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Jennifer Garner was affected in many ways by her divorce from Ben Affleck. At one point, it seemed that their break-up even impacted Garner professionally. So much so that Garner felt the need to apologize to a director for not being on her A-game amid her and Affleck’s issues.

Jennifer Garner and her director had to chat about Garner’s bad acting Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck | Frederic J. Brown/Getty Images

Garner was very open about the feelings that followed after she divorced from Affleck. They announced their separation in 2015 before finalizing their divorce in 2018. Between that time period, Garner discussed some of the changes she experienced due to the stress of the break-up. A brief bout of insomnia was one of them.

“When I can’t sleep—and I am not someone who typically has that problem, but I really have in the last year—and I...

The jump from cinematographer to director doesn’t happen so often. Barry Sonnenfeld, Jan de Bont, Ernest Dickerson––an attractive list, if a short one. The latest to join their rank is Tato Kotetishvili, the Georgian Dp behind Uta Beria’s Negative Numbers and Levan Koguashvili’s Blind Dates, now on directing duty with Holy Electricity. The film, part city symphony, part docudrama, offers plenty of style and finds substance in unusual places. Results are compelling, if a little mixed.

It’s a film of real people in somewhat-unreal scenarios, built from precisely composed shots that are often medium, static, and doused with generous color and blunt irony. Take the opening: a shot of a family gathered around an open casket that cuts suddenly to a busted-up car in a scrap yard moments before it’s flattened by a slab of concrete. In the yard, Kotetishvili introduces his low-key, quixotic...

The first horror family to attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade may have been “The Munsters” back in 1964, but The Addams Family eventually caught up a few decades later.

It was in 1991 that the Charles Addams-created Addams Family debuted at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, taking over the short-lived “European Village” float in celebration of that year’s live action movie. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, the live action movie had just arrived in theaters on November 22 of that year, a mere six days before the November 28, 1991 airing of the 65th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. And the cast of the film even showed up in full costume, including Christina Ricci (Wednesday), Jimmy Workman (Pugsley), Judith Malina (Grandmama), and Carel Struycken (Lurch), joined by Cousin Itt.

The Addams Family float at the 1991 parade was paired up with the Cultural Dance Ensemble of Camden High School in New Jersey,...

“I don’t wanna hurt anybody. I don’t enjoy hurting anybody. I don’t like guns, or bombs, or electric chairs. But sometimes people just won’t listen. And so, I have to use persuasion. And slides.”

As the weather cools and the holidays approach, we get the urge to curl up with loved ones around a crackling fire to watch a good old-fashioned family movie. A film where a loveable clan tries to overcome their problems by leaning on love and respect for one another. Sometimes we laugh, sometimes we cry, but we hopefully emerge from this loving cocoon reaffirmed in our own sense of family values. For horror fans, only one household fits the bill. Barry Sonnenfeld’s Addams Family Values features one of the genre’s most beloved broods, a lineage of morbid misfits who live by their own rules and love to take pleasure in the spooky and macabre.

Not only is Halloween thankfully upon us, but the next major holiday, Thanksgiving, at least in America, is next. That can only mean one thing: it’s time for a re-watch of Addams Family Values! Our friends at Paramount Home Entertainment sent me a copy of their newest release of the 1993 Barry Sonnenfeld film, which comes out tomorrow, October 29th. You may have heard of Sonnenfeld, who not only directed the previous film, The Addams Family, as well as Men in Black and Get Shorty. Previously, he was the director of photography on a litany of Hollywood films, such as Misery, Miller’s Crossing, Big, Blood Simple, and many more. The official synopsis: Gomez (Raul Julia) and Morticia (Anjelica Huston) welcome a new addition to the...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

John Travolta‘s cocky attitude on the set of Get Shorty has left a mark on director Barry Sonnenfeld, 71, that has left its mark all these years later.

The gangster film was a blockbuster hit upon its release in 1995. At the time, Travolta was cementing his status as a household name, while Gene Hackman brought the weight of an Academy Award-winning actor.

Sonnenfield’s newly released memoir, Best Possible Place, revealed that the actors had quite different approaches to acting. Hackman would spend weekends memorizing his lines, whereas Travolta spent mere minutes.

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Sonnenfeld recalled Travolta casually asking Hackman about his weekend, to which the actor shot back, “Well, with eight pages of dialogue, I pretty much spent the whole weekend memorizing today’s work.”

Travolta could not relate. As filming progressed, it became...

Will Smith is one of the most recognized actors in Hollywood. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star began his career as a rapper and then went on to star in his own sitcom. Smith graduated to the movies and had his breakout as an action star with films like Bad Boys, Independence Day, and Men in Black.

Smith’s son Jaden Smith has also made his mark as an actor and a musician. The Grammy-nominated rapper is probably best known for his role in 2010’s The Karate Kid, a loose remake of the original that starred Jackie Chan in the lead role. He has worked with his father, Will Smith, on multiple occasions. Here are the duo’s appearances ranked from worst to best.

3. After Earth Will Smith and Jaden Smith in After Earth | Credits: Sony Pictures

Starting with the father-son duo’s last appearance on the big screen...

Once upon a time, one Big Bang Theory star opened up about his admiration for none other than Will Smith, calling him his guru. This revelation came as a surprise to many fans, who knew him for his off-setting humor and role. But beneath that genius facade lay a deep respect for Smith’s incredible journey in Hollywood.

Kevin Sussman as Stuart Bloom and Kunal Nayyar as Raj from The Big Bang Theory | Credits: Warner Bros.

The Tbbt actor shared how he looked up to Smith’s versatility and resilience in the industry, often turning to his work for inspiration. This unexpected connection showed a different side of the beloved star, proving that even the quirkiest characters can find guidance in the most unexpected places.

From Timid Actor to Comic Book Icon: Kevin Sussman Reflects on Will Smith’s Mentorship Kevin Sussman as Stuart Bloom in The Big Bang Theory | Credits: Warner Bros.

On Saturday October 12 2024, CBS broadcasts CBS Saturday Morning!

Episode 41 Episode Summary

On October 12, 2024, CBS Saturday Morning returns with an engaging lineup of segments that promise to inform and entertain viewers.

The episode features Saturday Sessions with the band Waxahatchee, known for their soulful melodies and introspective lyrics. Viewers can expect a captivating performance that showcases the band’s unique sound, providing a perfect blend of music and morning energy.

In The Dish, the spotlight turns to the restaurant loyalty program at Blackbird. This segment will explore how the program works and its benefits for diners, highlighting the importance of customer loyalty in the competitive restaurant industry.

Film director Barry Sonnenfeld will also appear to discuss his new book, Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time: True Stories from a Career in Hollywood. Sonnenfeld’s anecdotes from his illustrious career in film promise to be both entertaining and insightful, offering a glimpse behind the scenes of Hollywood.

Barry Sonnenfeld's adaptation of "The Addams Family" was a massive hit when it was released in November 1991, making $191 million worldwide over a $30 million budget and reintroducing the Addams characters to the pop culture mainstream. The film also kicked off a trend of high-profile cinematic adaptations of classic TV shows; all due respect to 1983's "Twilight Zone: The Movie" and 1987's "Dragnet," but neither of those films exactly lit up the box office. Thus, it was almost a given that an "Addams" sequel be put into production, with "Addams Family Values," hitting screens just two years after its predecessor, in November of 1993.

The first "Addams Family" made the choice to tap into the pop culture zeitgeist in a big way, partially for satiric reasons (one of the delights of the first movie sees Raul Julia's Gomez become addicted to then-current television) and partially for marketing reasons. For the latter,...

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Before Barry Sonnenfeld became a director with films like the "Addams Family" movies, "Get Shorty," and "Men in Black," he was a decorated cinematographer who often worked with The Coen Brothers, Danny DeVito, Penny Marshall, and on two of Rob Reiner's most memorable films — "When Harry Met Sally..." and "Misery." In Sonnenfeld's new book, "Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time: True Stories from a Career in Hollywood," he described his role of cinematographer as a "friend of the director," rather than just the director of photography. "I had as many opinions and ideas about editing, performance, or if the costumes looked worn-in enough, as I did about lighting or camera angles," he wrote. It makes sense; the cinematographer is your first line of defense to make sure something looks right, so Sonnenfeld was often involved in areas that were...

Will Smith was known to goof off a bit with his Men in Black director Barry Sonnenfeld. But at one point, the actor’s behavior hilariously led to the entire film’s crew keeping their distance from him.

Will Smith halted the entire ‘Men in Black’ set by doing this Will Smith | Jerod Harris/Getty Images

The Men in Black set always seems to be a riot whenever Smith and Sonnenfeld get together. In the past, the two have joked with each other a little too much, to the point where accidents happened.

Recently, Sonnenfeld revealed that another lighthearted incident they had while filming the first movie led to delaying an entire Men in Black sequence. The director described the Men in Black scene where Smith and his co-star Tommy-Lee Jones are riding inside their iconic black car. In reality, Smith and Jones were both inside a pod enhanced with special effects.

Tommy Lee Jones could give some of the great grumps of Hollywood a run for their money. The most notable example of his crotchetiness comes from the now-infamous story of when he starred alongside Jim Carrey in 1995's "Batman Forever" and reportedly told the legendary trickster during a chance meeting prior to filming, "I cannot sanction your buffoonery." Carrey has recounted Jones' hatred for him several times, and none of them cast the latter in all that flattering a light.

In fairness, at the time the actor was coming off the success of his 1994 Oscar win for "The Fugitive," and wasn't given much choice when it came to playing Harvey Dent/Two Face in "Batman Forever." It seems this combination of factors, along with his visceral disdain for Carrey's energetic antics, made Jones a bit of a stick in the mud during filming. Oddly enough, however, the Academy Award winner...

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"Men in Black" is the best kind of blockbuster. It's uncommonly smart, riotously funny, exciting, heartwarming in spots, mean-spirited in others and, best of all, short. Yes, Roger Ebert was right when he said that no good movie is too long and no bad movie is short enough, but big summer movies have a tendency to give 'em too much of what they want. Sometimes, it's okay to leave the audience wanting more -- and by this I do not mean a post-credits stinger hyping the next movie in the franchise (although I am old enough to remember the thrill of waiting through the credits of a new 007 movie so I could see the "James Bond will return in..." title that typically gave viewers the title of the MI6 agent's next adventure).

At 98 minutes, "Men in Black" zips by.

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"Men in Black" is a brisk summer blockbuster that does the unthinkable, especially in today's over-explicative superhero movie wasteland: it doesn't repeat information. It moves from plot point to plot point cleanly and clearly in a way that, judging from the box office, plays for all four commercial quadrants. It flatters the viewer by treating them as smart and perceptive, and rewards them with a tremendously satisfying finale. I can't think of too many studio tentpoles that pull this off with such glee.

Of course, no movie goes through production without its share of hiccups, and very few are shot exactly as written on the page. Sometimes, when you begin screening your movie for test audiences, you notice that seemingly can't-miss laugh lines don't get laughs, or a major action set piece feels out of place, or, worst of all,...

Forget Will Smith’s infamous fart story that cleared a set for three hours—Tommy Lee Jones brought his own brand of chaos to Men in Black. While Smith’s gas incident might’ve been a literal stink bomb, Jones’ tough-guy attitude made things pretty tense behind the scenes. Known for being a no-nonsense guy, Tommy didn’t exactly vibe with the film’s lighthearted tone, and that clash made filming Men in Black a little more challenging than expected.

Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones in Men in Black | Credit: Columbia Pictures

Crew members quickly realized that dealing with Jones wasn’t as easy as erasing memories with a neuralyzer. As much as fans loved the on-screen duo, working with them? Well, that was a whole different story.

Tommy Lee Jones: The Real Challenge Behind Men in Black Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones in Men in Black | Credit:...

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The 1997 science-fiction comedy "Men in Black" is something of a miracle, a hilarious family film that manages to appeal to almost everyone. It was also a bit of a challenge to make, and not just because the filmmakers had to figure out how to bring the movie's aliens to life. Originally the studio wanted Chris O'Donnell, not Will Smith, for the role of Agent J, and it was director Barry Sonnenfeld's wife who came up with the idea for Smith to star. Smith wasn't so keen, however, and executive producer Steven Spielberg sent a helicopter to get him. Once Smith was set, the next big problem was that his co-star, the Academy Award-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones, could apparently be a bit of a challenge to work with. 

In his new memoir, "Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time: True...

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If you've ever wondered what Michael Jackson was doing in "Men in Black II," director Barry Sonnenfeld has the answer. The filmmaker's new memoir, "Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time," just debuted, and in it Sonnenfeld shares plenty of never-before-heard stories about the making of the popular Will Smith-led alien comedy franchise. Among them is a tale about the time the controversial king of pop stopped by for a cameo, a set day that did not go as planned.

According to Sonnenfeld, it was Jackson himself who really wanted to be in "Men in Black II." Since his record deal was through Sony Music and the "Men in Black" franchise was released by Sony Pictures, the singer's dream wasn't just achievable, but potentially good for the studio, and Sonnenfeld says that Sony executive Amy Pascal was also asking for the cameo to happen.

Director Barry Sonnenfeld has been chatting about 1999’s Wild Wild West, and how the hugely expensive movie failed to click.

Barry Sonnenfeld has just released a new memoir, titled Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time, and the filmmaker has been promoting it by dropping a few brilliant stories here and there.

While one tale about the noxious toxicity of Will Smith’s farts on the set of Men In Black has already picked up plenty of traction online, it’s his take on the conflict at the heart of 1999’s Wild Wild West that is particularly interesting.

Despire earning $220m at the global box office, Wild Wild West has always been viewed as something of a miss for all involved.

In his memoir (via SlashFilm), Sonnenfeld gives his take on the action comedy that featured Will Smith and Kevin Kline as the two leads, with Kenneth Branagh in the villain role.

A variety of factors — including a “pissing contest” between CBS CEO Les Moonves and a rival exec — led to the arrested development of CBS Beverly Hills Cop TV series back in 2013, director Barry Sonnenfeld detailed in a recent SlashFilm podcast.

Penned by the prolific Shawn Ryan (The Shield, Terriers) and directed by Sonnenfeld (Men in Black), the Beverly Hills Cop pilot starred Brandon T. Jackson (Tropic Thunder) as Aaron Foley, a transplanted Detroit police officer now fighting crime in tony Beverly Hills, all the while trying to escape the shadow of his infamous, tailpipe-banana-ing dad (Eddie Murphy of the Cop...

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Back in 2020, director Barry Sonnenfeld joined the CinemaBlend podcast to talk about his career and mentioned the great lengths Josh Brolin went to perfectly embody young Tommy Lee Jones as Agent K in "Men in Black III" (our review here). He noted that Brolin carried a tape recorder of the first "Men in Black" film and that whenever the actor was on set, he was constantly trying to replicate Jones' lilt. "Tommy has the most musical voice. It's a beautiful voice. It really flows and ebbs, it's really sing-songy," Sonnenfeld noted. "And Brolin did a fantastic job. He made me cry so many times watching him." Hilariously, Jones actually questioned Sonnenfeld about Brolin's "Texas accent" by claiming he doesn't have one, and the director had to break it to him that, "Well, actually Tommy, you do."

Casting an actor to...

Turns out, Will Smith wasn’t just dropping jokes on the Men in Black set—he was dropping something else too! While filming those iconic alien-bursting scenes, Tommy Lee Jones found himself in an unexpected battle… against Smith’s farts. Yeah, you read that right. Smith’s sneaky gas attacks had Jones gripping his chair and holding on for dear life, trying to survive those silent (but deadly) bombs between takes.

Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith from Men in Black | Columbia Pictures

It wasn’t all serious business saving the galaxy after all! Jones, known for his cool and composed demeanor, had to navigate some extra stinky surprises from his co-star. Who knew that working alongside an intergalactic alien-fighter like Will Smith would come with a whole different set of challenges?

Will Smith’s On-Set Gas Attack Left Tommy Lee Jones Gasping for Air During Men in Black Tommy...

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According to Barry Sonnenfeld's new memoir, "Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time," the director, cinematographer, and producer once convinced Will Smith to sign onto the Muhammad Ali biopic "Ali," the movie that earned the actor his first Oscar nomination -- only for Sonnenfeld to have the opportunity to direct the film pulled out from under him in the wake of an infamous flop.

You may know Sonnenfeld's work from stylistically singular TV shows like "Pushing Daisies," "A Series of Unfortunate Events," and the musical comedy series "Schmigadoon!" You might also know him as the director of zeitgeisty family films including two "The Addams Family" features and three "Men in Black" movies. Unfortunately for Sonnenfeld, though, for a time Hollywood knew him best as the director of one of the worst cinematic misfires of the '90s: the Smith-led neo-Western "Wild Wild West.

Will Smith became an A-lister in the ‘90s when he continuously gave hits such as Bad Boys, Independence Day, and Men in Black. The latter was a huge commercial success, and Smith was established as a bankable Hollywood superstar, despite all three films having a co-lead actor.

Smith then made the Wester-sci-fi comedy Wild Wild West with his Men in Black director Barry Sonnenfeld. Though it has a cult following now, the film was a box-office disaster upon release. It was one of the most expensive films ever made. Sonnenfeld reflected in his book why it did not work, and the reason was reportedly Kevin Kline.

Men in Black’s Barry Sonnenfeld Blamed Kevin Kline’s Vanity For Wild Wild West’s Failure A still from Men in Black | Credits: Sony Pictures

After the grand success of Men in Black, which reportedly earned over $589 million at the box office against a $90 million budget,...

George Clooney dodged a bullet by bailing on a role in one of the worst movies in Will Smith’s career. Clooney was initially cast as Artemus Gordon, one of the two protagonists, in Barry Sonnenfeld’s Wild Wild West. While the movie turned out to be bad, Clooney had essentially walked out of a film from the director of hits films like The Addams Family, Get Shorty, and Men in Black.

Will Smith and Kevin Kline in a still from Wild Wild West | Credits: Warner Bros.

However, Sonnenfeld’s reputation wasn’t enough to save the film as the script had several issues and Clooney didn’t like the rewrites of the script. Once the Batman & Robin star bailed from the movie, he went on to join director David O. Russell’s Three Kings. While it was a critically acclaimed film, Clooney’s experience with the director was horrible.

Sure, laughter is the best medicine, but who knew it could also lead to mass evacuations? We’ve all had our moments, but not many can claim to have ignited a three-hour-long exodus with a single fart.

In a recent episode of Let’s Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa, Men in Black director Barry Sonnenfeld, 71, spilled the beans on an uproarious incident that might just take the cake for the most memorable moment on set. And just when you thought his most talked-about moment was ‘the slap’ heard around the world at the 2022 Oscars, Sonnenfeld blew the lid off another indelible Smith moment.

Will Smith in Men in Black 3 | Credit:

Sony Pictures Releasing

Apparently, Smith’s fart had the power to clear a room faster than a fire alarm! Yes, you heard that right—a single toot caused a three-hour-long evacuation during the filming of the 1997 classic.

Men in...

Everybody farts. That’s just a fact. Some do it more than others, but I don’t know how many people can cause an actual evacuation with one. While speaking on the Let’s Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa podcast, Men in Black director Barry Sonnenfeld revealed that Will Smith once caused a three-hour-long evacuation with one of his farts on the set of the 1997 movie. That’s… impressive?

Barry Sonnenfeld said that the fart in question occurred during a scene in which Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones were “hermetically sealed” in a pod used for filming the transforming car. “There are locks to prevent it from opening and falling,” Sonnenfeld said. “I say, ‘Roll camera.’ And I hear Will Smith go, ‘Oh Jesus, so sorry. Tommy, so sorry. Baz, get the ladder.’ And you hear Tommy saying, ‘That’s fine, Will. No worries, Will. Don’t worry,...

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Outside of established IP, there are few sure things in Hollywood filmmaking. There was a time when John Wayne astride a horse was a license to print money, ditto Clint Eastwood (who also packed 'em in whilst brandishing a shield and a hand cannon). And there was that remarkable decade-long run where Rob Reiner standing behind the camera meant guaranteed critical, if not full-on commercial success.

Hot streaks don't just happen like this, so when it looks like a shooter is heating up, studios line up to place the heaviest of bets on their next roll. Such was the case with the team of star Will Smith and director Barry Sonnenfeld after the blockbuster breakthrough of 1997's "Men in Black." This was Smith's first smash outside of an ensemble (one he almost turned down), and Sonnenfeld's fourth box office hit after "The Addams Family,...

Today, in "David Schwimmer would never" news: Director Barry Sonnenfeld has revealed that star Will Smith once shut down filming on Men In Black by unleashing a bit of a Noisy Cricket of his own on the movie's set. Was that too oblique? It's possible that was too oblique: The man farted,...

“Men in Black” director Barry Sonnenfeld appeared on the “Let’s Talk Off Camera With Kelly Ripa” podcast and revealed the set of the 1997 action comedy once had to be evacuated “for about three hours” because Will Smith farted. Smith starred opposite Tommy Lee Jones in “Men in Black,” which grossed $584 million worldwide to become the third-highest-grossing movie of 1997. Combined with the blockbuster success of “Independence Day,” the movie turned Smith into a global superstar.

According to Sonnenfeld, the incident occurred during the scene in which Smith and Jones are in a transforming car that travels at hyper speeds and flips over. In order to film the sequence, the two actors had to be “hermetically sealed” in the pod that was being used for the car.

“There are locks to prevent it from opening and falling,” Sonnenfeld said. “I say, ‘Roll camera.’ And I hear Will Smith go, ‘Oh Jesus,...

Tim Allen hasn’t been making a ton of movies or TV shows lately, but he has been making a lot of headlines for being a giant asshole. There were the reports that Allen previously threw his Home Improvement co-star Patricia Richardson under the bus during contract negotiations with ABC, allegations that he exposed himself to “Tool Girl” Pamela Anderson in 1991 and claims that he was “so fucking rude” while working with Casey Wilson, which seems especially egregious because he was literally dressed like Santa Claus at the time.

So it’s not entirely shocking that a new anecdote about Allen being a dick to his collaborators just dropped.

As reported by Slash Film, director Barry Sonnenfeld’s newest book, Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time: True Stories from a Career in Hollywood, describes the process of making the 2002 film Big Trouble. The largely forgotten crime comedy starred Allen, as...

Veteran filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld has a new book out this week, Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time, that publisher Hachette Books is teasing for its “cavalcade of sometimes baffling, often enlightening and always funny stories about Sonnenfeld’s many films and television shows.”

The promo push has Sonnenfeld squeezing some of those tales out in real life, including an, um, gassy anecdote about his superstar collaborator Will Smith. Sonnenfeld worked closely with Smith on a number of films including the Men in Black franchise and Wild Wild West, and it was on the former that Sonnenfeld claims a stinky situation presented itself.

“We were getting ready to shoot Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, and Tommy does not suffer fools, I’ll tell you that,” Sonnenfeld told Kelly Ripa on a new episode of her SiriusXM podcast Let’s Talk Off Camera. “They have to be put in this device,...

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Barry Sonnenfeld had one heck of a career as a director in Hollywood. In the '90s, he was hard to touch, from his work on "The Addams Family" movies to "Men in Black," it was hit after hit. Unfortunately, even the best careers hit speed bumps from time to time. Sonnenfeld hit a massive one in 1999 when he directed the infamous, expensive flop that was "Wild Wild West." While the director must always shoulder responsibility, there were many factors at play here. Perhaps none bigger in spelling the film's doom than producer Jon Peters.

/Film's Ethan Anderton recently spoke with Sonnenfeld in anticipation of his upcoming memoir "Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time: True Stories from a Career in Hollywood," which is available for pre-order now on Amazon. During the conversation, Sonnenfeld discussed the mess that was "Wild Wild West.

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Tim Allen is a complicated figure for a lot of folks of a certain age. Tim "The Toolman" Taylor on "Home Improvement" turned him into a beloved TV dad, voicing Buzz Lightyear in "Toy Story" made him synonymous with the childhoods of a generation, and perhaps most importantly, he's Santa Claus. He's also an actor who has been very open about his conservative political beliefs, going so far as to star in the right-wing sitcom "Last Man Standing" for nine seasons. This makes him a polarizing presence in the overwhelmingly left-leaning Hollywood, but Allen's controversies are far worse than his views on the American government.

In Pamela Anderson's memoir "Love, Pamela," she noted that Allen flashed her on the set of "Home Improvement" when she was only 23 and claimed, "He said it was only fair because he had seen me naked.

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The year 2024 brought us a long-awaited fourth installment of the "Beverly Hills Cop" franchise. Led by Eddie Murphy, the action comedy film series began back in 1984, with the comedian and "Saturday Night Live" veteran playing smart-ass Detroit cop Axel Foley, who follows a case that takes him to the upscale Los Angeles locale, where he inevitably stirs up trouble. Riding a wave of stardom thanks to big screen roles in "48 Hrs." and "Trading Places," Murphy became a big screen phenomenon after "Beverly Hills Cop," as he took the lead for the first time and sparked a box office success that resulted in a trilogy of films (though each was worse than its predecessor).

Despite the decline in quality, with "Beverly Hills Cop 3" being an atrocious addition to the franchise, fans still wanted to see what Axel Foley might...

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In Barry Sonnenfeld's 1995 showbiz comedy "Get Shorty," John Travolta plays Chili Palmer, a loan shark from Miami who possesses more cool than anyone currently living. He's also a deep-cut movie buff, and bought a leather jacket specifically because it looked exactly like the one Al Pacino wore in "Serpico." Chili is sent to Los Angeles to shake up a low-budget movie producer named Harry Zimm (Gene Hackman) who owes a great deal of cash. Harry Zimm most often produces movies with grave-robbing ghouls and slime creatures, frequently starring his preferred scream queen Karen Flores (Rene Russo). Chili, seeing an opportunity, doesn't shake down Harry for the money, but decides to go into business with him producing movies. Harry, you see, has found a very, very good, Oscar-quality prestige script that will pull him out of the B-movie ghetto. 

Travolta...

Tommy Lee Jones is a great actor, but he’s not necessarily known for his work in comedies. That led to a dilemma for Men in Black director Barry Sonnenfeld: Who was going to tell the intimidating Tommy Lee Jones that he’s not funny?

According to a People excerpt of his upcoming book Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time, Sonnenfeld knew he was in trouble when Jones had to film an Mib scene with an alien named Mikey. Special effects guru Rick Baker created Mikey as a long-nosed Et who had multiple flippers to go along with the usual arms and legs.

In the scene, Jones’ tough-guy Agent K interrogates Mikey while puppeteers manipulate his eyes, mouth and flippers. The alien is protesting his innocence when Jones interrupts him with a stern, “That’s enough, Mikey. Put up your hands.”

And then, writes Sonnenfeld, “Mr. Jones sing-songs his...

You wouldn't be able to tell by watching the finished film, but John Travolta was anything but assured on the set of "Get Shorty." Travolta's character, a Miami loan shark named Chili Palmer, was unflappable, annoyed when people threatened him, and unblinking if someone drew a gun. He never turned off the charm, always merrily in control of every situation. Without raising his voice, Chili would merely say, "I'm going to tell you the way it is." Chili was an interesting contrast to the flummoxed, fudging producers of Hollywood he found himself among in "Get Shorty." 

Off-camera, though, Travolta was a wreck. The "Grease" star seems to have trouble with memorizing dialogue and reading lines correctly. Indeed, an audience of billions can attest to Travolta's propensity for flubs as, in 2014, Travolta introduced singer Idina Menzel at the Academy Awards as "the wickedly talented Adele Dazeem." Travolta rarely, if ever,...

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It's hard to overstate just how popular Will Smith was in 1999. He's still one of the biggest movie stars in the world, but in 1999, he was everywhere. Fresh off his hit sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and the wildly successful film "Men in Black," Smith was one of the hottest stars around. Oh, and his debut solo album, "Big Willie Style," was a multiplatinum hit. So imagine everyone's excitement when he reteamed with "Men in Black" director Barry Sonnenfeld for a movie reboot of the 1960's TV western "The Wild Wild West," co-starring Kevin Kline, Kenneth Branagh, and Salma Hayek. 

The hype was real, but unfortunately, "Wild Wild West" was a critical and box office disaster. It was a major hiccup in Smith's career, and he later admitted that he believes it's the worst movie in his entire filmography.

On Tuesday 1 October 2024, Talk broadcasts Live with Kelly and Mark!

Season 3 Episode 21 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Live with Kelly and Mark” promises an exciting lineup for fans. Scheduled to air on Talk, this episode features a mix of entertainment and insightful conversations.

Paul Reiser, known for his work in the film “The Problem With People,” will be a guest. He is expected to share stories from his career and insights into his latest projects. Reiser’s humor and charm are likely to bring a lively energy to the show.

In addition, Barry Sonnenfeld will join the hosts. He is the author of “Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time: True Stories From a Career in Hollywood.” Sonnenfeld’s experiences in the film industry will provide a fascinating perspective, and he may share some entertaining anecdotes from his time behind the camera.

To top it all off, Andy Grammer will perform alongside Maddie & Tae.

On Tuesday October 1 2024, ABC broadcasts Live with Kelly and Mark!

Season 3 Episode 21 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Live with Kelly and Mark” on ABC is set to bring an exciting lineup of guests and entertainment. The show will feature actor and comedian Paul Reiser, known for his work in the film “The Problem With People.” Reiser will join hosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos to discuss his latest projects, share behind-the-scenes stories, and provide insights into his career in entertainment. His humor and charm are sure to engage viewers and keep the conversation lively.

Also appearing on the show is director and author Barry Sonnenfeld, who will discuss his new book, “Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time: True Stories From a Career in Hollywood.” Sonnenfeld is known for his work in film and television, and he will offer an inside look at his experiences in the industry. Viewers can...

On Tuesday, October 1, Live with Kelly and Mark will feature actor Paul Reiser discussing his new film, The Problem With People. Also, director Barry Sonnenfeld will talk about his latest book, Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time: True Stories from a Career in Hollywood. The episode will also include a musical performance by Andy […]

Live with Kelly and Mark: Paul Reiser, Barry Sonnenfeld...

News of a particular event could help during Kelly Ripa’s sad week on Live with Kelly and Mark, as Art Moore’s departure is upsetting everyone.

When Art announced earlier this year that his tenure at Live was ending, Kelly was so upset that she seriously considered retiring alongside him.

Art was Kelly’s mainstay during her years at Live, but the thought of moving to a new studio next year was too big of a change for the longtime employee.

Disney has been moving different ABC shows, including The View, to the new building, and Art negotiated Live staying put for another year.

While Kelly has not officially announced her retirement yet, the entire Live with Kelly and Mark show will look completely different in a new building with a new set.

Kelly has accepted a new gig for next month that will undoubtedly distract her from Art...

The 2022 TV series "Wednesday," created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, is a modern update of the Addams Family, characters featured in a series of ghoulish comic strips that first appeared in the pages of the New Yorker in 1933. Over the decades, the Addams Family characters were given their own sitcom, a few animated shows, and multiple theatrical features and TV movies, not to mention comic books, video games, and pinball machines.

The myth of the Addams Family has remained consistent throughout: The Addams are a loving, healthy family whose values only happen to be a complete dark mirror of ordinary people's. The Addams Family love death, bleakness, and misery. They regularly commit murder, and seem to be immortal. And yet, they love everything they do. The family patriarch Gomez is enthused and sexually devoted to his wife Morticia. The young daughter Wednesday is a classic Goth kid, and happy to harm her brother Pugsley.

Johnny Depp is an iconic actor who found worldwide fame and critical acclaim through his various roles as Captain Jack Sparrow, Edward Scissorhands, and, Willy Wonka.

Tim Burton | Credits: Gage Skidmore, licensed under Cc By-sa 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Being a fabulous actor, Depp had his fair share of struggles during his initial days in Hollywood. However, director Tim Burton had so much faith in himself and Depp that he chose to neglect an Addams Family movie in the works and chose to create the 1990 film Edward Scissorhands.

Tim Burton Was Approached For The Addams Family

Tim Burton has often been called to direct and produce movies that are gothic in nature. Movies like Sleepy Hollow, Edward Scissorhands, and, Beetlejuice are prime examples of his movies.

A still from Addams Family Values | Credits: Scott Rudin Productions

So it was only natural when producer Scott Rudin wanted to make a film about the Addams Family,...

Tim Burton is back. The famous filmmaker, artist and guy who showed the world that not owning a comb isn’t a dealbreaker for Monica Bellucci technically never left, but now he’s made a movie that people actually want to see for the first time in a long while.

In addition to directing the highly-anticipated sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Burton just received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And it’s well-deserved, considering his long career, which found him churning out modern classics, followed by some okay stuff, and eventually, a whole bunch of joyless CGI-filled remakes featuring Johnny Depp in increasingly goofy wigs.

Burton’s influence over the world of film has been so great, there are a number of movies with serious Tim Burton vibes that were in no way directed by Tim Burton. Some of the most Burton-y non-Burton projects include…

[subtitle]Stay Tuned [/subtitle]

The set-up...

The Monkey: "Based on the short story by Stephen King, produced by James Wan, and written and directed Osgood Perkins. In theaters February 21, 2025."

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Addams Family Values 4K Uhd: "Get ready for a kookier, spookier and altogether ookier experience when Addams Family Values arrives on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc™ for the first time ever on October 29, 2024 from Paramount Home Entertainment.

An enduringly hilarious cult classic, director Barry Sonnenfeld’s Addams Family Values has been newly remastered from the original camera negative and is creepy fun for the whole family. Featuring the return of everyone’s favorite frightening family, the uproarious film boasts an all-star cast including Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Joan Cusack, Christina Ricci, and Carol Kane.

This new release includes the film in sparkling 4K Ultra HD, along with access to a Digital copy of the film and the following new bonus content:

New! Commentary...

Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products announced each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Us: The Complete Annotated Screenplay by Jordan Peele

Us: The Complete Annotated Screenplay by Jordan Peele will be published on October 11 via Inventory Press, who previously released a similar book for Get Out.

Priced at $19.95, the 208-page softcover book illustrates Peele’s script with over 150 stills from the film, deleted scenes, in-depth annotations, and an introduction by Peele.

It includes writing by Hannah Baer, Theaster Gates, Jamieson Webster, Jared Sexton, Mary Ping, Shana Redmond, and Leila Taylor, alongside excerpts from Naomi Klein, Coleson Whitehead, Maggie Nelson, Carol J. Clover, Michael Harrington, and Paul Laurence Dunbar.

Puppet Master: Leach Woman Figure & Toulon’s Trunk from Neca

Neca will release a Puppet Master ultimate action figure two-pack...

The Men in Black franchise is one of the most famous science-fiction comedies of all time. It started back in 1997 with the first movie, which was a massive hit. The second movie was more or less panned by the critics, but the third one was an improvement. And then it stopped. A fourth movie with the same stars was planned but was ultimately scrapped, and seven years after the third movie, we got…

… well… Men in Black: International. Starring Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, the movie wanted to move away from the original narrative and expand the universe, but it was a critical and commercial failure, which once again forced Sony to reconsider the future of the franchise.

And while it seems that the Men in Black franchise is not dead, the studio is reconsidering bringing back both Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, the franchise’s original stars...

What Do We Know About the second season of Wednesday? More thank you may think. The Jenna Ortega-led series by Tim Burton took the beloved characters from The Addams Family in an all-new direction. With casting announcements, plot twists from the first season, and more, we know what is to come. So, let’s jump in and discuss.

Season Two will bring back most of the main cast from the first season.

Ortega will be back as the title character alongside Emma Myers (Enid Sinclair), Joy Sunday (Bianca Barclay), Moosa Mostafa (Eugene), Georgie Farmer (Ajax), and Victor Dorobantu (Thing), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Morticia Addams), Luis Guzmán (Gomez Addams), Isaac Ordonez (Pugsley Addams), Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo (Deputy Ritchie Santiago) have all become series regulars. Jamie McShane (Sheriff Donovan Galpin) and Fred Armisen (Uncle Fester) will be back as guest stars, while Percy Hynes White (Xavier), Jamie McShane (Sheriff Donovan Galpin and...