More than a decade after Brittany Murphy died, director Cynthia Hill wants to give the actor a chance to “be something other than her death.”
“We’re doing a lot of looking back to reevaluate missteps and to be able to talk about people like Britney Spears and Brittany Murphy, who have been victimized by Hollywood, by the gossip industry,” Hill tells Variety. “Having to look back at what our role is in all of that [is] giving these women an opportunity to reclaim their voices.”
Working with Blumhouse Television and Pyramid Productions, Hill spent the last year creating a two-part docuseries about the circumstances that led to Murphy’s death on Dec. 20, 2009, at age 32. “What Happened, Brittany Murphy?” bows Oct. 14 on HBO Max.
The series opens with the emotional 911 call from Murphy’s mother, Sharon Murphy, declaring that her daughter is unresponsive. Over the next four hours, Hill goes backward...
“We’re doing a lot of looking back to reevaluate missteps and to be able to talk about people like Britney Spears and Brittany Murphy, who have been victimized by Hollywood, by the gossip industry,” Hill tells Variety. “Having to look back at what our role is in all of that [is] giving these women an opportunity to reclaim their voices.”
Working with Blumhouse Television and Pyramid Productions, Hill spent the last year creating a two-part docuseries about the circumstances that led to Murphy’s death on Dec. 20, 2009, at age 32. “What Happened, Brittany Murphy?” bows Oct. 14 on HBO Max.
The series opens with the emotional 911 call from Murphy’s mother, Sharon Murphy, declaring that her daughter is unresponsive. Over the next four hours, Hill goes backward...
- 10/14/2021
- by Danielle Turchiano
- Variety Film + TV
A new two-part HBO Max series on the Clueless actor’s shocking death at 32 in 2009 is less monument to her short life than exploitation of her death
It’s telling that What Happened, Brittany Murphy?, a new docuseries on the Clueless and Girl, Interrupted actor’s confounding death in December 2009, is bookended by two overwrought sleights of hand. The two-part HBO Max series begins with the frantic 911 call by her mother, Sharon Murphy, over a recreation of the Ems trip from Murphy’s house in Hollywood Hills to Cedars Sinai medical center, where she died from a combination of pneumonia, severe anemia and several prescription and over-the-counter medications at age 32. It ends with a hammy montage of fan videos made by internet detectives – straight-to-camera, brightly lit, skeptical recaps that often double as makeup tutorials – spliced with scenes from Murphy’s films, as if her expressive face is in conversation with their fascination.
It’s telling that What Happened, Brittany Murphy?, a new docuseries on the Clueless and Girl, Interrupted actor’s confounding death in December 2009, is bookended by two overwrought sleights of hand. The two-part HBO Max series begins with the frantic 911 call by her mother, Sharon Murphy, over a recreation of the Ems trip from Murphy’s house in Hollywood Hills to Cedars Sinai medical center, where she died from a combination of pneumonia, severe anemia and several prescription and over-the-counter medications at age 32. It ends with a hammy montage of fan videos made by internet detectives – straight-to-camera, brightly lit, skeptical recaps that often double as makeup tutorials – spliced with scenes from Murphy’s films, as if her expressive face is in conversation with their fascination.
- 10/14/2021
- by Adrian Horton
- The Guardian - Film News
Angelo Bertolotti, father of Brittany Murphy, has died at age 92, nine years after his daughter's death. Bertolotti, a World War II combat veteran who was estranged from the Clueless and 8 Mile actress and her mother and his ex Sharon Murphy, passed away on Tuesday after an illness. His son Jeff Bertolotti wrote on Facebook that his dad would be taken off life support. "He passed with my beautiful sister Pia at his bedside, Frank Sinatra in his ears and a quiet calm on his face," he wrote. "Rip Pop's, I'll miss your crazy insane ass, forever." Murphy had died at age 32 in December 2009. She was found unconscious in a bathroom shower in her West...
- 1/24/2019
- E! Online
We've already got Team Rita and Team Will all ready for the live shows on The Voice UK, but of course that's only half the story! Yep, Ricky Wilson and Sir Tom Jones also had to cut down their teams from eight acts to just three, and what better way to do it than with some more knockouts?
The hopefuls each had to pick a song to convince their coaches to keep them in the competition, and given the strength of the field, it all got pretty intense. Having just about recovered, we've managed to bring you all the gossip, so read on for everything you need to know about tonight's show...
Team Ricky
We're not sure how anyone managed to concentrate on their knockout rehearsals after Ricky's frankly bizarre dancing, which is apparently intended to relieve nerves. It's certainly... distracting. But somehow they did, so after Ricky had told...
The hopefuls each had to pick a song to convince their coaches to keep them in the competition, and given the strength of the field, it all got pretty intense. Having just about recovered, we've managed to bring you all the gossip, so read on for everything you need to know about tonight's show...
Team Ricky
We're not sure how anyone managed to concentrate on their knockout rehearsals after Ricky's frankly bizarre dancing, which is apparently intended to relieve nerves. It's certainly... distracting. But somehow they did, so after Ricky had told...
- 3/15/2015
- Digital Spy
We've had the blinds. We've had the battles. And now the contestants who are still standing on The Voice UK face the knockouts! Yes, over a double bill this weekend - there's an episode on Saturday and on Sunday - they'll each choose a "killer song" to try to make it into the live shows.
Exciting, right? And to make things even more exciting, we've got the full list of songs the acts have chosen. Rita Ora and will.i.am will pit their teams against each other on Saturday, while Ricky Wilson and Sir Tom Jones will put their acts to the test on Sunday. So without further ado, read on to find out what songs you can expect...
Team Rita
DTwinz - 23, London
'I'm Every Woman' - Whitney Houston
Joe Woolford - 20, North Wales
'Hey Ya' - Outkast
Mitch Miller - 26, London
'You Spin Me Round (Like A...
Exciting, right? And to make things even more exciting, we've got the full list of songs the acts have chosen. Rita Ora and will.i.am will pit their teams against each other on Saturday, while Ricky Wilson and Sir Tom Jones will put their acts to the test on Sunday. So without further ado, read on to find out what songs you can expect...
Team Rita
DTwinz - 23, London
'I'm Every Woman' - Whitney Houston
Joe Woolford - 20, North Wales
'Hey Ya' - Outkast
Mitch Miller - 26, London
'You Spin Me Round (Like A...
- 3/10/2015
- Digital Spy
The Voice UK kicked off its all-important battles with a two-hour spectacular tonight, as 24 acts got paired up for 12 bouts in the ring. As Sir Tom Jones pointed out, "no biting" and "no kicking" was allowed - instead it was (surprise!) all about the voice.
With each coach being granted two steals this series, it was all to play for, all bets were off and it was all going down to the wire. Right, that's enough sporting phrases - let's get the ball rolling! (Sorry.)
Battle #1: Joyful Soundz vs Newtion Matthews
Team: Will
Song: 'Shout' - The Isley Brothers
What happened in rehearsals? This is one of the funniest battle rehearsals we have ever seen, ever. Will was babbling about how 'Shout' is one of his favourite songs "on the entire planet' ("Even if I was to take a spaceship out of space it would still be my favourite...
With each coach being granted two steals this series, it was all to play for, all bets were off and it was all going down to the wire. Right, that's enough sporting phrases - let's get the ball rolling! (Sorry.)
Battle #1: Joyful Soundz vs Newtion Matthews
Team: Will
Song: 'Shout' - The Isley Brothers
What happened in rehearsals? This is one of the funniest battle rehearsals we have ever seen, ever. Will was babbling about how 'Shout' is one of his favourite songs "on the entire planet' ("Even if I was to take a spaceship out of space it would still be my favourite...
- 2/28/2015
- Digital Spy
The blind auditions might be over on The Voice UK, but there is still so much to come. There's no hanging about - we're straight into the battle rounds on Saturday as the first batch of contestants attempt to outshine their partners.
It's not that all is lost if they don't win their battle - the coaches each have not one, but two steals this series - but that doesn't mean the pressure is off! Read on to find out who you'll see battling this weekend - and what they'll be singing (complete with sneaky pictures of the battles themselves)...
Team Will
Joyful Soundz vs Newtion Matthews
Song: 'Shout' - Isley Brothers
Remind me who they are! Joyful Soundz - aka Patrick and Simone - are friends from church from Luton who just want to bring a little joy to the world! Newtion, 30, previously had a record deal with Warner...
It's not that all is lost if they don't win their battle - the coaches each have not one, but two steals this series - but that doesn't mean the pressure is off! Read on to find out who you'll see battling this weekend - and what they'll be singing (complete with sneaky pictures of the battles themselves)...
Team Will
Joyful Soundz vs Newtion Matthews
Song: 'Shout' - Isley Brothers
Remind me who they are! Joyful Soundz - aka Patrick and Simone - are friends from church from Luton who just want to bring a little joy to the world! Newtion, 30, previously had a record deal with Warner...
- 2/24/2015
- Digital Spy
Sir Tom Jones is an old hand at The Voice UK now - he's four series in, after all. But he still waited until the penultimate act before completing his team! Read on for your round-up of the 12 contestants batting for Team Tom...
1. Cai Williams
Age: 34
From: Blaenavon, South Wales, but lives on the Gower, Swansea
Blind audition song: 'Licence To Kill' - Gladys Knight
What you need to know: Cai is a model with 3,000 Instagram followers who says he's often compared to a young Sir Tom! Sir Tom, meanwhile, praised his "powerful" voice.
2. Claudia Rose
Age: 17
From: Cork
Blind audition song: 'Love You I Do' - Jennifer Hudson
What you need to know: Claudia was once in a girl band that won Cork's Got Talent! Sir Tom battled hard with Ricky to win her and eventually did when he described her as a "powerhouse".
3. Daniel Duke
Age: 24
From: Banbridge,...
1. Cai Williams
Age: 34
From: Blaenavon, South Wales, but lives on the Gower, Swansea
Blind audition song: 'Licence To Kill' - Gladys Knight
What you need to know: Cai is a model with 3,000 Instagram followers who says he's often compared to a young Sir Tom! Sir Tom, meanwhile, praised his "powerful" voice.
2. Claudia Rose
Age: 17
From: Cork
Blind audition song: 'Love You I Do' - Jennifer Hudson
What you need to know: Claudia was once in a girl band that won Cork's Got Talent! Sir Tom battled hard with Ricky to win her and eventually did when he described her as a "powerhouse".
3. Daniel Duke
Age: 24
From: Banbridge,...
- 2/22/2015
- Digital Spy
The Voice UK is in its fourth week of blind auditions and things are getting serious. Well, sort of. I mean, there was still time for Sir Tom Jones and Ricky Wilson to gush about their blossoming bromance. But not much time, because fifteen acts tried to get those chairs spinning in tonight's show.
Ten of them made it through, too, making this a pretty packed instalment of blind auditions - but who made the biggest impression? Who will we be excited about seeing in the next round? Read on to find out what we thought of this week's auditionees...
1. Sharon Murphy
Song: 'Forever Young' - Bob Dylan
Team: Team Tom (Ricky also turned)
Sharon hasn't had the easiest of lives; she opened up in her pre-audition video about growing up in an orphanage and experiencing racism. She said that music is a "real solace" for her and wow,...
Ten of them made it through, too, making this a pretty packed instalment of blind auditions - but who made the biggest impression? Who will we be excited about seeing in the next round? Read on to find out what we thought of this week's auditionees...
1. Sharon Murphy
Song: 'Forever Young' - Bob Dylan
Team: Team Tom (Ricky also turned)
Sharon hasn't had the easiest of lives; she opened up in her pre-audition video about growing up in an orphanage and experiencing racism. She said that music is a "real solace" for her and wow,...
- 1/31/2015
- Digital Spy
It's week four of blind auditions on The Voice and the show ain't messing around - we're getting fifteen acts taking to the stage this week in a bid to win an all-important chair spin from the coaches.
And if you want to know a little bit more about those 15 hopefuls, you're in luck, because we have all their pictures, song details and info. Read on for everything you need to know before Saturday night...
1. Tim Arnold - 39, London
Song: 'Running Up That Hill' - Kate Bush
What you need to know: Tim's mum is Polly Perkins who played Rose Cotton in EastEnders - June Brown is a close family friend. Tim also had a taste of success with Britpop band Jocasta in the '90s, but they were dropped on the day their album came out (way harsh). He's still working on music and recently recorded with Gary Kemp.
And if you want to know a little bit more about those 15 hopefuls, you're in luck, because we have all their pictures, song details and info. Read on for everything you need to know before Saturday night...
1. Tim Arnold - 39, London
Song: 'Running Up That Hill' - Kate Bush
What you need to know: Tim's mum is Polly Perkins who played Rose Cotton in EastEnders - June Brown is a close family friend. Tim also had a taste of success with Britpop band Jocasta in the '90s, but they were dropped on the day their album came out (way harsh). He's still working on music and recently recorded with Gary Kemp.
- 1/29/2015
- Digital Spy
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.