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Zach Braff Says Florence Pugh’s Acting in ‘A Good Person’ Reminds Him of Natalie Portman in ‘Garden State’

Zach Braff Says Florence Pugh’s Acting in ‘A Good Person’ Reminds Him of Natalie Portman in ‘Garden State’
It’s been nearly 20 years since Zach Braff worked with Natalie Portman on “Garden State,” but with his new film “A Good Person,” he was definitely reminded of her performance in his feature directorial debut. According to the writer and director, Florence Pugh has a similar “uncanny ability” as Portman.

A Good Person,” out in theaters now, tells the story of Allison (Pugh), who survives a massive car accident that kills her sister- and brother-in-law to be. Unable to deal with the trauma and grief of it, she leaves her fiancé and eventually ends up addicted to opioids, struggling to pull herself together. Finally, she realizes she does need help and gets herself into an AA meeting — only to run straight into Daniel, her former almost-father-in-law (Morgan Freeman).

From there, the two develop an odd friendship, helping each other find their way through, while still silently resenting the other at times.
See full article at The Wrap »

Zach Braff Can't Listen To The Garden State Soundtrack Songs Anymore [Exclusive]

Zach Braff Can't Listen To The Garden State Soundtrack Songs Anymore [Exclusive]
Zach Braff's 2004 coming-of-quarter-age film "Garden State" was met with warm acceptance upon its release. The general critical consensus seemed to be that Braff took a lot of the insecurities and anxieties of being in your mid-20s, and spun it into a moody, soulful rendition for a new generation.

Shortly after its release, however, "Garden State" was held up as an ur example of an unfortunate emerging character type: The Manic Pixie Dream Girl. The actual phrase was coined by critic Nathan Rabin in his description of Cameron Crowe's 2005 film "Elizabethtown," reviewed in his book "My Year of Flops." The Mpdg character was a seemingly perfect, often impish and energetic female, usually written specifically to drag a mopey male character out of the doldrums of their own personal drama. They were a therapist, a love object, and a prize all at once, and the character type was appearing with increasing ubiquity.
See full article at Slash Film »

‘A Good Person’ Filmmaker Zach Braff Inks With Range Media Partners

‘A Good Person’ Filmmaker Zach Braff Inks With Range Media Partners
Exclusive: Actor-filmmaker Zach Braff has signed with Range Media Partners ahead of the MGM theatrical release of his newest directorial effort A Good Person, starring Florence Pugh and Morgan Freeman.

Related Story Gersh Signs ‘The Boys In The Boat’ And ‘Ordinary Joe’ Actor James Wolk Related Story 'A Good Person' Review: Florence Pugh In Zach Braff's Blunt And Honest Drama Related Story 'John Wick: Chapter 4' Targeting Franchise Record $115M Global Opening – Box Office Preview

The film hitting screens this Friday, March 24th, which Braff also wrote and produced, tells the story of Allison (Pugh), whose life falls apart after her involvement in a fatal accident. In the following years, it is the unlikely relationship she forms with her would-be father-in-law (Freeman) that helps her inevitably live a life worth living.

Braff landed Emmy and DGA Award nominations for his directing on Ted Lasso Season 1 and also recently
See full article at Deadline »

Natalie Portman Stars In New Women’s Soccer Documentary ‘Angel City’

Natalie Portman Stars In New Women’s Soccer Documentary ‘Angel City’
Natalie Portman is shining a light on Angel City Football Club in “Angel City”.

HBO announced their new documentary on Thursday, which will tell the inspirational story of Angel City Football Club’s first season in The National Women’s Soccer League.

“Sometimes you dream impossible dreams and you let them go away and you’re kinda like, ‘Oh, that’s silly.’ But then sometimes someone you love and respect goes, ‘No, that’s a good idea. Keep going,” Portman narrates in the opening of the official teaser.

Read More: Natalie Portman Series ‘Lady In The Lake’ Temporarily Shuts Down After Threats Against Crew

The docuseries will go behind the scenes of the Los Angeles-based professional women’s soccer team’s rise to glory in their first season in 2022. The club was founded and led by an all-female team, with Portman at the head.

The original three-part documentary series will
See full article at ET Canada »

Moses Ingram, Michael Shannon Join Joshua Oppenheimer’s ‘The End’ Musical for Neon

Moses Ingram, Michael Shannon Join Joshua Oppenheimer’s ‘The End’ Musical for Neon
Moses Ingram and Michael Shannon have joined Tilda Swinton and George MacKay in Joshua Oppenheimer’s musical The End for Neon.

The latest additions to the ensemble cast include Bronagh Gallagher, Tim McInnerny, and Lennie James. Ingram has credits that includes Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit, playing Inquisitor Reva on Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi and she starred in Apple’s Lady in the Lake with Natalie Portman.

Shannon recently starred opposite Jessica Chastain in Paramount Network’s limited series George and Tammy, and he recently wrapped his directorial debut Eric Larue, a film based on the Brett Neveu play of the same name.

Oppenheimer’s golden-age musical about the last human family is currently in production in Ireland, with Neon co-financing the international co-production. Additional production is set for Italy and Germany later this year.

Swinton and MacKay were previously announced to star in the musical.

“I am thrilled to
See full article at The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News »

A Good Person Review

A Good Person Review
It’s been a hot minute, Mr. Braff, but we’re thankful that you have returned. Well, he hadn’t gone very far, of course, but A Good Person feels like a return of sorts, a re-emergence of a filmmaker who has struggled to get his films off the ground for a cavalcade of reasons. 2004’s Garden State, his debut feature which wowed audiences both at Sundance and then in cinemas, earning him a Grammy win for its sensational soundtrack. Then, not much.

Not for the want of trying, mind you, with countless directorial opportunities falling, followed by his eventual exploration and success with Kickstarter and the film born from it, 2014’s Wish I Was Here, which had a mixed reception, and taking on a studio comedy with Going In Style in 2017. More recently, he’s found a home directing episodes of series such as Ted Lasso and Shrinking but,
See full article at HeyUGuys »

Elizabeth Yu & Hilda Martin Join Jenna Bans/Bill Krebs NBC Drama Pilot

Elizabeth Yu & Hilda Martin Join Jenna Bans/Bill Krebs NBC Drama Pilot
Exclusive: Elizabeth Yu and Hilda Martin have been added to the cast of the upcoming NBC drama pilot from Jenna Bans and Bill Krebs formerly known as Murder by the Book.

Starring Retta, the story will follow a big city Instafamous book reviewer who takes a page from the murder mystery books she reviews and becomes an unlikely detective to uncover the shocking truths about an eccentric seaside town.

Martin will play Young Hazel, while Yu will portray Young Maggie. Young Maggie and Young Hazel are big murder mystery book nerds and best friends, spending time having fun, reading and sleeping over at each other’s houses. Eventually, Maggie’s murder will send Hazel on her own hunt for a killer.

They join a cast that includes Tituss Burgess, Tommy Dewey and Siobhan Williams.

Related: 2023 NBC Pilots & Series Orders

The untitled project, which landed a pilot order in January after
See full article at Deadline »

Star Wars Reveals How Grogu Survived Order 66

Star Wars Reveals How Grogu Survived Order 66
Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Mandalorian season 3, episode 4.The Mandalorian season 3, episode 4 has finally revealed the truth about how Grogu survived arguably the Star Wars galaxy's most significant event: Order 66. When it was first established in The Mandalorian season 2, episode 5 - by Ahsoka Tano no less - that Grogu was a Jedi youngling trained in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, theories began about where exactly the lovable youngling was during the prequel trilogy. This speculation only grew more rampant as The Book of Boba Fett showed flashbacks revealing Grogu was present in the Jedi Temple during Order 66, and the Jedi Purge.

Since then, theories and online discourse have exploded offering up hypotheses' on who saved Grogu. These theories have ranged in severity from Yoda and Obi-Wan to Mace Windu and Anakin Skywalker, with The Mandalorian season 3, episode 4 finally revealing which Jedi saved Grogu from Order 66. In an episode
See full article at Screen Rant »

Zach Braff has let go of feeling hurt by Garden State haters

  • JoBlo
Zach Braff has let go of feeling hurt by Garden State haters
Despite cracking a number of year-end best-of lists and earning an Independent Spirit Award, Zach Braff’s directorial debut Garden State has its share of detractors. Now, nearly 20 years after making a mark on the indie scene, Braff is facing the criticism, showing he’s ready to let go (let go).

Speaking with The Independent, Zach Braff said of the Garden State hate, “I just feel lucky that I get to make stuff. I can’t really dwell on it. Anyone who’s ever got a bad grade on an essay from a teacher can relate – just imagine it was out there in public, you know?” He added, “No one said being a creative person was easy, but you have to be vulnerable and authentically yourself. Otherwise, what’s the point?…Your skin gets tougher. When you’re young, you’re very vulnerable. But I’ve been doing this for 20 years now.
See full article at JoBlo »

Zach Braff Wrote ‘Garden State’ Manic Pixie Dream Girl to Heal from Being a ‘Very Depressed Young Man’

Zach Braff Wrote ‘Garden State’ Manic Pixie Dream Girl to Heal from Being a ‘Very Depressed Young Man’
Zach Braff is opening up about falling under the spell of the manic pixie dream girl male fantasy.

The “Garden State” director has been criticized for perpetuating the trope most prominently in his 2004 directorial debut starring Natalie Portman. The manic pixie dream girl label refers to unconventional, one-dimensional female characters who ultimately ease the lead male character’s existential despair and change his perspective on life.

“I was just copying Diane Keaton in ‘Annie Hall’ and Ruth Gordon in ‘Harold and Maude,'” Braff told The Independent about crafting Portman’s character Sam. “Those were my two favorite movies growing up, and I was kind of taking those two female protagonists and melding them into Natalie Portman.”

Braff added, “Of course I’ve heard and respect the criticism, but I was a very depressed young man who had this fantasy of a dream girl coming along and saving me from myself,
See full article at Indiewire »

Zach Braff Reacts to Critics Turning Against ‘Garden State,’ Plus Manic Pixie Dream Girl Backlash: ‘I Can’t Really Dwell on It’

Zach Braff Reacts to Critics Turning Against ‘Garden State,’ Plus Manic Pixie Dream Girl Backlash: ‘I Can’t Really Dwell on It’
Zach Braff was the toast of the 2004 Sundance Film Festival, where he emerged as an indie film wunderkind thanks to “Garden State.” The coming-of-age dramedy sold to Fox Searchlight for $5 million, double its production budget, and became a poster child for hip indies of the early aughts thanks to its Grammy-winning soundtrack and quirky characters. Flash forward to 2015, and Vice was celebrating the film’s anniversary with the following headline: “It’s the 10-Year Anniversary of Realizing ‘Garden State’ Sucked.”

Time has not been kind to “Garden State.” It’s the kind of film that now elicits groans and eye-rolls since its arty blocking (that wallpaper!) and alt-rock soundtrack have become worn out indie film cliches. Natalie Portman’s character, Sam, is often cited as one of the worst offenders of the “manic pixie dream girl” stereotype, which describes a quirky female character whose main narrative purpose is to save
See full article at Variety »

George Lucas Had No Idea The Star Wars Prequels Would Be So Politically Prescient

George Lucas Had No Idea The Star Wars Prequels Would Be So Politically Prescient
One of the guests on "James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction" was George Lucas. In his conversation with the program's host, the creator of "Star Wars" said he feels there are two varieties of sci-fi: science-focused and social-focused. "I come out of anthropology, so my focus is social systems," Lucas explained.

A lifelong lefty, Lucas' politics guide his work. In that aforementioned interview, Lucas confirmed to Cameron that part of his inspiration for "Star Wars" was the Vietnam War — the Rebel Alliance is the Viet Cong and the Galactic Empire is America. In 2005, during the release of "Revenge of the Sith," he summed up the story of the "Star Wars" prequels in an interview with the Chicago Tribune: "Democracies aren't overthrown; they're given away."

During "The Phantom Menace," Palpatine/Darth Sidious (Ian McDiarmid) orchestrates his rise from Senator to Chancellor. In "Attack of the Clones," when his term limit is approaching,
See full article at Slash Film »

The Social Network Cast & Character Guide

The Social Network Cast & Character Guide
David Fincher’s The Social Network had a great cast and interesting character. Based on a true story, the movie shows the creation of Facebook, which grew to be the largest social media application of its time. It is filled huge twists and turns, particularly as it emphasizes that a great success like Facebook doesn’t happen without hurting a few people along the way. Thanks to Aaron Sorkin’s great writing, the movie is filled with intelligent characters and genius storytelling that bring this unique story to life in completely unexpected ways.

The Social Network features a huge cast of characters, and while they’re all based upon real-life figures that played an actual part in this story, the film’s writing gives them all a fresh personality that every single actor captures brilliantly. That’s exactly why it’s one of Sorkin’s best projects - he transformed
See full article at Screen Rant »

10 Best Action Movies of All Time, Ranked by Viewers

10 Best Action Movies of All Time, Ranked by Viewers
Last year, we were treated to instant classics like ‘The Batman’ and ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ adding to the already impressive collection of timeless action movies. For those seeking a similar adrenaline-packed experience, IMDb collective voters have identified some of the best action films of all time.

IMDb’s list of highest-rated award-winning action movies features several genre-defining classics. Naturally, it’s no surprise that hit franchises like Star Wars and the entire Lord of the Rings series are well-represented in these rankings. We’ve listed the top 10 action movies of all time, with other must-see adrenaline-rush action flicks available below it. Each of these action films can be found on the IMDb Top 250 Movies list.

10 ‘Léon: The Professional’ (1994)

Director: Luc Besson

Stars: Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello

IMDb: 8.5

Léon: The Professional’ tells the story of an unlikely bond between a ruthless assassin and twelve-year-old Mathilda (Natalie Portman
See full article at BuddyTV »

Critics Choice Super Awards 2023 Winners

Critics Choice Super Awards 2023 Winners
Stephanie Hsu, Michelle Yeoh, and Ke Huy Quan in ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ (Photo Credit: Allyson Riggs / A24)

Everything Everywhere All at Once adds to its awards season tally with three Critics Choice Super Awards wins. The seven-time Oscar winner scored wins in the Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie, Best Actor in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie (Ke Huy Quan), and Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie (Michelle Yeoh) categories.

The Boys dominated among the television nominees, earning three awards. Antony Starr won in both the Best Actor in a Superhero Series and Best Villain in a Series categories, while the show was named Best Superhero Series.

The annual Critics Choice Super Awards recognize the best of the superhero, science fiction/fantasy, horror, and action genres.

3Rd Annual Critics Choice Super Awards Film Nominees And Winners

Best Action Movie

Bullet Train

Rrr

Winner: Top Gun: Maverick

The
See full article at showbizjunkies »

‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ Wins Big at 2023 Critics Choice Super Awards

‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ Wins Big at 2023 Critics Choice Super Awards
Everything Everywhere All at Once has continued its winning ways at the third annual Critics Choice Super Awards, which honor the best film and TV series in the superhero, sci-fi/fantasy, horror and action genres.

The awards season juggernaut, which nabbed best picture (and six other awards) at the 2023 Oscars, was named the best science fiction/fantasy movie at the Critics Choice Super Awards, while Ke Huy Quan was named best actor in that category, and Michelle Yeoh won for best actress in a science fiction/fantasy movie.

Yeoh was name best actress at the Oscars, while Everything Everywhere All at Once reinvigorated the career of Ke Huy Quan, who won for best supporting actor at the Academy Awards.

On the TV side, Amazon Prime Video’s The Boys also earned three awards at the Critics Choice Super Awards including best superhero series and Antony Starr being named best actor
See full article at The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News »

Natalie Portman Hated the Idea of Being a Director’s Muse

Natalie Portman Hated the Idea of Being a Director’s Muse
Natalie Portman has worked with a long list of directors in her career, from George Lucas to Darren Aronofsky. This helped the actor avoid being one director’s sole muse, which was a term that she had issues with.

Natalie Portman once named one of her only male mentors who wasn’t creepy towards her Natalie Portman | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Portman has had a few male mentors in her long film career. But the Oscar-winner once credited filmmaker Mike Nichols as one of the only mentors who didn’t convey any creepy tendencies. Portman worked with the filmmaker in the 2004 movie Closer, which she co-starred along with Julia Roberts. Years earlier, Portman also worked with Nichols on the play The Seagull.

The late filmmaker left an unforgettable impression on Portman with his guidance.

“I think he was a genuine feminist,” Portman once said in the book Mike Nichols: A Life (via People). “There was nothing,
See full article at Showbiz Cheat Sheet »

The Latest Episode Of The Mandalorian Is Packed With Star Wars Easter Eggs

The Latest Episode Of The Mandalorian Is Packed With Star Wars Easter Eggs
The following post contains spoilers for "The Mandalorian" season 3, episode 3, "The Convert."

The first two episodes of "The Mandalorian" season 3 focused heavily on Din Djarin's (Pedro Pascal) quest to redeem himself in the living waters of the Mines of Mandalore and the cuteness of Grogu. In episode 3, "The Convert," we take a detour. Din and Bo-Katan (Katee Sackhoff) bookend this episode, though the balance of it takes place on Coruscant, the governmental base of the New Republic as it was for the Empire. We rejoin Dr. Pershing (Omid Abtahi), who has been given amnesty after his capture, and meet a new character named Elia Kane (Katy M. O'Brian, who you might remember as Jentorra from "Ant-Man and The Wasp."

Between the return to Coruscant, the switch in focus to Dr. Pershing, and Bo-Katan's entrance into the Mandalorian covert, there is a lot to unpack in this episode in terms of Easter eggs.
See full article at Slash Film »

Mila Kunis To Star With Michael Keaton In Comedy ‘Goodrich’; Filming To Begin Next Month In L.A.

Mila Kunis To Star With Michael Keaton In Comedy ‘Goodrich’; Filming To Begin Next Month In L.A.
Exclusive: Mila Kunis has been set to star opposite Michael Keaton in comedy Goodrich, we can reveal.

Set in contemporary Los Angeles during the holidays, the film, which is due to shoot from next month, tells the story of art dealer Andy Goodrich (Keaton), a man whose life is upended when his younger second wife leaves him and enters a 90-day rehab program while also threatening divorce. Goodrich takes charge of their nine-year-old twins, thrusting him into the world of modern parenthood for which he is deeply unprepared. With his career falling by the wayside, he leans on his grown and pregnant daughter Grace for support, and ultimately evolves into the father Grace never had.

Related Story Florence Pugh And Andrew Garfield To Star In ‘We Live In Time’ For StudioCanal Related Story Michael Keaton Comedy 'Goodrich' Heads To Market With Black Bear, C2 Motion Picture Group & Stay
See full article at Deadline »

Michelle Yeoh Is Oscars’ First Asian Best Actress Winner: “This is a Beacon of Hope and Possibilities”

Michelle Yeoh Is Oscars’ First Asian Best Actress Winner: “This is a Beacon of Hope and Possibilities”
In a four-decade career already marked by trailblazing and unprecedented achievement for female performers, Michelle Yeoh just notched a big one: becoming the first Asian woman to win the Academy Award for best actress.

Yeoh’s Oscar-winning performance in A24’s Everything Everywhere All at Once was the first time the Malaysia-born actress had been No. 1 on a Hollywood call sheet, playing a struggling laundromat owner and lifelong loser who finds herself the savior of the multiverse (and learns to reconcile with her long-suffering husband and estranged daughter in the process).

“Ladies, don’t let anybody tell you you are past your prime,” said Yeoh, who at 60 was the oldest nominee in her category. “For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities.”

With her win, Yeoh becomes the first woman of full Asian descent to earn best actress in Oscars history.
See full article at The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News »
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