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Peter Debruge Chief Film Critic Taking a one-for-us victory lap after one-for-them studio smash “Captain Marvel,” indie duo Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden blow a big, self-indulgent kiss to the late-’80s East Bay with “Freaky Tales.” Berkeley-born Fleck was all of 10 years old in early 1987, when this nostalgia-fueled anthology film is set, which explains the wide-eyed way he romanticizes the defining subcultures of the time (with Boden presumably doing her best to broaden the film’s incredibly specific, “you had to be there“ appeal). In four distinct but intertwining chapters — populated mostly with fresh faces, plus grizzled-but-gorgeous Pedro Pascal — “Freaky Tales” melds wildly different sectors of the city: There’s the rowdy-yet-respectful Gilman Street punk crowd; the revolutionary Oakland hip-hop scene (including Too $hort, whose raunchy rap anthem gives the film its name); the Warriors’ historic victory over the Lakers, in which local basketball legend Eric “Sleepy” Jones scored a record-setting 29 points in the fourth quarter; and a disturbing spike in neo-Nazi-linked hate crimes, which strangely serves to tie everything else together.

We’re days away from the 2024 Oscars and a bunch of stars stepped out to attend W Magazine and Louis Vuitton‘s celebration of the Academy Awards!

So many stars walked the red carpet at the 76th Directors Guild Of America Awards on Saturday night (February 10) in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Marc Malkin Senior Editor, Culture and Events Riley Keough, Bob Odenkirk and Danny Ramirez will star in a live reading of the Oscar-nominated drama “Anatomy of a Fall,” as will Jay Ellis, Kate Berlant, Quincy Isaiah and Olivia Wilde. Keough (“Daisy Jones & the Six”) takes on the lead role of Sandra, which earned Sandra Hüller an Oscar nomination for best actress at the upcoming Academy Awards. In addition to the human cast, the movie’s dog Messi will reprise his role as Snoop.

Angelique Jackson When basketball legend Sue Bird decided to let a team of filmmakers capture her final season after playing 21 years in the WNBA, she wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from watching her career be contextualized on film, but it turned out to be wonderful. “You play such a long time — so many different moments, so many different memories — and to have it now, in this one film is amazing,” Bird said, visiting the Variety Studio presented by Audible at the Sundance Film Festival.

lifeless “Captain Marvel,” their latest movie has, um, flecks of the supernatural heroism and urban vigilante justice that we associate with the comic book genre. Running time: 106 minutes. Rated R (strong bloody violence, language throughout including slurs, sexual content and drug use).However, unlike many of those bland caped behemoths, “Freaky Tales,” which had its world premiere Thursday night at the Sundance Film Festival, also boasts enough forceful, nerdy personality to fill the San Francisco Bay.

“These are the tales, the freaky tales,” repeatedly intones Oakland rap legend Too $hort over the interstitials of writer and directors Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden’s “Freaky Tales.” This Bay Area anthology film takes its title from the over nine-minute song, which is itself an extended chronicle of prominent personalities the rapper encounters. While the directing duo occasionally approximates something wild in their headrush of 1987 nostalgia, they do not earn the second line of the rap.

died of an accidental overdose last July. He was 25.His “Freaky Tales” co-star Jay Ellis took the stage of the Eccles Theater after the debut screening and recalled filming the finale fight scene with him.“My first day, as we went to go do the work at the house, I got to meet Pedro [Pascal], I got to meet Ben Mendelsohn and I got to meet Angus Cloud,” the actor said onstage, flanked by Pascal and Mendelsohn.“Rest in peace to Angus,” added Ellis, who plays Golden State Warrior Sleepy Floyd.

Sundance soaked up the sun on Thursday’s opening day. With plenty of powder to lend an idyllic backdrop to selfies and social media updates, the festival crowd was buzzing in line for the day’s largest film opening: “Freaky Tales,” taking the coveted early evening spot at the Eccles Center.

Sundance revved up with the premiere of Freaky Tales tonight, a debut met with rousing applause, including at the film’s last title card that read, “In loving memory of Angus Cloud.”

Oakland’s freaky side emerges in Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck’s ambitious yet tonally uneven new anthology film Freaky Tales starring Pedro Pascal, Jay Ellis, Ben Medelsohn, Jack Champion, Ji-Young Yoo, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Too $hort’s, and Lenny G. The directors spotlight diverse local subcultures against the backdrop of Too $hort’s hit of the same name. The film intertwines four tales linked by unfolding events and a puzzling supernatural emerald glow permeating the city. Though the gritty visuals and soundtrack immerse in the look and feel of 1987 Oakland, the narrative struggles to weave these stories into a satisfying whole.

Normani and Dominique Thorne are all smiles while stepping out for the premiere of their new movie Freaky Tales held at Eccles Theatre on Thursday (January 18) in Park City, Utah.

William Earl Variety is returning to the Sundance Film Festival this year with its annual Interview Studio, presented by Audible, the leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling. Throughout the festival, videos from the interview studio will be distributed across Variety.com as well as Variety and Audible’s social media channels (Instagram: @audible, @Variety; Twitter: @audible_com, @Variety; TikTok: @audible, @VarietyMagazine).

EXCLUSIVE: The MACRO Lodge at Sundance Film Festival (www.StayMACRO.com), hosted by MACRO Founder & CEO Charles D. King (Mudbound, Judas and the Black Messiah) and his wife Stacey Walker King, Chief Brand Officer of the company, returns to the Sundance Film Festival for its seventh annual showcase of panels and parties at the iconic film festival to champion inclusion and people of color at its prime location at 136 Heber Avenue in Park City, UT with three days of programming. 

The Motion Picture & Television Fund’s second annual Lights, Camera, Take Action! Caring for Hollywood’s Crews telethon exceeded its fundraising goal by raising $786,512 on Saturday night, the nonprofit said.

EXCLUSIVE: Teton Ridge Entertainment has hired Jen Gorton as EVP Production and Development.

Brunello Cucinelli hosted a star-studded party this week!

EXCLUSIVE: Jillian Share, who was recently eOne‘s President of Film Production, has been named President of Teton Ridge Entertainment, a new Los Angeles-based independent studio.

Your Lucky Day, the horror thriller featuring one of the final performances of Euphoria breakout Angus Cloud, has secured a SAG-AFTRA Interim Agreement for publicity ahead of its Fantastic Fest premiere, Deadline has learned.

Alison Brie and Dave Franco are letting their voices be heard amid the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes in Hollywood.

Prior to his death, Angus Cloud made waves in Hollywood following his breakout role as Fezco on the hit series Euphoria.

 are back! HBO released the official trailer for season 4 of the Emmy-winning sketch comedy series on Wednesday, and viewers will be getting even more hilarity and show-stopping guest stars than ever before.The trailer for the series features the familiar faces of series regulars Robin Thede, Gabrielle Dennis and Skye Townsend in various sketches including the return of  «A Black Lady Courtroom» and our favorite pastel-representing gang members. Season 4 also introduces three new featured players -- DaMya Gurley, Tamara Jade, Angel Laketa Moore -- and more than 20 celebrity guest stars, including Omarion, Bobby Brown, Tracee Ellis Ross, Colman Domingo, Kyla Pratt, Sam Richardson, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jackée Harry, Tank, Jay Ellis and Kel Mitchell. The HBO series has received 13 Primetime Emmy nominations and three Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series and Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming. The series, which debuted in August 2019, concluded its third season on May 2022 and was renewed the next month.

EXCLUSIVE: The story of the murder of six Black girls in the Washington, D.C. area in the 1970s is to be turned into a podcast and scripted series.

Bonded for life! While celebrating Top Gun: Maverick‘s success at the 2023 Oscars, Jay Ellis reflected on the time he got to spend with costar Tom Cruise.

Tom Cruise will not be at the 95th Academy Awards.

And the award for most attractive actor goes to … ! Hollywood’s finest men arrived at the 95th Academy Awards in looks that had Us swooning.

2023 Academy Awards! As A-listers stepped onto the red carpet ahead of Sunday's ceremony, a trend of bridal chic was quick to emerged.Ana de Armas stunned in a sequined, scoop-necked gown with ruffle details. In an interview with ET, de Armas revealed that her fashion look was a nod to Marilyn Monroe, whom the Oscar-nominated actress played in .«Nicholas from Louis Vuitton designed it and I fell in love with it,» she said.

Tom Cruise is missing from Oscars night due to his work schedule. "Top Gun: Maverick" is nominated for six awards but Cruise, 60, won't be there to accept any if the film wins, as he's back in the United Kingdom filming "Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part II," Fox News Digital can confirm.  The film has been nominated for best picture, writing, film editing, sound, music and visual effects and was featured heavily in the award ceremony's opening movie montage. The actor's co-stars appeared on the red carpet ahead of the award show and also confirmed his absence.

Celebrating from a distance. Tom Cruise wasn’t in attendance at the 2023 Oscars on Sunday, March 12, despite Top Gun: Maverick receiving six nominations.

Tom Cruise will not be at the 95th Academy Awards.ET has confirmed the star's absence is due to him already being back on set overseas for.  is nominated for six Oscars.