Tom Cruise is one of Hollywood’s biggest action stars to have never dipped his toes into the superhero genre. While Cruise was once in contention for the role of Tony Stark / Iron Man during the inception of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the star could have just as easily ended up on the DC side of the superhero landscape.
Tom Cruise in a still from Top Gun: Maverick
According to reports, Cruise was heavily involved in the development of a lesser-known DC title which would have seen him make his superhero debut. Moreover, the director of one of the best superhero films from the 2000s, Sam Raimi, was also attached to the project. Here is everything you need to know about Tom Cruise’s unmade DC project.
Tom Cruise Was Set to Make His DC Debut With an Adaptation of Sleeper From Director Sam Raimi
In 2008, Tom Cruise‘s chance...
Tom Cruise in a still from Top Gun: Maverick
According to reports, Cruise was heavily involved in the development of a lesser-known DC title which would have seen him make his superhero debut. Moreover, the director of one of the best superhero films from the 2000s, Sam Raimi, was also attached to the project. Here is everything you need to know about Tom Cruise’s unmade DC project.
Tom Cruise Was Set to Make His DC Debut With an Adaptation of Sleeper From Director Sam Raimi
In 2008, Tom Cruise‘s chance...
- 4/20/2024
- by Pratik Handore
- FandomWire
Woody Allen is a four-time Academy Award winner who has proved incredibly prolific in his decades-long career, writing, directing, and oftentimes starring in nearly a film a year for over 50 years. But how many of those are classics? Let’s take a look back at 25 of his greatest films, ranked worst to best.
After years as a joke writer and standup comic, Allen transitioned into filmmaking penning such screenplays as “What’s New Pussycat?” (1965) and starring in such titles as “Casino Royale” (1967). His first credit as a director was the comedically overdubbed Japanese spy thriller “What’s Up, Tiger Lily?” (1966).
The Woody Allen as we know him emerged in 1969 with the farcical mockumentary “Take the Money and Run” (1969), made when he was 34 years old. The success of that film led to a string of critically acclaimed absurdist comedies, including “Bananas” (1971) and “Sleeper” (1973).
He established himself as an important filmmaker with the romantic...
After years as a joke writer and standup comic, Allen transitioned into filmmaking penning such screenplays as “What’s New Pussycat?” (1965) and starring in such titles as “Casino Royale” (1967). His first credit as a director was the comedically overdubbed Japanese spy thriller “What’s Up, Tiger Lily?” (1966).
The Woody Allen as we know him emerged in 1969 with the farcical mockumentary “Take the Money and Run” (1969), made when he was 34 years old. The success of that film led to a string of critically acclaimed absurdist comedies, including “Bananas” (1971) and “Sleeper” (1973).
He established himself as an important filmmaker with the romantic...
- 11/25/2023
- by Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Nineteen sixty-eight has to be considered the apex of psychedelic sexploitation romps, with the release of Candy, adapted from Mason Hoffenberg and Terry Southern’s satirical reworking of Voltaire’s Candide, and Roger Vadim’s Barbarella, based on Jean-Claude Forest’s comic, and partially scripted by Southern (alongside an armada of other credited writers). Both employ a rambling, shaggy-dog structure as an excuse to flagrantly foreground softcore sexual hijinks tinged with a pungent whiff of social commentary, albeit the latter aspect may be easier to discern in Candy’s perverse daisy chain of events.
Southern’s contributions to the Dino De Laurentiis-produced Barbarella can be detected in some of its wittier lines (“A good many dramatic situations begin with screaming!”) and sly pokes at the persistence of class-consciousness. Aside from Southern, the two films are linked by the presence of Anita Pallenberg, style icon and muse of the Rolling...
Southern’s contributions to the Dino De Laurentiis-produced Barbarella can be detected in some of its wittier lines (“A good many dramatic situations begin with screaming!”) and sly pokes at the persistence of class-consciousness. Aside from Southern, the two films are linked by the presence of Anita Pallenberg, style icon and muse of the Rolling...
- 11/21/2023
- by Budd Wilkins
- Slant Magazine
Warner Bros. has given its upcoming theatrical slate a small shake-up. “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” the final installment in the current continuation of DC Comics adaptations before an imminent reboot, has been bumped from Dec. 20 to Dec. 22. The shift from the Wednesday to the Friday release date gives the superhero film a traditional three-day opening in theaters, as opposed to the originally slated five-day rollout.
The slight delay gives “Aquaman 2” a little bit of extra space away from the Timothée Chalamet chocolatier prequel “Wonka.” Warner Bros. is also releasing that spin on novelist Roald Dahl’s enduring character, debuting the film on Dec. 15.
It’s a busy holiday season for the studio, which is also bowing its adaptation of “The Color Purple” musical on Christmas Day. That’s three big titles coming one after the other, arriving more than three months after the last Warner Bros. release — “The Nun II,...
The slight delay gives “Aquaman 2” a little bit of extra space away from the Timothée Chalamet chocolatier prequel “Wonka.” Warner Bros. is also releasing that spin on novelist Roald Dahl’s enduring character, debuting the film on Dec. 15.
It’s a busy holiday season for the studio, which is also bowing its adaptation of “The Color Purple” musical on Christmas Day. That’s three big titles coming one after the other, arriving more than three months after the last Warner Bros. release — “The Nun II,...
- 10/27/2023
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
Fred Gallo, a former assistant director on a slew of classic 1970s pictures who went on to become the president of production at Paramount, has died. He was 78 years old.
The Hollywood titan, who had worked on Oscar-winning gems like “The Godfather,” “Annie Hall” and “Rocky,” died on Sept. 7 at his Santa Ynez Valley home.
His family confirmed his passing, while Lee Rosenthal called him a “singular force in the industry.” Paramount and Nickolodean’s president of worldwide physical production said, in a statement obtained by TheWrap, that “beneath a formidable exterior was a big-hearted, one-man masterclass in filmmaking and production management.”
“Some of the most iconic movies of our time — ‘The Godfather,’ ‘Rocky’ and ‘Annie Hall,’ to name a few — are imprinted with Fred’s artistry,” Rosenthal stated. “He was a vestige of a time and place in Hollywood history, an early champion of inclusivity and a mentor to many.
The Hollywood titan, who had worked on Oscar-winning gems like “The Godfather,” “Annie Hall” and “Rocky,” died on Sept. 7 at his Santa Ynez Valley home.
His family confirmed his passing, while Lee Rosenthal called him a “singular force in the industry.” Paramount and Nickolodean’s president of worldwide physical production said, in a statement obtained by TheWrap, that “beneath a formidable exterior was a big-hearted, one-man masterclass in filmmaking and production management.”
“Some of the most iconic movies of our time — ‘The Godfather,’ ‘Rocky’ and ‘Annie Hall,’ to name a few — are imprinted with Fred’s artistry,” Rosenthal stated. “He was a vestige of a time and place in Hollywood history, an early champion of inclusivity and a mentor to many.
- 9/20/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Fred Gallo, who served as an assistant director on films including the Oscar best picture winners The Godfather, Rocky and Annie Hall before becoming a top production executive at Paramount Pictures, has died. He was 78.
Gallo died Sept. 7 after a long illness at his home in the Santa Ynez Valley, his family announced.
Gallo also earned producing credits on Floyd Mutrux’s American Hot Wax (1978), Martin Brest’s Going in Style (1979), James Caan’s Hide in Plain Sight (1980) and Lawrence Kasdan’s Body Heat (1981).
After a run as a production vice president at Warner Bros., Gallo joined Paramount in 1993. He was promoted to executive vp feature production management in 1996 and worldwide president of features production management in 2001, overseeing day-to-day physical production for the studio through his retirement in 2005.
“Fred was a singular force in the industry,” Lee Rosenthal, president of worldwide physical production for Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon, said in a statement.
Gallo died Sept. 7 after a long illness at his home in the Santa Ynez Valley, his family announced.
Gallo also earned producing credits on Floyd Mutrux’s American Hot Wax (1978), Martin Brest’s Going in Style (1979), James Caan’s Hide in Plain Sight (1980) and Lawrence Kasdan’s Body Heat (1981).
After a run as a production vice president at Warner Bros., Gallo joined Paramount in 1993. He was promoted to executive vp feature production management in 1996 and worldwide president of features production management in 2001, overseeing day-to-day physical production for the studio through his retirement in 2005.
“Fred was a singular force in the industry,” Lee Rosenthal, president of worldwide physical production for Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon, said in a statement.
- 9/20/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Welcome to this week’s review of Nxt Heatwave, right here on Nerdly. Let’s get straight into it and see what went down in this special episode…
Match #1: Ilja Dragunov def. Trick Williams The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The Mad Dragon walked out of Nxt Heatwave with the win, but Trick Williams proved to himself, to Ilja Dragunov, and to the Nxt Universe that he is indeed more than a sidekick. Dragunov unleashed his hellacious offense highlighted by his vicious chops and reckless abandon, but Trick responded in a big way thanks to his size and strength advantage. Both Superstars did their best to deliver the winning blow and a top rope Uranage from Trick looked to be it, but Dragunov proved to truly be unbreakable as a pair of devastating flying elbow strikes proved to be enough to win the match.
My Score: 3 out of 5 Match #2: Ivy Nile def.
Match #1: Ilja Dragunov def. Trick Williams The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The Mad Dragon walked out of Nxt Heatwave with the win, but Trick Williams proved to himself, to Ilja Dragunov, and to the Nxt Universe that he is indeed more than a sidekick. Dragunov unleashed his hellacious offense highlighted by his vicious chops and reckless abandon, but Trick responded in a big way thanks to his size and strength advantage. Both Superstars did their best to deliver the winning blow and a top rope Uranage from Trick looked to be it, but Dragunov proved to truly be unbreakable as a pair of devastating flying elbow strikes proved to be enough to win the match.
My Score: 3 out of 5 Match #2: Ivy Nile def.
- 8/24/2023
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
A digest of key Swiss industry news announced during the Locarno Film Festival.
Swiss public broadcaster Srg has extended its co-production agreement with the local film industry for another four years and has increased its annual budget by CHF1.5m ($1.7m) to CHF34m ($38m).
The new “Pacte de l’Audiovisuel” co-production agreement between Srg and the local film industry will run from 1 January 2024 until the end of 2027.
The annual budget available in the “Pacte” for co-producing Swiss feature films will increase from $10m (Chf 9m) to $11.45m CHF10m in response to rising costs for film production.
In addition,...
Swiss public broadcaster Srg has extended its co-production agreement with the local film industry for another four years and has increased its annual budget by CHF1.5m ($1.7m) to CHF34m ($38m).
The new “Pacte de l’Audiovisuel” co-production agreement between Srg and the local film industry will run from 1 January 2024 until the end of 2027.
The annual budget available in the “Pacte” for co-producing Swiss feature films will increase from $10m (Chf 9m) to $11.45m CHF10m in response to rising costs for film production.
In addition,...
- 8/7/2023
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
Looking to leap into the future for your next movie night? Amazon’s excellent Prime Video service allows you to scroll through thousands of great flicks, including some undiscovered sci-fi gems. And the best part is that it’s free if you have Amazon Prime. If you don’t, you can pick up a 30-day Free trial.
So what are you waiting for? Jump into the sci-fi future and start streaming for free.
30-Day Free Trial $8.99 / month amazon.com Jurassic World Dominion June 1, 2022
Four years after Isla Nublar was destroyed, dinosaurs now live—and hunt—alongside humans all over the world. This fragile balance will reshape the future and determine, once and for all, whether human beings are to remain the apex predators ona planet they now share with history’s most fearsome creatures.
Transformers: Age of Extinction June 25, 2014
As humanity picks up the pieces, following the conclusion of “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,...
So what are you waiting for? Jump into the sci-fi future and start streaming for free.
30-Day Free Trial $8.99 / month amazon.com Jurassic World Dominion June 1, 2022
Four years after Isla Nublar was destroyed, dinosaurs now live—and hunt—alongside humans all over the world. This fragile balance will reshape the future and determine, once and for all, whether human beings are to remain the apex predators ona planet they now share with history’s most fearsome creatures.
Transformers: Age of Extinction June 25, 2014
As humanity picks up the pieces, following the conclusion of “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,...
- 5/26/2023
- by Ben Bowman
- The Streamable
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences believed that Diane Keaton deserved an Oscar win for her starring role in Annie Hall. However, her long-time fans still don’t agree with the decision. They absolutely adore the actor, but they thought that another performance in the same year was more deserving of the golden statuette.
Diane Keaton played the titular character in ‘Annie Hall’ Diane Keaton | Getty Images
A comedian named Alvy Singer (Woody Allen) recalls the ups and downs with a nightclub singer named Annie Hall (Keaton), who is going through a difficult time in her career. He speaks directly to the audience, chronicling his life reaching as far back as his childhood to explain the situation that he’s in. Singer later gets to the point where he discusses how he met Annie and the struggles of modern romance.
In addition to starring in the leading role,...
Diane Keaton played the titular character in ‘Annie Hall’ Diane Keaton | Getty Images
A comedian named Alvy Singer (Woody Allen) recalls the ups and downs with a nightclub singer named Annie Hall (Keaton), who is going through a difficult time in her career. He speaks directly to the audience, chronicling his life reaching as far back as his childhood to explain the situation that he’s in. Singer later gets to the point where he discusses how he met Annie and the struggles of modern romance.
In addition to starring in the leading role,...
- 4/3/2023
- by Jeff Nelson
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Andrea Silva, who performs as Loyal Lobos, spent a lot of time singing at funerals growing up. She joined a choir when she was about five years old, and part of her role was to sing “Ave Maria” at ceremonies and remembrances. The experience connected her to death in a profound way, helping her understand the cycle of life beyond loss and mourning.
“I’ve never seen death as a tragic thing,” she tells Rolling Stone on a recent Zoom call from Los Angeles. “I’m fully empathetic to what it means to lose somebody,...
“I’ve never seen death as a tragic thing,” she tells Rolling Stone on a recent Zoom call from Los Angeles. “I’m fully empathetic to what it means to lose somebody,...
- 3/23/2023
- by Julyssa Lopez
- Rollingstone.com
Indian production company Turning Point Productions is launching with a streaming series adaptation of Rob Sinclair’s bestselling thriller novel “Sleeper 13,” it was revealed on the sidelines of the 21st Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (Haf).
The novel, published by Orion in 2018, follows a protagonist who is smuggled to the Middle East as a child, trained as one of the most elite insurgents of his generation and forced to do things no one should for a cause he couldn’t believe in. But as his brothers were preparing to kill, he was looking for a way out. On the eve of the deadliest coordinated attacks the world has ever seen, he finally has his chance and looks to break free and hunt down those who made him a monster.
Turning Point is backed by director Saket Chaudhary (“Hindi Medium”) and producers Chetan Motiwalla (“Anybody Can Dance 2”) and Sanjeev Gupta...
The novel, published by Orion in 2018, follows a protagonist who is smuggled to the Middle East as a child, trained as one of the most elite insurgents of his generation and forced to do things no one should for a cause he couldn’t believe in. But as his brothers were preparing to kill, he was looking for a way out. On the eve of the deadliest coordinated attacks the world has ever seen, he finally has his chance and looks to break free and hunt down those who made him a monster.
Turning Point is backed by director Saket Chaudhary (“Hindi Medium”) and producers Chetan Motiwalla (“Anybody Can Dance 2”) and Sanjeev Gupta...
- 3/14/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Seinfeld character George Costanza was based on co-creator Larry David. Jason Alexander embodied him on Seinfeld and created an indelible character. When Alexander first read the pilot script for Seinfeld, he didn’t know David from Adam. So Alexander did a Woody Allen impression in his first audition. Fortunately, NBC gave him another chance.
L-r: Michael Richards, Jerry Seinfeld, and Jason Alexander |
Alexander was a guest on The Adam Carolla Show on Feb. 23 to discuss his podcast Really? No, Really. Carolla made sure to talk about Seinfeld though and Alexander revealed why he thought George sounded like Allen.
Jason Alexander’s first impression of ‘Seinfeld’ was Woody Allen
Considering Seinfeld became “a show about nothing” in George’s own words, it’s not too surprising Alexander’s first impression was Allen. Allen’s movies were usually about men, played by Allen himself, talking about their relationships in Annie Hall, Manhattan,...
L-r: Michael Richards, Jerry Seinfeld, and Jason Alexander |
Alexander was a guest on The Adam Carolla Show on Feb. 23 to discuss his podcast Really? No, Really. Carolla made sure to talk about Seinfeld though and Alexander revealed why he thought George sounded like Allen.
Jason Alexander’s first impression of ‘Seinfeld’ was Woody Allen
Considering Seinfeld became “a show about nothing” in George’s own words, it’s not too surprising Alexander’s first impression was Allen. Allen’s movies were usually about men, played by Allen himself, talking about their relationships in Annie Hall, Manhattan,...
- 3/1/2023
- by Fred Topel
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
1993 was an important year for Sylvester Stallone. After a long string of flops, Renny Harlin’s mountaineering epic Cliffhanger was the much-needed international hit Sly needed, with the film helping to reaffirm his position as one of the biggest action stars in Hollywood. But, before that movie had ever come out, Sly was shooting his second film of the year, once which, in the end, would make less money than Cliffhanger but would go on to achieve legendary cult status. Almost thirty years later, it remains Stallone’s most famous film featuring a character that isn’t named Rocky or Rambo. The movie, of course, is Demolition Man.
Flashback to twelve-year-old me walking into a movie theater in October of 1993 here in Montreal. Demolition Man would be my first Sly epic on the big screen. I vividly remember munching on my popcorn as the WB logo hit the screen while...
Flashback to twelve-year-old me walking into a movie theater in October of 1993 here in Montreal. Demolition Man would be my first Sly epic on the big screen. I vividly remember munching on my popcorn as the WB logo hit the screen while...
- 2/7/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Cosmo Jarvis, the Brit actor best known for roles in features including Lady Macbeth, Calm With Horses and the upcoming FX original Shogun, has joined the cast of Wise Guys, the upcoming mobster drama from Barry Levinson and starring Robert De Niro.
The Warner Bros. film, first reported by The Hollywood Reporter and now shooting, sees De Niro in the dual roles of Italian American crime bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, who ran their respective families during the 20th century. In 1957, Genovese tried — and failed — to assassinate Costello, who was ultimately injured and attempted to retire from the mafia. De Niro reunites with Levinson after working on several projects together, most notably Wag the Dog and Sleeper.
Nicholas Pileggi — who authored Wiseguy, the 1985 book that was the basis for the 1990 De Niro-Martin Scorsese crime classic, Goodfellas — wrote the script. Irwin Winkler, best known for producing the Rocky movies as...
The Warner Bros. film, first reported by The Hollywood Reporter and now shooting, sees De Niro in the dual roles of Italian American crime bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, who ran their respective families during the 20th century. In 1957, Genovese tried — and failed — to assassinate Costello, who was ultimately injured and attempted to retire from the mafia. De Niro reunites with Levinson after working on several projects together, most notably Wag the Dog and Sleeper.
Nicholas Pileggi — who authored Wiseguy, the 1985 book that was the basis for the 1990 De Niro-Martin Scorsese crime classic, Goodfellas — wrote the script. Irwin Winkler, best known for producing the Rocky movies as...
- 1/24/2023
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Welcome to our weekly rundown of the best new music — featuring big singles, key tracks from our favorite albums, and more. This week is full of big returns with singles from Fall Out Boy and boygenius. Plus, A$AP Rocky delivers a tribute to fallen hip-hop heroes, as well as great tracks from Boys World and Nicky Jam. Check out the list, or cue it up on Spotify.
A$AP Rocky, “Same Problems” (YouTube)
Fall Out Boy, “Love From the Other Side” (YouTube)
Ruston Kelly, “The Weakness” (YouTube)
Libianca, “People...
A$AP Rocky, “Same Problems” (YouTube)
Fall Out Boy, “Love From the Other Side” (YouTube)
Ruston Kelly, “The Weakness” (YouTube)
Libianca, “People...
- 1/20/2023
- by Rolling Stone
- Rollingstone.com
Robert De Niro is set for a double role in the upcoming mob crime drama ‘Wise Guys’ at Warner Bros.
The film follows Italian American crime bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, who ran their respective families during the 20th century. In 1957, Genovese tried (and failed) to assassinate Costello, who was ultimately injured and attempted to retire from the mafia. De Niro is expected to portray the two main characters.
Barry Levinson, the veteran filmmaker who is best known for ‘Rain Man’ is set to take the helm on the feature. De Niro and Levinson have previously teamed on ‘Wag the Dog,’ ‘Sleeper,’ the HBO series ‘The Wizard of Lies’ and ‘What Just Happened.’
Also in news – Brian Tyree Henry set for Apple drama series ‘Sinking Spring’
Nicholas Pileggi, the co-writer of Martin Scorsese’s crime epic ‘Goodfellas,’ which starred De Niro, is penning the screenplay. Irwin Winkler, a producer on ‘Goodfellas,...
The film follows Italian American crime bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, who ran their respective families during the 20th century. In 1957, Genovese tried (and failed) to assassinate Costello, who was ultimately injured and attempted to retire from the mafia. De Niro is expected to portray the two main characters.
Barry Levinson, the veteran filmmaker who is best known for ‘Rain Man’ is set to take the helm on the feature. De Niro and Levinson have previously teamed on ‘Wag the Dog,’ ‘Sleeper,’ the HBO series ‘The Wizard of Lies’ and ‘What Just Happened.’
Also in news – Brian Tyree Henry set for Apple drama series ‘Sinking Spring’
Nicholas Pileggi, the co-writer of Martin Scorsese’s crime epic ‘Goodfellas,’ which starred De Niro, is penning the screenplay. Irwin Winkler, a producer on ‘Goodfellas,...
- 8/17/2022
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Robert De Niro is set to offer double bonanza to his fans as he has taken the wise (pun intended) decision to star in a dual role in the upcoming gangster drama ‘Wise Guys’. The movie will be directed by veteran filmmaker Barry Levinson, who is known for ‘Rain Man’ and ‘Wag the Dog’, reports Variety.
The film, intended to play in theatres, will be produced by Warner Bros. and will reunite De Niro and Levinson, who previously teamed on ‘Wag the Dog,’ ‘Sleeper,’ the HBO series ‘The Wizard of Lies’ and ‘What Just Happened’.
According to Variety’ ‘Wise Guys’ follows Italian American crime bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, who ran their respective families during the 20th century. In 1957, Genovese tried (and failed) to assassinate Costello, who was ultimately injured and attempted to retire from the mafia. De Niro is expected to portray the two main characters.
Nicholas Pileggi,...
The film, intended to play in theatres, will be produced by Warner Bros. and will reunite De Niro and Levinson, who previously teamed on ‘Wag the Dog,’ ‘Sleeper,’ the HBO series ‘The Wizard of Lies’ and ‘What Just Happened’.
According to Variety’ ‘Wise Guys’ follows Italian American crime bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, who ran their respective families during the 20th century. In 1957, Genovese tried (and failed) to assassinate Costello, who was ultimately injured and attempted to retire from the mafia. De Niro is expected to portray the two main characters.
Nicholas Pileggi,...
- 8/17/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
Robert De Niro will be sharing the screen with Hollywood legend Robert De Niro in the upcoming gangster drama “Wise Guys.”
The movie, set at Warner Bros. and intended to play in theaters, will be directed by Barry Levinson, the veteran filmmaker who is best known for “Rain Man” and “Wag the Dog.” It reunites De Niro and Levinson, who previously teamed on “Wag the Dog,” “Sleeper,” the HBO series “The Wizard of Lies” and “What Just Happened.”
“Wise Guys” follows Italian American crime bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, who ran their respective families during the 20th century. In 1957, Genovese tried (and failed) to assassinate Costello, who was ultimately injured and attempted to retire from the mafia. De Niro is expected to portray the two main characters.
Nicholas Pileggi, the co-writer of Martin Scorsese’s crime epic “Goodfellas,” which starred De Niro, is penning the screenplay for “Wise Guys.
The movie, set at Warner Bros. and intended to play in theaters, will be directed by Barry Levinson, the veteran filmmaker who is best known for “Rain Man” and “Wag the Dog.” It reunites De Niro and Levinson, who previously teamed on “Wag the Dog,” “Sleeper,” the HBO series “The Wizard of Lies” and “What Just Happened.”
“Wise Guys” follows Italian American crime bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello, who ran their respective families during the 20th century. In 1957, Genovese tried (and failed) to assassinate Costello, who was ultimately injured and attempted to retire from the mafia. De Niro is expected to portray the two main characters.
Nicholas Pileggi, the co-writer of Martin Scorsese’s crime epic “Goodfellas,” which starred De Niro, is penning the screenplay for “Wise Guys.
- 8/16/2022
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Stars: Daniel O’Reilly, Makenzie Sconce, D.T. Carney, Lorenzo Leonard, Ryan Kos, David Holt | Written and Directed by Matt Sconce
Jack Ward, the protagonist of The Girl on the Mountain is a man hunted by guilt. A conductor and composer, he was so devoted to his art that everything else, including his family, came second. As a result, he blames himself for the tragedies that befell them.
He’s come to the mountains, possibly to kill himself, but in the film’s opening minutes he fails to find the courage to pull the trigger. Which is a good thing because while washing up in a river he sees a ragged young girl, Aria (Makenzie Sconce; Firefall: An Epic Family Adventure) stealing his backpack. Catching up with her after she conveniently trips, he discovers she’s mute and communicates with sign language. Which, equally conveniently, Jack also knows.
Having introduced the viewer to the two leads,...
Jack Ward, the protagonist of The Girl on the Mountain is a man hunted by guilt. A conductor and composer, he was so devoted to his art that everything else, including his family, came second. As a result, he blames himself for the tragedies that befell them.
He’s come to the mountains, possibly to kill himself, but in the film’s opening minutes he fails to find the courage to pull the trigger. Which is a good thing because while washing up in a river he sees a ragged young girl, Aria (Makenzie Sconce; Firefall: An Epic Family Adventure) stealing his backpack. Catching up with her after she conveniently trips, he discovers she’s mute and communicates with sign language. Which, equally conveniently, Jack also knows.
Having introduced the viewer to the two leads,...
- 3/15/2022
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
Normal 0 false false false En-us X-none X-none
“Bob The Barber”
By Raymond Benson
One of actor/comedian Bob Hope’s most cherished films is Monsieur Beaucaire, a 1946 remake of a Rudolph Valentino silent picture from 1924, both of which are based on a 1900 novel by Booth Tarkington. Hope’s version, directed by George Marshall, is certainly a loose adaptation because it turned what was a historical romantic drama into a flat-out comedy.
Woody Allen has been known to cite early Bob Hope movies as an inspiration for his onscreen persona in the director’s early “zany” comedies like Bananas and Sleeper. When one views something like Monsieur Beaucaire or My Favorite Blonde (1942), the comparison is strikingly apt. Hope creates a persona of nervous mannerisms, lack of self confidence masked by bravado, clumsy but endearing interaction with the opposite sex, and witty one-liners. Beaucaire exhibits Hope in fine form, producing a good...
“Bob The Barber”
By Raymond Benson
One of actor/comedian Bob Hope’s most cherished films is Monsieur Beaucaire, a 1946 remake of a Rudolph Valentino silent picture from 1924, both of which are based on a 1900 novel by Booth Tarkington. Hope’s version, directed by George Marshall, is certainly a loose adaptation because it turned what was a historical romantic drama into a flat-out comedy.
Woody Allen has been known to cite early Bob Hope movies as an inspiration for his onscreen persona in the director’s early “zany” comedies like Bananas and Sleeper. When one views something like Monsieur Beaucaire or My Favorite Blonde (1942), the comparison is strikingly apt. Hope creates a persona of nervous mannerisms, lack of self confidence masked by bravado, clumsy but endearing interaction with the opposite sex, and witty one-liners. Beaucaire exhibits Hope in fine form, producing a good...
- 1/15/2022
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Our first episode back in the studio! Robert Weide discusses a few of his favorite movies with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008)
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)
Mother Night (1996)
Woody Allen: A Documentary (2011)
Mort Sahl: The Loyal Opposition (1989)
Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth (1998)
Marx Brothers in a Nutshell (1982)
W.C. Fields: Straight Up (1986)
Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time (2021)
It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) – John Landis’s trailer commentary
Mary Poppins (1964)
The French Connection (1971) – Dennis Lehane’s trailer commentary, Mark Pellington’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing
The Magnificent Seven (1960) – Jesus Treviño’s trailer commentary
The Godfather (1972) – Ernest Dickerson’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing
The Exorcist (1973) – Oren Peli’s trailer commentary
Patton (1970) – Rod Lurie’s trailer commentary
Mash (1970)
Short Cuts (1993) – Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review
Lenny...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008)
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)
Mother Night (1996)
Woody Allen: A Documentary (2011)
Mort Sahl: The Loyal Opposition (1989)
Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth (1998)
Marx Brothers in a Nutshell (1982)
W.C. Fields: Straight Up (1986)
Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time (2021)
It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) – John Landis’s trailer commentary
Mary Poppins (1964)
The French Connection (1971) – Dennis Lehane’s trailer commentary, Mark Pellington’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing
The Magnificent Seven (1960) – Jesus Treviño’s trailer commentary
The Godfather (1972) – Ernest Dickerson’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing
The Exorcist (1973) – Oren Peli’s trailer commentary
Patton (1970) – Rod Lurie’s trailer commentary
Mash (1970)
Short Cuts (1993) – Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review
Lenny...
- 11/30/2021
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
The following contains spoilers from the season 10 finale of American Horror Story: Double Feature aka American Horror Story: Death Valley, ep. “The Future Perfect”
Never accuse Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk of jumping the shark.
American Horror Story wrapped up ten seasons running tonight with Sarah Paulson’s Mamie Eisenhower getting her head blown up. Like, a full on bloody splat. I can’t remember an AHS where I laughed so hard.
In a unique season that began with a family’s transformation into vampires in Provincetown, Massachusetts (Red Tide) which then handed off to a completely different second story, Death Valley, which was a celebration of 1950s B sci-fi films, as well as Alien, They Live, V and I swear, a wink at Denis Sanders’ Invasion of the Bee Girls, AHS Season 10 continued to reinvent itself, showing no signs of grey, rather knee-slapping hysteria laced with groovy retro style.
Never accuse Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk of jumping the shark.
American Horror Story wrapped up ten seasons running tonight with Sarah Paulson’s Mamie Eisenhower getting her head blown up. Like, a full on bloody splat. I can’t remember an AHS where I laughed so hard.
In a unique season that began with a family’s transformation into vampires in Provincetown, Massachusetts (Red Tide) which then handed off to a completely different second story, Death Valley, which was a celebration of 1950s B sci-fi films, as well as Alien, They Live, V and I swear, a wink at Denis Sanders’ Invasion of the Bee Girls, AHS Season 10 continued to reinvent itself, showing no signs of grey, rather knee-slapping hysteria laced with groovy retro style.
- 10/21/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Warner Bros. Pictures is considering legal action against “Line of Duty” showrunner Jed Mercurio over his new graphic novel “Sleeper.”
Warner Bros., via their subsidiary DC Comics, own the rights to another graphic novel called “Sleeper,” written by Ed Brubaker and illustrated by Sean Phillips. It was released in 2003 and has been considered for screen adaptation numerous times, most recently with Ben Affleck attached to direct.
A spokesperson for DC Comics, which is owned by Warner Bros., told Variety: “DC has no comment at this time.”
“‘Sleeper’ was the first major project that Sean Phillips and I did, way back when we started our partnership at Wildstorm/DC Comics,” Brubaker, who created Marvel’s “The Winter Soldier,” revealed in his latest newsletter. “It’s also a book that’s been under constant Hollywood interest or development. Sam Raimi and Tom Cruise tried to make it at Sony, WB recently had...
Warner Bros., via their subsidiary DC Comics, own the rights to another graphic novel called “Sleeper,” written by Ed Brubaker and illustrated by Sean Phillips. It was released in 2003 and has been considered for screen adaptation numerous times, most recently with Ben Affleck attached to direct.
A spokesperson for DC Comics, which is owned by Warner Bros., told Variety: “DC has no comment at this time.”
“‘Sleeper’ was the first major project that Sean Phillips and I did, way back when we started our partnership at Wildstorm/DC Comics,” Brubaker, who created Marvel’s “The Winter Soldier,” revealed in his latest newsletter. “It’s also a book that’s been under constant Hollywood interest or development. Sam Raimi and Tom Cruise tried to make it at Sony, WB recently had...
- 8/8/2021
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Screenwriter Ed Solomon joins hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante to discuss a few of his favorite movies.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Bill And Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) – Alex Kirschenbaum’s Bill & Ted character power rankings
Bill And Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991)
Bill And Ted Face The Music (2020)
Men In Black (1997)
The French Connection (1971) – Dennis Lehane’s trailer commentary, Mark Pellington’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings
No Sudden Move (2021)
A Night At The Opera (1935) – Allan Arkush’s trailer commentary
Mosaic (2018)
Take The Money And Run (1969)
Bananas (1971) – Robert Weide’s trailer commentary
Sleeper (1973)
Love And Death (1975)
Annie Hall (1977) – Robert Weide’s trailer commentary
Manhattan (1979)
And Now For Something Completely Different… (1971) – Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary
Blazing Saddles (1974) – John Landis’s trailer commentary, Dennis Cozzalio’s Blazing Saddles Thanksgiving
Klute (1971) – Katt Shea’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s Criterion Blu-ray review
The Parallax View (1974) – Karyn Kusama’s trailer commentary,...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Bill And Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) – Alex Kirschenbaum’s Bill & Ted character power rankings
Bill And Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991)
Bill And Ted Face The Music (2020)
Men In Black (1997)
The French Connection (1971) – Dennis Lehane’s trailer commentary, Mark Pellington’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings
No Sudden Move (2021)
A Night At The Opera (1935) – Allan Arkush’s trailer commentary
Mosaic (2018)
Take The Money And Run (1969)
Bananas (1971) – Robert Weide’s trailer commentary
Sleeper (1973)
Love And Death (1975)
Annie Hall (1977) – Robert Weide’s trailer commentary
Manhattan (1979)
And Now For Something Completely Different… (1971) – Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary
Blazing Saddles (1974) – John Landis’s trailer commentary, Dennis Cozzalio’s Blazing Saddles Thanksgiving
Klute (1971) – Katt Shea’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s Criterion Blu-ray review
The Parallax View (1974) – Karyn Kusama’s trailer commentary,...
- 7/6/2021
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
With the Oscar winner’s romcom Love, Weddings & Other Disasters out next month in the UK, we run through her greatest roles
Some of the jokes in Sleeper are as dated as the special effects (and they looked creaky enough nearly 50 years ago). But Keaton is ethereally lovely as Luna, a socialite from the future. As always, there is an intelligence to her performance that lifts her above the weaker material, such as Woody Allen’s character floating around a field in a hydrovac suit.
Some of the jokes in Sleeper are as dated as the special effects (and they looked creaky enough nearly 50 years ago). But Keaton is ethereally lovely as Luna, a socialite from the future. As always, there is an intelligence to her performance that lifts her above the weaker material, such as Woody Allen’s character floating around a field in a hydrovac suit.
- 3/11/2021
- by Hadley Freeman
- The Guardian - Film News
Marvel Comics "King In Black" #1, available December 2, 2020, features a wraparound cover by illustrators Todd Nauck and Rachelle Rosenberg, including every known 'symbiote' in the 'Marvel Universe':
'Symbiotes' include 'Venom', 'Knull', 'Agent Venom', 'Scorpion as Venom', 'The Grendel', 'Venomsaurus Rex', 'Carnage', 'Riot', ' Phage', 'Agony', 'Lasher', 'Scream', 'Hybrid', 'Sleeper', 'Toxin', 'Scorn', 'Raze', 'Anti-Venom', 'Zzzxx' and 'Gwenom'.
Click the images to enlarge...
'Symbiotes' include 'Venom', 'Knull', 'Agent Venom', 'Scorpion as Venom', 'The Grendel', 'Venomsaurus Rex', 'Carnage', 'Riot', ' Phage', 'Agony', 'Lasher', 'Scream', 'Hybrid', 'Sleeper', 'Toxin', 'Scorn', 'Raze', 'Anti-Venom', 'Zzzxx' and 'Gwenom'.
Click the images to enlarge...
- 11/2/2020
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Our 100th Guest! Comedy icon Martin Short joins us to discuss a few of the movies that made him.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Innerspace (1987)
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958)
On The Waterfront (1954)
To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
Terms Of Endearment (1983)
Moby Dick (1956)
The Exorcist (1973)
King Kong (1933)
A History Of Violence (2005)
A Song To Remember (1945)
Some Like It Hot (1959)
Annie Hall (1977)
The Oscar (1966)
Sleeper (1973)
Bananas (1971)
City Lights (1931)
September (1987)
The Harder They Fall (1956)
Bad Day At Black Rock (1955)
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Schindler’s List (1993)
Kiss Me Stupid (1964)
The Ox-Bow Incident (1942)
The Bad And The Beautiful (1953)
Ben-Hur (1959)
Spartacus (1960)
The Ten Commandments (1956)
The Night of the Hunter (1955)
The Diary of Anne Frank (1959)
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
The Graduate (1967)
Klute (1971)
Blow-Up (1966)
Blow Out (1981)
The Godfather (1972)
The Godfather Part II (1974)
The Godfather Part III (1990)
Burn! (1970)
Reflections In A Golden Eye (1967)
Grease 2 (1982)
The Conversation (1974)
Back To The Future (1985)
Other Notable Items
Saturday Night Live TV...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Innerspace (1987)
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958)
On The Waterfront (1954)
To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
Terms Of Endearment (1983)
Moby Dick (1956)
The Exorcist (1973)
King Kong (1933)
A History Of Violence (2005)
A Song To Remember (1945)
Some Like It Hot (1959)
Annie Hall (1977)
The Oscar (1966)
Sleeper (1973)
Bananas (1971)
City Lights (1931)
September (1987)
The Harder They Fall (1956)
Bad Day At Black Rock (1955)
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Schindler’s List (1993)
Kiss Me Stupid (1964)
The Ox-Bow Incident (1942)
The Bad And The Beautiful (1953)
Ben-Hur (1959)
Spartacus (1960)
The Ten Commandments (1956)
The Night of the Hunter (1955)
The Diary of Anne Frank (1959)
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
The Graduate (1967)
Klute (1971)
Blow-Up (1966)
Blow Out (1981)
The Godfather (1972)
The Godfather Part II (1974)
The Godfather Part III (1990)
Burn! (1970)
Reflections In A Golden Eye (1967)
Grease 2 (1982)
The Conversation (1974)
Back To The Future (1985)
Other Notable Items
Saturday Night Live TV...
- 8/25/2020
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
British comedy Stath Lets Flats is the little show that could. The Channel 4 comedy has had a pretty good few weeks – beating Fleabag twice at the BAFTA TV Awards on Friday.
The show follows an incompetent rental agent, played by creator Jamie Demetriou, who runs a Greek-Cypriot letting agency in London, owned by his father. It has echoes of the original BBC version of The Office or Steve Coogan’s Alan Partridge character.
Demetriou, who played the bus suitor with big teeth in Fleabag’s first season, picked up a craft award for best comedy writing earlier this month, beating his former boss Phoebe Waller-Bridge among others, and on Friday he picked up best male performance in a comedy performance and best scripted comedy.
In the acting category, he beat out Sex Education’s Ncuti Gatwa, Man Like Mobeen’s Guz Khan and Home’s Yousse Kerkour, while in the scripted comedy category,...
The show follows an incompetent rental agent, played by creator Jamie Demetriou, who runs a Greek-Cypriot letting agency in London, owned by his father. It has echoes of the original BBC version of The Office or Steve Coogan’s Alan Partridge character.
Demetriou, who played the bus suitor with big teeth in Fleabag’s first season, picked up a craft award for best comedy writing earlier this month, beating his former boss Phoebe Waller-Bridge among others, and on Friday he picked up best male performance in a comedy performance and best scripted comedy.
In the acting category, he beat out Sex Education’s Ncuti Gatwa, Man Like Mobeen’s Guz Khan and Home’s Yousse Kerkour, while in the scripted comedy category,...
- 7/31/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Refresh for updates The Phantom of the Opera‘s Emmy Rossum and The Lost Boy‘s Corey Feldman were among the actors remembering director Joel Schumacher today, with Feldman writing a stream of tweets recalling how the director attempted, unsuccessfully, to prevent the actor’s “descent” into drugs.
Feldman also credits Schumacher with first teaming him with Corey Haim for the 1987 film, and makes clear that Schumacher was not involved in the “corruption” that he and Haim experienced on The Lost Boys set..
The actor says that the sober Schumacher, suspecting the 16-year-old Feldman was high on cocaine, fired him from the movie, then relented and rehired him. Feldman says he stayed away from the drug for a year after that.
In the all-caps tweets, Feldman writes, “He Tried 2 Prevent My Descent.
Feldman also credits Schumacher with first teaming him with Corey Haim for the 1987 film, and makes clear that Schumacher was not involved in the “corruption” that he and Haim experienced on The Lost Boys set..
The actor says that the sober Schumacher, suspecting the 16-year-old Feldman was high on cocaine, fired him from the movie, then relented and rehired him. Feldman says he stayed away from the drug for a year after that.
In the all-caps tweets, Feldman writes, “He Tried 2 Prevent My Descent.
- 6/22/2020
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Early career in costume design segued into directing.
Joel Schumacher, whose directing credits included St. Elmo’s Fire, Falling Down, Batman & Robin and Batman Forever, died on Monday (June 22) in New York after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 80.
Schumacher was born on August 29, 1939, and studied at Parsons School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York before entering the fashion world.
A move to Los Angeles took him into costume design and he worked on Woody Allen’s early 1970’s comedy Sleeper, among others, before embarking on a career as a director.
Schumacher’s 1985 Brat...
Joel Schumacher, whose directing credits included St. Elmo’s Fire, Falling Down, Batman & Robin and Batman Forever, died on Monday (June 22) in New York after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 80.
Schumacher was born on August 29, 1939, and studied at Parsons School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York before entering the fashion world.
A move to Los Angeles took him into costume design and he worked on Woody Allen’s early 1970’s comedy Sleeper, among others, before embarking on a career as a director.
Schumacher’s 1985 Brat...
- 6/22/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Joel Schumacher, the outspoken and shameless American filmmaker whose often flamboyant productions have become cult classics, died Monday morning at the age of 80. He passed away peacefully after a year-long battle with cancer, Schumacher’s representatives confirmed to IndieWire. His last efforts behind the camera were directing two episodes of the Netflix series “House of Cards” in 2013, though he’d since continued to regale with his unfiltered stories of Hollywood lore, most recently in a 2019 profile of the filmmaker in New York Magazine.
Born in New York City, Schumacher studied at Parsons New School for Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology — an education that informed his dazzling visual style as a filmmaker — before moving to Los Angeles to study at UCLA. His earliest credits in Hollywood included as costume designer on “Play It as It Lays” and Woody Allen’s “Sleeper” and “Interiors,” and as screenwriter of cult favorites “Sparkle,...
Born in New York City, Schumacher studied at Parsons New School for Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology — an education that informed his dazzling visual style as a filmmaker — before moving to Los Angeles to study at UCLA. His earliest credits in Hollywood included as costume designer on “Play It as It Lays” and Woody Allen’s “Sleeper” and “Interiors,” and as screenwriter of cult favorites “Sparkle,...
- 6/22/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Joel Schumacher, the outspoken and shameless American filmmaker whose often flamboyant productions have become cult classics, died Monday morning at the age of 80. He passed away peacefully after a year-long battle with cancer, Schumacher’s representatives confirmed to IndieWire. His last efforts behind the camera were directing two episodes of the Netflix series “House of Cards” in 2013, though he’d since continued to regale with his unfiltered stories of Hollywood lore, most recently in a 2019 profile of the filmmaker in New York Magazine.
Born in New York City, Schumacher studied at Parsons New School for Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology — an education that informed his dazzling visual style as a filmmaker — before moving to Los Angeles to study at UCLA. His earliest credits in Hollywood included as costume designer on “Play It as It Lays” and Woody Allen’s “Sleeper” and “Interiors,” and as screenwriter of cult favorites “Sparkle,...
Born in New York City, Schumacher studied at Parsons New School for Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology — an education that informed his dazzling visual style as a filmmaker — before moving to Los Angeles to study at UCLA. His earliest credits in Hollywood included as costume designer on “Play It as It Lays” and Woody Allen’s “Sleeper” and “Interiors,” and as screenwriter of cult favorites “Sparkle,...
- 6/22/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
Joel Schumacher, who directed some two dozen films including Batman Forever, Batman & Robin, Brat Pack pics St. Elmo’s Fire and The Lost Boys along with Falling Down and John Grisham adaptations The Client and A Time to Kill, died today. He was 80.
His publicists at ID PR said he had a yearlong battle with cancer.
Schumacher was revered as one of Hollywood’s great storytellers. He had enormous charm and wit and could walk onto a tense set and instantly change everyone’s mood. It was magic chemistry.
His credits also include the 1980s pics D.C. Cab and The Incredible Shrinking Woman. He also helmed The Phantom of the Opera, Flatliners, Flawless, 8Mm Phone Booth, Trespass and most recently two 2013 episodes of Netflix’s House of Cards.
Notable Hollywood & Entertainment Industry Deaths In 2020: Photo Gallery
The native New Yorker also wrote the 1976 low-budget comedy Car Wash and the...
His publicists at ID PR said he had a yearlong battle with cancer.
Schumacher was revered as one of Hollywood’s great storytellers. He had enormous charm and wit and could walk onto a tense set and instantly change everyone’s mood. It was magic chemistry.
His credits also include the 1980s pics D.C. Cab and The Incredible Shrinking Woman. He also helmed The Phantom of the Opera, Flatliners, Flawless, 8Mm Phone Booth, Trespass and most recently two 2013 episodes of Netflix’s House of Cards.
Notable Hollywood & Entertainment Industry Deaths In 2020: Photo Gallery
The native New Yorker also wrote the 1976 low-budget comedy Car Wash and the...
- 6/22/2020
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Movies to watch when you’re staying in for a while, featuring recommendations from Dana Gould, Daniel Waters, Scott Alexander, and Allison Anders.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Destroy All Monsters (1969)
Planet Of The Apes (1968)
Beneath The Planet of the Apes (1970)
Escape From The Planet Of The Apes (1971)
Conquest Of The Planet Of The Apes (1972)
Battle For The Planet Of The Apes (1973)
Suparpie
The Wizard Of Oz (1939)
Hello Down There (1969)
Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
Thirteen Days (2000)
Stalker (1979)
Last Year At Marienbad (1961)
No Exit (1962)
The Exterminating Angel (1962)
Sleeper (1973)
The Tenant (1976)
Final Cut: Ladies And Gentlemen (2012)
The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990)
La classe américaine (1993)
The Sex Adventures of a Single Man a.k.a. The 24 Hour Lover (1968)
The Omega Man (1971)
Soylent Green (1973)
Knives Out (2019)
The Hunt (2020)
Banana Split (2020)
The Cocoanuts (1929)
Animal Crackers (1930)
Monkey Business (1931)
Horse Feathers (1932)
Duck Soup (1933)
A Night At The Opera (1935)
The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant (1971)
Susan Slade (1961)
My Blood Runs Cold...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Destroy All Monsters (1969)
Planet Of The Apes (1968)
Beneath The Planet of the Apes (1970)
Escape From The Planet Of The Apes (1971)
Conquest Of The Planet Of The Apes (1972)
Battle For The Planet Of The Apes (1973)
Suparpie
The Wizard Of Oz (1939)
Hello Down There (1969)
Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
Thirteen Days (2000)
Stalker (1979)
Last Year At Marienbad (1961)
No Exit (1962)
The Exterminating Angel (1962)
Sleeper (1973)
The Tenant (1976)
Final Cut: Ladies And Gentlemen (2012)
The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990)
La classe américaine (1993)
The Sex Adventures of a Single Man a.k.a. The 24 Hour Lover (1968)
The Omega Man (1971)
Soylent Green (1973)
Knives Out (2019)
The Hunt (2020)
Banana Split (2020)
The Cocoanuts (1929)
Animal Crackers (1930)
Monkey Business (1931)
Horse Feathers (1932)
Duck Soup (1933)
A Night At The Opera (1935)
The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant (1971)
Susan Slade (1961)
My Blood Runs Cold...
- 3/27/2020
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
Winning an Oscar is no laughing matter, which is perhaps why so many comedy directors have turned to more serious subject matter to strike gold in recent years. Like Adam McKay (“The Big Short” and “Vice”) and Peter Farrelly (“Green Book“) before them, Todd Phillips (“Joker”) and Jay Roach (“Bombshell”) could be the latest to enter the awards race for proving their mettle in dramas.
Phillips is the man behind raunchy laffers like “Road Trip” (2000), “Old School” (2003) and the “Hangover” trilogy (2009-2013). Now he’s in the Oscar conversation this year for co-writing and directing the dark DC Comics origin story “Joker.” Meanwhile, Roach is remembered for helming the first two “Meet the Parents” movies (2000 and 2004) and all three “Austin Powers” films (1997-2002). Now he’s getting buzz for the Fox News sex scandal drama “Bombshell.”
See ‘Bombshell’ Q&a: Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and company on sexual harassment, reclaiming...
Phillips is the man behind raunchy laffers like “Road Trip” (2000), “Old School” (2003) and the “Hangover” trilogy (2009-2013). Now he’s in the Oscar conversation this year for co-writing and directing the dark DC Comics origin story “Joker.” Meanwhile, Roach is remembered for helming the first two “Meet the Parents” movies (2000 and 2004) and all three “Austin Powers” films (1997-2002). Now he’s getting buzz for the Fox News sex scandal drama “Bombshell.”
See ‘Bombshell’ Q&a: Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and company on sexual harassment, reclaiming...
- 11/12/2019
- by Zach Laws
- Gold Derby
Why so serious? While some filmmakers get their start making cheaply made B-movies or horror films, there’s a new crop of directors emerging who previously cut their teeth making classic comedies. And while most haven’t abandoned their sense of humor entirely, they’ve finally been recognized at both the box office and awards circuit by veering into prestige pictures. The latest example is Todd Phillips, the director of “Joker,” which as the darkly disturbed origin story of the iconic Batman villain is no laughing matter. Here are some other directors who have re-emerged as more than just funny men.
Preston Sturges – Comedy Classic: “The Lady Eve”/Dramatic Turn: “Sullivan’s Travels”
Preston Sturges, one of the signature directors of Old Hollywood, would likely still be admired today based solely on the success of his screwball comedies like “The Great McGinty” and “The Lady Eve.” But he took a...
Preston Sturges – Comedy Classic: “The Lady Eve”/Dramatic Turn: “Sullivan’s Travels”
Preston Sturges, one of the signature directors of Old Hollywood, would likely still be admired today based solely on the success of his screwball comedies like “The Great McGinty” and “The Lady Eve.” But he took a...
- 10/2/2019
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Cleopatra Jones
Blu ray
Warner Archive
1973 / 2:35:1 / 89 Min. / Street Date – March 19, 2019
Starring Tamara Dobson, Bernie Casey
Written by Max Julien, Sheldon Keller
Cinematography by David M. Walsh
Directed by Jack Starrett
A good-natured if rickety assemblage of action movie cliches, Cleopatra Jones is dominated by two bigger than life actresses, Tamara Dobson and Shelley Winters. The movie’s trailer promoted Dobson as the “soul sister’s answer” to James Bond but you can count Bruce Lee, Emma Peel, Shaft and The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. among Cleo’s many relevant role models.
Winters plays “Mommy”, a foulmouthed mob boss who depends on the thriving Poppy fields of Turkey for her cash flow and Dobson is Cleopatra, an Amazonian fashion plate whose special agent skills range from karate to high speed car chases – her plan to wipe out Mommy’s syndicate leads to a high octane race through ‘70’s era L.
Blu ray
Warner Archive
1973 / 2:35:1 / 89 Min. / Street Date – March 19, 2019
Starring Tamara Dobson, Bernie Casey
Written by Max Julien, Sheldon Keller
Cinematography by David M. Walsh
Directed by Jack Starrett
A good-natured if rickety assemblage of action movie cliches, Cleopatra Jones is dominated by two bigger than life actresses, Tamara Dobson and Shelley Winters. The movie’s trailer promoted Dobson as the “soul sister’s answer” to James Bond but you can count Bruce Lee, Emma Peel, Shaft and The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. among Cleo’s many relevant role models.
Winters plays “Mommy”, a foulmouthed mob boss who depends on the thriving Poppy fields of Turkey for her cash flow and Dobson is Cleopatra, an Amazonian fashion plate whose special agent skills range from karate to high speed car chases – her plan to wipe out Mommy’s syndicate leads to a high octane race through ‘70’s era L.
- 3/19/2019
- by Charlie Largent
- Trailers from Hell
Is this any way to treat a lady? Lovely Nina Foch just wanted a job, but she instead becomes the fall-gal in a psychologically perverse plan to deny her very identity. Cult director Joseph H. Lewis makes deft use of cinematic suspense techniques to compel our involvement in a bizarre conspiracy: not just convincing a woman that she’s insane, but that she’s literally not herself.
My Name is Julia Ross
Blu-ray
Arrow Academy
1945 / B&W / 1:37 Academy / 65 min. / Street Date February 19, 2019 / Available from Arrow Films (UK) / 39.95
Starring: Nina Foch, Dame May Whitty, George Macready, Roland Varno, Leonard Mudie, Anita Bolster, Doris Lloyd, Queenie Leonard.
Cinematography: Burnett Guffey
Film Editor: Henry Batista
Visual Effects: Lawrence Butler, Donald Glouner
Musical director: Mischa Bakaleinikoff
Written by Muriel Roy Bolton, from the novel by Anthony Gilbert (Lucy Malleson)
Produced by Wallace MacDonald
Directed by Joseph H. Lewis
2019 is shaping up just fine for Blu-ray releases of small-scale,...
My Name is Julia Ross
Blu-ray
Arrow Academy
1945 / B&W / 1:37 Academy / 65 min. / Street Date February 19, 2019 / Available from Arrow Films (UK) / 39.95
Starring: Nina Foch, Dame May Whitty, George Macready, Roland Varno, Leonard Mudie, Anita Bolster, Doris Lloyd, Queenie Leonard.
Cinematography: Burnett Guffey
Film Editor: Henry Batista
Visual Effects: Lawrence Butler, Donald Glouner
Musical director: Mischa Bakaleinikoff
Written by Muriel Roy Bolton, from the novel by Anthony Gilbert (Lucy Malleson)
Produced by Wallace MacDonald
Directed by Joseph H. Lewis
2019 is shaping up just fine for Blu-ray releases of small-scale,...
- 2/9/2019
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Prop master Barry Bedig was literally born into the biz. Yet despite being the son of storied special effects man Sass Bedig, Barry’s youth was largely unaffected by Tinseltown’s glare. Infrequent studio visits with Dad produced understated memories. “I got to ride [Roy Rogers’ horse] Trigger once,” he deadpans.
Obtaining union status at 25 in 1964 at 20th Century Fox after a stint in the U.S. Navy, Bedig was one of the youngest prop masters in the history of Iatse Local 44, having gained the prerequisite 2,000 hours for membership, then passed the daunting written exam.
He hit the big time in 1972 when he was called for Woody Allen’s “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex but Were Afraid to Ask.” Bedig’s contributions to the seven-segment film would become his career trademark: detail. He was tasked with creating the Jester’s wand for the “Do Aphrodisiacs Work?” sequence — a...
Obtaining union status at 25 in 1964 at 20th Century Fox after a stint in the U.S. Navy, Bedig was one of the youngest prop masters in the history of Iatse Local 44, having gained the prerequisite 2,000 hours for membership, then passed the daunting written exam.
He hit the big time in 1972 when he was called for Woody Allen’s “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex but Were Afraid to Ask.” Bedig’s contributions to the seven-segment film would become his career trademark: detail. He was tasked with creating the Jester’s wand for the “Do Aphrodisiacs Work?” sequence — a...
- 2/1/2019
- by James C. Udel
- Variety Film + TV
Woody Allen celebrates his 83rd birthday on December 1, 2018. The four-time Academy Award winner has proved incredibly prolific in his decades-long career, writing, directing, and oftentimes starring in nearly a film a year for almost 50 years. But how many of those are classics? In honor of his birthday, let’s take a look back at 25 of his greatest films, ranked worst to best.
After years as a joke writer and standup comic, Allen transitioned into filmmaking penning such screenplays as “What’s New Pussycat?” (1965) and starring in such titles as “Casino Royale” (1967). His first credit as a director was the comedically overdubbed Japanese spy thriller “What’s Up, Tiger Lily?” (1966).
SEEOscar Best Picture Gallery: History of Every Academy Award-Winning Movie
The Woody Allen as we know him emerged in 1969 with the farcical mockumentary “Take the Money and Run” (1969), made when he was 34 years old. The success of that film led to...
After years as a joke writer and standup comic, Allen transitioned into filmmaking penning such screenplays as “What’s New Pussycat?” (1965) and starring in such titles as “Casino Royale” (1967). His first credit as a director was the comedically overdubbed Japanese spy thriller “What’s Up, Tiger Lily?” (1966).
SEEOscar Best Picture Gallery: History of Every Academy Award-Winning Movie
The Woody Allen as we know him emerged in 1969 with the farcical mockumentary “Take the Money and Run” (1969), made when he was 34 years old. The success of that film led to...
- 12/1/2018
- by Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Douglas Rain, the Canadian actor who provided the voice to the Hal 9000 computer in Stanley Kubrick’s classic 2001: A Space Odyssey, died Sunday at the age of 90.
The Stratford Festival in Ontario, Canada, which Rain co-founded in 1952, announced the actor’s death Sunday, adding that Rain died of natural causes, CTV News reports.
“Canadian theatre has lost one of its greatest talents and a guiding light in its development,” Stratford Festival’s artistic director Antoni Cimolino said in a statement. “Douglas Rain was that rare artist: an actor deeply admired by other actors.
The Stratford Festival in Ontario, Canada, which Rain co-founded in 1952, announced the actor’s death Sunday, adding that Rain died of natural causes, CTV News reports.
“Canadian theatre has lost one of its greatest talents and a guiding light in its development,” Stratford Festival’s artistic director Antoni Cimolino said in a statement. “Douglas Rain was that rare artist: an actor deeply admired by other actors.
- 11/12/2018
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Stars: Brittany Belland, Tiffany Arnold, Riana Ballo, Jason Jay Crabtree, Jessica Cameron, John Bloom, Ali Ferda, Luke Frost, Paul Moon | Written and Directed by Justin Russell
As a collector of VHS, The Sleeper was one of those films that has been on my radar for quite some time. The film was released in a VHS/DVD big box combo set by producers Gamma Knife Films back in early 2012 – I didn’t pick up that version sadly, but I did grab a copy of The Sleeper when it finally came to DVD here in Blighty back in 2013. Cut to 2018 and the film has received the Blu-ray upgrade treatment courtesy of Scream Team Releasing!
At first glance The Sleeper is very reminiscent of Ti West’s House of the Devil – especially given the retro look and feel which echoes West’s stylistic choices on his breakout flick – however this film focuses on...
As a collector of VHS, The Sleeper was one of those films that has been on my radar for quite some time. The film was released in a VHS/DVD big box combo set by producers Gamma Knife Films back in early 2012 – I didn’t pick up that version sadly, but I did grab a copy of The Sleeper when it finally came to DVD here in Blighty back in 2013. Cut to 2018 and the film has received the Blu-ray upgrade treatment courtesy of Scream Team Releasing!
At first glance The Sleeper is very reminiscent of Ti West’s House of the Devil – especially given the retro look and feel which echoes West’s stylistic choices on his breakout flick – however this film focuses on...
- 6/15/2018
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
“Your body's not who you are,” explains this new trailer for Netflix’s futuristic sci-fi series Altered Carbon, premiering February 2. “You shed it like a snake sheds it's skin. Transfer consciousness between bodies to live eternal live.” Netflix released a trailer today, along with four key art images (see them below). Sorta like Sleeper without the laughs, the series, based on Richard K. Morgan’s classic cyberpunk noir novel, Altered Carbon is described by Netflix as…...
- 1/11/2018
- Deadline TV
I used to say I was a Woody Allen fan; now I’m done with him. My last Allen film was 2015’s Irrational Man, which I liked, unlike most critics. But I decided very recently, with much struggle, that I no longer want to be part of contributing to his income or promoting his films — to increasing his power. It’s taken me a lifetime to get to this point.
One of my favorite films when I was a kid was Sleeper (1973). My mom was an Allen fan and still is, but she banned him from our household movie nights...
One of my favorite films when I was a kid was Sleeper (1973). My mom was an Allen fan and still is, but she banned him from our household movie nights...
- 12/2/2017
- by Miriam Bale
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday. (The answer to the second, “What is the best film in theaters right now?”, can be found at the end of this post.)
This week’s question: In honor of “The Florida Project,” which has just started its platform release across the country, what is the greatest child performance in a film?
Jordan Hoffman (@JHoffman), The Guardian, Vanity Fair
I can agonize over this question or I can go at this Malcolm Gladwell “Blink”-style. My answer is Tatum O’Neal in “Paper Moon.” She’s just so funny and tough, which of course makes the performance all the more heartbreaking. She won the freaking Oscar at age 10 for this and I’d really love to give a more deep cut response, but why screw around? Paper Moon is a perfect film and she is the lynchpin.
This week’s question: In honor of “The Florida Project,” which has just started its platform release across the country, what is the greatest child performance in a film?
Jordan Hoffman (@JHoffman), The Guardian, Vanity Fair
I can agonize over this question or I can go at this Malcolm Gladwell “Blink”-style. My answer is Tatum O’Neal in “Paper Moon.” She’s just so funny and tough, which of course makes the performance all the more heartbreaking. She won the freaking Oscar at age 10 for this and I’d really love to give a more deep cut response, but why screw around? Paper Moon is a perfect film and she is the lynchpin.
- 10/9/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Author: Cai Ross
The original Planet of The Apes movies occupied a curious netherworld of critical opinion. With each film, the budget was sawn in half, leading to a successive pattern of diminishing returns that led to a cheapening of its esteem. The spin-off TV show was quickly cancelled, further dulling the lustre and few people even remember the animated series that finally put the Apes to bed until a rude awakening in 2001.
However, for all their child-pleasing capers (the family-friendly G rating was a mandatory stipulation from the studios), the Apes movies deftly juggled important themes and arguments about slavery, free-will, nuclear war, vivisection, racism and oppression, and man’s innate capacity for cruelty. In pure storytelling terms, the circuitous plot links the first five movies (and the new post-Rise cycle) into a pleasing, if relentlessly pessimistic, self-perpetuating full-circle.
Enormous box office successes in their early stages, they spawned...
The original Planet of The Apes movies occupied a curious netherworld of critical opinion. With each film, the budget was sawn in half, leading to a successive pattern of diminishing returns that led to a cheapening of its esteem. The spin-off TV show was quickly cancelled, further dulling the lustre and few people even remember the animated series that finally put the Apes to bed until a rude awakening in 2001.
However, for all their child-pleasing capers (the family-friendly G rating was a mandatory stipulation from the studios), the Apes movies deftly juggled important themes and arguments about slavery, free-will, nuclear war, vivisection, racism and oppression, and man’s innate capacity for cruelty. In pure storytelling terms, the circuitous plot links the first five movies (and the new post-Rise cycle) into a pleasing, if relentlessly pessimistic, self-perpetuating full-circle.
Enormous box office successes in their early stages, they spawned...
- 7/12/2017
- by Cai Ross
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Robin Bell Aug 10, 2017
Woody Allen's Annie Hall is regarded as one of the best romantic comedies ever. We take a look back at a classic...
When writing about films that you love, it is very easy to begin with a preamble where you eulogise about the said film in a way that only discusses your feelings for it, and doesn't delve into and analyse the reasons why the film is so important. I will try to avoid that here and get straight to the point as to why Annie Hall is the greatest romantic comedy of all time. I feel this is the introduction the film requires - a little awkward, and wanting to analyse everything that little bit deeper.
Annie Hall breaks so many supposed 'rules' that films have. If you narrow that down to the rules of the romantic comedy then it completely obliterates them. In terms of the romantic comedy,...
Woody Allen's Annie Hall is regarded as one of the best romantic comedies ever. We take a look back at a classic...
When writing about films that you love, it is very easy to begin with a preamble where you eulogise about the said film in a way that only discusses your feelings for it, and doesn't delve into and analyse the reasons why the film is so important. I will try to avoid that here and get straight to the point as to why Annie Hall is the greatest romantic comedy of all time. I feel this is the introduction the film requires - a little awkward, and wanting to analyse everything that little bit deeper.
Annie Hall breaks so many supposed 'rules' that films have. If you narrow that down to the rules of the romantic comedy then it completely obliterates them. In terms of the romantic comedy,...
- 6/12/2017
- Den of Geek
When Diane Keaton accepted the 45th AFI Life Achievement Award from Woody Allen in Hollywood Thursday night, it was the end of one of the more memorable AFI tributes. And as one actress after another explained why Keaton was such a significant role model — from Oscar-winners Emma Stone, Reese Witherspoon (Keaton-directed TV movie “Wildflower”) and Meryl Streep (“Marvin’s Room”) to Rachel McAdams (“The Family Stone”) and comedienne Lisa Kudrow (“Hanging Up”) — it struck me that all actresses should pay attention to why Keaton is so admired and emulated.
Here are some wise lessons to be learned from the star of “Play It Again Sam,” “The First Wives Club,” “Crimes of the Heart,” “Shoot the Moon,” and HBO’s “The Young Pope.”
1. Stay single.
Keaton launched her Hollywood career with the day-long wedding scene in “The Godfather,” at the end of which she and fellow theater outsider Al Pacino proceeded to get royally drunk.
Here are some wise lessons to be learned from the star of “Play It Again Sam,” “The First Wives Club,” “Crimes of the Heart,” “Shoot the Moon,” and HBO’s “The Young Pope.”
1. Stay single.
Keaton launched her Hollywood career with the day-long wedding scene in “The Godfather,” at the end of which she and fellow theater outsider Al Pacino proceeded to get royally drunk.
- 6/9/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
When Diane Keaton accepted the 45th AFI Life Achievement Award from Woody Allen in Hollywood Thursday night, it was the end of one of the more memorable AFI tributes. And as one actress after another explained why Keaton was such a significant role model — from Oscar-winners Emma Stone, Reese Witherspoon (Keaton-directed TV movie “Wildflower”) and Meryl Streep (“Marvin’s Room”) to Rachel McAdams (“The Family Stone”) and comedienne Lisa Kudrow (“Hanging Up”) — it struck me that all actresses should pay attention to why Keaton is so admired and emulated.
Here are some wise lessons to be learned from the star of “Play It Again Sam,” “The First Wives Club,” “Crimes of the Heart,” “Shoot the Moon,” and HBO’s “The Young Pope.”
1. Stay single.
Keaton launched her Hollywood career with the day-long wedding scene in “The Godfather,” at the end of which she and fellow theater outsider Al Pacino proceeded to get royally drunk.
Here are some wise lessons to be learned from the star of “Play It Again Sam,” “The First Wives Club,” “Crimes of the Heart,” “Shoot the Moon,” and HBO’s “The Young Pope.”
1. Stay single.
Keaton launched her Hollywood career with the day-long wedding scene in “The Godfather,” at the end of which she and fellow theater outsider Al Pacino proceeded to get royally drunk.
- 6/9/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.