News

When Jack Nicholson starred in Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of "The Shining," the horror stigma surrounding Stephen King temporarily disappeared in Hollywood. Though he tended to write pulpy, gory fictions, if the A-list team of Kubrick and Nicholson deemed his material worthy of a major motion picture, perhaps there was box office and awards glory to be mined from his other books (which the prolific author was pumping out at an astonishing pace).

This notion would be challenged something fierce throughout the 1980s. While esteemed directors like David Cronenberg and Rob Reiner earned favorable reviews for, respectively, "The Dead Zone" and "Stand by Me," critics had little use for "Cujo," "Firestarter," "Children of the Corn," "Silver Bullet," "Pet Sematary," and the King-directed "Maximum Overdrive." Really, if not for Reiner's "Stand by Me," the prestige-picture potential of a King tale might've been blotted out completely.

This was the Hollywood state...

Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady's 2007 sitcom "The Big Ban Theory" was hotly contested when it was on the air. In the early 2000s, certain kinds of "geek" interests moved from the cultural fringe directly into the mainstream, and previously derided niche interests like "Dungeons & Dragons," comic books, long-form video games, astronomy, trivia, and fantasy in general all became widely accepted as a new entertainment zeitgeist. New kinds of kid-acceptable pop artists came to be canonized. The geek ecosystem was widespread and easily available to any curious takers.

"The Big Bang Theory," however, was lambasted by some viewers for its inaccurate portrayals of modern-day geeks. The characters on "Big Bang" were all scientists or intellectuals, and they all loved "Star Wars," comic books, and RPGs, but they didn't talk the way geeks talked, nor did they organically celebrate geek culture. "The Big Bang Theory" relied too heavily on outdated...

Halle Berry is one of the most accomplished actors of her generation, having appeared in some incredible movies throughout her extensive career. She famously won the Academy Award for Best Lead Actress in 2002, which helped boost her career to even higher heights and land her even more iconic roles in the decades to come. Halle Berry's best movies span a wide range of genres and styles, with her most noteworthy projects including Monster's Ball, Cloud Atlas, and Bulworth.

Berry's 2001 thriller Monster's Ball is the movie for which she ultimately won the Best Actress Oscar, with the story centering around a prison guard who falls in love with the wife of a prisoner who's recently been executed. It's a fascinating narrative of guilt, culpability, and responsibility that explores the many flaws of the American justice system through the eyes of those who are most directly affected by it, with Berry...

If the presidential campaign stirs your appetite for still more political noise, here’s a quick solution: Catch the new biopics of Donald Trump or Ronald Reagan. Trump calls the movie about him “a hit job”; Reagan likely would find his biopic a sleeper..

Is there an audience for political movies? Perhaps it’s no coincidence that two movie stars known as policy activists instead have created caper films for the popcorn crowd, or the streaming subset.

George Clooney glibly glides through Wolfs, co-starring Brad Pitt, while Matt Damon ambles through the chaos of The Instigators, co-starring Casey Affleck. The paydays are formidable, but their Tomatoes will whither on the vine.

But then political movies always have had a troubled history in terms of impact and accuracy: One helped obliterate an entire studio regime, another triggered a bitter creative feud. But none became a major audience hit.

On Thursday August 29 2024, E! broadcasts The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City!

Trials and Tribulations Season 3 Episode 14 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,” titled “Trials and Tribulations,” promises to deliver the drama that fans expect from the series. This episode will air on E! and is sure to be filled with intense moments and surprising revelations.

The episode kicks off with Heather being questioned about the mysterious black eye she has. This inquiry leads to a heated argument between her and Jen. Viewers can anticipate a clash of emotions as both women express their feelings and frustrations. The tension between them is likely to escalate, creating a dramatic atmosphere that will keep everyone on the edge of their seats.

Later in the episode, Heather hosts a book cover reveal party, which is meant to be a celebratory event. However, as the night unfolds,...

In the upcoming episode of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,” titled “Trials and Tribulations,” drama takes center stage. Airing at 3:00 Pm on Thursday, 29 August 2024, on E!, this episode promises to deliver plenty of surprises and intense moments. The tension rises as Heather is put on the spot about her mysterious black eye, leading to a heated argument with Jen. This confrontation reveals deep-seated emotions and unresolved issues between the two friends.

The drama continues at Heather’s book cover reveal party, where the atmosphere is charged with excitement and tension. As the event unfolds, rumors begin to surface, and the relationships among the housewives become even more complicated. With accusations flying and friendships tested, viewers can expect a rollercoaster of emotions as secrets come to light.

Fans of the series will not want to miss this episode, as it showcases the complexities of friendship and the challenges that come with fame.

Halle Berry, Glenn Close, and Kim Kardashian join forces for Ryan Murphy's legal procedural series, All's Fair, on Hulu. Berry and Close will also executive produce alongside Kardashian and Murphy, with All's Fair set at an all-female law firm in Los Angeles. All's Fair is expected to premiere on Hulu in 2025.

Award-winning actresses Halle Berry and Glenn Close have joined Kim Kardashian for Ryan Murphy's All's Fair, an upcoming legal procedural series that will land on Hulu. The two will also executive produce alongside Kardashian and Murphy, who collaborated on season 12 of American Horror Story. All's Fair, which Murphy describes as a "high-end, glossy and sexy adult procedural," is set at an all-female law firm in Los Angeles. While details surrounding the women's roles are scarce, the trio will portray colleagues at the firm (via Deadline).

Berry rose to stardom in the 1990s with roles in films like Boomerang,...

Editor’s note: It’s Debate Night in America and the Deadline ElectionLine podcast is kicking off our dawn-to dusk-coverage today of what will be the first face-off this year between President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump. Stay tuned; later today we will be following the debate with breaking news and analysis.

Running until the final general election results come in, the podcast spotlights the 2024 campaign and the blurred lines between politics and entertainment in modern America. Hosted by Deadline’s political editor Ted Johnson and executive editor Dominic Patten, it features commentary and interviews with top lawmakers and entertainment figures. At the same time, you can follow all the news in the latest twists and turns in the Biden & Trump rematch and more on the ElectionLine hub on Deadline.

“I feel like we don’t know how to have big conversations anymore,” Charlamagne Tha God says just...

Halle Berry has been a powerhouse performer who has confidently balanced her filmography with compelling character-driven dramas and entertaining studio blockbusters. Bulworth, and Introducing Dorothy Dandridge made everyone notice her acting chops, and she was cast as Storm in the Fox X-Men films.

Halle Berry as Nina in Bulworth | 20th Century Studios

Her peak acting moment came with 2001’s Monster’s Ball, directed by Marc Forster and her incredible performance led to an Oscar win for Best Actress. The complex human drama required the actress to channel her real emotions and be completely vulnerable in front of the camera. Berry was so committed to the tragic nature of the character that she did not recognize herself when she watched the film.

Halle Berry’s Emotional Transformation For Monster’s Ball Led To an Out-Of-Body Experience

Halle Berry plays a widow named Leticia Musgrove in Monster’s Ball | Lionsgate Films

After an Emmy-winning...

Halle Berry has had a successful Hollywood career, starring in action thrillers, sci-fi epics, and Oscar-nominated dramas. Berry's early struggles and health issues didn't stop her from pursuing her acting dreams and achieving great acclaim. Some of Berry's best films include Cloud Atlas, Bulworth, and Monster's Ball, showcasing her versatility and talent as an actress.

Halle Berry's best films include action thrillers, sci-fi epics, and Oscar-nominated dramas. Berry has been in more than 60 films and television shows since making her acting debut in 1989's Living Dolls and became a household name in Hollywood throughout the '90s and 2000s. Berry began her career as a model and has competed in Miss USA and Miss World competitions. Before she made her big break in Hollywood, a young Berry lived in a homeless shelter in New York City when she first arrived for auditions.

Berry experienced health issues while she was acting...

Emma Thompson holds a distinct Oscars record. She is the only person in the history of the Academy Awards to win for both acting and writing. She took home the Best Actress trophy in 1993 for “Howard’s End.” Three years later, she collected an Oscar bookend with her Best Adapted Screenplay win for bringing Jane Austen‘s 1811 novel “Sense and Sensibility” to the screen.

Prior to Thompson’s double wins, several others contended for both acting and writing. Orson Welles won Best Original Screenplay in 1942 with Herman J. Mankiewicz for “Citizen Kane.” He also picked up a Best Actor nomination for the same film. Warren Beatty has a rich history in both acting and writing awards. He was nominated for Best Actor in 1968 for “Bonnie & Clyde,” in 1979 for “Heaven Can Wait, in 1982 for “Reds,” and in 1992″ for “Bugsy.” He picked up Original Screenplay bids in 1976 for “Shampoo” (shared with...

Summer movie season has officially begun at multiplexes everywhere, but the start of June also brings four indie titles to digital platforms. Our pick is a quiet drama that reaches beyond the standard mother-daughter dynamics commonly seen onscreen.

The contender to watch this week: “Monica”

After breakthrough supporting parts in “Transparent” and “Hustlers,” Trace Lysette finally gets the lead role she has deserved. Lysette is enchanting in “Monica,” playing a transgender massage therapist who reluctantly returns home to care for her estranged mother (Patricia Clarkson). After premiering at last year’s Venice Film Festival and gaining a fair amount of indie cred during its theatrical rollout in May, this is the type of movie that could very well show up on the Independent Spirit Awards’ roster. Rent it on VOD.

Other contenders:

“BlackBerry“: If “Air” and “Tetris” didn’t scratch your itch for juicy corporate heroism, here comes the...

Max’s first full month without ‘HBO’ in its rebranded title has a selection that kicks off summer 2023 in fine fashion. Three of the four iterations of “A Star Is Born,” including the most recent remake starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, are streaming on Max in June. The 1954 and 1976 films land June 1, while the 2018 version arrives June 8.

To prepare for Margot Robbie’s performance in “Barbie” come July, one could watch one of her more intense roles as Tonya Harding in “I, Tonya” (2017). For some lighter summer watches, viewers might consider “Dolphin Tale” (2010), “Grease” (1978), “Hairspray” (2007) or “Tooth Fairy” (2010).

“Magic Mike’s Last Dance” (2023) starring Channing Tatum and Salma Hayek Pinault lands at Max after its theatrical release in February this year. Another major theatrical release from 2022, “Avatar: The Way of Water” (2022), swims onto the streamer starting June 7.

As for TV series, “Euphoria” creator Sam Levinson’s “The Idol,” starring Abel...

HBO Max is no more. In its place are…HBO and Max. Warner Bros. Discovery’s big change to its premier streaming service was simply to take the “HBO” off of the name “HBO Max,” leaving just “Max.” But in announcing its list of new releases for Max in June 2023, Warner is highlighting all of the HBO content anyway. So here is everything you can expect to find on Max (including every new HBO show) this month.

Even though June 2023 is the first full month of Max’s existence without the helpful “HBO” modifier in front of it, literally all of its major original offerings are thanks to the pay cable network. June 4 sees the premiere of The Idol, the controversial TV project starring The Weeknd and written by Euphoria‘s Sam Levinson. After that, season 3 of Danny McBride evangelical comedy The Righteous Gemstones premieres on June 18. That will be...

Max, the new name of HBO Max as of May 23rd, will be adding a new food series with Zooey Deschanel, an animated series set in the world of Gremlins, and the rebirth of Clone High to its streaming lineup in June 2023. The Idol, starring The Weeknd and Johnny Depp’s daughter, Lily-Rose, arrives on June 4th after dividing the crowd at Cannes, and the much-anticipated third season of Warrior kicks off on June 29th.

Max’s June lineup also includes new seasons of And Just Like That…, Painting with John, and The Righteous Gemstones. Theatrical releases making their way to the streaming service include Avatar: The Way of Water and Magic Mike’s Last Dance.

Series & Films Arriving On Max In June 2023:

June 1

3:10 to Yuma (2007)

A Star Is Born (1954)

A Star Is Born (1976)

Army of Darkness (1993)

Balls of Fury (2007)

Beautiful Creatures (2013)

Big Daddy (1999)

Breach (2007)

Bulworth (1998)

Class Act (1992)

Click...

The highly discussed music limited series “The Idol” is set to premiere on Max on June 4. Starring Lily-Rose Depp, pop singer The Weeknd, and Dan Levy, the show involves a rising pop star Jocelyn (played by Depp) who gets involved with Tedros (The Weeknd), a sleazy nightclub owner who may also be a cult leader. She wants a rock career, while he’s focused on exploiting everyone he meets.

Watch the trailer for “The Idol”:

Also coming to the streamer next month is the second season of “And Just Like That,” the “Sex and the City” sequel. In Season 2 — which arrives on June 22 — Charlotte’s daughter is ready to lose her virginity, Carrie explores life and love after Big, and Miranda intensifies her relationship with Che.

Check out the “And Just Like That” Season 2 trailer:

Arriving on Max on June 27 is a documentary looking at the award-winning performance art...

The original X-Men movie from 2000 introduced a sprawling ensemble cast of Marvel heroes and villains, and each character was brought to life by a world-class actor. X-Men lent some prestige to the superhero genre by casting screen legends like Ian McKellen and Halle Berry in major comic book roles. The movie was a box office hit, grossing over $296 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo), and it was warmly received by critics. The success of X-Men helped to pave the way for superheroes to dominate the movie landscape with the eventual creation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The blockbuster potential of the comic book genre had been proven years earlier with Warner Bros.’ Batman and Superman movies, but X-Men was one of the first examples of an ensemble superhero team-up film. Unlike other early Marvel superhero movie franchises, such as Blade and Spider-Man, X-Men didn’t focus on just one superhero.

Everyone knows about the fabled and miraculous box office run of James Cameron’s “Titanic.” The film rode a wave of rave reviews, following months of bad press related to cost overruns, release date delays and behind-the-scenes melodrama, to a record-setting 600 million domestic and 1.8 billion worldwide total. Opening with just 28 million, it spent its first 15 weekends atop the domestic box office, still a record for consecutive Fri-Sun frames.

What of the films that perished in the first months of 1998? For three straight months, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s Oscar-winning romance/disaster feature sunk most of the competition. This was 1998, when big movies were not expected to open before the May-to-August summer movie season. The film that dethroned “Titanic,” an expensive, grimdark adaptation of “Lost in Space,” was itself a surprisingly “big” movie for its early April opening weekend.

That’s not to say the films were all bad, or...

Chicago – In one of my trips to New York City, I saw him in the distance on the street (this actually happens often in NYC. Pay attention!). Actor Paul Sorvino, Paulie Cicero of ‘Goodfellas’ legend, as well as many other films/stage/TV/opera work, was unmistakably walking right towards me. “Hey Paulie,” I instinctively said. “Hey,” he said back. Fast forward several years later, Mr. Sorvino was honored by the Chicago Film Critics Awards in 2013, I was a newly minted Chicago Film Critic, and I met him again (see below). Paul Sorvino died on July 25th, 2022, in Jacksonville, Florida. He was 83.

Paul Anthony Sorvino was born in Brooklyn, and studied at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. After a stint in advertising, he made his Broadway debut in 1964 in the musical “Bajour.” Six years later, his was in his first film, Carl Reiner’s “Where’s Poppa” (1970), and one...

“Why can’t he learn how to give a better speech?” With the State of the Union address looming next month, Joe Biden’s Hollywood critics and supporters increasingly ask that question as they see his approval ratings tank even as his policies gain favor.

Talk with Michael Douglas, Robert Redford, Warren Beatty and others who have portrayed U.S. presidents and political climbers during their careers and they all describe their intense self-training in presidential cadence and elocution. Even Ronald Reagan habitually consulted coach Michael Deaver (and wife Nancy), while Lyndon Johnson demanded the presence of director Franklin Schaffner. They worked hard at it.

“A presidential speech today is like seeing a Marvel movie with no action,” observes filmmaker Barry Levinson. In his hilarious 1997 movie Wag the Dog, a desperate president hires political hustlers, played by Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro, to drum up a fake political crisis...

Halle Berry made her feature directing debut with Netflix’s Bruised this year, and now she is set to receive the SeeHer Award at the Critics Choice Awards next month.

The Critics Choice Association made the announcement this morning about its sixth annual award, which honors a woman who advocates for gender equality, portrays characters with authenticity, defies stereotypes and pushes boundaries. It will be presented during the 27th annual Critics Choice Awards on Sunday, January 9. The ceremony will simulcast live in the East on the CW and TBS and delayed in the West.

2021-22 Awards Season Calendar – Dates For The Emmys, Grammys, Oscars & More

Berry won a Best Actress Oscar for 2001’s Monster Ball — the first for a Black woman — and an Emmy for her title role in 1999’s Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, nabbing a second nom as a producer. The six-time NAACP Image Award winner directs and stars in...

Oscar winner Halle Berry has entered into a new partnership with Netflix which will see her continue to star in and produce films for the streamer.

The announcement comes one week after Netflix’s global release of her feature directorial debut, Bruised, which quickly landed the streamer’s #1 film of the week slot in the U.S., and has charted at #2 on its Top 10 Global English Film List. Bruised hit #1 in a total of 21 countries, and was watched for 47.7M hours in its first five days.

In the film penned by first-time feature writer Michelle Rosenfarb, Berry stars as Jackie Justice, an Mma fighter who reclaims her power, in and out of the ring, when everyone has counted her out. She also produced the sports drama alongside Basil Iwaynk, Brad Feinstein, Guymon Casady, Linda Gottlieb, Erica Lee, Gillian G. Hormel, Paris Kassidokostas-Latsis and Terry Douglas. It made...

Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical film “Belfast” is opening in theaters this week and has already attracted an immense amount of Oscar buzz, currently sitting as the frontrunner for best picture, director and several other categories. With honors and audience awards from various festivals, the Focus Features black-and-white drama has the famed filmmaker on a path to make Oscar history.

For “Belfast,” Branagh serves as one of the producers, which makes him eligible to be nominated for best picture, along with director and original screenplay. He’s received five nominations during his career, all across different categories – director, actor, supporting actor (“My Week with Marilyn”), adapted screenplay (“Hamlet”) and live action short (“Swan Song”).

Pending any unforeseen catastrophe, Branagh is on track to add two new categories to his arsenal (picture and original screenplay). This possibility could set a couple of records for the Ireland native. First, he would tie George Clooney,...

Halle Berry, Anthony Anderson, Jennifer Hudson and Barry Jenkins are among the honorees at this year’s edition of the Critics Choice Association’s annual Celebration of Black Cinema & Television event.

This year’s ceremony, which takes place on Monday, Dec. 6 at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel, includes TV recognition for the first time. The Celebration of Black Cinema launched in 2014 to honor standout achievements in Black filmmaking. For 2021, the event will feature 20 award categories.

Berry will receive the Career Achievement Award, recognized for her roles in films such as “Monster’s Ball,” which earned her an Oscar for best actress (the first and only Black woman to receive that award) in 2002. Her other credits include “Die Another Day,” “Jungle Fever,” “Losing Isaiah,” “Bulworth,” “Swordfish” and “John Wick.”

“Berry’s iconic performances throughout her career have showcased her brilliance as an actor and blazed the trail for Black performers who have come after her,...

Jennifer Hudson, Halle Berry, Barry Jenkins and Anthony Anderson are among this year’s honorees for the Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of Black Cinema & Television. Inaugurated in 2014, the annual event has honored standout achievements in Black filmmaking, and this year will be the first to incorporate excellence in television as well. It will take place on Monday, December 6, at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel and will feature 20 award categories.

Academy Award-winning actress Berry will receive the Career Achievement Award as a tribute to her extraordinary roles over the years, as well as her upcoming directorial debut Bruised, in which she also stars as the disgraced Mma fighter Jackie Justice. It opens November 17 in theaters and hits Netflix on November 24. Berry’s career has spanned three decades, including performances in Die Another Day, Jungle Fever, Losing Isaiah, Bulworth, Swordfish, John Wick and as legendary actress in Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, for which she won an Emmy.

CBS is sticking with “The Talk” talent to host this year’s Daytime Emmy Awards, but with a twist: This year, Sheryl Underwood will handle solo duties. The Eye network announced on Tuesday that Underwood will host the 48th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, which airs on Friday, June 25 at 8 p.m. Et on CBS, as well as streaming live on Paramount Plus.

This is the fifth time that Underwood has hosted the show; in the past, she has done it with her “The Talk” colleagues. Underwood will emcee the show from Los Angeles, where a stage has been set up for the show, but the pre-taped broadcast will also include presenters and honorees from their own show studios and homes to accept their awards. Although many of the key daytime drama, game and talk show awards will be presented on the telecast, additional winners will be announced simultaneously on Twitter,...

While the first day of spring technically belongs to March, everyone knows that it kicks into high gear in April. To celebrate the changing of the seasons, Hulu is finally bringing back its signature original series for April 2021.

Season 4 of the multiple Emmy award-winning The Handmaid’s Tale premieres on April 28. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen June and her dystopian world. In fact, it’s been so long that our own world decided to endure its own dystopian pandemic in the meantime. Hopefully this series’ return will mean we can keep our political and social collapses on television where they belong.

Aside from The Handmaid’s Tale, Hulu isn’t brining much else to the table in terms of originals this month. Thankfully, the one other original that Hulu has in store for April sounds completely righteous. Sasquatch, the latest docuseries from the Duplass brothers producing team, will cover exactly what the title promises.

Larry King conducted over 50,000 interviews with celebrities, world leaders, athletes, and average citizens caught up in extraordinary situations with a career that spans a half-century. Because of his fame as a radio and television broadcaster, King often appeared as himself in movies like Ghostbusters, The Contender, Enemy of the State, Bulworth, Contact and more. […]

The post Larry King, Famed Broadcaster Who Appeared in ‘Ghostbusters’ and More, Has Died at 87 appeared first on /Film.

Has Donald Trump blown it? Major actors have always coveted playing the role of an empathetic U.S. president, but after Trump’s four years will anyone want that gig?

In years past Michael Douglas, Daniel Day-Lewis, Harrison Ford and even Henry Fonda have depicted admirable presidents. Even Kevin Spacey was likable as Richard Nixon when Elvis came to visit him (in 2016’s Elvis & Nixon).

To be sure, they all had their idiosyncrasies. In Dave (1993), Kevin Kline wasn’t careful enough about who was chosen to “double” him, and Douglas in The American President (1995) should have been wary about dating that lobbyist, even though she was Annette Bening. But they were good guys at heart.

None of those characters would have considered denying election results, or ignoring a pandemic, or snubbing his successor’s inauguration. There were boundaries, even in movies, about political mischief.

In Bulworth (1998), Warren Beatty briefly impersonated...

Atlanta law enforcement have a suspect in custody for the murder of actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd. The frequent Spike Lee collaborator was found dead around 1:45am in Atlanta on October 3rd. The veteran actor had been shot several times in the back, his body located near his home. Lee was tghe first to report the news on social media, stating, "I'm So Sad To Announce The Tragic Murder Of Our Beloved Brother Thomas Jefferson Byrd Last Night In Atlanta, Georgia. Tom Is My Guy." Lee then went on to celebrate some of the movies they did together over the years.

Earlier this week, Atlanta homicide detectives obtained an arrest warrant for 30-year old Antonio Demetrice Rhynes on a felony murder charge. They obtained the warrant based on "evidence and tips from the public," and he was arrested early Friday morning. A $10,000 reward had been posted in order to get...

Veteran actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd, known for appearing in several Spike Lee movies, was reportedly shot dead in Atlanta over the weekend. According to police spokesman Officer Anthony Grant, police responded to an emergency call at around 1:45 a.m. on Saturday morning where they found the Tony-nominated actor unresponsive with several gunshots wounds in his back. He was then pronounced dead by responding paramedics, and homicide detectives are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Byrd was 70 years old.

Saddened by the news, Spike Lee took to Instagram to comment on Byrd's passing. Including a photo of Byrd in Clockers, Lee writes, "I'm So Sad To Announce The Tragic Murder Of Our Beloved Brother Thomas Jefferson Byrd Last Night In Atlanta,Georgia. Tom Is My Guy, Here Below You See Him As The Frightening Character Errol Barnes In Clockers."

Lee added, "Brother Byrd Also Did His Thang In My Joints- Chi-raq,...

Armelia McQueen, who rose to Broadway stardom with her debut in 1978’s Ain’t Misbehavin’ and played the sister of Whoopi Goldberg’s haunted character in 1990’s Ghost, died Saturday. She was 68.

Her death was confirmed by her friend Dorian Hannaway in a Facebook post Sunday. “My dear friend Armelia crossed over yesterday,” Hannaway wrote. “She leaves us cherishing her memory as she was one of the greatest friends you could ever have. The only thing bigger than her beautiful soul was her extraordinary talent. She gave us such joy in her many turns on the Broadway stage as well as her film and TV roles. She was brilliant in Ain’t Misbehavin’ and so many other shows.”

A cause of death has not been released, and information on survivors was not immediately available.

Born in North Carolina and raised in New York City, McQueen was in the original Off Broadway cast...

On the day Halle Berry shot the big fight scene for her new movie “Bruised,” in which she plays a disgraced mixed martial arts fighter, she cracked two ribs.

Berry, 54, had injured herself on the set of a movie before — breaking three ribs on “John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum” without knowing exactly how she did it. On that 2019 action film, she remembers feeling no pain and then suddenly not being able to breathe. “I thought I had bone cancer,” Berry recalls. “I thought it was early osteoporosis. I couldn’t understand why this was happening to me when I was really physically fit.” She traced the incident to her diabetes. “I have a propensity to fracture bones faster than other people.”

When Berry got hurt on “Bruised,” after taking a knee to the chest from co-star Valentina Shevchenko, she wasn’t surprised. But this time, the stakes felt momentous. “Bruised,” which...

The director of Sergio and many docs talks about docs and movies taken from true stories.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Sergio (2009)

Sergio (2020)

Reds (1981)

The Two Popes (2019)

Rules Don’t Apply (2016)

Bulworth (1998)

Dick Tracy (1990)

Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)

Innerspace (1987)

Ishtar (1987)

The Thin Blue Line (1988)

Man On Wire (2008)

The Fog of War (2003)

American Dharma (2018)

Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru (2016)

The Killing Fields (1984)

The Year of Living Dangerously (1983)

Under Fire (1983)

Salvador (1986)

The Quiet American (2002)

The Quiet American (1958)

A Private War (2018)

The War Room (1993)

The Final Year (2017)

Independence Day (1996)

Citizen Kane (1941)

Bloodsport (1988)

Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite (1996)

When We Were Kings (1996)

Soul Power (2008)

High School (1968)

Hospital (1970)

Titicut Follies (1967)

The Diving Bell And The Butterfly (2007)

Before Night Falls (2000)

At Eternity’s Gate (2018)

American Factory (2019)

Dina (2017)

Honeyland (2019)

The Act of Killing (2012)

The English Patient (1996)

Truly, Madly, Deeply (1990)

The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

Purple Noon (1960)

Other Notable Items

Sergio Aragonés

Wagner Moura

Narcos TV...

Streaming platform Pandora has unveiled its Most-Thumbed Movie Songs Playlist. Based on Pandora listeners’ thumbs-up activity, 102 of the most popular movie songs were rounded up.

Among the most-thumbed tracks are “Earned It” by the Weeknd from “Fifty Shades of Grey,” “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth from “Furious 7” and “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri from “Twilight.”

Other classic movie songs featured include “Titanic’s” “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion, “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston from “The Bodyguard” and “Mrs. Robinson” from “The Graduate” by Simon and Garfunkel.

Oscar winners for best original song also making the playlist are Adele’s “Skyfall,” from the James Bond movie of the same name, and the 2018 winner “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper from the “A Star Is Born” remake.

The playlist can be streamed here. Here’s the full list of...

“Music is an experience, not a science.” — Ennio Morricone

Hollywood is reeling at the death of composer Ennio Morricone, who died unexpectedly on July 6 at age 91. In the global film community, he’s as revered as any screen composer from Nino Rota and Bernard Herrmann to John Williams and Hans Zimmer, who credits “Once Upon a Time in the West” for inspiring him to become a film composer. “Ennio taught me that the simplest, purest and honest melody is the hardest,” tweeted Zimmer.

Rip. Morricone. An artist who changed everything. Yes, appropriating elements of jazz & rock & electronica in film scores but at the same time, asserting a level of romantic expression & assertiveness that had almost entirely vanished from soundtracks when he burst on scene. https://t.co/ybdKKuT34R

— Mangold (@mang0ld) July 6, 2020

Arguably Morricone’s greatest scores were for director Sergio Leone, with whom he went to elementary school.

“Music is an experience, not a science.” — Ennio Morricone

Hollywood is reeling at the death of composer Ennio Morricone, who died unexpectedly on July 6 at age 91. In the global film community, he’s as revered as any screen composer from Nino Rota and Bernard Herrmann to John Williams and Hans Zimmer, who credits “Once Upon a Time in the West” for inspiring him to become a film composer. “Ennio taught me that the simplest, purest and honest melody is the hardest,” tweeted Zimmer.

Rip. Morricone. An artist who changed everything. Yes, appropriating elements of jazz & rock & electronica in film scores but at the same time, asserting a level of romantic expression & assertiveness that had almost entirely vanished from soundtracks when he burst on scene. https://t.co/ybdKKuT34R

— Mangold (@mang0ld) July 6, 2020

Arguably Morricone’s greatest scores were for director Sergio Leone, with whom he went to elementary school.

Versatile film, avant-garde classical, jazz and pop composer Ennio Morricone died in a Rome hospital after falling and breaking his leg, his lawyer Giorgio Assumma announced, according to Variety. He was 91.

Known as “the Maestro,” Morricone is best known as the composer of the scores and themes of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West, and his Academy Award winning soundtrack for Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight. He also toured frequently, and expanded his sonic visions to reflect contemporary sounds. Besides his collaborations on the spaghetti Western films of Sergio Leone, Morricone composed for Bernardo Bertolucci, Dario Argento, Don Siegel, Brian De Palma, and John Carpenter. He composed for such diverse artists as Andrea Bocelli, Sting, k.d. lang, and Pet Shop Boys. Morricone never became fluent in English. When he won his 2007 honorary Oscar, his speech was translated by Clint Eastwood.

Morricone...

Sad news today, as the prolific Italian composer, Ennio Morricone, has passed away at the age of 91. The Oscar-winning musician, who, during his career has scored more than 400 movies and television shows, died on Monday the 6th of July at the Campus Bio-Medico in Rome. His death comes a week after suffering a fall in which he broke his femur, with his passing was confirmed by his lawyer, Giorgio Assumma.

Born in 1928, Morricone began his career as a trumpet player before turning to film composition in 1961, with the composer going on to create music for more than 70 award-winning movies. Morricone is renowned for scoring the spaghetti Westerns of legendary director Sergio Leone, and as a result, has become synonymous with the Western genre.

"The music is indispensable, because my films could practically be silent movies, the dialogue counts for relatively little, and so the music underlines actions and feelings more than the dialogue,...

Oscar-winning Italian composer Ennio Morricone died Monday at age 91, his lawyer told the New York Times.

Morricone became famous for his melodic scores for 1960s Westerns like “The Good, The Bad and the Ugly” and “Once Upon a Time in the West.” He drew on his work in so-called spaghetti Westerns for Quentin Tarantino’s 2015 Western “The Hateful Eight,” which earned the composer his first Academy Award after five previous nominations and an honorary award in 2007.

In addition, Morricone picked up three Golden Globes and two Grammy Awards during his long and celebrated career.

Also Read: Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2020 (Photos)

The Rome-born composer wrote the scores for more than 500 films in a wide range of genres and styles — but often drawing on his desire to place music and sound effects like ticking watches and buzzing flies at the foreground of the filmgoer’s consciousness.

He earned Oscar nominations for...

Christine Baranski, “Power” creator and showrunner Courtney Kemp and ABC Entertainment chief Karey Burke are among the five recipients set for the 2020 Brandon Tartikoff Awards, to be handed out in January as part of the annual Natpe conference in Miami.

Jeff Zucker, chairman of news and sports for WarnerMedia and president of CNN Worldwide, and Telemundo Global Studios chairman Marcos Santana are also set to receive the kudo that recognizes individuals who have left a lasting mark on the global television business.

The 17th annual Tartikoff Awards will be presented on Jan. 22 at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami. A portion of the proceeds from the dinner gala will support the Natpe Educational Foundation and the Broadcasters Federation of America.

The Natpe conference runs Jan. 21-23.

Here are bios of the Tartikoff honorees:

Christine Baranski is an Emmy, two-time Tony, Screen Actors Guild, Drama Desk and American Comedy Award winner. Baranski...

“It’s efficient. My conversations with myself go very smoothly,” joked Edward Norton about writing, directing, producing and starring in the detective noir “Motherless Brooklyn.” He discussed the film with press and industry on Friday, October 11, at the New York Film Festival, where it was the closing night selection. Watch his complete press conference along with co-stars Willem Dafoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw above.

“Motherless Brooklyn” is set in 1950s New York City, where a private eye with Tourette syndrome (played by Norton) tries to unravel a political conspiracy at the highest levels of the city’s government. It’s based on the 1999 novel by Jonathan Lethem, which Norton had heard about even before it was released. “Nothing more high-minded than the greedy actor in me was like, ‘Ooh let’s check that out,'” and when Norton “chased it down” he was “very taken with this character he had written:...

On August 14, 2019, Halle Berry will celebrate her 53rd birthday. It has been a long and interesting journey for the actress who has seen her career go from being first runner-up in the Miss USA pageant to making history as the first and only (to date) black women to win an Oscar for Best Actress.

After her beauty contestant run, Berry would then go on an acting career with a string of roles on television in somewhat forgettable roles. Her big break would come in Spike Lee‘s film “Jungle Fever” which offered her a juicy supporting role and got her noticed by filmmakers.

SEESpike Lee movies: 15 greatest films ranked from worst to best

Berry seemingly almost ended her career before it really got started when she made the mistake of passing up the lead role in the movie “Speed” that made Sandra Bullock into a star. She bounced back though...

On August 14, 2019, Halle Berry will celebrate her 53rd birthday. It has been a long and interesting journey for the actress who has seen her career go from being first runner-up in the Miss USA pageant to making history as the first and only (to date) black women to win an Oscar for Best Actress.

After her beauty contestant run, Berry would then go on an acting career with a string of roles on television in somewhat forgettable roles. Her big break would come in Spike Lee‘s film “Jungle Fever” which offered her a juicy supporting role and got her noticed by filmmakers.

Berry seemingly almost ended her career before it really got started when she made the mistake of passing up the lead role in the movie “Speed” that made Sandra Bullock into a star. She bounced back though with a series of films culminating in the acclaimed TV movie “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge,...

What if the woman who had been your babysitter when you were 13 years old went on to become secretary of state, and was now positioned to be the first female president of the United States? If you were Fred Flarsky, this would be your carpe diem opportunity — the right time to go after that unrequited childhood crush (played here by Charlize Theron) and make her yours.

That’s pretty much the premise of Jonathan Levine’s “Long Shot,” a retrograde romantic comedy that somehow manages to pass the public’s #MeToo test at this precise moment — judging by the raucous audience enthusiasm at its SXSW Film Festival premiere — but is bound to embarrass everyone a year or so down the road, once the think pieces have picked it apart. More creepy than romantic, more chauvinist than empowered — and in all fairness, funnier and more entertaining than any comedy in months...

Editor Billy Weber has been one of reclusive filmmaker Terrence Malick’s preferred craftspeople. Their relationship has spanned 1973’s “Badlands,” 1978’s “Days of Heaven,” 1998’s “The Thin Red Line” and 2011’s “The Tree of Life.”

The most recent picture has now been released in a “director-approved special edition” by The Criterion Collection, showcasing a new cut of the Palme d’Or-winning and Oscar-nominated film, lensed by Emmanuel Lubezki and starring Brad Bitt and Jessica Chastain in a story that melds childhood memories with a meditation on the nature of the universe.

Malick worked for decades on the ambitious film, and Weber treasures his collaboration with the director on the project. The Criterion Collection cut includes an additional 50 minutes of footage, and although Weber was not directly involved on the project, he was able to contribute nonetheless. “Some of the passages I initially cut during production have found their way back in,...

Sexual harassment, Islamophobia, Nsa surveillance of private citizens and crises manufactured to distract from presidential scandals — those were themes of the sharpest politically charged films of the year, exactly 20 years ago. The people behind those films weren’t soothsayers. Comedies like Warren Beatty’s Bulworth and Mike Nichols’ Primary Colors and thrillers like Tony Scott’s Enemy of the State and Edward Zwick’s The Siege shrewdly observed the darkest undercurrents of their time.

But rather than subsiding, the trends those filmmakers mined for outrageous satire or heightened drama have only ramped up in recent years. Some of those ominous strands existed ...

Sexual harassment, Islamophobia, Nsa surveillance of private citizens and crises manufactured to distract from presidential scandals — those were themes of the sharpest politically charged films of the year, exactly 20 years ago. The people behind those films weren’t soothsayers. Comedies like Warren Beatty’s Bulworth and Mike Nichols’ Primary Colors and thrillers like Tony Scott’s Enemy of the State and Edward Zwick’s The Siege shrewdly observed the darkest undercurrents of their time.

But rather than subsiding, the trends those filmmakers mined for outrageous satire or heightened drama have only ramped up in recent years. Some of those ominous strands existed ...

He also really, really hates the Warren Beatty movie Bulworth.

With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options — not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves — we’ve taken it upon ourselves to highlight the titles that have recently hit platforms. Every week, one will be able to see the cream of the crop (or perhaps some simply interesting picks) of streaming titles (new and old) across platforms such as Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, and more (note: U.S. only). Check out our rundown for this week’s selections below.

All These Sleepless Nights (Michal Marczak)

Blurring the line between documentary and fiction like few films before it, Michal Marczak‘s All These Sleepless Nights is a music-filled ode to the ever-shifting bliss and angst of youth set mostly in the wee hours of the day in Warsaw, Poland. Marczak himself, who also plays cinematographer, is wary to delineate the line between narrative and nonfiction, and part of the...