News

Janet Planet.The image is tough to see until our eyes adjust: a girl, not yet a teenager, perched on the edge of a bed, alone, ensconced in darkness, her head bisected by the edge of the frame. She’s looking. Is it at something, or for something? She gets up, walks outside, the deafening susurrus of cicadas all around her. She makes a call on a payphone, announces herself as Lacy. “I’m gonna kill myself,” she deadpans into the receiver. A pause. “I said I’m gonna kill myself if you don’t come get me.” She hangs up.This is the first sequence of Janet Planet (2024), the first film by Annie Baker—and it immediately exhibits the qualities of her formidable work as a playwright: the curious quiet, the felt time, the mordant sense of humor. Like Kenneth Lonergan before her, Baker is a celebrated stage dramatist...

Mubi is expanding its global theatrical footprint, and it is hiring a seasoned indie film vet to lead the charge. Mubi has hired Arianna Bocco, the former president of IFC Films, to join the company as its SVP of Global Distribution, the company announced Tuesday, January 7.

Bocco spent 16 years at IFC Films, leaving in 2023 (she was elevated to the role of president in 2020) amid major changes to the indie distributor that resulted in a slew of executive departures.

In her new role, Bocco will lead the international distribution of Mubi’s titles, helping to expand its foreign footprint theatrically. Mark Boxer, who currently leads the U.S. distribution team and also worked with Bocco at IFC Films, will continue in that role. Some of the titles she’ll be working on to start include Kelly Reichardt’s “The Mastermind” and Jim Jarmusch’s “Father Mother Sister Brother.”

Bocco will report directly to Jason Ropell,...

Exclusive: In the wake of scoring a Golden Globe win for Demi Moore in its first big theatrical release The Substance, Mubi has hired former IFC Films president Arianna Bocco as its new SVP of Global Distribution.

Bocco will report directly to Jason Ropell, Mubi’s Chief Content Officer. U.S. Distribution will continue to be led by Mark Boxer; Bocco and Boxer had a long run together at IFC. Bocco will be at Sundance on behalf of Mubi where Amalia Ulman’s Magic Farm will receive its world premiere. Boxer will lead U.S. distribution under Bocco.

On deck for Mubi in the near future are such titles as Kelly Reichart’s The Mastermind and Jim Jarmusch’s Father Mother Sister Brother.

The role is a new post, based in New York, that will enable the streaming and theatrical company to take a greater footing handling the foreign distribution of its titles.

Pursuing an artistic career in your mid to late 20s can be a lonely, alienating, and painful endeavor. Usually, this is regarded as a transitional time in one's life, when people trade in the idealistic fantasies of their future that they may still be holding on to from their youth in exchange for a more realistic and grounded approach to the next stage of life. Dreams are often left in the rearview mirror, with people instead opting for more sensible job and lifestyle choices as they prepare for their 30s. For many, careers are advanced, homes are purchased, and families are started—but for those of us still chasing a dream, specifically an artistic one, we tend to be a little late to many of those life milestones. As someone who, somewhat reluctantly, belongs to the group of delusional idealists who are still simultaneously holding on to a dream and...

Barbie is officially on Netflix, and the movie is a great reminder to watch couple Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach's first project together. Released in theaters in 2023, over a year later, Barbie has landed on Netflix's Top 10 Chart in the U.S. The film is a cultural phenomenon, reigniting nostalgic childhoods and beloved memories everywhere while tackling the complicated cultural perception of the iconic doll. Barbie has an epic cast of characters: led by Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, and America Ferrera, the film became so successful that Mattel now has 45 movies in development based on their toys.

Gerwig and Baumbach co-wrote the Barbie script, while Gerwig directed it. However, this movie is not the first time Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach have made a movie together. In fact, Gerwig and Baumbach's first film collaboration was the independent comedy-drama movie, Frances Ha. Frances Ha might seem entirely different from Barbie at first glance.

Greta Gerwig has quickly become one of the most interesting, creative and successful directors of the last decade, with three incredibly phenomenal films under her belt and many more to come. But it may be easy for audiences to forget that Gerwig is not just a fantastic director, but an excellent writer and actor as well, having done some of her best work in front of the camera as well as behind it. Many of Gerwig's performances in films have been overlooked for too long, not the least of which being her generation-defining work as the lead of Noah Baumbach's excellent drama Frances Ha.

Frances Ha is one of the best movies of the 2010s, a raw and beautiful dissection of the joy and pain of being a struggling artist that proves Greta Gerwig is a triple-threat of directing, writing and acting talent who might become one of the...

There are only a few days left in November, and we all know what that means. Netflix is about to lose some good movies! If you're looking for what to watch on Netflix, this is the list for you.

With the month winding down, we picked the three best movies leaving Netflix in November 2024. We highly recommend watching these movies before they leave in a few days.

At the end of every month, Netflix usually loses the streaming rights to at least a handful of licensed movies. Some of these movies are the most popular movies on Netflix, but more often than not, it's older films.

Let's get the list started with Two Weeks Notice -- which you don't have to watch these movies; it's more like five days notice -- starring Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant!

Two Weeks Notice

Last day to watch: Saturday, Nov. 30

Two Weeks Notice might be 22 years old right now,...

Although her trio of Academy Award winners as a director have propelled her career to new heady heights, Greta Gerwig's work as an actress is also worthy of immense praise. Out of a selection of eye-catching performances, including in Mistress America and Hannah Takes the Stairs, there is one that stands above them all as Gerwig's best. That film is the quirky coming-of-age comedy, Frances Ha, which proved poignant in more than one way, as it is reported to be the project that helped Gerwig and director Noah Baumbach begin their romance. Sadly, it's confirmed that Frances Ha will be leaving Netflix on November 30.

What to Watch on Netflix This Weekend? The Best New Releases to Binge-Watch (November 8-10) - Main Image

We just welcomed the month of Thanksgiving and while it's a few weeks away, here is another What to Watch on Netflix guide for folks looking to binge new releases this weekend, November 8-10!

Apart from fans' highly anticipated return of Arcane season 2 part 1, check out the rest of the list to find the best weekend binge.

4 Movies Netflix Just Released For Your Weekend Binge

Over the weekend (November 8-11), Netflix is unleashing 4 movies, namely, the slice-of-life Vijay 69 which follows an old man who competes in a triathlon contest at age 69, Focus which centers Will Smith and Margot Robbie working together on their latest con scheme, and Rob Peace aka the movie based on the biography The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace by Jeff Hobbs.

Netflix is also bringing back...

Adam Driver has taken on many diverse roles in films such as Lincoln (2012), Frances Ha (2012), Inside Llewyn Davis (2013), BlacKkKlansman (2018), Marriage Story (2019), The Last Duel (2021), House of Gucci (2021), and Ferrari (2023). However, for mainstream fans, his portrayal of Kylo Ren, or Ben Solo, in the Star Wars franchise remains his most iconic role.

While the Sequel Trilogy had its share of clumsy moments, Driver’s performance stood out, and Kylo Ren is still regarded as one of the most significant characters in the trilogy. This lasting impact explains why discussions about Kylo Ren persist.

One key aspect of Kylo’s character in the films was his connection to Darth Vader, a relationship that was largely left unexplored. However, a recent Star Wars story has finally delved deeper into the origins of this connection, shedding light on the mysterious bond between Kylo and Vader.

In short, Kylo Ren had an obsession with Darth...

Adam Driver is an actor who has appeared in numerous roles in many movies, which include Lincoln (2012), Frances Ha (2012), Inside Llewyn Davis (2013), BlacKkKlansman (2018), Marriage Story (2019), The Last Duel (2021), House of Gucci (2021), and Ferrari (2023), but one role stands out among mainstream fans, which is what of Kylo Ren, or Ben Solo, from the Star Wars franchise.

And while the Sequel Trilogy was more clumsy than perfect, even ridiculous at times, Driver’s performance has been praised and Kylo Ren is still considered as one of the trilogy’s most important characters. This explains why Kylo Ren is still a topic of discussion and why everyone keeps returning to the character.

In the movies, Kylo’s relationship with the deceased Darth Vader was a major aspect of his character, and it is a story whose background was left – for the most part – unexplored in the movies, but a recent Star Wars story...

After creating a true cinematic phenomenon with “Barbie,” Greta Gerwig was the guest of honor at the 75th annual Pioneer of the Year Dinner at the Beverly Hilton on Wednesday, an annual charity event to benefit the Will Rogers Pioneer Assistance Fund.

“This is an extraordinary thing. I’m used to going to the Beverly Hilton to lose,” Gerwig quipped, referencing to the hotel’s status as the host of the Golden Globes, where she has been nominated four times without a win.

Started in 1947, the Pioneer of the Year dinner has served as an annual fundraising gala for the benefit of the Pioneer Assistance Fund, which provides financial aid and assistance to entertainment industry workers in need.

Now run by the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation, the dinner has honored leading Hollywood figures such as Bob Hope, Donna Langley, Alan Horn, Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson and most recently,...

I believe it was George Michael who sang that “time can never mend these careless sisters,” but then again my cassette was badly warped and I may have misheard him. In any case, he was wrong. I suspect time can indeed mend sisters who struggle to care for each other, for I have seen Azazel Jacobs’ exquisite new drama “His Three Daughters,” which features not one but three incredible performances from three incredible stars.

“His Three Daughters” stars Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne and Elizabeth Olsen as Katie, Rachel and Christina. They’re sisters, their father is in hospice, and he could die at any moment. Or days from now. Or weeks. If you’ve ever lived through a similar situation then you know it can involve an awful lot of waiting, an awful lot of worrying and an awful lot of soul-searching. It’s just awful.

Everyone keeps telling Katie,...

Coming-of-age stories are not a new phenomenon in Cinema. In a generation where ‘Lady Bird’ and ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’ are the cornerstones of growing up, the stories of characters becoming the person they are meant to be can sometimes be lost in the noise of the classics. However, a new coming-of-age story is rising to the occasion. ‘Janet Planet’ is the film debut of the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Annie Baker, and the coming-of-age story is one not to be missed. Things to do: Subscribe to The Hollywood Insider’s YouTube Channel, by clicking here. Limited Time Offer – Free Subscription to The Hollywood Insider Click here to read more on The Hollywood Insider’s vision, values and mission statement here – Media has the responsibility to better our world – The Hollywood Insider fully focuses on substance and meaningful entertainment, against gossip and scandal, by combining entertainment, education, and philanthropy.

Over the past 15 years, writer, director, producer and actor Greta Gerwig has been one of the key figures in the independent film movement. After her early years as a star of the mumblecore film movement, Gerwig teamed up with her professional and life partner, writer/director Noah Baumbach, for a series of three films that broke through to general audiences, garnered widespread critical acclaim, and generated a Golden Globe nomination for Gerwig in “Frances Ha.”

But after she co-directed 2008’s romance “Nights and Weekends,” it seemed inevitable that Gerwig would return to the director’s chair, this time solo, and she did so in a spectacular fashion with her 2017 debut feature “Lady Bird.” Her coming-of-age story, set in Gerwig’s home town of Sacramento, earned five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, as well as two individual nominations for Gerwig for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. Her second solo film,...

Exclusive: Indie film vet Justin Dipietro has been named EVP of MPI Media Group and Dark Sky Films and will oversee the relaunch of the distribution labels with an aim on expanding the company’s global footprint and identifying larger scale projects and releases.

Dipietro will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the company’s distribution operations and marketing efforts, including marketing and business development.

Previously, Dipietro led marketing, publicity and distribution efforts at Oscar-winning distributor Cohen Media Group after serving as Director of Sales and Distribution at Netflix. Dipietro managed and helped develop theatrical and Academy campaigns for several award-nominated titles, including 2023’s Best Foreign Film Academy Award nominee Io Capitano and two 2020 Best Picture Oscar nominees, Mank and The Trial of the Chicago 7. Prior to Netflix, Dipietro was the Head of Distribution at IFC Films, where he oversaw theatrical and non-theatrical releasing and worked on award-winning films such as Boyhood,...

Who let the dog out?

The Cannes Film Festival red carpet is notoriously strict about its black-tie dress code (one man in a blue tuxedo who committed the fashion travesty of wearing white socks was almost turned away). But on Tuesday night, France welcomed a national hero to the opening night of the 77th edition — Messi, the four-legged scene-stealer from last year’s Palme d’Or winner “Anatomy of a Fall.”

The canine phenom helped brighten things up even as dark clouds gathered over the Palais des Festivals, site of Cannes’ biggest premieres. Despite the foreboding weather and light drizzle, Lily Gladstone, Greta Gerwig, Omar Sy, Jane Fonda, Juliette Binoche and other stars added some glamour and sparkle to the evening.

Photos: See the best red carpet looks.

But the gloomy skies mirrored the film business’s state of mind as the most famous celebration of cinema begins its 11-day marathon of premieres,...

Before Meryl Streep could accept her honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday night, she was greeted by a thunderous two-minute standing ovation. The 74-year-old Oscar winner was so overcome with emotion that she first pretended to walk off the stage, but eventually began to dance to the applause.

French star Juliette Binoche, herself emotional, presented the award to Streep, saying: “When I see you on the screen, I don’t see you … Where does it come from? Were you born like this? I don’t know, but there’s a believer in you; a believer that allows me to believe.”

Binoche called Streep “an international treasure” as she listed off many of Streep’s most beloved roles, from “Sophie’s Choice” to “Julie and Julia.” Binoche later added, “You changed the way we look at cinema.”

In her speech, Streep thanked Cannes for welcoming her back after 35 years,...

Adam Driver is an actor who has appeared in numerous roles in many movies, which include Lincoln (2012), Frances Ha (2012), Inside Llewyn Davis (2013), BlacKkKlansman (2018), Marriage Story (2019), The Last Duel (2021), House of Gucci (2021), and Ferrari (2023), but one role stands out among mainstream fans, which is what of Kylo Ren, or Ben Solo, from the Star Wars franchise. And while the sequel trilogy was more clumsy than perfect, even ridiculous at times, Driver’s performance has been praised and Kylo Ren is still considered as one of the trilogy’s most important characters.

And while Kylo Ren died in the films, we have seen that Star Wars characters can – more or less miraculously – reappear in the series, as was the case with Darth Maul and Palpatine, so why not Kylo Ren? The actor was recently asked about the possibility of returning to the role of Kylo Ren, and we will reveal what he said.

Exclusive: Continuing to expand its cast, HBO’s Untitled Brad Ingelsby Task Force Project (working title) has added five as recurring: Raphael Sbarge (Once Upon a Time), Mickey Sumner (Snowpiercer), Brian Goodman (Fatal Attraction), Elvis Nolasco (Godfather of Harlem), and Colin Bates (American Rust).

Sbarge plays Police Chief Dorsey, who oversees a multi-unit operation to assist FBI Agent Tom (Ruffalo) and the team in their search. Sumner portrays Shelley Driscoll, who is desperate to escape her husband Ray, with Goodman as Vincent Hawkes, one of the 13 National Leaders of a dangerous biker gang. Nolasco plays Freddy Frias, the savvy and ruthless captain of Philadelphia’s largest drug trafficking organization, while Bates portrays Shane McReynolds, the Sergeant-At-Arms of a dangerous biker gang and a member of Jayson’s inner circle.

Others previously cast include Tom Pelphrey as Robbie; Emilia Jones as Maeve; Thuso Mbedu as Aleah; Raúl Castillo as Cliff...

Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing Image: Hulton Archive Dancing never goes out of style, but apparently dance movies do. The 40th anniversary of Footloose has us thinking about all the dance movies we’ve loved through the years, and the scarcity of those kinds of films these days.

Kevin Bacon in FootlooseImage: Paramount Pictures/CBS (Getty Images)

Dancing never goes out of style, but apparently dance movies do. The 40th anniversary of Footloose has us thinking about all the dance movies we’ve loved through the years, and the scarcity of those kinds of films these days. If you look at social media,...

The 10th annual Variety Artisans Awards at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival hosted its biggest crowd to date at this year’s event, with 2,000 attendees packing the Arlington Theater to hear artisans behind Oscar-nominated films discuss their projects.

After one-on-one conversations, honorees Stephane Ceretti, visual effects supervisor on “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” Billie Eilish and Finneas, songwriters on “Barbie’s” “What Was I Made For,” Ludwig Göransson, composer on “Oppenheimer,” Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer, production designers on “Barbie,” Kazu Hiro, makeup artist on “Maestro,” Jennifer Lame, editor on “Oppenheimer,” Rodrigo Prieto, cinematographer on “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Michael Semanick, re-recording mixer on “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” and Holly Waddington, costume designer on “Poor Things,” gathered for a panel discussion.

Senior artisans editor Jazz Tangcay challenged the honorees to name their favorite rainy day movies.

“Amadeus,” came up a few times. Goransson mentioned he had two...

What should we make of the “Barbie” blowup?

After the candy-coated phenom debuted last summer to glowing reviews and box office glory, it seemed like a certifiable Oscar juggernaut. Last week as the Academy Award nominations were unveiled, “Barbie” scored a perfectly respectable eight nominations. However, voters overlooked director Greta Gerwig and lead actress Margot Robbie in their respective categories, sparking a social media backlash that threatens to overshadow the awards. It’s disappointing that Gerwig and Robbie’s outstanding work didn’t make the cut, but some perspective is important here. If you’ve only been getting your Oscar analysis from TikTok and X, you’d be forgiven for thinking “Barbie” was completely shut out.

Clearly that wasn’t the case. On one hand, I get the outrage. Female filmmakers still face an uphill climb when it comes to getting jobs and recognition. After all, only eight women have...

The Golden Globes nominated five films this year for both director and screenplay. The Globes only offer one screenplay category rather than splitting into two with original and adapted like most other awards groups. This means that if your film gets into this category, they really, really love your writing.

Writing and directing seem like they would be paired together often but the two awards have only been awarded to the same film once in the last decade. That was in 2017 when Damien Chazelle won both awards for “La La Land,” which also won Best Comedy/Musical Picture. The other nine years saw a split. Here’s the breakdown.

In 2014, Spike Jonze won Best Screenplay for “Her” while Alfonso Cuarón emerged victorious in the directing race for “Gravity.” The year later, Richard Linklater took home Best Director for “Boyhood” while four writers won for “Birdman:” Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone,...

Adam Driver says "Who gives a s—t that it was two Italians back-to-back?" in response to being asked about portraying Gucci and Ferrari. Driver's acting ability is comparable to some of Hollywood's best thespians, in particular Henry Fonda. Driver's talent and career trajectory have allowed him the freedom to choose his roles based on creative fulfillment rather than monetary gain.

Is it fair to call Adam Driver the Henry Fonda of this generation? Driver’s versatility is certainly reminiscent of how Fonda could portray any role, whether it be Davis, aka the eighth juror, in 12 Angry Men or how he played against typecasting as the villainous cowboy, Frank, in Once Upon a Time in the West (1968). Driver certainly has that elite level of acting acumen, but Driver has, quite by happenstance, taken on the roles of two well-known Italians in Maurizio Gucci and most recently, as Enzo Ferrari.

The Academy picked the right year to give an Honorary Oscar to film editor Carol Littleton. They’re saluting a female editor at a time when three of the year’s major awards contenders —“Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Oppenheimer” and “Maestro” — are edited by Thelma Schoonmaker, Jennifer Lame and Michelle Tesoro, respectively, and when other women in the mix include Hilda Rasula for “American Fiction,” Victoria Boydell for “Saltburn,” Sarah Flack for “Priscilla” and co-editors Claire Simpson (with Sam Restivo) for “Napoleon” and Oona Flaherty (with Nick Moore) for “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.”

“The Editors Guild has about 2,900 picture editors, and 764 women,” said Littleton, a one-time president of that guild. “That’s about a fourth. So isn’t it interesting that these three big prestigious films, ‘Oppenheimer,’ and ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ and ‘Maestro,’ are edited by women?”

If all three are nominated for Oscars...

It has been a record-breaking year for Greta Gerwig as she achieved multiples firsts for a female director with global smash hit Barbie, topped by becoming the first woman to surpass the one billion mark at the worldwide box office in July.

Gerwig is set to break fresh ground again next May when she becomes the first female American director to take on the role of Jury President at the 77th Cannes Film Festival.

The festival announced the news on Thursday morning describing Gerwig as “a heroine of our modern times” who had shaken the “status quo”.

“I am stunned and thrilled and humbled to be serving as the president of the Cannes Film Festival Jury. I cannot wait to see what journeys are in store for all of us,” said Gerwig.

“I love films – I love making them, I love going to them, I love talking about them. As a cinephile,...

Greta Gerwig is hitting the Croisette.

The Barbie helmer, fresh off her first-ever best director nomination at the Golden Globes (Gerwig’s $1.4 billion toy-to-screen blockbuster picked up a total of nine Golden Globe noms), has been confirmed as the jury president for the 2024 Cannes International Film Festival.

“A heroine of our modern times, Greta Gerwig shakes up the status quo between a highly codified cinema industry and an era that is demanding greater scrutiny,” Cannes said in its announcement.

“Yesterday, ambassador of independent American cinema, today at the summit of worldwide box office success, Greta Gerwig manages to combine what was previously judged to be incompatible: Delivering art house blockbusters, narrowing the gap between art and industry, exploring contemporary feminist issues with deft as well as depth, and declaring her demanding artistic ambition from within an economic model that she embraces in order to put to better use.

“Whether acting,...

Barbie director Greta Gerwig received her first best director Golden Globe nomination Monday, following years past in which she was snubbed for her films Lady Bird and Little Women.

Gerwig was nominated alongside Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer), Celine Song (Past Lives), Martin Scorsese (Killers of the Flower Moon), Bradley Cooper (Maestro) and Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things). Gerwig also received a best original screenplay nomination alongside Noah Baumbach for Barbie. In total, Barbie received nine nominations, including best musical or comedy, best actress for Margot Robbie and best supporting actor for Ryan Gosling.

In 2017, a year which saw Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman and Dee Rees’ Mudbound hit the big screen, Gerwig didn’t receive a nomination for Lady Bird, despite a best picture comedy or musical nomination. Guillermo del Toro, Martin McDonagh, Christopher Nolan, Ridley Scott and Steven Spielberg received nominations. Natalie Portman, while she was presenting the award to the eventual winner,...

Barbie director Greta Gerwig will receive the Director of the Year Award at the 2024 Palm Springs International Film Fest.

The film awards will take place on Jan. 4, with the festival running through Jan. 15.

Past recipients of the award include Jane Campion, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Steve McQueen, Alexander Payne, Sarah Polley, Jason Reitman, David O. Russell, Quentin Tarantino and Chloé Zhao. Campion, Iñárritu and Zhao went on to win the best director Oscar.

“Director Greta Gerwig has brought us the cinematic experience of the year with Barbie, the perfect blend of comedy, emotion and adventure that has both entertained and resonated with audiences, becoming a cultural touchstone around the world,” Festival chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi says. “Gerwig is a masterful filmmaker, and her vision is brought to life so vividly by both the script she co-wrote with Noah Baumbach, and by her clear and singular collaboration with her extraordinary crafts teams,...

It's not quite reached a crisis point yet, but the way the art of editing is talked about online is approaching drastic levels of ignorance, with seemingly every social media pundit shouting cries of "bad editing" and "this could've had 20 minutes cut out of it" in conversations about film. Even when editing or an editor is praised, it's either because they're a well-established master of it (like Thelma Schoonmaker) or because the style of the film is deliberately show-y.

This is why it's been such a joy to see editor Jennifer Lame begin to get more street cred recently. Her style has been honed over the past decade and change, beginning with her collaboration with Noah Baumbach and continuing on through other auteur filmmakers like Ari Aster and, most recently, Christopher Nolan. In films like "Frances Ha," "Hereditary," and "Tenet," Lame has demonstrated a keen sense of rhythm, drama, and tension,...

Barbie director Greta Gerwig recently opened up about the writing process behind America Ferrera's monologue.

Speaking to Vanity Fair, director Greta Gerwig recalled writing Ferrera's Barbie monologue alongside her husband and fellow director Noah Baumbach. Barbie as a film is imbued with the experience of womanhood, and the dialogue delivered by Ferrera (who plays disillusioned Mattel employee and devoted mother Gloria) was a strong representation of feminism.

How Barbie and The Marvels Support Feminine Creativity

Gerwig said she and Baumbach recalled conceptualizing the monologue differently, “Noah has a totally different memory of it; he was like, ‘No, no, we were walking,’ and I was like, ‘No, I was sitting outside’." Ultimately, however, Gerwig emphasized that it is Ferrera who grounded the monologue and made it her own, “It does not exist as it does without America. It’s hers by right, more than anyone else."

Greta Gerwig Shares Her Perspective

Gerwig,...

Acclaimed director, writer, and actor Greta Gerwig is set to helm the next adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s beloved fantasy series, The Chronicles of Narnia. Gerwig, who has previously directed the Oscar-nominated films Lady Bird and Little Women, will bring her unique vision and style to the magical world of Narnia, starting with the first book in the series, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

The film, which is being produced by Netflix and Walden Media, will feature a diverse cast of newcomers and veterans, including Tilda Swinton as the White Witch, Liam Neeson as the voice of Aslan, and David Oyelowo as the voice of Mr. Beaver. The roles of the four Pevensie children, who enter Narnia through a wardrobe and embark on an epic adventure to free the land from the witch’s eternal winter, have not been announced yet.

Gerwig, who is also co-writing the screenplay with her partner Noah Baumbach,...

When the news broke that Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig would be writing a live-action "Barbie" film for Gerwig to direct, it certainly got a lot of double-takes. The power couple behind acclaimed indie dramedies like "Frances Ha" and "Mistress America" tackling a movie based on Mattel's iconic fashion doll turned multimedia property? It was one of those ideas that sounded just wild enough to work. And boy did it ever; thanks in part to the cultural phenomenon that was Barbenheimer, Gerwig's "Barbie" film is now a billion-dollar sensation -- one that even has a serious shot at scoring some love from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences come Oscar night 2024.

If you're one of those who doubted "Barbie" could ever work as a live-action film, even with talents like Baumbach and Gerwig at the helm, you can take comfort in knowing you're not alone. In fact,...

There may not be a funnier moment on screen this year than when Ryan Gosling yells “sublime!” off-screen in Greta Gerwig’s billion-dollar box office smash “Barbie.”

That’s why Variety Awards Circuit Podcast had a pressing question that needed answering from the filmmaker herself: Who gets the credit for this brilliant moment?

“Ryan had the idea of [Ken] having a private moment that she [Barbie] can hear,” Gerwig reveals. “Because, of course, there’s no walls or privacy in Barbie Land. And then I will give myself credit, I came up with ‘sublime.’ I kept thinking, what’s the funniest word? I kept going back to ‘sublime.’ It’s the oddest word. But I let him do lots of things, because, why not? He did some very long sentences that he screamed. One was ‘Finally! My rainbow after the storm!’”

There are countless admirable and brilliant moments just like that throughout the Warner Bros. meta-comedy.

CAA-backed Anonymous Content Brazil, a joint venture between Anonymous Content and Rodrigo Teixeira’s Rt Features, is teaming up with Oscar-winning screenwriter-producer-director Armando Bo (“Birdman”) and his sister companies, About Entertainment and film-ad production company Rebolucion, to develop and co-produce television series and advertising content for the Latin American market.

The three-year co-development and co-production agreement will call for the sourcing of IP and original content from writers across Latin America to build a strong Spanish-language slate aimed at regional audiences and beyond.

Through their partnership with Rebolucion, Anonymous Content Brazil will also venture into producing advertising commercials out if its Sao Paulo base.

Rebolucion, in Brazil since 2011, will continue running independently while providing strategic and business support to the new ad commercials division, in which it will be a minority partner.

“Partnering with our long-time friend, Armando, a creative visionary who has demonstrated success at the highest levels...

The first week of the British Film Institute’s (BFI) London Film Festival wrapped this evening with a rapturous onstage Q&a session with writer-director Greta Gerwig.

To the surprise of the packed crowd at BFI Southbank, Gerwig was joined onstage by Succession creator Jesse Armstrong, who moderated the session. Topics offered up included Gerwig’s start in the business featuring in small NY-based indies, her transition into writing, and her billion-dollar box office smash hit Barbie.

“It’s been incredible,” Gerwig said of the response the film has received from audiences.

“I was invited to go on this journey. Margot Robbie came to me and said do you want to write this. She was the producer and star with David Heyman and Tom Ackerley. They put together this incredible team of people, and the process of making it was such a joy.”

Gerwig later added that during the film’s opening weekend,...

Gerwig gave the latest Screen Talk at the BFI London Film Festival.

Greta Gerwig teased a new project she is working on during her Screen Talk at the BFI London Film Festival (Lff), saying “it is hard and I’m having recurring nightmares.”

Gerwig gave the latest Lff Screen Talk, hosted by Succession showrunner Jesse Armstrong, to an audience of fans at the BFI Southbank, many of them dressed in the pink that fills Gerwig’s 2023 hit Barbie.

Answering a question about whether her upcoming projects would depict different female identities as Lady Bird, Little Women and Barbie have, Gerwig said,...

Following in the footsteps of Angelina Jolie, Greta Gerwig, and Regina King, actor Randall Park steps to the other side of the camera in his directorial debut, Shortcomings. After premiering at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, the searing meta-comedy hit theaters last August and will hopefully find a home on a streamer soon. As a stark contrast to the overproduced genre pictures populating multiplexes, Shortcomings offers us a bit of something new while reminding us of something old.

Based on a 2007 graphic novel of the same name with a script written by the same author, Adrian Tomine, Shortcomings chronicles the career struggles and relationship qualms of three Asian American professionals living in Berkeley, CA. We meet Ben (Justin H. Min) and his longtime girlfriend Miko (Ally Maki) at the premiere of a Crazy Rich Asians spoof, where their dwindling relationship is exemplified by their differing opinions on Asian American representation in film.

368 Broadway, a building in NYC, played a significant role in the careers of successful filmmakers like Greta Gerwig, the Safdie brothers, Lena Dunham, and the Schulmans. The building fostered a close-knit creative community called the Diane Fink School of Filmmaking, where aspiring filmmakers like Gerwig, the Safdies, and Dunham started their careers. These filmmakers utilized a DIY approach and created low-budget content, such as indie films and YouTube videos, which eventually led to their mainstream success.

A video explores the story behind the building in New York City that links the filmmakers behind Barbie, Uncut Gems, Girls, and Catfish. Greta Gerwig is the most successful filmmaker of this bunch, having recently directed the Barbie movie which grossed $1 billion at the box office. The Safdie brothers have directed anxiety-ridden crime-thrillers like Good Time and Uncut Gems, with Benny Safdie recently starring in Oppenheimer. Lena Dunham is the creator and star of HBO's Girls.

Barbie and Ken's rollerblades were a defining part of the "Barbie" movie, but they also presented huge challenges for the star-studded cast. The 2023 summer blockbuster is filled to the brim with unforgettable moments, but perhaps the most memorable is when Barbie and Ken enter the real world for the very first time on a set of bespoke neon skates. It's a difficult reckoning for the dolls when the real world makes a spectacle of them, and the two actors had a similar experience filming the scene. But it wasn't just the rugged reality of Venice Beach that made the shoot so difficult — it was the rollerblades themselves.

Now, the film's producer and star Margot Robbie has experience on a set of skates. She started rollerskating in her free time while shooting the biopic "I, Tonya," the actress revealed to Vogue. Her character Tonya Harding is an Olympian figure skater, so...

Barbie has become one of the highest-grossing domestic films in Warner Bros. Discovery's 100-year history, and rightfully so. The quirky yet sensitive film directed by Greta Gerwig has earned widespread acclaim for its themes, writing, and production. Barbie’s success is a hopeful indication of what cinema could be if more female directors were given the opportunity to tell their stories. Barbie fans will surely enjoy Gerwig’s earlier work as a director, writer, and actor because of her authentic exploration of many relatable themes.

Gerwig’s indie roots in the past have given her enough space to tackle subjects like feminism, coming-of-age, existentialism, and the mere fact of carving your identity in the world as a woman. While Barbie comes as her breakout into the mainstream, her insightful older films are just as enjoyable to revisit.

Related: Barbie's Digital Release Date Confirmed

Greta Gerwig’s Older Films Blend...

Greta Gerwig's Barbie explores womanhood and societal expectations, delivering a powerful message about the complexity of being a woman today. Other films like Girlhood, Frances Ha, and Lady Bird also tackle themes of womanhood and self-discovery, providing equally powerful stories.

At its heart, Greta Gerwig's Barbie is a powerful film about womanhood, following in the footsteps of important work that came before it. The iconic Mattel doll is used as a device to explore what it means to be a woman in the current era. Hollywood is taking the wrong message from Barbie, focussing on greenlighting movies about toys rather than what audiences really want: stories by women for women that depict womanhood in honest and interesting ways.

Luckily, for those feeling empowered by the Barbie movie, there are plenty of other films that share its themes, whether that's identity and self-discovery as a woman, coming-of-age in a difficult era,...

Christopher Nolan’s biopic “Oppenheimer” has already grossed over $270 million domestically, setting a number of records both for the filmmaker and in general. There’s been a lot of talk about its Oscar potential next year, so it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty in the below-the-line crafts categories where it is likely to get nominations, as well as its primary competition in those races.

The presence of “Dune: Part Two” — unless Warner Bros. moves it due to the ongoing writers’ and actors’ strikes — hangs over “Oppenheimer” like a dark Oscar cloud. The first “Dune” won six Oscars in early 2022, all in craft and technical categories, only missing out on two of its nominations there for Best Costume Design (which went to “Cruella“) and for Best Makeup and Hairstyling (which went to “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”). It’s fairly safe to presume that the finale of Denis Villeneuve...

This article contains spoilers for “Shortcomings.”

Randall Park says he never thought of himself as a leader before he directed his debut feature film, “Shortcomings,” out Friday via Sony Pictures Classics.

“I’ve been in numerous situations where I’ve been in a leadership position throughout my life, and I’ve always enjoyed it,” he says, “but I never saw myself as one. I always just saw myself as doing my own thing.”

Park, best known for his work as an actor on “Fresh Off the Boat,” “The Interview,” “WandaVision” and “Always Be My Maybe,” first picked up Adrian Tomine’s graphic novel “Shortcomings” 16 years ago. The story, which follows Berkeley-based cinephile Ben Tanaka as he navigates souring relationships with his girlfriend, Miko, and best friend, Alice, resonated with Park, because it seemed to address and reflect real-life conversations and issues head-on. Ben doesn’t shy away from expressing his...

Randall Park, best known for his roles in “Fresh Off the Boat” and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, revealed he was inspired by filmmaker Noah Baumbach for his directorial film debut “Shortcomings.”

“If anybody was an inspiration, it would be Noah Baumbach,” Park told TheWrap in an interview conducted before the SAG strike. “His work was definitely on my mind when we were in pre-production — in particular the movie, ‘Frances Ha,’ which is one of my personal favorites.”

“I found that there was a lot of overlapping themes with our movie and that movie,” Park added. “And also the New York of it all; the city as a character. All that stuff played into our approach to ‘Shortcomings.'”

Baumbach directed “Frances Ha” and cowrote it with his partner, Greta Gerwig. They also cowrote “Barbie,” with Gerwig now in the director’s chair.

In “Frances Ha,” Frances (played by Gerwig) has...

Over the past 15 years, writer, director, producer and actor Greta Gerwig has been one of the key figures in the independent film movement. After her early years as a star of the mumblecore film movement, Gerwig teamed up with her professional and life partner, writer/director Noah Baumbach, for a series of three films that broke through to general audiences, garnered widespread critical acclaim, and generated a Golden Globe nomination for Gerwig in “Frances Ha.”

But after she co-directed 2008’s romance “Nights and Weekends,” it seemed inevitable that Gerwig would return to the director’s chair, this time solo, and she did so in a spectacular fashion with her 2017 debut feature “Lady Bird.” Her coming-of-age story, set in Gerwig’s home town of Sacramento, earned five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, as well as two individual nominations for Gerwig for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. Her second solo film,...

"Barbie" might be a multimillion-dollar corporate product based on a ridiculously lucrative multimedia property, but it's also an earnest love letter to cinema history. Of course, that's nothing new for co-writer and director Greta Gerwig. A quick glimpse at the multi-hyphenate's filmography will reveal she's never shied away from openly acknowledging her influences. "Frances Ha," the 2012 dramedy Gerwig starred in and co-wrote with the film's director and her "Barbie" co-writer/real-life partner, Noah Baumbach, overtly tips its hat to the French New Wave, as does Gerwig's semi-autobiographical directorial debut, "Lady Bird" (her answer to Francois Truffaut's "The 400 Blows").

When it comes to "Barbie," there's no missing the references to "The Wizard of Oz" and Gene Kelly musicals like "An American in Paris," nor the deliberate parallels between the red pill/blue pill scene from "The Matrix" and Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) consulting Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon) about her sudden existential crisis.

She only has three solo directorial efforts under her belt, but Greta Gerwig has quickly become one of the most highly respected filmmakers working today. Her 2017 coming-of-age drama “Lady Bird” was an instant teen classic upon release, and her 2019 adaptation of “Little Women” received similar rapturous acclaim, becoming the definitive film version of the classic book.

And in July, after an agonizing three year wait and acting a lead role in partner Noah Baumbach’s “White Noise,” Gerwig came back to theaters as a director with one of the biggest films of the year. “Barbie” is a colorful studio comedy based on the classic dolls from Mattel, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as the titular Barbie and her heartthrob Ken. (He’s just Ken!) And it’s smashing box office numbers

Gerwig perhaps isn’t the obvious director to choose for bringing the thematically thorny Barbie universe to cinemas; before “Lady Bird,...