Film
Jon Stewart’s Irresistible Is A Snarky, Silly Plea for Less of the Same: Review
The Pitch: In Jon Stewart’s Irresistible, the year 2016 and the U.S. presidential election very much happened. The Democratic National Committee is left licking its wounds in the wake of what was to be a slam-dunk win for Hillary Clinton. All the strategy, all the super PAC money, all the campaigning, photo ops, polls, and beyond still couldn’t put a seasoned veteran in the White House. Gary Zimmer (Steve Carrell), a leading DNC strategist, is burrowed under his bedsheets, dodging calls from MSNBC, CNN, national networks, and the rest of the circus. He was too smart, too punchy, too confident, too well-funded, and too connected for this to happen. Fast forward to the present. Zimmer discovers a viral video of a town meeting interrupted by a Marine colonel, Jack Hastings (Chris Cooper), pro...
AFI to Host Live Conversation with Spike Lee, Stream Do The Right Thing for Free
Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing will be honored this week by the American Film Institute. The 1989 Oscar-nominated masterpiece has been named their latest Movie Club selection, and to celebrate, they’ll be speaking to the director himself. “AFI Movie Club’s global reach has inspired the need for more thoughtful discussions about films that have shaped our culture,” said CEO Bob Gazzale. “Do The Right Thing is a timeless and timely classic, and Spike Lee has forever proven himself the voice for change that we need now more than ever. We would like to thank our partners at Universal for their essential support in educating and inspiring audiences around the world.” The conversation goes down this Thursday, June 25 at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT via the AFI YouTube channel. In anticipation,...
If Michael Keaton Returns to Batman, Why Not Tim Burton? Or Danny Elfman?
Michael Keaton is back in the Batcave — or will be in the near future. On Monday, The Hollywood Reporter shook comic book fans everywhere when they reported that the Oscar-nominated veteran will once again return to Wayne Manor for a series of films in the Warner Bros./DC Extended Universe. The report suggests that the studio is attempting to lock the actor into a multi-picture deal that would see his Batman serve as a mentor to younger heroes. More specifically, he could appear in Andy Muschietti’s much-delayed The Flash starring Ezra Miller and the long-gestating Batgirl movie. While that’s all well and good, it would be a total waste of Keaton’s commitment. Sure, audiences would be stoked to see his mug pop up in an alternate universe of The Flash, but they would be far more stoked...
Steven Spielberg Had the Two Highest-Grossing Films in the US Last Weekend
Some movie theaters across the US have begun the process of reopening, face masks required. However, as new titles, like Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, aren’t out until the end of July, cinemas are opting to screen old summer classics as a way to lure back potential moviegoers. It made for a big weekend for Steven Spielberg. The legendary director found himself with both the first and second highest-grossing movies of the weekend in the form of Jurassic Park and Jaws, notes The Hollywood Reporter. Spielberg’s 1993 Jurassic Park earned an estimated $517,642 from 230 locations. Following close behind was Jaws, Spielberg’s 1975 hit, which brought in $516,366 from 187 locations. A handful of Spielberg’s other movies also raked in a sizable amount this past weekend, including E.T. Th...
Animorphs Film Adaptation in the Works
Animorphs, the popular ’90s children’s book series by K.A. Applegate, has a plot that’s as engrossing as its legendary book covers. The sci-fi collection follows five teenagers — Jake, Marco, Cassie, Rachel, and Tobias — who can morph into any animal they touch, a secret ability that helps them fight in an ongoing alien invasion. Now, seemingly unprompted, Scholastic Entertainment has announced they’re teaming up with Erik Feig’s Picturestart to adapt those Animorphs books into a feature film, according The Hollywood Reporter. Animorphs will be a live-action movie co-developed by Scholastic and Picturestart. Scholastic Entertainment’s Iole Lucchese and Caitlin Friedman will co-produce alongside Picturestart’s Feig and Lucy Kitada. Development of the script will be handled by Scholastic’s F...
AMC Theatres to Reopen in July, Won’t Require Face Masks to Avoid “Political Controversy”
Update – June 19th: AMC has reversed course and will require movie-goers to wear face masks. Bankruptcy be damned: Like Cinemark and Regal Cinemas earlier this week, AMC Theatres has now announced that they, too, will begin reopening their theaters across America beginning in July. Face mask, anyone? According to The Hollywood Reporter, the world’s largest theater chain will open 450 of its US locations on July 15th followed by the remaining 150 on July 24th, all in anticipation of Disney’s Mulan and Warner Bros.’ Tenet. “After a painful almost four-month hiatus due to the coronavirus, we are delighted to announce that movies are coming back to the big screen at AMC. Our next 100 years of making smiles happen officially begin at approximately 450 theaters across the Uni...
Ansel Elgort Denies Sexual Assault Allegations
Ansel Elgort has denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a teenage girl in 2014. Earlier this week, a Twitter user named Gabby accused the actor of assaulting her when she was 17 years old. Gabby claimed Elgort, who was 20 years old at the time, initially solicited nude photos from her via social media. They later met in person and had sex. However, after Gabby asked to stop, she said Elgort ignored her. “Instead of asking me if I wanted to stop having sex knowing it was my first time and I was sobbing in pain and I didn’t want to do it the only words that came out of his mouth were, ‘We need to break you in.’ I WASNT there in that moment mentally. I dissociated myself and just felt like my mind was gone and I was in shock,” Gabby wrote. “I couldn’t leave, I was only 5’2″ and 98 poun...
Mark Hamill Has a Secret Cameo in The Mandalorian as a Cantina Droid
Eagle-eyed Star Wars fans love to boast that they could spot Mark Hamill anywhere thanks to the wide range of voice and acting roles he’s accumulated over the years. That’s not always true though. The Luke Skywalker actor made his coolest secret cameo yet last year that nobody noticed: he was a droid in the fifth episode of The Mandalorian. During the finale of Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian, a behind-the-scenes docuseries about the making of the smash hit Disney Plus show, it was revealed that Hamill appeared in the series as the cantina bartender in Episode 5, reports Deadline. The droid — named EV-9D9, according to creator Jon Favreau — was uncredited and Hamill masked his voice for the role. In the scene, the Mandalorian walks into the cantina and approaches the bartender to ask about...
R.I.P. Ian Holm, Alien and Lord of the Rings Star Dies at 88
Ian Holm, iconic British actor who starred in Alien, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Chariots of Fire, and countless other productions, has died of Parkinson’s disease. He was 88. His agent confirmed the news Friday morning (June 19th) in a statement to The Guardian: “It is with great sadness that the actor Sir Ian Holm CBE passed away this morning at the age of 88. He died peacefully in hospital, with his family and carer. Charming, kind and ferociously talented, we will miss him hugely.” Born in Goodmayes, England on September 12th, 1931, Holm found a start in acting after his dentist, of all people, introduced him to Henry Baynton, a renowned Shakespearean actor who mentored the young thespian. Baynton’s guidance helped Holm secure admission into the Royal Academy of Drama...
AMC Theatres Reverses Decision, Will Require Moviegoers to Wear Masks
AMC Theatres has reversed a previous policy decision and will now require customer to wear masks in their cinemas upon reopening. (We may have some suggestions for that.) In plans revealed on Thursday, AMC announced it would open 450 of its US locations on July 15th, with the remaining 150 following on July 24th. While there were a number of precautions addressed to help reduce the spread of coronavirus — reducing capacities to 30%, increasing sanitation procedures, and limiting concessions — masks were only made a requirement for “theatre associates.” Speaking with Variety about the reopening rollout, AMC CEO Adam Aron said the company felt “it might be counterproductive if we forced mask wearing on those people who believe strongly that it is no necessary.” He added that he expected “the...
Into the Wild Bus Removed From Alaska Wilderness Due to Safety Concerns
Authorities in Alaska have removed the abandoned bus made famous by the book Into the Wild and movie of the same name. According to The Associated Press, Alaska Natural Resources Commissioner Corri Feige cited safety concerns as the reason for the bus’ removal. At least two people have died attempting to reach the bus, while scores of others needed to be rescued by the Coast Guard. The 1940s-era bus had been used by a construction company to house employees during work on an access road in the area and was abandoned when the work was finished in 1961, The Associated Press explains. It later become a natural monument of sorts in the wake of Christopher McCandless’ tragic death in 1992. McCandless, a 24-year-old native of Virginia, sought refuge in the bus after becoming stranded on the...
Regal Cinemas Announce Coronavirus Guidelines for Reopening Next Month
Regal Cinemas have announced arbitrary new safety guidelines to facilitate crowds of people packing together amidst the coronavirus pandemic. America’s second-largest movie theater chain will reopen July 10th. Taken together, the newly-announced rules have all the charm and capriciousness of a trip through airport security. Regal Cinemas has implemented a suite of regulations to stop surface-to-person transmission of COVID-19, even though the CDC thinks that’s relatively rare. And despite the fact that mask wearing is the single best precaution people can take — scientists think it might be more important than social distancing — Regal is deferring to local regulations around masks, and won’t force employees or customers to wear them in states where it isn’t required. But if the novel coro...
