'The Fall Guy,' a love letter to stunt performers, premieres at SXSW
Coming nearly straight from the Oscars with a truck full of Kenergy, Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt rolled into South By Southwest to premiere “The Fall Guy,” an affectionate, action-fueled ode to stunt work and the dedicated professionals that throw their bodies into filmmaking.
Your Florida Daily: Flight attendant accused of filming kids inside plane lavatory, Brad Pitt movie filming in Daytona
Estes Carter Thompson III, an American Airlines flight attendant, repeatedly used his phone to record kids using the restroom including one alleged incident on a flight out of Orlando, according to new documents.
An anti-Trump video shared by the DeSantis campaign is ‘homophobic,’ says a conservative LGBT group
A prominent group that represents LGBT conservatives says a video shared by Ron DeSantis′ presidential campaign that slams rival Donald Trump for his past support of gay and transgender people “ventured into homophobic territory.”.
Movies love a comeback story. This summer, it's their turn.
Hollywood is bringing out some of its biggest and most reliable players for the 2022 summer movie season, which unofficially kicks off this weekend with the help of Marvel and Disney’s “Doctor Strange and the Multitverse of Madness” and runs through the end of August.
Churchill painting owned by Angelina Jolie sells for $11.5M
The Moroccan landscape painted by Winston Churchill and owned by Angelina Jolie sold at auction on Monday March 1, 2021, for more than $11.5 million, smashing the previous record for a work by Britains World War II leader. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)LONDON – A Moroccan landscape painted by Winston Churchill and owned by Angelina Jolie sold at auction on Monday for more than $11.5 million, smashing the previous record for a work by Britain’s World War II leader. The pre-sale estimate was 1.5 million pounds to 2.5 million pounds, and the previous record price for a Churchill painting was just under 1.8 million pounds. Churchill gave the painting to Roosevelt as a memento of the trip. The painting was sold by the Jolie Family Collection.
In 'Minari,' harvesting an American dream
In Chung’s film, the watery basin throbs with significance — a physical symbol of putting roots down, of Korean American harmony, of resiliency. The minari in “Minari” was sowed by Chung’s father — an almost impossibly poignant bit of set dressing in a film that blooms in the gap between generations. AdThe Golden Globes spawned a controversy by limiting “Minari” (a deeply American film, with dirt in its fingers, and largely Korean dialogue) to its foreign-language film category. And perhaps most importantly, its honest and authentic rendering of an Asian American family, in an entertainment world so often reliant on stereotype, has resonated meaningfully for many. For me, what’s incredible, taking a step back, we’re almost like their American dream come true,” says Oh.
As 'Kimye' become Kim and Kanye, will it stay peaceful?
FILE - Kanye West, left, and Kim Kardashian attend the WSJ. Kim Kardashian West filed for divorce Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, from Kanye West after 6 1/2 years of marriage. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)LOS ANGELES – Initial signs suggest a smooth and amicable split between Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West. As “Kimye” becomes just Kim and Kanye with Kardashian filing for divorce Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, they do so with a prenuptial agreement in place, independent fortunes and a desire to share time with their four young children. “There's a lot of wiggle room in the space between joint custody," divorce attorney Reid Aronson said.
Former Trump casino where stars played goes out with a bang
The former Trump Plaza casino was imploded after falling into such disrepair that chunks of the building began peeling off and crashing to the ground. “I got chills,” Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small said. AdOpened in 1984, when Trump was a real estate developer in his pre-politics days, Trump Plaza was for a time the most successful casino in Atlantic City. AdBut things began to sour for Trump Plaza when Donald Trump opened the nearby Trump Taj Mahal in 1990, with crushing debt loads that led the company to pour most of its resources — and cash — into the shiny new hotel and casino. Trump Plaza was the last of four Atlantic City casinos to close in 2014, victims of an oversaturated casino market both in the New Jersey city and in the larger northeast.
Angelina Jolie sells painting Churchill gave as gift to FDR
(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)LONDON – A painting by Winston Churchill that is a piece of both political and Hollywood history is coming up for auction. He painted it after the January 1943 Casablanca Conference, where Churchill and Roosevelt planned the defeat of Nazi Germany. He said Churchill captured the view in the “wonderful, evocative painting” and gave it to Roosevelt as a memento of the trip. AdThe painting is being sold by the Jolie Family Collection as part of Christie’s March 1 modern British art auction in London. “The record price at auction for Churchill is about 1.8 million (pounds) for a painting that, in my view, is not as important as this,” he said.
Pop Culture in (ugh) 2020, from the bizarre to the sublime
on Aug. 31, 2020, actor Chadwick Boseman in character as T'Challa in "Black Panther" and 10-year old twins Lenny, left, and Bobby Homes paying tribute to Boseman at their home in in Mesa, Ariz. on Aug. 31, 2020. (Takiyah Dupas, Marvel Studios, Annalie Homes via AP)And now, for our annual look at the year in pop culture…. Truth is, people turned to culture of all kinds in 2020 — highbrow and lowbrow — to satisfy varied and sometimes conflicting needs: Distraction, inspiration, consolation, escapism, hope. A Broadway star serenaded health workers from his apartment window, and ballet dancers performed “Swan Lake” from their bathtubs. The world mourns an actor of immense talent who, like many of his characters, radiated a regal sense of dignity.
Tarantino has deal for 2 books on films, including 1 his own
The Oscar-winning director has a two-book deal with Harper, beginning with a novelization of “Once Upon a Time ... In Hollywood” was released in 2019 and stars Brad Pitt as a television actor and Leonardo DiCaprio as his stunt double. “In the ‘70s movie novelizations were the first adult books I grew up reading," Tarantino said in a statement Tuesday. “I see myself writing film books and starting to write theater, so I’ll still be creative. I just think I’ve given all I have to give to movies.”_____AP Film Writer Jake Coyle contributed to this report.
TV's 'Warrior' latest proof that Bruce Lee still holds sway
(Cinemax via AP)PHOENIX – Even nearly 50 years after his death, Bruce Lee can still make ripples. Shannon Lee isn’t giving up on finding a new home for “Warrior,” which will eventually be available on HBO Max. “I think he’s really getting his due as a creative — someone who knows how to story-tell,” Shannon Lee said. “It’s just little things that the writers put in there to pay homage to Bruce Lee without being a caricature, which I think is the danger zone whenever you get to the subject of Bruce Lee,” Nguyen said. “He believed in celebrating people’s cultures and backgrounds and not holding it against them,” Shannon Lee said.
Venice reclaims spotlight as 1st COVID-era film fest opens
Festival attendees cycle in front of the main cinema ahead of the start of the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. The 77th edition of the worlds oldest film festival opening Wednesday looks nothing like its predecessors. Italys strict 10-week lockdown largely tamed the virus, but infections are now rebounding after summer vacations. Guests to the glamorous film festival are not exempt. Italian films are well represented, including the first Italian opening-night film in years, the out-of-competition family drama Lacci by Daniele Luchetti.
Stuntmen are increasingly Hollywood's go-to action directors
This image released by Netflix shows Chris Hemsworth, left, in a scene from "Extraction," premiering this week on Netflix. (Jasin Boland/Netflix via AP)Some of today's top action directors were first doubles for Brad Pitt, Neo and Wolverine. Hargrave is the latest in a lineage of stuntmen who have gone from stepping in for actors to directing them. It's a fairly recent career pathway thanks largely to the success of Chad Stahelski ("John Wick") and David Leitch ("Atomic Blonde"). They've been leaders in the field since founding the action design company 87Eleven in 1997.
In a win for the world, ‘Parasite’ takes best picture Oscar
LOS ANGELES – Subtitle this: “Parasite” is the first non-English language film to win best picture in the 92-year history of the Academy Awards. Bong Joon Ho’s masterfully devious class satire took Hollywood’s top prize at the Oscars on Sunday night, along with awards for best director, best international film and best screenplay. In winning best adapted screenplay for his Nazi satire “Jojo Rabbit,” the New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi became the first indigenous director ever to win an Oscar. “Joker” composer Hildur Gudnadottir became only the third woman to ever win best original score. After a year in which women made significant gains behind the camera, no female directors were nominated for best director.
Brad Pitt wins first acting Oscar for 'Once Upon a Time'
(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)LOS ANGELES, Calif. – An emotional Brad Pitt won his first acting Oscar on Sunday night, claiming the supporting actor trophy for “Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood,” while referencing his own storied run in the industry where he is among the most famous and revered. Pitt beat out an iconic group that included Tom Hanks, Anthony Hopkins, Joe Pesci and Al Pacino. In earlier speeches, Pitt joked about DiCaprio and director Quentin Tarantino, and via Robbie zinged Brexit and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's departure from their royal roles in Britain. Pitt's ex-wife, Angelina Jolie, won a supporting-actress Oscar in 1999 — years before she and Pitt got together. Pitt was the only man in the category who had never won an acting Oscar.
Hanks, Fonda and more stars amuse at Oscars rehearsals
(AP Photo/John Locher)LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell are standing on the Oscars stage performing some hilarious material for a few dozen people who are in stitches watching the two comedians. Louis-Dreyfus and Ferrell are just a few of the stars who circulated in and out of the Dolby Theatre to rehearse Saturday, including Tom Hanks, Salma Hayek, Jane Fonda and Mahershala Ali. But the stars weren’t always confined to the stage, especially if they arrived a little early. Makeup artists Antonio Rael has been standing in for big stars for 34 years. Rael was talking about the stand-ins but that doesn’t mean some of the stars aren’t anxious as well.
Screen Actors Guild Awards could offer Oscars preview
FILE - This Jan. 15, 2019 file photo shows finished Actor statuettes displayed during the 25th Annual Casting of the Screen Actors Guild Awards at American Fine Arts Foundry in Burbank, Calif. The 26th Annual SAG Awards will held on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
'Parasite,' 'Jojo Rabbit' get a boost in SAG nominations
This image released by Netflix shows Scarlett Johansson, left, and Adam Driver in "Marriage Story." On Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, Johansson was nominated for a Golden Globe for best actress in a motion picture drama for her role in the film. (Netflix via AP)
'Parasite,' 'Bombshell' get a boost in SAG nominations
The SAG Awards are one of the most closely watched Academy Awards bellwethers because, historically, a best ensemble nomination from the actors is usually a prerequisite for any best-picture contender's resume. Notably missing out on the best ensemble nomination was Noah Baumbach's divorce drama “Marriage Story," which on Monday led the Golden Globe nominations with six nods. Johansson was nominated in that category, as well, for her performance in “Jojo Rabbit.”Recently, a SAG ensemble nomination hasn't been quite as vital for a best-picture winner at the Oscars. Nothing got more of a boost from the actors guild than “Bombshell,” which tied “The Irishman” and “Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood” with a co-leading four nominations. In best drama series ensemble, the actors nominated the casts of “Big Little Lies,” “The Crown," “Game of Thrones," “The Handmaid's Tale” and “Stranger Things."