Leon Gast, the Academy Award-winning director behind sport documentary “When We Were Kings,” died on Monday, according to Meira Blaustein, his close friend and the co-founder of Woodstock Film Festival. He was 85.
Blaustein shared the news of Gast’s death in a Facebook post. “He was a giant of a filmmaker, an absolute joy of a human being, and a very dear and beloved friend,” Blaustein wrote. “I am so grateful that I got to visit with him yesterday, tell him how much I loved him, how much he meant to all of us. I only wish I had stayed longer.”
“When We Were Kings,” which won best documentary feature at the 1997 Oscars, explores the iconic boxing match between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali that took place in Kinshasa, Zaire (now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo) in 1974. Featuring historical footage and new interviews, the doc also examines the...
Blaustein shared the news of Gast’s death in a Facebook post. “He was a giant of a filmmaker, an absolute joy of a human being, and a very dear and beloved friend,” Blaustein wrote. “I am so grateful that I got to visit with him yesterday, tell him how much I loved him, how much he meant to all of us. I only wish I had stayed longer.”
“When We Were Kings,” which won best documentary feature at the 1997 Oscars, explores the iconic boxing match between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali that took place in Kinshasa, Zaire (now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo) in 1974. Featuring historical footage and new interviews, the doc also examines the...
- 3/9/2021
- by Natalie Oganesyan
- Variety Film + TV
Gwyneth Paltrow claims her role as Rose in the Farrelly Brothers’ comedy Shallow Hal, in which she was made to wear a fat suit for a significant portion of the film, was the lowest point of her career.
During a Netflix promotional video for her new show The Goop Lab, Paltrow’s friend and assistant Kevin Keating asked the actress about her least favorite performance. Before Paltrow could answer, Keating took a guess that it was 2001’s Shallow Hal, to which she quickly responded “exactly” before going on to state that she felt that the experience was a total disaster.
Paltrow’s feelings about her time on the set of Shallow Hal aren’t necessarily new revelations, however. During a 2001 interview with W magazine, the actress had this to say about it:
“The first day I tried [the fat suit] on, I was in the Tribeca Grand [a hotel in New York City] and I walked through the lobby.
During a Netflix promotional video for her new show The Goop Lab, Paltrow’s friend and assistant Kevin Keating asked the actress about her least favorite performance. Before Paltrow could answer, Keating took a guess that it was 2001’s Shallow Hal, to which she quickly responded “exactly” before going on to state that she felt that the experience was a total disaster.
Paltrow’s feelings about her time on the set of Shallow Hal aren’t necessarily new revelations, however. During a 2001 interview with W magazine, the actress had this to say about it:
“The first day I tried [the fat suit] on, I was in the Tribeca Grand [a hotel in New York City] and I walked through the lobby.
- 3/3/2020
- by Billy Givens
- We Got This Covered
Chicago – What can you say about a documentary that lands in theaters thirty-five years too late? “Soul Power” consists of footage from the historic three-night music festival in Zaire, meant to coincide with the heavily hyped “Rumble in the Jungle” between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. The events took place in 1974, and were filmed in order to spread African culture to the masses.
Footage from the epic match was assembled into 1996’s Oscar-winning documentary, “When We Were Kings,” which was a vital historical record that didn’t devote enough of its screen time to the actual fight. “Kings” editor Jeffrey Levy-Hinte took the directorial reigns of “Soul Power,” another vital historical record that doesn’t devote enough screen time to its central subject: the actual concert. But the music it does include is so good that it makes the film essential viewing regardless of its shortcomings.
Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0
To his credit,...
Footage from the epic match was assembled into 1996’s Oscar-winning documentary, “When We Were Kings,” which was a vital historical record that didn’t devote enough of its screen time to the actual fight. “Kings” editor Jeffrey Levy-Hinte took the directorial reigns of “Soul Power,” another vital historical record that doesn’t devote enough screen time to its central subject: the actual concert. But the music it does include is so good that it makes the film essential viewing regardless of its shortcomings.
Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0
To his credit,...
- 1/29/2010
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Release Date: July 10
Director: Jeffrey Levy-Hinte
Cinematographer: Paul Goldsmith, Kevin Keating, Albert Maysles, Roderick Young
Studio/Run Time: Sony Pictures Classics, 93 mins.
An enjoyable companion to When We Were Kings
In 1996, Leon Gast’s documentary When We Were Kings vividly retold the famous story of the Ali/Foreman fight in Kinshasa, Zaire, but as you might expect of a boxing match promoted by Don King in the mid ’70s, there was entirely too much spectacle to fit into one film. The fight was a rematch with a historic outcome, a bout legendary enough to relegate the three-day, 12-hour concert that preceded it to a mere footnote in the history books.
Director: Jeffrey Levy-Hinte
Cinematographer: Paul Goldsmith, Kevin Keating, Albert Maysles, Roderick Young
Studio/Run Time: Sony Pictures Classics, 93 mins.
An enjoyable companion to When We Were Kings
In 1996, Leon Gast’s documentary When We Were Kings vividly retold the famous story of the Ali/Foreman fight in Kinshasa, Zaire, but as you might expect of a boxing match promoted by Don King in the mid ’70s, there was entirely too much spectacle to fit into one film. The fight was a rematch with a historic outcome, a bout legendary enough to relegate the three-day, 12-hour concert that preceded it to a mere footnote in the history books.
- 7/10/2009
- Pastemagazine.com
Soul power premiers at is released theatrically in the UK on the 10th July 209 Glastonbury festival 2:30am Friday (Saterday morning)
"In 1974, the most celebrated American R&B acts of the time came together with the most renowned musical groups in Southern Africa for a 12-hour, three-night long concert held in Kinshasa, Zaire. The pipe dream of musician Hugh Masekela and producer Stewart Levine, this music festival became a reality when they convinced boxing promoter Don King to combine the event with “The Rumble in the Jungle,” the epic fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, previously chronicled in the Academy Award winning documentary “When We Were Kings.”
Soul Power is a verité documentary, entirely composed of footage shot in 1974 at the legendary music festival (dubbed “Zaire ’74”). It shows the experiences and performances of such musical luminaries as James Brown, Bb King, Bill Withers, Celia Cruz, Miriam Makeba, among a host of others.
"In 1974, the most celebrated American R&B acts of the time came together with the most renowned musical groups in Southern Africa for a 12-hour, three-night long concert held in Kinshasa, Zaire. The pipe dream of musician Hugh Masekela and producer Stewart Levine, this music festival became a reality when they convinced boxing promoter Don King to combine the event with “The Rumble in the Jungle,” the epic fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, previously chronicled in the Academy Award winning documentary “When We Were Kings.”
Soul Power is a verité documentary, entirely composed of footage shot in 1974 at the legendary music festival (dubbed “Zaire ’74”). It shows the experiences and performances of such musical luminaries as James Brown, Bb King, Bill Withers, Celia Cruz, Miriam Makeba, among a host of others.
- 6/17/2009
- by Leigh
- Latemag.com/film
See plenty images as well as the trailer in high definition for Sony Pictures Classics "Soul Power" documentary. Experienced producer Jeffrey Levy-Hinte makes his directorial debut on the project which includes James Brown, Muhamad Ali, B.B. King, Celia Cruz, Don King and Miriam Makeba. The film is slated for a July 10th release in limited areas. See the trailer| See more images in the gallery What's "Soul Power" about? In 1974, the most celebrated American R&B acts of the time came together with the most renowned musical groups in Africa for a 12-hour, three-night long concert held in Kinshasa, Zaire. The dream-child of Hugh Masekela and Stewart Levine, this music festival became a reality when they convinced boxing promoter Don King to combine the event with “The Rumble in the Jungle,” the epic fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, previously chronicled in the Academy Award-winning documentary When We Were Kings.
- 4/29/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
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