“Glass Onion” is not really a sequel. At least, not in a traditional sense. And that was entirely by design.
Not that Rian Johnson is wary of sequels – he made arguably one of the best sequels of all time with “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” But with the next Benoit Blanc mystery following his Oscar-nominated “Knives Out,” Johnson felt the only reason to do another one was to steer it in a completely different and fresh direction, and offer audiences a murder mystery of an entirely different sort.
“It’s not very interesting to me, the idea of honing what we did last time and kind of giving the audience that again,” Johnson told TheWrap during a recent lengthy interview about the making of “Glass Onion.”
“The only reason this feels interesting to me is the notion of doing something slightly scary that I don’t quite know if it will work every single time.
Not that Rian Johnson is wary of sequels – he made arguably one of the best sequels of all time with “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” But with the next Benoit Blanc mystery following his Oscar-nominated “Knives Out,” Johnson felt the only reason to do another one was to steer it in a completely different and fresh direction, and offer audiences a murder mystery of an entirely different sort.
“It’s not very interesting to me, the idea of honing what we did last time and kind of giving the audience that again,” Johnson told TheWrap during a recent lengthy interview about the making of “Glass Onion.”
“The only reason this feels interesting to me is the notion of doing something slightly scary that I don’t quite know if it will work every single time.
- 12/23/2022
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
With the exception of "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," every Rian Johnson film released thus far has been scored by composer Nathan Johnson. As cousins, the two have collaborated on movies since they were children, giving Rian's films an extra personal touch. From the found instrument-fueled sounds on their first feature-length collaboration, "Brick," to the futuristic noir score for "Looper," Nathan Johnson has helped to make the director's films even more distinct than they already are. The composer got a chance to work with an orchestra for the first time when creating the score for Rian's 2019 whodunnit "Knives Out," and the result was a movie that had the most classical feel of any of their collaborations. Aside from Rian's movies, Nathan has also worked on films like Guillermo del Toro's "Nightmare Alley" and video games like "inFamous: Second Son."
Nathan has teamed up with Rian once again for a follow-up to "Knives Out,...
Nathan has teamed up with Rian once again for a follow-up to "Knives Out,...
- 12/23/2022
- by Ernesto Valenzuela
- Slash Film
This review originally ran September 11, 2022, in conjunction with the film’s world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Writer-director Rian Johnson and star Daniel Craig reteam for “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” the sequel to their 2019 film “Knives Out.” The new film trades New England for a Greek island, and a dysfunctional family for a group of friends who self-identify as “disruptors.” But essentially, it’s still a whodunit unfolding inside a mansion with a cast of eccentric wealthy folk.
A lot has happened since 2019, and “Glass Onion” acknowledges the Covid-19 pandemic in its opening sequences. But it hasn’t anticipated genre-shifting game-changers like “Bodies Bodies Bodies” and “Triangle of Sadness” now driving the conversation.
Billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) sends each of his friends a wooden box locked by layers of puzzles, which ultimately reveals an invitation to his Greek island for a getaway and a game...
Writer-director Rian Johnson and star Daniel Craig reteam for “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” the sequel to their 2019 film “Knives Out.” The new film trades New England for a Greek island, and a dysfunctional family for a group of friends who self-identify as “disruptors.” But essentially, it’s still a whodunit unfolding inside a mansion with a cast of eccentric wealthy folk.
A lot has happened since 2019, and “Glass Onion” acknowledges the Covid-19 pandemic in its opening sequences. But it hasn’t anticipated genre-shifting game-changers like “Bodies Bodies Bodies” and “Triangle of Sadness” now driving the conversation.
Billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) sends each of his friends a wooden box locked by layers of puzzles, which ultimately reveals an invitation to his Greek island for a getaway and a game...
- 12/22/2022
- by Martin Tsai
- The Wrap
Nearly three years ago, “Parasite” swept awards season. Bong Joon-ho’s sardonic masterpiece followed the Kim family, a tribe of basement-dwelling con artists who wormed their way into a wealthy household and wound up with blood on their hands. Perhaps as a direct result, we now find ourselves in an awards season glutted with eat-the-rich narratives. That might be fun — even revolutionary — if these films had more to offer than shallow drollery.
Ruben Östlund’s “Triangle of Sadness,” Mark Mylod’s “The Menu” and Rian Johnson’s “Glass Onion” are all stacked with prime talent and featured among this year’s For Your Consideration fodder, and all three films lampoon the garishly wealthy. But where “Parasite” used fleshed-out commonfolk as foils to the heinous elite, today’s films are more interested in making a spectacle of wealth than they are in actually developing their working class heroes.
“Glass Onion” is perhaps the worst offender,...
Ruben Östlund’s “Triangle of Sadness,” Mark Mylod’s “The Menu” and Rian Johnson’s “Glass Onion” are all stacked with prime talent and featured among this year’s For Your Consideration fodder, and all three films lampoon the garishly wealthy. But where “Parasite” used fleshed-out commonfolk as foils to the heinous elite, today’s films are more interested in making a spectacle of wealth than they are in actually developing their working class heroes.
“Glass Onion” is perhaps the worst offender,...
- 12/21/2022
- by Lena Wilson
- The Wrap
It could be a star-studded musical evening at the Academy Awards come March 12, as Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Rhianna and the Weeknd are all up for best-song Oscar nominations following today’s announcement of the shortlists in music.
Fifteen songs and 15 scores from 2022 movies were selected by the 389 voting members of Oscar’s music branch, and there were few surprises in the song category. The score category made history, however, with two women and three African-American composers on the list.
The music branch will vote again in January to select five nominees in each category.
Taylor Swift could, at long last, become an Oscar nominee, for her song “Carolina” from “Where the Crawdads Sing,” and Rhianna could score with her song “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Gaga, already an Oscar winner for “Shallow” from 2018’s “A Star Is Born,” could score again with her “Top Gun: Maverick” anthem “Hold My Hand.
Fifteen songs and 15 scores from 2022 movies were selected by the 389 voting members of Oscar’s music branch, and there were few surprises in the song category. The score category made history, however, with two women and three African-American composers on the list.
The music branch will vote again in January to select five nominees in each category.
Taylor Swift could, at long last, become an Oscar nominee, for her song “Carolina” from “Where the Crawdads Sing,” and Rhianna could score with her song “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Gaga, already an Oscar winner for “Shallow” from 2018’s “A Star Is Born,” could score again with her “Top Gun: Maverick” anthem “Hold My Hand.
- 12/21/2022
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Shortlists have been revealed for the music categories for the 95th Academy Awards, and 15 semifinalists each for the Best Original Score and Best Original Song categories will compete for nominations that will be announced on Jan. 24, 2023.
As expected, the song category shortlist is chock-full of pop superstars such as Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Selena Gomez among the 15; however, last year’s Best Original Song victors Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell did not make the cut for their contribution of “Nobody Like U” to Pixar’s “Turning Red.”
Also Read:
As Holidays Arrive, Oscars Screening Room Fills Up With Everything But ‘Avatar’ and ‘Babylon’
And while she was the recipient of an honorary Oscar just this year after 13 nominations in the Best Original Song category, superstar pop songwriter Diane Warren could sneak in for No. 14 with “Applause,” her shortlisted song from the under-the-radar movie “Tell It Like a Woman.
As expected, the song category shortlist is chock-full of pop superstars such as Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Selena Gomez among the 15; however, last year’s Best Original Song victors Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell did not make the cut for their contribution of “Nobody Like U” to Pixar’s “Turning Red.”
Also Read:
As Holidays Arrive, Oscars Screening Room Fills Up With Everything But ‘Avatar’ and ‘Babylon’
And while she was the recipient of an honorary Oscar just this year after 13 nominations in the Best Original Song category, superstar pop songwriter Diane Warren could sneak in for No. 14 with “Applause,” her shortlisted song from the under-the-radar movie “Tell It Like a Woman.
- 12/21/2022
- by Jason Clark
- The Wrap
While original adult films haven’t been faring well at the box office of late in the shadow of tentpoles, the one week Thanksgiving sneak preview of Netflix’s Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery looks to change the tide in its short run before hitting the service on Dec. 23.
On Crew Call today, we talk with filmmaker Rian Johnson’s cousin, Nathan Johnson, who has composed on the former’s entire big screen canon sans Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Related Story ‘Glass Onion’: Rian Johnson, Daniel Craig, Janelle Monáe & Edward Norton Reveal The Secrets Of The ‘Knives Out’ Franchise & Tease Part 3 Related Story Disregard The Corporate Noise: Disney Will Dominate Thanksgiving Box Office With 'Wakanda Forever' & 'Strange World' Related Story 'Glass Onion' Director Rian Johnson, Stars Janelle Monáe, Kate Hudson & Kathryn Hahn...
On Crew Call today, we talk with filmmaker Rian Johnson’s cousin, Nathan Johnson, who has composed on the former’s entire big screen canon sans Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Related Story ‘Glass Onion’: Rian Johnson, Daniel Craig, Janelle Monáe & Edward Norton Reveal The Secrets Of The ‘Knives Out’ Franchise & Tease Part 3 Related Story Disregard The Corporate Noise: Disney Will Dominate Thanksgiving Box Office With 'Wakanda Forever' & 'Strange World' Related Story 'Glass Onion' Director Rian Johnson, Stars Janelle Monáe, Kate Hudson & Kathryn Hahn...
- 11/23/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
When it comes to memorable scores, the five artists on the Gold Derby “Meet the Experts” composers panel are second to none. In fact, it’s likely Isobel Waller-Bridge, Abel Korzeniowski (“Till”), Benjamin Wallfisch (“Thirteen Lives”), Terence Blanchard (“The Woman King”) and Nathan Johnson (“Glass Onion”) will end up on more than a few Spotify Wrapped lists by year’s end. Not that most of those composers are actually focused on how their music will live beyond their film projects.
Watch our exclusive roundtable panel above with all 5 composers. Click on each name to watch that person’s individual video interview.
I don’t think about if it’s going to be an enjoyable or interesting listen outside the context of the film,” Waller-Bridge says. “I’m so involved with how it serves the story and what the journey of the music is doing and how it’s feeding the...
Watch our exclusive roundtable panel above with all 5 composers. Click on each name to watch that person’s individual video interview.
I don’t think about if it’s going to be an enjoyable or interesting listen outside the context of the film,” Waller-Bridge says. “I’m so involved with how it serves the story and what the journey of the music is doing and how it’s feeding the...
- 11/21/2022
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
The game is afoot for “Knives Out” composer Nathan Johnson, who returns to work with director Rian Johnson for “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.”
“For this, we were talking about leaning back into that opulent romanticism, that sort of classic old-world style,” Nathan Johnson says of the new film in an exclusive video interview as part of Gold Derby’s “Meet the Experts” composers panel. “Rian has talked a lot about his approach to making these is not building them as a crossword puzzle, but building them as a roller-coaster ride. When we were thinking about the score, we wanted it to be big, we wanted it to be grand, we wanted it to be sweeping, and wanted it to welcome us all into this fun journey.”
See‘Glass Onion’ trailer reveals new layers of Netflix’s ‘Knives Out’ mystery
Following the smash-hit success of “Knives Out,” Rian Johnson...
“For this, we were talking about leaning back into that opulent romanticism, that sort of classic old-world style,” Nathan Johnson says of the new film in an exclusive video interview as part of Gold Derby’s “Meet the Experts” composers panel. “Rian has talked a lot about his approach to making these is not building them as a crossword puzzle, but building them as a roller-coaster ride. When we were thinking about the score, we wanted it to be big, we wanted it to be grand, we wanted it to be sweeping, and wanted it to welcome us all into this fun journey.”
See‘Glass Onion’ trailer reveals new layers of Netflix’s ‘Knives Out’ mystery
Following the smash-hit success of “Knives Out,” Rian Johnson...
- 11/21/2022
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
In “Glass Onion,” the sequel to the 2019 murder mystery “Knives Out,” Rian Johnson has once again assembled an ensemble cast packed with talent and star wattage. This time out, Dave Bautista, Kathryn Hahn, Kate Hudson, Janelle Monáe, Edward Norton, and Leslie Odom Jr. are just some of the potential murder victims and suspects whose actions fall under the scrutiny of Daniel Craig’s ace detective Benoit Blanc. While the performances are exceptional and the writer-director’s dialogue is as fast and funny as it’s ever been, the ace up the film’s sleeve is composer Nathan Johnson’s lush, expressive score, which consistently expresses the emotions the secretive characters are trying to keep hidden.
Johnson has worked with his cousin Rian on several features, including “Brick,” “Looper,” and “Knives Out,” and the close relationship affords the composer opportunities that not many in his field get. “Usually composers are brought in at the last minute,...
Johnson has worked with his cousin Rian on several features, including “Brick,” “Looper,” and “Knives Out,” and the close relationship affords the composer opportunities that not many in his field get. “Usually composers are brought in at the last minute,...
- 11/21/2022
- by Jim Hemphill
- Indiewire
Plot: Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) travels to a remote island in Greece to solve a murder involving a reclusive tech billionaire (Edward Norton).
Review: Knives Out will probably become one of TIFF’s biggest success stories. Considered a risky gamble in its time, the movie proved to be a sensation upon its first screening. In the end, Knives Out was a smash hit at the box office that Netflix (who snapped up the rights to the series) has turned into what’s bound to become their first real franchise. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is bigger and perhaps even more brilliantly written than the first, sporting a tremendous cast led by Daniel Craig and Janelle Monáe.
If Glass Onion suffers at all, it’s that we go into it expecting a twisty murder mystery, while the original took us by surprise as it was so unique. It was...
Review: Knives Out will probably become one of TIFF’s biggest success stories. Considered a risky gamble in its time, the movie proved to be a sensation upon its first screening. In the end, Knives Out was a smash hit at the box office that Netflix (who snapped up the rights to the series) has turned into what’s bound to become their first real franchise. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is bigger and perhaps even more brilliantly written than the first, sporting a tremendous cast led by Daniel Craig and Janelle Monáe.
If Glass Onion suffers at all, it’s that we go into it expecting a twisty murder mystery, while the original took us by surprise as it was so unique. It was...
- 11/21/2022
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Five top film composers will reveal secrets behind their projects when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with 2022/2023 awards contenders. They will participate in two video discussions to premiere on Thursday, November 17, at 4:00 p.m. Pt; 7:00 p.m. Et. We’ll have a one-on-one with our senior editor Christopher Rosen and a roundtable chat with all of the group together.
RSVP today to our entire ongoing contenders panel series by clicking here to book your free reservation. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following Oscar and guild contenders:
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse (Apple Original Films)
Synopsis: Follows a boy, a mole, a fox and a horse, as they create an unexpected friendship and travel together in the boy’s search for home.
RSVP today to our entire ongoing contenders panel series by clicking here to book your free reservation. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following Oscar and guild contenders:
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse (Apple Original Films)
Synopsis: Follows a boy, a mole, a fox and a horse, as they create an unexpected friendship and travel together in the boy’s search for home.
- 11/10/2022
- by Chris Beachum and Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
Some people may be slow to go to cinemas as the pandemic eases, but here in Los Angeles, they’re certainly not sluggish to head to awards season events, and Netflix took over the old Amoeba Records space on Sunset Blvd Monday (aka The Lighthouse Artspace) for their very swanky, in-person concert Playlist event which touted a lineup of platinum composers and music supervisors working on their projects.
Not only did the event serve as a music sampling of Q4 Netflix series and movies, but it also doubled as an awards season preview for voters as well. Miramax broke ground on these types of awards events back in the late 1990s, read their English Patient In Word And Music which featured director/scribe Anthony Minghella reading parts of the script, author Michael Ondaatje reading from the book, and composer Gabriel Yared conducting the score before a chamber orchestra in a...
Not only did the event serve as a music sampling of Q4 Netflix series and movies, but it also doubled as an awards season preview for voters as well. Miramax broke ground on these types of awards events back in the late 1990s, read their English Patient In Word And Music which featured director/scribe Anthony Minghella reading parts of the script, author Michael Ondaatje reading from the book, and composer Gabriel Yared conducting the score before a chamber orchestra in a...
- 11/9/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Award winning composers helped turn this year’s Netflix Playlist event into an aural and visual spectacle.
The music from some of the streaming platform’s awards contenders and series were brought to life for live audiences alongside immersive, wall-to-wall projections. Alexandre Desplat, Nathan Johnson and Danny Elfman were among those in attendance for an orchestral performance of select music cues from films like “White Noise,” “Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths,” “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” and “Pinocchio.”
The event also served as a platform for Netflix to debut various teaser clips from upcoming content like Season 5 of “The Crown,” the pilot season of “Wednesday” and “Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical.”
Below are the top 10 highlights of the evening’s festivities:
Alexandre Desplat Guest Conducts “Pinocchio” Score
Best known for his Academy-Award winning compositions for blockbusters like director Wes Anderson’s “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and “Isle of Dogs,...
The music from some of the streaming platform’s awards contenders and series were brought to life for live audiences alongside immersive, wall-to-wall projections. Alexandre Desplat, Nathan Johnson and Danny Elfman were among those in attendance for an orchestral performance of select music cues from films like “White Noise,” “Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths,” “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” and “Pinocchio.”
The event also served as a platform for Netflix to debut various teaser clips from upcoming content like Season 5 of “The Crown,” the pilot season of “Wednesday” and “Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical.”
Below are the top 10 highlights of the evening’s festivities:
Alexandre Desplat Guest Conducts “Pinocchio” Score
Best known for his Academy-Award winning compositions for blockbusters like director Wes Anderson’s “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and “Isle of Dogs,...
- 11/8/2022
- by Katie Reul
- Variety Film + TV
“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” composer Nathan Johnson says the key to the film’s score lies in its main theme. “There are different character themes that appear for little moments, and as a piece of music, this embodies what the whole theme is about,” he said.
The highly-anticipated sequel releases theatrically on Nov. 23 and sees Daniel Craig as Detective Benoit Blanc back to solve another whodunnit mystery. His band of suspects includes Janelle Monae, Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson, Kathryn Hahn and Leslie Odom Jr.
Johnson’s filmmaker cousin, director Rian Johnson, called on him to score his sequel that takes place during a weekend getaway on billionaire Miles Bron’s (Edward Norton’s) island.
With an ensemble cast of that size, not only was Johnson able to lean into each character, but he was able to write different motifs for each one. He says, “That ends up being...
The highly-anticipated sequel releases theatrically on Nov. 23 and sees Daniel Craig as Detective Benoit Blanc back to solve another whodunnit mystery. His band of suspects includes Janelle Monae, Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson, Kathryn Hahn and Leslie Odom Jr.
Johnson’s filmmaker cousin, director Rian Johnson, called on him to score his sequel that takes place during a weekend getaway on billionaire Miles Bron’s (Edward Norton’s) island.
With an ensemble cast of that size, not only was Johnson able to lean into each character, but he was able to write different motifs for each one. He says, “That ends up being...
- 11/8/2022
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
When the game ends, the mystery begins.
On Monday, Netflix officially released the full-length trailer for the upcoming murder mystery comedy film “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” which serves as a sequel to 2019’s “Knives Out.” A teaser trailer for the sequel was released this September and subtly hinted at the fun to be had.
Written and directed by Rian Johnson, the sequel follows a tech billionaire named Miles Bron, who invites his closest friends to a getaway on his private Greek island. However, things go awry when a dead body is found, which is when Detective Benoict Blanc (Daniel Craig) is enlisted to solve the mystery.
You can watch the new trailer here:
Much like its predecessor, “Glass Onion” features an all-star cast consisting of Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monae, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, and Dave Bautista.
Johnson produced the project...
On Monday, Netflix officially released the full-length trailer for the upcoming murder mystery comedy film “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” which serves as a sequel to 2019’s “Knives Out.” A teaser trailer for the sequel was released this September and subtly hinted at the fun to be had.
Written and directed by Rian Johnson, the sequel follows a tech billionaire named Miles Bron, who invites his closest friends to a getaway on his private Greek island. However, things go awry when a dead body is found, which is when Detective Benoict Blanc (Daniel Craig) is enlisted to solve the mystery.
You can watch the new trailer here:
Much like its predecessor, “Glass Onion” features an all-star cast consisting of Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monae, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, and Dave Bautista.
Johnson produced the project...
- 11/7/2022
- by Caillou Pettis
- Gold Derby
It’s rare for sequels to make a big splash on the awards circuit; only two have ever won best picture — “The Godfather: Part II” and “Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.” But director Rian Johnson’s star-studded feature “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” is proving to be an exception, with the filmmaker taking home the Visionary Award for his work on the upcoming whodunnit movie at this year’s 12th annual Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards.
“I’m very lucky that I have the family around me that I’ve worked with for years and years,” Johnson said during his acceptance speech, crediting his co-collaborators with helping him to achieve his cinematic vision. “My producer Ram Bergman — we’ve been working together since my first film ‘Brick,’ my cinematographer Steve Yedlin — we met freshman year in the dorms at USC, my composer Nathan Johnson — he’s my cousin,...
“I’m very lucky that I have the family around me that I’ve worked with for years and years,” Johnson said during his acceptance speech, crediting his co-collaborators with helping him to achieve his cinematic vision. “My producer Ram Bergman — we’ve been working together since my first film ‘Brick,’ my cinematographer Steve Yedlin — we met freshman year in the dorms at USC, my composer Nathan Johnson — he’s my cousin,...
- 11/7/2022
- by Katie Reul
- Variety Film + TV
“Glass Onion: A Knives Out” from writer and director Rian Johnson is another uproarious take on the whodunit series that outdoes its predecessor in nearly every way. Turning in killer performances, Janelle Monae and Edward Norton lead an invigorating ensemble that makes this awards observer hope Netflix will put every available dollar behind making this its leading awards contender for 2022.
Daniel Craig reprises the role of Benoit Blanc, throwing himself into the funniest performance seen this year. It’s impossible to explain what the film is about without spoiling it, so we won’t do that. What we will do is tell you that the award for SAG ensemble is going to be a cutthroat race with “Glass Onion” in the mix alongside “Women Talking” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
The year of the consumer-friendly titles continues with titles like “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Elvis” getting the season started,...
Daniel Craig reprises the role of Benoit Blanc, throwing himself into the funniest performance seen this year. It’s impossible to explain what the film is about without spoiling it, so we won’t do that. What we will do is tell you that the award for SAG ensemble is going to be a cutthroat race with “Glass Onion” in the mix alongside “Women Talking” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
The year of the consumer-friendly titles continues with titles like “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Elvis” getting the season started,...
- 9/11/2022
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
It isn’t often that a film composer consults with the star of the movie about his theme. But it happened on “Nightmare Alley,” as Bradley Cooper attended some of the recording sessions for Guillermo del Toro’s spooky noir film.
“We did the piano sessions in L.A., on an old Motown Steinway,” says composer Nathan Johnson (“Knives Out”). “Guillermo and Bradley were both able to be there, which was really nice, and it was great to look over and see his response.”
The piano is central to Johnson’s score, essentially the voice of Cooper’s character Stanton Carlisle. “He actually had really great notes,” adds Johnson. “It’s such a rare thing to hear the perspective of the person that you’re trying to embody.”
At one point, Johnson recalls, Cooper suggested that the piano enter a bit later than planned, so as not to telegraph a story point too early.
“We did the piano sessions in L.A., on an old Motown Steinway,” says composer Nathan Johnson (“Knives Out”). “Guillermo and Bradley were both able to be there, which was really nice, and it was great to look over and see his response.”
The piano is central to Johnson’s score, essentially the voice of Cooper’s character Stanton Carlisle. “He actually had really great notes,” adds Johnson. “It’s such a rare thing to hear the perspective of the person that you’re trying to embody.”
At one point, Johnson recalls, Cooper suggested that the piano enter a bit later than planned, so as not to telegraph a story point too early.
- 12/22/2021
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
The music shortlists for Oscar consideration, announced Tuesday by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, might just be the most star-studded lineup in history.
Nearly all of the 15 songs on the list for potential nomination have been written or recorded by pop superstars, and the approximately 375 members of Oscar’s music branch are going to have a difficult time paring the list down to five best-song nominees.
The most interesting matchup involves spouses Jay-Z and Beyoncé (for her “Be Alive” from “King Richard”).
Three songs on the shortlist are by past Oscar winners: H.E.R., last year’s surprise victor for “Fight for You,” has “Automatic Woman” from “Bruised” in contention; “La La Land” songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul are co-writers of “The Anonymous Ones” from “Dear Evan Hansen”; and Jennifer Hudson is one of the writers on “Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” from the Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect.
Nearly all of the 15 songs on the list for potential nomination have been written or recorded by pop superstars, and the approximately 375 members of Oscar’s music branch are going to have a difficult time paring the list down to five best-song nominees.
The most interesting matchup involves spouses Jay-Z and Beyoncé (for her “Be Alive” from “King Richard”).
Three songs on the shortlist are by past Oscar winners: H.E.R., last year’s surprise victor for “Fight for You,” has “Automatic Woman” from “Bruised” in contention; “La La Land” songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul are co-writers of “The Anonymous Ones” from “Dear Evan Hansen”; and Jennifer Hudson is one of the writers on “Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” from the Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect.
- 12/21/2021
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Of all the oddball flourishes across Guillermo del Toro’s filmography, it’s perhaps most surreal that he has taken this long to run away and join the circus. In re-adapting William Lindsay Gresham’s 1946 novel of a carnival barker-turned-mentalist, The Shape of Water and Crimson Peak helmer seems a safe bet to follow down the wild, murky corridors of Nightmare Alley. Ever the rapturous stylist, del Toro lends an undeniable dreamlike sheen to this retelling, even managing to sharpen the claws on some of the key scenes shared by its 1947 predecessor. Yet what remains contains no more truth or deep connection than one of Stanton Carlisle’s (Bradley Cooper) spook shows. That role, it seems, is one of Nightmare Alley’s main sticking points.
Seeing Tyrone Power sweat, scheme, and sneer is one of the original film’s key treasures. Having shepherded the project in ’47, Power was actively challenging himself with an against-type role.
Seeing Tyrone Power sweat, scheme, and sneer is one of the original film’s key treasures. Having shepherded the project in ’47, Power was actively challenging himself with an against-type role.
- 12/17/2021
- by Conor O'Donnell
- The Film Stage
With Guillermo del Toro’s go-to composer, Alexandre Desplat, unavailable for “Nightmare Alley” because of the pandemic lockdown, the director turned to Nathan Johnson, and the “Knives Out” composer responded with a cutting orchestral score built around Bradley Cooper’s ruthless con artist Stanton Carlisle.
Johnson began with a single, repeating piano motif, representing Carlisle, who re-emerges from personal tragedy in 1939 to start anew as a New York carny grifter. The music then escalates with variations on a theme throughout Carlisle’s rapid ascent two years later as a high society nightclub psychic.
As Carlisle becomes more obsessed with fame and fortune, torn between two women (Rooney Mara’s innocent Molly and Cate Blanchett’s sophisticated Lilith), the score takes on greater string dissonances, augmented by jagged piano lurches usually associated with hip-hop. It was all part of the composer’s ambitious experiment in free-style modernism.
“I came in toward...
Johnson began with a single, repeating piano motif, representing Carlisle, who re-emerges from personal tragedy in 1939 to start anew as a New York carny grifter. The music then escalates with variations on a theme throughout Carlisle’s rapid ascent two years later as a high society nightclub psychic.
As Carlisle becomes more obsessed with fame and fortune, torn between two women (Rooney Mara’s innocent Molly and Cate Blanchett’s sophisticated Lilith), the score takes on greater string dissonances, augmented by jagged piano lurches usually associated with hip-hop. It was all part of the composer’s ambitious experiment in free-style modernism.
“I came in toward...
- 12/13/2021
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
The 2022 Critics Choice Awards are January 9, which is 18 days before Oscar nominations voting begins. That roster will be revealed on February 8 and the 94th Academy Awards are on March 27. Over their 26-year history these prizes bestowed by the Critics Choice Association (Cca) have previewed 15 Best Picture Oscar winners as well as 21 Best Director, 17 Best Actor, 14 Best Actress, 16 Supporting Actor and 18 Supporting Actress champs.
The Cca is the largest critics organization in the United States and Canada, representing more than 400 television, radio and online critics and entertainment reporters. It was established in 2019 with the merger of the Broadcast Film Critics Association and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association, recognizing the blurring of the distinctions between film, television, and streaming content.
See the 2022 Critics Choice Awards nominations list for both film and television nominees below.
Film
Best Picture
Belfast
Coda
Don’t Look Up
Dune
King Richard
Licorice Pizza
Nightmare Alley
The Power of the Dog
tick,...
The Cca is the largest critics organization in the United States and Canada, representing more than 400 television, radio and online critics and entertainment reporters. It was established in 2019 with the merger of the Broadcast Film Critics Association and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association, recognizing the blurring of the distinctions between film, television, and streaming content.
See the 2022 Critics Choice Awards nominations list for both film and television nominees below.
Film
Best Picture
Belfast
Coda
Don’t Look Up
Dune
King Richard
Licorice Pizza
Nightmare Alley
The Power of the Dog
tick,...
- 12/13/2021
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The 2022 Critics Choice Awards nominations announced on December 13 are topped by “Belfast” and “West Side Story” with a leading 11 bids each, followed closely by both “Dune” and “The Power of the Dog” at 10. “Licorice Pizza” and “Nightmare Alley” earned eight nominations apiece while both “King Richard” and “Don’t Look Up” picked up six. All of them number Best Picture bids among their haul. That race is rounded out by four-time nominee “Coda” and two-time contender “tick, tick…Boom!” (See the full 2022 Critics Choice Awards nominations list below.)
All of these titles save for “tick, tick…Boom!” make up our predicted Top 10 nominees for Best Picture at the Oscars. We have “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” which was also nominated in just two categories here, just ahead of this Netflix tuner in our official odds.
Winners of the 2022 Critics Choice Awards will be revealed on January 9 during a live CW telecast hosted...
All of these titles save for “tick, tick…Boom!” make up our predicted Top 10 nominees for Best Picture at the Oscars. We have “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” which was also nominated in just two categories here, just ahead of this Netflix tuner in our official odds.
Winners of the 2022 Critics Choice Awards will be revealed on January 9 during a live CW telecast hosted...
- 12/13/2021
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
A column chronicling events and conversations on the awards circuit.
“It feels just like old times,” one awards voter told me at one of the many live events taking place all over town even as the pandemic still rages. The ‘old times’ to which he was referring is what seems like the now ancient 2019 Oscar season which came in just under the wire before the world shut down.
After basically operating the traditional awards season out of our caves last year with a fairly dreary and meh lineup of films and zoom Q&As we could only watch at home, this season is increasingly edging back to the heated campaign of old despite Omicron and Delta variants and all the doomsayers. The quality of the movies may be helping too. “This year there are just so many good movies out there. I am still catching up. We can’t wait to see West Side Story.
“It feels just like old times,” one awards voter told me at one of the many live events taking place all over town even as the pandemic still rages. The ‘old times’ to which he was referring is what seems like the now ancient 2019 Oscar season which came in just under the wire before the world shut down.
After basically operating the traditional awards season out of our caves last year with a fairly dreary and meh lineup of films and zoom Q&As we could only watch at home, this season is increasingly edging back to the heated campaign of old despite Omicron and Delta variants and all the doomsayers. The quality of the movies may be helping too. “This year there are just so many good movies out there. I am still catching up. We can’t wait to see West Side Story.
- 12/10/2021
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
Composer Nathan Johnson was brought onto “Nightmare Alley” only months before its theatrical release after original composer Alexandre Desplat was forced to exit the Guillermo Del Toro film due to scheduling issues.
“It was definitely a whirlwind but kind of amazing. It was such a smooth track from start to finish,” Johnson tells Gold Derby about his collaboration with Del Toro for the noir drama. Johnson, whose cousin is director Rian Johnson and who has written the scores for all of Rian’s films outside of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” was actually on the set of the “Knives Out” sequel when he received a call from Del Toro about participating in the project.
“I emailed Rian and wrote, ‘Hey, obviously this is my first commitment, but I think we can do this before essentially before you’ve got an edit together,’ and he just wrote back in all-caps, ‘You have to go meet him,...
“It was definitely a whirlwind but kind of amazing. It was such a smooth track from start to finish,” Johnson tells Gold Derby about his collaboration with Del Toro for the noir drama. Johnson, whose cousin is director Rian Johnson and who has written the scores for all of Rian’s films outside of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” was actually on the set of the “Knives Out” sequel when he received a call from Del Toro about participating in the project.
“I emailed Rian and wrote, ‘Hey, obviously this is my first commitment, but I think we can do this before essentially before you’ve got an edit together,’ and he just wrote back in all-caps, ‘You have to go meet him,...
- 12/9/2021
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
There are two movies within Searchlight Pictures’ “Nightmare Alley.” One makes eight-time nominee Bradley Cooper a long overdue Oscar winner. The other would add another statue to the shelf of visionary director Guillermo del Toro. Depending on which one entices an Academy voter, they could fall for one, both or neither of the options. The darkly complex and gruesome outing may prove to be more difficult for some conservative movie-goers to take in. At minimum, the race for best production design may have just ended tonight.
To be clear, I loved nearly every bit of “Nightmare Alley” and it very well could be the best movie del Toro has ever made. However, my feelings here are irrelevant. The question is will the Academy go for it?
The directing branch, along with the rest of Hollywood adores the essence of Guillermo del Toro. No one makes movies the way he does,...
To be clear, I loved nearly every bit of “Nightmare Alley” and it very well could be the best movie del Toro has ever made. However, my feelings here are irrelevant. The question is will the Academy go for it?
The directing branch, along with the rest of Hollywood adores the essence of Guillermo del Toro. No one makes movies the way he does,...
- 12/2/2021
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Searchlight Pictures has released the brand-new trailer for director Guillermo del Toro’s Nightmare Alley.
When charismatic but down-on-his-luck Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) endears himself to clairvoyant Zeena (Toni Collette) and her has-been mentalist husband Pete (David Strathairn) at a traveling carnival, he crafts a golden ticket to success, using this newly acquired knowledge to grift the wealthy elite of 1940s New York society. With the virtuous Molly (Rooney Mara) loyally by his side, Stanton plots to con a dangerous tycoon (Richard Jenkins) with the aid of a mysterious psychiatrist (Cate Blanchett) who might be his most formidable opponent yet.
Good night nurse, what a cast Del Toro has put together. The filmmaker is best known for Hellboy, Pacific Rim and Crimson Peak as well as his Academy Award-winning fantasy films Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water. He won Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture in 2018 for The Shape of Water...
When charismatic but down-on-his-luck Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) endears himself to clairvoyant Zeena (Toni Collette) and her has-been mentalist husband Pete (David Strathairn) at a traveling carnival, he crafts a golden ticket to success, using this newly acquired knowledge to grift the wealthy elite of 1940s New York society. With the virtuous Molly (Rooney Mara) loyally by his side, Stanton plots to con a dangerous tycoon (Richard Jenkins) with the aid of a mysterious psychiatrist (Cate Blanchett) who might be his most formidable opponent yet.
Good night nurse, what a cast Del Toro has put together. The filmmaker is best known for Hellboy, Pacific Rim and Crimson Peak as well as his Academy Award-winning fantasy films Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water. He won Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture in 2018 for The Shape of Water...
- 11/24/2021
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Alexandre Desplat won’t have to worry about competing against himself at the Oscars this year in the original score category.
The two-time Oscar-winning composer is a favorite to pick up a nom for his work on Wes Anderson’s “The French Dispatch.” He was also set to provide the music for Guillermo del Toro’s “Nightmare Alley,” but he’s had to back out of the noir thriller because of scheduling. After production on “Nightmare Alley” was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I’m told Desplat and del Toro were not able to meet in France to work on the score.
“Knives Out” composer Nathan Johnson has now been brought in for “Nightmare Alley.” But all is well between del Toro and Desplat. They’re still set to reunite for the director’s “Pinocchio.”
Desplat won Academy Awards for his work on Anderson’s “Grand Budapest Hotel” and...
The two-time Oscar-winning composer is a favorite to pick up a nom for his work on Wes Anderson’s “The French Dispatch.” He was also set to provide the music for Guillermo del Toro’s “Nightmare Alley,” but he’s had to back out of the noir thriller because of scheduling. After production on “Nightmare Alley” was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I’m told Desplat and del Toro were not able to meet in France to work on the score.
“Knives Out” composer Nathan Johnson has now been brought in for “Nightmare Alley.” But all is well between del Toro and Desplat. They’re still set to reunite for the director’s “Pinocchio.”
Desplat won Academy Awards for his work on Anderson’s “Grand Budapest Hotel” and...
- 10/7/2021
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
A version of this story about Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty first appeared in the Race Begins issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine.
“After 35 years of writing musicals, I’m beginning to realize that I am sort of a political writer,” said lyricist Lynn Ahrens, whose work has ranged from the Broadway musicals “Ragtime” and “Once on This Island” to the animated film “Anastasia” and the TV series “Schoolhouse Rock.” “There’s sometimes a subliminal political message in what I write, and songwriting can make a difference even if it’s not what you intended.”
She first realized this, Ahrens said, when the climactic song from the 1998 musical “Ragtime,” “Make Them Hear You,” took on a life of its own outside that show, including a spectacular version by Aretha Franklin in honor of Nelson Mandela. “That song made me understand that even if I’m writing for a specific purpose,...
“After 35 years of writing musicals, I’m beginning to realize that I am sort of a political writer,” said lyricist Lynn Ahrens, whose work has ranged from the Broadway musicals “Ragtime” and “Once on This Island” to the animated film “Anastasia” and the TV series “Schoolhouse Rock.” “There’s sometimes a subliminal political message in what I write, and songwriting can make a difference even if it’s not what you intended.”
She first realized this, Ahrens said, when the climactic song from the 1998 musical “Ragtime,” “Make Them Hear You,” took on a life of its own outside that show, including a spectacular version by Aretha Franklin in honor of Nelson Mandela. “That song made me understand that even if I’m writing for a specific purpose,...
- 1/12/2021
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Matthew McConaughey took some time out of his social isolation to surprise a group of senior citizens in his home state of Texas. The Enclave at Round Rock Senior Living center asked the Oscar-winning actor back in September to host their weekly bingo night, and McConaughey finally made good on that request by hosting this week’s bingo night on video chat (via The Independent). The actor appeared on camera with his wife and children and called out the numbers during the group’s game. McConaughey is also quarantining with his family in Texas.
“Ever play virtual bingo with Matthew McConaughey?” the Enclave wrote on social media. “You’d be a whole lot cooler if you did! The residents at The Enclave at Round Rock Senior Living got to play virtual bingo with Matthew McConaughey and his family! Thank you to Matthew, his wife Camila, and his mom Kay for...
“Ever play virtual bingo with Matthew McConaughey?” the Enclave wrote on social media. “You’d be a whole lot cooler if you did! The residents at The Enclave at Round Rock Senior Living got to play virtual bingo with Matthew McConaughey and his family! Thank you to Matthew, his wife Camila, and his mom Kay for...
- 4/7/2020
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Like so many schools around the world, the U.K.’s renowned National Film and Television School (NFTS) has closed its doors and moved to online learning amid a nationwide coronavirus lockdown.
To help deliver its curriculum, the NFTS has drafted in top talent including David Fincher, Sam Mendes, Ricky Gervais, Jesse Armstrong and Edgar Wright to give masterclasses via Zoom webinars to students.
Four days after moving to online learning, BAFTA-winning writer-director Sally Wainwright was online and delivering the Nfts’ very first masterclass. Wainwright talked through her writing and directing process across both the BAFTA-winning “Last Tango in Halifax” and BBC One period drama “Gentleman Jack.”
Nfts students then logged into Zoom in their hundreds for David Fincher’s masterclass, in which he provided insights into the filmmaking process of his best known titles including “The Social Network,” “Gone Girl,” “Zodiac,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Panic Room” and “House of Cards.
To help deliver its curriculum, the NFTS has drafted in top talent including David Fincher, Sam Mendes, Ricky Gervais, Jesse Armstrong and Edgar Wright to give masterclasses via Zoom webinars to students.
Four days after moving to online learning, BAFTA-winning writer-director Sally Wainwright was online and delivering the Nfts’ very first masterclass. Wainwright talked through her writing and directing process across both the BAFTA-winning “Last Tango in Halifax” and BBC One period drama “Gentleman Jack.”
Nfts students then logged into Zoom in their hundreds for David Fincher’s masterclass, in which he provided insights into the filmmaking process of his best known titles including “The Social Network,” “Gone Girl,” “Zodiac,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Panic Room” and “House of Cards.
- 4/7/2020
- by Tim Dams
- Variety Film + TV
As Martin Scorsese once said, “Music and cinema fit together naturally. Because there’s a kind of intrinsic musicality to the way moving images work when they’re put together. It’s been said that cinema and music are very close as art forms, and I think that’s true.” Indeed, the right piece of music–whether it’s an original score or a carefully selected song–can do wonders for a sequence, and today we’re looking at the 20 films that best expressed this notion this year.
From seasoned composers to accomplished musicians, as well as a smattering of soundtracks, each musical example perfectly transported us to the world of the film. Check out our rundown of the top 20, which includes streams to each soundtrack in full where available.
20. Climax (Various Artists)
19. August at Akiko’s (Alex Zhang Hungtai)
18. The Last Black Man in San Francisco (Emile Mosseri)
17. An Elephant Sitting Still...
From seasoned composers to accomplished musicians, as well as a smattering of soundtracks, each musical example perfectly transported us to the world of the film. Check out our rundown of the top 20, which includes streams to each soundtrack in full where available.
20. Climax (Various Artists)
19. August at Akiko’s (Alex Zhang Hungtai)
18. The Last Black Man in San Francisco (Emile Mosseri)
17. An Elephant Sitting Still...
- 12/30/2019
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
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