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Watch Good One: A Show About Jokes on Peacock for a peek into the art and process of stand-up comedy with Mike Birbiglia. The documentary special features insights on jokes and development from Birbiglia after his Broadway show. From personal truths to new material, follow Birbiglia on his comedy journey from Providence to D.C.

If you like stand-up comedy and are interested in the actual art and composition of it, the new Peacock special Good One: A Show About Jokes is just for you. The delightful comedian and filmmaker Mike Birbiglia is the subject of this hybrid comedy-documentary special that takes its name from a Vulture podcast hosted by Jesse David Fox which interviews comedians about the development of specific jokes and bits. The special also features Seth Meyers, Joe Birbiglia, Hasan Minhaj, and Atsuko Okatsuka, and others. Read the synopsis below:

"A Peacock Original adaptation of the popular Vulture comedy podcast,...

It's been nearly six years since the end of New Girl, but actor Jake Johnson is still best known for his role as endearingly schlubby bartender Nick Miller on that hit Fox sitcom. Maybe that's because Johnson has taken very Nick Miller-like roles in his subsequent career, remaining in his wheelhouse of lovable slackers struggling to mature and grow. Even in a movie he wrote and directed, Johnson sticks with the kind of character he knows best, but that works to the advantage of his charming directorial debut, Self Reliance.

Although Johnson keeps things low-key in Self Reliance, he builds the story around a sci-fi high concept that recalls bigger-budget movies like The Running Man and David Fincher's The Game. Even within a limited budget, Johnson suggests a mysterious realm of manipulative overlords beyond the existence of his downtrodden protagonist. Johnson plays Tommy Walcott, who's introduced via a montage...

While most people probably know Jake Johnson from Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse or as Nick Miller in New Girl, the actor has subtly become a major player in the world of indie comedies over the past 15+ years. Not only has Johnson starred in films like Safety Not Guaranteed and Drinking Buddies, as well as appearing in underrated movies like Ceremony, The End of Love, and Joshy, Johnson has also written his fair share of films, collaborating with Joe Swanberg on Digging for Fire and Win It All, and most recently, co-writing 2021’s Ride the Eagle.

Plot: When Tommy Walcott is invited into a limo by famous actor Andy Samberg, his dull life takes a thrilling turn. Tommy is offered a chance to win a million dollars in a dark web reality TV show, where assassins from all over the world attempt to kill him for 30 days. The catch? He can’t be killed if he’s not entirely alone, leading him to recruit an unlikely team to help him survive.

Review: Jake Johnson is hilarious. After his breakout role as Nick Miller on Fox sitcom New Girl, Johnson has appeared alongside Tom Cruise in The Mummy, Chris Pratt in the Jurassic World franchise, and voicing Peter B. Parker in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Across the Spider-Verse. While Johnson has written several films, including Digging for Fire, Win It All, and Ride the Eagle, he makes his directorial debut with the new film Self Reliance.

A new, exclusive first-look clip and poster has been released for Zach Clark’s upcoming genre-bending comedy The Becomers ahead of the film’s world premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival later this week on July 22nd. The Becomers tells the story of a body-snatching alien who comes to Earth, reconnects with their partner, and tries to find their way in modern America. You can check out the exclusive clip and brand-new poster below.

Written and conceived in early 2021, The Becomers reflects the challenges of the real world at the time through its pointedly chaotic portrayal of society, with science fiction elements heavily inspired by the original Star Trek series. A true brew of surprising genres, the film is all at once comedic, horrific, grotesque, and romantic. The imminent premiere of The Becomers marks Clark’s second time screening at the Fantasia International Film Festival following the 2016 Canadian premiere of Little Sister,...

In the far corner of his backyard in Eastside L.A., Jake Johnson hand-built an 8-by-12-foot studio cabin where he does most of his work. Sure, he needs to duck to pass through the petite doorway — roughly a foot short thanks to a minor snafu in his original flooring plan — but it’s cozy and rustic and has borne witness to some of the more fruitful years of the 45-year-old’s Hollywood career. “The house is dominated by them,” says Johnson, affectionately gesturing in the direction of the 9-year-old twin daughters he shares with his wife of 12 years. “So, when I need to work, I come here.”

The Chicago native is best known for his seven-season stint playing confident idiot Nick Miller on the Fox comedy New Girl. But he’s leveraged his sitcom success into a unique résumé — rejecting his agents’ plans for a blockbuster track, like the...

Horror Feature “My (Best Friend’S) Head Exploded” to Premiere in June: "Writer/Director Scott Bryan’s puppet-filled existential horror feature, “My (Best Friend’S) Head Exploded,” will have its two-weekend world premiere this June.

“My (Best Friend’s) Head Exploded” is a rebellious, existential, terrifyingly messy puppet feature made out of material things by actual people. It tells the story of Lydia, a coming-of-ageless vampire forced to deal with the loss of her best friend, Sam, after the pair conjures a moment of complete clarity which causes Sam’s head to explode.

In the aftermath, Lydia must contend with old ghosts, generational trauma, oppressive authority figures, and the confusing fear of infinity to set reality right and save her own sanity.

“I love making weird stuff that a studio would be afraid of and a computer couldn’t replicate,” Bryan said.

The film will show at the Salem Witch Board Museum in Salem,...

Exclusive: Lili Simmons (Power Book IV: Force), Kim Coates (The White Houe Plumbers), Igby Rigney (Midnight Mass), Tom Bower (El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie) and Justin Marcel McManus (Power Book II: Ghost) will topline Southern Gothic (working title), an upcoming indie drama from writer-director Tom Schulman (Dead Poets Society), which has wrapped production.

The story is set in the dangerous and shady world of illegal, high-stakes keno gambling, in a run-down plantation house owned by Nick (Coates) in the rural South, at the turn of the 21st century. Nick is enamored with the smart, tough and charming Keno ace Diana’s (Simmons) intent to win big and is determined to stake her. Little Nick (Rigney), a one-time prodigy keno hustler, now reduced to servicing pool tables, strikes up a friendship with Diana and coaches her to win against the odds. Diana must then prove herself in a man’s...

Exclusive: Orlando Bloom (Carnival Row) and Andie MacDowell (Maid) have signed on to star in Red Right Hand, an upcoming action-thriller from directors Ian and Eshom Nelms (Fatman).

The film written by Jonathan Easley centers on Cash (Bloom), who is trying to live an honest and quiet life, taking care of his niece Savannah in the Appalachian hills of Odim County. When the sadistic Queenpin Big Cat (MacDowell) who runs the town forces him back into her services, Cash learns he’s capable of anything—even killing—to protect the town and the only family he has left. As the journey gets harder, Cash is drawn into a nightmare that blurs the lines between good and evil.

Asbury Park Pictures is serving as the project’s financier and producing alongside Traction. Individual producers on board include John Wick‘s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, Asbury Park Pictures’ Mike Gabrawy, Traction...

Exclusive: Sarah Jeffery (The CW’s Charmed), Emmy nominee Jane Adams (Hacks), Jake Weber (Those Who Wish Me Dead) and Balthazar Getty (Twin Peaks) will star in Year of the Fox, the latest feature from award-winning director Megan Griffiths, which has wrapped production in the state of Washington.

The film written by Eliza Flug is a fictionalized depiction of teenage experiences and personal encounters she had while growing up in Aspen, Colorado, during the last of its utopian heyday. Set in 1997, it tells the story of 17-year-old Ivy (Jeffery), who was adopted as an infant into a wealthy and notable Aspen family and is now navigating the fallout of her parents’ bitter divorce.

Ivy’s mother, Paulene (Adams), prepares to relocate to her native Seattle, taking Ivy with her. But Ivy’s influential and controlling father, Huxley (Weber), pulls Ivy ever closer by inviting...

Amazon is developing a series about human rights lawyer Jared Genser with Orlando Bloom attached to executive produce, Variety has learned.

The untitled series is inspired by Genser and his firm. He and his team work to free prisoners of conscience (Human Rights prisoners) in high-risk areas throughout the world’s most difficult Hot Zones. Per the show’s official description, the core team is comprised of specialized operatives with years of experience in the field. There are no guidelines. No two extractions are the same. Only precise, strategic decision making. Many of these life-saving extractions have been widely covered in international press, so much so that The New York Times deemed Jared “The Extractor.”

No writer is currently attached to the project. Bloom and Bruce Richmond will executive produce, with Genser set to co-executive produce. Amazon Studios will produce in association with Amazing Owl Productions and TrueNorth Media.

The...

Terror in a hotel or motel (or motel shower) has been done to death, but bringing horror to the familiar trappings of an Airbnb is simple, brilliant, and surprisingly untapped before now. An ideal breeding ground for paranoid delusions––or horrific realities––it was only a matter of time before filmmakers embraced the innate weirdness at play here. Hands raised if you’d predicted those filmmakers would be Dave Franco and Joe Swanberg.

Franco makes his directorial debut with The Rental, a sturdy, small-scale thriller that makes little lasting impact but certainly succeeds in providing some clever jolts. The actor-turned-directed teamed with the prolific Swanberg on the screenplay, which was a wise move as the film certainly has some of the relationship-driven dark comedy Swanberg has brought to films like Drinking Buddies and Digging for Fire.

Franco brings a clean, ultra-professional style to The Rental, a film in which it...

Hulu have a whole host of new titles coming to the service this month, everything from zombie thrillers and screwball comedies to action romps and music documentaries. Suffice it to say, there’s a lot to look forward to on the streaming service over the next few weeks and below, you can find the entire rundown of what’s on the way. Ready to dive in?

Available June 1

Celebrity Family Feud: Season 6 Premiere (ABC)

Press Your Luck: Season 2 Premiere (ABC)

Match Game: Season 5 Premiere (ABC)

Children’s Hospital: Complete Series (Adult Swim)

Mike Tyson Mysteries: Complete Seasons 1-3 (Adult Swim)

10 Year Plan (2014)

4th Man Out (2015)

Above & Beyond (2014)

Almost Adults (2016)

Born to be Wild (2011)

Casino (1995)

Charlie Wilson’s War (2007)

Cliffhanger (1993)

Constantine (2005)

Dave (1993)

Digging for Fire (2015)

Dirty Dancing (1987)

Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004)

Equilibrium (2002)

Fair Game (2010)

Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974)

Futureworld (1976)

Grown Ups (2010)

Happily N’Ever After (2007)

Happily N’Ever After 2...

Hulu is out with its list of everything coming and going on the streaming service in June.

Highlights include a new episode of the Hulu original anthology series “Into the Dark” called “Good Boy,” which follows Maggie (Judy Greer), who gets an emotional support dog for her anxiety — but little does she know, he kills anyone who adds stress to her life. Also, take a closer look at the hip-hop group Lin-Manuel Miranda was in before he did “Hamilton” in a new documentary called “We Are Freestyle Love Supreme.”

Leaving at the end of the month are classics like “Bend It Like Beckham,” “Blazing Saddles” and “Kill Bill” volumes one and two.

Below is the full list of everything coming and going throughout the month of June:

Also Read: Hulu Launches New Group Viewing Feature

June 1

Celebrity Family Feud: Season 6 Premiere (ABC)

Press Your Luck: Season 2 Premiere (ABC...

There are a lot of popular streaming platforms to choose from, but Hulu has always stood alongside Netflix as one of the two essentials for households looking for diversity in content. In the past, they’ve been known for focusing more heavily on newer television content, while Netflix has always offered a larger selection of sought-after films. But now, it looks like Hulu’s June lineup is only going to continue the service’s recent trend of providing high quality movies to bring itself in line with their competitor.

First up, you can get wholesome with Mr. Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, which tells the story of an investigative journalist who learns some hard life lessons from one of television’s most beloved personalities. You can then supplement that wholesomeness with My Girl and My Girl 2 for some wonderful 90s nostalgia.

Speaking of nostalgia, you won...

June 2020 is set to be a big month for the whole streaming Disney family. Not only will ESPN+ have the entirety of The Last Dance on its servers for late-adopting sports fans to catch up with, but Disney+ will be premiering its long-awaited Artemis Fowl film. Over on its biggest streaming service in Hulu, however, Disney is taking things a bit more slowly.

This month finds only three major original releases for Hulu. Animated medieval comedy Crossing Swords premieres on June 12, then Ya love story Love Victor and cooking show Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi both arrive on June 19. All in all, that’s not a bad haul for originals for the typically slow summer months.

June 1 sees a pretty impressive crop of movies coming to Hulu’s library as well. October Sky, The X-Files (1998), and Casino will all be ready to stream at the beginning of the month.

Carnival Row star Orlando Bloom is expanding his relationship with Amazon Studios, signing a first-look deal with the studio behind the series. Under the pact, Bloom will work with Amazon Studios to create television and film projects that will premiere exclusively on Amazon Prime Video in more than 200 countries and territories.

Bloom can currently be seen starring alongside Cara Delevingne in Amazon’s hit series Carnival Row, which has been renewed for a second season on Prime Video. The actor also is widely known for his roles as Legolas in Peter Jackson’s Oscar-winning The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and as Will Turner in the Pirates of the Caribbean films.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with Jen Salke and the team at Amazon and I look forward to growing that relationship with this new and exciting production deal,” said Bloom.

Bloom recently wrapped production on two films, the John Ridley...

“Carnival Row” star Orlando Blook has inked a first-look deal with Amazon, Variety has learned. Under the deal, Bloom will develop television and film projects for Prime Video.

Bloom currently stars on Amazon’s “Carnival Row” alongside Cara Delevigne. The series premiered back in August and was renewed for a second season ahead of the series premiere. The series is set in a Victorian fantasy world filled with mythological immigrant creatures whose exotic homelands were invaded by the empires of man. This growing population struggles to coexist under the onerous laws of humanity. Vignette (Cara Delevingne) and Philo (Orlando Bloom) rekindle a dangerous affair despite an increasingly intolerant society. Vignette also harbors a secret that endangers Philo’s world during his most important case yet: a string of gruesome murders threatening the uneasy peace of the Row.

“Orlando is a fantastic creative talent and collaborative partner for all of us at studios,...

Today, we’re returning to the Spotlight on the Stars series. As a bonus, it ties in to the release this week of Captain Marvel, which we’ll be posting a few different articles in relation to. First up, however, is a look at the star of that blockbuster. We’re talking about none other than Brie Larson, one of Hollywood’s brightest young stars. The actress has become a force in the industry and a true A-lister, making this sort of tribute completely apt. Check back in a few hours for a Captain Marvel review, but for now, let us dive in and put the spotlight this morning on Larson and her career… Larson got her start on the Disney Channel with their original movie Right on Track. Then came a handful of small indies and teen centric titles. For some, her first sighting probably came with a role...

Timothy Simons has set his next project at HBO to follow his run on Emmy-winning comedy series Veep, which is currently filming its final season. The premium cabler has put in development assisted suicide comedy Exit Plans, from Simons, who also stars, and Will Graham (Mozart in the Jungle) via his Field Trip Productions.

Written, starring and executive produced by Simons, Exit Plans centers around assisted suicide. When assisted suicide is legalized in 2019, a man from California opens a small business helping people transition into death peacefully while struggling to keep ahold of his crumbling personal life. In short, he’s trying to figure out his life while ending yours.

Graham also executive produces for his Field Trip Prods.

Simons plays Jonah Ryan on HBO’s Veep. His film credits include Gold opposite Matthew McConaughey, Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice, Antonio Campos’ Christine, the Seth Rogen/Evan Goldberg comedy The Interview,...

The end is in sight for Easy. Netflix has renewed the anthology drama series for a third and final season to air in 2019, Deadline has confirmed.

Written, directed and executive produced by Joe Swanberg, Easy explores diverse Chicago characters as they fumble through the modern maze of love, sex, technology and culture — topics that Swanberg often tackles in his micro-budgeted drama features which employ extensive improvisation. The standalone episodes showcase the diversity of the city itself, focusing on characters from different neighborhoods and economic backgrounds.

The cast includes Kate Micucci, Jane Adams, Zazie Beetz, Michael Chernus, Kiersey Clemons, Evan Jonigkeit, Elizabeth Reaser, Jacqueline Toboni, Dave Franco, Aya Cash and Marc Maron.

All eight episodes of Season 2 premiered December 1. A specific return date for Season 3 has not yet been determined.

Swanberg’s films include Drinking Buddies, starring Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick and Ron Livingston, and Digging for Fire, starring Johnson,...

Chicago – You’ve seen him in many familiar roles over the years, from “Argo” to “The Mindy Project.” Character actor Chris Messina is memorable in all those roles, and currently is taking on Detective Richard Willis in the hot new HBO miniseries “Sharp Objects,” opposite Amy Adams and Patricia Clarkson.

“Sharp Objects” is based on the first novel by author Gillian Flynn (“Gone Girl”). Camille Preaker (Adams) is a crime reporter in St. Louis, who is assigned to a murder story in her hometown of Wind Gap, Missouri. She is a psychological mess, having just been released from a psychiatric hospital for various ills, and still cannot shake her acute alcoholism. The assignment comes with some baggage, as Camille’s small-town socialite mother Adora (Patricia Clarkson) is back in her life. Further complicating matters is Detective Willis (Chris Messina) as a Kansas City law officer brought in to help solve the murders.

One of today’s foremost purveyors of “mumblecore” cinema – a derisive pigeonholing label for low budget indies which often involve the Duplass Brothers and sonorous dialogue – Joe Swanberg has managed to carve out a special niche for himself with his low-key hangout films, usually made in collaboration with “New Girl” actor Jake Johnson, such as the charming “Drinking Buddies” and “Digging for Fire.” Swanberg and Johnson scored their biggest mainstream success to date with this year’s Netflix original feature “Win It All” starring Johnson as a raffish gambling addict, and Swanberg is carrying on the momentum of his newfound recognition with a second season of his Netflix anthology series “Easy.”

Set in Swanberg’s beloved native Chicago, the first season of “Easy” adhered to a loose template following the sex lives of a disparate collection of couples and singles, with the episodes usually depicting a self-contained misadventure, such as...

Chicago – The familiar character actor and voiceover artist, Sam Elliott, has been breaking out in that latter part of his career. Known for his cowboy roles, smooth bass-tone voice and epic mustache, the icon has been seen lately in diverse roles in “Grandma,” “Digging for Fire,” “Grace and Frankie” and his latest – and perhaps greatest – “The Hero.”

Brett Haley and Sam Elliott on the Set of ‘The Hero’

Photo credit: The Orchard

“The Hero” is co-written (with Marc Basch) and directed by Brett Haley, who had previously directed Elliott, opposite Blythe Danner, in “I’ll See You in my Dreams.” Haley must have been inspired, because he wrote “The Hero” expressly for Elliott, and uses the actor’s cowboy character past as a basis for the role of Lee Hayden, an old actor with a broken past, and a health condition that changes everything. Elliott is masterful as the lead in the film,...

It’s a little bit of an understatement to say that filmmaker Ben Wheatley has not made mainstream movies so far. His films are niche items, albeit sometimes incredibly compelling ones. This week, he makes what might be his most mainstream flick possibly, an action comedy of sorts in Free Fire. Although still decidedly independent, this is like the Mexican standoff sequence in Reservoir Dogs, but if that was an entire 90 minute movie. It’s a riot of a film. A literal blast, if you will. Helping to lead the charge is Brie Larson, who seems incapable of not turning in very solid work when the camera starts rolling. She’s just dynamite. The movie centers around an arms deal gone bad. Taking place in Boston in 1978, two gangs meet in an abandoned warehouse, ostensibly to buy/sell some guns. Set in motion by middle man Ord (Armie Hammer) one...

Joe Swanberg has had one of the more interesting career upswings of any independent filmmaker out there. After being one of the essential founders of the mumblecore indie movement, he made a right turn of sorts a few years back. Opting for bigger stars and similarly simple premises, he’s found more acclaim than ever before. Between Drinking Buddies, Happy Christmas, and Digging for Fire, Swanberg is as exciting a writer/director as ever before. Most recently, Swanberg has teamed up again with frequent collaborator Jake Johnson for Win It All, a film that at once feels both different and similar than what he’s been up to lately. Above all else, it’s a great vehicle for Johnson, who does his best work when paired with Swanberg. The flick is a character study, centered on gambler Eddie Garrett (Johnson). He’s broke, but charming. A nice guy unable to resist a card game,...

‘Win It All’ Is a Low-Stakes Table But a Good TimeJoe Swanberg’s latest character study combines neo-noir and lawnmowing.

I may be overly sympathetic towards Eddie (Win It All’s protagonist played by Jake Johnson) during the film’s opening credit sequence, because I recently took a similarly bleary-eyed train back home from Chicago’s Chinatown after a long night of cutting my losses. It’s not just that, though. Win It All is a slow-burn dramedy set on undercutting the romanticized, disheveled losers of noir while still developing a charm of its own. Johnson, in his expressive, frumpy portrayal of a low-stakes gambling addict — the kind of guy that wears a thin gold chain around his neck and really means it — finds pain, humor, and hope in a dead-end card junkie.

It helps that he co-wrote the screenplay with director and editor Joe Swanberg, who’s been his collaborator (in Drinking Buddies and Digging for Fire) in...

Two new indie distributors injected some life into the specialty box office this weekend with two unconventional releases.

Both “Colossal” (Neon Films) and Japanese anime smash “Your Name.” (FUNimation) rode positive reviews to strong box office. With more conventional World War II drama “Their Finest” (Stx), three films from non-establishment distributors show impressive arthouse strength.

Read More: ‘Colossal’ Is the Monster Movie No Studio Would Ever Make, And It’s Teaching Hollywood a Lesson

Jessica Chastain vehicle “The Zookeeper’s Wife,” shaping up to be the biggest specialty release so far this year, justified its initial wider run with a solid second weekend.

At least nine of the new limited releases this week also are available on Video on Demand. The only one to see much traction was “Alive and Kicking” (Magnolia), directed by specialty industry veteran Susan Glatzer, marking an unusual documentary presentation from Blumhouse Productions. The dance movie grossed $9000 in five theaters.

The new Netflix comedy Win It All is the third collaboration between Joe Swanberg and Jake Johnson, following Drinking Buddies and Digging for Fire. The duo approached the new film differently than their previous work, describing it as a “straight-up comedy.” The A.V. Club sat down with Swanberg and Johnson, as well as cast members Joe Lo Truglio and Aislinn Derbez, to find out how this new approach altered the filmmaking process.

Movies about gamblers are fun. Movies about reformed gamblers, on the other hand, tend to put the viewer in the uncomfortable position of rooting for the protagonist to relapse. That’s the challenge taken up by Joe Swanberg and Jake Johnson—who previously collaborated on Drinking Buddies and Digging For Fire—in their latest joint effort, Win It All. Can they sustain viewer interest in a story about a literal loser who’s making a sincere, committed effort to overcome his gambling addiction and straighten out his life? Not really, as it turns out, but there’s enough disreputable behavior bookending the righteousness, and enough solid jokes along the way, to make the effort moderately entertaining.

Johnson doesn’t deviate much from his winningly hangdog New Girl persona as Eddie, who’s first seen getting cleaned out in a backroom poker game. (The film is set in Chicago, which is...

The most radical thing about “Win It All,” a perfectly agreeable little movie about one man’s attempt to put his gambling problems behind him, is that it follows a pretty conventional arc. More than a decade after director Joe Swanberg started cranking out rambling, improvisatory lo-fi movies, he has wound up funneling those tendencies into formula. At the same time, “Win It All” shows only just enough interest in narrative to keep its light entertainment value in play, while resisting the impulse to tell all but the simplest of stories. It’s still a talky character study, but Swanberg has steadily shown a far greater regard to holding the interest of a general audience, and this is the closest he has come so far.

It’s a reasonable outcome for a movie produced exclusively for Netflix, where Swanberg recently did a full season of his observational comedy “Easy,” further...

He started to make films before Netflix’s streaming empire skyrocketed, but it couldn’t be a more perfect venue for the films of Joe Swanberg. While it’s unfortunate most people will experience the upcoming films of Bong Joon-ho and Martin Scorsese from home, Swanberg’s rag-tag, lo-fi approach is an ideal fit for this kind of viewing. With that, we have the trailer for next film, Win it All, which premieres at SXSW and lands on Netflix next month.

A reunion after Drinking Buddies and Digging for Fire, Jake Johnson leads the film (along with co-writing it), playing a gambler who tries to dig himself out of debt after a bad decision. Swanberg and Johnson have proven to be a strong fit together and this one doesn’t look to shake up that winning formula. Also starring Keegan-Michael Key, Joe Lo Truglio, and Aislinn Derbez, check out the trailer below.

For his first feature film in two years — quite possibly a record for the prolific writer/director/producer/editor/actor — Joe Swanberg returns with “Win It All,” which is set to premiere at South by Southwest this weekend. Netflix just released a trailer for the movie, which stars co-writer Jake Johnson. Watch below.

Read More: Joe Swanberg’s Filmmaking Factory: How the Diy Filmmaker Is Supporting a Community of Directors on the Rise

Johnson — who previously worked with Swanberg on “Drinking Buddies,” “Digging for Fire” and an episode of “Love” — plays a gambler who vastly overestimates his own abilities (and luck, for that matter). “When he discovers cash in the bag, he’s unable to resist the temptation and winds up deeply in debt,” reads the Netflix synopsis. “When the prison release is shortened, Eddie suddenly has a small window of time to win all the money back.”

Read More:...

Jake Johnson and Joe Swanberg seem to have a pretty good thing going. The actor starred in the director’s “Drinking Buddies” and “Digging For Fire,” his TV series “Easy,” and now his next feature, “Win It All.”

Read More: 20 Must-See Movies At The 2017 SXSW Film Festival

Joined by Aislinn Derbez, Keegan-Michael Key, and Joe Lo Truglio, the film follows a gambler whose greedy ways find him much deeper in trouble than he’s prepared to handle.

Continue reading Jake Johnson Is Ready To ‘Win It All’ In First Trailer For Joe Swanberg’s New Film at The Playlist.

Chicago – Bringing the musical movie genre back requires a bit of nostalgia, a nod to modernity and always old fashioned star power. Writer/director Damien Chazelle (“Whiplash”) combined all three to produce “La La Land,” with Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling as star-crossed lovers. Rosemarie DeWitt also has a featured role.

Set in the mythical land of Los Angeles, the story features actress Mia (Emma Stone) and jazz pianist Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) as artists who are trying to reach their own peaks in their respective professions. The tale feeds off the time-honored musical tradition of lovers trying to connect, often through song and dance, and the film embraces its soaring music and touchingly romantic choreography.

Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in ‘La La Land’

Photo credit: Lionsgate

Damien Chazelle exploded onto the film scene in 2014 with his feature debut “Whiplash,” the intense and searing drama about a jazz drummer. From Rhode Island,...

Joe Swanberg has been cranking out movies for over decade, and his micro-budget character studies quickly became the paradigm for the current state of American independent film. While Swanberg’s profile has grown — he recently launched the Netflix series “Easy” — he remains tethered to his roots, and now he’s expanding them: With the Chicago-based production company Forager Films, Swanberg has quietly launched an effort to support the work of other filmmakers operating on the same scale he embraced early on.

Read More: ‘Easy’ Review: Grading Every Episode of Joe Swanberg’s Profound New Netflix Series

The company, which Swanberg co-founded with Eddie Linker and Peter Gilbert, has churned out a series of diverse projects over the past year and a half: “Unexpected,” the sleeper Sundance hit directed by Swanberg’s wife Kris, follows an inner-city high school teacher who bonds with one of her students when they both get...

Last year, Todd Rohal’s “Uncle Kent 2” premiered at SXSW to positive reviews, with IndieWire’s own Eric Kohn calling it “the craziest movie sequel ever.” A follow-up to Joe Swanberg’s 2011 film “Uncle Kent,” a portrait of indie actor and animator Kent Osborne, “Uncle Kent 2” follows Osborne’s quest to come up with a sequel to “Uncle Kent” by traveling to a comic book convention and confronting the end of the world.

Read More: SXSW Review: ‘Uncle Kent 2’ is the Craziest Movie Sequel Ever

Now, Factory 25 has released a novelization of the book by L.P. Eaves. Check out an exclusive excerpt from the book below featuring Uncle Kent’s visit to a doctor to discuss earworms.

Todd Rohal has previously directed the “P is for Scary” segment in “ABCs of Death 2,” and the comedies “Nature Calls,” “The Catechism Cataclysm,” and “The Guatemalan Handshake.” Meanwhile,...

Taken literally and/or sarcastically, the title of new Netflix series Easy is perfectly emblematic of both the show itself and the artistic approach of the man behind it all, Chicagoan indie icon Joe Swanberg. He’s directed nearly 20 features over the past ten years (Drinking Buddies, Digging For Fire, Happy Christmas), not to mention helming episodes of Love and Looking (impossibly, he’s led a prolific acting career as well). His brand of drama is decidedly subtle and naturalistic, following the everyday lives of everyday people who wrestle with age-old anxieties, desires, and fears as they dabble and fumble with the bright and shiny trappings of modern living.

Those familiar with Swanberg’s style will find a perfect TV representation of it in Easy, which follows very loosely connected Chicagoans as they bump and grind on each other in more ways than one. Sex, jealousy, infidelity, more sex, betrayal,...

In a business where accounting disclosures are often preceded by massive lawsuits, indie distributor The Orchard has gone the other way: Their filmmakers now receive detailed and interactive reports of all expenditures and revenue streams — current and future.

However, this isn’t an altruistic gesture. Paul Davidson, The Orchard’s executive VP film & TV, said the move reflects nothing more than good business. In the turbulent world of indie film distribution, it’s the only way to tap into one of the company’s most valuable marketing assets: The filmmakers themselves.

“I’d rather filmmakers know that $30,000 was the cost of the trailer and in general how much money we are actually spending on publicity and advertising,” he said. “Distribution is not an exact science. For example, I don’t know if releasing our highest-grossing film ever [“Hunt for the Wilderpeople”] exclusively on iTunes is the right move, but I’d rather the filmmakers...

For his latest project, prolific indie filmmaker Joe Swanberg is moving to Netflix. “Easy,” a comedic anthology series written, directed and produced by Swanberg, is set in Chicago and revolves around a diverse cast of characters making their way through the vagaries of modern life. Watch its animated teaser below.

Read More: ’Uncle Kent 2’ Trailer: Joe Swanberg Directs the First Twelve Minutes of This Sequel

The first season will consist of eight half-hour episodes “about sexual evolution,” with a huge amount of actors appearing: Orlando Bloom, Malin Åkerman, Michael Chernus, Marc Maron, Kiersey Clemons, Elizabeth Reaser, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jake Johnson, Aya Cash, Dave Franco, Jane Adams, Hannibal Buress and Emily Ratajkowski, among others. Unlike this teaser, “Easy” itself isn’t a cartoon.

Read More: ‘Lace Crater’ Exclusive Trailer: Joe Swanberg-Produced Supernatural Comedy-Drama About Ghostly STDs

Swanberg’s first foray into television, an episode of “Love,” was also for...

If Harrison Atkins‘ directorial debut, Lace Crater, wasn’t on your radar before, it should be now. The offbeat horror movie, which is produced by Joe Swanberg (Digging for Fire), is something else, as you’ll likely learn from the trailer. Lace Crater is an often sad, funny, and unsettling post-breakup story that takes its ludicrous-sounding concept to some surprising places. […]

The post ‘Lace Crater’ Trailer: Why You Should Stay Away From Haunted Art Studios appeared first on /Film.

“Lace Crater” follows twenty-something Ruth (Lindsay Burdge) who’s just getting over a breakup as she and her friends head to the Hamptons for a weekend of mild debauchery at their friend Andrew’s parents’ summer home. With all the bedrooms in the main house taken, Ruth agrees to sleep in the guest house that is supposedly haunted. One night while everyone is having a good time, Ruth stumbles to her bed and ends up encountering a mysterious figure – a burlap sack-wearing, light-sensitive otherworldly entity, Michael (Peter Vack). Ruth and Michael have a one-night stand, but when she returns home, she develop a ghostly Std, with symptoms that include frequent vomiting, light sensitivity, and spewing black ooze. When her friends all but abandon her, she’s left in isolation to deal with her problems and must decide on her own whether she wants to return to normal society. The film...

“Don’t Think Twice” follows the members of The Commune, an improv group that plays to small audiences, little money, and even less recognition. The group’s members include founder Mike (Mike Birbiglia), Jack (Keegan-Michael Key), Samantha (Gillian Jacobs), Allison (Kate Micucci), Lindsay (Tami Sagher), and Bill (Chris Gethard); they all work crappy day jobs to feed the dream of performing comedy professionally, and maybe one day being cast on “Weekend Live,” a fictional version of “Saturday Night Live.” But when one of their own actually gets cast on the show, it sends the rest of the members into an existential spiral as they face the real possibility of never actually “making it.” Amidst feelings of jealousy and despair, the group struggles to move on from the thing they love the most. Check out some exclusive stills from the film below.

Read More: ‘Don’t Think Twice’ Trailer: Mike Birbiglia...

In this edition of TV Bits: Beerfest is being developed as a digital series. Director Joe Swanberg (Digging for Fire) is writing, directing, and executive producing Netflix’s Easy. Neil Patrick Harris is finally confirmed to star in Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. Harris will be joined by Patrick Warburton (The Tick) in Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. Malachi Kirby will […]

The post TV Bits: ‘Beerfest,’ Joe Swanberg, ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events,’ & More appeared first on /Film.

Did you love Jake Johnson in Jurassic World? Then get ready for more of his keen observations and hilarious jokes as he joins the cast of Universal's Untitled Mummy Reboot. The New Girl star will join Tom Cruise and Annabelle Wallis as the two lead heroes in what is the first contemporary adventure in the planned Monsters Universe.

Sofia Boutella is also starring in the movie, playing the lead villain. This will be the first time a female has ever played the role of The Mummy in Universal's long and storied franchise. The story takes place in modern day. Tom Cruise stars as a former special forces officer. Annabelle Wallis is now said to be a scientist, though her initial casting announcement claimed she was playing an archeologist. Jake Johnson is playing a role that was specifically written for him, starring as a member of the military with ties to Tom Cruise's unnamed character.

With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options — not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves — we’ve taken it upon ourselves to highlight the titles that have recently hit the interwebs. Every week, one will be able to see the cream of the crop (or perhaps some simply interesting picks) of streaming titles (new and old) across platforms such as Netflix, iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, and more (note: U.S. only). Check out our rundown for this week’s selections below.

Blade Runner: Theatrical Cut (Ridley Scott)

If you’re reading this, you’ve likely seen Ridley Scott‘s sci-fi feature Blade Runner, but I’d wager most haven’t seen every version. Netflix has now added the theatrical cut, noted for its voice-over and different ending, to their streaming services. While it’s general consensus that this one isn’t the best cut, if you...

The Wrap reports that Lionsgate and Hulu have paired on picking up the Joshy, the Sundance preemed (U.S Dramatic Comp section) Jeff Baena sophomore, bro-mantic ensemble film. Lionsgate Premiere will distribute the film theatrically (likely) sometime this year.

Gist: After his engagement ends badly, Josh decides to take advantage of his bachelor-party plans in Ojai, California, with the few friends still willing to join him. Focused on drugs and their own hangups, his self-absorbed friends refuse to confront the elephant in the room and ask Josh how he’s feeling. As welcome and unwelcome guests stop by, Josh will attempt to find some closure over this weekend with the guys.

Worth Noting: This sees perfs from Thomas Middleditch, Adam Pally, Alex Ross Perry, Nick Kroll, Brett Gelman, Jenny Slate, Paul Reiser, Lisa Edelstein, Aubrey Plaza, Lauren Weedman and a truly short appearance from Alison Brie.

Do We Care?:...

Newish on DVD/BluRay

• The 33 Antonio Banderas / Chilean miner rescue story

• 99 Homes the other acclaimed housing crisis movie

• Black Mass the gangster movie with Johnny Depp, buried under alien makeup, plays a gangster. Watch out for great performances on the periphery from Peter Sarsgaard and Julianne Nicholson

• Crimson Peak from Guillermo Del Toro. Critics were divided or had many reservations but those who loved it really loved it. Here's a rabidly pro piece nicely titled "Ghosts are Movies".

Lunchtime Poll:

Would you rather...

- Be seduced by Tom Hiddleston?

- Gain access to all of Mia Wasikowska's money?

- Marry into Jessica Chastain's family?

• Girls S4 -I've definitely lost track of this show. Weirdly I quit with an episode I couldn't have loved more (S3E7 "Beach House")

• Grandma - Lily Tomlin gets her own well deserved star vehicle and drives it superbly

• Love the Coopers -...

With each new month comes the same old lesson about catching all your favorite movies before they leave Netflix. If you haven’t watched The Naked Gun yet, you should do that is what I’m saying. But what do you get in return? A lot actually! We get the original series Fuller House and Judd Apatow’s Love. They’re also adding the final season of Mad Men, the first season of Better Call Saul, and one of the most popular teen movies of all time, Cruel Intentions.

On the Amazon Prime front, check out below to see what you’ll be able to stream for free and what’s going to have a cost. Let’s watch!

All Title Dates are Subject to Change

Netflix U.S. Release Dates Only

Available 2/1/16

A Picture of You (2014)

Armageddon (1998)

Better Call Saul: Season 1

Charlie’s Angels (2000)

Collateral Damage (2002)

Cruel Intentions (1999)

A Faster Horse...

While his choice in look swings like a pendulum, there are several the more things change, the more they stay the same earmarks that are the make up of your typical Joe Swanberg film. For one, his creative output with muse Jake Johnson (they collaborated together on 2013’s Drinking Buddies and 2015’s Digging For Fire) is once again intact with this third straight endeavor. From the very little we have to go on, Win It All comes across as a micro project between medium projects with chummy opposite sex characters with a talkie template. Shot this past summer in Super 16, the verbal gymnastics includes a character set of Johnson, Keegan Michael Key, Joe LoTruglio and model-actress Aislinn Derbezin what appears to be her first genuine American indie pic.

Gist: No deets are available at this point.

Production Co./Producers: Tbd.

Prediction: Premieres category. SXSW is a definite possibility.

U.S.