Latest news with #StevenSoderbergh
Business Times
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Times
Jurassic World Rebirth reveals a franchise more brain-dead than ever
[NEW YORK] In Jurassic World Rebirth, we are told it's been 32 years since dinosaurs were brought back to life and now all humans are bored with them. Well, the truth is the dinosaurs are not really the problem. This franchise is. The latest entry is a reboot of the reboot that trudges along at a deathly dull pace towards making millions of US dollars at the box office. Even the introduction of a monstrous hybrid dino that looks, hilariously, like a T rex crossed with a bloated xenomorph from Alien cannot make this thing any less sleepy. There's dumb fun-like the best of the last trilogy, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, which puts dinos in the trappings of a haunted house film. And then there's just dumb. This falls into the latter category. It's disappointing because there was reason to be slightly optimistic about this instalment. For one, it brought back original Jurassic Park scribe David Koepp, who's recently been making delightful small-scale genre experiments with Steven Soderbergh such as the sexy spy thriller Black Bag. Gareth Edwards was given director duties, and that guy knows big scaly things, having taken on Godzilla in 2014. And then there's the cast, which includes talented performers such as Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali and Jonathan Bailey looking adorable in tiny little glasses, which indicate that he is, indeed, a nerd and not just a super-handsome movie star. Jurassic World Rebirth was created to be the kind of summer thrill ride that will still draw people into multiplexes, ideally with a 4DX upcharge and viral popcorn bucket. I have no doubt it will be the cash cow it's intended to be. Too bad it's so boring. Why? Well, that's thanks to the plot. Not only have people gotten tired of dinosaurs, the dinosaurs themselves have also failed to adapt to the modern climate. (One of the most evocative images Edwards creates is a sickly brontosaurus collapsing in New York City.) The surviving dinosaurs mostly live in a region near the equator where they can still thrive. No one really goes there, but our intrepid heroes are forced to when pharmaceutical rep Martin Krebs (Rupert Friend) comes a-calling. You see, Martin's employer is looking to make a medication using dino DNA that can cure heart disease, but they need samples from living dinosaurs. As such, he recruits a mercenary named Zora Bennett (Johansson), a scientist named Henry Loomis (Bailey) to help ID the correct species, and a swaggering boat captain, Duncan Kincaid (Ali). There are other people on the journey, but they're not played by particularly famous people and so you know they are going to end up eaten. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Before we get to the rampaging beasties, Koepp's screenplay gives us tedious sequences of dialogue that emphasise just how sad everyone is. Zora recently lost a colleague (during a comically vague training mission in Yemen) and did not attend her mother's funeral. Duncan's kid died and he split with his wife. Henry is working in a profession no one cares about anymore. Boo. Hoo. These moments are supposed to endear us to the trio, who stand in contrast to the greedy Martin, but the scenes are dramatically inert. Just as the team is about to reach its first reptilian target, they all get some company when they rescue a stranded family whose boat was overturned by a giant, crocodile-like mosasaurus-you know, the dino in the first Jurassic World. Now why was divorced dad Reuben (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) taking his kids on a trip from Barbados to Cape Town in prehistoric-animal-infested waters? Many people ask that question, but there's no good answer. He might be a terrible dad. Still, the main reasoning for this storyline seems to be that the Jurassic movies must have an adorable tyke in peril, and that role is fulfilled by Audrina Miranda, who plays Reuben's younger daughter, Isabella. She even, eventually, gets a cute, tiny dino sidekick that looks like a mini triceratops, whom she names Dolores. Eventually, all these folks land on an abandoned island that used to be a research facility where the corporation InGen cooked up genetic mashups to lure people to the parks. Naturally, that plan went poorly so now the land is inhabited by supersize baddies in addition to the classics. There are moments of wonder and times when everyone has to flee screaming. We have seen some version of these beats before-and none are ever handled as well as they were in the Spielberg classic. The action is perfunctory. And, while there's at least one clever showdown involving a yellow life raft versus a T rex, largely the stakes feel very small even while the creatures are very big. It quickly becomes clear the movie isn't going to dispatch any of the major characters, and even if it did, they are all so thinly drawn it would be hard to care. So by the time the towering so-called D rex shows up with its balloon-like head, it's hard to get nervous about the terror it's supposed to instill. It mostly just looks seriously goofy. But, alas, there are no camp pleasures to be found in Jurassic World Rebirth, just lacklustre attempts at thrills. You will wish you were extinct. BLOOMBERG
Toronto Star
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
TIFF 2025: Toronto's Chandler Levack among five directors premiering new films this fall: ‘I'm completely overjoyed'
The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is just over two months away, and its lineup is starting to take shape. On Thursday, the festival announced that it will be screening world premieres of films by established and emerging filmmakers, including Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh ('The Christophers'), Spanish director Alejandro Amenábar ('The Captive'), South Korean director Sung-hyun Byun ('Good News'), American director Nia DaCosta ('Hedda') and Canada's own Chandler Levack ('Mile End Kicks').
Geek Tyrant
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
ANDOR Creator Tony Gilroy Reveals Scrapped His James Bond Movie Pitch — GeekTyrant
Tony Gilroy might be best known right now for his work on the Star Wars series Andor , but long before Cassian Andor was trying to take down the Empire, Gilroy was building a different kind of spy story, with The Bourne Identity series. Well, it turns out, he also once had his sights set on yet another iconic spy… James Bond. During a recent appearance on The Playlist's The Rogue Ones podcast, Gilroy dropped some fascinating details about a Bond film he and Steven Soderbergh once pitched. It was an unconventional take that would've shaken-up the Bond franchise in a cool way. 'We wanted to go back to the '60s and do it in black and white and do Carnaby St. and do the whole thing. I thought it was a really swinging idea, like $30 million [budget], but he couldn't get them to… they just wouldn't give anybody control.' A black-and-white Bond film set in the swinging '60s? Lean, stylish, and likely unlike anything we've seen in the franchise before. I could've gotten behind that! But, the idea never made it past the pitch stage, thanks to the franchise's notoriously tight creative grip, especially under the longtime stewardship of Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. Gilroy even had a villain ready to go, though he's keeping that one locked in the MI6 vault for now. 'I had a great villain,' he said, refusing to share more. With Amazon now owning MGM and the Bond rights, the landscape is shifting fast. What was a hard 'no' five years ago might now be a real possibility. With Bond 26 still unannounced and names like Denis Villeneuve, Edgar Wright, and Jonathan Nolan being floated, there's all different kinds of ideas that could be explored. Gilroy's not really involved with anything involving Bond right now, but that doesn't mean the door is closed. If Amazon really wants to breathe new life into Bond, letting bold storytellers take creative swings could be the smartest move yet, and that's probably why they won't do it. I have a feeling they are going to play it extremely safe with this franchise. But, I sure would be interesting in seeing a big swing like a monochrome, mod-era Bond thriller with a killer villain. Would you want to see Tony Gilroy take on 007? Let us know what you think.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New on Hulu in June 2025 — all the new shows and movies to watch
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Hard to believe it's almost June already, which means Hulu is gearing up with a fresh batch of new shows and movies to dive into this month. The biggest buzz is around the return of 'The Bear' for its highly anticipated fourth season, which is bound to have even more kitchen chaos and emotional intensity. On the movie front, there's the fresh movie release 'Predator: Killer of Killers' and the supernatural thriller 'Presence.' Below, I've rounded up my top picks among what's new on Hulu in June 2025, along with a complete list of everything new arriving (and what's leaving the streaming service) so you can plan your watchlist without missing a beat. 'Presence' is one of the most quietly original movies I've seen in a while. If you missed its limited run back in January, now's a good time to watch — especially if you're into supernatural thrillers that do something a little different. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, the entire movie is told from the point of view of the unseen entity haunting a house. Yep, the camera is the ghost. The movie begins with an ordinary family moving into a sleek new house that looks picture-perfect on the outside. But underneath the surface, things are already unraveling. The parents are barely holding their marriage together, the son is a rising swim star who's letting it go to his head, and the daughter is quietly falling apart after losing a close friend. As the family's tension builds, so does the sense that something isn't right in the house. The big question becomes not just what this presence wants, but why it's here in the first place. Stream on Hulu from June 3 If you're an 'Alien' or 'Predator' fan like me, this is seriously the year to be excited. Not only are we getting 'Alien: Earth' in a few months, but there are two new 'Predator' movies on the way: 'Predator: Killer of Killers' and 'Predator: Badlands.' And while both sound promising, 'Killer of Killers' is the one I've got my eye on — it's got a seriously cool animation style that already sets it apart from anything we've seen in the franchise before. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, 'Predator: Killer of Killers weaves together three distinct storylines: a Viking warrior leading her son on a revenge-fueled journey, a ninja in feudal Japan who clashes with his samurai brother over a brutal power struggle, and a WWII pilot who stumbles upon an ominous aerial threat while on a mission. This upcoming animated movie is crashing onto Hulu in just over a week, and the new trailer offers a glimpse of the chaos and bloodshed that's coming with it. Stream on Hulu from June 6 Ready to dive back into the heat of Chicago's most chaotic kitchen? 'The Bear' season 4 will soon arrive, bringing us back into the high-stress world of Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) and his relentless pursuit of culinary perfection alongside a team that's just as unpredictable as the food they serve. When we last left off, Carmy's newly launched fine-dining restaurant had just gotten a lukewarm review from the Chicago Tribune. On top of that, his right-hand chef, Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edebiri), is at a crossroads after quietly receiving a tempting offer from a rival restaurant. Beyond all the chaos at work, season 4 will likely dive deeper into Carmy's personal battles, exploring the tension with Richie and the unfinished business he still has with Claire. Stream on Hulu starting June 25 June 1 Adam (2019) Alien (1979) Alien 3 (1992) Alien Resurrection (1997) Alien vs. Predator (2004) Alien: Covenant (2017) Aliens (1986) Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007) Beasts Of The Southern Wild (2012) Before Midnight (2013) Betsy's Wedding (1990) Beverly Hills Ninja (1997) Big Eden (2000) Big Fish (2003) The Big Hit (1998) Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son (2011) Blue Jasmine (2013) Boy Meets Girl (2014) Breakin' All the Rules (2004) The Bronze (2016) Bubble Boy (2001) Bugsy (1991) Cedar Rapids (2011) The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader (2010) Cold Pursuit (2019) Cyrus (2010) Daddy Day Care (2003) Death on the Nile (2022) Deja Vu (2006) Delivery Man (2013) Dude, Where's My Car? (2000) Edge of Tomorrow (2014) Elena Undone (2010) Freddy Got Fingered (2001) The Girl Next Door (2004) Grown Ups (2010) Grown Ups 2 (2013) Happy Gilmore (1996) The Heat (2013) Hitchcock (2012) Hurricane Bianca (2016) Idiocracy (2006) Independence Day (1996) The Joy Luck Club (1993) Just Go With It (2011) Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) Let's Be Cops (2014) Loving Annabelle (2006) Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! (2018) Mamma Mia! (2008) The Mask (1994) Me And Earl And The Dying Girl (2015) Mirrors (2008) The Namesake (2007) A Perfect Ending (2012) Pineapple Express (2008) Predator (1987) The Predator (2018) Predator 2 (1990) Predators (2010) Pride + Prejudice + Zombies (2016) Prometheus (2012) Reno 911! Miami: The Movie (2007) Sordid Lives (2000) 28 Weeks Later (2007) The War of the Roses (1989) We're The Millers (2013) Working Girl (1988) You Don't Mess With The Zohan (2008) June 3 I've Somehow Gotten Stronger When I Improved My Farm-Related Skills Complete Season 1 (DUBBED & SUBBED) Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid Complete Season 1 (DUBBED & SUBBED) The Quiz With Balls Season 2 Premiere So I'm a Spider, So What? Complete Season 1 (DUBBED & SUBBED) Wise Man's Grandchild Complete Season 1 (DUBBED & SUBBED) Yuri on Ice Complete Season 1 (DUBBED & SUBBED) Presence (2025) June 4 The Great House Revival Complete Season 5 June 5 National Anthem (2023) June 6 Not Her First Rodeo Complete Season 1 Predator: Killer of Killers Film Premiere Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006) Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999) Hot Shots! (1991) Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993) Shallow Hal (2001) The Ringer (2005) June 8 Scream (2022) June 9 Beyblade X Season 1B June 10 Call Her Alex And Then We Danced (2019) Clifford the Big Red Dog (2021) June 11 The Snake Series Premiere Gran Turismo (2023) June 12 The 1% Club Season 2 Premiere June 13 Atsuko Okatsuka: Father Special Premiere Absolution (2024) June 14 90 Day Fiancé Complete Season 5 90 Day Fiancé UK Complete Season 2 Guy's Grocery Games Complete Seasons 32 & 33 I'd Kill For You Complete Season 3 Joel McHale Live from Pyongyang (2019) June 16 My Happy Ending Complete Season 1 (Sub) Black Christmas (2019) June 17 SALLY (2025) Skincare (2024) June 19 The Quiet Ones (2024) June 20 The Bravest Knight Season 2B Out Come the Wolves (2024) June 23 Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything Documentary Premiere Helck Complete Season 1 (DUBBED & SUBBED) My Instant Death Ability is Overpowered Complete Season 1 (DUBBED & SUBBED) My Isekai Life Complete Season 1 (DUBBED & SUBBED) June 24 Survive (2024) June 25 FX's The Bear Complete Season 4 June 27 F*ck Marry Kill (2024) June 29 The Bachelor Complete Seasons 27 & 28 June 31 Boonie Bears: Time Twist (2024) Texas True Crime Complete Season 5 The Actor (2025) June 1 Christmas with the Campbells June 2 The Amazing Maurice June 4 Intrigo: Dear Agnes June 8 Indemnity June 10 Here Before Warhunt June 11 Intrigo: Samaria June 13 The Worst Person in the World June 17 Ted K The Ledge June 22 The Burning Sea June 24 Big Gold Brick Gasoline Alley June 25 The Desperate Hour June 30 Transfusion 31 best movies on Hulu to stream right now How to watch the 'Alien' movies in order How to watch the 'Predator' movies in order
Digital Trends
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
Erin Brockovich is the movie you need to stream on Peacock this month
The year 2000 was an excellent one for director Steven Soderbergh. He directed not one, but two Best Picture nominees. Plus, Soderbergh took home the Oscar for Best Director for Traffic. The other movie he made that year is even better than Traffic. Erin Brockovich, starring Julia Roberts at the peak of her powers, follows a single mother of three children who discovers a massive coverup being perpetuated by a major energy company. Here are three reasons you should check it out while it's on Peacock: Recommended Videos We also have guides to the best new movies to stream, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+. Julia Roberts has never been better People don't often win Oscars for the movie they delivered their best performance in, but that was absolutely the case here. Roberts' version of Erin Brockovich is a firecracker — a volatile woman who cares deeply about the real people affected by this cover-up and becomes determined to help them. Crucially, the movie suggests that Brockovich's kindness and her willingness to listen are central to the discoveries made in the case and to ultimately get these people the kind of settlement they deserve. Brockovich is highly competent, even if that competence is packaged a little unconventionally. The movie is a delicate tonal balance Because it's based on a true story, Erin Brockovich always feels grounded in some sort of reality. At the same time, the movie is always both funny and at least some degree, tense, in part because Brockovich and the small law firm she works for are going up against a massive conglomerate. The movie works because it's perfectly paced and because it knows exactly how to make all its characters feel interesting and alive. That's a result of great performances, but also thanks to Soderbergh's complete mastery of the moviemaking process. It's cast with people who feel real Julia Roberts is one of the most beautiful and radiant people alive. She's perfectly cast as Brockovich, who often feels larger than life. Soderbergh then chose to fill out the rest of the cast with actors like Albert Finney and Aaron Eckhart, who are plausible as people you might meet in a rural part of California. The movie's verisimilitude is key to its overall effect, and the actors that inhabit the movie's universe are key to that working. While there's a lot of pain and turmoil in this movie's plot, it doesn't hurt to have a happy ending. You can watch Erin Brockovich on Peacock.
