Make It Huckabees Two

Y'all think I love famous people -- well wait til you get a load of the director David O. Russell. He's always been known for gathering up big casts of name actors -- he might not have had the clout with his first film Spanking the Monkey but what clout he had off of Spanking the Monkey's small success (and I remember that movie being pretty buzzy when it came out in 1994) he immediately threw into casting with his next flick, the road-trip comedy Flirting With Disaster...

... which starred Ben Stiller, Tea Leoni, Patricia Arquette, Alan Alda, Lily Tomlin, Mary Tyler Moore, George Segal, Richard Jenkins, and Josh Brolin. (Plus bonus points for Celia Weston, of course.) And his casts have only grown starrier from there, reaching probably their apex with American Hustle back in... 2013? Is that movie really seven years old? WTF.

This shot of Christian Bale on the set of the new David O. Russell movie is speaking to me in a language I don't understand pic.twitter.com/qVeHQUxtcM

— Jason Adams (@JAMNPP) January 13, 2021

Anyway we might have thought that was the apex, but his new project is putting all of those movies to shame. We don't have a title, we don't know what it's about -- except it's based on "an original idea" from Russell himself -- but we just got nine new names added to the already insane cast in the past 24 hours so let's list off the people who're signing up to get berated on set by him. First we heard about Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington. That's already a big movie right there. Then a couple of days ago they added Rami Malek and Zoe Saldana. But then! Last night! Last night the cast added (deep breath) Robert De Niro, Mike Myers, Timothy Olyphant, Michael Shannon, Chris Rock, Anya Taylor-Joy, Andrea Riseborough, Matthias Schoenaerts, and Alessandro Nivola.

Russell has of course worked with a few of these people before -- Nivola and Bale and De Niro, of course -- but, I mean... did his casting people just come here to MNPP and start grabbing names after that? It's like that meme that says "We're gonna give the gays all that they want" but it's not "We're gonna give JA all that he wants." Olyphant, Riseborough, Shannon, Taylor-Joy and Schoenaerts in one place is literally breaking my brain. Literally. I would take a picture with my phone and show you my brain oozing out of my ears but my brain just oozed out of my ears and so I don't remember how to take pictures with my phone any longer. I am broken. Right, Andrea? 

Join Me & John David Washington

I sort of remember hearing something about a pandemic-quickie getting filmed by the team behind the show Euphoria earlier this year, but I didn't pay a ton of attention since I only made through one episode into Euphoria -- I didn't hate it, I just sort of forgot I had even started it? Listen, 2020 was a lot, you guys. Forgive me my Zendaya trespasses. Anyway that pandemic-quickie turns out to be called Malcom & Marie and it also stars John David Washington, seen here in the two most important gifs from the film's just dropped trailer. And now if you will follow me and head on over to The Film Experience I will share said trailer, and talk a little bit more about the movie, which hits Netflix at the start of February.

Quote of the Day

Interview Magazine has today gifted us with a nice big chat between our favorite Italian peach-fucker Luca Guadagnino and his We Are Who We Are composer Dev Hynes (aka Blood Orange) -- on a side-note I really hope they release that WAWWA score because that shit is baller) -- and they talk about several things of import, including that show, including Luca's recent break-up with his long-time partner Ferdinando Cito Filomarino and their forthcoming film together Born To Be Murdered with John David Washington (read about that here)... and then of course (and best!) Luca tells us a bit about his to-be adaptation of Scotty Bowers infamous autobiography, which got announced a month or so ago and which he's making along with unlikely-collaborators Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg of Superbad fame, and tells us of it in the way only he could:

"I can say a couple of things. Somebody sent me some tweets in which they claimed that it’s impossible that straight lads are going to write a movie about a bisexual pimp. Somebody even claimed that I’m straight. Number one, it’s very exotic that there’s a police of identity that decides who can do what based on the assumption of their inclination in the bed. 

Number two, some of the most exciting and titillating and unabashedly honest, emotional bromances that, of course, include a beautiful undercurrent of homosexuality, come from Seth and Evan. I’m thinking of the great Superbad and its beautiful finale. When we talked about adapting the life of Scotty Bowers, the first people we thought of were Seth and Evan. 

And by the way, because I’m a voyeur and a sensualist, I’m glad to say that both Seth and Evan are very sexy, so I cannot wait to work with them. I have to find a way to come to America to be close to them instead of working by Zoom or Skype so that I can be close to their sexiness. The movie is going to be outrageous, and it’s going to be savvy like Scotty Bowers was, and it’s going to be led by the principle of pleasure, which is always a good thing to do. Because pleasure and joy are more interesting than the imposition of enjoyment through a lens that is suffocating."

Good Morning, World

This month's issue of L'uomo Vogue is looking good! Not only does it contain that Alexander Skarsgard photo-shoot we've been drooling on all week long, it contains this shoot of Tenet actor and Junior-Denzel John David Washington (via). So I might as well ask -- who's seen Tenet? Anybody actually seen Tenet at this point? I barely remember Tenet being a thing until something like this happens but no, in case that didn't clue you in, I have not seen Tenet. Anyway I dug JDW in BlackkKlansman so I hope he got something to actually do in Tenet besides wear a suit and run.

John David Washington Five Times

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Back in June I shared a few photos with you of JDW here in Esquire magazine, the US edition, and asked if y'all were planning on seeing Christopher Nolan's Tenet on a big screen or not -- most of you said you were not planning on it. But now the real test is here! Because the movie is apparently out, in some places! Not here in NYC so I don't have to make any decisions (I love not making decisions), not that it even was one for me since I am cold and indifferent to Christopher Nolan movies on the best of days.... years. In the best of years, even! Of which 2020 most assuredly doesn't make the list. Anyway if y'all go see Tenet the best of luck with that -- stay safe, please! I personally am fine and happy just sitting here with this new batch of Esquire photos of JDW, this time via the German edition, and the remainder of which you can see right on after the jump...

John David Washington Four Times

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(via)

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John David Washington Three Times

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Where do you guys stand on Christopher Nolan's Tenet still coming out on July 17th in actual movie theaters? I personally am not ready to get back inside a movie theater any time soon -- maybe not even until there's a vaccine for COVID honestly. And even with the pretty person party that is Mr. Washington here (pics via) swanning around alongside Robert Pattinson and Elizabeth Debicki, well, to be blunt Christopher Nolan is not the man for the job of convincing me otherwise. I know I'm the odd boy out with the opinion that Dunkirk stank and Nolan hasn't made a good movie since, like, The Dark Knight, and even that not unreservedly. But as odd boy out all the headlines asking "Can Christopher Nolan Save The Movies???" leave me scratching my head... as in scratching my eyeballs out.So I put the question to y'all!

bike trail guide

Quote of the Day

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Now that Luca Guadagnino is done hanging out with Synonyms stud Tom Mercier in Paris for their Fashion Week -- Mercier stars in Luca's forthcoming HBO series We Are What We Are, talked about previously here -- he's headed over to Sundance for a doc about truffle farmers that he produced (sure why not). Deadline chatted with him there (thx Mac) and asked him what he's planning on this year, and he came up with lots:

"“I’m putting all my focus and concentration into We Are Who We Are and Born To Be Murdered,” he says. He is producing the latter, a Greece-set thriller about a vacationing couple, played by John David Washington and Alicia Vikander, who fall trap to a violent conspiracy. “I’m very enthusiastic about the film. It’s going to be a wonderful, passionate surprise.”

The Suspiria and I Am Love director says a busy schedule has left less time for writing over the past two years, but that the sequel to Call Me By Your Name remains on the agenda. “I’ve spoken about my ideas to Timothée [Chalamet] and Armie [Hammer] and we’re all eager.”

Blood On The Tracks, a project inspired by Bob Dylan’s seminal 1975 album, and Warner Bros’ Lord Of The Flies update, are two of the movies that could come together in 2020, he says. The writing process is starting on the latter, and the former is still being put together, he explains.

I previously posted about that Born To Be Murdered project right here -- this is being directed by Luca's partner Ferdinando Cito Filomarino, who's also a director. And you can read my post on Luca's possible Lord of the Flies movie here. Hey speaking of Luca & Flies remember all of the flies in Call Me By Your Name?

There was a fly in that scene that that gif doesn't get across, you'll just have to believe me. (Nobody's thinking about flies anymore, are they?) Anyway I was just recently saying (here) that I'd embraced my status as one of the last true believers that a CMBYN sequel would still happen so it's good to see I share that space with, you know, the director himself.
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Pic of the Day

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Two pictures have been released from Christopher Nolan's forthcoming film Tenet, which is out July 17th of next summer -- obviously I chose to share the one of Robert Pattinson and John David Washington, but you can see a foggy glimmer of Elizabeth Debicki in the other shot over at EW where these came from. There's an interview with Nolan there too if you give a shit -- I do not; the only reason I'm posting about this is Rob, who I'll now follow anywhere. It's been eleven years since I genuinely loved a Chris Nolan Movie -- that'd be The Dark Knight and even that I've had little interest in revisiting since Heath Ledger died -- and I'm finding myself pressed to bother. Especially since I read there are all sorts of puzzles being deciphered online right now telling the internet that there will be a trailer for the movie showing up this week, probably tomorrow. It's giving me some hard lackluster Inception vibes. Empty boxes, Nolan.

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Action Aaron Reporting For Duty

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I was already excited despite myself about Christopher Nolan's new film because of the cast he'd gathered up -- John David Washington and Elizabeth Debicki and Robert Pattinson -- even though I've not been a fan of Nolan's last several films. (I found Dunkirk in need of some dun-work, lol I kill me.) Well now he's gone and added my beautiful boy Aaron Taylor-Johnson to that group of people and dammit, how am I supposed to put up a fight here? I am dun-for. 

The film's also got a title now which I don't remember seeing before -- it's called Tenet, and they're saying it's "an action epic evolving from the world of international espionage" that's shooting across seven countries. That's also more than we knew before. What a day for news! Besides AJ they also cast Dunkirk actor Kenneth Branagh, but whatever on him. Cast Emma Thompson and we'll talk. (pic via)
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A Good Time To Be Murdered

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When I first read this news I thought it said that Luca Guadagnino was directing this but he's not, so know that up front -- Luca Guadagnino is producing this! "This" being a new film titled Born To Be Murdered, which will star a top-heavy cast of up-n-comers including John David Washington, Alicia Vikander, Boyd Holbrook and Vicky Krieps (yay Vicky Krieps!) and be directed by Ferdinando Cito Filomarino. 

Filomarino directed the 2015 film Antonia about the poet Antonia Pozzi (Pozzi is actually name-checked in Call Me By Your Name; she's the author of the book of poetry that Elio gives to Marzia) but possibly more notably Filomarino is Guadagnino's partner (Guadagnino called him his "sentimental partner" in an interview, which is one way to get around "lover" I guess).

So basically Luca got his boyfriend a bunch of movie stars for his new movie -- I am not judging; good for everybody involved! I'd like everyone involved with Call Me By Your Name (as well as Suspiria -- Filomarino was Assistant Director on that) to make all of the movies from now on. I'd be fine with that! Basically everybody from CMBYN is working on Born To Be Murdered -- Sayombhu Mukdeeprom is doing the cinematography, Ryuichi Sakamoto is doing the composing, and the great Walter Fasano is editing. And I guess this puts together a piece of why Luca shot that sexy-ass Zegna commercial starring Boyd Holbrook recently.

Anyway Born To Be Murdered "is set in Athens and the Epirus region of Greece, where a vacationing couple, played by Washington and Vikander, fall trap to a violent conspiracy with tragic consequences." I'm picturing something like Oscar Isaac and Kristen Dunst in the Patricia Highsmith vacation-porn thriller The Two Faces of January, where you get beautiful people in beautiful costumes behaving badly in eye-wateringly gorgeous scenery. Bought my ticket already!
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The Unsinkable Christopher Nolan

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Because I'm on a real low swing with regards to my regards for the director Christopher Nolan these days -- I like more or less totally hated Dunkirk and Interstellar and The Dark Knight Rises and Inception and yeah, that's the past ten years of his output -- I wasn't planning on posting about his new movie much, even though such news is inescapable on the movie web and I might feel inclined to repeatedly stake my claim as thoroughly unconvinced. But then he started announcing his cast for this thing and, well goddamit I'm not strong. First came BlacKkKlansman star John David Washington, and then today came the real toppers, Elizabeth Debicki and Robert Pattinson, aka two of my favorite actors working. How do I resist that? I don't, that's how.

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I hope Robert Pattinson keeps this look for the Nolan film pic.twitter.com/jYak0rwmq6

— Jason Adams (@JAMNPP) March 20, 2019

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Per usual Nolan's guarding the whole thing like he shit out the keys to Valhalla so we don't know anything about the project, except it'll cost a ton of money and probably short-change Elizabeth Debicki's character because ladies, am I right. Alright alright I mostly kid, the most admirable thing about Nolan is that he can get these weird personal and theoretically adult movies that aren't part of a franchise green-lit in this day and age -- of course who knows if there's actually anything "personal" about these films, since they all read as a pile of soulless plot machinations to me at this point...

Good Morning, Timothée & Co

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I think this might be our first "Good morning" via evening wear but these pictures of Timothée Chalamet on the cover and inside of Vanity Fair's latest annual "Hollywood Issue" were the first thing I saw after sitting down at my desk this morning and they perked me up so I shall return the favor. 

Smart of them, pairing Timmy with his Lady Bird (and forthcoming Little Women) co-star Saoirse Ronan for a couple of snaps, since I don't know about you but I just keep hoping those crazy kids can make it work. (I realize I am projecting, they seem more like brother and sister than anything else, but that's what movie stars are for...

... projecting.) See more pictures here, including Rami Malek & Henry Golding & Nicky Hoult & John David Washington on the manly side, with the queen Regina King & Elisabeth Debicki & Tessa Thompson & Yalitza Aparicio taking care of the lady business.

And The Dorian Goes To...

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A-ha! I have been dying to make that gif ever since I first saw The Favourite and this seems like the perfect opportunity -- last Friday the critics guild I'm a member of, GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics, announced their nominations for their annual Dorian Awards, I posted them right here. Well today we've announced our esteemed winners and I think we did pretty darn great! The Favourite took our "Film of the Year" prize while Olivia Colman took Best Actress, while Can You Ever Forgive Me? took our "LGBTQ Film of the Year" award and Richard E. Grant took Best Supporting Actor from the same. 

All fine choices, and they don't stop there -- we also rallied around the great Schitt's Creek as both our "TV Comedy of the Year" and our "Unsung TV Show of the Year" prizes, AND we found room to honor Annihilation to boot! Huzzah for all that. To read all of our winners hit the jump where I'll share the whole list...

My Second Dorians

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Last year was my first year as a proud member of GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics, and when everything turned up Call Me By Your Name in their year end awards the Dorians (see our post on 2017's winners right here) I felt pretty good about all that... unsurprisingly given our predilections. Well today the 2018 Dorian nominations have been announced and as is fitting for a year sans a consensus pick like CMBYN my feelings this year as I scan through our choices are more complicated. 

I mean I suppose I should've prepared myself for the Star is Born love (siiigh) and for the Rami Malek nomination (triple siiiigh) but the placement of The Favourite's leading ladies (Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz) in the Supporting categories is frustrating - I really hoped we'd do better than the other groups on that matter. Category Fraud must end! Just know that I personally voted for Olivia Colman in Supporting, where she belongs.

There is a lot to love in the nominations for sure - Ben Whishaw and Toni Collette and ROMA, oh my! It's just that I actually see very few of my weird little babies accounted for this year in the final tally, but then I suppose that's a typical side effect when you average out hundreds of voices - the quirks get sanded down and a consensus forms, no matter how free the year's felt from one. Point being I'll get to work a little harder on our Golden Trousers Awards (aka The Pantys) - which believe it or not after several years of laziness on my part are actually in the works right now - so you'll know who I personally fought for the hardest. And you can hit the jump for the Dorian Award nominations (the winners are awarded on January 12th) and official announcement...

Once Upon a Twink in Hollywood

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Quentin Tarantino has already been shooting Once Upon a Time in Hollywood for a few weeks now (we posted some shots from the set a month ago) but that hasn't stopped the casting department from slowly dropping new names on us that've been added to this thing's ridiculously sprawling cast, and this week has brought a few of the biggies. Seen above twinking like his life depends on it is Austin Butler, who was on The Carrie Diaries and will also be on Tell Me a Story, Kevin Williamson's upcoming hunk-fest that also stars James Wolk and Billy Magnussen and so forth. Austin has joined Tarantino's movie as "Tex" Watson, Charlie Manson's right-hand man, a real horror show himself. 

Tex was basically the handsome bait that Manson used to lure in the girls, from what I recall (I read Helter Skelter in high school, as one does, so it's all a little vague). Anyway I guess Austin will be hitting the Lady Clairol counter soon. But besides Tex the two most important characters in the Manson Saga whose casting had as of yet gone unaccounted for have been cast this week...

... the Polish actor and goddamned good doppleganger Rafal Zawierucha is playing Roman Polsanki, and to that I give a high-five. He looks perfect (although he'll have to share a bottle of bleaching agent with Austin, obviously). I can't speak as to Rafal's acting, all of his work looks Polish to me, but I trust Tarantino & Co. to know what they're doing at this point. I suppose that's a good rule of thumb by now. And then...

... there's our Manson himself. That's Damon Herriman, an Aussie actor who's been on a ton of TV including what I gather was an important role on Justified (a show I never watched). The funny thing is I immediately recognized him all the same, but from a really weird place - he had the small role of "Roadkill Driver" in the 2005 House of Wax remake!

That scene was so gross it's apparently burrowed its way into my head permanently. Which is a damn good connotation for me to have when it comes to Charlie Manson, at least. Anyway besides all those fine folks several other names have been dropped - Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman's daughter Maya Hawke is playing a character called "Flower Child" -- I just saw her play Jo in the PBS adaptation of Little Women opposite Julian Morris aka the reason I watched the thing...

... not realizing whose daughter she was, spending the whole thing being irritated that she had stolen Uma Thurman's voice. She sounds so much like her mother it's eerie - she and Denzel's son John David Washington should have a contest to see who sounds more like their famous parent. 

Wait, what am I talking about? I seem to have gotten off track. Right, casting. Also added to the cast -- a bunch of actresses that I don't recognize plus two I do: Lena Dunham and Rumer Willis. Dunham is playing the Manson Girl Catherine "Gypsy" Share and while they don't list who Rumer's playing I wouldn't be surprised if she's also a Manson Girl. She's got the look. Yadda yadda I am tired of talking about this movie now, hit the jump for a little more of Austin Butler if you like...

White Men Can't Klan

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Back in September I shared with you the news that the really very beautiful and bearded son of Denzel Washington named John David Washington was going to star in Spike Lee's new movie called Black Klansman, which is about the true-life tale of a black police-officer who went undercover inside the Ku Klux Klan; being black he sent a white officer as his white face for the actual in-person Klan meetings, and they've just hired that white face, and it'll be Adam Driver's big white face. It doesn't get much whiter than Adam!

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Here Comes John David Washington

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I don't watch Ballers (unless it's a scene like this one) so you'll have to forgive me for not knowing that Denzel Washington had a son named John David that is on the show - he's apparently a former football player so it makes sense he'd be on the show, even besides the nepotism and how he, you know, looks. (Although How He Looks is probably pretty darn important, and as it oughta be.) So today's news that Spike Lee and Jordan Peele are teaming up to make a movie called Black Klansman that will sign Denzel's son took me by surprise, is all I'm saying. Read about the forthcoming movie over here; Lee is directing and it's based on this memoir right here. This seems timely and possibly explosive in the best way.