Focus Features
More stories
-
Film Review: ‘Wolf’ is Very Serious about a Very Silly Premise
The concept for Wolf would lend itself to any number of comedic interpretations. Not only that, nine out of ten films would probably go that route with this premise. Well, Wolf is the tenth, a movie that sees the drama and tragedy instead. So, we have an independent character study, one that challenges at almost […] More
-
Film Review: ‘Blue Bayou’ Goes Big to Draw Attention to a Tragic Issue
How a filmmaker chooses to tell a story is up to them, obviously. They can go big, they can go small, choose genres to play in, etc. It’s all part of the fun of going to the movies. However, sometimes you do wonder why a writer or a director (or both) opt to tell a […] More
-
TIFF Film Review: Kenneth Branagh’s ‘Belfast’ is a Beautiful Love Letter and An Instant Oscar Frontrunner
Well, it happened. Here in Canada at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, a surefire Oscar player has emerged. Belfast is going to be impossible not to fall in love with, which will likely result in it being cited in multiple categories at the Academy Awards. Not only is the quality there, as this is […] More
-
Film Review: ‘The Card Counter’ is Another Dark Stroll Through the Mind of Paul Schrader
When you sit down to a Paul Schrader film, you more or less know what you’re getting yourself into. Schrader doesn’t do light fare. His movies traffic in the darker corners of the soul, requiring you to get on his wavelength. The Card Counter is yet another example of this. However, its utterly distinctive personality […] More
-
Film Review: ‘Stillwater’ is a Well-Acted Adult Drama with Hints of Something Powerful
There’s a really bad version of Stillwater that easily could exist. One doesn’t have to speculate too wildly to imagine a tone-deaf and America First type version of the film. Or, there easily could have been the Clint Eastwood version of the movie, that just seems tossed off. Luckily, Tom McCarthy is too good for […] More
-
in News
‘The Northman’ Sets a 2022 Releasee Date
Fans of Viking thrillers get excited, because Focus Features has set the date for their release of Robert Eggers’ new movie The Northman. Unfortunately, it’s going to be a little bit of a longer wait than some might like to hear. The film from the man behind The Witch and The Lighthouse will hit theaters on April 8, 2022. The Northman is […] More
-
in News
‘The Card Counter’ Gets a Release Date from Focus Features
After finally earning his first Oscar nomination for his screenplay for 2018’s First Reformed, all eyes were on how filmmaker Paul Schrader would follow up that career high point. He quickly announced his next project would be The Card Counter, a revenge thriller starring Oscar Isaac. The official synopsis for the film describes it as such: “Tell (Isaac) just wants to […] More
-
Matt Damon Fights for His Daughter’s Freedom Abroad in ‘Stillwater’
Things have been surprisingly quiet on the Tom McCarthy front since his 2015 film Spotlight won the Oscars for Best Picture and earned him and Josh Singer a win for Best Original Screenplay. Since then McCarthy co-wrote Christopher Robin and wrote/directed the Disney+ film Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made, but we haven’t seen him direct the kind of follow-up you’d expect to a movie […] More
-
in News
Todd Field to Direct ‘TAR’ with Cate Blanchett
After 15 years, Todd Field is finally returning to the director’s chair, as Deadline has announced that the filmmaker is teaming up with Cate Blanchett for a new film titled TAR. Set up at Focus Features, details on TAR are scarce at the moment, with Deadline only reporting that it takes place in Berlin and production will begin this September. There’s been no indication […] More
-
Film Review: ‘Promising Young Woman’ is a Staggeringly Brilliant Achievement That Will Stand the Test of Time
Wow. There’s literally no other way to express how one feels watching Promising Young Woman. Films like this don’t come around very often. Intentionally provocative, boldly funny, utterly thrilling, and literally able to keep you on the edge of your seat, this is truly something special. The audiences who saw this one at the Sundance […] More
-
Interview: Sidney Flanigan Chats with Us about Her Stunning Performance in ‘Never Rarely Sometimes Always’
I’ve seen literally thousands of performances this year. Over 350 movies will do that. Of all of the turns by actors and actresses this year, newcomer Sidney Flanigan is front and center. The cream of the crop. Her work in Never Rarely Sometimes Always would be stunningly good no matter what, but when you consider […] More
-
Interview: Talia Ryder Talks About the Power of ‘Never Rarely Sometimes Always’
There are times where you just know you’re watching an instant classic in the making. Never Rarely Sometimes Always is an example this year of that, and a real part of why is Talia Ryder. Her large supporting role in essentially a two-hander is crucial to the movie’s success. Ryder is going to be going […] More