One of the most delicious and enjoyable films of the year is Jon Favreau's Chef, which sees the Iron Man director returning to his indie roots to explore the world of food. Stepping both behind and in front of the camera, Favreau plays Carl Casper, a chef who, after losing his job in a prestigious restaurant, starts up a food truck to rediscover his passion for food and cooking. Along the way, he also attempts to reconnect with his family, who have become estranged from him in recent years due to his demanding work.
One of the standouts from this year's Tribeca Film Festival is the teen drama Palo Alto. Directed by Gia Coppola, this beautifully photographed gem is based on James Franco's short story collection, Palo Alto: Stories, and centers on a group of high school students (played by Emma Roberts, Nat Wolff, Jack Kilmer and Zoe Levin) who have a penchant for getting in trouble.
Though he had a couple of very big years from 2010-2012, actor Tom Hardy has gone quite as of late. His last role was as Bane in 2012's The Dark Knight Rises, but since then, he hasn't really appeared anywhere. After taking a much deserved break, and going off to make some more movies, the British thesp is now back with Locke, a compelling thriller from writer/director Steven Knight.
Joel and Ethan Coen's classic 1996 film, Fargo, is heading to the small screen this Tuesday, courtesy of FX. Starring Martin Freeman and Billy Bob Thornton, the new series (which is not a straight remake) follows a drifter named Lorne Malvo, whose arrival in small-town Minnesota shakes up the population due to the malice that he brings with him. Throw in some dark humor, grisly violence and strong performances, and you have a show that perfectly captures the spirit of the original.
Though you may not know Rashida Jones and Nick Frost by name, you're likely familiar with their faces. Jones has proven herself to be quite a comedic actress on television, with shows like The Office and Parks and Recreation, and has also made a splash on the big screen, starring in films such as I Love You, Man, The Social Network and The Muppets. Frost, on the other hand, while quite popular in the UK, is starting to earn some much deserved recognition stateside thanks to his collaborations with buddies Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World's End).
One of the prime highlights of the fifth and final season of Justified, and there have been no shortage of them, has been Michael Rapaport's turn as the manipulative (and alligator breeding) Darryl Crowe Jr. Not only has the accomplished actor has proved to be one of the FX show's most compelling big bads, but he's also given us further proof that movie scene-stealers have been allowed to shine more fully on the small screen.
Lars von Trier. Nymphomaniac. No matter what your taste in movies is, you've undoubtedly heard that name, and that title, several times in the past couple of months. The provocative Danish director's latest film is finally making its way to North America so that those of us who live on this side of the pond can see what all the fuss is about.
Whenever Wes Anderson releases a new film, it's reason to celebrate. From Rushmore to Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Royal Tenenbaums to Moonrise Kingdom, Mr. Anderson is one of Hollywood's most unique and delightful directors, delivering hit after hit and never failing to entertain audiences. His newest effort, The Grand Budapest Hotel, is arriving in theatres this week and with it comes an absolutely dynamite cast (as per usual for an Anderson film).
Set in the early 1980's, The Americans follows two deep-cover KGB spies posing as ordinary suburbanites, Philip and Elizabeth Jennings (Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell). The pair, who are part of an arranged marriage, have also raised two children as part of their cover and over the years have seen their Russian identities wither away. While they continuously risk their lives for the Motherland, and do so while sporting some fabulous disguises, the two have found that their faux relationship has grown into something authentic.
