Rumors of Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Day-Lewis, the creative minds behind arguably the greatest film of the new millennium, There Will Be Blood, teaming up again began early in the summer. Now, Deadline confirms the project, and it’s coming out in 2017.
Happy Thursday!
According to the Deadline report, a bidding war broke out at TIFF over the project:
Universal and Focus Features won a worldwide rights auction for an untitled film that Paul Thomas Anderson wrote and will direct, re-teaming him with There Will Be Blood star Daniel Day-Lewis. Focus won the deal after a ferocious bidding battle with Fox Searchlight. The deal puts the lie to press reports speculating that buyer appetite has vanished going into Toronto.
The movie, as it was rumored back in June, will take place in the fashion world of London in the 1950s. There’s very little information other than this, and speculation that DDL will be playing a real person. All that really matters here is we get a new Paul Thomas Anderson film starring the greatest living actor, who was last seen in Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln way back in 2012.
Paul Thomas Anderson and Co. will start production early in 2017 with a release date some time late in the year, in the middle of Oscar season.
When discussing greatest directors of all time it is easy to get caught up in critical praise. It is a short path between a stacked award case and a director’s status in the history books. One of the most highly sought after statuettes is the Oscar. Handed out every year since 1929, the Academy Awards is easily the most distinguished trophy in the world of cinema. Simply being nominated puts you in exclusive company, but winning puts you in a league of your own.
That said, not every iconic director received that honor before they passed away. In this list we take a look at 10 of the best directors that never won an Academy Award before they died. We’re only looking at competitive wins, so we’re not counting honorary or lifetime achievement awards. Since a lot of directors write, produce, and do other tasks on their films, we are also excluding any directors that won in any category, whether that be special effects (Stanley Kubrick), music (Charlie Chaplin), or writing (Orson Welles). We are also excluding any directors that had their heyday before the Academy Awards started, such as many silent era directors (Buster Keaton).
10. Sam Peckinpah
Peckinpah’s work was often ignored by the Academy. While his output was a bit mixed in quality, he was capable of creating timeless classics. His 1971 thriller Straw Dogs still has an eerie feel to it, and his 1969 western The Wild Bunch gave new life to a struggling genre. The latter earned him his only Oscar nomination, a best writing nod he shared he with Walon Green and Roy Sickner.
9. Francois Truffaut
A man of many talents, this French writer/director earned three nominations; the first as best director for 1959’s The 400 Blows, the other two as best director and best screenplay for 1973’s Day for Night. While his earliest nomination was also the one most likely to earn him a win, his legacy has gone far beyond a single title. With films such as Shoot the Piano Player, Jules & Jim, and The Soft Skin, he has ensured his place in cinema history despite never lifting an Academy award.
8. Fritz Lang
While Lang’s most iconic film Metropolis saw the light of day two years before the Oscars began, this Austrian director had a long career well into the 1950’s. In addition to his landmark epic from 1927, Lang added to his legacy with films like M, Fury, and While the City Sleeps. Despite his storied filmography, Lang never received a single nomination before his death, nor has he received any honorary or lifetime achievement award following his passing.
7. Robert Altman
A giant of American cinema, this Kansas City native earned seven nominations before his death in 2006. After a long career in TV and documentary film making, he earned his first nomination as best director for M.A.S.H. in 1971. He went on to direct iconic flicks like Short Cuts, Nashville, Gosford Park, and The Player but never earned himself a fully fledged win.
6. Akira Kurosawa
This legendary Japanese director only earned one nomination throughout his career, a best director nod for 1985’s Ran. His earlier work was ignored by American award shows, yet when you look back at films like Seven Samurai, Rashomon, and Yojimbo it is amazing he never earned a mention earlier. It is likely politics played a big role in his exclusion from the proceedings, however another factor might be that the Academy were slow to recognize the brilliance of foreign directors, as seen with several of the other entries on this list.
5. Federico Fellini
It is said that practice makes perfect. If that is the case then this director likely learned how to deal with disappointment following his 12 loses at the Oscars. Receiving double digit nominations across nine films, this Italian director added several well respected entries to the annals of cinema. With films like 8 1/2, La Dolce Vita, and Amarcord, there is no shortage of celebrated material when it comes to this European treasure.
4. Ingmar Bergman
Looking back, it is surprising to see the man behind films like Cries & Whispers, The Seventh Seal, Persona, and Fanny & Alexander without an Oscar to his name. Despite earning a whopping nine nominations before his death in 2007, this Swedish director never won a competitive award. His dark Scandinavian films have amassed quite the following over the years, and while they triumphed in several other categories, Bergman himself never got a statuette.
3. Stanley Kramer
Like Ingmar Bergman, this New York native received nine nominations in his lifetime yet never won a competitive award. His work showed a fantastic range, as he delivered comedies such as It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, civil rights dramas like Inherit the Wind, and courtroom dramas like Judgement at Nuremberg. He shined a light at societal issue with films like Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, and The Defiant Ones, and proved himself to be a talented producer on films like High Noon.
2. Sidney Lumet
It is hard to oversell the influence Lumet has had on American cinema. He first made waves with his feature length debut 12 AngryMen, before truly marking his territory with Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico, Murder on the Orient Express, and Network. His work has a timeless feel to it, and the social commentary brought forth in films like Network is still eerily relevant to modern day society. He earned five nominations before his death in 2011.
1. Alfred Hitchcock
Most people would feel Hitchcock to be a safe bet as a director with an Oscar to his name. After all, this iconic director brought the world legendary movies on a conveyor belt during his heyday. The list is nearly endless, but includes classics like Psycho, Vertigo, North by Northwest, Rope, Strangers on a Train, The Birds, and Rear Window to name but a few. Yet, despite his perfect record, this British director had to settle for five nominations and no wins.
It looks like Matthew MCCnaughey might be gunning for some more awards with Gold, and I mean that as a compliment. The trailer for Gold, where Mcconaughey plays a balding loser who travels into the jungle to dig up some buried treasure.
Check out this awesome trailer, first released by Vulture:
As you can see there, Edgar Ramirez and Bryce Dallas Howard co star in Gold. But the main draw here is McConaughey, who looks to be in peak form. The bit where he’s touching the tiger is pretty damn funny.
Stephen Gaghan, whose writing credits include Traffic, Syriana, and The Alamo (whoops), directs.
Since winning Best Actor for Dallas Buyer’s Club, McConaughey has done True Detective and a handful of features, the worst being Gus Van Sant’s grating attempt at a human drama, Sea of Trees. That’s when Oscar attempts go horribly, wrong; this, on the other hand, looks like it has some serious legs. McConaughey looks terrific in that bald cap and he seems to be having fun while also throwing everything he has into the role. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Gold opens on Christmas Day. With a title like Gold, the Oscar headlines sort of write themselves, don’t they?
From the team that brought you FABLES: THE WOLF AMONG US comes a new chapter of the FABLES legacy! In a post-Fables world where magic abounds, it can be wielded for the greater good or used to plant the seeds of anarchy and terrorism. The Shadow Players are a global network of agents—both Fable and mundane—tasked with policing a newly enchanted world and protecting humanity from itself. EVERAFTER features the return of series favorites Bo Peep, Peter Piper, Hansel, and Connor Wolf, as well as exciting new characters and a terrifying new villain! Written by FABLES: THE WOLF AMONG US veterans Matthew Sturges and Dave Justus with gorgeous art by Travis Moore (Fables: The Wolf Among Us, JLA All Stars), you won’t want to miss this series that FABLES creator Bill Willingham himself told us we had to get into your hands as quickly as possible!
Writing
This new series, which picks up after the intense finale of Fables #150, already had a lot of fans eager to see how the story would continue. Especially since the creator, Bill Willingham, stepped away to allow the new creative writing team of Dave Justus and Matthew Sturges to take over. Would these newbies be able to appease the legion of Fables followers out there? The answer to this question is an enthusiastic yes.
The first issue focuses on young Connor Wolf as he is brought into the Shadow Players while the rest of the team (Hansel, Bo Peep, and Peter Piper) are on mission and having to fight off zombies. The contrast between these two events is very entertaining and helps to set up what fans can expect in this new series. It’s a bit more action filled than previous stories involving these characters, but still it’s by no means a bad idea.
Artwork
The art for this issue was some of the best in recent memory. The details, such as when Peter takes damage in a fight or the intense final pages, are really worthy or praise. Artist Travis Moore really showed what he had to offer and it’s an impressive display.
Conclusion
While more action filled than previous incarnation of Fables, this book still brought some very familiar characters back and has a lot to offer the fans. Seeing beloved characters like Snow White and Bigby, even for simple cameos, is always a welcomed siht. This series is a defintte must-read for Fables fans.
Tom Holland loves his Instagram account and the young actor loves to share photos from the set of ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming.’ I guess if I were cast as Peter Parker I would be bragging about all the time on social media as well.
The latest photo depicts Peter Parker with his classmate Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon). It will be interesting to see what Ned’s role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is, as he becomes the Hobgoblin in the comic books and is awkwardly killed off.
About ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’
A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), who made his sensational debut in ‘Captain America: Civil War,’ begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging superhero in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming.’
Spider-Man will have his hands full in ‘Homecoming’ as it appears that he will have to deal with the Vulture, Tinkerer, and the Shocker in his first film in the MCU.
Jon Watts directs ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ starring Holland, Marisa Tomei as Aunt May, Robert Downey Jr., Michael Keaton, Zendaya, Donald Glover, Martin Starr, Angourie Rice and Hannibal Buress.
Marvel Studios has been killing it on Netflix. So far, Daredevil and Jessica Jones have lit up the small screen. On September 30, stepping away from Hell’s Kitchen, Harlem gets its very own hero – Luke Cage.
A select group of online entertainment journalists have seen the show. Read a portion of their reviews down below.
“Linking to the Greater Marvel Universe with finesse, hip-hop’s alternating swagger and reserve, the zeitgeist, and the iconic legacy of Harlem, the series reaches both back and forward into the culture of heroes and an America looking for a true game-changer. With a muscular cast that includes Alfre Woodard, Theo Rossi and Rosario Dawson, plus every episode named after a Gang Starr track, the wide-ranging and deeply intended drama is further proof that Marvel’s highest quality resides on the small screen.”
“Luke Cage does an excellent job giving each of its cast members (however long they stick around) distinct personalities and memorable moments that create immediate stakes. Theo Rossi’s Shades isn’t just Cornell’s henchman, he has his own unique story, and one that’s closely tied to Cage’s past. Similarly, Frank Whaley’s Rafael Scarfe, as Misty’s partner, isn’t forgotten or written off as back-up. In this world, everyone has a place, and it matters.”
“Luke Cage lacks the eye-popping martial arts choreography of Daredevil or the heart-pounding psychological terror of Jessica Jones. The night-time seediness of the Marvel’s fictional version of Hell’s Kitchen is replaced by the summery daytime promises of NYC’s resurgent Harlem neighbourhoods. But like its predecessors, Luke Cage boasts an excellent cast, tremendous atmosphere, and a willingness to go places that other Marvel Studios productions can’t. And it brings a few fun twists to the party, too.”
After a sabotaged experiment leaves him with super strength and unbreakable skin, Luke Cage becomes a fugitive trying to rebuild his life in modern day Harlem, New York City. But he is soon pulled out of the shadows and must fight a battle for the heart of his city – forcing him to confront a past he had tried to bury.
Earlier today Marvel revealed that Doctor Strangewill be released even earlier in the UK, and now we have an awesome new image of Benedict Cumberbatch as the Sorcerer Supreme standing proudly in the Sanctum Sanctorum.
Doctor Strange is just around the corner, so Marvel’s marketing campaign will begin to ramp up in the coming weeks. Keep your eyes out for more images, teasers and interviews.
The sanctum Sanctorum appears to be a focal point for mystical energies and is the New York home of Stephen Strange. The Window of Worlds which Strange is standing before protects Strange from supernatural enemies.
Marvel’s Doctor Strange follows the story of the talented neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange who, after a tragic car accident, must put ego aside and learn the secrets of a hidden world of mysticism and alternate dimensions. Based in New York City’s Greenwich Village, Doctor Strange must act as an intermediary between the real world and what lies beyond, utilizing a vast array of metaphysical abilities and artifacts to protect the Marvel cinematic universe.
From director Scott Derrickson, Doctor Strange stars Benedict Cumberbatch (Stephen Strange), Rachel McAdams (Christine Palmer), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Baron Mordo), Amy Landecker, Scott Adkins, Michael Stuhlbarg (Nicodemus West), Benedict Wong (Wong), with Tilda Swinton (The Ancient One) and Mads Mikklesen (Kaecilius). The movie is set for release in the US on November 4.
Clint Eastwood Drags This 208 Second Ordeal Into 96 Minutes Of ‘Sully’
If you are aware of pop culture & real-life events, I’m sure you know the story of airline pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger. January 15th , 2009, is remembered as the day pilot Sully landed his flight in the Hudson River. Not only did this make him a national hero but it also became something for the media to eat up.
While Sully handled the hero’s story well, Eastwood’s film never tackled anything else. We had minor moments of PTSD, but there were deeper stories here. The fact that it took until the very end of the film to hear Sully (Tom Hanks) say that this was a team effort felt problematic. It bothered co-pilot Jeff Skiles (Aaron Eckhart) as well. Seeing the media ignore the work that Skiles did in the cockpit got to him, and that look at the sociological examination of fame and how the media covers events would have fit perfectly. Even diving into the marriage of Sullenberger and his wife Lorrie (Laura Linney) would have added another layer. But that’s the problem with “based on a true story” movies; you can’t dive into entertaining sub-plots like that without dampening the film’s truth.
Also, the way this story tried to make the NTSB look villainous didn’t sit well with me. A company trying to do their job by the books ended up being painted as the bad guy. I understand that questioning the heroism of Sully feels odd but this was as unexpected for the NTSB as it was for the pilots. Films and stories need an antagonist but this missed out on showing the true enemy: geese.
“This Is The Captain, Brace For Impact”
-Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger
Moving away from the film’s script, the filmmaking side fares no better. The visual effects came off as laughable at times, the editing was inconsistent, and the score was distracting. Every time the Sully theme song played, it took me right out. The only notable behind-the-camera work came from Clint Eastwood. He focused all his energy on turning Tom Hanks into Sullenberger. His directing is usually outstanding, with great American character pieces, but this is almost another example. That focus ended up being the film’s downfall. All of the other characters felt one-dimensional compared to Sully.
Final Thoughts:
I walked in knowing what to expect from this movie but ultimately, I was let-down even more. With the screenplay being based off the book written by Sully, you can only imagine how the film tells the story. But in order to tell something true to life, director Clint Eastwood sacrificed any masterful film storytelling. It felt like he went into auto-pilot with this piece. At least, him and Tom Hanks created a realistic performance of a man who is still actively in the media. Hanks hasn’t played a character like this in quite some time so it’s a pleasure to see him dive into a role.
I call it a puff-piece cause it was very obviously focused on furthering Sully as a hero and coming off hollow in doing so. The entertainment would have added to the film and even helped humanize the character of Sullenberger. Seemingly coming from Sully himself, I can’t help to feel like this was re-told to help further his 15 minutes of fame. There’s two frames of mindset about this event for me. First one, I recognize the awesome showing of pilot Chelsey Sullenberger and the skill it took to pull off the maneuver he did. My second mindset is seeing how he’s used his celebrity and newfound attention. I love a good media whore but capitalizing on near-death situation to me feels odd.
In all honesty, the film is average but I think it could have excelled if it wasn’t tied to being a truthful adaption. Some artistic freedom with the story & characters like the under-used air traffic control operator or co-pilot Jeff Skiles could have rounded-out the entire movie.
I was expecting Oscar gold from ‘Sully’ and all I got was Daytime Emmy bronze.
In the latest issue of Superman Rebirth, a major supporting character returned to DC Comics. Written by Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason, with art by Gleason and Mick Gray, Superman #6 introduces Jonathan Kent as Superboy in DC Rebirth. The reveal marked the end of the “Son of Superman” arc that began with Superman #1. Now heading into a new arc fans can look forward to Jonathan Kent’s Superboy making a few heroic saves.
Jonathan Kent Is Superboy In DC Rebirth
The reveal of Superboy came on the final page of Superman #6 with Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman looking down at Jonathan suited up, in a pretty stylish new costume. Superman announces his son as the new Superboy. We’re not yet sure what effect Superboy will have on the entire DC Universe, but it’s exciting to think about his influence and future.
Introducing Jonathan Kent as the new Superboy opens a lot of doors for DC Rebirth. Fans are clamouring for Superboy to team up with Batman’s son Damien Wayne in the long awaited “Super Sons.”
Superman #6 is currently available at your local comic book shop, or digitally depending on your preference.
Are you Happy To See Jonathan Kent Become DC’s Superboy? Let Us Know In The Comments Section Below!
If you’re in the UK then congratulations, you’ll get to see Marvel’s Doctor Strange a whole 10 days earlier than fans in the United States. If you’re in the US then you might need to plan a vacation fromIf you’re i social media for a while.
Marvel revealed through social media that the movie has been moved forward in the United Kingdom. The UK release of the movie has moved from Friday, October 28 to Tuesday, October 25. The film is still set for release on November 4 in the US.
Marvel’s Doctor Strange stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Tilda Swinton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mads Mikkelsen, and Rachel McAdams. The film is directed by Scott Derrickson.
Marvel’s Doctor Strange follows the story of the talented neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange who, after a tragic car accident, must put ego aside and learn the secrets of a hidden world of mysticism and alternate dimensions. Based in New York City’s Greenwich Village, Doctor Strange must act as an intermediary between the real world and what lies beyond, utilizing a vast array of metaphysical abilities and artifacts to protect the Marvel cinematic universe.
Not only will Doctor Strange introduce new characters to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but we will also find a whole new corner of a universe we’ve known for years. Sorcery is a concept not yet explored in the MCU, so it’s interesting to see how Marvel will introduce such an exciting and unexplored power.
