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Quick LinksThe Mysterious Narrative of 'Dark Winds'The Remarkable Performances of 'Dark Winds' and the Actors Behind ThemThe Representation of Identities in 'Dark Winds'

Although audiences have been eagerly awaiting the return of Taylor Sheridan's highly successful 1923, fans of Western crime thrillers can satiate their appetite with a similar series as they await the Yellowstone spin-off's Season 2 premiere on February 23. Set among the rustic landscapes within the Navajo Nation, Graham Roland's Dark Winds is sure to draw in many Yellowstone fans. With beautiful scenery, engaging scripts, and a remarkably talented cast, Dark Winds offers up all the traditional elements within the Western genre while adding its own fresh sense of nuance.

Although Yellowstone does somewhat examine past and present societies and their effects on Indigenous populations, Dark Winds places Indigenous Americans at the forefront of its focus. The cast consists of mostly Indigenous actors, including Zahn McClarnon, Jessica Matten,...

After a recent boom in Native-led TV shows and films — a list that includes Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, Reservation Dogs, Dark Winds, Rez Ball, Fancy Dance and more — a question has continually surfaced: What does the future hold for indigenous storytelling?

Studio of the Americas hopes to provide an answer. The full-service Native American-owned film and television studio has launched with a home base at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta and a mission to produce “films and television series that authentically portray Native American stories, culture and traditions,” per the studio. In doing so, it has assembled an early slate of projects and a partnership with the Georgia Film Academy to help build a pipeline of talent by providing Native American students the opportunity to gain valuable on set production experience.

Gfa, a unit of the University System of Georgia, is committed to advancing the entertainment...

A take on Ivan Reitman’s 2014 sports movie, Draft Day, is coming to television. The movie, which starred Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner, and the late Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther) focused on an NFL football general manager, but the new series will be set in a different sports world - the NBA.

Per Deadline, Lionsgate TV, SpringHill, and Madison Wells are developing the Draft Day series that will “capture the drama and excitement of watching basketball players get drafted and fulfill their dreams,” in a similar fashion to the Reitman film. The film version currently has a 60% on Rotten Tomatoes and made $29.8 million at the worldwide box office.

NBA star LeBron James and Maverick Carter founded SpringHill, which will executive produce the TV series. Madison Wells, which produced 2014’s Draft Day, will produce the show. No writer has been attached to the project.

Related Unstoppable Review: Jennifer Lopez & Jharrel Jerome Lift...

Native American actors have been getting their much-deserved dues in recent years in Hollywood, with younger and older Indigenous actors benefiting from more opportunities. Native Americans, Indigenous peoples, and First Nations peoples are all names for the peoples who can trace their origins to the original tribes, confederations, and communities that called America home long before any Europeans came ashore. Persecuted from the outset, even modern Hollywood is not free from the sin of disrespecting and disenfranchising Native American actors. There’s a long, sad history of Hollywood whitewashing Indigenous roles, that is when they’re even included at all.

But the story has been changing in the 21st century. Native American movies and TV shows are telling real stories of Indigenous peoples, made by and starring those closest to them. With shows like Reservation Dogs and Dark Winds, and movies like Rez Ball proving popular with critics and audiences alike,...

A who’s who of Indigenous film talent — including Dallas Goldtooth (Reservation Dogs, Echo), Amber Midthunder (Prey, Legion), Wes Studi (Heat, The Last of the Mohicans) and Graham Greene (Dances With Wolves, Wind River) — are set to star in Brave, a new dramedy from writer/director Steven Paul Judd (Echo, Dark Winds), The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The feature, currently in pre-production, will begin principal photography next summer on the Choctaw Nation Reservation in southeastern Oklahoma. It will be the first-ever feature film to be shot on Choctaw land. The project was developed in close cooperation with the Choctaw Nation, the third-largest Native tribe in the United States.

Brave tells the story of Uncle Jack (Goldtooth), a 15-year military vet with substance abuse issues who now works as the entertainment in his local Native casino. At the funeral of his estranged brother, Jack meets Jillian, his young niece, now an orphan.

Variety will host the inaugural Faith and Spirituality in Entertainment Honors, presented by the Coalition for Faith & Media on December 4 in Los Angeles. The evening ceremony will celebrate individuals who are supporting often underrepresented themes of faith in storytelling and entertainment. These awards will celebrate diverse portrayals of faith and spirituality that are broadly compelling and nuanced.

The class of 2024 Visionary Honorees include:

Viola Davis and Julius Tennon, founders, JuVee Productions “Bob Marley: One Love,” accepted by Ziggy Marley, humanitarian, producer and musician, with an introduction by the Coalition for Faith and Media Erica Lipez, executive producer, writer and showrunner, “We Were the Lucky Ones” Jessica Matten, actor producer and philanthropist Arian Moayed, actor,, EP of “Motherland” and co-founder, Waterwell Sheryl Lee Ralph, Emmy-Winning Actor, “Abbott Elementary” Jay Shetty, best-selling author, Podcast Host, “On Purpose”

“The Global Faith & Media Study identified an important data point — 82% of the world identifies as religious,...

LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s SpringHill Company has struck an agreement to merge with British film, TV and music company Fulwell 73 to create a media, unscripted entertainment and sports-related content powerhouse.

The deal, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024, will bring together the two companies’ portfolios of unscripted and live programming, as well as combine resources across Europe and the U.S., as they look to “meet the challenges of a complex market environment while simultaneously building for the future of the industry.”

The combined entity – which will initially focus on television and film content, digital content through its owned network business, live events and brand strategy through The SpringHill Company’s New York-based brand consultancy firm, Robot – is backed by Fenway Sports Group, RedBird Capital Partners, Uc Investments, Nike, Epic Games, Main Street Advisors and Eldridge Industries.

As part of the deal, the...

The SpringHill Company and Fulwell 73 have joined forces in a merger of equals that aims to make the enlarged company a bigger player across TV, film, live events, branded content and commercials and consumer products.

SpringHill, the production banner headed by LeBron James and his longtime partner Maverick Carter, will come under the same roof as Fulwell 73, the company founded nearly 20 years in the U.K. ago by partners Ben Winston, Leo Pearlman, James Corden, Ben Turner and Gabe Turner. The new company will have offices in Los Angeles, New York, London and Sunderland in the U.K.

Carter and Pearlman, who is based in London, will serve as co-CEOs. The deal is expected to close by year’s end.

SpringHill has been busy with a wide range of documentaries, sports-related unscripted content and “The Shop,” the HBO series hosted by James and Carter that feature celebrity friends in...

The SpringHill Company and Fulwell 73 have confirmed their merger and raised $40M from existing investors as they attempt to build clout in a challenged content market.

Positioned as a merger of equals, the deal brings together NBA legend LeBron James’ production outfit and the UK company behind Hulu’s The Kardashians and The Late Late Show With James Corden.

Financial terms of the arrangement were not disclosed, but the companies announced a raise from investors including Fenway Sports Group, RedBird Capital Partners, Uc Investments, Nike, Epic Games, Main Street Advisors, and Eldridge Industries.

SpringHill CEO Maverick Carter and Leo Pearlman, Fulwell’s managing partner, will serve as joint CEOs of the newly formed outfit. The two companies are yet to alight on a name for the new venture.

Fulwell’s other partners — Gabe Turner, Ben Turner, Ben Winston, and James Corden — will all remain within the new business in...

A screenwriter has filed a copyright infringement suit against Netflix over the film “Rez Ball,” though the film was already shot by the time he shared his screenplay.

Rob Grabow alleges that the film shares unmistakable similarities with his script, entitled “The Gift of Game.” Both are stories about Native American high school basketball players who compete for the state championship.

“Rez Ball” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was released on Netflix in September. It was co-written by Sterlin Harjo (“Reservation Dogs”) and produced by LeBron James. It was inspired by “Canyon Dreams: A Basketball Season on the Navajo Nation,” a 2019 book by Michael Powell, who shadowed the Chinle, Ariz., team during the 2016-17 season.

According to a press release from the New Mexico Film Office, the film was shot in various locations in the state in May 2023.

Grabow alleges in his lawsuit that roughly nine months later,...

Fulwell 73, the company behind Hulu’s The Kardashians, and The SpringHill Company, which was founded by NBA legend LeBron James, are in talks to merge.

Deadline has confirmed the news, broken by Bloomberg, which would see the two companies come together with an expanded programming slate.

Fulwell 73 is behind projects like Adele: One Night Only, Friends: The Reunion and Carpool Karaoke as well as documentaries including Hitsville: The Making of Motown and Sunderland ‘Til I Die. It previously produced The Late Late Show with James Corden, whose host became a partner in the business, which was founded by Gabe Turner, Ben Turner, Leo Pearlman and Ben Winston.

The SpringHill Company was founded by James and Maverick Carter in 2020. It is behind Disney+’s The Crossover, Netflix’s Rez Ball and Space Jam: A New Legacy.

Rez Ball, Netflix's new sports movie with a 91% Rotten Tomatoes score, debuts on the streamer's Global Top 10. Based on the nonfiction novel Canyon Dreams: A Basketball Season on the Navajo Nation by The New York Times journalist Michael Powell, the film follows a Native American high school basketball team from Chuska, New Mexico who lose their star player while competing for the state championship. LeBron James served as one of the film's producers, with Rez Ball's cast featuring Kauchani Bratt, Jessica Matten, Julia Jones, Amber Midthunder, and Kiowa Gordon.

Now, shortly after its release on September 27, Netflix's new sports movie has debuted on the streaming service's Global Top 10. Rez Ball ranks sixth on Netflix's Global Top 10 films (English) for the week of September 30 to October 6 with 3.9 million views and 7.4 million hours viewed. It ranked below Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Jailbreak: Love on the Run, Sing, Rebel Ridge,...

We have our first new cast addition for the highly anticipated Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2, and it's none other than Amber Midthunder, who many may recognize from her starring role as Naru in the sci-fi film Prey.

According to Variety, she joins the season 2 cast of the Apple TV+ series, playing a character named Isabel. Isabel is described as an "intelligent and powerful businesswoman." Her role in the second season is said to be a "heavily" recurring role. Unfortunately, that's all that was revealed about her character so far. As more information comes out, we'll be sure to share everything we find.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is a popular monster series created by Chris Black and Matt Fraction. It's produced by Legendary Television and is part of the Monsterverse franchise. The Monsterverse is a cinematic universe that includes films like Godzilla (2014), Kong: Skull Island (2017), Godzilla: King of the Monsters...

Amber Midthunder has joined Season 2 of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” at Apple TV+ in a heavily recurring role, Variety has learned exclusively.

The cast of Season 1 of the series included Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell as well as Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, John Goodman, Joe Tippett, and Elisa Lasowski.

Midthunder will appear as Isabel, described as “an intelligent and powerful businesswoman.”

Midthunder is best known for her starring role in the “Predator” film “Prey.” Released in 2022, “Prey” was the fifth film in the “Predator” franchise and earned strong reviews from critics upon its release. She was named one of Variety‘s 10 Actors to Watch that same year. Her other film credits include “The Ice Road,” “Rez Ball,” and the upcoming features “Novocaine” and “Opus.” In television, she previously starred in “Legion” at FX, “Roswell, New Mexico” at The CW, and “Avatar: The Last Airbender” at Netflix.

“Nobody Wants This” debuted at No. 1 on Luminate’s weekly rankings of streaming original viewership, tying last week’s top title — “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” — each with a strong 1.7 billion minutes.

A rom-com series starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, “Nobody Wants This” achieved that total in its first full week of availability on Netflix, while “Monsters” was in its second full week, having debuted at No. 1 with 2.7 billion minutes watched during the Sept. 20-26 viewing window.

The third-most-watched title of the week was Netflix's Vince McMahon docuseries "Mr. McMahon," which hit 765.6 million mintues watched in its first full week of availability. It was followed by Season 2 of "Tulsa King," which released its third episode during this window and hit 568.5 million minutes watched. "Tulsa King" Season 1 also made the chart this week, landing at No. 7 with 228.5 million minutes watched.

"The Perfect Couple" was the No. 5 title of...

All you need to know about the ending of Netflix’s Rez Ball!(Photo Credit – YouTube)

Netflix’s recent sports film, Rez Ball, quickly became a fan favorite for its original story and is one of the best movies on the streaming platform. The movie is inspired by a true story. It follows Jimmy Holiday, who steps up to lead the Chuska Warriors basketball team after his best friend and captain, Nataanii Jackson, tragically dies by suicide. With Coach Heather Hobbs’s guidance, the team wins the state championship and pays tribute to Nataanii’s legacy.

While Rez Ball addresses themes of difficult Native American life, it delivers a message of hope. In the championship game against the Santa Fe Catholic Coyotes, Chuska’s rivals, the Warriors faced a challenge when Santa Fe’s star player, Mason Troy, taunted Jimmy by speaking Navajo, revealing he could understand their play calls.

Quick Links Rez Ball Is an Inspirational Sports Drama The Importance of Rez Ball's Themes Why You Should Watch Rez Ball

Many Netflix Original movies come and go, falling under the radar to their bigger, more marquee titles that constantly appear in your recommended feed. Yet, every once in a while, a movie offers an infectious and heartfelt experience that starts to beat the algorithm as fans tune in through word of mouth or curiosity. Rez Ball is certainly a title with that buzz, and it has proven itself deserved with an insightful cultural exploration tied to an engaging underdog story.

Rez Ball is certainly the coming-of-age sports drama you must watch right now. We will look closer at what makes the film stand out in the genre and how its exploration of complex themes approached with genuine sincerity has made it a welcome addition to the Netflix Original catalog.

An unusual phrase, "stoodis," can be heard throughout Netflix's Rez Ball, and the term has an interesting origin in Native American culture. Since Rez Ball was inspired by a true story, it deals with a lot of very realistic parts of Navajo culture and life. From the darker realities of life on a reservation to lighter, more hopeful parts like the importance of high school basketball to the Navajo community, almost everything in Rez Ball connects to the real world. Likewise, one of its most confusing lines is also rooted in reality.

The characters in Rez Ball use some interesting terms and phrases, many of which aren't very well-known. Those terms range from culturally-specific insults the Chuska Warriors lob at each other and opponents on the court to references to aspects of life on the Navajo reservation, like "sheep camp." One of the most frequently used, however, was the phrase "stoodis.

This article contains references to suicide and alcoholism.

Netflix's Rez Ball is deeply entrenched in Native American culture and issues, and its cast of characters is as well. Though it is a work of fiction, Rez Ball was inspired by a true story, and its narrative is broadly applicable. To help show just how universal the themes and messages of the movie are to Indigenous people, most of the cast of the film are themselves Native Americans. That makes Rez Ball a great example of representation in film, but it also gave quite a few up-and-coming actors a chance to show how much star power they have.

On its surface, Rez Ball is a fairly familiar sports movie about teamwork, perseverance, and the will to win. On a deeper level, though, the film also touches on some serious topics like the problems that affect Native American reservations, the connective...

Warning. This article contains reference to suicide and alcoholism.

Netflix's hit sports movie Rez Ball deals with some intense and complicated issues, and the film's ending is just as complex. Rez Ball is inspired by a true story, though it follows the fictional Jimmy Holiday (Kauchani Bratt) as he learns to lead his team after his best friend and captain Nataanii Jackson (Kusem Goodwind) commits suicide. With the help of head coach Heather Hobbs (Jessica Matten), Jimmy and the Chuska Warriors became a team, won the state championship, and honored Nataanii's legacy. It's a relatively straightforward sports movie plot, but Rez Ball's themes and messages make it one of the best movies on Netflix.

Most of the issues that Rez Ball touches on are extremely sensitive and realistic parts of life for many Native American people. While those topics are often dark and depressing, Rez Ball is also a message of hope.

Get ready to cheer courtsideas a brand-new sports drama heads to Netflix on Sept. 27. Taking place over a season in the life of basketball players from a Native American reservation, Rez Ball is the lightning-fast story of a team of underdogs fighting for a state championship. Directed by Sydney Freeland (Drunktown’s Finest), who co-wrote the script with Sterlin Harjo (Reservation Dogs), and produced by LeBron James himself, this is a sports story you won’t want to miss.

For Freeland, who told Netflix that she’s a “huge basketball fan” who also “loves to play” and competed in high school, Rez Ball is a story that she and Harjo were committed to telling “from the inside out.” This meant drawing from their own experiences growing up and being a part of the game.

Freeland said, “You have these small arenas, but they’re just packed with people. Where we were,...

The hit Netflix movie Rez Ball was inspired by a true story, and the origins of the basketball movie are just as engaging as the film itself. Rez Ball became very popular shortly after it was released, and it could even make a case for being one of the best movies on Netflix. A big reason it has gained so much popularity is because it paints an earnest and honest portrayal of life on a reservation. That portrayal makes sense, given Rez Ball was written by one of the creators of Reservation Dogs, which is also inspired by Native American tribes.

Rez Ball follows the Chuska Warriors, a high school basketball team made up of Navajo players and coaches. After tragedy strikes their star player, Jimmy Holiday (Kauchani Bratt) takes over the team and has to help them live up to both their own expectations and those of the community they're part of.

The new Netflix movie Rez Ball has been climbing the charts on the streaming service following its release last week and viewers are falling in love with the cast.

Rez Ball features as cast of relative newcomers and follows a high school basketball team in New Mexico, rich in Native American heritage, who face their greatest challenge. After the loss of their star player, the team must unite like never before to keep their dreams of a state championship alive.

The cast traveled to the Toronto Film Festival last month for the film’s big red carpet premiere and Netflix gave them all disposable camera to capture their experience. We can exclusively share some of those photos with you. Browse through our photo gallery now!

Kauchani Bratt, Devin Sampson-Craig, Jojo Jackson, Jaren Robledo, Avery Hale, Henry Wilson Jr, Damian Henry Castellane, Kusem Goodwind, Hunter Redhorse Arthur, Jessica Matten, Zoey Reyes,...

It’s no surprise that Justin Baldoni’s “It Ends with Us” (Sony) with Blake Lively is an immediate #1 for its PVOD release 46 days after its very successful theatrical run. It replaced Zoë Kravitz’s “Blink Twice” (Amazon MGM) as #1. The psychological thriller is #2 this week at both iTunes (ranking by transactions) and Fandango (by revenue), with both films renting for 48 hours for $19.99.

The VOD charts remained otherwise mainly steady, with Netflix’s top 10 seeing large-scale changes and some signficant original additions. These include two documentaries, one just after significant festival exposure, the other a salacious true crime story that has already seen one previous film based on a prison escape that happened only two years ago.

Anyone who follows Netflix viewership trends won’t be surprised that “Jailbreak: Love on the Run” is doing better than “Will & Harper.” “Jailbreak” is based on the true story of a veteran...

Viewers are curious about Kauchani Bratt's past work after his standout performance in Netflix's Rez Ball.

Rez Ball is a new sports film directed by Sydney Freeland and produced by LeBron James. It is based on Michael Powell's nonfiction book Canyon Dreams. 

The film follows a Native American high school basketball team's pursuit of a state championship. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September before premiering on Netflix on September 27.

Read full article on The Direct.

Even though spooky season has likely commenced for a fair amount of fall and Halloween devotees, it's still the last weekend of September. On the list of Netflix new releases this week, there weren't too many spooky options to get into the spirit of the incoming autumnal festivities, but there are still plenty of options to add to your watch list this weekend.

While Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, Uglies, The Perfect Couple, Rebel Ridge, and Emily in Paris remain staples in the top 10 most popular rankings on Netflix going into the weekend, the week also brought so newbies to add to your watch list: documentary series Mr. McMahon, coming-of-age series Penelope, and documentaries Jailbreak: Love on the Run and Will & Harper.

Need a helping hand to guide your Netflix watch list this weekend? Here are three of the biggest new releases of the week. Which ones are worth watching,...

The higher you go, the greater the fall, Gloria Holiday (Julia Jones) tells her son Jimmy (Kauchani Bratt) early in Rez Ball. When Gloria was her sons age, she was a basketball star on the Navajo Reservation team in Chuska, New Mexico, but life got in the way of her greater ambitions. Now that her son is also the star of the Chuska High School Warriors, she also wants to temper his expectations: We always find a way to lose. Its in our blood.

Kate Winslet has had a long career, taking on diverse roles that have often been memorable. Shes always been outstanding, and thats no different in Lee, in which she plays the titular Lee Miller, a model-turned-war photographer. Director Ellen Kuras film, which Liz Hannah, John Collee, and Marion Hume penned, doesnt live up to Winslets performance. I felt detached from Lees life for much of the film. Characters come and go including Marion Cotillard in a small, barely there role as Lees friend Solange but they arent developed enough and are often paper-thin cutouts of real people.

Lee (2024)

Director Ellen KurasRelease Date September 27, 2024Studio(s) 55 Films, Vogue Studios, Pasaca Entertainment, Hantz Motion Pictures, Ms Partecipations S.A., Vogue Films (Gb), Hopscotch Films, Sky Original Productions, Brouhaha Entertainment, Juggle Productions, RocketScienceWriters Marion Hume, John Collee, Liz HannahCast Kate Winslet, Andrea Riseborough, Andy Samberg, Josh O'Connor, Alexander SkarsgardRating RRuntime 116 MinutesGenres Drama, History, War...

This article contains references to suicide.

Rez Ball is a moving sports drama based on true events that rocked a small community following a suicide. The film approaches challenging topics, while also focusing on the hope and unity the Native American community experiences despite tragic events. While a high school basketball team may be a fairly small part of daily life for most, it becomes the vehicle for healing, growing, and thriving, especially for the new team captain, Jimmy Holiday.

Rez Ball (2024)

Director Sydney FreelandRelease Date September 27, 2024Writers Sterlin Harjo, Michael Powell, Sydney FreelandCast Zoey Reyes, Kusem Goodwind, Jaren K. Robledo, Hunter Redhorse Arthur, Jojo Jackson, River Rayne Thomas, Devin Sampson-Craig, Ernest Tsosie III, Dallas Goldtooth, Kauchani Bratt, Cody Lightning, Jessica Matten, Amber Midthunder, Kiowa Gordon, Julia JonesRating PG-13Runtime 113 MinutesGenres Drama

The latest Netflix sports drama spotlights the high school basketball team, the Chuska Warriors, who have high hopes for the upcoming District Championships.

Every now and then a sports movie will come along, and we’ll all decide to watch it because it feels like it’s a default family setup. Sports movies are always a metaphor for hope, and you can’t argue with me otherwise. There’s something about underdogs that always makes you feel motivated, and that’s all there is to it. It’s a tried and tested formula that generally doesn’t go wrong, and even if a movie is not entirely sports-forward, just the element of sport can make a huge difference in presenting a story, but by no means do I mean this is easy. Specifically, when it comes to basketball films, it’s definitely not groundbreaking, yet it’s likely you’ll find a basketball film at least once every two years. With that said, today we’re looking at Rez Ball, a film about...

Get ready to hit the court. Rez Ball invites you into an underseen sports landscape — the world of reservation basketball, where Indigenous teens channel their inner LeBron James (who serves as a producer on the new film). Directed by Sydney Freeland (Drunktown’s Finest), Rez Ball is an electrifying and emotional sports movie that’s based on a real team. So, of course, the filmmakers had to find a team of their own.

“It was very important for me that these kids could play basketball,” Freeland told Netflix about casting the film. “As a big basketball fan, nothing takes me out of the movie quicker than seeing someone who can’t play. Fortunately, we identified that there was a lot of overlap in the Venn diagram of Native actors and Native actors that could play basketball, because basketball is so prevalent in these Native communities.”

The Rez Ball crew put...

Arriving on Netflix tomorrow, Rez Ball is a significant contemporary piece that is set in the beautiful Navajo Nation and pays tribute to the Native community. Helmed by Sydney Freeland, Rez Ball follows a down-on-their-luck basketball team, fronted by Kusem Goodwind's Nataanii Jackson, as they re-invent their entire approach to the game in hopes of a win. By integrating the Native language and drawing on their culture, the team develops a unique twist on their playing style and dubs it "Rez Ball."...

“Transformers: One” See why this new animated version beats any of the Michael Bay live-action films. “The Substance” “The Substance” marks Demi Moore’s return to big screen glory. Check out this sci-fi cautionary tale about beauty and fame. Margaret Qualley co-stars. “Rez Ball” Netflix’s new sports drama “Rez Ball” hits all the right notes. https://youtu.be/62UWIKNPUD8?si=seuYKv98eMUuxn7s

The post Movie Reviews: “Transformers One,” “The Substance,” “Rez Ball” appeared first on Manny the Movie Guy.

LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s The SpringHill Company is partnering with France’s Mediawan, the owner of Brad Pitt’s Plan B.

SpringHill Company and Mediawan will develop and co-produce original film and TV projects, adapt existing IP and explore new international distribution opportunities. Projects will range from movies, scripted, unscripted and animation, the pair said.

The companies are already working on Weekend Warriors, an adaptation of hit 2023 German-language sports comedy-drama Weekend Rebels, which was produced by German film company Wiedemann & Berg, along with a French adaptation, aimed at French speaking countries in Europe and Africa, of The Shop, the unscripted format co-created by Randy Mims and Paul Rivera.

Carter, who founded The SpringHill Company with basketball star James, said: “We are excited to deepen our relationship with Pierre-Antoine and the Mediawan team as it allows us, together, to bring to light authentic, impactful content for the world to experience.

LeBron James’ and Maverick Carter’s The SpringHill Company shingle has struck a partnership with European indie studio Mediawan with an eye toward bolstering both companies’ presence in their respective territories. Under terms of the deal, Mediawan and SpringHill Co. will develop and co-produce original film and TV projects.

The alliance with SpringHill Co. gives Mediawan another entry point into the U.S. market alongside Plan B (of which it acquired a majority stake in 2022). The Paris-headquartered television and film production group is backed by Kkr and was founded in 2015 by producer Pierre-Antoine Capton, telco billionaire Xavier Niel and financier Matthieu Pigasse.

Going forward, SpringHill Co. and Mediawan also plan to collaborate on adapting their intellectual properties, including on a local basis, and look at potential new international distribution. The partnership already has several projects in the works — including the basketball-themed “Weekend Warriors,” which will be produced by SpringHill Co.

Entertaining, thought-provoking, and nerve wracking, Netflix’s “Rez Ball” has all the ingredients of a good sports movie but what makes it great is its affecting story. Inspired by the nonfiction sports novel Canyon Dreams by The New York Times journalist Michael Powell, the film follows the journey of The Chuska Warriors, a Native American high

The post “Rez Ball” Cast Interviews appeared first on Manny the Movie Guy.

Sydney Freeland’s “Rez Ball” is the perfect crowd-pleaser, blending drama, comedy and the excitement of competitive basketball into a slick and heartfelt package. Ten years after her Sundance debut “Drunktown’s Finest,” the writer-directed returns to her roots with this inspiring story of a Native high school basketball team trying to make it all the way to the championship. Like her first film, “Rez Ball” takes place on a Navajo reservation in New Mexico where opportunities are scarce and morale is low. Freeland and co-writer Sterlin Harjo deftly blend the often difficult truths of life on the reservation with an optimistic tone rooted in the continued resilience of the Navajo people.

Made in collaboration with the Navajo Nation Government on location in New Mexico, “Rez Ball” takes the time to show viewers the beauty of the land and its people. The film, based on author Michael Powell’s nonfiction...

“We run fast, we shoot fast and we don’t ever stop,” Heather (Jessica Matten) tells her players on the Chuska Warriors about the style of basketball she’d like to see them play in “Rez Ball.” That directive may take a while to set in with her high school squad, but is director Sydney Freeland’s modus operandi from the jump of her third feature, an almost comically brisk but genuinely rousing underdog story.

The national anthem hasn’t stopped playing over the first game you see the Warriors in before both teams on the floor have reached 40 points. While mirroring the energy on the court, the sense of urgency would seem to come from the opportunity to reenvision the sports drama from the Indigenous perspective. Details such as having “The Star-Spangled Banner” sung in Navajo elevate a serviceable standard of the genre, while streaming on Netflix should actually...

Sydney Freeland’s sports drama Rez Ball received its world premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival, kicking off the film’s festival run.

Inspired by true events, the movie tells the story of the Chuska High School Warriors, a basketball team from the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico. Over the course of one season, the team battles personal hardships while striving for success on the court.

They face challenges like grief, poverty, and cultural identity, all while demonstrating the power of teamwork, community, and spiritual heritage.

Freeland explores these relevant themes through dynamic characters and pulse-pounding game play. In the following sections, we’ll learn more about the film’s characters, director’s style, and thoughtful portrayal of Indigenous issues.

Developing Dynamos

This section goes deeper into some of Rez Ball’s most compelling characters. We see Nataanii grappling with immense grief over his late mother and sister.

Sydney Freeland in the long journey to complete her Netflix basketball-focused feature film, produced by LeBron James, had as a key goal to show real native lives on screen.

But finding Indigenous basketball players was easier said than done, or at least at first, Freeland told a Toronto Film Festival audience on Monday.

“Netflix bought the film and I was, ‘Oh shit, we got to go find these people now.’ They have to be out there. They have to be out there,” Freeland remembered. Her insistence on proper representation onscreen sprang in part from knowing, as a Navajo trans woman, what it’s like to be excluded from screens big and small.

“Coming from multiple marginalized communities, I’m double used to being misrepresented in film and television,” she told the TIFF panel. Ultimately, finding Indigenous actors that could play basketball was easier than she had initially feared.

“The talent is out there,...

One of the NFL’s biggest names is getting the Netflix sports treatment.

Aaron Rodgers, a four-time league Mvp and quarterback of the New York Jets, will be the subject of a three-hour docuseries on the streamer. Aaron Rodgers: Enigma is set to premiere Dec. 17 — eight days before Netflix takes its biggest leap into live sports with two NFL games on Christmas Day (though neither one involves the Jets).

The Rodgers series is one of several sports projects Netflix announced Monday: It has also picked up a third season of Full Swing, which follows golfers on the PGA Tour, and ordered a new slate of documentaries under the Untold banner. Among the subjects for the latter in 2025 will be the notorious locker-room gun incident involving Washington Wizards players Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton; the beef and cheating accusations between chess grandmasters Hans Niemann and Magnus Carlsen; and a steroid scandal...

In the long, long, long line of sports movies, there sure have been a lot of stories told in a similar way. Did you hear the one about the ne’er-do-well who did well? What about the ragtag team of misfits who made it all the way to the finals? Yup, they say if you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all, but it’s important to remember that the “they” in that sentence doesn’t speak for everybody. Some of us want to see them all, because these formulas usually add up to a rousing drama.

You can watch Sydney Freeland’s basketball movie “Rez Ball,” which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, and find many of the iconic clichés at work. The hero has a parent who never shows up to his games? That’ll probably be important later. Some unruly players need to learn teamwork?...

Two years ago, Kauchani Bratt was like most college students and had no clue what might be next. He didn’t expect to pursue an acting career, let alone star in a buzzy Netflix drama premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival as his first job out of college.

At the time, Bratt was studying philosophy at Uc Santa Cruz when he saw an Instagram post about an open casting call for Rez Ball, Netflix’s basketball-focused feature produced by LeBron James’ The SpringHill Company. Although Bratt had no acting background aside from a couple of college courses to fulfill general requirements, the opportunity seemed tailor-made. After all, the part called for a Native performer with basketball experience, and Bratt, whose mom’s side is Quechua and dad’s is Coahuiltecan Nation, spent three years on his high school’s varsity team.

“I was trying to figure out, ‘What do...

Whether you're heading to the movie theater or you're curling up on the couch with your favorite streaming service, fall is the best time for new movies. It's the season when some of the best movies of the year hope to score Oscar nominations and when huge blockbusters look to take advantage of the impending holiday rush. Netflix is already starting to kick off its fall 2024 movie slate.

September might still have a couple weeks of summer left to its name before the calendar officially turns to fall and the always highly anticipated spooky season, but Netflix isn't wasting any time to roll out the red carpet for some of its biggest movies of the year. This month, awards contenders like His Three Daughters and Will & Harper arrive along with the larger-than-life popcorn movie Uglies.

If you're looking at the list of Netflix new releases coming in September 2024 and...

So far in 2024, Netflix movies have been off to a thrilling start with hit titles such as Damsel, Atlas, A Family Affair, and The Union. But the year isn't over yet! To finish out an excellent year of movies, Netflix announced its full slate of fall movies on Aug. 28, and we can look forward to even more hot titles of every genre, from horror to holiday, featuring some of the biggest stars.

Among the biggest and most-anticipated titles on the horizon include Joey King's dystopian sci-fi flick Uglies, which also stars Outer Banks favorite Chase Stokes; horror movies like It's What's Inside, Don't Move, and Time Cut; Anna Kendrick's directorial debut Woman of the Hour; and a full slate of Christmas rom-coms starring Lindsay Lohan, Lacey Chabert, and Christina Milian.

More and more release dates for Netflix movies coming this year have been announced, and below we’ve...

Netflix has announced its newest sports series, Starting 5, which will premiere on October 9, 2024. The 10-part series provides an intense, behind-the-scenes look at the 2023-24 NBA season through the eyes of five of the league’s biggest players – Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers), Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento Kings), and Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics).

The series captures their battles on and off the court as they chase greatness, push through injuries, and balance the demands of family and legacy. James pushes himself harder than ever to stay healthy – and dominant – in his 21st season, while Edwards electrifies with his rapid rise.

Photo Courtesy of Netflix

Butler’s relentless drive propels the Heat, Sabonis anchors the Kings with his versatile play, and Tatum leads the Celtics in their quest for a record 18th championship. Starting 5 delivers an unfiltered view of life at the pinnacle of professional basketball.

The Netflix September 2024 originals, movies, and TV shows have been revealed. The streaming service has also announced which movies and TV series will leave next month.

The September lineup includes Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef, The Circle Season 7, Emily in Paris Season 4 Part 2, His Three Daughters, Hot Wheels Let’s Race Season 2, Live from The Other Side with Tyler Henry, and Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.

The Netflix September 2024 slate also features Nobody Wants This, Outlast Season 2, The Perfect Couple, Rebel Ridge, Rez Ball, Selling Sunset Season 8, Twilight of the Gods, Uglies, Untold: Hope Solo vs. U.S. Soccer, and What’s Next? The Future with Bill Gates.

The Perfect Couple Netflix September 2024 Schedule

September Tba

An Invisible Victim: The Eliza Samudio Case (Br) — Netflix Documentary

A star goalkeeper threatens a woman who is pregnant with his child. Her pleas for help go unanswered in the shadow of his fame — then tragedy strikes.

September means networks are rolling out the good stuff following the summer blahs, and Netflix’s September offerings are no exception.

In addition to “The Perfect Couple” (see below) the streamer’s September offerings include “Emily in Paris” Season 4 Part 2, starring Lily Collins, as well as the downright charming “Nobody Wants This,” a unique rom-com starring millennial aughts TV gods Adam Brody and Kristen Bell — this one will be all over your social media feed, so make sure to binge it the second it drops.

On the movie front, in addition to a slew of old favorites, film fanatics’ best bet is likely “His Three Daughters,” a festival fave starring Elisabeth Olsen, Carrie Coon, and Natasha Lyonne. The film, about three very different siblings coming together in their father’s dying days, is expected to be a major awards contender after premiering at TIFF last year.

Top Pick: “The Perfect Couple...

Un viaje de resiliencia y unidad. © Netflix

Netflix ha publicado el primer tráiler y póster de Rez Ball, un drama deportivo que tendrá su estreno mundial en el Festival Internacional de Cine de Toronto.

Rez Ball está ambientada en el corazón de Chuska, Nuevo México. Los Chuska Warriors, un equipo de baloncesto de un instituto que cuenta con una rica ascendencia nativa americana se enfrenta a su mayor reto hasta la fecha. Tras perder a su jugador estrella, el equipo debe permanecer más unido que nunca para intentar cumplir su sueño de alcanzar un campeonato estatal. Esto es más que un deporte; es un viaje de resiliencia y unidad, una auténtica historia sobre personas desfavorecidas con fuertes raíces culturales y espirituales nativas americanas.

La película está protagonizada por Jessica Matten (Tribal), Julia Jones (La saga Crepúsculo: Eclipse), Amber Midthunder (Predator: La presa), Kiowa Gordon (Dark Winds) y Dallas Goldtooth (Reservation Dogs).

Por su parte,...

Two of the most popular series of the past couple of years to highlight indigenous people are “Reservation Dogs” and “Echo.” And for the upcoming film, “Rez Ball,” creative minds from both of those projects are coming together to deliver a heartwarming sports film.

As seen in the trailer, “Rez Ball” tells the story of the Chuska Warriors, a high school basketball team that loses their star player.

Continue reading ‘Rez Ball’ Trailer: A High School Basketball Team Overcomes Adversity In Sydney Freeland’s New Sports Drama at The Playlist.