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Director Todd Phillips returns with the highly anticipated sequel to his controversial 2019 Dceu adventure, Joker. The new film, Joker: Folie à Deux, brings back Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, the mentally disturbed criminal who becomes the Joker. Joining Phoenix is the iconic Lady Gaga (A Star is Born) as Harley Quinn, while Zazie Beetz reprises her role, albeit all too briefly, from the first movie. Irish actor Brendan Gleeson and Catherine Keener add gravitas to the cast.

Joker: Folie à Deux delves deeper into Arthur’s descent into madness, set against Gotham City’s criminal underworld. With a musical twist, Phoenix and Gaga share several striking performances together.

The story follows Arthur navigating life in Arkham Asylum five years after the first film’s events. His Joker persona becomes central to a legal battle where his lawyer (Keener) argues for his mental instability, while district attorney Harvey Dent seeks the death penalty.

On Friday, October 4, 2024, at 10:00 Pm, Help! My House is Haunted returns with an intriguing episode titled “Pennies From Heaven.” This sixth season installment follows Jon and Donna, a couple living in Yorkshire, who are grappling with unsettling experiences in their home.

As the episode unfolds, viewers will witness Jon and Donna confronting dark shadows that seem to lurk in the corners of their space. The oppressive atmosphere they describe adds to the tension, making it clear that their home is more than just a house. The couple is left questioning the nature of the presence they feel, leading them to seek answers and solutions to restore peace.

Adding an eerie twist to their experiences, pennies begin to appear randomly throughout their home. This strange occurrence raises questions about the significance of the coins and whether they hold a deeper meaning tied to the mysterious forces at play.

With the help of paranormal experts,...

Steve Martin and Martin Short keep making appearances to promote Only Murders in the Building/their never-ending game of over-the-top animosity. Most recently, the two amigos interviewed each other for GQ, and gave the finest acting performances of their careers by pretending like they hadn’t already heard every single one of each other’s anecdotes.

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Soon, the subject turned to fan encounters. Short recounted how he can always tell which movie someone is a fan of when they approach him in public. “If it’s a 45-year-old guy, and if I’m in an airport, I know it’s Three Amigos,” Short mused. “If it’s a young lady in her late 30s, she will talk about Father of the Bride. And if it’s a guy who’s 28 who looks like he’s on meth, (he’s a fan of) Clifford.”

Martin replied that he can always...

Reviews of Todd Phillips’ “Joker: Folie á Deux” have officially been filed, and critics say the “Joker” sequel was a waste of Lady Gaga’s talent. Some even added that the flick simply wasn’t needed or doesn’t measure up to its predecessor.

The film, which stars Gaga, Joaquin Phoenix, Zazie Beetz, Harry Lawtey and more, diversifies itself from the film as it features at least 15 reimagined versions of well-known songs. While some may not have been fans of the musical additions, The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw noted it “gives it structure and flavor” the first film didn’t have.

Before “Joker: Folie á Deux” hits theaters on Oct. 4, take a peek at what film critics have to say about it, below:

The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw said “Joker: Folie á Deux” was as “tedious” as the first film, but said its opening was “sensational.”

“It ends up as strident,...

On Friday nights, IndieWire After Dark takes a feature-length beat to honor fringe cinema in the streaming age.

First, the spoiler-free pitch for one editor’s midnight movie pick — something weird and wonderful from any age of film that deserves our memorializing.

Then, the spoiler-filled aftermath as experienced by the unwitting editor attacked by this week’s recommendation.

The Pitch: Christopher Walken Gets to Dance and Steve Martin Sings… Sort of?

Known for his BBC TV series “The Singing Detective,” starring Michael Gambon, and “Pennies from Heaven,” which launched the career of Bob Hoskins, British journalist and screenwriter Dennis Potter seemed to have a fascination with the music trapped inside our inner beings. Mixing fantastical musical sequences with harsh dramatic realities, Potter used spectacle to expose his characters’ complex natures, as well as the complex nature of the world around them, with biting wit and stunning inventiveness. When his work arrived on the big screen,...

Steve Martin is a man of many dimensions, and two pieces – at least to judge from director Morgan Neville’s documentary about the comedy icon.

Steve! (Martin) a Documentary in 2 Pieces, streaming on Apple TV+, splits the story in half, with piece 1 exploring Martin’s youth in Orange County, Calif., early career as a comedy writer and eventual rise to king of standup. Piece 2 spends time with Martin now, happily married, and the star and co-creator of the hugely successful Only Murders in the Building.

The inspiration to craft two distinct parts didn’t come right away, Neville says.

Steve Martin

“I was lucky enough to work on it for about six months before I decided what it was. I didn’t know, is it a single feature film? Is it a mini-series? What is it?” Neville tells Deadline. “On the one hand was this incredible archive and this origin story,...

Plot: Steve Martin is one of the most beloved and enigmatic figures in entertainment. “Steve! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces” dives into his extraordinary story from two distinct points of view, with companion documentaries that feature never-before-seen footage and raw insights into Steve’s personal and professional trials and triumphs. “Then” chronicles Steve Martin’s early struggles and meteoric rise to revolutionize standup before walking away at 35. “Now” focuses on the present day, with Steve Martin in the golden years of his career, retracing the transformation that led to happiness in his art and personal life.

Review: It pains me to think that a generation is growing up that does not hold Steve Martin in the same regard as generations past. At 78 years old, Martin was the biggest comedian of all time for some, a movie star for others, and one of the old guys from Only Murders in the Building for the rest.

This Friday, November 17, 2023, at 8:00 Pm on HGTV, “My Lottery Dream Home” presents a thrilling new episode titled “Scratch Offs: Pennies From Heaven.” In this show, recent lottery winners embark on extravagant house hunts for their dream homes with the guidance of real estate expert David Bromstad. As viewers tune in, they’ll witness the ups and downs of these house-hunting adventures.

David Bromstad assists the winners in making a crucial decision – should they splurge their newfound fortune on a luxurious mansion, or should they opt for a more financially prudent investment? The show captures the excitement, dilemmas, and challenges faced by these lucky lottery winners as they navigate the world of real estate.

“My Lottery Dream Home” provides an inside look into the lives of those who’ve struck it rich, showcasing their quest for the perfect property. Whether it’s an opulent mansion or a wise investment, this...

Chicago – One of the peculiar secrets … since revealed … in the new Apple TV+ series “High Desert” is that the icon Bernadette Peters portrays two characters. One is the mother (Rosalyn) of main character Peggy, and the other is mysterious actor Ginger who somehow ended up in California desert country. New episodes drop every Wednesday.

“High Desert” features Peggy Newman (Patricia Arquette), an ex-heroin addict who lives in arid California and needs a life change. That is difficult, for besides her visits to a local methadone clinic she is just barely holding on as a performer in Pioneer Town, a rundown tourist attraction. The only thing she desperately wants to cling to is the house of her deceased mother (Bernadette Peters), but her sister Dianne (Christine Taylor) is intent on selling it. Peggy needs to raise some extra cash, so she comes up with a plan to become a private investigator,...

Chicago – How has actor/singer/Broadway icon Bernadette Peters ended up in the arid lands of California? She is featured in the new Apple TV+ series “High Desert.” It has an ensemble cast led by Patricia Arquette as Peggy Newman, a recovering human being in an odd and spiritual place. The series begins streaming on May 17th.

Newman is an ex-heroin addict who realizes her life needs to begin again. That is difficult, for besides her visits to a local methadone clinic, she is just barely holding on as a performer in Pioneertown, a rundown tourist attraction. The only thing she desperately wants to cling to is the house of her deceased mother (Bernadette Peters), but her sister Dianne (Christine Taylor) is intent on selling it. Peggy needs to raise some extra cash, so she comes up with a plan to become a private investigator, in the office of Bruce...

Harry Belafonte, the actor, producer, singer and activist who made calypso music a national phenomenon with “Day-o” (The Banana Boat Song) and used his considerable stardom to draw attention to Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights issues and injustices around the world, has died. He was 96.

Belafonte, recipient of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2014, died Tuesday of congestive heart failure at his Manhattan home on the Upper West Side with his wife, Pamela, by his side, longtime spokesman Ken Sunshine told The Hollywood Reporter.

A master at blending pop, jazz and traditional West Indian rhythms, the Caribbean-American Belafonte released more than 30 albums during his career and received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy from the Recording Academy in 2000.

Calypso, which featured “Day-o” and another hit, “Jamaica Farewell,” topped the Billboard pop album list for an incredible 31 weeks in 1956 and is credited as...

Exclusive: Malcolm McDowell is saddling up with James Paxton, Bernadette Peters and Laura Marano for Adam Rifkin’s Western Last Train to Fortune.

Last Train to Fortune also reteams McDowell with his former wife, Oscar winner Mary Steenburgen, the duo previously starring together in the 1979 sci-fi drama Time After Time and the 1983 Martin Ritt drama Cross Creek.

In the pic, McDowell plays Cecil Peachtree, a stuffed-shirt schoolmaster who misses the last train to Fortune and meets an outlaw named Dooley (Paxton), at which point they strike a deal: The gunslinger will ride the book-loving Cecil to Fortune in exchange for his teacher’s stipend awaiting him. Along the way there are gunfights, jailbreaks and saloon gals, and our mismatched heroes form an unlikely bond. The pic, which is produced by Michael P.J. Gerstein, Paxton, Matt Williams, Rifkin and Brad Wyman (the Oscar-winning Charlize Theron drama Monster) is said to be...

Austin, TX – The SXSW Conference and Festivals wrapped on March 19th, after 10 days of magic and Austin wackiness, showcasing film, TV, interactive, conferences, interviews and music. The Film & TV Fest named “Raging Grace” as the top Narrative Feature and “Grown” as top TV Pilot.

“Raging Grace” was written and directed by Paris Zarcilla, telling the story of a Filipina house cleaner and her young daughter, with the jury noting its “heady blend of horror, history, and midnight humor announcing the arrival of an exciting new filmmaking talent.” The TV Pilot “Grown” focuses on a teenage boy attempting to move forward after losing his father, and the jury said it was “a coming-of-age story told with heart and visually realized with polish and verve.”

The following is the list of top honorees …

Grand Jury Prize - Narrative Feature

Raging Grace

Photo credit: SXSW.com

Winner: “Raging Grace,” directed by Paris Zarcilla...

As SXSW basks in the Oscars afterglow of Everything Everywhere All at Once, which premiered out of competition at the event last year, jury and special awards winners for the 30th edition of the film and TV festival have been announced.

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Top honors in the Narrative Feature Competition went to Paris Zarcilla’s horror pic Raging Grace. The film follows Joy, an undocumented Filipino immigrant who is struggling to do the best she can for her daughter Grace when she secures the perfect job: taking care of an extremely wealthy but terminal old man. The new...

Two days after ”Everything Everywhere All at Once“ won seven Oscars, including best picture, the SXSW Film Festival, where Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s movie launched last year, has announced its own awards. To be clear, “Eeaao” was a studio-backed opening night premiere (not one of the smaller movies launched in competition at the indie-focused fest), but you can still feel the excitement in Austin around the landmark Oscar win. After all, SXSW was the first festival to take Daniels seriously, awarding them top prize for their Battles music video (“My Machines”) in 2012.

Will any of the movies or directors screening here this year go on to change film history?

With five days still to go at SXSW, the juries convened to present the winners.

Narrative feature honors went to writer-director Paris Zarcilla’s “Raging Grace.” On the surface, the tense story of an undocumented Filipina house cleaner and...

James Taylor has announced a 16-concert tour that includes a Las Vegas residency and his annual Tanglewood Music Festival in Lenox, Massachusetts.

Prior to the start of the tour, Taylor and his All-Star Band will play one show at Fort Lauderdale, Florida’s Broward Center Au Rene on February 25.

The singer’s official 2023 tour will begin with consecutive concerts in Woodinville, Washington on May 25 and 26.

From there, Taylor will visit Santa Barbara (May 31), Atlanta (June 16), Cincinnati (June 21), Milwaukee (June 24) and Philadelphia (July 1).

Outside of touring, the singer-songwriter has also been keeping busy making new music. His last full-length album, American Standard, was released in 2020 and includes covers of classics like “Moon River” and “Pennies From Heaven”.

Taylor originally broke through in 1970 with his No. 3 single “Fire and Rain.” He had his first No. 1 hit in 1971 with his version of “You’ve Got a Friend,” which was written by Carole King that same year.

Bloody Disgusting has learned the sad news this afternoon that actor and stuntman George P. Wilbur has passed away at 81 years old.

A member of the Hollywood Stuntmen’s Hall of Fame, George P. Wilbur is most known to horror fans for playing Michael Myers in both Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers and Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers.

Wilbur is one of only a small handful of actors to play Michael Myers more than once.

He was also a stunt player on Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers.

George P. Wilbur’s career began with stand-in work for John Wayne in the 1960s, and he went on to amass over 100 television and film credits spanning six decades.

Other films on Wilbur’s resume as a stunt man, stunt double and stunt coordinator include Planet of the Apes (1968), Blazing Saddles, The Towering Inferno, Grizzly, Escape from New York,...

By Lee Pfeiffer

With Russia currently warming up to the idea of a new Cold War, I thought it might be relevant to look back on the 1983 crime thriller "Gorky Park". The film was based on Martin Cruz Smith's international bestseller and was unique in its day because it centered on subterfuge within the Soviet law enforcement system and was set primarily in Moscow. Director Michael Apted had hoped to be the first major Hollywood studio production to shoot within the Soviet Union but unsurprisingly he was turned down due to the fact that the story dealt with systemic corruption throughout every layer of the government. Apted settled for the next best thing, shooting in Finland and Sweden, both of which make convincing substitutes for the Ussr. Transforming the lengthy, complex novel to a screenplay could have been no easy task, even for acclaimed screenwriter Dennis Potter ("Pennies from Heaven...

Barry Sonnenfeld is a director and producer with the most incredible filmography.

From directing the Men in Black films and the Netflix series, A Series of Unfortunate Events, to producer credits on such clever shows as The Tick (Both iterations), Pushing Daisies, and Disney's Enchanted, this is a man with a wicked sense of humor and timing.

Taking on the director's chair on Apple TV+'s Schmigadoon!, which lovingly savages the Golden Age musicals of Hollywood, seems like a natural fit. But, speaking with TV Fanatic on a virtual press day, Sonnenfeld is quick to set the record straight.

"Y'know, I'm not a big fan of musical theatre whether it's Broadway or even MGM musicals from the 30s, 40s, and 50s. I never bought the reality of people stopping what they're doing to break into song.

"So I found it a little bit difficult. There were a few musicals I really liked,...

A Million Little Things‘ Katherine needs a hug. And a vacation. And a husband who’s able to go a season without significantly damaging their marriage.

Unfortunately, she gets none of those things in this week’s episode.

More from TVLineGrey's Recap: Wakeup Call -- Plus, Did Amelia Accept Link's Proposal?Ratings: Kung Fu Gives CW Slot a 2-1/2 Year Audience High, Nancy Drew RisesThe Conners Kills Off [Spoiler] in Twist

Please understand: I am very aware that Eddie’s substance abuse stems from a disease over which he has no control. I also know that relapse is a common and...

From her haunting vocals to her raspy cadence, Golden Globe winner Andra Day is wholly absorbed as the title character of “The United States vs. Billie Holiday.” Her visceral performance is the anchor through which Pulitzer award winner Suzan-Lori Parks and filmmaker Lee Daniels’ drama comes to life. The 1940s-set film reshapes Holiday’s legacy as the Godmother of the Civil Rights Movement, centering her activism through her seminal song “Strange Fruit.” It also showcases Federal Bureau of Narcotics Commissioner Harry J. Anslinger’s (played in the film by Garrett Hedlund) obsession with dehumanizing and silencing Holiday, and how he weaponized her drug addiction against her.

While the movie has been met with mixed reviews, Day’s performance has been routinely hailed as a major breakthrough for the Grammy-nominated singer, who had never played a leading role before in film or TV. In the wake of a recent Golden Globe...

There’s a conventional truism about musicals that basically says: If they’re constructed so that you could take all the songs out and nothing about the narrative or emotional impact of the rest of the show would be at all affected, maybe you’re doing it wrong. That brings us to “Music,” the first feature film from the pop star Sia, which was conceived as a drama about romance, addiction, redemption and, yes, autism that just happens to have more than a dozen musical fantasy numbers pop up for the ride, in sometimes arbitrary spots. As another pop star just sang, music makes the people come together, but making the two distinct sides of “Music” come together is tougher than a first-time director might have bargained for.

Not very many people are looking to Sia’s movie to see how it does or doesn’t reinvent the movie musical form.

Robert Werden, a longtime Academy Awards publicist, died on Oct. 31 at his home in Los Angeles of natural causes. He was 94.

His daughter Franchesca Werden made the announcement Tuesday.

Werden handled the publicity for the Oscars between 1975 and 1993 as press liaison for the Academy Awards when he worked at Ruder Finn & Rotman, later Ruder-Finn Public Relations, the Academy’s public relations firm. For over a decade, he served on both the Foreign Language Film Committee and the Documentary Film Committee for the Academy Awards. He had been a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 1983.

Werden acted as a judge for the Academy’s Nicholl Fellowships and the Academy Student Film Awards. He served as treasurer of the Publicists Guild, and was one of the founders of the Entertainment Publicists Professional Society. Werden was also the unit publicist for more than 40 motion pictures, including “Peacemaker”, “The Long Riders...

Robert Werden, a film industry publicist for over 35 years and who worked as a publicist for the Academy Awards for 18 years, died Tuesday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 94.

Werden handled the publicity for the Oscars between 1975 and 1993, and also served as a unit publicist on 40 movies, including some Oscar winners such as “The Deer Hunter,” “Pennies From Heaven,” “Airport” and the original “Superman.”

For over a decade, Werden served on both the Academy’s Foreign Language Film Committee and the Documentary Film Committee, as well served a judge for the Academy’s Nicholl Fellowships and the Academy Student Film Awards. He had been a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 1983.

Werden also served as treasurer of the Publicists Guild and was one of the founders of the Entertainment Publicists Professional Society (Epps).

Werden was born in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up on the East Coast.

Robert Werden, who handled publicity for the Academy Awards for nearly two decades, died Oct. 31 of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles, his daughter, Franchesca Werden, announced. He was 94.

Werden also worked as a unit publicist on 40-plus motion pictures, including Airport (1970), The Deer Hunter (1978), Superman (1978), The Long Riders (1980), Pennies From Heaven (1981) and The Peacemaker (1997).

He did PR for the Oscars from 1975 to 1993, was a member of the Academy’s foreign-language and documentary committees for more than a decade and was a judge for its Nicholl Fellowships and Student Film Awards.

Born in Brooklyn,...

Robert Werden, who handled publicity for the Academy Awards for nearly two decades, died Oct. 31 of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles, his daughter, Franchesca Werden, announced. He was 94.

Werden also worked as a unit publicist on 40-plus motion pictures, including Airport (1970), The Deer Hunter (1978), Superman (1978), The Long Riders (1980), Pennies From Heaven (1981) and The Peacemaker (1997).

He did PR for the Oscars from 1975 to 1993, was a member of the Academy’s foreign-language and documentary committees for more than a decade and was a judge for its Nicholl Fellowships and Student Film Awards.

Born in Brooklyn,...

Tommy Rall, the actor and dancer who brought Broadway skills to Hollywood films including Kiss Me Kate, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Funny Girl and Pennies From Heaven, died Tuesday of congestive heart failure in Santa Monica. He was 90.

His death was announced by friend Cynthia Wands on Facebook.

“A hospice nurse was by Tommy’s bedside,” Wands wrote, “and found a box that held the cards and letters that had been sent to him in the last few weeks. She spent the afternoon reading each one to him, and when she finished reading the last one – he peacefully stopped breathing and passed away.”

As a dancer in the 1950s, Rall shuttled between Broadway and Hollywood, choreographed onstage by Jerome Robbins, Gower Champion (Small Wonder) and Agnes de Mille (Juno) and directed on screen by Stanley Donen (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), George Sidney (Kiss Me Kate...

Darren Lynn Bousman joins Josh and Joe to discuss his favorite over-the-top musicals of the 70s.

Show Notes:

Movies Referenced In This Episode

Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008)

Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)

Sorcerer (1977)

Star Wars (1977)

Death of Me (2020)

Jesus Christ: Superstar (1973)

Pennies From Heaven (1981)

A History Of Violence (2005)

Requiem For A Dream (2000)

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

The Movie Orgy (1968)

Gremlins (1984)

The Room (2003)

Rocky (1976)

Hair (1979)

The Apple (1980)

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978)

Tommy (1975)

Quadrophenia (1979)

Altered States (1980)

The Devils (1971)

Trapped Ashes (2006)

Apocalypse Now (1979)

Devil’s Carnival (2012)

Phantom of the Paradise (1974)

Rent (2005)

Wild In The Streets (1968)

A Hard Day’s Night (1964)

Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory (1971)

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

The Jazz Singer (1980)

Forbidden Zone (1982)

Eddie and the Cruisers (1983)

The First Nudie Musical (1976)

Chatterbox (1977)

Goldilocks and the Three Bares (1963)

Cabaret (1972)

Saw II (2005)

Other Notable Items

Final Draft

Paris Hilton

Elvira

Angelyne

The William Friedkin podcast episode

Leonardo DiCaprio

Jesus Christ Superstar...

Martin “Marty” Cohen, longtime colleague of Steven Spielberg and head of postproduction at Amblin Entertainment, Dreamworks and Paramount Pictures, died May 17 in Los Angeles of natural causes after a battle with heart disease. He was 67.

“Marty began in the editing room with Michael Kahn and me on “The Color Purple’ and then made the transition to a post-production supervisory role on both DreamWorks and Paramount films,” Spielberg said in a statement. “Later, he worked with me and other filmmakers on film preservation, a passion we both shared. But more than anything, Marty was a dedicated and loyal member of our Amblin family for more than three decades. He cared deeply about the way movies looked to audiences, both in theaters and in homes. His keen eye and warm heart will be missed dearly at the finish line of every film we make from here on out.”

Cohen was a native of New York.

Marty Cohen, a longtime editor and post-production chief who worked on more than a dozen Steven Spielberg films for Amblin and DreamWorks and whose producing credits include such hits as The Hunger Games and Godzilla, has died. He was 67.

An Amblin spokesperson said Cohen died May 17 of natural causes after a long battle with heart disease.

Marty, or Mendy, as he was affectionately called by his friends, abandoned studies in geology for a degree in communications from Queens College. He eventually landed a job with a courier company that offered to relocate him if he would help set up its offices in Los Angeles.

Cohen left the Big Apple and after being in L.A. for only a year, he quit for two reasons: one, he didn’t like working for a courier company; and two, it wasn’t movies.

He began his four-decade career in movies as a P.

Special Guest Star Day. Please welcome Costume Designer Daniel Orlandi who has taken over the blog for the day -- Editor

Bob Mackie (left) and me at the 1981 Oscars

by Daniel Orlandi

Let's start at the beginning! About a year after graduating from Carnegie Mellon a couple of college friends and I drove to La from NYC because it seemed like our friends in La were working a lot more than we were. A month later I got a call to work in Bob Mackie's shop for two days to help with a Las Vegas show. I ended up making G strings! After I finished, the head of his workroom asked me to organize all of Bob's trims and fabrics that had been neglected for awhile. I guess Bob was impressed. He was looking for an assistant on Pennies From Heaven (1981) and he hired me with no film experience at all.

Rebellion, outrage, scandal, hypersexual egomania, ripping it up, rocking it up, gigantic hair, and mascara — all these things are in rock & roll because Little Richard put them there. He was the loudest and wildest and rudest of the Fifties pioneers, the most flamboyantly and untamably free. He invented the rock star. That’s why the world is mourning today for Little Richard, who died this morning at 87. “The Girl Can’t Help It,” “Tutti Frutti,” “Slippin’ and Slidin’,” “Good Golly, Miss Molly,” “Heebie Jeebies” — these songs have been an inspiration to rebel hearts ever since.

Please welcome new contributor Nick Taylor. He's been sharing insightful comments on his reader ballots for years so he now joins the team to talk about Supporting Actresses who weren't nominated to coincide with our upcoming Smackdown events.

The 54th Academy Awards celebrated an insular group for 1981. Only nine films were represented between all four acting categories. If you expand that circle to include the nominations for Picture, Director, and Screenplay it's only a whopping twelve films hogging forty above-the-line slots. Every Supporting Actress nominee (to be discussed soon) had a co-star recognized in a different category. But when you look to performances outside of the nominated shortlist, like Kate Reid in Atlantic City or Karen Allen in Raiders of the Lost Ark, it’s hard not to wonder why things shook out the way they did.

Or consider Jessica Harper’s perfectly controlled performance in Pennies From Heaven. Adapted from a 1978 British miniseries,...

Lil Baby debuted at Number One on the latest Rolling Stone Top 200 Albums chart thanks to a massive streaming week. The 20-song My Turn, which includes contributions from Lil Wayne, Future, Gunna, Young Thug, and Lil Uzi Vert, amassed more than 220 million streams.

Bad Bunny also had an impressive debut week, arriving at Number Two with Yhlqmdlg. The album, which also clocked in at 20 songs, earned nearly 165 million streams. Thanks to a number of bundling packages, Bad Bunny also sold more than 30,000 copies of Yhlqmdlg.

The third most-popular album of the week was also new,...

Emmy-winning actor John Karlen, best known for his work on the television series “Dark Shadows” and “Cagney & Lacey,” has died. He was 86.

Karlen died Wednesday of congestive heart failure at a hospice in Burbank, Calif., his friend and spokesperson Jim Pierson told the Associated Press.

The actor played conman and scoundrel Willie Loomis on “Dark Shadows,” replacing James Hall, who had abruptly left the show after five episodes. He later played several other roles for the horror soap series that aired on ABC from 1966 to 1971. The Dark Shadows News posted about the news on Twitter.

We are sad to report the death of #DarkShadows actor John Karlen, who played Willie Loomis, the unforgettable foil to Barnabas Collins. John died on January 22 in hospice care in Burbank, California. He was 86 had suffered a number of health setbacks over the past decade… pic.twitter.com/MR0cgzvINc

— Dark Shadows News (@DarkShadowsNews...

James Taylor will take on the Great American Songbook on the singer’s upcoming album American Standard, due out February 28th. The LP is Taylor’s first since 2015’s Before This World and 19th overall.

“I’ve always had songs I grew up with that I remember really well, that were part of the family record collection — and I had a sense of how to approach, so it was a natural to put American Standard together,” Taylor said in a statement. “I know most of these songs from the original...

If you've ever wondered what a mashup of This Is Us and Lip Sync Battle would look like, Netflix's Soundtrack will surely satiate your curiosity. The show follows a group of interconnected people in Los Angeles as they grapple with different types of love - romantic, familial, platonic, you name it. This concept plays out in a relatively familiar way, using music to usher in the narrative of each story. But in contrast to something like 2018's A Star Is Born, where the music was recorded live, Soundtrack features actors 100 percent lip-syncing to pop songs.

Lip-synced performances were always part of creator Joshua Safran's original pitch for the show. Safran took inspiration from the BBC series and Steve Martin movie Pennies From Heaven, which both feature people lip-syncing to popular songs. Each hour-long episode will feature several music-video-like fantasy sequences that elevate the characters' less-than-glamorous realities.

"I was...

Synapse Films has already done some of the most impressive home media work of the 2010s with their stunning 4K restoration of Dario Argento's Suspiria, which was released on Blu-ray last year following its theatrical release. And they're not done yet, as they're releasing their 4K restoration of the film on 4K Ultra HD this November.

Exclusively announced by Rue Morgue, Suspiria will be released on 4K Ultra HD on November 19th. Here's what President of Synapse Films, Don May, Jr. told Rue Morgue's Michael Gingold about the latest version of their phenomenal restoration:

“Suspiria is the ultimate genre film to make the jump to Uhd. With the beautiful color palette and directional audio, there was no better candidate to set the standard for older catalog titles for this new 4K format. We went back to the original 4K files and basically started over, reconfiguring the theatrical Dci-P3 color...

Freddie Jones, the British actor who over a nearly 70-year career played such memorable roles as the sadistic freakshow owner in David Lynch’s “The Elephant Man,” died July 9 in the U.K., according to numerous British media reports. He was 91.

The father of actor Toby Jones, he had more recently been appearing on British soap “Emmerdale” as Sandy Thomas.

In 1980, he starred his first film for Lynch, “The Elephant Man,” which starred John Hurt as a deformed man in Victorian London. Subsequently, the actor continued working with Lynch and appeared in “Dune” (1984), “Wild at Heart” (1990), and the three-part U.S. TV series “Hotel Room.” Upon news of Jones’ death, the filmmaker shared his remarks on Twitter.

“Dear Twitter Friends, I loved, loved, loved Freddie Jones,” Lynch tweeted. “Man-o-man will he be missed.”

Dear Twitter Friends, I loved, loved, loved Freddie Jones. Man-o-man will he be missed.

— David Lynch (@DAVID...

Richard Marks, an Oscar-nominated film editor for “Apocalypse Now,” best picture winner “Terms of Endearment,” “Broadcast News,” and “As Good as It Gets,” died unexpectedly on Dec. 31 in New York City, his widow, film editor Barbara Marks, confirmed to Variety. He was 75.

His other editing credits include “The Godfather: Part II,” “You’ve Got Mail,” “Julie & Julia,” “Serpico,” “Dick Tracy,” “Riding in Cars With Boys,” “Bang the Drum Slowly,” “St. Elmo’s Fire,” “Pretty in Pink,” and “Father of the Bride.” Marks was a producer on “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “What Planet Are You From?,” and “Pennies From Heaven.”

Marks was born on Nov. 10, 1943, in New York. He married his wife Barbara in 1967. Marks became an assistant editor on Francis Ford Coppola’s “Rain People” in 1969, then worked with Dede Allen on “Alice’s Restaurant” and “Little Big Man” in 1970. He became her co-editor on “Serpico.”

Marks received a career...

Richard Marks, a film editor who scored four Oscar nominations during a prolific 50-year career and earned a Career Achievement Award from the American Cinema Editors, has died at 75. Ace executive director Jenni McCormack confirmed that Marks died December 31 but gave no other details.

Marks earned his Best Film Editing Academy Award noms for Francis Ford Coppola’s seminal Vietnam War film Apocalypse Now (1979) and a trio of pics by James L. Brooks: As Good As It Gets (1997) — which he also co-produced — Broadcast News (1987) and Best Picture Oscar winner Terms of Endearment (1983). He also edited Coppola’s Best Picture winner The Godfather Part II and Brooks’ I’ll Do Anything, How Do You Know and Spanglish, among dozens of other credits..

“Richie Marks was, from his first films, one of the very best editors ever,” Brooks said in a statement. “I and others, including every actor whose performances he so lovingly shaped,...

Trumpeter Brian Newman teams with Lady Gaga for a jazzy rendition of “Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” one of the cuts that feature on the musician’s just-released new album Showboat.

Gaga’s vocal prowess and Newman’s horn skills take center stage on the powerful version of the track popularized by Nina Simone and the Animals.

Newman and Gaga previously worked together on 2014’s Cheek to Cheek, the singer’s duets album with Tony Bennett; live sets from Newman, a veteran of the New York club circuit,...

Jessica Harper has a key role in the Luca Guadagnino-directed “Suspiria,” which opens Nov. 2. It’s a nod to her work in Dario Argento’s 1977 original, just one of the many cult films she’s starred in. The list also includes “Shock Treatment” (the sequel to “Rocky Horror Picture Show”), Brian De Palma’s rock musical “Phantom of the Paradise,” “My Favorite Year” with Peter O’Toole and “Pennies From Heaven” with Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters. Harper’s first professional job came as she joined the Broadway cast of “Hair” in 1969, and her first mention in Variety was Jan. 6, 1971, in a story about NBC’s “Super Plastic Elastic Goggles.” This November, Harper will release “Winnetka,” a 10-episode podcast charting her life from infancy until “Hair.” Harper and her husband, Sony Pictures chairman Tom Rothman, have two daughters.

What do you remember about “Super Plastic Elastic Goggles”?

I think...

To celebrate the August 14 birthday of Steve Martin, we’ve got a special photo gallery featuring his 15 greatest films. The actor, comedian, writer, producer, playwright, author and musician is an American icon who has been celebrated at the Kennedy Center Honors and American Film Institute. He also received an honorary Oscar for his movie career in 2013.

Nominated for five Golden Globe Awards, six Grammy Awards (with five wins), as well as two Tony Awards, Martin is one of the great talents of the past few decades. There wasn’t a stand-up comedian alive in the mid-1970s who was on a hotter streak, and his first hosting gig on “Saturday Night Live” led to many more appearances. He also now has 2018 Emmy Awards nominations for producing and writing his Netflix comedy special with Martin Short.

He then jumped into movies and never looked back, with such popular flicks as “The Jerk,...

This article marks Part 4 of the Gold Derby series analyzing 84 years of Best Original Song at the Oscars. Join us as we look back at the timeless tunes recognized in this category, the results of each race and the overall rankings of the Academy Awards winners.

The 1946 Oscar nominees in Best Original Song were:

“You Keep Coming Back Like a Song” from “Blue Skies”

“Ole Buttermilk Sky” from “Canyon Passage”

“All Through the Day” from “Centennial Summer”

“I Can’t Begin to Tell You” from “The Dolly Sisters”

“On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe” from “The Harvey Girls”

Won and should’ve won: “On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe” from “The Harvey Girls”

1946 marks a very obscure and awfully modest year in Best Original Song. There’s not really a rotten apple in the bunch, but there’s also nothing to get terribly head over heels about.

This article marks Part 1 of the Gold Derby series analyzing 84 years of Best Original Song at the Oscars. Join us as we look back at the timeless tunes recognized in this category, the results of each race and the overall rankings of the Academy Awards winners.

The 1934 Oscar nominees in Best Original Song were:

“Carioca” from “Flying Down to Rio”

“The Continental” from “The Gay Divorcee”

“Love in Bloom” from “She Loves Me Not”

Won: “The Continental” from “The Gay Divorcee”

Should’ve won: “Love in Bloom” from “She Loves Me Not”

The inaugural Best Original Song showdown included a mere three nominees – a far cry from the 10 nominations that would crowd this category a few years later, in 1938. Nominated were tracks from two Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers vehicles and then one, “Love in Bloom,” from an early Bing Crosby picture. None of the three songs are terribly memorable.

Suspiria

Blu ray

Synapse

1977 / 2:35 / Street Date March 13, 2018

Starring Jessica Harper, Alida Valli, Joan Bennett

Cinematography by Luciano Tovoli

Production Design by Giuseppe Bassan

Directed by Dario Argento

The story of a ballet school staffed by devil-worshipping harridans, Dario Argento’s Suspiria opened at New York City’s Criterion in the dog days of ’77. A friend was at one of those early matinees when, 26 minutes into the film, his companion leaned over and whispered, “This movie is evil.”

Jessica Harper plays Suzy Bannion, a transplanted New Yorker taking up residence at a German dance academy – just landed in the alpine splendor of Baden-Württemberg, the doll-faced ballerina makes her entrance emerging from an airport lounge lit like a broadway production of Dante’s Inferno.

A windswept taxi ride bombarded by a neon-colored thunderstorm is no less melodramatic but it can’t prepare Suzy for the stark sight waiting at journey’s...

Reunited and it feels so good!

Former co-hosts Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford were spotted catching up over dinner at Craig’s in West Hollywood on Wednesday.

Gifford, 64, was dressed up for the evening in a plain black halter top dress with a matching leather coat, which she accessorized with a pair of hoop earrings and a black Yves Saint Laurent purse. Philbin, 86, looked sharp in a grey suit jacket paired with a white button-down shirt and a pair of dark trousers.

The pair — who hosted Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee from 1988 to 2000 — were all smiles as they...

Today show host Hoda Kotb is out on maternity leave, but Kathie Lee Gifford got a worthy replacement on Friday morning: Regis Philbin.

“Look who’s in for Hoda-momma,” Gifford exclaimed, adding, “I’m happy you’re back — we can have some laughs now.”

The pair, who were the faces of Live with Regis and Kathie Lee from 1988 to 2000, put their relationship to the test. While co-hosting the fourth hour of NBC’s morning show, they faced off against a married couple in a Newlywed Game-inspired quiz dubbed “Dynamic Duo Duel.”

The first round went to Gifford, who crushed Philbin...

A version of this story first appeared in the Nominations Preview issue of TheWrap’s Oscar magazine. Has there ever been a Best Original Song race as crowded, as competitive and as spirited as this year’s? That’s hard to imagine. Sure, there was 1936, when the nominees included the stone-cold standards “The Way You Look Tonight,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “Pennies From Heaven” and “When Did You Leave Heaven.” Or 1945, when the 14 — count ‘em, 14 — nominees included “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive,” “It Might as Well Be Spring” and “I Fall in Love Too Easily.” Also Read: Oscars Set New.