After a stellar 1989, the Hollywood box office of 1990 was expected to be even better – but the film industry got taught some tough lessons.
Browsing the worldwide box office charts for 1989, and many a major studio executive would have been stroking their chin with some degree of comfort. The same old was working. The new things were working. Everything was getting better. The Christmas party was clearly going to be on the impressive side.
What 1989 had proven, after all, was the growing feeling that big stuff worked too. Tim Burton’s Batman had firmly introduced the idea of the huge opening weekend at the box office, and that a movie could become a cultural phenomenon. That patrons would leave the cinema and promptly seek out the soundtrack, the computer game, the book, the T-shirt, the novelty undercrackers.
But it wasn’t just Batman. 1989 proved to Hollywood that, for the most part,...
Browsing the worldwide box office charts for 1989, and many a major studio executive would have been stroking their chin with some degree of comfort. The same old was working. The new things were working. Everything was getting better. The Christmas party was clearly going to be on the impressive side.
What 1989 had proven, after all, was the growing feeling that big stuff worked too. Tim Burton’s Batman had firmly introduced the idea of the huge opening weekend at the box office, and that a movie could become a cultural phenomenon. That patrons would leave the cinema and promptly seek out the soundtrack, the computer game, the book, the T-shirt, the novelty undercrackers.
But it wasn’t just Batman. 1989 proved to Hollywood that, for the most part,...
- 5/24/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
The Story: A covert army unit goes to war with Cash Bailey (Powers Boothe), a well-connected drug dealer, who also happens to be the childhood best friend of an honest Texas Ranger (Nick Nolte) who’s caught in the middle of what’s turning into a bloody drug war.
The Players: Starring: Nick Nolte, Powers Boothe, Michael Ironside, Clancy Brown, William Forsythe, María Conchita Alonso, and Rip Torn. Music by Jerry Goldsmith. Directed by Walter Hill.
The History: Let me take a moment here to pay tribute to an actor who never gets his due anymore: the late Powers Boothe. While never a household name, he was well-known as a character actor in a career that spanned four decades. He appeared in a lot of great movies, including Southern Comfort, The Emerald Forest, Sin City, heck – even The Avengers! But, one of the best roles he ever had was in...
The Players: Starring: Nick Nolte, Powers Boothe, Michael Ironside, Clancy Brown, William Forsythe, María Conchita Alonso, and Rip Torn. Music by Jerry Goldsmith. Directed by Walter Hill.
The History: Let me take a moment here to pay tribute to an actor who never gets his due anymore: the late Powers Boothe. While never a household name, he was well-known as a character actor in a career that spanned four decades. He appeared in a lot of great movies, including Southern Comfort, The Emerald Forest, Sin City, heck – even The Avengers! But, one of the best roles he ever had was in...
- 4/7/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Things were going badly on Saturday Night Live‘s 1980-1981 season, even before producer Jean Doumanian realized than the January 10, 1981 episode was headed towards disaster.
The previous season had seen the departure of Lorne Michaels and the entire cast, including founders Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, and Laraine Newman, as well as Bill Murray and Harry Shearer. Doumanian had tried to pitch her incoming group of comedians as the next generation for the hit series, but the performers quickly gained reputations as also-rans. Charlie Rocket was a less funny Chevy Chase, Gail Matthius an off-brand Jane Curtin, and so on.
But on that Jan. 10, 1981 episode, hosted by actor Ray Sharkey, things were going particularly badly. The skits went faster than anticipated and the show had five extra minutes to fill. So in an act of desperation, Doumanian followed the advice of writer Neil Levy and pushed 19-year-old featured player...
The previous season had seen the departure of Lorne Michaels and the entire cast, including founders Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, and Laraine Newman, as well as Bill Murray and Harry Shearer. Doumanian had tried to pitch her incoming group of comedians as the next generation for the hit series, but the performers quickly gained reputations as also-rans. Charlie Rocket was a less funny Chevy Chase, Gail Matthius an off-brand Jane Curtin, and so on.
But on that Jan. 10, 1981 episode, hosted by actor Ray Sharkey, things were going particularly badly. The skits went faster than anticipated and the show had five extra minutes to fill. So in an act of desperation, Doumanian followed the advice of writer Neil Levy and pushed 19-year-old featured player...
- 3/20/2024
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
Screenwriter, director and producer Walter Hill will receive the 2024 Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement from the Writers Guild of America West.
Per the guild, the award is bestowed upon members who have “advanced the literature of motion pictures and made outstanding contributions to the profession of the screenwriter.” A few of Hill’s writing and co-writing credits include “The Getaway,” “48 Hrs.,” “Last Man Standing” and “Dead For A Dollar.”
“Walter Hill’s impact on our industry is undeniable,” said Wgaw president Meredith Stiehm. “His unique style influenced and educated generations of screenwriters who followed. He has had an enduring, renowned career, and the Guild is honored to present him with the Screen Laurel Award.”
In the early 1970s, Hill kicked off his writing career with “Hickey and Boggs,” “The Getaway,” “The Mackintosh” and “The Drowning Pool.” He stepped in the director’s chair for the first time with the 1975 Depression-era film “Hard Times.
Per the guild, the award is bestowed upon members who have “advanced the literature of motion pictures and made outstanding contributions to the profession of the screenwriter.” A few of Hill’s writing and co-writing credits include “The Getaway,” “48 Hrs.,” “Last Man Standing” and “Dead For A Dollar.”
“Walter Hill’s impact on our industry is undeniable,” said Wgaw president Meredith Stiehm. “His unique style influenced and educated generations of screenwriters who followed. He has had an enduring, renowned career, and the Guild is honored to present him with the Screen Laurel Award.”
In the early 1970s, Hill kicked off his writing career with “Hickey and Boggs,” “The Getaway,” “The Mackintosh” and “The Drowning Pool.” He stepped in the director’s chair for the first time with the 1975 Depression-era film “Hard Times.
- 3/19/2024
- by Jaden Thompson
- Variety Film + TV
The Writers Guild of America West announced on Tuesday that writer, producer and director Walter Hill has been named the recipient of the guild’s 2024 Laurel Award for screenwriting achievement.
The Guild’s lifetime achievement award is presented to members who have “advanced the literature of motion pictures and made outstanding contributions to the profession of the screenwriter.”
“Walter Hill’s impact on our industry is undeniable,” said Wgaw President Meredith Stiehm in a statement. “His unique style influenced and educated generations of screenwriters who followed. He has had an enduring, renowned career, and the Guild is honored to present him with the Screen Laurel Award.”
As a writer, Hill’s credits include Hickey and Boggs, The Getaway, The Drowning Pool, Aliens and Alien 3. Hill made his directorial debut in 1975 with Hard Times, which he also wrote, following that film up with the 1979 cult hit The Warriors. He also wrote and directed Southern Comfort,...
The Guild’s lifetime achievement award is presented to members who have “advanced the literature of motion pictures and made outstanding contributions to the profession of the screenwriter.”
“Walter Hill’s impact on our industry is undeniable,” said Wgaw President Meredith Stiehm in a statement. “His unique style influenced and educated generations of screenwriters who followed. He has had an enduring, renowned career, and the Guild is honored to present him with the Screen Laurel Award.”
As a writer, Hill’s credits include Hickey and Boggs, The Getaway, The Drowning Pool, Aliens and Alien 3. Hill made his directorial debut in 1975 with Hard Times, which he also wrote, following that film up with the 1979 cult hit The Warriors. He also wrote and directed Southern Comfort,...
- 3/19/2024
- by Tyler Coates
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sylvester Stallone is the action star known for the Rocky and Rambo franchises, which delivered high-octane action for cinephiles. The actor wrote the first Rocky and became a star overnight as the film earned $225 million worldwide against an $860,000 budget. Stallone was nominated for Best Actor and Original Screenplay at the Oscars.
The film spawned the Rocky franchise which is still going strong. The actor also created the hugely successful Rambo franchise and The Expendables film. However, Stallone stated that he did not find any similarities between him and these iconic characters. He also mentioned that the only character he ever put details of himself into was that of a hitman.
Sylvester Stallone Says He Is Not Like Rocky or Rambo Sylvester Stallone in Rocky
The worldwide fame that Sylvester Stallone received when he starred as the underdog boxer Rocky Balboa in Rocky was unparalleled. The actor reportedly struggled to make...
The film spawned the Rocky franchise which is still going strong. The actor also created the hugely successful Rambo franchise and The Expendables film. However, Stallone stated that he did not find any similarities between him and these iconic characters. He also mentioned that the only character he ever put details of himself into was that of a hitman.
Sylvester Stallone Says He Is Not Like Rocky or Rambo Sylvester Stallone in Rocky
The worldwide fame that Sylvester Stallone received when he starred as the underdog boxer Rocky Balboa in Rocky was unparalleled. The actor reportedly struggled to make...
- 3/5/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
Ah, the 1990s. Perhaps the peak of the moviegoing experience. Theaters consistently showed classics such as the special effects marvel "Jurassic Park," "The Shawshank Redemption," "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," "Pulp Fiction," "Fargo," and "Titanic." The decade also featured an abundance of outstanding horror films like "The Sixth Sense," "Scream," "Misery," and "Interview with the Vampire," all boasting big-name stars and top-tier directors.
However, playing at the opposite end of the cineplex were thrillers you may have never heard about or skipped simply due to bad reviews or scathing word of mouth. Some of Hollywood's top talent attached themselves to such projects, thwarted by ornery critics or moviegoers seeking higher-end entertainment. That's a shame.
While there are undoubtedly plenty of terrible horror films from the 90s, the decade was also ripe with lower-tier entries that have aged surprisingly well. Many don't reset the bar established by esteemed pictures like "The Silence of the Lambs,...
However, playing at the opposite end of the cineplex were thrillers you may have never heard about or skipped simply due to bad reviews or scathing word of mouth. Some of Hollywood's top talent attached themselves to such projects, thwarted by ornery critics or moviegoers seeking higher-end entertainment. That's a shame.
While there are undoubtedly plenty of terrible horror films from the 90s, the decade was also ripe with lower-tier entries that have aged surprisingly well. Many don't reset the bar established by esteemed pictures like "The Silence of the Lambs,...
- 3/2/2024
- by Jeff Ames
- Slash Film
Mark L. Lester's ultra-violent 1985 actioner "Commando" is entertainingly ridiculous and ridiculously entertaining. Few films of the era reflect on the ultra-violent military fantasies of Reagan's America better than "Commando," an irony to be sure, as it stars a massive Austrian actor. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a former Special Forces Colonel named John Matrix who is attempting to live a quiet life with his sweet daughter Jenny (Alyssa Milano). When Jenny is kidnapped by a vengeful villain played by Dan Hedaya, it gives John the moral license to murder about a thousand people in a violent quest to rescue her. John Matrix shoots, explodes, cuts, stabs, and buzzsaw-frisbees his way through Hedaya's minions without a scratch, a military superman with untouchable skill and an unslaked bloodlust.
The violence in "Commando" is horrifying and spectacular. Looking over the film's parental advisory on IMDb may sell the film better than any conventional advertisement.
The violence in "Commando" is horrifying and spectacular. Looking over the film's parental advisory on IMDb may sell the film better than any conventional advertisement.
- 2/9/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
One cannot understate the impact Martin Brest's crime comedy "Beverly Hills Cop" had on popular culture when it was released in 1984. Between "Cop," the 1983 comedy "Trading Places," and Walter Hill's 1982 buddy film "48 Hrs.," Eddie Murphy was suddenly one of the largest and most striking movie stars in the world. His glib delivery and willingness to be crass rattled cinemas to an astonishing degree, and audiences began flocking to see Murphy in just about anything. Brest's film was made for a mere $13 million and would rack up about $316 million worldwide. It was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards.
In the film, Murphy played Axel Foley, a Detroit-based detective who says he's going on vacation to Beverly Hills, but who is secretly investigating the death of a friend, unbeknownst to his bosses. The film involves a lot of Murphy's bafflement at the posh, unusual, upscale...
In the film, Murphy played Axel Foley, a Detroit-based detective who says he's going on vacation to Beverly Hills, but who is secretly investigating the death of a friend, unbeknownst to his bosses. The film involves a lot of Murphy's bafflement at the posh, unusual, upscale...
- 12/14/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Updated with statement from Silver’s rep: Iconic producer Joel Silver has been fired from the forthcoming Amazon film Play Dirty, Deadline can confirm. While the decision reportedly stemmed from alleged verbal abuse on Silver’s part toward studio execs over creative differences, Amazon has declined to comment.
The first of a number of projects in the works at Amazon centered on the Parker crime novels by Donald E. Westlake, which were written under the pen name Richard Stark, Play Dirty was at one point supposed to star Robert Downey Jr., sources said, but while he’s no longer involved in that capacity, with Mark Wahlberg now attached to star, Downey remains aboard to produce for Team Downey and had left the project well ahead of the fallout with Silver. The project was set to reunite Silver with writer-director Shane Black following their work together on such titles as The Nice Guys, Predator,...
The first of a number of projects in the works at Amazon centered on the Parker crime novels by Donald E. Westlake, which were written under the pen name Richard Stark, Play Dirty was at one point supposed to star Robert Downey Jr., sources said, but while he’s no longer involved in that capacity, with Mark Wahlberg now attached to star, Downey remains aboard to produce for Team Downey and had left the project well ahead of the fallout with Silver. The project was set to reunite Silver with writer-director Shane Black following their work together on such titles as The Nice Guys, Predator,...
- 11/30/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The latest trailer for Amazon’s “Candy Cane Lane” is little different than the previous announcement teaser, just with more visuals and slightly more exposition offered up.
It’s the same beat, with Murphy as a husband/father who takes the concept of Christmas decorations way too far and accidentally sells his soul to an evil elf played by Jillian Bell. That wish brings about not world peace but the 12 Days of Christmas coming to life via unleashing PG-rated chaos on the town.
Directed by Reginald Hudlin and written by Kelly Younger, “Candy Cane Lane” co-stars Murphy and Bell alongside Tracee Ellis Ross, Thaddeus J. Mixson, Ken Marino, Nick Offerman, Robin Thede, Chris Redd, Genneya Walton, Madison Thomas, Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, Lombardo Boyar, D.C. Young Fly, Danielle Pinnock, Timothy Simons, Riki Lindhome and the always welcome Stephen Tobolowsky. Murphy is a producer alongside Brian Grazer, Karen Lunder and Charisse Hewitt-Webster...
It’s the same beat, with Murphy as a husband/father who takes the concept of Christmas decorations way too far and accidentally sells his soul to an evil elf played by Jillian Bell. That wish brings about not world peace but the 12 Days of Christmas coming to life via unleashing PG-rated chaos on the town.
Directed by Reginald Hudlin and written by Kelly Younger, “Candy Cane Lane” co-stars Murphy and Bell alongside Tracee Ellis Ross, Thaddeus J. Mixson, Ken Marino, Nick Offerman, Robin Thede, Chris Redd, Genneya Walton, Madison Thomas, Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, Lombardo Boyar, D.C. Young Fly, Danielle Pinnock, Timothy Simons, Riki Lindhome and the always welcome Stephen Tobolowsky. Murphy is a producer alongside Brian Grazer, Karen Lunder and Charisse Hewitt-Webster...
- 11/8/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Eddie Murphy has spent much of the last 27 years making kid-friendly flicks like “Imagine That” and “Daddy Daycare.” As such, it’s a little surprising that “Candy Cane Lane” represents his first Christmas/holiday flick. That’s the hook for this latest Amazon Prime original feature.
This brief teaser doesn’t so much explain the premise as lays out the protagonist, showing Murphy as a loving husband and father who nonetheless takes the concept of Christmas decorations a bit too far. He essentially sells his soul to a magical elf played by Jillian Bell for a holiday-related wish. Alas, much to his family’s chagrin, that wish is not world peace or a new album from Drake.
Murphy’s wish causes a spell that brings the 12 Days of Christmas to life, unleashing PG-rated chaos on the town. One can surmise that all parties learn that Christmas is not about winning...
This brief teaser doesn’t so much explain the premise as lays out the protagonist, showing Murphy as a loving husband and father who nonetheless takes the concept of Christmas decorations a bit too far. He essentially sells his soul to a magical elf played by Jillian Bell for a holiday-related wish. Alas, much to his family’s chagrin, that wish is not world peace or a new album from Drake.
Murphy’s wish causes a spell that brings the 12 Days of Christmas to life, unleashing PG-rated chaos on the town. One can surmise that all parties learn that Christmas is not about winning...
- 10/12/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
During his panel at last weekend’s Terror Con in Marlborough, Ma, John Kassir — the Crypt Keeper himself — shared his perspective on Tales from the Crypt‘s complicated rights issues that halted TNT and M. Night Shyamalan’s reboot attempt in 2016 and continue to prohibit new iterations of the beloved horror anthology series.
“Obviously, Tales from the Crypt was a comic book, and those rights were granted to the producers of the show back in the late ’80s,” he explained. “So then they started producing the show, and it was very big producers. We’re talking about Joel Silver, who did all the Lethal Weapons, the Die Hard movies, the Matrix movies. He’s a very big producer, and he also has a reputation of being one of the biggest assholes in the business. You didn’t hear me say that, but you did!” The audience laughed.
“And Dick Donner,...
“Obviously, Tales from the Crypt was a comic book, and those rights were granted to the producers of the show back in the late ’80s,” he explained. “So then they started producing the show, and it was very big producers. We’re talking about Joel Silver, who did all the Lethal Weapons, the Die Hard movies, the Matrix movies. He’s a very big producer, and he also has a reputation of being one of the biggest assholes in the business. You didn’t hear me say that, but you did!” The audience laughed.
“And Dick Donner,...
- 9/20/2023
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
The buddy cop genre was made popular in the 1980s with classic action comedies like 48 Hrs, Beverly Hills Cop, and Lethal Weapon. As action movies continued to dominate at the box office, the 90s saw a string of popular buddy cop movies surface. In 1998, Rush Hour was released, and it was a huge hit. Rush Hour follows the story of Lee (Jackie Chan), a by-the-book Hong Kong police inspector. When the Chinese Consul’s daughter is kidnapped, Lee teams up with loudmouthed LAPD detective, Carter (Chris Tucker). The movie was a box office success and spawned two sequels. However,...
- 9/3/2023
- by Matthew C. F
- TVovermind.com
No one was afraid of cinematic excess in the ’80s, and nothing says “cinematic excess” quite as perfectly as the rock musical, a sub-genre that took on all sorts of (rockin’ and rollin’ and just plain bitchin’) shapes in the decade that birthed everything from “Purple Rain” to “Flashdance” and “The Blues Brothers.”
Buried amongst a decade rife with musicals, rock jams, and the frequent intersection of the two is Walter Hill’s raucous “Streets of Fire,” an intensely creative rock musical fantasy filled with fantastic visuals and even better songs. It’s about as cool a film as anyone could ever hope to see, no matter the decade.
When it was released in the summer of 1984, the film was a box office bust: it made just $8 million on its $14.5 million budget, scuppering plans for an official trilogy, ultimately landing young star Diane Lane a Razzie nom (vile!), and sending...
Buried amongst a decade rife with musicals, rock jams, and the frequent intersection of the two is Walter Hill’s raucous “Streets of Fire,” an intensely creative rock musical fantasy filled with fantastic visuals and even better songs. It’s about as cool a film as anyone could ever hope to see, no matter the decade.
When it was released in the summer of 1984, the film was a box office bust: it made just $8 million on its $14.5 million budget, scuppering plans for an official trilogy, ultimately landing young star Diane Lane a Razzie nom (vile!), and sending...
- 8/15/2023
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Watching it in 2023, one might find themselves a little baffled as to why Martin Brest's 1984 crime comedy "Beverly Hills Cop" was such a massive success. Made for a modest $13 million, "Beverly Hills Cop" caused a sensation, earning over $234 million domestically which is, when adjusted for inflation, closer to $700 million. It made Eddie Murphy a household name and more or less codified an emerging genre of R-rated buddy cop movies that would remain ascendant throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s. The success of "Beverly Hills Cop" might confuse people, however, as it seems wildly basic these days. The jokes are not particularly funny, and while Murphy is as charismatic as they come, his Snobs vs. Slobs shtick seems trite and tired.
It seems that "Beverly Hills Cop," however, was merely outstripped by its imitators. In the wave of imitators that spawned, filmmakers pushed the action and the humor to higher and higher degrees,...
It seems that "Beverly Hills Cop," however, was merely outstripped by its imitators. In the wave of imitators that spawned, filmmakers pushed the action and the humor to higher and higher degrees,...
- 8/5/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Dan Akyroyd admitted in a recent interview with The Daily Beast that he probably would not put on Blackface for a movie role today like he did 40 years ago in the blockbuster comedy “Trading Places.” Akyroyd starred in the John Landis-directed film as a rich investment broker who switches lives with a broke con artist, played by Eddie Murphy. Akyroyd’s character appears in Blackface and sports dreadlocks and a Caribbean accent during one scene set on New Year’s Eve.
“I was in Blackface in that film, and I probably couldn’t get away with it now,” Aykroyd said. “Eddie and I were improvising there. Eddie is a Black man and his entourage were all Black people, and I don’t think they batted an eye. There was no objection then; nobody said anything. It was just a good comic beat that was truthful to the story.”
“I...
“I was in Blackface in that film, and I probably couldn’t get away with it now,” Aykroyd said. “Eddie and I were improvising there. Eddie is a Black man and his entourage were all Black people, and I don’t think they batted an eye. There was no objection then; nobody said anything. It was just a good comic beat that was truthful to the story.”
“I...
- 6/28/2023
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Summer’s here, and if you’re looking for new movies to watch this June, we’ve got you covered. Newly streaming titles this month include the third (and final?) “Magic Mike” movie, Chris Hemsworth’s highly anticipated “Extraction” sequel on Netflix, the “Nicolas Cage as Dracula” new release “Renfield” and at long last, “Avatar: The Way of Water” makes its streaming debut on multiple streaming services. As always, we’ve also rounded up a number of library titles newly streaming on Netflix, Prime Video, Max, Paramount+, Hulu, Peacock and Disney+ throughout the month of June, so not only is there a little something for everyone, there’s enough to get you through those days when it’s just to hot to step outside.
Check out our list of some of the best new movies to stream in June 2023 below.
Also Read:
What’s New on Amazon Prime Video in...
Check out our list of some of the best new movies to stream in June 2023 below.
Also Read:
What’s New on Amazon Prime Video in...
- 6/23/2023
- by Drew Taylor and Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
In 1984, Leonard Nimoy boldly went where he had never gone before – into the director’s chair of a feature film. His being allowed to direct Star Trek III: The Search for Spock was part of his deal to return to the franchise, as if they had not allowed him this opportunity, the search for Spock might be ended with them… ya know… not finding him. While critics were cool on the film, audiences and fans liked it enough to make it a considerable financial success, earning $76.5 million domestically – just below the $78 million The Wrath of Khan had made. However, like the previous film, its success was limited to North America, with it only making about $10 million internationally compared to the $20 million Wrath of Khan made. No matter, like its predecessor, it was a significant hit on home video and cable, and soon plans were in the works for a fourth...
- 5/9/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
A movie critic's job is to offer insightful, observant, but overall subjective opinions to help us decide if we're going to enjoy a film. It's not important to be right about whether one is good or not, but noting a film's overall quality is a tool we often take for granted. On the flip side, audiences aren't always "right" either, passing up great movies on the way to something else.
There are lots of reasons genuinely great movies can end up tanking at the box office. Issues like a terrible -- or worse, ignorant -- marketing plan by the studio, as "Crimson Peak" endured; or, as Schwarzenegger realized with the release of "The Last Action Hero," poorly timing the film's release date can lead to disaster. And sometimes the project's topic is something a general audience isn't going to vibe with, leading to niche and classic works that are still worth remembering.
There are lots of reasons genuinely great movies can end up tanking at the box office. Issues like a terrible -- or worse, ignorant -- marketing plan by the studio, as "Crimson Peak" endured; or, as Schwarzenegger realized with the release of "The Last Action Hero," poorly timing the film's release date can lead to disaster. And sometimes the project's topic is something a general audience isn't going to vibe with, leading to niche and classic works that are still worth remembering.
- 4/16/2023
- by Margaret David
- Slash Film
When Steven E. de Souza embarked on his big-screen adaptation of Capcom's arcade classic "Street Fighter II," the transformative upgrade on the ho-hum original, he painted a fire-engine red target on his back. The A-list action screenwriter of "48 Hrs.," "Commando" and "Die Hard" had more than earned the opportunity to make his directorial debut, but, in 1994, no one took video games seriously as a storytelling medium — and for good reason! Aside from role-playing computer franchises like "Ultima," "The Bard's Tale" and "Final Fantasy," most non-sports-centric games were either side-scrolling quests with the most slender of narratives or button-mashing combat competitions.
"Street Fighter II" fell in the latter camp. No one chugged Mountain Dew until sunrise because they wanted to know M. Bison's backstory; they did so to exert their console-controller primacy over their friends and dormmates. But Capcom's PvP sensation was so wildly popular that the video game...
"Street Fighter II" fell in the latter camp. No one chugged Mountain Dew until sunrise because they wanted to know M. Bison's backstory; they did so to exert their console-controller primacy over their friends and dormmates. But Capcom's PvP sensation was so wildly popular that the video game...
- 4/6/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
(Welcome to Best Actor Ever, an ongoing series where we explore the careers and performances of the greatest performers to ever grace the screen.)
We're only six articles into this series, and I've already violated my critic's creed by furthering one of the most egregious filmmaking fallacies in existence. While I stand wholeheartedly behind my selections of Meryl Streep, Denzel Washington, Cate Blanchett, Robert De Niro, and Viola Davis, these artists are venerated for capital-a acting. They play serious, complicated people beset by demons both personal and societal. Critics expect them to dazzle us, to shed inspiring or unsettling light on the human condition. For too many years, they did not expect them to make us laugh.
When Streep, after a decade-plus of electrifying dramatic performances, appeared in the 1989 dark comedy "She-Devil" opposite TV superstar Roseanne Barr, many critics felt she was slumming. Ditto De Niro in Martin Brest's 1988 buddy-comedy "Midnight Run.
We're only six articles into this series, and I've already violated my critic's creed by furthering one of the most egregious filmmaking fallacies in existence. While I stand wholeheartedly behind my selections of Meryl Streep, Denzel Washington, Cate Blanchett, Robert De Niro, and Viola Davis, these artists are venerated for capital-a acting. They play serious, complicated people beset by demons both personal and societal. Critics expect them to dazzle us, to shed inspiring or unsettling light on the human condition. For too many years, they did not expect them to make us laugh.
When Streep, after a decade-plus of electrifying dramatic performances, appeared in the 1989 dark comedy "She-Devil" opposite TV superstar Roseanne Barr, many critics felt she was slumming. Ditto De Niro in Martin Brest's 1988 buddy-comedy "Midnight Run.
- 3/2/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Paramount was heavily committed to the Eddie Murphy business in the 1980s. After the "Saturday Night Live" star went supernova with the blockbuster trio of "48 Hrs.," "Trading Places" and "Beverly Hills Cop," the studio, which had him under a long-term contract, sought to synergize their superstar with some of their pre-existing franchises.
One of the most bizarre attempts at wedging Murphy into an ongoing series was "The Godfather Part III." As Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo balked at participating in a third film throughout the 1980s, Paramount ordered 15 treatments and scripts by nine or so different screenwriters (one of which was penned by future Disney CEO Michael Eisner). One of these proposed sequels had a role for Murphy, who once said "I would act in 'The Godfather' for nothing." Unsurprisingly, this iteration never made it anywhere close to the runway.
A more realistic scenario presented itself...
One of the most bizarre attempts at wedging Murphy into an ongoing series was "The Godfather Part III." As Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo balked at participating in a third film throughout the 1980s, Paramount ordered 15 treatments and scripts by nine or so different screenwriters (one of which was penned by future Disney CEO Michael Eisner). One of these proposed sequels had a role for Murphy, who once said "I would act in 'The Godfather' for nothing." Unsurprisingly, this iteration never made it anywhere close to the runway.
A more realistic scenario presented itself...
- 2/5/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Trading Places remains a highlight in the careers of stars Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy and Jamie Lee Curtis. A riff on the timeless Prince and the Pauper tale, it was a smash hit in the summer of 1983, ranking fourth for the year, only beaten by Return of the Jedi, Terms of Endearment and Flashdance. It became a staple of video stores and cable and is also an unheralded holiday classic, taking place around Christmas and New Year’s.
Flashback to 1982. This was an important year in the lives of all of the leading players involved with Trading Places. For star Dan Aykroyd, it was marked with tragedy, with his best friend and frequent on-screen partner, John Belushi, dying of a drug overdose early in the year. Likewise, director John Landis was involved in a tragedy while directing Twilight Zone: The Movie. While staging a scene involving a helicopter, star Vic Morrow...
Flashback to 1982. This was an important year in the lives of all of the leading players involved with Trading Places. For star Dan Aykroyd, it was marked with tragedy, with his best friend and frequent on-screen partner, John Belushi, dying of a drug overdose early in the year. Likewise, director John Landis was involved in a tragedy while directing Twilight Zone: The Movie. While staging a scene involving a helicopter, star Vic Morrow...
- 12/29/2022
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Four decades ago, 21-year-old Eddie Murphy earned the distinction of being one of the final five nominees for the now-retired Golden Globe Award for New Male Star of the Year; he lost to eventual Oscar winner Ben Kingsley (“Gandhi”). Since achieving this recognition for his big screen debut performance in “48 Hrs.,” he has starred in over three dozen more features and remained a perennial Golden Globe contender with six bids and one trophy to his name. Now, the evergreen funnyman is set to become the 69th entrant on the illustrious list of movie legends who have been honored with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s Cecil B. DeMille Award.
HFPA President Helen Hoehne says she and her colleagues are “thrilled to be celebrating the lasting impact” of Murphy’s career, which she describes as being filled with “multifaceted and moving performances.” The entertainer has also written or produced many...
HFPA President Helen Hoehne says she and her colleagues are “thrilled to be celebrating the lasting impact” of Murphy’s career, which she describes as being filled with “multifaceted and moving performances.” The entertainer has also written or produced many...
- 12/18/2022
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Actor, comedian and Gumby, dammit Eddie Murphy will receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award at next year’s Golden Globes, the ceremony’s version of a lifetime achievement award.
The award, given out annually by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, honors individuals who have made “outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.” With that criteria, Eddie Murphy is undoubtedly a deserved honoree.
Eddie Murphy has been nominated for six Golden Globes over his career, beginning with New Star of the Year for 1982’s 48 Hrs. Since, he has been nominated four times in the Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy category for Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop, The Nutty Professor, and, most recently, Doletime Is My Name. He took home the Best Supporting Actor trophy for 2006’s Dreamgirls, a performance that also earned him his only Oscar nomination to date.
Murphy thrust to superstardom in the 1980s, serving as...
The award, given out annually by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, honors individuals who have made “outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.” With that criteria, Eddie Murphy is undoubtedly a deserved honoree.
Eddie Murphy has been nominated for six Golden Globes over his career, beginning with New Star of the Year for 1982’s 48 Hrs. Since, he has been nominated four times in the Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy category for Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop, The Nutty Professor, and, most recently, Doletime Is My Name. He took home the Best Supporting Actor trophy for 2006’s Dreamgirls, a performance that also earned him his only Oscar nomination to date.
Murphy thrust to superstardom in the 1980s, serving as...
- 12/15/2022
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Eddie Murphy will receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Variety has confirmed. Murphy, a previous Globes winner and six-time nominee, will be on hand to accept the award at this year’s ceremony, set to air live on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, from the Beverly Hilton hotel.
The Cecil B. DeMille Award has been handed out since 1952; recipients, chosen by the HFPA board of directors, “is presented to a talented individual for their outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.” This year’s recipient for the TV equivalent, the Carol Burnett Award, is expected to be announced shortly.
Last year, no recipients for either award were named, as the Globes were boycotted by talent, media and creatives, and didn’t air on NBC, in the wake of concerns over diversity at the HFPA (which at the time had no Black members) and other issues of accountability.
The Cecil B. DeMille Award has been handed out since 1952; recipients, chosen by the HFPA board of directors, “is presented to a talented individual for their outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.” This year’s recipient for the TV equivalent, the Carol Burnett Award, is expected to be announced shortly.
Last year, no recipients for either award were named, as the Globes were boycotted by talent, media and creatives, and didn’t air on NBC, in the wake of concerns over diversity at the HFPA (which at the time had no Black members) and other issues of accountability.
- 12/14/2022
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Gene Levy, former V.P. of Fox Pictures and producer of over 40 films and television series, died on Oct. 15 in Las Vegas. He was 84.
Levy produced an array of films spanning over five decades, including “The Bachelor,” “Waterworld,” “Unlawful Entry,” “Streets of Fire,” “Brewster’s Millions,” “Blood Voyage,” “Hysterical,” “Judgement Night” and “Trojan War.” He also worked as the production manager on several of these films, along with “Copycat,” “48 Hrs.,” “Thief,” “Southern Comfort” and “The Long Riders.”
In 1988, he was appointed V.P. of feature production at 20th Century Fox, and would later serve as V.P. of feature production at Largo Entertainment from 1990 to 1993.
Levy began his career in accounting, earning his degree while serving in the U.S. Army Reserves until his discharge in 1962. After being introduced to writer-producer Sterling Silliphant, he worked as an accountant for the final season of the New York-based series “Naked City,” followed by another Silliphant television production,...
Levy produced an array of films spanning over five decades, including “The Bachelor,” “Waterworld,” “Unlawful Entry,” “Streets of Fire,” “Brewster’s Millions,” “Blood Voyage,” “Hysterical,” “Judgement Night” and “Trojan War.” He also worked as the production manager on several of these films, along with “Copycat,” “48 Hrs.,” “Thief,” “Southern Comfort” and “The Long Riders.”
In 1988, he was appointed V.P. of feature production at 20th Century Fox, and would later serve as V.P. of feature production at Largo Entertainment from 1990 to 1993.
Levy began his career in accounting, earning his degree while serving in the U.S. Army Reserves until his discharge in 1962. After being introduced to writer-producer Sterling Silliphant, he worked as an accountant for the final season of the New York-based series “Naked City,” followed by another Silliphant television production,...
- 10/20/2022
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
Walter Hill’s The Warriors is a cult classic. Since its release in 1979, audiences have returned to this tightly woven tale of a gang of rebels stuck on a rival territory following a big gang meet-up gone awry. There’s so much quotable dialogue, and it kicked off a fantastic run for director Walter Hill, including 48 Hrs, Streets of Fire, Extreme Prejudice, and even the recent Dead for a Dollar. However, the film was rife with issues, including a leading man being fired early in production and full-scale riots that erupted after the movie opened.
The Warriors is a celebrated slice of cinema that taps into the urges of fans, letting them live a gang fantasy on the silver screen, unlike other films. People still dress as the warring factions for Halloween, and video game developers have used the movie as a template for territorial scuffles for generations. What...
The Warriors is a celebrated slice of cinema that taps into the urges of fans, letting them live a gang fantasy on the silver screen, unlike other films. People still dress as the warring factions for Halloween, and video game developers have used the movie as a template for territorial scuffles for generations. What...
- 10/12/2022
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Stand-up comedians are some of the neediest people on the planet. Their livelihood hinges on their laugh-provoking expertise, and every single performance can feel like a make-or-break referendum on their funniness. Even the greats feel this pressure. In the 2002 documentary "Comedian," Jerry Seinfeld observes that an established, widely beloved comic only gets a slim grace period between taking the stage and delivering the goods. People are paying a two-drink minimum — they expect to laugh.
Every comedian has an off-night, but I have a hard time envisioning what that looked like for Robin Williams. Ditto, Eddie Murphy. With Williams, you knew he was going to remove the restraining bolt from his brain and access that deep reservoir of jokes and references and spot-on impersonations with dizzying speed. Murphy was different. He exuded confidence, deftly gliding from bit to bit, secure in the knowledge that he could only kill. Maybe that's why...
Every comedian has an off-night, but I have a hard time envisioning what that looked like for Robin Williams. Ditto, Eddie Murphy. With Williams, you knew he was going to remove the restraining bolt from his brain and access that deep reservoir of jokes and references and spot-on impersonations with dizzying speed. Murphy was different. He exuded confidence, deftly gliding from bit to bit, secure in the knowledge that he could only kill. Maybe that's why...
- 10/10/2022
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Once the biggest staple of Hollywood filmmaking, the Western has seen ebbs and flows through the history of cinema. In recent decades you’d be hard-pressed to find many examples in multiplexes near you—especially ones that fit the traditional mold of the genre, rather than tongue-in-cheek revisionist takes. It’s fitting, then, that it would be Walter Hill who would deliver a new gift onto audiences eager for a journey into that gunslinging world.
Hill has said that all his films are Westerns, which can certainly be seen for anyone familiar with his oeuvre—from his directorial debut in 1975’s Hard Times through 1987’s neo-Western Extreme Prejudice, his own revisionist streak of Westerns in the early ‘90s with Geronimo: An American Legend and Wild Bill, and even into 21st century actioners like Bullet to the Head. Whether he’s in the traditional milieu of the genre or not, those...
Hill has said that all his films are Westerns, which can certainly be seen for anyone familiar with his oeuvre—from his directorial debut in 1975’s Hard Times through 1987’s neo-Western Extreme Prejudice, his own revisionist streak of Westerns in the early ‘90s with Geronimo: An American Legend and Wild Bill, and even into 21st century actioners like Bullet to the Head. Whether he’s in the traditional milieu of the genre or not, those...
- 10/4/2022
- by Mitchell Beaupre
- The Film Stage
Walter Hill’s Dead for a Dollar is the kind of movie they don’t make anymore. A rough and tumble Neo-western, despite a modest budget Hill’s assembled a strong Western programmer (read my review). He’s helped along by a top-shelf cast, including Christoph Waltz, Willem Dafoe, Benjamin Bratt, and Warren Burke. I recently spoke to all five guys in one interview block as part of the junket for the movie.
Christoph Waltz, who plays the bounty hunter hero Max Borlund is, as always, an eccentric interview, with a comment about his unique cowboy hat leading to a bit of a rant about hat makers and the chemicals they used to make them. Interesting.
As Joe Cribbens, Borlund’s lifelong enemy, Willem Dafoe discusses his first time making a western, while Walter Hill explains the movie’s dedication to his mentor, Western director Budd Boetticher. Meanwhile, the awesome...
Christoph Waltz, who plays the bounty hunter hero Max Borlund is, as always, an eccentric interview, with a comment about his unique cowboy hat leading to a bit of a rant about hat makers and the chemicals they used to make them. Interesting.
As Joe Cribbens, Borlund’s lifelong enemy, Willem Dafoe discusses his first time making a western, while Walter Hill explains the movie’s dedication to his mentor, Western director Budd Boetticher. Meanwhile, the awesome...
- 10/3/2022
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Legendary director Walter Hill has returned, after far too long, with a new western called “Dead for a Dollar” (in theaters and on PVOD now). But in a new interview with Moviemaker Magazine, he addressed the controversy that surrounded, and ultimately derailed, his last movie – 2016’s “The Assignment,” saying that the criticism of the film was “unfortunate.”
To explain: “The Assignment,” which was initially titled “Tomboy” and then “(Re) Assignment,” is a trashy little neo-noir. It was originally written back in 1978 and its story – of a hitman who becomes a woman (Michelle Rodriguez) thanks to an evil scientist (Sigourney Weaver) – might have been given a pass as recently as Hill’s stint on HBO’s “Tales From the Crypt.” But in 2016, it came across (to some) as callous and cruel. Critics objected (loudly) to its portrayal of trans people, which was seen as simplistic and overwrought.
When asked about “The Assignment,...
To explain: “The Assignment,” which was initially titled “Tomboy” and then “(Re) Assignment,” is a trashy little neo-noir. It was originally written back in 1978 and its story – of a hitman who becomes a woman (Michelle Rodriguez) thanks to an evil scientist (Sigourney Weaver) – might have been given a pass as recently as Hill’s stint on HBO’s “Tales From the Crypt.” But in 2016, it came across (to some) as callous and cruel. Critics objected (loudly) to its portrayal of trans people, which was seen as simplistic and overwrought.
When asked about “The Assignment,...
- 10/1/2022
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
This review originally ran Sept. 6, 2022, for the film’s world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
Maybe you can judge a film by its title. Consider “Dead for a Dollar:” It certainly sounds like a Western, doesn’t it? The “dollar” might call to mind some of the classics of the genre, while the “dead” at least promises a few good shoot-outs, a bit of bloody fun.
Only taken together, the name does have a somewhat frictionless quality — “timeless,” if you want to be generous, “generic” if you don’t. Which makes it so perfectly apt for Walter Hill’s perfectly perfunctory new film.
The fact that the filmmaker behind “48 Hrs.” and “The Warriors” will be honored with a career achievement prize at this year’s Venice Film Festival no doubt pushed his latest, low-budget Western towards such a tony debut, while the cast of Willem Dafoe and...
Maybe you can judge a film by its title. Consider “Dead for a Dollar:” It certainly sounds like a Western, doesn’t it? The “dollar” might call to mind some of the classics of the genre, while the “dead” at least promises a few good shoot-outs, a bit of bloody fun.
Only taken together, the name does have a somewhat frictionless quality — “timeless,” if you want to be generous, “generic” if you don’t. Which makes it so perfectly apt for Walter Hill’s perfectly perfunctory new film.
The fact that the filmmaker behind “48 Hrs.” and “The Warriors” will be honored with a career achievement prize at this year’s Venice Film Festival no doubt pushed his latest, low-budget Western towards such a tony debut, while the cast of Willem Dafoe and...
- 9/30/2022
- by Ben Croll
- The Wrap
Eddie Murphy turned 61 years old this year, which makes him roughly the same age John Wayne was when he played the out-to-pasture codger Rooster Cogburn in "True Grit." That film, and Wayne's subsequent Westerns, had an elegiac, one-last-ride feeling to them. Yes, the Duke's cancer was in remission at this point, but he still looked washed. When he finally succumbed to the disease on the eve of the 1980s, the book quietly closed on an outmoded era of Hollywood filmmaking. It was time. Of all the golden age stars, Wayne was uniquely unsuited to the coked-up, strip-club glitz pioneered by producing teams like Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer and Jon Peters/Peter Guber.
Of all the big-screen '80s superstars, no one was more at home in this olio of excess than Eddie Murphy. His fast-talking, nimble-minded riffing was perfectly attuned to the hurtling energy of the decade's blockbuster action-comedies. Murphy...
Of all the big-screen '80s superstars, no one was more at home in this olio of excess than Eddie Murphy. His fast-talking, nimble-minded riffing was perfectly attuned to the hurtling energy of the decade's blockbuster action-comedies. Murphy...
- 9/21/2022
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Eddie Murphy was the surest of bets in the 1980s. At the age of 19, he single-handedly yanked "Saturday Night Live" back from the brink of cancellation after the departure of the original cast, and was all of 21 when he shot to big-screen stardom opposite Nick Nolte in Walter Hill's action-comedy classic, "48 Hrs." His second feature, "Trading Places," was also a critical and commercial hit, while his stand-up LP "Eddie Murphy: Comedian" went platinum. By 1984, Murphy was so hot, Paramount inserted him into the finished Dudley Moore comedy "Best Defense" in the hopes that he could enliven the deathly unfunny film with his ad-libbed brilliance. It didn't work, but no one held it against Murphy. The movie was just that bad.
There was no question that Murphy had turned into one of Hollywood's biggest stars overnight, but his first two hits had been two-handers. He had yet to carry a film on his own.
There was no question that Murphy had turned into one of Hollywood's biggest stars overnight, but his first two hits had been two-handers. He had yet to carry a film on his own.
- 9/11/2022
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
“48 Hrs” and “The Warriors” director Walter Hill is set to receive the Cartier Glory to the Filmmaker Award for his lifetime of achievements at the Venice International Film Festival this year. But while he’s there, the 80-year-old director is also premiering a new film. “Dead for a Dollar” stars Christoph Waltz as an Old West bounty hunter (where have we seen that one before?) who confronts an old foe while in the middle of an important mission.
“Dead for a Dollar” stars Christoph Waltz, Willem Dafoe, Rachel Brosnahan, Hamish Linklater, Benjamin Bratt, Guy Burnet, Brandon Scott, and Scott Peat. Walter Hill directed the film, working from a script he co-wrote with Matt Harris.
The official synopsis for “Dead for a Dollar” reads: “Veteran bounty hunter Max Borlund is deep into Mexico where he encounters professional gambler and outlaw Joe Cribbens – a sworn enemy he sent to prison years before.
“Dead for a Dollar” stars Christoph Waltz, Willem Dafoe, Rachel Brosnahan, Hamish Linklater, Benjamin Bratt, Guy Burnet, Brandon Scott, and Scott Peat. Walter Hill directed the film, working from a script he co-wrote with Matt Harris.
The official synopsis for “Dead for a Dollar” reads: “Veteran bounty hunter Max Borlund is deep into Mexico where he encounters professional gambler and outlaw Joe Cribbens – a sworn enemy he sent to prison years before.
- 9/4/2022
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Walter Hill’s new western “Dead for a Dollar,” starring Christoph Waltz, Willem Dafoe and Rachel Brosnahan, is scheduled to premiere next week at the Venice International Film Festival and ahead of that premiere, a new trailer has debuted. Ready to ride out?
The official synopsis for the new movie follows: “Veteran bounty hunter Max Borlund (Waltz) is deep into Mexico where he encounters professional gambler and outlaw Joe Cribbens (Dafoe) – a sworn enemy he sent to prison years before. Max is on a mission to find and return Rachel Kidd (Brosnahan), the wife of a wealthy businessman, who as the story is told to Max, has been abducted by Buffalo Soldier Elijah Jones (Brandon Scott). Max is ultimately faced with a showdown to save honor.” Zounds!
Also Read:
Will This Fall’s Film Festivals Finally Kick Off a Normal Awards Season?
The impressive cast for “Dead for a Dollar” also includes Warren Burke,...
The official synopsis for the new movie follows: “Veteran bounty hunter Max Borlund (Waltz) is deep into Mexico where he encounters professional gambler and outlaw Joe Cribbens (Dafoe) – a sworn enemy he sent to prison years before. Max is on a mission to find and return Rachel Kidd (Brosnahan), the wife of a wealthy businessman, who as the story is told to Max, has been abducted by Buffalo Soldier Elijah Jones (Brandon Scott). Max is ultimately faced with a showdown to save honor.” Zounds!
Also Read:
Will This Fall’s Film Festivals Finally Kick Off a Normal Awards Season?
The impressive cast for “Dead for a Dollar” also includes Warren Burke,...
- 9/1/2022
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
At 80 years old, Walter Hill shows no signs of slowing down. The veteran director of influential action thrillers like “The Warriors,” “48 Hrs.,” and “Streets of Fire” has reinvented himself in recent years as a reliable gun-for-hire on prestige TV Westerns and crime movies like “Bullet to the Head” and “The Assignment” that fall somewhere between VOD schlock and ‘70s grindhouse revivalism.
Continue reading ‘Dead for a Dollar’ Trailer: Walter Hill’s New Western With Christoph Waltz & Willem Dafoe Premieres In Venice at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Dead for a Dollar’ Trailer: Walter Hill’s New Western With Christoph Waltz & Willem Dafoe Premieres In Venice at The Playlist.
- 9/1/2022
- by Jake Sweltz
- The Playlist
Walter Hill, the director behind “The Warriors” and “48 Hrs.,” is the recipient of the Cartier Glory to the Filmmaker Award from this year’s Venice International Film Festival, Cartier and La Biennale di Venezia announced Friday. His new film, “Dead For a Dollar,” will premiere at the festival.
“In the film world, one knows it’s a great honor to be invited for a special screening at the Venice Film Festival,” Hill said. “With my new film ‘Dead For A Dollar,’ this is the fourth time that I’ve been so fortunate, and now this award makes me yet more grateful. My thanks to Alberto Barbera, Giulia D’Agnolo Vallan and Arnaud Carrez from Cartier and the entire film community that has given me so much support and encouragement over the years. Thank you all, you’ve made an old man happy.”
“Dead For a Dollar” stars Christoph Waltz, Willem Dafoe,...
“In the film world, one knows it’s a great honor to be invited for a special screening at the Venice Film Festival,” Hill said. “With my new film ‘Dead For A Dollar,’ this is the fourth time that I’ve been so fortunate, and now this award makes me yet more grateful. My thanks to Alberto Barbera, Giulia D’Agnolo Vallan and Arnaud Carrez from Cartier and the entire film community that has given me so much support and encouragement over the years. Thank you all, you’ve made an old man happy.”
“Dead For a Dollar” stars Christoph Waltz, Willem Dafoe,...
- 8/12/2022
- by Carson Burton
- Variety Film + TV
Prime Video’s new reimagining of the 1989 classic Road House starring Jake Gyllenhaal is gearing up as it has set Billy Magnussen, Daniela Melchior, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Lukas Gage, Hannah Love Lanier, Travis Van Winkle, B.K. Cannon, Arturo Castro, Dominique Columbus, Beau Knapp and Bob Menery to join the cast. Doug Liman is directing from a script written by Anthony Bagarozzi & Charles Mondry. Joel Silver is producing for his company, Silver Pictures. JJ Hook, Alison Winter, and Aaron Auch will serve as executive producers.
“Road House is a homerun for us. Not only is it a nod to fans of the original, but it is also a big, fun, broad audience movie,” said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Joel, Doug, and this great cast led by Jake Gyllenhaal, and for them to come together to reimagine the classic MGM film as an action-packed adventure for our global audience.
“Road House is a homerun for us. Not only is it a nod to fans of the original, but it is also a big, fun, broad audience movie,” said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Joel, Doug, and this great cast led by Jake Gyllenhaal, and for them to come together to reimagine the classic MGM film as an action-packed adventure for our global audience.
- 8/2/2022
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
With his Netflix special “Rothaniel” continuing to attract audiences, Jerrod Carmichael is on a hot streak. But even during Carmichael’s current rise, there are several projects he’s admitted he’s had to put aside. In a recent interview with GQ, he discussed that “I love getting rid of irons [in the fire]” and at least two high-profile projects on Carmichael’s docket are not going forward.
One of them was a proposed remake of the 1982 feature “48 Hours” Carmichael was cowriting with Josh and Benny Safdie. The project was announced back in 2017 after the Safdies released their feature film “Good Time.” Carmichael would have also starred in the movie, which tells the story of a cop and a convict who team up to catch a pair of cop-killers.
The title refers to the fact that one of the characters, a former cop serving time for armed robbery, is released from prison...
One of them was a proposed remake of the 1982 feature “48 Hours” Carmichael was cowriting with Josh and Benny Safdie. The project was announced back in 2017 after the Safdies released their feature film “Good Time.” Carmichael would have also starred in the movie, which tells the story of a cop and a convict who team up to catch a pair of cop-killers.
The title refers to the fact that one of the characters, a former cop serving time for armed robbery, is released from prison...
- 6/19/2022
- by Kristen Lopez
- Indiewire
Composers Christophe Beck and the Newton Brothers were among top honorees at Thursday night’s Sesac Film and Television Composer Awards in Santa Monica, California.
Beck was cited for his music for last year’s action comedy “Free Guy,” while the Newton Brothers (Andy Grush and Taylor Stewart) earned their award for scoring the action-horror film “The Forever Purge.”
Television composers honored for popular series included Danny Lux, Jon Ehrlich, Gabriel Mann (“A Million Little Things”) and Paul Buckley (“Odd Squad”).
Scott Jungmichel, recently named president and COO of Sesac Performing Rights, greeted the crowd, while Erin Collins, VP of film, television and developing media, announced that Sesac’s Reel Change: The Fund for Diversity in Film Scoring program (designed to support traditionally underrepresented groups) had recently funded projects for 12 composers, amounting to nearly 200,000.
Beck was honored in two other arenas, for performances of his music on cable and streaming...
Beck was cited for his music for last year’s action comedy “Free Guy,” while the Newton Brothers (Andy Grush and Taylor Stewart) earned their award for scoring the action-horror film “The Forever Purge.”
Television composers honored for popular series included Danny Lux, Jon Ehrlich, Gabriel Mann (“A Million Little Things”) and Paul Buckley (“Odd Squad”).
Scott Jungmichel, recently named president and COO of Sesac Performing Rights, greeted the crowd, while Erin Collins, VP of film, television and developing media, announced that Sesac’s Reel Change: The Fund for Diversity in Film Scoring program (designed to support traditionally underrepresented groups) had recently funded projects for 12 composers, amounting to nearly 200,000.
Beck was honored in two other arenas, for performances of his music on cable and streaming...
- 6/3/2022
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Studiocanal presents the brand-new restorations of two classics from legendary director Enzo G Castellari (The Inglorious Bastards) – the stunning Poliziotteschi crime thriller High Crime (1973), starring Franco Nero (Django) and said to have been inspired by Bullitt; and iconic Spaghetti Western Kill Them All And Come Back Alone (1968), starring Chuck Connors (Branded). And a new release of the superb action thriller Extreme Prejudice starring Nick Nolte (48 Hours) and Powers Boothe (Southern Comfort), directed by Walter Hill (The Warriors). All available to buy on Blu-ray for the first time and on DVD and Digital from 6th June.
To celebrate, we are giving away a Blu-ray of each film to one lucky winner!
Please note: This competition is open to UK residents only
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The Small Print
Open to UK residents only The competition will close 20th June 2022 at 23.59 GMT The winner will be picked at random from entries received...
To celebrate, we are giving away a Blu-ray of each film to one lucky winner!
Please note: This competition is open to UK residents only
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The Small Print
Open to UK residents only The competition will close 20th June 2022 at 23.59 GMT The winner will be picked at random from entries received...
- 6/1/2022
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Studiocanal presents the brand-new restorations of two classics from legendary director Enzo G Castellari (The Inglorious Bastards) – the stunning Poliziotteschi crime thriller High Crime (1973), starring Franco Nero (Django) and said to have been inspired by Bullitt; and iconic Spaghetti Western Kill Them All And Come Back Alone (1968), starring Chuck Connors (Branded). And a new release of the superb action thriller Extreme Prejudice starring Nick Nolte (48 Hours) and Powers Boothe (Southern Comfort), directed by Walter Hill (The Warriors). All available to buy on Blu-ray for the first time and on DVD and Digital from 6th June.
To celebrate, we are giving away a Blu-ray of each film to one lucky winner! To win, all you have to do is answer the following question:
Enzo G Castellari also directed which of the following films? Was it:
a) Fort Apache: The Bronx
b) A Bronx Tale
c) Escape from the Bronx
Email your answer to NerdlyComps@gmail.
To celebrate, we are giving away a Blu-ray of each film to one lucky winner! To win, all you have to do is answer the following question:
Enzo G Castellari also directed which of the following films? Was it:
a) Fort Apache: The Bronx
b) A Bronx Tale
c) Escape from the Bronx
Email your answer to NerdlyComps@gmail.
- 5/30/2022
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
This series has been a regular part of CBS' Saturday night schedule since 2004 so it's hard to imagine that it would be cancelled by the network anytime soon. Could CBS move this program to another night or, is it on Saturday nights to stay? Will the program ever be cancelled? Stay tuned. Status Update Below.
A documentary and newsmagazine series, the 48 Hours TV show dives into the most intriguing and compelling true crime cases. The series, which premiered in 1988, has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and, along the way, changed lives. Correspondents include Maureen Maher, Erin Moriarty, Richard Schlesinger, Tracy Smith, and Peter Van Sant.
Read More…...
A documentary and newsmagazine series, the 48 Hours TV show dives into the most intriguing and compelling true crime cases. The series, which premiered in 1988, has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and, along the way, changed lives. Correspondents include Maureen Maher, Erin Moriarty, Richard Schlesinger, Tracy Smith, and Peter Van Sant.
Read More…...
- 5/19/2022
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
The Saturday night investigations will continue. The 48 Hours series has been renewed for a 35th season on CBS.
A documentary and newsmagazine series, the 48 Hours TV show dives into the most intriguing and compelling true crime cases. The series, which premiered in 1988, has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and, along the way, changed lives. Correspondents include Maureen Maher, Erin Moriarty, Richard Schlesinger, Tracy Smith, and Peter Van Sant. Read More…...
A documentary and newsmagazine series, the 48 Hours TV show dives into the most intriguing and compelling true crime cases. The series, which premiered in 1988, has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and, along the way, changed lives. Correspondents include Maureen Maher, Erin Moriarty, Richard Schlesinger, Tracy Smith, and Peter Van Sant. Read More…...
- 5/18/2022
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
The Tiffany network has announced its plans for the 2022-23 television season. Returning CBS shows include 48 Hours, 60 Minutes, The Amazing Race, Blue Bloods, Bob ♥ Abishola, CSI: Vegas, The Equalizer, FBI, FBI: International, FBI: Most Wanted, Ghosts, NCIS, NCIS: Hawai'i, NCIS: Los Angeles, The Neighborhood, Secret Celebrity Renovation, Survivor, Swat, Tough As Nails, and Young Sheldon.
New shows for 2022-23 include East New York, Fire Country, Lingo, The Real Love Boat, So Help Me Todd, Superfan, and True Lies.
Here's the upcoming schedule and additional information from CBS. Premiere dates will be announced this summer.
CBS Television Network 2022-2023 Primetime Schedule
(N=New, Ntp=New Time Period) All Times Et/Pt
Monday
8:00-8:30 Pm The Neighborhood
8:30-9:00 Pm Bob ♥ Abishola
9:00-10:00 Pm NCIS
10:00-11:00 Pm NCIS: Hawai`I
Tuesday
8:00-9:00 Pm FBI...
New shows for 2022-23 include East New York, Fire Country, Lingo, The Real Love Boat, So Help Me Todd, Superfan, and True Lies.
Here's the upcoming schedule and additional information from CBS. Premiere dates will be announced this summer.
CBS Television Network 2022-2023 Primetime Schedule
(N=New, Ntp=New Time Period) All Times Et/Pt
Monday
8:00-8:30 Pm The Neighborhood
8:30-9:00 Pm Bob ♥ Abishola
9:00-10:00 Pm NCIS
10:00-11:00 Pm NCIS: Hawai`I
Tuesday
8:00-9:00 Pm FBI...
- 5/18/2022
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
CBS has unveiled their fall 2022 schedule, which largely keeps intact the schedule the broadcaster established last season.
The network is very heavy on drama programming this year, with only four comedies on the fall schedule. CBS picked up four new dramas for next season, while also passing on all of their comedy pilots. To that end, only Mondays and Thursdays on CBS will feature any comedy programming. Three of the new dramas — “Fire Country,” “East New York,” and “So Help Me Todd” — will bow in the fall, while the series adaptation of “True Lies” will be held for midseason.
Both Monday and Tuesday nights remain the same as last fall. Monday leads off with the comedies “The Neighborhood” followed by “Bob Hearts Abishola,” with “NCIS” and “NCIS: Hawaii” closing out the night in the 9 p.m. Et and 10 p.m. Et timeslots respectively. Tuesdays still belong to Dick Wolf’s “FBI” franchise,...
The network is very heavy on drama programming this year, with only four comedies on the fall schedule. CBS picked up four new dramas for next season, while also passing on all of their comedy pilots. To that end, only Mondays and Thursdays on CBS will feature any comedy programming. Three of the new dramas — “Fire Country,” “East New York,” and “So Help Me Todd” — will bow in the fall, while the series adaptation of “True Lies” will be held for midseason.
Both Monday and Tuesday nights remain the same as last fall. Monday leads off with the comedies “The Neighborhood” followed by “Bob Hearts Abishola,” with “NCIS” and “NCIS: Hawaii” closing out the night in the 9 p.m. Et and 10 p.m. Et timeslots respectively. Tuesdays still belong to Dick Wolf’s “FBI” franchise,...
- 5/18/2022
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
CBS is moving “NCIS: Los Angeles” to Sunday nights at 10 p.m. this fall, teaming it up with “The Equalizer” and new drama “East New York.”
The network announced its fall schedule on Wednesday morning, with the “FBI” franchise shows returning across Tuesday night. Meanwhile, new reality romance series “The Real Love Boat” joins Wednesdays, following “Survivor” and “The Amazing Race.”
Sophomore comedy “Ghosts” will air after “Young Sheldon” on Thursday nights, followed by “humorous legal drama” (CBS’ description) “So Help Me Todd,” starring Marcia Gay Harden and “Pitch Perfect” alum Skylar Astin.
The new Jerry Bruckheimer drama, inspired by “Seal Team” star Max Thierot’s experiences — “Fire Country” — will follow “S.Wa.T.” at 8 p.m. Et/Pt and air before the return of “Blue Bloods” at 10 p.m. Et/Pt on Fridays.
Also Read:
CBS Picks Up ‘True Lies’ to Series
“CBS had another incredible season. In addition...
The network announced its fall schedule on Wednesday morning, with the “FBI” franchise shows returning across Tuesday night. Meanwhile, new reality romance series “The Real Love Boat” joins Wednesdays, following “Survivor” and “The Amazing Race.”
Sophomore comedy “Ghosts” will air after “Young Sheldon” on Thursday nights, followed by “humorous legal drama” (CBS’ description) “So Help Me Todd,” starring Marcia Gay Harden and “Pitch Perfect” alum Skylar Astin.
The new Jerry Bruckheimer drama, inspired by “Seal Team” star Max Thierot’s experiences — “Fire Country” — will follow “S.Wa.T.” at 8 p.m. Et/Pt and air before the return of “Blue Bloods” at 10 p.m. Et/Pt on Fridays.
Also Read:
CBS Picks Up ‘True Lies’ to Series
“CBS had another incredible season. In addition...
- 5/18/2022
- by Jolie Lash
- The Wrap
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