Innholdsfortegnelse for 01/03/2024 i Variety

Yes, Madam (1985) Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock deliver a master class in ass-kicking in the climactic showdown of this “girls with guns” classic. Supercop (1992) In a chaotic chase scene, the actor dodges numerous attacks while clinging to a van before diving into a convertible. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) In an unforgettable duel with Jen Yu (Zhang Ziyi), Yeoh’s Shu Lien wields countless weapons against the legendary Green Destiny sword. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) A soulful spar between Ying Nan and her nephew Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) gave Marvel audiences a taste of “Crouching Tiger”-style fight scenes. Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) A multiverse-spanning clash over a butt plug is as well choreographed as it is beautifully outrageous.…

BLITZ BAZAWULE “The Color Purple” After first being “converted to the religion of cinema” by evangelicals screening Martin Scorsese’s “The Last Temptation of Christ” in his native Ghana, Bazawule’s 2018 debut, “The Burial of Kojo,” garnered him immediate praise; by 2020, he had directed episodes of Ava DuVernay’s series “Cherish the Day,” Beyoncé’s feature-length album video, “Black Is King” and was hired to direct the musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s classic “The Color Purple.” He admits that the prospect of tackling the iconic property was daunting at first. “When you get the opportunity to even pitch for it, the first question becomes, ‘What are you possibly going to add to this canon?’ That was my first biggest piece of anxiety,” says Bazawule. He turned to Walker’s novel for inspiration. “I…

Narrowing down a field of more than 300 movies is far more daunting than awards enthusiasts assume. On Dec. 21, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled the shortlist in 10 categories for the upcoming Oscars: international feature, documentary feature, original score, original song, sound, makeup and hairstyling, visual effects, animated short, documentary short and live action short film. As expected, major Oscar frontrunners were among those included on these lists. Leading the way was Greta Gerwig’s metacomedy “Barbie,” which racked up five mentions across three categories, including three for its original songs — “What Was I Made For?” (by Billie Eilish and Finneas), “I’m Just Ken” (by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt) and “Dance the Night” (by Dua Lipa). Despite a snub in the makeup and VFX…

Every few years, the Golden Globes have a category hiccup. In 2015, the Ridley Scott-Matt Damon sci-fi film “The Martian” was nominated (and won) for best motion picture — musical or comedy, even though no one thought it was a comedy. A month ago, in that same category, the Globes gave a nomination to “May December,” Todd Haynes’ acclaimed but hard-to-categorize film based, not so loosely, on the true story of Mary Kay Letourneau. She, of course, was the sixth-grade teacher who spent seven years in prison after having sex with one of her 12-year-old students, whom she then went on to marry and have a family with. Categorizing “May December” as a “musical or comedy” is a lot more eyebrow-raising than calling “The Martian” one. In this case, though,…

AWARDS CIRCUIT Which movie will rule the Globes? Predicting the best picture winner at the Oscars is akin to forecasting a storm approaching land, with any shifts in its trajectory likely altering its destination. No such weather patterns exist for the revamped Golden Globes: Given that the group is embracing a new network (CBS), an untested host (Jo Koy) and 300 voting members worldwide, the Jan. 7 ceremony could be one of the most surprising in its history. The industry tends to anoint a presumed Oscar juggernaut. On one hand, the Globes might further cement a “Barbenheimer” Oscar battle by awarding Greta Gerwig’s toy-doll comedy and Christopher Nolan’s atomic bomb creation drama best picture in their respective categories. And although the group divides best picture and the lead acting performances…

Following years of delays and pandemic restrictions, and now celebrating a post-strike awards season, what better way to kick off the 35th annual Palm Springs Intl. Film Festival than with a “fun and naughty film,” says festival director Lili Rodriguez. Thea Sharrock’s “Wicked Little Letters” will enjoy its U.S. premiere Jan. 5 at the desert fest, followed by 179 films from 74 countries including 47 premieres (eight world, three international, 12 North American and 24 U.S.), while showcasing a lineup of 40 international feature film Oscar submissions. “The real excitement is that we’re back to a full-on festival with all pre-pandemic offerings, and 100% venue capacity. The moment we saw ‘Wicked Little Letters,’ we knew we needed it as our opener,” says Rodriguez. Among films earning attention at PSIFF include…

The Golden Globes couldn’t have picked a better producing team to handle this year’s kudocast, given the scramble to put together a show following the Hollywood strikes. Up until early November, negotiations with talent hadn’t even begun due to the work stoppage, and it wasn’t clear whether a resolution would come in time. But as the SAG-AFTRA strike was resolved on Nov. 9, the dams finally burst and White Cherry Entertainment’s Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss got to work. The duo and their shingle are pros who have helmed some of the biggest events in live TV in recent decades — including the 2023 Oscars, as well as previous editions of the Primetime Emmys, the Super Bowl halftime show, the Tony Awards, the Kennedy Center Honors and President Biden’s inauguration.…

Just as movie theaters seemed to finally recover from the pandemic — and the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon augured a new age of bold studio filmmaking — here comes 2024 to (potentially) spoil the party. It’s not just that studios pushed many potential blockbusters into 2025 amid Hollywood’s labor strikes. It’s that hardly any of the movies still on the calendar appear to have wind at their backs. (Then again, in 2023, a doll, a plumber and a physicist outgrossed everyone.) Here’s how 2024 could unfold at the box office. SURE THINGS DUNE: PART TWO WARNER BROS. | MARCH 1 Thrill factor: In the time since “Dune: Part One” grossed $402 million globally (while debuting simultaneously on HBO Max), Timothée Chalamet only cemented his star power with “Wonka.” Chill factor: The box…

Michelle Yeoh cracked history open when she won the Oscar for best actress for “Everything Everywhere All at Once” last March, but she’s not sitting back to bask in the glow. “I exercise every day,” she says. “I do my whole routine of being in shape and knowing my moves. When you are in shape and ready to strike, it’s not difficult.” Yeoh is describing her process for a harrowing fight scene in her new series “The Brothers Sun,” out Jan. 4 on Netflix. But as a martial arts icon who made her mark in some of the most influential action movies of all time — “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Supercop,” “Yes, Madam” — it’s no surprise she’s prepared for all comers. Yeoh has kept moving since her Oscar win…

In any year, some successful directors carve out artistic identities through a distinctive visual vocabulary, or by repeatedly mining particular themes. But it’s rare, even among highly acclaimed filmmakers, for a director to establish a new cinematic language. Yorgos Lanthimos is on his way to doing just that. The Greek-born director will be honored Jan. 5 with Variety’s Creative Impact in Directing Award for his stirring body of work, which includes his latest effort, “Poor Things.” Star Emma Stone will present Lanthimos with the award during Variety’s annual Directors to Watch and Creative Impact Awards brunch at the Palm Springs Intl. Film Festival. From psychological thrillers to absurdist comedies, Lanthimos’ movies all tend to land as social commentary, steeped in both keen observation and probing curiosity about the world.…

Palm Springs reigns as the undisputed, retro-chic capital of laid-back luxury. New restaurants, boutique hotels and revamped downtown, the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza, includes a spring-fed, 73,000-square-foot deluxe spa. Here’s a taste of what’s around and to come: Thompson Palm Springs The 168-room Thompson Palm Springs is slated to open later this year above a highly visible corner in the Uptown Design District, complete with a chef-driven Mediterranean restaurant, pool area with stunning mountain views and a streetside tasting room from Napa Valley’s prestigious Hall Wines. 414 N. Palm Canyon Dr. Agua Caliente Cultural Museum Native fan palms and cascading streams re-create the peaceful environment of the nearby Indian Canyons at the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza and lead to the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum and adjacent Spa at Sec-he. Visitors…

FILM REVIEW Director: Daniel Levy Starring: Daniel Levy, Ruth Negga, Himesh Patel It’s one thing to direct an episode of the sitcom on which you appeared for six seasons. “Schitt’s Creek” star Daniel Levy aced that exercise back in 2020, earning an Emmy for co-helming the series finale. But it’s an entirely different challenge to write and direct a smart, sensitive original feature in which you also play the lead character — a feat Levy deftly achieves with New Year’s tearjerker “Good Grief,” giving those unsatisfied with the rest of Netflix’s fluffy Christmas fare something substantial to kick off 2024. The first week of January seems a fitting time to release a film about three friends shedding their skin for the next chapter in their lives. Appropriately enough, Levy’s debut…