Tag: entertainment

Chadwick Boseman: why ‘Black Panther’ needed African accent

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman revealed Tuesday doubters had tried to convince him not to give the superhero an African accent — and how proud he was to prove them wrong. The 41-year-old American stars in the titular role in the 18th movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe — the first black superhero to get his own standalone movie. “There was a time period where people would ask me […]

Fun-loving Bruno Mars divisive in his Grammy glory

by Shaun TANDON Agence France-Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — After a tumultuous political year, the Grammys took a stand for the rights of women and immigrants — but the top awards went to a singer whose mind is on sex, booze and parties. The surprise sweep by Bruno Mars has renewed criticism in quarters that the music industry’s premier prizes are out of touch with the wider world, but for fans of the […]

‘Maze Runner’ outruns ‘Jumanji’ to lead North American box offices

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Fox’s young-adult film “Maze Runner: The Death Cure” dashed past “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” as it opened this weekend in North American theaters, taking in an estimated $23.5 million after a strong showing overseas, website Exhibitor Relations reported. The dystopian sci-fi film, the third and last in the “Maze Runner” series, follows the life-and-death adventures of three young “Gladers,” teens immune to a destructive virus infecting the world. […]

Out on a limb: Vanity Fair’s curious cover

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The latest cover of prestigious US magazine Vanity Fair features an annual photograph of Hollywood’s elite — with a twist. Reese Witherspoon, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hanks, Robert de Niro, Nicole Kidman and other stars are grouped for the magazine’s “Hollywood Issue” in a photo lavishly retouched — but forgetting, it seems, to erase an extra leg. “Well…I guess everybody knows now…I have 3 legs,” Witherspoon joked on Twitter. “I […]

Moscow cinema stops showing ‘Death of Stalin’ after police raid

by Ola CICHOWLAS Agence France-Presse MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — A Moscow cinema which screened British comedy “The Death of Stalin” in defiance of an official ban has announced that it will stop showing the film after a raid by Russian police on Friday. The culture ministry on Tuesday withdrew permission to screen British director Armando Iannucci’s film, which satirises the death of the dictator after Russian officials labelled it offensive and “extremist”. But Moscow cinema […]

Steven Spielberg to remake ‘West Side Story’

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — It’s one of the most beloved movies in musical cinema and now Steven Spielberg is giving “West Side Story” a makeover — except this time, he is recruiting Latino talent to play the lead roles. The original film version of Leonard Bernstein’s musical — Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” reimagined in the world of warring New York gangs — came out in 1961, winning 10 Oscars and captivating a generation […]

Snoop Dogg joins ‘Star Trek’ parody

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Gangsta rapper turned entertainment icon Snoop Dogg has joined the cast of long-gestating “Star Trek” parody “Unbelievable!!!!!,” the production announced on Thursday. The West Coast hip-hop legend will co-star as Major LeGrande Bushe opposite co-producer Nichelle Nichols, who played communications officer Nyota Uhura in the original NBC series and six of the movies. Snoop — real name Calvin Broadus — will also serve as an executive producer on the […]

Meryl Streep joins HBO’s ‘Big Little Lies’ season two

NEW YORK, United States (AFP0 — Meryl Streep will join the cast of “Big Little Lies” season two, US cable network HBO announced Wednesday, generating another boost for a hit drama already basking in awards glory. The triple Oscar winner will star opposite Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman in the second edition of a show that won plaudits for tackling domestic violence at a time when US society is increasingly focused on its treatment of […]

Elton John to ‘go out with a bang’ on final tour

by Shaun Tandon Agence France-Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Elton John announced Wednesday that he is retiring from touring, with the consummate showman saying he wants to devote himself to his children — but after a final, massive swing around the world. The 70-year-old British entertainer, revealing his plans at a gala New York event, said he planned to “go out with a bang” with a global tour that will open on September […]

Enrique Iglesias sues label over streaming revenue

MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Pop star Enrique Iglesias on Wednesday accused his former label Universal of short-changing artists while benefiting from the soaring growth of streaming as he filed a lawsuit for breach of contract. “Universal has been systematically underpaying Iglesias’ streaming royalties by calculating those royalties at a small fraction of the contractually required 50 percent royalty rate,” said the lawsuit filed in Miami, where Iglesias lives. The lawsuit alleged that the 42-year-old […]

Hindu queen film releases in India amid high security

MUMBAI, India (AFP) — A controversial Indian movie that has angered Hindu extremists finally opens on Thursday amid heightened security owing to fears of widespread riots. Police are on high alert across several states after protesters pledged to disrupt the release of “Padmaavat,” a Bollywood epic about a mythical Hindu queen. Radical groups say the film will portray queen Padmavati falsely, a claim producers vehemently deny, and have threatened to attack any cinema that shows it. Violent […]

Oscars nominations: all the fun facts

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The nominations for the 90th Oscars were announced Tuesday, with “The Shape of Water,” “Dunkirk” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” leading the pack. But the statistical quirks that the annual event throws up can be as intriguing as tracking which movies get the most nods. Here are some fun facts and figures from this year’s list of nominees: Female filmmakers recognized  The 7,000-plus voters of the Academy of […]