For a certain sector of TV watchers, “Schmigadoon!” was a glorious gift from heaven, an homage to and sly sendup of musicals from Broadway’s golden age in Season 1 and musicals from the darker and seedier ’70s and ’80s in Season 2. Then, Apple TV+ canceled the comedy, and TV got a little less weird and fun.
Now comes word that the musical — which starred Keegan Michael-Key and Cecily Strong as a couple who, first accidentally and then intentionally, land in a world where everyone lives up to the standards of musical theater convention — will make its live-action debut at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., in January 2025, directed and choreographed by the series’ choreographer, Christopher Gattelli with a book, music, and lyrics by series creator Cinco Paul.
In a review of Season 1, IndieWire’s Kristen Lopez wrote, “’Schmigadoon’ is a gamble, but it’s one I hope pays off.
Now comes word that the musical — which starred Keegan Michael-Key and Cecily Strong as a couple who, first accidentally and then intentionally, land in a world where everyone lives up to the standards of musical theater convention — will make its live-action debut at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., in January 2025, directed and choreographed by the series’ choreographer, Christopher Gattelli with a book, music, and lyrics by series creator Cinco Paul.
In a review of Season 1, IndieWire’s Kristen Lopez wrote, “’Schmigadoon’ is a gamble, but it’s one I hope pays off.
- 5/7/2024
- by Mark Peikert
- Indiewire
[Editor’s note: This list was first published in May 2021 and has been updated multiple times since.]
Is there any entertainment force more seemingly unstoppable than true crime? Humanity’s most dastardly deeds have fascinated audiences for centuries. And in the modern age, the streaming wars and social media are feeding, accelerating, and encouraging that fixation at an unprecedented scale and rate. The result is an unending cycle of notorious crimes revisited via documentary that’s punctuated by real-time internet clips showing everything from minor fights in grocery stores to homicides carried out by police.
As the world gets darker, many TV and movie lovers have turned their attention to this increasingly macabre subject matter to simultaneously distract themselves from the news and lean into the fraught reality of narratives considering real crimes. From podcasts and documentaries to prestige dramas and sitcoms lampooning the genre, true crime is everywhere. Learning about its most frequented subject areas — corrupt police, biased justice systems, unreliable evidence, and the like — is...
Is there any entertainment force more seemingly unstoppable than true crime? Humanity’s most dastardly deeds have fascinated audiences for centuries. And in the modern age, the streaming wars and social media are feeding, accelerating, and encouraging that fixation at an unprecedented scale and rate. The result is an unending cycle of notorious crimes revisited via documentary that’s punctuated by real-time internet clips showing everything from minor fights in grocery stores to homicides carried out by police.
As the world gets darker, many TV and movie lovers have turned their attention to this increasingly macabre subject matter to simultaneously distract themselves from the news and lean into the fraught reality of narratives considering real crimes. From podcasts and documentaries to prestige dramas and sitcoms lampooning the genre, true crime is everywhere. Learning about its most frequented subject areas — corrupt police, biased justice systems, unreliable evidence, and the like — is...
- 4/20/2024
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
[Editor’s Note: The below piece was originally published on November 20, 2018. It has since been updated.]
Evaluating animated TV can be tricky. Not only is animation a medium that crosses a wide range of genres, but so many of our earliest memories in front of a screen are tied to an animated series, short, or special, and that impermeable nostalgia can be difficult to penetrate with typical critical tools like reason, logic, and other objective criteria. Some shows just click. They hit at the right time and capture a blossoming imagination. When it comes to ranking animated series, you’re not just analyzing TV shows. You’re critiquing childhoods.
Of course, animation is also one of the more expansive TV subsets, with dozens of different tones and styles that make comparisons often feel like apples and oranges. There are cartoons, anime, short films, short series, short films turned into short series, web series, adult-oriented animation, and that’s before digging into all the individual genres, like...
Evaluating animated TV can be tricky. Not only is animation a medium that crosses a wide range of genres, but so many of our earliest memories in front of a screen are tied to an animated series, short, or special, and that impermeable nostalgia can be difficult to penetrate with typical critical tools like reason, logic, and other objective criteria. Some shows just click. They hit at the right time and capture a blossoming imagination. When it comes to ranking animated series, you’re not just analyzing TV shows. You’re critiquing childhoods.
Of course, animation is also one of the more expansive TV subsets, with dozens of different tones and styles that make comparisons often feel like apples and oranges. There are cartoons, anime, short films, short series, short films turned into short series, web series, adult-oriented animation, and that’s before digging into all the individual genres, like...
- 3/20/2024
- by Ben Travers and Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
The musical sometimes feels like a relic of a long-dead Hollywood studio system, but it remains a genre that captures movies’ ability to create story worlds that move freely between reality and fantasy. The worst examples come from filmmakers who give license to music, color, and movement to run amok; the best transcend artifice and integrate songs that become expressions of pure character emotion. Musicals offer endless possibilities, but success demands a complete mastery of the medium.
The best movie musicals of all time have faced obstacles as varied as their creators’ styles and tastes. That’s in part because its integration of at least two art forms — music and film always, but sometimes also dance — demands an unusually high-caliber of multi-faceted talent from those attempting its complexities.
After Lee De Forest invented the “talky,” the opportunity oozing from that new tech prompted an industry rush on musicals in the last days of the 1920s.
The best movie musicals of all time have faced obstacles as varied as their creators’ styles and tastes. That’s in part because its integration of at least two art forms — music and film always, but sometimes also dance — demands an unusually high-caliber of multi-faceted talent from those attempting its complexities.
After Lee De Forest invented the “talky,” the opportunity oozing from that new tech prompted an industry rush on musicals in the last days of the 1920s.
- 3/20/2024
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Two years after ending its two-year run on Peacock — and subsequently being rescued by Netflix — Meredith Scardino’s musical comedy “Girls5Eva” is ready for its new streaming home. Seasons 1 and 2 are set to move from Peacock to Netflix in March, and they’ll be accompanied by the all-new Season 3, which dropped its first trailer on Thursday.
Hailing from executive producers Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, “Girls5Eva” follows an eponymous singing group that achieved pop superstardom in the 1990s before engaging in a struggle-filled reunion in the present day. Led by a cast that includes music and Broadway veterans Sara Bareilles and Renée Elise Goldsberry, the show earned a passionate fanbase for its irreverent humor and catchy songs. What it didn’t earn on Peacock, was much of an audience.
“Peacock has had a rough time with their original content. Outside of their nostalgic reboot of ‘Saved By the Bell,’ the...
Hailing from executive producers Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, “Girls5Eva” follows an eponymous singing group that achieved pop superstardom in the 1990s before engaging in a struggle-filled reunion in the present day. Led by a cast that includes music and Broadway veterans Sara Bareilles and Renée Elise Goldsberry, the show earned a passionate fanbase for its irreverent humor and catchy songs. What it didn’t earn on Peacock, was much of an audience.
“Peacock has had a rough time with their original content. Outside of their nostalgic reboot of ‘Saved By the Bell,’ the...
- 2/15/2024
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
A heartfelt celebration of the magic of Disney, and a joyful new entry to the studio’s animated film legacy, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Wish will soon be available for families to enjoy at home. Fans can enjoy a sing-along movie version, never-before-seen bonus features and deleted scenes when the film becomes available from all major digital retailers including Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu on January 23 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD March 12. A heartwarming and magical story, Wish has been described as “Wondrous”, “Enchanting” and “more than a film. It’s a love letter ... Read more...
- 1/12/2024
- by Thomas Miller
- Seat42F
With the fall festival circuit firmly in the rearview mirror, many of the most anticipated films of the 2023 fall season have already screened for critics. One of the last films that remained unseen was “The Iron Claw,” Sean Durkin’s new A24 sports drama that tells the story of the Von Erich wrestling family. The film, which stars Zac Efron as Kevin Von Erich and Jeremy Allen White as Kerry Von Erich, premiered in Dallas on Wednesday before screening for critics in Los Angeles on Sunday. And early reactions suggest that A24 could have another hit on its hands.
“The Iron Claw” documents the rapid rise to wrestling superstardom and even quicker fall toward tragedy that befell the Von Erich family. After family patriarch Fritz Von Erich (played by Holt McCallany in the film) built a following as a villainous heel on the wrestling circuit, his sons entered the business in quick succession.
“The Iron Claw” documents the rapid rise to wrestling superstardom and even quicker fall toward tragedy that befell the Von Erich family. After family patriarch Fritz Von Erich (played by Holt McCallany in the film) built a following as a villainous heel on the wrestling circuit, his sons entered the business in quick succession.
- 11/12/2023
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
There’s one word that appears again and again when you search for the first reactions to “The Marvels” on X: fun. Following its premiere Tuesday night, the latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been praised as a “short” and “sweet” movie from the studio despite its disappointing opening weekend projections.
Full reviews for the film are set to drop later on Wednesday. But that deadline didn’t stop several reporters and critics from posting their initial take on the movie.
Many praised the movie for its humor. Rachel Leishman, assistant editor of The Mary Sue, called the installment “genuinely hilarious and exciting to watch from start to finish.” Lyra Hale, editor at Remezcla, took her praise a step further, revealing that the movie was “most I’ve laughed in a Marvel movie since the first [“Guardians of the Galaxy].”
#Themarvels is short, sweet, and a hell of a lot of fun.
Full reviews for the film are set to drop later on Wednesday. But that deadline didn’t stop several reporters and critics from posting their initial take on the movie.
Many praised the movie for its humor. Rachel Leishman, assistant editor of The Mary Sue, called the installment “genuinely hilarious and exciting to watch from start to finish.” Lyra Hale, editor at Remezcla, took her praise a step further, revealing that the movie was “most I’ve laughed in a Marvel movie since the first [“Guardians of the Galaxy].”
#Themarvels is short, sweet, and a hell of a lot of fun.
- 11/8/2023
- by Kayla Cobb
- The Wrap
When it really wants to, Netflix does a great job at letting people know what TV shows it has to offer. Unfortunately, with the never-ending wave of new shows constantly arriving, high-profile creators on the creative roster, and shifts in the streaming wars and algorithms that can upend viewer attention at any moment, there always seem to be series that fall between the cracks.
To go with the ever-growing list of reviews that we publish on the site on a regular basis (including new releases worth your time), IndieWire combed through Netflix to put together a collection of the best series that the streamer has ever had to offer: a perfect resource for when there’s nothing fresh you really fancy. It’s a tricky time for the streaming industry at large, with changes in pricing and user strategy — not to mention sudden removals — signaling a potential sea change. In...
To go with the ever-growing list of reviews that we publish on the site on a regular basis (including new releases worth your time), IndieWire combed through Netflix to put together a collection of the best series that the streamer has ever had to offer: a perfect resource for when there’s nothing fresh you really fancy. It’s a tricky time for the streaming industry at large, with changes in pricing and user strategy — not to mention sudden removals — signaling a potential sea change. In...
- 10/31/2023
- by Steve Greene and Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)
A24, in the span of a decade, has become one of the most trusted names in Hollywood for a certain breed of moviegoer. Though not nearly as big as legacy studios such as Disney or Warner Bros., A24 has garnered a voracious cult following. They release movies that veer far from the mainstream such as the farting corpse flick "Swiss Army Man," Kevin Smith's wild body horror film "Tusk," and the Best Picture winner "Everything Everywhere All at Once." They may not make billion-dollar popcorn flicks, but they sure as heck have carved out a unique brand. That A24 logo means something to people. That carries a certain value.
Unfortunately, that value doesn't always show up on the balance sheet. Yes,...
A24, in the span of a decade, has become one of the most trusted names in Hollywood for a certain breed of moviegoer. Though not nearly as big as legacy studios such as Disney or Warner Bros., A24 has garnered a voracious cult following. They release movies that veer far from the mainstream such as the farting corpse flick "Swiss Army Man," Kevin Smith's wild body horror film "Tusk," and the Best Picture winner "Everything Everywhere All at Once." They may not make billion-dollar popcorn flicks, but they sure as heck have carved out a unique brand. That A24 logo means something to people. That carries a certain value.
Unfortunately, that value doesn't always show up on the balance sheet. Yes,...
- 10/14/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
AMC and Cinemark Theatres launched “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” on October 13, giving fans an up-close look at the singer-songwriter in a concert film directed by Sam Wrench. The movie documents the superstar’s 2023-24 concert tour where she celebrates her entire discography. Swift struck an unprecedented distribution agreement with AMC Theatres and Cinemark Theatres.
The film’s premiere shut down the streets surrounding The Grove in Beverly Hills on Wednesday, and the guest list included Beyoncé, who will launch her own concert film, “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,” on December 1. Critics are heaping praise on Swift’s documentary, which holds a perfect 100% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Read our full review round-up below.
See Taylor Swift’s Eras tour movie premieres with an appearance by Beyonce
Angie Han of The Hollywood Reporter writes, “What a concert it is — and what an experience it makes, even in the relatively...
The film’s premiere shut down the streets surrounding The Grove in Beverly Hills on Wednesday, and the guest list included Beyoncé, who will launch her own concert film, “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,” on December 1. Critics are heaping praise on Swift’s documentary, which holds a perfect 100% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Read our full review round-up below.
See Taylor Swift’s Eras tour movie premieres with an appearance by Beyonce
Angie Han of The Hollywood Reporter writes, “What a concert it is — and what an experience it makes, even in the relatively...
- 10/13/2023
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
The Last Voyage of the Demeter is a supernatural horror film directed by André Øvredal from a screenplay by Bragi F. Schut Jr. and Zak Olkewicz. The film is based on a chapter titled “The Captain’s Log” from the 1897 book Dracula by Bram Stoker. The Lost Voyage of the Demeter follows the crew of a merchant ship named Demeter as Dracula picks them apart one by one.
The supernatural horror film stars Corey Hawkins (BlacKkKlansman) as Clemens, Javier Botet (Slender Man) as Conde Dracula, Aisling Franciosi (God’s Creatures) as Anna, Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones) as Captain Eliot, and David Dastmalchian (The Boogeyman) as Wojchek.
Credit – Universal Pictures
While the critics are not actually loving the film, The Last Voyage of the Demeter could be a worthwhile watch for all the Dracula and gothic horror fans out there. So let’s find what the critics are actually saying about the supernatural horror film.
The supernatural horror film stars Corey Hawkins (BlacKkKlansman) as Clemens, Javier Botet (Slender Man) as Conde Dracula, Aisling Franciosi (God’s Creatures) as Anna, Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones) as Captain Eliot, and David Dastmalchian (The Boogeyman) as Wojchek.
Credit – Universal Pictures
While the critics are not actually loving the film, The Last Voyage of the Demeter could be a worthwhile watch for all the Dracula and gothic horror fans out there. So let’s find what the critics are actually saying about the supernatural horror film.
- 8/11/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
We’re a bit over halfway through the year and 2023 has had its share of great movies already. Festivals like Sundance and SXSW kicked things off early with several strong new films, and the summer movie season has offered its fair share of Best of the Year contenders.
But what makes a movie one of the best? It’s a strange alchemy, from actors to script to story, and of course, taste is subjective. But TheWrap’s film team feels these following 21 films are some of the cream of the crop, with justification for why each should be in any conversation about the “best films of 2023.”
Behold, some of our favorite movies of 2023 so far.
Searchlight Pictures
“Chevalier” (Searchlight Pictures)
“Chevalier” came and went so quickly early in 2023 that it’s only now, revisiting it on Hulu where it’s streaming, that more people are actually taking it in. The...
But what makes a movie one of the best? It’s a strange alchemy, from actors to script to story, and of course, taste is subjective. But TheWrap’s film team feels these following 21 films are some of the cream of the crop, with justification for why each should be in any conversation about the “best films of 2023.”
Behold, some of our favorite movies of 2023 so far.
Searchlight Pictures
“Chevalier” (Searchlight Pictures)
“Chevalier” came and went so quickly early in 2023 that it’s only now, revisiting it on Hulu where it’s streaming, that more people are actually taking it in. The...
- 8/9/2023
- by Kristen Lopez
- The Wrap
“Haunted Mansion” director Justin Simien called out the hypocrisy of people that have criticized him for promoting the Disney film during the ongoing WGA and Sga strikes.
Simien, who is both a writer and director but did not write “Haunted Mansion,” attended the film’s premiere at Disneyland last Saturday, just one day after the SAG strike was authorized.
On Thursday, Simien reposted a video from Tiktok user @foreveralphanso on his Instagram account. In the video, @foreveralphanso outlined the reasons why the backlash to Simien attending the premiere was hypocritical or outright “just wrong.”
“A lot of people are attacking Justin Simien, the director of ‘Disney’s Haunted Mansion’, after he went to the Disney premiere. He only directed the movie. He did not write it and he did not star in the movie. He’s being labeled as a scab, people are saying he’s crossing the picket line,...
Simien, who is both a writer and director but did not write “Haunted Mansion,” attended the film’s premiere at Disneyland last Saturday, just one day after the SAG strike was authorized.
On Thursday, Simien reposted a video from Tiktok user @foreveralphanso on his Instagram account. In the video, @foreveralphanso outlined the reasons why the backlash to Simien attending the premiere was hypocritical or outright “just wrong.”
“A lot of people are attacking Justin Simien, the director of ‘Disney’s Haunted Mansion’, after he went to the Disney premiere. He only directed the movie. He did not write it and he did not star in the movie. He’s being labeled as a scab, people are saying he’s crossing the picket line,...
- 7/20/2023
- by Lawrence Yee
- The Wrap
Lisa Ann Walter is hoping for a first-ever Emmy bid as season two of “Abbott Elementary” looks to up its awards success from the first outing, which won three Emmys. ABC’s mockumentary season comes from multi-hyphenate Quinta Brunson, who stars in the show as well as creates it, writes it, and produces it. It follows a group of public school teachers who work in one of the worst schools in the country but their love for teaching makes them stay to try and better the school and its students. The show is full of wonderful comedic performances, not least from “The Parent Trap” star Walter.
Walter plays second-grade teacher Melissa Schemmenti, who is close with Sheryl Lee Ralph‘s Barbara. Both teachers are veterans at Abbott Elementary, while some of Melissa’s connections outside of school are deemed questionable. Walter has a lot of fun as Melissa, who has...
Walter plays second-grade teacher Melissa Schemmenti, who is close with Sheryl Lee Ralph‘s Barbara. Both teachers are veterans at Abbott Elementary, while some of Melissa’s connections outside of school are deemed questionable. Walter has a lot of fun as Melissa, who has...
- 6/23/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
The media was not quick to embrace Black creatives nor has Juneteenth long been something on its radar. But as different voices enter the culturally and politically shifting landscape, the newly recognized federal holiday — which honors the emancipation of the last enslaved people here in the United States on June 19 — could, or at the very least should, pop up more on screens large and small.
Channing Godfrey Peoples made her directorial debut against the backdrop of Black Lives Matter protests in the summer of 2020 with “Miss Juneteenth“: a feature film starring Nicole Beharie and Alexis Chikaeze as a mother-daughter pair navigating their opposing dreams for the young girl’s future. Before that, “Juneteenth” was the title of Season 1, Episode 9 in Donald Glover’s beloved “Atlanta”: a boundary-breaking FX dramedy about Blackness and celebrity with a surrealist twist.
From tentpoles that changed the box-office game (see “Get Out” and...
Channing Godfrey Peoples made her directorial debut against the backdrop of Black Lives Matter protests in the summer of 2020 with “Miss Juneteenth“: a feature film starring Nicole Beharie and Alexis Chikaeze as a mother-daughter pair navigating their opposing dreams for the young girl’s future. Before that, “Juneteenth” was the title of Season 1, Episode 9 in Donald Glover’s beloved “Atlanta”: a boundary-breaking FX dramedy about Blackness and celebrity with a surrealist twist.
From tentpoles that changed the box-office game (see “Get Out” and...
- 6/18/2023
- by Tambay Obenson and Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
[Editor’s Note: The below piece was originally published on May 12, 2017.]
As long as humans have been passing down stories, those tales have included our capacity to transgress against each other. It’s a tradition literally as old as the Bible.
And beyond documenting how people break the rules that govern our evolving notions of society, we’re constantly fascinated by those charged with righting those wrongs. Whether it follows the detectives who investigate those crimes, those within the judicial system who determine the proper level of punishment, or the friends and family members left in the wake of these actions, this process has become the cornerstone of many of cultural touchstones.
On the TV side, for the better part of two decades when the antihero has reigned supreme, that trend is as prevalent as ever. For every harrowing situation that asks an audience “How would you react in this situation?” there are often dire consequences. There’s no simpler way...
As long as humans have been passing down stories, those tales have included our capacity to transgress against each other. It’s a tradition literally as old as the Bible.
And beyond documenting how people break the rules that govern our evolving notions of society, we’re constantly fascinated by those charged with righting those wrongs. Whether it follows the detectives who investigate those crimes, those within the judicial system who determine the proper level of punishment, or the friends and family members left in the wake of these actions, this process has become the cornerstone of many of cultural touchstones.
On the TV side, for the better part of two decades when the antihero has reigned supreme, that trend is as prevalent as ever. For every harrowing situation that asks an audience “How would you react in this situation?” there are often dire consequences. There’s no simpler way...
- 2/28/2023
- by Ben Travers and Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Few pop culture conversations feel more uninspired to me than those that start with the assertion that "the book is always better." Despite the fact that this platitude about the shortcomings of on-screen adaptations is ubiquitous, adorning countless Instagram posts and Etsy T-shirts, it's frankly not true. Film is a different medium than literature, and visual stories can often expand upon and even interrogate the texts on which they're based. The well-curated, richly researched new book "But Have You Read The Book?" from TCM and The Wrap's film editor Kristen Lopez recognizes this, and in turn starts a series of much more inspired and nuanced conversations. Sometimes, Lopez communicates through the text's 52 examples, the book and the film are both excellent, and their differences are complementary and intriguing.
In keeping with the tradition of other Turner Classic Movies-branded books like Jeremy Arnold's "The Essentials," "But Have You Read The Book?...
In keeping with the tradition of other Turner Classic Movies-branded books like Jeremy Arnold's "The Essentials," "But Have You Read The Book?...
- 2/27/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
TheWrap continues to expand its best-in-class editorial team, and has hired new editors to head up its film and television coverage. Kristen Lopez will serve as the site’s Film Editor and Jose Alejandro Bastidas joins as its new TV Editor, the company announced on Tuesday.
Lopez and Bastidas will be responsible for managing, mentoring and growing their respective editorial teams, in addition to editing and writing film and television news and features. The new hires come on the heels of the promotion of two new co-executive editors, Adam Chitwood and Jethro Nededog, who were former assistant managing editors at TheWrap, promoted on Jan. 1.
“TheWrap continues to build out the most talented editorial team covering entertainment, and Kristen and Jose are smart, passionate and very exciting additions to that roster,” said TheWrap founder and editor-in-chief Sharon Waxman. “I am so excited to see their ideas enhance our editorial offerings.”
Lopez...
Lopez and Bastidas will be responsible for managing, mentoring and growing their respective editorial teams, in addition to editing and writing film and television news and features. The new hires come on the heels of the promotion of two new co-executive editors, Adam Chitwood and Jethro Nededog, who were former assistant managing editors at TheWrap, promoted on Jan. 1.
“TheWrap continues to build out the most talented editorial team covering entertainment, and Kristen and Jose are smart, passionate and very exciting additions to that roster,” said TheWrap founder and editor-in-chief Sharon Waxman. “I am so excited to see their ideas enhance our editorial offerings.”
Lopez...
- 1/17/2023
- by Wrap Staff
- The Wrap
The Los Angeles Press Club’s annual National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards has recognized three IndieWire staff writers for their contributions to criticism and trend stories this year. The 15th National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards evaluated nearly 1,700 entries for 2022, with a trio of IndieWire staff members among the standout selected works.
IndieWire’s Chief Critic David Ehrlich is nominated in the Film Critic category for his reviews of this year’s top films. Deputy TV Editor and critic Ben Travers was nominated in the TV Critic category.
TV Editor Kristen Lopez is additionally recognized in the Commentary Analysis/Trend — Film category for her November 2021 piece, “Film Industry Screenings and Events Have a Disability Accommodation Problem” amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Additionally, IndieWire’s newly hired Senior Business Reporter Brian Welk received three nominations for his prior film industry reporting at TheWrap.
“I’m so proud of our team,” said IndieWire Editor-in-Chief Dana Harris-Bridson.
IndieWire’s Chief Critic David Ehrlich is nominated in the Film Critic category for his reviews of this year’s top films. Deputy TV Editor and critic Ben Travers was nominated in the TV Critic category.
TV Editor Kristen Lopez is additionally recognized in the Commentary Analysis/Trend — Film category for her November 2021 piece, “Film Industry Screenings and Events Have a Disability Accommodation Problem” amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Additionally, IndieWire’s newly hired Senior Business Reporter Brian Welk received three nominations for his prior film industry reporting at TheWrap.
“I’m so proud of our team,” said IndieWire Editor-in-Chief Dana Harris-Bridson.
- 11/4/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Whether you’re chilling out before a costume party or working late at the lab (Halloween is a Monday this year), October 31 practically screams, “Watch something!”
Yes, there are myriad seasonal activities to be enjoyed away from the ghastly glow of your screens: be it bobbing for apples, carving jack-o-lanterns, summoning the undead, or an overpriced rideshare. But few experiences are as instantly and totally transporting as the ones provided by our go-to movies and TV shows. That’s why so many of us insist on sneaking in annual viewings of our favorites between social events and trick-or-treaters. No matter how scary busy our schedules may get, making time for the Halloween tales we cherish feels in some small way important.
Maybe you’re putting on your makeup to the familiar beats of “Beetlejuice” or working from home with “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” to keep you company.
Yes, there are myriad seasonal activities to be enjoyed away from the ghastly glow of your screens: be it bobbing for apples, carving jack-o-lanterns, summoning the undead, or an overpriced rideshare. But few experiences are as instantly and totally transporting as the ones provided by our go-to movies and TV shows. That’s why so many of us insist on sneaking in annual viewings of our favorites between social events and trick-or-treaters. No matter how scary busy our schedules may get, making time for the Halloween tales we cherish feels in some small way important.
Maybe you’re putting on your makeup to the familiar beats of “Beetlejuice” or working from home with “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” to keep you company.
- 10/31/2022
- by Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
In “Girls5eva,” the eponymous girl group declares that they’re “gonna be famous 5eva cause 4eva’s too short.” But the show’s run on Peacock was destined to be much shorter, as the Tina Fey-produced series is taking its third season elsewhere: Netflix has now acquired and renewed the series for a third season, while holding co-exclusive rights to stream the first two. That means Seasons 1 and 2 will be offered on both Netflix and original home Peacock, but Netflix will be the exclusive home for Season 3.
Among Peacock’s most high-profile shows, “Girls5eva” was created by Meredith Scardino, with Fey and Robert Carlock serving as executive producers. It also boasts a cast of prominent names from the worlds of music and musical theatre, including Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Paula Pell, and Busy Philipps.
“Our deepest thanks to Peacock for bringing ‘Girls5eva’ to life and supporting us creatively...
Among Peacock’s most high-profile shows, “Girls5eva” was created by Meredith Scardino, with Fey and Robert Carlock serving as executive producers. It also boasts a cast of prominent names from the worlds of music and musical theatre, including Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Paula Pell, and Busy Philipps.
“Our deepest thanks to Peacock for bringing ‘Girls5eva’ to life and supporting us creatively...
- 10/27/2022
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Documentarian Laura Poitras is calling out the Toronto International Film Festival and Venice Film Festival for providing a “platform” to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Oscar winner Poitras criticized the TIFF and Venice programmers for not asking “hard questions” as to the purpose of the former First Lady’s film endeavors. Clinton and daughter Chelsea Clinton attended both Venice and TIFF to launch AppleTV+ docuseries “Gutsy,” as well as support “In Her Hands,” directed by Tamana Ayazi and Marcel Mettelsiefen and produced by the Clinton family.
“Hillary Clinton was actively involved in the wars and occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Poitras stated during TIFF’s Doc Conference (via Variety). “She supported the escalation of troops. And I really find it troubling that this is all being forgotten and we’re providing a platform.”
Poitras discussed the prosecution of Julian Assange, saying “there is nothing more serious that threatens the First Amendment,...
Oscar winner Poitras criticized the TIFF and Venice programmers for not asking “hard questions” as to the purpose of the former First Lady’s film endeavors. Clinton and daughter Chelsea Clinton attended both Venice and TIFF to launch AppleTV+ docuseries “Gutsy,” as well as support “In Her Hands,” directed by Tamana Ayazi and Marcel Mettelsiefen and produced by the Clinton family.
“Hillary Clinton was actively involved in the wars and occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Poitras stated during TIFF’s Doc Conference (via Variety). “She supported the escalation of troops. And I really find it troubling that this is all being forgotten and we’re providing a platform.”
Poitras discussed the prosecution of Julian Assange, saying “there is nothing more serious that threatens the First Amendment,...
- 9/13/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Indy’s back — again. Years after the fourth film in the “Indiana Jones” franchise worried fans that star Harrison Ford was finally hanging up his hat — remember the scene in which his son, played by Shia Labeouf, quite literally picks up his famous fedora? — the franchise is back with yet another zippy adventure, one that promises that Ford remains the only Indy in the world. The D23 Expo unveiled the first official trailer for the movie in Anaheim on Saturday — but it hasn’t been released online just yet.
In the much-anticipated fifth film of the series, Ford is joined by a number of new stars, including Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Antonio Banderas, Thomas Kretschmann, Boyd Holbrook, Shaunette Renée Wilson, and Toby Jones. Directed by James Mangold, the film features a script from Jez and John-Henry Butterworth, who are also new to the franchise.
During the presentation, an emotional Harrison Ford,...
In the much-anticipated fifth film of the series, Ford is joined by a number of new stars, including Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Antonio Banderas, Thomas Kretschmann, Boyd Holbrook, Shaunette Renée Wilson, and Toby Jones. Directed by James Mangold, the film features a script from Jez and John-Henry Butterworth, who are also new to the franchise.
During the presentation, an emotional Harrison Ford,...
- 9/10/2022
- by Kate Erbland and Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
There’s no “Gray” zone when it comes to how Regé-Jean Page feels about “Bridgerton.”
The “Gray Man” actor will not be returning as Simon Basset, husband of Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) in the Shonda Rhimes-produced Netflix series. In fact, Page is even willing to have his breakout role recast for future seasons.
“They’re free to do as they like,” Page told Variety. “Shonda and I had a wonderful conversation at the end of Season 1. We were quite happy with how we stuck the landing on that one.”
Page continued, “We did so well on that redemptive arc that people forget that Simon was kind of horrific. He was the best example of a Regency fuckboy that any of us had come across. And so, because we came around full circle so well, because we stuck that landing, you’re left with this great feeling. You really do...
The “Gray Man” actor will not be returning as Simon Basset, husband of Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) in the Shonda Rhimes-produced Netflix series. In fact, Page is even willing to have his breakout role recast for future seasons.
“They’re free to do as they like,” Page told Variety. “Shonda and I had a wonderful conversation at the end of Season 1. We were quite happy with how we stuck the landing on that one.”
Page continued, “We did so well on that redemptive arc that people forget that Simon was kind of horrific. He was the best example of a Regency fuckboy that any of us had come across. And so, because we came around full circle so well, because we stuck that landing, you’re left with this great feeling. You really do...
- 7/14/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Critically acclaimed “Reservation Dogs” is howling once again.
Season 2 of the FX on Hulu series premieres with two back-to-back episodes on Wednesday, August 3. The series, co-created by Taika Waititi and Sterlin Harjo, picks up with the teen foursome positioning for their move to California.
As Elora (Devery Jacobs), Bear (D’Pharaoh Woon-a-Tai), Cheese (Lane Factor), and Willie (Paulina Alexis) prepare to run away together after the death of their best friend, the gang continues their petty crime schemes to earn money for the trip.
Penned by an all-Indigenous writing room, “Reservation Dogs” won Best New Scripted Series and Best Ensemble Cast at the Independent Film Spirit Awards in addition to accolades from the Gotham Awards, Peabody Awards, and AFI TV honors.
Oscar-winner Waititi expands his Taika-verse with the FX series centered on Native American teens growing up on a reservation in Oklahoma. IndieWire previously called the series “a tragic meditation on...
Season 2 of the FX on Hulu series premieres with two back-to-back episodes on Wednesday, August 3. The series, co-created by Taika Waititi and Sterlin Harjo, picks up with the teen foursome positioning for their move to California.
As Elora (Devery Jacobs), Bear (D’Pharaoh Woon-a-Tai), Cheese (Lane Factor), and Willie (Paulina Alexis) prepare to run away together after the death of their best friend, the gang continues their petty crime schemes to earn money for the trip.
Penned by an all-Indigenous writing room, “Reservation Dogs” won Best New Scripted Series and Best Ensemble Cast at the Independent Film Spirit Awards in addition to accolades from the Gotham Awards, Peabody Awards, and AFI TV honors.
Oscar-winner Waititi expands his Taika-verse with the FX series centered on Native American teens growing up on a reservation in Oklahoma. IndieWire previously called the series “a tragic meditation on...
- 7/6/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
IndieWire won two major prizes on Saturday night when the Los Angeles Press Club revealed the winners of the 2022 Southern California Journalism Awards. IndieWire’s entire staff was honored as the Best Website, Traditional News Organization, with judges noting that the site is “full of analysis of entertainment issues, not to mention the depth of most of the pieces that immediately pop up on the site. Quite compelling and thought-provoking.”
IndieWire’s Deputy TV Editor and TV Critic Ben Travers also won an award for Entertainment Commentary for his piece TV’s IP Problem: How Reboots, Spinoffs, and Blockbuster Franchises Could Shape the Future. Travers’ win was accompanied by a judge’s comment that noted “the writer brilliantly argues that the repetitive nature of the blockbuster mentality is at the expense of originality we all will have to pay for.”
In his essay, Travers argues that “today, TV does it all,...
IndieWire’s Deputy TV Editor and TV Critic Ben Travers also won an award for Entertainment Commentary for his piece TV’s IP Problem: How Reboots, Spinoffs, and Blockbuster Franchises Could Shape the Future. Travers’ win was accompanied by a judge’s comment that noted “the writer brilliantly argues that the repetitive nature of the blockbuster mentality is at the expense of originality we all will have to pay for.”
In his essay, Travers argues that “today, TV does it all,...
- 6/26/2022
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Simone Ashley’s sex education? Learning the sensual secrets gleaned from gastropods.
The “Bridgerton” Season 2 star revealed that during a 2019 intimacy workshop to prepare for her other role on Netflix’s “Sex Education,” she observed how snails mate to prepare for the series’ onscreen sex scenes.
“We explored the movement of different animals to kind of portray different paces or different sexualities or how sensual something could be,” Ashley described during The Los Angeles Times’ “The Envelope” podcast. “For example, we look to how snails mate, and when snails mate, they actually produce a plasma that intertwines.”
She added, “So if it was a really sensual, slow kind of scene, we’d be like, ‘Oh, it’s like the snail.’ And it’s super like the plasma, like falling like honey. So we would make it about that or how dogs mate or chimpanzees mate — it’s very like fast-paced...
The “Bridgerton” Season 2 star revealed that during a 2019 intimacy workshop to prepare for her other role on Netflix’s “Sex Education,” she observed how snails mate to prepare for the series’ onscreen sex scenes.
“We explored the movement of different animals to kind of portray different paces or different sexualities or how sensual something could be,” Ashley described during The Los Angeles Times’ “The Envelope” podcast. “For example, we look to how snails mate, and when snails mate, they actually produce a plasma that intertwines.”
She added, “So if it was a really sensual, slow kind of scene, we’d be like, ‘Oh, it’s like the snail.’ And it’s super like the plasma, like falling like honey. So we would make it about that or how dogs mate or chimpanzees mate — it’s very like fast-paced...
- 6/22/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
The annual Southern California Journalism Awards released their nominations today, and IndieWire was nominated for five awards honoring the site’s film and TV criticism, commentary, and overall news content.
The awards seek to “support, promote, and defend quality journalism in Southern California” and are presented by the Los Angeles Press Club each year. The tradition has continued for 59 years, and while the media landscape has changed significantly during that time, the organization “continues to call attention to LA’s fine journalists while promoting excellence in new and emerging media.”
IndieWire’s staff was honored with a nomination in the Website, Traditional News Organization category, with four writers were nominated for individual accolades.
IndieWire’s Chief Film Critic David Ehrlich was nominated for Best Criticism of Film, an award that encompasses all of his film reviews from 2021. Associate Editor Jude Dry also scored a nomination for Best Personality Profile, Film...
The awards seek to “support, promote, and defend quality journalism in Southern California” and are presented by the Los Angeles Press Club each year. The tradition has continued for 59 years, and while the media landscape has changed significantly during that time, the organization “continues to call attention to LA’s fine journalists while promoting excellence in new and emerging media.”
IndieWire’s staff was honored with a nomination in the Website, Traditional News Organization category, with four writers were nominated for individual accolades.
IndieWire’s Chief Film Critic David Ehrlich was nominated for Best Criticism of Film, an award that encompasses all of his film reviews from 2021. Associate Editor Jude Dry also scored a nomination for Best Personality Profile, Film...
- 5/23/2022
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
TV is a beautiful medium because it can entrance you for one scene, one episode, one season, or one series at a time. Adding all those pieces together often results in blanket adoration — “the best show of the year,” “the best series of all-time” — but there should also be room to praise each part of the machine. It’s just one more reason end-of-year assessments can be so valuable. IndieWire’s Best Episodes of 2021 list helps identify moments in miniature, scattered over the last 12 months, that made an impact on their respective series, on TV overall, or on each of us individually (if not all three). These episodes stood on their own, executing ideas introduced over the course of a longer timeline or introducing new ones to examine over 15 minutes, half-an-hour, or twice that length.
Episodes are great. There’s a reason viewers revisit “Friends” Thanksgiving episodes each November, British holiday specials over Christmas,...
Episodes are great. There’s a reason viewers revisit “Friends” Thanksgiving episodes each November, British holiday specials over Christmas,...
- 12/7/2021
- by Ben Travers and Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Elle Fanning is returning as Catherine the Great, and this season of Hulu’s comedy series sees that a baby makes three between Fanning’s Catherine and Nicholas Hoult’s Emperor Peter. Of course, you could also argue the addition of Gillian Anderson — as Joanna, Catherine’s mother — makes four, but that’s neither here nor there. The first trailer for Season 2 has dropped, and you can watch the new look below.
This season will mark Catherine’s further expansion into running Russia alongside her bumbling husband. Fanning’s lead finally takes the throne for her own — but if she thought coup-ing her husband was difficult, it’s nothing compared to the realities of “liberating” a country that doesn’t want to be liberated. She’ll battle her court, her team, and even her own mother in a bid to bring the enlightenment to Russia. Meanwhile she’ll also battle...
This season will mark Catherine’s further expansion into running Russia alongside her bumbling husband. Fanning’s lead finally takes the throne for her own — but if she thought coup-ing her husband was difficult, it’s nothing compared to the realities of “liberating” a country that doesn’t want to be liberated. She’ll battle her court, her team, and even her own mother in a bid to bring the enlightenment to Russia. Meanwhile she’ll also battle...
- 10/19/2021
- by Kristen Lopez
- Indiewire
IndieWire received the Los Angeles Press Club’s Southern California Journalism Award for best news website exclusive to the internet at a gala ceremony held October 16.
In their comments, judges said “IndieWire.com is creative, well-curated, and popping with photos and subtle splashes of color.”
IndieWire also received the prize for Obituary/In Appreciation — Film/TV Personalities, which went to Managing Editor Christian Blauvelt for his remembrance of Sean Connery, who died in October 2020. The judges, in their comments, called the obituary a “well-researched, enticing story of mythical leading man Sean Connery’s life with his flaws and triumphs.”
Finally, Chris O’ Falt, Leonardo Adrian Garcia, Kristen Lopez, Steve Greene, and Bill Desowitz shared the third-place prize for Multimedia Package for their IndieWire Influencers TV series.
The 63rd annual Southern California Journalism Awards were held at the Crystal Ballroom at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, where guests were required to provide proof of Covid vaccination.
In their comments, judges said “IndieWire.com is creative, well-curated, and popping with photos and subtle splashes of color.”
IndieWire also received the prize for Obituary/In Appreciation — Film/TV Personalities, which went to Managing Editor Christian Blauvelt for his remembrance of Sean Connery, who died in October 2020. The judges, in their comments, called the obituary a “well-researched, enticing story of mythical leading man Sean Connery’s life with his flaws and triumphs.”
Finally, Chris O’ Falt, Leonardo Adrian Garcia, Kristen Lopez, Steve Greene, and Bill Desowitz shared the third-place prize for Multimedia Package for their IndieWire Influencers TV series.
The 63rd annual Southern California Journalism Awards were held at the Crystal Ballroom at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, where guests were required to provide proof of Covid vaccination.
- 10/17/2021
- by IndieWire Staff
- Indiewire
I Know What You Did Last Summer: "Written and executive produced by Sara Goodman, I Know What You Did Last Summer is based on Lois Duncan’s 1973 novel, which was also the basis of the iconic 1997 film. One year after the fatal car accident that haunted their graduation night, a group of teenagers find themselves bound together by a dark secret and stalked by a brutal killer. As they try to piece together who’s after them, they reveal the dark side of their seemingly perfect town—and themselves. Everyone is hiding something, and uncovering the wrong secret could be deadly. I Know What You Did Last Summer is produced by Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television. Goodman writes and executive produces alongside Original Film’s Neal H. Moritz and Pavun Shetty, Erik Feig, Peter Guber, Atomic Monster’s James Wan, Michael Clear, and Rob Hackett, Craig William Macneill and Shay Hatten.
- 9/16/2021
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Along with unbearable humidity and unexpected heatwaves, July also brings the stark realization that we’re closer to the end of the year than the beginning. And when you apply that same thought to the state of television, it tends to mean we’ve already been given access to a good chunk of the year’s best shows — be it basic math or the rather complicated Emmy cycle, TV fanatics tend to have a decent grip on what the year in TV will look like by now.
Thankfully, 2021 has given us a bevy of outstanding television series. Some are groundbreaking programs that defy typical descriptors. Others put a fresh spin on old formulas, creating new favorites with familiar comforts. Still more use established structures and stars to their advantage, concocting irresistible entertainment everyone can enjoy.
The best TV of the year so far spans far wider than I can fit into this brief preamble,...
Thankfully, 2021 has given us a bevy of outstanding television series. Some are groundbreaking programs that defy typical descriptors. Others put a fresh spin on old formulas, creating new favorites with familiar comforts. Still more use established structures and stars to their advantage, concocting irresistible entertainment everyone can enjoy.
The best TV of the year so far spans far wider than I can fit into this brief preamble,...
- 7/18/2021
- by Ben Travers and Steve Greene
- Indiewire
“Never Have I Ever,” Mindy Kaling’s coming-of-age comedy, is slated to return to Netflix with its sophomore season on July 15. The streaming service recently unveiled the trailer for the show’s Season 2.
Per Netflix, Season 2 of the coming-of-age comedy will follow Indian American teenager Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) as she continues to deal with the everyday pressures of high school and drama at home, while also navigating new romantic relationships. The Season 2 trailer teases that Devi will face some competition via a new student — “another Indian girl who is prettier, cooler,” Devi exclaims with dismay in the trailer.
“Never Have I Ever” is created and executive produced by Kaling (“The Office”), with Lang Fisher serving as co-creator, executive producer, showrunner and writer. The Universal Television project is also executive produced by 3 Arts Entertainment’s Howard Klein and David Miner.
The first season of the show, which premiered on Netflix...
Per Netflix, Season 2 of the coming-of-age comedy will follow Indian American teenager Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) as she continues to deal with the everyday pressures of high school and drama at home, while also navigating new romantic relationships. The Season 2 trailer teases that Devi will face some competition via a new student — “another Indian girl who is prettier, cooler,” Devi exclaims with dismay in the trailer.
“Never Have I Ever” is created and executive produced by Kaling (“The Office”), with Lang Fisher serving as co-creator, executive producer, showrunner and writer. The Universal Television project is also executive produced by 3 Arts Entertainment’s Howard Klein and David Miner.
The first season of the show, which premiered on Netflix...
- 6/19/2021
- by Tyler Hersko
- Indiewire
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