One of the most acclaimed horror movies of all time is an unassuming little Australian film called The Babadook. The film is top-notch, but it still incorporates one of the worst cliches in modern movies. Maybe it couldn’t do any better in that regard.
‘The Babadook’ showed that it was a low-budget movie in the worst way
The Babadook is from 2014 and it’s set in the modern day. At multiple points in the film, the protagonist, Amelia Vanek, watches television. She sees a lot of silent films on TV. At one point, she views the famous unmasking scene from The Phantom of the Opera starring Lon Chaney Sr. The film’s titular monster inserts himself into some of the clips to scare her.
This is part of a big movie cliche sometimes called “the public domain channel.” Low-budget movies can’t always afford the rights to clips from other films.
‘The Babadook’ showed that it was a low-budget movie in the worst way
The Babadook is from 2014 and it’s set in the modern day. At multiple points in the film, the protagonist, Amelia Vanek, watches television. She sees a lot of silent films on TV. At one point, she views the famous unmasking scene from The Phantom of the Opera starring Lon Chaney Sr. The film’s titular monster inserts himself into some of the clips to scare her.
This is part of a big movie cliche sometimes called “the public domain channel.” Low-budget movies can’t always afford the rights to clips from other films.
- 9/20/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tim Burton is known for wonderfully weird movies. For example, he gave the world the single most unusual entry in the Batman film franchise. Despite this, few fans talk about the film anymore. When they do talk about it, it’s for all the wrong reasons.
Tim Burton’s ‘Batman’ inspired 1 of the oddest sequels in Hollywood history
The first blockbuster movie about the Caped Crusader was 1989’s Batman. It was the darkest onscreen portrayal of the title character up to that point. It also showed off a different side of superheroes to a generation that had been raised on the campy 1960s show Batman starring Adam West.
A sequel to Burton’s movie was inevitable. He gave us Batman Returns, an uncanny mishmash of disconnected elements. The film is about The Penguin, a deformed villain whose parents threw him into a river when he was a child because of his appearance.
Tim Burton’s ‘Batman’ inspired 1 of the oddest sequels in Hollywood history
The first blockbuster movie about the Caped Crusader was 1989’s Batman. It was the darkest onscreen portrayal of the title character up to that point. It also showed off a different side of superheroes to a generation that had been raised on the campy 1960s show Batman starring Adam West.
A sequel to Burton’s movie was inevitable. He gave us Batman Returns, an uncanny mishmash of disconnected elements. The film is about The Penguin, a deformed villain whose parents threw him into a river when he was a child because of his appearance.
- 9/18/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When you think of John Woo, you think of action. With movies such as The Killer, Hard Boiled, Face/Off, Mission: Impossible 2, and more, the director has delivered some of the greatest action in the history of cinema, but his next project will be a big departure. While speaking with Empire, John Woo confirmed that his next movie will be a “half-musical” made in collaboration with Sparks, the pop and rock duo formed by brothers Ron and Russell Mael.
“My next project is actually a half-musical,” Woo said. “I’m going to be working with the Sparks Brothers, who wrote the script and songs — we are just starting work on some changes to the script.” The director then joked that this “will be my first movie where I don’t need to hire a stuntman.” Woo has wanted to tackle a musical for some time, even coming close to helming...
“My next project is actually a half-musical,” Woo said. “I’m going to be working with the Sparks Brothers, who wrote the script and songs — we are just starting work on some changes to the script.” The director then joked that this “will be my first movie where I don’t need to hire a stuntman.” Woo has wanted to tackle a musical for some time, even coming close to helming...
- 9/10/2024
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
John Woo’s Next Film Is ‘A Half-Musical’ With Sparks: ‘My First Movie Where I Don’t Need A Stuntman’
John Woo movies always have a spark – the legendary Hong Kong director is responsible for some of the greatest (and most bonkers) action ever committed to the screen, in Hard Boiled and Face/Off and The Killer, to name but a few. But we’ve never had a John Woo movie with Sparks – the legendary cult pop duo also known as Ron and Russell Mael, behind such earworms as ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us’. Until now, that is. Because, as the filmmaker tells Empire in a major upcoming interview, he’s currently working with the art-pop icons on a very different kind of Woo movie.
“My next project is actually a half-musical,” Woo confirms to Empire. “I’m going to be working with the Sparks Brothers, who wrote the script and songs — we are just starting work on some changes to the script.” While the...
“My next project is actually a half-musical,” Woo confirms to Empire. “I’m going to be working with the Sparks Brothers, who wrote the script and songs — we are just starting work on some changes to the script.” While the...
- 9/9/2024
- by Ben Travis
- Empire - Movies
Some of the best classic rock songs drew inspiration from history or mysticism — or both. For example, Ozzy Osbourne’s “Mr. Crowley” is about a macabre historical figure who left quite a legacy in the world of rock ‘n’ roll. The song led to some misconceptions about Osbourne.
Ozzy Osbourne’s ‘Mr. Crowley’ is about a mystic who inspired The Beatles and Jay-Z
According to Tidal, Aleister Crowley was a mystic and self-described prophet who founded the occult religion Thelema. As the prophet of this new faith, he famously proscribed, “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.” Crowley’s embrace of the dark arts, criticism of Christianity, and open bisexuality scandalized many during the Edwardian and interwar eras. False rumors that he killed children and worshipped Satan proliferated.
A controversial figure then and now, Crowley has been referenced by musicians such as The Beatles, David Bowie,...
Ozzy Osbourne’s ‘Mr. Crowley’ is about a mystic who inspired The Beatles and Jay-Z
According to Tidal, Aleister Crowley was a mystic and self-described prophet who founded the occult religion Thelema. As the prophet of this new faith, he famously proscribed, “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.” Crowley’s embrace of the dark arts, criticism of Christianity, and open bisexuality scandalized many during the Edwardian and interwar eras. False rumors that he killed children and worshipped Satan proliferated.
A controversial figure then and now, Crowley has been referenced by musicians such as The Beatles, David Bowie,...
- 9/9/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Emmy Rossum and Zoë Winters will star in the Off-Broadway play Walden this fall.
The play, written by Amy Berryman and directed by Whitney White, will play the Tony Kiser Theater starting Oct. 16, before an opening night of Nov. 7.
Walden is set in the “near future,” and follows Stella (played by Rossum), with her fiancé Bryan in tow, as she reunites with her estranged twin sister, Cassie (Winters), in a remote cabin. While both were raised by their father to be NASA scientists, only Cassie has followed that path. The two clash over old conflicts, as well as the decision whether to remain on earth or pursue life in space.
The play marks Rossum’s Off-Broadway debut. Best known for her role as Fiona Gallagher on Shameless, Rossum has also starred as Christine in the film adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera, in addition to films such as The Day After Tomorrow,...
The play, written by Amy Berryman and directed by Whitney White, will play the Tony Kiser Theater starting Oct. 16, before an opening night of Nov. 7.
Walden is set in the “near future,” and follows Stella (played by Rossum), with her fiancé Bryan in tow, as she reunites with her estranged twin sister, Cassie (Winters), in a remote cabin. While both were raised by their father to be NASA scientists, only Cassie has followed that path. The two clash over old conflicts, as well as the decision whether to remain on earth or pursue life in space.
The play marks Rossum’s Off-Broadway debut. Best known for her role as Fiona Gallagher on Shameless, Rossum has also starred as Christine in the film adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera, in addition to films such as The Day After Tomorrow,...
- 9/4/2024
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
One of the most acclaimed films of 2004 is “Collateral,” starring Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx and Jada Pinkett Smith. Written by Stuart Beattie and directed by Michael Mann, the movie tells of a cab driver in nighttime Los Angeles who becomes the hostage of a contract killer. Released 20 years ago in August 2004, “Collateral” was a box office success, grossing $220 million worldwide on a $65 million budget. Read on for more about the “Collateral” 20th anniversary.
Most of the nation’s critics were positive on “Collateral.” Todd McCarthy in Variety wrote, “This intensely focused piece soars not only on the director’s precision-tooled style but also on the outstanding interplay between leads Cruise and Foxx.” Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times called the film “a rare thriller that’s as much character study as sound and fury.” And Peter Travers in Rolling Stone said, “Mann hits a new peak, orchestrating action, atmosphere and...
Most of the nation’s critics were positive on “Collateral.” Todd McCarthy in Variety wrote, “This intensely focused piece soars not only on the director’s precision-tooled style but also on the outstanding interplay between leads Cruise and Foxx.” Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times called the film “a rare thriller that’s as much character study as sound and fury.” And Peter Travers in Rolling Stone said, “Mann hits a new peak, orchestrating action, atmosphere and...
- 8/24/2024
- by Brian Rowe
- Gold Derby
Jody Frisch, a longtime communications executive who worked for decades in Hollywood and Washington, D.C., died Aug. 21 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles of pancreatic cancer. She was 68.
Throughout her career, Frisch worked for such organizations as the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA. From 2006 through 2009 at WGA, a period that encompassed the guild’s 100-day strike in late 2007 through mid-February 2008, she served as director of public policy and government affairs. She worked for the guild in D.C. and L.A. She later moved on to SAG-AFTRA as a strategic communications and public affairs executive in 2015.
A Los Angeles Native, Frisch grew up in the San Fernando Valley, graduating from Birmingham High School in Van Nuys in 1973. She went to Washington, D.C., where she gained experience understanding the ins and outs of politics and the legislative process. Over her long career, Frisch was known for executing media campaigns,...
Throughout her career, Frisch worked for such organizations as the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA. From 2006 through 2009 at WGA, a period that encompassed the guild’s 100-day strike in late 2007 through mid-February 2008, she served as director of public policy and government affairs. She worked for the guild in D.C. and L.A. She later moved on to SAG-AFTRA as a strategic communications and public affairs executive in 2015.
A Los Angeles Native, Frisch grew up in the San Fernando Valley, graduating from Birmingham High School in Van Nuys in 1973. She went to Washington, D.C., where she gained experience understanding the ins and outs of politics and the legislative process. Over her long career, Frisch was known for executing media campaigns,...
- 8/22/2024
- by Selena Kuznikov
- Variety Film + TV
Jody Frisch, a communications executive who had stints at the WGA and SAG-AFTRA, died Wednesday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after a short battle with pancreatic cancer, her friend Joanna Dodd Massey announced. She was 68.
Frisch’s early career included work for producer Cameron Mackintosh to publicize his stage adaptations of The Phantom of the Opera and Miss Saigon and serving in the 1990s as the personal publicist for Family Ties star Meredith Baxter.
With a rare combination of legislative and entertainment experience and work in the nonprofit and government sectors, Frisch directed and executed numerous media campaigns, crisis and reputation management initiatives and public policy advocacy efforts during her career.
She was director of public policy and government affairs for the WGA from 2006-09, splitting her time between Washington and Los Angeles starting in ’07.
After two years at Mprm Communications, she segued to SAG-AFTRA as a strategic...
Frisch’s early career included work for producer Cameron Mackintosh to publicize his stage adaptations of The Phantom of the Opera and Miss Saigon and serving in the 1990s as the personal publicist for Family Ties star Meredith Baxter.
With a rare combination of legislative and entertainment experience and work in the nonprofit and government sectors, Frisch directed and executed numerous media campaigns, crisis and reputation management initiatives and public policy advocacy efforts during her career.
She was director of public policy and government affairs for the WGA from 2006-09, splitting her time between Washington and Los Angeles starting in ’07.
After two years at Mprm Communications, she segued to SAG-AFTRA as a strategic...
- 8/22/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jody Frisch, an accomplished communications executive with a career spanning decades in both Hollywood and Washington, D.C., died Aug. 21 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 68.
Throughout her career, Frisch held key positions at organizations such as the WGA, SAG-AFTRA, the American Humane Association, Bgr Group, and the National Foreign Trade Council.
A native of Los Angeles who grew up in the San Fernando Valley and attended Birmingham High School, Frisch immediately embarked on a publicity career. Her work spanned a range of industries, and she was known for her expertise in executing numerous media campaigns, crisis and reputation management initiatives, and public policy advocacy efforts.
Early on, Frisch worked for producer Cameron Mackintosh in publicizing “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Miss Saigon.” She also had stints at Planned Parenthood and Craig Anderson Prods. and served as the personal publicist for actress Meredith Baxter in the 1990s.
Throughout her career, Frisch held key positions at organizations such as the WGA, SAG-AFTRA, the American Humane Association, Bgr Group, and the National Foreign Trade Council.
A native of Los Angeles who grew up in the San Fernando Valley and attended Birmingham High School, Frisch immediately embarked on a publicity career. Her work spanned a range of industries, and she was known for her expertise in executing numerous media campaigns, crisis and reputation management initiatives, and public policy advocacy efforts.
Early on, Frisch worked for producer Cameron Mackintosh in publicizing “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Miss Saigon.” She also had stints at Planned Parenthood and Craig Anderson Prods. and served as the personal publicist for actress Meredith Baxter in the 1990s.
- 8/22/2024
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
My favorite version of the Penguin remains the one that scared me when I was seven years old. He had webbed hands, spewed black bile from between his teeth, and had a penchant for biting off the noses of insufficiently servile yes men. He was, of course, Danny DeVito’s Penguin in Tim Burton’s still bafflingly original Batman Returns, and he had absolutely nothing to do with his comic book counterpart other than a name, a monocle, and a penchant for fancy cigarette filters.
I’m reminded of my initial revulsion—and disappointment that he had nothing to do with the character I saw first on Batman: The Animated Series and as played by Burgess Meredith in the 1960s’ Batman camp classic before that—while predictably seeing the initial online criticism of the news that Minnie Driver has been cast as Oswalda Cobbeplot in a revisionist interpretation of the...
I’m reminded of my initial revulsion—and disappointment that he had nothing to do with the character I saw first on Batman: The Animated Series and as played by Burgess Meredith in the 1960s’ Batman camp classic before that—while predictably seeing the initial online criticism of the news that Minnie Driver has been cast as Oswalda Cobbeplot in a revisionist interpretation of the...
- 7/28/2024
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Minnie Driver has had an impressive career on both the small and big screen.
The actor will lend her talents to The Serpent Queen Season 2, which premieres Friday, July 12, 2024, exclusively on Starz.
Driver, best known for her work in Good Will Hunting and The Phantom of The Opera, is no stranger to comical characters, coming off a stellar performance as Anne Bonny in Max’s brilliant but canceled Our Flag Means Death.
Monsters and Critics got to chat with Driver about her major role as Queen Elizabeth I in the historical drama’s sophomore season.
Queen Elizabeth I adds a fun element to The Serpent Queen Season 2 as a new character who is fearless, witty, and ready to take on Samantha Morton’s (The Walking Dead) Catherine de’ Medici.
Without spoiling anything, Queen Elizabeth I and Catherine de’ Medici cross paths when you least expect it in the narrative, adding...
The actor will lend her talents to The Serpent Queen Season 2, which premieres Friday, July 12, 2024, exclusively on Starz.
Driver, best known for her work in Good Will Hunting and The Phantom of The Opera, is no stranger to comical characters, coming off a stellar performance as Anne Bonny in Max’s brilliant but canceled Our Flag Means Death.
Monsters and Critics got to chat with Driver about her major role as Queen Elizabeth I in the historical drama’s sophomore season.
Queen Elizabeth I adds a fun element to The Serpent Queen Season 2 as a new character who is fearless, witty, and ready to take on Samantha Morton’s (The Walking Dead) Catherine de’ Medici.
Without spoiling anything, Queen Elizabeth I and Catherine de’ Medici cross paths when you least expect it in the narrative, adding...
- 7/11/2024
- by Paul Dailly
- Monsters and Critics
The legend of Quentin Tarantino is a well-established tale in the annals of cinematic history. When he broke out in the industry, the director’s prowess and unbridled power over creativity and storytelling had been unparalleled since the era of Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, Ridley Scott, and the like.
Quentin Tarantino on the set of Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood [Credit: Sony Pictures]
It was only fair to allow the once-in-a-generation talent to bloom beyond the supervising thumb of studio overlords, whose concerns extended only so far as MPAA ratings and budgetary constraints. Given the stylistic choice of filmmaking that Tarantino would become famous for, scoring a suitable rating would only be the first of many problems faced by Hollywood’s studios.
Quentin Tarantino’s Strange Story Behind Pulp Fiction
The cinaesthetic tastes of Quentin Tarantino has long shaped the form and perception of his movies, the first among them...
Quentin Tarantino on the set of Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood [Credit: Sony Pictures]
It was only fair to allow the once-in-a-generation talent to bloom beyond the supervising thumb of studio overlords, whose concerns extended only so far as MPAA ratings and budgetary constraints. Given the stylistic choice of filmmaking that Tarantino would become famous for, scoring a suitable rating would only be the first of many problems faced by Hollywood’s studios.
Quentin Tarantino’s Strange Story Behind Pulp Fiction
The cinaesthetic tastes of Quentin Tarantino has long shaped the form and perception of his movies, the first among them...
- 7/6/2024
- by Diya Majumdar
- FandomWire
By the 1950s, the Universal Monsters had become a punchline with most of them ending their onscreen careers meeting Abbott and Costello. Many of them had become victims of their own success, becoming so iconic that they had lost any ability to frighten anybody. Creatures from outer space, radioactive monsters, and giant bugs had taken over the throne as horror’s reigning attractions and anything that deviated from these felt passé and played out. Universal itself supplied plenty of its own creations into this theatrical landscape and relegated its classic monsters to the small screen. Into this environment came something new from the studio that all but created the modern horror film when Universal unleashed Creature from the Black Lagoon into the world.
There is much about the Creature that is similar to the Universal monsters that have come before. Like Lon Chaney’s Phantom, Boris Karloff’s Frankenstein Monster,...
There is much about the Creature that is similar to the Universal monsters that have come before. Like Lon Chaney’s Phantom, Boris Karloff’s Frankenstein Monster,...
- 6/26/2024
- by Brian Keiper
- bloody-disgusting.com
Award-winning actor Aaron Lazar, known for his two decades of captivating audiences on Broadway and beyond, is set to release a powerful new album, Impossible Dream, featuring some of the brightest stars in theater, television, and music on August 16.
This exciting announcement comes as Lazar bravely faces amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Als), a progressive neurodegenerative disease he was diagnosed with in January 2022.
Lazar said, “I first sang ‘The Impossible Dream’ 24 years ago as a grad student in Cincinnati playing Don Quixote in The Man of La Mancha, as my impossible dream of becoming a professional actor was coming true. All these years later, the song and its message have become an anthem for me. This album is incredibly special, not just because it is my debut album but also because it is an extraordinary opportunity to celebrate what I’m learning: we all have the power within us to make the impossible possible,...
This exciting announcement comes as Lazar bravely faces amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Als), a progressive neurodegenerative disease he was diagnosed with in January 2022.
Lazar said, “I first sang ‘The Impossible Dream’ 24 years ago as a grad student in Cincinnati playing Don Quixote in The Man of La Mancha, as my impossible dream of becoming a professional actor was coming true. All these years later, the song and its message have become an anthem for me. This album is incredibly special, not just because it is my debut album but also because it is an extraordinary opportunity to celebrate what I’m learning: we all have the power within us to make the impossible possible,...
- 6/18/2024
- Look to the Stars
At this year’s Tony Awards “Suffs” managed to win prizes for Best Musical Book and Best Score, both of which went to Shaina Taub. Historically, winning those two accolades in particular would bode well for a show’s chances at Best Musical. Yet in a shocking turn of events, the top award went to “The Outsiders.” But this is not the first time something like this has happened.
SEETony Awards: Every winner (and nominee) in all 26 competitive categories
In 1978 “On the Twentieth Century” won Tonys for Best Score and Best Book (Comden and Green). It also won Best Actor in a Musical (John Cullum), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Kevin Kline), and Best Scenic Design (Robin Wagner). Yet Best Musical that year went to Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby Jr.‘s revue “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” A tribute to the music of Fats Waller, it also won Tonys for Best...
SEETony Awards: Every winner (and nominee) in all 26 competitive categories
In 1978 “On the Twentieth Century” won Tonys for Best Score and Best Book (Comden and Green). It also won Best Actor in a Musical (John Cullum), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Kevin Kline), and Best Scenic Design (Robin Wagner). Yet Best Musical that year went to Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby Jr.‘s revue “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” A tribute to the music of Fats Waller, it also won Tonys for Best...
- 6/17/2024
- by Jeffrey Kare
- Gold Derby
Since 1949, the Tony Awards have recognized an array of remarkable shows with the coveted title of Best Musical. Show-stopping classics from Cats, The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables to contemporary toe-tappers such as Rent, The Book of Mormon and Hamilton have won the Broadway honor over the years.
Most recently, The Outsiders won the trophy at the 2024 Tony Awards.
Scroll through the gallery to take a look back at all the Best Musical winners.
Most recently, The Outsiders won the trophy at the 2024 Tony Awards.
Scroll through the gallery to take a look back at all the Best Musical winners.
- 6/17/2024
- by Robert Lang
- Deadline Film + TV
Zack Snyder’s 300 told a fictionalized version of the Battle of Thermopylae and saw Gerard Butler’s King Leonidas leading 300 Spartans into battle against an army of about 300,000 soldiers. The film is based on the namesake limited comic book series created by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley. 300 had its own ups and downs while it received mixed reviews from critics and a few awards, it also was also criticized for its historical inaccuracies.
Gerard Butler in 300 (2006) | Warner Bros.
Gerard Butler played the hell out of his character but there was a time when he almost did not get the role. A Warner Bros. executive was unsure about the actor’s casting as King Leonidas but agreed to give him the job on one strange condition – Gerard Butler had to stop smoking.
Gerard Butler Gave His Word to Warner Bros. Executive Zack Snyder’s 300 | Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Gerard Butler in 300 (2006) | Warner Bros.
Gerard Butler played the hell out of his character but there was a time when he almost did not get the role. A Warner Bros. executive was unsure about the actor’s casting as King Leonidas but agreed to give him the job on one strange condition – Gerard Butler had to stop smoking.
Gerard Butler Gave His Word to Warner Bros. Executive Zack Snyder’s 300 | Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
- 6/10/2024
- by Mishkaat Khan
- FandomWire
Gerard Butler’s Leonidas led an army of 300 soldiers to face off against the 300,000 soldiers of the Persian God-King Xerxes in Zack Snyder’s 300. The David and Goliath story required actors to get ripped and look perfect in their half-naked attires. However, Warner Bros. exec Alan Horn wasn’t exactly convinced with Butler for the role after working with him on The Phantom of the Opera.
Gerard Butler in a still from 300 | Legendary Pictures
However, when Butler came to convince him, Horn decided to give him the role as per Snyder’s wish upon one condition. He knew from their earlier collaboration that Butler was a heavy smoker and he wanted the actor to quit smoking to land the part.
Gerard Butler Struck A Deal To Quit Smoking In Order To Land The 300 Role Zack Snyder and Gerard Butler on the sets of 300 | Legendary Pictures
When Zack Snyder decided to...
Gerard Butler in a still from 300 | Legendary Pictures
However, when Butler came to convince him, Horn decided to give him the role as per Snyder’s wish upon one condition. He knew from their earlier collaboration that Butler was a heavy smoker and he wanted the actor to quit smoking to land the part.
Gerard Butler Struck A Deal To Quit Smoking In Order To Land The 300 Role Zack Snyder and Gerard Butler on the sets of 300 | Legendary Pictures
When Zack Snyder decided to...
- 6/10/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
Zack Snyder's 2006 film "300," based on the comic book by Frank Miller, tells a hyper-stylized and not-the-least-bit-historically-accurate version of the Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC) wherein 300 Spartan soldiers managed to fend off anywhere from 120,000 to 300,000 soldiers of the Persian Empire for three full days. Both Miller's book and Snyder's film present the Spartans as teeth-gashing, testosterone-spitting, Spam-scented beefcake slabs comprised of nothing but pectoral muscles, testicles, and homophobia. They speak in "Join the Marines" recruiting slogans and disparage anything that's not at least 4000% more masculine than a two-ton bag of Tom Jones' chest hair.
Speaking of chest hair, none of the Spartans have any, happy to parade around their cartoonishly cut physiques as if they all possess a severe shirt allergy. Leading the charge is King Leonidas (Gerard Butler), a man who cannot help but add multiple exclamation marks after every sentence he speaks.
"300" was a massive hit,...
Speaking of chest hair, none of the Spartans have any, happy to parade around their cartoonishly cut physiques as if they all possess a severe shirt allergy. Leading the charge is King Leonidas (Gerard Butler), a man who cannot help but add multiple exclamation marks after every sentence he speaks.
"300" was a massive hit,...
- 6/9/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Broadway had been making progress toward an industrywide recovery, but new data shows halted momentum in the most recent season.
According to data from the industry trade group The Broadway League, overall grosses for the 2023-2024 season were down about 2.5 percent compared to the previous season, reaching $1.54 billion compared to $1.58 billion the prior year. And compared to the 2018-2019 season, the last full season before the pandemic closed all theaters, grosses were down 17 percent.
Even if viewed as largely flat compared to last season, that spells trouble for the industry, given the rising cost of producing a show.
“Every year our expenses go up at least five percent, if not more, because we so outpace inflation,” says Ken Davenport, producer of the Neil Diamond musical A Beautiful Noise. “So flat is terrible.”
Attendance was also largely flat compared to this past season, which ran from May to May, coming in...
According to data from the industry trade group The Broadway League, overall grosses for the 2023-2024 season were down about 2.5 percent compared to the previous season, reaching $1.54 billion compared to $1.58 billion the prior year. And compared to the 2018-2019 season, the last full season before the pandemic closed all theaters, grosses were down 17 percent.
Even if viewed as largely flat compared to last season, that spells trouble for the industry, given the rising cost of producing a show.
“Every year our expenses go up at least five percent, if not more, because we so outpace inflation,” says Ken Davenport, producer of the Neil Diamond musical A Beautiful Noise. “So flat is terrible.”
Attendance was also largely flat compared to this past season, which ran from May to May, coming in...
- 6/5/2024
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Audra McDonald will reopen Broadway’s Majestic Theatre with a new production of Gypsy.
McDonald will play Rose, one of the top roles in musical theater, which has been played by the likes of Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Bernadette Peters and Patti LuPone. George C. Wolfe, a five time Tony-Award winning director, will helm the revival. Camille A. Brown (Hell’s Kitchen) has been tapped as choreographer.
Performances begin Nov. 21, with an opening night Dec. 19. This production will be the first to play the Majestic Theatre, which was the longtime home to The Phantom of the Opera. The theater closed for renovations after the production ended its 35-year run in April 2023.
McDonald is a six-time Tony Award winning actor, with wins for her roles in Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess and Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill. She...
McDonald will play Rose, one of the top roles in musical theater, which has been played by the likes of Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Bernadette Peters and Patti LuPone. George C. Wolfe, a five time Tony-Award winning director, will helm the revival. Camille A. Brown (Hell’s Kitchen) has been tapped as choreographer.
Performances begin Nov. 21, with an opening night Dec. 19. This production will be the first to play the Majestic Theatre, which was the longtime home to The Phantom of the Opera. The theater closed for renovations after the production ended its 35-year run in April 2023.
McDonald is a six-time Tony Award winning actor, with wins for her roles in Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess and Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill. She...
- 5/29/2024
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Emmy Rossum, also known as Emmanuelle Grey Rossum, is 5 feet 6 ¾ inches (169.5 cm) tall.
For context, the average height of an American woman is approximately 5 feet 4 inches. Emmy Rossum is slightly taller than the average but significantly taller than Amanda Seyfried, who is 5ft 2 ½ inches (158.8 cm).
At the Apple TV+’s “The Crowded Room” New York Premiere on June 1, 2023, in New York City, Amanda Seyfried, standing at 5ft 2 ½ inches (158.8 cm), appeared notably shorter than Emmy Rossum, who stands at 5ft 6 ¾ inches (169.5 cm) (Credit: Marion Curtis/ StarPix for Apple / Startraksphoto)
Emmy Rossum’s Balanced Proportions and Shoe Size
Emmy Rossum’s shoe size is 8.5 in the US, a standard size for women. Other sizing systems include 6.5 in the UK, 39 in Europe, and approximately 25.5 in Japan.
With a height of 5 feet 6 ¾ inches and a shoe size of 8.5 US, Rossum’s proportions are well-balanced and in line with many women.
Emmy Rossum in a...
For context, the average height of an American woman is approximately 5 feet 4 inches. Emmy Rossum is slightly taller than the average but significantly taller than Amanda Seyfried, who is 5ft 2 ½ inches (158.8 cm).
At the Apple TV+’s “The Crowded Room” New York Premiere on June 1, 2023, in New York City, Amanda Seyfried, standing at 5ft 2 ½ inches (158.8 cm), appeared notably shorter than Emmy Rossum, who stands at 5ft 6 ¾ inches (169.5 cm) (Credit: Marion Curtis/ StarPix for Apple / Startraksphoto)
Emmy Rossum’s Balanced Proportions and Shoe Size
Emmy Rossum’s shoe size is 8.5 in the US, a standard size for women. Other sizing systems include 6.5 in the UK, 39 in Europe, and approximately 25.5 in Japan.
With a height of 5 feet 6 ¾ inches and a shoe size of 8.5 US, Rossum’s proportions are well-balanced and in line with many women.
Emmy Rossum in a...
- 5/15/2024
- by Anne De Guia
- Your Next Shoes
Gerard Butler and Den of Thieves director Christian Gudegast could head to the Big Apple as Butler is in talks to join the filmmaker for the comedic action-thriller Empire State. The upcoming project finds Butler and Gudegast re-teaming after joining forces for 2018’s Den of Thieves, Plane, and London Has Fallen.
According to Deadline‘s exclusive report, Empire State focuses on what happens when “the Empire State Building is attacked by a military contractor hellbent on revenge. Navy Seal turned NY firefighter Rhett (Butler) and NYPD Tactical officer Dani (yet to be cast) must put aside their relationship troubles as they work to rescue hostages and save the famous landmark.”
S. Craig Zahler of Bone Tomahawk fame co-wrote the script with Brian Tucker (Secret Invasion).
Butler recently wrapped his role as Stoick for the live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon. Mason Thames, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James,...
According to Deadline‘s exclusive report, Empire State focuses on what happens when “the Empire State Building is attacked by a military contractor hellbent on revenge. Navy Seal turned NY firefighter Rhett (Butler) and NYPD Tactical officer Dani (yet to be cast) must put aside their relationship troubles as they work to rescue hostages and save the famous landmark.”
S. Craig Zahler of Bone Tomahawk fame co-wrote the script with Brian Tucker (Secret Invasion).
Butler recently wrapped his role as Stoick for the live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon. Mason Thames, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James,...
- 5/14/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
“Every season we’ve had some sort of theme or inspiration for Mabel’s costumes,” reveals Dana Covarrubias when referencing the character played by Selena Gomez on “Only Murders in the Building.” While the main players in the Hulu comedy mount a Broadway musical, eagle-eyed viewers might have noticed that Mabel’s outfits get a theatrical flair as well. The Emmy-nominated costume designer incorporated a nod to Broadway musicals into nearly every outfit that Mabel wears during Season 3. Watch the exclusive video interview above.
“We thought it would be appropriate to use Broadway musicals and movie musicals as our inspiration,” continues Covarrubias. This doesn’t mean that Mabel is suddenly donning a Ziegfeld follies getup with sequins and feathers. She still retains her signature New Yorker style. “It’s just a nod to either the color of a costume or the silhouette,” explains the designer.
See Emmy Experts predict Meryl Streep...
“We thought it would be appropriate to use Broadway musicals and movie musicals as our inspiration,” continues Covarrubias. This doesn’t mean that Mabel is suddenly donning a Ziegfeld follies getup with sequins and feathers. She still retains her signature New Yorker style. “It’s just a nod to either the color of a costume or the silhouette,” explains the designer.
See Emmy Experts predict Meryl Streep...
- 4/25/2024
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
Twenty years ago this month, the fairy tale-like romantic comedy “13 Going on 30” starring Jennifer Garner made its way into cinemas. The actress played Jenna Rink, a socially awkward soon-to-be 13-year-old who quickly realizes that she “hates being 13.” She makes a birthday wish to be “thirty, flirty and thriving.” With the little help of some wishing dust, she wakes up the next morning to discover that her wish has come true.
It was a defining moment in Garner’s early career. Her role as Sydney Bristow in the television action thriller series “Alias” had made her a breakout star (including at awards shows) just a few years earlier. She won the Golden Globe for Best Drama Actress in 2002 and had competed again in 2003 and earlier in 2004. She had also been nominated for two Emmy Awards one Screen Actors Guild trophy.
While Garner already had a number of film credits on her resume,...
It was a defining moment in Garner’s early career. Her role as Sydney Bristow in the television action thriller series “Alias” had made her a breakout star (including at awards shows) just a few years earlier. She won the Golden Globe for Best Drama Actress in 2002 and had competed again in 2003 and earlier in 2004. She had also been nominated for two Emmy Awards one Screen Actors Guild trophy.
While Garner already had a number of film credits on her resume,...
- 4/23/2024
- by Tariq Khan
- Gold Derby
Imagine “Wicked” without wigs, hair, or makeup. Or “The Lion King.” Or “The Phantom of the Opera.” Or “Cats.” Frankly, it would all be a bit bizarre and lackluster. None of those shows — in terms of looks, character, and story — would make sense without the incredible wigs, hair, and makeup (Wham) featured in them, which is why it is so strange that Wham artists are not recognized at major theater awards organizations.
There is, however, a campaign trying to get this bizarre omission rectified, and Victoria Fenton, the founder of the campaign Recognize Wham, has set up a Change petition to raise awareness of this issue. I spoke to Fenton, who is a freelance wig maker and a Wigs, Hair, and Makeup Assistant for “Mrs. Doubtfire,” as well as Wigs, Hair, and Makeup Supervisor Alice Hardy, to discuss this campaign, which aims to get awards groups such as the Tonys...
There is, however, a campaign trying to get this bizarre omission rectified, and Victoria Fenton, the founder of the campaign Recognize Wham, has set up a Change petition to raise awareness of this issue. I spoke to Fenton, who is a freelance wig maker and a Wigs, Hair, and Makeup Assistant for “Mrs. Doubtfire,” as well as Wigs, Hair, and Makeup Supervisor Alice Hardy, to discuss this campaign, which aims to get awards groups such as the Tonys...
- 4/12/2024
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
The vision for the ninth annual Platino Awards is coming into focus with the announcement of the night’s musical performers.
Ana Guerra, Ana Mena, Ángela Aguilar, David Bisbal, Diana Hoyos, Gerónimo Rauch, Májida Issa, Mariaca Semprún and Monsieur Periné are set to take the stage at the Gran Tlacho theater at Xcaret Park in Riviera Maya on April 20.
Per intel from event organizers, the ceremony will feature original compositions for the occasion like one performed by Hoyos and Rauch to a score by composer Lucas Vidal. The roster of talent is meant to spotlight the richness of Ibero-American stars and music. Guerra, Mena and Bisbal hail from Spain, Aguilar from Mexico, Hoyos, Issa and Monsieur Periné from Colombia, Rauch from Argentina, and Mariaca Semprún from Venezuela. Traditional Mexican music will have a prominent place in the ceremony thanks to Guerra, Issa and Semprún. Mena is on deck to pay tribute to Rocío Dúrcal,...
Ana Guerra, Ana Mena, Ángela Aguilar, David Bisbal, Diana Hoyos, Gerónimo Rauch, Májida Issa, Mariaca Semprún and Monsieur Periné are set to take the stage at the Gran Tlacho theater at Xcaret Park in Riviera Maya on April 20.
Per intel from event organizers, the ceremony will feature original compositions for the occasion like one performed by Hoyos and Rauch to a score by composer Lucas Vidal. The roster of talent is meant to spotlight the richness of Ibero-American stars and music. Guerra, Mena and Bisbal hail from Spain, Aguilar from Mexico, Hoyos, Issa and Monsieur Periné from Colombia, Rauch from Argentina, and Mariaca Semprún from Venezuela. Traditional Mexican music will have a prominent place in the ceremony thanks to Guerra, Issa and Semprún. Mena is on deck to pay tribute to Rocío Dúrcal,...
- 4/6/2024
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Sky has landed UK broadcast rights to music film My Favorite Things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 80thAnniversary Concert.
The deal was announced today by the film executive producers Sophia Dilley from Concord Originals and Imogen Lloyd Webber from Concord Theatricals. Sky will broadcast the film in the UK on Sky Arts in May.
Directed by BAFTA winner Julia Knowles (The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebration), the film celebrates the historic partnership of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II and features iconic songs from The Sound of Music, South Pacific, Oklahoma! and others.
The film includes a concert captured in London in December 2023 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane – the same venue that premiered the original West End productions of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, Carousel, SouthPacific and The King and I.
It was headlined by the likes of recent Rogers & Hammerstein leading lady Joanna Ampil (Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific); Olivier...
The deal was announced today by the film executive producers Sophia Dilley from Concord Originals and Imogen Lloyd Webber from Concord Theatricals. Sky will broadcast the film in the UK on Sky Arts in May.
Directed by BAFTA winner Julia Knowles (The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebration), the film celebrates the historic partnership of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II and features iconic songs from The Sound of Music, South Pacific, Oklahoma! and others.
The film includes a concert captured in London in December 2023 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane – the same venue that premiered the original West End productions of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, Carousel, SouthPacific and The King and I.
It was headlined by the likes of recent Rogers & Hammerstein leading lady Joanna Ampil (Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific); Olivier...
- 3/20/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Steve Harley, the frontman of British glam rock band Cockney Rebel, died Sunday at 73 from cancer.
Harley’s family said Sunday that he had “passed away peacefully at home, with his family by his side.” Harley said late last year he was being treated for “a nasty cancer.”
His best known song was “Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me),” which went to No. 1 in the UK in 1975.
Harley also sang the title song of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical The Phantom of the Opera alongside Sarah Brightman when it was released as a single in 1986. He was originally cast in the title role for the stage musical, but was replaced by Michael Crawford.
Harley also presented Sounds of the ’70s on BBC Radio 2 from 1999-2008.
Born in London in 1951, Harley spent almost four years of his childhood hospitalized after contracting polio.
He formed Cockney Rebel, which released its first album,...
Harley’s family said Sunday that he had “passed away peacefully at home, with his family by his side.” Harley said late last year he was being treated for “a nasty cancer.”
His best known song was “Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me),” which went to No. 1 in the UK in 1975.
Harley also sang the title song of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical The Phantom of the Opera alongside Sarah Brightman when it was released as a single in 1986. He was originally cast in the title role for the stage musical, but was replaced by Michael Crawford.
Harley also presented Sounds of the ’70s on BBC Radio 2 from 1999-2008.
Born in London in 1951, Harley spent almost four years of his childhood hospitalized after contracting polio.
He formed Cockney Rebel, which released its first album,...
- 3/17/2024
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
The term “scream queen” gets thrown around a lot, even applied to actors who have only done a handful of horror films. But if any young performer deserves the title, it’s Samara Weaving. Not only does she star in the very gruesome post-apocalyptic horror-action movie Azrael, directed by E.L. Katz (Cheap Thrills) and written by Simon Barrett (The Guest), which just premiered at SXSW 2024, but she’s been in The Babysitter, Scream VI, and Ready or Not, among others. In fact, when we ask Weaving at the festival whether she likes being referred to as a “scream queen,” she answers quickly, “Yeah, why not? ‘Scream Queen’ is great. I’ll take it!”
For Weaving, the appeal of horror movies goes beyond the guts and gore most often associated with the genre. “It’s such a good vehicle to explore so many things,” she tells Den of Geek. “For [Azrael], it...
For Weaving, the appeal of horror movies goes beyond the guts and gore most often associated with the genre. “It’s such a good vehicle to explore so many things,” she tells Den of Geek. “For [Azrael], it...
- 3/11/2024
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
To celebrate the release of Room at the Top, on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital from 11th March, we are giving away Blu-Rays to 2 lucky winners!
Based on the best-selling novel by John Braine, Room At The Top is Jack Clayton’s debut feature and is one of the earliest examples of the ‘Kitchen Sink Drama’ that helped pave the way for the incoming ‘British New Wave’ of film-makers. Featuring the first open reference to sex as well as the earliest depiction of adultery in a British film, it was a controversial film for the era and was initially refused a certificate by the censors before eventually securing an “X” certificate.
Starring Laurence Harvey, Simone Signoret, Heather Sears and Donald Wolfit, the film went on to become a major box-office success and opened the floodgates for more adult orientated movies.
The film also gained widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for six Academy Awards,...
Based on the best-selling novel by John Braine, Room At The Top is Jack Clayton’s debut feature and is one of the earliest examples of the ‘Kitchen Sink Drama’ that helped pave the way for the incoming ‘British New Wave’ of film-makers. Featuring the first open reference to sex as well as the earliest depiction of adultery in a British film, it was a controversial film for the era and was initially refused a certificate by the censors before eventually securing an “X” certificate.
Starring Laurence Harvey, Simone Signoret, Heather Sears and Donald Wolfit, the film went on to become a major box-office success and opened the floodgates for more adult orientated movies.
The film also gained widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for six Academy Awards,...
- 3/9/2024
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
A few months ago, director Dwight H. Little – the director of such films as Rapid Fire (starring Brandon Lee), The Phantom of the Opera (starring Robert Englund), the Steven Seagal vehicle Marked for Death, Free Willy 2, the Wesley Snipes mystery Murder at 1600, Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, Tekken, and my favorite of the Halloween sequels, Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers – released a memoir called Still Rolling: Inside the Hollywood Dream Factory (copies can be purchased at This Link). In one passage of the book, Little discusses the series of mistakes and oversights that led to Brandon Lee’s tragic shooting death on the set of The Crow. With a remake of The Crow set to reach theatres in June and Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed having just been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the case of the shooting death on the set of that film,...
- 3/7/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
For years, Awesome Art We’ve Found Around The Net has been about two things only – awesome art and the artists that create it. With that in mind, we thought why not take the first week of the month to showcase these awesome artists even more? Welcome to “Awesome Artist We’ve Found Around The Net.” In this column, we are focusing on one artist and the awesome art that they create, whether they be amateur, up and coming, or well established. The goal is to uncover these artists so even more people become familiar with them. We ask these artists a few questions to see their origins, influences, and more. If you are an awesome artist or know someone that should be featured, feel free to contact me at any time at theodorebond@joblo.com.This month we are very pleased to bring you the awesome art of…
Laurent Durieux...
Laurent Durieux...
- 3/2/2024
- by Theodore Bond
- JoBlo.com
Update, with new opening date: Producers of Gerard Alessandrini’s Forbidden Broadway on Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song have moved up the preview and opening dates by two weeks, with previews now beginning on July 15 ahead of an official opening on August 5 at the Hayes Theatre. The limited engagement runs through November 1.
Alessandrini’s longtime Off Broadway satirical revue Forbidden Broadway will make its long-in-coming Broadway debut with the full title of the new iteration called Forbidden Broadway on Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song
The cast and the rest of the creative team will be announced later. In addition to a five-person cast including the onstage pianist, weekly guest stars will appear throughout the engagement.
Alessandrini, who first staged the revue in 1982 at New York’s 130-seat Palsson’s Supper Club, said in a statement today, “I’d never have believed that Forbidden Broadway would end up on...
Alessandrini’s longtime Off Broadway satirical revue Forbidden Broadway will make its long-in-coming Broadway debut with the full title of the new iteration called Forbidden Broadway on Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song
The cast and the rest of the creative team will be announced later. In addition to a five-person cast including the onstage pianist, weekly guest stars will appear throughout the engagement.
Alessandrini, who first staged the revue in 1982 at New York’s 130-seat Palsson’s Supper Club, said in a statement today, “I’d never have believed that Forbidden Broadway would end up on...
- 2/29/2024
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Eric Anthony Lopez has signed with Sovereign Talent Group’s theatrical division.
Lopez is best known for playing school jock bully Syd in Disney Studios pic Chang Can Dunk, produced by Lena Waithe and written and directed by first-time director Jingyi Shao.
Lopez is also known for his work on the stage. He made his Broadway debut as Passarino in Broadway’s The Phantom of The Opera, directed by Harold Prince with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Lopez’s television credits include the season of I Can See Your Voice on Fox , The Show Must Go On on AppleTV+ and City of Mercy.
LA-based Sovereign Talent Group represents the likes of Oscar nominee Eric Roberts, Valeria Lamm and Chris Doubek.
Lopez continues to be repped by Rcg (Rebel Creative Group) & Kapr.
Lopez is best known for playing school jock bully Syd in Disney Studios pic Chang Can Dunk, produced by Lena Waithe and written and directed by first-time director Jingyi Shao.
Lopez is also known for his work on the stage. He made his Broadway debut as Passarino in Broadway’s The Phantom of The Opera, directed by Harold Prince with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Lopez’s television credits include the season of I Can See Your Voice on Fox , The Show Must Go On on AppleTV+ and City of Mercy.
LA-based Sovereign Talent Group represents the likes of Oscar nominee Eric Roberts, Valeria Lamm and Chris Doubek.
Lopez continues to be repped by Rcg (Rebel Creative Group) & Kapr.
- 2/15/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Presented by Lisa Frankenstein, 1989 Week is dialing the clock back to the crossroads year for the genre with a full week of features that dig six feet under into the year. Today, it all comes to an end as Rachel Reeves searches for scares in the suburbs.
In the back half of the 1980s, the American suburbs experienced a resurgence in popularity. As global instabilities stabilized and economies began to boom, moving to the suburbs became a sign of financial and professional success. Primarily populated by young families, the suburbs also became associated with traditional family values, safety, and community. However, as any true crime enthusiast knows, some things (and some people) are not always as innocent as they appear.
With Hollywood quick to hop on this trend train, what resulted was a wealth of interesting Frankenstein-style film ideas that simultaneously displayed the absurd excess and nostalgic conservatism the...
In the back half of the 1980s, the American suburbs experienced a resurgence in popularity. As global instabilities stabilized and economies began to boom, moving to the suburbs became a sign of financial and professional success. Primarily populated by young families, the suburbs also became associated with traditional family values, safety, and community. However, as any true crime enthusiast knows, some things (and some people) are not always as innocent as they appear.
With Hollywood quick to hop on this trend train, what resulted was a wealth of interesting Frankenstein-style film ideas that simultaneously displayed the absurd excess and nostalgic conservatism the...
- 2/14/2024
- by Rachel Reeves
- bloody-disgusting.com
As the ’80s came to a close, so too did the first wave of the slasher cycle. While they would continue to be produced into the next decade, 1989 was the last gasp of a dying genre. Returning franchises and hopeful upstarts alike struggled to make an impact. We all know you can never really kill a slasher, but it would take Scream‘s reinvention of the concept in 1996 to renew broad interest.
Cutting Class, another ’89 entry in the subgenre, marked the directorial debut — and, as it turned out, sole directorial effort — from Rospo Pallenberg, who notably co-wrote Excalibur, contributed uncredited rewrites on Exorcist II: The Heretic, and served as a “creative associate” on Deliverance. Despite his pedigree, Pallenberg did not write the script; that was the work of Steve Slavkin, who would go on to create Nickelodeon’s pivotal series Salute Your Shorts.
The plot finds prototypical girl-next-door Paula in...
Cutting Class, another ’89 entry in the subgenre, marked the directorial debut — and, as it turned out, sole directorial effort — from Rospo Pallenberg, who notably co-wrote Excalibur, contributed uncredited rewrites on Exorcist II: The Heretic, and served as a “creative associate” on Deliverance. Despite his pedigree, Pallenberg did not write the script; that was the work of Steve Slavkin, who would go on to create Nickelodeon’s pivotal series Salute Your Shorts.
The plot finds prototypical girl-next-door Paula in...
- 2/9/2024
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
Guillermo del Toro, Nicolas Winding Refn and more sing the Italian director’s praises in this dexterous look back over his career – but his dark side still shines through
There’s a revealing moment at the end of this sturdy documentary about the Italian film-maker Dario Argento, when his daughter Asia remembers his state of mind when he came home from the David di Donatello awards, Italy’s version of the Oscars, in 2019. Over the course of his career – which is still ongoing – 84-year-old Argento had never won a David for any of his strange, unique films, such as Profondo Rosso (1975), Suspiria (1977) or Tenebre (1982) to name just three of his best known. But that year, the Italian Academy gave him a lifetime achievement award. Asia recalls that when they got back from the ceremony, he shrugged and said “sticazzi” – “who cares?”. He only really cares about the work itself, she explains,...
There’s a revealing moment at the end of this sturdy documentary about the Italian film-maker Dario Argento, when his daughter Asia remembers his state of mind when he came home from the David di Donatello awards, Italy’s version of the Oscars, in 2019. Over the course of his career – which is still ongoing – 84-year-old Argento had never won a David for any of his strange, unique films, such as Profondo Rosso (1975), Suspiria (1977) or Tenebre (1982) to name just three of his best known. But that year, the Italian Academy gave him a lifetime achievement award. Asia recalls that when they got back from the ceremony, he shrugged and said “sticazzi” – “who cares?”. He only really cares about the work itself, she explains,...
- 1/31/2024
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Guardian - Film News
Martin McCallum, a British theatrical producer whose work on more than 500 Broadway and West End shows saw his participation in some of the most successful stage productions in modern theater history, died peacefully, surrounded by family, on January 14 in Sydney, Australia. He was 73.
His death was announced by his family. A cause was not disclosed.
The President of the Society of London Theatre from 1999 to 2002 and a member of the Broadway League since 1988, McCallum made an indelible mark on Broadway with massive hits, critical favorites and even two high-profile flops.
His impact on the London theater scene was even greater. Born in Blackpool on April 6, 1950, McCallum began his stage career as an assistant stage manager at the Castle Theatre Farnham,...
His death was announced by his family. A cause was not disclosed.
The President of the Society of London Theatre from 1999 to 2002 and a member of the Broadway League since 1988, McCallum made an indelible mark on Broadway with massive hits, critical favorites and even two high-profile flops.
His impact on the London theater scene was even greater. Born in Blackpool on April 6, 1950, McCallum began his stage career as an assistant stage manager at the Castle Theatre Farnham,...
- 1/17/2024
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Famed musical composer Andrew Lloyd Webber revealed that he believe that “poltergeists” have haunted him in both his home and theaters where his shows have been performed.
A poltergeist is often recognized as a spirit that physically affects its surroundings and is translated from German into “noisy ghost.”
Lloyd Webber claimed that he had a London home on Easton Square “which had a poltergeist,” he told The Telegraph.
He also stated that the spirit would take script papers and rearrange them in different rooms where they didn’t belong.
The composer of The Phantom of the Opera had a priest come in to bless the house and cast the spirit out. Webber said that the spirit left him and his house alone after that.
This isn’t the only creepy occurrence in the Broadway world. According to Playbill, there are at least nine other theaters that have had paranormal activities associated with them.
A poltergeist is often recognized as a spirit that physically affects its surroundings and is translated from German into “noisy ghost.”
Lloyd Webber claimed that he had a London home on Easton Square “which had a poltergeist,” he told The Telegraph.
He also stated that the spirit would take script papers and rearrange them in different rooms where they didn’t belong.
The composer of The Phantom of the Opera had a priest come in to bless the house and cast the spirit out. Webber said that the spirit left him and his house alone after that.
This isn’t the only creepy occurrence in the Broadway world. According to Playbill, there are at least nine other theaters that have had paranormal activities associated with them.
- 1/16/2024
- by Morgan Lee Powers
- Uinterview
There was a time when the only spectacle required to set the theatrical world agog was to have something unexpectedly descend from the rafters. The helicopter in Miss Saigon. The chandelier in The Phantom of the Opera. Whichever actor’s harness snapped in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.
It would be condescending to say that Harry Potter and The Cursed Child “brought” magic to London’s West End. But it set a new bar for a type of ambitious theatricality, burying anything that might otherwise be forgettable about Jack Thorne’s dry play under the equivalent of dozens of chandeliers and helicopters all descending nonstop for seven hours. It’s been a smash on every level, particularly the most important one: Every performance brings an unusually young demographic to the West End (and to Broadway, where the show has been playing since 2018) and they leave generally happy.
Opening on a...
It would be condescending to say that Harry Potter and The Cursed Child “brought” magic to London’s West End. But it set a new bar for a type of ambitious theatricality, burying anything that might otherwise be forgettable about Jack Thorne’s dry play under the equivalent of dozens of chandeliers and helicopters all descending nonstop for seven hours. It’s been a smash on every level, particularly the most important one: Every performance brings an unusually young demographic to the West End (and to Broadway, where the show has been playing since 2018) and they leave generally happy.
Opening on a...
- 12/21/2023
- by Daniel Fienberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Some pretty famous actor/director pairings have defined a sizable portion of classic cinema over the years. Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro; the Coen brothers and Frances McDormand; Guillermo del Toro and Doug Jones. It's a legendary list and one that should most certainly include James Wan and Patrick Wilson. Dating back to 2010's smash hit "Insidious," the duo have worked together on six of Wan's directorial efforts (and many more that he's produced). That sixth collaboration came in "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom," which is just now making its way to theaters after several long delays.
But why is it that Wan continues to cast Wilson in his films? In fairness, this is a sequel and Wilson's Orm is a big part of the story. Even so, the two clearly want to keep working with one another. /Film's own Jacob Hall recently spoke with Wan in anticipation...
But why is it that Wan continues to cast Wilson in his films? In fairness, this is a sequel and Wilson's Orm is a big part of the story. Even so, the two clearly want to keep working with one another. /Film's own Jacob Hall recently spoke with Wan in anticipation...
- 12/21/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Like most movies, The Invisible Man travelled a long and winding road to the silver screen, and perhaps longer and more winding than most. As biographer James Curtis put it in his book James Whale: A New World of Gods and Monsters, “The gestation of The Invisible Man was the lengthiest and most convoluted of all of James Whale’s films. It involved four directors, nine writers, six treatments, and ten separate screenplays—all for a film that emerged very much in harmony with the book on which it was based.” It was first suggested as a possible follow-up to Dracula (1931), perhaps as a vehicle for new star Bela Lugosi, but was dropped in favor of Frankenstein (1931) due to the complicated special effects it would require. After Frankenstein was an even bigger success, both director James Whale and star Boris Karloff were immediately attached to The Invisible Man and several...
- 12/21/2023
- by Brian Keiper
- bloody-disgusting.com
Genre icon Dario Argento is the focus on the documentary Dario Argento Panico, which had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival back in September – the same time we got our hands on the trailer embedded above. Today, Deadline reports that Dario Argento Panico has been acquired by the Shudder streaming service, and they’re planning to start streaming the in film the U.S., Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand on February 2nd.
Before we reach that date, the documentary is set to have its U.S. premiere at the IFC Center in New York during their theatrical retrospective Panic Attacks: The Films of Dario Argento, which is set to run from January 31st through February 8th.
Directed by Simone Scafidi and produced by Paguro Film, Dario Argento Panico is said to offer an insightful journey through the life and legacy of the legendary Italian filmmaker,...
Before we reach that date, the documentary is set to have its U.S. premiere at the IFC Center in New York during their theatrical retrospective Panic Attacks: The Films of Dario Argento, which is set to run from January 31st through February 8th.
Directed by Simone Scafidi and produced by Paguro Film, Dario Argento Panico is said to offer an insightful journey through the life and legacy of the legendary Italian filmmaker,...
- 12/19/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: Paradise Square‘s Chilina Kennedy, Ryan Silverman (The Phantom of the Opera), Justin Matthew Sargent (Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark) and Ain’t No Mo’s Crystal Lucas-Perry have been cast in the upcoming Off Broadway musical A Sign of the Times featuring the songs of Petula Clark, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield and other ’60s hitmakers.
The York Theatre Company production begins previews February 7 at New World Stages and opens February 22.
The casting was announced today by the York in association with Richard J. Robin, President, Wells St. Productions LLC.
The cast also includes Cassie Austin, Erica Simone Barnett, Shawn Bowers, Alyssa Carol, Jeremiah Ginn, Kuppi Alec Jessop, Lena Mathews, Maggie McDowell, J Savage, Michael Starr and Edward Staudenmayer.
Additional casting will be announced in coming weeks.
The musical, which features a book by Lindsey Hope Pearlman based on an original story by Richard J. Robin, is set during...
The York Theatre Company production begins previews February 7 at New World Stages and opens February 22.
The casting was announced today by the York in association with Richard J. Robin, President, Wells St. Productions LLC.
The cast also includes Cassie Austin, Erica Simone Barnett, Shawn Bowers, Alyssa Carol, Jeremiah Ginn, Kuppi Alec Jessop, Lena Mathews, Maggie McDowell, J Savage, Michael Starr and Edward Staudenmayer.
Additional casting will be announced in coming weeks.
The musical, which features a book by Lindsey Hope Pearlman based on an original story by Richard J. Robin, is set during...
- 12/18/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Listen to the music of the night…
Happy holidays, horror fans, and welcome to the saddest Universal Classic Monster ever! A tortured tale with gondola rides through the sewers of Paris, snowy sword fights with a masked madman, and (of course) an organ solo so gothic and haunted it could raise the dead!
Join us as we rock out with our- uh, opera out? Phantom mania continues on this week’s bonus episode of Nightmare on Film Street as we say au revoir to The Phantom and celebrate the legacy of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s immortal musical through Joel Schumaker’s theatrical adaptation The Phantom of The Opera (2004). That’s right! We’re talking about musicals on this week’s edition of Graveyard Smash but also: Patrick Wilson with a ponytail, Gerard Butler’s singing abilities, whether or not “rose-colored-glasses” also cover the smell of a stinky sewer, and (naturally...
Happy holidays, horror fans, and welcome to the saddest Universal Classic Monster ever! A tortured tale with gondola rides through the sewers of Paris, snowy sword fights with a masked madman, and (of course) an organ solo so gothic and haunted it could raise the dead!
Join us as we rock out with our- uh, opera out? Phantom mania continues on this week’s bonus episode of Nightmare on Film Street as we say au revoir to The Phantom and celebrate the legacy of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s immortal musical through Joel Schumaker’s theatrical adaptation The Phantom of The Opera (2004). That’s right! We’re talking about musicals on this week’s edition of Graveyard Smash but also: Patrick Wilson with a ponytail, Gerard Butler’s singing abilities, whether or not “rose-colored-glasses” also cover the smell of a stinky sewer, and (naturally...
- 12/18/2023
- by Nightmare on Film Street
Phantom of the Auditorium was originally published in October 1994 (Spine #24) and the series adaptation aired on Friday, December 1, 1995 (runtime: 22 minutes).
For over a century, the world’s stage has been haunted by a mysterious, masked phantom. From the pages of Gaston Leroux’s 1909 novel to Lon Chaney’s unnerving performance that would inspire countless screen versions over the coming decades, The Phantom of the Opera has emerged from the depths of the theater to shock, awe and embody the depressing, torturous truths of show business’ fickle refrain.
While big, bold, romantic tragedy starring the likes of Herbert Lom or Claude Rains seems far flung from the Goosebumps milieu, R.L. Stine carried the well-worn tale of the scarred phantom and his jilted passion to the pages of his paperbacks with aplomb. Trading the opera house stage for the middle school auditorium, Stine’s phantom forgoes the disfigured musical genius and embraces...
For over a century, the world’s stage has been haunted by a mysterious, masked phantom. From the pages of Gaston Leroux’s 1909 novel to Lon Chaney’s unnerving performance that would inspire countless screen versions over the coming decades, The Phantom of the Opera has emerged from the depths of the theater to shock, awe and embody the depressing, torturous truths of show business’ fickle refrain.
While big, bold, romantic tragedy starring the likes of Herbert Lom or Claude Rains seems far flung from the Goosebumps milieu, R.L. Stine carried the well-worn tale of the scarred phantom and his jilted passion to the pages of his paperbacks with aplomb. Trading the opera house stage for the middle school auditorium, Stine’s phantom forgoes the disfigured musical genius and embraces...
- 12/12/2023
- by Paul Farrell
- bloody-disgusting.com
Fans of Judy Blume’s “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” had to wait more than 50 years to see the classic children’s novel transferred to the big screen, but their patience was finally rewarded this spring. Written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig (“The Edge of Seventeen”) and featuring such A-listers as Rachel McAdams and Kathy Bates, the faithful film adaptation boasts an awe-inspiring Rotten Tomatoes critics score of 99% and was even described by its source’s author in a “Today” interview as “better than the book.” As the 2024 movie awards season begins, its best shot at a Golden Globe nomination lies with its 15-year-old star, Abby Ryder Fortson, who would be the fifth youngest contender in the history of her category.
At this point, Fortson is hovering directly outside of Gold Derby’s predicted six-person Best Comedy/Musical Actress lineup with the support of just over a quarter of our oddsmakers.
At this point, Fortson is hovering directly outside of Gold Derby’s predicted six-person Best Comedy/Musical Actress lineup with the support of just over a quarter of our oddsmakers.
- 12/8/2023
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman’s new musical Harmony debuted on November 13 after previews began on October 18 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.
The musical is directed and choreographed by Tony winner Warren Carlyle, who is known for his work on The Music Man and Hello, Dolly!
Set in Berlin in 1927, Harmony tells the true story of The Comedian Harmonists, a group of talented young men who form an ensemble group. Their rise to fame is extraordinary as they sell millions of records, star in major films and perform in renowned theaters worldwide. However, by 1935, they mysteriously vanished from the spotlight. Harmony explores the peculiar disappearance of the group.
The production boasts a sensational cast of Broadway favorites, including Sierra Boggess, known for her performance in The Phantom of the Opera, Julie Benko from Funny Girl and Chip Zien, known for his role in Into the Woods.
In 1997, a world premiere...
The musical is directed and choreographed by Tony winner Warren Carlyle, who is known for his work on The Music Man and Hello, Dolly!
Set in Berlin in 1927, Harmony tells the true story of The Comedian Harmonists, a group of talented young men who form an ensemble group. Their rise to fame is extraordinary as they sell millions of records, star in major films and perform in renowned theaters worldwide. However, by 1935, they mysteriously vanished from the spotlight. Harmony explores the peculiar disappearance of the group.
The production boasts a sensational cast of Broadway favorites, including Sierra Boggess, known for her performance in The Phantom of the Opera, Julie Benko from Funny Girl and Chip Zien, known for his role in Into the Woods.
In 1997, a world premiere...
- 11/20/2023
- by Baila Eve Zisman
- Uinterview
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