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Note: This review is based on the Director’s Cut.

Umbrella Entertainment resurrected a forgotten flick from the mid-90s with their Blu-ray release of Lord of Illusions last year. Back in 1995, writer-director Clive Barker ventured outside his normal horror otherworld playground to deliver this unconventional story that is part film noir and part supernatural fantasy thriller, but the result is all entertaining. Besides being a Barker joint, it starred an ex-Quantum Leaper, a Bond villain and a Seinfeld boss who loved making life a living hell for George Costanza!

And almost thirty years later, it indeed might be worth a revisit through fresh eyes.

A specialist in cases involving occult activity, private detective Harry D’Amour heads to Los Angeles for what is supposed to be an easy insurance fraud stakeout to shake off the trauma from his last job involving a demonically possessed young boy. This gig...

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Carl Franklin's "Devil in a Blue Dress" was exactly two years ahead of its time, almost to the day. The director's adaptation of the first installment in Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlins series of noir novels would've been perfectly positioned in late 1997 to capitalize on the slow rolling box office success of Curtis Hanson's "L.A. Confidential." Both films were September releases building on buzzy debuts at the late summer Toronto International Film Festival, but "L.A. Confidential" proved zeitgeisty in ways that eluded "Devil in a Blue Dress." It kicked off a noir renaissance that saw national and local film critics writing up lists of must-see black-and-white crime flicks from the 1940s and '50s for their readers. Suddenly, mainstream moviegoers were up on terminology like "femme fatale," and eager to watch Humphrey Bogart movies that weren't "Casablanca.

Denzel Washington requires no introduction. To call him an outstanding leading man is an understatement and his four-decade-long and ongoing career — both on the big screen and on Broadway — boasts a variety of roles that underline his ability to shine centerstage. Given the sheer breadth of his work and the varying tints of the projects he has worked on, some are bound to underperform or simply bomb at the box office, such as the neo-noir mystery thriller "Devil in a Blue Dress" (which barely managed to break even) and the disastrous reception of "Heart Condition." Although Washington has dabbled in various genres, from action comedies to hard-boiled thrillers, along with literary adaptations and science fiction, he has starred in only one horror movie so far. Unfortunately, this film — 1998's "Fallen," which currently only has a 40% rating on Rotten Tomatoes -- completely flopped at the box office.

The thing about some...

Fresh off the premiere of its new Fox drama “Murder in a Small Town,” Jeff Wachtel’s Future Shack Entertainment shingle is ramping up its development slate — next via a first-look pact with Daily Beast chief content officer Joanna Coles. Future Shack and Coles have multiple projects in development, including a take on MSNBC anchor Katy Tur’s memoir “Rough Draft.”

Wachtel and Coles are also shopping the drama “Base Camp,” which looks at the crowded — and dangerous — queue to get to the top of Mt. Everest. Playwright and screenwriter Anchuli Felicia King is the scribe behind that project.

Additionally, Future Shack and Coles have two more scripts in the works at 20th Television. Coles, who was previously chief content officer at Hearst, was the inspiration for the Freeform drama “The Bold Type,” which she also executive produced. “She’s a phenomenal producer, but primarily a magazine editor and tastemaker,...

America's fascination with serial killers has been an exploitable cultural phenomenon since long before the term was coined in the 1970s. People read books, wrote plays, and followed newspaper coverage of notorious murderers like Jack the Ripper, Charles Starkweather, and Richard Speck. A cold-blooded murder in any capacity is baffling enough to normal or normal-ish people; going on a wanton killing spree for kicks or because the lunar cycle is in the proper alignment is just bananas. How and why do minds break like this?

When a (one-time) master novelist like Thomas Harris or a naturalist like John McNaughton is asking these questions, there can be great value in examining the minds of monsters. When Jonathan Demme is adapting the former, there is also the opportunity to make a rewatchable, Oscar-winning classic of a film. When Ryan Murphy is at the helm, you're going to wind up with a lot...

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Even though he got his start in standup, there’s a reason Cedric Kyles is not called Cedric The Comedian. He’s hosted game shows and the Emmys, starred in Broadway plays and dramas like First Reformed, and much more, and now Cedric The Entertainer has added novelist to his resume. His first novel, Flipping Boxcars, was published a year ago, and just got a paperback release earlier this month.

Denzel Washington, regarded as one of the best actors of his generation, has a career spanning several decades with work on screen as well as on stage. Initially, he started his career in theater, but soon transitioned to television with the medical drama St. Elsewhere. This project put the actor on the map, and soon every filmmaker in town wanted to work with him.

Denzel Washington in a still from The Hurricane || Credits: Universal Pictures

However, there was one movie that not only tackled major themes but also earned the actor an Oscar nomination. The movie is 1999’s The Hurricane, in which he plays the role of boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter.

Washington prepared extensively for the role and even perfected his boxing skills. However, one conversation was enough for him to put the boxing gloves down for good.

Denzel Washington Nearly Gave Up Boxing After The Hurricane Denzel Washington in...

There was never a time when Denzel Washington wasn't on a hot streak. Not only does Washington have a talent for picking interesting or unique projects, but he also has the acting acumen to back up whatever he selects. Even when he's decided to make a mainstream genre thriller, clunky crime flick, or brutal, brainless actioner, he is always present, bringing nuance and texture to his performances. It also helps that Washington has become a go-to collaborator for multiple talented directors, having worked with Spike Lee, Antoine Fuqua, Carl Franklin, Jonathan Demme, and both Ridley and Tony Scott multiple times apiece. He has also taken it upon himself to produce 10 movies based on August Wilson's plays, two of which have already been made.

Washington's hot streak in the mid-1990s included, in a row, "Much Ado About Nothing," "The Pelican Brief," "Philadelphia," "Crimson Tide," Virtuosity," "Devil in a Blue Dress,...

NYC Weekend Watch is our weekly round-up of repertory offerings.

Roxy Cinema

Fidelio, our four-film program with Chapo Trap House’s Movie Mindset, closes with Roman Polanski’s The Ghost Writer and Clint Eastwood’s Absolute Power on 35mm, both introduced by myself, Will Menaker, and Hesse Deni this Friday, and with discounted $12 tickets by mentioning our program at the box office.

Museum of the Moving Image

70mm prints of 2001, Lawrence of Arabia, Tenet, and Far and Away screen; Sherlock Jr. plays on Saturday and Sunday.

Film at Lincoln Center

A new restoration of Shinji Sōmai’s Moving continues.

Film Forum

Restorations of Seven Samurai and Army of Shadows continue playing.

Anthology Film Archives

Films by James N. Kienitz Wilkins, Clio Barnard, and more screen in “Verbatim.”

Bam

Devil in a Blue Dress, Coming to America, a 35mm print of Sylvia Scarlett, and more screen in “Passing You By.”

Museum of Modern Art...

Pluto TV, Paramount’s free streaming service, has revealed its July highlights. The Pluto TV July 2024 schedule includes a new Westerns category and a Yellowstone Fourth of July marathon.

You can also expect fireworks at the Big Brother house when season 26 premieres, and with Pluto TV’s dedicated 24/7 live feeds, you won’t miss a second of the drama. Fans can also relive past seasons of the competition series on a new dedicated channel.

Pluto TV is the leading free streaming television service, delivering hundreds of live, linear channels and thousands of titles on-demand to a global audience. The Emmy Award-winning service curates a diverse lineup of channels in partnership with hundreds of international media companies.

Pluto TV offers various genres, languages, and categories featuring movies, television series, sports, news, lifestyle, kids, and much more. The service can be easily accessed and streamed across mobile, web, and connected TV devices.

Hollywood star Denzel Washington has been one of the most beloved actors of his generation, often seen as the epitome of a true movie star. Despite his immense success, Washington has always been open about his humble beginnings before rising to fame.

Denzel Washington in Fences | Credit: Paramount Pictures

One such story is about his very first date with his wife Pauletta Pearson, to whom he has been married for 40 years. In an interview, the actor recalled his first-ever date with his wife, revealing that he did not have enough money to pay for the cab, prompting Pearson to cover for the ride.

Denzel Washington Recalled His First-Ever Date With His Wife

In an amusing and heartwarming revelation, renowned actor Denzel Washington, whose net worth now stands at an impressive $300 million, shared an unforgettable memory from his first date with his wife, Pauletta Pearson.

Denzel Washington and Pauletta Pearson | Credit:...

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,...

As if serving as the creative director of the 28th edition of the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) wasn’t enough, Issa Rae will now sit for the inaugural “Creator Conversation” with two very special guests: Ava DuVernay and Kenya Barris.

The exclusive live event — which is part of a new program dubbed “Creator Conversations” — will take attendees on a journey through their Rae, DuVernay and Barris’ processes and careers, including recent projects such as DuVernay’s latest film “Origin” and Barris’ hit “Black-ish” franchise and his directorial debut “You People.”

“We are truly delighted to get a rare glimpse into the minds of three trailblazers who are reshaping the landscape of film and television. Ava DuVernay, Kenya Barris and Issa Rae are incredibly talented creators whose work and careers we admire tremendously,” ​​said Nice Crowd President Nicole Friday announcing the special event, which will be held on Friday, June...

Denzel Washington is easily one of the most admired and respected influences in the entertainment industry, with a presence that never ceases to catch the attention of the entire room he walks in. And yet, he was very well humbled when he came in the presence of the late legendary actor best known for playing James Bond: Sean Connery.

Denzel Washington in 2 Guns. | Credit: Universal Pictures.

Interestingly enough, this happened at the Oscars, and the way Washington realized — even before the announcement of the results — that he had truly been defeated by the now-deceased actor on the biggest stage in Hollywood was through one simple act that was, perhaps, common for an actor as tremendously acclaimed as Connery: A 3-minute standing ovation!

Denzel Washington Recalls the Time He Got Humbled by Sean Connery

Although he started acting back in 1977, the movie that is regarded as the one that...

Starz has announced the movie and TV titles coming to the service in June. The Starz June 2024 schedule includes the season four premiere of Power Book II: Ghost.

On the film front, Bros, Ticket to Paradise, How I Learned to Fly (featuring Cliff “Method Man” Smith), Get On Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Billy Madison, Carlito’s Way, How High, Jarhead, Law Abiding Citizen, and several other notable titles join the Starz app this month.

You can also celebrate The Karate Kid‘s 40th anniversary with a movie marathon on Starz Encore, beginning Saturday, June 22, at 2:50 p.m. with the classic The Karate Kid (1984) and The Karate Kid Part II.

Starz June 2024 Highlights

Power Book II: Ghost Season 4

The fourth and final season of “Power Book II: Ghost” debuts on Friday, June 7, at midnight Et on the Starz app, which also coincides with the 10th Anniversary of “Power’s” debut on Starz.

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...

Actor Denzel Washington has played several characters that he’s proud of. But not even Washington always gets the roles he’d prefer. When he did this film with Don Cheadle, he found himself a bit jealous that Cheadle snagged the much meatier part.

Denzel Washington once wondered why Don Cheadle got to play the bad guy and he didn’t Denzel Washington and Don Cheadle | Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Nowadays, it’s no surprise to see Washington as a bad guy. Audiences first saw the actor break away from playing the hero all the time in Training Day. Portraying a full-on villain for once was exciting for Washington, who’d been clamoring to play a bad guy for years.

He first time entertained being a villain in the film Devil in a Blue Dress. The movie saw Washington playing the retired war veteran Easy Rawlins who investigates the disappearance of a missing woman.

The lineup for the 28th edition of the American Black Film Festival continues to get more star studded with the world premiere of the second season of Kerry Washington’s Hulu series “UnPrisoned.”

Washington will attend the Miami Beach-based festival to celebrate the premiere and sit for a fireside chat with fellow executive producer Tracy McMillan, who created the series based on her life.

The Special Screenings lineup also features world premieres of documentaries “Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys,” about the Wu-Tang Clan founding member, and “Down in the Valley,” inspired the world of the hit Starz series “P-Valley,” plus a screening of the classic “Devil in a Blue Dress,” as part of the Denzel Washington Retrospective.

The HBO Short Film Award Showcase will kick off the film festival program on June 12, hosted by Sirius Xm’s Bevy Smith (“Bevelations”). Five filmmakers are selected as finalists, 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.

Tubi’s upcoming titles for April include five new Tubi Originals:

YA comedy Crushed, starring Bebe Wood Two titles timed to the 110th anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking – a documentary, Mysteries From The Grave: The Titanic, and a horror film, Titanic 666, starring AnnaLynne McCord (“90210”), Keesha Sharp (“Empire”) and Jamie Bamber (“Battlestar Galactica”) Action movie Lord Of The Streets, featuring

Mma stars Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Anderson Silva.

The action sci-fi film Corrective Measures, starring Michael Rooker (“The Walking Dead”), Bruce Willis (“The Sixth Sense”) and Tom Cavanaugh (“The Flash”)

Unless otherwise noted, all titles below will begin streaming on April 1.

Tubi Originals

Crushed – 4/1 – After the hottest guy in school likes her Instagram photo, a high-achieving, high-strung high school girl carries out totally crazy schemes to hook up with him before the senior class trip ends. But things spiral when her obsession gets out of control.

Mysteries From...

A big-budget series adaptation of a best-selling sci-fi epic, a new season of an acquired Peacock gem, a spinoff series of a Guy Ritchie crime feature, the return of one of the world’s most grueling reality competition shows, Millie Bobby Brown finding herself in all sorts of bother and Adam Sandler getting serious in a space drama are among the standout films and series hitting Netflix in March.

Funnyman Sandler is deathly serious in Johan Renck’s Spaceman, Netflix’s big feature release this month that debuts on March 1. The film, an adaptation of Jaroslav Kalfar’s novel Spaceman of Bohemia, sees Sandler play a Czech astronaut sent to the farthest reaches of space, just as his personal life is falling to pieces. Sandler’s character must keep his sanity and his only supposed company is a giant alien arachnid. The film, which premiered out of competition at the Berlin Film Festival,...

The two big original releases on Netflix this month are Spaceman and 3 Body Problem. In Spaceman, Adam Sandler plays an astronaut alone and far from home who desperately wants to fix things with his wife. When he discovers an enormous alien spider in the bowels of his ship, a conversation between the two gets underway, and Sandler has a chance to make some big changes. To be clear: this is not a comedy!

Meanwhile, new sci-fi series 3 Body Problem hails from Game of Thrones co-creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. Along with True Blood writer Alexander Woo, they’ve spun a tale that is set to blow your mind this March. Your mileage may vary, but it certainly looks interesting! And hey, we all love the show’s star, Benedict Wong.

Here’s everything else coming to Netflix this month. Note that Netflix marks its international offerings...

Leaping from the slightly longer February into March, Netflix is welcoming in the new month with big series premieres, special live events, comedy specials, and films to binge at any time!

Coming to the streamer this month, “Girls5eva” will also make its debut after being rescued by the streamer from Peacock cancelation. Both existing seasons of the hit comedy and the all-new third season will premiere on the platform mid-month. Plus, wind down and whet your appetite with new seasons of the hit competition series “Blown Away” and “Is It Cake?,” premiering on March 8 and 29, respectively.

Maybe Netflix’s biggest premiere this month, though, is the highly anticipated limited series adaptation of Cixin Liu’s internationally celebrated “The Three-Body Problem” trilogy from David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo. Benedict Wong, Jess Hong, John Bradley, Sir Jonathan Pryce, Liam Cunningham, and more lead the cast of the sci-fi drama, which...

Over the course of her career, Gina Prince-Bythewood has proven she can do it all. Across five films and roughly 20 years, she had made an enduring romantic sports story, a southern family drama, a pop star star-crossed romance, a superhero fantasy action film, and a feminist historical epic. And with every new genre the filmmaker has ticked off her list, Prince-Bythewood has shown a mastery for its particularities every time.

Born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Pacific Grove, California, Prince-Bythewood attended University of California in Los Angeles, where she studied film and graduated in 1991. After several years as a writer on TV shows like “A Different World” and “South Central,” her first film, 2000’s “Love and Basketball,” was released to critical acclaim. The story of two childhood best friends with a shared love for basketball — and a chronicle of their tumultuous relationship through the years as they both seek...

Apple TV+ unveiled its first look at “Manhunt,” the upcoming, seven-part true crime limited series starring Emmy Award-winning actor Tobias Menzies, and created by Emmy nominee Monica Beletsky, who also serves as showrunner and executive producer. Emmy nominee Carl Franklin directed the first two episodes and is also an executive producer on the series. “Manhunt” is set to make its global debut on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes airing on Friday, March 15, 2024, and episodes will debut weekly on Fridays through April 19, 2024.

Based on The New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-winning non-fiction book from author James L. Swanson, “Manhunt” is a conspiracy thriller about one of the best known but least understood crimes in history, the astonishing story of the hunt for John Wilkes Booth in the aftermath of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Starring alongside Menzies are Anthony Boyle, Lovie Simone (“Greenleaf”), Will Harrison (“Daisy Jones & The Six...

Here is a wrap-up of all the news you need to know from Thursday, December 14, 2023.

Peacock is headed back to the treacherous Scottish castle for another season of The Traitors.

The streaming service announced that the second season will debut Thursday, January 12, 2024.

As a new crop of celebrities enter the competition, there's one significant change.

Instead of releasing all of the episodes on day one, we're getting a weekly release, which is sure to up the tension considerably.

The series was a big success for Peacock, so it makes sense that the network would want that conversation for weeks on end.

The Challenge Battle For a New Champion is the Latest Sign Producers No Longer Know What Fans Want

We're getting three new episodes on the premiere date, followed by one a week through its season finale.

The cast includes:

- Carsten “Bergie” Bergersen (Love Island USA)

- Chris 'C.T.' Tamburello...

Don Cheadle has enjoyed an interesting and varied career encompassing success in both film and television.

He first started acting in the mid-1980s with such films as “Hamburger Hill” and “Colors.” His career took a different direction when he was cast in the spinoff series “The Golden Palace” followed by “Picket Fences.” Around this time, he also had the movie “Devil with a Blue Dress” garner him some awards attention and make nearly grab him an Oscar nomination.

Cheadle won a Golden Globe in 1999 for his role in the film “The Rat Pack,” in which he played Sammy Davis Jr. He would later go on to appear in the remake of one of Davis’ films, “Ocean’s Eleven.”

He would win a second Golden Globe in 2013 for the TV series “House of Lies” which had a multi-year run on Showtime. The series would earn him three Golden Globe nominations and four Emmy nominations,...

Barber is a mystery thriller film directed by Fintan Connolly, who also co-wrote the script with Fiona Bergin. The thriller film follows the story of Val Barber, a private investigator who is hired by a wealthy widow to find her missing granddaughter. During his investigations, several dark secrets surface, and Barber gets entangled with some powerful men who don’t want this investigation to reach its conclusion. So, if you loved Barber here are some similar movies you could watch next.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Sony Pictures

Synopsis: Disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) accepts an invitation to surreptitiously investigate a forty year old unsolved murder on behalf of the victim’s uncle, Swedish industrialist Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer). Meanwhile, tattooed hacker Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), hired to investigate Blomkvist, discovers the truth behind the conspiracy that led to his fall from grace.

From left: Peter Sellers in The Pink Panther Strikes Again (Keystone/Getty Images), Angela Lansbury in The Mirror Crack’d (YouTube screenshot), Albert Finney in Murder On The Orient Express (Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images), Denzel Washington in Devil In A Blue Dress (D Stevens/Tri Star/Kobal/Shutterstock), Daniel Craig...

Carrying around the label of America’s greatest living actor must be quite a tricky thing to have to do. You’re going about your business, trying to pick interesting projects, keeping yourself challenged. But people watch you and your acting, and want to know you, what makes you tick, how it feels to be one of America’s greatest living actors. Denzel Washington has managed to handle that mantle with grace, and while maintaining a very old-school kind of movie star mystique.

Washington’s endless charisma and ability to be both engagingly ironic and deeply sincere run through his most formative roles, along with a sense of conscience and responsibility – which he’s kicked against from time to time, too. Whichever way he pushes, he’s been malleable enough to find more gold.

With Washington’s latest cinematic outing The Equalizer 3 showing on big screens now, and the...

With The Equalizer 3 pulling in solid numbers in its debut weekend, we wanted to know what your favorite movie in the legendary actors filmography is. Are you more a fan of his hard hitting dramatic work or his more action packed films? As always if you don’t see your favorite listed, click “Other” and let us know what it is (and why) in the comments.

Favorite Denzel Washington FilmCry Freedom (1987)Glory (1989)Mo' Better Blues (1990)Malcolm X (1992)The Pelican Brief (1993)Philadelphia (1993)Crimson Tide (1995)Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)Courage Under Fire (1996)The Preacher's Wife (1996)Fallen (1998)He Got Game (1998)The Siege (1998)The Bone Collector (1999)The Hurricane (1999)Remember The Titans (2000)Training Day (2001)John Q (2002)Antwone Fisher (2002)Man on Fire (2004)The Manchurian Candidate (2004)Inside Man (2006)American Gangster (2007)The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)The Book of Eli (2010)Unstoppable (2010)Safe House (2012)Flight (2012)The Equalizer (2014)The Magnificent Seven (2016)Fences (2016)Roman J. Israel, Esq (2017)The Equalizer 2...

When it came to Jeffrey Dahmer’s apartment in Netflix’s Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, director Carl Franklin pictured a gritty fish tank filled with yellow-green algae and lifeless fish. He wanted to reach audiences on a visceral level, placing viewers in the notorious serial killer’s putrid living room from the victim’s perspective.

“I wanted to create more of a sensory world as opposed to just a set — something that would evoke a certain aroma or a stench, let’s say, rather than aroma,” Franklin tells Rolling Stone.

Welcome to The B-Side, from The Film Stage. Here we talk about movie directors! Not the movies that made them famous or kept them famous, but the ones that they made in between.

Today we’re honored to chat with director Carl Franklin, whose seminal noir One False Move is now available from The Criterion Collection as a director-approved special edition 4K Uhd + Blu-ray.

Our B-Sides today are One True Thing, Out of Time, and Bless Me, Ultima.

We talk to Franklin about his early days as an actor, how he got the directing bug, what he learned making movies with legendary producer Roger Corman (and the other producer on one of the films who allegedly stole 80k of a 200k budget!), and the extremely underrated HBO mini-series Laurel Avenue from 1993.

There’s also some discussion about Devil in a Blue Dress of course, working with Denzel Washington (and how...

31 years after its initial theatrical release, Carl Franklin still can't believe "One False Move" happened.

The actor-turned-director took a crackerjack screenplay by a pair of struggling writers named Billy Bob Thornton and Tom Epperson, and turned what was supposed to be a direct-to-video thriller featuring a couple of familiar faces (Bill Paxton and Cynda Williams) into a buzzy critical darling. After a brief theatrical run, the film earned five Independent Spirit Award nominations, with Franklin taking home the trophy for Best Director.

Despite this acclaim, "One False Move" has remained an under-the-radar cult favorite amongst neo-noir fans, perhaps because it lacks the Coen Brothers' archness or the overripe sensuality of Lawrence Kasdan's "Body Heat." It's a quietly surprising, yet plenty violent thriller about a trio of criminals who, after committing a string of vicious murders, flee Los Angeles for a backwater Arkansas town run by police chief Dale "Hurricane...

The racism in Carl Franklin’s One False Move suggests a festering pool of standing water just waiting to be disturbed. Dale Dixon (Bill Paxton), the police chief of Star City, Arkansas, casually utters the n-word while having a peaceful meal with his colleagues, one of whom is Black. Lila Walker (Cynda Williams), the mixed-race outlaw trying to avoid capture in order to see her son again, understands American inequality all too well: “Looking guilty is being guilty, for Black people,” she tells her brother. Having recently shot a white Texas state trooper in the head at point blank range, the irony of her statement is hard to miss. But that doesn’t mean she’s wrong.

Released days after the 1992 Los Angeles riots, One False Move offers a particularly prescient reflection of regional division and segregation. It sees violence as the common denominator between blue and red states, a...

Amazon originals like season two of The Summer I Turned Pretty and Good Omens, as well as The Horror of Dolores Roach, are just some of the titles hitting Prime Video this July.

Blockbusters like Fast X, 80 for Brady, Till, Knock at the Cabin, Legally Blonde and Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, Men in Black 1-3, Saving Private Ryan, Scarface and more will also be coming to the streamer this month.

The fourth and final season of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan sees the titular character, played by John Krasinski, on his most dangerous mission yet, against a foreign and domestic enemy. Two new episodes of the thriller drop on the streamer every Friday until July 14.

Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty returns with its second season on July 14 and picks up where season one left off at Cousins Beach. When an unexpected visitor threatens the future...

If you’re wondering what’s new on Amazon Prime Video in June, the answer is a lot. The streamer has a solid slate of movies heading into summer 2023. From the first two “Creed” films to “Love, Rosie,” “Yours, Mine & Ours” and other clever romantic comedies, the streamer has a range of options for viewers with different tastes. Newer theatrical releases arriving on the streamer in June include “TÁR,” “Armageddon Time,” and “M3GAN.”

TV premieres to look forward to include Boots Riley’s “I’m A Virgo” and the fourth and final season of John Krasinski’s “Jack Ryan.” “Crazy Rich Asians” arrives early in June, followed by “Interstellar” for all Christopher Nolan and Matthew McConaughey lovers. Even though “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” doesn’t release in theaters until November, all four “Hunger Games” films land on Prime Video this June. Perfect timing — maybe even with a reread...

With its list of new releases for June 2023, Prime is bringing a handful of Amazon Originals and many recent movie hits to the fold.

It’s actually quite a busy month for non-American programming in Amazon Originals department. Shows and movies like Deadloch, My Fault, and Medellín all originate from outside the U.S. and U.K. For the American and British crowd, however, the streamer is debuting two big tentpoles.

The first is I’m a Virgo on June 23. Acclaimed director Boots Riley’s TV followup to Sorry to Bother You will tale the surreal and satirical tale of a giant in Oakland. That will be followed by the more conventional (assumedly) fourth season of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan on June 30.

The real fireworks this month come from a ludicrously deep bench of library TV and movie titles. Give them a look for yourself below but if we were to highlight just a few,...

The fourth and final season of “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” arrives on Prime Video on June 30. It finds Ryan — now the new acting CIA director — unearthing internal corruption and suspicious black ops that leaves the United States vulnerable to attack. John Krasinski stars as the tough-as-nails Ryan.

Watch the “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” trailer:

“Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets” is a new docuseries that reveals the truth behind the myth of the wholesome religious family and their involvement with the predatory Bill Gothard and The Institute in Basic Life Principles. The organization’s abusive practices — and the insidious long political game it plays — is revealed on June 2. The Duggars and their 19 “happy” kids are exposed as frauds, while also being manipulated by Gothard and enduring the scandal of Josh, their sexually abusive son.

Check out the “Shiny Happy People” trailer:

When a body is found on the beach in the Tasmanian town of Deadloch,...

So many of us have trouble imagining our favorite celebrities in any other role other than the ones they are today. We often forget that many of them started out in humbling positions, doing everything from waiting tables to pumping gas. Reese Witherspoon has been in the spotlight for decades, with one hit film after another. However, life for her wasn’t always so glamorous. After her first starring role, Witherspoon parked cars for celebrities, including Denzel Washington.

Reese Witherspoon’s rise to fame Reece Witherspoon appears on the “Today” show in 2023 I Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images

It was in the ’90s that Witherspoon became a household name. She can portray any type of character, from ditzy sorority girl Elle Woods in Legally Blonde to her more serious role as Cheryl Strayed in Wild. The Oscar-winning actress took acting classes to prepare for her time in front of the camera,...

Actor Tom Sizemore is dead at age 61. The actor, who had roles in movies such as Saving Private Ryan, Heat, Natural Born Killers, and Black Hawk Down, had been hospitalized since experiencing a brain aneurysm as the result of a stroke on Feb. 18.

Tom Sizemore was a memorable actor with a troubled personal life Tom Sizemore in 2014 | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Sizemore “passed away peacefully in his sleep” after being taken off life support at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Burbank, Calif., his manager Charles Lago confirmed to Variety. “His brother Paul [Sizemore] and twin boys Jayden and Jagger (17) were at his side.”

A native of Detroit, Sizemore rose to fame in the 1990s, often playing soldiers, cops, and tough guys. His notable on-screen appearances included Technical Sergeant Mike Horvath in Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-winning Saving Private Ryan, Detective Jack Scagnetti in Oliver Stone’s Natural Born Killers, and a member of...

The late Tom Sizemore was one of the great character actors of the 1990s. His spectacular run during this decade begins with Oliver Stone's "Natural Born Killers," an ultra-violent media satire with frenzied editing and a polarized reputation. The film's leads are Mickey Knox (Woody Harrelson) and his bride Mallory (Juliette Lewis). To quote "Bonnie and Clyde" — "They're young, they're in love, and they kill people."

As the Knoxes carve carnage across America, hot on their trail is Detective Jack Scagnetti. In another movie, a man like Scagnetti would be the hero — but not here. The detective is obsessed with spree killers because his mother was killed by Charles Whitman, "The Texas Tower Sniper." However, Scagnetti is not just out to catch killers, but to emulate them. In one scene, he strangles a young prostitute.

In 1998, Sizemore spoke about playing Scagnetti to the Independent. The actor described the experience as a challenge,...

Tom Sizemore, who starred in Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down and in hundreds of other film and TV roles over three-plus decades, died Friday at a hospital in Burbank. He was 61 and had been in a coma since suffering a stroke February 18 that resulted in brain aneurysm.

His manager Charles Lago confirmed the news this evening, saying Sizemore passed away peacefully in his sleep at St Joseph’s Hospital, with his brother Paul and twin boys Jayden and Jagger at his side.

Related Story Tom Sizemore Mourned By His Friends And Fans, Praised For His Transcendent Talents Related Story Tom Sizemore End Of Life Decision Looms After Doctors Say "No Further Hope" Following Stroke Related Story 'Saving Private Ryan' Star Tom Sizemore Hospitalized In Critical Condition

“The Sizemore family has been comforted by the hundreds of messages of support and love shown to their son, brother and father,...

Tom Sizemore, the intense and imposing character actor known for his roles in Saving Private Ryan and Heat, has died at 61, shortly after suffering a brain aneurysm.

“It is with great sadness and sorrow I have to announce that actor Thomas Edward Sizemore (“Tom Sizemore”) aged 61 passed away peacefully in his sleep today at St Joseph’s Hospital Burbank,” Sizemore’s manager, Charles Lago, announced on Friday (March 3rd).

Sizemore was hospitalized on February 18th after collapsing at his home in Los Angeles. Lago later confirmed that the actor suffered a brain aneurysm and was in a coma. On February 27th, doctors informed Sizemore’s family that there was “no further hope” and recommended an end of life decision..

The Detroit native was born on November 29th, 1961 and he remained in the city until graduating from Wayne State University with a bachelor’s degree in theatre. He continued his studies...

Horror delights, rom-coms and a new sci-fi series starring Christoph Waltz are just a few of the highlights arriving on Amazon Prime Video in February. This month sees the debut of the second and final season of “Carnival Row” on Feb. 17, while Feb. 24 is when “The Consultant” – a “Severance”-like thriller series starring Waltz and directed by “WandaVision’s” Matt Shakman – drops.

In terms of new original Prime Video movies, on Feb. 10 there’s “Somebody I Used to Know,” a romantic comedy starring Alison Brie who co-wrote the script with her husband Dave Franco (who serves as director).

And you’ll find last year’s buzzy horror hit “Smile” on the streaming service on Feb. 21, while “Mad Max: Fury Road” filmmaker George Miller’s “Three Thousand Years of Longing” arrives on Feb. 17.

That’s not to mention noteworthy library additions like “A.I.,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley” and “Almost Famous.

February is Black History Month, and with such a wide array of streaming options, there’s no shortage of options for learning about Black heritage and celebrating Black excellence.

Amazon Prime Video

Among the programming being promoted in Prime Video’s “Celebrating Black History Month” lineup are the new second season of “Harlem,” which follows four female friends from Harlem as they navigate their love lives and careers. There’s also the new original unscripted series “Coach Prime,” which chronicles Deion Sanders in his third year coaching football at Jackson State. Other noteworthy selections include Regina King‘s Oscar-nominated “One Night in Miami,” the acclaimed documentaries “My Name is Pauli Murray” and “I Am Not Your Negro,” the Emmy-nominated romance “Sylvie’s Love,” Spike Lee‘s “Chi-Raq,” the Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect” starring Jennifer Hudson, the Oscar-winning stage adaptation “Fences” from Denzel Washington, who also stars in Prime offerings “Devil in a Blue Dress...

Reese Witherspoon is looking back on two awkward encounters she had with two very famous actors during her early career.

When the actress was just 14 years old, she “bricked” an audition in front of Robert De Niro because she had no idea who he was upon meeting him at the time.

Read More: Reese Witherspoon Teases Jennifer Coolidge’s Role In ‘Legally Blonde 3’ (Exclusive)

“I’m not in that movie because I got so scared when I walked in the room,” Witherspoon recalled auditioning for De Niro’s 1991 thriller “Cape Fear” during Thursday’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

“I didn’t know who Robert De Niro was, so I was standing outside talking to the receptionist. She was like, ‘You know he’s the most important actor of our time, right?'” the award-winning actress continued to tell host Jimmy Kimmel, noting that, as a teen, she got very nervous during auditions.

Reese Witherspoon is sharing some memorable interactions with Robert De Niro and Denzel Washington from when she first started in the entertainment industry.

While on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Thursday, the Your Place or Mine star detailed that one of her first auditions was with De Niro and Martin Scorsese for the 1991 film Cape Fear. “I got so scared when I walked in the room. I didn’t know who Robert De Niro was, so I was standing outside and I was talking the receptionist and she was like, ‘You know, he’s the most important actor of our time.'” Witherspoon recalled. “I was 14. … I never seen Good Fellas, like I’ve never seen The Godfather, so it totally got on my nerves.”

The Legally Blonde actress said when she went into the audition room, she couldn’t say one of her words and that De Niro had to say it for her.

February is the shortest month of the year but Prime Video is paying that no mind with its jam-packed list of new releases for February 2023.

This really is an uncommonly stuffed month on the Amazon streamer and it all starts with a handful of Amazon Originals. Amazon’s original offerings kick off with the release of Dave Franco-directed romcom Somebody I Used to Know on Feb. 10. That is followed by Carnival Row season 2 – a gritty fantasy crime drama is set in a world of steampunky fairies. The show stars Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevigne and this batch of episodes will be its swan song. Meanwhile The Consultant on Feb. 24 is a dark comedy workplace thriller starring Christoph Waltz.

The biggest hits this month, however, might just be some recent cinema faves. If February is for lovers, Amazon didn’t get the memo as there are quite a few horror movies of note here.

The novel White Noise by Don DeLillo is a landmark work of literary fiction. It won the U.S. National Book Award for Fiction when it was released in 1985, and DeLillo’s poetic satire of American society remains as vital now as it was when the book was first released.

Hollywood loves to mine the world of literature for new IP, but early attempts to turn White Noise into a movie were unsuccessful. Barry Sonnenfeld was set to direct an adaptation in 2004, and Michael Almereyda was announced as the writer and director of a different version in 2016.

Adam Driver as Jack, Greta Gerwig as Babette, and Don Cheadle as Murray | Wilson Webb/Netflix

These false starts contributed to the idea that White Noise was an “unfilmable” book, but the third time’s a charm. Noah Baumbach created a film version of the novel for Netflix, bringing together a talented cast...