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For much of the cast of "Severance," the show is the culmination of years and years of hard work in the trenches of Hollywood, plugging away at one show or movie after another until "Severance" came along to finally give them their big break. But for John Turturro, who plays the soft-spoken Mdr employee Irving B., "Severance" is just one more credit in a long and industrious career.

He got his first film role as a non-speaking extra in Martin Scorsese's "Raging Bull," and since then, Turturro has worked with some of the other greatest directors of his generation. From his work with William Friedkin in "To Live and Die in L.A....

Ronnie Rondell Jr., a stuntman in a family full of them who performed in films including How the West Was Won, Ice Station Zebra, Twister and The Matrix Reloaded, has died. He was 88.

Rondell died Tuesday at a senior living facility in Osage Beach, Missouri, his family announced.

Rondell is known to the Pink Floyd faithful as the businessman on fire on the cover of the band’s 1975 album, Wish You Were Here. In an era before computer effects, his mustache was burned off during the photo shoot that took place on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank.

His father, Ronald R. Rondell, was an extra and then a veteran assistant director on films like Around the World in 80 Days and TV programs including Bachelor Father and The Jack Benny Show, and one of his sons, R.A. Rondell, is a stunt performer and coordinator with credits including Clear and Present Danger and The Avengers.

NYC Weekend Watch is our weekly round-up of repertory offerings.

IFC Center

Ran begins screening in a 40th-anniversary restoration; Goodfellas and Withnail and I play daily; Wanda screens Friday and Sunday, with Children of Men on the former day; To Live and Die in L.A., Brain Damage, In the Realm of the Senses, and Liquid Sky show late.

Roxy Cinema

Paranormal Activity plays on 35mm this Friday; Fail Safe and a 16mm print of Prime Cut show on Saturday; Agnès Varda’s Lions Love (…and Lies) and Kore-eda’s After Life (with Kiarostami’s short Solution) screen on Sunday.

Museum of the Moving Image

Police Story and prints of The Great Waldo Pepper and Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior screen in “See It Big: Stunts!“; Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird plays on Saturday and Sunday with special guests.

Japan Society

The Mikio Naruse retrospective continues.

Film at Lincoln Center

A career-spanning Kira Muratova retrospective continues.

This post contains spoilers for season 1, episode 16 of "Miami Vice."

In 1991's "Barton Fink," the titular playwright (John Turturro) undergoes hellish horrors while experiencing the worst writer's block known to man. Stuck in a hotel room that is anything but a comforting nook for an artist, Barton finds little solace in those around him, and things get progressively worse when someone ends up getting murdered. The film defies genre categorization, playing out like a riveting, unconventional symphony with Barton's escalating anxieties at dead center. Turturro's character is the very picture of complexity, evoking both sympathy and disdain; it's no surprise that this multifaceted performance led to Turturro winning Best Actor at the 44th Cannes Film Festival.

That's just a sliver of Turturro's long and illustrious career, which had bloomed long, long before the actor played the measured, compassionate Irving B. in Apple TV+'s hit show "Severance." His breakthrough film,...

Robert Downey Jr.’s life reads like a Hollywood script – it is about second chances, redemption, and proving that no matter how far you fall, a resurgence may very well be right around the corner. Born in 1965 to underground filmmaker Robert Downey Sr. and actor Elsie Downey, Robert Jr. was exposed to the thrills and ills of show business from an early age. Along with Hollywood glamour came an early exposure to substance abuse. His father introduced him to drugs when he was just eight years old, and by his 20s and 30s, Downey Jr. was heavily addicted to alcohol, cocaine, and heroin.

Robert Downey Jr. in a still from Sherlock Homes (2009) | Credits: Warner Bros.

From a promising young actor turned spiraling addict to the face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Rdj’s transformation is, honestly, quite remarkable. He went from struggling to get insured for film roles to...

The 1985 crime thrillerTo Live and Die in L.A. may have only earned $17 million at the worldwide box office, but well-known film critic, the late Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times, gave the movie, directed by William Friedkin, four out of four stars. The movie will stream for free on Tubi starting on April 1.

Although its box office take may seem low, To Live and Die in L.A. did turn a profit as its budget was just $6 million. The movie follows the story of two Secret Service agents who are given the task of arresting a counterfeiter. Currently, the film has an 88% critic score and a 78% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

A CSI Veteran Stars in the Film

William Petersen, best known for his starring role as Dr. Gil Grissom, in the CSI franchise, plays Secret Service agent Richard Chance. Willem Dafoe portrays the criminal Eric “Rick” Masters, who kills...

Tubi, Fox’s free streaming service, has announced its list of April titles. The Tubi April 2025 slate features new Tubi Originals, TV series, and numerous action, art house, Black cinema, comedy, documentary, drama, horror, kids and family, sci-fi and fantasy, thriller and Western titles.

As a leading ad-supported video-on-demand service, the company engages diverse audiences through a personalized experience and the world’s largest content library of over 250,000 movies and TV episodes, a growing collection of exclusive Originals, and nearly 250 live channels.

You can watch the Tubi April 2025 lineup for free on Android and iOS mobile devices, Amazon Echo Show, Google Nest Hub Max, Comcast Xfinity X1, and Cox Contour.

You can also watch the service on connected television devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Vizio TVs, Sony TVs, Samsung TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and on the Tubi site.

Tubi Originals

Action...

On Wednesday night, Stephen Colbert opened “The Late Show” with a joke about Donald Trump’s tariffs. During “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” Jimmy Kimmel spoke to Denis Leary about his new Fox sitcom, “Going Dutch.” And over on Netflix, John Mulaney peeped at his neighbors through a telescope.

One of these things is not like the other. Even if the gist of Mulaney’s bit sounds like it might be setting up some sort of game — similar to what “Tonight Show” viewers seem to enjoy — the execution doesn’t deliver Jimmy Fallon’s typical tomfoolery. (Every “neighbor” Mulaney saw was soon attacked by a man with a lamp.) Instead, the discomforting gag further separates “Everybody’s Live” from traditional late-night talk shows, even as it doubles down on what Mulaney already created with his 2024 cult hit, “Everybody’s in L.A.”

Thank goodness.

It’s not that I expected “Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney...

Late night talk shows may never be the same. This is a sentiment that was uttered by yours truly when comedian John Mulaney debuted his experimental late-night special on Netflix last year, “John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in L.A.” An offbeat and quirky inclusion to the “Netflix as a Joke” series, Mulaney’s entrance into what was once considered a network television stranglehold is morphing on streaming seemingly by the day. Though it was a six-episode special for Netflix, Mulaney’s star power behind the desk has convinced the streamer to give him a more permanent solution.

Enter “Everybody’s Live With John Mulaney,” the newest addition to late night talk show options that gives the comedian the space to do what he does best: Talk and ask questions. Accompanied by Mulaney’s trusted announcer, fellow comedian Richard Kind, the new series debuted on Netflix Wednesday and has already been renewed for a second season.

We have suggestions if you’re looking for an awards contender to watch on streaming or on-demand video this weekend. Our list includes an Oscar-nominated top pick that recently became available for home viewing, another Oscar-nominated new release on VOD, a movie that wasn’t nominated for an Oscar but probably should have been, a past Oscar nominee that would make for a nice double feature with the top pick, and a classic crime thriller available on streaming for the first time.

Top pick: Anuja

One of the leading live-action short nominees, Anuja, is now available to stream on Netflix. The 22-minute film tells the story of sisters Anuja (Sajda Pathan) and Palak (Ananya Shanbhag), orphans in Delhi who work in a sweatshop. When the title character, a 9-year-old with an aptitude for math, gets an opportunity to go to school, her older sister sacrifices to make it happen.

The...

It’s that time of year again. The chestnuts are roasting, the eggnog is nogging, and some of us are getting ready for a house full of people that will turn this holiday season into a stressful one. So what do you do when you want to get into that merry spirit but also feel a slight bit of homicidal rage at your mother-in-law who just won’t shut up?

10. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

Yes, a James Bond movie took place at Christmas, and it’s a doozy. Arguably the greatest James Bond film, this one stars George Lazenby in his sole outing as 007. Now, I know what you’re thinking. How is George Lazenby the star of the greatest Bond movie ever? The fact is, even if his performance is so-so, the film itself is fantastic. And it’s the movie where James Bond gets married. So,...

Willem Dafoe explained why he enjoys dying in so many movies. Dafoe is one of the most accomplished actors of the last 40 years. He began his career in film in 1980 and has starred in classic movies like Platoon, The Last Temptation of Christ, and Wild at Heart. In the 21st century, he is perhaps best known for portraying Norman Osborn/Green Goblin in several Spider-Man movies and his multiple collaborations with director Wes Anderson. However, throughout his career, Dafoe has earned a reputation as an actor who tends to die in a lot of the movies he appears in.

In an interview published in Empire Magazine, Dafoe admitted that he loves watching his characters die in movies. The actor explained that everyone imagines how they might die. Therefore, he is happy that he has been able to act out different ways of dying throughout his career. Dafoe explained that it...

Christmas has long been a favorite setting for action movie directors, as there’s something about the juxtaposition of holiday cheer against the hardcore violence of an R-rated action movie that makes the whole thing too tempting an opportunity to pass up. Indeed, there have been some Christmas action movie classics (many of which are written by Shane Black), which we dug into here, but now the time has come for you folks to have your say. What’s the greatest Christmas action movie? Is it a heavyweight like Die Hard or Lethal Weapon, or something more off the beaten path?

In making these lists, I was surprised at just how many action flicks take place around the holiday season. Granted, some of them are more obvious than others. I never realized First Blood was set at Christmas until watching it in 4K, where you can see how the police...

This week’s episode of IndieWire’s “Screen Talk” podcast, co-hosted by Anne Thompson and Ryan Lattanzio, is a fun one. We start the episode off with a rundown review of all the firehose of awards nominees, events, winners, and distractions that came this week — from the Gotham Awards live in New York on Monday to nominations from the Film Independent Spirit Awards and National Board of Review and the winners out of the elite New York Film Critics Circle. Oh, there were also the Gotham Awards on Monday in New York, where “A Different Man” surprisingly won Best Feature over predicted pick “Anora.” Meanwhile, IndieWire hosted our own Honors event Thursday night in Los Angeles, but for context, we recorded this podcast before those were highlighted.

But as a more refreshing rejoinder to the awards talks we regularly hold on this podcast, Kino Lorber CEO and chairman Richard Lorber...

Over his four decades in Hollywood, Willem Dafoe has become, and continues to be, one of the most versatile actors ever. Whether blazing through an independent arthouse career or turning up in a major box-office hit, his ability to embody an endless variety of characters has won him fans and widespread acclaim. From historical dramas, psychological thrillers, or fantasy films: he can move effortlessly from starring roles to incredible supporting performances in some of the best films of all time. His distinctive looks and haunting aura make him one of the most recognizable and enduring faces in cinema today.

Dafoe has been nominated for four Academy Awards and has won a plethora of other accolades for his roles in films such as Platoon, Shadow of the Vampire, and The Florida Project. Known for giving some of the most intense acting performances, whether hes playing a tortured US soldier in Vietnam,...

The family of late musician Tupac Shakur has hired a lawyer to look into what really happened to the late rapper. In particular, there is speculation that music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs might be connected to the rapper’s passing. This is also coming out around the time Diddy is facing other legal issues.

The Attorney Hired Is Known For His Celebrity Clients

Shakur’s family hired attorney Alex Spiro to investigate. During his career, Spiro has represented multiple celebrities, such as Elon Must and MrBeast. He also recently represented actor Alec Baldwin during the Rust movie shooting case.

Shakur was killed in a drive-by-homicide in September 1996 near Las Vegas. While the murder remains unsolved, Duane “Keefe D” Davis had been arrested as a suspect by Las Vegas Police.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs – YouTube

As noted by US Magazine, police said during a press conference that Davis wasn’t the gunman,...

On Thursday August 29 2024, Investigation Discovery broadcasts People Magazine Presents: Crimes Of The 2010s!

2018: To Live and Die in L.A. Season 1 Episode 9 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “People Magazine Presents: Crimes Of The 2010s,” titled “2018: To Live and Die in L.A.,” promises to be a gripping exploration of a mysterious case. This episode focuses on a 25-year-old woman from Macedonia who dreams of making it big in Hollywood. With her blonde hair and blue eyes, she embodies the classic image of a starlet, eager to chase her aspirations in the entertainment industry.

On February 23, 2018, this young woman leaves her apartment in Los Angeles, full of hope and ambition. However, what follows is a chilling turn of events. She disappears without a trace, leaving behind friends, family, and a community that is left to wonder what happened. The episode delves into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance, examining...

Detective stories from the '80s showcased a diversity of genres, including comedies, thrillers, and buddy cop movies, still popular today. Familiar faces like Harrison Ford, Jackie Chan, and Sean Connery starred in these films, while others like Eddie Murphy found success and showcased their talent. Iconic films like "Cruising," "Sudden Impact," and "To Live and Die in L.A." presented unique storylines and performances that defined the detective genre in the '80s.

Detective stories show no signs of going out of style, and while there are great examples in recent years, many of the subgenre's best come from the '80s. The most memorable detective stories keep audiences invested and rooting for the protagonists to succeed in their pursuit of criminals. The bold decade gave rise to these stories told within a variety of genres, including comedies, thrillers, and buddy cop movies.

Because detective films are an extension of the crime and action genres,...

If the 1970s and ’80s represented a golden age of kinetic but grounded stunt work by pioneers like Hal Needham, Buddy Joe Hooker, and Vic Armstrong, the 2020s are proving to be a seminal moment for stunts in television. The urban action that used to be the bread and butter of Walter Hill, Richard Donner, and Peter Hyams has migrated from the big screen (now dominated by more visual effects-oriented set pieces) to network procedurals and streaming series where stunt coordinators have become adept at creating spectacular moments on tight schedules — all while keeping the performers and crew as safe as possible.

Since its 2020 debut, Dick Wolf’s CBS series “FBI: Most Wanted” has consistently showcased some of the best stunt work on television, with expertly choreographed action sequences that are realistic, thrilling, and heavily slanted toward practical effects. Season 5 included some of the show’s most dynamic set pieces to date,...

Bud S. Smith, an Oscar-nominated film editor who was a regular collaborator with William Friedkin and whose other credits include “Putney Swope,” “Flashdance” and “The Karate Kid,” died Sunday at his home in Studio City, Calif. due to respiratory failure after a prolonged illness. He was 88.

Smith’s death was confirmed by his wife, dialogue editor Lucy Coldsnow-Smith.

Over a career spanning five decades, Smith was a two-time Academy Award nominee: in 1984 for Adrian Lyne’s romance fantasia “Flashdance,” and in 1974 for William Friedkin’s horror classic “The Exorcist,” which Smith shared a nomination for with Evan A. Lottman and Norman Gay. Smith won the BAFTA award for best editing for “Flashdance” and received a career achievement award from American Cinema Editors in 2008.

After beginning in television and working under David L. Wolper in the ’60s, Smith’s first feature editing credit came at the end of the decade with Robert Downey,...

This article contains spoilers for "The Bear" season 3.

Previous seasons of "The Bear" have established that Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) is something of a cinephile bro. The dude loves Michael Mann -- his "gofastboatsmojito" WiFi password is a hilarious shout-out to Mann's 2006 "Miami Vice" movie -- and he has a "White Squall" poster on the wall of his home, signaling his appreciation for one of director Ridley Scott's biggest box office bombs. In season 3, we find out that Richie is a fan of another uber-masculine director: the late, great William Friedkin.

In episode 4, "Violet," Richie walks into Sugar's (Abby Elliott) office and tapes a photo of a Japanese zen garden to her wall. When she asks what the photo is, he tells her a story:

"Oh, Zen garden. Kyoto, Philosopher's Path [...] well, this director that I admire, he visited this. And when he got there, he was like, 'What is this?...

In Ti West’s 1979-set slasher movie X, Mia Goth played would-be porn star Maxine and elderly killer Pearl. Spinning the film out into a triptych rather than a trilogy, the 1919-set Pearl was about the younger days of the murderess, while MaXXXine is set in 1985 and catches up with what the final girl of the Texas Porn Star Massacre did next in her life. Eventual binge-watchers will notice the way elements recur with variations across all three movies — something Maxine does at the climax mirrors what Pearl did in her film.

In a moment of metatextuality which functions also as a scare scene, Maxine has her head coated with goo as a make-up artist makes an impression to be used to create a severed-head prop for a dream sequence. She is transformed by dripping white gunk into the ghost image of old Pearl, who actually told her she would end up looking like her.

It’s not the first time a Netflix series has resurfaced a classic song from the 1980s, but unlike Kate Bush and Stranger Things, British New Wave band Wang Chung had no idea that John Mulaney had opted to use “To Live and Die in L.A.,” their 1985 ode to La La Land, as the theme song for his recent Netflix talk show, Everybody’s in L.A.

“It’s a total surprise that it’s blown up in the way that it has,” Wang Chung lead singer Jack Hues told Variety in an interview published Monday.

“It’s so nice to see it get used in such a cool way,” added guitarist Nick Feldman, a self-professed fan of Mulaney’s work. “The way it’s placed into the show—which I’ve watched a couple of episodes and I really liked—it really works well. That collage of images from Los Angeles,...

Wang Chung had no idea John Mulaney’s six-episode Netflix talk show “Everybody’s in LA” would use their 1985 song “To Live and Die in L.A.” as its theme song — but they’re thrilled he did.

“It’s a total surprise that it’s blown up in the way that it has,” says Wang Chung lead singer Jack Hues, who first heard of the usage on “Everybody’s in LA” via “the guy who does our merch.”

For guitarist Nick Feldman, the other half of the duo, he was already a big Mulaney fan when he got the news that “To Live and Die in L.A.” was suddenly getting a new breath of life on Netflix. “It’s so nice to see it get used in such a cool way,” he says. “The way it’s placed into the show — which I’ve watched a couple of episodes and I...

In December of 1973, two movies that would change the face of horror and the ways it dealt with religion and spirituality were released. One was an instant hit, immediately changing the landscape of the genre forever. The other was severely cut by executives who simply did not understand it and unceremoniously slapped into the B-picture slot on double bills with Don’t Look Now, where it seemed to die a quick death. Over time, it grew from an underground cult discovery to a genre-defining masterpiece. The former is, of course, William Friedkin and William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist, which remains a terrifying and inimitable masterpiece. The latter is Robin Hardy and Anthony Schaffer’s The Wicker Man, a truly remarkable film that became a flashpoint for an emerging subgenre—Folk Horror. Though both films deal in religion, The Exorcist and The Wicker Man could not be more divided in their approach to the subject.

Willem Dafoe has a face made for film. When the sixty-something actor appears on screen, his prominent cheekbones, wide eyes, and toothy grin are difficult to take your gaze off. Combined with his slender frame and his raspy, gravely, deep voice, the actor’s portrayal of Jesus Christ allegedly prompted Sergio Leone to opine “This is not the face of our Lord, this is the face of Satan!”

Dafoe hasn’t played Satan at all over the course of his career, but he’s certainly played his share of villains, bringing his signature menace to dozens of cinematic crooks and psychopaths. After his first lead role, in Kathryn Bigelow’s 1982 biker drama “The Loveless,” his early parts were largely antagonists to the lead heroes, such as the alluring but frightening criminals in “Streets of Fire” and “To Live and Die in L.A.” The part that arguably brought him the most widespread,...

Pat E. Johnson, a longtime stuntman who was the fight choreographer for and played a referee in the Karate Kid movies and appeared in the martial arts classic Enter the Dragon and in Chuck Norris films, has died. He was 84.

His wife, Susan, posted on social media that he died Sunday but did not provide details.

“For those that don’t know, my husband, Pat Johnson, passed away yesterday,” Sue Johnson posted on Facebook. “I was blessed to have all my sons here with me – we cried, we laughed, we held each other close. 54 years off my life is now at peace, and I am blessed with so many amazing memories, friends, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. If anyone wants to remember him through a donation in his name, we believe greatly in the Diabetes association or living Kidney association – both near and dear to our hearts. Thank you to...

It was announced today that Pat E. Johnson, who choreographed the fight scenes for the first four Karate Kid movies, has died at the age of 84.

Pat E. Johnson was a ninth-degree black belt in American Tang Soo Do and also served as vice president of the National Tang Soo Do Congress, which was created by Chuck Norris in 1973. He learned the Korean martial art while serving as a chaplain with the U.S. Army in Korea. He later met Chuck Norris at a karate tournament in Detroit and the pair quickly bonded. “He and I struck a really good bond at the time because we had both trained in Korea, we had both gotten our black belts in Korea,” Johnson said in a 2016 documentary. “He mentioned to me one time that ‘If you should ever decide to come to California, I think we could work really well together.’ I really...

Pat E. Johnson, the ninth-degree black belt and Chuck Norris contemporary who choreographed the fight scenes, trained the actors and portrayed a tournament referee in the first three Karate Kid films, has died. He was 84.

Johnson died Sunday of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles, his niece, Colleen Mary Johnson Summerville, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Johnson also was a stuntperson, stunt coordinator, trainer and/or fight coordinator on Buffy the Vampire Slayer; on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Mortal Kombat movies; and on other films including Enter the Dragon (1973), To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991), Batman and Robin (1997) and Wild Wild West (1999).

Johnson served as a top instructor at Norris’ karate schools in the Los Angeles area starting in the late 1960s, and his students over the years included Steve McQueen, Bob Barker and members of the Osmond family.

For The Karate Kid (1984), Johnson...

When he died this summer, a lot of director William Friedkin’s movies got new life as film fans dug into this filmography. Looking over his body of work, one of the interesting things to note is that he directed four films that could justifiably be called masterpieces, but only two of them were successful. There was The French Connection and The Exorcist, both of which raked in huge box office and are considered classics. But, there were also two flops that he made that are just as good as those films, one of which is 1977’s Sorcerer, and the other is 1985’s Secret Service thriller To Live and Die in L.A., which we’re digging into in this episode of Wtf Happened to This Movie.

The film stars William Petersen (long before CSI) as a Secret Service agent after the counterfeiter who killed his partner. While that premise sounds old hat,...

It’s always great to hear directors gush about their colleagues, and few do it with the same enthusiasm as Guillermo del Toro. While speaking with IndieWire, Guillermo del Toro spoke about the late William Friedkin and his experience serving as the backup director on The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, Friedkin’s final movie.

“He is an original,” Guillermo del Toro said of William Friedkin. “He blends the lessons of documentary with complex and precise technology and narrative prowess. Every decision he makes is infused with his idiosyncrasies, his personality. Look at the ending of ‘The French Connection’ — that final frame he holds, brutal, mercilessly elliptical — or the final minutes of ‘The Exorcist,’ how he lands the audience softly out of the experience but never loses the mystery. Then try and figure out the mastery in ‘Sorcerer’ or ‘To Live and Die in L.A.’“

Related The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial Review

Before The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial,...

On Friday, October 6, cinephiles were given a precious gift when Showtime dropped one last film by the late, great William Friedkin: an adaptation of Herman Wouk’s play “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.” The film is classic Friedkin, a clinic in blocking, editing, and camera movement reminiscent of earlier theatrical adaptations like “The Birthday Party,” “The Boys in the Band,” and “Bug.”

While there are many filmmaking lessons to be learned from studying the piece, one notable Friedkin disciple had the chance to examine the director’s process firsthand: Guillermo del Toro, who shadowed Friedkin throughout production as a backup in case the 87-year-old filmmaker was unable to complete the movie.

Long before he ever met Friedkin, del Toro was an admirer of his work. “He is an original,” del Toro told IndieWire. “He blends the lessons of documentary with complex and precise technology and narrative prowess. Every decision he...

The Caine Mutiny is an old classic that has been rewired to fit many different moments. Herman Wouk's novel tells the story of the U.S.S. Caine during an extreme weather event, in which a mutiny was staged against the Commander by the executive officer, resulting in a tense Naval trial concerning the Xo's possible court-martial. The novel became a film (featuring an Oscar-nominated Humphrey Bogart), and then a Broadway play, in which Wouk stripped his text of everything but the court-martial process itself. The result is a tense courtroom drama which asks more questions of the audience than it answers.

That play was turned into a couple of made-for-tv movies, including one directed by the great Robert Altman in 1988, starring Jeff Daniels and Eric Bogosian. Now, Showtime has aired a new version 35 years later, and it's a strange event. This is the final from the acclaimed director William Friedkin,...

Plot: A Naval officer (Jake Lacy) is on trial for mutiny. His court-appointed attorney (Jason Clarke) must prove that his captain (Kiefer Sutherland) was dangerously unbalanced and that mutiny was the only solution to protect the crew.

Review: The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial is an interesting final film for the late William Friedkin. While most know him for his seventies epics, having directed at least three or four of the greatest films ever made, many don’t know that he started his career with a couple of films based on stage plays: The Birthday Party and The Boys in the Band. His most recent work, Bug and Killer Joe, were also stage adaptations (of works by Tracy Letts), but The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial is more traditionally mounted than those. This is basically a stage play put to film, with no exteriors, no music and only two sets.

The play was written...

Showtime has released a trailer for The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, the final film from writer/director William Friedkin. The movie, based on Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Herman Wouk, follows a U.S. naval first officer who’s standing trial for orchestrating a mutiny after his captain shows signs of becoming unhinged and jeopardizes the lives of his crew.

The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial stars Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Clarke, Jake Lacy, Monica Raymund, Lewis Pullman, Jay Duplass, Tom Riley, and Lance Reddick. Friedkin wrote and directed the film, which was completed before his death on Aug.

The list of directors who put their trust in Robby Müller could constitute a nice history of post-war cinema. A retrospective of films on which he served as Dp reflects accordingly––so’s the case with Metrograph’s “Robby Müller: Remain in Light,” which starts on Friday, September 29, and for which we’re glad to debut the trailer.

Contained therein are bits and pieces of what Metrograph attendees can anticipate. The series will offer a chance to see (among others) 24 Hour Party People, Alice in the Cities, The American Friend, Barfly, Breaking the Waves, Dead Man, Down by Law, Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai, Kings of the Road, Korczak, Living the Light – Robby Müller, Mystery Train, Repo Man, Saint Jack, To Live and Die in L.A., When Pigs Fly, The Wrong Move, and Paris, Texas. The opening night will be anchored by “a panel on Müller’s continued influence on filmmaking,...

William Friedkin had Guillermo del Toro backing him up on his final outing.

At the Venice premiere of the late director’s last film, “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial”, producer Annabelle Dunne revealed del Toro acted as “back-up director” on the project.

Read More: ‘The Exorcist’ Stars Ellen Burstyn And Linda Blair Praise William Friedkin For His ‘Genius’ Talent After His Death At 87 Years Old

“That’s very common, Hollywood is ageist,” Dunne said of the contractual need for the 87-year-old filmmaker to have a back-up, according to Variety, adding that she was going to reveal a “state secret.”

Recalling how she let Friedkin know about the requirement, the director told her, “Let me think about that.”

The next day, he called her back and said, “Ok, honey I have the guy. Get a pen: it’s Guillermo Del Toro, you got that?”

Dunne called up the Oscar-winning “Shape of Water” director,...

The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, William Friedkin's final movie, has been picked up by Paramount Plus for international distribution. The film will release on Showtime in the U.S. The film is a legal drama starring Jason Clarke and Kiefer Sutherland based on a 1953 play by Herman Wouk, following a naval officer on trial for leading a mutiny aboard a ship. The movie features a notable cast and marks a posthumous release for Friedkin, Wouk, and Lance Reddick.

The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, the final movie from late Exorcist director William Friedkin, has found a streaming home. Friedkin, who passed away on August 7, is best known for The Exorcist, but has also directed other hits like The French Connection, Rules of Engagement, and To Live and Die In L.A., among many others. After 2017's The Devil and Father Amorth, Friedkin's final movie is a legal drama based on a play by Herman Wouk.

TCM is honoring William Friedkin's career with a two-night event showcasing five of his best films, including The French Connection and The Exorcist. Friedkin had a successful Hollywood career, directing acclaimed films across various genres such as Sorcerer and Killer Joe. Hollywood mourned Friedkin's death and praised his genius and influence, with collaborators and actors from The Exorcist speaking highly of him.

Turner Classic Movies will celebrate the life and career of the late, great William Friedkin with a two-night event. TCM's tribute will showcase five films, the first three airing on Thursday, September 14, and the remaining two airing Sunday, November 26. September's event will feature The French Connection, To Live and Die in L.A., and The Boys in the Band; while November's event kicks off with the TCM premiere of Friedkin Uncut, a documentary about Friedkin's life and work, and concludes with The Exorcist.

Early in his career, Friedkin...

Turner Classic Movies will celebrate the life and career of director William Friedkin, who died on Aug. 7 at the age of 87.

On Thursday, Sept. 14, TCM will air three of Friedkin’s movies: The French Connection at 8 pm, followed by To Live and Die in L.A. (at 10 pm) and The Boys in the Band (at 12:15 am).

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The tribute continues on Sunday,...

Hollywood and movie fans mourned the passing of Oscar-winning filmmaker William Friedkin on August 7, 2023. Friedkin, who earned a Best Director Oscar in 1972 for The French Connection, passed away in Los Angeles at the age of 87, with his widow, Sherry Lansing, tearfully telling BBC shortly after his death, “He was the most wonderful husband in the world. He was the most wonderful father in the world. He had a big wonderful life. There was no dream unfulfilled.”

Friedkin died before his final film, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, starring Kiefer Sutherland, Jake Lacy, and Jason Clarke debuted at the Venice Film Festival.

TCM will be celebrating the critically acclaimed filmmaker’s life and career with two nights of special programming. Announcing the tribute, TCM described William Friedkin as “a great friend to Turner Classic Movies and he attended the TCM Classic Film Festival several times, most recently in April 2023.”

TCM Remembers William...

Most directors would be more than happy to make a single touchstone genre film at some point in their careers. William Friedkin? He made two in just as many years. His 1971 crime thriller "The French Connection" established the template for car chase scenes that's still being used today. Then, in 1973, he made "The Exorcist," the film that got the world to start taking horror seriously as a high art form.

As if that wasn't enough, Friedkin also made not one but two quintessential pieces of queer cinema with "The Boys in the Band" and the controversial but undeniably important "Cruising." Even in his twilight years as a filmmaker, Friedkin was tackling provocative material in the forms of the stage play adaptations "Bug" and especially the twisted "Killer Joe" (a film that played a less-acknowledged yet key role in the McConaissance era of Matthew McConaughey's run as an actor).

With...

In the article series Sound and Vision we talk about music videos from notable directors. This week we look at Laura Branigan's Self Control, directed by William Friedkin. Last week director William Friedkin passed away. The luminary behind such classics as The Exorcist, The French Connection, To Live and Die in L.A, Sorcerer, Bug and Killer Joe is an extremely underrated director. But luckily most of the obituaries that were written seemed to focus on what made this sometimes hot-headed enfant terrible an amazing director, even though he wasn't always appreciated when alive. My favorite of the recent write-ups on Friedkins career was this piece by Kyle Turner for GQ, in which the critic focuses on how Friedkin approaches queer masculinity in The Boys in...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Director Edgar Wright pays tribute to William Friedkin, sharing a letter from the acclaimed filmmaker and acknowledging his impact on cinema. Friedkin reveals the inspiration behind The French Connection's iconic car chase scene and credits the influence of Buster Keaton on chase scenes in general. The French Connection was a major success for Friedkin, earning him an Academy Award for Best Director, and he went on to direct other notable films like The Exorcist.

Director Edgar Wright honored the late William Friedkin by sharing a letter from the Academy Award-winning filmmaker.

Wright paid tribute to Friedkin in a post on Instagram. "When I programmed The French Connection in 2017 at the British Film Institute for a season of car movies to tie in with Baby Driver, I asked William Friedkin to write a little something to read out before I introduced the screening," he wrote. "This is his reply to...

William Friedkin was an inherently well-informed filmmaker. He started out in television at age 18, directing live news reports and documentaries for WGN-tv in Chicago. He knew how to get to the bottom of any story, best frame the narrative to capture attention, and inform the viewer.

He brought that sense of assured knowledge to movies. There is never any doubt about the veracity of The French Connection (1971). The Exorcist (1973), meanwhile, invites the audience to medical diagnoses and a realistic portrayal of demonic possession. It is the emphasis on the medical that makes the demonic seem plausible. Similarly, To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) is an authentic movie about counterfeiting, and one which deserves to be as celebrated as his early ‘70s masterpieces.

A Step by Step Guide to Counterfeiting

The printing of bogus bills may not seem like an exciting basis for a crime thriller, but Friedkin progressively raises the...

William Petersen was a theater actor from Chicago when William Friedkin changed the course of his life. In 1984, the Oscar-winning director tapped the then-unknown performer to play Richard Chance, a Secret Service agent willing to bend rules and break laws in order to capture a shadowy counterfeiter (Willem Dafoe) in “To Live and Die in L.A.” The crime thriller was a return to form for Friedkin, who had summited the heights of the movie business with “The French Connection” and “The Exorcist,” only to suffer a string of disappointments. Petersen and Friedkin would later collaborate on a Showtime remake of “12 Angry Men” and two episodes of “CSI.” Friedkin died on Aug. 7 at the age of 87, and Petersen shared his reflections on his “greatest mentor and most brilliant friend.”

I was doing “Streetcar Named Desire” at the Stratford Festival outside of Toronto, and Billy sent his casting director to watch me.

William Friedkin, one of the great directors of the New Hollywood movement, died August 7 at the age of 87. The news launched an outpouring of love for the director, whose ’70s and ’80s film work proved some of the most enduring and beloved of that cinema-redefining period.

The son of Jewish Ukrainian immigrants, Friedkin was born in 1935 and got his start as a director making documentaries for Chicago public television. In 1965 he moved out to Hollywood to advance his career and made his narrative feature debut with “Good Times,” a vehicle for Cher and Sonny Bono. Friedkin put out several generally well-received films, including the groundbreaking “The Boys in the Band” and “The Birthday Party,” but truly broke out with 1971’s “The French Connection.” Starring Gene Hackman and featuring one of the greatest car chase scenes in cinematic history, the movie earned Friedkin a Best Director Oscar and gave him the clout to pursue passion projects.

The death at 87 of the great director William Friedkin on Monday reminded me of one of the two most intense movie viewing experiences I’ve ever had in a theater. One came last year when I saw “Rrr,” which due to its massive audience participation at the Chinese Theatre was a spectacular happening.

The other one happened in 1973 when I was a wee lad of 16, when I saw “The Exorcist.”

Friedkin was a master of his craft who made several other memorable films, chiefly “The French Connection” (for which he won his Academy Award), “Cruising,” “The Boys in the Band” and “To Live and Die in L.A.” But for my money, nothing he did could ever equal the phenomenon he helmed into being with “The Exorcist,” which would earn Oscars for sound and William Peter Blatty’s adapted screenplay as well as a directing nomination for Friedkin.

But forget all...

Yesterday, we had to share the sad news that director William Friedkin has passed away at the age of 87. While Friedkin made numerous popular films – The French Connection, Sorcerer, Cruising, and To Live and Die in L.A., among others – his most popular is probably the one that’s celebrating its 50th anniversary this year: The Exorcist (watch it Here). And The Exorcist star Linda Blair has taken to social media to share a tribute to Friedkin.

Blair wrote, “Like Sidney Poitier‘s famous movie To Sir with Love, how do you put into words appreciation to the person that changed your life forever, along with the world? Billy Friedken was a game changer, thought outside the box, was a genius with an incredibly bold personality and extraordinary imagery that electrified colleagues and moviegoers alike and remained a true maverick throughout his career in the film industry.

Every actor wanted to...

Linda Blair, star of The Exorcist, paid tribute to director William Friedkin, praising him as a game changer and genius with an electrifying personality and extraordinary imagery. Ellen Burstyn remembered Friedkin as an original, fearless, and wildly talented filmmaker who was able to let go and embrace something better on set. Other filmmakers like Jason Blum and David Gordon Green expressed their gratitude for Friedkin's impact on the horror genre and the broader culture, calling him an inspiration and praising his bold and visionary work.

Linda Blair, star of the original 1973 movie The Exorcist, joined her co-star Ellen Burstyn in sharing a tribute to director William Friedkin. Blair shared her thoughts via a lengthy Instagram post, in which she heaped praise on Friedkin as "my director, friend and protector." In the post she said:

“Like Sidney Poitier‘s famous movie To Sir with Love, how do you put into words...