Latest news with #RobertAltman
Gizmodo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
‘Weapons' Is a Terrifying, Fascinating, Excellent, Character-Driven Horror Movie
Zach Cregger's latest movie, Weapons, is unforgettable. And not only because it's intense, gross, and fascinating, which it is. It's that the premise of the movie is so smart, seductive, and deeply disturbing that we'd gladly watch a bad movie about it just to find out more. Thankfully, Cregger is able to build off his ingenious idea and deliver a constantly surprising and often horrific mystery that blends drama and scares in a way that creates something truly special. The aforementioned premise of Weapons is, what if a schoolteacher walked into her classroom one morning and no one was there? Everyone else at the school is there. But for this one teacher, her class is missing. Making things worse, each and every student woke up at the exact same time in the middle of the night, ran out of their house, and never came back. What would that do to the teacher? What would that do to the community? What would that do to the parents? And what the heck actually happened? Written and directed by Cregger, Weapons answers all those questions and more in an interconnected tale inspired by the sprawling epics of filmmakers like Robert Altman and Paul Thomas Anderson. The film goes character by character through the story, with each section providing new answers as well as questions, all building to not just the reveals you are waiting for, but shocks and gore that are wholly unpredictable and super satisfying. The first of those characters is Justine, played by Julia Garner. Justine is the teacher whose class is missing, and, of course, she becomes the scapegoat for the whole thing. Surely, she organized it. Surely, she knows something. And as more people get increasingly angry with and suspicious of her, we feel not just sympathy but a whole new kind of fear. There's also Archer, played by Josh Brolin. He's the father of one of the missing kids who blames Justine and decides to take the investigation into his own hands, turning up a few very unsettling revelations. Next up is Paul, played by Alden Ehrenreich. He's a local police officer with a questionable past who takes the story into even more directions. And on and on it goes through a few other characters you meet throughout the story. In each of these sections, Cregger gives things a slightly different energy that keeps the movie moving. He also ends them all on a bit of a cliffhanger that lingers as we go into the next section. Plus, the sections cross over, so we see events from different points of view. This not only provides great character moments and drama, but it allows us to feel more fully invested in the story and keeps us filled with anxiety. Often, we feel like we know everything about a certain person or event, but a few minutes later, it's flipped on its head entirely. Then there are scenes and reveals that happen and don't come back for a while, laying on even more lingering anticipation. Each story has its fair share of jump scares and gross-outs, but those definitely become more prevalent as the film goes on. It's clear Cregger wants us to really live with this messed-up situation and explore what it's doing to these characters. He wants us to ponder how we would handle it. That slow burn of it all is maybe the only real criticism of Weapons. It hides its secrets for a very long time and backloads many of its more traditional horror elements. However, doing that also helps make those scenes even more shocking and satisfying. By the time answers arrive, they do so with a blood-soaked, jaw-dropping carnage that delivers sweet, sweet catharsis. Cregger's previous film, Barbarian, shares some of Weapons' DNA but had a few wild pivots that made it feel like two or even three movies slapped into one. Weapons is not that. It's cohesive in a very assured way, with everything both fitting, and not, for just the right reasons. It's a movie that will scare you, surprise you, make you laugh, make you cheer, and make you cover your eyes as you slowly learn how these kids disappeared. And, by the end, the fact it's called Weapons not only makes sense, it makes the movie even more disturbing. Co-starring Austin Abrams, Benedict Wong, Amy Madigan, June Diane Raphael, and Cary Christopher, Weapons opens August 8. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Irish Times
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
The Movie Quiz: Who has never played Kevin Costner's wife?
Which studio's films were, from 1924-1928, introduced by a Dublin-born legend (the current Dublin 8 to be precise)? Columbia MGM Warners Universal Which director did Stellan Skarsgård last week claim cried at the death of Hitler? Federico Fellini Ingmar Bergman Carl Theodor Dreyer Jean Renoir Who is the odd celebrity out? Judy Garland Lucille Ball Grace Kelly Virginia Woolf Which was not a posthumous release for the director? The Dead Eyes Wide Shut The Other Side of the Wind Before the Devil Knows You're Dead What was the last Paul Thomas Anderson film not to feature a score by Jonny Greenwood? The Master Hard Eight Punch-Drunk Love Licorice Pizza Which is not a lesser-known Robert Altman film? O.C. and Stiggs Fool For Love Too Late Blues Countdown What is missing: The Sorcerer's Apprentice, The Rite of Spring, Pastoral Symphony, Dance of the Hours? Night on Bald Mountain Finlandia 1812 Overture Ride of the Valkyries Who has never played Kevin Costner's wife? Amy Madigan Diane Lane Meg Tilly Sissy Spacek With what did Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger share a name? A toiletry brand A radio soap opera A string quartet A hit by the Muppets What is the only Raymond Chandler novel never to have been filmed? The Little Sister The High Window The Lady in the Lake Playback
Wall Street Journal
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
‘Eddington' Review: Ari Aster's Tableau of Weirdness
'Eddington' begins with a grim title card: It's late May in 2020. Gulp. Prepare for a true tale of modern horror. It was the craziest year I've experienced as a Gen X American. Painting a tableau of weirdness, the idiosyncratic auteur Ari Aster ('Midsommar,' 'Beau Is Afraid') has made a sweeping, lacerating 2 1/2-hour black comedy that recalls Robert Altman and the Coen Brothers.
Daily Mirror
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
‘Superb' film with ‘the best cast ever assembled' is streaming free on BBC iPlayer
Fans say this unconventional murder mystery with an absolutely staggering cast of legends is well worth a watch A five-star period film with one of the best casts of British icons ever assembled will stream for free on BBC iPlayer this weekend. The channel's free streaming service has acquired the iconic drama from 2001 for five months, so cinephiles have plenty of time to watch. A logline for the cult classic reads: 'Period piece set in the early 1930s with an all-star cast. 'A weekend shooting party at a country mansion turns into a murder mystery when the host is found dead. 'It seems that everyone has a motive, from the guests upstairs to the staff downstairs. Among the gathering are cash-strapped relatives of the victim, a Hollywood movie mogul and songwriter Ivor Novello.' Featuring a long list of acting greats, the film boasts Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Helen Mirren, Richard E Grant, Charles Dance and Kelly Macdonald in the cast, just to name a few. From acclaimed director Robert Altman, the film in question is Gosford Park, a favourite amongst film fanatics and absolutely deserving of your attention soon. One rave review on Google reads: 'Easy 5 stars. Superb period piece black comedy/whodunit set in an opulent English country estate in 1932. 'The best ensemble cast ever assembled in a film, and directed by Robert Altman, it features a dazzling array of upstairs/downstairs characters split between the servants and the guests.' Including an intriguing piece of trivia, they went on: 'The brilliant cast was mic'd up for the group scenes so that, even when not the focus of attention, ad-libs could be used in the edit. 'Top shelf production value across the board, this is a ripping yarn told with tremendous style and relish. Enjoy!' Someone else gushed: 'Like many of [Altman's] films, it's a masterpiece. 'I can't think of any other film centered on this period / themes whose characters are rendered with this kind of sensitivity and nuance. There is so much emotion in their faces.' And a final fan added: 'A brilliant movie, with brilliant acting and, of course, brilliant direction.' Some reviewers have warned this is not your typical murder mystery, but still expect top-notch acting and a gripping narrative if you decide to add Gosford Park to your watchlist. Gosford Park is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Washington Post
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Robert Altman's ‘Nashville' made a noise louder than country music
Starts with a crash, ends with a bang. In between, Robert Altman's 'Nashville' makes nearly every conceivable noise about living in an America where paranoia and hope commingle in an inseparable swirl. Does that make this masterpiece movie a gonzo comedy masquerading as dark satire, or is it the other way around? Either way, 50 summers after its theatrical release, 'Nashville' still feels vivid, vibrant and a little more resonant than we might wish. In the American right-now, our politics remain violently contentious. Our two-party system still feels woefully limiting. Society continues to repopulate itself with self-deluded strivers and clout chasers. The national mood is in the toilet. Plus, country music is more popular than ever. Is it 1975 again? Or have we been stuck in 1975 for half a century?
