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Anthony Hopkins has played everyone from a terrifying serial killer to the King of Asgard, and even a master swordsman in Zorro. Yet at 87, he continues to take on leading roles in movies, proving he’s one of the coolest working actors out there. But even legends have their “what just happened?” moments on set. For Anthony Hopkins, it came while working with Mickey Rourke on Michael Cimino’s 1990 thriller Desperate Hours. Hopkins described Rourke as “very strange” and said their first scene basically set the tone for what would become a very tense film shoot. Rourke, who is known for being committed to his method acting style, actually hit Hopkins on the shoulder.

Anthony Hopkins has opened up about his difficult experience working with Mickey Rourke on Michael Cimino’s 1990 thriller Desperate Hours. The legendary actor called Rourke “very strange” and described several tense moments on set that made filming a challenge.

Hopkins recalled one of his first scenes with Rourke, who stayed in character and hit him on the shoulder. “All I can remember was that this made me so angry, I punched the side of the car in genuine rage,” Hopkins said.

“In fact, I punched it so hard, I knocked a dent in it.” Even off-camera, Hopkins remembered Rourke being aggressive on set, pushing him around during another scene. “He was pushing me around once,...

Anthony Hopkins has shared his experience working with Mickey Rourke on Michael Cimino’s 1990 thriller Desperate Hours, describing the actor as “very strange” and recalling several tense moments on set.

Hopkins, famous for his role as Hannibal Lecter, said Rourke’s intense method acting caused problems from the very first scene.

Rourke, staying in character, hit Hopkins on the shoulder, which left Hopkins so frustrated that he punched the side of a car in anger.

“All I can remember was that this made me so angry, I punched the side of the car in genuine rage,” Hopkins said. “In fact, I punched it so hard, I knocked a dent in it.

If you are the parent of a curious child whose reading level is well above their age, and, most importantly, seems to be seriously into horror, you're going to want to introduce them to the literature of Stephen King earlier than might feel responsible. If they can handle mainstream screamfests like "Poltergeist," "Alien," and "The Omen" (1976), they are ready to begin their lifelong journey through King's oeuvre. And he is so accessible as a storyteller in terms of vocabulary that much of what might seem beyond a burgeoning reader's ken is surprisingly graspable. The content can be a bit much, but King's edgiest works are unlikely to appeal to kids in the first place. They're not going to get a whole lot out of "Gerald's Game." They will want to read "Pet Sematary."

Where should they start? That's easy. "Night Shift." Published in 1978, King's collection of 20 short stories range from...

As 2024 comes to a close, we here at JoBlo.com would like to take a moment to pay tribute to some of the people who sadly passed away this year. Our deepest respect goes out to everyone in the industry we have lost, and our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of those who died in 2024. These talented individuals will always be remembered for their impact on the world of film and television.

In Memory Of…

David Soul

David Soul died on January 4th at the age of 80. The actor was best known for playing Detective Kenneth “Hutch” Hutchinson on Starsky & Hutch alongside Paul Michael Glaser.

Although Starsky & Hutch would become one of the most iconic shows of the ’70s, Soul and Glaser had no clue it would become as successful as it did. “We didn’t have a clue it was going to be so successful.

Stars: Liv Paige, Sabrina Bale, Tyler Winchcombe, Wayne Reid, Claudia Barba, Sandy Button, Olly Bassi | Written and Directed by Ted Dontchev, Maximillian Fuerstein

On the run after a botched heist, a trio of thieves take refuge in a suburban family’s home. They plan to wait until morning, but things take an unexpected turn, leading to deadly consequences. From writer-director duo Ted Dontchev and Maximillian Fuerstein, Thieves in the Night is a Tarantino-inspired crime thriller that sets out its story by reference to the titles of its three acts: Hide & Seek, Deep Cuts the Knife, and Desperate Hours (from first to third).

Hide & Seek is the strongest part of this movie, as it sets up the narrative and interpersonal conflicts between the characters quite well. For example, we learn that Mia (Liv Paige) is the product of an affair that Stella (Sabrina Bale) had whilst still being...

Tom Cruise is known for his fearless heart, often executing challenging stunt sequences in his movies. Just like his professional career, his personal life has also garnered attention, as he went through three marriages. Cruise first tied the knot with actress Mimi Rogers, but their love story was short-lived.

Tom Cruise in Cocktail (1988)

However, the post-breakup phase was quite intriguing as she appeared to retract her words after making a shocking revelation about Cruise. This allegedly even contributed to their divorce.

Mimi Rogers Revealed the Alleged Reason Behind Her Divorce With Tom Cruise

Mimi Rogers delivered exceptional performances in the 1980s-1990s, leading her to prominence. Her projects include Full Body Massage (1995), The Rapture (1991), Desperate Hours (1990), and Someone to Watch Over Me (1987).

Suggested“With nothingness behind the eyes”: Tom Cruise Unknowingly Created One of the Greatest Hollywood Roles That’s Now Witnessing a Cultural Renaissance

As the actress was...

In his last dramatic and interminable years, Michael Cimino spent his days in solitude rewatching old movies in the Bel-Air mansion he bought during his heyday. On the rare occasions that he ventured out, he drove a Rolls-Royce he acquired while making The Deer Hunter in 1978, his chauffeur having left long ago, as well as his success.

Even in those final moments, he did everything he could to show a winning image to Hollywood, a town that had ostracized him ever since the colossal Heaven’s Gate fiasco that had bankrupted United Artists during the early ’80s. He had a perpetually ironic, scornful smile, but he was the first to know how pointless, even miserable, that act was. The only thing he had left from his triumphant years was some money, and he would show up at the hangouts of movers and shakers like the Polo Lounge, where he often ended...

Actor Mike Nussbaum, whose roles include a memorable appearance in the hit movie Men in Black, has passed away.

Per TMZ, Nussbaum died on Saturday morning in his Chicago home with his daughter, Karen, by his side. It was noted that the actor had died of natural causes after spending the past year in hospice, with Karen stating, "It was his time." Nussbaum was 99 years old and just one week shy of his 100th birthday, which would've been on Dec. 29.

A lifelong performer, Nussbaum never formally retired, and he had performed in recent stage plays, with a turn as Albert Einstein in Relativity among them. He was especially popular in the Chicago area's theater scene, though he can also be recognized worldwide from his many roles in popular films and TV shows. One of his most memorable is in the 1997s sci-fi film Men in Black with Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones.

Mike Nussbaum, a veteran character actor in film, TV, and theater, died Saturday at home in Chicago at 99 from natural causes.

His daughter, Karen, said he had been in hospice over the past year. He died a week short of his 100th birthday.

Nussbaum was among the oldest working actors in recent years, and was a huge presence in Chicago’s theater community. His credits include Gentle Rosenburg from Men in Black and Bob Drimmer in Fatal Attraction.

Film credits included House of Games, Things Change, Desperate Hours, Losing Isaiah, Steal Big Steal Little, Dirty Work, Osso Bucco, Towing, Tom of Your Life” and more.

His TV resume is marked by appearances in Frasier, L.A. Law, The Commish, The X-Files, Early Edition, Cupid, The Chicago Code, The Equalizer, and Spenser: For Hire, among others.

No memorial plans have been announced,...

Prime Video has a fair amount in store for subscribers in November, as the uber-violent hit animated show Invincible returns for its highly anticipated second season. Based on the iconic comic book by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley, season two will find super-powered protagonist Mark attempting to rebuild his life after finding out the truth about his father Nolan.

Elsewhere on the streamer, the producing team behind the James Bond movies are out to spin the franchise in a completely different direction by debuting their curious new globe-trotting adventure series, pitched somewhere between a quiz show and a treasure hunt. 007: Road To A Million features Brian Cox as the game’s “mastermind”, watching over the contestants as they try to win a million quid.

Here’s everything coming to Amazon Prime Video and Freevee this month. Amazon Originals are accompanied by an asterisk!

New on Amazon Prime...

Bosch: Legacy season 2, debuting in October, brings back Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch, who now works as a private detective for Honey Chandler. The Bosch: Legacy cast includes familiar faces like Mimi Rogers as Honey Chandler and Madison Lintz as Harry's daughter, Maddie Bosch. Other notable cast members in Bosch: Legacy include Stephen A. Chang as tech expert Maurice Bassi and Anthony Gonzalez as Maddie's fellow cop, Rico Perez.

The spinoff of the popular crime series Bosch, the Bosch: Legacy cast features several new additions as well as some familiar faces, including Titus Welliver back in his role as the titular detective. Based on the character created by novelist Michael Collins, Bosch ran for 7 seasons on Prime Video before ending and almost immediately launching into the sequel series Bosch: Legacy. While it is a new chapter in the life of Harry Bosch, the Bosch: Legacy cast features a lot of...

With its list of new releases for July 2023, Prime Video is going to help you stay safe from the oppressive July sun.

Highlighting the Amazon Originals on the TV side this month are two heavy hitters. The first is The Horror of Dolores Roach on July 7. Based on a podcast of the same name, this series could best be described as a modern day Sweeney Todd? Why, you ask? Well you know why. Think about it. Then season 2 of Neil Gaiman adaptation Good Omens premieres on July 28. This season will follow angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and demon Crowley (David Tenant) as they seek to keep the Archangel Gabriel (Jon Hamm) away from both heaven and hell.

There aren’t any Amazon Original movies of note this month and that’s alright as the influx of library titles is more than enough. July 1 sees the arrival of The 40-Year-Old Virgin, No Country for Old Men,...

The second season of original series “Almost Paradise” is set to premiere on Freevee on July 21. When hypertension forces DEA agent Alex Walker (played by Christian Kane) into early retirement, he moves to the Philippines in hopes of a quieter life. But unfortunately for him, he can’t avoid danger. Soon, the local police ask him to help solve a series of serious crimes.

Watch the “Almost Paradise” Season 2 trailer:

Also coming to Amazon’s free streaming service in July is the incredibly meta action series “Ze Network.” In the show, David Hasselhoff plays himself as he takes a gig at an English-language theater in Germany — and we all know that Germans love David Hasselhoff. However, once there, he is recruited into an elite society of super-spies, who must work together to prevent a dangerous plot from striking the nation.

Check out the trailer for “Ze Network”:

The Coen Bros.

Lifetime has announced two new TV movies, “A Rose For Her Grave” and “Desperate Hours,” both inspired by novels from author Ann Rule.

“A Rose For Her Grave” stars Chrishell Stause of “Selling Sunset” fame, Colin Egglesfield and Laura Ramsey, and follows serial wife-killer Randy Roth opposite the woman who finally brings him to justice.

Gina Gershon will serve as a first-time director for “Desperate Hours.” Samantha Mathis, Harrison Thomas and David Conrad star in the film. The screenplay is an adaptation of Rule’s novel “Last Chance.” The film follows a mother who finds herself and her young children held hostage by a man who forces his way into their home after committing a murder earlier in the day.

Both films will debut on the network in 2023.

Also in today’s TV news:

Executive News

WWE announced two new hires: Dan Ventrelle will join as executive vice president of talent,...

Ryan Britt Nov 14, 2019

Did you catch all of the Star Trek references and Easter eggs in the Short Treks episode "Ask Not"?

Warning: This Short Treks Episode contains spoilers for Season 2 Episode 3: “Ask Not.”

“Ask Not,” the latest episode of Short Treks, presents a classic Star Trek scenario with a new twist. Focusing on Captain Pike (Anson Mount) and Cadet Sidhu (Amrit Kaur), the very brief story of the episode feels fresh, and presents a great character study about what it takes not only to be in Starfleet, but to stay in Starfleet.

Still, despite the big stakes combined with a small character study, there were more than a couple big dips into the expansive canon of Star Trek. From references to the tribulations of Wesley Crusher, to throwbacks to The Original Series, and even some sideways shout-outs to the canon of the various novels, “Ask Not” is a small story that contains multitudes.

Don Kaye Sep 14, 2019

Rob Zombie tells us about visiting with his unholy trio again in 3 From Hell.

It’s been 14 years since we saw the members of the Firefly clan -- Captain Spaulding (Sid Haig), Otis Driftwood (Bill Moseley) and “Baby” Firefly (Sheri Moon Zombie) -- apparently get sent to hell in a blaze of bullets at the end of writer/director Rob Zombie’s second and still most celebrated movie, The Devil’s Rejects.

But against all odds, the three sadistic criminals are back in 3 From Hell, Zombie’s latest chapter in what has now become a trilogy that started back in 2003 with his directorial debut, House of 1,000 Corpses. And if the Firefly tribe are anything in this film, they’re even more unrepentant and wicked than before.

How they made it out of The Devil’s Rejects alive, what happens to them in prison and how...

Ryan Britt Mar 15, 2019

Did you catch all of the Star Trek references in "Project Daedalus"?

This Star Trek: Discovery article contains spoilers for Season 2 Episode 9.

The latest episode of Star Trek: Discovery Season 2 is not only the most shocking of the season, it’s also the one that references... board games the most? Not only do Burnham and Spock play chess, there’s also a huge callback to a board game played on Star Trek: Voyager!

But the Easter eggs and references don’t end there. From gravity boots to holographic biases and conversations about mines, this episode’s spanned nearly every version of Star Trek in existence. And that’s not even getting to the cryptic reference to a real-life space study.

Here are all the easter eggs and references we spotted in Star Trek: Discovery Season 2, Episode 9, “Project Daedalus”...

Admiral Cornwell’s first job

When Admiral Cornwell secretly sneaks onto Discovery,...

Hulu’s slate of new titles arriving on the platform in November is here.

“Wonder,” starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Jacob Tremblay, will arrive on Hulu Nov. 2. The movie, based on the novel of the same name, tells the story of August Pullman, a boy with facial differences who enters the fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time.

The complete series of “Married with Children” will arrive on the platform on Nov. 9, and the Season 1 premiere of “The Bisexual” will drop on Nov. 16. The “Oceans” trilogy will also become available, beginning Nov. 1.

Also Read: Hulu in Talks to Create a Smaller, More Affordable TV Bundle

Here’s the complete list of titles coming to and leaving Hulu below.

Available Nov. 1

K: Complete Season 2 (Dubbed) (Viz)

Sailor Moon: Complete Season 3 (Dubbed) (Viz)

Six: Complete Season 2 (History)

10 to Midnight (1983)

28 Days Later (2002)

2001 Maniacs (2005)

The Accused (1988)

The Adventures of Priscilla,...

You’ve done every film related job from producer and actor to cinematographer and editor. Was directing always the goal?

Poverty dictates…I would just take any position I could and figure it out from there, especially when I made The Queen Of Hollywood Blvd. where I just didn’t have the budget and had to take on as many positions as I could. Directing was always the ultimate goal though. Funny enough, the genesis of Hell came from a job I had done years before when I was camera operating on a feature film The Ganzfeld Experiment. It was a crazy production, and my dad was the director. The line producer of Ganzfeld was Julio Hallivis. We became friends and stayed in touch. Cut to five years later, I show Julio my first film The Queen of Hollywood Blvd. and he says “Hey man, I got a script I think you will dig.

The prequel novel, "Star Trek: Discovery- Desperate Hours", by author David Mack, is now available, tracing the origins of 'Lieutenant Michael Burnham' (Sonequa Martin-Green), raised and educated by 'Vulcans', before being promoted to first officer of the 'Starship Shenzhou':

"...aboard the 'Starship Shenzhou', 'Lieutenant Michael Burnham', a human woman raised and educated among 'Vulcans', is promoted to acting first officer.

"But if she wants to keep the job, she must prove to 'Captain Philippa Georgiou' that she deserves to have it.

"She gets her chance when the Shenzhou must protect a 'Federation' colony that is under attack by an ancient alien vessel ...

'...that has surfaced from the deepest fathoms of the planet’s dark, uncharted sea.

"As the menace from this mysterious vessel grows stronger, 'Starfleet' declares the colony expendable in the name of halting the threat.

"To save thousands of innocent lives, Burnham must infiltrate the alien ship.

From TorontoFilm.Net, Sneak Peek more footage, plus images from "Star Trek: Discovery", featuring new characters and new missions, "while embracing the same ideology and hope for the future that inspired a generation..."

The series premiered on the CBS Television Network with subsequent episodes available on CBS All Access...

...the Network’s digital subscription video on demand and live streaming service...

...as well as distributed concurrently by CBS Studios International on Netflix in 188 countries.

"Star Trek: Discovery" is produced by CBS Television Studios in association with Alex Kurtzman’s Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment.

In other "Star Trek: Discovery" news, "Desperate Hours", the prequel novel by author David Mack, flashes back to 'Lieutenant Michael Burnham', a human woman raised and educated by 'Vulcans', as she is promoted to first officer of the 'Starship Shenzhou':

"...aboard the 'Starship Shenzhou', 'Lieutenant Michael Burnham', a human woman raised and educated among 'Vulcans',...

From TorontoFilm.Net, Sneak Peek the novel "Star Trek: Discovery- Desperate Hours", by author David Mack, as a prequel to the upcoming "Star Trek: Discovery" TV series, flashing back to 'Lieutenant Michael Burnham', a human woman raised and educated by 'Vulcans', as she is promoted to first officer of the 'Starship Shenzhou':

"...aboard the 'Starship Shenzhou', 'Lieutenant Michael Burnham', a human woman raised and educated among 'Vulcans', is promoted to acting first officer.

"But if she wants to keep the job, she must prove to 'Captain Philippa Georgiou' that she deserves to have it.

"She gets her chance when the Shenzhou must protect a 'Federation' colony that is under attack by an ancient alien vessel that has surfaced from the deepest fathoms of the planet’s dark, uncharted sea.

"As the menace from this mysterious vessel grows stronger, 'Starfleet' declares the colony expendable in the name of halting the threat.

Kelly Lynch knows why she was cast in 1988’s Cocktail.

“It was one of those parts that models get because my audition was various bikinis,” the actress, whose background was in modeling and children’s theater, tells People.

After acting opposite Tom Cruise, she got steamy with Patrick Swayze in 1989’s Road House. “To do your first two films with Patrick Swayze and Tom Cruise, who are both — were, in Patrick’s case — really amazing sweet and kind, guys, I loved working with both of them,” says Lynch, now 58. “They were really, really fun.”

But it wasn’t until the...

Armory Films, Union Entertainment Group and Pegasus Pictures announced today that Mads Mikkelsen (Dr. Strange, Star Wars, The Hunt) is starring in the survival thriller Arctic, directed by Joe Penna. Co-written by Penna and Ryan Morrison, the film is being produced by Chris Lemole and Tim Zajaros of Armory Films and Noah C Haeussner of Union, and is being executive produced by Martha De Laurentiis, Einar Thorsteinsson and Cassian Elwes. The film also marks the first re-teaming of Mikkelsen and De Laurentiis since NBC’s “Hannibal.” Production is currently underway, with Xyz Films handling international sales.

The story surrounds a man (Mikkelsen) stranded in the Arctic, who is finally about to receive his long awaited rescue. However, after a tragic accident, his opportunity is lost and he must then decide whether to remain in the relative safety of his camp or embark on a deadly trek through the unknown for potential salvation.

We pay tribute to the film stars and directors from around the world who sadly passed away in 2016.Hector BabencoArgentine-born Brazilian director Hector Babenco died on July 13 at 70-years-old.He found international success with Brazilian slum drama Pixote (1981), going on to make Kiss Of

We pay tribute to the film stars and directors from around the world who sadly passed away in 2016.

Hector Babenco

Argentine-born Brazilian director Hector Babenco died on July 13 at 70-years-old.

He found international success with Brazilian slum drama Pixote (1981), going on to make Kiss Of The Spider Woman (1985), for which he earned a best director Oscar nominee and William Hurt earned an Oscar win for best actor.

Babenco went on to direct Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson in Ironweed (1987) and Tom Berenger and John Lithgow in At Play In The Fields Of The Lord (1991).

After undergoing cancer treatment in the 1990s, he returned to the director’s chair for films including Brazilian prison...

Since any New York City cinephile has a nearly suffocating wealth of theatrical options, we figured it’d be best to compile some of the more worthwhile repertory showings into one handy list. Displayed below are a few of the city’s most reliable theaters and links to screenings of their weekend offerings — films you’re not likely to see in a theater again anytime soon, and many of which are, also, on 35mm. If you have a chance to attend any of these, we’re of the mind that it’s time extremely well-spent.

Anthology Film Archives

Andy Warhol‘s rarely screened Chelsea Girls will have a 50th-anniversary screening introduced by Jonas Mekas.

Multiple shorts programs also screen this weekend.

Metrograph

A Park Chan-wook retrospective brings Oldboy and Joint Security Area on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, while a documentary about the making of Oldboy, Old Days, screens on the latter day.

The Oscar-winning writer-director was widely acclaimed for The Deer Hunter but fell from grace with Heaven’s Gate.

Michael Cimino, the Oscar-winning Hollywood writer-director best known for The Deer Hunter and Heaven’s Gate, has died at age 77.

Press reports said that Cimino’s body was found at his Los Angeles home on Saturday (July 2), with the cause of death yet to be determined.

Cimino started his career in television commercials and as a screenwriter, with credits including 1972 sci-fi tale Silent Running and 1973 Clint Eastwood crime thriller Magnum Force. He made his directing debut on 1974 Eastwood comedy drama Thuderbolt and Lightfoot, which he also wrote.

He rose to prominence as director of 1978 Vietnam war story The Deer Hunter, on which he also got a story credit. The film won five Oscars, including best picture and best director for Cimino himself.

Two years later, however, Cimino’s reputation took a hit when Heaven’s Gate, which he wrote...

The Oscar-winning writer-director was widely acclaimed for The Deer Hunter but fell from grace with Heaven’s Gate.

Michael Cimino, the Oscar-winning Hollywood writer-director best known for The Deer Hunter and Heaven’s Gate, has died at age 77.

Press reports said that Cimino’s body was found at his Los Angeles home on Saturday (July 2), with the cause of death yet to be determined.

Cimino started his career in television commercials and as a screenwriter, with credits including 1972 sci-fi tale Silent Running and 1973 Clint Eastwood crime thriller Magnum Force. He made his directing debut on 1974 Eastwood comedy drama Thuderbolt and Lightfoot, which he also wrote.

He rose to prominence as director of 1978 Vietnam war story The Deer Hunter, on which he also got a story credit. The film won five Oscars, including best picture and best director for Cimino himself.

Two years later, however, Cimino’s reputation took a hit when Heaven’s Gate, which he wrote...

There are days where the Internet feels like the most ghoulish game of telephone ever, particularly when the word starts to spread that someone notable has died. Edgar Wright was the first one I saw mention the death of Michael Cimino this afternoon, quoting a Tweet by Cannes luminary Thierry Fremaux, who announced, “Michael Cimino died peacefully, surrounded by his family and these two women who loved him. We loved him also.” Without question, Cimino’s career was defined by one remarkable high and one remarkable low, and to some degree, his career is the perfect illustration of what happened as film culture moved from the ‘70s to the ‘80s, and part of what makes him such a fascinating figure is how questionable every “fact” about him was. Cimino was a mystery in many ways, and when he made his debut as a director with Thunderbolt & Lightfoot, he looked like...

Michael Cimino “The Sicilian” (1987) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 13 percent “The film is a mess, though hardly on the panoramic scale of ‘Heaven’s Gate,'” Vincent Canby wrote in the New York Times. “The Sunchaser” (1996) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 17 percent “Michael Cimino — a daredevil director for whom the tidy story is never worth shooting — pokes around interesting themes of mysticism, healthy (and unhealthy) lifestyles, bonds between men, and the joys of driving in the desert really recklessly but doesn’t know what to do with what he finds. Nothing jells,” Lisa Schwarzbaum wrote in Entertainment Weekly. “Desperate Hours” (1990) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 36 percent “It’s a variation.

Michael Cimino, director of the Oscar-winning film The Deer Hunter, has died. He was 77. Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Fremaux announced Cimino's passing on Twitter Saturday. "Michael Cimino died peacefully, surrounded by his family and the two women who loved him. We loved him too," Fremaux wrote in French. Among the eight works in his directorial career, The Deer Hunter is arguably Cimino's best known film. In 1978, he directed, produced and co-wrote the war drama that starred Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken and John Cazale. The Deer Hunter took home five Oscars that year. Michael Cimino est mort, en paix,...

Den Of Geek Jul 3, 2016

Michael Cimino, one of Hollywood's most infamous directors, has died at the age of 77.

Michael Cimino, who went from genius auteur with his Oscar-winning Vietnam film The Deer Hunter to to Hollywood pariah with the painfully accurate western Heaven’s Gate, has died at the age of 77.

The news was announced via Twitter by Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Fremaux, who said Cimino died in peace with the people closest to him. It has since been confirmed by friends.

Cimino directed eight films in his career. His first film was Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, starring Clint Eastwood, in 1974. Cimino’s second was The Deer Hunter, which won five Academy Awards, including best picture and director. His third was Heaven’s Gate in 1980, which is blamed for the collapse of United Artists.

Michael Cimino was born in New York City on February 3, 1939. He initially picked up work directing television commercials.

Michael Cimino, the Academy Award-winning director and cinematic visionary behind films like The Deer Hunter and Heaven's Gate, died Saturday.

Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Fremaux first announced news of Cimino's death, tweeting that Cimino died surrounded by family members. A representative for the director could neither "confirm nor deny" whether Cimino had died. No cause of death was provided. Cimino was reportedly 77.

"I cannot believe Michael Cimino has passed away too," director Edgar Wright tweeted."'Thunderbolt & Lightfoot' is one of my favourite films. R.I.P."

After beginning his career in art and advertising,...

Oscar-winning filmmaker Michael Cimino has died at the age of 77.

Cimino was one of the filmmakers that made up the 'New Hollywood' wave in the 1970s which pushed directors as the driving creative force behind filmmaking. He broke onto the scene with the 1974 heist film "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" starring Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges.

It was his second film though, 1978's post-Vietnam war drama "The Deer Hunter," which became a bonafide cinematic classic and Best Picture Winner. A scathing look at the fallout and impact of the war on the lives of people from small town Pennsylvania, it remains a major milestone in the careers of its stars like Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken and John Savage.

Following up such a film was always going to be a tall order, and Cimino's third film became famous for other reasons. The 1980 western "Heaven's Gate" scored a reputation for being...

It had been a long time since I was in the same room with director Michael Cimino. My first job out of Nyu Cinema Studies was in the publicity department at United Artists in New York, where I witnessed the long delays on Cimino’s follow-up to his Oscar-winning 1978 anti-war diatribe “The Deer Hunter,” the period western “Heaven’s Gate.”

The director got caught up in chasing authenticity in the myriad details of the production, training for weeks the cast led by Kris Kristofferson and Isabelle Huppert to roller-skate for one scene — and demanding endless retakes until he shot more feet of film, over 1 million, than even Francis Coppola did on another memorably out-of-control UA movie, “Apocalypse Now.” The original $11 million budget bloated to $32 million (Cimino’s figure), as recounted in Steven Bach’s “Final Cut: Art, Money and Ego in the Making of ‘Heaven’s Gate.’

“Heaven’s...

It had been a long time since I was in the same room with director Michael Cimino. My first job out of Nyu Cinema Studies was in the publicity department at United Artists in New York, where I witnessed the long delays on Cimino’s follow-up to his Oscar-winning 1978 anti-war diatribe “The Deer Hunter,” the period western “Heaven’s Gate.”

The director got caught up in chasing authenticity in the myriad details of the production, training for weeks the cast led by Kris Kristofferson and Isabelle Huppert to roller-skate for one scene — and demanding endless retakes until he shot more feet of film, over 1 million, than even Francis Coppola did on another memorably out-of-control UA movie, “Apocalypse Now.” The original $11 million budget bloated to $32 million (Cimino’s figure), as recounted in Steven Bach’s “Final Cut: Art, Money and Ego in the Making of ‘Heaven’s Gate.’

“Heaven’s...

The director of The Deer Hunter Michael Cimino received his Leopard award on the Piazza Grande at the Locarno Film Festival Photo: Richard Mowe

Michael Cimino has died at the age of 77, Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Fremaux has announced. The director of The Deer Hunter, and Desperate Hours and The Sicilian was a popular figure on the festival circuit and had recently released a long-awaited director's cut of his most troubled film, Heaven's Gate, in Venice.

Cimino directed a total of eight films in his lifetime and wrote several more, including science fiction classic Silent Running. He recently spoke to us about the huge collection of screenplays he wrote but never managed to bring to the screen.

No details of the cause of death have been released but Cimino is said to have passed away peacefully in the company of the two women who loved him....

As bland as its title, Captive is an indifferent home invasion thriller in which a drug-addicted single mom is held hostage by a desperate man who’d just murdered four people. Hostage movies follow such age-old patterns that it’s rare to be surprised by one and Captive is no exception. Occasionally the genre will be transformed by brilliant filmmaking, as it was in something like The Desperate Hours or Dog Day Afternoon. Not this time. The true subject should have been given energy but all I felt while watching Captive was a big yawn.

Taking place over a single day, Captive closely follows an event that took place in Atlanta in 2005. Brian Nichols (played by David Oyelowo) was on trial for rape when he overpowered and beat a female guard, then took her gun. He calmly walked into a courtroom and fatally shot a judge and a court reporter...

This week on Off The Shelf, Ryan is joined by Brian Saur to take a look at the new DVD and Blu-ray releases for the week of June 2nd, 2015, and chat about some follow-up and home video news.

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Episode Links & Notes

Follow-up

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IFC and Paramount / Shout! Factory: The Duke Of Burgundy, Reality, Clouds Of Sils Maria, Yoshishige Yoshida pre-order up at Arrow UK Wac – 6/23 – Hugo The Hippo! + Wac reveals their Entire June Slate on their Youtube Channel Scream Factory to release Wes Craven’s Shocker Kl Studio Classics to put out The Oblong Box (Poe adaptation with Vincent Price and Christopher Lee) Cohen Media: Under The Sun Of Satan (no date yet) Sony Pictures Classics: The Salt Of The Earth (July 14th) Cinema Guild: Jauja (July 21st)

New Releases

Apollo 13 – 20th Anniversary Edition Beetle Bailey...

While losing a lead actor like Philip Seymour Hoffman is always devastating, it's never easier when a fantastic supporting actor leaves this world. Therefore, we're disheartened to report that character actor James Rebhorn has passed away at age 65 after a battle with skin cancer, according to THR. Lately, Rebhorn had been seen most prominently on the small screen as Claire Danes' father on the Showtime drama series "Homeland," not to mention a recurring role on the USA series "White Collar." But Rebhorn also appeared on the big screen, and was easily one of the better known "Hey, it's that guy!" actors. Rebhorn has appeared in over 100 projects, including various episodes of television and feature films. The actor's more prominent roles on the big screen included Desperate Hours, Regarding Henry, Basic Instinct, Lorenzo's Oil, The Scent of a Woman, Guarding Tess, Independence Day, The Game, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Meet the Parents,...

This week it finally happened, Lovefilm is no more, it has now been completely consumed by its Amazon overlords and is now known as Amazon Prime and something that operates totally through your Amazon account should you have one.

At first this was a baffling experience, there was rumours of a lot more new content being added and when you logged into the Ios app for Lovefilm/Amazon post switchover, suddenly you were faced with A Lot of new content, things like Aliens, Congo, Cujo, Invaders from Mars and lots of HBO shows including Eastbound and Down, Enlightened and the Sopranos as well as Community in the ‘Recently Added’ section.

Of course this was too good to be true and you could add these to your watchlist but then not actually watch them. So when things calmed down and you logged back in, these titles it turned out were part...

23 Minutes To Sunrise screens as part of The St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase on Monday, July 9th at 7:15pm at the Tivoli Theatre, 6350 Delmar Blvd.

23 Minutes To Sunrise is a small scale drama about a group of people gathered one night in an out-of-the-way 24-hour diner. It’s a well-made film hampered by a half-baked script and poorly handled third act left bank into the supernatural but it’s partially redeemed by a sardonic performance from the terrific Eric Roberts. The action all takes place in Illinois (it was filmed in Sauget), where eight people find themselves the only wee-hour inhabitants of the all-night Sunrise Diner. Sheila is a small town waitress trapped in an abusive marriage attracted to the younger black fry cook Eddie (Dingani Beza). Rachel and Ted, an unhappy 50-ish couple (Nia Peeples and Bob Zany) agonize over their failing marriage. Hair-trigger criminal Donny (Tom Sandoval) and...

"Because you were home" Home invasions scare the hell out of me. I'm not talking about the Desperate Hours type home invasion, though that would be unsettling, Im talking about the Charles Manson type home invasion. When the invasion is not simply a means to an end, but a premeditated plan of psychological and physical torture, followed by a ritualistic bloodbath, thats what scares me. Very few people in the grand scheme of things are taken…...

The 2011 Black List, the Top Unproduced Screenplays of the year has been released. The best unproduced screenplays from The Black List 2011 is compiled by votes from over 300 “execs, agency guys, and high-level assistants. Titled The Black List, the compendium highlights both established screenwriters and up-and-comers, and has served as a launching pad in the past for projects like Juno, Lars and the Real Girl, and (500) Days of Summer. Last year’s list included Margin Call, Crazy, Stupid, Love, The Hunger Games, and Snow White and the Huntsman.”

Regarding the validity of The Black List, things to keep in mind:

some of these screenplays have already been acquired and are already in development, though…none will have entered principal photography by December 31, 2011. Also worth pointing out is that, as in previous years, there have been rumors that some of the participants have been accused of using the Black List to promote their own clients or friends.

The Black List of 2011 continues with the second-half of the list showcasing the screenplays that received the most number of votes.

Remember, this is a list voted on by Hollywood professionals of what they personally believe to be the best unproduced screenplays written in 2011. You might recognize titles for movies that are in development. That's fine by The Black List rules; the only condition that the screenplay must meet is that it's not being filmed within this calendar year. For Black List 2011 selections like Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained, that makes it valid for Black List inclusion.

If you've missed the first half of the list you can find it here.

13 Votes:

The Accountant by Bill Dubuque

The Treasury Department pursues a brilliant, autistic accountant who doubles as an assassin and “problem-solves” with precision in more ways than one.

Agency: Paradigm

Agent: Trevor Astbury

Management: Zero Gravity Management

Manager: Eric Williams...

The 2011 Black List has arrived online and there are a bunch of the hottest scripts in Hollywood. Some have already been picked up by studios, while most are still unproduced. Here is the press release: The Black List was compiled from the suggestions of over 300 film executives, each of whom contributed the names of up to ten of their favorite scripts that were written in, or are somehow uniquely associated with, 2011 and will not have begun principal photography during this calendar year.

This year, scripts had to receive at least six mentions to be included on the The Black List.

All reasonable effort has been made to confirm the information contained herein. The Black List apologizes for all misspellings, misattributions, incorrect representation identification, and questionable 2011 affiliations.

It has been said many times, but it's worth repeating:

The Black List is not a "best of" list. It is, at best, a "most liked" list.

[1] Each December since 2004, studio executive Franklin Leonard has compiled the best unproduced screenplays of the year, as voted by hundreds of execs, agency guys, and high-level assistants. Titled The Black List, the compendium highlights both established screenwriters and up-and-comers, and has served as a launching pad in the past for projects like Juno, Lars and the Real Girl, and (500) Days of Summer. Last year's list included Margin Call, Crazy, Stupid, Love, The Hunger Games, and Snow White and the Huntsman. It should be noted that the headline is somewhat misleading -- some of these screenplays have already been acquired and are already in development, though according to Leonard none will have entered principal photography by December 31, 2011. Also worth pointing out is that, as in previous years, there have been rumors that some of the participants have been accused of using the Black List to promote their own clients or friends.

This year at the Austin Film Festival, studio executive and “Black List” founder Franklin Leonard introduced the opening film, Butter. It’s a fantastic satirical comedy written by Jason Micallef and Leonard’s post-screening Q&A with him was equally hilarious and unconventional.

Sitting in the upper deck at the Paramount Theatre, I was in awe at how Leonard had not only created the list just six years prior but how it provided such legitimacy to emerging screenwriters, like Micallef. He was relatively unknown in ‘08, but his script placed third on the list. Now he has a movie coming out starring Jennifer Garner, his new scripts have Jack Black and Jason Segel attached (separately), and he wrote a movie titled Good Vibrations about, um, marital aids starring Charlize Theron. That’s the power of the Black List.

Simply put, “The Black List” is a collection of the best unproduced screenplays...

Rourke Will Be The 254th Celebrity To Have Hands &

Footprints In Chinese Cement On Monday, October 31st

(Hollywood, Calif., October 18, 2011)–The most famous place in Hollywood, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (www.chinesetheatres.com), is set to honor its 254th celebrity, Oscar(R)-nominee Mickey Rourke, with his own hand and footprints ceremony on Monday, October 31 at 11:00 Am. The masters of ceremony and guest speaker will be announced.

Up next, Rourke can be seen in the visually-stunning 3D epic adventure Immortals, starring Henry Cavill, Luke Evans, Kellan Lutz, Isabel Lucas, Freida Pinto, Stephen Dorff, and John Hurt. Directed by Tarsem Singh, written by Charles Parlapanides and Vlas Parlapanides and produced by Gianni Nunnari, Mark Canton and Relativity’s CEO RyanKavanaugh, Immortals tells the story of the ruthless King Hyperion (Rourke), who leads his bloodthirsty army on a murderous rampage across Greece to find a deadly weapon that will destroy humanity.