Latest Movie News From Moviefone |
- 5 Best Comedy Roasts of All Time
- Watch the 'Fast 8' Cast on First Day on Set
- The British TV Show Invasion: 7 Reasons You Should Watch 'Doctor Who' Now
- 'Orange Is the New Black' Cast Tease Season 4, 'Kingpin' Piper
- 'X-Men: Apocalypse' Earns $8.2 Million in Thursday Previews, Beats 'Days of Future Past'
- Bryan Singer Reveals How Quicksilver Steals the Movie (Again) in 'X-Men: Apocalypse'
- Multiple Platforms Are Interested in 'Nashville' Season 5 Pickup
- 'True Detective' Season 3 Probably Won't Happen
- Jamie Bell in Talks to Be the Next James Bond
| 5 Best Comedy Roasts of All Time Posted:
By entertainment standards, the roast -- a concept originated by the Friar's Club fraternity way back in 1907 -- is an absolute dinosaur. But it's like a T. rex that assaults you with politically incorrect character assassination and ridiculous celebrity humiliation instead of killer jaws and tiny arms -- old as it is, the roast walks the razor's edge of "too funny" and "too far." Here are five times the comics got that balance exactly right. 1. Charlie Sheen (2011) "I respect Charlie Sheen, I do ... not his body of work ... it's all been very Christian Slater-ish ... he sucks, but he's good, but he sucks at the same time." And so it was that the late Patrice O'Neal immortalized Charlie Sheen at his own 2011 Comedy Central roast. The whole night was lightning in a weird bottle, mixed with tiger's blood and Twitter meltdowns, and shaken till it foamed over. "How do you roast a meltdown?," asked Jeff Ross. You do it just like this: A madman who set his own world afire giggles along as the sharpest comics in the industry point and laugh at the blaze. As a bonus, this one helped put the brilliant Amy Schumer on the map. We'll take that. 2. Joan Rivers (2009) The late, legendary Joan Rivers was made to be roasted on Comedy Central. She had the perfect combo of comedic icon status paired with plenty of ammo for her roasters, from her famously numerous plastic surgeries to her cringe-worthy red carpet interviews. "Joan, I loved you in The Wrestler." With that intro, Whitney Cummings summed up what made Joan's roast the perfect dish -- the veteran comedienne's night in the chair not only cemented her well-earned relevance, it shined the world's spotlight on new talent. Even though most of that spotlight was focused on jokes about Joan's vagina. 3. Hugh Hefner (2001) Hef's New York Friar's Club roast could've been a disaster. The nation was still reeling from 9/11, and the minefield of cliched old-man jokes just seemed too obvious. But thanks to the power of comics like Drew Carey and Sarah Silverman, it turned out to be the cream of the roast crop. Carey started out with a cathartic string of mega-profanity aimed at none other than Osama bin Laden, priming the audience for a combo of airhead-Playboy Bunny gags and old-age digs that moved at a clip and somehow managed to avoid any semblance of cliche. Silverman solidified the one-two punch with a short set centered on -- wait for it -- butthole waxing that was so left-field, it was clear she'd be a comedy queen by the time the roast ended. 4. William Shatner (2006) Sometimes, it's the truth behind the jokes that makes a roast truly great. And it's that dose of reality that made William Shatner's 2006 Comedy Central roast special; "Star Trek" co-stars like George Takei and Nichelle Nichols certainly had enough USS Enterprise drama to load their comedic cannons, completely apart from the former Captain's bizarre forays into spoken word albums and TV commercials. When Takei looks right at Bill and straight-up says, "Fuck you and the horse you rode in on" in that outrageous baritone of his, we laugh, because we know it comes from a place of truth. Feels good to let it all out, doesn't it, Mr. Sulu? 5. Donald Trump (2011) We'll admit it. The thing that makes Donald Trump's Comedy Central roast so great is that it's a catharsis for the audience -- in 2011, we loved seeing the uber-rich, business tycoon get his just deserts, and in 2016, we love seeing it even more. But it wasn't just seeing Trump get towered that made the night a standout -- it was the evening's completely unexpected roasters. A Marlee Matlin / Gilbert Gottfried double-team isn't something we knew we wanted till we got it, and Snoop Lion (aka Snoop Dogg) once again proved his comedic prowess with razor-sharp jabs like, "Donald says he wants to run for president and move on into the White House. Why not? It wouldn't be the first time he pushed a black family out of their home." Enough said, Snoop. Enough said. Sources This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Watch the 'Fast 8' Cast on First Day on Set Posted:
"Fast 8" opens in theaters April 14, 2017. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The British TV Show Invasion: 7 Reasons You Should Watch 'Doctor Who' Now Posted:
1. You Can Start Anywhere Every fan has an opinion about the best place to start watching "Doctor Who." Some argue for beginning with the 1964 black-and-white series, and others advocate for jumping in with the more modern 2005 version of the franchise -- affectionately known as "Nu Who." Although "Doctor Who" is full of canonical rules, backstories, and in-jokes, most episodes are intended as standalone stories about the Doctor and his companions running into adventures throughout space and time. Really: You can pick almost any episode and find an enjoyable, one-off, thoughtful sci-fi feature that doesn't require a lot of previous knowledge. All you need to know is that the Doctor is a Time Lord with a penchant for dragging humans on his escapades, and he has a knack for finding trouble -- and saving the day. 2. There Are Plenty of Doctors to Choose From Thirteen different actors have played the role of Doctor Who -- the Doctor doesn't die, he merely regenerates into a new incarnation of himself, allowing others to play the part -- and each actor puts his own spin on the role. Whether you prefer David Tennant's passion, Matt Smith's boyish charm, or Peter Capaldi's measured wit, it won't take long to claim one as your favorite -- most fans even go so far as to claim a favorite as "my Doctor." 3. It's Got Plenty of Romance ... Although he's thousands of years older than most of the people and creatures he meets, the Doctor has been known to find himself in the midst of numerous romantic entanglements. Whether it's a brief romantic-comedy fling with Queen Elizabeth, endless flirtation with his companions, or a heist with his occasional wife, River Song -- who has been played by several actresses, most often the wickedly charming Alex Kingston -- "Doctor Who" always packs in the banter, affection, and classic will-they-or-won't-they scenarios. 4. ... And a Lot of Action, Too Despite being a pacifist, the Doctor always manages to get himself into tense, fast-paced scenarios that leave viewers' hearts racing. He's saved Earth from alien invasions -- both from the sky and underground -- defended entire galaxies from his archrivals the Daleks, and even managed to stop entire wars. The Doctor has a host of catchphrases, but with the nearly nonstop action on the show, the most enduring is "Run!" 5. The Doctor Who Spinoffs Are Just as Good "Doctor Who" has given rise to several spinoff series, most notably "Torchwood" -- an anagram of "Doctor Who" -- a "Men in Black"-style show about an agency tasked with protecting London from small-scale alien threats. "The Sarah Jane Adventures" is the most family-friendly spinoff, featuring one of his former companions and her exploits. In addition, the show "Class" will premiere later in 2016, and is aimed at the young adult crowd -- show-runner Steven Moffat even describes it as a "British Buffy [the Vampire Slayer]." 6. It's Good on TV, and Even Better at the Movies Once or twice a year, Doctor Who fans can enjoy the treat of seeing their favorite episodes on the big screen, often in specialized 3-D versions. Most recently, the epic two-part Season 8 finale was shown in theaters nationwide, proving that the Doctor is even more of a spectacle in three dimensions. The 2015 Christmas special, "The Husbands of River Song," was also a cinematic delight for fans. 7. There's Always More to Binge Normally, binge-watching a show inevitably means getting to the end, but with "Doctor Who," there's always more to watch, read, or listen to. Most of the actors from the TV show continue playing their roles in the countless audiobooks and radio plays that fans continue to gobble up. Whether you're ready for a foray into classic '60s "Doctor Who" or just want more time with your own favorite Doctor, there are enough stories to satisfy any fan for a lifetime. Sources This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'Orange Is the New Black' Cast Tease Season 4, 'Kingpin' Piper Posted:  Several key members of the "Orange Is the New Black" cast appeared at a panel discussion on Thursday to tease some (admittedly cryptic) details about the upcoming fourth season, and while we don't have any concrete answers about just what to expect from the new episodes, the actors dropped plenty of clues for eager fans.Taylor Schilling, Natasha Lyonne, Kate Mulgrew, Taryn Manning, Selenis Leyva, and Michael Harney stopped by the Paley Center in Los Angeles on Thursday to talk about all things "Orange," though according to The Hollywood Reporter, the event featured more intel about behind-the-scenes action than anything else. Still, the cast did promise that there were big things in store at Litchfield this season, particularly when it comes to Schilling's Piper, who's still running her underground panty-selling operation when season four picks up. "She's becoming a little bit of a kingpin and has this swagger," Schilling said of her onscreen alter ego. "But the feeling I always have about Piper Chapman is that she tries on everything like a piece of clothing — she doesn't quite fit the jacket, but she tries it on. And I love that about her." That willingness to try new things bleeds over into the new episodes, Schilling said, though it's not all smooth sailing ahead. "[Piper] just keeps trying on different clothes — they don't all fit," the actress told the Paley crowd. Lyonne's very presence, meanwhile, meant the return of her fan favorite character, Nicky, who was shipped off to Max early in season three and hasn't been seen since. Though the actress didn't reveal anything about just how Nicky will reintegrate back into the core group at Litchfield, Lyonne said that the mystery of such significant storylines was one of the major draws for both audiences and the actors themselves. "So much of the brilliance of the show is sort of plucking us at exactly a certain moment to play well together and to be comfortable of the unknown," Lyonne said. We can't wait to see how everything plays out. Season four of "Orange Is the New Black" hits Netflix on June 17. [via: The Hollywood Reporter] Photo credit: Getty Images This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'X-Men: Apocalypse' Earns $8.2 Million in Thursday Previews, Beats 'Days of Future Past' Posted:  "X-Men: Apocalypse" has already earned a significant sum overseas, and it's off to a good start domestically as it readies to take on the North American box office this weekend."Apocalypse" pulled in an impressive $8.2 million in Thursday preview receipts, besting its predecessor, "X-Men: Days of Future Past," in a squeaker: The latter film earned $8.1 million at the Thursday box office when it debuted in 2014. "Days of Future Past" went on to make $110.6 million during its Memorial Day weekend debut; "Apocalypse" is currently tracking at around $100 million, though studio Fox has tempered expectations by setting its earning estimate at $80 million. Unfortunately for "Apocalypse," it's fighting an uphill battle against a rash of bad reviews, which also plagued fellow superhero team-up flick "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" earlier this year. "Apocalypse" currently sits at 47 percent on Rotten Tomatoes's Tomatometer, a steep drop from "Days of Future Past"'s 91 percent. And the superhero flick is also facing a showdown with Disney at the box office, with "Alice in Wonderland" sequel "Alice Through the Looking Glass" also opening this holiday weekend. That flick may wind up with bigger numbers overseas, though, considering star Johnny Depp's enormous power at the international box office. Only time will tell whether American filmgoers will prefer mutants or Mad Hatters this holiday weekend. [via: TheWrap] This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Bryan Singer Reveals How Quicksilver Steals the Movie (Again) in 'X-Men: Apocalypse' Posted:  [SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't seen the movie, stop reading now.]Another "X-Men" movie, another chance for Quicksilver to steal the show. Director Bryan Singer returns with his biggest X-Men movie yet, "X-Men: Apocalypse," and he has brought "Days of Future Past's" Quicksilver (Evan Peters) with him. The speedster became an instant fan-favorite last time with his slow-mo running sequence through a Pentagon kitchen near Magneto's cell. In "Apocalypse," the action gets next level'd with a daring rescue through the X-Mansion as it is (naturally) blowing up. At a recent press junket for the film, Singer revealed how he and his production team put this scene together -- an all-timer for the franchise.  "It took a month-and-a-half to shoot two mins of film," Singer said about the intricate shoot. "Evan Peters worked 17 days, doing most of his own wire work."An extensive amount of pre-viz also went into the sequence obviously, as it employed "every type of special effects you can imagine -- from CGI to explosive algorithms." Several practical physical effects were used as well -- including ol' fashioned explosions. "What we did when we were done shooting in all the physical locations is, we blew them all up," Singer grinned. "And [we] had Phantom cameras that run at 3000 FPS, fly in blast cases through the sets at 80 MPH -- simultaneously with the explosion. So, when you look at the footage, you can actually read pages of a flaming book moving past the screen, and you can just read the words [on it] -- and we just put all those elements together and crafted a scene that had to rival the one in the previous movie." Blame H.G. Wells for inspiring Singer on how to, visually, bring Quicksilver's super speed to life. "It was all born out of a short story I read when I was kid called 'The Great Accelerator,' by H.G. Wells, and it's a story of a person who takes a potion that allows them to move so fast everything else seems like it's standing still. And I've always wanted to put that on film, and the kitchen scene in 'DOFP' allowed me that opportunity, and Apocalypse allowed me to take it to the next level." "X-Men: Apocalypse" is in theaters now. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Multiple Platforms Are Interested in 'Nashville' Season 5 Pickup Posted:  "Nashville" may not have sung its last song yet, as studio Lionsgate continues to search for a new home for the cancelled ABC drama.Fans were shocked -- and pretty upset -- when the season four finale ended on a cliffhanger centering around the fate of Juliette (Hayden Panettiere), despite that episode likely being the show's last. But according to Lionsgate, that controversial ending was intentional, in order to give "Nashville" more cachet as it angles to get picked up elsewhere. According to Lionsgate execs, that strategy is working. Variety reports that during an earnings report conference call on Thursday, studio brass said that "four to five different platforms" were interested in picking up the program -- and that all of that interest has been from "inbound inquires coming directly to us, asking about the possibility of moving the show." That's good news for the country music drama, whose fate had been up in the air for pretty much its entire ABC run. While a fan favorite show, it never soared in the ratings, and ABC decided to cut the cord earlier this month, leaving producers to scramble with last-minute edits to resolve the storylines of several key characters (minus Juliette, of course). According to Variety, all the major stars are still under long-term contracts to continue on the series, should it be revived elsewhere. And if Lionsgate gets its way, the goal is to make sure the show -- wherever it winds up next -- remains on the air for as long as possible. "These kinds of shows can go forever and ever — obviously that's our hope and expectation, but we've to to do it one season at a time," said Kevin Beggs, Lionsgate head of TV, in the call with reporters. "So right now, we're all about Season 5. So we hope to land Season 5 and keep talking about this show for years to come." Nashies have their fingers crossed. Stay tuned. [via: Variety] This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'True Detective' Season 3 Probably Won't Happen Posted:  After the disappointing second season of HBO limited series "True Detective," the premium cable outlet is unlikely to move forward on season three.That's the word from a new story in The Hollywood Reporter, previewing the reign of incoming HBO programming chief Casey Bloys. According to THR, sources from inside the network say that HBO is "more likely" to develop a new series from "True Detective" creator Nic Pizzolatto, rather than order an additional season of "TD." Bloys, who's taking over from retiring longtime chief Michael Lombardo, currently holds the fate of the series in his hands, per THR. While that's not a definitive cancellation, it certainly seems unlikely that more "True Detective" is on the horizon, based on the tepid reaction to (and critical drubbing of) the series's second season. But despite the setbacks to the show following its buzzy, lauded first season (featuring an instantly iconic performance from Matthew McConaughey), HBO apparently believes in Pizzolatto's creative vision, and has signed him to an exclusive development deal. Just what may come of that is unclear at this point, but the showrunner has to be happy that he still has an outlet for his work, if not the long-running success of "True Detective" that many fans and critics expected. Stay tuned to see what's next for Pizzolatto and HBO. [via: The Hollywood Reporter] This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Jamie Bell in Talks to Be the Next James Bond Posted:  While rumors have swirled for months about just who will be taking over the James Bond franchise from current 007 Daniel Craig, one surprising new name is apparently on the top of the list.UK tabloid The Sun (via The Daily Mail) reports that actor Jamie Bell has been in talks with longtime Bond producer Barbara Broccoli about the possibility of taking the keys to 007's Aston Martin. According to the report, Broccoli and Bell are currently working together on Bell's new film, "Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool," and the producer was "impressed by his skills." Deadline later confirmed that talks between Bell and Bond producers are indeed taking place. Bell had been rumored to be joining the Bond franchise before, back when 2012's "Skyfall" was in production, playing a rival rookie agent opposite Craig's 007. That role never materialized, though if the actor winds up as Bond this time around, he'll obviously be getting a better star-making vehicle. Of course, all this depends on Craig actually bowing out of the franchise, something the actor has declined to make truly official, despite lots of inflammatory statements to the contrary during the 2015 "Spectre" press tour. And then there's the matter of the other, more high-profile candidates who have been in the mix longer than Bell, including current front-runner Tom Hiddleston. According to Deadline, there's been no movement yet on production of the next Bond flick, due to the fact that there's currently no studio, no director, and "no workable script." Negotiations aren't expected to really start until later this year, the trade reports, and there may be an entirely new name making headlines by then (or perhaps even Craig himself, who's reportedly holding off on making a definitive decision on his Bond future until more behind-the-scenes talent is firmly in place). Stay tuned to see how this all shakes (not stirs) out. [via: The Sun via The Daily Mail, Deadline] Photo credit: Getty Images This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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