News

In Andrew Davis' 1996 thriller "Chain Reaction," Keanu Reeves plays Eddie Kasalivich, a machinist at the University of Chicago who is overseeing a special scientific experiment to turn hydrogen into energy. Eddie isn't a genius, but he knows how the water-filled chain reaction chamber works. Then, one night, he accidentally discovers an obscure sound frequency that stabilizes the experiment and gets it to succeed. It seems that the world's energy supply issues are going to be solved.

Of course, this immediately kicks off a shadowy cover-up wherein the chain reaction chamber is blown up by unknown conspirators and Eddie is framed for the destruction. (The explosion takes out eight full city blocks.) Innocent scientists are killed, so Eddie has to go on the run with a physicist named Lily, played by Reeves at-the-time-future "Constantine" co-star Rachel Weisz. Naturally, they must find a way to prove their innocence and discover who would...

Keanu Reeves is one of the most extraordinary movie stars of the past several decades, as he has managed to earn both legitimate praise and ironic appreciation. Although he began appearing in heartthrob roles just as the “Brat Pack” era began its decline, Reeves would become one of the definitive action stars of his generation alongside Tom Cruise and Wesley Snipes. In between his major sequels, Reeves still found a way to take on ambitious projects from acclaimed filmmakers, such as Taylor Hackford’s unusual legal thriller “The Devil’s Advocate” and Nancy Meyers’ charming romantic-comedy “Something’s Gotta Give.”

Despite facing a brief recess in his career after a series of critical disappointments in the first half of the 21st century, Reeves launched a major comeback when the “John Wick” franchise gave him another opportunity to show his merits as an action star. Reeves is clearly passionate about both the character...

On Thursday February 6 2025, A&e broadcasts The First 48!

Chain Reaction Season 27 Episode 7 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “The First 48,” titled “Chain Reaction,” promises to be a gripping and emotional installment. This episode focuses on a tragic event that unfolds at a nightclub in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A young father loses his life when a heated argument escalates into gunfire, leaving the community in shock.

Viewers will follow the detectives as they piece together the events leading up to the shooting. The investigation will highlight the challenges law enforcement faces in solving such cases, especially when emotions run high and witnesses are hesitant to come forward. The detectives will work against the clock, hoping to find answers for the victim’s family and bring justice to the situation.

“Chain Reaction” will also explore the impact of violence on families and communities. The episode aims to shed light on the broader...

Why did Keanu Reeves pass on Speed 2? (Photo Credit – Facebook/Prime Video)

Keanu Reeves made one of the smartest career moves ever by giving Speed 2 a hard pass. The first Speed was an absolute adrenaline rush, a steady ride of shambles and outbursts. So when they announced a sequel, everyone just assumed Reeves would be back for more but nope, he slammed the brakes on that one.

Instead of him racing against time, we got Jason Patric as Sandra Bullock’s new on-screen boyfriend. Not precisely something fans were hoping for. Reeves took one look at the script and knew it wasn’t exemplary. So, he trusted his gut and walked away. And guess what? He was right.

Why Keanu Reeves Opted Out of Speed 2

When Speed 2 dropped, everyone presumed Keanu Reeves would be back as Jack Traven. After all, he was a major reason the...

The upcoming episode of “The First 48,” titled “Chain Reaction,” promises to deliver a gripping look into the harsh realities of crime and its impact on families. Airing on Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 8:00 Pm on A&e, this episode centers around a tragic incident at a nightclub in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A young father loses his life when a confrontation escalates, leading to gunfire that shatters the night.

Viewers will follow the dedicated detectives as they work tirelessly to piece together the events that led to this heartbreaking loss. The investigation delves into the lives of those affected, showing how quickly a night of fun can turn into chaos. With emotions running high, the detectives face the challenge of uncovering the truth while navigating the complexities of the community.

“Chain Reaction” not only highlights the investigative process but also sheds light on the broader implications of violence. This episode serves as a...

Keanu Reeves has been one of Hollywood's biggest stars for decades now, with his filmography including incredible action movies, some of which changed the game forever. From his unforgettable role as Neo in The Matrix to his legendary run in the John Wick franchise, Reeves has delivered performances that redefined the action genre. Keanu Reeves is known for being incredibly dedicated to his roles, and it is no different for his action-orientated characters.

Ranking Reeves’ best action movies is thus no easy feat, as his repertoire boasts a lineup that any star would envy. From high-risk stunts to perfectly timed headshots, his performances are the stuff of legend, making it no surprise that a couple of his action titles are considered to be some of the best movies of all time. Whether his characters are excelling in martial arts, riding motorcycles, or dropping great lines, Reeves’ career is a masterclass...

Let’s rewind to 1994. Speed became an instant classic, throwing us into the high-stakes drama of a bus wired to explode if it dropped below 50 mph. It had it all—especially Keanu Reeves as the heroic cop Jack Traven, Sandra Bullock as the witty passenger Annie Porter, and a plot that kept us hooked.

Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock in Speed (Credits: 20th Century Studios)

Naturally, fans couldn’t wait for a sequel. But then came Speed 2: Cruise Control in 1997. And, well it wasn’t what anyone hoped for. The high-speed bus was swapped for a slow-moving cruise ship, and Reeves didn’t return.

So, why did our beloved Jack Traven ditch the sequel, leaving Annie Porter to awkwardly flirt with a new guy? Turns out, the lead star had some solid reasons, and honestly? He dodged a bullet—or maybe a sinking ship.

Keanu Reeves’ reason for skipping...

Missing You is one of the most popular Netflix shows of 2025 so far, and fans can't stop talking about the big twist in the series finale, "Chain Reaction." Unfortunately, it's not for all of the right reasons.

Spoilers ahead for the series finale of Missing You!

Rosalind Eleazar, who stars in the series as Detective Kat Donovan, recently opened up about the series finale and why it was important to leave the story open-ended. Here's what Eleazar told Entertainment Weekly about the decision to leave things up to viewers' interpretation:

"I was more on the side of keeping it open. There's a final hand moment at the end and I thought, I dunno whether I feel that that's too quick. That's just so heavy. Your fiancé's killed your dad. It's too much to process. However, I also do like that you can interpret her sort of touching his hand at the end as,...

Missing You all comes to an end in episode 5, "Chain Reaction." Luckily, Kat Donovan (Rosalind Eleazar) gets all the answers to the questions she's been asking for years in the season finale.

Episode 5 begins right where Missing You episode 4 ended, with Kat learning that Josh (Ashley Walters) has been alive this whole time. She finally finds him 11 years after he ran away from their life. He now has a young daughter, Sadie. He tells Kat that Sadie's mother died years earlier.

Then, the pair start rehashing their relationship and why he left. Kat shares her theory that Josh ran after he learned Clint (Lenny Henry) was a dirty cop, and he didn't want to have to lie to her. He agrees, but there's still something missing. He tells her that he's sorry, and they nearly kiss before she pulls away. Josh confesses that he still loves her after all this time.

[Warning: The following post contains Major spoilers for the finale of Missing You, “Chain Reaction.”] Another Harlan Coben crime thriller has taken over Netflix. This time, it’s Missing You, an adaptation of the 2014 novel of the same name, which proves to be a pretty faithful screen take on the source material. The series follows Kat Donovan (Slow Horses‘ Rosalind Eleazar), a detective whose life is upended when her former fiancé Josh (Ashley Walters), who disappeared from her life more than a decade ago, suddenly shows up on a dating app just as her father’s convicted murderer is about to die of natural causes. From there, the twists keep coming as Kat fights to find out the reason for her father’s death… and why her soon-to-be-husband abandoned her just a day later. Here’s a deeper look into how the series concluded. What happened to Kat’s ex Josh when he left? In the finale, Kat finally confronts ...

Why Did Keanu Reeves Land In A “Movie Jail?” ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Keanu Reeves is known for crazy comebacks, but according to Looper, before John Wick, he faced “movie jail” after turning down Speed 2: Cruise Control. The phase came after Reeves reached heights of success for playing Neo in The Matrix and the iconic Jack Traven in Speed. Fox rushed for a sequel after Speed became a $350M hit. But Reeves, who felt burnt out and craved new challenges, said no. That choice sidelined him for years until he finally reclaimed his action-hero throne with John Wick.

Fox had grand plans for Speed 2. Sandra Bullock was on board, lured by the promise of financing her passion project, Hope Floats. The plot swapped the original’s adrenaline-pumping bus for a cruise ship nightmare, but Reeves wasn’t sold. Why? “I didn’t want to do two action movies back-to-back,...

Keanu Reeves has become known as an action hero with roles such as Neo in The Matrix and John Wick in a brutal quadrilogy of movies. Before all that, though, he teamed up with Morgan Freeman and Rachel Weisz on the 1996 conspiracy action thriller Chain Reaction, and the movie is currently finding a new audience on the free streaming platform Tubi.

Chain Reaction sees Reeves play Eddie Kasalivich, a machinist who is forced to go on the run when he is framed for causing a deadly explosion at a groundbreaking clean-energy project. In the usual style of this kind of thriller, Eddie must take on the bad guys, stay alive, and clear his name all within a couple of hours of tense drama. Unfortunately, the film did quite live up to the premise, and did not deliver the kind of box office that Reeves' movies have become known for.

Chain Reactions...

When you see images of Charlotte Kirk looking like a tough action heroine, you usually expect those images to be from a Neil Marshall film, as the couple has recently collaborated on Duchess, The Lair, and The Reckoning – but yesterday, the folks at Coming Soon unveiled a trio of images that show Kirk as the tough heroine in the upcoming action thriller Myra, and this is not a Neil Marshall movie. Currently in production in Tijuana, Mexico, Myra is coming our way from director R. Ellis Frazier, whose previous credits include Across the Line: The Exodus of Charlie Wright, Dead Drop, Misfire, Rumble, 8 Days Carlo, Larceny, Legacy, Hustle Down, Repeater, As Good as Dead, and Day Labor. The images that show Kirk as the title character can now be seen in this article.

Scripted by Frazier and Benjamin Budd, Myra follows an ex-gang member who escapes to Tijuana, Mexico with...

Pedro Almodóvar’s “The Room Next Door” won the Golden Lion at the 81st Venice Film Festival. The Spanish auteur’s first feature in English took the top prize at the awards ceremony on Saturday, where he accepted the honor in person. Based on Sigrid Nunez’s novel “What Are You Going Through,” the film stars Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore as friends who reunite after several years.

Though Almodóvar’s latest was not reviewed as enthusiastically as most of his films (a high bar to cross), the drama was still favored to do well at the Venice awards. When it premiered earlier this week, it was met with a lengthy standing ovation of almost 20 minutes — a warm reception even for festival audiences. And few are the cinephiles in Europe who do not consider the director of “All About My Mother,” “Talk to Her,” “Volver,” “Bad Education” and “Parallel Mothers” a living great.

Bryan Ferry has announced Retrospective: Selected Recordings 1973-2023, a wide-spanning box set that celebrates 50 years of the artist’s career. To accompany the announcement, the Roxy Music member also unveiled a cover of Bob Dylan’s “She Belongs to Me,” which previews a series of upcoming digital EPs. Listen to the new cut below.

Due out on October 25th and boasting 81 tracks, Retrospective: Selected Recordings 1973-2023 collects Ferry’s output with Island Records, Polydor, Virgin, E.G. Records, and BMG. The set covers 16 of his solo albums and features two new recordings, including “Star,” Ferry’s first new original material since 2014.

The collection will be available digitally and in a variety of physical formats, including a 5xCD edition that comes complete with a 100-page hardback book of liner notes and photography. The first disc serves as a greatest hits compilation, with the second disc exploring the development of his compositional skills...

On Monday July 15 2024, Bravo broadcasts Below Deck Mediterranean!

Season 9 Episode 7 Episode Summary

Set sail for drama and tough decisions on “Below Deck Mediterranean” in Season 9, Episode 7, airing on July 15, 2024, on Bravo. In this episode titled “Chain Reaction,” tensions rise as Captain Sandy faces a pivotal choice that could heavily influence the charter season’s success.

To avoid potential complications at sea, Captain Sandy must navigate a critical decision that tests her leadership and expertise. Meanwhile, Aesha works hard to mend fences and bring peace among the crew, but challenges on the bow raise concerns about the bosun’s decision-making abilities.

Don’t miss “Below Deck Mediterranean” on Bravo as the crew faces unexpected challenges and high-stakes decisions that could impact their journey and relationships aboard the yacht. Tune in on July 15, 2024, for an episode filled with maritime intrigue, personal dynamics, and the thrill of life at sea.

What Time is the Episode On?...

In the Monday night episode of Below Deck Mediterranean, titled “Chain Reaction,” Captain Sandy faces a challenging decision that could significantly impact the charter season. With the possibility of being stranded at sea, her expertise and quick thinking are put to the test. Meanwhile, Aesha takes on the role of peacemaker, attempting to broker a […]

Below Deck Mediterranean: ‘Chain Reaction’...

Riding high on the tidal wave of success, Sony Pictures and the charismatic Will Smith are already eyeing the horizon for new creative ventures, the ink barely dry on their latest hit, Bad Boys: Ride or Die.

Based on Daniel Suarez’s lauded novel Influx, Resistor is set to challenge our perceptions with a tale of brilliant minds against covert suppression. As the actor prepares to star in Sony’s latest science fiction thriller, intrigue surrounds the project, which seems to be reminiscent of a previous Keanu Reeves flick – Chain Reaction (1996 film) – with a similar premise of revolutionary technological discovery.

Will Smith as Christopher Gardner in Pursuit of Happyness | Sony Entertainment

Indeed, unknown plot details abound, Influx is set in a dystopian society in which the government uses questionable tactics to obstruct technological advancement. Is it a genius move to swap the enigma of clean energy for the uncharted territories of gravity control?...

Dan Goor is developing a new comedy series at Max, Variety has learned exclusively.

Currently titled “Dead Drop,” the official logline of the project states, “A typical American family goes on vacation to Europe and accidentally gets sucked into the high-stakes world of international espionage.”

Goor is writing the series and will serve as an executive producer under his Dr. Goor Productions banner. Matt Milkovich is a producer. Universal Television will serve as the studio.

Goor has a long-standing relationship with Universal TV. He and the studio previously collaborated on the popular single-camera ensemble cop comedy “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” Goor co-created the series and served as showrunner and executive producer. The show received 11 Emmy nominations throughout its run, including four nods for the late Andre Braugher. It aired for five seasons on Fox and an additional three seasons on NBC.

Goor also worked on the popular NBC comedy series “Parks and Recreation,...

Many people often blasphemously (and hilariously) joke around that Morgan Freeman is God. Not only because of his pitch perfect casting as God but also due to his smooth, defining and, yes, god-like is Morgan Freeman’s voice that one can’t picture penguins or parts of nature or, yes, God, without hearing the man. One reason could be that we’ve only ever really known Morgan Freeman as an older actor, not striking a chord with mainstream audiences until he was in his 50s.

Soon enough his skills, screen presences and voice had Hollywood calling every time they needed a kind wise grandfather types or a grizzled vet from either side of the the law or any type of narration in any type of film. That persona has marked him as a welcome figure throughout modern cinema – despite the nearly constant cash grabs that pad out the unfortunate bulk of his filmography.

In the upcoming episode, Season 11 Episode 7 titled “Chain Reaction” of “The Curse of Oak Island: Digging Deeper,” viewers are in for a riveting exploration as the Fellowship intensifies their efforts in the mysterious swamp. Set to air at 8:00 Pm on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, on History, the team’s perseverance is immediately rewarded with compelling evidence hinting at the movement of substantial cargo on Oak Island centuries ago.

The enhanced episode promises to delve deeper into the intricacies of the island’s history, unraveling clues that could potentially lead to significant revelations. For fans of the Oak Island mystery and those intrigued by the ongoing quest for hidden treasures, “Chain Reaction” provides a captivating glimpse into the latest developments in the exploration.

Tune in to History at 8:00 Pm to join the journey and witness the unfolding discoveries as “The Curse of Oak Island: Digging Deeper” continues its Season 11 expedition.

Release...

Get ready for another thrilling episode of “The Curse of Oak Island” with Season 11 Episode 10, titled “Chain Reaction,” airing at 9:00 Pm on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, on History. The Fellowship is back in action, resuming their quest in the infamous swamp, and this time, they hit the jackpot.

In “Chain Reaction,” viewers can anticipate a major breakthrough as the team stumbles upon compelling evidence suggesting the movement of large cargo on Oak Island centuries ago. The excitement is palpable as the mysteries of the island continue to unravel, offering tantalizing glimpses into its enigmatic past.

As the team unearths new clues, the episode promises to be a riveting exploration into the history and secrets hidden beneath Oak Island’s surface. Join in at 9:00 Pm on History for a captivating journey with “The Curse of Oak Island.”

Release Date & Time: 9:00 Pm Tuesday 16 January 2024 on History

The Curse of Oak Island...

This year marks three significant anniversaries for director Andrew Davis. The acclaimed filmmaker burst onto the scene 45 years ago in 1978, making an impressive directorial debut with Stony Island, which recently marked its VOD release after all these years. The inviting film revolved around two friends who attempt to launch an R&b band. Then there’s the 30th anniversary of The Fugitive, which has been fully restored in 4K ultra high-definition format. The Harrison Ford-starring action picture stunned audiences in 1993 with its gripping drama and masterful action sequences. The story drew from the classic 1960s television series about a man wrongly accused of murdering his wife, and also starred Tommy Lee Jones. Finally, there's the 20-year anniversary of Holes, starring a young Shia Labeouf.

Davis has been prolific in between, of course. His other films, Code of Silence (with Chuck Norris), Above the Law, and Chain Reaction paved the way for The Fugitive,...

Bryan Ferry is revisiting his 1994 album Mamouna with a deluxe reissue that drops November 17th. A new vinyl pressing of the LP isn’t all the package has to offer, however: it also comes with a disc of early Sketches of the record’s songs, as well as a second, previously unreleased album from the era.

Cut at half-speed at Abbey Road Studios, Disc 1 in the Mamouna reissue offers the original album, mastered by Bob Ludwig. Next is Horoscope, an album of additional songs that Ferry began writing in 1989 on the way to releasing Mamouna. In addition to original solo music from the artist, the eight-track project features a 10-minute version of Roxy Music’s 1973 song “Mother of Pearl.”

Finally, the reissue features Sketches, or early versions of Mamouna songs recorded between 1989 and 1993. The disc features instrumental versions of tracks like “Your Painted Smile,” “NYC/Desdemona,” and “Loop De Li,...

Keanu Reeves has had a mix of hits and misses in the action genre, with some of his best work in the John Wick franchise. While some of his action movies like Replicas and Johnny Mnemonic fall flat, others like Constantine and Point Break are fan-favorites. The Matrix, with its groundbreaking concepts and genre-bending elements, remains Reeves' best action film and a cinematic landmark.

Keanu Reeves has starred in dozens of iconic action films since the 1990s. While several of these movies easily go down in cinematic history as some of the best of the genre, other Keanu Reeves action movies land on the total opposite end of the spectrum. Depending on the project, Reeves can be considered somewhat of a hit-or-miss action hero, although his unparalleled performances are typically the highlight of whatever movie he stars in regardless of critical sentiment.

At the age of 59, Reeves has proven that...

Tubi is offering lots of originals for July, including the thriller “Five Star Murder” on July 28. A concierge and a guest investigate a hotel murder while a storm traps nasty hidden-treasure hunters inside.

Also coming to the streamer, a podcaster investigates his sister’s death in “Deep Web: Murdershow” on July 8. The murder leads him to a site where the highest bidder determines how a victim is killed.

“The Mummy” franchise is available July 1. In the first installment, an adventurer in 1926 Egypt travels to Hamunaptra, the City of the Dead, with a librarian and her older brother. Excited by their discoveries, they accidentally awaken Imhotep, a cursed high priest who was mummified alive. Now, the all-powerful Imhotep must be destroyed before his wrath destroys everything in his path. Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz co-star in the action-packed thriller.

Finally, the cult classic “Big Trouble in Little China” stars Kurt Russell...

Los Angeles, April 25 (Ians) Hollywood star Keanu Reeves didn’t tell anyone about his spinal injury so he could star in ‘The Matrix’.

The 58-year-old actor agreed to play Thomas Anderson/Neo in the 1999 sci-fi action film and recalled how he had to keep the problem secret through four months of training so he didn’t lose the part, reports aceshowbiz.com.

“I met with the Wachowskis and I loved the script, and they showed me pre-vis for bullet time which was extraordinary, and one of the things they talked about in the meeting was training in Hong Kong-style martial arts and asked if I was okay with that, and that it was over four months and I was like, ‘Yeah, that sounds okay, ” Keanu said on The Art of Action podcast.

“The only problem – I was dealing with a neck issue which was getting worse, I’d spent a...

Keanu Reeves hid a spinal injury so he could star in 'The Matrix'.The 58-year-old actor accepted the role of Thomas Anderson/Neo in the 1999 sci-fi action film and recalled how he had to keep the problem secret through four months of training so he didn't lose the part.Speaking on The Art of Action podcast, Keanu said: "I met with the Wachowskis and I loved the script, and they showed me pre-vis for bullet time which was extraordinary, and one of the things they talked about in the meeting was training in Hong Kong-style martial arts and asked if I was okay with that, and that it was over four months and I was like, 'Yeah, that sounds okay.'"The only problem – I was dealing with a neck issue which was getting worse, I'd spent a couple of years fighting it off, I was getting tingling."I had...

Quick Links How To Locate The Science Center Dead Drop How To Use The Dead Drop

The demilitarized (Dmz) mode of Call of Duty Warzone 2.0 has several missions players can complete, including one for the Legion Faction on the Ashika Island map that has them find a place called the Science Center for a Dead Drop. Progression in Dmz revolves around tackling faction goals, including many of these Dead Drop missions across the two maps seen in the game. However, knowing where players must perform a Dead Drop might be confusing in large arenas, especially with limited time.

The Science Center Dead Drop comes from the Tier Three Legion Faction mission called "Shock Value," which has three different objectives to complete. Each goal requires players to take different items found around the Ashika Island map and place them in the Dead Drop. If Tier Three has unlocked for the Legion faction,...

Amanda Mackey, the casting director behind such films as Best Picture Oscar nominee The Fugitive and A League of Their Own and who earned an Emmy nom for The Normal Heart during a nearly four-decade career, has died. She was 70.

Her longtime friend and business partner Cathy Sandrich Gelfond told Deadline that Mackey died August 27 in her sleep of myelodysplastic syndrome, a form of blood cancer, at Calvary Hospital in Brooklyn.

“Amanda was a singular force — fiercely intelligent, impeccably stylish, wildly passionate about ideas, the state of the world and her work,” Sandrich Gelfond told Deadline. “She loved her daughters profoundly and was an unwaveringly steadfast friend and champion in a time when women weren’t as supportive to other women as they are now. She believed in me, lifted me up and gave me a career. She was the sister I never had and changed my life in countless ways.

BBC Music has been slowly rolling out clips from Glastonbury 2022 and the latest video to arrive is Diana Ross performing her song “Upside Down” live during the U.K. music festival.

The 1980 hit song, which was song written and produced by Chic members Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, got a rousing showcase during Glastonbury, with members of the festival security getting in on the dance moves.

Ross’ memorable set at Glastonbury in June came shortly after her performance as part of the Platinum Jubilee concert in London celebrating the 70th...

The Hungarian filmmaker’s second feature is one of the 18 projects in development set to be showcased at the Industry Village of the 12th Les Arcs Film Festival. The final strand of the 12th Les Arcs Film Festival, which is taking place in multiple stages as a result of the health crisis, is the Industry Village, which will unspool online from 20-22 January. The event will organise a plethora of meetings with the teams behind the 18 projects in development that are set to be showcased in the Coproduction Village (see the news). Standing out among them is Chain Reaction (Láncreakció), which will be the second feature by Hungary’s Attila Hartung (who was born in 1991 and who studied under Ildikó Enyedi at the Academy of Theatre and Film Arts in Budapest), following Fomo: Fear of Missing Out (which took part in festivals of the likes of Tallinn Black Nights,...

Exclusive: Game Show Network is bringing back an old favorite. The network has given the green light to a new version of Chain Reaction, the word-association format that launched during the 1980s and Gsn aired in 2006-07 and again in 2015-16.

Dylan Lane, who hosted the 2000s edition, is returning for the new Chain Reaction, and game show veteran Mike Richards — the showrunner for syndicated stalwarts Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune — is set as executive producer.

Based on the Sony Pictures Television format, the show pits two teams competing against each other to complete a chain of seven words, after the first and last words of the chain are revealed. Each word in the chain is related in some way to the word directly above and below it. By making inferences based on the revealed words and the revealed letters in incomplete words, contestants try to fill in the word chains to score points.

Actor Michael Shannon has been a staple on the Chicago theater scene for decades, thanks in large part to his regularly appearing in productions at his own A Red Orchid Theatre company, but most of you know Shannon as a film actor, first appearing in smaller roles in such works as Groundhog Day, Chain Reaction, […]

The post ‘The Current War’ Star Michael Shannon on Making a Movie About the Future Set in the Past [Interview] appeared first on /Film.

Spring has (mostly) sprung; the birds chirp and the salt coats the cars, so I thought we would look at a film that is light, frothy, and fills the lungs with the smell of blood-splattered pine cones and fresh water memories. I’m speaking of course about Twitch of the Death Nerve (1971), Mario Bava’s notorious ‘body count’ film that was ground zero for our beloved ‘80s slashers.

Why was it notorious? Well, this was not the elegant gothic tinged giallo audiences were expecting from the master of such; in fact the gritty and unpleasant shocker threw a lot of critics for a loop when it splashed across the screen first as Bay of Blood in Italy. Stateside it was picked up by Hallmark Releasing Corporation and renamed Carnage; when that didn’t play, they called it Twitch, which is the default moniker it goes by. Unless you have A Bay of Blood release.

Joseph Baxter Apr 3, 2019

The long-planned Black Widow solo movie is finally getting off the ground, and is in talks with Rachel Weisz to co-star.

For years, we’ve been hearing about a prospective Black Widow solo movie showcasing Scarlett Johansson’s Marvel Cinematic Universe character, a.k.a. Natasha Romanoff. Indeed, had plans been more expedient, it would have been the first female-led feature for the Marvel Studios branding; an honor that would ultimately go to the Brie Larson-led Captain Marvel. However, after years of inertia, things appear to be moving quickly for the Black Widow project, which is now rapidly announcing cast members!

While it was just reported that Stranger Things and Hellboy star David Harbour was cast for the Black Widow movie, a subsequent report from Variety has revealed that Oscar winning actress Rachel Weisz is now in talks for what is being called a key role in the film.

“There are so few things in the world that you can stand up and scream from the rooftops and not care what anyone says, because you know there’s absolute right and absolute wrong,” says Sean Astin, who played Rudy Ruettiger in the quintessential underdog movie, “Rudy.”

“And it is an absolute right and an absolute truth that this score by Jerry Goldsmith is perfect. It’s a perfect score.”

Goldsmith’s music, a glorious paean to the unflagging heart, will be celebrated Saturday in a live performance accompanying a 25th anniversary screening of the 1993 film at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. “Rudy in Concert,” conducted by Justin Freer — the co-founder of CineConcerts, who studied with the late composer — will also feature a pre-show panel with Astin, director David Anspaugh, screenwriter Angelo Pizzo, producers Robert Fried and Cary Woods, Carol Goldsmith (the composer’s widow) and Ruettiger himself.

“I...

In February 2017, Journey went to Japan for a special show at Tokyo’s Budokan that featured a complete performance of 1981’s Escape and 1983’s Frontiers at the request of legendary Japanese concert promoter Mr. Udo in honor of his 50th anniversary in the business. “There’s a few songs I don’t even recall playing, like [the Frontiers track] ‘Troubled Child,” Journey guitarist Neal Schon told Rolling Stone at the time. “Digging back into that stuff has been a lot of fun.”

A camera crew was there to capture the entire night and...

The Hollywood Bowl officially kicked off its summer 2028 season in a blaze of fireworks and Diana Ross.

Despite a broken ankle, which she disclosed at the end of her performance, Ross was the consummate entertainer.

She had the audience on its feet with the first couple of numbers, and the evening soon became a sing-along with people joining in “Sweet Sensation,” “Upside Down,” “Chain Reaction” and “It’s My House.” For the blues and jazz lovers in the crowd, Ross belted out “Lady Sings the Blues.” With a backup of a full choir of singers dressed in gospel garb she crooned an emotional rendition of “Amazing Grace.”

If at times Ross’s voice faltered slightly, the iconic musical legend exuded a magnanimous sense of joy and soulful spirit in every number she sang.

Frequently flicking back her hair and waving her arms in the air, Ross encouraged everyone to join in the singing and dancing,...

The appeal of Keanu Reeves – philosopher, lover, martial artist, musician, motorcycle enthusiast, movie star – is that he carries himself lightly, even in the movies that require him to turn from "cool breeze" (the Hawaiian translation of his first name, for those of you playing at home) to howling tempest. He's the type of guy who's had to deny being Buddhist, even though he's played the Buddha onscreen – because it's just widely assumed that he would swing that way religiously. ("I haven't take refuge in the dharma," he has assured us.

facebook

twitter

google+

For Speed 2, director Jan De Bont spent millions building a town and crashing a luxury liner into it - and all because of a dream...

In 1994, Jan De Bont found himself in something of a quandary. The former Die Hard and Hunt For Red October cinematographer had just scored a major hit with Speed, an action disaster flick in which a bulked-up Keanu Reeves hopped aboard a bus with a bomb wired up to its speedometer. If the bus’s speed dropped below 50 miles per hour, the bomb would go off, killing all the passengers - including the likeably hapless Sandra Bullock.

It was Die Hard on a bus. It starred Dennis Hopper as its crazed villain. Speed was just the kind of high-concept fare audiences wanted to see in the summer of 1994, and they duly lined up to buy a ticket.

Jan De Bont was no...

Producer Marty Adelstein and his Tomorrow Studios company has optioned the rights to last year's indie hit Snowpiercer, to turn it into a TV series adaptation. The Hollywood Reporter reveals that screenwriter Josh Friedman (Avatar 2) has been tapped to write the pilot script. No network has been attached to the project at this time. Here's what Marty Adelstein had to say about bringing Josh Friedman on board.

"We are very excited to be working with Josh on this incredible story. As such a prolific and innovative writer he is the ideal person to create a massive new world in this adaptation. This is an expansive, high-concept project and we are thrilled to be a part of reimagining it for television."

Snowpiercer is based on the French graphic novel entitled Le Transperceneige by Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand and Jean-Marc Rochette. The story is set years after a global Ice Age decimated the planet,...

Previous | Image 1 of 15 | NextArtist and filmmaker Agnés Varda

Chicago – With the 51st Chicago International Film Festival now history, photographer Joe Arce of HollywoodChicago.com has collected his portrait highlights. Opening Night – October 15th, 2015 – was a Red-Carpet Extravaganza, with many notable personalities of the Festival making their way through the gauntlet of press and photographers. HollywoodChicago.com was also there, to collect some voices behind the images.

Filmmaker AGNÉS Varda

Agnés Varda is a living legend, an influencer on the French New Wave of the late 1950s and early 1960s (“Cléo from 5 to 7”) and a social and feminist commentator through her film, photography and art installation.

HollywoodChicago.com: Where does the origin of film as an art form reside in your mind and perspective?

Agnés Varda: Look around you, it is a feast of cinema here. [Pointing to the Chicago International Film Festival logo] I would like to go back there and meet again the eyes of Theda Bara,...

There's a bomb on a bus. Once the bus goes 50 miles an hour, the bomb is armed. If it drops below 50, it blows up. As movie premises go, this one is absolutely ridiculous, right? You'd have been forgiven for thinking so, at least, as few involved with Jan de Bont's "Speed," which was released by 20th Century Fox on June 10, 1994, could have anticipated its popularity. The film was a runaway hit, winning two Oscars and grossing over $350 million worldwide. Now, 20 years later, it's a celebrated relic of an era before blockbuster filmmaking was so awash in digital wizardry, an era when practical movie magic sold the highest of concepts to the masses. For actor Keanu Reeves, who starred as the film's hero, Lapd S.W.A.T. officer Jack Traven, it feels like that long ago if only because so much has changed over the last two decades. Though...

’12 Years a Slave’: Italian posters racist? (Brad Pitt in ’12 Anni Schiavo’ poster) As 2013 comes to a close, 12 Years a Slave has become embroiled in some healthy, Oscar-friendly controversy. A couple of Italian posters for the film have focused on its white supporting players, Brad Pitt and Michael Fassbender, instead of on black protagonist Chiwetel Ejiofor. Since then, Italian distributor Bim has issued contrite apologies; Lionsgate’s Summit Entertainment, the film’s international sales agent, has demanded a recall of the “unauthorized” posters (it’s unclear if no character posters featuring Chiwetel Ejiofor were ever created, or if they were just not on display); the U.S. media and their cohorts elsewhere have played their usual role in pushing hot buttons and creating controversy — much to the delight of both their advertisers and their viewers/readers; and everyone is now aware of how relevant to our early 21st century world...

Director James Cameron has brought on Josh Friedman, who created Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, to work on the screenplay for Avatar 2.

Back in May, Avatar star Zoe Saldana revealed that James Cameron was almost finished with the screenplays for both Avatar 2 and Avatar 3, which are slated to shoot back-to-back in 2014. It isn't known if Josh Friedman will be working on the Avatar 3 script as well.

Avatar stars Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana are expected to reprise their roles in both sequels, although no cast members have been confirmed at this time.

Josh Friedman's other writing credits include The Black Dahlia, War of the Worlds, and Chain Reaction. He also wrote the Locke & Key pilot script, and served as an executive producer on the Fox series The Finder.

Avatar 2 comes to theaters in 2016. The film is directed by James Cameron.

Mike Gray, who co-wrote the Oscar-nominated screenplay for The China Syndrome about a nuclear power plant disaster cover-up, has died. Gray passed away Tuesday of heart failure at his Hollywood Hills home, his family told the Los Angeles Times. He was 77. Gray developed the China Syndrome screenplay after researching the dangers of nuclear power. It turns out the timing was uncanny. Just three weeks after the opening of the film starring Jack Lemmon, Jane Fonda and Michael Douglas, a nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania went into partial meltdown. “I meant China Syndrome to educate people about what I’d found … that our heavy reliance on nuclear plants hadn’t been clearly thought through,” Gray told the Chicago Tribune in 1998. Gray co-wrote the script with T.S. Cook and James Bridges. Gray also collaborated with Chicago’s Second City comedy group founder Howard Alk on several documentary films, including...

Sneak Peek Oscar-winning English actress Rachel Weisz in the Spring 2013 edition of "Harper's Bazaar" (UK) magazine.

A former fashion model and classically-trained stage actress, Weisz started her film acting career in the British mini-series "Inspector Morse", followed by "Scarlet and Black" and the Mow "Advocates II". 

Weisz made her film début in the film "Death Machine" (1994), but her breakthrough performance was in the feature "Chain Reaction" (1996).

This led to her high-profile role as 'Evelyn Carnahan-o'Connell' in the films "The Mummy" (1999) and "The Mummy Returns" (2001). 

Other notable films include "Enemy at the Gates", "About a Boy", "Constantine", "The Fountain" and an Academy Award-winning performance as 'Tessa Quayle' in "The Constant Gardener".

In 2007 Weisz starred in "My Blueberry Nights", followed by "Fred Claus", "Definitely, Maybe" (2008), "The Brothers Bloom (2008), "Agora" (2009), "The Lovely Bones (2009), "The Whistleblower (2010), "The Deep Blue Sea (2011), "Dream House" (2011), "The Bourne Legacy" (2012), and "Oz The Great and Powerful" (2013).

Weisz' new film...

After tonight’s Nikita (8/7c, The CW), the spy thriller will never be the same.

Here, showrunner Craig Silverstein discusses with TVLine the series’ shocking shift in direction (it’s major), previews the death of a “fan favorite” (also major) and reveals what fans of “Mikita,” “Salex” and “Birkya” (?) can look forward to in the show’s second season ender (less major, but still fun).

More from TVLineNot Dead Yet's Gina Rodriguez Talks Finale Twist, Renewal Odds and Her Dream Jane the Virgin Guest StarSeinfeld Still 'A Bit' Bothered by Series Finale, Says Mad Men's Was 'Greatest'Alice & Jack Finale...

Aside from Neo in The Matrix, what are Keanu Reeves’ finest roles? Here, Luke lists the ten other Reeves movies that deserve your attention...

Depending on your personal views on the man, Keanu Reeves is either the epitome of what can be achieved with determination, gumption and graft, or one lucky, lucky swine.

His detractors are always quick to pounce because, yes, he’s never boasted a particularly diverse dramatic range and, yes, he never really got his accents together, but he’s also managed to etch out a career whose breadth and length is the envy of hordes of actors with more ‘conventionally recognised’ acting chops. That’s not to say Reeves’ oeuvre (yes, oeuvre) doesn’t contain some profound old sod-plank – it most certainly does - yet said chunderguff has always been liberally counter-weighted by more than his fair share of cheeky little corkers.

So, before we examine...