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Joey King gets the support of her director husband Steven Piet as the 2024 Wif Max Mara Face of the Future Award at an exclusive cocktail event at the Chateau Marmont on Wednesday (October 23) in Los Angeles.

The 25-year-old actress is the 19th recipient of the annual prestigious award in recognition of her extraordinary acting achievement and embodiment of timeless style and grace.

Maria Giulia Prezioso Maramotti, granddaughter of the founder and Max Mara Fashion Group Board Member, hosted the celebration that featured music spun by DJ Mia Moretti.

Other talent in attendance include Elizabeth Banks, Lori Harvey, Justine Lupe, Ashley Benson, Lucy Hale, Sarah Hyland, Liza Koshy, Odeya Rush, Kathy Hilton, Mia Moretti, Larsen Thompson, Johnny Sibilly, Dylan Mulvaney, Tina Craig, Emma Brooks, Shanina Shaik, Sara Silva, Carmella Rose, Olivia Holt, Sophia Culpo, Jessica Wang, Abigail Cowen, Lexi Underwood, Mishel Prada, Sarah Jeffrey, Danielle Macdonald, Sasha Pieterse, Julia Butters, Tania Sarin,...

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Family Pack is a French adventure fantasy comedy film directed by François Uzan who also co-wrote the screenplay with Céleste Balin and Hervé Marly. Based on the best-selling game The Werewolves of Miller’s Hollow, the Netflix film follows a family who are transported back in time after playing a card game where they have to unmask werewolves if they want to return home. Family Pack stars Franck Dubosc, Jean Reno, Suzanne Clément, Grégory Fitoussi, Bruno Gouery, Jonathan Lambert, and Lisa Do Couto. So, if you loved the fun adventure, hilarious comedy, and compelling characters in Netflix’s Family Pack here are some similar movies you should check out next.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Sony Pictures

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is an adventure comedy film directed by Jake Kasdan from...

Quite a few celebs are speaking out about the remaining hostages being held by Hamas.

Chelsea Handler, Connie Britton, Mayim Bialik, Andy Cohen, Melissa Rivers and more have signed an open letter urging the Biden-Harris administration to bring the 101 hostages, which include five Americans, back home.

The letter was organized by Jewish advocacy groups Stop Antisemitism, End Jew Hatred, 2024 New Voices and Stand With Us, and was signed by both Jewish and non-Jewish artists and performers, ranging from film and television, to fashion, reality TV and social media.

Keep reading to find out more…

“We are artists who want sustainable peace in the Middle East and recognize that the first essential step towards that peace is Hamas returning the 101 remaining hostages, including five Americans, who were stolen from their lives on October 7th,” the letter begins. “We cannot afford to stand by silently while Hamas brutally executes more innocent hostages.

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Uglies is a sci-fi drama film directed by McG from a screenplay co-written by Jacob Forman, Vanessa Taylor, and Whit Anderson. Based on the 2005 dystopian novel of the same name by author Scott Westerfeld, the Netflix film is set in a world with enforced beauty standards and it follows the story of Tally Youngblood, who has been waiting for her beauty surgery but when one of her friend goes missing, she goes on an adventure which helps her learn about herself and the world she is living in. Uglies stars Joey King in the lead role with Chase Stokes, Keith Powers, Laverne Cox, Brianne Tju, Jan Luis Castellanos, and Kevin Miles starring in supporting roles. If you loved the rebellious nature, interesting dystopian world, and compelling characters in Uglies here are some similar movies you should check out next.

The house of Armani always has a strong showing at the Venice Film Festival — this is Italy, after all — and that was even more true on Friday night at Palazzo del Cinema. A parade of stars in Armani ensembles assembled on the red carpet ahead of the world premiere of Babygirl, the erotic thriller from Halina Reijn starring Oscar winner Nicole Kidman.

There were faces of Armani Beauty like Lili Reinhart and Camila Mendes of Riverdale fame and Chase Stokes, star of Outer Banks, as well as one of the breakout stars of Alien: Romulus, Isabella Merced. Also making the rounds were Ncuti Gatwa, Madisin Rian, Odeya Rush and Christopher Briney. The showing continued what has already been a high-profile festival at this year’s 81st installment.

The Oscar-winning star of festival selection Disclaimer, Cate Blanchett, has already made several appearances on the red carpet dressed in looks by Armani and Armani Privé.

The Venice Film Festival finally got to meet Halina Reijn’s Babygirl.

The erotic thriller from A24 had its world premiere inside Palazzo del Cinema on Friday evening on the Lido. The capacity crowd seated inside Sala Grande responded with a wild standing ovation for star Nicole Kidman and her cast of collaborators Harris Dickinson, Antonio Banderas and Sophie Wilde. The audience jumped to their feet as the credits rolled with warm, enthusiastic applause and whoops and hollers for the cast, especially Kidman. The standing ovation continued for a solid seven minutes with waves of clapping and cheering greeting Kidman as she rose, waved to the crowd and walked out of the theater. “You nailed it!” yelled one audience member. “Slayed it! Erotic thriller slay!”

The love started early when Kidman and crew arrived to the scene. Fans lining the barricade erupted with cheers as she made her entrance in...

At a Friday afternoon press conference, Nicole Kidman said that the anticipation of presenting the world premiere of her new erotic thriller Babygirl had her feeling “exposed and vulnerable and frightened.” But those emotions certainly were not on display as the Oscar-winning actress hit the red carpet at Palazzo del Cinema in Venice later that night.

Kidman looked every bit like the confident movie star as she faced the crush of photographers, press and adoring fans in an avant-garde couture creation by Daniel Roseberry for Schiaparelli. Fans lining the barricade erupted with cheers as she made her entrance in a striking ensemble that featured a corset bustier in nude organza embroidered with black sequins that cascaded into black fringes. The look was paired with a long black velvet skirt and stilettos. Kidman greeted her director Halina Reijn, dressed in a white cape, and the two gathered for a warm embrace.

Joey King is always there for her friends and made sure to support longtime Bff Sabrina Carpetner on her big night!

The 25-year-old actress stepped out with older sister Hunter King at the 2024 Variety Power of Young Hollywood Party at Santa Monica Proper Hotel on Thursday (August 8) in Santa Monica, Calif.

Sabrina was one of three honorees at the event and we have photos of all the attendees. Joey and Hunter were also seen hanging out with Odeya Rush inside the party.

This has been an exciting year for Joey, Hunter, and Sabrina in all of their careers.

Joey has already released three projects this year – Hulu’s We Were the Lucky Ones, Netflix’s A Family Affair, and the animated film Despicable Me 4 – and she has the Netflix YA sci-fi film Uglies on the way soon.

Hunter just wrapped production on Hallmark Channel’s upcoming Kansas City Chiefs-themed Christmas movie Holiday Touchdown,...

The 2024 Variety Power of Young Hollywood Party was filled with so many major stars and emerging talent, including honorees Sabrina Carpenter, Marcello Hernández and Sadie Sink.

The young stars posed with their awards at the event held at Santa Monica Proper Hotel on Thursday (August 8) in Santa Monica, Calif.

The three were featured on separate Variety Power of Young Hollywood covers, as the mag recognizes the annual Young Hollywood Impact list, profiling the top young actors, musicians and creators in the industry.

You can check out highlights from Sabrina‘s cover feature Here, from Marcello‘s feature Here and Sadie‘s highlights Here!

In addition to the three stars above, there were so many other young Hollywood stars in attendance, from actors Joey King and Lukas Gage, to singers Charlotte Lawrence and Lizzy McAlpine, as well as content creators like Jake Shane, Chris Olsen and James Charles.

Keep reading to find out more…...

It’s the execution that matters in thrillers, and Dangerous Waters is one film that dwindles a lot in that department. Directed by John Barr, the film is one of the last performances by Ray Liotta, and this movie is dedicated to his memory. Besides that, the interesting part about this movie is that there is a lot of emphasis on grit and survival in the plot. The whole film screams of being a low-budget cult film, but there just isn’t that ‘x factor’ present to make it so. Odeya Rush, Eric Dane, and Saffron Burrows are good performers who understand the tone of the film, and they are cast quite brilliantly, but the structure and believability of the scenario of the film don’t do justice to the otherwise decent thriller.

Spoilers Ahead

Plot Synopsis: What Happens In The Film?

Rose is skeptical, but as it is her mother’s fortieth birthday,...

Christmas Books That Were Turned Into Movies ( Photo Credit – IMDb )

Not everyone likes reading books. It demands a big chunk of your time and a lot of concentration. And come on, let’s be real, why bother when you can easily watch a two-hour movie adaptation that covers all the important scenes and leaves out all the fillers? Besides, even for the most avid book readers, diving into Christmas-themed books might not be very high up on their list of holiday priorities. So, what better way to fill in that book void on Christmas than by watching some Christmas films based on books?

Here are 5 holiday-themed books that were turned into movies.

1. The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)

“The Man Who Invented Christmas” is a Charles Dickens biographical film based on a book written by Les Standiford. It was released on November 22, 2017, in Canada and was directed by Bharat Nalluri. It stars Dan Stevens,...

One of the things that most drew actress Odeya Rush to “Dangerous Waters” was how the story develops and ends. In the film, now available on demand, Rush — plays Rose alongside Eric Dane and the late Ray Liotta.

Rose’s mother Alma (Saffron Burrows) drags her daughter along on a sailing trip with Derek Stipes (Eric Dane), Alma’s new boyfriend. The plan is to chart a course to Bermuda, but things go wildly wrong along the way. Rose first grows suspicious of Derek because he has guns stowed on his boat. Unfortunately, some of his old colleagues, now seemingly enemies, raid Derek’s boat and shoot Rose’s mother.

“It was complicated because Rose has really good instincts and she’s seen her mom get hurt. She’s taking the parental role. Rose smells out Derek from the beginning and she still wants her mom to be happy,” Rush...

Ray Liotta's "powerful" final scene in 'Dangerous Waters' blew the cast and crew away.The 'Goodfellas' star – who died aged 67 while the picture was being filmed in the Dominican Republic in May last year – epic performance in his closing scene as The Captain left a lasting impression on director John Barr.The filmmaker told MovieWeb: "What he achieves in a six-or-seven-minute span is just art."The arc that he goes through, from innocent to terrifying, it's so powerful and it's a testament to how incredible he was as an actor."The scene captures Liotta's character's shift from good to evil and was filmed several times as a result. Barr was left astounded at how the 'Field of Dreams' actor would become more and more formidable with each take.He explained: "The way that we played that scene was really interesting, because we talked about it a lot,...

Dangerous Waters director John Barr and star Odeya Rush are recalling the late Ray Liotta’s “powerful” final scene.

During an interview with MovieWeb, published online Tuesday, the filmmaker praised the Goodfellas star as an actor and detailed his final scene in one of his last movie roles, saying it “was super impressive to watch.”

Liotta died last year at the age of 67. His rep told The Hollywood Reporter at the time that he died in his sleep in his hotel room while in the Dominican Republic shooting the movie.

“What he achieves in a six- or seven-minute span is just art,” Barr said. “The arc that he goes through, from innocent to terrifying, it’s so powerful, and it’s a testament to how incredible he was as an actor.”

He continued, “The way that we played that scene was really interesting, because we talked about it a lot,...

Dangerous Waters is a notable release for the fact that it’s Ray Liotta’s very final turn, though it should also be commended for an impressive leading performance too, from Israeli-American actress Odeya Rush. To mark the film’s release we had the pleasure in speaking to her via Zoom, as she talks about the challenges in shooting a film that requirs such physicality, and her own thoughts on the action genre.

She also talks about her experience working alongside the iconic Liotta, while she looks back on other noteworthy collaborations, such as Greta Gerwig in Ladybird, and Larry David in Curb, which we naturally are intrigued to discuss.

Watch the full interview with Odeya Rush here:

Synopsis

A sailing adventure to Bermuda spirals out of control when 19-year-old Rose discovers the hidden depths of her mother’s new boyfriend and his connection to a dark underworld led by The Captain.

Odeya Rush gets a decent showcase in John Barr’s undeniably entertaining family drama, unsubtle and faintly ludicrous

After a shaky start on land, this maritime thriller unexpectedly turns into a passable showcase for its young Israeli-American star Odeya Rush, who we see transform from sullen teenager to crack-shot commando in a little over 90 minutes. Claustrophobic family drama, survivalist ordeal and balls-to-the-wall action barnstormer – any one of these would have amply filled out a single film. But director John Barr chucks all three into an unsubtle and faintly ludicrous outing that at least is never boring.

Rose (Rush) gets an invite on board a Bermuda-bound yacht, via her mother Alma (Saffron Burrows) who is being romanced by private security consultant Derek (Eric Dane). Grossed out by their middle-aged canoodling, Rose is nevertheless chuffed for her mother, who has raised her solo. But she begins to have suspicions about Alma’s...

"Dangerous Waters" is a new live-action 'survival thriller', directed by John Barr, starring Odeya Rush, Eric Dane, Saffron Burrows and Ray Liotta. releasing October 13, 2023 on demand and in theaters:

"...19-year-old 'Rose' (Odeya Rush) lives a tough, small-town life in Florida with her single mother 'Alma' (Saffron Burrows). Their luck seems to take a turn when Alma’s new businessman boyfriend, 'Derek' (Eric Dane), whisks them away on a sailing adventure to Bermuda.

"While at sea, Derek’s 'business' is revealed to be less than legitimate when their boat is attacked by savage villains, set on fire, and Alma is killed.

"Distraught and persecuted by Derek and 'The Captain' (Ray Liotta), Rose unearths a primal instinct of survival and a terrifying need for vengeance..."

Click the images to enlarge...

Ray Liotta (Goodfellas) passed away back in May of 2022 while he was in the Dominican Republic for the filming of the thriller Dangerous Waters. That movie has since been completed and is scheduled to reach theatres and VOD on October 13th – and with that date just a month away, a trailer for Dangerous Waters has arrived online. You can check it out in the embed above.

John Barr, who made his feature directorial debut with the 2020 thriller Blood and Money, directed Dangerous Waters and crafted the story for the film with screenwriter Mark Jackson. Here’s the synopsis: A sailing adventure spirals out of control in this tightly wound-survival thriller. 19-year-old Rose lives a tough, small-town life in Florida with her single mother Alma. Their luck seems to take a turn when Alma’s new businessman boyfriend, Derek, whisks them away on a sailing adventure to Bermuda. While at sea,...

A year following his passing, Ray Liotta‘s cause of death has been revealed. The 67-year-old actor died in his sleep from pulmonary edema and acute heart failure, according to reports. Documents obtained say the Goodfellas star had fluid in his lungs, suffered from respiratory issues, and his death was “categorized as natural and nonviolent.” Reports also state Liotta was battling atherosclerosis, which builds up thick plaque in the arteries. The New Jersey native died in May 2022 while filming the movie Dangerous Waters in the Dominican Republic. The actor is survived by his fiancée Jacy Nittolo and his now-24-year-old daughter, Karsen. The thriller Dangerous Waters has yet to be released and is directed by John Barr. Eric Dane, Saffron Burrows, and Odeya Rush also co-star. The Cocaine Bear actor received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame posthumously in February 2023, with his daughter paying tribute to her father.

"Cha Cha Real Smooth" is a comedy-drama feature, written, directed by Cooper Raiff, produced by and starring Dakota Johnson ("Madame Web"), with Raúl Castillo, Odeya Rush, Evan Assante, Vanessa Burghardt, Brad Garrett and Leslie Mann, now streaming on AppleTV+:

"...fresh out of college and without a clear life path going forward, 22-year-old 'Andrew' is stuck back at home with his family in New Jersey. 

"But if there's one thing that belongs on his nonexistent résumé, it's how to get a party started...

"...which lands him the perfect job of motivational dancing at the bar.

"When Andrew befriends a local mom, 'Domino' and her daughter, 'Lola', he finally discovers a future he wants...

"...even if it might not be his own..."

Click the images to enlarge...

Celebrity deaths have come fast and hit hard so far in the past few years. However, the death of actor Ray Liotta in 2022 hit movie fans especially hard, given the actor’s decades of prominence in Hollywood. Now Liotta’s final movie sits in an uncertain place. Here’s what we know so far about what might become of Dangerous Waters and Liotta’s role in the film.

Ray Liotta died in May 2022 at 67 Actor Ray Liotta attends SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Conversations with Ray Liotta at SAG-AFTRA Foundation Screening Room on June 5, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. | Vincent Sandoval/Getty Images

Liotta made his film debut in 1983’s The Lonely Lady. But it would only take a few years for the actor to start breaking into the mainstream. Following 1986’s Something Wild, the actor went on to appear in such hits as Field of Dreams, Goodfellas, Cop Land, and Hannibal over the next 15 years.

"Cha Cha Real Smooth" is the 2022 comedy-drama feature, written and directed by Cooper Raiff, produced by and starring Dakota Johnson ("Madame Web"), with Raúl Castillo, Odeya Rush, Evan Assante, Vanessa Burghardt, Brad Garrett and Leslie Mann, now streaming on AppleTV+:

"...fresh out of college and without a clear life path going forward, 22-year-old 'Andrew' is stuck back at home with his family in New Jersey. 

"But if there's one thing that belongs on his nonexistent résumé, it's how to get a party started...

"...which lands him the perfect job of motivational dancing at the bar.

"When Andrew befriends a local mom, 'Domino' and her daughter, 'Lola', he finally discovers a future he wants...

"...even if it might not be his own..."

Click the images to enlarge...

A star-studded host committee, Academy Awards nominees and presenters, along with some of the most powerful industry influencers came together on March 11, 2023, for MPTF's 21st annual ‘Night Before’ benefit.

Bob Beitcher, George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, Angela Bassett, Christopher Nolan at MPTF Night Before Event

Credit/Copyright: Shutterstock

Funds raised will be used to support industry members and their families who benefit from MPTF’s charitable programs and services such as financial assistance, crisis counseling, caregiving support and of course the legendary retirement facility in Woodland Hills that is “home” to television and film veterans alike. Co-Chaired by Angela Bassett, Cate Blanchett, George Clooney, and Emma Thomas & Christopher Nolan, the annual event raised over $4.5 million, totaling over $100 million in the event’s history.

The 2023 host committee included a lineup of the industry’s most elite talent, including Austin Butler, Hong Chau, Kerry Condon, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ana de Armas, Paloma & Vin Diesel,...

Lyricist and composer Paul Williams will be honored by the 13th annual Guild of Music Supervisors awards with the 2023 Icon award at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles on March 5. The awards show will also be posthumously honoring former Sony Pictures Entertainment senior VP and music supervisor, Pilar McCurry.

Williams’ standards have been recorded by such decorated artists as Ray Charles, David Bowie, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Diana Ross, the Carpenters, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Luther Vandross and Willie Nelson, among others. He’s previously been recognized with six Oscars, nine Grammys, six Golden Globes, and two Emmy nominations.

“There is a strange, beautiful alchemy, that occurs when the perfect song placement transforms

both the scene and the song,” said Williams in a news release. “I have been graced with many opportunities to write music for picture in my career, and it feels like magic every single time.

Exclusive: CatchLight Studios today announced the launch of Nuts & Bolts, a new division specializing in production services, to be overseen by Executive Vice President of Production, Yolanda T. Cochran. The mission of Nuts & Bolts will be to service worldwide production, from basic production service and compliance requirements, up to full third-party production services and EP/producer oversight.

Cochran took on the role of SVP Live Action Production at ViacomCBS’ Kids & Family in the early days of the Covid pandemic, there overseeing scripted and unscripted series and specials for Nickelodeon & AwesomenessTV. Notable projects included Paramount+’s iCarly reboot, Nickelodeon’s Nick News revival and the launch of new series That Girl Lay Lay and NFL Slimetime.

The veteran executive previously served as VP Production at Walt Disney Television’s Freeform studio and network, overseeing such series as Good Trouble, The Bold Type, Siren and Motherland: Fort Salem, among others. She,...

Exclusive: Euphoria‘s Eric Dane will star alongside Kj Apa in the motorcycle racing film One Fast Move, from Gulfstream Pictures and Luber Roklin Entertainment, which has entered production in Atlanta.

In the action-adventure pic from writer-director Kelly Blatz, a dishonorably discharged soldier (Apa) seeks out his estranged father (Dane) to help him pursue his dream of racing Supersport motorcycles. While training, he meets a small-town aspiring singer who begins to break down the walls his father’s absence had built up. Gulfstream Pictures is providing full financing for the film, with Mike Karz and Bill Bindley producing for the company, in association with Matt Luber and Lena Roklin of Luber Roklin Entertainment.

One Fast Move is Gulfstream’s second project with Luber Roklin, following the Josephine Langford-led rom-com The Other Zoey, with Drew Starkey, Archie Renaux, Andie MacDowell, Heather Graham and Patrick Fabian, which is currently in post-production.

There might be coming-of-age films about the preteen experience of going to Bar-mitzvahs, but what about the party starters in the background?

In Cooper Raiff’s second feature film, “Cha Cha Real Smooth,” the writer-director moves on from telling the stories of college life in “S—house” to what life is like after college. Raiff sticks to the feel-good coming-of-age genre in this Sundance success. “

Cha Cha Real Smooth,” premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, earning the festival’s Audience Award. After the film’s festival success, AppleTV+ purchased the film’s distribution rights for 15 million dollars, but now that it’s out, how exactly can you watch it? All those answers below.

Also Read:

‘Cha Cha Real Smooth’ Film Review: Dakota Johnson in Charming Coming-of-Age Dramedy Is “Cha Cha Real Smooth” in Theaters or Streaming?

“Cha Cha Real Smooth” simultaneously premieres in select theaters and will be available to stream on AppleTV+ starting Friday,...

Mubi Go, which has helped buoy NYC’s arthouse market by offering members a free movie ticket a week at participating theaters, expands to LA today where the biz could really use a boost. The films are curated and the first is Apple’s Cha Cha Real Smooth.

Mubi, a global streaming service, production company and film distributor, launched Mubi Go in New York last fall and will continue expanding to major markets through 2022 with Chicago next. “We’re being very careful and methodical about the rollout,” said distribution chief Chris Wells.

Mubi members get Mubi Go as a perk. The company doesn’t release subscriber numbers but Wells said its NYC base jumped by 30 after it added Mubi Go.

Movie picks include its own releases, like Lingui, The Sacred Bonds, but mostly from other distributors from Drive My Car, The Power of the Dog and Passing to We’re...

Adventurous filmgoers who are looking for a bit of a break from the onslaught of Summer blockbusters may wish to take in this tale of a very different kind of cinema protagonist. And if you’ve just completed college, well then you may identify with this character. He does harken back a bit to the title hero of The Graduate, though his problems aren’t quite as catastrophic. Still, he’s at a crossroads, not sure which trail to pursue. And this somewhat odd title, well it refers to one possible path. Or, to build on the dance metaphor, it’s a lucrative side “hustle”. For a fella’ that’s “flailing about”, he wishes his life was confident like the lyric Cha Cha Real Smooth.

That “fella'” is Pittsburgh native Andrew who is a smitten pre-teen when we first meet him. He’s at a pal’s Bar Mitzvah with...

Ray Liotta had several films and a television series in the works before his sudden death on Thursday at age 67. At least two projects, Universal’s wild drug-filled thriller “Cocaine Bear” and the Apple TV Plus limited series “Black Bird,” had already completed production and should be released according to schedule, sources say.

Liotta died in his sleep while shooting “Dangerous Waters” in the Dominican Republic. The indie movie began production over a month ago, but it’s not clear where they were in terms of filming. John Barr is directing “Dangerous Waters,” a thriller about a sailing holiday that spirals out of control when a teenage daughter uncovers the dark past of her mother’s new boyfriend. The film also stars “You” actor Saffron Burrows, Odeya Rush (“Lady Bird”) and Eric Dane of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Euphoria” fame.

In a statement, “Dangerous Waters” producers did not comment on the...

“Goodfellas” star Ray Liotta has died at the age of 67.

A representative for Liotta confirms to IndieWire that the actor passed away in his sleep while filming “Dangerous Waters” in the Dominican Republic. Liotta is survived by his daughter Karsen Liotta. The star was engaged to be married to Jacy Nittolo.

Liotta was best known for portraying the rise and fall of mob man Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese’s 1990 classic, but also made a name for himself thanks to his charming and often menacing contributions to crime cinema beyond “Goodfellas.” He had starring roles in cult classic “Blow” and the “Silence of the Lambs” sequel “Hannibal,” as well as “Killing Them Softly” and “Identity,” always elevating a genre assignment to grittier and often profound places.

The Newark, New Jersey native with the steely blue eyes was coming off a string of hits including “Marriage Story,” “Sopranos” prequel film “The Many Saints of Newark,...

Sundance winner “Cha Cha Real Smooth,” the sophomore project from indie writer-director Cooper Raiff, has unveiled its official trailer. The film stars Raiff and Dakota Johnson in an unconventional love story between a college graduate and a single mom.

The movie follows 22-year-old Andrew (played by Raiff), who’s fresh out of college and stuck at home with his family in New Jersey, with no clear life path. Andrew has no ambition and no real skills, except for one: he knows how to get a party started. This skill lands him the perfect job of motivational dancing at the bar and bat mitzvahs for his younger brother’s classmates. Things change for Andrew when he meets a local mother named Domino, played by Johnson. He befriends the mom and her daughter, Lola, and finally discovers a future he wants.

The cast is rounded out by Brad Garrett, Leslie Mann, Raúl Castillo,...

On the heels of their Best Picture-winning Coda, Apple TV+ is gearing up for the release of another major Sundance acquisition: Cooper Raiff’s sophomore feature Cha Cha Real Smooth, which they picked up for around 15 million out of the festival. Also starring Dakota Johnson, Evan Assante, Vanessa Burghardt, Leslie Mann, Brad Garrett, Raúl Castillo, and Odeya Rush, the film follows a recent college graduate who finds a job as a party hype man at local bar and bat mitzvahs and strikes up a connection with Johnson’s character, who is married. Ahead of the June 17 release, the first trailer has now arrived.

In his review of Cha Cha Real Smooth, Jake Kring-Schreifels said, “It’s not exactly cool to be the nice guy these days, but Cooper Raiff is making a good case for them again. In each of the 24-year-old’s first two movies, his sensible zoomer characters...

Eric Dane, Odeya Rush, Ray Liotta and Saffron Burrows are set to star in “Dangerous Waters” from Signature Films.

Directed by and based on a story from John Barr (“Blood and Money”), with a script by Mark Jackson, the Dominican Republic-shot film centers on a sailing holiday that spirals out of control when a teenage daughter (“Cha Cha Real Smooth” star Rush) uncovers the dark past of her mother’s new boyfriend.

Producers include Rio Luna Films’ Suza Horvat and Signature Films’ Marc Goldberg. Executive producers are Capstone Global’s Christian Mercuri and Signature’s Sarah Gabriel and Gareth Williams, as well as co-producers Brianna Johnson and Ben Jacques.

Capstone Global will handle worldwide sales and introduce the film to buyers in Cannes later this month.

The project is the second feature film from Barr, who previously directed “Blood and Money” with Tom Berenger, and worked as a cinematographer on...

Odeya Rush, Eric Dane, Saffron Burrows and Ray Liotta are set to star in Dangerous Waters, from Blood And Money director John Barr.

The story, which is based on a script by Mark Jackson and a story by Barr, follows a sailing holiday which spirals out of control when a teenage daughter (Rush) uncovers the dark past of her mother’s new boyfriend.

The film is currently shooting in the Dominican Republic. It’s produced by Rio Luna Films’ Suza Horvat and Signature Films’ Marc Goldberg. Exec producers include Capstone Global’s Christian Mercuri and Signature’s Sarah Gabriel and Gareth Williams, as well as co-producers Brianna Johnson and Ben Jacques.

Capstone Global are handling worldwide sales and launching the project to buyers at Cannes this month.

The project is the second feature from Barr, who previously directed Blood And Money with Tom Berenger. The director was a cinematographer on projects including This Teacher,...

Saffron Burrows, Ray Liotta also in cast.

Odeya Rush, Eric Dane, Saffron Burrows and Ray Liotta have signed to star in John Barr’s Dangerous Waters, with production underway in the Dominican Republic.

US firm Capstone Global is handling worldwide sales and is introducing the film at Cannes.

Dangerous Waters sees a sailing holiday spiral out of control when a teenage daughter uncovers the dark past of her mother’s new boyfriend.

The film is based on a script by Mark Jackson and story by Barr. Producers are Suza Horvat for US firm Rio Luna Films, and Marc Goldberg for US-uk company Signature Films.

Odeya Rush, a star known for “Lady Bird” and “Cha Cha Real Smooth,” will star in a drama called “Dangerous Waters” set during a sailing holiday that spirals out of control.

John Barr (“Blood and Money”) is directing the film that will also star Eric Dane, Saffron Burrows and Ray Liotta. Filming is currently underway on the film in the Dominican Republic.

“Dangerous Waters” sees a teenage daughter slowly uncovering the dark past of her mother’s new boyfriend while out on a sailing vacation. Mark Jackson wrote the script, and Barr is the writer credited on the story.

Producers on “Dangerous Waters” include Rio Luna Films’ Suza Horvat and Signature Films’ Marc Goldberg. Executive producers include Capstone Global’s Christian Mercuri and Signature’s Sarah Gabriel and Gareth Williams, as well as co-producers Brianna Johnson and Ben Jacques.

Capstone Global will handle worldwide sales and introduce the film to buyers in Cannes.

Shark Bait: "A group of spring breakers are enjoying the trip of a lifetime on the sandy beaches of Mexico. As the sun rises after a night of partying, they steal a couple of jet skis and race out to sea. But bravado and bad decisions lead to a terrifying accident. Stranded miles from shore, the true horror begins when the group realizes they've drifted into shark-infested waters. With no way back and one friend badly bleeding, the group must quickly figure out how to survive the predator lurking in the waters below."

Directed by: James Nunn

Written by: Nick Saltrese

Starring: Holly Earl, Jack Trueman, Catherine Hannay, Malachi Pullar-Latchman, Thomas Flynn

In Theaters and Available on Digital and On Demand May 13, 2022

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Night Caller: "Following a successful run on the genre festival circuit, 123 Go Films has announced the North American VOD premiere of Chad Ferrin's Night Caller.

Stars: Sandra Oh, Fivel Stewart, MeeWha Alana Lee, Tom Yi, Odeya Rush, Dermot Mulroney | Written and Directed by Iris K. Shim

Sandra Oh fears she’s turning into her mother in Umma, the Sam Raimi-produced debut from writer-director Iris K. Shim. Using horror tropes to explore various elements of personal trauma, it’s light on scares, but compensates with strong character work and an emotionally engaging central dynamic.

Oh plays Amanda, a first-generation Korean-American woman who lives with her home-schooled teenage daughter Chrissy (Fivel Stewart) on a remote farm where they sell their own organic honey, with the help of a kind-hearted local shopkeeper (Dermot Mulroney). As the film begins, their main problem is that Amanda’s apparent allergy to electricity has begun to impact Chrissy’s burgeoning social life, especially after she befriends the shopkeeper’s visiting niece (Odeya Rush) and suddenly needs a phone for the first time in her life.

This is one of the best weekends for new indie releases in some time — a bit of space in theaters to run and audiences slowly, but increasingly, willing to return.

Focus Features’ The Outfit – the directorial debut of Oscar-winning screenwriter Graham Moore (The Imitation Game) — opens nationally on over 1,200 screens with Mark Rylance starring as a bespoke British tailor from London’s Savile Row. After a personal tragedy, he ends up running a tailor shop in a rough Chicago neighborhood making suits for the only people around who can afford them, a family of vicious gangsters.

The script is by Moore and Johnathan McClain. Also starring Zoey Deutch, Johnny Flynn, Dylan O’Brien, Nikki Amuka-Bird and Simon Russell Beale. It premiered in Berlin last month. Deadline review here.

Initially set for release Feb. 25, The Outfit occupies the slot vacated by Downtown Abbey: A New Era. In January, in the shadow of Omicron,...

It’s an eternal middle-aged anxiety: “I feel like I’m turning into my mother.” And it’s given a most literal rendering in Iris K. Shim’s supernatural horror exercise “Umma,” in which Sandra Oh stars as a rural beekeeper inhabited by the vengeful spirit of her estranged mom. But while that premise might sound like the makings of a tongue-in-cheek body-swap fright-fest, “Umma” has far heavier issues on its plate, which proves both its chief virtue and its ultimate undoing, as it never manages to thread the needle between its horror setpieces and the more serious themes of generational trauma lying beneath.

Set in an unnamed stretch of American farmland, “Umma” opens on Amanda (Oh), a resourceful first-generation Korean American who has managed to construct a stable life selling organic honey to a devoted online fanbase of influencers. Not that she knows what the terms “influencer” or “online...

Becoming your mother, through the inevitability of time and genetics, is a scary prospect for some, but in “Umma,” a woman must contend with being possessed by her mother and, along with that, years of abuse and generational trauma.

In Iris K. Shim’s debut film, Sandra Oh stars as Amanda, a Korean American woman who has escaped all semblance of her past and is raising a precocious daughter on a remote farm. Amanda and Chrissy are as tight-knit as a mother and daughter can be; they read together, they work together, they hum together. On the farm, they harvest honey from a handful of bee colonies, which they package themselves and give to their friend Danny (Dermot Mulroney) to sell at his shop. It’s a steady, quiet life, but Amanda is haunted by memories of abuse at the hands of her mother (Meewha Alana Lee) — or her “umma,...

Sony Pictures has debuted a new trailer for the upcoming horror ‘Umma’ starring Sandra Oh.

Umma, which is the Korean word for “mother,” follows Amanda (Sandra Oh) and her daughter (Fivel Stewart) living a quiet life on an American farm, but when the remains of her estranged mother arrive from Korea, Amanda becomes haunted by the fear of turning into her own mother.

Written and directed by Iris K. Shim, the film stars Sandra Oh, Fivel Stewart, MeeWha Alana Lee, Tom Yi with Odeya Rush and Dermot Mulroney.

Also in trailers – Teaser trailer drops for season 2 of ‘The Hardy Boys’

The film hits cinemas on March 25th.

The post Sandra Oh has issues with her mother in trailer for ‘Umma’ appeared first on HeyUGuys.

“Umma” is the new supernatural horror feature, written and directed by Iris K. Shim, starring Sandra Oh, Fivel Stewart, Dermot Mulroney, Odeya Rush, MeeWha Alana Lee and Tom Yi, produced by Sam Raimi, opening March 18, 2022:

“…’Amanda’ and her daughter live on a rural farm, raising bees and living without modern technology.

“Then when Amanda receives the cremated ashes of her estranged mother, it unleashes a vicious spirit intent on taking her body for itself…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

"Her anger will grow as long as she remains in this box." Sony Pictures has revealed the first trailer for an intriguing new horror thriller titled Umma, the first narrative feature directed by a filmmaker named Iris K. Shim. They just scheduled this for wide release on March 18th in a few weeks, getting some horror into theaters right away. The story involves a Korean immigrant named Amanda, who lives a quiet life with her daughter on an American farm. But when the remains of her estranged mother arrive from Korea, Amanda becomes haunted by the fear of turning into her mother. Sandra Oh stars as Amanda, with a cast including Fivel Stewart, Dermot Mulroney, Odeya Rush, MeeWha Alana Lee, and Tom Yi. And best of all - it's produced by Sam Raimi! Glad to see him supporting filmmakers on the rise. Oh yeah this looks extra creepy, and it...

Tom Hanks film “A Man Called Otto” will be released on Christmas Day, and Sandra Oh’s “Umma” is set to arrive in theaters on March 18, Sony announced on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Jack Black comedy “Oh Hell No” has been pulled from the release schedule. Additionally, Adam Driver’s “65” from producer Sam Raimi has been pushed back a year to April 14, 2023.

“A Man Called Otto,” is a comedy starring Hanks that’s an English-language remake based on the Swedish book and film “A Man Called Ove.”

Marc Forster is attached to direct, and David Magee is writing the script based on Fredrik Backman’s book. Ove has been renamed Otto for the Americanized film version of the story.

Hanks plays the title character Otto, who is a grumpy isolated widower with staunch principles, strict routines and a short fuse, and who gives everyone in his neighborhood a hard time...

Dakota Johnson, star and producer of “Cha Cha Real Smooth,” said she first got to know director-writer-actor Cooper Raiff by seeing his debut feature film “Sh-House,” a SXSW winner about a tender college romance. Raiff wrote, directed and starred in that film as well.

“I just found him to be supremely intelligent, but soulful and sweet and complicated and accessible,” Johnson said at TheWrap’s virtual Sundance studio. She was joined by Raiff and “Cha Cha” cast members Leslie Mann, Evan Assante, Vanessa Burghardt, Raúl Castillo, Brad Garrett and Odeya Rush.

Raiff added, “When we first met, it was electric chemistry.”

Johnson said she loved the movie’s title. In the film, a 22-year-old college grad (Raiff), who is working as a bar mitzvah party starter, begins a friendship with a young mother (Johnson) and an autistic girl (Burghardt). The “Cha Cha Slide” song and dance are highly popular on the bar mitzvah circuit.

The film is directed by Cooper Raiff, who also stars alongside Dakota Johnson.

Apple has acquired worldwide rights to Cooper Raiff’s Sundance title Cha Cha Real Smooth, in a deal worth a reported $15m, making it the bigges so far at this year’s virtual festival.

The film premiered in the US dramatic competition and stars Raiff as an aimless college student who befriends a young mother played by Dakota Johnson. The cast also includes Leslie Mann, Vanessa Burghardt, Evan Assante, Brad Garett, Raúl Castillo, and Odeya Rush.

Raiff wrote the script and produced alongside Johnson, Ro Donnelly, Erik Feig and Jessica Switch.

Cooper Raiff’s “Cha Cha Real Smooth” is officially dancing to Apple TV Plus. The tech giant has nabbed the second feature from the heat-seeking director out of this year’s virtual edition of the Sundance Film Festival.

Apple emerged victorious from a competitive bidding situation that attracted Netflix, Amazon and Sony Pictures as potential buyers.

The deal was brokered by ICM Partners, WME and Endeavor Content. It closed close to $15 million, an individual familiar with the talks stated.

“Cha Cha Real Smooth” stars Raiff as a recent graduate working as a bar mitzvah hype man. While on the job, he strikes up a unique friendship with a young mother (Dakota Johnson) and her teenage daughter (Vanessa Burghardt). Leslie Mann, Evan Assante, Raúl Castillo and Odeya Rush fill out the ensemble.

Erik Feig’s PictureStart and Johnson and Ro Donnelly’s TeaTime Pictures produced the film alongside Endeavor Content. The...

With a promising start with his first film Shithouse for which he starred, directed and wrote and won the Grand Jury Narrative Prize at SXSW, Cooper Raiff looms now also to be one of the breakouts of this year’s Sundance Film Festival where Cha Cha Real Smooth, his small but splendid second film for which he performs the same triple threat duties debuted Sunday as part of the Dramatic Competition lineup. I can only imagine if the festival had managed to be in person as originally planned rather than virtual in this Omicron-stricken year it would be met with a massive standing ovation. Raiff is bound to become an indie darling as if further proof was needed, but Cha Cha Real Smooth cements him as the real deal both in front of and behind the camera.

In the wake of Ted Lasso hitting the zeitgeist by centering on a...