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Once again, Netflix does not have much to offer its subscribers in terms of original films this month. The streaming service has, however, added a wide range of great movies from other studios to its platform. Whether you want to laugh along with Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe in one of the best crime comedies of the past 30 years or escape to a fantasy world in a blockbuster that deserved more love than it got, Netflix fortunately has you covered.

Here are the best new-to-Netflix movies streaming in February.

“It” (Warner Bros. Pictures) “It” (2017)

Director Andy Muschietti’s “It” wisely makes the decision of only adapting one half of its Stephen King-penned source material. Set in the late 1980s, the film follows the adolescent members of the “Losers Club,” a group of misfits who bond over their shared outsiderness within their small town of Derry, Maine, and their experiences...

Donald Petrie has signed on to direct “The Last Resort,” a Philippines-set romantic comedy written by Karen McCullah, the scribe behind such romcom gems as “10 Things I Hate About You” and “Legally Blonde.”

Petrie, who directed the Lemmon-Mathau comedy “Grumpy Old Men” and is an Emmy nominee for his work on “L.A. Law,” is responsible for a number of classic romantic comedies himself, having directed

“Miss Congeniality,” “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” and “Mystic Pizza.”

The veteran filmmaker’s other credits include “Richie Rich,” “The Associate,” “My Favorite Martian,” “My Life in Ruins” and the television show “The Kominski Method,” among others.

McCullah, who was born in the Philippines and grew up in the U.S., has also written films including “She’s the Man,” “Ella Enchanted,” “The Ugly Truth” and “The House Bunny.”

“The Last Resort” follows a hotel executive who is sent to scout a...

Julia Roberts and Sandra Bullock have been contemporaries with both proving themselves as capable commercial leading ladies in Hollywood. Roberts and Bullock made their breakthrough in the 1980s and became stars in their own right during the following decade eventually winning a Best Actress Academy Award.

Julia Roberts won an Oscar for Erin Brockovich (Credit: Universal Pictures).

Moreover, Roberts and Bullock share an uncanny similarity as both won their Oscar for playing a character based on a real-life figure. However, the outcome of the two movies couldn’t have been more different. While Roberts’ film was praised by the person who inspired it, Bullock’s film landed in controversy years after it was released, and here is everything you need to know about it.

Erin Brockovich praised Julia Roberts for her Oscar-winning portrayal

Julia Roberts rose to prominence with her roles in movies like Mystic Pizza and Pretty Woman. She...

Taylor Dearden, Patrick Marron Ball, and Noah Wyle in ‘The Pitt’ (Photograph by Max/Warrick Page)

Max is kicking off the new year with the series premiere of The Pitt, a medical drama that puts ER star Noah Wyle back in scrubs and playing the chief attendant in Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital’s emergency room. Max’s January 2025 lineup also includes the season five premiere of the critically acclaimed, comic book-inspired animated series Harley Quinn, and the series debut of Isadora Moon, based on the bestselling book series.

Season 23 of Real Time with Bill Maher and the premieres of A24’s The Front Room, Look Into My Eyes, and A Different Man stream on Max in January.

Max January 2025 Lineup

January 1

5 Things with Kate Bolduan (CNN)

A Star is Born (1937)

Act of Valor (2012)

All Elite Wrestling: 2019 PPV Events (5 Episodes) (2024)

All Elite Wrestling: Collision 2024 (5 Episodes), Season 2

All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite 2019 (12 Episodes...

Pretty Woman’s lead role went to various actresses before Julia Roberts ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

After this, Julia Roberts snagged the role to launch her to global fame. It was a classic mix of talent, timing, and, let’s be honest, some seriously quirky Hollywood decisions.

Let’s start with Molly Ringwald. The teen queen of the 1980s turned down Vivian because she felt “something icky about it.” She candidly told The Guardian that even back then, she sensed a story vibe that just didn’t sit right. Ringwald’s hesitation paved the way for others to test their luck—and face similar hurdles.

So who else tried to snag the role of Vivian? Let’s just say Disney and Garry Marshall, the director behind Pretty Woman, had some ambitious picks. Karen Allen was first in the mix. Then came Winona Ryder, Jennifer Connelly, and even Diane Lane. But each time,...

The Star Wars franchise continues to expand in new and interesting ways with the space opera saga having multiple projects in the works at the same time. However, the franchise created by George Lucas arguably went through the greatest metamorphosis in 2017 with the debut of the second sequel trilogy installment The Last Jedi.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi was released in December 2017 (Credit: Lucasfilm).

The film recently completed seven years since its release, leading to fans taking to social media to discuss the divisive film. Following its release, the film received widely polarising reactions becoming one of the most disliked entries in the franchise. The perception is unlikely to change any time soon given what fans are saying about The Last Jedi on its seventh anniversary.

Star Wars fans remember The Last Jedi on its seventh anniversary

Star Wars entered a brand new era with the release of 2015’s The Force Awakens.

Julia Roberts is one of the most recognizable leading ladies in Hollywood. The actress has seen critical and commercial success, making her one of the most bankable stars in the industry. She is also known for her gorgeous blonde hair, which remains one of Roberts’ most defining features in her lengthy career.

Julia Roberts made her breakthrough with 1988’s Mystic Pizza (Credit: MGM).

However, for her breakthrough role in the 1988 romantic comedy-drama film Mystic Pizza, Roberts did not sport her famous blonde hair. Instead, she almost lost out on the role that defined her early career because of it. In an interview, Roberts opened up about her work on the now classic film. Here is what she had to say about hiding her most striking feature to land the part.

Julia Roberts recalled the audition process for Mystic Pizza

Julia Roberts made her acting debut in 1987 with her breakthrough performance...

The stories of Harvey Weinstein don’t seem to end. With the amount of influence he had in the industry and just how infamous his reputation was, it is not surprising that the world was stunned at the true extent of his nefariousness. Before he became a convicted s*x offender for some very serious charges, he was simply known as the bully of the industry.

Harvey Weinstein | Credit: CNN

However, more and more people seemed to be having perspectives to add to the kind of person he was when the cameras were turned off. One such person happens to be Lili Taylor. Although she has starred in classic films like Julia Roberts’ Mystic Pizza, James Wan’s The Conjuring, and even Liam Neeson’s The Haunting, she has never worked with Weinstein.

It would seem that this was a very intentional professional decision on both their sides, and Taylor...

Matt Damon's appearance in Oppenheimer as Lt. General Leslie Groves is as memorable as any in the celebrated historical epic. The cast of Oppenheimer is filled with some of the biggest heavy-weight actors playing some of the most important people in recent American history. It's a bit darkly humorous that it took an Englishman like Christopher Nolan to thoroughly examine one of the most defining moments of the United States. Dozens of real critical figures are accounted for in Oppenheimer, some for a scene, others as main characters.

After a brief but critical role in Interstellar, Matt Damon finally got a starring part in a Nolan production. Damon's career really does not need much introduction. He's been headlining movies for the greatest working directors since his debut in Donald Petrie's Mystic Pizza. There's never really been a down year for him. While he's succeeded in playing every type of character,...

Standing 5 feet 8 inches tall, Julia Roberts ranks among Hollywood’s taller leading ladies. She’s shorter than Richard Gere but taller than the typical American woman, whose average height is approximately 5 feet 4 inches (162.6 cm).

In comparison, Nicole Kidman measures 5 feet 10.5 inches (179.1 cm), making her notably taller than Roberts. Similarly, Gal Gadot stands at 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm), also surpassing Roberts in height. On the other hand, Anne Hathaway is 5 feet 7 inches (170.2 cm), making her slightly shorter than Roberts.

Julia Roberts towers over Myha’la Herrold, with her 5’8″ height amplified by sparkling silver heels, highlighting a noticeable height difference on the red carpet (Credit: Steve Vas / Future Image / Cover Images)

Richard Gere was around 5ft 10 (177.8 cm) when he starred in the 1990 American romantic comedy film Pretty Woman. His current height is around 5ft 9 (175.3 cm).

She was just 21 when she was cast in the role of Vivian in the 1990 American romantic comedy film Pretty Woman.

Julia Roberts became rom-com royalty in the 1990s after starring in some of the best movies of the decade, and she saved her reputation by turning down a sequel to one of her most popular rom-coms. Julia Roberts’ career began in 1987 with an uncredited role in the direct-to-video movie Firehouse. Roberts’ big break arrived the following year when she played Daisy in the rom-com drama Mystic Pizza, and the following year she played Shelby in the drama Steel Magnolias, for which she got her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

In the 1990s, Roberts explored different genres, such as sci-fi with Flatliners, thriller with Sleeping with the Enemy, and fantasy with Hook. However, Roberts’ strength in the 1990s was rom-coms, starring in Pretty Woman, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Notting Hill, and Runaway Bride. All of these earned a spot in pop culture and rom-com history and none of them got a sequel,...

Julia Roberts turned down the chance to make a sequel to her $363 million '90s rom-com due to disliking the proposed storyline. Considered one of the greatest and most bankable stars of modern Hollywood, Roberts made her breakthrough with roles in movies including Mystic Pizza and Steel Magnolias, before shooting to global prominence with her first leading role opposite Richard Gere in Pretty Woman. The movie was a box office hit, grossing $434 million globally, and earned Roberts the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress, catapulting her to superstardom.

With a glittering career, Roberts became one of the most bankable stars of the '90s and '00s, with notable leading roles in movies including Ocean's Eleven, Runaway Bride, and My Best Friend's Wedding. She also gave an Academy Award-winning performance in the true story adaptation Erin Brockovich. Roberts was named the highest-paid actress in the world on several occasions, and...

Some audiences might have first spotted Matt Damon during a notable dinner scene in Donald Petrie's hit 1988 drama "Mystic Pizza." Thereafter, Damon turned up as an extra in "Field of Dreams" and as one of the many handsome students in the 1992 boarding school thriller "School Ties," both of them with his longtime friend and collaborator Ben Affleck. Damon went on to score some considerable screen time in Edward Zwick's "Courage Under Fire" before delivering his first lead performance in 1997 in Francis Ford Coppola's "The Rainmaker." That same year, Damon and Affleck became acclaimed Academy darlings for writing and starring in Gus Van Sant's "Good Will Hunting." The pair won Oscars for their screenplay and have both been major Hollywood players since.

Damon, having gained the clout to be picky and the fame to be noticed, thereafter became attracted to projects by established directors. After having alreayd...

In Hollywood’s ever-evolving landscape, family dynamics often become intertwined with the glitz and glamour of fame, resulting in compelling narratives that capture the public’s attention. Actor Eric Roberts, known for his strong performances in King of the Gypsies and Paul’s Case, has found himself at the center of such a situation following the release of his new memoir, Runaway Train: Or, the Story of My Life So Far.

Eric Roberts | Credit: Eva Rinaldi/Cca By-sa 2.0/Wikimedia Commons

The book explores his tumultuous upbringing in Georgia and the various highs and lows of his long acting career, along with an apology to his sister and the beloved Hollywood icon Julia Roberts. The apology stems from his previous statement that his sister’s success is largely down to him. However, the sibling rivalry has taken an unexpected turn, as recent reports indicate that Julia Roberts is not happy with her...

Matt Damon first made his acting debut with 1988’s Mystic Pizza, but it was 1997’s Good Will Hunting that made him prominent worldwide. While it is counted among the greatest films ever made, it was produced by the highly infamous Harvey Weinstein.

When the Weinstein controversy first came to light, it was revealed that many of his associates allegedly knew about his actions but did not do anything about it. Surprisingly, Matt Damon was also allegedly among them, who knew about the producer harassing Gwyneth Paltrow but chose to stay silent.

Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love | Credits: Miramax Films

The Harvey Weinstein scandal sent shockwaves across the industry when multiple accusations of r*pe and s*xual assault and abuse came against the Miramax co-founder in 2017. More than 80 women accused the Mogul of heinous crimes that exposed one of the most infamous Hollywood secrets.

What did Matt Damon know...

Julia Roberts will receive an honorary César Award at the upcoming 50th César Awards in Paris.

The Pretty Woman star will be honored at the gala event on Feb. 28, 2025, at the historic Olympia Hall in Paris. The ceremony will be broadcast live on Canal+.

“Julia Roberts is not only a movie star but also a cultural icon whose influence extends far beyond her performances,” the French film academy, which presents the Césars, said in a statement. “Offscreen, she is dedicated to philanthropic causes, serving as an ambassador for Unicef and supporting numerous humanitarian efforts worldwide. An environmental advocate, she has lent her voice to documentaries about protecting the planet and actively campaigns for women’s rights.”

Roberts’ breakthrough as an actress came with Mystic Pizza in 1988, but it was her portrayal of Vivian Ward alongside Richard Gere in 1990’s Pretty Woman that made her a global superstar. She has had...

Who wouldn’t leap at the chance to bask in the spotlight of a Martin Scorsese masterpiece? Any thespian worth their salt knows that to share the screen in a Scorsese saga is akin to finding the pot of gold at the end of the cinematic rainbow.

Indeed, giants like Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio have often waltzed through this golden gate, yet Matt Damon has courted the Scorsese stage just once—a memorable turn in 2006’s crime thriller, The Departed. So, it must be one of his favorite flicks?

Matt Damon in The Departed | Warner Bros. Pictures

Well, hold your horses, there’s a plot twist! Even after working with the formidable Scorsese, Damon’s heart beats for a different classic. Steven Spielberg’s seascape of suspense, Jaws (1975), chomps its way to the top of Damon’s all-time favorites, shining a spotlight on the director’s genius.

Matt...

Buckle up, sitcom fans! The American sitcom series Two and a Half Men almost featured a totally different story. Forget the smooth-talker Charlie Sheen for now; we’re talking about another iconic character who was supposed to be Eastern European. This could’ve completely reshaped the entire series.

Conchata Ferrell as Aunt Dorothy in the movie Krampus | Legendary Pictures

C’mon, let’s explore an alternate reality, where we dive deep into how a character’s charm might’ve been lost in translation, heavily upsetting the fans.

Two and a Half Men’s Berta: Almost an Eastern European Stereotype? Conchata Ferrell as Berta in the movie Two and a Half Men | Warner Bros. Television

Imagine a Two and a Half Men without Berta’s signature sass. Crazy, right? We all know the magic that was Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer, and Angus T. Jones in the rom-com sitcom. But the...

(Courtesy image)

LG Channels, the free, ad-supported streaming television (Fast) platform built in to the electronic maker’s smart TVs, has launched a new content stream that curates a selection of shows and movies that are exclusive to the service.

The portal, called LG Channels Showcase, will feature a rotating catalog of titles from Amazon MGM Studios, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Shout! Studios, Lionsgate and others, the company said in a statement this week.

In July, LG Channels Showcase will offer free access to blockbuster movies like “Tomb Raider,” “Hercules” (Paramount Pictures version), “Red Dawn,” “Big Eyes,” “Thelma & Louise,” “The Terminator,” “Pompeii,” “Mystic Pizza,” “The Lucky Ones,” “Windtalkers,” “But I’m A Cheerleader” and “Sophie’s Choice.”

Shows that will stream through LG Channels Showcase include the company’s own original docuseries “LG Presents: The Rivalries,” which features rival match-ups from NCAA Division II and Division III sports. Another original, called “Taste of Tennessee,...

Have you ever considered what it’s like to stand at the crossroads of familial legacy & personal ambition? For Emma Roberts, this seems to be a daily reality. As the daughter of actor Eric Roberts (King of the Gypsies), and, more notably, the niece of cinematic darling Julia Roberts (Mystic Pizza), Roberts has endured the choppy waters of Tinseltown with a surname that resonates with stardom.

However, she’s no stranger to the sting of criticism regarding her family connections. In a recent candid revelation, Roberts confronts the double-edged sword of being a so-called ‘nepo baby’ in the industry. With an audacious spirit, she dismantles the notion that her path is solely determined by her lineage.

Emma Roberts in American Horror Story | Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision

So, here she is, resilient, sharing a common struggle with peers like Gwyneth Paltrow and Dakota Johnson, while also shining a light on the gendered skew in this discourse.

Have you ever found yourself questioning the future success of an up-and-coming star, only to be later delightfully proven wrong? That was precisely the case with The Dark Knight star Christian Bale, who, after watching Matt Damon’s performance in Robert Mandel’s School Ties, harbored doubts about the latter’s prospects in Hollywood.

In a candid GQ interview, Bale reflected on a time when his own career seemed to be in a lull, revealing how he wasn’t quite convinced that Damon, despite his evident talent, would achieve fame. For Bale, the realization came quickly, but just “three days” later, while watching Good Will Hunting, it led him to the undeniable conclusion: talent combined with perseverance is a force to be reckoned with!

Christian Bale in Batman Begins | Warner Bros.

Note that School Ties did launch the careers of many acclaimed actors working today, including Anthony Rapp, Brendan Fraser,...

A good movie hug, one that’s more than a neat tie-up, can pack a wallop, especially in the final stretch of a gripping story. The proportions of bittersweet angst and healthy schmaltz vary. The situation might be a charged reunion, a heartrending goodbye or a romantic declaration. Films as unalike as It’s a Wonderful Life, E.T. and Reds offer memorable clinches. But I can’t think of a screen embrace as packed with complex emotion and metaphoric zing as the one that closes Dogfight.

Nancy Savoca’s 1991 drama, digitally restored and arriving April 30 in a Blu-ray special edition from the Criterion Collection, defies genre expectations at every turn. In certain ways — beautiful ways — it’s as winningly awkward as its protagonists, portrayed by two of the most gifted risk-takers of their generation, River Phoenix and Lili Taylor. Thoroughly cinematic yet also endearingly stagy (no wonder it inspired a...

Do you enjoy watching the Oscars? Do you love looking forward to seeing who will take home the coveted golden statue every year? Well, if this is the case, you’re not alone. However, there is one aspect of the show that some viewers have mixed feelings about- the host. Over the past few years, Jimmy Kimmel has become a regular fixture as the host of the Academy Awards.

Some viewers love Kimmel’s tongue-in-cheek banter and humorous sketches, while others find his hosting style to be unwelcoming and uninteresting. And it appears that one of the popular faces of the industry concurs with this idea: Matt Damon.

Jimmy Kimmel at Oscars 2024

With a blunt assessment of Kimmel’s hosting skills at the 96th Academy Awards, the actor calls it “terrible”. While some fans may find this to be a harsh statement, many will likely concur with the Mystic Pizza star.

Yes, it is true. Edward Berger, the director of All Quiet on the Western Front & Jack, is in talks to direct a new flick about super spy Jason Bourne. The upcoming film would be the latest entry in the successful Bourne franchise, which has brought in over $1.6 billion at the box office through five films (four of which starred Matt Damon). Jeremy Renner played Aaron Cross in the fourth Bourne film, which brought in $276 million despite receiving mixed reviews.

Many fans were therefore left to speculate as to whether the Mystic Pizza star would return to Universal Pictures’ acclaimed action franchise. During his recent visit to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Damon, 53, declined to confirm his presence in the next Bourne flick when the host brought up the topic. However, the actor did sense that “someone is going to need to take it over” eventually.

Matt Damon in and as Jason Bourne

Still,...

With her thousand-watt smile and wild mane of curly hair, Julia Roberts has an effervescence that is unmatched. Roger Ebert once described her as "an actress with a winning way; we like her, feel protective toward her, want her to prevail." She has a natural luminosity that conjures an unforgettable and commanding on-screen presence. Roberts quickly rose to fame after her role in "Mystic Pizza" in 1988. Throughout the 1990s and into the millennium, she became one of the most celebrated female actors and a bona fide movie star.

While she is often associated with romantic comedies, Julia Roberts has also tackled many intense roles. She has earned four Academy Award nominations and won for "Erin Brockovich," which also established her as one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors. She became the first female actor to receive a $20 million paycheck for a film (via History.com). In her three-decade-long career, Roberts has emerged...

"Say Anything" marked America's transition into the 1990s by sealing off the heyday of feel-good high-school rom-coms and goth rock in the '80s. It was a major and much-needed send-off that is probably still an all-time favorite among many a Gen-x-er today.

The coming-of-age hit from 20th Century Fox featured breakout stars like John Cusack and Ione Skye. Even the supporting roles were played by soon-to-be major players like Pamela Adlon or the children of mega-famous stars like Jason Gould.

But not every actor featured in the 1989 romance movie survived into 2024. Unfortunately, John Mahoney, who played Diane's hypercritical (and hypocritical) father, James Court, passed away back in 2018. The late actor was the oldest major cast member by quite a few years and was in his late 70s when he passed. Before his death, Mahoney had an incredible career in film and television — his supporting role as Martin Crane in...

Despite playing mother and daughter in "Mother's Day," Julia Roberts and Britt Robertson are not related in real life. Julia Roberts is an idol to Britt Robertson, who cited "Pretty Woman" as her favorite childhood movie. Working with Roberts on "Mother's Day" was a dream come true for Robertson, who had a positive experience with the veteran actress.

After the two actresses appeared together in Mother's Day, people began to wonder, is Britt Robertson related to Julia Roberts? Released in 2016, Mother's Day is a romantic dramedy directed by Garry Marshall. The movie takes place in Atlanta, Georgia in the days leading up to the eponymous day, and centers on an ensemble of characters' interconnected storylines, including Roberts' Miranda and Robertson's Kristin. Mother's Day is the third film in Marshall's unofficial holiday movie trilogy, alongside 2010's Valentine's Day and 2011's New Year's Eve. Unfortunately, none of these movies were particularly well-reviewed,...

Julia Roberts shines in her early films like "Mystic Pizza" and "Notting Hill," where she delivers strong performances. In "Pretty Woman," Roberts and Richard Gere have great chemistry, but the power dynamic and portrayal of sex work do not hold up today. Roberts subverts the rom-com genre in "My Best Friend's Wedding," playing an unlikable protagonist who learns and grows from her mistakes.

When it comes to romantic comedies, few actresses are as prolific and synonymous as Julia Roberts, but there is a clear hierarchy in her body of work. Throughout Roberts' career, she has starred in many films that have come to define the best and worst parts of the rom-com. Whether creating tropes that are now staples of rom-coms in her early films or subverting those very same tropes in her later work, Roberts has always been ahead of the rom-com curve.

Rom-com critics and connoisseurs have long...

Oppenheimer.Much of the praise for Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer has highlighted the strength of its ensemble cast. Cillian Murphy has garnered considerable acclaim for his cold and haunted performance as the eponymous father of the atomic bomb, and so has Robert Downey Jr. as his vindictive foil, Admiral Lewis Strauss. Less has been said about Matt Damon’s supporting portrayal of one of the most pivotal figures in the J. Robert Oppenheimer story: Major General Leslie Groves, the American military man who oversaw the Manhattan Project, and hired Oppenheimer. Gruff, difficult to please, exacting in his military objectives, and occasionally comic, Damon plays him with the understated, reliably solid craft that’s defined his career. And in what has proven to be characteristic of Damon’s screen presence, he plays Groves as less conservative than he first appears: he’s a character who’s willing to gently undercut received...

Suzanne Shepherd, an actress known for playing mothers to key characters in Goodfellas and The Sopranos, has died. She was 89.

Shepherd died peacefully in her home in New York City early Friday morning, her agent told The Hollywood Reporter.

Shepherd appeared in 20 episodes of The Sopranos as Mary DeAngelis, the mother of Edie Falco’s Carmela Soprano, and played the mother of Lorraine Bracco’s Karen Hill in Goodfellas.

Sopranos actor Ray Abruzzo remembered Shepherd on Instagram, calling her “a force of nature.”

Her other credits include roles in movies like Mystic Pizza, Uncle Buck, Lolita, Requiem for a Dream, Living Out Loud and Working Girl and guest appearances in TV shows like Ed, Blue Bloods, Law & Order and Third Watch.

Shepherd’s last onscreen role was in 2023’s The Performance as Tess.

Born Oct. 31, 1934, Shepherd graduated from Bennington College and studied with Larry Arrick, Herbert Berghoff and Sanford Meisner...

Suzanne Shepherd, best known for her roles in The Sopranos and Goodfellas, has died. She was 89.

The actress passed away Friday morning in her New York City home, her agent confirmed to our sister site Variety.

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Shepherd played Mary DeAngelis, the mother of Edie Falco’s Carmela Soprano, on the HBO crime drama The Sopranos between 2000 and 2007. Ray Abruzzo,...

Suzanne Shepherd, who was best known for her roles in “Goodfellas” and “The Sopranos,” has died at the age of 89.

Shepherd’s death was announced by her friend Tom Titone, who wrote on Facebook, “Suzanne Shepherd passed away peacefully very early yesterday morning. She was 89 years old.”

Titone, who shared photos of Shepherd alongside his words, continued, “I took these photos a couple of years ago at her home on the Uws. Always the actress.

“I studied with Suzanne as a young actor. She saw in me what I could not yet see in myself. She introduced me to my husband. She was the officiant to our marriage under a beautiful gazebo in Central Park with a gathering of family and friends. For this, I will always be grateful.”

He finished, “She was a huge presence. A Big personality. She roared with life and at it. May she rest now.

Suzanne Shepherd, an actor known for her roles in “The Sopranos” and “Goodfellas,” died Friday morning in her home in New York City, her agent confirmed to Variety. She was 89.

Shepherd portrayed Mary DeAngelis, the mother of Carmela Soprano (Edie Falco), in HBO’s crime drama series “The Sopranos,” as well as the mother of Lorraine Bracco’s character Karen Hill in 1990’s “Goodfellas.” She also had roles in “Jacob’s Ladder” (1990), “Trees Lounge” (1996), “Lolita” (1997), “American Cuisine” (1998), “Living Out Loud” (1998), “Requiem for a Dream” (2000), “A Dirty Shame” (2004), “Harold” (2008), “The Week Of” (2018) and “The Performance” (2023), among other films.

Shepherd was born on Oct. 31, 1934. She made her acting debut in the 1988 romcom “Mystic Pizza,” starring Julia Roberts, and appeared in such films as “Working Girl,” “Uncle Buck” and “Second Sight” before working on Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas.”

On the television side, she guest-starred in “Law & Order,” “Third Watch,” “Ed,” “Blue Bloods,” “Deadline,...

Goodfellas actress Suzanne Shepherd has died aged 89, her family has confirmed.

The veteran actress was best known for her roles in Martin Scorsese’s big screen hit about the mob, as well as The Sopranos on TV.

Fans were quick to pay tribute on social media, with one calling her “the go-to mother actress.” Sopranos star Ray Abruzzo also posted a tribute on Instagram, saying:

“Sad to hear of the passing of Suzanne Shepherd.

“A force of nature. Actress, teacher.”

Shepherd portrayed the mother of the character Karen Hill (played by Lorraine Bracco) in Goodfellas.

In The Sopranos, she played Mary DeAngelis, the mother of Carmela Soprano (played by actress Edie Falco).

Shepherd’s enjoyed a career of more than three decades, after her first role as Aunt Tweedy in 1988’s Mystic Pizza. She also featured in Requiem for a Dream, Uncle Buck and Lolita.

On TV, she appeared in...

Actress Suzanne Shepherd, who is known for ‘The Sopranos’ and ‘Goodfellas’ has died at the age of 89, after decades-long career in the acting industry. The death of the late actress is said to have been confirmed by a relative recently, reports Mirror.co.uk. A cause of death however hasn’t been reported.

Over the course of her career, Suzanne – who’s also credited as a theatre director and acting teacher – starred in numerous films and appeared in some TV shows. Her most recent credit is said to have been ‘The Performance’.

The Sun US reported earlier that Suzanne has died, with the news said to have been shared by her granddaughter Isabelle. The outlet stated that a cause of death was not provided and that the family didn’t detail a further statement.

As per Mirror.co.uk, Suzanne played the mother of Karen Hill (played by Lorraine Bracco...

Actress Suzanne Shepherd, who is known for ‘The Sopranos’ and ‘Goodfellas’ has died at the age of 89, after decades-long career in the acting industry. The death of the late actress is said to have been confirmed by a relative recently, reports Mirror.co.uk. A cause of death however hasn’t been reported.

Over the course of her career, Suzanne – who’s also credited as a theatre director and acting teacher – starred in numerous films and appeared in some TV shows. Her most recent credit is said to have been ‘The Performance’.

The Sun US reported earlier that Suzanne has died, with the news said to have been shared by her granddaughter Isabelle. The outlet stated that a cause of death was not provided and that the family didn’t detail a further statement.

As per Mirror.co.uk, Suzanne played the mother of Karen Hill (played by Lorraine Bracco...

30 Rock made a satirical joke in 2007 about movies based on musicals based on movies, now ironic as Tina Fey herself is adapting Mean Girls from film to stage to film. The upcoming Mean Girls (2024) movie is not a remake, but a movie adaptation of the Broadway musical, which was already a musical stage adaptation of the 2004 comedy. Tina Fey's involvement in both 30 Rock and Mean Girls adds another layer of humor to the joke, as she wrote the original screenplay and will reprise her role from the 2004 movie in the new film.

Long before Mean Girls was turned into a musical and then adapted back into a movie, 30 Rock made a hilarious joke predicting such a trend. The NBC sitcom, 30 Rock, is a satirical take on sketch comedy variety shows, based on creator Tina Fey's own experiences behind the scenes of Saturday Night Live (SNL) while she...

Kicking October to the curb and bringing in some November goodness is a fresh slate of new content headed to Paramount Global’s streamer Paramount+, including the sequel to the hit 1997 film “Good Burger.”

Paramount+ started off November by adding more than 30 titles to its library, some of which include “Above the Rim,” Season 15 of “Ink Master,” “Gladiator” and “The Color Purple.”

And if you’re looking for some holiday movies to watch with the family, you can deck the halls with “Happy Christmas,” “Mistletoe Ranch” or “Christmas Eve.” When the kids go to sleep, adult-friendly treats like “Bad Santa” and “Bad Santa 2” are also available.

The highly-anticipated “Good Burger 2,” which stars Kel Mitchell, Keenan Thompson, Shar Jackson, Carmen Electra, Josh Server, Alex R. Hibbert, Lori Beth Denberg and Lil Rel Howery, hits the platform on Nov. 22

Here’s everything coming to Paramount+ this November, from “The Truman Show” to “Paw Patrol.

Jessy Schram is starring as Sawyer in the new movie Mystic Christmas, which premieres tonight on Hallmark Channel!

The 37-year-old actress is a regular of the Hallmark Channel and you also might know her from her roles on Chicago Med and Once Upon a Time.

In Mystic Pizza, Jessy plays a marine veterinarian who travels to Mystic, Connecticut during the holidays to work at the rehabilitation center and aquarium. There she helps Peppermint the seal to get released back to sea. She reconnects with Sawyer, the owner of the pizza shop.

So, is Jessy single or married in real life?

Keep reading to find out more…

She actually tied the knot with her new husband Sterling Taylor back in June 2023! The couple got married in Chicago.

Check out some of their cute Instagram photos below…

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After a pair of well-received supporting roles in Mystic Pizza and Steel Magnolias, Julia Roberts stepped up to the plate with her first starring role in 1990’s Pretty Woman. And when she did, she hit it out of the park — Pretty Woman was a huge success, taking in more than $450 million at the worldwide box office. It also earned Roberts an Oscar nomination, along with a Golden Globe win. Speaking at the 1991 Golden Globes event, Roberts spoke about why she was instantly drawn to the character. (Click on the media bar below to hear Julia Roberts) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Julia_Roberts_Pretty_Woman_.mp3

Pretty Woman is available on DVD, Blu-Ray, and most digital platforms.

The post The Method Behind Julia Roberts’s ‘Pretty Woman’ Madness appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.

Joanna Merlin, who created the role of the daughter Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway and served as a casting director for Stephen Sondheim, Harold Prince and Bernardo Bertolucci, has died. She was 92.

Merlin died Sunday in Los Angeles of complications from myelodysplastic syndrome, a bone marrow disorder, her daughters, documentary filmmaker Rachel Dretzin (Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey) and actress Julie Dretzin (The Handmaid’s Tale), announced.

Merlin also portrayed the dance teacher Miss Berg in Alan Parker’s Fame (1980) and recurred as Judge Lena Petrovsky for more than a decade on NBC’s Law and Order: Svu.

Her acting résumé included the films Hester Street (1975), All That Jazz (1979), Baby It’s You (1983), The Killing Fields (1984), Mystic Pizza (1988), Class Action (1991) and City of Angels (1998) and such TV shows as Naked City, The Defenders, East Side/West Side, Homeland and The Good Wife.

Merlin cast the original Broadway productions of Sondheim’s Company,...

Earlier this year, Max announced it would be housing over 200 episodes of AMC Networks’ television at no additional cost to subscribers beginning in September.

That two-month window is coming to an end, so you’ll want to catch up on “Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire” Season 1; “Dark Winds” Season 1; “Gangs of London” Seasons 1 and 2; “Fear the Walking Dead” Seasons 1-7; “Killing Eve” Seasons 1-4; “A Discovery of Witches” Seasons 1-3; and “Ride with Norman Reedus” Seasons 1-5 while you still can.

A number of great horror titles are leaving at the end of October as well, including: “A Cabin in the Woods,” “Beetlejuice,” “Eight Legged Freaks,” “From Hell,” “It” and “It: Chapter 2,” and several more. They’ll be great to put on while you host your Halloween bash.

Here’s everything leaving Max in October 2023.

October 3

Rx Early Detection: A Cancer Journey with Sandra Lee (2018) (HBO)

October...

Exclusive: Freestyle Digital Media has found its next starry acquisition in The Winter House, a romantic thriller starring Lili Taylor (Mystic Pizza) and François Arnaud (The Borgias) that it will release on digital platforms October 13th.

Written and directed by Keith Boynton, the film tells the story of a female novelist who encounters a mysterious young drifter when she rents a remote lakeside cabin for the winter.

Eileen (Taylor) is grieving and needs to get away, so she rents a house in a remote corner of New Hampshire, in the dead of winter, where no one is likely to bother her. Nevertheless, someone does begin to bother her — a young drifter named Jesse (Arnaud). Jesse is young, impetuous, charismatic, and evasive. He claims to be the son of the couple who own the house, but Eileen isn’t inclined to believe him. She’s a brilliant writer with her own demons and secrets,...

"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" has pushed the boundaries of comedy many times over the years. Some controversial episodes featured blackface, others included homophobic slurs, and one included an homage to the beloved 1990 rom-com, "Pretty Woman." The film is fondly remembered as one of Julia Roberts' breakout roles following "Mystic Pizza" and "Steel Magnolias." It is lauded as a romantic rags-to-riches fairytale, a modern Cinderella if you will — but the "Sunny" creators had a slightly different take on the premise.

Series co-creator and showrunner Rob McElhenney has played the karate-loving Mac for all 16 seasons of the series, but he also plays a large part in the show's writing process. He and his fellow co-creators were inspired by the '90s blockbuster while flipping channels and decided to let it shape one of the plotlines in the season 7 premiere.

"[W]e were watching 'Pretty Woman' recently when it was on TV,...

Julia Roberts was almost hired for a flashback scene in 'Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One' but was deemed too distracting.Director Christopher McQuarrie previously revealed he had briefly considered using technology to de-age Tom Cruise for a sequence in the new action film, and he's now revealed part of the proposal was to bring in the 'Pretty Woman' actress as his lover but the idea was ultimately dropped because he felt the audience would become “too distracted by how an actor that I had known for however long was now suddenly this young person.”Speaking on the 'Empire Spoiler Special' podcast, he recalled: “I said, ‘Ok, if I were doing this sequence, it would be Tom in, say, 1989. It would be Tony Scott’s ‘Mission: Impossible.’ That’s who would have been directing the movie before Brian De Palma, you know, in that era.

Director Christopher McQuarrie previously revealed that a flashback segment that would have de-aged Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One was briefly considered.

Now, McQuarrie is saying that the same segment — set in 1989 — also considered offering Julia Roberts a small role as a de-aged version of herself.

Speaking on the Empire Spoiler Special podcast episode, McQuarrie said Roberts was envisioned as agent Ethan Hunt’s (Tom Cruise) lover. But the sequence was scrapped altogether, McQuarrie said, because he felt that the audience would be feeling “too distracted by how an actor that I had known for however long was now suddenly this young person.”

Mariela Garriga eventually played the role in flashback. The film uses brief glimpses into Ethan Hunt’s life before he joined the Imf.

“I said, ‘Ok, if I were doing this sequence, it would be Tom in, say, 1989. It would be Tony Scott’s ‘Mission: Impossible.

“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” director Christopher McQuarrie revealed before the film opened in theaters that he rejected de-aging Tom Cruise for a 1989-set opening scene. Now on a new episode of “The Empire Spoiler Special Film Podcast” (via /Film), the filmmaker dropped that he considered reaching out to Julia Roberts to de-age her as well for the scene that never happened as planned.

The scene that made it into the film is a brief flashback that is interspersed throughout the movie. It depicts a young Ethan Hunt (Cruise) watching the villainous Gabriel (Esai Morales) murder his girlfriend, played by Mariela Garriga. McQuarrie looked into de-aging VFX in order to open the film with a more extended scene set around this fateful encounter.

“I said, ‘Ok, if I were doing this sequence, it would be Tom in, say, 1989. It would be Tony Scott’s ‘Mission: Impossible.’ That’s...

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One director Christopher McQuarrie considered de-aging Julia Roberts for flashback scenes in the film. De-aging technology was ultimately deemed far too expensive and distracting. The focus should be on the story, not the technology. Flashback scenes may still be included in future films to provide context, but practical action and exciting stunts should continue to take precedence over de-aging effects.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One director Christopher McQuarrie reveals that the film's flashback scenes almost featured a de-aged version of one major female Hollywood star. Tom Cruise returns as superspy Ethan Hunt in the latest installment of the long-running action franchise, this time facing off against an AI threat known as The Entity and its human emissary Gabriel (Esai Morales). To establish Gabriel's past with Ethan, the film features several flashback sequences...

A de-aged Tom Cruise wasn’t the only idea scrapped for “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One.”

Christopher McQuarrie, director of this seventh film in the franchise, recently spoke on an Empire Spoiler Special podcast episode (via Slash Film) about how he considered featuring a de-aged Julia Roberts as Impossible Mission Force agent Ethan Hunt’s (Tom Cruise) ill-fated lover in a sequence that would’ve taken place circa 1989. McQuarrie previously told Total Film why he scrapped the sequence altogether, feeling “too distracted by how an actor that I had known for however long was now suddenly this young person.”

Now, as he told Empire, Roberts was part of that sequence in a role eventually played by Mariela Garriga in flashback. Through black-and-white callbacks woven throughout the movie, “Dead Reckoning” shows glimpses into Ethan’s life before he joined the Imf, revealing how Ethan was framed for the death of...

Don’t worry, Julia Roberts didn’t make a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, but there was a time when director Christopher McQuarrie was considering including her. Not only that, but she would have been digitally de-aged for the scene in question.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One included a few flashbacks to Ethan Hunt’s (Tom Cruise) life before he joined the Imf. I won’t elaborate further, but they involve a woman named Marie. While speaking on Empire’s Spoiler Special Podcast (via /Film), Christopher McQuarrie discussed how he wound up considering Julia Roberts for the role.

“I said, ‘Ok, if I were doing this sequence, it would be Tom in, say, 1989. It would be Tony Scott’s ‘Mission: Impossible.’ That’s who would have been directing the movie before Brian De Palma, you know, in that era,” McQuarrie explained. “We...