'The Fall Guy,' a love letter to stunt performers, premieres at SXSW
Coming nearly straight from the Oscars with a truck full of Kenergy, Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt rolled into South By Southwest to premiere “The Fall Guy,” an affectionate, action-fueled ode to stunt work and the dedicated professionals that throw their bodies into filmmaking.
An anti-Trump video shared by the DeSantis campaign is 'homophobic,' says a conservative LGBT group
A prominent group that represents LGBT conservatives says a video shared by Ron DeSantis′ presidential campaign that slams rival Donald Trump for his past support of gay and transgender people “ventured into homophobic territory.”.
Movies love a comeback story. This summer, it's their turn.
Hollywood is bringing out some of its biggest and most reliable players for the 2022 summer movie season, which unofficially kicks off this weekend with the help of Marvel and Disney’s “Doctor Strange and the Multitverse of Madness” and runs through the end of August.
Churchill painting owned by Angelina Jolie sells for $11.5M
The Moroccan landscape painted by Winston Churchill and owned by Angelina Jolie sold at auction on Monday March 1, 2021, for more than $11.5 million, smashing the previous record for a work by Britains World War II leader. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)LONDON – A Moroccan landscape painted by Winston Churchill and owned by Angelina Jolie sold at auction on Monday for more than $11.5 million, smashing the previous record for a work by Britain’s World War II leader. The pre-sale estimate was 1.5 million pounds to 2.5 million pounds, and the previous record price for a Churchill painting was just under 1.8 million pounds. Churchill gave the painting to Roosevelt as a memento of the trip. The painting was sold by the Jolie Family Collection.
In 'Minari,' harvesting an American dream
In Chung’s film, the watery basin throbs with significance — a physical symbol of putting roots down, of Korean American harmony, of resiliency. The minari in “Minari” was sowed by Chung’s father — an almost impossibly poignant bit of set dressing in a film that blooms in the gap between generations. AdThe Golden Globes spawned a controversy by limiting “Minari” (a deeply American film, with dirt in its fingers, and largely Korean dialogue) to its foreign-language film category. And perhaps most importantly, its honest and authentic rendering of an Asian American family, in an entertainment world so often reliant on stereotype, has resonated meaningfully for many. For me, what’s incredible, taking a step back, we’re almost like their American dream come true,” says Oh.
As 'Kimye' become Kim and Kanye, will it stay peaceful?
FILE - Kanye West, left, and Kim Kardashian attend the WSJ. Kim Kardashian West filed for divorce Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, from Kanye West after 6 1/2 years of marriage. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)LOS ANGELES – Initial signs suggest a smooth and amicable split between Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West. As “Kimye” becomes just Kim and Kanye with Kardashian filing for divorce Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, they do so with a prenuptial agreement in place, independent fortunes and a desire to share time with their four young children. “There's a lot of wiggle room in the space between joint custody," divorce attorney Reid Aronson said.
Former Trump casino where stars played goes out with a bang
The former Trump Plaza casino was imploded after falling into such disrepair that chunks of the building began peeling off and crashing to the ground. “I got chills,” Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small said. AdOpened in 1984, when Trump was a real estate developer in his pre-politics days, Trump Plaza was for a time the most successful casino in Atlantic City. AdBut things began to sour for Trump Plaza when Donald Trump opened the nearby Trump Taj Mahal in 1990, with crushing debt loads that led the company to pour most of its resources — and cash — into the shiny new hotel and casino. Trump Plaza was the last of four Atlantic City casinos to close in 2014, victims of an oversaturated casino market both in the New Jersey city and in the larger northeast.
Angelina Jolie sells painting Churchill gave as gift to FDR
(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)LONDON – A painting by Winston Churchill that is a piece of both political and Hollywood history is coming up for auction. He painted it after the January 1943 Casablanca Conference, where Churchill and Roosevelt planned the defeat of Nazi Germany. He said Churchill captured the view in the “wonderful, evocative painting” and gave it to Roosevelt as a memento of the trip. AdThe painting is being sold by the Jolie Family Collection as part of Christie’s March 1 modern British art auction in London. “The record price at auction for Churchill is about 1.8 million (pounds) for a painting that, in my view, is not as important as this,” he said.
Pop Culture in (ugh) 2020, from the bizarre to the sublime
on Aug. 31, 2020, actor Chadwick Boseman in character as T'Challa in "Black Panther" and 10-year old twins Lenny, left, and Bobby Homes paying tribute to Boseman at their home in in Mesa, Ariz. on Aug. 31, 2020. (Takiyah Dupas, Marvel Studios, Annalie Homes via AP)And now, for our annual look at the year in pop culture…. Truth is, people turned to culture of all kinds in 2020 — highbrow and lowbrow — to satisfy varied and sometimes conflicting needs: Distraction, inspiration, consolation, escapism, hope. A Broadway star serenaded health workers from his apartment window, and ballet dancers performed “Swan Lake” from their bathtubs. The world mourns an actor of immense talent who, like many of his characters, radiated a regal sense of dignity.
Tarantino has deal for 2 books on films, including 1 his own
The Oscar-winning director has a two-book deal with Harper, beginning with a novelization of “Once Upon a Time ... In Hollywood” was released in 2019 and stars Leonardo DiCaprio as an actor and Brad Pitt as his stunt double. “In the ‘70s movie novelizations were the first adult books I grew up reading," Tarantino said in a statement Tuesday. “I see myself writing film books and starting to write theater, so I’ll still be creative. I just think I’ve given all I have to give to movies.”_____AP Film Writer Jake Coyle contributed to this report.
TV's 'Warrior' latest proof that Bruce Lee still holds sway
(Cinemax via AP)PHOENIX – Even nearly 50 years after his death, Bruce Lee can still make ripples. Shannon Lee isn’t giving up on finding a new home for “Warrior,” which will eventually be available on HBO Max. “I think he’s really getting his due as a creative — someone who knows how to story-tell,” Shannon Lee said. “It’s just little things that the writers put in there to pay homage to Bruce Lee without being a caricature, which I think is the danger zone whenever you get to the subject of Bruce Lee,” Nguyen said. “He believed in celebrating people’s cultures and backgrounds and not holding it against them,” Shannon Lee said.
Venice reclaims spotlight as 1st COVID-era film fest opens
Festival attendees cycle in front of the main cinema ahead of the start of the 77th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. The 77th edition of the worlds oldest film festival opening Wednesday looks nothing like its predecessors. Italys strict 10-week lockdown largely tamed the virus, but infections are now rebounding after summer vacations. Guests to the glamorous film festival are not exempt. Italian films are well represented, including the first Italian opening-night film in years, the out-of-competition family drama Lacci by Daniele Luchetti.
Winfrey, Pitt part of Grammys special for essential workers
FILE - This May 28, 2019 file photo shows Singer Harry Connick Jr. with his daughter Georgia at a special screening of "Pavarotti" in New York. The Grammys is putting together an event featuring Brad Pitt, Oprah Winfrey, Herbie Hancock and Harry Connick, Jr. to honor essential workers across America. It will follow host Connick Jr. and his filmmaker-daughter Georgia on road trip celebrating and thanking essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)NEW YORK – The Grammys is putting together an event featuring Brad Pitt, Oprah Winfrey, Herbie Hancock and Harry Connick, Jr. to honor essential workers across America. Winfrey, Pitt, Sandra Bullock, Queen Latifah, Renée Zellweger and Drew Brees will also deliver special messages to workers.
In a win for the world, ‘Parasite’ takes best picture Oscar
LOS ANGELES – Subtitle this: “Parasite” is the first non-English language film to win best picture in the 92-year history of the Academy Awards. Bong Joon Ho’s masterfully devious class satire took Hollywood’s top prize at the Oscars on Sunday night, along with awards for best director, best international film and best screenplay. In winning best adapted screenplay for his Nazi satire “Jojo Rabbit,” the New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi became the first indigenous director ever to win an Oscar. “Joker” composer Hildur Gudnadottir became only the third woman to ever win best original score. After a year in which women made significant gains behind the camera, no female directors were nominated for best director.
Making Oscar history, 'Parasite' wins best picture
Oscar statues stand off of Hollywood Boulevard in preparation for Sunday's 92nd Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, in Los Angeles. “Parasite” took Hollywood’s top prize on Sunday night, along with awards for best director, best international film and best screenplay. The win was a watershed moment for the Academy Awards, which has long been content to relegate international films to their own category. “Joker” composer Hildur Guðnadóttir became only the third woman to ever win best original score. Disney's ABC hoped a widely watched field of nominees — including the $1 billion-grossing “Joker” — will help viewership.
Ellen DeGeneres surprised by Brad Pitt sitting in her audience
(CNN) - Brad Pitt surprised Ellen DeGeneres when he appeared on her show Friday as an overenthusiastic audience member. Sitting in a pageboy cap and a blue button-down, Pitt clapped and wooed along with the crowd when DeGeneres spotted him and invited him to come down and sit in her guest chair. Pitt kept interrupting, asking if the Ellen Shop was open after the show and remarking, "Good. Pitt hugged DeGeneres, telling her he's a "superfan," and the two got to talking. DeGeneres then revealed at one point she actually dated another one of Pitt's former girlfriends but did not name her.
Brad Pitt visited Kanye's Sunday Service
Brad Pitt was in attendance at Kanye West's Sunday Service and it's kind of a head-scratcher. The event was held over the weekend in Watts, California, which you ordinarily wouldn't think of as a stomping ground for ether of the superstars. And there, in the crowd of folks jamming in the parking lot of a church in Watts, was Pitt. Photos on social media show Pitt and West smiling and chatting it up. CNN has reached out to a rep for Pitt for comment.