Liam Payne‘s most recent music video for his single, “Bedroom Floor,” is one to remember – and not just because of its catchy beat; the song’s video features Bella Thorne, who portrays a girl dealing with a flaky boyfriend.
Payne is hardly the first singer to feature another celeb in his music video. Some are particularly iconic – think Liv Tyler and Alicia Silverstone in Aerosmith’s “Crazy,” or Lena Dunham, Cindy Crawford and more in Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” – but there are a bunch we bet you forgot about:
Channing Tatum: “Beautiful Trauma”
Tatum goes back to his dancing roots,...
Payne is hardly the first singer to feature another celeb in his music video. Some are particularly iconic – think Liv Tyler and Alicia Silverstone in Aerosmith’s “Crazy,” or Lena Dunham, Cindy Crawford and more in Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” – but there are a bunch we bet you forgot about:
Channing Tatum: “Beautiful Trauma”
Tatum goes back to his dancing roots,...
- 11/21/2017
- by Amy Jamieson
- PEOPLE.com
Greenlit means a project is officially a go, so all you have to do is follow these leads to stay up to date. You never know where you’ll find an opportunity to land an audition! “The Boys”Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have added another project to their development slate, this time with Amazon. Called “The Boys,” it’s an eight episode superhero drama and comic book adaptation from Darick Robertson and Garth Ennis. Ennis also created the comic “Preacher” for which Rogen and Goldberg have a series on AMC, which stars Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, and Joseph Gilgun. The writer-director-producers have a long resume of movies and now TV projects. Most of their movie projects, including “This is The End,” “The Interview,” and the animated “Sausage Party” have had Francine Maisler on board to cast. Preacher cast using the team of Linda Lowy, Will Stewart, and Jeanie Bacharach,...
- 11/13/2017
- backstage.com
Jesse Williams is currently in the middle of a custody battle with estranged wife Aryn Drake-Lee, and in an 11-minute Tidal video for Jay-z's latest album, Footnotes for 4:44, the Grey's Anatomy actor opened up about their divorce. Jesse joined Jay-z, Chris Rock, Will Smith, Kendrick Lamar, Anthony Anderson, Aziz Ansari, and other celebrities for a chat about relationships, and without mentioning Aryn by name, Jesse addressed cheating rumors. "I was in a relationship 13 years, 13 real years, not five years, not seven years – 13 years," he said. "All of a sudden motherf*ckers are writing think-pieces that I somehow threw a 13-year relationship. Like, the most painful experience I've had in my life like with a person I've loved with all of my heart – that I threw a person and my family in the trash because a girl I work with is cute." RelatedJay-z Admits His Relationship With Beyoncé...
- 7/11/2017
- by Monica Sisavat
- Popsugar.com
Like Jay-z, Jesse Williams gets candid about a longtime relationship.
On Monday, the 47-year-old rapper released a mini-documentary titled Footnotes for 4:44, and in addition to talking about his own marriage to Beyonce, other celebrities including Williams, Chris Rock, Will Smith, Kendrick Lamar, Anthony Anderson, Aziz Ansari also open up about their experiences with love, romance and the pressure of being in the public eye.
Watch: Jesse Williams Reacts to Petition to Get Him Fired From Grey's Anatomy as Signatures Increase
Et confirmed that Williams filed for divorce from his wife of over four years, Aryn Drake-Lee, in April, citing "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the split. "I was in a relationship 13 years, 13 real years, not 5 years, not 7 years, 13 years," the Grey's Anatomy star says in the Jay-z's mini-doc. "All of a sudden, mother f**kers are writing think pieces that I somehow threw a 13-year relationship -- like, the most painful...
On Monday, the 47-year-old rapper released a mini-documentary titled Footnotes for 4:44, and in addition to talking about his own marriage to Beyonce, other celebrities including Williams, Chris Rock, Will Smith, Kendrick Lamar, Anthony Anderson, Aziz Ansari also open up about their experiences with love, romance and the pressure of being in the public eye.
Watch: Jesse Williams Reacts to Petition to Get Him Fired From Grey's Anatomy as Signatures Increase
Et confirmed that Williams filed for divorce from his wife of over four years, Aryn Drake-Lee, in April, citing "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the split. "I was in a relationship 13 years, 13 real years, not 5 years, not 7 years, 13 years," the Grey's Anatomy star says in the Jay-z's mini-doc. "All of a sudden, mother f**kers are writing think pieces that I somehow threw a 13-year relationship -- like, the most painful...
- 7/11/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveriesNEWSRadley Metzger's The Lickerish QuartetRadley Metzger, whose groundbreaking erotic films helped set standards of style for both mainstream and arthouse cinema, has died at 88. His classics Camille 2000 (1969) and The Lickerish Quartet (1970) were featured on Mubi last year. Critic and programmer Steve Macfarlane interviewed the director at Slant Magazine for the Film Society of Lincoln Center's 2014 retrospective devoted to Metzger.Recommended VIEWINGThe Cinémathèque française has been on a roll uploading video discussions that have taken place at their Paris cinema. This 34 minute talk is between Wes Anderson and director/producer Barbet Schroeder.The Criterion Collection has recently released a new edition of Michelangelo Antonioni's masterpiece Blow-Up, and has uploaded this stellar clip of actor David Hemmings speaking on a talk show about making the film.Recommended READINGHoward Hawks' ScarfaceHow does Chicago intertwine itself with crime and the culture created in the mix of the two?...
- 4/5/2017
- MUBI
Jessica Chastain, Will Smith and The Young Pope director Paolo Sorrentino will join president Pedro Almodovar on this year's Cannes Film Festival jury.
Two of the stars of last year's festival: German director Maren Ade (Toni Erdmann) and South Korean helmer Park Chan-wook (The Handmaiden) will be back this year in the judges' chair. Chinese star Fan Bingbing (Iron Man 3), French actress Agnes Jaoui (The Taste of Others) and Oscar-winning composer Gabriel Yared (The English Patient) complete this year's nine-person international jury.
The awards for the 70th festival will be handed out on the closing night of the...
Two of the stars of last year's festival: German director Maren Ade (Toni Erdmann) and South Korean helmer Park Chan-wook (The Handmaiden) will be back this year in the judges' chair. Chinese star Fan Bingbing (Iron Man 3), French actress Agnes Jaoui (The Taste of Others) and Oscar-winning composer Gabriel Yared (The English Patient) complete this year's nine-person international jury.
The awards for the 70th festival will be handed out on the closing night of the...
- 3/24/2017
- by Rhonda Richford
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Americans love British television. It’s up there as one of our very favorite things the UK has given us, right after Adele and right before Harry Potter. That said, try to contain your excitement when you hear about BritBox, a new streaming service that brings us in the good ol’ U.S. of A an easily accessible way to watch the best TV from across the pond.
Read More: ‘Nw’ Teaser Trailer: Zadie Smith’s Epic Novel Gets Raw BBC Two Adaptation
The UK’s top two networks, BBC Worldwide and ITV, have teamed up to launch this new platform, which brings an unrivaled digital catalogue of British content. If you can name it, they’ve got it – Ricky Gervais’ original “The Office”? Check. How about the Colin Firth “Pride & Prejudice” all of our moms still love? Got it. “Gavin & Stacey,” for all the people who want to see...
Read More: ‘Nw’ Teaser Trailer: Zadie Smith’s Epic Novel Gets Raw BBC Two Adaptation
The UK’s top two networks, BBC Worldwide and ITV, have teamed up to launch this new platform, which brings an unrivaled digital catalogue of British content. If you can name it, they’ve got it – Ricky Gervais’ original “The Office”? Check. How about the Colin Firth “Pride & Prejudice” all of our moms still love? Got it. “Gavin & Stacey,” for all the people who want to see...
- 3/7/2017
- by Allison Picurro
- Indiewire
Please invite Lonnie Chavis to every awards show.
The 9-year-old actor attended the 2017 People's Choice Awards with his This Is Us co-stars, Chrissy Metz and Chris Sullivan, and his mom, Najah Chavis, who documented her boy's big night in photos and on Instagram. And from the look of things, he had a blast!
InstagramInstagram
Photos: Stars Share Pics of Their Cute Kids
Lonnie made it onto DJ Khaled's famous Snapchat, excitedly watched Fifth Harmony's set (and was spotted getting a photo with the group after) and even got to celebrate as This Is Us won favorite new TV drama.
Instagram
Oh, and he also showed off his stylish fade haircut, tightened up by his dad.
Instagram
More: 'This Is Us' Stars and Creator Break Down 'Special' Jack-Rebecca Flashback Episode: It Was a 'Magic Moment'
Lonnie expressed his excitement about attending the People’s Choice Awards while chatting with Et's Carly Steele on the...
The 9-year-old actor attended the 2017 People's Choice Awards with his This Is Us co-stars, Chrissy Metz and Chris Sullivan, and his mom, Najah Chavis, who documented her boy's big night in photos and on Instagram. And from the look of things, he had a blast!
InstagramInstagram
Photos: Stars Share Pics of Their Cute Kids
Lonnie made it onto DJ Khaled's famous Snapchat, excitedly watched Fifth Harmony's set (and was spotted getting a photo with the group after) and even got to celebrate as This Is Us won favorite new TV drama.
Oh, and he also showed off his stylish fade haircut, tightened up by his dad.
More: 'This Is Us' Stars and Creator Break Down 'Special' Jack-Rebecca Flashback Episode: It Was a 'Magic Moment'
Lonnie expressed his excitement about attending the People’s Choice Awards while chatting with Et's Carly Steele on the...
- 1/20/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Warner Archive Delivers the Best Way to Enjoy a Bad Day at Black Rock
Welcome to this week in home video! Click the title to buy a Blu-ray/DVD from Amazon and help support Fsr in the process!
Pick of the WeekBad Day at Black Rock [Warner Archive]
What is it? A one-armed man arrives via train in a remote western town, and the populace reacts with suspicion and violence.
Why buy it? Spencer Tracy excels as the polite but mysterious stranger whose presence sets everyone on edge, and the more he probes the harder they push. The film explores threads of America’s deep-seated racism and small-town insulation, and it pairs that commentary with a steadily increasing suspense. The themes and actions here are still sadly relevant, even now, and it makes for an important watch that still manages to entertain. Tracy’s potential adversaries include Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Walter Brennan, and...
Welcome to this week in home video! Click the title to buy a Blu-ray/DVD from Amazon and help support Fsr in the process!
Pick of the WeekBad Day at Black Rock [Warner Archive]
What is it? A one-armed man arrives via train in a remote western town, and the populace reacts with suspicion and violence.
Why buy it? Spencer Tracy excels as the polite but mysterious stranger whose presence sets everyone on edge, and the more he probes the harder they push. The film explores threads of America’s deep-seated racism and small-town insulation, and it pairs that commentary with a steadily increasing suspense. The themes and actions here are still sadly relevant, even now, and it makes for an important watch that still manages to entertain. Tracy’s potential adversaries include Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Walter Brennan, and...
- 1/17/2017
- by Rob Hunter
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Plot: A creative exec (Will Smith) is unmoored by the death of his young daughter. Two years later, on the eve of an important merger, he’s yet to recover, leading his partners (Edward Norton, Kate Winslet & Michael Pena) to make an ambitious stab at snapping him back to reality by hiring three out-of-work actors to pose as “Time”, “Death” and... Read More...
- 12/16/2016
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
The following essay was written by a participant in the 2016 New York Film Festival Critics Academy, a workshop for aspiring critics co-produced by IndieWire, the Film Society of Lincoln Center and Film Comment.
We exist in a world of cycles. Perhaps nowhere else in society are these cycles as prevalent as they are in the entertainment industry. When I grew up in the ‘90s, there were a plethora of black faces on the big and small screens. From Will Smith’s “Fresh Prince” to “Living Single” (aka the original “Sex and the City”), I could turn to any network television station to see myself, or the people closest to me, represented in some way on screen.
Though diverse programming was rich and plentiful in that first decade of my life, the second decade ushered in a near complete erasure of brown faces. While megastars like Will Smith and Denzel Washington...
We exist in a world of cycles. Perhaps nowhere else in society are these cycles as prevalent as they are in the entertainment industry. When I grew up in the ‘90s, there were a plethora of black faces on the big and small screens. From Will Smith’s “Fresh Prince” to “Living Single” (aka the original “Sex and the City”), I could turn to any network television station to see myself, or the people closest to me, represented in some way on screen.
Though diverse programming was rich and plentiful in that first decade of my life, the second decade ushered in a near complete erasure of brown faces. While megastars like Will Smith and Denzel Washington...
- 10/14/2016
- by Aramide A Tinubu
- Indiewire
Kim Kardashian West fell victim to a horrific gunpoint robbery in Paris early Monday morning. And though the nightmarish incident wasn't caught on camera for her reality show, many of the star's famous family's scariest brushes with crime and pranks gone awry actually have been.
Kim in particular has been the target of several high-profile incidents ranging from simply startling to legitimately criminal.
Just days before this week's armed robbery, she was the target of known celebrity prankster Vitalii Sediuk, who attempted to kiss the reality star's rear end as she stepped out in Paris (days earlier, he'd grabbed model...
Kim in particular has been the target of several high-profile incidents ranging from simply startling to legitimately criminal.
Just days before this week's armed robbery, she was the target of known celebrity prankster Vitalii Sediuk, who attempted to kiss the reality star's rear end as she stepped out in Paris (days earlier, he'd grabbed model...
- 10/3/2016
- by Alex Heigl, @alex_heigl
- People.com - TV Watch
Kim Kardashian West fell victim to a horrific gunpoint robbery in Paris early Monday morning. And though the nightmarish incident wasn't caught on camera for her reality show, many of the star's famous family's scariest brushes with crime and pranks gone awry actually have been. Kim in particular has been the target of several high-profile incidents ranging from simply startling to legitimately criminal. Just days before this week's armed robbery, she was the target of known celebrity prankster Vitalii Sediuk, who attempted to kiss the reality star's rear end as she stepped out in Paris (days earlier, he'd grabbed model...
- 10/3/2016
- by Alex Heigl, @alex_heigl
- PEOPLE.com
Kim Kardashian West fell victim to a horrific gunpoint robbery in Paris early Monday morning. And though the nightmarish incident wasn't caught on camera for her reality show, many of the star's famous family's scariest brushes with crime and pranks gone awry actually have been. Kim in particular has been the target of several high-profile incidents ranging from simply startling to legitimately criminal. Just days before this week's armed robbery, she was the target of known celebrity prankster Vitalii Sediuk, who attempted to kiss the reality star's rear end as she stepped out in Paris (days earlier, he'd grabbed model...
- 10/3/2016
- by Alex Heigl, @alex_heigl
- PEOPLE.com
As the Summer starts to fade, the multiplex looks again to sports films, those (like the “sport” of movie viewing) which are set indoors, away from the harsh cold winds. We’re not talking hockey or basketball, but rather the “mano y mano” battle that seems almost tailor-made for movies, boxing. Of course, there are many times when the boxing flick has been mixed with other genres. Just last year we had a boxing/ family tear-jerker with Southpaw and a boxing/ fantasy/ franchise-reboot Creed (it squeezed a few tears from audiences, too). This time out (perhaps to be an early Oscar contender), we’re seeing a pugilistic biography, a mix that goes back to the dawn of cinema. The 1940’s had Gentleman Jim, and the 50’s had Paul Newman as Rocky Marciano in Somebody Up There Likes Me. The greatest true-life boxing biopic may be 1980’s Raging Bull with an Oscar-winning turn by Robert DeNiro.
- 8/26/2016
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Prominent TV casting director Will Stewart has deleted his professional Facebook page, which advertised his casting workshop classes. In a post published Aug. 14 announcing the decision, he explained, “workshops are dying after the hate piece by The Hollywood Reporter,” referring to the examination of the proliferation of pay-to-play TV audition practices that THR published in late March. Until recently, Stewart was a casting director on several of Shonda Rhimes’ ABC shows, starting with Grey’s Anatomy in 2007, continuing through Private Practice and ending with a several-season run on Scandal. More recently, he cast the pilot
read more...
read more...
- 8/22/2016
- by Gary Baum
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
While teens across the country preen and primp for this spring's crop of high school dances, there's a group of adults in Washington, D.C., doing the same – with no punch-spiking necessary.
The White House Correspondent's Dinner has almost arrived, an annual political event that's increasing star factor has earned it the nickname "#nerdprom."
Held at the Washington Hilton (this year on Saturday), the Correspondents' Dinner honors the reporters who cover politics from the front lines: in the White House Correspondents' Association's West Wing press room. Journalists from the country's top news organizations don their finest to be entertained by a comedic host – this year,...
The White House Correspondent's Dinner has almost arrived, an annual political event that's increasing star factor has earned it the nickname "#nerdprom."
Held at the Washington Hilton (this year on Saturday), the Correspondents' Dinner honors the reporters who cover politics from the front lines: in the White House Correspondents' Association's West Wing press room. Journalists from the country's top news organizations don their finest to be entertained by a comedic host – this year,...
- 4/29/2016
- by Lindsay Kimble, @lekimble
- People.com - TV Watch
While teens across the country preen and primp for this spring's crop of high school dances, there's a group of adults in Washington, D.C., doing the same - with no punch-spiking necessary. The White House Correspondent's Dinner has almost arrived, an annual political event that's increasing star factor has earned it the nickname "#nerdprom." Held at the Washington Hilton (this year on Saturday), the Correspondents' Dinner honors the reporters who cover politics from the front lines: in the White House Correspondents' Association's West Wing press room. Journalists from the country's top news organizations don their finest to be entertained...
- 4/29/2016
- by Lindsay Kimble, @lekimble
- PEOPLE.com
Following Saturday's fatal shooting of former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith, the team's coach, Sean Payton, mourned Smith's death and spoke out in support of gun control. "I'm not an extreme liberal," Payton said in an interview with USA Today. "I find myself leaning to the right on some issues. But on this issue, I can't wrap my brain around it." "If this opinion in Louisiana is super unpopular, so be it." Payton said. He added, "I hate guns." Smith, a defensive end who played a key role in the Saints' 2009 Super Bowl victory and made the Pro Bowl...
- 4/12/2016
- by Mollie Cahillane, @MollieCahillane
- PEOPLE.com
Following Saturday's fatal shooting of former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith, the team's coach, Sean Payton, mourned Smith's death and spoke out in support of gun control. "I'm not an extreme liberal," Payton said in an interview with USA Today. "I find myself leaning to the right on some issues. But on this issue, I can't wrap my brain around it." "If this opinion in Louisiana is super unpopular, so be it." Payton said. He added, "I hate guns." Smith, a defensive end who played a key role in the Saints' 2009 Super Bowl victory and made the Pro Bowl...
- 4/12/2016
- by Mollie Cahillane, @MollieCahillane
- PEOPLE.com
Stars: Sharlto Copley, Tim Roth, Haley Bennett, Danila Kozlovsky, Andrei Dementiev, Svetlana Ustinova, Darya Charusha, Oleg Poddubnyy | Written by Ilya Naishuller, Will Stewart | Directed by Ilya Naishuller
For years video games have clamuored to make the gaming experience more cinematic. Which is now the reason we have games like Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls, The Last of Us, and Until Dawn – games that edge more towards the “interactive adventures” we were promised back in the full-motion video era of gaming (remember that?). But what if it was the other way round? What if films looked to video games for inspiration? Undoubtedly we’d have more movies like Hardcore Henry.
Shot completely from the hero’s perspective, a la Fps video games, Hardcore Henry stars you – the audience. You remember nothing. Mainly because you’ve just been brought back from the dead by your wife (Haley Bennett). She tells you that your name is Henry.
For years video games have clamuored to make the gaming experience more cinematic. Which is now the reason we have games like Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls, The Last of Us, and Until Dawn – games that edge more towards the “interactive adventures” we were promised back in the full-motion video era of gaming (remember that?). But what if it was the other way round? What if films looked to video games for inspiration? Undoubtedly we’d have more movies like Hardcore Henry.
Shot completely from the hero’s perspective, a la Fps video games, Hardcore Henry stars you – the audience. You remember nothing. Mainly because you’ve just been brought back from the dead by your wife (Haley Bennett). She tells you that your name is Henry.
- 4/10/2016
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Hey, music fans and friends, it's time once again to share my favorite music from 2015.
The songs on my year-end list are not what I consider true "singles" but rather my favorite 25 songs from 2015. I've not heard all the amazing music released this past year, but I do consume a healthy dose of tunes every single day. Below are 13 of those songs with Youtube links if you can't access my Spotify list. Let's proceed, shall we?
1. "Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins)" - Father John Misty - I Love You Honeybear
Former Fleet Foxes drummer Josh Tillman has quickly become my favorite young singer-songwriter. His detail to imagery in both audio and album artwork have very few peers, too. (See image above.)
2. "Rose Mary y Yo" - Carlos Timón - Solar Rapé
Some have said, me included, that this music spins like a Spanish version of Belle & Sebastian meets Jobim!
The songs on my year-end list are not what I consider true "singles" but rather my favorite 25 songs from 2015. I've not heard all the amazing music released this past year, but I do consume a healthy dose of tunes every single day. Below are 13 of those songs with Youtube links if you can't access my Spotify list. Let's proceed, shall we?
1. "Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins)" - Father John Misty - I Love You Honeybear
Former Fleet Foxes drummer Josh Tillman has quickly become my favorite young singer-songwriter. His detail to imagery in both audio and album artwork have very few peers, too. (See image above.)
2. "Rose Mary y Yo" - Carlos Timón - Solar Rapé
Some have said, me included, that this music spins like a Spanish version of Belle & Sebastian meets Jobim!
- 12/23/2015
- by Dusty Wright
- www.culturecatch.com
The World Premiere of “Bilal” (UAE; 2015) took place at Doha's Ajyal Youth Film Festival. This new animated feature film, directed by Ayman Jamal and Khurram Alav, is for families and the rating is expected to be PG-13.
Families in Qatar enjoy going out together as is obvious as one walks around looking at the people: fathers pushing strollers, mothers with the little brothers and sisters, all enjoying the many types events at the youth festival, stopping by stands for ice cream or pizza, going to museums, the peaceful enjoyment of weekends.
The press screening was itself very interesting, attended mostly by Arab men of the press from all over the Middle East; and I could see they were very engrossed in this film … as was I who watched it with a very critical mind. The role of the mother and sister satisfied my need for inclusion. The mother enchanted me with her love, beauty and wisdom. I do wish the sister had more chance to show her depth of mind because it is obvious how important she is to the story and she played an important role throughout the story.
The story opens new vistas into the world and is universal at the same time. Its exoticism makes it special in the way of Aladdin or 1,001 Nights, or Sinbad, stories we all grew up with. While American audiences are used to exotic settings, especially in cartoons, one is reminded that this one is historically based. It is a great way to introduce the Middle East to children, as its story is a heroic battle of good against evil.
We spoke with co-directors Ayman Jamal and Khurram H. Alavi, the two young American actors Andre Robinson (“Despicable Me 2”) and Jacob Latimore (“The Maze Runner”) and the Finnish composer of the impressive score, Atil Örvarsson.
Featuring Adewale Akinnouye-Agbanje ("Game of Thrones"), this heroic epic animated film took four years to produce. It was financed via individual investors from Saudi Arabia, Dubai and with the support of the Doha Film Institute.
SydneysBuzz: How did you begin to make this large-scale movie?
Ayman Jamal: We wanted to make the historical epic uniquely telling the life story of Bilal from the age of 6 years old to 60 years old.
There was no animation or CGI studio in the Mena region so we had to start the studio ourselves and that’s how we established Dubai-based Barajoun Studios.
To begin the project, a research team, including a number of forensic scientists, worked for almost two years looking back into the past to provide critical information to help structure the characters featured in “Bilal” and to recreate and bring to life their tribal nature, their physical being, their behavior and attitudes and their appearance.
The film’s director Khurram H. Alavi from Pakistan combined his scriptwriting and directing abilities and his background as a digital sculptor and character artist to create the unique nature of the characters in the film which were created from scratch with conceptual designs as the first step.
Khurram H. Alavi: The style of the characters is very different from other animated movies. We didn’t want the characters to be cartoonish but also not too realistic either. It involved creative talents from 22 countries working in Dubai.
The beautifully rendered animation is uniquely suited to telling this story of an African boy who, 1,400 years ago, dreams of becoming a great warrior. His dream becomes a nightmare when men on horseback invade his village, kill his mother and abduct him and his sister and sell them into slavery in a land far away from home. Thrown into a world where greed and injustice rule all, Bilal finds the courage to raise his voice and make a change.
Inspired by true events, this is a story of a real hero’s journey toward self-discovery from age 6 to 60, one who has earned his place in time and history. Its archetypical story is much like that of Joseph and his brothers who sold him into slavery but who, with his innate intelligence, rose to the top of the master’s household -- along with a touch of Abraham who broke the idols of his time as the concept of One God broke into his consciousness of the world around him.
Bilal’s next adventure is finding its international legs. With proper strategic marketing, sales and distribution, (and perhaps a little trimming as 105 minutes feels a little long) this film should be lucrative. The film deserves be seen and acclaimed by worldwide audiences including in the U.S. I myself would have enjoyed seeing this film with my father, mother and sister when we went to movies together, one of the happiest memories of my childhood.
Its appeal to all families, including, but by no means limited, to African-American families who lacking an onscreen hero at this point in time, should also be key to its success. We all know their per capita moviegoing habits are high which makes them one of the best markets to target whenever possible.
Ayman Jamal and Khurram Alavi were encouraged by Will Smith whose interest in universal storytelling as it relates to the African diaspora is very strong.
SydneysBuzz: Tell me more about the participation of Will Smith.
Ayman Jamal: Two years ago, Will Smith visited us in Dubai and we talked about casting for “Bilal”, and he was a great help in giving us direction. We were looking for someone who had an African-American accent, and who could give an authentic feel.
Khurram H. Alavi: We had hundreds of people audition, but we were really lucky to get these outstanding actors.
SydneysBuzz: Were the looks of the characters based on the actors?
Jacob Latimore: You know what? When I saw the pictures, I thought: “Are you picking me because I look like him?” And when I posted the pictures to Instagram, all my fans were like: “You’re a cartoon character!” But it wasn’t intentional – just movie magic!
Jamal: The character of Bilal is based on a real historical figure, and we had a whole team researching what he looked and sounded like. It was done in a very scientific way.
SydneysBuzz : Atil, how did you go about composing the score?
Atil Ö rvarsson: Geography played a big part in creating the music for the film.
The music needed to get into the characteristics of the region and had to combine the archaelogical, historical nature of the story and make it accessible for an international audience. We used old instruments from the region and combined it with modern electronically synthesized music.
SydneysBuzz: Does each character have a theme?
We created themes for some of the characters and created a unique, other worldly sound for the witch doctor.
SydneysBuzz: What’s it like to premiere your film at a film festival for young people?
Latimore: It’s so unique that the youth judge and pick the winners here. It’s so important that they have a platform and a voice – they’re the future tastemakers. And anything they like, the world likes. It’s also my first time out of the U.S., so I’m super excited.
Jamal: It’s the best celebration for us. It’s a big thing for the region – a full-length feature film that was produced here and will be distributed worldwide. This has never been done before.
After playing Dubai, it will go to the Berlin Film Festival where we hope to be able to announce some territorial distribution deals.
For more information on this film you can follow the team on social media:
http://www.bilalmovie.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bilalmovie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bilal_movie
Instagram: @bilalmovie
#Doha #ajyal15 #animation .
Families in Qatar enjoy going out together as is obvious as one walks around looking at the people: fathers pushing strollers, mothers with the little brothers and sisters, all enjoying the many types events at the youth festival, stopping by stands for ice cream or pizza, going to museums, the peaceful enjoyment of weekends.
The press screening was itself very interesting, attended mostly by Arab men of the press from all over the Middle East; and I could see they were very engrossed in this film … as was I who watched it with a very critical mind. The role of the mother and sister satisfied my need for inclusion. The mother enchanted me with her love, beauty and wisdom. I do wish the sister had more chance to show her depth of mind because it is obvious how important she is to the story and she played an important role throughout the story.
The story opens new vistas into the world and is universal at the same time. Its exoticism makes it special in the way of Aladdin or 1,001 Nights, or Sinbad, stories we all grew up with. While American audiences are used to exotic settings, especially in cartoons, one is reminded that this one is historically based. It is a great way to introduce the Middle East to children, as its story is a heroic battle of good against evil.
We spoke with co-directors Ayman Jamal and Khurram H. Alavi, the two young American actors Andre Robinson (“Despicable Me 2”) and Jacob Latimore (“The Maze Runner”) and the Finnish composer of the impressive score, Atil Örvarsson.
Featuring Adewale Akinnouye-Agbanje ("Game of Thrones"), this heroic epic animated film took four years to produce. It was financed via individual investors from Saudi Arabia, Dubai and with the support of the Doha Film Institute.
SydneysBuzz: How did you begin to make this large-scale movie?
Ayman Jamal: We wanted to make the historical epic uniquely telling the life story of Bilal from the age of 6 years old to 60 years old.
There was no animation or CGI studio in the Mena region so we had to start the studio ourselves and that’s how we established Dubai-based Barajoun Studios.
To begin the project, a research team, including a number of forensic scientists, worked for almost two years looking back into the past to provide critical information to help structure the characters featured in “Bilal” and to recreate and bring to life their tribal nature, their physical being, their behavior and attitudes and their appearance.
The film’s director Khurram H. Alavi from Pakistan combined his scriptwriting and directing abilities and his background as a digital sculptor and character artist to create the unique nature of the characters in the film which were created from scratch with conceptual designs as the first step.
Khurram H. Alavi: The style of the characters is very different from other animated movies. We didn’t want the characters to be cartoonish but also not too realistic either. It involved creative talents from 22 countries working in Dubai.
The beautifully rendered animation is uniquely suited to telling this story of an African boy who, 1,400 years ago, dreams of becoming a great warrior. His dream becomes a nightmare when men on horseback invade his village, kill his mother and abduct him and his sister and sell them into slavery in a land far away from home. Thrown into a world where greed and injustice rule all, Bilal finds the courage to raise his voice and make a change.
Inspired by true events, this is a story of a real hero’s journey toward self-discovery from age 6 to 60, one who has earned his place in time and history. Its archetypical story is much like that of Joseph and his brothers who sold him into slavery but who, with his innate intelligence, rose to the top of the master’s household -- along with a touch of Abraham who broke the idols of his time as the concept of One God broke into his consciousness of the world around him.
Bilal’s next adventure is finding its international legs. With proper strategic marketing, sales and distribution, (and perhaps a little trimming as 105 minutes feels a little long) this film should be lucrative. The film deserves be seen and acclaimed by worldwide audiences including in the U.S. I myself would have enjoyed seeing this film with my father, mother and sister when we went to movies together, one of the happiest memories of my childhood.
Its appeal to all families, including, but by no means limited, to African-American families who lacking an onscreen hero at this point in time, should also be key to its success. We all know their per capita moviegoing habits are high which makes them one of the best markets to target whenever possible.
Ayman Jamal and Khurram Alavi were encouraged by Will Smith whose interest in universal storytelling as it relates to the African diaspora is very strong.
SydneysBuzz: Tell me more about the participation of Will Smith.
Ayman Jamal: Two years ago, Will Smith visited us in Dubai and we talked about casting for “Bilal”, and he was a great help in giving us direction. We were looking for someone who had an African-American accent, and who could give an authentic feel.
Khurram H. Alavi: We had hundreds of people audition, but we were really lucky to get these outstanding actors.
SydneysBuzz: Were the looks of the characters based on the actors?
Jacob Latimore: You know what? When I saw the pictures, I thought: “Are you picking me because I look like him?” And when I posted the pictures to Instagram, all my fans were like: “You’re a cartoon character!” But it wasn’t intentional – just movie magic!
Jamal: The character of Bilal is based on a real historical figure, and we had a whole team researching what he looked and sounded like. It was done in a very scientific way.
SydneysBuzz : Atil, how did you go about composing the score?
Atil Ö rvarsson: Geography played a big part in creating the music for the film.
The music needed to get into the characteristics of the region and had to combine the archaelogical, historical nature of the story and make it accessible for an international audience. We used old instruments from the region and combined it with modern electronically synthesized music.
SydneysBuzz: Does each character have a theme?
We created themes for some of the characters and created a unique, other worldly sound for the witch doctor.
SydneysBuzz: What’s it like to premiere your film at a film festival for young people?
Latimore: It’s so unique that the youth judge and pick the winners here. It’s so important that they have a platform and a voice – they’re the future tastemakers. And anything they like, the world likes. It’s also my first time out of the U.S., so I’m super excited.
Jamal: It’s the best celebration for us. It’s a big thing for the region – a full-length feature film that was produced here and will be distributed worldwide. This has never been done before.
After playing Dubai, it will go to the Berlin Film Festival where we hope to be able to announce some territorial distribution deals.
For more information on this film you can follow the team on social media:
http://www.bilalmovie.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bilalmovie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bilal_movie
Instagram: @bilalmovie
#Doha #ajyal15 #animation .
- 12/15/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Two Oscar contenders, "Straight Outta Compton" and "Creed" each won three awards from the African-American Film Critics Association on Monday. The summer sensation "Straight Outta Compton," which chronicles the rise of the rap group N.W.A., won Best Picture, Supporting Actor (Jason Mitchell) and Ensemble. And "Creed," the reboot of the "Rocky" franchise which is wowing at the box office, won Best Director (Ryan Coogler), Supporting Actress (Tessa Thompson) and Breakout Performance (Michael B. Jordan). -Break- Subscribe to Gold Derby Breaking News Alerts & Experts’ Latest Oscar Predictions Will Smith won Best Actor for his riveting portayal of real-life trailblazer Bennet Omalu, the doctor who discovers the brain diseasechronic traumatic encephalopathy (Cte) that affects NFL players, in "Concussion." Teyonah Parris was named Best Actress for her work in Spike Lee's new mov...'...
- 12/7/2015
- Gold Derby
Actor Will Smith took part in a round table interview for The Hollywood Reporter where he discussed his previous involvement with director Quentin Tarantino for the 2012 western, "Django Unchained."
Smith admitted to having meetings with Tarantino but the actor initially passed on the lead role of Django, which ultimately went to Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx ("Ray") and co-starred Christoph Waltz ("Inglorious Basterds"), Kerry Washington ("Scandal"), Leonardo DiCaprio ("The Revenant"), and Samuel L. Jackson ("The Hateful Eight").
Smith talked about why he passed on the script written by Tarantino saying:
"It was about the creative direction of the story,” Smith added, "To me, it’s as perfect a story as you could ever want: a guy that learns how to kill to retrieve his wife that has been taken as a slave. That idea is perfect. And it was just that Quentin and I couldn’t see [eye to eye]."
Smith continued:
"I wanted...
Smith admitted to having meetings with Tarantino but the actor initially passed on the lead role of Django, which ultimately went to Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx ("Ray") and co-starred Christoph Waltz ("Inglorious Basterds"), Kerry Washington ("Scandal"), Leonardo DiCaprio ("The Revenant"), and Samuel L. Jackson ("The Hateful Eight").
Smith talked about why he passed on the script written by Tarantino saying:
"It was about the creative direction of the story,” Smith added, "To me, it’s as perfect a story as you could ever want: a guy that learns how to kill to retrieve his wife that has been taken as a slave. That idea is perfect. And it was just that Quentin and I couldn’t see [eye to eye]."
Smith continued:
"I wanted...
- 11/24/2015
- by J.B. Casas
- LRMonline.com
And that's how it's done. "Game of Thrones" Season 5, Episode 8, "Hardhome" just dropped the mic in a serious way -- and if you were bored by this one, check your pulse: You might be one of those (un)dead people at Hardhome. You'd have to be.
As Stefon would put it, this episode had everything -- perfect lay-down-the-law speeches from Tyrion Lannister and Daenerys Targaryen, who just met and decided to team up; Arya basically turning into 00Stark; Sansa finally learning that Theon Greyjoy did not kill Bran and Rickon Stark (Rickon, where are you?!); Jorah Mormont continuing to rival Sansa for most tortured character; Cersei Lannister still awaiting her rock bottom; and the most exciting zombie battle "The Walking Dead" never staged. Jon Snow took on a White Walker, and even though Ghost wasn't on hand to play hero this time, Longclaw was. (Pause to thank late Lord Commander...
As Stefon would put it, this episode had everything -- perfect lay-down-the-law speeches from Tyrion Lannister and Daenerys Targaryen, who just met and decided to team up; Arya basically turning into 00Stark; Sansa finally learning that Theon Greyjoy did not kill Bran and Rickon Stark (Rickon, where are you?!); Jorah Mormont continuing to rival Sansa for most tortured character; Cersei Lannister still awaiting her rock bottom; and the most exciting zombie battle "The Walking Dead" never staged. Jon Snow took on a White Walker, and even though Ghost wasn't on hand to play hero this time, Longclaw was. (Pause to thank late Lord Commander...
- 5/31/2015
- by Gina Carbone
- Moviefone
With the possible exception of the Black Panther, no other black franchise has garnered as much “it’s going to be a major movie or TV show” hype within the fan rumor mill than Static Shock. Finally the Black Panther is going to happen. As for Static Shock … kinda.
In 2018 the Black Panther movie will be released from what is now the best superhero moviemaker bar none, Marvel Studios. Static will make his way to the Internet as part of Warner Bros’ Digital arm later this year.
I find that rather disappointing.
More than any other black property, Static pretty much already owns the Internet. The massive amount of love Static has on the net is nothing short of extraordinary. In the 22 years since Static burst on the scene the admiration for the character has only grown and at no point shows signs of waiving.
That’s simply remarkable and...
In 2018 the Black Panther movie will be released from what is now the best superhero moviemaker bar none, Marvel Studios. Static will make his way to the Internet as part of Warner Bros’ Digital arm later this year.
I find that rather disappointing.
More than any other black property, Static pretty much already owns the Internet. The massive amount of love Static has on the net is nothing short of extraordinary. In the 22 years since Static burst on the scene the admiration for the character has only grown and at no point shows signs of waiving.
That’s simply remarkable and...
- 5/27/2015
- by Michael Davis
- Comicmix.com
Jimmy Fallon continues to tunnel back in time to seize the hearts and minds of nostalgic Millennials. Thursday night, he pulled out the big guns: Will Smith and "It Takes Two." "We have a lot in common," Fallon, 40, says to Smith, 46. "You're a famous rapper … I'm a classically trained beatboxer." The host then pulled out an iPad with a recording app, and the pair proceeded to layer their voices together with the program, eventually ending up with a pretty serviceable backing track to Rob Base & DJ E-z Rock's deathless 1988 hit "It Takes Two." Then they started rapping. If anything, the...
- 2/6/2015
- by Alex Heigl, @alex_heigl
- PEOPLE.com
Jimmy Fallon continues to tunnel back in time to seize the hearts and minds of nostalgic Millennials.
Thursday night, he pulled out the big guns: Will Smith and "It Takes Two."
"We have a lot in common," Fallon, 40, says to Smith, 46. "You're a famous rapper … I'm a classically trained beatboxer."
The host then pulled out an iPad with a recording app, and the pair proceeded to layer their voices together with the program, eventually ending up with a pretty serviceable backing track to Rob Base & DJ E-z Rock's deathless 1988 hit "It Takes Two."
Then they started rapping.
If anything, the...
Thursday night, he pulled out the big guns: Will Smith and "It Takes Two."
"We have a lot in common," Fallon, 40, says to Smith, 46. "You're a famous rapper … I'm a classically trained beatboxer."
The host then pulled out an iPad with a recording app, and the pair proceeded to layer their voices together with the program, eventually ending up with a pretty serviceable backing track to Rob Base & DJ E-z Rock's deathless 1988 hit "It Takes Two."
Then they started rapping.
If anything, the...
- 2/6/2015
- by Alex Heigl, @alex_heigl
- People.com - TV Watch
Jimmy Fallon continues to tunnel back in time to seize the hearts and minds of nostalgic Millennials. Thursday night, he pulled out the big guns: Will Smith and "It Takes Two." "We have a lot in common," Fallon, 40, says to Smith, 46. "You're a famous rapper … I'm a classically trained beatboxer." The host then pulled out an iPad with a recording app, and the pair proceeded to layer their voices together with the program, eventually ending up with a pretty serviceable backing track to Rob Base & DJ E-z Rock's deathless 1988 hit "It Takes Two." Then they started rapping. If anything, the...
- 2/6/2015
- by Alex Heigl, @alex_heigl
- PEOPLE.com
It has been about six months since my last entry in this supposedly regular column. There are various excuses I could make as to why, but rather than dwell on the past, I'd like to usher this "Long Voyage Home" onward into the future, in the trailblazing spirit of Michael Mann. I couldn't avoid writing on Blackhat, a film that I found as viscerally and formally thrilling as anything I've seen at the cinema in recent memory (and that includes Jean-Luc Godard's Adieu au langage). I've seen it three times and plan to see it at least once more on the big screen before its (likely brief, considering its box office numbers) run ends. It has taken me multiple viewings to get closer to understanding all of Blackhat's moving parts, a journey in itself that I eagerly plan to continue.
A textbook auteur case study, Michael Mann’s...
A textbook auteur case study, Michael Mann’s...
- 1/31/2015
- by Adam Cook
- MUBI
Ed Sheeran did not impress The Stig as he crashed his car on the Top Gear race track.
The singer - who doesn't own a driving licence - skidded off the circuit at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, while attempting to complete the 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car' challenge.
Sheeran had earlier admitted on Twitter that it was the very first time he had got behind the wheel, saying: "I'm driving for the first time ever today, on a race track, on tv. Wish me luck."
His appearance will be shown on the BBC Two show's return on Sunday (January 25) at 8pm.
Will Smith and Kiefer Sutherland are also among the stars who will appear on Top Gear's 22nd series.
Ed Sheeran will be among the performers at this year's Grammy Awards, which will take place at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles on February 8.
The singer - who doesn't own a driving licence - skidded off the circuit at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, while attempting to complete the 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car' challenge.
Sheeran had earlier admitted on Twitter that it was the very first time he had got behind the wheel, saying: "I'm driving for the first time ever today, on a race track, on tv. Wish me luck."
His appearance will be shown on the BBC Two show's return on Sunday (January 25) at 8pm.
Will Smith and Kiefer Sutherland are also among the stars who will appear on Top Gear's 22nd series.
Ed Sheeran will be among the performers at this year's Grammy Awards, which will take place at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles on February 8.
- 1/22/2015
- Digital Spy
Now that the wildly popular podcast Serial has come to a close, we're ready to watch the murder mystery unfold on the big screen -- and we know just who would play Jay, Sarah Koenig, Adnan Syed, Hae Min Lee and of course, Mr. S.
Photos: The 10 Biggest Breakout Stars of 2014
If you're unfamiliar with the true crime podcast that draws over 1 million listeners per week and is put on by the This American Life producers, Serial reexamines the 1999 murder of an 18-year-old Baltimore high school senior named Hae Min Lee.
Not long before Lee went missing, she had broken up with her boyfriend, then-17-year-old Adnan Syed, an honors student of the Muslim faith who was later tried and convicted for killing her. Adnan is now 33 and serving a life sentence for Hae's murder, but insists in a series of telephone interviews with producer Sarah Koenig that he's innocent.
npr
That...
Photos: The 10 Biggest Breakout Stars of 2014
If you're unfamiliar with the true crime podcast that draws over 1 million listeners per week and is put on by the This American Life producers, Serial reexamines the 1999 murder of an 18-year-old Baltimore high school senior named Hae Min Lee.
Not long before Lee went missing, she had broken up with her boyfriend, then-17-year-old Adnan Syed, an honors student of the Muslim faith who was later tried and convicted for killing her. Adnan is now 33 and serving a life sentence for Hae's murder, but insists in a series of telephone interviews with producer Sarah Koenig that he's innocent.
npr
That...
- 12/18/2014
- Entertainment Tonight
Heads or tails, Gotham fans?
In this Monday's all-new episode, a highly anticipated DC Comics character will make his "complicated" debut in Fox's freshman series. Masters of Sex's Nicholas D'Agosto joins the dark drama as Harvey Dent — aka the future villain Two-Face — and the odds are we're in for one hell-of-an-hour.
To help get you prepared for all the coin-flipping fun, ETonline has an exclusive sneak peek with star Ben McKenzie teasing Harvey and Jim's tricky partnership.
Watch: 'Gotham' Review: Come For the Heroes, Stay For the Villains!
"In episode nine, Jim is looking for some help trying to put together this case that he's building as to who actually murdered the Waynes," the 36-year-old actor explained. "So he ends up reaching out to an assistant district attorney by the name of Harvey Dent."
Fox fans know that McKenzie's Jim Gordon is hell-bent on cleaning up the crime and corruption Gotham, and Harvey's...
In this Monday's all-new episode, a highly anticipated DC Comics character will make his "complicated" debut in Fox's freshman series. Masters of Sex's Nicholas D'Agosto joins the dark drama as Harvey Dent — aka the future villain Two-Face — and the odds are we're in for one hell-of-an-hour.
To help get you prepared for all the coin-flipping fun, ETonline has an exclusive sneak peek with star Ben McKenzie teasing Harvey and Jim's tricky partnership.
Watch: 'Gotham' Review: Come For the Heroes, Stay For the Villains!
"In episode nine, Jim is looking for some help trying to put together this case that he's building as to who actually murdered the Waynes," the 36-year-old actor explained. "So he ends up reaching out to an assistant district attorney by the name of Harvey Dent."
Fox fans know that McKenzie's Jim Gordon is hell-bent on cleaning up the crime and corruption Gotham, and Harvey's...
- 11/13/2014
- Entertainment Tonight
London Spy
Ben Whishaw ("Cloud Atlas," "Skyfall") has been cast as the lead in the upcoming five-episode drama "London Spy" for BBC Two and Working Title Television. "Child 44" author Tom Rob Smith is penning the series.
Whishaw plays Danny, a hedonistic romantic who gets drawn into the dangerous world of British espionage. He falls for the anti-social Alex who suddenly disappears.
Fantasly Life
Kevin Connolly ("Entourage") is attached to star in the office comedy "Fantasy Life" which Fox has given a put-pilot commitment. The potential series is an adaption of Espn analyst Matthew Berry's best-selling book of the same name.
Connolly would play a regular guy who lands his ultimate dream job working in the fantasy sports department at a major sports network.
Untitled Concussion Movie
Paul Reiser has signed on for a role in the Peter Landesman-directed, Will Smith-led untitled football concussion movie at Scott Free and Sony Pictures.
Ben Whishaw ("Cloud Atlas," "Skyfall") has been cast as the lead in the upcoming five-episode drama "London Spy" for BBC Two and Working Title Television. "Child 44" author Tom Rob Smith is penning the series.
Whishaw plays Danny, a hedonistic romantic who gets drawn into the dangerous world of British espionage. He falls for the anti-social Alex who suddenly disappears.
Fantasly Life
Kevin Connolly ("Entourage") is attached to star in the office comedy "Fantasy Life" which Fox has given a put-pilot commitment. The potential series is an adaption of Espn analyst Matthew Berry's best-selling book of the same name.
Connolly would play a regular guy who lands his ultimate dream job working in the fantasy sports department at a major sports network.
Untitled Concussion Movie
Paul Reiser has signed on for a role in the Peter Landesman-directed, Will Smith-led untitled football concussion movie at Scott Free and Sony Pictures.
- 9/19/2014
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Entertainment Geekly is a weekly column that examines pop culture through a geek lens and simultaneously examines contemporary geek culture through a pop lens. So many lenses!
Hollywood only makes action movies now. Hollywood doesn’t really make action movies anymore. Both of those statements can’t be true, and yet, they’re both basically accurate. It is very rare for Hollywood to release a major non-Oscar bait motion picture that doesn’t feature at least one and usually fifteen sequences where our conventional definition of “action” happens. “Action”: Gunfights, swordfights, bow-and-arrow fights, car chases, car crashes, car chases that flip into crashes,...
Hollywood only makes action movies now. Hollywood doesn’t really make action movies anymore. Both of those statements can’t be true, and yet, they’re both basically accurate. It is very rare for Hollywood to release a major non-Oscar bait motion picture that doesn’t feature at least one and usually fifteen sequences where our conventional definition of “action” happens. “Action”: Gunfights, swordfights, bow-and-arrow fights, car chases, car crashes, car chases that flip into crashes,...
- 4/4/2014
- by Darren Franich
- EW.com - PopWatch
Well, this should be interesting. Not “Saturday Night Live” itself, which I imagine will rebound quite nicely from last week’s fairly disastrous show. Rather, I mean reaction to Lena Dunham, who inspires more conversation than almost anyone else on television, all of which can be accurately described as “passionate.” Dunham, and her HBO “Girls,” seems to touch a nerve unlike anything else in current popular culture, to the point where any rationale online discussion of either seems as likely as my mother waking up tomorrow and suddenly understanding the concept of cloud computing. We’ll see how much “SNL” leans into this whirlwind surrounding Dunham, and how much both the show and the actress try to move away from Hannah Horvath and into other comedic avenues. Jim Parsons declared he was “Not That Guy” in last week’s monologue, but then deployed a bunch of Sheldon Cooper-lite characters throughout the show.
- 3/9/2014
- by Ryan McGee
- Hitfix
Many of the races at Sunday (March 2) night's Academy Awards seem pre-determined as the ceremony is about to begin. Those guys from "My So-Called Life" and "True Detective" seem like locks. Etc. However, Best Picture is wide open. So let's hope that adds drama, while Ellen DeGeneres adds comedy. Click through and join my 2014 Oscars Live-Blogging. And comment below! 8:25 p.m. Et. So how many times do we figure Jennifer Lawrence is going fall down on tonight's Oscars telecast. Five? 10? Twice that many if she wins? Actually, if she wins, Lupita Nyong'o fans are going to be tripping her. Not Lupita, though. She's too classy for that. 8:27 p.m. There are dozens of people in the HitFix office right now, but I'm hiding out in my office, because I'm dedicated to you, the readers. Because I'd just keep eating lasagna if I were with the main group. Also,...
- 3/3/2014
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
Two romantic films just in time for Valentine.s! First we have .Winter.s Tale. starring Colin Farrell and Jessica Brown Findlay as a couple whose love transcends time. The movie also stars Russell Crowe, William Hurt, Eva Marie Saint, and a cameo by Will Smith as.gasp.Lucifer! This is from writer-director Akiva Goldsman based on the 1983 book by Mark Helprin.
We also have .Endless Love,. the remake of the ultra-schmaltzy 1981 original of the same name starring Brooke Shields and Martin Hewitt from director Franco Zeffirelli. The 2014 remake is pretty much the same Romeo and Juliet rehash but this one stars Alex Pettyfer (.Magic Mike.) and Gabrielle Wilde (.The Three Musketeers.) with Shana Feste at the helm.
Which one is my pick of the week? Take a look:...
We also have .Endless Love,. the remake of the ultra-schmaltzy 1981 original of the same name starring Brooke Shields and Martin Hewitt from director Franco Zeffirelli. The 2014 remake is pretty much the same Romeo and Juliet rehash but this one stars Alex Pettyfer (.Magic Mike.) and Gabrielle Wilde (.The Three Musketeers.) with Shana Feste at the helm.
Which one is my pick of the week? Take a look:...
- 2/14/2014
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Usually, one can clump bad films into two categories. The first are those with stories and characters so dull and lifeless that audience interest wanes instantly. The second are incomprehensibly silly tales that can only work if one embraces their kitschy or campy qualities. Winter’s Tale, the howlingly silly and perplexing debut feature of Oscar-winning scribe Akiva Goldsman, holds the rare distinction of being a third kind of awful. It blends these two aforementioned tomes of terrible cinema together into something almost unwatchable.
Winter’s Tale is adapted from Mark Helprin’s literary fantasy, which runs close to 700 pages and was a massive hit in the mid-1980s. Years ago, Martin Scorsese was going to direct a version of Helprin’s novel but even he found it unreleasable. Clearly, this project needed a director who could capture Helprin’s magical realism in an enchanting way. Instead, it comes from...
Winter’s Tale is adapted from Mark Helprin’s literary fantasy, which runs close to 700 pages and was a massive hit in the mid-1980s. Years ago, Martin Scorsese was going to direct a version of Helprin’s novel but even he found it unreleasable. Clearly, this project needed a director who could capture Helprin’s magical realism in an enchanting way. Instead, it comes from...
- 2/13/2014
- by Jordan Adler
- We Got This Covered
Two days after recruiting Fred Armisen as bandleader for his house band, Seth Meyers announced that Kanye West will appear during the first week of Late Night With Seth Meyers, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Seth Meyers and More of the 50 Funniest People Now
The rapper will join Vice President Joe Biden, Girls creator Lena Dunham and John Mayer alongside previously announced guest Amy Poehler. Other guests include talk show host Kelly Ripa, country star Brad Paisley and actors Anthony Mackie, Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart. West will appear as a guest on Late Night,...
Seth Meyers and More of the 50 Funniest People Now
The rapper will join Vice President Joe Biden, Girls creator Lena Dunham and John Mayer alongside previously announced guest Amy Poehler. Other guests include talk show host Kelly Ripa, country star Brad Paisley and actors Anthony Mackie, Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart. West will appear as a guest on Late Night,...
- 2/12/2014
- Rollingstone.com
A new report claims the ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ director is ‘still hoping for a future’ with Kristen, after their affair contributed to the end of his marriage!
It was a huge scandal when news broke in 2012 that Kristen Stewart had cheated on long-time boyfriend Robert Pattinson with her Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders. While Rupert’s wife, English model Liberty Ross, stood by him at the time, she filed for divorce early in 2013. Both Rupert’s and Kristen’s careers and personal lives were tarnished, but is Rupert still in love with Kristen? A source tells RadarOnline.com that they are still in contact — and that he is “still hoping for a future” with her!
Rupert Sanders Still In Love With Kristen Stewart
While Kristen, 23, and Rupert, 42, split soon after their affair was exposed, it appears he may still have feelings for her! The source...
It was a huge scandal when news broke in 2012 that Kristen Stewart had cheated on long-time boyfriend Robert Pattinson with her Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders. While Rupert’s wife, English model Liberty Ross, stood by him at the time, she filed for divorce early in 2013. Both Rupert’s and Kristen’s careers and personal lives were tarnished, but is Rupert still in love with Kristen? A source tells RadarOnline.com that they are still in contact — and that he is “still hoping for a future” with her!
Rupert Sanders Still In Love With Kristen Stewart
While Kristen, 23, and Rupert, 42, split soon after their affair was exposed, it appears he may still have feelings for her! The source...
- 2/11/2014
- by Amanda Michelle Steiner
- HollywoodLife
Looking, Season 1, Episode 3: “Looking at Your Browser History”
Directed by Andrew Haigh
Written by Andrew Haigh & Michael Lannon
Airs Sundays at 10:30 Pm on HBO
Well, “Looking at Your Browser History” sure gives more ammo to those who find this show boring. There are absolutely no crazy orgies, and even a bathhouse sex scene happens completely off screen. In fact, this episode veers almost completely away from sex and dating, concerning itself with the career and job anxieties of its main characters.
Patrick is mortified (yet again) when the cute British guy he clumsily flirts with at a work party might become his new boss. Agustín unwisely insults his boss, a middle-aged artist who makes chair sculptures, and gets fired. Dom wants to poach a chef at Zuni Café for his not yet existent Portuguese chicken-centric restaurant, but has no money or investors to actually get his dream off the ground.
Directed by Andrew Haigh
Written by Andrew Haigh & Michael Lannon
Airs Sundays at 10:30 Pm on HBO
Well, “Looking at Your Browser History” sure gives more ammo to those who find this show boring. There are absolutely no crazy orgies, and even a bathhouse sex scene happens completely off screen. In fact, this episode veers almost completely away from sex and dating, concerning itself with the career and job anxieties of its main characters.
Patrick is mortified (yet again) when the cute British guy he clumsily flirts with at a work party might become his new boss. Agustín unwisely insults his boss, a middle-aged artist who makes chair sculptures, and gets fired. Dom wants to poach a chef at Zuni Café for his not yet existent Portuguese chicken-centric restaurant, but has no money or investors to actually get his dream off the ground.
- 2/2/2014
- by Bryan Rucker
- SoundOnSight
The King of police procedural dramas has returned. Jessica "Jess" King (Amy Price-Francis) proved in Season One of King that she has what it takes to lead Toronto's Major Crimes Task Force, taking down murderers, rapists, and drug traffickers. Things will get a bit more challenging for her in Season Two, however, with new team members to break in, crimes that hit a bit too close to home, and plenty of baby-daddy drama. Jess' regal last name is a moniker befitting her attitude and attributes, but she wasn't the first — and she won't be the last — "monarch" on TV. Check out our list of TV shows with royal titles.
One cop. One kingdom.
Mondays at 12a Et/ 9p Pt
Next Showing:
Link | Posted 1/10/2014 by BJSprecher
King | Bruce Boxleitner | Kevin James (I) | Leah Remini | Will Smith (I) | Amy Price-Francis | Catherine Bach | Kate Jackson | Tom Wopat | John Schneider...
One cop. One kingdom.
Mondays at 12a Et/ 9p Pt
Next Showing:
Link | Posted 1/10/2014 by BJSprecher
King | Bruce Boxleitner | Kevin James (I) | Leah Remini | Will Smith (I) | Amy Price-Francis | Catherine Bach | Kate Jackson | Tom Wopat | John Schneider...
- 1/10/2014
- by BJSprecher Sprecher
- Reelzchannel.com
Above: Bill Siegel and Khalilah Camacho-Ali
Unlike other films about the controversial boxer, the recent documentary The Trials of Muhammad Ali makes no pretense of telling Ali’s whole story. It presumes that most of us in the audience already know it and those of us who don’t can easily fill in the gaps with the wealth of other movies, books, and TV specials devoted to his legend. Produced by Chicago-based documentary company Kartemquin Films, Trials focuses on Ali’s conversion to the Nation of Islam and the controversies associated with his religious and political convictions. These subjects are addressed in Michael Mann’s Ali (2001) and referenced in other documentaries about him, but Trials examines them in greater depth, generally neglecting his athletic achievements to better focus on his radicalism.
We took some time to speak with the film’s director, Bill Siegel, whose first film was Kartemquin-produced The Weather Underground...
Unlike other films about the controversial boxer, the recent documentary The Trials of Muhammad Ali makes no pretense of telling Ali’s whole story. It presumes that most of us in the audience already know it and those of us who don’t can easily fill in the gaps with the wealth of other movies, books, and TV specials devoted to his legend. Produced by Chicago-based documentary company Kartemquin Films, Trials focuses on Ali’s conversion to the Nation of Islam and the controversies associated with his religious and political convictions. These subjects are addressed in Michael Mann’s Ali (2001) and referenced in other documentaries about him, but Trials examines them in greater depth, generally neglecting his athletic achievements to better focus on his radicalism.
We took some time to speak with the film’s director, Bill Siegel, whose first film was Kartemquin-produced The Weather Underground...
- 12/17/2013
- by Ben and Kathleen Sachs
- MUBI
Welcome to Issue 26 of ‘The Marvelous Da7e!’
Real quick mission statement: this column is for discussion of superhero movie news and superhero movies.
This week: 2013 was a big year for both superhero and blockbuster filmmaking. A few things might have changed the landscape forever. These are those things.
I’m making a Marvel sandwich. Or I’m starting and concluding this list with non-Marvel, non-superhero movie developments. These are more in the blockbuster sphere, but will undoubtedly change the way superhero movies are made and green-lit based on the current monetary status quo of making huge, multi-million dollar blockbusters.
It seems like after Avatar, the market that matters is an international market. Back when I was a little sprout, knee high to a Paul Giamatti Rhino, people would make whispers about Will Smith and Tom Cruise movies, claiming they’d pick up parts because they were stars accepted around the world.
Real quick mission statement: this column is for discussion of superhero movie news and superhero movies.
This week: 2013 was a big year for both superhero and blockbuster filmmaking. A few things might have changed the landscape forever. These are those things.
I’m making a Marvel sandwich. Or I’m starting and concluding this list with non-Marvel, non-superhero movie developments. These are more in the blockbuster sphere, but will undoubtedly change the way superhero movies are made and green-lit based on the current monetary status quo of making huge, multi-million dollar blockbusters.
It seems like after Avatar, the market that matters is an international market. Back when I was a little sprout, knee high to a Paul Giamatti Rhino, people would make whispers about Will Smith and Tom Cruise movies, claiming they’d pick up parts because they were stars accepted around the world.
- 12/11/2013
- by Da7e
- LRMonline.com
Will Smith's scandalous photos aren't as they seem - People Pamela Anderson explains her pixie cut - Us Weekly Justin Bieber is still No. 1 on Facebook - HuffPost Celebrity Keith Urban goes solo at the CMAs - Lainey Gossip When will Scandal end? - Et You'll never guess what Matt Lauer did this time - The Daily Beast Louis Tomlinson is giving Harry Styles a run for his money - BuzzFeed Kerry Washington takes a big step - Pink Is the New Blog Kate Middleton embraces her gray - D-Listed Selena Gomez says Lorde doesn't support women - JustJared Candice Swanepoel goes glam - Hollywood Tuna Kate Upton gets covered in body paint - The Superficial Would you buy Harry Styles's shirt? - Gossip Girl...
- 11/7/2013
- by Maria Mercedes Lara
- Popsugar.com
If you’re not watching Ray Donovan, what’s wrong with you? Not only is this Sopranos-meets-Scandal drama full of sex, violence and intrigue, but it features one of the hottest former stars of Bet’s hit show The Game, Pooch Hall. Earlier this year he retired Derwin Davis’ cleats for good and took up a pair of boxing gloves. Now Hall is going rounds as the respective half-brother and son of Liev Schreiber and Jon Voight’s characters on Ray. Hall took a moment to dish with VH1 about Sunday finale, leaving The Game and “working with the big dogs” on Showtime.
View Photo Gallery
VH1: What are you going to miss the most about The Game’s fans and community?
Pooch Hall: To be honest with you [the fandom] hasn’t stopped. My fanbase has followed me over here, they want to see more of me as Daryll.
View Photo Gallery
VH1: What are you going to miss the most about The Game’s fans and community?
Pooch Hall: To be honest with you [the fandom] hasn’t stopped. My fanbase has followed me over here, they want to see more of me as Daryll.
- 9/20/2013
- by Felicia Daniels
- TheFabLife - Movies
The Hollywood Reporter put together a list of top-earning actors. While many in Hollywood get lucrative advertising and back-end deals, this article focuses on how much actors can make upfront. At one point, some actors were close to earning as much as $40 million per film, but that quickly ended when studios realized that it's too much of a gamble. Because of that, top actors like Jim Carrey were forced to drop their salaries to about $1 million in favor of lucrative back-end deals, which means that actors would do well if the film doesn't well. But now it seems that salaries are up again, with some reaching as high as $20 million per movie. On that list are Angelina Jolie, Denzel Washington, Leonardo DiCaprio, Will Smith and Daniel Craig, who signed a $20 million deal for the next James Bond film. Mark Wahlberg is earning $17 million for "Transformers 4," but had to take $10 Million for "Two Guns,...
- 9/12/2013
- WorstPreviews.com
The Duchess of Cambridge looked so great when she made her first official public appearance post-baby on Aug. 30 in Wales. We couldn’t believe how she appeared to have lost every ounce of her baby weight! Kate is reportedly very conscious of her post-baby body and is keeping active to slim down.
Kate Middleton looked shockingly slender when she made her first official post-baby appearance on Aug. 30 — just five weeks after giving birth to her son Prince George! Her post-baby slimdown isn’t just a happy surprise — it’s a conscious effort!
Kate Middleton Eager To Lose Baby Weight
Kate, 32, looked completely gorgeous when she surprised fans with a guest appearance with her husband Prince William at a race in Angelsey. In Paige skinny jeans and a fitted Ralph Lauren blazer,
“According to Park Warden Will Stewart, the Duchess admitted she was working on getting her slender figure back,” reports Entertainment Wise.
Kate Middleton looked shockingly slender when she made her first official post-baby appearance on Aug. 30 — just five weeks after giving birth to her son Prince George! Her post-baby slimdown isn’t just a happy surprise — it’s a conscious effort!
Kate Middleton Eager To Lose Baby Weight
Kate, 32, looked completely gorgeous when she surprised fans with a guest appearance with her husband Prince William at a race in Angelsey. In Paige skinny jeans and a fitted Ralph Lauren blazer,
“According to Park Warden Will Stewart, the Duchess admitted she was working on getting her slender figure back,” reports Entertainment Wise.
- 9/4/2013
- by Kristine Hope Kowalski
- HollywoodLife
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