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Tag: carla-gugino

  • Carla Gugino Joins ‘The Adventures of Cliff Booth’

    (Left) Carla Gugino as Verna in 'The Fall of the House of Usher.' Photo: Eike Schroter/Netflix © 2023. (Right) Brad Pitt in 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.' Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.
    (Left) Carla Gugino as Verna in ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’ Photo: Eike Schroter/Netflix © 2023. (Right) Brad Pitt in ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.’ Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.

    Preview:

    • Carla Gugino is the latest to join the ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’ follow-up.
    • ‘The Adventures of Cliff Booth’ will star Brad Pitt.
    • David Fincher is the director.

    As David Fincher continues the preparation work to shoot the follow-up to Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood’ (yes, take a moment to keep convincing yourself that this surprising project exists), he’s added another cast member to the ensemble.

    The movie, which we now know is called ‘The Adventures of Cliff Booth’ will find Brad Pitt reprising his role as the stuntman character from Tarantino’s 2019 film, and will also boast Carla Gugino in its cast.

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    Deadline brings word of Gugino’s casting, but there are zero details about who she’ll be playing. We’re honestly just happy to see her added to the movie.

    Related Article: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Joins the Cast of ‘The Adventures of Cliff Booth’

    What do we know about the ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’ follow-up?

    Brad Pitt as Cliff Booth in 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.' Photo: Sony Pictures.
    Brad Pitt as Cliff Booth in ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.’ Photo: Sony Pictures.

    We know that this riff on ‘Once’s Booth character –– the movie isn’t strictly a sequel,  more a spin-off ––is something that Tarantino was noodling with and could potentially have been born from his scrapped script ‘The Movie Critic,’ which supposedly included Pitt.

    Now QT has turned it into a new script, and with both Fincher and Pitt aboard, Netflix has put together the deal, which will probably end up being around a $200 million budget (the streamer reportedly paid a cool $20 million for the script) to shoot in California this July. We’re talking real fast track here.

    But what of Sony, which released ‘Once?’ A couple of things… it has a deal to send much of its output to Netflix and ‘Once’ was a special case anyway; Tarantino’s deal for the original included him hanging on to certain rights. Presumably, he could take Cliff where he wanted.

    Handing it to Fincher is no bad compromise if we’re not to get another slice of that character from his creator alone.

    There’s more! Reporter Jeff Sneider is adding to the story, bringing word that Leonardo DiCaprio has been trying to hash out a deal to also appear in the movie. It’s not yet closed and he may not even end up in the movie, but surely the appeal of A) another Tarantino script, B) working with Fincher and reuniting with Pitt is strong.

    What was the story of ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’?

    (L to R) Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt star in 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.'
    (L to R) Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt star in ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.’

    Tarantino’s original movie is set during the summer of 1969, as Hollywood’s Golden Age is winding down.

    Television actor Rick Dalton (DiCaprio) and his stunt double Booth endeavor to achieve lasting success in Hollywood while meeting several colorful characters along the way.

    Not the least is Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie), who in this alternate version of history ends up saved from death by the members of the Manson family.

    The cast also included the likes of Emile Hirsch, Austin Butler, Julia Butters, Margaret Qualley, Timothy Olyphant, Dakota Fanning, Luke Perry, Damian Lewis, Al Pacino, Lena Dunham, Maya Hawke, Sydney Sweeney, and Mikey Madison.

    Where else have we seen Carla Gugino?

    Carla Gugino as Verna in 'The Fall of the House of Usher' Photo: Eike Schroter/Netflix © 2023.
    Carla Gugino as Verna in ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ Photo: Eike Schroter/Netflix © 2023.

    Gugino might be best known for her appearance in Zack ‘Snyder’s ‘Watchmen’, but she’s enjoyed a lengthy and varied career including recent work in ‘The Friend’ and ‘Lisa Frankenstein’.

    She’s no stranger to Netflix either, as a longstanding cast member of Mike Flanagan’s projects, including ‘Gerald’s Game’, ‘The Haunting of Hill House’, ‘Midnight Mass’ and ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’

    For ‘The Adventures of Cliff Booth’, Gugino joins Scott Caan and Elizabeth Debicki, alongside Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who was the most recent person cast.

    When will ‘The Adventures of Cliff Booth’ be in theaters?

    Fincher is looking to shoot this one later in the year, so it seems this will likely arrive next year.

    But will it be on a big or small screen? While Fincher and Pitt are certainly big names, the director didn’t warrant a theatrical release for his previous movie, ‘The Killer,’ despite his established professional relationship with the streaming service.

    Still… a follow-up to a Tarantino movie? Starring Brad Pitt and potentially Leonardo DiCaprio? Surely a candidate for at least a limited theatrical push.

    Oscar® nominee, Quentin Tarantino arrives on the red carpet of The 92nd Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 9, 2020. Credit/Provider: Nick Agro / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.
    Oscar® nominee, Quentin Tarantino arrives on the red carpet of The 92nd Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 9, 2020. Credit/Provider: Nick Agro / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

    Movies Directed by Quentin Tarantino:

    Buy Quentin Tarantino Movies on Amazon

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  • ‘The Life of Chuck’ Interview: Tom Hiddleston

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    Opening in select theaters on June 6th before opening nationwide on June 13th is ‘The Life of Chuck’, which was written and directed by Mike Flanagan (‘Doctor Sleep‘) and based on author Stephen King’s 2020 novella of the same name.

    The film stars Tom Hiddleston (‘Loki’) in the title role, and features Chiwetel Ejiofor (‘Doctor Strange’), Karen Gillan (‘Guardians of the Galaxy’), Jacob Tremblay (‘Room’), Annalise Basso (‘Captain Fantastic’), Carl Lumbly (‘Captain America: Brave New World’), Mia Sara (‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’), and Mark Hamill (‘Star Wars’).

    Related Article: 20 Best Stephen King Movie Adaptations in Honor of ‘The Life of Chuck’

    Tom Hiddleston stars in 'The Life of Chuck'.
    Tom Hiddleston stars in ‘The Life of Chuck’.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Tom Hiddleston about his work on ‘The Life of Chuck’, his first reaction to the screenplay by Mike Flanagan and the way he adapted Stephen King’s source material, and the challenges of preparing for and shooting the massive dance sequence.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Karen Gillan.

    Tom Hiddleston stars in 'The Life of Chuck'. Photo: Neon.
    Tom Hiddleston stars in ‘The Life of Chuck’. Photo: Neon.

    Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and the way Mike Flanagan was able to adapt Stephen King’s source material?

    Tom Hiddleston: I remember it so clearly. It was Easter of 2023 and I read it in a single sitting. In the UK, the Monday after Easter is a public holiday, so it’s a day off. Bank Holiday Monday, we call it. I was so moved and inspired by what I read because initially I felt like, I was so intrigued by the first act. It felt like a film about the end of the world, but with such tenderness and such truthfulness about the uncertainty of that experience through Marty and Felicia, the characters played by Chiwetel Ejiofor and Karen Gillan. Also, because I had the letter from Mike, I knew he’d asked me to play Chuck and just like everybody else, I was like, well, who’s Chuck? Who is this guy? Then when it was revealed, what was happening, in terms of the narrative, and I don’t want to spoil too much. But when the stars started to be extinguished and I understood what that meant for Chuck’s life and how it turned into a meditation on joy and an exploration of the magic of the ordinary life of every human being, that none of us are one thing. We all contain multitudes, which is to say that inside the soul of every ordinary human being is an internal world of infinite possibility. That infinite possibility can create a universe in every life, a universe of connections, of people, of experiences, of memories. That when that life comes to an end, so does that universe. It sums up the way I think about life and that sometimes the small moments aren’t small at all, and they end up, in your mind becoming the big moments, in your memory. Really, in the last hours of our lives, all we will carry in our hearts and our minds are the people we loved, the memories we shared with them, the connections we made. That is all that matters. I was so struck by it and so moved by it and so inspired by how Mike had put the film together, and I just immediately wanted to get on the phone with him and say, please, can I do this with you? It was a very special experience and a film that’s very close to my heart.

    (L to R) Annalise Basso and Tom Hiddleston in 'The Life of Chuck'. Photo: Neon.
    (L to R) Annalise Basso and Tom Hiddleston in ‘The Life of Chuck’. Photo: Neon.

    MF: Finally, can you talk about rehearsing for the dance sequence and how many times did you have to shoot it to get it right?

    TH: Well, I had, in my own life, less formal dance training than Charles Krantz had. I’ve always loved dancing, but I’ve never danced like this. I had about five weeks and the brilliant, extraordinary Mandy Moore, our choreographer and her assistant, Stephanie Powell, who was working with me in London, we worked every day, and we did salsa, swing, Charleston, Bossa Nova, polka, samba, and jazz. I mean (we did) every dance under the sun, you name it. We put the thing together. It was so thrilling to do it, but by the time we got to set, I think the first four days of principal photography on the entire picture, we shot the sequence in the mall when Chuck starts dancing to the beat of those drums. It was me and Taylor Gordon on the drums and Annalise Basso. We shot it consistently across the same stretch of time so that the light matched, essentially. So, it was between about 11am and 3pm across four days. We just did it from every angle. Every camera was wide, it was high, it was dancing with us, it was Steadicam, and it was on a crane. But I will say, the very last take we did, because we’d do the whole sequence from start to finish every time, was on the fourth day, the Thursday. We went back to a setup we’d done before. It was almost an homage to the great musicals, which contained the entire thing. It wasn’t close-up; it wasn’t a mid-shot. It was both Annalise and me and the drum kit and Taylor and the crowd. We played it from start to finish. It was a moment I will never forget. It was a kind of magical take, and a lot of the sequence is from that take. Mike knew it. I knew it. Annalise knew it. The crowd knew it. Mandy knew it. It was like a perfect thing. That’s where we stopped.

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    What is the plot of ‘The Life of Chuck’?

    Charles ‘Chuck’ Krantz (Tom Hiddleston) experiences the wonder of love, the heartbreak of loss, and the multitudes contained in all of us.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Life of Chuck’?

    (L to R) Director Mike Flanagan and Tom Hiddleston on the set of 'The Life of Chuck'. Photo: Neon.
    (L to R) Director Mike Flanagan and Tom Hiddleston on the set of ‘The Life of Chuck’. Photo: Neon.

    List of Mike Flanagan Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Mike Flanagan Movies on Amazon

     

  • Movie Review: ‘The Friend’

    (L to R) Naomi Watts and Bill Murray in Bleecker Street's 'The Friend'. Photo Credit: Bleecker Street.
    (L to R) Naomi Watts and Bill Murray in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Friend’. Photo Credit: Bleecker Street.

    ‘The Friend’ receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.

    Opening in theaters exclusively in New York on March 28th, before opening nationwide on April 4th is ‘The Friend,’ directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, and starring Naomi Watts, Bill Murray, Sara Pidgeon, Carla Gugino, Constance Wu, Noma Dumezweni, Ann Dowd, Felix Solis, and Bing as Apollo.

    Related Article: Bill Murray and Naomi Watts Talk ‘The Friend’ and Acting with a Dog

    Initial Thoughts

    (L to R) Bing and Naomi Watts in Bleecker Street's 'The Friend'. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.
    (L to R) Bing and Naomi Watts in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Friend’. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.

    Based on a 2018 novel by Sigrid Nunez, ‘The Friend’ is a relative rarity in today’s Hollywood landscape: an adult comedy-drama about subjects like love, loneliness, relationships, grief, and loss. Reminiscent in some ways of several Woody Allen’s better efforts in this field, this adaptation by writers-directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel (‘What Maisie Knew’) is funny, moving, bittersweet, and completely absorbing, with a strong cast headed by an excellent Naomi Watts and Bill Murray.

    It’s also a story about the wonder and mystery of the way in which humans and animals can bond, bolstered by a fantastic performance from a Great Dane named Bing. If there was an Oscar for “best performance by an animal,” this majestic animal would win hands down. He steals the show and will steal the viewer’s heart as well, making ‘The Friend’ one of the better movies we’ve seen about a person and their animal companion in a long time.

    Story and Direction

    (L to R) Naomi Watts and Bill Murray in Bleecker Street's 'The Friend'. Photo Credit: Bleecker Street.
    (L to R) Naomi Watts and Bill Murray in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Friend’. Photo Credit: Bleecker Street.

    After a brief opening scene at a very Allen-esque dinner party presided over by famed novelist Walter (Bill Murray), ‘The Friend’ flashes forward sometime later to Walter’s memorial service. It appears he has taken his own life, leaving behind two ex-wives (and a current one), a daughter he’s only recently reconnected with, several friends and former lovers, and a large Great Dane named Apollo (Bing), who he found while jogging under the Brooklyn Bridge one day and took home. But his third wife, Barbara (Noma Dumezweni), doesn’t want the dog, and as it turns out, Walter has bequeathed the canine – much to her shock and surprise — to his dear friend and former student, Iris (Naomi Watts).

    Iris, a writer and teacher herself, lives alone in a tiny, rent-controlled Manhattan apartment, but sheltering a large dog like Apollo is a problem for her in more ways than one: the building doesn’t allow dogs, as the super (Felix Solis) constantly reminds her, and she could be in danger of losing her place if she doesn’t find a home for him. But even as Iris desperately tries to find a new home for Apollo, while also grappling with the aftermath of Walter’s death and the task of co-editing with his daughter (Sarah Pidgeon) a book of his voluminous correspondence, something strange begins to happen: she and Apollo, both heartbroken over losing their friend, start to form a bond – even if he initially wreaks havoc in her apartment, takes over her bed, and refuses to eat his food.

    ‘The Friend’ is about what it’s like to lose someone you love unexpectedly, and how you reconcile your feelings about that person with the truths you come to know about them. Walter is a difficult man and a serial womanizer, yet everyone in his orbit is in one way or another deeply affected by the gravity of his passing. Iris wrestles with the loss of her deep friendship with Walter, her annoyance with his flaws (in particular, his tendency to sleep with his female students), and the status of her own life, all of which become somehow crystallized in her developing relationship with the somber Apollo.

    (Left) 'The Friend' co-writer and co-director Scott McGehee. Photo credit: Bleecker Street. (Right) 'The friend' co-writer and co-director David Siegel. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.
    (Left) ‘The Friend’ co-writer and co-director Scott McGehee. Photo credit: Bleecker Street. (Right) ‘The friend’ co-writer and co-director David Siegel. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.

    It’s a poignant but also funny tale, set in a community of academics and writers who take the craft of writing and its role in their lives seriously (which feels like a throwback in our current social media-besotted era). The movie is also a love letter to New York City, which McGehee, Siegel, and cinematographer Giles Nuttgens shoot fabulously: the many Manhattan locations are filmed in crisp, bright fashion, while places like Iris’s building and her apartment have a ring of realism that doesn’t always manifest in NYC-set movies. For anyone who has dealt with finding or keeping an apartment in the Big Apple, that aspect of ‘The Friend’ reverberates.

    Most importantly, we come to care deeply for Iris, Apollo, and their shared grief and dilemma, while appreciating the presence of the many characters who are part of Iris’s life. The film’s only real stumble is in its final stretch: perhaps in a nod to the book – which is written as an imaginary conversation between the Iris and Walter characters (who are unnamed) – Iris has a sort of fantasy sequence in which her unspoken conflicts and feelings come to the fore. It’s stagey and artificial after the otherwise everyday texture of the rest of the film. And then there’s one final scene that feels shamelessly manipulative.

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) Bill Murray and Naomi Watts in Bleecker Street's 'The Friend'. Photo Credit: Bleecker Street.
    (L to R) Bill Murray and Naomi Watts in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Friend’. Photo Credit: Bleecker Street.

    Naomi Watts, in some ways underrated these days, delivers a marvelous, stirring performance here as Iris. Pulled in several different directions, she provides a clear-eyed portrait of a woman who is holding things together even as she struggles with conflicting goals and priorities. Her natural warmth and humor shine through, particularly in her interactions with Bill Murray. Although only onscreen for a limited time, Murray is in relatively sober form here, while still infusing Walter with the wit, charisma, and huge personality that makes it easy to appreciate why so many people stay in his orbit.

    The rest of the cast is filled out in excellent fashion, with Constance Wu, Noma Dumezweni, and Carla Gugino sharply defined as Walter’s three wives (it’s always nice to see Gugino in something outside a horror or action thriller) and Felix Solis affecting as Hektor, the guilt-ridden yet compassionate super in Iris’s building. But the VIP of the movie – next to Watts and Murray – is undoubtedly Bing, the dog who plays Apollo. With his big body and incredibly expressive eyes, Bing magically tells us everything we need to know about Apollo; and while many things about animals are truly unknowable, his initially painful grief and gradual affection for Iris are palpable and poignant.

    Final Thoughts

    (L to R) Naomi Watts and Bing in Bleecker Street's 'The Friend'. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.
    (L to R) Naomi Watts and Bing in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Friend’. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.

    Except for that wobbly ending, ‘The Friend’ is a profound, compassionate look at how we navigate change and loss in our lives as we get older. Scott McGehee and David Siegel have taken literary material that may not necessarily be easy to adapt and brought it to the screen in captivating fashion. And we dare anyone not to be moved by the relationship between Iris and Apollo, especially with the latter’s emotional life just as involving and complex as the actor starring opposite him. Keep your friends close, the story seems to say, but perhaps keep your animal friends even closer.

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    What is the plot of ‘The Friend’?

    Iris (Naomi Watts) has had a long, complex friendship with Walter (Bill Murray). Walter is an irresistible charmer, a brilliant author, a lover of many women, and a master at letting down loved ones. When he dies suddenly, Iris is left to deal with all he left behind — three ex-wives (Carla Gugino, Constance Wu and Noma Dumezweni) with unfinished business, his interrupted literary legacy, and his beloved beast Apollo (Bing). It’s not that Iris doesn’t like dogs, but this is Manhattan, and she’ll get kicked out of her building if they find out she’s pretty much trying to house a horse.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Friend’?

    • Naomi Watts as Iris
    • Bill Murray as Walter
    • Sarah Pidgeon as Val
    • Constance Wu as Tuesday
    • Ann Dowd as Marjorie
    • Noma Dumezweni as Barbara
    • Felix Solis as Hektor
    • Owen Teague as Carter
    • Carla Gugino as Elaine
    • Gina Costigan as Jocelyn
    • Josh Pais as Jerry
    'The Friend' will exclusively open in New York theaters on March 28th, before opening nationwide on April 4th. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.
    ‘The Friend’ will exclusively open in New York theaters on March 28th, before opening nationwide on April 4th. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.

    List of Scott McGehee and David Siegel Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘The Friend’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Bill Murray Movies on Amazon

    Buy Naomi Watts Movies on Amazon

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  • ‘The Friend’ Interview: Bill Murray and Naomi Watts

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    Opening in theaters in New York on March 28th before opening wide on April 4th is ‘The Friend’, which is based on the book by Sigrid Nunez and was written and directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel (‘Montana Story’).

    The movie stars Naomi Watts (‘St. Vincent’), Bill Murray (‘Ghostbusters’), Sarah Pidgeon (‘Tiny Beautiful Things’), Constance Wu (‘Crazy Rich Asians’), Ann Dowd (‘The Handmaid’s Tale’), Carla Gugino (‘Watchmen’), and Bing as Apollo.

    Related Article: Naomi Watts Talks New Thriller ‘The Desperate Hour’

    (L to R) Bill Murray and Naomi Watts star in 'The Friend'.
    (L to R) Bill Murray and Naomi Watts star in ‘The Friend’.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Naomi Watts and legendary actor Bill Murray about their work on ‘The Friend’, Murray’s first reaction to the screenplay, the characters, Watts experience acting opposite Bing the dog, and working with directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Murray, Watts, and directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel.

    (L to R) Naomi Watts and Bill Murray in Bleecker Street's 'The Friend'. Photo Credit: Bleecker Street.
    (L to R) Naomi Watts and Bill Murray in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Friend’. Photo Credit: Bleecker Street.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Bill, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and why did you want to be part of this project?

    Bill Murray: Well, my first reaction was there was a lot that was going to be required that wasn’t written in the script that basically I had to be able to be a real, pretty good actor. But the script was, it gave you an opportunity to really bring as much as you were capable of to the job. I knew that if Naomi was going to be there, that she was going to be able to perform. She far overshot whatever I thought. Her performance in the movie is spectacular. It’s the only word for it. I haven’t seen anyone do anything like it in a long time. It’s an amazing piece of work, and I’m only in so many scenes with Naomi, but what she does in the rest of the movie is incredibly big and incredibly powerful. It’s a big deal. She does an amazing job. So, my job was just to feed her, and she took and smacked out of the park.

    (L to R) Naomi Watts and Bing in Bleecker Street's 'The Friend'. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.
    (L to R) Naomi Watts and Bing in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Friend’. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.

    MF: Naomi, can you talk about how Iris’s life changes when she meets Apollo, and what was Bing like to have as a scene partner?

    Naomi Watts: Yeah, it’s a terrible time for Apollo to just launch himself into her life, right at the point where she’s trying to grieve and the panic of losing her apartment, as well as the emotional side of things. It was just chaos and the constant reminder and the anger. Walter was her mentor. He was supposed to keep teaching her, and It’s very complicated. But it was wonderful working with this magical creature. Bing is a soulful, beautiful energy to be around constantly. He is highly trained, and they searched the nation far and wide.

    (L to R) Bill Murray and Naomi Watts in Bleecker Street's 'The Friend'. Photo Credit: Bleecker Street.
    (L to R) Bill Murray and Naomi Watts in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Friend’. Photo Credit: Bleecker Street.

    MF: Bill, how would you describe the friendship between Iris and Walter, and why does he trust her to take care of Apollo?

    BM: It’s bad enough when someone asks you to sort of house-sit their dog for a weekend or something, but she ended up with this giant dog, totally responsible for this thing that took over her home and her life and represented the person that she’d lost in life. It’s a big thing. The constant reminder of that emotion, that pain. You’re angry at the person you’ve lost. Yet, if you show the anger at this giant dog, the dog could eat you. You got to be careful.

    (L to R) Bing and Naomi Watts in Bleecker Street's 'The Friend'. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.
    (L to R) Bing and Naomi Watts in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Friend’. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.

    MF: Naomi, Iris and Apollo are both mourning the loss of their friend, does that bring them closer together in a way because they are both grieving?

    NW: You think it’s going to be her undoing, but it ends up being the gateway to opening to her grief and connecting with someone. This is a lonely woman who hasn’t had a proper connection with anyone for a while. She hasn’t felt connected to her craft. She hasn’t felt connected to a human, she hasn’t felt connected to her heart and soul, I suppose. He kind of opens that up and then all these other things start becoming more achievable.

    (Left) 'The Friend' co-writer and co-director Scott McGehee. Photo credit: Bleecker Street. (Right) 'The friend' co-writer and co-director David Siegel. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.
    (Left) ‘The Friend’ co-writer and co-director Scott McGehee. Photo credit: Bleecker Street. (Right) ‘The friend’ co-writer and co-director David Siegel. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.

    MF: Finally, Bill, what was your experience like working with filmmakers Scott McGehee and David Siegel on this movie?

    BM: Well, there were two. So, there was a good cop and a bad cop. The script they did was great and it’s nice if you’ve got a point and one of them doesn’t understand, you can go beg with the other one and say, “He’s such a jerk.” But they’ve made a bunch of good movies already. So, I think this is an amazing accomplishment because to take a good book, you can mess up a good book. This Sigrid Nunez book is a great book. You can take it and ruin, people do it all the time, but to take it and make it, to be able to bring it to life and to put pictures to it, to tell a story with words and pictures, it is just a different art, and they did it. It’s really a great achievement. It’s a great movie and they’re going to be rich and famous and then they’re going to be even more difficult to deal with. But it’s a great film, ‘The Friend’, and we’ve ended up becoming friends. So here we go. Now where do we go?

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    What is the plot of ‘The Friend’?

    Iris (Naomi Watts) has had a long, complex friendship with Walter (Bill Murray). Walter is an irresistible charmer, a brilliant author, a lover of many women, and a master at letting down loved ones. When he dies suddenly, Iris is left to deal with all he left behind — three ex-wives (Carla Gugino, Constance Wu and Noma Dumezweni) with unfinished business, his interrupted literary legacy, and his beloved beast Apollo (Bing). It’s not that Iris doesn’t like dogs, but this is Manhattan, and she’ll get kicked out of her building if they find out she’s pretty much trying to house a horse.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Friend’?

    • Naomi Watts as Iris
    • Bill Murray as Walter
    • Sarah Pidgeon as Val
    • Constance Wu as Tuesday
    • Ann Dowd as Marjorie
    • Noma Dumezweni as Barbara
    • Felix Solis as Hektor
    • Owen Teague as Carter
    • Carla Gugino as Elaine
    • Gina Costigan as Jocelyn
    • Josh Pais as Jerry
    'The Friend' will exclusively open in New York theaters on March 28th, before opening nationwide on April 4th. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.
    ‘The Friend’ will exclusively open in New York theaters on March 28th, before opening nationwide on April 4th. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.

    List of Scott McGehee and David Siegel Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘The Friend’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Bill Murray Movies on Amazon

    Buy Naomi Watts Movies on Amazon

     

  • Carla Gugino to Play Vivien Leigh in New Biopic

    (Left) Carla Gugino as Verna in 'The Fall of the House of Usher.' Photo: Eike Schroter/Netflix © 2023. (Right) Vivien Leigh in 1951's 'A Streetcar Named Desire.' Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
    (Left) Carla Gugino as Verna in ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’ Photo: Eike Schroter/Netflix © 2023. (Right) Vivien Leigh in 1951’s ‘A Streetcar Named Desire.’ Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

    Preview:

    • Carla Gugino is playing Vivien Leigh in a new biopic.
    • Nick Sandow is directing from Jayce Bartok’s script.
    • The movie will shoot at the end of the summer.

    Carla Gugino has long proved to be an adaptable actor –– in her last couple of roles alone, she’s been seen as a devilish dealmaker in ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ and a veteran newspaper reporter in ‘The Girls on the Bus’.

    For a new movie role, she’ll be taking on a real-life cinematic legend, as she’ll play Vivien Leigh in a biopic called ‘The Florist’.

    Leigh, of course, became famous starring in ‘Gone with the Wind’ and ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’, but her career stretched beyond those two iconic roles.

    Related Article: TV Review: ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’

    What’s the story of ‘The Florist’?

    Vivien Leigh in 1951's 'A Streetcar Named Desire.'
    Vivien Leigh in 1951’s ‘A Streetcar Named Desire.’ Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

    The new movie is set as Leigh is preparing to lead the Broadway production of John Gielgud’s Chekhov adaptation of ‘Ivanov.’

    As that is weighing on her, she collides with Joseph Penn — a WWII veteran and blue-collar florist who encounters Leigh on a delivery. At the same time, the star attends a local psychiatric facility for electroconvulsive therapy. Amidst the backdrop of madness, Leigh and Penn become each other’s sources of truth, beauty, and love.

    Who is working on ‘The Florist’?

    ‘The Florist’ will be directed by actor/director Nick Sandow (who may be best known for playing Joe Caputo on ‘Orange is the New Black’, and for directing several episodes of the show).

    Jayce Bartok wrote the script, taking as his inspiration a box of love letters written to the star.

    The cameras should be rolling on the movie at the end of this coming summer in Philadelphia.

    ‘The Florist’: The Filmmakers Speak

    Carla Gugino as Verna in 'The Fall of the House of Usher.'
    Carla Gugino as Verna in ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’ Cr. Eike Schroter/Netflix © 2023.

    Here’s what Gugino said to Variety about the film and the role:

    “I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to excavate a woman as complex, contradictory, and compelling as Vivien. From the moment I read the script, I knew ‘The Florist’ was a journey I had to pursue.”

    And this is Sandow’s comment:

    “What drew me to the project was the script and how it brings together, for a fleeting moment, two human beings who seemingly couldn’t be more different. I was excited by taking these two discordant existences and making them touch, and seeing what that says about things like love, artistry, mental illness, and celebrity.”

    When will ‘The Florist’ be in theaters?

    With the movie still at an early stage, there is no distributor attached, and no sign of a release date yet.

    Carla Gugino stars as Janet in 'Lisa Frankenstein,' a Focus Features release.
    Carla Gugino stars as Janet in ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of FOCUS FEATURES / © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

    List of Vivien Leigh Movies:

    Buy Vivien Leigh Movies on Amazon

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  • Movie Review: ‘Lisa Frankenstein’

    Cole Sprouse stars as The Creature and Kathryn Newton as Lisa Swallows in 'Lisa Frankenstein,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Cole Sprouse stars as The Creature and Kathryn Newton as Lisa Swallows in ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Michele K. Short / © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

    Opening in theaters on February 9th is ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ starring Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse, Liza Soberano, and Carla Gugino.

    Related Article: Director Zelda Williams and Writer Diablo Cody Talk ‘Lisa Frankenstein’

    Initial Thoughts

    Appropriately enough, given its title, ‘Lisa Frankenstein’ is made up of parts sewn together from other, better movies: there’s a little ‘Edward Scissorhands’ in there, a seasoning of ‘Ginger Snaps,’ and even strands of screenwriter Diablo Cody’s own 2009 cult favorite, ‘Jennifer’s Body.’ But the messaging is confusing to say the least, the jokes miss the mark, and the direction – by first-timer Zelda Williams, daughter of the late Robin Williams – falls flat.

    Story and Direction

    Director Zelda Williams and screenwriter Diablo Cody on the set of their film 'Lisa Frankenstein,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Director Zelda Williams and screenwriter Diablo Cody on the set of their film ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Mason Novick / ©Mason Novick

    Following the death of her mom in a home invasion, Lisa Swallows (Kathryn Newton) is forced to move to a new town and a new high school when her dad Dale (Joe Chrest) gets remarried rather quickly to high-strung nurse Janet (Carla Gugino). Despite the best efforts of her well-meaning but dim stepsister Taffy (Liza Soberano), Lisa is an outcast and loner at school, pining from afar for the editor of the literary magazine while she sits in a local graveyard and writes poetry at the grave of what appears to be a young 19th century nobleman.

    After her drink is cruelly spiked by a mean girl at a party, Lisa wanders in a hallucinatory daze to the graveyard, where she wishes she could be with the young man buried in that grave. But instead of ending her own life, Lisa somehow manages to reanimate the young man himself (Cole Sprouse), whose decaying, fetid, walking corpse she stashes in her walk-in closet.

    Horrified at first, Lisa soon realizes that she’s attracted to her Victorian dreamboat as she begins to clean the accumulated grue off him and get him nicer clothes. She also ascertains that he’s quite fond of her – and sensitive to her needs – in ways that soon lead Lisa and her Creature (who is never named) on a path of vengeance against those who have wronged her.

    Cole Sprouse stars as The Creature and Kathryn Newton as Lisa Swallows in 'Lisa Frankenstein,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Cole Sprouse stars as The Creature and Kathryn Newton as Lisa Swallows in ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Michele K. Short / © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

    Whatever happened to Diablo Cody? The writer of such sharp satires as ‘Juno,’ ‘Young Adult,’ and ‘Tully‘ has dipped with mixed results into the horror-comedy genre before with ‘Jennifer’s Body,’ but Cody is utterly flailing here. ‘Lisa Frankenstein’ plays like a first-draft screenplay that Cody had sitting on her hard drive for years, collecting digital dust, before sending it off with barely a glance at it. While Sprouse’s Creature actually gets a decent character arc (helped by the actor’s winning, wordless performance), Newton’s Lisa is literally all over the place, bouncing from pariah to school vamp within a single cut and even introducing a tired “loss of virginity” subplot late in the ballgame. The plot pushes the characters instead of the other way around, and aside from a few chuckles here and there, most of the jokes don’t land.

    The ’80s setting arguably contributes nothing to the proceedings except some nostalgia-fueled costumes, set designs, and needle drops, and director Zelda Williams’ visual aesthetic – which also includes a clever, black-and-white animated title sequence – is on point. But Williams has no idea how to give this half-baked story any momentum, stringing out jokes from scene to scene with no sense of rhythm or pacing, and often leaving her actors adrift.

    The final product plays – inadvertently, we assume – like a cheapo ‘80s direct-to-video horror knockoff, complete with some funny-not-funny gore and stiff staging, but armed with the kind of post-modern self-awareness that only makes its flaws stand out more.

    An Appealing Cast on Paper

    Liza Soberano stars as Taffy and Kathryn Newton as Lisa Swallows in 'Lisa Frankenstein,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Liza Soberano stars as Taffy and Kathryn Newton as Lisa Swallows in ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Michele K. Short / © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

    Kathryn Newton has distinguished herself as a young actor to watch with film and TV roles in ‘Blockers,’ ‘Big Little Lies,’ ‘Freaky,’ and ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,’ the latter of which introduced her as fledgling superhero and future Young Avenger Cassie Lang. But while the 26-year-old Newton effectively embodies a high school student here, the script gives her nothing else to work with. Her character’s motivations spin on a dime, buffeted by whatever the script requires, and giving us little with which to empathize with Lisa’s plight(s).

    We’ll confess to not knowing Cole Sprouse’s previous work as Jughead on ‘Riverdale,’ or in his earlier Disney Channel efforts. But in a completely non-verbal role, Sprouse delivers an odd appeal and makes effective use of his own physicality. His reanimated Victorian lad is, ironically, perhaps the best-written character in the movie, even if the circumstances of his resurrection are nonsensical. Sprouse manages to bring some dignity to a role that is, especially early on, relegated to rather gross throat noises and a heavy load of goopy prosthetics.

    The rest of the cast doesn’t get much of a chance to stand out, although Liza Soberano as Taffy has a few moments where she does something more than just the usual bubble-brained cheerleader trope. We also have to give a shout-out to Carla Gugino, a terrific actor who is given a thankless task here as the stereotypical cruel stepmom. Gugino understands the assignment as always, but is again hampered by the one-dimensional aspect of her shrill character and deserves better.

    Final Thoughts

    Kathryn Newton stars as Lisa Swallows and Cole Sprouse as The Creature in 'Lisa Frankenstein,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Kathryn Newton stars as Lisa Swallows and Cole Sprouse as The Creature in ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Michele K. Short / © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

    Aside from the appeal of both Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse – who are both severely hampered by the direction and writing – we can find little else to recommend about ‘Lisa Frankenstein.’ Diablo Cody’s script recycles elements of her work that she’s touched on before, but seems unpolished and unfinished. Director Zelda Williams, meanwhile, needs to focus less on clever imagery and more on making the characters and story come to life onscreen. This is a ‘Frankenstein’ monster that should be dispatched quickly and mercifully.

    ‘Lisa Frankenstein’ receives 3 out of 10 stars.

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    What is the Plot of ‘Lisa Frankenstein’?

    In 1989, a misunderstood teenage goth girl named Lisa Swallows (Kathryn Newton) reanimates a handsome corpse (Cole Sprouse) from the Victorian era during a lightning storm and starts to rebuild him into the man of her dreams by using a broken tanning machine in her garage. After going through a playfully horrific transformation, the romantic duo embarks on a murderous journey to find true love, happiness, and a few missing body parts along the way.

    Who is in the Cast of ‘Lisa Frankenstein’?

    • Kathryn Newton as Lisa Swallows
    • Cole Sprouse as The Creature
    • Liza Soberano as Taffy
    • Henry Eikenberry as Michael Trent
    • Joe Chrest as Dale
    • Carla Gugino as Janet
    Kathryn Newton stars as Lisa Swallows in 'Lisa Frankenstein,' a Focus Features release.
    Kathryn Newton stars as Lisa Swallows in ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Michele K. Short / © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Lisa Frankenstein’:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Lisa Frankenstein’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy ‘Frankenstein’ Movies On Amazon

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  • ‘Lisa Frankenstein’ Interview: Zelda Williams and Diablo Cody

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    Opening in theaters on February 9th is the new horror comedy ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ which was written by Oscar-winner Diablo Cody (‘Juno’), directed by Zelda Williams (‘Shrimp’), and stars Kathryn Newton (‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’).

    Director Zelda Williams and screenwriter Diablo Cody talk 'Lisa Frankenstein.'
    (L to R) Director Zelda Williams and screenwriter Diablo Cody talk ‘Lisa Frankenstein.’

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Zelda Williams and screenwriter Diablo Cody about their work on ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ developing the screenplay, the themes Williams wanted to explore as a filmmaker, casting Kathryn Newton, and their experience working together on the project.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch the interview.

    Director Zelda Williams and screenwriter Diablo Cody on the set of their film 'Lisa Frankenstein,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Director Zelda Williams and screenwriter Diablo Cody on the set of their film ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Mason Novick / ©Mason Novick

    Moviefone: To begin with, Diablo, can you talk about developing the screenplay and is it true that you took inspiration from 80’s movies like ‘Weird Science’?

    Diablo Cody: That is right. I had always been interested in the Frankenstein myth and particularly the idea of telling it from a female perspective of sort of creating the perfect guy. ‘Weird Science’ had a real impact on me as a child because of the idea of these two guys sitting and creating the perfect woman. I remember thinking to myself, “What does the other side of that look like?” So, I wrote this. I had always had the seed of this movie germinating inside of me. But then when the pandemic hit in 2020, I desperately needed to escape, as did many of us. So, at night, I would dive into the script and get to be in that world, and it was a nice escape for me.

    MF: Zelda, what was your first reaction to Diablo’s screenplay and what were some of the themes you were excited to explore as a filmmaker?

    Zelda Williams: I mean, surprise and joy. Because also the reason I got the script, they had completely buried the lead that it was from her. So, I got this, I opened my email, and I was like, “Diablo Cody, what on Earth?” and opened it. I read it so fast and responded to her so quickly. I think I was most excited about the tonal mashup with the violence, the camp and love being this central theme to it. It was so nice to see all of that together. Whereas usually I would be very much into that, even alone. But all of them in one script is a rare and wonderful delicacy.

    Related Article: Kathryn Newton Talks Playing Cassie Lang in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’

    Kathryn Newton stars as Lisa Swallows in 'Lisa Frankenstein,' a Focus Features release.
    Kathryn Newton stars as Lisa Swallows in ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Michele K. Short / © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

    MF: Can you talk about casting Kathryn Newton and what it was like to collaborate with her on this project?

    ZW: Oh, I was so excited when she came along. I’d seen ‘Freaky,’ but I hadn’t seen ‘The Map of Tiny Perfect Things.’ Then I watched that, and I just found this incredible depth of character but also willingness. She’s so fearless, and comedy does really require that. It requires you to be willing to look silly and to do ridiculous things. I’ve never met someone, especially in her age range, that at that time was so excited to be that way. She tackled it 110% every single day.

    MF: Diablo, what was your experience like working with Zelda on this movie?

    DC: It’s the best. I mean, Zelda’s the best. I have been impressed with her since the day I met her. I’ve been fortunate enough in my career to have a lot of great collaborations with great directors, but this is up there. So, I feel really just fortunate and I’m glad that I entrusted my baby to her.

    Cinematographer Paula Huidobro and director Zelda Williams on the set of their film 'Lisa Frankenstein,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Cinematographer Paula Huidobro and director Zelda Williams on the set of their film ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Michele K. Short / © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

    MF: Finally, to follow up on something you just said, does it feel like you’re handing your baby over to someone else to parent when you give your script to another filmmaker to direct?

    DC: Yes, that’s exactly what it feels like. Jonathan Demme once said to me, we were talking about the movie (‘Ricki and the Flash’) we were making, and he kept saying, “We literally are like parents where all we talk about is the baby.” I said, “Yup, that’s what it is, and it’s pretty great.”

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    What is the Plot of ‘Lisa Frankenstein’?

    In 1989, a misunderstood teenage goth girl named Lisa Swallows (Kathryn Newton) reanimates a handsome corpse (Cole Sprouse) from the Victorian era during a lightning storm and starts to rebuild him into the man of her dreams by using a broken tanning machine in her garage. After going through a playfully horrific transformation, the romantic duo embarks on a murderous journey to find true love, happiness, and a few missing body parts along the way.

    Who is in the Cast of ‘Lisa Frankenstein’?

    Cole Sprouse stars as The Creature and Kathryn Newton as Lisa Swallows in 'Lisa Frankenstein,' a Focus Features release.
    (L to R) Cole Sprouse stars as The Creature and Kathryn Newton as Lisa Swallows in ‘Lisa Frankenstein,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Michele K. Short / © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Lisa Frankenstein’:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Lisa Frankenstein’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy ‘Frankenstein’ Movies On Amazon

  • Movie Review: ‘Orion and the Dark’

    Jacob Tremblay as Orion in 'Orion and the Dark.'
    Jacob Tremblay as Orion in ‘Orion and the Dark.’ Photo: DreamWorks Animation © 2023.

    Premiering on Netflix February 2nd, ‘Orion and the Dark’ has mostly flown under the radar. The streaming service put out one trailer, and the concern was that it had ordered something it didn’t like –– in collaboration with DreamWorks Animation, no less –– and was simply dumping it on its servers in the netherworld that is early February.

    It’s a pleasant surprise, then, to learn that the movie is actually delightful, smart, ambitious and much deeper than some other animated offerings premiering on streaming services around the same time.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Nimona’ 

    Is ‘Orion and the Dark’ Illuminating?

    Jacob Tremblay as Orion in 'Orion and the Dark.'
    Jacob Tremblay as Orion in ‘Orion and the Dark.’ Photo: DreamWorks Animation © 2023.

    Netflix is really finding a nice line in creative animation, and this new movie certainly fits into that category. ‘Orion and the Dark’ has a lot to offer, with an unexpected story that will entertain and inform in equal measure.

    With a compelling voice cast and some beautifully realized animated visuals, this breaks out from the pack to be one we’re happy to recommend. After all, did you really expect an animated kids’ film from Charlie Kaufman? We’re not sure we had that on our 2024 movie release bingo card.

    This is one you really wish Netflix had tried to release theatrically, as it would certainly benefit from a healthily big screen. But it still works well on smaller venues, as its power is as much in its imagination as it is the look of the movie.

    ‘Orion and the Dark’: Script and Direction

    Angela Bassett as Dreams in 'Orion and the Dark.'
    Angela Bassett as Dreams in ‘Orion and the Dark.’ Photo: DreamWorks Animation © 2023.

    Given that the movie’s script is adapted from a 2015 children’s picture book created by writer and illustrator Emma Yarlett, ‘Orion and the Dark’ has become a satisfying, charming film with unexpected layers.

    Or perhaps we shouldn’t be too surprised since Charlie Kaufman was hired to write it. While it may not go to the weirdness of some of his other efforts (after all, no one needs a stop-motion sex scene in a kids’ movie). But the man who has created such unique efforts as ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ and ‘Adaptation’ here (alongside Lloyd Taylor) brings some of his incisive wit to the story of a young man who is confronted with his fears.

    Orion feels like an ideal Kaufman character; a nerdy, nervy type who has to go on a journey. But there’s more to it than that –– a narrative wrinkle sees the film as a story narrated by an older Orion to help his daughter handle her own nervousness, which allows for it to serve as a sort of meta commentary on the tale itself and storytelling in general.

    And all the characters have solid purpose beyond being window dressing –– they all have their own small story fragments and emotional grounding.

    The animated side of things, led by Sean Charmatz (who has worked as a story artist on films on the ‘Trolls’ and ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ franchises before stepping up to direct a ‘Trolls’ direct-to-video spin-off) is a thing of beauty. It might not compete with the ‘Spider-Verse’ movies, but the look of the film’s characters is smooth and quirky, at times looking like it comes straight from a child’s sketch book (which feels fitting given the source material). There are also shots of real textured beauty, such as Dark seen from above spreading a near-watercolor curtain of night across the world.

    ‘Orion and the Dark’: Performances

    Nat Faxon as Insomnia, Aparna Nancherla as Quiet, Angela Bassett as Dreams, Natasia Demetriou as Sleep and Golda Rosheuvel as Unexplained Noises in 'Orion and the Dark.'
    (L to R) Nat Faxon as Insomnia, Aparna Nancherla as Quiet, Angela Bassett as Dreams, Natasia Demetriou as Sleep and Golda Rosheuvel as Unexplained Noises in ‘Orion and the Dark.’ Photo: DreamWorks Animation © 2023.

    Paul Walter Hauser has been doing sterling work in a variety of roles both comedic and dramatic, and here he proves to be a warm, gifted voice-over performer. His Dark is a great creation –– funny yet riddled with his own neuroses and burdened with some serious light envy directed towards his opposite number (a committed, if small role for Ike Barinholtz).

    Jacob Tremblay does good work as Orion, and pairs well with Colin Hanks as his adult self, who unpacks his experience (but we won’t spoil how he fully ties in).

    Elsewhere, the rest the night creatures are fun and funny when they’re onscreen and show an inventive peek into nighttime concerns such as unexplained noises and insomnia.

    ‘Orion and the Dark’: Final Thoughts

    Jacob Tremblay as Orion in 'Orion and the Dark.'
    Jacob Tremblay as Orion in ‘Orion and the Dark.’ Photo: DreamWorks Animation © 2023.

    Feeling more like a creative Pixar effort than a pumped-out franchise entry, ‘Orion and the Dark’ certainly offers more thoughtful entertainment than the 545th example of kid-discovers-the-true-power-to-defeat-the-villain-just-needed-help-from-a-magical-mentor that is the seemingly lazy default mode of so many animated movies, no matter how much dressing they put on that particular frame.

    It’s not quite at the level of, say, last year’s ‘Nimona’ (now nominated for an Oscar), but ‘Orion and the Dark’ is certainly worth your and your family’s time.

    ‘Orion and the Dark’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.

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    What’s the Plot of ‘Orion and the Dark’?

    Orion (Jacob Tremblay) seems a lot like your average elementary school kid –– shy, unassuming, harboring a secret crush. But underneath his seemingly normal exterior, Orion is a ball of adolescent anxiety, completely consumed by irrational fears of bees, dogs, the ocean, cell phone waves, murderous gutter clowns, even falling off a cliff. But of all his fears, the thing he’s the most afraid of is what he confronts on a nightly basis: the dark.

    So when the literal embodiment of his worst fear pays a visit, Dark (Paul Walter Hauser) whisks Orion away on a roller coaster ride around the world to prove there is nothing to be afraid of in the night. As the unlikely pair grow closer, Orion must decide if he can learn to accept the unknown –– to stop letting fear control his life and finally embrace the joy of living.

    Who Stars in ‘Orion and the Dark’?

    Golda Rosheuvel as Unexplained Noises in 'Orion and the Dark.'
    Golda Rosheuvel as Unexplained Noises in ‘Orion and the Dark.’ Photo: DreamWorks Animation © 2023.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Orion and the Dark’:

    Buy Jacob Tremblay Movies on Amazon

  • TV Review: ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’

    Carla Gugino as Verna in 'The Fall of the House of Usher.'
    Carla Gugino as Verna in ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’ Cr. Eike Schroter/Netflix © 2023.

    Landing on Netflix on October 12th, ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ has Mike Flanagan –– who knows a thing or two about scary stories –– remixing Edgar Allan Poe (ditto) for a truly fun new horror limited series.

    Combining a committed cast and some memorably nasty surprises, ‘Usher’ represents Flanagan working in a different style from some of his previous work, and the results are a superb blend of Poe imagery and ‘Succession’ style rich family shenanigans.

    What’s the story of ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’?

    Bruce Greenwood as Roderick Usher in Netflix's 'The Fall of the House of Usher.'
    Bruce Greenwood as Roderick Usher in Netflix’s ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’ Photo: Eike Schroter/Netflix.

    Ruthless siblings Roderick (Bruce Greenwood) and Madeline (Mary McDonnell) Usher have built Fortunato Pharmaceuticals into an empire of wealth, privilege and power.

    But past secrets come to light when the heirs to the Usher dynasty start dying at the hands of a mysterious woman (Carla Gugino) from their youth.

    The plot for this one takes its inspiration from various Poe stories and poems, including ‘The Pit and the Pendulum,’ ‘The Masque of the Red Death’, ‘Annabel Lee’ and more, weaved in either as narrative elements, settings or character names.

    Who else stars in ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’?

    Carl Lumbly as C. Auguste Dupin, Nicholas Lea as Judge John Neal, and Mark Hamill as Arthur Pym in Netflix's 'The Fall of the House of Usher.'
    (L to R) Carl Lumbly as C. Auguste Dupin, Nicholas Lea as Judge John Neal, and Mark Hamill as Arthur Pym in Netflix’s ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’ Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2023.

    The sprawling ensemble for Flanagan’s latest also includes Carl Lumbly, Mark Hamill, Michael Trucco, T’Nia Miller, Paola Nuñez, Henry Thomas, Kyleigh Curran, Samantha Sloyan, Rahul Kohli, Kate Siegel, Sauriyan Sapkota, Zach Gilford, Willa Fitzgerald, Katie Parker, Malcolm Goodwin, Crystal Balint, Aya Furukawa, Daniel Jun, Matt Biedel, Ruth Codd, Annabeth Gish.

    Some of them, such as Siegel (who happens to be Flanagan’s wife), Codd, Thomas and Gilford are Flanagan regulars who have popped in various shows.

    Flanagan directed half of the series’ eight episodes, while Michael Fimognari handled the others.

    Related Article: New Trailer for Mike Flanagan’s Edgar Allan Poe-Inspired Series ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’

    Is ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ a good scare?

    Ruth Codd as Juno Usher in Netflix's 'The Fall of the House of Usher.'
    Ruth Codd as Juno Usher in Netflix’s ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’ Photo: Eike Schroter/Netflix.

    Mike Flanagan has been making horror series (and the occasional movie) for Netflix for a few years now, but he and creative producer creative partner Trevor Macy are upping sticks and heading for a new deal at Prime Video.

    Based on the quality of ‘House of Usher’, Netflix should be kicking themselves that they let this talented filmmaker slip from their grasp. The latest limited series from Flanagan finds him leaning almost into Ryan Murphy mode with its tale of spoiled siblings and the supernatural comeuppance that hunts them down.

    ‘Usher’ is Flanagan in a wilder, campier mindset than the mostly moody ‘Midnight Mass’, but that’s not to say that this new series doesn’t work. In fact, a blend of ‘Succession’ and the spooky justice that befalls people in Poe’s stories offers up truly entertaining snark and gore.

    It’s even more impressive when you think that Frank Langella was cast as Roderick, only to be fired partway through shooting for inappropriate behavior. Flanagan called on one of his regulars in Greenwood, and he fitted in perfectly.

    Bruce Greenwood as Roderick Usher in 'The Fall of the House of Usher.'
    Bruce Greenwood as Roderick Usher in ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’ Cr. Eike Schroter/Netflix © 2023.

    Not only that, but the clever use of different Poe tales for both the overarching theme and the separate stories is also effective –– it doesn’t come across as a splintered anthology series but functions as a whole.

    Flanagan has also rounded up some of his regular cast and recruited some new faces (even if some of the “newcomers” are genre veterans such as Mark Hamill, who fits in perfectly as gruff, dangerous lawyer/fixer Arthur Pym).

    Anchored by Greenwood, McDonnell and Lumbly, there are few weak links in the ensemble, who bring the various Usher children (plus spouses, offspring, victims and more) to life. Carla Gugino, meanwhile, is pure smoldering brilliance as Verna, the architect of all their pain.

    Smartly, Flanagan never pushes the weird style to excess except in certain moments where it actually serves the story; he’s careful to keep the characters largely believable.

    Credit also to his team, who bring all manner of locales to life, from the crumbling home that Roderick finds himself in, to the glossy skyscraper that houses Fortunato.

    Are there any problems with ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’?

    Mark Hamill as Arthur Pym in 'The Fall of the House of Usher.'
    Mark Hamill as Arthur Pym in ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’ Cr. Eike Schroter/Netflix © 2023.

    Did the world, which has already seen a number of stories such as ‘Dopesick’ and Netflix’s own recent ‘Painkiller’ really need Mike Flanagan to come along and craft a meditation on the terrible harm caused by those (the Sackler family is the clear model here) who push addictive pharmaceuticals with little to no warning? Probably not, but that angle is just one facet of ‘Usher’.

    And yes, given that ‘Succession’ has already brought a near-perfect story of spoiled rich spawn squabbling over control of a family company to screens, there’s the slight feeling of familiarity. Yet Flanagan predicted that, and thanks to the Poe connection, ‘Usher’ heads off in interesting directions.

    You could be disappointed that Flanagan has chosen to re-mix and meld the Poe stories into this tale, so if you’re looking for more straightforward adaptations, it’s best to look elsewhere.

    And if you’re a fan of Flanagan’s spookier offerings, such as his chilling ghost stories, this might not exactly be what you’re hoping for from him. But give it time; it’ll start to win your over with its audacious mix of classic horror and modern sensibilities.

    Mary McDonnell as Madeline Usher in 'The Fall of the House of Usher.'
    Mary McDonnell as Madeline Usher in ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’ Cr. Eike Schroter/Netflix © 2023.

    Is every performance up to the level of, say, Greenwood, McDonnell and Gugino? Perhaps not, but it’s never enough to ruin the fun.

    ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ won’t be for everyone. But it stands as one of the best shows (especially in the wake of the slightly less-than-thrilling ‘The Midnight Club’) that Mike Flanagan and his repertory company have produced.

    This feels like a show that could become an annual Halloween treat, assuming Netflix doesn’t vanish it from the servers after a few months in retribution for Flanagan daring to head elsewhere.

    ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ receives 9 out of 10 stars.

    Paola Nuñez as Dr. Alessandra Ruiz, T'Nia Miller as Victorine LaFourcade, Kyliegh Curran as Lenore Usher, Crystal Balint as Morella Usher, Henry Thomas as Frederick Usher, Bruce Greenwood as Roderick Usher, Samantha Sloyan as Tamerlane Usher, Matt Biedel as Bill-T Wilson in 'The Fall of the House of Usher.'
    (L to R) Paola Nuñez as Dr. Alessandra Ruiz, T’Nia Miller as Victorine LaFourcade, Kyliegh Curran as Lenore Usher, Crystal Balint as Morella Usher, Henry Thomas as Frederick Usher, Bruce Greenwood as Roderick Usher, Samantha Sloyan as Tamerlane Usher, Matt Biedel as Bill-T Wilson in ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’ Cr. Eike Schroter/Netflix © 2023.

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  • Trailer for Netflix’s ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’

    Mike Flanagan has developed a reputation as a great horror filmmaker (and TV creator) via movies such as ‘Oculus’, ‘Gerald’s Game’ and ‘Doctor Sleep’ and shows including ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ and ‘Midnight Mass’.

    Until recently, he’s been under a big deal with Netflix, where his TV output has been based. But last December, he and producing partner Trevor Macy made a move to Amazon Studios.

    Yet the Netflix deal still covers his most recent limited series, ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’, which finds Flanagan –– who has adapted Steven King a few times –– here drawing from Edgar Allan Poe’s work.

    What’s the story of ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’?

    Carla Gugino as Verna in 'The Fall of the House of Usher.'
    Carla Gugino as Verna in ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’ Photo: Eike Schroter/Netflix © 2023.

    Ruthless siblings Roderick (Bruce Greenwood) and Madeline (Mary McDonnell) Usher have built Fortunato Pharmaceuticals into an empire of wealth, privilege and power.

    But past secrets come to light when the heirs to the Usher dynasty start dying at the hands of a mysterious woman (Carla Gugino) from their youth.

    The plot for this one takes its inspiration from various Poe stories and poems, including ‘The Pit and the Pendulum,’ ‘The Masque of the Red Death’, ‘Annabel Lee’ and more, weaved in either as narrative elements, settings or character names.

    Related Article: ‘Doctor Sleep’ Director Mike Flanagan Confirms Movie’s R Rating

    Who else stars in ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’?

    Carl Lumbly as C. Auguste Dupin, Nicholas Lea as Judge John Neal, and Mark Hamill as Arthur Pym in Netflix's 'The Fall of the House of Usher.'
    (L to R) Carl Lumbly as C. Auguste Dupin, Nicholas Lea as Judge John Neal, and Mark Hamill as Arthur Pym in Netflix’s ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’ Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2023.

    The cast for Flanagan’s latest also includes Carl Lumbly, Mark Hamill, Michael Trucco, T’Nia Miller, Paola Nuñez, Henry Thomas, Kyleigh Curran, Samantha Sloyan, Rahul Kohli, Kate Siegel, Sauriyan Sapkota, Zach Gilford, Willa Fitzgerald, Katie Parker, Malcolm Goodwin, Crystal Balint, Aya Furukawa, Daniel Jun, Matt Biedel, Ruth Codd, Annabeth Gish.

    Some of them, such as Siegel (who happens to be Flanagan’s wife), Codd, Thomas and Gilford are Flanagan regulars who have popped in various shows.

    Flanagan is directing half of the series’ eight episodes, while Michael Fimognari handles the others.

    Here’s what Gugino told Netflix about the series and her character:

    “It’s bats**t crazy in the best possible way. It has quite a lot of very dark humor, but also really touches the soul. There is a fantastical supernatural element to the story, and she is the manifestation of that. You could say she’s the executor of fate or the executor of karma.”

    The Frank Langella issue

    Bruce Greenwood as Roderick Usher in Netflix's 'The Fall of the House of Usher.'
    Bruce Greenwood as Roderick Usher in Netflix’s ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’ Photo: Eike Schroter/Netflix.

    ‘Usher’ became somewhat more notable last year when, approximately halfway through filming, Frank Langella was fired from the role of the older Roderick for inappropriate behavior and comments.

    Greenwood, who had worked with Flanagan on ‘Doctor Sleep’ and ‘Gerald’s Game’ (and makes a cameo as a ghost in the background of ‘The Haunting of Hill House’) took over the role.

    ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ will land on Netflix on October 12th.

    Mary McDonnell as Madeline Usher in Netflix's 'The Fall of the House of Usher.'
    Mary McDonnell as Madeline Usher in Netflix’s ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’ Photo: Eike Schroter/Netflix.

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