Guillermo Del Toro’s “The Shape Of Water” wins Golden Lion at Venice

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By Creative Media Times

Fox Searchlight Pictures


“The Shape of Water”, Guillermo del Toro’s monster thriller took the top prize Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday. The Mexican filmmaker’s new movie is favorite and also one of the best reviewed films during the festival. The romantic fantasy film stars Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Octavia Spencer.

Another prestigious award, the Grand Jury Prize, went to “Foxtrot” from Israeli filmmaker Samuel Maoz, while the Best Director went to French filmmaker Xavier Legrand for his family drama “Custody.”

Here’s the full list of winners:

Golden Lion:
“The Shape of Water,” Guillermo del Toro

Grand Jury Prize:
“Foxtrot,” Samuel Maoz

Silver Lion for Best Director:
Xavier Legrand, “Custody”

Volpi Cup for Best Actress:
Charlotte Rampling, “Hannah”

Volpi Cup for Best Actor:
Kamel El Basha, “The Insult”

Best Screenplay:
“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” Martin McDonagh
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“IT” Shatters Record: $13.5 Million On Thursday Night

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By Creative Media Times

Warner Bros. Pictures[


It looks like the film adaptation of Stephen King’s creepy novel could open even higher than the already lofty expectations. The horror film has opened to a massive $13.5 million on Thursday night, ranking third this year behind only Disney’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” at $17 million, and “Beauty and the Beast,” with $16.3 million.

That is also the biggest preview gross for an R-rated film, beating Deadpool’s $12.7 million. Though New Line and Warner Bros. pic most likely won’t open as high as Deadpool’s $132 million over the weekend given that the wise-cracking superhero opened on a President’s holiday weekend, last night’s number is already the highest preview for a horror pic and for a film released in September.

Multiple weekend media forecasts suggest the film will open around $80 to $85 million, but don’t be surprised if “IT” goes above those estimates and if numbers hold, the film will obliterate multiple records.

The movie is also riding high with critics, currently at 90% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and 71 on Metacritic, both solid scores for the genre.

The film arrives at a perfect time after weeks of sluggish boxoffice business, and as well as months of high anticipation following record breaking trailer views.

Directed by Argentinian filmmaker Andrés Muschietti, the film tells the story of eight children in Derry, Maine, who are terrorized by the demonic Pennywise the Dancing Clown played by Bill Skarsgard.

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Saoirse Ronan Is Charming And Funny In The “Lady Bird” Trailer

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A24

With the release of the new trailer for Greta Gerwig’s directing debut, the touching mother-daughter tale “Lady Bird”, it looks like Ronan might be headed for another Oscar nomination.

The trailer stars with Christine “Lady Bird” (Ronan) and her mother (played by Laurie Metcalf) having an argument over where Christine will live and pursue her studies. “I hate California. I want to go to the East Coast. I want to go where culture is like New York,” Christine says. In a sudden but hilarious moment, the frustrated Lady Bird jumps out of the car in protest as Metcalf shrieks in horror.

That is just one in the many comically offbeat scenes in the trailer and what looks like an entertaining and charming film.

“Lady Bird” emerged as one of the early awards contenders after it’s world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival last week, which bodes well for the talented 34 year old actress/filmmaker Gerwig, who also wrote the film.

Set in 2002 Sacramento, the comedy-drama also stars Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges, Timothée Chalamet, Beanie Feldstein, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Lois Smith, and is scheduled to fly into theaters on November 10.

Here’s the film’s official synopsis:

In Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig reveals herself to be a bold new cinematic voice with her directorial debut, excavating both the humor and pathos in the turbulent bond between a mother and her teenage daughter. Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) fights against but is exactly like her wildly loving, deeply opinionated and strong-willed mom (Laurie Metcalf), a nurse working tirelessly to keep her family afloat after Lady Bird’s father (Tracy Letts) loses his job. Set in Sacramento, California in 2002, amidst a rapidly shifting American economic landscape, Lady Bird is an affecting look at the relationships that shape us, the beliefs that define us, and the unmatched beauty of a place called home.

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“Suicide Squad 2” Finally Have A Director

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By Creative Media Times

Warner Bros. Pictures

After months of search and numerous names thrown around to helm the film, from veteran director Mel Gibson to The Shallows’ Jaume Collet-Serra, Warner Bros and DC finally found their director for Suicide Squad 2.

According to a new report from Deadline, “Warner Bros and DC have chosen Gavin O’Connor” to direct the sequel which will bring back original band of supper-villain cast members Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto among others.

Gavin O’Connor seem like a natural selection for Warner Bros. He recently worked with studio for the Ben Affleck-starrer “The Accountant”, a crime thriller which verges into superhero territory that the star and director are also reportedly re-teaming in a sequel for.

A couple of months ago at San Diego Comic-Con, the film was officially titled Suicide Squad 2, signifying that the studio want to strike the iron while it’s hot after the original grossed a massive $745 million worldwide despite lackluster reviews. That film was written and directed by David Ayer, who is now moving on to Gotham City Sirens, a spin-off of Suicide Squad with Margot Robbie reprising her popular Harley Quinn role.

A release date for “Suicide Squad 2” is yet to be announced, though WB earmarked early April and mid-June of 2019 with untitled DC films, so it possible the Squad sequel will take one of those spots.

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Unpacking “Look What You Made Me Do”: Taylor Swift shows her fangs

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Eric Gasa

Taylor Swift’s newest single “Look What You Made Me Do” is dizzying pop art at its pettiest and finest. It’s not necessarily the beat or hooks that make “Look What You Made Me Do” such a notable piece of pop savvy, but the vengeful lyrics and symbolic music video visuals. It’s one thing for pop stars to call out the haters; it’s another for them to wear the insults like a diamond necklace instead of a crown of thorns. Swift does all of this and more on “Look What You Made Me Do” even if it’s just a lazy pop beat with a settle to score.

Like any sucker punch, there is a lot to unpack here. “I don’t like your little games/Don’t like your tilted stage/The role you made me play,” sings Swift. The stage is a reference to Kanye West’s elaborate Saint Pablo tour, as well as the infamous beef they’ve had since West stole the mic from Taylor during the 2009 VMAs. Swift also takes shots at her past friendships with Katy Perry and the HAIM sisters.

Instrumentally, the song is a dark trance number that contrasts to the upbeat, wholesome melodies of 2015’s 1989. Where 1989 was a free-spirited power pop romp, “Look What You Made Me Do” is toxic, extra, and snide in nature.

Things go from melodramatic to cheesy when Swift answers a telephone and replies, “I’m sorry, the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now…Why? Oh, ‘cause she’s dead!”

Swift sees herself as the hero going against the odds in a treacherous story. She sits on a throne covered in snakes, while the pillars leading up to her perch read, “Et Tu, Brute”; a quote from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, symbolizing Caesar’s surprise when he is stabbed to death by his friends. Go figure.

Swift also wears a ridiculous Zoolander-inspired fur outfit and stands over a panicking dogpile of her clones, kicking and screaming for the seat at the top. It’s a goofy sight of multiple personalities; there’s Black Swan Taylor, hissing snake Taylor, fake country Taylor, and of course, zombie Taylor. Can’t forget about her. Each one representing moments and emotions of Swift’s psyche. The pop star pokes fun at herself but the imagery couldn’t be more obvious and on the nose.

On her latest album Reputation, due to release November 10, Swift plans on changing exactly that about herself. Even if it means scrawling the word in pink spray paint on the side of a private she just chain-sawed in half. In 2017, Taylor Swift couldn’t be more hate-able and she couldn’t be prouder of it.

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Families Collide In “Daddy’s Home 2” Trailer

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By Creative Media

Paramount Pictures

Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg are dealing with plenty of dad issues in the hilarious new trailer for “Daddy’s Home 2,” the sequel to the 2015 hit film Daddy’s Home.

The holiday themed film sees biological father Dusty (Wahlberg) and stepdad Brad (Ferrell) join forces to give the kids a great Christmas. But conflicts arise when Dusty’s tough guy dad (Mel Gibson), and Brad’s excessively affectionate dad (John Lithgow) came to visit for the holidays. More raucous arrives in the form of Roger (John Cena), who says he’s the kids’ “one true real dad.”

Directed by Sean Anders, and co-starring Linda Cardellini, John Cena, and Alessandra Ambrosio, “Daddy’s Home 2” is scheduled for release on November 10.

Here’s the film’s official synopsis:

In the sequel to the 2015 global smash, father and stepfather, Dusty (Mark Wahlberg) and Brad (Will Ferrell) have joined forces to provide their kids with t he perfect Christmas. Their newfound partnership is put to the test when Dusty’s old-school, macho Dad (Mel Gibson) and Brad’s ultra-affectionate and emotional Dad (John Lithgow) arrive just in time to throw the holiday into complete chaos.

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Avril Lavigne and Fergie Return?

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By Niy Birden

This summer was an ultimate blast from our reigning pop and hip hop musicians. The music we were hit with resonated with the summer expectations, political climates imitated our harrowing weather, and some of our old faves came back with music that made us remember just how much we loved them way back.

P!nk was recently awarded with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2017 MTV VMA’s, Miley Cyrus has mysteriously decided to return back to her country and rock roots, and even Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato have amped up their sexuality in their tunes. Which is why the recent album rumors coming from teen sensation Avril Lavigne and Black Eyed Peas member Fergie are worthy of being called Music’s Christmas Present for 2017.

Who wouldn’t remember Avril Lavigne, our friendly Canadian who came bursting through the teenage airwaves in the 90’s with hits like “Complicated” and “Sk8ter Boi”? While Avril has had a few hits and misses with album sales, her core fan following have been the torch-bearers for her music, helping her gain numerous chart-topping hits and a cemented place in Pop-Rock music history. People loooooove Avril Lavigne. And this is not an understatement. You can find a true fan through almost any type in the last two generations, thanks to her musical outreach and quality. Nerds, ego kids, punk kids, bubblegum pop kids, and even our friends over in Japan adore her and her ever-evolving lyrics.

People are so well-aware of Avril Lavigne that there is a highly-discussed theory located almost everywhere on the internet that she was at some point replaced with a clone, by proof of her supposed physical transformations. And frankly, we all know that you are an influential musician if you start to get government conspiracy theories made up about you.
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Chilling New International Trailer For “The Snowman”

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By Creative Media Times

Universal Pictures

Michael Fassbender is on a hunt for a serial killer in a new crime thriller horror film from director Tomas Alfredson “The Snowman.”

The Swedish filmmaker has so far delivered with “Let the Right One In” and “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” and his latest looks like another winner.

Rebecca Ferguson, Chloe Sevigny, Val Kilmer, J.K. Simmons, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Toby Jones co-star, so there is some serious talent in involved in the film. Martin Scorsese was also once attached to direct the film back in 2013.

The Snowman is based on the novel of the same name by Norwegian writer Jo Nesbø and it set to open on October 13.

Here’s the official synopsis of “The Snowman:”

When an elite crime squad’s lead detective (Fassbender) investigates the disappearance of a victim on the first snow of winter, he fears an elusive serial killer may be active again. With the help of a brilliant recruit (Ferguson), the cop must connect decades-old cold cases to the brutal new one if he hopes to outwit this unthinkable evil before the next snowfall.

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Director Colin Trevorrow Exits “Star Wars: Episode IX”

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By Creative Media Times

Lucasfilm


Lucasfilm announced Tuesday that Colin Trevorrow will no longer be directing Star Wars: Episode IX. According to the statement, the split was a mutual decision.

Lucasfilm and Colin Trevorrow have mutually chosen to part ways on Star Wars: Episode IX. Colin has been a wonderful collaborator throughout the development process but we have all come to the conclusion that our visions for the project differ. We wish Colin the best and will be sharing more information about the film soon.

Lucasfilm currently has not announced a replacement. There is also no clear reason for decision, though according to The Hollywood Reporter,”script issues” was the main culprit. “Script issues have continued to be an issue during Episode IX’s development, with Trevorrow having had repeated stabs at multiple drafts.”

This is the second time this year that a high profile director has parted ways with Lucasfilm. Last June, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were also removed of their directing duties on the Han Solo prequel due to “creative differences.” The duo were replaced by Ron Howard.

Trevorrow directed Jurassic World (2015) which was a missive global hit, a success that partly influenced Lucasfilm to hire him for Episode IX. He also recently co-wrote the J. A. Bayona helmed Jurassic World sequel with Derek Connolly. But this summer, Trevorrow has not been as lucky. He directed this summer’s highly anticipated “The Book of Henry” which failed to spark at the boxoffice.

Principal photography for Star Wars: Episode IX is expected to start early 2018 with the film’s release scheduled to be May 24, 2019.

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‘Battle of the Sexes’ Premieres To Rave Reviews At Telluride

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By Creative Media Times

Fox Searchlight Pictures


Emma Stone may be headed back to Oscar glory and make history after her latest film, ‘Battle of the Sexes’ premiered to rave reviews at the Telluride Film Festival. The sports comedy-drama film from directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (Little Miss Sunshine) was written by Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire) and stars Emma Stone as legendary tennis player Billie Jean King.

Stone, who recently won an Academy Award for Best Actress for playing an aspiring actress in last year’s La La Land, was in Colorado on Saturday to promote her new movie ahead of the film’s release later this month. Billie Jean King was also at the premiere screening.

The plot is loosely based on the eponymous battle of the sexes tennis match in 1973 when King was a 29, against Bobby Riggs (played in the film by Steve Carell,) then 55-years-old. King won the match in three sets, and the win became a milestone in public acceptance of women’s tennis. There was heavy media attention leading to the match as a few months earlier, Riggs won a similar match against Margaret Court, while King founded the Women’s Tennis Association.

Also in the film are Bill Pullman, Elisabeth Shue and Sarah Silverman. ‘Battle of the Sexes’ will again be screening at the Toronto International Film Festival next week, followed by a limited release on September 22.

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