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Justin Kelly’s “Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy,” the closing-night film at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival, occupies a difficult slot at the mammoth festival. Tiff’s closing-night films typically don’t go on to enjoy significant commercial or critical success, more often destined for quick obscurity in the U.S. market.

Last year’s closing film, for instance, was the French comedy “C’est La Vie!” Before that, “The Edge of Seventeen” and “Mr. Right” at least made a little noise at the box office, “A Little Chaos” and “Life of Crime” less so.

But there’s good news and bad news for “Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy,” which stars Laura Dern and Kristen Stewart and had its first press screening on Monday in advance of Saturday’s closing-night gala.

Also Read: 'If Beale Street Could Talk' Review: Barry Jenkins Delivers Stunning Romance With Aftertaste of Injustice

The good news is that current...

The deservedly forgotten 2004 feature, The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things, has been in the news lately due to allegations of sexual misconduct against director and star Asia Argento, years after shooting wrapped, with her still-underage co-star Jimmy Bennett. The development and production of that project, along with an inflated depiction of its Cannes premiere, are central to Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy, with Diane Kruger stepping in as a deliciously opportunistic actress-filmmaker, here named Eva. That salacious connection to recent headlines should give Justin Kelly’s pedestrian account of the literary hoax behind it all an extra frisson. But deceit is heartless,...

With a breakneck pace output, filmmaker Justin Kelly hasn’t wasted much time between features since premiering his debut feature at I Am Michael (review) at the 2015 edition of the Sundance Film Festival.

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Exclusive: Kelvin Harrison Jr., Courtney Love and James Jagger have signed on to join Justin Kelly-directed biopic Jt, about the Jt Leroy literary scheme orchestrated by Laura Albert and her sister-in-law Savannah Knoop. Kristen Stewart, Laura Dern and Diane Kruger also star in the film, which is currently in production in Canada. Kelly wrote the script based on Knoop's book Girl Boy Girl: How I Became Jt LeRoy. Knoop took on the boy-wonder-author persona of Leroy for six…...

Yes, we know: It’s a little premature to assemble a list of the best movies of the year when there’s so much left of it. We have yet to see a lot of exciting new work from major auteurs like Christopher Nolan (“Dunkirk”), Alexander Payne (“Downsizing”), and Guillermo del Toro (“The Shape of Water”), not to mention heavy-hitting studio-produced spectacles like “Blade Runner 2049” and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” But those last two wouldn’t even qualify for this list of the best independent films of the year, anyway, and they’ll have plenty of time to hog the spotlight.

Fortunately, we’ve found plenty of movies from around the world to celebrate, and while they haven’t all been box office sensations, they provide overwhelming evidence that the art form is thriving well into the second decade of the new millennium, and shows no signs of slowing down.

"A lot of people think that the world is coming to an end. I don't think it... I know it." An official trailer has arrived online for a pre-apocalyptic, action, sci-fi movie titled Numb, at the Edge of the End. This stars Hayden Christensen, who hasn't appeared in much since Star Wars, as a war veteran with Ptsd who perceives that the end of the world is coming. It's kind of hard to figure out what exactly this is about - it seems like an odd mix of genres and post-apocalyptic tropes, with a gang of weirdos and a bearded prophet and Vr goggles. I actually think Harvey Keitel looks pretty damn cool with that big white beard. The cast also includes Marco Leonardi, Justin Kelly, Liz Solari, Rafael Spregelburd, and Raymond E. Lee. This doesn't look good, but I will admit I'm curious to see more. Maybe there's something to it?...

When Kristen Stewart goes to Cannes, she’s usually promoting a movie directed by someone else — like Olivier Assayas’ “Personal Shopper,” which debuted on the Riviera last year. The actress’s Cannes anxiety usually derives from wanting to represent her director correctly, to get out the right message. But this year’s different.

“I’m not working for anyone but myself,” she says, beaming. “Ask me anything!”

Stewart came to Cannes this year as the director of her first short, the 17-minute “Come Swim.” She and her producers at Starlight Studios pitched the film to women’s website Refinery29, which also backed her chum Chloe Sevigne’s short “Kitty: The Movie.” They helped Stewart to develop her rough outline, in which she described an image of a giant wave “getting bigger and bigger” that “never breaks.” Stewart already knew just the Australian underwater photographer to shoot it. Indeed, the film...

When Kristen Stewart goes to Cannes, she’s usually promoting a movie directed by someone else — like Olivier Assayas’ “Personal Shopper,” which debuted on the Riviera last year. The actress’s Cannes anxiety usually derives from wanting to represent her director correctly, to get out the right message. But this year’s different.

“I’m not working for anyone but myself,” she says, beaming. “Ask me anything!”

Stewart came to Cannes this year as the director of her first short, the 17-minute “Come Swim.” She and her producers at Starlight Studios pitched the film to women’s website Refinery29, which also backed her chum Chloe Sevigne’s short “Kitty: The Movie.” They helped Stewart to develop her rough outline, in which she described an image of a giant wave “getting bigger and bigger” that “never breaks.” Stewart already knew just the Australian underwater photographer to shoot it. Indeed, the film...

Exclusive: Fortitude closes deals on Justin Kelly project.

UK actor Jim Sturgess has joined Kristen Stewart, Diane Kruger and Laura Dern in Justin Kelly’s upcoming Jt Leroy biopic, which is shooting preliminary footage here in Cannes. Fortitude International is handling sales on the project and has struck a multi-territory deal with a studio, which can’t be announced yet, as well as a deal with Pony Canyon for Japan.

Cassian Elwes is financing and producing the film with Julie Yorn, Patrick Walmsley, Mark Amin, and Thor Bradwell. Executive producers are Fortitude’s Nadine de Barros, with Cami Winikoff, Tyler Boehm, as well as Wayne Godfrey and Robert Jones of the Fyzz Facility, which is fully financing the feature.

It’s based on the true story of two women who created a fake child author persona, tricking the literary community and the Hollywood elite before the hoax was exposed. Kelly adapted the script from a book by...

Exclusive: Diane Kruger has joined the cast of Justin Kelly’s Jt Leroy, the feature film based on the true story of a pair of woman who created the persona of a boy-wonder author, fooling the literary community, the fashion world, and the Hollywood elite for six years before the hoax was finally revealed. Kristen Stewart early on boarded the project to play Savannah Knoop, who dressed up as Leroy who was a fabrication of writer Laura Albert, Knoop’s sister in law. Laura De…...

With their pulpy, entertaining sci-fi film Life now in theaters, star Jake Gyllenhaal and director Daniel Espinosa are already set to re-team for another cinematic outing. According to The Tracking Board, the pair are set to adapt an article by Rolling Stone about a group of Americans who fight alongside the Ypg against Isis. Titled The Anarchists vs Isis, Gyllenhaal will lead the project, along as joining the film as a producer. Espinosa is set to direct and they are still on the hunt for a writer to adapt the article, hopefully one that adapts such a recent set of events in compelling form.

Next up, after crafting one of the wildest movies of last year with Swiss Army Man, Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan (aka Daniels) have found their next project and it looks like they are expanding their scope in a big one. They’ve teamed with Joe...

Laura Dern is preparing for a literary hoax.

The Big Little Lies actress is in talks to join Kristen Stewart in Jt Leroy, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Justin Kelly is directing from a script he wrote, based on the life rights of Savannah Knoop and her book Girl Boy Girl: How I Became Jt LeRoy.

The film will recount the true story of the Jt LeRoy hoax, in which a female writer pretended to be a man who identifies as transgender, tricking the rich and famous in Hollywood, the fashion world and elite literary circles. After six years, The New...

Exclusive: Laura Dern is in talks to co-star in director Justin Kelly’s biopic JT Leroy, the true story behind writer Laura Albert’s made-up literary persona JT Leroy. If the deal closes, Dern will be joining Kristen Stewart, who was attached to the project early on.

Kelly wrote the screenplay, which is based on Savannah Knoop’s book Girl Boy Girl: How I Became Jt LeRoy. Knoop spent six years pretending to be the enigmatic Jt Leroy, a man who identified as transgender. In…...

Editor’s Note: Click here for more information about the indie films available from Movies on Demand.

It’s been a long time coming for Justin Kelly’s “I Am Michael.” The drama, starring James Franco, Zachary Quinto and Emma Roberts, premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, where it earned a rave review from IndieWire’s own Eric Kohn but failed to find a distributor for well over a year. Fortunately, Brainstorm Media has finally released the drama in theaters and VOD, and it’s a powerful true story that well worth seeking out.

Franco stars as Michael Glatze, a former gay activist and co-founder of the Young Gay America magazine who eventually denounced homosexuality. Quinto plays Glatze’s former boyfriend, while Roberts stars as a young Christian woman Glatze falls for during his religious reawakening.

Read More: Review: James Franco Excels in ‘I Am Michael,’ a Look at ‘Ex-Gay...

Justin Kelly’s “I Am Michael” attempts to understand change: why people change, how it happens, if it is really possible. As to the last question, the film doesn’t quite lay down a definitive yes or no answer — just that people make the choices that they do, and have to continue down whatever path that presents. James Franco stars as Michael Glatze, a former gay activist and magazine editor, who in 2007, announced that he was giving up the gay lifestyle and turning to Christ.

Continue reading ‘I Am Michael’ Starring James Franco Is An Interesting Story, Uninterestingly Told [Review] at The Playlist.

The first two minutes of Justin Kelly’s “I Am Michael” boil down the film’s ideological tension to one brief conversation. The titular character, an aspiring pastor, is counseling a distraught young gay man who’s unable to reconcile his religious beliefs with his sexuality. “‘Gay’ doesn’t exist,” the counselor says. “It’s a false identity.” The kid responds, “This isn’t my choice. Why would I choose this?” And then comes the gut-punch line: “If you’re a moral person, then you’ll choose heterosexuality in order to be with God.” The film then bounces back 10 years,...

“I’ve always been proud of who I am -- I came out to my family when I was 17 -- but the movie, that process did awaken something in me,” Charlie Carver, who came out publicly last January, tells Et about making I Am Michael, a new biopic about Michael Glatze, a prominent gay activist who renounced his homosexuality and turned to religion. Directed by Justin Kelly (King Cobra) and based on Benoit Denizet-Lewis' New York Times Magazine article “My Ex-Gay Friend,” the new film sees Carver portraying Tyler, a college student involved in a throuple with Michael (James Franco) and Bennett (Zachary Quinto).

One-half of the Carver twins -- his identical twin brother being Max -- the two are most famous for their joint roles on Desperate Housewives, Teen Wolf and most recently, season one of HBO’s The Leftovers. “I’ve always considered myself very lucky to work with my brother,” Carver says, explaining...

Michael Glatze – the titular “Michael” of I Am Michael – rocked the Lgbt community with both positive influence and negative poison (a life story that he sold for $75K). His pursuit of purity is what drives Justin Kelly’s biographical drama, playing out an age-old war between religion and homosexuality. An old-school journey through acceptance, everlasting scorn and homosexual damnation with extreme responses to holy turmoil, still socially relevant for openly gay individuals in today’s far-more accepting world. Kelly wants to speak to broader audiences, and he accomplishes just that – but with such an extreme example, are the messages received by all open ears?

James Franco stars as gay icon/bastard turncoat Michael Glatze, who we first meet as a San Franciscan trailblazer for queer acceptance. Michael’s passion is fuelled by helping closeted youths embrace their true personalities, and he does so by managing Xy Magazine with the support...

Four years after working together on “For Ellen,” So Yong Kim and Jena Malone reunited for the indie filmmaker’s latest drama “Lovesong,” a tale about two friends whose relationship deepens while on a trip of self-discovery. The film’s first trailer has been released, courtesy of Strand Releasing.

The movie follows Sarah, portrayed by Riley Keough, a woman neglected by her husband who goes on an impromptu road trip with her younger daughter and best friend, Mindy (Malone). Along the way, the friends become physically intimate until Mindy leaves abruptly. After three years of not speaking to each other, the two try to reconnect in the days before Mindy’s wedding. Brooklyn Decker, Amy Seimetz, Marshall Chapman, Ryan Eggold and Rosanna Arquette co-star.

Read More: ‘American Honey’ Exclusive Featurette: Sasha Lane and Riley Keough Discuss Working With Andrea Arnold

Co-written by Kim and Bradley Rust Gray, the feature made...

Before we get to the new releases to see in January, our highest viewing recommendation would be to catch up on the 50 best films of 2016, many of which are expanding this month, including Paterson, 20th Century Women, Silence, and Toni Erdmann. When it comes to our January preview, we’ve also included a few 2016 films that had one-week qualifying runs, but are now officially opening (and there are also a few to definitely avoid in that category). Check out the feature below and let us know what you are most looking forward to in the comments.

Matinees to See: The Ardennes (1/6), Railroad Tigers (1/6), Sleepless (1/13), Alone in Berlin (1/3), Detour (1/20), The Founder (1/2), and Ice and the Sky (1/20), and Paris 05:59 (1/27).

10. Split (M. Night Shyamalan; Jan. 20)

Synopsis: After three girls are kidnapped by a man with 24 distinct personalities they must find some of the different personalities that can help them while running away...

Never one to shy away from controversy, James Franco takes on the ex-gay movement in his next release. Directed by Justin Kelly, I Am Michael recounts the true story of Michael Glatze, a prominent gay activist who made headlines when he suddenly announced that he was renouncing his homosexuality, and went on to marry a woman and become […]

The post ‘I Am Michael’ Trailer: James Franco Plays a Gay Activist Turned Ex-Gay Activist appeared first on /Film.

James Franco recently signed on for double cinematic duty in The Deuce, where he’ll play twin porn impresarios for David Simon. But in Justin Kelly’s new film, I Am Michael, Franco will juggle multiple lives and beliefs while depicting a single man. That’s Michael Glatze, a former gay activist turned “ex-gay movement” poster boy. Franco stars as Glatze, who, at the outset of the trailer, appears to be very much in love with Bennett (Zachary Quinto), a fellow gay rights advocate. But, just as the real Glatze went on to denounce homosexuality and marry a woman (played here by Emma Roberts), I Am Michael delves into Glatze’s “conversion” to heterosexuality. (The real-life Glatze left the ex-gay movement, and apologized for some of the rhetoric he helped generate.)

I Am Michael also stars Daryl Hannah, Leslie Ann Warren, and Avan Jogia. It’s scheduled for release on...

James Franco is a lot of things, but consistent is not one of them. His performances, ranging from great to good to not-so-excellent, can be found in everything from blockbusters to indie projects, art displays to local book stores, college lectures and more intimate squares. His talents are widespread, certainly, if not always found. If festival reviews, as well as this first trailer, for the Lgbt drama I Am Michael provide the right indication, however, we might be looking at one of the highest points in Franco’s career to date.

Based on the true story of Michael Glatze (Franco), a prominent gay-rights activist and spokesperson for the homosexual community who was abruptly and shockingly “saved” by Christianity, I Am Michael made its premiere back at Sundance 2015. Beyond a few other festival appearances that year, however, it has yet to be seen by a wide audience. That changes on January 27th though,...

"I just feel like something shook me and woke me up." "And that someone is God?" Brainstorm Media has released an official trailer for the film titled I Am Michael, which first premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival nearly two years ago. The film is finally getting released in January, a few months after Justin Kelly's other film King Cobra hit art house cinemas. I Am Michael tells a dramatized version of the true story of a man named Michael Glatze, who renounced his homosexuality after discovering religion. James Franco stars, along with Zachary Quinto as his boyfriend, and a cast including Emma Roberts, Daryl Hannah, Charlie Carver and Leven Rambin. This actually looks quite good, might need to check it out. Here's the first official trailer for Justin Kelly's I Am Michael, direct from YouTube (via Tfs): A gay-rights advocate (James Franco) shocks his boyfriend...

It has been nearly two years since “I Am Michael” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and despite the high-caliber talent involved both in front of and behind the camera, the film has taken a long time to reach screens. Well, it’s finally on the way, and the first trailer shines a light on the fascinating true story at its core.

Read More: The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2017

Directed by Justin Kelly (“King Cobra“), produced by Gus Van Sant, and starring James Franco, Zachary Quinto, and Emma Roberts, the film tracks the journey taken by a queer youth activist who makes waves when he becomes a straight, Christian pastor.

Continue reading First Trailer For Gus Van Sant-Produced ‘I Am Michael’ Starring James Franco, Zachary Quinto & Emma Roberts at The Playlist.

In 2011, Benoit Denizet-Lewis published an article in the New York Times Magazine entitled “My Ex-Gay Friend,” about Michael Glatze, a former gay activist and co-founder of the Young Gay America magazine who eventually denounced homosexuality after a health scare. Now, Justin Kelly’s new film “I Am Michael” tells Glatze’s story as he transforms from an openly gay man spouting queer theory to rejecting his whole personal identity. James Franco (“127 Hours”) stars as Glatze alongside Zachary Quinto (“Star Trek Beyond”) as Glatze’s former boyfriend and Emma Roberts (“Palo Alto”) as a young Christian woman who falls for Glatze. Watch a trailer for the film below.

Read More: Sundance Review: James Franco Excels in ‘I Am Michael,’ a Provocative Look at ‘Ex-Gay’ Activist Michael Glatze

The film is executive produced by Gus Van Sant. His previous films include “Drugstore Cowboy,” “My Own Private Idaho,” “Gerry,” “Elephant” and most recently,...

There was no way of seeing one of James Franco‘s best performances of the last few years, unless you caught it on its festival run back in 2015, but thanks to Brainstorm Media, one will get the chance soon. Recently picked up for a release next month, the first trailer for I Am Michael has now been released, which shows off the true story of Michael Glatze (Franco), a prominent figure in the homosexual community, who turned to Christianity.

I said in my review, “Sure to ignite many impassioned discussions, I Am Michael tackles complex issues of sexuality and faith with a balanced view. The directorial debut of Justin Kelly, a past collaborator with Gus Vant Sant (who produces here), the drama’s formal elements aren’t as compelling as the ideas it wrestles with, but it does make for one of James Franco‘s more accomplished and complicated performances.

Keep up with the wild and wooly world of indie film acquisitions with our weekly Rundown of everything that’s been picked up around the globe. Check out last week’s Rundown here.

– Factory 25 has announced tody that it has acquired the U.S. rights to the multiple festival award-winning “Ma.” The film first screened at the Tribeca Film Festival as a work in progress screening and Tribeca, and it went on to screen at Venice for its official premiere, where it played at Venice Days as part of the Tribeca Film Festival exchange. The film is Rowlson-Hall’s feature directorial debut which, in addition to writing and choreographing, she also plays the leading role in.

Rowlson-Hall previously served as a choreographer for such directors as Lena Dunham, Gaspar Noe, and musical artists Alicia Keys, Mgmt, Sleigh Bells, and Chromeo. She was also the movement coach for the 2016 Spirit Award nominated film,...

Brainstorm Media, the Beverly Hills-based indie distributor, has acquired writer-director Justin Kelly’s I Am Michael, starring James Franco, Zachary Quinto and Emma Roberts, which it will open theatrically Jan. 27 in 10 markets along with a day-and-date VOD release.

Based on a New York Times magazine article by Benoit Denizet-Lewis, the film, which debuted at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, tells the true story of Michael Glatze, played by Franco, who was a high-profile gay youth activist who provoked controversy when he became a straight Christian pastor and claimed he was no longer gay. Quinto plays Glatze’s boyfriend,...

Brainstorm Media has picked up distribution rights to writer-director Justin Kelly’s I Am Michael starring James Franco, Zachary Quinto, and Emma Roberts, and will released the indie in U.S. theaters and on digital January 27. The pic premiered at Sundance last year and is produced by Franco and Vince Jolivette of Rabbit Bandini, Michael Mendelsohn of Patriot Pictures, and Scott Reed and Ron Singer of That’s Hollywood and exec produced by Gus Van Sant. Based on Benoit…...

In 2007, Bryan Kocis, gay pornography director and founder of Cobra Films, was murdered in his home by Joseph Kerekes and Harlow Cuadra over a contractual dispute involving porn actor Sean Paul Lockhart, aka Brent Corrigan. Now, that story has been turned into the feature film “King Cobra,” starring Garrett Clayton (“The Fosters”) as Lockhart and Christian Slater (“Mr. Robot”) as “Stephen,” a pseudonym for Kocis.

Read More: ‘King Cobra’ Trailer: James Franco and Christian Slater Star In Gay Porn Drama

The film follows Lockhart’s rise to success when he tries to make his dreams of fame and success come true after meeting the Cobra Video founder. Together, Lockhart and Stephen create a slew of wildly successful videos and soon Lockhart becomes a confident sex symbol, which gains the attention of rival porn producers Joe (James Franco) and Harlow (Keegan Allen), a former youth paster and ex-military man respectively. When...

King Cobra is an erotic, venomous thriller loaded with cheesy porn-actor charm and equally perverse darkness. Only a true story could be this twisted, and only in the world of sleaziness and fame could egos rationalize murder as a way to beat the competition. In fact, writer/director Justin Kelly creates more believable motivations for Joe Kerekes and Harlow Cuadra than their real accounts detail. Kelly’s sinful slice of “twink” exploitation somehow creates a more believable scenario than reality by under-exaggerating where cinema typically exploits. The Viper cars, trademarked names, predatory advances – welcome to the flashy, ferocious underworld of sex, lies and videotapes.

Garrett Clayton stars as Sean Paul Lockhart Aka Brent Corrigan, a young phenom pornstar who becomes an overnight sensation thanks to Cobra Video. He lives with “King Cobra” himself – Stephen (Christian Slater) – who writes and directs twink-centric videos from his suburban abode. On the other side...

The superficial argument hanging over any discussion of Justin Kelly’s “King Cobra” will sadly, wastefully, frustratingly fall within the orbit of classification: is the film, a true crime yarn that unfolds against a porn industry backdrop, itself an example of pornography? A pruder audience member may respond in the affirmative, citing its graphic (but not explicit) sex scenes, but this is a pretty phony baloney idea. Neither Kelly nor “King Cobra” actually care about the sex; they’re both more interested in the abstract, with the people involved in the sex, and the interpersonal dramas that spark between them and eventually lead to murder most foul.

Continue reading ‘King Cobra’ Starring James Franco Is A True Crime Trifle [Review] at The Playlist.

King Cobra director Justin Kelly talks about his film based on Brent Corrigan’s career and how far Franco, who plays a porn producer, was willing to go on screen

“I like to think that I’m gay in my art and straight in my life,” James Franco said to himself in an article for FourTwoNine magazine he wrote titled, The Straight James Franco Talks to the Gay James Franco. “Although, I’m also gay in my life up to the point of intercourse, and then you could say I’m straight.”

Franco toying with the public’s perception of his sexuality is nothing new. He’s made his fascination with gay culture known not just in interviews (in April, he told New York Magazine that he considers himself “a little gay” – even if he doesn’t sleep with other men), but also in his work. His directorial debut, The Broken Tower,...

The 5th Annual Key West Film Festival has announced its official 2016 lineup, including the opening night film, “20th Century Women,” directed by Mike Mills and starring Annette Bening, Elle Fanning, Greta Gerwig and Billy Crudup. As part of the festival’s signature Critics Focus program, MTV’s Chief Film Critic Amy Nicholson will present and lead a conversation around the film, alongside David Fear, Senior Film/TV Editor of Rolling Stone.

Director of Programming Michael Tuckman said of Nicholson’s pick, “I could not be more thrilled with Amy Nicholson’s choice of ’20th Century Women’ to kick off our 5th Anniversary edition of festival. Annette Bening’s performance is Oscar-deserving and the rich depth of the balance of the leading cast is Altman-esque in its quality. Amy’s discussion after the film will bring a cunning critic’s eye to this fabulous film for audiences.”

Read More: ’20th Century...

Movies don’t get much juicier, funnier, creepier, sadder, or smarter than writer-director Justin Kelly‘s “King Cobra,” which dramatizes a real-life murder case set in the world of gay porn. Kelly’s work is outstanding, as he manages to control the most seemingly uncontrollable material while exploring many different facets of the case. “King Cobra” is as in-your-face explicit a gay movie as has ever been made with recognizable male actors, including producer James Franco, who predictably takes the lion’s share of the most physical sex scenes, and Christian Slater. Kelly (“I Am Michael”) sets up two separate stories and cuts back.

Title: King Cobra Director: Justin Kelly Starring: Christian Slater, Garrett Clayton, James Franco, Keegan Allen, Alicia Silverstone, Molly Ringwald. ‘King Cobra’ delves into the world of gay porn, being graphic but not too revealing or vulgar. Director Justin Kelly proves to be a maestro of discreet authenticity, adapting for the big screen the book by Andrew E. Stoner and Peter A. Conway, ‘Cobra Killer: Gay Porn, Murder, and the Manhunt to Bring the Killers to Justice.’ The film and book are inspired by the true story of Sean Paul Lockhart, a.k.a. Brent Corrigan, a young man from San Diego who was discovered by an influential porn producer and eventually became a [ Read More ]

The post King Cobra Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.

Despite his A-lister status, James Franco isn’t one to shy away from daring roles. His audacious turns in Spring Breakers and 127 Hours have proven him a bold and diverse talent. In Justin Kelly’s King Cobra Franco tackles yet another contentious character, playing hot-headed gay porn producer Joe. It’s Franco’s second collaboration with Kelly after […]

The post Lff 2016: King Cobra Review appeared first on HeyUGuys.

★★★★☆ Justin Kelly's King Cobra bravely re-tells the true story of gay porn icon Brent Corrigan (real name Sean Lockhart) and is by no means one for the faint-hearted. The mere mention of the word 'pornography' incites, more often than not, a knee-jerk reaction of sneering judgement and condescension but to dismiss this brash, ballsy, brazen film at face value as tawdry smut would be a mistake. Beneath the veneer of fake tan, rippling muscles and feigned ecstasy lies a striking amount of heart, soul and sincerity of emotion.

Chicago – Closing Night for Reeling2016 is Thursday, Sep. 29th, after Chicago’s Lgbtq+ International Film Festival has presented a week of cinema celebrations. The Landmark Century Centre Cinema is the scene for “King Cobra,” directed by Justin Kelly and featuring Garrett Clayton. The film is a notorious overview of the life of gay porn star Brent Corrigan. Both Clayton and the director are scheduled to appear on behalf of the film.

Reeling2016, the Chicago Lgbtq+ International Film Festival is finishing its 34th year, and has celebrated a week of an incredible line-up of films, events and parties around town, at venues as diverse as the Music Box Theater, Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema and Chicago Filmmakers.

Garrett Clayton (hoodie) and the Cast of ‘King Cobra’, the Closing Night Film at Reeling2016

Photo credit: IFC Films

Garrett Clayton is having a breakout year in 2016. A native of Dearborn, Michigan, Clayton cut...

King Cobra, the long-awaited Justin Kelly film based on a true murder story, which was previously teased by actor James Franco, has its official trailer and a release date. King Cobra relates a real-life drama about porn producer Bryan Kocis, who was found murdered and his home burned down for having signed an exclusive contract with […]

The post James Franco’s New Gay Porn Drama ‘King Cobra’ Releases Its First Trailer appeared first on uInterview.

Love him or loathe him, James Franco can't ever be accused of making boring choices. From his grill-tastic turn in Harmony Korine's phenomenal Spring Breakers to a recurring role on General Hospital -- after becoming an A-list star -- the Oscar-nominated actor has never shied away from going against the grain of mainstream stardom. So it's no surprise that Franco not only stars in but produced the forthcoming gay porn drama King Cobra. The film centers on the rise of gay porn mega-star Brent Corrigan (born Sean Lockhart) and his involvement in the 2007 murder trial of Harlow Cuadra and Joseph Kerekes, two Virginia Beach escorts who were accused (and eventually convicted) of murdering Corrigan's mentor/exploiter, Cobra Video founder Bryan Kocis. Given how taboo the subject of gay porn remains in mainstream filmmaking, it's pretty striking to see a film devoted to the subject. Especially one that stars bold-faced names like Franco,...

Garrett Clayton (Disney Channel's Teen Beach Movie) looks primed for a big-time breakout with King Cobra, a crime film set in the world of gay porn. Clayton plays a hot new star who is torn between two producers, one played by Christian Slater, the other played by James Franco. The plot is based on a true story that left one of these characters murdered.  Franco is also a producer of the movie, which made its debut earlier this year at the Tribeca Film Festival. And he's again collaborating with filmmaker Justin Kelly, who is directing from his own script. Previously they worked together on Kelly's indie drama I Am Michael and the Hollywood biopic Milk -- both also true Lgbt stories. Watch the first trailer for King...

Read More...

Sex is not a game, it’s a business; so says the first poster and trailer for King Cobra, Justin Kelly’s ripped-from-the-headlines crime drama that chronicles the rise and fall of Sean Paul Lockhart (Aka Brent Corrigan).

Based on the novel Cobra Killer by Andrew E. Stoner and Peter A. Conway, the feature stars James Franco, Mr. Robot star Christian Slater and Molly Ringwald, who are soon pulled into a murder investigation following the death of gay porn producer Bryan Kocis. Kelly and screenwriter D. Madison Savage are behind the adaptation, and we now have the surprisingly safe-for-work trailer to pour over ahead of King Cobra‘s limited release late next month.

Of all the many feature films lining James Franco’s slate – Zeroville, The Masterpiece et al. – this one piques our curiosity right off the bat for its mix of striking, neon-drenched visuals and a diverse cast comprised...

Based on a true story, King Cobra shows James Franco and Christian Slater face off as gay porn producers, but there’s likely far more to writer-director Justin Kelly‘s movie than that summary. The drama is really about the rise of gay porn star Sean Paul Lockhart (known as Brent Corrigan), and the killing of the producer who helped start his career. Former Disney Channel star […]

The post ‘King Cobra’ Trailer: James Franco and Christian Slater Star in the Gay Porn Thriller appeared first on /Film.

"Just wait 'till I make you a star." IFC Films has debuted a trailer for an indie drama titled King Cobra, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. Based on a stranger-than-fiction true story, King Cobra is a "deliciously dark, twisted plunge into the behind-the-scenes world of the porn industry." The film is about a young gay porn star, played by Garrett Clayton, who decides to leave the producer who originally made him famous but encounters more trouble by way of two rival producers who try to cash in on his fame. The impressive cast includes James Franco, Christian Slater, Molly Ringwald, Alicia Silverstone, Keegan Allen and Sean Grandillo. It's described as "part delirious, tabloid-shocker satire, part American tragedy." Definitely not going to be for everyone, but might be worth a watch. Take a peek. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Justin Kelly's King Cobra, direct...

Justin Kelly’s ripped-from-the-headlines drama “King Cobra” premiered at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival to positive reviews. In his B+ critique, IndieWire’s David Ehlich called it the “’Boogie Nights’ of gay porn and possibly the best film ever made about the business end of America’s gay porn industry.” Now, after being acquired by IFC Films, the first trailer has been released.

The film centers on Sean Lockhart (Garrett Clayton), a boyishly handsome seventeen-year-old who dreams of fame and success. After he meets the seemingly conservative Stephen (Christian Slater), founder of Cobra Video, he starts to perform in gay porn under the alter ego Brent Corrigan and soon becomes an overnight sex symbol. When two rival porn producers Joe (James Franco) and Harlow (Keegan Allen) try and recruit Corrigan, things take a turn for the worse. Molly Ringwald and Alicia Silverstone also co-star.

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The world of porn has served as the backdrop for more than a few cautionary cinematic tales, none more famous than Paul Thomas Anderson‘s “Boogie Nights.” However, the gay porn sphere hasn’t been explored nearly as often, but it’s set to get some rather steamy treatment in the upcoming “King Cobra.”

Read More: It’s Boys Gone Wild In Red Band Trailer For Hazing Drama ‘Goat’ With James Franco

Directed by Justin Kelly (“I Am Michael“) and featuring the intriguing/odd cast of James Franco, Christian Slater, Garrett Clayton, Keegan Allen, Molly Ringwald, and Alicia Silverstone, the story follows a young man who becomes a star in the burgeoning world of web porn, but money and ambition cause all sorts of problems.

Continue reading James Franco, Christian Slater, Molly Ringwald & More Dive Into The World Of Gay Porn In Trailer For ‘King Cobra’ at The Playlist.

Exclusive: James Franco, Christian Slater and Molly Ringwald star in the porn industry drama.

La-based The Exchange has launched talks with international buyers at Toronto International Film Festival (Sept 8-18) on porn industry film King Cobra starring James Franco, Christian Slater and Molly Ringwald.

The film premiered in Tribeca’s Midnight strand earlier this year and receives its European premiere at the BFI London Film Festival next month.

IFC FIlms holds Us rights. Justin Kelly directed the film about the murder in 2007 of a gay porn director by two ambitious producers. Kelly adapted the screenplay from Andrew E. Stoner and Peter A. Conway’s book, Cobra Killer: Gay Porn, Murder, And The Manhunt To Bring the Killers To Justice.

The Exchange is also in town talking up Stephanie Laing’s genre title Irreplaceable You, Sundance documentary Gleason and Dustin Lance Black’s The Statistical Probability Of Love At First Sight, which is scheduled...

International sales rights to King Cobra, Justin Kelly’s porn saga starring James Franco and Christian Slater, have been acquired by The Exchange, CEO Brian O’Shea announced today. The Exchange – which represented Kelly’s first film I Am Michael – adds King Cobra to a Toronto film festival line-up that also includes new title Irreplaceable You. “We are thrilled to be in business with Justin again” said O’Shea. “He is a filmmaker that is uniquely talented, able to take…...