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Stephen A. Smith is one of the most notable sports commentators working today. As the host of ESPN's "First Take" and "The Stephen A. Smith Show," he is known for speaking his mind firmly (and often loudly). Whether it's hating on the Dallas Cowboys or expressing his thoughts on who the best athlete in "SpongeBob Squarepants" would be, the man isn't afraid to say precisely what he thinks. As far as movies go? Smith recently demonstrated good taste by naming two Denzel Washington classics when listing his personal favorite films ever made during a conversation with Letterboxd.

Smith was asked to name his four favorite movies of all time, and after a moment of hesitation, Smith mentioned "Gladiator" first, with the commentator even doing Russell Crowe's famous "My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius" speech from memory, which demonstrated...

Tubi’s lineup for November 2024 offers a diverse and exciting selection of content across genres, ensuring there’s something for everyone. With Tubi Originals like the heartwarming comedy “The Engagement Dress” (November 10) and the festive yet spicy “Hot Girl Winter” (November 24), holiday cheer takes a fresh twist. The thrillers keep the tension high, including the chilling ghost story “Still Here” (November 9) and the stormy suspense of “The Last Exit” (November 16). For documentary enthusiasts, “Behind The Crime: Self Defense or Slaughter” (November 15) and “Fresh Meat 2: Killing Dahmer” (November 22) dive into intense real-life investigations. Families can look forward to the magical fun of “Family Ornaments” (November 17), while anime fans can enjoy “Bunny Drop” on November 5. Classic action films like “Die Hard”, “Mad Max: Fury Road” (November 9), and “San Andreas” (November 22) return for adrenaline junkies, and horror lovers will appreciate the creepy lineup of “Annabelle: Creation”, “The Thing (1982)”, and more. Whether it’s nostalgic art-house classics,...

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There is a moment in "Deadpool & Wolverine" where Wesley Snipes, making his first appearance as Blade in 20 years on the big screen, says "There's only been one Blade. There's only ever gonna be one Blade." While Marvel Studios is currently working on a reboot of the franchise, the project has faced more than a few setbacks. So, for now, there is precisely one actor to play the Daywalker on the silver screen, and that is Snipes. Had things gone another way though, it might have been a different actor we'd now associate with the Marvel Comics antihero. That actor? Denzel Washington.

In a 2018 oral history published by Entertainment Weekly to commemorate the 20th anniversary of "Blade," screenwriter David S. Goyer explained that the studio, in this case New Line Cinema, was having trouble wrapping its head around the concept as it existed.

It wouldn't be a stretch to call Denzel Washington the Goat. He's one of our last working movie stars, a man that can get butts into movie theater seats without even lifting a finger. You'd be hard-pressed to find a bad performance from the actor either: whether it's a quiet courtroom drama, a zany thriller with a sci-fi edge, or an all-out action blockbuster, Washington is often the best part of any film he's in. That said, some of his films carry more rewatch value than others. "Malcolm X" is obviously Washington's greatest work, but the three-hour epic isn't the kind of story you're tuning into again and again.

Ironically, Washington's most rewatchable films might be the ones we take the most for granted. Some are formulaic revenge thrillers; others have become synonymous with Washington's brand. For one reason or another, though, they're the films we keep coming back to...

West and Jay-Z’s relationship has been one of the most iconic yet unpredictable in hip-hop history. Their dynamic has been marked by both groundbreaking collaborations and unexpected fallouts, leaving fans wondering about the current state of their friendship. From the highs of producing masterpieces to the lows of public outbursts and rumors of betrayal, their bond has fascinated the world for two decades.

Kanye West performing at the Museum of Modern Art on May 10, 2011 in New York City | Credits: Jason Persse from Brooklyn, USA, Cc By-sa 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In 2016, West made a shocking statement at a concert, pleading with Jay-Z not to “send killers” after him. But what did he mean by this cryptic message? Was it a serious plea or another one of his dramatic moments?

Kanye West’s Message During The Live Concert Kanye West in the music video for All Day | Credit: Good / YouTube

During a 2016 concert,...

A multiple-times Emmy nominee, Giancarlo Esposito is known for perfectly depicting his versatility as one of the most emotionally complex actors across multiple genres. Holding acting credits to his name for innumerable projects, he is especially famous for his renditions in the comedy-drama Do the Right Thing, the drama Malcolm X, and the musical romance Mo’ Better Blues.

Giancarlo Esposito as Sidewinder. | Credits: Captain America: Brave New World/Marvel Studios.

Then came the 2000s, and he scored the role of Gus Fring in Breaking Bad, and that was that. Not only did this series quite literally take his ‘acting virginity’ but it also established him in a whole other kind of role overnight. And while it must have been truly challenging to embody such a different role, he still couldn’t be more thankful for it for shaping his career to perfection.

Breaking Bad Showed Giancarlo Esposito in a...

Denzel Washington has always been careful about what films he chooses to work on. After becoming widely recognized and openly acclaimed in 1980s dramas like "Cry Freedom" and "Glory," he was officially a Hollywood powerhouse by the time he appeared in Spike Lee's films "Mo' Better Blues" and "Malcolm X," as well as "Philadelphia" and "Much Ado About Nothing." Because he was such a big star, Washington never felt obligated to star in a major action franchise, and he was long insistent on never acting in any sequels, at least not until "The Equalizer 2" in 2018. He tends to want to work with deeply experienced directions he can form a good relationship with. There's a reason he's made multiple films with Lee, Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, and Antoine Fuqua. 

That's not to say, however, that Washington is allergic to mainstream entertainments. Like everyone, he's seen the big actioners and...

Denzel Washington has consistently delivered standout performances — including as a director in recent years! — across his decades-long career. He already has two Oscars to his name and could be on his way to a third Academy Award with his role in Ridley Scott‘s “Gladiator II.”

This follow-up to the 2000 Best Picture champ stars Lucius (Paul Mescal) as Lucius, the grandson of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. Lucius is forced into slavery but resolves to fight as a gladiator under the leadership of power broker Macrinus. And that’s where Washington comes in. The titanic Washington plays Macrinus, who is the mentor figure to Lucius and also opposes the rule of emperors Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) and Geta (Joseph Quinn).

We are predicting that Washington will be nominated for Best Supporting Actor alongside Samuel L. Jackson (“The Piano Lesson”), Clarence Maclin (“Sing Sing”), Kieran Culkin (“A Real Pain”), and Stanley Tucci (“Conclave...

Election season is in the air and Turner Classic Movies is here to celebrate. Starting on September 6 and continuing every Friday up until this year’s general election, TCM will be running a nine-week limited series entitled “Making Change: The Most Significant Political Films of All Time.” This cinematic showcase is inspired by The New Republic rankings released in June 2023 and includes selections such as “All the King’s Men,” “Germany, Year Zero,” and “High and Low.”

To introduce the upcoming series, TCM host Ben Mankiewicz took to Washington D.C. for a trailer highlighting some of the films featured, as well as special guests like Stacey Abrams, Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee, and John Turturro.

“I grew up here in Washington D.C.,” Mankiewicz said, the Capitol Building behind him. “My father’s life was politics — capital P politics. Though I went in a different direction, I understood at an early age,...

In the run-up to Election Day, TCM is going after the movie lovers’ popular vote by showing 50 films over nine successive Fridays under the banner Making Change: The Most Significant Political Films of All Time.

The series runs Sept. 6 to Nov. 1 — four days before America votes for its next president — and features TCM host Ben Mankiewicz in conversation with the likes of Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee, Lee Grant, Sally Field, Andy Garcia, Melissa Etheridge, John Turturro, Bill Maher, Alexander Payne, Diane Lane, Josh Mankiewicz, Barry Levinson, Maureen Dowd, Stacey Abrams and former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

Watch the trailer here.

Making Change showcases half of the movies unveiled by The New Republic in the rankings it released in June 2023. The films on TCM span the years 1915 to 2016 (from D.W. Griffith’s The Birth of a Nation to Raoul Peck’s I Am Not Your Negro); the whole thing kicks off with the No.

Winsome Sinclair, a veteran casting professional who worked on scores of films and TV shows — many as casting director — including Malcolm D. Lee’s The Best Man, Steven Spielberg’s Amistad, the Gabrielle Union series Being Mary Jane and a dozen Spike Lee movies, died August 12 of colon cancer on Long Island. She was 58.

Her rep Clorissa Wright-Thomas confirmed the news to Deadline, saying Sinclair had been in hospice care and that her family was at her bedside. “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Winsome Sinclair, a woman of extraordinary faith and a trailblazer in the film industry,” her family said in a statement (read it in full below). “Winsome’s life was a testament to radical faith, and she lived each day with a heart full of love and gratitude.”

Born on October 27, 1965 in Jamaica, she grew up in New York after...

Winsome Sinclair, a prolific casting director best known for her frequent collaborations with Spike Lee, has died at the age of 58 after a battle with colon cancer. News of her passing was confirmed by producer and publicist Cassandra Butcher in a post on Instagram.

“Winsome Sinclair brought light to everyone she encountered, with a unique ability to see more in people than they could see in themselves,” Butcher wrote on Instagram. “A true fan of life and culture, her passion for the arts and her deep love for family and community will continue to inspire those who know her. Winsome’s legacy in the film industry and the lives she touched will live on, reminding us of her vibrant spirit and the stories she helped bring to life.”

Born in 1966, Sinclair began her career in Hollywood as a casting production assistant on Lee’s 1991 film “Jungle Fever” before rising to...

Winsome Sinclair, the casting director who helped bring in actors for Waiting to Exhale, Amistad, Precious, The Best Man and a dozen films directed by Spike Lee, has died. She was 58.

Sinclair died Monday in hospice care on Long Island after a long battle with colon cancer, publicist Clorissa Wright-Thomas told The Hollywood Reporter. Her family was at her bedside.

The New York native launched the global casting agency Winsome Sinclair and Associates in New York in 1996, then relocated the business to Atlanta in 2014 amid that city’s production boom.

Sinclair also cast extras for the John Singleton-directed features Higher Learning (1995), 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) and Abduction (2011), for the Malcolm D. Lee-helmed The Best Man (1999) and Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016) and for the Dee Rees-directed Pariah (2011) and Bessie (2015).

She handled similar duties on the Hughes brothers’ Dead Presidents (1995), Forest Whitaker’s Waiting to Exhale (1995), Steven Spielberg’s...

Netflix’ Paris Theater, NYC’s longest-running arthouse and Manhattan’s sole single-screen cinema, is marking one year since reopening with the return of screening series Big & Loud.

Special presentations include a new 70mm print of Alfred Hitchock’s Vertigo screening for the first time in New York, new 70mm prints of North By Northwest and The Searchers, as well as 70mm screenings of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Boogie Nights, Hamlet (1996), Inception, Lawrence of Arabia, Malcolm X, Nope, Phantom Thread, Spartacus and The Untouchables.

Netflix reopened the historic theater last year following upgrades to present 70mm projection and make it the largest Atmos cinema in Manhattan. It called Big & Loud “a screening series of eye-popping 70mm prints, thunderous Dolby Atmos and cinema worth celebrating.”

Highlights include Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Days of Heaven, Dazed And Confused, East of Eden (in Atmos), Gravity (in Atmos), The Green Fog (double bill with Vertigo), Koyaanisqatsi,...

Following last year’s very successful “Big & Loud! 70mm, Atmos, and Audio-Obsessive Cinema” screening series, Netflix is launching its latest edition of what is becoming a signature late summer and early fall event at its Paris Theater in New York City. This year’s series will again boast, per the streamer, “eye-popping 70mm prints, thunderous Dolby Atmos, and cinema worth celebrating.”

The series kicks off on Friday, August 23 and will run through Thursday, October 31. Special presentations will include a new 70mm print of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” (screening for the first time in New York), plus new 70mm prints of “North by Northwest” and “The Searchers,” as well as 70mm screenings of “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Boogie Nights,” “Hamlet” (1996), “The Hateful Eight,” “Inception,” “Lawrence of Arabia,” “Malcolm X,” “Nope,” “Phantom Thread,” “Spartacus,” and “The Untouchables.”

Other highlights (and there are many) include “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “Days of Heaven,...

Exclusive: There’ s going to be some glory, curves and rage over at Ava DuVernay’s Array this summer, in all the best ways.

Back for its fifth year, the Array 360 conversation and screening series will feature films and more from directors Patricia Cardoso, Bill Duke Ed Zwick over the next two months.

Starting on August 3, Cardoso will be kicking off the 2024 program at Array’s Creative Campus in LA’s Historic Filipinotown with a screening of her Sundance award winning 2002 film Real Women Have Curves. The director, who helmed a May 30, 2018 episode of the DuVernay created OWN TV series Queen Sugar, will provide live commentary on the acclaimed picture for the Scene on Screen event.

Check out the full Array 360 2024 schedule below

Two week later, DuVernay and Array will be hosting a daylong Filmmaker Tribute for Bill Duke. With a spotlight on the Palme d’Or nominated director/actor...

Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. To keep up with our latest features, sign up for the Weekly Edit newsletter and follow us @mubinotebook on Twitter and Instagram.NEWSMy Life as a Dog.Amid concerns over new provisions for AI, IATSE members have voted to ratify their new three-year contract with AMPTP, which includes a historic 40 percent raise for television and theatrical costume designers.Meanwhile, Teamsters Local 399 “remain far apart” on terms after five weeks of bargaining, reporting that “this was the first week in which we saw the employers take this process seriously.” Their current contract will expire on July 31, after which the union could strike.The Swedish motion-picture industry is calling for a change to the state’s “first-come, first-served” funding process, which most recently distributed all available funds in one minute and seven seconds.Germany plans to nearly double its national film funding...

Donna Berwick, a costume designer who worked on films including Spike Lee’s “Da 5 Bloods,” “Donnie Darko” and more died, July 14 of breast cancer. She was 66.

Berwick was nominated for best contemporary film by the Costume Designers Guild for her work on “Da 5 Bloods,” a Vietnam War veterans drama starring Delroy Lindo, Chadwick Boseman, Jonathan Majors and Clarke Peters. The 2020 Netflix original film follows four veterans that return to Vietnam searching for the remains of their squad leader and the fortune he helped them hide.

She also designed the costumes for Lee’s “Inside Man,” starring Denzel Washington and Clive Owens as well as Ernest Dickerson’s “Juice,” starring Tupac Shakur.

The late costume designer April Ferry and Berwick worked together on costuming films and TV shows including “Donnie Darko,” “U571” and “Game of Thrones.”

Born in Queens, New York, Berwick earned a Bfa from the School of Visual Arts...

The Og 9-1-1 continues to dominate ratings and the conversation.

After moving to ABC, the veteran drama returned to form with an action-packed opener and engaging and thought-provoking character-driven hours throughout the season.

9-1-1 has always been known for its emergencies, but the heart of the series has always been with its incredibly diverse cast of characters.

The star-studded ensemble has (mostly) stayed intact throughout the series run, which is almost unheard of in today's TV landscape.

As 9-1-1 Season 8 gets ready to premiere in the fall of 2024, we're looking at the dynamic cast that brings the stories to life and the complex and captivating characters they play.

Related: 9-1-1 Season 8: Everything We Know So Far

Come check it out below!

Angela Bassett (Athena Nash-Grant)

LAPD patrol sergeant Athena Nash-Grant wears many hats. She's a decorated member of the LAPD, a devoted mother and wife, and a loyal friend.

At one of the heights of his career, following films like “Malcolm X,” “Philadelphia,” and “Devil in a Blue Dress,” Denzel Washington starred in a remake of the 1947 Christmas movie, “The Bishop’s Wife.” Directed by the late great Penny Marshall, the remake was called “The Preacher’s Wife” and centered on a struggling Baptist pastor, played by Courtney B. Vance, and an angel come down to help, but who ends up focusing more on the pastor’s wife. Marshall cast this role to another megawatt talent of the time, Whitney Houston. Discussing his career with Chaz Ebert at the American Black Film Festival in Miami, per People, Denzel Washington remembered the concern he had for Houston while making the film.

“I felt like I always wanted to protect her,” he said. Ebert acknowledged how this was present in the film. She said, “There was a vulnerability that you saw.”

Surprised this came across in his performance,...

Aired on Prime Video in March, Jake Gyllenhaal’s Road House is still a prominent feature of the platform’s global top. The top-tier action about an ex-UFC fighter also starred a real-life sports legend, the professional boxer Conor McGregor, in his movie debut.

Netflix has just added another sports movie to its catalog, and it can easily beat Road House by its wholesomeness. More than that, it tells the true story of rises and falls of one of the world’s legendary boxers, and it definitely adds to it being a must-watch.

It starts by showing a boxer during his championship debut against the back-then heavyweight champion, whom he beats and becomes a worldwide sports star. The subsequent events of his complicated life lead him to rethink the realities he lives in.

Sports lovers can already guess we’re talking about Muhammad Ali, also known as Cassius Clay Jr.

Ethan Hawke, with a career peppered with critical acclaim and Academy Award nominations, once experienced the bittersweet melody of Oscar near-misses. Nominated for his role in Richard Linklater’s groundbreaking drama Boyhood (2014), Hawke, 53, faced stiff competition in the Academy Awards race. The actor felt his chances would slip away after he beheld J.K. Simmons’ incredible performance in Whiplash.

Ethan Hawke in Boyhood | IFC Productions

Make note that Hawke was nominated for his first Oscar in the Best Supporting Actor category for Antoine Fuqua’s Training Day; however, Jim Broadbent won the honor for his role in Iris.

As nobody enjoys losing, Hawke may have needed some guidance, which he eventually received from Denzel Washington, who gave him some encouraging words after this Oscar loss. The former has also received Oscar nominations for a couple of other films, including Before Sunset and Before Midnight.

How Did J.K. Simmons’ Win...

Edward Norton is quite vocal about his admiration for veteran filmmaker Spike Lee. The actor could not understand why a lot of people sleep on his talent, but the Red Dragon star would not let unfair criticism taint the director’s reputation.

Edward Norton in 25th Hour / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

They worked together on the 2002 drama film 25th Hour, but even before that, he was already following the works of Lee.

Edward Norton Defends Spike Lee As A Filmmaker

During his interview via Gainsville Sun, actor Edward Norton confessed he’s a die-hard Spike Lee fan. He also thinks the filmmaker’s projects are underappreciated.

I wrote him a letter after He Got Game. I really loved that movie, and I thought people missed it. It had a lot of texture and layers. There is a lot of room for the actor and the audience in Spike Lee movies.

Despite a muted reception back in May 1994 — certainly compared to Spike Lee’s previous film “Malcolm X” — “Crooklyn” has endured for three decades as one of the director’s most treasured films.

At the time, Spike Lee was still in the first decade of his career as a director, and “Crookyln” marked his seventh film in nine years with his “brand” in the popular consciousness as a polemical artist at the vanguard of the ’90s Black New Wave that also featured filmmakers such as John Singleton, Mario Van Peebles, and the Hughes Brothers.

Crooklyn, while fitting within Spike’s collected body of work about the Black experience in America, took a detour in tone from his earlier, more overtly political films such as “Do the Right Thing” and “Jungle Fever.” Contemporary reactions to the film were mixed, and “Crooklyn,” like all of Spike’s post-”Malcolm X” films up to “Inside Man,...

Denzel Washington is undoubtedly one of the greatest actors who has graced the silver screen with many acclaimed performances to his credit. The actor has played heroic characters for most of his career in impressive films such as Mo’ Better Blues, Philadelphia, Courage Under Fire, and Glory winning an Oscar for the latter.

Denzel Washington as Easy Rawlins in Devil in a Blue Dress

His second Oscar win for Best Actor came with his antagonistic turn as Alonzo in Antoine Fuqua’s Training Day. Washington had never played a sleazy and morally complicated character like Alonzo before. However, he was vying to play one much before that film and one such antagonistic performance that he was envious of was of Don Cheadle in Devil in a Blue Dress.

Don Cheadle’s Meaty Role Made Denzel Washington Question His Choices

Don Cheadle’s brilliant performance in Devil in a Blue Dress...

Spike Lee’s towering 1992 movie Malcolm X is finally coming to the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format in the UK: more details here.

Appreciating it’s already available on the format elsewhere in the world. Spike Lee’s 1992 biopic Malcolm X has now been confirmed for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release in the UK for the first time.

The film will be coming to the 4K format in the UK on 15th July 2024, and you can find more information on the release – and buy a copy – right here.

If you’ve not had the considerable pleasure, Denzel Washington takes on the role of Malcolm X in the hugely ambitious films. The synopsis for the movie – and the new 4K release – reads as follows…

Released for the first time in the UK in stunning 4K Ultra HD, experience this sweeping biographical epic like never before, with 30 minutes of deleted scenes and...

Every actor has a few films that might not have performed as well as they wanted, including blockbuster star Denzel Washington. But one box-office disappointment was different from the others, as it may have been a direct result of the O.J. Simpson verdict.

How the O.J. Simpson trial might’ve affected ‘Devil in a Blue Dress’ Denzel Washington | Miikka Skaffari/FilmMagic

Devil in a Blue Dress saw Oscar-winner Washington play Easy Rawlins, a private detective investigating a missing woman. The 1995 movie was based on a series of books that Washington and the film’s director Carl Franklin were interested in at the time. The fact that the film was about a black investigator in the 1940s added another layer to Franklin’s noir film for him to play with.

“It gives you another obstacle,” Franklin said in an interview with Slate. “Of course, obstacles are the key to drama.

Actor Denzel Washington and filmmaker Spike Lee have been known to work together on films like Malcolm X and Inside Man. Their frequent collaborations helped form a close bond between the two. But there’s another well-known actor who Lee feels he’s bonded with on a slightly similar level.

Spike Lee compared his bond with Denzel Washington to this other actor Spike Lee and Denzel Washington | Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Washington and Lee have one of cinema’s most notable actor-director relationships. The pair first came together in the 1990 film Mo’ Better Blues. Lee immediately pictured Washington in the lead role of the film after seeing how women responded to the Oscar-winner.

“Before I wrote one word of Mo’ Better Blues, I knew I wanted Denzel Washington to play the lead,” Washington once told Entertainment Weekly. “In the fall of ’88, Denzel was starring on Broadway in Checkmates with Ruby Dee and Paul Winfield.

Actors in Tinseltown often take on roles that push them outside of their comfort zones. Few actors understand this better. Case in point: Denzel Washington, whose portrayal of American Muslim minister and civil rights leader in Malcolm X was filled with intense dedication—and, unexpectedly, tangible fear.

Before slipping into the character for Spike Lee’s Oscar-nominated masterpiece, Washington’s introduction to Malcolm X was somewhat limited, confined to his stage performance in When the Chickens Come Home to Roost. Learning more about Malcolm’s life’s complexities, the weight of the role grew apparent, leaving a lasting imprint on Washington’s psyche.

Denzel Washington in The Tragedy of Macbeth

The actor, 69, appreciated for his dynamic performances, found himself in uncharted waters—it wasn’t just the challenge of embodying such a complex real-life character but also stepping onto a stage where politics could translate into a real threat to one’s safety.

Spike Lee credits Steven Spielberg for having a “crystal ball” when it comes to the dangers of artificial intelligence.

During an interview alongside actor Giancarlo Esposito for The Hollywood Reporter, Lee pointed to Spielberg’s 2001 film “A.I. Artificial Intelligence.” Stanley Kubrick had been developing the sci-fi feature for two decades before Spielberg took over writing and directing after Kubrick’s death.

According to Lee, Spielberg’s film was one of the first mainstream portrayals of artificial intelligence, and served as an early warning for what the world is facing now in 2024.

“The danger that A.I. could do to cinemas is nothing compared to what it could do to the world,” Lee said when asked about the effects of A.I. on filmmaking. “It’s bigger than cinema. It’s bigger than music. I got to give it to my brother, Steven Spielberg, who peeped this many years ago when...

Mookie and Buggin’-Out back together again. We love to see it. Filmmaker, artist, tastemaker, and thespian Spike Lee has reunited with “School Daze” and “Do The Right Thing” brethren Giancarlo Esposito in a recent spot for Fiat’s new all-electric Fiat 500e. The commercial is entitled “Italy in America” and sees Esposito, whose father hails from Naples, introducing Lee to “la dolce vita”. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter marking the reunion, Lee and Esposito reflected on their friendship and collaborations, their shared appreciation for Italian culture, and various film projects on approach.

“This is a natural fit,” Lee said of working with Esposito on the project after years apart. “When you’re close, especially in this industry, there might be Spike the love, but there are schedules and delays that prevent working together again. But we have a bond. It’s been announced that I’m...

With its list of May 2024 releases, Amazon Prime Video is giving us the kindest gift of all: cougar Anne Hathaway.

May 2 sees the premiere of The Idea of You, a romantic-comedy that features Hathaway as a 40-year-old mom finding romance with a 24-year-old boy band singer (Nicholas Galitzine). Having saved the medium of film forever, Prime Video is celebrating with some big time library titles this month as well. American Fiction and BlacKkKlansman arrive on May 14 and will be followed by Creed and Pearl: An X-traordinary Origin Story on May 16.

For its TV offerings, Prime is leading off with Outer Range season 2 on May 16. This James Brolin sci-fi Western will continue the mysteries of the strange happenings on Thanos’ ranch. Reality TV fans will be able to enjoy the Daniel Tosh-hosted competition series The Goat on May 9.

Here’s everything coming to Prime Video and Freevee in April – Amazon...

We typically think of any actor who has appeared in movies and television as having it made, but that’s not the case for most working actors. In fact, before Giancarlo Esposito landed the role of Gus Fring on Breaking Bad, he was so broke that he was considering arranging his own murder for the life insurance money.

While speaking on Sirius Xm’s Jim & Sam show, Giancarlo Esposito revealed that the year before Breaking Bad, he was in dire financial straits and desperately looking for a way out. “My way out in my brain was…’Hey, do you get life insurance if someone commits suicide? Do they get the bread?’” Esposito said. “My wife had no idea why I was asking this stuff. I started scheming. If I got somebody to knock me off, death by misadventure, [my kids] would get the insurance. I had four kids. I wanted them to have a life.

Following a gala closing night celebration featuring Steve Buscemi and his film “The Listener,” the 2024 Sarasota Film Festival has announced its awards — with several prominent indies taking the top prizes. This 26th edition of the Florida festival celebrating independent film gave the Narrative Feature Jury Prize to Josh Margolin’s Sundance breakout “Thelma,” starring June Squibb and the late Richard Roundtree. “Sugarcane” won the Documentary Feature Jury Prize.

Speaking for the narrative feature jury, filmmaker Alex Hedison, in awarding the prize to “Thelma,” said the group found the movie to celebrate “what Hollywood cinema so infrequently does: age. The extraordinary performances by June Squib and Richard Roundtree are at the center of ‘Thelma,’ surrounded by an excellent supporting cast who serve as a surrogate for the audience in reminding them of the significance of living their best lives with the kind of action and adventure life affords us if we...

Ice Spice will make her acting debut in 'High and Low'.The 'Barbie World' rapper is set to make a cameo appearance in Spike Lee's English-language adaptation of Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa's 1963 crime thriller of the same name that will star Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright and Ilfenesh Hadera.A24 posted a photo to the social media site X (formerly known as Twitter) on Wednesday (10.04.24) of Lee and Washington with the caption: "No. 5 now in production."'High and Low' marks the fifth collaboration between actor and filmmaker as they previously worked on the projects 'Inside Man', 'He Got Game', 'Malcolm X' and 'Mo' Better Blues'.The original 'High and Low' was loosely based on the 1959 novel 'King's Ransom', written by Evan Hunter under the pen name Ed McBain, and tells the story of a shoe company executive...

Ice Spice is branching out into acting with a part in Spike Lee’s forthcoming feature High and Low, which will reunite the filmmaker with Denzel Washington.

The rapper is set to appear in a cameo role that she has begun shooting for the project that is an English-language reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime thriller of the same name. Apple Original Films and A24 are behind Lee’s High and Low, which also stars Jeffrey Wright and Ilfenesh Hadera.

Ice Spice was nominated for four Grammys at this year’s ceremony, including best new artist. “Barbie World,” her song with Nicki Minaj, was featured on the Barbie soundtrack. Ice Spice has also had prominent collaborations with artists including Taylor Swift as she gears up to release her debut studio album, Y2K, later this year.

A24 posted a photo to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday of Lee and Washington, along with the caption,...

The great philosopher Ice Spice once said: “How can I lose if I’m already chose?” The Bronx rapper’s affirmations have manifested into the kind of big screen acting debut that young actors often dream of. According to Variety, Ice Spice will act alongside Denzel Washington in Spike Lee’s forthcoming film High and Low, produced and developed by A24.

Currently in production, High and Low reinterprets Akira Kurosawa’s crime thriller of the same name from 1963. The film is set for a theatrical release before entering the streaming...

Ice Spice is set to appear in Spike Lee’s upcoming English-language reinterpretation of the Akira Kurosawa crime thriller “High and Low.”

“High and Low” will mark Ice Spice’s acting debut, and she’s already begun shooting for the project starring Denzel Washington.

The rapper skyrocketed to fame following the release of her breakthrough single, “Munch (Feelin’ U),” and subsequent collaborations with Pink Pantheress, Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift. She was nominated for four Grammys this year, including best rap song and best new artist. Ice Spice’s first studio album, “Y2K,” is due out this year.

The project is the fifth collaboration between Washington and Lee, and their first since 2006’s “Inside Man.” Apple Original Films and A24 are partnering on the project, which will be released theatrically by A24 before a global launch on AppleTV+.

Apple Original Films tweeted a photo of Washington and Lee on Wednesday...

Donations from the likes of Spike Lee, Paul Mescal and Olivia Colman have been added to a growing list of items being sold off as part the Cinema for Gaza auction, which has so far raised over £90,000.

A framed “Malcolm X” poster signed by Lee, an “Aftersun” poster signed by Mescal and a personalized video message from Colman are among the auction lots launching on Monday, alongside additional items including a “beer on Zoom” with Tessa Thompson with memorabilia from “The Marvels,” a “Worst Person in the World” poster signed by Joachim Trier and the cast and the chance to talk to Susan Sarandon over Zoom about your favorite of her films (plus a signed “Rocky Horror Picture Show” t-shirt). Other new lots include a Zoom with director Eliza Hittman plus a signed poster, a coffee in Dublin (or over Zoom) with Lenny Abrahamson plus a signed book of “Normal People...

Get ready to dive into the illustrious career of one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors in “Denzel Washington: American Paradox,” airing at 10:00 Pm this Monday on PBS. This captivating documentary takes viewers on a journey through the remarkable 30-year career of Denzel Washington, showcasing his incredible talent and enduring impact on the film industry.

From his breakout roles in iconic films like “Glory” and “Malcolm X” to his powerful performances in modern classics such as “Training Day” and “Fences,” Washington’s versatility and depth as an actor have earned him widespread acclaim and numerous awards, including two Academy Awards for Best Actor.

Through exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and insightful commentary from industry experts, “Denzel Washington: American Paradox” offers an intimate portrait of the man behind the characters, exploring his personal journey, his approach to acting, and the profound influence he has had on audiences around the world. Don...

About two and a half years have gone by since it was announced that Delroy Lindo – whose credits include Get Shorty, Da 5 Bloods, The Core, Malcolm X, and The Harder They Fall (plus more than 65 others) – had signed on to join Mahershala Ali in the cast of the Marvel Cinematic Universe reboot of Blade. While we wait to see if that Lindo will still be in that vampire hunter movie when it finally goes into production, The Hollywood Reporter has broken the news that Lindo has been cast in the mysterious genre project that’s coming our way from frequent collaborators Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan – who have worked on Fruitvale Station, Creed, Black Panther, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever together as director and cast member, and have other collaborations that Coogler didn’t direct. This project is shrouded in secrecy, but is rumored to be a vampire story.

“Sasquatch Sunset,” the Sundance-premiering film in which Riley Keough and Jesse Eisenberg star as Bigfoot-like creatures, is getting a U.K. and Ireland release from Icon Film Distribution.

The long-standing distributor, which is known for releasing iconic films like “Drive” and “Malcolm X,” is setting a second quarter release date following the movie’s premiere at a major U.K. festival, which has yet to be announced. “Sasquatch Sunset” is directed and produced by David and Nathan Zellner.

Icon Film Distribution acquired all U.K. and Ireland distribution rights to “Sasquatch Sunset” from Protagonist Pictures after the movie’s Sundance premiere. Bleecker Street is releasing “Sasquatch Sunset” on April 12 in North America. The deal was negotiated between Kaleidoscope CEO Spencer Pollard and Janina Vilsmaier, SVP of Sales at Protagonist Pictures.

According to its official description, the film “begins in the misty forests of North America, where a family of...

Delroy Lindo is heading back to the big screen.

The actor, who in recent years has starred in Hulu’s Unprisoned and appeared in Netflix’s The Harder They Fall, has closed a deal to join Michael B. Jordan in the untitled supernatural horror thriller that Ryan Coogler is directing for Warner Bros.

Little is known about that project — and what is known has yet to be confirmed by either the studio or Coogler. Insiders say the feature is set in the Jim Crow-era South, and possibly involves both vampires and Southern supernatural traditions. Jordan may be playing dual roles — as twin brothers.

Lindo’s part is being kept in the coffin but one source describes it as having a musical element to it. The feature is gearing for shoot later this spring in New Orleans, and recently cast Jack O’Connell as a villain.

Coogler wrote the script and is...

Jeffrey Wright has joined Denzel Washington on the cast of Spike Lee’s upcoming feature ‘High and Low’.

Apple Original Films and A24 are partnering on the movie which chronicles the ruin of a businessman following a ransom payment to kidnappers.

Todd Black, known for producing ‘Emancipation’ and ‘The Equalizer’ films, will produce a new feature for Escape Artists along with Jason Michael Berman of Mandalay Pictures, who has previously worked on ‘Air’ and ‘Nine Days’. Spike Lee will also direct the film and serve as executive producer through his production company 40 Acres And A Mule Filmworks. Peter Guber of Mandalay Pictures will be another executive producer, along with Matthew Lindner, Chris Brigham, and Katia Washington of Juniper Productions. Jordan Moldo of Mandalay Pictures will be the co-producer.

Also in news – Andre Holland features in first look for AppleTV+ series ‘The Big Cigar’

The movie, which will be released...

Fresh from his Oscar-nominated role in “American Fiction,” Jeffrey Wright has joined the cast of “High and Low.” The re-imagining of the Akira Kurosawa classic thriller is being directed by Spike Lee and will star Denzel Washington. Lee wrote the script with Alan Fox for the English-language adaptation of the story of a wealthy man dealing with a kidnapping. Production on the Apple Original Films starts this month.

In addition to Washington, “High and Low” also stars Ilfenesh Hadera (“Billions”). A24 will release the film theatrically before its global launch on Apple TV+.

The feature will be produced by Todd Black, who worked with Washington on “The Equalizer” films, for Escape Artists and Jason Michael Berman (“Air”) for Mandalay Pictures. In addition to directing, Lee will serve as executive producer through his 40 Acres And A Mule Filmworks. Mandalay’s Peter Guber will serve as executive producer, along with Juniper Productions’ Matthew Lindner,...

Fresh off his Oscar nomination for best actor, Jeffrey Wright has set his next film.

Apple Original Films and A24 announced Tuesday that Wright is joining Denzel Washington in director Spike Lee’s next film, High and Low. A24 will give the film a theatrical release before its global launch of Apple TV+. A release date has yet be announced.

The thriller, which starts production this month, is the English-language reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s crime thriller High and Low. The 1963 Japanese movie told of a shoe executive that was in the middle of a complex corporate takeover when his plans are derailed by the accidental kidnapping and ransom of his chauffeur’s son, instead of his own son.

The movie adaption was developed and produced by A24, Escape Artists and Mandalay Pictures, and written by Alan Fox and Lee.

High and Low marks the second collaboration between Apple Original...

Do you ever wonder what happens to movie props? Sometimes, filmmakers and actors will take them home as a souvenir. But more often than not, props end up back in a pile, destined to be re-used again. For instance: Egon's P.K.E. Meter from the original "Ghostbusters" pops up again in John Carpenter's "They Live," with no real explanation.

And then there's the curious case of George Costanza's glasses.

George is, of course, the famous character played by Jason Alexander on "Seinfeld," and the part is partially inspired by the show's co-creator, Larry David. Like David, George wears glasses, and when it came time to find his specs for the pilot episode of the show — originally titled "The Seinfeld Chronicles" — costume designer Ruth E. Carter pulled the frames from a surprising source: Spike Lee's "Malcolm X."

Ruth E. Carter is a two-time Academy Award-winning costume designer. She's worked with Spike Lee,...

Giancarlo Esposito has been in the entertainment industry for over four decades. He is best known for his role as Gus Fring in the crime drama series- Breaking Bad and its spin-off- Better Call Saul. He won the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in the former.

Furthermore, Esposito was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series thrice. He has been in talks about playing the X-Men character Professor X for quite some time. Recently, he said something regarding this, which did not sit well with netizens, who had a furious outburst.

Giancarlo Esposito as Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian

Giancarlo Esposito Wants Marvel to Race Swap Two Major X-Men Characters and Fans Aren’t Too Happy About It

Giancarlo Esposito has appeared in many series such as the Amazon series- The Boys, the Disney+ series- The Mandalorian,...

If you think about it, there’s no better place to premiere “Black Twitter: A People’s History” than at South by Southwest.

The three-part Hulu and Onyx docuseries based on Jason Parham’s similarly titled “Wired” story exists at the perfect intersection of entertainment, internet, and culture — just like SXSW itself.

“When I read the article, it was not only was only something that I love, that I participated in, but I saw the power of it,” director Prentice Penny told IndieWire during the conference. “It was sort of feeling like the way my mother talks about the Civil Rights Movement. That’s what I felt like was happening on Black Twitter.”

Along with being an active platform-formerly-known-as-Twitter user, Penny (whose profile welcomes users with the subhed “Fux Yo Blue Check”) was itching to do something different after “Insecure” — something that scared him.

“When Sarah Amos and the team at...

Denzel Washington is one of the most prolific actors who changed the way African American characters were portrayed in mainstream cinema. The actor has starred in landmark films such as Training Day, Glory, Philadelphia, Malcolm X, and Cry Freedom. He has also been nominated for the Oscars multiple times and has won the award twice.

Washington was reportedly always interested in playing Black Panther in a film adaptation. While the actor became too old to play the iconic superhero by the time the character made his cinematic debut with Chadwick Boseman’s portrayal, Washington reportedly had his eyes on another superhero. Denzel Washington once mentioned how he wanted to play Green Lantern.

Denzel Washington Wanted to Play Black Panther and Green Lantern Denzel Washington in Training Day

A Black Panther film was in the making since the ‘90s, with Blade star Wesley Snipes interested in developing a film based on the iconic superhero.