News

The long and rewarding collaboration between Ethan Hawke and Richard Linklater stretches back 30 years to Before Sunrise, continuing with the other two parts of that superlative romantic trilogy, filmed at nine-year intervals, Before Sunset and Before Midnight. While that project spanned 27 years, the actor and the director also spent more than a decade shooting Boyhood for a few days at a time, once or twice a year. Their intimate knowledge of artistic symbiosis adds a poignant underlay to Hawke and Linklater’s reunion on Blue Moon, a transfixing character study that X-rays the shaky skeleton of a creative partnership of comparable duration.

Written with wry humor and perspicacity by Robert Kaplow, whose novel was the basis of Linklater’s 2008 feature, Me and Orson Welles, the new film again is set in the world of Broadway and expands on theater lore in illuminating personal ways.

It unfolds in real time on...

Hit Man is heading to Netflix this week, but Richard Linklater is already planning his next film, reportedly titled Blue Moon.

Richard Linklater is already lining up his next project as his latest film, Hit Man, hits Netflix later this week.

According to Deadline, Linklater will next be adapting the lives of American songwriters Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart into a feature film. The film will reportedly be titled Blue Moon, which comes from a 1934 song by Rodgers and Hart, who are the musical masterminds behind 28 shows, including Babes In Arms and A Connecticut Yankee.

According to the report, Blue Moon “follows Hart as he attempts to save face while celebrating his former partner Rodgers’ great success on the night of his musical Oklahoma!‘s Broadway opening.”

Read more: Hit Man review | Glen Powell shoots for stardom in Richard Linklater’s brilliant comedy

Robert Kaplow has reportedly penned the script...

Time travel is one of the most used themes in science fiction, and it allows artists to make their own rules – however, this has led to many nonsensical stories about time travel, but there are also many others that actually make sense. Time travel in film can be traced all the way back to 1949 with the adaptation of Mark Twain’s 1889 novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, starring Bing Crosby, and one of the earliest, most influential time-travel movies was George Pal’s 1960 adaptation of H.G. Well’s 1895 novella The Time Machine.

Since then, time travel has been a fascinating topic to cover in film, and it has made its way to various genres – from drama (such as About Time) to horror (like Sam Raimi’s Army of Darkness) and even the world of superheroes (Avengers: Endgame). As time travel is a concept rather than a reality,...

Kelly Doty resembles her art — with large expressive eyes, flawless skin and a technicolor range for her hair. The effect makes this New Englander and Ink Master finalist from Season 8 stand out in a cast of fantastically appointed tattoo artists serving as mentors/judges on Spike’s spinoff, Ink Master: Angels. The women of last year’s Ink Master made an impression, and their spinoff series is set to be another hit for Spike. A Connecticut Yankee, Doty now calls historic Salem, Massachusetts, her home, a paranormally rich and occult-ish little detour in the North Shore of Boston. Kelly’s tattooing style...read more...

With more podcasts to choose from than TV shows these days, it can be tough to figure out which one are worth a listen, especially when more and more keep debuting. Luckily, there are some fan favorites and newcomers creating their own unique, fun spaces this fall, and they’re definitely worth a listen.

Here are some of the pop culture podcasts we’re queueing our iTunes up for.

2017 Fall Preview: Et's Look at Film, Music, TV and More!

Queery With Cameron Esposito

Feral Audio

Premiered Aug. 5

Photo: Getty Images

Technically, this show was a summer return, but it’s still on our radar as a must-listen as new episodes continue to roll out. Comedian Cameron Esposito is a mainstay on the L.A. comedy scene, running a longtime show called Put Your Hands Together -- which is, naturally, also recorded for a podcast -- and she starred with her wife, Rhea Butcher, on the...

Perhaps known for his facial hair as much as his acting, it’s no wonder that Nick Offerman identifies with the famously mustachioed American humorist and author Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known by his pen name, Mark Twain. But more than that, the former Parks and Recreation star, who has recorded and recently released his second Audible version of Twain’s works, tells Et that the author’s “ability to describe the heart of humankind with humor and alacrity is what makes him a favorite.”

Also a writer and a humorist himself, Offerman generally writes nonfiction as a way to “try to infuse my own anecdotes with an homage to his flavor and economy.” And when it comes to narrating the 1889 novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, Offerman is grateful for the opportunity “to render this man’s delicious words for the auditory pleasure of listeners everywhere,” he says, adding:...

You might remember that around this time last year, “Parks & Recreation” star Nick Offerman brought to life Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” in a unique audiobook narration performance through Amazon’s Audible. Now, once more, you can listen to his lulling voice narrating another Twain classic in Audible’s new audiobook: “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court”.

The 1889 novel follows Hank Morgan, a mechanic living in 19th-century New England, who (after hitting his head) travels back in time 1300 years to Camelot during the years of King Arthur. Being a mechanic living in a progress-driven atmosphere, Hank feels compelled to teach the citizens of Camelot the modern way of life. As he sets out on his endeavor, he encounters several obstacles like an arrogant, devious wizard. While time-travel narratives were not as usual as they are today, the novel says something crucial to readers about social...

Since any New York City cinephile has a nearly suffocating wealth of theatrical options, we figured it’d be best to compile some of the more worthwhile repertory showings into one handy list. Displayed below are a few of the city’s most reliable theaters and links to screenings of their weekend offerings — films you’re not likely to see in a theater again anytime soon, and many of which are, also, on 35mm. If you have a chance to attend any of these, we’re of the mind that it’s time extremely well-spent.

Anthology Film Archives

Andy Warhol‘s rarely screened Chelsea Girls will have a 50th-anniversary screening introduced by Jonas Mekas.

Multiple shorts programs also screen this weekend.

Metrograph

A Park Chan-wook retrospective brings Oldboy and Joint Security Area on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, while a documentary about the making of Oldboy, Old Days, screens on the latter day.

When I applied to University of North Carolina (Unc) Graduate School of Business to earn my Mba, one of the application’s essay questions asked “If you were go back into time to the founding of this university, what three items would you bring with you?”

I imagine the purpose of this was to discern candidates’ true character based on which items were most important to them. I bet there were a lot of answers that listed items like family photos or the Bible. I took a different approach. Having grown up on a steady diet of time travel comics and stories (most notably Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court) I interpreted the question in a different way. I answered it by thinking about the three items that would have the greatest positive impact on history. One item I recall bringing back in time (in...

Some of our favorite films are from another era. These 12 movie musicals are more than 50 years old, but their catchy tunes, star performances, and exciting dance sequences make them films for the ages. “Meet Me in St. Louis” (1944)This early movie-musical from MGM stars Judy Garland, Lucille Bremer, Margaret O’Brien, and Joan Carroll as four sisters coming of age around the 1904 World’s Fair. The film follows a timeless tale of young love—set against the backdrop of family and a changing world—and features famous songs including “The Trolley Song” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” (1949)Bing Crosby brings this 19th Century Mark Twain classic to life, depicting an all-American mechanic who inadvertently time travels to sixth century England. The film was adapted from the hit 1927 Broadway musical, and remains a classic for its far-fetched plot and upbeat romantic numbers.

Los Angeles, Calif. (October 2, 2015) – In 1915 William Fox founded Fox Film Corporation and forever changed the course of cinema. Over the next century the studio would develop some of the most innovative and ground-breaking advancements in the history of cinema; the introduction of Movietone, the implementation of color in partnership with Eastman Kodak, the development of the wide format in 70mm and many more. Now in honor of the 100th anniversary of the studio, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will celebrate by releasing some of their most iconic films that represent a decade of innovation.

Starting today, five classic films from the studio will be made available digitally for the first time ever – Sunrise (1927), Drums Along the Mohawk (1939), Man Hunt (1941), How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) and The Flight of the Phoenix (1965). Throughout the rest of the year a total of 100 digital releases will follow from Fox’s extensive catalog, including 10 films...

Disney

With the release of Spectre creeping ever closer, Bond fans can almost taste that Martini. 007’s twenty fourth outing is more eagerly anticipated than any that have come before it, but we should remind ourselves that the same was probably said for half the films on this list prior to their release, yet every single one of them turned out to be huge slap in the face.

Some actors make bad films for a big pay day, others are let down by their directors and supporting cast. But, whatever reason a project has for going awry, sometimes even the biggest stars just have to hold their hands up and say “yeah, that sucked, sorry about that”.

10. A Kid In King Arthur’s Court (1995) – Daniel Craig Disney

Rotten Tomatoes: 5%

The Plot: A modern day kid named Calvin Fuller is mysteriously transported to King Arthur’s court during what he believes...

Touring is a rite of passage for many young performers, and an amazing way to see the country and impact communities far and wide. From full-fledged Shakespeare to “Berenstain Bears,” here are 12 touring theater companies that make a difference across the United States. The Acting CompanyThis highly respected touring repertory company has brought top-quality classical performances to over 3 million people nationally and internationally since 1972. Educational programming like artistic residencies, workshops, and master classes promote literacy and artistry throughout the country, and alumni actors include Kevin Kline, Patti LuPone, and Hamish Linklater. Currently on tour? “Macbeth” and “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court,” performed in rotating rep until late April. Aquila TheatreThis New York-based company aims to bring “the greatest theatrical works to the greatest number” by presenting a sit-down season of classical plays in New York, and a national tour reaching over 50 U.S. cities every year. Aquila...

When it comes to reading, what is “age appropriate”? I’ve been thinking about this lately, especially after that school in New Mexico pulled Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere from its reading list and library after a mother complained about a certain passage in it.

Yes, when taken out of context, I can see how the passage might alarm a parent on first glance. It’s about sex, and it contains cursing.

However, as pointed out on the Tor blog, in context the passage is more than the smutty little interlude the complaining mother presumably thought it to be. It’s an “intimate” moment between a couple who probably wouldn’t be behaving that way if they knew there was someone sitting next to them, intended to show how literally invisible the book’s main character, Richard Mayhew, has become to those in Gaiman’s “London Above.” This scene also furthers the relationship between two characters,...

I’ve been revisiting my childhood on YouTube and podcasts a lot lately; and for this I place the blame squarely on voice actor Rob Paulsen – voice of Yakko Warner, Dr. Otto Scratch’n’sniff, and Pinky, of Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain. Well, if I was going to be fair, the daisy chain of blame would stretch all the way back through Twitter; Billy West; the organizers of Awesome Con; Mike Gold; Deadpool; a couple of federal judges; Glenn Hauman; Glenn’s lovely wife Brandy; Ya author Esther Friesner; and Terry Pratchett and the Discworld. But that’s way too convoluted, so Rob, it’s all your fault!

At some point in my childhood, I became a latchkey kid. Both of my parents worked until after school let out, and although there was a lot of “homework time” and “chore time” in my day, I fondly remember the...

Deanna Durbin: Highest-paid actress in the world [See previous post: "Deanna Durbin in the '40s: From Wholesome Musicals to Film Noir Sex Worker."] Despite several missteps in the handling of her career, David Shipman states that Deanna Durbin was Hollywood’s (and the world’s) highest-paid actress in both 1945 and 1947. In 1946, Durbin’s earnings of $323,477 trailed only Bette Davis’ $328,000 at Warner Bros. Those are impressive rankings (and wages), but ironically Durbin’s high earnings ultimately harmed her career. By the mid-’40s, her domestic box-office allure was beginning to fade, a situation surely worsened by World War II closing off most of Hollywood’s top international markets. As a result, Universal, since 1947 a new entity known as Universal-International, was unwilling to spend extra money in their star’s already costly vehicles. That’s a similar predicament to the one faced by silent-era superstar John Gilbert at MGM in the early ’30s: the studio had to pay Gilbert an exorbitant salary that made his movies much...

Grimm Episode 216

“Nameless”

Written By: Akela Cooper

Directed By: Charles Haid

Original Airdate: 29 March 2013

In This Episode...

A video game company is launching their new Mmorpg title - to great success. Team leader Jenna and one of her teammates Brody sneak off to a back office to fool around. Jenna thinks she hears something and quickly dresses and leaves - their relationship is fairly secret. There certainly is something in the room with them, a gobliny Wesen with loooong, knife-like claws that drip acid. When Jenna is gone, the Wesen cuts Brody in half; the acid cauterizes the wounds. Written on the wall, in Brody’s blood, is the edict “Play my game.”

The company owner, Dominic, tells Hank and Nick that Jenna and her team created a new line of code that would allow infinitely more players onto a server, making her code immeasurably valuable. The rest of Jenna...

Terry Gilliam, who once showed up to New York’s IFC Center in New York holding a “Will Direct For Food” cardboard sign, has acquired something of a reputation for not getting projects off the ground. Besides the famously aborted production of his Don Quixote adaptation (which has since been revived, then postponed again), Gilliam’s name has also been attached to adaptations of Charles Dickens’ A Tale Of Two Cities, Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur’s Court, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens, and a Gorillaz movie that is also an adaptation of ...

Haunted happenings are invading the Mark Twain House & Museum, a National Historic Landmark in Hartford, Ct, the family home of American author Samuel Clemens (a.k.a. Mark Twain) 1874-1891. It is where Twain wrote his most important works, including Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Prince and The Pauper and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. Upcoming events include: Lorraine Warren in Conversation - This Friday, September 24th at 7:30pm An intimate conversation with Connecticut’s legendary paranormal...

On Sunday night, NBC launched the first two episodes of Merlin: a 13-episode British import marking the latest effort in telling the Arthurian legend. Owing more to J.K. Rowling than Sir Thomas Malory, the opening shows introduce viewers to a squeaky-clean Camelot where the young warlock Merlin ends up a manservant to Prince Arthur, whose father, King Uther, beheads all magic practitioners—a rule that doesn’t sit too well with the local conjurers. Our Hero finds himself in the line of fire between the two factions, and therein lies the body of the tale so far.

The opening episode of most genre series has to work with the gathering of the characters, so one must make allowances and look for gold. Colin Morgan brings a nice, gently smoldering presence to the title role, reminiscent of a young Ben Cross. Opposite him as Arthur is Bradley James, nimbly playing...