“Ma’am, I’m 10 years old, you think I could write this alone? I don’t think so.” The age demographics in Hollywood are about to skew a lot younger because a pre-teen has pitched an idea that is soon enough going to be written for the screen – and it’s a wonder it hasn’t been made yet. Here we have Home Alone meets The Godfather, in which we imagine one scene where Kevin McCallister jumps on his parents’ bed, only to find a decapitated horse head at the foot of it. The title? Little Wiseguy.
But the pitch doesn’t come from a desperate studio suit but rather a 10-year-old named Connor Esterson, who you may actually be familiar with, as he co-starred in last year’s Spy Kids: Armageddon. And while Esterson has very likely seen Home Alone numerous times around the holiday season, he admits he...
But the pitch doesn’t come from a desperate studio suit but rather a 10-year-old named Connor Esterson, who you may actually be familiar with, as he co-starred in last year’s Spy Kids: Armageddon. And while Esterson has very likely seen Home Alone numerous times around the holiday season, he admits he...
- 3/31/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Hollywood is proof that talent has no age bar, and 10-year-old Connor Esterson is a testament to that. The 5th grader who made his presence felt on screen in Spy Kids: Armageddon has now turned his attention to writing. Esterson has been in talks with bigwigs in the writing fraternity, namely Nick Vallelonga and George Gallo, to pitch a screenplay featuring a young boy’s relationship with a gangster.
Connor Esterson in Spy Kids: Armageddon
The veteran writers were extremely impressed with the aspiring screenwriter’s idea and are now in talks to find ways to get his narrative up and running. While this is a big achievement for someone so young, Esterson’s story is being criticized by netizens for its uncanny similarity to a 1993 Robert De Niro film.
Fans Connect Robert De Niro’s Film And This Young Writer’s Script
Apart from being an aspiring actor, young...
Connor Esterson in Spy Kids: Armageddon
The veteran writers were extremely impressed with the aspiring screenwriter’s idea and are now in talks to find ways to get his narrative up and running. While this is a big achievement for someone so young, Esterson’s story is being criticized by netizens for its uncanny similarity to a 1993 Robert De Niro film.
Fans Connect Robert De Niro’s Film And This Young Writer’s Script
Apart from being an aspiring actor, young...
- 3/28/2024
- by Sharanya Sankar
- FandomWire
In another installment of “What the heck are we doing with our lives?” A 10-year-old Connor Esterson is developing the script for a “Home Alone–meet-The-Godfather”-esque movie titled Little Wiseguy. Working alongside the preteen are Hollywood Oscar winner Nick Vallelonga and Bad Boys writer George Gallo, gearing up to pitch it to studios around town soon enough. Esterson however has many talents up his sleeve, he is not only a budding actor but also aspiring to become a director in Hollywood.
Marlon Brando in The Godfather Oscar Winner Nick Vallelonga Teamed with 10-Year-Old for this New Movie!
As soon as The Hollywood Reporter reported this, the internet was stunned by news of 10-year-old Connor Esterson, who had prepared a 6-page script for a film that instantly captivated Nick Vallelonga and George Gallo.
Suggested“The good, bad, and the ugly”: Michael Jackson Biopic Set To Finally Shed Light on...
Marlon Brando in The Godfather Oscar Winner Nick Vallelonga Teamed with 10-Year-Old for this New Movie!
As soon as The Hollywood Reporter reported this, the internet was stunned by news of 10-year-old Connor Esterson, who had prepared a 6-page script for a film that instantly captivated Nick Vallelonga and George Gallo.
Suggested“The good, bad, and the ugly”: Michael Jackson Biopic Set To Finally Shed Light on...
- 3/28/2024
- by Sampurna Banerjee
- FandomWire
This year’s races for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress were over before they started. Robert Downey Jr. in “Oppenheimer” and Da’Vine Joy Randolph in “The Holdovers” took leads in the Gold Derby odds in their respective categories early in the season. They both went on to pick up Golden Globe, Critics Choice, BAFTA and SAG Awards. By the time the Oscars rolled around, there was a “near zero” chance of either of them losing.
In contrast, the lead acting contests provided considerably more suspense. Bradley Cooper in “Maestro,” Paul Giamatti in “The Holdovers” and Cillian Murphy in “Oppenheimer” were all looking strong at different point in the derby, before Murphy really exploded and ultimately won the Best Actor Oscar. And Lily Gladstone in “Killers of the Flower Moon” and Emma Stone in “Poor Things” kept trading the top spot in the Best Actress odds. Gladstone finally reclaimed...
In contrast, the lead acting contests provided considerably more suspense. Bradley Cooper in “Maestro,” Paul Giamatti in “The Holdovers” and Cillian Murphy in “Oppenheimer” were all looking strong at different point in the derby, before Murphy really exploded and ultimately won the Best Actor Oscar. And Lily Gladstone in “Killers of the Flower Moon” and Emma Stone in “Poor Things” kept trading the top spot in the Best Actress odds. Gladstone finally reclaimed...
- 3/27/2024
- by Tariq Khan
- Gold Derby
Oscar Parties Are Full of Phonies (But They’re Getting Kicked Out)
Winning an Academy Award opens a lot of doors, especially at Oscar-night afterparties. One of Hollywood’s sacred red carpet rules is that merely holding an Oscar can be a golden ticket to just about every swell soiree in town. But in recent years, some gate-crashers have been exploiting that loophole by turning up with ersatz trophies or, as happened this year, an actual Oscar that didn’t belong to them. Rambling has learned that one non-invitee who arrived at Vanity Fair’s ultra-exclusive fete hauling a vintage 1986 Oscar quickly found himself kicked to the curb. The person was not the award winner, a rep for the magazine confirms to THR, adding that the trophy was confiscated. “Our head of security is working on tracking down its rightful owner.” It’s unclear how the crasher got his hands on the golden boy,...
Winning an Academy Award opens a lot of doors, especially at Oscar-night afterparties. One of Hollywood’s sacred red carpet rules is that merely holding an Oscar can be a golden ticket to just about every swell soiree in town. But in recent years, some gate-crashers have been exploiting that loophole by turning up with ersatz trophies or, as happened this year, an actual Oscar that didn’t belong to them. Rambling has learned that one non-invitee who arrived at Vanity Fair’s ultra-exclusive fete hauling a vintage 1986 Oscar quickly found himself kicked to the curb. The person was not the award winner, a rep for the magazine confirms to THR, adding that the trophy was confiscated. “Our head of security is working on tracking down its rightful owner.” It’s unclear how the crasher got his hands on the golden boy,...
- 3/27/2024
- by Edited by Benjamin Svetkey and Edited by Julian Sancton
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
One of the funniest moments at the recent Academy Awards ceremony occurred when Best Supporting Actress nominee Emily Blunt (“Oppenheimer”) and Best Supporting Actor nominee Ryan Gosling (“Barbie”) appeared together to pay a special tribute to the talented stunt performers who are so often overlooked for their indelible contributions to the motion picture industry. Blunt and Gosling traded barbs over their “Barbenheimer” feud — the result of their films competing against each other at the box office as well as the entire awards season. If their chemistry suggested anything, it’s that moviegoers are in for a real treat when their upcoming film “The Fall Guy” drops into theaters in May.
While Blunt and Gosling bluntly made light of their dispute, they weren’t the only Oscar presenters with scores to settle. There were several other big Hollywood stars who reunited on the stage alongside one of their past Oscar rivals,...
While Blunt and Gosling bluntly made light of their dispute, they weren’t the only Oscar presenters with scores to settle. There were several other big Hollywood stars who reunited on the stage alongside one of their past Oscar rivals,...
- 3/21/2024
- by Tariq Khan
- Gold Derby
Oscar bumps at the box office are a fairly common phenomenon in the film business. They’re a major reason why studios spend millions on “for your consideration” publicity campaigns during the awards season. The goal, like most things in the industry, is to get more people to buy tickets and boost box office totals. For example, despite being one of the most divisive Best Picture winners in recent memory, Green Book scored the biggest post-Oscar box office bump in nearly a decade, eventually adding a sixth of its total domestic revenue after its victory at the Oscars, according to Forbes. This year’s Best Picture winner, Oppenheimer, hasn’t had such a massive jump, but it’s certainly notable for one unexpected reason.
- 3/21/2024
- by Rahul Malhotra
- Collider.com
New in theaters is “One Life” starring legendary actor Anthony Hopkins as real-life British humanitarian Sir Nicholas Winton. Just three years ago he led French playwright Florian Zeller‘s feature directorial debut “The Father.” It not only managed to win him a second Oscar for Best Actor following “The Silence of the Lambs” back in 1991, but it also made headlines. One reason was how it was unconventionally the final award presented during the telecast that year because the sentimental favorite, Chadwick Boseman (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”), was widely expected to win posthumously. Hopkins pulled off a huge upset, though, and he wasn’t even there to accept it. How did that win happen? Here are five reasons.
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1. Hopkins had a very awards-friendly role
His character in “The Father” was an aging man suffering dementia. Multiple actors had won accolades for...
Sign UPfor Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
1. Hopkins had a very awards-friendly role
His character in “The Father” was an aging man suffering dementia. Multiple actors had won accolades for...
- 3/19/2024
- by Jeffrey Kare
- Gold Derby
Actor Aaron Pierre has confirmed that he is no longer involved in the McU's Blade reboot. It seems as though Aaron Pierre's character was omitted during one of Blade's many rewrites. Blade will star Mahershala Ali, Delroy Lindo and Mia Goth, while Milan Ray is also reportedly involved.
One actor previously cast in Marvel Studios' Blade reboot has confirmed that he is no longer involved with the upcoming MCU Phase 6 project. Following years of a Blade reboot being rumored, Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige finally confirmed the project's development in 2019, and revealed that acclaimed actor Mahershala Ali will portray the titular character, despite his run as Cottonmouth in Marvel Television's Luke Cage. Since then, however, Blade's tumultuous production has been plagued with delays, strikes, departures and rewrites, meaning the project now isn't expected to release until November 7, 2025, two years after its original 2023 release date.
Although Blade's production finally seems to be making progress,...
One actor previously cast in Marvel Studios' Blade reboot has confirmed that he is no longer involved with the upcoming MCU Phase 6 project. Following years of a Blade reboot being rumored, Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige finally confirmed the project's development in 2019, and revealed that acclaimed actor Mahershala Ali will portray the titular character, despite his run as Cottonmouth in Marvel Television's Luke Cage. Since then, however, Blade's tumultuous production has been plagued with delays, strikes, departures and rewrites, meaning the project now isn't expected to release until November 7, 2025, two years after its original 2023 release date.
Although Blade's production finally seems to be making progress,...
- 3/18/2024
- by Kai Young
- ScreenRant.com
The 2024 Oscars are behind us, and yet people remember this year’s ceremony quite well since it was one of the most exciting ones we have had in years. And adding a little bit more spice to the mix, Christopher Nolan, along with his cast and crew from Oppenheimer swept all of the most prestigious categories from the rest of the nominees, including the revered Best Picture award.
Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy on the sets of Oppenheimer
Thus, setting an example for generations to come, this film not only raised the bar on the critical scale through the eyes of critics and journalists but also managed to become a smashing success at the box office with a total grossing figure of $959 Million. This was the first time in almost a decade that an almost billion dollar movie managed to bag the Best Picture category.
Christopher Nolan Managed To Break...
Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy on the sets of Oppenheimer
Thus, setting an example for generations to come, this film not only raised the bar on the critical scale through the eyes of critics and journalists but also managed to become a smashing success at the box office with a total grossing figure of $959 Million. This was the first time in almost a decade that an almost billion dollar movie managed to bag the Best Picture category.
Christopher Nolan Managed To Break...
- 3/17/2024
- by Deepak Bisht
- FandomWire
A whopping 26 (or 70.3%) of the last decade’s worth of acting Oscar recipients – including 2024’s Emma Stone (“Poor Things”), Robert Downey Jr. (“Oppenheimer”), and Da’Vine Joy Randolph (“The Holdovers”) – were born in the United States. Also counted here is Joaquin Phoenix, who originates from the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. Compared to the group of performers who prevailed between 2005 and 2014, the 2015-2024 set includes six more Americans, constituting a 16% larger majority. Considering all 96 years of Academy Awards history, the rate of unique American acting victors stands at 68.1%.
Stone, who earned her first of two Best Actress trophies for “La La Land” (2017), is now the first-ever dual honoree from Arizona, with the only other acting winner from her state being Troy Kotsur. Before they came along, the sole nominee to have been born there was Mare Winningham, who lost to New Yorker Mira Sorvino (“Mighty Aphrodite”).
Randolph is the 11th...
Stone, who earned her first of two Best Actress trophies for “La La Land” (2017), is now the first-ever dual honoree from Arizona, with the only other acting winner from her state being Troy Kotsur. Before they came along, the sole nominee to have been born there was Mare Winningham, who lost to New Yorker Mira Sorvino (“Mighty Aphrodite”).
Randolph is the 11th...
- 3/15/2024
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
By taking home the 2024 Best Actor Oscar for “Oppenheimer,” Cillian Murphy blazed a trail as the first Irish-born lead performer ever honored by the film academy. Prior to his victory, there had not been a native Irish acting winner in over 30 years nor any from his city of Cork, as the only earlier examples had involved supporting winners and fellow Dubliners Barry Fitzgerald and Brenda Fricker. His historic achievement brings the total number of different countries that have produced acting champs during the last decade to eight.
As has been the case throughout practically all of Oscars history, the United States is by far the dominant birthplace among the 2015-2024 acting winners. Of the group’s 37 unique members, 26 (or 70.3%) originate from there, including newly-crowned victors Emma Stone (“Poor Things”), Robert Downey Jr. (“Oppenheimer”), and Da’Vine Joy Randolph (“The Holdovers”). Stone is one of three American actors to bag two trophies within the last 10 years,...
As has been the case throughout practically all of Oscars history, the United States is by far the dominant birthplace among the 2015-2024 acting winners. Of the group’s 37 unique members, 26 (or 70.3%) originate from there, including newly-crowned victors Emma Stone (“Poor Things”), Robert Downey Jr. (“Oppenheimer”), and Da’Vine Joy Randolph (“The Holdovers”). Stone is one of three American actors to bag two trophies within the last 10 years,...
- 3/15/2024
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Every year during the fall and winter seasons, theaters are inevitably flooded with Oscar bait. These movies are produced with the sole purpose of earning Academy Award nominations. The accolades can translate into serious box office -- making the quest for Oscar gold as much financial competition as an artistic one -- and every production company offers a few contenders every year. Oscar bait is often defined by appearing to say something profound and important with the medium while taking very little creative or political risks. Period films that depict a major world tragedy tend to make good Oscar bait, as movies that push a social agenda in an overtly sentimental way. The ultimate Oscar bait combines these two elements into one film.
Numerous pieces of Oscar bait receive average to poor reviews from critics, but are rewarded with prestigious nominations in an attempt to boost box office revenue. Others...
Numerous pieces of Oscar bait receive average to poor reviews from critics, but are rewarded with prestigious nominations in an attempt to boost box office revenue. Others...
- 3/15/2024
- by Ajay Aravind, Robert Vaux, Vincent LoVerde
- Comic Book Resources
Comedy feels like it's in a delicate state these days. Not only are studios avoiding tentpole comedy movies for the most part, but the onslaught of what many perceive as "cancel culture" has resulted in a little more caution when it comes to telling jokes, whether that's on the big screen or in comedy clubs. While there has been a lot of admirable progress with regards to cultural issues in comedy, the argument could be made that there is such a thing as being too sensitive, especially when it comes to an art form that is well-known for mining laughter from irreverence and provocation.
This careful approach to comedy has resulted in a lot of retrospective analysis of comedies from yesteryear, much of which often results in people saying, "You could never make that movie today." This has been applied to everything from "Blazing Saddles" (typically from people who don't...
This careful approach to comedy has resulted in a lot of retrospective analysis of comedies from yesteryear, much of which often results in people saying, "You could never make that movie today." This has been applied to everything from "Blazing Saddles" (typically from people who don't...
- 3/14/2024
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
Peter Farrelly's comedy roots shine in Ricky Stanicky, a silly romp set in Rhode Island. Adding unnecessary drama in a comedy like Ricky Stanicky disrupts the fun, stopping the flow. Most absurd comedy movies should avoid incorporating dramatic elements as they often don't mesh well.
Peter Farrelly knows quite a bit about making successful comedy movies. Now, he has given us Ricky Stanicky, a film that attempts to get back to his roots of weirdly silly comedies set in Rhode Island. The film is definitively niche but is a bit of a return to form for the veteran director.
The problem is that Farrelly falls into a self-made trap by adding drama to an otherwise odd little romp. This is something that comedy directors often feel they need to throw in, but it hardly ever works or needs to be there. So why did Farrelly include a completely throwaway...
Peter Farrelly knows quite a bit about making successful comedy movies. Now, he has given us Ricky Stanicky, a film that attempts to get back to his roots of weirdly silly comedies set in Rhode Island. The film is definitively niche but is a bit of a return to form for the veteran director.
The problem is that Farrelly falls into a self-made trap by adding drama to an otherwise odd little romp. This is something that comedy directors often feel they need to throw in, but it hardly ever works or needs to be there. So why did Farrelly include a completely throwaway...
- 3/12/2024
- by Lee LaMarche
- MovieWeb
By delivering performances that add up to almost four and a half hours, the four acting Oscar winners of 2024 came within six minutes of setting a new academy record for highest single-year screen time average. Ultimately, they landed in fifth place with a mean of one hour, four minutes, and 57 seconds, thus becoming only the 12th winning quartet (and sixth in 10 years) to exceed 60 minutes.
Newly crowned Best Actor and Actress champs Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”) and Emma Stone (“Poor Things”) are credited with a whopping 81% of their foursome’s screen time total, respectively clocking in at 1:53:10 and 1:37:19 and outpacing all of the 2024 nominees by at least four minutes. Supporting honorees Robert Downey Jr. (“Oppenheimer”) and Da’Vine Joy Randolph (“The Holdovers”) gave the fourth and sixth shortest nominated performances of the year, reaching individual screen times of 23:50 and 25:29.
Considering this group’s screen time percentages,...
Newly crowned Best Actor and Actress champs Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”) and Emma Stone (“Poor Things”) are credited with a whopping 81% of their foursome’s screen time total, respectively clocking in at 1:53:10 and 1:37:19 and outpacing all of the 2024 nominees by at least four minutes. Supporting honorees Robert Downey Jr. (“Oppenheimer”) and Da’Vine Joy Randolph (“The Holdovers”) gave the fourth and sixth shortest nominated performances of the year, reaching individual screen times of 23:50 and 25:29.
Considering this group’s screen time percentages,...
- 3/12/2024
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
[Editor’s note: this list was originally published in December 2017. It has since been updated with new entries.]
The 21st Century is only two decades old, but its first batch of Best Picture winners already paints an extraordinary portrait of a world in flux. From historical epics to intimate digital indies, from a musical that riffs on showbiz standards to period drama that reflects on present crises, from a sparse modern western to an overstimulating multiverse martial arts story, these 24 films range from “problematic” to “perfect” and hit all points in between. More than that, they illustrate Hollywood’s evolving definition of greatness and the relationship between the film industry and the times that forge it.
Here are the 24 Best Picture winners of the 21st century, ranked from worst to best.
With editorial contributions from David Ehrlich and Eric Kohn.
24. “Crash” “Crash” ©Lions Gate/Courtesy Everett Collection
“Brokeback Mountain” deserved better, but the Academy didn’t know it. Paul Haggis’ painfully obvious ensemble drama about racial prejudices in Los Angeles was a smug,...
The 21st Century is only two decades old, but its first batch of Best Picture winners already paints an extraordinary portrait of a world in flux. From historical epics to intimate digital indies, from a musical that riffs on showbiz standards to period drama that reflects on present crises, from a sparse modern western to an overstimulating multiverse martial arts story, these 24 films range from “problematic” to “perfect” and hit all points in between. More than that, they illustrate Hollywood’s evolving definition of greatness and the relationship between the film industry and the times that forge it.
Here are the 24 Best Picture winners of the 21st century, ranked from worst to best.
With editorial contributions from David Ehrlich and Eric Kohn.
24. “Crash” “Crash” ©Lions Gate/Courtesy Everett Collection
“Brokeback Mountain” deserved better, but the Academy didn’t know it. Paul Haggis’ painfully obvious ensemble drama about racial prejudices in Los Angeles was a smug,...
- 3/11/2024
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
It was a huge night for Christopher Nolan at the Academy Awards as his breakthrough hit "Oppenheimer" swept most of the major categories. The film walked away with seven Oscars in total, including Best Picture. In doing so, it became the first out-and-out popular blockbuster to win the night's top prize in 20 years.
"Oppenheimer" made a downright shocking $960 million worldwide as part of the duel phenomenon that was Barbenheimer last year. It ended up as the third-biggest movie of 2023 at the box office overall, trailing only "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" ($1.3 billion) and "Barbie" ($1.44 billion worldwide). It was also by far the least likely of these three films to become such a huge hit as it is not an action-packed film, nor is it based on any treasured IP. It's merely the result of our finest living filmmakers doing his thing on a massive scale. That proved to be more than enough.
"Oppenheimer" made a downright shocking $960 million worldwide as part of the duel phenomenon that was Barbenheimer last year. It ended up as the third-biggest movie of 2023 at the box office overall, trailing only "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" ($1.3 billion) and "Barbie" ($1.44 billion worldwide). It was also by far the least likely of these three films to become such a huge hit as it is not an action-packed film, nor is it based on any treasured IP. It's merely the result of our finest living filmmakers doing his thing on a massive scale. That proved to be more than enough.
- 3/11/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
After ringing in Monday celebrating Universal’s Oscar wins, led by Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, Donna Langley sent congratulatory note thanking all of those on her team who helped make the victory possible.
Oppenheimer picked up seven wins, including best picture and best director (Nolan’s first), while Focus Features’ The Holdovers won best supporting actress for Da’Vine Joy Randolph’ performance. The evening was a big win for Langley, who lured Nolan to the studio after he split ways with Warner Bros., and made a bet on his R-rated biopic.
“I hope you are all still reveling in what we accomplished last night. Eight total Academy Award wins for Universal and Focus Features! It was a pinch-me moment for us — well, eight pinch-me moments,” Langley wrote. Last year, the longtime Universal movie chief expanded her power base exponentially when named NBCUniversal’s chief content officer.
Oppenheimer, which has grossed nearly $960 million globally,...
Oppenheimer picked up seven wins, including best picture and best director (Nolan’s first), while Focus Features’ The Holdovers won best supporting actress for Da’Vine Joy Randolph’ performance. The evening was a big win for Langley, who lured Nolan to the studio after he split ways with Warner Bros., and made a bet on his R-rated biopic.
“I hope you are all still reveling in what we accomplished last night. Eight total Academy Award wins for Universal and Focus Features! It was a pinch-me moment for us — well, eight pinch-me moments,” Langley wrote. Last year, the longtime Universal movie chief expanded her power base exponentially when named NBCUniversal’s chief content officer.
Oppenheimer, which has grossed nearly $960 million globally,...
- 3/11/2024
- by Pamela McClintock
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Since the Academy Awards were first handed out in 1929, only 23 Oscars have been awarded to performances given by Black actresses and actors. Hattie McDaniel made history for Black performers by winning for “Gone With the Wind” (supporting in 1939), while Sidney Poitier was the first male actor to prevail for “Lilies of the Field” (lead in 1963). Denzel Washington became the first two-time Black acting champion when he claimed victory for “Glory” (supporting in 1989) and “Training Day” (lead in 2001), with Mahershala Ali joining him years later for “Moonlight” (supporting in 2016) and “Green Book” (supporting in 2018). Halle Berry was the first, and so far only, Black Best Actress thanks to “Monster’s Ball” (2001). The acting category with the most Black winners is Best Supporting Actress, with 10 including recent champ Da’Vine Joy Randolph for “The Holdovers” (2023). Tour our photo gallery above of every Black actress and actor who won Academy Awards.
Let’s take a...
Let’s take a...
- 3/11/2024
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
Since the Academy Awards were first handed out in 1929, only 23 Oscars have been awarded to performances given by Black actresses and actors. Hattie McDaniel made history for Black performers by winning for “Gone With the Wind” (supporting in 1939), while Sidney Poitier was the first such male actor to prevail for “Lilies of the Field” (lead in 1963). Denzel Washington became the first two-time African-American acting champion when he claimed victory for “Glory” (supporting in 1989) and “Training Day” (lead in 2001), with Mahershala Ali joining him years later for “Moonlight” (supporting in 2016) and “Green Book” (supporting in 2018). Halle Berry was the first, and so far only, Black Best Actress thanks to “Monster’s Ball” (2001). The acting category with the most Black winners is Best Supporting Actress, with 10 including recent champ Da’Vine Joy Randolph for “The Holdovers” (2023). Tour our photos below to see every Black actress and actor who won Academy Awards. Gallery originally published...
- 3/11/2024
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
An awards season unlike any other — during which the first simultaneous strikes of actors and writers in Hollywood history largely prevented campaigning by talent for months — came to an end Sunday night at the 96th Academy Awards.
As was widely expected, Oppenheimer dominated, winning seven Oscars — no film has won more since Slumdog Millionaire snagged eight, 15 years ago — including for best picture (Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas and Chuck Roven), director (Nolan), actor (Cillian Murphy, the category’s first Irish winner), supporting actor (Robert Downey Jr.), cinematography (Hoyte van Hoytema), film editing (Jennifer Lame) and original score (Lugwig Göransson).
That’s quite an achievement for not just the filmmakers, who adapted a book (Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin’s American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer) that many thought was unadaptable into a riveting instant classic of a film, but also for the teams that sold it...
As was widely expected, Oppenheimer dominated, winning seven Oscars — no film has won more since Slumdog Millionaire snagged eight, 15 years ago — including for best picture (Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas and Chuck Roven), director (Nolan), actor (Cillian Murphy, the category’s first Irish winner), supporting actor (Robert Downey Jr.), cinematography (Hoyte van Hoytema), film editing (Jennifer Lame) and original score (Lugwig Göransson).
That’s quite an achievement for not just the filmmakers, who adapted a book (Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin’s American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer) that many thought was unadaptable into a riveting instant classic of a film, but also for the teams that sold it...
- 3/11/2024
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The first film to win Best Picture at the Oscars was “Wings” in 1928. Until 1950, the Oscar was awarded to the studio or production company. Since then, it has gone to the credited producers and after five of them won for “Shakespeare in Love” in 1998, a cap of three has been set.
At the first Oscars, there were three Best Picture nominees. In each of the next three years, five films contended. The category was expanded to eight in 1933, to 10 in 1934, and to 12 in 1935, before going back to 10 in 1937. In 1945 it was cut to five and stayed that way until 2009 when it once again was raised to 10. Since 2011, there have been a varying number of nominees from five to 10, with champs including “The Shape of Water,” “Green Book” and “Parasite.”
Tour our photo gallery below to see all of the Oscar winners of Best Picture, from “Wings” to the most recent.
At the first Oscars, there were three Best Picture nominees. In each of the next three years, five films contended. The category was expanded to eight in 1933, to 10 in 1934, and to 12 in 1935, before going back to 10 in 1937. In 1945 it was cut to five and stayed that way until 2009 when it once again was raised to 10. Since 2011, there have been a varying number of nominees from five to 10, with champs including “The Shape of Water,” “Green Book” and “Parasite.”
Tour our photo gallery below to see all of the Oscar winners of Best Picture, from “Wings” to the most recent.
- 3/11/2024
- by Marcus James Dixon, Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Plenty of $1 billion box office hits have been nominated for best picture, but Academy voters have tended to opt for smaller, specialty fare when handing out the top prize. Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer upended the traditional order Sunday night when it won best picture at Oscars 2024, one of seven wins for the historical biopic.
The film has reaped north of $957 million at the worldwide box office, the top gross of any best picture victor since The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in 2004 (that grossed $1.15 billion). Oppenheimer is also the first best picture winner in more than a decade to earn north of $100 million at the domestic box office since Ben Affeck’s Argo (that earned $136 million domestically and $232.3 million globally.) And it’s the first best picture winner released in July — the heart of summer movie season — since Forrest Gump in 1994.
As Oscar ratings continued to...
The film has reaped north of $957 million at the worldwide box office, the top gross of any best picture victor since The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in 2004 (that grossed $1.15 billion). Oppenheimer is also the first best picture winner in more than a decade to earn north of $100 million at the domestic box office since Ben Affeck’s Argo (that earned $136 million domestically and $232.3 million globally.) And it’s the first best picture winner released in July — the heart of summer movie season — since Forrest Gump in 1994.
As Oscar ratings continued to...
- 3/11/2024
- by Pamela McClintock
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
For the second time in the last three years, the Oscar for Best Documentary Short has been claimed by Ben Proudfoot. The Canadian-born filmmaker and his fellow director Kris Bowers won the Academy Award tonight for their film The Last Repair Shop, the story of craftspeople in Los Angeles who keep 80,000 musical instruments in working order for the city’s public school students. It’s the only big city school system that keeps kids in tune with free bassoons, trombones, sousaphones, cellos, piccolos and every other kind of instrument.
Bowers, a gifted pianist and leading Hollywood composer attended L.A. Unified School District schools growing up and developed his talent on pianos maintained by one of the technicians profiled in the film.
“The Last Repair Shop is about the heroes in our schools who often go unsung,...
Bowers, a gifted pianist and leading Hollywood composer attended L.A. Unified School District schools growing up and developed his talent on pianos maintained by one of the technicians profiled in the film.
“The Last Repair Shop is about the heroes in our schools who often go unsung,...
- 3/11/2024
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
U.S. and U.K.-based global sales outfit Palisades Park Pictures has revealed a star-studded slate for Hong Kong’s film rights market FilMart.
John Travolta, Katherine Heigl and Christopher Walken lead romantic comedy “That’s Amore!,” which is in pre-production. Written and directed by “Green Book” writer Nick Vallelonga, the film follows two emotionally damaged people who attempt to date one another, and when their families get involved, comedy ensues.
The producers are Vallelonga (Vallelonga Prods.), Cassian Elwes (Elevated Films), Brenda Emmett and Vince Emmett (American Troubadours), David Polemeni; Tamara Birkemoe and Mark Damon, for Palisades Park Pictures, serve as executive producers.
Director Phillip Noyce has completed action-thriller “Fast Charlie,” starring Pierce Brosnan, Morena Baccarin and James Caan, and adapted from Victor Gischler’s novel “Gun Monkeys” by Richard Wenk (“The Equalizer”).
Brosnan plays Charlie Swift, a hitman who has been working for his aging mob boss, Stan (Caan), for two decades.
John Travolta, Katherine Heigl and Christopher Walken lead romantic comedy “That’s Amore!,” which is in pre-production. Written and directed by “Green Book” writer Nick Vallelonga, the film follows two emotionally damaged people who attempt to date one another, and when their families get involved, comedy ensues.
The producers are Vallelonga (Vallelonga Prods.), Cassian Elwes (Elevated Films), Brenda Emmett and Vince Emmett (American Troubadours), David Polemeni; Tamara Birkemoe and Mark Damon, for Palisades Park Pictures, serve as executive producers.
Director Phillip Noyce has completed action-thriller “Fast Charlie,” starring Pierce Brosnan, Morena Baccarin and James Caan, and adapted from Victor Gischler’s novel “Gun Monkeys” by Richard Wenk (“The Equalizer”).
Brosnan plays Charlie Swift, a hitman who has been working for his aging mob boss, Stan (Caan), for two decades.
- 3/11/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Just as Gold Derby predicted, Robert Downey Jr. (“Oppenheimer”) has prevailed at the 2024 Oscars in the category of Best Supporting Actor. Earlier this awards season, the 58-year-old performer, who is perhaps best known for playing Marvel’s “Iron Man,” claimed victory at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice, BAFTA and SAG Awards for his role as Rear Admiral Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan‘s biopic about the life of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer. This marks Downey’s first career Oscars win; he was previously nominated for “Chaplin” and “Tropic Thunder”.
Downey was the overwhelming favorite to triumph on Sunday, March 10 by all 29 of Gold Derby’s Oscar Experts from major media outlets: Andrea Mandell (People Magazine), Anne Thompson (Indiewire), Brian Truitt (USA Today), Christopher Rosen (Gold Derby), Claudia Puig (Kpcc), Clayton Davis (Variety), Eric Deggans (NPR), Erik Davis (Fandango), Grae Drake (Moviefone), Jazz Tangcay (Variety), Joyce Eng (Gold Derby), Keith Simanton...
Downey was the overwhelming favorite to triumph on Sunday, March 10 by all 29 of Gold Derby’s Oscar Experts from major media outlets: Andrea Mandell (People Magazine), Anne Thompson (Indiewire), Brian Truitt (USA Today), Christopher Rosen (Gold Derby), Claudia Puig (Kpcc), Clayton Davis (Variety), Eric Deggans (NPR), Erik Davis (Fandango), Grae Drake (Moviefone), Jazz Tangcay (Variety), Joyce Eng (Gold Derby), Keith Simanton...
- 3/11/2024
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
It’s always nice to see the deserved films get recognition on the night of the Oscars, but there have been a more than few instances when things don’t go as fans imagined. While started as the ceremony to celebrate the best films, over the course of 96 years, there have been several notable snubs, including the Academy’s decision to crown Green Book over BlacKkKlansman.
But the most infamous snub in the Academy’s history, which changed the Award landscape for all the years to come, involves Miramax’s Shakespeare in Love, which defeated Saving Private Ryan.
Harvey Weinstein. Credit: The Graham Norton Show/BBC One
Harvey Weinstein’s Obsession to Taste the Oscar Glory
The 71st Academy Awards wasn’t just the regular yearly celebration of the best films of the year but was the climax of a months-long battle between Miramax and DreamWorks. While campaigning for movies...
But the most infamous snub in the Academy’s history, which changed the Award landscape for all the years to come, involves Miramax’s Shakespeare in Love, which defeated Saving Private Ryan.
Harvey Weinstein. Credit: The Graham Norton Show/BBC One
Harvey Weinstein’s Obsession to Taste the Oscar Glory
The 71st Academy Awards wasn’t just the regular yearly celebration of the best films of the year but was the climax of a months-long battle between Miramax and DreamWorks. While campaigning for movies...
- 3/10/2024
- by Santanu Roy
- FandomWire
The Oscar Awards is almost here, and what better way to get ready for it than to reminisce about the most outrageous and shocking winning moments that happened in the past years.
While some names and titles are already taking up space and garnering unanimous votes, there will be controversial results that will go down in history, just like these Academy Award winners.
Will Smith
Will Smith in King Richard
The comedian-actor has always been a crowd favorite, and his Best Actor win for the biographical sports drama King Richard at the 94th Academy Awards in 2022 was supposed to be a glorious moment. But, just before he was announced as the winner, the infamous Oscar slap shocked the entire world.
SUGGESTEDYou May Have Watched Them Over and Over Again But These 6 Movies Never Won a Single Oscar
The award-giving body was criticized for letting Will Smith receive his award and...
While some names and titles are already taking up space and garnering unanimous votes, there will be controversial results that will go down in history, just like these Academy Award winners.
Will Smith
Will Smith in King Richard
The comedian-actor has always been a crowd favorite, and his Best Actor win for the biographical sports drama King Richard at the 94th Academy Awards in 2022 was supposed to be a glorious moment. But, just before he was announced as the winner, the infamous Oscar slap shocked the entire world.
SUGGESTEDYou May Have Watched Them Over and Over Again But These 6 Movies Never Won a Single Oscar
The award-giving body was criticized for letting Will Smith receive his award and...
- 3/10/2024
- by Ariane Cruz
- FandomWire
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission.
Film’s biggest night is (almost) here. The 96th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, March 10 at a new time, 7 p.m. Et / 4 p.m. Pt, from the Dolby Theater. Jimmy Kimmel is returning to host the ceremony, which will broadcast live on ABC and in over 200 territories worldwide.
Oscars streaming options: Where can I watch the ceremony?
The best way for cable-cutters to tune into the awards ceremony is on a variety of live TV streamers such as DirecTV Stream and Sling TV, which both offer free trials. ABC is also available to stream on Fubo TV and Hulu + Live TV.
sTREAm 2024 Oscars On Directv Free Trial
Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” leads the nominations this year with 13 nods, followed by Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things” with 11 and Martin Scorsese...
Film’s biggest night is (almost) here. The 96th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, March 10 at a new time, 7 p.m. Et / 4 p.m. Pt, from the Dolby Theater. Jimmy Kimmel is returning to host the ceremony, which will broadcast live on ABC and in over 200 territories worldwide.
Oscars streaming options: Where can I watch the ceremony?
The best way for cable-cutters to tune into the awards ceremony is on a variety of live TV streamers such as DirecTV Stream and Sling TV, which both offer free trials. ABC is also available to stream on Fubo TV and Hulu + Live TV.
sTREAm 2024 Oscars On Directv Free Trial
Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” leads the nominations this year with 13 nods, followed by Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things” with 11 and Martin Scorsese...
- 3/10/2024
- by Anna Tingley
- Variety Film + TV
Plot: After decades of lying about a fake friend named Ricky Stanicky, who they use as a get-out-of-jail-free card, three buddies are caught in a lie and have to produce a real version of their imaginary friend to their families. They hired an Atlantic City low-life (John Cena) to pretend to be Stanicky, but he enjoys playing the part so much that he refuses to leave town.
Review: For those who don’t know, for the last fourteen years, Ricky Stanicky was a red-hot script floating around Hollywood, with people as varied as Jim Carrey, James Franco, and Joaquin Phoenix set to play the lead role. Having placed on The Black List, the script by Jeff Bushell, Jason Decker, and David Occhino was in limbo for quite a while before Peter Farrelly and his frequent collaborators Pete Jones and Mike Cerrone took a stab at it, meaning the film now...
Review: For those who don’t know, for the last fourteen years, Ricky Stanicky was a red-hot script floating around Hollywood, with people as varied as Jim Carrey, James Franco, and Joaquin Phoenix set to play the lead role. Having placed on The Black List, the script by Jeff Bushell, Jason Decker, and David Occhino was in limbo for quite a while before Peter Farrelly and his frequent collaborators Pete Jones and Mike Cerrone took a stab at it, meaning the film now...
- 3/9/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Graphic: The A.V. Club, The A.V. Club, The A.V. Club, Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures, Ben King/Prime, Prime Video, Searchlight Pictures; Warner Bros. Pictures; Universal Pictures; Focus Features; Apple TV, Image: DreamWorks Animation10 great films from this century that didn’t win a single OscarClockwise from top left:...
- 3/9/2024
- avclub.com
With the night of The Oscars now in the fast lane, people are excited to see who will take the world of cinema by storm and emerge as the winner of the most illustrious recognition in the film industry. In retrospect, people are also looking back at the late Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther for the superhero films that have been nominated for one or many of the various categories for this year.
Chadwick Boseman in and as Black Panther
While The Academy might still have some reservations regarding the recognition of superhero cinema at the ceremony, they can’t deny the popularity and excellence that these films bring with them.
In fact, the exceptional nature of Boseman’s film was so undeniable back in 2019 that The Oscars had to put their concerns aside and award this project with three awards in different categories from a total of seven nominations,...
Chadwick Boseman in and as Black Panther
While The Academy might still have some reservations regarding the recognition of superhero cinema at the ceremony, they can’t deny the popularity and excellence that these films bring with them.
In fact, the exceptional nature of Boseman’s film was so undeniable back in 2019 that The Oscars had to put their concerns aside and award this project with three awards in different categories from a total of seven nominations,...
- 3/9/2024
- by Deepak Bisht
- FandomWire
After a bit of a career detour to win a couple Oscars, filmmaker Peter Farrelly is back with his first full-fledged comedy in a decade: Ricky Stanicky, starring Zac Efron and John Cena.
Now available to stream on Prime Video, the Amazon comedy follows Dean (Efron) and two lifelong friends (Jermaine Fowler and Andrew Santino) who invent an imaginary pal named Ricky Stanicky to blame for their various hijinks. When their romantic partners finally want to meet him, the buddies hire a struggling actor known as “Rock Hard” Rod (Cena) to become Ricky.
Ricky Stanicky returns Farrelly to the ribald comedy genre, which he and brother Bobby Farrelly became synonymous with in the 1990s, thanks to hits like Dumb and Dumber and There’s Something About Mary. Their most recent co-directing effort was 2014’s sequel, Dumb and Dumber To. Peter Farrelly has stayed busy as a solo director, helming 2018’s Green Book,...
Now available to stream on Prime Video, the Amazon comedy follows Dean (Efron) and two lifelong friends (Jermaine Fowler and Andrew Santino) who invent an imaginary pal named Ricky Stanicky to blame for their various hijinks. When their romantic partners finally want to meet him, the buddies hire a struggling actor known as “Rock Hard” Rod (Cena) to become Ricky.
Ricky Stanicky returns Farrelly to the ribald comedy genre, which he and brother Bobby Farrelly became synonymous with in the 1990s, thanks to hits like Dumb and Dumber and There’s Something About Mary. Their most recent co-directing effort was 2014’s sequel, Dumb and Dumber To. Peter Farrelly has stayed busy as a solo director, helming 2018’s Green Book,...
- 3/8/2024
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Going to watch the 2024 Oscars and wondering who will win? Scroll through our photo gallery of Oscar predictions in all 23 categories. These official odds are derived from the 2024 Oscar predictions of thousands of Gold Derby readers. Our projected winners are highlighted.
Among those making their forecasts at Gold Derby are dozens of Expert journalists from major media outlets, our Editors who cover awards year-round, the Top 24 Users who did the best predicting last year’s Oscar winners and the All-Star Top 24 who had the highest scores for the last two years combined.
“Oppenheimer” came into these awards with the most nominations (13) and looks to be a lock in lot of races. The film won with the BAFTAs and Christopher Nolan picked up prizes both there and with the DGA for helming. It also claimed the top prize at the SAG Awards and won Best Picture at the PGA Awards, which...
Among those making their forecasts at Gold Derby are dozens of Expert journalists from major media outlets, our Editors who cover awards year-round, the Top 24 Users who did the best predicting last year’s Oscar winners and the All-Star Top 24 who had the highest scores for the last two years combined.
“Oppenheimer” came into these awards with the most nominations (13) and looks to be a lock in lot of races. The film won with the BAFTAs and Christopher Nolan picked up prizes both there and with the DGA for helming. It also claimed the top prize at the SAG Awards and won Best Picture at the PGA Awards, which...
- 3/8/2024
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
On a recent podcast, filmmaker Steven Soderbergh pivoted the conversation to Alfred Hitchcock’s work, examining why, decades later, the auteur’s grip on audiences remains so tight. “[The reason] we still watch Hitchcock movies, and that they don’t feel as dated as some other films, is that they’re all about guilt,” Soderbergh posited. “Every Hitchcock movie is about guilt — and guilt’s not going anywhere.” If what Soderbergh says is true, then why is guilt so evergreen?
I listened to the podcast after watching Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest, a masterpiece that belongs in the category of Great Art (an imperfect term, but one I stand by). I wondered why Glazer’s film — about a German family attempting to build a normal life in the shadow of Auschwitz during World War II — seemed to rise above the competition in a very strong year for movies. I believe...
I listened to the podcast after watching Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest, a masterpiece that belongs in the category of Great Art (an imperfect term, but one I stand by). I wondered why Glazer’s film — about a German family attempting to build a normal life in the shadow of Auschwitz during World War II — seemed to rise above the competition in a very strong year for movies. I believe...
- 3/8/2024
- by Kishori Rajan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
We Oscarologists (ridiculous name) spend our time trying to read certain tea leaves to figure out what a potential Best Picture winner typically needs to win in order to take home the Oscars’ top prize. Best Director was once the most important category to excel in. Then it was Best Editing that we thought a Best Picture hopeful needed to check off. Then, recently, the combination of a writing Oscar and an acting win has proven to be a powerful one for eventual Best Picture winners. But what do the stats say? Well, we’ve combed through every Best Picture winner of this century and documented which other Oscars they won. We then tallied those figures up in this below handy chart:
*A note: For a detailed breakdown of exactly what Oscars each Best Picture winner of this century won, head here while you can find a full breakdown of...
*A note: For a detailed breakdown of exactly what Oscars each Best Picture winner of this century won, head here while you can find a full breakdown of...
- 3/8/2024
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
John Cena certainly isn't the first wrestler to become a movie star. Hulk Hogan, Jesse Ventura, and Andre the Giant brought their muscles to the big screen decades ago. The late '90s and early 2000s saw Bill Goldberg and Dwayne Johnson enter the fray, with the latter becoming one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, and he's still going strong. But it wouldn't be until the likes of Dave Bautista and John Cena that we'd get a pair of wrestlers who truly stepped into the world of acting without relying mostly on their muscular presence to do the heavy lifting on the big screen for them, both literally and figuratively.
Dave Bautista has proven to be a reliable supporting star in the superhero blockbuster franchise "Guardians of the Galaxy," but he's also delivered more haunting turns in the likes of "Blade Runner 2049," "Dune," and M. Night Shyamalan's "Knock at the Cabin.
Dave Bautista has proven to be a reliable supporting star in the superhero blockbuster franchise "Guardians of the Galaxy," but he's also delivered more haunting turns in the likes of "Blade Runner 2049," "Dune," and M. Night Shyamalan's "Knock at the Cabin.
- 3/7/2024
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
Movies like Neighbors have proven his comedic chops. Movies like Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile have proven his wide-ranging charm, mixed with a certain darkness. And, of course, The Iron Claw proved Zac Efron is an awards-caliber performer capable of winning an Oscar who continues to show promise as an A-lister in Hollywood. Unfortunately, Ricky Stanicky doesn't advance his game in any of these acting departments. Just hearing the title "Ricky Stanicky" points toward a rather slapstick fun film with relentless raunchiness along the way.
Don't let the kids near this one, even if the film's title derives from the name of an imaginary childhood friend. Despite the seemingly innocuous title, this is hard R-rated stuff. Unfortunately, the end result is a bit of a mess, despite John Cena's star power and committed and sometimes hilarious turn as the titular antihero.
Slapstick to a Fault
Ricky Stanicky RComedyFantasy 2.5/5 Release DateMarch 7, 2024DirectorPeter FarrellyCastAnja Savcic,...
Don't let the kids near this one, even if the film's title derives from the name of an imaginary childhood friend. Despite the seemingly innocuous title, this is hard R-rated stuff. Unfortunately, the end result is a bit of a mess, despite John Cena's star power and committed and sometimes hilarious turn as the titular antihero.
Slapstick to a Fault
Ricky Stanicky RComedyFantasy 2.5/5 Release DateMarch 7, 2024DirectorPeter FarrellyCastAnja Savcic,...
- 3/7/2024
- by Will Sayre
- MovieWeb
Robert Downey Jr. looks to have Best Supporting Actor locked up after he swept the precursors for his sterling turn in Christopher Nolan‘s “Oppenheimer.” But while Downey Jr. would be more than a deserving winner for his phenomenal performance, the Oscars always throws up a surprise or two on the actual night. Could we see an upset in Best Supporting Actor?
Downey Jr. is nominated alongside Ryan Gosling (“Barbie”), Mark Ruffalo (“Poor Things”), Sterling K. Brown (“American Fiction”), and Robert De Niro (“Killers of the Flower Moon”). Gosling has lots of support for his sublime “Barbie” performance while Ruffalo and Brown also have their backers, too. However, the legendary De Niro could prove to be the closest challenger to Downey Jr. thanks to his iconic career and status.
This is De Niro’s ninth Oscar nomination. He’s been nominated for Best Actor five times — in 1977 for “Taxi Driver,...
Downey Jr. is nominated alongside Ryan Gosling (“Barbie”), Mark Ruffalo (“Poor Things”), Sterling K. Brown (“American Fiction”), and Robert De Niro (“Killers of the Flower Moon”). Gosling has lots of support for his sublime “Barbie” performance while Ruffalo and Brown also have their backers, too. However, the legendary De Niro could prove to be the closest challenger to Downey Jr. thanks to his iconic career and status.
This is De Niro’s ninth Oscar nomination. He’s been nominated for Best Actor five times — in 1977 for “Taxi Driver,...
- 3/6/2024
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Ricky Stanicky releases to Prime on March 7, 2024.
Peter Farrelly is an oddly controversial filmmaker. I say oddly because we’re talking about the writer-director of very popular films like Dumb and Dumber or the highly awarded Green Book – I maintain my potentially hot take that it’s one of the best drama-comedies of the last decade – but the general opinion surrounding Farrelly isn’t as positive as I expected. Personally, his sense of humor fits perfectly with the type of comedy I appreciate most, so I was naturally excited for Ricky Stanicky.
The premise is similar to so many others that have captivated audiences all around the world – notably The Hangover saga. Ricky Stanicky is the title of the movie, but also of an imaginary friend invented by a trio of childhood friends as someone they could use to deflect the blame for their misbehavior or serve as an excuse to skip uninteresting,...
Peter Farrelly is an oddly controversial filmmaker. I say oddly because we’re talking about the writer-director of very popular films like Dumb and Dumber or the highly awarded Green Book – I maintain my potentially hot take that it’s one of the best drama-comedies of the last decade – but the general opinion surrounding Farrelly isn’t as positive as I expected. Personally, his sense of humor fits perfectly with the type of comedy I appreciate most, so I was naturally excited for Ricky Stanicky.
The premise is similar to so many others that have captivated audiences all around the world – notably The Hangover saga. Ricky Stanicky is the title of the movie, but also of an imaginary friend invented by a trio of childhood friends as someone they could use to deflect the blame for their misbehavior or serve as an excuse to skip uninteresting,...
- 3/6/2024
- by Manuel São Bento
- FandomWire
Everything you need to know about the new movie Ricky Stanicky is on the poster with its stark message plastered right across it: Warning! An R-rated Comedy. Oh, and the fact that it is directed and co-written by Peter Farrelly also tells you a lot. This is undeniably a return to the kinds of outrageous, raunchy, anything-goes style of comedy that made the Farrelly brand a household name with films like Dumb and Dumber, Shallow Hal, Kingpin, Stuck On You and the “Citizen Kane” of the genre, There’s Something About Mary. More recently Farrelly, who also managed to put heart in even the wildest of situations, took his career in a different direction with his wonderful and emotional Oscar-winning Green Book, as well as the terrific true story The Greatest Beer Run Ever which starred Zac Efron. The latter is now reunited with the filmmaker and the results are laugh-out-loud hilarious in Ricky Stanicky,...
- 3/6/2024
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
For years, Ricky Stanicky has been the ultimate scapegoat for whatever mischief best buds Dean, Jt and Wes cooked up. When they nearly burned down a neighbor’s house as kids, Ricky took the blame. That’s what friends are for, right? Except Ricky’s not real. The trio invented him in their teens, and they’ve been pinning things on him ever since. Now, with their significant others starting to get suspicious, the three amigos decide to hire an actor to play their imaginary friend.
Directed by Peter Farrelly, “Ricky Stanicky” is a raunchy, R-rated return to form for the “Dumb and Dumber” co-director: an unapologetically lowbrow buddy movie, featuring the funniest performance yet from up-for-anything wrestler John Cena in the title role. Remember, Peter is the Farrelly brother who went off and made best picture-winning “Green Book,” followed by the (largely unseen) Vietnam drama “The Greatest Beer Run” with Zac Efron.
Directed by Peter Farrelly, “Ricky Stanicky” is a raunchy, R-rated return to form for the “Dumb and Dumber” co-director: an unapologetically lowbrow buddy movie, featuring the funniest performance yet from up-for-anything wrestler John Cena in the title role. Remember, Peter is the Farrelly brother who went off and made best picture-winning “Green Book,” followed by the (largely unseen) Vietnam drama “The Greatest Beer Run” with Zac Efron.
- 3/6/2024
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Peter Farrelly might now be known as the man behind the controversial Best Picture winner Green Book, but he wasn’t always known for directing Oscar bait. He and his brother Bobby Farrelly got their start in the mid-to-late 90s with comedy classics such as Dumb and Dumber, There’s Something About Mary, and Kingpin. But after a string of lackluster comedies such as The Heartbreak Kid remake, Hall Pass, The Three Stooges, and the disappointing sequel Dumb and Dumber To, the Farrellys took a break from the big screen.
- 3/6/2024
- by Nate Richard
- Collider.com
“Anatomy of a Fall” is the clear favorite to win Best Original Screenplay this year but nominees “The Holdovers,” “Past Lives,” “Maestro,” and “May December” are all hoping to spoil the party. But is “Anatomy of a Fall’s” status as frontrunner as solid as it seems? It’s won a bunch of precursor awards, sure, but what about the academy?
What movies do they like best in this category? Let’s take a look at the last 10 winners of Best Original Screenplay to see what they can tell us about the academy’s tastes in this category, and how that affects “Anatomy of a Fall” and this year’s nominees.
As you can see, drama is the order of the day for academy voters. Five out of the last 10 winners here have been serious fare: Kenneth Branagh‘s “Belfast,” Emerald Fennell‘s “Promising Young Woman,” and Kenneth Lonergan‘s...
What movies do they like best in this category? Let’s take a look at the last 10 winners of Best Original Screenplay to see what they can tell us about the academy’s tastes in this category, and how that affects “Anatomy of a Fall” and this year’s nominees.
As you can see, drama is the order of the day for academy voters. Five out of the last 10 winners here have been serious fare: Kenneth Branagh‘s “Belfast,” Emerald Fennell‘s “Promising Young Woman,” and Kenneth Lonergan‘s...
- 3/6/2024
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
It's no secret that studios aren't taking chances on comedies at the box office very often anymore. While "No Hard Feelings" succeeded decently enough last year, the biggest laughs came from the indie and arthouse scene in 2023, and streamers are still the primary place to find new comedies. That's exactly the case with Amazon Prime Video's release of "Ricky Stanicky" (watch the trailer here), the return to comedy from "Green Book" director Peter Farrelly, perhaps better known as one half of the Farrelly Brothers directing duo who brought us big laughs in movies like "Dumb & Dumber," "Kingpin," and "There's Something About Mary."
"Ricky Stanicky" follows Zac Efron (who deserved an Oscar nomination for his all-consuming role in "The Iron Claw"), Andrew Santino (FX's "Dave"), and Jermaine Fowler ("The Blackening") as Dean, Jt, and Wes, a trio of longtime best buddies who have been using a fictional friend as...
"Ricky Stanicky" follows Zac Efron (who deserved an Oscar nomination for his all-consuming role in "The Iron Claw"), Andrew Santino (FX's "Dave"), and Jermaine Fowler ("The Blackening") as Dean, Jt, and Wes, a trio of longtime best buddies who have been using a fictional friend as...
- 3/6/2024
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
After showing his serious side with Green Book, the most derided Best Picture Oscar winner since Crash, then taking a critical drubbing with the Zac Efron vehicle The Greatest Beer Run Ever, Peter Farrelly returns to the kind of unapologetically silly comedy he and his brother Bobby parlayed into box office gold in the ‘90s. At least in theory. Efron gets stuck with another slipshod script in Ricky Stanicky, a sad demonstration that what was once considered outrageous, transgressive and anarchic now just seems crass, tired and witless.
Streaming on Prime from March 7, the movie might tap into the nostalgia of audiences raised on the Farrelly brand of goofy raunch, gross-out laughs, slapstick, escalating chaos and sticky sentiment. The virtual extinction of the midbudget R-rated studio comedies that thrived in the ‘90s might also help, as the success of Anyone But You recently showed.
But even if Ricky Stanicky never...
Streaming on Prime from March 7, the movie might tap into the nostalgia of audiences raised on the Farrelly brand of goofy raunch, gross-out laughs, slapstick, escalating chaos and sticky sentiment. The virtual extinction of the midbudget R-rated studio comedies that thrived in the ‘90s might also help, as the success of Anyone But You recently showed.
But even if Ricky Stanicky never...
- 3/6/2024
- by David Rooney
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Well, it took Peter Farrelly exactly two movies to go from winning Best Picture back to making broad comedies about dog boners; I guess some people never change. Of course, “Green Book” was only about two dog boners away from being as dumb — or dumber — than a Farrelly classic like “There’s Something About Mary” to begin with, but even so, the funniest thing about “Ricky Stanicky” might be how recently its director was holding an Oscar on the stage of the Dolby Theater.
Actually, no: The funniest thing about “Ricky Stanicky” is the sight of John Cena dressed as Alice Cooper and singing “Sploooooooge out. My. Penis” to the tune of “School’s Out” (for summer), which is one of the signature “jizz jams” his character performs at the semen-themed musical revue he launched after his dog-fucking show was canceled because “Atlantic City went all woke.”
Anyway, those are the two funny things about “Ricky Stanicky.
Actually, no: The funniest thing about “Ricky Stanicky” is the sight of John Cena dressed as Alice Cooper and singing “Sploooooooge out. My. Penis” to the tune of “School’s Out” (for summer), which is one of the signature “jizz jams” his character performs at the semen-themed musical revue he launched after his dog-fucking show was canceled because “Atlantic City went all woke.”
Anyway, those are the two funny things about “Ricky Stanicky.
- 3/6/2024
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
From left: Jermaine Fowler, Zac Efron, and Andrew Santino in Ricky StanickyPhoto: Ben King/Prime
From the director of Green Book, your Boomer dad’s favorite movie ever, and the star of The Iron Claw, which made art-house cinephiles realize pro-wrestling can’t simply be dismissed as “fake,” comes Ricky Stanicky,...
From the director of Green Book, your Boomer dad’s favorite movie ever, and the star of The Iron Claw, which made art-house cinephiles realize pro-wrestling can’t simply be dismissed as “fake,” comes Ricky Stanicky,...
- 3/6/2024
- by Luke Y. Thompson
- avclub.com
This year’s 35 boxes theory is winding down now. The test attempts to predict a movie’s chances of winning Best Picture by tracking its popularity throughout awards season. Each of the 35 boxes represents a crucial nomination or win from a major guild or awards group, such as the BAFTA, Globes, DGAs, PGAs, SAGs, and more. The idea is, the more boxes you tick off, the greater your support across the industry, and the higher chance your film has at winning Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
For example, in 2019, “Green Book” won 23 of these 35 boxes before winning Best Picture at the Oscars. Conversely, “Roma” filled in only 19 boxes while both “BlacKkKlansman” and “The Favourite” were at 20. Each of the three previous Best Picture winners prior to “Green Book” numbered among the top three entries on our season-end charts.
This year, “Oppenheimer” has led the pack in this theory for...
For example, in 2019, “Green Book” won 23 of these 35 boxes before winning Best Picture at the Oscars. Conversely, “Roma” filled in only 19 boxes while both “BlacKkKlansman” and “The Favourite” were at 20. Each of the three previous Best Picture winners prior to “Green Book” numbered among the top three entries on our season-end charts.
This year, “Oppenheimer” has led the pack in this theory for...
- 3/5/2024
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
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