Virtue signalling for intellectuals, feminists and social justice warriors. |. There's a definite message afoot with Late Night and it goes about it in a way that makes it far more accessible — as entertainment. "Late Night" (2019 release; 102 min.) |, August 9, 2019 Late Night, an original movie from Amazon Studios. Kaling and Thompson are going after something different, and while it's acerbically funny at times it also feels quite real and of the moment. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Nate's Grade: B+. Kaling also has a generous sense of writing for her supporting players, giving many a small moment to make an impression and enough for serviceable secondary character arcs. To a degree, they still do, with an occasional rare gem shining out from a giant turd pile. Her dream job simply falls in her lap, forgoing the possibly compelling journey that it would take to get it in the real world. | Rating: 3.5/5 It was around that time, in fact, that my tastes started to change. There were nine total episodes and I wanted to try and line up as many female directors as possible (if able all of them would be directed by women). Past mistakes are given weight and force characters to reckon with them in a way that acknowledges the extent of the ramifications and the people that have been hurt. Then one day, one of her (all-male) writing staff asks for a raise and Newbury, incensed, fires him. Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2019. Emma Thompson stars as a late-night talk show host at risk of losing her long-running show in this comedy written by Mindy Kaling (The Office), who also co-stars as the show's new writer.Legendary late-night talk show host Katherine Newbury's (Thompson) world is turned upside down when she hires her first female staff writer. Kaling has written such a fantastic part for her, that it seems she forgot to do so for herself. Coming Soon. You better believe I consulted with my queer friends to make sure every script didn't feel like it had been written by a straight dude. Just below that it reads "Ticket Confirmation#:" followed by a 10-digit number. | Rating: 3.0/4.0 | Rating: 4/5 Just look at how Jimmy Kimmel “luckily” scores every Marvel star right before the next movie comes out when his show airs on ABC. Cinemark Our show was from a feminine perspective, concerning an unorthodox LGBTQ relationship, and I wanted a feminine perspective to imbue as many facets of the production as possible. Katherine Newbury (Dame Emma Thompson) is a pioneer and legendary host on the late night talk show circuit. 2019 | R | CC. Free Shipping by Amazon. |, August 15, 2020 Molly feels somewhat superfluous, making this more Katherine's journey than her own. Corden differentiates his show by offering viewers a peek behind-the-scenes into the green room, bringing all of his guests out at once and lending his musical and acting talents to various sketches. A comedy about an Indian-American woman hired to write for a TV talkshow is likable but lacks real punch ‘Prone to earnest oversharing’: Late Night, starring Mindy Kaling and Emma Thompson. She's hired on the spot to serve as a token and offer more diversity in Newberry's all white, all-male writers room. Like any good late night chat show, it covers the full spectrum. Can she find the energy to save her show and maybe give her good qualities a chance to shine? It warmed my heart, it made me laugh, and it gave me a group of characters to latch onto that earned my affections. A recent analysis on late night TV concluded, with the exception of TBS' Samantha Bee, that the typical late night talk show writing staff is only one quarter female. Then one day, one of her (all-male) writing staff asks for a raise and Newbury, incensed, fires him. Stephen Colbert brings his signature satire and comedy to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the #1 show in late night, where he talks with an eclectic mix of guests about what is new and relevant in the worlds of politics, entertainment, business, music, technology, and more. But….it lacks those singular moments. Rather than dragging out a soapbox, the movie does the smarter ploy by demonstrating why a homogeneous writers room of the same kind of voice/perspective can be limiting and potentially regressive. Summary: Legendary talk-show host Katherine Newberry (Emma Thompson) is a pioneer in her field. Included with Prime. Another self serving political soapbox pretending to be a comedy . Mindy Kaling wrote the screenplay with Emma Thompson in mind and you can see the character was crafted for exactly her talents. I think recognizing one's self and one's stories is a huge deal. For me, the studios rarely made anything but forgettable eye candy. Just confirm how you got your ticket. ), it's actually one of my happiest decisions as I really enjoyed seeing several women rise to their opportunity and shine. I enjoyed the short-lived show where Jim Rash would interview different TV showrunners about their writer's room processes and how they would resolve creative decisions. This 10-digit number is your confirmation number. A late-night talk show host's world is turned upside down when she hires her first and only female staff writer. into the movie, but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out. Tune in. It makes us all better. R (Some Sexual References|Language Throughout), drama, "Late Night," directed by Nisha Ganatra (whose television credits are lengthy, including Kaling's The Mindy Project) is a feel-good movie - in the best sense - with subversive commentary woven into it, so subtly at times you might miss some of it. For fans of the inner workings of show business, and the ups and downs and push and pull of creatives, Late Night was made for you. I felt it would make our series better and, personally, it just felt like the right thing to do because I could. All Critics (292) Emma Thompson comes with the weight to hold down and center the production, and Mindy Kaling manages not to mess with that, which means a job well done for them both. Along comes Molly (Mindy Kaling), an aspiring comedy writer who works in a chemical plant. That silly, loud American spirit meant something to me that the French New Wave or "Art Films" couldn't provide. They won't be able to see your review if you only submit your rating. Please click the link below to receive your verification email. All of this is to say that I had a good time watching this film, but make no mistake, it's standard issue all the way. I dismissed these whiny grievances and continued to seek and hire women. Just leave us a message here and we will work on getting you verified. I have also always loved a good workplace comedy, and for me, nothing has ever come as close to perfection as Broadcast News. The story follows a venerated late-night talk show host, played by Emma Thompson, who’s in danger of losing her long-running show right when she hires her first female writer, played by Mindy Kaling. Max Casella, Hugh Dancy, John Lithgow, Denis O'Hare, Reid Scott, and Amy Ryan also star. You would have thought I had just insulted people's mothers the way some men responded back. When I look back on Late Night, alas, I'm going to say, "I think I saw it. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your account. 12 talking about this. By demonstrating through its tale, Kaling has smartly packaged her movie as an empathy test designed to expand the perspectives of its audience, to get them to think how difficult it may be for a woman, let alone a woman of color, to find work in her chosen field. After almost 30 years, a groundbreaking talk-show host (Emma Thompson) suspects she may soon be losing her coveted seat on late-night television unless she manages a game-changing transformation in Late Night, the first feature film from Emmy-nominated writer and producer Mindy Kaling. SPOILER BEYOND HERE: It was particularly revealing that the entire show was about females complaining about how "nothing is ever fair for females", but then the female is cheered and lauded for her infidelity when it's been proven that men get slaughtered and ostracized for the same behavior. None of the characters were particularly likable or interesting. | Rating: 3/5 But when her ratings plummet and she is accused of being a “woman who hates women,” Katherine puts gender equality on her to-do Legendary talk-show host … The power of empathy is potentially endless but that doesn't mean that all stories need to be told from the familiar template of a straight white dude encountering conflict and change. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. They drive the story, and while the destination is rather predictable with this sort of thing, that doesn't make the journey any less satisfying. Regal The film is consistently funny because Kaling is writing with such a sharp grasp of her characters. Don't have an account? |, August 7, 2019 We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future. Your Ticket Confirmation # is located under the header in your email that reads "Your Ticket Reservation Details". (7-6-19), Late Night follows the fictional long-running TV talk show host Katherine Newberry (Emma Thompson) who has been informed by her network exec that his current season will be her last season. Weeknights 11:35/10:35c on NBC. Late Night with Seth Meyers – Watch episodes on NBC.com and the NBC App. Coming Soon. The percentage of users who rated this 3.5 stars or higher. And in a country where people of every color have found great success, the racial soapbox is tiresome. Not that anyone is ever going to read my dumb review among all the other dumb reviews about a dumb show. Yeah. Both Thompson and Kaling nailed it as the boss from hell and her acolyte. Thompson is tart and witty and wonderful. and the Terms and Policies, It has a lot to say about the positioning of famous women, and women of colour, in today's world. Kaling is lovable and charming and hopeful. Molly has a fun, adorable personality, especially when she puts her head on Katherine's shoulder when the press start taking pictures of them, but her sudden rise as a writer and her feistiness didn't draw me in as much as Thompson's shoot for the moon style. It was fun to watch, and Mindy Kaling is always a pleasure...Emma Thompson is, as always, EXCELLENT. Not shying away from stereotypes and calling others out for following the status quo, it's a film that is hilarious from start to finish, allowing not only Kaling to shine, but Thompson as well. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your email. Terrible writing. If you grew up in the U.K., maybe you watched Medved’s 1983 late-night movie show, The Worst of … ... Movie & TV Show Release Decade. But once it sold like hot cakes, he changed his mind. I wanted to give them those experiences. 1-16 of over 7,000 results for "late night" Skip to main search results Eligible for Free Shipping. Late Night follows the fictional long-running TV talk show host Katherine Newberry (Emma Thompson) who has been informed by her network exec that his current season will be her last season. Kaling's world is informed by her years of television writers room experience, as well as running her own show, and that experience better informs the reality of Late Night, from the joke-writing process, to the wariness of content that may push away sponsors, to the means of staying relevant in a vastly changing landscape of how people get their media and entertainment. The only woman ever to have a long-running program on late night, she keeps her writers’ room on a short leash ― and all male. The movie feels informed and real to its tiniest detail, which makes it all the more interesting. If you've seen big budget American studio films before (and full disclosure, this was an independent film, but it sure feels like a programmer), then I think you know the answer. When I think of Broadcast News, I think of Holly Hunter unplugging her phone every day and crying. They told me this was "reverse discrimination" and insulting and that the best talent should win out. Fun watching a transformation of an older person becoming relevant to a younger audience instead of the tragedy of a decline. It stars Emma Thompson as a popular TV host who hires a new writer (Kaling) to keep from getting replaced. | Rating: 2.5/5 Originally intended to smooth over diversity concerns, her decision brings about unexpectedly hilarious consequences as the two women who are separated by culture and generation become united by their love of a biting punchline. It never did. Right away the dynamic between Katherine, a cynic with an acid tongue, and Molly, an idealist but a novice who is pushing for reforms, establishes so much wonderful conflict and eventual resolution. Katherine Newbury, the broadcasting legend played by Emma Thompson in “Late Night,” is the first-ever, longest-running female host of a post-primetime network talk show. It wants to entertain, nothing more, nothing less. Coming Soon, Regal Don’t worry, it won’t take long. |, February 18, 2021 Too bad it's just not funny. By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy She's stuck in the middle, which makes her such an interesting character to explore and push into new territory. That's all present, but with Kaling's command of writing the characters come first. PC lecture masquerading as a comedy. I know many women, even in our small community of filmmaking, don't get as many opportunities as men. Late Night was a movie that kept me smiling and feeling good all over. |, October 1, 2019 When his ex-partner Harry Regan shows up at Ira's boarding house one night, mortally wounded while on a case, Ira feels it's up to him to get to the bottom of it. Tackling ageism, sexism, privilege and racism, Kaling's script doesn't quite have the snappy one-liner ratio or political nous required for a movie set in this industry, but Thompson is as magnetic as ever and their chemistry together sparkle. Each week night, THE LATE LATE SHOW with JAMES CORDEN throws the ultimate late night after party with a mix of celebrity guests, edgy musical acts, games and sketches. Its host, Katherine Newbury (Emma Thompson), a volatile, cold boss, has coasted for such a long stretch that the network has now considered replacing her. During the summer of 2018, I wrote a rom-com Web series (The Spirit Inside Me) that was told from the perspective of a bisexual woman and dealt with an eventual romance with another woman. TV, and particularly late night TV, is something of a boy's club and needing more women. Godzilla vs. Kong By the Numbers: Who’s The True King – According to the Data? I'm not writing this to pat myself on the back or seek woke plaudits. Very well done! Late night talk shows, and as an extension, late night talk show hosts are just there to help make whoever their guest is more relatable and charming, just in time for whatever new project they have coming out. Visit the official website for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, broadcast live from Rockefeller Center in New York. comedy, FilmNation, The percentage of Approved Tomatometer Critics who have given this movie a positive review. You feel Molly's sense of triumph, and disappointment, when her first joke is placed into the monologue and then removed. He is a loner who doesn't much care for company or small talk. |, September 25, 2020 It moves at a glacial pace, it is always trite and predictable, and never funny. It's one reason I loved HBO's The Larry Sanders Show, a deeply satirical and self-deprecating look at the bowels of Hollywood. I've always been fascinated by the nuts-and-bolts of creative ventures in the entertainment industry and especially a writer's room where people hash out ideas, build out a storyline, and generally bring our TV to life. Copyright © Fandango. It is predictable and divisive while attempting to mask it in comedy. All rights reserved. | Fresh (232) Along the way, we meet Molly's co-workers, a ramshackle group of guys not unlike those portrayed on 30 Rock, and they include Hugh Dancy as her romantic interest, Reid Scott (Veep), unexpectedly showing a sweet side to his usually wiseass persona as Newbury's chief monologue writer, Max Casella as the lifer, and the talented but underutilized John Early as the maybe gay writer who never gets a backstory, so we'll just put a pin in that one for now. It's universally enjoyable watching a character come into her own, transform the lives of others for the better, and to have characters who butted heads form a mutual friendship and understanding. Katherine Newbury (Emma Thompson) is a pioneer and legendary host on the late-night talk-show circuit. With the show currently in editing (stay tuned! Please reference “Error Code 2121” when contacting customer service. Hollywood divides us by race. Anyways, Amazon Originals are always hit-and-miss and this is definitely a miss and it still holds true that anything with Mindy in it is lame despite her always being somewhat sweet and endearing. 30West, Kaling, whose own career trajectory somewhat mirrors that of her character, plays Molly Patel, a worker in a chemical plant who finds herself as a diversity hire on an all-male writing staff for a network talk show. Kaling explores that dichotomy — and the racism, ageism and sexism of television — in her new film Late Night. Smart and funny Late Night is focused in on the behind the scenes look into the TV show process but more importantly woman of a certain age trying to stay relevant. Coming Soon. I'm willing to accept this as an accurate picture of how comedians can be -- which is not to say that the accuracy makes Late Night any funnier. Can Molly contribute to this and find her voice as a writer, and maybe, just maybe, find love? This buddy comedy concerns a talk show host about to be fired after a long run at it, and the minority hire she makes to be politically correct but who actually comes to be a partner, a confidant, and a friend. As the movie opens, Newbury is introduced at an awards show for her umpteenth award. Not very well-written. Peter Bradshaw's film of the week Late Night Late Night review – battle of words in the TV writers' room Mindy Kaling stirs up the stale, male writing team behind Emma Thompson’s talk show … Cinemark 2010 & Newer; 2000 - 2009; 1990 - 1999; 1980 - 1989; 1960 - 1969; Up to 1960; Late Night. So if you're like me and enjoy the inner workings of creative people working in tandem, then Late Night is already starting on fertile ground for you. They make for a dynamic, combustible combination. All the while, Molly doesn't grow much at all. Late Night is a 2019 American comedy-drama film directed by Nisha Ganatra from a screenplay also produced by Mindy Kaling. This is such a slight example of mine over the overwhelming obstacles women face breaking through in a male-dominated industry that doesn't want to share, but I felt it was worth sharing, dear reader. The morale in Amazon's film department has been low following the flop of pricey "Late Night" and the exit of Bob Berney. modified plot formulation from variety.com There is nothing funny about this show. Smart, timely, and brought to life by a terrific cast, Late Night is a workplace comedy with a lot of heart -- and just as many laughs. It's the kind of movie you could take your grandparents to and have them nod along in approval. I think of Albert Brooks flop-sweating on live TV. In "Late Night," two-time Oscar winner Emma Thompson effortlessly owns the big screen playing talk show host Katherine Newbury — all while looking intimidatingly chic in … and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango. Join Seth Meyers for A-list celebrities, memorable comedy and topical jokes. |, January 31, 2021 Late Night had the potential to break out with some pointed commentary about how women are treated in the entertainment industry, but it falls short at almost every turn. THE DEVIL WEARS TJ MAXX - My Review of LATE NIGHT (3 Stars) I think of Joan Cusack running with the tape. I got tired of the formula, the laziness, and I started to crave jump cuts, handheld cameras, and brazen audacity. We put out notices for crew and emphasized that we were looking for women first. On this front, we get a terrific performance from Thompson. Like the romcoms it's modeled after, Late Night offers an escape into a world with softer edges, brighter colors, and simpler solutions. - Molly (Mindy Kaling) is hired … More people deserve more opportunities to shine because we, as a society, benefit when we have a plurality of stories from a plurality of voices and perspectives. Select the department you want to search in, Intelligent and smart comedy: "A little too old and a little too white", Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2019. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. The image is an example of a ticket confirmation email that AMC sent you when you purchased your ticket. Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers. Instead of crying and dying, the main character cries and flies. You're almost there! To that end, the movie illustrates just how much late night television can actually … Please enter your email address and we will email you a new password. Hollywood is dead. Forgot your password? | Rating: 3.5/5 All customers get FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon. Read critic reviews. She has to find herself, find her voice, stand up for herself, and try to get the show to change with the times if it's going to potentially survive the eager network axe. | Top Critics (79) Then we started to make it a real thing throughout the fall and winter of 2018/early 2019, and the mission statement of the series, and for me, was to try and get as many women involved in the production as we could. And yes, I know that I'm "taking the bait" when I say that I don't really care about such things anyways, but it's so blatantly hypocritically that I just had to mention it. |, August 15, 2019 Growing up, I always had a soft spot for big budget American studio films. "Late Night" (2019 release; 102 min.) Film Review: ‘Late Night’ Emma Thompson is in bloom as a talk-show host running on empty, but this comedy written by its costar, Mindy Kaling, is lively yet scattershot. It's almost like it pulls its punches here and there -- I wanted more bite from it. You love to hate her when she calls her writers by numbers instead of their names, yet you root for her when she makes an effort to show up for someone. The film's sense of advocacy for representation is strong and a central tenet, but this doesn't get in the way of telling a good story with enjoyable characters. Still, it's a classic three act structure and it does have something to say about busting through the patriarchy as a woman and as a person of color. Directed by (1) Writing credits (1) Cast (43) Produced by (11) Music by (1) Cinematography by (1) Film Editing by (2) Casting By (2) Production Design by (1) Art Direction by (1) Set Decoration by (1) Costume Design by (1) Makeup Department (9) I subconsciously knew most lacked subtlety and sophistication, but man was it fun to watch Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase rappel down the side of a building in Foul Play or see Liza Minnelli, Gene Hackman and Burt Reynolds share the screen in the forgotten programmer Lucky Lady. When she's accused of being a "woman who hates women", she puts affirmative action on the to-do list, and - presto! March 15, 2021 Starring Emma Thompson and Mindy Kaling. As great as Kaling is... it's still Emma Thompson who still owns the show. Featuring bandleader Jon Batiste with his band Stay Human, the Emmy Award-nominated show is broadcast from the historic … Despite coming from a good place and pushing all of the correct "woke" buttons, it's no Broadcast News. Kaling has mined some talk show headlines for her story's drama and it doesn't feel cheap. Directed by Nisha Ganatra. We also meet Newbury's husband (John Lithgow), whose marital problems with her have a way of exposing her humanity, while also giving Lithgow some wonderful scenes. brings the story of Katherine Newbury, host since 1991 of Tonight, a "the Tonight Show"-like talk show. There are no approved quotes yet for this movie. As much as I love Emma Thompson and wanted to like this movie, I found myself surfing the web as I listened to it and waited for it to get better. |, December 6, 2019 Your AMC Ticket Confirmation# can be found in your order confirmation email. Once again Newbury is pressed to diversify her staff, and in a flash Indian-American Molly Patel, who has zero TV writing experience, is hired... At this point we are 10 min. Allow me to get a little personal here as I reflect on the topic of representation. The character of Katherine Newberry is interesting because she's a woman who has established her own perch in late night, but she's still older, white, and from an elitist, privileged bubble. I think of William Hurt faking tears to get a story. Hell, it's no The Devil Wears Prada either, despite feeling like its distant cousin from your Great Uncle's side of the family. Yeah. It's with this older, wiser, more cynical and, yes, perhaps bitter eye that I came to Late Night, a new workplace comedy written by and starring Mindy Kaling. |, August 15, 2020 Late Night (2019) Full Cast & Crew. | Rotten (60). Rotten Tomatoes Predicts the 2020 Golden Globe Winners! Director Nisha Ganatra (Chutney Popcorn), who has shown with her prior work that she has a great visual sensibility, does a bland, faceless but professional job here, because that's all this movie aspires towards. Sidney Poitier’s 7 Most Memorable Performances, All Harry Potter Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer, Golden Tomato Awards: Best Movies & TV of 2020, RT Users Crown Godzilla King of the Movie Monsters. |, November 20, 2020 By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. Sign up here. Emma Thompson stars as talk show host Katherine Newbury, a … ANOTHER film about a brown person helping a white person stay on top? Molly is the long-overdue change agent to the show, to the characters, and to the old ways of thinking of what television, and by extension the entertainment industry, had to be simply because it had always been that way. Late Night is a fine example about the benefits of diversity, representation, and empathy, and it's also a cute and funny movie that will make you happy by the time the credits roll. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. A showcase for Thompson's ability to elevate any movie she appears in. Smart, timely, and brought to life by a terrific cast, Best Netflix Shows and Series To Binge (March 2021), The 100 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now (March 2021), 100 Best Movies on Amazon Prime To Watch (March 2021).