Tom Cruise’s Top Gun is one of the legendary actor’s earliest landmark projects that ended up thrusting him into the mainstream. Recognized as arguably the biggest action star in Hollywood since a decade or two, Top Gun is still seen as one of his most stellar projects yet.
The 1986-release recently completed its 38th year of existence, bringing fans a sense of nostalgia to the time when the now 61-year-old broke into the industry as a charming, baby-faced action star.
Tom Cruise in Top Gun. | Columbia Pictures
Regardless, as it turns out, the Tony Scott-directorial had its fair share of hiccups during the production process. Among them, was the fact that Charlotte Blackwood’s character, Kirsten Lindstrom, was initially shown as a stereotypical ‘classic bimbo,’ instead of the aviator instructor that she was eventually transformed into.
That was all thanks to Dawn Steel, who was the first...
The 1986-release recently completed its 38th year of existence, bringing fans a sense of nostalgia to the time when the now 61-year-old broke into the industry as a charming, baby-faced action star.
Tom Cruise in Top Gun. | Columbia Pictures
Regardless, as it turns out, the Tony Scott-directorial had its fair share of hiccups during the production process. Among them, was the fact that Charlotte Blackwood’s character, Kirsten Lindstrom, was initially shown as a stereotypical ‘classic bimbo,’ instead of the aviator instructor that she was eventually transformed into.
That was all thanks to Dawn Steel, who was the first...
- 5/18/2024
- by Rishabh Bhatnagar
- FandomWire
NYC Weekend Watch is our weekly round-up of repertory offerings.
Roxy Cinema
Stanley Donen’s Funny Face plays on Friday and Sunday, the latter day bringing a program of work by Nicola Tyson and Son of Kong on 35mm.
Paris Theater
Prints of Prizzi’s Honor, The Mechanic, Grosse Pointe Blank, and Killer Joe play in a hitman retrospective; Yi Yi shows on 35mm this Sunday.
Museum of Modern Art
A massive overview of Bulle Ogier continues with films by Fassbinder, Rivette, and more.
IFC Center
Man Ray: Return to Reason begins; After Hours and the Bob Fosse retrospective begin; Labyrinth, Flashdance, and Tank Girl play late.
Japan Society
America’s largest-ever Hiroshi Shimizu retrospective migrates to Japan Society (watch our exclusive trailer debut).
Museum of the Moving Image
Two more Shimizu films play; House on Haunted Hill screens Friday and Sunday, while The Right Stuff shows on 35mm this Saturday.
Roxy Cinema
Stanley Donen’s Funny Face plays on Friday and Sunday, the latter day bringing a program of work by Nicola Tyson and Son of Kong on 35mm.
Paris Theater
Prints of Prizzi’s Honor, The Mechanic, Grosse Pointe Blank, and Killer Joe play in a hitman retrospective; Yi Yi shows on 35mm this Sunday.
Museum of Modern Art
A massive overview of Bulle Ogier continues with films by Fassbinder, Rivette, and more.
IFC Center
Man Ray: Return to Reason begins; After Hours and the Bob Fosse retrospective begin; Labyrinth, Flashdance, and Tank Girl play late.
Japan Society
America’s largest-ever Hiroshi Shimizu retrospective migrates to Japan Society (watch our exclusive trailer debut).
Museum of the Moving Image
Two more Shimizu films play; House on Haunted Hill screens Friday and Sunday, while The Right Stuff shows on 35mm this Saturday.
- 5/17/2024
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Victor Montalvo Drives the most yellow vehicle in Los Angeles County, a 1987 Mitsubishi SUV he just purchased off of Craigslist. He pulls through the security gate at a sprawling Santa Monica office compound, parks, and removes a gold chain and ring he bought in India last year. The sunglasses stay on. Just back from Japan, he’s jet-lagged as hell. “I swear it’s not a hangover,” he says, chuckling. “Just feels that way.” But alas, he must train.
You’d probably call Montalvo a break dancer; they call themselves...
You’d probably call Montalvo a break dancer; they call themselves...
- 4/16/2024
- by Brandon Sneed
- Rollingstone.com
Even as he collected his martini, the burly stranger who introduced himself as “Joe” exuded an aura of belligerence. We were standing on the fringe of a post-screening reception, so, hand extended, I blurted, “Did the movie work for you?”
“It was blah,” he replied. “Given what they spent for the script, they should have made a powerful f*ckin’ movie.”
At the time I didn‘t realize I was talking with Joe Eszterhas, who had made $4 million from sale of his script — more an auction than a sale and hardly “blah.” Joe and several estimable writing colleagues were participants in what came to be known in the mid-‘80s as the “Writers Rebellion,” a moment when top screenwriters decided to reinvent what they considered a broken system for propagating their creative product.
The rebellion was not as momentous as, say, the French Revolution, but its drama and rhetoric for...
“It was blah,” he replied. “Given what they spent for the script, they should have made a powerful f*ckin’ movie.”
At the time I didn‘t realize I was talking with Joe Eszterhas, who had made $4 million from sale of his script — more an auction than a sale and hardly “blah.” Joe and several estimable writing colleagues were participants in what came to be known in the mid-‘80s as the “Writers Rebellion,” a moment when top screenwriters decided to reinvent what they considered a broken system for propagating their creative product.
The rebellion was not as momentous as, say, the French Revolution, but its drama and rhetoric for...
- 4/11/2024
- by Peter Bart
- Deadline Film + TV
Oscar nominations were announced in Los Angeles at 5:30 a.m. on Jan. 23. The backlash began by sunrise. Barbie received eight nominations, including for best picture, but where were individual nods for director Greta Gerwig or star Margot Robbie, the A-list architects who constructed a billion-dollar blockbuster out of an $18 plastic doll that was born in 1959? Barbie fans went berserk online, denouncing the Academy for what they saw as a sexist snub. Breathless press coverage of the controversy dominated the news cycle for days, and even Hillary Clinton weighed in to support her shunned sisters.
By Jan. 26, producer Lynda Obst had heard enough. “I have to write about this misplaced horror,” Obst unloaded on Facebook, offering a history lesson pulled from personal experience, reminding her readers that comedies rarely fare well at the Academy Awards in top categories. Furthermore, she and best friend Nora Ephron “didn’t flip out” when...
By Jan. 26, producer Lynda Obst had heard enough. “I have to write about this misplaced horror,” Obst unloaded on Facebook, offering a history lesson pulled from personal experience, reminding her readers that comedies rarely fare well at the Academy Awards in top categories. Furthermore, she and best friend Nora Ephron “didn’t flip out” when...
- 2/29/2024
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Ridley Scott’s Very Expensive Roman Holiday
With accidents on the set, complaints about animal abuse and now reports that the production went wildly over budget, sources tell Rambling Reporter that Ridley Scott’s long-anticipated Gladiator sequel is leaving Paramount execs feeling a bit like Joaquin Phoenix’s Emperor Commodus — “terribly vexed.” Initially budgeted at $165 million, sources say that figure has ballooned to something closer to $310 million. (Paramount insiders insist the net cost of the 49-day shoot was under $250 million.) “It’s a runaway,” says one source. “It’s not being managed.” The strikes account for some of that money; the shutdowns starting in July reportedly cost $600,000 a week, or a total of about $10 million, until Scott resumed shooting in December (though there were reports he kept cameras rolling during the work stoppages, shooting extras at crowd scenes in Malta, where he built a Coliseum set). But even before the walkouts,...
With accidents on the set, complaints about animal abuse and now reports that the production went wildly over budget, sources tell Rambling Reporter that Ridley Scott’s long-anticipated Gladiator sequel is leaving Paramount execs feeling a bit like Joaquin Phoenix’s Emperor Commodus — “terribly vexed.” Initially budgeted at $165 million, sources say that figure has ballooned to something closer to $310 million. (Paramount insiders insist the net cost of the 49-day shoot was under $250 million.) “It’s a runaway,” says one source. “It’s not being managed.” The strikes account for some of that money; the shutdowns starting in July reportedly cost $600,000 a week, or a total of about $10 million, until Scott resumed shooting in December (though there were reports he kept cameras rolling during the work stoppages, shooting extras at crowd scenes in Malta, where he built a Coliseum set). But even before the walkouts,...
- 2/23/2024
- by Samuel Braslow, Kevin Dolak and Julian Sancton
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Kevin Bacon in FootlooseImage: Paramount Pictures/CBS (Getty Images)
Dancing never goes out of style, but apparently dance movies do. The 40th anniversary of Footloose has us thinking about all the dance movies we’ve loved through the years, and the scarcity of those kinds of films these days. If you look at social media,...
Dancing never goes out of style, but apparently dance movies do. The 40th anniversary of Footloose has us thinking about all the dance movies we’ve loved through the years, and the scarcity of those kinds of films these days. If you look at social media,...
- 2/16/2024
- by Cindy White
- avclub.com
Jason Momoa thinks the Super Bowl just might do wonders for his comedy career.
The actor is best best known for his turns in action-heavy projects such as “Aquaman,” “Dune” and “Game of Thrones,” but gets to shake it all off in a new T-Mobile Super Bowl commercial. He will be spotted dancing to Irene Cara’s “Flashdance… What a Feeling” alongside Zach Braff and Donald Faison, the actors who have been part of the company’s Super Bowl efforts for the past few years. Momoa gets doused with water, hits a few high notes in song, does a flip and even meets Jennifer Beals, the actor who starred in the “Flashdance” movie.
“People are just seeing a different side of me,” Momoa tells Variety in an interview, while noting that he’s primarily “known as a dramatic actor” due to the roles he won early in his career. But...
The actor is best best known for his turns in action-heavy projects such as “Aquaman,” “Dune” and “Game of Thrones,” but gets to shake it all off in a new T-Mobile Super Bowl commercial. He will be spotted dancing to Irene Cara’s “Flashdance… What a Feeling” alongside Zach Braff and Donald Faison, the actors who have been part of the company’s Super Bowl efforts for the past few years. Momoa gets doused with water, hits a few high notes in song, does a flip and even meets Jennifer Beals, the actor who starred in the “Flashdance” movie.
“People are just seeing a different side of me,” Momoa tells Variety in an interview, while noting that he’s primarily “known as a dramatic actor” due to the roles he won early in his career. But...
- 2/5/2024
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Chicago – DVD editions from Paramount Home Entertainment’s most popular films are on tap for holiday and general gift giving, and several are in the latest 4K Ultra HD format … providing high definition pixel imagery that is Perfect for backyard or any projected film nights.
Anniversary DVDs include “Roman Holiday” (70th), “Flashdance” (40th), “Deep Impact” (25th), Titanic (25th) and “School of Rock” (20th).
Anniversary DVDs from Paramount Home Entertainment
Photo credit: Paramount Home Entertainment
Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com overview of DVD gifts from Paramount Home Entertainment (Anniversary DVDs) …
Special Edition DVDs include “Dragonslayer” (1981), “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986), “Pulp Fiction” (1994), “Chicago” (2002) and the “Transformers” 4K Ultra HD Box Set, all the Transformer films from 2007-2018.
Special Edition DVDs from Paramount Home Entertainment
Photo credit: Paramount Home Entertainment
Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com overview of DVD gifts from Paramount Home Entertainment (Anniversary DVDs) …
DVDs from Paramount Home Entertainment are available wherever DVDs are sold.
Anniversary DVDs include “Roman Holiday” (70th), “Flashdance” (40th), “Deep Impact” (25th), Titanic (25th) and “School of Rock” (20th).
Anniversary DVDs from Paramount Home Entertainment
Photo credit: Paramount Home Entertainment
Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com overview of DVD gifts from Paramount Home Entertainment (Anniversary DVDs) …
Special Edition DVDs include “Dragonslayer” (1981), “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986), “Pulp Fiction” (1994), “Chicago” (2002) and the “Transformers” 4K Ultra HD Box Set, all the Transformer films from 2007-2018.
Special Edition DVDs from Paramount Home Entertainment
Photo credit: Paramount Home Entertainment
Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com overview of DVD gifts from Paramount Home Entertainment (Anniversary DVDs) …
DVDs from Paramount Home Entertainment are available wherever DVDs are sold.
- 12/22/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Did disco ever go out of style? Not if you ask Mark Ronson and Dua Lipa, the forces behind the soundtrack for this year’s No. 1 box office hit, Barbie. Specifically, they co-penned the album’s lead single “Dance the Night,” which is performed by the English-Albanian singer.
In an era where No. 1 movies don’t always have top-ranking soundtracks, the hip swaying, hummable, string-fueled ditty took on a life of its own, becoming an anthem for summer and notching Grammy noms for Song of the Year and Best Song Written for Visual Media. Stateside, “Dance the Night” peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Lipa’s fifth top-ten single.
However, as easy and free-breezy as “Dance the Night” might sound, Ronson, who won an Oscar for the original song “Shallow” from A Star Is Born, says the single was “the longest I’ve ever worked on any song.
In an era where No. 1 movies don’t always have top-ranking soundtracks, the hip swaying, hummable, string-fueled ditty took on a life of its own, becoming an anthem for summer and notching Grammy noms for Song of the Year and Best Song Written for Visual Media. Stateside, “Dance the Night” peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Lipa’s fifth top-ten single.
However, as easy and free-breezy as “Dance the Night” might sound, Ronson, who won an Oscar for the original song “Shallow” from A Star Is Born, says the single was “the longest I’ve ever worked on any song.
- 12/2/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Fifty years ago, the release of two movies — “Jaws” in 1975, and “Star Wars” in 1977 — changed movies, America, and the world, not just by giving rise to “the blockbuster mentality” but by ushering in the cinematic age of all-popcorn-all-the-time. There had been antecedents, of course. In hindsight, much of our fantasy culture sprung from the loins of J.R.R. Tolkien. And there was a film that preceded “Jaws” and “Star Wars” that I think had just about as great an influence on movie culture: “The Exorcist.” That said, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas are inarguably the transcendant game-changers of the second half of the Hollywood century. That’s a fact that justifiably became a mythology.
In many ways, the Age of Marvel is also a mythology, one that has often been thought of as a ramped-up sequel to the Lucas/Spielberg revolution. Not that the rise of comic-book-movie culture took place overnight.
In many ways, the Age of Marvel is also a mythology, one that has often been thought of as a ramped-up sequel to the Lucas/Spielberg revolution. Not that the rise of comic-book-movie culture took place overnight.
- 11/5/2023
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
Locked In is a mystery thriller film directed by Alex Baranowski, from a screenplay by Rowan Joffé. The Netflix film revolves around Lina, an unhappy newlywed woman who has a hostile relationship with her mother-in-law Katherine. An affair starts a chain reaction that ends up in betrayal and murder. Locked In stars Famke Janssen, Rose Williams, Anna Friel, Finn Cole, and Alex Hassell. So, if you loved the Netflix film here are some similar movies you could watch next.
Gone Girl (Max & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – 20th Century Fox
Synopsis: Gone Girl, directed by David Fincher and based upon the global bestseller by Gillian Flynn, unearths the secrets at the heart of a modern marriage. On the occasion of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) reports that his beautiful wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike), has gone missing. Under pressure from the police and a growing media frenzy, Nick’s...
Gone Girl (Max & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – 20th Century Fox
Synopsis: Gone Girl, directed by David Fincher and based upon the global bestseller by Gillian Flynn, unearths the secrets at the heart of a modern marriage. On the occasion of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) reports that his beautiful wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike), has gone missing. Under pressure from the police and a growing media frenzy, Nick’s...
- 11/2/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Fandoms everywhere can now rejoice, for in October Our Flag Means Death finally returns to our screens for its second season. Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi will be romancing the high seas once more thanks to an enormous outpouring of love and support from the show’s fans. The safety of the cult favorite is not yet known beyond season two, but if this one is as good as the first, it certainly won’t be for lack of trying.
Talking of little shows that could, Doom Patrol is back for its last ever block of episodes, having long outlasted the many of the other ill-fated DC streaming series. Season two of The Gilded Age is also streaming this month, with Bertha challenging both Mrs. Astor and the old system in this new run.
And if none of that is up your street, there’s always Jason Statham punching sharks in the face,...
Talking of little shows that could, Doom Patrol is back for its last ever block of episodes, having long outlasted the many of the other ill-fated DC streaming series. Season two of The Gilded Age is also streaming this month, with Bertha challenging both Mrs. Astor and the old system in this new run.
And if none of that is up your street, there’s always Jason Statham punching sharks in the face,...
- 10/1/2023
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
With its combined catalog of HBO originals as well as titles from Food Network, Cartoon Network, the CW, Discovery, HGTV, and more, Max is starting another month with an embarrassment of riches, be it Gilded Age fortunes or pirate booty.
The Warner Bros. streamer will pull from its multiple brands for dozens of new titles, classic movies, special-interest series, and more, from 1963’s classic horror film The Haunting to the all-new highly anticipated second season of the romantic dramedy “Our Flag Means Death.”
Get ready for the new month and check out The Streamable’s picks for the best titles coming to Max this month!
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What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Coming to Max in October 2023? “Our Flag Means Death” Season 2 | Thursday, Oct. 5
Season 2 of the hit Taikia Waititi and Rhys Darby...
The Warner Bros. streamer will pull from its multiple brands for dozens of new titles, classic movies, special-interest series, and more, from 1963’s classic horror film The Haunting to the all-new highly anticipated second season of the romantic dramedy “Our Flag Means Death.”
Get ready for the new month and check out The Streamable’s picks for the best titles coming to Max this month!
7-Day Free Trial $9.99+ / month Max via amazon.com
Get 20% Off Your Next Year of Max When Pre-Paid Annually
What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Coming to Max in October 2023? “Our Flag Means Death” Season 2 | Thursday, Oct. 5
Season 2 of the hit Taikia Waititi and Rhys Darby...
- 9/29/2023
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
Rhys Darby in ‘Our Flag Means Death’ season 2 (Photograph by Nicola Dove/Max)
Max’s 2023 October lineup of series includes new seasons of Our Flag Means Death, The Gilded Age, and 30 Coins, as well as the second half of Doom Patrol season four (the final season). A documentary focusing on the notorious Bling Ring premieres on October 1st, along with all five Final Destination films.
In addition to a batch of horror films joining the network’s lineup, Max is celebrating Halloween with new seasons of Ghost Adventures and The Haunted Museum.
Series & Films Arriving On Max In October 2023:
October 1
3 Godfathers (1948)
The Adventures of Pinocchio (1996)
All About the Benjamins (2002)
The Amazing Panda Adventure (1995)
Angels in the Outfield (1951)
The Answer Man (2009)
Anthropoid (2016)
Appaloosa (2008)
The Apparition (2012)
The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
Badlands (1973)
Be Cool (2005)
Bee Season (2005)
Beetlejuice (1988)
The Benchwarmers (2006)
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Blindspotting (2018)
Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012)
Cesar Chavez (2014)
Charlie Wilson’s War...
Max’s 2023 October lineup of series includes new seasons of Our Flag Means Death, The Gilded Age, and 30 Coins, as well as the second half of Doom Patrol season four (the final season). A documentary focusing on the notorious Bling Ring premieres on October 1st, along with all five Final Destination films.
In addition to a batch of horror films joining the network’s lineup, Max is celebrating Halloween with new seasons of Ghost Adventures and The Haunted Museum.
Series & Films Arriving On Max In October 2023:
October 1
3 Godfathers (1948)
The Adventures of Pinocchio (1996)
All About the Benjamins (2002)
The Amazing Panda Adventure (1995)
Angels in the Outfield (1951)
The Answer Man (2009)
Anthropoid (2016)
Appaloosa (2008)
The Apparition (2012)
The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
Badlands (1973)
Be Cool (2005)
Bee Season (2005)
Beetlejuice (1988)
The Benchwarmers (2006)
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Blindspotting (2018)
Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012)
Cesar Chavez (2014)
Charlie Wilson’s War...
- 9/25/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
1990’s Days of Thunder was the end of an era for Tom Cruise. It would be the last movie he’d make as part of his “youth” phase, which began with Risky Business. At the time, he was best known as the cocky young hot shot, but when this movie underperformed at the box office, Cruise took some time off and returned as a more seasoned leading man, with 1992’s A Few Good Men kicking off an unprecedented streak of hits. While Days of Thunder has a valued place in Tom Cruise’s filmography and remains a popular title, when it came out, the movie was considered such a disappointment that the movie’s two producers, Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckkeimer’s deal with Paramount Pictures came to a fractious end. So what happened?
“Top Gun on Wheels” – that’s what everyone called Days of Thunder in the summer of 1990. The studio.
“Top Gun on Wheels” – that’s what everyone called Days of Thunder in the summer of 1990. The studio.
- 8/22/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
No one was afraid of cinematic excess in the ’80s, and nothing says “cinematic excess” quite as perfectly as the rock musical, a sub-genre that took on all sorts of (rockin’ and rollin’ and just plain bitchin’) shapes in the decade that birthed everything from “Purple Rain” to “Flashdance” and “The Blues Brothers.”
Buried amongst a decade rife with musicals, rock jams, and the frequent intersection of the two is Walter Hill’s raucous “Streets of Fire,” an intensely creative rock musical fantasy filled with fantastic visuals and even better songs. It’s about as cool a film as anyone could ever hope to see, no matter the decade.
When it was released in the summer of 1984, the film was a box office bust: it made just $8 million on its $14.5 million budget, scuppering plans for an official trilogy, ultimately landing young star Diane Lane a Razzie nom (vile!), and sending...
Buried amongst a decade rife with musicals, rock jams, and the frequent intersection of the two is Walter Hill’s raucous “Streets of Fire,” an intensely creative rock musical fantasy filled with fantastic visuals and even better songs. It’s about as cool a film as anyone could ever hope to see, no matter the decade.
When it was released in the summer of 1984, the film was a box office bust: it made just $8 million on its $14.5 million budget, scuppering plans for an official trilogy, ultimately landing young star Diane Lane a Razzie nom (vile!), and sending...
- 8/15/2023
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Bill Immerman, veteran executive at film companies including 20th Century Fox, Aip, Cannon Films and Yari Film Group, died June 24 in Los Angeles of natural causes.
Born Dec. 29, 1937 in New York, he graduated the U. of Wisconsin and obtained his J.D. at Stanford Law School. Before moving into entertainment, Immerman started his career as a deputy district attorney for the County of Los Angeles.
He joined American International Pictures as associate counsel in 1965, eventually heading up business affairs and serving as production executive on films including “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Wild In the Streets,” “Three In the Attic” and “An Evening of Edgar Allen Poe,” starring Vincent Price.
In 1972 Immerman became VP of business affairs at Twentieth Century Fox, representing Fox on the board of directors of the Motion Picture Association of American and the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers. As senior executive VP at Fox, he...
Born Dec. 29, 1937 in New York, he graduated the U. of Wisconsin and obtained his J.D. at Stanford Law School. Before moving into entertainment, Immerman started his career as a deputy district attorney for the County of Los Angeles.
He joined American International Pictures as associate counsel in 1965, eventually heading up business affairs and serving as production executive on films including “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Wild In the Streets,” “Three In the Attic” and “An Evening of Edgar Allen Poe,” starring Vincent Price.
In 1972 Immerman became VP of business affairs at Twentieth Century Fox, representing Fox on the board of directors of the Motion Picture Association of American and the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers. As senior executive VP at Fox, he...
- 7/8/2023
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
In the early 1980s, Stephen King was officially a household name. Writer of such instantly memorable titles as “Carrie,” “The Shining” and “The Stand,” it was very unlikely to find someone who’d not read – or at least heard of – a Stephen King novel. The author was getting so big that pretty much anything he published landed on the number one spot of the bestseller list. But would his devoted readers gobble up anything he put in front of them? That was put to the test in the middle of 1982, when King convinced his publisher to put out a collection of four novellas he’d written in between novels. The stories had some macabre elements in them, and one did indeed feature a bit of the old supernatural, but for the most part these stories were dramas that dealt with the human condition. The collection was called “Different Seasons,” and...
- 7/6/2023
- by Eric Walkuski
- JoBlo.com
‘Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies’ Creator Calls Paramount+ Cancellation “A Particularly Brutal Move”
The creator of the Paramount+ series Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies says she is “devastated” that the series is not only canceled but will be removed from the streaming service.
Earlier Friday, Paramount+ canceled several of its original series, including Pink Ladies as well as Star Trek: Prodigy, Queen of the Universe and The Game. The streamer is also taking the series off the platform as a content write-down.
Reacting to the news, creator Annabel Oakes wrote on her Instagram Stories: “In a particularly brutal move, it is also being removed from @paramountplus next and unless it finds a new home you will no longer be able to watch it anywhere. The cast, my creative partners, and I are all devastated at the complete erasure of our show.”
Oakes thanked the “beautiful fans” who have engaged with series and reminded them that “the music will remain even after the show is taken down.
Earlier Friday, Paramount+ canceled several of its original series, including Pink Ladies as well as Star Trek: Prodigy, Queen of the Universe and The Game. The streamer is also taking the series off the platform as a content write-down.
Reacting to the news, creator Annabel Oakes wrote on her Instagram Stories: “In a particularly brutal move, it is also being removed from @paramountplus next and unless it finds a new home you will no longer be able to watch it anywhere. The cast, my creative partners, and I are all devastated at the complete erasure of our show.”
Oakes thanked the “beautiful fans” who have engaged with series and reminded them that “the music will remain even after the show is taken down.
- 6/23/2023
- by Katie Campione
- Deadline Film + TV
Paramount+ has canceled a slew of its originals including Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, Star Trek: Prodigy, Queen of the Universe and The Game and is taking the shows off its platform as it becomes the latest media company to take a content write-down.
Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies has been canceled after one season, Star Trek: Prodigy will not be going forth with its previously announced second season, The Game has been canceled after two seasons and Graham Norton-hosted reality series Queen of the Universe has been axed after two seasons.
All of these titles will be removed from Paramount+ with the studios planning to shop some of them to rival broadcasters and streamers.
The company will take a content impairment charge and is expected to reveal the financial impact at its next earnings.
The move comes a few months after Paramount+ removed a slew of...
Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies has been canceled after one season, Star Trek: Prodigy will not be going forth with its previously announced second season, The Game has been canceled after two seasons and Graham Norton-hosted reality series Queen of the Universe has been axed after two seasons.
All of these titles will be removed from Paramount+ with the studios planning to shop some of them to rival broadcasters and streamers.
The company will take a content impairment charge and is expected to reveal the financial impact at its next earnings.
The move comes a few months after Paramount+ removed a slew of...
- 6/23/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Nanni Moretti always dresses impeccably — whether tuxed-up for the Cannes red carpet for his eight competition appearances since 1978 (his ninth, for A Brighter Tomorrow, will come May 24) or walking the Croisette in the casual chic (cashmere sweaters and chinos with open-collar shirts in dark gray or plum) that appears to come naturally to Italian men of Moretti’s generation. But the mantle of elder statesman of Italian cinema seems to hang on the 69-year-old director more like an ill-fitting suit.
It’s hard to deny Moretti’s position as a successor to the great neorealists — Vittorio De Sica, Federico Fellini, Roberto Rossellini — and the generation of New Wave heroes of the 1960s like Michelangelo Antonioni, Bernardo Bertolucci and Lina Wertmüller who reclaimed and restored Italian cinema after the ravages of fascism. His list of awards and acclaims alone — the Palme d’Or for The Son’s Room in 2001, Cannes best director in 1994 for Dear Diary,...
It’s hard to deny Moretti’s position as a successor to the great neorealists — Vittorio De Sica, Federico Fellini, Roberto Rossellini — and the generation of New Wave heroes of the 1960s like Michelangelo Antonioni, Bernardo Bertolucci and Lina Wertmüller who reclaimed and restored Italian cinema after the ravages of fascism. His list of awards and acclaims alone — the Palme d’Or for The Son’s Room in 2001, Cannes best director in 1994 for Dear Diary,...
- 5/19/2023
- by Scott Roxborough and Concita De Gregorio
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“The story itself is just so compelling… it’s all about healing,” shares Caroline B. Marx about what drew her to the new Hulu series “UnPrisoned,” which centers on a daughter attempting to reconcile with her father after his 17-year prison sentence. The costume designer appreciated that the show is “based on reality” — it draws inspiration from the life of creator Tracy McMillan — and that it is “socially relevant.” Watch our exclusive video interview above.
Kerry Washington stars as Paige, a relationship therapist who welcomes her father Edwin (Delroy Lindo) into her home despite the effects his incarceration had on her as a child. Marx collaborated closely with the actress to pick the color palate of Paige’s fashion, which McMillan had described to her as “Minneapolis but by way of Brooklyn.” The creator conceived of Paige as a “hipster but she’s adulting now,” but Tracy herself “doesn’t wear color at all,...
Kerry Washington stars as Paige, a relationship therapist who welcomes her father Edwin (Delroy Lindo) into her home despite the effects his incarceration had on her as a child. Marx collaborated closely with the actress to pick the color palate of Paige’s fashion, which McMillan had described to her as “Minneapolis but by way of Brooklyn.” The creator conceived of Paige as a “hipster but she’s adulting now,” but Tracy herself “doesn’t wear color at all,...
- 5/13/2023
- by David Buchanan
- Gold Derby
At this point, it's probably not a spoiler to say that a key "Yellowjackets" character is alive and somewhat well. That character is Vanessa "Van" Palmer (Lauren Ambrose and Liv Hewton), and if we're being honest, she's kind of living the best life out of all the show's plane crash survivors. Why is that? Well, she has her own video and DVD rental business, While You Were Streaming, smack dab in the middle of an undisclosed Pennsylvanian town. If you are even the slightest bit familiar with the work we do here at Slash Film dot com, it shouldn't be a surprise that we consider this the best possible fate to have.
What also isn't surprising is that Van has very good taste in movies, and also knows a thing or two about Hollywood's bizarre queer history. That's because While You Were Streaming is filled with Easter eggs to mainstream queer cinema,...
What also isn't surprising is that Van has very good taste in movies, and also knows a thing or two about Hollywood's bizarre queer history. That's because While You Were Streaming is filled with Easter eggs to mainstream queer cinema,...
- 4/21/2023
- by Erin Brady
- Slash Film
The story of Basic Instinct begins with the writer, Joe Eszterhas. At the time, he was one of the most successful screenwriters in Hollywood, known for writing provocative films like Flashdance, Jagged Edge and Betrayed. Eszterhas had written three movies in a row where his male lead had emotionally manipulated the woman who loved him, so the writer wanted to flip the dynamic, to write a thriller where an evil woman controlled a man effortlessly through mind games and sex. He was fascinated and frightened by the notions of thrill killings and homicidal impulses, and delved into writing the thriller, a combination film noir and detective mystery. Three weeks later, he was done, a script he called “Love Hurts” until changing the title to Basic Instinct the day he sent it to his agent.
His agent was knocked out by it, and soon enough they were holding an auction for every major studio in Hollywood.
His agent was knocked out by it, and soon enough they were holding an auction for every major studio in Hollywood.
- 4/19/2023
- by Eric Walkuski
- JoBlo.com
Lary Simpson, who executive produced the 2002 feature Bad Company, which starred Anthony Hopkins and Chris Rock and was developed by the famed production company that his late brother, Don Simpson, had launched with Jerry Bruckheimer, has died. He was 77.
Simpson died Jan. 25 at his home in Noank, Connecticut, after a brief battle with cancer, his attorney Tom Hunter announced.
Simpson began his career in entertainment as an attorney in the legal department of TriStar Pictures. He then became an associate attorney at Beverly Hills-based Bloom, Hergott, Diemer and Cook, where he represented producers, writers, actors and directors.
He left the law business in 1995 to become a film producer and initially worked with his older brother, who split with Bruckheimer that year after the pair had worked on blockbusters including Flashdance (1983), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Bad Boys (1995) and Top Gun (1986).
The end of Simpson/Bruckheimer became public in December 1995; a month later,...
Simpson died Jan. 25 at his home in Noank, Connecticut, after a brief battle with cancer, his attorney Tom Hunter announced.
Simpson began his career in entertainment as an attorney in the legal department of TriStar Pictures. He then became an associate attorney at Beverly Hills-based Bloom, Hergott, Diemer and Cook, where he represented producers, writers, actors and directors.
He left the law business in 1995 to become a film producer and initially worked with his older brother, who split with Bruckheimer that year after the pair had worked on blockbusters including Flashdance (1983), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Bad Boys (1995) and Top Gun (1986).
The end of Simpson/Bruckheimer became public in December 1995; a month later,...
- 4/18/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The makers of Flashdance hoped for a hit, but no one had a feeling it would become a generation-defining sensation.
The Paramount film marked the first collaboration of producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson, later known for blockbusters like Beverly Hills Cop and Top Gun. With a script co-written by Joe Eszterhas (Basic Instinct), Flashdance centered on Alex, a teenage welder in Pittsburgh who spends her nights performing at a cabaret bar but dreams of becoming a professional dancer.
Bruckheimer remembers the film’s team struggling to choose the lead, but that director Adrian Lyne was sold on newcomer Jennifer Beals. “The bosses at Paramount couldn’t make up their minds, so they brought all the secretaries in to view the screen tests, and they all picked Jennifer,” Bruckheimer tells The Hollywood Reporter.
Among the performers in the mix for the male lead of Nick, the steel mill owner who falls for employee Alex,...
The Paramount film marked the first collaboration of producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson, later known for blockbusters like Beverly Hills Cop and Top Gun. With a script co-written by Joe Eszterhas (Basic Instinct), Flashdance centered on Alex, a teenage welder in Pittsburgh who spends her nights performing at a cabaret bar but dreams of becoming a professional dancer.
Bruckheimer remembers the film’s team struggling to choose the lead, but that director Adrian Lyne was sold on newcomer Jennifer Beals. “The bosses at Paramount couldn’t make up their minds, so they brought all the secretaries in to view the screen tests, and they all picked Jennifer,” Bruckheimer tells The Hollywood Reporter.
Among the performers in the mix for the male lead of Nick, the steel mill owner who falls for employee Alex,...
- 4/14/2023
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
One of the most high-profile releases in the spring of 1983 was “Flashdance,” starring Jennifer Beals, directed by Adrian Lyne, and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson. It marked Beals’ feature film debut, as well as Lyne’s second major feature following 1980’s “Foxes.” It was also one of Bruckheimer’s and Simpson’s earliest projects, coming soon after “American Gigolo.” Released 40 years ago on April 15, 1983, “Flashdance” took second place at the box office its opening weekend with four million dollars, but then it became the sensation of the spring movies, jumping up to first place the next weekend and staying there well into early May. By the end of its run, “Flashdance,” about a woman who works as both a welder and an exotic dancer and wants to get into ballet school, made more than $90 million in the United States and more than $200 million worldwide. Read on for our...
- 4/13/2023
- by Brian Rowe
- Gold Derby
When Adrian Lyne directed his second feature, “Flashdance,” he could scarcely have dreamed that decades later, the film, starring Jennifer Beals in the iconic role of Alex Owens (a young welder who dreams of being a professional dancer), would have, well, such legs.
In celebration of its 40th anniversary (technically on April 15), Paramount Home Entertainment has released a lovingly crafted 4K Ultra HD edition, in addition to launching a pair of special theatrical engagements later in the month. For any and all maniacs on the floor, it’s the kind of treatment the plucky feature has long deserved. For Lyne, it’s a bit odd but quite nice.
“Well, it’s strange,” Lyne said with a laugh during a recent interview with IndieWire. “I guess it’s flattering. I mean, it is flattering because the expectations for the film were zero. I couldn’t get anybody [from the studio] on the phone for...
In celebration of its 40th anniversary (technically on April 15), Paramount Home Entertainment has released a lovingly crafted 4K Ultra HD edition, in addition to launching a pair of special theatrical engagements later in the month. For any and all maniacs on the floor, it’s the kind of treatment the plucky feature has long deserved. For Lyne, it’s a bit odd but quite nice.
“Well, it’s strange,” Lyne said with a laugh during a recent interview with IndieWire. “I guess it’s flattering. I mean, it is flattering because the expectations for the film were zero. I couldn’t get anybody [from the studio] on the phone for...
- 4/12/2023
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Another day, another Adrian Lyne revival — except this time, Paramount+ is doing a reboot of one of his past works rather than when Hulu let him run wild with a fun new experiment. "Fatal Attraction" is returning as a series, and the first trailer has just premiered, so get excited.
In the minute-long sneak peek, we meet Josh Jackson's Dan Gallagher and Lizzy Caplan's Alex Forrest, two people who seem to be drawn to one another. Dan is more guarded than Alex, who appears to be an expert in pressing (or pulling) buttons — but as things ramp up, they also seem to spiral out of control.
The streamer is calling the new take "a deep-dive reimagining of the classic psychosexual thriller and '80s cultural touchstone." The original film followed a man and woman who embark on a weekend affair, but the woman just won't let it go and her obsession mounts.
In the minute-long sneak peek, we meet Josh Jackson's Dan Gallagher and Lizzy Caplan's Alex Forrest, two people who seem to be drawn to one another. Dan is more guarded than Alex, who appears to be an expert in pressing (or pulling) buttons — but as things ramp up, they also seem to spiral out of control.
The streamer is calling the new take "a deep-dive reimagining of the classic psychosexual thriller and '80s cultural touchstone." The original film followed a man and woman who embark on a weekend affair, but the woman just won't let it go and her obsession mounts.
- 3/1/2023
- by Lex Briscuso
- Slash Film
With 20/20 hindsight, the mega-success of Paramount’s “Top Gun: Maverick” might seem inevitable, since it is a sequel to a familiar title, and it stars Tom Cruise. Of course nothing is a sure bet. And even with its popularity, there was no assurance Academy voters would embrace it.
But the film earned $1.48 billion at the worldwide box office and scored Oscar noms for best picture, adapted screenplay, editing, sound, song (by Lady Gaga and BloodPop) and visual effects.
The best picture nom recognizes four producers: Tom Cruise, David Ellison, Christopher McQuarrie and, after nearly 50 years in the industry, Jerry Bruckheimer, who is celebrating his first Oscar nomination.
A producer’s roles can change from film to film but Bruckheimer is consistently hands-on for every step. As Disney’s Sean Bailey told Variety in 2013: “He knows every detail of each picture.”
Asked what step was the most difficult with “Maverick,...
But the film earned $1.48 billion at the worldwide box office and scored Oscar noms for best picture, adapted screenplay, editing, sound, song (by Lady Gaga and BloodPop) and visual effects.
The best picture nom recognizes four producers: Tom Cruise, David Ellison, Christopher McQuarrie and, after nearly 50 years in the industry, Jerry Bruckheimer, who is celebrating his first Oscar nomination.
A producer’s roles can change from film to film but Bruckheimer is consistently hands-on for every step. As Disney’s Sean Bailey told Variety in 2013: “He knows every detail of each picture.”
Asked what step was the most difficult with “Maverick,...
- 2/24/2023
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
The annual Oscar melee always reminds us of this mandate: Never believe the “buzz.” Every important movie arrives with an aura – and it’s usually wrong or misleading.
The advance buzz on The Godfather was so disastrous even Francis Coppola sensed it was doomed. This year, All Quiet on the Western Front was deemed too violent and depressing to be a contender, but it’s collecting BAFTA Awards (seven) and Oscar nominations (nine).
Throughout the ‘80s every popular movie seemed carry a buzz curse. The production of Flashdance was so chaotic that even the stunt doubles had doubles. Footloose was both miscast and underbudgeted, as its director testified.
Clearly both of these early ‘80s movies turned out to be hits, if not cultural milestones. Yet directors of that moment seemed more interested in making war than making movies. In response, studio executives became as helpful as chatbots.
Even Tom Cruise,...
The advance buzz on The Godfather was so disastrous even Francis Coppola sensed it was doomed. This year, All Quiet on the Western Front was deemed too violent and depressing to be a contender, but it’s collecting BAFTA Awards (seven) and Oscar nominations (nine).
Throughout the ‘80s every popular movie seemed carry a buzz curse. The production of Flashdance was so chaotic that even the stunt doubles had doubles. Footloose was both miscast and underbudgeted, as its director testified.
Clearly both of these early ‘80s movies turned out to be hits, if not cultural milestones. Yet directors of that moment seemed more interested in making war than making movies. In response, studio executives became as helpful as chatbots.
Even Tom Cruise,...
- 2/24/2023
- by Peter Bart
- Deadline Film + TV
Tom Whitlock, who wrote the lyrics for the rock anthem “Danger Zone” and the chart-topping love song “Take My Breath Away” for the original Top Gun, winning an Oscar in the process, has died. He was 68.
Whitlock died Saturday at a memory care center in Gallatin, Tennessee, a spokesperson at the Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home in Springfield, Missouri, confirmed. He had Alzheimer’s disease, friends told the Springfield News Leader.
Whitlock wrote both Top Gun songs with Giorgio Moroder. Their relationship began when he fixed the brakes on the Italian composer’s Ferrari.
“Danger Zone,” performed by Kenny Loggins, was employed for the opening scene in the Tony Scott-directed, Tom Cruise-starring 1986 action movie, while “Take My Breath Away,” sung by Terri Nunn of Berlin, inspired the filmmakers to shoot additional scenes with Cruise and Kelly McGillis months later.
“Take My Breath Away” made it to No. 1 on the Billboard...
Whitlock died Saturday at a memory care center in Gallatin, Tennessee, a spokesperson at the Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home in Springfield, Missouri, confirmed. He had Alzheimer’s disease, friends told the Springfield News Leader.
Whitlock wrote both Top Gun songs with Giorgio Moroder. Their relationship began when he fixed the brakes on the Italian composer’s Ferrari.
“Danger Zone,” performed by Kenny Loggins, was employed for the opening scene in the Tony Scott-directed, Tom Cruise-starring 1986 action movie, while “Take My Breath Away,” sung by Terri Nunn of Berlin, inspired the filmmakers to shoot additional scenes with Cruise and Kelly McGillis months later.
“Take My Breath Away” made it to No. 1 on the Billboard...
- 2/24/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Tom Whitlock, who won a Best Song Oscar for co-writing the No. 1 smash ‘Take My Breath Away’ from Top Gun and also wrote the film’s other hit single “Danger Zone,” has died. He was 68.
Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home confirmed that he died February 18 in Gallatin, Tn. No cause was given.
Related Story Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2023: Photo Gallery & Obituaries Related Story Rihanna Will Perform "Lift Me Up" At Oscars Related Story "Crisis Team" In Place At Oscars For First Time, Academy CEO Says: "We've Run So Many Scenarios"
Born on February 20, 1954, in Springfield, Mo, Whitlock had been a longtime songwriter and performer without much success when he had a chance meeting with Giorgio Moroder in a Los Angeles recording studio. Whitlock told a story about the Italian composer complaining about the brakes on his Ferrari, leading the opportunistic lyricist to picking up some brake fluid and make the repairs.
Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home confirmed that he died February 18 in Gallatin, Tn. No cause was given.
Related Story Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2023: Photo Gallery & Obituaries Related Story Rihanna Will Perform "Lift Me Up" At Oscars Related Story "Crisis Team" In Place At Oscars For First Time, Academy CEO Says: "We've Run So Many Scenarios"
Born on February 20, 1954, in Springfield, Mo, Whitlock had been a longtime songwriter and performer without much success when he had a chance meeting with Giorgio Moroder in a Los Angeles recording studio. Whitlock told a story about the Italian composer complaining about the brakes on his Ferrari, leading the opportunistic lyricist to picking up some brake fluid and make the repairs.
- 2/23/2023
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Jerry Bruckheimer has seen it all. He remembers the go-go days at Paramount Pictures in the ’80s with his coked-up partner Don Simpson, which yielded the original “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Flashdance” and “Top Gun.” Simpson had incredible story instincts — he invented the “high-concept” movie — and networked Hollywood parties while ex New York ad-man Bruckheimer kept his head screwed on straight and made sure the visually stylish movies were delivered on time and on budget.
On his own in the ’90s and early 2000s, Bruckheimer was cock of the walk at the Disney studio, churning out high-testosterone, actioners from Bruce Willis vehicle “Armageddon” and Nic Cage in “Con Air” and “National Treasure” to Will Smith in “Enemy of the State” and the Johnny Depp “Pirates of the Caribbean” series, which proved that movies could string together VFX-heavy action sequences without worrying about the vagaries of plot. Over the decades Bruckheimer...
On his own in the ’90s and early 2000s, Bruckheimer was cock of the walk at the Disney studio, churning out high-testosterone, actioners from Bruce Willis vehicle “Armageddon” and Nic Cage in “Con Air” and “National Treasure” to Will Smith in “Enemy of the State” and the Johnny Depp “Pirates of the Caribbean” series, which proved that movies could string together VFX-heavy action sequences without worrying about the vagaries of plot. Over the decades Bruckheimer...
- 2/21/2023
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Irene Cara died on November 25., 2022. Her publicist, Judith A. Moose, shared a statement on the singer’s Twitter account.
“This is the absolute worst part of being a publicist. I can’t believe I’ve had to write this, let alone release the news. Please share your thoughts and memories of Irene. I’ll be reading each and every one of them and know she’ll be smiling from Heaven. She adored her fans.”
Irene Cara, circa 1990s | Vinnie Zuffante/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
She continued, “It is with profound sadness on behalf of her family I announce the passing of Irene Cara. The Academy Award-winning actress, singer, songwriter, and producer passed away in her Florida home. Her cause of death is currently unknown and will be released when information is available.”
Irene Cara’s career
Cara was born and raised in the Bronx. She began her career singing and dancing on Spanish television.
“This is the absolute worst part of being a publicist. I can’t believe I’ve had to write this, let alone release the news. Please share your thoughts and memories of Irene. I’ll be reading each and every one of them and know she’ll be smiling from Heaven. She adored her fans.”
Irene Cara, circa 1990s | Vinnie Zuffante/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
She continued, “It is with profound sadness on behalf of her family I announce the passing of Irene Cara. The Academy Award-winning actress, singer, songwriter, and producer passed away in her Florida home. Her cause of death is currently unknown and will be released when information is available.”
Irene Cara’s career
Cara was born and raised in the Bronx. She began her career singing and dancing on Spanish television.
- 2/17/2023
- by Stacy Feintuch
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages are Davis’ assessment of the current standings of the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any film or performance. Like any organization or body that votes, each individual category is fluid and subject to change. Predictions are updated every Thursday.
Last Updated: Feb. 12, 2023
2023 Oscars Predictions: Best Original Song Rrr, (aka Rise Roar Revolt), from left: N.T. Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan, 2022. © Raftar Creations /Courtesy Everett Collection
Category Commentary: Rihanna soared (literally) during the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
The high-flying spectacle (which also revealed a surprise pregnancy) comprised the musician’s biggest chart-toppers such as “Umbrella” and “Diamonds.” Notably not sung was her Oscar-nominated song...
Last Updated: Feb. 12, 2023
2023 Oscars Predictions: Best Original Song Rrr, (aka Rise Roar Revolt), from left: N.T. Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan, 2022. © Raftar Creations /Courtesy Everett Collection
Category Commentary: Rihanna soared (literally) during the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
The high-flying spectacle (which also revealed a surprise pregnancy) comprised the musician’s biggest chart-toppers such as “Umbrella” and “Diamonds.” Notably not sung was her Oscar-nominated song...
- 2/13/2023
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Charlie Thomas, who is best known for his work in The Drifters, has died aged 85.
Thomas died on 31 January after suffering with liver cancer, his friend Peter Lemongello Jr told the New York Times.
"He was ageing, but he was active almost every weekend. Unfortunately, he went from being active to being at home and he started going downhill,” said Lemongello, confirming that the musician died at his residence in Bowie, Maryland.
Thomas was the lead singer for The Drifters on hits such as “There Goes My Baby”, “Under the Boardwalk” and “Sweets for my Sweet”.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 as a member of the band.
He also received a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1999.
Thomas joined the band after playing with his previous group, The Five Crowns, in 1958 at the Apollo Theatre.
According to music historian Marv Goldberg,...
Thomas died on 31 January after suffering with liver cancer, his friend Peter Lemongello Jr told the New York Times.
"He was ageing, but he was active almost every weekend. Unfortunately, he went from being active to being at home and he started going downhill,” said Lemongello, confirming that the musician died at his residence in Bowie, Maryland.
Thomas was the lead singer for The Drifters on hits such as “There Goes My Baby”, “Under the Boardwalk” and “Sweets for my Sweet”.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 as a member of the band.
He also received a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1999.
Thomas joined the band after playing with his previous group, The Five Crowns, in 1958 at the Apollo Theatre.
According to music historian Marv Goldberg,...
- 2/7/2023
- by Megan Graye
- The Independent - Music
Irene Cara’s cause of death has been revealed. The actress died of arteriosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease, according to her external examination report, which Et obtained.
In addition to arteriosclerotic, which is the buildup of substances in and on the artery walls, and hypertensive cardiovascular disease, which refers to heart problems that occur due to high blood pressure, the report lists diabetes mellitus as a contributory condition. Cara’s manner of death was natural, according to the report.
Cara died in November at age 63. At the time, Cara’s rep, Judith A. Moose, released a statement confirming the news.
“It is with profound sadness that on behalf of her family I announce the passing of Irene Cara,” Moose said. “The Academy Award-winning actress, singer, songwriter, and producer passed away in her Florida home.”
Moose added, “She was a beautifully gifted soul whose legacy will live forever through her music and films.
In addition to arteriosclerotic, which is the buildup of substances in and on the artery walls, and hypertensive cardiovascular disease, which refers to heart problems that occur due to high blood pressure, the report lists diabetes mellitus as a contributory condition. Cara’s manner of death was natural, according to the report.
Cara died in November at age 63. At the time, Cara’s rep, Judith A. Moose, released a statement confirming the news.
“It is with profound sadness that on behalf of her family I announce the passing of Irene Cara,” Moose said. “The Academy Award-winning actress, singer, songwriter, and producer passed away in her Florida home.”
Moose added, “She was a beautifully gifted soul whose legacy will live forever through her music and films.
- 2/3/2023
- by Becca Longmire
- ET Canada
Musician Irene Cara’s cause of death has been determined, according to new medical examiner records.
The cause of death of the Oscar and Grammy winner, who died on 25 November at the age of 63, had been previously unknown.
Cara died of Arteriosclerotic and Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease, with Diabetes Mellitus listed as a contributory condition, According to new medical examiner records from Pinellas County Forensic Science Center that were seen by The Independent.
Her manner of death was deemed natural so no autopsy was performed or toxicology report was run.
News of Cara’s death was announced on her official Twitter account on 26 November.
“It is with profound sadness that, on behalf of her family, I announce the passing of Irene Cara,” the message read, noting that she “passed away in her Florida home.”
It continued: “Irene’s family has requested privacy as they process their grief. She was a beautifully...
The cause of death of the Oscar and Grammy winner, who died on 25 November at the age of 63, had been previously unknown.
Cara died of Arteriosclerotic and Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease, with Diabetes Mellitus listed as a contributory condition, According to new medical examiner records from Pinellas County Forensic Science Center that were seen by The Independent.
Her manner of death was deemed natural so no autopsy was performed or toxicology report was run.
News of Cara’s death was announced on her official Twitter account on 26 November.
“It is with profound sadness that, on behalf of her family, I announce the passing of Irene Cara,” the message read, noting that she “passed away in her Florida home.”
It continued: “Irene’s family has requested privacy as they process their grief. She was a beautifully...
- 2/3/2023
- by Inga Parkel
- The Independent - Music
Jerry Bruckheimer is a Hollywood legend. His killer instinct, uniformly good taste and innate understand of what audiences desire has led to franchises like “Beverly Hills Cop” (with his late partner Don Simpson), “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Bad Boys” (also with Simpson) and “National Treasure.” He’s also had just as many notable one-off favorites – “The Rock,” “Flashdance,” “American Gigolo,” the list goes on. And for a while it looked like “Top Gun” was following into that latter category, an all-timer but one that stood alone.
That is, until Bruckheimer launched, with Tom Cruise and director Joseph Kosinski and producer/writer Christopher McQuarrie, “Top Gun: Maverick.” Against all odds, it arrived 36 years after the original. And, perhaps most improbably, it led to Bruckheimer’s first Best Picture Oscar nomination. “Hope for the best but expect the worst,” Bruckheimer said about his outlook Tuesday. “And this time we got it. It’s fantastic.
That is, until Bruckheimer launched, with Tom Cruise and director Joseph Kosinski and producer/writer Christopher McQuarrie, “Top Gun: Maverick.” Against all odds, it arrived 36 years after the original. And, perhaps most improbably, it led to Bruckheimer’s first Best Picture Oscar nomination. “Hope for the best but expect the worst,” Bruckheimer said about his outlook Tuesday. “And this time we got it. It’s fantastic.
- 1/24/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
In this weekly data series powered by Parrot Analytics we look at the top breakout shows of the past week. Breakout shows are the most in-demand series that have premiered in the past 100 days.
Demand for “1899” inched up by 3 last week, after the previous week’s 5 increase in demand, , according to Parrot Analytics‘ data, which takes into account consumer research, streaming, downloads and social media, among other engagement. This increase in demand came before the announcement on Jan. 2 that Netflix had canceled the show.
After “1899” premiered on Nov. 17, it ranked near the top of our new shows ranking and the fact that it has grown in demand for the past two weeks points to the show’s longevity. The show’s creators were also behind “Dark,” which became one of Netflix’s biggest international hits. These factors make it all the more surprising that Netflix axed the show and left fans sorely disappointed.
Demand for “1899” inched up by 3 last week, after the previous week’s 5 increase in demand, , according to Parrot Analytics‘ data, which takes into account consumer research, streaming, downloads and social media, among other engagement. This increase in demand came before the announcement on Jan. 2 that Netflix had canceled the show.
After “1899” premiered on Nov. 17, it ranked near the top of our new shows ranking and the fact that it has grown in demand for the past two weeks points to the show’s longevity. The show’s creators were also behind “Dark,” which became one of Netflix’s biggest international hits. These factors make it all the more surprising that Netflix axed the show and left fans sorely disappointed.
- 1/5/2023
- by Christofer Hamilton
- The Wrap
Click here to read the full article.
In 2022, Hollywood said goodbye to many actors, singers, performers, creatives, executives and all-around industry icons who had a great impact on the entertainment world during their lifetimes.
The Hollywood Reporter is highlighting some of the most well-known names who died in 2022.
Below are this year’s most notable deaths in Hollywood.
Kirstie Alley Kirstie Alley
Kirstie Alley, the Emmy-winning comic actress known for her turns on Cheers, Veronica’s Closet and the three Look Who’s Talking films, died in December. She was 71. Full obituary.
Louie Anderson
Louie Anderson, the big-hearted everyman who rose to fame as a stand-up comic, then channeled the spirit of his late mother for his Emmy-winning turn as Christine Baskets on the FX series Baskets, died on Jan. 21. He was 68. Read his obituary.
Peter Bogdanovich Peter Bogdanovich
Peter Bogdanovich, the Oscar-nominated writer-director of The Last Picture Show whose career, which...
In 2022, Hollywood said goodbye to many actors, singers, performers, creatives, executives and all-around industry icons who had a great impact on the entertainment world during their lifetimes.
The Hollywood Reporter is highlighting some of the most well-known names who died in 2022.
Below are this year’s most notable deaths in Hollywood.
Kirstie Alley Kirstie Alley
Kirstie Alley, the Emmy-winning comic actress known for her turns on Cheers, Veronica’s Closet and the three Look Who’s Talking films, died in December. She was 71. Full obituary.
Louie Anderson
Louie Anderson, the big-hearted everyman who rose to fame as a stand-up comic, then channeled the spirit of his late mother for his Emmy-winning turn as Christine Baskets on the FX series Baskets, died on Jan. 21. He was 68. Read his obituary.
Peter Bogdanovich Peter Bogdanovich
Peter Bogdanovich, the Oscar-nominated writer-director of The Last Picture Show whose career, which...
- 12/31/2022
- by Carly Thomas, Editor
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Trading Places remains a highlight in the careers of stars Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy and Jamie Lee Curtis. A riff on the timeless Prince and the Pauper tale, it was a smash hit in the summer of 1983, ranking fourth for the year, only beaten by Return of the Jedi, Terms of Endearment and Flashdance. It became a staple of video stores and cable and is also an unheralded holiday classic, taking place around Christmas and New Year’s.
Flashback to 1982. This was an important year in the lives of all of the leading players involved with Trading Places. For star Dan Aykroyd, it was marked with tragedy, with his best friend and frequent on-screen partner, John Belushi, dying of a drug overdose early in the year. Likewise, director John Landis was involved in a tragedy while directing Twilight Zone: The Movie. While staging a scene involving a helicopter, star Vic Morrow...
Flashback to 1982. This was an important year in the lives of all of the leading players involved with Trading Places. For star Dan Aykroyd, it was marked with tragedy, with his best friend and frequent on-screen partner, John Belushi, dying of a drug overdose early in the year. Likewise, director John Landis was involved in a tragedy while directing Twilight Zone: The Movie. While staging a scene involving a helicopter, star Vic Morrow...
- 12/29/2022
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Click here to read the full article.
Jerry Bruckheimer, the guest on this episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, is a producer of film and television who is one of the more fascinating and, to some degree, polarizing figures in Hollywood — and has been for decades.
The Guardian has written, “To those of tender sensibilities he is the devil incarnate, the man who helped destroy the movies, and an architect of our cultural stupidisation; but to those who sit in Hollywood’s counting houses he’s a man with his finger planted squarely on the moviegoing audience’s collective clitoris. He is money.” Indeed, Playboy called him “the most successful producer in history,” Variety submitted that he is “the only man in the business today to become famous strictly as a producer,” and The New York Times said he “could well be the most influential producer working today.
Jerry Bruckheimer, the guest on this episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, is a producer of film and television who is one of the more fascinating and, to some degree, polarizing figures in Hollywood — and has been for decades.
The Guardian has written, “To those of tender sensibilities he is the devil incarnate, the man who helped destroy the movies, and an architect of our cultural stupidisation; but to those who sit in Hollywood’s counting houses he’s a man with his finger planted squarely on the moviegoing audience’s collective clitoris. He is money.” Indeed, Playboy called him “the most successful producer in history,” Variety submitted that he is “the only man in the business today to become famous strictly as a producer,” and The New York Times said he “could well be the most influential producer working today.
- 12/8/2022
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Through a statement by her publicist Judith A. Moose, it’s been revealed that Irene Cara, the singer and actress who was launched to stardom by the 1980 film Fame, passed away at the age of 63. Moose noted that Cara passed away in her Florida home and the cause of death is currently unknown.
In Memoriam 2022: 100 Great Celebrities Who Died This Year!
Moose added that sharing this news is “the absolute worst part of being a publicist,” and requested that fans respect the privacy of her family but also share their memories of the singer online.
This is the absolute worst part of being a publicist. I can’t believe I’ve had to write this, let alone release the news. Please share your thoughts and memories of Irene. I’ll be reading each and every one of them and know she’ll be smiling from Heaven. She adored her fans.
In Memoriam 2022: 100 Great Celebrities Who Died This Year!
Moose added that sharing this news is “the absolute worst part of being a publicist,” and requested that fans respect the privacy of her family but also share their memories of the singer online.
This is the absolute worst part of being a publicist. I can’t believe I’ve had to write this, let alone release the news. Please share your thoughts and memories of Irene. I’ll be reading each and every one of them and know she’ll be smiling from Heaven. She adored her fans.
- 11/28/2022
- by Jacob Linden
- Uinterview
Beyoncé earned three awards at Saturday’s Soul Train Awards, including Song of the Year for “Break My Soul” and Album of the Year for “Renaissance.”
The artist, who was not present for the BET-televised ceremony broadcast live from Las Vegas, also shared the Best Collaboration prize for “Make Me Say It Again, Girl” with Ronald Isley and the Isley Brothers.
Deon Cole hosted the ceremony, which closed with the iconic funk brand and Legend Award winners Morris Day & The Time. The ’90s R&b group Xscape was also presented with the Lady of Soul prize.
Also Read:
Nova Wav on Working With Beyoncé and How They’re Forging a Path for Female Music Producers (Video)
See the complete list of winners below:
Best New Artist
Tems
Certified Soul Award
Mary J. Blige
Best R&b/Soul Female Artist
Jazmine Sullivan
Best R&b/Soul Male Artist
Chris Brown...
The artist, who was not present for the BET-televised ceremony broadcast live from Las Vegas, also shared the Best Collaboration prize for “Make Me Say It Again, Girl” with Ronald Isley and the Isley Brothers.
Deon Cole hosted the ceremony, which closed with the iconic funk brand and Legend Award winners Morris Day & The Time. The ’90s R&b group Xscape was also presented with the Lady of Soul prize.
Also Read:
Nova Wav on Working With Beyoncé and How They’re Forging a Path for Female Music Producers (Video)
See the complete list of winners below:
Best New Artist
Tems
Certified Soul Award
Mary J. Blige
Best R&b/Soul Female Artist
Jazmine Sullivan
Best R&b/Soul Male Artist
Chris Brown...
- 11/27/2022
- by Thom Geier
- The Wrap
Thanksgiving was extra special this year for Rebel Wilson and girlfriend Ramona Agruma!
The “Pitch Perfect” star took to her Instagram Stories Thursday to share photos of the holiday — her first since welcoming daughter Royce Lillian earlier this month.
In the Instagram Story snaps, a proud Wilson stands in front of a freshly baked turkey, ready to carve into it, while a second shot sees her and Agruma posing for a family portrait, with baby Royce lying sweetly in mom’s arms. Wilson covered the newborn’s face with a Gif of a cartoon turkey.
Read More: Rebel Wilson Shares Sweet Pics of Baby Royce's 'First Adventure' With Girlfriend Ramona Agruma
Photo: Instagram/ RebelWilson Photo: Instagram/ RebelWilson
A final pic sees the couple with a loved one, as Agruma shows off what looks like a salad made in anticipation of Thursday’s feast.
The holiday photos come just days after...
The “Pitch Perfect” star took to her Instagram Stories Thursday to share photos of the holiday — her first since welcoming daughter Royce Lillian earlier this month.
In the Instagram Story snaps, a proud Wilson stands in front of a freshly baked turkey, ready to carve into it, while a second shot sees her and Agruma posing for a family portrait, with baby Royce lying sweetly in mom’s arms. Wilson covered the newborn’s face with a Gif of a cartoon turkey.
Read More: Rebel Wilson Shares Sweet Pics of Baby Royce's 'First Adventure' With Girlfriend Ramona Agruma
Photo: Instagram/ RebelWilson Photo: Instagram/ RebelWilson
A final pic sees the couple with a loved one, as Agruma shows off what looks like a salad made in anticipation of Thursday’s feast.
The holiday photos come just days after...
- 11/27/2022
- by Melissa Romualdi
- ET Canada
Donald Anthony St. Claire, one half of the lovable grandparents duo who competed in season 6 of “The Amazing Race”, has died. He was 87.
According to his obituary, Don died an hour and a half southeast of Sacramento, California in Angels Camp on Aug. 31. TMZ, which first broke the news Saturday, spoke to Don’s son, Greg, who told the outlet Don collapsed and died at his home. Greg also told TMZ the family believed he suffered some type of heart issue. The death came as a shock to the family, considering Don recently had a checkup with doctors and reportedly was told the results looked great.
Don and his wife, Mary Jean, appeared in season 6 of the hit CBS show and finished in eighth place. Their journey ended after they were eliminated in Germany.
Don and Mary are one of the oldest to ever compete in the long-running reality TV series.
According to his obituary, Don died an hour and a half southeast of Sacramento, California in Angels Camp on Aug. 31. TMZ, which first broke the news Saturday, spoke to Don’s son, Greg, who told the outlet Don collapsed and died at his home. Greg also told TMZ the family believed he suffered some type of heart issue. The death came as a shock to the family, considering Don recently had a checkup with doctors and reportedly was told the results looked great.
Don and his wife, Mary Jean, appeared in season 6 of the hit CBS show and finished in eighth place. Their journey ended after they were eliminated in Germany.
Don and Mary are one of the oldest to ever compete in the long-running reality TV series.
- 11/26/2022
- by Brent Furdyk
- ET Canada
Click here to read the full article.
Debbie Allen, Questlove, Jennifer Beals and Diane Warren were among the Hollywood notables remembering Irene Cara following the news of the Oscar-winning performer’s death at age 63.
Cara began her career as a child singer and dancer before breaking out with the 1980 musical film Fame, in which she starred as Coco Hernandez and sang the title song and “Out Here on My Own,” which were both nominated for the original song Academy Award. She is also known for the hit tune “Flashdance… What a Feeling” from the 1983 film Flashdance, which earned her an Oscar and a Grammy. Other credits include the 1976 film Sparkle, along with a number of Broadway productions.
Among those paying tribute to the New York City native was NYC Mayor Eric Adams. “Irene Cara sang New York City’s song,” he tweeted Saturday. “Born in the Bronx, she reached for...
Debbie Allen, Questlove, Jennifer Beals and Diane Warren were among the Hollywood notables remembering Irene Cara following the news of the Oscar-winning performer’s death at age 63.
Cara began her career as a child singer and dancer before breaking out with the 1980 musical film Fame, in which she starred as Coco Hernandez and sang the title song and “Out Here on My Own,” which were both nominated for the original song Academy Award. She is also known for the hit tune “Flashdance… What a Feeling” from the 1983 film Flashdance, which earned her an Oscar and a Grammy. Other credits include the 1976 film Sparkle, along with a number of Broadway productions.
Among those paying tribute to the New York City native was NYC Mayor Eric Adams. “Irene Cara sang New York City’s song,” he tweeted Saturday. “Born in the Bronx, she reached for...
- 11/26/2022
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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