Damien Chazelle and the Fall of Silent Hollywood in Babylon

The director talks falling stars and the great studio inversion of 1927

"...actors who just couldn't survive the transition. For filmmaker Damien Chazelle, it was "this brutal, cataclysmic thing that was..."

Dec. 22, 2022 Screens Post by Richard Whittaker

First Man

Gosling and Chazelle's moon man biopic soars

"...Directed by: Damien Chazelle. Starring: Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Kyle..."

Oct. 12, 2018 Movie Review by Richard Whittaker

Whiplash

A student's desire to become a better drummer comes at the cost of becoming a supplicant to a monstrous teacher.

"...Directed by: Damien Chazelle. Starring: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Melissa Benoist, Paul..."

Oct. 31, 2014 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

Babylon

Star-studded, bittersweet love letter to the golden age of Hollywood is cinema maximus

"...Directed by: Damien Chazelle. Starring: Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Diego Calva, Jovan..."

Dec. 23, 2022 Movie Review by Richard Whittaker

La La Land

This bittersweet musical will make your heart soar

"...Directed by: Damien Chazelle. Starring: Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, John Legend, Rosemarie..."

Dec. 16, 2016 Movie Review by Kimberley Jones

How La La Land Went From Pipe Dream to Musical Fireworks

Producers on creating a city of stars

"...the Hollywood Hills at the behest of Whiplash writer/director Damien Chazelle, it's a challenge to get a musical made..."

Dec. 16, 2016 Screens Feature by Richard Whittaker

Kimberley Jones’ Top 10 Films of 2016

"...like it's a dirty word?" With song and dance, Damien Chazelle rehabilitates romance for our cynical age. 3) 20th..."

Dec. 30, 2016 Screens Feature by Kimberley Jones

Fall Film Festival Season Kicks Off With the Toronto International Film Festival

Northern exposure

"...this coming week at Fantastic Fest. La La Land, Damien Chazelle's audacious follow-up to Whiplash, is a modern movie..."

Sept. 23, 2016 Screens Feature by Marjorie Baumgarten

Grand Piano

Elijah Wood and John Cusack play cat and mouse in this concert-stage suspense dazzler.

"...within a single, theatrical setting, but Mira, working from Damien Chazelle’s equally streamlined cat-and-mouse screenplay, makes this relatively small..."

March 7, 2014 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Sundance Review: 'Whiplash'

Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons beat it out in Sundance Opening Film

"...From director Damien Chazelle comes Whiplash. Chazelle won the U.S. Short Jury..."

Jan. 27, 2014 Screens Post by Neha Aziz

We Have an Issue: "My God, It's Full of Stars"

The Top 10s Issue

"...They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To: Damien Chazelle pulls apart cinema's golden age in Babylon and..."

Dec. 16, 2022 Column by Kimberley Jones

Richard Whittaker’s Top 10 Films of 2022

"...Best Director: Daniels (EEAAO), Phil Tippett (Mad God), Damien Chazelle (Babylon)..."

Dec. 16, 2022 Screens Feature

Shock the Vote Invites You to a Shocking Halloween Party

Drive-in double-bill of Halloween treats

"...by Longhorn coach Tom Herman, La La Land director Damien Chazelle, and Z-movie megastar Linnea Quigley, and much more...."

Oct. 30, 2020 Screens Post by Richard Whittaker

Austin Film Festival 2017 Preview

The writers' festival goes big

"...famous "HartChart" will feature a live-streaming interview with director Damien Chazelle...."

Oct. 20, 2017 Screens Feature by Josh Kupecki

Marjorie Baumgarten’s Top 10 Films of 2016

"...Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester by the Sea), Barry Jenkins (Moonlight), Damien Chazelle (La La Land) Best Original Screenplay..."

Dec. 30, 2016 Screens Feature by Marjorie Baumgarten

Steve Davis’ Top 10 Films of 2016

"...Damien Chazelle (La La Land), Barry Jenkins (Moonlight), Paul Verhoeven..."

Dec. 30, 2016 Screens Feature by Steve Davis

Josh Kupecki’s Top 10 Films of 2016

"...Damien Chazelle (La La Land), Park Chan-wook (The Handmaiden), Anna..."

Dec. 30, 2016 Screens Feature by Josh Kupecki

Austin Film Festival Full Slate

Marquee names include Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Patton Oswalt

"...La La Land: Written and directed by Damien Chazelle..."

Sept. 14, 2016 Screens Post by Richard Whittaker

Boyhood Nominated for Six Oscars

Academy singles out Linklater, Adair, Arquette, Hawke

"...of Everything Screenplay by Anthony McCarten Whiplash Written by Damien Chazelle Writing, Original Screenplay..."

Jan. 15, 2015 Screens Post by Kimberley Jones

The Year in Movies, and in Moments

What didn’t make my Top 10

"...when the kid met his challenge. Anything critical writer/director Damien Chazelle might have been trying to say up to..."

Dec. 31, 2014 Screens Post by Kimberley Jones

Steve Davis' Top 10 List

"...The Lego Movie (Phil Lord and Christopher Miller), Whiplash (Damien Chazelle), Force Majeure (Ruben Östlund)..."

Jan. 2, 2015 Screens Feature by Steve Davis

William Goss' Top 10 List

"...10)Whiplash Writer-director Damien Chazelle turns the uplifting mentor-student relationship into something toxic..."

Jan. 2, 2015 Screens Feature by William Goss

Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations Announced

Boyhood, Kumiko earn multiple nods

"...BEST DIRECTOR Damien Chazelle Whiplash Ava DuVernay Selma Alejandro G. Iñárritu Birdman..."

Nov. 25, 2014 Screens Post by Kimberley Jones

Yes Yes: Sundance Announces 2014 Class

Austinites a-plenty in Competition and NEXT slates

"...Whiplash / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Damien Chazelle) — Under the direction of a ruthless instructor,..."

Dec. 4, 2013 Screens Post by Kimberley Jones

‘Grand Piano’ Is a Virtuosic Instrument

Craft and performance anxiety rule this Fantastic Fest dazzler

"...crucial to this film as Unax Mendia’s cinematography and Damien Chazelle’s screenplay. The suspense builds operatically and it’s not..."

Sept. 24, 2013 Screens Post by Marjorie Baumgarten