Ally Johnson, Author at The Playlist

Aubrey Plaza Talks The Extreme Acting Exercise Making ‘Black Bear’ & Why The Script “Terrified” Her [Interview]

December 7, 2020 2:51 pm

While she’s still perhaps best known for her comedic turn as the sardonic April on “Parks and Recreation,” Aubrey Plaza has been making a name for herself by nimbly crafting bizarre and offbeat characters. She...

‘Black Bear’: Sarah Gadon & Christopher Abbott Talk Working With Aubrey Plaza, Balancing Tension, Filmmaking & More [Interview]

Ally Johnson

December 6, 2020 4:17 pm

Interviews, News

Premiering back at Sundance 2020, “Black Bear” might not have made waves equal in size to some (hello “Minari” and “Palm Springs”), but it certainly caused a stir among critics. Ours called the dark meta-drame...

16 Films To See In December: ‘Nomadland,’ ‘Pieces Of A Woman,’ ‘Mank’ & More

Ally Johnson

December 3, 2020 2:21 pm

Features, News

We're living in the middle of a pandemic, nearly every theatrical release has vacated the 2020 hellscape, but somehow, as the year comes to a close, we’re offered, an overwhelming number of films worth explori...

8 TV Shows to Watch in December: ‘Euphoria,’ ‘The Stand’ & More

Ally Johnson and Martine Olivier

December 2, 2020 1:57 pm

News

It’s impossible to believe that we’ve finally reached the end of 2020 while also, simultaneously, feeling like we should’ve done so ages ago. Time has behaved strangely this year, and through months of social ...

Emma Seligman On ‘Shiva Baby,’ Claustrophobic Filmmaking & The Coen Brothers [Interview]

Ally Johnson

November 9, 2020 12:43 pm

Interviews, News

One of the many pleasures of the film festival circuit isn’t just getting to experience some of the biggest titles of the upcoming season, but, more often than not, finding hidden gems in the mix of it all tha...

11 Movies to See in November: From ‘Small Axe’ To ‘Happiest Season’

Ally Johnson

November 4, 2020 1:40 pm

Features, News

Well, at least we still have movies - even if theaters are still relatively no-go zones. For all its ensuing stress, November has a strong list of films on its slate, some of which have already built significa...

8 TV Shows to Watch in November

Ally Johnson

November 4, 2020 1:20 pm

Features, News, Television

Despite some bigger names and some returning series that already have dedicated fans, November isn’t a big month for new television series. It would seem that the film side is picking up the slack, while thing...

Mickey Down & Konrad Kay On ‘Industry’: Making The World Of Finance Cinematic & Universal [Interview]

Ally Johnson

November 4, 2020 11:15 am

Interviews, News, Television

If you’re looking for the next new weekly show, look no further than HBO’s latest series, “Industry,” which premieres November 10th. Somehow managing to adapt the frenzied energy of “The Newsroom,” the after-h...

Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead On ‘Synchronic,’ Obsessing With Time, Working Under Quarantine & More [Interview]

Ally Johnson

October 24, 2020 1:40 pm

Interviews, News

Directors Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson have been making creative leaps in independent film for years now. From their debut, the two-man show “Resolution,” critics have been stoking the flames of their work...

Lea Thompson Looks Back At 35 Years Of ‘Back To The Future’ [Interview]

Ally Johnson

October 21, 2020 1:17 pm

Interviews, News

Since its initial release, the “Back to the Future” trilogy has had an undeniable influence on generations of filmmakers and audiences. It’s been 35 years since the original film first hit theaters and to cele...

Author Ally Johnson