Latest news with #BleeckerStreet
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Carrie Coon and Lily James Join Bella Ramsey in Guy Nattiv's Cult Thriller ‘Harmonia' for Bleecker Street
Carrie Coon has found her next project post-'The White Lotus.' The acclaimed actress, who also recently starred in 'His Three Daughters' and soon returns for 'The Gilded Age' Season 3, has joined Guy Nattiv's cult thriller 'Harmonia' alongside Lily James. Nattiv reunites with Bleecker Street after the company distributed his 2023 film 'Golda.' Bleecker Street acquired the U.S. rights to 'Harmonia' and plans to release the film in theaters nationwide in 2026. More from IndieWire Bob Odenkirk Battles Mob Boss Sharon Stone During a Summer Vacation from Hell in Action Sequel 'Nobody 2' Trailer Rooney and Kate Mara Are Codependent Twins in Werner Herzog's 'Bucking Fastard' First Look As previously announced, 'Harmonia' will also star Bella Ramsey and 'My First Film' breakout star Odessa Young. Nattiv co-wrote 'Harmonia' with Noa Berman-Herzberg; the film is inspired by Nattiv's family's real-life story. Production is set to begin this summer. The official synopsis reads: 'Set in the 1980s, the film is based on Nattiv's grandmother's experience with an insidious cult. Rita (Coon), unraveling from past wounds, meets a radiant young spiritual leader (James) after a chance encounter. Following her into the all-female commune known as Harmonia, Rita leaves her life and family behind until her daughters, Ella (Ramsey), and Jo (Young), embark on a dangerous journey to rescue their mother. Once immersed in the commune, they find themselves inexorably drawn into the leader's labyrinthine web of pseudo-spiritual and psychological manipulation.' Nattiv, whose 2023 film 'Tatami' also recently received distribution from XYZ Films, said in a press statement, ''Harmonia' is born from the true story of my grandmother — a woman whose quiet strength and unspoken pain left an indelible mark on our family. For years, her story lived in the shadows, and now, at last, I'm giving it voice. I couldn't ask for more soulful collaborators than Carrie, Lily, Bella, and Odessa. Each of them brings a deep, intuitive grace to these layered characters, and their commitment to tell my story is tremendously moving.' Julia Lebedev and Eddie Vaisman produce the film for Sight Unseen, with Jaime Ray Newman and Nattiv producing for New Native Pictures, along with Oren Moverman. Leonid Lebedev will serve as an executive producer. Embankment Films represents international rights. CAA Media Finance and Range Select brokered the deal with Miranda King, Kent Sanderson, and Avy Eschenasy of Bleecker Street, while CAA and Range Media Partners represent the filmmakers. Coon is represented by United Talent Agency, Foundation Talent Management, and attorney Peikoff Mahan. James is repped by UTA, Tavistock Wood, Sloane Weber Offer Dern, and Narrative PR. Bleecker Street additionally recently acquired 'Bone Lake,' set to release in October, as well as the re-release of the 1984 cult classic 'This Is Spinal Tap' and its upcoming sequel, 'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues,' both directed by Rob Reiner. Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer reprise their iconic roles for the sequel, which also brings real-life rockers Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Questlove into the mix. Other 2025 Bleecker Street releases include 'Relay,' starring Riz Ahmed, 'Harmonia' star James, and Sam Worthington; the feature will be released on August 22 after its U.S. premiere at Tribeca this year. Max Walker-Silverman's 'Rebuilding,' starring Josh O'Connor, will also be in theaters after its Sundance premiere. Walker-Silverman previously helmed 'A Love Song' for Bleecker Street, too. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie The 55 Best LGBTQ Movies and TV Shows Streaming on Netflix Right Now
New Statesman
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Statesman
The Wedding Banquet is a breath of fresh air
Photo by BFA / Luka Cyprian / Bleecker Street In Ang Lee's 1993 film The Wedding Banquet, the conflict centred around Wai-Tung, a closeted Taiwanese-American man, and his sham marriage to a woman. Fashioned as a screwball comedy but sharply, sensitively observed, it wrung laughter from the awkwardness of navigating cultural and inter-generational differences. With its elaborate central bacchanal and a running joke about Wai-Tung's live-in white boyfriend secretly cooking all the food, it was an international hit. But while its farcical elements remain timeless, today, its coming out narrative feels almost quaint. The legalisation of gay marriage, along with increased LGBT representation in pop culture, has created an opportunity to tell different, more complex queer stories. It's also an opportunity to make different jokes. In Korean-American director Andrew Ahn's deft remake, he doubles down on the original film's zany plot: in his Wedding Banquet, one half of a lesbian couple agrees to a straight marriage with the partner of her gay best friend. The film revolves around two long-term couples, Angela (Kelly Marie Tran) and Lee (Lily Gladstone), and their best friends Chris (Bowen Yang) and Min (Han Gi-Chan). Angela and Lee are struggling to have a baby following several unsuccessful rounds of expensive IVF. Min, a wealthy art student from Korea, needs to secure his visa or else move home and take over the family business. And Chris, a PhD student with commitment issues, won't marry him. 'I am not going to be responsible for you losing your money or being disowned by your family,' he insists. So Min suggests a workaround: he will pay for his friends' IVF in exchange for a green card marriage. But when his grandmother Ja-Young (Minari's Youn Yuh-jung) gets wind that he's engaged, she arrives in Seattle and insists on a big Korean wedding. Director Ahn and writer James Schamus (who co-wrote the original film) move the story from Nineties Manhattan to present day Seattle, updating the source material in various, amusing ways. The 1993 film took gentle jabs at yuppie culture, with an estate agent protagonist who spent all his free time at the gym. Ahn lovingly teases his own cohort; his hipster millennial ensemble include an aspiring artist with a 10-step skincare routine, a community organizer at a queer nonprofit, a literature student-turned-birdwatching guide, and my favourite, a researcher in a worm lab. The one-liners are all sharp elbows; 'Queer theory takes the joy out of being gay,' deadpans Chris of his lapsed PhD. Yet when it comes to the supporting characters, Ahn refuses to trade in stereotypes for the sake of a gag. Min's formidable, no-nonsense grandmother is portrayed as intelligent rather than simply 'wise' while Angela's glamorous, domineering mother May (a very funny and charming Joan Chen) is not only accepting of her daughter's queerness, but an ally, glowing and sparkling with pride. 'My own daughter, marrying a man!' she gasps when she hears her news. Angela, of course, finds her 'triggering.' Romantic comedies often focus on courtship rather than commitment, which is perhaps why films like this one, along with Tina Fey's recent TV remake of Alan Alda's The Four Seasons, feels like a breath of fresh air. The Four Seasons questions if romance and domesticity can coexist, through the prism of three middle-aged married couples. Similarly, in The Wedding Banquet, though the characters express interest in the rituals of marriage and becoming parents, there's an unwillingness to buy into those institutions wholesale. Tellingly, the film's big drunken set piece takes place at Angela's hen do, not the wedding. Mostly, the film is lighthearted and fun, which is why it wobbles a little when trying to find its balance. Ahn treats the theme of a chosen family with earnest, weary seriousness, but the grounded dramatic performances can jar with the zippier jokes. Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon) is a dab hand with both, but a sombre, too-realistic confrontation between her and Tran's Angela feels like it belongs in a different movie. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe 'The Wedding Banquet' is in cinemas now Related
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
What Happens Later OTT release: Watch Meg Ryan returning in a rom-com on Netflix
The queen of romantic comedies is back, and she has brought emotional turbulence with her—literally. What Happens Later, Meg Ryan's highly anticipated comeback film, has officially landed on Netflix, and if you are into exes, existential crises, and airport chaos wrapped in a snowstorm, your weekend watchlist just got sorted. What Happens Later OTT release After an eight-year break from acting, Meg Ryan steps back into the spotlight not just as the lead but also as the director of this no-filter rom-com. This is her second time directing a feature film, her first being Ithaca in 2015. Clearly, she is not just acting in the movie—she is steering the emotional flight. Story of What Happens Later Co-starring alongside Ryan is David Duchovny (yes, The X-Files guy), and the two play former lovers Willa and Bill. The set-up? They get snowed in at a regional airport overnight. The vibe? A heavy dose of romantic tension, unresolved feelings, and awkward jokes between two people who have not seen each other in years. Honestly, it is giving delusional hope but in a kind of adorable, stuck-in-an-airport way. Willa is all about that magical, head-in-the-clouds energy, while Bill is a doomsday-in-waiting kind of guy. The duo spends the night unpacking their old relationship, making snarky remarks, and maybe—just maybe—wondering if fate has decided to delay their emotional baggage too. What Happens Later theatre release Originally released in theatres on 3 November 2023 by Bleecker Street, the film now finds a second life on Netflix, where it is streaming uncut and uncensored. That means all the adult language and spicy awkwardness is intact, so maybe keep the volume down if your nan is nearby. Meg Ryan fans are already calling this her comeback era, and honestly, it feels like the Y2K rom-com soul has been resurrected from the ashes of Gen Z's chaotic dating culture. Is it groundbreaking? No. Is it charming, nostalgic, and weirdly comforting? Absolutely. So skip the small talk, grab your snacks, and dive into this airport-flavoured romance now streaming on Netflix. Because if love is delayed but not cancelled, you definitely want to watch what happens… later.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
This Is Spinal Tap Trailer Previews 2025 Theatrical Rerelease
In celebration of the iconic film's 41st anniversary, Bleecker Street announced that it would be doing a theatrical rerelease. The rerelease of the 1984 mockumentary is set for July 5-7, 2025. The screenings will be happening in partnership with Fathom Entertainment. Tickets for the film will be available on Fathom's website, with participating theaters joining in on the celebration. Check out a trailer for the rerelease of the film below (watch other trailers): Originally released in 1984, This Is Spinal Tap is directed by Rob Reiner in his directorial debut, and follows the story of a fictional heavy metal band, Spinal Tap. The film follows the group on an American tour and features largely improvised dialogue. This Is Spinal Tap launched to nearly universal acclaim but didn't make too much money at the box office. However, its home video release saw an even larger audience flock to it, and it quickly gained a large cult following, eventually being selected for preservation by the National Film Registry in 2002 after it was deemed 'culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant' by the Library of Congress. A sequel to This Is Spinal Tap was announced in May 2022 and was initially eying a March 19, 2024, release; however, it was delayed because of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and Writers Guild of America (WGA) strikes. The sequel will instead release on September 12, 2025. According to early reports, the plot of the movie 'sees Spinal Tap, England's loudest and most punctual band, reunite following a 15-year hiatus for one final concert.' Rob & Michele Reiner and Matthew George are producing Spinal Tap 2, while Christopher H. Warner and Derrick Rossi serve as executive producers. The post This Is Spinal Tap Trailer Previews 2025 Theatrical Rerelease appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Los Angeles Times
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Bleecker Street CEO and indie film champion Andrew Karpen dies at 59
Andrew Karpen, chief executive and founder of independent film distribution company Bleecker Street Media, died Monday of glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer. He was 59. Karpen founded the New York City-based Bleecker Street in 2014 with backing from 5-hour Energy founder Manoj Bhargava. In its first few years, Bleecker Street released such films as 2015's 'Trumbo,' starring Bryan Cranston and Helen Mirren, and the Viggo Mortensen-led 'Captain Fantastic' in 2016. Since its founding, Bleecker Street has released more than 75 films, including the 2017 Steven Soderbergh comedy 'Logan Lucky,' 2024's Oscar-nominated 'Golda,' comedy-drama 'Hard Truths' and, most recently, 'The Wedding Banquet,' a remake of the 1993 Ang Lee romantic comedy starring Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone and Kelly Marie Tran. 'Our industry has lost a giant,' Kent Sanderson, Bleecker Street president and Karpen's longtime friend, said in a statement. 'Andrew taught us all so much, foremost of which is the value of kindness, honesty, and family above all else. His leadership and courage will inspire all of us at Bleecker Street for the rest of our lives, and we are dedicated to continuing his passion for and legacy of championing cinema.' Karpen began his career at Miramax before moving to Oxygen Media as its senior vice president of finance and planning. He then spent more than a decade at Focus Features, the specialty film arm of NBCUniversal, starting as its chief operating officer responsible for finance, strategic planning and operations before rising to president and then co-chief executive. He left Focus Features in 2013, after Universal Pictures named a new head of the specialty imprint and relocated its headquarters from New York to the studio lot in California. Universal said at the time that the company asked Karpen to remain with the studio but that he opted to stay in New York with his family. He is survived by his wife, Pam; sons Josh and Zack; daughter Sloan; and Josh's wife, Kristen, who is expecting their first child.
