Interview: Kristóf Deák from "Munich" to "Sing"

Kristóf DeákIf you've had a chance to catch the touring films in the Oscar nominated shorts program in select movie theaters now, we're willing to be that one of your favorites was the Hungarian short Sing written and directed by Kristóf Deák. This sweet well acted story is about a new girl in a children's choir whose teacher makes her feel less than welcome. 

Sing, not to be confused with the current blockbuster cartoon about pop star wannabe talking animals, could well be a threat to win its category though competition is ever tough and unpredictable in the shorts categories. Kristóf has seen and enjoyed the "strong batch" competition, saying "I won't shed any tears if we don't take the statue home"

I had the opportunity to talk to the young director, currently in Los Angeles for the final push before Oscar, and though he doesn't know what's in store for his career, he's taiken the smart stance of "be ready with projects and pitches" should key opportunities arise. The London based Hungarian director got his first post film school movie gig in the large editing department of Steven Spielberg's Munich (2005) and now he's an Oscar nominee for his fourth short which has been picking up several prizes at festivals.  

Our chat follows..

Click to read more ...

What's Next for Gyllenhaalics?

Remember the ol' internet nickname for Gyllenhaal fans circa 2004-2006, "Gyllenhaalics"? We never stopped using the term because it never became irrelevant for us. Both Jake and Maggie have continued to do amazing work well past their initial breakthroughs in the early to mid Aughts. Let's check in with what the wonder siblings are up to after the jump...

Click to read more ...

Gird Your Loins for a "Devil Wears Prada" Musical

Chris here, with exciting Broadway adaptation news. Yes, we've maybe begun to move past eyerolling whenever our favorite movies are cashgrabbed into a stage musical and are occassionally excited about some prospects. The Devil Wears Prada seems like a more natural fit for Broadway (and long rumored). It also just landed some quite credible talent: composer Elton John and scribe Paul Rudnick.

If you're worried about an instant classic like Prada being bastardized, look no further than how Elton John turned Billy Elliot into both a financial and creative success on the stage. Paul Rudnick has given us such gay classics as Jeffrey, Addams Family Values, and In & Out, so don't expect the hilarity to be diminished either. While there is not an arrival date yet, the announcement of their involvement is all we need to confirm that this adaptation is really happening and will be a gay old time.

Get ready for lots of speculation on who will step into Meryl Streep's Priestley shoes, though we imagine it is too early to speculate on casting (or how Tony-ready Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci's former roles will be). It is however fun to fantasize about how Elton will musicalize the pages of Runway magazine. I personally can't wait for numbers like "That's All", "The Cube of Cheese Diet", and "(My Esteemed Colleague) Jacqueline Follet".

What Prada moment are you most excited to see musicalized?

8 Big Takeaways from the Oscar Nominations

Each Oscar nomination morning brings waves of hot takes. Here are seven things that stood out to me on first pass. What stood out for you?

Barry Jenkins directing his young cast in MOONLIGHT which received 8 nominations

Oscars No Longer So White (For Now)
As far as we are aware this is only the second year (other than 2004) where all four acting categories feature at least one actor of color. There are seven actors of color nominated this year, or 35% of the nominees. While I personally felt the anger last year was both justified and misdirected (there simply weren't that many options to feasibly nominate - and the Oscar nominees have been more diverse than Hollywood itself in years past which is where the problem truly lies), it's a great relief to see so much diversity this year. Not  every year has so many acclaimed hits starring people of color like Hidden Figures, Fences, Moonlight, Loving and Lion so let's hope the Academy has plenty of options next year, too. It's a good development. We also have the first black female nominated in editing (Joi McMillion for Moonlight) and the second black man ever nominated in cinematography (Bradford Young for Arrival -- the first was British Remi Adefarasin for Elizabeth) and, most famously, Viola Davis becomes the most Oscar nominated black woman of all time with her third nomination. 

Releasing After Christmas Just Doesn't Work
A24 had been there before with A Most Violent Year but the magical miraculous 20th Century Women met nearly the same fate of a shut-out...

Click to read more ...

The Next La La Land?

Manuel here catching us up on a project that is primed to be billed as "The next La La Land." Not only is Michael Gracey's upcoming musical The Great Showman scheduled for release next Christmas (just in time for the holidays and awards season) but it features music by La La Land duo Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, who'll soon no doubt be credited with single-handedly bringing the original movie musical back to life. 

Focused on the life of P.T. Barnum, the film has suffered through a long development period but is finally shooting here in New York...

Click to read more ...