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“Life is a cabaret, old chum,” a mindful lyric from the iconic Cabaret, performed by Liza Minnelli, perfectly encapsulates the vibrant spirit with which Linda Lavin lived her life. Alas, the world lost a theater giant on December 29, 2024, when Lavin passed away at the age of 87 due to complications from lung cancer.

Known to millions for her unforgettable portrayal of Alice on the beloved CBS sitcom, she was far more than just the face behind a diner waitress.

Linda Lavin in The Back-up Plan (2010) | Credit: CBS Films

From musicals like A Family Affair to the quirky, It’s a Bird…It’s a Plane…It’s Superman, Lavin brought an energy to the stage that was impossible to ignore. She was a true chameleon, a woman who could transition from drama to comedy without breaking a sweat.

As we bid farewell to the legendary star who passed away at 87, let...

Arthur Penn's controversial "Bonnie and Clyde" was one of the first shots across the cultural bow at the outset of the New Hollywood revolution. This is when the major studios finally, if quite accidentally, realized a legion of moviegoers (i.e. Baby Boomers) were losing interest in historical epics, war films, and Westerns, and, desperate to save their industry, handed over the reins to artists and executives who understood what this upstart generation was craving. Rock-and-roll was over a decade old by this point, while beat poetry and protest music were all the rage. Audiences wanted movies that burned with the same dissatisfied fire that fueled all of the other art they were imbibing and inhaling at the time. They wanted to be challenged.

"Bonnie and Clyde" did more than challenge moviegoers. It shook them up. Many loved this. Some, like The New York Times' chief film critic Bosley Crowther,...

November is here, and with sunset falling sooner and sooner, what better way to spend your down time than snuggled up on the couch watching a great movie? A bevy of films are newly streaming in November and we’ve rounded up a curated list of the best ones added to Netflix, Prime Video, Max, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock and beyond this month.

Check out our picks for the best new movies streaming in November 2024 below.

“Music by John Williams” “Music by John Williams” (Credit: Lucasfilm Ltd.)

Disney+ – Nov. 1

John Williams is the elder statesman of film music. His scores conjure memories and transport you to different times and places. Just think about what he’s contributed over the years, from “Jaws” to “Star Wars” to “Indiana Jones” to “Harry Potter” to “Jurassic Park” to “Home Alone.” Even lesser-known scores crackle with intensity, technical proficiency and creative flair (think Brian De Palma...

AFI Fest will feature a lot of music by John Williams.

Laurent Bouzereau’s new documentary, Music by John Williams, is set to have its world premiere on opening night of the 2024 edition of the Los Angeles film festival, which will be presented by new exclusive sponsor Canva with additional support from Fiji Water. The 38th AFI Fest kicks off Oct. 23 and runs through Oct. 27 at Hollywood’s Tcl Chinese Theatres.

Hailing from Lucasfilm, Amblin Documentaries and Imagine Documentaries, Music by John Williams is billed as comprehensive look at the life and legendary career of the prolific composer who has been nominated for 54 Oscars and won five. In 2016, he was presented with an AFI Life Achievement Award, which made him the first composer to receive the honor. Williams, now 92, has so many credits on his résumé (hundreds) that there’s not enough space to fit them all here. But he...

“Music by John Williams,” a documentary chronicling the life and accomplishments of legendary Oscar-winning composer John Williams, will open AFI Fest, the American Film Institute announced Thursday.

The film will hold its world premiere at the 38th annual festival on Oct. 23. It will then have a limited theatrical run before dropping Nov. 1 on Disney+.

Produced by Lucasfilm, Amblin Documentaries and Imagine Documentaries, “Music by John Williams” is described as “a comprehensive look” at Williams’ prolific life and career. From his early days as a jazz pianist to his 54 Oscar nominations and five wins, the doc spotlights Williams’ contributions to the moving image arts, music for the concert stage and impact on popular culture.

Featured in the doc are interviews with Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Kate Capshaw, Gustavo Dudamel, J.J. Abrams, Chris Martin, Ron Howard, Chris Columbus, George Lucas, Itzhak Perlman, Lawrence Kasdan, Yo-Yo Ma, Ke Huy Quan, James Mangold,...

“The Long Goodbye,” “Home Alone,” “Harry Potter,” “Star Wars,” “Jurassic Park” — these are just a few of the legendary films composer and conductor John Williams has scored throughout his 72 (!) year career. At the 95th Academy Awards in 2023, he became the oldest Oscar nominee in any category for his work on Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans,” then beat that record again the following year, being nominated in Best Original Score for “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” This is in addition to his other 52 Academy Award nominations and five wins. To honor his storied career, Lucasfilms Ltd., Amblin Documentaries, and Imagine Documentaries have joined forces to produce the documentary, “Music by John Williams,” which will have its world premiere on Wednesday, October 23 at the 38th edition of AFI Fest presented by Canva.

The documentary aims to celebrate the life and legacy of John Williams, his countless contributions to the medium of film,...

The American Film Institute has announced that Music By John Williams, a documentary on the iconic film composer from Lucasfilm Ltd, Amblin Documentaries and Imagine Documentaries, will world premiere as the opening night film of the 38th AFI Fest on Wednesday, October 23.

Directed by Laurent Bouzereau, the doc is billed as a comprehensive look at Williams’ life and career, from his early days as a jazz pianist to his 54 Oscar nominations and five wins, celebrating his countless contributions to the moving image arts, music for the concert stage as well as his indelible impact on popular culture.

One of the most influential film composers in history, who in 2016 became the first to receive AFI’s Life Achievement Award, Williams’ work spans top-tier franchises like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter and Jurassic Park, as well as such classic one-offs as Jaws, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and Schindler’s List. Over the course of his career,...

Robert Benton’s Bad Company does for the western what Bonnie and Clyde, Benton’s earlier collaboration with screenwriter David Newman, did for the gangster movie, only without that film’s veneer of star-powered sex appeal. The scrappier Bad Company consistently undermines the romanticized notions of the frontier that underpinned several generations of genre filmmaking. The film especially takes direct aim at two of our nation’s dearest held myths: the Horatio Alger notion of economic self-sufficiency, and the destiny of political expansion manifest in Horace Greeley’s famous dictum: “Go west, young man!”

The film is also decidedly of a piece with the year of its release in 1972, evident from the very first scene, wherein we see a young man dragged kicking and screaming from his home by blue-clad Army soldiers to be conscripted into the Union cause. The moment is given a surreal punchline by the fact that...

The iconic dark comedy Heathers is set to make a triumphant return with a limited edition 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release on 5th August 2024. This cult classic, which has captivated audiences with its sharp satire and dark humour, will be available through Arrow Films, featuring a comprehensive collection of special features and a stunning new restoration.

Heathers has long been celebrated as a quintessential piece of modern American cinema, renowned for its biting critique of 1980s high school culture. Set at Westerburg High School, the film follows the story of Veronica Sawyer, a bright and popular student who reluctantly becomes part of an elite group of girls known as the “Heathers.” Disillusioned by their cruelty, Veronica finds herself drawn to the enigmatic Jd. Their partnership takes a deadly turn when a prank on the clique’s leader, Heather Chandler (Kim Walker), leads to her accidental poisoning, staged as a suicide.

Regardless of its importance to the storytelling process, film music is too often an afterthought. There are a variety of theories that composers have as to why, and they’re mostly related to a lack of education. So I’ve decided to take an active stance in educating filmmakers about the role of music in film and the process of how a film score comes into being.

My hope is that by the end of this piece you’ll be more familiar with: A) the history of film music in general, and B) the key composers who have contributed to the development of film music as an art. So—where did this all start?

The Silent Era (1890s-1929) Silent film star Mary Pickford. Somewhere, a pianist is inspired.

During the silent era, films music is provided by each individual theater, either by phonograph or as performed live by flesh-and-blood musicians.

A motion picture screenplay is by nature imperfectible, and time, tide, and taste will have their say. The Oscar-winning script written for 1974’s “Chinatown” by Robert Towne — who passed away Monday, July 1, at age 89, according to his publicist (via THR) — makes its own case for being as perfect an example of the form as we may ever see. That it was the first original (as opposed to an adaptation) Towne ever authored, coming along at the age of 40, is itself remarkable.

It’s no coincidence that his great friend Jack Nicholson, an artistic comrade in arms since they met as neophytes in a Hollywood acting class, was the center of “Chinatown’s” dark beauty and also of the ribald, corrosive and mordantly funny Towne script for 1973’s “The Last Detail.” Another friend, Warren Beatty, was the centerpiece of 1975’s “Shampoo,” which joined the previous two to notch Towne’s third...

When TCM channel host Dave Karger used to be a writer for Entertainment Weekly in his early days as a print journalist, he would focus a great deal on interviewing the big pop stars of the day, along with his duties on the film beat. But little did very many people suspect then that what he really wanted to be writing about was “Laura”… not Branigan, but David Raksin’s music for the classic 1945 noir. That was the film that really prompted Karger’s lifelong love of movie scoring.

“His score for ‘Laura’ really turned me on to classic film music, and film scores in general,” says Karger. “And then you go back and you learn that in 1945, there were 20 Oscar nominees that year in the category of best score for a non-musical film — and David Raksin wasn’t even one of the 20 nominees. That’s a score that has...

David Newman's score for the Firefly follow-up movie Serenity is now available for pre-order on vinyl. Screen Rant interviewed Newman about his work on the movie. Newman reflects on the challenges of creating the score for the film, showcasing his innovative approach to musical storytelling.

The 2005 sci-fi film Serenity had to strike an impossible balance, both catering to the exceptionally dedicated cult following of a one-season TV show while still welcoming moviegoers who had no idea what Firefly was. Creatively, it succeeded, but underwhelming box office numbers quieted talks of a sequel. Nearly 20 years later, and the cast of that moviepeople like Nathan Fillion (The Rookie), Morena Baccarin (Deadpool), Summer Glau (Arrow), and Gina Torres (Suits)are still regularly asked if, when, and how they will reprise their roles.

It's somewhat on brand, then, that composer David Newmans score for the movie is finally making it to vinyl courtesy of Varse Sarabande.

Serenity composer David Newman believes that Firefly's potential as a streaming series was ahead of its time. Newman praises the movie's quality and standout performances. Newman also shares that creator Joss Whedon envisioned Serenity as another season of Firefly.

Serenity composer David Newman thinks that the original Firefly show would have fared much better in the age of streaming. Making its television debut in 2002, the short-lived science fiction show from Joss Whedon was cancelled after only 11 of its 14 episodes were aired. However, the show's subsequent success on home video would catapult it to cult status and would eventually result in the 2005 sequel movie Serenity. Despite strong anticipation and positive critical responses, Serenity underperformed at the box office and only recouped $40.4 million against an original budget of $39 million.

In celebration of the vinyl deluxe edition release of Serenity's soundtrack, available on June 28, Screen Rant spoke with Newman about the...

Matilda in Concert brings the beloved children's classic to life with a live orchestra performance. Danny DeVito's passion for Matilda shines through as he narrates the event. Matilda's timeless appeal lies in themes of strength and kindness, resonating with all ages.

The beloved children's classic Matilda will be brought to the big screen in an all-new way with Matilda in Concert, featuring the New Jersey Symphony performing the score live. Matilda follows a brilliant young girl who loves reading but is misunderstood by those around her, including her family. The precocious young Matilda is enrolled at an abusive school where she bonds with her teacher, Miss Honey, and uses her secret telekinetic powers to help herself, her teacher, and her classmates escape the tyrannical hands of Principal Trunchbull to build better lives.

Danny DeVito is a legendary actor making his mark in television and film. DeVito showcased his acting...

Superman is soaring back to the forefront. A new iteration of the Man of Steel is coming from Warner Bros, which made a splashy acquisition at Sundance of the documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story. That tells the story of moviedom’s first Man of Steel, and how he found his real superpowers in becoming an activist after suffering an equestrian accident that left him paralyzed.

On the heels of that comes an auction by Peter Harrington Rare Books of storyboards that Ivor Beddoes drew for the original Superman, the 1978 blockbuster directed by Richard Donner, with script by Mario Puzo and David Newman, with John Williams score. The film starred Reeve, Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, Glen Ford, Ned Beatty and Terence Stamp. They’ve allowed Deadline readers and Superman fans to take a trip down memory lane and see how the film was structured visually. The most expensive film made for its time,...

Exclusive: Independent Artist Group (Iag) is making a big push in lit with the hire of A3 Artists Agency’s Adam Kanter.

The company is looking to bolster its ranks with directors and writers with Kanter becoming Head of Motion Pictures at the company.

Kanter, who spent three years as Head of A3’s Motion Picture literary department and partner, will bring a slew of clients with him including Girls Trip’s Malcolm Lee, Get Smart’s Pete Segal and There’s Something About Mary’s Bobby Farrelly.

The move was just announced internally by Iag CEO Jim Osborne and EVP, Head of Content Development Kyle Loftus.

The move will see Iag, which was created after APA merged with music touring agency Artist Group International last summer, look to build out its director and writing clients, bringing in more agents and helmers and scribes.

The Motion Picture Department that Kanter will...

John Williams, the veteran film composer known for his work in the “Star Wars” saga, “Jaws,” “Harry Potter,” “Jurassic Park,” “Saving Private Ryan” and dozens of other iconic films, has had a music building dedicated to him by Sony Pictures Entertainment on the historic Culver City Lot, former home of MGM Studios.

The newly named “John Williams Music Building” honors the Academy, Emmy and Grammy Award-winning composer for his contributions to the world of film and music. With 53 Academy Award nominations, Williams is the most nominated individual in Academy history and has had a prolific career that has spanned more than six decades.

“The first time I came to this studio was 1940 when my father brought me here to show me the stage. I was about 9 or 10 years old, and I thought, someday, this will all be mine! It’s finally come to be – it’s only taken me 92 years to get here!

John Williams’ film legacy is being immortalized with a Sony Pictures studio building dedicated to the Oscar-, Emmy,- and Grammy-winning composer.

The newly renamed John Williams Music Building on the Sony Pictures’ Culver City lot was unveiled January 18, with Williams’ longtime collaborator Steven Spielberg sharing his admiration for the musician.

“I have grown up with Johnny from the very beginning,” Spielberg said of Williams. “What he’s done for me is something I haven’t been able to imagine. This building is where all my stress dissipates…when I finally get to this stage of a production, and I know I’m in your hands.”

Spielberg added, “In the end I don’t recognize the movies as mine but as ours. Thank you Johnny, my movies would not be the same without you.”

Williams has earned 53 Academy Award nominations thus far, and collaborated with Spielberg specifically on films like “Jaws,...

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

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Contagion 4K Uhd from Warner Bros.

Contagion will infect 4K Ultra HD on February 27 via Warner Bros. The 2011 thriller has been newly restored in 4K from the original camera negative, overseen by director Steven Soderbergh, with High Dynamic Range.

The ensemble cast features Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Bryan Cranston, Jennifer Ehle, and Sanaa Lathan. Scott Z. Burns (The Bourne Ultimatum) wrote the script.

Three previously released featurettes are included: “The Reality of Contagion,” “The Contagion Detectives,” and “Contagion: How a Virus Changes the World.”

Body Double Vinyl Soundtrack from Waxwork Records

The soundtrack from Brain De Palma’s Body Double is coming to vinyl for $40 from Waxwork Records.

Actor Danny DeVito has excited fans of his hit movie ‘Matilda’ by revealing he is planning a reunion with the lead actress Mara Wilson. He starred alongside her in the 1996 big screen adaptation of the Roald Dahl novel which also saw him act as director, reports ‘Mirror.co.uk’. The flick was a huge hit at the time with fans flocking to see it in their droves.

Now Danny has admitted that he and Mara are planning to collaborate on a concert version of the movie which will see them narrate the film over a live score by composer David Newman.

As per ‘Mirror.co.uk’, speaking to ‘The Messenger’, Danny said: “Mara and I were planning to perform Matilda live with the New Jersey Philharmonic Orchestra just before the strike hit. We had it all set, but after the strike hit, we couldn’t proceed because it would be...

Actor Danny DeVito has excited fans of his hit movie ‘Matilda’ by revealing he is planning a reunion with the lead actress Mara Wilson. He starred alongside her in the 1996 big screen adaptation of the Roald Dahl novel which also saw him act as director, reports ‘Mirror.co.uk’. The flick was a huge hit at the time with fans flocking to see it in their droves.

Now Danny has admitted that he and Mara are planning to collaborate on a concert version of the movie which will see them narrate the film over a live score by composer David Newman.

As per ‘Mirror.co.uk’, speaking to ‘The Messenger’, Danny said: “Mara and I were planning to perform Matilda live with the New Jersey Philharmonic Orchestra just before the strike hit. We had it all set, but after the strike hit, we couldn’t proceed because it would be...

It will be released in UK cinemas from September 1.

Scotland-set survival horror Mercy Falls, starring Outlander’s Lauren Lyle, is getting a UK theatrical release courtesy of 108 Media’s newly-created film distribution label, Bingo Films.

Bingo Films will release the film in UK cinemas from September 1. Priscilla Ross Smith’s France-us sales outfit The Coven represents sales on the project, which has also sold to Bingo Films for Japan and Great Movies for Latin America. It is currently available in North America on streaming platform Tubi.

Mercy Falls is directed by Scottish filmmaker Ryan Hendrick, and follows a group...

“Look at all of you…it really is magical, isn’t it?” – John Williams

This past weekend, fans were treated to 3 nights of some of the most iconic music in Hollywood movie history, conducted by “the maestro” himself, John Williams. Williams, still going strong at 91, appeared on stage, like a spritely Jedi master…with hundreds of light sabers lighting up the Hollywood Bowl in his honor. We’re guessing this is something he has gotten used to, considering that Saturday night marked an impressive 100th performance at the Bowl for Williams, a run that began in 1977.

The first half of the performance with the LA Philharmonic, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, was a selection of well-known scores curated by John Williams, as pieces that are special to him, including Hooray for Hollywood, The Cowboys, and Vertigo. Dudamel then launched into some memorable pieces composed by Williams such as Star Wars: The Phantom Menace...

Star Wars, Harry Potter, The Game Awards and Hayao Miyazaki’s films with Studio Ghibli.

Once again, the Hollywood Bowl is back to thrill audiences with evenings for the upcoming “Music from the Stage and Screen.”

The Hollywood Bowl 2023 season offers more than 20 classical programs including Gustavo Dudamel, Music & Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, returning for his 14th Hollywood Bowl season.

June 24: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in Concert

The 2023 season offers the epic finale to the Harry Potter Film Concert Series with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, bringing the final chapter to the big screens as the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra performs the dazzling score by Alexandre Desplat

Wizarding World and all related trademarks, characters, names, and indicia are © & Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © Jkr. (s23)

https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/events/performances/2303/2023-06-24/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallowstm-part-2-in-concert

June 25: The Game Awards 10–Year...

When it comes to adapting a classic TV show to the big screen, it doesn’t get much better than Andrew Davis’ The Fugitive. Indeed, the third highest-grossing film of 1993 proved to be a monumental critical and commercial hit that earned more than $370 million globally and was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. In addition to Tommy Lee Jones winning an Oscar for his indelible supporting turn as U.S. Marshall Sam Gerard, the film still boasts some of the most impressive action set pieces and stunning practical FX on record. The movie succeeds on multiple levels as a riveting manhunt thriller, an engrossing murder mystery, a compelling redemption story, an FX-driven action-adventure, and of course, a faithful TV adaptation that both honors the spirit of the original and also pushes the narrative forward into daring, unpredictable territory. Yet, for as nearly perfect a film as The Fugitive remains to this day,...

Science and animation are tied together like a moon to a planet. While they exist on distant planes and their connection is invisible, to animate is to have a fundamental understanding of science and movement. The job of both an animator and a scientist is to understand the building blocks of reality; the former bears the burden of twisting and subverting that understanding into a form of heightened reality, a surrealism giving birth to cinema.

Achieving great animation is not fulfilled by a flat depiction of reality but by injecting...

First Look

U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 has released a first look image of its new comedy series, “Big Mood” (working title), produced by Fremantle‘s Dancing Ledge Productions. The six-part series explores the intricacies of female friendship when confronted with the complexities of serious mental illness.

Starring in the show are Nicola Coughlan and Lydia West. Joining the ensemble cast are Niamh Cusack, Eamon Farren, Luke Fetherston, Kate Fleetwood, Rob Gilbert, Rebecca Lowman, Sally Phillips, Ukweli Roach, and Amalia Vitale. The cast also includes Olu Adaeze, Max Bennett, Skylar Betteridge, David Bedella, Tim Downie, Ron Donachie, Sarah Durham, Lara Grace Ilori, Neil Edmond, Amy Gledhill, Maddie Grace Jepson, Tom Rhys Harries, Layla-Belle Matthews, Simon Meacock, David Mumeni, David Newman, Freya Parker, Shuna Snow, Sid Sagar, Stephen Sobal, Lottie Tolhurst, Isobel Thom and Robin Weaver.

Joanna Page, best known for her roles in “Love Actually” and “Gavin and Stacey,” will make a guest appearance,...

Robert Benton and Paul Newman’s show-biz detective tale is one of the best-looking thrillers of 1998. With its star lineup of Susan Sarandon, Gene Hackman, Reese Witherspoon, Stockard Channing and James Garner, its the equivalent of a dog-eared comfy mystery paperback. The classic themes and stylistics are here, but in a new Hollywood where movie stars can get away with murder, and nobody seems to care. Everyone is excellent and the show quite enjoyable, even if it seems we’ve seen a lot of it before. A solid academic extra is the audio commentary by Alain Silver and James Ursini.

Twilight (1998)

Blu-ray

Kl Studio Classics

1998 / Color / 1:78 widescreen / 94 min. / Street Date December 27, 2022 / available through Kino Lorber / 24.95

Starring: Paul Newman, Susan Sarandon, Gene Hackman, Reese Witherspoon, Stockard Channing, James Garner, Giancarlo Esposito, Liev Schreiber, Margo Martindale, John Spencer, M. Emmet Walsh, Lewis Arquette, Jack Wallace.

Cinematography: Piotr Sobocinski

Production Designer: David Gropman...

Calling all Movie Geeks. Love movie scores, especially the ones from John Williams? This Labor Day weekend the Hollywood Bowl is back with their Summer of Film Events as part of their 100 season celebration.

You know his scores the moment you hear it—and if you’re a fan of blockbusters, you’ve heard quite a few. Jaws, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones: He scored them all and so many more. On three nights at the Bowl, the LA Phil will perform some of his biggest movie hits, including selections performed with film clips. The Bowl will celebrate the master of cinematic scores September 2, 3 and 4.

Los Angeles Philharmonic

John Williams, conductor

David Newman, conductor

So if you’re in Hollywood this September, be sure to check out the special event.

https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/events/performances/1753/2022-09-02/maestro-of-the-movies

Read more about Williams and the previous Star Wars concerts: https://www.

“This here’s Miss Bonnie Parker. I’m Clyde Barrow. We rob banks.”

Nothing’s more fun than The Wildey’s Tuesday Night Film Series. Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty in Bonnie And Clyde (1967) will be on the big screen when it plays at The Wildey Theater in Edwardsville, Il at 7:00pm Tuesday May 17th. Tickets are only 3 Tickets available starting at 3pm day of movie at Wildey Theatre ticket office. Cash or check only. Lobby opens at 6pm.

Faye Dunaway is Bonnie Parker and Warren Beatty is Clyde Barrow in Arthur Penn’s violent, sexually charged and deeply influential crime drama, a nostalgic look back at notorious outlaws filmed with the passion and zeal of filmmakers who were beginning to explore the boundaries of their craft. With a legendary screenplay by writers Robert Bentonand David Newman, Bonnie and Clyde features supporting performances by an exemplary cast that includes Gene Wilder,...

By Lee Pfeiffer

In the 1970s and 1980s  director  Brian De Palma had some high profile hits with Hitchcockian thrillers such as "Sisters", "Obsession", "Dressed to Kill", "Blow Out" and "Body Double". De Palma's defenders extolled the virtues of these films as clever homages to Hitchcock while detractors accused De Palma of using The Master's formulas to make a fast buck. In 1982 director Robert Benton jumped on the same bandwagon with his own Hitchcockian  project, "Still of the Night", which was shot under the title "Stab" before the marketing campaign had been re-evaluated. A few years earlier Benton had triumphed at the Oscars with "Kramer vs. Kramer", taking home the Best Director Oscar. That film also provided an important career boost for Meryl Streep, who also won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. The two were reunited for this project which stands out on both of their credentials as an odd choice.

A new iteration of “West Side Story” has arrived, courtesy of producer and director Steven Spielberg, who worked from a script by Academy Award-nominated screenwriter and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner (“Lincoln”). After earning critical raves and a spot atop the AFI Top 10 Films of the Year list in 2021, and a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Ariana DeBose, the film is an awards frontrunner with seven Oscar nominations and now it’s finally available to watch on streaming.

The film has been adapted for the screen from the original 1957 Broadway musical, which was written by Arthur Laurents with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and concept, direction and choreography by Jerome Robbins. Tony Award winner Justin Peck choreographs the musical numbers in the film. Tony Award-winning producer Kevin McCollum and Academy Award-nominated producer Kristie Macosko Krieger also led the production.

The film’s music team includes conductor Gustavo Dudamel...

Filming on the feature, directed by Ryan Hendrick, is underway in Scotland.

Outlander star Lauren Lyle has joined the cast of UK director Ryan Hendrick’s Mercy Falls, as production gets underway in Scotland.

Set in a remote region of the Scottish Highlands, the horror feature follows Rhona, played by Lyle, and her friends as they set off in search of her late father’s long-lost cabin, only for tragedy to befall the group.

UK actress Lyle is best known for her role in Starz historical drama Outlander and returned for the sixth season, which began this month. She is...

Some of Hollywood’s top filmmakers and former Oscar winners are calling on the Academy to rethink its decision to pre-record eight categories ahead of the March 27 telecast.

James Cameron, Guillermo del Toro, John Williams, Kathleen Kennedy, and more than six dozen others signed an open letter addressed to Academy President David Rubin slamming the decision to record the wins for best documentary short, film editing, makeup and hairstyling, original score, production design, animated short, live-action short, and sound outside of the live Dolby Theatre ceremony.

The letter explained that such a decision would “demean” those categories and “relegate [them] to the status of second-class citizens,” as shared with Variety. Though the eight categories taking place prior to the 5 p.m. start time will be integrated into the broadcast, these artists are pushing the Academy to reverse its decision and present all 23 Oscar categories live.

“To diminish any of those individual...

Some of Hollywood’s most high-profile filmmakers, including director James Cameron, producers Kathleen Kennedy and Lili Fini Zanuck and composer John Williams have joined the growing chorus of voices asking the Academy to reverse course and present all 23 Oscars on the live March 27 telecast.

In a letter sent today to Academy President David Rubin and obtained by Variety, more than six dozen film professionals, including multiple Academy Award winners, contend that the plan to present eight awards during the pre-telecast hour will “demean” these crafts and “relegate [them] to the status of second-class citizens.”

The eight are original score, film editing, production design, makeup and hairstyling, sound, documentary short, live-action short and animated short. The Academy continues to insist that the nominees in those categories will be announced, and the winner’s acceptance speech aired, in edited form and aired as part of the three-hour ABC show.

That’s not good enough for these artists.

Nominated for 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture! Bring Home Steven Spielberg’s Masterful Reimagining of West Side Story on Digital March 2nd and 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD March 15th

Acclaimed filmmaker Steven Spielberg presents an inspired reimagining of the beloved musical West Side Story. The film that critics celebrate as “electrifying” and “a total triumph” has been nominated for 7 Academy Awards® including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress and 11 Critics’ Choice Awards. West Side Story is also Certified-Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Rejoice in the spectacular new choreography alongside the iconic songs – plus see astonishing all-new footage of Spielberg at work in documentary filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau’s revealing “The Stories of West Side Story” – by adding 20th Century Studios’ West Side Story to your musical collection on Digital March 2 and 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD March 15. West Side Story will also be available on Disney+ starting...

The Hollywood Bowl’s 2022 summer season will include a three-night stand by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees Duran Duran, a fireworks-laden 4th of July engagement by the comedy/bluegrass team of Steve Martin and Martin Short, a Loggins & Messina reunion, a fully staged production of Cyndi Lauper’s Broadway musical “Kinky Boots” and a salute to Frank Sinatra and Peggy Lee that will feature Billie Eilish and Debbie Harry, among others.

Artists with shows on the summer agenda include Ricky Martin, Pentatonix, Sheryl Crow, Diana Ross, Chvrches, John Fogerty, A-ha, Grace Jones, John Fogerty, UB40, A.R. Rahman, Lang Lang, Pink Martini, the Gipsy Kings, Boyz II Men and TLC.

As always, the LA Philharmonic may be the biggest star on the lineup, with 34 shows scheduled, 10 of which will be under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel.

“Kinky Boots” marks this year’s annual staged production of a Broadway show,...

Audiences viewing Steven Spielberg’s new “West Side Story” will see many differences from the 1961 version, including a younger cast, revised screenplay and new choreography. What hasn’t changed is the music by Leonard Bernstein, the result of four high-profile experts who teamed up to record the score anew.

Oscar-nominated composer David Newman oversaw all of the arrangements and orchestrations; Tony-winning songwriter Jeanine Tesori supervised all of the vocal performances; Grammy-nominated producer Matt Sullivan was on set throughout, supervising the music during shooting; and world-renowned conductor Gustavo Dudamel conducted the Bernstein score with both the New York Philharmonic and Los Angeles Philharmonic.

The involvement of Dudamel and Newman were legendary composer John Williams’ idea. Williams, who has been Spielberg’s musical partner for 47 years, recalls Spielberg initially asking him to be music director on the film, “and I said, ‘you should get Gustavo to conduct the score. He’s done...

Anousha Zarkesh and Nathan Lloyd have once again led the charge at the annual Casting Guild of Australia (Cga) Awards, scooping the major prizes across television and film at Saturday’s virtual ceremony.

Lloyd followed up his two awards from last year with Best Casting in a TV Drama, TV Miniseries and Telemovie for The Newsreader, and a second consecutive Achievement in Casting gong for web series All My Friends Are Racist.

Zarkesh – also a multiple winner in 2020 – took out Best Casting in A Feature Film for her work on High Ground.

‘High Ground’

Of the other television and film categories, Kirsty McGregor won Best Casting in a TV Comedy for Fisk, while Daisy Hicks received ‘Best Casting in a Short Film’ for Tough.

The Cga also highlighted its annual list of Rising Stars as part of the ceremony, with the 2021 group made up of Albert Mwangi (Bump), BeBe Bettencourt...

A cross-section of the country’s emerging screen talent has received the endorsement of the Casting Guild of Australia (Cga) with the announcement of the guild’s annual Rising Stars.

The 2021 list comprises Albert Mwangi (Bump), BeBe Bettencourt (The Dry), Clarence Ryan (Stateless), Claude Jabbour (Eden), Elizabeth Cullen (Elvis), Georgie Stone (Neighbours), Jacob Junior Nayinggul (High Ground), Marlo Kelly (Joe Exotic), Ngali Shaw (Rfds) and Yerin Ha (Halo).

Now in its seventh year, the program is designed to identify Australian actors that have the potential to shine on the world stage, with previous recipients including Eliza Scanlan (Babyteeth), Katherine Langford (13 Reasons Why), Zoe Terakes (Nine Perfect Strangers), Tilda Cobham-Harvey (Hotel Mumbai) and Alexander England (Little Monsters).

Cga president David Newman said the guild was particularly proud of the “talent, tenacity, drive, and passion” of the 2021 Cga Rising Stars.

“In a time when an actor has had to adapt like never before,...

The casting directors behind Nitram, The Dry, High Ground, and The Furnace will battle it out in the feature film category of the Casting Guild of Australia Awards to be held later this month.

Nominees across eight categories were announced today ahead of the virtual ceremony on November 20.

Nikki Barrett has two nominations in the feature film, getting a nod for The Furnace and also Nitram with Alison Telford and Kate Leonard. Rounding out the category is High Ground‘s Anousha Zarkesh and The Dry‘s Jane Norris.

Barrett also features in the Best Casting in a TV Drama, TV Miniseries and Telemovie nominees for her work on Fires, going up against Eden‘s Danny Long – who has a total of four nominations – The Newsreader‘s Nathan Lloyd and Wakefield‘s Marianne Jade.

For Best Casting in a TV Comedy, Kirsty McGregor is recognised for Fisk and season two of Frayed,...

Exclusive: Indie streamer Cinedigm has picked up all North American rights to Lost at Christmas, a feel-good festival romance, and will release this holiday season.

The film stars Sylvester McCoy (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey), Frazer Hines (Doctor Who) and Clare Grogan (Skins); alongside rising stars Natalie Clark and Kenny Boyle. Based on a short film by director Ryan Hendrick, the story follows an unlikely pair of companions trying to save what appears to be a disastrous Christmas season.

Hendrick also co-wrote the film with Clare Sheppard, as well as taking on the role as an executive producer. Additional executive producers include Graham Reid and Stephen Wright. With David Newman acting as the film’s producer.

The deal was negotiated by Brandon Hill, Manager of Acquisitions, on behalf of Cinedigm and Priscilla Smith at Foxglove Entertainment on behalf of Magic Monkey Films. Foxglove is the sister company of genre sales agency The Coven.

The New York Mets, which were acquired before this season by billionaire financier Steve Cohen, have brought in Range Media Partners to “evolve” the baseball team’s brand.

Range is a startup management firm founded a year ago with initial funding from Cohen’s Connecticut-based venture fund, Point72 Ventures. The company has two key partners in the Mets branding effort: sports marketing and analytics specialist 4Front and branding agency Base Design.

According to the official announcement, the objective is to “evolve the Mets brand and accelerate innovation and engagement across the organization.” Range’s role will be to “merge the realms of sport and entertainment in new and original ways,” by integrating the iconic Mets brand into film, television, fashion, social media and music.

“Range was built to empower exceptional storytellers, and the aspirations of this team go far beyond the field – to the intersection of sports, entertainment and culture,...

The Casting Guild of Australia (Cga) aims to raise awareness of mental health support channels available for those in the entertainment industry through a new video featuring various members of the organisation.

Completed in response to the recent wave of lockdowns, the four-minute iMovie encourages actors and industry professionals to seek help when they need it, while also highlighting where assistance can be accessed.

Cga president David Newman told If he came up with the idea a couple of weeks ago following conversations with actor agents.

“I don’t think I ever heard the stress levels in the agents’ voices as they are right now with the number of people on their books that are floundering,” he said.

“We put a call out to casting directors in recent days and they sent videos in, which allowed us to cobble it together and get it out there.

“We also joined up...

Mark Knopfler’s score for “The Princess Bride,” to quote the film, was only mostly dead.

On Saturday, the L.A. Philharmonic will perform it live to picture at the Hollywood Bowl — and they really do mean live. The original 1987 score was recorded almost entirely using a Synclavier sampling machine, with the exception of some nylon guitar solos by Knopfler. Under veteran conductor David Newman, the music will — like Cary Elwes’ Westley — finally come back from the dead.

Rob Reiner’s swashbuckling, romantic, meta-comedic film has a legion of fans — including the many celebrities who reenacted it at home during the pandemic — but depending on who you ask, Knopfler’s artificial-sounding score is either its beautiful beating heart… or a dated ear-sore. Composer Bear McCreary (“Godzilla: King of the Monsters”) recently said: “It remains on my list of good scores that don’t age well.”

But for Reiner, the way...

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures today announced its schedule of inaugural in-person screenings and public programs, which will begin on September 30 when the museum opens. The Academy Museum is the largest institution in the United States devoted to exploring the art and science of movies and moviemaking.

During the first three months of the Academy Museum’s opening, the museum will offer the public a robust, dynamic, and diverse slate of over 115 film screenings, discussions, and programs for film lovers of all ages, beginning with two special presentations of The Wizard of Oz (USA, 1939) featuring live musical accompaniment by the American Youth Symphony conducted by Academy Award®-nominated composer David Newman.

Other highlights of the museum’s first few months of in-person programming include the launch of ongoing series:

Stories of Cinema: featuring screenings of films highlighted in the museum’s core exhibition, including Real Women Have Curves (USA,...

Retrospectives and focuses planned for Jane Campion, Satyajit Ray, Hayao Miyazaki.

Opening day screenings of The Wizard of Oz, and ongoing series highlighting among other subjects Oscar films directed by women and live conversations are among the roster of more than 115 films and events set for the first three months of Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

Two performances of the classic 1939 fantasy adaptation The Wizard of Oz starring Judy Garland will open the museum on September 30, with live musical accompaniment by American Youth Symphony conducted by David Newman.

The inaugural programming schedule of series include ’Stories Of Cinema’ selections from...

Finally, after years of delays, some caused by the pandemic, some not, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on La Brea and Wilshire has revealed its launch schedule of live screenings and public programs to begin on opening day, September 30. The first three months brings over 115 film programs, panels, and events, beginning with two screenings of MGM musical “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) with live musical accompaniment by the American Youth Symphony conducted by Oscar perennial David Newman.

Among the continuing virtual programs leading up to the museum’s opening are a conversation with Oscar-winner Spike Lee and writer-director-producer Shaka King, and a 20th anniversary screening of “Y tu mamá también”. Clearly, the Academy Museum is launching at a time when inclusion and diversity are front and center for curators and programmers. “As with all of our exhibitions and initiatives,” stated Bill Kramer, Director and President of the Academy Museum, “we...

Finally, after years of delays, some caused by the pandemic, some not, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on La Brea and Wilshire has revealed its launch schedule of live screenings and public programs to begin on opening day, September 30. The first three months brings over 115 film programs, panels, and events, beginning with two screenings of MGM musical “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) with live musical accompaniment by the American Youth Symphony conducted by Oscar perennial David Newman.

Among the continuing virtual programs leading up to the museum’s opening are a conversation with Oscar-winner Spike Lee and writer-director-producer Shaka King, and a 20th anniversary screening of “Y tu mamá también”. Clearly, the Academy Museum is launching at a time when inclusion and diversity are front and center for curators and programmers. “As with all of our exhibitions and initiatives,” stated Bill Kramer, Director and President of the Academy Museum, “we...