“Pictures are for entertainment — messages should be delivered by Western Union.” The line has been variously attributed to half a dozen old-school Hollywood producers, from Samuel Goldwyn to Frank Capra, but the sentiment captures how classic studio types endeavored to separate political statements from popular cinema. In recent years, however, pundits have been pressuring
February 8, 2020 12:38PM PT This exquisite-corpse narrative by numerous Miami-based directors is an absurdist delight until it wears out its welcome. As if to apologetically clear the cinematic air for Miami, “cigarette” power boats, and art in general after the atrocity of 2018’s John Travolta vehicle “Speed Kills,” “Omniboat” applies a brisk scrub of
Aubrey Plaza will return to host the Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday in Santa Monica. The 35th annual Spirit Awards are set to air live on the IFC Channel beginning at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT. The network will live stream the ceremony on its website, though audiences will need a cable login to watch.
The 35th annual Spirit Awards, honoring the best in independent cinema, are currently underway in Santa Monica. Hosted by Aubrey Plaza, this year’s nominees include “The Lighthouse” and “Uncut Gems,” which scored five nods apiece, as well as “The Farewell,” “Honey Boy,” and “Marriage Story.” The Safdie brothers’ “Uncut Gems,” Terrence Malick’s “A Hidden Life,”
Margot Robbie’s superheroine spinoff “Birds of Prey” is landing with a somewhat disappointing $34 million opening weekend at 4,236 North American sites, estimates showed Saturday. The figure deflates hopes that “Birds of Prey” will become a hit. It’s significantly below Warner Bros.’ pre-release forecast of $45 million while rivals had “Birds of Prey” pegged for
Check out the top new trailers released this week that you’ve gotta see! Let us know what you think in the comments below. ► Sign up for a Fandango FanAlert or Buy Movie Tickets: https://www.fandango.com?cmp=MCYT_YouTube_Desc Want to be notified of all the latest movie trailers? Subscribe to the channel and click the bell icon to
Orson Bean, the prolific character actor known for his work in “Being John Malkovich,” “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” and a host of TV shows, died Friday after being hit by twice by cars while walking in Los Angeles. He was 91. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office told the Associated Press that Bean’s death was
As “Power” prepares to sign off, it does so leaving a legacy that had an impact not only on its cast and crew but also on the wider cultural narrative. “We have not had a lot of really rich, black anti-heroes yet,” showrunner Courtney A. Kemp told Variety, “and I think what’s really important is
After what may have been the most chaotic week imaginable for the Democratic party, various competitors vied for the title of chief uniter. The State of the Union address — which memorably ended with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi tearing up President Donald Trump’s remarks — and the President’s acquittal in his impeachment trial
The latest meeting of seven Democratic presidential candidates on a debate stage began on Friday night in New Hampshire with a rapid-fire round of questions about each of the seven contenders’ electability and suitability for office. Health care policy and the question of continuing investigations of President Donald Trump also generated heated responses from the
In today’s film news roundup, Tom Holland–Daisy Ridley’s “Chaos Walking” will open next year, Sophia Lillis and Charlie Plummer have landed roles, and Lily-Rose Depp has joined Christmas film “Silent Night.” RELEASE DATE Lionsgate has set its long-delayed science-fiction movie “Chaos Walking,” starring Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley, for a Jan. 22, 2021, opening. “Chaos
February 7, 2020 5:35PM PT A little over a week since wowing some 103 million people with her Super Bowl Halftime Show performance alongside Shakira, Jennifer Lopez has entered into an exclusive multi-year touring partnership with Live Nation. The concert industry giant will produce and promote Lopez’s concerts globally beginning with her next tour. Her
In today’s TV news roundup, National Geographic released a teaser for “Genius: Aretha” and Quibi released a teaser for “Most Dangerous Game” starring Liam Hemsworth. FIRST LOOKS National Geographic unveiled a teaser for “Genius: Aretha” that will also air during the Oscars on Sunday. The eight-part series will premiere on May 25 at 9 p.m.
Seven 2020 Democratic presidential candidates are set to face off Friday at 5 p.m. PT and 8 p.m. ET in New Hampshire at Saint Anselm College in Manchester. The debate comes just a few days after the turbulent Iowa caucuses, which are still considered too close to call. The eighth debate sanctioned by the Democratic
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures opened its doors on Friday morning — but not for museum-goers. Members of the press were given a tour of the 300,000 square-foot Renzo Piano-designed campus at the corner of Wilshire and Fairfax boulevards. “This museum belongs to everyone,” museum director Bill Kramer said. “Los Angeles has never had
A musical drama about the imminent demise of a shipbuilding town in the North East of England, and a union’s last-ditch attempt to reclaim the village’s pride? Audiences: No thanks. How about a musical drama about shipbuilding and unions, but with a song score by Sting? Audiences: Ha ha… nice try, but still no. All
Exclusive TMZ.com Lori Loughlin says the government has withheld key evidence proving her innocence in the college admissions scandal, but the government has just fired back … sarcastically responding that the so-called exculpatory evidence was a statement that the witness had not even made when Lori started complaining. TMZ broke the story … Lori and
Hollywood union publicists have selected Warner Bros.’ “Joker” and Disney’s “The Mandalorian” as winners of the Maxwell Weinberg Awards for top publicity campaigns last year. The awards were announced Friday afternoon at the Beverly Hilton by the International Cinematographers Guild (ICG, IATSE Local 600) Publicists. “Joker” won the feature film award and topped the publicity
Pushing boundaries is an inherent part of Equipment. It was 1976 when the brand opened a salon in Paris, France, offering a selection of womenswear that didn’t have a clear delineation between what was masculine or feminine. Great fashion, regardless of gender tropes, was the objective, and over the decades, the company has built upon
“Jane the Virgin” creator Jennie Snyder Urman is celebrating extending her CBS Television Studios overall deal with a pilot order at the Eye. Only a day after announcing Urman’s five-year extension, CBS has ordered her drama project “Good Sam” to pilot, alongside another drama from prolific producer Jerry Bruckheimer. “Good Sam” hails from CBS TV
Members of the Writers Guild have strongly backed a negotiating proposal that requires studios to bar non-franchised talent agents from representing WGA members. The results were included in a message sent Friday by WGA West president David A. Goodman and WGA East president Beau Willimon. They said that 3,028 (91%) members voted yes on the
At the Golden Globes, “Parasite” director Bong Joon Ho challenged audiences, “Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.” That obstacle may exist in most of the feature categories (where only “Parasite” and Pedro Almódovar’s “Pain & Glory” managed to clear the hurdle), but when
“Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)” is nothing if not a thrilling ride. Newly single after The Joker dumped her, Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) sets out on her own to find a new identity, rather than forever be seen as someone’s girlfriend. The story is, as the title suggests, one
UPDATED: Twitter on Friday afternoon suffered technical problems that prevented users from posting tweets to the service for about an hour. “Tweeting is broken. We’re working on fixing it,” Patrick Traughber, a Twitter product manager, tweeted at 4:30 p.m. ET. The post was subsequently deleted. At 5:07 p.m., Twitter’s support account on the service said
SPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not yet watched “Locke and Key,” streaming now on Netflix. In March 2018, Carlton Cuse found himself faced with a TV showrunner’s nightmare. He’d been working for nearly a year on “Locke and Key,” an adaptation of Joe Hill’s best-selling graphic novel series about the Locke children, who
Evgenia Markova has been appointed general director of Roskino, the Russian film promotion organization. She replaces Catherine Mtsitouridze, who left after nine years in the role. Markova was previously industry liaison director of Expocontent, a company that advises Russian government agencies, and leading film producers and distributors on international promotion. Markova’s selection was approved by
Margot Robbie’s “Birds of Prey” is set to open well below forecasts, with about $34 million at 4,236 North American sites, early estimates showed on Friday. Estimates for “Birds of Prey,” a spinoff of 2016’s “Suicide Squad,” had been in the $45 million to $55 million range, with Warner Bros. projecting an opening closer to
People who tune in to the Oscars expect to thrill to seeing famous actors and Hollywood’s favorite films. But those viewers will also get a look at commercials aimed at one of TV’s biggest crowds of the year. General Motors’ Cadillac has prepared at least two commercials tailored just for ABC’s broadcast this Sunday of
It almost feels like a cheat, or an unfair advantage, to have such unfettered access to a documentary subject like Maria Ressa. Not to downplay the impressive craftsmanship that makes director Ramona S. Diaz’s pacy, engrossing, galvanizing film “A Thousand Cuts” feel more like a political thriller than an off-the-cuff investigation into embattled journalism in
After 37 years in leadership positions at the Capitol Christian Music Group and its predecessor companies, chairman/CEO Peter York has set a retirement date of March 31. His stepping aside was long expected, as a succession plan for CCMG was put in place six years ago, and Brad O’Donnell and Hudson Plachy were promoted to co-presidents