Exclusive: D. Smith, the filmmaker behind the critically acclaimed documentary Kokomo City, which won the Next Audience and Innovator Awards at Sundance 2022, has partnered with Media Res and Brandon Sharp’s Agenda on her next docu project, Blvd, which is said to ask Dr. King the question: Was it just a dream?
Infused with visual poetry, and applying the same innovative techniques and signature style established in Smith’s debut, the genre-bending Blvd aims to show audiences what really connects and divides people from each other and the rest of the country. The film shines a light on Black communities with the aim to tell not just a neighborhood story or a history lesson, but a story about all of who Black people are, here and now.
“Blvd is a raw real reflection of where we are,” Smith told Deadline. “The best way to encourage Black people is to remind them who we are.
Infused with visual poetry, and applying the same innovative techniques and signature style established in Smith’s debut, the genre-bending Blvd aims to show audiences what really connects and divides people from each other and the rest of the country. The film shines a light on Black communities with the aim to tell not just a neighborhood story or a history lesson, but a story about all of who Black people are, here and now.
“Blvd is a raw real reflection of where we are,” Smith told Deadline. “The best way to encourage Black people is to remind them who we are.
- 4/17/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
“You’re not even a person till you’re 30,” says a friend to Solène Marchand (Anne Hathaway), a single woman celebrating her 40th birthday. “Then you spend the next 10 years figuring out what kind of person you want to be.” In The Idea of You, adapted from the Robinne Lee romance novel that was ostensibly based on fan fiction about erstwhile One Direction heartthrob Harry Styles, age is only a problem insomuch as other people make it one, rooting its romantic complications in the somehow still revolutionary idea that people (and women specifically) grow and bloom throughout every phase of life.
Solène is a Los Angeles art gallery owner still nursing wounds from her not-so-recent divorce while doing her best to amicably co-parent her teenage daughter, Izzy (Ella Rubin), with her ex-husband, Daniel (Reid Scott), whose cheating ways led to their separation. When Daniel has a sudden work emergency, Solène...
Solène is a Los Angeles art gallery owner still nursing wounds from her not-so-recent divorce while doing her best to amicably co-parent her teenage daughter, Izzy (Ella Rubin), with her ex-husband, Daniel (Reid Scott), whose cheating ways led to their separation. When Daniel has a sudden work emergency, Solène...
- 3/18/2024
- by Rocco T. Thompson
- Slant Magazine
'Wedding Crashers 2' has been "pretty close" to happening with Isla Fisher still hoping for a sequel.The 47-year-old actress - who starred alongside Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn and Rachel McAdams in the influential 2005 comedy - admitted discussions have happened regarded a potential follow-up, and she'd love to see Wilson and Vaughn back John Beckwith and Jeremy Grey.She told E! News: "There have been conversations where we were pretty close. "Vince and Owen have such an incredible chemistry and you just feel it from the screen."It's palpable and it's its own hilarious beast, so I want to see them on camera again doing what they do best."Meanwhile, she would be delighted to reprise her own role as obsessive girlfriend Gloria, particularly given the joy she had playing her in the first place.She added: "She's such a fun character. It's also so rare, as a woman,...
- 1/24/2024
- by Alistair McGeorge
- Bang Showbiz
Candy Cane Lane is a fantasy-comedy film directed by Reginald Hudlin, from a screenplay by Kelly Younger. The Prime Video film revolves around Chris Carver, who makes a deal with a mysterious stranger to win the annual contest of who has the best-decorated home for Christmas in their neighborhood but what he doesn’t know is that the mysterious stranger is an evil Elf named Pepper, and she is about to make him a glass Christmas figurine. To save their father and Christmas the Carver family tries to stop Pepper from unleashing misery on everyone. Candy Cane Lane stars Eddie Murphy, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jillian Bell, Thaddeus J. Mixson, Ken Marino, and Nick Offerman. So, if you loved the Prime Video film here are some similar movies you could watch next.
Spirited (Apple TV+) Credit – Apple TV+
Synopsis: Each Christmas Eve, the Ghost of Christmas Present (Will Ferrell) selects one...
Spirited (Apple TV+) Credit – Apple TV+
Synopsis: Each Christmas Eve, the Ghost of Christmas Present (Will Ferrell) selects one...
- 12/2/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
If you followed indie film in the 90s, Vince Vaughn was at the center of a legendary tale. As the story goes, in order to get permission to use the theme from Jaws in the film Swingers, Doug Liman screened the film for Steven Spielberg’s approval. Not only did Stevie Boy allow them to use the scary shark tune but the legendary director knew he had to work with whoever was playing Trent Walker. And, he did just that when he cast Vince Vaughn in his Jurassic Park sequel, The Lost World. Spielberg instantly knew that Vince Vaughn was superstar material and he was correctomundo. Over the last nearly 30 years, he has given us some of the best comedic performances mixed in with some bone chilling anti-heroes. But it seems in the past few years Vaughn has slowed down his output to focus on smaller roles in more meaningful projects.
- 11/10/2023
- by Brad Hamerly
- JoBlo.com
Vince Vaughn appeared to have a ball while referencing some of the popular films from his oeuvre during an appearance on ESPN’s College GameDay.
The actor and longtime sports fan was the Week 4 guest picker Saturday on the cable television program that previews the day’s NCAA college football matchups. During the episode, which filmed from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, Vaughn made it clear that he is a big supporter of the school’s Fighting Irish, who are set to play the Ohio State Buckeyes later Saturday in a high-profile game between two nationally ranked teams.
“This is like picking kids for me,” Vaughn explained. “My dad’s from [Ohio]. My sister, born in Columbus. My niece goes to Ohio State. And you can’t talk about football without talking about the great state of Ohio.”
He continued, “The Buckeyes are for real, always. You can never doubt them.
The actor and longtime sports fan was the Week 4 guest picker Saturday on the cable television program that previews the day’s NCAA college football matchups. During the episode, which filmed from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, Vaughn made it clear that he is a big supporter of the school’s Fighting Irish, who are set to play the Ohio State Buckeyes later Saturday in a high-profile game between two nationally ranked teams.
“This is like picking kids for me,” Vaughn explained. “My dad’s from [Ohio]. My sister, born in Columbus. My niece goes to Ohio State. And you can’t talk about football without talking about the great state of Ohio.”
He continued, “The Buckeyes are for real, always. You can never doubt them.
- 9/23/2023
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Whether it’s the questionable FX, the lead star’s very controversial dalliances, or just audiences being burned one too many times by Comic Book Films, there’s one movie that is all anyone can talk about. And look, I get it. There was a lot of craziness that went on during this production and had more people come and go due to creative differences than any movie we’ve covered on the show.
Warning you guys and gals right now, if you haven’t seen The Flash, you’re going to want to turn back now, because this is where things get Super spoilery.
Warner Brothers tried getting a Flash movie off the ground in the late 80’s with comic writer Jeph Loeb being brought in to write the screenplay. Unfortunately nothing ever came of the property until 2004 when David S Goyer signed on to write,direct and produce a new Flash.
Warning you guys and gals right now, if you haven’t seen The Flash, you’re going to want to turn back now, because this is where things get Super spoilery.
Warner Brothers tried getting a Flash movie off the ground in the late 80’s with comic writer Jeph Loeb being brought in to write the screenplay. Unfortunately nothing ever came of the property until 2004 when David S Goyer signed on to write,direct and produce a new Flash.
- 6/26/2023
- by Tyler Nichols
- JoBlo.com
Clint Howard – son of Rance, brother of Ron, uncle of Bryce, etc. – has been acting since he was a child, and over the decades has racked up over 250 credits, from Star Trek and The Andy Griffith Show to The Wraith, Carnosaur, Ticks, Little Nicky, Apollo 13, a couple Silent Night, Deadly Night sequels, Rob Zombie’s Halloween, 3 from Hell, and Solo: A Star Wars Story. You’ve almost certainly seen him around. His most recent credit was in the Nicolas Cage film The Old Way… and one of his most popular roles came in the 1995 horror comedy Ice Cream Man (watch it Here). Ice Cream Man has developed a strong cult following in the years since its release, and Howard is aiming to bring the audience more killer ice cream man action. He took to Instagram to reveal that he recently got some collaborators together for a reading of the Ice Cream Man sequel script!
- 5/30/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Maroon 5 has shared the video for their latest single, “Middle Ground.” The reflective, slightly overwrought track marks the rock band’s first release since 2021.
“Sisters and brothers are picking sides / and both of our mothers are terrified,” singer Adam Levine croons on the track. “And I’m crying out to an empty sky / tell me, if I hit the ground / and I fall down to my knees, would you hear the sound / am I crazy to think that we, could make it out / am I crazier to believe, there’s a middle ground.
“Sisters and brothers are picking sides / and both of our mothers are terrified,” singer Adam Levine croons on the track. “And I’m crying out to an empty sky / tell me, if I hit the ground / and I fall down to my knees, would you hear the sound / am I crazy to think that we, could make it out / am I crazier to believe, there’s a middle ground.
- 5/23/2023
- by Emily Zemler and Tomás Mier
- Rollingstone.com
Maroon 5 is debuting their new single with an electric live performance.
The band announced their new single “Middle Ground” today, marking the first release from Grammy Award-winning band since 2021.
Read More: Behati Prinsloo Shares First Picture Of Her And Adam Levine’s Baby As Maroon 5 Kick Off Vegas Residency
While the single will be released on May 19, the musicians are also celebrating the release with a live performance on the season 23 finale of “The Voice”.
Frontman Adam Levine has served as a judge on the hit competition show since season 1 of the show in 2011.
At the same time as the performance, the band will also release the music video for the track, directed by David Dobkin.
Read More: Adam Levine And Behati Prinsloo Bring Red Carpet Pda Back Following Maroon 5 Frontman’s Dm Scandal
The band teases the song will be unlike their previous music, evoking a soft vulnerability with...
The band announced their new single “Middle Ground” today, marking the first release from Grammy Award-winning band since 2021.
Read More: Behati Prinsloo Shares First Picture Of Her And Adam Levine’s Baby As Maroon 5 Kick Off Vegas Residency
While the single will be released on May 19, the musicians are also celebrating the release with a live performance on the season 23 finale of “The Voice”.
Frontman Adam Levine has served as a judge on the hit competition show since season 1 of the show in 2011.
At the same time as the performance, the band will also release the music video for the track, directed by David Dobkin.
Read More: Adam Levine And Behati Prinsloo Bring Red Carpet Pda Back Following Maroon 5 Frontman’s Dm Scandal
The band teases the song will be unlike their previous music, evoking a soft vulnerability with...
- 5/11/2023
- by Anita Tai
- ET Canada
While Jackie Chan has always been an affable and comedic performer, even going back to his early martial arts films from the 1970s, something curious happened when he broke into the Hollywood mainstream in the late 1990s. Producers looked at Chan's playful, heroic, somewhat goofy charm and shifted it into overdrive. Chan's American films, as a result, tended to be incredibly broad, full of silly mugging, "culture clash" humor, and a general lack of stakes. Chan's first major American hit was Brett Ratner's "Rush Hour" in 1998, a serviceable but largely unremarkable police comedy wherein Chan played opposite Chris Tucker. That film was such a runaway success (it made over 244 million worldwide) that a pattern was immediately set for Chan. Pair him with an unlikely co-star, put him in generic action scenarios, and watch the money roll in.
The next few years saw such pieces of mainstream fluff as Kevin Donovan...
The next few years saw such pieces of mainstream fluff as Kevin Donovan...
- 1/8/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
At the beginning of James Gunn's "The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special," Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) is approached by a band of space aliens who claim to have been practicing on a set of new-fangled Earth instruments they had recently been gifted. They also know, in a vague sense, that it's the time of year that Earthlings typically celebrate an oblique holiday called Christmas and they have decided to write a song in honor of it. The aliens, however, only have a vague idea of how Christmas operates and get a lot of the details incorrect. Their tune is called "I Don't Know What Christmas Is (But Christmastime is Here)."
The credits reveal the alien band to be named Bzermikitokolok and the Knowheremen, with Bzermikitokolok played by Rhett Miller, Kortobookalia played by Murray Hammond, Sliyavastajoo played by Ken Bethea, and Phloko played by Philip Peeples. Fans of 1990s Texas-based...
The credits reveal the alien band to be named Bzermikitokolok and the Knowheremen, with Bzermikitokolok played by Rhett Miller, Kortobookalia played by Murray Hammond, Sliyavastajoo played by Ken Bethea, and Phloko played by Philip Peeples. Fans of 1990s Texas-based...
- 11/25/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Exclusive: Former ICM political strategist Brandon Sharp has launched Agenda, a management and production company that will be dedicated to advancing inclusive entertainment and media projects. The company will work with TV and film writers, actors, directors, musicians, authors, artists, public intellectuals, playwrights, and business founders from predominately untapped communities to realize their projects on more equitable grounds.
“Representation for representation’s sake is not enough,” said Sharp. “The strides we’ve made for people of color in front of and behind the camera are significant, but the business side of media and entertainment remains largely unchallenged. The people who stand to profit the most from the boon in ‘diverse’ content are not the originators of that content, and that has to change.”
Agenda represents and produces alongside more than 20 creatives, including Linda Johnson Rice, heir to Ebony and Jet Magazine’s Johnson Publishing Company; Rashad Robinson (What’s Costing...
“Representation for representation’s sake is not enough,” said Sharp. “The strides we’ve made for people of color in front of and behind the camera are significant, but the business side of media and entertainment remains largely unchallenged. The people who stand to profit the most from the boon in ‘diverse’ content are not the originators of that content, and that has to change.”
Agenda represents and produces alongside more than 20 creatives, including Linda Johnson Rice, heir to Ebony and Jet Magazine’s Johnson Publishing Company; Rashad Robinson (What’s Costing...
- 11/11/2022
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned is a Western directed by Paul Leyden, starring Jeffrey Donovan and Penelope Mitchell.
A blend of the wild west with a more mystical supernatural dimension.
Premise
When Sheriff Roy Pulsipher finds himself in the afterlife, he joins a special police force and returns to Earth to save humanity from the undead.
R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned About the Movie
A rather banal production that might have an audience. It is difficult to foresee.
Bordering the B movie category, this is a feature that will neither be remembered nor leave a mark. The characters are unconvincing, the gimmicks are bad, but at the same time it is harmless entertainment.
Enjoy.
Sequel of R.I.P.D. (2013)
Director: Robert Schwentke
Writers: Peter M. Lenkov,David Dobkin,Phil Hay
Cast: Jeff Bridges,Ryan Reynolds,Kevin Bacon
Plot: A recently slain cop joins a team of undead...
A blend of the wild west with a more mystical supernatural dimension.
Premise
When Sheriff Roy Pulsipher finds himself in the afterlife, he joins a special police force and returns to Earth to save humanity from the undead.
R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned About the Movie
A rather banal production that might have an audience. It is difficult to foresee.
Bordering the B movie category, this is a feature that will neither be remembered nor leave a mark. The characters are unconvincing, the gimmicks are bad, but at the same time it is harmless entertainment.
Enjoy.
Sequel of R.I.P.D. (2013)
Director: Robert Schwentke
Writers: Peter M. Lenkov,David Dobkin,Phil Hay
Cast: Jeff Bridges,Ryan Reynolds,Kevin Bacon
Plot: A recently slain cop joins a team of undead...
- 11/9/2022
- by Veronica Loop
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
Exclusive: Paradigm has signed Pasaca Entertainment, the Los Angeles-based media finance and production company behind the TIFF 2022 family drama, Prisoner’s Daughter.
Pasaca’s first feature follows a a dying convict (Brian Cox) as he tries to reconnect with his daughter (Kate Beckinsale) and the grandson (Christopher Convery) he’s never known, with his violent past then coming back to haunt them all. Also starring Jon Huertas, Ernie Hudson and Tyson Ritter, the film from director Catherine Hardwicke world premieres tonight at Roy Thomson Hall, as a Gala Presentation at the Toronto Film Festival. Pasaca co-financed the pic alongside Capstone Studios.
Led by CEO Jason Duan and Executive Producer Wen-Chia Chang, Pasaca Entertainment’s aim is to reinvent traditional genres and support underrepresented groups in entertainment. It plans to become a global content provider and studio with services including single project or slate development and production, with an eye toward company and library acquisitions,...
Pasaca’s first feature follows a a dying convict (Brian Cox) as he tries to reconnect with his daughter (Kate Beckinsale) and the grandson (Christopher Convery) he’s never known, with his violent past then coming back to haunt them all. Also starring Jon Huertas, Ernie Hudson and Tyson Ritter, the film from director Catherine Hardwicke world premieres tonight at Roy Thomson Hall, as a Gala Presentation at the Toronto Film Festival. Pasaca co-financed the pic alongside Capstone Studios.
Led by CEO Jason Duan and Executive Producer Wen-Chia Chang, Pasaca Entertainment’s aim is to reinvent traditional genres and support underrepresented groups in entertainment. It plans to become a global content provider and studio with services including single project or slate development and production, with an eye toward company and library acquisitions,...
- 9/14/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Nine years ago, Universal released a supernatural action comedy called R.I.P.D.: Rest in Peace Department, which didn’t do much at the box office despite starring Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges. Made on a budget somewhere in the 150 million range, R.I.P.D. only earned 78.3 million worldwide. It was considered a bomb… but that hasn’t stopped Universal from making a direct-to-video sequel. Made completely under the radar, the sequel is called R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned – and it has already been screened for the ratings board at the Motion Picture Association, earning a PG-13 rating for “sequences of violence, language, disturbing images and some crude/sexual references“.
According to IMDb, R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned was directed by Paul Leyden (Chick Fight) from a screenplay he wrote with Andrew Klein. Since the film was made in secrecy, a plot...
According to IMDb, R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned was directed by Paul Leyden (Chick Fight) from a screenplay he wrote with Andrew Klein. Since the film was made in secrecy, a plot...
- 8/17/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Few movies have been both as eagerly anticipated and as deeply troubled as "The Flash." Despite being one of DC's most popular superheroes, bringing the Scarlet Speedster to the big screen for a solo adventure has proven to be a major challenge -- and that's saying the very least of it. The attempts date way back to the '80s, when superstar comic book writer Jeph Loeb was developing a script for a film that would have focused on the character. Yet, at every turn, something has gone wrong and prevented an adaptation from seeing the light of day.
As it stands, Warner Bros. has a completed movie that stars Ezra Miller in the lead role as Barry Allen, with Andy Muschietti ("It") in the director's chair. To seal the deal, Michael Keaton is reprising his role as Batman. But Miller has had a string of concerning and highly public...
As it stands, Warner Bros. has a completed movie that stars Ezra Miller in the lead role as Barry Allen, with Andy Muschietti ("It") in the director's chair. To seal the deal, Michael Keaton is reprising his role as Batman. But Miller has had a string of concerning and highly public...
- 8/16/2022
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Will Ferrell and Jessica Elbaum’s Gloria Sanchez Productions has signed a three-year first-look deal with 20th Century Studios for feature-length films for consideration in theatrical and streaming, the studio announced Wednesday.
“We are thrilled to be working with Jessica, Will, and the rest of the team at Gloria Sanchez,” Steve Asbell, president of 20th Century Studios, said in a statement. “They bring an incredible depth of experience making smart, hilarious films and their passion for fresh filmmaking voices aligns perfectly with our vision here at 20th.”
“We’re beyond excited to have found a home in 20th Century Studios and to be working with an incredible team who fundamentally believes in what we’re doing at Gloria Sanchez,” Ferrell and Elbaum added. “They share our creative vision and we can’t wait to work together to bring fresh stories to screens big and small. We’re already planning a...
“We are thrilled to be working with Jessica, Will, and the rest of the team at Gloria Sanchez,” Steve Asbell, president of 20th Century Studios, said in a statement. “They bring an incredible depth of experience making smart, hilarious films and their passion for fresh filmmaking voices aligns perfectly with our vision here at 20th.”
“We’re beyond excited to have found a home in 20th Century Studios and to be working with an incredible team who fundamentally believes in what we’re doing at Gloria Sanchez,” Ferrell and Elbaum added. “They share our creative vision and we can’t wait to work together to bring fresh stories to screens big and small. We’re already planning a...
- 6/16/2021
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
20th Century Studios has signed a three-year first-look deal with Will Ferrell and Jessica Elbaum’s Gloria Sanchez Productions for feature-length movies in the theatrical and streaming space.
“We are thrilled to be working with Jessica, Will, and the rest of the team at Gloria Sanchez. They bring an incredible depth of experience making smart, hilarious films and their passion for fresh filmmaking voices aligns perfectly with our vision here at 20th,” 20th Century Studios president Steve Asbell said Wednesday.
Said Elbaum and Ferrell: “We’re beyond excited to have found a home in 20th Century Studios and to be working with an incredible team who fundamentally believes in what we’re doing at Gloria Sanchez. They share our creative vision and we can’t wait to work together to bring fresh stories to screens big and small. We’re already planning a six-month company retreat in the Cayman Islands.
“We are thrilled to be working with Jessica, Will, and the rest of the team at Gloria Sanchez. They bring an incredible depth of experience making smart, hilarious films and their passion for fresh filmmaking voices aligns perfectly with our vision here at 20th,” 20th Century Studios president Steve Asbell said Wednesday.
Said Elbaum and Ferrell: “We’re beyond excited to have found a home in 20th Century Studios and to be working with an incredible team who fundamentally believes in what we’re doing at Gloria Sanchez. They share our creative vision and we can’t wait to work together to bring fresh stories to screens big and small. We’re already planning a six-month company retreat in the Cayman Islands.
- 6/16/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
It seems Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn aren’t quite ready to renew their vows.
Despite several reports that Wilson, Vaughn, Isla Fisher and Rachel McAdams are all on board to make a sequel to the 2005 hit comedy “Wedding Crashers” for HBO Max and will start up production this summer, Wilson tells Variety that progress on a sequel is still very much in the early planning stages.
“Some people are saying that you guys are going to be going in August, and that’s not right,” Wilson told Variety in an interview about his upcoming Marvel Studios series “Loki” for Disney Plus.
Instead, Wilson says that director David Dobkin “has been working on something,” and that he has been “talking with Vince” — but progress on the project has not progressed much farther than that.
This is far from the first time there’s been talk of a “Wedding Crashers” sequel.
Despite several reports that Wilson, Vaughn, Isla Fisher and Rachel McAdams are all on board to make a sequel to the 2005 hit comedy “Wedding Crashers” for HBO Max and will start up production this summer, Wilson tells Variety that progress on a sequel is still very much in the early planning stages.
“Some people are saying that you guys are going to be going in August, and that’s not right,” Wilson told Variety in an interview about his upcoming Marvel Studios series “Loki” for Disney Plus.
Instead, Wilson says that director David Dobkin “has been working on something,” and that he has been “talking with Vince” — but progress on the project has not progressed much farther than that.
This is far from the first time there’s been talk of a “Wedding Crashers” sequel.
- 6/8/2021
- by Adam B. Vary
- Variety Film + TV
While no news has been made official, there seem to be some hints that Wedding Crashers 2 is actually slated to start production this August in Puerto Rico. The news comes from a newly revealed production listing. The production listing states that Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Isla Fisher, and Rachel McAdams are slated to return while the original director, David Dobkin, is also…...
- 6/4/2021
- by Gaius Bolling
- JoBlo.com
Maroon 5 have announced that they’ll be releasing their latest studio album, Jordi, on June 11th via 222/Interscope.
The album is named after the band’s late manager Jordan Feldstein, who died in 2017 from a heart attack. Maroon 5 has made several tributes to Feldstein in subsequent years, including the standalone single “Memories” in 2019. “Memories” will be featured on Jordi, along with the band’s latest single “Beautiful Mistakes” featuring Megan Thee Stallion. The album is available for pre-order as of Thursday.
On June 4th, a week before the album’s release day,...
The album is named after the band’s late manager Jordan Feldstein, who died in 2017 from a heart attack. Maroon 5 has made several tributes to Feldstein in subsequent years, including the standalone single “Memories” in 2019. “Memories” will be featured on Jordi, along with the band’s latest single “Beautiful Mistakes” featuring Megan Thee Stallion. The album is available for pre-order as of Thursday.
On June 4th, a week before the album’s release day,...
- 4/29/2021
- by Claire Shaffer
- Rollingstone.com
Iceland’s big bid for an Academy Award this year is the show-stopping, soaring ballad “Husavik (My Hometown)” from the Netflix movie “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.” Written by Fat Max Gsus, Rickard Göransson, and Savan Kotecha, the track is up for Best Original Song at the Oscars, and Swedish pop star Molly Sandén got the chance to belt it out during a glorious pre-taped performance that took place in the real town of Husavik. While the performance aired during the Academy Awards pre-show, you can watch it below.
In the lead-up to the Academy Awards, Icelanders have rallied behind the song from the spoofy comedy starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams. Husavik, a town of just about 2,300 people, began staging a grassroots Oscar campaign earlier this year.
“It’s such a beautiful song about our town,” Örlygur Örlygsson, a local entrepreneur spearheading the campaign, told the Associated Press.
In the lead-up to the Academy Awards, Icelanders have rallied behind the song from the spoofy comedy starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams. Husavik, a town of just about 2,300 people, began staging a grassroots Oscar campaign earlier this year.
“It’s such a beautiful song about our town,” Örlygur Örlygsson, a local entrepreneur spearheading the campaign, told the Associated Press.
- 4/25/2021
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Usually, the Oscar nominations for Best Original Song are pretty predictable: There’s almost always a Disney torch song, a pop star trying to break the mold, and a tune by Diane Warren, who has been nominated 12 times now with no wins so far. But this year, among songs by H.E.R., Leslie Odom Jr., and, of course, Diane Warren, there’s a surprise contender: “Húsavík (My Hometown),” a schmaltzy Europop parody sung in faux-Icelandic accents by Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams in the Netflix comedy, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.
- 4/23/2021
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
George C Wolfe’s Ma Rainey's Black Bottom at The Paris Theatre Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
Netflix is going all out, promoting the 17 films that have a total of 36 Oscar nominations this weekend, by screening them to the public at The Paris Theatre in New York. David Fincher’s Mank, George C Wolfe’s Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial Of The Chicago 7, Ron Howard’s Hillbilly Elegy, Kornél Mundruczó’s Pieces Of A Woman (Actress Vanessa Kirby), Ramin Bahrani’s The White Tiger (Adapted Screenplay Ramin Bahrani) Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods (Original Score Terence Blanchard), George Clooney’s The Midnight Sky (Visual Effects), David Dobkin's Eurovision Song Contest: The Story Of Fire Saga (Original Song), and Edoardo Ponti’s [film]The...
Netflix is going all out, promoting the 17 films that have a total of 36 Oscar nominations this weekend, by screening them to the public at The Paris Theatre in New York. David Fincher’s Mank, George C Wolfe’s Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial Of The Chicago 7, Ron Howard’s Hillbilly Elegy, Kornél Mundruczó’s Pieces Of A Woman (Actress Vanessa Kirby), Ramin Bahrani’s The White Tiger (Adapted Screenplay Ramin Bahrani) Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods (Original Score Terence Blanchard), George Clooney’s The Midnight Sky (Visual Effects), David Dobkin's Eurovision Song Contest: The Story Of Fire Saga (Original Song), and Edoardo Ponti’s [film]The...
- 4/21/2021
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
The Swedish Mafia is coming to the Oscars. No, we don’t mean the euro house supergroup Swedish House Mafia, we’re talking about songwriters and producers, Rickard Göransson, Savan Kotecha and Fat Max Gsus. The trio is part of a group of Swedish or Swedish-adjacent musicians who have collaborated on some of the biggest pop hits over the past decade. Now, they are slightly unexpected nominees in the Best Original Song category for “Husavik (My Hometown)” from the Netflix comedy “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.”
Read More: Laura Pausini Is Ready To Sing For Her ‘Io sì (Seen)’ Oscar Nomination [Interview]
The trio’s credits include Ariana Grande’s “God is a Woman,” The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face,” Britney Spears “I Wanna Go” and Demi Lovato’s “Cool For The Summer,” among many others, but the opportunity to write for the David Dobkin film...
Read More: Laura Pausini Is Ready To Sing For Her ‘Io sì (Seen)’ Oscar Nomination [Interview]
The trio’s credits include Ariana Grande’s “God is a Woman,” The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face,” Britney Spears “I Wanna Go” and Demi Lovato’s “Cool For The Summer,” among many others, but the opportunity to write for the David Dobkin film...
- 4/8/2021
- by Gregory Ellwood
- The Playlist
“Resident Alien” has been renewed for Season 2 at Syfy.
The news comes ahead of the first season finale, which is set to air on March 31. Based on the Dark Horse comic of the same name by Peter Hogan and Stephen Parkhouse, “Resident Alien’ follows Harry (Alan Tudyk), an alien that crash lands on Earth and passes himself off as a small-town human doctor. Arriving with a secret mission to kill all humans, Harry starts off living a simple life, but things get a bit rocky when he’s roped into solving a local murder and realizes he needs to assimilate into his new world.
“With ‘Resident Alien,’ everything just came together in perfect harmony – a script by Chris Sheridan that leapt off the page, a lead performance by Alan Tudyk, whose nuance between comedy and menace was pitch perfect, and a team of producers, cast and crew who were all striving to do something great,...
The news comes ahead of the first season finale, which is set to air on March 31. Based on the Dark Horse comic of the same name by Peter Hogan and Stephen Parkhouse, “Resident Alien’ follows Harry (Alan Tudyk), an alien that crash lands on Earth and passes himself off as a small-town human doctor. Arriving with a secret mission to kill all humans, Harry starts off living a simple life, but things get a bit rocky when he’s roped into solving a local murder and realizes he needs to assimilate into his new world.
“With ‘Resident Alien,’ everything just came together in perfect harmony – a script by Chris Sheridan that leapt off the page, a lead performance by Alan Tudyk, whose nuance between comedy and menace was pitch perfect, and a team of producers, cast and crew who were all striving to do something great,...
- 3/17/2021
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Welcome (back) to Earth: Syfy has renewed “Resident Alien” for a second season.
Based on the Dark Horse comic from Peter Hogan and Stephen Parkhouse, “Resident Alien” follows Harry, an alien played by Alan Tudyk, who crash lands on Earth and passes himself off as a small-town human doctor, according to the drama’s logline. Arriving with a secret mission to kill all humans, Harry starts off living a simple life … but things get a bit rocky when he’s roped into solving a local murder and realizes he needs to assimilate into his new world. As he does so, he begins to wrestle with the moral dilemma of his mission and asking the big life questions like: “Are human beings worth saving?” and “Why do they fold their pizza before eating it?”
We have the same questions, Harry.
“Resident Alien” was the most-watched new cable drama of 2020 and Syfy...
Based on the Dark Horse comic from Peter Hogan and Stephen Parkhouse, “Resident Alien” follows Harry, an alien played by Alan Tudyk, who crash lands on Earth and passes himself off as a small-town human doctor, according to the drama’s logline. Arriving with a secret mission to kill all humans, Harry starts off living a simple life … but things get a bit rocky when he’s roped into solving a local murder and realizes he needs to assimilate into his new world. As he does so, he begins to wrestle with the moral dilemma of his mission and asking the big life questions like: “Are human beings worth saving?” and “Why do they fold their pizza before eating it?”
We have the same questions, Harry.
“Resident Alien” was the most-watched new cable drama of 2020 and Syfy...
- 3/17/2021
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
Ahead of the Season 1 finale, Syfy has renewed its hit dramedy Resident Alien starring Alan Tudyk for a second season.
Resident Alien is about to wrap its first season as the most-watched new cable drama in the last year in total viewers and No. 2 in the adults 18-49 demographic. It’s also Syfy’s highest-rated new drama in more than six years in total viewers and earns the second-biggest time-shifting gain for any cable drama in the last year in total viewers, according to Nielsen.
The January 27 series premiere has drawn 9.3 million viewers across all platforms and NBCUniversal networks. The cross-platform launch strategy to leverage the power of NBCU’s entertainment portfolio was emphasized by Frances Berwick, Chairman, Entertainment Networks, when she first took the job last fall. In Live+3, the following week’s episode saw an increase of 581,000 viewers, the biggest jump for a cable drama launch since 2014, according to the network and Nielsen.
Resident Alien is about to wrap its first season as the most-watched new cable drama in the last year in total viewers and No. 2 in the adults 18-49 demographic. It’s also Syfy’s highest-rated new drama in more than six years in total viewers and earns the second-biggest time-shifting gain for any cable drama in the last year in total viewers, according to Nielsen.
The January 27 series premiere has drawn 9.3 million viewers across all platforms and NBCUniversal networks. The cross-platform launch strategy to leverage the power of NBCU’s entertainment portfolio was emphasized by Frances Berwick, Chairman, Entertainment Networks, when she first took the job last fall. In Live+3, the following week’s episode saw an increase of 581,000 viewers, the biggest jump for a cable drama launch since 2014, according to the network and Nielsen.
- 3/17/2021
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Variety's Awards Circuit is home to the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars from Film Awards Editor Clayton Davis. Following Academy Awards history, buzz, news, reviews and sources, the Oscar predictions are updated regularly with the current year's contenders in all categories. Variety's Awards Circuit Prediction schedule consists of four phases, running all year long: Draft, Pre-Season, Regular Season and Post Season. Eligibility calendar and dates of awards will determine how long each phase lasts and will be displayed next to revision date.
To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Collective
Draft>>>Pre Season>>>Regular Season>>>Post Season
2021 Oscars Predictions:
Best Original Song
Updated: Mar. 4, 2021
Awards Prediction Commentary: Have we arrived at the moment in time where 11-time Oscar-nominee Diane Warren is going to win an Oscar? After walking away with the Golden Globe for “Io Si (Seen)” from “The Life Ahead,...
To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Collective
Draft>>>Pre Season>>>Regular Season>>>Post Season
2021 Oscars Predictions:
Best Original Song
Updated: Mar. 4, 2021
Awards Prediction Commentary: Have we arrived at the moment in time where 11-time Oscar-nominee Diane Warren is going to win an Oscar? After walking away with the Golden Globe for “Io Si (Seen)” from “The Life Ahead,...
- 3/4/2021
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
When the Will Ferrell-Rachel McAdams comedy “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” hit Netflix last year, it garnered a lot of fans. Among those are the residents of Húsavík, the small fishing village in Iceland with 2,300 residents, where the film is set. And they couldn’t be more thrilled that the song from the film, also called “Húsavík,” has made the shortlist for the Oscars. An ode to town itself and the universal love for hometowns, it features lyrics like, “Where the northern lights burst out in colors / And the magic nights surpass all others.”
Now the town has created their own campaign for the song here and produced a video extolling the virtues of “the most beautiful town in the world.” Resident Óskar Óskarsson (actor Sigurður Illugason) takes us through the town, even stopping to make an offering for the elves, and shows how excited...
Now the town has created their own campaign for the song here and produced a video extolling the virtues of “the most beautiful town in the world.” Resident Óskar Óskarsson (actor Sigurður Illugason) takes us through the town, even stopping to make an offering for the elves, and shows how excited...
- 3/2/2021
- by Jenelle Riley
- Variety Film + TV
When it comes to comic songs at the Oscars, writing a tune with a satirical edge has generally not been the key to the Academy music branch’s heart. For the most part, the only ostensibly funny numbers to get nominated are from family films, like “Man or Muppet,” a rare winner, from 2011’s “The Muppets.” Narrowing it down to musical wit aimed at adults, in films populated entirely by humans, the contenders have been fewer, although there have been famous examples, like “When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings” from “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” two years ago or, infamously, “Blame Canada” in 1999.
Rare as the phenom is, 2020 brought some superior satirical numbers that stand a decent chance of being nominated, including “Husavik (My Hometown),” the song sung by Rachel McAdams and Will Ferrell’s Icelandic characters in “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.” The closest...
Rare as the phenom is, 2020 brought some superior satirical numbers that stand a decent chance of being nominated, including “Husavik (My Hometown),” the song sung by Rachel McAdams and Will Ferrell’s Icelandic characters in “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.” The closest...
- 1/27/2021
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
“It would be great to see it nominated,” says the A-list comedy actor Will Ferrell when, during a recording of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, we begin discussing the Oscar buzz surrounding “Husavik,” an original song featured in Ferrell’s recent Netflix vehicle Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, which Ferrell also co-wrote, with Andrew Steele, and David Dobkin directed.
The film’s entire musical score — coordinated by compilation producer Savan Kotecha and music supervisor Becky Bentham, and featuring additional tunes like “Volcano Man,” “Jaja Ding Dong, “Lion of Love” and “Double Trouble” — is impressive ...
The film’s entire musical score — coordinated by compilation producer Savan Kotecha and music supervisor Becky Bentham, and featuring additional tunes like “Volcano Man,” “Jaja Ding Dong, “Lion of Love” and “Double Trouble” — is impressive ...
“It would be great to see it nominated,” says the A-list comedy actor Will Ferrell when, during a recording of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, we begin discussing the Oscar buzz surrounding “Husavik,” an original song featured in Ferrell’s recent Netflix vehicle Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, which Ferrell also co-wrote, with Andrew Steele, and David Dobkin directed.
The film’s entire musical score — coordinated by compilation producer Savan Kotecha and music supervisor Becky Bentham, and featuring additional tunes like “Volcano Man,” “Jaja Ding Dong, “Lion of Love” and “Double Trouble” — is impressive ...
The film’s entire musical score — coordinated by compilation producer Savan Kotecha and music supervisor Becky Bentham, and featuring additional tunes like “Volcano Man,” “Jaja Ding Dong, “Lion of Love” and “Double Trouble” — is impressive ...
Vince Vaughn recently confirmed that Wedding Crashers 2 is in early development and currently his co-star, Owen Wilson, and director, David Dobkin, are said to be involved. News of a potential sequel to Wedding Crashers has already caught the interest of Isla Fisher, who also co-starred in the film, and now Christopher Walken and Jane Seymour, who were also a part…...
- 12/29/2020
- by Gaius Bolling
- JoBlo.com
Will Ferrell first became obsessed with the Eurovision Song Contest, the infamous international competition, about 20 years ago when he and his wife went to Sweden to visit her family. “It just happened to be the night of the finale and they all wanted to watch and as soon as I saw it I was like, ‘This is a movie!’” Ferrell adds. “I never acted on it because I was sure somebody was going to make it, at least in Europe. In the back of my brain, I was always thinking, ‘Why has no one made that movie yet?’”
About six years ago, Ferrell finally took it upon himself to co-write, with Andrew Steele, “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga,” a parody, homage and love letter to Eurovision. In the Netflix film, Ferrell plays an Icelandic dreamer named Lars, who has been obsessed with winning Eurovision, despite his limited talent.
About six years ago, Ferrell finally took it upon himself to co-write, with Andrew Steele, “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga,” a parody, homage and love letter to Eurovision. In the Netflix film, Ferrell plays an Icelandic dreamer named Lars, who has been obsessed with winning Eurovision, despite his limited talent.
- 12/18/2020
- by Jenelle Riley
- Variety Film + TV
Resident Alien (2021) TV Show Trailer: Alan Tudyk is an Alien Pretending to be a Human Doctor [Syfy]
Resident Alien Trailer — Syfy‘s Resident Alien (2021) TV show trailer has been released and stars Alan Tudyk, Corey Reynolds, Elizabeth Bowen, Sara Tomko, Levi Fiehler, Gary Farmer, Jenna Lamia, Meredith Garretson, Alice Wetterlund, and Mandell Maughan. Crew Shannon Kohli, Jennifer Phang, and David Dobkin directed various episodes of Resident Alien. Chris Sheridan, [...]
Continue reading: Resident Alien (2021) TV Show Trailer: Alan Tudyk is an Alien Pretending to be a Human Doctor [Syfy]...
Continue reading: Resident Alien (2021) TV Show Trailer: Alan Tudyk is an Alien Pretending to be a Human Doctor [Syfy]...
- 12/16/2020
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
Comedy sequels are arguably the most difficult type of follow-up to pull off, and the risk level increases the longer the gap since the first movie. Action and thriller franchises are almost expected to rehash the same plot and character beats over and over again, whereas a series designed entirely to generate laughs from the audience can’t exactly deliver the same joke a handful of times and expect it to remain fresh.
For every 22 Jump Street, Bill & Ted Face the Music or Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm, there’s a Dumb and Dumber To, Zoolander 2 or Son of the Mask at the other end of the scale, and as the years pass, it becomes more and more difficult to justify the existence of a long-delayed sequel to an established comedy hit.
That hasn’t stopped Vince Vaughn from confirming that he’s held talks with co-star Owen Wilson...
For every 22 Jump Street, Bill & Ted Face the Music or Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm, there’s a Dumb and Dumber To, Zoolander 2 or Son of the Mask at the other end of the scale, and as the years pass, it becomes more and more difficult to justify the existence of a long-delayed sequel to an established comedy hit.
That hasn’t stopped Vince Vaughn from confirming that he’s held talks with co-star Owen Wilson...
- 11/9/2020
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
It's hard to imagine anyone else playing Will Ferrell's short but memorable role of Chazz in 2005's Wedding Crashers but according to director David Dobkin, while speaking with the "Spitballing Podcast", it came so down to the wire to get Ferrell that he had Nicolas Cage ready in his back pocket in case Ferrell wasn't available. Will Ferrell was…...
- 7/31/2020
- by Gaius Bolling
- JoBlo.com
Ryan Reynolds might be known for lacing the vast majority of his onscreen performances with a rich dose of self-deprecating humor, but the Deadpool star hasn’t actually featured in an out-and-out comedy for close to a decade. While he’s made uncredited cameo appearances in Seth McFarlane’s Ted and A Million Ways to Die in the West, you’d have to go back to 2011’s The Change-Up to find his last comedy vehicle.
Directed by Wedding Crashers‘ David Dobkin, The Change-Up puts an R-rated spin on the body-swap formula as Reynolds’ hedonistic man-child Mitch ends up trading lives and identities with his longtime best friend Dave, with Jason Bateman finding himself in familiar territory as the straight man in a foul-mouthed studio comedy.
With that kind of talent both in front and behind of the camera, as well as a script from The Hangover’s Jon Lucas and Scott Moore,...
Directed by Wedding Crashers‘ David Dobkin, The Change-Up puts an R-rated spin on the body-swap formula as Reynolds’ hedonistic man-child Mitch ends up trading lives and identities with his longtime best friend Dave, with Jason Bateman finding himself in familiar territory as the straight man in a foul-mouthed studio comedy.
With that kind of talent both in front and behind of the camera, as well as a script from The Hangover’s Jon Lucas and Scott Moore,...
- 7/26/2020
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
Maroon 5 have released new single “Nobody’s Love.” It’s the band’s first song of 2020, and follows the release of “Memories,” which they dropped last fall.
In the David Dobkin-directed accompanying video for the song, which was shot in Los Angeles on an iPhone, singer Adam Levine sits outside contemplating his feelings for someone. “You can make a grown man cry/If you ever said goodbye,” he sings, adding in the chorus that he will “Never gonna need nobody’s love, but yours.” As he confirms his faithfulness,...
In the David Dobkin-directed accompanying video for the song, which was shot in Los Angeles on an iPhone, singer Adam Levine sits outside contemplating his feelings for someone. “You can make a grown man cry/If you ever said goodbye,” he sings, adding in the chorus that he will “Never gonna need nobody’s love, but yours.” As he confirms his faithfulness,...
- 7/24/2020
- by Althea Legaspi
- Rollingstone.com
Dan Stevens on His Biggest Summer Ever, from the ‘Bizarre’ Charm of ‘Eurovision’ to New Horror Movie
Dan Stevens is very good at keeping busy. A decade into the most visible part of his career — kickstarted by his star turn on “Downton Abbey,” and only helped along by such varied film roles as “The Guest,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “The Man Who Invented Christmas” and the daring series “Legion” — the British actor remains hard to categorize, though he is consistently prolific. While the summer of 2020 looks different than anyone could have possibly expected, it has offered a few delights, including two roles for Stevens, who is riding high on the success of Netflix’s winning musical comedy “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” and ramping up for the release of the chilling “The Rental,” marking his return to his most beloved genres.
That those genres are “horror” and “musicals” speaks to Stevens’ range, the one connective thread between all his work. Well, that and the terror.
That those genres are “horror” and “musicals” speaks to Stevens’ range, the one connective thread between all his work. Well, that and the terror.
- 7/15/2020
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
“Wedding Crashers” director David Dobkin has an idea for a sequel to the 2005 Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn comedy, and he’s even played around with a screenplay in the hopes that they’ll “finally get it all together.”
Dobkin, who just directed “Wedding Crashers” alums Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams in “Eurovision” on Netflix, imagined a scenario about what these guys might be doing over a decade removed from the original film.
“Ten or more years later, all of a sudden these guys are in their mid to late 40s and they end up single — what do they do,” Dobkin told EW. “That’s interesting to me, because I know guys in their mid to late 40s who have ended up single, whether it’s out of marriages that didn’t work out or they just didn’t find anyone to marry, and it’s a head trip for men,...
Dobkin, who just directed “Wedding Crashers” alums Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams in “Eurovision” on Netflix, imagined a scenario about what these guys might be doing over a decade removed from the original film.
“Ten or more years later, all of a sudden these guys are in their mid to late 40s and they end up single — what do they do,” Dobkin told EW. “That’s interesting to me, because I know guys in their mid to late 40s who have ended up single, whether it’s out of marriages that didn’t work out or they just didn’t find anyone to marry, and it’s a head trip for men,...
- 7/14/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on Wbgr-fm on July 9th, 2020, reviewing the instant cult classic from Netflix, “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.”
Rating: 4.0/5.0
“Eurovision” was released on June 26, 2020, on Netflix (after an intended May release was scrapped due to the pandemic). It features Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams as a musical duo from Iceland called Fire Saga. They desire to pass the audition and be part of the Eurovision Song Contest, a real annual event (canceled this year) that introduced Abba and Celine Dion, among others. Fire Saga gets their shot, and the Will Ferrell style hilarity and heart filled songs follow. Also featuring Dan Stevens (“Beauty and the Beast”) as their Russian rival and the invincible Pierce Brosnan as the Ferrell character’s strict Dad.
“Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” is available on the Netflix streaming platform.
Rating: 4.0/5.0
“Eurovision” was released on June 26, 2020, on Netflix (after an intended May release was scrapped due to the pandemic). It features Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams as a musical duo from Iceland called Fire Saga. They desire to pass the audition and be part of the Eurovision Song Contest, a real annual event (canceled this year) that introduced Abba and Celine Dion, among others. Fire Saga gets their shot, and the Will Ferrell style hilarity and heart filled songs follow. Also featuring Dan Stevens (“Beauty and the Beast”) as their Russian rival and the invincible Pierce Brosnan as the Ferrell character’s strict Dad.
“Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” is available on the Netflix streaming platform.
- 7/12/2020
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
When director David Dobkin brought the 2005 comedy “Wedding Crashers” to the marketing team at New Line Cinema, he didn’t get the reception he thought he would. Marketing head Russell Schwartz thought that Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson’s characters were too misogynistic, since their main aim seemed to be crashing weddings to look for girls.
Dobkin pushed back. He saw it a different way: The pair loved weddings and were the life of the party. When the film came out on July 15, 2000, “Wedding Crashers” became the first R-rated comedy to break $200 million at the domestic box office.
“Wedding Crashers” follows Jeremy Grey and John Beckwith — played by Vaughn and Wilson, respectively — two divorce attorneys who spend their free time sneaking into weddings in hopes of meeting eligible women. When they see that the Secretary of the Treasury Cleary (Christopher Walken) is celebrating his son’s marriage, the two crash...
Dobkin pushed back. He saw it a different way: The pair loved weddings and were the life of the party. When the film came out on July 15, 2000, “Wedding Crashers” became the first R-rated comedy to break $200 million at the domestic box office.
“Wedding Crashers” follows Jeremy Grey and John Beckwith — played by Vaughn and Wilson, respectively — two divorce attorneys who spend their free time sneaking into weddings in hopes of meeting eligible women. When they see that the Secretary of the Treasury Cleary (Christopher Walken) is celebrating his son’s marriage, the two crash...
- 7/10/2020
- by Mackenzie Nichols
- Variety Film + TV
For some things, being a fan is almost like being part of a cult, it makes the utmost sense to you but not very much to others. And when it comes to the Eurovision song contest, it is one hell of a wild, weird, embracing and wonderful world to immerse yourself in. Arguably no movie can capture what Eurovision is because it is in itself magical, parodic and downright bonkers but in the unlikely and unexpected delight that is Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga we have a movie befitting of Eurovision.
Hailing from the town of Húsavík in Iceland, best friends since childhood Sigrit (Rachel McAdams) and Lars (Will Ferrell) have lifelong lofty dreams of not only entering but winning the Eurovision song contest and come 2020, call it fate, hope or a miracle but they get the chance to sing on the big stage for their country as duo Fire Saga.
Hailing from the town of Húsavík in Iceland, best friends since childhood Sigrit (Rachel McAdams) and Lars (Will Ferrell) have lifelong lofty dreams of not only entering but winning the Eurovision song contest and come 2020, call it fate, hope or a miracle but they get the chance to sing on the big stage for their country as duo Fire Saga.
- 7/6/2020
- by Jack Bottomley
- The Cultural Post
In this edition of Sequel Bits: Walter Hill wrote a 50-page treatment for a new Alien movie with Ripley, but Sigourney Weaver doesn’t seem interested. David Koepp had different plans for Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy. He also opens up about leaving Indiana Jones 5. David Dobkin says there might be a Wedding Crashers sequel for some reason. Kevin Smith […]
The post Sequel Bits: ‘Alien’, ‘Spider-Man’, ‘Wedding Crashers’, ‘Mallrats’, ‘Scream’, ‘The Invisible Man’, ‘My Name is Bruce’ appeared first on /Film.
The post Sequel Bits: ‘Alien’, ‘Spider-Man’, ‘Wedding Crashers’, ‘Mallrats’, ‘Scream’, ‘The Invisible Man’, ‘My Name is Bruce’ appeared first on /Film.
- 7/4/2020
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
David Dobkin had no idea the Eurovision Song Contest even existed until the script by Will Ferrell and Andrew Steele landed on his desk. But the director of “The Judge” and “Wedding Crashers” fell in love with both the comedy about the international music competition — “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” — and the contest itself, founded in 1956.
The movie stars Ferrell and Rachel McAdams as aspiring Icelandic musicians Lars and Sigrit, who see the contest as their big break. Dan Stevens, Demi Lovato and Pierce Brosnan also appear in the film, which bowed June 26 on Netflix.
To put together what Dobkin calls a love letter to the competition, albeit one with an off-kilter spin, he assembled a below-the-line team that included production designer Paul Inglis (art director for “Blade Runner 2049” and “Skyfall”), costume designer Anna B. Sheppard, editor Greg Hayden and music producer Savan Koetcha, who has worked with Lovato,...
The movie stars Ferrell and Rachel McAdams as aspiring Icelandic musicians Lars and Sigrit, who see the contest as their big break. Dan Stevens, Demi Lovato and Pierce Brosnan also appear in the film, which bowed June 26 on Netflix.
To put together what Dobkin calls a love letter to the competition, albeit one with an off-kilter spin, he assembled a below-the-line team that included production designer Paul Inglis (art director for “Blade Runner 2049” and “Skyfall”), costume designer Anna B. Sheppard, editor Greg Hayden and music producer Savan Koetcha, who has worked with Lovato,...
- 7/1/2020
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
In “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga,” Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams star as an Icelandic musical duo who aspire to represent their country in the movie’s titular event, a hugely popular international singing competition that is considered appointment viewing in basically every country outside of the United States.
But Dan Stevens, who portrays their fellow Eurovision competitor, the flamboyant and ultra-wealthy Russian vocalist Alexander Lemtov, is undoubtedly the film’s breakout star.
Stevens, best known for his role in “Downton Abbey,” first proved his vocal prowess onscreen in 2017’s “Beauty and the Beast” remake. But his power ballads from the Disney musical are child’s play compared to “Lion of Love,” his “Eurovision” character’s signature pop-operatic anthem.
The instant classic is one of several songs written for the movie, including “Ja Ja Ding Dong,” a favorite around local pubs in Iceland, that were designed to...
But Dan Stevens, who portrays their fellow Eurovision competitor, the flamboyant and ultra-wealthy Russian vocalist Alexander Lemtov, is undoubtedly the film’s breakout star.
Stevens, best known for his role in “Downton Abbey,” first proved his vocal prowess onscreen in 2017’s “Beauty and the Beast” remake. But his power ballads from the Disney musical are child’s play compared to “Lion of Love,” his “Eurovision” character’s signature pop-operatic anthem.
The instant classic is one of several songs written for the movie, including “Ja Ja Ding Dong,” a favorite around local pubs in Iceland, that were designed to...
- 7/1/2020
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
An unexpected current hit on Netflix is Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, a musical comedy about a pair of struggling Icelandic musicians determined to be the country’s pick for the titular pan-continental singing competition. One of its most memorable aspects was a cameo appearance from Demi Lovato, and even more surprising was what convinced her to take part.
In the film, Lovato plays Katiana Lindsdóttir, a talented and glamorous singer whose selection to represent the island nation is pretty much a given, only for her to perish along with all the other potential contestants when the boat on which they’re partying explodes, leaving the hapless Lars and Sigrit as the only ones left.
Later in the film, Katiana reappears as a ghost offering a doom-laden portent of danger, her skin charred to cinders and flames licking about her face. According to director David Dobkin, far...
In the film, Lovato plays Katiana Lindsdóttir, a talented and glamorous singer whose selection to represent the island nation is pretty much a given, only for her to perish along with all the other potential contestants when the boat on which they’re partying explodes, leaving the hapless Lars and Sigrit as the only ones left.
Later in the film, Katiana reappears as a ghost offering a doom-laden portent of danger, her skin charred to cinders and flames licking about her face. According to director David Dobkin, far...
- 6/30/2020
- by Andrew Marshall
- We Got This Covered
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