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Chris Pratt’s rise from his TV break-out role as Andy Dwyer in NBC’s hit sitcom Parks and Recreation, to a bankable Hollywood action star is quite inspiring.

With his effortless wit and not-so-effortless weight loss, the actor has now become a Hollywood staple featuring in some of the biggest movies ever.

Chris Pratt in The Magnificent Seven | image: Columbia Pictures

Whether it’s voicing Mario or reprising his role as Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy movies, Chris Pratt has proven time and again that he’s a huge box office draw. So today, let’s take a look at 7 movies from the star, through genres like comedy, action, and thriller, because Pratt has left no stone unturned.

7. Onward (2020) IMDb rating Genre Character Streaming7.4/10Animation, comedy, family, fantasyBarley LightfootDisney

If you haven’t watched Onward yet, you’re undoubtedly missing out on one of Pixar’s most heartfelt adventures.

Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks notably worked together in 1993’s Philadelphia, an award-winning film that advanced their careers as well as proved their chemistry. It’s no wonder why they both earned such massive recognition from starring in the film; the heavy-weight plot and their compelling characters played a huge part.

Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks in Philadelphia / Credits: TriStar Pictures

Washington holds his former costar in high regard, and he admitted enjoying the time he worked with Hanks in the movie. Both actors of intense caliber proved that talent goes a long way as long as one does the hard work.

Denzel Washington spoke highly of Chris Pratt after working with him

With five decades of acting experience, Denzel Washington has met several actors from all walks of life, but it took him quite a long time to find someone of the same measure as Tom Hanks. After starring...

Exclusive: Sony’s President of Domestic Distribution Adrian Smith is retiring after a 35-year run at the studio.

Taking over for Smith is Adam Bergerman who is being upped to President of Distribution.

Smith was named to the post in January 2013. Following the retirement of longtime Worldwide Distribution President Rory Bruer in April 2017, global duties were separated with Smith on domestic, and Steven O’Dell overseeing International.

Smith was key in the release of 1,025 films across all Sony labels, 202 of them No. 1 titles. His fingerprints are all over the successful revivals of the Bad Boys franchise, the animated Spider-Verse films, Ghostbusters, the Venom $1 billion+ series as well as the Tom Holland-starring Spider-Man movies which have minted close to $4B alone. The release of 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home stands as the 7th highest grossing movie of all-time, the best ever for Sony, with $1.95 billion worldwide and $814.8M domestic.

Bergerman is a 28-year Sony vet,...

While classic Western movies may no longer be as popular as they were during their peak throughout the 1940s to the 1960s, it's incredible how the genre's style has been infused into countless non-Western movies. As classic tales of heroes and outlaws pervade cinema, it’s fascinating to note just how many things would not exist without the influence of classic Westerns. While some movies wear this influence on their sleeves, it’s a much more subtle comparison in other films.

It’s no surprise that Westerns have had a major impact on other genres, as some of the best filmmakers of all time grew up watching cowboys and bandits and have taken those tropes and cliches into their own work. From cult classics that cannot fit into any one genre to major franchises that echo the aesthetics of Westerns, the desert landscape of the Wild West and the individualistic...

Exclusive: Carly Chaikin (Mr. Robot), Douglas Smith (Big Little Lies), Sean Bridgers (The Magnificent Seven), ajd Chloe Guidry (Under the Bridge) are set to topline Red Camellia, an indie murder mystery from director Tamlin Hall (Holden On), who wrote the script with Spencer Ballou (Late Night). Jam Murphy (Through the Modern Looking Glass) will also feature in the cast.

Marking Hall’s follow-up to the football drama Holden On, starring Matthew Fahey, Red Camellia follows a small-town waitress (Chaikin) who seeks to exonerate her brother (Smith) with a traumatic brain injury when he is arrested for the murder of a small-town sheriff’s (Bridgers) daughter (Guidry).

Max Neace, Kevin Human (Chief of Station), and Nate Lipp (YouTopia) are producing, with production underway in Kentucky.

Perhaps best known for starring opposite Rami Malek on USA Network’s Mr. Robot, Chaikin prior to that starred in ABC’s sitcom Suburgatory,...

In a highly competitive situation, a series based on the life of notorious mobster Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano has landed at FX for development, Variety has learned exclusively from sources.

Terence Winter is attached to write the series with Antoine Fuqua onboard to direct, with both also set to executive produce. Nicholas Pileggi, Aaron Kaplan of Kapital Entertainment, Billy Malone, J.J. Sacha, and Scott Greenberg and Rick Yorn of Lbi Entertainment will also executive produce. FX Productions will produce along with Kapital Entertainment. Kevin Marco will oversee the project on behalf of Kapital.

FX declined to comment.

Gravano was previously a made member of the Gambino Family, one of the Five Families of the New York Mafia. He allegedly began his life of organized crime in the 1960s, becoming involved in crimes like racketeering, hijacking, and larceny as well as murder. He was later closely associated with eventual Gambino...

The Magnificent Seven was truly one of the best Western films ever made, and it’s surely left plenty of viewers looking for more team-up movies that scratch the same itch. While the original film, which was based on Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 Japanese classic The Seven Samurai, had a unique appeal, plenty more Western releases recapture the magic of John Sturges’ 1960 film. Although the excitement of witnessing the likes of Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen sharing the screen was a tough act to follow, the history of Western cinema boasts endless classic releases.

Many of the best Westerns ever made echo the appeal of The Magnificent Seven and feature outlaws reluctantly teaming up or lawmen forced to come together to achieve a common goal. While these were classic topics for Westerns from times past, some of the best directors working today have also tried their hands at telling stories of bandits,...

In 1960, one of the greatest Westerns of all time, The Magnificent Seven, premiered in theaters, yet many don't realize the movie is the first in a franchise of underrated Westerns. The Magnificent Seven is directed by John Sturges and based on the 1954 Akira Kurosawa movie, Seven Samurai. The film centers on a Mexican village being terrorized by a man named Calvera and his team of cruel outlaws. As a result, the villagers hire seven American gunslingers to protect them. The cowboys not only teach the villagers to protect themselves, but take down Calvera once and for all.

Though it may seem surprising now, upon its release, The Magnificent Seven was something of a failure. It did poorly at the box office in the United States and Canada, and only made a profit due to success in Europe and Asia. Furthermore, reviews were mixed. While some praised The Magnificent Seven for its high-energy first half,...

"Seven Samurai" by master Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa might just be the most remade film ever. The 1954 film is, sure enough, about seven samurai recruited to protect a farming village from bandits. The setting, themes, and characters are Japanese, but the premise is evergreen. "The Magnificent Seven" is just "Seven Samurai" but with cowboys. "A Bug's Life" retold the story with, well, bugs. "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" episode "Bounty Hunters" recruits the seven from Jedi Knights and alien mercenaries. 

"Star Wars" creator George Lucas is a well-known fan of Kurosawa. (Lucas even helped him finance his 1980 epic "Kagemusha.") The galaxy far, far away isn't the only space franchise that can riff on "Seven Samurai" though. "Star Trek: Enterprise" aped the premise for its season 2 episode, "Marauders."

First, though, why are Kurosawa's films so often remade in spirit (besides them being so good)? One reason is ease of translation. Kurosawa...

Vincent D’Onofrio’s impressive repertoire is dotted with many lauded roles, but one iconic performance continues to overpower the rest in the hearts of fans: his chilling portrayal as Wilson Fisk, aka the formidable Kingpin, in the Marvel Universe. But as commendable as his performance was, the actor had to actually go to extremes to pull his physical appearance off.

Vincent D’Onofrio as Kingpin. | Credits: Echo / Disney+

As surprising as it may seem, D’Onofrio previously had to put on an ungodly amount of weight to bring his MCU supervillain to life in Daredevil, which even messed with his other projects. However, times have changed now, and the Fisk portrayer no longer has to work to reshape his body for the role, all thanks to the neat fatsuit-prosthetic tricks pulled off by Marvel.

Vincent D’Onofrio Originally Had to Put on Weight for Daredevil

Around a decade ago, D’Onofrio,...

Josh Brolin recalls the time he got into an intense confrontation with Denzel Washington on the set of Ridley Scotts 2007 crime thriller. Brolin has been in his fair share of scrapes on the big screen, from Thanos epic CGI-rendered battles against the Avengers, to Llewelyn Moss desperate cat-and-mouse game with Anton Chigurh in No Country For Old Men, to Cables outrageous comic book fights in Deadpool 2.

For his own part, Brolin's one-time co-star Washington has also often flashed the grittier and more combative side of his on-screen persona. He won one of his two Academy Awards for playing the street-wise, corrupt, and incredibly belligerent Alonzo Harris in Training Day. He played a literal fighter in the biopic The Hurricane, and later portrayed a Wild West gunslinger in the remake of The Magnificent Seven. But nowhere is Washingtons steely fortitude and way with violence more in evidence than in the ongoing Equalizer franchise,...

Denzel Hayes Washington Jr., or Denzel Washington, began his career in the 70s with television. Slowly, he moved into films and created a name for himself. Since then, he has come a long way in the show business. Now, he is all over the news for his new movie, Gladiator II.

Denzel Washington in The Equalizer 3 | Credits: Sony Pictures Entertainment

Washington not only earned popularity with his amazing acting skills, but has also done a fair share of directing and producing movies like Antwone Fisher and Fences. The actor has won two Academy Awards, two Golden Globes, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Tony Award so far. But there’s more to it. Here are ten little-known facts about him!

1. Denzel Washington had strict restrictions at home Denzel Washington in Flight | Credits: Paramount Pictures

Denzel Washington never had a liberal family. Even though he made his name in the acting industry,...

Exclusive: Actress, writer, and producer Haley Bennett has signed with UTA for representation.

Bennett made her film debut in the 2007 romantic comedy Music and Lyrics opposite Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore. Most recently, coming on the heels of her appearance in Lionsgate action-comedy Borderlands (released August 2024), Bennett starred in Samir Oliveros’ feature The Luckiest Man in America opposite Paul Walter Hauser, which premiered at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival and was quickly acquired by IFC and Sapan Studios.

Up next for Bennett is the Apple TV+ series The Last Frontier, where she stars alongside Jason Clarke. Directed by Sam Hargrave and John Curran, the series recently wrapped production and is set to premiere in March 2025. She is also co-writing a film titled After Midnight with Marteinn Thorsson, with David Cronenberg attached as co-producer.

Previously, Bennett starred in Fox Searchlight’s Magazine Dreams, which won the US Dramatic Special...

Yellowstone’s landscape has changed forever with the death of the main character, John Dutton, and fans are not happy with the new view of the ranch.

Yellowstone’s patriarch, John Dutton, played by veteran actor Kevin Costner, died a gruesome death that has been labeled suicide in Season 5b, episode 9.

John’s death would happen eventually because of the sad fact that no one cheats death, but because of a dispute between Kevin Costner and the show, the death occurred prematurely.

It makes sense that a big star the size of Kevin Costner would want to greenlight his project; in this case, it was Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1.

Unfortunately, the Yellowstone filming schedule could not accommodate Kevin’s dream, and now, with John Dutton’s death, the fans are paying the price.

As Monsters and Critics have reported, fans desperately want John to remain alive and have even...

Denzel Washington's talk of retirement may have just permanently ruled out The Equalizer 4. It's shocking to think that before the second entry of The Equalizer movie franchise, Washington had never appeared in a sequel. Of course, it helps that the concept loaned itself to other standalone stories, where Denzel's vigilante McCall rights the wrongs that the law can't (or won't). The Equalizer 3's ending saw McCall retire to a quiet little Italian town, seemingly leaving his equalizing days behind for good.

Regardless of the film wrapping up McCall's story and giving the character a shot to live in peace, there was still hope for a potential Equalizer 4. The character is still alive, and so long as a good concept is found, there's no reason to think the series couldn't run for another sequel or two. Ultimately, it feels there is a lack of desire on Washington's part for more,...

Prime Video’s November programming will dip its toe into Christmas and other holiday offerings such as The Holiday (2006) starring Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz and Jack Black. The streamer will also add some films with sequels arriving in theaters this month, like Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) and Ridley Scott’s 1992 film Gladiator.

For the full list of Prime Video programming in November 2024, see below.

Related: New On Netflix For November 2024: Movies, TV Shows and More

Nov. 1

Movies:

12 Days of Christmas Eve (2004) 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up (1995) 50 To 1 (2014) A Knight’s Tale (2001) Absolute Deception (2013) Across The Universe (2007) Agent Cody Banks (2003) Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (2004) Airplane II: The Sequel (1982) Airplane! (1980) All Saints (2017) Almost Christmas (2016) Anacondas: The Hunt For The Blood Orchid (2004) Anger Management (2003) Apache (1954) Bad Company (2002) Battlefield Earth (2000) Battleship (2012) Big Night (1996) Blizzard (2003) Blown Away (1993) Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius (2004) Boomerang (1992) Bucky Larson Born To Be A Star (2011) Carrie...

Premiere Entertainment Group (Peg) has reported brisk sales at last week’s AFM on the crime thriller Desert Dawn starring Kellan Lutz and Cam Gigandet from Twilight.

Deals have closed in Australia & New Zealand (Rialto), Latin America (A2), Germany (Tiberius), Spain (Flins y Piniculas), France (Program Store), Benelux (Amazon), Eastern Europe (Daro), Russia/Cis (Filmster), Middle East (Eagle Films), Taiwan (Av Jet), and India and airlines (Pictureworks).

Desert Dawn centres on a new small-town sheriff (Lutz) and his resentful deputy (Gigandet) who get entangled in a web of lies and corruption involving shady businessmen and a cartel while investigating the murder of a mysterious woman.

Lee Van Cleef was truly one of the greatest stars of his era, with a filmography that included some of the best Western movies of all time. With over 170 film and television roles, Van Cleef was particularly known for his leading and supporting roles in acclaimed spaghetti Westerns and his performances opposite stars like Gary Cooper, John Wayne, and Clint Eastwood. With a talent for playing no-nonsense tough guy bandits, Van Cleef had a sinister screen presence that made him a truly compelling villain.

From Western team-ups with iconic stars to truly spectacular Western sequels, Van Cleefs time in the cinematic Wild West was well spent. While some of Van Cleefs best Westerns featured him as the lead, he often also took a backseat to play highly memorable supporting characters who helped elevate these movies to now legendary status. A true icon of the Western genre, Van Cleef should be...

Exclusive: Premiere Entertainment Group has licensed rights to action crime-thriller Desert Dawn starring Kellan Lutz and Cam Gigandet to Saban Films for North America and UK.

pic follows a newly appointed small-town sheriff (Lutz) and his begrudging deputy (Gigandet) who get tangled up in a web of lies and corruption involving shady businessmen and the cartel while investigating the murder of a mysterious woman.

Chad Michael Collins, Helena Haro, Texas Battle, Guillermo Iván and Niko Foster round out the key cast.

Marty Murray directed the film from an original screenplay by Chad Law and Johnny Walters. The film is produced by Elias Axume for Premiere Entertainment and Al Bravo for Al Bravo Films alongside HemDee Kiwanuka.

Desert Dawn reunites Lutz and Gigandet for the first time since the Twilight franchise. Lutz has gone on to star in films such as The Legend of Hercules, The Expendables 3, and Immortals. Gigandet...

Does anyone else remember Project Greenlight? The Ben Affleck and Matt Damon-produced show about giving amateur filmmakers a chance to make a feature-length film with “studio” resources? In its third (and final) season, they would focus on the horror genre, delivering the high energy and quite bonkers, Feast. While it’s sequels are considerably more Grindhouse, there’s still a lot of charm with that first film and a lot of that has to do with director, John Gulager. On the show, Gulager always came across as a bit eccentric. Son of actor Clu Gulager, it’s always been evident that John has a great knowledge of the world of cinema. So it’s not surprising to see him remix the story of the Seven Samurai/The Magnificent Seven into one with zombies and the supernatural. And the humor allows Seven Cemeteries to switch things up just enough.

Talking...

Netflixs The Lincoln Lawyer takes a new look at the characters that have already appeared in book. The hit legal drama adapts the books by Michael Connelly. Season 1 is based primarily on Michael Connelly's The Brass Verdict, season 2 adapts The Fifth Witness, and season 3 follows the story of The Gods of Guilt. Netflixs The Lincoln Lawyer adaptation features major book characters, and some new figures have been thrown into the mix. At the center, The Lincoln Lawyer show follows criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller Jr. who re-enters the legal profession after recovering from a substance use disorder.

With the help of his two ex-wives, Mickey juggles multiple new cases, including the high-profile murder trial involving Trevor Elliot in season 1, a wealthy video game designer; Lisa Trammel in season 2, a restaurateur accused of killing a powerful business executive; and Julian La Cosse in season 3, a sex work facilitator accused of killing Glory Days.

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60 years ago this September, Clint Eastwood's Man With No Name stepped on screen for the first time in Sergio Leone's "A Fistful of Dollars." It would be a few more years until the low-budget Spaghetti Western made it to America, but the actor's star power and the director's talents were instantly recognizable for early adopters – even if critics took longer to get on board. By the time Leone had released two more Eastwood-led films, rounding out what became known as the Dollars Trilogy, Eastwood's narrowed eyes and steely attitude had become a fundamental image of the movie cowboy.

The Dollars trilogy, which continued with "For A Few Dollars More" and concluded in 1966 with "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly," is now celebrated as one of the best on-screen Western sagas of all time. The genre would...

It is a piece of public knowledge that the Japanese master filmmaker Akira Kurosawa inspired the Hollywood filmmakers from John Sturges to George Lucas whose original “Star Wars” (1977) was “The Hidden Fortress” (1957) in space. Just as well, Kurosawa himself was inspired by the literature coming from the West, from Shakespeare to the Russian classics, and a lot of his work is based on their writings.

Once again, the western world comes back as an inspiration for a Japanese filmmaker, but this time in the form of Kevin Costner‘s “Dances with Wolves” (1990) which got a Japanese “reading” from the scriptwriter Masaya Ozaki and the director Hiroyuki Nakao with “Sisam”. After the national premiere in mid-September, the film was selected for Hawaii International Film Festival where it has the international premiere.

Sisam is screening at Hawai’i International Film Festival

Hokaido, Edo period. The Matsumae clan prospers from the trade with the indigenous Ainu people.

Almost twenty years ago, viewers of the Project Greenlight reality TV series got to watch as John Gulager was hired to direct the creature feature Feast for a producing team that included Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Wes Craven. Feast went over well enough that Gulager was brought back to helm back-to-back sequels, Feast II: Sloppy Seconds and Feast III: The Happy Finish. Since then, he has gone on to direct Piranha 3Dd, Zombie Night, and Children of the Corn: Runaway. His latest movie is the action thriller Seven Cemeteries, which was just given a theatrical and digital release today, October 11th, and on Amazon it’s available to rent for the price of $6.99 or purchase for $14.99. To help you decide whether or not Seven Cemeteries is a movie you’d like to check out, we have the trailer embedded above.

Directed by Gulager from a screenplay he crafted with Joel Soisson,...

A martial arts and katana instructor awards Seven Samurai a half-decent grade for its samurai realism. Directed by Akira Kurosawa and released in 1954, Seven Samurai tells the story of a band of samurai warriors who gather to defend a village from violent bandits. The film, which stars Toshir Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Keiko Tsushima, and Kamatari Fujiwara, is widely regarded as one of the best samurai movies ever made, and it would inspire a Western remake in the form of The Magnificent Seven (1960).

In a recent video for Insider, Seki Nobuhide Sensei, an expert in martial arts and a katana instructor, analyzes one fight scene from Seven Samurai that involves combat against horse-riding opponents. Seki breaks down how a samurai at the time would have dealt with an enemy on a horse, revealing that the film gets some aspects right. One character's use of a bow and arrow is also plausible,...

Matt Bomer's TV career has been extensive, with the actor popping up in a variety of shows, but the roles vary drastically, as seen in his appearances on White Collar and Doom Patrol. Bomer earned his first credits in TV back in 2000, and before long, he managed to graduate to more consistent roles. However, it wasn't until he landed the starring role as Neal Caffrey in the USA Network show White Collar that he became more widely known.

As Caffrey, he played a con man with a golden heart, who was given an opportunity to work with the FBI and earn his freedom after some high-profile heists he'd committed. As part of a duo with the incredible agent Peter Burke, the same detective who captured him, Neal began to turn away from his criminal ways and instead began to see the value and fun of working with the authorities.

Jason Statham's 2011 action thriller The Mechanic is a remake of a classic Charles Bronson film of the same name and is now one of the most popular movies on Netflix. The Mechanic remains one of Jason Statham's highest-rated movies of his celebrated career and one of Statham's most successful film franchises. The film follows Statham's Arthur Bishop, an elite hitman or "mechanic" who is the best in the business. After Bishop's mentor Harry (Donald Sutherland) is murdered, Bishop goes on a one-man-army mission to avenge his death and make those responsible pay. It's a classic premise for Statham and one of his most immersive movies.

As of October 1, 2024, The Mechanic is available to stream on Netflix. Directed by Simon West and written by Richard Wenk, The Mechanic also features performances by Ben Foster, Tony Goldwyn, and David Leitch. With a Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 53%, The Mechanic is not...

Denzel Washington's highest-grossing movie has been American Gangster for 17 years, and I can't believe that its reign has lasted so long. As far as Hollywood actors go, Denzel Washington could be considered a household name. Best known for projects like Glory, Training Day, Malcolm X, and The Equalizer, Washington's best roles have allowed him to enjoy a long and successful career. Because of this, I was shocked to discover that the actor's highest-grossing movie of his career has stayed the same for nearly two decades. However, I am excited about the fact that this could change soon enough.

In 2007, Washington starred in the crime drama, American Gangster. In the role of Frank Lucas, Washington portrayed a drug dealer who rises to immense power in 1970s New York. Yet, as Lucas builds up his criminal empire, a heroic cop (played by Russell Crowe) dedicates himself to taking down Lucas and his enterprise.

"Save this lady's farm – job's done." Quiver Distr. has revealed an official trailer for an indie horror comedy called Seven Cemeteries, made by filmmaker John Gulager (a Project Greenlight winner who also made Feast and Piranha 3Dd previously). As with everything else horror, this is set for release in October in time for the horror season. A recent parolee named Bravo gets a Mexican witch to resurrect his old posse so that they can help him save a woman's ranch from a ruthless drug lord. The film is loosely inspired by The Seven Samurai and The Magnificent Seven, as he tries to round up his old gang to get revenge... But of course it's hard to wrangle the (un)dead. Danny Trejo stars as Bravo, with Sal Lopez, Samantha Ashley, Efren Ramirez, Vincent M. Ward, Lew Temple, and Richard Esteras. Not much to see here. Even though they tried to make this all big & crazy,...

Chad McQueen, best known for playing Dutch in The Karate Kid and The Karate Kid Part II, has died at the age of 63. He’s also the son of Steve McQueen, the legendary actor who starred in The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, Bullitt, and more.

In a statement to Variety, Chad’s wife, Jeanie, and his children, Chase and Madison, said, “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our father, Chad McQueen. His remarkable journey as a loving father to us, along with his unwavering commitment to our mother, truly exemplified a life filled with love and dedication. His passion for racing not only highlighted his exceptional talent but also served as a way to honor his father’s legacy, a testament to the values instilled in him. He passed his passion, knowledge and dedication down to us, and we will continue not only...

Chad McQueen, known for acting in the first two “Karate Kid” films as Cobra Kai “Dutch” and as a professional race car driver, has died, according to a statement shared on social media by his family. He was 63 years old.

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our father Chad McQueen,” his wife Jeanie and children Chase and Madison wrote in an Instagram post. “His remarkable journey as a loving father to us, along with his unwavering commitment to our mother, truly exemplified a life filled with love and dedication.”

“His passion for racing not only highlighted his exceptional talent, but also served as a way to honor his father’s legacy, a testament to the values instilled in him,” the statement continued, pointing out the connection between Chad and Steve McQueen. “He passed his passion, knowledge and dedication down to us and we will...

A World of Timeless Musicians Since long before the days of film, there have been countless great composers throughout history; people who have a true ear for music and have been able to write and produce melodies that have gone on to be remembered for generations to come. Such individuals include Beethoven, Georges Bizet, Krzysztof Penderecki, Ennio Morricone, and John Williams. However, today I’d like to honor a composer that was taken from us far too soon, a man by the name of James Horner. Background James Horner was born on August 14, 1953 in Los Angeles, California. His father, Harry Horner had previously moved to the United States to work in theater as a set designer and art director. Meanwhile, his brother Christopher Horner, born two years later, would go on to write and film a few documentaries, including a 2004 feature titled ‘The Disappearing of Tuvalu: Trouble in Paradise.’ As for James Horner himself,...

Denzel Washington is well-known for playing cops and detectives, so many of his most memorable movies see him working in law enforcement in some way. Some of the highlights of Denzel Washington's career include Training Day, Inside Man and many other cop movies. While he has never allowed himself to be typecast, appearing in a wide variety of genres, Washington will always be associated with playing police officers.

Denzel Washingtons's best movies often feature him as a cop. He has a commanding presence that fits these types of roles, but he is always able to bring something new to each movie which helps differentiate his characters. This means that even within the confines of the detective genre, Washington has shown his impressive range. Some of his cops are morose and noble, while others are comedic wildcards.

Related 10 Actors Who Are Great At Playing Cops & Detectives

Great cop movies need protagonists...

The Dollars Trilogy chronology can be a bit confusing, but the loose connection between the three movies adds to the enjoyment of watching them. Starting with 1964's A Fistful of Dollars, Sergio Leone helped to popularize the Spaghetti Western film movement that revitalized the genre. A Fistful of Dollars also launched the movie career of then-tv star Clint Eastwood. Following A Fistful of Dollars, Leone directed the loose sequel, 1965's For a Few Dollars More. This was followed by a third Clint Eastwood Spaghetti Western, 1966's The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

Leone remains influential today with Star Wars taking inspiration from Eastwood's Western hero while filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino have expressed their love of Leone's work. According to the filmmaker, his films were not meant to spark a cinematic revolution, yet they inspired 200 additional Spaghetti Westerns. The three movies of the Dollars trilogy, also known as the Man with No Name trilogy,...

Smallville‘s Tom Welling stars in the new action thriller Mafia Wars from Saban Films. In the new trailer from the film, Welling is recruited for a dangerous undercover mission to stop a crime syndicate that has been plaguing the streets of Italy with Fentanyl and the head of this mafia wants to control all corners of the drug trade. Cam Gigandet also stars as the main villain in the film. Gigandet usually fills the shoes of antagonists in films like Never Back Down, 2016’s The Magnificent Seven remake and Silent Night.

The official plot synopsis reads,

“Terry Jacobs (Tom Welling) is a recently paroled felon forced to go undercover to bring down Griff (Cam Gigandet), the head of the most infamous mob syndicate in Italy.” The film is rated R for strong violence, drug content, language throughout, and some sexual material/nudity. The cast list includes an ensemble that features Tom Welling,...

Among the "Dark Tower" fandom, the typical consensus is that the first four books were amazing, and the final three books were a step down. There are a lot of reasons for this view. The big one is that books 5 through 7 were each written in rapid succession; after taking his sweet time with the first four, a post-car accident Stephen King seemingly wrote the final three books in one frantic burst. There's a sloppiness to the writing (especially with some of the anti-climactic villain deaths in book 7) that seems like it could easily be attributed to King rushing his way to the finish line.

But despite the way the final three novels tend to clump together in readers' minds, the fifth book ("Wolves of the Calla") is still very much its own distinct thing, and deserves to be treated as such. "Song of Susannah" might feel like a total bridge novel,...

Forget about “The Magnificent Seven”: It’s time for The Magnificent Six, competing for the Nordic Council Film Prize this year.

The nominees – consisting of four fiction and two documentary feature films and each representing one of the Nordic countries – were announced by Nordisk Film & TV Fond at the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund.

Denmark is represented by “The Son and the Moon,” directed by Roja Pakari and Emilie Adelina Monies. Written by Pakari – documenting her own struggle with cancer – and Denniz Göl Bertelsen, it’s produced by Sara Stockmann for Sonntag Pictures.

“Twice Colonized” by Lin Alluna, hailing from Greenland, was written by Aaju Peter and Alluna. Pic is produced by Emile Hertling Péronard for Ánorâk Film, Red Marrow Media and EyeSteelFilm.

“I’m extremely happy about the nomination and the fact that Greenland is now, for only the second time, represented at the Nordic Council Film Prize.

Tubi, Fox’s free streaming service, has announced its list of September titles. The Tubi September 2024 slate features new Tubi Originals and numerous action, art house, Black cinema, comedy, documentary, drama, horror, kids and family, romance, sci-fi and fantasy, thriller, and Western titles.

As a leading ad-supported video-on-demand service, the company engages diverse audiences through a personalized experience and the world’s largest content library: over 200,000 movies and TV episodes, a growing collection of Tubi Originals, and nearly 250 Fast channels.

You can watch the Tubi September 2024 lineup for free on Android and iOS mobile devices, Amazon Echo Show, Google Nest Hub Max, Comcast Xfinity X1, and Cox Contour.

You can also watch the service on connected television devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Vizio TVs, Sony TVs, Samsung TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and on the Tubi site.

Tubi Originals

Action

Hazard – 9/6

Noah really loves his girlfriend,...

Kim Kahana, the stunt performer, teacher, coordinator and war hero who played Chongo on the kids show Danger Island and doubled for Charles Bronson in several action films, has died. He was 94.

Kahana died Monday of natural causes at his home in Groveland, Florida, his wife, Sandy Kahana, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Kahana, 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds, taught stunts to many thousands of students since the mid-1970s in six-week courses that took place in Chatsworth, California, and Central Florida. Many went on to have thriving careers in show business.

He also had six different black belt degrees — he taught martial arts, too — and worked as a professional bodyguard protecting Hollywood types.

A native of Hawaii, Kahana appeared in his first film as a biker in the Marlon Brando-starring The Wild One (1953) and was an extra in other movies before he realized that stunt performers got paid more than he did.

As movie fans, it's fun to make fun of studio executives for giving terrible notes to filmmakers. It's tempting to think of Hollywood as a town full of creatives who are constantly being held down by business-minded execs who wouldn't know great art if it smacked them in the face. There's an underdog quality to that mentality, an "us vs. them" dividing line where we, as an audience, can side with who we perceive to be the oppressed parties -- the storytellers who are sometimes able to sneak incredible moments past the morons upstairs and deliver their uncut vision to the screen.

The reality, however, is probably much more nuanced than that. It's rare that we hear about great studio notes that saved filmmakers from their worst instincts, but they likely happen more often than we know. As easy as it is to assume all executives are idiots, they can't...

Billy Magnussen & Peter Sarsgaard lead the cast in the timely & satirical film Coup!, exploring class warfare dynamics in a 1918 setting. The duo enjoyed working with the directors, finding a balance between intellectual and playful aspects in their approach to the story. Despite a short shooting schedule, Magnussen & Sarsgaard embraced the spontaneity of the process to capture the complex dynamic of their characters.

Billy Magnussen and Peter Sarsgaard find themselves on opposing sides of a brewing war between classes in Coup!. Magnussen has enjoyed a steady rise to stardom over the past few years, starring in everything from Disney's live-action Aladdin remake, with a spinoff focused on his character Prince Anders in the works, as well as The Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark, Daniel Craig's final James Bond outing No Time to Die and the Jake Gyllenhaal-led Road House remake. Sarsgaard is a Golden Globe-nominated star known for...

Henry Fonda and Charles Bronson star in the classic Western "Once Upon a Time in the West" on Amazon Prime Video. Sergio Leone's epic film features Fonda as the villain facing off against Bronson in an iconic showdown. Considered one of the best Westerns ever made, the film's complex story and characters have left a lasting impact.

One of the best Westerns of all time is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, and the all-time great features Henry Fonda fighting Charles Bronson. Henry Fonda and Charles Bronson were two of the biggest actors of their times, with them appearing in some of the most popular and critically acclaimed films ever made. However, this specific Western is so popular because it featured both of the actors on screen together, with the movie in which they fight now streaming for fans to watch on Amazon Prime Video.

Henry Fonda is an...

A cowboy and historian criticizes The Magnificent Seven remake for its depiction of its only Asian character, which plays into historical stereotypes. The 2016 remake also features the trope of townspeople being rallied to fight as a small army, which isn't historically accurate. 2016's The Magnificent Seven, which stars Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt, earned mixed reviews and was a box office disappointment.

Old West historian Michael Grauer analyzes scenes from 2016's The Magnificent Seven remake, revealing that the film lacks accuracy in many areas. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the Western film serves as a remake of John Sturges' 1960 film of the same name, which is itself an Americanized remake of Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai from 1954. Fuqua's The Magnificent Seven stars Denzel Washington as Chisolm, the leader of the titular seven, with Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, and Vincent D'Onofrio also starring.

In a recent video for Insider (relevant section starts at 8:26 below), Grauer,...

Denzel Washington delivers memorable quotes in Training Day that enhance the movie's gritty legacy. The film subverts the buddy cop genre, featuring a complex depiction of corruption and morality. Ethan Hawke shines alongside Washington, embodying the film's moral backbone in a thrilling and intense finale.

More than 20 years after its release, quotes from Training Day stick with audiences and add to the movie's legacy. Starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke, Training Day exposes the dark side of the Los Angeles police force. The audience follows rookie cop Jake Hoyt (Hawke) on his first day as a narcotics officer with an experienced but dirty officer, Alonzo Harris (Washington). In the span of one day, the two experience the highs and lows of manipulating the law for Alonzo's benefit, only to reap the consequences in the end.

It is a gritty and brutal crime story, but the Training Day quotes stick...

Twisters isn't an announced remake of Jan de Bont's 1996 cow-chucker Twister, but it kinda is? Lee Isaac Chung (Minari) honors the beloved storm-chasing picture by borrowing plot milestones for his blustery "continuation," yet it's hardly a copycat. Twisters is an exhilarating summer blockbuster with plenty of giddyup, trading Van Halen needle drops for buckin' Wild West rambunctiousness. Chung's breathtaking intimacy as a storyteller never sacrifices the adrenalized thrills found in life-threatening tornado hunts, swirling together rapturous disaster sequences with adventurous mavericks who yee-haw their way into our hearts. It's hands-down one of the 2024's champion titles so far, meant to be experienced on a gigantic theater screen.

The film's setups are familiar, but new characters hardly make for a stale Twister regurgitation. Daisy Edgar-Jones stars as Kate Cooper, the New York City meteorologist called back into action five years after tragedy strikes in the field. Kate's former colleague...

One could say it’s a “by-the-numbers” summer with “Despicable Me 4,” “Inside Out 2”” and “A Quiet Place: Day One” among the top box office films. But one of the masterpieces of the 20th century, Akira Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai,” is back in theaters for its 70th anniversary in a limited release in a new 4K restoration. The acclaimed, influential epic is set in a 16th century Japanese village of poor farmers who hire the seven samurai to protect them from invading bandits intent on stealing their barley crop.

The film stars two members of Japanese filmmaker’s stock company — Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura. “Samurai” as noted in the press notes for the new restoration “virtually redefined Japanese cinema’s sword play and period genres, proving Kurosawa a master of both visually thrilling and dramatically complex storytelling.”

Though “Seven Samurai” was released in Japan on April 26, 1954, and was...

Kill Bill Vol. 2 pays homage to Westerns like The Searchers, showcasing Quentin Tarantino's love for revenge-filled narratives. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope draws inspiration from The Searchers, echoing themes of rescue and vengeance seen in the Western classic. Pixar's A Bug's Life cleverly mirrors Westerns like The Magnificent Seven and Three Amigos, showcasing the genre's influence on unlikely animated films.

As such an iconic and uniquely American genre, Western movies have inspired a high number of seemingly unrelated films. Whether made in Hollywood or finding themselves among the Spaghetti Westerns of Italian tradition, cowboy movies have become an immobile staple of pop culture. Even if the genre is far from as popular as it once was at the height of its box office dominance, many of the most famous Westerns have an enduring influence on many iconic films of other categories.

Interestingly, many Westerns are...

Clint Eastwood's iconic Western A Fistful of Dollars is being remade, surprising many due to its classic status. The remake could potentially match the original's quality by choosing the right actor and modernizing themes, but it will be extremely difficult. Previous successful Clint Eastwood movie remakes, like the Japanese version of Unforgiven and Sofia Coppola's The Beguiled, offer lessons and hope for this project.

One of Clint Eastwood's most iconic Western movies is getting a remake 60 years after its initial release, and it's one that seemed truly untouchable. Over the course of his impressive career, Eastwood has appeared in plenty of Western movies, and many of them have become timeless examples of the genre. While not all of them were hits - Ambush at Cimarron Pass is at the bottom of the ranking of Eastwood's Western movies - he's made some of the most iconic movies the entire genre has to offer.

Worf leads the Defiant crew against a Romulan invasion in a Seven Samurai-inspired story. Star Trek: Defiant #18 is part two of "The Stars of Home" and will be written by Christopher Cantwell and drawn by Angel Unzueta. The story echoes Akira Kurosawa's 1954 classic Seven Samurai and features Worf rallying farmers to fight a technologically advanced Romulan strike team.

Warning: contains potential spoilers for Star Trek: Defiant #18!

Star Trek is going full Seven Samurai in a Western-inspired new chapter in the life of Worf. Since breathing new life into their line of Star Trek comics in late 2022, Idw has put Worf front and center of the massive story unfolding. Now, in a first look at Star Trek: Defiant #18, Worf must rally the forces to stop a Romulan invasion, and it echoes Akira Kurosawas 1954 classic.

Idw shared their solicitations with League of Comic Geeks, including Star Trek: Defiant #18. The issue,...

Regardless of its importance to the storytelling process, film music is too often an afterthought. There are a variety of theories that composers have as to why, and they’re mostly related to a lack of education. So I’ve decided to take an active stance in educating filmmakers about the role of music in film and the process of how a film score comes into being.

My hope is that by the end of this piece you’ll be more familiar with: A) the history of film music in general, and B) the key composers who have contributed to the development of film music as an art. So—where did this all start?

The Silent Era (1890s-1929) Silent film star Mary Pickford. Somewhere, a pianist is inspired.

During the silent era, films music is provided by each individual theater, either by phonograph or as performed live by flesh-and-blood musicians.