Todd Haynes: Last News

Joaquin Phoenix‘s next role is going to be an explicit one.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers for Netflix’s “May December” In Netflix’s “May December,” one of the most memorable scenes features Joe Yoo (played by Charles Melton) arriving at the hotel to deliver a letter from his wife Gracie (Julianne Moore) to actress Elizabeth Berry (Natalie Portman). Their encounter leads to a brief yet intense sexual liaison on the floor, culminating in a conspicuous silhouette shot of Joe’s penis. Amid Samy Burch’s narrative brilliance and Todd Haynes’ tantalizing direction, one might imagine Melton — known for his role in The CW’s “Riverdale” — felt immense pressure acting opposite Oscar winner Portman, who also produced the film.

The Gotham Awards, the New York wing of the indie film world, has already handed out its year-end honors and now it’s time for the West Coast to have their say. Bright and early this morning, Film Independent revealed the 2024 Independent Spirit Awards nominees, and, no surprise, Celine Song’s “Past Lives” was at the top of the list with five nominations.

In what is an annual tradition, A24 led all nominations at this morning’s 39th Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominations with 11 nods while their movie Past Lives, along with Netflix’s May December and Amazon MGM’s American Fiction all tied for the most nominations with five apiece.

Charles Melton was honored at the Critics Choice Celebration of Black, Latino & AAPI Achievements and broke accepting his award.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor The Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, a day before the National Board of Review will weigh in on its selections for the best films and performances of 2023. They’ll be following the New York Film Critics Circle who kicked off the season last week by crowning Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” as its top choice. Its West Coast counterpart, Los Angeles Film Critics, will drop their choices on Sunday.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director The year is coming to end, but not without some major original films debuting on Netflix, Prime Video and more top streaming platforms. Whether it’s potential new holiday classics (Prime Video is launching the Eddie Murphy holiday comedy “Candy Cane Lane” this month) or potential new franchises (Zack Snyder returns to Netflix for the start of his space opera saga “Rebel Moon”), streaming is offering up a ton of original fare this month bolstered by star power such as Bradley Cooper, Natalie Portman, Julia Roberts and more. Disney+ already added the first four “Indiana Jones” movies to its streaming library in May, but now comes the arrival of the fifth installment, “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” which marks Harrison Ford’s final outing as the iconic archeologist and adventurer.

Refresh for updates: The oldest critics group in the U.S. is voting on the year’s best film as well as several other categories Thursday in what is a very lengthy process that soaks up most of the morning. Check back here every now and then to see who has won.

Netflix this December, including a dozen DC movies, the final part of the latest season of The Crown and family fun animations.From unnerving thrillers such as Black Swan to iconic early 1999 romcom starring Freddie Prinze Jr., She’s All That, there is plenty to choose from on the streaming platform.Other highlights include the 2023 biopic, Maestro, starring Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan, as well as the highly anticipated May December, the latest movie by Carol director, Todd Haynes, which stars Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore.There’s plenty of action packed into the list with Liam Neeson movies, Taken, Taken 2 and The Commuter hitting the site on December 1. And for celebrity documentary fans, Kevin Hart & Chris Rock: Headlines Only, will be arriving on December 12.For a full list of the new additions to US Netflix, take a look below (via What’s On Netflix).December 1Basketball Wives (seasons three and four)Big Brother (seasons six and seven)Black Swan (2010)Blockers (2018)Boyz N The Hood (1991)Burlesque (2010)College Hill: Celebrity Edition (season one)Man Of Steel (2013)Batman V. Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016)Suicide Squad (2016)Wonder Woman (2017)Justice League (2017)Shazam! (2019)Birds Of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn) (2020)Wonder Woman: 1984 (2020)The Suicide Squad (2021)DC League Of Super-Pets (2022)The Batman (2022)Shazam! Fury Of The Gods (2023)Fisk (season two)Gajen Nad Professional Mixed Breed (2023)Good Boys (2019)Holey Moley (multiple seasons)Hunter Killer (2018)Insidious (2010)L.A. Confidential (1997)May December (2023)Lucy (2014)One Piece (season 19)Radical Wolfe (2023)Real Husbands Of Hollywood: More Kevin, More Problems (season one)She’s All That (1999)She’s The Man

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Oscar season begins this week in the Big Apple. The New York Film Critics Circle will be the first major group of film journalists to unveil its winners on Nov. 30.

Charles Melton was so shocked by his win at the 2023 Gotham Awards that he was practically speechless while accepting the award!

May December and Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget are among some of the most anticipated additions to Netflix UK this month.Directed by Todd Haynes (Carol), May December is a drama film loosely inspired by the story of Mary Kay Letourneau. The film follows Elizabeth Berry (Natalie Portman), an actress who travels to Georgia to meet and study the life of Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Julianne Moore) who is in a controversial relationship with husband Joe Yoo (Charles Melton).Other highlights include the sequel to Chicken Run, which is set to arrive on December 15.

May December, the title of Todd Haynes’s latest drama, reflects the director’s dance card for the year: having opened in Cannes, the Netflix title has been a festival favorite ever since, and will likely hang in there until voting closes after Christmas. Its two star names, Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, have been getting curious audiences through the doors, but what keeps the film playing in everyone’s minds is the moral maze of questions it poses.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Natalie Portman calls Todd Haynes’ new film, “May December,” a “dream role.” “May December” stars Portman as actress Elizabeth Berry (Portman), who is set to portray Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Julianne Moore) in a movie. Gracie is a Georgia woman who became a notorious tabloid figure when she engaged in a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old boy, Joe. (Yes, this is loosely based on the story of teacher Mary Kay Letourneau, who had an affair with and married her teenage student, Vili Fualaau.) Twenty years have passed, and Gracie is trying to move on from the scandal.

Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story 36 years before Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster phenomenon.A 43-minute short film made at Bard College in New York State, Superstar depicts scenes from the life of the 1970s pop star using the children’s toys instead of real-life actors.Charting the rise and fall of Carpenter, who died from the eating disorder anorexia nervosa in 1983, Haynes’ controversial film uses the stick-thin dolls to emphasise Carpenter’s frailty and was banned after a copyright claim from the Carpenter estate. It contains uncleared Carpenters tracks throughout and also makes claims about the sexuality of Karen’s brother Richard.Superstar has become a cult curio since then and Haynes, though he hasn’t seen Barbie, told NME in an exclusive interview that he’s pretty sure Gerwig is familiar with it.“I love Greta Gerwig.

When Julianne Moore first was approached for May December, a dark dramedy that would have her star opposite Natalie Portman under the direction of frequent collaborator Todd Haynes, she said yes immediately. But only in looking more closely at the material and her Gracie character did she come to understand the complexity of what she’d just signed on for. 

The cast of May December is hard at work promoting the new Netflix movie now that the SAG-AFTRA strike is over!

Jenelle Riley Deputy Awards and Features Editor Actors flock to work with Todd Haynes, a filmmaker with an impeccable track record who has made a habit of drawing some of the greatest performances out of actors who already boast impressive credits, but also for discovering newer talent. In films like “Far From Heaven,” “I’m Not There” and “Carol,” he’s guided Julianne Moore, Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara to Oscar nominations.

On Thursday night, Oscar season was in full swing and Hollywood was, dare we say, busy. Among the numerous events and screenings was a press and industry reception for “The Holdovers” in Century City.

after she played a tormented prima ballerina in the 2010 thriller Black Swan. She even won the best actress award for the role at the Oscars that year.

Charles Melton is getting a lot of Oscar buzz for his work in the movie May December and he’s making a splash on the red carpet at the L.A. premiere!

Julianne Moore and Charles Melton are stepping out to do some press for their upcoming movie, May December!