Movie News

Judd Apatow Teases His Upcoming Movie with Pete Davidson: 'His Acting Is Really Remarkable'. Judd Apatow and Pete Davidson teamed up for a semi-autobiographical movie about the comedian's life. Judd Apatow's next movie stars Pete Davidson, and the director has nothing but the best to say about the Saturday Night Live star. Apatow, 52, and Davidson, 26, cowrote The King of Staten Island, which they shot on location last year. Ahead of the film's world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival in March, the Trainwreck director teased the comedy to reporters at the Directors Guild Awards on Saturday in Los Angeles. "It's a fictional story inspired by a lot of the emotional events from his life," Apatow said of Davidson's personal contribution to the story. "We shot it on Staten Island last summer and Steve Buscemi is in it, Marisa Tomei, Bill Burr, my daughter Maude is in it and I'm really proud of it. I feel like it's very funny and moving." "He really is a sweetheart guy," Apatow said. "He's so creative and smart. He's been through things that no one on earth should ever have to go through. I think it's been very challenging recovering from them, but he has such a big heart, and I think he's taken this opportunity through his art to express what he's going through. And I'm really proud of the work he did in the movie. His acting is really remarkable." The movie serves as Apatow's first directing credit since 2015's Trainwreck starring Amy Schumer and will follow in the same tone, with Davidson's real-life experiences loosely featured. The comedian and actor's father, who was a firefighter, died when Davidson was 7-years-old during the 9/11 World Trade Center terrorist attack. Apatow's sweet quotes come as Davidson is stepping back from the spotlight to work on his mental health. Davidson has borderline personality disorder and previously sought treatment in 2016. He seemingly hinted that he'd be seeking treatment again during a "Weekend Update" segment on SNL in December. "I'm going on a little 'vacation.' You know, the kind of vacation where insurance pays for some of it, and they take your phone and shoelaces," he said. "And you have roommates but it stills costs like, $100,000." Davidson also stars in a new campaign for Alexander Wang, the same designer whose fashion show he and Kara Gerber walked in last May before being linked in October. The two seem to have cooled off as they haven't been seen together in weeks. (People)

Carey Mulligan, Time's Up U.K. Compile Alternative BAFTA Nominees List. A host of British names have drawn up their own nominations following BAFTA's latest diversity controversy. With the BAFTA film awards ceremony taking place this weekend and the British Academy's 2020 crop of nominees having already sparked a debate over the snubbing of black acting talent and female directors, some U.K. celebrities have joined Time's Up U.K. to present their own nominations list. The move, says Time's Up U.K., is part of a campaign to celebrate the women and people of color who "should have been nominated" for a BAFTA this year. Carey Mulligan, among those to take part, said she would have nominated Hustlers director Lorene Scafaria, while Gemma Arterton said she "loved Booksmart," and couldn't believe it didn't get any nominations in the acting or directing categories. "Same goes for The Nightingale and Portrait of a Lady on Fire." Elsewhere, Yesterday star Himesh Patel gave a best supporting actress nomination for Parasite's Lee Jung Eun and best supporting actor nod to The Farewell's Tzi Ma, director Amma Asante said her pick for best actress in a leading role was Queen & Slim's Jodie Turner-Smith, while Joely Richardson's sole nomination was for her own mother, Vanessa Redgrave, for her role in Mrs. Lowry & Son. British Black List founder and Time's Up U.K. Women of Color Group co-chair Akua Gyamfi offered an impressive list of nominees, including Lupita Nyong'o (Us), Jodie Turner-Smith (Queen & Slim), Cynthia Erivo (Harriet), Daniel Kaluuya (Queen & Slim), Damson Idris (Farming), Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Farming), Mati Diop (Atlantique) and Chiwetel Ejiofor (The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind). "The awards season is upon us and while there are some great films and outstanding performances nominated, there have been glaring omissions," same Dame Heather Rabbatts, Time's Up U.K. chair. "The lack of diversity both at the Golden Globes and now at the BAFTAS has been the subject of criticism from across the media and from talent. It could be said that the debate itself is a manifestation of all the work Time's Up U.K. and others have been doing to raise this issue to the forefront. But we all know this is a long and difficult journey." Rabbatts said she wanted to ensure that the BAFTA awards didn't pass without the movement raising the profile of those whose "endeavors and performances" didn't land them a nomination, so would be launching a social media campaign that would "highlight those who are absent" while not taking away from those who had been nominated. "We congratulate all of those nominated and we all know the hard work and total commitment to achieve this accolade. But alongside, there are others who should be standing on that carpet. We really hope you will join with us in celebrating the rich and diverse roster of talent before us. This 'invisibility' is even more shocking given the choices which were available and the strength of films and performances where black talent was apparent this year." (Hollywood Reporter)

Nat Geo Doc 'Torn' Will Aim to Follow in Footsteps of 'Free Solo'. Nat Geo produced the film in partnership with Simon and Jonathan Chinn's Lightbox and Chris Murphy. One year after Free Solo won the best documentary feature Oscar and in the same month that The Cave was nominated for it, another project from National Geographic Documentary Films could be headed for awards season attention. Torn -- like Free Solo, a doc feature that illustrates the risks and rewards of extreme climbing by chronicling the experiences of some of the world's greatest extreme climbers -- is now in post-production and will be released in theaters later this year, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. Nat Geo produced the film in partnership with Lightbox, the studio co-founded by cousins Simon Chinn, a two-time Oscar winner (Man on Wire and Searching for Sugar Man) and an Emmy winner, and Jonathan Chinn, an Oscar nominee (Black Sheep) and Emmy winner, as well as Chris Murphy. The film marks the directorial debut of Max Lowe, who turns his lens on his own family as the body of his father, the legendary climber Alex Lowe, is located 17 years after his death in an avalanche on the Himalayan peak Mount Shishapangma, alongside that of his cameraman and fellow climber David Bridges. The renowned mountaineer Conrad Anker, Alex's best friend and climbing partner, miraculously survived the avalanche, and went on to marry Alex's widow and helped to raise his three sons, including Max. The film includes footage of both Alex Lowe's ill-fated climb and his son's arduous journey to return to the spot where his father perished. "This film goes beyond my passion as a filmmaker and chronicles my family's intensely personal journey toward understanding my father as a man, not a myth," Max Lowe says. "I'm grateful for the opportunity to work with National Geographic to tell my father's story through the unflinchingly honest perspectives of the people closest to him." "Like National Geographic, exploration and storytelling are part of Max's DNA," says Carolyn Bernstein, National Geographic's EVP global scripted content and documentary films. "We are confident his family's inspiring and emotionally complex story will move audiences around the world." The Chinns assert, "This film documents a painful and emotional journey for the Lowe-Anker family, and we are honored that they have entrusted us to help them bring it to the screen. Their willingness to share the story with the world for the first time is sure to strike a chord with audiences." And Murphy adds, "Sharing his story of love and loss through the medium of film takes vulnerability and courage. Max exploring his father's past and reconciling with his family's story could be the most challenging summit of his life." (Hollywood Reporter)

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