“More stars than there are in heaven” was once the slogan for Hollywood’s largest studio. Larger-than-life celebrities like Judy Garland, Clark Gable, Fred Astaire, Katharine Hepburn, Jean Harlow and Gene Kelly were common fixtures at MGM. Today, MGM is an IP outpost purchased by Amazon for $8.5 billion in 2022, but in its day, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer had the biggest lot in Hollywood and produced some of the most extravagant films. Located in Culver City, MGM’s famously sprawling lot began as it grew from the 40 acres owned by Samuel Goldwyn. The legendary MGM property was 3 miles long and housed more than 45 buildings and 14 stages, in addition to numerous outdoor sets that would be built over the years.
MGM was home to countless classic films, and in 1939 alone, the studio backed the timeless fantasy The Wizard of Oz and distributed the Oscar-winning Gone With the Wind, the Ernst Lubitsch/Greta Garbo comedy Ninotchka,...
MGM was home to countless classic films, and in 1939 alone, the studio backed the timeless fantasy The Wizard of Oz and distributed the Oscar-winning Gone With the Wind, the Ernst Lubitsch/Greta Garbo comedy Ninotchka,...
- 4/29/2024
- by Chris Yogerst
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
MGM celebrated its centennial on April 17th. Marcus Lowe established the studio by merging Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures and Louis B. Mayer Pictures. Boasting it had “more stars than there are in heaven,” MGM may have been the biggest studio during the Golden Age of Hollywood, it has gone through many owners and regimes over the years but seems to on terra firma since Amazon acquired MGM in 2021. In fact, Amazon MGM Studios won best screenplay Oscar for “American Fiction.” And speaking of Academy Awards, MGM has earned numerous statuettes over the years. Here’s a look at five Best Picture winners produced between 1929-1958.
“The Broadway Melody”
The 1929 musical made Oscar history by being the first talkie to win the top prize. Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed wrote the songs which include “The Broadway Melody,” “You Were Meant for Me” and “The Wedding of the Painted Doll” but...
“The Broadway Melody”
The 1929 musical made Oscar history by being the first talkie to win the top prize. Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed wrote the songs which include “The Broadway Melody,” “You Were Meant for Me” and “The Wedding of the Painted Doll” but...
- 4/22/2024
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
RankFilm (distributor)Three-day gross (Apr 19-21)Total gross to dateWeek 1. Back To Black (Studiocanal) £1.9m £6.4m 2 2. Civil War (Entertainment Film Distributors) £1.1m £3.8m 3 3. Kung Fu Panda 4 (Universal) £898,807 £18.6m 4 4. Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire (Warner Bros) £649,284 £12.9m 4 5. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (Sony) £594,971 £594,971 1
Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.23
Amy Winehouse biopic Back To Black topped the UK-Ireland box office chart for a second weekend; as horror Abigail started fifth on a weekend dominated by holdover titles.
Back To Black added £1.9m – a decent hold from its opening, falling just 30.1%. This is a better second-weekend hold than recent music biopics, including this...
Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.23
Amy Winehouse biopic Back To Black topped the UK-Ireland box office chart for a second weekend; as horror Abigail started fifth on a weekend dominated by holdover titles.
Back To Black added £1.9m – a decent hold from its opening, falling just 30.1%. This is a better second-weekend hold than recent music biopics, including this...
- 4/22/2024
- ScreenDaily
Studiocanal’s Amy Winehouse biopic “Back to Black” debuted atop the U.K and Ireland box office with £2.77 million ($3.4 million), according to numbers from Comscore.
It was neck-and-neck for the second spot. Entertainment Film Distributors’ “Civil War,” directed by Alex Garland and starring Kirsten Dunst, debuted with £1.82 million, including previews. In its third weekend, Universal’s “Kung Fu Panda 4” collected £1.75 million over the three-day weekend for a running total of £17.29 million.
In fourth place, in its third weekend, Warner Bros.’ “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” took in £1.18 million for a total of £11.89 million. Rounding off the top five, in its fourth weekend, Sony’s “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” earned £787,000 for a total of £14.06 million.
There were two debuts in the top 10, both from India. Rft Films’ Malayalam-language “Aavesham,” starring Fahadh Faasil, opened in ninth place with £207,300, while Yash Raj Films’ Bollywood film “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan,” with Akshay Kumar,...
It was neck-and-neck for the second spot. Entertainment Film Distributors’ “Civil War,” directed by Alex Garland and starring Kirsten Dunst, debuted with £1.82 million, including previews. In its third weekend, Universal’s “Kung Fu Panda 4” collected £1.75 million over the three-day weekend for a running total of £17.29 million.
In fourth place, in its third weekend, Warner Bros.’ “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” took in £1.18 million for a total of £11.89 million. Rounding off the top five, in its fourth weekend, Sony’s “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” earned £787,000 for a total of £14.06 million.
There were two debuts in the top 10, both from India. Rft Films’ Malayalam-language “Aavesham,” starring Fahadh Faasil, opened in ninth place with £207,300, while Yash Raj Films’ Bollywood film “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan,” with Akshay Kumar,...
- 4/16/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
For movie fans young and old, Turner Classic Movies, its hosts, and its expansive archive of iconic films are a beacon for the days of thoughtful well-made movies before everything became content and IP. To celebrate the channel’s 30th anniversary, TCM will host a 24-hour movie marathon featuring some of the greatest films of all time, including “North by Northwest,” “Gone with the Wind,” “An American in Paris,” and more. The festivities kick off at 12:15 a.m. Et on Sunday, April 14, and will feature insights and introductions from TCM’s late, great host Robert Osborne. You can watch TCM with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream. You can also watch with Sling TV, Hulu Live TV, or YouTube TV.
How to Watch Turner Classic Movies 24-Hour 30th Anniversary Special When: Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 12:15 Am Edt TV: TCM Stream: Watch with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream.
How to Watch Turner Classic Movies 24-Hour 30th Anniversary Special When: Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 12:15 Am Edt TV: TCM Stream: Watch with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream.
- 4/13/2024
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
Turner Classic Movies, the leading authority and definitive home of classic film, will celebrate its 30th anniversary on April 14, 2024. To honor the milestone, TCM will present on-air programming salutes featuring TCM staff who were there from the very beginning, as well as a 24-hour marathon of films with historical introductions from TCM’s first host and champion, Robert Osborne.
“How many other channels on television celebrate their anniversary? How many other channels’ fans know where they were the day a network launched?” says TCM Primetime Host Ben Mankiewicz. “I’m not sure either of those things are true without Robert Osborne. He’s the Walter Cronkite of TCM. The Johnny Carson. The Alex Trebek. With these intros of Robert’s, we’re celebrating his impact and his continued influence. Plus, as we do with the movies we show, we’ll put Robert into context. Additionally, we’ll also look back...
“How many other channels on television celebrate their anniversary? How many other channels’ fans know where they were the day a network launched?” says TCM Primetime Host Ben Mankiewicz. “I’m not sure either of those things are true without Robert Osborne. He’s the Walter Cronkite of TCM. The Johnny Carson. The Alex Trebek. With these intros of Robert’s, we’re celebrating his impact and his continued influence. Plus, as we do with the movies we show, we’ll put Robert into context. Additionally, we’ll also look back...
- 3/14/2024
- by Melissa Thompson
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Turner Classic Movies will turn 30 on April 14, 2024. That’s right: It’ll be 30 years since Ted Turner flipped the switch — flanked by Old Hollywood legends Arthur Hiller, Arlene Dahl, Jane Powell, Celeste Holm, and Van Johnson — right in the middle of Times Square to turn the network “on.”
Also with Turner that day was the man who’d become TCM’s longtime host, Robert Osborne, then just 61. A veteran columnist for The Hollywood Reporter, Osborne had become known as a close friend to many of the surviving stars of yesteryear ever since he was photographed kissing Bette Davis’s hand during a Golden Globes broadcast in the late ’70s. He’d go on to host the intros and outros for most of TCM’s primetime lineup for close to 23 years after that launch date, until he died in March 2017 at 84.
For so many TCM fans, Robert Osborne was the network.
Also with Turner that day was the man who’d become TCM’s longtime host, Robert Osborne, then just 61. A veteran columnist for The Hollywood Reporter, Osborne had become known as a close friend to many of the surviving stars of yesteryear ever since he was photographed kissing Bette Davis’s hand during a Golden Globes broadcast in the late ’70s. He’d go on to host the intros and outros for most of TCM’s primetime lineup for close to 23 years after that launch date, until he died in March 2017 at 84.
For so many TCM fans, Robert Osborne was the network.
- 3/14/2024
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
There’s an old, old joke about the prestigious New York City concert venue Carnegie Hall, which opened in 1891.
“How do you get to Carnegie Hall?”
“Practice, practice, practice.”
Over the past 130 years, such renowned composers as Antonin Dvorak, Richard Strauss, Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland, Philip Glass and Milton Babbitt debuted their works at the Carnegie.
The new Netflix documentary “American Symphony,” which has been Oscar shortlisted for best documentary, best original score and song, follows Academy and multiple Grammy Award-winning composer/musicians/singer Jon Batiste as he prepares to debut his first symphony at Carnegie Hall while his wife Suleika Jaouad battles a recurrence of leukemia. The heart-on-your-sleeve documentary ends with the triumphant premiere Sept. 22, 2022, that even a power outage on stage couldn’t top. Variety noted in its review: “It wasn’t just the story of America, and its collage-like charms and vices. This was also Batiste’s story,...
“How do you get to Carnegie Hall?”
“Practice, practice, practice.”
Over the past 130 years, such renowned composers as Antonin Dvorak, Richard Strauss, Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland, Philip Glass and Milton Babbitt debuted their works at the Carnegie.
The new Netflix documentary “American Symphony,” which has been Oscar shortlisted for best documentary, best original score and song, follows Academy and multiple Grammy Award-winning composer/musicians/singer Jon Batiste as he prepares to debut his first symphony at Carnegie Hall while his wife Suleika Jaouad battles a recurrence of leukemia. The heart-on-your-sleeve documentary ends with the triumphant premiere Sept. 22, 2022, that even a power outage on stage couldn’t top. Variety noted in its review: “It wasn’t just the story of America, and its collage-like charms and vices. This was also Batiste’s story,...
- 1/2/2024
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
When Harry Met Sally (courtesy Columbia Pictures)Graphic: The A.V. Club
Whether it’s the tension of the countdown, the promise of romance, or simply the idea of letting go of the past and moving on into an unknown future, there’s just something about New Year’s Eve that brings on new revelations,...
Whether it’s the tension of the countdown, the promise of romance, or simply the idea of letting go of the past and moving on into an unknown future, there’s just something about New Year’s Eve that brings on new revelations,...
- 12/29/2023
- by Cindy White
- avclub.com
Movies and television have been competing for the same audience's time and money since TV was invented, but they've also formed a strange symbiosis. There have been a heck of a lot of movies based on TV shows, and a heck of a lot of TV shows based on movies.
Some of those shows based on movies have been major pop culture milestones, like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "The Karate Kid," and "Friday Night Lights." And of course a whole lot of been almost completely forgotten, like the sitcoms based on "Dirty Dancing," "Working Girl," and "Animal House."
But one thing these TV shows usually have in common is that they're almost always based on a hit movie. It's not surprising when a blockbuster like "M*A*S*H" or "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" gets turned into a television series. It's even common for smaller, but critically acclaimed films...
Some of those shows based on movies have been major pop culture milestones, like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "The Karate Kid," and "Friday Night Lights." And of course a whole lot of been almost completely forgotten, like the sitcoms based on "Dirty Dancing," "Working Girl," and "Animal House."
But one thing these TV shows usually have in common is that they're almost always based on a hit movie. It's not surprising when a blockbuster like "M*A*S*H" or "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" gets turned into a television series. It's even common for smaller, but critically acclaimed films...
- 12/18/2023
- by William Bibbiani
- Slash Film
When Barbra Streisand delivered her 992-page memoir to her editor at Viking earlier this year, did anyone urge her to cut? Even gently?
Not that it would have done any good, for Streisand has a lot to say and her opus was termed “exhausting, ecstatic and undeniably moving” by the New Yorker this week.
Streisand hasn’t changed. On her first day of shooting On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970), when her director Vincente Minnelli shouted “cut,” she shook her head, saying she intended to keep going.
Minnelli had made great movies like An American In Paris and Gigi and had even survived working with (and being married to) Judy Garland. “One doesn’t say ‘no’ to Minnelli,” Streisand was warned by legendary writer Alan Jay Lerner (My Fair Lady).
Neither had as yet learned their Barbra lesson. Nor had her agent, Sue Mengers, who later tried to...
Not that it would have done any good, for Streisand has a lot to say and her opus was termed “exhausting, ecstatic and undeniably moving” by the New Yorker this week.
Streisand hasn’t changed. On her first day of shooting On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970), when her director Vincente Minnelli shouted “cut,” she shook her head, saying she intended to keep going.
Minnelli had made great movies like An American In Paris and Gigi and had even survived working with (and being married to) Judy Garland. “One doesn’t say ‘no’ to Minnelli,” Streisand was warned by legendary writer Alan Jay Lerner (My Fair Lady).
Neither had as yet learned their Barbra lesson. Nor had her agent, Sue Mengers, who later tried to...
- 12/7/2023
- by Peter Bart
- Deadline Film + TV
Leslie Caron (Leslie Claire Margaret Caron) is a French-American actor who rose to prominence in the 1950s, appearing in notable musical films like An American in Paris (1951) and Gigi (1958). Interestingly, Caron was 25 when she was cast to play a 14-year-old in MGM’s Gigi and had already given birth to her first child. Nevertheless, she did justice to the role, scoring a Laurel Award for Top Female Musical Performance and a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical. One of the surviving stars from Hollywood cinema’s Golden Age, Leslie Caron’s...
- 11/16/2023
- by Banks Onuoha
- TVovermind.com
The Criterion Channel is closing the year out with a bang––they’ve announced their December lineup. Among the highlights are retrospectives on Yasujiro Ozu (featuring nearly 40 films!), Ousmane Sembène, Alfred Hitchcock (along with Kent Jones’ Hitchcock/Truffaut), and Parker Posey. Well-timed for the season is a holiday noir series that includes They Live By Night, Blast of Silence, Lady in the Lake, and more.
Other highlights are the recent restoration of Abel Gance’s La roue, an MGM Musicals series with introduction by Michael Koresky, Helena Wittmann’s riveting second feature Human Flowers of Flesh, the recent Sundance highlight The Mountains Are a Dream That Call To Me, the new restoration of The Cassandra Cat, Lynne Ramsay’s Morvern Callar, Wong Kar Wai’s The Grandmaster, and more.
See the lineup below and learn more here.
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Terry Gilliam, 1988
An American in Paris, Vincente Minnelli,...
Other highlights are the recent restoration of Abel Gance’s La roue, an MGM Musicals series with introduction by Michael Koresky, Helena Wittmann’s riveting second feature Human Flowers of Flesh, the recent Sundance highlight The Mountains Are a Dream That Call To Me, the new restoration of The Cassandra Cat, Lynne Ramsay’s Morvern Callar, Wong Kar Wai’s The Grandmaster, and more.
See the lineup below and learn more here.
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Terry Gilliam, 1988
An American in Paris, Vincente Minnelli,...
- 11/13/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Prime Video has a fair amount in store for subscribers in November, as the uber-violent hit animated show Invincible returns for its highly anticipated second season. Based on the iconic comic book by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley, season two will find super-powered protagonist Mark attempting to rebuild his life after finding out the truth about his father Nolan.
Elsewhere on the streamer, the producing team behind the James Bond movies are out to spin the franchise in a completely different direction by debuting their curious new globe-trotting adventure series, pitched somewhere between a quiz show and a treasure hunt. 007: Road To A Million features Brian Cox as the game’s “mastermind”, watching over the contestants as they try to win a million quid.
Here’s everything coming to Amazon Prime Video and Freevee this month. Amazon Originals are accompanied by an asterisk!
New on Amazon Prime...
Elsewhere on the streamer, the producing team behind the James Bond movies are out to spin the franchise in a completely different direction by debuting their curious new globe-trotting adventure series, pitched somewhere between a quiz show and a treasure hunt. 007: Road To A Million features Brian Cox as the game’s “mastermind”, watching over the contestants as they try to win a million quid.
Here’s everything coming to Amazon Prime Video and Freevee this month. Amazon Originals are accompanied by an asterisk!
New on Amazon Prime...
- 11/1/2023
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
There’s a scene in the Paul Reubens-starrer Pee-wee’s Big Adventure that finds its titular character setting off on a vagabond adventure. He hops aboard a train to sit side-by-side with a grizzled, toothless man known as Hobo Jack, and they sing camp songs until Pee-Wee suddenly sours on the moment. The disgust radiates from his face and he makes a rash decision to jump off the moving train and tumble into the dirt below. The scene lasts all of 53 seconds.
“It’s such a committed, incredibly short joke that takes so much effort and I think that that has embedded somewhere deep inside me,” Greta Gerwig explained from the podium inside Tcl Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Thursday night while introducing a screening of Tim Burton’s 1985 film as part of AFI Fest. The blockbuster Barbie director turned up as part of her guest-directing duties for the Los Angeles-based festival,...
“It’s such a committed, incredibly short joke that takes so much effort and I think that that has embedded somewhere deep inside me,” Greta Gerwig explained from the podium inside Tcl Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Thursday night while introducing a screening of Tim Burton’s 1985 film as part of AFI Fest. The blockbuster Barbie director turned up as part of her guest-directing duties for the Los Angeles-based festival,...
- 10/27/2023
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This year’s AFI Fest is back in full glory, featuring a rich lineup of critical favorites plus a slate of five films curated by guest artistic director Greta Gerwig, whose latest film, “Barbie” has grossed $1.4 billion.
Returning to Hollywood’s Tcl Chinese Theatre and screening films from October 25-29, the event will feature Gerwig’s curated list of films: “All That Jazz,” “An American in Paris,” “A Matter of Life and Death,” “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” and “Wings of Desire.” AFI Fest will also screen the U.S. premiere of “Lee,” starring Academy Award-winner Kate Winslet, who is a producer on the project as well. The biopic follows the life of Lee Miller, a wartime photographer who documented the Dachau and Buchenwald concentration camps, London Blitz and liberation of Paris during WW II.
“I think AFI Fest and all film festivals are monuments to the inspirational power of film, the healing restorative power of film,...
Returning to Hollywood’s Tcl Chinese Theatre and screening films from October 25-29, the event will feature Gerwig’s curated list of films: “All That Jazz,” “An American in Paris,” “A Matter of Life and Death,” “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” and “Wings of Desire.” AFI Fest will also screen the U.S. premiere of “Lee,” starring Academy Award-winner Kate Winslet, who is a producer on the project as well. The biopic follows the life of Lee Miller, a wartime photographer who documented the Dachau and Buchenwald concentration camps, London Blitz and liberation of Paris during WW II.
“I think AFI Fest and all film festivals are monuments to the inspirational power of film, the healing restorative power of film,...
- 10/25/2023
- by Karen Idelson
- Variety Film + TV
Emmy-winning production designer and a past president of the Art Directors Guild Thomas Walsh is in prepro and raising funds to make a documentary about pioneering art director and painter Ben Carré (1883-1978), whose little-known story, which begins in Paris with the invention of motion pictures, also serves as an early history of his art form.
“The history, origin and profession of art direction for motion pictures has never been properly documented and Ben’s journey is our Rosetta Stone,” explains film history enthusiast Walsh, who is writing, producing and directing the project based on Carré’s unpublished 400-page memoir, archival material and exhaustive research.
Ben Carré: A Parisian in Hollywood will trace the subject’s life, starting in silent movies in Paris, before moving to Fort Lee, New Jersey, when the Hudson River region was an early filmmaking destination, and then to Hollywood. Carré is credited with set designs...
“The history, origin and profession of art direction for motion pictures has never been properly documented and Ben’s journey is our Rosetta Stone,” explains film history enthusiast Walsh, who is writing, producing and directing the project based on Carré’s unpublished 400-page memoir, archival material and exhaustive research.
Ben Carré: A Parisian in Hollywood will trace the subject’s life, starting in silent movies in Paris, before moving to Fort Lee, New Jersey, when the Hudson River region was an early filmmaking destination, and then to Hollywood. Carré is credited with set designs...
- 10/20/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In the early 1940s, a young Lena Horne began an engagement at an intimate L.A. club called Little Troc, where her silken voice — with her perfect enunciation and her sophisticated interpretation of the lyrics — dazzled the likes of Marlene Dietrich, Cole Porter, Lana Turner and Greta Garbo. Among the many eyes that observed her during her run were those of the astute, sensitive Roger Edens, who was an integral member of the Freed Unit at MGM Studios. Led by innovative producer Arthur Freed, the unit consisted of musical artists who created many of MGM’s great musicals from the golden age: It had recently produced Babes in Arms (1939) and would strike gold with An American in Paris (1951), Singin’ in the Rain (1952) and Gigi (1958).
Within the Freed Unit, Edens stood out as a highly respected composer, arranger and associate producer who eventually won three Academy Awards. After seeing Lena perform,...
Within the Freed Unit, Edens stood out as a highly respected composer, arranger and associate producer who eventually won three Academy Awards. After seeing Lena perform,...
- 10/12/2023
- by Donald Bogle
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
US premiere of Kate Winslet starrer Lee added to selection.
AFI Fest guest artistic director Greta Gerwig has revealed her five selections ahead of the Hollywood event running October 25-29.
Gerwig, whose Barbie ranks as the highest global release of the year to date on $1.43bn, has curated All That Jazz, An American In Paris, A Matter Of Life And Death, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, and Wings Of Desire.
Separately the festival announced on Tuesday that it has set an October 28 US premiere for Ellen Kuras’ Lee starring Kate Winslet as Lee Miller, the model turned war correspondent whose images of the Blitz,...
AFI Fest guest artistic director Greta Gerwig has revealed her five selections ahead of the Hollywood event running October 25-29.
Gerwig, whose Barbie ranks as the highest global release of the year to date on $1.43bn, has curated All That Jazz, An American In Paris, A Matter Of Life And Death, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, and Wings Of Desire.
Separately the festival announced on Tuesday that it has set an October 28 US premiere for Ellen Kuras’ Lee starring Kate Winslet as Lee Miller, the model turned war correspondent whose images of the Blitz,...
- 10/10/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
In months leading up to her billion-dollar Mattel success “Barbie,” Greta Gerwig famously revealed some of the film influences behind her work. Now, the practice is set to continue in her role as guest artistic director for the 2023 AFI Fest, which takes place in Los Angeles Oct. 25–29.
The Oscar-nominated writer-director revealed Tuesday the five films that are going to be part of her specially curated festival sidebar: Tim Burton’s “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” Bob Fosse’s “All That Jazz,” Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell’s “A Matter of Life and Death,” Vincente Minnelli’s “An American in Paris” and Wim Wenders’ “Wings of Desire.”
Gerwig will introduce select films herself, notably “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” which screens at the Tcl Chinese Theatre on Oct. 26 at 6 p.m., two months after the death of its star and cowriter Paul Reubens.
Additionally, AFI Fest has added a few new titles to the lineup,...
The Oscar-nominated writer-director revealed Tuesday the five films that are going to be part of her specially curated festival sidebar: Tim Burton’s “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” Bob Fosse’s “All That Jazz,” Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell’s “A Matter of Life and Death,” Vincente Minnelli’s “An American in Paris” and Wim Wenders’ “Wings of Desire.”
Gerwig will introduce select films herself, notably “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” which screens at the Tcl Chinese Theatre on Oct. 26 at 6 p.m., two months after the death of its star and cowriter Paul Reubens.
Additionally, AFI Fest has added a few new titles to the lineup,...
- 10/10/2023
- by Jason Clark
- The Wrap
The Barbie phenomenon is spreading to AFI Fest.
Greta Gerwig, who directed and co-wrote the billion dollar blockbuster starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, has been tapped to serve as guest artistic director of the Los Angeles-based festival. In the role, Gerwig will curate a number of films to add to the festival lineup and will be on hand to present one or more of those films depending on her schedule. Filmmakers like Pedro Almodóvar, Bernardo Bertolucci, Ava DuVernay, David Lynch and Agnès Varda have held the role in previous festivals.
On Oct. 10, AFI revealed the list of films Gerwig has selected. Those five films include Bob Fosse’s All That Jazz starring Roy Scheider, Jessica Lange and Ann Reinking, Vincente Minnelli’s An American in Paris starring Gene Kelly, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s A Matter of Life and Death, Tim Burton’s Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure starring the...
Greta Gerwig, who directed and co-wrote the billion dollar blockbuster starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, has been tapped to serve as guest artistic director of the Los Angeles-based festival. In the role, Gerwig will curate a number of films to add to the festival lineup and will be on hand to present one or more of those films depending on her schedule. Filmmakers like Pedro Almodóvar, Bernardo Bertolucci, Ava DuVernay, David Lynch and Agnès Varda have held the role in previous festivals.
On Oct. 10, AFI revealed the list of films Gerwig has selected. Those five films include Bob Fosse’s All That Jazz starring Roy Scheider, Jessica Lange and Ann Reinking, Vincente Minnelli’s An American in Paris starring Gene Kelly, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s A Matter of Life and Death, Tim Burton’s Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure starring the...
- 10/2/2023
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Robbie Fairchild, a Broadway lead and former New York City Ballet principal dancer, will star in the stage version of Michel Hazanavicius’ 2011 Oscar-winning movie The Artist, set in the 1920s when movies found their voice with the advent of talking pictures.
Fairchild received a Tony Award nomination for An American In Paris, another show based on a celebrated movie when it premiered on Broadway in 2015. Two years later, he helped launch that show in the West End.
In The Artist, he will play Silent Era matinee idol George Valentin, who finds his career torn away from him when the talkies arrive.
The part won French actor Jean Dujardin the Best Actor Oscar.
The Artist, co-written for the theater by Drew McOnie and playwright and screenwriter Lindsey Ferrentino, will have its world premiere at the Theatre Royal Plymouth from May 11 to May...
Fairchild received a Tony Award nomination for An American In Paris, another show based on a celebrated movie when it premiered on Broadway in 2015. Two years later, he helped launch that show in the West End.
In The Artist, he will play Silent Era matinee idol George Valentin, who finds his career torn away from him when the talkies arrive.
The part won French actor Jean Dujardin the Best Actor Oscar.
The Artist, co-written for the theater by Drew McOnie and playwright and screenwriter Lindsey Ferrentino, will have its world premiere at the Theatre Royal Plymouth from May 11 to May...
- 9/28/2023
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
The bread and butter of film festivals is the unveiling of new movies. And in the case of the major festivals taking place in the late summer and early fall — Venice, Telluride, Toronto and New York — the selections offer a preview of potential Oscar nominees and winners. Remember the eight-minute standing ovation Brendan Fraser received last year at Venice for “The Whale”? It kicked off his comeback and journey to a best Oscar win this year.
And with the 50th annual Telluride Film Festival kicking off August 31 at in the picturesque Colorado mountain burg, let’s take the cinematic time machine back 1993 when the fest was a mere 20 years old. John Boorman of “Deliverance” and “Hope and Glory” fame was the guest director of the festival. Jennifer Jason Leigh, then just 31 and whose latest film was Robert Altman’s “Short Cuts,” was honored with a tribute as was socialist British director Ken Loach,...
And with the 50th annual Telluride Film Festival kicking off August 31 at in the picturesque Colorado mountain burg, let’s take the cinematic time machine back 1993 when the fest was a mere 20 years old. John Boorman of “Deliverance” and “Hope and Glory” fame was the guest director of the festival. Jennifer Jason Leigh, then just 31 and whose latest film was Robert Altman’s “Short Cuts,” was honored with a tribute as was socialist British director Ken Loach,...
- 8/31/2023
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
In Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building,” Season 3’s newest star Meryl Streep plays Loretta Durkin, a scatter-brained and quirky struggling actor. When set decorator Rich Murray got the creative brief, he was told, “She’s charming and warm and has lived in the same studio apartment for the past 35 to 40 years.” With that, Murray peppered in Easter eggs galore as an homage to Streep’s illustrious career.
Murray first had to come up with a concept for the space, and found inspiration from the 1951 film “An American in Paris.” Jerry Mulligan’s (Gene Kelly) apartment was ideal. “It has a lot of built-in quirkiness with drop-down, pull-down things,” says Murray. “Everyone has everything so neatly finessed, tucked in and tightened cornered, and so we sort of pull from that.”
Aside from showrunner John Hoffman’s initial brief, Murray got no other notes on design requirements, so he “decided...
Murray first had to come up with a concept for the space, and found inspiration from the 1951 film “An American in Paris.” Jerry Mulligan’s (Gene Kelly) apartment was ideal. “It has a lot of built-in quirkiness with drop-down, pull-down things,” says Murray. “Everyone has everything so neatly finessed, tucked in and tightened cornered, and so we sort of pull from that.”
Aside from showrunner John Hoffman’s initial brief, Murray got no other notes on design requirements, so he “decided...
- 8/29/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
All hail legendary song-and-dance man Gene Kelly. In the history of American film, there were unarguably two great male dancers — Fred Astaire and Kelly. Astaire’s style was romantic and sophisticated, with long lines and elegant movement. Kelly’s style was more athletic — a guy’s guy, if you will — with a scrappy style that set him apart from other dancers of his era.
Kelly appeared to be able to do it all. He could dance, sing, and act in his films, ultimately choreographing and directing them as well. In the course of his nearly four decades on film, he starred in such classics as “An American in Paris” and “Anchors Aweigh,” as well as starring and co-directing the great musicals “On the Town” and “Singin’ in the Rain.”
For his work, Kelly earned two Golden Globe nominations — one for Best Actor for 1951’s “An American in Paris” and a...
Kelly appeared to be able to do it all. He could dance, sing, and act in his films, ultimately choreographing and directing them as well. In the course of his nearly four decades on film, he starred in such classics as “An American in Paris” and “Anchors Aweigh,” as well as starring and co-directing the great musicals “On the Town” and “Singin’ in the Rain.”
For his work, Kelly earned two Golden Globe nominations — one for Best Actor for 1951’s “An American in Paris” and a...
- 8/20/2023
- by Tom O'Brien, Chris Beachum and Misty Holland
- Gold Derby
"Barbie" might be a multimillion-dollar corporate product based on a ridiculously lucrative multimedia property, but it's also an earnest love letter to cinema history. Of course, that's nothing new for co-writer and director Greta Gerwig. A quick glimpse at the multi-hyphenate's filmography will reveal she's never shied away from openly acknowledging her influences. "Frances Ha," the 2012 dramedy Gerwig starred in and co-wrote with the film's director and her "Barbie" co-writer/real-life partner, Noah Baumbach, overtly tips its hat to the French New Wave, as does Gerwig's semi-autobiographical directorial debut, "Lady Bird" (her answer to Francois Truffaut's "The 400 Blows").
When it comes to "Barbie," there's no missing the references to "The Wizard of Oz" and Gene Kelly musicals like "An American in Paris," nor the deliberate parallels between the red pill/blue pill scene from "The Matrix" and Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) consulting Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon) about her sudden existential crisis.
When it comes to "Barbie," there's no missing the references to "The Wizard of Oz" and Gene Kelly musicals like "An American in Paris," nor the deliberate parallels between the red pill/blue pill scene from "The Matrix" and Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) consulting Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon) about her sudden existential crisis.
- 8/3/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
(Welcome to Did They Get It Right?, a series where we look at an Oscars category from yesteryear and examine whether the Academy's winner stands the test of time.)
Every year, one or several films racks up an impressive haul of nominations. 14 is currently the record, shared amongst "All About Eve," "La La Land," and "Titanic," but routinely, you'll see eight, nine, or double-digit nominations for movies. This past year, "Everything Everywhere All at Once" had 11, while "All Quiet on the Western Front" and "The Banshees of Inisherin" managed nine apiece.
Most of the time, however, the Academy likes to spread the wealth. Take last year's movies. Even with "Everything Everywhere" doing abnormally well, it only won seven of those 11. "All Quiet" just won four, and "Banshees" went home empty-handed. A nomination domination does not necessarily set you up to do a massive clean sweep of the Oscars. Even "Titanic,...
Every year, one or several films racks up an impressive haul of nominations. 14 is currently the record, shared amongst "All About Eve," "La La Land," and "Titanic," but routinely, you'll see eight, nine, or double-digit nominations for movies. This past year, "Everything Everywhere All at Once" had 11, while "All Quiet on the Western Front" and "The Banshees of Inisherin" managed nine apiece.
Most of the time, however, the Academy likes to spread the wealth. Take last year's movies. Even with "Everything Everywhere" doing abnormally well, it only won seven of those 11. "All Quiet" just won four, and "Banshees" went home empty-handed. A nomination domination does not necessarily set you up to do a massive clean sweep of the Oscars. Even "Titanic,...
- 7/23/2023
- by Mike Shutt
- Slash Film
Every night in Barbieland is “girls’ night,” or so goes the bedazzled legend of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. The Barbies stay up late, talking, splashing in the pool, and the Kens go, well, wherever Kens go. What if one particular Ken (Ryan Gosling) wanted to stay over to make good on his promise of being Barbie’s (Margot Robbie) boyfriend? No can do. “The president is here!” Barbie insists. Ken goes home. Another day in paradise.
Gerwig’s vision of Barbieland is not so much a matriarchy but a Barbie-archy, a for-Barbie, by-Barbie culture in which every Barbie from President Barbie (Issa Rae) to Doctor Barbie (Hari Nef) to Writer Barbie is empowered to be the best Barbie she can be. The Barbies are Nobel Prize winners, astronauts, pilots. They’re happy garbagewomen and delivery workers. For the Barbies of Barbieland, their world is devoid of all that is miserable...
Gerwig’s vision of Barbieland is not so much a matriarchy but a Barbie-archy, a for-Barbie, by-Barbie culture in which every Barbie from President Barbie (Issa Rae) to Doctor Barbie (Hari Nef) to Writer Barbie is empowered to be the best Barbie she can be. The Barbies are Nobel Prize winners, astronauts, pilots. They’re happy garbagewomen and delivery workers. For the Barbies of Barbieland, their world is devoid of all that is miserable...
- 7/18/2023
- by Fran Hoepfner
- The Film Stage
Out of all the winners (and also-rans) in the 26 competitive categories at the 2023 Tony Awards, 34 results stand out as particularly noteworthy when considered in the context of history. So what were this year’s most interesting facts, records, and milestones? Check out the complete list of winners here.
1. The productions that received multiple Tony nominations, but went home empty-handed were “& Juliet,” “Ain’t No Mo’,” “Between Riverside and Crazy” “Camelot,” “A Christmas Carol,” “Cost of Living,” “Death of a Salesman,” “A Doll’s House,” “Fat Ham,” “Into the Woods,” “Kpop,” and “The Piano Lesson.”
2. This year marked the first time a Broadway production of “Into the Woods” didn’t win a single Tony. The original won three awards in 1987 for Best Lead Actress in a Musical (Joanna Gleason), Best Book of a Musical (James Lapine), and Best Original Score (Stephen Sondheim). The 2002 remounting won two for Best Revival of a Musical...
1. The productions that received multiple Tony nominations, but went home empty-handed were “& Juliet,” “Ain’t No Mo’,” “Between Riverside and Crazy” “Camelot,” “A Christmas Carol,” “Cost of Living,” “Death of a Salesman,” “A Doll’s House,” “Fat Ham,” “Into the Woods,” “Kpop,” and “The Piano Lesson.”
2. This year marked the first time a Broadway production of “Into the Woods” didn’t win a single Tony. The original won three awards in 1987 for Best Lead Actress in a Musical (Joanna Gleason), Best Book of a Musical (James Lapine), and Best Original Score (Stephen Sondheim). The 2002 remounting won two for Best Revival of a Musical...
- 6/12/2023
- by Jeffrey Kare
- Gold Derby
Los Angeles, June 4 (Ians) With a few mystifying teasers and less than two months until the premiere of the live-action “Barbie” film, audiences still don’t know exactly how the film will unfold, according to ‘Variety’.
The production team, however, has started sharing details of the making of the film — including how they caused an international pink paint shortage.
In a recent ‘Architectural Digest’ profile with production designer Sarah Greenwood, set decorator Katie Spencer and director Greta Gerwig, reports ‘Variety’, the group explain that they set out “to capture what was so ridiculously fun” about Barbie’s world, especially Barbie’s Dreamhouse.
“I wanted the pinks to be very bright, and everything to be almost too much,” Gerwig said, according to ‘Variety’. She shared that “the ‘kid-ness’ was paramount” — evoking the feeling of never forgetting “what made (her) love Barbie” as a young girl.
“Why walk down stairs when you can slide into your pool?...
The production team, however, has started sharing details of the making of the film — including how they caused an international pink paint shortage.
In a recent ‘Architectural Digest’ profile with production designer Sarah Greenwood, set decorator Katie Spencer and director Greta Gerwig, reports ‘Variety’, the group explain that they set out “to capture what was so ridiculously fun” about Barbie’s world, especially Barbie’s Dreamhouse.
“I wanted the pinks to be very bright, and everything to be almost too much,” Gerwig said, according to ‘Variety’. She shared that “the ‘kid-ness’ was paramount” — evoking the feeling of never forgetting “what made (her) love Barbie” as a young girl.
“Why walk down stairs when you can slide into your pool?...
- 6/4/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
With a few mystifying teasers and less than two months until the premiere of the live-action “Barbie” film, audiences still don’t know exactly how the film will unfold. But the production team has started to reveal insight into the film — including how they caused an international pink paint shortage.
In a recent Architectural Digest profile with production designer Sarah Greenwood, set decorator Katie Spencer and director Greta Gerwig, the group explain that they set out “to capture what was so ridiculously fun” about Barbie’s world, but especially that of Architectural Digest’s subject: Barbie’s Dreamhouse.
“I wanted the pinks to be very bright, and everything to be almost too much,” Gerwig stated. She shared that “the ‘kid-ness’ was paramount” — evoking the feeling of never forgetting “what made [her] love Barbie” as a young girl.
“Why walk down stairs when you can slide into your pool? Why trudge up...
In a recent Architectural Digest profile with production designer Sarah Greenwood, set decorator Katie Spencer and director Greta Gerwig, the group explain that they set out “to capture what was so ridiculously fun” about Barbie’s world, but especially that of Architectural Digest’s subject: Barbie’s Dreamhouse.
“I wanted the pinks to be very bright, and everything to be almost too much,” Gerwig stated. She shared that “the ‘kid-ness’ was paramount” — evoking the feeling of never forgetting “what made [her] love Barbie” as a young girl.
“Why walk down stairs when you can slide into your pool? Why trudge up...
- 6/3/2023
- by Charna Flam
- Variety Film + TV
If ever a play had good reason to front-load itself with exposition, Good Night, Oscar is it. Once among America’s premiere wits and raconteurs, Oscar Levant has gone the way of many another once-famous wits and raconteurs. Which is to say, he needs lots of exposition.
Good Night, Oscar, the new bio-play by Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife) starring Sean Hayes (Will & Grace) as Levant, goes a long way in introducing this long-ago talk-show staple to modern audiences. Whether it justifies the effort is considerably less certain.
A talented pianist and occasional second-banana movie actor, Levant is better known today for his frequent talk- and game-show appearances of the 1950s and ’60s, his aptitude for the improvised zinger and no-holds-barred confessional humor making him a sought-after, if controversial, Golden Age presence. Others would follow in his wake – the Gore Vidals and Truman Capotes and Phyllis Newmans, but Levant was first.
Good Night, Oscar, the new bio-play by Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife) starring Sean Hayes (Will & Grace) as Levant, goes a long way in introducing this long-ago talk-show staple to modern audiences. Whether it justifies the effort is considerably less certain.
A talented pianist and occasional second-banana movie actor, Levant is better known today for his frequent talk- and game-show appearances of the 1950s and ’60s, his aptitude for the improvised zinger and no-holds-barred confessional humor making him a sought-after, if controversial, Golden Age presence. Others would follow in his wake – the Gore Vidals and Truman Capotes and Phyllis Newmans, but Levant was first.
- 4/25/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
“The play is about family, identity and memory,” reveals Brandon Uranowitz when asked to synthesize the epic scope of Tom Stoppard’s “Leopoldstadt.” Having grown up Jewish within an “assimilated white neighborhood” in New Jersey, the actor was immediately drawn to the discussions surrounding identity, which form the backbone of the script. “It all comes down to that question of ‘who are we?’,” explains the actor. Watch the exclusive video interview above.
Jewish identity, as it relates to the concept of assimilation, is at the core of a heated early argument between his character Ludwig and Herman (David Krumholtz). “It asks questions about Jewish identity that I had not seen or heard until reading this play,” admits Uranowitz. In the year 1899, Jewish people had contributed immensely to Viennese culture to the point that most people’s “Jewishness was neither here nor there.” This is the lifestyle that Herman favors, but...
Jewish identity, as it relates to the concept of assimilation, is at the core of a heated early argument between his character Ludwig and Herman (David Krumholtz). “It asks questions about Jewish identity that I had not seen or heard until reading this play,” admits Uranowitz. In the year 1899, Jewish people had contributed immensely to Viennese culture to the point that most people’s “Jewishness was neither here nor there.” This is the lifestyle that Herman favors, but...
- 4/24/2023
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
Over 100 popular films are leaving HBO Max at the end of the month, but luckily you have the whole month to stream them.
They include cinema classics like “Ben Hur,” the winningest film in Oscars history
Leaving April 5
The Inside Story, 1948
Reminiscence, 2021 (HBO)
Leaving April 11
Adult Swim Yule Log (aka The Fireplace)
Leaving April 12
About Face: Supermodels Then and Now, 2012 (HBO)
Leaving April 13
The Last Duel, 2021
Game Theory With Bomani Jones, Season 1
Leaving April 18
The Lego Batman Movie, 2017
Leaving April 24
Tom and Jerry Cowboy Up!, 2022
Leaving April 27
Malignant, 2021 (HBO)
Leaving April 30
47 Ronin, 2013 (HBO)
3 Godfathers, 1948
Accepted, 2006 (HBO)
The Adventures of Robin Hood, 1938
A Private War, 2018 (HBO)
An American in Paris, 1951
The American President, 1995
Any Given Sunday, 1999
Australia, 2008 (HBO)
Before I Fall, 2017 (HBO)
Ben-Hur, 1959
Black Legion, 1937
Blade, 1998
Blood Diamond, 2006
Blow Out, 1981 (HBO)
The Bodyguard, 1992
Boogie Nights, 1997
The Book of Eli, 2010
The Bourne Identity, 2002 (HBO)
The Bourne Supremacy, 2004 (HBO)
Bringing up Baby,...
They include cinema classics like “Ben Hur,” the winningest film in Oscars history
Leaving April 5
The Inside Story, 1948
Reminiscence, 2021 (HBO)
Leaving April 11
Adult Swim Yule Log (aka The Fireplace)
Leaving April 12
About Face: Supermodels Then and Now, 2012 (HBO)
Leaving April 13
The Last Duel, 2021
Game Theory With Bomani Jones, Season 1
Leaving April 18
The Lego Batman Movie, 2017
Leaving April 24
Tom and Jerry Cowboy Up!, 2022
Leaving April 27
Malignant, 2021 (HBO)
Leaving April 30
47 Ronin, 2013 (HBO)
3 Godfathers, 1948
Accepted, 2006 (HBO)
The Adventures of Robin Hood, 1938
A Private War, 2018 (HBO)
An American in Paris, 1951
The American President, 1995
Any Given Sunday, 1999
Australia, 2008 (HBO)
Before I Fall, 2017 (HBO)
Ben-Hur, 1959
Black Legion, 1937
Blade, 1998
Blood Diamond, 2006
Blow Out, 1981 (HBO)
The Bodyguard, 1992
Boogie Nights, 1997
The Book of Eli, 2010
The Bourne Identity, 2002 (HBO)
The Bourne Supremacy, 2004 (HBO)
Bringing up Baby,...
- 4/4/2023
- by Lawrence Yee
- The Wrap
The films in contention for the 2023 Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar are “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Glass Onion,” “Living,” “Top Gun: Maverick,” and “Women Talking.” Our odds currently indicate that “Women Talking” (10/3) will win the award, followed in order of likelihood by “All Quiet on the Western Front” (37/10), “Glass Onion” (9/2), “Top Gun: Maverick” (9/2), and “Living” (9/2).
“Glass Onion” and “Top Gun: Maverick,” which are, respectively, the first sequels to 2019’s “Knives Out” and 1986’s “Top Gun,” are the first pair of continuation films ever nominated against each other in this category. Included among the seven sequels that have contended here before are winners “The Godfather Part II” (1975) and “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2004) and nominees “Before Sunset” (2005), “Toy Story 3” (2011), “Before Midnight” (2014), “Logan” (2018), and “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” (2021).
Of the 11 individual writers in this year’s lineup, only Sarah Polley (“Women Talking”) has competed for this particular award before.
“Glass Onion” and “Top Gun: Maverick,” which are, respectively, the first sequels to 2019’s “Knives Out” and 1986’s “Top Gun,” are the first pair of continuation films ever nominated against each other in this category. Included among the seven sequels that have contended here before are winners “The Godfather Part II” (1975) and “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2004) and nominees “Before Sunset” (2005), “Toy Story 3” (2011), “Before Midnight” (2014), “Logan” (2018), and “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” (2021).
Of the 11 individual writers in this year’s lineup, only Sarah Polley (“Women Talking”) has competed for this particular award before.
- 3/11/2023
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
“Everything Everywhere All at Once” has had a great couple of days. The Oscar frontrunner won the top prize at the Producers Guild of America Awards on Saturday, proving that it can conquer the preferential ballot. The next day, it pulled off a historic sweep at Screen Actors Guild Awards with a record four wins for ensemble, lead actress for Michelle Yeoh, supporting actor for Ke Huy Quan and supporting actress for Jamie Lee Curtis. The triple individual wins — also a first for a film in SAG Awards history — were unexpected as Curtis upset odds-on favorite Angela Bassett (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”), but they just speak to the movie’s strength. They also tee it up for a never-before-seen above-the-line sweep at the Oscars: “Everything Everywhere” can be the first film to win Best Picture, Best Director, a screenplay award and three acting prizes.
The multiversal hit is the runaway...
The multiversal hit is the runaway...
- 3/2/2023
- by Joyce Eng
- Gold Derby
For nearly 100 years, pundits have predicted the outcome of Oscar voting. Sometimes it’s an educated guess, but it’s a guess nevertheless, since a minimal number of PricewaterhouseCoopers execs know the actual tallies and they never talk. So pundits often look to Oscar history to back up their theories, like tribal natives trying to predict their future by watching smoke from a volcano.
Too often, people talk about voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences as if they work as a unit: “They will never vote for this” or “they always love such-and-such.” One of the fun aspects of predictions is that Academy history is like Scripture: You can always find something to back up your claims.
This year, voters nominated 10 very different films for best picture. Each has inspired predictions about why it couldn’t win because “they” won’t go for it. But actually,...
Too often, people talk about voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences as if they work as a unit: “They will never vote for this” or “they always love such-and-such.” One of the fun aspects of predictions is that Academy history is like Scripture: You can always find something to back up your claims.
This year, voters nominated 10 very different films for best picture. Each has inspired predictions about why it couldn’t win because “they” won’t go for it. But actually,...
- 3/1/2023
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
The legendary RZA joins hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante to discuss a few of his favorite movies.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
The Man With The Iron Fists (2012)
Cut Throat City (2020)
Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)
Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004)
Cooley High (1975) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary
Car Wash (1976) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary
Grease (1978)
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary
Gremlins (1984) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review, Tfh’s Mogwai Madness
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020) – Dennis Cozzalio’s best of 2020
The Devil You Know (2022)
The Last American Virgin (1982)
The Beastmaster (1982)
Porky’s (1981)
Sixteen Candles (1984)
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982) – Karyn Kusama’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review
There Will Be Blood (2007)
Carmen Jones (1954)
An American In Paris (1951)
Singin’ In The Rain (1952) – John Landis’s trailer commentary
The Wizard Of Oz (1939) – John Badham’s trailer commentary
Is That Black Enough for You?!?...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
The Man With The Iron Fists (2012)
Cut Throat City (2020)
Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)
Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004)
Cooley High (1975) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary
Car Wash (1976) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary
Grease (1978)
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary
Gremlins (1984) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review, Tfh’s Mogwai Madness
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020) – Dennis Cozzalio’s best of 2020
The Devil You Know (2022)
The Last American Virgin (1982)
The Beastmaster (1982)
Porky’s (1981)
Sixteen Candles (1984)
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982) – Karyn Kusama’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review
There Will Be Blood (2007)
Carmen Jones (1954)
An American In Paris (1951)
Singin’ In The Rain (1952) – John Landis’s trailer commentary
The Wizard Of Oz (1939) – John Badham’s trailer commentary
Is That Black Enough for You?!?...
- 2/14/2023
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
“City of Stars” is heading to the city that never sleeps. “La La Land,” the Oscar-winning film from Damien Chazelle, will be adapted into a Broadway musical, it was announced Tuesday.
A premiere window for the production has not yet been announced. The musical comes from Lionsgate, the distributor behind the 2016 feature film, and the original movie’s composer Justin Hurwitz will return along with songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul to write new music for the stage musical.
Bartlett Sher, a Tony winner for the 2008 revival of “South Pacific,” directs from a book written by Pulitzer Prize winner Ayad Akhtar and Matthew Decker. Marc Platt, a producer on the original film and a two-time Tony award winner for “A Strange Loop” and “The Band’s Visit,” serves as the lead producer on the project.
“I’m thrilled to reunite with Lionsgate and the incredible team behind ‘La La Land’ to...
A premiere window for the production has not yet been announced. The musical comes from Lionsgate, the distributor behind the 2016 feature film, and the original movie’s composer Justin Hurwitz will return along with songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul to write new music for the stage musical.
Bartlett Sher, a Tony winner for the 2008 revival of “South Pacific,” directs from a book written by Pulitzer Prize winner Ayad Akhtar and Matthew Decker. Marc Platt, a producer on the original film and a two-time Tony award winner for “A Strange Loop” and “The Band’s Visit,” serves as the lead producer on the project.
“I’m thrilled to reunite with Lionsgate and the incredible team behind ‘La La Land’ to...
- 2/7/2023
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Look over the list of Best Picture winners over the years and you realise that almost every film selected is still in circulation.
William Wellman’s Wings, the very first winner in 1927, is readily available on DVD and Blu-Ray, as are such other early winners as Cimarron and Broadway Melody.
Most of the other Best Picture winners are titles that any film lover will recognise instantly. The blind spots are obvious. The Academy never chooses foreign language titles. In recent years, it has shunned comedies.
The Shape of Water may have won in 2018, but voters are generally wary about genre pictures. You don’t see many sci-fi or martial arts titles on the list.
There is a growing divide between what wins at the Oscars and what makes the money at the box office. Even so, the est Picture Oscar remains one of the most reliable bellwethers for films that will have an afterlife.
William Wellman’s Wings, the very first winner in 1927, is readily available on DVD and Blu-Ray, as are such other early winners as Cimarron and Broadway Melody.
Most of the other Best Picture winners are titles that any film lover will recognise instantly. The blind spots are obvious. The Academy never chooses foreign language titles. In recent years, it has shunned comedies.
The Shape of Water may have won in 2018, but voters are generally wary about genre pictures. You don’t see many sci-fi or martial arts titles on the list.
There is a growing divide between what wins at the Oscars and what makes the money at the box office. Even so, the est Picture Oscar remains one of the most reliable bellwethers for films that will have an afterlife.
- 2/2/2023
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- The Independent - Film
Look over the list of Best Picture winners over the years and you realise that almost every film selected is still in circulation.
William Wellman’s Wings, the very first winner in 1927, is readily available on DVD and Blu-Ray, as are such other early winners as Cimarron and Broadway Melody.
Most of the other Best Picture winners are titles that any film lover will recognise instantly. The blind spots are obvious. The Academy never chooses foreign language titles. In recent years, it has shunned comedies.
The Shape of Water may have won in 2018, but voters are generally wary about genre pictures. You don’t see many sci-fi or martial arts titles on the list.
There is a growing divide between what wins at the Oscars and what makes the money at the box office. Even so, the est Picture Oscar remains one of the most reliable bellwethers for films that will have an afterlife.
William Wellman’s Wings, the very first winner in 1927, is readily available on DVD and Blu-Ray, as are such other early winners as Cimarron and Broadway Melody.
Most of the other Best Picture winners are titles that any film lover will recognise instantly. The blind spots are obvious. The Academy never chooses foreign language titles. In recent years, it has shunned comedies.
The Shape of Water may have won in 2018, but voters are generally wary about genre pictures. You don’t see many sci-fi or martial arts titles on the list.
There is a growing divide between what wins at the Oscars and what makes the money at the box office. Even so, the est Picture Oscar remains one of the most reliable bellwethers for films that will have an afterlife.
- 2/2/2023
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- The Independent - Film
Veteran Fox News war correspondent Benjamin Hall will release his memoir “Saved: A War Reporter’s Mission to Make It Home” on March 14, HarperCollins Publishers announced Thursday.
Throughout “Saved,” Hall recounts how he survived his ground-level view of the war in Ukraine, as well as his dramatic rescue and arduous recovery. Hall shares stories about his time at the front lines of the world’s most dangerous conflicts and reveals how he struggled to step away from war reporting, leading him to cover one more story that ultimately turned into a mission of perseverance.
“For me this book is about being saved – it’s being saved by all these people. And it’s that understanding that can give you so much strength. We all think about Pierre every day and I think that’s really important for all of us to do and I think of my family every day...
Throughout “Saved,” Hall recounts how he survived his ground-level view of the war in Ukraine, as well as his dramatic rescue and arduous recovery. Hall shares stories about his time at the front lines of the world’s most dangerous conflicts and reveals how he struggled to step away from war reporting, leading him to cover one more story that ultimately turned into a mission of perseverance.
“For me this book is about being saved – it’s being saved by all these people. And it’s that understanding that can give you so much strength. We all think about Pierre every day and I think that’s really important for all of us to do and I think of my family every day...
- 1/27/2023
- by Charna Flam and Julia MacCary
- Variety Film + TV
Motion pictures, for better or worse, shape the way that we view history. They bring the past to life using realistic costumes, production design, and visual effects. They tell vivid stories about real-life figures and important events that shaped the world around us to this day, and which provide meaningful parallels to the lives we currently lead.
And yet, if the movies have taught us anything, it's that every single historical figure, at some point in their storied life, has also solved at least one murder mystery. Or at least they fought a mummy or something. The desire to tell tales of historical fiction is perfectly understandable, but our collective and very specific urge to transform biographies into pulpy fan fiction is a little weird, if you think about it.
Consider, if you will, Scott Cooper's "The Pale Blue Eye," which co-stars Harry Melling as a young Edgar Allan Poe,...
And yet, if the movies have taught us anything, it's that every single historical figure, at some point in their storied life, has also solved at least one murder mystery. Or at least they fought a mummy or something. The desire to tell tales of historical fiction is perfectly understandable, but our collective and very specific urge to transform biographies into pulpy fan fiction is a little weird, if you think about it.
Consider, if you will, Scott Cooper's "The Pale Blue Eye," which co-stars Harry Melling as a young Edgar Allan Poe,...
- 12/22/2022
- by William Bibbiani
- Slash Film
A new Broadway season has started, and there are currently 11 productions of plays set to open this fall. Could we be seeing any of them contend at next year’s Tony Awards? Below is an overview of the plot of each play as well as the awards history of its author, cast, creative team, and the opening and (where applicable) closing dates.
“Death of a Salesman”
In the fifth Broadway revival of Arthur Miller’s 1949 drama, Willy Loman is a traveling salesman whose illusions of picture-perfect business and family life cave in on him. He and his family are caught up in the pressures and delusions of living the American dream.
The original production directed by Elia Kazan won six Tony Awards (including Best Play) and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. This staging follows a successful run on London’s West End back in 2019, where it received five Laurence Olivier...
“Death of a Salesman”
In the fifth Broadway revival of Arthur Miller’s 1949 drama, Willy Loman is a traveling salesman whose illusions of picture-perfect business and family life cave in on him. He and his family are caught up in the pressures and delusions of living the American dream.
The original production directed by Elia Kazan won six Tony Awards (including Best Play) and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. This staging follows a successful run on London’s West End back in 2019, where it received five Laurence Olivier...
- 9/16/2022
- by Jeffrey Kare
- Gold Derby
Henry Fonda, actor (1905-82)
Grammy: Best Spoken Word Album, “Great Documents” (1977)
Oscar: Best Actor, “On Golden Pond” (1981)
Tony: Best Actor, “Mister Roberts” (1948); Best Actor, “Clarence Darrow” (1975)
Oscar Hammerstein II, lyricist and producer (1895-1960)
Grammy: Best Original Cast Album, “The Sound of Music” (1960)
Oscar: Best Original Song, “The Last Time I Saw Paris” from “Lady Be Good” (1941); “It Might As Well Be Spring” from “State Fair” (1945)
Tony: Three awards for “South Pacific” (1950); Best Musical, “The King and I” (1952); Best Musical, “The Sound of Music” (1960)
Elton John
Grammy: Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group, “That’s What Friends Are For” (1986); Best Instrumental Composition, “Basque” (1991); Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” (1994); Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, “Candle in the Wind” (1997); Best Show Album, “Aida” (2000)
Oscar: Best Original Son, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from “The Lion King” (1994)
Tony: Best Score, “Aida” (2000)
John Legend, songwriter and...
Grammy: Best Spoken Word Album, “Great Documents” (1977)
Oscar: Best Actor, “On Golden Pond” (1981)
Tony: Best Actor, “Mister Roberts” (1948); Best Actor, “Clarence Darrow” (1975)
Oscar Hammerstein II, lyricist and producer (1895-1960)
Grammy: Best Original Cast Album, “The Sound of Music” (1960)
Oscar: Best Original Song, “The Last Time I Saw Paris” from “Lady Be Good” (1941); “It Might As Well Be Spring” from “State Fair” (1945)
Tony: Three awards for “South Pacific” (1950); Best Musical, “The King and I” (1952); Best Musical, “The Sound of Music” (1960)
Elton John
Grammy: Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group, “That’s What Friends Are For” (1986); Best Instrumental Composition, “Basque” (1991); Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” (1994); Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, “Candle in the Wind” (1997); Best Show Album, “Aida” (2000)
Oscar: Best Original Son, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from “The Lion King” (1994)
Tony: Best Score, “Aida” (2000)
John Legend, songwriter and...
- 8/29/2022
- by Thom Geier
- The Wrap
“The goal from the very beginning was to capture the essence of Michael, but also make a new piece of art,” describes director and choreographer Christopher Wheeldon of his work on “Mj the Musical.” The new Broadway musical captures a pivotal moment in the life of Michael Jackson through the use of the King of Pop’s iconic song catalog. But don’t expect the dancing to merely be a mimic of the moves and staging found in past music videos. Wheeldon and book writer Lynn Nottage weren’t interested in simply staging a recreation. “It was seeing Michael’s musical language, his dance vocabulary, through the lens of Lynn Nottage, through my lens,” explains the director. That specific lens earned him double Tony Award nominations for directing and choreography. Watch the exclusive video interview above.
Watch 2022 Tony Awards predictions: Who will win on June 12?
The creators set the show...
Watch 2022 Tony Awards predictions: Who will win on June 12?
The creators set the show...
- 5/28/2022
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
The 1952 classic “Singin’ in the Rain” is hailed by many as one of the greatest films ever made. And yet it has also become the subject of countless myths regarding its production over the past 70 years.
During a press day for the film’s 4K Uhd release, TheWrap asked Patricia Ward Kelly, Gene Kelly’s wife and biographer, what was the biggest myth she could dispel about “Singin’ in the Rain” and she was candid: “Almost everything that you read on the internet.”
Kelly, who is also curator of the Gene Kelly archives, is baffled by the amount of misinformation about the film that continues to perpetuate online. “There’s more mythology out there now than there is factual information about it, and the myths seem to just keep perpetuating. I’ll bust a myth and then somebody will say, ‘Oh that’s not true,’ even though I’ve just...
During a press day for the film’s 4K Uhd release, TheWrap asked Patricia Ward Kelly, Gene Kelly’s wife and biographer, what was the biggest myth she could dispel about “Singin’ in the Rain” and she was candid: “Almost everything that you read on the internet.”
Kelly, who is also curator of the Gene Kelly archives, is baffled by the amount of misinformation about the film that continues to perpetuate online. “There’s more mythology out there now than there is factual information about it, and the myths seem to just keep perpetuating. I’ll bust a myth and then somebody will say, ‘Oh that’s not true,’ even though I’ve just...
- 4/27/2022
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
A new play by Anna Deavere Smith about tennis icon Billie Jean King is in development, with Marc Bruni (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) set to direct. A reading in August is planned as part of the New York Stage and Film 2022 Summer Season.
Love All is described as the story of “the rise of sports icon and trailblazer for equality Billie Jean King against a backdrop of the social upheaval and countercultural revolutions of the 1960s. A tale of tough competition on the court and gritty teamwork in the world, it asks what it takes to be a champion and what more it takes to change the course of history.”
“As a fan of the theatre,” King said in a statement, “being part of a project like Love All is an honor and honestly a surreal experience and being able to work with brilliant minds like Anna Deavere Smith,...
Love All is described as the story of “the rise of sports icon and trailblazer for equality Billie Jean King against a backdrop of the social upheaval and countercultural revolutions of the 1960s. A tale of tough competition on the court and gritty teamwork in the world, it asks what it takes to be a champion and what more it takes to change the course of history.”
“As a fan of the theatre,” King said in a statement, “being part of a project like Love All is an honor and honestly a surreal experience and being able to work with brilliant minds like Anna Deavere Smith,...
- 4/20/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Before the academy expanded the Best Picture race in 2010, the winner of that award almost always picked up the Best Director prize as well. But since then, these two awards have aligned at only seven of the dozen ceremonies. We thought that we’d see another case of double-dipping this year with Jane Campion winning for both directing and producing “The Power of the Dog.” But now it looks like “Coda” will claim the top prize of Best Picture, with Campion consoling herself with being the third woman to win Best Director.
Why the change?
When the decision was made to increase the number of nominees for Best Picture, it was also decided to bring back the preferential ballot that had been used by the academy until the mid 1940s. The rationale was that by ranking the nominees, the winner would be the film that had the broadest level of support.
Why the change?
When the decision was made to increase the number of nominees for Best Picture, it was also decided to bring back the preferential ballot that had been used by the academy until the mid 1940s. The rationale was that by ranking the nominees, the winner would be the film that had the broadest level of support.
- 3/27/2022
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
“31 Days of Oscar” on Turner Classic Movies has recently made some fascinating, big changes in how it presents the movies in its latest, annual presentation of the top films that once competed for Hollywood’s highest honor.
Usually, the series showcases films that have either won or were nominated for Oscars. “This year we’re just presenting Oscar-winning movies,” notes the series’ savvy host Dave Karger, who contributes his predictions to Gold Derby. “So it’s only Oscar-winning movies for the entire month of March, 24 hours a day, no commercials. That gives us some cachet.”
Below are the air dates of just some Best Picture winners. See the full “31 Days of Oscar” schedule here and take note that the movies tend to be grouped by different decades each day. “That’s so interesting because you get to see how the Oscars have changed over this passage of time,” notes Karger.
Usually, the series showcases films that have either won or were nominated for Oscars. “This year we’re just presenting Oscar-winning movies,” notes the series’ savvy host Dave Karger, who contributes his predictions to Gold Derby. “So it’s only Oscar-winning movies for the entire month of March, 24 hours a day, no commercials. That gives us some cachet.”
Below are the air dates of just some Best Picture winners. See the full “31 Days of Oscar” schedule here and take note that the movies tend to be grouped by different decades each day. “That’s so interesting because you get to see how the Oscars have changed over this passage of time,” notes Karger.
- 3/23/2022
- by Tom O'Neil
- Gold Derby
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