Latest news with #MurrayBartlett
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Plainclothes Wins Best Narrative Feature at Provincetown International Film Festival
Plainclothes, the debut feature from director Carmen Emmi, won the Provincetown International Film Festival Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the 27th annual PIFF this past weekend. The Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature went to Come See Me in the Good Light, directed by Ryan White. The festival, held in the arts and LGBTQ+ mecca of Provincetown, Massachusetts, hosted a robust and boundary-pushing slate of top-notch films, including James Sweeney's Twinless and Annapurna Sriram's Fucktoys. Highlights included a Q&A between Ari Aster and John Waters, the patron saint of the festival, as Waters presented Aster the Filmmaker on the Edge Award. Murray Bartlett was presented with the Excellence in Acting Award by iconic producer Christine Vachon. Eva Victor, director of Sorry Baby, and River Gallo, director of Ponyboi, both received the Next Wave Award. Additional guests include Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke, whose delightful Honey Don't received a very warm reception, as well as Sweeney and Dylan O'Brien, who co-star in the twisty, fascinating Twinless. Other guests included Linus O'Brien, whose lovely Rocky Horror Picture Show documentary Strange Journey opened the festival, as well as Brandon Flynn, François Arnaud, Michael Koehler, Annapurna Sriram, Sadie Scott, Aud Mason-Hyde, Carmen Emmi, Ryan White, Michael Strassner, Yashaddai Owens, Alexi Wasser, Kahane Corn Cooperman, Zackary Drucker, Allison Argo, Elegance Bratton, John Cooper, and Sundance Film Festival director Eugene Hernandez. The festival closed with Michael Koehler's Spiritus: No Business Like Dough Business, about a pizzeria and cafe that is one of PTown's most beloved and enduring businesses. Plainclothes, shot in Emmi's hometown of Syracuse, New York, is the story of a cop who is assigned to bust gay men for having sex in public places — but ends up falling for one of his targets. Come See Me in the Good Light is the story of two poet lovers who embark on an exploraton of love and morality — with unexpected humor — after a terminal diagnosis. The John Schlesinger Awards, presented to a first-time narrative and documentary feature filmmaker, went to Sarah Friedland for the narrative Familiar Touch and Brittany Shyne for the documentary Seeds. The winers of the Juried Short Awards were "Dragfox," directed by Lisa Ott, for best animated short; "Signs From the Mainland," by Michael Cestaro, for Best New England Short; "Grandma Nai Who Played Favorites," by Chheangkea, for Best Queer Short; "Susana," directed by Gerardo Coello Escalante and Amandine Thomas, for Best Narrative Short; and "We'll Carry On Alright," directed by Megan Rossman, for Best Documentary Short. "Yú Cì (Fish Bones)," by Kevin X. Yu, and "Tiger," by Loren Waters, received special jury mentions. (MovieMaker's house style is to italicize feature titles and put short film titles in quotes. ) Main image: Russell Tovey and Tom Blyth in Plainclothes, directed by Carmen Emmi. Related Headlines 5 Ugly Abraham Lincoln Facts No One Likes to Talk About 12 Sleazy '70s Movies That Don't Care About Your Respect 12 Fathers Day Movies About Dads Saving Daughters
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Murray Bartlett Thought Leaving NYC Could Hurt His Career — Then Landed The White Lotus
When Murray Bartlett moved to the Provincetown, Massachusetts area a few years ago, he feared that it could cost him acting roles. He'd moved from his native Australia to New York City, after all, to be available for as many opportunities as possible. But he was drawn to the Provincetown region — an idyllic LGBTQ+ and arts mecca at the tip of Cape Cod — because of the chance to be close to nature, to enjoy woods and beaches away from the tumult of a big city. It felt like the right thing to do at that stage in his life, even if it diminished his professional opportunities. Then he got his best role to date — playing a pushed-to-the-limit resort employee on the first season of Mike White's The White Lotus. His career exploded just after he turned 50, and The White Lotus led to opportunities on shows like The Last of Us and Nine Perfect Strangers, and in new films like Opus, released earlier this year, and Ponyboi, out later this month. He's been nominated for two Emmys, and is incredibly in-demand. "I knew I wanted to live here," he told producer Christine Vachon during a Q&A this past weekend at the Provincetown International Film Festival, where he received PIFF's award for Excellence in Acting. "I was nervous at leaving the city but it felt like a thing that was important to me for my life. ... I feel like I followed the things that felt good for me in my life." That meant he was "happy and grounded," he said, when the opportunity arose, soon after he left New York, to star on The White Lotus. He also started to hone in on the question, "What are the stories that I really want to tell? And so that's sort of been my guiding principle from from then on." Vachon, known for such acclaimed films as Far from Heaven, Boys Don't Cry, One Hour Photo, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Carol, May December and the brand-new The Materialists, noted that Murray Bartlett is such a chameleon that the first time they met for a meeting, she passed by without recognizing him. He recounted for the Provincetown audience on Saturday evening that he got his start as an actor when his brother accidentally knocked out his two front teeth with a hammer, while trying to kill a spider back home in Australia. Bartlett had to go to speech therapy to learn to enunciate after his injury. That involved delivering lots of monologues — and he found that he loved it. Also Read: Plainclothes Wins Best Narrative Feature at Provincetown International Film Festival When he started acting professionally, he scored big roles on the Australian shows headLand and Neighbours. When he moved to New York City in 2000, his first big role was on Sex and the City. It made him realize he could make it as an actor in the United States. Moving to Provincetown wasn't the first time he left New York City, certain that it would hurt his career — and then had the opposite happen. He recounted that he moved to Egypt during the Arab Spring to pursue a relationship with an Egyptian man, and ended up growing a mustache to try to fit in better with the locals. "A lot of people had facial hair, so I grew a mustache to try and fit in," he told Vachon. "Then I got a call to audition for Looking, and so I just I did my first audition from Cairo, and I'm pretty sure the mustache had quite a lot to do with me getting the role." His work on White Lotus included a hilariously explicit sex scene that many in the largely gay audience clearly remembered. Bartlett recalled that before appearing on the show, he spoke only briefly with White, mostly about how explicit he was willing to be. 'When I met with Mike, we only had a 45-minute meeting before we started shooting, and that was to talk about — rimming, really," he said. The crowd erupted in laughter and applause. "This is a man who knows his audience," noted Vachon. Main image: Murray Bartlett at the Provincetown International Film Festival. MovieMaker. Related Headlines 13 Awesome '90s Movies Only Cool Kids Remember Plainclothes Wins Best Narrative Feature at Provincetown International Film Festival 5 Ugly Abraham Lincoln Facts No One Likes to Talk About
Boston Globe
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
PIFF brings the silver screen back to the Cape
'What's so special about it to me is that, even though decades have passed, it feels just as relevant today,' Viola said. 'That, to me, makes it a perfect example of a film that we want to kick off the festival with and really set the tone for the week.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The tone isn't only upheld by the festival's films, though. She said it's also an energy exuded throughout Provincetown. Advertisement 'It's really a place where tolerance is promoted and accepted,' Viola said. 'Everyone can be who they are in Provincetown and feel safe and feel comfortable.' She said it's a 'wonderful' location to host a film festival because many of the films PIFF showcases tackle difficult subjects that deserve a receptive audience. 'Provincetown is the perfect place to have these films be cherished and supported,' Viola said. This year's festival includes films like ' Advertisement For those interested in films with a hometown feel, Viola highlighted ' Still of Spiritus Pizza, a family-run pizza and coffee bar in Provincetown, from "Spiritus: No Business Like Dough Business." Provincetown Film Society Viola said PIFF tries to give people a wide variety of options because they know many of these films aren't always available outside of the film festival circuit. She encouraged those in attendance to step out of their comfort zones and watch films they wouldn't usually go to their local theater to see. Throughout the festival there are also opportunities to attend parties and panels, including a special event with ' Festivalgoers can also hear from actors including 'The White Lotus' and 'The Last of Us' star Advertisement Murray Bartlett and River Gallo in "Ponyboi." Provincetown Film Society Eva Victor, the other Next Wave Award honoree, will make their directorial debut at the festival with ' At the end of the festival, Viola said the organizers of PIFF hope people not only have an incredible experience in Provincetown, but leave full of ideas. 'We hope they take that back to their communities and share what they've seen and what they've heard and what they've talked about with their friends and family and colleagues and discuss beyond just what happens for those five days,' she said. 'We hope it really carries on throughout the year.' Provincetown International Film Festival, June 11-15. Single screening tickets start at $20. For more information, including films, locations, and screening times, visit .
News.com.au
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Christine Baranski shares why Nicole Kidman kept distance on Nine Perfect Strangers set
They may be Nine Perfect Strangers on screen, but behind the scenes the new cast of the drama series are anything but. Christine Baranski joins Nicole Kidman along with a star-studded line-up for season two, including Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding, The White Lotus star Murray Bartlett, and Schitt's Creek star Annie Murphy. But while the cast bonded during the six months they filmed in the snowy Austrian Alps, in a case of life imitating art, Kidman kept her distance on the series, which is now streaming on Prime Video. The Aussie actress reprises her role as Masha Dmitrichenko, a Russian wellness guru who uses unconventional and questionable methods to treat her guests as the fictional health retreat Zauberwald Although Masha is sociable and people are drawn to her, she is equally complex and enigmatic – and it appears Kidman maintained this persona off-screen too. 'We bonded, the nine of us. And when [Kidman] would come in, it was sort of exactly like it would be in the show, which is she comes in and we're all, what's she all about? What's she going to do? And so the chemistry was sort of exactly right for it,' Baranski, 73, told 'She's rather perfect for that role. The character of Masha is so mysterious and has her own backstory that's very, very complicated and interesting. And Nicole is really tall and statuesque, and her look in this show, I think, is particularly arresting. So she's just perfect for this inscrutable, intimidating character.' Still, there was nothing that could keep Baranski away from the show or Kidman. 'It's such a no-brainer. My agent said it was Nicole Kidman and the second season of Strangers, which was already an established hit. Then he mentioned the talent that they were offering roles to various actors, and they were all extraordinary people. And then he said that it was going to film in Europe, in Munich and the Austrian Alps,' the Mamma Mia star shared. In season two, Baranski plays the glamorous and sensual Victoria, who enlists the help of Masha to repair her relationship with her daughter Imogen (played by Murphy). While they play an estranged mother-and-daughter duo, off-screen Murphy adored Baranski. 'She is the hostess with the mostest and she's so generous. Anytime she'd go away [from set], she'd come back with cakes and treats and all these things for us,' Murphy told 'We were staying in this town called Halstadt in Austria, which is this beautiful fairytale town around this alpine lake. And we're staying in this beautiful hotel and the hotel backed onto the lake. 'Christine arranged this evening for us, and the sun was just setting and we walked out and there was champagne and beautiful tables set up. She'd curated this incredible classical playlist for us that was kind of echoing across this still, beautiful lake. And it was just magical.' In the series, there is also magic between Baranski's Victoria and her much younger lover Matteo (played by Aras Aydın). There seems to be a chorus of age-gap romances playing out on screens across Hollywood lately, but Baranski says there is nothing salacious about this May-December romance. 'It was very easy because Aras is so emotionally free and available and he's beautiful and so passionate. We didn't have to work at that [chemistry],' she said. 'As you can see from early on in the first few episodes, it's not just some sexy older woman-hot guy relationship. There's an enormous kind of tenderness and caretaking and loveliness between us. 'We valued bringing that out more than the sexy part because it's transcends age. People can love each other long after they feel sexy or hot for each other. The tenderness and the intimacy is what is most lasting and interesting.'
CBC
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Annie Murphy and Murray Bartlett on why we love watching dysfunctional families
Social Sharing From The Sopranos to Succession, dysfunctional families have long captivated television audiences. There's a strange comfort in witnessing the messy realities of others. It evokes a collective sigh of relief that says, "Oh, thank goodness, it's not just my circus." This sentiment is shared by both Annie Murphy and Murray Bartlett, who star in the second season of Nine Perfect Strangers on Prime Video. This emotionally charged season hinges on dysfunctional families, including an uptight daughter (Murphy) looking for approval from her emotionally elusive mother (Christine Baranski) and a father-son duo (Henry Golding and Mark Strong) whose strained relationship is equally tested. Both Murphy and Bartlett, veterans of acclaimed ensemble casts (Schitt's Creek and The White Lotus, respectively), delve into the dynamics that make the mind-bending retreat drama so compelling in a joint interview with CBC Arts. For Murphy, the allure lies in the relatability of such issues. "You see that it's kind of a universal dysfunctionality [and] it makes you feel comforted and safe," she says. Bartlett suggests every family harbours its own unique brand of chaos. "I think even very functional families have dysfunction," he says. "When there's honesty about what goes on with family dynamics ... there's some sort of relief and just sort of identification with it in a way that can be quite healing in itself." This season, Nicole Kidman returns as Russian wellness guru Masha, bringing together a new group of strangers in the Bavarian Alps. The series also stars King Princess, Dolly de Leon, Maisie Richardson-Sellers and Aras Aydin. From the get-go, the friendship between Murphy and Bartlett is palpable. There's one particular scene involving a feisty kitchen fight between the two that sends them into laughter as they recall filming it. "This man is one of my very favourite acting partners I've ever had in my life," Murphy says, while hanging onto her co-star's arm. "We were lucky to click right away and to become good friends — and so that enabled us to be able to be really awful to each other in this scene." Bartlett echoes the sentiment, describing their kitchen kerfuffle as a career highlight. "When you have the opportunity to do such an amazing scene like that with someone who you love and respect, it doesn't really get better than that." Murphy, the Ottawa-born actress who lives in Toronto, delivers another memorable moment when her character, Imogen, channels an increasingly deranged Heidi (the Swiss orphan girl of Johanna Spyri's famous children's book) on a psychedelic drug trip. "That unhinged and over-the-top and chaotic [energy] is kind of where I find my sweet spot," Murphy says gleefully. She credits her playful dynamic with co-star Henry Golding for the scene's unsettling yet darkly comedic tone. "I love being able to just kind of go for it and be weird and so silly. And getting motorboated by Henry Golding — there could be worse things," she laughs. "We had such a fun time trying to one up each other in that scene. It was such a blast." For Bartlett, Nine Perfect Strangers offered the unique opportunity to explore the unusual relationship between his character, Brian, and Brian's puppet companion. "I've never had a chance to play a character that has a very close, kind of platonically intimate relationship with a puppet," he says. He found the challenge of projecting an aspect of his character onto a physical object, then developing a complex relationship with it "really amazing and fun." He also appreciates the depth and nuance afforded to Brian, describing his character's journey from brokenness to a form of healing as a "real privilege." "That's what you signed up for with this show. These characters are dealing with deep stuff. It's comedy, but it also has depth. And they're taking psychedelics, so it's going to get crazy. It's a great playing field for all of us," he adds. Reflecting on their experiences in successful ensemble shows, both actors offer insights into the "secret sauce" of creating compelling group narratives. Murphy humorously suggests "luck," before explaining that it's actually "good writing." She also credits the sense of connection she developed with the Nine Perfect Strangers cast during their extended filming period in Munich. "It became very apparent very quickly that the whole cast is just a bunch of real dorky theatre kids. So we just all bonded so quickly, and it's the kind of kindred-spiritness and friendship that really allows for a lot of chemistry." Bartlett brings up the importance of casting, highlighting the need for an "interesting group of characters" and actors whose dynamics will create compelling interactions. He emphasizes the value of diverse personalities coming together — as seen in the series' wide range of characters — to spark something truly great. Ultimately, the magic of Nine Perfect Strangers, much like other successful dysfunctional family dramas, lies in its ability to hold a mirror to our own imperfect lives. Through the compelling performances of actors like Murphy and Bartlett, the show reminds us that within the chaos and complexities of human relationships, we find comfort in the shared experience.
