‘The Duke’ Film Review: Helen Mirren and Jim Broadbent Steal the Show as Blue-Collar Art Thieves

Tomris Laffly Curiously unadventurous for a sex-positive teen romantic comedy, Sammi Cohen’s “Crush” centers its premise on an age-old recipe: an emotionally bemused heroine desperately pursues her supposed soul mate, when her ultimate the one has been right under her nose all along.Still, predictability isn’t the real deficit of this well-meaning and progressive Hulu original that aims to land somewhere in the vicinity of “Some Kind of Wonderful” and “American Pie.” After all, some of the most timeless and irresistible romances stem from tales we’ve all heard a million times before. What’s jarring in “Crush” is the absence of some requisite dose of youthful mischief, a sense of stakes and perhaps even a lightly scandalous touch, integral to the spirit of many of the genre staples Cohen and co-writers Kirsten King and Casey Rackham attempt to revive on their own terms.

K.J. Yossman Alex Winter (“Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure”) and Patton Oswalt (“Young Adult”) are set to appear in martial arts drama “Absolute Dominion” for Netflix.“The Porter’s” Oluniké Adeliyi, “Better Call Saul’s” Julie Ann Emery and “Jerry Maguire’s” Reagan Gomez will also star in the project.Helmed and written by stunt-woman turned director Lexi Alexander (“How to Get Away with Murder”), the high-octane sci-fi action film is co-produced by Blumhouse Television.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentJosé Luis López Linares’ “Goya, Carrière and the Ghost of Buñuel,” a portrait of French film great Jean-Claude Carrière, captured breaking down the paintings and personality of painter Francisco de Goya, has been acquired for international sales by Reservoir Docs.In its earliest sales, the doc feature has closed the two biggest markets in Europe with reputed distributors, licensing France to Epicentre and Germany and Austria to Weltkino.  Launched in 2020 by Anais Clanet, Reservoir Docs will bring the documentary feature onto the market at next month’s Cannes Festival.“Reservoir Docs has always been a key sales agent for theatrical art & culture docs and Jose Luis’ work fits perfectly,” said Clanet.

Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco hosted the presentation, combining the sneak previews with a standup routine in which he joked that the upcoming “Expendables 4,” Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham and 50 Cent, would be “more violent than Will Smith in a comedy club.” Maniscalco also showed his own upcoming comedy “About My Father,” which he co-wrote and based on his own relationship with his Italian immigrant father. He was joined onstage by Robert De Niro, who plays Maniscalco’s father, as well as co-stars Leslie Bibb and Kim Cattrall.

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Wilson Chapman editorFor more than 20 years, Harry Lennix — an actor best known for his roles in TV shows and film such as “The Blacklist,” “Dollhouse” and “Justice League” — has been an advisor for the Chicago-based Black theater company Congo Square Theatre. The company, which doesn’t have a permanent performance space, has struggled to find venues for shows, a situation Lennix says is all too common for many Black arts organizations.“On two hands, you can count the number of Black theatre companies in the country that actually have bricks and mortar,” Lennix tells Variety.

Todd Longwell When the subject of homegrown Kentucky production companies comes up these days, the first name out of anyone’s mouth is Wrigley Media Group, which is transforming an abandoned multiplex in the city of Lexington into a full-service state-of-the-art art 52,000-sq.-ft. studio complex, dubbed Wrigley Woodhill Studios.Currently, it has a single soundstage, which is hosting the second season of the group’s nationally syndicated courtroom reality show “Relative Justice,” starring Judge Rhonda Wills.

When Matt Reeves graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Tim Burton was about to film Batman’s big return to the big screen. Now The Batman writer-director and Class of 1988 alum will give the 2022 commencement address on May 13 at the campus-adjacent Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

EXCLUSIVE: UTA has signed almost a dozen senior production figures to its Production Arts division in the wake of the Oscar telecast snub to several major categories, including those who’ve worked on Dune, You and Mrs America. 

Prime Video has slotted June 17 for the premiere of The Summer I Turned Pretty, Prime Video’s series adaptation of Jenny Han’s YA novel. Amazon also unveiled the key art below.

Variety curated a list of film schools that are definitely worth a good look. Art Center College of Design Pasadena, Calif. With core principles revolving around a learn-by-making attitude, Art Center provides students with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities located in Los Angeles, with the film and television world a moment away from campus. Film students utilize the latest in production and post-production tools and are encouraged to begin shooting immediately.

Malina Saval Associate Editor, FeaturesTwo esteemed film professors. Two wildly different cities on two different coasts. And countless ways in which both have contributed to the ever-expanding landscape of entertainment education in the United States — and the world over.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” will see the return of Kelly Bishop’s matchmaking magnate Benedetta alongside nine other additional cast members.Joining Bishop in the final season is Alfie Fuller (“Little America”), who has been upped to series regular, reprising her season four role as Dinah Rutledge.

The 1952 classic “Singin’ in the Rain” is hailed by many as one of the greatest films ever made. And yet it has also become the subject of countless myths regarding its production over the past 70 years.During a press day for the film’s 4K UHD release, TheWrap asked Patricia Ward Kelly, Gene Kelly’s wife and biographer, what was the biggest myth she could dispel about “Singin’ in the Rain” and she was candid: “Almost everything that you read on the internet.” Kelly, who is also curator of the Gene Kelly archives, is baffled by the amount of misinformation about the film that continues to perpetuate online.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaGary Hustwit has started production on “Eno,” a career-spanning documentary about musician and artist Brian Eno.The non-fiction film boasts access to hundreds of hours of never-before-seen footage, unreleased music from Eno’s archive, and visual art. It’s the first authorized documentary about the music legend.The producers say that “Eno” will be released in multiple versions and will employ “groundbreaking generative technology” in its creation and exhibition. Though the specifics haven’t been revealed, insiders say that the finished film can take on myriad different forms depending on the platform or manner in which it is being viewed.

Helen Mirren isn't a fan of the word «beauty.» The 76-year-old actress stars on the cover of 's 2022 Beautiful Issue, but the dame would like to offer up a name-change suggestion for the industry that the honor celebrates.«I love the word swagger because I think swagger means I'm confident in myself, I'm presenting myself to the world, I'm enjoying the world around me,» Mirren tells the outlet. «I think what is called the beauty industry should be called the swagger industry.

Maluma is getting ready to bring the last stop of his world tour to his hometown in Colombia. Still, in the meantime, the singer and actor unveiled his incredible wax figure at the Medellín Museum of Modern Art (MAMM).“The work that the entire team at Madame Tussauds created is unreal,” said the 28-year-old star ahead of his homecoming concert on April 30.

A Greenock -born martial arts stuntman is doubling as Tom Hardy in an upcoming Netflix film.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefNew York-headquartered documentary distributor Icarus Films has picked up all North American rights to Hong Kong protest film “Blue Island.” The film plays this week at the HotDocs Documentary Festival in Toronto, Canada.Directed by Chan Tze Woon (“Yellowing”), the film confronts the large-scale protests in Hong Kong, describing events through a mix of documentary footage and filmed reenactments. The distributor has not yet elaborated release plans, but says that it is taking booking requests from museums, arts organizations, film festivals and theaters across North America.“A new wave of young people took back the streets, as one generation after another has done throughout Hong Kong’s history.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent“There is a new studio Star System…but instead of focusing on acting talent (as it did in the 1930s), it prioritizes those with the skills to create new stories, produce new shows and manage the evolution of new character IP…in other words, to make content that will succeed by the measures important in the new world order,” Ampere Analysis’ Guy Bisson announced at MipTV in a presentation. By that measure, few figures were as important at this month’s buoyant French TV festival Canneseries than German author Ferdinand von Schirach and Constantin TV’s Oliver Berben. Broadcast on ZDF and produced by Berben, 2013’s ”Crime Stories” and 2015’s “Shades of Guilt,” both based on von Schirach best-selling short story anthologies, scored up to 5 million viewers per episode and exceptional market shares of 17%-18%. Inspired by a von Schirach stage play ”The Verdict” punched almost 7 million viewers and a market share of over 20% on a Monday evening.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorAbacus Media Rights has acquired the Sky Original feature documentary “The Ghost of Richard Harris,” about the Hollywood star and notorious hell-raiser, for worldwide distribution. The release of the film, directed by Adrian Sibley, coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Irish actor’s death.The film, produced by Bright Yellow Films, Samson Films and Groove Intl., tracks Harris’ career, which was overshadowed by a reputation for drinking and riotous behavior. Exploring this complex, flawed individual, the documentary features Harris’ three sons, BAFTA Award-winning actor Jared Harris (“Chernobyl,” “The Crown”), actor Jamie Harris (“Carnival Row,” “West Side Story”) and director Damian Harris (“Brave the Dark,” “Wilde Wedding”).

Naveen Kumar Subjectivity is conditional. We can only understand our own points of view in relation to the differences that separate us.

All of Warner’s upcoming DC films were showcased in a presentation hosted by Aisha Tyler, including a surprise appearance by Dwayne Johnson to present his one-two summer punch of “Black Adam” and “DC League of Super Pets” and give shoutouts to several of the top theater execs in attendance. James Wan appeared to discuss next year’s “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” and the studio’s holiday offering, “Shazam: Fury of the Gods,” was also featured with a new trailer and a special appearance from Zachary Levi and the film’s cast, including Helen Mirren as the villain Hespera, leader of the daughters of Atlas.And as fans and industry insiders have expected, a sequel to “The Batman” was announced with director Matt Reeves and star Robert Pattinson returning.

Warner Bros. brought a lot of DC — a lot — to its CinemaCon session today. In addition to a The Flash trailer, Dwayne Johnson showing up to push DC League of Super-Pets and Black Adam, the cast of Shazam: Fury of the Gods stopped by with a trailer, in addition to James Wan how had a sizzle reel of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. 

Lionsgate  and The Roku Channel have closed a multiyear theatrical output deal for theatrically released Lionsgate films beginning with the studio’s 2022 theatrical releases, the companies announced on Tuesday.Under the terms of the agreement, The Roku Channel will receive two separate windows for each film, the first of which provides exclusive rights to Lionsgate’s film slate immediately following its first window on Starz.The agreement will include properties such as the “John Wick” action franchise, “Expendables 4,” and Eli Roth’s “Borderlands,” starring Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis and Jack Black.Also on the Roster, Kelly Fremon Craig’s “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” based on the beloved Judy Blume classic; “White Bird: A Wonder Story,” starring Helen Mirren and Gillian Anderson; and the Nicolas Cage meta-action comedy “The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent.”“This agreement affirms the great demand for first-run studio movies across a broad array of platforms,” said Lionsgate president of Worldwide Television Distribution Jim Packer in a statement. “This partnership with The Roku Channel shows our ability to capitalize on opportunities in today’s complex television landscape with a multifaceted, layered approach that meets everyone’s needs.” “We are pleased to expand our relationship with our longstanding partner Lionsgate to provide our audience with exclusive first-time, free access to Lionsgate’s theatrical slate,” said Rob Holmes, vice president of Programming at Roku.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeThe 49th Daytime Emmy Awards return to a live, in-person format this year on Friday, June 24, airing on both CBS and Paramount+. Also, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences confirmed that, as expected, the ceremony will take place at Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Calif.; nominations will be announced on May 5.The Daytime Emmys dates were part of a slew of announcements made on Tuesday morning by NATAS, which also revealed Lifetime Achievement Awards for PBS’ “This Old House,” soap opera icon John Aniston (“Days of Our Lives”), documentarian Sir David Attenborough, “Reading Rainbow” host LeVar Burton and journalist Judy Woodruff.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterSupporters of a measure to expand arts and music education in California schools announced Tuesday that they have submitted 1 million signatures, more than enough to qualify the initiative for the November ballot.The initiative is led by former L.A. Unified Superintendent Austin Beutner, and has garnered support from scores of Hollywood executives and entertainers, including Katy Perry, Issa Rae, John Lithgow and Jeff Bridges.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentThe Locarno Film Festival will celebrate U.S. musician, performance artist and filmmaker Laurie Anderson with its lifetime achievement award dedicated to creative pioneers.The prominent Swiss fest dedicated to international indie cinema will be feting Anderson with its Vision Award Ticinomoda, and screening her two feature-length films, “Heart of a Dog” (2015) which is dedicated to Lou Reed, and the restored 4K version of “Home of the Brave” (1986).Anderson will be given the award on Aug.

American Cinema Editors today released a video statement decrying the presentation of film editing and seven other categories as pre-taped segments during the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony, also calling in the 56-video for change moving forward.

EXCLUSIVE: Following a highly competitive auction, sources tell Deadline that Netflix has landed the spec Below, which was written by Greg Weidman and Geoff Tock and will be directed by David F. Sandberg. Insiders say the package had half a dozen studios and streamers in the mix for it with sources saying the the spec sold in the low seven-figures range.

Happy and healthy. Bella Hadid and Marc Kalman have chosen to keep their relationship private after sparking romance speculation in summer 2020.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHBO is developing a half-hour comedy series based on the Dave Eggers novel “The Every,” Variety has learned.In the show, world’s largest tech company merges with the planet’s dominant e-commerce site, creating the richest and most dangerous – and, oddly enough, the most beloved – monopoly ever known: The Every.Eggers will serve as an executive producer on the project. Rachel Axler will adapt the book for the small screen and executive produce, with David Miner of 3 Arts also set to executive produce.“In this equally terrifying and hilarious cautionary tale, Dave Eggers shows us the increasing cost of the frictionless life that technology enables,” said Amy Gravitt, executive vice president of HBO Programming.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticWith its grand opening less than two weeks away, the Bob Dylan Center has announced Steven Jenkins as its director. He’s moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to oversee the museum’s exhibitions, public programs and daily operations, following more than three decades of work with nonprofits in the San Francisco Bay areaThe hiring announcement comes as the BDC prepares for an opening weekend May 5-8 that will include a gala invitational dinner and celebratory concerts by Elvis Costello, Mavis Staples and Patti Smith.Said Jenkins in a statement, “As an avid listener and fascinated follower of Dylan’s every surprising and illuminating turn, his work has brought me a lifetime of aesthetic pleasures, confounding challenges and profound joy.