departed," "The Queen," "Babel" and "Letters From Iwo Jima." It seems a lifetime ago. And while the directors had various projects brewing that never quite came together since then, their sophomore effort "Ruby Sparks" has been worth the wait. Penned by Zoe Kazan, and starring the actress alongside her boyfriend Paul Dano, it's a film that finds the directors once again flexing their comedic muscles, while also finding new notes and textures we haven't seen from them before, all in a hugely enjoyable and entertaining film.

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6 New Photos From The 'Little Miss Sunshine' Filmmakers' 'Ruby Sparks' Starring Paul Dano & Zoe Kazan

By Edward Davis
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July 12, 2012 2:41 PM
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0 Comments

News

Alright, you've hopefully read our rave review -- we called it a "delightful romantic comedy that tugs at the heartstrings and rings of an instant classic" -- and another quick, very positive micro-tweet. So here's the thing that's becoming apparent to most of us: had our Best Films Of 2012 (So Far) feature ran just a few weeks later, "Ruby Sparks" would have almost certainly made the list.

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L.A. Film Fest Review: 'Ruby Sparks' A Delightful Romantic Comedy That Tugs At The Heartstrings & Rings Of An Instant Classic

By Katie Walsh
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June 18, 2012 3:13 PM
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7 Comments

Reviews

It’s been six long years since Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris’ narrative feature debut, the much beloved “Little Miss Sunshine.” But the directing duo is back with a new film, “Ruby Sparks,” and with it, prove that some things are worth the wait. With a script by its 28 year old star, Zoe Kazan, and co-starring her real life boyfriend Paul Dano, “Ruby Sparks” is a winning, charming yet bittersweet exploration of love and relationships, those that exist in both in reality and fantasy.

More:

New Photos From Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris' 'Ruby Sparks' Starring Paul Dano & Zoe Kazan

By Simon Dang
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May 22, 2012 9:40 AM
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0 Comments

News

One of our most anticipated indie films hitting this summer sees the long-awaited return of "Little Miss Sunshine" directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, who haven't been seen since their Oscar-conquering 2006 Sundance hit. So what did it take to bring them back into the limelight? A teaming with indie-darling Zoe Kazan and her boyfriend Paul Dano on the whimisical-sounding, Charlie Kaufman-esque dramedy "Ruby Sparks."

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Watch: Trailer For The True & Impossible Story Of 'Ruby Sparks' Starring Paul Dano & Zoe Kazan

By Kevin Jagernauth
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April 19, 2012 2:42 PM
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7 Comments

News

Love will turn you upside down, inside out and take you the dizzying heights of rapture and the depths of despair. And somewhere all of those collide in the woozy and charming trailer for "Ruby Sparks," the latest from "Little Miss Sunshine" directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (and their first film since their breakout hit).

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First Look: Paul Dano & Zoe Kazan In Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris' 'Ruby Sparks'

By Edward Davis
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April 14, 2012 1:15 PM
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1 Comment

News

It's been six years since husband and wife filmmaking duo Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris directed their critical acclaimed indie dramedy "Little Miss Sunshine" which was nominated for four Oscars including Best Picture that year. Their Academy plaudits got them juice, but several projects they attached themselves to just couldn't come together.

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Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris' 'He Loves Me' Retitled 'Ruby Sparks,' Set For July 25th Release Date

By Oliver Lyttelton
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March 27, 2012 11:15 AM
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0 Comments

News

Despite their debut feature "Little Miss Sunshine" being the toast of Sundance, becoming a sleeper box-office hit, and picking up a Best Picture Academy Award nomination (as well as winning the Oscars for Supporting Actor Alan Arkin and Michael Arndt's screenplay), directing couple Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris have taken a while to follow it up. The filmmakers had various projects circulating, including the adaptation of Tom Perrotta's "The Abstinence Teacher," Demetri Martin's fantastical comedy "Will," which would have co-starred Paul Rudd and Zach Galifianakis, and the long-gestating comedy "Used Guys."

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Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Directorial Debut Now Known As 'Don Jon's Addiction'; 'The Wettest County' & 'He Loves Me' To Be Retitled

By Simon Dang
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February 29, 2012 9:21 AM
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5 Comments

News

There are certainly some pretty horrible film titles that get churned out on a regular basis, and while they probably mean little in the grand scheme of things, naming a movie is still something Hollywood takes very seriously. On that note, it looks like a trio of highly anticipated films have had their titles put under the microscope recently, with two now set for changes and one gaining its first name.

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