Keeping true to its title in function and form, “The Last Duel” is at constant odds with itself. Alongside meticulous recreations of the late middle ages and a few of the worst hairdos ever put on screen, Ridley Scott’s lavish historical drama offers 152 minutes of dialectical tension, mirroring its climactic battle nearly beat for beat as different versions of what this film could be fight it out until only one remains standing....

The whispered warning triggers the dramatic survival story at the heart of “The Last of Us,” the HBO series adaptation of the acclaimed video game franchise of the same name. “The Mandalorian” star Pedro Pascal leads the Western-inspired series opposite “Catherine Called Birdy” and “Game of Thrones” breakout Bella Ramsey as two survivors of the apocalypse. Joel (Pascal) is tasked with smuggling tween Ellie (Ramsey) out of a quarantine zone to safety across the U....

For showrunner Jenny Klein, the trick was juxtaposing Pam’s bizarre personality with an awareness of the real and immense pain caused by her actions. “We went into the show with the knowledge that we needed to balance this story that’s so disturbing and tragic with the totally absurd details that come from Pam’s over-the-top behavior,” she said. While Pam is the story’s focus, the series’ point of view is often that of her victims, which creates unique emotional effects as the audience is simultaneously amused by Pam’s brazen conduct, pained by its effects, and frustrated by the authorities’ unwillingness to acknowledge the truth....

Susanne Bier is in demand. HBO reached out to “The Night Manager” Emmy-winner to direct the limited series “The Undoing”; she didn’t have to pitch. That’s not just because she’s a sought-after filmmaker — and because experienced women directors are a prize get these days — but the Danish Oscar-winning auteur (“In a Better World”) has a sophisticated skill set that includes something hard to find: she knows how to reach a wide audience....

Mere hours before the slated “Sparta” screening, TIFF withdrew the feature. German news outlet Der Spiegel previously published allegations of child exploitation against Seidl and the “Sparta” production on September 2. A statement on the official TIFF festival page now reads: “This film has been withdrawn from festival. We apologize for any inconvenience. Ticket holders will receive an email from TIFF Customer Relations with more information.” IndieWire has reached out to the Toronto International Film Festival for comment....

Timothée Chalamet might seem quite young to become a full-fledged movie legend, but the 25-year-old actor is already poised for icon status. As if working with major directors like Wes Anderson and Greta Gerwig wasn’t impressive enough, Chalamet has two movies scheduled for release this October. The first being “Dune,” Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel about a young man on an interplanetary trek to save his family. Chalamet stars in the film alongside Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Momoa, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, and David Bautista....

“Vanessa Redgrave’s name is being included in recent stories relating to the casting of the upcoming film ‘The Man Who Drew God,’” Redgrave’s statement reads. “While there have been discussions about the possibility of her joining the cast, she will not appear in the film.“ Redgrave has been married to Nero since 2006 but their romance extends back to the production of 1967’s “Camelot,” when they first met. They’ve appeared in other films together over the decades, including in 2010’s “Letters to Juliet....