Steven Spielberg has worked with several superstars during his decades-long work in the film industry. But there was one rule he refused to break for any one actor.
Steven Spielberg always puts the script first before the actor Steven Spielberg | Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Spielberg once gave a little insight into his thought process for making movies. The director normally didn’t put too much priority over who starred in his movies when developing a project. Instead, Spielberg focused on the story first, and the star second.
“In the old days, when the studio system was more powerful than it ever was — in the golden days of Hollywood, i.e. the 1920s to 1950s, when the studio chiefs dominated the business — they cultivated super stars and they tailored stories for those stars,” Spielberg once told The Economic Times. “My generation has done the opposite, we found good stories and we...
Steven Spielberg always puts the script first before the actor Steven Spielberg | Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Spielberg once gave a little insight into his thought process for making movies. The director normally didn’t put too much priority over who starred in his movies when developing a project. Instead, Spielberg focused on the story first, and the star second.
“In the old days, when the studio system was more powerful than it ever was — in the golden days of Hollywood, i.e. the 1920s to 1950s, when the studio chiefs dominated the business — they cultivated super stars and they tailored stories for those stars,” Spielberg once told The Economic Times. “My generation has done the opposite, we found good stories and we...
- 5/22/2024
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
“The Alien Report” from newbie Director Patrick Donnelly and Producer Kevin Schroeder, releases this month on streamers bringing a fresh yet troubling perspective to the UFO story, it’s vastly different from traditional UFO movies like E.T. The Extraterrestrial and Close Encounters, both Steven Spielberg flicks. This week, Steven Spielberg announced plans to make a new …
The post ” The Alien Report”: An iPhone UFO Movie Vastly Different From Steven Spielberg UFO Movies appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.
The post ” The Alien Report”: An iPhone UFO Movie Vastly Different From Steven Spielberg UFO Movies appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.
- 4/29/2024
- by Mike Joy
- Horror News
Signage at the 2024 TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood, CA.
Once again, it was time for our favorite film festival, the Turner Classic Movies Film Festival, and as usual, the Stars were shining brightly!
Movie lovers from around the globe descended upon Hollywood for the 15th edition of the festival, which took place Thursday, April 18 – Sunday, April 21. Over four packed days and nights, fans were treated to a lineup of great movies, appearances by legendary stars and filmmakers, fascinating presentations and panel discussions.
There were quite a few big-name notables, both on the red carpet and introducing some of our favorite classic films.
Thursday’s opening night gala was a stunner, with the 30th anniversary screening of Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994). Many of the iconic film’s stars walked the red carpet for a reunion that included John Travolta, Samuel Jackson, Uma Thurman, and Harvey Keitel.
This set the...
Once again, it was time for our favorite film festival, the Turner Classic Movies Film Festival, and as usual, the Stars were shining brightly!
Movie lovers from around the globe descended upon Hollywood for the 15th edition of the festival, which took place Thursday, April 18 – Sunday, April 21. Over four packed days and nights, fans were treated to a lineup of great movies, appearances by legendary stars and filmmakers, fascinating presentations and panel discussions.
There were quite a few big-name notables, both on the red carpet and introducing some of our favorite classic films.
Thursday’s opening night gala was a stunner, with the 30th anniversary screening of Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994). Many of the iconic film’s stars walked the red carpet for a reunion that included John Travolta, Samuel Jackson, Uma Thurman, and Harvey Keitel.
This set the...
- 4/24/2024
- by Melissa Thompson
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Steven Spielberg has had a lifelong fascination with alien beings from beyond the stars. When the legendary director was just 17, he made a nearly two-and-a-half-hour epic on his 8mm camera called Firelight, a film that he more or less remade 14 years later as Close Encounters of the Third Kind. That 1977 classic would be the first of three professional movies Spielberg would make about aliens arriving on our planet, the other two being E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and War of the Worlds (2005). And each trip into the extraterrestrial has led to one of the director’s most successful and acclaimed films (we’re not counting 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull since Spielberg didn’t actually want aliens in the movie).
It’s also a subject that continues to fascinate the filmmaker, with Variety recently reporting that Spielberg’s next film is going to be another...
It’s also a subject that continues to fascinate the filmmaker, with Variety recently reporting that Spielberg’s next film is going to be another...
- 4/24/2024
- by Don Kaye
- Den of Geek
Even though Ryan Gosling popped up during Kristin Wiig's induction into the Five Timers Club in last weekend's episode of "Saturday Night Live," the "Barbie" star had actually only hosted the late night sketch comedy show a couple times. Despite having just that pair of hosting stints under his belt, Gosling had already proven he was a reliable and hilarious host. But even with expectations high, Gosling made this third round hosting "Saturday Night Live" an absolute banger, delivering one of the best episodes that I've ever seen. And it wasn't just because of guest appearances by former "SNL" cast member (and recent host) Kate McKinnon or a cameo by Gosling's "The Fall Guy" co-star Emily Blunt. Even without those bonuses, this episode of "SNL" was simply phenomenal.
So let's not waste anymore time. Come with us as we dig into the highs and non-existent lows of Ryan Gosling's latest "Saturday Night Live.
So let's not waste anymore time. Come with us as we dig into the highs and non-existent lows of Ryan Gosling's latest "Saturday Night Live.
- 4/14/2024
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
Get ready for another explosive episode of “Summer House”! Airing at 9:00 Pm on Thursday, April 18, 2024, exclusively on Bravo, Season 8 Episode 9 promises to deliver all the drama, romance, and laughs that fans have come to expect from the hit reality series.
In this installment, titled “Close Encounters,” viewers will see the friends continue to share a house together in the picturesque beach town of Montauk, N.Y. As the summer season heats up, tensions rise and emotions run high as the housemates navigate their relationships, friendships, and personal dramas.
From romantic entanglements to heated arguments, no topic is off-limits as the cast members confront their issues head-on. And with the beautiful backdrop of Montauk providing the perfect setting for their adventures, viewers can expect plenty of fun in the sun, along with some unexpected twists and turns along the way.
Don’t miss out on the excitement of “Summer House...
In this installment, titled “Close Encounters,” viewers will see the friends continue to share a house together in the picturesque beach town of Montauk, N.Y. As the summer season heats up, tensions rise and emotions run high as the housemates navigate their relationships, friendships, and personal dramas.
From romantic entanglements to heated arguments, no topic is off-limits as the cast members confront their issues head-on. And with the beautiful backdrop of Montauk providing the perfect setting for their adventures, viewers can expect plenty of fun in the sun, along with some unexpected twists and turns along the way.
Don’t miss out on the excitement of “Summer House...
- 4/11/2024
- by Jules Byrd
- TV Everyday
The Fabelmans (2022), arguably Steven Spielberg’s most personal movie to date, had everyone talking. Starring Michelle Williams and Paul Dano, it’s a semi-autobiographical tale that’s loosely based on the director’s childhood and his early years as a film director.
However, Spielberg’s reluctance to delve into his family’s history stemmed from worries that his parents would suffer, so the project was dropped for twenty years. Regardless, with seven Oscar nominations upon its release, The Fabelmans has generated a lot of Oscar buzz.
James Cameron’s Avatar
Does that encourage other filmmakers to document their own life stories on screen? Well, the director of Avatar and Titanic, though, is not going to take that route. James Cameron remains surprisingly uninterested when it comes to sharing the story of his own journey to success on the big screen because he finds it “boring”.
Why James Cameron Won’t...
However, Spielberg’s reluctance to delve into his family’s history stemmed from worries that his parents would suffer, so the project was dropped for twenty years. Regardless, with seven Oscar nominations upon its release, The Fabelmans has generated a lot of Oscar buzz.
James Cameron’s Avatar
Does that encourage other filmmakers to document their own life stories on screen? Well, the director of Avatar and Titanic, though, is not going to take that route. James Cameron remains surprisingly uninterested when it comes to sharing the story of his own journey to success on the big screen because he finds it “boring”.
Why James Cameron Won’t...
- 4/6/2024
- by Siddhika Prajapati
- FandomWire
Steven Spielberg is undoubtedly one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. The filmmaker has captivated audiences for over five decades with his entertaining and deeply impactful stories along with introducing hit franchises like Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park. However, despite his illustrious career, there’s one coveted project he has been unable to tackle, a James Bond film.
Steven Spielberg | Credits: Wikimedia Commons
Multiple iterations of the character have been brought to the screen by several filmmakers and actors throughout the years. Although Spielberg expressed interest in making a film with a beloved character, his offers were met with rejection from the franchise’s producers.
Steven Spielberg Faced Rejections From the James Bond Producer
Steven Spielberg has shared that he is a “huge [James] Bond fan.” And during a conversation on Michael Ball’s BBC Radio 2, the filmmaker revealed that he even approached the franchise’s producer to direct a James Bond film.
Steven Spielberg | Credits: Wikimedia Commons
Multiple iterations of the character have been brought to the screen by several filmmakers and actors throughout the years. Although Spielberg expressed interest in making a film with a beloved character, his offers were met with rejection from the franchise’s producers.
Steven Spielberg Faced Rejections From the James Bond Producer
Steven Spielberg has shared that he is a “huge [James] Bond fan.” And during a conversation on Michael Ball’s BBC Radio 2, the filmmaker revealed that he even approached the franchise’s producer to direct a James Bond film.
- 3/26/2024
- by Laxmi Rajput
- FandomWire
Richard Dreyfuss, a familiar face in Steven Spielberg’s filmography, went to unorthodox lengths to land a role in one of their collaborations. While Dreyfuss’s performance in Jaws cemented his status as a leading actor, it wasn’t a smooth sail to win the role in Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
A still of Richard Dreyfuss in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977).
Steven Spielberg explored various options by seeking an actor with a touch of eccentricity to portray the role. Initially considering names like Steve McQueen, Al Pacino, Gene Hackman, and Jack Nicholson, Spielberg had his eyes set on an actor who could embody Neary’s beloved yet unconventional character.
Suggested‘Halloween’ Director John Carpenter Dismissed 1 Steven Spielberg Film as “Pretentious”, Claimed Director “Lost control of it”
Amidst the competition, Richard Dreyfuss emerged as a frontrunner by strategically advocating for himself. Going beyond traditional auditioning, Dreyfuss adopted a bold approach.
A still of Richard Dreyfuss in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977).
Steven Spielberg explored various options by seeking an actor with a touch of eccentricity to portray the role. Initially considering names like Steve McQueen, Al Pacino, Gene Hackman, and Jack Nicholson, Spielberg had his eyes set on an actor who could embody Neary’s beloved yet unconventional character.
Suggested‘Halloween’ Director John Carpenter Dismissed 1 Steven Spielberg Film as “Pretentious”, Claimed Director “Lost control of it”
Amidst the competition, Richard Dreyfuss emerged as a frontrunner by strategically advocating for himself. Going beyond traditional auditioning, Dreyfuss adopted a bold approach.
- 3/16/2024
- by Prantik Prabal Roy
- FandomWire
Stars: Mike Capes, David Shackelford, Sean Astin, Sandy Martin, Caitlin McHugh, Bobby Gilchrist, Larry Hankin, Bill Kottkamp | Written by Mike Capes, Johnny Wickham | Directed by Mike Hermosa
The Tyler Corporation has finally figured out how to engineer a prehistoric raptor genetically, but they didn’t stop there… they also made it invisible. Unfortunately for them, he’s a really smart invisible raptor. After easily breaking out of its enclosure, it’s now up to washed-up amusement park palaeontologist Dr Grant Walker and hapless loner Security Guard Denny Danielson to stop the predator before it wreaks havoc on the entire community of Spielburgh County. With the help of local celebrity chicken farmer Henrietta McCluckskey and Grant’s old flame Amber, they uncover the truth behind the mysterious apex predator.
Take Jurassic Park, ramp up the horror, film it on a low budget and make it independently and you have the Roger Corman-produced Carnosaur…...
The Tyler Corporation has finally figured out how to engineer a prehistoric raptor genetically, but they didn’t stop there… they also made it invisible. Unfortunately for them, he’s a really smart invisible raptor. After easily breaking out of its enclosure, it’s now up to washed-up amusement park palaeontologist Dr Grant Walker and hapless loner Security Guard Denny Danielson to stop the predator before it wreaks havoc on the entire community of Spielburgh County. With the help of local celebrity chicken farmer Henrietta McCluckskey and Grant’s old flame Amber, they uncover the truth behind the mysterious apex predator.
Take Jurassic Park, ramp up the horror, film it on a low budget and make it independently and you have the Roger Corman-produced Carnosaur…...
- 3/12/2024
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Steven Spielberg is one of the wisest men in Hollywood and is known to give all kinds of advice to his peers, whether they are part of his films or not. After all, there is no one who wouldn’t want to get advice from someone who has such a wealth of knowledge. However, John Carpenter has one notable Steven Spielberg movie, which he claimed was pretentious.
Jurassic Park
Steven Spielberg has been a part of many iconic franchises over the years, as he has been responsible for films such as the Jurassic Park franchise, Indiana Jones film series, Saving Private Ryan and many other films. That is why his opinion carries a lot of weight when it comes to anything related to films, but that doesn’t mean all of his films are equally well-received.
Suggested“Don’t you think these tunnels are like my mother’s womb?”:...
Jurassic Park
Steven Spielberg has been a part of many iconic franchises over the years, as he has been responsible for films such as the Jurassic Park franchise, Indiana Jones film series, Saving Private Ryan and many other films. That is why his opinion carries a lot of weight when it comes to anything related to films, but that doesn’t mean all of his films are equally well-received.
Suggested“Don’t you think these tunnels are like my mother’s womb?”:...
- 3/6/2024
- by Subhojeet Mookherjee
- FandomWire
It's fair to say that "Schindler's List" changed the course of Steven Spielberg's career. The wunderkind filmmaker invented the blockbuster with "Jaws" and rose to become one of the most successful directors of all time. But there was something Spielberg wanted more than fame and money: respect. He didn't just want to be the blockbuster guy; he wanted to be taken seriously as an artist.
"Schindler's List" was the film that finally did that, signaling Spielberg as a "serious" filmmaker capable of winning multiple Oscars for his hard work. The historical drama earned Spielberg some of the best reviews of his career, and it took home seven Academy Awards — including giving Spielberg his first Best Director Oscar.
Spielberg had to work his way up to making such a serious movie, and "Schindler's List" wasn't the first time the filmmaker chased Oscar gold and artistic respect. In a new oral history of "Schindler's List,...
"Schindler's List" was the film that finally did that, signaling Spielberg as a "serious" filmmaker capable of winning multiple Oscars for his hard work. The historical drama earned Spielberg some of the best reviews of his career, and it took home seven Academy Awards — including giving Spielberg his first Best Director Oscar.
Spielberg had to work his way up to making such a serious movie, and "Schindler's List" wasn't the first time the filmmaker chased Oscar gold and artistic respect. In a new oral history of "Schindler's List,...
- 2/26/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
The story is familiar to Trekkies. When "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" was in production in the late 1970s, SFX guru Douglas Trumbull was busy completing work on Steven Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." Paramount asked Trumbull to work on their movie, but he turned them down. Not only was not quite done with "Close Encounters," but he was eager to return to a personal project of his, the development of Showscan. Showscan was a new filming process that ran high-fidelity 70mm film through a camera at 60 frames per second, allowing for crystal clear images and more natural movement. Although such a process had the potential to revolutionize the film industry, Paramount didn't care. There was a rumor that Paramount managed to get Trumbull's Scowscan funding cut as revenge for not working on "Star Trek."
Instead, Paramount hired Robert Abel and Associates to develop then-novel CGI for "Star Trek.
Instead, Paramount hired Robert Abel and Associates to develop then-novel CGI for "Star Trek.
- 2/25/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
NYC Weekend Watch is our weekly round-up of repertory offerings.
Museum of the Moving Image
A retrospective of snubbed performances brings the Ray Nicolette double-feature of Jackie Brown and Out of Sight, as well as The Heartbreak Kid, The Fugitive, and Top Hat; the Stop Making Sense restoration plays throughout this weekend.
Film at Lincoln Center
A retrospective of Denis Villeneuve’s work also brings the director’s programming choices, among them films by Blade Runner, Apocalypse Now, Close Encounters, and Seven Samurai.
Bam
Raoul Peck’s Lumumba: Death of a Prophet plays in a new restoration.
Roxy Cinema
“City Dudes” returns on Friday night, while 9½ Weeks plays on 35mm this Saturday and Sunday.
Anthology Film Archives
Films by Ken Jacobs and more play in “Essential Cinema,” while a program of Mary Helena Clark’s films plays on Saturday and Sunday.
Film Forum
The 4K restoration of Pandora’s Box...
Museum of the Moving Image
A retrospective of snubbed performances brings the Ray Nicolette double-feature of Jackie Brown and Out of Sight, as well as The Heartbreak Kid, The Fugitive, and Top Hat; the Stop Making Sense restoration plays throughout this weekend.
Film at Lincoln Center
A retrospective of Denis Villeneuve’s work also brings the director’s programming choices, among them films by Blade Runner, Apocalypse Now, Close Encounters, and Seven Samurai.
Bam
Raoul Peck’s Lumumba: Death of a Prophet plays in a new restoration.
Roxy Cinema
“City Dudes” returns on Friday night, while 9½ Weeks plays on 35mm this Saturday and Sunday.
Anthology Film Archives
Films by Ken Jacobs and more play in “Essential Cinema,” while a program of Mary Helena Clark’s films plays on Saturday and Sunday.
Film Forum
The 4K restoration of Pandora’s Box...
- 2/23/2024
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
MidWest WeirdFest has announced its full program for 2024. The 8th annual film festival – a cinematic celebration of of all things fantastic, frightening, paranormal, and just plain weird – takes place March 1st – 3rd 2024 at the Micon Downtown Cinema in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The fest’s fantastic line-up of horror, sci-fi, underground, paranormal, and documentary cinema, kicks off at 6pm, Friday March 1, with the theatrical world premiere of the brand new, and soon to be cult hit, Blind Cop 2.- which is just one of the amazing feature films to be showcased at the festival next month, along with over fifty short films.
The feature films screening at the festival include:
Blind Cop 2: (dir: Alec Bonk ) Theatrical World Premiere
A sequel to a film that doesn’t exist, this is a riotous homage and parody of 80s action cinema. Blind Cop, the former beacon of justice, is consumed by grief after...
The feature films screening at the festival include:
Blind Cop 2: (dir: Alec Bonk ) Theatrical World Premiere
A sequel to a film that doesn’t exist, this is a riotous homage and parody of 80s action cinema. Blind Cop, the former beacon of justice, is consumed by grief after...
- 2/21/2024
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve recently revealed his four all-time favorite films, spanning sci-fi masterpieces to psychological drama. Topping the list is Stanley Kubrick’s sci-fi epic 2001: A Space Odyssey, which Villeneuve deemed “a perfect movie for many reasons.” As Dune 2 is soon to be released, Villeneuve his idea of the best movies of all time.
Denis Villeneuve Names His All-Time Favorite Films
Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey
While talking to Letterboxd about his top 4 favorite movies, Denis Villeneuve said:
“My four favorite films, to be honest, that list can change every morning. There’s one of my favorites of all time that’s at top there that stayed there after many years – 2001: A Space Odyssey – for me, a perfect movie for many reasons. Apocalypse Now from Coppola is probably the movie I watch the most in my life; it’s a movie that I absolutely adore.
Denis Villeneuve Names His All-Time Favorite Films
Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey
While talking to Letterboxd about his top 4 favorite movies, Denis Villeneuve said:
“My four favorite films, to be honest, that list can change every morning. There’s one of my favorites of all time that’s at top there that stayed there after many years – 2001: A Space Odyssey – for me, a perfect movie for many reasons. Apocalypse Now from Coppola is probably the movie I watch the most in my life; it’s a movie that I absolutely adore.
- 2/19/2024
- by Nivedita Dubey
- FandomWire
The article contains spoilers for "For All Mankind" season 4.
Somehow, while no one was looking, Apple TV+ became the home of terrific sci-fi TV -- from the incredible adaptation of "Foundation" to the "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" series that expands the MonsterVerse's lore in meaningful ways and, of course, "For All Mankind." Originally billed as an alternate history show about a world where the Soviet Union reached the moon before the U.S., "For All Mankind" is one of the best current dramas on TV. It also serves as a pseudo-prequel to sci-fi shows like "The Expanse" or "Star Trek," bridging futuristic sci-fi with contemporary grounded drama.
As a drama, the show has plenty of memorable characters and compelling plotlines, aided by a story spanning decades that the show constantly mines for conflict and pay-offs. Then there's the sci-fi. As the show goes on, it introduces more and more changes to the timeline,...
Somehow, while no one was looking, Apple TV+ became the home of terrific sci-fi TV -- from the incredible adaptation of "Foundation" to the "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" series that expands the MonsterVerse's lore in meaningful ways and, of course, "For All Mankind." Originally billed as an alternate history show about a world where the Soviet Union reached the moon before the U.S., "For All Mankind" is one of the best current dramas on TV. It also serves as a pseudo-prequel to sci-fi shows like "The Expanse" or "Star Trek," bridging futuristic sci-fi with contemporary grounded drama.
As a drama, the show has plenty of memorable characters and compelling plotlines, aided by a story spanning decades that the show constantly mines for conflict and pay-offs. Then there's the sci-fi. As the show goes on, it introduces more and more changes to the timeline,...
- 1/6/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
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Sometimes, the reputations of certain movies have been built up so much over the decades that, to an extent, newcomers can't help but come away disappointed when they finally experience it for the very first time. Others, however, live up to every inch of their status as bona fide classics. It's safe to say that "Close Encounters of a Third Kind," director Steven Spielberg's first film about extraterrestrial visitors, belongs firmly in the latter category. Although multiple generations of movie lovers only encountered the 1977 film through their parents, film school courses, or entirely on their own, various re-releases over the years and constant praise from both filmmakers and critics alike have kept "Close Encounters" exactly where it deserves to be -- at the forefront of the conversation about the greatest and most influential movies of all time.
Of course,...
Sometimes, the reputations of certain movies have been built up so much over the decades that, to an extent, newcomers can't help but come away disappointed when they finally experience it for the very first time. Others, however, live up to every inch of their status as bona fide classics. It's safe to say that "Close Encounters of a Third Kind," director Steven Spielberg's first film about extraterrestrial visitors, belongs firmly in the latter category. Although multiple generations of movie lovers only encountered the 1977 film through their parents, film school courses, or entirely on their own, various re-releases over the years and constant praise from both filmmakers and critics alike have kept "Close Encounters" exactly where it deserves to be -- at the forefront of the conversation about the greatest and most influential movies of all time.
Of course,...
- 12/19/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
The career of director Steven Spielberg has practically defined modern blockbusters, but he’s also been able to craft more personal films as well. Let’s rank Spielberg’s entire filmography from worst to best in a new photo gallery of his 33 theatrical features.
Spielberg’s reputation as a master entertainer came with the release of “Jaws,” his 1975 shark attack thriller. Made when he was just 29 years old, the film set box office records and made the summer safe for blockbusters again. Such following films as “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977), “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981) and “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982) cemented Spielberg’s ability to create spectacular amusements that brought audiences to their feet.
He later moved into serious filmmaking with “The Color Purple” (1985), which paved the way for his 1993 Holocaust drama “Schindler’s List” (1993). That film swept the Academy Awards, bringing Spielberg Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture.
Spielberg’s reputation as a master entertainer came with the release of “Jaws,” his 1975 shark attack thriller. Made when he was just 29 years old, the film set box office records and made the summer safe for blockbusters again. Such following films as “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977), “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981) and “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982) cemented Spielberg’s ability to create spectacular amusements that brought audiences to their feet.
He later moved into serious filmmaking with “The Color Purple” (1985), which paved the way for his 1993 Holocaust drama “Schindler’s List” (1993). That film swept the Academy Awards, bringing Spielberg Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture.
- 12/15/2023
- by Christopher Rosen and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Steven Spielberg's alien abduction thriller "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" was released in November of 1977, only six months after the world of blockbusters had been rattled by the release of George Lucas' "Star Wars." Lucas and Spielberg were friends and collaborators, and deep-cut "Star Wars" fans might be able to tell you about several times that Spielberg has included "Star Wars" references in a few of his films. Notably, in Speilberg's 1982 film "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial," a kid is seen wearing a Yoda costume on Halloween, and the titular alien seems to have recognized him. This reference was famously handed back to Spielberg when Lucas included E.T. aliens in his 1999 film "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace." Starwoids might also know about the C-3Po and R2-D2 hieroglyphics in Speilberg's "Raiders of the Lost Ark." In Close Encounters," if one looks closely at the alien mother ship,...
- 12/11/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Coming like a bat out of hell to theaters September 14th is the long-anticipated Latino anthology horror film Satanic Hispanics. Filmmakers Mike Mendez (Big Ass Spider!) and Alejandro Brugués (Juan of the Dead) spearhead this fun, yet creepy grindhouse-like horror adventure, combining their artistic forces with horror filmmakers Eduardo Sánchez (The Blair Witch Project), Gigi Saul Guerrero (Culture Shock), and Demián Rugna (Terrified). These five Latinos groundbreakers in horror bring their unique styles in distinctive segments that are intertwined in a police investigation of a mysterious and sadistic massacre, with a lone survivor telling horrific tales that are beyond belief.
All five directors share what films and filmmakers impacted them, how Satanic Hispanics came to be, their segments, and the importance of Latino participation in horror.
What is your favorite horror movie?
Mendez: I have two, my favorite horror movie and the best horror movie. The best horror movie is The Exorcist.
All five directors share what films and filmmakers impacted them, how Satanic Hispanics came to be, their segments, and the importance of Latino participation in horror.
What is your favorite horror movie?
Mendez: I have two, my favorite horror movie and the best horror movie. The best horror movie is The Exorcist.
- 9/14/2023
- by Justina Bonilla
- DailyDead
For a long time, "Moonraker" was considered by many hardcore James Bond fans as the nadir of the franchise. Based on the third novel in Ian Fleming's 007 series, the film was rushed into production to take advantage of the blockbuster sci-fi craze kicked off by George Lucas' "Star Wars" and Steven Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." Like most adaptations of Fleming's work pre-2006's "Casino Royale," the film was a goofy, gadget-laden departure from Fleming's grittier, more grounded books. But for some, "Moonraker" went several steps too far.
From the cheeky references to the aforementioned '70s smashes (particularly punching in a door code with the five-note "Close Encounters" theme) to the laser-gun battle on Hugo Drax's space station, "Moonraker" played like self-parody. And to a degree, it is. But now that we've seen the series successfully course-correct several times over the next four decades,...
From the cheeky references to the aforementioned '70s smashes (particularly punching in a door code with the five-note "Close Encounters" theme) to the laser-gun battle on Hugo Drax's space station, "Moonraker" played like self-parody. And to a degree, it is. But now that we've seen the series successfully course-correct several times over the next four decades,...
- 8/21/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
With the death of William Friedkin sending shockwaves through the film world, as everyone pays tribute to his classics The French Connection and The Exorcist, now is a good time to look back at one of his most underrated movies, the 1977 classic Sorcerer!
The 1970s were probably the last decade when the film industry had many honest-to-goodness auteurs. Directors who made movies on their own terms without compromises; not just the ones making little indie art films, but the guys in charge of sizable projects with the backing of major studios. Filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Brian De Palma came of age during this era, and were responsible for movies that would resonate for decades. Another name you can add to that list is William Friedkin, who during that period made two instant classics and one misunderstood masterpiece.
The classics are obvious: in a span of three years,...
The 1970s were probably the last decade when the film industry had many honest-to-goodness auteurs. Directors who made movies on their own terms without compromises; not just the ones making little indie art films, but the guys in charge of sizable projects with the backing of major studios. Filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Brian De Palma came of age during this era, and were responsible for movies that would resonate for decades. Another name you can add to that list is William Friedkin, who during that period made two instant classics and one misunderstood masterpiece.
The classics are obvious: in a span of three years,...
- 8/13/2023
- by Eric Walkuski
- JoBlo.com
Picture if you will, a world in which someone would say no to Steven Spielberg. After all, the guy changed cinema with 1975’s Jaws, creating the summer blockbuster, earning tons of money, and getting a Best Director nomination. But that’s exactly what happened, several times when Spielberg begged producer Cubby Broccoli to let him make a movie about his childhood hero, James Bond. But after numerous rejections, Spielberg’s best bud George Lucas came to him with another idea: a movie about an adventurer called Indiana Jones.
Spielberg’s James Bond Mission
It’s no surprise that Spielberg loves James Bond. As anyone who saw The Fabelmans can tell you, the director developed his remarkable cinematic sense not by going to film school but by replicating the images of movies he saw at the local suburban theaters. And few movies of that formative era were bigger in the minds...
Spielberg’s James Bond Mission
It’s no surprise that Spielberg loves James Bond. As anyone who saw The Fabelmans can tell you, the director developed his remarkable cinematic sense not by going to film school but by replicating the images of movies he saw at the local suburban theaters. And few movies of that formative era were bigger in the minds...
- 7/12/2023
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
In hindsight, it’s a story so simple a child could’ve come up with it. A story about a boy feeling lost and alone in the world. He befriends a small alien, similarly lost and alone in the world. Their bond is almost immediate, and in a few short days, they become the best of friends. But the alien doesn’t belong here, and the boy knows it. One day soon, that loveable creature will have to return home, and when he does, he won’t be coming back… The end.
It might not sound spectacular on paper, but with the right storyteller in charge, the result broke millions of hearts and earned hundreds of millions of dollars. When Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial came out in June of 1982, the world was not quite prepared for just how much of a phenomenon the movie – and its title character – would become.
It might not sound spectacular on paper, but with the right storyteller in charge, the result broke millions of hearts and earned hundreds of millions of dollars. When Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial came out in June of 1982, the world was not quite prepared for just how much of a phenomenon the movie – and its title character – would become.
- 6/21/2023
- by Eric Walkuski
- JoBlo.com
The DNA of the summer blockbuster will forever be infused with that of Steven Spielberg changed the game – an event movie that literally had people queueing down the street to watch it (hence the phrase ‘block-buster’), desperate to escape the heat and experience two hours of oceanic terror in an air-conditioned cinema. The Hollywood landscape was never the same. But while it was _Jaws that invented the blockbuster, for a generation of movie-goers it was another Steven Spielberg film that perfected it, nearly two decades later. In the summer of 1993, the director delivered an adventure 65 million years in the making – a monster movie of sorts, boasting groundbreaking computer effects, bigger teeth than Bruce the shark, and a promise to do the impossible: to bring dinosaurs back from extinction before your very eyes. “Welcome… to Jurassic Park.”
There are several building-blocks needed to create the perfect blockbuster movie – it’s not just about action sequences.
There are several building-blocks needed to create the perfect blockbuster movie – it’s not just about action sequences.
- 6/13/2023
- by Ben Travis
- Empire - Movies
NYC Weekend Watch is our weekly round-up of repertory offerings.
Film Forum
A celebration of Ozu’s 120th birthday brings a massive series, with many playing on 35mm; a retrospective on New York movies continues with Carpenter, Mel Brooks, Cassavetes, Polanski, Woody Allen, and more; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory plays on 35mm this Sunday.
Film at Lincoln Center
A retrospective of the great, underseen Marco Ferreri begins with a series of imported 35mm prints.
Roxy Cinema
35mm prints of Blade Runner, Cruising, and Control screen this weekend, while Happy Together also plays.
Museum of the Moving Image
An Asteroid City-themed series programmed by Wes Anderson and Jake Perlin includes Close Encounters and three films by the Maysles; Fassbinder’s Querelle plays in a queer cinema series.
Museum of Modern Art
A tribute to casting directors Ellen Lewis and Laura Rosenthal brings prints of Broadway Danny Rose and I’m Not There,...
Film Forum
A celebration of Ozu’s 120th birthday brings a massive series, with many playing on 35mm; a retrospective on New York movies continues with Carpenter, Mel Brooks, Cassavetes, Polanski, Woody Allen, and more; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory plays on 35mm this Sunday.
Film at Lincoln Center
A retrospective of the great, underseen Marco Ferreri begins with a series of imported 35mm prints.
Roxy Cinema
35mm prints of Blade Runner, Cruising, and Control screen this weekend, while Happy Together also plays.
Museum of the Moving Image
An Asteroid City-themed series programmed by Wes Anderson and Jake Perlin includes Close Encounters and three films by the Maysles; Fassbinder’s Querelle plays in a queer cinema series.
Museum of Modern Art
A tribute to casting directors Ellen Lewis and Laura Rosenthal brings prints of Broadway Danny Rose and I’m Not There,...
- 6/9/2023
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Steven Spielberg and George Lucas have been good friends for decades, often supporting each other’s careers. But when Spielberg was influenced by Lucas to make a change to one of his own movies, Spielberg deeply regretted the end result.
Steven Spielberg was once jealous of George Lucas Steven Spielberg and George Lucas | Earl Gibson III/WireImage
Spielberg noticed Lucas’ filmmaking capabilities from a young age. The Close Encounters director first became aware of Lucas when Lucas premiered his film Thx-1138 at a University of California LA [UCLA] film festival. As impressed as Spielberg was by the feature, he admitted to being envious of the project at the same time.
“I realized that there was an entire generation coming out of NYU, USC and UCLA. Thx-1138, made me jealous to the marrow of my bones. I was eighteen years old and had directed fifteen short films by that time, and...
Steven Spielberg was once jealous of George Lucas Steven Spielberg and George Lucas | Earl Gibson III/WireImage
Spielberg noticed Lucas’ filmmaking capabilities from a young age. The Close Encounters director first became aware of Lucas when Lucas premiered his film Thx-1138 at a University of California LA [UCLA] film festival. As impressed as Spielberg was by the feature, he admitted to being envious of the project at the same time.
“I realized that there was an entire generation coming out of NYU, USC and UCLA. Thx-1138, made me jealous to the marrow of my bones. I was eighteen years old and had directed fifteen short films by that time, and...
- 5/6/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Things that go bump in the night will be honored at the first ParaPod Awards, set for Saturday, April 1 as part of the ParaPod Festival in Santa Clarita, Calif.
The awards honor the influencers and content creators who work in the paranormal genre.
“As a content producer and host myself, being able to create a platform to celebrate the paranormal genre and those content creators who are working in it has been a long-time goal,” says ParaPod founder Tony Sweet. “Influencers, podcasters, documentary filmmakers, television producers, and hosts who dare to cover topics like UFOs or Bigfoot often get overlooked by mainstream awards shows, and I want to change that.”
Podcasters whose content covered the paranormal were asked to submit their work in various categories via the ParaPod Festival website. A committee of listeners rated the podcasts in their selected categories to create a list of finalists. The finalist podcasts...
The awards honor the influencers and content creators who work in the paranormal genre.
“As a content producer and host myself, being able to create a platform to celebrate the paranormal genre and those content creators who are working in it has been a long-time goal,” says ParaPod founder Tony Sweet. “Influencers, podcasters, documentary filmmakers, television producers, and hosts who dare to cover topics like UFOs or Bigfoot often get overlooked by mainstream awards shows, and I want to change that.”
Podcasters whose content covered the paranormal were asked to submit their work in various categories via the ParaPod Festival website. A committee of listeners rated the podcasts in their selected categories to create a list of finalists. The finalist podcasts...
- 3/4/2023
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Seven months after landing the coveted top jobs at Warner Bros Motion Picture studios, co-chairpersons Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy were bestowed with the PGA Milestone award Saturday night. The pair paid respect for their mega industry mentors; remembered emotionally their cinematic New York City and New Jersey youths; and gave a shoutout to their new boss, Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav.
“I see I’ve entered the twilight portion of my career where they start giving you body-of-work awards … sort of like getting that AARP mailer for the first time. Sorry to have dragged you into this, Pam. Pam is way younger than I am, as you can all see,” De Luca joked soon after taking the stage after Ron Howard’s warm introduction to the packed crowd at the Beverly Hilton.
Related: 2023 PGA Awards – Deadline’s Full Coverage
“As studio heads, they quietly revolutionized industry practices,...
“I see I’ve entered the twilight portion of my career where they start giving you body-of-work awards … sort of like getting that AARP mailer for the first time. Sorry to have dragged you into this, Pam. Pam is way younger than I am, as you can all see,” De Luca joked soon after taking the stage after Ron Howard’s warm introduction to the packed crowd at the Beverly Hilton.
Related: 2023 PGA Awards – Deadline’s Full Coverage
“As studio heads, they quietly revolutionized industry practices,...
- 2/26/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Stella Stevens, who starred in the 1972 disaster film “Poseidon Adventure” and in films opposite Elvis Presley, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, died Friday in Los Angeles at the age of 84.
Her son, actor/producer Andrew Stevens, confirmed her passing to TheWrap via email. “I was notified early this morning,” Stevens said. “Stella had been in hospice for quite some time with stage seven Alzheimer’s.”
She is perhaps best known for her role as one of the victims of an ocean liner disaster in Irwin Allen’s epic “Poseidon Adventure.” She played a former prostitute married to Ernest Borgnine’s police detective, who, along with Gene Hackman and Shelley Winters, try to make it to the top of the overturned ship.
Stevens also starred with Elvis Presley in the 1962 musical “Girls! Girls! Girls!,” Jerry Lewis in 1963’s “The Nutty Professor,” and Dean Martin in the 1966 spy spoof “The Silencers.” In...
Her son, actor/producer Andrew Stevens, confirmed her passing to TheWrap via email. “I was notified early this morning,” Stevens said. “Stella had been in hospice for quite some time with stage seven Alzheimer’s.”
She is perhaps best known for her role as one of the victims of an ocean liner disaster in Irwin Allen’s epic “Poseidon Adventure.” She played a former prostitute married to Ernest Borgnine’s police detective, who, along with Gene Hackman and Shelley Winters, try to make it to the top of the overturned ship.
Stevens also starred with Elvis Presley in the 1962 musical “Girls! Girls! Girls!,” Jerry Lewis in 1963’s “The Nutty Professor,” and Dean Martin in the 1966 spy spoof “The Silencers.” In...
- 2/17/2023
- by Sharon Knolle
- The Wrap
Steven Spielberg was filmed heaping praise on Tom Cruise at the Academy Awards nominees luncheon on Monday (13 February).
Multiple outlets in attendance reported that Cruise was the centre of attention at the event, which he attended due to his producing nomination for Top Gun: Maverick.
In a clip that has widely circulated on Twitter, Spielberg – who is nominated for his semi-autobiographical film The Fabelmans – can be heard pulling Cruise close in the noisy room and telling him: “You saved Hollywood’s ass.”
He continues: “And you might have saved theatrical distribution. Seriously. Maverick might have saved the entire theatrical industry.”
Cruise is seen modestly shaking his head and smiling in response to the compliments.
The famed director and star have collaborated twice in the past on Minority Report (2002) and War of the Worlds (2005).
Spielberg previously told Deadline he felt “encouraged” that blockbusters including Maverick and Avatar: The Way of the...
Multiple outlets in attendance reported that Cruise was the centre of attention at the event, which he attended due to his producing nomination for Top Gun: Maverick.
In a clip that has widely circulated on Twitter, Spielberg – who is nominated for his semi-autobiographical film The Fabelmans – can be heard pulling Cruise close in the noisy room and telling him: “You saved Hollywood’s ass.”
He continues: “And you might have saved theatrical distribution. Seriously. Maverick might have saved the entire theatrical industry.”
Cruise is seen modestly shaking his head and smiling in response to the compliments.
The famed director and star have collaborated twice in the past on Minority Report (2002) and War of the Worlds (2005).
Spielberg previously told Deadline he felt “encouraged” that blockbusters including Maverick and Avatar: The Way of the...
- 2/14/2023
- by Tom Murray
- The Independent - Film
Charles Kimbrough, best known to TV fans as straitlaced anchorman Jim Dial on “Murphy Brown,” died on Jan. 11, his son, John Kimbrough, told The New York Times. He was 86.
A cause of death was not given.
The St. Paul, Minnesota, native actor began his career on stage as a member of the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre in the late 1960s, where he and his wife of 30 years, Mary Jane Wilson, appeared in productions of “Cat Among the Pigeons” and “The White House Murder Case.”
It was shortly thereafter, in 1971, that he appeared in the Stephen Sondheim musical, “Company,” a role for which he earned a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor. He was among the original Broadway cast to perform in another Sondheim hit, “Sunday in the Park With George” in 1984. A decade later, he starred in the original Off-Broadway production of the A.R. Gurney comedy “Sylvia” about a dog and the couple who adopts her.
A cause of death was not given.
The St. Paul, Minnesota, native actor began his career on stage as a member of the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre in the late 1960s, where he and his wife of 30 years, Mary Jane Wilson, appeared in productions of “Cat Among the Pigeons” and “The White House Murder Case.”
It was shortly thereafter, in 1971, that he appeared in the Stephen Sondheim musical, “Company,” a role for which he earned a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor. He was among the original Broadway cast to perform in another Sondheim hit, “Sunday in the Park With George” in 1984. A decade later, he starred in the original Off-Broadway production of the A.R. Gurney comedy “Sylvia” about a dog and the couple who adopts her.
- 2/5/2023
- by Rosemary Rossi
- The Wrap
Melinda DIllon, best known from her roles in Steven Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and the holiday classic “A Christmas Story”, died last month at age 83.
According to an obituary issued by her family, Dillon died on Jan. 9.
Dillon got her start on stage, and made an auspicious debut on Broadway in the 1963 production of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf”, for which she won a Tony nomination and a Theatre World Award.
Read More: Long-Awaited Sequel To ‘A Christmas Story’ Gets HBO Max Release Date
Onscreen, Dillon appeared in the Oscar-winning film “Bound for Glory”, Paul Newman’s cult-favourite hockey comedy “Slap Shot” and family film “Harry and the Hendersons”, in addition to memorable roles in “F.I.S.T.”, “The Prince of Tides” and “Magnolia”.
Dillon received her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination in 1978 for her performance in “Close Encounters” as Jillian Guiler, a single mother whose...
According to an obituary issued by her family, Dillon died on Jan. 9.
Dillon got her start on stage, and made an auspicious debut on Broadway in the 1963 production of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf”, for which she won a Tony nomination and a Theatre World Award.
Read More: Long-Awaited Sequel To ‘A Christmas Story’ Gets HBO Max Release Date
Onscreen, Dillon appeared in the Oscar-winning film “Bound for Glory”, Paul Newman’s cult-favourite hockey comedy “Slap Shot” and family film “Harry and the Hendersons”, in addition to memorable roles in “F.I.S.T.”, “The Prince of Tides” and “Magnolia”.
Dillon received her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination in 1978 for her performance in “Close Encounters” as Jillian Guiler, a single mother whose...
- 2/4/2023
- by Brent Furdyk
- ET Canada
Melinda Dillon, the actor best known for roles in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and A Christmas Story, has died at the age of 83.
The news was announced by her family, with no cause of death disclosed.
Born in Arkansas in 1939, and raised in Alabama, Dillon began her acting career on Broadway, with a role as Honey in the original 1963 production of Edward Albee’s playWho’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
In 1969, she had her first film role, in the Jack Lemmon-Catherine Deneuve romcom The April Fools.
Dillon was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1976 (in the Best Female Acting Debut category), for her role in the Woody Guthrie biopic Bound for Glory.
The year after, she played a mother whose child is abducted by aliens in Steven Spielberg’s classic sci-fi Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Her performance in the film earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
The news was announced by her family, with no cause of death disclosed.
Born in Arkansas in 1939, and raised in Alabama, Dillon began her acting career on Broadway, with a role as Honey in the original 1963 production of Edward Albee’s playWho’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
In 1969, she had her first film role, in the Jack Lemmon-Catherine Deneuve romcom The April Fools.
Dillon was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1976 (in the Best Female Acting Debut category), for her role in the Woody Guthrie biopic Bound for Glory.
The year after, she played a mother whose child is abducted by aliens in Steven Spielberg’s classic sci-fi Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Her performance in the film earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
- 2/4/2023
- by Louis Chilton
- The Independent - Film
Melinda Dillon of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "A Christmas Story" fame passed away early last month at the age of 83. Her family made the announcement that she passed on January 9, 2023.
Dillon had a wonderful and eclectic career on the stage and screen and worked with some of the best directors of her era, including Hal Ashby, Steven Spielberg, Bob Clark, George Roy Hill, Sydney Pollack, and more recently Paul Thomas Anderson and Mike Binder. She originated the role of Honey in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" in 1963, a performance that would earn her a Tony nomination before she took a break from performing citing mental health reasons.
In a 1976 interview with The New York Times, Dillon candidly discussed the pressure of the constant schedule of New York theater and the birth of her son after a series of miscarriages that lead to her seeking treatment at a mental health facility,...
Dillon had a wonderful and eclectic career on the stage and screen and worked with some of the best directors of her era, including Hal Ashby, Steven Spielberg, Bob Clark, George Roy Hill, Sydney Pollack, and more recently Paul Thomas Anderson and Mike Binder. She originated the role of Honey in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" in 1963, a performance that would earn her a Tony nomination before she took a break from performing citing mental health reasons.
In a 1976 interview with The New York Times, Dillon candidly discussed the pressure of the constant schedule of New York theater and the birth of her son after a series of miscarriages that lead to her seeking treatment at a mental health facility,...
- 2/4/2023
- by Eric Vespe
- Slash Film
Melinda Dillon, the two-time Oscar nominee known for her roles in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “A Christmas Story,” died January 9 in Los Angeles, according to an announcement from her family. She was 83.
Dillon was born in 1939 in Hope, Arkansas. Her stepfather was an army veteran, and she grew up on military bases around the country and in Germany before graduating from the Hyde Park High School in Chicago. She studied acting at the Goodman School of Drama and began her career performing improv at The Second City.
In 1962, Dillon played Honey in the original Broadway production of Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.” The performance earned her a Tony nomination at 23 years old. Over the course of her career, she picked up two Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actress for her turns as a mother whose children are abducted by aliens in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind...
Dillon was born in 1939 in Hope, Arkansas. Her stepfather was an army veteran, and she grew up on military bases around the country and in Germany before graduating from the Hyde Park High School in Chicago. She studied acting at the Goodman School of Drama and began her career performing improv at The Second City.
In 1962, Dillon played Honey in the original Broadway production of Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.” The performance earned her a Tony nomination at 23 years old. Over the course of her career, she picked up two Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actress for her turns as a mother whose children are abducted by aliens in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind...
- 2/3/2023
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Melinda Dillon, a two-time Oscar nominee for Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Absence of Malice who also played Ralphie’s mom in A Christmas Story, has died. She was 83. Her family said she died January 9 in Los Angeles but did not give other details.
Dillon and Richard Dreyfuss in ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind,’ 1977
Dillon probably is best known for playing a mother whose young son is abducted by the aliens in Steven Spielberg’s 1977 epic Close Encounters of the Third Kind. She and Roy (Richard Dreyfuss) inexplicably are drawn to Devils Tower in Wyoming as they struggle to make sense of what has happened to them. She earned a Supporting Actress Oscar nom for the role.
She also played the mother of the young lead Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) in the 1983 holiday classic A Christmas Story, memorably warning the boy who wants a Bb rifle that, “You’ll shoot your eye out!
Dillon and Richard Dreyfuss in ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind,’ 1977
Dillon probably is best known for playing a mother whose young son is abducted by the aliens in Steven Spielberg’s 1977 epic Close Encounters of the Third Kind. She and Roy (Richard Dreyfuss) inexplicably are drawn to Devils Tower in Wyoming as they struggle to make sense of what has happened to them. She earned a Supporting Actress Oscar nom for the role.
She also played the mother of the young lead Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) in the 1983 holiday classic A Christmas Story, memorably warning the boy who wants a Bb rifle that, “You’ll shoot your eye out!
- 2/3/2023
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Melinda Dillon, the Oscar-nominated actor who sought the truth in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and battled a leg lamp in A Christmas Story, is dead at 83.
Dillon passed away January 9th, her family announced in an obituary. No cause of death was revealed.
Born October 13thth, 1939, Dillon burst onto Broadway in the original 1963 production of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, earning a Tony nomination for her work as the naive Honey. Her breakthrough film performance came in Hal Ashby’s Bound for Glory (1976), for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe, and she followed that in 1977 with memorable turns in the Paul Newman hockey cult classic Slap Shot and Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters, which brought her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards.
She’d pick up her second Oscar nod reuniting with Newman in Sydney Pollack’s 1981 noir Absence of Malice,...
Dillon passed away January 9th, her family announced in an obituary. No cause of death was revealed.
Born October 13thth, 1939, Dillon burst onto Broadway in the original 1963 production of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, earning a Tony nomination for her work as the naive Honey. Her breakthrough film performance came in Hal Ashby’s Bound for Glory (1976), for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe, and she followed that in 1977 with memorable turns in the Paul Newman hockey cult classic Slap Shot and Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters, which brought her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards.
She’d pick up her second Oscar nod reuniting with Newman in Sydney Pollack’s 1981 noir Absence of Malice,...
- 2/3/2023
- by Wren Graves
- Consequence - Film News
Melinda Dillon, who was nominated as Best Supporting Actress for her roles in Steven Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and Sydney Pollack’s “Absence of Malice,” has died at age 83, her family said in a public obituary.
She died on Jan. 9, but the obituary gave no cause of death.
Dillon memorably played single mother Jillian Guiler, whose son Barry (Cary Guffey), is abducted by aliens in “Close Encounters.” Like Richard Dreyfuss’s lead character, she also becomes obsessed with Devil’s Tower in Wyoming and both their quests lead them there. After running the gauntlet of military obstacles, they are the only two civilians who witness the alien ship landing in the film’s emotional finale.
Also Read:
Lisa Loring, Original Wednesday on ‘The Addams Family,’ Dies at 64
She received her second nomination for playing a Catholic who commits suicide after a reporter (Sally Field) writes about...
She died on Jan. 9, but the obituary gave no cause of death.
Dillon memorably played single mother Jillian Guiler, whose son Barry (Cary Guffey), is abducted by aliens in “Close Encounters.” Like Richard Dreyfuss’s lead character, she also becomes obsessed with Devil’s Tower in Wyoming and both their quests lead them there. After running the gauntlet of military obstacles, they are the only two civilians who witness the alien ship landing in the film’s emotional finale.
Also Read:
Lisa Loring, Original Wednesday on ‘The Addams Family,’ Dies at 64
She received her second nomination for playing a Catholic who commits suicide after a reporter (Sally Field) writes about...
- 2/3/2023
- by Sharon Knolle
- The Wrap
It's the million dollar question of our current box office landscape: Can mid-budget, adult-oriented dramas -- once thought to be the consistent, moneymaking lifeblood of the industry -- ever make a genuine comeback? Movie theaters are all but littered with the remains of countless films that never even stood a chance of turning a profit in recent years. The reasons for this trend are far more nuanced than it might seem at first blush, having to do with any number of factors ranging from the ever-changing tastes of moviegoers in general, the rising prevalence of streaming-exclusive releases, studios conditioning audiences to only turn out for the biggest blockbusters, the cost of ticket prices, and, of course, the ongoing pandemic.
Whatever the case may be, however, the end result is still the same: While 200+ million blockbusters, horror films, and other genre fare continue to flourish on the big screen, the relatively more humble offerings of original,...
Whatever the case may be, however, the end result is still the same: While 200+ million blockbusters, horror films, and other genre fare continue to flourish on the big screen, the relatively more humble offerings of original,...
- 1/25/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Like many people passionate about movies, particularly those who grew up in the golden age of trash-talking critics like Pauline Kael, Judith Crist, Rex Reed, Gene Siskel, and Roger Ebert, Quentin Tarantino isn't shy about throwing an elbow or twelve when discussing cinema. He doesn't vacillate, nor does he spend much time discussing films that elicit a ho-hum response. You could say he likes to play contrarian, but that would suggest he's basically the Skip Bayless of film discourse. While you may vehemently disagree with Tarantino from time to time, he is anything but a full-of-it blowhard who spouts off inflammatory opinions to get a rise out of low-information fanatics. Tarantino knows his subject inside and out. If you want to enter his arena, you better come armed with ardor and a lifetime's worth of film knowledge.
This doesn't mean Tarantino can't be infuriating on occasion. This is, after all,...
This doesn't mean Tarantino can't be infuriating on occasion. This is, after all,...
- 1/23/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
According to Vulture, Carl Sagan and his wife, Ann Druyan, spent the early '80s writing a film treatment based on Sagan's 1985 novel, "Contact." After cycling through a few different production companies, a slew of screenwriters, and two directors, the film finally made it to the big screen in 1997. Starring Academy Award winners Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey, the movie was a moderate success, but there were a lot of mixed feelings about the film's ending.
At the beginning of the movie, Ellie Arroway (Foster) is a hard-core skeptic about anything that can't be verified by science, so she spends all her time listening to the skies for proof of intelligent life. Towards the end of the film, she finally encounters extraterrestrials, but cannot provide proof of the experience. Ultimately, Arroway and the audience must choose between faith or science, and a lot of viewers didn't appreciate the ambiguous ending.
At the beginning of the movie, Ellie Arroway (Foster) is a hard-core skeptic about anything that can't be verified by science, so she spends all her time listening to the skies for proof of intelligent life. Towards the end of the film, she finally encounters extraterrestrials, but cannot provide proof of the experience. Ultimately, Arroway and the audience must choose between faith or science, and a lot of viewers didn't appreciate the ambiguous ending.
- 9/16/2022
- by Christian Gainey
- Slash Film
TIFF Review: The Fabelmans is Warm, Witty, and One of Steven Spielberg’s Most Rewarding Family Tales
Judging from the pre-release information surrounding Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans, it was clear the endeavor could attain the label of the master director’s “most personal film.” Now that it has finally arrived, with a world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, it is clear this prediction was no lie. It is obviously personal, yes, but also deeply autobiographical. Any Spielberg fan knows these beats: an early fascination with cinema; the move to Arizona; a difficult parental dynamic, with a driven father and loving-but-conflicted mother; ambitious 8mm films made with sisters, neighbors, and anyone else willing to lend a hand; a much less pleasant move from Arizona to California; teenage years fueled by creativity, but also impacted by a feeling of outsider status; and, ultimately, the first steps into a world he would eventually dominate.
The Fabelmans checks all boxes, but it is not merely Portrait of Spielberg as a Young Man.
The Fabelmans checks all boxes, but it is not merely Portrait of Spielberg as a Young Man.
- 9/11/2022
- by Christopher Schobert
- The Film Stage
The little boy is scared. There’s such a large crowd outside the theater. He has no idea what will happen when he walks through the doors and into the room filled with dozens of seats, all facing a large blank square. Plus it’s in the dark. He’s been told him that there are giants in there, though his dad gently corrects him; the people are normal-sized, they’re just on a big screen. It’s 1952, Sammy Fabelman in six years old, his parents have taken him to...
- 9/11/2022
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
If there is anything we know about Steven Spielberg, it's that he doesn't make his movies half-heartedly. If he's making a shark movie, he'll commission a shark animatronic and will film its scenes in a huge tank of water. If he's making a movie about dinosaurs, he'll ensure they look as realistic as possible through a combination of puppets and early CGI. Spielberg has become as important of a filmmaker as he is, partially because he rarely, if ever, compromises on getting his exact vision on screen.
"Close Encounters of the Third Kind," his 1977 epic about the idea of aliens visiting Earth for the first time, was no exception. Seriously, the spaceship used by the film's aliens is still stunning to look at even 45 years later. It was this spaceship, as well as the rest of its intricate props and setpieces, that prompted Spielberg to get as big of a...
"Close Encounters of the Third Kind," his 1977 epic about the idea of aliens visiting Earth for the first time, was no exception. Seriously, the spaceship used by the film's aliens is still stunning to look at even 45 years later. It was this spaceship, as well as the rest of its intricate props and setpieces, that prompted Spielberg to get as big of a...
- 9/7/2022
- by Erin Brady
- Slash Film
NYC Weekend Watch is our weekly round-up of repertory offerings.
Film at Lincoln Center
As a restoration of Three Colors: White begins its run, a massive retrospective of King Vidor gets underway.
Anthology Film Archives
A series on Warhol’s durational cinema runs this weekend; Essential Cinema has Buñuel.
Roxy Cinema
The series “Woman as Witch” offers plenty scintillating—prints of Black Sunday (on 16mm), Showgirls, and Carnival of Souls all have multiples showings this weekend—while Ciao! Manhattan and The Assassination of Jesse James return 35mm and a 16mm animation program runs on Sunday.
Paris Theater
Close Encounters, Suspiria, Cold Water, and Death on the Nile all screen in a “Directors Selects” series.
IFC Center
A series on Los Angeles films is underway—including They Live, The Long Goodbye, and the new restoration of Heat—while the Lost Highway continues; The Shining and Taxi Driver has late showings.
Film Forum...
Film at Lincoln Center
As a restoration of Three Colors: White begins its run, a massive retrospective of King Vidor gets underway.
Anthology Film Archives
A series on Warhol’s durational cinema runs this weekend; Essential Cinema has Buñuel.
Roxy Cinema
The series “Woman as Witch” offers plenty scintillating—prints of Black Sunday (on 16mm), Showgirls, and Carnival of Souls all have multiples showings this weekend—while Ciao! Manhattan and The Assassination of Jesse James return 35mm and a 16mm animation program runs on Sunday.
Paris Theater
Close Encounters, Suspiria, Cold Water, and Death on the Nile all screen in a “Directors Selects” series.
IFC Center
A series on Los Angeles films is underway—including They Live, The Long Goodbye, and the new restoration of Heat—while the Lost Highway continues; The Shining and Taxi Driver has late showings.
Film Forum...
- 8/4/2022
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
On Dec. 7, 1979, Paramount’s Star Trek — The Motion Picture hit theaters and launched the franchise on the big screen. The film, which reunited the cast of the NBC series, went on to earn three Oscar nominations (for art direction, original score and visual effects) at the 52nd Academy Awards. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review is below:
No mistake about it, Star Trek is a big movie — big in scope, big in spectacle and, most important, big in entertainment values. Trekkies will be pleased to know that almost all of their favorite characters are back in their original roles (with the welcome addition of voluptuous Persis Khambatta as the Navigator); while the Enterprise itself, which had apparently been in drydock these many years, has now been rebuilt and enlarged to an unimaginable vastness — unimaginable except, of course, by producer Gene Roddenberry and the special effects teams assembled by Douglas Trumbull...
No mistake about it, Star Trek is a big movie — big in scope, big in spectacle and, most important, big in entertainment values. Trekkies will be pleased to know that almost all of their favorite characters are back in their original roles (with the welcome addition of voluptuous Persis Khambatta as the Navigator); while the Enterprise itself, which had apparently been in drydock these many years, has now been rebuilt and enlarged to an unimaginable vastness — unimaginable except, of course, by producer Gene Roddenberry and the special effects teams assembled by Douglas Trumbull...
- 12/7/2021
- by Arthur Knight
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
John Turturro’s “The Big Lebowski” spinoff, “The Jesus Rolls,” which follows his “Lebowski” character Jesus Quintana, will world premiere as a pre-opening event at the Rome Film Festival, which announced on Friday a lineup packed with potential awards contenders and plenty of big names booked for onstage conversations.
“The Jesus Rolls,” which Turturro directed from his own script and which also stars Bobby Cannavale, Audrey Tautou, Jon Hamm, Susan Sarandon and Pete Davidson, will screen in Rome on Oct. 16, prior to its release in Italian cinemas via distributor Europictures the following day, ahead of its U.S. release in early 2020.
As previously announced, the Eternal City extravaganza will open with Edward Norton’s new film, “Motherless Brooklyn,” on Oct. 17, followed by a slew of hot titles in the official selection that recently surfaced at other fests or launched directly in cinemas, such as Tom Harper’s “The Aeronauts,” “Downton Abbey,...
“The Jesus Rolls,” which Turturro directed from his own script and which also stars Bobby Cannavale, Audrey Tautou, Jon Hamm, Susan Sarandon and Pete Davidson, will screen in Rome on Oct. 16, prior to its release in Italian cinemas via distributor Europictures the following day, ahead of its U.S. release in early 2020.
As previously announced, the Eternal City extravaganza will open with Edward Norton’s new film, “Motherless Brooklyn,” on Oct. 17, followed by a slew of hot titles in the official selection that recently surfaced at other fests or launched directly in cinemas, such as Tom Harper’s “The Aeronauts,” “Downton Abbey,...
- 10/4/2019
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Oscar-nominated production designer Joe Alves, best known for his work on the Steven Spielberg classics Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Jaws, will receive the Art Directors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award at the 24th Annual Adg Excellence in Production Design Awards on February 1.
“The breadth and depth of Joe Alves’ contribution to the art of visual storytelling can hardly be overstated,” said Mark Worthington, Art Directors Council Chair. “He has been involved with helping to create many of the most iconic feature films and television shows of the last 65 years. It is difficult to imagine a more deserving recipient of this honor.”
Alves began his movie career as a visual-effects Disney animator assigned to the 1956 MGM sci-fi classic Forbidden Planet. Other credits in art and production design include TV’s Rod Serling’s Night Gallery and Alfred Hitchcock’s feature Torn Curtain. He designed three features for Spielberg, including...
“The breadth and depth of Joe Alves’ contribution to the art of visual storytelling can hardly be overstated,” said Mark Worthington, Art Directors Council Chair. “He has been involved with helping to create many of the most iconic feature films and television shows of the last 65 years. It is difficult to imagine a more deserving recipient of this honor.”
Alves began his movie career as a visual-effects Disney animator assigned to the 1956 MGM sci-fi classic Forbidden Planet. Other credits in art and production design include TV’s Rod Serling’s Night Gallery and Alfred Hitchcock’s feature Torn Curtain. He designed three features for Spielberg, including...
- 9/26/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
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