MOVIES : May 2022

Is National Treasure 3 Happening With Nicolas Cage? Jerry Bruckheimer Offers Update

Jerry Bruckheimer gives us an update regarding whether National Treasure 3 is still happening.

The Jury For Johnny Depp And Amber Heard’s Trial Returned From Deliberation With An Important Question

As the jury in the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard defamation trial has continued to deliberate, a very important distinction has come into question.

Michael B. Jordan Had A Short-But-Sweet Comment For Lori Harvey After She Went Full Disney Princess For Red Carpet Look

Michael B. Jordan dropped the perfect response when weighing on girlfriend Lori Harvey's Disney-inspired look.

Eiffel Review: A Gorgeous French Period Romance

Why would a man build the tallest structure in the world? Eiffel answers that question with an old-fashioned romance that will tug at your heartstrings. France's iconic tower gets a forbidden love story spanning decades. A brilliant engineer changes the course of architectural history through his passion for an unattainable woman. Eiffel mixes equal parts national hero with sizzling attraction. Laces are loosened and corsets fly as passionate kisses quicken pulses. Director Martin Bourboulon gets top marks for a beautifully made film that captures intimacy and grandeur.

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Someone Caught A Rare Glimpse Of Roman And Han Hanging Out Between Takes On The Fast X Set, And It's Adorable

In the middle of Fast X’s principal photography, someone shot a delightful picture of Tyrese Gibson and Sung Kang together.

Pistol Review: A Stylized Retelling of the Sex Pistols’ Story

When the punk rock band Sex Pistols stormed onto the British music scene, they forever changed the music world. Though their run only lasted from 1975 to 1978 initially, they helped kickstart the punk movement in the United Kingdom, and when they took to the stage in Manchester in 1974, they inspired an entire generation of upcoming bands. Without Sex Pistols, there would be no Joy Division or The Smiths. Their influence bleeds far and wide in contemporary punk culture, too, and many bands, including Green Day, can trace their artistic origins back to this one band.

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Kristen Stewart’s Latest Film Crimes Of The Future Has A Connection To Robert Pattinson, And Now Its Filmmaker Wants To Reunite The Twilight Stars For A Movie

Director David Cronenberg shares his experience working with the Edward and Bella Twilight actors on his own visions.

Arnold Schwarzenegger's Son Joseph Baena Did Some Pulldowns And He's Certainly A Chip Off The Old Block

Joseph Baena looks reminiscent of a young Arnold Schwarzenegger in a shared workout video.

Dune 2: An Updated Cast List, Including Timothée Chalamet

All of the new and returning stars attached to Dune: Part 2.

Jason Momoa Ate A Lot Of Food While Filming Fast X In Italy, And It Sounds Like His Dad Bod Made A Return Appearance

Jason Momoa visited historical sites, filmed Fast X and ate a lot of food while in Italy. Bring on the dad bod.

Looks Like Top Gun: Maverick Will Break A Box Office Record Set By A Big Johnny Depp Hit

Top Gun: Maverick just broke a record that's been around for more than a decade.

Someone Thought They Left A Funny Harry Potter Reference On Tom Felton's Dressing Room Door, But They Totally Got The Franchise Wrong

Harry Potter star Tom Felton got thrown into a completely different franchise with a joke on his dressing room door.

Did Paul McCartney Subtly Back Johnny Depp As The Jury Deliberates In The Amber Heard Trial?

Many fans are wondering whether Paul McCartney subtly showed some support for Johnny Depp at a recent concert.

Barbie: An Updated Cast List, Including Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling And More

The Barbie movie is bringing an absolutely top notch cast to a movie about a toy.

Top Gun: Maverick Made A Change You May Not Have Even Noticed, But Also May Be The Reason The Tom Cruise Flick Doesn't Have A Release Date In China

Top Gun: Maverick made a subtle change, which could explain why Tom Cruise's latest has yet to get a release date in China.

Elvis Draws Polarizing Reviews After Cannes Premiere, See What Critics Are Saying About The Biopic

Elvis, the upcoming biopic starring Austin Butler as the music icon, is drawing strong opinions from critics.

Ben Affleck And JLo May Be Closer To Ringing Those Wedding Bells Than We Thought

Are Ben Affleck and JLo getting married in the nearer future?

After Getting Brought Up In The Defamation Trial, Elon Musk Weighs In On What He Hopes Is Next For Johnny Depp And Amber Heard

Elon Musk weighed in on his hopes for Amber Heard and Johnny Depp after their defamation trial ends.

Brendan Fraser Is In The Middle Of A Hollywood Comeback, And Apparently There Have Even Been Talks To Make A Sequel To One Of His Classic Movies

Brendan Fraser is making a comeback with a slew of Hollywood roles, and now one of his best could get a sequel.

Ray Liotta's Fiancée Pens Loving Tribute To Him Following His Death At 67

Following his death, Ray Liotta's fiancée honored him with some sweet sentiments.

Javier Bardem Gets Candid About What Will Surprise Dune 2 Fans -- Even Those Who Have Read Frank Herbert's Books

One of Dune's big stars shared his thoughts on the forthcoming sequel ahead of filming.

How ‘First Blood’ Laps Its Populist Sequels

Ted Kotcheff’s “First Blood” (1982) begins with a simple, perfect image.

We see a long shot of John Rambo, played by Sylvester Stallone, walking down a dirt road. With his shaggy hair, heavy backpack and rumpled attire, it appears Rambo has been on foot and possibly living off the land for some time.

In this introductory scene, Rambo visits a farmhouse in search of a buddy who served with him in Vietnam. The lady who lives there informs him that Rambo’s friend is dead.

We watch the life drain from Rambo’s eyes, and what seems like a deceptively small beginning is actually a big moment for this character; we’re witnessing the last semblance of hope and humanity of Rambo and his soul is crushed upon learning his friend “died last summer.”

No matter how many rides he hitched or how long on the road it took him, it wasn’t enough. Stallone has more dialog in this scene than probably the next three Rambo installments. The opening is sad and so tough to bear – Rambo has no one, and nothing left to live for.

We then follow Rambo to the town of Hope, where’s he immediately spotted by Sheriff Teasle (Brian Dennehy). Teasle only sees a trouble-making burnout on the move and fails to make even the slightest effort to exude some compassion.

It’s the worst mistake he’ll ever make.

Teasle picks Rambo up in his car and drives him to the edge of town, instructing him to get lost. Stallone utters the key line, “Why are you pushing me?”

That’s how it starts.

The give and take between Stallone and Dennehy during the first act is crucial, and both are excellent. Rambo has done nothing wrong but, likely due to the grief he’s carrying with him, comes off as a hot head. Teasle, after all, is just doing his job by shoving Rambo out of his town, but Teasle is a jerk who deserves everything that happens next.

Teasle arrests Rambo just minutes after letting him go, as Rambo has the choice to leave Hope or, as Teasle demands, keep walking away. Rambo defiantly struts back into Hope and Teasle cuffs him and brings him to the station – you wonder if its Teasle’s or Rambo’s inability to just let it go that dooms them.

Either way, once Rambo is viciously harassed by Teasle’s lawmen at the station (one of whom is played by a very young David Caruso), it’s the beginning of the end. The more the cops beat and humiliate him, the more we see Rambo forcing himself to restrain his remarkable combat abilities. Only once the cops begin to torture Rambo does everything come to the surface.

Why am I studiously doting on the opening scenes of “First Blood”? Because when Rambo busts out of the police station (with remarkable ease, I might add), we’re off and running with him. Once “First Blood” gets into motion, it becomes one of the standout action films of its decade.

Its notable, even humorous, how Stallone despised the film’s first cut and only believed in it after a reportedly three-hour lark became a taut 90-minute ride. As we witness Rambo’s escape into the wilderness, with Teasle’s cluster of armed morons in pursuit, we realize that, the further he immerses himself into the wilderness, the more he becomes as cruel as nature itself.

Once his warrior instincts kick in, nobody in his way has a chance.

The first act concludes with another remarkable sequence, where a helicopter stalks Rambo as he struggles to keep balance on a steep cliff.

“First Blood” plays like a Jack London novel, but with trigger-happy humans standing in for wolves, or an extension of the final scene of “Easy Rider” (1969) but with the outsider in the weather-beaten jacket having the upper hand.

Eventually, the law enforcers of Hope learn that John Rambo is a Green Beret, a Congressional Medal of Honor winner, a Vietnam veteran and a war hero. The movie, like the 1972 David Morrell novel upon which it’s based, never shies away from the PTSD-plagued mentality of its protagonist.

At one point, Rambo stares at one of his dead victims – we hear queasy sound effects and sense the madness within. Neither Stallone nor the movie itself ever shy away from this. While we’re always rooting for Rambo, he’s a seriously disturbed protagonist, so much so, in fact, that it’s easy to see how the film could easily have been re-edited to make Rambo the villain and Teasle the hero.

“First Blood” isn’t perfect, as some shots reveal inconsistent weather interfering with continuity. There’s also the dialog, which is often as lean and pulpy as you’d hope, like when Rambo surprises Teasle by putting a knife to his throat in the woods and warning him, “I’ll give you a war you won’t believe. Let it go.”

Fantastic.

On the other hand, Col. Trautman, played by Richard Crenna, enters the second act as Rambo’s only remaining ally, the one who trained him and the man Teasle hopes can talk Rambo out of the woods.

Crenna’s introductory line is “God didn’t make Rambo…I did.” It’s pretty on the nose, as is Stallone’s declaring, “All I wanted was something to eat. They drew first blood…not me.”

The more the film embraces being a survivalist adventure, the more it soars. The less the characters pontificate, the better.

The strength of “First Blood” and the reason why it’s better than any of the wildly popular sequels, is that it respects and is unafraid of Rambo’s propensity for chaos in lieu of his withering humanity. The more he retaliates against the law, the more Rambo becomes a machine himself.

Rambo is like a cross between Tarzan and the shark from “Jaws.” Because the agony of the character comes across in Stallone’s performance, the film has a pathos to match its haunting character.

Like the “Lethal Weapon” franchise, which was also about a self-destructive, psychologically damaged Vietnam veteran (Mel Gibson’s Martin Riggs, who was a soldier-turned-cop), Rambo, likewise, found its troubling lead character become watered down, safer and mainstream ready with each subsequent installment.

By the time we get to “Rambo III” (1988), let alone “Rambo: Last Blood” (2019), we’re clearly on the character’s side, but with “First Blood,” it’s not easy to cheer for Rambo, who murders dozens of men and destroys an entire town.

Another thing I love about “First Blood”: it takes place over the course of 24 hours!

What does “First Blood” have to say about America? It portrays a broken system, in the guise of the American Dream and law and order, where the wounded veteran is internally damaged, truly deranged and hunted like a dog.

The corrupt idiots who chase him down are the supposed “good guys” who wear badges. Col. Trautman exists somewhere in the middle of this, as he can play the politics as well as the rigor of combat duty.

“First Blood” is rarely mentioned alongside great films about veterans struggling to find themselves after surviving Vietnam – perhaps it’s in poor taste to put “First Blood” alongside “Coming Home”(1978), “Jacknife” or “In Country” (both 1989).

Bruce Willis, Emily Lloyd, and Peggy Rea in In Country (1989) pic.twitter.com/zHyySQpgg5

— Frame Found (@framefound) May 29, 2022

Yet, despite how the brute force and crowd-pleasing nature of “First Blood” makes it an action movie above all else, it is absolutely worthy of being a part of the discussion on films depicting Vietnam.

The most amazing, if not absurd, thing about Rambo is that, after the monster success of the far-more farfetched “Rambo: First Blood Part II” (1985), the character became a movie hero on the level with Indiana Jones and James Bond.

Whereas Stallone will likely always be connected with his lovable blue-collar avatar, Rocky Balboa, Rambo actually went the distance even further in the zeitgeist. Behold the Saturday morning “Rambo and the Force of Freedom” cartoon show (!), which ran for a single season in 1986.

Not impressed? That single season consisted of 65 episodes, which is why it felt as ubiquitous in my ’80s childhood as “Transformers” and “G.I. Joe.”

There were also comic book spin-offs, video games, dozens of rip-offs (my favorite was Martin Kove’s 1987 “Steele Justice”) and countless parodies; “Weird” Al Yankovic spoofed the character in the cult classic “UHF” (1989) but so did Johnny Carson on “The Tonight Show.”

President Ronald Reagan put the character in a peculiar position, citing Rambo a number of times during speeches: the most notable arguably being when, in regard to the Beirut hostage crisis of 1985, Reagan stated, “Boy, after seeing ‘Rambo: First Blood Part II’ last night, I know what to do next time this happens.”

At another instance, Reagan later stated, “I’m reminded of a recent, very popular movie…and in the spirit of Rambo, let me tell you, we’re gonna win this time.”

Whether Reagan was only kidding, making a broad gesture to connect with younger voters or truly thought of Rambo as a symbol of American might, it gave the character a connection to politics. The character, as far as we know, is not a member of any political party, though it could be argued that Col. Trautman is the far more political figure, if only because, unlike Rambo, one could picture Trautman running for president.

Whereas Rambo’s actions in the second, third and fourth sequels suggest a one-man solution to a full bodied American military operation (albeit in the absolute realm of a full-fledged wish fulfillment macho fantasy), the protagonist in the “First” and “Last” in this series is fighting for himself and no one else.

Moreover, the anguish of Rambo in “First Blood,” in which the character is at war with his tortured psyche while giving into every skill and killer instinct, is a depiction of a true American, thrust into a true American nightmare.

Rambo is both the problem and solution of “First Blood,” the example of a man who is somehow both right to fight back and still completely wrong for retaliating against men who could never have contained him…though they should have known better than to try.

That’s why “First Blood” is still the best of these films. The blood drawn leaves an ugly stain and Rambo, perhaps a good man deep down in the ravages of his tarnished soul, terrorizes the town of Hope in all the ways that make him a brilliant soldier.

“First Blood” is messy and questions the nature of heroism and justice, which is exactly right.

The post How ‘First Blood’ Laps Its Populist Sequels appeared first on Hollywood in Toto.

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Kristen Stewart Opens About Attending Public Events And How It Feels To Have So Many Cameras On Her

Kristen Stewart talks about being a star in Hollywood and what it feels like attending public events, where tons of cameras on her.

Johnny Depp And Amber Heard Both Shared Their Side Of The Story, But What's Next In The Defamation Trial As The Jury Weighs Its Decision?

Following a six-week trial, here's what's next for Johnny Depp's defamation trial against Amber Heard, and her countersuit.

Stephen King Has Written A Surprise Sequel To One Of His Scariest Books

Stephen King has not only confirmed he's written a new novella, but that it's a sequel to one of his scarest books.

Tyrese Gibson And Ludacris Are Apparently Going All Out In The Break Room In Between Fast X Scenes

Fast X's Roman and Tej share a funny moment behind the scenes of the upcoming movie.

Kristen Stewart’s New Horror Movie Had Walkouts At Cannes, But She Had A Positive Experience Watching

Kristen Stewart had a positive reaction to her new Cannes film despite the walkouts it had.

Julia Roberts Has A Classic Publicist Comment After Joking Her New Rom-Com With George Clooney Could Be ‘Terrible’

Julia Roberts jokes that her new rom-com with George Clooney could be terrible and has a classic publicist comment.

Simu Liu Defends Henry Golding And Crazy Rich Asians Stars After Accidentally Opening Up The Door For A Casting Debate

After Simu Liu revealed that he auditioned for Crazy Rich Asians and was rejected for the role, the internet has started talking about a larger conversation.

Tom Cruise's Top Gun: Maverick Is Already Breaking Records After Its First Day In Theaters

Top Gun: Maverick has finally made its landing in theaters, and the early numbers are pretty historic.

A Witness Hit Amber Heard's Lawyer With A Sick Burn, And Johnny Depp's Lawyer Couldn't Get Enough

There was a memorable spitfire between Amber Heard's lawyer and a witness this week as Johnny Depp's defamation trial continues.

Seth Rogen Jamie Lee Curtis And More Pay Tribute To Ray Liotta After His Death

In the hours after Ray Liotta’s passing, various celebrities have paid tribute to the actor.

Tom Cruise Allegedly Made A Royal Gaffe With Kate Middleton At The Top Gun: Maverick Premiere, But Was It A Big Deal?

Top Gun: Maverick premiere supposedly sees Tom Cruise head into the danger zone concerning Kate Middleton.

See The First Look At Harrison Ford In Indiana Jones 5

Lucasfilm revealed the first look at Indiana Jones 5 at Star Wars celebration.

How Jon Hamm Feels About Being Left Out Of Top Gun: Maverick’s Shirtless Beach Football Scene

Jon Hamm had to keep his shirt on for what may be one of Top Gun: Maverick's most popular scenes.

Megan Fox Shows Off See-Through Skirt, Explains Why She Never Wears Her Hair Up In Funny Good ‘Mourning’ Post

Megan Fox looks great in see-through dress with feathers, but she has a funny explanation for why she never wears her hair up.

Prehistoric Planet Review: A Breathtaking Nature Documentary with Realistic-Looking Dinosaurs

From Jon Favreau and the producers of Planet Earth, a new nature docuseries arrives at Apple TV+. A new take on the lost world, Prehistoric Planet features narration from the legendary natural historian Sir David Attenborough. The new documentary follows several types of dinosaurs with jaw-dropping advanced CGI that’ll make you think you’re watching them in real-life. Prehistoric Planet is the first major dinosaur-focused docuseries produced by BBC since 2011’s Planet Dinosaur. It also serves as the third overall with 1999’s Walking with Dinosaurs being the first.

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Mike Myers Opens Up About Working On Wayne’s World With Dana Carvey, And The Role His Co-Star Indirectly Played In Austin Powers

Mike Myers opened up about how working on Wayne's World with Dana Darvey indirectly played in Austin Powers.

Fire in the Mountains Review: A Blistering Portrayal of Patriarchal Oppression

A rural Indian woman toils for her family while facing a brutal patriarchy and religious oppression. Fire in the Mountains tells an unsparing story of struggle without recourse. The mountainous, awe-inspiring landscape of the Himalayan setting can't shroud the daily misery of a subjugated protagonist. She's trapped in a world that depends on her back-breaking labor. A slave to the grind that never sees the light of joy, her bottled feelings erupt in a startling and troubling climax. Fire in the Mountains paints a somber picture of servitude in a place of majestic beauty.

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Johnny Depp Did Return To The Stand In Defamation Trial Against After All, But What He Was Asked About Requires A Bunch Of Backstory

Johnny Depp ended up returning to the stand against Amber Heard, and the situation just gets more complicated.

Festival Goers Reportedly Walked Out Of Kristen Stewart’s New Film During Grotesque Scenes

Cannes festival-goers walked out of Kristen Stewart’s new film during grotesque scenes.

Matthew McConaughey Speaks Out After Mass School Shooting In His Texas Hometown

Matthew McConaughey has engaged in the discourse surrounding the mass shooting that occurred in his home town of Uvalde, Texas.

Florence Pugh Calls Out Gossipers After Vacation Pics Of Her With Midsommar Co-Star Spur Dating Rumors

When Midsommar's Florence Pugh reunited with Will Poulter for a vacation in Ibiza, it sparked unfriendly chatter about the actress' love life.

After Rumors Swirled Ted Lasso Star Jason Sudeikis Might Join The DCEU, Here’s What’s Going On

We have an update on a recent casting rumor about Blue Beetle.

No Big Deal, Just The Rock Watching The Beverly Hills Cop Movies And Shouting Out Eddie Murphy’s Work

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson gave Eddie Murphy a shout-out while checking out Beverly Hills Cop.

Chris Pratt's Garfield Movie Just Added Another MCU Star In A Very Surprising Role

Another MCU star will be joining Chris Pratt in the animated Garfield movie.

How Ana De Armas, Zendaya, Chris Pine And More Had Their Names Roped Into The Amber Heard And Johnny Depp Trial

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's legal battle has now involved more celebrities.

Encanto’s Director Explains Why The Madrigals Have Gifts And Not Superpowers

According to Encanto director, The Madrigals' special abilities weren't called superpowers for a few distinct reasons.

Bam Margera Broke Some Bones Skateboarding, And Won’t Be Using Pain Meds Due To His Recent Sobriety

After reaching a rehab milestone, Bam Margera begins healing a recent bone-break with no pain meds.

Ricky Gervais Shares His Take On Chris Rock’s Jada Pinkett Smith Oscars Joke, And How He Ended Up Trending After The Will Smith Slap

Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais has thoughts about The Slap, especially after he was trending after the incident.

Jennifer Grey Details How Matthew Broderick Made Her Feel When He Thought She Wouldn't Land Iconic Dirty Dancing Role

Jennifer Grey shares how Matthew Broderick didn’t believe she would get the part in Dirty Dancing, and how he made her feel.

Pirates Of The Caribbean 6 With Johnny Depp May Not Be Happening But He’s Certainly Getting A ‘Sequel’ When It Comes To His Trial Testimony

Johnny Depp might not get another Pirates sequel, but his defamation trial against Amber Heard is ongoing.

Chris Pratt Reveals The Name Of His Second Child With Katherine Schwarzenegger While Sharing Post About Feeling ‘Grateful’

Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger have welcomed their new baby!

Bruce Willis' Wife Sweetly Shares What He Would Probably Be Doing If He Hadn't Made It Big In Hollywood

Emma Willis shares a sweet post and reveals what she believes Bruce Willis would have done if he hadn't been a big action star.

Machine Gun Kelly Shares Nude Photo And More In BTS Looks At His New Movie With Megan Fox, Good Mourning

Machine Gun Kelly offers BTS looks into Good Mourning, his new movie with Megan Fox, and his undressed physique.

Jurassic Park Stars Laura Dern And Sam Neill Open Up About Hollywood Standards And That Huge Romantic Age Gap (Good Thing They Break Up By The Third Movie)

Jurassic Park icons Laura Dern and Sam Neill got honest about the age gap that existed between their characters, who were once romantically involved.

See Fast And Furious 'Siblings' Vin Diesel And Jordana Brewster Reunite For Fast X In Hug-Filled New Video

Fast and Furious stars Vin Diesel and Jordana Brewster link up for a sweet behind-the-scenes video.

Carrie Fisher’s Daughter Billie Lourd Discusses One Of The ‘Touching’ Ways Her Wedding Honored Her Late Mother

Fresh off her recent wedding, Billie Lourd shares how she paid tribute to her mom whilst tying the knot.

Ryan Reynolds Recalls The ‘Beautiful’ Way His Brothers Protected Him From Their Father After Getting His Ear Pierced Without Permission

Ryan Reynolds recalled how his brothers had his back after he got his ear pierced without permission.

Here’s What (Almost) Saves ‘Jaws The Revenge’

The fourth and famously awful “Jaws The Revenge” (1987) turns 35 this summer, and it often comes up as one of the worst sequels ever made.

It’s actually slightly better than its atrocious reputation, offers oodles of entertainment value and even has some touches that were ahead of its time. It’s also a movie where a visibly mechanical shark roars before it attacks.

Bad Movie Aficionados, apply your sunblock, adjust your Ray Bans and watch the seas closely.

“Jaws The Revenge” begins with Shark Vision, as we have POV shots of Amity Island from both the bottom of the ocean and via an impossible vantage point.The creature would have to be standing straight up to have that perspective.

It’s not the first time the movie defies logic to absurd (and hilarious) degrees.

The opening credits end with the extreme close up of a dead fish, a visual metaphor so on the nose, I wonder if the filmmakers were hinting to the audience that they knew what the end result would be like.

This is the movie where Ellen Brody (Lorraine Gary), the widow of Roy Scheider’s Sheriff Brody, flees from Amity Island for a vacation in the Caribbean…where the shark has followed her. Yes, the exact same shark that eats one of her sons (in a wretched first act scene) is the same that swims thousands of miles to eat her, and the rest of her apparently delicious family, while on vacation.

Playing Michael, the last of the Brody boys, is Lance Guest, who’s quite good but lacks the grit to work as Scheider’s son. There’s also Mario Van Peebles and Lynn Whitfield, terrific actors stuck here playing Caribbean cliches.

I wonder if being in this was the best thing for Van Peebles, since he later gave up on character roles and took to directing the landmark “New Jack City” (1991). Van Peebles’ father, the late, great Melvin Van Peebles, has a quick cameo appearance at the midpoint.

Michael de Guzman’s screenplay sprinkles awkward dialogue throughout, though my favorite is “I’ve always wanted to make love to an angry welder…I’ve dreamed of this since I was a child.”

The line is supposed to be funny, but it’s still a bizarre piece of dialogue. By the way, the name of the boat that Ellen sails while facing the shark is called “Neptune’s Folly.” Again, were the filmmakers sending us a distress signal?

FAST FACT: The 1975 blockbusters “Jaws” earned a whopping $260 million at the U.S. box office, changing summer movies forever. The fourth film in the saga, “Jaws The Revenge,” hauled in just $20 million.

The Michael Small score is quite good, even as it tries really hard to make the classic John Williams score from the original “Jaws” sound new. For all the things about “Jaws The Revenge” that have emerged infamous, it’s the editing that is especially irritating: the scenes of human interaction are good and well-paced, but the shark attack scenes all feel, at best, like works in progress.

When the shark pounces on a victim, there’s always a quick montage of his teeth moving and it’s typically covered with blood even before it makes contact with a victim. Why? Also, the cuts during the final confrontation render the last move against the shark incomprehensible.

I still have no idea, after all these years, what happens to the shark during its final moments (an explosion? Impalement? Another mechanical shark breakdown?).

The shark appears rubbery and barely moves. A scene where the shark pulls a victim off a flotation device and starts chomping away was one that I found disturbing in my youth. Looking at it now, it’s high camp, as the actress thrashing about in the mouth of the rubber shark is doing all the work, while the shark appears low on fuel.

“Jaws The Revenge” isn’t unwatchable and certainly entertains – the scenes of Michael and Jake diving for snails and having frequent run ins with the shark are fun.

I like the trick of uncapping the air tank, in order to quickly zip away from the shark. In fact, these scenes are the basis for the enjoyable “Jaws” Nintendo game that I used to spend hours playing (and make no mistake – that game was based on this movie and not Steven Spielberg’s classic).

Also, while we’re addressing the associations this makes to late 20th century pop culture, it must be said that “Jaws The Revenge” is the least likely to feature a dance set to “You’ve Got It All” by The Jets and yet, it’s in the film.

The casting of Gary in the lead was heavily criticized as nepotism, as her husband was the head of Universal Pictures. Looking at it today, it’s a touch that was ahead of its time.

Gary playing an older, stronger and knowledgeable survivor, being empowered and brave enough to face the monster, is what “Halloween Kills” (and the forthcoming “Halloween Ends”) and “Terminator: Dark Fate,” to name a few, have utilized as the drive of their narratives.

Having Ellen Brody face the shark that has terrorized her family isn’t a bad idea, and Gary is good in this. The problem is that she’s facing a shark that has followed her from Amity to the Bahamas, because “This Time, It’s Personal,” the movie poster tagline that, unlike the film, has become a classic.

“Jaws The Revenge” had an okay opening, then quickly submerged after word of mouth kicked in. It spawned a bestselling paperback novelization, which I’ve been told fleshes out the story and even rationalizes how the shark can swim so far, in so little time, all to eat a specific victim (one word: voodoo).

I’m not defending “Jaws The Revenge” as a misunderstood classic. Nope, it’s bad and hilariously so. That said, this was far from the worst film of 1987: the Bill Cosby led “Leonard Part 6,” the Glad Bags sponsored “Million Dollar Mystery,” the cringe-inducing “Mannequin” and the punishing “Garbage Pail Kids Movie” are all from the same year and so much worse.

This is a Michael Caine master class: he’s so good in this and he really shouldn’t be, as he’s willing to literally go down with the ship alongside his co-stars.

The conviction and natural ability Caine possess as an actor is all over this. His character is named Hoagie, he is the film’s love interest and his lines are every bit as dumb as his co-stars, but Caine’s abilities as an actor elevate his work.

It’s also that Caine, even at this point, is such a pro and had been hired to act in a few clunkers. Caine infamously won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for “Hannah and Her Sisters” and couldn’t make the ceremony, because he was busy shooting this.

“Jaws The Revenge” came during that period in his career when he was making turkeys like “Beyond the Poseidon Adventure” and “The Island” right alongside “Educating Rita” and “Dressed to Kill.” It was after his second Oscar for “The Cider House Rules” where the quality of the roles and films finally became consistent.

RELATED: HiT Rewind: ‘Jaws 2’

Nevertheless, there’s much to learn about film acting from observing Caine’s commitment, professionalism, and the lived-in weight he gave to any role.

He actually has a moment here where, after evading the shark, he declares “The breath on that thing!” Acting students of all ages, watch and learn – this is what a working actor looks like, giving his all and experience to a film and role that doesn’t deserve him.

Spielberg’s “Jaws” continues to be cribbed from shamelessly and holds up brilliantly. As for this unfortunate but amusingly bad entry, I suggest we acknowledge it as a camp classic but recognize the true Jaws IV, “Deep Blue Sea” (1999), where at least the sharks look real.

The post Here’s What (Almost) Saves ‘Jaws The Revenge’ appeared first on Hollywood in Toto.

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Harry Styles Discusses What It Was Like To Be Directed By Alleged Girlfriend Olivia Wilde On Don’t Worry Darling

The "As It Was" singer met his purported girlfriend, Olivia Wilde, while filming his latest film role -- which she directs.

Sony Chief Responds To Rumors Of Will Smith's Bad Boys 4 Being Paused After Oscars Slap

Sony chief Tom Rothman has responded to the rumors that Bad Boys 4 has been paused following Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars.

Jurassic World’s Colin Trevorrow Explains Why Dominion Doesn’t Include Any Hybrid Dinosaurs

Jurassic World's Colin Trevorrow explained why Dominion doesn't include any hybrid dinosaurs compared to earlier films.

Jungle Cry Review: An Inspirational Story of Glory Against All Odds

Jungle Cry tells the remarkable true story of twelve impoverished Indian boys reaching athletic glory in the 2007 Under-14 Rugby World Cup in London. The team came from the Kalinga Institute of Social Science in Odisha, India. They were from broken homes, some orphaned, playing a game they literally started learning months before the tournament. The boys were cobbled together by headstrong coaches who dared them to be great no matter the circumstances. Their journey from distant villages separated by castes, food, and culture to rugby champions reminds that greatness can be achieved from the most unexpected places.

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More Reports Detail Johnny Depp’s Wild Spending Habits Thanks To His Defamation Trial With Amber Heard

Johnny Depp has lost millions over the years, and his former financial advisor explained why.

While Fantastic Beasts 4 Isn’t A Sure Thing, Warner Bros. Reportedly Still Looking To Move Forward With J.K. Rowling And Harry Potter's Wizarding World

Despite a lack of announcements for whether Fantastic Beasts 4, it looks like Harry Potter, Wizarding World, and J.K. Rowling-related content is still on the table.

Jason Momoa Can't Stop, Won't Stop Joining Movies, Now He Has A Universal Comedy Lined Up

The Aquaman actor just joined another movie as he films the next Fast and the Furious movie.

How Fast And Furious’ Tyrese Gibson Was Involved In Dr. Dre Losing Out On Becoming A Billionaire

Here is how Fast and Furious’ Tyrese Gibson was involved in preventing Dr. Dre from becoming a billionaire.

Johnny Depp’s Former Agent Explains Why His Career Was Suffering Prior To Amber Heard Allegations

Tracy Jacobs of ICM Partners and United Talent Agency shared her perspective on Johnny Depp's career and addiction.

Vin Diesel Shares Fast X Video With A Shirtless Jason Momoa, Because Family

Vin Diesel and Jason Momoa are ready to get fast and furious.

See Tom Cruise Get A Standing Ovation At Top Gun: Maverick’s Cannes Premiere

Tom Cruise had a big night at the Cannes Film Festival.

Emergency Review: A Night of Epic Partying Takes an Unexpected Turn

Two African-American college students and their Latino roommate find an unconscious white girl on the floor of their house. Emergency turns the raucous laughter of a fun party film into a serious commentary on social issues. The film's tone changes dramatically as the fear of false accusations leads to poor decisions. The well-written characters represent different viewpoints on race and popular culture. Emergency also works as a satire on "blackness" and the serious repercussions of binge-drinking. A second act lull picks up with a thoughtful climax.

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Johnny Depp's Lawyer Got Asked About Those Rumors She's Dating The Pirates Of The Caribbean Star

Some Johnny Depp fans are convinced he's dating lawyer Camille Vasquez.

Bill Skarsgård Is Looking Ripped In Shirtless First Look At Boy Kills World

Bill Skarsgård stars in Boy Kills World, and he’s shirtless and ripped in our first look at the upcoming movie.

Everything Everywhere All At Once Star Michelle Yeoh Revealed How She Called Out Jackie Chan After He Passed On The Role

Everything Everywhere All at Once's Michelle Yeoh revealed how she called out friend Jackie Chan after he passed on her role.

Simu Liu Teases The Barbie Movie’s Dance Sequence, And How He Landed The Role Opposite Margot Robbie

Simu Liu talks about the Barbie movie’s dance sequence and how he landed the role.

Lance Bass Deletes TikTok Mocking Amber Heard And Johnny Depp Trial Following Backlash

The former boyband member made light of Amber Heard's testimony on the social media platform.

Denzel Washington Was Totally Responsible For Major Elvis Casting In Baz Luhrmann’s New Movie (And No, Not Tom Hanks)

It wasn't Tom Hanks but Denzel Washington who was totally responsible for a major Elvis casting in Baz Luhrmann's new movie.

Dirty Dancing’s Jennifer Grey Explains Why She Refused To Do Her Iconic Lift With Patrick Swayze Until The Day It Was Filmed

Jennifer Grey discusses what is arguably the most iconic moment in Dirty Dancing.

The Bob’s Burgers Movie Has Screened, See What People Are Saying About The Animated Musical

The Bob's Burger Movie is finally almost here, and the first reactions from early screenings are in.

Lori Harvey Opens Up About How She Lost The Weight She Gained After Starting To Date Michael B. Jordan, But Fans Just Can’t Get Over Her Calling Him ‘Mike’

Lori Harvey took to TikTok to share her recent fitness journey since dating Creed star, Michael B. Jordan.

Machine Gun Kelly Reveals How A Text From Megan Fox Inspired His New Movie

Machine Gun Kelly explains how his new film Good Mourning was inspired by a text from Megan Fox.

Zendaya Shares What It’s Like To Have The ‘Love’ And ‘Support’ Of Another Person In The Hollywood Biz (In This Case Tom Holland)

Zendaya shares what it feels like to have love and support from Tom Holland.

After Jackass Forever Exit And Subsequent Lawsuit, Bam Margera Hits A Rehab Milestone

Bam Margera is finally in the news for having a good day.

10 Years Later, Check Out Channing Tatum, Matthew McConaughey And More At The Magic Mike Premiere

Flip through this gallery to see the cast of Magic Mike's iconic abs, premiere photos, and what they look like now.

The Greatest Showman 2? Hugh Jackman Responds To Chatter About A Sequel

The Greatest Showman's Hugh Jackman has responded after Michelle Williams expressed interest in a sequel.

Conversations with Friends Review: A Youthful Elegy on Personal Relationships

Irish author Sally Rooney has become the international literary world’s starlet. Rooney has only published three novels so far, but each of them has managed to become massive hits in several countries. However, her fame skyrocketed when her second novel, Normal People, was adapted for a series starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal. It was her debut novel, Conversations with Friends, that initially put her on the map, marking her as a standout writer in her generation. With her novels set in Ireland with Irish characters, a particular sense of universality can be seen in her young, female protagonists.

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Fast and Furious’ 10th Movie Is Back On Track After Landing A New Director, And Vin Diesel Has A Message About Filming For The Fans

With Fast X shifting gears with a new director, Vin Diesel has taken time out to speak to the fans about the beginning of the end.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Continues The Trend Of Making Will Smith Oscars Slap Comments At Awards Ceremonies

A month and change after the Oscars, folks are still weighing in on Will Smith slapping Chris Rock.

Harry Potter Actor Tom Felton Admits Playing Draco Malfoy Did Not Make Him Popular With The Ladies, And I Solemnly Refuse To Believe It

Tom Felton says girls didn't like the fact that he played Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter, but I'm not buying it.

Jennifer Lopez Opens Up About Balancing Work And Family Ahead Of Marriage To Ben Affleck

Ahead of her marriage to Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez talks balancing work and family life.

Jerry Bruckheimer Gets Asked If Johnny Depp Could Return For The Pirates Of The Caribbean Movie Not Starring Margot Robbie. Here’s What He Says

Jerry Bruckheimer shared thoughts on whether Johnny Depp could return for a future Pirates of the Caribbean film.

Jason Momoa Reportedly Dating After Lisa Bonet Split After Being Seen On Red Carpet Last Month

Reports allege that Jason Momoa is in a new relationship following his split from Lisa Bonet.

Machine Gun Kelly On What It Was Like To Direct Fiancée Megan Fox In His New Movie

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Jurassic World: Dominion’s Chris Pratt Clarifies Claims That The Threequel Will End The Overall Jurassic Franchise

Jurassic World: Dominion's Chris Pratt clarified those claims that the threequel will end the Jurassic franchise as a whole.

Tom Cruise Shared Sweet Photos To Celebrate Top Gun Day, One From The Original Movie And Another From Maverick

Tom Cruise took to social media to recall his nearly 40-year journey as a Top Gun star.

Dune’s Josh Brolin Reacts To His Character’s Disappearance In Part One

Dune’s Josh Brolin has given his take on his character Gurney Halleck disappearing in the latter portion of the movie.

One Reason Mean Girls Star Amanda Seyfried Is Super Happy She’s Not Over-The-Top Famous In Hollywood

Mean Girl's Amanda Seyfried revealed the one reason she is super happy she's not over-the-top famous in Hollywood.

Jurassic World: Dominion’s Jeff Goldblum On The ‘Unbelievable’ Experience Reuniting With Sam Neill And Laura Dern

Jeff Goldblum can't stop talking about his experience making Jurassic World: Dominion with his old Jurassic Park co-stars.

Mortal Kombat Writer Talks Bringing Johnny Cage In For The Sequel

Mortal Kombat 2 is coming, and fans can't wait to see Johnny Cage in live-action.

A Friday Reboot? Here’s What Chris Tucker Allegedly Said

After revealing his reason for leaving the comedy franchise, Chris Tucker may be gunning for a Friday reboot, according to an alleged conversation between him and a Wild 'N Out star.

An Original Scream Star Seemingly Confirms Their Involvement In The Upcoming Sixth Movie

Scream 6's cast is coming together, and one of the OG's is seemingly back in the game.

The Greatest Showman 2? There’s A Lovely Reason Michelle Williams Wants To Make A Sequel With Hugh Jackman

Michelle Williams reveals the sweet reason she'd like to make The Greatest Showman 2 with Hugh Jackman.

A New Jurassic World: Dominion Website Features Videos Of Dino Chaos In The Wild, And A Deep Cut Easter Egg

Fans of Jurassic World have a new website to keep them busy until Dominion comes out.

Top Gun: Maverick Review: Tom Cruise Soars in a Spectacular Sequel

Tom Cruise revisits his eighties glory in a spectacular sequel that soars. Top Gun: Maverick tells a thrilling new story while capturing the high-flying, jet-fueled spirit of the classic original. The film boldly embraces practical visual effects in an era defined by CGI and motion capture. Hearts will pound as F-18 fighters engage in mind-blowing aerial dogfights. Cue the sweet sounds of Kenny Loggins' hit "Danger Zone". Raise your expectations to the stratosphere. Top Gun: Maverick is that rare cinematic beast. It takes the best tenets of the first film and forges an electrifying new path forward.

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Amber Heard’s Sister Expected To Testify In Trial, But Heard And Johnny Depp’s Legal Teams Will Likely Want To Talk About Very Different Moments

Amber Heard's sister Whitney Henriquez could be a key witness for both teams.

‘Top Gun: Maverick’ – No Woke, Just Thrills and Nostalgia on Steroids

The 1986 smash “Top Gun” was both a movie and a pop cultural moment.

The latter mattered more, given the tenor of the times. President Ronald Reagan lived at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW D.C., and his confidence buoyed the nation. Pop hits like “Danger Zone” and “Take My Breath Away” crushed the Billboard charts, and rightly so.

The film’s star, Tom Cruise, couldn’t be more movie-star handsome or powerful within the industry — even if 1985’s “Legend” showed his commercial vulnerability.

“Top Gun” was the right movie at the right time, even if the film itself was far from great.

So where does that leave “Top Gun: Maverick?”

The oft-delayed sequel can’t replicate that Reagan-era optimism or the original’s rah-rah patriotism. This is 2022, and cheering on a straight white male military hero is problematic to the small but vocal minority that runs the culture.

Don’t tell that to Cruise.

The ageless star is in full control of his film destiny, and he clearly helped “Maverick” avoid most, if not all, of the culture war booby traps.

No hand wringing over military might or extended emasculation of its rugged hero, for starters. No lectures on America’s imperfect past or gender inequality.

And, suffice to say, “Top Gun: Maverick” isn’t woke in the slightest. It is, though, a testament to American excellence and the ability to achieve a goal no matter the odds.

How retro. How … refreshing.

Cruise is back, of course, as Pete Mitchell, far better known by his call sign, Maverick. He’s been kicking around the Navy for some time now, never rising above Captain status.

Maverick doesn’t play by the rules, in case you weren’t paying attention.

Still, he’s tasked with his most formidable assignment yet – training the latest class of Top Gun graduates to take out a nuclear enrichment facility in an unnamed country.

Yes, once again a “Top Gun” movie wages war against an unknown foe. It’s odd and oddly welcome given our tribal times.

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Maverick is no teacher, at least on paper. He’s the best of the best, a pilot without equal. That doesn’t translate to someone who pores over user manuals and lectures kids on dogfight techniques. Plus, one of the Top Gun graduates is Rooster (Miles Teller, excellent), the son of Maverick’s old buddy, Goose (Anthony Edwards), who died in “Top Gun.”

That guilt hasn’t ebbed in the past 30-plus years.

“Top Gun: Maverick” isn’t shy about tracing the ’80s-era blueprint.

The leather jacket
The signature shades
The testosterone-fueled sing-a-longs
The beach scene with tanned skin aplenty

Nor does it hold back on nostalgia, from endless photos of Goose and co. to a heartfelt reunion with Iceman (Val Kilmer). Try to hold back that lump in your throat during those sequences.

Good luck.

“Top Gun” flame Kelly McGillis didn’t make the reunion, but Jennifer Connelly capably anchors the romantic subplot as another woman from Maverick’s past. She’s strong and feisty, but she’s here to keep her old beau’s ego in check while making him a better man.

This isn’t the cocksure Maverick of yore, and that’s understandable. He’s older, and his arrogance has evolved in ways that make the character more engaging.

The cocky baton is passed to Glen Powell, the most arrogant of the new recruits. He’s a pretty boy with attitude to spare, but the film recognizes he’s not the center of attention.

It’s Cruise, grappling with his past and Rooster’s future.

Director Joseph Kosinski, who previously teamed with Cruise for the intriguing “Oblivion,” leans hard into the sequel’s IMAX possibilities. We’re treated to several flying sequences, each superior to the last. Few films are as tailor-made for summer-time viewing as “Maverick.”

There’s humor here, too, enough to puncture some of the assembled egos and give the sequel a sense of humanity. This might be a glossy blockbuster, but the potential loss of life gets sizable attention.

That “Fast & Furious” franchise should take some notes.

The man, the myth, the Maverick. #TopGun pic.twitter.com/jJ5oWw8d9S

— Top Gun (@TopGunMovie) May 11, 2022

We’re given not one but two authority figures for Maverick to torture. Ed Harris gets too little screen time in that role, with Jon Hamm taking over early as Col. Rules & Regulations.

The Top Gun graduates acquit themselves well, but the story doesn’t give any one pilot enough time to pop.

The exception? Teller’s Rooster. The talented star leans into his angst, and the tension between him and Maverick is the dramatic fuel that powers the dizzying third act.

The passage of time is never off-screen for too long, even if Cruise refuses to age. Maverick is dubbed a relic, a creature of the past by his naysayers. They’re not wrong. What Cruise’s Maverick does in this marvelous sequel is show them, and Hollywood, you never count a hero out.

HiT or Miss: “Top Gun: Maverick” is the very best kind of sequel. It embraces the source material and improves on it whenever possible. Long may Maverick fly.

The post ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ – No Woke, Just Thrills and Nostalgia on Steroids appeared first on Hollywood in Toto.

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Footage Of Ezra Miller’s Hawaii Arrest Has Arrived Online

TMZ has posted video of Ezra Miller's recent altercation with police officers in Hawaii, and Nerf guns are involved.

Scream 6's Cast Just Keeps Getting Bigger, Now Another Franchise Fan-Favorite Is Coming Back

As the next Scream movie is assembles its cast, another former cast will reprise their role.

Ben Stiller Shared A Sweet Throwback And Tribute To His Dad Jerry On The Anniversary Of His Death

Ben Stiller posted a throwback picture of his dad Jerry Stiller on the anniversary of his death.

Superbad 2: Judd Apatow Explains His Scrapped Plans For A Sequel

While Superbad 2 never happened, that didn't stop producer Judd Apatow from dreaming up some now scrapped plans for an intriguing second act.

How Excited Are People For Avatar 2? First Trailer Views Compared To Star Wars, F9 And More

Avatar 2’s first trailer has dropped online, and clearly a lot of people are excited for the sequel judging by how many views it collected.

Operation Mincemeat Review: A Love Letter to Spy Fiction on Netflix

The best spy novels are often written by spies themselves (John le Carre, Graham Greene, Ian Fleming, Joe Weisberg, and so on). This is more than just a case of the old adage 'write what you know,' because the life of a spy is inevitably intertwined with the creation of fiction itself. The best spy novelists were undoubtedly good spies because they could create false but believable schemes and stories, convincing the enemy of a meticulously crafted deception, drawing on their imagination for the use of subterfuge.

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See Everything Everywhere All At Once’s Michelle Yeoh React To Andrew Garfield Rocking The Hot Dog Fingers

Everything Everywhere All At Once Michelle Yeoh shares her reaction to Andrew Garfield’s hot dog fingers.

Mortal Kombat 2 Writer Gives Update On The Violent Sequel

Mortal Kombat 2 is coming along.

Dune 2 Set To Kick Off This Summer, But Javier Bardem And Josh Brolin Joked About Some ‘Work’ They Have To Do First

Dune 2 is set to begin filming this summer, but Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin joked with each other about something they’ll need to do before cameras start rolling.

Michelle Williams Recalls Time After Heath Ledger’s Death, And How Actor Jeremy Strong Really Stepped Up For Her Daughter Matilda

Michelle Williams reflects on how Jeremy Strong stepped in to help with her daughter after Heath Ledger's death.

The ‘Powerful’ Moment Bruce Willis Helped Craft On The Set Of One Of His Final Films

Bruce Willis helped deliver a powerful moment on the set of one of his final films.

Keanu Reeves Opens Up About Some John Wick Ideas He’s Had For The Big Screen And How They’re Finding ‘New And Interesting Ways’ To Make The Character Suffer In Chapter 4

John Wick: Chapter 4 is just sounding better for us, and much worse for John Wick.

The Offer Opening Episodes Review: A Series You Could Probably Refuse

From Paramount Television Studios, The Offer is based on Oscar-winning producer Albert S. Ruddy’s extraordinary, never-before-seen experiences of making The Godfather. The drama limited series is created and written by Oscar and Emmy-nominated writer Michael Tolkin (Escape at Dannemora, The Player) and written and executive produced by Nikki Toscano (Hunters), who serves as showrunner. Alongside Tolkin and Toscano, two-time Oscar-winner Albert S. Ruddy (Million Dollar Baby, Hogan’s Heroes), Miles Teller, Russell Rothberg, Dexter Fletcher, and Leslie Greif serve as executive producers. Dexter Fletcher (Rocketman) also directed the first two episodes of the series.

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Mary-Kate And Ashley Olsen Gave Elizabeth Olsen Great Advice At The Start Of Her Career, Reveals One Gig She’ll Always Say No To

When Elizabeth Olsen kicked off her professional acting career, her older sisters, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, helped her out in a big way, and that’s led to her continuously saying no to a specific professional gig.

The Scenes Some Of The Downton Abbey: A New Era Women Were ‘Dreading’ Filming

Out of all the emotional and intriguing things that happen in Downton Abbey: A New Era, some of the female cast were dreading one scene in particular.

The Innocents Review: Beware of the Creepy Kids

Playground children with supernatural abilities become mortal enemies at a Norwegian apartment complex. The Innocents shows how unchecked power in immature hands can lead to devastating outcomes. What begins as a curious exploration takes a sinister and murderous turn. The Innocents adds a Lord of the Flies sensibility to a horror film. The endearing qualities of youth are easily corrupted by bad intentions. Cruelty runs amok in the absence of supervision. Its slow-burn approach fills you with uneasiness and dread. Many questions are left unanswered in a tense climax.

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Awards Host Richard Ayoade Makes Slap Joke To Loud Laughs Just A Few Weeks After Will Smith’s Oscars Snafu

While hosting an award show, comedian Richard Ayoade made a joke about Will Smith's Oscars slap.

Candy Review: Until Death Do Us Apart

What justifies the idea of murdering someone? What if it is one of your closest friends? For Candy Montgomery, a suburban housewife in Wylie, Texas, even her good friend is fair game if the reasoning is enough. Montgomery, thirty years old at the time of the incident, was married with two children when she began an affair with her best friend’s husband. One day, when the best friend’s husband is out of town, she confronted Candy with evidence of the affair, leading to the two women struggling over an ax. What ensued was a brutal rage that left the friend dead and almost unrecognizable due to the amount of damage done.

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Men Reviews Are Online, And Critics Have A Lot To Say About The Body Horror In The A24 Movie

Reviews of Alex Garland's Men are online, and there are a lot of opinions about the film's use of body horror.

Harry Potter’s Tom Felton Explains How He Landed The Role Of Draco Malfoy As A ’Snotty’ Kid

Harry Potter star Tom Felton reflects on what he thinks won him the role of Draco Malfoy.

Amber Heard Says Johnny Depp Thought She Was Having An Affair With One Of His Fantastic Beast Co-Stars

Amber Heard has taken the stand against Johnny Depp, and now a Fantastic Beasts star is involved.

Bryce Dallas Howard Shares Footage From Her Sister's Wedding, Along With Fun Advice Dad Ron Howard Gave

Bryce Dallas Howard shares footage of her sister’s wedding as well as her father, Ron Howard,’s advice.

Jennifer Lopez Celebrates Mother’s Day With Cute Throwback Video Of Her And Ben Affleck

Jennifer Lopez found a sweet way to pay tribute to pay tribute to all of the moms on Mother's Day.

Happy Mother’s Day, Blake Lively! Ryan Reynolds Gets Candid About How His Wife And Partner Keeps Him On Track In Lovely Interview Moment

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Arnold Schwarzenegger Pays Loving Tribute To Longtime Trainer After His Death

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Someone Farted On The Stand During Johnny Depp And Amber Heard’s Trial, And There’s Video

A witness farted during her testimony at the Johnny Depp, Amber Heard trial, and it was quite loud.

‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ Is Worth the Hype (And Then Some)

“Everything Everywhere All At Once” is incredible, the kind of film that will definitely inspire an affectionate cult following down the road, but don’t wait for that to transpire.

See this now, immediately. Here is a film so special, sporting filmmaking, performances, screenwriting and editing of such a high caliber, it feels like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Michelle Yeoh stars as Evelyn, an unhappy and business-minded owner of a laundromat. Evelyn and her husband, Waymond (Ke Huy Quan) are summoned to a meeting with an IRS inspector, played by Jamie Lee Curtis. What I’ve just described is the most “normal” portion of the movie, as everything that follows is a brisk trip down a rabbit hole.

Written and directed by Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, this is somehow a personal, deeply felt depiction of the pains within a family dynamic. It’s also a head spinning sci-fi tale that must have been as difficult to write as it was to explain to the cast and crew.

The trailer makes the film look strange, and that word doesn’t even begin to describe this, one of the craziest works to ever get a wide release. The film is so bizarre, it will prove challenging to some. There are numerous scenes that seem to dip into camp or knowing kitsch, but the filmmakers haven’t made a dopey work of style over substance.

In fact, while there are lots of juvenile gags, the screenplay will frequently circle back to them and invest them with poignance that wasn’t there initially.

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Perhaps the one-sentence pitch to describe this is, “What if Charlie Kaufman wrote The Matrix?”

Nevertheless, that fails to describe the energy and (probably the most miraculous aspect of it) the tone, which astonishes by being so flexible yet consistent. As a comedy, it embraces brazen wackiness, madness and surrealism. When it turns dramatic, it remains potent and never turns mawkish.

Truly, the editing is jaw dropping and must have been a grinding, all-hands-on-deck experience, akin to the cutting of Oliver Stone’s “JFK.” There’s so much footage here, so many different story threads happening concurrently, and complex scenes that could have become a blur of chaos in the initial assemblage of footage.

Not only is this coherent, but easily some of the most exhilarating cinema in ages; this is true even when there are no action sequences.

The humor is at the level of the intellectual goals, getting the basic joys and agonies of existence (we’re told “nothing matters,” which has more than one meaning). Here is a film that is impossible to get ahead of. You cannot predict where it’s going, even as the character dynamics are established in the first scene.

Yeoh gives one of the best performances of the year, investing real feeling and emotional authenticity, even when the story gets wacky and challenges her with demanding physical requirements.

Matching her beat for beat is Quan, best known for his supporting turns in “The Goonies” and “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” What Quan achieves here is difficult, as he’s not just playing dual roles but investing both heart and vulnerability into the film’s most enduring figure.

Playing Evelyn’s daughter is Stephanie Hsu who, like Quan, is doing remarkable work but making it look so natural. Curtis excels in a rare character turn and is put through the ringer, playing a layered figure every bit as hard to pull off as the roles assigned her co-stars.

This clip of Michelle Yeoh tearing up describing her emotions when she read the script for EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE is a perfect encapsulation of why the movie works so well. The passion of it shines through. (clip starts at 17:20) https://t.co/uWzEbkIqao

— Noam Blum (@neontaster) May 7, 2022

This is a fearless work, disinterested in holding our hand and merely entertaining us. Instead, on a scene-to-scene basis, we’re frequently ripped from our comfort zone and presented with something so unorthodox and risky, it reminded me of the first time I saw “The Matrix,” “Donnie Darko” and “Being John Malkovich.”

However, the ample spectacle never drowns out the moving center, as this is a film of family, hard-won love between couples and finding calm in the midst of existential dread. Two sequences, one involving a couple of rocks, as well as an extended gag with a raccoon, are remarkable in the way they initially get big laughs, but develop into surprisingly touching reflections on human connection.

Describing “Everything Everywhere All At Once” is to use adjectives that could apply to 10 different movies, but here goes: the film is shocking, hilarious and exciting. It made me laugh like a hyena, but it also made me cry just as hard, too.

I cried a lot during the third act, mostly because of the humanity Quan finds in his character, which, at one point, Evelyn (and the film) takes a dismissive attitude towards, before once again circling back around and finding another angle to consider. This movie loves its characters and I love movies that do that.

I doubt I’ll see a better film this year but if I do, then 2022 will turn out to be a great year for cinema.

Five Stars

The post ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ Is Worth the Hype (And Then Some) appeared first on Hollywood in Toto.

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After's Anna Todd Talks Adapting Tessa And Hardin’s Sex Scenes Into New Graphic Novel, And One Moment That Was Missing From The Movie

Anna Todd spoke with CinemaBlend about adapting her bestselling romance.

Mean Girls’ Amanda Seyfried Opens Up About How Playing Karen Led To Setbacks In Her Career

Mean Girls was huge for Amanda Seyfried, but apparently it took some work on her part to keep her career on track after the iconic film.

Like Matthew McConaughey's Family, James Van Der Beek Opens Up About Why Leaving Hollywood Was The Right Decision

Like Matthew McConaughey and other celebs before him, James Van Der Beek left Hollywood with his family.

Along For the Ride Review: Style Over Substance in Sweet Netflix Romance

There's been an interesting shift in teen and young adult romance films and rom-coms recently. For a while, these movies have been obsessed with unrequited love and often correlate young love with death in a frankly bizarre way; The Fault in Our Stars, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Midnight Sun, Five Feet Apart, Everything Everything, The Notebook, The Last Song, and A Walk to Remember is just a cursory glance at these terminal romance flicks. There's something subtly nefarious about these movies, with Justine Smith astutely commenting for The National Post:

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While The Wait For Crazy Rich Asians 2 Continues, Now A Spinoff Is Also On The Way

Crazy Rich Asians 2 remains in development, and now word’s come in that there’s a spinoff in the works too.

A Bill & Ted Landmark Is About To Close, And Alex Winter Had A Bittersweet Reaction To This Most Heinous Occasion

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The Staircase Review: Was It Murder, Or An Accident?

On an unassuming street in the historic district of Forest Hills, Durham, California, Kathleen Peterson is found unconscious at the foot of her home’s staircase. The year is 2001, and it is only fifteen days before Christmas. She is forty-eight years old and is announced dead on arrival, but her family, and her husband, insist that it was an accident and not a murder. Her husband is the American novelist Michael Peterson, best known for his works based on his time in Vietnam, where he worked with the US Department of Defense.

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Everything Everywhere All At Once’s Jamie Lee Curtis Is Getting Competitive With Doctor Strange 2, So Bring On The Multiversal Rivalry

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Mike Myers’ Reveals Why His Kids Don’t Like Shrek (But Do They Love Parfait?)

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Watch Jurassic World: Dominion’s Chris Pratt Teach Sam Neill His Signature Raptor Move

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Could ‘2000 Mules’ Change the 2020 Election Narrative?

Dinesh D’Souza’s brand is easy to spot after five successful features.

His documentaries are conservative op-eds, brimming with fiery attacks on progressive leaders and principles. Critics pounced, and seized, on them, revealing their liberal biases in the process.

Still, a D’Souza film had a distinct feel, recognizable to those on both sides of the ideological aisle.

“2000 Mules” is different, radically so in almost every way except one. You’ll never hear the arguments made in the film in the media or other traditional ecosystems.

Except you should. And, if the film has the impact it deserves, that might very well change.

D’Souza is once again front and center, but this time he’s taking on a topic that can get someone banned by Big Tech – questioning the 2020 election results.

We’re allowed to doubt what went down in 2016, but cultural enforcers insist that can’t be applied to the Trump/Biden battle. And, to be fair, Team Trump did a lousy job of stating their case in the weeks following Joe Biden’s eventual victory.

The film opens with D’Souza and radio stars from the Salem Media galaxy – think Dennis Prager, Sebastian Gorka and more – acknowledging that reality. They’re also torn on whether they believe Democrats cheated to drag Biden over the finish line.

“I’m agnostic,” Prager says. The conversation is uncomfortable and raw.

D’Souza then introduces us to True the Vote, a group dating back to 2009 that fights for election integrity. They’ve investigated the 2020 presidential results in a way previous generations couldn’t. They examined the geotracking footprints of people around ballot boxes in swing states to learn their behaviors during the critical weeks prior to Election Day.

And True the Vote smelled a rat.

“2000 Mules” methodically lets the group share their findings, and it’s like watching a “Friday the 13th” sequel in harrowing slow motion.

Is this our country?

Geotracking data, gleaned from cell phones, showed the movement of people dubbed “mules” who deposited ballots in boxes in critical parts of the country. Think the Atlanta neighborhood in Georgia, for example.

This isn’t a Joe or Jane dropping off their parents’ or neighbors’ ballots. These are people with a fistful of ballots, sneakily depositing them at all hours of the day.

The data tracks these individuals, showing how their patterns raise alarm. These mules repeatedly drove to (presumably liberal) nonprofit organizations over short bursts of time while also visiting ballot drop-off locations.

Over and again.

Suspicious. But “2000 Mules” has more. True the Vote also obtained video surveillance footage from select ballot box locations. Some mules wore blue surgical gloves while dropping off the ballots, instantly removing them once the deed was done.

Others took pictures of themselves to prove they visited the boxes in question.

Who does that?

More questions remain. Did money change hands? Who goes to ballot drop boxes in the middle of the night, with or without gloves? And why did so many ballot box locations lack video footage in the first place?

‘2000 Mules’ and Election Fraud in 2020 (Podcast) https://t.co/R0kM4mbTlG

— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 2, 2022

D’Souza’s approach here is cautious, an Everyman learning about these findings along with us. The material demands nothing less, and D’Souza respects the process.

“2000 Mules” makes a convincing case in very short order, but the filmmakers have other anecdotal evidence that adds to the sense of unease.

Could this be true? What happens next? We’re already seeing some movement in Georgia on the issue, but the details here deserve much more than that.

Can this documentary be debunked? Are there other, credible explanations for what we see in the film?

The narrative in “2000 Mules” would rock the nation if confirmed. For that reason alone this chilling documentary should be taken seriously. It also cannot be the end of the story. Let legitimate critics have a whack at the details gathered here, not just partisans eager to slam anything with D’Souza’s name attached.

If the methods exposed by Team D’Souza aren’t stopped, who’s to say the 2022 elections, or beyond, won’t be compromised?

HiT or Miss: “2000 Mules” may be the most important documentary of the year, if not the decade. That’s not hyperbole.

The post Could ‘2000 Mules’ Change the 2020 Election Narrative? appeared first on Hollywood in Toto.

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