The Playlist

Podcast: The Playlist Talks Terrence Malick's 'To The Wonder' & The Potential Dangers Of Auteur Worship

By Erik McClanahan
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April 16, 2013 2:41 PM
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19 Comments

To The Wonder, Ben Affleck Rachel McAdams

Features

...and the podcast is back. On this latest episode, host (yours truly) and contributor Erik McClanahan is joined by editor-in-chief Rodrigo Perez, managing editor Kevin Jagernauth and contributor Cory Everett for an in depth conversation about Terrence Malick and his latest film"To the Wonder," and the idea of auteur worship in cinephile/critical circles (also known as vulgar auteurism).

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Park Chan-wook Talks Differences Between Korean & American Films, How 'Stoker' Fits In With His Filmography & More

By Drew Taylor
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March 19, 2013 7:00 PM
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0 Comments

Interviews

If there is one movie that has caused unending debate around The Playlist water-cooler, it's Park Chan-wook's English-language debut "Stoker." First screened at Sundance and making its slow creep across the country now, it's a twisty, unerringly perverse riff on Alfred Hitchcock's "Shadow of a Doubt," wherein a mysterious Uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode) comes to visit his long lost family following his brother's equally mysterious demise. Mia Wasikowska plays the young daughter of the deceased, and an admirably batty Nicole Kidman is the new widow. We got to sit down with director Park and discuss what made "Stoker" so appealing as his first English language movie, how he decided on the composers for the film, and where the film fits in with his filmography.

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What Are You Seeing This Weekend? '21 And Over,' 'Jack The Giant Slayer' & 'The Last Exorcism' Lead The Charge

By Emma Bernstein
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March 1, 2013 4:58 PM
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0 Comments

In Theaters: Jack The Giant Killer, 21 And Over, The Last Exorcism Part II,

News

Lots to look at this week! Unfortunately, the big studio pictures are a bit disappointing, featuring well-worn stories that aren't particularly innovative or entertaining. Popular critical opinion recommends ordering "The Hangover" or "Das Boot" from Netflix rather than paying for the direct descendants playing on the big screen. Lucky for multiplex owners, the institution of public film exhibition and us, a handful of international films, documentaries, and American independent pictures pick up the slack. So -- in the ongoing battle between the private DVD player and the theater projector -- what will it be: the couch or the cinema? Let us know in the comments below!

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10 Films Worth Tracking Down In Theaters In March

By Oliver Lyttelton
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March 1, 2013 2:54 PM
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7 Comments

Features

It's been a long, dark couple of months at the start of 2013, with not all that much that's been worth seeing, bar a few bright spots like "Side Effects" and "No." But as the days start to get sunnier and warmer (we hope so, at least, or we're going to jump off something tall fairly soon), the prospects at movie theaters are improving a bit too.

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Review: Silly & Cartoonish 'Stoker' Is A Garish Misfire For Park Chan-Wook

By Rodrigo Perez
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February 28, 2013 7:20 PM
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11 Comments

Reviews

One could argue there's nothing subtle about the movies made by South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook, the director behind "Oldboy," including the celebrated 'Vengeance Trilogy' and the loopy vampire movie, "Thirst." Violence reigns in his films, cameras pirouette like self-conscious characters in his ensemble, and style is king. But in the past, especially in "Oldboy" and "Sympathy For Lady Vengeance," his penchant for the outrageous and over-the-top always included sublime, comically brutal and sometimes even emotionally devastating conclusions that could leave the jaw agape. Style was always in service of a story and characters.

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Director Park Chan-Wook Says Another English-Language Picture In The Works, 'Snowpiercer' Almost Finished & Talks His Dream Genres

By Drew Taylor
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February 28, 2013 12:32 PM
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0 Comments

Interviews

While chatting with "Oldboy" director Park Chan-Wook about his upcoming, absolutely insane new thriller "Stoker" -- which I personally loved despite our review -- I had to ask him what was next. After becoming an established force in the South Korean film industry with his idiosyncratic, stylish genre films, lauded 'Vengeance' trilogy, and now making (incredibly weird) inroads in America, we were curious as to where his career was headed next. As it turns out, while he doesn't have his next project totally lined up, he did reveal that he has another American, English-Language feature in the works.

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5 Great & 5 Disappointing English-Language Debuts By Foreign-Language Directors

By The Playlist Staff
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February 28, 2013 11:01 AM
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11 Comments

Features

This Friday sees the release of the much-anticipated "Stoker." The melodrama would probably be of note just because it stars Mia Wasikowksa and Nicole Kidman, but it's even more so because it marks the English-language debut of acclaimed Korean filmmaker Park Chan-Wook, the man behind "Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance," "Oldboy" and "Thirst," among others. The film lands hot on the heels of "The Last Stand," from Park's countryman Kim Ji-Woon, and a few months from the English-language debut of another Korean filmmaker, Bong Joon-Ho's "Snowpiercer." The three are only the latest international filmmakers to seek wider audiences and acclaim by making a film in the English language.

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Bad Blood, Family & Philip Glass: 5 Things Learned About Park Chan-Wook's 'Stoker'

By Charlie Schmidlin
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February 27, 2013 12:00 PM
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2 Comments

News

2013 stands to potentially bring three South Korean filmmakers' names into the mainstream American fold; a move notable not just from the three auteur's common land, but for placing their distinctive visions in an entirely new realm. With Kim Ji-Woon already delivering his Arnie action throwback, “The Last Stand,” and Bong Joon-Ho's “Snowpiercer” dropping later this year, the strange middle child is up next, in the twisted, baroque form of Park Chan-Wook's “Stoker.”

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Watch: Seductive New Clip From 'Stoker' Plus Listen To Clint Mansell's Complete Score

By Cain Rodriguez
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February 26, 2013 10:01 AM
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0 Comments

News

While "Stoker" earned its fair share of admirers at the Sundance Film Festival last month, our own man on the ground was less impressed -- he called it “overwrought and tonally poisoned.” You'll soon be able judge for yourself as Park Chan-wook’s English-language directorial debut is set to open in limited release this weekend. Some brand new images and a brand new clip have appeared from the film, and now you'll also be able to listen to composer Clint Mansell's entire score.

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Watch: The Sheriff Stops By In Clip From 'Stoker' Plus Meet The Cast & Characters In New Featurette

By Ken Guidry
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February 21, 2013 11:34 AM
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2 Comments

News

When “Stoker” premiered at Sundance last month, reactions to the film were mixed, to say the least. Our own man on the ground was certainly not very fond of the Park Chan-wook film, calling it “a brutally empty, deeply unfortunate movie.” Of course, those who have been really looking forward to the film will get to see for themselves with its theatrical release being just one week away. Until then, a new clip and featurette has just been posted online to tide you over.

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