Welcome to Reunion newsletter #1. All-killer-no-filler need to know on movies. Whole thing on Friday, but we’ll drip content through the week. We’ll color important news, not just repost what’s everywhere, and save you the clicks with summaries. I want to empower readers to do more in their work. New release and event recs will come often with first hand artist interviews and op-eds. I want to supercharge Reunion readers, save you lots of time, bring you closer and deeper into a few key subjects that are worthwhile. An ongoing film school of sorts.
First few are free, then we’ll go behind paywall. Subscribe, support, whatever you’re into, happy to have ya. We’ll maintain a free option also, but the bulk will go paywall.
- Sean Glass @sdotglass @reunion
THIS WEEK we’re joined by acclaimed author Sam Wasson on the occasion of his newly released The Path to Paradise: A Francis Ford Coppola Story, for an in-depth discussion that ties together his last three books to tell the story of the Hollywood studio system. (Scroll to end)
Plus, look for Reunion founder Sean Glass’ state of the art / best of 2023 list, posting this Monday.
Next week expect lots on Sundance ‘24.
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NEWS
The important stuff on the important stuff. TL;DR + links if you want more.
Tom Cruise jumped ship to David Zaslav’s Warner Bros. Is he pissed Paramount lost IMAX screens for Mission Impossible? Is this PR / paperwork precluding a merger / takeover? Is he coming to show Zaslav who’s really Town sheriff? We won’t see any movies from the WB partnership until likely 2027 anyway with his schedule, so this sounds like corporate stuff. Either way, give Tom Cruise all the things and let him continue to save cinema. Please. [WBD]
Another light in pseudo-Hollywood is PTA (gave Cruise his second best role). He gets his biggest budget and major stars (DiCaprio, Penn, Hall…). The biggest embarrassment in Oscar history is not La La Land, nor Green Book, not even The Slap. It’s Phantom Thread not winning everything. Will Paul Thomas Anderson provide Leo with a career highlight to sit next to Rick Dalton? [Deadline]
Julia Garner joins Chris Abbott aboard Leigh Whannell’s Wolf Man, continuing Blumhouse’s and Universal’s revitalizing their classic monsters (Whannell’s The Invisible Man). On the eve of Sundance, this reunites a pair whose careers started around Sundance 2011 with Borderline Films’ Martha Marcy May Marlene (directed by Sean Durkin, Iron Claw). Casting director Susan Shopmaker worked with Durkin and his partners Antonio Campos and Josh Mond, who together are responsible for developing many of the actors whom shape the industry and arts today. [Variety].
The Iron Claw’s, Zac Efron should be at the top of everyone’s list for best performance—tackling the role of Kevin Von Erich, the eldest son and glue of the doomed wrestling family. This very raw interview is worth a click. [Deadline]
HBO’s adaptation of The Last of Us Part II (one of the best video games of all time, better than the first) has chosen to remove significant character traits in this week’s casting announcements. Kaitlyn Dever has a ways to go to embody the body builder survivalist, which was a beautiful statement on individuality and femininity. Dina’s Jewish heritage is erased. Trans character Lev casting still TBA. [Verge]
Filmmaker Eva Aridjis is crowdfunding a documentary on Diane Luckey aka Q Lazzarus, who sang "Goodbye Horses" before mysteriously disappearing. Reissue coming on collaborator Dark Entries Records too. [Kickstarter]
Somehow not an Onion headline: Vincent Gallo made women uncomfortable during a casting call for his newest film. A tweet responded “water is wet.” Some poor soul at SAG has to 'investigate' this. He plays serial killer, the Golden State Killer, in The Policeman. I don’t know what to say. Ridiculous all around. [Rolling Stone]
IN THEATERS
New releases (or restorations), events, and more on our radar.
New York Jewish Film Festival 2024 at Film at Lincoln Center
Household Saints [4K Restoration] at IFC Center
The Settlers at IFC Center. Sam Spruell steals scenes in not only Fargo's penultimate episode this week, but Cannes, Fipresci and NYFF's The Settlers, opening at IFC this week.
Gertrud at Anthology Film Archives. Dreyer's Gertrud is notably our friend Miles Emanuel's favorite movie. Reunion hosts monthly 16mm nights with Miles and Shane Fleming. Extra credit if you read Transcendental Style in Film by Paul Schrader.
Third Man and Occupied City at Film Forum
Tough Guys Don’t Dance and more Ryan O’Neal (in 35mm) at Roxy.
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (in 35mm) at Roxy. if you haven’t seen it, this is great opportunity, plus read new piece on Mulholland Drive from Cinephilia & Beyond.
STUFF WE LIKE
Kyle Edward Ball’s live Q&A from Skinamarink Edmonton Public Library screening. SG’s fav of 2023.
Francis Ford Coppola loves his family and we love that.
Worth following Ghanaian artists for their wild takes on US movie posters. Funnily enough, this is actually kinda just the vibe of Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers, they don’t even need to exaggerate it. [Deadly Prey Gallery]
VOICES
In this section we highlight filmmakers, writers, curators, members of the critical community, and more to talk about subjects of their choosing.
SAM WASSON’S HOLLYWOOD STORY
Author of The Path To Paradise: A Francis Ford Coppola Story, The Big Goodbye: Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood and Hollywood: An Oral History, Sam Wasson sat down to reflect on the studio system and some of its champions.
“I think the studio system is as close to perfect as something can get…If you don’t believe me, look at the work—we don’t have to speculate on this. We used to make hundreds of movies a year. Some of them were turkeys, but when you make more movies, you make more great movies…You practice better…so you get better.”
“Today with no system there is very little practice, there is very little productivity.”
Podcast format also available on Reunion substack RSS feed.
A lot of exciting stuff in the works for the coming weeks. Subscribe and stay tuned.
Online Monday: the State of the Art + Best of 2023 list from founder Sean Glass.
See you next week!