A whole show centered around celebrities reading fan mail may strike an odd tone right now — especially after the infamous “Imagine” debacle — but Dear…, the new Apple TV+ series, is presenting itself as more than a self-congratulatory show about celebrity culture. Oprah Winfrey, Gloria Steinem, Spike Lee, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and more get emotional as they read letters onscreen from fans who were inspired by their works. It’s the kind of weepy inspirational stuff that spotlights both the celebrities reading the letters and the people who wrote them. Watch the Dear… trailer below.
Read More »
Just as Saoirse Ronan so emphatically says in Little Women, “Women!” And in honor of women and the best female-centric documentaries in their library, Magnolia Pictures is hosting a giveaway of digital download codes with /Film. If you would like a free digital download code to films like RBG, the ultra-cool deep dive into Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life; or Iris, Albert Maysles’ tribute to eclectic interior designer Iris Apfel; or Kusama: Infinity, about game-changing Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama; and more, enter /Film’s contest.
Read on to get details on how to win.
Read More »
The first season of Solar Opposites is now available to binge on Hulu. If you’ve already worked your way through the series, then you know it’s a brilliant animated comedy that has some of what makes Rick and Morty great, but mixes it with the classic family sitcom in a way that is somehow both insanely twisted and charmingly lighthearted.
Since I loved the show so much, I was glad to speak with series co-creator Justin Roiland, who also co-created Rick and Morty, to discuss how working on Solar Opposites with co-creator Mike McMahan is different than working with Dan Harmon, how they keep track of sci-fi gadgets, the challenge of doing a more serialized series, whether we’ll get a plush of The Pupa, and more. You can read our full interview with Justin Roiland below, but be aware of spoilers for the first season of Solar Opposites. Read More »
Child’s Play is a very fluid franchise, and that might be the key to its longevity. While other horror franchises have died off, Child’s Play is still going strong, even in the wake of an unnecessary remake. Don Mancini, who has been behind the series since the beginning, is now bringing the story of the killer Good Guy doll to TV with the Chucky TV series. The series remains shrouded in secrecy, but in a new interview, Mancini promises that the show will combine the more straightforward horror elements of the first film while also honoring the ever-changing tone of the sequels.
Read More »
(Welcome to DTV Descent, a series that explores the weird and wild world of direct-to-video sequels to theatrically released movies. This week, we head to Romania with the Countess of Bathory.)
Vampires are a common threat in horror movies, some would say far too common (and yes that someone is me). So it should come as no surprise that they’re also a frequent antagonist in DTV horror sequels. This column has already covered the sequel to 30 Days of Night (2007), and there are more on the horizon. Vampires are a cheap effect as all you typically need are fangs and maybe some digitally enhanced eyes, and you’re off to the bloody races.
Tom Holland’s (Child’s Play, 1988) other horror classic, Fright Night (1985), got a proper sequel three years later that, despite its current unavailability, is actually pretty solid, but the 2011 big screen remake didn’t fare as well. It’s unfortunate, but it’s also the reason we’re here today.
Read More »
What We do in the Shadows, the TV series spun-off from the vampire mockumentary of the same name, will sink its teeth into a third season at FX. The network just renewed the show for season 3, promising more undead hijinks on Staten Island. Three more episodes remain in season 2, which is currently running on the network.
Read More »
The first season of the new animated series Solar Opposites recently debuted on Hulu. Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland and series writer Mike McMahan have teamed up for the new show about a group of aliens who were forced to abandoned their destroyed homeworld and have been sent to Earth to wait for a living super computer called The Pupa to evolve and terraform the planet, leaving them to live suburban lives in America.
Solar Opposites is a laugh riot, as you can read in my review, so I was very eager to talk to co-creator Mike McMahan about the inception of the show, some of its influences, the surprising and shocking subplot, and what’s in store for the future of the animated series. You can read our full Solar Opposites interview below, but beware of major spoilers for the end of the show if you haven’t yet sat down to watch all eight episodes of the first season Read More »
(Welcome to The Quarantine Stream, a new series where the /Film team shares what they’ve been watching while social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.)
The Movie: Romancing the Stone
Where You Can Stream It: Hulu
The Pitch: When a romance novelist’s sister is kidnapped, the novelist finds herself flung into a dangerous, whirlwind adventure that’s fit for one of her books – including meeting a brash, handsome stranger who helps her on her quest. But can he be trusted?
Why It’s Essential Quarantine Viewing: Since 2020’s summer movie season has been significantly altered (to say the least), now seems like a great time to take a trip back to 1984 and watch one of the very best summer blockbusters of that decade in American cinema. Robert Zemeckis directed Romancing the Stone, a combination of action, adventure, and romance which hits just about every beat you could want from those genres. Two of the hottest actors from the era star in a pulpy, globe-spanning thrill ride, with their characters dashing through exotic locales with life or death stakes driving the whole thing. It rules. Read More »
HBO Max arrives in just a few days on May 27, and with it comes dozens of new Looney Tunes Cartoons, the latest attempt by Warner Bros. Animation to reboot the classic cartoon characters from decades ago. Recently we shared our review of a few episodes from an early press preview, and I found myself pleasantly surprised by how well they emulated the timeless spirit and comedy of the original animated shorts. Now you can judge for yourself with HBO Max debuting a new Looney Tunes Cartoons full episode for you to watch before it launches later this week. Read More »
Cool Posts From Around the Web:
The Morning Watch is a recurring feature that highlights a handful of noteworthy videos from around the web. They could be video essays, fanmade productions, featurettes, short films, hilarious sketches, or just anything that has to do with our favorite movies and TV shows.
In this edition, for the 40th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back, the animated shorts of Star Wars: Galaxy of Adventures tackles The Battle of Hoth. Plus, learn the history of Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin located at Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland, and listen to Nicholas Hoult break down the most memorable characters in his career, from About a Boy to X-Men and more. Read More »
