Latest news with #EleanortheGreat
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
28 Years Later and Marvel star team up for film guaranteed to have viewers in floods of tears
It's a new role for the Black Widow star and its already gaining Oscar buzz Stars of recent blockbuster 28 Years Later and several Marvel movies are teaming up for a new film release guaranteed to have viewers in floods of tears. The first trailer for upcoming title called Eleanor The Great was released earlier this week. It gives potential audiences the idea of the emotional journey the story will take them on. According to its brief synopsis, the plot will focus on the witty and proudly troublesome 94-year-old Eleanor Morgenstein, who after a devastating loss, tells a tale that takes on a dangerous life of its own. As seen in the trailer, it follows her being forced to move to Manhattan, and striking up a friendship with a young, aspiring journalist. Eleanor is played by 95-year-old actress June Squibb, who was nominated for an Oscar back in 2013 for her work on Nebraska. She is enjoying something of a renaissance in her career of late, thanks to her star turns in 2024's Thelma and Pixar movies Soul and Inside Out 2. Meanwhile, Erin Kellyman plays the role of Nina. Fans will recognise Kellyman from her turns in BBC's miniseries of Les Miserables, Solo: A Star Wars Story and 28 Years Later. She has also starred in Marvel series Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Top Boy, in which she played Pebbles. Also featuring is British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, another former Marvel star who appeared in Doctor Strange movies. He also appeared in Triple 9, American Gangster and Netflix's The Old Guard. The film will also serve as the directorial debut for Scarlett Johansson. Johansson is well known for her work in front of the camera, primarily as comic book hero Natasha Romanoff, otherwise known as Black Widow, appearing across eight titles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While the movie going public will have to wait until next month to see the BAFTA winning actress' debut as a director, early reviews are already online thanks to its screening at film festivals. One well respected critic claimed: "Eleanor the Great is really something special. This can't be denied. Everyone involved should be proud of it. A tremendously moving, sensitive, tender film that shows us how kindness and goodness always matter – at any age." Other write ups have predicted Oscar buzz for both the film's director and leading star. One reviewer said: "I wouldn't be surprised to hear a lot about Eleanor the Great during awards season, especially when it comes to Squibb, whose moving performance is simply exquisite; there is no other word for it." Another added: "Scarlett Johansson's Eleanor the Great is exactly the kind of conventional, performer-led film one would expect from an actor. It also has the jackpot combination of being tear-inducing and laugh-out-loud funny." While someone else penned: "It's a little predictable, a little bizarre, a little funny, and very sad, but it's also an ambitious swing at what movies can still be, a message and an idea that we expect will lead both the director and writer into quite fruitful new chapters." As seen in the trailer, one verdict predicts "there won't be a dry eye in the house", seemingly suggesting that watching the film guarantees its viewers will be left in tears.
Hamilton Spectator
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Star-studded TIFF lineup includes Scarlett Johansson's feature directorial debut, Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein'
TORONTO - Scarlett Johansson's feature directorial debut 'Eleanor the Great,' Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein' and Benny Safdie's 'The Smashing Machine,' are among the marquee titles headed to the Toronto International Film Festival. Festival organizers touted big directors with star-studded projects on Monday for the fest's 50th edition, including Johansson's Cannes sensation in which June Squibb plays a nonagenarian grappling with a friend's death; del Toro's take on Mary Shelley's beloved Gothic monster as played by Jacob Elordi; and Safdie's UFC drama for A24, with Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson as real-life mixed martial arts fighter Mark Kerr. World premieres include David Michôd's boxing biopic 'Christy' starring Sydney Sweeney; Alice Winocour's fashion drama 'Couture' with Angelina Jolie and Aziz Ansari's comedy 'Good Fortune,' with a stacked cast including Keanu Reeves, Seth Rogen, Keke Palmer and Sandra Oh. Also making world premieres are Bobby Farrelly's teen road trip comedy 'Driver's Ed,' starring Molly Shannon and Sam Nivola; and a film from Reeves' 'Bill & Ted' co-star Alex Winter, who stars and directs 'Adulthood.' Meanwhile, Canadian additions include Ally Pankiw's documentary 'Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery,' Lisa Rideout's 'Degrassi: Whatever It Takes,' Zacharias Kunuk's Nunavut-set drama 'Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband),' Tasha Hubbard's 'Meadowlarks' and Philippe Falardeau's francophone drama 'Lovely Day.' Oscar-winning Toronto director Daniel Roher helms the U.S. crime thriller, 'Tuner' and Montreal-based director Anne Émond closes the fest with a Sept. 13 gala for her rom-com 'Peak Everything,' starring Patrick Hivon and Piper Perabo. TIFF says its full schedule will be released Aug. 12. Tickets go on sale to TIFF members beginning Aug. 15. The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival runs Sept. 4 to 14. It opens with the previously announced documentary 'John Candy: I Like Me,' directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Ryan Reynolds. While the list of attendees has yet to be announced, the gala and special presentation lineup hints at the wattage that could hit TIFF's red carpet. Other films with big-named directors revealed Monday include Gus Van Sant's hostage thriller 'Dead Man's Wire' with Bill Skarsgard and Al Pacino; Baz Luhrmann's music documentary 'EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert'; Joachim Trier's 'Sentimental Value,' with Stellan Skarsgård and Elle Fanning; Richard Linklater's black-and-white tribute to Jean-Luc Godard, 'Nouvelle Vague;' and 'True Detective' creator Nic Pizzolatto's drama 'Easy's Waltz' with Pacino, Vince Vaughn and Kate Mara. First features from celebrity directors include Judd Apatow's daughter Maude with 'Poetic License,' featuring her mother, Leslie Mann; 'Succession' star Brian Cox with the British drama 'Glenrothan' and actor James McAvoy with music industry saga 'California Schemin'.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2025.
Toronto Star
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
Star-studded TIFF lineup includes Scarlett Johansson's feature directorial debut, Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein'
TORONTO - Scarlett Johansson's feature directorial debut 'Eleanor the Great,' Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein' and Benny Safdie's 'The Smashing Machine,' are among the marquee titles headed to the Toronto International Film Festival. Festival organizers touted big directors with star-studded projects on Monday for the fest's 50th edition, including Johansson's Cannes sensation in which June Squibb plays a nonagenarian grappling with a friend's death; del Toro's take on Mary Shelley's beloved Gothic monster as played by Jacob Elordi; and Safdie's UFC drama for A24, with Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson as real-life mixed martial arts fighter Mark Kerr.
Hamilton Spectator
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Star-studded TIFF lineup includes Scarlett Johansson's directorial debut, Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein'
TORONTO - Scarlett Johansson's feature directorial debut 'Eleanor the Great,' Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein' and Benny Safdie's 'The Smashing Machine,' are among the marquee titles headed to the Toronto International Film Festival. The 50th edition of 11-day movie marathon will feature galas and special presentations from star directors including Joachim Trier's 'Sentimental Value,' Gus Van Sant's 'Dead Man's Wire,' Aziz Ansari's 'Good Fortune,' and Baz Luhrmann's 'EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert.' Organizers says Canadian additions to the lineup include Ally Pankiw's 'Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery,' Lisa Rideout's 'Degrassi: Whatever It Takes,' Zacharias Kunuk's 'Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband),' Tasha Hubbard's 'Meadowlarks' and Philippe Falardeau's 'Lovely Day.' Canadian director Anne Émond's 'Peak Everything' will close the fest with a gala Sept. 13. The full schedule will be released Aug. 12. Tickets go on sale to TIFF members beginning Aug. 15. The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival runs Sept. 4 to 14. Other titles include Maude Apatow's 'Poetic License,' James McAvoy's 'California Schemin',' Alex Winter's 'Adulthood,' Brian Cox's U.K. feature 'Glenrothan' and Richard Linklater's French production, 'Nouvelle Vague,' while Oscar-winning Toronto director Daniel Roher brings his crime thriller, 'Tuner.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2025.
Toronto Star
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
Star-studded TIFF lineup includes Scarlett Johansson's directorial debut, Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein'
TORONTO - Scarlett Johansson's feature directorial debut 'Eleanor the Great,' Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein' and Benny Safdie's 'The Smashing Machine,' are among the marquee titles headed to the Toronto International Film Festival. The 50th edition of 11-day movie marathon will feature galas and special presentations from star directors including Joachim Trier's 'Sentimental Value,' Gus Van Sant's 'Dead Man's Wire,' Aziz Ansari's 'Good Fortune,' and Baz Luhrmann's 'EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert.'
