Courtesy of Studiocanal
by James Cameron-wilson
Two of the most famous characters Audrey Hepburn ever played were Eliza Dolittle and Maid Marion. In StudioCanal’s new 4K restoration home entertainment release of The Lavender Hill Mob, Audrey Hepburn shares her first film with Stanley Holloway, who played Eliza’s father in My Fair Lady, and Robert Shaw, who played the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin & Marion. Not that Audrey Hepburn actually shares the screen in The Lavender Hill Mob with either Stanley Holloway or Robert Shaw, but she does get the film off to a bright start with a nuzzle with Alec Guinness The Lavender Hill Mob arrived in the middle of the golden era of the Ealing Comedy cycle, two years after Kind Hearts and Coronets and just four years before The Ladykillers. And it remains a pure joy. Unlike heist movies of the future, it manages to be...
by James Cameron-wilson
Two of the most famous characters Audrey Hepburn ever played were Eliza Dolittle and Maid Marion. In StudioCanal’s new 4K restoration home entertainment release of The Lavender Hill Mob, Audrey Hepburn shares her first film with Stanley Holloway, who played Eliza’s father in My Fair Lady, and Robert Shaw, who played the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin & Marion. Not that Audrey Hepburn actually shares the screen in The Lavender Hill Mob with either Stanley Holloway or Robert Shaw, but she does get the film off to a bright start with a nuzzle with Alec Guinness The Lavender Hill Mob arrived in the middle of the golden era of the Ealing Comedy cycle, two years after Kind Hearts and Coronets and just four years before The Ladykillers. And it remains a pure joy. Unlike heist movies of the future, it manages to be...
- 5/1/2024
- by James Cameron-Wilson
- Film Review Daily
A24 has officially signed on to John Patton Ford’s “Huntington” (working title) for U.S. distribution. Also joining are new cast members Ed Harris and Margaret Qualley, who will star alongside the previously announced Glen Powell.
“Huntington” is a revenge thriller that follows Becket Redfellow (Powell), the “heir to a multi-billion-dollar fortune who will stop at nothing to get what he deserves… Or what he thinks he deserves.”
Ford will direct “Huntington” (or whatever it is titled by then). He already wrote the original screenplay, which was inspired by the film’s financier Studiocanal’s “Kind Hearts and Coronets,” the classic 1949 crime film starring Alec Guinness, who famously played eight different roles in the film.
Enjoy the new casting choices? Credit casting director Lucy Bevan of “Barbie. EVP of Global Production Ron Halpern and SVP of Global Production Joe Naftalin will oversee “Huntington” for Studiocanal, with Pete Czernin and...
“Huntington” is a revenge thriller that follows Becket Redfellow (Powell), the “heir to a multi-billion-dollar fortune who will stop at nothing to get what he deserves… Or what he thinks he deserves.”
Ford will direct “Huntington” (or whatever it is titled by then). He already wrote the original screenplay, which was inspired by the film’s financier Studiocanal’s “Kind Hearts and Coronets,” the classic 1949 crime film starring Alec Guinness, who famously played eight different roles in the film.
Enjoy the new casting choices? Credit casting director Lucy Bevan of “Barbie. EVP of Global Production Ron Halpern and SVP of Global Production Joe Naftalin will oversee “Huntington” for Studiocanal, with Pete Czernin and...
- 5/1/2024
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
“Obi-Wan. Now, that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time… A long time.” Every Star Wars fan recognizes that line as one of the first things that the great Sir Alec Guinness says as Obi-Wan Kenobi at the start of A New Hope. For years, these fans have wondered what could have happened to poor Ben to wipe his much cooler name from memory.
While the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi gave fans an answer, it could have been so much worse. Early planning for the follow-up to Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith involved a much darker intro scene for Ewan McGregor‘s fallen Jedi Master, much worse than working on an assembly line cutting up a “sand whale” or living in a cave on Tatooine.
“I said, all I can see is him broken after some time after Episode III and he’s in a really dark place,...
While the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi gave fans an answer, it could have been so much worse. Early planning for the follow-up to Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith involved a much darker intro scene for Ewan McGregor‘s fallen Jedi Master, much worse than working on an assembly line cutting up a “sand whale” or living in a cave on Tatooine.
“I said, all I can see is him broken after some time after Episode III and he’s in a really dark place,...
- 4/30/2024
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
The famous twist at the end of Irvin Kershner's 1980 sci-fi epic "The Empire Strikes Back" — that the evil Darth Vader (James Earl Jones/David Prowse) was actually the father of the heroic Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) — was shocking enough to send seismic ripples through the future of pop culture. Young prospective filmmakers reared in 1980 were so shocked by the famed "Empire" revelation that the "hero was secretly related to the villain this whole time" twist would eventually become a common screenwriting trope.
As many Starwoids will be able to tell you, the "I am your father" twist famously contradicts dialogue from George Lucas' "Star Wars" from three years earlier. In that film, the trustworthy Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) revealed that he was friends with Luke's father, who was, by Obi-Wan's own description, definitely not Darth Vader. Indeed, Darth Vader was said to have murdered Luke's father. So when...
As many Starwoids will be able to tell you, the "I am your father" twist famously contradicts dialogue from George Lucas' "Star Wars" from three years earlier. In that film, the trustworthy Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) revealed that he was friends with Luke's father, who was, by Obi-Wan's own description, definitely not Darth Vader. Indeed, Darth Vader was said to have murdered Luke's father. So when...
- 4/28/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Despite all the changes and shifts that happened in Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy has managed to “survive” as the president of the company and she is still running the Star Wars franchise in collaboration with Disney, despite many negative comments on her work, as well as some of the recent Star Wars projects. And while Kennedy is certainly responsible for a lot of the franchise’s successes, she has also been blamed for a lot of the failures.
Kennedy is known for voicing her opinion, and her opinions have often been subject to criticism as well, but this has not stopped her from speaking out. Not so long ago, the president of Lucasfilm talked about the issue of recasting popular roles, and from what we can understand, she is not a big fan of the practice.
This was said as a reaction to the relatively lukewarm reception of Solo: A Star Wars Story,...
Kennedy is known for voicing her opinion, and her opinions have often been subject to criticism as well, but this has not stopped her from speaking out. Not so long ago, the president of Lucasfilm talked about the issue of recasting popular roles, and from what we can understand, she is not a big fan of the practice.
This was said as a reaction to the relatively lukewarm reception of Solo: A Star Wars Story,...
- 4/23/2024
- by Arthur S. Poe
- Fiction Horizon
To celebrate the release of The Lavender Hill Mob out on 4K Uhd Collector’s Edition and on Digital from 22 April – we have a 4K Uhd Collector’s Edition to give away to one lucky winner!
Studiocanal are proud to announce the release of a spectacular 4K restoration of one of the most-loved British comedies from Ealing Studios, The Lavender Hill Mob, written by T.E.B. Clarke (winner of the Best Original Screenplay Oscar), directed by Charles Crichton (A Fish Called Wanda) and starring Alec Guinness, Stanley Holloway (My Fair Lady), Sid James (Carry On films) and Alfie Bass (Alfie). The enduringly funny story of a nobody bank employee’s ingenious plan to rob the Bank of England and the motley crew that he assembles to carry out the raid, will be released in UK cinemas on 29 March and as a 4K Uhd Collector’s Edition and on Digital from 22 April.
Studiocanal are proud to announce the release of a spectacular 4K restoration of one of the most-loved British comedies from Ealing Studios, The Lavender Hill Mob, written by T.E.B. Clarke (winner of the Best Original Screenplay Oscar), directed by Charles Crichton (A Fish Called Wanda) and starring Alec Guinness, Stanley Holloway (My Fair Lady), Sid James (Carry On films) and Alfie Bass (Alfie). The enduringly funny story of a nobody bank employee’s ingenious plan to rob the Bank of England and the motley crew that he assembles to carry out the raid, will be released in UK cinemas on 29 March and as a 4K Uhd Collector’s Edition and on Digital from 22 April.
- 4/19/2024
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
To celebrate the release of Kind Hearts and Coronets released for the first time on Uhd on 22 April – we have a Uhd to give away to one lucky winner!
Kind Hearts and Coronets is the jewel in Ealing Studios’ crown, and arguably one of the finest British films ever made.
Hailing from the Golden-Age of Ealing Comedies and the same year as Passport to Pimlico and Whisky Galore!, Kind Hearts and Coronets stars Dennis Price as the debonair yet impoverished Louis Mazzini, the would-be Duke of Chalfont whose mother was disinherited by her noble family, the D’Ascoynes, for marrying beneath her. When her dying wish to be buried in the family crypt is refused, Louis vows to avenge his mother and work his way up the family tree, by engaging in the gentle art of murder. One by one he attempts to kill off the eight successors that stand...
Kind Hearts and Coronets is the jewel in Ealing Studios’ crown, and arguably one of the finest British films ever made.
Hailing from the Golden-Age of Ealing Comedies and the same year as Passport to Pimlico and Whisky Galore!, Kind Hearts and Coronets stars Dennis Price as the debonair yet impoverished Louis Mazzini, the would-be Duke of Chalfont whose mother was disinherited by her noble family, the D’Ascoynes, for marrying beneath her. When her dying wish to be buried in the family crypt is refused, Louis vows to avenge his mother and work his way up the family tree, by engaging in the gentle art of murder. One by one he attempts to kill off the eight successors that stand...
- 4/19/2024
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The more versatile an actor is, the more in demand they are. One of the major skills that an actor needs to grab more projects is the ability to change accents at will. This becomes even more essential when you are in the animation industry, where the way you speak can severely impact the quality of the entire production.
A still from Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths- Part One
DC has been experimenting with electronic media ever since the earliest days of Superman radio shows. As technology developed, that translated into animations and live-action adaptations of comic book storylines. The DC Animated Universe (Dcau) is one of the most respected brands in the industry, with shows like Justice League Animated and films like All-Star Superman. DC’s recent entry Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths has been well-liked as well, and fans are really excited for one character in particular.
A still from Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths- Part One
DC has been experimenting with electronic media ever since the earliest days of Superman radio shows. As technology developed, that translated into animations and live-action adaptations of comic book storylines. The DC Animated Universe (Dcau) is one of the most respected brands in the industry, with shows like Justice League Animated and films like All-Star Superman. DC’s recent entry Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths has been well-liked as well, and fans are really excited for one character in particular.
- 4/13/2024
- by Sayantan Choudhary
- FandomWire
The 1995 horror movie Mute Witness has found a whole new audience here in 2024, with Shudder finally bringing the cat-and-mouse thriller to streaming earlier this month.
Additionally, Arrow Video is bringing Mute Witness to 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray for the very first time on June 11, and we’ve scored the trailer for their brand new restoration.
Watch the trailer below and read on for everything you need to know!
Director Anthony Waller (The Piper, An American Werewolf in Paris) combines cat-and-mouse suspense with classic intrigue in Mute Witness, an updated take on the Hitchcockian thriller in which the only witness to a brutal crime can neither speak nor cry out in terror.
Limited Edition Bonus Features include:
4K restoration approved by director Anthony Waller 4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in HDR10 Restored original lossless stereo soundtrack Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing Brand new audio...
Additionally, Arrow Video is bringing Mute Witness to 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray for the very first time on June 11, and we’ve scored the trailer for their brand new restoration.
Watch the trailer below and read on for everything you need to know!
Director Anthony Waller (The Piper, An American Werewolf in Paris) combines cat-and-mouse suspense with classic intrigue in Mute Witness, an updated take on the Hitchcockian thriller in which the only witness to a brutal crime can neither speak nor cry out in terror.
Limited Edition Bonus Features include:
4K restoration approved by director Anthony Waller 4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in HDR10 Restored original lossless stereo soundtrack Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing Brand new audio...
- 4/12/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
For Starwoids, the scene is immutable gospel: Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) is taken by the old sage Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) into a rundown, sleazy cantina in the city of Mos Eisley on the planet Tatooine. They know they can find an off-the-books pilot-for-hire there, hoping to deliver an important message to a distant world, a message that could conceivably take down the entire evil Empire that rules the galaxy. Scanning the room, Luke and Obi-Wan find Han Solo (Harrison Ford), a ne'er-do-well smuggler who is in debt to the mob, but claims to have the fastest starship in the galaxy.
Luke is out of his element in the cantina. He's young and inexperienced in the realm of vice and crime. Obi-wan famously described the cantina as a hive of scum and villainy. Because Han was in his element in this bar, he was most assuredly a scummy villain. It...
Luke is out of his element in the cantina. He's young and inexperienced in the realm of vice and crime. Obi-wan famously described the cantina as a hive of scum and villainy. Because Han was in his element in this bar, he was most assuredly a scummy villain. It...
- 4/7/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Hollywood icon Harrison Ford has had a long and successful career playing different roles. But it was his portrayal of Han Solo in Star Wars that skyrocketed his fame and made him a superstar.
Harrison Ford as Han Solo
However, despite such a legacy of the iconic space opera franchise, Ford has always clearly mentioned his opinion on certain aspects of the series and this included his playful criticisms of George Lucas’ dialogue-writing abilities.
Suggested“Yes, I auditioned for it”: Dune 2 Star Christopher Walken Almost Snatched Away Harrison Ford’s Most Iconic Role That Cemented His Legacy
In an interview way back, Mark Hamill, who starred as the protagonist Luke Skywalker in George Lucas’ Star Wars revealed that there was a line that made Harrison Ford threaten to tie Lucas up.
Harrison Ford Was Not Happy with One Particular Line from Star Wars, Written By George Lucas
The...
Harrison Ford as Han Solo
However, despite such a legacy of the iconic space opera franchise, Ford has always clearly mentioned his opinion on certain aspects of the series and this included his playful criticisms of George Lucas’ dialogue-writing abilities.
Suggested“Yes, I auditioned for it”: Dune 2 Star Christopher Walken Almost Snatched Away Harrison Ford’s Most Iconic Role That Cemented His Legacy
In an interview way back, Mark Hamill, who starred as the protagonist Luke Skywalker in George Lucas’ Star Wars revealed that there was a line that made Harrison Ford threaten to tie Lucas up.
Harrison Ford Was Not Happy with One Particular Line from Star Wars, Written By George Lucas
The...
- 4/3/2024
- by Prantik Prabal Roy
- FandomWire
Star Wars has several projects in the works right now. There’s Mangold’s new Star Wars movie set way back in the past, and Waititi’s secret project, which he hinted might upset some fans. Also, there’s a movie in the works about Rey rebuilding the Jedi order 15 years into the future.
Rumor has it that it won’t kick off a whole new trilogy but will be a standalone film. Plus, Filoni is busy with ‘Ahsoka’ Season 2 and other stuff. Among all these, fans kept asking about ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Season 2. Ewan McGregor talked a bit about what could happen next in his LADBible interview.
The truth is I’ve talked about having to cover for doing the Obi-Wan season for years, I had to lie about that and I’m not lying about this now. I don’t know. There’s been no phone call to me from Lucasfilm,...
Rumor has it that it won’t kick off a whole new trilogy but will be a standalone film. Plus, Filoni is busy with ‘Ahsoka’ Season 2 and other stuff. Among all these, fans kept asking about ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Season 2. Ewan McGregor talked a bit about what could happen next in his LADBible interview.
The truth is I’ve talked about having to cover for doing the Obi-Wan season for years, I had to lie about that and I’m not lying about this now. I don’t know. There’s been no phone call to me from Lucasfilm,...
- 4/1/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Fiction Horizon
Star Wars has quite a list of projects in the works currently, from Mangold’s new Star Wars film that takes place thousands of years in the past to Waititi’s undisclosed project that he claimed “will piss off the fans.’ There’s also a new movie focusing on Rey’s restoration of the Jedi order 15 years in the future, which won’t, according to the rumors, lead to a new trilogy but will rather be a standalone movie. Additionally, Filoni is actively working on the development of ‘Ahsoka’ Season 2, among other upcoming projects.
In this sea of upcoming projects, fans were consistently asking about ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ season 2. Ewan McGregor shed some light on the potential future of the series during his LADBible interview:
The truth is I’ve talked about having to cover for doing the Obi-Wan season for years, I had to lie about that and I’m not lying about this now.
In this sea of upcoming projects, fans were consistently asking about ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ season 2. Ewan McGregor shed some light on the potential future of the series during his LADBible interview:
The truth is I’ve talked about having to cover for doing the Obi-Wan season for years, I had to lie about that and I’m not lying about this now.
- 4/1/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Comic Basics
No one ever really leaves the galaxy far, far away. Liam Neeson’s Qui-Gon Jinn was the first character (chronologically) to master the art of a spiritual return from the grave (a spectacle known to fans as becoming a “Force ghost”) and the estate of Peter Cushing was the first to allow his character, Grand Moff Tarkin, to reappear thanks to creepy computer imaging in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” So, between the two, you can rest assured that as long as there will never be star peace, we’ll see Ewen McGregor back as Obi-Wan Kenobi is some kind of “Star Wars” project.
The Scottish actor spoke about his Jedi Knight character in a recent interview while promoting “A Gentleman in Moscow,” joking about how he’s had to keep appearances under wraps to preserve the surprise by intentionally obfuscating the truth. But this time, he swears, he...
The Scottish actor spoke about his Jedi Knight character in a recent interview while promoting “A Gentleman in Moscow,” joking about how he’s had to keep appearances under wraps to preserve the surprise by intentionally obfuscating the truth. But this time, he swears, he...
- 4/1/2024
- by Jordan Hoffman
- Gold Derby
Ewan McGregor is not done with Obi-Wan Kenobi and hopes that he gets to return to the Star Wars universe again.
In a recent interview, the actor expressed his interest in portraying Obi-Wan after having a good experience filming Season 1 of the Disney+ series.
McGregor acknowledged that in the past, he had to lie about playing the role to surprise fans with the stand-alone series on his character, but this time, he assures that he has no clue if he will return in future installments.
“The truth is I’ve talked about having to cover for doing the Obi-Wan season for years, I had to lie about that, and I’m not lying about this now,” he told LADbible in a recent interview while promoting his most recent series A Gentleman in Moscow.
He added, “I don’t know. There’s been no phone call to me from Lucasfilm, or Disney saying,...
In a recent interview, the actor expressed his interest in portraying Obi-Wan after having a good experience filming Season 1 of the Disney+ series.
McGregor acknowledged that in the past, he had to lie about playing the role to surprise fans with the stand-alone series on his character, but this time, he assures that he has no clue if he will return in future installments.
“The truth is I’ve talked about having to cover for doing the Obi-Wan season for years, I had to lie about that, and I’m not lying about this now,” he told LADbible in a recent interview while promoting his most recent series A Gentleman in Moscow.
He added, “I don’t know. There’s been no phone call to me from Lucasfilm, or Disney saying,...
- 4/1/2024
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Ewan McGregor is sharing his thoughts on a potential return to the Star Wars universe!
The 53-year-old actor reprised his iconic role as the titular character of Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi series in 2022.
Prior to that, he had portrayed Obi-Wan in each of the Star Wars prequel movies: 1999′s Episode I – The Phantom Menace, 2002′s Episode II – Attack of the Clones, and 2005′s Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.
Although Obi-Wan Kenobi was created as a limited series, there’s always a possibility that Ewan could return in another future Star Wars project.
The star discussed the matter in a recent interview.
Keep reading to find out more…
“The truth is I’ve talked about having to cover for doing the Obi-Wan season for years, I had to lie about that and I’m not lying about this now,” Ewan told LADbible. “I don’t know. There’s been no...
The 53-year-old actor reprised his iconic role as the titular character of Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi series in 2022.
Prior to that, he had portrayed Obi-Wan in each of the Star Wars prequel movies: 1999′s Episode I – The Phantom Menace, 2002′s Episode II – Attack of the Clones, and 2005′s Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.
Although Obi-Wan Kenobi was created as a limited series, there’s always a possibility that Ewan could return in another future Star Wars project.
The star discussed the matter in a recent interview.
Keep reading to find out more…
“The truth is I’ve talked about having to cover for doing the Obi-Wan season for years, I had to lie about that and I’m not lying about this now,” Ewan told LADbible. “I don’t know. There’s been no...
- 3/31/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
It was going to be a difficult task to play Obi-Wan Kenobi after Alec Guinness’ incredible portrayal of the powerful Jedi but Ewan McGregor somehow managed to live up to the high expectations. After starring as the Jedi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, Ewan McGregor got to play the character yet again in a Disney+ miniseries named after Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
After the success of the miniseries, fans were left wondering if Ewan McGregor would ever return to the Star Wars universe to play Obi-Wan Kenobi one more time. While it looks like a second season of the miniseries may not be possible, the actor seems more than hopeful that he is not done playing the character just yet.
Ewan McGregor Is Not Done with Obi-Wan Kenobi Ewan McGregor in Obi-Wan Kenobi
No matter where Ewan...
Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
After the success of the miniseries, fans were left wondering if Ewan McGregor would ever return to the Star Wars universe to play Obi-Wan Kenobi one more time. While it looks like a second season of the miniseries may not be possible, the actor seems more than hopeful that he is not done playing the character just yet.
Ewan McGregor Is Not Done with Obi-Wan Kenobi Ewan McGregor in Obi-Wan Kenobi
No matter where Ewan...
- 3/31/2024
- by Mishkaat Khan
- FandomWire
Fans of 1995’s Mute Witness have two big reasons to celebrate this week, as the film is finally getting a brand new physical media release And it’s finally coming to streaming.
The film has long been only available on DVD, and it’s currently not available to stream or rent Anywhere, but Arrow Video has announced that a 4K Ultra HD release is on its way.
The suspense thriller Mute Witness hits 4K from Arrow on June 11, 2024! This is a US, UK and Canada release, and a Blu-ray version of the same release will also be available.
Mute Witness will also be coming to Shudder beginning April 1, 2024.
Director Anthony Waller combines cat-and-mouse suspense with classic intrigue in Mute Witness, an updated take on the Hitchcockian thriller in which the only witness to a brutal crime can neither speak nor cry out in terror.
Limited Edition Bonus Features include:
4K...
The film has long been only available on DVD, and it’s currently not available to stream or rent Anywhere, but Arrow Video has announced that a 4K Ultra HD release is on its way.
The suspense thriller Mute Witness hits 4K from Arrow on June 11, 2024! This is a US, UK and Canada release, and a Blu-ray version of the same release will also be available.
Mute Witness will also be coming to Shudder beginning April 1, 2024.
Director Anthony Waller combines cat-and-mouse suspense with classic intrigue in Mute Witness, an updated take on the Hitchcockian thriller in which the only witness to a brutal crime can neither speak nor cry out in terror.
Limited Edition Bonus Features include:
4K...
- 3/28/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Since the inception of the Academy Awards, the U.S.-based organization behind them has always strived to honor worldwide film achievements. Their extensive roster of competitive acting winners alone consists of artists from 30 unique countries, three of which first gained representation during the 2020s. The last full decade’s worth of triumphant performers hail from eight countries, while 42.1% of the individual actors nominated during that time originate from outside of America.
The academy’s history of recognizing acting talent on a global scale dates all the way back to the inaugural Oscars ceremony in 1929, when Swiss-born Emil Jannings (who was of German and American parentage) won Best Actor for his work in both “The Last Command” and “The Way of All Flesh.” Over the next three years, the Best Actress prize was exclusively awarded to Canadians: Mary Pickford (“Coquette”), Norma Shearer (“The Divorcee”), and Marie Dressler (“Min and Bill...
The academy’s history of recognizing acting talent on a global scale dates all the way back to the inaugural Oscars ceremony in 1929, when Swiss-born Emil Jannings (who was of German and American parentage) won Best Actor for his work in both “The Last Command” and “The Way of All Flesh.” Over the next three years, the Best Actress prize was exclusively awarded to Canadians: Mary Pickford (“Coquette”), Norma Shearer (“The Divorcee”), and Marie Dressler (“Min and Bill...
- 3/18/2024
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
As she ascended the Hollywood ladder in the late 2000s, Emily Blunt was a rising star who worked at the forefront of modern cinema and appeared in movies like The Young Victoria and The Devil Wears Prada. The Into the Woods actress’ recent performances in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer have further cemented her status among the greatest actors of our time.
Moreover, her acclaimed performance led to her being nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award. Well, as she becomes a more important icon in modern cinema, Blunt has begun to share her thoughts on the industry, revealing her top four films during a SXSW Q&a session.
Emily Blunt in Oppenheimer
Surprisingly enough, though, none of these works belong to the Interstellar director.
Emily Blunt’s 4 Favorite Movies: No Room for Christopher Nolan?
With a diverse taste in movies, Emily Blunt’s all-time favorite is a reflection of her own bright choices,...
Moreover, her acclaimed performance led to her being nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award. Well, as she becomes a more important icon in modern cinema, Blunt has begun to share her thoughts on the industry, revealing her top four films during a SXSW Q&a session.
Emily Blunt in Oppenheimer
Surprisingly enough, though, none of these works belong to the Interstellar director.
Emily Blunt’s 4 Favorite Movies: No Room for Christopher Nolan?
With a diverse taste in movies, Emily Blunt’s all-time favorite is a reflection of her own bright choices,...
- 3/16/2024
- by Siddhika Prajapati
- FandomWire
Michael Culver, the veteran British actor who portrayed the doomed Captain Needa in The Empire Strikes Back and a bigoted police inspector in David Lean’s A Passage to India, has died. He was 85.
Culver died Feb. 27, according to Alliance Agents, which represented him for the past decade. No other details were immediately available.
Culver also appeared on lots of British television over the years, from The Befrienders, Secret Army and The Adventures of Black Beauty to The Return of Sherlock Holmes, Game Set and Match, The House of Eliott and the Derek Jacobi-starring Cadfael.
In Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back (1980), directed by Irvin Kershner, Culver’s character, as captain of the Imperial Star Destroyer Avenger, loses track of the Millennium Falcon piloted by Han Solo during a pursuit.
Needa takes full responsibility and apologizes to Darth Vader, who then kills him (“Apology accepted, Captain...
Culver died Feb. 27, according to Alliance Agents, which represented him for the past decade. No other details were immediately available.
Culver also appeared on lots of British television over the years, from The Befrienders, Secret Army and The Adventures of Black Beauty to The Return of Sherlock Holmes, Game Set and Match, The House of Eliott and the Derek Jacobi-starring Cadfael.
In Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back (1980), directed by Irvin Kershner, Culver’s character, as captain of the Imperial Star Destroyer Avenger, loses track of the Millennium Falcon piloted by Han Solo during a pursuit.
Needa takes full responsibility and apologizes to Darth Vader, who then kills him (“Apology accepted, Captain...
- 3/13/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Star Wars franchise began in 1977 and since then, it has expanded to several other films, TV shows, comic books, and more — the latest one being The Acolyte. The fictional universe has become a pop culture phenomenon all over the world. Starting with the adventures of Luke Skywalker (late Mark Hamill), the franchise continued to feature iconic characters like Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher). Almost 50 years after the release of the first Star Wars film, the franchise has spawned over a dozen spin-offs. The upcoming TV series The Acolyte,...
- 3/6/2024
- by Safwan Azeem
- TVovermind.com
The 2024 Oscar race is on, and one film has the potential to accomplish a feat that hasn’t happened in 64 years. “Oppenheimer” leads the nominations with 13, and it’s on track to win several of those categories. If Christopher Nolan‘s epic claims Best Picture, Best Actor (Cillian Murphy) and Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.), it will be the first time since 1960 that the same film (“Ben-Hur”) has won those three exact categories. And it would be only the fourth time it’s ever happened.
See Cillian Murphy interview: ‘Oppenheimer’
Since the Best Supporting Actor category was introduced in 1937, only three films have walked away with Best Picture as well as both male acting categories. In 1945, the inspirational musical comedy “Going My Way” not only became the highest-grossing film of 1944, but also won seven of its ten Oscar nominations, making it the big winner of the night. Beside the top prize,...
See Cillian Murphy interview: ‘Oppenheimer’
Since the Best Supporting Actor category was introduced in 1937, only three films have walked away with Best Picture as well as both male acting categories. In 1945, the inspirational musical comedy “Going My Way” not only became the highest-grossing film of 1944, but also won seven of its ten Oscar nominations, making it the big winner of the night. Beside the top prize,...
- 3/2/2024
- by Susan Pennington
- Gold Derby
There’s nothing IndieWire loves more than directors talking about their favorite movies. So, of course, we took notice when, in late 2023, Turner Classic Movies started looping in directors to share their favorites from TCM’s lineup each month: Steven Spielberg’s TCM picks kicked things off, then Martin Scorsese waxed rhapsodic about “Madonna of the Seven Moons,” and Guillermo del Toro gushed about the greatness of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Suspicion.”
Now Chris Columbus is sharing his own TCM picks, along with some especially insightful anecdotes. Watch the video above.
Columbus starts off sharing his love of “Singin’ in the Rain”: “An amazing, almost flawless movie. You can say that about very few movies. I showed ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ to my 16-month-old granddaughter who was absolutely absorbed in the musical numbers. Moreso than any Disney animated films. I go back to it once or twice a year.
Particularly...
Now Chris Columbus is sharing his own TCM picks, along with some especially insightful anecdotes. Watch the video above.
Columbus starts off sharing his love of “Singin’ in the Rain”: “An amazing, almost flawless movie. You can say that about very few movies. I showed ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ to my 16-month-old granddaughter who was absolutely absorbed in the musical numbers. Moreso than any Disney animated films. I go back to it once or twice a year.
Particularly...
- 3/1/2024
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
You can’t keep a good ape down.
While 2017’s “War of the Planet of the Apes” was a fitting conclusion to the latest trilogy in the (second) rebooted “Planet of the Apes” franchise, more monkey business is headed our way. The first full trailer for “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” dropped during the Super Bowl on Sunday, and showed that the battle on the gridiron was no match for a big Hollywood spectacle.
The new film, out on May 10, is directed by Wes Ball (“The Maze Runner”) and stars motion-capture ape renderings performed by Owen Teague (Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s son in “You Hurt My Feelings”), Kevin Durand, and William H. Macy. The part of the doe-eyed human female (wearing the requisite rags) is played by “The Witcher” star Freya Allan.
The new film is set 300 years after the last one, where apes have ascended to supremacy and...
While 2017’s “War of the Planet of the Apes” was a fitting conclusion to the latest trilogy in the (second) rebooted “Planet of the Apes” franchise, more monkey business is headed our way. The first full trailer for “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” dropped during the Super Bowl on Sunday, and showed that the battle on the gridiron was no match for a big Hollywood spectacle.
The new film, out on May 10, is directed by Wes Ball (“The Maze Runner”) and stars motion-capture ape renderings performed by Owen Teague (Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s son in “You Hurt My Feelings”), Kevin Durand, and William H. Macy. The part of the doe-eyed human female (wearing the requisite rags) is played by “The Witcher” star Freya Allan.
The new film is set 300 years after the last one, where apes have ascended to supremacy and...
- 2/12/2024
- by Jordan Hoffman
- Gold Derby
Darth Vader didn't always have a red lightsaber. Early concept art by Ralph McQuarrie (pictured below) shows Vader wielding a blueish-white blade, the same as the Jedi. After all, Vader was always a fallen Jedi (though making him Anakin Skywalker came later).
Lucasfilm/Ralph McQuarrie
Whatever the case, the change to red was the right call. The color complements his black armor better, contrasts with the blue and green blades he duels onscreen, and radiates evil. Symbolically, red is also the color of both anger and blood. The red lightsaber is such a memorable part of Vader's presence that when the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy came around, all the Sith Lords there had red lightsabers too. Ergo, red became the de facto color of evil lightsabers.
We first see a lightsaber when Ben Kenobi (Alec Guinness) gives one to Luke (Mark Hamill), saying the blue blade belonged to his father.
Lucasfilm/Ralph McQuarrie
Whatever the case, the change to red was the right call. The color complements his black armor better, contrasts with the blue and green blades he duels onscreen, and radiates evil. Symbolically, red is also the color of both anger and blood. The red lightsaber is such a memorable part of Vader's presence that when the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy came around, all the Sith Lords there had red lightsabers too. Ergo, red became the de facto color of evil lightsabers.
We first see a lightsaber when Ben Kenobi (Alec Guinness) gives one to Luke (Mark Hamill), saying the blue blade belonged to his father.
- 2/10/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
With the 2023 Oscar nominations now in hand, it’s clear that Margot Robbie’s exclusion from the best actress race, along with “Barbie” director Greta Gerwig’s director snub, has outraged the blockbuster film’s massive global fanbase. Oscar nominations for supporting players America Ferrera and Ryan Gosling haven’t calmed the social media fury over what is perceived by Robbie fans as an unfathomable and unforgivable oversight.
What everyone seems to be forgetting is that when it comes to Oscar love, especially for actors, Oscar voters annually choose spinach over sweets, meat and potatoes over champagne and caviar. They like their movies serious and meaningful, and their actors tortured by real world woes such as physical disabilities, addictions, mental illness and all the oppressions and injustices that our mad mad world has to offer.
In almost 100 years of the Oscar awards, fantasy and sci-fi film characters, along with actors in comedies,...
What everyone seems to be forgetting is that when it comes to Oscar love, especially for actors, Oscar voters annually choose spinach over sweets, meat and potatoes over champagne and caviar. They like their movies serious and meaningful, and their actors tortured by real world woes such as physical disabilities, addictions, mental illness and all the oppressions and injustices that our mad mad world has to offer.
In almost 100 years of the Oscar awards, fantasy and sci-fi film characters, along with actors in comedies,...
- 1/25/2024
- by Steven Gaydos
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: With Anyone But You having just crossed $100M at the global box office and Top Gun 3 chatter lighting up the internet, Hollywood man of the moment Glen Powell has found his next project in the shape of thriller Huntington from Emily The Criminal writer-director John Patton Ford.
As we revealed last year, Euro studio Studiocanal and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri producer Blueprint are behind the project, which has now attracted Green Book and Spotlight outfit Participant as co-financier with Studiocanal.
We understand A24 is close to finalizing a domestic deal, though none of the parties could confirm at time of going to press.
The partners are aiming for an early summer shoot on the movie, which is described to us as “raucous revenge thriller” about Becket Redfellow (Powell), the heir to a multi-billion-dollar fortune who will stop at nothing to get what he deserves…Or what he thinks he deserves.
As we revealed last year, Euro studio Studiocanal and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri producer Blueprint are behind the project, which has now attracted Green Book and Spotlight outfit Participant as co-financier with Studiocanal.
We understand A24 is close to finalizing a domestic deal, though none of the parties could confirm at time of going to press.
The partners are aiming for an early summer shoot on the movie, which is described to us as “raucous revenge thriller” about Becket Redfellow (Powell), the heir to a multi-billion-dollar fortune who will stop at nothing to get what he deserves…Or what he thinks he deserves.
- 1/22/2024
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
The original 1977 "Star Wars" is a miracle of a film. George Lucas' blockbuster could have gone wrong at any moment for a variety of reasons, yet it not only got made and released but became a monumental success (spawning one of the biggest movie franchises ever). Part of why the film and its first two sequels remain so impressive all these decades later is their simple story, vast worldbuilding, groundbreaking special effects, and impeccable casting of mostly little-known actors who would go on to become huge after the films hit theaters.
That sentiment extends to the greater franchise, which has launched several careers and given small roles to actors who would eventually break out in a big way. That's not to say the original "Star Wars" didn't feature any famous actors at the time, of course, be it Alec Guinness and Peter Cushing in the original trilogy, or Samuel L Jackson,...
That sentiment extends to the greater franchise, which has launched several careers and given small roles to actors who would eventually break out in a big way. That's not to say the original "Star Wars" didn't feature any famous actors at the time, of course, be it Alec Guinness and Peter Cushing in the original trilogy, or Samuel L Jackson,...
- 1/22/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Although the "Star Wars" franchise is seen as a reliable cash cow today, when it was being made back in the '70s it hardly seemed like a guaranteed success. Not only was it possibly a little too weird for mainstream audiences, but the dialogue left a lot to be desired. "It seemed to me the dialogue was pretty ropey," Obi-Wan actor Alec Guinness explained in a 1977 interview, even as he liked the script overall. "I went on reading and I thought, 'No, I like this. If only we can get some of the dialogue altered.' And then I met [George Lucas], we got on very well, and I found myself doing it."
While the movie turned out to be a huge hit, it did so in part because actors like Guinness were constantly changing up the dialogue to make it more natural. As Han Solo actor Harrison Ford told GQ in a 2017 interview,...
While the movie turned out to be a huge hit, it did so in part because actors like Guinness were constantly changing up the dialogue to make it more natural. As Han Solo actor Harrison Ford told GQ in a 2017 interview,...
- 1/14/2024
- by Michael Boyle
- Slash Film
Even those who’ve never visited Malta in real life will recognize it in dozens of films — Assassin’s Creed, Troy, Captain Phillips, Last Voyage of the Demeter, Gladiator and pretty soon Gladiator 2, to name a few. There are reasons filmmakers flock there. Not only is it a versatile location that provides a contemporary or period backdrop but also the facilities and crew are unrivaled, tax incentives are generous and accommodations are among the best in Europe with the island nation boasting a whopping six Michelin-starred restaurants.
Renowned for its special effects water facility, Malta offers one indoor tank and two large exterior water tanks situated along the coast, affording filmmakers an authentic horizon line for scenes set on the water. The studio offers a range of water SFX equipment including wave machines, wind machines, rain towers, tip tanks, water shooters and smoke machines.
Malta’s first sound-stage is currently...
Renowned for its special effects water facility, Malta offers one indoor tank and two large exterior water tanks situated along the coast, affording filmmakers an authentic horizon line for scenes set on the water. The studio offers a range of water SFX equipment including wave machines, wind machines, rain towers, tip tanks, water shooters and smoke machines.
Malta’s first sound-stage is currently...
- 1/13/2024
- by Jordan Riefe
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
One of the most infamous deleted scenes from the original "Star Wars" was an encounter Han Solo had with Jabba the Hutt years before the character was introduced in "Return of the Jedi." The scene takes place before he takes off from Mos Eisley with Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker in tow and was a thing of legend for over a decade before George Lucas reincorporated it back into the film for the 1997 Special Edition release.
The idea to make Jabba the Hutt a giant slug creature didn't come up until later on in the series and the original version of the character was just an Irish actor named Declan Mulholland wearing furs, looking more like a "Game of Thrones" character than a galactic mob boss.
It's reported that Lucas never intended for the actor to appear onscreen and that a stop motion creature of some sort would have been...
The idea to make Jabba the Hutt a giant slug creature didn't come up until later on in the series and the original version of the character was just an Irish actor named Declan Mulholland wearing furs, looking more like a "Game of Thrones" character than a galactic mob boss.
It's reported that Lucas never intended for the actor to appear onscreen and that a stop motion creature of some sort would have been...
- 12/10/2023
- by Eric Vespe
- Slash Film
Gary Oldman’s Role in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy When Gary Oldman stepped into the shoes of George Smiley in ‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’, he not only filled the large footprints left by Alec Guinness, but also revitalized a classic spy narrative for a modern audience. We’ve never seen Oldman like this before, and he’s simply stunning: his soliloquy about his only meeting with his counterpart, the Soviet super-spy Karla, is so engrossing you forget to breathe. Alec Guinness immortalised Smiley in the 1970s TV version of this story, yet Oldman is easily his equal, a critic once remarked. This portrayal...
- 12/6/2023
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
"You've never heard of the Millennium Falcon?" Han Solo (Harrison Ford) asks Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) in "Star Wars: A New Hope." Although the term "iconic" should be used as sparingly as possible, the Millenium Falcon deserves to be described as such — as Han explains, this is the ship that made the Kessel Run in "less than twelve parsecs" and has helped many outrun Imperial starships in the heat of battle. The role that the Falcon ended up playing during the Galactic Civil War cannot be overstated, and when J.J. Abrams decided to bring the legendary ship back in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," everyone on the film's creative team had to work hard to convincingly recapture the nostalgia surrounding the Falcon and what it represents.
A vehicle that was initially used for small-time smuggling operations suddenly played a major role when Han and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) blasted through...
A vehicle that was initially used for small-time smuggling operations suddenly played a major role when Han and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) blasted through...
- 11/26/2023
- by Debopriyaa Dutta
- Slash Film
Veteran British actor Joss Ackland, best known for his roles in the films Lethal Weapon 2 and White Mischief, has died. He was 95. Ackland passed on Sunday, November 19, with his representative, Paul Pearson, confirming the death. “Joss was a long-term client and great friend who remained lucid, erudite and mischievous to the very end. He died peacefully with his family this morning,” Pearson said in a statement. Born on February 29, 1928, in London, England, Ackland trained at London’s Central School of Speech and Drama before making his professional stage debut at 17 years old, starring in the 1945 production of The Hasty Heart. He became a regular at the Old Vic Theatre, appearing alongside the likes of Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, and Tom Courtenay. Ackland starred in several British television shows throughout the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, including opposite Alec Guinness in the 1979 adaptation of Tinker Sailor Soldier Spy. He also appeared...
- 11/20/2023
- TV Insider
It was revealed at the end of Irvin Kershner's 1980 sci-fi/fantasy film "The Empire Strikes Back" that the masked fascist warlock Darth Vader was secretly the father of the young hero Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). This information was shocking enough to echo through multiple generations, and the "villain is secretly related to the hero" twist has been repeated throughout much of popular media for decades. The revelation also famously contradicts dialogue from 1977's "Star Wars." Luke was previously told, by the reliable Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness), that Darth Vader had killed Luke's father. The reason for Obi-Wan's deception has never been satisfactorily explained.
In the broader context of the "Star Wars" saga, the relationship between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker has become a vital narrative fulcrum, but in the contained 1980-only context of just "Star Wars" and "The Empire Strikes Back," the twist doesn't make a lot of sense.
In the broader context of the "Star Wars" saga, the relationship between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker has become a vital narrative fulcrum, but in the contained 1980-only context of just "Star Wars" and "The Empire Strikes Back," the twist doesn't make a lot of sense.
- 11/13/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Exclusive: The first call Stephen Garrett made after acquiring the rights to suspense-fuelled book Culprits: The Heist Was Just the Beginning was to writer and director J Blakeson, who he hailed as “the real deal.”
Blakeson “has seen every crime movie and thriller. You can’t catch him out really,” Garrett pronounced sagely. He was ideal, then, to write and direct the TV adaptation of the multi-layered, heart-stopping anthology, edited by Richard Brewer and Gary Phillips.
The result is Culprits, an eight-part thriller starring Nathan Stewart-Jarrett in a career-changing role, and Gemma Arterton, about the maelstrom that swirls after a gang of ruthless thieves pull off an ingenious heist.
Disney+ streams Culprits in the UK and Ireland on November 8 and in the U.S. on December 8 on Hulu. Garrett is executive producer, as are showrunner, writer and director Blakeson, and Johanna Devereaux. It’s produced by Morenike Williams.
The two men had met 14 years ago,...
Blakeson “has seen every crime movie and thriller. You can’t catch him out really,” Garrett pronounced sagely. He was ideal, then, to write and direct the TV adaptation of the multi-layered, heart-stopping anthology, edited by Richard Brewer and Gary Phillips.
The result is Culprits, an eight-part thriller starring Nathan Stewart-Jarrett in a career-changing role, and Gemma Arterton, about the maelstrom that swirls after a gang of ruthless thieves pull off an ingenious heist.
Disney+ streams Culprits in the UK and Ireland on November 8 and in the U.S. on December 8 on Hulu. Garrett is executive producer, as are showrunner, writer and director Blakeson, and Johanna Devereaux. It’s produced by Morenike Williams.
The two men had met 14 years ago,...
- 11/3/2023
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
Under the non de plume John Le Carre, David Cornwall penned a series of best-selling spy novels including “The Spy Who Came in from the Cold,” “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” ‘The Little Drummer Girl’’ and “The Russia House,” that are cerebral, unadorned, gritty. The antitheist of Ian Fleming’s suave James Bond. In fact, his most popular character George Smiley just blended into the crowd: “Obscurity was his nature, as well as his profession,” Cornwall described him in “A Murder of Quality.” “The byways of espionage are not populated by the brash and colorful adventure of fiction. A man who, like Smiley, had lived and worked for years among his country’s enemies learns only one prayer; that he may never, never be noticed. Assimilation is his highest aim.”
Before his death at the age of 89 in in December, 2020, Cornwall sat down for a rare interview with award-winning documentarian Errol Morris...
Before his death at the age of 89 in in December, 2020, Cornwall sat down for a rare interview with award-winning documentarian Errol Morris...
- 10/23/2023
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
Steven Soderbergh’s “Mr. Kneff” is finally landing stateside.
The recut version of 1991’s “Kafka” stars Jeremy Irons as a writer in 1919 Prague; the film has had new iterations unveiled in 2013 and 2021, respectively. Now, Soderbergh is revealing the first ever U.S. screening of the 2021 recut “Kafka,” titled “Mr. Kneff.” The premiere will take place at Nitehawk Cinema in Prospect Park on November 9 at 7 p.m.
The official logline of “Mr. Kneff” reads: “A writer guy in 1919 Prague uses his dead-end job as inspiration for his fantastical fiction.” Jeremy Irons, Theresa Russell, Joel Grey, Ian Holm, Jeroen Krabbé, Armin Mueller-Stahl, and Alec Guinness star in the cult classic which marked Soderbergh’s sophomore directorial effort after “sex, lies, and videotape.” Soderbergh will participate in a Q&a following the U.S. premiere.
His liquor brand Singani 63 will also be sponsoring the evening, with a complimentary Singani speciality drink for ticket...
The recut version of 1991’s “Kafka” stars Jeremy Irons as a writer in 1919 Prague; the film has had new iterations unveiled in 2013 and 2021, respectively. Now, Soderbergh is revealing the first ever U.S. screening of the 2021 recut “Kafka,” titled “Mr. Kneff.” The premiere will take place at Nitehawk Cinema in Prospect Park on November 9 at 7 p.m.
The official logline of “Mr. Kneff” reads: “A writer guy in 1919 Prague uses his dead-end job as inspiration for his fantastical fiction.” Jeremy Irons, Theresa Russell, Joel Grey, Ian Holm, Jeroen Krabbé, Armin Mueller-Stahl, and Alec Guinness star in the cult classic which marked Soderbergh’s sophomore directorial effort after “sex, lies, and videotape.” Soderbergh will participate in a Q&a following the U.S. premiere.
His liquor brand Singani 63 will also be sponsoring the evening, with a complimentary Singani speciality drink for ticket...
- 10/23/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
In 2016, John le Carré published a memoir called “The Pigeon Tunnel,” which the late spy novelist — who died in late 2020 — claims had been the working title of nearly all his books at some point. For le Carré, the term describes the passage through which naive birds of sport were forced from their nests, only to emerge as targets for marksmen waiting with rifles poised at a hotel in Monte Carlo. That’s just one of several metaphors Le Carré uses to communicate his cynical worldview in a playful portrait from Errol Morris, whose career-long interest in truth and delusion fits his subject so well, the whole film ultimately feels like a bit of a ploy.
For starters, there was no such person as John le Carré, a pseudonym adopted by David Cornwell, an Oxford-educated ex-spy who turned to literature to process the absurdity of England’s so-called “intelligence” industry, which Cornwell slyly dubbed “the Circus.
For starters, there was no such person as John le Carré, a pseudonym adopted by David Cornwell, an Oxford-educated ex-spy who turned to literature to process the absurdity of England’s so-called “intelligence” industry, which Cornwell slyly dubbed “the Circus.
- 10/20/2023
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Before "Star Wars" hit theaters in 1977, the world had no idea it would take over the popular consciousness, spawn sequels, prequels, TV series, comics, books, and video games. This story of a young man who leaves his home to become a hero was powerful -- and all the more so because of something the character of Obi-Wan Kenobi (played by the late Sir Alec Guinness) does late in the film.
Guinness had decades of experience on the stage and had starred in films like "Great Expectations," "The Bridge on the River Kwai," "Doctor Zhivago," and Lawrence of Arabia" before taking on a role in this as-yet-unknown space opera. He wasn't always supportive of the first "Star Wars" film. Though he's also said positive things about it, the movie wasn't exactly his usual kind of work. Plus -- spoiler alert for an over four decades-old film -- his character dies and...
Guinness had decades of experience on the stage and had starred in films like "Great Expectations," "The Bridge on the River Kwai," "Doctor Zhivago," and Lawrence of Arabia" before taking on a role in this as-yet-unknown space opera. He wasn't always supportive of the first "Star Wars" film. Though he's also said positive things about it, the movie wasn't exactly his usual kind of work. Plus -- spoiler alert for an over four decades-old film -- his character dies and...
- 10/8/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
Special is the opportunity to speak with one of our great living filmmakers; doubly rare is a chance to do so as their latest project premieres on YouTube. Participating with the murderer’s row Film Fest Gent compiled for their 50th-anniversary series––Paul Schrader, Bi Gan, Jia Zhangke, Radu Jude, Helena Wittmann, Naomi Kawase, and João Pedro Rodrigues, to note a handful––Terence Davies has directed Passing Time, a three-minute view of Essex scored by Florencia Di Concilio’s stirring composition and anchored by his reading of a self-penned poem.
Speaking over email, Davies and I had an exchange on the project that, however brief, proves a skeleton-key-of-sorts to his modus operandi: how actors should work, what poetry conveys on-paper and read-aloud, why Essex of all places to capture this music. Therein is also an unfortunate detail about a long-developing project but embers of hope for something new.
Special thanks...
Speaking over email, Davies and I had an exchange on the project that, however brief, proves a skeleton-key-of-sorts to his modus operandi: how actors should work, what poetry conveys on-paper and read-aloud, why Essex of all places to capture this music. Therein is also an unfortunate detail about a long-developing project but embers of hope for something new.
Special thanks...
- 9/19/2023
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Since the first "Star Wars" film came out in 1977, the sci-fi universe has continued to spawn fan debate. At what moment did Darth Vader figure out that Luke was alive and his son? Why doesn't Darth Vader recognize R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) and C-3Po (Anthony Daniels)? Why in the world would Luke still keep the last name Skywalker when his father Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) might find him? How did Leia (Carrie Fisher) remember her mother's sadness if she'd just been born when Padmé (Natalie Portman) died?
We ask these questions with love ... mostly. One that has always bugged fans (including me) is this: If both Obi-Wan Kenobi (Sir Alec Guinness) and Yoda (Frank Oz) disappear when they die, before becoming Force ghosts, why doesn't the same happen for the redeemed Anakin Skywalker? If you recall, Obi-Wan's brown robes just fall to the ground after Darth Vader kills him.
We ask these questions with love ... mostly. One that has always bugged fans (including me) is this: If both Obi-Wan Kenobi (Sir Alec Guinness) and Yoda (Frank Oz) disappear when they die, before becoming Force ghosts, why doesn't the same happen for the redeemed Anakin Skywalker? If you recall, Obi-Wan's brown robes just fall to the ground after Darth Vader kills him.
- 9/17/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
Actor Alec Guinness isn’t a name many new-generation TV and film audiences might recognize. However, Guinness was one of the finest English actors during his heyday, known for his leading man roles. Interestingly, Guinness was consistently voted as one of the top 10 most popular British stars at the Box Office by the Motion Picture Herald. Guinness was a stage and film actor, often reluctant to work in film. Between his years as an actor, Guinness served in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War. He attained the rank of Lieutenant. Guinness was exceptionally gifted as an...
- 9/9/2023
- by Onyinye Izundu
- TVovermind.com
There were a lot of things about "Star Wars: Episode VI -- The Return of the Jedi" that gave fans closure for the trilogy. The second Death Star was blown up. The Emperor (Ian McDiarmid) was defeated. Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) finally admitted their feelings and kissed. We also found out that Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Leia were siblings and saw Darth Vader redeemed and unmasked before his death. That last one might have been wonderful for fans, but for David Prowse, who did all the physical work for the role (with the voice of James Earl Jones replacing his own), it was a disappointment.
That is according to an interview with Prowse with Rock Cellar Magazine in 2012. The actor, who passed away at the age of 85 in 2020, had been a bodybuilder, helped train Christopher Reeve for his 1978 "Superman" role, and appeared in projects like "A Clockwork Orange,...
That is according to an interview with Prowse with Rock Cellar Magazine in 2012. The actor, who passed away at the age of 85 in 2020, had been a bodybuilder, helped train Christopher Reeve for his 1978 "Superman" role, and appeared in projects like "A Clockwork Orange,...
- 9/2/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
With the notable exception of the beloved Carrie Fisher, many of the iconic lead actors in the "Star Wars" saga are still with us. Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, and Natalie Portman are all going strong, and so are the stars of the space opera's most recent episodes. Some of the actors from the original film who were already veterans at the time, like Alec Guinness and Peter Cushing, died some years ago, but both enjoyed long lives beyond the average age.
Sadly, this cannot be said of numerous other actors involved in the big screen franchise and its recent TV spin-offs. Performers have died in their 70s, 60s, and 50s, many of them leaving us wishing we could have seen more years of great performances from them. Whether they had spotlight roles or were hidden behind alien masks, here are the "Star Wars" actors we lost too soon.
Sadly, this cannot be said of numerous other actors involved in the big screen franchise and its recent TV spin-offs. Performers have died in their 70s, 60s, and 50s, many of them leaving us wishing we could have seen more years of great performances from them. Whether they had spotlight roles or were hidden behind alien masks, here are the "Star Wars" actors we lost too soon.
- 9/2/2023
- by Jack Hawkins
- Slash Film
The most rudimentary research into the creative origins of the groundbreaking 1977 sci-fi flick "Star Wars" will reveal to the reader that creator George Lucas was inspired by "Flash Gordon" serials from the 1930s, as well as Akira Kurosawa's 1958 epic "The Hidden Fortress." Kurosawa's film famously opened with two clownish characters (Kamatari Fujiwara and Minoru Chiaki) who aimed to earn their fortune as samurai. After several misadventures, the peasants unwittingly become embroiled in a much larger plot about a missing princess (Misa Uehara), a war, and a brave protective warrior (Toshiro Mifune). "Star Wars" borrowed that film's structure, introducing audiences to its sci-fi action through the eyes (lenses?) of the robotic characters C-3Po (Anthony Daniels) and the non-humanoid R2-D2.
C-3Po was a prissy, fastidious droid who seemed impatient with the foibles of the organic beings he lived with, and was frequently panicked and afraid. The only time...
C-3Po was a prissy, fastidious droid who seemed impatient with the foibles of the organic beings he lived with, and was frequently panicked and afraid. The only time...
- 8/26/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
”It’s all about enthusiam, stubborness and determination,” he says.
Aged 85, Roger Gibson is preparing for his final edition as artistic director of the Chichester International Film Festival. He has built it into one of the UK’s leading regional film festivals since launching it in 1992.
Over the years guests travelling to the south of England festival have included Alec Guinness, Stephen Poliakoff, Kathleen Turner, Ken Russell, Mike Leigh and Ralph Fiennes. This year’s guest list is equally impressive: the festival has programmed retrospectives of work by Cate Blanchett and Hugh Bonneville, and both actors are set to attend,...
Aged 85, Roger Gibson is preparing for his final edition as artistic director of the Chichester International Film Festival. He has built it into one of the UK’s leading regional film festivals since launching it in 1992.
Over the years guests travelling to the south of England festival have included Alec Guinness, Stephen Poliakoff, Kathleen Turner, Ken Russell, Mike Leigh and Ralph Fiennes. This year’s guest list is equally impressive: the festival has programmed retrospectives of work by Cate Blanchett and Hugh Bonneville, and both actors are set to attend,...
- 8/1/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
“Star Wars” is one of the biggest franchises of all time and has welcomed multiple generations to a galaxy far, far away for 45 years. George Lucas’ groundbreaking vision, which began all the way back in 1977 with “A New Hope,” changed the movie industry forever and, with that, made a mark on the Academy Awards that year with a Best Picture nomination. However, the relationship between “Star Wars” and the Oscars hasn’t always been as lovable as Han Solo and Chewie. In fact, there’s often been a touch of Vader-Luke in the conflicted dynamic between the two institutions. Here’s a breakdown of the history of every “Star Wars” movie at the Academy Awards, ranked in terms of Oscars success.
“A New Hope” (1977)
Dir: George Lucas
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness
“Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and...
“A New Hope” (1977)
Dir: George Lucas
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness
“Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and...
- 7/28/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Exclusive: David Cornwell, the British spy better known to the world under his pen name John le Carré, reveals secrets of his extraordinary life in a documentary directed by nonfiction filmmaking legend Errol Morris.
The Pigeon Tunnel, from Apple Original Films and The Ink Factory (The Night Manager), is set to premiere on Apple TV+ on October 20.
Following a career in Britain’s MI5 and MI6 in the 1950s and ‘60s, Cornwell became the mega-bestselling author of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Night Manager and The Constant Gardener, all of which were successfully adapted by Hollywood. His fictional creation George Smiley, the veteran intelligence officer who appears in many of those books, has been played on screen by James Mason, Alec Guinness, Denholm Elliott, and Gary Oldman.
“Set against the turbulent backdrop of the Cold War leading into present day, the film...
The Pigeon Tunnel, from Apple Original Films and The Ink Factory (The Night Manager), is set to premiere on Apple TV+ on October 20.
Following a career in Britain’s MI5 and MI6 in the 1950s and ‘60s, Cornwell became the mega-bestselling author of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Night Manager and The Constant Gardener, all of which were successfully adapted by Hollywood. His fictional creation George Smiley, the veteran intelligence officer who appears in many of those books, has been played on screen by James Mason, Alec Guinness, Denholm Elliott, and Gary Oldman.
“Set against the turbulent backdrop of the Cold War leading into present day, the film...
- 7/24/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
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