Tag: Film

Denzel Washington promotes new film in New York

NEW YORK CITY, New York (Reuters) — Two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington promoted his latest film “Roman J. Israel, Esq.” in New York on Monday (November 20). For the title role, Washington underwent a striking transformation as a brilliant defense attorney lacking people skills, a man whose life has been spent fighting for others’ civil rights – and paid a price for his activism. The role was written for Washington by Director Dan Gilroy (‘Nightcrawler’) […]

Forbidden Planet’ robot sets price record for movie prop sold at auction

Reuters — “Robby the Robot,” the seven-foot tall creature featured in the 1956 science fiction film “Forbidden Planet,” sold at auction for $5.375 million, a record for a movie prop, a New York auction house said on Tuesday (November 21). Bonhams, which conducted the auction, said the price beat the previous prop record of $4 million for the 12-inch falcon statue in the Humphrey Bogart classic “The Maltese Falcon” and topped the $4.6 million for […]

‘Call Me by Your Name’ tops Spirit Awards nominations

by Frankie Taggart Agence France-Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Coming-of-age tale “Call Me by Your Name” led the pack of independent films tipped for Oscars glory as the Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations were announced on Tuesday. Set in 1980s Italy and starring Timothee Chalamet and Armie Hammer, it tells the story of 17-year-old Elio as he begins a relationship with his father’s American research assistant, Oliver. The film was nominated in six […]

Disney animation chief on leave over ‘unwanted hugs’

  by Frankie Taggart Agence France Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Disney animation chief John Lasseter said Tuesday he is taking a six-month leave of absence after acknowledging in an internal memo that he had made staff feel “disrespected or uncomfortable” with unwanted hugs. The 60-year-old Lasseter, best known for transforming Pixar from a small graphics department at Lucasfilm into the most successful animation studio in the world, was the pioneering director of […]

‘Justice League’ tops box office with underwhelming total

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — It might have placed top of the North American box office, but “Justice League” didn’t have the super opening weekend predicted, falling short of expectations with takings of $93.8 million, according to data released Monday. With an all-star cast including Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Ben Affleck as Batman and Henry Cavill as Superman, “Justice League” — based on the DC Comics superheroes team — sees a mash-up of classic […]

Indian producers delay Bollywood film after protests

MUMBAI, India (AFP) — Indian filmmakers said they have delayed indefinitely the release of a Bollywood historical epic about a legendary Hindu queen that has been the subject of weeks of violent protests. Caste-based groups have been targeting “Padmavati”, which was due to hit screens on December 1, over rumours that the movie will depict a romance between the queen and a Muslim ruler. In a statement late Sunday Viacom18 Motion Pictures said they had […]

Marvel’s Runaways leap from comic book to television

LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) — When Brian K. Vaughan was approached by Marvel Comics to write a comic book to bring in new readers, he hit on the idea of “Runaways” about a diverse group of teenage family friends whose bond grows stronger when they make a gruesome discovery. Launched in 2003, the comic book soon became a fan favorite and now streaming service Hulu has turned the series into a television show, under the […]

George Clooney makes TV return with ‘Catch-22,’ two decades after ER

LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) — George Clooney will make his return to television in a serialized adaptation of “Catch-22,” Paramount Television said on Thursday (November 16), nearly 20 years after he left hit show “ER” to become one of film’s biggest names. Clooney will direct and star in the six-episode series, based on U.S. author Joseph Heller’s darkly comedic 1961 novel “Catch-22.” The show has not yet been acquired by a network for distribution but […]

‘Frozen’ fans get more catchy songs in spin-off

LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) — Since it was released in 2013, the Disney animation ‘Frozen’ went from being just another animated feature film to becoming a cultural phenomenon. Children became enamored with the film about the two sisters Elsa and Anna, but more specifically with the title song ‘Let It Go,’ which was sung by Idina Menzel. The song not only became a staple in households with children but it also won the Academy Award […]

Superheroes descend on Hollywood for “Justice League” premiere

LOS ANGELES, California, United States (Reuters) — A star-studded cast of superheroes hit the red carpet for the Hollywood premiere of “Justice League” on Monday (Nov. 13), the latest installment from the DC comics universe. The film features a host of major DC characters and box office stars including Ben Affleck as Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Jason Momoa as Aquaman and Ezra Miller as the Flash. Gadot won both critical praise and box […]

‘Thor’ remains a box office smash, thundering into second weekend

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — After a smashing start in its first weekend in theaters, “Thor: Ragnarok” thundered to the box office top spot once again this week, taking $56.6 million, according to industry estimates released Sunday. The third “Thor” episode, boosted by the self-mocking humor of Chris Hemsworth as the powerful Norse god (alongside Cate Blanchett as Hela, goddess of death), has taken a total of $211.5 million since opening in North American cinemas […]

‘Thor,’ swinging his mighty hammer, smashes Hollywood’s slump

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — After a dismal October for Hollywood, Disney and Marvel Studio’s “Thor: Rognarok” proved a smashing success over the weekend weekend, pulling in $122.7 million in North American theaters for a global total of $306 million, industry figures showed Monday. How big was the film’s three-day opening? The latest “Thor” episode, boosted by strong reviews and the self-mocking humor of Chris Hemsworth as the powerful Norse god (with Cate Blanchett as Hela, […]