My favorite comic strips are the ones where the characters' physicality has no basis in reality. Think of Calvin's untenable head-to-body-size ratio in "Calvin and Hobbes" or how every living creature in "The Far Side" is built like a pillow with sticks for arms and legs. The funny pages, like animation, have no real limits when it comes to the physics of their worlds, so why should their inhabitants be any different?
Charles Addams, in particular, wholly embraced this idea and ran with it while drawing his off-kilter, satirical "Addams Family" comic panels for The New Yorker from the 1930s up until his death in the '80s. The titular clan of ghoulish aristocrats embodied everything that stereotypical white American families did not in the 20th century, which manifested itself in their appearances. The Addamses had preternaturally oblong or round faces and builds. Most notably, the stocky, pale-white Uncle Fester...
Charles Addams, in particular, wholly embraced this idea and ran with it while drawing his off-kilter, satirical "Addams Family" comic panels for The New Yorker from the 1930s up until his death in the '80s. The titular clan of ghoulish aristocrats embodied everything that stereotypical white American families did not in the 20th century, which manifested itself in their appearances. The Addamses had preternaturally oblong or round faces and builds. Most notably, the stocky, pale-white Uncle Fester...
- 4/27/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
At long last, Eddie Murphy is reprising his role as street-smart cop Axel Foley in the fourth instalment of the Beverly Hills Cop franchise, which is set to hit Netflix this summer. But, it isn’t easy being a middle aged action star. It’s been nearly thirty years since we last saw Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley, and in a recent interview with People Magazine he admitted that the shoot was a “rough one”.“I did Axel Foley when I was in my 20s. I am not in my 20s anymore,” he said. At any rate, Murphy won’t be the only aged actor from the original to show up, with many of the classic Beverly Hills Cop cast members are set to join him in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley. Here’s everything we know about Beverly Hills Cop 4!
Who’s making it?
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley...
Who’s making it?
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley...
- 4/27/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
When it comes to the classics of cinema—and sometimes the dregs—it’s always fun to think about what might’ve been. Casting especially can be a strange alchemy between actor and role, and when the formula is off, it’s easy to ponder whether the spell would work at all. Can you imagine Robert Redford as Michael Corleone? What about Tom Selleck as Indiana Jones? And it’s an interesting challenge to envision what Tim Burton’s Batman might’ve been if it starred Bill Murray versus Robin Williams.
The casting of Neo in The Matrix is another legendary “what if?” in movie history. The 1999 classic, which just turned 25 years old earlier this month, is now beloved for its reinvention of Keanu Reeves. He plays Neo in the film; a former sad sack hacker who discovers he’s actually a superpowered messiah sent to free us from a digital prison.
The casting of Neo in The Matrix is another legendary “what if?” in movie history. The 1999 classic, which just turned 25 years old earlier this month, is now beloved for its reinvention of Keanu Reeves. He plays Neo in the film; a former sad sack hacker who discovers he’s actually a superpowered messiah sent to free us from a digital prison.
- 4/22/2024
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Barry Sonnenfeld's 1991 film adaptation of "The Addams Family" came out right when pop Goth fashion was hitting the mainstream. Goth culture, of course, first evolved in England during the rise of bands like Siouxsie & the Banshees, Bauhaus, and The Cure, and Goth characters started appearing in American horror movies in the mid-1980s. One of the first mainstream Gothic film icons of the time was probably Lydia Deetz, the character played by Winona Ryder in Tim Burton's 1988 film "Beetlejuice." After that, '90s teens began to affect a whimsical adoration of the macabre, and Tim Burton's films exploded in popularity. In fact, his 1989 rendition of "Batman" owes more to Goth culture than to comic books.
"The Addams Family," based on the 1960s sitcom and the comic strips by Charles Addams, was eaten up by a Goth-loving public. Audiences were ready to reject old-world, Reagan-era squareness and...
"The Addams Family," based on the 1960s sitcom and the comic strips by Charles Addams, was eaten up by a Goth-loving public. Audiences were ready to reject old-world, Reagan-era squareness and...
- 4/19/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Barry Sonnenfeld's 1991 film "The Addams Family," based on the New Yorker comic strips by Chas Addams and extrapolated from the 1964 sitcom of the same name, was a pop culture clarion call for aspiring young goths the world over. The Addams Family were a gaggle of murderous weirds who lived in a haunted mansion, kept a severed human hand as a pet, and regularly engaged in cute family games wherein they exhumed long-dead relatives. They loved blood, sex, and magic. It's possible they were immortal; the young Wednesday (Christina Ricci) regularly murdered her brother Pugsley (Jimmy Workman). Morticia (Anjelica Huston) and Gomez (Raul Julia) were sexually active to an enviable degree, perhaps standing as one of the healthiest, most sex-positive couples in movies at the time. They were full of zest and joie de vivre. Only they were obsessed with death, so perhaps the term should be joie de mourir.
- 3/17/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
In one of Charles Addams' original Addams Family comic strips for the New Yorker, we see Gomez, the family patriarch, perched by a large window in his sepulchral home, looking out the window. His children and wife are standing near him. Outside the window, an apocalyptic storm is raging. A tree has been stripped of its leaves and a home across the street appears to be blowing over. "Just the kind of day that makes you feel good to be alive!" Gomez comments.
Barry Sonnenfeld's 1991 film version of "The Addams Family" captures that outsider spirit. This iteration of the Addams Family values the gloom that most people eschew, presenting Gomez (Raul Julia) and Morticia (Anjelica Houston) as horny, enthused monsters who you kind of fall in love with.
The plot of the movie is somewhat plain: a scheming a-hole finds someone who looks exactly like the long-lost Fester Addams...
Barry Sonnenfeld's 1991 film version of "The Addams Family" captures that outsider spirit. This iteration of the Addams Family values the gloom that most people eschew, presenting Gomez (Raul Julia) and Morticia (Anjelica Houston) as horny, enthused monsters who you kind of fall in love with.
The plot of the movie is somewhat plain: a scheming a-hole finds someone who looks exactly like the long-lost Fester Addams...
- 3/10/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Netflix has landed rights to the female-driven genre thriller Apex, described as Free Solo meets Silence of the Lambs, Deadline reports today.
Apex was penned by “The Purge” writer Jeremy Robbins and selected as part of 2021’s The Black List, an annual buzzy compendium of the year’s most-liked unproduced Hollywood screenplays.
The spec script logline for Apex: “When an adrenaline junkie sets out to conquer a menacing river, she discovers that nature isn’t the only thing out for blood.” In other words, one woman finds herself stalked by an Apex predator, only this time of the human variety. And it sounds like it’ll be very intense.
Deadline reports that the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes have created a need for original stories for studios’ development slates, which has led to a boost in spec and packaging markets. Before the strikes, “the market was not as robust...
Apex was penned by “The Purge” writer Jeremy Robbins and selected as part of 2021’s The Black List, an annual buzzy compendium of the year’s most-liked unproduced Hollywood screenplays.
The spec script logline for Apex: “When an adrenaline junkie sets out to conquer a menacing river, she discovers that nature isn’t the only thing out for blood.” In other words, one woman finds herself stalked by an Apex predator, only this time of the human variety. And it sounds like it’ll be very intense.
Deadline reports that the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes have created a need for original stories for studios’ development slates, which has led to a boost in spec and packaging markets. Before the strikes, “the market was not as robust...
- 2/14/2024
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Exclusive: While high-profile packages have been flourishing following the ends of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the spec market also looks to have some pop to it as sources tell Deadline that Netflix has landed the female-driven genre thriller Apex from scribe Jeremy Robbins. Ian Bryce and Chernin Entertainment will produce. Netflix declined comment.
The script is described as Free Solo meets Silence of the Lambs and follows a rock climber who finds herself being hunted in the wild.
The sale comes at an interesting time in a post-strike landscape where studios see a need for new original stories to fill their development slates, and the spec and packaging markets have reaped the rewards. Prior to the WGA strike in May, the market was not as robust as reps cautioned their clients about how hard it is to sell a script with talent attached, let alone a spec on its own.
The script is described as Free Solo meets Silence of the Lambs and follows a rock climber who finds herself being hunted in the wild.
The sale comes at an interesting time in a post-strike landscape where studios see a need for new original stories to fill their development slates, and the spec and packaging markets have reaped the rewards. Prior to the WGA strike in May, the market was not as robust as reps cautioned their clients about how hard it is to sell a script with talent attached, let alone a spec on its own.
- 2/14/2024
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Logistically, Rob Reiner's filmed adaptation of Stephen King's "Misery" sounds like a breeze of a production. Set mostly in one location with two actors, it could've easily been shot as a glorified stage play — and King's narrative is viciously compelling enough that it would've worked just fine via proscenium framing.
But Reiner, riding one of cinema's most impressive hit streaks, wanted to plunge audiences into Victorian romance author Paul Sheldon's life-or-death struggle with Annie Wilkes, his number one fan. So he hired cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld, renowned for his visually dynamic collaborations with Joel and Ethan Coen, to drive home the literally immobilizing terror of a bed-ridden writer tortured into bringing a character he detests back to life.
Paul is in bad shape when Annie rescues him from a blizzard-caused car crash, and, initially, it seems like the worst he'll endure is flattery from a fan he secretly despises.
But Reiner, riding one of cinema's most impressive hit streaks, wanted to plunge audiences into Victorian romance author Paul Sheldon's life-or-death struggle with Annie Wilkes, his number one fan. So he hired cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld, renowned for his visually dynamic collaborations with Joel and Ethan Coen, to drive home the literally immobilizing terror of a bed-ridden writer tortured into bringing a character he detests back to life.
Paul is in bad shape when Annie rescues him from a blizzard-caused car crash, and, initially, it seems like the worst he'll endure is flattery from a fan he secretly despises.
- 1/27/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
In the years since this column’s debut, ’90s horror movies have actually found a sizable and heartwarming amount of rediscovery and reappreciation. Physical media has resurrected and restored numerous films to the point where even derided efforts like my beloved I Still Know What You Did Last Summer can get a celebratory 4K upgrade. With this new outlook, horror culture is starting to better redefine the historical landscape of the decade. The conversation is no longer enveloped by the shadow of Ghostface.
But, Misery offers a unique issue when it comes to embracing a movie. An issue made more complex and wonderful by Misery being one of the greatest popular stories to occur in our lifetimes.
A bold claim? Of course, but the evidence is on my side. The novel by Stephen King is often cited among his top standalone achievements in fiction. I had never read the novel...
But, Misery offers a unique issue when it comes to embracing a movie. An issue made more complex and wonderful by Misery being one of the greatest popular stories to occur in our lifetimes.
A bold claim? Of course, but the evidence is on my side. The novel by Stephen King is often cited among his top standalone achievements in fiction. I had never read the novel...
- 1/23/2024
- by Drew Dietsch
- bloody-disgusting.com
If you’re looking for the best movies to watch on Netflix, you’ve come to the right place. Below, we’ve put together an expertly curated selection of some of the most exciting, compelling, emotional and funny movies currently streaming right now.
While it can be daunting thumbing through the streamer’s catalog to find out what to watch, we’ve taken the guesswork and mindless scrolling out of it. This post will be frequently updated with new recommendations, keeping you up to date with all the Netflix movies you should be prioritizing in your queue.
So peruse our list of the best movies on Netflix right now below, and happy watching!
Gladiator Russell Crowe in “Gladiator” (Universal Pictures)
Ridley Scott’s 2000 epic “Gladiator” took the Oscars by storm, winning Best Picture and Best Actor among others, and it still holds up as a tremendously exciting historical drama. Set in 180 Ad,...
While it can be daunting thumbing through the streamer’s catalog to find out what to watch, we’ve taken the guesswork and mindless scrolling out of it. This post will be frequently updated with new recommendations, keeping you up to date with all the Netflix movies you should be prioritizing in your queue.
So peruse our list of the best movies on Netflix right now below, and happy watching!
Gladiator Russell Crowe in “Gladiator” (Universal Pictures)
Ridley Scott’s 2000 epic “Gladiator” took the Oscars by storm, winning Best Picture and Best Actor among others, and it still holds up as a tremendously exciting historical drama. Set in 180 Ad,...
- 12/22/2023
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
Steven Weisberg, who edited films for directors like Alfonso Cuarón, Barry Sonnenfeld, Rodrigo García and others, has died at the age of 68.
Weisberg died on Oct. 16 at the Motion Picture and Television County House and Hospital. His ex-wife, Susan Ellicott, announced his death to The Hollywood Reporter. He was living at the Woodland Hills facility, receiving treatment for the last five years for early onset Alzheimer’s. He received that diagnosis at the age of 55.
Born in New York City on Jan. 16, 1955, Steven Charles Weisberg attended Syracuse University and Binghamton University. He began working as an editor in the 1980s, receiving his first credit as an associate editor on “Gaby: A True Story” in 1987.
He would work with Cuarón on “A Little Princess” in 1995, “Great Expectations” in 1998 and “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” in 2004. Along with those films, he cut Barry Sonnenfeld’s Fox pilot for a live-action...
Weisberg died on Oct. 16 at the Motion Picture and Television County House and Hospital. His ex-wife, Susan Ellicott, announced his death to The Hollywood Reporter. He was living at the Woodland Hills facility, receiving treatment for the last five years for early onset Alzheimer’s. He received that diagnosis at the age of 55.
Born in New York City on Jan. 16, 1955, Steven Charles Weisberg attended Syracuse University and Binghamton University. He began working as an editor in the 1980s, receiving his first credit as an associate editor on “Gaby: A True Story” in 1987.
He would work with Cuarón on “A Little Princess” in 1995, “Great Expectations” in 1998 and “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” in 2004. Along with those films, he cut Barry Sonnenfeld’s Fox pilot for a live-action...
- 10/24/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Steven Weisberg, a film editor who cut features for directors Alfonso Cuarón, Barry Sonnenfeld, Rodrigo García and others, has died. He was 68.
Weisberg died Oct. 16 at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills after five years of care for early onset Alzheimer’s, his ex-wife, Susan Ellicott, announced. He was diagnosed when he was 55, she said.
Weisberg collaborated with Cuarón on A Little Princess (1995), Great Expectations (1998) and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004); with Sonnenfeld on the 2001 Fox pilot for The Tick, Big Trouble (2002) and Men in Black II (2002); and with García on Mother and Child (2009) and Albert Nobbs (2011).
Born in New York City on Jan. 16, 1955, Steven Charles Weisberg attended the State University of New York at Binghamton and Syracuse University and received an associate editor credit on Gaby: A True Story (1987).
His résumé also included The Cable Guy (1996), Permanent Midnight (1998), Nurse Betty (2000), I Am David...
Weisberg died Oct. 16 at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills after five years of care for early onset Alzheimer’s, his ex-wife, Susan Ellicott, announced. He was diagnosed when he was 55, she said.
Weisberg collaborated with Cuarón on A Little Princess (1995), Great Expectations (1998) and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004); with Sonnenfeld on the 2001 Fox pilot for The Tick, Big Trouble (2002) and Men in Black II (2002); and with García on Mother and Child (2009) and Albert Nobbs (2011).
Born in New York City on Jan. 16, 1955, Steven Charles Weisberg attended the State University of New York at Binghamton and Syracuse University and received an associate editor credit on Gaby: A True Story (1987).
His résumé also included The Cable Guy (1996), Permanent Midnight (1998), Nurse Betty (2000), I Am David...
- 10/24/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Steven Weisberg, a film editor whose career through the ’90s onward led him to collaborations with directors like Alfonso Cuarón, Barry Sonnenfeld and Barry Levinson, died Oct. 16 at the Motion Picture & Television Fund hospital in Woodland Hills, Calif. after several years of care for early onset Alzheimer’s. He was 68.
Weisberg’s death was confirmed by his ex-wife, Susan Ellicott.
Two of Cuarón’s early films, “Great Expectations” and “A Little Princess,” were edited by Weisberg. The two reunited for a foray into franchise filmmaking, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.”
Weisberg also had a knack for editing studio comedies, with his first major feature credit being Ben Stiller’s directorial debut, the 1996 thriller “The Cable Guy.” Other notable credits include a string of Barry Sonnenfeld projects — the short-lived 2001 live-action series “The Tick” and his features “Big Trouble” and “Men in Black II” — as well as “Permanent Midnight,...
Weisberg’s death was confirmed by his ex-wife, Susan Ellicott.
Two of Cuarón’s early films, “Great Expectations” and “A Little Princess,” were edited by Weisberg. The two reunited for a foray into franchise filmmaking, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.”
Weisberg also had a knack for editing studio comedies, with his first major feature credit being Ben Stiller’s directorial debut, the 1996 thriller “The Cable Guy.” Other notable credits include a string of Barry Sonnenfeld projects — the short-lived 2001 live-action series “The Tick” and his features “Big Trouble” and “Men in Black II” — as well as “Permanent Midnight,...
- 10/24/2023
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
Barry Sonnenfeld's 1997 film "Men in Black" was the highest-grossing film (domestically) of 1997. Derived from then-hip urban legends about alien abductions and the suit-clad mystery men called in to cover up the evidence, "Men in Black" hit a sweet spot with audiences, blending sci-fi mayhem, quirky special effects, and the sheer overwhelming star power of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones to create one of the decade's defining blockbusters. Although the more significant cinematic advances of the decade were being made within a growing, robust indie scene, over on the studio side of the fence, audiences were in the mood for high-profile sci-fi. 1996 saw the ultra-success of "Independence Day," and films like "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" and "Armageddon" made almost half a billion between them.
Geeks were also at the beginning of an ascendency, as proven by the 1997 release of the "Star Wars" Special Editions. Filmmaker George Lucas, armed...
Geeks were also at the beginning of an ascendency, as proven by the 1997 release of the "Star Wars" Special Editions. Filmmaker George Lucas, armed...
- 10/8/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
John Joseph Travolta, a household name in Hollywood, shot to fame as an American actor in the vibrant 1970s. Born on February 18, 1954, his career in showbiz has been awe-inspiring. Starting on TV, he won many fans with his magnetic role in “Welcome Back, Kotter” from 1975 to 1979.
Related: 10 Highest-Grossing Movies of All Time, Ranked by US Box Office
But it was in movies that Travolta started to shine. In this blog post, we’ll journey through the highlights of his stellar career, looking at how he rose to stardom and his memorable roles.
10 ‘Bolt’ (2008)
IMDb: 6.8/10 222K | Popularity: 3073 | Metascore: 67
Duration: 1h 36m | Genres: Animation, Adventure, Comedy | Director: Chris Williams, Byron Howard
Cast: John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman
Debuted in 2008, ‘Bolt’ shines as a touching computer-animated comedy adventure from Walt Disney Animation Studios. The film highlights a standout cast, with John Travolta voicing the lead character Bolt and contributions from Miley Cyrus,...
Related: 10 Highest-Grossing Movies of All Time, Ranked by US Box Office
But it was in movies that Travolta started to shine. In this blog post, we’ll journey through the highlights of his stellar career, looking at how he rose to stardom and his memorable roles.
10 ‘Bolt’ (2008)
IMDb: 6.8/10 222K | Popularity: 3073 | Metascore: 67
Duration: 1h 36m | Genres: Animation, Adventure, Comedy | Director: Chris Williams, Byron Howard
Cast: John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman
Debuted in 2008, ‘Bolt’ shines as a touching computer-animated comedy adventure from Walt Disney Animation Studios. The film highlights a standout cast, with John Travolta voicing the lead character Bolt and contributions from Miley Cyrus,...
- 9/1/2023
- by Israr Ahmed
- buddytv.com
Robert Schmidt, the film editor whose decades-long collaboration with director Robert Zemeckis on classics such as Forrest Gump, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Cast Away, Contact and all three Back to the Future films won him two Oscars, has died, Deadline has confirmed. He was 86.
Schmidt’s two Best Film Editing Oscars came for Roger Rabbit (1988) and Forrest Gump (1994). His other collaborations with Zemeckis included Death Becomes Her (1992) and What Lies Beneath (2000).
“Arthur Schmidt was incredibly talented and a joy to work with,” Zemeckis said in a statement to Deadline. “He was a true gentleman and I am honored to have known him and to have created what we did together.”
Schmidt had a distinguished career beyond that artistic partnership.
He edited films directed by Michael Mann, Taylor Hackford, Michael Apted, Mike Nichols, Barry Sonnenfeld and many others.
In addition to his Oscars, Schmidt won Ace Eddies for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl...
Schmidt’s two Best Film Editing Oscars came for Roger Rabbit (1988) and Forrest Gump (1994). His other collaborations with Zemeckis included Death Becomes Her (1992) and What Lies Beneath (2000).
“Arthur Schmidt was incredibly talented and a joy to work with,” Zemeckis said in a statement to Deadline. “He was a true gentleman and I am honored to have known him and to have created what we did together.”
Schmidt had a distinguished career beyond that artistic partnership.
He edited films directed by Michael Mann, Taylor Hackford, Michael Apted, Mike Nichols, Barry Sonnenfeld and many others.
In addition to his Oscars, Schmidt won Ace Eddies for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl...
- 8/7/2023
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
Will Smith's journey towards global domination is well-established at this point. The man who parlayed novelty rap hits such as "Parents Just Don't Understand" into one of the most successful acting careers in Hollywood history is, barring some unfortunate recent developments, a gargantuan of the entertainment industry. At least, that's how Kevin Hart feels. The comedian recently added Smith to his undeniably impressive roster of guests for season 1 of his talk show "Hart to Heart," which has already played host to such legends as the famously reclusive Dr. Dre.
Smith and Hart's conversation was noteworthy for the way in which Hart clearly idolized his guest's career trajectory, and by his own admission tried to emulate it in his own life. As a result, the "Ride Along" star managed to elicit some fairly deep insights from his guest, including that Smith had basically lost a sense of who he...
Smith and Hart's conversation was noteworthy for the way in which Hart clearly idolized his guest's career trajectory, and by his own admission tried to emulate it in his own life. As a result, the "Ride Along" star managed to elicit some fairly deep insights from his guest, including that Smith had basically lost a sense of who he...
- 8/5/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
You know the difference between Will Smith and any other young star of the mid-90s? He makes alien policing look good. As new recruit Agent J, Smith brought perfect energy to bounce off of crusty veteran Agent K, played by Tommy Lee Jones. With those two in the lead, Men in Black became an instant classic, brimming with buddy chemistry as the titular agents hunt down a rogue bug alien played by a transcendent Vincent D’Onofrio.
And yet, it took one of the most powerful men in Hollywood to get Will Smith on board. The rapper-turned-actor was a known quality during the long pre-production of Men in Black, having transitioned from sitcom star of The Fresh Prince of Bel–Air to blockbuster star with the back-to-back hits of Bad Boys and Independence Day. So when he was pitched a role in a Barry Sonnenfeld-directed adaptation of a little-known comic book,...
And yet, it took one of the most powerful men in Hollywood to get Will Smith on board. The rapper-turned-actor was a known quality during the long pre-production of Men in Black, having transitioned from sitcom star of The Fresh Prince of Bel–Air to blockbuster star with the back-to-back hits of Bad Boys and Independence Day. So when he was pitched a role in a Barry Sonnenfeld-directed adaptation of a little-known comic book,...
- 8/3/2023
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
Wednesday showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar remember vividly the unusual circumstances of their first conversation with Tim Burton. The filmmaker, who they hoped they could convince to join their show, was piping in from a garden full of “life-size” dinosaur models at his U.K. home. “He was wandering around his dinosaur garden talking to us on FaceTime about his love of Wednesday Addams, and the idea that the script spoke to him in terms of being the ultimate outsider,” remembers Millar of this virtual meeting in 2020 with Burton. Just a week before, the duo were doubtful Burton would even meet with them. They had already written the entire season with the help of a pandemic-era virtual writers room, but wanted Burton’s expertise and special touches. “We were told by everyone, ‘Tim’s never done television. We don’t even know if he’ll read it,’ ” recalls Gough.
- 6/7/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sergio Calderón, best known for his work on “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”, “Men In Black” and “The Ruins” and more has died. He was 77.
A rep for Calderón confirmed the sad news Wednesday, telling Et, that the actor was surrounded by family at the time.
“We can confirm that Sergio passed away this morning,” his rep shared. “He was in the hospital previously with a bout of pneumonia, not sure that was the cause. He was surrounded by family at the time.”
Calderón played Pirate lord, Captain Eduardo Villanueva of the Adriatic Sea, in 2007’s “At World’s End”, the third instalment of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise. He also lent his voice to the “At World’s End” video game, where he again starred as the Pirate lord.
The late actor shared several shots from his time on set via social media, including photos of...
A rep for Calderón confirmed the sad news Wednesday, telling Et, that the actor was surrounded by family at the time.
“We can confirm that Sergio passed away this morning,” his rep shared. “He was in the hospital previously with a bout of pneumonia, not sure that was the cause. He was surrounded by family at the time.”
Calderón played Pirate lord, Captain Eduardo Villanueva of the Adriatic Sea, in 2007’s “At World’s End”, the third instalment of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise. He also lent his voice to the “At World’s End” video game, where he again starred as the Pirate lord.
The late actor shared several shots from his time on set via social media, including photos of...
- 6/1/2023
- by Becca Longmire
- ET Canada
Sergio Calderón, the actor recognizable from Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Men In Black and The Ruins and many other projects over course of his six-decade career in films and television, died this morning surrounded by family, his spokesperson confirmed to Deadline. He was 77.
In At World’s End, Calderón played one of the film’s Pirate Lords, Captain Eduardo Villanueva of the Adriatic Sea. The actor posted photos to social media of himself and franchise star Johnny Depp as well as rock star Keith Richards, who played the Pirate Lord of Madagascar and Depp’s father in the film.
If someone tries to take your gun, it better be someone like #KeithRichards a true #Legend! pic.twitter.com/Yx4YbB3qTk
— Sergio Calderon (@mrsergecalderon) August 22, 2017
In Mib, Calderón played José, the character whose head is displayed on the end of a sword to Tommy Lee Jones’ K, another...
In At World’s End, Calderón played one of the film’s Pirate Lords, Captain Eduardo Villanueva of the Adriatic Sea. The actor posted photos to social media of himself and franchise star Johnny Depp as well as rock star Keith Richards, who played the Pirate Lord of Madagascar and Depp’s father in the film.
If someone tries to take your gun, it better be someone like #KeithRichards a true #Legend! pic.twitter.com/Yx4YbB3qTk
— Sergio Calderon (@mrsergecalderon) August 22, 2017
In Mib, Calderón played José, the character whose head is displayed on the end of a sword to Tommy Lee Jones’ K, another...
- 6/1/2023
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
Sergio Calderón, the amiable Mexican character actor who made his mark in such notable films as The In-Laws, Men in Black and Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World’s End, has died. He was 77.
Calderón died Wednesday in a Los Angeles hospital of natural causes, a family spokesman announced.
Calderón portrayed a Mexican revolutionary at the turn of the 20th century in Duck, You Sucker! (1971), written and directed by Sergio Leone, and was a murderous Mexican chief of police opposite Albert Finney in John Huston’s Under the Volcano (1984).
He guest-starred as the colorful bandit Malavida Valdése on the premiere episode of NBC’s The A-Team in 1983, then returned as the river pirate El Cajón (The Coffin) at the start of the show’s third season a year later.
Calderón played Alfonso, one of the Hondurans, in the Arthur Hiller comedy The In-Laws (1979) — it was the role that got...
Calderón died Wednesday in a Los Angeles hospital of natural causes, a family spokesman announced.
Calderón portrayed a Mexican revolutionary at the turn of the 20th century in Duck, You Sucker! (1971), written and directed by Sergio Leone, and was a murderous Mexican chief of police opposite Albert Finney in John Huston’s Under the Volcano (1984).
He guest-starred as the colorful bandit Malavida Valdése on the premiere episode of NBC’s The A-Team in 1983, then returned as the river pirate El Cajón (The Coffin) at the start of the show’s third season a year later.
Calderón played Alfonso, one of the Hondurans, in the Arthur Hiller comedy The In-Laws (1979) — it was the role that got...
- 5/31/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Given how far reality television has come in the last 25 years, it’s hard not to think about how director Peter Weir’s 1998 film The Truman Show prophesized the TV format’s commercial prosperity. Nowadays, cameras are ubiquitous and with the prevalence of social media platforms and everyone’s persistently online existence, ordinary citizens can feel like the star of their own show broadcast publicly 24/7.
The Truman Show deserves at least some credit, some might even say blame, for ushering in the addictive spectacle of watching people’s lives unfold in real-time, day after day, as a popular form of 21st century entertainment. The big difference, of course, is that most reality show and social media stars are willing participants in their recorded stories.
But in the days before “Survivor” and “Big Brother” and the entire reality genre were omnipresent, how did The Truman Show itself become a reality?
Development...
The Truman Show deserves at least some credit, some might even say blame, for ushering in the addictive spectacle of watching people’s lives unfold in real-time, day after day, as a popular form of 21st century entertainment. The big difference, of course, is that most reality show and social media stars are willing participants in their recorded stories.
But in the days before “Survivor” and “Big Brother” and the entire reality genre were omnipresent, how did The Truman Show itself become a reality?
Development...
- 5/24/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
These days, comic book films are seen as massive franchises with bankable superstar casts, giant CGI battle sequences, and of course, recognizable comic book IP characters. And for the most part, it is safe to say that comic book media is becoming so common that even smaller, unknown characters are making their way into the mainstream. But before seeing Batman and Superman share the silver screen, and before seeing every generation of spider-man films cross over for an epic fan-favorite event, movies based on comics were slightly more taboo in Hollywood. And for most, it’s a shock to learn that before Agents J and K were busting aliens on the big screen, the Men in Black were protecting earth from alien threats on the pages of Marvel Comics.
Now, the Mib films are significantly more popular in the zeitgeist than the comics, and I personally love this franchise for the most part.
Now, the Mib films are significantly more popular in the zeitgeist than the comics, and I personally love this franchise for the most part.
- 5/23/2023
- by Kier Gomes
- JoBlo.com
YouTube is adding options for advertisers on its growing Shorts platform.
At its annual NewFronts presentation for media buyers Monday, the digital video giant said it is opening up real estate for ads within video reach campaigns, which benefit from AI tools. Since last fall, ads have been available via video action and app campaigns, which are different categories.
Kristen O’Hara, VP, Agency and Brand Solutions for Google, took the stage at YouTube’s New York headquarters along the Hudson River to deliver the news. Later, in an interview with Deadline, she said the Shorts effort has thus far been a “measured approach,” and said viewers wouldn’t notice a change in terms of volume or frequency of ads.
“When people are scrolling through their Shorts feed, they really are in discovery mode,” she said. “So in addition to being able to discover new creators and new artists, they’re...
At its annual NewFronts presentation for media buyers Monday, the digital video giant said it is opening up real estate for ads within video reach campaigns, which benefit from AI tools. Since last fall, ads have been available via video action and app campaigns, which are different categories.
Kristen O’Hara, VP, Agency and Brand Solutions for Google, took the stage at YouTube’s New York headquarters along the Hudson River to deliver the news. Later, in an interview with Deadline, she said the Shorts effort has thus far been a “measured approach,” and said viewers wouldn’t notice a change in terms of volume or frequency of ads.
“When people are scrolling through their Shorts feed, they really are in discovery mode,” she said. “So in addition to being able to discover new creators and new artists, they’re...
- 5/1/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Teddy Sears (American Horror Stories) and Tamberla Perry (All-American: Homecoming) have landed roles in the NBC medical drama pilot Wolf starring Zachary Quinto.
From writer/executive producer Michael Grassi, Wolf is inspired by the books The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and An Anthropologist on Mars by Oliver Sacks. It follows a revolutionary, larger-than-life neurologist, Dr. Oliver Wolf (Quinto), and his team of interns as they explore the last great frontier, the human mind, while also grappling with their own relationships and mental health.
Sears will play Dr. Josh Nichols, a neurosurgeon who left a private practice in San Francisco to work at Bronx General. Josh is clinical, exacting and relies on technology to treat his patients — the opposite of Wolf. The two will go toe-to-toe and develop a competitive relationship full of tension.
Perry will play Dr. Carol Pierce, the head of psychology at Bronx...
From writer/executive producer Michael Grassi, Wolf is inspired by the books The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and An Anthropologist on Mars by Oliver Sacks. It follows a revolutionary, larger-than-life neurologist, Dr. Oliver Wolf (Quinto), and his team of interns as they explore the last great frontier, the human mind, while also grappling with their own relationships and mental health.
Sears will play Dr. Josh Nichols, a neurosurgeon who left a private practice in San Francisco to work at Bronx General. Josh is clinical, exacting and relies on technology to treat his patients — the opposite of Wolf. The two will go toe-to-toe and develop a competitive relationship full of tension.
Perry will play Dr. Carol Pierce, the head of psychology at Bronx...
- 4/10/2023
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
2012 saw Will Smith returning to the Men in Black franchise with Josh Brolin as a new recruit for the series. While on set, Brolin couldn’t help be surprised with the behind-the-scenes antics of his co-star.
Josh Brolin was cast as Agent K in ‘Men in Black 3’ thanks to a good Tommy Lee Jones impression Josh Brolin and Will Smith | Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
Brolin ended up playing a younger version of Tommy Lee Jones’ character in the third Men in Black movie. But his path towards getting the role wasn’t a conventional one. The actor once confided that he hung out with Men in Black director Barry Sonnenfeld and the Coen brothers at a bar one night. During their time together, Brolin would do a Tommy Lee Jones impression.
Sonnenfeld would remember the impression years later when it came time to cast a younger agent K.
“Barry was like,...
Josh Brolin was cast as Agent K in ‘Men in Black 3’ thanks to a good Tommy Lee Jones impression Josh Brolin and Will Smith | Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
Brolin ended up playing a younger version of Tommy Lee Jones’ character in the third Men in Black movie. But his path towards getting the role wasn’t a conventional one. The actor once confided that he hung out with Men in Black director Barry Sonnenfeld and the Coen brothers at a bar one night. During their time together, Brolin would do a Tommy Lee Jones impression.
Sonnenfeld would remember the impression years later when it came time to cast a younger agent K.
“Barry was like,...
- 3/21/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When something is clearly working, sometimes it’s best to stick with the formula.
Twenty-year-old sensation Jenna Ortega is said to be securing a deal to star in director Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice 2.” The film is being written by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, the showrunners of the hit Netflix series “Wednesday”—on which Burton is also an executive producer and is one of the key directors. “Wednesday,” a spin-off/sequel to “The Addams Family,” can also be said to share so much Burton DNA that I bet if you poll most people on the street and ask who directed the 1991 version in which Christina Ricci played Wednesday Addams, they’d probably cite him over the actual answer, Barry Sonnenfeld (no diss to Barry!)
Should the deal continue as it is expected to, Ortega will play the daughter to Winona Ryder’s ur-goth girl character Lydia Deetz. It’s...
Twenty-year-old sensation Jenna Ortega is said to be securing a deal to star in director Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice 2.” The film is being written by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, the showrunners of the hit Netflix series “Wednesday”—on which Burton is also an executive producer and is one of the key directors. “Wednesday,” a spin-off/sequel to “The Addams Family,” can also be said to share so much Burton DNA that I bet if you poll most people on the street and ask who directed the 1991 version in which Christina Ricci played Wednesday Addams, they’d probably cite him over the actual answer, Barry Sonnenfeld (no diss to Barry!)
Should the deal continue as it is expected to, Ortega will play the daughter to Winona Ryder’s ur-goth girl character Lydia Deetz. It’s...
- 3/10/2023
- by Jordan Hoffman
- Gold Derby
Musical TV shows are a tricky thing, but Apple TV+ made magic happen with the first season of "Schmigadoon!," directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and starring Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key as a couple who find themselves stuck in the world of a Golden Age-styled musical. Inspired by the 1954 MGM movie "Brigadoon," the duo are trapped in this mystical musical town that follows the rules of classic Hollywood musicals — think "Singin' in the Rain" and "Oklahoma!" — and it nearly destroys their relationship. They managed to work things out and escape after six episodes, but it looks like the real world just doesn't hold the same appeal as one where you can sing your daily gripes instead of just mutter them. The trailer for season 2 of the Apple TV+ series is here, and it appears Melissa (Strong) and Josh (Key) are headed back into the woods to look for the fantastical forest town again.
- 3/7/2023
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
Exclusive: My Name is Earl star Jason Lee has signed with Buchwald for representation in all areas.
Lee recently joined the ensemble cast of the upcoming Netflix/Shondaland murder-mystery series The Residence, based on the Kate Anderson Brower book of the same name, and will star opposite Uzo Aduba, Andre Braugher, and Ken Marino.
The multihyphenate is widely recognized for playing the lead role in the Emmy-winning comedy series My Name is Earl, which aired on NBC for four seasons and earned him two Golden Globe and SAG Award nominations. He also starred in the TNT series Memphis Beat, produced by George Clooney and Grant Heslov, which ran for two seasons. His other television credits include Greg Garcia’s Raising Hope and the NBC/Broadway Video series Up All Night, opposite Christina Applegate and Maya Rudolph.
On the film side, Lee starred in Vanilla Sky and the Oscar-winning Almost Famous for director Cameron Crowe.
Lee recently joined the ensemble cast of the upcoming Netflix/Shondaland murder-mystery series The Residence, based on the Kate Anderson Brower book of the same name, and will star opposite Uzo Aduba, Andre Braugher, and Ken Marino.
The multihyphenate is widely recognized for playing the lead role in the Emmy-winning comedy series My Name is Earl, which aired on NBC for four seasons and earned him two Golden Globe and SAG Award nominations. He also starred in the TNT series Memphis Beat, produced by George Clooney and Grant Heslov, which ran for two seasons. His other television credits include Greg Garcia’s Raising Hope and the NBC/Broadway Video series Up All Night, opposite Christina Applegate and Maya Rudolph.
On the film side, Lee starred in Vanilla Sky and the Oscar-winning Almost Famous for director Cameron Crowe.
- 2/28/2023
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Los Angeles, Feb 19 (Ians) Oliver Wood, an English cinematographer whose credits include ‘Die Hard 2’, ‘Face/Off’, aThe Other Guys’ and the original ‘Bourne’ trilogy, has passed away at his home in Hollywood following a battle with cancer. He was 80.
With a career spanning across seven decades, Wood worked across a wide variety of projects, collaborating with directors like John Woo, Adam McKay, Antoine Fuqua, Barry Sonnenfeld and Larry Cohen, reports ‘Variety’.
He was nominated for a BAFTA award for best cinematography for his work on 2007’s aThe Bourne Ultimatum’, directed by Paul Greengrass.
Born in London, Wood moved to New York City when he was 19. His first major credit came on Leonard Kastle’s 1970 crime film aThe Honeymoon Killers’ making a strong impression for his technique of using available light to give the anachronistic dark comedy the look of a newsreel.
As per ‘Variety’, Wood shot numerous B-movies and independent...
With a career spanning across seven decades, Wood worked across a wide variety of projects, collaborating with directors like John Woo, Adam McKay, Antoine Fuqua, Barry Sonnenfeld and Larry Cohen, reports ‘Variety’.
He was nominated for a BAFTA award for best cinematography for his work on 2007’s aThe Bourne Ultimatum’, directed by Paul Greengrass.
Born in London, Wood moved to New York City when he was 19. His first major credit came on Leonard Kastle’s 1970 crime film aThe Honeymoon Killers’ making a strong impression for his technique of using available light to give the anachronistic dark comedy the look of a newsreel.
As per ‘Variety’, Wood shot numerous B-movies and independent...
- 2/19/2023
- by News Bureau
- GlamSham
Oliver Wood, an English cinematographer whose credits include “Die Hard 2,” “Face/Off,” “The Other Guys” and the original “Bourne” trilogy, died Monday, Feb. 13, at his home in Hollywood following a battle with cancer. He was 80.
With a career spanning across seven decades, Wood worked across a wide variety of projects, collaborating with directors like John Woo, Adam McKay, Antoine Fuqua, Barry Sonnenfeld and Larry Cohen. He was nominated for a BAFTA award for best cinematography for his work on 2007’s “The Bourne Ultimatum,” directed by Paul Greengrass.
Born in London, Wood moved to New York City when he was 19. His first major credit came on Leonard Kastle’s 1970 crime film “The Honeymoon Killers,” making a strong impression for his technique of using available light to give the anachronistic dark comedy the look of a newsreel.
Wood shot numerous B-movies and independent films throughout the late 1970s and ’80s, frequently collaborating...
With a career spanning across seven decades, Wood worked across a wide variety of projects, collaborating with directors like John Woo, Adam McKay, Antoine Fuqua, Barry Sonnenfeld and Larry Cohen. He was nominated for a BAFTA award for best cinematography for his work on 2007’s “The Bourne Ultimatum,” directed by Paul Greengrass.
Born in London, Wood moved to New York City when he was 19. His first major credit came on Leonard Kastle’s 1970 crime film “The Honeymoon Killers,” making a strong impression for his technique of using available light to give the anachronistic dark comedy the look of a newsreel.
Wood shot numerous B-movies and independent films throughout the late 1970s and ’80s, frequently collaborating...
- 2/18/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay and J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
"Pulp Fiction" hit theaters on October 14, 1994 as a bona-fide, paradigm-shifting indie blockbuster. It was the film geek's "Easy Rider," a movie no one knew they needed until it got plunged deep into their veins. It's hard to believe Quentin Tarantino didn't know what he had prior to premiering the film at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival, but, per a 2014 interview with his buddy Robert Rodriguez, his first screening for friends and esteemed colleagues wasn't entirely reassuring.
Let's take a step back and survey the cinematic landscape in 1994. Tarantino was the equivalent of Nirvana pre-"Nevermind." He was a hit with film geeks who'd mainlined "Reservoir Dogs" and connected with Tony Scott's high-style take on "True Romance," but there was something potentially gimmicky about his writing. His screenplays were laden with deep-tissue pop-culture references and wildly violent set pieces. Oliver Stone's take on "Natural Born Killers," released two months prior...
Let's take a step back and survey the cinematic landscape in 1994. Tarantino was the equivalent of Nirvana pre-"Nevermind." He was a hit with film geeks who'd mainlined "Reservoir Dogs" and connected with Tony Scott's high-style take on "True Romance," but there was something potentially gimmicky about his writing. His screenplays were laden with deep-tissue pop-culture references and wildly violent set pieces. Oliver Stone's take on "Natural Born Killers," released two months prior...
- 2/17/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Paul Rudd returns as Ant-Man on Feb. 17 with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, the second sequel for Disney’s diminutive Marvel character, but he’s not the first actor to memorably portray an insect superhero.
In November 2001, Fox launched the live-action series The Tick, which starred Patrick Warburton as the well-meaning but clueless crime fighter who wore a blue suit with wiggly antennae. Ben Edlund created the satirical comic book series in 1988 while in his teens, and it spawned a 1994 Fox animated series that lasted three seasons. Barry Sonnenfeld (Men in Black), whose shingle landed the character rights, was a fan of the cartoon and saw Warburton as the perfect fit for Edlund’s pilot.
“Ben wrote a fantastic script, and then the joy was casting it,” Sonnenfeld tells The Hollywood Reporter. “I’ve always loved Patrick Warburton’s acting. He’s so flat and handsome and has that — I...
In November 2001, Fox launched the live-action series The Tick, which starred Patrick Warburton as the well-meaning but clueless crime fighter who wore a blue suit with wiggly antennae. Ben Edlund created the satirical comic book series in 1988 while in his teens, and it spawned a 1994 Fox animated series that lasted three seasons. Barry Sonnenfeld (Men in Black), whose shingle landed the character rights, was a fan of the cartoon and saw Warburton as the perfect fit for Edlund’s pilot.
“Ben wrote a fantastic script, and then the joy was casting it,” Sonnenfeld tells The Hollywood Reporter. “I’ve always loved Patrick Warburton’s acting. He’s so flat and handsome and has that — I...
- 2/16/2023
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The novel White Noise by Don DeLillo is a landmark work of literary fiction. It won the U.S. National Book Award for Fiction when it was released in 1985, and DeLillo’s poetic satire of American society remains as vital now as it was when the book was first released.
Hollywood loves to mine the world of literature for new IP, but early attempts to turn White Noise into a movie were unsuccessful. Barry Sonnenfeld was set to direct an adaptation in 2004, and Michael Almereyda was announced as the writer and director of a different version in 2016.
Adam Driver as Jack, Greta Gerwig as Babette, and Don Cheadle as Murray | Wilson Webb/Netflix
These false starts contributed to the idea that White Noise was an “unfilmable” book, but the third time’s a charm. Noah Baumbach created a film version of the novel for Netflix, bringing together a talented cast...
Hollywood loves to mine the world of literature for new IP, but early attempts to turn White Noise into a movie were unsuccessful. Barry Sonnenfeld was set to direct an adaptation in 2004, and Michael Almereyda was announced as the writer and director of a different version in 2016.
Adam Driver as Jack, Greta Gerwig as Babette, and Don Cheadle as Murray | Wilson Webb/Netflix
These false starts contributed to the idea that White Noise was an “unfilmable” book, but the third time’s a charm. Noah Baumbach created a film version of the novel for Netflix, bringing together a talented cast...
- 1/26/2023
- by Produced by Digital Editors
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Owen Roizman, the Oscar-nominated cinematographer who helped shape the aesthetic of 1970s American cinema through his collaborations with William Friedkin and Sidney Lumet, has died at the age of 86. The news was announced by the American Society of Cinematographers on its official social media channels.
Born in Brooklyn in 1936, Roizman was drawn to cameras from a young age. His father was a camera operator for news broadcasts, and Roizman began working in a camera rental store as a teenager before making his feature film debut as a cinematographer on Bill Gunn’s “Stop!” in 1970.
His 1970s filmography included some of the most influential works in multiple genres. William Friedkin’s “The French Connection,” Roizman’s second feature film behind the camera, has long been heralded as one of the greatest car chase movies ever made. The way that Roizman and Friedkin were able to combine spectacle and realism during the...
Born in Brooklyn in 1936, Roizman was drawn to cameras from a young age. His father was a camera operator for news broadcasts, and Roizman began working in a camera rental store as a teenager before making his feature film debut as a cinematographer on Bill Gunn’s “Stop!” in 1970.
His 1970s filmography included some of the most influential works in multiple genres. William Friedkin’s “The French Connection,” Roizman’s second feature film behind the camera, has long been heralded as one of the greatest car chase movies ever made. The way that Roizman and Friedkin were able to combine spectacle and realism during the...
- 1/8/2023
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Owen Roizman, the Oscar-nominated cinematographer whose work was seen on The French Connection and The Exorcist, died. He was 86.
The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), where Roizman was a member and served as president from 1997 to 1998, confirmed the news.
“We are very sorry to hear that cinematographer Owen Roizman, ASC has died at the age of 86 following a long illness,” read the Instagram post.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by American Cinematographer (@american_cinematographer)
Roizman was nominated for the Academy Awards five times during his career. His first nomination came when he partnered with William Friedkin on The French Connection.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times from 2011, Roizman remembered how he got the job collaborating with Friedkin. The French Connection was only the second film he worked but luckily, Friedkin had seen his previous work on Stop.
“Friedkin said, ‘I like your work in it...
The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), where Roizman was a member and served as president from 1997 to 1998, confirmed the news.
“We are very sorry to hear that cinematographer Owen Roizman, ASC has died at the age of 86 following a long illness,” read the Instagram post.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by American Cinematographer (@american_cinematographer)
Roizman was nominated for the Academy Awards five times during his career. His first nomination came when he partnered with William Friedkin on The French Connection.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times from 2011, Roizman remembered how he got the job collaborating with Friedkin. The French Connection was only the second film he worked but luckily, Friedkin had seen his previous work on Stop.
“Friedkin said, ‘I like your work in it...
- 1/8/2023
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Owen Roizman, the five-time Oscar-nominated cinematographer who partnered with director William Friedkin on the gripping movie classics The French Connection and The Exorcist, has died. He was 86.
Roizman, who also teamed with director Sydney Pollack on five films, including Three Days of the Condor (1975), Absence of Malice (1981) and Tootsie (1982) — when he somehow made Dustin Hoffman look good as a woman — died Friday night at his home in Encino, his wife of 58 years, Mona, told The Hollywood Reporter. He was in hospice care since August, she said.
He received an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards in November 2017. “Film is made up of many tiny, silver particles, and each one of those particles is represented by every person who works on a film,” Roizman said in his acceptance speech. “Had you changed any one of them on any movie, the movie would have looked different.”
Roizman had quite the career, also...
Roizman, who also teamed with director Sydney Pollack on five films, including Three Days of the Condor (1975), Absence of Malice (1981) and Tootsie (1982) — when he somehow made Dustin Hoffman look good as a woman — died Friday night at his home in Encino, his wife of 58 years, Mona, told The Hollywood Reporter. He was in hospice care since August, she said.
He received an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards in November 2017. “Film is made up of many tiny, silver particles, and each one of those particles is represented by every person who works on a film,” Roizman said in his acceptance speech. “Had you changed any one of them on any movie, the movie would have looked different.”
Roizman had quite the career, also...
- 1/7/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)
The Movie: "Small Soldiers"
Where You Can Stream It: HBO Max
The Pitch: Two iterations of toy lines that reigned over the 1980s — G.I. Joe and Masters of the Universe — go head-to-head in a battle for American dominance in "Small Soldiers," Joe Dante's 1998 skewering of an American public obsessed with make-believe fantasies of war. Its Everytown, USA is filled with characters concerned more with might and supremacy than community; Manifest Destiny materializes in neighbors' lopped-off tree limbs that block satellite reception. Leavened with Stan Winston-crafted animatronics and the dark comedy of "Gremlins," Dante's "Small Soldiers" contains one of the most acerbic portraits of gung-ho America to be found in the decade's cinema.
Denis Leary injects his signature cynicism into Gil Mars,...
The Movie: "Small Soldiers"
Where You Can Stream It: HBO Max
The Pitch: Two iterations of toy lines that reigned over the 1980s — G.I. Joe and Masters of the Universe — go head-to-head in a battle for American dominance in "Small Soldiers," Joe Dante's 1998 skewering of an American public obsessed with make-believe fantasies of war. Its Everytown, USA is filled with characters concerned more with might and supremacy than community; Manifest Destiny materializes in neighbors' lopped-off tree limbs that block satellite reception. Leavened with Stan Winston-crafted animatronics and the dark comedy of "Gremlins," Dante's "Small Soldiers" contains one of the most acerbic portraits of gung-ho America to be found in the decade's cinema.
Denis Leary injects his signature cynicism into Gil Mars,...
- 1/2/2023
- by Anya Stanley
- Slash Film
Jenna Ortega has a lot in common with Wednesday Addams. The actor might not have a disembodied hand as a sidekick, but she shares her character's love for the macabre, an aversion to color, and a dry sense of humor to match. With so many similarities, it's no wonder that Ortega constantly steals the show in "Wednesday." Of course, the Addams daughter is always a force to be reckoned with; pair her with the right actor and electricity is all but guaranteed.
Considering how well-loved past iterations of the Addams family have been, new actors are always faced with a big challenge: getting to the heart of their character without coming across as a knock-off. It's a careful balancing act. No one wants to look like they're ripping off Barry Sonnenfeld's '90s movies, which up until the release of Netflix's "Wednesday" were perhaps the most well-known version of the family.
Considering how well-loved past iterations of the Addams family have been, new actors are always faced with a big challenge: getting to the heart of their character without coming across as a knock-off. It's a careful balancing act. No one wants to look like they're ripping off Barry Sonnenfeld's '90s movies, which up until the release of Netflix's "Wednesday" were perhaps the most well-known version of the family.
- 12/30/2022
- by Demetra Nikolakakis
- Slash Film
If you queued up "Get Shorty" without watching the trailer — maybe the description won you over, or the movie came highly recommended — you're in for a rare, surprising treat. Save for a few dated comments, the film's dialogue is so hilariously indulgent that the plot, which is still entertaining, may have been an afterthought. (I say this with nothing but love and appreciation!) After all, few movies have their mobsters look John Travolta square in the eye while musing like:
"Chilly [weather] outside. Chili [the thug] inside. It's a regular f***in' chili-fest. Hey, waiter — give Mr. Chili Pepper a big f***in' bowl of chili!"
The conversations in "Get Shorty" are unlike the polished dialogue found in most Hollywood movies. Instead, the film's conversations feel written by a team of film noir fans, reminiscing about the genre's snappy wit. It's as if screenwriter Scott Frank dreamt up hilarious lines, questioning if the dialogue is too ridiculous,...
"Chilly [weather] outside. Chili [the thug] inside. It's a regular f***in' chili-fest. Hey, waiter — give Mr. Chili Pepper a big f***in' bowl of chili!"
The conversations in "Get Shorty" are unlike the polished dialogue found in most Hollywood movies. Instead, the film's conversations feel written by a team of film noir fans, reminiscing about the genre's snappy wit. It's as if screenwriter Scott Frank dreamt up hilarious lines, questioning if the dialogue is too ridiculous,...
- 12/30/2022
- by Demetra Nikolakakis
- Slash Film
Since making her on-screen debut in "Mermaids" at only nine years old, Christina Ricci has grown into one of the most prolific child stars who successfully made the transition into acting throughout adulthood. The seasoned starlet has always been a professional both on screen and off, captivating audiences with her unique look and diverse talent. For many of us, Ricci's most memorable role was her portrayal of Wednesday Addams in director Barry Sonnenfeld's 1991 film "The Addams Family" and his 1993 sequel "Addams Family Values." Donning raven-colored pigtails, a signature black dress, and flat-affect, Ricci became a generation's beloved personification of cartoonist Charles Addams' character. She not only embodied the role but also confidently asserted herself as an asset to the storytelling process by suggesting an alternate ending to the original "The Addams Family" script, a change that would resonate with audiences even decades later.
Killin' It In Show Business
In...
Killin' It In Show Business
In...
- 12/18/2022
- by Marisa Mirabal
- Slash Film
Created by Bryan Fuller, "Pushing Daisies"followed Ned the Pie-Maker (Lee Pace), who had the seemingly magical power to resurrect the dead with a touch. His ability came with rules. One, Ned couldn't touch anyone he brought back to life or they would die again, permanently. Second, if Ned doesn't "re-dead" someone within 60 seconds, then someone else's life will be taken in an equivalent exchange.
Ned uses his ability to assist sardonic private investigator Emerson Cod (Chi McBride) in solving murder cases. Thanks to Ned, Emerson is able to interview the victims. The pilot's ("Pie-Lette") case of the week features Ned's childhood crush Charlotte "Chuck" Charles (Anna Friel) as the murdered party. Ned can't bear to "re-dead" her, but now the two have to make their relationship work even though they can't touch each other.
During its brief life from 2007 to 2009, "Pushing Daisies" was one of the most unique television shows on the air.
Ned uses his ability to assist sardonic private investigator Emerson Cod (Chi McBride) in solving murder cases. Thanks to Ned, Emerson is able to interview the victims. The pilot's ("Pie-Lette") case of the week features Ned's childhood crush Charlotte "Chuck" Charles (Anna Friel) as the murdered party. Ned can't bear to "re-dead" her, but now the two have to make their relationship work even though they can't touch each other.
During its brief life from 2007 to 2009, "Pushing Daisies" was one of the most unique television shows on the air.
- 12/17/2022
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
When you think of Tim Burton, instantly your mind goes to classics such as Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Edward Scissorhands; the filmmaker’s unique goth/macabre style throughout his movies quickly makes him stand out in the world of Hollywood. So when the topic of The Addams Family comes up, it feels natural to assume that Tim Burton and The Addams Family fit like a glove. However, Mr. Burton turned down the role, which was revealed last year by director Barry Sonnenfeld during his interview with Variety over the 30th Anniversary of the first Addams Family movie: “I will tell
Tim Burton Explains Why He Turned Down The Addams Family Movie...
Tim Burton Explains Why He Turned Down The Addams Family Movie...
- 12/16/2022
- by Jeffrey Bowie Jr.
- TVovermind.com
Whether you are pro-New Year's resolution or would much rather just see where 2023 takes you in the coming months, January will still bring with it a little bit of change. The first month of the year's list of titles set to make a disappearance from Netflix is relatively short this time around. Still, there are some real gems here — albeit some pretty campy ones — that we have to say our goodbyes to. And while we're probably all busy trying to squeeze in as many holiday-centric movies by the year's end (anyone want to talk about "Falling for Christmas"?), you might also want to try and squeeze in a couple of the things on this list in-between viewings of "Home Alone" and "Die Hard." Whether over-the-top action films or catty reality shows are your preferred guilty pleasure, there's something here for everyone to lament as we make our way into another year.
- 12/14/2022
- by Miyako Pleines
- Slash Film
Looking back, it's a small miracle that "The Addams Family" became the box office smash that it did when the pitch-black comedy debuted in theaters over Thanksgiving in 1991. According to a Variety interview for the film's 30th anniversary, director Barry Sonnenfeld painted a pretty grim picture for the film that got caught up in a studio change when Orion Pictures was suddenly sold to Paramount halfway through filming. "The whole second half of the shoot we were working for a studio that thought we were uncuttable and unreleasable, so things got more difficult," Sonnenfeld said. "They stopped letting us have bottled water on the set." That seems like a bizarre way for executives to cut costs. Was the water budget for "The Addams Family" really that out of control?
Of course, "The Addams Family" ended up grossing close to 200 million globally, spawning the even funnier sequel "Addams Family Values." Two highly successful animated versions,...
Of course, "The Addams Family" ended up grossing close to 200 million globally, spawning the even funnier sequel "Addams Family Values." Two highly successful animated versions,...
- 12/11/2022
- by Drew Tinnin
- Slash Film
The 1990s Addams family movies are generally considered the best entries in the franchise (even if "Wednesday" is giving them a good run for their money), and for good reason. Sure, the jokes are hilarious — who would've thought that a couple of kids playing with a guillotine could be so funny — but the movie's true charm is the cast's chemistry. Whether Pugsley (James Workman) and Wednesday (Christina Ricci) are taking on girl scouts or Gomez (Raúl Juliá) and Fester (Christopher Lloyd) are enjoying a heartfelt reunion, it's heartwarming to see the morbid, eccentric family have each other's backs.
Of course, all of the family's interactions are fun, but there's one duo that truly takes the cake: Morticia (Anjelica Huston) and Gomez Addams, a devoted couple who are so passionately in love with each other that sparks fly whenever the pair is on screen. To be fair, even across other iterations,...
Of course, all of the family's interactions are fun, but there's one duo that truly takes the cake: Morticia (Anjelica Huston) and Gomez Addams, a devoted couple who are so passionately in love with each other that sparks fly whenever the pair is on screen. To be fair, even across other iterations,...
- 12/8/2022
- by Demetra Nikolakakis
- Slash Film
Netflix users are decrying a “pointless” moment featured in new series Wednesday.
Released earlier this month, the new series is an Addams Family prequel following the character played in the Barry Sonnenfeld-directed films by Christina Ricci.
Starring in the show, which is receiving acclaim, is Jenna Ortega, whose credits include X and the latest Scream sequel.
But its the death of another character that is leaving fans feeling disappointed with the show’s conclusion.
In fact, many viewers are agreeing it was unnecessary and are calling for the character to return in season two.
Spoilers follow – you have been warned*
In Wednesday, Nevermore Academy principal Larissa Weems (Gwendoline Christie) is killed off.
Speaking to Variety about the series, showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar said that Christie “was such an amazing trooper” after discovering the news.
“She loved it, because it felt very surprising,” they said, adding; “She was totally on board for that.
Released earlier this month, the new series is an Addams Family prequel following the character played in the Barry Sonnenfeld-directed films by Christina Ricci.
Starring in the show, which is receiving acclaim, is Jenna Ortega, whose credits include X and the latest Scream sequel.
But its the death of another character that is leaving fans feeling disappointed with the show’s conclusion.
In fact, many viewers are agreeing it was unnecessary and are calling for the character to return in season two.
Spoilers follow – you have been warned*
In Wednesday, Nevermore Academy principal Larissa Weems (Gwendoline Christie) is killed off.
Speaking to Variety about the series, showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar said that Christie “was such an amazing trooper” after discovering the news.
“She loved it, because it felt very surprising,” they said, adding; “She was totally on board for that.
- 12/8/2022
- by Jacob Stolworthy
- The Independent - TV
Upon reflection, there couldn't be two '90s Hollywood studio films that are more opposite than Barry Sonnenfeld's "Addams Family Values" and Robert Zemeckis' "Forrest Gump." Both released in the mid-1990s (although the novel "Forrest Gump" was released a decade before making it to the big screen), the two films might represent the ends of an anarchist spectrum. On the one hand, the Addams family is a creepy bunch of murderers who live in a strange haunted mansion, and who take delight in the misery of others. They live far out on the fringe and they love it. They spray blood on people, pour boiling oil on Christmas carolers, and, in the famous climax of "Values," kill off all the counselors at a summer camp.
"Forrest Gump," meanwhile, is a cube of American cornpone about the Rockwellian nature of old American institutions. "Forrest Gump" argues that the inside was the place to be,...
"Forrest Gump," meanwhile, is a cube of American cornpone about the Rockwellian nature of old American institutions. "Forrest Gump" argues that the inside was the place to be,...
- 12/6/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.