Thompson on Hollywood

Cannes Deals: Sony Pictures Classics Snaps Up Asghar Farhadi's 'The Past,' Radius Nabs 'Blue Ruin' and More (VIDEOS)

Festivals

Sony Pictures Classics has won US rights to "The Past," the new film by Asghar Farhadi (director of 2012 Best Foreign Language Oscar winner "A Separation") starring Tahar Rahim, Berenice Bejo and Ali Mosaffa. The film, which centers on the complex divorce between a French woman and an Iranian man, premiered in competition at the festival on May 17, and has thus far been garnering rave reviews.

By Beth Hanna
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May 20, 2013 1:49 PM
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WATCH: New Clips from 'Only God Forgives,' with Ryan Gosling as Stoic Badass and Kristin Scott Thomas as Ruthless Drug Lord

Video

Prior to the world premiere of Nicolas Winding Refn's "Only God Forgives" on Wednesday, TWC-Radius has been tempting the Cannes crowds with clips from the Thailand-set thriller, which stars Kristin Scott Thomas and Ryan Gosling as a mother and son heading a drug ring in the Bangkok underworld. The four clips below highlight their unsettling relationship following the death of Gosling's brother, as well as establishing Scott Thomas' character as a Momma Not to Mess With.

By Beth Hanna
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May 20, 2013 1:40 PM
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Trailers from Hell: Dan Ireland on Hitchcock's Masterpiece 'Vertigo'

Video

Femme Fatales Week! begins at Trailers from Hell, with director Dan Ireland introducing "Vertigo," Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece and last year's Sight & Sound top-ranked film of all time, starring James Stewart and Kim Novak. Stewart was born on May 20, 1908.

By Trailers From Hell
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May 20, 2013 1:11 PM
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Cannes Market: Dardenne Brothers' 'Two Days, One Night,' Gosling's 'How to Catch a Monster,' Dominik's 'Blonde' and More

Festivals

Films have been selling like hotcakes at the Cannes Market this past weekend. Below, news on the Dardenne brothers' latest, Ryan Gosling's directorial debut, Andrew Dominik's Marilyn Monroe biopic and more.

By Beth Hanna
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May 20, 2013 1:08 PM
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Cannes First Look: Paul Haggis Talks 'Third Person,' starring Neeson, Wilde, Franco, Kunis

Festivals

Paul Haggis has been quiet since his last outing as writer-director, 2010’s “The Next Three Days,” with only a credit on the videogame "Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3" to fill in the gap between then and now. But he turned up in Cannes to beat the publicity drum for "Third Person," a multi-stranded relationship drama he shot last fall in Paris, Rome and Cinecitta Studios.

By Matt Mueller
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May 20, 2013 12:59 PM
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Cannes Review: 'Inside Llewyn Davis' Is Vintage Coens

Festivals

There is a moment in “Inside Llewyn Davis,” the new Coen brothers film that stormed the Palais Saturday, when the owner of Manhattan's Gaslight club circa 1961 asks Davis what he thinks of the four Irish sweater-clad singers performing. Davis, a struggling folk singer with an edge, ponders the question. “I like the sweaters,” he says.

By Tom Christie
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May 19, 2013 8:41 PM
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Mediocre SNL Season Finale Well-Hosted by Ben Affleck As Several Regulars Depart the Show (CLIPS)

Video

By Maggie Lange
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May 19, 2013 7:49 PM
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Weekend Trailer Watch: 'A Touch of Sin,' 'The Young and Prodigious Spivet,' and 'Jimmy P.'

Video

By Maggie Lange
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May 19, 2013 7:27 PM
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Arthouse Audit: 'Frances Ha' Debuts Strong With Sold Out Shows in NY and LA

Box Office

After a weak spring dominated by three indie hits that went wide quickly, "Frances Ha" stands out a potential arthouse success. This film could stay in limited release for a while, unlike quick-breaking multiplex players "The Place Beyond the Pines," "Mud" and "Spring Breakers," which will all likely pass the $15-million mark. Coming on the heels of decent starts for "Stories We Tell" last week in New York, and "What Maisie Knew," and ahead of the anticipated big performance for "Before Midnight" opening next Friday, specialized numbers look to improve to decent levels--even if so far nothing has risen to the levels of last May's major successes "Moonrise Kingdom" and "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel."

By Tom Brueggemann
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May 19, 2013 4:25 PM
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Weekend Box Office Top Ten Is Strong, Led By 'Star Trek Into Darkness,' Which Pulls In Smaller Audience than Last Film

Box Office

At long last, for the first time this year the box office top ten marked a bump up from last year, thanks to three big performers taking in most of the gross. The top 10 this weekend came to about $158 million. Last year, which saw two disappointing openings ("Battleship" and "The Dictator" followed weak "Dark Shadows"), came to $134 million. "Star Trek Into Darkness" leads the way--while nonetheless failing to meet high expectations--and "Iron Man 3" and "The Great Gatsby" continue to draw audiences. This is an important achievement after a weak 2013 so far.