Exclusive: Vincent Pastore, who recurred as Donnie “Glasses” Sisto in Season 2 of Gravesend, has been promoted to series regular for the upcoming third season. Additionally, Vincent Curatola and Talia Shire have joined the cast as series regulars for Season 3.
Set in 1986, Gravesend follows Benny, a soldier in the Colezzo crime family who is torn between the good that his devout Catholic parents taught him and the life his Mafioso cousin Charlie (Chris Tardio) showed him. Benny chooses to follow in Charlie’s footsteps and in turn, denounces his father.
In Season 2, viewers learned who was behind the hit against Benny Zerletta (series creator William DeMeo) in the church. Also, in a twist, Benny headed to Miami.
Pastore portrays Donnie Sisto, the Consigliere, who works directly under the boss Cesar Tremaldo (Chazz Palminteri), boss of the Colezzo Family.
Curatola plays Larry Sisto, the brother of Donnie (Consigliere), who is a Captain,...
Set in 1986, Gravesend follows Benny, a soldier in the Colezzo crime family who is torn between the good that his devout Catholic parents taught him and the life his Mafioso cousin Charlie (Chris Tardio) showed him. Benny chooses to follow in Charlie’s footsteps and in turn, denounces his father.
In Season 2, viewers learned who was behind the hit against Benny Zerletta (series creator William DeMeo) in the church. Also, in a twist, Benny headed to Miami.
Pastore portrays Donnie Sisto, the Consigliere, who works directly under the boss Cesar Tremaldo (Chazz Palminteri), boss of the Colezzo Family.
Curatola plays Larry Sisto, the brother of Donnie (Consigliere), who is a Captain,...
- 5/29/2024
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Is Francis Ford Coppola’s controversial magnum opus “Megalopolis” any good?
The two hour and 20 minute dystopian drama certainly divided the audience at the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday night with its collision course of shocking scenes: a doctored sex tape featuring Adam Driver, Shia Labeouf in drag playing a Trumpian figure and Aubrey Plaza dominating her way through a slew of men.
But there was still a huge amount of respect for iconic director Coppola, who received a four-minute standing ovation upon entering the room. After the credits rolled — which included a tribute to his late wife Eleanor — and the standing ovation began, Coppola hugged Driver and Giancarlo Esposito and got emotional as he made a speech dedicating the film to hope and family.
“Thank you all so much. It is so impossible to find words to tell you how I feel,” Coppola said, then introducing his family members in the audience.
The two hour and 20 minute dystopian drama certainly divided the audience at the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday night with its collision course of shocking scenes: a doctored sex tape featuring Adam Driver, Shia Labeouf in drag playing a Trumpian figure and Aubrey Plaza dominating her way through a slew of men.
But there was still a huge amount of respect for iconic director Coppola, who received a four-minute standing ovation upon entering the room. After the credits rolled — which included a tribute to his late wife Eleanor — and the standing ovation began, Coppola hugged Driver and Giancarlo Esposito and got emotional as he made a speech dedicating the film to hope and family.
“Thank you all so much. It is so impossible to find words to tell you how I feel,” Coppola said, then introducing his family members in the audience.
- 5/16/2024
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
A new Lord of the Rings spin-off movie has been announced, and it’s getting the old gang back together; the producers/writers of both film trilogies, Peter Jackson, Phillipa Boyens, and Fran Walsh will be producing once more, and directing duties will be taken over from Jackson by Andy Serkis, who played Gollum in both trilogies and who was also second unit director on The Hobbit films. Since then, he has directed three movies so he is well prepared to take on this one.
Serkis will also star in his original role of Smeagol/Gollum, and the film is currently tentatively titled The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. If that title means what we think it means, it could be a really exciting prospect.
The (Presumed) Story
We are assuming, on the basis of the title, that this film will cover Gandalf and Strider/Aragorn’s search for Gollum,...
Serkis will also star in his original role of Smeagol/Gollum, and the film is currently tentatively titled The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. If that title means what we think it means, it could be a really exciting prospect.
The (Presumed) Story
We are assuming, on the basis of the title, that this film will cover Gandalf and Strider/Aragorn’s search for Gollum,...
- 5/9/2024
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
To celebrate "The Godfather" turning 50 in 2022, The Hollywood Reporter sat down with actors James Caan, Robert Duvall, Talia Shire, and John Martino, who reflected on the creation and enduring legacy of director Francis Ford Coppola's cinematic masterpiece. Shire expressed her admiration for Marlon Brando's "breathtaking" transformation into the formidable Don Corleone.
"When he came to the set the first time, he was this handsome male," she recalled, but he utilized various makeup and acting techniques to transform himself into a weathered and wise mafioso, making him almost unrecognizable. The use of dental prosthetics gave Brando protruding jowls that made him resemble a bulldog, somehow lending Don Corleone a more dignified power.
Shire said that Brando also employed another unique performance method called "active listening" during filming. "It's not always when you say your lines that you pay attention; it is the listening to all the others around you.
"When he came to the set the first time, he was this handsome male," she recalled, but he utilized various makeup and acting techniques to transform himself into a weathered and wise mafioso, making him almost unrecognizable. The use of dental prosthetics gave Brando protruding jowls that made him resemble a bulldog, somehow lending Don Corleone a more dignified power.
Shire said that Brando also employed another unique performance method called "active listening" during filming. "It's not always when you say your lines that you pay attention; it is the listening to all the others around you.
- 4/20/2024
- by Caroline Madden
- Slash Film
Francis Ford Coppola’s passion project “Megalopolis” will officially premiere in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, according to an individual familiar with the project. The film will debut in a gala slot on May 17.
“Megalopolis” boasts an all-star cast, including Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Shia Labeouf, Coppola’s sister Talia Shire, Jason Schwartzman (Shire’s son), Chloe Fineman, Kathryn Hunter, Dustin Hoffman, D.B. Sweeney, Baily Ives, Grace VanderWaal and James Remar.
Coppola wrote the screenplay in the 1980s and has finally brought the film to fruition, investing over $100 million of his own money into the project.
Last week, Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Fremaux told Variety that he’d been courting Coppola to bring his latest film to the Croisette after the famed director presented “Apocalypse Now Redux” during Fremaux’s first year at the festival in 1995.
“‘Megalopolis’ is a project that he...
“Megalopolis” boasts an all-star cast, including Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Shia Labeouf, Coppola’s sister Talia Shire, Jason Schwartzman (Shire’s son), Chloe Fineman, Kathryn Hunter, Dustin Hoffman, D.B. Sweeney, Baily Ives, Grace VanderWaal and James Remar.
Coppola wrote the screenplay in the 1980s and has finally brought the film to fruition, investing over $100 million of his own money into the project.
Last week, Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Fremaux told Variety that he’d been courting Coppola to bring his latest film to the Croisette after the famed director presented “Apocalypse Now Redux” during Fremaux’s first year at the festival in 1995.
“‘Megalopolis’ is a project that he...
- 4/9/2024
- by Katcy Stephan and Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Superhero movies were nearing their maximalist peak in 2017 — "Avengers: Infinity War" was a year away, while the DC Extended Universe was self-destructively racing toward "Justice League" without a roadmap or significant audience buy-in — when James Mangold quietly, confidently subverted the genre with "Logan." There had been attempts at revisionist superhero films before, but they were mostly based on/influenced by explicitly revisionist graphic novels (e.g. Zack Snyder's "Watchmen" and Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy). Josh Trank's "Chronicle" was probably the boldest of the bunch, but that was a top-to-bottom original.
Mangold's "Logan" was different. It used Hugh Jackman, the man who'd been playing Wolverine for 17 years, to tell an X-Men tale that branched out from the film franchise's narrative to depict a Logan in physical decline. Nothing lasts forever — not even, apparently, Wolverine's mutant healing process. He is in unremitting pain, and each altercation plunges him deeper into agony.
Mangold's "Logan" was different. It used Hugh Jackman, the man who'd been playing Wolverine for 17 years, to tell an X-Men tale that branched out from the film franchise's narrative to depict a Logan in physical decline. Nothing lasts forever — not even, apparently, Wolverine's mutant healing process. He is in unremitting pain, and each altercation plunges him deeper into agony.
- 4/7/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
It's been almost 50 years since "Rocky" first arrived in 1976, and in that time the franchise has changed dramatically. The "Rocky" saga has now grown beyond original star Sylvester Stallone, with Michael B. Jordan's "Creed III" barely mentioning the man who birthed the now legendary film series. Whatever you think about that, everyone can surely recognize the staying power of the "Rocky" movies, which have formed part of our pop cultural history for the better part of a half century.
None of this could have happened without the first entry in the saga, of course. "Rocky" introduced the world to the scrappy Southpaw from South Philly, who led a film that was remarkable for its realism and affecting performances. Much of that was down to Stallone who, having written the script during a particularly challenging time in his personal life, insisted on starring in the film, only to wow audiences...
None of this could have happened without the first entry in the saga, of course. "Rocky" introduced the world to the scrappy Southpaw from South Philly, who led a film that was remarkable for its realism and affecting performances. Much of that was down to Stallone who, having written the script during a particularly challenging time in his personal life, insisted on starring in the film, only to wow audiences...
- 2/3/2024
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
When adapting any great work of literature, or even one that is just mid, filmmakers and visual artists will be forced to make changes big and small for any myriad of reasons. Sometimes it is due to the economy of storytelling in a truncated form—such as the famous example of Scarlett O’Hara’s number of children shrinking from three to one in Gone with the Wind. Other times, the changes are made because the requirements of a visual medium shifts the structure of the story; like showing the massacre at Hardhome by ice zombies in Game of Thrones instead of simply reading about it in a letter. There are even times when the filmmaker wants to put a modern spin on the text. This would be how every Dracula now is a sexy rock star god.
But then, dear reader, there are times when the filmmaker or screenwriter sees...
But then, dear reader, there are times when the filmmaker or screenwriter sees...
- 12/12/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Nicolas Cage is living out his “Dream Scenario.”
The star of the upcoming A24 film revealed to The Guardian that he asks his subconscious for acting tips from his dreams. “If I’m stressed about how to play a scene, I’ll ask for a gift from my dreams,” Cage said. “Sometimes I’m so nervous about not having any hook on a scene that I’ll go to bed and dream about it and then I’ll get some residual feeling that I can apply to the performance.”
Cage has also had “beautifully weird” premonitions from his dreams, including a “wonderfully bizarre” experience where he dreamt of a two-headed eagle, and then was presented with the opportunity to purchase a two-headed snake the following day.
As for his acting career, Cage said he was blessed with five scripts over his decades-long career that did not require a single word to be changed,...
The star of the upcoming A24 film revealed to The Guardian that he asks his subconscious for acting tips from his dreams. “If I’m stressed about how to play a scene, I’ll ask for a gift from my dreams,” Cage said. “Sometimes I’m so nervous about not having any hook on a scene that I’ll go to bed and dream about it and then I’ll get some residual feeling that I can apply to the performance.”
Cage has also had “beautifully weird” premonitions from his dreams, including a “wonderfully bizarre” experience where he dreamt of a two-headed eagle, and then was presented with the opportunity to purchase a two-headed snake the following day.
As for his acting career, Cage said he was blessed with five scripts over his decades-long career that did not require a single word to be changed,...
- 11/4/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Francis Ford Coppola is joining the Roman Empire TikTok trend by asking himself the viral question: “How often do you think about the Roman Empire?”
“How often do I think of Ancient Rome? Quite a lot, as the Roman Republic served as the example for my country America and its institutions, and was the inspiration for my upcoming film ‘Megalopolis,'” the “Apocalypse Now” and “Godfather” director wrote on Instagram Friday.
In the recent trend on TikTok, women ask the men in their lives how often they think about the Roman Empire, with most men claiming that they think about it daily or multiple times a week.
Coppola continued, “My fascination with the Roman Republic is based on the struggle between the political parties during which the interest of the Republic yielded to the ambitions of a few powerful men who espoused the aims of political parties to establish their...
“How often do I think of Ancient Rome? Quite a lot, as the Roman Republic served as the example for my country America and its institutions, and was the inspiration for my upcoming film ‘Megalopolis,'” the “Apocalypse Now” and “Godfather” director wrote on Instagram Friday.
In the recent trend on TikTok, women ask the men in their lives how often they think about the Roman Empire, with most men claiming that they think about it daily or multiple times a week.
Coppola continued, “My fascination with the Roman Republic is based on the struggle between the political parties during which the interest of the Republic yielded to the ambitions of a few powerful men who espoused the aims of political parties to establish their...
- 9/30/2023
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Vince Vaughn (Bad Monkey) will topline Nonnas, an original comedy that Stephen Chbosky (Wonder) has been tapped to direct for Fifth Season (80 for Brady), 1Community (Just Mercy) and Madison Wells (The Eyes of Tammy Faye).
Among those joining Vaughn in the film, which wrapped production last month in New Jersey, are Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon (Blue Beetle) and Academy Award nominees Lorraine Bracco (Goodfellas), Talia Shire (Megalopolis) and Brenda Vaccaro (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood). Others in the cast include Emmy nominee Linda Cardellini (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3), Emmy winner Drea De Matteo (The Sopranos), Joe Manganiello (The Kill Room), Michael Rispoli (Power Book III: Raising Kanan) and Campbell Scott (Jurassic World Dominion).
Written by Liz Maccie, Nonnas is based on the true story of Brooklyn native Joe Scaravella (Vaughn), who, after losing his beloved mother, realizes he’s wasted...
Among those joining Vaughn in the film, which wrapped production last month in New Jersey, are Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon (Blue Beetle) and Academy Award nominees Lorraine Bracco (Goodfellas), Talia Shire (Megalopolis) and Brenda Vaccaro (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood). Others in the cast include Emmy nominee Linda Cardellini (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3), Emmy winner Drea De Matteo (The Sopranos), Joe Manganiello (The Kill Room), Michael Rispoli (Power Book III: Raising Kanan) and Campbell Scott (Jurassic World Dominion).
Written by Liz Maccie, Nonnas is based on the true story of Brooklyn native Joe Scaravella (Vaughn), who, after losing his beloved mother, realizes he’s wasted...
- 7/10/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Sylvester Stallone’s popular and iconic Rocky franchise always had a roster of familiar faces that fans of the series had grown attached to. Talia Shire was a recurring and significant presence on the show having played Stallone’s love interest for five films.
But Shire’s character was eventually written out of the series. It was news that Stallone broke to Shire personally.
Sylvester Stallone told Talia Shire she’d be written out the ‘Rocky’ franchise Sylvester Stallone | Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images
Talia Shire’s Adrian has been around from the very beginning of Stallone’s Rocky series. She won the role through a simple audition process, and became one of the main pillars of the franchise ever since. Shire’s journey as the character came to an end with the sixth film Rocky Balboa, but initially Stallone planned on having her stick around.
“In the original script...
But Shire’s character was eventually written out of the series. It was news that Stallone broke to Shire personally.
Sylvester Stallone told Talia Shire she’d be written out the ‘Rocky’ franchise Sylvester Stallone | Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images
Talia Shire’s Adrian has been around from the very beginning of Stallone’s Rocky series. She won the role through a simple audition process, and became one of the main pillars of the franchise ever since. Shire’s journey as the character came to an end with the sixth film Rocky Balboa, but initially Stallone planned on having her stick around.
“In the original script...
- 6/14/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Amazon Studios is taking to the streets to promote Ben Affleck’s “Air,” which chronicles the beginnings of the iconic Air Jordan sneaker brand.
The studio has teamed up with iconic sneaker culture icon Jason Markk to host a multi-city consumer experience, dubbed “Fresh Air,” which ties into the film’s social campaign, “A shoe is just a shoe until I step into it.”
The activation will see guerilla street teams flood U.S. cities including Los Angeles, New York, Miami and Chicago, in a unique opportunity to bring together sneakerheads and celebrate the culture and history of the sneaker community. The street team will also have a presence at the Jason Markk flagship store in L.A.
Free to the public, the “Fresh Air” activation allows attendees to celebrate self-expression through fashion as they share their sneaker stories while getting a complimentary shoe cleaning, with premium care products from...
The studio has teamed up with iconic sneaker culture icon Jason Markk to host a multi-city consumer experience, dubbed “Fresh Air,” which ties into the film’s social campaign, “A shoe is just a shoe until I step into it.”
The activation will see guerilla street teams flood U.S. cities including Los Angeles, New York, Miami and Chicago, in a unique opportunity to bring together sneakerheads and celebrate the culture and history of the sneaker community. The street team will also have a presence at the Jason Markk flagship store in L.A.
Free to the public, the “Fresh Air” activation allows attendees to celebrate self-expression through fashion as they share their sneaker stories while getting a complimentary shoe cleaning, with premium care products from...
- 3/22/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay and Charna Flam
- Variety Film + TV
John G. Avildsen's "Rocky" was only one of three films to star actor Burgess Meredith in 1976. That year he also appeared in the horror film "Burnt Offerings" and the Irish short film "Circasia" which also starred Sean Connery, Eric Clapton, John Huston, and Shirley MacLaine. Meredith was one of those lucky character actors who seemingly never stopped working. His career began in 1935, when he played the uncredited "Flop House Bum" in the Noël Coward film "The Scoundrel." Meredith gained mainstream attention when he appeared in Lewis Milestone's 1939 adaptation of "Of Mice and Men," and had been a showbiz darling ever after. A quick look through his filmography reveals that he had at least one film or television project every year from 1935 through 1995. Meredith passed away in 1997 at the age of 89 with hundreds of acting credits to his name.
Meredith was the largest known star when "Rocky" debuted in...
Meredith was the largest known star when "Rocky" debuted in...
- 3/18/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
I know they are favorites for a lot of people, but I struggle with the "Rocky" sequels and even the "Creed" movies to a certain extent. They became high-gloss Hollywood productions, which is fine, but they get so far away from what made the original Best Picture-winning film such a special movie. For me, what sets "Rocky" apart from so many of its imitators and successors is its immense sense of authenticity to the lives of ordinary, working-class people, and where I feel this most acutely is with the character of Adrian, played by Talia Shire.
In theory, Shire could not be more Hollywood. Her brother is this little filmmaker you may have heard of named Francis Ford Coppola, who made some movies people like, but nothing about the way she carries herself indicates that stature in the slightest. She is a proper character actor and a damn good one at that.
In theory, Shire could not be more Hollywood. Her brother is this little filmmaker you may have heard of named Francis Ford Coppola, who made some movies people like, but nothing about the way she carries herself indicates that stature in the slightest. She is a proper character actor and a damn good one at that.
- 3/11/2023
- by Mike Shutt
- Slash Film
For all the unbridled machismo that defines the "Rocky" franchise, more credit does need to be given to the woman that stood in Rocky Balboa's corner. Talia Shire played Adrian with a quiet resignation in "Rocky" that really tapped into the feelings of desperation that the character had before meeting the Italian Stallion. She has accepted her fate. She's going to work in that pet store forever and take care of her abusive brother Paulie until he croaks. Shire portrays Adrian's devastating shyness beautifully. When Rocky starts chipping away at her defense, she slowly starts to come alive the more attention is paid to her. Rocky and Adrian's relationship is about transformation, and in order for Rocky to truly believe in himself, he needs to make Adrian believe in herself first. The closer they become, their dynamic changes gradually until Adrian is the one that's holding Rocky up, not the other way around.
- 3/10/2023
- by Drew Tinnin
- Slash Film
(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)
There are few franchises as enduring and roundly beloved as "Rocky." Sylvester Stallone was a nobody actor who managed to pick himself up by his bootstraps and turn this story of a nobody boxer into a critical darling and box office smash, as well as an enduring piece of Americana. More than that, the perceived quality of this franchise, nearly 50 years after its inception and nine films in, is pretty damn impressive. But before "Creed" came along to revitalize the series for a new generation, it was "Rocky Balboa" that revived it and made the spin-off possible in the first place.
The 2006 film is notable for an array of reasons, most notably that it featured Stallone getting back in the ring at...
There are few franchises as enduring and roundly beloved as "Rocky." Sylvester Stallone was a nobody actor who managed to pick himself up by his bootstraps and turn this story of a nobody boxer into a critical darling and box office smash, as well as an enduring piece of Americana. More than that, the perceived quality of this franchise, nearly 50 years after its inception and nine films in, is pretty damn impressive. But before "Creed" came along to revitalize the series for a new generation, it was "Rocky Balboa" that revived it and made the spin-off possible in the first place.
The 2006 film is notable for an array of reasons, most notably that it featured Stallone getting back in the ring at...
- 3/4/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Picture this: you're deep in the woods, alone save for your family, enjoying the silent majesty of a secluded night in nature while all manner of creatures great and small slumber peacefully around you. Most importantly, you're snug inside a yellow sleeping bag, looking for all the world like a giant banana.
Then, suddenly and without warning, a mutant killer bear emerges from the woods, its gaping maw looking like it's melting as it bellows an unholy roar and attacks. Trapped in your banana bag, you helplessly try to run away like you're in the world's worst potato sack race. It's all for nought, as the bear reaches out with one measly swipe of its paw, and you fly through the air only to hit a rock and shatter into a million feathery pieces.
If this scene sounds gloriously horrifying and/or exciting to you, then you need to see...
Then, suddenly and without warning, a mutant killer bear emerges from the woods, its gaping maw looking like it's melting as it bellows an unholy roar and attacks. Trapped in your banana bag, you helplessly try to run away like you're in the world's worst potato sack race. It's all for nought, as the bear reaches out with one measly swipe of its paw, and you fly through the air only to hit a rock and shatter into a million feathery pieces.
If this scene sounds gloriously horrifying and/or exciting to you, then you need to see...
- 2/23/2023
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
There’s surely no feeling in the world quite like winning an Oscar– that heady, unfiltered hit of professional validation that so many actors desperately crave.
But what of those who aren’t so lucky? For every Oscar winner, there must be a handful of losers, deserving or sometimes undeserving also-rans whose work was collectively deemed to have fallen short.
While actors are often skilled at disguising their disappointment – this is show business, after all – sometimes they let their real feelings slip through.
Whether it’s via side-eye glances that seem to throw shade on the winner, or simply muttering expletives, there have been many Oscar losses that prompted reactions which live on in infamy.
These aren’t the sorest losers, necessarily, but rather actors who didn’t adhere to the staid conventions of dignified loserdom.
Sometimes, as in the case of Holly Hunter, or Cate Blanchett, the reactions seem entirely lighthearted; others,...
But what of those who aren’t so lucky? For every Oscar winner, there must be a handful of losers, deserving or sometimes undeserving also-rans whose work was collectively deemed to have fallen short.
While actors are often skilled at disguising their disappointment – this is show business, after all – sometimes they let their real feelings slip through.
Whether it’s via side-eye glances that seem to throw shade on the winner, or simply muttering expletives, there have been many Oscar losses that prompted reactions which live on in infamy.
These aren’t the sorest losers, necessarily, but rather actors who didn’t adhere to the staid conventions of dignified loserdom.
Sometimes, as in the case of Holly Hunter, or Cate Blanchett, the reactions seem entirely lighthearted; others,...
- 2/10/2023
- by Louis Chilton
- The Independent - Film
There’s surely no feeling in the world quite like winning an Oscar– that heady, unfiltered hit of professional validation that so many actors desperately crave.
But what of those who aren’t so lucky? For every Oscar winner, there must be a handful of losers, deserving or sometimes undeserving also-rans whose work was collectively deemed to have fallen short.
While actors are often skilled at disguising their disappointment – this is show business, after all – sometimes they let their real feelings slip through.
Whether it’s via side-eye glances that seem to throw shade on the winner, or simply muttering expletives, there have been many Oscar losses that prompted reactions which live on in infamy.
These aren’t the sorest losers, necessarily, but rather actors who didn’t adhere to the staid conventions of dignified loserdom.
Sometimes, as in the case of Holly Hunter, or Cate Blanchett, the reactions seem entirely lighthearted; others,...
But what of those who aren’t so lucky? For every Oscar winner, there must be a handful of losers, deserving or sometimes undeserving also-rans whose work was collectively deemed to have fallen short.
While actors are often skilled at disguising their disappointment – this is show business, after all – sometimes they let their real feelings slip through.
Whether it’s via side-eye glances that seem to throw shade on the winner, or simply muttering expletives, there have been many Oscar losses that prompted reactions which live on in infamy.
These aren’t the sorest losers, necessarily, but rather actors who didn’t adhere to the staid conventions of dignified loserdom.
Sometimes, as in the case of Holly Hunter, or Cate Blanchett, the reactions seem entirely lighthearted; others,...
- 2/10/2023
- by Louis Chilton
- The Independent - Film
When you watch a "Rocky" movie, it's easy to get swept up in the sweeping boxing matches. How could you not, when the Italian Stallion is up against larger-than-life opponents like Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), Clubber Lang (Mr. T), and Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren)? But while the fights are the main attraction, it's the moments in between that provide a greater emotional connection to the plight of Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) to succeed against incredible odds.
In the 1976 film, Rocky spends just as much time trying to woo Adrian (Talia Shire), the local pet store clerk, as he does on his actual training for the big bout. The emotional catharsis of the final scene doesn't see the celebration of a victory, but the conclusion to a complicated love story.
One of the more memorable scenes involving their courtship is when Rocky takes Adrian to an ice-skating rink. In a 2016 oral history from Philadelphia Magazine,...
In the 1976 film, Rocky spends just as much time trying to woo Adrian (Talia Shire), the local pet store clerk, as he does on his actual training for the big bout. The emotional catharsis of the final scene doesn't see the celebration of a victory, but the conclusion to a complicated love story.
One of the more memorable scenes involving their courtship is when Rocky takes Adrian to an ice-skating rink. In a 2016 oral history from Philadelphia Magazine,...
- 2/3/2023
- by Matthew Bilodeau
- Slash Film
The amount of effort it takes to make a movie requires nerves of steel. You try to make it the best it can possibly be under the circumstances in which you're given. In the case of "Rocky," it not only proved itself successful at the box office in 1976, but would go on to become a critical piece of U.S. pop culture. I can't imagine walking up to someone who hasn't at least heard of the screen boxer, played ever so charmingly by Sylvester Stallone. At the time, though, the "Death Race 2000" star was going through his own underdog story when putting the script together. Stallone barely had any money to his name, in addition to nearly losing the role of Rocky Balboa to a bigger name like Robert Redford.
This gamble of front-lining a nobody to headline a project like this paid off in spades, as "Rocky" remains...
This gamble of front-lining a nobody to headline a project like this paid off in spades, as "Rocky" remains...
- 2/2/2023
- by Matthew Bilodeau
- Slash Film
John G. Avildsen's "Rocky" is one of Hollywood's greatest underdog tales, both onscreen and off. The film was a surprise pop-cultural phenomenon in 1976, about a club boxer, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), getting a surprise shot at the heavyweight championship by the overconfident Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). It was the top-grossing movie of the year, and shocked the world by winning the Best Picture Oscar over incredibly stiff competition like "Taxi Driver," "All the President's Men," and "Network."
Before the plaudits and box office success, "Rocky" was a Hail Mary pass from a struggling actor who decided to make his own luck by writing a boxing drama inspired by Muhammad Ali's fifteenth-round Tko of Chuck "The Bayonne Bleeder" Wepner. Ali was heavily favored to put the journeyman fighter away early, but he gutted it out and nearly went the distance. Stallone claims he wrote the first draft of the script in three days,...
Before the plaudits and box office success, "Rocky" was a Hail Mary pass from a struggling actor who decided to make his own luck by writing a boxing drama inspired by Muhammad Ali's fifteenth-round Tko of Chuck "The Bayonne Bleeder" Wepner. Ali was heavily favored to put the journeyman fighter away early, but he gutted it out and nearly went the distance. Stallone claims he wrote the first draft of the script in three days,...
- 1/30/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Francis Ford Coppola’s next feature is rounding out its cast in quick succession lately. According to The Hollywood Reporter, announced to the cast of Megalopolis are Shia Labeouf, Jason Schwartzman and Talia Shire.
Back in May, Forest Whitaker, Adam Driver, Jon Voight, and Laurence Fishburne were announced as being part of the cast of Megalopolis. Last month, Aubrey Plaza was added. Also announced this week are Kathryn Hunter, James Remar and Grace VanderWaal.
Megalopolis plot synopsis: “The fate of Rome haunts a modern world unable to solve its own social problems in this epic story of political ambition, genius and conflicted love.”
Megalopolis‘ official casting of Shia Labeouf is just the most recent news story revolving around the actor. The brief rundown of Labeouf’s recent headlines: he revealed that the supposed autobiographical Honey Boy was mostly fabricated; he opened up about his battle with suicide at a career...
Back in May, Forest Whitaker, Adam Driver, Jon Voight, and Laurence Fishburne were announced as being part of the cast of Megalopolis. Last month, Aubrey Plaza was added. Also announced this week are Kathryn Hunter, James Remar and Grace VanderWaal.
Megalopolis plot synopsis: “The fate of Rome haunts a modern world unable to solve its own social problems in this epic story of political ambition, genius and conflicted love.”
Megalopolis‘ official casting of Shia Labeouf is just the most recent news story revolving around the actor. The brief rundown of Labeouf’s recent headlines: he revealed that the supposed autobiographical Honey Boy was mostly fabricated; he opened up about his battle with suicide at a career...
- 9/1/2022
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Francis Ford Coppola is rounding out the stacked cast of his upcoming big-budget independent feature “Megalopolis” with his sister Talia Shire, Shia Labeouf, and his nephew Jason Schwartzmann.
Grace Vanderwaal, Kathryn Hunter and James Remar are also joining the project. As previously announced, Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel, Forest Whitaker, Jon Voight, Aubrey Plaza, Laurence Fishburne are set to headline the cast.
Details are being kept under wraps, but the film’s official logline reads: “The fate of Rome haunts a modern world unable to solve its own social problems in this epic story of political ambition, genius, and conflicted love.”
Also Read:
Shia Labeouf Says He ‘Wronged’ His Father by Depicting Him as an Abuser in ‘Honey Boy’
The “Godfather” filmmaker will write, direct and self-produce the film from a budget clocking in at just under 100 million. Production will begin this fall.
Shire appeared in all three “Godfather” films as Connie Corleone,...
Grace Vanderwaal, Kathryn Hunter and James Remar are also joining the project. As previously announced, Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel, Forest Whitaker, Jon Voight, Aubrey Plaza, Laurence Fishburne are set to headline the cast.
Details are being kept under wraps, but the film’s official logline reads: “The fate of Rome haunts a modern world unable to solve its own social problems in this epic story of political ambition, genius, and conflicted love.”
Also Read:
Shia Labeouf Says He ‘Wronged’ His Father by Depicting Him as an Abuser in ‘Honey Boy’
The “Godfather” filmmaker will write, direct and self-produce the film from a budget clocking in at just under 100 million. Production will begin this fall.
Shire appeared in all three “Godfather” films as Connie Corleone,...
- 8/31/2022
- by Harper Lambert
- The Wrap
‘Megalopolis’: Shia Labeouf & Jason Schwartzman Among Six New Additions To Francis Ford Coppola Epic
Francis Ford Coppola continues to fill out the ensemble for his epic Megalopolis, with Talia Shire (The Godfather), Shia Labeouf (Honey Boy), Jason Schwartzman (The French Dispatch), Grace Vanderwaal (Stargirl), Kathryn Hunter (The Tragedy of Macbeth) and James Remar (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) its newest cast additions.
The actors are set to star alongside the previously announced Adam Driver, Forest Whitaker, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne and Aubrey Plaza. Details about the newest additions’ roles weren’t disclosed.
In Megalopolis, which is billed as a story of political ambition, genius and conflicted love, the fate of Rome haunts a modern world unable to solve its own social problems. Coppola will direct the independently produced film from his own script, at a budget just south of 100 million, with production set to kick off this fall.
Coppola’s sister Shire earned an Oscar nomination for her turn in his film The Godfather Part II,...
The actors are set to star alongside the previously announced Adam Driver, Forest Whitaker, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne and Aubrey Plaza. Details about the newest additions’ roles weren’t disclosed.
In Megalopolis, which is billed as a story of political ambition, genius and conflicted love, the fate of Rome haunts a modern world unable to solve its own social problems. Coppola will direct the independently produced film from his own script, at a budget just south of 100 million, with production set to kick off this fall.
Coppola’s sister Shire earned an Oscar nomination for her turn in his film The Godfather Part II,...
- 8/31/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The cast of Francis Ford Coppola’s upcoming 100 million epic feature “Megalopolis” is shaping up — and it includes Shia Labeouf.
Reports surfaced earlier this month indicating that the controversial actor was circling a leading role in Coppola’s passion project. Now, with production slated to begin this fall, Labeouf’s casting has been confirmed.
Also set to join the picture — which already boasts an all-star lineup including Adam Driver, Forest Whitaker, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jon Voight and Laurence Fishburne — are Talia Shire, Coppola’s sister who starred in his “Godfather” films; “The French Dispatch” actor Jason Schwartzman (Shire’s son); Grace VanderWaal (“Star Girl”); Kathryn Hunter (“The Tragedy of Macbeth”); and James Remar (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”).
Coppola wrote the screenplay for the film in the 1980s, and the legendary “Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now” director is financing the dream project himself. The plot has remained largely under wraps, with...
Reports surfaced earlier this month indicating that the controversial actor was circling a leading role in Coppola’s passion project. Now, with production slated to begin this fall, Labeouf’s casting has been confirmed.
Also set to join the picture — which already boasts an all-star lineup including Adam Driver, Forest Whitaker, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jon Voight and Laurence Fishburne — are Talia Shire, Coppola’s sister who starred in his “Godfather” films; “The French Dispatch” actor Jason Schwartzman (Shire’s son); Grace VanderWaal (“Star Girl”); Kathryn Hunter (“The Tragedy of Macbeth”); and James Remar (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”).
Coppola wrote the screenplay for the film in the 1980s, and the legendary “Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now” director is financing the dream project himself. The plot has remained largely under wraps, with...
- 8/31/2022
- by Wilson Chapman and Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Francis Ford Coppola is rounding out the cast to his big-budget indie film Megalopolis.
The call sheet is now a family affair, with Coppola’s sister (and his Godfather star) Talia Shire and nephew Jason Schwartzman joining the project. Also joining the cast are Shia Labeouf, Grace Vanderwaal, Kathryn Hunter and James Remar.
Megalopolis notably marks Labeouf’s highest profile project since former girlfriend FKA Twigs detailed in a February 2021 lawsuit alleged abuse she suffered at his hands. The actor has been back in the headlines over the past week as he prepares to launch his film Padre Pio on Sept. 2 at the Venice Film Festival. He pushed back at filmmaker Olivia Wilde saying she fired him from her fellow Venice title Don’t Worry Darling, asserting that he quit and leaking text messages and a video from Wilde he says proves that point.
Francis Ford Coppola is rounding out the cast to his big-budget indie film Megalopolis.
The call sheet is now a family affair, with Coppola’s sister (and his Godfather star) Talia Shire and nephew Jason Schwartzman joining the project. Also joining the cast are Shia Labeouf, Grace Vanderwaal, Kathryn Hunter and James Remar.
Megalopolis notably marks Labeouf’s highest profile project since former girlfriend FKA Twigs detailed in a February 2021 lawsuit alleged abuse she suffered at his hands. The actor has been back in the headlines over the past week as he prepares to launch his film Padre Pio on Sept. 2 at the Venice Film Festival. He pushed back at filmmaker Olivia Wilde saying she fired him from her fellow Venice title Don’t Worry Darling, asserting that he quit and leaking text messages and a video from Wilde he says proves that point.
- 8/31/2022
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
With "The Hobbit" first published nearly a century ago, J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth is one of fantasy's most enduring worlds. Inspired by the rise of fascism and the horrors of war, Tolkien's fantasy culminates in a battle for good and evil over the Ring of Power, an ancient tool of evil made by Lord Sauron to control and wield power over Middle Earth. When Bilbo Baggins regrettably passes the Ring onto his nephew Frodo, the young hobbit is sent on a quest to destroy the Ring to save Middle Earth.
Thankfully, he's not alone, as a disparate group of heroes comes together to form the Fellowship of the Ring. Best known to audiences in Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, Tolkien's characters are complex, dynamic, and, regardless of their species, remarkably human. Though it's a task almost as difficult as bearing the Ring itself, below we've ranked...
Thankfully, he's not alone, as a disparate group of heroes comes together to form the Fellowship of the Ring. Best known to audiences in Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, Tolkien's characters are complex, dynamic, and, regardless of their species, remarkably human. Though it's a task almost as difficult as bearing the Ring itself, below we've ranked...
- 8/23/2022
- by Molly Turner
- Slash Film
Before a relatively unknown Al Pacino was cast as Michael Corleone, the shy young man who will eventually take the reins of his embattled mob family in The Godfather, there were other names bandied about for that crucial role. Warren Beatty. Dustin Hoffman. Jack Nicholson. Robert Redford. Martin Sheen. And one other person: James Caan, although he hadn’t put himself forward for the gig. “One night,” Caan later recalled, “I got a call from Francis…and I could tell in his voice that this was not his idea: ‘Jimmy,...
- 7/7/2022
- by Tim Grierson
- Rollingstone.com
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