News

The Whistler Film Festival (November 28 — December 2) is hosting the industry’s top screenwriters at highly anticipated 7th consecutive event in Whistler.

This year’s honoured screenwriters will share their personal stories and challenges related to succeeding in today’s film industry at an afternoon conversation on December 1 as part of Wff’s Signature Series as well as receive their coveted award at Wff’s Awards Celebration on December 2.

Hosted by Canadian broadcast veteran George Stroumboulopoulos, festival goers will join this prestigious class of film scribes as they discuss tips and tricks for navigating the film landscape in 2018. The group will also share a behind the scenes look at their current and future projects during this intimate conversation.

Variety’s class of 2018 screenwriters and notable credits include:

Joe Robert Cole, Black PantherBryan Woods and Scott Beck, A Quiet PlaceAshleigh Powell, The Nutcracker And The Four RealmsJay Longino, Uncle DrewElizabeth Chomko, What They HadSofia Alvarez,...

MaryAnn’s quick take… Clint Eastwood turns a terrorist attack into a bit of post-hoc reality “entertainment” with the stunt casting of the actual heroes as themselves in a stilted, tone-deaf piece of Christian-American propaganda. I’m “biast” (pro): nothing

I’m “biast” (con): mostly not a fan of Clint Eastwood lately

I have not read the source material

(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto) women’s participation in this film

(learn more about this)

There is no question that what Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos, and Spencer Stone did on an Amsterdam-to-Paris train in August 2015 is worthy of praise, respect, and the highest commendation: they subdued a terrorist shooter and kept him in custody until the authorities arrived. But this is no way to honor them. Director Clint Eastwood (Sully, American Sniper) tells the story of their deed as a stilted, tone-deaf piece of blatant...

Chicago – What’s up with Clint Eastwood, and why in the Sam Hill did he attach himself as director to this film? Also, why was the decision made to use the actual rescuers as the actors in a true terrorist train incident? Nothing adds up in the strangely disconnected “15:17 to Paris.”

Rating: 2.0/5.0

Before the train heroics, there are three major acts of this film. First, a childhood backstory for the three eventual heroes, which is about as awkward as it sounds, and contains odd castings of B-level TV “names.” Second, the real dudes take over the story of their lives, and it illogically focuses on Spencer Stone and his journey through the Air Force. Third, and the gosh darn weirdest part, is the travelogue that two of the dudes take before they meet up with the third hero in Amsterdam, and board the ill-fated train together. The length and...

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The 15:17 to Paris [my review]

Dorothy Blyskal wrote the script for this docudrama about three young American men who thwarted a terrorist attack on a European train. (male director)

Fifty Shades Freed [my review]

Dakota Johnson costars as a newly married woman whose husband uses his fear over her stalker as an excuse to control her every move. (male writer and director)

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The Female Brain [IMDb]

Whitney Cummings directs, costars, and cowrites with Louann Brizendine (and another male cowriter) a ensemble romantic comedy about why women trip themselves up with men. Also costarring Sofia Vergara, Jane Seymour, and Beanie Feldstein.

Becks [IMDb] pictured

Lena Hall stars in a musical drama about a singer/songwriter who moves back to her hometown after a bad breakup. Codirected by Elizabeth Rohrbaugh, and cowritten by Rohrbaugh and Rebecca Drysdale (and another male cowriter).

FourPlay [IMDb]

Tammy Blanchard and Emanuela Galliussi costar in an ensemble romantic dramedy. Cowritten by Galliussi.

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The 15:17 to Paris [my review]

Dorothy Blyskal wrote the script for this docudrama about three young American men who thwarted a terrorist attack on a European train. (male director)

Fifty Shades Freed [my review]

Dakota Johnson costars as a newly married woman whose husband uses his fear over her stalker as an excuse to control her every move. (male writer and director)

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Loveless [IMDb] pictured

Maryana Spivak costars as a Moscow mother who, like her soon-to-be ex-husband, is so caught up in her own life that her young son goes neglected. (male writers/director)

Please let me know if I’ve missed any movies directed by, written by, or about women.

Please help me continue this work with your financial support. A recurring contribution or a one-time donation, even only $1, is a great help, and tells me that my work here is valued. Thank you. Links here for PayPal, Patreon, and other methods of donating.

Two-time Best Director Oscar winner Clint Eastwood’s latest film, “The 15:17 to Paris,” starts screening nationwide tomorrow, February 9. The thriller revisits an August 2015 terrorist attack that a Moroccan man, armed with a rifle and a box cutter, carried out aboard an Amsterdam-departing train. Five of the passengers — including three Americans — worked to restrain the suspect. Of the train’s 554 passengers, only four sustained injuries, including the attacker, Ayoub El Khazzani.

This is Eastwood’s third homage in a row to heroic patriots (the others were “American Sniper” and “Sully”). After making more than 40 features, the 87-year-old decided to try a new approach, casting non-actors Spencer Stone, Anthony Sadler, and and Alec Skarlatos, the aforementioned trio, who received medals for their valor from the Obama administration. Eastwood’s Warner Bros.-distributed film is an adaptation of their 2016 memoir of the same name, written with journalist Jeffrey E. Stern.

While critics...

“The 15:17 to Paris” starts with some of Clint Eastwood’s worst filmmaking in years and closes with some of his best. In Eastwood’s ambling look at heroism and civic duty, he revisits the famous 2015 instance in which a trio of young Americans stopped a gunman on a train from Brussels, casting the actual men involved to play themselves. The bulk of the drama leading up to the central event often has a stifling quality, marred by heavy-handed foreshadowing and bland monologues about the existential quandaries of young adulthood. However, at 89, Eastwood remains a deeply purposeful filmmaker, and “The 15:17 to Paris” clearly has a plan — it builds to a riveting showdown, with a unique kind of payoff enhanced by the authenticity of its design. It’s a fascinating gamble even when it doesn’t hold together.

Outside of that extraordinary climax, the story of Spencer Stone, Anthony Sadler,...

Director Clint Eastwood returns with The 15:17 to Paris, a film about heroism portrayed by the actual heroes. Spencer Stone, Alex Skarlatos, and Anthony Sadler grew up together in Sacramento, California. Lifelong best friends, the men went on a European vacation in August of 2015. On the Thalys train from Amsterdam to Paris, they thwarted a terrorist attack that could have killed hundreds of people. Stone, Skarlatos, and Sadler were awarded France's Legion of Honor by then President Francois Hollande. Their actions that fateful day were exceptional. Unfortunately, Clint Eastwood's retelling of their story falls woefully flat.

The 15:17 to Paris opens at the train station in Amsterdam, then cuts back in time to their childhoods. We are introduced to Stone and Skarlatos as rambunctious kids. Their divorced, single mothers (Judy Greer, Jenna Fischer), are called to school to deal with their rebellious behavior. The deeply religious women then send the boys to a Christian school,...

On August 21, 2015, three American buddies from Sacramento – Spencer Stone, Anthony Sadler and Alek Skarlatos – were vacationing in Europe. The Air Force medic, Oregon National Guardsman and college student at Sacramento State, respectively, left Amsterdam together and boarded the high-speed 15:17 Thalys train to Paris. Ayoub El Khazzani, a Moroccan-born terrorist, was also on board; he was armed with a Ak-47 assault rifle, a 9mm Luger pistol, a box cutter, a hammer, gasoline and a backpack with enough ammunition to inflict mass casualties on more than 500 passengers. Soon after leaving the first class rest room,...

No matter your opinion on the directing career of Clint Eastwood, it’s impossible not to admire the pace he keeps. At 87 years old, he’s shown no sign of slowing down, essentially putting out a film every other year. It’s not the yearly pace of fellow octogenarian Woody Allen, but it’s not far off. With a new movie opening this week in The 15:17 to Paris, it seems only appropriate to talk about Eastwood a bit, specifically Eastwood the director. He’s an Oscar winner, after all, so even his newest seems like little more than popcorn entertainment, he’s certainly capable of more than one sort of movie. His new film, obviously, is The 15:17 to Paris. Based on a true story, this is the long-is plot description that IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes has: “In the early evening of August 21, 2015, the world watched in stunned silence...

Simon Brew Dec 14, 2017

Here's the trailer for Clint Eastwood's new movie, The 15:17 To Paris, that lands in the UK early in 2018...

As always, Clint Eastwood has been busy over the year making another film, and his latest, The 15:17 To Paris, has now been given a February 9th 2018 release date in the UK. Furthermore a first trailer or the movie has been released, along with an official synopsis.

We’ll do them in turn. Here’s the trailer first…

And here’s the synopsis…

From Clint Eastwood comes “The 15:17 to Paris,” which tells the real-life story of three men whose brave act turned them into heroes during a high-speed railway ride.

In the early evening of August 21, 2015, the world watched in stunned silence as the media reported a thwarted terrorist attack on Thalys train #9364 bound for Paris—an attempt prevented by three courageous young Americans travelling through Europe.

Warner Bros. has released the first trailer for The 15:17 to Paris, the latest from director Clint Eastwood who takes a different approach to this true story adaptation. Instead of finding the right actors to play the heroes who helped thwart a real-life terror attack on a train bound for Paris, the director cast the real-life heroes themselves, with the heroic trio comprised of Anthony Sadler, Oregon National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos, and U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Spencer Stone. We'll have to wait and see if this unique approach pays off for this harrowing true story adaptation.

From Clint Eastwood comes The 15:17 to Paris, which tells the real-life story of three men whose brave act turned them into heroes during a highspeed railway ride. In the early evening of August 21, 2015, the world watched in stunned silence as the media reported a thwarted terrorist attack on Thalys train...

Author: Zehra Phelan

Warner Bros. has released the first trailer for the Clint Eastwood directed The 15:17 to Paris, a real-life hero story which stars the actual men who inspired the film.

The heroic trio is comprised of Anthony Sadler, Oregon National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos, and U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Spencer Stone, who play themselves in the film. Starring alongside them are Jenna Fischer (“Hall Pass,” TV’s “The Office”); Judy Greer (“War for the Planet of the Apes”); Ray Corasani (TV’s upcoming “The Long Road Home”); Pj Byrne (“The Wolf of Wall Street”); Tony Hale (TV’s “Veep”); and Thomas Lennon (“Transformers: Age of Extinction”). Paul-Mikél Williams plays the younger Anthony, Bryce Gheisar plays the younger Alek, and William Jennings plays the younger Spencer.

Eastwood (“Sully,” “American Sniper”) directs from a screenplay by Dorothy Blyskal, based on the book by Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos, Spencer Stone and Jeffrey E. Stern.

Warner Bros. has release the trailer for Clint Eastwood's real-life drama The 15:17 to Paris.

The movie centers on three U.S. servicemen who thwarted a terrorist attack on a train from Brussels to Paris in 2015. Eastwood has cast the real-life heroes — Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos and Spencer Stone — in the film.

Jenna Fischer, Judy Greer and Ray Corasani are also among the cast of the movie, which is based on the book The 15:17 to Paris: The True Story of a Terrorist, a Train and Three American Heroes, written by the trio with Jeffrey E. Stern. Dorothy Blyskal...

Winners of the 2017 Whistler Film Festival were announced at the Awards Celebration this morning on the final day of the 17th annual Festival. Ian Lagarde’s first feature All You Can Eat Buddha and Jason and Carlos Sanchez’s A Worthy Companion tied for the $15,000 cash prize presented by the Directors Guild of Canada, British Columbia and the $15,000 post-production prize sponsored by Encore Vancouver in the 14th edition of the coveted Borsos Competition for Best Canadian Feature Film. The jury states “each in their own way convey unique visions and creative storytelling the jury believes have made and will make powerful contributions to the world of cinema.”A Worthy Companion

A Worthy Companion takes a fresh and new perspective that explores the complexity and humanity within the predator, victim relationship. This film questions how we perpetuate manipulative power dynamics between adult and child through the inner struggle of our female protagonists.

Last week, Mptf (Motion Picture & Television Fund) hosted its sixth annual “Reel Stories, Real Lives” event, a unique evening of powerful readings which told the stories of industry members and their families who have benefitted from Mptf’s services in recent years.

Josh Hartnett Attends Reel Stories, Real Lives

Matthew Broderick, Josh Hartnett, Chrissy Metz, Jessica Rothe, and Will Fetters served as the storytellers. Each story was written by some of Hollywood’s leading feature and television writers including Dorothy Blyskal, Will Fetters, Seth Grahame-Smith, Monica Macer, and Billy Ray. The evening was hosted by actor/writer Kumail Nanjiani, and included a special piece featuring Paramount Pictures Chairman and CEO Jim Gianopulos, introduced by Melissa McCarthy in a hilarious video piece.

To close the show, Gianopulos shared the story of why he got involved with Mptf back at the organization’s 80th Anniversary event. It was there that he heard Ethel Winant,...

Exclusive: Sinqua Walls has been cast in Client Eastwood’s upcoming biopic The 15:17 To Paris from Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow. It’s based on the novel The 15:17 to Paris: The True Story of a Terrorist, a Train, and Three American Heroes by Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos, Spencer Stone and Jeffrey E. Stern about the 2015 thwarted terrorist attack on Thalys train #9364 bound for Paris. Dorothy Blyskal penned the screenplay that follows the course of the friends'…...

Judy Greer and The Office alum Jenna Fischer are set for in the upcoming biopic The 15:17 To Paris, the next project from director Clint Eastwood, which Warner Bros will distribute. The pic, which recounts the 2015 incident where three Americans on a Paris-bound train, thwart an attempted terrorist attack, will also co-star the real-life heroes Anthony Salder, Alek Skarlatos, and Spencer Stone. Written by Dorothy Blyskal, based on Salder's best seller, The 15:17 to Paris…...

The toughest ticket at this year’s Cannes Film Festival? A masterclass with Clint Eastwood, which unfolded on Sunday afternoon to a packed auditorium and a crowd that warmly received the veteran actor and director with a three-minute standing ovation.

While the two-hour chat, led by Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan, surveyed the full scope of Eastwood’s career with a particular eye on his directorial efforts, Eastwood admitted the he missed acting in front of the camera and promised to return to it.

Read More: Cannes 2017 Unveils Official Schedule, Adds Masterclasses With Clint Eastwood and Alfonso Cuarón

Eastwood’s last major on-screen performance was in 2012’s “The Trouble With the Curve” (which, quite notably, came after a four-year acting hiatus). Per Variety’s report, he told Turan that he missed acting “once in a while but not often,” and added that he will return when he is ready.

We’ve had ‘American Sniper,’ ‘Sully,’ and now ‘The 15:17 to Paris.’

Hot off American Sniper’s (2014) adaptation of Us navy Seal Chris Kyle’s memoir and the depiction of Chesley Sullenberg’s water landing in the more controlled Sully (2016), Clint Eastwood’s true-life American tales will go from a duo to a trio with his next film. As per Deadline Hollywood, it has been confirmed that Eastwood’s next film will be a drama based on Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos, Spencer Stone and Jeffrey E. Stern’s book The 15:17 To Paris: The True Story Of A Terrorist, A Train, And Three American Heroes. The deal to the book also includes the rights to the three friends’ life stories.

The script has been written by Dorothy Blyskal, and tells the tale of not one hero as per Eastwood’s previous films, but three. When an Isis terrorist boarded the #9364 train from Brussels to Paris with...

When it comes to films depicting American heroism, few do it better than Clint Eastwood. The Hollywood legend loves a good tale of fighting the good fight and for his next project, he’ll be tackling yet another true story that shows off bravery at its finest. That’s because the director will get behind the camera for The 15:17 to Paris, which has a script from newcomer Dorothy Blyskal.

Apparently, casting on the pic is already underway, with production looking to begin later this year. In terms of what it’s actually about, the film will tell the story of “three American friends who took down an Isis terrorist on the #9364 train from Brussels to Paris in 2015.” Two of them were off-duty members of the army, and together, they stopped the assailant before he could carry out his plan.

Given the recent success of both American Sniper and Sully,...

Clint Eastwood is about to get back behind the camera for another true story of heroism with The 15:17 to Paris. Deadline reports Eastwood will helm the film based on the book The 15:17 to Paris: The True Story of a Terrorist, a Train, and Three American Heroes, by Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos, Spencer Stone, and Jeffrey E. Stern.

In 2015, Americans Sadler, Skarlatos and Stone were on the #9364 train from Brussels to Paris when an Isis terrorist boarded with an Ak-47, a pistol, a box cutter, and enough ammunition to kill all 500 people on board. The three American friends took it upon themselves to charge the gunman and stop him.

This will be yet another chance for Eastwood to engage in a bit of flag-waving while focusing on a true story of ordinary men thrust into extraordinary situations, following the trend of his 2014’s American Sniper, about U.S. Navy Seal Chris Kyle,...

Clint Eastwood has come forward with the news that he'll be directing a film based on Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos, Spencer Stone and Jeffrey E. Stern's The 15:17 to Paris: The True Story of a Terrorist, a Train, and Three American Heroes. A fresh, new writer by the name of Dorothy Blyskal penned the script, and casting is said to already be underway as the film prepares to roll into production... Read More...

Joseph Baxter Apr 21, 2017

Clint Eastwood will adapt the non-fiction book The 15:17 To Paris, depicting the 2015 Isis hijacking attempt of a Paris train.

Clint Eastwood seems to be content with wearing his other non-dusty-Stetson hat as a director, with films showcasing real-life headline-making heroic events. What's more, Eastwood’s clearly not stopping, since his next directorial gig will be a film depicting the 2015 ordeal of American military men who famously faced an attempted train hijacking by an armed Isis terrorist.

Deadline reports that Eastwood has signed up to direct The 15:17 To Paris, adapting the autobiographical book of the same name by the subjects in question Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos and Spencer Stone along with Jeffrey E Stern, in a deal yielding life rights to the event in question.

The August 21st 2015 incident saw the trio consisting of college student Sadler, Oregon National Guardsman Skarlatos and U.S. Air Force...

Clint Eastwood will direct “The 15:17 to Paris,” a Warner Bros. film about three Americans who neutralized a terrorist on a high-speed train from Brussels to Paris, TheWrap has learned. The movie is based on a book, “The 15:17 to Paris: The True Story of a Terrorist, a Train, and Three American Heroes,” written by the three tourists, Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos and Spencer Stone, along with Jeffrey E. Stern. The life rights to Sadler, Skarlatos and Stone are part of the deal with Warner Bros. Dorothy Blyskal handled the script, and the film will begin casting immediately. Eastwood, now 86 years old,...

Exclusive: Clint Eastwood has firmed the next film he will direct. He’ll helm a drama based on the book The 15:17 To Paris: The True Story Of A Terrorist, A Train, And Three American Heroes. The book was written by Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos, Spencer Stone and Jeffrey E. Stern; the life rights of the heroes Sadler, Skarlatos and Stone are part of the package. Newcomer scribe Dorothy Blyskal wrote the script, and Eastwood will begin casting right away to start…...