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With eight movies in just over two decades, actress turned filmmaker Julie Delpy has carved out a curious niche for herself on both sides of the Atlantic. Based in Los Angeles but working predominantly in France, collaborating with Richard Linklater (the Before trilogy) on one hand and Gallic stars like Dany Boon (Lolo) on the other, switching from drama (The Countess) to comedy (Le Skylab) and back again (My Zoe), Delpy, like the frazzled characters she often plays on screen, isn’t easy to pin down.

And yet her latest work, the refugee satire Meet the Barbarians (Les Barbares), is probably her most bluntly French film to date, and certainly her most political one. But it may also be her least funny movie, steeping to clichés and caricature in its depiction of a picturesque Breton village that welcomes a family of Syrians escaping from the war. Sporting a heartfelt pro-immigrant...

Twisty The Clown met a fittingly disturbing demise in American Horror Story: Freak Show, stabbed by Edward Mordrake and becoming a ghost. The scariest AHS villain, Twisty once a popular clown turned killer, kidnapped children to "save" them from cruel parents. With the potential for future appearances, Twisty's legacy could inspire copycat killers or even be resurrected through cultic rituals.

Twisty The Clown is one of the most terrifying villains in American Horror Story, and his death was fittingly disturbing. Ryan Murphy the anthology horror series, which focuses on a new story and theme each season - though certain characters from previous seasons can recur. The show began with a twisted haunted house tale in 2011, while other seasons were heavily inspired by classic slasher movies like Friday The 13th. Over the years, the series has produced some truly haunting images and killers, including Bloody Face and Lady Gaga's The Countess.

American Horror Story: Hotel introduced this universe’s first version of vampires, who kept some strange cages with neon lights – and a theory cleverly explains what these cages are for. American Horror Story has explored a variety of horror themes, legends, and creatures, often mixing two or more, and for its fifth season, it took the audience to Hotel Cortez. Appropriately titled American Horror Story: Hotel, this season started the AHS connected universe with links to Murder House and Coven, and it introduced the audience to vampires and ghosts living at a hotel that has witnessed a variety of horrors.

Similarly to Murder House, Hotel’s main setting was the home to a variety of ghosts, as those who died inside the hotel are doomed to spend eternity in it, thus haunting and terrorizing various guests and residents. In addition to that, Hotel Cortez is the home of Elizabeth (Lady Gaga...

A version of this story about “Schmigadoon!” first appeared in the Awards Preview issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine

Among the many TV surprises of 2021 was Apple TV+’s “Schmigadoon!” — a comedy series that follows a couple that stumbles on a town that exists within a musical. It’s quirky and weird and fun, and as long as it remains that way, series creator Cinco Paul is happy to keep making more episodes.

“I think we should all be very hopeful. I’m hopeful,” Paul told TheWrap of the possibility for a Season 2 renewal. “I don’t have an answer yet. But I would love everybody’s positive hopeful energy. Because as I’ve said before, I’ve always conceived of this is more than just one season.”

In an ideal situation, he knows exactly how long his show will run: “until it stops being fun.”

Really, Paul waited awhile to bring “Schmigadoon!

Susan Sarandon and Anna Friel have been cast in the upcoming Fox country music drama series “Monarch,” Variety has learned.

In the series, the Romans are headed by the insanely talented, but tough as nails Queen of Country Music Dottie Cantrell Roman (Sarandon). Along with her beloved husband, Albie, Dottie has created a country music dynasty. But even though the Roman name is synonymous with authenticity, the very foundation of their success is a lie. And when their reign as country royalty is put in jeopardy, heir to the crown Nicolette “Nicky” Roman (Friel) will stop at nothing to protect her family’s legacy, while ensuring her own quest for stardom.

“Monarch” will debut midseason for Fox on Jan. 30 immediately after the NFC Championship game, with the show’s second episode airing on Feb. 1.

Sarandon is an Academy Award winner, taking home the statuette for best actress in 1996 for “Dead Man Walking.

The title card that opens writer-director Eugene Ashe’s Sylvie’s Love (now streaming on Amazon) informs us that we’re in New York City, in 1962. That announcement quickly becomes superfluous, however — as soon as you hear Nancy Wilson’s version of “The Nearness of You” over vintage yellow cabs whizzing by old-school cafeterias, cigar shops and the Canadian Club sign in Times Square, along with the sight of Tessa Thompson looking positively radiant in a radioactively blue evening gown, you know exactly where and when you are. If nothing else,...

"It's up to you New York, New York," and, apropos of the song, this is the Housewives franchise that has always delivered. Next season, Eboni K. Williams will join the show as the first black NY cast member. Last season, Married to the Mob fashion designer Leah McSweeney burst onto the scene with a beauty and force only seen by Bethenny Frankel.

Related: Rhony: What We Know About Leah McSweeney's 'Happy Place' Sleepwear Line

Great TV will be expected of these two, with more jaw-dropping antics from OGs like The Countess, The Ramonacoaster, Lady Morgan, and the now single Dorinda Medley, who always "makes it nice." But, there's a legacy to live up to. Can they top these stories that kept us rapt?...

American Horror Story: Hotel had a lot to live up to. With the departure of fan-favorite Jessica Lange, the show had big boots to fill and they managed to surpass expectations with the inclusion of Lady Gaga's iconic character, The Countess.

Related: 10 Most Iconic American Horror Story Characters

The final episode is one of the series' strongest season finales, with a heart-warming ode to Denis O'Hare's Liz Taylor. There were many highlights throughout Hotel, but like any Ahs season, it raised several mysteries. Here are 10 unanswered questions from the fifth season of American Horror Story.

Neatly and purposely divided into three acts — a black screen signals the lag time between each, should the viewer not be ready for the required understanding that things are about to change, and that it’s best to prepare now — Julie Delpy’s fascinating “My Zoe” uses its classic formal structure to tell a thoroughly modern tale. While Delpy’s directorial output thus far has mostly consisted of fizzy rom-coms like her “Two Days” features and the odd historical drama (“The Countess”), “My Zoe” finds the filmmaker and star moving fast into fresh territory.

First, though, there’s Delpy’s Isabelle and the eponymous Zoe, her apple-cheeked daughter. Isabelle and Zoe’s dad, James (Richard Armitage), are in the final throes of their divorce, with Zoe’s custody arrangement the last box to check off. Despite telling the film firmly from Isabelle’s vantage point, Delpy the writer and director doesn’t take sides,...

Lady Gaga was a little too busy to appear in the latest season of American Horror Story, Apocalypse, but that doesn't mean she's lost touch with her former costars.

While attending Elle's 25th Annual Women In Hollywood Celebration in Beverly Hills on Monday, the A Star Is Born star shared some seriously cute moments with Sarah Paulson, who's currently starring on the series in multiple roles, and Angela Bassett, who leads Ryan Murphy's other show, 9-1-1. The trio caught up in front of photographers on the red carpet at the Four Seasons Hotel, where they were also joined by Yara Shahidi, Keira Knightley, Shonda Rhimes, Charlize Theron, and Mia Farrow.

For those of you who aren't diehard Ahs fans, Gaga first popped up in season five of Murphy's horror series, Hotel, in her Golden Globe award winning role of The Countess. She also appears in the sixth season,...

Before Warner Bros. submitted ‘A Star Is Born” in drama at the Golden Globes, Lady Gaga had been the overwhelming favorite to win Best Comedy/Musical Actress — and could very well win Best Drama Actress as well if the submission is approved. But as every person who’s on the internet knows, this ain’t her first rodeo with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Gaga famously won in 2016 for “American Horror Story: Hotel” and even more famously helped produce one of the greatest awards show moments of all time.

Gaga took home the Best Limited Series/TV Movie Actress Globe for her turn as The Countess over Kirsten Dunst (“Fargo”), Sarah Hay (“Flesh and Bone”), Felicity Huffman (“American Crime”) and Queen Latifah (“Bessie”). As she made her way to the stage, she brushed up against Leonardo DiCaprio‘s chair. The actor, who won later that night for “The Revenant,” clearly...

Lady Gaga has reportedly been approached by Disney about taking on the role of Ursula in their live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid. The popstar has recently been getting high marks for her performance in Bradley Cooper's A Star is Born, which is now in theaters. Gaga previously showed off her acting chops in American Horror Story: Hotel and received praise from fans as well as critics for her portrayal of The Countess / Elizabeth Johnson. Getting a role in a Disney project could be the perfect fit for the musician.

Though Disney has declined to comment, it's believed that the they want Lady Gaga to play Ursula in the live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid. However, it was also rumored that the popstar was offered a role in the Dceu's Birds of Prey, but she turned it down. Will Gaga want to take on the role of the villain in a Disney film?...

Julie Delpy is working on bringing the Israeli web series “Confess” to AMC.

Variety has learned exclusively Delpy is developing an adaptation of the web series for the cabler, which she will write and executive produce. Jake Witzenfeld and Moshe Rosenthal, the creators of the original series, will also executive produce.

“Confess” is an anthological series set in Tel Aviv, but Delpy’s version will be set in the United States. Like the original, it will explore the current hook up culture and how digital media is changing people’s private lives.

Delpy has been nominated for two Academy Awards in her career. Both were for best adapted screenplay for her work on “Before Sunset” and then “Before Midnight.” Both films were follow ups to 1995’s “Before Sunrise.” In addition to her acting and writing, Delpy is also a director, producer, and singer-songwriter.

She wrote and directed films like “The Countess,...

Deals in Germany, Italy, Spain, Asia for film co-starring Kristin Scott Thomas.

Source: TF1 Studio

‘In Your Hands’

TF1 Studio has announced first sales on French director Ludovic Bernard’s drama In Your Hands starring Jules Benchetrit as a talented young pianist, with a tearaway streak, struggling to fulfil his full potential.

The feature has sold to Germany (Neue Visionen), Italy (Cinema), Spain (Avalon), Belgium (Splendid Film), Switzerland (Pathé), Japan (Ccc), South Korea (Cinema de Manon) and Taiwan (Creative Century Entertainment).

TF1 Studio film team, led by Sabine Chemaly, kicked off sales on the production at the Afm last November.

Screen can also reveal a first look of Benchetrit in the lead role of Mathieu, a troublemaker from a poor background with a special talent for the piano.

Lambert Wilson co-stars as a music school director, who is captivated by Mathieu’s playing on a public piano in a train station in Paris and decides to help him...

A Child is Waiting: Delpy’s Return to RomCom a Mixed Bag

Julie Delpy has managed to balance a terrific (and prolific) career as an actress and director, breaking out over the past decade as a pragmatic purveyor of romantic entanglements thanks to her twin titles 2 Days in Paris (2007) and 2 Days in New York (2012). Although The Countess (2008), her curious English language examination of the bloodthirsty historical figure Countess Bathory was unfortunately belabored, her tendency to portray complex romantic scenarios masquerading as fluff has proven to be her overarching strength. Which is exactly why her latest, Lolo, a sometimes pleasant endeavor, feels like more of a crass disappointment than it really is. Examining an overworked single mother’s attempt to rediscover romance despite the secret sabotage of her spoiled adult child, the narrative’s dependence on familiar tropes, not to mention the neglect of its central romance, bears remarkable similarity...

The Beautiful Woman Sleeping

Director: Ulrike Ottinger

Writers: Ulrike Ottinger, Elfriede Jelinek

It is with great pleasure we feature the announced plans for a new film from German auteur Ulrike Ottinger, a provocative artist perhaps best remembered for 1981’s Freak Orlando, starring Magdalena Montezuma and Delphine Seyrig, an exemplification of her own surrealist style. Ottinger is also an applauded documentarian, her last project being 2011’s Under Snow. But it’s been well over a decade since we’ve seen Ottinger tackle a fictional narrative, the last being 2004’s Twelve Chairs. Around 2007/2008, an announcement was made for Ottinger to make a feminist vampire film about the infamous historical figure Countess Bathory, set to star Tilda Swinton and Isabelle Huppert. The project never got off the ground (and Julie Delpy went ahead with her own recuperation, The Countess). However, in early 2015, Amour Fou Films announced two projects with writer Elfriede Jelinek (author...

Although relatively scarce, horror movies directed by women are out there. You may have to turn over a few rocks to know who they are and their material might be a little more difficult to get your hands on, but these directors deserve just as much attention and scrutiny as their male counterparts, who have long dominated the genre. The following discusses selections of female directors’ forays into the business of terror. (This post contains spoilers)

Antonia Bird

The late director Antonia Bird’s Ravenous is a bizarre amalgamation of humor and horror that explores cannibalism with warped nuance. The strangely cacophonous score builds up tension as craven outcasts face a glutinous and depraved attacker whose strength seems fortified by his consumption of human flesh. Set during America’s westward expansion, the metaphor of humanity’s insatiable appetite for power is plain to see, but its execution indulges in such...

Polish provocateur Walerian Borowczyk remains one of the great obscure artists who managed to successfully blur the lines between definitions of high art and pornography. Directing short films as early as 1946, he would begin a career making feature films in 1967 and experienced his most prolific period in the 1970s with a variety of infamous French language projects, the most notorious of those being 1975’s The Beast. Just prior to that film, however, Borowczyk premiered his first venture into erotic exploration with the vignette film, Immoral Tales (a structure the director would return to time and again). Initially a quintet of five separate tales spanning across various periods of time, the film is modeled after several historically based figures who’ve transcended into a realm of mythological urban legend. Playing at the Locarno Film Festival, it would go on to win the Prix de L’age D’or, but Borowczyk would...

Title: Lolo Director: Julie Delpy Starring: Julie Delpy, Dany Boon, Vincent Lacoste, Karin Viard. Woody Allen in the Us and Nanni Moretti in Italy are an example of filmmakers who write their scripts, direct them and interpret them. Julie Delpy, in the tough man’s world of motion pictures, embodies a cinematic female superhero from the land of liberty, equality and brotherhood. Her talent as an actress emerged through Richard Linklater’s triptych (‘Before Sunrise,’ ‘Before Sunset,’ ‘Before Midnight’); and she has been just as brilliant as a director (‘2 Days in Paris,’ ‘The Countess,’ ‘2 Days in New York’). Delpy returns behind and in front of the camera with a script [ Read More ]

The post Lolo Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.

French comedy added to sidebar’s competition.

Venice Days (Sept 2-12) has rounded out its programme with Julie Delpy’s Lolo, bringing the number of titles in competition at the independently run section of the Venice Film Festival to 11.

The world premiere of the film, which will go on to screen at Toronto, has been secured by Venice Days following an agreement with international distributor Wild Bunch.

Delpy, star of Richard Linklater’s Before… trilogy, has written and directed Lolo and will co-star alongside Dany Boon, Vincent Lacoste and Karin Viard.

The satirical comedy centres on fortysomething workaholic Violette (Delpy), who finds romance while on a spa vacation. But once back home, the pair have to deal with Lolo, Violette’s brainy, tyrannical son, who has no intention of relinquishing his own control over the family, and the emotions of his mother.

Delpy’s previous features as director include 2 Days in New York (2012), Skylab (2011), The Countess (2009) and...

Not every great actor wins an Academy Award. (Rest in peace, Peter O’Toole.*) In fact, simply getting nominated for an Oscar or two might be the truer measure of excellence. There have been plenty of actors with as many Oscar statues as Paul Newman — one! — but few can hold a candle to his nine nominations, which represent a lifetime of brilliance.

But before an actor can pile up multiple nominations like Newman or O’Toole or Al Pacino, he or she needs that first nod. Sounds simple enough. Last year, four actors heard their name called for the first time,...

While she's a firmly established and talented actress, Julie Delpy has been spreading her wings to the arenas of writing and directing over the past few years. In addition to earning credits for penning "Before Sunrise" and "Before Midnight," she's earned writer/director bonafides on "2 Days In Paris," the sequel "2 Days In New York," "The Countess" and French comedy "Skylab." Now, it looks like HBO is wisely enlisting her talents for a burgeoning new film. Deadline reports that Delpy is locking down a deal to pen "Cancer Vixen" for the network, with the project being developed as a star vehicle for none other than Cate Blanchett. First announced this spring, the film will be based on the memoir by Marisa Acocella Marchetto, following a famous cartoonist (with stuff in magazines like The New Yorker and Vogue) under her belt, who has to reassess her life after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Over the last decade or so, French star Julie Delpy has been a relatively rare presence on screen. Sure, there have been a few appearances -- Lasse Hallstrom's "The Hoax" and Jim Jarmusch's "Broken Flowers" among them -- but for the most part, when she's starred in a film, it's been in pictures that she's written and directed, like "The Countess," "Le Skylab," "2 Days In Paris" and "2 Days In New York," the sequel which just premiered at Sundance. That film picks up her character, Marion, several years later, no longer with Adam Goldberg, but with a child, and now living with Mingus (Chris Rock), who clashes with her eccentric family. The film has been reported by most, including us, to be a worth follow-up to the charming, hilarious original, but it seems like its most lasting place in the history books might be as one of Delpy's last on-screen appearances.

Each week within this column we strive to pair the latest in theatrical releases to worthwhile titles currently streaming on Netflix Instant Watch. This week we offer alternatives to The Iron Lady, We Need to Talk About Kevin and Beauty and the Beast 3D.

In theaters this week, one of Disney’s biggest hits faces off against a brutal tale of motherhood’s dark side and a poetic portrait of problematic politician. Simply put, there’s some truly sensational cinema to be had. But if this won’t satisfy your film-seeing thirsts, we’ve got you covered with with a selection of bold biopics, alluring adventures, and dauntless dramas.

Meryl Streep makes her bid for Oscar gold playing one of Britain’s most controversial contemporary political figures: Britain’s first female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. Phyllida Lloyd directs. [Full Review]

Biopics need not be a boys’ club.

Check out these daring dramas...

Julie Delpy’s last two directorial efforts, 2009’s “The Countess” and this year’s “Le Skylab,” have yet to receive U.S. theatrical distribution, but her latest Sundance entry, “2 Days in New York,” should get distributors’ tongues wagging. The sequel to Delpy’s 2007 critical hit “2 Days in Paris,” co-stars Chris Rock and features New York (obviously), a city that can charm the pants off most anyone. The follow-up to Delpy's charming and underrated film will find her character, Marion, relocated to New York with a new lover, Mingus (Rock), and a child; sorry folks, no Adam Goldberg this time around. Things will get a bit hairy as the clash of cultural backgrounds is brought to the fore when her family and ex-boyfriend come to visit. This stress will be compounded by an upcoming photo exhibit as well. If it's half as funny and painful as the first film, we're in.

Just yesterday came news that Julie Delpy might reunite with co-star Ethan Hawke and director Richard Linklater for another installment in their unlikely romance series that started with Before Sunrise, but now Variety reports the actress, who has also directed  and starred in her own films like 2 Days in Paris and The Countess, will also take a seat in the director's chair for a biopic on The Clash frontman Joe Strummer. Titled The Right Profile (after the band's song of the same name from their 1979 album London Calling), the film will focus on Strummer's life and his planned disappearance from the public spotlight in 1982. Strummer's legacy lives on, but the saddest note of his career came when he died in December of 2002, just one month before he and The Clash were going to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It's not clear how ...

Best known to American audiences for her role in the 1995 Richard Linklater film "Before Sunrise" opposite Ethan Hawke (and its arguably superior 2004 follow-up "Before Sunset"), French actress Julie Delpy has become a respected writer/director over the last several years as well, with films including the 2007 romantic comedy "2 Days in Paris" (in which she also starred) and 2009's "The Countess", which had her playing notorious Hungarian noblewoman Elizabeth Bathory. Now the multi-hyphenate (who was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 2005 Oscars for writing "Sunset" along with Hawke and Linklater) is attached to helm what may well turn out to...

After we reported that Julie Delpy will be writing/starring in a third film in the Before Sunrise/Before Sunset series, news broke on the Oscar-nominated actress’s next project. Delpy will direct the biopic of Joe Strummer, the frontman for English punk band “The Clash.” The production by Simon Halfon (Sleuth) has been titled The Right Profile after a track on “London Calling,” the band’s 1979 album. The biopic will obviously portray Strummer’s life, but will focus on his planned disappearance from the public eye soon before the release of their 1982 album, “Combat Rock.” Strummer tragically passed away in December of 2002, a month prior to being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with “The Clash.” Hit the jump for more on The Right Profile. Variety reports that Delpy may not just direct, but could also star in the biopic. The French actress tends to act...

If you were to ask us who might be taking on a film about Clash frontman Joe Strummer, we might have suggested someone like Michael Winterbottom or even Cameron Crowe. But news from Variety is that Julie Delpy is attached to direct The Right Profile, which will look at a chunk of Strummer’s life and career is a surprise, albeit a pleasant one.But then, Delpy has long since been making interesting moves behind the camera, starting with her own shorts before moving on to co-write Before Sunset and writing and directing movies such as 2 Days In Paris and The Countess.Profile is being kept largely under wraps, though it takes its title from the Clash song, which graced 1979 album London Calling. The plan, however, is to take a look at both his music and his life, including his intended disappearance from the spotlight in 1982.Away from the Strummer project,...

The Tuesday before Halloween is bound to have a lot of genre titles. There are some good ones too like Attack the Block, Blue Underground releases Fulci in High-Definition with Zombie and The House by the Cemetery, also Criterion releases The Island of Lost Souls on DVD & Blu-Ray and the most talked about film of last year, A Serbian Film finally hits the shelves. Read below, if you dare, for all your DVD and Blu-Ray releases for this week and if you plan on purchasing any films through Amazon, click on the buttons provided as they help us out with paying the bills around here.

Animal Attack Two Pack (Maneaters Are Loose/ Shark Kill)

Two savage and rare TV movies in the 1970s “Animal Attack” genre that have rarely been seen since their initial release, now back in print and together at last on DVD.

Buy the DVD @ Amazon.

If you ride the New York subways you can't help noticing an ad on most trains for the services of a Dr. Zizmor, a dermatologist who appears to specialize in smoothing facial wrinkles with his special creams and skillful hands. So what's so bad about wrinkles? Wasn't the Shar Pei dog in style years back particularly because of its creases and crinkles? In any case Julie Delpy wants to let us know graphically that well before the Botox age, even beyond America's shores, beauty and youth have been inextricably linked. In "The Countess," about a courtship more complex and formal than that related in "Before Sunset," which Delpy co-wrote, the title character is a Hungarian noblewoman whose dates are 1560-1614. Presumably the broad information conveyed by the biopic is not simply a case of melodramatic writing but is true-to-life and does have the resonance of a vampire movie as well.

Title: The Countess Directed By: Julie Delpy Written By: Julie Delpy Cast: Julie Delpy, Daniel Bruhl, William Hurt, Anamaria Marinca Screened at: Critics’ DVD, NYC, 6/14/11 Opened at Cannes 2010 with availability slated on DVD If you ride the New York subways you can’t help noticing an ad on most trains for the services of a Dr. Zizmor, a dermatologist who appears to specialize in smoothing facial wrinkles with his special creams and skillful hands. So what’s so bad about wrinkles? Wasn’t the Shar Pei dog in style years back particularly because of its creases and crinkles? In any case Julie Delpy wants to let us know graphically that well...

Lust, power, murder, the quest for eternal youth and a dash of lesbianism – no wonder the story of Erzébet Báthory appeals to film-makers so much

Deep within the preposterous Euro pudding that is Bathory, there lurks a would-be revisionist account of the woman cited in the Guinness World Records as having killed "the most number [650] of victims attributed to one murderess". In between Anna Friel's mad wigs, a babel of accents and a parade of indistinguishable Magyars, Juraj Jakubisko's film suggests Erzsébet Báthory was a sort of Renaissance Florence Nightingale figure who had an affair with Caravaggio. She didn't mean to stab her hairdresser with a pair of scissors! Those bathtubs of virgins' blood were nothing but water tinted red by herbs! She was framed!

Báthory has been portrayed on film some 30 times since 1970, has lent her name to a Swedish black metal band and, since she could...

Cele|Bitchy shared cel phone bikini pics of Demi Moore. Gawker, where I first saw these photos in a clueless* article on John Travolta, suggests that Demi is starring in her own real life adaptation of Benjamin Button.

But I think what we're looking at is a Countess Elizabeth Bálthory situation.This 47 year old superlebrity is obviously bathing in the blood of virgins.

I still haven't had an opportunity to see Julie Delpy's horror/bio/period film version of this tale, The Countess. None of the confusing and rare reports of the other film version (the one supposedly featuring Tilda Swinton) seem to give me much hope that it's actually not an elaborate internet delusion. But obviously this story should be able to resonate in our youth obsessed age where 50 is the new 40 and 40 is the new 30 and every single pitch meeting on the West Coat involves vampires.

Might...

Now if this isn’t an example of a superb casting decision, we don’t know what is Tilda Swinton is currently being tipped to star in a German/English horror co-production about the life story of the infamous countess Báthory, titled The Blood Countess (aka Die Blutgräfin). Unlike Julie Delpy’s 2009 contemporary retelling (‘The Countess’) of the Countesses story, it looks like director Ulrike Ottinger’s new version will take a more “artistic” slant of events. The plotline reads more like a - Countess Dracula - approach to her reign, as the murderous Vampire aristocrat who was said to bathe in Virgins blood. Here’s hoping Tilda definitely take the role, her playing a bloodthirsty Vampire noble women, cutting a bloody swaithe across Europe, is something we’d pay good money to see. Still in pre-production The Blood Countess is due out next year. Synopsis: Impatiently awaiting the arrival of her devoted maid Hermine,...

Now if this isn’t an example of a superb casting decision, we don’t know what is Tilda Swinton is currently being tipped to star in a German/English horror co-production about the life story of the infamous countess Báthory, titled The Blood Countess (aka Die Blutgräfin). Unlike Julie Delpy’s 2009 contemporary retelling (‘The Countess’) of the Countesses story, it looks like director Ulrike Ottinger’s new version will take a more “artistic” slant of events. The plotline reads more like a - Countess Dracula - approach to her reign, as the murderous Vampire aristocrat who was said to bathe in Virgins blood. Here’s hoping Tilda definitely take the role, her playing a bloodthirsty Vampire noble women, cutting a bloody swaithe across Europe, is something we’d pay good money to see. Still in pre-production The Blood Countess is due out next year. Synopsis: Impatiently awaiting the arrival of her devoted maid Hermine,...

The French sales/production company is supplying this year's Cannes fest with a trio of titles, but you might find me doing cartwheels more for a project that hasn't even began lensing in Marjane Satrapi's Waiting for Azrael. - The French sales/production company is supplying this year's Cannes fest with a trio of titles, but you might find me doing cartwheels more for a project that hasn't even began lensing in Marjane Satrapi's Waiting for Azrael. Red, white and green helmer Daniele Luchetti returns to the French festival for the umpteenth time with La Nostra Vita (see pic above) and Takeshi Kitano will break decibel levels with Outrage --- the film's trailer says it all. Celluloid Dreams' is also repping something for doc enthusiasts and tourists who love Paris: Fred Wiseman's Crazy Horse. If I Want To Whistle I Whistle by Florin Serban - Completed La Nostra Vita...

The French sales/production company is supplying this year's Cannes fest with a trio of titles, but you might find me doing cartwheels more for a project that hasn't even began lensing in Marjane Satrapi's Waiting for Azrael. Red, white and green helmer Daniele Luchetti returns to the French festival for the umpteenth time with La Nostra Vita (see pic above) and Takeshi Kitano will break decibel levels with Outrage --- the film's trailer says it all. Celluloid Dreams' is also repping something for doc enthusiasts and tourists who love Paris: Fred Wiseman's Crazy Horse. If I Want To Whistle I Whistle by Florin Serban - Completed La Nostra Vita by Daniele Luchetti - Completed Outrage by Takeshi Kitano - Completed REVOLUCIÓN by Carlos Reygadas - Completed We Are The Night by Dennis Gansel - Post-Production A Prophet (Un Prophete) by Jacques Audiard - Completed Apart Together (Tuan Yuan...

One of history's most intriguing figures is Elizabeth Bathory, whose nickname, the "Blood Countess", refers to the legendary accounts of her bathing in the blood of virgins in order to retain her youth. Acclaimed French actress Julie Delpy has taken on Bathory's persona in The Countess, which she also directed. It's been about a year since the trailer made its way online, but now with Cannes in the air the first stills and early sales art have come to light.

Dig on them below after the plot crunch.

Synopsis

The true story of Countess Bathory born in 1560. At the age of 14, she married a powerful warlord, 10 years her senior. Although their relationship became cold and distant, she bore him four children. While he was away fighting wars, she kept up their estate with the help of her confidant, the witch Anna Darvulia, becoming increasingly powerful. She was feared, admired, and...

It's time for more Julie Delpy directorial action. Just a few months ago, we learned that she was gearing up for 2 Days in New York -- a follow-up to her darkly funny indie 2 Days in Paris. Now she's headed for more "feel-good" laughs with another feature; The Hollywood Reporter posts that Delpy will spend much of the summer filming her next creation, Skylab.

Another film that will list her as writer, director, and star, Skylab follows one family through three generations. Delpy will act alongside a European cast that includes Eric Elmonsino, Noemie Lvovsky, Aure Atika, and Bernadette Laffont. Producer Michael Gentile says: "It's a real feel-good movie. It's tender and funny, in the spirit of 2 Days in Paris. It's really Julie Delpy's vision of France through the eyes of a French woman who has lived in the U.S. for many years."

While it sounds like another modern-day tale,...

Adam of Club Silencio here. If Kathryn Bigelow is said to be the "Queen of Directors," what other female auteurs make up her court and competition? Most excitingly, what's on the radar for these savvy women who're still holding supreme reign in our male-dominated cinematic monarchy?

Julie Delpy

Her Last: 2009's The Countess, Delpy's historical take on evil Hungarian Erzebet Bathory and her virgin bloodbaths, has yet to find a proper Us release. Delpy produced, wrote, directed, scored and starred in the project.

Her Latest: IONcinema reports that Delpy's readied a script for 2 Days in New York, a sequel to her 2007 ode to neurotic indie love, 2 Days in Paris. French farce once again follows Delpy as she follows Adam Goldberg to New York, dumps him, and finds herself a new neurotic American.

Nicole Holofcener

Her Last: 2006's smart ensemble comedy Friends with Money continued with female bonds and collaborations with Catherine Keener.

After finding no success at getting her wacky political satire off the ground, and The Countess still waiting for bloody release, Julie Delpy is heading back to more familiar and safe ground. ScreenDaily reports that the writer/director/star has penned a sequel to Two Days in Paris, which will film this October in New York with the apt title Two Days in New York.

As we already know, Marion and Jack's relationship imploded during their time in Paris, so she's moved on. Now she's spending two days in the Big Apple with her new guy and her kid. (Although Jack's the dad, he doesn't appear. Sorry, Adam Goldberg fans!) Delpy says: "It's about the difficulty of relationships but also about the main character's evolution in general. It's a very modern story about the complexities of being a woman and not being completely consumed by your partner."

Many may be turned off by that description,...

It's Halloween Week! Though a horror movie wuss I be there's one movie monster who I'll always give it up for, the vampire. Herewith: the film & television vampires who I would find most difficult to resist. (I've restricted myself to the past 30 years because there are too many I haven't seen from earlier... like those Hammer Horror films Matt was just talking 'bout). Should these 10 suckers ever come knocking, I shan't be wearing a cross, turtleneck or smelling of garlic.

I've already discussed Seline in Underworld and that hot Mexican in From Dusk til Dawn so I'm skipping them here.

10 Dracula (Gerard Butler) in Dracula 2000 (2000)

There are abundant lists of "best/sexiest vamps" on the net, but most of them go off in directions I can't support [cough Twilight... must everything be about page views? They twinkle. In the sun. Ugh]. But The Daily Beast makes a good point in favor of Gerard Butler: Ceiling Sex.

09 Lady Sylvia Marsh (Amanda Donohoe) in...

The 30th anniversary of Fangoria magazine will be honored at a special panel to be held at the 42nd edition of Spain’s prestigious Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, to be held October 1-12. Longtime Fango editor Tony Timpone will be attending, joined by British correspondents Alan Jones, Calum Waddell and Axelle Carolyn, as well as Italian correspondent Roberto D’Onofrio. The Fango salute will take place on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 5 p.m. in the Tramuntana Room at the Meliá Hotel.

“For the last 30 years, Fangoria has been the cornerstone of the Sitges program’s diet,” says festival director Angel Sala, “the number-one source of information to feed the bowels of the beast. Fango has been the written witness of the horror scene around the world for over three decades. Sitges can only bow and pay due respect with a celebration for the fans.”

“The panel will be...

The Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia announces its complete program. There are still a few surprises to be confirmed, like the closing gala, but they have already put together the final list of films that will be screened at Sitges 09. Below you’ll find the titles of each film and their sections as well as links for the films that we have already reviewed here on Sound On Sight. Opening Film [Rec]2. Paco Plaza and Jaume Balagueró. 2009. Official FANTÀSTIC In Competition Section Accident. Soi Cheang. 2009. Accidents Happen. Andrew Lancaster. 2009. The Children. Tom Shankland. 2008. [1] Cold Souls. Sophie Bartes. 2009. The Countess. Julie Delpy. 2009. Les Derniers Jours Du Monde. Jean-Marie and Arnaud Larrieu. 2009. Dogtooth (Kynodontas). Yorgos Lanthimos. 2009. Dorian Gray. Oliver Parker. 2009. Enter The Void. Gaspar Noé. 2009. Grace. Paul Solet. 2009. [2] Heartless. Philip Ridley. 2009. Hierro. Gabe Ibáñez. 2009. La Horde. Yannick Dahan and Benjamin Rocher. 2009. Ingrid. Eduard Cortés. 2009. Kinatay. Brillante Mendoza. 2009. Metropia. Tarik Saleh. 2009. Moon.

Cologne, Germany -- X Verleih, the distribution arm of Berlin boutique production house X Filme Creative Pool ("The White Ribbon," "The Countess") has launched a series of films under the label "Neue Heimat" (New Homeland) that look at the political and social condition in Germany.

The series kicks off Oct. 22 with documentary expose "Schwarz auf Weiss" (Black on White), from famed undercover journalist Gunter Wallraff. On Nov. 5, X Verleih will bow Christian Klandt's "Heimatfilm." The drama, based on real-life events, looks at youths in a small German town who, frustrated and bored, beat a homeless man to death.

The political consciousness of X Filme principals -- directors Tom Tykwer, Dani Levy and Wolfgang Becker -- was last on display in the omnibus production "Germany 09," which premiered at this year's Berlin International Film Festival.

The Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival , Oct 1-12 2009, has an impressive female-directed lineup this year!

Sci-fi/comedy Cold Souls (Sophie Bartes), historical horror The Countess (Julie Delpy), creepy drama Ne te Retourne Pas (Marina de Van), action war movie The Hurt Locker (Kathryn Bigelow), serial killer documentary Cropsey (Barbara Brancaccio with Joshua Zeman), surrealist horror Amer (Hélène Cattet with Bruno Forzani), and animated fantasy The Secret of Kells (Nora Twomey with Tomm Moore.)

Grace, the hororr film by Scary Studs Paul Solet (February 2007) and Adam Green (August 2007), also makes an appearance. Watch the trailers for the films below...

Trailer for The Countess:

Trailer for Cold Souls:

Trailer for Cropsey:

Trailer for The Hurt Locker:

Trailer for Grace:

Teaser for The Secret of Kells:...

Which stars have been out and about this past week? Whole galaxies of them. I've collected a few randomly for this edition of the red carpet lineup. It's but a tiny fraction of the luminaries since we're now in the thick of festival season. Telluride is behind us, Venice wraps today, and Toronto just kicked off. And that's just the big ones.

Nicholas Hoult and Julianne Moore hit Venice for the premiere of A Single Man (see previous post). An Education's Carey Mulligan, quickly emerging as the one to beat for Best Actress, is going to be fought over fiercely when it comes to dressing for the Oscars, just watch. She wore this Prada 09 Fall/Winter collection piece for her film's Toronto premiere. Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly and her perpetually Oscar snubbed husband Paul Bettany were also in Toronto promoting the Charles Darwin biography / marital drama Creation.

Finally, Venice...

The full lineup has been announced, and among the load of genre fare that's been running the fest circuit are the world premiers of:

Vincenzo Natali's latest, Splice, which we're all excited about.

Simon Fellows twisted adaptation Malice in Wonderland (trailer)

Along some of our personal favorites:

Black Dynamite (friggin awesome)

Swiss scifi flick Cargo (trailer)

Pater Sparrow's incredible Stanislaw Lem adaptation 1 (review)

The Mo Brothers Indonesian slasher Macabre (review)

Atm (get it?) horror-comedy The Human Centipede (review)

Full list after the break.

Opening Film

[Rec]2. Paco Plaza and Jaume Balagueró. 2009.

Official FANTÀSTIC In Competition Section

Accident. Soi Cheang. 2009.

Accidents Happen. Andrew Lancaster. 2009.

The Children. Tom Shankland. 2008.

Cold Souls. Sophie Bartes. 2009.

The Countess. Julie Delpy. 2009.

Les Derniers Jours Du Monde. Jean-Marie and Arnaud Larrieu. 2009.

Dogtooth (Kynodontas). Yorgos Lanthimos. 2009.

Dorian Gray. Oliver Parker. 2009.

Enter The Void. Gaspar Noé. 2009.

Grace. Paul Solet. 2009.

Heartless. Philip Ridley. 2009.

Hierro. Gabe Ibáñez. 2009.

La Horde. Yannick Dahan and Benjamin Rocher.

Bloody Disgusting learned that Return of the Living Dead III producer and Zyzzyx Rd director John Penney will be getting behind the camera from his own screenplay for Shadows, the latest Arclight production. William Hurt (The Incredible Hulk, The Countess), Cary Elwes (Saw), Ploy Jindachot and Paula Taylor are all set to star. Immediately upon arriving in Bangkok, American Jeff, his Thai wife Sua and their son Kyle are hit by a truck while driving to visit Sua's father. Six weeks later Jeff regains consciousness in hospital. He's horrified to learn he's the only survivor and unsettled by his own lack of grief. Even more unsettling, Jeff begins seeing ghosts, all of whom appear to have died terribly, and he confides in his nurse Choi. More...