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Milena Canonero, the legendary Italian costume designer known for her collaborations with the likes of Stanley Kubrick, Wes Anderson, Sofia Coppola, Francis Ford Coppola, Warren Beatty and others, made a rare public speaking appearance in Switzerland, in which she provided insight into her career.

During a talk at the 78th edition of the Locarno Film Festival, where she received this year’s Vision Award on Sunday evening, Canonero recalled her first meeting with Anderson at the Chateau Marmont to discuss The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou. “He was really friendly and open-minded,” she said, according to a live translation. “Of course, I was familiar with his movies, including the very early ones. So I was very happy to get to know him.”

Different directors have different focus areas, of course. “Wes is very much involved with the look of his characters,” the costume design legend highlighted. “Objects, decorations, and all...

It couldn't have been easy to grow up as the only son of "Shane," but Alan Ladd Jr. somehow made it work. Ladd père became a movie legend as the gunfighter protagonist of George Stevens' 1953 Western classic, but his oldest son, who would come to be known quite affectionately as Laddie, did not want to follow in the old man's footsteps. He began his showbiz career as an agent for Creative Management Associates before moving into film production in the United Kingdom (where he helped Gary Sherman make the gruesome horror classic "Raw Meat").

Laddie's sharp creative/commercial sensibilities caught the eye of 20th Century Fox, which brought him on as its Vice President of Creative Affairs in 1973. This might've been the most consequential hire in the studio's history, as Laddie championed such pop cultural touchstones as "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," "Young Frankenstein" and "Phantom of the Paradise." When...

The Locarno Film Festival will celebrate multi-Oscar-winning Italian costume designer Milena Canonero, who is admired for her work with Stanley Kubrick, Wes Anderson, Francis Ford Coppola and Sofia Coppola, among other directors, with its lifetime achievement award dedicated to creative pioneers.

The prominent Swiss fest dedicated to international indie cinema will be feting Canonero with its Vision Award Ticinomoda and screening her most recent collaboration with Francis Ford Coppola “Megalopolis.”

“Since making her debut as a costume designer on Stanley Kubrick’s “A Clockwork Orange” (1971), Milena Canonero has produced some of the most visionary costumes in film history and has shaped our collective imagination through the clothes we see on screen, using colorful fabrics and innovative cuts to draw out the essential natures of some of the most recognizable cinematic creations,” the fest said in a statement.

“Take the Jazz Age tuxedos and gowns of Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Cotton Club...

Between 1971 and 1983, a new Al Pacino performance was an event ... most of the time. No one was excited to see Pacino follow up the supercharged "Cruising" by playing a stressed-out papa in Arthur Hiller's abominable 1982 family dramedy "Author! Author!" Other than that, there was always the promise of greatness with Pacino, whether presented in the form of "Panic in Needle Park" or "Scarface." And when your peak is "Dog Day Afternoon" and/or "The Godfather Part II," that's pure, transcendent craft.

There was, however, a growing sense with Pacino around the time he did the controversial "Scarface" that the actor was eschewing nuance and depth for scenery-devouring showmanship. His Tony Montana was the culmination of a tendency towards growling and gesticulating (which began in films like "...And Justice for All" and "Cruising"), topped off with a thick Cuban accent. It's a towering performance, but it's also one that proved difficult for him to shed.

As 2024 comes to a close, many publications are releasing their "best of the year" lists to celebrate everything cinema had to offer. This is certainly true of Variety, who, in addition to more traditional top ten fare, also asked numerous filmmakers to name their top film of the year. Among the directors chosen to weigh in — which includes Barry Jenkins (Mufasa: The Lion King), Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity), and Fede Alvarez (Alien: Romulus), among others — Christopher Nolan had one of the most heartfelt answers.

The Oppenheimer director picked fellow British filmmaker Ridley Scott's Gladiator II as his favorite film of the year, stating, "Scott’s contribution to the evolution of cinematic storytelling has never been properly acknowledged." High praise indeed.

Of the film itself, Nolan writes:

Like the best long-awaited sequels, 'Gladiator II' must be a remake and sequel in one, and it's testament to Scott's brilliance that...

This is our final round-up before the end of 2024, and it’s a good one. There are plenty of gift ideas lurking here––some choices to enjoy during time off, too. Note also that The Film Stage Holiday Gift Guide includes a list of my favorite cinema books from the last 12 months. One of those picks kicks off this column, and it is written by none other than the great Al Pacino.

Sonny Boy by Al Pacino (Penguin Press)

Al Pacino’s memoir, Sonny Boy, is easily one of the most eagerly awaited books of 2024. And for me, this look at the actor’s life and career more than lives up to the hype. Many highlights have already earned some social-media chatter––most notably young Al’s penis trauma (!), a near-death experience after a recent bout with Covid, and the reasons behind his decision to do Adam Sandler’s Jack and Jill.

The holidays are upon us, so whether you’re looking for film-related gifts or simply want to get for yourself some of the finest this year had to offer, we have a gift guide for you. Including must-have books on filmmaking, the best from the Criterion Collection and other home-video lines, subscriptions, magazines, music, and more, dive in below.

4K & Blu-ray Box Sets

There’s no better gift than an epic film collection, and 2024 was an embarrassment of riches thanks to a number of box sets. The king of them all, especially if you’re looking for a gift for a burgeoning cinephile, is Criterion’s massive CC40, collecting 40 landmark films form their 40-year history. It’s not the only stellar set from the company, of course, as I adored the essential Chantal Akerman Masterpieces, 1968–1978, Éric Rohmer’s Tales of the Four Seasons, Gregg Araki’s Teen Apocalypse Trilogy, Three Revolutionary Films by Ousmane Sembène,...

Paul Engelen, the British makeup designer who earned two Emmys and two Oscar nominations in a fabulous career that included work on Reds, Batman, The Phantom Menace, Gladiator and Game of Thrones, has died. He was 75.

Engelen died Nov. 3 of cancer at his home in West Sussex, England, his son-in-law (and fellow makeup designer) Daniel Lawson Johnston told The Hollywood Reporter.

Engelen also did makeup for three James Bonds — Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig — on the 007 films The Man With the Golden Gun (1974), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Moonraker (1979), Die Another Day (2002), Casino Royale (2006) and Quantum of Solace (2008).

He teamed with Blake Edwards on Victor/Victoria (1982), Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) and Curse of the Pink Panther (1983), with Steven Spielberg on Empire of the Sun (1987) and Munich (2005) and with Ridley Scott on Gladiator (2000), Kingdom of Heaven (2005) and Robin Hood (2010).

Engelen shared his first Academy Award nom with Rick Baker...

Disney’s latest blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine headlines this weekend’s UK-Ireland box office, aiming to revive the recent fortunes of the once-mighty Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

A sequel to Deadpool and Deadpool 2 as well as a follow-up to Logan, the film sees Deadpool pulled from his quiet life by the Time Variance Authority and set on a mission to save his universe – during which he collides with Wolverine from another universe. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman reprise their roles as the titular superheroes, with Matthew Macfadyen, Morena Baccarin and Screen Stars of Tomorrow Emma Corrin and Dafne Keen also among the cast.

This David Puttnam-produced parable of patriotism, faith and meritocratic success – rereleased in honour of the 1924 event – is on the level of classic Hollywood

In honour of both the imminent Paris Olympics and the centenary of the 1924 Olympics, also in Paris, here is a rerelease of this superbly watchable true-story parable of patriotism, faith and meritocratic success within the system, much admired by Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan and Joe Biden. It was produced by David Puttnam, who had discovered the story of the devout Christian athlete Eric Liddell refusing to run on Sunday and commissioned a terrifically punchy and sympathetic script from Colin Welland (whose victorious Oscar night cry of “the British are coming!” was destined to be endlessly and ironically re-quoted at moments of British failure and disappointment in Hollywood). It was Welland who incorporated Jewish sprinter Harold Abrahams into the film.

The film was directed with gusto by...

Some of the best Revolutionary War movies focus on individuals' experiences beyond just the battles and leaders of the time. Films like "Revolution" and "The Patriot" offer different perspectives, from a father searching for his son to a farmer who becomes a reluctant hero. "1776" uses musical numbers to bring the historical figures to life, making the story of the American Revolution engaging for all audiences.

Although the Revolutionary War is a period widely touched upon in history lessons, there is still much to learn about it from the best movies about the subject. Films that delve into the history of the American Revolution include depictions of the founding fathers and pivotal battles that turned the tide of the war. However, some of the greatest movies in the genre incorporate the experience of civilians and the perspectives of people experiencing the war from all walks of life.

Anyone interested in...

One of the most unique honors in all of cinema is the Palm Dog Award, given annually at the Cannes Film Festival to the pooch who left the biggest mark on film that year. It’s a quirky award given at the most prestigious festival there is; but there’s nothing like that at the Oscars. Could you imagine the Academy voters nominating a dog? Well, they actually did – albeit in name only – thanks to Robert Towne. In the wake of Towne’s death this week, let’s take a look at the time he got so pissed off over Greystoke that he ensured his dog would be on the Oscar ballot.

In the ‘70s, Robert Towne was tasked to pen Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes, later taking on directing duties at his own insistence. Towne hadn’t directed before so in the time being, he took on Personal Best,...

In deciding on our next Wtf celebrity to cover, we passed around several names but in the end we all decided that: There could be only One! Despite being basically blind, Christopher Lambert made a name for himself as the king of Sci-Fi action films. One could say he single-handedly kept Blockbuster Video in business as most of his output in the 90’s debuted on the bottom shelves of the video rental chain. But few performers have made their mark on the international stage like Christopher Lambert, alternating between North American schlock and more prestigious French fare. Despite most of us knowing Lambert mainly for two iconic roles, there is much more to know about this American-born French actor; it’s time we find out just Wtf Happened to Christopher Lambert.

Greystroke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes

But as always, we must begin at the beginning, and...

Sports movies are a niche genre of film that can often bring a variety of audiences together to enjoy an artistic piece. Many sports fans may be unsure of the world of film and many film fans may be unsure of the world of sport, making sports movies the common ground for these two often conflicting sides to meet. Sports films have a long and varied history within cinema, with the highs of Hugh Hudson's Chariots of Fire and John G. Avildson's Rocky, and some lows that can create the genre a somewhat poor reputation in the eyes of some. One sport that doesn't often get the recognition it may deserve on the silver screen is tennis. Tennis is one of the most admired sports in the world, however, its appeal to movie producers has seemingly forever been low. Two of the sport's most famous athletes did get their...

Ready to head back to the Wasteland and experience another outlandish post-apocalyptic vision from George Miller? Well, step this way – Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is revving up its engine, set to unleash a fresh batch of mayhem on the multiplexes. And the new issue of Empire is a world-exclusive deep-dive into the madness, speaking to Miller and his stars – including Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth – about their all-new action epic.

The issue hits newsstands on Thursday 14 March – but before then, take a sneak peek below at what’s inside.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Fire. Blood. Oil. Chrome. The world of Mad Max is exploding back onto the screen with the tale of the one and only Imperator Furiosa. We speak to filmmaker George Miller, stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth and more, getting the lowdown on Furiosa’s vengeful saga, the mind-blowing action, and Hemsworth’s wild new villain Dementus.

President Biden publicly stated that his all-time favorite movie is the inspirational sports drama Chariots of Fire, which depicts the rivalry between two British track athletes in the 1924 Paris Olympics. Chariots of Fire resonated deeply with American audiences and has had a lasting impact, with former President Reagan and others applauding its depiction of heroes who embody honor and integrity.

Even U.S. Presidents take time out of their busy schedule to watch movies. In the case of the 46th President of the United States Joe Biden, he's publicly stated that his all-time favorite movie is the inspirational 1981 sports drama Chariots of Fire. The true story traces the rivalry between two British track athletes competing in the 1924 Paris Olympics. Eric Liddell is a pious Christian from Scotland competing for the glory of god, while Harold Abrahams is a Jewish Englishman competing to escape prejudice. Despite their differing religious views, the...

Every year the Oscar’s hold an in memoriam segment honoring stars and Hollywood professionals who lost their lives over the past year, and every time, there’s controversy after the segment seems to leave notable faces out. “White Lotus” star Michael Imperioli is adding to the criticism that this year’s in memoriam received, by blasting the omission of his prior co-stars Tony Sirico, Paul Sorvino, and Tom Sizemore.

“Sorvino, Sirico and Sizemore,” Imperioli wrote in an Instagram post on Monday, featuring headshots of all three actors. “These three brilliant actors were forgotten by the Academy last night at the Oscars. I was proud and honored to have worked with all three of these men and it saddened me to see Hollywood ignore them on its biggest night.”

Imperioli and Sirico famously worked together on all six seasons of the beloved HBO mobster drama “The Sopranos;” Imperioli played Christopher Moltisanti,...

Mira Sorvino is calling out the Academy Awards for not including her father Paul Sorvino during the In Memoriam tribute.

Sorvino took to social media to share her “hurt” over Paul being “overlooked” at the 2023 ceremony. Sorvino tweeted, “It is baffling beyond belief that my beloved father and many other amazing brilliant departed actors were left out. The Oscars forgot about Paul Sorvino, but the rest of us never will!!”

The Oscar winner also shared on Instagram, writing, “I love you Dad. I miss you so much. Ps, when I posted this I had not learned of my Dad’s omission and that of several other incredible artists from the in Memoriam section. Incredibly hurt and shocked that my father’s lifelong, irreplaceable, enormous contribution to the world of cinema was overlooked by whomever made that list. We, his adoring family, and you, his adoring public, know just how unique and incredible he was.

Every year it’s a depressing ritual: Who is the Academy going to fail to recognize in their annual In Memoriam segment? Once again, during the live ceremony, more stars who passed away in the last year were left out.

Anne Heche, Paul Sorvino, Tom Sizemore, Leslie Jordan, and “Triangle of Sadness” star Charlbi Dean were not included in the tribute. “Walking and Talking” star Heche died in August 2022 after a car crash; she was in a coma before being taken off of life support.

Sizemore similarly died in March 2023 after being taken off of life support following a ruptured brain aneurysm. Jordan died after suffering a medical emergency behind the wheel and crashed his car in October 2022.

“Triangle of Sadness” actress Charlbi Dean passed away in August 2022 of a lung infection at age 32.

Palme d’Or winning director Ruben Östlund shared a tribute to Dean, writing, “Charlbi’s sudden...

Four-time Grammy winner Lenny Kravitz will perform for Sunday’s emotional “In Memoriam” segment on the Oscars 2023 ceremony. While only 40-50 people are generally remembered for the television ceremony hosted by Jimmy Kimmel on ABC, over 200 people will be recognized on the Academy’s webpage starting that evening.

SEEWho is Performing at the Oscars 2023?: Full List of Presenters and Performers

Here is a lengthy list of many contributors to film who died since last year’s Academy Awards ceremony:

Mary Alice (actor)

Gil Alkabetz (animator)

Kirstie Alley (actor)

Burt Bacharach (composer)

Angelo Badalamenti (composer)

Simone Bär (casting director)

Joanna Barnes (actor)

Carl A. Bell (animator)

Jeff Berlin (sound)

David Birney (actor)

Bruce Bisenz (sound)

Robert Blake (actor)

Eliot Bliss (sound)

Nick Bosustow (shorts)

Albert Brenner (production designer)

Tom Bronson (costume designer)

James Caan (actor)

Michael Callan (actor)

Donn Cambern (editor)

Irene Cara (songwriter)

Gary W. Carlson (sound)

Marvin Chomsky...

The awards took place at London’s Royal Festival Hall on the Southbank.

Winning speeches at the 2023 Bafta Film Awards focused on personal stories as well as the Ukraine/Russia war and the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

The awards took place last night (February 19) at London’s Royal Festival Hall on the Southbank.

In his best film speech for All Quiet On The Western Front, which won seven awards in total, director Edward Berger referenced the one-year anniversary of the Ukraine conflict, adding: “there are no winners in war”.

He said that he wanted the film to focus on...

Stella Stevens, who starred in such films as “The Nutty Professor”, “The Poseidon Adventure” and alongside Elvis Presley in “Girls! Girls! Girls!”, has died. She was 84.

According to multiple reports, Stevens died Friday in Los Angeles following a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Before making a name for herself on the big and small screen, Stevens was a Playboy Playmate and appeared on its centerfold page in January 1960. She was modeling in her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, when she was discovered, ultimately leading her to roles in the 1962 music comedy “Girls! Girls! Girls!” and then starring alongside comedy giant Jerry Lewis in the 1963 sci-fi comedy “The Nutty Professor”.

Read More: Raquel Welch, Actress and Legendary Bombshell, Dead at 82

In a New York Times review of the film (via Variety), Stevens’ performance as Stella Purdy (the student Lewis’ nutty professor character pursues) is singled out.

“It’s about a shy...

Actress and iconic sex symbol Raquel Welch has died.

A rep for the actress, who rose to international fame in the 1960s, confirmed to Et that she passed away Wednesday morning following a brief illness at age 82.

Read More: De La Soul Co-Founder Trugoy The Dove Dead at 54

Welch had her breakout year in 1966, appearing in the sci-fi fantasy films “Fantastic Voyage” and “One Million Years B.C.”, quickly becoming a world-renowned sex symbol.

She soon became a pin-up icon, as the poster featuring her in a doe-skin bikini from “One Million Years B.C.” became one of the best-selling posters of all time.

The actress went on to star in the films “Bedazzled”, “Myra Breckenridge” and more throughout the ’60s and ’70s.

In 1974, she won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for her performance in “The Three Musketeers”, and in 1987, she was nominated again...

The filmmaker passed away at the age of 86 following a short illness.

Chariots Of Fire actor Nigel Havers leads the tributes to UK film and commercials director Hugh Hudson who passed away at the age of 86 on Friday (February 10).

The actor called starring in Hudson’s 1981 classic ”one of the greatest experiences of my professional life” and said he was “beyond devastated” by the news. “Like so many others, I owe much of what followed to him. I shall miss him greatly.”

Antonio Banderas, who starred in Hudson’s 2016 Spanish-language film Altamira, said on Twitter: ”Good bye mister Hudson.

Howard Bragman, public relations and crisis management expert and longtime LGBTQ+ activist, has died after a short battle with leukemia. He was 66.

According to a journal entry by his husband, Mike Maimone, Bragman died peacefully in his sleep in Los Angeles Saturday, where he was surrounded by his brother, Alan, his niece, Lizzy, and many of his dearest friends.

“It is with our heaviest hearts we share that our dear Howard passed away peacefully in his sleep at 8:50 Pm, tonight, February 11, 2023,” Maimone wrote on Caringbridge.com, an online forum that allows people facing various medical conditions, and their families, to communicate. “Mike, Alan, Lizzy and (Dr.) Gary were with him, holding him close, to his last breath. The enormity of our shared loss can’t be overstated – Howard was a constant in so many of our lives and the brightest star in his wide constellation of friends and family.

Hugh Hudson, a British filmmaker who debuted as a feature director with the Oscar-winning Olympics drama “Chariots of Fire” and later made such well-regarded movies as “My Life So Far” and the Oscar-nominated “Greystoke,” has died at age 86.

Hudson’s family issued a brief statement announcing that he died Friday at a hospital in London “after a short illness.”

Read More: Cody Longo, ‘Days Of Our Lives’ And ‘Hollywood Heights’ Actor, Dead At 34

A London native, Hudson started out as a documentary editor and producer and also worked in television advertising before finding work in feature films in the late 1970s as a second-unit director on Alan Parker’s “Midnight Express”. In 1981, producer David Puttnam asked Hudson to direct “Chariots of Fire”, which starred Ben Cross and Nigel Havers as British athletes of contrasting religions and backgrounds at the 1924 Olympics.

With its inspirational plot and sentimental theme music by the Greek composer Vangelis,...

Hudson brought an ad-man’s eye to the brilliant 1981 drama about athletics and bigotry, as well as directing the hilarious Cinzano commercials

As the 1980s dawned, British ad director Hugh Hudson took on his first feature film and made it a legendary hit: an inspirational story which supplied a sugar-rush of patriotism and a swoon of nostalgia which hit the spot both sides of the Atlantic. It somehow brought off the trick of being about the underdog and the victim of bigotry and religious discrimination – and yet also being a resounding endorsement of the status quo which could, on grounds of decency and meritocracy, always accommodate the outsider. This was the era of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, and the ethos of success for the hardworking and the deserving.

The film of course was Chariots of Fire, the true story of the 1924 Olympic runners Harold Abrahams (played by Ben Cross...

Cody Longo, an actor with roles in “Days of Our Lives” and the short-lived Nickelodeon family drama “Hollywood Heights”, has died. He was 34.

According to TMZ, which was first to report the news, Longo’s body was found Wednesday in bed at a home in Austin, Texas. A family member also tells the outlet that Longo’s wife, Stephanie, was at work at a local dance studio but called the police and asked them to go check on him when she got “an uneasy feeling” and couldn’t reach him.

Read More: Hugh Hudson, 'Chariots Of Fire' Director, Dead at 86

Cops ultimately rushed over to the home and kicked down the door when Longo wouldn’t answer the door. TMZ reports cops found Longo dead in bed. The cause of death is not known. The family member went on to tell the outlet that Longo struggled with alcohol abuse for years,...

Hugh Hudson, best known as the director of the 1981 film Chariots of Fire, has passed away at age 86. Hudson garnered success in television commercials and documentaries early in his career before starting filmmaking. Though only Hudson's second-ever film, Chariots of Fire would go on to win four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Currently, the film is ranked at number 19 in the British Film Institute's Top 100 British Films.

It was announced by Hudson's family (via The Guardian) that the director passed away on February 10 after a brief battle with illness. Though the illness was not specified, it has been confirmed that Hudson died at London's Charing Cross Hospital. Hudson is survived by his wife Maryam D'Abo, his first wife Susan Caroline Michie, and his son Thomas. Several people who worked on the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire, including Nigel Havers and Esta Charkham, released statements expressing their condolences. Read their statements...

Hugh Hudson, director of the Oscar-winning classic "Chariots of Fire," has passed away at the age of 86. According to a statement released by his family, Hudson "died at Charing Cross hospital on 10 February after a short illness. He is survived by his wife, Maryam, his son, Thomas, and his first wife, Sue."

Hudson's fact-based drama about British runners Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross) and Eric Liddell (Ian Charleston) was a surprise critical and commercial smash in 1981, earning four Academy Awards (including Best Picture) and out-grossing splashy studio releases like "For Your Eyes Only" and "Clash of the Titans." The film became a pop cultural phenomenon due in part to Vangelis' main theme, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for one week in 1982 and inspired parodies in films like "Mr. Mom" and "National Lampoon's Vacation." But despite its staid period setting and deliberately paced narrative, Hudson's movie touched the hearts of moviegoers all...

The Oscar-nominated British filmmaker Hugh Hudson has passed away. Famous for his documentary and advertising work, Hudson shot Chariots of Fire, one of the most celebrated films in British history, and Best Picture winner at the 1981 Oscars ceremony. Hudson was 86 when he passed away on Friday at Charing Cross hospital in London after a brief illness.

Hudson directed seven films throughout his career, including Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984), Revolution, Lost Angels, and more. Hailed as a maker of lasting cinema, Hudson’s Revolution, starring Al Pacino, was a box office bomb, earning roughly 350,000 against a reported 29 million budget. The backlash left a lasting impression on Hudson and compelled Pacino to exit the acting scene for roughly four years.

Hudson cut his teeth as a second-unit director for filmmaker Alan Parker and producer David Puttnam on Midnight Express. Puttnam was impressed by Hudson’s keen eye...

Hugh Hudson, director of the triumphant sports classic Chariots of Fire, is dead at the age of 86. In a statement to The Guardian, his family said he “died at Charing Cross hospital on 10th February after a short illness.”

A longtime director of commercials, Hudson made the leap to films with the 1981 feature-length documentary Fangio: Una vita a 300 all’ora, covering the Formula One champion Juan Manuel Fangio. That same year he released Chariots of Fire, a historical drama about two athletes, one Christian and one Jewish, who made an unlikely connection at the 1924 Olympics. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won four, including for Best Picture, while the stirring score by Vangelis remains one of the defining soundtracks of sports cinema.

Nigel Havers, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for playing Lord Andrew Lindsay, said, “I am beyond devastated that my great friend Hugh Hudson,...

Hugh Hudson, the Academy Award-nominated director of 1981's Chariots of Fire, has died. He was 86-years-old. In a statement, the filmmaker's family revealed that Hudson passed away at London's Charing Cross hospital on Friday, February 10, "after a short illness." Added Chariots of Fire co-star Nigel Havers in a statement of his own: “I am beyond devastated that my great friend Hugh Hudson who I have known for more than 45 years has died. Chariots of Fire was one of the greatest experiences of my professional life, and, like so many others, I owe much of what followed to him. I shall miss him greatly.”...

Hugh Hudson, the director behind 1981’s Academy Award-winning Chariots of Fire, has died aged 86, his family said.

A statement on behalf of his family read: “Hugh Hudson, 86, beloved husband and father died at Charing Cross Hospital on February 10 2023 after a short illness.

“He was best known for directing the Oscar-winning film Chariots Of Fire. He is survived by his wife Maryam, his son Thomas and his first wife Sue.”

Veteran stage and screen actor Nigel Havers, who played Lord Andrew Lindsay in the critically-acclaimed film, told the Pa news agency: “I am beyond devastated that my great friend Hugh Hudson, who I have known for more than 45 years, has died.

“Chariots Of Fire was one of the greatest experiences of my professional life, and, like so many others, I owe much of what followed to him. I shall miss him greatly.”

Born in 1936 in London, Hudson went to boarding school...

Hugh Hudson, whose first feature directing effort Chariots of Fire won four Academy Awards including Best Picture, has died, according to a statement from his family obtained by the BBC. He was 86.

Hudson began his career making documentaries and television commercials, which he continued to do even after his big-screen breakthrough with Chariots of Fire. He worked alongside Alan Parker, Ridley Scott and Tony Scott for Ridley Scott Associates (Rsa). His first filmmaking job was as a second-unit director on Parker’s Midnight Express.

Vincent Canby wrote of Hudson’s Oscar-winning debut in 1981: “It’s to the credit of both Mr. Hudson and Mr. Welland [Colin Welland wrote the screenplay] that Chariots of Fire is simultaneously romantic and commonsensical, lyrical and comic. … It’s an exceptional film, about some exceptional people.”

Also deserving credit for the film’s lyricism was the late composer Vangelis, whom Puttnam had worked with...

Hugh Hudson, the Oscar-nominated director of the classic British film “Chariots of Fire,” has died. He was 86.

Hudson died after battling a short illness, according to The Guardian, which first reported the news Friday.

“Hugh Hudson, 86, beloved husband and father, died at Charing Cross hospital on 10 February after a short illness. He is survived by his wife Maryam, his son Thomas and his first wife Sue,” Hudson’s family said in a statement.

Also Read:

Hollywood’s Notable Deaths of 2022 (Photos)

Hudson got his start in documentaries, and “Chariots of Fire” was technically his first narrative feature film, which would go on to win the Oscar for Best Picture and become one of the most celebrated British films ever made. Although nominated for best director, Hudson would lose to Warren Beatty, who won for “Reds.”

“Chariots of Fire” was nominated for seven Oscars and would end up collecting four, alongside three Bafta statuettes.

Hugh Hudson, who came from the worlds of documentaries and advertising to make his feature directing debut on the stirring Oscar best picture winner Chariots of Fire, one of the most admired British films ever made, has died. He was 86.

Hudson died Friday at Charing Cross hospital in London after a short illness, his family told The Guardian newspaper.

Hudson helmed just seven features during his career. After earning an Oscar nomination for his 1981 masterpiece, he followed with the highly regarded Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984). Starring Christopher Lambert, it was the first Tarzan feature to receive an Oscar nom (it landed three).

Up next for Hudson, however, was Revolution (1985), which starred Al Pacino as a fur trapper thrust into the American Revolutionary War. Made for a reported 28 million, it was a major bust, grossing just 350,000 in the U.S. Critics hammered Pacino, who left acting for about four years,...

Hugh Hudson, who directed the classic Oscar winning film “Chariots of Fire,” died Friday in London. He was 86.

The Guardian said he had died after a short illness. His family released a statement saying, “Hugh Hudson, 86, beloved husband and father, died at Charing Cross hospital on 10 February after a short illness. He is survived by his wife Maryam, his son Thomas and his first wife Sue.”

As a director Hudson could be counted upon to deliver lush, beautifully designed, well-orchestrated scenes.

“Chariots of Fire” was the story of the rivalry between two British runners, one Jewish, the other a devout Christian, culminating in the 1924 Olympics. Hudson was Oscar nominated for best director in 1982, and the movie won four Academy Awards, including best picture and best score for the electronic compositions of Vangelis that somehow worked splendidly in the period film.

Hudson had brought his friend Vangelis onto the project, and...

Oscar-nominated film-maker died on Friday at a London hospital after a short illness, his family said

Film director Hugh Hudson, who directed best picture Oscar winner Chariots of Fire, has died aged 86 following a short illness.

A statement released on behalf of his family said: “Hugh Hudson, 86, beloved husband and father, died at Charing Cross hospital on 10 February after a short illness.”...

Writer/Director Joe Cornish discusses a few of his favorite movies with Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Attack The Block (2011)

Rocks (2019)

Poltergeist (1982)

Gremlins (1984)

Avanti! (1972)

Picnic At Hanging Rock (1975)

The Last Wave (1977)

Witness (1985)

Dead Poets Society (1989)

Fearless (1993)

Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World (2003)

Gallipoli (1981)

The Year Of Living Dangerously (1982)

The Cars That Ate Paris (1974)

The Adventures Of Buckaroo Banzai (1984)

Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)

The Man Who Would Be King (1975)

Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)

The Rescuers (1977)

Bedknobs And Broomsticks (1971)

The Rescuers Down Under (1990)

The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Moonraker (1979)

The Adventures Of Tintin (2011)

Bambi (1942)

Dumbo (1941)

Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (1977)

Forbidden Planet (1956)

This Island Earth (1955)

Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers (1956)

The Thing From Another World (1951)

Matinee (1993)

The Lord Of The Rings (1978)

The Omen (1976)

Damien: Omen II (1978)

Omen III: The Final Conflict (1981)

Battleship Potemkin (1925)

The Exorcist (1973)

The Exterminator (1980)

Friday The 13th...

Following its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival Film, Noah Baumbach’s feature take of Don DeLillo’s 1985 novel White Noise will also open the 60th New York Film Festival, making its North American premiere at Alice Tully Hall on September 30.

In the Netflix movie, Adam Driver plays Jack Gladney, an ostentatious “Hitler Studies” professor and father-of-four whose comfortable suburban college town life and marriage to the secretive Babette (Greta Gerwig) are upended after a horrifying nearby accident creates an airborne toxic event of frightening and unknowable proportions. DeLillo’s novel is known for being a pop-philosophical nightmare on unbounded consumerism, ecological catastrophe, and the American obsession with death.

“In 1985 my father and I drove from Brooklyn to see Kurosawa’s Ran open the 23rd NYFF, the same year that he brought home the hardback of Don DeLillo’s White Noise,” said Baumbach. “Opening the 60th NYFF with White...

Exclusive: James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli has revealed that it will be “at least two years“ before the next 007 movie begins filming and that the task of finding an actor to replace Daniel Craig hasn’t begun “because it’s a reinvention of Bond.”

Speaking to us at a star-studded private event in central London to honor Broccoli and her brother Michael G. Wilson for their BFI Fellowships, Broccoli wouldn’t be drawn on who would play Bond next but did offer an update on the decision-making process.

“Nobody’s in the running,” she disclosed. “We’re working out where to go with him, we’re talking that through. There isn’t a script and we can’t come up with one until we decide how we’re going to approach the next film because, really, it’s a reinvention of Bond. We’re reinventing who he is and that takes time.

Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou, known to cinephiles around the world as Vangelis, has died this week at a hospital in France, his reps announced in a statement. He was 79.

Vangelis is best known for the iconic theme and soundtrack to the Best Picture-winning sports film “Chariots of Fire,” for which he won an Oscar for Best Original Score while the soundtrack reached the top of the U.S. Billboard charts. He also composed the score for Ridley Scott’s sci-fi classic “Blade Runner,” for which he was nominated for a BAFTA and a Golden Globe.

Born in Athens, Greece, Vangelis got his start playing keyboards for a pop band called Forminx in the 1960s and later with the prog rock band Aphrodite’s Child, which found success on the European charts. Meanwhile, he entered the film world as a composer for Greek films, expanding beyond that in the 1970s with scores...

Irene Jacob (“Three Colours: Red”), a critically acclaimed film and theater actor, is set to preside over the Lumière Institute in Lyon, succeeding to Bertrand Tavernier, the revered French filmmaker who died in March.

Tavernier led the institution for nearly four decades and worked closely with Thierry Fremaux, the Lumière Institute’s managing director, and Cannes Film Festival’s general delegate, to host the annual Lumière festival, a star-studded celebration of heritage films and cinema masters. Lyon is actually the birthplace of the Cinematograph and its creators, the Lumiere brothers.

Kicking off on Oct. 9, the event’s 13th edition will pay homage to Tavernier with a special tribute on Oct. 10.

Jacob, who is originally from Switzerland, is the granddaughter of Maurice Jacob, a scientist and humanist who lived in Lyon all his life and has a street named after him in the city. A passionate film buff, Jacob has been...

The new president adores the British classic, even referencing it in his victory speech. Creators including Hugh Hudson, David Puttnam, Nigel Havers, Nicholas Farrell and Stephen Fry applaud his choice – and his appointment

Last November, David Puttnam received a mysterious phone call. It was a tip-off from someone in the White House transition team. “They said: ‘We just thought you’d like to know that he’s referenced it again.’”

Joe Biden first cited Chariots of Fire – the stirring story of Scottish sprinting champion Eric Liddell and Jewish gold medallist Harold Abrahams that producer Puttnam ushered to Oscar glory in 1982 – as his favourite film during the vice presidential race in 2008. “Someone put personal fame and glory behind principles,” he said. “That, to me, is the mark of real heroism.”...

Ben Cross, the English actor known for his powerhouse performance as the British Olympic athlete Harold Abrahams for director Hugh Hudson's Chariots Of Fire, has passed away at 72. Word of Cross' death had reached the masses not long after the star of stage and screen had passed away in Vienna on Tuesday morning. In addition to his inspirational role for Chariots,…...

Sir Alan Parker, a British director known for “Evita,” “Mississippi Burning,” “Midnight Express” and “The Commitments,” has died, an individual with knowledge of his passing told TheWrap. He was 76.

Parker died on Friday after a long battle with an illness.

Parker was a two-time Oscar nominee for directing both “Midnight Express” and the racial drama “Mississippi Burning.”

Among some of Parker’s other iconic credits include “Bugsy Malone,” “Fame,” “Pink Floyd: The Wall,” “Angel Heart,” “Angela’s Ashes” and most recently “The Life of David Gale” in 2003.

Also Read: Olivia de Havilland, Last Survivor of 'Gone With the Wind,' Dies at 104

Parker received the Cbe in 1995 and was knighted in 2002. He’s also a founding member of the Director’s Guild in Britain and was also the chairman of the UK Film Council.

Parker got his start directing TV commercials in the late ’60s and early ’70s, coming up...

Acclaimed UK director Alan Parker, a towering figure in the UK industry, passed away this morning following a lengthy illness, the British Film Institute has confirmed.

Two-time Oscar nominee Parker was best known for directing classic films including Bugsy Malone, Midnight Express, Mississippi Burning and The Commitments, as well as big-budget Madonna movie Evita.

Parker was a passionate supporter of the UK film industry and a founding member of the Directors Guild of Great Britain. He was the founding Chairman of the UK Film Council in 2000, a position he held for five years, and prior to that he was Chairman of the BFI. He received a Cbe in 1995 and a knighthood in 2002. He was also an Officier des Arts et Letters (France).

Parker was born in Islington, London, February 14, 1944. He began his career in advertising as a copywriter but quickly graduated to writing and directing commercials. By the late 1960s...

His body of work includes Bugsy Malone, Midnight Express, Mississippi Burning, The Commitments, Evita, Fame, Birdy, Angel Heart and Angela’s Ashes.

Acclaimed UK filmmaker Alan Parker died this morning (July 31) following a lengthy illness.

Parker was one of the UK’s most acclaimed and successful filmmakers, with a body of work including Bugsy Malone, Midnight Express, Mississippi Burning, The Commitments, Evita, Fame, Birdy, Angel Heart and Angela’s Ashes. His films won a combined 19 Baftas, 10 Golden Globes and 10 Oscars.

Parker was a passionate supporter of the UK film industry and was a founding member of the Directors Guild of Great Britain,...

by Cláudio Alves

Since we're celebrating 1981 this week, let's shine a spotlight on the Best Costume Design champion of that Oscar year. The filmmaker in question is one of the best currently working on her field. Milena Canonero's vast filmography includes repeated collaborations with many great auteurs like Francis Ford and Sofia Coppola, Wes Anderson, and Stanley Kubrick just to name a few. With nine nominations and four Academy Awards to her name, she's not only talented but also one of AMPAS' favorite craftswomen, having earned recognition for a variety of projects that range from strict historical recreation to lunatic explosions of avant-garde style.

Her work in Hugh Hudson's Best Picture-winning Chariots of Fire is on the more conventional end of this is one artist whose Oscar history aptly reflects her range, mastery, and good taste. In fact, not one of her nominations is undeserved and her victories are very nearly as unimpeachable.