News

With a slew of fading celebrities boarding the Pacific Princess week after week, it was inevitable that there would be some jerks floating around on The Love Boat. Two of the show’s cast members — Jill “Vicki Stubing” Whelan and Ted “Isaac Your Bartender” Lange — recently told the Still Here Hollywood podcast which passengers were the worst.

Play

First up, according to Whelan? That’s comedian Buddy Hackett. “He was just difficult,” she said in naming him one of her least favorite guests. She didn’t go into details but Hackett’s “difficult” reputation precedes him. During the filming of It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, for example, actor Marvin Kaplan feared for his life. “I was leaning on a couch, and he threw a knife at me. Threw a knife at me!” he said in Kliph Nesteroff’s The Comedians: Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels and the History of American Comedy.

Oscar-winning Sundance Film Festival veteran Bill Condon returned to Park City to present the world premiere of his new movie musical, Kiss of the Spider Woman, at Eccles Center Theatre on Sunday night. When it was over and all the credits had rolled, his star Jennifer Lopez was moved to tears, the capacity crowd delivered two standing ovations and a star was born thanks to a revelatory turn from Tonatiuh.

Considering the pedigree of its filmmaker — Condon previously directed musicals Dreamgirls and Beauty and the Beast and wrote the Oscar-winning Chicago — and its global superstar who plays dual roles including the title character, Spider Woman was the most anticipated debut of Sundance this year. In his review, The Hollywood Reporter‘s chief film critic David Rooney calls it one of Lopez’s best roles of her decades-long career.

Lopez, who skipped snow boots and sweaters for her festival debut, hit...

The overlap of awards season with a fire season has posed a stern test of Hollywood fortitude. Will there be shelf space for statuettes?

If Hollywood needs some optimism I’d propose it look to Jon M. Chu, who has contributed both a sharp, but unnoticed, new book plus a hit movie to advance his mission. His Wicked won the Cinematic and Box Office Achievement honor at the Golden Globes, but the kudo crowd also owes Chu a bow for his memoir Viewfinder, which poses his dissent on current issues.

Viewfinder details the hazardous trek of a young Chinese-American filmmaker seeking to pursue his zeal for pure “entertainment” in an industry that periodically seems disdainful of that concept.

As he preps his Wicked sequel at Universal, Chu, at 46, can look back upon a formidable list of snubs, slaps, cancellations and ethnic putdowns littering his younger years.

Deadline Related Video:

The...

Many of us survived the Covid days by rediscovering old MGM musicals, humming tunes from Singing In the Rain or doing a Fred Astaire tap from Top Hat.

So if they represented islands of good cheer, let’s get real about the new cycle of musicals: Like their forebears, they will likely win lots of awards and make money, but tonally they are not exactly generous with joy. Even some of their admirers were left hopeful that Bob Dylan would find a new analyst, Maria Callas would try Tinder and Elton John — well Never Too Late may be pushing it.

Award nominations already are stacking up for Timothée Chalamet, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Karla Sofía Gascón and Angelina Jolie among others, and Universal is joyful about its $500 million-plus grosses for Wicked. There’s no doubt that the musical genre has re-established itself, with even some of this year...

"My love, oh my love." ☂ Janus Films has unveiled the official 4K re-release trailer for The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, which is getting a US theatrical release starting in early December. Jacques Demy's all-timer musical classic The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (or Les Parapluies de Cherbourg in French) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, initially opening in France back in 1964. Written and directed by Jacques Demy, with music by Michel Legrand. Catherine Deneuve and Nino Castelnuovo star as two young lovers in the French city of Cherbourg, separated by circumstance. This new 4K restoration also re-premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival earlier this year with a glamorous event and celebration. This is one of the most beautiful films ever made, so vivid and colorful and emotional and evocative. The film was also restored and re-released in 2013, and is already available as a Blu-ray in the Criterion Collection. Even if this isn't...

Actor and singer Vanessa Paradis, a household name in France, captivated audiences with candid and charismatic reflections on her multifaceted career during a masterclass at the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon.

When asked about working alongside French cinema legends Alain Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo in Patrice Leconte’s 1998 action comedy “Half a Chance,” she didn’t beat about the bush.

“Jean-Paul Belmondo was always surrounded by people; there was a lot of laughter while Alain Delon was alone – just him and his dogs,” she recalled. “But when the two of them got together, you could tell they were very fond of each other. They were happy to make this film together.”

Paradis acknowledged the unique privilege of collaborating with such iconic figures. “I knew how lucky I was back then, but today I realize it even more,” she said, adding with a grin, “I got to spend four months with them,...

The variety sketch series The Muppet Show was a touchstone of popular culture during the 1970s and early 1980s that featured many incredible celebrity guests. While the Muppets have remained consistently popular due to subsequent TV series, movies, and one-off specials, the unique characters created by the Jim Henson Company were at the height of their popularity during this shows run. With appearances from iconic actors, performers, singers, and rock stars, the guest stars of The Muppet Show truly were a whos who of celebrity culture during the late 1970s.

By the time The Muppet Show ended in 1981, it had run for five successful seasons and amounted to 120 incredible episodes. With a litany of acclaimed guest stars, The Muppet Show kept itself interesting by leaning into the talents of its guest stars and being unafraid to take chances, give the celebrities a chance to make fun of themselves, and provide some good-natured family-friendly entertainment.

Step aside Tom Cruise, there may be a new savior of cinema: Glen Powell.

The “Twisters” actor, who is a certified student of Cruise’s movie star status after the duo starred in “Top Gun: Maverick” together, recently took to social media to voice his love of theatergoing and thank “Twisters” fans. The quasi-sequel reimagining of the ’80s disaster film surpassed box office predictions to become a theatrical hit.

“When I was a kid, during the summer I begged my parents to stay in the movie theater all day. Not just cause it had the best air conditioning in Texas, but because summer movies were designed to give you your money’s worth,” Powell captioned. “And I always got to share that cinematic experience with a theater full of people who were on the same ride with me and left with the same rush. So seeing the universal response to...

Glen Powell is gearing up to return to the skies for another “Top Gun” film.

Appearing on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast at the 92nd Street Y, the “Top Gun: Maverick” star said that he is holding a date to begin pre-production on the film’s currently untitled sequel. IndieWire has reached out to Powell’s representatives for comment.

Powell and “Twisters” co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones were asked if it was more likely to get a “Normal People” continuation or third “Top Gun” film first, prompting Powell to offer a minor update on his Tom Cruise-led sequel.

“I mean, I have a date,” he said, before being asked if he could share more details.

“Absolutely not,” Powell said.

Powell and “Top Gun” co-star Tom Cruise have been vocal about wanting to work together again. While on the “Today” show, Powell teased that a third “Top Gun” would be “happening at some point.

The legendary Rita Moreno is the teacher of your nightmares in the dark comedy thriller The Prank, set for a UK release next week! Also starring Connor Kalopsis (Outmatched) and Ramona Young (Never Have I Ever), The Prank is written by Rebecca Flinn-White (Period’s Big Adventure) and Zak White (Creepshow) and directed by Maureen Bharoocha (Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin).

Ben has a stern, mean and cruel physics teacher, Mrs. Wheeler. She has been teaching at the school for decades and has a reputation for being the hardest, coldest, strictest faculty member. She fails Ben’s entire class unless a student who cheated comes forward. But when no one does, Tanner and Ben hatch a plan to ruin her life and frame her for murder on social media.

The Prank will be available on digital platforms June 24th, courtesy of Signature Entertainment. Check out the trailer and poster below:...

Director Paul King shared a new update on the Fred Astaire biopic, revealing the script is being written alongside writer Lee Hall. The biopic has been in development since it was first announced in 2021 after Tom Holland confirmed he was playing the renowned Hollywood legend. Tom Holland's dancing talents and acting range make him perfect for the Astaire role.

Director Paul King provides a new update on the upcoming Fred Astaire biopic starring Tom Holland. In 2021, Holland confirmed that he would be playing Astaire, the legendary Hollywood and Broadway star who is renowned for his talents as an actor and a choreographer, and above all, his unparalleled talents as a dancer. Since the news of Holland's casting, there have not been many updates on the movie's progress, other than that it was still in development.

While speaking with ComicBook.com about the upcoming home release of his most recent movie, Wonka,...

Greta Gerwig wears a see-through skirt while stepping out for her Screen Talks conversation during the 2023 BFI London Film Festival on Sunday (October 8) held at the BFI Southbank in London.

The 40-year-old actress, writer and director talked with fellow screenwriter Jesse Armstrong about her work during the event, including of course, her most recent hit Barbie.

While talking about the film, Greta revealed another scene that the studio questioned and she had to fight to keep it in.

See what she shared inside…

Greta shared that she was asked in a meeting if Ryan Gosling‘s “I’m Just Ken” dance number was necessary.

“It just said in the script, ‘And then it becomes a dream ballet and they work it out through dance,’” she said, via Variety. “There was a big meeting that was like, ‘Do you need this?’ And I was like, ‘Everything in me needs this.’ They were like,...

“Barbie” director Greta Gerwig discussed how Ryan Gosling’s “I’m Just Ken” dance sequence came to be during her Screen Talk at the BFI London Film Festival on Sunday, revealing that she was asked in a “big meeting” if the scene was necessary.

“It just said in the script, ‘And then it becomes a dream ballet and they work it out through dance,'” Gerwig said in conversation with “Succession” creator Jesse Armstrong. “There was a big meeting that was like, ‘Do you need this?’ And I was like, ‘Everything in me needs this.’ They were like, ‘What do you even mean? What is a dream ballet?’ And I was like, ‘A dream ballet? Where do I begin!'”

Gerwig cited “Singing in the Rain” as one of her main inspirations for the scene, explaining that the classic movie musical contains “a dream ballet inside of a dream ballet.

Exclusive: Robbie Fairchild, a Broadway lead and former New York City Ballet principal dancer, will star in the stage version of Michel Hazanavicius’ 2011 Oscar-winning movie The Artist, set in the 1920s when movies found their voice with the advent of talking pictures.

Fairchild received a Tony Award nomination for An American In Paris, another show based on a celebrated movie when it premiered on Broadway in 2015. Two years later, he helped launch that show in the West End.

In The Artist, he will play Silent Era matinee idol George Valentin, who finds his career torn away from him when the talkies arrive.

The part won French actor Jean Dujardin the Best Actor Oscar.

The Artist, co-written for the theater by Drew McOnie and playwright and screenwriter Lindsey Ferrentino, will have its world premiere at the Theatre Royal Plymouth from May 11 to May...

Barbie draws inspiration from classic films like The Wizard of Oz and Rear Window for its set design and immersive storytelling. Film influences like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Singing in the Rain are evident in Barbie's parodies and musical moments. Greta Gerwig's choice of films like The Young Girls of Rochefort and The Philadelphia Story reflect Barbie's vibrant wardrobe and existential journey.

Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is a cultural sensation, and the blockbuster movie has ten classic films that influenced its story and aesthetic. The box office hit has been praised for its subversive yet admiring portrait of the Mattel doll while offering nuanced insight into womanhood. Barbie is a colorful and joyful film that has audiences of all ages treating their trip to the theater like a celebratory event. Writer and Director Greta Gerwig is the filmmaking mastermind behind this summer’s pink frenzy, and she credits...

Glee's best song performances were marked by impeccable blending, stunning visuals, and great chemistry among the cast, as seen in the "Singing In The Rain/Umbrella" mashup. Naya Rivera and Amber Riley showcased their vocal prowess and created an iconic duet with their cover of "River Deep, Mountain High." Mercedes finally got her overdue solo with "And I Am Telling You," solidifying Amber Riley's talent and setting the stage for her future success.

Over its 6 seasons and 121 episodes, the Glee cast performed almost 750 songs, but 10 performances stood out among the rest. Glee first premiered on Fox in 2009 as a musical comedy-drama and told the story of a ragtag glee club, The New Directions. Led by Mr. Schuester, they attempted to not only keep the program alive but also win the biggest competition in high school show choir: Nationals. Glee ended after six seasons in 2015 with the most Billboard Hot 100 hits in history,...

With Barbie just around the corner, there’s a lot of anticipation and wiggly legs. If you’re feeling underprepared to see the new Greta Gerwig movie, she has a full watchlist on her Letterboxd to help you through her filmmaking process and her many a classic inspiration that drove this project home. Now, there are some of us who don’t have access to or maybe an interest in watching these old movies, so I’ve tried to make a compilation of movies that includes some of Greta’s picks, but also my interpretation of what other movies could fall under this category. This list has been curated with the influence of Greta’s interviews, her own watchlist, and the promotional content of Barbie. If you’re having a watch party before seeing the new film, here are some films you could choose from:

The Wizard of Oz

This...

While there’s no argument that Tom Holland is best known for playing Peter Parker/Spider-Man in “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and its sequels, there’s another performance that continues to resonate with viewers: his 2017 appearance on “Lip Sync Battle”.

In that now-iconic bit, Holland began by making like Gene Kelly while lip-syncing to “Singing in the Rain”, wearing a suit, tie and hat while accompanied by backup dancers, all brandishing umbrellas.

Read More: Tom Holland Makes It Rain To Rihanna’s ‘Umbrella’ In The Ultimate ‘Lip Sync Battle’ Performance

After 20 seconds or so, Holland briefly disappeared and then re-emerged dressed in an entirely different outfit, wearing a wig, fishnet stockings, high heels and a bustier, faux rain pouring down as he lip-synced to Rihanna’s “Umbrella” while performing an unbelievably acrobatic dance routine that included a gymnastic flip that found him splashing down into a puddle of water.

Despite all the years that have passed,...

There are so many big sells for the 1955 musical It’s Always Fair Weather. Firstly, the golden pairing of Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen is the key factor. The musical maestros behind such great heavy hitters such as Singing in the Rain (1952) and On the Town (1949) return for another outing, promising an exquisite smorgasbord of dancing and colour.

The other interest in this musical is that it is an MGM musical. That means all the scintillating scenes of the spectrum on the screen. A nouvelle advancement here is It’s Always Fair Weather is shot in CinemaScope and, instead of Technicolor, it is filmed in brilliant Eastmancolor.

Plus, seeing the original 1955 print, as the filmmakers intended, thanks to the BFI Film on Film festival made It’s Always Fair Weather a must-see outing.

So, one heads into It’s Always Fair Weather with all this in mind and comes away with one name – Dolores Gray…...