Reel News Daily

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Primary menu

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Hall of Fame
  • Liz’s Reviews & Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Film Festivals
    • Tribeca Film Festival
    • SXSW Film Festival
    • New York Film Festival
    • Fantasia International Film Festival

Tag Archives: kristen stewart

NYFF54 Review: ‘PERSONAL SHOPPER’ shows Kristen Stewart is scary good.

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Liz Whittemore — Leave a reply

nyff54-bannerPERSONAL SHOPPERpersonal-shopper-poster

 

  • Olivier Assayas
  • 2016
  • France
  • French and English with English subtitles
  • 105 minutes

Kristen Stewart is the medium, in more ways than one, for this sophisticated genre exploration from director Olivier Assayas (Clouds of Sils Maria, NYFF 2014). As a fashion assistant whose twin brother has died, leaving her bereft and longing for messages from the other side, Stewart is fragile and enigmatic—and nearly always on-screen. From an opening sequence in a haunted house with an intricately constructed soundtrack to a high-tension, cat-and-mouse game on a trip from Paris to London and back set entirely to text messaging,Personal Shopper brings the psychological and supernatural thriller into the digital age.  An IFC Films release.

kristen-stewart-personal-shopper-stillAfter seeing Stewart and Assayas team up on the NYFF52 film Clouds of Sils Maria, there was doubt that we were in for a unique treat in Personal Shopper. Some might still be skeptical of Stewart’s work if they’ve only been exposed to The Twilight franchise. She admits that it most definitely gave her the option to choose her work. Her indie film roles are nothing short of impressive. Clouds allowed her to be the first American actress to win France’s most prominent Cesar award. Stewart plays Maureen, dealing or not dealing with the death of her twin brother, she floats through life by attending to a spoiled supermodel’s fashion needs all while suspecting her brother is trying to contact her from the beyond. Caught between her own sanity and a murder mystery, Stewart bares all in an emotionally wrought and frightening tale that makes us ponder our own beliefs and life choices. With some of the world’s most beautiful fashion as eye candy, Paris and London as our backgrounds, and the trust Assayas has with his leading lady, I was constantly on edge and intrigued. The pace is great and the use of texting as a major plot point brings technology to the forefront in more than one way. Assasya’ long lingering shots, he admitted in the press conference following the screening, were half by choice and half due to the performance Stewart was giving at any moment in time. Their relationship is very clear as you watch. She is in almost every frame. that is a lot to carry as a young actress, but she 100% owns this film. I was able to ask both Assayas and Stewart if they believed in the paranormal and their answers were perfection. you can watch the footage below. If eerie movies are your thing, then this is most likely one you’re enjoy. If you want to see a gorgeously shot film with a stellar leading lady, this too fits the bill. If you’re open minded about things that are considered other worldly, if nothing else, Personal Shopper begs the question, “Is death the end?”

Press Conference with Olivier Assayas and Kristen Stewart. (I got the final question. Lucky Me.)

Personal Shopper will be in theaters March of 2017 from IFC Films.

Share this!

  • Tweet
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Pocket

Like this:

Like Loading...
Posted in Events, French, Interviews, New York City, Press Conference, Release, Reviews, Trailer, Woman Lead, Women in Film | Tagged Cannes Film Festival, Cesar award, Clouds of Sils Maria, digital age, FilmFestival, ghost story, ifc films, kristen stewart, Liz, london, murder mystery, New York Film Festival, new york film festival, nyff, nyff 2016 liz, nyff liz, nyff2016, NYFF52, nyff54, Olivier Assayas, Paris, Personal Shopper, poster, Review, stills, supernatural, thrlle, twilight | Leave a reply

New trailer for Woody Allen’s latest movie ‘Cafe Society’ – Premiering at Cannes & releasing in Amazon July 15th

Posted on May 10, 2016 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

Cafe Society

CAFÉ SOCIETY will have its world premiere on opening night of the 69th Cannes Film Festival

Amazon Studios & Lionsgate will release CAFÉ SOCIETY on July 15, 2016

Directed and Written by Woody Allen

Starring Jeannie Berlin, Steve Carell, Jesse Eisenberg, Blake Lively, Parker Posey, Kristen Stewart, Corey Stoll, and Ken Stott

Produced by Letty Aronson, Stephen Tenenbaum, and Edward Walson

Set in the 1930s, Woody Allen’s bittersweet romance CAFÉ SOCIETY follows Bronx-born Bobby Dorfman (Jesse Eisenberg) to Hollywood, where he falls in love, and back to New York, where he is swept up in the vibrant world of high society nightclub life.

Centering on events in the lives of Bobby’s colorful Bronx family, the film is a glittering valentine to the movie stars, socialites, playboys, debutantes, politicians, and gangsters who epitomized the excitement and glamour of the age.

Bobby’s family features his relentlessly bickering parents Rose (Jeannie Berlin) and Marty (Ken Stott), his casually amoral gangster brother Ben (Corey Stoll); his good-hearted teacher sister Evelyn (Sari Lennick), and her egghead husband Leonard (Stephen Kunken). For the hooligan Ben, there are no questions that can’t be answered with brute force, but the others are more likely to ponder deeper matters, like right and wrong, life and death, and the commercial viability of religion.

Seeking more out of life, Bobby flees his father’s jewelry store for Hollywood, where he works for his high-powered agent uncle Phil (Steve Carell). He soon falls for Phil’s charming assistant Vonnie (Kristen Stewart), but as she’s involved with another man, he settles for friendship. Bobby also befriends Rad (Parker Posey), a model agency owner, and her husband Steve (Paul Schneider), a wealthy producer.

When Vonnie’s boyfriend breaks up with her, Bobby seizes the opportunity to romance her, and she ultimately returns his affections. When he asks her to marry him and move to New York, she is tempted, but things do not go as smoothly as planned.

Heartbroken, Bobby returns to New York, where he begins working for Ben, who has muscled his way into owning a nightclub. Bobby displays natural talents as an impresario and swiftly promotes the club into the hottest in town, renaming it “Les Tropiques.”  Rad introduces him to the beautiful socialite Veronica (Blake Lively) and he courts her assiduously. Although he is still carrying a torch for Vonnie, when Veronica reveals she’s pregnant, they marry and begin a genuinely happy life together.

Everything seems to have fallen into place for Bobby until the night Vonnie walks into “Les Tropiques.”

Poignant, and often hilarious, CAFÉ SOCIETY, a film with a novel’s sweep, takes us on a journey from pastel-clad dealmakers in plush Hollywood mansions, to the quarrels and tribulations of a humble Bronx family, to the rough-and-tumble violence of New York gangsters, to the sparkling surfaces and secret scandals of Manhattan high life.

With CAFÉ SOCIETY, Woody Allen conjures up a 1930s world that has passed to tell a deeply romantic tale of dreams that never die.

For more info Facebook | Twitter

Share this!

  • Tweet
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Pocket

Like this:

Like Loading...
Posted in Amazon Prime, Film Festival, New York Film Festival | Tagged amazon, black lively, cafe society, Cannes, corey stoll, jeannie berlin, jesse eisenberg, Ken Stott, kristen stewart, Parker Posey, Steve Carell, woody allen | Leave a reply

New ‘American Ultra’ Trailer has Arrived

Posted on July 31, 2015 by Michael Petrelli — Leave a reply

american-ultra-poster-4

Lionsgate has released the new trailer for the upcoming stoner comedy American Ultra starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart and we have it for you below!

American Ultra is a fast-paced action comedy about Mike [Eisenberg], a seemingly hapless and unmotivated stoner whose small-town life with his live-in girlfriend, Phoebe [Stewart], is suddenly turned upside down. Unbeknownst to him, Mike is actually a highly trained, lethal sleeper agent. In the blink of an eye, as his secret past comes back to haunt him, Mike is thrust into the middle of a deadly government operation and is forced to summon his inner action-hero in order to survive.

American Ultra hits theaters on August 21st

 

Share this!

  • Tweet
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Pocket

Like this:

Like Loading...
Posted in News, Trailer | Tagged American Ultra, jesse eisenberg, kristen stewart | Leave a reply

SDCC: New poster for ‘American Ultra’ with Kristen Stewart & Jesse Eisenberg

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

American Ultra SDCC posterAMERICAN ULTRA
In Theaters August 21

American Ultra is a fast-paced action comedy about Mike (Eisenberg), a seemingly hapless and unmotivated stoner whose small-town life with his live-in girlfriend, Phoebe (Stewart), is suddenly turned upside down.  Unbeknownst to him, Mike is actually a highly trained, lethal sleeper agent. In the blink of an eye, as his secret past comes back to haunt him, Mike is thrust into the middle of a deadly government operation and is forced to summon his inner action-hero in order to survive. 
Directed by: Nima Nourizadeh
Written by: Max Landis
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Connie Britton, Topher Grace, Tony Hale, John Leguizamo, Bill Pullman & Walton Goggins
Produced by: Anthony Bregman, Kevin Frakes, Raj Brinder Singh, David Alpert, Britton Rizzio
Genre: Action/Comedy

IH7A9142.CR2

IH7A9142.CR2

Share this!

  • Tweet
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Pocket

Like this:

Like Loading...
Posted in News | Tagged American Ultra, Comic-Con, jesse eisenberg, kristen stewart, lionsgate, San Diego Comic Con | Leave a reply

Trailer and Posters for Stoner Comedy ‘American Ultra’ Starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart Have Arrived!

Posted on May 31, 2015 by Michael Petrelli — Leave a reply

AU_04043_R_CROPThe green and red band trailers for the new comedy American Ultra starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart have arrived and we have them for you below!

American Ultra is a fast-paced action comedy about Mike (Eisenberg), a seemingly hapless and unmotivated stoner whose small-town life with his live-in girlfriend, Phoebe (Stewart), is suddenly turned upside down.  Unbeknownst to him, Mike is actually a highly trained, lethal sleeper agent. In the blink of an eye, as his secret past comes back to haunt him, Mike is thrust into the middle of a deadly government operation and is forced to summon his inner action-hero in order to survive.

The film also stars Connie Britton, Topher Grace, Tony Hale, John Leguizamo, Bill Pullman and Walton Goggins. The film is directed by Nima Nourizadeh (Project X) and is produced by Anthony Bregman, Kevin Frakes, Raj Brinder Singh, David Alpert, and Britton Rizzio

American Ultra arrives in theaters August 21st

Green band (Safe for work)

Red band (NSFW)

 

FIN03_AmerUltra_1Sht_Tsr_JE_VF FIN03_AmerUltra_1Sht_Tsr_KS_VF

Share this!

  • Tweet
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Pocket

Like this:

Like Loading...
Posted in News, Trailer | Tagged American Ultra, Bill Pullman, connie britton, jesse eisenberg, John Leguizamo, kristen stewart, Nima Nourizadeh, Tony Hale, topher grace, Walton Goggins | Leave a reply

Best of the Fest: Liz & Melissa’s 22 Favorite Narratives & Documentaries from the Tribeca Film Festival!

Posted on April 28, 2015 by Melissa Hanson — Leave a reply

tribeca film festival 2015 logo

It was a fabulous eleven days filled with movies and interviews, and now it’s time for us to reflect on our favorites. Enjoy!

Favorite Comedies

Grandma_Press_1 TribecaGrandma – releasing August 21st

Reeling from a recent breakup and still mourning the loss of her longtime partner, once-famous poet Elle Reid (Lily Tomlin) is surprised to find her teenage granddaughter on her doorstep in need of $600 and a ride. The two embark on an all-day road trip that ends up rattling skeletons and digging up secrets all over town. Co-starring Julia Garner, Marcia Gay Harden, Judy Greer, Laverne Cox, and Sam Elliott.

We’ve only gotten a tease of Tomlin over the past few years, but she’s back with a comedic performance that rivals any dramatic one. So wrong, yet so perfect, her delivery gives the dialogue an extra edge that almost makes you feel guilty as you laugh out loud. I can’t wait to see her and Jane Fonda in Grace and Frankie on Netflix. – Melissa

 

Tomlin is an indisputable legend. Her comic timing is like watching Mozart create a symphony. This film is an absolute gem that tackles so many relevant issues without one ounce of preachiness. I have always been a huge fan and I am crossing my fingers this garners her an Oscar nod. -Liz

Jack (Simon Pegg) and Nancy (Lake Bell) in Ben Palmer’s Man UpMan Up – releasing May 29th in the UK, no US release set

When perpetually single Nancy (Lake Bell) is mistaken for a charming stranger’s (Simon Pegg) blind-date, she just goes with it, leading to a series of escalating adventures for the two mismatched lovebirds in Ben Palmer’s hilarious romantic comedy.

This could have been another boring rom-com, but the trifecta of story, dialogue and performances make it my new favorite “meet cute.” – Melissa

 

Pegg and Bell are an unlikely duo but let me say this is perfect casting. Their chemistry is super believable and laugh out loud funny from start to finish. Do not pigeon hole this flick, it is a riot for everyone. -Liz

OVERNIGHT_Press_2 TribecaThe Overnight – releasing June 19th

Alex and Emily have just moved to LA with their young son. Eager to make new friends, they accept an invitation to a party from the father of their son’s playground mate. After the kids fall asleep, the “playdate” takes a bizarre turn in this racy and hilarious romp. Featuring Judith Godrèche, Taylor Schilling, Jason Schwartzman, and Adam Scott.

Filled with many twists and turns, you won’t know where the next laugh will take you as these two couples get to know each other. Sharing their hopes, fears and extracurricular hobbies, it all happens so naturally and with the utmost hilarity. – Melissa

 

This crazy funny adult comedy puts to rest the notion that hyper-sexual has to be boring or slapstick. This is actually a really thoughtful script and with a cast like this, you cannot go wrong. -Liz

Sleeping With Other People_Press_1 TribecaSleeping With Other People – releasing August 21st

Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie star as two romantic failures whose years of serial infidelity and self-sabotage have led them to swear that their relationship will remain strictly platonic. But can love still bloom while you’re sleeping with other people? Writer/director Leslye Headland’s (Bachelorette) sexy romantic comedy co-stars Amanda Peet, Adam Scott, and Natasha Lyonne.

The “platonic friends” comedy is so overdone, but it’s been reborn with Jason Sudekis and Alison Brie. With over-the-top intimate dialogue, honesty is the best policy when it comes to modern relationships. One of the funniest movies of the year. – Melissa

 

This film may appear to be formulaic at first glance, but I assure you, you have no idea what you’re in for. One of the best and most honest pieces of dialogue since This is 40, Sudeikis and Brie kill it with the funny as two people with some serious intimacy issues. -Liz


Favorite Dramas

ANESTHESIA_Press_2 TribecaAnesthesia

On a snowy night in New York City, a Columbia professor is brutally mugged on the doorsteps of an apartment building. Director Tim Blake Nelson’s haunting meditation of city life traces the chain of events that precipitate the attack, examining the inextricable and unforeseen forces that bring a group of disparate individuals together. Featuring a star-studded ensemble including Sam Waterston, Kristen Stewart, Glenn Close, and Cory Stoll.

Make sure you pay attention and get ready for dialogue that is a hyper-intellectual mental workout. It’s heavy but hopeful and filled with brilliant performances.- Melissa

 

This film’s multiple narrative style is something reminiscent of Traffic or Third Person. Beautifully based on philosophical notions, the audience is treated to a peak inside the lives of a handful of New Yorkers. With a jam packed cast of superb talent, Tim Blake Nelson brings everything to the table and succeeds, wildly. – Liz

Bare_Press_1 TribecaBare

Sarah’s (Dianna Agron) mundane life in a Nevada desert town is turned upside down with the arrival of Pepper (Paz de la Huerta), a mysterious female drifter, who leads her into a life of seedy strip clubs and illicit drugs. Their passion inspires Sarah to break free of her past and seek out a new life of her own.

It’s a story that could be told of any small town. It never attempts to explain anything, which actually gives it much more credibility.  – Melissa

 

In Agron’s first truly adult role, she shines as a small town girl trying to find her escape. Big dreams and little self esteem lead to a complex script and a stellar performance.   -Liz

The Driftless AreaThe Driftless Area

Pierre Hunter (Anton Yelchin), a bartender with unyielding optimism, returns to his tiny hometown after his parents’ death. When he falls for the enigmatic Stella (Zooey Deschanel), Pierre is unknowingly pulled into a cat-and-mouse game that involves a duffel bag full of cash, a haphazard yet determined criminal (John Hawkes), and a mystery that will determine all of their fates. With Alia Shawkat, Frank Langella, Aubrey Plaza, and Ciarán Hinds.

To say that The Driftless Area is cryptic is an understatement. I’m still not quite sure what happened, but the characters are so complex and interwoven that even though you’re confused, you can’t wait to see what happens next. – Melissa (read full review here)

Meadowland_Press_1 TribecaMeadowland

Sarah and Phil’s son goes missing, shattering their life together and forcing each to find their own way to cope. Cinematographer-turned-director Reed Morano presents a masterfully crafted contemplation on a relationship strained to the breaking point. Olivia Wilde and Luke Wilson capture the unraveling emotions with remarkable power, alongside Kevin Corrigan, John Leguizamo, Elisabeth Moss, Giovanni Ribisi, Juno Temple, and Merritt Wever.

This emotionally heavy story will kick you in the gut. How does one cope after the loss of a child? Do marriages survive? Can we be saved? These are all questions in an intense script lead by a masterful performance from Wilde. Following up her insane roller coaster role in Third Person, Wilde proves once again that she’s way more than a pretty face. Cast her in all the things, immediately! – Liz

Tumbledown_Press_1 TribecaTumbledown

Years after the accidental death of her folk-singer husband, Hannah (Rebecca Hall) has yet to fully accept her small-town life without him. Then she is approached by a charming New York writer (Jason Sudeikis) intent on penning a biography of her late husband’s life, and Hannah finds herself opening up again. Also featuring performances by Dianna Agron, Blythe Danner, Griffin Dunne, Joe Manganiello, and Richard Masur.

This was a film near and dear to my heart, based on plot and circumstance. The filmmakers and cast hit the nail on the head when it came to recreating a small New England town in Maine and the effect a death has upon it’s entire population. Loss and grief are combined with super smart writing. Sudeikis and Hall own these roles. – Liz

(read full review & podcast of interviews here)

Virgin Mountain TribecaVirgin Mountain

Fúsi is a mammoth of a man who at 43-years-old is still living at home with his mother. Shy and awkward, he hasn’t quite learned how to socialize with others, leaving him as an untouchable inexperienced virgin. That is until his family pushes him to join a dance class, where he meets the equally innocent but playful Sjöfn.

Heartbreaking, yet hopeful, this Jury award winner for narrative and lead performance will grab ahold of you and squeeze. – Melissa

 

This was one of the most endearing films I’ve seen lately. The “I think I can” attitude and transformation of the lead is so compelling from the very beginning. You cannot help but root for this character. -Liz

When I Live My Life Over Again-00002 TribecaWhen I Live My Life Over Again

Jude (Amber Heard) is a would-be singer-songwriter still struggling to make her mark. Cash-strapped and homeless, she begrudgingly returns to the Hamptons home of her father (Christopher Walken), an over-the-hill crooner desperately charting his musical comeback, in this spunky, soulful dramedy about the personal costs of artistic ambition and the bonds that carry us through.

Christopher Walken is charming and tragic. The dialogue is so subtle and natural, you’d think you were watching a documentary. The dining table scene alone is worth the price of admission. – Melissa

 

The tremendously organic dialogue in this film is top notch. It’s an honest portrait of family dynamics we can all relate to on some inherent level. Walken is a gem, as always, and I was blown away by Heard’s level of comfort behind a guitar and piano. Color me impressed.- Liz


Favorite Scary

Backtrack_Press_2 TribecaBacktrack – acquired by Saban Films

In this spine-tingling supernatural thriller, troubled psychotherapist Peter Bowers (Adrien Brody) is suffering from nightmares and eerie visions. When he uncovers a horrifying secret that all of his patients share, he is put on a course that takes him back to the small hometown he fled years ago. There he confronts his demons and unravels a mystery 20 years in the making.

I liked this film as the credits rolled. Speaking of credits, the opening sequence is one of the most beautiful and creative I’ve seen in some time. As I hashed out all the little moments in the script, the makeup, the music, I adored this film. Very smart writing and some really nicely timed jump scares. File this film under paranormal- thriller. -Liz

Hungry Hearts_0341Hungry Hearts – releasing June 5th

After a chance meeting and a whirlwind romance in New York City, Jude (Adam Driver) and Mina (Alba Rohrwacher) become pregnant. Convinced their child will be harmed by the pollutions in the outside world, Mina becomes consumed by protecting her baby, forcing Jude to recognize a terrible truth about why his son’s life could be in danger.

Told like a 70s horror flick, this is a Rosemary’s Baby kind of scary. Crazy camera angles and eerie music make this a very unsettling story that will leave you shivering. – Melissa


Favorite Documentaries

Birth of Sake_Press_2The Birth of Sake

Traditional and labor-intensive, the production of Saké has changed very little over the centuries. Erik Shirai’s love song to the artisans who have dedicated their lives to carrying on this increasingly rare artform follows the round-the-clock process for six straight months, offering a rare glimpse into a family-run brewery that’s been operating for over 100 years.

The gorgeous imagery is enhanced by slowmotion and a calming score. Whether you’re a lover of saké or not, you’ll appreciate the amount of work that goes into its creation. – Melissa (3 docs you must see)

 

Visually breathtaking  with a whole lot of heart, this doc was so enjoyable  for me to watch. It is  akin to a work of art and could easily (and should be) shown on a constant loop in museums. -Liz

Code_web_02CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap

At a time, according to this Utah County recruitment agency experts, in the United States when the tech sector outpaces the overall growth of the employment market, CODE asks the important question: Where are all the women?

Instead of focusing on one aspect of the gender gap in coding, this film really shows that everyone has something to give. The field of information technology is only getting bigger and we need all hands on deck. The more diverse the people building the future technologies are, the better the world is for it. – Melissa (3 docs you must see)

Crocodile Gennadiy imageCrocodile Gennadiy

Crocodile Gennadiy, real-life, self-appointed savior, who works tirelessly to rescue homeless, drug-addicted youth from the streets of Mariupol, Ukraine. At the same time, he challenges dealers and abusers. Despite criticism, Gennadiy is determined to continue his work. Sundance Award-winning director Steve Hoover’s second feature is a bold portrait of a man on a mission.

Doing what’s right is the main point of this extraordinary documentary. Saving the lives of innocent children that are being taken advantage of by a broken system mired in poverty, Gennodiy is the perfect example of what religion should look like. – Liz  (read interview here)

Democrats stillDemocrats

In the wake of Robert Mugabe’s highly criticized 2008 presidential win, a constitutional committee was created in an effort to transition Zimbabwe away from authoritarian leadership. With unprecedented access to the two political rivals overseeing the committee, this riveting, firsthand account of a country’s fraught first steps towards democracy plays at once like an intimate political thriller and unlikely buddy film.

The bravery of these people to be on film, speaking in the manners they do is enough to cheer for. Getting an honest look inside a corrupted political system outside our own is astonishing. Take note America.- Liz  (read review here)

DREAM KILLER_Press_1 TribecaDream/Killer

In the fall of 2005, 21-year-old Ryan Ferguson received a 40-year prison sentence for a murder that he did not commit. Over the next ten years, his father Bill engages in a tireless crusade to prove Ryan’s innocence. Interspersed with footage from the Ferguson family archive, Andrew Jenks’ film looks at the personal consequences of a wrongful conviction.

One of the most frustrating docs to watch, you learn just how lost our justice system can be. Unexpected and shocking, the combination of footage, audio, and interviews makes for one hell of a story. -Liz  (read review & interview here)

Exclusive Closing Night "Monty Python Live (Mostly)"Monty Python: The Meaning of Live

While perhaps best known for its eminently quotable films, Monty Python has performed its signature, surreal humor in live shows since the group’s earliest days. Dive into the history of Python’s stage work and the genesis of some of its most well-known pieces as they prepare for their last-ever live show. Monty Python: the Meaning of Life is a hilarious and illuminating survey of the process behind the Python.

I saw my first Monty Python films at the age of 13. Why it took me that long, I’ll never know. I have my theater friends to thank for introducing me into a world of absolute insanity and brilliance. This is an awesome look inside  the relationships between some of your most memorable laughs and the men behind them. -Liz

Orion is his iconic eagle suit. Photo credit Sun Records

Orion is his iconic eagle suit. Photo credit Sun Records

Orion: The Man Who Would Be King

Millions of Americans clung to the hope that Elvis Presley faked his death. For the executives at Sun Records that fantasy became an opportunity in the form of Orion, a mysterious masked performer with the voice of The King. But who was the man behind the mask? In this stranger-than-fiction true story, Jeanie Finlay explores a life led in service to those who couldn’t let Elvis go.

Everyone has heard of Elvis, but only a fraction have heard of Orion aka Jimmy Ellis. When Jimmy Ellis sang, he sounded like the legendary Elvis. His talent was brought to new heights when Elvis died and people didn’t want to let go. Never an impersonator, Jimmy did capitalize on this coincidence and attempt stardom on his own. – Melissa (read review here)

Artwork from "That Dragon, Cancer".Credit: That Dragon, Cancer

Artwork from “That Dragon, Cancer”.Credit: That Dragon, Cancer

Thank You For Playing

For the past two years, Ryan and Amy Green have been working on That Dragon, Cancer, a videogame about their son Joel’s fight against that disease. Following the family through the creation of the game and the day-to-day realities of Joel’s treatment, David Osit and Malika Zouhali-Worrall create a moving testament to the joy and heartbreak of raising a terminally ill child.

Fair warning: bring an entire box of tissues with you to this truly important and thoughtfully crafted film. If most of us are being honest, usually when we see commercials for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital we change the channel, but in this instance we come to know and love the members of the Green family. Understanding “That Dragon Cancer ” is the only way to help save lives and support those  on their journey. Using art as an outlet for grief is a transformative way to share an experience, good or bad. – Liz

Wolfpack_Press_1 TribecaThe Wolfpack – releasing June 19th

Everything the Angulo brothers know about the outside world they learned from obsessively watching movies. Shut away from bustling New York City by their overprotective father, they cope with their isolation by diligently re-enacting their favorite films. When one of the brothers escapes, the world as they know it will be transformed.

Something about this film grabbed my heart and held it for it’s entirety. These kids are among us here in NYC, but you’d never know since they’ve been essentially held captive their entire lives. The intense detail  in which these brothers re-create their favorite films is unreal. Their passion and intelligence should be on view for all the world to see and enjoy.- Liz

Share this!

  • Tweet
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Pocket

Like this:

Like Loading...
Posted in Film Festival, Interviews, Lists, New York Film Festival, Release, Reviews, Top Rated, Tribeca Film Festival | Tagged adam driver, Adam Scott, adrien brody, Alba Rohrwacher, ALIA SHAWKAT, Alison Brie, amber heard, Andrew Jenks, anesthesia, Anton Yelchin, aubrey plaza, backtrack, bare, ben palmer, birth of sake, blythe danner, christopher walken, Ciarán Hinds, code debugging the gender gap, cory stoll, Crocodile Gennadiy, Democrats, dianna agron, dream/kiler, FilmFestival, Frank Langella, Glenn Close, grandma, griffin dunne, hungry hearts, jason schwartzman, Jason Sudeikis, Joe Manganiello, John Hawkes, Judy Greer, Julia Garner, kristen stewart, lake bell, Laverne Cox, lily tomlin, Liz, luke wilson, man up, Marcia Gay Harden, meadowland, Melissa, monty python meaning of live, Olivia Wilde, orion, orion the man who would be king, rebecca hall, richard masur, sam elliott, sam neill, sam waterston, simon pegg, sleeping with other people, taylor schilling, tff, tff2015, tff2015 melissa, thank you for playing, the driftless area, the overnight, The Wolfpack, Third Person, Tim Blake Nelson, Tribeca Film Festival, Tumbledown, virgin mountain, When I Live My Life Over Again, Zooey Deschanel | Leave a reply

The 35th Annual Razzies Awards Nominees Have Been Announced

Posted on January 14, 2015 by Michael Petrelli — Leave a reply

Razzie-Awards-2012

For the 35th year, The Golden Raspberry Award Foundation has announced their nominations for the Razzie Awards. You can check out the list of films and performances deemed to be the absolute worst Hollywood has to offer below… Read More →

Share this!

  • Tweet
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Pocket

Like this:

Like Loading...
Posted in News, Oscars | Tagged Adam Sandler, annie, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Atlas Shrugged, Ben Affleck, Brigitte Ridenour, Cameron Diaz, Charlize Theron, Darren Doane, Drew Barrymore, Gaia Weiss, Jason Segel, Jennifer Aniston, Jonathan Liebesman, Keanu Reeves, Kellan Lutz, Kelsey Grammer, Kiefer Sutherland, Kirk Cameron, Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas, kristen stewart, Left Behind, megan fox, Mel Gibson, Melissa McCarthy, michael bay, Mike Myers, Nicola Peltz, nicolas cage, razzies, Renny Harlin, Seth MacFarlane, sex tape, Shaquille O'Neal, susan sarandon, teenage mutant ninja turtles, The Legend of Hercules, Transformers: Age of Extinction | Leave a reply

Jeremy’s Review: Peter Sattler’s ‘Camp X-Ray’ Captures Some Strong Performances and Nearly Delivers on Its Premise

Posted on October 25, 2014 by Jeremy Harmon — Leave a reply

CAMPXRAY_FINISH_27x40_1_rgbThirteen years after we first waged war in response to the September 11 attacks in New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania, we are still seeing a trickling of films addressing the consequences of the invasions of both Afghanistan and Iraq. While there have been some great ones, the bulk of them have been documentaries – Hornet’s Nest, Restrepo and Standard Operating Procedure come to mind, while narrative films haven’t had quite the same success, The Hurt Locker winning Best Picture in 2009 being the shining example. There hasn’t been the same connection to the plight of the soldiers in these wars as, say, those who fought in Vietnam with Apocalypse Now, Platoon, Coming Home, The Deer Hunter and Full Metal Jacket leading the critical praise. Camp X-Ray is writer/director Peter Sattler‘s entry into the post-9/11 film mix. a film that hits some high points, but ultimately doesn’t capitalize on an interesting premise. Read More →

Share this!

  • Tweet
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Pocket

Like this:

Like Loading...
Posted in Features, in theaters, Jeremy, Reviews, Streaming, Woman Lead, Women in Film | Tagged apocalypse now, best picture, camp x-ray, clarice starling, coming home, deer hunter, ebola, full metal jacket, guantanamo bay, hannibal lecter, Harry Potter, hornet's nest, hurt locker, invisible war, ISIS, kirby dick, kristen stewart, luke garrison, peter sattler, peyman maadi, platoon, restrepo, silence of the lambs, standard operating procedure, war on terror | Leave a reply

Recent Reviews

  • ‘THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME’ (2025) | Tickets on Sale TodayLiz Whittemore
  • ‘THE RUSE’ (2025) A clever, twisted bait and switch.Liz Whittemore
  • (NYAFF 2025) The New York African Film Festival, now underway at Film at Lincoln CenterLiz Whittemore
  • FANTASIA UNVEILS VIVID FIRST WAVE OF TITLES FOR ITS 29th EDITIONLiz Whittemore
  • ‘ROSARIO’ (2025) Horror, culture, and grief collideLiz Whittemore
  • ‘THE MOOGAI’ (2025) Jon Bell expands his 2021 short folk horror into a trauma filled feature.Liz Whittemore
  • ‘PÁRVULOS: CHILDREN OF THE APOCALYPSE’ (2025) One of last year’s best gets a June release. Check out the trailer!Liz Whittemore
  • ‘EGGHEAD & TWINKIE’ (2025) The perfect Gen-Z rom-com finally gets a release date!Liz Whittemore
  • ‘UNBROKEN’ (2025) Netflix honors Holocaust Remembrance Day with release of astounding docLiz Whittemore
  • ‘FRÉWAKA’ (2025) Shudder original delivers Irish folk-horror at its finestLiz Whittemore

Amazon Prime Reviews

  • Amazon MGM’s studios’ undeniably charming ‘SUPERBOYS OF MALEGAON’ (2025) finally hits theatres this Friday!!Liz Whittemore
  • Review: ‘MERRY GOOD ENOUGH’ marries mental health and holiday hijinks in the most grounded fashionLiz Whittemore
  • Review: Based on a true story, Marvin Samel’s very personal ‘iMordecai’ boasts compelling performances from Judd Hirsch, Carol Kane, and Sean Astin.Liz Whittemore

Netflix Reviews

  • ‘UNBROKEN’ (2025) Netflix honors Holocaust Remembrance Day with release of astounding docLiz Whittemore
  • The Deliverance (2024) | Lee Daniels | Official Trailer | Netflix horror looks terrifyingLiz Whittemore
  • Tribeca 2023 Netflix documentary review: ‘TAKE CARE OF MAYA’ is one family’s fight for justice against a Munchausen syndrome by proxy allegation.Liz Whittemore

To Rent/Buy

  • ‘PÁRVULOS: CHILDREN OF THE APOCALYPSE’ (2025) One of last year’s best gets a June release. Check out the trailer! April 30, 2025
  • ‘EGGHEAD & TWINKIE’ (2025) The perfect Gen-Z rom-com finally gets a release date! April 28, 2025
  • ‘DADDY’ (2025) The terrifying consequences of dragging emotional baggage into parenthood. April 11, 2025
Copyright © 2025 Reel News Daily All Rights Reserved.
Theme: Catch Evolution by Catch Themes
 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.

    %d