“What if you could make your peace with your own history?” It’s the question that Director Shawn Levy couldn’t get out of his head after coming across Jonathan Tropper’s script for The Adam Project. The director had just finished filming Free Guy with Ryan Reynolds, and the two were looking for a new project on which to collaborate.
The Adam Project seemed like a perfect fit. The film’s initial premise as a sci-fi action adventure about a surly Air Force pilot who time travels back to his 2022 childhood in an attempt to save the world appealed to Levy’s desire to pay homage to Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment, which produced classics like E.T. and Back to the Future.
That adventure begins with a pivotal scene when young Adam Reed (Walker Scobell) finds a wounded pilot (Reynolds) in his late father’s old shed. In search...
The Adam Project seemed like a perfect fit. The film’s initial premise as a sci-fi action adventure about a surly Air Force pilot who time travels back to his 2022 childhood in an attempt to save the world appealed to Levy’s desire to pay homage to Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment, which produced classics like E.T. and Back to the Future.
That adventure begins with a pivotal scene when young Adam Reed (Walker Scobell) finds a wounded pilot (Reynolds) in his late father’s old shed. In search...
- 5/13/2024
- by Anne Cohen
- Tudum - Netflix
A fierce feud has erupted between several Og cast members from The Challenge: All Stars 4.
During recent episodes of the spinoff show, viewers watched as various individuals negotiated deals and alliances to ensure their survival in the game.
Former The Real World: Miami star Flora Alekseyeva was one of the individuals who called out a castmate during the recent Episode 6.
During the scenes, she pointed out that it made her “sick” how castmate Cara Maria Sorbello controlled their castmates during the elimination voting.
However, it appears Flora also has issues with castmate Tina Barta, as she recently posted several messages aimed at the former Road Rules star.
One of those messages accused her castmate of “embarrassing” and “inappropriate” behavior or remarks during the show.
Flora calls out Tina for All Stars 4 behavior
Since All Stars 4 premiered, Flora has become more active on social media, including several Instagram posts slamming her castmate.
During recent episodes of the spinoff show, viewers watched as various individuals negotiated deals and alliances to ensure their survival in the game.
Former The Real World: Miami star Flora Alekseyeva was one of the individuals who called out a castmate during the recent Episode 6.
During the scenes, she pointed out that it made her “sick” how castmate Cara Maria Sorbello controlled their castmates during the elimination voting.
However, it appears Flora also has issues with castmate Tina Barta, as she recently posted several messages aimed at the former Road Rules star.
One of those messages accused her castmate of “embarrassing” and “inappropriate” behavior or remarks during the show.
Flora calls out Tina for All Stars 4 behavior
Since All Stars 4 premiered, Flora has become more active on social media, including several Instagram posts slamming her castmate.
- 5/12/2024
- by Matt Couden
- Monsters and Critics
The Top 7 artists on “American Idol” Season 22 each performed twice on Sunday, May 5 — a dance song and an Adele song — with audiences voting live coast-to-coast for their favorites. (Read our minute-by-minute recap.) Ultimately, after nearly 19 million votes were cast, host Ryan Seacrest announced that the pair of singers who were eliminated prior to next week’s Top 5 episode were McKenna Faith Breinholt and Julia Gagnon. Cue the fan outrage!
Throughout the competition, McKenna belted out tunes like “There Was Jesus” (Auditions round), “Anyone” (Showstopper round), “The Story” (Top 24 round), “Both Sides, Now” & “Tumbleweed” (Top 20 round), “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” (Top 14 round), “cardigan” (Top 12 round), “Iris” (Top 10 round), “Everywhere I Go” (Top 8 round) and “E.T.” & “Make You Feel My Love” (Top 7 round). The 25-year-old esthetician from Gilbert, Az initially went viral on “Idol” when her adopted family and her birth family surprised her at her audition, creating a rather emotional moment for everyone involved.
Throughout the competition, McKenna belted out tunes like “There Was Jesus” (Auditions round), “Anyone” (Showstopper round), “The Story” (Top 24 round), “Both Sides, Now” & “Tumbleweed” (Top 20 round), “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” (Top 14 round), “cardigan” (Top 12 round), “Iris” (Top 10 round), “Everywhere I Go” (Top 8 round) and “E.T.” & “Make You Feel My Love” (Top 7 round). The 25-year-old esthetician from Gilbert, Az initially went viral on “Idol” when her adopted family and her birth family surprised her at her audition, creating a rather emotional moment for everyone involved.
- 5/6/2024
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
In Summer 2024, Universal Orlando Resort will debut a collection of new, must-see experiences that offer exciting entertainment for the whole family from day to night. The lineup of summertime adventures includes the June 14 grand opening of DreamWorks Land, the vibrant new themed environment inspired by beloved characters from DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek, Trolls, and Kung Fu Panda.
Also coming is CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular, a riveting new nighttime lagoon show, and Hogwarts Always, an all-new castle projection show in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade. On July 3, guests will enjoy the debut of Universal’s largest daytime parade to date, the Universal Mega Movie Parade.
“We are thrilled to debut an array of never-before-seen experiences for the entire family to enjoy from day to night,” said Karen Irwin, President and COO of Universal Orlando Resort. “These new experiences—coupled with the amazing attractions currently in our theme parks—will...
Also coming is CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular, a riveting new nighttime lagoon show, and Hogwarts Always, an all-new castle projection show in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade. On July 3, guests will enjoy the debut of Universal’s largest daytime parade to date, the Universal Mega Movie Parade.
“We are thrilled to debut an array of never-before-seen experiences for the entire family to enjoy from day to night,” said Karen Irwin, President and COO of Universal Orlando Resort. “These new experiences—coupled with the amazing attractions currently in our theme parks—will...
- 4/30/2024
- by Mirko Parlevliet
- Vital Thrills
Universal Orlando has just announced two new shows coming to the Universal theme parks this summer and the return of the Tribute Store and a Hogwarts Castle projection show —Hogwarts Always.
Let’s take a look! Cinesational: A Symphonic Spectacular
Debuting on June 14 at Universal Studios Florida, this night-time show will take place on the lagoon. It will feature the scores and scenes from blockbuster films like “Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, Jurassic World, Jaws, Shrek, Ghostbusters, Trolls, Back to the Future, Universal Monsters, Transformers, How to Train Your Dragon, E.T., Fast and Furious, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Minions, The Mummy and King Kong.”
This new show will feature 228 fountains that reach heights of 131 feet, 4K projection mapping, and more than 600 drones!
Universal Mega Movie Parade
Coming to Universal Studios Florida on July 3, this parade will celebrate iconic movies like “ E.T., Back to the Future, Jaws, Ghostbusters, Jurassic World,...
Let’s take a look! Cinesational: A Symphonic Spectacular
Debuting on June 14 at Universal Studios Florida, this night-time show will take place on the lagoon. It will feature the scores and scenes from blockbuster films like “Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, Jurassic World, Jaws, Shrek, Ghostbusters, Trolls, Back to the Future, Universal Monsters, Transformers, How to Train Your Dragon, E.T., Fast and Furious, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Minions, The Mummy and King Kong.”
This new show will feature 228 fountains that reach heights of 131 feet, 4K projection mapping, and more than 600 drones!
Universal Mega Movie Parade
Coming to Universal Studios Florida on July 3, this parade will celebrate iconic movies like “ E.T., Back to the Future, Jaws, Ghostbusters, Jurassic World,...
- 4/29/2024
- by Kambrea Pratt
- Pirates & Princesses
While we gloat over the achievements of Tinseltown, we should ask ourselves if Schindler’s List, Steven Spielberg’s 1993 moving historical drama, could have come to fruition without the support of any super alliance. The Ohio-born director, 77, himself expressed his deep appreciation for the decisive support he received from none other than, George Lucas, his loyal comrade.
Earlier this year, Spielberg discussed in detail the paramount role that Lucas had in the creation of Schindler’s List. Indeed, thanks to Lucas and Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, who was in the US completing Jurassic Park’s sound mixing, Spielberg was able to work effectively on the moving and impactful Holocaust flick.
Steven Spielberg | Credits: Wikimedia Commons
Spielberg even remembered saying, “George, I am in trouble”, when he reached out to Lucas. That being said, both Schindler’s List and Jurassic Park became timeless masterpieces because of Lucas’ helping hands and generosity.
Steven Spielberg...
Earlier this year, Spielberg discussed in detail the paramount role that Lucas had in the creation of Schindler’s List. Indeed, thanks to Lucas and Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, who was in the US completing Jurassic Park’s sound mixing, Spielberg was able to work effectively on the moving and impactful Holocaust flick.
Steven Spielberg | Credits: Wikimedia Commons
Spielberg even remembered saying, “George, I am in trouble”, when he reached out to Lucas. That being said, both Schindler’s List and Jurassic Park became timeless masterpieces because of Lucas’ helping hands and generosity.
Steven Spielberg...
- 4/29/2024
- by Siddhika Prajapati
- FandomWire
In his latest podcast/interview, host and screenwriter Stuart Wright talks to filmmaker Uga Carlini about her new true-life alien abduction documentary Beyond The Light Barrier and “3 Films That Have Impacted Everything In Your Adult Life,” which includes:
E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (1982) The Big Blue (1988) / Betty Blue aka 37°2 Le Matin (1986) Amelie (2001) Bonus choice… Love Actually (2003)
“3 Films That Have Impacted Everything In Your Adult Life” is about those films that made you fall in love with film. The guest selects their trio of movies and we talk for 5 minutes, against the clock. When the alarm goes off for five minutes we move on to the next film.
Powered by RedCircle...
E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (1982) The Big Blue (1988) / Betty Blue aka 37°2 Le Matin (1986) Amelie (2001) Bonus choice… Love Actually (2003)
“3 Films That Have Impacted Everything In Your Adult Life” is about those films that made you fall in love with film. The guest selects their trio of movies and we talk for 5 minutes, against the clock. When the alarm goes off for five minutes we move on to the next film.
Powered by RedCircle...
- 4/24/2024
- by Stuart Wright
- Nerdly
Michael Jackson‘s Bad includes many of his most impressive songs. The writer of one of the album’s songs said it came from God. That’s fascinating, considering that the music video for the tune includes images of some of the most famous religious leaders who ever lived.
Michael Jackson knew a song from ‘Bad’ came from God even though nobody told him that
“Man in the Mirror” was co-written by Siedah Garrett. Grett might be most known for duetting with the King of Pop on his hit ballad “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You.” During an interview with Blue Railroad, she said “Man in the Mirror” came from God. Despite this, she didn’t directly tell Jackson about its origins.
“My answer to him was that ‘I asked for it,'” she said. “I didn’t mention God because I didn’t know where he was as far as religion goes.
Michael Jackson knew a song from ‘Bad’ came from God even though nobody told him that
“Man in the Mirror” was co-written by Siedah Garrett. Grett might be most known for duetting with the King of Pop on his hit ballad “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You.” During an interview with Blue Railroad, she said “Man in the Mirror” came from God. Despite this, she didn’t directly tell Jackson about its origins.
“My answer to him was that ‘I asked for it,'” she said. “I didn’t mention God because I didn’t know where he was as far as religion goes.
- 4/23/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
"Leprechaun" isn't a very good movie, but it did spawn an entire horror franchise, so that has to count for something. In addition to starring Warwick Davis as the titular demonic figure, the first "Leprechaun" film is perhaps best known for starring a pre-"Friends" Jennifer Aniston, playing one of the unlucky humans who goes up against Davis' horror movie villain. It was Aniston's second film role — her first being an uncredited background performance in the infamous "E.T." knock-off "Mac and Me." "Leprechaun" arrived in 1993, and a year later, "Friends" would help make Aniston a star. But before that, she was just a working actor looking for her big break. Lots of actors get their start in horror movies, so there's surely no shame in Aniston facing off against a killer leprechaun.
As it turns out, the studio that made "Leprechaun" — Trimark Pictures — thought Aniston was perfect for the final girl role they needed,...
As it turns out, the studio that made "Leprechaun" — Trimark Pictures — thought Aniston was perfect for the final girl role they needed,...
- 4/22/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
Martin Scorsese is taking on biopics of both Jesus and a music god: Frank Sinatra.
The Oscar-winning auteur is rumored to be once more developing a biopic based on the legendary crooner — a project Scorsese’s been associated with before — with longtime collaborator Leonardo DiCaprio in talks to portray Ol’ Blue Eyes himself. Variety reported the news. DiCaprio recently starred in Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” and also led other Scorsese-helmed biopics like “The Wolf of Wall Street” and “The Aviator.”
Variety noted that Frank Sinatra’s daughter Tina Sinatra controls her father’s estate and hasn’t yet approved a film adaptation of his life story. However, Scorsese is already looking to cast both DiCaprio and fellow Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence in the film, with Lawrence portraying screen star Ava Gardner, who was Sinatra’s second wife after Nancy Barbato. Lawrence and DiCaprio co-starred in “Don’t Look Up.
The Oscar-winning auteur is rumored to be once more developing a biopic based on the legendary crooner — a project Scorsese’s been associated with before — with longtime collaborator Leonardo DiCaprio in talks to portray Ol’ Blue Eyes himself. Variety reported the news. DiCaprio recently starred in Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” and also led other Scorsese-helmed biopics like “The Wolf of Wall Street” and “The Aviator.”
Variety noted that Frank Sinatra’s daughter Tina Sinatra controls her father’s estate and hasn’t yet approved a film adaptation of his life story. However, Scorsese is already looking to cast both DiCaprio and fellow Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence in the film, with Lawrence portraying screen star Ava Gardner, who was Sinatra’s second wife after Nancy Barbato. Lawrence and DiCaprio co-starred in “Don’t Look Up.
- 4/17/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
When 1980’s Airplane! proved to be a massive hit, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the year – up there with The Empire Strikes Back and Best Picture winner Kramer vs. Kramer – it was inevitable that it would get a sequel. But how often are comedy sequels good anyway? When have they ever really recaptured the magic and the laughter of the original? Well, Airplane II: The Sequel gave it a go…by basically being the same movie. Except this time around, Zaz wisely opted out, leaving the production without the strong leaders who reinvented the spoof genre. Instead, they got the guy who wrote Grease 2, one of the most notoriously awful sequels ever! So, strap in – no, not to an airplane but a space shuttle – as we find out: Wtf Happened to This Movie?!…The Sequel!
1980’s Airplane! did incredibly well upon release, making just under $85 million on a $3.5 million budget,...
1980’s Airplane! did incredibly well upon release, making just under $85 million on a $3.5 million budget,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Hey there, fellow adventurers of the cinematic cosmos! If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably found yourself utterly captivated by the wonders of science fiction on the big screen.
Something about soaring through uncharted galaxies, unraveling the mysteries of time and space, and delving into the depths of human imagination ignites my excitement.
Related: 10 Best Sci-Fi Movies of All Time, Ranked by Viewers
Trust me, this isn’t just a list; it’s a ticket to a breathtaking journey through cinematic innovation.
So, fellow star travelers, get ready to venture into a universe of unparalleled storytelling and exhilarating exploration. Buckle up because this will be a ride you won’t want to miss!
A Personal Odyssey into Sci-Fi Universes
As a passionate film enthusiast and a sci-fi fan, I’ve traversed the galaxies of cinema in search of the most intriguing and boundary-pushing films the genre offers.
The allure of envisioning the future,...
Something about soaring through uncharted galaxies, unraveling the mysteries of time and space, and delving into the depths of human imagination ignites my excitement.
Related: 10 Best Sci-Fi Movies of All Time, Ranked by Viewers
Trust me, this isn’t just a list; it’s a ticket to a breathtaking journey through cinematic innovation.
So, fellow star travelers, get ready to venture into a universe of unparalleled storytelling and exhilarating exploration. Buckle up because this will be a ride you won’t want to miss!
A Personal Odyssey into Sci-Fi Universes
As a passionate film enthusiast and a sci-fi fan, I’ve traversed the galaxies of cinema in search of the most intriguing and boundary-pushing films the genre offers.
The allure of envisioning the future,...
- 4/15/2024
- by Pia Vermaak
- buddytv.com
Drew Barrymore’s children sometimes express interest in following her footsteps in the world of acting, but the actress says not until they are older. Barrymore’s daughters, Olive and Frankie, are 11 and 10, respectively.
“When I first had kids, I remember people asking me, ‘Well, would you want your kids to go into the business?’ And it always gave me such a sad feeling, as if this business was so toxic, like, ‘Ew’,” said the actress, reports people.com.
“And I just thought, that’s not how I feel about this business at all. It has given me every opportunity under the sun, and I couldn’t appreciate my life more.”
Barrymore, whose father, grandfather, great-grandparents, great-aunt, and uncle were all actors, got her first commercial at age 11 months and was cast in ‘E.T.’ at age 6, followed by films including ‘Firestarter’ and ‘Irreconcilable Differences’.
However, her love for Hollywood doesn...
“When I first had kids, I remember people asking me, ‘Well, would you want your kids to go into the business?’ And it always gave me such a sad feeling, as if this business was so toxic, like, ‘Ew’,” said the actress, reports people.com.
“And I just thought, that’s not how I feel about this business at all. It has given me every opportunity under the sun, and I couldn’t appreciate my life more.”
Barrymore, whose father, grandfather, great-grandparents, great-aunt, and uncle were all actors, got her first commercial at age 11 months and was cast in ‘E.T.’ at age 6, followed by films including ‘Firestarter’ and ‘Irreconcilable Differences’.
However, her love for Hollywood doesn...
- 4/15/2024
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
C. Thomas Howell became a screen sensation after his captivating performance as Ponyboy Curtis in The Outsiders (1983). However, his role in the Francis Ford Coppola coming-of-age classic was not his first movie appearance. Howell began garnering attention with his debut film role in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in 1982 and went on to secure roles in more film projects, including Red Dawn (1984), Secret Admirer (1985), The Hitcher (1986), Gods and Generals (2003), War of the Worlds (2005), and The Amazing Spider-Man (2012). On the small screen, C. Thomas Howell has appeared in prominent shows such as Criminal Minds, ER,
The post C. Thomas Howell Biography: Life and Career of The Outsiders Star first appeared on TVovermind.
The post C. Thomas Howell Biography: Life and Career of The Outsiders Star first appeared on TVovermind.
- 4/12/2024
- by Banks Onuoha
- TVovermind.com
There’s a rumor floating about a sequel to Steven Spielberg’s iconic 1980s science fiction movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in the works. Is it true? Did anyone ask for this?!
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial may not be as fresh in the public’s consciousness as it was in decades past, but the friendly alien and his short adventure on Earth still hold up today. It spawned one of Universal’s longest-standing rides, loads of merchandise, and some instantly recognizable iconography: you’ll never look at the moon without imagining Elliot flying across it!
So, why wasn’t there a sequel? In 1985, William Kotzwinkle wrote a follow-up story based on Spielberg’s film. Finding people who remember this book is a chore and even more of a pain finding a copy. That’s about as close as we got to E.T. 2 until now.
E.T.: The Return To...
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial may not be as fresh in the public’s consciousness as it was in decades past, but the friendly alien and his short adventure on Earth still hold up today. It spawned one of Universal’s longest-standing rides, loads of merchandise, and some instantly recognizable iconography: you’ll never look at the moon without imagining Elliot flying across it!
So, why wasn’t there a sequel? In 1985, William Kotzwinkle wrote a follow-up story based on Spielberg’s film. Finding people who remember this book is a chore and even more of a pain finding a copy. That’s about as close as we got to E.T. 2 until now.
E.T.: The Return To...
- 4/9/2024
- by Mike Phalin
- Pirates & Princesses
James Cameron has hailed 'Dune: Part Two' as "pure cinema".The 'Titanic' filmmaker was very impressed by Denis Villeneuve's sequel - the highest-grossing film of 2024 so far - and he believes that the 'Sicario' director has been far more faithful to Frank Herbert's 1965 novel with his movies than David Lynch was in his "disappointing" 1984 picture.Speaking to the French publication Le Figaro, James said: "David Lynch's adaptation was disappointing. It was missing the power of Herbert's novel."Villeneuve's films are much more convincing. The characters are sketched out, they are very identifiable. It's pure cinema. I speak regularly to Denis, filmmaker to filmmaker. We record our conversations, like (Francois) Truffaut and (Alfred) Hitchcock."Cameron, 69, is the latest esteemed director to laud 'Dune: Part Two' after Steven Spielberg recently described the epic as one of the best sci-fi films he has ever seen.
- 4/7/2024
- by Joe Graber
- Bang Showbiz
The glamorous (and handsomely paid) actors and actresses who bring our favorite films and TV shows to life often captivate us, but let us not forget that the real heroes are the artistic wizards behind the camera: the directors. They are in charge of choosing the ideal cast and setting the overall direction of the production, which includes what you see on screen.
Christopher Nolan, the genius behind Inception and Interstellar, and James Cameron, the maestro of Terminator to Titanic who maintained the excitement for Avatar 2 in 2022, more than ten years after the first film’s release, are two auteurs who established their careers through writing and directing in their own iconic styles.
James Cameron’s Avatar
But, move over Nolan and Cameron; there are some other industry giants on the list of the highest-earning directors in Tinseltown. Notwithstanding their enormous professional success, these two legendary directors pale in...
Christopher Nolan, the genius behind Inception and Interstellar, and James Cameron, the maestro of Terminator to Titanic who maintained the excitement for Avatar 2 in 2022, more than ten years after the first film’s release, are two auteurs who established their careers through writing and directing in their own iconic styles.
James Cameron’s Avatar
But, move over Nolan and Cameron; there are some other industry giants on the list of the highest-earning directors in Tinseltown. Notwithstanding their enormous professional success, these two legendary directors pale in...
- 4/3/2024
- by Siddhika Prajapati
- FandomWire
Plot: A 12-year-old girl decides to keep a spider as a pet, not aware that the eight-legged creature is not of this world. The more it eats, the more it grows, and soon a giant space arachnid is running loose in an apartment building, snacking on the residents.
Review: Filmmaker Kiah Roache-Turner is best known for his wild and crazy zombie movies Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead and Wyrmwood: Apocalypse, which blended inspiration from Mad Max and Dawn of the Dead to tell the story of a unique zombie outbreak where the living dead have flammable blood and exhale methane. I enjoyed both of those movies, and though I haven’t seen Roache-Turner’s action comedy Nekrotronic yet, it sounds like it’s pretty much in line with the tone of the Wyrmwood flicks, as it tells the story of “a man who discovers that he is part of a...
Review: Filmmaker Kiah Roache-Turner is best known for his wild and crazy zombie movies Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead and Wyrmwood: Apocalypse, which blended inspiration from Mad Max and Dawn of the Dead to tell the story of a unique zombie outbreak where the living dead have flammable blood and exhale methane. I enjoyed both of those movies, and though I haven’t seen Roache-Turner’s action comedy Nekrotronic yet, it sounds like it’s pretty much in line with the tone of the Wyrmwood flicks, as it tells the story of “a man who discovers that he is part of a...
- 4/1/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
If the $579 million at the box office and 93% Rotten Tomatoes score weren’t enough, Quebecois director Denis Villeneuve got one of the greatest boosts one can receive in his field. None other than Steven Spielberg, who knows a thing or two about science fiction, interviewed the “Dune: Part Two” director for the DGA’s “Director’s Cut” podcast, and told him “you have made one of the most brilliant science fiction films I’ve ever seen.”
The creator of “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” continued by extolling Villeneuve’s “world-building” prowess, by placing him on a Mount Olympus with several other greats. “Starting with [Georges] Méliès and Disney and Kubrick, George Lucas. Ray Harryhausen, I include in that list. Fellini built his own worlds. Tim Burton. Obviously Wes Anderson, Peter Jackson, James Cameron, Christopher Nolan, Ridley Scott, Guillermo del Toro. The list goes on but it...
The creator of “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” continued by extolling Villeneuve’s “world-building” prowess, by placing him on a Mount Olympus with several other greats. “Starting with [Georges] Méliès and Disney and Kubrick, George Lucas. Ray Harryhausen, I include in that list. Fellini built his own worlds. Tim Burton. Obviously Wes Anderson, Peter Jackson, James Cameron, Christopher Nolan, Ridley Scott, Guillermo del Toro. The list goes on but it...
- 3/28/2024
- by Jordan Hoffman
- Gold Derby
Steven Spielberg has heaped praise on the "brilliant" 'Dune: Part Two'.The legendary director – who has helmed classics including 'E.T. The Extra Terrestrial' – has described Denis Villeneuve's epic as one of the best sci-fi movies that he has ever seen.During an appearance on DGA's 'Director's Cut' podcast alongside Villeneuve, Spielberg said: "It's an honour for me to sit here and talk to you."This is truly a visual epic, and it’s also filled with deeply, deeply drawn characters."Yet the dialogue is very sparse when you look at it proportionately to the running time of the film. It’s such cinema. The shots are so painterly, yet there’s not an angle or single setup that’s pretentious … you have made one of the most brilliant science fiction films I have ever seen."Spielberg reserved acclaim for the special effects in the desert-set flick,...
- 3/28/2024
- by Alex Getting
- Bang Showbiz
Steven Spielberg has weighed in on Dune: Part Two, and the iconic filmmaker had some strong praise for director Denis Villeneuve’s sequel — and for one scene in particular.
The duo appeared together on DGA’s Director’s Cut podcast, where the filmmaker behind sci-fi classics Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. The Extra Terrestrial heaped praise on the Dune and Arrival director.
“This is truly a visual epic, and it’s also filled with deeply, deeply drawn characters,” Spielberg said. “Yet the dialogue is very sparse when you look at it proportionately to the running time of the film. It’s such cinema. The shots are so painterly, yet there’s not an angle or single setup that’s pretentious … you have made one of the most brilliant science fiction films I have ever seen.”
Spielberg also got detailed in his praise for the blockbuster film. “There...
The duo appeared together on DGA’s Director’s Cut podcast, where the filmmaker behind sci-fi classics Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. The Extra Terrestrial heaped praise on the Dune and Arrival director.
“This is truly a visual epic, and it’s also filled with deeply, deeply drawn characters,” Spielberg said. “Yet the dialogue is very sparse when you look at it proportionately to the running time of the film. It’s such cinema. The shots are so painterly, yet there’s not an angle or single setup that’s pretentious … you have made one of the most brilliant science fiction films I have ever seen.”
Spielberg also got detailed in his praise for the blockbuster film. “There...
- 3/27/2024
- by James Hibberd
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Richard Donner's 1985 adventure film "The Goonies" has a passionate following of young men who fell in love with it at an early age. Like Steven Spielberg's "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," "The Goonies" was exceptionally adept at depicting 11-year-old boys as crass, sloppy, clumsy imps. Unlike the mini-adults one might encounter in most family movies, the kids in "The Goonies" talked over each other, cussed openly, made gross jokes, and were unabashedly mean to one another. The main characters of "The Goonies" may be friends, but they would rather rag on each other, bicker, scream, and pull cruel pranks than admit camaraderie. Some find these kinds of characters to be refreshingly authentic.
The casual cruelty of the Goonies is on most brazen display near the start of the film. Several young boys are gathering together at a suburban home — one they'll have to move away from soon — for fun times and casual play.
The casual cruelty of the Goonies is on most brazen display near the start of the film. Several young boys are gathering together at a suburban home — one they'll have to move away from soon — for fun times and casual play.
- 3/10/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The Super Marios Bros Movie will return with a sequel, Nintendo announced on Sunday. The film, set for release on April 3, 2026, will come almost exactly three years after the release of the original movie.
Nintendo game director Shigeru Miyamoto and Illumination’s Chris Meledandri announced the news during a Mario Day video, celebrated annually on March 10 (or, more aptly, Mar10).
Co-directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic will return for the sequel, and Meledandri said on Sunday that they and their team of animators are already “busy at work storyboarding scenes and developing set designs for new environments.”
He continued, “We start animation soon, and rest assured we’ll be obsessing over every detail to get it just right.”
The first Super Mario Bros. Movie told the origin story of Mario (Chris Pratt) and his younger brother Luigi (Charlie Day), who began as plumbers in Brooklyn before being whisked away to...
Nintendo game director Shigeru Miyamoto and Illumination’s Chris Meledandri announced the news during a Mario Day video, celebrated annually on March 10 (or, more aptly, Mar10).
Co-directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic will return for the sequel, and Meledandri said on Sunday that they and their team of animators are already “busy at work storyboarding scenes and developing set designs for new environments.”
He continued, “We start animation soon, and rest assured we’ll be obsessing over every detail to get it just right.”
The first Super Mario Bros. Movie told the origin story of Mario (Chris Pratt) and his younger brother Luigi (Charlie Day), who began as plumbers in Brooklyn before being whisked away to...
- 3/10/2024
- by Zoe G Phillips
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
30 years ago, "Schindler's List" earned Steven Spielberg his first Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director. It was a long-delayed coronation, one that was contingent on the director putting away childish things and making a serious movie for grown-ups. Spielberg was obviously deserving, but these should've been Oscars number five and six after "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial".
Though the Academy never showed Spielberg the love for his escapist classics, John Williams certainly made out well. He won Best Original Score for "Jaws" and "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" before taking home his fifth overall Oscar for "Schindler's List" -- which was as daunting of a challenge for Williams as it was for Spielberg (who credits the film with restoring his faith in filmmaking). Williams's music had always been an integral component of Spielberg's movies, but he'd never composed anything this somber for the director. In fact,...
Though the Academy never showed Spielberg the love for his escapist classics, John Williams certainly made out well. He won Best Original Score for "Jaws" and "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" before taking home his fifth overall Oscar for "Schindler's List" -- which was as daunting of a challenge for Williams as it was for Spielberg (who credits the film with restoring his faith in filmmaking). Williams's music had always been an integral component of Spielberg's movies, but he'd never composed anything this somber for the director. In fact,...
- 3/7/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
The films in the running for the 2024 Best Original Score Oscar are “American Fiction,” “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Oppenheimer,” and “Poor Things.” Our current odds indicate that “Oppenheimer” (3/1) will take the prize, followed in order of likelihood by “Killers of the Flower Moon” (4/1), “Poor Things” (9/2), “Indiana Jones” (9/2), and “American Fiction” (9/2).
Just two of the five musicians on this roster are returning contenders, with the first-timer subgroup consisting of Jerskin Fendrix (“Poor Things”), Laura Karpman (“American Fiction”), and Robbie Robertson (“Killers of the Flower Moon”). Robertson, who died last August at age 80, is this category’s eighth posthumous nominee and first since 1977, when Bernard Herrmann earned dual bids for “Obsession” and “Taxi Driver” nearly 14 months after his death. He would be the fourth deceased composer to win an Academy Award, following Victor Young and “Limelight” (1973) duo Raymond Rasch and Larry Russell.
Of the...
Just two of the five musicians on this roster are returning contenders, with the first-timer subgroup consisting of Jerskin Fendrix (“Poor Things”), Laura Karpman (“American Fiction”), and Robbie Robertson (“Killers of the Flower Moon”). Robertson, who died last August at age 80, is this category’s eighth posthumous nominee and first since 1977, when Bernard Herrmann earned dual bids for “Obsession” and “Taxi Driver” nearly 14 months after his death. He would be the fourth deceased composer to win an Academy Award, following Victor Young and “Limelight” (1973) duo Raymond Rasch and Larry Russell.
Of the...
- 3/7/2024
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Steven Spielberg kissed his wife and embraced his mother before his left hand floated to his temple in disbelief. Then he grew visibly emotional as he made his way to the stage of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The 46-year-old Spielberg had just won his first Oscar — as best director for “Schindler’s List,” an unflinching look at the Holocaust and its horrors. “This is a big surprise,” presenter Clint Eastwood said somewhat sarcastically.
As Eastwood’s joke suggests, Spielberg’s victory at the 1994 Academy Awards was preordained — an unavoidable coronation after he had dominated popular culture so completely over the past year. Not only had he subverted his image as a boy genius, spinning escapist fantasies out of celluloid, by tackling a project as grown up as “Schindler’s List,” but he had also reestablished himself as the most successful director in Hollywood with another 1993 release, “Jurassic Park.” The adventure film, essentially “Jaws” with dinosaurs,...
As Eastwood’s joke suggests, Spielberg’s victory at the 1994 Academy Awards was preordained — an unavoidable coronation after he had dominated popular culture so completely over the past year. Not only had he subverted his image as a boy genius, spinning escapist fantasies out of celluloid, by tackling a project as grown up as “Schindler’s List,” but he had also reestablished himself as the most successful director in Hollywood with another 1993 release, “Jurassic Park.” The adventure film, essentially “Jaws” with dinosaurs,...
- 3/6/2024
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Harrison Ford can’t escape the two-and-a-half-minute fanfare that John Williams composed for his most famous cinematic hero, Indiana Jones. “As I often remind John, his music follows me everywhere I go — literally,” Ford says. “When I had my last colonoscopy, they were playing it on the operating room speakers.”
Creating those big, bold, brassy musical moments has become Williams’ trademark over his seven-decade career. Without his symphonic genius, some of the most indelible images in movie history — from E.T.’s flight across the moon to the ravenous shark zeroing in on an unsuspecting swimmer — would have lacked their singular power.
This year, Williams is resetting the record books again with his Academy Award nomination for best original score for “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” It’s his 54th nomination, which is the most ever for someone not named Walt Disney, and thus the biggest tally for...
Creating those big, bold, brassy musical moments has become Williams’ trademark over his seven-decade career. Without his symphonic genius, some of the most indelible images in movie history — from E.T.’s flight across the moon to the ravenous shark zeroing in on an unsuspecting swimmer — would have lacked their singular power.
This year, Williams is resetting the record books again with his Academy Award nomination for best original score for “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” It’s his 54th nomination, which is the most ever for someone not named Walt Disney, and thus the biggest tally for...
- 3/6/2024
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
World-renowned director Steven Spielberg was at the height of his career when he made the Oscar-winning film "Schindler's List," but he wasn't the only filmmaker who was interested in adapting the novel of the same name for the silver screen. The acclaimed director Billy Wilder, an auteur of classic Hollywood cinema who penned and directed such renowned films as "The Apartment" and "Sunset Boulevard," was also vying for the rights to turn this story into a movie. However, by the time Thomas Keneally's evocative historical novel was published in 1993, Wilder's career was already winding down.
For a long time, Wilder enjoyed one of the most prosperous careers in Hollywood. His Oscar-nominated 1944 film "Double Indemnity" is considered the signal film of noir cinema and the model of the femme fatale trope. After Wilder's smashing success "Sunset Boulevard" earned three Oscars in 1951, he quickly went on to release several star vehicles...
For a long time, Wilder enjoyed one of the most prosperous careers in Hollywood. His Oscar-nominated 1944 film "Double Indemnity" is considered the signal film of noir cinema and the model of the femme fatale trope. After Wilder's smashing success "Sunset Boulevard" earned three Oscars in 1951, he quickly went on to release several star vehicles...
- 3/4/2024
- by Shae Sennett
- Slash Film
It's fair to say that "Schindler's List" changed the course of Steven Spielberg's career. The wunderkind filmmaker invented the blockbuster with "Jaws" and rose to become one of the most successful directors of all time. But there was something Spielberg wanted more than fame and money: respect. He didn't just want to be the blockbuster guy; he wanted to be taken seriously as an artist.
"Schindler's List" was the film that finally did that, signaling Spielberg as a "serious" filmmaker capable of winning multiple Oscars for his hard work. The historical drama earned Spielberg some of the best reviews of his career, and it took home seven Academy Awards — including giving Spielberg his first Best Director Oscar.
Spielberg had to work his way up to making such a serious movie, and "Schindler's List" wasn't the first time the filmmaker chased Oscar gold and artistic respect. In a new oral history of "Schindler's List,...
"Schindler's List" was the film that finally did that, signaling Spielberg as a "serious" filmmaker capable of winning multiple Oscars for his hard work. The historical drama earned Spielberg some of the best reviews of his career, and it took home seven Academy Awards — including giving Spielberg his first Best Director Oscar.
Spielberg had to work his way up to making such a serious movie, and "Schindler's List" wasn't the first time the filmmaker chased Oscar gold and artistic respect. In a new oral history of "Schindler's List,...
- 2/26/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
Steven Spielberg is a name synonymous with massively successful movies and award-winning cinematic masterpieces. From E.T. to Jurassic Park to Saving Private Ryan, he has graced us with a number of the greatest and most enduring movies in history. But if ever there was a movie that really stood out in his impressive repertoire, it would have to be Schindler’s List.
The 195-minute epic historical drama, which was released in 1993, was a rare combination of a huge critical darling, a major awards contender, and a massive blockbuster. Universal Pictures’ Schindler’s List picked up 12 Oscar nominations and won seven, including Best Picture and Best Director. The film grossed more than $322 million worldwide, an enormous sum for a prestige film.
Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List
Spielberg recently stated that he believed Schindler’s List to be his best film in a THR interview. Nonetheless, the director leaves room for future endeavors,...
The 195-minute epic historical drama, which was released in 1993, was a rare combination of a huge critical darling, a major awards contender, and a massive blockbuster. Universal Pictures’ Schindler’s List picked up 12 Oscar nominations and won seven, including Best Picture and Best Director. The film grossed more than $322 million worldwide, an enormous sum for a prestige film.
Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List
Spielberg recently stated that he believed Schindler’s List to be his best film in a THR interview. Nonetheless, the director leaves room for future endeavors,...
- 2/23/2024
- by Siddhika Prajapati
- FandomWire
The "Star Wars" universe is full of thousands of colorful, distinct creatures and characters, with plenty of aliens and other beings that make the galaxy feel bigger and lived-in. Likewise, many of the creatures serve as cool references, like the Zillo Beast being a big homage to Godzilla, or arguably the best reference in the franchise — E.T.
Yes, E.T. the titular extra-terrestrial from "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial." The lovable naked alien has a little role in "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace" as a senator seen in the Senate scene when Padmé moves for a vote of no confidence on Chancellor Finis Valorum — an unfortunate moment that allowed Sheev Palpatine to become chancellor and eventually emperor.
It's a short and sweet reference, one that doesn't imply a larger role and certainly not a tragic fate for the character (officially named Grebleips -- more on that later) ... or does it?...
Yes, E.T. the titular extra-terrestrial from "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial." The lovable naked alien has a little role in "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace" as a senator seen in the Senate scene when Padmé moves for a vote of no confidence on Chancellor Finis Valorum — an unfortunate moment that allowed Sheev Palpatine to become chancellor and eventually emperor.
It's a short and sweet reference, one that doesn't imply a larger role and certainly not a tragic fate for the character (officially named Grebleips -- more on that later) ... or does it?...
- 2/17/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
When Bonnie Timmermann is helping Ridley Scott or Michael Mann find the perfect person for a role in films like “Black Hawk Down” and “Heat,” she will buy auditioning actors pizza or Chinese food and grill them about their lives and ambitions. Sooner or later, they’ll get around to reading the scenes, but Timmermann has an innate sense of what to do to put performers at ease.
“You need to understand who they are, so when they get in front of a director you know how to help them deliver their best work,” she says. “The only way you can do that is to understand their psyche.”
And when she’s not overseeing casting calls, you’ll find Timmermann at screenings or plays on the prowl for talent. She likes to keep Polaroids and videos of actors she’s tried out — even the ones that she’s turned down,...
“You need to understand who they are, so when they get in front of a director you know how to help them deliver their best work,” she says. “The only way you can do that is to understand their psyche.”
And when she’s not overseeing casting calls, you’ll find Timmermann at screenings or plays on the prowl for talent. She likes to keep Polaroids and videos of actors she’s tried out — even the ones that she’s turned down,...
- 2/14/2024
- by Brent Lang and Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
In its credits, John Carpenter's 1982 alien invasion film "The Thing" is based on John W. Campbell's 1938 novella "Who Goes There?," but owes far more of a creative debt to Christian Nyby's 1951 adaptation "The Thing from Another World." Carpenter loved Nyby's film, and even featured a clip of it in his 1978 horror film "Halloween." "The Thing" notoriously bombed on its initial release, a failure some chalk up to the presence of Steven Spielberg's ultra-sentimental "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" which opened only two weeks before. It seems that audiences wanted sweetness and wonderment in 1982, and likely felt the paranoia, death, violence, and gloppy ooze in Carpenter's film to be too much of a bleak throwback.
In the ensuing decades, genre fans rescued "The Thing," coming to appreciate its eerie, dreadful atmosphere, its harder-than-stone characters, and its amazing, amazing practical creature effects (provided by Rob Bottin). In 2024, "The Thing" is...
In the ensuing decades, genre fans rescued "The Thing," coming to appreciate its eerie, dreadful atmosphere, its harder-than-stone characters, and its amazing, amazing practical creature effects (provided by Rob Bottin). In 2024, "The Thing" is...
- 2/12/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Although he has personally competed for the Best Picture Oscar as a qualifying producer of just four films, Martin Scorsese is responsible for directing 10 of the top Academy Award category’s nominees, including 2024 contender “Killers of the Flower Moon.” This recent improvement upon his total makes him only the third filmmaker in Oscars history to helm a double-digit amount of Best Picture nominees. Including him, six people who were already credited with directing at least one nominee rose higher in the ranks this year.
The previous Scorsese films that vied for Best Picture are 2007 winner “The Departed” (for which he earned his sole directing trophy) and nominees “Taxi Driver” (1977), “Raging Bull” (1981), “Goodfellas” (1991), “Gangs of New York” (2003), “The Aviator” (2005), “Hugo” (2012), “The Wolf of Wall Street” (2014), and “The Irishman” (2020). Of the 10, he received producing notices for the most recent four and directing bids for all but “Taxi Driver.” The only ones who...
The previous Scorsese films that vied for Best Picture are 2007 winner “The Departed” (for which he earned his sole directing trophy) and nominees “Taxi Driver” (1977), “Raging Bull” (1981), “Goodfellas” (1991), “Gangs of New York” (2003), “The Aviator” (2005), “Hugo” (2012), “The Wolf of Wall Street” (2014), and “The Irishman” (2020). Of the 10, he received producing notices for the most recent four and directing bids for all but “Taxi Driver.” The only ones who...
- 2/9/2024
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Here are two words for those who believe Christopher Nolan can’t possibly lose the Best Director race at this year’s Academy Awards for “Oppenheimer”: Bob Fosse. And here are three more: Francis Ford Coppola.
When you think about how many consider Coppola’s 1972 masterpiece “The Godfather” to be perhaps the greatest American film ever made, it might shock them to learn that while the film won Oscars in ’73 for Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor for Marlon Brando, Coppola lost the director race to Fosse for “Cabaret.” Nothing against Fosse or his iconic musical, but his win over Coppola was shocking even if deserved. The lesson is that you simply never know what might happen on Oscar night. “Oppenheimer” could clean up, as is being widely predicted, and Nolan could still somehow miss out even though all indicators tell us it’s a done deal.
SEEOscar...
When you think about how many consider Coppola’s 1972 masterpiece “The Godfather” to be perhaps the greatest American film ever made, it might shock them to learn that while the film won Oscars in ’73 for Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor for Marlon Brando, Coppola lost the director race to Fosse for “Cabaret.” Nothing against Fosse or his iconic musical, but his win over Coppola was shocking even if deserved. The lesson is that you simply never know what might happen on Oscar night. “Oppenheimer” could clean up, as is being widely predicted, and Nolan could still somehow miss out even though all indicators tell us it’s a done deal.
SEEOscar...
- 2/8/2024
- by Ray Richmond
- Gold Derby
Composer John Williams is one of the most beloved creative figures in Hollywood as evidenced by his 54 Oscar nominations, which make him the second most nominated individual in the history of the awards, behind Walt Disney with 59. But even though he constantly racks up nominations, you might be surprised how rarely he wins. We’ve compiled every single one of his career nominations. Scroll down to see every single one of them, many directed or produced by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.
Williams’ Oscar wins were for Best Score Adaptation/Original Song Score for “Fiddler on the Roof” (1971) and then four for Best Original Score: “Jaws” (1975), “Star Wars” (1977), “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” (1982) and “Schindler’s List” (1993). After “Schindler’s” he racked up more than 20 additional noms but didn’t win any of them.
To be fair, most artists in any discipline would be the envy of their field if they had that many Oscars.
Williams’ Oscar wins were for Best Score Adaptation/Original Song Score for “Fiddler on the Roof” (1971) and then four for Best Original Score: “Jaws” (1975), “Star Wars” (1977), “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” (1982) and “Schindler’s List” (1993). After “Schindler’s” he racked up more than 20 additional noms but didn’t win any of them.
To be fair, most artists in any discipline would be the envy of their field if they had that many Oscars.
- 2/4/2024
- by Daniel Montgomery, Chris Beachum and Misty Holland
- Gold Derby
There are loads of tantalizing Hollywood casting what-ifs. Tom Selleck would've played Indiana Jones had he not been previously committed to CBS' "Magnum P.I." Pierce Brosnan was set to succeed Roger Moore as James Bond after "A View to a Kill," but NBC, realizing the star of their just-canceled "Remington Steele," was a hot commodity, resurrected the show for a fifth season (after which it was canceled again). And there's always poor Dougray Scott, who had to give up the role of Wolverine in Bryan Singer's "X-Men" when "Mission: Impossible II" went over schedule.
These were franchise- and career-altering decisions. What would Harrison Ford have done after the conclusion of the "Star Wars" original trilogy in 1983? Would Brosnan have rejuvenated the flagging Bond series, thus averting the six-year retooling period between "License to Kill" and "GoldenEye?" Could Scott have connected with audiences as emphatically as Hugh Jackman did in the role of Logan?...
These were franchise- and career-altering decisions. What would Harrison Ford have done after the conclusion of the "Star Wars" original trilogy in 1983? Would Brosnan have rejuvenated the flagging Bond series, thus averting the six-year retooling period between "License to Kill" and "GoldenEye?" Could Scott have connected with audiences as emphatically as Hugh Jackman did in the role of Logan?...
- 1/31/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
With the 2023 Oscar nominations now in hand, it’s clear that Margot Robbie’s exclusion from the best actress race, along with “Barbie” director Greta Gerwig’s director snub, has outraged the blockbuster film’s massive global fanbase. Oscar nominations for supporting players America Ferrera and Ryan Gosling haven’t calmed the social media fury over what is perceived by Robbie fans as an unfathomable and unforgivable oversight.
What everyone seems to be forgetting is that when it comes to Oscar love, especially for actors, Oscar voters annually choose spinach over sweets, meat and potatoes over champagne and caviar. They like their movies serious and meaningful, and their actors tortured by real world woes such as physical disabilities, addictions, mental illness and all the oppressions and injustices that our mad mad world has to offer.
In almost 100 years of the Oscar awards, fantasy and sci-fi film characters, along with actors in comedies,...
What everyone seems to be forgetting is that when it comes to Oscar love, especially for actors, Oscar voters annually choose spinach over sweets, meat and potatoes over champagne and caviar. They like their movies serious and meaningful, and their actors tortured by real world woes such as physical disabilities, addictions, mental illness and all the oppressions and injustices that our mad mad world has to offer.
In almost 100 years of the Oscar awards, fantasy and sci-fi film characters, along with actors in comedies,...
- 1/25/2024
- by Steven Gaydos
- Variety Film + TV
In the world of film scores, no one is as legendary as John Williams. Williams is synonymous with film music, having created some of the most memorable, most iconic soundtracks of all time. Through his work with Steven Spielberg and more, Williams has built a library of music that will stand the test of time. Even if you're tone-deaf, you can easily recognize his scores when they start. Hell, you can probably even hum them with ease. "Star Wars," "Indiana Jones," "Jurassic Park," "Harry Potter," and more — Williams has been responsible for creating the music we immediately associate with movie magic.
Williams has been in the game for a long time and has the awards and nominations to prove it. Today, the 2024 Oscar Nominations were announced, and wouldn't you know it? Williams just landed himself another nomination, this time for Best Original Score for "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
Williams has been in the game for a long time and has the awards and nominations to prove it. Today, the 2024 Oscar Nominations were announced, and wouldn't you know it? Williams just landed himself another nomination, this time for Best Original Score for "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
- 1/23/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
John Williams, the veteran film composer known for his work in the “Star Wars” saga, “Jaws,” “Harry Potter,” “Jurassic Park,” “Saving Private Ryan” and dozens of other iconic films, has had a music building dedicated to him by Sony Pictures Entertainment on the historic Culver City Lot, former home of MGM Studios.
The newly named “John Williams Music Building” honors the Academy, Emmy and Grammy Award-winning composer for his contributions to the world of film and music. With 53 Academy Award nominations, Williams is the most nominated individual in Academy history and has had a prolific career that has spanned more than six decades.
“The first time I came to this studio was 1940 when my father brought me here to show me the stage. I was about 9 or 10 years old, and I thought, someday, this will all be mine! It’s finally come to be – it’s only taken me 92 years to get here!
The newly named “John Williams Music Building” honors the Academy, Emmy and Grammy Award-winning composer for his contributions to the world of film and music. With 53 Academy Award nominations, Williams is the most nominated individual in Academy history and has had a prolific career that has spanned more than six decades.
“The first time I came to this studio was 1940 when my father brought me here to show me the stage. I was about 9 or 10 years old, and I thought, someday, this will all be mine! It’s finally come to be – it’s only taken me 92 years to get here!
- 1/18/2024
- by Diego Ramos Bechara
- Variety Film + TV
John Williams’ film legacy is being immortalized with a Sony Pictures studio building dedicated to the Oscar-, Emmy,- and Grammy-winning composer.
The newly renamed John Williams Music Building on the Sony Pictures’ Culver City lot was unveiled January 18, with Williams’ longtime collaborator Steven Spielberg sharing his admiration for the musician.
“I have grown up with Johnny from the very beginning,” Spielberg said of Williams. “What he’s done for me is something I haven’t been able to imagine. This building is where all my stress dissipates…when I finally get to this stage of a production, and I know I’m in your hands.”
Spielberg added, “In the end I don’t recognize the movies as mine but as ours. Thank you Johnny, my movies would not be the same without you.”
Williams has earned 53 Academy Award nominations thus far, and collaborated with Spielberg specifically on films like “Jaws,...
The newly renamed John Williams Music Building on the Sony Pictures’ Culver City lot was unveiled January 18, with Williams’ longtime collaborator Steven Spielberg sharing his admiration for the musician.
“I have grown up with Johnny from the very beginning,” Spielberg said of Williams. “What he’s done for me is something I haven’t been able to imagine. This building is where all my stress dissipates…when I finally get to this stage of a production, and I know I’m in your hands.”
Spielberg added, “In the end I don’t recognize the movies as mine but as ours. Thank you Johnny, my movies would not be the same without you.”
Williams has earned 53 Academy Award nominations thus far, and collaborated with Spielberg specifically on films like “Jaws,...
- 1/18/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Few films have arrived in theaters saddled with more baggage than "Twilight Zone: The Movie." That the anthology film featuring segments from John Landis, Steven Spielberg, Joe Dante, and George Miller actually arrived in the first place was something of a surprise -- and for many in the entertainment industry, it wasn't a welcome one.
The production became a wholly avoidable tragedy on June 23, 1982, when a helicopter crashed on the set of Landis' segment, "Time Out," killing Vic Morrow and child actors Myca Dinh Le and Renee Shin-Yi Chen. The show does not always have to go on, but the movie was nevertheless completed and released (rather insensitively) on June 24, 1983, leading off with "Time Out". For some, it was like watching a snuff film.
How do you not let the realization that you're watching what might be a criminal production -- the National Transportation Safety Board had yet to finish their investigation,...
The production became a wholly avoidable tragedy on June 23, 1982, when a helicopter crashed on the set of Landis' segment, "Time Out," killing Vic Morrow and child actors Myca Dinh Le and Renee Shin-Yi Chen. The show does not always have to go on, but the movie was nevertheless completed and released (rather insensitively) on June 24, 1983, leading off with "Time Out". For some, it was like watching a snuff film.
How do you not let the realization that you're watching what might be a criminal production -- the National Transportation Safety Board had yet to finish their investigation,...
- 1/17/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Carol Littleton, one of four people who will receive awards from the Motion Picture Academy at Tuesday night’s Governors Awards, is part of an unusual statistic. She’s a film editor, a job that over the course of movie history has been done largely by men, who have been nominated for and won about 86% of all the editing Oscars.
And yet only three people have been named recipients of Honorary Academy Awards for film editing, and all three have been women. Margaret Booth, who began her career with D.W. Griffith and edited well into her 80s, received the first-ever Honorary Oscar for editing in 1977, while Anne V. Coates, who won an Oscar for “Lawrence of Arabia” in 1962, was given an honorary award in 2016.
Littleton will be the third, in recognition of a career that has included “E.T. The Extra Terrestrial,” “The Big Chill,” “The Accidental Tourist,” “Benny & Joon” and “Margot at the Wedding.
And yet only three people have been named recipients of Honorary Academy Awards for film editing, and all three have been women. Margaret Booth, who began her career with D.W. Griffith and edited well into her 80s, received the first-ever Honorary Oscar for editing in 1977, while Anne V. Coates, who won an Oscar for “Lawrence of Arabia” in 1962, was given an honorary award in 2016.
Littleton will be the third, in recognition of a career that has included “E.T. The Extra Terrestrial,” “The Big Chill,” “The Accidental Tourist,” “Benny & Joon” and “Margot at the Wedding.
- 1/8/2024
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Welcome to 2024! This, our first column of the new year, follows Oppenheimer, and Lots of Late Gift Ideas”>our December 2023 piece by offering more 2023 releases that deserve your time and attention.
Spielberg: The First Ten Years by Laurent Bouzereau (Insight Editions) and Steven Spielberg: All the Films by Olivier Bousquet, Arnaud Devillard, and Nicolas Schaller (Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers)
I am not sure what Steven Spielberg obsessives like myself did to earn two lengthy, photo-backed, hardcover career appreciations, but I’m not complaining. Steven Spielberg: All the Films runs for nearly 500 pages and covers literally everything, from the director’s contributions to Rod Serling’s Night Gallery to The Fabelmans. Along the way are some unique insights, surprising facts (Leonardo DiCaprio was approached to play Tintin?), and the inclusion of some of his 1980s television work. And Spielberg: The First Ten Years is just as engaging, and even more in-depth.
Spielberg: The First Ten Years by Laurent Bouzereau (Insight Editions) and Steven Spielberg: All the Films by Olivier Bousquet, Arnaud Devillard, and Nicolas Schaller (Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers)
I am not sure what Steven Spielberg obsessives like myself did to earn two lengthy, photo-backed, hardcover career appreciations, but I’m not complaining. Steven Spielberg: All the Films runs for nearly 500 pages and covers literally everything, from the director’s contributions to Rod Serling’s Night Gallery to The Fabelmans. Along the way are some unique insights, surprising facts (Leonardo DiCaprio was approached to play Tintin?), and the inclusion of some of his 1980s television work. And Spielberg: The First Ten Years is just as engaging, and even more in-depth.
- 1/2/2024
- by Christopher Schobert
- The Film Stage
"They're here."
With those two words, the nebulous world of the supernatural, the ominous ambiguity of the paranormal, and the deep-seated terror that is inherent in the concept of ghosts were perfectly summed up by 1982's "Poltergeist." Despite the film being over 40 years old, it still holds up as one of the most modern movies about the paranormal ever made. Sure, there had been films about ghosts and hauntings before, but many of these tended to be set in remote, antiquated locations such as spooky old mansions and abandoned homes on a hill. More than even the well-regarded visual effects, the biggest innovation of "Poltergeist" is its quintessentially American suburban setting, the inherent message being that ghosts aren't merely sequestered in places that average people would never dare go; instead, they exist right next to us.
Released during the busy summer of '82, "Poltergeist" more than held its own, making $121.7 million over a $10.7 million budget.
With those two words, the nebulous world of the supernatural, the ominous ambiguity of the paranormal, and the deep-seated terror that is inherent in the concept of ghosts were perfectly summed up by 1982's "Poltergeist." Despite the film being over 40 years old, it still holds up as one of the most modern movies about the paranormal ever made. Sure, there had been films about ghosts and hauntings before, but many of these tended to be set in remote, antiquated locations such as spooky old mansions and abandoned homes on a hill. More than even the well-regarded visual effects, the biggest innovation of "Poltergeist" is its quintessentially American suburban setting, the inherent message being that ghosts aren't merely sequestered in places that average people would never dare go; instead, they exist right next to us.
Released during the busy summer of '82, "Poltergeist" more than held its own, making $121.7 million over a $10.7 million budget.
- 12/31/2023
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
Halle Bailey as Ariel and Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric in ‘The Little Mermaid’
Two Barbie stars, the new Willy Wonka and Ariel, and two veterans of comic book-inspired films named Chris will go head-to-head in the 26th Annual Family Film and TV Awards‘ Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film category. CBS announced the nominees representing the best of 2023’s family-friendly film and TV shows, with the winners set to be revealed on Saturday, January 27, 2024.
The Talk hosts Akbar Gbajabiamila and Amanda Kloots will handle hosting duties for the 2024 broadcast.
“Recognizing and celebrating content that holds a universal appeal and is suitable for audiences of all ages has always been a core principle of our role as stewards of this esteemed award show. Emulating the celebrated legacy of Dick Clark presents a formidable challenge, and our commitment lies in restoring the event to its original essence. It is a distinct...
Two Barbie stars, the new Willy Wonka and Ariel, and two veterans of comic book-inspired films named Chris will go head-to-head in the 26th Annual Family Film and TV Awards‘ Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film category. CBS announced the nominees representing the best of 2023’s family-friendly film and TV shows, with the winners set to be revealed on Saturday, January 27, 2024.
The Talk hosts Akbar Gbajabiamila and Amanda Kloots will handle hosting duties for the 2024 broadcast.
“Recognizing and celebrating content that holds a universal appeal and is suitable for audiences of all ages has always been a core principle of our role as stewards of this esteemed award show. Emulating the celebrated legacy of Dick Clark presents a formidable challenge, and our commitment lies in restoring the event to its original essence. It is a distinct...
- 12/28/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Universal Studios is reportedly now looking to build a theme park in the UK, with a site acquired in Bedford. More here.
Universal Studios is arguably one of the most iconic theme parks in the world. It has developed rides based on a plethora of productions over the years, from The Simpsons to Jaws, Fast And Furious, E.T, Jurassic Park and The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter. It’s a veritable cornucopia of cinematic fun.
The Orlando Park has itself been used as a location in several films, including Bring It On: In It To Win It and, perhaps most notably, Sharknado 3.
With several parks already well established in America and Asia, Universal has now confirmed that plans are underway for a UK version, and they’re advancing quickly.
The company has set its sights on Bedford as the site for the park.
Speaking to Sky News, a Universal...
Universal Studios is arguably one of the most iconic theme parks in the world. It has developed rides based on a plethora of productions over the years, from The Simpsons to Jaws, Fast And Furious, E.T, Jurassic Park and The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter. It’s a veritable cornucopia of cinematic fun.
The Orlando Park has itself been used as a location in several films, including Bring It On: In It To Win It and, perhaps most notably, Sharknado 3.
With several parks already well established in America and Asia, Universal has now confirmed that plans are underway for a UK version, and they’re advancing quickly.
The company has set its sights on Bedford as the site for the park.
Speaking to Sky News, a Universal...
- 12/20/2023
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
Every year numerous films are overlooked, underrated, and lost in the shuffle. 2023 was no exception. Several sci-fi movies with merit failed to garner attention, find an audience, or receive a fair appraisal. Such outcomes can be attributed to market saturation with similar themes and concepts, exemplified by this year's surplus of films centered around AI or featuring talented actors who lack significant box office appeal. Alternatively, a film may be flawed, resulting in mixed reviews and audience reactions, yet still possessing commendable qualities.
For the purposes of this list, "underrated" refers to sci-fi films that received relatively mixed or poor responses from both critics and audiences, with a focus on those that lacked significant attention or acclaim. We'll review the notable qualities of these films and explore the reasons behind their inadequate recognition, whether it's one of Marvel's unfairly maligned sequels or a quirky, futuristic sci-fi spin on conceiving a child,...
For the purposes of this list, "underrated" refers to sci-fi films that received relatively mixed or poor responses from both critics and audiences, with a focus on those that lacked significant attention or acclaim. We'll review the notable qualities of these films and explore the reasons behind their inadequate recognition, whether it's one of Marvel's unfairly maligned sequels or a quirky, futuristic sci-fi spin on conceiving a child,...
- 12/18/2023
- by Maurice Molyneaux
- Slash Film
The career of director Steven Spielberg has practically defined modern blockbusters, but he’s also been able to craft more personal films as well. Let’s rank Spielberg’s entire filmography from worst to best in a new photo gallery of his 33 theatrical features.
Spielberg’s reputation as a master entertainer came with the release of “Jaws,” his 1975 shark attack thriller. Made when he was just 29 years old, the film set box office records and made the summer safe for blockbusters again. Such following films as “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977), “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981) and “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982) cemented Spielberg’s ability to create spectacular amusements that brought audiences to their feet.
He later moved into serious filmmaking with “The Color Purple” (1985), which paved the way for his 1993 Holocaust drama “Schindler’s List” (1993). That film swept the Academy Awards, bringing Spielberg Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture.
Spielberg’s reputation as a master entertainer came with the release of “Jaws,” his 1975 shark attack thriller. Made when he was just 29 years old, the film set box office records and made the summer safe for blockbusters again. Such following films as “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977), “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981) and “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982) cemented Spielberg’s ability to create spectacular amusements that brought audiences to their feet.
He later moved into serious filmmaking with “The Color Purple” (1985), which paved the way for his 1993 Holocaust drama “Schindler’s List” (1993). That film swept the Academy Awards, bringing Spielberg Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture.
- 12/15/2023
- by Christopher Rosen and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Hope Runs High has acquired U.S. rights to Augusto Sandino’s sophomore feature “A Vanishing Fog,” which won the SXSW Zeiss cinematography prize. The film is slated for an early 2024 opening in U.S. theaters. It’s the first feature to be shot in Colombia’s Sumapaz Páramo, the largest ecosystem of its kind in the world.
“In the middle of the staggering and endangered Sumapaz Paramo ecosystem; F, a solitary explorer, strives to protect the mystical and fragile land he inhabits, while caring for his ailing father,” the synopsis reads.
“Augusto Sandino’s incredible blend of playful surrealism and the overwhelming individuality of the environment in which the film is set has stayed with me since my first viewing. I believe his ability to balance visual scale, cinematic playfulness, and true heart make him an artist we should be engaging with frequently,” said Hope Runs High curator Taylor Purdee.
“In the middle of the staggering and endangered Sumapaz Paramo ecosystem; F, a solitary explorer, strives to protect the mystical and fragile land he inhabits, while caring for his ailing father,” the synopsis reads.
“Augusto Sandino’s incredible blend of playful surrealism and the overwhelming individuality of the environment in which the film is set has stayed with me since my first viewing. I believe his ability to balance visual scale, cinematic playfulness, and true heart make him an artist we should be engaging with frequently,” said Hope Runs High curator Taylor Purdee.
- 12/2/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay and Caroline Brew
- Variety Film + TV
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