Rochelle Oliver, who starred on Broadway in Lillian Hellman’s Toys in the Attic and Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and taught acting at New York’s respected Hb Studio since the 1970s, has died. She was 86.
Oliver died April 13, the Hb Studio announced. “Those who knew Rochelle will know what a luminous artist, sensitive and passionate teacher she was,” it said in an Instagram post. She died two days shy of her birthday.
For the big screen, Oliver starred in the Horton Foote-written 1918 (1985) and Courtship (1987) and appeared in such other films as The Happy Hooker (1975), Paul Mazursky‘s Next Stop, Greenwich Village (1976), John Sayles’ Lianna (1983), An Unremarkable Life (1989), Martin Brest’s Scent of a Woman (1992) and Woody Allen’s Hollywood Ending (2002).
She also recurred as Judge Grace Larkin on Law & Order from 1993-03.
A protégé of Uta Hagen — who also taught for decades at Hb and...
Oliver died April 13, the Hb Studio announced. “Those who knew Rochelle will know what a luminous artist, sensitive and passionate teacher she was,” it said in an Instagram post. She died two days shy of her birthday.
For the big screen, Oliver starred in the Horton Foote-written 1918 (1985) and Courtship (1987) and appeared in such other films as The Happy Hooker (1975), Paul Mazursky‘s Next Stop, Greenwich Village (1976), John Sayles’ Lianna (1983), An Unremarkable Life (1989), Martin Brest’s Scent of a Woman (1992) and Woody Allen’s Hollywood Ending (2002).
She also recurred as Judge Grace Larkin on Law & Order from 1993-03.
A protégé of Uta Hagen — who also taught for decades at Hb and...
- 5/7/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Few creative talents have the breadth of a career equal to Lee Grant. The 98-year-old director, actor, and writer has a storied body of work, debuting on screen in 1951 in William Wyler’s Detective Story, for which she received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination and Cannes Best Actress win, while also receiving a Supporting Actress Oscar for Shampoo. Grant, who has also appeared in Mulholland Drive, Valley of the Dolls, and In the Heat of the Night, has also set a few records: she’s the oldest living film director, while 1980’s Tell Me a Riddle was the first major American film to be entirely written, produced and directed by women, and she’s the only Academy Award-winning actor to also direct an Academy Award-winning documentary with 1986’s Down and Out in America.
Among the most revelatory repertory cinema I saw last year, the much-deserved 4K restorations of Grant...
Among the most revelatory repertory cinema I saw last year, the much-deserved 4K restorations of Grant...
- 5/2/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
As you've likely heard by now, O.J. Simpson has passed away at the age of 76.
One of the most famous -- and infamous -- Americans of the modern era, Simpson was known for many things:
He was, of course, a world-class athlete, a standout at running back for the NFL's Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers.
Later in life, he would become the center of the most high-profile murder trial of the 20th century,
And though he beat the charges under dubious circumstances, the lingering suspicion that Simpson murdered his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, would make him a pariah in the upper-crust social circles that had served as his comfortable domain for so many years.
But before O.J. ever earned a dime from professional football -- before he was arrested for murder and before he served nine years in prison on unrelated robbery and...
One of the most famous -- and infamous -- Americans of the modern era, Simpson was known for many things:
He was, of course, a world-class athlete, a standout at running back for the NFL's Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers.
Later in life, he would become the center of the most high-profile murder trial of the 20th century,
And though he beat the charges under dubious circumstances, the lingering suspicion that Simpson murdered his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, would make him a pariah in the upper-crust social circles that had served as his comfortable domain for so many years.
But before O.J. ever earned a dime from professional football -- before he was arrested for murder and before he served nine years in prison on unrelated robbery and...
- 4/11/2024
- by Tyler Johnson
- TVfanatic
Rod Steiger is primarily remembered for his tough guys in such films as “Al Capone,” “The Big Knife” and his Oscar-winning performance in “In the Heat of the Night.” But his performances include such diverse characters as a meek Holocaust survivor in “The Pawnbroker” and a fey embalmer in the satire “The Loved One.”
In addition to his performance in “In the Heat of the Night,” for which Steiger also won a Golden Globe as well, he was Oscar-nominated for “The Pawnbroker” and for his iconic performance as the brother of Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) in the back seat of that car in Elia Kazan‘s “On the Waterfront.”
So let’s raise a glass to the late great man and honor him by counting down his 12 greatest screen performances, ranked from worst to best.
In addition to his performance in “In the Heat of the Night,” for which Steiger also won a Golden Globe as well, he was Oscar-nominated for “The Pawnbroker” and for his iconic performance as the brother of Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) in the back seat of that car in Elia Kazan‘s “On the Waterfront.”
So let’s raise a glass to the late great man and honor him by counting down his 12 greatest screen performances, ranked from worst to best.
- 4/6/2024
- by Tom O'Brien, Misty Holland and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Lynn Loring, who appeared as a young actress on Search for Tomorrow, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and The F.B.I. before becoming one of the highest-ranking female executives in Hollywood at the time, has died. She was 80.
Loring died Dec. 23 at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center after a series of chronic illnesses, her son, Chris Thinnes, told The Hollywood Reporter. Her family chose not to make public her death until now.
Loring also acted in a few movies, including Elia Kazan’s Splendor in the Grass (1961), Pressure Point (1962) and, alongside then-husband Roy Thinnes, Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (1969).
When she was 7, Loring joined the new CBS soap opera Search for Tomorrow in September 1951 for the first of its 35 seasons. She would portray Patti Barron, daughter of Mary Stuart’s Joanne Gardner, for a decade until she graduated from the Calhoun School for Girls and entered Barnard College...
Loring died Dec. 23 at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center after a series of chronic illnesses, her son, Chris Thinnes, told The Hollywood Reporter. Her family chose not to make public her death until now.
Loring also acted in a few movies, including Elia Kazan’s Splendor in the Grass (1961), Pressure Point (1962) and, alongside then-husband Roy Thinnes, Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (1969).
When she was 7, Loring joined the new CBS soap opera Search for Tomorrow in September 1951 for the first of its 35 seasons. She would portray Patti Barron, daughter of Mary Stuart’s Joanne Gardner, for a decade until she graduated from the Calhoun School for Girls and entered Barnard College...
- 4/2/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Seven years ago, Donald Glover won his first two Emmys, Best Comedy Actor and Best Comedy Directing for “Atlanta.” While he missed out on nominations last year for the final season of his FX series — he did receive a writing bid for “Swarm” — Glover is back in the hunt this cycle with “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.” Inspired by the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie film of the same name, the spy series is competing in drama, which means Glover could become just the second man and third person to win lead Emmys in comedy and drama.
Carroll O’Connor is thus far the only male performer to have achieved this, having pocketed a record-setting four Best Comedy Actor Emmys for “All in the Family” in 1972 and three in a row from 1977-79 before adding a Best Drama Actor statuette for “In the Heat of the Night” in 1989. The only other member...
Carroll O’Connor is thus far the only male performer to have achieved this, having pocketed a record-setting four Best Comedy Actor Emmys for “All in the Family” in 1972 and three in a row from 1977-79 before adding a Best Drama Actor statuette for “In the Heat of the Night” in 1989. The only other member...
- 3/19/2024
- by Joyce Eng
- Gold Derby
The New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) announced its 89th annual awardees on November 30. As usual, no one title dominated the final win tally, as three ended up with two prizes apiece. Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” was named Best Picture and achieved its second victory thanks to Lily Gladstone’s lead performance.
The other films that showed up twice on this year’s roster were “May December” and “Oppenheimer”. Lead actor Franz Rogowski (“Passages”) and supporting actress Da’Vine Joy Randolph (“The Holdovers”) took the remaining performance awards.
Since 2001, this organization (which presently consists of 43 reviewers) has consistently given out 10 yearly awards that directly correspond to Oscar categories, plus a single writing prize for which original and adapted scripts are both considered. Counting all 11 areas of merit, the NYFCC and the film academy have chosen the same winners 27.3% of the time within the last 22 years and in...
The other films that showed up twice on this year’s roster were “May December” and “Oppenheimer”. Lead actor Franz Rogowski (“Passages”) and supporting actress Da’Vine Joy Randolph (“The Holdovers”) took the remaining performance awards.
Since 2001, this organization (which presently consists of 43 reviewers) has consistently given out 10 yearly awards that directly correspond to Oscar categories, plus a single writing prize for which original and adapted scripts are both considered. Counting all 11 areas of merit, the NYFCC and the film academy have chosen the same winners 27.3% of the time within the last 22 years and in...
- 12/14/2023
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Ellen Holly, the first Black actor to have a leading role on a daytime soap opera, died peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx. She was 92.
Photo by Ashley E. Jones
Holly joined ABC’s One Life to Live in 1968, in the role of Carla Benari, an actress of seemingly Italian heritage who found romance with Jim Craig, a white doctor (played by Robert Milli and then Nat Polen). It eventually came out that Carla Benari was actually Carla Gray, an African-American passing as white –and the daughter of Llanview Hospital housekeeping boss Sadie Gray...
Photo by Ashley E. Jones
Holly joined ABC’s One Life to Live in 1968, in the role of Carla Benari, an actress of seemingly Italian heritage who found romance with Jim Craig, a white doctor (played by Robert Milli and then Nat Polen). It eventually came out that Carla Benari was actually Carla Gray, an African-American passing as white –and the daughter of Llanview Hospital housekeeping boss Sadie Gray...
- 12/8/2023
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
Ellen Holly, a stage and screen actor who became the first Black star of a daytime television series with her role as Carla Gray in ABC’s soap opera “One Life to Live,” died Wednesday at Cavalry Hospital in the Bronx, N.Y. She was 92.
Holly’s death was confirmed by a representative for the actor.
Cast on “One Life to Live” in 1968, Holly stayed with the long-running series through 1980, before returning from 1983 to 1985. Producer Agnes Nixon cast Holly in the role after reading the actor’s New York Times opinion piece “How Black Do You Have To Be?,” in which Holly recounted her personal difficulties in finding acting work as a light-skinned Black woman.
Carla Gray’s main conflict in the series regarded a love triangle between two doctors — one white, one Black. The arc predated storylines on “All My Children” and “General Hospital” that also directly confronted race.
Holly’s death was confirmed by a representative for the actor.
Cast on “One Life to Live” in 1968, Holly stayed with the long-running series through 1980, before returning from 1983 to 1985. Producer Agnes Nixon cast Holly in the role after reading the actor’s New York Times opinion piece “How Black Do You Have To Be?,” in which Holly recounted her personal difficulties in finding acting work as a light-skinned Black woman.
Carla Gray’s main conflict in the series regarded a love triangle between two doctors — one white, one Black. The arc predated storylines on “All My Children” and “General Hospital” that also directly confronted race.
- 12/8/2023
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
Ellen Holly, the first Black person to star in a soap opera with her lead role on One Life to Live, died Wednesday at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx, N.Y. She was 92 and died in her sleep.
Her first roles on television included appearances on The Big Story (1957), The Defenders (1963), Sam Benedict (1963), Dr. Kildare (1964) and The Doctors and the Nurses (1963 and 1964).
Holly played the groundbreaking character Carla Gray on the hit ABC show One Life to Live from 1968 to 1980 and 1983 to 1985. She was personally chosen for the role by television producer Agnes Nixon after she saw a New York Times opinion piece that Holly wrote, called “How Black Do You Have To Be?” about the difficulty of finding roles as a light-skinned Black woman.
Holly was born on January 16, 1931, in Manhattan to parents William Garnet Holly, a chemical engineer, and Grayce Holly, a housewife and writer.
A graduate of Hunter College,...
Her first roles on television included appearances on The Big Story (1957), The Defenders (1963), Sam Benedict (1963), Dr. Kildare (1964) and The Doctors and the Nurses (1963 and 1964).
Holly played the groundbreaking character Carla Gray on the hit ABC show One Life to Live from 1968 to 1980 and 1983 to 1985. She was personally chosen for the role by television producer Agnes Nixon after she saw a New York Times opinion piece that Holly wrote, called “How Black Do You Have To Be?” about the difficulty of finding roles as a light-skinned Black woman.
Holly was born on January 16, 1931, in Manhattan to parents William Garnet Holly, a chemical engineer, and Grayce Holly, a housewife and writer.
A graduate of Hunter College,...
- 12/7/2023
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
“We didn’t need dialogue. We had faces,” proclaimed former silent film queen Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) in Billy Wilder’s 1950 masterwork “Sunset Boulevard.” One of the greatest faces of the era belonged to French actor Albert Dieudonne who starred in Abel Gance’s breathtaking 1927 epic “Napoleon.” With this dark eyes, distinct nose and rock star style hair, Dieudonne channels the infamous French military leader and emperor who conquered most of Europe in the early 19th century until his disastrous 1812 invasion of Russia. Exiled to Elba in 1814, he emerged once again and suffered a massive defeat at Waterloo in 1815. He died in exile six years later at the age of 51.
Dieudonne commands the 5 ½ hour film restored by Kevin Brownlow which features the jaw-dropping triptych finale that is as exciting now as it was 96 years ago. BFI states that the film is “monumental and visionary, the story’s chapters play out...
Dieudonne commands the 5 ½ hour film restored by Kevin Brownlow which features the jaw-dropping triptych finale that is as exciting now as it was 96 years ago. BFI states that the film is “monumental and visionary, the story’s chapters play out...
- 12/1/2023
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
There’ll be some happy holidays on Prime Video in December, as the streamer’s seasonal offerings hope to keep the fires warm in your home this month!
As such, there are quite a few new original holiday movies coming to the service. At the beginning of the month, Eddie Murphy stars in Candy Cane Lane. In this film, the Beverly Hills Cop and Coming to America star plays a determined man who is willing to go above and beyond to win the annual Christmas home decoration contest in his neighborhood – even if it means making a very magical deal.
The DC universe will also be getting festive in December thanks to Merry Little Batman, an animated feature that sees Batman’s son, Damian Wayne, stumble upon a villainous plot on Christmas eve, one that may give him a chance to save the day when his dad isn’t around.
As such, there are quite a few new original holiday movies coming to the service. At the beginning of the month, Eddie Murphy stars in Candy Cane Lane. In this film, the Beverly Hills Cop and Coming to America star plays a determined man who is willing to go above and beyond to win the annual Christmas home decoration contest in his neighborhood – even if it means making a very magical deal.
The DC universe will also be getting festive in December thanks to Merry Little Batman, an animated feature that sees Batman’s son, Damian Wayne, stumble upon a villainous plot on Christmas eve, one that may give him a chance to save the day when his dad isn’t around.
- 12/1/2023
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
The episode of Best Horror Movie You Never Saw covering The Kindred was Written by Andrew Hatfield, Edited by Paul Bookstaber, Narrated by Kier Gomes, Produced by John Fallon and Tyler Nichols, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.
We toe the line sometimes here at JoBlo Horror Originals with what movies we discuss. Some things can qualify for multiple shows like a Black Sheep or a Deconstructing on the same movie. Sometimes there are enough behind the scenes shenanigans to give it a proper Wtf or maybe its adapted from a story. Not today, though. Today is something that reflects the true nature of this show. I know some viewers get bummed when they see some movies, even some of their favorite movies, get covered multiple times, so today’s hopefully different. I’m hoping that today will be a best horror movie that you never saw for most and...
We toe the line sometimes here at JoBlo Horror Originals with what movies we discuss. Some things can qualify for multiple shows like a Black Sheep or a Deconstructing on the same movie. Sometimes there are enough behind the scenes shenanigans to give it a proper Wtf or maybe its adapted from a story. Not today, though. Today is something that reflects the true nature of this show. I know some viewers get bummed when they see some movies, even some of their favorite movies, get covered multiple times, so today’s hopefully different. I’m hoping that today will be a best horror movie that you never saw for most and...
- 10/23/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Released in South Africa on 15 November 1951, Cry, the Beloved Country was among the
very first feature films of Sidney Poitier‘s long career. The then 24-year-old plays Theophilus Msimangu, a reverend who assists fellow minister Stephen Kumalo (Canada Lee) in nurturing his ill sister and locating his son Absalom (Lionel Ngakane), who has left without contact. Their cause takes them through Johannesburg and the newly imposed apartheid system, exposing its layers of injustice and dysfunction.
Cry, the Beloved Country is novel in its presentation of black African perspectives some 15 years before the civil rights pictures of the 1960s, such as Poitier’s own Look Who’s Coming to Dinner and In the Heat of the Night. Those two films are likely to feature in any retrospective of cinema and race, but not Cry, the Beloved Country.
Why is that? Well, the pacing is deliberate; characters speak at length and often about banal details.
very first feature films of Sidney Poitier‘s long career. The then 24-year-old plays Theophilus Msimangu, a reverend who assists fellow minister Stephen Kumalo (Canada Lee) in nurturing his ill sister and locating his son Absalom (Lionel Ngakane), who has left without contact. Their cause takes them through Johannesburg and the newly imposed apartheid system, exposing its layers of injustice and dysfunction.
Cry, the Beloved Country is novel in its presentation of black African perspectives some 15 years before the civil rights pictures of the 1960s, such as Poitier’s own Look Who’s Coming to Dinner and In the Heat of the Night. Those two films are likely to feature in any retrospective of cinema and race, but not Cry, the Beloved Country.
Why is that? Well, the pacing is deliberate; characters speak at length and often about banal details.
- 10/18/2023
- by Jack Hawkins
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The Cult Movie Museum is back with an overlooked science fiction gem: 1989’s Robot Jox. Robot Jox was produced decades before the Pacific Rim and Transformers franchises.
In a post nuclear holocaust world war is outlawed. Conflicts between governments are settled by giant fighting robots piloted by heroic Robot Jox.
Reanimator director Stuart Gordon and producer Charles Band create a fun, believable future society on a lean budget.
If you like pre-cgi practical effects you’re going to love this movie. It’s packed with stop motion, puppetry and large scale miniatures, all shot under the blazing hot desert sun.
Stars Gary Graham of Alien Nation and Anne-marie Johnson of In The Heat Of The Night are terrific, though it’s hard not to be upstaged by giant flame throwing robots!
—
The Cult Movie Museum brings you a double feature critique of 1975’s Rollerball and Death Race 2000. Both of...
In a post nuclear holocaust world war is outlawed. Conflicts between governments are settled by giant fighting robots piloted by heroic Robot Jox.
Reanimator director Stuart Gordon and producer Charles Band create a fun, believable future society on a lean budget.
If you like pre-cgi practical effects you’re going to love this movie. It’s packed with stop motion, puppetry and large scale miniatures, all shot under the blazing hot desert sun.
Stars Gary Graham of Alien Nation and Anne-marie Johnson of In The Heat Of The Night are terrific, though it’s hard not to be upstaged by giant flame throwing robots!
—
The Cult Movie Museum brings you a double feature critique of 1975’s Rollerball and Death Race 2000. Both of...
- 9/13/2023
- by Michael Joy
- Horror Asylum
With his long hair, sunglasses and bellbottoms, Hal Ashby was the epitome of the 1970s flower child, even though he was a decade older than most of the filmmakers working at the time. Though his flame burned brightly and briefly, he left behind a series of classics that signified the nose-thumbing, countercultural attitude of the era, with a bit of humanism and heart thrown in for good measure. Let’s take a look back at all 12 of his films, ranked worst to best.
Born on September 2, 1929 in Utah, Ashby ambled around before becoming an apprentice editor for Robert Swink, working for Hollywood legends William Wyler and George Stevens. He moved up the ranks to become an editor for Norman Jewison, with whom he shared a fraternal and professional relationship. They cut five films together, including “The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!” (1966), which earned him his first Oscar nomination,...
Born on September 2, 1929 in Utah, Ashby ambled around before becoming an apprentice editor for Robert Swink, working for Hollywood legends William Wyler and George Stevens. He moved up the ranks to become an editor for Norman Jewison, with whom he shared a fraternal and professional relationship. They cut five films together, including “The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!” (1966), which earned him his first Oscar nomination,...
- 8/25/2023
- by Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Toronto’s Hazelton Hotel will pay permanent tribute to Oscar-winning film director and producer Norman Jewison by changing the name of its screening room to honor the iconic Canadian filmmaker.
The Hazelton, located in upscale Yorkville, will rename its 25-seat auditorium as the Norman Jewison Cinema. Since launching in 2007, the hotel has been an uptown hub for the Toronto Film Festival as visiting celebrities, including those at work on local Hollywood movie and TV series shoots year round, stay there, well cloistered away from the local paparazzi and other distractions.
“I am pleased to have this beautiful cinema at the Hazelton Hotel in Toronto named in my honor. There is nothing better than watching a film on the big screen! I’d like to thank everyone at the Hazelton Hotel for this generous tribute,” Jewison said in a statement, obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, of the recognition.
The Norman Jewison Cinema has digital projection,...
The Hazelton, located in upscale Yorkville, will rename its 25-seat auditorium as the Norman Jewison Cinema. Since launching in 2007, the hotel has been an uptown hub for the Toronto Film Festival as visiting celebrities, including those at work on local Hollywood movie and TV series shoots year round, stay there, well cloistered away from the local paparazzi and other distractions.
“I am pleased to have this beautiful cinema at the Hazelton Hotel in Toronto named in my honor. There is nothing better than watching a film on the big screen! I’d like to thank everyone at the Hazelton Hotel for this generous tribute,” Jewison said in a statement, obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, of the recognition.
The Norman Jewison Cinema has digital projection,...
- 8/23/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Carlin Glynn, who won a Tony Award for her performance as the madam Mona Stangley in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and had strong supporting turns in the films Sixteen Candles and The Trip to Bountiful, has died. She was 83.
Glynn died July 13, her daughter, actress Mary Stuart Masterson (Fried Green Tomatoes, Benny & Joon), announced in an Instagram post. She died in upstate New York, and the cause was lung cancer.
“My mother, Carlin Glynn Masterson, passed away. I was with her. I will always be grateful for those last moments, no matter how hard,” she wrote. “Death is like birth in the oddest way. From my first breath to her last. This thread is as fragile as it is strong.
“She was the most graceful clumsy person you would ever meet. Strong, smart, silly, intuitive, kind, generous, passionate and a deep listener. She was devoted to my father...
Glynn died July 13, her daughter, actress Mary Stuart Masterson (Fried Green Tomatoes, Benny & Joon), announced in an Instagram post. She died in upstate New York, and the cause was lung cancer.
“My mother, Carlin Glynn Masterson, passed away. I was with her. I will always be grateful for those last moments, no matter how hard,” she wrote. “Death is like birth in the oddest way. From my first breath to her last. This thread is as fragile as it is strong.
“She was the most graceful clumsy person you would ever meet. Strong, smart, silly, intuitive, kind, generous, passionate and a deep listener. She was devoted to my father...
- 7/20/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
As most streamers neglected to put much stock in their film libraries, one has stood out from the rest of the pack: Paramount+.
As the streaming wars hit a fever pitch over the last few years, the budgets for splashy originals expanded. To make room in the budget, streamers looked to cull their library of licensed titles. But, why license thousands of movies and shows from other studios when you’re making your own hits? Streamers quickly learned that for every “Stranger Things”-sized smash, there were five “Cowboy Bebop”-sized flops, and most original films failed to make much impact
Visit Paramount+ and you’ll not only see recent hits like “Scream 6” and “Top Gun: Maverick,” but library titles as varied as “Sunset Boulevard,” “His Girl Friday,” “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Almost Famous,” “Fatal Attraction,” “The Piano,” “Heaven’s Gate,” “Roman Holiday,” “In the Heat of the Night,” “Titanic,” the complete “Indiana Jones” franchise,...
As the streaming wars hit a fever pitch over the last few years, the budgets for splashy originals expanded. To make room in the budget, streamers looked to cull their library of licensed titles. But, why license thousands of movies and shows from other studios when you’re making your own hits? Streamers quickly learned that for every “Stranger Things”-sized smash, there were five “Cowboy Bebop”-sized flops, and most original films failed to make much impact
Visit Paramount+ and you’ll not only see recent hits like “Scream 6” and “Top Gun: Maverick,” but library titles as varied as “Sunset Boulevard,” “His Girl Friday,” “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Almost Famous,” “Fatal Attraction,” “The Piano,” “Heaven’s Gate,” “Roman Holiday,” “In the Heat of the Night,” “Titanic,” the complete “Indiana Jones” franchise,...
- 7/18/2023
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
Norman Jewison is the Oscar-nominated filmmaker who has tackled a number of controversial topics and social issues in his work, crafting mainstream entertainments with a political point of view. But how many of his titles remain classics? Let’s take a look back at 15 of his greatest films, ranked worst to best.
Born in 1926 in Toronto, Jewison cut his teeth in television before moving into directing with a number of light farces, including the Doris Day vehicles “The Thrill of It All” (1963) and “Send Me No Flowers” (1964), her last collaboration with Rock Hudson. His career took a turning point with his first drama, “The Cincinnati Kid” (1965), which also kicked off his collaborations with film editor Hal Ashby, himself a future director. His next film, the darkly comedic “The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!” (1966), earned him his first Oscar nomination in Best Picture.
He hit the Oscar jackpot the...
Born in 1926 in Toronto, Jewison cut his teeth in television before moving into directing with a number of light farces, including the Doris Day vehicles “The Thrill of It All” (1963) and “Send Me No Flowers” (1964), her last collaboration with Rock Hudson. His career took a turning point with his first drama, “The Cincinnati Kid” (1965), which also kicked off his collaborations with film editor Hal Ashby, himself a future director. His next film, the darkly comedic “The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!” (1966), earned him his first Oscar nomination in Best Picture.
He hit the Oscar jackpot the...
- 7/15/2023
- by Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Lawrence Turman, the principled Oscar-nominated producer of The Graduate who was behind other films including The Great White Hope, Pretty Poison, American History X and the last movie Judy Garland ever made, has died. He was 96.
Turman died Saturday at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, his family announced.
A former agent, he and producer David Foster began a 20-year partnership in 1974, and the first film to come out of the Turman Foster Co. was Stuart Rosenberg’s The Drowning Pool (1975), starring Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.
They went their separate ways in 1991 when Turman left to begin an association heading the esteemed Peter Stark Producing Program at USC that lasted until his retirement in 2021.
However, Turman wasn’t done producing, and in 1996 he and John Morrissey launched the Turman-Morrissey Co., which made the Jamie Foxx-starring Booty Call (1997); Tony Kaye’s American History X...
Turman died Saturday at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, his family announced.
A former agent, he and producer David Foster began a 20-year partnership in 1974, and the first film to come out of the Turman Foster Co. was Stuart Rosenberg’s The Drowning Pool (1975), starring Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.
They went their separate ways in 1991 when Turman left to begin an association heading the esteemed Peter Stark Producing Program at USC that lasted until his retirement in 2021.
However, Turman wasn’t done producing, and in 1996 he and John Morrissey launched the Turman-Morrissey Co., which made the Jamie Foxx-starring Booty Call (1997); Tony Kaye’s American History X...
- 7/3/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Amazon Freevee has teamed with MGM and Warner Bros. Discovery in a deal to add 23 Fast Channels.
Over the next few months., Freevee will launch 12 MGM channels, including single-title channels The Pink Panther, Stargate, Green Acres and The Outer Limits, alongside branded channels such as MGM Presents, MGM Presents: Action and MGM Presents: Sci-Fi, which will be programmed with premium movies and series including Capote and Red Dawn. They will join Paternity Court, In the Heat of the Night, The Addams Family and Teen Wolf, all of which are currently available on Freevee.
Freevee will launch 11 Wbd channels such as Cake Boss, Extreme Couponing, Ghost Brothers, Paranormal Lockdown, Say Yes to the Dress and Long Lost Family.
“Fast Channels offer Freevee viewers an always-on, 24/7, lean-back viewing experience that immediately connects them to a selection of TV shows, movies, and unscripted programming such as news, sports, and music,” said Ryan Pirozzi,...
Over the next few months., Freevee will launch 12 MGM channels, including single-title channels The Pink Panther, Stargate, Green Acres and The Outer Limits, alongside branded channels such as MGM Presents, MGM Presents: Action and MGM Presents: Sci-Fi, which will be programmed with premium movies and series including Capote and Red Dawn. They will join Paternity Court, In the Heat of the Night, The Addams Family and Teen Wolf, all of which are currently available on Freevee.
Freevee will launch 11 Wbd channels such as Cake Boss, Extreme Couponing, Ghost Brothers, Paranormal Lockdown, Say Yes to the Dress and Long Lost Family.
“Fast Channels offer Freevee viewers an always-on, 24/7, lean-back viewing experience that immediately connects them to a selection of TV shows, movies, and unscripted programming such as news, sports, and music,” said Ryan Pirozzi,...
- 6/12/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
MGM and Warner Bros. Discovery channels are coming to Amazon Freevee, adding to the free ad-supported streamer’s growing slate of programming.
The studio will launch 12 Fast channels focused on individual titles including “The Pink Panther,” “Stargate,” “Green Acres,” and “The Outer Limits,” alongside branded channels such as “MGM Presents,” “MGM Presents: Action,” and “MGM Presents: Sci-Fi,” which will be programmed with premium movies and series including “Capote” and “Red Dawn.” The MGM Fast channels join “Paternity Court,” “In the Heat of the Night,”“The Addams Family” and“Teen Wolf,” which are already live on Freevee.
Meanwhile, Warner will launch 11 Fast channels in June featuring Discovery and Wbd studio content such as “Cake Boss,”“Extreme Couponing,” “Ghost Brothers,”“Paranormal Lockdown,” “Say Yes to the Dress,”and “Long Lost Family.”
Also Read:
Amazon Plans to Launch Ad-Supported Prime Video Tier (Report)
Freevee has rapidly expanded its Fast offerings over the last...
The studio will launch 12 Fast channels focused on individual titles including “The Pink Panther,” “Stargate,” “Green Acres,” and “The Outer Limits,” alongside branded channels such as “MGM Presents,” “MGM Presents: Action,” and “MGM Presents: Sci-Fi,” which will be programmed with premium movies and series including “Capote” and “Red Dawn.” The MGM Fast channels join “Paternity Court,” “In the Heat of the Night,”“The Addams Family” and“Teen Wolf,” which are already live on Freevee.
Meanwhile, Warner will launch 11 Fast channels in June featuring Discovery and Wbd studio content such as “Cake Boss,”“Extreme Couponing,” “Ghost Brothers,”“Paranormal Lockdown,” “Say Yes to the Dress,”and “Long Lost Family.”
Also Read:
Amazon Plans to Launch Ad-Supported Prime Video Tier (Report)
Freevee has rapidly expanded its Fast offerings over the last...
- 6/12/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.
BlackBerry (Matt Johnson)
In BlackBerry, the rise of a blue-chip tech company sets the stage for the dissolution of a longstanding friendship. Sound familiar? Just wait ‘til you hear the score. Directed by Matt Johnson, it tells the true story of Mike Lazaridis and Douglas Fregin, software engineers who founded the company Rim in the mid-80s and later invented a cellphone that could handle email. The film begins on the day when they meet Jim Basillie (Glenn Howerton), a Rottweiler who, alongside Lazaridis’ genius, turned Rim’s invention (only later christened BlackBerry) into the world’s most ubiquitous mobile device––at least for a time. – Rory O. (full review)
Where to Stream: VOD
The Hole in the Fence (Joaquín del Paso...
BlackBerry (Matt Johnson)
In BlackBerry, the rise of a blue-chip tech company sets the stage for the dissolution of a longstanding friendship. Sound familiar? Just wait ‘til you hear the score. Directed by Matt Johnson, it tells the true story of Mike Lazaridis and Douglas Fregin, software engineers who founded the company Rim in the mid-80s and later invented a cellphone that could handle email. The film begins on the day when they meet Jim Basillie (Glenn Howerton), a Rottweiler who, alongside Lazaridis’ genius, turned Rim’s invention (only later christened BlackBerry) into the world’s most ubiquitous mobile device––at least for a time. – Rory O. (full review)
Where to Stream: VOD
The Hole in the Fence (Joaquín del Paso...
- 6/2/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Ed Ames, the youngest member of the popular 1950s singing group the Ames Brothers, who later became a successful actor in television and musical theatre, has died. He was 95.
The last survivor of the four singing brothers, Ames died May 21 from Alzheimer’s disease, his wife, Jeanne Ames, said Saturday.
“He had a wonderful life,” she said.
On television, Ames was likely best known for his role as Mingo, the Oxford-educated Native American in the 1960s adventure series “Daniel Boone” that starred Fess Parker as the famous frontiersman. He also was the centre of a bit on “The Tonight Show” that — thanks to his painfully uncanny aim with a hatchet — became one of the show’s most memorable surprise moments.
Ames had guest roles in TV series such as “Murder, She Wrote” and “In the Heat of the Night,” and toured frequently in musicals, performing such popular songs as “Try to Remember...
The last survivor of the four singing brothers, Ames died May 21 from Alzheimer’s disease, his wife, Jeanne Ames, said Saturday.
“He had a wonderful life,” she said.
On television, Ames was likely best known for his role as Mingo, the Oxford-educated Native American in the 1960s adventure series “Daniel Boone” that starred Fess Parker as the famous frontiersman. He also was the centre of a bit on “The Tonight Show” that — thanks to his painfully uncanny aim with a hatchet — became one of the show’s most memorable surprise moments.
Ames had guest roles in TV series such as “Murder, She Wrote” and “In the Heat of the Night,” and toured frequently in musicals, performing such popular songs as “Try to Remember...
- 5/28/2023
- by Brent Furdyk
- ET Canada
Ed Ames, the deep-toned baritone pop singer and actor who portrayed the faithful Cherokee sidekick Mingo on the 1960s NBC series Daniel Boone, has died. He was 95.
Ames died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles after a battle with Alzheimer’s, his wife Jeanne told The Hollywood Reporter.
A native of Massachusetts and a son of Jewish immigrants from Ukraine, Ames starred as the Oxford-educated Mingo opposite Fess Parker as Daniel Boone on the first four seasons (1964-68) of the TV Western.
His most memorable night on television, however, came in April 1965 during an appearance on NBC’s The Tonight Show. Demonstrating to host Johnny Carson how Mingo would expertly handle a tomahawk, he hurled the weapon at an outline of a cowboy drawn on a wooden board — and it stuck right in the crotch.
As the audience howled, Carson left his desk and said to Ames in now-classic ad-libbed lines,...
Ames died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles after a battle with Alzheimer’s, his wife Jeanne told The Hollywood Reporter.
A native of Massachusetts and a son of Jewish immigrants from Ukraine, Ames starred as the Oxford-educated Mingo opposite Fess Parker as Daniel Boone on the first four seasons (1964-68) of the TV Western.
His most memorable night on television, however, came in April 1965 during an appearance on NBC’s The Tonight Show. Demonstrating to host Johnny Carson how Mingo would expertly handle a tomahawk, he hurled the weapon at an outline of a cowboy drawn on a wooden board — and it stuck right in the crotch.
As the audience howled, Carson left his desk and said to Ames in now-classic ad-libbed lines,...
- 5/26/2023
- by Mike Barnes and Duane Byrge
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“I’m 36 years old and I’ve been lookin’ for a girl every Saturday night of my life. I’m a fat little ugly guy and girls don’t go for me, that’s all.” — Paddy Chayefsky’s “Marty.”
The low-budget 1955 drama “Marty” about a lonely middle-aged butcher who fears he’ll never find love became a surprise commercial and critical hit, ultimately winning Oscars for Best Picture, director for Delbert Mann, actor for Ernest Borgnine and best writing, screenplay for Chayefsky. The film would go on to win the Palme d’or at the Cannes Film Festival.
But audiences were first introduced to “Marty” two years earlier as a live hour-long drama on NBC’s “Philco Television Playhouse,” one of the most respected early anthology series winning a 1954 Peabody and eight Emmy nominations. Rod Steiger, then 28, starred as Marty, who decides to go to a lonelyheart’s social at...
The low-budget 1955 drama “Marty” about a lonely middle-aged butcher who fears he’ll never find love became a surprise commercial and critical hit, ultimately winning Oscars for Best Picture, director for Delbert Mann, actor for Ernest Borgnine and best writing, screenplay for Chayefsky. The film would go on to win the Palme d’or at the Cannes Film Festival.
But audiences were first introduced to “Marty” two years earlier as a live hour-long drama on NBC’s “Philco Television Playhouse,” one of the most respected early anthology series winning a 1954 Peabody and eight Emmy nominations. Rod Steiger, then 28, starred as Marty, who decides to go to a lonelyheart’s social at...
- 5/22/2023
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
Just in time for Succession‘s end, let’s look at method acting. The Criterion Channel are highlighting the controversial practice in a 27-film series centered on Brando, Newman, Nicholson, and many other’s embodiment of “an intensely personal, internalized, and naturalistic approach to performance.” That series makes mention of Marilyn Monroe, who gets her own, 11-title highlight––the iconic commingling with deeper cuts.
Pride Month offers “Masc,” a consideration of “trans men, butch lesbians, and gender-nonconforming heroes” onscreen; the Michael Koresky-curated Queersighted returning with a study of the gay best friend; and the 20-film “LGBTQ+ Favorites.” Louis Garrel’s delightful The Innocent (about which I talked to him here), the director’s cut of Gregg Araki’s The Doom Generation, and Stanley Kwan’s hugely underseen Lan Yu make streaming premieres, while Araki’s Totally F***ed Up and Mysterious Skin also get a run. Criterion Editions include Five Easy Pieces,...
Pride Month offers “Masc,” a consideration of “trans men, butch lesbians, and gender-nonconforming heroes” onscreen; the Michael Koresky-curated Queersighted returning with a study of the gay best friend; and the 20-film “LGBTQ+ Favorites.” Louis Garrel’s delightful The Innocent (about which I talked to him here), the director’s cut of Gregg Araki’s The Doom Generation, and Stanley Kwan’s hugely underseen Lan Yu make streaming premieres, while Araki’s Totally F***ed Up and Mysterious Skin also get a run. Criterion Editions include Five Easy Pieces,...
- 5/22/2023
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
When the late Sidney Poitier embarked on a movie career in the early 1950s, he entered an industry with a history of depicting Black people in the most negative fashion. The Birth of a Nation, the seminal 1915 silent film, had set the template – portraying African American characters as sex-crazed and subhuman.
“Then Sidney Poitier comes along singlehandedly smashing decades of racist iconography and turning it all on its head,” said Reginald Hudlin, director of the Apple TV+ documentary Sidney. “Him doing it at the same time as the Civil Rights Movement is making these political gains, he changed the global image of Black people on Earth.”
Related: Sidney Poitier: A Groundbreaking Career In Pictures
Hudlin and producer Derik Murray appeared at Deadline’s Contenders Television: Documentary + Unscripted virtual event to discuss their film about the Oscar-winning star of Lilies of the Field, A Raisin in the Sun, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner...
“Then Sidney Poitier comes along singlehandedly smashing decades of racist iconography and turning it all on its head,” said Reginald Hudlin, director of the Apple TV+ documentary Sidney. “Him doing it at the same time as the Civil Rights Movement is making these political gains, he changed the global image of Black people on Earth.”
Related: Sidney Poitier: A Groundbreaking Career In Pictures
Hudlin and producer Derik Murray appeared at Deadline’s Contenders Television: Documentary + Unscripted virtual event to discuss their film about the Oscar-winning star of Lilies of the Field, A Raisin in the Sun, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner...
- 4/29/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
(Welcome to Did They Get It Right?, a series where we take a look at an Oscars category from yesteryear and examine whether the Academy's winner stands the test of time.)
If you're ranking the most important years of American cinema, it's pretty difficult not to slot 1967 at number one. That year brought forth a major cultural and artistic shift in the medium, forever changing what American audiences thought cinema could be. This was the arrival of the New Hollywood and featured films that did more than just push the boundaries of mature subject matter, sex, violence, and politics on screen. They destroyed them. The two pillars of the year were Arthur Penn's bloody, sexy "Bonnie and Clyde" and Mike Nichols' coming-of-age dramedy "The Graduate," each becoming two of the three highest-grossing films of the year.
When the 1968 Oscars ceremony rolled around, both films found themselves in the best picture category.
If you're ranking the most important years of American cinema, it's pretty difficult not to slot 1967 at number one. That year brought forth a major cultural and artistic shift in the medium, forever changing what American audiences thought cinema could be. This was the arrival of the New Hollywood and featured films that did more than just push the boundaries of mature subject matter, sex, violence, and politics on screen. They destroyed them. The two pillars of the year were Arthur Penn's bloody, sexy "Bonnie and Clyde" and Mike Nichols' coming-of-age dramedy "The Graduate," each becoming two of the three highest-grossing films of the year.
When the 1968 Oscars ceremony rolled around, both films found themselves in the best picture category.
- 4/23/2023
- by Mike Shutt
- Slash Film
There’s a film in the Oscar best picture race that has younger Academy voters and a new generation of film critics excited, while their older peers in both camps appear more what one might call agitated.
It’s a fairly neat generational split. The film’s anarchic spirit and unorthodox mix of genre filmmaking and biting social commentary is seen as daring and refreshing by its young fans, while its older detractors are scratching their heads over weird tonal shifts, from comic and rollicking one minute, serious and reflective in the next, shifting from spoofing genre tropes to questioning of societal norms.
The year is 1968 and the film is Arthur Penn’s “Bonnie and Clyde.”
But you’d be forgiven if you found the paragraphs above an apt description of this year’s Producers Guild Awards best feature winner, “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
Just as “Bonnie” was a landmark film in Academy history,...
It’s a fairly neat generational split. The film’s anarchic spirit and unorthodox mix of genre filmmaking and biting social commentary is seen as daring and refreshing by its young fans, while its older detractors are scratching their heads over weird tonal shifts, from comic and rollicking one minute, serious and reflective in the next, shifting from spoofing genre tropes to questioning of societal norms.
The year is 1968 and the film is Arthur Penn’s “Bonnie and Clyde.”
But you’d be forgiven if you found the paragraphs above an apt description of this year’s Producers Guild Awards best feature winner, “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
Just as “Bonnie” was a landmark film in Academy history,...
- 2/26/2023
- by Steven Gaydos
- Variety Film + TV
Colin Jost and Michel Ché returned to Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update” and took on the Oscars hiring a crisis team to try to avoid slap-gate this year.
“Guys, it’s not going to happen again,” Jost said. “I’m sure you wish it would for ratings.”
Related Story Donald Trump’s Train Wreck Appearance In Polluted East Palestine, Ohio Heats Up ‘SNL’ Cold Open Related Story Woody Harrelson's Chaotic 'SNL' Monologue; Scarlett Johansson Surprises Host With Five-Timers Club Jacket – Update Related Story Walter Mirisch Dies: Oscar-Winning Producer Of 'In The Heat Of The Night' & 'West Side Story' Was 101
Jost then gave the Oscars ideas for promos starting off with, “Who’s gonna get slapped this year?”
“Can Ana de Armas beat the Tár out of Cate Blanchett?” was another one of his ideas.
Related: Woody Harrelson Parodies ‘The Whale’ On ‘SNL’
He continued with,...
“Guys, it’s not going to happen again,” Jost said. “I’m sure you wish it would for ratings.”
Related Story Donald Trump’s Train Wreck Appearance In Polluted East Palestine, Ohio Heats Up ‘SNL’ Cold Open Related Story Woody Harrelson's Chaotic 'SNL' Monologue; Scarlett Johansson Surprises Host With Five-Timers Club Jacket – Update Related Story Walter Mirisch Dies: Oscar-Winning Producer Of 'In The Heat Of The Night' & 'West Side Story' Was 101
Jost then gave the Oscars ideas for promos starting off with, “Who’s gonna get slapped this year?”
“Can Ana de Armas beat the Tár out of Cate Blanchett?” was another one of his ideas.
Related: Woody Harrelson Parodies ‘The Whale’ On ‘SNL’
He continued with,...
- 2/26/2023
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Walter Mirisch, former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Oscar-winning producer for In the Heat of the Night, died Friday in Los Angeles of natural causes. was 101. He had been the longest-living Oscar winner.
Mirisch — whose producing credits stretch to the 1940s and also include West Side Story, The Apartment and the 1960 and 2016 versions of The Magnificent Seven — also won a pair of Honorary Oscars: Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in 1978 and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1983. He also received the Producer Guild of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award in Motion Pictures in 1996.
Related Story Happy Birthday, Walter Mirisch: Oldest Living Oscar Winner Turns 100; His Films Include ‘West Side Story’, ‘The Apartment’ & ‘In The Heat Of The Night’ Related Story Oscars: Sofia Carson & Diane Warren To Perform 'Applause' During Ceremony Related Story Tom Whitlock Dies: Oscar-Winning Co-Writer Of 'Top Gun' Hits 'Take...
Mirisch — whose producing credits stretch to the 1940s and also include West Side Story, The Apartment and the 1960 and 2016 versions of The Magnificent Seven — also won a pair of Honorary Oscars: Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in 1978 and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1983. He also received the Producer Guild of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award in Motion Pictures in 1996.
Related Story Happy Birthday, Walter Mirisch: Oldest Living Oscar Winner Turns 100; His Films Include ‘West Side Story’, ‘The Apartment’ & ‘In The Heat Of The Night’ Related Story Oscars: Sofia Carson & Diane Warren To Perform 'Applause' During Ceremony Related Story Tom Whitlock Dies: Oscar-Winning Co-Writer Of 'Top Gun' Hits 'Take...
- 2/26/2023
- by Armando Tinoco and Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Walter Mirisch, a former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and an Oscar-winning producer for “In the Heat of the Night,” died Feb. 24 in Los Angeles of natural causes. He was 101.
Mirisch’s death was confirmed by a statement released by the Motion Picture Academy on Saturday.
“The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is deeply saddened to hear of Walter’s passing,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said in the statement. “Walter was a true visionary, both as a producer and as an industry leader. He had a powerful impact on the film community and the Academy, serving as our President and as an Academy governor for many years. His passion for filmmaking and the Academy never wavered, and he remained a dear friend and advisor. We send our love and support to his family during this difficult time.”
In the mid-20th century,...
Mirisch’s death was confirmed by a statement released by the Motion Picture Academy on Saturday.
“The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is deeply saddened to hear of Walter’s passing,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said in the statement. “Walter was a true visionary, both as a producer and as an industry leader. He had a powerful impact on the film community and the Academy, serving as our President and as an Academy governor for many years. His passion for filmmaking and the Academy never wavered, and he remained a dear friend and advisor. We send our love and support to his family during this difficult time.”
In the mid-20th century,...
- 2/26/2023
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
Walter Mirisch, producer of the 1967 Best Picture Oscar winner “In the Heat of the Night” and former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, died on Friday evening at the age of 101.
“The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is deeply saddened to hear of Walter’s passing,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang said in a statement.
“Walter was a true visionary, both as a producer and as an industry leader. He had a powerful impact on the film community and the Academy, serving as our President and as an Academy governor for many years,” the statement continued. “His passion for filmmaking and the Academy never wavered, and he remained a dear friend and advisor. We send our love and support to his family during this difficult time.”
Also Read:
Tom Whitlock, Co-Writer of ‘Top Gun’ Hits ‘Danger Zone’ and ‘Take My Breath Away,...
“The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is deeply saddened to hear of Walter’s passing,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang said in a statement.
“Walter was a true visionary, both as a producer and as an industry leader. He had a powerful impact on the film community and the Academy, serving as our President and as an Academy governor for many years,” the statement continued. “His passion for filmmaking and the Academy never wavered, and he remained a dear friend and advisor. We send our love and support to his family during this difficult time.”
Also Read:
Tom Whitlock, Co-Writer of ‘Top Gun’ Hits ‘Danger Zone’ and ‘Take My Breath Away,...
- 2/26/2023
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Walter Mirisch, the legendary independent-minded producer who is the only person to receive the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences’ Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, the Irving G. Thalberg Award and an Oscar for best picture, has died. He was 101.
The affable Mirisch, who served four terms as president of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences from 1973-77, died Friday in Los Angeles of natural causes, AMPAS announced.
“Walter was a true visionary, both as a producer and as an industry leader,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said in a joint statement. “He had a powerful impact on the film community and the Academy, serving as our president and as an Academy governor for many years. His passion for filmmaking and the Academy never wavered, and he remained a dear friend and adviser.”
Survivors include his son Larry Mirisch, the owner of The Mirisch Agency,...
The affable Mirisch, who served four terms as president of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences from 1973-77, died Friday in Los Angeles of natural causes, AMPAS announced.
“Walter was a true visionary, both as a producer and as an industry leader,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said in a joint statement. “He had a powerful impact on the film community and the Academy, serving as our president and as an Academy governor for many years. His passion for filmmaking and the Academy never wavered, and he remained a dear friend and adviser.”
Survivors include his son Larry Mirisch, the owner of The Mirisch Agency,...
- 2/25/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
When Sidney Poitier was honored as the first African American male to win a competitive acting Oscar in 1964 for his lead performance in “Lilies of the Field,” it had been 24 years since Hattie McDaniel became the Jackie Robinson of the Academy Awards with her breakthrough triumph in 1940 for “Gone With the Wind.” And it would be another 19 years before there was a third: Louis Gossett Jr.’s supporting actor victory in 1983 for “An Officer and a Gentleman.”
Wins for three performers of color in 43 years didn’t exactly represent a trend. But in the 39 years after that, there would be 19 more, including a pair of African American actors (Denzel Washington and Mahershala Ali) who won twice apiece. Poitier’s ’64 triumph proved as surprising as it was stirring, and undeniably political. Leading up to that historic event, his inscrutable countenance and the almost regal way he carried himself made Poitier a...
Wins for three performers of color in 43 years didn’t exactly represent a trend. But in the 39 years after that, there would be 19 more, including a pair of African American actors (Denzel Washington and Mahershala Ali) who won twice apiece. Poitier’s ’64 triumph proved as surprising as it was stirring, and undeniably political. Leading up to that historic event, his inscrutable countenance and the almost regal way he carried himself made Poitier a...
- 2/25/2023
- by Ray Richmond
- Gold Derby
It’s easy to get caught up in awards season excitement as the Oscars approach – the glitz and glamour of the red carpet generating global talking points, memes and pub chatter for weeks on end.
But when it’s really broken down, the Oscars are essentially just a microcosm of Hollywood. It’s a depressing fact that films directed by previous winners have more chance of being nominated than those directed by newcomers.
Because of this, the best film in any given year almost never wins the evening’s most coveted prize – in fact, it’s sometimes not even nominated in the first place. The ceremony in 2021, which saw Parasite take home the top prize, was a rare exception.
Over the decades, there have been countless glaring omissions – films that were nominated but were beaten by far inferior films and classic films that failed to secure a single nomination.
As the 2023 Oscars approach,...
But when it’s really broken down, the Oscars are essentially just a microcosm of Hollywood. It’s a depressing fact that films directed by previous winners have more chance of being nominated than those directed by newcomers.
Because of this, the best film in any given year almost never wins the evening’s most coveted prize – in fact, it’s sometimes not even nominated in the first place. The ceremony in 2021, which saw Parasite take home the top prize, was a rare exception.
Over the decades, there have been countless glaring omissions – films that were nominated but were beaten by far inferior films and classic films that failed to secure a single nomination.
As the 2023 Oscars approach,...
- 2/22/2023
- by Jacob Stolworthy
- The Independent - Film
Now Amazon’s MGM+ is playing with “Power.” And “Outlander,” and “P-Valley,” etc.
Starz and Amazon have struck what the companies are calling a “long term” deal to bundle Starz with MGM+ on Prime Video in the U.S. The subscription bundle, which is launching “in the coming weeks,” will cost 11.99 per month, the companies said on Friday. That’s a 20 percent discount vs. subscribing to both services on a standalone basis, which would cost 14.99. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Starz was already available as a Prime Video Channels add-on for 8.99 per month. This arrangement just brings it more within the family.
“We are excited to join forces with Amazon to offer Starz together with MGM+ to their millions of customers on Prime Video,” said Alison Hoffman, president of domestic networks for Starz. “Starz is a complementary service to general entertainment offerings, so we’re thrilled to...
Starz and Amazon have struck what the companies are calling a “long term” deal to bundle Starz with MGM+ on Prime Video in the U.S. The subscription bundle, which is launching “in the coming weeks,” will cost 11.99 per month, the companies said on Friday. That’s a 20 percent discount vs. subscribing to both services on a standalone basis, which would cost 14.99. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Starz was already available as a Prime Video Channels add-on for 8.99 per month. This arrangement just brings it more within the family.
“We are excited to join forces with Amazon to offer Starz together with MGM+ to their millions of customers on Prime Video,” said Alison Hoffman, president of domestic networks for Starz. “Starz is a complementary service to general entertainment offerings, so we’re thrilled to...
- 2/17/2023
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
As 2022 comes to a close, we here at JoBlo.com would like to take a moment to pay tribute to some of the people who sadly passed away this year. Our deepest respect goes out to everyone in the industry we have lost, and our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of those who died in 2022. These talented individuals will always be remembered for their impact on the world of film and television.
In Memory Of…
Peter Bogdanovich
When Peter Bogdanovich was twelve-years-old, he began keeping a record of every film he saw, even including reviews, a practice he kept up for decades, seeing as many as four hundred films a year. This sparked a love of movies and he was intent on becoming a director. Bogdanovich caught his break when he happened to strike up a conversation with Roger Corman at a screening, who quickly offered him a job.
In Memory Of…
Peter Bogdanovich
When Peter Bogdanovich was twelve-years-old, he began keeping a record of every film he saw, even including reviews, a practice he kept up for decades, seeing as many as four hundred films a year. This sparked a love of movies and he was intent on becoming a director. Bogdanovich caught his break when he happened to strike up a conversation with Roger Corman at a screening, who quickly offered him a job.
- 1/3/2023
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
As the calendar flips over to 2023, Prime Video is attempting to start a new year on the right track with fresh seasons of some major originals.
Prime Videos’ list of new releases for January 2023 is highlighted by Hunters season 2 on Jan. 13. The first season of Hunters was set in 1977 and followed young Jonah Heidelbaum’s (Logan Lerman) introduction to a world of Nazi-hunting. After a lengthy wait for season 2, the fresh (and final) batch of episodes will find Jonah and friends venturing to South American to take out none other than Adolf Hitler, himself.
While Nazi-hunting undoubtedly takes up a lot of streaming space, two other Amazon original series of note arrive in January. The Rig, a supernatural thriller set on a Scottish oil rig, premieres Jan. 6. That will be followed by season 2 of fantasy role-playing animated series The Legend of Vox Machina on Jan. 20.
The action comedy Shotgun Wedding...
Prime Videos’ list of new releases for January 2023 is highlighted by Hunters season 2 on Jan. 13. The first season of Hunters was set in 1977 and followed young Jonah Heidelbaum’s (Logan Lerman) introduction to a world of Nazi-hunting. After a lengthy wait for season 2, the fresh (and final) batch of episodes will find Jonah and friends venturing to South American to take out none other than Adolf Hitler, himself.
While Nazi-hunting undoubtedly takes up a lot of streaming space, two other Amazon original series of note arrive in January. The Rig, a supernatural thriller set on a Scottish oil rig, premieres Jan. 6. That will be followed by season 2 of fantasy role-playing animated series The Legend of Vox Machina on Jan. 20.
The action comedy Shotgun Wedding...
- 1/1/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Bob Penny, a poet and professor who after retirement appeared in small parts in movies including Forrest Gump, Sweet Home Alabama and My Cousin Vinny and in the TV series In the Heat of the Night, died December 25 in Huntsville, Al. He was 87.
His death was announced on the website of Huntsville’s Laughlin Service Funeral Home & Crematory. No cause of death was given.
Related Story Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery Related Story "Life Is Like A Golgappa": How Aamir Khan's 'Forrest Gump' Adapts Tom Hanks Hit For Indian Audiences Related Story Sidney Poitier: A Groundbreaking Career In Pictures
Penny, born in Anniston, Al, grew up in North Carolina before returning to Alabama where he taught poetry and prose at the University of Alabama at Birmingham for 21 years. He won a regional award for his own poetry and appeared in dozens of dramatic productions throughout the Southeast,...
His death was announced on the website of Huntsville’s Laughlin Service Funeral Home & Crematory. No cause of death was given.
Related Story Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery Related Story "Life Is Like A Golgappa": How Aamir Khan's 'Forrest Gump' Adapts Tom Hanks Hit For Indian Audiences Related Story Sidney Poitier: A Groundbreaking Career In Pictures
Penny, born in Anniston, Al, grew up in North Carolina before returning to Alabama where he taught poetry and prose at the University of Alabama at Birmingham for 21 years. He won a regional award for his own poetry and appeared in dozens of dramatic productions throughout the Southeast,...
- 12/30/2022
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Bob Penny — an Alabama college professor turned actor with a nearly 30-year career in Hollywood — died on Christmas Day in Huntsville, Alabama. He was 87.
Penny spent three decades as an English professor, teaching Poetry and Prose at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. During his career as a professor, Penny was an award-winning educator and acclaimed poet in his own right.
He retired from academia in 1990, after 32 years in the classroom, and turned toward his passion for performing. Penny began getting work in small bit parts in some beloved classics.
Throughout his Hollywood career, Penny appeared in over 30 films and TV shows. His movie credits include “Sweet Home Alabama”, “Forrest Gump”, “Mississippi Burning”, “My Cousin Vinny” and “The Legend of Bagger Vance”, among others.
As for TV projects, Penny appeared on shows such as “Higher Education”, “Drop Dead Diva”, “Devious Maids” and the TV adaptation of “In the Heat of the Night...
Penny spent three decades as an English professor, teaching Poetry and Prose at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. During his career as a professor, Penny was an award-winning educator and acclaimed poet in his own right.
He retired from academia in 1990, after 32 years in the classroom, and turned toward his passion for performing. Penny began getting work in small bit parts in some beloved classics.
Throughout his Hollywood career, Penny appeared in over 30 films and TV shows. His movie credits include “Sweet Home Alabama”, “Forrest Gump”, “Mississippi Burning”, “My Cousin Vinny” and “The Legend of Bagger Vance”, among others.
As for TV projects, Penny appeared on shows such as “Higher Education”, “Drop Dead Diva”, “Devious Maids” and the TV adaptation of “In the Heat of the Night...
- 12/30/2022
- by Becca Longmire
- ET Canada
Throughout 2022, we have been updating our “In Memoriam” photo gallery (view above). Scroll through to remember 32 entertainers from film, television, theater and music. Many were winners at the Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and/or Tonys. Here is a closer look at just a few of those we celebrate in our gallery:
Fleetwood Mac singer and songwriter Christine McVie died on November 30 at age 79. Some of her biggest hits were “Don’t Stop,” “Everywhere” and “Little Lies.” The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
Music legend Jerry Lee Lewis died on October 28 at age 87. He was an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Hits included “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Great Balls of Fire” and “Breathless.” He was a Grammy Award winner and received their life achievement award.
SEEAngela Lansbury movies: 12 greatest films ranked from worst...
Fleetwood Mac singer and songwriter Christine McVie died on November 30 at age 79. Some of her biggest hits were “Don’t Stop,” “Everywhere” and “Little Lies.” The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
Music legend Jerry Lee Lewis died on October 28 at age 87. He was an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Hits included “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Great Balls of Fire” and “Breathless.” He was a Grammy Award winner and received their life achievement award.
SEEAngela Lansbury movies: 12 greatest films ranked from worst...
- 12/27/2022
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Click here to read the full article.
The Directors Guild of America announced on Thursday the recipients of two of the guild’s top honors at the 75th annual DGA Awards.
First assistant director Mark Hansson will receive the 2023 Frank Capra achievement award, while stage manager Valdez Flagg will be honored with the Franklin J. Schaffner achievement award. Both honors are given in recognition of career achievement in the industry and service to the DGA.
“Mark Hansson and Valdez Flagg have steadfastly worked to support the rights of their fellow members while being two of the top directorial team professionals in our industry for more than 30 years,” says DGA president Lesli Linka Glatter in a statement. “The Guild thrives when talented members like Mark and Valdez step up and contribute to their Councils, Committees and our Guild priorities for the benefit of all members.”
A DGA member since 1990, Hansson has more than 130 assistant director credits,...
The Directors Guild of America announced on Thursday the recipients of two of the guild’s top honors at the 75th annual DGA Awards.
First assistant director Mark Hansson will receive the 2023 Frank Capra achievement award, while stage manager Valdez Flagg will be honored with the Franklin J. Schaffner achievement award. Both honors are given in recognition of career achievement in the industry and service to the DGA.
“Mark Hansson and Valdez Flagg have steadfastly worked to support the rights of their fellow members while being two of the top directorial team professionals in our industry for more than 30 years,” says DGA president Lesli Linka Glatter in a statement. “The Guild thrives when talented members like Mark and Valdez step up and contribute to their Councils, Committees and our Guild priorities for the benefit of all members.”
A DGA member since 1990, Hansson has more than 130 assistant director credits,...
- 12/22/2022
- by Tyler Coates
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Mark Hansson and Valdez Flagg will be honored at the 75th Annual DGA Awards for their career achievements and “extraordinary service” to the guild. Hansson, a veteran first assistant director, will receive the Frank Capra Achievement Award, and Flagg, a longtime stage manager, will receive the Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award.
“Mark Hansson and Valdez Flagg have steadfastly worked to support the rights of their fellow members while being two of the top directorial team professionals in our industry for more than 30 years,” said DGA President Lesli Linka Glatter. “The Guild thrives when talented members like Mark and Valdez step up and contribute to their Councils, Committees and our Guild priorities for the benefit of all members.”
Hansson, a DGA member since 1990, has more than 130 assistant director credits. His television Ad work has been recognized on productions that have received seven DGA Award nominations – Six Feet Under, Curb Your Enthusiasm,...
“Mark Hansson and Valdez Flagg have steadfastly worked to support the rights of their fellow members while being two of the top directorial team professionals in our industry for more than 30 years,” said DGA President Lesli Linka Glatter. “The Guild thrives when talented members like Mark and Valdez step up and contribute to their Councils, Committees and our Guild priorities for the benefit of all members.”
Hansson, a DGA member since 1990, has more than 130 assistant director credits. His television Ad work has been recognized on productions that have received seven DGA Award nominations – Six Feet Under, Curb Your Enthusiasm,...
- 12/22/2022
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
The new year is upon us and Amazon Prime Video is kicking things off in grand fashion. Not only are they debuting the third season of their Tom Clancy adaptation “Jack Ryan,” they’re also debuting the final season of the ambitious, Al Pacino-starring actioner “Hunters.”
Initially debuting to the service in February of 2020, right as the pandemic started, the series’ first season follows a ragtag group of Nazi hunters in 1977 New York City. The so-called Hunters discover that hundreds of high-ranking Nazi officials are living in the United States and are conspiring to create a Fourth Reich in America. The Nazi hunters, led by Pacino, will embark on a bloody quest to bring the Nazis to justice and thwart their genocidal plans. The series concluded in 2020 and has taken some time to get back to screens. Unfortunately, this second season will be a finale as well so fans...
Initially debuting to the service in February of 2020, right as the pandemic started, the series’ first season follows a ragtag group of Nazi hunters in 1977 New York City. The so-called Hunters discover that hundreds of high-ranking Nazi officials are living in the United States and are conspiring to create a Fourth Reich in America. The Nazi hunters, led by Pacino, will embark on a bloody quest to bring the Nazis to justice and thwart their genocidal plans. The series concluded in 2020 and has taken some time to get back to screens. Unfortunately, this second season will be a finale as well so fans...
- 12/16/2022
- by Kristen Lopez
- Indiewire
At the 67th Golden Globe Awards in 2010, James Cameron’s “Avatar” triumphed on two of its four nominations, in the categories of Best Drama and Best Director. At the time, the groundbreaking sci-fi epic was one week away from becoming the highest-grossing film of all time and, in Cameron’s mind, was just the start of an expansive series. Now that its first sequel, “Avatar: The Way of Water,” is finally complete, there are new box office and awards records on the horizon. For instance, the “Avatar” franchise could be the first to ever achieve two top Golden Globe wins.
Gold Derby’s current Golden Globes predictions show “Avatar: The Way of Water” being this year’s seventh likeliest Best Drama Film contender, with Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans” being the solid frontrunner. Cameron’s history with this category dates back to 1998, when his “Titanic” won this and three other awards,...
Gold Derby’s current Golden Globes predictions show “Avatar: The Way of Water” being this year’s seventh likeliest Best Drama Film contender, with Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans” being the solid frontrunner. Cameron’s history with this category dates back to 1998, when his “Titanic” won this and three other awards,...
- 12/10/2022
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
A quarter century after winning her third film acting Golden Globe, Ingrid Bergman was honored by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association one last time for her performance in the TV movie “A Woman Called Golda.” This victory was historic in that it occurred five months after her death, thus making her the only actress to ever win a Golden Globe posthumously. She also remains one of only two deceased female performers ever nominated by the HFPA, but the group could soon grow by one if the recently departed Charlbi Dean (“Triangle of Sadness”) lands in the 2023 Best Film Comedy/Musical Actress lineup.
Dean passed away at the age of 32 on August 29, 2022, which happened to be the 40th anniversary of Bergman’s death. Her performance as social media influencer Yaya in “Triangle of Sadness” has been heavily praised since the film premiered in Cannes this spring, and she now ranks eighth...
Dean passed away at the age of 32 on August 29, 2022, which happened to be the 40th anniversary of Bergman’s death. Her performance as social media influencer Yaya in “Triangle of Sadness” has been heavily praised since the film premiered in Cannes this spring, and she now ranks eighth...
- 12/8/2022
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
“Everything Everywhere All at Once,” a multiverse-spanning adventure, scored at the 32nd annual Gotham Awards, capturing the prize for best feature. It also nabbed a best supporting performance honor for Ke Huy Quan, a former child star best known for his work in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” who returned to acting after a nearly 20-year hiatus.
“Oftentimes it is in independent films, where actors who otherwise wouldn’t get a chance, find their opportunities,” Quan said in an emotional speech. “I was that actor.”
Other notable winners included Danielle Deadwyler, who nabbed a best leading performance prize for her work as a grieving mother in “Till.” The Gothams’ acting prizes are gender-neutral, which meant that Deadwyler not only competed with the likes of Cate Blanchett in “Tár,” but that she also beat out contenders such as Brendan Fraser in “The Whale” and Paul Mescal in “Aftersun.”
“Tár...
“Oftentimes it is in independent films, where actors who otherwise wouldn’t get a chance, find their opportunities,” Quan said in an emotional speech. “I was that actor.”
Other notable winners included Danielle Deadwyler, who nabbed a best leading performance prize for her work as a grieving mother in “Till.” The Gothams’ acting prizes are gender-neutral, which meant that Deadwyler not only competed with the likes of Cate Blanchett in “Tár,” but that she also beat out contenders such as Brendan Fraser in “The Whale” and Paul Mescal in “Aftersun.”
“Tár...
- 11/29/2022
- by Katie Reul and Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
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