In 2012, Selwyn Seyfu Hinds wrote a supernatural comic book, Dominique Laveau: Voodoo Child, published by Vertigo Comics. Then in 2019, he wrote an episode of Jordan Peele’s Twilight Zone. Fast forward to the present day, where he is the creator and showrunner of the Hulu original series, Washington Black. The series is based on Esi Edugyan’s best-selling novel of the same name. Academy Award and Emmy Award-nominated actor Sterling K. Brown leads the series as Medwin Harris.
Washington Black follows the 19th-century journey of George Washington Black, an 11-year-old boy born on a sugar plantation whose scientific mind sends him on an unexpected destiny. When an incident forces Wash to flee, he is thrust into an adventure that will challenge and reshape his idea of family, freedom, and love. Upon charting new waters, Wash finds the courage to imagine beyond what society has in store for him.
Washington Black...
Washington Black follows the 19th-century journey of George Washington Black, an 11-year-old boy born on a sugar plantation whose scientific mind sends him on an unexpected destiny. When an incident forces Wash to flee, he is thrust into an adventure that will challenge and reshape his idea of family, freedom, and love. Upon charting new waters, Wash finds the courage to imagine beyond what society has in store for him.
Washington Black...
- 7/21/2025
- by Ricky Valero
- FandomWire
Now that the Thanksgiving food coma is behind us, it's time to look at the joy and cheer of the holiday season, and there is no better way to do that than with some Christmas movie favorites. While films such as Home Alone and A Christmas Story are a go-to for many, other, more low-key choices have also moved up the ranks over the years. That has happened with the 2005 comedy-drama The Family Stone, a film that received mixed reviews upon release but was a financial success. In the years since its initial debut, the film has gained in popularity, even if it's a bit divisive due to some of the dramatic turns it takes despite its cheerful holiday setting.
A quick glance at the latest Prime Video chart shows that The Family Stone is currently ranked second, a strong showing as holiday movie watching kicks into high gear. Some...
A quick glance at the latest Prime Video chart shows that The Family Stone is currently ranked second, a strong showing as holiday movie watching kicks into high gear. Some...
- 12/2/2024
- by Gaius Bolling
- MovieWeb
As the Christmas season approaches, you're probably ready to get into the holiday spirit with some on-brand movies — and if we're putting aside all but one streaming service, there are some pretty great selections on Amazon's Prime Video. I'm just as susceptible to holiday cheer as anyone else, and whether they're from my childhood or new discoveries, I like to settle in on a chilly early winter night with a holiday-themed movie. So what are some great selections on Prime Video?
This list obviously excludes anything that requires a secondary subscription — looking at you, movies available on Prime through Max and Starz — as well as anything you have to pay to rent, but there are still some pretty solid holiday movies to choose from on the online retailer's proprietary streamer. From dramatic family Christmases to a sprawling British ensemble comedy to one of the most famous (and emotional) Christmas movies in cinematic history,...
This list obviously excludes anything that requires a secondary subscription — looking at you, movies available on Prime through Max and Starz — as well as anything you have to pay to rent, but there are still some pretty solid holiday movies to choose from on the online retailer's proprietary streamer. From dramatic family Christmases to a sprawling British ensemble comedy to one of the most famous (and emotional) Christmas movies in cinematic history,...
- 11/29/2024
- by Nina Starner
- Slash Film
The Family Stone is a traditional Hollywood film that borrows elements from classic movies, using stylized acting and visual design to create a festive atmosphere. The film includes queer-coded subtext, featuring a gay couple as a background subplot, with themes of acceptance and being true to oneself. The Stone family's dynamics reflect societal gender norms and prejudices, emphasizing the importance of embracing differences and staying united as a family.
As the year closes and the annual trip back home awaits, the holidays represent the joyous spirit of bringing people together. For the Stone Family, this yearly tradition is coveted and cherished, a festive reunion for one of the most beloved on-screen families. Played by some of the best actors in the business, the Stone’s eschew Hollywood’s stereotypical dysfunctional family, playfully accepting each other’s personality quirks in exchange for undying loyalty, including membership to the tribalistic holiday traditions they hold so dearly.
As the year closes and the annual trip back home awaits, the holidays represent the joyous spirit of bringing people together. For the Stone Family, this yearly tradition is coveted and cherished, a festive reunion for one of the most beloved on-screen families. Played by some of the best actors in the business, the Stone’s eschew Hollywood’s stereotypical dysfunctional family, playfully accepting each other’s personality quirks in exchange for undying loyalty, including membership to the tribalistic holiday traditions they hold so dearly.
- 12/20/2023
- by Kevin Kodama
- MovieWeb
Taiko drums play at the Gilbert Foundation for the deaf and Sara (Jorga Fox) receives a text from Gil (William Petersen) saying he's needed in Peru on an investigation. Sara notices some shadows going at it in the bathroom. Gil tells her that the deaf love the vibrations from the drums. Julia (Marlee Maitlin) is the Head of the Department of Deaf Cultural studies and comments Sara must be 'The Other Mrs Grissom'. However, Gil's mother, Betty Grissom (Phyllis Frelich) replies that Sara kept her own name. Betty's proud of Julia and thinks of her as a daughter. She was Gil's ex. Dr Lambert (Anthony Natale) is the Director of the Foundation. Betty can't help sticking the boot in saying Gil's away a lot. Which Sara finds annoying to say the least. Dare I ask, was the Gilbert Foundation named for Gil. Outside Sara hears an explosion in the...
- 4/11/2011
- by mhasan@corp.popstar.com (Mila Hasan)
- PopStar
Taiko drums play at the Gilbert Foundation for the deaf and Sara (Jorga Fox) receives a text from Gil (William Petersen) saying he's needed in Peru on an investigation. Sara notices some shadows going at it in the bathroom. Gil tells her that the deaf love the vibrations from the drums. Julia (Marlee Maitlin) is the Head of the Department of Deaf Cultural studies and comments Sara must be 'The Other Mrs Grissom'. However, Gil's mother, Betty Grissom (Phyllis Frelich) replies that Sara kept her own name. Betty's proud of Julia and thinks of her as a daughter. She was Gil's ex. Dr Lambert (Anthony Natale) is the Director of the Foundation. Betty can't help sticking the boot in saying Gil's away a lot. Which Sara finds annoying to say the least. Dare I ask, was the Gilbert Foundation named for Gil. Outside Sara hears an explosion in the...
- 4/11/2011
- by mhasan@corp.popstar.com (Mila Hasan)
- PopStar
The Next Three Days
Directed by: Paul Haggis
Cast: Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks, Olivia Wilde
Running Time: 2 hrs 2 mins
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: November 19, 2010
Plot: John (Crowe) and Laura (Banks) are a married couple whose life is nearly destroyed when Laura is accused of murder. John will do anything to get her out.
Who’S It For? It’s a slow-building thriller. You have to have some patience and also believe that Crowe isn’t too much of a star to play an everyman.
Expectations: Almost zero. I knew next to nothing about this film. Thriller, Russell Crowe … that’s it. That’s the list.
Scorecard (0-10)
Actors:
Russell Crowe as John Brennan: This is most definitely a “Russell Crowe film” and here’s the amazing thing: he can still play a regular guy. That’s not true with other actors. It’s very hard to put yourself in...
Directed by: Paul Haggis
Cast: Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks, Olivia Wilde
Running Time: 2 hrs 2 mins
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: November 19, 2010
Plot: John (Crowe) and Laura (Banks) are a married couple whose life is nearly destroyed when Laura is accused of murder. John will do anything to get her out.
Who’S It For? It’s a slow-building thriller. You have to have some patience and also believe that Crowe isn’t too much of a star to play an everyman.
Expectations: Almost zero. I knew next to nothing about this film. Thriller, Russell Crowe … that’s it. That’s the list.
Scorecard (0-10)
Actors:
Russell Crowe as John Brennan: This is most definitely a “Russell Crowe film” and here’s the amazing thing: he can still play a regular guy. That’s not true with other actors. It’s very hard to put yourself in...
- 11/19/2010
- by Jeff Bayer
- The Scorecard Review
Everett Stone (Dermot Mulroney) and Meredith Morton (Sarah Jessica Parker) are on their way to Stone's family home to introduce Morton to his parents. Amy Stone (Rachel McAdams), Everett's sister, precedes the visit by informing her parents of Meredith's personality quirks, including a nasal sound she makes when nervous. Sybil (Diane Keaton) and Kelly (Craig T. Nelson) are waiting impatiently for their son and Meredith's arrival. Their son, Thad (Tyrone Giordano) arrives with his partner Patrick Thomas (Brian White). Pregnant Susannah ...
- 10/16/2010
- by Vicki Perry, Eugene Comedy Movie Examiner
- Examiner Movies Channel
Have a question about gay male entertainment? Contact me here (and be sure and include your city and state and/or country!)
Q: Do you have any guilty pleasures when it comes to gay movies? I like the good ones (to me anyway) like Ciao and Guys and Balls. But there are some I like where the dialogue is terrible and the acting is very questionable: Angora Ranch and An Angel Named Billy. So do you have any you are brave enough to admit to liking? — Ed, London, Ontario, Canada
A: Do I have any guilty pleasures?!
First, yes, there are a few micro-budgeted gay films where the acting and production values are questionable, but that are still worth watching. I’m willing to forgive a lot if I get some sense that the actors and producers believe in what they’re doing, if they created an unintentional comedy, or if there's full-frontal male nudity.
Q: Do you have any guilty pleasures when it comes to gay movies? I like the good ones (to me anyway) like Ciao and Guys and Balls. But there are some I like where the dialogue is terrible and the acting is very questionable: Angora Ranch and An Angel Named Billy. So do you have any you are brave enough to admit to liking? — Ed, London, Ontario, Canada
A: Do I have any guilty pleasures?!
First, yes, there are a few micro-budgeted gay films where the acting and production values are questionable, but that are still worth watching. I’m willing to forgive a lot if I get some sense that the actors and producers believe in what they’re doing, if they created an unintentional comedy, or if there's full-frontal male nudity.
- 3/11/2010
- by Brent Hartinger
- The Backlot
Have a question about gay male entertainment? Send it to aftereltonflyingmonkey@yahoo.com! (Please include your city and state and/or country.)
A Note from the Flying Monkey: Of the many emails I receive every week for my column, some are so good that they simply can’t be answered in just a few words. So from time to time, the editors have decided to let me out of the “cage” of that regular column, in a feature we’re calling Monkey Uncaged!
Q: What, in your opinion, is the worst gay film ever made? Why? – A.R.
A: A couple of months ago, I wrote a list of what I considered to be the ten most “important” gay male films – not what I felt were the “best,” mind you, but the ones that I felt had had the most impact either on the Glbt community or society at large.
A Note from the Flying Monkey: Of the many emails I receive every week for my column, some are so good that they simply can’t be answered in just a few words. So from time to time, the editors have decided to let me out of the “cage” of that regular column, in a feature we’re calling Monkey Uncaged!
Q: What, in your opinion, is the worst gay film ever made? Why? – A.R.
A: A couple of months ago, I wrote a list of what I considered to be the ten most “important” gay male films – not what I felt were the “best,” mind you, but the ones that I felt had had the most impact either on the Glbt community or society at large.
- 10/14/2009
- by Brent Hartinger
- The Backlot
The Los Angeles cast of Pippin includes Michael Arden, Jonah Blechman, Dan Callaway, Bryan Terrell Clark, Nicolas Conway, Rodrick Covington, James Royce Edwards, Tl Forsberg, Sara Gettelfinger, Tyrone Giordano, Harriet Harris, Rebecca Ann Johnson, Troy Kotsur, Jos? F. Lopez, Jr., John McGinty, Anthony Natale, Aleks Pevec, Victoria Platt, Ty Taylor, Nikki Tomlinson, Melissa Van Der Schyff and Alexandria Wailes. Tony Award winning, the musical is composed by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell) and is directed by Jeff Calhoun. Deaf West Theatre is best known to Los Angeles audiences for their Ctg productions of Big River, at the Taper and Sleeping Beauty Wakes at the Kirk Douglas Theatre.
- 1/29/2009
- BroadwayWorld.com
Center Theatre Group and Deaf West Theatre's production of "Pippin" opens the Mark Taper Forum's 2009 season on Sunday, January 25, at 6:30 p.m. Both deaf and hearing actors sign and sing the magical musical comedy with book by Roger O. Hirson and music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. Directed and choreographed by Jeff Calhoun, "Pippin" continues performances through March 15. "Pippin" is the captivating coming of age story about a young man's search for meaning in his life, as told by a lively band of troubadours in the Roman Empire. The episodic quest of Pippin, the son of the powerful Charlemagne, takes him through battlefields, orgies, revolution, and finally, love and domesticity, as he tries to find a place for his "spirit to run free," for his "corner of the sky." This production interweaves music, voice, American Sign Language and dance, and combines powerful storytelling techniques from both hearing and deaf cultures.
- 1/25/2009
- BroadwayWorld.com
Center Theatre Group and Deaf West Theatre's production of "Pippin" opens the Mark Taper Forum's 2009 season on Sunday, January 25, at 6:30 p.m. Both deaf and hearing actors sign and sing the magical musical comedy with book by Roger O. Hirson and music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. Directed and choreographed by Jeff Calhoun, "Pippin" continues performances through March 15. "Pippin" is the captivating coming of age story about a young man's search for meaning in his life, as told by a lively band of troubadours in the Roman Empire. The episodic quest of Pippin, the son of the powerful Charlemagne, takes him through battlefields, orgies, revolution, and finally, love and domesticity, as he tries to find a place for his "spirit to run free," for his "corner of the sky." This production interweaves music, voice, American Sign Language and dance, and combines powerful storytelling techniques from both hearing and deaf cultures.
- 1/21/2009
- BroadwayWorld.com
Hello and welcome to another week Boxwishers. So there’s only a matter of days left to get your Christmas shopping completed online – eek! It’s a stressful time to be sure, but we’ve got you covered with our comprehensive gift guides that help steer you in the right direction. Whether buying for a man or a woman, keen on movie merchandise or working to a tight budget, we’re the place to shop for your favourite film fan. However, if you’re more interested in getting in the Xmas atmos before the big day, here’s our rundown of some of the best seasonal flicks out there and some inspirational Boxwish ideas…
If you see… Michael Caine bellow “bah humbug” as Ebenezer Scrooge in this chirpy version of the festive classic The Muppet Christmas Carol.
Why Not Read the original tale of Ebenezer (minus the muppets) with the unforgettable Charles Dickens novel.
If you see… Michael Caine bellow “bah humbug” as Ebenezer Scrooge in this chirpy version of the festive classic The Muppet Christmas Carol.
Why Not Read the original tale of Ebenezer (minus the muppets) with the unforgettable Charles Dickens novel.
- 12/15/2008
- Boxwish.com
The Family Stone
With his observations about the clash between a tightly wound Manhattan careerist and her boyfriend' s loose-limbed New England clan, writer-director Thomas Bezucha puts a fresh slant on the dynamics of family-reunion Christmas movies. But "The Family Stone" spends too much time on unconvincing romantic-comedy contrivances to be consistently engaging.
Throughout the uneven film and its mixed bag of performances, the compelling point of focus is Diane Keaton's smart, funny, spot-on natural portrait of the formidable Stone matriarch. Fans of the actress and of Sarah Jessica Parker, in her first major post-"Sex and the City" film role, will flock to the holiday offering, which should be a draw for older audiences and women.
Unfortunately, Parker is one of the actors who fares least well here. Fans looking for Carrie Bradshaw's irreverence will find instead a multitasking, throat-clearing control freak. Parker does, however, deliver some strong moments late in the proceedings, when script mechanics release her character, Meredith, from the Stone family's sacrificial altar.
The story unfolds over three days in an unidentified New England town, where Meredith and her boyfriend, Everett (Dermot Mulroney), visit his artsy mother and professor father (Craig T. Nelson, lending low-key strength). The deck is stacked against her: Everett's outspoken younger sister Amy (Rachel McAdams), having already met Meredith, hates her. And Sybil (Keaton), a striking, casually dressed woman with a Susan Sontag-style shock of white hair, regards Meredith with a roll of the eyes and a sneer of disdain when she crosses the threshold in Black Power pumps that couldn't be more out of place. Who wouldn't feel intimidated?
Where Bezucha (whose other feature credit is the indie "Big Eden") gets it right is in his clear-eyed depiction of the way ultra-tolerant, "open-minded" people can be utterly intolerant -- and even delight in being mean, with McAdams and Keaton offering fine examples. But he layers his story with romantic alignments and realignments that all feel forced.
The roundelay begins when Meredith, under passive-aggressive siege, summons her sister to lend moral support. When Everett lays eyes on the luminous Julie (Claire Danes), as clear a contrast to the shrill Meredith as could be imagined, his mask of misery finally melts. Like Parker, Mulroney is constrained by a role that doesn't quite parse. However mismatched Everett and Meredith May be, any couple this appearance-conscious would at least try not to look as downright miserable as these two do. And as successful businesspeople, they would know how to work a room somewhat better than they manage here.
But families have a way of laying low our best defenses, and as this gathering unravels, Meredith's chief ally is not her boyfriend but his brother (Luke Wilson, in one of the film's best performances), a documentary film editor exuding a soulful -- and cannabis-enhanced -- serenity. Also seeing through Meredith's brittle demeanor to her self-doubt is Nelson's paterfamilias Kelly, providing counterpoint to Sybil and Amy's drama for flash judgments.
Rounding out the brood are married, pregnant daughter Susannah (Elizabeth Reaser) and youngest son Thad (Tyrone Giordano), perhaps Bezucha's most loaded construct. Thad is gay and deaf, his partner (Brian White) is black, and they're planning to adopt. All of which would be fine if Thad didn't exist merely as a setup for the dinner-table debacle in which Meredith, speaking her mind, plants both feet firmly in mouth and proceeds to do a Riverdance.
It's no wonder that Sybil is bracing herself against Everett's request for the heirloom ring -- the second meaning of the film's title -- that she had promised him for his intended, long before Meredith entered the picture. Keaton brings a bracing acerbity to Sybil, who reneges on that promise with an unapologetic, "Tough shit". Although she's not always likable, her toughness and honesty are her family's life force.
The production has a suitably unfussy sheen, with Jane Ann Stewart's production design and Shay Cunliffe's costumes conveying the Stone home's lived-in, bohemia-tinged comfort. New Jersey and Connecticut locations serve well as the snow-covered burg. A holiday-themed bonus awaits Keaton fans who stay to the end of the credits.
THE FAMILY STONE
20th Century Fox
Fox 2000 Pictures presents a Michael London production
Credits:
Director-screenwriter: Thomas Bezucha
Producer: Michael London
Executive producer: Jennifer Ogden
Director of photography: Jonathan Brown
Production designer: Jane Ann Stewart
Music: Michael Giacchino
Costume designer: Shay Cunliffe
Editor: Jeffrey Ford
Cast:
Sybil Stone: Diane Keaton
Julie Morton: Claire Danes
Meredith Morton: Sarah Jessica Parker
Everett Stone: Dermot Mulroney
Kelly Stone: Craig T. Nelson
Ben Stone: Luke Wilson
Amy Stone: Rachel McAdams
Thad Stone: Tyrone Giordano
Patrick Thomas: Brian White
Susannah: Elizabeth Reaser
MPAA rating PG-13
Running time 103 minutes...
Throughout the uneven film and its mixed bag of performances, the compelling point of focus is Diane Keaton's smart, funny, spot-on natural portrait of the formidable Stone matriarch. Fans of the actress and of Sarah Jessica Parker, in her first major post-"Sex and the City" film role, will flock to the holiday offering, which should be a draw for older audiences and women.
Unfortunately, Parker is one of the actors who fares least well here. Fans looking for Carrie Bradshaw's irreverence will find instead a multitasking, throat-clearing control freak. Parker does, however, deliver some strong moments late in the proceedings, when script mechanics release her character, Meredith, from the Stone family's sacrificial altar.
The story unfolds over three days in an unidentified New England town, where Meredith and her boyfriend, Everett (Dermot Mulroney), visit his artsy mother and professor father (Craig T. Nelson, lending low-key strength). The deck is stacked against her: Everett's outspoken younger sister Amy (Rachel McAdams), having already met Meredith, hates her. And Sybil (Keaton), a striking, casually dressed woman with a Susan Sontag-style shock of white hair, regards Meredith with a roll of the eyes and a sneer of disdain when she crosses the threshold in Black Power pumps that couldn't be more out of place. Who wouldn't feel intimidated?
Where Bezucha (whose other feature credit is the indie "Big Eden") gets it right is in his clear-eyed depiction of the way ultra-tolerant, "open-minded" people can be utterly intolerant -- and even delight in being mean, with McAdams and Keaton offering fine examples. But he layers his story with romantic alignments and realignments that all feel forced.
The roundelay begins when Meredith, under passive-aggressive siege, summons her sister to lend moral support. When Everett lays eyes on the luminous Julie (Claire Danes), as clear a contrast to the shrill Meredith as could be imagined, his mask of misery finally melts. Like Parker, Mulroney is constrained by a role that doesn't quite parse. However mismatched Everett and Meredith May be, any couple this appearance-conscious would at least try not to look as downright miserable as these two do. And as successful businesspeople, they would know how to work a room somewhat better than they manage here.
But families have a way of laying low our best defenses, and as this gathering unravels, Meredith's chief ally is not her boyfriend but his brother (Luke Wilson, in one of the film's best performances), a documentary film editor exuding a soulful -- and cannabis-enhanced -- serenity. Also seeing through Meredith's brittle demeanor to her self-doubt is Nelson's paterfamilias Kelly, providing counterpoint to Sybil and Amy's drama for flash judgments.
Rounding out the brood are married, pregnant daughter Susannah (Elizabeth Reaser) and youngest son Thad (Tyrone Giordano), perhaps Bezucha's most loaded construct. Thad is gay and deaf, his partner (Brian White) is black, and they're planning to adopt. All of which would be fine if Thad didn't exist merely as a setup for the dinner-table debacle in which Meredith, speaking her mind, plants both feet firmly in mouth and proceeds to do a Riverdance.
It's no wonder that Sybil is bracing herself against Everett's request for the heirloom ring -- the second meaning of the film's title -- that she had promised him for his intended, long before Meredith entered the picture. Keaton brings a bracing acerbity to Sybil, who reneges on that promise with an unapologetic, "Tough shit". Although she's not always likable, her toughness and honesty are her family's life force.
The production has a suitably unfussy sheen, with Jane Ann Stewart's production design and Shay Cunliffe's costumes conveying the Stone home's lived-in, bohemia-tinged comfort. New Jersey and Connecticut locations serve well as the snow-covered burg. A holiday-themed bonus awaits Keaton fans who stay to the end of the credits.
THE FAMILY STONE
20th Century Fox
Fox 2000 Pictures presents a Michael London production
Credits:
Director-screenwriter: Thomas Bezucha
Producer: Michael London
Executive producer: Jennifer Ogden
Director of photography: Jonathan Brown
Production designer: Jane Ann Stewart
Music: Michael Giacchino
Costume designer: Shay Cunliffe
Editor: Jeffrey Ford
Cast:
Sybil Stone: Diane Keaton
Julie Morton: Claire Danes
Meredith Morton: Sarah Jessica Parker
Everett Stone: Dermot Mulroney
Kelly Stone: Craig T. Nelson
Ben Stone: Luke Wilson
Amy Stone: Rachel McAdams
Thad Stone: Tyrone Giordano
Patrick Thomas: Brian White
Susannah: Elizabeth Reaser
MPAA rating PG-13
Running time 103 minutes...
- 12/20/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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