Latest news with #MattJohnson
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Netflix fans say don't skip 'most underrated film' as it will 'change your life'
A movie buff has urged Netflix fans to check out the 'most underrated film of this decade' on the streaming platform – and people agree it's worth the two hours of screen time Netflix subscribers have been urged to check out the 'most underrated film of this decade' on the streaming platform - and people can't get enough of it. The film buff, who is known as @eccyreviews on social media, has shared the docudrama you need to check out on UK Netflix, claiming it to be one of the best things you'll see all year. In his TikTok clip, he said: "Netflix have just secretly added one of the most underrated films of this decade and you need to check it out immediately because it's actually based on a true story." Directed by Matt Johnson, the 2023 movie BlackBerry follows the story of the "meteoric rise and catastrophic demise of the world's first smartphone". The Netflix hit stars Jay Baruchel, Glenn Howerton and Matt Johnson and has earned itself 28 awards alongside 31 nominations - including Best Film at Berlin International Film Festival. The TikTok user added: "It shows how they built the company up, how cutthroat business is. "I remember everyone having a BlackBerry. I remember it being absolutely huge. "Glenn Howerton give a truly incredible performance, which is definitely worth checking out. If you're a fan of true stories like me, you'll definitely enjoy this film." Commenting on his post, one user said: "Classic movie, watched it yesterday." Another user added: "Giving this a go, cheers!" A third user said: "Was brilliant." Reviewing the movie on IMDb, one viewer said: "Watching these movies about the crazy cutthroat businesses of the 80s and 90s is very entertaining. "This movie was great, well acted, fast paced and fun throughout. I myself grew up during the time of the Blackberry but didn't know anything about their story, so this was a fascinating look into how crazy the tech world was at the time. "The real gem of the entire movie though was the Golden God himself, Glen Howerton. I've been a fan of Always Sunny and I'm always interested in what the cast does outside of that show. "I haven't seen Glen in a serious role yet but he delivered. In Always Sunny Glen plays a sociopath who is constantly getting angry, you could tell that in Blackberry he was able to use that for his character. Glen was by far the best part of this movie, funny and intimidating all at the same time." Another added: "I may be biased, but as a Canadian, the story of Blackberry isn't just one of the greatest business stories of all time, but a story about Canada. Really, Research in Motion and Blackberry represent what a lot of Canadians feel: we have great potential to do amazing things, but we need to be perfect, because the titan down south - the United States - will eat our lunch as soon as they're able to."
CTV News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Matt Johnson's ‘Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie' to open TIFF's Midnight Madness
Matt Johnson, director of "Blackberry" poses with his award for Achievement in Direction at the 2024 Canadian Screen Awards Gala in Toronto, on Friday May 31, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey TORONTO — Matt Johnson's time-warping bromantic misadventure and a crime thriller starring Bob Odenkirk are headed to the Midnight Madness program at this year's Toronto International Film Festival. This year's lineup of 10 genre-blurring comedies, action flicks and slashers will open with the Canadian premiere of Johnson's Toronto-set 'Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie,' a mockumentary-style caper based on his Viceland series. Lead programmer Peter Kuplowsky says the comedy is 'steeped in Toronto lore circa the early aughts' and expects it to 'levitate the entire theatre' at TIFF, after earning a standing ovation at its SXSW premiere in March. Set to get pulses racing is the world premiere of 'Normal,' which sees Odenkirk play a temporary sheriff who uncovers the criminal underbelly of a sleepy town. It's directed by Ben Wheatley, who won the 2016 Midnight Madness People's Choice Award for the crime drama 'Free Fire.' Also promising heart-pounding thrills is the world premiere of 'Dust Bunny,' the feature debut of 'Hannibal' creator Bryan Fuller. The slasher stars Sophie Sloan as a young girl who asks her neighbour, played by Mads Mikkelsen, for help after she believes a monster under her bed ate her family. Set to close the program is the Canadian premiere of 'Dead Lover,' a horror comedy by Toronto's Grace Glowicki about a gravedigger determined to bring her drowned lover back to life. TIFF runs Sept. 4 to 14. Kuplowsky says he wanted to bookend the Midnight Madness program with 'Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie' and 'Dead Lover' because they've made 'a substantial impact on the festival circuit.' 'I'm just really proud and feel very patriotic that these Canadian filmmakers made midnight movies that really resonated with international audiences,' Kuplowsky says. 'The prospect of having them finishing their festival tour with us in Toronto is really exciting.' 'Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie' sees Johnson and longtime collaborator Jay McCarrol reprise their roles as two bumbling musicians still trying to achieve their dream of booking a show at local bar The Rivoli. This time, their quest sends them back in time. Kuplowsky says he gravitated toward several comedies for this year's lineup after noticing the success of 'Friendship,' the dark comedy starring Paul Rudd and Tim Robinson that premiered at last year's program. 'I did really feel like there is this desire amongst contemporary audiences to laugh in cinemas again,' he says. Other gut-busters in this year's lineup include 'The Napa Boys,' an alt-comedy by Nick Corirossi that sees a group of friends embark on a wine-related adventure led by a mysterious sommelier. Meanwhile, Serbia's Aleksandar Radivojević serves up 'Karmadonna,' a sharp-edged comedy about a pregnant woman who gets a call from God telling her to kill targets on his hit list or lose her baby. Among other international offerings is 'Junk World,' a sequel to Japanese filmmaker Takahide Hori's 'Junk Head,' a stop-motion sci-fi film following a cyborg navigating an underground dystopia in search of a way to save humanity from extinction. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 24, 2025. Alex Nino Gheciu, The Canadian Press
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Yahoo
Man shot, killed in Gwinnett County church parking lot
The Gwinnett County Police Department is investigating a homicide in a church parking lot. Police confirmed to Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson that one man was killed in the parking lot on Webb Gin House Road. Get the latest details from the scene, LIVE on Channel 2 Action News at Noon. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The church does not appear to have been involved in the shooting. The victim's identity has not been released. There is no word on possible suspects or motives. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Daily Mirror
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Netflix fans left 'sad' after watching 'incredible' real-life drama that's surging charts
Since its launch on Netflix just a few days ago, fans have taken to social media in their masses to air their rave reviews Netflix viewers are absolutely obsessed with the real-life drama BlackBerry as the film rockets up the streaming charts, with fans gushing over their glowing reviews. BlackBerry is a 2023 biographical comedy-drama that follows the meteoric rise and dramatic downfall of the globe's first text messaging smartphone, earning an impressive 97% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie draws inspiration from the gripping true account Losing the Signal: The Untold Story Behind the Extraordinary Rise and Spectacular Fall of BlackBerry, penned by Jacquie McNish and Sean Silcoff. Anyone who relished watching The Social Network, which depicts Facebook's accidental birth, would undoubtedly adore this production too. Beginning in 1997, viewers witness BlackBerry co-creators Douglas Fregin (Matt Johnson) and Mike Lazaridis (Jay Baruchel), alongside Glenn Howerton portraying ruthless investor Jim Balsillie, reports the Mirror US. The synopsis states: "The true story of the meteoric rise and catastrophic demise of the world's first smartphone, BlackBerry is a whirlwind ride through a ruthlessly competitive Silicon Valley at breakneck speeds." Since arriving on Netflix just days ago (19 July), fans have flooded social media with overwhelming praise, with some declaring the film left them with "goosebumps" due to its brutal honesty. On the platform X, one viewer shared their glowing review: "Watching BlackBerry on Netflix gave me goosebumps as I did have some of the greatest QWERTY models, from Bold to Passport with unique BBM to text love.." Another fan chimed in: "Rewatched BlackBerry (on Netflix, check it out if you missed it at the time) and Glenn Howerton's performance is just as incredible as I remembered. Like putting a bull shark in a living room fishtank. Unbelievable menace and energy boiling off him at every moment." Others were left feeling nostalgic about the rise and fall of such an iconic product. One comment read: "BlackBerry on Netflix makes me sad how great a phone like that was – and was part of a childhood that allowed us to still feel normal before it all got hectic with smartphones. Great film!" Not only was BlackBerry a hit with viewers, but it also received rave reviews from critics, boasting an impressive 97% Rotten Tomatoes score. Director Matt Johnson has also been praised for his work on the film. The star-studded cast includes BlackBerry co-founders Jay Baruchel (Knocked Up, This Is the End, How to Train Your Dragon) and Matt Johnson (The Dirties, Operation Avalanche), with Jim Balsillie played by Glenn Howerton (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Fargo). Other notable cast members include Rich Sommer, Michael Ironside, Martin Donovan, Michelle Giroux, Sungwon Cho, Mark Critch, Saul Rubinek and Cary Elwes. BlackBerry is available to stream on Netflix now.
North Wales Chronicle
21-07-2025
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Anglesey residents celebrate £400K Postcode Lottery windfall
The LL60 6NF (Llangaffo) area of the island was revealed as one of Saturday's (July 19) £402,860 prize draw winners. It means that players of the People's Postcode Lottery living within that postcode will all be £402,860 richer. The following Anglesey postcodes also won £2,279 each: Matt Johnson, Postcode Lottery ambassador, said: 'We've had the Prince of Wales living and working on Anglesey, now we have the wins of Wales. "What an incredible surprise for our big winner. And what a lovely bonus, too, for hundreds of neighbours in the wider community to share in this wonderful Welsh win.' The Postcode Lottery manages lotteries for 20 Postcode Trusts and one-third of tickets are donated to charity. Players pay £10 a month to enter the daily draw - with each one shelling out £1,000 to residents on 20 lucky UK streets. There is also a weekly draw on a Thursday, which awards £10 each to players in 1,000 postcodes. Since 2005, People's Postcode Lottery players have raised more than £950million for various good causes.
