There’s a story Alfred Hitchcock always liked to tell about how, when he was five years old, his father dropped him off at the local police station near his home in East London. William Hitchcock left a note for the coppers explaining that his son had been misbehaving. A policeman locked young Alfred in a cell for a few minutes and explained, “This is what we do to naughty boys.”
When Hitchcock recounted that story to Dick Cavett he was in his 70s, but the incident continued to leave a profound mark on the director. He said he was still “terrified of the police” because of that and drew a connection from that to the feelings of guilt and wrong-men-on-the-run paranoia that seeps into so many of his films.
The funny thing is, though, father characters are almost entirely absent from Hitchcock’s work. There are a few: Cedric Hardwicke...
When Hitchcock recounted that story to Dick Cavett he was in his 70s, but the incident continued to leave a profound mark on the director. He said he was still “terrified of the police” because of that and drew a connection from that to the feelings of guilt and wrong-men-on-the-run paranoia that seeps into so many of his films.
The funny thing is, though, father characters are almost entirely absent from Hitchcock’s work. There are a few: Cedric Hardwicke...
- 5/12/2024
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
Ron Howard has been part of our collective consciousness for as long as I can remember. Or at least he looms large in mine. Born in 1954, he was on many of the TV series I grew up watching and had his own starring role on “The Andy Griffith Show” by 1960. And his father had the idea that little “Ronny Howard” should play a good kid, not the wise-guy type popular in those “Dennis the Menace” years. He’d be nice. It stuck. He’s been known as “nice” ever since.
That made him much too easy to dismiss. However prominent he was — as a principal star of “American Graffiti” in 1973, top-billed “Happy Days” actor the next year and then as a director debuting with “Night Shift” in 1977 — we could take him lightly. By then I was reviewing films, and I overlooked him to a fault. I didn’t even give...
That made him much too easy to dismiss. However prominent he was — as a principal star of “American Graffiti” in 1973, top-billed “Happy Days” actor the next year and then as a director debuting with “Night Shift” in 1977 — we could take him lightly. By then I was reviewing films, and I overlooked him to a fault. I didn’t even give...
- 5/7/2024
- by Janet Maslin
- Variety Film + TV
Tom Hanks has played a hero multiple times, whether in Captain Phillips or as Woody from Toy Story. Each time, he’s managed to bring something new and meaningful to the idea of being a hero. Thus, when Clint Eastwood approached Tom Hanks, proposing that he take on the role of Sully, the real-life hero who safely landed a plane on the Hudson River in 2009, Hanks found himself pausing before making a decision, in the 2016 film.
Clint Eastwood in Bronco Billy
But then Eastwood hit him with just three words that sealed the deal. And that decision turned out to be a major highlight in Hanks’ already impressive career.
Clint Eastwood’s Three Words That Influenced Tom Hanks to Portray Sully
Before Sully, Tom Hanks had already portrayed heroes, or as he puts it “ordinary guys in extraordinary circumstances.” He had often felt typecasted. When Clint Eastwood offered him the role of Sully,...
Clint Eastwood in Bronco Billy
But then Eastwood hit him with just three words that sealed the deal. And that decision turned out to be a major highlight in Hanks’ already impressive career.
Clint Eastwood’s Three Words That Influenced Tom Hanks to Portray Sully
Before Sully, Tom Hanks had already portrayed heroes, or as he puts it “ordinary guys in extraordinary circumstances.” He had often felt typecasted. When Clint Eastwood offered him the role of Sully,...
- 4/30/2024
- by Sampurna Banerjee
- FandomWire
Much has been made about the smoky sexiness of Luca Guadagnino's "Challengers," notably the brief threesome scene near the beginning of the movie. While the scene is plenty sexy, it constitutes the bulk of the on-screen physicality of "Challengers," and it is, perhaps disappointingly, relegated to about 90 seconds of tongue kissing; Guadagnino's film is not the bisexual throuple film the ad campaign would have you believe it is.
Instead, it's a soapy, recognizably classical love triangle about three bitter souls who were never able to get over that fateful make-out session. The three players involved were promising tennis champions in high school. There's Tashi (Zendaya), the hotshot celebrity that is already being courted by marketers. There's Patrick (Josh O'Connor), the rough-hewn, stubble-encrusted stud. And there's Art (Mike Faist), the talented jokester whose magic shell quickly hardens into a crunchy layer of jealousy. "Challengers" follows them, via flashbacks, through their...
Instead, it's a soapy, recognizably classical love triangle about three bitter souls who were never able to get over that fateful make-out session. The three players involved were promising tennis champions in high school. There's Tashi (Zendaya), the hotshot celebrity that is already being courted by marketers. There's Patrick (Josh O'Connor), the rough-hewn, stubble-encrusted stud. And there's Art (Mike Faist), the talented jokester whose magic shell quickly hardens into a crunchy layer of jealousy. "Challengers" follows them, via flashbacks, through their...
- 4/26/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The name’s Fleming, Ian Fleming. And boy did he have some problems with how his James Bond character was being adapted for the big screen. As we all know, Sean Connery was cinema’s first 007, but Fleming himself hated the idea, concerned that he didn’t have the right voice.
As revealed in Nicholas Shakespeare’s new book, Ian Fleming: The Complete Man (via IndieWire), the process to find the perfect James Bond was an arduous one. Per Fleming’s agent Robert Fenn, “We tried twenty or thirty [potential prospects]. No major actor would play the part for more than one picture, and we couldn’t set up a deal with a distributor without commitment from a main actor.” Of course, Bond would go to Connery, who Fleming didn’t care for because “he couldn’t speak the Queen’s English…He’s not my idea of Bond at all,...
As revealed in Nicholas Shakespeare’s new book, Ian Fleming: The Complete Man (via IndieWire), the process to find the perfect James Bond was an arduous one. Per Fleming’s agent Robert Fenn, “We tried twenty or thirty [potential prospects]. No major actor would play the part for more than one picture, and we couldn’t set up a deal with a distributor without commitment from a main actor.” Of course, Bond would go to Connery, who Fleming didn’t care for because “he couldn’t speak the Queen’s English…He’s not my idea of Bond at all,...
- 4/12/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Plot: John Sugar is an American private investigator on the heels of the mysterious disappearance of Olivia Siegel, the beloved granddaughter of legendary Hollywood producer Jonathan Siegel. As Sugar tries to determine what happened to Olivia, he will also unearth Siegel family secrets; some very recent, others long-buried.
Review: Detective stories and noir films are iconic genres in film and literature. Who doesn’t love a grizzled private eye who saves the girl and beds the femme fatale? From The Maltese Falcon to Chinatown, detectives have a long and storied history on screen. With the new series Sugar, Colin Farrell adds another great character to the list. A suave, calm, and skilled investigator, John Sugar is an idealized hero straight off the silver screen. And, like any number of great cinematic detectives, he has a weakness. Having seen the full eight episodes of Sugar, audiences will love or hate John Sugar’s weakness,...
Review: Detective stories and noir films are iconic genres in film and literature. Who doesn’t love a grizzled private eye who saves the girl and beds the femme fatale? From The Maltese Falcon to Chinatown, detectives have a long and storied history on screen. With the new series Sugar, Colin Farrell adds another great character to the list. A suave, calm, and skilled investigator, John Sugar is an idealized hero straight off the silver screen. And, like any number of great cinematic detectives, he has a weakness. Having seen the full eight episodes of Sugar, audiences will love or hate John Sugar’s weakness,...
- 4/3/2024
- by Alex Maidy
- JoBlo.com
Hollywood’s Egyptian Theatre will host a special screening series to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the podcast “You Must Remember This,” created and hosted by Karina Longworth.
Longworth has now spent a decade examining the untold histories of show business — including watercooler seasons spent revisiting the Manson murders, the Star Wars franchise and the life and career of Joan Crawford. The Egyptian, owned by Netflix, has curated a three-day screening series featuring the films of Hollywood bombshell Kim Novak.
Novak was the subject of the “lost” and first-ever recorded episode of “You Must Remember This.” Longworth has previously said a corrupted audio file and “large swaths” of copyrighted music led to the shelving of the episode, which will finally be released [Editor’s note: In the TV series that launched and catapulted Ryan Murphy to stardom, “Popular,” a fictional girl’s room at a Southern California high school was named for Novak after a donation from the star. We love...
Longworth has now spent a decade examining the untold histories of show business — including watercooler seasons spent revisiting the Manson murders, the Star Wars franchise and the life and career of Joan Crawford. The Egyptian, owned by Netflix, has curated a three-day screening series featuring the films of Hollywood bombshell Kim Novak.
Novak was the subject of the “lost” and first-ever recorded episode of “You Must Remember This.” Longworth has previously said a corrupted audio file and “large swaths” of copyrighted music led to the shelving of the episode, which will finally be released [Editor’s note: In the TV series that launched and catapulted Ryan Murphy to stardom, “Popular,” a fictional girl’s room at a Southern California high school was named for Novak after a donation from the star. We love...
- 3/27/2024
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
The only witness to a horrific crime couldn't leave her home... until she could.
Law & Order: Svu Season 25 Episode 8 felt like Svu's take on Rear Window -- a classic movie in which Jimmy Stewart played a homebound man who witnessed a murder from his window.
The series put its unique spin on the same trope, offering a compelling story where Benson had to find a way to help the frightened witness come forward. Miraculously, she did it without falling into the obsessive behavior plaguing her recently.
Benson's interactions with Anne only comprised a small portion of the hour. There was a lot of solid police work before she got involved with encouraging Anne to come into the squad room.
As a bonus, Benson did quite a bit of directing the other cops' investigation. While she did question a few witnesses herself, this story was much closer to what she ought to be doing as captain.
Law & Order: Svu Season 25 Episode 8 felt like Svu's take on Rear Window -- a classic movie in which Jimmy Stewart played a homebound man who witnessed a murder from his window.
The series put its unique spin on the same trope, offering a compelling story where Benson had to find a way to help the frightened witness come forward. Miraculously, she did it without falling into the obsessive behavior plaguing her recently.
Benson's interactions with Anne only comprised a small portion of the hour. There was a lot of solid police work before she got involved with encouraging Anne to come into the squad room.
As a bonus, Benson did quite a bit of directing the other cops' investigation. While she did question a few witnesses herself, this story was much closer to what she ought to be doing as captain.
- 3/22/2024
- by Jack Ori
- TVfanatic
If you thought an emergency appendectomy would stop Todd from solving a case, you don't know the man vying to be Portland's number-one private investigator.
While Todd finds himself stuck in a hospital bed, he still can't escape a murder mystery!
So Help Me Todd Season 3 Episode 4 was a vintage hour for the series, full of laughs, heart, and all the things that make the series so charming.
We got to jump on a Zoom call with Todd himself, Skylar Astin, to break down the episode, including working alongside Dean Winters and Dick's unconventional advice, as well as diving into some teases for the rest of the season.
Skylar was nothing short of fantastic to speak with and offered excellent insight into a fun hour and what's ahead. Enjoy, So Help Me Todd fanatics!
It's an interesting episode for Todd because after he gets ill, he ends up in the...
While Todd finds himself stuck in a hospital bed, he still can't escape a murder mystery!
So Help Me Todd Season 3 Episode 4 was a vintage hour for the series, full of laughs, heart, and all the things that make the series so charming.
We got to jump on a Zoom call with Todd himself, Skylar Astin, to break down the episode, including working alongside Dean Winters and Dick's unconventional advice, as well as diving into some teases for the rest of the season.
Skylar was nothing short of fantastic to speak with and offered excellent insight into a fun hour and what's ahead. Enjoy, So Help Me Todd fanatics!
It's an interesting episode for Todd because after he gets ill, he ends up in the...
- 3/15/2024
- by Whitney Evans
- TVfanatic
Stars can be found in the unlikeliest of places. Marilyn Monroe was noticed at a munitions factory and Haley Joel Osment was scouted in Ikea, but the 20th century’s most prolific actor was discovered on a cactus.
In the mid-1930s, ex-cowboy Henry Wagstaff Twiford was walking across the red rust of the Mojave desert when he stumbled upon a baby raven in an abandoned nest. He took him home, named him Jimmy, and reared him on boiled eggs, eggshells, and milk. Over the course of the next two decades, Jimmy became a star that needed no surname, billed alongside Bette Davis and Judy Garland during Hollywood’s Golden Age. Before he died, the raven was said to have appeared in more than 1,000 films.
That is the extent of what most people know about Jimmy — if they’ve heard of him at all. Despite his vast back catalogue, no...
In the mid-1930s, ex-cowboy Henry Wagstaff Twiford was walking across the red rust of the Mojave desert when he stumbled upon a baby raven in an abandoned nest. He took him home, named him Jimmy, and reared him on boiled eggs, eggshells, and milk. Over the course of the next two decades, Jimmy became a star that needed no surname, billed alongside Bette Davis and Judy Garland during Hollywood’s Golden Age. Before he died, the raven was said to have appeared in more than 1,000 films.
That is the extent of what most people know about Jimmy — if they’ve heard of him at all. Despite his vast back catalogue, no...
- 3/12/2024
- by Amelia Tait
- Empire - Movies
With film distributors becoming stingier about physical media and defaulting to streaming, The Criterion Collection has been picking up slack. For instance, Criterion has released physical copies of acclaimed Netflix originals like "The Irishman," "Roma," and "Marriage Story."
Joining the collection in May 2024 is Justine Triet's "Anatomy of a Fall," just released in North America back in October 2023 by Neon. As Criterion confirmed on Twitter, the film enters the collection alongside classics such as Michael Powell's "Peeping Tom."
Does "Anatomy of a Fall" deserve to be in such company? We at /Film think so, since we ranked it one of the 15 best movies of 2023. If you don't believe us, it won the Palme d'Or at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival (the highest prize), and it's up for several Oscars at the 96th Academy Awards (including Best Picture and Best Director for Justine Triet).
The film's title homages the classic...
Joining the collection in May 2024 is Justine Triet's "Anatomy of a Fall," just released in North America back in October 2023 by Neon. As Criterion confirmed on Twitter, the film enters the collection alongside classics such as Michael Powell's "Peeping Tom."
Does "Anatomy of a Fall" deserve to be in such company? We at /Film think so, since we ranked it one of the 15 best movies of 2023. If you don't believe us, it won the Palme d'Or at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival (the highest prize), and it's up for several Oscars at the 96th Academy Awards (including Best Picture and Best Director for Justine Triet).
The film's title homages the classic...
- 2/16/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Every town seems to have that one house. The one that children walk by with hushed tones and dare each other to sneak onto the porch or ring the doorbell of. In the movies it’s the Myers House, 1428 Elm (at least in the later movies), or the House on Neibolt Street—usually run down and harboring a frightening history. In my neighborhood growing up, it was not a dilapidated old house, just one that seemed very out of place among the homes of the working class that surrounded it. It was a huge two-story white house, buttressed with gigantic pillars, and surrounded by a wrought-iron fence. I never saw anyone come in or out and I always wondered who lived there. In my mind it was a rich old Mrs. Deagle from Gremlins type, and I wondered, “what’s going on in there?” That question is the engine that...
- 2/16/2024
- by Brian Keiper
- bloody-disgusting.com
Ever since he exploded onto the horror scene in 1996 by revitalizing the slasher flick with his screenplay for "Scream," Kevin Williamson has been one of Hollywood's go-to writer/creators for teen skewing films and television shows — and it all happened so fast. Within a span of three months, Williamson had "I Know What You Did Last Summer" and "Scream 2" tearing up the box office, and "Dawson's Creek" posting impressive Nielsen ratings for the WB.
He's had a couple of brief down periods, but he's never gone completely away (he rode out a rough creative run in the 2010s simply by having "The Vampire Diaries" on the air). Still, it's been a while since his name moved the needle in Hollywood, although his Covid-19 slasher "Sick" from 2022 did pretty well on streaming. But had the Gen X-er who'd connected so palpably with younger viewers for 20-plus years finally lost his touch?...
He's had a couple of brief down periods, but he's never gone completely away (he rode out a rough creative run in the 2010s simply by having "The Vampire Diaries" on the air). Still, it's been a while since his name moved the needle in Hollywood, although his Covid-19 slasher "Sick" from 2022 did pretty well on streaming. But had the Gen X-er who'd connected so palpably with younger viewers for 20-plus years finally lost his touch?...
- 2/9/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Putting a fresh spin on one of the greatest movies of all time can’t be an easy task, but Kevin Williamson is up for the challenge. Deadline reports that the Scream writer is developing a TV series reimagining of Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window, and I can already hear the cries of sacrilege.
Based on Cornell Woolrich’s 1942 short story It Had to Be Murder, Rear Window starred Jimmy Stewart as a photographer in a wheelchair who spies on his neighbours from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder, despite the skepticism of his fashion-model girlfriend, played by Grace Kelly. To be fair, the iconic film was remade before with the 1998 made-for-tv movie starring Christopher Reeve. There’s also Disturbia, which was at least partially inspired by the Hitchcock film.
Related Awesome Art We’ve Found Around The Net: Candyman, They Live, The Warriors...
Based on Cornell Woolrich’s 1942 short story It Had to Be Murder, Rear Window starred Jimmy Stewart as a photographer in a wheelchair who spies on his neighbours from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder, despite the skepticism of his fashion-model girlfriend, played by Grace Kelly. To be fair, the iconic film was remade before with the 1998 made-for-tv movie starring Christopher Reeve. There’s also Disturbia, which was at least partially inspired by the Hitchcock film.
Related Awesome Art We’ve Found Around The Net: Candyman, They Live, The Warriors...
- 2/8/2024
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
A biopic of James Stewart is being developed for the screen, with the late star’s family involved too: more details here.
One of the most endearingly popular film stars of all time, James Stewart, is now to be the subject of a movie himself.
His life is going to be the subject of a biopic going by the title of A Truly Wonderful Life, although the impression given is that’s a holding name for the minute. An obvious tip of the hat to It’s A Wonderful Life, of course, that’s up there with Jimmy Stewart’s most popular movies (even though all concerned feared it was a misstep).
It’s a good job we’re here to point stuff like this out.
Aaron Burns is part of the team developing the movie, which is going to be a theatrical release. It’s been developed in conjunction with James Stewart’s daughter,...
One of the most endearingly popular film stars of all time, James Stewart, is now to be the subject of a movie himself.
His life is going to be the subject of a biopic going by the title of A Truly Wonderful Life, although the impression given is that’s a holding name for the minute. An obvious tip of the hat to It’s A Wonderful Life, of course, that’s up there with Jimmy Stewart’s most popular movies (even though all concerned feared it was a misstep).
It’s a good job we’re here to point stuff like this out.
Aaron Burns is part of the team developing the movie, which is going to be a theatrical release. It’s been developed in conjunction with James Stewart’s daughter,...
- 2/7/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
Sexually-explicit AI-generated images of Taylor Swift have caused alarm across the board, with major centers of power — including The White House, Microsoft, SAG-AFTRA, and more — now weighing-in on what the controversy means for the future of AI, and what steps are being taken to prevent further incidents like this one.
The scandal began when fake, crude images depicting Swift started circulating social media this week, with one image gaining over 47 million views on Twitter alone, before the account that posted them was suspended due to mass-reporting by Swifites. According to 404 Media, the viral images were traced back to a Telegram group chat where members shared AI content, sometimes made using Microsoft’s generative-ai tool, Designer.
Now, speaking to NBC News, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has expressed that the company finds the images “alarming and terrible,” and feels the pressure to “move fast” to combat nonconsensual sexually explicit deepfake images.
“Yes,...
The scandal began when fake, crude images depicting Swift started circulating social media this week, with one image gaining over 47 million views on Twitter alone, before the account that posted them was suspended due to mass-reporting by Swifites. According to 404 Media, the viral images were traced back to a Telegram group chat where members shared AI content, sometimes made using Microsoft’s generative-ai tool, Designer.
Now, speaking to NBC News, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has expressed that the company finds the images “alarming and terrible,” and feels the pressure to “move fast” to combat nonconsensual sexually explicit deepfake images.
“Yes,...
- 1/27/2024
- by Jo Vito
- Consequence - Music
Kenya Barris joined the Variety Studio presented by Audible at the Sundance Film Festival and provided some new updates on three of his most high-profile new projects. It was announced back in 2020 that Barris was set to direct a biopic on Richard Pryor, one of the most influential comedians of all time. The project remains in development, only Barris now confirmed that it’s actually a television series.
“It’s a 10-part limited biographical series that takes a look from cradle to grave,” Barris said. “From his earliest upbringing — he grew up in a ho house, or a house of ill repute — and became, at one point, the biggest star in the world.”
Barris said he is “in the room with it right now” as far as the development on the Richard Pryor series, adding, “It is my baby. I love it. He is my comedy god. A super flawed guy,...
“It’s a 10-part limited biographical series that takes a look from cradle to grave,” Barris said. “From his earliest upbringing — he grew up in a ho house, or a house of ill repute — and became, at one point, the biggest star in the world.”
Barris said he is “in the room with it right now” as far as the development on the Richard Pryor series, adding, “It is my baby. I love it. He is my comedy god. A super flawed guy,...
- 1/20/2024
- by Zack Sharf and Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
What makes a great courtroom thriller? A mesmerizing and clever plot that draws viewers in immediately. Three-dimensional characters that keep you guessing if they are the guilty party and twists and turns that leave audiences gasping and gob smacked.
Justine Triet’s dazzling French thriller “Anatomy of a Fall” has all the qualities and then some that make it a classic of the genre. Since winning the Palme D’or last May, “Anatomy of a Fall” has continued its winning ways receiving several critics’ honors, as well as two Golden Globes, a Critics Choice honor and seven BAFTA nominations including best film, best director, screenplay and best actress for Sandra Huller’s powerhouse performance. One can’t forget that Messi, the border collie ,who plays the family pet Snoop, received the Palm Dog at Cannes.
Huller plays a bisexual woman with a troubled marriage and a young blind son. When...
Justine Triet’s dazzling French thriller “Anatomy of a Fall” has all the qualities and then some that make it a classic of the genre. Since winning the Palme D’or last May, “Anatomy of a Fall” has continued its winning ways receiving several critics’ honors, as well as two Golden Globes, a Critics Choice honor and seven BAFTA nominations including best film, best director, screenplay and best actress for Sandra Huller’s powerhouse performance. One can’t forget that Messi, the border collie ,who plays the family pet Snoop, received the Palm Dog at Cannes.
Huller plays a bisexual woman with a troubled marriage and a young blind son. When...
- 1/18/2024
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
"It's A Wonderful Life" is an unforgettable classic that renews itself every holiday season. The striking narrative articulates strong morals, like the importance of family and an individual's importance in a community, punctuated by almost hallucinogenic imagery of the ground opening up beneath one's feet. It's a heartwrenching picture made all the emotional by the sentimentality of Christmastime. The Frank Capra film is nostalgic for everyone, from older people who watched it as a child to the generations to follow who passed down the tradition to their children. Most kids aren't dying to sit down and watch a black-and-white talkie from studio-era Hollywood, and yet the film's fanbase gains new members every year.
But as the 1946 film ages, so too does its cast, and many of the main cast members have not made it to 2024, including leading man Jimmy Stewart. In fact, most of the adults in the film passed...
But as the 1946 film ages, so too does its cast, and many of the main cast members have not made it to 2024, including leading man Jimmy Stewart. In fact, most of the adults in the film passed...
- 1/7/2024
- by Shae Sennett
- Slash Film
Analysis of five decades of festive TV schedules shows that only one in eight films were Christmas-related
Think of Christmas films and the chances are your mind is drawn towards snowmen, mistletoe and Jimmy Stewart.
But analysis of five decades of Christmas TV schedules in the UK reveal that the most-aired films feature a magic car, a straw man and Kenneth Williams.
Think of Christmas films and the chances are your mind is drawn towards snowmen, mistletoe and Jimmy Stewart.
But analysis of five decades of Christmas TV schedules in the UK reveal that the most-aired films feature a magic car, a straw man and Kenneth Williams.
- 12/24/2023
- by Carmen Aguilar García, Viktor Sunnemark, Michael Goodier and Lucy Swan
- The Guardian - Film News
It's probably the fault of closed-minded, conservative propaganda that the idea of subversiveness within art received a bad reputation. Just as all art is political, all art is (or at least can be) a little subversive. Certainly the dictionary definition of the term, where a work of art intends to undermine the power and/or authority of an established idea, system or value, is heavily akin to the way plot structure tends to be broken down within plays and screenplays: a period of Stasis being interrupted by an Intrusion or Inciting Action, and so on.
Given how weird a number of people are when it comes to the behavior and attitudes toward the Christmas holiday, it's no real surprise that any art having to do with Christmas tends toward subversion. This can manifest in tangential ways (like the slapstick violence of the "Home Alone" series) or direct ways (Santa Claus...
Given how weird a number of people are when it comes to the behavior and attitudes toward the Christmas holiday, it's no real surprise that any art having to do with Christmas tends toward subversion. This can manifest in tangential ways (like the slapstick violence of the "Home Alone" series) or direct ways (Santa Claus...
- 12/16/2023
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
If you’re looking for new ways to unwind before a good night’s rest (or nightmare), Jimmy Stewart’s AI-generated voice has you covered. As reported by Variety, the legendary Hollywood actor’s essence has been newly captured on the Calm sleep and meditation app as he narrates a bedtime story.
“It’s a Wonderful Sleep Story” recounts a “heartwarming new holiday tale” in the style of Stewart’s Christmas classic, “It’s A Wonderful Life.” It’s available to premium subscribers of the app, which costs $69.99 per year.
Though Stewart died in 1997, Calm researchers were able to resurrect his voice using AI voice-cloning technology in collaboration with Respeecher, a Ukraine-based startup that produces synthetic speech and voice clones with machine-learning technology. The company, which worked to recreate Mark Hamill’s voice of Luke Skywalker for The Mandolorian and James Earl Jones’ voice of Darth Vader for Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney+,...
“It’s a Wonderful Sleep Story” recounts a “heartwarming new holiday tale” in the style of Stewart’s Christmas classic, “It’s A Wonderful Life.” It’s available to premium subscribers of the app, which costs $69.99 per year.
Though Stewart died in 1997, Calm researchers were able to resurrect his voice using AI voice-cloning technology in collaboration with Respeecher, a Ukraine-based startup that produces synthetic speech and voice clones with machine-learning technology. The company, which worked to recreate Mark Hamill’s voice of Luke Skywalker for The Mandolorian and James Earl Jones’ voice of Darth Vader for Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney+,...
- 12/6/2023
- by Kayla Higgins
- Consequence - Film News
Fittingly for a series in which everybody seems to be engaging in some form of Classic Hollywood cosplay, the Rosebud moment in BritBox’s Archie is delivered by an actor playing comedy icon Danny Kaye.
Affecting a stereotypical German therapist accent — accents on top of accents on top of accents is the Archie way — Kaye cautions young Dyan Cannon (Laura Aikman) that her relationship with the more seasoned Cary Grant (Jason Isaacs) is destined for complications with the warning, “Men who have difficult relationships with their mothers always carry it over to the women that they love.”
There’s no reason for Kaye to make such an observation if he hasn’t been watching the two previous hours of Jeff Pope’s four-episode production. But for the series’ actual audience, his analysis will come across as both obvious and superficial — a bit like Archie itself.
Ultimately, it’s a bit more complicated than that.
Affecting a stereotypical German therapist accent — accents on top of accents on top of accents is the Archie way — Kaye cautions young Dyan Cannon (Laura Aikman) that her relationship with the more seasoned Cary Grant (Jason Isaacs) is destined for complications with the warning, “Men who have difficult relationships with their mothers always carry it over to the women that they love.”
There’s no reason for Kaye to make such an observation if he hasn’t been watching the two previous hours of Jeff Pope’s four-episode production. But for the series’ actual audience, his analysis will come across as both obvious and superficial — a bit like Archie itself.
Ultimately, it’s a bit more complicated than that.
- 12/6/2023
- by Daniel Fienberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
If you’re a premium subscriber of Calm, you can listen to Jimmy Stewart read you a bedtime story, with a little help from AI.
Jimmy Stewart, known for films such as It’s A Wonderful Life, Vertigo and Rear Window, is set to read a bedtime story for users of the relaxation app Calm. “It’s A Wonderful Sleep Story” is available from today (5th December) for subscribers of Calm Premium.
There’s a catch, though. Stewart has been dead since 1997 and Calm has used AI to recreate his voice.
“Well, hello. I’m James Stewart. But, well, you can call me Jimmy,” the voice of Stewart begins the story, as reported by Variety. “Tonight, I’m going to tell you a story. It’s a heartwarming story of love, of loss, of hope and of joy. But most of all, it’s a wonderful sleep story.”
Stewart’s family...
Jimmy Stewart, known for films such as It’s A Wonderful Life, Vertigo and Rear Window, is set to read a bedtime story for users of the relaxation app Calm. “It’s A Wonderful Sleep Story” is available from today (5th December) for subscribers of Calm Premium.
There’s a catch, though. Stewart has been dead since 1997 and Calm has used AI to recreate his voice.
“Well, hello. I’m James Stewart. But, well, you can call me Jimmy,” the voice of Stewart begins the story, as reported by Variety. “Tonight, I’m going to tell you a story. It’s a heartwarming story of love, of loss, of hope and of joy. But most of all, it’s a wonderful sleep story.”
Stewart’s family...
- 12/5/2023
- by Maria Lattila
- Film Stories
“I’m stuck here in this mudhole for life, doing the same full work day after day,” George tells a stranger he meets while leaning over a bridge. George has come to the bridge on a frigid winter night with the intention of throwing himself off and ending it all. “Other men are leading exciting lives, but I – well, I’m just a small-town bank clerk,” he vents. “I never did anything really useful or interesting, and it looks as if I never will. I might just as well be dead. Sometimes I wish I were. In fact, I wish I’d never been born!”
You probably know the above exchange as a scene from It’s a Wonderful Life, the 1946 classic starring Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey and Henry Travers as the lovable, doddering angel second-class Clarence Odbody. But the above quotation actually comes from the short story “The Greatest Gift,...
You probably know the above exchange as a scene from It’s a Wonderful Life, the 1946 classic starring Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey and Henry Travers as the lovable, doddering angel second-class Clarence Odbody. But the above quotation actually comes from the short story “The Greatest Gift,...
- 11/30/2023
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
A grand Hollywood tradition will kick off at 6 Pm on Sunday, as the 91st Hollywood Christmas Parade winds through the streets of the movie capital.
Sunday’s parade will be cohosted by actors Erik Estrada and Dean Cain, joined by Montel Williams, Laura McKenzie, and Elizabeth Stanton.
Pre-parade entertainment will include the Village People, pop-opera singer Anna Azerli, and The Grinch. Parade performers will include the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles and California Springs Rhythmic Gymnastics.
Joining them are Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, dancer-singer Paula Abdul, singer Dwight Yoakum, radio host Kerri Kasem, pop duo Aly & Aj, and actors Chris Kattan, Craig Robinson, Ernie Hudson, Brandon Routh, Ming-Na Wen, Denise Richards and Tatyana Ali.
Overall, the 3.2-mile route will showcase 90 celebrities and Vips, 14 pre-parade and parade performers, 10 bands, six four-story-high character balloons, three floats, 39 movie cars and eight novelty vehicles. The show ends with an appearance by...
Sunday’s parade will be cohosted by actors Erik Estrada and Dean Cain, joined by Montel Williams, Laura McKenzie, and Elizabeth Stanton.
Pre-parade entertainment will include the Village People, pop-opera singer Anna Azerli, and The Grinch. Parade performers will include the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles and California Springs Rhythmic Gymnastics.
Joining them are Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, dancer-singer Paula Abdul, singer Dwight Yoakum, radio host Kerri Kasem, pop duo Aly & Aj, and actors Chris Kattan, Craig Robinson, Ernie Hudson, Brandon Routh, Ming-Na Wen, Denise Richards and Tatyana Ali.
Overall, the 3.2-mile route will showcase 90 celebrities and Vips, 14 pre-parade and parade performers, 10 bands, six four-story-high character balloons, three floats, 39 movie cars and eight novelty vehicles. The show ends with an appearance by...
- 11/25/2023
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Even for the most ardent fans, there are certain movies within the Hallmark canon that touch you so indelibly they become a part of your annual Christmas tradition.
A Biltmore Christmas is about to become a tradition for many by emulating the unique blend of glamour, visually striking style, and compelling storytelling from the Golden Age of Hollywood, starring icons like Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart, and Lauren Bacall.
Kristoffer Polaha was born for that era with his versatility as an actor who can exude charm and elegance while also representing the everyman persona. He has the emotional range for dramatic roles and the right comedic touch to bring laughter to the audience.
In the most anticipated movie of the holiday season, Kris uses that talent to bring 1940s actor Jack Huston to life opposite Bethany-Joy Lenz, who is playing his anthesis as a present-day woman hoping to modernize a Christmas classic.
A Biltmore Christmas is about to become a tradition for many by emulating the unique blend of glamour, visually striking style, and compelling storytelling from the Golden Age of Hollywood, starring icons like Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart, and Lauren Bacall.
Kristoffer Polaha was born for that era with his versatility as an actor who can exude charm and elegance while also representing the everyman persona. He has the emotional range for dramatic roles and the right comedic touch to bring laughter to the audience.
In the most anticipated movie of the holiday season, Kris uses that talent to bring 1940s actor Jack Huston to life opposite Bethany-Joy Lenz, who is playing his anthesis as a present-day woman hoping to modernize a Christmas classic.
- 11/25/2023
- by Carissa Pavlica
- TVfanatic
Before Martin Scorsese decided to end "Killers of the Flower Moon" with a profound coda set amidst the melodrama of a classic true crime radio show, the filmmaker considered taking inspiration from a controversial, FBI-influenced 1959 movie. In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Scorsese opened up about the making of the film's somber surprise ending, and explained that the Jimmy Stewart-led film "The FBI Story," directed by Mervyn LeRoy, was almost the basis for the final sequence.
"It's a series of the greatest hits of the FBI," Scorsese told the outlet, but he didn't exactly offer a glowing review for the movie. He's not alone: it's often been labeled as overt copaganda in retrospect. "It's in beautiful Technicolor and actually has some very well-done scenes, but there is a section on the Osage murders that is reviled by the Native American community," the filmmaker explained, concluding simply, "It's a travesty.
"It's a series of the greatest hits of the FBI," Scorsese told the outlet, but he didn't exactly offer a glowing review for the movie. He's not alone: it's often been labeled as overt copaganda in retrospect. "It's in beautiful Technicolor and actually has some very well-done scenes, but there is a section on the Osage murders that is reviled by the Native American community," the filmmaker explained, concluding simply, "It's a travesty.
- 11/24/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Thank goodness Justin Long has stuck around. After breaking out in the frightfully gross road movie “Jeepers Creepers” and popping in aughts comedies like “Dodgeball” and “Accepted,” the 45-year-old has been on screen long enough to be getting genre-movie roles tailor-made for him — or at least uniquely suited to his strength — playing (not so) “nice guys” in all their dishonesty.
Having tested the waters as an East Coast professor on probation in “After Class” and an idiot Hollywood hotshot facing a #MeToo storm in last year’s “Barbarian,” Long follows up as the big bad in the horror comedy “It’s a Wonderful Knife,” released in theaters Nov. 10, before streaming on Shudder down the road. As the murderous mogul Henry Waters, who slices down anyone that stands in the way of his town’s redevelopment, Long steals the show once again. His have-at-it fun and eerie eyes provide a manic glee...
Having tested the waters as an East Coast professor on probation in “After Class” and an idiot Hollywood hotshot facing a #MeToo storm in last year’s “Barbarian,” Long follows up as the big bad in the horror comedy “It’s a Wonderful Knife,” released in theaters Nov. 10, before streaming on Shudder down the road. As the murderous mogul Henry Waters, who slices down anyone that stands in the way of his town’s redevelopment, Long steals the show once again. His have-at-it fun and eerie eyes provide a manic glee...
- 11/10/2023
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
Warning: This article discusses the ending of “Anatomy of a Fall.”
“Anatomy of a Fall,” the new French mystery film, takes its title directly from “Anatomy of a Murder,” Otto Preminger’s 1959 courtroom drama starring Jimmy Stewart. Director Justine Triet saw the Preminger classic about a decade ago and kept the film in her mind as she was developing her own modern tale of intrigue, secrets, and marriage on trial.
And similar to the 1959 movie, “Anatomy of a Fall” does come to a conclusion, in a way, at least in the courtroom. A verdict is delivered. The Palme d’Or winner at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, the film ends with the character of Sandra (Sandra Hüller) being acquitted for the murder of her husband. At the movie’s start, he dies off-screen after plunging from a balcony at the chalet where they live with their son Daniel (Milo Machado-Graner...
“Anatomy of a Fall,” the new French mystery film, takes its title directly from “Anatomy of a Murder,” Otto Preminger’s 1959 courtroom drama starring Jimmy Stewart. Director Justine Triet saw the Preminger classic about a decade ago and kept the film in her mind as she was developing her own modern tale of intrigue, secrets, and marriage on trial.
And similar to the 1959 movie, “Anatomy of a Fall” does come to a conclusion, in a way, at least in the courtroom. A verdict is delivered. The Palme d’Or winner at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, the film ends with the character of Sandra (Sandra Hüller) being acquitted for the murder of her husband. At the movie’s start, he dies off-screen after plunging from a balcony at the chalet where they live with their son Daniel (Milo Machado-Graner...
- 11/1/2023
- by Joe McGovern
- The Wrap
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It seems a little trite and obvious to put into words, but the film "Oppenheimer" had to be made carefully when it came to the movie's optics. The ostensible protagonist of the biopic is J. Robert Oppenheimer (played by Cillian Murphy), a man whose life and legacy are fraught with numerous political, social, and moral issues that cannot be easily resolved in reality, let alone a single motion picture. Added to that is writer/director Christopher Nolan's unique approach to telling his story, which revolves around adopting an intensely subjective point of view, an aesthetic that began with the movie's script being written in the first person (from Oppenheimer's perspective) and continued as far as the depiction of a number of surreal, dreamlike visions that Oppenheimer experiences during the film.
In adapting the book "American Prometheus" by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin,...
It seems a little trite and obvious to put into words, but the film "Oppenheimer" had to be made carefully when it came to the movie's optics. The ostensible protagonist of the biopic is J. Robert Oppenheimer (played by Cillian Murphy), a man whose life and legacy are fraught with numerous political, social, and moral issues that cannot be easily resolved in reality, let alone a single motion picture. Added to that is writer/director Christopher Nolan's unique approach to telling his story, which revolves around adopting an intensely subjective point of view, an aesthetic that began with the movie's script being written in the first person (from Oppenheimer's perspective) and continued as far as the depiction of a number of surreal, dreamlike visions that Oppenheimer experiences during the film.
In adapting the book "American Prometheus" by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin,...
- 10/26/2023
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
Watch out! This post contains spoilers.
Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" takes a true-crime narrative and flips it on its head. The movie, based on author David Grann's nonfiction book of the same name, debuted in theaters on Oct. 20 and tells the true story of the murders of Osage Indians and the FBI investigation that finally identified some of the culprits. The involvement of the FBI - which was then just called the Bureau of Investigation - is a major part of the book; Grann's tome is subtitled "The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI." The book is a well-crafted true-crime story, and finding out who committed the murders is a shocking twist, but Scorsese takes a different perspective on the same material.
The identity of the killers is immediately apparent in the film. The FBI doesn't come into the picture until the movie's last act.
Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" takes a true-crime narrative and flips it on its head. The movie, based on author David Grann's nonfiction book of the same name, debuted in theaters on Oct. 20 and tells the true story of the murders of Osage Indians and the FBI investigation that finally identified some of the culprits. The involvement of the FBI - which was then just called the Bureau of Investigation - is a major part of the book; Grann's tome is subtitled "The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI." The book is a well-crafted true-crime story, and finding out who committed the murders is a shocking twist, but Scorsese takes a different perspective on the same material.
The identity of the killers is immediately apparent in the film. The FBI doesn't come into the picture until the movie's last act.
- 10/20/2023
- by Victoria Edel
- Popsugar.com
It wouldn’t be horror movie season without a couple of trailers for slashers, right? With Eli Roth finally making his “Thanksgiving” trailer from “Grindhouse” a full-blown feature film, it’s safe to assume audiences don’t need another holiday-set slasher this year. Not so fast. Here comes “It’s A Wonderful Knife,” a Christmas slasher that mixes the sub-genre’s formula with the premise of the 1946 holiday classic starring Jimmy Stewart.
Continue reading ‘It’s A Wonderful Knife’ Trailer: Justin Long, Jane Widdop & Joel McHale Star In A Christmas-Set Slasher On November 10 at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘It’s A Wonderful Knife’ Trailer: Justin Long, Jane Widdop & Joel McHale Star In A Christmas-Set Slasher On November 10 at The Playlist.
- 10/6/2023
- by Ned Booth
- The Playlist
It is only appropriate that Sony’s terrific new comedy Dumb Money starts with the Columbia Pictures logo. That was the studio that Frank Capra famously helped build with his movies where the little guy triumphs over the corporate bad guys. Dumb Money is positively Capra-esque in the way it tells its improbable David vs. Goliath story about how an internet geek started a movement that blew up the heretofore loser stock of shopping mall game store GameStop and became the toast of Wall Street, while bankrupting a couple of billionaire hedge funds in the process. It movie had its world premiere tonight at the Toronto Film Festival before its theatrical release later this month.
On its most basic level, Dumb Money hits on the financial frustrations of everyday Americans fed up with the billionaire class, and dreaming of a fantasy to get rich quick themselves. This phenomenon that took...
On its most basic level, Dumb Money hits on the financial frustrations of everyday Americans fed up with the billionaire class, and dreaming of a fantasy to get rich quick themselves. This phenomenon that took...
- 9/9/2023
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
This post contains spoilers for “Wahoo!,” this week’s episode of Reservation Dogs, which is now streaming on Hulu.
Among the great things about Reservation Dogs is that there are no strict storytelling rules. Anything goes in a series which easily toggles between kitchen sink drama, magical realism, and broad comedy, sometimes within the same scene. If an idea fits both the needs of a given story and the series’ larger themes about Indigenous culture, then it’s in, no fuss, no muss. So nobody really worries about why, say,...
Among the great things about Reservation Dogs is that there are no strict storytelling rules. Anything goes in a series which easily toggles between kitchen sink drama, magical realism, and broad comedy, sometimes within the same scene. If an idea fits both the needs of a given story and the series’ larger themes about Indigenous culture, then it’s in, no fuss, no muss. So nobody really worries about why, say,...
- 9/6/2023
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Rollingstone.com
The James Bond saga is about as well-established a film franchise as you can get. But somewhere, there's an alternate timeline in which the first ever Bond movie was directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
Today, there's a lot of discussion surrounding whether or not Christopher Nolan will finally be given a crack the secret agent. Nolan certainly seems up for directing a 007 entry, and has been for quite some time. With the Daniel Craig era drawing to a divisive close in "No Time To Die," there's every chance the revered British filmmaker could bring his cerebral approach to the next Bond outing. Of course, that would require producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson allowing him the complete creative control he demands.
But this isn't the first time a highly-regarded British director with a penchant for meticulous oversight has been touted as the ideal filmmaker to take on England's greatest spy.
Today, there's a lot of discussion surrounding whether or not Christopher Nolan will finally be given a crack the secret agent. Nolan certainly seems up for directing a 007 entry, and has been for quite some time. With the Daniel Craig era drawing to a divisive close in "No Time To Die," there's every chance the revered British filmmaker could bring his cerebral approach to the next Bond outing. Of course, that would require producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson allowing him the complete creative control he demands.
But this isn't the first time a highly-regarded British director with a penchant for meticulous oversight has been touted as the ideal filmmaker to take on England's greatest spy.
- 9/3/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
Betta St. John, who portrayed the lovely island girl Liat in the original Broadway production of South Pacific and starred as a princess alongside Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr in the MGM romantic comedy Dream Wife, has died. She was 93.
St. John died June 23 of natural causes at an assisted living facility in Brighton, England, her son, TV producer Roger Grant, told The Hollywood Reporter.
The California native played one of the survivors of an airline crash, who is chased by a crocodile in Tarzan and the Lost Safari (1957) — the first Tarzan film in 15 years and the first one in color — and then returned for Tarzan the Magnificent (1960). Both films starred Gordon Scott as the King of the Jungle.
St. John also starred with Stewart Granger, Ann Blyth and Robert Taylor in All the Brothers Were Valiant (1953); with Victor Mature, Piper Laurie and Vincent Price in the 3-D adventure Dangerous...
St. John died June 23 of natural causes at an assisted living facility in Brighton, England, her son, TV producer Roger Grant, told The Hollywood Reporter.
The California native played one of the survivors of an airline crash, who is chased by a crocodile in Tarzan and the Lost Safari (1957) — the first Tarzan film in 15 years and the first one in color — and then returned for Tarzan the Magnificent (1960). Both films starred Gordon Scott as the King of the Jungle.
St. John also starred with Stewart Granger, Ann Blyth and Robert Taylor in All the Brothers Were Valiant (1953); with Victor Mature, Piper Laurie and Vincent Price in the 3-D adventure Dangerous...
- 7/7/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Asking an acclaimed actor like Tom Hanks about his favorite movies is like asking Shakespeare for literature recommendations.
The beloved Hollywood everyman has been a constant presence on the big screen for the past four decades, and his hilariously dry supporting turn in Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City” is a reminder that he still has plenty to contribute as a performer. His role in the wildly successful film presents a perfect opportunity to explore the films that shaped Hanks’ tastes.
Hanks has always presented himself as a throwback to an age of kinder, gentler movie stars. So it’s not particularly surprising that his list of favorite movies is full of rock solid Hollywood classics. After listening to the Oscar winner talk about his favorite movies, it becomes clear that Hanks values the kind of timeless storytelling and quality acting that help great films remain relevant centuries after they hit theaters.
The beloved Hollywood everyman has been a constant presence on the big screen for the past four decades, and his hilariously dry supporting turn in Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City” is a reminder that he still has plenty to contribute as a performer. His role in the wildly successful film presents a perfect opportunity to explore the films that shaped Hanks’ tastes.
Hanks has always presented himself as a throwback to an age of kinder, gentler movie stars. So it’s not particularly surprising that his list of favorite movies is full of rock solid Hollywood classics. After listening to the Oscar winner talk about his favorite movies, it becomes clear that Hanks values the kind of timeless storytelling and quality acting that help great films remain relevant centuries after they hit theaters.
- 6/24/2023
- by Marcos Franco
- Indiewire
Exclusive: The skies are cloudy over LA and still thick over NYC today, but for over 1,000 studio and “struck companies” staffers their Black List membership just went dark.
In support of the Writers Guild of America’s over one-month long strike, the Franklin Leonard founded platform has suspended the access that approximately 1,300 have to its services. In addition, the nearly 20-year-old script curation organization has slashed material fees for writers until their battle with the studios and streamers is resolved with a new deal.
“Writers remain the most undervalued constituents of the film and television ecosystem, and it should be unsurprising that the Black List backs them in their pursuit of equitable pay and protections reflecting their vital and economically significant contributions to the industry,” Leonard told Deadline today. “When writers win, the entire industry wins.”
The move to cut costs for scribes from $30 to $20 a month as well as...
In support of the Writers Guild of America’s over one-month long strike, the Franklin Leonard founded platform has suspended the access that approximately 1,300 have to its services. In addition, the nearly 20-year-old script curation organization has slashed material fees for writers until their battle with the studios and streamers is resolved with a new deal.
“Writers remain the most undervalued constituents of the film and television ecosystem, and it should be unsurprising that the Black List backs them in their pursuit of equitable pay and protections reflecting their vital and economically significant contributions to the industry,” Leonard told Deadline today. “When writers win, the entire industry wins.”
The move to cut costs for scribes from $30 to $20 a month as well as...
- 6/9/2023
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Courtroom movies tend to have a winning formula that appeals to our sense of justice. We never want to see innocent people sent down for crimes they didn’t commit, so a reliable story can usually be built around the process of defending unlucky characters in a court of law. But because so much of that drama transpires on a single set, making a really good courtroom movie requires certain elements to work spectacularly.
You’ll need a great, charismatic lawyer whose life, career, or reputation depends on winning the case. Then there are your defendants, who must be at least a little relatable. After all, any one of us can get mixed up in some unfortunate circumstances given the right series of events! Then there are the witnesses, who must be cajoled into telling the truth, and the opposing counsel, who is often as antagonistic as the injustice itself.
You’ll need a great, charismatic lawyer whose life, career, or reputation depends on winning the case. Then there are your defendants, who must be at least a little relatable. After all, any one of us can get mixed up in some unfortunate circumstances given the right series of events! Then there are the witnesses, who must be cajoled into telling the truth, and the opposing counsel, who is often as antagonistic as the injustice itself.
- 6/7/2023
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
Best TV Movie
Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas (NBC)
Earlier critic-proof Dolly Christmas specials were nominated in 2017, 2020 and 2021 (2021’s won). Given her popularity (there’s a reason her name is in the title), this one, shot at Dollywood with Willie Nelson among the guests, should wind up with a nom, too.
Prey (Hulu)
The fifth installment of the Predator franchise, a $65 million prequel, debuted at Comic-Con, registered at 93 percent on Rt and attracted more views in its first three days than any other Hulu offering ever en route to best TV movie Critics Choice and Producers Guild noms.
Reno 911!: It’s a Wonderful Heist (Comedy Central)
The same gang from the series that ended in 2009 is hoping their third spinoff film will be their second to land a nom (after 2022’s Reno 911!: The Hunt for QAnon). It’s a Christmastime parody of It’s a Wonderful Life, with Lt.
Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas (NBC)
Earlier critic-proof Dolly Christmas specials were nominated in 2017, 2020 and 2021 (2021’s won). Given her popularity (there’s a reason her name is in the title), this one, shot at Dollywood with Willie Nelson among the guests, should wind up with a nom, too.
Prey (Hulu)
The fifth installment of the Predator franchise, a $65 million prequel, debuted at Comic-Con, registered at 93 percent on Rt and attracted more views in its first three days than any other Hulu offering ever en route to best TV movie Critics Choice and Producers Guild noms.
Reno 911!: It’s a Wonderful Heist (Comedy Central)
The same gang from the series that ended in 2009 is hoping their third spinoff film will be their second to land a nom (after 2022’s Reno 911!: The Hunt for QAnon). It’s a Christmastime parody of It’s a Wonderful Life, with Lt.
- 6/4/2023
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jason Segel is opening up about his time spent on “How I Met Your Mother”, revealing that he was “really unhappy” with his life and career during the final years of the show. The 43-year-old actor, and current star of the Apple TV+ series “Shrinking”, reflected on the hit CBS sitcom during a roundtable interview for The Hollywood Reporter.
“There was a period in my life and career around the last couple of years of ‘How I Met Your Mother’ where things were firing in both movies and TV, and everyone was telling me how well it was going and I was really unhappy,” he revealed.
About a father named Ted recounting his adventures of living with his friends in New York City, “How I Met Your Mother” ran for nine seasons from 2005 to 2014. During that time, Segel played Marshall Eriksen alongside Josh Radnor as Ted Mosby, Alyson Hannigan as Lily Aldrin,...
“There was a period in my life and career around the last couple of years of ‘How I Met Your Mother’ where things were firing in both movies and TV, and everyone was telling me how well it was going and I was really unhappy,” he revealed.
About a father named Ted recounting his adventures of living with his friends in New York City, “How I Met Your Mother” ran for nine seasons from 2005 to 2014. During that time, Segel played Marshall Eriksen alongside Josh Radnor as Ted Mosby, Alyson Hannigan as Lily Aldrin,...
- 6/3/2023
- by Melissa Romualdi
- ET Canada
When hanging out with your nerdy pals, there's a chance that one question will enter the conversation: "Which is the superior Hollywood Chris?" Most of your friends will be "Saturday Night Live"-avoiding Chris Evans fans since he's the All-American hunk, while others might side with "Extraction" franchise star Chris Hemsworth, as he's the perfect blend of a Golden Retriever and a Ken doll. And though there are other stars named Chris to choose from (including the dinosaur-fighting Pratt), there's one Chris that deserves the most respect: Chris Pine.
With his classic-meets-avant-garde aesthetic, Pine represents those who color outside the lines, enjoy lavender lattes with an extra shot of espresso, and listen to live recordings of Fleetwood Mac on rainy days. He's a performer who is immensely talented as an actor but also possesses the kind of dreamy singing voice that is impossible not to swoon over. Plus, Pine isn't afraid to laugh at himself,...
With his classic-meets-avant-garde aesthetic, Pine represents those who color outside the lines, enjoy lavender lattes with an extra shot of espresso, and listen to live recordings of Fleetwood Mac on rainy days. He's a performer who is immensely talented as an actor but also possesses the kind of dreamy singing voice that is impossible not to swoon over. Plus, Pine isn't afraid to laugh at himself,...
- 5/20/2023
- by Dalin Rowell
- Slash Film
James Stewart once remarked that if you’re any good as a movie actor then audiences will follow you because what you’re doing is giving them “little moments of time that they’ll never forget.”
That’s generally true. In fact, my moviegoing philosophy is based on the conversation Stewart had with Peter Bogdanovich eons ago that elicited that quote. I seek the little moments that will stay with me, even in bad movies.
It came to mind as Thierry Fremaux hailed Harrison Ford as one of the greatest film actors in screen history during a tribute at the Cannes Film Festival ahead of the world premiere of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
The festival presented a reel of Ford’s greatest hits and, in an instant, I was a teenager again queuing up at the Richmond Odeon to see American Graffiti. A year later it was...
That’s generally true. In fact, my moviegoing philosophy is based on the conversation Stewart had with Peter Bogdanovich eons ago that elicited that quote. I seek the little moments that will stay with me, even in bad movies.
It came to mind as Thierry Fremaux hailed Harrison Ford as one of the greatest film actors in screen history during a tribute at the Cannes Film Festival ahead of the world premiere of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
The festival presented a reel of Ford’s greatest hits and, in an instant, I was a teenager again queuing up at the Richmond Odeon to see American Graffiti. A year later it was...
- 5/19/2023
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
Gisèle Galante recalls a recent evening in which she and her husband first watched Dodge City, the 1939 Michael Curtiz-directed western starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. As de Havilland’s daughter, born 17 years after that film’s premiere, Galante was struck equally by her mother’s beauty and her performance: “I had never seen it before, but she was so, so pretty,” she tells The Hollywood Reporter. “And even though it wasn’t what you would call a meaty role, she was excellent. There’s still so much for me to discover, more of my mother’s films that I have not seen.”
For many classic-film fans, de Havilland’s death in July 2020 at the age of 104 signified the end of an era, the passing of perhaps the last great star of Hollywood’s golden years. Galante notes that she’s had those fans in mind while planning...
For many classic-film fans, de Havilland’s death in July 2020 at the age of 104 signified the end of an era, the passing of perhaps the last great star of Hollywood’s golden years. Galante notes that she’s had those fans in mind while planning...
- 5/11/2023
- by Laurie Brookins
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A couple months after spotlighting the world’s greatest actress, the Criterion Channel have taken a logical next step towards America’s greatest actress. May (or: next week) will bring an eleven-film celebration of Jennifer Jason Leigh, highlights including Verhoeven’s Flesh + Blood, Miami Blues, Alan Rudolph’s Mrs. Parker, her directorial debut The Anniversary Party, and Synecdoche, New York, and a special introduction from Leigh. Another actor’s showcase localizes directorial collaborations: Jimmy Stewart’s time with Anthony Mann, an eight-title series boasting the likes of Winchester ’73 and The Man from Laramie. Two more: a survey of ’80s Asian-American cinema (Chan Is Missing being the best-known) and 14 movies by Seijun Suzuki.
That would be enough for one month (or two), but No Bears and Cette maison will have their streaming premieres, while Criterion Editions offers the Infernal Affairs trilogy (plus its packed set), Days of Heaven, and the aforementioned Chan Is Missing.
That would be enough for one month (or two), but No Bears and Cette maison will have their streaming premieres, while Criterion Editions offers the Infernal Affairs trilogy (plus its packed set), Days of Heaven, and the aforementioned Chan Is Missing.
- 4/20/2023
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Welcome to The B-Side, from The Film Stage. Here we talk about movie stars! Not the movies that made them famous or kept them famous, but the ones that they made in between.
And today we talk to the legend Richard Dreyfuss, currently starring in the film Sweetwater, in theaters now. Written and directed by Martin Guigui, the film tells the true story of basketball icon Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, the first African-American player to sign an NBA contract. Dreyfuss plays league president Maurice Podoloff, stuck between a desire to integrate the sport and a perceived need to keep the more racist team owners happy.
We chat with Dreyfuss about the new film and a select few of his lesser-seen gems. Among them are the Steven Spielberg 1989 romance Always, the gambling comedy Let It Ride, and the Sidney Lumet drama Night Falls on Manhattan.
We marvel at Dreyfuss’ ability to play complex characters,...
And today we talk to the legend Richard Dreyfuss, currently starring in the film Sweetwater, in theaters now. Written and directed by Martin Guigui, the film tells the true story of basketball icon Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, the first African-American player to sign an NBA contract. Dreyfuss plays league president Maurice Podoloff, stuck between a desire to integrate the sport and a perceived need to keep the more racist team owners happy.
We chat with Dreyfuss about the new film and a select few of his lesser-seen gems. Among them are the Steven Spielberg 1989 romance Always, the gambling comedy Let It Ride, and the Sidney Lumet drama Night Falls on Manhattan.
We marvel at Dreyfuss’ ability to play complex characters,...
- 4/20/2023
- by Dan Mecca
- The Film Stage
On the press tour for this season of Succession, Brian Cox has been saying something shocking. “Logan Roy,” he has suggested, “is a very misunderstood entity because he’s a lonely man… And his big Achilles heel is that he loves his children.” Reading this, I was determined to keep Cox’s observation in my mind as I embarked on the new series, even though try as I might, I could not think of many obvious examples of the Roy patriarch’s love being demonstrated in the previous three seasons of the show.
I suppose I had imagined that, like many very wealthy people, Logan saw his children as a possible investment – that like a historic King, he had hoped to produce conquerors and warriors and tacticians, and had accordingly been extremely disappointed to end up saddled with an impotent sex goblin, a quasi-liberal girlboss, an extremely sad white rapper,...
I suppose I had imagined that, like many very wealthy people, Logan saw his children as a possible investment – that like a historic King, he had hoped to produce conquerors and warriors and tacticians, and had accordingly been extremely disappointed to end up saddled with an impotent sex goblin, a quasi-liberal girlboss, an extremely sad white rapper,...
- 4/4/2023
- by Philippa Snow
- The Independent - TV
On the press tour for this season of Succession, Brian Cox has been saying something shocking. “Logan Roy,” he has suggested, “is a very misunderstood entity because he’s a lonely man… And his big Achilles heel is that he loves his children.” Reading this, I was determined to keep Cox’s observation in my mind as I embarked on the new series, even though try as I might, I could not think of many obvious examples of the Roy patriarch’s love being demonstrated in the previous three seasons of the show.
I suppose I had imagined that, like many very wealthy people, Logan saw his children as a possible investment – that like a historic King, he had hoped to produce conquerors and warriors and tacticians, and had accordingly been extremely disappointed to end up saddled with an impotent sex goblin, a quasi-liberal girlboss, an extremely sad white rapper,...
I suppose I had imagined that, like many very wealthy people, Logan saw his children as a possible investment – that like a historic King, he had hoped to produce conquerors and warriors and tacticians, and had accordingly been extremely disappointed to end up saddled with an impotent sex goblin, a quasi-liberal girlboss, an extremely sad white rapper,...
- 4/3/2023
- by Philippa Snow
- The Independent - TV
Vertigo — the Alfred Hitchcock film long considered one of Hollywood’s best — may be getting a remake.
Paramount Pictures has acquired the remake rights to the 1958 movie, which starred Jimmy Stewart as an ex-detective hired to follow a friend’s wife (Kim Novak) who has been acting erratically.
Robert Downey Jr. is eyeing the Stewart role, with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight tapped to write the screenplay. Downey and wife Susan Downey are attached to produce the project via Team Downey, with John Davis and John Fox via Davis Entertainment.
Paramount released the original film, which was based on the French novel D’entre les morts. Several Hitchcock films have been remade over the years, including Psycho and Rear Window.
Downey will next be seen in the Christopher Nolan movie Oppenheimer. He is repped by WME, Joy Fehily and Hansen Jacobson. Knight, repped by CAA and Nelson Davis, was recently...
Paramount Pictures has acquired the remake rights to the 1958 movie, which starred Jimmy Stewart as an ex-detective hired to follow a friend’s wife (Kim Novak) who has been acting erratically.
Robert Downey Jr. is eyeing the Stewart role, with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight tapped to write the screenplay. Downey and wife Susan Downey are attached to produce the project via Team Downey, with John Davis and John Fox via Davis Entertainment.
Paramount released the original film, which was based on the French novel D’entre les morts. Several Hitchcock films have been remade over the years, including Psycho and Rear Window.
Downey will next be seen in the Christopher Nolan movie Oppenheimer. He is repped by WME, Joy Fehily and Hansen Jacobson. Knight, repped by CAA and Nelson Davis, was recently...
- 3/23/2023
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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