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Al Trautwig, who had a long career as a New York sportscaster and also called national NHL games and Olympics gymnastics, died Monday. He was 68.

The news was shared by Alan Hahn, his former colleague at Msg Network, in a post on X. “We lost a legendary voice in sports,” Hahn wrote. “But we lost a lot more than that. He was not only a friend, but a mentor and a teacher. He was, personally, one of my biggest resources of support when I moved into this career.”

No cause of death was mentioned, but press reports over the past year had indicated that Trautwig had received treatment for cancer.

Known for his lengthy stint at Msg, where he called Yankees baseball, Knicks basketball and a wide range of other live events along with studio programming, Trautwig also was a prominent voice for the NHL, serving as a studio host...

Did movies for kids peak in the 1990s? It's entirely possible. We arrived at this question after sifting through piles of our old VHS tapes to produce a list of the best '90s kids' movies, noting the amount of high-quality entertainment we had to choose from. Make no mistake, this was a hard list to assemble and required more than a few heartbreaking sacrifices. Even cherished Walt Disney productions like "Mulan" and "Tarzan" were left on the outside looking in, which speaks volumes about the last great decade. "Beethoven?" Nope. "Rookie of the Year?" Nadda. "Angels in the Outfield?" Non. The Lindsey Lohan "Parent Trap?" Nein.

Thankfully, the films that made the final cut are genuinely excellent. So, don't get too mad if your favorite children's flicks are nowhere to be found. Chances are, we love them too but had to make room for those that were marginally better.

Prior to his death in 1994, Canadian actor John Candy was considered one of the greatest comedy actors of his time. The actor, who passed away at the age of 43, was known for his roles in films like Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Cool Runnings and even made a brief appearance in the original Home Alone.

Candy had starred in many successful movies, known for diligence and dedication to his professional career; even after his passing, his legacy lives on. Many of his films are still watched today - one of his greatest films, Uncle Buck, will be coming to streaming on Peacock in the new year.

Related Forgotten Predator Sequel With Fallout's Walton Goggins Comes to Peacock Next Month

A forgotten movie in the Predator franchise starred Fallout's Walton Goggins as a vicious killer, and it will be streaming on Peacock in January.

Uncle Buck is One of...

Jelly Roll has always been an open book and that is what fans appreciate about him. They like how relatable he is and how he makes them feel anything is possible. Yet, he is now revealing several hidden secrets about himself and some of them are mindblowing. Keep reading to see what they are.

Jelly Roll Spills Hidden Secrets About Himself

The one thing is Jelly Roll has never held anything about his past back. He was in trouble more times than he can count, locked up when his daughter, Bailee, was born, and was the worst criminal ever. However, he has used his past life experiences to inspire so many who need it. Jelly wants them to see there is light at the end of the tunnel and that they do not have to stay down. Despite all that he has shared about himself with the world, he still has some secrets hidden.

It’s time to let Leon Bridges reintroduce himself. The soul artist is naming his upcoming fourth studio album simply Leon, and he’s previewing it with the serene-sounding “Peaceful Place.” He shot the video for the song around Mexico City, near where he recorded the record due out Oct. 4. He sings, “I’m in a peaceful place” on the song, with bongos and handclaps supporting him, and, of course, some soulful guitar. In a statement, Bridges said it’s the album he’s been waiting his whole life to record.

Editor’S Note: The following article originally ran in 2016 and is being republished here – the Deadpool reference still works! With the 2024 edition of the Olympics in full swing in Paris, we thought it was only appropriate to look back on some all-time Olympic docs. We’ve also updated the list with a few new titles that have come out post-2016.

Where to watch each film has been updated for 2024.

Forget your Deadpools, Batmans and Captains America. The only superheroes anyone cares about this week are the ones running, jumping, swimming and gymnastic-ing their way through the 2016 Summer Olympics, which kicked off last Friday in Rio de Janeiro for 17 action-packed days of elite international competition, syrupy NBC athlete profiles and more daily Costas than is typically recommended by physicians. So step aside Jason Momoa—right now Michael Phelps is the only Aquaman anyone gives a damn about.

And as anyone who...

In the 1990s, Hollywood found both success and failure by digging deep into the back catalog of horror master Stephen King. The decade saw some of the best adaptations of his work and some of the worst (we don't need to talk about "The Lawnmower Man"), but its high and low points alike notably drew from lesser-known King works, as many of his major hits were already adapted in the decades prior. "Thinner" falls into this category: Released in 1984, the novel that inspired the movie was well-regarded upon release, but is mostly known now as the book that helped readers identify King as the writer behind pseudonym Richard Bachman.

Plenty of King fans love "Thinner," but the novel about an overweight man who is cursed to lose weight rapidly to the point of emaciation isn't exactly as high profile as the novelist's more zeitgeist-defining works. The Tom Holland-directed film...

Olympics movies celebrate both the real triumphs of athletes like Jesse Owens and the fictional absurdities of comedies like Blades of Glory. Dive into inspiring true stories like Race and Richard Jewell, or enjoy whimsical underdog tales like Eddie the Eagle and Cool Runnings. Films like Foxcatcher and I, Tonya delve into the darker sides of Olympic sports, while classics like Miracle and Chariots of Fire inspire with tales of victory.

Ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games, its the perfect time to check out the best movies about the Olympics, from Cool Runnings to Chariots of Fire. The 2024 Summer Olympics, officially dubbed the Games of the Xxxiii Olympiad, will take place in France, mostly in the host city of Paris. The opening ceremony will take place on July 26 and the games will last until August 11 (with some competitions beginning on July 24). As usual, the Olympics will determine the best athletes from...

John Candy was one of the biggest comedic stars of the 1980s and 1990s, which is what makes his last appearance so difficult to watch in retrospect. Fresh off his massive hit in 1993's Cool Runnings, released only a few months before his death, he was very hesitant to take part in Wagons East, but eventually agreed to avoid further debt and fulfill his contract. Despite his misgivings, Candy still possessed an unrelenting work ethic, one based on his own insecurities that jeopardized his physical health. With three scenes left to film, he died of a heart attack in his sleep, leaving the rest of the movie to be finished without him. Ultimately, Candys professional instincts were proven correct and Wagons East now ranks as one of the worst films ever made. Even though his final film was less than stellar, he will always be remembered as one of the...

It’s been about 35 years since a one-name actor known as Leon generated some controversial chemistry with Madonna in her classic “Like a Prayer” video in 1989.

Now, while on a Zoom interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the 6-foot-3-inch actor whose full name is Leon Preston Robinson — and who walks with the same swagger throughout the interview — lets on to more of his persona, one that has boded well for him in film roles like Derice Bannock in the hit Disney movie Cool Runnings (about the first Jamaican U.S. Olympics bobsled team); suave lead singer David Ruffin for the NBC miniseries The Temptations; and J.T. Matthews in The Five Heartbeats, among others. It still blows his mind that whenever he encounters a fan or fellow celebrity, there’s a good chance one of his own movie lines will be quoted back to him.

“The leader of the pack...

Explore the Cast of Uncle Buck John Candy (Buck Russell) – 6ft 2 in. (188 cm) Did John Candy Improvise in Home Alone? Who Played Uncle Buck’s Girlfriend? Jean Louisa Kelly (Tia Russell) – 5ft 3 in. (160 cm) Who Played Tia’s Boyfriend in Uncle Buck? Gaby Hoffmann (Maizy Russell) – 5ft 7 in. (170.2 cm) Macaulay Culkin (Miles Russell) – 5ft 6 in. (167.6 cm) Elaine Bromka (Cindy Russell) – 5 ft 4¼ in. (164.5 cm) Garrett M. Brown (Bob Russell) – 6ft 3 in. (191 cm) Who Played the Drunk Clown in Uncle Buck? Was Uncle Buck Filmed in the Same House as Home Alone?

Are you a fan of John Hughes’ 1989 classic Uncle Buck? If so, you might be curious to know what the cast of this hilarious comedy is up to now.

Starring John Candy, Uncle Buck tells the story of a bachelor who unexpectedly becomes the caretaker of his brother’s teenage daughter and her siblings.

Despite mixed reviews upon its release,...

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Disney+'s Pauline.

Lukas struggles to keep track of Marvel superheroes in Pauline, highlighting the challenge of following over 40 different characters. Pauline's roast extends to Marvel's actor replacements, pointing out the history of recasting superheroes across projects. The show reflects superhero fatigue in the MCU due to quantity over quality, leading to a need for narrative cohesion and a decrease in content.

The parent company Disney just hilariously roasted the MCU twice in a new Disney+ show called Pauline, feeding into the funniest entertainment industry feud. Ever since the Disney Corporation acquired Marvel Comics, there has been a sibling rivalry between the shows. In the past, Marvel has made digs at Disney. For example, in Deadpool 2, the titular main character jokes about the movie Cool Runnings and the beloved character Winnie the Pooh. She-Hulk includes Jennifer Walters going to Disney Studios to confront them about the finale.

National Treasure 3 is not dead yet. Franchise director Jon Turteltaub recently provided the best update yet this year on the long-gestating project, which has been stuck in development hell at Disney since 2008.

To celebrate the original movie's 20th anniversary, Turteltaub appeared on the National Treasure Hunt podcast (via ComicBook.com) to talk about all things National Treasure. During the conversation, Turteltaub offered a promising update on National Treasure 3, revealing the script is currently "being written." He explained, "That doesn't mean it will be finished and be great, but if it's being written it will definitely be momentous when we read it. We all know what's in it. But there's a very, very good writer writing it right now who tends to write really good movies. If the script comes out close to good and you can see the finish line from where you are, we're making the movie."

Related...

The Way Back may not be based on a true story, but it mirrors Ben Affleck's real-life struggle with alcoholism. Affleck's performance as Jack is praised in the movie, marking a major comeback for the actor. The film is more about overcoming emotional toll than winning on the court, focusing on the effects of addiction.

Gavin O'Connor's The Way Back may not be based on a true story, but it carries enough parallels to reality and to other sports movies to feel like it is. The movie sees Ben Affleck portray Jack Cunningham, a former high school basketball star who has since fallen on hard times with the collapse of his marriage following the death of his son. While Jack's depression from the tragic events of his life drives him to alcoholism, he begins to rebound after being recruited to coach the struggling basketball team at his old high school.

From left: Dev Patel, Vipin Sharma in Monkey Man Photo: Universal Studios Overlook the training montage sequence in Monkey Man at your own pop culture and movie peril. Kid (Dev Patel) aims to avenge his mother’s death by vanquishing the police chief (Sikander Kher as Rana Singh) who raped...

From left: Dev Patel, Vipin Sharma in Monkey ManPhoto: Universal Studios

Overlook the training montage sequence in Monkey Man at your own pop culture and movie peril. Kid (Dev Patel) aims to avenge his mother’s death by vanquishing the police chief (Sikander Kher as Rana Singh) who raped and...

Get ready for an insightful and revealing episode of “Uncensored” as Season 6 Episode 13, titled “Leon,” airs this Sunday, April 14, 2024, at 10:00 Pm on TV One. In this episode, viewers will get an exclusive look into the remarkable 40-year journey of actor Leon, renowned for his unforgettable performances in both television and film.

Leon opens up about his illustrious career, delving into his experiences portraying iconic roles in acclaimed series such as “The Temptations” and blockbuster films like “Waiting to Exhale,” “Cool Runnings,” and “The Five Heartbeats.” With candor and depth, he shares behind-the-scenes stories, challenges faced, and the impact of his work on audiences worldwide.

Through intimate interviews and captivating anecdotes, “Uncensored” offers a rare glimpse into the life and career of Leon, highlighting his contributions to entertainment and his enduring legacy in the industry. Don’t miss this captivating episode as Leon’s remarkable journey unfolds, airing Sunday at 10:00 Pm on TV One.

It might be hard to believe, but it has been 30 years since the world lost one of the most beloved screen presences in modern times, John Candy. And while we can honor his too-short life and career by watching some of his greatest movies, we’ll never get to experience what his children did. But they are at least letting fans in on their personal feelings for their father, who died on March 4th, 1994.

Posting on her personal Instagram, John Candy’s eldest daughter Jennifer shared a photo of the two with the caption, “30 years ago today … feels like both a lifetime with and without you . Miss you and love you always”, along with a heart emoji. Jennifer had previously said, “He was your everyday kind of guy and a great dad and very lovable…Very much similar to characters that he was on film.”

Posting on his own social media account,...

Celebrated for his witty remarks and ability to bring laughter to audiences, John Candy passed away 30 years ago after suffering a cardiac arrest. Many industry veterans and actors came together to honor his memory on the 30th anniversary of his passing, as they shared heartfelt tributes, recounting cherished memories and reflecting on his exceptional talent as an actor.

John Candy in Home Alone

However, beneath his larger-than-life on-screen persona, John Candy was a genuinely sincere individual, who was afraid of letting others down or ending up alone. The vulnerability not only made him relatable but also lent depth and authenticity to his performances, placing him among legendary actors such as Robin Williams.

John Candy’s Anxieties About His Career And Self-Worth

Talking about John Candy, director of the 1993 film Cool Runnings Jon Turteltaub shared that “it’s a bit clichéd that the funny guy might not be the happy guy.

Exclusive: Showtime’s The Chi will feature four additional new actors in recurring guest star roles when Part 2 of Season 6 premieres on May 10. They are Kadeem Hardison (A Different World), Leon (Swarm), Brett Gray (I’m A Virgo) and Daniel J. Watts (Werewolf By Night).

Hardison plays Professor Gardner, a college literature professor; Leon plays Alonzo, a charming, street-savvy attorney with old ties to Alicia (guest star Lynn Whitfield); Gray plays Damien, a whip-smart young man who will impact Emmett’s (Jacob Latimore) life in more ways than one; Watts plays Pastor Ezekiel, a charismatic pastor of a megachurch.

Created and executive produced by Lena Waithe under her Hillman Grad banner and executive produced by Common, The Chi is a timely coming-of-age story centering on a group of residents on the South Side of Chicago who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption.

In Season...

Next Goal Wins is a biographical sports comedy-drama film directed by Taika Waititi, who also co-wrote the film with Iain Morris. Based on a novel of the same name by Mike Brett and Steve Jamison, the film revolves around a Dutch American Football coach Thomas Rongen, who gets a choice to either be fired or convert the American Samoa national team into a great team, which was considered to be one of the weakest team in the world. Next Goal Wins stars Michael Fassbender, Oscar Knightley, Elisabeth Moss, Will Arnett, Rachel House, David Fane, and Kaimana. So, if you love the sports comedy film here are some similar shows you could watch next.

The Mighty Ducks (Disney+ & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Disney

Synopsis: Tough trial lawyer Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez) never loses. But when he’s slapped with a community service assignment, he must coach a ragtag team of...

Next Goal Wins disappoints as Taika Waititi's worst-reviewed film, lacking originality and failing to add to the formulaic underdog sports movie genre. The narrative film fails to capture the charm of the original documentary, which already told the heartwarming true story of the American Samoa Soccer Team. The troubled production, including reshoots and replacing actors, resulted in a messy and uneven film that fell short of Waititi's previous successes and lacked emotional sincerity.

After premiering at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, Taika Waititi's Next Goal Wins received mixed to negative reviews from critics. The New Zealand filmmaker was once considered one of the freshest voices in comedy filmmaking, but his latest feel-good romp is gearing up to barely make a splash with critics or audiences. This is a surprise given how Waititi used to be a critical darling who could get incredible reviews for his indie comedies, as well as his gigantic blockbusters.

"It's the devil coming to get you." A festival trailer has debuted for this indie thriller titled Light Falls, the latest feature film directed by the Greek cinematographer Phedon Papamichael. It's premiering soon at the 2023 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia (aka PÖFF) as a world premiere in the Critics' Picks Competition section. Most film fans will recognize Papamichael from his acclaimed work as a Dp on movies like Poison Ivy, Cool Runnings, Phenomenon, Patch Adams, Sideways, 3:10 to Yuma, The Descendants, The Monuments Men, Ford v Ferrari, and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny recently. His new film is described as "an outstanding analysis of the divided world we live in." A young lesbian couple is vacationing on a Greek island and they decide to explore an abandoned hotel. An accident and a clash of different worlds set off a spiral of violence and revenge. Starring model...

The recent release of Disney's Once Upon a Studio revisited old animation techniques and reunited beloved characters. Audiences were able to see more than 500 familiar faces and enjoy them on one screen. While animation is a large part of Disney's work, live-action movies are also a popular format.

It can be easy to mistakenly believe if a film is produced by Disney, it is probably aimed at children. There are many films aimed at young viewers, but there's also a large number of live-action Disney movies that are just as entertaining for adults.

Pirates of the Caribbean

As one of the most mature Disney movies, Pirates of the Caribbean has gained a large fan base of both children and adults. The movies, which were inspired by a ride at Disneyland, manage to tread the line between fun but believable, incorporating a range of enthralling characters.

Jack Sparrow is an eccentric lead,...

If there’s one thing we do love to see on our screens, it’s a good underdog story. And if there’s two, then it’s sports underdog stories. :a[Cool Runnings]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/cool-runnings-review/' }, :a[Rocky]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/rocky-review/' }, :a[The Mighty Ducks]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/mighty-ducks-review/' }, :a[Remember The Titans]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/remember-titans-review/' }, Welcome To Wrexham – you name it, we’ll sit here with our hearts in our throats, cheering wildly as our chosen heroes defy the odds time and time again. And George Clooney’s upcoming The Boys In The Boat, the Hollywood icon’s latest directorial effort, looks like it’ll be another welcome addition to the fist-pump filled canon. Check out the first trailer below:

Based on Daniel James Brown’s...

Fans of John Candy will fondly remember his performance in 1993's Cool Runnings, not realizing how much the beloved actor was struggling internally behind the scenes.

In honor of the film's 30th anniversary, director Jon Turteltaub joined the cast in sharing their memories of the classic film. That included stories about Candy, who died of a heart attack at age 43 just five months after the release of Cool Runnings. Looking back, Turteltaub noted of the late funnyman, "It’s a bit clichéd that the funny guy might not be the happy guy, but there’s a little truth to that. John was a fun, happy person, but if you got really deep, there was a lot of sadness and anger under there.”

Related: Hawkeye Fan Art Welcomes Kingpin and Daredevil to the MCU With an Uncle Buck Homage

Malik Yoba, who played Yul Brenner in the film, also shared how...

Cool Runnings director Jon Turteltaub and the cast open up about the controversy surrounding Jamaican accents in the film. Turteltaub had battles with Disney boss Jeffrey Katzenberg over the characters' accents. The cast agreed to make an Americanized version of the film to ensure understanding for a global audience, and Cool Runnings was criticized for perpetuating caricatures.

Cool Runnings director Jon Turteltaub and the cast open up about the controversy surrounding the characters’ Jamaican accents. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and released in 1993, Cool Runnings was based on the true story of the first Jamaican national bobsleigh team at the 1988 Winter Olympics. The sports comedy starred the late John Candy as the former Olympian Irving Blitzer who coaches the four-man bobsleigh team, which includes Derice Bannock (Leon Robinson), Junior Bevil (Rawle D Lewis), Yul Brenner (Malik Yoba), and Sanka Coffie (Doug E Doug).

In a new interview with The Independent for the film's 30th anniversary,...

The cast and crew of Disney’s beloved sports comedy, “Cool Runnings”, are opening up about the troubles they ran into with Disney upon making the 1993 film.

During a recent reunion, in honour of the film’s 30th anniversary this month, director Jon Turteltaub and the cast recalled battling with the media giant over the film’s Jamaican accents.

“Cool Runnings” — roughly based on the debut of the Jamaican national bobsleigh team at the 1988 Winter Olympics — initially got its start apart from Disney with a script that featured a lot of “drugs, racism and the characters were getting laid a lot,” actor Rawle D. Lewis revealed in a interview with The Independent.

“I saw it morph into the movie that it is now,” the cast member continued. “It was something that had never been told before – Jamaicans in tights? People were like, ‘How’s this going to go under the Disney umbrella?...

One of Disney’s most beloved sports movies is turning 30. 1993 saw the release of Cool Runnings, the movie that’s based on the story of the first Jamaican bobsled team that competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics. The film starred Leon, Doug E. Doug, Malik Yoba, Rawle D. Lewis and John Candy as their coach. The loosely adapted story was directed by Jon Turteltaub, who would also collaborate with Disney for the National Treasure franchise. Turteltaub and the cast recently unveiled some behind-the-scenes details of the movie in an interview with The Independent.

According to Variety, it was revealed that Jeffrey Katzenberg, who was the Chairman at Disney at the time, wanted the director to Americanize the Jamaican accents for a general audience. Turteltaub said he received a call in the middle of the night by Katzenberg, “He said, ‘If you can’t get these accents to where I can understand them clearly,...

With Disney’s beloved sports comedy “Cool Runnings” celebrating its 30th anniversary this month, director Jon Turteltaub and the cast reunited for an interview with The Independent and revealed their battle against Disney over the film’s Jamaican accents. Loosely based on the debut of the Jamaican national bobsleigh team at the 1988 Winter Olympics, the film got its start outside of Disney with a script that was full of “drugs, racism and the characters were getting laid a lot,” cast member Rawle D. Lewis recalled.

“I saw it morph into the movie that it is now,” he added. “It was something that had never been told before – Jamaicans in tights? People were like, ‘How’s this going to go under the Disney umbrella?’”

Walt Disney Studios executives allegedly tussled with Turteltaub over the cast’s accent work.

“They wanted me to sound like a black Aladdin,” said Just Leon. “They wanted a Disney version.

The new Next Goal Wins trailer showcases the heartfelt sentimentality of the movie, highlighting its underdog story and promise of a heartwarming good time. Director Taika Waititi expresses his interest in the movie's story of "triumph over adversity" in interview clips featured in the trailer. Inspired by a 2014 documentary, the film follows coach Thomas Rongen's mission to turn around the American Samoa national football team.

The new Next Goal Wins trailer showcases the movie's heartfelt sentimentality. The movie is the latest outing from director Taika Waititi, who is best known for his Marvel Cinematic Universe movies Thor: Ragnarok and Thor: Love and Thunder, but who got his start in smaller comedy movies such as What We Do in the Shadows and Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Inspired by the 2014 documentary of the same name, it follows coach Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender) who, to avoid being fired, is tasked with turning...

Taika Waititi had two goals when approaching Next Goal Wins: one was to make sure people who looked like him found their way onto mainstream screens; two was making sure they were depicted taking the piss out of each other. He joked, after the world premiere, that Pacific Islanders are always shown playing majestic music and looking regal when reality was an infinite wealth of good-natured ribbing. And who better to embody that lack of self-satisfied pretension than arguably the worst soccer team to ever hit an international pitch: the American Samoa national football team, which lost to Australia 31 to nil in 2001.

As the island’s priest (Waititi) explains during his opening narration, the squad might have played even worse in the decade-plus that goes by once the film hits 2014. It’s here that Football Federation American Samoa president Tavita (Oscar Kightley) decides something needs to change. With World Cup...

Does it count as a white savior movie if the white character is the one who needs saving? In “Next Goal Wins,” the world’s top-grossing indigenous director, Taika Waititi, retells the story of how American Samoa went from having the world’s worst soccer team to, well, not the worst. While a white man was involved, the movie — which suggests how a film like “Cool Runnings” might be made with 30 years’ more cultural enlightenment — is mostly about how their coach (Michael Fassbender) needs an attitude adjustment. Come to think of it, that’s essentially the formula for most white savior movies.

In 2001, the American Samoa soccer team set a world record. They lost the World Cup Qualification game 31-0. Apparently, they only got worse from there. Enter Fassbender’s character, Thomas Rongen, a hothead with an alcohol problem and an emotional backstory which the movie keeps up its sleeve...

Clockwise from left: The Little Mermaid (Screengrab: YouTube), Raiders Of The Lost Ark (Screengrab: Disney); Star Wars:The Last Jedi (Screengrab: Disney+), Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (Screengrab: Disney)Graphic: AVClub

Of all the streaming services, Disney+ has the most desirable IP sitting around waiting to be exploited (meaning content...

Leon Preston Robinson, better known simply as Leon, is an American actor who is best known for his performances as J.T. Matthews in the musical/drama film The Five Heartbeats, Derice Bannock in the hit sport/comedy film Cool Runnings, and for portraying Shep in the drama/crime basketball film Above the Rim.

Leon Biography: Age, Early Life, Family, Education

Leon was born on March 8, 1962 (Leon age: 61) in New York City. His parents are Leon Preston Robinson III and Antionette Robinson.

For high school, Leon attended Mount Saint Michael Academy. For college, he went to Loyola Marymount University on a basketball scholarship, where he was very active playing sports. He quickly developed a passion for the creative arts field, and decided to pursue acting as a full-time career after school. He later went on to attend Orange Coast College for his further education.

Leon Biography: Career

In an exclusive with uInterview,...

Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story star David Harbour considers his new film to be a real-life The Last Starfighter.

In Nick Castle’s 1984 film that Steven Spielberg and Seth Rogen have both tried to remake, Alex Rogan (Lance Guest) is an aimless teenager who perfects an arcade game called Starfighter and ends up being recruited by the game’s alien inventor to help fight in an interstellar war. Well, Neil Blomkamp’s Gran Turismo tells the true story of how Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe) mastered the Gran Turismo video game en route to being recruited by Nissan and becoming a professional racing driver.

Harbour’s character, Jack Salter, who’s a former driver turned mechanic, is the one tasked with actually turning Jann into a proper race car driver, and the role has shades of Robert Duvall in Days of Thunder (1990), John Candy in Cool Runnings (1993) and Emilio Estevez...

Warner Bros. Discovery’s potential summer sleeper “The Meg 2: Trench” dropped its first teaser trailer, essentially the same mouth-watering footage audiences saw at last month’s CinemaCon presentation.

As noted last month, the trailer’s tagline is “They’re back… for seconds,” mimicking the refreshingly cheeky marketing that helped turn “The Meg” into a surprise super-smash. The trailer opens with two land-bound prehistoric monsters eating a large bug, with onscreen text warning that for 65 million years one species ruled the world. The answer is not the tyrannosaurus rex, but rather a megalodon which is introduced eating a T-rex.

That was actually the prologue of Steve Alton’s first novel which didn’t make it into the first movie. One may recall that “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” and “Jurassic Park III” included setpieces and ideas from Michael Crichton’s “Jurassic Park” novel that didn’t make it into Steven Spielberg’s first dino blockbuster.

Exclusive: Tobias Truvillion (The Best Man: The Final Chapters), Leon (City on a Hill) and Jessica “Jess Hilarious” Moore (Hip Hop Family Christmas) are among the new additions to First Lady of Bmf: The Tonesa Welch Story, a new biopic starring Michelle Mitchenor (First Wives Club), which is set to debut on BET+ later this year.

The film currently in production in the Washington, D.C. area, which Vivica A. Fox (Holiday Hideaway) is directing, follows Tonesa (Mitchenor), a young woman raised in 1980s Detroit, who becomes seduced by the limelight and adventure of being in the drug game. She soon meets Harry (Truvillion), an older, sophisticated head of a drug organization who gives her a taste of the good life. Bothered by Tonesa’s ambition, Harry controls her through violence. But when the cycle of prosperity and abuse is about to break her spirit, Harry gets locked up...

Film fans have expressed their joy over the practice of changing the titles of English-language Hollywood films to other English phrases for international audiences.

The online discussion began when Juan Buis, a writer and designer, shared a collection of movie posters in their original forms alongside their versions when advertised in France.

The thread, posted on Wednesday (8 March), shows Hollywood film titles alongside their French cinema equivalents – often not in French, as expected, but using English to create an alternative moniker.

“The French love to translate movie titles from English to... English,” Buis began his post.

“Here's a thread with my all-time favourites, starting with The Hangover... I mean Very Bad Trip.”

The 2009 comedy, starring Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms, is titled Very Bad Trip in France.

Other “translations” in the thread included The Other Guys becoming “Very Bad Cops”, Step Up 2 turning into “Sexy Dance 2...

Update: Variety is reporting that the Ryan Reynolds and Colin Hanks John Candy documentary will likely be picked up by Amazon’s Prime Video, with the comedy said to be in negotiations for the film. Colin Hanks will be directing the documentary, with Reynolds on board as a producer. Hanks, whose father Tom Hanks memorably co-starred with the late comic legend in Splash and Volunteers (which also starred Hanks’ future wife Rita Wilson), apparently has the full corporation of the Candy family. This includes his widow, Rose and their two children, Jen and Chris. The film will reportedly contain home videos and never seen footage from the archive, as well as interviews with Candy’s friends and family. No release date is set yet, although given that John Candy is a Canadian icon, maybe a fall TIFF debut is in the cards?

Original Story: John Candy is a comedy legend.

Amazon’s Prime Video is in negotiations to acquire a John Candy documentary from Colin Hanks and Ryan Reynolds, TheWrap has confirmed.

Hanks, son of Tom Hanks and star of “Life in Pieces,” “Orange County” and “A Friend of the Family,” will direct the project while Reynolds, star of “Deadpool,” “Free Guy” and “The Adam Project,” will produce alongside George Dewey via his Maximum Effort production company.

The documentary feature will explore John Candy’s life and career, including starring roles in “The Great Outdoors,” “Spaceballs,” “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” “Uncle Buck” and “Cool Runnings.” The actor was on the verge of establishing himself as a comic actor who could also handle dramatic roles in weightier fare like “Only the Lonely” and Oliver Stone’s “JFK” when he died in 1994 of a heart attack at the age of 43.

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The late comedian John Candy is getting the documentary treatment from Colin Hanks and Ryan Reynolds.

Amazon’s Prime Video is in negotiations to acquire an untitled film that Hanks has been quietly directing. Reynolds — who, like Candy, hails from Canada — is producing alongside George Dewey via his Maximum Effort production company.

The film will explore the life and legacy of the iconic funnyman Candy, who died of a heart attack in 1994 at the age of 43. But insiders say the film will go beyond the persona and delve into the inner life that Candy kept private off-screen. With the full support of Candy’s widow, Rose, and their two children, Jen and Chris, Hanks will utilize never-before-seen home videos, archives and interviews with the family to explore the man behind the movie star. Candy became one of the most in-demand comic stars of the 1980s and early ’90s, appearing in...

“The Cell” director Tarsem Singh is making his global comeback with his first Indian film, “Dear Jassi,” based on a true story with plot details being kept under wraps.

Singh made his name with visually dazzling fantasy films like “The Cell,” “Immortals” and “Mirror, Mirror” but has been mostly out of action since helming the single 10-episode season of NBC’s “Emerald City” in 2017. “Dear Jassi” will be his first feature since “Self/Less” in 2015.

“It’s my passion project,” Singh said of “Dear Jassi.” “I believe this is the right time for the world to see it. Such a strong story needs to be told.”

Singh said the synergy behind the film’s production made it possible.

“I had a great set of producers partnering with me on this film,” he said.

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Waititi recently sat down with Total Film to discuss his new sports film, Next Goal Wins. The director called the soccer movie an underdog story and compared it to the popular feel-good film Cool Runnings.

Director Bobby Farrelly is re-teaming with his old "Kingpin" star, Woody Harrelson, for "Champions," a new comedy about a guy who becomes the court-ordered coach for a team of basketball players with intellectual disabilities.

In addition to "Kingpin," Farrelly, as one-half of the Farrelly brothers, co-wrote and/or co-directed such films as "Dumb and Dumber," "There's Something About Mary," "Me, Myself & Irene," and "Shallow Hal." Since the sequel "Dumb and Dumber To" in 2014, he and his brother have embarked on separate directorial paths, with Peter Farrelly helming "Green Book" and, more recently, "The Greatest Beer Run Ever."

For his part, not counting various TV projects, Bobby Farrelly is making his solo directorial debut with "Champions." The movie is billed as a "hilarious and heartwarming story," and it's tough to know, just based on the two-minute trailer below, whether it has its heart in the right place and is meant...

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Whether they are entirely fictional or based on real-world people, these athletes and trainers come from a world full of dreams, hopes, and defeats. Audiences love to keep on rooting for those that look like they are down-and-out, in the hope that they'll get back up again and keep fighting.

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Rocky is one of the best examples of a sports movie, but Sylvester Stallone has recently noted that it isn't a sports movie at all. It's hard to argue with the actor considering that he wrote the classic movie, but Rocky is a sports film in every sense of the genre, and it even essentially started the twist of the protagonist losing.

In the wake of Rocky, only a few movies have been brave enough to depict the heroic sportsman or team failure after two hours of their training and preparing for the biggest event of their lives. Whether it's boxing, bowling, or bobsledding, these films subverted the sports cliché of the protagonists winning.

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Well-balanced documentary of four young men who escaped Zimbabwe’s crisis of 2008 to become entrants in France’s World Blind Wine Tasting Championships

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It’s almost too perfectly contoured as a Hollywood narrative: has their story been shaped and massaged in the edit? I savoured the bouquet of Chateau Rat a little when one wine expert, marvelling at their story, declared: “It’s probably like Egypt putting together a team of skiers to go and compete in the Winter Olympics!

Mark Rylance’s pitch-perfect turn as the worst golfer in the Open’s history follows in the slipstream of valiant loser dramas, from Rocky and Slap Shot to Cool Runnings

The underdog sports drama is an inspirational but essentially results-oriented film genre. No matter how hopeless the aspiring athlete(s) at the outset of proceedings, the story brings them, at the very least, to the brink of victory: talent is prized and rewarded. The Phantom of the Open (out now on multiple VOD platforms), however, is a pleasing exception to the formula – a sporting biopic in which the improbable hero’s outright crapness at his inexplicably chosen game is not just frankly stated but actively celebrated.

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