On Friday nights, IndieWire After Dark takes a feature-length beat to honor fringe cinema in the streaming age.
First, the spoiler-free pitch for one editor’s midnight movie pick — something weird and wonderful from any age of film that deserves our memorializing.
Then, the spoiler-filled aftermath as experienced by the unwitting editor attacked by this week’s recommendation.
The Pitch: It’s Time for IndieWire After the Dark Underside of Suburbia
I’ve long felt that the premise of “This Suburban Utopia Has Something Dark Lurking Underneath It” is among the lamest, most played-out tropes in all of media. Decades have passed since any serious person viewed the stylized suburban innocence of “Leave It to Beaver” as a remotely accurate depiction of American life, and contemporary attempts at “subverting” it often feel as if artists are mocking the same media that they grew up watching other artists mock without pausing...
First, the spoiler-free pitch for one editor’s midnight movie pick — something weird and wonderful from any age of film that deserves our memorializing.
Then, the spoiler-filled aftermath as experienced by the unwitting editor attacked by this week’s recommendation.
The Pitch: It’s Time for IndieWire After the Dark Underside of Suburbia
I’ve long felt that the premise of “This Suburban Utopia Has Something Dark Lurking Underneath It” is among the lamest, most played-out tropes in all of media. Decades have passed since any serious person viewed the stylized suburban innocence of “Leave It to Beaver” as a remotely accurate depiction of American life, and contemporary attempts at “subverting” it often feel as if artists are mocking the same media that they grew up watching other artists mock without pausing...
- 4/13/2024
- by Christian Zilko and Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
With a background in Taiwanese public television and now president of leading production company Greener Grass Culture, Phil Tang has been one of the key players in Taiwan’s evolving drama production space.
Founded by Hank Tseng in 2008, Greener Grass is both a film and TV producer, with film credits including horror movie The Tag-Along, and series including period drama Gold Leaf and crime dramas The Victims’ Game and Copycat Killer. The latter two shows were produced for Netflix and Greener Grass is currently working on the second season of The Victims’ Game, about a forensic scientist with Asperger’s syndrome.
Separately, Tang continues to lend his drama production expertise to other Taiwanese companies and was also a producer on Damou Entertainment’s ground-breaking show The World Between Us, which delved into a range of social issues and won several prizes at Taiwan’s Golden Bell Awards.
Tang is now...
Founded by Hank Tseng in 2008, Greener Grass is both a film and TV producer, with film credits including horror movie The Tag-Along, and series including period drama Gold Leaf and crime dramas The Victims’ Game and Copycat Killer. The latter two shows were produced for Netflix and Greener Grass is currently working on the second season of The Victims’ Game, about a forensic scientist with Asperger’s syndrome.
Separately, Tang continues to lend his drama production expertise to other Taiwanese companies and was also a producer on Damou Entertainment’s ground-breaking show The World Between Us, which delved into a range of social issues and won several prizes at Taiwan’s Golden Bell Awards.
Tang is now...
- 11/10/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
This year marks 30 years since Bob Byington’s first feature, though it’s only during the last 15 of those — since SXSW midnight-movie breakout “Rso: Registered Sex Offender” — that the Austin-based director has enjoyed “indie darling” status. During that same stretch, the cultural discourse has changed a great deal, while Byington’s voice remains remarkably (if somewhat frustratingly) consistent, churning out self-deprecating feature-length sitcoms about flaccid man-babies. Those aren’t the kind of movies American festivals are looking for so much anymore, which could explain why his latest, “Lousy Carter,” wound up premiering abroad, at the Locarno Film Festival.
Locarno’s programmers typically gravitate toward austere, experimental and/or formally audacious works of cinema. “Lousy Carter” is none of these things, but neither is it lousy. That unfortunate moniker belongs to the film’s lead character, a lumpy failed animator turned tenured literature professor, who’s rendered all the more pathetic...
Locarno’s programmers typically gravitate toward austere, experimental and/or formally audacious works of cinema. “Lousy Carter” is none of these things, but neither is it lousy. That unfortunate moniker belongs to the film’s lead character, a lumpy failed animator turned tenured literature professor, who’s rendered all the more pathetic...
- 8/9/2023
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Magic Fair, a Miami-Paris based indie sales company and Hong Kong- and Paris-based All Rights Entertainment have launched rights sales on upcoming feature animation “Pigsy,” directed by Chiu Li-Wei (“Barkley”) during the Cannes Film Festival’s Marche du Film.
The film is a reimagining of the classic Chinese tale “Journey to the West.” The story follows a self-absorbed and lazy pig on a journey to lasting happiness. Set in a distant future, the film sees Pigsy embark on a deceitful quest for a better life, only to find that true happiness may be closer than he thinks.
The production has recently added Taiwanese stars Greg Han, Liu Kuan-Ting, Harlem Yu, Tuo Tsung-Hua, Chung Hsin-Ling, Ivy Shao, Waa Wei and K.R. Bros. The film is to be completed in time for release at Chinese New Year in early 2024. Production is by the Netherland’s studio Submarine with Taiwan’s Greener Grass (“GrX”) and Studio2.
The film is a reimagining of the classic Chinese tale “Journey to the West.” The story follows a self-absorbed and lazy pig on a journey to lasting happiness. Set in a distant future, the film sees Pigsy embark on a deceitful quest for a better life, only to find that true happiness may be closer than he thinks.
The production has recently added Taiwanese stars Greg Han, Liu Kuan-Ting, Harlem Yu, Tuo Tsung-Hua, Chung Hsin-Ling, Ivy Shao, Waa Wei and K.R. Bros. The film is to be completed in time for release at Chinese New Year in early 2024. Production is by the Netherland’s studio Submarine with Taiwan’s Greener Grass (“GrX”) and Studio2.
- 5/25/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Whimsical near-future tale sees a tax inspector sent to audit an elderly bohemian’s dreams fall in love with her as a younger woman
This charming if decidedly silly sci-fi love story unfolds in a near future where clothes and home furnishings look much like the stuff we have today – while some of the tech equipment the props department came up with looks like the prizewinners at a primary school art fair. For example, there’s a headset people can put on as they go to bed, a mass of wires and twinkly fairy lights, which stops invasive advertising (designed to implant the desire for fried chicken or soft drinks) getting into the sleeper’s dreams. Another looks like a cardboard box with dials painted on it.
Writer-director team Kentucker Audley and Albert Birney’s low-budget whimsy aesthetic, propelled by a gently satirical undercurrent, is of a piece with other...
This charming if decidedly silly sci-fi love story unfolds in a near future where clothes and home furnishings look much like the stuff we have today – while some of the tech equipment the props department came up with looks like the prizewinners at a primary school art fair. For example, there’s a headset people can put on as they go to bed, a mass of wires and twinkly fairy lights, which stops invasive advertising (designed to implant the desire for fried chicken or soft drinks) getting into the sleeper’s dreams. Another looks like a cardboard box with dials painted on it.
Writer-director team Kentucker Audley and Albert Birney’s low-budget whimsy aesthetic, propelled by a gently satirical undercurrent, is of a piece with other...
- 9/13/2022
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Guardian - Film News
Editor’s note: This review was originally published at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. Vertical releases the film in theaters on Friday, July 28.
The first 25 minutes of “Susie Searches” is so tight, so hilarious and original, beaming with a buoyant teenage energy that could kickoff an entire film series of adventures, that it’s shocking how unyielding, mismanaged and sappy the next hour of the movie becomes. The drop-off is steep, and unfortunate. An expansion by Sophie Kargman of her same-titled 2020 short, “Susie Searches” aims to be about loss and loneliness, and isolation and recognition. But spins its wheels toward mediocrity, instead.
Susie (Kiersey Clemons) is a college student, with braces strapped across her wide smile and an unquenchable love of whodunits. Every night she records a podcast showcasing her sleuthing skills to her moribund audience. Far from the popular girl at school, she languishes in obscurity, while taking care...
The first 25 minutes of “Susie Searches” is so tight, so hilarious and original, beaming with a buoyant teenage energy that could kickoff an entire film series of adventures, that it’s shocking how unyielding, mismanaged and sappy the next hour of the movie becomes. The drop-off is steep, and unfortunate. An expansion by Sophie Kargman of her same-titled 2020 short, “Susie Searches” aims to be about loss and loneliness, and isolation and recognition. But spins its wheels toward mediocrity, instead.
Susie (Kiersey Clemons) is a college student, with braces strapped across her wide smile and an unquenchable love of whodunits. Every night she records a podcast showcasing her sleuthing skills to her moribund audience. Far from the popular girl at school, she languishes in obscurity, while taking care...
- 9/9/2022
- by Robert Daniels
- Indiewire
Exclusive: UTA has signed writer, director, producer and actor Jim Cummings (The Beta Test) for representation in all areas.
Cummings most recently partnered with Pj McCabe to co-write and direct The Beta Test, also producing and starring in that genre-bender, which premiered to critical acclaim at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival. That film also starring McCabe and Virginia Newcomb sees an engaged Hollywood agent receive a mysterious letter for an anonymous sexual encounter, becoming ensnared in a sinister world of lying, infidelity and digital data. IFC Films released it in the U.S. in November.
Cummings also wrote, directed, produced and starred in the acclaimed short film Thunder Road, which won the Short Film Grand Jury Prize at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, along with SXSW’s Special Jury Award and other honors. He later adapted the short, in which a man eulogizes his mother, into a 2018 feature of the same name,...
Cummings most recently partnered with Pj McCabe to co-write and direct The Beta Test, also producing and starring in that genre-bender, which premiered to critical acclaim at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival. That film also starring McCabe and Virginia Newcomb sees an engaged Hollywood agent receive a mysterious letter for an anonymous sexual encounter, becoming ensnared in a sinister world of lying, infidelity and digital data. IFC Films released it in the U.S. in November.
Cummings also wrote, directed, produced and starred in the acclaimed short film Thunder Road, which won the Short Film Grand Jury Prize at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, along with SXSW’s Special Jury Award and other honors. He later adapted the short, in which a man eulogizes his mother, into a 2018 feature of the same name,...
- 3/10/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Billy Eichner’s landmark romantic comedy “Bros” has added a new crop of actors to its ensemble cast. All principals in the Universal Pictures project are LGBTQ+.
New additions include Academy Award-winning actor-writer Jim Rash, Eve Lindley, D’Lo Srijaerajah, Peter Kim, Justin Covington, Dot-Marie Jones and Becca Blackwell.
The cast reflects a broad range of comedic talent and was built to expand and diversify queer representation on screen. The film is produced by Judd Apatow and Nicholas Stoller, who is also directing. Eichner stars with the previously announced Luke Macfarlane, Ts Madison, Miss Lawrence, Symone, Guillermo Diaz and Guy Branum.
“After queer actors have spent decades watching straight actors capitalize both artistically and professionally by playing LGBTQ+ characters, it is a long overdue dream come true to be able to assemble this remarkable, hilarious cast,” Eichner previously said of the film.
The film is described as a “heartfelt comedy...
New additions include Academy Award-winning actor-writer Jim Rash, Eve Lindley, D’Lo Srijaerajah, Peter Kim, Justin Covington, Dot-Marie Jones and Becca Blackwell.
The cast reflects a broad range of comedic talent and was built to expand and diversify queer representation on screen. The film is produced by Judd Apatow and Nicholas Stoller, who is also directing. Eichner stars with the previously announced Luke Macfarlane, Ts Madison, Miss Lawrence, Symone, Guillermo Diaz and Guy Branum.
“After queer actors have spent decades watching straight actors capitalize both artistically and professionally by playing LGBTQ+ characters, it is a long overdue dream come true to be able to assemble this remarkable, hilarious cast,” Eichner previously said of the film.
The film is described as a “heartfelt comedy...
- 9/30/2021
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Fifteen-time arm wrestling champion and three-time Emmy nominee Dot-Marie Jones inspired viewers with her moving portrayal of Coach Beiste on Glee, which was her third time in a Ryan Murphy universe, after Nip/Tuck and Pretty/Handsome. Last year she played “Little Helen” in Greener Grass, and now she’s “Big Sexy” in the hilarious and charming arm wresting comedy Golden Arm. On this episode she tells the story of how, as an athlete who knew nothing about acting, an opportunity propelled her into the business after hearing the words “cold read” and imagining some kind of weather endurance test. She talks about […]
The post Back to One, Episode 154: Dot-Marie Jones first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post Back to One, Episode 154: Dot-Marie Jones first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 5/18/2021
- by Peter Rinaldi
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Fifteen-time arm wrestling champion and three-time Emmy nominee Dot-Marie Jones inspired viewers with her moving portrayal of Coach Beiste on Glee, which was her third time in a Ryan Murphy universe, after Nip/Tuck and Pretty/Handsome. Last year she played “Little Helen” in Greener Grass, and now she’s “Big Sexy” in the hilarious and charming arm wresting comedy Golden Arm. On this episode she tells the story of how, as an athlete who knew nothing about acting, an opportunity propelled her into the business after hearing the words “cold read” and imagining some kind of weather endurance test. She talks about […]
The post Back to One, Episode 154: Dot-Marie Jones first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post Back to One, Episode 154: Dot-Marie Jones first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 5/18/2021
- by Peter Rinaldi
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Tucked inside its dazzling, old-fashioned opening credits, Carlson Young’s confounding “The Blazing World” offers an early glimpse of what’s to come. The film’s writing credits (Young and Pierce Brown) include the notation that the film was “inspired by Margaret Cavendish and other dreams.” Cavendish was a 17th-century English aristocrat, and a trailblazer: She was a scientist, a prolific playwright, and the author of the utopian sci-fi forerunner “The Blazing World.” Young seems to work from more than Cavendish’s singular work, also leaning into her own “dreams” and a hearty dose of surreal cinematic predecessors.
A talented young actress best known for her work on “Scream: The Series,” Young first approached the material in her 2018 short of the same name. She also has a knack for casting, with co-stars who include Dermot Mulroney, Vinessa Shaw, singer Soko, and Udo Kier (being extremely Udo Kier).
Young has vision,...
A talented young actress best known for her work on “Scream: The Series,” Young first approached the material in her 2018 short of the same name. She also has a knack for casting, with co-stars who include Dermot Mulroney, Vinessa Shaw, singer Soko, and Udo Kier (being extremely Udo Kier).
Young has vision,...
- 2/1/2021
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Vanishing Angle, the production company behind SXSW winner “Thunder Road,” has re-teamed with writer-director Jim Cummings for thriller “The Beta Test.”
The studio will produce the movie — about a married Hollywood agent who deals with the fallout after receiving a mysterious letter from an anonymous sexual encounter. The cast includes Cummings, Pj McCabe, Olivia Applegate and Virginia Newcomb. Filming wrapped in December and production is expected to be completed by the end of the summer.
“It’s our new movie about the Agency fight with the WGA,” Cummings said in a statement. “It’s a horror film.”
Vanishing Angle, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, will also be the subject of a case study from the Sundance Institute. It will take a look at the self-distribution of “Thunder Road,” the 2018 South by Southwest Film Festival grand jury prize winner, and provide a road map for independent filmmakers and studios hoping...
The studio will produce the movie — about a married Hollywood agent who deals with the fallout after receiving a mysterious letter from an anonymous sexual encounter. The cast includes Cummings, Pj McCabe, Olivia Applegate and Virginia Newcomb. Filming wrapped in December and production is expected to be completed by the end of the summer.
“It’s our new movie about the Agency fight with the WGA,” Cummings said in a statement. “It’s a horror film.”
Vanishing Angle, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, will also be the subject of a case study from the Sundance Institute. It will take a look at the self-distribution of “Thunder Road,” the 2018 South by Southwest Film Festival grand jury prize winner, and provide a road map for independent filmmakers and studios hoping...
- 6/24/2020
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Looking to heat up your summer from the air-conditioned confines of your own home? Shudder has you covered this June with an eclectic set of horror films both old and new, including the Mark Patton documentary Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street, Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses, the horror anthology Scare Package, and much more!
Below, you can check out the full list of titles coming to Shudder in the Us this June, and be sure to visit Shudder's website to learn more about the streaming service and their scary good lineup!
"Scream, Queen! My Nightmare On Elm Street
Some have called it the 'gayest horror movie ever made,' but for Mark Patton, the star of A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge, it was anything but a dream come true. 30 years after its initial release, Patton sets the record straight about the controversial sequel...
Below, you can check out the full list of titles coming to Shudder in the Us this June, and be sure to visit Shudder's website to learn more about the streaming service and their scary good lineup!
"Scream, Queen! My Nightmare On Elm Street
Some have called it the 'gayest horror movie ever made,' but for Mark Patton, the star of A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge, it was anything but a dream come true. 30 years after its initial release, Patton sets the record straight about the controversial sequel...
- 5/26/2020
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Horror tropes are celebrated and subverted in Scare Package, the new horror anthology created by Aaron B. Koontz and Cameron Burns of Paper Street Pictures. Following its well-received run on the festival circuit (which was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic), Scare Package has been acquired by Shudder and will be released on the streaming service in U.S., Canada, and UK beginning June 18th.
Press Release: May 13, 2020 — Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, announced today that it has acquired all rights in its territories to horror comedy Scare Package, from creators Aaron B. Koontz and Cameron Burns. The anthology film, which delighted audiences at numerous festivals including the Sitges Film Festival in Spain, features seven gleefully ghoulish tales from a range of horror subgenres. Scare Package will premiere on Shudder in the U.S., Canada and the UK on June 18.
“We are...
Press Release: May 13, 2020 — Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, announced today that it has acquired all rights in its territories to horror comedy Scare Package, from creators Aaron B. Koontz and Cameron Burns. The anthology film, which delighted audiences at numerous festivals including the Sitges Film Festival in Spain, features seven gleefully ghoulish tales from a range of horror subgenres. Scare Package will premiere on Shudder in the U.S., Canada and the UK on June 18.
“We are...
- 5/13/2020
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
For the planned April 16 release of unofficial “Braveheart” follow-up “Robert the Bruce,” Screen Media had everything lined up perfectly. Angus Macfadyen, who plays the Scottish independence-crusader Robert I in both films, recorded a promo that would appear before a Fathom Events 25th anniversary screening of “Braveheart” in March, encouraging dedicated fans to head to one of 600 theaters for the Fathom screening of the new film. And it tapped the American-Scottish Foundation for a grassroots campaign to reach more of the film’s core constituency amid the 700th anniversary of Robert’s Declaration of Arbroath and the start of the Highland games season.
That finely tuned-day-and-date strategy all fell apart when the coronavirus pandemic led virtually all American theaters to close their doors. At first blush, the crisis could have spelled disaster for the film’s future, given the daunting prospect of trying to reassemble all of those pieces amid so much uncertainty.
That finely tuned-day-and-date strategy all fell apart when the coronavirus pandemic led virtually all American theaters to close their doors. At first blush, the crisis could have spelled disaster for the film’s future, given the daunting prospect of trying to reassemble all of those pieces amid so much uncertainty.
- 4/8/2020
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
The suburban enclave of Lemoncurd — “a charming town full of charming people leading charming lives and eating charming food” — is surely home to many delightful residents, but only three of them really matter: a trio of Debras who, as the title of the bite-sized Adult Swim series tells us, are very busy indeed. Busy with what, you may ask? Only upending the social order, taking aim at the patriarchy, and engaging in all manner of crimes along the way (in pristine white outfits to boot).
Created by and starring the eponymous Debras — Mitra Jouhari (“High Maintenance”), Sandy Honig (“Isn’t It Romantic”) and Alyssa Stonoha (“Rules of Cool”) — the series is a canny fit for Adult Swim, which has long trafficked in off-kilter programming populated by fresh faces. The trio, all members of the Upright Citizens Brigade improv and sketch community, first started working together in 2015 when they teamed up to...
Created by and starring the eponymous Debras — Mitra Jouhari (“High Maintenance”), Sandy Honig (“Isn’t It Romantic”) and Alyssa Stonoha (“Rules of Cool”) — the series is a canny fit for Adult Swim, which has long trafficked in off-kilter programming populated by fresh faces. The trio, all members of the Upright Citizens Brigade improv and sketch community, first started working together in 2015 when they teamed up to...
- 3/30/2020
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
New Indie
While I didn’t find Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out” (Lionsgate/Mrc) as wonderful a whodunit as most audiences (and critics), I do cheer his evident love for the genre and his energy and enthusiasm in revitalizing the all-star murder mystery. (Give me a crisp new story like this over a thousand sludgy remakes like the recent “Murder on the Orient Express.”) And it’s a win for everyone when an original movie — not a sequel, not a remake, not a reboot, not an adaptation — becomes a much-talked-about hit. So let’s hear it for more fresh takes on beloved movie tropes.
Also available: Keep your indies straight — “The Wave” (Echo Wolf/Epic) features Justin Long on a psychedelic trip, while the critically acclaimed “Waves” (Lionsgate) is a powerful tale of race and family featuring powerhouse acting from Sterling K. Brown, Taylor Russell and Kelvin Harrison, Jr.; the...
While I didn’t find Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out” (Lionsgate/Mrc) as wonderful a whodunit as most audiences (and critics), I do cheer his evident love for the genre and his energy and enthusiasm in revitalizing the all-star murder mystery. (Give me a crisp new story like this over a thousand sludgy remakes like the recent “Murder on the Orient Express.”) And it’s a win for everyone when an original movie — not a sequel, not a remake, not a reboot, not an adaptation — becomes a much-talked-about hit. So let’s hear it for more fresh takes on beloved movie tropes.
Also available: Keep your indies straight — “The Wave” (Echo Wolf/Epic) features Justin Long on a psychedelic trip, while the critically acclaimed “Waves” (Lionsgate) is a powerful tale of race and family featuring powerhouse acting from Sterling K. Brown, Taylor Russell and Kelvin Harrison, Jr.; the...
- 2/25/2020
- by Alonso Duralde
- The Wrap
Courting comparisons from David Lynch to John Waters, Tim Burton to Mary Harron, Greener Grass, the directorial debut from Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe is an instant cult classic. A social satire which takes place in an exaggerated, parallel universe (think if we skipped the sexual revolution thanks to nuclear fallout and the Us has morphed into a perverse mimicry of 1950s suburban ideology) headlined by the co-directors. Premiering at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival before embarking on an extensive festival circuit trail (which included SXSW and Locarno), DeBoer and Luebbe have a new cinematic niche of Nouveau Weird with a debut that’s a marvelous mix of striking elements while managing to be as funny as it is oddly heartfelt.…...
- 2/18/2020
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Uncut Gems wins best lead actor, directing, editing.
Lulu Wang’s The Farewell was named best feature at the Spirit Awards in Santa Monica on Saturday (8) in a night that recognised female directing talent in stark contrast to tomorrow’s Oscars.
Olivia Wilde won best first film for Booksmart, and American Factory, co-directed by Julia Reichert, (alongside Steven Bognar), won best documentary.
Renée Zellweger won best actress for Judy and has virtually swept the boards this awards season ahead of Sunday’s expected win at the Academy Awards.
Adam Sandler was a popular winner for Uncut Gems, which took home...
Lulu Wang’s The Farewell was named best feature at the Spirit Awards in Santa Monica on Saturday (8) in a night that recognised female directing talent in stark contrast to tomorrow’s Oscars.
Olivia Wilde won best first film for Booksmart, and American Factory, co-directed by Julia Reichert, (alongside Steven Bognar), won best documentary.
Renée Zellweger won best actress for Judy and has virtually swept the boards this awards season ahead of Sunday’s expected win at the Academy Awards.
Adam Sandler was a popular winner for Uncut Gems, which took home...
- 2/9/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Before the Film Independent Spirit Awards kicked off inside a drafty tent in Santa Monica, IndieWire was set up on the blue carpet ahead of the ceremony, as the stars of independent film breezed by in their Saturday best — but not before taking a minute to talk about their nominated films. And with the Oscars just a day away, one question everyone was eager to answer was, “What was your best picture of 2019?” The answer, almost unanimously, was “Parasite.” Or “Uncut Gems,” sadly shut out of the Oscar race but feted with five Indie Spirit nominations.
“Parasite” fans on the Indie Spirits blue carpet included, well, pretty much everybody — from “Greener Grass” filmmakers Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe to young “Marriage Story” star Azhy Robertson. “‘Parasite’ is the easy answer because it’s the best film of the year,” “The Climb” star and screenwriter Kyle Marvin told IndieWire. Academy Award-winning...
“Parasite” fans on the Indie Spirits blue carpet included, well, pretty much everybody — from “Greener Grass” filmmakers Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe to young “Marriage Story” star Azhy Robertson. “‘Parasite’ is the easy answer because it’s the best film of the year,” “The Climb” star and screenwriter Kyle Marvin told IndieWire. Academy Award-winning...
- 2/8/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
The 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards were handed out Saturday in recognition of the best in indie films from 2019.
Willem Dafoe won the first award, Best Supporting Male, for his role in “The Lighthouse.” “Uncut Gems” won Best Editing, while the Best Documentary award went to “American Factory.” Best Cinematography went to Jarin Blaschke for “The Lighthouse.”
Kelly Reichardt was awarded The Bonnie Award, which recognizes a mid-career female director with a $50,000 unrestricted grant. The John Cassavetes Award, given to the best feature made for under $500,000, was given to “Give Me Liberty.”
Also Read: Independent Spirit Awards 2020: Aubrey Plaza's Best Jokes (So Far)
“Parasite” won Best International Film. Zhao Shuzhen won Best Supporting Female for her role in “The Farewell.” “Marriage Story” won Best Screenplay. Adam Sandler won Best Male Lead for his performance in “Uncut Gems” and Renée Zellweger received the Best Female Lead for her role in “Judy.
Willem Dafoe won the first award, Best Supporting Male, for his role in “The Lighthouse.” “Uncut Gems” won Best Editing, while the Best Documentary award went to “American Factory.” Best Cinematography went to Jarin Blaschke for “The Lighthouse.”
Kelly Reichardt was awarded The Bonnie Award, which recognizes a mid-career female director with a $50,000 unrestricted grant. The John Cassavetes Award, given to the best feature made for under $500,000, was given to “Give Me Liberty.”
Also Read: Independent Spirit Awards 2020: Aubrey Plaza's Best Jokes (So Far)
“Parasite” won Best International Film. Zhao Shuzhen won Best Supporting Female for her role in “The Farewell.” “Marriage Story” won Best Screenplay. Adam Sandler won Best Male Lead for his performance in “Uncut Gems” and Renée Zellweger received the Best Female Lead for her role in “Judy.
- 2/8/2020
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Who won at the Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday, February 8? Aubrey Plaza returned to host the 35th annual ceremony from Santa Monica beach, which honored the best in independent films for the 2019 calendar year. The top feature race included one Oscar contender, “Marriage Story,” as well as “Uncut Gems,” “The Farewell,” “Clemency” and “A Hidden Life.” Scroll down to see the full list of 2020 Indie Spirits champs. How did they compare to Gold Derby’s predictions?
SEEIndependent Spirit Awards live blog 2020: All the big winners as they happen [Updating Live]
The Spirit Award nominations were decided by committees made up of film industry members including critics, programmers, producers, directors, writers, cinematographers, editors, actors, past nominees/champs, and members of Film Independent’s Board of Directors. The award winners were chosen by all members of Film Independent who pay yearly dues of $95.
Leading the list of Spirit nominations at five apiece...
SEEIndependent Spirit Awards live blog 2020: All the big winners as they happen [Updating Live]
The Spirit Award nominations were decided by committees made up of film industry members including critics, programmers, producers, directors, writers, cinematographers, editors, actors, past nominees/champs, and members of Film Independent’s Board of Directors. The award winners were chosen by all members of Film Independent who pay yearly dues of $95.
Leading the list of Spirit nominations at five apiece...
- 2/8/2020
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
The 35th annual Spirit Awards, honoring the best in independent cinema, took place Saturday in Santa Monica.
Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell” won best picture, while Adam Sandler and Renee Zellweger took home the top acting prizes.
Full list of winners.
Best Feature
A Hidden Life
Clemency
The Farewell (Winner)
Marriage Story
Uncut Gems
Best Director
Robert Eggers – The Lighthouse
Alma Har’el – Honey Boy
Julius Onah – Luce
Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie – Uncut Gems (Winner)
Lorene Scafaria – Hustlers
Best First Feature
Booksmart (Winner)
The Climb
Diane
The Last Black Man In San Francisco
The Mustang
See You Yesterday
Best Female Lead
Karen Allen – Colewell
Hong Chau – Driveways
Elisabeth Moss – Her Smell
Mary Kay Place – Diane
Alfre Woodard – Clemency
Renée Zellweger – Judy (Winner)
Best Male Lead
Chris Galust – Give Me Liberty
Kelvin Harrison Jr. – Luce
Robert Pattinson – The Lighthouse
Adam Sandler – Uncut Gems (Winner)
Matthias Schoenaerts – The Mustang
Best Supporting Female
Jennifer Lopez...
Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell” won best picture, while Adam Sandler and Renee Zellweger took home the top acting prizes.
Full list of winners.
Best Feature
A Hidden Life
Clemency
The Farewell (Winner)
Marriage Story
Uncut Gems
Best Director
Robert Eggers – The Lighthouse
Alma Har’el – Honey Boy
Julius Onah – Luce
Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie – Uncut Gems (Winner)
Lorene Scafaria – Hustlers
Best First Feature
Booksmart (Winner)
The Climb
Diane
The Last Black Man In San Francisco
The Mustang
See You Yesterday
Best Female Lead
Karen Allen – Colewell
Hong Chau – Driveways
Elisabeth Moss – Her Smell
Mary Kay Place – Diane
Alfre Woodard – Clemency
Renée Zellweger – Judy (Winner)
Best Male Lead
Chris Galust – Give Me Liberty
Kelvin Harrison Jr. – Luce
Robert Pattinson – The Lighthouse
Adam Sandler – Uncut Gems (Winner)
Matthias Schoenaerts – The Mustang
Best Supporting Female
Jennifer Lopez...
- 2/8/2020
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
Aubrey Plaza will return to host the Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday in Santa Monica.
The 35th annual Spirit Awards are set to air live on the IFC Channel beginning at 5 p.m. Et/2 p.m. Pt. The network will live stream the ceremony on its website, though audiences will need a cable login to watch. TV subscribers can also watch the show live on IFC app’s, available on iOS and Android, Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Xbox, and Android TV devices.
This year’s top Spirit Award nominees include Robert Pattinson’s “The Lighthouse” and Adam Sandler’s “Uncut Gems,” with five nods each. Shia Labeouf’s “Honey Boy” and Kirill Mikhanovsky’s scored four nominations.
“Uncut Gems,” Terrence Malick’s “A Hidden Life,” Chinonye Chukwu’s “Clemency,” Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell” and Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story” are up for best feature.
Here’s the full...
The 35th annual Spirit Awards are set to air live on the IFC Channel beginning at 5 p.m. Et/2 p.m. Pt. The network will live stream the ceremony on its website, though audiences will need a cable login to watch. TV subscribers can also watch the show live on IFC app’s, available on iOS and Android, Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Xbox, and Android TV devices.
This year’s top Spirit Award nominees include Robert Pattinson’s “The Lighthouse” and Adam Sandler’s “Uncut Gems,” with five nods each. Shia Labeouf’s “Honey Boy” and Kirill Mikhanovsky’s scored four nominations.
“Uncut Gems,” Terrence Malick’s “A Hidden Life,” Chinonye Chukwu’s “Clemency,” Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell” and Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story” are up for best feature.
Here’s the full...
- 2/8/2020
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
Who will win at the Independent Spirit Awards on February 8? Scroll down to see our predictions in 13 categories listed in order of our racetrack odds, with projected winners highlighted in gold.
More than 2,600 Gold Derby users have placed their bets here in our predictions center as of this writing. That includes Expert journalists from top media outlets, the Editors who cover awards year-round for Gold Derby, the Top 24 Users who got the highest scores predicting last year’s Spirit Award winners and the All-Star Top 24 Users who got the highest scores when you combine prediction results from the last two years.
Sign UPfor Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
The Spirit Award nominations were decided by committees made up of members of the film community including film critics, film programmers, producers, directors, writers, cinematographers, editors, actors, past nominees and winners, and members of Film Independent’s Board of Directors.
More than 2,600 Gold Derby users have placed their bets here in our predictions center as of this writing. That includes Expert journalists from top media outlets, the Editors who cover awards year-round for Gold Derby, the Top 24 Users who got the highest scores predicting last year’s Spirit Award winners and the All-Star Top 24 Users who got the highest scores when you combine prediction results from the last two years.
Sign UPfor Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
The Spirit Award nominations were decided by committees made up of members of the film community including film critics, film programmers, producers, directors, writers, cinematographers, editors, actors, past nominees and winners, and members of Film Independent’s Board of Directors.
- 2/7/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
In two days, the Film Independent Spirit Awards will be handed out. By now, we all know how different the Spirit Awards are than Oscar. That goes without saying. This year, the Academy Awards largely went in a separate direction, so there’s less crossover than usual. So, that means we can worry less about if these voters will reject/simulate the Academy, and just focus on how the vote might go. I’ve tinkered a bit with my picks, though ultimately I think it could be a really good night for Uncut Gems. Watch out for The Farewell (or Marriage Story) in the top category, while The Lighthouse could end up spoiling in several categories. It’s going to be interesting, the results, that much I can assure you of… Enough talk. You’ve read my thoughts on this race already in the very recent past. Time for what...
- 2/6/2020
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
The night before the Academy Awards, the Film Independent Spirit Awards will be handed out. Obviously, the indie equivalent to the Oscars is not a predictable precursor, but it has another charm to it. Namely, it’s that this is the final chance to cite some of the beloved movies of 2019 that the Academy snubbed. Films that came close to Oscar nominations but missed, as well as ones that never sniffed a nomination, they both compete equally here. Other years have had more flicks that line up with the big boys, but it’s an interesting mix here. In fact, it’s very hard to tell how the Indie Spirit Awards will go this time around, but I’m about to try, that’s for sure. Take a look now at my predictions for the Spirit Awards. We’ll have another update before the show, but for now, this is my preview…...
- 1/28/2020
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
The Sundance Film Festival kicked off last night in Park City, Utah, and one of the highlights are the Midnight titles. Films that have premiered in this category in recent years include Greener Grass, Hereditary, Assassination Nation, The Little Hours and The Babadook. Which of the following will be this year’s big horror hit?! One of the most talked […]...
- 1/24/2020
- by Brad Miska
- bloody-disgusting.com
About 30 minutes into Todd Robinson’s new Pentagon film, “The Last Full Measure,” you begin to fear that it will be just another political office drama centered around powerful men puffing out their chests and stepping on each other to get ahead..
But once it gets past the smug banter between colleagues, the film, inspired by actual events, finally shifts towards something far more meaningful: Vietnam war veterans struggling with Ptsd and their relationship with heroism.
It’s an intriguing bait-and-switch that is first presented through glimpses of staggering combat sequences and explosions breathtakingly shot by Byron Werner (Robinson’s “Phantom”) intercut with tense tête-à-têtes between Carlton Stanton (Bradley Whitford) and Scott Huffman (Sebastian Stan), Pentagon colleagues flailing after the sudden departure of a high-ranking official.
Also Read: Peter Fonda Got Emotional Seeing His Final Film 'The Last Full Measure' A Month Before He Died
“The Last Full Measure...
But once it gets past the smug banter between colleagues, the film, inspired by actual events, finally shifts towards something far more meaningful: Vietnam war veterans struggling with Ptsd and their relationship with heroism.
It’s an intriguing bait-and-switch that is first presented through glimpses of staggering combat sequences and explosions breathtakingly shot by Byron Werner (Robinson’s “Phantom”) intercut with tense tête-à-têtes between Carlton Stanton (Bradley Whitford) and Scott Huffman (Sebastian Stan), Pentagon colleagues flailing after the sudden departure of a high-ranking official.
Also Read: Peter Fonda Got Emotional Seeing His Final Film 'The Last Full Measure' A Month Before He Died
“The Last Full Measure...
- 1/22/2020
- by Candice Frederick
- The Wrap
Delightfully Bizarre Film “Greener Grass” Makes its Blu-ray Debut Feb 11th, 2020 from Scream Factory
Greener Grass Suburban Fever Dream Available on Blu-ray February 11th, 2020 Please keep off the lawn, because the grass might not always be greener on the other side. The weird only gets weirder in this bizarre slideshow of a world of murder, braces, and plastic ball babies. Making its Blu-ray debut February 11th, 2020 from …
The post Delightfully Bizarre Film “Greener Grass” Makes its Blu-ray Debut Feb 11th, 2020 from Scream Factory appeared first on Hnn | Horrornews.net.
The post Delightfully Bizarre Film “Greener Grass” Makes its Blu-ray Debut Feb 11th, 2020 from Scream Factory appeared first on Hnn | Horrornews.net.
- 1/15/2020
- by Adrian Halen
- Horror News
In her review, Heather Wixson wrote that Greener Grass is "...one of the weirdest movies I’ve seen this year...," and if you missed the feature-length directorial debut from Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe (who also co-star in the film) in theaters, Scream Factory is bringing the IFC Midnight movie to Blu-ray on February 11th, and we have a look at the cover art and full list of bonus features:
Press Release: Please keep off the lawn, because the grass might not always be greener on the other side. The weird only gets weirder in this bizarre slideshow of a world of murder, braces, and plastic ball babies. Making its Blu-ray debut February 11th, 2020 from Scream Factory, in conjunction with IFC Midnight, you too can join the neighborhood! This release also includes the original Greener Grass short film as well as deleted scenes as bonus features. Fans can pre-order their copies now by visiting ShoutFactory.
Press Release: Please keep off the lawn, because the grass might not always be greener on the other side. The weird only gets weirder in this bizarre slideshow of a world of murder, braces, and plastic ball babies. Making its Blu-ray debut February 11th, 2020 from Scream Factory, in conjunction with IFC Midnight, you too can join the neighborhood! This release also includes the original Greener Grass short film as well as deleted scenes as bonus features. Fans can pre-order their copies now by visiting ShoutFactory.
- 1/8/2020
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
How was 2019 only 12 months? How did one year contain both the Spielberg vs Netflix feud and the Scorsese vs Marvel dustup? Oh, and it was somehow the same year in which everyone hated the finales of both Star Wars (or at least its Skywalker Saga) and “Game of Thrones.” The mind boggles at simply how much happened in the world of film and TV in 2019. The staff of IndieWire thought it would be worth taking a moment to reflect on our favorite stories of the year. We broke news, made passionate critical arguments, interviewed luminaries from all aspects of the business, and defined the issues, trends, and breakthroughs — and why they matter.
These are the stories we published in 2019 we’re proud of the most. Taken together, it’s a cheat-sheet guide to where the industry is now — and possibly a glimpse of where it’s going.
No, Studios Won’t Buy Theaters,...
These are the stories we published in 2019 we’re proud of the most. Taken together, it’s a cheat-sheet guide to where the industry is now — and possibly a glimpse of where it’s going.
No, Studios Won’t Buy Theaters,...
- 12/31/2019
- by IndieWire Staff
- Indiewire
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today that 344 feature films are eligible for the 2019 Academy Awards.
To be eligible for the consideration, the films must open in a commercial motion picture theater in Los Angeles County by Dec. 31, and begin a minimum run of seven consecutive days. Academy rules also state that a feature-length motion picture must have a running time of more than 40 minutes and must have been exhibited theatrically on 35mm or 70mm film, or in a qualifying digital format.
Nominations for the 92nd Academy Awards will be announced on Monday, Jan. 13, 2020. The ceremony takes place on Sunday, Feb. 9, airing live from Hollywood on ABC.
“Abominable”
“Ad Astra”
“Adam”
“The Addams Family”
“The Aeronauts”
“After the Wedding”
“The Aftermath”
“Aga”
“Aladdin”
“Alita: Battle Angel”
“Always Be My Maybe”
“The Amazing Johnathan”
“American Factory”
“American Woman”
“Angel Has Fallen”
“The Angry Birds Movie 2”
“Anna”
“Annabelle Comes Home...
To be eligible for the consideration, the films must open in a commercial motion picture theater in Los Angeles County by Dec. 31, and begin a minimum run of seven consecutive days. Academy rules also state that a feature-length motion picture must have a running time of more than 40 minutes and must have been exhibited theatrically on 35mm or 70mm film, or in a qualifying digital format.
Nominations for the 92nd Academy Awards will be announced on Monday, Jan. 13, 2020. The ceremony takes place on Sunday, Feb. 9, airing live from Hollywood on ABC.
“Abominable”
“Ad Astra”
“Adam”
“The Addams Family”
“The Aeronauts”
“After the Wedding”
“The Aftermath”
“Aga”
“Aladdin”
“Alita: Battle Angel”
“Always Be My Maybe”
“The Amazing Johnathan”
“American Factory”
“American Woman”
“Angel Has Fallen”
“The Angry Birds Movie 2”
“Anna”
“Annabelle Comes Home...
- 12/18/2019
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
Last year’s Midnight section gave us Greener Grass, The Lodge and Sweetheart. In 2020, it appears that the section is more “worldly” with four foreign selection, while being complemented by a fivesome of American indie projects. At the top of the list: we have the long awaited sophomore feature Bad Hair by Justin Simien — which must have been in post for more than two years. We have Bill Benz directing scribes/stars Carrie Brownstein and Annie Clark in The Nowhere Inn, while Shana Feste has Blumhouse in her backyard with Run Sweetheart Run. Here are the nine selections:
Amulet / United Kingdom — Tomaz, an ex-soldier now homeless in London, is offered a place to stay at a decaying house, inhabited by a young woman and her dying mother.…...
Amulet / United Kingdom — Tomaz, an ex-soldier now homeless in London, is offered a place to stay at a decaying house, inhabited by a young woman and her dying mother.…...
- 12/5/2019
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
‘Relic’. (Photo: Ben King)
Natalie Erika James’ debut feature, psychological horror movie Relic will have its world premiere in the Midnight section of the Sundance Film Festival.
Co-written by James and Christian White, the film stars Emily Mortimer, Robyn Nevin and Bella Heathcote in the tale of three generations of women – daughter, mother and grandmother – who are haunted by a manifestation of aged dementia that takes over their family home.
Carver Films’ Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw produced with Nine Stories’ Jake Gyllenhaal and Riva Marker. Anthony and Joe Russo (directors of Marvel’s Captain America and Avengers franchise), Todd Makurath and Mike Larocca executive produced and co-financed via their upstart studio Agbo, which handles international sales.
It was the second film developed through Screen Australia’s Gender Matters program to go into production, following Ride Like a Girl.
Umbrella will distribute the film funded by Screen Australia and Film Victoria.
Natalie Erika James’ debut feature, psychological horror movie Relic will have its world premiere in the Midnight section of the Sundance Film Festival.
Co-written by James and Christian White, the film stars Emily Mortimer, Robyn Nevin and Bella Heathcote in the tale of three generations of women – daughter, mother and grandmother – who are haunted by a manifestation of aged dementia that takes over their family home.
Carver Films’ Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw produced with Nine Stories’ Jake Gyllenhaal and Riva Marker. Anthony and Joe Russo (directors of Marvel’s Captain America and Avengers franchise), Todd Makurath and Mike Larocca executive produced and co-financed via their upstart studio Agbo, which handles international sales.
It was the second film developed through Screen Australia’s Gender Matters program to go into production, following Ride Like a Girl.
Umbrella will distribute the film funded by Screen Australia and Film Victoria.
- 12/4/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Further new openers include ‘Harriet’, ‘Blue Story’, ‘Greener Grass’.
Disney’s latest blockbuster Frozen II is looking to challenge the highest openings for an animated title in the UK when it launches this weekend.
Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck return to direct this second instalment, which follows sisters Anna and Elsa as they travel to an ancient forest looking for the origin of Elsa’s powers.
The first Frozen opened to £4.8m in December 2013, two weeks later in the year than the second title. It pulled in a £9,368 location average from 508 locations – a wide release, but not fully so.
This...
Disney’s latest blockbuster Frozen II is looking to challenge the highest openings for an animated title in the UK when it launches this weekend.
Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck return to direct this second instalment, which follows sisters Anna and Elsa as they travel to an ancient forest looking for the origin of Elsa’s powers.
The first Frozen opened to £4.8m in December 2013, two weeks later in the year than the second title. It pulled in a £9,368 location average from 508 locations – a wide release, but not fully so.
This...
- 11/22/2019
- by 1101321¦Ben Dalton¦26¦
- ScreenDaily
Best international film nominees include Parasite, Portrait Of A Lady On Fire and The Souvenir.
Uncut Gems and The Lighthouse have emerged as the top contenders for this year’s Film Independent Spirit Awards with five nods apiece while A24 leads the distributor pack on 18 nominations.
Adam Sandler from Uncut Gems will face off against The Lighthouse’s Robert Pattinson and others for best lead male and the Safdie brothers and Robert Eggers are among the best director nominees for each film, respectively.
Other best feature nominees announced on Thursday (21) are A Hidden Life, Clemency, The Farewell and Marriage Story.
Uncut Gems and The Lighthouse have emerged as the top contenders for this year’s Film Independent Spirit Awards with five nods apiece while A24 leads the distributor pack on 18 nominations.
Adam Sandler from Uncut Gems will face off against The Lighthouse’s Robert Pattinson and others for best lead male and the Safdie brothers and Robert Eggers are among the best director nominees for each film, respectively.
Other best feature nominees announced on Thursday (21) are A Hidden Life, Clemency, The Farewell and Marriage Story.
- 11/22/2019
- by 31¦John Hazelton¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Best international film nominees include Parasite, Portrait Of A Lady On Fire and The Souvenir.
Uncut Gems has emerged as the top contender among nominees for this year’s Film Independent Spirit Awards, with the Adam Sandler drama getting nominations in five categories including best feature.
Other best feature nominees are A Hidden Life, Clemency, The Farewell and Marriage Story.
The Lighthouse also got five Spirit Award nominations and other films with multiple citations included Give Me Liberty and Honey Boy with four each and Clemency, Hustlers, The Last Black Man In San Francisco, Luce, Marriage Story and The Third Wife with three each.
Uncut Gems has emerged as the top contender among nominees for this year’s Film Independent Spirit Awards, with the Adam Sandler drama getting nominations in five categories including best feature.
Other best feature nominees are A Hidden Life, Clemency, The Farewell and Marriage Story.
The Lighthouse also got five Spirit Award nominations and other films with multiple citations included Give Me Liberty and Honey Boy with four each and Clemency, Hustlers, The Last Black Man In San Francisco, Luce, Marriage Story and The Third Wife with three each.
- 11/21/2019
- ScreenDaily
The nominations for the 35th Independent Spirit Awards have been announced, and it was a big morning for “The Lighthouse” and “Uncut Gems.” The annual indie awards ceremony is presented by Film Independent and takes place the day before the Academy Awards on the beach in Santa Monica, California. The Spirit Awards have become known over the last decade for showcasing nominees that are a mix of underdog films and higher-profile awards contenders.
It’s important to note the Indie Spirit Awards has a budget ceiling of $22.5 million, meaning any movie made for more than this amount is ineligible for nominations. For this reason, Martin Scorsese’s Netflix-backed “The Irishman” was not eligible for 2020 nominations (the film had a budget north of $150 million). Netflix’s other top Oscar contender, Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story,” is eligible for Spirit Awards and landed a Best Feature nomination. As has become common over the last several years,...
It’s important to note the Indie Spirit Awards has a budget ceiling of $22.5 million, meaning any movie made for more than this amount is ineligible for nominations. For this reason, Martin Scorsese’s Netflix-backed “The Irishman” was not eligible for 2020 nominations (the film had a budget north of $150 million). Netflix’s other top Oscar contender, Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story,” is eligible for Spirit Awards and landed a Best Feature nomination. As has become common over the last several years,...
- 11/21/2019
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
The best examples of surrealist cinema plunge into perturbed characters and enrich their anxiety, giving an audience for their unconscious. The more laborious specimens tend to indulge their weird world too much, and the characters become almost secondary. Greener Grass — the colourful yet aimless debut from Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe (who also star) — has a lot of discombobulating fun, wandering blindly in its bizarre neighbourhood. But it doesn’t delve deep enough into its apparently contented citizens to hold our attention for long.
For me, the surreal experience is always a preferable one. For the first twenty minutes or so, it’s a thrill to simply embrace the madness. The grownups all wear braces, everyone drives around in golf buggies, and children can morph into Golden Retrievers without many, if any, questions. When soccer mum Jill (DeBoer) is watching her boy play badly on the pitch, she, out of nowhere,...
For me, the surreal experience is always a preferable one. For the first twenty minutes or so, it’s a thrill to simply embrace the madness. The grownups all wear braces, everyone drives around in golf buggies, and children can morph into Golden Retrievers without many, if any, questions. When soccer mum Jill (DeBoer) is watching her boy play badly on the pitch, she, out of nowhere,...
- 11/18/2019
- by Euan Franklin
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The term “midnight movie” has a lot of connotations: Alien babies, giant bunny rabbits, kinky sex dungeons galore. It’s the type of film with a cultish following epitomized by “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” “Eraserhead,” “El Topo,” “Donnie Darko,” “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,” not to mention countless horror movies catering to a young, splatter-obsessed male audience.
But these aren’t the whole story. Over the years, the midnight movie has become a vehicle for women and filmmakers of color to explore issues that more mainstream films might not — and this year, a more diverse group of creators is making midnight movies that are more outside-the-box than ever.
Consider “Greener Grass.” The Sundance discovery, in limited release now by IFC Midnight in select markets and on VOD, marks the directorial debut of Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe. Set in a suburban community where everyone wears pastel sundresses, drives golf carts,...
But these aren’t the whole story. Over the years, the midnight movie has become a vehicle for women and filmmakers of color to explore issues that more mainstream films might not — and this year, a more diverse group of creators is making midnight movies that are more outside-the-box than ever.
Consider “Greener Grass.” The Sundance discovery, in limited release now by IFC Midnight in select markets and on VOD, marks the directorial debut of Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe. Set in a suburban community where everyone wears pastel sundresses, drives golf carts,...
- 10/31/2019
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
For this latest review round-up, I’ll be diving into a trio of films that couldn’t be any more different from each other: Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse, The Gallows Act II, and the bizarrely funny Greener Grass from directors and former members of the Upright Citizens Brigade, Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe.
The Lighthouse: Honestly, I’ve struggled with my review of The Lighthouse for quite some time. Not because I didn’t like it—filmmaker Robert Eggers does impressive work here once again—but because I’m not sure how much I have to contribute in the way of real discourse. The film has only been on the festival circuit and in theaters for a relatively short time, and yet I feel like I’ve already seen many great discussions on it that were beyond anything I might bring to the table myself. But suffice to say,...
The Lighthouse: Honestly, I’ve struggled with my review of The Lighthouse for quite some time. Not because I didn’t like it—filmmaker Robert Eggers does impressive work here once again—but because I’m not sure how much I have to contribute in the way of real discourse. The film has only been on the festival circuit and in theaters for a relatively short time, and yet I feel like I’ve already seen many great discussions on it that were beyond anything I might bring to the table myself. But suffice to say,...
- 10/30/2019
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Described as "Stepford Wives on acid," Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe's Greener Grass takes viewers into the surreal depths of suburbia, and with the film now in theaters and expanding its theatrical reach beginning October 25th, we've been provided with an exclusive clip to share with Daily Dead readers!
Below, you can watch a birthday party take a quirky turn in our exclusive clip from Greener Grass. Currently playing in New York and Los Angeles, Greener Grass will be expanding to more theaters starting on October 25th, including:
October 25 -- Los Angeles Market - Alamo Drafthouse Downtown La October 25 -- Los Angeles Market - Arena CineLounge Sunset
Directed by Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe, Greener Grass stars Jocelyn DeBoer, Dawn Luebbe, Beck Bennett, Neil Casey, Mary Holland, and D'Arcy Carden.
Synopsis: "In a day-glo-colored, bizarro version of suburbia where adults wear braces on their already-straight teeth, everyone drives golf carts,...
Below, you can watch a birthday party take a quirky turn in our exclusive clip from Greener Grass. Currently playing in New York and Los Angeles, Greener Grass will be expanding to more theaters starting on October 25th, including:
October 25 -- Los Angeles Market - Alamo Drafthouse Downtown La October 25 -- Los Angeles Market - Arena CineLounge Sunset
Directed by Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe, Greener Grass stars Jocelyn DeBoer, Dawn Luebbe, Beck Bennett, Neil Casey, Mary Holland, and D'Arcy Carden.
Synopsis: "In a day-glo-colored, bizarro version of suburbia where adults wear braces on their already-straight teeth, everyone drives golf carts,...
- 10/24/2019
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
The cinematic equivalent of the popular improv exercise “Yes, and…,” Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe’s feature directorial debut, Greener Grass, opens on an extreme instance of absurdity and gobsmackingly builds from there. In picturesque suburbia, competition runs thick amongst cutthroat nuclear families, neighborhood pool parties are all the rage and mom and dad travel to and from soccer practice via the tacky family golf cart. Co-starring the film’s directors as housewives who develop a grating rivalry, the film opens with Jill (DeBoer) giving up custody of her baby daughter to Lisa (Luebbe). Why does Jill do this? Because Lisa expresses interest […]...
- 10/23/2019
- by Erik Luers
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
The cinematic equivalent of the popular improv exercise “Yes, and…,” Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe’s feature directorial debut, Greener Grass, opens on an extreme instance of absurdity and gobsmackingly builds from there. In picturesque suburbia, competition runs thick amongst cutthroat nuclear families, neighborhood pool parties are all the rage and mom and dad travel to and from soccer practice via the tacky family golf cart. Co-starring the film’s directors as housewives who develop a grating rivalry, the film opens with Jill (DeBoer) giving up custody of her baby daughter to Lisa (Luebbe). Why does Jill do this? Because Lisa expresses interest […]...
- 10/23/2019
- by Erik Luers
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Now playing in New York, Greener Grass is being billed as The Stepford Wives on acid! Today, Dread Central is thrilled to share an exclusive clip from Greener Grass! Check out a “commercial” for Baby Bird embedded at the top of the article. We promise: It’s not what you’re expecting! Synopsis:In a day-glo-colored, bizarro version […]
The post Check Out Our Wtf Exclusive Clip from Suburban Horror Greener Grass appeared first on Dread Central.
The post Check Out Our Wtf Exclusive Clip from Suburban Horror Greener Grass appeared first on Dread Central.
- 10/23/2019
- by Josh Millican
- DreadCentral.com
This weekend saw the release of two new sequels and Disney's Maleficent: Mistress of Evil topped the chart as expected, albeit with a lighter performance than expected. However, Sony's Zombieland: Double Tap came in on the high side of expectations while WB's Joker continued its strong run and will soon top $250 million domestically. Elsewhere, Neon's Parasite, A24's The Lighthouse and Fox Searchlight's Jojo Rabbit all had strong showings in limited release. With an estimated $36 million, Disney's Maleficent: Mistress of Evil opened atop the weekend box office, but failed to reach studio or industry expectations. The performance is also nearly half of the $69.4 million opening for the 2014 original. We saw early signs the film might struggle as noted in our weekend preview when looking at IMDb page view data, but it does appear those that did make their way to theaters to see the follow up enjoyed it,...
- 10/20/2019
- by Brad Brevet <mail@boxofficemojo.com>
- Box Office Mojo
Even before Taika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and won the Audience Award, the World War II satire was getting plenty of attention from Hollywood — because it was a comedy about Hitler. The filmmaker had a cult following after his films Boy, What We Do In the Shadows and Hunt For the Wilderpeople. After Thor: Ragnarok, Waititi’s stock skyrocketed and his fanbase grew. Audiences have been waiting for Jojo Rabbit to hit theaters and with the critical buzz its been getting, Fox Searchlight could possibly expect a delightful weekend.
Also opening this weekend is Feras Fayyad’s The Cave. With his success, acclaim and Oscar nomination for Last Men in Aleppo, his The Cave will certainly be a documentary feature to watch during award season.
Also this weekend, the François Ozon drama By the Grace of God is another deep dive into the child...
Also opening this weekend is Feras Fayyad’s The Cave. With his success, acclaim and Oscar nomination for Last Men in Aleppo, his The Cave will certainly be a documentary feature to watch during award season.
Also this weekend, the François Ozon drama By the Grace of God is another deep dive into the child...
- 10/18/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Critical darlings at the Sundance Film Festival and winners of the Grand Jury Award at the Atlanta Film Festival for their first feature, “Greener Grass,” actors, writers, producers, and directors Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe are primed to break out in the industry in a grand fashion. The comedians, both alumna of the prestigious Upright Citizens Brigade (Ucb) Theatre, have redefined the suburban satire subgenre in an audacious, unique, and immoderately imaginative fashion.
Continue reading Jocelyn DeBoer & Dawn Luebbe On Their Sundance Breakout ‘Greener Grass’ And Ucb Loyalties [Interview] at The Playlist.
Continue reading Jocelyn DeBoer & Dawn Luebbe On Their Sundance Breakout ‘Greener Grass’ And Ucb Loyalties [Interview] at The Playlist.
- 10/18/2019
- by Alex Arabian
- The Playlist
There’s a certain kind of comedy fan most likely to embrace a satire featuring lines like, “I don’t mean to be a Native American-giver, but now that my only child is a dog, would it be possible to get back the baby I gave you?”
If this head-spinning level of absurdity is your thing, “Greener Grass” will be, too. Writer-director-costar team Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe (former members of Upright Citizens Brigade) are sharp parodists, and they spare no one in their evisceration of suburban superficiality. But they’ve expanded this project from their original short film, and the lengthier treatment may incite some moments of okay-we-get-it antsiness from more impatient viewers.
The movie’s biggest asset is DeBoer, who plays sweetly dim soccer mom Jill with a commitment that’s alternately terrifying and heartbreaking. Jill, who works painfully hard to meet her community’s ideal, always wears...
If this head-spinning level of absurdity is your thing, “Greener Grass” will be, too. Writer-director-costar team Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe (former members of Upright Citizens Brigade) are sharp parodists, and they spare no one in their evisceration of suburban superficiality. But they’ve expanded this project from their original short film, and the lengthier treatment may incite some moments of okay-we-get-it antsiness from more impatient viewers.
The movie’s biggest asset is DeBoer, who plays sweetly dim soccer mom Jill with a commitment that’s alternately terrifying and heartbreaking. Jill, who works painfully hard to meet her community’s ideal, always wears...
- 10/17/2019
- by Elizabeth Weitzman
- The Wrap
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