Latest news with #JamesMangold
Arab News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
The best movies of the year so far
DUBAI: From awesome animation to devastating documentary, here are our top films of 2025 to date. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ 'A Complete Unknown' Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro Director: James Mangold Chalamet gained deserved plaudits for his portrayal of arguably the greatest singer-songwriter in the history of modern Western music, Bob Dylan, in Mangold's biopic — and he does a fine job, capturing the star's fragile ego and magnetic charisma. But the true star of 'A Complete Unknown' may be Barbaro as Dylan's fellow folk-music star Joan Baez, she embodies Baez's fiery nature, intelligence and talent brilliantly. Mangold navigates the many myths (often self-generated) surrounding Dylan to create an utterly convincing look at his early career, up to the infamous furor created when he turned his back on folk purism by using electric instruments. Biopics of musicians have a checkered past, but 'A Complete Unknown' is definitely one of the good ones. 'Ocean with David Attenborough' Directors: Toby Nowlan, Keith Scholey, Colin Butfield Starring: David Attenborough Perhaps the year's most vital movie so far is a documentary fronted by a 99-year-old. In 'Ocean,' the venerable English biologist and broadcaster presents a gorgeously shot, awe-inspiring and immersive film that examines the damage done in the depths of Earth's oceans by the thousands of super-sized fishing trawlers operating around our planet constantly. With his trademark authority and passion, Attenborough lays out just what is at risk if they continue their destruction. But crucially, he also offers hope: the oceans, scientists have discovered, can recover at remarkable rates. 'As nature documentaries go, it's hard to imagine 'Ocean' being bettered,' our reviewer wrote. 'Flow' Director: Gints Zilbalodis Writers/producers: Gints Zilbalodis, Matiss Kaza Quite how a film with no dialogue manages to be so engaging, thought-provoking and moving is a mystery. But this Latvian animation about a black cat struggling to survive alongside a small group of other animals in a post-apocalyptic world in which water levels are rising dramatically is all of that and much more. It's a slow-burner, meditative at points, but with moments of great peril and small heroics. From the beautifully rendered landscapes to the astonishing attention to small details in the animals' movements, noises and behavior, 'Flow' is clearly a labor of love, and deservedly picked up Best Animated Feature at both the Oscars and the Golden Globes. 'The Phoenician Scheme' Starring: Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed Director: Wes Anderson This 1950s-set story of an arms dealer whose near-death experience leads him to try and fix his relationship with his estranged daughter, a nun, is not the best Wes Anderson movie, but it's still a Wes Anderson movie, and so delivers typically stunning cinematography, great (and heavily stylized) performances from a stellar ensemble cast (including those mentioned above plus Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Richard Ayoade, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Willem Dafoe, Bill Murray, and many more), plenty of dark humor, and a singular world view. If only every director's 'not their best' work could match up. 'Black Bag' Starring: Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Marisa Abela Director: Steven Soderbergh The conceit at the heart of 'Black Bag' — a husband-wife spy duo — is nothing new; nor is its 'twist' of one being assigned to investigate the other when they are suspected of being a traitor. But with Soderbergh at the helm, and actors as accomplished as Blanchett and Fassbender as the leads, this super-stylish thriller sets itself apart. Fassbender plays British intelligence officer George Woodhouse, whose wife Kathryn (Blanchett) is just one of five people suspected of leaking some top-secret software, but she quickly climbs to the top of that list when George discovers her secret Swiss bank account. 'Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl' Voice cast: Ben Whitehead, Peter Kay, Lauren Patel, Reece Shearsmith Directors: Nick Park, Merlin Crossingham There is so much to admire about Aardman Animations' sixth installment in this action-comedy series about a provincial English inventor and his long-suffering dog. Not least that it proves to certain film studios (hey Marvel) that it's still possible to tell an entertaining yarn in 90 minutes or less. With Aardman's usual jaw-dropping stop-motion skills providing the arresting visuals, and Park and co-writer Mark Burton's knack for creating storylines that produce giggles and feels for all ages as strong as ever, this was a very welcome return for our two unlikely heroes and their arch enemy Feathers McGraw, out to frame Wallace in revenge for his imprisonment back in 1993's 'The Wrong Trousers.' 'Sinners' Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Canton Director: Ryan Coogler One of the most entertaining vampire films we've seen for a while. Jordan is excellent in dual roles as Elijah and Elias Smoke — twin brothers returning to their hometown and trying to outrun their criminal past. Set in the Mississippi Delta in 1932, it's partially inspired by the legend of the blues musician Robert Johnson selling his soul to the devil. The blues plays a major role in the movie too (with some not-so-subtle digs at the fact that some of the blues' biggest fans would also likely be adversaries of the Black musicians making it), as the twins' cousin Sammie is a hugely talented musician. The brothers set up their own juke joint, at which Sammie's the resident star. Then the joint becomes a target for undead forces of evil. 'Sinners' is brash, bold, and a lot of fun.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
2 DCU Movies Get Mixed Updates From James Gunn
James Gunn recently gave some updates about the status of The Authority and Swamp Thing DCU movies. What are the new DCU updates from James Gunn? Speaking to Josh Horowitz during a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused Podcast, Gunn gave a less-than-positive update on the status of The Authority. 'It's been rough for us,' Gunn said. 'I moved…the writer moved on to another project in the DCU that I think he's really killing right now.' Gunn wouldn't reveal what the other project was, but did say it was another movie set in the DCU. The Authority was one of the original projects announced by Gunn when DC Studios was first revealed. However, the project has remained up in the air ever since, with recent reports suggesting that the film has been moved to the 'back burner' of DC's slate. As for Swamp Thing, Gunn actually provided a positive update about that. He was asked whether or not James Mangold — who was tapped to write and direct the project — had delivered a script as of yet. Gunn revealed he hadn't, but that the pair just spoke. 'We talked to James the other day,' said Gunn. 'No, he hasn't delivered a script. He's been distracted with his billions of movies. But we're talking about it again.' Originally reported by Anthony Nash at SuperHeroHype. The post 2 DCU Movies Get Mixed Updates From James Gunn appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Brad Pitt Says Tom Cruise Ditched ‘Ford v Ferrari' Over One Shocking Detail
Brad Pitt is finally setting the record straight on why his highly anticipated collaboration with Tom Cruise in "Ford v Ferrari" never happened. The two Hollywood heavyweights were initially set to star in the racing drama, but the project hit a roadblock before it could take off. According to Pitt, things fell apart because the 62-year-old was dissatisfied with his role. The actor shared that Cruise walked away after he found out his character wouldn't be doing much driving, bringing their collaboration to a halt. In a candid interview with The National, Brad Pitt confirmed that he and Cruise had been eyeing the lead roles in "Ford v Ferrari" under director James Mangold, not Joseph Kosinski, well before the film eventually hit the screens in 2019. "Tom and I, for a while there, were on 'Ford v Ferrari' with Joe [to direct]. This was about 10 years before the guys who actually made it — and made it a great movie," he recalled. However, Cruise ditched the movie after he found out his character wouldn't be behind the wheel so much. "What it came down to is that we both wanted to drive, and he wanted to play Shelby, and I wanted to play Ken Miles. And when Tom realized that Carroll Shelby would not be driving much in the movie, it didn't come through," Pitt said. Eventually, the roles of Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles were played by Matt Damon and Christian Bale, respectively. Years after their failed "Ford v Ferrari" collaboration, Pitt opened up about possibly teaming up with Cruise again. Speaking exclusively to E! News in an interview that aired on June 12, Pitt said he would consider working with his "Interview with the Vampire" co-star, but only on one condition. The Grammy Award winner said the project must stay "on the ground" and not involve Cruise's signature death-defying stunts. "Well, I'm not gonna hang my -ss off airplanes and sh– like that," Pitt joked. "So when he does something again that's on the ground," he noted, making it clear that he was ready to reconnect, but with boundaries. Days later, Pitt and Cruise sparked a wave of nostalgia and excitement when they reunited on the red carpet at the London premiere of "F1: The Movie" on June 23. The event marked their first public appearance together in over three decades since they co-starred in the 1994 classic "Interview with the Vampire." Photos shared by Cruise on X showed Pitt looking dapper in a green double-breasted suit, a crisp white shirt, and flashy orange glasses. On the other hand, the film producer opted for a charcoal-gray suit, a gray shirt, and his signature aviator sunglasses. Guests watched as the two icons shared a warm embrace, posed arm in arm, and flashed big smiles for the cameras. "Great night at the movies with my friends!! You guys crushed it," Cruise captioned the pictures. Since the premiere of "F1: The Movie," there have been reports of a sequel in the works. While chatting with The National, Brad Pitt admitted wanting to return in a sequel. "I would want to drive again, selfishly speaking," he said. However, the actor wasn't sure of the possibility, considering his character, Sonny Hayes, left Formula One racing by the end of the story. "F1 is still the focus. It needs to be on Joshua Pierce, Damson Idris' character, and the rest of the team fighting for a championship. Where does Sonny fit in? I'm not sure," Pitt said. "Sonny's probably out on the Bonneville Salt Flats, setting speed records or something like that. So I'm not sure beyond that, just yet." Meanwhile, Brad Pitt continues to enjoy the success of his movie. He told the outlet that he always wanted to make a unique blockbuster and never imagined that "F1: The Movie" would be that film. "I had always wanted to make a populist film, something that just gets better every time you see it. Something that brings people together. And I still didn't understand that this could be that one," he said. According to him, the best thing was seeing how families reacted to even posters. "The greatest pleasure, the thing that puts a smile on my face, is seeing families, from kids to grandparents, big groups of friends all going together and taking photos in front of the poster or the car," Pitt shared.
Geek Tyrant
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Disney Reportedly Planning Full Reboot of the INDIANA JONES Franchise — GeekTyrant
It looks like Indiana Jones might actually be headed for the reboot treatment. According to a recent report from DisInsider, Disney and Lucasfilm are considering a full relaunch of the iconic adventure franchise. While nothing has been officially announced, The report said: 'Lucasfilm is letting the franchise rest for a bit before they do a full reboot of the franchise. I would expect the studio to announce something next year at the D23 Expo because even though the last film tanked at the box office, Indiana Jones is still an iconic IP and Disney/Lucasfilm do not want to waste that.' It's not hard to see why Disney would want to reassess things. After acquiring Lucasfilm in 2012, Star Wars content exploded, but Indy stayed mostly dormant. Nearly a decade passed before Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny finally hit theaters in 2023, and after all that anticipation… the movie flopped. Despite fairly positive reviews, Dial of Destiny grossed just $384 million globally against a massive production budget reportedly in the $295–387 million range. That's not what you want from a cornerstone IP. James Mangold stepped in to direct Dial of Destiny after Steven Spielberg, who helmed the first four films, chose to bow out. The movie marked Harrison Ford's final outing as the fedora-wearing archaeologist. While the legacy actor was gracious in his exit, telling press 'Shit happens' in response to the film's box office performance, Mangold admitted that 'it hurt' to see the movie underperform. Still, Indy isn't going away. As the report notes, the character is simply too valuable to leave in a wooden crate marked Top Secret and stashed away in a warehouse. The recent release of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle , a critically acclaimed video game, proves there's still life in the brand., and if Disney wants to keep it going, a reboot makes the most sense. The big question is, how will they go about doing that? Producers of the franchise have already said that they won't recast Indiana Jones, but Disney could always just ignore that and recast. Or they introduce a whole new character set in the same universe. Personally, I would love to see a new adventure film or series that follows Ke Huy Quan's Short Round as an adult. The series could fill us in on what happened to him after the events of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom , and how his relationship with Indiana shaped his life. The series could show us what became of Short Round, and how he followed in Indiana's footsteps and became an archaeologist. In 2008, The Lost Journal of Indiana Jones was published, and it says that Short Round actually did become an archaeologist like his mentor, and went even went on a journey to track down the Peacock's Eye, which was the diamond Indy lost at the beginning of The Temple of Doom . No official announcement has been made yet, but with D23 coming up next year, don't be surprised if Disney finally opens that sarcophagus and reveals what's next for the franchise.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bob Dylan biopic to be screened in Alston as part of film and music collaboration
A Bob Dylan biopic will be screened as part of a special film and music collaboration in Alston. Alston Moor Film and Alston Live have joined forces for the first time to present A Complete Unknown, which will be shown at Alston Town Hall on Friday, July 4, as part of the Alston Live 2025 programme. Steve Bentley, from Alston Moor Film, said: "We are delighted to be working with Alston Live on the screening of A Complete Unknown. "This musical biopic about the rise of Bob Dylan was well chosen by the public and fits in perfectly with the rest of the festival. "We hope people enjoy the film and we're sure it won't be the last time the two organisations work together." The film, directed by James Mangold and starring Timothée Chalamet, tells the story of Bob Dylan's early career in 1961 New York. At just 19, the young Bob Dylan arrived in the city and quickly made his mark on the Greenwich Village music scene. The event will begin at 7pm, with the film starting at around 7.30pm. Admission is £7.50, payable by cash or card. The film is rated 15 and is expected to finish around 10.15pm. Ahead of the screening, acoustic duo Benson 'n' Edges will perform live music in the town hall. A licensed bar will be open throughout the evening, offering a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Alston Live will return to Tyne Willows Recreation Ground on Friday, July 18, and Saturday, July 19. Tickets for the festival are available to buy during the evening at the screening. They are priced at £25 per day or £40 for both days. Full details of the music line-up and further information about the festival can be found at or by visiting the Alston Live Facebook page.
