Movies
Page: 17
Halsey is not in the mood for anyone’s b.s. in the first look at director Tony Tost’s heist drama Americana. In a 90-second sneak peek that dropped on Wednesday (March 15), the singer — rocking a 1970s-style choppy shag cut and all-black ensemble — is minding her own business while filling up her orange muscle car when she’s interrupted not once, but twice.
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“Beautiful day today,” says Paul Walter Hauser’s (Black Bird) character Lefty to Halsey’s Mandy. “Still, they say it might rain. Any big weekend plans?,” he continues. Mandy is clearly not interested, snapping back, “Hey buddy, today is not the f—ing day.”
The confrontation is interrupted by Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria), whose character Penny Jo sticks a gun into Mandy’s back demanding the mythical Native American artifact that she and Lefty were planning to steal. “Do you have the artifact?” Penny Jo asks as Mandy looks back over her shoulder in annoyance.
“I thought you were sweet,” she says, her face softening in seeming condescension. “Do you have it?” Penny Jo repeats more menacingly as Mandy suggests she might have the object, or maybe not. “Give it to me,” Penny Jo demands. “No,” Mandy says as she finishes pumping, walks away and dares Penny to “shoot me” nonchalantly.
Americana marks Halsey’s big screen debut and according to Deadline, the movie follows waitress Penny Jo and lonesome cowboy Lefty as they plan to swipe the mythical “Lakota Ghost Shirt” from some criminals to fund Penny’s Nashville dreams. “Things get complicated when the lead criminal’s long-suffering girlfriend (Halsey) decides to take the artifact for her own personal reasons,” reads a description.
“It’s one of my favorite scenes because none of these characters are smooth, experienced criminals in the slightest, and I love how Sydney, Paul, and Halsey all play their desperate intentions and discomfort to quietly comedic effect,” Tost told Deadline. The film, Tost’s first major feature, also stars Eric Dane, Simon Rex, Zahn McClarnon and Gavin Maddox Bergman. Americana is slated to make its world premiere at 2:30 ET on Friday (March 17) at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, TX during SXSW.
Check out the Americana sneak peek below.
On the eve of Sunday’s (March 12) Academy Awards, movie maximalist Baz Luhrmann is giving Elvis fans more, more, more. The director whose dizzying biopic of The King is nominated for 8 Oscars announced a deluxe edition of the movie’s official soundtrack on Tuesday (March 7) featuring previously unreleased recordings of star Austin Butler, some contemporary versions of Elvis classics and the new mash-up “Backstreet Boss Nova (Daisy O’Dell Remix)” that mixes up Presley and the iconic ’90s boy band.
“The whole Elvis music team has answered the call from fans with this new Deluxe Edition of the Elvis soundtrack,” said Luhrmann in a statement. “Featuring everything from previously unreleased recordings by Austin Butler to contemporary takes on Elvis’s classics and a fresh mash-up with the Backstreet Boys, the Deluxe album reveals all the complex layers of Austin’s performance, Elvis’s music and those who continue his legacy.”
At a massive 52 tracks, the deluxe edition features “Toxic Las Vegas” (Presley x Britney Spears and “Fly Away Weave” with the film’s scorer, Elliott Wheeler, as well as Gary Clark Jr., Shannon Sanders, Nashville Urban Choir, Butler, Shonka Dukureh and Lanesha Randolph. The beefed-up album also has the Presley songs “Rubberneckin’,” “Blue Moon,” “Can’t Help Falling In Love” (Wheeler remix and Aug. 12 — Midnight Show version), “A Little Less Conversation” (Presley x JXL) and Butler performing “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Heartbreak Hotel” (with Wheeler), “Are You Lonesome Tonight” (with Wheeler) and “Crawfish” (live on set).
Also included is “How Do You Think I Feel” by Kodi Smit-McPhee (who plays Jimmie Rodgers in the film) and Wheeler and Kacey Musgraves and Mark Ronson’s version of “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” which, along with the Spears song were released as singles leading up to the original album’s release.
Listen to the Elvis deluxe edition below.
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Ben Stiller publicly defended his Tropic Thunder movie recently, which garnered controversy over Robert Downey Jr. appearing in blackface in the film among other issues.
The actor and writer was mentioned in a tweet about the film last Tuesday by a Trump supporter who goes by “Benny Sings.” The individual wrote: “Please stop apologizing for doing this movie. It was and still is funny AF… Even funnier now with cancel culture the way it is. It’s a MOVIE. Ya’ll can just get over it. I was DYING laughing when I first saw it back in the day and so was everyone else.”
In an included text statement, the user noted that the Wayans Bros didn’t apologize for White Chicks in which they appeared as two white women. Stiller would respond afterward, writing: “I make no apologies for ‘Tropic Thunder.’ Don’t know who told you that. It’s always been a controversial movie since when we opened. Proud of it and the work everyone did on it.”
The 2008 comedy movie, which features Stiller and Downey Jr. along with Jack Black, drew a swarm of backlash on its release mainly for Stiller’s role as Tugg Speedman, who played a character in the fictional film-within-the-film Simple Jack that disability advocates felt mocked them. They pointed to the usage of the R-slur in particular in their criticisms.
Downey Jr. would also face some backlash for his role as Australian method actor Kirk Lazarus, who opts to darken his skin to play a Black soldier. The Iron Man actor did express his reservations about taking the role while appearing on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast in 2019, which would wind up earning him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor the following year. “Sometimes, you just have to go, ‘Yeah I effed up,’” he said.
Stiller appeared to apologize for that or claimed to in another tweet in 2018 prompted by Olympic medalist Shaun White appearing as Simple Jack for a Halloween costume. “Actually Tropic Thunder was boycotted 10 years ago when it came out, and I apologized then. It was always meant to make fun of actors trying to do anything to win awards. I stand by my apology, the movie, Shaun White, And the great people and work of the @SpecialOlympics,” he wrote.
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Photo: Stephane Cardinale – Corbis / Getty
JoJo Siwa is headed to the big screen. The 19-year-old Dance Moms veteran, singer and YouTube favorite is slated to co-star in the horror movie All My Friends Are Dead opposite Jade Pettyjohn (Little Fires Everywhere) according to Deadline.
Casting for the movie from Saw 3D co-writer Marcus Dunstan is reportedly still going on and filming is slated to begin in Canada in the spring, with Dunstan directing from a script by Josh Sims and Jessica Sarah Flaum. According to a description, the movie follows a group of close college friends who get a great deal on an awesome Airbnb for the biggest music festival of the year.
“A weekend of partying quickly takes a turn for the worst as members of the group are murdered one by one,” it continues. “They soon discover that each one of their deaths directly corresponds to one of the seven deadly sins.”
In a statement, Siwa said she was grateful for the chance to be in the film, adding, “This is a project that is so different from anything I’ve done previously; however, I absolutely love horror movies and I can’t wait to start production! I’m also excited to work with Jade again. We worked together when we were younger and can’t wait to create this movie together.”
Siwa made news in December when she opened up about her break up with Avery Cyrus, posting a lip-sync video in which she speculated on the reasons for the split. “But I love you Why are you breaking up with me??!!!” she wrote before offering up two different options in the clip using viral sound from “My Brother My Brother and Me” on her YouTube channel. “There’s someone else” and, uh, “You told one of my best friends that you were excited to be dating me bc you’re ‘growing your career and wanna get to the top’…”
At the end of the clip she made it clear that there was not a third party involved. “And when I said I just wanted to be friends so I didn’t lead you on after an unplanned hookup you wanted nothing to do with me because there was nothing to gain anymore,” she wrote.
We’re just three months away from the long-awaited release of The Little Mermaid live-action remake, and on Wednesday (Feb. 15), Disney unveiled a new teaser.
In the 30-second clip, Halle Bailey is seen singing “Part of Your World” as Ariel, before a few scenes quickly flash on the screen and we get a glimpse of the mermaid’s pal Flounder (voiced by Jacob Tremblay) and Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric. At the end of the teaser, a villainous cackle is heard before Melissa McCarthy appears as the devious Ursula, with tentacles covering the bottom half of her face.
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In November, the Chloe x Halle star revealed that the most “touching” part of playing the iconic Ariel was getting to see the reaction little girls had to her performance of “Part of Your World” when it initially was released in September.
“It just makes me cry,” she shared. “The fact that all these little Black and Brown babies are going to be able to feel like they’re being represented is really special to me. I know that if I had that when I was younger, it would have changed a whole lot for me and my perspective on who I am as an individual.”
The Little Mermaid live action remake, which will feature four original songs in addition to the classic hits, will be released on May 26, 2023. Watch the new teaser below.
It’s been nearly 10 years since Austin Butler‘s mom Lori died of cancer in 2014, when the Elvis actor was just 23 years old. In an exclusive clip shared with Billboard from Butler’s upcoming conversation with Willie Geist on Sunday TODAY, the Golden Globe-winning actor revealed how his beloved mother would feel about his success.
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“I think she’d be very proud,” Butler shared, choking up and visibly teary-eyed. “She sacrificed so much. She quit her job to drive me to auditions and drive me to acting classes. She’d wait outside and drive all the way back down to Orange County.”
He added that Lori wanted to be an actress herself back when she was in high school. “I think I’m sort of getting to live this life for both of us, in that way,” he added. “She was my best friend and I think she’d be happy.”
On the influence that his mother had on him as he continues his acting journey, Butler praised Lori’s benevolent personality. “She was also just the most kind person,” he said. “She lit up every room and she was so vibrant. She was just nice to everyone. There’s so many things that — I just want to make her proud. I want her to live through me and the lessons that she taught me and the way that she was.”
Watch the clip below, and catch the full interview on NBC News’ Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist on Feb. 19.
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AMC might be putting on a masterclass in self-sabotage with the announcement of its new ticket pricing system.
On Monday afternoon, AMC revealed that its Sightline initiative would set its ticket price based on where you enjoy your movie-watching experience. It will likely lead to battles for that highly coveted middle section.
Per NPR:
Seats on the front row are considered Value Sightline seats and cost less, while seats in the middle are called Preferred Sightline seats and will cost more. The remaining parts of the theater are Standard Sightline seats and will cost the price of a standard admission ticket.
Those who are members of AMC Stubs A-List, the top tier of the company’s reward program, can select Preferred Sightline seats for no extra cost.
If you cop movie tickets after 4 pm, Sightline-prices will be applied. However, the new initiative will not apply to AMC’s $5 Discount Tuesdays.
This heada** pricing structure is already available in select markets, with AMC set to introduce it at all movie locations at the end of the year.
“Sightline at AMC more closely aligns AMC’s seat pricing approach to that of many other entertainment venues, offering experienced-based pricing and another way for moviegoers to find value at the movies,” Executive Vice President Eliot Hamlisch said.
As Expected No One Likes AMC’s New Ticket Pricing Initiative
The initiative isn’t going over well with customers and even those in Hollywood. Actor Elijah Wood, best known for his role as Frodo Baggins in The Lord of The Rings trilogy, pointed out AMC’s new system would punish lower-income movie fans.
We shall see if AMC will continue with this new pricing initiative or have an about-face after it will most likely flop. You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
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Photo: Penske Media / Getty
3. Accurate
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It’s been 23 years since Russell Crowe took the world by storm playing General Maximus Decimus Meridius in Ridley Scott’s historical action/drama film, Gladiator. Although it seemed like a one-shot affair, the classic film is apparently getting a sequel (now?!?).
Deadline is reporting that Paramount has tapped Ridley Scott to return to the Colosseum that saw General Maximus become a legend and continue the story that began two decades ago, but unfortunately it will not be involving Crowe’s classic character (he died at the end of the film). Instead, the movie will star a lesser known character from the original, Lucius who will be played by Paul Mescal. In Gladiator, Lucius was in line to take the throne vacated by his blood thirsty and apparently incest-obsessed uncle, Commodus.
As Justin Kroll first reported, Mescal isn’t replacing Russell Crowe’s Maximus from the first film, who died. He’s playing Lucius, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), who now is a grown man as the story takes place years after the first film ended. Lucius also was the nephew of Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the son of Roman leader Marcus Aurelius, who murdered his father seized the throne. Commodus wound up in the gladiator ring with Maximus — who, though mortally wounded, skewered the emperor before fading into the great beyond to reunite with his slain wife and son. Maximus saved the boy and his mother while avenging his own family, and left a strong impression on the young Lucius.
Nobody in the theater gave a damn about that kid, Lucius. He could’ve been fed to the tigers for all we cared. But hey, that’s just us.
Whether or not fans of Gladiator will still have interest in a sequel and circle back to the franchise minus Russell Crowe remains to be seen (we’re kinda cool on Gladiator 2 for now) but we’ll wait until we get an official trailer to the film before we decide on whether or not to catch the film when it drops on November 22nd 2024.
Are you looking forward to Gladiator 2? Is it two decades too late? Let us know in the comments section below.
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are getting back into the David Fincher business. The Oscar-winning musical duo will team up with their frequent collaborator for his upcoming movie, The Killer, which is due out on Netflix on November 10.
The news was announced on the Nine Inch Nails site in a post revealing the details for their deluxe 3LP release of their score for Fincher’s 2002 biographical drama about the career of Citizen Kane screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz. “Starting with the Academy Award-winning score for The Social Network in 2010, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have been collaborating with David Fincher as film composers for over a decade,” read the post.
“Their critically acclaimed score for Mank is now available in a deluxe vinyl package,” it continued. “Reznor and Ross have also done the score for Fincher’s next project, The Killer.” The duo — who won a second Oscar in 2021 for the score to animated film Soul (shared with Jon Batiste) — have also written the scores for Fincher’s Gone Girl and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.
NIN bandmates Reznor and Ross have had a fruitful side hustle in movie scoring, not only working repeatedly with Fincher, but also lending their musical chops to the 2016 Boston marathon bombing drama Patriots Day, Jonah Hill’s 2018 directorial debut, the coming-of-age comedy Mid90s, the 2019 drama Waves, the 2019 graphic novel TV adaptation Watchmen and director Sam Mendes’ 2022 drama Empire of Light; the pair also co-produced Halsey’s 2021 album If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power.
The highly anticipated Madonna biopic directed by the icon herself is on pause at Universal Pictures, Billboard can confirm.
Madonna’s reps revealed that the superstar is focusing on her newly announced global tour this year, and is still planning on making a movie on her life at some point. The massive Celebration Tour will honor her four decades of hits, and will span from July 15 all the way through Dec. 1.
The film, initially announced in 2020, was set to delve into the life and career of the beloved musician, and Inventing Anna actress Julia Garner was rumored to have been offered the role of portraying the pop superstar. According to reports at the time, Garner took part in a long process to snag the role, which included choreography sessions with the singer’s choreographer, as well as choreography, singing and reading sessions with Madonna herself. Other actresses who auditioned for the coveted role include Florence Pugh, Odessa Young and Alexa Demie.
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Madonna was set to direct the biopic herself with Amy Pascal as the producer for the film, which was co-written by Secretary writer Erin Cressida Wilson.
“The reason I’m doing it is because a bunch of people have tried to write movies about me, but they’re always men,” Madonna said of the biopic in October during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. As for why she decided to make the biopic and lead the charge, she told Variety in July, “I’ve had an extraordinary life, I must make an extraordinary film.”