“Rob (Reiner) always wanted to do from the moment My Dinner With Andre came out — ‘My Lunch With Albert,” Albert Brooks shares about his best friend’s vision for a movie about himself.
“I never wanted to do that,” Brooks adds.
But when a documentary about the stand-up comic turned Oscar nominated Best Supporting Broadcast News actor fell apart, Brooks reached out to Reiner for help. What if they combined the documentary with the whole ‘My Lunch With Albert’ concept?”
“Then everything lit up,” emphasizes Brooks on today’s Crew Call with Reiner.
And that’s how the Max documentary, directed by Reiner, Albert Brooks: Defending My Life came to be.
Walk down memory lane with us below:
“Because I’ve known Rob forever, it seemed ideal. We could do our lunch, we could branch out, he could talk to people he chose to talk to,” said Brooks.
We chat...
“I never wanted to do that,” Brooks adds.
But when a documentary about the stand-up comic turned Oscar nominated Best Supporting Broadcast News actor fell apart, Brooks reached out to Reiner for help. What if they combined the documentary with the whole ‘My Lunch With Albert’ concept?”
“Then everything lit up,” emphasizes Brooks on today’s Crew Call with Reiner.
And that’s how the Max documentary, directed by Reiner, Albert Brooks: Defending My Life came to be.
Walk down memory lane with us below:
“Because I’ve known Rob forever, it seemed ideal. We could do our lunch, we could branch out, he could talk to people he chose to talk to,” said Brooks.
We chat...
- 5/30/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
It all started when Rob Reiner tried to convince Albert Brooks to let him film his own version of “My Dinner with Andre” titled “My Lunch with Albert Brooks.” His high school chum refused. After someone else came to Brooks wanting to make a documentary about him, the financing fell through. Then the men decided to combine the two things.
“There’s about 4000 documentaries now,” said Brooks at an FYC event with Reiner and moderator Judd Apatow this week at the Academy of Motion Pictures. “It’s the way they’re willing to spend money without spending real money. Everyone has a story and 99 out of 100 are done pretty much the same way. Either the person’s no longer living, or they’re being talked about from an off-stage voice. So to be able to do that this way…that’s what makes it special. Because it’s Rob and...
“There’s about 4000 documentaries now,” said Brooks at an FYC event with Reiner and moderator Judd Apatow this week at the Academy of Motion Pictures. “It’s the way they’re willing to spend money without spending real money. Everyone has a story and 99 out of 100 are done pretty much the same way. Either the person’s no longer living, or they’re being talked about from an off-stage voice. So to be able to do that this way…that’s what makes it special. Because it’s Rob and...
- 5/10/2024
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
“The Bear,” “Bluey,” “Reservation Dogs,” “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” “The Last of Us” and “Jury Duty” are among the series set to receive this year’s Peabody Award, the org was set to announce on Thursday morning. The Peabody Awards’ board of 32 jurors have selected 34 winners, all of which received unanimous vote from TV, podcast/radio and web/digital nominees in entertainment, news, documentary, arts, children’s/youth, public service, and interactive programming.
HBO/Max led the wins with seven total, followed by PBS with five, and then three for Amazon MGM Studios and two each for FX and The Washington Post. This repped the second Peabody for “Reservation Dogs” and the third for “Last Week Tonight.”
“Whether courageously documenting wars across the globe or cleverly bringing much needed smiles to our faces, the winners of the 84th Peabody Awards each crafted compelling and imaginative stories,” said Peabody...
HBO/Max led the wins with seven total, followed by PBS with five, and then three for Amazon MGM Studios and two each for FX and The Washington Post. This repped the second Peabody for “Reservation Dogs” and the third for “Last Week Tonight.”
“Whether courageously documenting wars across the globe or cleverly bringing much needed smiles to our faces, the winners of the 84th Peabody Awards each crafted compelling and imaginative stories,” said Peabody...
- 5/9/2024
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
The Peabody Awards have chosen its 2024 winners, with projects like “The Bear,” “Fellow Travelers,” and “Reality” all making the cut.
The 34 winners were each chosen by a unanimous vote of the 32 members of the Peabody Awards Board of Jurors from over 1,100 entries from television, podcasts/radio, and the web/digital in entertainment, news, documentary, arts, children’s/youth, public service, and interactive programming. Of the 34 projects highlighted, HBO/Max has the most with seven wins, followed by PBS with five wins, Amazon MGM Studios with three wins, and The Washington Post and FX with two wins each.
“Whether courageously documenting wars across the globe or cleverly bringing much needed smiles to our faces, the winners of the 84th Peabody Awards each crafted compelling and imaginative stories,” said Jeffrey Jones, executive director of Peabody, via statement. “Spanning a wide range of mediums and genres, they delivered enthralling projects that are worthy of our highest recognition.
The 34 winners were each chosen by a unanimous vote of the 32 members of the Peabody Awards Board of Jurors from over 1,100 entries from television, podcasts/radio, and the web/digital in entertainment, news, documentary, arts, children’s/youth, public service, and interactive programming. Of the 34 projects highlighted, HBO/Max has the most with seven wins, followed by PBS with five wins, Amazon MGM Studios with three wins, and The Washington Post and FX with two wins each.
“Whether courageously documenting wars across the globe or cleverly bringing much needed smiles to our faces, the winners of the 84th Peabody Awards each crafted compelling and imaginative stories,” said Jeffrey Jones, executive director of Peabody, via statement. “Spanning a wide range of mediums and genres, they delivered enthralling projects that are worthy of our highest recognition.
- 5/9/2024
- by Marcus Jones
- Indiewire
On the indie side of filmmaking life, Sean Price Williams has seen it all. He’s worked with the Safdies, Alex Ross Perry, Nathan Silver, Robert Green, and Athina Rachel Tsangari, and often more than once. He’s the premier chronicler of New York City independent movies behind the camera, typically shooting on celluloid, and bringing surreal, gritty poetry to character-driven stories that feel on the ground like portraits of versions of ourselves.
One of the most unabashedly movie-loving cinematographers working today, Williams last year moved to directing for the sprawling, scratchy-edged tale of East Coast youth, “The Sweet East,” which remains in theaters and features stars like Jacob Elordi, Simon Rex, Jeremy O. Harris, and Ayo Edebiri.
But even more recently than that directorial debut, he released a “1000 Movies” book via Metrograph Editions, a simple, unadorned paperback that offers, rather than commentary, pages listing his favorite essential films and...
One of the most unabashedly movie-loving cinematographers working today, Williams last year moved to directing for the sprawling, scratchy-edged tale of East Coast youth, “The Sweet East,” which remains in theaters and features stars like Jacob Elordi, Simon Rex, Jeremy O. Harris, and Ayo Edebiri.
But even more recently than that directorial debut, he released a “1000 Movies” book via Metrograph Editions, a simple, unadorned paperback that offers, rather than commentary, pages listing his favorite essential films and...
- 5/7/2024
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Plot: Michigan, 1963. Kellogg’s and Post, sworn cereal rivals, race to create a pastry that will change the face of breakfast. A tale of ambition, betrayal, sugar, and menacing milkmen, Unfrosted stars Jerry Seinfeld in his directorial debut.
Review: It took nine years after the series finale of Seinfeld for Jerry Seinfeld’s big screen debut, Bee Movie. That surreal, animated adventure was a spot-on continuation of the stand-up comedian’s brand of observational humor told within the context of a strangely specific world. Unfrosted, which reunited Seinfeld with his team of writers from Bee Movie, is another glimpse into a surreal world that allows him to explore his distinct type of comedy with an all-star cast of talent playing real and fictional characters. Boasting glossy, retro visuals and capitalizing on Seinfeld’s well-known love of breakfast, Unfrosted looks like it was fun to make. I only wish it was as much fun to watch.
Review: It took nine years after the series finale of Seinfeld for Jerry Seinfeld’s big screen debut, Bee Movie. That surreal, animated adventure was a spot-on continuation of the stand-up comedian’s brand of observational humor told within the context of a strangely specific world. Unfrosted, which reunited Seinfeld with his team of writers from Bee Movie, is another glimpse into a surreal world that allows him to explore his distinct type of comedy with an all-star cast of talent playing real and fictional characters. Boasting glossy, retro visuals and capitalizing on Seinfeld’s well-known love of breakfast, Unfrosted looks like it was fun to make. I only wish it was as much fun to watch.
- 5/3/2024
- by Alex Maidy
- JoBlo.com
Mel Brooks will receive this year’s Career Achievement Award at the 84th Peabody Awards, and Quinta will be honored with the Peabody Trailblazer Award. Both received a unanimous vote of the Peabody Board of Jurors and will be recognized at the June 9 awards ceremony in Los Angeles.
“Mel Brooks is not only one of the most beloved comedians of all time, but he literally set the standard for television comedy from its earliest days. Across TV, film, theater, and recordings, Mr. Brooks is in a league of his own. And Quinta Brunson has emerged as a refreshingly creative force in network television comedy,” said Jeffrey Jones, executive director of Peabody. “Peabody is proud to honor Mel and Quinta not only for their extraordinary contributions as storytellers, but particularly for their use of comedy to tell stories that matter, enriching the lives of so many.”
The Career Achievement Award is...
“Mel Brooks is not only one of the most beloved comedians of all time, but he literally set the standard for television comedy from its earliest days. Across TV, film, theater, and recordings, Mr. Brooks is in a league of his own. And Quinta Brunson has emerged as a refreshingly creative force in network television comedy,” said Jeffrey Jones, executive director of Peabody. “Peabody is proud to honor Mel and Quinta not only for their extraordinary contributions as storytellers, but particularly for their use of comedy to tell stories that matter, enriching the lives of so many.”
The Career Achievement Award is...
- 5/2/2024
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
The Peabody Awards Board of Jurors today announced that Mel Brooks has won the Peabody Career Achievement Award, while Abbott Elementary creator and star Quinta Brunson has won the Peabody Trailblazer Award.
Both awards were selected by unanimous vote of the Peabody Board of Jurors and will be celebrated live at the 84th Annual Peabody Awards ceremony on June 9 in Los Angeles.
“Mel Brooks is not only one of the most beloved comedians of all time, but he literally set the standard for television comedy from its earliest days,” said Jeffrey Jones, executive director of Peabody, in a statement. “Across TV, film, theater, and recordings, Mr. Brooks is in a league of his own.”
Over the course of his career, Brooks has received two Academy Awards, four Emmys, three Tonys and three Grammys, as well as an honorary Oscar. Brooks joins Rita Moreno, Sam Pollard, Dan Rather, Lily Tomlin and...
Both awards were selected by unanimous vote of the Peabody Board of Jurors and will be celebrated live at the 84th Annual Peabody Awards ceremony on June 9 in Los Angeles.
“Mel Brooks is not only one of the most beloved comedians of all time, but he literally set the standard for television comedy from its earliest days,” said Jeffrey Jones, executive director of Peabody, in a statement. “Across TV, film, theater, and recordings, Mr. Brooks is in a league of his own.”
Over the course of his career, Brooks has received two Academy Awards, four Emmys, three Tonys and three Grammys, as well as an honorary Oscar. Brooks joins Rita Moreno, Sam Pollard, Dan Rather, Lily Tomlin and...
- 5/2/2024
- by Tyler Coates
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Peabody Awards will honor actor, comedian, writer, and director Mel Brooks with this year’s Career Achievement Award, while “Abbott Elementary” award-winning writer, producer, actor, and comedian Quinta Brunson will receive the org’s Trailblazer Award. Both Brooks and Brunson were chosen by the Peabody Board of Jurors in a unanimous vote and will be recognized at the 84th Annual Peabody Awards ceremony on June 9 in Los Angeles.
“Mel Brooks is not only one of the most beloved comedians of all time, but he literally set the standard for television comedy from its earliest days. Across TV, film, theater, and recordings, Mr. Brooks is in a league of his own. And Quinta Brunson has emerged as a refreshingly creative force in network television comedy,” said Jeffrey Jones, executive director of Peabody, in a statement. “Peabody is proud to honor Mel and Quinta not only for their extraordinary contributions as storytellers,...
“Mel Brooks is not only one of the most beloved comedians of all time, but he literally set the standard for television comedy from its earliest days. Across TV, film, theater, and recordings, Mr. Brooks is in a league of his own. And Quinta Brunson has emerged as a refreshingly creative force in network television comedy,” said Jeffrey Jones, executive director of Peabody, in a statement. “Peabody is proud to honor Mel and Quinta not only for their extraordinary contributions as storytellers,...
- 5/2/2024
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Fresh off the rollout of the nominees for the 84th annual Peabody Awards, the organization’s Board of Jurors has announced that comedy stars Mel Brooks and Quinta Brunson will receive the Peabody Career Achievement Award and the Peabody Trailblazer Award, respectively. Both awards will be handed out live at the 2024 Peabody Awards ceremony on June 9 in Los Angeles. They were selected by unanimous vote of the Peabody Board of Jurors.
“Mel Brooks is not only one of the most beloved comedians of all time, but he literally set the standard for television comedy from its earliest days. Across TV, film, theater, and recordings, Mr. Brooks is in a league of his own. And Quinta Brunson has emerged as a refreshingly creative force in network television comedy,” said Jeffrey Jones, executive director of Peabody, via statement. “Peabody is proud to honor Mel and Quinta not only for their extraordinary contributions as storytellers,...
“Mel Brooks is not only one of the most beloved comedians of all time, but he literally set the standard for television comedy from its earliest days. Across TV, film, theater, and recordings, Mr. Brooks is in a league of his own. And Quinta Brunson has emerged as a refreshingly creative force in network television comedy,” said Jeffrey Jones, executive director of Peabody, via statement. “Peabody is proud to honor Mel and Quinta not only for their extraordinary contributions as storytellers,...
- 5/2/2024
- by Marcus Jones
- Indiewire
10. Not Another Teen Movie (2001)
Tired of the repetitive teen rom-coms of the 1990s, director Joel Gallen decided to make his own — and arguably, one of the best by far. In perhaps the most classic teen movie tale, a popular high-school jock gets challenged by his friends to turn a shy and bullied girl into a prom queen… And hopelessly falls in love with her.
You can watch Not Another Teen Movie on Hulu, Netflix, and Prime Video.
9. Scary Movie (2000)
A very similar thought occurred to Keenen Ivory Wayans, the director of Scary Movie who pumped his flick full with the most popular horror cliches of the 1990s — and still produced a greatly entertaining film. A group of teenagers who accidentally killed a man is haunted by a mysterious mumbling killer who picks them off one by one.
You can watch Scary Movie on Max, Hulu, Netflix, and Prime Video.
8. This Is Spinal Tap...
Tired of the repetitive teen rom-coms of the 1990s, director Joel Gallen decided to make his own — and arguably, one of the best by far. In perhaps the most classic teen movie tale, a popular high-school jock gets challenged by his friends to turn a shy and bullied girl into a prom queen… And hopelessly falls in love with her.
You can watch Not Another Teen Movie on Hulu, Netflix, and Prime Video.
9. Scary Movie (2000)
A very similar thought occurred to Keenen Ivory Wayans, the director of Scary Movie who pumped his flick full with the most popular horror cliches of the 1990s — and still produced a greatly entertaining film. A group of teenagers who accidentally killed a man is haunted by a mysterious mumbling killer who picks them off one by one.
You can watch Scary Movie on Max, Hulu, Netflix, and Prime Video.
8. This Is Spinal Tap...
- 4/27/2024
- by dean-black@startefacts.com (Dean Black)
- STartefacts.com
Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for Poolman, A Man in Full and Hacks.
TCM Classic Film Festival
After kicking off with a Pulp Fiction reunion on April 18, the TCM Classic Film Festival continued through the weekend, as Jodie Foster had her handprints and footprints enshrined in concrete at the Tcl Chinese Theatre and then appeared at a screening of her film The Silence of the Lambs; Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins reunited for a screening of their film The Shawshank Redemption; and Mel Brooks introduced a closing night presentation of his film Spaceballs.
Jodie Foster signs her autograph in cement during the Handprint and Footprint Ceremony TCM Host Eddie Muller, Morgan Freeman, Tim Robbins and TCM Host Dave Karger attend ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ screening Mel Brooks speaks onstage at the ‘Spaceballs’ screening
Poolman premiere...
TCM Classic Film Festival
After kicking off with a Pulp Fiction reunion on April 18, the TCM Classic Film Festival continued through the weekend, as Jodie Foster had her handprints and footprints enshrined in concrete at the Tcl Chinese Theatre and then appeared at a screening of her film The Silence of the Lambs; Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins reunited for a screening of their film The Shawshank Redemption; and Mel Brooks introduced a closing night presentation of his film Spaceballs.
Jodie Foster signs her autograph in cement during the Handprint and Footprint Ceremony TCM Host Eddie Muller, Morgan Freeman, Tim Robbins and TCM Host Dave Karger attend ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ screening Mel Brooks speaks onstage at the ‘Spaceballs’ screening
Poolman premiere...
- 4/26/2024
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
After a year-long delay brought about by the 2023 Hollywood strikes, Nicole Kidman is finally set to receive the prestigious AFI Life Achievement Award from the American Film Institute. The Oscar winner is the 49th overall recipient of this special honor, with the last one being Julie Andrews in 2022. Kidman’s ceremony will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024 in Hollywood, with Meryl Streep tasked to present.
Kidman is a five-time nominee at the Academy Awards, winning for Best Actress in the 2003 film “The Hours.” Her other nominations were for “Moulin Rouge!,” “Rabbit Hole,” “Lion” and “Being the Ricardos.” (She has also two Emmys on her mantel for producing and starring in “Big Little Lies.”) What do You think is her best movie performance of all time? Vote in our poll right here and then defend your choice down in the comments section:
See American Film Institute (AFI) Life Achievement Recipients
Starting in the early 1970s,...
Kidman is a five-time nominee at the Academy Awards, winning for Best Actress in the 2003 film “The Hours.” Her other nominations were for “Moulin Rouge!,” “Rabbit Hole,” “Lion” and “Being the Ricardos.” (She has also two Emmys on her mantel for producing and starring in “Big Little Lies.”) What do You think is her best movie performance of all time? Vote in our poll right here and then defend your choice down in the comments section:
See American Film Institute (AFI) Life Achievement Recipients
Starting in the early 1970s,...
- 4/26/2024
- by Marcus James Dixon and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Hear this now: we will always come for The Princess Bride. Nearly 40 years on, The Princess Bride remains one of the most beloved and charming movies of the 1980s, a perfect combination of fantasy, romance and action – with some swordplay and, sorry, Grandson, a little kissing thrown in. As for its success and all that it granted him, star Cary Elwes, appropriately enough, called it “really inconceivable, to use a word that’s famous from the movie.”
While not his first movie, Cary Elwes knows that 1987’s The Princess Bride is essentially responsible for his entire career, giving much credit to director Rob Reiner, who was adamant on casting him after his turn in 1986’s Lady Jane. This allowed him to work with some other premiere directors, telling People, “Once I got that part, that really kind of opened the door for me and that’s how I got the...
While not his first movie, Cary Elwes knows that 1987’s The Princess Bride is essentially responsible for his entire career, giving much credit to director Rob Reiner, who was adamant on casting him after his turn in 1986’s Lady Jane. This allowed him to work with some other premiere directors, telling People, “Once I got that part, that really kind of opened the door for me and that’s how I got the...
- 4/22/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
One of the hallmarks of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” was its slew of A-list celebrity guest stars, who often appeared as themselves and lampooned their public personas through grating social interactions with Larry David. The show’s guest star pedigree remained strong until the very end, with the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Salman Rushdie making self-deprecating appearances in the last few seasons.
Given the busy schedules of celebrities, fans would be forgiven for assuming the show had multiple people in mind for each appearance. But at this week’s PaleyFest LA panel celebrating the show’s final season, David and his collaborators revealed that they often wrote scripts for specific people without backup plans in mind.
While reflecting on the show’s many legendary guest stars, series director and executive producer Jeff Schaffer reminisced about a Season 10 storyline in which the fictionalized Larry David writes a Broadway musical about Salman...
Given the busy schedules of celebrities, fans would be forgiven for assuming the show had multiple people in mind for each appearance. But at this week’s PaleyFest LA panel celebrating the show’s final season, David and his collaborators revealed that they often wrote scripts for specific people without backup plans in mind.
While reflecting on the show’s many legendary guest stars, series director and executive producer Jeff Schaffer reminisced about a Season 10 storyline in which the fictionalized Larry David writes a Broadway musical about Salman...
- 4/21/2024
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Less than two weeks after Curb Your Enthusiasm aired its final episode, the cast reunited for a special event at PaleyFest on Thursday, where Larry David spoke publicly about the series finale for the first time.
In a panel conversation moderated by Judd Apatow at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, David told the crowd that “there was a week of basking” in the glow of the finale, which ended with an appearance by Jerry Seinfeld and a play on the Seinfeld ending.
“Honestly I was kind of blown away at the response to the finale, yeah,” David continued. “It exceeded my wildest expectations; of course, I never have expectations for anything.” Apatow asked if he had read reviews of the ending, and the star teased, “Only if they’re good, yes.”
Executive producer Jeff Schaffer said that Seinfeld joked the final Curb episode was 26 years in the making, as a way...
In a panel conversation moderated by Judd Apatow at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, David told the crowd that “there was a week of basking” in the glow of the finale, which ended with an appearance by Jerry Seinfeld and a play on the Seinfeld ending.
“Honestly I was kind of blown away at the response to the finale, yeah,” David continued. “It exceeded my wildest expectations; of course, I never have expectations for anything.” Apatow asked if he had read reviews of the ending, and the star teased, “Only if they’re good, yes.”
Executive producer Jeff Schaffer said that Seinfeld joked the final Curb episode was 26 years in the making, as a way...
- 4/19/2024
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Opening night of the TCM Classic Film Festival next week will also serve as a Pulp Fiction reunion.
Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Rosanna Arquette and Harvey Keitel are among those joining John Travolta on April 18 for the 30th anniversary, 35mm screening of Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994) at the Tcl Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
Fellow actors Eric Stoltz, Julia Sweeney, Frank Whaley, Phil Lamarr and Burr Steers, producer Lawrence Bender and executive producers Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher are expected to be there as well.
As previously announced, actor Billy Dee Williams and makeup artist Lois Burwell will be honored at the 15th annual festival; author Jeanine Basinger will receive the Robert Osborne Award; and Jodie Foster will partake in a hand- and footprint ceremony.
The festival, with the theme “Most Wanted: Crime and Justice in Film,” runs through April 21 at venues including the rejuvenated Egyptian Theatre.
Among those...
Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Rosanna Arquette and Harvey Keitel are among those joining John Travolta on April 18 for the 30th anniversary, 35mm screening of Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994) at the Tcl Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
Fellow actors Eric Stoltz, Julia Sweeney, Frank Whaley, Phil Lamarr and Burr Steers, producer Lawrence Bender and executive producers Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher are expected to be there as well.
As previously announced, actor Billy Dee Williams and makeup artist Lois Burwell will be honored at the 15th annual festival; author Jeanine Basinger will receive the Robert Osborne Award; and Jodie Foster will partake in a hand- and footprint ceremony.
The festival, with the theme “Most Wanted: Crime and Justice in Film,” runs through April 21 at venues including the rejuvenated Egyptian Theatre.
Among those...
- 4/8/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The St. Louis Jewish Film Festival has begun is 29th season and hosted a special opening night celebration on Sunday, April 7 at B&b Theater in Creve Coeur.
“On October 7, 2023, Hamas’s brutal terrorist attack caused the evacuation and cessation of all activities at Sapir College in Sderot, Israel—home to its premier film program. Sapir students were just weeks away from presenting their final film projects at the annual film festival at Cinema South. In solidarity with Israel, and to specifically draw attention to the Israeli filmmakers coming out of Sapir College, the St. Louis Jewish Film Festival featured five students’ films. Attached to each one is a one-of-a-kind story about the directors, actors, and other individuals who participated in the making of the film whose lives have been turned upside down in the days since October 7, 2023. With Israel fighting for its very existence, these films can be viewed...
“On October 7, 2023, Hamas’s brutal terrorist attack caused the evacuation and cessation of all activities at Sapir College in Sderot, Israel—home to its premier film program. Sapir students were just weeks away from presenting their final film projects at the annual film festival at Cinema South. In solidarity with Israel, and to specifically draw attention to the Israeli filmmakers coming out of Sapir College, the St. Louis Jewish Film Festival featured five students’ films. Attached to each one is a one-of-a-kind story about the directors, actors, and other individuals who participated in the making of the film whose lives have been turned upside down in the days since October 7, 2023. With Israel fighting for its very existence, these films can be viewed...
- 4/8/2024
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
At the fifth annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 1953, Helen Hayes won the Best Actress award, thereby becoming the first performer to ever achieve the Triple Crown of Acting. This past Oscar and Tony recipient had now won all three of the American entertainment industry’s most prestigious acting prizes, demonstrating remarkable talent across film, stage, and television. Over the years, 14 women and nine men have followed in her footsteps. Scroll through our photo gallery to learn which two dozen entertainers belong to this exclusive group.
To be included on this list, an individual must have won each award in a competitive acting category. This excludes, for example, James Earl Jones, who was lauded with an honorary Oscar in addition to competitive Emmys and Tonys. Also left out are artists like Mel Brooks, John Legend, and Elton John, all or some of whose wins from the three organizations were for non-acting achievements.
To be included on this list, an individual must have won each award in a competitive acting category. This excludes, for example, James Earl Jones, who was lauded with an honorary Oscar in addition to competitive Emmys and Tonys. Also left out are artists like Mel Brooks, John Legend, and Elton John, all or some of whose wins from the three organizations were for non-acting achievements.
- 4/5/2024
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
At the fifth annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 1953, Helen Hayes won the Best Actress award, thereby becoming the first performer to ever achieve the Triple Crown of Acting. This past Oscar and Tony recipient had now won all three of the American entertainment industry’s most prestigious acting prizes, demonstrating remarkable talent across film, stage, and television. Over the years, 14 women and nine men have followed in her footsteps. Scroll through our photo gallery to learn which two dozen entertainers belong to this exclusive group.
To be included on this list, an individual must have won each award in a competitive acting category. This excludes, for example, James Earl Jones, who was lauded with an honorary Oscar in addition to competitive Emmys and Tonys. Also left out are artists like Mel Brooks, John Legend, and Elton John, all or some of whose wins from the three organizations were for non-acting achievements.
To be included on this list, an individual must have won each award in a competitive acting category. This excludes, for example, James Earl Jones, who was lauded with an honorary Oscar in addition to competitive Emmys and Tonys. Also left out are artists like Mel Brooks, John Legend, and Elton John, all or some of whose wins from the three organizations were for non-acting achievements.
- 4/5/2024
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Oscar-winning director Barry Levinson has enjoyed success on the big and small screens throughout his five decades. Take a tour of our photo gallery ranking his 12 greatest feature films from worst to best.
Levinson began his career as a comedy writer on various variety shows in the 1970s ultimately landing a steady job writing for 72 episodes of “The Carol Burnett Show,” for which he won Emmys in 1974 and 1975, competing again in 1976. When that show ended he began writing screenplays and had a remarkably successful run co-writing two Mel Brooks movies — “Silent Movie” and “High Anxiety” — as well as two acclaimed dramas “Inside Moves” and “and Justice for All.” He would receive his first Oscar nomination for the screenplay of “And Justice for All.”
That success led Levinson to a feature film directing career. His semi-autobiographical film “Diner,” about a group of young men hanging out in his native Baltimore, became...
Levinson began his career as a comedy writer on various variety shows in the 1970s ultimately landing a steady job writing for 72 episodes of “The Carol Burnett Show,” for which he won Emmys in 1974 and 1975, competing again in 1976. When that show ended he began writing screenplays and had a remarkably successful run co-writing two Mel Brooks movies — “Silent Movie” and “High Anxiety” — as well as two acclaimed dramas “Inside Moves” and “and Justice for All.” He would receive his first Oscar nomination for the screenplay of “And Justice for All.”
That success led Levinson to a feature film directing career. His semi-autobiographical film “Diner,” about a group of young men hanging out in his native Baltimore, became...
- 3/30/2024
- by Zach Laws, Robert Pius and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
If and when Alex Edelman gets his own TV series, the pilot is effectively already written. Edelman’s recent Broadway stand-up show, Just for Us, is framed around his semi-covert infiltration of a meeting of white nationalists in Queens, New York. Surrounded by 16 antisemites, the very Jewish writer-comedian (born David Yosef Shimon Ben Elazar Reuven Alexander Halevi Edelman) ingratiates himself by schooling the group about Twitter best practices so that they can become better communicators. Hilarity, flirting, free muffins, and a dramatic sense of impending danger abound.
I first discovered Edelman while doom-scrolling at the height of the pandemic, when the algorithm introduced me to clips of the Boston-bred comic’s gut-busting but infuriating rant about boomers buying their first homes for “11 raspberries” and his Thanksgiving “coming out” story. If Edelman were actually queer—he cheekily quips in Just for Us that he’s “straight with some secrets”—it wouldn...
I first discovered Edelman while doom-scrolling at the height of the pandemic, when the algorithm introduced me to clips of the Boston-bred comic’s gut-busting but infuriating rant about boomers buying their first homes for “11 raspberries” and his Thanksgiving “coming out” story. If Edelman were actually queer—he cheekily quips in Just for Us that he’s “straight with some secrets”—it wouldn...
- 3/28/2024
- by Sal Cinquemani
- Slant Magazine
Netflix’s true crime series Homicide: New York’s first installment, “Carnegie Deli Massacre,” opens with the brutal murders of Jennifer Stahl, Charles “Trey” Helliwell, and Stephen King. The episode features NYPD Lieutenant Roger Parrino; Barbara Butcher, the second woman ever hired for the role of Death Investigator in Manhattan; and retired NYPD Det. Irma Rivera. The case plagues these veteran law enforcement professionals enough to revisit the evidence. The deaths seem to have weighed heavily on producer Dick Wolf too. “Tragedy on Rye,” a season 14 episode of his signature show Law & Order, is based on the tragic incident.
The crime also haunted New York. The murders happened on May 10, 2001, during a period when city crime had been on a downswing, and media at the time dredged up fears Times Square would go back to its not-so-distant wild and dangerous earlier character. Like the detectives in the show, it...
The crime also haunted New York. The murders happened on May 10, 2001, during a period when city crime had been on a downswing, and media at the time dredged up fears Times Square would go back to its not-so-distant wild and dangerous earlier character. Like the detectives in the show, it...
- 3/27/2024
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
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The Little Golden Books have been a staple of childhood across several generations. Created in 1942, the collection is known for bringing picture books to children at affordable prices, with text ranging from adventures and fairytales to educational material. In fact, the story of "The Poky Little Puppy" from the Little Golden Books roster is actually the best-selling children's book of all time.
After delivering classic tales from the likes of Mary Blair, Margaret Wise Brown, Richard Scarry, Eloise Wilkins, Garth Williams, and many more, Little Golden Books have also dived into the wide world of established intellectual property, including stories inspired by "Star Wars," "Sesame Street," DC and Marvel Comics, Barbie, Disney, Nickelodeon, and much more. In recent years, Little Golden Books have also been delivering biographies of the most influential people in history, starting with Martin Luther King Jr....
The Little Golden Books have been a staple of childhood across several generations. Created in 1942, the collection is known for bringing picture books to children at affordable prices, with text ranging from adventures and fairytales to educational material. In fact, the story of "The Poky Little Puppy" from the Little Golden Books roster is actually the best-selling children's book of all time.
After delivering classic tales from the likes of Mary Blair, Margaret Wise Brown, Richard Scarry, Eloise Wilkins, Garth Williams, and many more, Little Golden Books have also dived into the wide world of established intellectual property, including stories inspired by "Star Wars," "Sesame Street," DC and Marvel Comics, Barbie, Disney, Nickelodeon, and much more. In recent years, Little Golden Books have also been delivering biographies of the most influential people in history, starting with Martin Luther King Jr....
- 3/25/2024
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
George Lucas' "Star Wars: Episode IV -- A New Hope" is a structurally immaculate screenplay. You simply can't tell a sweeping intergalactic adventure -- or, really, any kind of story -- more thrillingly or efficiently. Beat for beat, it's considered the blockbuster narrative gold standard for a reason.
If, however, you're looking for a fantasy epic with dialogue that bounds off the page, might I recommend "Star Wars: Episode V -- The Empire Strikes Back"?
There is a certain genius to the specificity of Lucas' dialogue in the first movie. Characters drop references to Tosche Station, the Kessel Run, and the binary language of moisture vaporators like they're a part of everyday speech -- and fans have seen this movie so many times that these references are now a part of their everyday speech.
Still, years before "Star Wars" changed the film industry, these were treacherously awkward words and phrases that,...
If, however, you're looking for a fantasy epic with dialogue that bounds off the page, might I recommend "Star Wars: Episode V -- The Empire Strikes Back"?
There is a certain genius to the specificity of Lucas' dialogue in the first movie. Characters drop references to Tosche Station, the Kessel Run, and the binary language of moisture vaporators like they're a part of everyday speech -- and fans have seen this movie so many times that these references are now a part of their everyday speech.
Still, years before "Star Wars" changed the film industry, these were treacherously awkward words and phrases that,...
- 3/25/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Plot: The life and career of Gene Wilder are remembered by his friends and colleagues.
Review: Gene Wilder was a one-of-a-kind talent. While it seems like he’s mostly remembered these days for playing Willy Wonka (with his performance inspiring Timothee Chalamet’s recent take), there was a lot more to him than just that one film. For one thing, his cinematic partnership with Mel Brooks resulted in three all-time classics: The Producers, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein. Plus, he and Richard Pryor made an iconic mismatched duo in a slew of films (some better than others), while Wilder directed several highly successful films on his own.
In this loving tribute to the late icon, director Ron Frank pulls back the curtain to dip into both Wilder’s creative process and sometimes tragic life. Pulling from an audiobook he recorded of his memoirs, the film is distinguished because Wilder himself tells much of the story.
Review: Gene Wilder was a one-of-a-kind talent. While it seems like he’s mostly remembered these days for playing Willy Wonka (with his performance inspiring Timothee Chalamet’s recent take), there was a lot more to him than just that one film. For one thing, his cinematic partnership with Mel Brooks resulted in three all-time classics: The Producers, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein. Plus, he and Richard Pryor made an iconic mismatched duo in a slew of films (some better than others), while Wilder directed several highly successful films on his own.
In this loving tribute to the late icon, director Ron Frank pulls back the curtain to dip into both Wilder’s creative process and sometimes tragic life. Pulling from an audiobook he recorded of his memoirs, the film is distinguished because Wilder himself tells much of the story.
- 3/22/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
For those of us who remember going to the movies in 1977, we were treated to Star Wars, Smokey And The Bandit, The Spy Who Loved Me, Airport 77, The Car, Orca and Capricorn One. There was a rich wealth of movies to choose from and a time when audiences in their local cinemas would cheer and clap for the heroes. Then on December 14, 1977, coming off the success of Jaws, that director Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi masterpiece graced the screens. Close Encounters Of The Third Kind was the filmmaker’s next movie and, along with star Richard Dreyfuss and the magnificent score from composer John Williams, took audiences on a journey of mankind’s first meeting with aliens and let us know we are not alone in the universe.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning for Best Cinematography by Director of Photography Vilmos Zsigmond (The Sugarland Express...
Close Encounters of the Third Kind was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning for Best Cinematography by Director of Photography Vilmos Zsigmond (The Sugarland Express...
- 3/21/2024
- by Melissa Thompson
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Mel Brooks’s Young Frankenstein, co-written with Gene Wilder (seen here with Marty Feldman and Teri Garr) inspired Tony McNamara’s screenplay adaptation of Alasdair Gray’s novel for Yorgos Lanthimos’s Poor Things (Oscar wins for Emma Stone and costume designer Holly Waddington).
By using well-chosen excerpts from the audiobook of Gene Wilder’s autobiography, Kiss Me Like A Stranger, Ron Frank lets Wilder himself guide us through the documentary, by positioning him in dialogue with many friends and colleagues assembled here, most prominently Mel Brooks, who directed Wilder in a number of groundbreaking movies. We find out how the two met, because Anne Bancroft, starring at the time on stage in Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage (with Wilder as the Chaplain), was dating Brooks, who was looking for an actor to play Leo Bloom in what was to become The Producers. The two men clicked, as they both recall,...
By using well-chosen excerpts from the audiobook of Gene Wilder’s autobiography, Kiss Me Like A Stranger, Ron Frank lets Wilder himself guide us through the documentary, by positioning him in dialogue with many friends and colleagues assembled here, most prominently Mel Brooks, who directed Wilder in a number of groundbreaking movies. We find out how the two met, because Anne Bancroft, starring at the time on stage in Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage (with Wilder as the Chaplain), was dating Brooks, who was looking for an actor to play Leo Bloom in what was to become The Producers. The two men clicked, as they both recall,...
- 3/21/2024
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Those attending the 15th annual TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood next month will have an opportunity to engage with Mel Brooks and Vitaphone, both born in 1926. One’s extinct, the other’s still going strong.
While Brooks, 97, will be on hand for a closing-night screening of his 1987 comedy Spaceballs, six Vitaphone vaudeville shorts from the 1920s will be projected in 35mm, with sound played back from their original 16-inch discs on a turntable designed and engineered by Warner Bros.’ postproduction engineering department.
Also announced Thursday:
• Steven Spielberg will participate in a Q&a with Howard Suber — the UCLA faculty member at the center of the recent six-part TCM documentary The Power of Film — ahead of a director’s cut of Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977);
• Nancy Meyers and Alexander Payne, respectively, will introduce world premiere restorations of Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest (1959) and John Ford’s The Searchers...
While Brooks, 97, will be on hand for a closing-night screening of his 1987 comedy Spaceballs, six Vitaphone vaudeville shorts from the 1920s will be projected in 35mm, with sound played back from their original 16-inch discs on a turntable designed and engineered by Warner Bros.’ postproduction engineering department.
Also announced Thursday:
• Steven Spielberg will participate in a Q&a with Howard Suber — the UCLA faculty member at the center of the recent six-part TCM documentary The Power of Film — ahead of a director’s cut of Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977);
• Nancy Meyers and Alexander Payne, respectively, will introduce world premiere restorations of Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest (1959) and John Ford’s The Searchers...
- 3/21/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Individuals like Andy Kaufman, Richard Pryor, John Candy, Sam Kinison, Bill Hicks, Robin Williams, Gilda Radner, George Carlin, and Gene Wilder come to mind in a list of late comedic greats who changed the comedy landscape. Their influence remains a part of the art, with up-and-coming joke-slingers citing them as sources of inspiration. Sometimes, it’s good to reflect on the contributions of comedy’s titans. So Kino Lorder is proud to present Ron Frank’s Remembering Gene Wilder trailer, celebrating the life and career of the curly-haired clown alongside notable friends.
Remembering Gene Wilder is a heartfelt documentary and entertaining portrait of the life and career of the beloved actor, featuring an extensive array of highlights from Wilder’s most memorable films and interviews with his closest friends, family, and fellow comics.
Here’s the official description for Remembering Gene Wilder:
Remembering Gene Wilder is a loving tribute to...
Remembering Gene Wilder is a heartfelt documentary and entertaining portrait of the life and career of the beloved actor, featuring an extensive array of highlights from Wilder’s most memorable films and interviews with his closest friends, family, and fellow comics.
Here’s the official description for Remembering Gene Wilder:
Remembering Gene Wilder is a loving tribute to...
- 3/5/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Netflix is doing its best Angel Studios impression with “Testament: The Story of Moses,” a three-part documentary series premiering on March 27, 2024. Angel, the studio behind surprise box-office hit “Sound of Freedom,” is not actually involved; “Testament” is a Karga Seven Pictures production.
Unlike “Sound of Freedom,” “The Story of Moses” will not have a theatrical release. Even if it were cut as a feature-length film instead of a docuseries, that’s just not how Netflix rolls — it wants longterm subscribers, not a one-time box office boon.
“Testament: The Story of Moses” explores the life of Moses and his rise from outcast and murderer to prophet and liberator of the Hebrews, according to the logline. Netflix released the trailer on Tuesday, March 5.
The docuseries’ presentation is part scripted drama, part documentary-style interviews. There are the locusts and the sea-parting and all the greatest hits from the Bible, the Qur’an, and the Torah.
Unlike “Sound of Freedom,” “The Story of Moses” will not have a theatrical release. Even if it were cut as a feature-length film instead of a docuseries, that’s just not how Netflix rolls — it wants longterm subscribers, not a one-time box office boon.
“Testament: The Story of Moses” explores the life of Moses and his rise from outcast and murderer to prophet and liberator of the Hebrews, according to the logline. Netflix released the trailer on Tuesday, March 5.
The docuseries’ presentation is part scripted drama, part documentary-style interviews. There are the locusts and the sea-parting and all the greatest hits from the Bible, the Qur’an, and the Torah.
- 3/5/2024
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Renowned comedian Richard Lewis, famous for his stand-up performances and memorable role on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, died on Tuesday night at his Los Angeles home after he suffered a heart attack. He was 76 years old.
The news of Lewis’s death was confirmed by his publicist, Jeff Abraham. Lewis had been living with Parkinson’s disease, a diagnosis he revealed in April 2023. In a statement, Lewis’s wife, Joyce Lapinsky, expressed gratitude for the love, friendship and support people had extended, and asked for privacy at this difficult time.
Born as Richard Philip Lewis on June 29, 1947, in Brooklyn and raised in Englewood, New Jersey, Lewis went on to graduate from Ohio State University. He emerged in the 1970s comedy scenes of New York and Los Angeles alongside future stars like Andy Kaufman, Richard Belzer and Elayne Boosler. Lewis quickly gained popularity and made appearances on late-night shows such...
The news of Lewis’s death was confirmed by his publicist, Jeff Abraham. Lewis had been living with Parkinson’s disease, a diagnosis he revealed in April 2023. In a statement, Lewis’s wife, Joyce Lapinsky, expressed gratitude for the love, friendship and support people had extended, and asked for privacy at this difficult time.
Born as Richard Philip Lewis on June 29, 1947, in Brooklyn and raised in Englewood, New Jersey, Lewis went on to graduate from Ohio State University. He emerged in the 1970s comedy scenes of New York and Los Angeles alongside future stars like Andy Kaufman, Richard Belzer and Elayne Boosler. Lewis quickly gained popularity and made appearances on late-night shows such...
- 2/29/2024
- by Baila Eve Zisman
- Uinterview
Richard Lewis
Screenshot: 20th Century Fox
Richard Lewis was always around in the early ’90s. Between guest spots on Letterman and the slew of stand-up specials and clips that ran on HBO and Comedy Central, one could find Richard Lewis pulling his hair out on stage at any time of the day.
Screenshot: 20th Century Fox
Richard Lewis was always around in the early ’90s. Between guest spots on Letterman and the slew of stand-up specials and clips that ran on HBO and Comedy Central, one could find Richard Lewis pulling his hair out on stage at any time of the day.
- 2/29/2024
- by Matt Schimkowitz
- avclub.com
Update, with new opening date: Producers of Gerard Alessandrini’s Forbidden Broadway on Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song have moved up the preview and opening dates by two weeks, with previews now beginning on July 15 ahead of an official opening on August 5 at the Hayes Theatre. The limited engagement runs through November 1.
Alessandrini’s longtime Off Broadway satirical revue Forbidden Broadway will make its long-in-coming Broadway debut with the full title of the new iteration called Forbidden Broadway on Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song
The cast and the rest of the creative team will be announced later. In addition to a five-person cast including the onstage pianist, weekly guest stars will appear throughout the engagement.
Alessandrini, who first staged the revue in 1982 at New York’s 130-seat Palsson’s Supper Club, said in a statement today, “I’d never have believed that Forbidden Broadway would end up on...
Alessandrini’s longtime Off Broadway satirical revue Forbidden Broadway will make its long-in-coming Broadway debut with the full title of the new iteration called Forbidden Broadway on Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song
The cast and the rest of the creative team will be announced later. In addition to a five-person cast including the onstage pianist, weekly guest stars will appear throughout the engagement.
Alessandrini, who first staged the revue in 1982 at New York’s 130-seat Palsson’s Supper Club, said in a statement today, “I’d never have believed that Forbidden Broadway would end up on...
- 2/29/2024
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
He directed When Harry Met Sally, Misery, Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, A Few Good Men, and now he’s back with a powerful political documentary. Not to mention the Spinal Tap sequel ...
Where to even start preparing for a Rob Reiner interview? You could rewatch his classic films, of course, namely that phenomenal eight-year streak that started with This Is Spinal Tap in 1984 and blazed through The Sure Thing, Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Misery and A Few Good Men. But even that is barely scratching the surface of a career that first got going in the late 1960s. What about his years as a household name in 70s sitcoms, or his famous comic actor father, Carl, or his unique childhood, in which Mel Brooks and other entertainment luminaries would be frequent guests in the house? And what about the political activism that...
Where to even start preparing for a Rob Reiner interview? You could rewatch his classic films, of course, namely that phenomenal eight-year streak that started with This Is Spinal Tap in 1984 and blazed through The Sure Thing, Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Misery and A Few Good Men. But even that is barely scratching the surface of a career that first got going in the late 1960s. What about his years as a household name in 70s sitcoms, or his famous comic actor father, Carl, or his unique childhood, in which Mel Brooks and other entertainment luminaries would be frequent guests in the house? And what about the political activism that...
- 2/29/2024
- by Tim Jonze
- The Guardian - Film News
Richard Lewis, the master of self-deprecating comedy who whined his way to stardom with stand-up TV specials, a sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall and turns on Anything but Love and Curb Your Enthusiasm, has died. He was 76.
Lewis died peacefully Tuesday night at his home in Los Angeles after suffering a heart attack, his publicist told The Hollywood Reporter. The actor and comic revealed in April that he had been living with Parkinson’s disease and was retiring from stand-up.
“For the last three-and-a-half years, I’ve had sort of a rocky time,” he said on social media when sharing his health woes publicly after wrapping Curb‘s 12th season, which would eventually be announced as the last for the Larry David HBO comedy. Lewis had stepped away in 2021, appearing on only one season 11 episode, and returned for the now-airing final season.
Lewis, who was dealing with illness while they filmed season 12, “was a champ,...
Lewis died peacefully Tuesday night at his home in Los Angeles after suffering a heart attack, his publicist told The Hollywood Reporter. The actor and comic revealed in April that he had been living with Parkinson’s disease and was retiring from stand-up.
“For the last three-and-a-half years, I’ve had sort of a rocky time,” he said on social media when sharing his health woes publicly after wrapping Curb‘s 12th season, which would eventually be announced as the last for the Larry David HBO comedy. Lewis had stepped away in 2021, appearing on only one season 11 episode, and returned for the now-airing final season.
Lewis, who was dealing with illness while they filmed season 12, “was a champ,...
- 2/28/2024
- by Chris Koseluk
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Richard Lewis, one of America’s most beloved and revered stand-up comics who also played a fictionalized version of himself on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, died Tuesday night at his home in Los Angeles after suffering a heart attack. He was 76.
His death was confirmed by his publicist Jeff Abraham. Lewis had been living with Parkinson’s disease, a diagnosis he revealed in April 2023.
“His wife, Joyce Lapinsky, thanks everyone for all the love, friendship and support and asks for privacy at this time,” Abraham said.
Complete information on survivors was not immediately available.
Related: Remembering Richard Lewis: A Career In Photos
Richard Lewis on ‘The Tonight Show’ in late-’70s
Born Richard Philip Lewis on June 29, 1947, in Brooklyn and raised in Englewood, NJ, Lewis — after a childhood he would describe as difficult — graduated from Ohio State University before landing in the New York and Los Angeles comedy scenes of the 1970s.
His death was confirmed by his publicist Jeff Abraham. Lewis had been living with Parkinson’s disease, a diagnosis he revealed in April 2023.
“His wife, Joyce Lapinsky, thanks everyone for all the love, friendship and support and asks for privacy at this time,” Abraham said.
Complete information on survivors was not immediately available.
Related: Remembering Richard Lewis: A Career In Photos
Richard Lewis on ‘The Tonight Show’ in late-’70s
Born Richard Philip Lewis on June 29, 1947, in Brooklyn and raised in Englewood, NJ, Lewis — after a childhood he would describe as difficult — graduated from Ohio State University before landing in the New York and Los Angeles comedy scenes of the 1970s.
- 2/28/2024
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
After wrapping up his four-season run on HBO’s acclaimed dark comedy Barry, Henry Winkler has been set to receive USC Comedy’s prestigious Oakie Award for Exceptional Achievements in Film and Television Comedy.
Part of the Jack Oakie and Victoria Horne Oakie Masters of Comedy Lecture Series, the award presentation will take place on Tuesday, March 5 at 7:00 pm and will include an in-depth conversation with Winkler, moderated by Barry‘s co-creator and star, Bill Hader. In addition to Hader, past recipients of the Oakie Award include Catherine O’Hara, Nancy Meyers, Kenya Barris, Steve Carell, James Burrows, Paul Feig, Mel Brooks, James L. Brooks, Judd Apatow, Lisa Kudrow, Barnet Kellman, David Isaacs, Phil Rosenthal, and Tim Story.
In a statement on Winkler’s forthcoming recognition, David Isaacs, Co-Chair of USC Comedy and Chair of the John Wells Division of Writing for Screen & Television, said: “Henry Winkler’s indelible mark...
Part of the Jack Oakie and Victoria Horne Oakie Masters of Comedy Lecture Series, the award presentation will take place on Tuesday, March 5 at 7:00 pm and will include an in-depth conversation with Winkler, moderated by Barry‘s co-creator and star, Bill Hader. In addition to Hader, past recipients of the Oakie Award include Catherine O’Hara, Nancy Meyers, Kenya Barris, Steve Carell, James Burrows, Paul Feig, Mel Brooks, James L. Brooks, Judd Apatow, Lisa Kudrow, Barnet Kellman, David Isaacs, Phil Rosenthal, and Tim Story.
In a statement on Winkler’s forthcoming recognition, David Isaacs, Co-Chair of USC Comedy and Chair of the John Wells Division of Writing for Screen & Television, said: “Henry Winkler’s indelible mark...
- 2/21/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Comedy actor and writer Gene Wilder is to be celebrated in documentary Remembering Gene Wilder, and here’s the trailer.
To several generations, Gene Wilder will forever be known as the definitive screen version of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka in 1971 film Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory. To others, he might be best known for his frequent collaborations with comedian Richard Pryor in films like Silver Streak, Stir Crazy, See No Evil, Hear No Evil and Another You.
Going on to forge a career as a writer and director, one of the most underrated comedies of the 1970s, and one that is well worth tracking down if you haven’t had the pleasure, is The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes’ Younger Brother. Wilder’s 1975 directorial debut saw the actor star alongside the powerhouse pairing of Madeline Kahn and Marty Feldmen, both of whom he worked with in Young Frankenstein, the...
To several generations, Gene Wilder will forever be known as the definitive screen version of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka in 1971 film Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory. To others, he might be best known for his frequent collaborations with comedian Richard Pryor in films like Silver Streak, Stir Crazy, See No Evil, Hear No Evil and Another You.
Going on to forge a career as a writer and director, one of the most underrated comedies of the 1970s, and one that is well worth tracking down if you haven’t had the pleasure, is The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes’ Younger Brother. Wilder’s 1975 directorial debut saw the actor star alongside the powerhouse pairing of Madeline Kahn and Marty Feldmen, both of whom he worked with in Young Frankenstein, the...
- 2/19/2024
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
Samantha Morton, the British actor (She Said, The Whale, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Walking Dead), writer (I Am…Kirsty) and director (The Unloved), received the BAFTA Fellowship, the British Academy’s highest honor at the BAFTA Film Awards in London on Sunday. But the outspoken star used her moment on stage to share very emotional words about children who live in poverty or who can’t live safely at home.
“For me, this is really nothing short of a miracle,” Morton said about receiving the honor, recalling how she was “hungry” and “cold” as a kid growing up in poverty.
“Film changed my life, it transformed me,” she continued. “When I first saw Ken Loach’s Kes… I was forever changed” seeing “poverty, people like me, my life and my family on the screen,” she said. Her conclusion: “Representation matters.”
Like British director Loach, Morton has...
“For me, this is really nothing short of a miracle,” Morton said about receiving the honor, recalling how she was “hungry” and “cold” as a kid growing up in poverty.
“Film changed my life, it transformed me,” she continued. “When I first saw Ken Loach’s Kes… I was forever changed” seeing “poverty, people like me, my life and my family on the screen,” she said. Her conclusion: “Representation matters.”
Like British director Loach, Morton has...
- 2/18/2024
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lee Grant, the Oscar-winning actress (“Shampoo”) says she decided after her win to try to direct since good roles for older women were limited. It turns out that was about the halfway point of her 98 year (so far) life. What followed was a narrative feature (“Tell Me a Riddle”) and several documentaries, including “Down and Out in America,” which won an Oscar.
When we last ran our list of the oldest living feature film directors in late 2022, where Grant stood was a mystery. Since her breakout in William Wyler’s “The Detective Story” (1951), her first nomination, her year of birth was unclear. But recently she has clarified that that she was born in 1925. That makes her, to the best of our knowledge, older than any of her peers.
Below are listed the 25 oldest. Since our most recent list, Norman Lear, Robert M. Young (both of who briefly were the oldest...
When we last ran our list of the oldest living feature film directors in late 2022, where Grant stood was a mystery. Since her breakout in William Wyler’s “The Detective Story” (1951), her first nomination, her year of birth was unclear. But recently she has clarified that that she was born in 1925. That makes her, to the best of our knowledge, older than any of her peers.
Below are listed the 25 oldest. Since our most recent list, Norman Lear, Robert M. Young (both of who briefly were the oldest...
- 2/16/2024
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
"He had a unique ability to find humor in anything." Kino Lorber has revealed their trailer for a doc film titled Remembering Gene Wilder, a loving tribute to the comic genius and acting legend. The film was the Opening Night Selection of the Boston & San Francisco Jewish Film Festivals, as well as the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival, where it won Best Picture. It's set for a theatrical release starting in March before it's available on VOD. Kl introduces it: "In this loving, career-spanning documentary, Ron Frank has captured both the public Gene Wilder that we all know and love as well as the more private Gene, a funny, kind, and gentle man beloved by his family, friends, and confidants. We're thrilled to share this film with audiences worldwide, so they can join us in spending 92 delicious minutes with the magical man behind the characters we love.” It's a moving...
- 2/16/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
With its scathing social satire, raunchy humor and frequent use of the controversial N-word, “Blazing Saddles” got mixed reviews upon its release February 7, 1974. Nonetheless, it galloped to the top of the box office and earned three Oscar nominations, and set new standards for comedy films with its irreverence, spoofs and just plain silliness. Some reviewers did get the joke from the beginning, including Roger Ebert, who awarded it four out of four stars, saying it’s “a crazed grab bag of a movie that does everything to keep us laughing except hit us over the head with a rubber chicken.” On its 50th anniversary, we look back at how “Blazing Saddles” has endured as one of the greatest and most beloved comedies of all time.
It all started when Mel Brooks bought the film rights to a story titled “Tex-x” (changed so it wouldn’t be mistaken for an X-rated...
It all started when Mel Brooks bought the film rights to a story titled “Tex-x” (changed so it wouldn’t be mistaken for an X-rated...
- 2/7/2024
- by Susan Pennington
- Gold Derby
British actor, writer, and director Samantha Morton will be awarded the BAFTA Fellowship at next week’s Ee BAFTA Film Awards.
Born in Nottingham in 1977, Morton garnered international attention in 1997 with her performance in Carine Adler’s Under the Skin, earning her a BIFA nomination and the Boston Film Critics Award for Best Actress. She has been nominated for an Academy Award first for Best Supporting Actress for Woody Allen’s Sweet and Lowdown (1999), and later for Best Actress for Jim Sheridan’s In America (2003).
Other notable film credits include work with directors such as Lynne Ramsay on Morvern Callar (2002), for which she won Best Performance, Toronto Film Critics Award and a BIFA for Best Actress; Steven Spielberg on Minority Report (2002); Michael Winterbottom on Code 46 (2003); Shekhar Kapur on The Golden Age (2007); Harmony Korine on Mister Lonely (2007); Anton Corbijn on Control, (2007), earning her a Best Supporting Actress BAFTA Film Award nomination; Charlie Kaufman Synecdoche,...
Born in Nottingham in 1977, Morton garnered international attention in 1997 with her performance in Carine Adler’s Under the Skin, earning her a BIFA nomination and the Boston Film Critics Award for Best Actress. She has been nominated for an Academy Award first for Best Supporting Actress for Woody Allen’s Sweet and Lowdown (1999), and later for Best Actress for Jim Sheridan’s In America (2003).
Other notable film credits include work with directors such as Lynne Ramsay on Morvern Callar (2002), for which she won Best Performance, Toronto Film Critics Award and a BIFA for Best Actress; Steven Spielberg on Minority Report (2002); Michael Winterbottom on Code 46 (2003); Shekhar Kapur on The Golden Age (2007); Harmony Korine on Mister Lonely (2007); Anton Corbijn on Control, (2007), earning her a Best Supporting Actress BAFTA Film Award nomination; Charlie Kaufman Synecdoche,...
- 2/7/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Acclaimed British actor, writer and director Samantha Morton will be awarded a Fellowship at the upcoming Ee BAFTA Film Awards.
The award is the highest recognition given by BAFTA to an individual for their exceptional contribution to the film, games or television industry.
After earning plaudits in theater and television, Morton’s breakthrough film role was Carine Adler’s “Under the Skin (1997) that earned her a BIFA nomination and the Boston Film Critics Award for best actress. She has been Oscar nominated twice – for best supporting actress for Woody Allen’s “Sweet and Lowdown” (1999), and for best actress for Jim Sheridan’s “In America” (2003).
For her portrayal of child-murderer Myra Hindley in “Longford” (2006) Morton scored best actress nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and BAFTA Television Award, and won a Golden Globe. In 2009, she made her directorial debut with television film “The Unloved,” a semi-autobiographical film based in the British children’s care system,...
The award is the highest recognition given by BAFTA to an individual for their exceptional contribution to the film, games or television industry.
After earning plaudits in theater and television, Morton’s breakthrough film role was Carine Adler’s “Under the Skin (1997) that earned her a BIFA nomination and the Boston Film Critics Award for best actress. She has been Oscar nominated twice – for best supporting actress for Woody Allen’s “Sweet and Lowdown” (1999), and for best actress for Jim Sheridan’s “In America” (2003).
For her portrayal of child-murderer Myra Hindley in “Longford” (2006) Morton scored best actress nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and BAFTA Television Award, and won a Golden Globe. In 2009, she made her directorial debut with television film “The Unloved,” a semi-autobiographical film based in the British children’s care system,...
- 2/7/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Samantha Morton, the British actor (She Said, The Whale, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Walking Dead), writer (I Am…Kirsty) and director (The Unloved), will receive the BAFTA Fellowship, the British Academy’s highest honor.
She will be given the honor at the BAFTA Film Awards ceremony, hosted by David Tennant (Doctor Who, Inside Man), in London on Feb. 18.
“As a proud BAFTA member I am honored, profoundly humbled and grateful to BAFTA for giving me this award,” Morton said.
Anna Higgs, chair of BAFTA’s film committee, lauded her as “a mesmerizing storyteller with incredible range,” adding: “She has made an extraordinary impact on the British film industry – consistently shining a light on complex characters and championing underrepresented stories. On-and-off screen, she always works to break down societal barriers and change the make-up of the screen industries for the better – often against great odds.” She concluded:...
She will be given the honor at the BAFTA Film Awards ceremony, hosted by David Tennant (Doctor Who, Inside Man), in London on Feb. 18.
“As a proud BAFTA member I am honored, profoundly humbled and grateful to BAFTA for giving me this award,” Morton said.
Anna Higgs, chair of BAFTA’s film committee, lauded her as “a mesmerizing storyteller with incredible range,” adding: “She has made an extraordinary impact on the British film industry – consistently shining a light on complex characters and championing underrepresented stories. On-and-off screen, she always works to break down societal barriers and change the make-up of the screen industries for the better – often against great odds.” She concluded:...
- 2/7/2024
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The 1974 spin on westerns sees Mel Brooks pointing at the absurdity of racism and the history of human evil while always ensuring a steady stream of laughter
Though it rarely gets mentioned in the same breath as The Wild Bunch, McCabe and Mrs Miller and the wave of revisionist westerns that came out of Hollywood in the late 60s and early 70s, Mel Brooks’s Blazing Saddles doesn’t need any artfully hazy Vilmos Zsigmond cinematography to upend Old West mythology. True, it is a comedy where a horse gets cold-cocked, a Native American chief (one of three characters played by Brooks) speaks Yiddish and Count Basie’s orchestra makes an appearance on the plains. Yet from the opening sequence, where Chinese immigrants and recently freed Black slaves work under the white man’s whip to build a railroad, this irreverent Looney Tunes spoof of the genre takes a dimmer...
Though it rarely gets mentioned in the same breath as The Wild Bunch, McCabe and Mrs Miller and the wave of revisionist westerns that came out of Hollywood in the late 60s and early 70s, Mel Brooks’s Blazing Saddles doesn’t need any artfully hazy Vilmos Zsigmond cinematography to upend Old West mythology. True, it is a comedy where a horse gets cold-cocked, a Native American chief (one of three characters played by Brooks) speaks Yiddish and Count Basie’s orchestra makes an appearance on the plains. Yet from the opening sequence, where Chinese immigrants and recently freed Black slaves work under the white man’s whip to build a railroad, this irreverent Looney Tunes spoof of the genre takes a dimmer...
- 2/7/2024
- by Scott Tobias
- The Guardian - Film News
Please consider this edition of Fiscal Spotlight a public service announcement warning you that there are a mere eight days remaining before Valentine’s Day. Cutting it close for any truly bigass plans, but still plenty of time to pick up chalky Russell Stovers and mass-manufactured fluffy teddy bear squishies from Cvs. And yes, you’ll need to buy a card and figure out yet another way to poeticize and artfully obfuscate the same basic premise: “Thank you for not valuing your autonomous personhood enough to leave me, which would thus double the cost of many of my critical domestic financial obligations.”
Just kidding! We love love. We’re nice people who love our partners and pets, of course, but as connoisseurs of the arts we also love love as the animating dramatic element in our favorite stories, songs and celebrity TikTok meltdowns. Which is why for this most amorous...
Just kidding! We love love. We’re nice people who love our partners and pets, of course, but as connoisseurs of the arts we also love love as the animating dramatic element in our favorite stories, songs and celebrity TikTok meltdowns. Which is why for this most amorous...
- 2/5/2024
- by Film Independent
- Film Independent News & More
Sherlock Jr..I don’t know what I expected. For some reason, when booking my plane ticket from Chicago to Muskegon, Michigan, I just assumed it would be a “normal,” albeit probably smaller, plane that would chariot us intrepid travelers to the neighboring state. So when I turned up at O’Hare, I thought nothing of being asked to provide my weight and having my carry-on bags weighed as well, nothing of the smaller-than-usual waiting area, nothing of taking an elevator directly to the tarmac rather than descending via the usual jet bridge. The sight of the nine-seat Cessna shouldn’t have surprised me, but it did. More disconcerting was the passenger who reveled in telling the lot of us why the plane flew around Lake Michigan, not across it: in case it crashed, it could more easily be found. This seemed an appropriate way to get to the International Buster Keaton Society's 2023 Convention,...
- 2/5/2024
- MUBI
L-r, from top: You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah; Blazing Saddles; School Of Rock; The Mitchells Vs. The Machines; Eurovision Song Contest: The Story Of Fire Saga; Forgetting Sarah MarshallScreenshot: Netflix/Rotten Tomatoes Trailers/YouTube
Netflix’s film library is positively gargantuan, so how is a couch...
Netflix’s film library is positively gargantuan, so how is a couch...
- 1/31/2024
- by The A.V. Club
- avclub.com
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