Exclusive: Scatena & Rosner Films has acquired worldwide rights to The Christmas Letter, a holiday comedy featuring an all-star cast including Angus Benfield (The Keeper), Chevy Chase (Community), Randy Quaid (The Last Detail), and Brian Doyle-Murray (Groundhog Day). This film marks the directorial debut of Tori Hunter, a notable figure recognized for his achievements both on the baseball field and in business. This project is particularly exciting as it involves talents renowned in other fields, bringing fresh perspectives to filmmaking, said one of the film’s producers. The Christmas Letter centers on an unemployed copywriter who each year receives a boastful...
- 6/7/2024
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
Exclusive: Scatena & Rosner Films has acquired worldwide rights to The Christmas Letter, a holiday comedy starring Angus Benfield (The Keeper), Chevy Chase (Community), Randy Quaid (The Last Detail), and Brian Doyle-Murray (Groundhog Day). Marking the feature directorial debut of Tori Hunter, the film is expected to be released in theaters later this year.
The Christmas Letter follows an unemployed copywriter who receives an annual braggadocious Christmas letter from his well-to-do friend who’s great at making our hero feel less than. Tired of being outdone and down on his luck, he gambles everything to give his family a Christmas-letter worthy vacation, and to upstage his wealthy pest.
Written by Michael Cunningham, the flick is produced by Benfield and Michael Cunningham. Daniel Hegel, Ruth Benfield, Gato Scatena, and Jordan Rosner served as executive producers.
“This film is going to be such a fun nod to classics like ‘Christmas Vacation,’ we...
The Christmas Letter follows an unemployed copywriter who receives an annual braggadocious Christmas letter from his well-to-do friend who’s great at making our hero feel less than. Tired of being outdone and down on his luck, he gambles everything to give his family a Christmas-letter worthy vacation, and to upstage his wealthy pest.
Written by Michael Cunningham, the flick is produced by Benfield and Michael Cunningham. Daniel Hegel, Ruth Benfield, Gato Scatena, and Jordan Rosner served as executive producers.
“This film is going to be such a fun nod to classics like ‘Christmas Vacation,’ we...
- 5/30/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Founders Day: "In this satirical political slasher from the Bloomquist Brothers, a small town is shaken by a series of ominous killings in the days leading up to a heated mayoral election. As accusations fly and the threat of a masked killer darkens every street corner, the residents must race to uncover the truth before fear consumes the town.
Fresh off of a multi-city national theatrical run, has enjoyed a strong festival and great critical reception. The latest feature from fraternal writing-director duo Erik & Carson Bloomquist and production outfit Mainframe Pictures boasts a strong ensemble cast including the reunion of 13 Reasons Why stars Devin Druid and Amy Hargreaves, Naomi Grace (NCIS), Catherine Curtin (Stranger Things), Emilia McCarthy (SkyMed), Olivia Nikkanen (The Society), and William Russ (Boy Meets World)."
Directed by: Erik Bloomquist Written by: Erik Bloomquist & Carson Bloomquist Produced by: Erik Bloomquist, Carson Bloomquist & Adam Weppler Production Company:...
Fresh off of a multi-city national theatrical run, has enjoyed a strong festival and great critical reception. The latest feature from fraternal writing-director duo Erik & Carson Bloomquist and production outfit Mainframe Pictures boasts a strong ensemble cast including the reunion of 13 Reasons Why stars Devin Druid and Amy Hargreaves, Naomi Grace (NCIS), Catherine Curtin (Stranger Things), Emilia McCarthy (SkyMed), Olivia Nikkanen (The Society), and William Russ (Boy Meets World)."
Directed by: Erik Bloomquist Written by: Erik Bloomquist & Carson Bloomquist Produced by: Erik Bloomquist, Carson Bloomquist & Adam Weppler Production Company:...
- 5/30/2024
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
When Cate Blanchett starts shooting a new movie or show, it’s always the same story.
“It’s like Groundhog Day,” Blanchett said at the Kering Women in Motion Talks at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday. “I do the head count, and I’m back in the same place, working with men who I love working with and respect, [but] I’m walking on set and there’s 50 people on set and there’s three women. When is this going to deeply, profoundly shift?”
Blanchett is trying to change a system that remains male-dominated despite all the panels and protests and calls for action. In addition to debuting her latest film “Rumours” (which she also executive produced), the Oscar-winner is at the festival to promote Proof of Concept, an accelerator program she co-founded last year to elevate the perspectives of women, trans and nonbinary people by financially backing their short “proof of concept” films.
“It’s like Groundhog Day,” Blanchett said at the Kering Women in Motion Talks at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday. “I do the head count, and I’m back in the same place, working with men who I love working with and respect, [but] I’m walking on set and there’s 50 people on set and there’s three women. When is this going to deeply, profoundly shift?”
Blanchett is trying to change a system that remains male-dominated despite all the panels and protests and calls for action. In addition to debuting her latest film “Rumours” (which she also executive produced), the Oscar-winner is at the festival to promote Proof of Concept, an accelerator program she co-founded last year to elevate the perspectives of women, trans and nonbinary people by financially backing their short “proof of concept” films.
- 5/20/2024
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Chicago – One of Chicago’s icon theater actors … Michael Shannon … is performing again in town, in the company that he co-founded. Red Orchid Theatre presents Michael Shannon and Travis A. Knight in the World Premiere of “Turret” by Levi Holloway, now at the Chopin Theatre through June 9, 2024. For tickets and info, click Turret.
Two men (Shannon and Knight) survive in a facility deep underground somewhere in the wild woods of the Pacific Northwest, hiding away from something terrible from the outside. Ensnared in a relentless loop of endless tomorrows, they discover the wolf isn’t at the door, it’s already inside, waiting in the creeping darkness all around them. “Turret” is an excavation of masculinity, love, loss and isolation, and a claustrophobic carnival of carnage, carrier pigeons, cribbage, whiskey, music, mischief and mayhem.
Red Orchid’s ’Turret’ at the Chopin Theatre through June 9th
Photo credit: RedOrchidTheatre.org
Michael Shannon was born in Kentucky,...
Two men (Shannon and Knight) survive in a facility deep underground somewhere in the wild woods of the Pacific Northwest, hiding away from something terrible from the outside. Ensnared in a relentless loop of endless tomorrows, they discover the wolf isn’t at the door, it’s already inside, waiting in the creeping darkness all around them. “Turret” is an excavation of masculinity, love, loss and isolation, and a claustrophobic carnival of carnage, carrier pigeons, cribbage, whiskey, music, mischief and mayhem.
Red Orchid’s ’Turret’ at the Chopin Theatre through June 9th
Photo credit: RedOrchidTheatre.org
Michael Shannon was born in Kentucky,...
- 5/11/2024
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
You can now watch Poolman only in theaters.
It’s nearly impossible to overemphasize positive thinking as a film critic. In fact, we are trained to forgo any suppression of negative emotions or experiences and embrace them so we can look at films with a critical eye. However, Chirs Pine is a likable actor that you want to root for Poolman. Yet, it was nearly impossible to sit through whenever I tried to watch his freshman film.
God bless the few brave souls who enjoyed Pine’s directorial debut over the festival circuit. Yes, it’s wonderful to have an optimistic perspective on life. And yes, we should all try to look at life like a glass half full. However, I’m worried those few have such a positive outlook on life that it borders on toxic.
Perhaps that is the only explanation of how such a dull, incoherent, and...
It’s nearly impossible to overemphasize positive thinking as a film critic. In fact, we are trained to forgo any suppression of negative emotions or experiences and embrace them so we can look at films with a critical eye. However, Chirs Pine is a likable actor that you want to root for Poolman. Yet, it was nearly impossible to sit through whenever I tried to watch his freshman film.
God bless the few brave souls who enjoyed Pine’s directorial debut over the festival circuit. Yes, it’s wonderful to have an optimistic perspective on life. And yes, we should all try to look at life like a glass half full. However, I’m worried those few have such a positive outlook on life that it borders on toxic.
Perhaps that is the only explanation of how such a dull, incoherent, and...
- 5/10/2024
- by M.N. Miller
- FandomWire
Exclusive: To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Columbia Pictures, the municipality of Cannes will present a free photographic exhibition titled “Lighting the Way: From the Torch Lady to Leading Ladies.” The photos will be on display for the general public on Cours Félix Faure in Cannes from May 13 to June 10.
Led by Columbia Pictures’ iconic Lady with the Torch, the exhibition will consist of over 30 rare photographs from Columbia’s archive and highlighting legendary actresses from Hollywood’s Golden Age and beyond, including Katherine Hepburn, Deborah Kerr, Claudette Colbert, Ann-Margret, Meryl Streep, Viola Davis, Julia Roberts, Michelle Yeoh and Rita Hayworth. A restored version of Hayworth’s Gilda is screening as part of the Cannes Film Festival’s Cannes Classics program this year.
Said Tom Rothman, Chairman & CEO of Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group, “Columbia Pictures may have been founded by men, but women have always been vital to its growth and impact.
Led by Columbia Pictures’ iconic Lady with the Torch, the exhibition will consist of over 30 rare photographs from Columbia’s archive and highlighting legendary actresses from Hollywood’s Golden Age and beyond, including Katherine Hepburn, Deborah Kerr, Claudette Colbert, Ann-Margret, Meryl Streep, Viola Davis, Julia Roberts, Michelle Yeoh and Rita Hayworth. A restored version of Hayworth’s Gilda is screening as part of the Cannes Film Festival’s Cannes Classics program this year.
Said Tom Rothman, Chairman & CEO of Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group, “Columbia Pictures may have been founded by men, but women have always been vital to its growth and impact.
- 5/10/2024
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
“Happy Death Day” is back for one more kill, according to lead actress Jessica Rothe.
The “Boy Kills World” star told ScreenGeek that director Christopher Landon already has a third feature set to cap off the “Groundhog Day”-type horror trilogy. Rothe plays sorority sister Tree Gelbman who relives her own murder in the 2017 original film. That movie grossed $125 million at the global box office against a budget of $4.8 million. A 2019 sequel similarly did well, garnering $64 million against a budget of $9 million.
“Well, I can say Chris Landon has the whole thing figured out. We just need to wait for Blumhouse and Universal to get their ducks in a row,” Rothe said of a third installment. “But my fingers are so crossed. I think Tree deserves her third and final chapter to bring that incredible character and franchise to a close or a new beginning.”
Landon was set to direct the now-reworked “Scream 7.
The “Boy Kills World” star told ScreenGeek that director Christopher Landon already has a third feature set to cap off the “Groundhog Day”-type horror trilogy. Rothe plays sorority sister Tree Gelbman who relives her own murder in the 2017 original film. That movie grossed $125 million at the global box office against a budget of $4.8 million. A 2019 sequel similarly did well, garnering $64 million against a budget of $9 million.
“Well, I can say Chris Landon has the whole thing figured out. We just need to wait for Blumhouse and Universal to get their ducks in a row,” Rothe said of a third installment. “But my fingers are so crossed. I think Tree deserves her third and final chapter to bring that incredible character and franchise to a close or a new beginning.”
Landon was set to direct the now-reworked “Scream 7.
- 4/26/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Being one of the most important figures of New Hollywood and the most commercially successful director in history, Steven Spielberg has prominently inscribed his name in history. Movie recommendations of the pioneer of the modern blockbuster or even the whole 21st century’s cinema definitely deserve our close attention.
Speaking of one classic feature, the filmmaker stated it meant everything to him, calling it “one of the great movies ever made”, while many critics claim it’s the best film ever made in cinematic history. Indeed, its impact on the industry is hard to overestimate.
The 1941 drama that we’re talking about focuses on the rises and falls of a big publishing magnate, the character based on the renowned media barons and tycoons of that time and partially of the movie screenwriters' own real-life experiences. And yes, you guessed it right: the movie in question is Citizen Kane.
Why Does...
Speaking of one classic feature, the filmmaker stated it meant everything to him, calling it “one of the great movies ever made”, while many critics claim it’s the best film ever made in cinematic history. Indeed, its impact on the industry is hard to overestimate.
The 1941 drama that we’re talking about focuses on the rises and falls of a big publishing magnate, the character based on the renowned media barons and tycoons of that time and partially of the movie screenwriters' own real-life experiences. And yes, you guessed it right: the movie in question is Citizen Kane.
Why Does...
- 4/19/2024
- by info@startefacts.com (Ava Raxa)
- STartefacts.com
Tubi, Fox’s free streaming service, has announced its list of May titles. The May 2024 slate features new Tubi Originals as well as numerous action, art house, Black cinema, comedy, documentary, drama, horror, kids and family, romance, sci-fi and fantasy, thriller, and Western titles.
As a leading ad-supported video-on-demand service, Tubi engages diverse audiences through a personalized experience and the world’s largest content library, which includes over 200,000 movies and TV episodes, a growing collection of Tubi Originals, and nearly 250 Fast channels.
You can watch the Tubi May 2024 lineup for free on Android and iOS mobile devices, Amazon Echo Show, Google Nest Hub Max, Comcast Xfinity X1, and Cox Contour.
You can also watch the service on connected television devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Vizio TVs, Sony TVs, Samsung TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and on the Tubi site.
Tubi Originals
Action...
As a leading ad-supported video-on-demand service, Tubi engages diverse audiences through a personalized experience and the world’s largest content library, which includes over 200,000 movies and TV episodes, a growing collection of Tubi Originals, and nearly 250 Fast channels.
You can watch the Tubi May 2024 lineup for free on Android and iOS mobile devices, Amazon Echo Show, Google Nest Hub Max, Comcast Xfinity X1, and Cox Contour.
You can also watch the service on connected television devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Vizio TVs, Sony TVs, Samsung TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and on the Tubi site.
Tubi Originals
Action...
- 4/17/2024
- by Mirko Parlevliet
- Vital Thrills
There's an assumption, especially nowadays in the post-Judd Apatow filmmaking era, that comedies are great big improv fests. A finished script is nice and all, but when you put a bunch of funny people together, you'd be loath not to let them riff up a storm; give yourself a multitude of options in the edit, and, provided your cast brings their A game, you'll wind up finding the funniest possible version of your movie. It's comedy Cassavetes!
This is, of course, nonsense. While great actors are capable of improving a scene via a sudden bolt of inspiration -- be it dramatic or comedic -- you don't waltz into a production with a bare template in the hopes that your cast will deliver inspired daily punch-ups. You plan the living hell out of your movie because you've got to make days; falling behind schedule means going over budget, and unless...
This is, of course, nonsense. While great actors are capable of improving a scene via a sudden bolt of inspiration -- be it dramatic or comedic -- you don't waltz into a production with a bare template in the hopes that your cast will deliver inspired daily punch-ups. You plan the living hell out of your movie because you've got to make days; falling behind schedule means going over budget, and unless...
- 4/15/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga director George Miller is currently in Las Vegas attending CinemaCon where he has received an award for International Career Achievement in Filmmaking. During the Q&a, George Miller touched upon his influences and explained why Pinocchio is his favourite movie.
“It’s because it was one of the first stories I saw that ticked every box,” Miller explained. “When we watch a film, we watch it as a full human being. We watch it viscerally, emotionally, intellectually, mythologically, in every way. And the stories that seem to endure are those that basically have that richness right through all the storytelling.“
Miller continued, saying Pinocchio has “got surface charm, the journey of the character going from a wooden boy to a real boy, going through terrible temptations, getting very brutal, exciting, his father in the whale, and so on. It’s just about as epic a story as you can get.
“It’s because it was one of the first stories I saw that ticked every box,” Miller explained. “When we watch a film, we watch it as a full human being. We watch it viscerally, emotionally, intellectually, mythologically, in every way. And the stories that seem to endure are those that basically have that richness right through all the storytelling.“
Miller continued, saying Pinocchio has “got surface charm, the journey of the character going from a wooden boy to a real boy, going through terrible temptations, getting very brutal, exciting, his father in the whale, and so on. It’s just about as epic a story as you can get.
- 4/8/2024
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Workday is getting ready to go back on tour.
The human-resources and finance software company is ready to launch another leg of the ad campaign it launched in 2023’s Super Bowl Lvii, in which popular musicians set the record straight on whether high-performing corporate types ought to be called “rock stars.” In this go-round, two new ads will be seen during The Masters between April 8 and April 14 and in five key overseas markets: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
“We gained a ton of momentum” from the initial campaign that featured, among others, Ozzy Osbourne and Joan Jett, says Emma Chalwin, Workday’s chief marketing officer, during an interview. The company saw a 24% increase in audience consideration of Workday a a brand that could be trusted and a 50% increase in leads, among other notable spikes in metrics, Chalwin says. “It was kind of a no brainer to do a version two.
The human-resources and finance software company is ready to launch another leg of the ad campaign it launched in 2023’s Super Bowl Lvii, in which popular musicians set the record straight on whether high-performing corporate types ought to be called “rock stars.” In this go-round, two new ads will be seen during The Masters between April 8 and April 14 and in five key overseas markets: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
“We gained a ton of momentum” from the initial campaign that featured, among others, Ozzy Osbourne and Joan Jett, says Emma Chalwin, Workday’s chief marketing officer, during an interview. The company saw a 24% increase in audience consideration of Workday a a brand that could be trusted and a 50% increase in leads, among other notable spikes in metrics, Chalwin says. “It was kind of a no brainer to do a version two.
- 4/8/2024
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Recently, I had the chance to sit down with Paul Rudd and Carrie Coon, who are out promoting Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Both Rudd and Coon have been outspoken in their love of the original Ghostbusters, as well as the original cast, and I couldn’t help but put them both on the spot a little bit. Given that young audiences are discovering the original Ghostbusters thanks to these new movies, I wondered which classic comedy featuring some of the cast Rudd and Coon might suggest younger audiences check out next.
“I love so many of them. I might say Stripes because of the Harold Ramis connection there. But, you can also do Groundhog Day because of the Harold Ramis connection. Or Caddyshack. I mean, my God, there’s so many! And with Aykroyd, The Blues Brothers is obviously such a major thing.”
Coon also chimed in, mentioning that the old...
“I love so many of them. I might say Stripes because of the Harold Ramis connection there. But, you can also do Groundhog Day because of the Harold Ramis connection. Or Caddyshack. I mean, my God, there’s so many! And with Aykroyd, The Blues Brothers is obviously such a major thing.”
Coon also chimed in, mentioning that the old...
- 3/23/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
The Mask played a massive role in establishing Cameron Diaz as one of the biggest Hollywood divas. Diaz was successful in impressing the audiences in her very first outing and flaunted an incredible chemistry with Jim Carrey. However, the 1994 classic’s script was never written for her. The director Chuck Russell’s original choice for the role was Anna Nicole Smith.
Cameron Diaz and Jim Carrey in The Mask
The character of Tina Carlyle stands as one of the primary attractions of The Mask. The audience immediately fell in love with Cameron Diaz and she was an instant favorite. Interestingly, the late model Anna Nicole Smith was chosen for the role. However, Smith left the film to work on Naked Gun 33+1⁄3: The Final Insult.
How did Cameron Diaz land the role of Tina Carlyle in The Mask?
Cameron Diaz in The Mask
The Mask starring Jim Carrey, Cameron Diaz,...
Cameron Diaz and Jim Carrey in The Mask
The character of Tina Carlyle stands as one of the primary attractions of The Mask. The audience immediately fell in love with Cameron Diaz and she was an instant favorite. Interestingly, the late model Anna Nicole Smith was chosen for the role. However, Smith left the film to work on Naked Gun 33+1⁄3: The Final Insult.
How did Cameron Diaz land the role of Tina Carlyle in The Mask?
Cameron Diaz in The Mask
The Mask starring Jim Carrey, Cameron Diaz,...
- 3/23/2024
- by Subham Mandal
- FandomWire
Unlike the Miami transit service that gives the film its title and gets from first to final stop in just 16 minutes, Omni Loop takes time to wade through its tangled thicket of set-up and draw you in. But Bernardo Britto’s near-future sci-fi — about death, time travel and the cherished gifts in life we take for granted while pursuing that elusive something more — sneaks up on you. The same goes for the expertly synced performances of Mary-Louise Parker, bringing her characteristic flinty authenticity to a role that could easily have drowned in quirk, and Ayo Edebiri, demonstrating once again that she’s in the top tier of emerging American actors.
In a brief prologue, a 12-year-old girl (Riley Elise Fincher-Foster) stumbles upon a bottle of pills in the greenest of fields. “You’re gonna do incredible things one day,” a voice in her head tells her. “You’re gonna change the world.
In a brief prologue, a 12-year-old girl (Riley Elise Fincher-Foster) stumbles upon a bottle of pills in the greenest of fields. “You’re gonna do incredible things one day,” a voice in her head tells her. “You’re gonna change the world.
- 3/13/2024
- by David Rooney
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
We are still approximately six weeks away from learning the nominees for the 77th Tony Awards, but across the pond the finalists for the 2024 Olivier Awards were just announced. A radical new remounting of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Sunset Boulevard” directed by Jamie Lloyd and starring Nicole Scherzinger is the most nominated show of the year with 11 citations. Another musical revival is nipping at its heels: the immersive “Guys and Dolls” scored 10, as did new play “Dear England,” which centers on England’s national men’s football team and stars Joseph Fiennes as Gareth Southgate. Scroll down to see a complete list of 2024 Olivier Awards nominations.
American audiences will be familiar with many of the plays, musicals and performers nominated this year. The Best New Musical category includes Tony Award-winning shows “Next to Normal” and “A Strange Loop,” while Best Musical Revival boasts productions of “Groundhog Day” and “Hadestown.” Caissie Levy,...
American audiences will be familiar with many of the plays, musicals and performers nominated this year. The Best New Musical category includes Tony Award-winning shows “Next to Normal” and “A Strange Loop,” while Best Musical Revival boasts productions of “Groundhog Day” and “Hadestown.” Caissie Levy,...
- 3/12/2024
- by David Buchanan
- Gold Derby
Love never dies, but a lot of people do in Alice Lowe’s gloriously bloody valentine to the romantic comedy. Spanning so much time that it practically goes back to the beginning of it, Timestalker is an ambitious project that not only works, it coheres in a way that cements Lowe as a genuine and quite visionary comedic talent. It recalls classic Monty Python — it’s often very, very stupid and the same time very, very clever — but most of all it’s an idea of what might have been if that all-male team had ever had a woman or two in its core lineup.
Lowe set out her stall in 2016 with Prevenge, a horror comedy in which a bereaved pregnant woman is driven to avenge her late husband, incited to murder by her unborn baby. Timestalker doesn’t fall far from that tree, being another satirical comment on how...
Lowe set out her stall in 2016 with Prevenge, a horror comedy in which a bereaved pregnant woman is driven to avenge her late husband, incited to murder by her unborn baby. Timestalker doesn’t fall far from that tree, being another satirical comment on how...
- 3/8/2024
- by Damon Wise
- Deadline Film + TV
In a perfect world, Leap Day would entail some celebrations. Not to worry, though. This 30 Rock episode, starring an iconic Jim Carrey and Andie MacDowell cameo, has your back. Gear up for blue and yellow-themed festivities and, of course, a fictional movie that can give even Groundhog Day a run for its money! Be careful about getting your eyes poked, though.
The titular ninth episode of the sixth season of the Tina Fey-starring satirical sitcom series honors this fake holiday, concocting a blend of tropes seen in most films centered around such celebratory occasions.
Jim Carrey is a fictional character, Dave Williams, in the 30 Rock universe!
Leap Day is portrayed in the show’s mythology as an occurrence that calls for parties and celebrations. And like all great holidays, this one, too, puts the emphasis on a cultural mascot. Here, that is a gilled entity who sports...
The titular ninth episode of the sixth season of the Tina Fey-starring satirical sitcom series honors this fake holiday, concocting a blend of tropes seen in most films centered around such celebratory occasions.
Jim Carrey is a fictional character, Dave Williams, in the 30 Rock universe!
Leap Day is portrayed in the show’s mythology as an occurrence that calls for parties and celebrations. And like all great holidays, this one, too, puts the emphasis on a cultural mascot. Here, that is a gilled entity who sports...
- 2/29/2024
- by Debdipta Bhattacharya
- FandomWire
Gender-balanced productions might as well set up base camp on their plateau.
The annual ReFrame report from the Sundance Institute and Women in Film found that 29 of last year’s top 100 films achieved gender-balanced productions — just like in 2020, 2021, and 2022. The years leading up to 2020 had seen steady annual growth, and 2020 itself marked an all-time high. But then it became “Groundhog Day” up in here.
The top 2023 films that achieved gender balance include Oscar-nominated movies like Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” Pixar’s “Elemental,” Todd Haynes’ “May December,” Celine Song’s “Past Lives,” Emerald Fennell’s “Saltburn,” Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla,” and even “Scream 6.”
The ReFrame Stamp is awarded to films that hire women or non-binary people in at least 50 percent of key roles both above and below the line. The study is based on IMDbPro data. ReFrame proactively studies the top 100 films each year, and then probably about another 100 throughout the year,...
The annual ReFrame report from the Sundance Institute and Women in Film found that 29 of last year’s top 100 films achieved gender-balanced productions — just like in 2020, 2021, and 2022. The years leading up to 2020 had seen steady annual growth, and 2020 itself marked an all-time high. But then it became “Groundhog Day” up in here.
The top 2023 films that achieved gender balance include Oscar-nominated movies like Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” Pixar’s “Elemental,” Todd Haynes’ “May December,” Celine Song’s “Past Lives,” Emerald Fennell’s “Saltburn,” Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla,” and even “Scream 6.”
The ReFrame Stamp is awarded to films that hire women or non-binary people in at least 50 percent of key roles both above and below the line. The study is based on IMDbPro data. ReFrame proactively studies the top 100 films each year, and then probably about another 100 throughout the year,...
- 2/29/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Bill Murray and Naomi Watts are ready to activate their Wonder Twin powers again for The Friend, a new dramatic comedy from director/writer duo Scott McGehee and David Siegel (Montana Story). Murray and Watts lead the project inspired by Sigrid Nunez’s New York Times bestselling novel, with Sarah Pidgeon, Constance Wu, Ann Dowd, and Noma Dumezweni filling out the primary cast.
According to Deadline’s exclusive report, The Friend “follows a New York writer in the aftermath of her lifelong friend and mentor’s unexpected death. Thereafter, she’s left to deal with his complicated literary legacy, three eccentric ex-wives — and a massive, brokenhearted Great Dane named Apollo.”
For a more detailed description, check out the book’s synopsis:
When a woman unexpectedly loses her lifelong best friend and mentor, she finds herself burdened with the unwanted dog he has left behind. Her own battle against grief is...
According to Deadline’s exclusive report, The Friend “follows a New York writer in the aftermath of her lifelong friend and mentor’s unexpected death. Thereafter, she’s left to deal with his complicated literary legacy, three eccentric ex-wives — and a massive, brokenhearted Great Dane named Apollo.”
For a more detailed description, check out the book’s synopsis:
When a woman unexpectedly loses her lifelong best friend and mentor, she finds herself burdened with the unwanted dog he has left behind. Her own battle against grief is...
- 2/26/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Magnolia Pictures is giving the action thriller Red Right Hand a theatrical and VOD release today, February 23rd, and to mark the occasion we have been given an Exclusive clip from the film! Giving a preview of more than a minute of the film, this clip involves a “house shootout scene”, and you can check it out in the embed above.
Directed by Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms from a screenplay by first-time feature writer Jonathan Easley, Red Right Hand stars Orlando Bloom (Lord of the Rings), Chapel Oaks (Will Trent), Garret Dillahunt (Fear the Walking Dead), Brian Geraghty (The Hurt Locker), James Lafferty (One Tree Hill), Jeremy Ratchford (Cold Case), Alexandra Park (12 Feet Deep), Scott Haze (Jurassic World Dominion), and Andie MacDowell (Groundhog Day). Here’s the synopsis: Cash (Orlando Bloom) is trying to live an honest and quiet life taking care of his recently orphaned niece Savannah...
Directed by Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms from a screenplay by first-time feature writer Jonathan Easley, Red Right Hand stars Orlando Bloom (Lord of the Rings), Chapel Oaks (Will Trent), Garret Dillahunt (Fear the Walking Dead), Brian Geraghty (The Hurt Locker), James Lafferty (One Tree Hill), Jeremy Ratchford (Cold Case), Alexandra Park (12 Feet Deep), Scott Haze (Jurassic World Dominion), and Andie MacDowell (Groundhog Day). Here’s the synopsis: Cash (Orlando Bloom) is trying to live an honest and quiet life taking care of his recently orphaned niece Savannah...
- 2/23/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Chicago – Bill Murray is a son of Chicagoland, born and raised in the area and beginning his career at The Second City. To honor his friend and collaborator Harold Ramis, Murray made an appearance on February 2nd, 2024, on Chicago’s Navy Pier on behalf of Harold Ramis Day and of course his classic film “Groundhog Day.”
Bill Murray Back in his Home Land
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com
William James “Bill” Murray was born in Chicago-adjacent Evanston and grew up in nearby Wilmette. After an attempt at college, he followed his brother Brian Doyle Murray to The Second City and found his performance niche. He moved to New York City when fellow Second City vet John Belushi recruited him for “The National Lampoon Radio Hour.” After missing out on the original cast of “Saturday Night Live” in 1975, he did a stint on Howard Cosell’s...
Bill Murray Back in his Home Land
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com
William James “Bill” Murray was born in Chicago-adjacent Evanston and grew up in nearby Wilmette. After an attempt at college, he followed his brother Brian Doyle Murray to The Second City and found his performance niche. He moved to New York City when fellow Second City vet John Belushi recruited him for “The National Lampoon Radio Hour.” After missing out on the original cast of “Saturday Night Live” in 1975, he did a stint on Howard Cosell’s...
- 2/12/2024
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Previous | Image 1 of 13 | NextBust of Harold Ramis on his Day, February 2nd, 2024.
Chicago – It was a special February 2nd, 2024, in Chicago. Not only was it the quasi-midwinter holiday Groundhog Day, but cast members of the 1993 classic film “Groundhog Day” – including Bill Murray, his brother Brian Doyle Murray and others – made appearances on the famous Navy Pier to honor the late director of the film, Harold Ramis. From this year forward, February 2nd will be Harold Ramis Day in Chicago.
The beloved film tells the story of Phil (Bill Murray), a Pittsburgh weatherman who is assigned with Producer Rita (Andie MacDowell) and Cameraman Larry (Chris Elliott) to cover the Groundhog Day ceremony in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (Brian Doyle Murray portrays city official Buster Green). When a snowstorm strands them in the small town, Phil wakes up to find out its February 2nd yet again. He is now stuck in a time loop,...
Chicago – It was a special February 2nd, 2024, in Chicago. Not only was it the quasi-midwinter holiday Groundhog Day, but cast members of the 1993 classic film “Groundhog Day” – including Bill Murray, his brother Brian Doyle Murray and others – made appearances on the famous Navy Pier to honor the late director of the film, Harold Ramis. From this year forward, February 2nd will be Harold Ramis Day in Chicago.
The beloved film tells the story of Phil (Bill Murray), a Pittsburgh weatherman who is assigned with Producer Rita (Andie MacDowell) and Cameraman Larry (Chris Elliott) to cover the Groundhog Day ceremony in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (Brian Doyle Murray portrays city official Buster Green). When a snowstorm strands them in the small town, Phil wakes up to find out its February 2nd yet again. He is now stuck in a time loop,...
- 2/12/2024
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Sci-fi actioner "Edge of Tomorrow" mashed up the repeating time loop of the classic "Groundhog Day" with the World War II epic "The Longest Day," wherein Private Cage (Tom Cruise) repeatedly relives and dies in a doomed military operation against unstoppable alien creatures called Mimics. The film delivers a relentless barrage of action and twists as Cage learns from his experiences and becomes a better man as a result. The film's tagline, "Live Die Repeat," could just as well have been "Saving Private Cage."
Like most blockbusters, "Edge of Tomorrow" demanded a meticulous fusion of practical and visual effects to depict this near-future world in all its gritty grandeur. What's surprising is where effects were employed and for what purposes. Watching the film, you know the Mimics are visual effects, because how could they not be. But you have no clue that shots of actors walking through a military base...
Like most blockbusters, "Edge of Tomorrow" demanded a meticulous fusion of practical and visual effects to depict this near-future world in all its gritty grandeur. What's surprising is where effects were employed and for what purposes. Watching the film, you know the Mimics are visual effects, because how could they not be. But you have no clue that shots of actors walking through a military base...
- 2/10/2024
- by Maurice Molyneaux
- Slash Film
One Christmas Warner Bros. release replaced another this week with “Wonka” taking over as #1 from “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” on all VOD charts. However, other late-year releases including “Migration,” “Wish,” and “The Marvels” aren’t having the same luck. While theatrical is the premium marketing tool for home viewing, we’re seeing that it doesn’t always translate to chart placement.
Universal’s “Migration” is weaker than past animated releases, currently #4 at Vudu (which tallies by revenue). Disney’s “Wish,” also in week two, placed only on two charts. In its third week, “The Marvels” only placed on Vudu and is #20 at Apple TV. “Ferrari” (Neon) and “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros.) are gone after one week. “The Boys in the Boat” (Amazon MGM) managed just one week on the charts.
“The Beekeeper” (Amazon MGM), which is still performing well in theaters (#3 this weekend), is available at home after 18 days.
Universal’s “Migration” is weaker than past animated releases, currently #4 at Vudu (which tallies by revenue). Disney’s “Wish,” also in week two, placed only on two charts. In its third week, “The Marvels” only placed on Vudu and is #20 at Apple TV. “Ferrari” (Neon) and “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros.) are gone after one week. “The Boys in the Boat” (Amazon MGM) managed just one week on the charts.
“The Beekeeper” (Amazon MGM), which is still performing well in theaters (#3 this weekend), is available at home after 18 days.
- 2/5/2024
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
When it comes to Bill Murray, the word “enigmatic” might be the best adjective. He’s obviously an amazing talent — there’s hardly a movie in which you don’t remember him delivering something memorable — plus, some colleagues have recounted their experience with Bill as nothing short of fantastic; although, there are some who aren’t quite as complimentary. Andie MacDowell appears to fall in the first camp. In making the movie Groundhog Day, Andie told us that he was as about as good of a co-star as one could ask for.
(Click on the media bar below to hear Andie MacDowell) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Andie_Mcdowal_Ground_Hog_Day_Bill_Murray_.mp3
Groundhog Day is available on DVD, Blu-Ray, 4K, and most digital platforms.
The post On ‘Groundhog Day,’ Andie MacDowell Enjoyed The Bill Murray Experience appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
(Click on the media bar below to hear Andie MacDowell) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Andie_Mcdowal_Ground_Hog_Day_Bill_Murray_.mp3
Groundhog Day is available on DVD, Blu-Ray, 4K, and most digital platforms.
The post On ‘Groundhog Day,’ Andie MacDowell Enjoyed The Bill Murray Experience appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
- 2/3/2024
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
Ok, campers, rise and shine and don’t forget your booties ’cause it’s cold out there today. It’s cold out there every day! But this isn’t Miami Beach and it’s not even Punxsutawney. Heck, it’s not even Woodstock, Illinois, where Groundhog Day was shot. No, it’s Chicago, the location of a celebration not only of the 1993 comedy but also the life of director Harold Ramis.
Today, February 2nd, of course marks Groundhog Day, when thousands of people gather to freeze their butts off and worship a rat. But for many of us today is more about the movie. And that’s just what will be commemorated at Chicago’s Navy Pier when a selection of the cast gathers to remember Groundhog Day and Ramis, who passed away in February 2014.
The most notable cast members joining the Groundhog Day festivities are Brian Doyle-Murray (“Inner Circle...
Today, February 2nd, of course marks Groundhog Day, when thousands of people gather to freeze their butts off and worship a rat. But for many of us today is more about the movie. And that’s just what will be commemorated at Chicago’s Navy Pier when a selection of the cast gathers to remember Groundhog Day and Ramis, who passed away in February 2014.
The most notable cast members joining the Groundhog Day festivities are Brian Doyle-Murray (“Inner Circle...
- 2/2/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
When it comes to Lay’s potato chips, it’s long been hard to eat just one. On Friday on ABC, it may also be hard to watch just a single commercial for the popular snack.
Disney has sold one third of all of Friday’s national advertising inventory on ABC to PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay so that the snacking giant can run — and run again — eight different commercials for Lay’s potato chips that show actor Stephen Tobolowsky going through a scenario similar to that from the 1993 comedy “Groundhog Day” in which he is stuck repeating his actions in a time loop — with a different flavor of Lay’s in each run-through (and a growing sense of desperation).
The plan marks the first time that Disney has teamed up with a single client for a day-ong sponsorship. The Frito-Lay ads will also surface on Hulu.
In the world of TV advertising,...
Disney has sold one third of all of Friday’s national advertising inventory on ABC to PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay so that the snacking giant can run — and run again — eight different commercials for Lay’s potato chips that show actor Stephen Tobolowsky going through a scenario similar to that from the 1993 comedy “Groundhog Day” in which he is stuck repeating his actions in a time loop — with a different flavor of Lay’s in each run-through (and a growing sense of desperation).
The plan marks the first time that Disney has teamed up with a single client for a day-ong sponsorship. The Frito-Lay ads will also surface on Hulu.
In the world of TV advertising,...
- 2/1/2024
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Actor Patrick Wilson is on board to produce a stage musical version of 80s cult film The Lost Boys. More details here:
If all you’ve ever wanted was a musical about some very attractive vampires, you’re in luck. Joel Schumacher’s 1987 cult film The Lost Boys is heading to the stage, with added songs!
Aquaman star Patrick Wilson will be producing alongside James Carpinello and Marcus Chait, as reported by Deadline. Wilson took a stab at directing this year, helming the fourth Insidious sequel, Insidious: The Red Door. While also reprising his role as Josh Lambert in the long-running horror franchise, Wilson also teamed up with Ghost to deliver a cover of the song “Stay” which played over the end credits.
The original The Lost Boys, which also spawned two sequels, followed brothers who moved to a new town, just to find out it’s the prime spot for some vampires.
If all you’ve ever wanted was a musical about some very attractive vampires, you’re in luck. Joel Schumacher’s 1987 cult film The Lost Boys is heading to the stage, with added songs!
Aquaman star Patrick Wilson will be producing alongside James Carpinello and Marcus Chait, as reported by Deadline. Wilson took a stab at directing this year, helming the fourth Insidious sequel, Insidious: The Red Door. While also reprising his role as Josh Lambert in the long-running horror franchise, Wilson also teamed up with Ghost to deliver a cover of the song “Stay” which played over the end credits.
The original The Lost Boys, which also spawned two sequels, followed brothers who moved to a new town, just to find out it’s the prime spot for some vampires.
- 12/14/2023
- by Maria Lattila
- Film Stories
It’s a killer premise: a secret organization called The Lazarus Project exists to prevent the end of the world. Every time global events escalate to the point of no return, Lazarus resets time – taking the entire world back to the most recent 1st July passed (the check point) giving the team time to prevent the catastrophic occurrence. It’s clever and timey-wimey with room to explore the consequences of the resets for the people who are aware of them, but also for the people who are not.
And season two is ramping things up all over again.
“I think it’s more complicated this series,” says series writer Joe Barton. “The first series technically should have been simpler, but because we kept throwing loads of flashbacks in we made it more complicated for ourselves.” Revealing the team’s backstories via multiple resets and flashbacks was part of the genius of the show,...
And season two is ramping things up all over again.
“I think it’s more complicated this series,” says series writer Joe Barton. “The first series technically should have been simpler, but because we kept throwing loads of flashbacks in we made it more complicated for ourselves.” Revealing the team’s backstories via multiple resets and flashbacks was part of the genius of the show,...
- 12/5/2023
- by Rosie Fletcher
- Den of Geek
It might be Thanksgiving, but for Phil Connors, every day is Groundhog Day. And poor Ned Ryerson, he was sucked right into the weatherman’s seemingly endless loop of misery. But his portrayer, Stephen Tobolowsky, remains proud of what is surely his most popular movie, even though the production was doozier than a Punxsutawney puddle – something we detailed in an episode of “Wtf Happened To This Movie?!”
On the occasion of Groundhog Day’s 30th anniversary, Tobolowsky said the production brought much debate between co-screenwriters Harold Ramis and Danny Rubin. “After the first week, Harold Ramis got with Danny Rubin, our writer, and he says, ‘What’s the story we’re really telling here?’ Are we going to have a series of sequences where Bill just has no consequences and acts crazy, like he was doing in all of those movies back then, or are we telling the story about,...
On the occasion of Groundhog Day’s 30th anniversary, Tobolowsky said the production brought much debate between co-screenwriters Harold Ramis and Danny Rubin. “After the first week, Harold Ramis got with Danny Rubin, our writer, and he says, ‘What’s the story we’re really telling here?’ Are we going to have a series of sequences where Bill just has no consequences and acts crazy, like he was doing in all of those movies back then, or are we telling the story about,...
- 11/23/2023
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
To celebrate next year’s 100th anniversary of Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures has released a new logo of the studio’s famous “Lady with the Torch,” with special events set throughout 2024.
Founded by Harry and Jack Cohn on Jan. 10, 1924, Columbia holds the record for most Best Picture Oscar wins with 12 films, starting with Frank Capra’s “It Happened One Night” and continuing with classics like “The Bridge on the River Kwai” and “Lawrence of Arabia.”
Over the decades, Columbia’s long list of hit movies and acclaimed classics include “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” “On the Waterfront,” “Taxi Driver,” “Ghostbusters,” “Groundhog Day,” “The Social Network,” “Spider-Man” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”
“There is one thing that separates a major studio from all other content producers: history. At Columbia, that history is reflected in the countless cultural talismans created by thousands of people over now 100 years. All of us...
Founded by Harry and Jack Cohn on Jan. 10, 1924, Columbia holds the record for most Best Picture Oscar wins with 12 films, starting with Frank Capra’s “It Happened One Night” and continuing with classics like “The Bridge on the River Kwai” and “Lawrence of Arabia.”
Over the decades, Columbia’s long list of hit movies and acclaimed classics include “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” “On the Waterfront,” “Taxi Driver,” “Ghostbusters,” “Groundhog Day,” “The Social Network,” “Spider-Man” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”
“There is one thing that separates a major studio from all other content producers: history. At Columbia, that history is reflected in the countless cultural talismans created by thousands of people over now 100 years. All of us...
- 11/14/2023
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Ahead of Columbia Pictures’ 100th anniversary on January 10, 2024, Sony Pictures Entertainment has unveiled a new logo for the company to celebrate the occasion.
The design for the centennial logo, which you can view below, is framed on Columbia Pictures’ historic “Lady with the Torch” iconography. An enhanced glow to the torch symbolizes the vibrancy of the company’s history, having grown from humble beginnings to become one of the leading film studios, renowned for producing award-winning and trailblazing films that have boldly reflected societal issues of the times. With the highest number of Academy Award Best Pictures wins, Columbia Pictures has entertained audiences for ten decades and continues to create cultural impact to this day.
Sony will further celebrate the anniversary with the release of a commemorative book highlighting 100 iconic moments of Columbia Pictures. The studio will also mark the occasion with festival screenings and live concerts of prominent film scores,...
The design for the centennial logo, which you can view below, is framed on Columbia Pictures’ historic “Lady with the Torch” iconography. An enhanced glow to the torch symbolizes the vibrancy of the company’s history, having grown from humble beginnings to become one of the leading film studios, renowned for producing award-winning and trailblazing films that have boldly reflected societal issues of the times. With the highest number of Academy Award Best Pictures wins, Columbia Pictures has entertained audiences for ten decades and continues to create cultural impact to this day.
Sony will further celebrate the anniversary with the release of a commemorative book highlighting 100 iconic moments of Columbia Pictures. The studio will also mark the occasion with festival screenings and live concerts of prominent film scores,...
- 11/14/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
A thick fog hung over Torun, Poland, this evening as the 31st edition of the city’s EnergaCamerimage Film Festival cruised into gear with a lengthy opening ceremony at the stylish Jordanki Culture Centre.
As always at Camerimage, proceedings on the eve began with a series of speeches from local politicians and dignitaries. These scripted interventions were followed by an emotional tribute to the late cinematographer and former Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president, John Bailey, who died Friday in Los Angeles. He was 81.
As a cinematographer, Bailey’s credits included the Oscar Best Picture-winning Ordinary People and The Big Chill. Bailey’s resume also included Silverado, The Accidental Tourist, Groundhog Day, In the Line of Fire, As Good as It Gets, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and Must Love Dogs across a five-decade career.
Camerimage festival director Marek Zydowicz led tributes to Bailey,...
As always at Camerimage, proceedings on the eve began with a series of speeches from local politicians and dignitaries. These scripted interventions were followed by an emotional tribute to the late cinematographer and former Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president, John Bailey, who died Friday in Los Angeles. He was 81.
As a cinematographer, Bailey’s credits included the Oscar Best Picture-winning Ordinary People and The Big Chill. Bailey’s resume also included Silverado, The Accidental Tourist, Groundhog Day, In the Line of Fire, As Good as It Gets, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and Must Love Dogs across a five-decade career.
Camerimage festival director Marek Zydowicz led tributes to Bailey,...
- 11/11/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
John Bailey has died.
The former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and cinematographer, who worked on titles such as Groundhog Day, In the Line of Fire, and Racing With the Moon, was 81 years old.
Keep reading to find out more…
John‘s wife, Carol Littleton, announced his death in a statement released by the Academy on Friday (November 10).
”It is with deep sadness I share with you that my best friend and husband, John Bailey, passed away peacefully in his sleep early this morning,” she wrote. “During John’s illness, we reminisced how we met 60 years ago and were married for 51 of those years. We shared a wonderful life of adventure in film and made many long-lasting friendships along the way. John will forever live in my heart.”
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang wrote in a joint statement obtained by Variety:...
The former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and cinematographer, who worked on titles such as Groundhog Day, In the Line of Fire, and Racing With the Moon, was 81 years old.
Keep reading to find out more…
John‘s wife, Carol Littleton, announced his death in a statement released by the Academy on Friday (November 10).
”It is with deep sadness I share with you that my best friend and husband, John Bailey, passed away peacefully in his sleep early this morning,” she wrote. “During John’s illness, we reminisced how we met 60 years ago and were married for 51 of those years. We shared a wonderful life of adventure in film and made many long-lasting friendships along the way. John will forever live in my heart.”
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang wrote in a joint statement obtained by Variety:...
- 11/11/2023
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
John Bailey, the cinematographer whose credits including Oscar Best Picture-winning Ordinary People and The Big Chill and who became president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, died Friday in Los Angeles. He was 81.
”It is with deep sadness I share with you that my best friend and husband, John Bailey, passed away peacefully in his sleep early this morning,” his wife Carol Littleton, an Oscar-nominated film editor and former Academy governor, said in a statement provided by AMPAS this evening. “During John’s illness, we reminisced how we met 60 years ago and were married for 51 of those years. We shared a wonderful life of adventure in film and made many long-lasting friendships along the way. John will forever live in my heart.”
In addition to Ordinary People, which was directed by Robert Redford and won four Oscars in 1981, Bailey’s resume included The Big Chill, Silverado, The Accidental Tourist,...
”It is with deep sadness I share with you that my best friend and husband, John Bailey, passed away peacefully in his sleep early this morning,” his wife Carol Littleton, an Oscar-nominated film editor and former Academy governor, said in a statement provided by AMPAS this evening. “During John’s illness, we reminisced how we met 60 years ago and were married for 51 of those years. We shared a wonderful life of adventure in film and made many long-lasting friendships along the way. John will forever live in my heart.”
In addition to Ordinary People, which was directed by Robert Redford and won four Oscars in 1981, Bailey’s resume included The Big Chill, Silverado, The Accidental Tourist,...
- 11/11/2023
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
John Bailey, a Hollywood cinematographer whose nearly five-decade career included such films as “The Big Chill” and “Groundhog Day” and a two-year stint as the Film Academy president, died Friday at 81.
“It is with deep sadness I share with you that my best friend and husband, John Bailey, passed away peacefully in his sleep early this morning,” said his wife, Carol Littleton, an Oscar-nominated film editor. “During John’s illness, we reminisced how we met 60 years ago and were married for 51 of those years. We shared a wonderful life of adventure in film and made many long-lasting friendships along the way. John will forever live in my heart.”
Bailey’s cause of death or specific illness was not mentioned in a statement released by the Academy.
Starting in 1972 and running through 2022, Bailey amassed 86 cinematographer credits in a filmography that includes countless hits and household movie titles. In addition to 1983’s...
“It is with deep sadness I share with you that my best friend and husband, John Bailey, passed away peacefully in his sleep early this morning,” said his wife, Carol Littleton, an Oscar-nominated film editor. “During John’s illness, we reminisced how we met 60 years ago and were married for 51 of those years. We shared a wonderful life of adventure in film and made many long-lasting friendships along the way. John will forever live in my heart.”
Bailey’s cause of death or specific illness was not mentioned in a statement released by the Academy.
Starting in 1972 and running through 2022, Bailey amassed 86 cinematographer credits in a filmography that includes countless hits and household movie titles. In addition to 1983’s...
- 11/11/2023
- by Jeremy Bailey
- The Wrap
John Bailey, the cinematographer on Ordinary People, Groundhog Day, As Good as It Gets and dozens of other notable films who endured two “stressful” terms as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, died Friday. He was 81.
Bailey died in Los Angeles, his wife, Oscar-nominated film editor Carol Littleton (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial), announced.
”It is with deep sadness I share with you that my best friend and husband, John Bailey, passed away peacefully in his sleep early this morning,” she said in a statement. “During John’s illness, we reminisced how we met 60 years ago and were married for 51 of those years. We shared a wonderful life of adventure in film and made many long-lasting friendships along the way. John will forever live in my heart.”
They worked on more than a dozen features together.
The Southern California-raised Bailey served as the director of photography for...
Bailey died in Los Angeles, his wife, Oscar-nominated film editor Carol Littleton (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial), announced.
”It is with deep sadness I share with you that my best friend and husband, John Bailey, passed away peacefully in his sleep early this morning,” she said in a statement. “During John’s illness, we reminisced how we met 60 years ago and were married for 51 of those years. We shared a wonderful life of adventure in film and made many long-lasting friendships along the way. John will forever live in my heart.”
They worked on more than a dozen features together.
The Southern California-raised Bailey served as the director of photography for...
- 11/11/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
An inverted Christmas tree with as many missed opportunities as you’d find toppled ornaments, “It’s a Wonderful Knife” begins where most slashers end. Our final girl dispatches and unmasks the killer in just a cool 15 minutes before a title card announces the cutlery pun-turned-feature film in earnest. It’s then that director Tyler MacIntyre really gets to work, reimagining the black-and-white holiday classic from 1946 as a middling 2023 slasher satire doomed to fade from memory with the calendar year.
The quaint suburban town of Angel Falls was being terrorized by a demon angel, but not anymore thanks to Winnie Carruthers. Some clever repurposing of jumper cables saved Winnie’s brother Jimmy (Aiden Howard) from a near-stabbing by the Angel in an efficient opening act, but the jolt couldn’t bring back her friend Cara (Hana Huggins) who was slaughtered via winged dagger after her boyfriend (Oscar Chark) got a giant...
The quaint suburban town of Angel Falls was being terrorized by a demon angel, but not anymore thanks to Winnie Carruthers. Some clever repurposing of jumper cables saved Winnie’s brother Jimmy (Aiden Howard) from a near-stabbing by the Angel in an efficient opening act, but the jolt couldn’t bring back her friend Cara (Hana Huggins) who was slaughtered via winged dagger after her boyfriend (Oscar Chark) got a giant...
- 11/10/2023
- by Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
AMC and AMC+ have more than 650 hours of holiday programming planned for this year’s “Best Christmas Ever” lineup kicking off on November 26 and running through December 26, 2023. The lineup includes classic Christmas films, including Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas, Elf, and Christmas Vacation. For those who like to celebrate their winter holidays with a serving of horror, Shudder’s offering a new Joe Bob’s Creepy Christmas Special and the original film The Sacrifice Game.
This year’s “Best Christmas Ever” schedule also features Christmas with the Campbells, The Apology, and marathons of John Candy, Reese Witherspoon, and Bill Murray films.
Best Christmas Ever 2023:
The Sacrifice Game – Debuts December 8 on Shudder and AMC+
It’s bad enough that boarding school students Samantha and Clara can’t go home for the holidays, but things take a deadly turn when a murderous gang arrives at their doorstep – just in time for Christmas.
This year’s “Best Christmas Ever” schedule also features Christmas with the Campbells, The Apology, and marathons of John Candy, Reese Witherspoon, and Bill Murray films.
Best Christmas Ever 2023:
The Sacrifice Game – Debuts December 8 on Shudder and AMC+
It’s bad enough that boarding school students Samantha and Clara can’t go home for the holidays, but things take a deadly turn when a murderous gang arrives at their doorstep – just in time for Christmas.
- 11/1/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Exclusive: Saoirse Ronan (Foe) has found her next project in Bad Apples, a biting satirical comedy with thriller elements, for which HanWay Films is launching worldwide sales at AFM. Marking the English language debut of Swedish writer-director Jonatan Etzler (One More Time), the film to be produced by Pulse Films is targeting a UK shoot — under an Equity contract — in spring 2024.
Written by Jess O’Kane, Bad Apples adapts Rasmus Lindgren’s debut novel De Oönskade. The film tells the story of Maria (Ronan), a primary school teacher doing her best to inspire a class of 10-year-olds but unable to because of one unruly and chaotic student. With her career in question and the child’s behavior spiraling, she makes a series of bad decisions that lead to her accidentally taking and locking this “bad apple” in her home. Maria tries desperately to backtrack, but when the class starts flourishing and...
Written by Jess O’Kane, Bad Apples adapts Rasmus Lindgren’s debut novel De Oönskade. The film tells the story of Maria (Ronan), a primary school teacher doing her best to inspire a class of 10-year-olds but unable to because of one unruly and chaotic student. With her career in question and the child’s behavior spiraling, she makes a series of bad decisions that lead to her accidentally taking and locking this “bad apple” in her home. Maria tries desperately to backtrack, but when the class starts flourishing and...
- 10/30/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Here is a wrap-up of all the news you need to know from Wednesday, October 18, 2023.
MGM+ has unveiled the official trailer for its highly-anticipated series, Beacon 23.
The sci-fi drama will debut on Sunday, November 12, on MGM+ at 9:00 p.m. Et/Pt with the first two of eight episodes.
Zak Penn created the series and executive produced along with Glen Mazzara.
It is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by High Powey.
"Beacon 23 takes place in the farthest reaches of the Milky Way and follows Aster (Lena Headey), a government agent, and Halan (Stephan James), a stoic ex-military man, whose fates become entangled after they find themselves trapped together inside one of many Beacons that serve as a lighthouse for intergalactic travelers," according to the logline.
"Every Beacon is run by one highly trained human and a specialized Artificial Intelligence. Aster mysteriously finds her way to the lonely Beacon-keeper Halan,...
MGM+ has unveiled the official trailer for its highly-anticipated series, Beacon 23.
The sci-fi drama will debut on Sunday, November 12, on MGM+ at 9:00 p.m. Et/Pt with the first two of eight episodes.
Zak Penn created the series and executive produced along with Glen Mazzara.
It is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by High Powey.
"Beacon 23 takes place in the farthest reaches of the Milky Way and follows Aster (Lena Headey), a government agent, and Halan (Stephan James), a stoic ex-military man, whose fates become entangled after they find themselves trapped together inside one of many Beacons that serve as a lighthouse for intergalactic travelers," according to the logline.
"Every Beacon is run by one highly trained human and a specialized Artificial Intelligence. Aster mysteriously finds her way to the lonely Beacon-keeper Halan,...
- 10/18/2023
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
Chicago – Michael Shannon is also a film director. The distinctive actor, who has wowed cinema fans with his performances over the years, showcased his directorial debut at the 59th Chicago International Film Festival (Ciff) with “Eric Larue.” Shannon did a master class on directing, walked the Red Carpet and appeared at the film screening.
Janice Larue is (Judy Greer) a middle-aged mother coming to terms with a shooting spree perpetrated by her son. Adapted from Brett Neveu’s 2002 play — which debuted at A Red Orchid Theatre in Chicago — the film follows the shell-shocked Janice as she attempts to navigate the tragedy in her small town. While a local pastor tries to reconcile Janice with the victims’ mothers, Janice’s feeble husband (Alexander Skarsgård) finds refuge in an upstart church led by a motivational preacher (Tracy Letts). But Janice must find her own way. The film was a Special Presentation of the 59th Ciff.
Janice Larue is (Judy Greer) a middle-aged mother coming to terms with a shooting spree perpetrated by her son. Adapted from Brett Neveu’s 2002 play — which debuted at A Red Orchid Theatre in Chicago — the film follows the shell-shocked Janice as she attempts to navigate the tragedy in her small town. While a local pastor tries to reconcile Janice with the victims’ mothers, Janice’s feeble husband (Alexander Skarsgård) finds refuge in an upstart church led by a motivational preacher (Tracy Letts). But Janice must find her own way. The film was a Special Presentation of the 59th Ciff.
- 10/16/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Jonathan Dolgen, the tough-minded dealmaker and skillful numbers-cruncher who spent a decade at Viacom working for Sumner Redstone and alongside Paramount Pictures head Sherry Lansing, has died. He was 78.
Dolgen died Monday evening of natural causes at UCLA Medical Center surrounded by his family, a publicist announced. He had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in 2012.
A native of Queens and a former Wall Street lawyer, Dolgen also held top positions at Columbia Pictures, Fox and Sony Pictures before becoming the first top executive recruited by Redstone for the newly merged entertainment conglomerate forged by Viacom’s $8.2 billion purchase of Paramount Communications.
“I had known Dolgen off and on over the years when I was a motion picture exhibitor, even before I gained control of Viacom,” Redstone recalled in his 2001 book, Passion to Win. “He was with Columbia Pictures, and I remember sitting with him in one particular meeting that became rather heated and thinking,...
Dolgen died Monday evening of natural causes at UCLA Medical Center surrounded by his family, a publicist announced. He had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in 2012.
A native of Queens and a former Wall Street lawyer, Dolgen also held top positions at Columbia Pictures, Fox and Sony Pictures before becoming the first top executive recruited by Redstone for the newly merged entertainment conglomerate forged by Viacom’s $8.2 billion purchase of Paramount Communications.
“I had known Dolgen off and on over the years when I was a motion picture exhibitor, even before I gained control of Viacom,” Redstone recalled in his 2001 book, Passion to Win. “He was with Columbia Pictures, and I remember sitting with him in one particular meeting that became rather heated and thinking,...
- 10/10/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
2020 might have been the year of the time loop movie, but Christopher Smith's 2009 horror film, "Triangle," is one of the best to ever do it. The underseen film has seen a resurgence in popularity as the time loop film as a style of storytelling has expanded beyond classics like "Turn Back The Clock," "The Twilight Zone," and most famously, "Groundhog Day." In "Triangle," a young mother named Jess (Melissa George) is struggling to adjust to raising her autistic son, Tommy (Joshua McIver), on her own. She has a planned day trip on a friend's boat, but strange little coincidences occurring throughout the day start to feel like devastating inevitabilities. As time continues to loop and realities begin to fold in on each other, making sense of the film can feel overwhelming if you're not used to the timey-wimey weirdness of a film like "Triangle."
Considering the events take place at sea,...
Considering the events take place at sea,...
- 9/17/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Bill Murray first came to national attention when he joined “Saturday Night Live” in its second season to replace the departed Chevy Chase. Like many of his SNL colleagues of the era Murray was able to parlay his television success into a film career. He first made his film mark in comedies but in later years would take on increasingly dramatic films as well, earning an Oscar nomination as Best Actor for “Lost in Translation” (2003). Murray would return to TV in 2015 for the HBO limited series “Olive Kitteridge,” for which he won an Emmy as Best Supporting Actor playing a suicidal man who becomes involved with the title character (Frances McDormand).
Murray’s career got off to a somewhat shaky start when he was cast in the first season of “Saturday Night Live” but unfortunately for Murray it was the wrong “SNL.” Instead of the classic program for NBC (for...
Murray’s career got off to a somewhat shaky start when he was cast in the first season of “Saturday Night Live” but unfortunately for Murray it was the wrong “SNL.” Instead of the classic program for NBC (for...
- 9/14/2023
- by Robert Pius, Misty Holland and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
It's tough to imagine a more challenging job these days than to come up with an original, high-concept movie involving time travel. For one thing, the industry is pretty much drowning in scripts relying on this tried-and-true gimmick, making it that much more difficult to separate oneself from the rest of the pack. For another, any project will be doomed from the start with comparisons to all-time classics like "Back to the Future," "Groundhog Day," and more. So what's a filmmaker to do? The trailer for the upcoming Prime Video and Blumhouse movie, "Totally Killer," suggests one possible approach: embrace the high expectations, fully lean into the self-aware humor, and go as far as the clever script and killer cast will take you.
In what can only be described as "Back to the Future" meets "The Final Girls" with a pinch of "Happy Death Day," the premise of "Totally Killer...
In what can only be described as "Back to the Future" meets "The Final Girls" with a pinch of "Happy Death Day," the premise of "Totally Killer...
- 9/12/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson in Lost In TranslationImage: Kino Lorber
Reciting lines for a Japanese whisky commercial, Bill Murray looks deep into the camera with straight-faced irony and says, “For relaxing times, make it Suntory time.” An increasingly agitated director gives him lengthy instructions that are translated, hilariously, with improbable brevity.
Reciting lines for a Japanese whisky commercial, Bill Murray looks deep into the camera with straight-faced irony and says, “For relaxing times, make it Suntory time.” An increasingly agitated director gives him lengthy instructions that are translated, hilariously, with improbable brevity.
- 9/12/2023
- by Rania Richardson
- avclub.com
We all have those movies that we watch whenever we’re in the mood for some good old fashioned nostalgia. Maybe it’s a rainy or snowy day and you’re sitting on your couch with a good whiskey and looking for something light and comforting to escape into. For me, among the best of comfort films is Harold Ramis’ 1993 comedy masterpiece, Groundhog Day. The movie stars comedy legend and SNL alumni Bill Murray as Phil Conners, a slick-yet-jaded weatherman who dreams of climbing the career latter above and away from his current new station. But when Phil is sent to the small town of Punxsutawney, he finds himself in an incite time loop where he’s forced to relive the same day over and over again.
The movie has been picked apart by fans and critics alike since its release in the early 1990’s and there has been no...
The movie has been picked apart by fans and critics alike since its release in the early 1990’s and there has been no...
- 9/5/2023
- by Kier Gomes
- JoBlo.com
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