Latest news with #PhilipSeymourHoffman
Tom's Guide
09-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I just found the most suspenseful spy thriller on Prime Video — and now I don't think I can sleep tonight
In further proof that time is a social construct, it's already been more than a decade since the film world lost one of its finest actors: Philip Seymour Hoffman, the character-actor legend who died in February 2014. And while many of the performer's roles across the decades have been deservedly commended, from his iconic entrance as bratty Freddie Miles in "The Talented Mr. Ripley" to his Oscar-winning turn as author Truman Capote in "Capote" to his chilling take on a scandalized Catholic priest in "Doubt," there are still some Hoffman performances that are overdue for praise. One such credit is the 2014 espionage thriller "A Most Wanted Man," which marked Hoffman's final leading performance before his death. (He appeared in a supporting capacity in "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay" films.) In the absorbing spy drama, the actor plays a hard-drinking, world-weary German intelligence officer tasked with spying on Hamburg's Muslim community, offering up a remarkable send-off to an already stunning screen career. Need more convincing? Here's why you should add "A Most Wanted Man" on Prime Video to your watchlist. Based on the 2008 novel of the same name by John le Carré and directed by Anton Corbijn, "A Most Wanted Man" centers on Günther Bachmann (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a security agent leading a covert German government team tasked with recruiting local informants with ties to Islamic terrorist organizations. "When a half-Chechen, half-Russian, tortured half-to-death immigrant turns up in Hamburg's Islamic community, laying claim to his father's ill-gotten fortune, both German and US security agencies take a close interest," reads the drama's logline, per Prime Video. "As the clock ticks down and the stakes rise, the race is on to establish this most wanted man's true identity — oppressed victim or destruction-bent extremist?" Along with Hoffman, the star-studded ensemble features Rachel McAdams as immigration lawyer Annabel Richter, Willem Dafoe as banker Tommy Brue, Robin Wright as CIA agent Martha Sullivan and Grigoriy Dobrygin as Chechnyan refugee and suspected terrorist Issa Karpov. One of the most suspenseful and cerebral spy flicks in recent memory, "A Most Wanted Man" received wide acclaim for Hoffman's potent final performance. (The film was released posthumously in July 2014.) Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Los Angeles Times critic Kenneth Turan called it "a fitting film for him to leave on, not only because it is so expertly done but because his role was so challenging," adding that even for "as brilliant a chameleon" as Hoffman was, "making us believe he was Günther Bachmann, a German intelligence officer, had to be one of the most demanding roles in a lifetime full of them." Elsewhere, Eric Kohn of IndieWire commends the actor for imbuing his character "with an elegant quality that goes beyond topicality to suggest the timeless empathy within us all. A meticulously plotted thriller whose slow-burn pace more than pays off in the end, the film boasts a solid 86% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where the site's critical consensus reads: "Smart, subtle, and steadily absorbing, A Most Wanted Man proves once again that John le Carré books make for sharp, thoughtful thrillers."[ Watch "A Most Wanted Man" on Prime Video now
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Granderson: The spirit of Pride is diversity and progress, not respectability politics
The latest installment of "Jurassic Park" is hitting theaters July 4th weekend, and while normally I detest silly summer sequels, for some reason I do enjoy watching dinosaurs eat people on the big screen. 'Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should,' Jeff Goldblum famously said in the 1993 original. After his character perfectly framed the ethical question nestled in the heart of the Jurassic Park story, I was more than happy to see Newman from 'Seinfeld' get what he deserved. A brilliant line or movie monologue — like Goldblum's gem — can not only advance a fictional plot, but also foster conversations about real life. Consider how Michael B. Jordan's character Killmonger challenged the idea of isolationism and Jack Nicholson's line 'You can't handle the truth' explored what it takes to defend this country, morally. One of my all-time favorite movie monologues was delivered by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman in the 1999 cult classic 'Flawless.' In the scene, Hoffman — portraying a no-nonsense drag queen — confronts a group of conservative gay men who seek to mute the more flamboyant members of the LGBTQ+ during a Pride march in an attempt to gain broader acceptance. 'You're ashamed of us, but we're not ashamed of you,' the speech begins. 'As long as you go down on your Banana Republic knees … you're my sisters and I love you. I do. And f— off!' I wonder whether Richard Grenell, the former ambassador to Germany who currently serves as an envoy for special missions in the Trump administration, has seen it. I ask because Grenell, who during President Trump's first term became the country's first openly gay Cabinet-level official, spent part of this Pride month trying to drive a wedge within the community in a fashion very similar to what was portrayed in the 25-year-old film. In a Truth Social post back in December, Trump said that in the envoy role, Grenell would 'work in some of the hottest spots around the World, including Venezuela and North Korea.' It seems one of Grenell's special missions was to sell America on the idea that gender identity and transgender healthcare are outside the realm of what 'normal gays' are concerned with. He also suggested the LGBTQ+ community needs to police itself, echoes of the same respectability politics framework that is often employed to gaslight those who have been systematically disenfranchised. Of course Grenell is not the first conservative gay man who has used his station in life to enrich himself at the expense of the collective. Not long after Hoffman's character went off in 'Flawless' in 1999, Ken Mehlman was appointed President George W. Bush's director of political affairs and spent years working against legalizing same-sex marriage — as we now know, from the closet. In 2010, Mehlman, a former chairman of the Republican Party, came out as gay. Biographers have documented J. Edgar Hoover's relationships with men even as he was driving the Lavender Scare. His accomplice, Roy Cohn, has a similar story. As the various letters suggest, the LGBTQ+ community is far from a monolith. However, if there is one thing most of us have in common, it is our tendency not to vote against our own interest. In 2020, Trump won 27% of the vote. In 2024, it was down to 12%. In between the two elections, we saw a relentless Republican-led attack on LGBTQ+ rights of which Trump has often been the instigator. I don't know what Grenell considers 'normal gay' behavior, but he does not represent normal gay voting. The idea that he could speak for the community's core values is not only laughable but also woefully disingenuous. It was the drag queens and gender-nonconforming members of the community who began the Stonewall Riots in 1969. Before Grenell was even born, the first out gay person to run for public office wasn't a 'normal gay' but an extraordinary drag queen by the name of Jose Sarria in 1961. The groups who won progress for queer people have never been monolithically made up of white, Anglo, heteronormative men. That's what makes the gay rights movement so beautiful, so American, so worthy of pride and celebration. And that's also why it's so weird, given the obvious concern rippling through the LGBTQ+ community because of Trump's words and actions, that Grenell chooses to use his station to fight for the members of his community who need his help the least, and to do so at the expense of the LGBTQ+ people who really need a champion. @LZGrandersonShow If it's in the news right now, the L.A. Times' Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Channel 4 streaming 'superb' hidden gem spy thriller starring three Hollywood legends
A Most Wanted Man hit cinema screens back in 2014 and is now available to stream for free on Channel 4 - the spy thriller has been dubbed 'superb' by fans A forgotten spy thriller from 2014, featuring two of Hollywood's biggest stars, is now available to stream for free on Channel 4. The spy thriller has been hailed as 'superb' by fans. The cast includes the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, known for his role in The Hunger Games series, Rachel McAdams, who gained fame with films like Mean Girls and The Notebook, and Willem Dafoe, who has starred in Spider-Man, Nosferatu and Poor Things. A Most Wanted Man has an IMDB rating of 6.7/10 and has won three awards. The plot of the film centres around a refugee arriving in Hamburg, causing a stir within the security services. The Channel 4 description queries whether he is a genuine asylum-seeker or a terrorist? Despite its star-studded cast and strong source material, A Most Wanted Man went unnoticed by many viewers upon its initial release, possibly overshadowed by more high-profile spy franchises like James Bond or Bourne. However, the critically acclaimed film did win three awards, reports the Express. The late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman delivers a stellar performance in what would be one of his last roles before his death in 2014. If you're looking for a thought-provoking drama that stays with you long after the credits have rolled, this overlooked gem is well worth your time. One fan said: "A very well made thriller filled with terrific performances. Phillip Hoffman in one of his last roles gives a brilliant performance." Meanwhile, another added: "In the world of espionage, the line between terrorist and turn-coat is very hard to deduce! As Russian spy Gunther Bachmann attempts to recruit informants for terrorist group, the emergence of an enigmatic refugee spurs multiple agencies to find him, he attempts to find him first so that he can go after the bigger fish." Another said: "A timely story of the paranoia in a world of secrets and lies, as things are not always as they appear!" by another enthusiast. One fan praised Seymour Hoffman's acting skills: "Superb, Seymour Hoffman is simply outstanding in his role as a grizzled German spy here." Another highlighted the film's subtlety, stating it is: "An understated, but intelligently engaging thriller, which boasts fine performances from the lovely Rachel McAdams, and the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman." The film is available for viewing on Channel 4 right now.
The National
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Mission: Impossible ranked from worst to best – how does Final Reckoning stack up?
There's no bad Mission: Impossible ranking. In part, that's because there's no bad Mission: Impossible film. Which one you pick as your favourite depends on which ingredient you value highest. Want character development and emotionality? Watch Ethan Hunt become a desperate husband trying to save the woman he loves in Mission: Impossible 3. Want awe-inspiring thrills? See him scale Dubai's Burj Khalifa in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. Beautiful images? Director John Woo's Mission: Impossible 2 is for you. Want shocking twists and turns? Throw on the first one. Since that initial instalment made its debut in 1996, producer/star Tom Cruise has willed his big-screen adaptation of a '60s TV show into a body of work that has justifiably come to define him as both an actor and a man. And in an era in which classic big-screen action filmmaking increasingly like a relic of another era, the Mission: Impossible films are a haven for those who still chase the surprise and delight that can only be found in the shared theatrical experience. With the release of the latest and possibly final instalment coming to cinemas on May 21 across the Middle East, here's how alll films – including Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning – stack up. It's hard to place any of these films at the bottom. And Mission: Impossible 3, directed by JJ Abrams, lands here despite boasting the best villain in the series (played by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman) and the most emotions. It turns Ethan from a hero largely without a singular identity into a loving husband pulled back into a deadly world against his will – who will stop at nothing to keep his wife safe. The Keri Russell cameo sequence is the best thing to be found here, and her final line is the most haunting in the entire franchise. While Tom Cruise dangling inches above a white floor in the first film will remain the definitive image of the series, no image will define Cruise's own legacy more than him hanging atop the Burj Khalifa in the fourth instalment . But while the action in Ghost Protocol, directed by Brad Bird, is often gorgeous, jaw-dropping and balletic, it's also the thinnest, least affecting story in the franchise. And because it almost completely lacks emotion, it loses nearly all momentum after the still-thrilling UAE sequence. If this is indeed the end, it's a worthy one. The action is the most tense Cruise and company have produced to date, and it's surprisingly emotional. Here, Cruise has pushed both the form and themselves to their absolute limits. But it's bogged down by too much exposition, particularly in the first hour, to pass its predecessors. There are two main reasons why the excellent Dead Reckoning was so disappointing for so many, despite boasting so many strengths. One is that Fallout was an impossible act to follow. But more importantly, its marketing campaign, centred around a behind-the-scenes featurette, spent too much time showing audiences the central stunt that was supposedly the reason for buying a ticket. Finally seeing it in context later felt like something of an afterthought. But revisit it, and you'll find it's not only full of the franchise's trademark thrills, it's also the funniest film they've made to date. After Brian De Palma, Cruise had trouble finding a director who could capture all aspects that a masterful Mission film requires. Abrams could tell a tale on the page but wasn't capable enough as a visual storyteller. Brad Bird increased the scale of the action, but the story fell flat. Christopher McQuarrie, meanwhile, put it all together in the most cohesive film since the first. It's no wonder Cruise has kept him connected at the hip ever since. Revisiting the entire franchise in preparation for Final Reckoning, I was ready to hate Mission: Impossible 2. As a kid, it was the coolest movie I'd ever seen, but over the years I'd accepted the opinion that it had aged poorly, and now sat as a cheesy blight on the franchise. What a delight to discover that, despite a plodding first half and painful villain, the second hour is transcendent, and includes some of the best purely visual storytelling in the history of action filmmaking, let alone this franchise. John Woo may have made this his own too much for the franchise's own good, but on its own, it's a gem. The first film the series does more than just lay the groundwork for what is to come. On its own, it's among the best spy thrillers ever made, thanks to a cracking and twisty script and De Palma working at the top of his game. Even nearly 30 years on, it's still endlessly rewatchable and each time better than you remembered it being. For the sheer breadth and scale of what this series can achieve, there is no better example than Fallout. It's a flawlessly constructed film, featuring seemingly unstoppable momentum that builds to a breathtaking crescendo. The only film that comes close to its heights is Cruise's own Top Gun: Maverick.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jesse Plemons to play his former movie dad Philip Seymour Hoffman's role in 'Hunger Games' prequel
Jesse Plemons is heading to Panem. The Academy Award-nominated star has joined The Hunger Games prequel Sunrise on the Reaping as the younger version of a character originated by a familiar collaborator. Plemons has been cast as Plutarch Heavensbee, played by the late and great Philip Seymour Hoffman in the original film franchise. Notably, Plemons previously starred opposite Hoffman as his onscreen son in Paul Thomas Anderson's 2012 psychological drama The Master. 'Jesse is one of the most talented actors of his generation, with a proven record of picking his roles selectively," Erin Westerman, co-president of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said in a statement. "We are honored that he has chosen to bring his own take to one of the most fascinating figures in Panem, and feel that his previous collaboration with Philip Seymour Hoffman makes it all the more special. His Plutarch will be both a tribute to the character fans have already come to know and a portrayal he makes his own."The upcoming prequel centers on a teenage Haymitch Abernathy (originated by Woody Harrelson and to be played by Joseph Zada in this iteration) as he's reaped for the 50th Hunger Games, otherwise known as the Second Quarter Quell. Plutarch, future Head Gamemaker of the 75th Hunger Games and commander of the rebel forces, is a young Capitol cameraman in this timeline who is tasked with documenting the tributes of District 12. (And he's already got rebellion on his brain.) Hoffman, who died in February of 2014, made his final on-screen appearance in the last two films of the franchise, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 and Part 2. Franchise director Francis Lawrence, who will return to helm the upcoming prequel, did not use CGI to complete Hoffman's remaining scenes, instead opting to rewrite the script and redistributing some of his dialogue to other characters. 'He was one of the greatest actors, I think, of all time, and I just think to try to fake a Philip Seymour Hoffman performance would have been catastrophic and I would never want to do that,' Lawrence told HuffPost in late 2014. 'I just think this was the best way to be able to get around such a horrible thing.' Plemons' most recent credits include Alex Garland's unnerving dystopian feature Civil War and Yorgos Lanthimos' surrealist dramedy Kinds of Kindness, as well as the miniseries Zero Day and anthology series Black Mirror. Whitney Peak has also been cast as Lenore Dove, Haymitch's girlfriend and a Covey descendant of none other than Lucy Gray Baird from the Coriolanus Snow prequel The Ballad of Songbirds of Snakes, which was adapted into a film in 2023. Rachel Zegler played Lucy Gray, while Tom Blyth played a young Coriolanus Snow, originated by the late Donald Sutherland in the original film franchise. Mckenna Grace has also joined as Maysilee Donner, Haymitch's fellow District 12 tribute and ally. Ready to return to the arena? Sunrise on the Reaping arrives in theaters Nov. 20, 2026. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
