Tag: the-apprentice

  • Best Movies About American Presidents

    Bill Pullman in 'Independence Day'. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
    Bill Pullman in ‘Independence Day’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

    Monday, February 17th is President’s Day in the United States. Coinciding in the same month as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays, the holiday is now used to celebrate all U.S. Presidents, past and present.

    Over the years, there have been many great movies to feature U.S. Presidents, both real and fictional. From Bill Pullman‘s President Thomas J. Whitmore fighting aliens in ‘Independence Day,’ to Daniel Day LewisOscar winning performance as “Honest Abe” in ‘Lincoln,’ now is a perfect time to look back at the greatest movies about American Presidents of all-time.

    Let’s Begin!


    25. ‘White House Down‘ (2013)

    (L to R) Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx in 'White House Dead'. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.
    (L to R) Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx in ‘White House Dead’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.

    Capitol Policeman John Cale (Channing Tatum) has just been denied his dream job with the Secret Service of protecting President James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx). Not wanting to let down his little girl (Joey King) with the news, he takes her on a tour of the White House, when the complex is overtaken by a heavily armed paramilitary group. Now, with the nation’s government falling into chaos and time running out, it’s up to Cale to save the president, his daughter, and the country.

    10085035

    24. ‘Hyde Park on Hudson‘ (2012)

    The story of the love affair between FDR (Bill Murray) and his distant cousin Margaret Stuckley (Laura Linney), centered around the weekend in 1939 when the King (Samuel West) and Queen (Olivia Colman) of the United Kingdom visited upstate New York.

    10059910

    23. ‘Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter‘ (2012)

    President Lincoln’s (Benjamin Walker) mother is killed by a supernatural creature, which fuels his passion to crush vampires and their slave-owning helpers.

    10048223

    22. ‘LBJ‘ (2017)

    The story of U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson (Woody Harrelson) from his young days in West Texas to the White House.

    20086984

    21. ‘Nixon‘ (1995)

    A look at President Richard M. Nixon (Anthony Hopkins), a man carrying the fate of the world on his shoulders while battling the self-destructive demands from within—spanning his troubled boyhood in California to the shocking Watergate scandal that would end his Presidency.

    1825

    20. ‘Elvis & Nixon‘ (2016)

    (L to R) Kevin Spacey and Michael Shannon in 'Elvis & Nixon'. Photo: Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street.
    (L to R) Kevin Spacey and Michael Shannon in ‘Elvis & Nixon’. Photo: Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street.

    In 1970, a few days before Christmas, Elvis Presley (Michael Shannon) showed up on the White House lawn seeking to be deputized into the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs by the President (Kevin Spacey) himself.

    20077235

    19. ‘The Butler‘ (2013)

    A look at the life of Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker) who served eight presidents as the White Houses head butler from 1952 to 1986 and had a unique front-row seat as political and racial history was made.

    10080361

    18. ‘W.‘ (2008)

    The story of the eventful life of George W. Bush (Josh Brolin), his struggles and triumphs how he found both his wife and his faith and the critical days leading up to his decision to invade Iraq.

    32645

    17. ‘Captain America: Brave New World‘ (2025)

    After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), Sam (Anthony Mackie) finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.

    38PIIqJ72BWyVUfWZQqug4 3VtIQid9

    16. ‘Frost/Nixon‘ (2008)

    For three years after being forced from office, Nixon (Frank Langella) remained silent. But in summer 1977, the steely, cunning former commander-in-chief agreed to sit for one all-inclusive interview to confront the questions of his time in office and the Watergate scandal that ended his presidency. Nixon surprised everyone in selecting David Frost (Michael Sheen) as his televised confessor, intending to easily outfox the breezy British showman and secure a place in the hearts and minds of Americans. Likewise, Frost’s team harboured doubts about their boss’s ability to hold his own. But as the cameras rolled, a charged battle of wits resulted.

    27572

    15. ‘Primary Colors‘ (1998)

    John Travolta in 'Primary Colors'. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    John Travolta in ‘Primary Colors’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    In this adaptation of the best-selling roman à clef about Bill Clinton’s 1992 run for the White House, the young and gifted Henry Burton (Adrian Lester) is tapped to oversee the presidential campaign of Governor Jack Stanton (John Travolta). Burton is pulled into the politician’s colorful world and looks on as Stanton — who has a wandering eye that could be his downfall — contends with his ambitious wife, Susan (Emma Thompson), and an outspoken adviser, Richard Jemmons (Billy Bob Thornton).

    5952

    14. ‘Dick‘ (1999)

    Two high school girls (Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams) wander off during a class trip to the White House and meet President Richard Nixon (Dan Hedaya). They become the official dog walkers for Nixon’s dog Checkers, and become his secret advisors during the Watergate scandal.

    6054

    13. ‘Reagan‘ (2024)

    Told through the voice of Viktor Petrovich (Jon Voight), a former KGB agent whose life becomes inextricably linked with Ronald Reagan’s when Reagan (Dennis Quaid) first caught the Soviets’ attention as an actor in Hollywood, this film offers a perspective as unique as it is captivating.

    kXt7htl0geepg7eHuIJGo3

    12. ‘Vice‘ (2018)

    George W. Bush (Sam Rockwell) picks Dick Cheney (Christian Bale), the CEO of Halliburton Co., to be his Republican running mate in the 2000 presidential election. No stranger to politics, Cheney’s impressive résumé includes stints as White House chief of staff, House Minority Whip and Defense Secretary. When Bush wins by a narrow margin, Cheney begins to use his newfound power to help reshape the country and the world.

    7H11JPyLl2xaWzbxWgZyL2

    11. ‘Olympus Has Fallen‘ (2013)

    When the White House Secret Service Code “Olympus” is captured by a terrorist mastermind (Rick Yune) and the President (Aaron Eckhart) is kidnapped, disgraced former Presidential guard Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) finds himself trapped within the building. As the national security team scrambles to respond they are forced to rely on Banning’s inside knowledge to help retake the White House save the President and avert an even bigger disaster.

    60153

    10. ‘The Contender‘ (2000)

    Jeff Bridges in 'The Contender'. Photo: DreamWorks Pictures.
    Jeff Bridges in ‘The Contender’. Photo: DreamWorks Pictures.

    The vice president is dead and as the president (Jeff Bridges) makes his choice for a replacement as a secret contest of wills is being waged by a formidable rival. When Senator Laine Hanson (Joan Allen) is nominated as the first woman in history to hold the office hidden agendas explode into a battle for power.

    8004


    9. ‘Thirteen Days‘ (2000)

    The story of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, the nuclear standoff with the USSR sparked by the discovery by the Americans of missile bases established on the Soviet-allied island of Cuba.

    8173

    8. ‘Independence Day‘ (1996)

    On July 2, a giant alien mothership enters orbit around Earth and deploys several dozen saucer-shaped ‘destroyer’ spacecraft that quickly lay waste to major cities around the planet. On July 3, the United States conducts a coordinated counterattack that fails. On July 4, a plan is devised to gain access to the interior of the alien mothership in space, in order to plant a nuclear missile.

    2318

    7. ‘The Apprentice‘ (2024)

    A young Donald Trump (Sebastian Stan), eager to make his name as a hungry scion of a wealthy family in 1970s New York, comes under the spell of Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), the cutthroat attorney who would help create the Donald Trump we know today. Cohn sees in Trump the perfect protégé—someone with raw ambition, a hunger for success, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to win.

    Nvcw7TQwZStMbHxzaKCR62

    6. ‘Dave‘ (1993)

    A sweet-natured Temp Agency operator and amateur Presidential lookalike (Kevin Kline) is recruited by the Secret Service to become a temporary stand-in for the President of the United States.

    8060


    5. ‘Air Force One‘ (1997)

    Harrison Ford in 'Air Force One'. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.
    Harrison Ford in ‘Air Force One’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.

    When Russian neo-nationalists hijack Air Force One the worlds most secure and extraordinary aircraft the President (Harrison Ford) is faced with a nearly impossible decision to give in to terrorist demands or sacrifice not only the country’s dignity but the lives of his wife (Wendy Crewson) and daughter (Liesel Matthews).

    4298

    4. ‘The American President‘ (1995)

    Widowed U.S. president Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas), one of the world’s most powerful men, can have anything he wants — and what he covets most is Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening), a Washington lobbyist. But Shepherd’s attempts at courting her spark wild rumors and decimate his approval ratings.

    1802

    3. ‘All the President’s Men‘ (1976)

    During the 1972 elections, two reporters’ (Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman) investigation sheds light on the controversial Watergate scandal that compels President Nixon to resign from his post.

    2264

    2. ‘JFK‘ (1991)

    Follows the investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy led by New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner).

    2271

    1. ‘Lincoln‘ (2012)

    Daniel Day-Lewis in 'Lincoln.' Photo: Walt Disney Studios.
    Daniel Day-Lewis in ‘Lincoln.’ Photo: Walt Disney Studios.

    The revealing story of the 16th US Presidents tumultuous final months in office In a nation divided by war and the strong winds of change Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) pursues a course of action designed to end the war unite the country and abolish slavery With the moral courage and fierce determination to succeed his choices during this critical moment will change the fate of generations to come

    10084319
  • Horror Movie ‘Terrifier 3’ Tops the Box Office as ‘Joker 2’ Crashes

    David Howard Thornton as “Art the Clown” in the horror film, 'Terrifier 3', a Cineverse release. Photo: Jesse Korman/Dark Age Cinema.
    David Howard Thornton as “Art the Clown” in the horror film, ‘Terrifier 3’, a Cineverse release. Photo: Jesse Korman/Dark Age Cinema.

    Preview:

    • ‘Terrifier 3’ won the box office this weekend.
    • ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ suffered one of the biggest second-weekend drops in history.
    • ‘The Wild Robot,’ which is doing well for DreamWorks, has a sequel in development.

    Turns out audiences do want to watch a sequel where a clown causes chaos… just not the big budget studio version.

    In a major triumph for both independent filmmaking and the horror genre, clown slasher movie ‘Terrifier 3’ has topped the domestic box office with an impressive $18.3 million.

    That might not seem like a huge amount in an era where the likes of ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ open to north of $200 million but given that ‘Terrifier 2’ was made for $5 million, that’s still a big win.

    sFgidthcQxEKgsGhIdb2L6

    And it comes as the other clown on screens right now is continuing to be a huge disappointment. ‘Joker: Folie à Deux,’ itself with a roughly $190 million budget, saw its earnings drop 81% this weekend, one of the worst in comic book history and films in general.

    Following its launch last week with an already-disappointing $37.6 million, Todd Phillips’ sequel fell to $7.05 million despite showing on more than 4,000 screens (by comparison, ‘Terrifier 3’ was on 2,514).

    3vR8oDvROAOlNd8rWeImt3

    What’s behind ‘Terrifier 3’s success?

    Lauren LaVera in 'Terrifier 3'. Photo: Cineverse.
    Lauren LaVera in ‘Terrifier 3’. Photo: Cineverse.

    The indie horror movie franchise, directed by Damien Leone, stars David Howard Thornton as Art, a demonic clown figure who terrorizes a small town with grisly killings.

    While he normally strikes around Halloween, ‘Terrifier 3’ sees him appear at Christmas, dressed as Santa, but still with murder on his mind.

    Yet despite all the gore and violence, the movies have built a cult following and display no little skill for classic schlockbuster marketing tactics, such as setting up a hotline for outraged audience members to decry its content.

    It also spent a lot less on advertising, targeting horror fans and keeping its budget low.

    What else happened at the box office this weekend?

    (L to R) Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix on the set of Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Joker: Folie à Deux,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Niko Tavernise/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2024 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.
    (L to R) Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix on the set of Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Joker: Folie à Deux,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Niko Tavernise/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2024 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

    DreamWorks has reason to celebrate, as family animation ‘The Wild Robot’ took second place, earning $13.45 million in its third weekend.

    The new movie has been successful enough that director Chris Sanders, who wrote and directed based on Peter Brown’s book, is putting plans in place for a follow-up to the story of Roz the robot (voiced by Lupita Nyong’o) and the animals she befriends on an isolated island.

    ‘Folie à Deux’ had to settle for third place given its dismal figure. Warner Bros. will be happier with ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,’ which slipped to fourth place with $7 million, but which has been in theaters for six weeks and is now on home VOD.

    Pharrell’s LEGO-animated life story ‘Piece by Piece’ struggled to connect with audiences, taking in $3.8 million, but that put it ahead of Jason Reitman’s ‘Saturday Night’ and Donald Trump-skewering biopic ‘The Apprentice,’ which earned $4.1 million and $1.58 million in seventh and 10th respectively.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Saturday Night’

    Will there be a ‘Terrifier 4’?

    (L to R) Clint Howard as “Smokey” and Daniel Roebuck as “Santa” in the horror film, 'Terrifier 3', a Cineverse release. Photo: Jesse Korman/Dark Age Cinema.
    (L to R) Clint Howard as “Smokey” and Daniel Roebuck as “Santa” in the horror film, ‘Terrifier 3’, a Cineverse release. Photo: Jesse Korman/Dark Age Cinema.

    Director Damien Leone has said he’s got plans for at least a couple more films, so we’ve not heard the last of Art the Clown. Perhaps Warner Bros. should consider picking that franchise up if it’s looking for a successful franchise?

    (from left) Fink (Pedro Pascal), Roz (Lupita N’yongo), and Pinktail (Catherine O’Hara) in DreamWorks Animation’s 'The Wild Robot', directed by Chris Sanders. © 2024 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.
    (from left) Fink (Pedro Pascal), Roz (Lupita N’yongo), and Pinktail (Catherine O’Hara) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘The Wild Robot’, directed by Chris Sanders. © 2024 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.

    Top Ten Movies at the Box Office Weekend of 10/11-10/13:

    Buy ‘Terrifier’ Movies On Amazon

    8Vd8qkq6
  • Movie Review: ‘The Apprentice’

    Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump in 'The Apprentice'. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.
    Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump in ‘The Apprentice’. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.

    Opening in theaters on October 11th, ‘The Apprentice’ feels both timely and of its time as it turns the clock back to the late 1970s and 1980s, where Donald Trump was still a wannabe real estate developer working for his father’s companies who dreams of running his own business empire, but initially lacking the connections –– despite his family’s clear privilege –– to do so.

    Ali Abbasi’s latest charts his rise thanks to the Palpatine-alike influence of obnoxious, powerful lawyer Roy Cohn, and aims to dig under Trump’s skin to discover what lead to the problem we have today.

    Related Article: Sebastian Stan Playing a Young Donald Trump in New Movie ‘The Apprentice’

    Does ‘The Apprentice’ work?

    Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump in 'The Apprentice'. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.
    Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump in ‘The Apprentice’. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.

    With the upcoming election on everyone’s minds, it’s timely that a film targeted at discovering where Donald Trump got a lot of his business and general beliefs from is arriving in theaters. ‘The Apprentice’ doesn’t look to completely profile the man, but then, that’s not the point; this is a tightly-focused story of his rise to business dominance in New York in the 1980s thanks to the support and advice of Roy Cohn in particular, who sees something in Trump and encourages his less ethical side with a mantra that includes the phrase “admit nothing, deny everything” (sound familiar?).

    Truth and fairness are entirely malleable to these men, who use wealth and power to manipulate the world around them, and though the movie sometimes seems to let Trump off the hook for his behavior, it’s ultimately a compelling chronicle of his muddy morals.

    Script and Direction

    (L to R) Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn and Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump in 'The Apprentice'. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.
    (L to R) Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn and Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump in ‘The Apprentice’. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.

    Writer Gabriel Sherman has spent most of his career chronicling dodgy wealthy and powerful people, and he brings plenty of research to the page here. Keeping the focus almost entirely on Trump, he has crafted a solid and believable evolution (though perhaps devolution might be a better word) for the man on the page.

    While ‘The Apprentice’ script does sometimes fall into the old trap of this-happens-then-this-happens storytelling, there’s enough meat on the bone to keep it from feeling stale.

    Director Ali Abbasi has more normally worked from scripts he wrote, including the superb ‘Holy Spider’ and the excellent ‘Border’ and has brought both horror and fantasy to screens. He’s a good choice for a real-life horror story and his Iranian-Danish background means he has an outsider’s eye on the whole, ridiculous saga.

    Bringing late 1970s and 1980s New York to the screen is no easy feat, especially for a movie that had to find its thrifty $16 million budget from a patchwork of companies and investors. But Abbasi infuses his film with punkish energy and keeps the story in motion while getting a lot out of his two leading men.

    Performances

    Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong dominate the screen here, while finding support in the likes of Maria Bakalova and Martin Donovan.

    Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump

    Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump in 'The Apprentice'. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.
    Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump in ‘The Apprentice’. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.

    Stan is having a stellar year, providing some of the best performances of his career between ‘A Different Man’ and now this. His Donald Trump is less an impression of the man, more a channeling of his corrupted essence, though as he moves through the story, he becomes closer to the Trump as most people will know him. While his work on ‘A Different Man’ seems more likely to draw awards attention, it’s not impossible that this transformation will also see potential trophies.

    Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn

    Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn in 'The Apprentice'. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.
    Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn in ‘The Apprentice’. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.

    The ever-intense Strong (who spent a few years as the ambitious, neurotic Kendall Roy on ‘Succession’) here dives into playing the powerful lawyer who seemingly set Trump on his path to how he is today. This is a bravura acting job by Strong, who fully imbues Cohn with angry power, but also gets to chart his slow decline as Trump rises and Cohn is impacted by the AIDS epidemic in those around him and finally, himself (though he insists to his dying day that he has liver cancer). Cohn’s a fascinating, intimidating character, a puppet master whose creation gets away from him.

    Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump

    Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump in 'The Apprentice'. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.
    Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump in ‘The Apprentice’. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.

    Bakalova, best known for her breakout role in the ‘Borat’ sequel, has less to do than her co-stars, but she brings spirit and, later spite to the role of Trump’s first wife. She’s always watchable and works well with Stan.

    Martin Donovan as Fred Trump

    (L to R) Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump and Martin Donovan as Fred Trump in 'The Apprentice'. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.
    (L to R) Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump and Martin Donovan as Fred Trump in ‘The Apprentice’. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.

    Trump’s overbearing father had a huge impact on his life, and Donovan is excellent in the role, working in prosthetics to bring him to life.

    Supporting cast

    There is good work in relatively small (but impactful) roles from the likes of Charlie Carrick (as Trump’s brother Freddy, who goes from high-flying airline pilot to addicted burnout) and Mark Rendall as Roger Stone, who will infamously go on to be a key advisor to Trump.

    Final Thoughts

    Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump in 'The Apprentice'. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.
    Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump in ‘The Apprentice’. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.

    ‘The Apprentice’ faces a struggle for attention in theaters because of its divisive subject matter. There will be surely those who will be disappointed it doesn’t completely demonize the man (though a couple of scenes, based on more spurious accusations certainly push in that direction, including how he treats Ivanna), while Trump supporters will skip it and label it as leftie propaganda and “fake news.”

    But take on its own merits, it’s a worthwhile peek at a very troubling person.

    ‘The Apprentice’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.

    Nvcw7TQwZStMbHxzaKCR62

    What’s the plot of ‘The Apprentice’?

    A young Donald Trump (Sebastian Stan), eager to make his name as a hungry second son of a wealthy family in 1970s New York, comes under the spell of Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), the cutthroat attorney who would help create the Donald Trump we know today.

    Cohn sees in Trump the perfect protégé — someone with raw ambition, a hunger for success, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to win.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Apprentice’?

    • Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump
    • Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn
    • Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump
    • Martin Donovan as Fred Trump
    • Ben Sullivan as Russell Eldridge
    • Charlie Carrick as Fred Trump Jr.
    • Mark Rendall as Daniel Sullivan
    • Joe Pingue as Anthony Salerno
    (L to R) Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump and Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn in 'The Apprentice'. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.
    (L to R) Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump and Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn in ‘The Apprentice’. Photo: Briarcliff Entertainment.

    Other Sebastian Stan Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘The Apprentice’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Sebastian Stan Movies On Amazon

    rIF3blxm
  • Beyond Fest Announces Full 2024 Line Up

    Beyond Fest runs September 25th - October 9th, 2024.
    Beyond Fest runs September 25th – October 9th, 2024.

    Preview:

    • Beyond Fest is back in Los Angeles for its 12 year later this month.
    • ‘Salem’s Lot,’ ‘The Brutalist’ and more will receive premieres.
    • Filmmakers including Sam Raimi, Shane Black and more will present retrospectives.

    Now entering its 12th year, the highest-attended genre film festival in the US, Beyond Fest is back offering even more exciting screenings and talks with filmmakers.

    The event, which has brought first looks at new movies and more to fans for years, is back this month, boasting 82 features, including 16 World Premieres, 4 International Premieres, 1 North American Premiere, 3 US Premieres, and 25 West Coast Premieres.

    Related Article: Beyond Fest’s Full 2023 Line Up Includes ‘The Creator’, ‘The Toxic Avenger’ and More

    When and where is Beyond Fest 2024 happening?

    (L to R) Danny Glover and Mel Gibson in 'Lethal Weapon'. Photo: Warner Bros.
    (L to R) Danny Glover and Mel Gibson in ‘Lethal Weapon’. Photo: Warner Bros.

    This year’s event runs between September 25th – October 9th.

    In partnership with the American Cinematheque and presented exclusively by distributor NEON, Beyond Fest will screen at the Egyptian Theatre, Aero Theatre, Los Feliz 3, and Vista Theatre.

    Here’s what Head of Programming Evrim Ersoy has to say about this year’s fest:

    “Combining a celebration of cinema whilst firmly focusing our gaze on the next generation of filmmakers has always been at the heart of the Beyond Fest. And this year we have even more opportunity to bring together the full spectrum of genre filmmaking to the community that is at the core of everything we do: from Kiyoshi Kurosawa to Brady Corbet, Jennifer Kent to Sam Raimi, we have created a program that embraces all corners of the cinematic spectrum.”

    What could I see at the 2024 Beyond Fest?

    2024's Salem's Lot. Photo: Warners Bros.
    2024’s Salem’s Lot. Photo: Warners Bros.

    In its inimitable style, Beyond Fest is blending exciting new movies with the chance to experience old favorites and listen to the people who made them.

    Among the new movies on offer are ‘Salem’s Lot,’ the Stephen King adaptation directed by ‘It’ scribe Gary Dauberman (which opens this year’s event), Brady Corbet’s latest audacious indie ‘The Brutalist,’ the 35mm debut of Palme D’or Winner ‘Anora’ with writer/director Sean Baker and Mikey Madison in person and Marielle Heller’s scathing ‘Nightbitch’ starring Amy Adams hosted by Caitlin Durante and Jamie Loftus of The Bechdel Cast.

    Guy Maddin launches a special retrospective with his new film, ‘Rumours,’ Jesse Eisenberg brings road trip pic ‘A Real Pain’ and there is the Los Angeles Premiere of Ali Abbasi’s cutthroat origin story ‘The Apprentice,’ starring Sebastian Stan (as Donald Trump), Jeremy Strong, and Maria Bakalova.

    (L to R) Jeremy Strong and Sebastian Stan in 'The Apprentice'. Photo: Briarcliffe.
    (L to R) Jeremy Strong and Sebastian Stan in ‘The Apprentice’. Photo: Briarcliffe.

    Closing the event will be Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s ‘Cloud‘ with the legendary Japanese auteur joining in-person to launch a 7-film retrospective.

    And for those craving a look back? Get a load of the retrospective screenings boasting more great filmmakers… Sam Raimi returns with a 35mm triple feature of ‘Darkman,’ ‘The Quick and the Dead,’ and ‘Drag Me to Hell,’ Shane Black showcases his pugilistic excellence with a quadruple bill including ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ and ‘The Nice Guys’, while Australian genre expert Jennifer Kent makes a rare U.S. appearance to celebrate the 10th anniversary of ‘The Babadook,’ paired with ‘The Nightingale.’

    Walter Hill revisits the murderous swamps of ‘Southern Comfort,’ Paul W.S. Anderson attends for a rare showing of his cosmic-cult-space-horror, ‘Event Horizon,’ and Indian auteur Tarsem Singh joins to showcase two stunning restorations: the World Premiere of ‘The Cell’ and the West Coast Premiere of ‘The Fall’.

    7748

    That’s just a small sampling of what’s on offer. Visit beyondfest.com and americancinematheque.com for more details.

    How can I get tickets for the 2024 Beyond Fest?

    Tickets will be on sale via americancinematheque.com on Friday, September 13th at 10AM PST.

    Al Pacino in 'Scarface'. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    Al Pacino in ‘Scarface’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Some of the Movies Playing at Beyond Fest 2024:

    Buy ‘Godzilla Minus One’ Movies On Amazon

    2vinzgSL
  • Sebastian Stan to Play Donald Trump

    (Left) Sebastian Stan stars in 'Dumb Money.' Photo: Claire Folger. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved. (Right) Former President Donald Trump on 'Meet The Press.' Copyright: 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC.
    (Left) Sebastian Stan stars in ‘Dumb Money.’ Photo: Claire Folger. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved. (Right) Former President Donald Trump on ‘Meet The Press.’ Copyright: 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC.

    Preview:

    • Sebastian Stan will play a younger Donald Trump in a new movie.
    • ‘The Apprentice’ will also feature Jeremy Strong and Maria Bakalova.
    • Iranian director Ali Abasi is behind the movie, which has started shooting.

    While he became well known for playing James “Bucky” Barnes AKA The Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sebastian Stan has carved out a niche playing real-life people, including Tommy Lee in ‘Pam & Tommy’, Robinhood Markets CEO Vladimir Tenev in ‘Dumb Money’ and Jeff Gilooly, who was married to skater Tonya Harding in ‘I, Tonya’.

    But his latest role will raise eyebrows higher than most –– he’s on board to play a younger Donald Trump in a new movie called ‘ The Apprentice’. But though it has the name of the TV series that first brought Trump to national attention, it appears to take place before he gets that gig, and long before his Presidential term.

    Related Article: Sebastian Stan and Maria Bakalova may Star for Paul Feig in New Spy Comedy

    What’s the story of ‘The Apprentice?

    Former President Donald Trump on 'Meet The Press.'
    Former President Donald Trump on ‘Meet The Press.’ Copyright: 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC.

    ‘The Apprentice’ is billed as an exploration of power and ambition, set in a world of corruption and deceit, and will examine Trump’s efforts to build his real estate business in New York in the ’70s and ’80s, also digging into his relationship with infamous attorney Roy Cohn.

    It’s a mentor-protege story that charts the origins of a major American dynasty. Filled with larger than life characters, it reveals the moral and human cost of a culture defined by winners and losers.

    Who else will star in ‘The Apprentice’?

    Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, and Kieran Culkin in season 4 of HBO's 'Succession.'
    (L to R) Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, and Kieran Culkin in season 4 of HBO’s ‘Succession.’ Photograph by Claudette Barius/HBO.

    Deadline reports that ‘Succession’ actor Jeremy Strong will be heading back into the world of rich New York types (albeit real ones this one) to play the role of Cohn.

    Maria Bakalova, meanwhile, who broke out in ‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm’ and most recently was heard voicing Cosmo in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’, is on board to play Ivana, Trump’s first wife (who, it’s worth noting, died last year and is buried in, of all places, Trump’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey).

    Who is making ‘The Apprentice’?

    HBO Max's 'The Last of Us.'
    HBO Max’s ‘The Last of Us.’ Photo: Warner Media.

    This new movie comes from Iranian director Ali Abbasi, who has made films including ‘Holy Spider’ and ‘Border’ and who shot two episodes of HBO’s acclaimed video game adaptation ‘The Last of Us’.

    Writing the script for this one is Gabriel Sherman, whose bestseller ‘The Loudest Voice in the Room’ inspired Showtime’s miniseries ‘The Loudest Voice’, starring Russell Crowe as Fox News founder Roger Ailes.

    When will ‘The Apprentice’ be on screens?

    The cameras have only just started rolling on this one and it doesn’t have a distributor yet, so we’ll have to wait and see when it’ll be in theaters.

    Sebastian Stan from 'Thunderbolts' at D23 Expo 2022.
    Sebastian Stan from ‘Thunderbolts’ at D23 Expo 2022.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘The Apprentice’:

    Buy Sebastian Stan Movies On Amazon

    pjslwnt7
  • The 2018 ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ Cast Is Here, and It Should Look Pretty Familiar

    The first CBS edition of “Celebrity Big Brother” now has houseguests. The “concentrated run” won’t go on for months, like the summer seasons; instead, it’ll air for 13 nights — starting Wednesday, February 7 — serving as counterprogramming to NBC’s Winter Olympics.

    The cast members — or at least 11 of them, is one more coming? — were revealed during the 2018 Grammy Awards:

    • Omarosa Manigault, “The Apprentice” alum who recently left Donald Trump’s White House in *dramatic* fashion.

    • “American Pie” actress Shannon Elizabeth

    • Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath

    • “The Cosby Show” star Keshia Knight Pulliam

    • “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” cast member Brandi Glanville

    • Former NBA star Metta World Peace

    • UFC light heavyweight champ Chuck Liddell

    • “Big Time Rush” actor/singer James Maslow

    • Tony-winning “Hairspray” actress Marissa Jaret Winokur

    • TV personality Ross Matthews

    • Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez

    Those names should be familiar to reality TV fans, since most of them already competed on “Dancing With the Stars” or “The Celebrity Apprentice.” (Sorry to not see professed “Big Brother” fan Bobby Moynihan on the list.)

    This shortened celeb edition of “Big Brother” will still include Head of Household and Power of Veto comps, as well as live evictions and the usual 24/7 live feeds at CBS All Access (and Twitter).

    “Celebrity Big Brother” starts with a three-night premiere event airing Wednesday, February 7 at 8 p.m. EST, Thursday, Feb. 8 at 8 p.m., and a two-hour live eviction show on Friday, Feb. 9 at 8 p.m.

    Who has your early odds to win the $250,000 grand prize, and who will be evicted first?

    [Via: THR, TVLine]

    Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook.

  • Arnold Schwarzenegger Reportedly Considering Senate Run

    Arnold SchwarzeneggerThe The Apprentice,” is considering running for U.S. Senate.

    If Schwarzenegger runs in 2018, it “would give Arnold the stage to jam Trump for the next 16 months,” a veteran GOP strategist commented anonymously to Politco.

    The 69-year-old actor served two terms as Governor of California from 2003 to 2011. If he runs for the Senate, he’d be going up against Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who’ll turn 85 in 2018.

    Schwarzenegger spokesman Daniel Ketchell didn’t deny the rumors, telling Politico, “Right now Gov. Schwarzenegger’s focus is on using his platform to bring some sensibility and coherency to Washington by fighting for redistricting reform, like we did in California. We are keeping all of our options open as far as how we can accomplish that.”

    Since Trump took office and Schwarzenegger took over hosting NBC’s “The Apprentice,” the two have feuded on Twitter, with Trump crowing about the show’s poor ratings.

    “When I ran for president, I had to leave the show. They hired a big, big movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger to take my place and we know how that turned out. The ratings went right down the tubes,” Trump said at the National Prayer Breakfast in February.

    Schwarzenegger responded with a video in which he said, “Hey Donald, I have a great idea. Why don’t we switch jobs? You take over TV, because you’re such an expert in ratings, and I take over your job and then people can finally sleep comfortably again.”

    Of course, since the “Terminator” star was born in Austria, he cannot run for President under current U.S. laws. Unless “The Simpsons” proves prophetic yet again.

    The animated series famously predicted a “failed Trump presidency” in an episode in 2000. The series’ Schwarzenegger-esque action star, Rainier Wolfcastle, was President in 2007’s “The Simpsons Movie.”

  • Arnold Schwarzenegger Is the New Boss in First ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ Promo

    NBCUniversal 2016 Upfront PresentationArnold Schwarzenegger is getting ready to terminate some famous folks as the new host of rebooted NBC reality series “Celebrity Apprentice,” and the first promo from the new season promises that the star was built to do this.

    The clip features a futuristic set-up where some high-tech machinery is hard at work constructing a humanoid robot, which just so happens to look exactly like Schwarzenegger. “We’re building a new boss,” the promo declares, before revealing the host’s Terminator-like visage, all steely gaze and no-nonsense.

    “Let’s get down to business,” Ahnuld declares, before chomping on a cigar and blowing smoke into the air.

    It seems this new, Trump-less iteration of the reality series is trying to set itself apart from its predecessor from the get-go, adding a level of seriousness the previous host never really achieved. Of course, the inherent silliness in watching a group of C-list celebs perform menial tasks in the name of charity doesn’t exactly demand to be taken seriously, though we have a feeling NBC is desperately trying to distance itself from the orange shadow looming over the show’s past in any way it can.

    The new season of “Celebrity Apprentice” premieres on NBC on January 2.

    [via: Arnold Schwarzenegger]

    Photo credit: Getty Images

  • Donald Trump Keeps Getting Fired: Read His Latest Responses to Macy’s, NBC

    No one can stop firing “The Apprentice” cast should’ve tried: Insist you’re the one doing the firing. On Monday, NBC announced it was cutting ties with the presidential candidate after his comments about Mexican immigrants. NBC is no longer airing the Miss USA pageant, which also lost its hosts. Trump did not back down. He posted his own dumping news, which you can read below. But first, check out this new breakup statement from Macy’s, via Deadline:

    Macy’s is a company that stands for diversity and inclusion. We have no tolerance for discrimination in any form. We welcome all customers, and respect for the dignity of all people is a cornerstone of our culture. We are disappointed and distressed by recent remarks about immigrants from Mexico. We do not believe the disparaging characterizations portray an accurate picture of the many Mexicans, Mexican Americans and Latinos who have made so many valuable contributions to the success of our nation. In light of statements made by Donald Trump, which are inconsistent with Macy’s values, we have decided to discontinue our business relationship with Mr. Trump and will phase-out the Trump menswear collection, which has been sold at Macy’s since 2004.”

    OK, well, The Donald wasted no time with his own statement, emphasizing that HE was the one to initiate the breakup:

    My recent statement re: @macys — We must have strong borders & stop illegal immigration now! #MakeAmericaGreatAgain

    A photo posted by Donald J. Trump (@realdonaldtrump) on


    His previous post, bashing NBC, called them weak and shaded “lying Brian Williams.” Why not read that again, in case you missed it the first time:

    Statement on Relationship with NBC-

    A photo posted by Donald J. Trump (@realdonaldtrump) on


    Because he’s having that kind of week, Trump also posted news on his lawsuit against Univision for refusing to broadcast Miss USA:

    My just filed lawsuit against Univision. Always fight back when right. #MakeAmericaGreatAgain

    A photo posted by Donald J. Trump (@realdonaldtrump) on


    Trump actually seems to be having a blast with these controversies, not only refusing to back down from anything he’s said, but doubling down on all of it and promoting it as part of his anti-PC platform. To him, if you stand up for yourself and stand behind everything you’ve said — even if it includes casually calling Mexican immigrants rapists — you are showing strength.

    Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook.

    %Slideshow-301175%