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Michael Groszkruger, the respected market research executive who spent more than two decades at New Line Cinema and Warner Bros., died Jan. 30 of complications from cancer in Portland, Oregon, his family announced. He was 60.

Groszkruger served as a vice president and head of research at New Line from 1997-2008, a period in which the studio released such notable films as Wag the Dog, The Wedding Singer, Magnolia, Love & Basketball and entries in the Lord of the Rings, Austin Powers and Rush Hour franchises.

“A lot of New Line’s success was due to Mike’s extraordinary ability to take research and distill the data into creative insights,” former New Line president of marketing Russell Schwartz said in a statement. “His instincts in marketing were unparalleled.”

Groszkruger segued to New Line sister studio Warner Bros. as vp market research in 2008 and helped market Harry Potter, Hobbit, Hangover and Clint Eastwood films,...

Galeca: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics has announced winners for the 2025 Dorian Awards, and it’s great news for genre fare like The Substance, Wicked, and I Saw the TV Glow.

Mubi’s body-horror movie The Substance won a leading five trophies, including Film of the Year, Demi Moore (Best Lead Performance), and Coralie Fargeat (Best Director), while Universal’s film adaptation of the Wicked musical claimed honors for Ariana Grande (Best Supporting Performance), Cynthia Erivo (Lgbtqia+ Film Trailblazer), and Jonathan Bailey (Rising Star).

Other movies with multiple victories were I Saw the TV Glow (LGBTQ Film of the Year and Jane Schoenbrun for LGBTQ Screenplay of the Year), Will & Harper (Documentary of the Year and LGBTQ Documentary of the Year), and Challengers (Justin Kuritzkes for Screenplay of the Year and Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for Film Music of the Year).

In addition to her acting triumph, Moore...

It has been 12 years since Henry Cavill first debuted as the Man of Steel but the fans loyal to Zack Snyder and his grimdark vision of the DC universe have still been unable to move past the actor’s version of Superman. Those faithful to Cavill, in the meanwhile, have taken his entire career into account and not only rendered him the best Superman but also one of the best actors working in Hollywood right now.

Henry Cavill in Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021) [Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures]

The recently leaked audition tape of the actor as James Bond has further fanned the flames of mass discord as fans cannot reconcile with the fact that Cavill was twice rejected from the role that he seems to be tailor-made for. The lost 007 role combined with his ill-fated arc as Superman and the much-beloved Witcher has thrown the fans into a spiral of confusion and blame.

In a world of mass-produced plastic and disposable everything, Building Outside the Lines stands out as a welcome anomaly. This Magnolia series, featuring the father-daughter team of Cappie and Alex, focuses on the art of transforming the discarded into the delightful. This week’s episode, “The Birdhouse Playhouse,” takes that philosophy to whimsical new heights. The […]

Building Outside the Lines: “The Birdhouse Playhouse”...

Tom Cruise’s career in film has always possessed an X-factor, with the actor himself overflowing with on-screen pizzazz. The certified action star of the 21st century was made for the big screens, and rightfully so, given his success with the Mission: Impossible franchise. However, Cruise wasn’t always this starved for adrenaline-packed action spy thrillers.

Tom Cruise [Credit: Paramount Pictures]

For 20 years since his debut, Tom Cruise was an actor’s actor. In that time, he earned 3 Oscar nominations for his roles in Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire, and Magnolia. It took him another 23 years to earn the fourth Oscar nomination, and that too as a producer for Top Gun: Maverick.

Although regarded as the most celebrated movie star today, it is no wonder that somewhere along his acting journey, Cruise felt he missed out on an experience that only legends like Clint Eastwood managed to land in their lifetimes.

Tom Cruise has been dominating Hollywood ever since he stepped foot into the industry. Whether it is pulling off insane, almost impossible stunts or delivering passionate scenes with all his heart, the man has proven over and over again why he is the biggest superstar alive. The best thing about Tom Cruise has got to be that he isn’t afraid of going out of his comfort zone. Thus, when you look at his filmography, you aren’t just going to find him playing larger-than-life characters and heroically saving the day. Sometimes, he likes to make a little mischief.

Top Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick (2022) | Credits: Paramount Pictures

There have been times when Tom Cruise ditched the charming hero to play more complex, darker characters. Sometimes he is Vincent, a cold-blooded hitman, and other times he’s the power-hungry Hollywood producer, Les Grossman. Clearly, the man can pull anything off.

A hollow, lifeless conference hall at the Los Angeles Convention Center is just about the last place you would expect to find a Grateful Dead tribute concert on a Friday night. But it was there that MusiCares put on a show for the ages, honoring the band at its Persons of the Year gala with founding members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart in attendance (drummer Bill Kreutzmann could not make the trip and delivered a message by video) and a slew of acolytes who understood the assignment.

Typically, the MusiCares dinner is a polite affair, with guests seated respectfully for most of the performances, save the all-star finale, a staple of the event. And that’s not to say that previous Person of the Year recipients — which include Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney and Barbra Streisand — didn’t have their own rabid fanbases in attendance. But the Deadheads just do things differently.

Tom Cruise is the man who sprints full speed in every movie. He clings to planes, jumps off cliffs, and does things most action stars wouldn’t dream of. For years, he’s been Hollywood’s adrenaline junkie, the human embodiment of ‘go big or go home.’

But before he became the action star, he was actually chasing something else: serious acting cred. And honestly? The actor nailed it. Back in the late ’90s, Cruise wasn’t just doing blockbuster stunts. He was taking real, emotional risks. And in Magnolia (1999), he gave a performance so raw, so gut-wrenching, that it should’ve guaranteed him an Oscar.

Instead, he got nominated, clapped politely when someone else won, and walked away without that golden statue. A crime, honestly. Now, Magnolia isn’t your typical Tom Cruise flick with a run-chase, explosions, and saving the world. It’s a chaotic, messy, and weirdly...

Deafheaven have announced a spring 2025 North American tour in support of their upcoming album Lonely People with Power.

The tour kicks off April 19th in LA and runs through May 23rd in Mesa, Arizona, hitting Chicago, New York City, Dallas and other markets along the way. Deafheaven’s itinerary also includes two festival slots at Sonic Temple and Welcome to Rockville. For the headlining gigs, Gatecreeper and Trauma Ray will serve as support.

Get Deafheaven Tickets Here

An artist pre-sale starts begins Wednesday (January 29th) at noon Et (fans can call for code), while a Live Nation ticket pre-sale for select dates begins Thursday (January 30th) at 10 a.m. local time using the code Octave. General ticket sales start Friday (January 31st) at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster.

The band previously teased a tour announcement earlier this week when it announced the March 28th release of Lonely People with...

Deafheaven are hitting the road. The metal band announced a 25-date North America tour on Wednesday, separate from a handful of festival appearances they have coming up in the U.K. and Europe as well.

Deafheaven will kick off the tour in Los Angeles at the Belasco on April, hitting much of the U.S. and a few Canadian stops along the way, before wrapping in Mesa, Arizona at the Nile on May 23. Gatekeeper and Trauma Ray are both opening acts.

Pre-sale for tickets begins today at noon Et, and...

Deafheaven have announced a new album, Lonely People with Power, arriving March 28th via Roadrunner Records. The video for the lead single “Magnolia” can be streamed below.

The track signals a furious return to the band’s black metal style, complete with frontman George Clarke’s vocals sounding as a harsh as ever — an approach he eschewed on the previous album, Infinite Granite. Black metal beats and tornadic riffs build to a crescendo as the track reaches an epic Slayer-esque breakdown — the heaviest Deafheaven have sounded since the 2019 one-off “Black Brick.”

Get Deafheaven Tickets Here

Lonely People with Power is the band’s sixth proper studio album and was recorded at EastWest Studios with producer Justin Meldal-Johnsen. The 12-song LP includes additional vocal contributions from Jae Matthews of Boy Harsher and Paul Banks of Interpol.

Per Deafheaven’s press release, tour dates supporting the new album “will be announced in the coming days.

Tom Cruise, undoubtedly, continues to be one of the biggest enigmas in Hollywood. Arguably the biggest action star and one of the leading lights in Hollywood, the actor has given us some truly wonderful projects.

Yet, he remains without an Academy Award. The same has been brought to light by Léa Seydoux, star of James Bond’s Spectre and No Time to Die. Seydoux, while appearing on Konbini, expressed her admiration for Cruise’s diverse talent and lamented his lack of recognition from the Oscars.

Seydoux was all praise for Cruise’s versatility Tom Cruise as Frank Tj Mackey in Magnolia [Credit: New Line Cinema]

While exploring a video store in France, Seydoux selected Brian De Palma’s Mission: Impossible as one of her favorite films, marveling at Tom Cruise’s ability to excel in both action-packed roles and nuanced dramas.

She remarked:

To do something as subtle as Eyes Wide Shut...

Tom Cruise was nominated for four Oscars and three of the nods were for his acting performances. It is sad to see his losing streak at the Academy Awards, especially since he bagged the Golden Globes for these three roles.

There were also a couple of other performances from the actor that truly deserved all the recognition in the world.

Tom Cruise as Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder | Credits: DreamWorks/Paramount Pictures

There was an accusation that Cruise was intentionally pushed out of the competition one time. Fans hope that his upcoming project with Alejandro G. Iñárritu will finally break his losing streak. Iñárritu had a hand in Leonardo DiCaprio’s first Oscar win after he was snubbed of the award for years.

5. Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

Oliver Stone, who is often associated with controversial films centered around American politics, directed this masterpiece starring Tom Cruise. The Jack...

The lineup for the 75th Berlin International Film Festival has been unveiled, with 19 films competing for the coveted Golden Bear. Outside of those, the festival will also host the world premiere of Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey 17, have a screening of James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown and offer up Tom Tykwer’s latest, The Light, which will be opening the festival.

Here is the full competition lineup for this year’s Berlin International Film Festival:

Ari – Léonor Serraille

Blue Moon – Richard Linklater

La cache (The Safe House) – Lionel Baier

Dreams – Michel Franco

Drømmer (Dreams (Sex Love)) – Dag Johan Haugerud

Geu jayeoni nege mworago hani (What Does That Nature Say to You) – Hong Sangsoo

Hot Milk – Rebecca Lenkiewicz

If I Had Legs I’d Kick You – Mary Bronstein

Kontinental ’25 – Radu Jude

El mensaje (The Message) – Iván Fund

Mother’s Baby – Johanna Moder

O último azul (The Blue Trail) – Gabriel Mascaro

Reflet...

Walter Salles-directed I’m Still Here caps weeks of packed screenings after a Best Actress Golden Globe win by star Fernanda Torres with a theatrical release from Sony Pictures Classics on five screens in New York and LA. The distributor’s The Room Next Door jumps from 44 screens to over 850, the widest release of a Pedro Almodovar film.

Mubi is out with documentary Grand Theft Hamlet, A24’s Colman Domingo-starring Sing Sing is back at 500+ theaters, Bleecker Street’s Hard Truths by Mike Leigh, starring Marianne Jean-Baptiste, expands to 120 screens.

Torres of I’m Still Here is the daughter of Brazilian icon Fernanda Montenegro who was nominated for a Golden Globe and an Oscar for Salles’ breakout film Central Station. Earlier this month, Torres dedicated her Golden Globe to her mother, saying, “She was here 25 years ago and this is like proof that art can endure through life.” Her speech was a hit,...

In the age of streaming, there’s a widespread belief that every movie is available, all the time, everywhere. Don’t fall for it! Some of the greatest movies ever made are nowhere to be found due to everything from music rights snafus to corporate negligence. In this column, we take a look at films currently out-of-print on physical media and unavailable on any streaming platform in an effort to draw attention to them and say to their rights holders, “Release This!”

At the end of 1999, Entertainment Weekly ran a cover story titled “The Year That Changed Movies,” celebrating the abundance of highwire masterpieces that the American film industry seemed to be cranking out on a weekly basis that year. “Eyes Wide Shut,” “Magnolia,” “The Limey,” “Fight Club,” “Being John Malkovich,” “Election,” “Boys Don’t Cry”, “The Straight Story,” “The Sixth Sense,” “Bringing Out the Dead,” “The Matrix,” and “Three Kings” are just a random sampling,...

I Saw the TV Glow and The Substance led the way at the Dorian Film Award nominations on Friday. The awards are selected by Galeca — the Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics comprises more than 500 critics, journalists, and media figures. Winners will be announced on Feb. 13.

SEE2025 Independent Spirit Awards nominations: Full list led by ‘Anora,’ ‘I Saw the TV Glow’

From director Jane Schoenbrun, A24’s I Saw the TV Glow tells the eerie story of two friends (Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine) whose realities start to collapse around their favorite television series. The movie received a leading nine Dorian nominations including Film of the Year, LGBTQ Film of the Year, and Director of the Year, while both Smith and Lundy-Paine were nominated for their performances. The indie feature, hailed as a groundbreaking trans allegory, has mostly flown under the radar this awards season, though it did score three Gotham...

Barbarian (watch it Here) writer/director Zach Cregger has assembled a strong cast for his mysterious horror project called Weapons, including Julia Garner (Ozark), Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men), Alden Ehrenreich (Solo), Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange), Amy Madigan (Antlers), Austin Abrams (Euphoria), June Diane Raphael (Grace and Frankie), and Cary Christopher (Days of Our Lives)… and during an interview with Collider, Garner said that we should not expect Weapons to be “a proper horror movie.”

Most details about Weapons are shrouded in mystery. It has been said that it’s “an interrelated, multistory horror epic” that’s tonally in the vein of Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia, and The Hollywood Reporter adds that the story revolves around the disappearance of high schoolers in a small town.

Cregger wrote the Weapons screenplay (which Brolin has said had “a really brilliant design”) and is directing the film. He’s also...

Known for performing some of the most extreme stunts in his movies, Tom Cruise also shines as an actor when it comes to tackling complex roles. Whether it is Joel Goodsen in Risky Business, Charlie Babbitt in Rain Man, or his Oscar-nominated performances as Frank T.J. Mackey in Magnolia, Cruise has consistently delivered unforgettable portrayals.

A still from Magnolia | Credit: New Line Cinema

The latter, which featured him as a self-help guru peddling toxic masculinity, has been considered one of the best performances of his career. However, while critics praised his fearless dive into the character’s vulnerability, the Oscars failed to recognize it as the groundbreaking work it was.

Today, with the rise of similar controversial figures like Andrew Tate, holding significant influence, and reportedly a bid for political power, Cruise’s Oscar snub feels more like a missed opportunity to grapple with the troubling archetype, as it...

Tom Cruise has done it all: dangling off planes, scaling skyscrapers, and riding motorcycles straight into danger. But leave it to Logan director James Mangold to nearly send him to the great action star afterlife during a stunt that looked way too chill to be deadly. No helicopters, no explosions, just one tiny misstep away from disaster.

Tom Cruise in American Made | Credits: Universal Pictures

While Cruise is usually the guy who laughs in the face of danger, even he probably broke a sweat on this one.

Tom Cruise’s wild rooftop run: The one stunt that nearly went horribly wrong Tom Cruise in Knight and Day | Credits: Regency Enterprises

James Mangold, director of Logan, dropped some serious truth bombs about a Tom Cruise stunt that almost went horribly wrong. The scene in question? That rooftop run in Knight and Day.

Picture this: Cruise, running full speed on an icy rooftop in Salzburg,...

Tom Cruise is undoubtedly a trendsetter, Hollywood’s biggest action star, still churning out hits even at the age of 62. His latest work came in the form of Top Gun: Maverick, and the 2023-released Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.

While Maverick was nominated for 5 Academy award categories, it took home 2 Golden Globes. And while the movie did extremely well both with critics and fans, Cruise himself was snubbed at the 2023 Golden Globes. That was not due to his work not being up to the mark.

Instead, it was because Cruise had returned three Golden Globe trophies back in 2021, as a protest against the systemic racism and corruption within the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the organization behind the prestigious awards.

Tom Cruise returned his three Golden Globes in 2021 Magnolia (1999) [Credit: New Line Cinema]

Tom Cruise has been synonymous with cinematic brilliance, with three Golden Globes adorning his illustrious career:...

When cinematographer Drew Daniels reunited with “Red Rocket” director Sean Baker for “Anora,” he wanted to create a blend between formalism and neorealism, in which the visual language would be precise yet allow plenty of room for the actors to explore and find the kinds of truthful moments for which Baker’s films are known.

“When someone says, ‘I didn’t notice the camera’ or ‘It looks like you didn’t even light anything,’ that’s the ultimate compliment,” Daniels told IndieWire. “I really like hearing that because it means that it just felt real.”

Daniels says the goal all along was to make “Anora” look “natural and effortless,” but a lot of work went into creating the illusion that the action was caught on the fly. One of the film’s key set pieces, a lengthy home invasion sequence shot on location in a real house, is a case in point.

From Captain Vidal in Pan’s Labyrinth to Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds, charismatic sadists have always been an integral part of cinema. But amid the numerous villains in film history, Tom Cruise’s character in Magnolia ranks among the very best in that category. As of today, the 1999 film is not only one of Cruise’s best works but also Paul Thomas Anderson’s masterpiece.

Magnolia (1999) [Credit: New Line Cinema]

Magnolia shifted the audience’s perceptions about motivational speakers as much as it shifted their perceptions about Tom Cruise’s skill as an actor. Despite his already A-list movie star status, Cruise achieved cinematic immortality through his role as Frank Tj Mackey – a character that was beyond complex and virtually impossible to represent on the screen.

Tom Cruise unleashes his most despicable persona Tom Cruise as Frank Tj Mackey in Magnolia [Credit: New Line Cinema]

Films have the power to deceive and disrupt or the...

Of the many films that Tom Cruise has filmed over the years in Hollywood, the Stanley Kubrick thriller Eyes Wide Shut has to be one of the weirdest experiences of his life. Considering it’s Cruise we are talking about, the poster boy of action films, the wildly erotic thriller did not fall under his usual foray into artsy blockbusters.

Eyes Wide Shut [Credit: Warner Bros.]

Despite the subject matter and the plot of the movie, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman left an indelible mark with the 1999 film that also proved to be the final masterpiece of Kubrick’s lifetime. The creative endeavor that connected Cruise, Kidman, and Kubrick in a once-in-a-lifetime experience, however, also went against everything that the action star would go on to represent some time into the future.

Tom Cruise sacrifices his core identity for one film Eyes Wide Shut [Credit: Warner Bros.]

It is not always Tom Cruise who gets to choose his missions.

The versatile John C. Reilly has been announced as the first honoree at the 19th annual Oscar Wilde Awards.

The event, organized by the US-Ireland Alliance, is set for Feb. 27 — in its traditional evening spot three days before the Oscars — at the historic Ebell theater in Los Angeles, its original home.

The casual bash celebrates the work of those from Ireland — and some who are not — who contribute to film, television and music. It also fosters artistic collaborations, from giving young actors and singers a profile in the U.S. to encouraging the shooting of films in Ireland.

The Chicago-born Reilly, 59, speaks often of his family’s strong ties to Ireland. A frequent visitor to the country, he served as the International Guest of Honor at Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities in 2022.

“It might just seem like a goof to just appear at a parade, but to me,...

This probably sounds unthinkable in 2024, but 25 years ago, the notion of Adam Sandler appearing in a film with even the slightest of awards hopes was considered deranged. The "Saturday Night Live" veteran was one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood, but the movies that brought him to the mountaintop were almost all critically maligned goofs. Aside from the sweet-natured rom-com "The Wedding Singer," Sandler was viewed as a juvenile vulgarian who unrepentantly aimed low. Even though he could procure the services of respected actors like Drew Barrymore, Steve Buscemi, and John Turturro, Sandler's brand of inspired stupidity could not be accepted as worthy of their generation's comedy imbecile Jerry Lewis.

So when word got out in 2001 that Paul Thomas Anderson, one of the most exciting young auteurs working at the turn of the millennium based on the strength of "Boogie Nights" and "Magnolia," announced that he'd cast Adam Sandler...

There are stories of coincidence and chance, of intersections and strange things told…And Patton Oswalt has an amusing story of his own about working with Paul Thomas Anderson on Magnolia. For those who don’t know or haven’t seen it since he broke out, Oswalt played black jack dealer and scuba diving aficionado Delmer Darion, seen in the prologue that set up the themes of Magnolia. Only, Oswalt had no idea what he was even filming – he was just sort of up a tree.

Speaking on the Fly on the Wall podcast, Patton Oswalt remembered his early job on Magnolia as one that kept him in the dark. “It’s brilliant but anyone who works with Paul Thomas Anderson will tell you…they don’t give you the whole script, they send you your pages…So all I had was, I’m beaten up in a casino and...

Get ready to spin. Turnover are bringing back their 2015 album, Peripheral Vision, and touring it across six stops to celebrate the LP’s tenth anniversary. The news comes after the Virginia alt-rock band wiped their Instagram profile and posted a video with the Peripheral Vision album art and the song “Cutting My Fingers Off,” plus a caption that teased the announcement date.

The tour will hit major cities Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago along with Morrison, Colorado and their hometown of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Their only show outside of the U.

The last time Tom Cruise played a movie villain was in 2004's Collateral, an 86%-scored crime thriller that's currently playing on Netflix. The best Tom Cruise movies range from critically acclaimed hits like Magnolia and Eyes Wide Shut to major action franchise films like Top Gun: Maverick and Mission: Impossible. As one of the world's most recognizable and beloved movie stars, almost everyone has seen a Tom Cruise movie and is familiar with his action-hero persona, making it all the more exciting to see a movie where he's playing a different mold of character.

Like The Rock or Ryan Reynolds, Tom Cruise has found a character type that brings audiences to movie theaters. His confident, often smug action movie lead, be it Ethan Hunt or Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell, is guaranteed to rake in millions at the box office. He's spent much of the 21st century playing variations of this character,...

On Friday December 6 2024, Magnolia broadcasts Human vs Hamster!

Magicians and Dancers Season 1 Episode 6 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Human vs Hamster,” titled “Magicians and Dancers,” promises an exciting blend of talent and competition. This episode will showcase a variety of performances that highlight the skills of dancers and magicians. Viewers can expect to see impressive routines and mind-bending tricks that aim to captivate the audience and judges alike.

As the dancers take center stage, they will showcase their grace and creativity through a series of choreographed routines. Each performance will bring its own unique flair, allowing the dancers to express themselves in ways that are both entertaining and artistic. The magicians will also bring their best tricks to the forefront, aiming to leave everyone in awe with their sleight of hand and illusions.

In a twist, the episode will feature Lightning, who attempts to steal the spotlight in a segment called “Escape the Cage.

Sky Ferreira has been waiting for a call from A24 for years. “I’ve always wanted to do something like this for a long time because I felt like so many of my peers have worked with A24 musically,” she tells Rolling Stone over the phone. “I was like, ‘Why am I the only one who never gets to do anything ever? I don’t get to have an album or write for films …’”

The call finally came early this summer, when she was contacted by the team behind A24’s upcoming erotic thriller Babygirl,...

Positive test screenings for Zach Cregger’s second film Weapons will reportedly see it released in 2025 instead of 2026.

Ever since Zach Cregger’s debut, Barbarian (pictured above) released in cinemas in 2022 and quickly became one of the most talked-about horror flicks of the year, anticipation has been high for the filmmaker’s second outing as director. From the handsome deal Cregger received from Warner Bros/New Line Cinema to the ambitious nature of the project, everything we’ve heard about Weapons thus far has only served to further stoke anticipation.

The casting is pretty exciting too, placing Julia Garner and Josh Brolin in the film’s two lead spots. The supporting cast isn’t half bad either, given that we’ll be getting Brian Tyree Henry, Tom Burke, Austin Abrams and June Diane Raphael on the call sheet too.

Still, 2026 is a way off, but The InSneider (via World of...

Go past the hut at the entrance to an apartment complex off a busy street in the San Fernando Valley section of Los Angeles. Turn left at the Aloha Room and go past the little nook with a red waterfall and a sign that reads “Volcano Mauna Loa Falls.” Don’t worry about the black panther statue. Cross a little stream that signs call the Kauai River, look for the door on the left and you’ll find the modest kitchen table that served as Ground Zero for the movie “Thelma.”

First, though, June Squibb will have to invite you in, because the table is at the entrance to her kitchen, next to a formidable glassed-in bookcase that sports an impressive collection of carefully placed volumes dominated by mysteries and thrillers written by Scandinavian authors. It’s here, in this pleasantly kitschy midcentury complex, that Squibb first met with “Thelma...

Tom Cruise has delivered some of the best dramatic acting throughout his extensive Hollywood career. The action movie star made a name for himself with films like Rain Man, Magnolia, Eyes Wide Shut, Jerry Maguire, and Vanilla Sky before becoming nearly synonymous with action, stunt work, and the Mission: Impossible franchise. But of all his films, Born on the Fourth of July stands out as a rare gem.

Tom Cruise in A Few Good Men [Credit: Columbia Pictures, New Line Cinema]

Despite his penchant for delivering constant box office hits, Cruise invited controversy with some of his more prominent films like Valkyrie and Interview With the Vampire. In the case of Born on the Fourth of July, however, it was not the film’s stance on the subject of war itself but Cruise’s acting that captivated the audience and caused sensationalism.

Tom Cruise Does Right By Born on the Fourth...

Here’s why Hollywood directors tend to promote Tom Cruise ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Yes, you read that right, Tom Cruise didn’t just pick directors to helm his movies. Nope, he turned Hollywood’s top filmmakers into his personal image architects, fine-tuning every frame to make sure he looked like the ultimate action hero. From day one, Cruise had a knack for teaming up with heavyweights—Scorsese, Kubrick, De Palma. But here’s the twist: even these powerhouse directors felt like they were working for him, not the other way around. Their job? Craft a killer movie and a killer version of Cruise.

Take the Mission: Impossible franchise, for instance. Cruise played Ethan Hunt in over six films—a secret agent so mysterious that he barely had a personal life. Forget backstories or deep character arcs; Hunt was more an action figure than a person. That blank-slate hero let Cruise...

On Friday November 29 2024, Magnolia broadcasts Human vs Hamster!

Wrestlers and Lawyers Season 1 Episode 4 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Human vs Hamster,” titled “Wrestlers and Lawyers,” promises to bring an exciting mix of action and humor. This episode will air on Magnolia and features an unusual matchup that fans of the show will not want to miss.

In “Wrestlers and Lawyers,” familiar faces return to the ring, but this time they are joined by a new furry competitor known as the Professor. The introduction of the Professor adds a unique twist to the competition, as this small but mighty character will face off against both wrestlers and lawyers. Viewers can expect plenty of laughs and unexpected moments as these two groups clash in a battle that is sure to entertain.

As the wrestlers bring their strength and showmanship, the lawyers will rely on their wit and clever strategies. The combination...

Paul Thomas Anderson’s Punch-Drunk Love is coming to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray in the UK, from Criterion. More here.

After a rush of releases in the run up to Christmas, it’s nice to see that catalogue 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray titles aren’t slowing down too much early in 2025. And one early treat is the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray debut of Paul Thomas Anderson’s film, Punch-Drunk Love.

Starring Adam Sandler (in arguably his most acclaimed role this side of Uncut Gems) and Emily Watson, the film dates back to 2002, and was Anderson following up the double punch of Boogie Nights and Magnolia.

The movie’s 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray comes curtesy of The Criterion Collection, which is set to release the film on 10th February 2025.

The listing for it is live now too. You can find more information on the release, and order a copy, right here.

Tom Cruise, the Hollywood megastar, has always heeded his own counsel, and for better or for worse, the choices he made throughout his career paid off. Now, at the pinnacle of the industry, Cruise can boldly claim that he is the last true Hollywood icon left standing. And such a label comes with its own set of responsibilities.

Tom Cruise [Photo by Dick Thomas Johnson licensed under Cc By 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons]

Cruise is not the first actor to say no to sequels. The trend was only popular with sci-fi or action-adventure films like Star Wars and Indiana Jones. For artists looking for something more creatively grounded, sequels were never an option.

It didn’t come as a surprise then that an actor like Cruise refused to entertain the idea of a sequel well until the 2000s when he left behind his Oscar-baiting career to pursue something more theatrically motivated aka the Mission: Impossible franchise.

Is Tom Cruise’s Onscreen Runtime Linked To His Box Office Success? ( Photo Credit – Flickr )

Do you know that if Tom Cruise ever stopped running, his movies might just flop? Okay, maybe not literally, but hear this—there’s actual science behind it. A study says the more Cruise sprints in a film, the bigger the box office bang. Coincidence? We think not.

It all started as a meme: “Man, Tom Cruise really runs a lot in his movies.” Then Cruise himself jumped on the joke, adding “Running in movies since 1981” to his Twitter bio. Fast forward to Mission: Impossible – Fallout, which is basically a Tom Cruise marathon, and boom—Rotten Tomatoes hit us with a study proving that Cruise’s running is, like, directly tied to movie success.

Here’s how they did it: They tracked every second Cruise spent running on screen and calculated how far he ran,...

On Friday November 22 2024, Magnolia broadcasts Human vs Hamster!

Teachers and Nurses Season 1 Episode 1 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Human vs Hamster,” titled “Teachers and Nurses,” promises to be an exciting kickoff to the competition. This episode will feature two dedicated groups, teachers and nurses, who will face off against four mighty hamsters. Viewers can expect a mix of fun and challenges as these human teams put their skills to the test against their furry opponents.

In this episode, the teachers and nurses will showcase their teamwork and problem-solving abilities. Both groups are known for their hard work and dedication in their professions, and now they will bring that same spirit to the competition. The hamsters, known for their agility and cleverness, will not make it easy for the human teams.

As the competition unfolds, one team will emerge victorious and earn the chance to take on Shadow in the final showdown.

On Friday November 22 2024, Magnolia broadcasts Human vs Hamster!

Trivia Kings and Volunteer Queens Season 1 Episode 2 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Human vs Hamster,” titled “Trivia Kings and Volunteer Queens,” promises to be an exciting watch. This episode will feature three brand new challenges that pit the Trivia Kings and Volunteer Queens against the clever hamsters: Astro, Lightning, and Romeo. Fans of the show can look forward to a mix of fun, competition, and unexpected twists.

In this episode, the Trivia Kings, known for their quick thinking and knowledge, will face off against the Volunteer Queens, who bring their teamwork and creativity to the table. The challenges are designed to test both the humans and the hamsters in unique ways, showcasing their skills and strategies. With returning favorite Kevin also joining the mix, viewers can expect some hilarious moments and surprising outcomes.

As the challenges unfold, the interactions between the...

The excitement continues in Season 1 Episode 3 of “Human vs Hamster,” titled “Weekend Warriors and Theater Kids.” This episode promises a thrilling mix of fun and competition as two unique teams face off in a challenge that will test their skills and teamwork. The Weekend Warriors, known for their adventurous spirit, will go head-to-head with the creative and dramatic Theater Kids.

In this episode, both teams get a sneak peek at the challenge called “Wiener Takes All.” The stakes are high as they prepare to battle it out for a chance at victory. Viewers can expect plenty of laughs and unexpected twists as the teams navigate the challenge. Astro, the standout competitor, aims to take the lead and secure a win for his team in the final moments of the episode.

With the clock ticking and tensions rising, the episode promises to deliver both heartwarming moments and fierce competition. Fans will...

Why Tom Cruise Returned His Golden Globes! ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Tom Cruise did something unforeseen — he returned his three Golden Globe Awards. It was a statement. But why did he return his awards? The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) had issues.

Cruise got his shiny trophies in 1990 (Born on the Fourth of July), 1997 (Jerry Maguire), and 2000 (Magnolia). Solid streak, no? However, these victories didn’t sit well with HFPA. Three years ago, the HFPA was slammed by the Los Angeles Times for its shady practices, lack of diversity, and messy ethics.

But Cruise wasn’t alone. Scarlett Johansson and Mark Ruffalo also called out the association. PR firms joined the protest, demanding change. If that didn’t ruffle feathers, networks and studios like Netflix and Amazon said, “Yeah, we’re good,” and cut ties with the HFPA. Yikes.

Trending Why Was Margot Robbie Surprised By Fans Loving Harley Quinn’s Toxic Love For The Joker?...

Every week, moviegoers are polled by a company called CinemaScore to see how they like new movies in theatres. Their opinions are averaged out, and the film is assigned a letter grade. If the movie scores in the A-range, it will likely prove to be at least a decent-sized hit. Movies scored in the B-range usually do mediocre business, although there have been plenty of hits that have scored this way, too – it might just mean that the movie inspires strong feelings, with some people loving it and others not. Anything below a C-rating is a disaster, unless it’s a horror movie, because for whatever reason, even hit horror movies typically have underwhelming CinemaScore ratings. Only 22 films have ever gotten an F, but a D rating is considered the kiss of death for your film, with Joker: Folie a Deux recently scoring a dreaded D. Only one movie that...

During his career, the late Philip Baker Hall was one of the most underrated character actors in Hollywood. Hall's earliest on-screen role came back in 1970, but he gained praise for several "breakout" roles later in life, including an outstanding late-'90s streak that included "Boogie Nights," "Magnolia," and "The Talented Mr. Ripley." By the time of his passing in 2022, everyone seemed to know Hall's great work, even if he wasn't a household name. But according to Hall himself, the world first got to know him by another name that stuck with him for decades: Lieutenant Bookman from "Seinfeld."

Lieutenant Bookman was one of many idiosyncratic characters who stepped through the comedic revolving door that was "Seinfeld." The character, played by Hall, appeared in just two episodes of the hyper-popular sitcom -- season 3's "The Library" and the show's polarizing series finale -- but he made a strong impression. "It's been...

When it comes to the greatest years in film, 1999 is tough to beat. Personally, I remember it as the year which made me serious about the art of film, as I was just finishing high school at the time, and had begun to go see movies on my own more often. This was the year I got to see movies like Three Kings, Fight Club, Being John Malkovich, The Insider, Magnolia, Any Given Sunday and so many more theatrically, and it’s a year I’ll always look back at fondly.

What’s interesting to me is which movies have had the most staying power. If you were around back then, you’ll remember that the most anticipated movie of the year was Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. While a hit, it was totally overshadowed by The Matrix, which came out on Easter Weekend that year, and...

On Saturday November 9 2024, Magnolia broadcasts Roller Jam!

Team Challenge: Lets Get Physical! Season 1 Episode 5 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Roller Jam,” titled “Team Challenge: Let’s Get Physical!” promises to bring excitement and energy to the screen. This competition series showcases roller-skating crews from different parts of the country, each one ready to dance through the decades. With a grand prize of 0,000 and an additional ,000 donation to the winning crew’s local rink, the stakes are high and the competition is fierce.

In this episode, teams will face off in various challenges that test their skating skills, creativity, and teamwork. Each crew will take inspiration from different decades, showcasing their unique styles and moves. The vibrant costumes and music from each era will add to the fun, making it a visual treat for fans of all ages.

As the teams battle it out on the rink, viewers can expect...

The best William H. Macy movies and TV shows feature some of the 1990s best independent films and work on both big-budget and mainstream TV shows throughout his career. Macy studied under playwright David Mamet at Goddard College, which gave him not only his first break but also a great start as a filmmaker and creator. After graduating, he moved on to collaborate with Mamet.

This connection led to a few smaller movie and TV roles before he finally got his first big break in 1996 when he signed on to the Coen Brothers movie Fargo as one of the key characters. He then caught the eye of P.T. Anderson, who cast him in two of his early masterpieces, Boogie Nights and Magnolia. Since then, Macy has become a legitimate star in movies and on TV, where he found a second life as the patriarch on the long-running Showtime series Shameless.

Indie genre director Mickey Keating, who broke out with films such as 2015’s “Darling” and 2016’s “Carnage Park,” has wrapped shooting on his latest movie, the crime drama “Crooks.”

The film stars Keith Kupferer (“Ghostlight”), Angela Trimbur (“Quiz Lady”), Chase Williamson (“John Dies At the End”) and Melora Walters (“Magnolia”).

Per the logline, “Two small-time crooks rob a mob-run poker game in Chicago. Things immediately go wrong, resulting in a high-stakes adventure through the Midwest.”

“’Crooks’ is an incredible opportunity for me to break into the crime movie genre, which I’ve been hoping to do since I started my career,” Keating said in a statement. “This film is a highly stylized celebration of aesthetics ranging from noir to heist to western. I think anyone familiar with my work will see this as a natural progression from my previous films.”

Keating shot the movie in Chicago alongside producers Eddie Linker,...

William H. Macy has joined the ever-growing cast of The Running Man, Paramount’s adaptation of the Stephen King story from director Edgar Wright.

Glen Powell tops the call sheet that also includes names such as Josh Brolin, Katy O’Brian (Love Lies Bleeding), Lee Pace (Guardians of the Galaxy), Michael Cera and Coda star Emilia Jones.

King’s Running Man, published in 1982 and written under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, was set in 2025 in an America under a totalitarian regime that uses violent game shows to placate the disenfranchised masses.

The novel centered on a desperate man named Ben Richards, needing money for his sick daughter, who joins the most popular show, The Running Man, in which teams of killers hunt down contestants. The longer a contestant survives, the more money that person makes. But as the game show’s producers and killers will find out, this desperate man will break...