There are only a handful of stars in Hollywood, and Dreamworks gambled on Hugh Jackman being one of them for “Real Steel.” While the picture is hitting number one with a $27 million tally, it’s clear they may have erred. Dreamworks and Disney were very aggressive in marketing this robot boxing movie...
Read More »The following is a reprint of our review from the Venice Film Festival
Read More »Says Director Ruben Fleischer Holds His Own Amongst the Massive Ensemble of 'Gangster Squad'
Read More »After months of build-up, moviegoers finally got a look at "Drive," the much-acclaimed crime thriller by Nicolas Winding Refn, this weekend. With a C- Cinemascore (whatever that's worth), it's clearly a divisive picture, but there's been enough passion spent on the film, here and elsewhere, to suggest that plenty of discerning cinephiles have fallen for it in the way that several Playlist staffers have in recent weeks. And if you were one of them, Refn might have been a new face for you; the director has been active for fifteen years now, but only really started to come to attention of U.S. film fans in the last few years (or arguably, months...
Read More »'The Killing' Star Joel Kinnaman, Michael Fassbender & Ewan McGregor Among Names Being Considered By The DirectorSteven Soderbergh's latest picture "Contagion" is in its second week of release with a healthy tally thus far of over $45 million, and his next feature, the independent male stripper film...
Read More »'Drive' Filmmaker Talks 'Wonder Woman,' 'Logan's Run' And Turning Down BlockbustersYes, it's practically "Drive" week at The Playlist this week, sue us. The film opens in wide release this weekend (2,886 screens) and we sat down with most of the cast including star Ryan Gosling (he wants to direct),...
Read More »Plus Our Five Suggestions For Potential Replacements For George Clooney In The FilmWith his virus thriller "Contagion" riding on top of the box office (and causing an epidemic of O.C.D. hand-washing from anyone who's seen it), Steven Soderbergh's about to shoot his next film, the male-stripper drama "Magic Mike." But talk has already turned to his next, next film, "The Man From U.N.C.L.E," the second of three he plans to shoot before taking a sabbatical. That film, slated to go in front of cameras in February, hit something of a roadblock a few weeks back when Soderbergh's regular collaborator George Clooney was forced to drop out of the lead...
Read More »Actor Talks The Process of Putting A Different Identity On What Was Once A Big-Budgeted Action FlickThis Friday is a big one for cinema fans internationally, as it sees the wider premier of two films that (hopefully!) will be vying for some serious recognition this coming awards season. And while it’s the U.K. audiences who will be basking in the glow of spy thriller “Tinker Tailor Solider Spy,” we here in the States can finally cash in those long held Fandango reservations to experience neo-noir/fairy tale/ode to Los Angeles “Drive,” a film that critics -- ourselves amongst them -- have been having a meltdown over since it premiered at Canne...
Read More »'Drive' Director Also Talks Action Flick 'Only God Forgives,' An Abandoned Heist Pic & An Albert Brooks-Penned ComedyIf you've read any kind of movie blog in the last six months you're likely to see that almost everyone is enamored with Nicolas Winding Refn's beautiful, thrilling crime picture "Drive," which will undoubtedly nestle near the top of many year-end lists (including ours), when the time comes. It might feel like you've been hearing about the film for years now, seeing as the reviews have been piling in since it bowed at Cannes way back in May, but the film finally hits theaters on Friday, and you'll be able to check out all the fu...
Read More »Talks Developing ‘Logan’s Run;’ Remains Suspiciously Coy On Malick ProjectIt seems somewhat unnecessary to provide an introduction for Ryan Gosling. America’s Canadian Sweetheart has cultivated a resume over the years that makes him nearly impossible to avoid. In 2010 and 2011 alone he’s had leading turns in the independent drama “Blue Valentine,” the summer comedy “Crazy, Stupid, Love,” this fall’s neo-noir/fairy tale, “Drive,” and premiering soon at TIFF, political drama “The Ides of March.” But during press rounds for “Drive,” the actor, whose slate of upcoming projects appears to grow on a daily basis, revealed that there is in fact a m...
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