If you saw "The Fabelmans" — and judging from the film's underwhelming box office, you probably didn't — you might think you know exactly how Steven Spielberg broke into show business. Snap Wexley hired him to work on the hit TV sitcom "Hogan's Heroes," he got great advice from an ornery John Ford, and the rest was history.
Except Steven Spielberg didn't really work on "Hogan's Heroes," and he didn't get advice from John Ford when he was actually starting out in the industry. Instead, he met the legendary director of "How Green Was My Valley" and "The Searchers" when he was only 15 years old. It turns out that Steven Spielberg isn't really above smudging the truth a bit in his movies, if he thinks the truth gets in the way of a good story.
And like all good stories, "The Fabelmans" had to end somewhere. It didn't take "Sammy Fabelman" into his actual,...
Except Steven Spielberg didn't really work on "Hogan's Heroes," and he didn't get advice from John Ford when he was actually starting out in the industry. Instead, he met the legendary director of "How Green Was My Valley" and "The Searchers" when he was only 15 years old. It turns out that Steven Spielberg isn't really above smudging the truth a bit in his movies, if he thinks the truth gets in the way of a good story.
And like all good stories, "The Fabelmans" had to end somewhere. It didn't take "Sammy Fabelman" into his actual,...
- 10/7/2023
- by William Bibbiani
- Slash Film
Apologies to André Bazin, Pauline Kael, and Andrew Sarris, but Roger Ebert was unquestionably the most influential film critic of the cinema's first century. In fact, unless the media landscape is drastically altered over the next few years, he may also wind up being the last film critic who ever truly mattered.
I do not mean this as a put-down of my colleagues. If you actually read film criticism nowadays, you know that there's never been a more thrillingly diverse assortment of voices in this too-cluttered arena. Manohla Dargis, Justin Chang, Scott Tobias, Angelica Jade Bastién, and Bilge Ebiri are must-reads in this house, and I could name a few dozen more who are reliably incisive and original in their thinking. I don't have time to read all of the critics I respect, which is both a frustrating and good thing.
But be honest, do you actually read film criticism nowadays?...
I do not mean this as a put-down of my colleagues. If you actually read film criticism nowadays, you know that there's never been a more thrillingly diverse assortment of voices in this too-cluttered arena. Manohla Dargis, Justin Chang, Scott Tobias, Angelica Jade Bastién, and Bilge Ebiri are must-reads in this house, and I could name a few dozen more who are reliably incisive and original in their thinking. I don't have time to read all of the critics I respect, which is both a frustrating and good thing.
But be honest, do you actually read film criticism nowadays?...
- 9/7/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
The effect of The Simpsons on pop culture can’t be overstated. In the early nineties, the show tapped into the cultural zeitgeist in a way few others had before. Indeed, no other cartoon show could reasonably emulate it- but Hollywood couldn’t help but try. Capitol Critters, Family Dog, and Fish Police were just a few of the shows that tried to be “the new Simpsons.” Still, the only one that really came close was ABC’s The Critic, starring the voice of Jon Lovitz as Jay Sherman, perhaps the world’s least-loved film critic and the subject of this Gone But Not Forgotten episode.
Unlike other wannabe animated hits, The Critic could boast a legit connection to The Simpsons, with it also being a production of James L. Brooks’ Gracie Films. At the same time, creators Al Jean and Mike Reiss had been showrunners on The Simpsons during...
Unlike other wannabe animated hits, The Critic could boast a legit connection to The Simpsons, with it also being a production of James L. Brooks’ Gracie Films. At the same time, creators Al Jean and Mike Reiss had been showrunners on The Simpsons during...
- 7/10/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
What is it about serpents and seduction? Is it the psychic residue of Sunday school and Adam and Eve, or is it that the ‘s’ sound is just so sexy? Not being much into organized anything leads me to believe the latter, and The Snake Woman (1961) bears this out in a short, simple way with surprisingly little in the way of exploitation; regardless, it’s a film that should leave viewers charmed (insert Gene Shalit gif here).
Released by United Artists in late April, The Snake Woman was a second biller in the U.S., riding the bottom end below Dr. Blood’s Coffin, released the same year from the same filmmaking team (producer George Fowler and director Sidney J. Furie). Costing under $20,000, it made money but not many friends, with critics deriding its barebones plot and poverty row budget; all true, but it also is something that most critics...
Released by United Artists in late April, The Snake Woman was a second biller in the U.S., riding the bottom end below Dr. Blood’s Coffin, released the same year from the same filmmaking team (producer George Fowler and director Sidney J. Furie). Costing under $20,000, it made money but not many friends, with critics deriding its barebones plot and poverty row budget; all true, but it also is something that most critics...
- 1/18/2020
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
NBC’s Today Show celebrated 25 years of transparency — of the window variety — with a happy video tribute to its trademark see-through studio this morning (watch it below). And no doubt about it: Rockefeller Center’s Studio 1A has been home to, as Today‘s website puts it, “a quarter century of cheering crowds, legendary summer concert performances, wedding proposals, Halloween fun, celebrity chefs, heartwarming moments and everything else under the sun (and occasionally rain or snow)…”
But where in the world is Matt Lauer?
The show’s one-time (and longtime) superstar anchor was fired by NBC in 2017 amidst allegations of sexual harassment, bullying and tales of a button that let Lauer lock his office door without leaving his desk. His departure put an end to lots of things, among them the lighthearted annual “Where In The World” feature that sent Lauer packing for parts unknown.
The anniversary montage – Today moved...
But where in the world is Matt Lauer?
The show’s one-time (and longtime) superstar anchor was fired by NBC in 2017 amidst allegations of sexual harassment, bullying and tales of a button that let Lauer lock his office door without leaving his desk. His departure put an end to lots of things, among them the lighthearted annual “Where In The World” feature that sent Lauer packing for parts unknown.
The anniversary montage – Today moved...
- 6/20/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
The Oscars are looming, in case you hadn’t heard. I spent last evening with a last-minute Oscar lightning round screening of Willem Dafoe’s Best Actor-nominated performance as Vincent Van Gogh in At Eternity’s Gate, and in my best Gene Shalit voice I will tell you to go-go-Gogh grab it at a Redbox near you. Dafoe’s work towers over the other four nominees, and even gives Ethan Hawke’s tortured pastor in First Reformed, my choice for male performance of the year, a run for its money.
But truth be told, I’ve been spending the waning minutes before the Dolby Theater at Hollywood and Highland takes its place as the center of the universe tomorrow night, immersed in decidedly anti-Oscar bait, and if you don’t have any desire to submit yourself to watching Oscars this year you could do much worse than spending time with...
But truth be told, I’ve been spending the waning minutes before the Dolby Theater at Hollywood and Highland takes its place as the center of the universe tomorrow night, immersed in decidedly anti-Oscar bait, and if you don’t have any desire to submit yourself to watching Oscars this year you could do much worse than spending time with...
- 2/24/2019
- by Dennis Cozzalio
- Trailers from Hell
After The Fox
Blu-ray
Kino Lorber
2017 / Color / 2.35 : 1 widescreen / Street Date March 22, 2017
Starring: Peter Sellers, Victor Mature, Martin Balsem, Akim Tamiroff.
Cinematography: Leonida Barboni
Film Editor: Russell Lloyd
Written by Neil Simon and Cesare Zavattini
Produced by John Bryan
Directed by Vittorio De Sica
After The Fox, a sunny mid-sixties farce about con-artists and movie-makers, boasts a powerhouse pedigree featuring leading men Peter Sellers and Victor Mature, a script by Neil Simon and Cesare Zavattini, music by Burt Bacharach, poster art from Frank Frazetta and the legendary director/actor/gambler Vittorio De Sica at the helm.
With such diverse talent on board, the film was somewhat misleadingly promoted as another in the line of 60’s screwball hipster comedies like Casino Royale and What’s New Pussycat. But the result is closer to De Sica’s laid back charmers from the ‘50s, Miracle in Milan and Gold of Naples (in fact,...
Blu-ray
Kino Lorber
2017 / Color / 2.35 : 1 widescreen / Street Date March 22, 2017
Starring: Peter Sellers, Victor Mature, Martin Balsem, Akim Tamiroff.
Cinematography: Leonida Barboni
Film Editor: Russell Lloyd
Written by Neil Simon and Cesare Zavattini
Produced by John Bryan
Directed by Vittorio De Sica
After The Fox, a sunny mid-sixties farce about con-artists and movie-makers, boasts a powerhouse pedigree featuring leading men Peter Sellers and Victor Mature, a script by Neil Simon and Cesare Zavattini, music by Burt Bacharach, poster art from Frank Frazetta and the legendary director/actor/gambler Vittorio De Sica at the helm.
With such diverse talent on board, the film was somewhat misleadingly promoted as another in the line of 60’s screwball hipster comedies like Casino Royale and What’s New Pussycat. But the result is closer to De Sica’s laid back charmers from the ‘50s, Miracle in Milan and Gold of Naples (in fact,...
- 4/2/2017
- by Charlie Largent
- Trailers from Hell
At the turn of the ‘80s, Jamie Lee Curtis was The face of horror; by this point she had already starred in Halloween (1978), and cemented her position with three releases in 1980 alone – The Fog in February, Prom Night in July, and today’s title, Terror Train, in October. It was a banner year for her, and for horror fans alike – well, apart from that snoozy school picture. Terror Train was a great way to end her 1980, and a fitting way to cap off 2016, as it’s a – ta da! – New Year’s Eve movie. Climb aboard for a fun, surprisingly classy ride.
There just aren’t that many horror films that take advantage of the holiday. New Year’s Evil (also 1980) is probably the most well known, and uses the neat conceit of the killer performing a bad deed for every time zone to, sadly, dull effect. Terror Train doesn...
There just aren’t that many horror films that take advantage of the holiday. New Year’s Evil (also 1980) is probably the most well known, and uses the neat conceit of the killer performing a bad deed for every time zone to, sadly, dull effect. Terror Train doesn...
- 12/31/2016
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
“Purity Of Essence”
By Raymond Benson
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is such an iconic motion picture that most readers of Cinema Retro, I would bet, already own a copy of this brilliant keepsake of the 1960s on DVD or Blu-ray. The film has been released several times before, but now it gets the Criterion treatment. Believe me—fans of the movie and of director Stanley Kubrick will still want to get this edition. It is definitely an upgrade in quality and the disk also comes with a plethora of fascinating supplements and some terrific goodies in the packaging.
Unless you’ve haven’t been paying attention to the lists of Great Movies You Should See Before You Die, you know that Dr. Strangelove is the story of how an air force general (Sterling Hayden) goes “a little funny in the head.
By Raymond Benson
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is such an iconic motion picture that most readers of Cinema Retro, I would bet, already own a copy of this brilliant keepsake of the 1960s on DVD or Blu-ray. The film has been released several times before, but now it gets the Criterion treatment. Believe me—fans of the movie and of director Stanley Kubrick will still want to get this edition. It is definitely an upgrade in quality and the disk also comes with a plethora of fascinating supplements and some terrific goodies in the packaging.
Unless you’ve haven’t been paying attention to the lists of Great Movies You Should See Before You Die, you know that Dr. Strangelove is the story of how an air force general (Sterling Hayden) goes “a little funny in the head.
- 6/30/2016
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
13 years ago today, Eminem began what remains his longest stay atop the Billboard Hot 100 when “Lose Yourself” reached No. 1. The rap hit held onto the top spot for 12 weeks. Written during breaks on set while filming “8 Mile,” the song loosely follows the storyline of the leading character’s struggle to break from poverty and launch a rap career. Eminem created an intense and memorable sound for the song with a moody electric guitar riff and his trademark tinkling piano punctuating hip-hop beats. Its stay atop the chart began a day after the theatrical release of “8 Mile.” The track was the first rap song to ever win an Oscar for Best Original Song, beating fellow nominees U2 and Paul Simon. Other notable November 9 happenings in pop culture history: • 1961: Brian Epstein, the Beatles’ famed manager, first saw a performance by the group that would become the Fab Four (though with Pete Best...
- 11/9/2015
- by Emily Rome
- Hitfix
Jason Segel learned Wednesday that things can get pretty sneaky when you're a guest on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
While promoting his new film The End of the Tour, Segel agreed to a game of "Word Sneak," which consisted of Fallon and Segel attempting to slip random words they received on index cards casually into their conversation.
Predictably, laughter ensued.
Fallon, a veteran of the game, seamlessly dropped the word "frankfurter" into conversation when Segel mentioned he came on the show early in Fallon's talk show career.
"Oh, you came on when I was just like a dancing frankfurter running around NBC,...
While promoting his new film The End of the Tour, Segel agreed to a game of "Word Sneak," which consisted of Fallon and Segel attempting to slip random words they received on index cards casually into their conversation.
Predictably, laughter ensued.
Fallon, a veteran of the game, seamlessly dropped the word "frankfurter" into conversation when Segel mentioned he came on the show early in Fallon's talk show career.
"Oh, you came on when I was just like a dancing frankfurter running around NBC,...
- 7/30/2015
- by Jessica Fecteau, @jessfect
- People.com - TV Watch
I don't want to make the posters for "Magic Mike Xxl" a petty eye-candy competition, but sigh. What else should it be? Matt Bomer, the star of USA's "White Collar" and most sex fantasies, gets his turn to shine in a new poster for the salacious sequel. (Who am I, Gene Shalit?) As you can see, he is giving us "porn star Montgomery Clift" in an important way. More like "From Hot To Eternity," am I right? For comparison's sake, here's star Channing Tatum's poster. I'm getting a bit more sex appeal in Bomer's pic. Maybe the next sequel should be called "Magic Matt, Xoxo, Sorry 'Bout It, Channing"? Yes. "Magic Mike Xxl" is out July 1.
- 4/20/2015
- by Louis Virtel
- Hitfix
Considered amongst the few surviving ancient novels as one of the best depictions of the wild debauchery that seized early Roman society, Petronius’s episodically fractured text The Satyricon tells the tale of Encolpius and his friend and occasional lover Ascyltus, a pair of former gladiators, as they venture through a society rife with overindulgence, sexual proclivity and flippant violence, rotating in form and tone from serious to silly, poetic narrative prose to lyrical verse throughout. Fellini Satyricon, Federico Fellini’s extremely loose adaptation of Petronius’s novel, takes this already loose narrative form and applies the structure as a lens for interpreting the history of antiquity itself – vividly alien, wholly broken and humanly detached from our own worldly norms. The result is a film that, in its unleashed inhibitions, leaves us as an audience in awe of its cinematic freedom, yet at odds with the tale as an empathetic journey through time.
- 2/24/2015
- by Jordan M. Smith
- IONCINEMA.com
Review: Sydney Pollack's "Tootsie" (1982) Starring Dustin Hoffman; Criterion Blu-ray Special Edition
"That Is One Nutty Hospital..."
By Raymond Benson
Comedy fans can now officially rejoice! The Criterion Collection has produced a fabulous Blu-ray edition of Sydney Pollack’s outstanding laugh riot, Tootsie, although one could safely say the picture not only belongs to Pollack, but to Dustin Hoffman, the movie’s star. It was his baby all the way, from its conception to its final, brilliantly written, acted, and directed finish. The American Film Institute voted Tootsie to be the Number 2 best comedy of all time (after Some Like it Hot, coincidentally another film in which men dress up as women!); whether or not you agree with that ranking, you have to admit it is a virtual lesson in how to make a good, funny movie.
The story is already well-known: struggling middle-aged actor Michael Dorsey (Hoffman) decides to dress up as a woman to audition for a soap opera, and...
By Raymond Benson
Comedy fans can now officially rejoice! The Criterion Collection has produced a fabulous Blu-ray edition of Sydney Pollack’s outstanding laugh riot, Tootsie, although one could safely say the picture not only belongs to Pollack, but to Dustin Hoffman, the movie’s star. It was his baby all the way, from its conception to its final, brilliantly written, acted, and directed finish. The American Film Institute voted Tootsie to be the Number 2 best comedy of all time (after Some Like it Hot, coincidentally another film in which men dress up as women!); whether or not you agree with that ranking, you have to admit it is a virtual lesson in how to make a good, funny movie.
The story is already well-known: struggling middle-aged actor Michael Dorsey (Hoffman) decides to dress up as a woman to audition for a soap opera, and...
- 12/30/2014
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Yesterday we ran a story on some of Robin Williams’ most under appreciated performances. But as the remembrances keep rolling in and as new, gruesome details about his suicide become apparent, it became clear that Williams didn’t just have depth in his filmography; he was an actor and performer who displayed worlds of expression and moved so many in remarkable and distinct ways.
Rather than ask our staff to rattle off more of their favorites, we asked them to recall Williams’ personality and the legacy his work left on their lives. We’re looking at each side of his many faces as a comedian, a movie star, a voice actor and a true character, offering our final goodbye to a man who gave us so much.
Zany, Charismatic Exuberance
Say what you will about Robin Williams’ quiet, dramatic abilities or his subtle grace notes of acting, but Williams at...
Rather than ask our staff to rattle off more of their favorites, we asked them to recall Williams’ personality and the legacy his work left on their lives. We’re looking at each side of his many faces as a comedian, a movie star, a voice actor and a true character, offering our final goodbye to a man who gave us so much.
Zany, Charismatic Exuberance
Say what you will about Robin Williams’ quiet, dramatic abilities or his subtle grace notes of acting, but Williams at...
- 8/13/2014
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
Remember when we were growing up? We were Lucky if we got a decent animated film once a year in the ’80s and we spent most of our Saturday mornings watching total junk that now passes as nostalgia. We can say that music, film, or even literature was better when we younger. Animation? No way. Just take a look at four recent releases of the animated form that perfectly show the breadth and remarkable quality of the medium (and, yes, animation is a “form,” not a “genre.”)
The two best animated films of 2014 happen to come out on the same day on Blu-ray, tomorrow, June 17, 2014. One was even nominated for the Oscar this year (but not released domestically) and the other is likely to Win the Oscar next year (unless “The Box Trolls” lives up to my sky-high expectations). One has already been seen by millions of people around the...
The two best animated films of 2014 happen to come out on the same day on Blu-ray, tomorrow, June 17, 2014. One was even nominated for the Oscar this year (but not released domestically) and the other is likely to Win the Oscar next year (unless “The Box Trolls” lives up to my sky-high expectations). One has already been seen by millions of people around the...
- 6/16/2014
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
"Truly remarkable" is how our own Jason Gorber described Life Itself, a documentary about film critic Roger Ebert that has been warmly received since it debuted at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. Directed by Steve James, Life Itself tracks the career of the Pulitzer Prize-winner, his ups and downs, his competitive relationship with fellow film critic Gene Shalit, and his battle with the disease that ultimately took his life. It's heading to select theaters in the U.S. on July 4, when it will also be available to watch via various Video On Demand platforms. The first trailer has been released, featuring the aforementioned quote by Mr. Gorber, and it's quite a good appetizer. Check it out below. ...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 5/21/2014
- Screen Anarchy
“Mrs. Doubtfire” will cook and clean again at some point in the future, so NBC's “Today” celebrated “Throwback Thursday” by showing viewers a vintage interview with Robin Williams explaining how he created the iconic character. The comedian cracked up former “Today” critic Gene Shalit in 1993 while explaining that the prosthetic makeup he wore informed the character, which continued evolving with the elaborate costume. See photos: 49 Summer Movies on Our Radar: From ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ to Tina Fey's Next Comedy At one point, Williams was inspired by “Wizard of Oz” star Margaret Hamilton's Wicked Witch, until a fake chin led him toward U.
- 4/17/2014
- by Greg Gilman
- The Wrap
Robin Williams is heading back to the big screen as Mrs. Doubtfire for a sequel with director Chris Columbus and Elf scribe David Berenbaum attached to the project. But what does it take to complete the actor's transformation? Photos: Cameos in Prequels, Reboots and Remakes While sharing the news of the THR exclusive, Thursday's Today broadcast aired a lively 1993 interview with Robin Williams in which the actor told Gene Shalit of the parts necessary to create the beloved character: the nose of Margaret Hamilton (who played the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz), a Margaret Thatcher-
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- 4/17/2014
- by Ashley Lee
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It's amazing to see how far Christian Bale has come in his career, but it was bound to happen. He's always been an amazing actor. One of his first major roles was in Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun, which is one of my favorite movies of all time. This is one of Bale's first interviews ever which was conducted around the time he made the film, in 1987. The person interviewing him is Gene Shalit. Thanks to Reddit user punisher2404.
- 1/12/2014
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Frank Oz directed Little Shop of Horrors, What About Bob?, The Score and Death at a Funeral. But he's still best known for his work with Jim Henson as the human behind Miss Piggy, the Cookie Monster and many more Muppets. Oz was also the human behind Yoda. Therefore, Yoda is a Muppet. It's a simple line of logic, really. At least if you're Gene Shalit, that is. The below dose of nostalgia is a video of famous The Today Show host, film critic and pun lover Gene Shalit grilling Oz about the Muppet-ness of Yoda, and it's kind of great for a couple reasons. First, why does Shalit care so much about whether or not Yoda is a Muppet? Second, why won't he take no for an answer? And third, remember when people were still allowed to fly on the Concorde jet? Thanks to...
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- 12/23/2013
- by Peter Hall
- Movies.com
Christian Bale will forever be Batman in our eyes, so it's always strange to hear the actor swap accents for his native English pronunciation — as in the case of this 1987 VHS video. The actor is only 13 years old in this clip, interviewed by Gene Shalit during the promotion for Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun. He describes meeting the master director, seeing E.T.'s head in Spielberg's office, and comments on his lack of love for the location shoot in China. Bale played Jim Graham in the film and was chosen from over 4,000 child actors. Even at a young age, Bale was an intense and very serious personality, with clear drive and focus. "I definitely want to do acting now," he comments at the end of the conversation. We'd be...
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- 9/4/2013
- by Alison Nastasi
- Movies.com
Henry Cavill as Superman
Furrier than a speeding bullet, more chiseled than a locomotive, and able to drop the boxer-briefs of millions with a single smile: Gentlemen, our new matinee idol has arrived, and his ride ain’t half bad.
Part Superman, part Superman II, part Thor and part Dieux du Stade calendar shoot, Zack Snyder‘s Man of Steel is a sense-assaulting action epic, a melancholy meditation on identity and outsiderness, and a heaping helping of the summer’s tastiest beefcake. In between setpieces of operatic disaster, this balls-to-the-wall superhero flick manages to balance the aw-shucks idealism of the classic comic books with the brooding gravitas of the modern caped hero.
Michael Shannon as General Zod
From the beginning, it is clear that this is not your father’s Superman movie. In an extended prologue that tells the story of the fate of the planet Krypton and its inhabitants,...
Furrier than a speeding bullet, more chiseled than a locomotive, and able to drop the boxer-briefs of millions with a single smile: Gentlemen, our new matinee idol has arrived, and his ride ain’t half bad.
Part Superman, part Superman II, part Thor and part Dieux du Stade calendar shoot, Zack Snyder‘s Man of Steel is a sense-assaulting action epic, a melancholy meditation on identity and outsiderness, and a heaping helping of the summer’s tastiest beefcake. In between setpieces of operatic disaster, this balls-to-the-wall superhero flick manages to balance the aw-shucks idealism of the classic comic books with the brooding gravitas of the modern caped hero.
Michael Shannon as General Zod
From the beginning, it is clear that this is not your father’s Superman movie. In an extended prologue that tells the story of the fate of the planet Krypton and its inhabitants,...
- 6/13/2013
- by Brian Juergens
- The Backlot
Twitter is abuzz with recollections and thanks as president, peers and the movie world pay tribute
Actors, directors, fellow critics and the Us president have paid tribute to the eminent American film reviewer Roger Ebert, who has died aged 70.
Ebert, who began writing for the Chicago Sun-Times in 1967 and became the first film critic to win the Pulitzer Prize eight years later, died early on Thursday afternoon at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago after revealing a day earlier that he was undergoing radiation treatment for a recurrence of cancer. Many tributes mentioned the critic's famous "thumbs up, thumbs down" verdicts or the familiar "the balcony is closed" sign-off from the long-running Us television film review show At the Movies, which Ebert presented for many years.
Us president Barack Obama said in a statement: "Roger was the movies. When he didn't like a film, he was honest; when he did, he...
Actors, directors, fellow critics and the Us president have paid tribute to the eminent American film reviewer Roger Ebert, who has died aged 70.
Ebert, who began writing for the Chicago Sun-Times in 1967 and became the first film critic to win the Pulitzer Prize eight years later, died early on Thursday afternoon at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago after revealing a day earlier that he was undergoing radiation treatment for a recurrence of cancer. Many tributes mentioned the critic's famous "thumbs up, thumbs down" verdicts or the familiar "the balcony is closed" sign-off from the long-running Us television film review show At the Movies, which Ebert presented for many years.
Us president Barack Obama said in a statement: "Roger was the movies. When he didn't like a film, he was honest; when he did, he...
- 4/5/2013
- by Ben Child
- The Guardian - Film News
Acclaimed film critic Roger Ebert has written many words of praise over the years for celebrated, prolific filmmakers like Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Harvey Weinstein. Now, following the news of Ebert’s death on Thursday, these three filmmakers have their own words of admiration for Ebert.
Spielberg — whom Ebert praised for his enduring “talent and flexibility” in an ever-changing industry — said in a statement that the Chicago Sun-Times critic “wrote with passion through a real knowledge of film and film history.” Read his full statement below, which also highlights the success of the multiple television programs Ebert hosted for 23 years (including At the Movies,...
Spielberg — whom Ebert praised for his enduring “talent and flexibility” in an ever-changing industry — said in a statement that the Chicago Sun-Times critic “wrote with passion through a real knowledge of film and film history.” Read his full statement below, which also highlights the success of the multiple television programs Ebert hosted for 23 years (including At the Movies,...
- 4/4/2013
- by Emily Rome
- EW - Inside Movies
(Photos: Warner Bros.)
As fairy tale movies go, Jack the Giant Slayer is pretty middle-of-the-beanstalk. While it may lack a key distinguishing feature that has made certain fairy tale flicks beloved classics (The Princess Bride's witty self-awareness; Legend's visual daring; Labyrinth's enchanting leading lady, David Bowie), it's a handsome, fast-paced, and nimble enough romp through one of bedtime lore's less complicated narratives. Moviegoers looking for a moving or truly awe-inspiring escape might be disappointed, but casual fans of well-staged action, decently-rendered CGI, and stature-indiscriminate sausage parties might want to check it out.
Wait, whah?
It's true: Jack the Giant Slayer may not be the funniest, cleverest, or most rapturous fairy tale movie around, but it is the manliest.
Let's start at the beginning (once upon a time, even), as young farmboy Jack is frightened by a storm and has to be comforted by his hulking but painfully adorable...
As fairy tale movies go, Jack the Giant Slayer is pretty middle-of-the-beanstalk. While it may lack a key distinguishing feature that has made certain fairy tale flicks beloved classics (The Princess Bride's witty self-awareness; Legend's visual daring; Labyrinth's enchanting leading lady, David Bowie), it's a handsome, fast-paced, and nimble enough romp through one of bedtime lore's less complicated narratives. Moviegoers looking for a moving or truly awe-inspiring escape might be disappointed, but casual fans of well-staged action, decently-rendered CGI, and stature-indiscriminate sausage parties might want to check it out.
Wait, whah?
It's true: Jack the Giant Slayer may not be the funniest, cleverest, or most rapturous fairy tale movie around, but it is the manliest.
Let's start at the beginning (once upon a time, even), as young farmboy Jack is frightened by a storm and has to be comforted by his hulking but painfully adorable...
- 3/1/2013
- by brian
- The Backlot
Longtime "Today" show movie critic Gene Shalit is currently facing criminal charges after falling asleep at the wheel and driving his car into the front of a Lenox, Mass. home. No one was hurt, and the homeowners were not present at the time of the crash.
According to the Saratoga Springs, N.Y. paper The Saratogian, Shalit drove his Honda Element into a utility pole, then swerved crashed into the front of a house around 12:30 in the afternoon on Wednesday, Oct. 24. There's minor damage to the facade of the home.
Lenox Police Chief Stephen O'Brien, who was first on the scene after the accident, tells local paper the Berkshire Eagle that Shalit admitted he had fallen asleep at the wheel. He's facing a charge of driving negligently, which could lead to a fine or even a jail sentence of up to two years, and his license could be revoked or suspended,...
According to the Saratoga Springs, N.Y. paper The Saratogian, Shalit drove his Honda Element into a utility pole, then swerved crashed into the front of a house around 12:30 in the afternoon on Wednesday, Oct. 24. There's minor damage to the facade of the home.
Lenox Police Chief Stephen O'Brien, who was first on the scene after the accident, tells local paper the Berkshire Eagle that Shalit admitted he had fallen asleep at the wheel. He's facing a charge of driving negligently, which could lead to a fine or even a jail sentence of up to two years, and his license could be revoked or suspended,...
- 10/26/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
There's a movie out today about a man whose daughter is kidnapped, forcing him to go to great lengths and kick many asses to get her back. It's called Stolen and it stars Nic Cage. And it sounds a hell of a lot like Taken starring Liam Neeson. We can't bash anyone for aping the plot of a recently successful movie. Studios do it all the time. But we will question the decision-making behind stealing the plot then calling the movie Stolen. The only thing easier than making the obvious joke (already made by many) would have been naming the movie something else. To commemorate Stolen's entry into the mockable-movie-title hall of fame, here are some other members, along with examples of their lashings at the hands of pun-happy Gene Shalit wannabes.PaycheckPlot: An engineer (Ben Affleck) tires to piece his life together and elude all the people chasing him...
- 9/14/2012
- by Adam K. Raymond
- Vulture
If you didn't celebrate Stand By Me's 25th anniversary last year like any proud, nostalgic, train-dodging American, I don't think we should meet. It's the definitive Stephen King adaptation, the definitive River Phoenix movie (Take that, Running on Empty!), and the only movie I can think of that is both exceedingly believable and exceedingly sappy. More important, it fulfills my checklist of qualifications for our new feature Best Movie Ever: I can watch it again and again, it's unpretentious, it's funny when it wants to be, and it's real. Ben E. King, your legacy goes on untarnished.
Stand By Me tells the story of four 12-year-old boys in the early '60s who hike for miles along railroad tracks for a chance to glimpse the dead body of one of their classmates, a missing kid who might've been hit by a train. The kids consider it an adventure -- which it is,...
Stand By Me tells the story of four 12-year-old boys in the early '60s who hike for miles along railroad tracks for a chance to glimpse the dead body of one of their classmates, a missing kid who might've been hit by a train. The kids consider it an adventure -- which it is,...
- 4/18/2012
- by virtel
- The Backlot
This spring… all hair will break loose.
The creators of Stache Pag (as in pageant) are inviting mustachioed filmmakers of all shapes and styles to participate in the world’s first film festival devoted entirely to facial hair, the 2012 Stache Film Fest.
The festival, which will be held at Port City Music Hall in Portland, Maine on March 30, is being organized by No Umbrella Media, which described itself as “a group of mustachioed men who… are constantly caressing our moustaches and daydreaming of ways to better celebrate moustaches and maximize the moustache man’s moment of expression.” And it’s...
The creators of Stache Pag (as in pageant) are inviting mustachioed filmmakers of all shapes and styles to participate in the world’s first film festival devoted entirely to facial hair, the 2012 Stache Film Fest.
The festival, which will be held at Port City Music Hall in Portland, Maine on March 30, is being organized by No Umbrella Media, which described itself as “a group of mustachioed men who… are constantly caressing our moustaches and daydreaming of ways to better celebrate moustaches and maximize the moustache man’s moment of expression.” And it’s...
- 2/7/2012
- by Marc Snetiker
- EW.com - PopWatch
The Sundance selection Knuckle, Ian Palmer's documentary about feuding Irish families who engage in illegal bare-knuckle fights to bring honor to their clans, is more than scary: It's angry. The new trailer shows all the hateful grit, bloodied torsos, and familial sanctity you can imagine, and it even throws in a few shots of the children fighting too. The gloves are off, and the intimidation is on. (Who am I, Gene Shalit?) Lock up your sons, and watch the trailer after the jump.
- 9/17/2011
- Movieline
Hello and welcome to the inaugurial edition of Ask the Movies Editor. This is a chance for you, the common man, the flotsam and jetsam of the Internet, to have an audience with me, Jordan Hoffman, an award-winning film producer and internationally respected cineaste. I know, I can hardly believe it myself.
We invite you to send questions about any movie-related topic, be it past, present or future, either by putting it up on our Facebook Wall, hitting me over Twitter or by doing it the way your grandparents would, by sending me an email at jordan@ugo.com.
This being our first go, I have no questions to which I can respond, but I imagine there are many of you thinking quite a bit about The Avengers and what went down at D23. It is, therefore, not much of a stretch to imagine an alternate reality where Ask the...
We invite you to send questions about any movie-related topic, be it past, present or future, either by putting it up on our Facebook Wall, hitting me over Twitter or by doing it the way your grandparents would, by sending me an email at jordan@ugo.com.
This being our first go, I have no questions to which I can respond, but I imagine there are many of you thinking quite a bit about The Avengers and what went down at D23. It is, therefore, not much of a stretch to imagine an alternate reality where Ask the...
- 8/22/2011
- UGO Movies
Your Weekly Source for the Newest Releases to Blu-Ray Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011
Better Off Dead (1985)
Synopsis: Lane Meyer is a depressed teen who loses his girlfriend Beth. Her given reason for breaking up is: “Lane, I think it’d be in my best interest if I dated somebody more popular. Better looking. Drives a nicer car.” Anyway, poor Lane is left alone and thinks up treacherous ways of killing himself. He finally meets a French beauty called Monique and falls for her. Simultaneously, he must endure his mother’s terrible cooking which literally slides off the table and his disgusting next door neighbour Ricky (and his mum) while he prepares for the skiing race of his life – to get his old girlfriend back! (blu-ray.com)
Special Features: Theatrical trailer.
Double Feature: Black Sheep/Tommy Boy (1996/1995)
Synopsis: Black Sheep - A gubernatorial candidate hires a wormy special assistant whose only job...
Better Off Dead (1985)
Synopsis: Lane Meyer is a depressed teen who loses his girlfriend Beth. Her given reason for breaking up is: “Lane, I think it’d be in my best interest if I dated somebody more popular. Better looking. Drives a nicer car.” Anyway, poor Lane is left alone and thinks up treacherous ways of killing himself. He finally meets a French beauty called Monique and falls for her. Simultaneously, he must endure his mother’s terrible cooking which literally slides off the table and his disgusting next door neighbour Ricky (and his mum) while he prepares for the skiing race of his life – to get his old girlfriend back! (blu-ray.com)
Special Features: Theatrical trailer.
Double Feature: Black Sheep/Tommy Boy (1996/1995)
Synopsis: Black Sheep - A gubernatorial candidate hires a wormy special assistant whose only job...
- 8/1/2011
- by Travis Keune
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Episode Number: 7025 (February 21, 2011)
Guests: Eugene Jarecki
Segments: Turmoil in the Middle East & Turmoil in the Middle West, Cheating Death – Ablibalify & Bing Bongavax, Rick Santorum Internet Search
Videos: Monday, February 21, 2011
It was so cute to see Stephen channeling his inner Highlandered Gene Shalit as he punnily talked about the revolutions in the Middle East. On occasion, I have these thoughts of how insane the writer’s room must have been during a certain point in the writing process, and today I had one of those moments when I imagined the writers trying to whittle down the two best side effects for Ablibalify. I don’t remember hearing the Circus version of the ‘Colbert Report’ theme before – is that new?
Before I start watching every show to do the guide, I always get the poll and sketches set up. When I saw the name Santorum, I started laughing even before I realized...
Guests: Eugene Jarecki
Segments: Turmoil in the Middle East & Turmoil in the Middle West, Cheating Death – Ablibalify & Bing Bongavax, Rick Santorum Internet Search
Videos: Monday, February 21, 2011
It was so cute to see Stephen channeling his inner Highlandered Gene Shalit as he punnily talked about the revolutions in the Middle East. On occasion, I have these thoughts of how insane the writer’s room must have been during a certain point in the writing process, and today I had one of those moments when I imagined the writers trying to whittle down the two best side effects for Ablibalify. I don’t remember hearing the Circus version of the ‘Colbert Report’ theme before – is that new?
Before I start watching every show to do the guide, I always get the poll and sketches set up. When I saw the name Santorum, I started laughing even before I realized...
- 2/22/2011
- by DB
- No Fact Zone
A refusal to heed the advice of highbrow cultural critics is nothing new. But when the public can quickly share their own - different - views on Twitter, Facebook, myDigg and other social media, is criticism dead?
● To read critics' responses to this essay and to add your own comments, click here
Late last year there was a confluence of critical opinion in America the likes of which the nation hadn't seen in years. Every single film critic in the traditional media – 350 "best" lists, the ads boast – seemed to anoint The Social Network, director David Fincher's semi-fictionalised account of the founding of Facebook, as the movie of the year, maybe even of the decade. Every single literary critic in the traditional media seemed to agree that Jonathan Franzen's Freedom, his saga of a dysfunctional American family, was the novel of the epoch. And just to make it three for three,...
● To read critics' responses to this essay and to add your own comments, click here
Late last year there was a confluence of critical opinion in America the likes of which the nation hadn't seen in years. Every single film critic in the traditional media – 350 "best" lists, the ads boast – seemed to anoint The Social Network, director David Fincher's semi-fictionalised account of the founding of Facebook, as the movie of the year, maybe even of the decade. Every single literary critic in the traditional media seemed to agree that Jonathan Franzen's Freedom, his saga of a dysfunctional American family, was the novel of the epoch. And just to make it three for three,...
- 1/31/2011
- The Guardian - Film News
Hailee Steinfeld holds her own against Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin in almost every category of True Grit's manliness, but she just can't compete in the mustache competition. NYMag calls Damon's 'stache a "spectacular, instantly iconic, old-timey mustache, which builds on the Coens' proud tradition of decorating their characters with some of the finest nose curtains in all of cinema." But even if his mustache surpasses Bridges' and Brolin's in this Western, he has competition from many Coens characters who preceed him. Check out NYMag's "Stach-o-Meter (which grades on a scale of Zorro to Gene Shalit)".
- 12/23/2010
- Thompson on Hollywood
Filed under: Features, Cinematical
On the Nov. 29 episode of 'The Daily Show', Jon Stewart dedicated a segment to various newscasters using the most deadly of segues to introduce their stories -- the pun. It was a glorious thrashing of cheap writing -- some of which outlined serious subject matter -- designed to make its mouthpieces appear clever. Except nobody looks clever delivering a pun without the wink-wink of its ridiculousness.
The film criticism side of journalism just waved goodbye to "The King of the Pun", Gene Shalit, who left 'The Today Show' just a few weeks before the above episode aired. Where would the medium be today without films like 'Blood Diamond' being referred to as "a gem of a movie," or that 'Bee Movie' "is an A"? Probably better off. Especially since Shalit's brand of criticism is not dead yet, since we can see in...
On the Nov. 29 episode of 'The Daily Show', Jon Stewart dedicated a segment to various newscasters using the most deadly of segues to introduce their stories -- the pun. It was a glorious thrashing of cheap writing -- some of which outlined serious subject matter -- designed to make its mouthpieces appear clever. Except nobody looks clever delivering a pun without the wink-wink of its ridiculousness.
The film criticism side of journalism just waved goodbye to "The King of the Pun", Gene Shalit, who left 'The Today Show' just a few weeks before the above episode aired. Where would the medium be today without films like 'Blood Diamond' being referred to as "a gem of a movie," or that 'Bee Movie' "is an A"? Probably better off. Especially since Shalit's brand of criticism is not dead yet, since we can see in...
- 12/21/2010
- by Erik Childress
- Moviefone
Filed under: Features, Cinematical
On the Nov. 29 episode of 'The Daily Show', Jon Stewart dedicated a segment to various newscasters using the most deadly of segues to introduce their stories -- the pun. It was a glorious thrashing of cheap writing -- some of which outlined serious subject matter -- designed to make its mouthpieces appear clever. Except nobody looks clever delivering a pun without the wink-wink of its ridiculousness.
The film criticism side of journalism just waved goodbye to "The King of the Pun", Gene Shalit, who left 'The Today Show' just a few weeks before the above episode aired. Where would the medium be today without films like 'Blood Diamond' being referred to as "a gem of a movie," or that 'Bee Movie' "is an A"? Probably better off. Especially since Shalit's brand of criticism is not dead yet, since we can see in...
On the Nov. 29 episode of 'The Daily Show', Jon Stewart dedicated a segment to various newscasters using the most deadly of segues to introduce their stories -- the pun. It was a glorious thrashing of cheap writing -- some of which outlined serious subject matter -- designed to make its mouthpieces appear clever. Except nobody looks clever delivering a pun without the wink-wink of its ridiculousness.
The film criticism side of journalism just waved goodbye to "The King of the Pun", Gene Shalit, who left 'The Today Show' just a few weeks before the above episode aired. Where would the medium be today without films like 'Blood Diamond' being referred to as "a gem of a movie," or that 'Bee Movie' "is an A"? Probably better off. Especially since Shalit's brand of criticism is not dead yet, since we can see in...
- 12/21/2010
- by Erik Childress
- Cinematical
Zoners, happy to see you. So glad that we will see Mr C. again soon. *Phew* Yes, this Fsr is a bit late but as they say, better late than never.
So, how was your Thanksgiving, ‘Maricans? Did you get your favorite dishes? Are you still getting your favorites – leftovers abound; just like this past week of reruns.
Here is the sprint up until mid December before the Christmas break. We need to make the most of it. What do you want in your Christmas Stocking? and have You been naughty or nice? Tell all!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Time Traveler’s gray suit with a stunning blue shirt and dark, patterned, watch matching, tie
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Crisp white shirt and sharp “Fox News” suit all highlighted by a beautiful purple, deep blue and white striped necktie
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Handsomely iconic striped, dress shirt with French cuffs heralded by a dashing, last of Fall,...
So, how was your Thanksgiving, ‘Maricans? Did you get your favorite dishes? Are you still getting your favorites – leftovers abound; just like this past week of reruns.
Here is the sprint up until mid December before the Christmas break. We need to make the most of it. What do you want in your Christmas Stocking? and have You been naughty or nice? Tell all!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Time Traveler’s gray suit with a stunning blue shirt and dark, patterned, watch matching, tie
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Crisp white shirt and sharp “Fox News” suit all highlighted by a beautiful purple, deep blue and white striped necktie
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Handsomely iconic striped, dress shirt with French cuffs heralded by a dashing, last of Fall,...
- 11/28/2010
- by Gratefull
- No Fact Zone
It’s been a big week — and not quite in a good way — for Richard Wolstencroft of the Melbourne Underground Film Festival, whose home was raided by Australian police looking for banned film L.A. Zombie. It’s a situation that sucks because it’s happening at all, but good because it’s bringing attention to archaic Australian censorship. The story was written up everywhere from the New York Times to The Advocate. Nicest of all, though, was a personal letter of support from Noah Cowan of the Toronto International Film Festival, which screened the film earlier this year. Jay Hollinsworth created a simply amazing poster mashup of one of the most hackneyed visual cliché’s of all time: Looking down a foreshortened gun barrel. Great job, Jay! Oscars.org has video highlights from the Governor’s Awards, including tributes to Jean-Luc Godard from Haskell Wexler, Vincent Cassel, Phil Robinson and more.
- 11/21/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
A wave of memories and mixed emotions came over me as I read the news of Gene Shalit’s retirement from NBC’s Today Show this week. Shalit’s once robust presence had diminished in recent times, but he was still part of the team after 40 years, and his departure marks yet another loss in the world of movie reviews. Although he had a background in journalism, some people never took him seriously, in part because of his flamboyant appearance, but make no mistake: he’s a smart guy who reached an enormous audience. (He also inspired an imitation by Sctv’s Eugene Levy…...
- 11/15/2010
- Leonard Maltin's Movie Crazy
Forget Conan O'Brien. Last night, Jimmy Fallon and Jeff Goldblum ran away with the late night show when they teamed up with Biz Markie and The Roots for an interpretive rendition of "Just a Friend." Elsewhere, Harrison Ford willingly talked about Star Wars, Cher recalled her famous conquests, Stephen Colbert absorbed the powers of Gene Shalit and Julie Bowen proved that she is a terrible mother.
- 11/12/2010
- Movieline - TVline
November 12, 2010: Film and book critic Gene Shalit is finally ready to step off the pedal. It has been long for the 85 year old, as he retired from NBC’s ‘The Today Show’, where he served as a film critic for the past 41 years. Don’t forget to catch ‘The Today Show’s’ tribute to the legendary critic.
The man has left a mark on the audience with his trademark styling. Be it the mighty handlebar moustache or the colorful bowties, he flaunts a style of his own. He started his career with ‘The Today Show’ on the 15th of January 1973 and since then has become an icon. The dude is famous for his clever talks and excellent use of puns in his statements.
When Shalit was.
The man has left a mark on the audience with his trademark styling. Be it the mighty handlebar moustache or the colorful bowties, he flaunts a style of his own. He started his career with ‘The Today Show’ on the 15th of January 1973 and since then has become an icon. The dude is famous for his clever talks and excellent use of puns in his statements.
When Shalit was.
- 11/12/2010
- by realbollywood
- RealBollywood.com
In 1970, one movie invented the modern disaster film. After grossing more than $100 million at the domestic box office (adjusted for inflation, it made more than any of the "Lord of the Rings"), it spawned three sequels that stretched through the entire decade. But this landmark series is now almost totally forgotten, long eclipsed by the film that so brilliantly spoofed the genre tropes it helped define. In honor of its 40th anniversary, we're looking back at the "Airport" franchise this week, one film at a time. Today, "The Concorde... Airport '79," the rare movie with an ellipsis in the title.
The Concorde... Airport '79
Directed by David Lowell Rich
Nature of Air Emergency: A journalist (Susan Blakely) boards Federation World Airlines' new Concorde plane with documents implicating weapons manufacturer Kevin Harrison (Robert Wagner) in illegal arms deals with America's enemies. He tries to shoot down the Concorde and fails.
The Concorde... Airport '79
Directed by David Lowell Rich
Nature of Air Emergency: A journalist (Susan Blakely) boards Federation World Airlines' new Concorde plane with documents implicating weapons manufacturer Kevin Harrison (Robert Wagner) in illegal arms deals with America's enemies. He tries to shoot down the Concorde and fails.
- 11/11/2010
- by Matt Singer
- ifc.com
Hump Day TV news nibbles for you:
LL Cool J will host the Grammy nominations concert Dec. 1, which will feature the likes of Justin Bieber (squee!), B.o.B., Katy Perry, Miranda Lambert and Bruno Mars. The actual Grammy Awards airs live on Feb. 13. [CBS]
Mustachioed arts critic Gene Shalit will end his 40-plus years career on "Today" on Thursday, Nov. 11. The American icon will be saluted on his final morning program. [NBC]
Taryn Manning's presence on "Hawaii Five-0" has a deeper purpose: Mary's going to get kidnapped and reveal how it's connected to the murder of McGarrett's mom. Hawaii is one bloody paradise. [TV Guide]
Ally Walker's Lifetime pilot "Exit 19" is expanding its family. Single mom and homicide detective Gloria (Walker) gets a partner (Tisha Campbell-Martin) and a recovering alcoholic younger brother (Chris Payne Gilbert). [Deadline]
Syfy's make-up artists reality show "Face Off" has tapped Ve Neill, Glenn Hetrick and Patrick Tatopoulos as judges,...
LL Cool J will host the Grammy nominations concert Dec. 1, which will feature the likes of Justin Bieber (squee!), B.o.B., Katy Perry, Miranda Lambert and Bruno Mars. The actual Grammy Awards airs live on Feb. 13. [CBS]
Mustachioed arts critic Gene Shalit will end his 40-plus years career on "Today" on Thursday, Nov. 11. The American icon will be saluted on his final morning program. [NBC]
Taryn Manning's presence on "Hawaii Five-0" has a deeper purpose: Mary's going to get kidnapped and reveal how it's connected to the murder of McGarrett's mom. Hawaii is one bloody paradise. [TV Guide]
Ally Walker's Lifetime pilot "Exit 19" is expanding its family. Single mom and homicide detective Gloria (Walker) gets a partner (Tisha Campbell-Martin) and a recovering alcoholic younger brother (Chris Payne Gilbert). [Deadline]
Syfy's make-up artists reality show "Face Off" has tapped Ve Neill, Glenn Hetrick and Patrick Tatopoulos as judges,...
- 11/10/2010
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
A fixture at NBC for four decades, .Today. Arts Editor and Critic, Gene Shalit will be leaving the program. Shalit, 85, has reviewed the arts and films and more for 40+ years. On Thursday, November 11, .Today. will celebrate his tenure and salute his work over the decades. Shalit began in 1973 on the Today Show. His likeness also celebrated in many children's shows, from Sesame Street to SpongeBob SquarePants, with animation or puppets featuring his iconic look of a handlebar moustache, fluffy hair and bowties. .Today. Executive Producer Jim Bell said: .Gene is not just a .Today. show treasure but a television legend and an American icon. We salute him for his unprecedented 40-year run on a...
- 11/10/2010
- by April MacIntyre
- Monsters and Critics
I think I can speak for many people when I say that I grew up at least casually watching film critic Gene Shalit reviewing the latest releases on The Today Show. He's just one of those guys that has been around so long that everyone knows about him (and, really, who could forget that face?). The mustachioed critic joined the NBC program as a contributor in 1970 and took over the permanent critic position in 1973. Aside from his unusual looks, Shalit has become famous for his pun-laden reviews, which delight some and infuriate others. But whether you like his brand of mainstream criticism or not, you have to admit that he's given us some memorable moments. His final day will be this Thursday and The Today Show will commemorate the event with a retrospective of his work over the years. Shalit has said that he now plans on pursuing other activities "including publishing,...
- 11/10/2010
- by Aaron
- FilmJunk
Update: A tribute to Gene Shalit will air on Thursday on Today. Gene Shalit will be leaving NBC's Today show where he has been a fixture for the past 40 years. Shalit will make his final appearance (for now) on the top-rated morning program on Thursday. Shalit joined Today in 1970 as a regular contributor until he replaced Joe Garagiola in 1973 as arts editor and critic focusing on movie reviews and celebrity interviews. "Gene is not just a ‘Today’ show treasure but a television legend and an American icon," Today executive producer Jim Bell said. "We salute him for his unprecedented 40-year run on a single television program, a feat unlikely to ever be matched." Said Shalit, "It's enough already."...
- 11/10/2010
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
It's a sad day in film culture: After 40 years of raining puns, ridicule and unabashed blurb-addled ecstasy on morning-tv viewers across America, movie critic Gene Shalit is packing up his bow tie and retiring from Today. Shalit made the announcement in a press release, adding that his future plans "embrace publishing, the Internet, radio and commercials." Are you thinking what I'm thinking? No, not "Good luck." More like, "Job opening!"...
- 11/9/2010
- Movieline
The man, the hair, the hyperbole...is saying goodbye to TV. Gene Shalit, the pun-loving film critic and author with the famous handlebar mustache, is calling it quits after nearly four decades on NBC's Today show, effective Nov. 11. Shalit, 85, confirmed his retirement in a pithy statement released by his publicist, saying "it's enough already," adding that after years of offering up advertising-friendly sound bites for movie trailers, he's moving on to "pursue other activities" in publishing, radio, commercials and the Internet. "The Mustache" joined Today in 1973. During his tenure, he critiqued movies and conducted scores of celebrity interviews while working alongside...
- 11/9/2010
- E! Online
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