Not just lighthouse, pagan or witch horror

September 9, 2021 1:40 PM

A24 have involvement in several films this autumn/fall. As well as (delayed) The Green Knight [previous 1] [previous 2] (The Lantern review) and Lamb [previous] (Variety review), there is C'mon C'mon (Vanity Fair review), starring Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffmann and Woody Norman, Red Rocket (Slashfilm review) starring Simon Rex, Bree Elizabeth Elrod and Suzanna Son, The Humans, starring Beanie Feldstein, Jayne Houdyshell, Richard Jenkins, Amy Schumer and Steven Yeun, and The Tragedy of MacBeth, directed by Joel Coen and starring Frances McDormand, Denzel Washington and Corey Hawkins. [as ever, reviews and trailers contain spoilers]
posted by Wordshore (12 comments total)

Hold the phone.

.....We're getting a Joel Coen directed film of MacBeth starring Denzel Washington and Frances MacDormand and this FPP isn't just about that????
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:00 PM on September 9, 2021 [27 favorites]

There’s a Coen’s Macbeth coming up? Fantastic. Might be the thing to finally lure me back to the movies.

Also Green Knight is amazing, if a bit baggy in the middle.
posted by brilliantmistake at 2:01 PM on September 9, 2021 [2 favorites]

Just Joel Coen? Did something happen to Ethan? But yes, sooo excited for this one!

I promise I'll check out the others, which seem pretty cool by some of their names.
posted by Snowishberlin at 2:28 PM on September 9, 2021 [1 favorite]

The Green Knight on FF
posted by Fukiyama at 2:29 PM on September 9, 2021 [1 favorite]

Just Joel Coen? Did something happen to Ethan?

Ethan Coen has effectively retired from film. If you want to see his director's work now you'll have to go see one of his plays.
posted by forbiddencabinet at 2:38 PM on September 9, 2021 [9 favorites]

Frances McDormand as Lady Macbeth???

I thing I did not even know I wanted, and yet, behold, here it be.
posted by emjaybee at 2:57 PM on September 9, 2021 [7 favorites]

Apparently she has played the role in a stage production opposite Conleth Hill a.k.a. Varys from GoT?

I’ve also seen it mentioned in interviews about this movie that she had previously suggested that Joel direct a stage version but that (apparently unlike his brother) he wasn’t eager to cross into that world.
posted by atoxyl at 10:23 PM on September 9, 2021 [1 favorite]

I loved the video guide to Cohen films that offers a nod to “psychopaths for hire ... with unusual hair.” So true!
posted by Bella Donna at 2:53 AM on September 10, 2021 [1 favorite]

Not just lighthouse, pagan or witch horror

I feel that this suggests that we have enough lighthouse, pagan, and/or witch horror in our lives.
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:07 AM on September 10, 2021 [4 favorites]

I don't know. I'm a huge horror fan and an even bigger indie horror fan. But "A24" is becoming almost a genre of movie now, and it's possible to get it super wrong. At best you get a slow burn that builds suspense, meaningful but sparse dialog, and events that can be ambiguous or evocative rather than explicit.

At worst (as with the recent Saint Maud), you get a burn so slow it goes out, cutting between two silent people trying to convey reams of dialog with their eyes, and a plot that doesn't evoke anything but boredom.

I'd love to see a Scary Movie style parody of self-important indie horror, an that's as a fan of the genre.
posted by skullhead at 9:00 AM on September 10, 2021 [3 favorites]

A24 has always been about 50/50 on their picks. The films they choose to distribute are pretty consistently "elevated" genre films, which is why I think they have such a diehard fanbase. They seem to be increasingly producing the films they distribute, so it will be interesting to see how that affects the overall quality of their catalogue. They also cut ties with Scott Rudin earlier this year for being a toxic asshole. He did bring in many of their more popular films and that might affect their selections moving forward.

I think A24 must have a better marketing team than any other distribution/production company because you never see a roundup like this for any other company. I don't think A24's picks are any better or more interesting than, say, Neon. Neon has some absolute bangers lined up in Memoria, Titane, and Flee. There is also Spencer if you are into costume dramas about Princess Diana.
posted by forbiddencabinet at 8:58 PM on September 10, 2021 [3 favorites]

.....We're getting a Joel Coen directed film of MacBeth starring Denzel Washington and Frances MacDormand and this FPP isn't just about that????

Behold; thy wish is granted.
posted by Wordshore at 10:42 PM on September 21, 2021