Categories
Widget Image
Trending
Recent Posts
Entertaintment
Entertaintment
Monday, Oct 19th, 2026
Widget Image
logo
mobile-logo
HomeStandard Blog Whole Post (Page 852)
TV

Finding a new movie to watch on Max has become a little more difficult now that HBO Max combined with discovery+, but we’ve put together a curated list of some of the new arrivals you should add to your queue ASAP. Below, you’ll find historical thrillers, underrated gems, Oscar-winning classics and even an action movie about a giant shark. Truly, something for everyone.

Check out our picks for the best new movies on Max in July 2023 below.


“Dunkirk”

Warner Bros.

One of Christopher Nolan’s very best films, “Dunkirk” is best described as a historical thriller. The film recounts the true World War II story of how the allied troops in Dunkirk were evacuated by sea in a harrowing event. Nolan splits the film up into three timelines – what’s happening on the beach, the boats coming in by sea, and the planes in the air above trying to provide support. It’s a thrilling and emotional film, anchored by supporting performances from Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy, Barry Keoghan and Harry Styles.

“Elizabethtown”

elizabethtown
Paramount Pictures

Call it a hidden gem or a cult classic, but “Almost Famous” and “Jerry Maguire” filmmaker Cameron Crowe’s 2005 film “Elizabethtown” deserves another look. Considered by many to be a disappointment after a terrific string of hits from the writer-director, “Elizabethtown” is a sweet and idiosyncratic spin on a family drama as Orlando Bloom plays a young shoe designer whose career just crashed and burned. Contemplating suicide, he gets a call that his father has died and is tasked with bringing the body home to Oregon from Kentucky, so he postpones his deed and sets off on a journey of self-discovery – complete with a charming flight attendant played by Kirsten Dunst. Backed by an incredible soundtrack, the ensemble includes Susan Sarandon, Judy Greer, Jessica Biel and Paul Schneider.

“Under the Silver Lake”

under-the-silver-lake-andrew-garfield
A24

If you’re looking for a summer movie to watch that’s somewhat underrated, offbeat or downright odd, get thee to “Under the Silver Lake.” The 2018 film comes from “It Follows” filmmaker David Robert Mitchell and stars Andrew Garfield as a disenchanted man who, after a seemingly magical night with a young woman (played by Riley Keough), sets out to uncover the truth behind her apparent disappearance. This is a detective movie by way of aimless ennui, with a sharp commentary on toxic masculinity as it follows Garfield’s character down a series of cascading rabbit holes throughout Los Angeles.

“The Meg”

the-meg
Warner Bros.

Prepare for “The Meg 2” by catching the first film in this unlikely franchise, “The Meg.” A comedic actioner, the film stars Jason Statham as a rescue diver who is recruited to investigate a strange disturbance in the sea that turns out to be a 75-foot-long megalodon shark that threatens the lives of many. It’s a summertime schlockfest in many respects, but “The Meg” is a fun time.

“Good Will Hunting”

Miramax

The film that launched Matt Damon and Ben Affleck onto the world’s stage – and the Oscars stage – remains a moving, artful drama over two decades later. In “Good Will Hunting,” Damon stars as a janitor at MIT who solves an unsolvable problem on a chalkboard, which puts him on the radar of a professor (played by Stellan Skarsgard) who subsequently takes him under his wing. But after a fight puts Will in front of a judge, he’s ordered to therapy sessions with a mild-mannered therapist who happens to be an old friend of the professor’s. Robin Williams gives an Oscar-winning turn as the therapist, while the ensemble is rounded out by Minnie Driver, Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck and Cole Hauser.

“Southside With You”

Miramax/Roadside

This little-seen indie is a remarkable take on the biopic, as it pulls back the curtain on the lives of Barack Obama and Michelle Obama by imagining a single day in their lives in 1989, when a meeting to discuss community organizing turns into a date. Parker Sawyers plays the former president while Tika Sumpter plays the former first lady, and Richard Tanne writes and directs this engaging drama that takes inspiration from Richard Linklater’s “Before” trilogy.

“The Skeleton Twins”

the-skeleton-twins-bill-hader-kristen-wiig
Roadside Attractions

Bill Hader has said that it was this Sundance hit that sparked HBO to want to work with the “SNL” alum on what would become his hit series “Barry.” In “The Skeleton Twins,” Hader plays a man who, after attempting suicide, is reunited with his twin sister (played by Kristen Wiig) in their hometown. The somewhat estranged siblings discover their lives have more in common than they thought, and Hader and Wiig both deliver tremendous performances that balance comedy with drama.

Source link

0 Comments

Finding a new movie to watch on

What to Watch

Wordle is a simple word-guessing game that tasks players with solving a five-word puzzle using letter position clues. Wordle presents the player with six rows of five empty boxes. Simply enter a random five-letter word and the website highlights certain letters in green if they are correct, yellow if they are correct but in the wrong spot, or grey if they are not in the word at all. With this information, players need to try to figure out the word within the six guesses to be successful.


These types of guessing games have been around for a long time. One of the originals was called Mastermind, where players are tasked with guessing a row of colored pegs that utilizes the same hint systems found in Wordle. If players would like to try the game for themselves, it can be found on the Wordle website, which creates a new puzzle every day, keeps track of players’ win streaks and guess distribution, and has a popular sharing ability.

Comedian Patton Oswalt scored a Wordle win-in-two, even though he only got a single misplaced letter from his starting word. He shared his win from July 15th on Twitter and called it “Lucky!“


Every Wordle Answer in 2023

With a new Wordle added every day, players may need a little help with the more difficult words, and having a strong starting word is important. Players may not have time to work out the puzzle solution every day, or perhaps they just want to keep their streak going but are having too much difficulty with the daily word. Whatever the reason, players can find every daily Wordle answer used so far in 2023 below.

All June 2023 Wordle Answers

Every Wordle Answer June 2022

All May 2023 Wordle Answers

Wordle Monthly May

  • May 31 – #711 – AGILE
  • May 30 – #710 – KNEEL
  • May 29 – #709 – MOUSE
  • May 28 – #708 – SKIMP
  • May 27 – #707 – RAMEN
  • May 26 – #706 – SWINE
  • May 25 – #705 – BAGEL
  • May 24 – #704 – UTTER
  • May 23 – #703 – CLERK
  • May 22 – #702 – IGLOO
  • May 21 – #701 – BRASH
  • May 20 – #700 – FLASK
  • May 19 – #699 – GRIEF
  • May 18 – #698 – SHORN
  • May 17 – #697 – PLANK
  • May 16 – #696 – LATTE
  • May 15 – #695 – CANOE
  • May 14 – #694 – SCARF
  • May 13 – #693 – ACRID
  • May 12 – #692 – SNACK
  • May 11 – #691 – BROOM
  • May 10 – #690 – ETHIC
  • May 9 – #689 – COCOA
  • May 8 – #688 – AGLOW
  • May 7 – #687 – GHOUL
  • May 6 – #686 – ANGER
  • May 5 – #685 – BELOW
  • May 4 – #684 – GUPPY
  • May 3 – #683 – HORDE
  • May 2 – #682 – SULKY
  • May 1 – #681 – RANGE

All April 2023 Wordle Answer

Wordle April Answers

  • Apr 01 – #651 – MARCH
  • Apr 02 – #652 – STOCK
  • Apr 03 – #653 – FLORA
  • Apr 04 – #654 – RATIO
  • Apr 05 – #655 – SMASH
  • Apr 06 – #656 – LEAFY
  • Apr 07 – #657 – LOCUS
  • Apr 08 – #658 – LEDGE
  • Apr 09 – #659 – SNAFU
  • Apr 10 – #660 – UNDER
  • Apr 11 – #661 – QUALM
  • Apr 12 – #662 – BORAX
  • Apr 13 – #663 – CARAT
  • Apr 14 – #664 – THIEF
  • Apr 15 – #665 – AGONY
  • Apr 16 – #666 – DWELT
  • Apr 17 – #667 – WHIFF
  • Apr 18 – #668 – HOUND
  • Apr 19 – #669 – THUMP
  • Apr 20 – #670 – PLATE
  • Apr 21 – #671 – KAYAK
  • Apr 22 – #672 – BROKE
  • Apr 23 – #673 – UNZIP
  • Apr 24 – #674 – DITTO
  • Apr 25 – #675 – JOKER
  • Apr 26 – #676 – METRO
  • Apr 27 – #677 – LOGIC
  • Apr 28 – #678 – CIRCA
  • Apr 29 – #679 – CEDAR
  • Apr 30 – #680 – PLAZA

All March 2023 Wordle Answer

c

  • Mar 31 – #650 – EVERY
  • Mar 30 – #649 – BREAD
  • Mar 29 – #648 – BESET
  • Mar 28 – #647 – HURRY
  • Mar 27 – #646 – GUANO
  • Mar 26 – #645 – UNTIE
  • Mar 25 – #644 – VOTER
  • Mar 24 – #643 – GROUT
  • Mar 23 – #642 – STAID
  • Mar 22 – #641 – DUVET
  • Mar 21 – #640 – TOUGH
  • Mar 20 – #639 – GLOVE
  • Mar 19 – #638 – CREDO
  • Mar 18 – #637 – YACHT
  • Mar 17 – #636 – MEALY
  • Mar 16 – #635 – CIDER
  • Mar 15 – #634 – SWEEP
  • Mar 14 – #633 – SURLY
  • Mar 13 – #632 – BLAME
  • Mar 12 – #631 – BIRTH
  • Mar 11 – #630 – EMAIL
  • Mar 10 – #629 – REVEL
  • Mar 09 – #628 – WHERE
  • Mar 08 – #627 – REGAL
  • Mar 07 – #626 – HORSE
  • Mar 06 – #625 – PINKY
  • Mar 05 – #624 – TOXIC
  • Mar 04 – #623 – TREND
  • Mar 03 – #622 – SQUAT
  • Mar 02 – #621 – ABOVE
  • Mar 01 – #620 – MOOSE

All February 2023 Wordle Answer

Every Wordle Answer in February 2023

All January 2023 Wordle Answer

Wordle January Full List 2022

Every Wordle Answer in 2022

Wordle Full List 2022

Looking for last year’s answers? They’re all here below for archiving needs.

Simple games, like Wordle, are the perfect small distraction for the day. The game itself doesn’t take up too much time and is a nice break during the standard morning routine. Being able to compare with friends on social media sites makes Wordle even more addicting by adding the element of competition. With the win streak tracking feature and social media sharing button, Wordle is the perfect little puzzle to spend 3-5 minutes on during a workday.

  • Wordle Poster

    Wordle

    Platform:
    iOS, Android, Microsoft Windows

    Released:
    2021-10-01

    Developer:
    Josh Wardle

    Publisher:
    Josh Wardle, The New York Times Company

    Genre:
    Puzzle

    ESRB:
    E

    Summary:
    Wordle is a web-based word-guessing game developed by Josh Wardle that took the world by storm in 2021. Players are given a five-letter word to guess and have six attempts to get the word correct. When they get a letter correct, it will mark itself as green if it’s in the correct position and yellow if it is the correct letter in the wrong position. A yellow letter also means that letter could appear more than once. Wordle was purchased by The New York Times Company in 2022 and added to their website and app, keeping the core game free to play as promised – with additional words and other bonuses available through subscription, and is available via browser, iOS, and Android.

    How Long To Beat:
    1h 25m

Source link

0 Comments

Wordle is a simple word-guessing game that

Awards

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie compared Donald Trump and his allies to the infamous Corleone family in “The Godfather” saga — but “with no experience.”

“It’s pretty brazen,” Christie said of the new obstruction charges brought against the former president while appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “These guys were acting like the Corleones with no experience.”

The new charges in the classified documents case, filed by special counsel Jack Smith last week, allege that Trump attempted to destroy evidence at his Mar-a-Lago estate after receiving a subpoena, accusing the former President of pressuring maintenance employee Carlos De Oliveira to delete surveillance footage alongside his valet Walt Nauta, who Christie likened to Fredo Corleone, the character played by John Cazale in “The Godfather” saga.

“The day after a grand jury subpoena is served, which includes the surveillance tapes, they go down to Mar-a-Lago and Walt Nauta appears to be the Fredo of this family,” Christie continued. “They send him to go down there, and they sent him to go and delete it.”


“This is bad stuff,” Christie said. “You can’t say there was no underlying potential crime here — this was the withholding of confidential classified information from the government after 18 months of asking Donald Trump to return it voluntarily.” 

The former federal prosecutor went on to note that not only did Trump not return the classified documents voluntarily, but he also allegedly “lied about having it.” Christie also urged CNN anchor Kasie Hunt to consider the “potential impact on our troops and our intelligence officers by having this stuff just laying around and him willy nilly showing it to whoever he feels like to be a show-off on the back deck at Mar-a-Lago.”

“This is not what a former president should be doing and it’s certainly not something that someone who wants to be president should be doing,” Christie said.

Christie, who kicked off his second presidential campaign in June and is seeking the Republican bid alongside Trump, former VP Mike Pence and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, among others, also slammed Trump’s previous defense tactic of saying he could declassify any confidential documents as President.

“The ‘I can declassify whatever I want’ defense is not a defense,” Christie said. “You can declassify whatever you want when you’re president — you can’t do it by thinking about it, you can’t do it by mind-melding with the documents — there’s a process you have to go through to declassify and he knows that.”

You can watch the full video below.


chuck-todd-meet-the-press

Source link

0 Comments

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie compared

Music

During their set at Fuji Rock on Saturday, Foo Fighters brought out special guest Alanis Morissette to assist with a tribute to the late Sinéad O’Connor. They performed a collaborative cover of “Mandinka” from O’Connor’s 1987 debut album The Lion and the Cobra. Watch it happen here.

The performance at Fuji Rock was one of many tributes from the music world to O’Connor. Following news of her death, artists including Kate Bush, ANOHNI, Perfume Genius, Massive Attack, Tori Amos, Tegan and Sara, U2, Flea, Chuck D, and more.

This wasn’t the first time Morissette shared a stage with Dave Grohl. She performed with the band during the Taylor Hawkins tribute concerts last year. Before Hawkins became a member of Foo Fighters, he performed in Morissette’s band.

Sinéad O’Connor Was a Voice of Strength in the Darkness

Source link

0 Comments

During their set at Fuji Rock on

Docs

Madonna has thanked her family and friends for their support during her medical emergency.

In late June, the singer had developed a serious bacterial infection that had led to a several-day stay in an intensive care unit. The North American dates of her “Celebration” tour have been rescheduled and the tour will now begin in Europe in October.

On Sunday, Madonna posted on Instagram: “Love from family and friends is the best medicine. One month out of the hospital and I can reflect. As a mother you can really get caught up In the needs of your children and the seemingly endless giving… But when the chips were down my children really showed up for me. I saw a side to them I had never seen before. It made all the difference. So did the love and support from my friends.”

Referring to an image in the post of her holding a framed Polaroid, Madonna said that it was taken by Andy Warhol and shows Keith Haring wearing a jacket with Michael Jackson’s face painted on it, describing the image as a “perfect triangle of brilliance” and the artists as having “touched so many lives including my own.”

Madonna thanks her manager Guy Oseary for the gift, saying: “I sobbed when I opened this gift because I realized how lucky I am to be alive. And how fortunate I am to have known these people and so many others who are also gone. And thank you to all my angels who protected me and let me stay to finish doing my work.”

The post also has images of Madonna with her son David and daughter Lourdes.

Madonna’s previously scheduled European dates are slated to begin Oct. 14 in London and carry on through the European mainland for seven weeks before concluding with two more London dates on Dec. 5 and 6. The North American tour is currently scheduled to begin with two Brooklyn concerts on Dec. 13 and 14.

Source link

0 Comments

Madonna has thanked her family and friends

Tech

Depending upon your viewpoint, we have good news or bad: Assassin’s Creed Mirage will take around 20 hours to complete.

For some, this will be welcomed news, allowing people to dive headfirst into an Assassin’s Creed adventure, knowing they won’t have to dedicate months of their free time to get to the end.

This will be disappointing for others, though, as Assassin’s Creed games have traditionally offered a lot of bang for their buck and provided hundreds of hours of entertainment. 

According to lead producer Fabian Salomon, however, who spoke to YouTuber Julien Chièze earlier this week, the upcoming Assassin’s Creed adventure can be completed in 20 hours if players rush through, and around 30 hours for players who take their time and complete every mission.

“Given that we do a lot of playtesting internally at Ubisoft, it’s part of our process, we really want to get as close as possible to the players, so we’ll say that the latest playtimes we’ve received average at around 20-23 hours,” Salomon said, as translated by PCGN.

“That can go up to 25-30 hours for the completionists, and we’ll say that those who will be rushing the game will be around 20 hours.”

Given prior instalments like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Odyssey roughly take around 60 hours to get through the main campaign – and double that if you commit to completing all the side missions and extra collectibles, too – that means Mirage will be around a fifth of the length of its predecessors.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage is finally sending the series back to its roots with classic traversal and poses that look like something straight out of the first Assassin’s Creed title. 

ICYMI, rumor has it Ubisoft is rebooting Assassin’s Creed 4 Black Flag. According to recent reports, Ubisoft’s remake of the 2013 sea-shanty smasher is “still in its earliest stages” but reportedly involves the team based at Ubisoft Singapore. 

If true, it’s an interesting decision, not least because Ubisoft is also set to debut another all-new swashbuckling franchise, Skull and Bones. Yes, the pirate adventure was recently delayed once again, but it’s nonetheless set to release sometime in 2023-2024 – which may give Ubisoft the litmus test it needs to assess the appetite for the Black Flag reboot. 

The best Assassin’s Creed games often offer it all: A hero you can’t help but root for, oodles of intrigue, a beautiful part of the world to explore, and some of the best stealth and RPG combat up for grabs. Here are our picks of the best Assassin’s Creed games: every series entry ranked. Where does your favorite Assassin’s Creed tale rank?

Source link

0 Comments

Depending upon your viewpoint, we have good

Video

Luke Grimes considers Hugh Grant his North Star when it comes to acting in romantic comedies.

Grimes, known for his role as Kayce Dutton in “Yellowstone,” stars as Jake in Netflix’s romantic comedy “Happiness for Beginners,” adapted from the novel of the same name by Katherine Center. The film, which is currently streaming, marks a shift in genre for the drama actor.

“[Hugh]’s absolutely incredible at the genre, and I could never be as good as him at that. But, you know, that was where I was trying to land the plane,” Grimes told TheWrap in an interview conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike. “I just think he’s so good at being the straight guy, also being sort of quirky and funny enough in himself to carry it. He also lets the funny people be funny. A lot of my favorite rom-coms have Hugh Grant, and I talked to Vicki [Wight] the director, about it and I said ‘I’m gonna do my best Hugh Grant here.’”

Jake, a skilled doctor, ends up on a camping trip hiking through the Appalachian mountains with Helen (Ellie Kemper), his best friend Duncan’s sister. Even though they have guide Bennett (Ben Cook) to oversee their expedition, one of the campers (played by Nico Santos) breaks his leg in one of the film’s more serious scenes. For Grimes, the following moments were so comedic that he had a hard time filming them straight-faced.


“I always wanted to do a romantic comedy for exactly that reason. I used to watch them on DVDs where they’d have the extra feature and you would just watch the actors just crack up and like not be able to control their laughter,” he said. “I used to watch that and be like, ‘I want to do that so bad. That looks like so much fun.’ To be around that many funny people and be to the point where you’re on a movie that you’re trying to do your job and you can’t because you’re laughing. I wanted that experience and I got it with this movie.”

While Helen and Jake have known each other for a while through Duncan, it’s not until now that they have the chance to explore a romantic relationship because Helen has just recently gotten divorced.

“From the point of view of the character that I played, the whole time I’m thinking ‘Why doesn’t she want to be with me? I just don’t get it.’ I think the audience probably feels that a bit too and I think what you’re dealing with is someone who’s kind of going through a change of life and a lot of things and learning about herself and he’s learning about himself,” Grimes said. “He’s dealing with this exterior thing, which is sort of a debilitating thing, and I think it’s a nice resolve when the people that should be together get together, and that’s what’s great about rom-coms. That’s what we all want to see happen in rom-com, and I think it built nicely to that and it really pays off.”

Most of the cast of camping/hike in "Happiness for Beginners": From L to R - Shayvawn Webster, Nico Santos, Luke Grimes, Bus Birney, Esteban Benito, Julia Shiplett, Ellie Kemper and Ben Cook (Netflix)
Most of the cast of “Happiness for Beginners”: From L to R – Shayvawn Webster, Nico Santos, Luke Grimes, Bus Birney, Esteban Benito, Julia Shiplett, Ellie Kemper and Ben Cook (Netflix)

While Jake seems to have it all together on the surface, he has to tell Helen one night that he is losing his eyesight after she finds him lost in the woods after dark.

“I was actually nervous about that scene where I’m lost because I can’t see at night. I was thinking ‘How do we make this not feel cheesy?’ The whole time I just kept being like, ‘Is this OK? Is this weird? Like, are people gonna believe this?’” he said. “When me and Vicki and Elena were planning it out, we wrapped our heads around, ‘Let’s just lean into it.’ We’re really gonna lean in and, and, and just be as earnest as possible. For me, I come from a drama background and that scene was like a fish out of water from the rest of the movie, and I didn’t want it to feel false. I hope it didn’t, but that was sort of the pivotal more dramatic scene for me.”

Grimes also weighed in on the theatrical versus streaming release of romantic comedies and what works best for the genre.

“It’s all the wild west now. I think theaters are amusement park rides now, it’s got to be either Pixar or Marvel or something to actually make it work financially for a studio,” he said. “Coming up in this business and watching it change, you’re a little scared, but the great thing is there’s more opportunity for actors and artists to make things because there’s so many streaming platforms, and I think it’s a good thing. Actors should be working, writers should be writing, directors should be directing. There’s just more opportunity for all of that. I don’t really care where it comes out. I mean, obviously, I’m on a television show on a cable network that still has commercials. That’s like, [being] stuck in a time machine.”

“Happiness for Beginners” is streaming on Netflix.


Ellie Kemper as Helen in "Happiness for Beginners" (Netflix)

Source link

0 Comments

Luke Grimes considers Hugh Grant his North

Entertaintment

Tony Bennett is being remembered by his longtime collaborator Lady Gaga.

“I will miss my friend forever,” she said of Bennett, who passed away on July 21. “I will miss singing with him, recording with him, talking with him, being on stage together. With Tony, I got to live my life in a time warp. Tony & I had this magical power. We transported ourselves to another era, modernized the music together, & gave it all new life as a singing duo. But it wasnt an act. Our relationship was very real.”

Gaga went on to share in her Instagram post how he taught her about music, life and maintaining a positive attitude.

“He also showed me how to keep my spirits high and my head screwed on straight. ‘Straight ahead,’ he’d say,’” her post on Sunday continued. “He was an optimist, he believed in quality work AND quality life. Plus, there was the gratitude…Tony was always grateful. He served in WWII, marched with Martin Luther King Jr., and sang jazz with the greatest singers and players in the world.”

The singer added that they had a “very long and powerful goodbye,” and although there was a large age gap between them, he was her “real true friend.”

“Our age difference didn’t matter – in fact, it gave us each something neither of us had with most people. We were from two different stages in life entirely – inspired,” Gaga said. “Losing Tony to Alzheimer’s has been painful but it was also really beautiful. An era of memory loss is such a sacred time in a persons life. There’s such a feeling of vulnerability and a desire to preserve dignity. All I wanted was for Tony to remember how much I loved him and how grateful I was to have him in my life. But, as that faded slowly I knew deep down he was sharing with me the most vulnerable moment in his life that he could – being willing to sing with me when his nature was changing so deeply. I’ll never forget this experience. I’ll never forget Tony Bennett.”

The legendary singer died in his hometown of New York City at the age of 96, his publicist Sylvia Weiner shared. “Tony left us today but he was still singing the other day at his piano and his last song was, ‘Because of You,’ his first #1 hit,” read a message to his official Facebook page.

While a cause of death was not given, Bennett was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016, a diagnosis that was shared with the public five years later in 2021.

Still, he continued performing both in the recording studio and on tour. The neurologist who diagnosed him, Dr. Gayatri Devi at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, said at the time “He is doing so many things, at 94, that many people without dementia cannot do. He really is the symbol of hope for someone with a cognitive disorder.”

One of those things was headlining two shows with Lady Gaga at New York’s Radio City Music Hall in August 2021. Shortly after, Bennett would announce he was canceling his fall tour.

The treasured American storyteller, singer and showman has received 20 Grammy Awards, including a lifetime achievement honor in 2001, has sold around 60 million records and has charted albums in every decade since the 1950s.

He earned his final Grammy in April 2022 for his work with Gaga on the album Love for Sale, which was his second acclaimed collaboration with her and made him the second-oldest winner in history. Gaga performed the album’s title track “Love for Sale” solo as a tribute to Bennett during that year’s televised ceremony, after Bennett briefly introduced her over video, waving and sending a kiss. Gaga was left in tears after the moment: “I love you Tony, we miss you,” she said.

At the 2015 Grammys, the duo had the audience on its feet when they shared the stage to perform their duet title track “Cheek to Cheek” and Gaga ended the performance with a kiss on Bennett’s cheek. They took home the award for best traditional pop vocal album that year.

Gaga and Bennett first collaborated on “The Lady Is a Tramp” from Bennett’s 2011 Duets II.

Bennett was king of the duet, teaming over the years with the likes of Amy Winehouse, Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Billy Joel, Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion, George Michael and more on songs that contributed to the longevity of his storied career. “Tony abhorred demographics,” his oldest son Danny Bennett told The New York Times in 1999. “He believed he could play to the whole family. I told him that in order to do that, you have to go to them.”

John and Joel were among the Friday tributes. John, who recorded with Bennett for his 80th birthday on 2006’s Duets: An American Classic, wrote on Instagram, “Without doubt the classiest singer, man, and performer you will ever see. He’s irreplaceable. I loved and adored him.”

Joel, who recorded with Bennett on two of his albums and performed with him “New York State of Mind” at the closing of Shea Stadium 2008, wrote, “I will always be grateful for his outstanding contribution to the art of contemporary music. He was a joy to work with. His energy and enthusiasm for the material he was performing was infectious. He was also one of the nicest human beings I’ve ever known.”

The Amy Winehouse Foundation shared a photo of the pair and a note that read, in part, “Today marks the end of an era … A true star, a true gentleman and a wonderful friend and mentor to Amy.”

President Joe Biden wrote in a statement, “For more than 70 years, Tony Bennett didn’t just sing the classics – he himself was an American classic. Resisting the pull to adjust his style to fit in with the times, his distinct voice gave melody and rhythm about the good life, how the best is yet to come, the way you look tonight, and leaving your heart in San Francisco.”

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, shared a personal tribute about naming his son, Tony Bennett Sarandos, after the singer. “The truth is, I thought it was important to name my son after someone he could look up to and aspire to be like. Tony Bennett was an amazing figure who did what he loved for more years- than most of us hope to live. I asked him on his 86th birthday if he would ever retire. He said “Ted, I paint and I sing…retire from what?” He only just retired, he performed at Radio City Music Hall, “One More Time” at 95 years old, last November,” he wrote on Instagram. “The only thing that finally slowed him down was Alzheimer’s and even then he sang and performed for us and watching him , you knew that he loved to make the audience cheer.”

And Sony Music Group chairman Rob Stringer said in a statement, “There are few people in life who could surpass the achievements of the legendary artist Tony Bennett. His biography reads like an inspiring and principled socio cultural history of nearly a century. His artistry in recording and performing will be admired forever.”

In addition to his wife Susan Crow and son Danny, survivors include another son, Dae; daughters Joanna and Antonia; and nine grandchildren.

Carly Thomas contributed to this story.

Source link

0 Comments

Tony Bennett is being remembered by his

Latest News

Viola Davis says she is opposed to filming her next movie amid the simmering actors’ and writers’ labor strikes — even though she has SAG-AFTRA’s blessing to do so.

The Oscar-winning actor’s move comes amid scrutiny over SAG-AFTRA’s decision to exempt some productions from the strike that are not affiliated with any major studios or streaming platforms. The dispensations have sparked questions in recent days.

Davis released a statement this weekend after her upcoming action-thriller “G20” was among dozens of independent projects granted waivers by the guild to move forward during the strike. Davis is attached to produce and star in the picture, which is partially backed by her company, JuVee Productions.

“I love this movie, but I do not feel that it would be appropriate for this production to move forward during the strike,” Davis said in a statement provided Sunday to the Los Angeles Times.

“I appreciate that the producers on the project agree with this decision. JuVee Productions and I stand in solidarity with actors, SAG/AFTRA and the WGA. “

Because Davis is such a vital part of the project, the current status of “G20” is unclear. When asked whether this means the production will shut down entirely until the strikes are over, Davis’ representative declined to comment further.

Though much of Hollywood has come to a standstill amid the writers’ and actors’ strikes, more than 40 productions have been granted waivers to continue shooting during the mass work stoppage. But whether actors are crossing a picket line by participating in those productions has become a point of contention in the industry.

Davis is not the only famous actor to speak out after SAG-AFTRA decided to exempt from the strike select projects that are not affiliated with any major studios or streaming platforms that make up the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. (Although “G20” is set to be distributed by Amazon Studios — which is part of the AMPTP — SAG-AFTRA gave it a pass because no members of the AMPTP are producing it, according to Deadline.)

Under the terms of the waiver, said projects are required to abide by the guidelines SAG-AFTRA has presented to the AMPTP in bargaining. The guild is fighting for higher wages, greater shares of revenue generated by streaming hits and limitations on the use of artificial intelligence, among other benefits and protections. The exempt productions must operate under these terms until the union and the AMPTP agree on and ratify a new contract.

In an Instagram video posted on Friday, actor and comedian Sarah Silverman said she was “pissed off” at the idea of movie stars continuing to work on independent projects when they “know the goal is to sell them to streaming” giants. She accused her peers of “scabbing” by working on those titles — SAG-AFTRA waivers be damned.

“I got offered an indie movie. I f— said no. And so did a bunch of my friends. And now some of my friends are saying yes, and I’m really pissed. Please explain to me why I shouldn’t be angry, because people are … sacrificing their livelihood for this cause. It’s called union strong. … We should see every movie star out there striking along.”

In a follow-up video, Silverman said she met with SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, who explained the union’s justification for granting the waivers. According to Silverman, SAG-AFTRA’s position is that — by allowing certain productions to move forward under its “ideal” working conditions — the union can prove to the AMPTP that such conditions are reasonable.

After hearing the SAG-AFTRA leaders out, Silverman doubled down on her stance.

“This cause is a work stoppage,” Silverman said. “That’s our power.”

“On the other … hand, I’m so happy that at least a whole bunch of crew members are going to be able to work on narrative projects,” Silverman added, acknowledging that the waivers are “a release valve for a whole bunch of people who have been paying a … price” for the strikes.

Silverman also questioned whether all of the exempt projects are truly independent, saying some productions carry a “real stink of loophole-iness.” The Times has reached out to SAG-AFTRA for comment.

Several other high-profile productions — including “Death of a Unicorn” and “Mother Mary” from Oscar-winning studio A24 and Mel Gibson’s “Flight Risk,” which is set to be distributed by Lionsgate — have received waivers from SAG-AFTRA.

While the waivers have certainly sparked debate among SAG-AFTRA members — many of whom voiced their opinions under Silverman’s Instagram posts — Silverman stated for the record that she is “extremely comfortable agreeing to disagree” while “working together, picketing and telling the AMPTP that they can … kick rocks.”

“The truth is, we all want the same thing,” she said.

“We want a swift end to this strike. We want to get back to work having won crucial new benefits. So whichever side of this particular issue you fall on, we can’t let disagreeing on it weaken our resolve.”

Times staff writer Jonah Valdez contributed to this report.

Source link

0 Comments

Viola Davis says she is opposed

MCU

Funko officially unveiled a historic new MCU vinyl figure set that highlights the main three heroes of The Marvels. 

Marketing for The Marvels aka Captain Marvel 2 has been ramping up in the past weeks. Marvel Studios recently released a new trailer for the upcoming Brie Larson-led sequel, showcasing fresh footage and hints about the movie’s story. 

Moreover, new looks at official merchandise already made their way online, such as new Funko Pop! vinyl figures for the main characters. 

Funko Reveals Historic New Captain Marvel 2 Set 

Funko released a new The Marvels Funko Pop! set that shows Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel, Iman Vellani’s Ms. Marvel, and Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau in action. 

Funko

This new set makes history as the first non-deluxe MCU Funko Moments set that included three characters. The other Funko Moments set under the Marvel banner only have one or two heroes and/or villains. 

Interestingly, an earlier Avengers: Endgame Funko set also features three characters (Miek, Korg, and Thor), but it was labeled as a deluxe edition instead (this new Captain Marvel 2 set is a non-deluxe version). 

Thor, Miek, Korg
Funko

Here are the other MCU Funko Moments set that only feature two characters.

1.) Whiplash and Iron Man – Iron Man 2 

Whiplash, Iron Man
Funko

This Funko set recreates the memorable first encounter between Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and Whiplash from Iron Man 2. 

2.) Hulk Smashing Loki – The Avengers 

Hulk, Loki
Funko

The iconic Hulk Smash moment between the Green Goliath and Tom Hiddleston’s Loki is featured in this Funko Moments set.

3. ) Red Skull vs. Captain America – Captain America: The First Avenger

Red Skull, Captain America
Funko

Captain America’s eventful clash with Red Skull in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger is highlighted in this official Funko Moments set. 

4.) Hulkbuster vs. Hulk – Avengers: Age of Ultron

Hulk, Hulkbuster
Funko

The Science Bros. duke it out as the Hulkbuster tries to stop the Hulk’s rampage in this special Funko Moments set.

5.) Captain America vs. Thanos – Avengers: Infinity War

Thanos, Captain America
Funko

Captain America prevents Thanos from getting the last Infinity Stone in this official Funko Moments set from Avengers: Infinity War.

6.) Thor vs. Thanos – Avengers: Infinity War 

Thor, Thanos
Funko

Thor tries to go for Thanos’ head (but fails) in this special vinyl figure set from Funko.

7.) Loki & Sylvie – Loki Season 1

Loki, Sylvie
Funko

Loki and Sylvie spend a moment to reflect on their choices in this Funko vinyl figure set that features a special moment from Loki Season 1. 

8.) Scarlet Witch vs. Agatha Harkness – WandaVision

Scarlet Witch, Agatha
Funko

In this Funko Moments set taken from WandaVision, the Scarlet Witch unleashes her power against Agatha Harkness.

9.) Dr. Strange vs. Scarlet Witch – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch
Funko

A fight for the Multiverse hangs in the balance in this intense clash between Dr. Strange and the Scarlet Witch.

10.) Ant-Man 

Ant-Man
Funko

A perfect recreation of how Ant-Man uses his shrinking powers is highlighted in this official Funko vinyl figure set.

The Marvels is set to premiere in theaters on November 10.

Source link

0 Comments

DCU

There has been quite the talk of aliens due to the recent whistleblower leaks vaguely confirming their existence. At the same time, this news has undoubtedly had UFO enthusiasts and the public abuzz with speculation. Little is known about the degree of our interactions with travelers from another planet, or dimension if you want to get extra nerdy, but we want to know more and hope they come in peace.

Regardless, one thing for sure is that the interest in UFOs is higher than ever. With this in mind, we look at the best movies about UFOs, ranking up to our favorite.

15 Mars Attacks!

Warner Bros.

Mars Attacks! is far from a masterpiece, and it is the only film of Tim Burton’s that is considered a flop financially and with critics and audiences alike. This was primarily due to the disjointed nature of the movie, which felt more like a series of non-sequiturs that would rival an episode of Family Guy. However, what makes this such a fascinating UFO movie is just how much-wasted potential there is here, and the over-the-top performances from some of the greats become tragically comedic in their excess and lack of direction.

This is one of the most impressive casts ever ensembled for a comedy and includes the likes of Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Danny DeVito, Michael J. Fox, and Jack Black, to name a few. To see all these actors ham it up in a film that would live in infamy for its failure is an excellent guilty pleasure worth revisiting.

14 The McPherson Tape

The McPherson Tape
Axiom Films

Proclaimed to be the first found footage horror film, The McPherson Tape presents the home movies of a family terrorized by a UFO and alien invasion on the night of a birthday party. The 1981 film was made on a shoestring budget of $6,500, so don’t expect high quality here, but this is a gem of a movie not just for its historical significance.

Related: The Best Found Footage Movies, Ranked

This is an unsettling experience that even had people fooled into believing it was an authentic account of aliens terrorizing a family. The grittiness of the film quality also adds to the unease and the sensation of accidentally stumbling upon lost media. Still, the low budget and date may make it more of a niche pick, but if you love found footage movies and aliens, this is a great one to check out.

13 Fire in the Sky

Fire in The Sky Poster
Paramount Pictures

Based on the book The Walton Experience, Fire in the Sky recounts the claims of Travis Walton. Walton, a logger from Arizona, disappeared for two days and claimed his absence was due to being abducted by a UFO and experimented on.

Much like Walton’s story has its detractors regarding the validity of his claims, the film had similar reservations about its portrayal of an alien abduction. However, for those who believe there is alien life, the movie’s sensationalized account of Walton’s abduction adds suspense and horror to craft a frightening story of one man’s “close encounter of the fourth kind.”

12 Killer Clowns from Outer Space

Killer Clowns From Outer Space
Trans World Entertainment

If aliens exist, we don’t know what form they would take; sure, it could be your typical “greys,” but what if they took on the form of clowns? Killer Clowns from Outer Space is a wonderfully campy horror film where the UFO is a giant tent circus, and the aliens are clowns who store people in cotton candy.

This ’80s cult film is perfect if you want a more lighthearted and silly horror film to ponder the potential existence of aliens. There is a lot of love here, from the cool soundtrack (including an original theme from punk band The Dickies), the practical effects, to the nightmare-inducing design of the titular killer clowns.

11 Independence Day

Independence Day white house explosion
20th Century Fox

An unprecedented spectacle for the time, which saw the film cruise to a massive $817.4 million globally, made Independence Day the second-highest-grossing film ever at the time. Combine this with an all-star cast including Will Smith and Bill Pullman, and the sci-fi spectacle has become synonymous with alien invasion films and Independence Day celebrations.

So why so low in our ranking? While the film was a triumph of effects, the story here is pretty cookie-cutter. Moreover, while the film still impresses today, its effects are not as stunning as they once were with the passage of time and improvement in practical and special effects. Still, this is, in many ways, a quintessential UFO movie worth a re-watch or checking out for the first time.

10 The War of the Worlds (1953)

UFOs War of The Worlds (1953)
Paramount Pictures

The War of The Worlds holds an interesting place in history after rising to notoriety for scarring a large portion of the populace when the original book was read and broadcasted on the radio waves. Many thought the horrific details of the invasion were authentic, and The War of The Worlds became infamous with how it reflected the effect of media on people as well as the real fear people harbored about aliens and UFOs.

For this entry, we are looking at the original film adaptation, released in 1953, directed by Byron Haskin and starring Gene Barry and Ann Robinson. It may seem outdated by today’s standards, but at the time of release, the movie was praised for its special effects. This is a true classic in the science fiction genre that can still be enjoyed today.

9 District 9

District 9 (2009) Cast
Sony Pictures Releasing

District 9 is one of those films that appeared out of nowhere and instantly gained cult notoriety due to its unique take and the dystopian vision of alien invaders. Following Wikus van de Merwe, a bureaucrat tasked with relocating aliens to a new district, the man transforms into one of the aliens and learns more about their struggles.

While the hype around the film died down, and, in retrospect, many see it as a solid concept well done as opposed to the mindblower it was initially touted as. District 9 is still a wholly original approach toward UFOs and aliens. If you like your films ripe with social commentary, this should be on your watch list.

8 Edge of Tomorrow

Edge of Tomorrow
Warner Bros. Pictures

Groundhog Day, but with Tom Cruise fighting aliens? We’re in! Edge of Tomorrow is a fun and enthralling sci-fi action film worth checking out. And even though Edge of Tomorrow is a popcorn flick with action being the primary draw, the technology, and concepts behind the alien invaders are an exciting take within the sci-fi genre. Moreover, Tom Cruise’s evolution as a character from a despicable coward to a hero is a joy to watch, and Emily Blunt gives an equally engaging performance as a battle-hardened hero to the people.

Jodie Foster Contact
Warner Bros.

Contact may have been the less popular of two alien films in the theater, released at the same time as Men in Black, but the Jodie Foster-led film is understated in how well it explores the possibility of making contact with alien life. In addition, the film’s slow pacing focuses on science, morality, and faith in a meaningful and engaging manner.

This is a precursor to other films on the list that took a more philosophical approach to sci-fi and what encounters with alien life could entail, and how it could shape our perceptions of what it means to be human. Even if you are not into more contemplative work, Jodie Foster gives one of the best performances of her career as Dr. Ellie Arroway, an astronomer who discovers proof of alien existence.

6 Xtro

An alien creature on all fours
New Line Cinema

There will be a divisive line drawn on people who believe that Xtro deserves such a high spot on this list, but that tends to be the case with movies that find cult status years after their initial release. The story of Xtro is pretty straightforward, a man gets abducted by a UFO only to return three years later to his family, but they soon learn something is wrong.

This film excels in its experimental approach to horror, and some of the imagery here is… well, you have to watch it for yourself. But those who like a more outlandish horror experience will love the bizarre directions this one goes in. The film also spawned two sequels that are fun in their own right, though not nearly as effective. The third one even marks the film debut of Tom Hanks’ brother, Jim Hanks.

5 Nope

Nope Jean Jacket
Universal Pictures

A bit more of a clever sociopolitical commentary piece for entry into the best UFO films, though that is to be expected with Jordan Peele behind the camera. Nope drew various cinematic influences to craft its peculiar UFOs, which terrorize two horse wranglers (Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer).

One can even go as far as to say that this sci-fi allegory for exploring themes of capitalism, greed, and materialism is Peele’s most disturbing film to date. Combining this with the defined visual direction, strong performances, and engaging story makes Nope a must-watch for sci-fi fans who love unique interpretations of UFOs.

4 Arrival

Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner in Arrival (2016)
Paramount Pictures

This Amy Adams-led sci-fi drama focuses on language, exploring how we may learn to communicate with alien life. In particular, Arrival looks at how language shapes our reality and perception of what it means to be human. The movie is smart, filled with twists, and weaves many concepts throughout its runtime.

Arrival was praised critically for its thought-provoking themes, ethereal visuals, and Amy Adams’ performance as linguistics expert Dr. Louise Banks. Those who like more challenging and contemplative works should add this to your UFO watch list.

3 Annihilation

Annihilation
Paramount Pictures

While the real meaning behind Annihilation is up for debate, taking the movie at face value, this female lead feature sees a group of scientists investigating an area deemed “The Shimmer.” Traversing a landscape with alien/altered flora and fauna, the team led by Lena (Natalie Portman) pushes towards the source of the mysterious force, a UFO.

Depending on who you ask, there are no aliens, there is no UFO, and the film is more an allegory for something else. Regardless of where you stand, the visual presence of the film, the phenomenal all-female cast, and the final confrontation within the ‘alien structure’ certainly makes Annihilation worthy of high standing on this list.

2 The Thing

The Thing
Universal Pictures

John Carpenter’s masterpiece and arguably the most frightening vision of alien life committed to film, The Thing follows R.J. MacReady (Kurt Russell) and his crew as they fight off an unknown threat that mimics its victims. The catalyst for this event is a crash-landed UFO, which is further explored in the prequel film of the same title released in 2011. The practical effects of The Thing stand up to this day and are one of the most significant examples of the effectiveness of practical effects over CGI.

Related: Forgotten Sci-Fi Horror Movies That Are Worth Checking Out

While it bombed in the theaters and was considered a failure upon release, the horror fandom has embraced the movie as one of the best horror movies of the ’80s, if not of all time. This is an absolute must-watch for those interested in sci-fi horror.

1 Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Close Encounters of the third kind waiting for the mothership
Columbia Pictures

With the possibility of real UFOs, it is hard not to place a film like Close Encounters of the Third Kind at the top of the list. This thoughtful and suspenseful work by legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg is not just a fan favorite. And it has also caught the praise of other filmmakers with names like Stanley Kubrick, Edgar Wright, Bong Joon-ho, and Spike Lee, touting its recognition as one of their all-time favorites.

Following a group of people, led by blue-collar worker Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss), who attempt to contact aliens. The film utilized special effects that were groundbreaking for the time and memorable storytelling. Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a classic, and many consider it Spielberg’s best work.

Source link

0 Comments

There has been quite the talk

Comics

New images from the set of Amazon‘s upcoming Fallout TV show have shown off what appears to be the outside of a Vault Tech office.

The images, which are circulating on social media, appear to show the Vault Tech Logo outside of an office building, as well as an actor, dressed as a raider from the Fallout universe.

The Fallout series, which will be shown on Amazon Prime Video, is being produced by Kilter Films, the production company behind HBO’s Westworld.

The debut episode will be directed by Westworld co-creator and executive producer Jonathan Nolan, while Captain Marvel and Tomb Raider 2018 film co-writer Geneva Robertson-Dworet, and Silicon Valley co-executive producer Graham Wagner, have also been appointed as showrunners.

Notice: To display this embed please allow the use of Functional Cookies in Cookie Preferences.

Nolan, fellow Westworld co-creator Lisa Joy and Athena Wickham will executive produce the Fallout series for Kilter Films, along with Bethesda Game Studios game director Todd Howard and Bethesda Softworks‘ James Altman.

Bethesda first announced plans to collaborate with Amazon and Kilter Films for a Fallout TV series in July 2020.

“Fallout is one of the greatest game series of all time,” Joy and Nolan said in a joint statement at the time. “Each chapter of this insanely imaginative story has cost us countless hours we could have spent with family and friends.

“So we’re incredibly excited to partner with Todd Howard and the rest of the brilliant lunatics at Bethesda to bring this massive, subversive, and darkly funny universe to life with Amazon Studios.”