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Exploring Brad Pitt’s Roles In A River Runs Through It & Legends Of The Fall! ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Brad Pitt stepped into Hollywood in 1988 with the film The Dark Side of the Sun. But because of the Croatian War, it couldn’t be released back then, and was postponed to 1997. However, in the meantime, his other movie, Cutting Class, hit the theatres in 1989 and people considered it as his debut film. Following that horror movie, he was seen in a supporting role in Happy Together. But, if anyone asks which film put Pitt on the global map, it would be Thelma & Louise, which was released in 1991.

From the early 90s, Pitt took charge of his career and gave back-to-back hits. He soon became a well-known face in the industry who not only had the looks but could also act. With time, he honed his acting skills and became one...

War movies have always been a controversial topic in Hollywood, particularly due to the politics surrounding them. Most filmmakers tend to stay away from them, while others try to stick to World War I or World War II-related films. The post-WW2 war movies mostly deal with the American soldiers fighting the wars in other countries, which is a controversial topic in itself.

Over the years, filmmakers have tackled topics like the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the war on drugs in the bordering countries, and the presence of the US forces in Afghanistan. These films often explore the moral ambiguity and the dehumanizing nature of such wars. Some films explore the physical and mental toll that wars have on the soldiers. Here are some of the best films tackling these issues.

15. Courage Under Fire (1996) Meg Ryan as Captain Karen Walden and Matt Damon as Specialist Andrew Ilario in Courage Under Fire...

Alan Ritchson might be the current face (and bulk) of Reacher, but streaming audiences still haven’t let go of Tom Cruise's take on Lee Child’s no-nonsense hero. Nearly a decade after its theatrical release, Jack Reacher: Never Go Backhas muscled its way into the Prime Video Top 10 in the U.S., landing at #9 according to FlixPatrol.

It’s a surprising rebound for a sequel that never quite got its flowers. Never Go Back, directed by Edward Zwick (Blood Diamond), sees Cruise’s Reacher dragged back into the military fold — only to be accused of a 16-year-old murder and forced to unravel a vast conspiracy. It also pairs him with Cobie Smulders, who plays Major Susan Turner, and features Aldis Hodge and Danika Yarosh in supporting roles.

But despite the promising cast, the movie struggled to make waves when it first hit theaters in 2016. It racked up just...

Clint Eastwood has always reigned over the landscape of American western cinema with an iron fist. His memorable portrayal of earnest cowboys of few words was unrivaled until Kevin Costner made an equally grand entry to spice up the movies from the wild west.

While we are not going into the debate regarding who should be crowned the undisputed king of the Hollywood Westerns, Costner, in Dances With Wolves, did something which even Eastwood’s mystical thespian abilities failed to match. No, we are not talking about who is the better director between the two, but rather we are trying to point out how Costner’s cinematic poetry aided in resuscitating a dying genre by breathing a fresh lease of life.

Kevin Costner revived the Westerns with Dances With Wolves, after the dismal 1980s

For the last century or so, Western cinema charmed a major section of the cinema-goers’ imagination.

Brad Pitt’s Epic Drama – Legends Of The Fall (Photo Credit – Netflix)

Brad Pitt’s Legends of the Fall has quietly galloped back onto screens via Netflix, bringing with it the windswept intensity of 90s cinema and the brooding beauty of Montana’s wild frontier. It’s a thundering saga etched across decades, where nature collides with history, and family ties stretch and snap like weathered rope under emotional strain.

A Family Torn by Time and War

Long before Brad Pitt became synonymous with Tyler Durden’s chaos or Mr. Smith’s charm, he stepped into the boots of Tristan Ludlow, a character that throbbed with fury and unspoken pain. Set in the raw, untamed expanse of early 20th-century America, this Edward Zwick-directed epic isn’t just about one man, it’s the crumbling mythology of an entire family. The Ludlow patriarch, played with stoic gravitas by Anthony Hopkins,...

The 2024–25 TV season isn’t even over yet, but the carcasses of beloved characters already lie scattered across the landscape.

A device as old as television itself, character deaths happen when actors want to move on (or are forced to), or when a stale story needs a jolt of life.

Sometimes, we go seasons without a significant death on any of our favorite shows. Other times, we can barely catch our breath before we’re saying goodbye to someone else.

Peter Krause as Nate Fisher in Six Feet Under, moments after one of the most quietly devastating deaths in TV history. (HBO/Screenshot)

So far this season, Kevin Costner’s forced exit from Yellowstone led to John Dutton’s ignoble death, one that left many believing he took his own life.

Bobby Nash took one for the team as Peter Krause exited 9-1-1, and The Last of Us saw...

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The Amateur is a vigilante action spy thriller film directed by James Hawes from a screenplay co-written by Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli. Based on the 1981 novel of the same name by Robert Littell, the 2025 film follows Charlie Heller, a brilliant CIA cryptographer whose wife was killed during a terrorist attack in London. After discovering that, he blackmails his superiors into giving him training to kill the people who killed his wife and use his expertise in doing so. The Amateur stars Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, Caitriona Balfe, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Laurence Fishburne. So, if you loved the thrilling drama, intense revenge story, and compelling characters in The Amateur, here are some similar movies you should check out next.

Law Abiding Citizen (Starz & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – Overture Films

Law Abiding Citizen is a vigilante action thriller film...

Exclusive: Chris Coy has joined the cast of HBO’s upcoming drama series Lanterns, based on the Green Lantern DC comic.

In a guest starring role, Coy will play the new character of ‘Waylon Sanders,’ an intelligent survivor or a nervous truck driver. Age and real name unknown, he’s unbound by the laws of nature.

He joins the previously announced cast: Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre, Kelly MacDonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Ulrich Thomsen, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Sherman Augustus, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Jason Ritter and Nathan Fillion.

The series, from Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof and Tom King, follows new recruit John Stewart (Pierre) and Lantern legend Hal Jordan (Chandler), two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.

HBO produces the eight-episode series Lanterns in association with Warner Bros Television and DC Studios. Mundy, who serves as showrunner,...

Star Alan Ritchson doesn't want to mess with the magic they've got going on with Reacher, the blockbuster streaming adaptation of Lee Child's bestselling novels. The show recently debuted its third season on Prime Video, and Ritchson told Men's Journal in an interview that while he's grateful for the success that it has witnessed and excited for it to continue for several more years, he wouldn't want the franchise to expand into films. The Reacher novels were previously adapted into two theatrical movies starring Tom Cruise as the central character. Prime Video also produced a show based on the Jack Ryan novels and is set to release a film spin-off as well.

Ritchson said that eight-episode seasons are the perfect way to adapt Child's books, and that a movie might not do them justice. "I can't speak to movies. I enjoy the format that we've got so much,...

World War I remains one of the most devastating and complex conflicts in history, forever altering the political and social landscape of the 20th century, in many ways turning the page into the modern era. The war’s brutality, trench warfare, and widespread use of new military technology have been the subject of countless films, many of which strive for historical accuracy in depicting the realities faced by soldiers and civilians alike. From the harrowing conditions of the Western Front to the often-overlooked theaters of war in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, these films capture the horrors, strategies, and human stories that defined the Great War.

Filmmakers have long balanced historical fidelity with cinematic storytelling, but some productions manage to come through with a compelling mixture. Accurate depictions of uniforms, weaponry, and military tactics, combined with gripping narratives, provide an immersive experience that brings history to life. While some...

Exploring how the power of storytelling in historical fiction deepens our understanding of the complexities of real-world history. Not to be confused with Alternate History, which focuses on a slight yet impactful change in our historical timeline, nor with the Historical Drama that attempts to make actual historical events more entertaining and dramatic. Historical Fiction still maintains a historical setting, borrowing the era’s manners, events, and social context to create a fictional narrative in order to educate and offer a unique perspective on a particular moment of Human History. While many view the genre negatively due to the titled historical inaccuracy, the Historical Fiction genre still is able to act as a unique form of educational entertainment. Not only giving audiences a glimpse into how life was in certain eras gone by outside from the nobility and those embedded into the pages of the history books, but it also...

Quick LinksBrad Pitt's Early Career Is Full Of ClassicsLegends Of The Fall Continued His Rise To A-list StardomThe Film's Unique Blend Of Frontiers and Genres Is Not To Be Missed

For decades, Brad Pitt has been a Hollywood legend whose lineup of dramatic, romantic, comedic, and unique characters has become iconic and memorable. His early career films allowed him to be more quiet and pensive in his performances, showcasing his acting chops from the start.

Usually, Brad Pitt is in films with a defined genre, from heist capers and epic dramas to romances and action. Yet one particular film was an incredible and unlikely blend of genres that Hollywood hadn't seen yet. Although the silver screen has had its incredible plethora of Westerns and World War films, seeing them in one film is a hard thing to pin down due to the period and culture of cowboys being ships passing in the night.

Streaming has given many films a second chance, especially those that didn't make a profit at the box office or didn't get a release at all. Laura Dern's crime drama is among them.

In 2018, Dern starred in Blood Diamonds' Edward Zwick's biographical crime drama Trial by Fire, which was recently released on Netflix. The film was based on Cameron Todd Willingham's real-life case, and used David Grann's 2009 The New York Times article "Trial by Fire" as a base. Now, the movie has found a second life on streaming and has become a hit on Netflix, Tudum reports.

RelatedScott Foley's New Rom-Com From Mean Girls Director Tops Netflix's Valentine's Day Chart

Before announcing that he would be returning for Scream 7, Scott Foley was cast in a rom-com.

For the week between Feb. 10 and 16, Laura Dern's Trial by Fire debuted in the fourth spot in Netflix's Top 10 in the U.

Netflix has been serving up even more questionable streaming fare than usual of late. Dylan Sprouse's "Die Hard on a bridge" movie, "Aftermath," broke Netflix's film charts recently despite being what one viewer described as "visual cancer." It followed Amy Schumer's similar domination of the Netflix charts with her movie "Kinda Pregnant," a film that garnered a 28% Rotten Tomatoes score. That all transpired in the wake of Cameron Diaz's absolute domination of Netflix with her first movie in 11 years, "Back in Action," itself a 29-percenter on Rt. As such, the arrival of a half-decent true crime drama on the streamer's movie charts is a welcome development.

"Trial by Fire" is a biographical drama directed by Edward Zwick, the filmmaker responsible for one of the best Civil War movies ever made in "Glory." This overlooked 2018 effort is based upon the article of the same name by journalist David Grann,...

After a fire destroyed a home in Texas and killed three children, their father was convicted of their murders and put on death row. But was he actually to blame? The 2018 film Trial by Fire, from director Edward Zwick (Blood Diamond), explores the true story of Cameron Todd Willingham’s alleged wrongful conviction, and the woman who fought against the Texas justice system to save his life. The crime drama stars Laura Dern, Jack O’Connell, and Emily Meade.

Stream it now.

In December 1991, Todd Willingham (O’Connell) wakes to find his home in Corsicana, Texas, in flames. Despite his attempts to rescue his three daughters — 2-year-old Amber and 1-year-old twins Karmen and Kameron — he’s unable to save them. When arson investigators inspect the house, they determine Todd deliberately set the fire and charge him with capital murder. At trial, Todd’s lawyer, Bobby (Pettie), puts up little defense against...

No streaming service does a director retrospective like the Criterion Channel, and March offers two masters at opposite ends of exposure. On one side is Michael Mann, whose work from Thief through Collateral (minus The Keep) is given a spotlight; on the other is Alain Guiraudie, who (in advance of Misericordia opening on March 21) has five films arriving. (2001’s duet of That Old Dream That Moves and Sunshine for the Scoundrels have perhaps never streamed in the U.S. before.) Meanwhile, three noirs from Douglas Sirk are programmed alongside a Lee Chang-dong retrospective that features three new restorations.

Showcases will be staged for Dogme 95, Best Supporting Actor winners, and French Poetic Relaism. Welles’ The Trial gets a Criterion Edition alongside Demon Pond; Horace Ové’s newly restored Pressure makes a streaming premiere alongside spruced-up copies of Amadeus, Love Is the Devil, Port of Shadows, and Burning an Illusion, as...

Edward Zwick's biographical crime drama Trial by Fire has found a second life on Netflix. The 2018 film tells the heart-wrenching story of Cameron Todd Willingham (portrayed by Jack O'Connell), a real-life man who was convicted and executed for the arson-related homicide of his three young daughters. Alongside O'Connell, Trial by Fire stars Laura Dern as Elizabeth Gilbert, a French teacher and playwright who, after becoming pen pals and meeting with Willingham, becomes one of his advocates.

Based on a 2009 article by renowned author and journalist David Grann, Trial by Fire explores the doubts surrounding Willingham's guilt and the efforts to prove his innocence. Gilbert becomes so involved in his case she begins to uncover evidence that challenges his conviction.

Trial by Fire premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in 2018 and landed in theaters the following year. The film didn't impress at the box office and earned mixed reviews from...

When Malcolm Washington was working his first movie job — as a camera production assistant on Jon Favreau’s 2014 Chef — he struck up a friendship with Roy Choi, the film’s food consultant. As a lifelong Angeleno, Washington, 33, was a huge fan of Choi’s restaurants, and the two bonded over their shared experience of being new to a movie set (apart, of course, from Malcolm visiting his dad, Denzel Washington, at work as a kid).

“We didn’t stay in touch, because I was just a P.A.,” says Washington. But a decade later, he was celebrating picture lock on his directorial debut and decided to treat himself to dinner at a sushi bar. When he sat down at the only open seat, he found himself next to Choi: “I told him, ‘I just finished my first movie as a director 20 minutes ago,’ and he said, ‘I always knew you’d do something.

Following the success of Glory, director Edward Zwick and Denzel Washington teamed up once again for Courage Under Fire, a gripping war drama that features one of Denzel Washington’s best performances of his career. Released in 1996, the film brought together an all-star cast, delivering a powerful story set against the backdrop of the Gulf War. Though well-received upon its release, Courage Under Fire has since faded from mainstream conversation, despite being one of the greatest war dramas of all time.

In the decades since, Washington has taken on a variety of roles. However, Courage Under Fire remains one of his best, portraying a soldier haunted by grief. The film may not always be mentioned alongside Washington’s more celebrated works, but it stands as a testament to his ability to bring depth and humanity to any role.

Courage Under Fire Is Still One of the Most Underrated War Dramas...

Josh Gad, who released his memoir “In Gad We Trust: A Tell-Some” on Jan. 14, says his “Love & Other Drugs” co-star Jake Gyllenhaal warned him not to pursue a role in “The Book of Mormon,” the raunchy musical-comedy from “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

“While bouncing back and forth to do episodes of ‘The Daily Show,’ I was also filming a movie called ‘Love & Other Drugs,’ directed by Ed Zwick and starring Jake Gyllenhaal,” Gad wrote. “One day as Jake and I were driving home from set in Pittsburgh, I asked him if I could play a demo of a new musical that I had recently done a workshop for in New York, hoping to get his advice as to whether or not I should pursue it further. He said, ‘Yeah, pop it on,’ and I played the opening number.”

Though Gyllenhaal “laughed his ass off” at the musical’s squeaky-clean,...

The systemic targeting of Jews during World War II left little room for successful, organized resistance. This is reflected in the movies made about the war, particularly the Holocaust. Historical events like the escape from Sobibor, touted as the most successful uprising of Jewish prisoners, and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising have inspired directors to explore them for the screen. A much less-known but powerful event took place in rural Belarus, where four brothers led an uprising that saved over 1,200 Jews from the hands of the Nazis. This event is the subject of Edward Zwick’s 2008 film Defiance. Starring Daniel Craig as Tuvia Bielski, the eldest of the brothers who founded the Bielski Partisans, the film tells the true story of a group of Jewish rebels who waged guerrilla-like warfare against their oppressors and established a self-sufficient forest base where they built amenities like schools and hospitals.

Brad Pitt didn’t hold back, and surprisingly, it wasn’t Sylvester Stallone he blamed for Hollywood’s obsession with ripped bodies. While most people credited (or blamed) Sly for turning actors into gym rats, Pitt pointed fingers in a totally unexpected direction.

Brad Pitt in a still from F1 | Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Ever since this unnamed trendsetter set things in motion, it had been six-packs and bicep curls for anyone wanting to land a major role. And Pitt knew how wild it had gotten.

Brad Pitt called out Hollywood’s ripped obsession while slaying as Achilles in Troy Brad Pitt as Achilles in Troy | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

Brad Pitt dished on Hollywood’s fitness craze during the 2004 Troy press tour. Playing the Og warrior Achilles meant hitting the gym like never before. But Pitt has one man to thank, or blame, for the ripped standards: Robert De Niro.

Denzel Washington is one of the finest actors in the history of Hollywood. With two Academy Awards under his belt, as well as a string of successful blockbusters, he is one of those rare actor who can do it all. Star of stage and screen, the movie star has been in the business for nearly five decades and is showing no signs of slowing down. He has worked with some of the biggest directors, like Ridley Scott, Robert Zemeckis, and Spike Lee. He has also co-starred alongside the legendary likes of Viola Davis, Tom Hanks, and Meryl Streep.

With a legacy of unforgettable movies already ensured, Washington has chosen to fill out his filmography with a lot of versatile projects. This includes an array of action adventures and gritty dramas. His ability to command the screen is incomparable, and he can play kind and generous as well as scary and...

It’s that time of year again. While some directors annually share their favorite films of the year, Steven Soderbergh lists everything he consumed, media-wise. For 2024––another year in which he not only premiered a new film, but shot another and is prepping another to begin production shortly––he still got plenty of watching in.

Along with catching up on 2024’s new releases, he took in plenty of classics, including Opening Night, Jaws, Casablanca, All About Eve, The Conversation, Alien, and nine viewings of various Star Wars films. He also got an early look at Andrew Patterson’s The Rivals of Amziah King and after beginning production on Black Bag on May 7, he had a first cut on June 23.

See the list below via his official site.

01/02 Blaming, Elizabeth Taylor

01/04 The Conversation

01/05 Predators, American Greed

01/06 The Curse

01/09 The Curse

01/10 Break Point (3)

01/11 Break Point (3), Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone,...

Tom Cruise has built a career for himself running away from things in movies. But, imagine Tom Cruise running... with samurai swords. Before he flew away from Henry Cavill in a helicopter, climbed the Burj Khalifa, and skydived off a cliff, Tom Cruise traveled back to Feudal Japan in one of his best and most divisive action movies, The Last Samurai. Directed by Edward Zwick, the film has garnered a strong fan base since its release in 2003, and new audiences are about to discover it as The Last Samurai has landed a new streaming home.

The Last Samurai was recently added to Prime Video's ranks for the new year. Cruise stars as Nathan Algren, an American Civil War captain who is hired by the Japanese government to modernize the army's tactics during the Meji Restoration in the 1870s. Alongside Tom Cruise, the film also stars Ken Watanabe, who plays...

Tom Cruise is no stranger to box office hits and iconic roles, but one of his most ambitious projects, The Last Samurai, is making its way back into the spotlight. The 2003 historical epic, which boasts a 66% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes and a much stronger 83% audience score, is now available to stream on Prime Video as of today. Directed by Edward Zwick, The Last Samurai stars Cruise as Nathan Algren, a disillusioned American Civil War captain hired by the Japanese government to help modernise its army during the 1870s Meiji Restoration.

Alan Ritchson may be the current actor who portrays Jack Reacher in Amazon's hit TV series, but Tom Cruise previously brought the character to life in a pair of feature films. Eight years after its release, the second film starring Cruise has found new life on streaming amid the continued wait for Season 3 of Reacher.

Per FlixPatrol, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back cracked the Paramount+ Top 10 list for movies streaming in the United States, landing at No. 9. The film at the top of the list was the brand new holiday comedy Dear Santa, which debuted on the streaming platform on Nov. 25 and continued to draw high viewership during the holiday season. The horror sequel Smile 2 is in the No. 2 spot followings its success in theaters, while Billy Bob Thornton's dark comedy Bad Santa is ranked at No. 3. Above Jack Reacher: Never Go Back are also the movies Gladiator,...

From bit parts to blockbuster hits, Brad Pitt's rise to stardom has been nothing short of meteoric. His iconic status means that anything he touches makes headlines. The news of his latest projects, including officially wrapping filming for the upcoming Formula One drama, F1, and the recent announcement that he is in talks for the making of Ocean's 14 as well as his starring role in Wolfs have excited his fans. On his way to acquiring this apex status, Brad Pitt made a movie playing a role in which he is at his most dramatic. In Edward Zwick's 1994 Oscar-winning Western epic Legends of the Fall, Brad Pitt portrays Tristan Ludlow, a rebellious cowboy who competes with his brothers for the love of a woman.

Despite being some of the biggest movie stars on the planet, Denzel Washington and Bruce Willis only collaborated once in the late 90s, with their film being the center of a major controversy. The Siege was the first and only film the two did together, with each having massive hits both before and after they finally appeared in a movie together. Their films have endured for decades, and will continue to do so.

Denzel Washington has a particularly strong filmography in the '90s, with Malcolm X, Philadelphia, He Got Game, and Much Ado About Nothing. Bruce Willis was considered one of the best action stars of all time in that decade, starring in films like the Die Hard franchise, The Fifth Element, and Armageddon. When they finally collaborated on The Siege, it failed to live up to the lofty heights of the two star's other films, with the most...

Tom Cruise departed from his usual kinds of movies to do The Last Samurai. At a time when Cruise was stepping into futuristic roles, little did fans expect of him to go back in time for an epic period action drama. The film involved a lot of martial arts sequences and Cruise loved a challenge when it came to such roles. Cruise also delivered acting-wise, bringing an emotional and psychological depth to his character, Captain Nathan Algren.

Tom Cruise in a still from The Last Samurai | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

However, one stunt artist might’ve given Cruise a run for his money when it came to commitment to their role. The said artist was injured during a scene but decided to stay in character even though he was just a background actor. While Cruise was nominated for a Golden Globe, the stunt artist’s effort went largely unnoticed.

Tom...

“Origin” has taught Ava DuVernay an important lesson: to have distribution better suited to help her films find audiences. Speaking at the Marrakech International Film Festival, the filmmaker said her 2023 film is a “complicated” one for her. “It represents a big challenge and it’s part of a big lesson I’ve received as a filmmaker,” she said. “Ed Zwick, the director, said that a film’s success is not judged by the box office and reviews but by time, and I hope that time will be kind to this film.”

Read More: 2024 Fall Film Preview: 50 Movies To Watch

“It had difficulties finding an audience,” DuVernay continued, speaking about the challenges she faced with distributor Neon.

Continue reading Ava DuVernay Says Neon Was Not the “Right Choice” for ‘Origin’: “It Had Lackluster Distribution” at The Playlist.

In case it wasn't clear earlier this year, Ava DuVernay is disappointed with Neon, the distributor behind her 2023 film Origin. The film "represents a big challenge and it’s part of a big lesson I’ve received as a filmmaker," she said at the Marrakech International Film Festival (via The Playlist...

Ava DuVernay has slammed Donald Trump’s re-election as U.S. president, in spite of a criminal charges against him, saying that black people arrested on smaller crimes land years of jail time.

She was speaking in a conversation event at the Marrakech film festival, moderated by Rosalie Varda, daughter of late iconic filmmaker Agnès Varda, who is friend of the Selma, 13th and A Wrinkle in Time director and producer.

The subject of Trump’s re-election arose in a discussion on DuVernay’s Netflix-backed 2016 documentary 13th, exploring racial injustice in the U.S. penal system, and the fact its prisons are disproportionately filled with African-Americans.

“The idea of mass incarceration of criminality, and how black and brown people in certain parts of the world are considered inherently criminal, that’s what it is about. It’s more about the idea of why do we believe some people have...

Brad Pitt's best movies feature him in a variety of interesting roles, from the chaotic Tyler Durden in Fight Club to the Nazi-killing soldier Aldo Raine in Inglourious Basterds. However, one of his most beautifully tragic portrayals comes in the form of Tristan Ludlow, the lead character in the 1994 Western epic, Legends of the Fall. Based on Jim Harrison's 1979 novella of the same name, the film follows Tristan as he and his brothers, Alfred (Aidan Quinn) and Samuel (Henry Thomas) enlist in World War I. The film explores the domino effect this decision has on Tristan's life.

Legends of the Fall is a drama film directed by Edward Zwick, starring Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, and Aidan Quinn. Set in the early 20th century, the movie follows the lives of the Ludlow family, focusing on the complex relationships between three brothers and their father against the backdrop of dramatic historical events.

Denzel Washington absolutely runs off with “Gladiator II” as scheming Roman power broker Macrinus, a former slave whose end game is to become the new emperor.

It’s one of the two-time Oscar winner’s best performances in his nearly 40-year career and one where he gets a chance to go as big as he did in “Training Day.” The way he puts a spin on the words “politicssss” and “too much!” is the actor having possibly the best time of his life with a role.

As “Gladiator II” producer Douglas Wick told TheWrap at the film’s Los Angeles premiere, the actor’s riffs and unexpected line deliveries are like jazz. “I think of him as a jazz musician the melody is psychological truth. It’s an amazing thing to watch. He’ll keep the psychological truth, but he’ll play with it this way and he’ll play with it that way,...

Here’s why Hollywood directors tend to promote Tom Cruise ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Yes, you read that right, Tom Cruise didn’t just pick directors to helm his movies. Nope, he turned Hollywood’s top filmmakers into his personal image architects, fine-tuning every frame to make sure he looked like the ultimate action hero. From day one, Cruise had a knack for teaming up with heavyweights—Scorsese, Kubrick, De Palma. But here’s the twist: even these powerhouse directors felt like they were working for him, not the other way around. Their job? Craft a killer movie and a killer version of Cruise.

Take the Mission: Impossible franchise, for instance. Cruise played Ethan Hunt in over six films—a secret agent so mysterious that he barely had a personal life. Forget backstories or deep character arcs; Hunt was more an action figure than a person. That blank-slate hero let Cruise...

If your thirst for non-stop action isn’t sated by the bloodletting in “Gladiator II,” take a gander at previous epics like “Spartacus” and “Ben-Hur,” which both heavily influenced the original “Gladiator.”

We’ve also thrown in some cinematic suggestions that go beyond Ancient Rome, with sprawling battles in West Africa, Persia, Spain, Japan and Norway, and confrontations that don’t necessarily involve a sword and shield.

Behold some great, epic action movies like “Gladiator II” to watch next.

(Universal Pictures) Gladiator (2000)

The Oscar-winning Ridley Scott epic is obviously the template for the new sequel, but if for some reason you haven’t seen Russell Crowe’s Maximus (almost) single-handedly upending the Roman Empire, you should remedy that with due speed. The film, which won five Oscars, including one for Crowe as Best Actor, is always worth revisiting, especially in light of the many callbacks in the new film. Strength and honor!

Faith is a tricky subject and it gets even trickier when talked about in a public platform. Many actors have shied away from discussing religion publicly in order to not alienate any of their fan bases, but not Denzel Washington.

The Gladiator II star has been vocal about his faith and the impact religion had on his personal life and career for a long time now. Washington emphasized curating a strong bond with the heavenly being on several occasions but his recent statement might hurt some sentiments. The Malcolm X actor said that people in Hollywood did not like talking about religion and his views burned a lot of bridges. Atheists may not like to hear this, but according to the actor religious stars did not earn major accolades.

Religion can keep actors from receiving Oscars? Denzel Washington in Training Day | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

Denzel Washington initially started his...

In addition to her on-screen triumphs, the beloved Hollywood star Julia Roberts is also known for her complicated relationships with some of the industry figures, including her brother Eric Roberts, the Shakespeare in Love producer Edward Zwick, and the Hook director Steven Spielberg.

Julia Roberts in Leave the World Behind | Credit: Netflix

Another name that could fall under the same category is that of her former co-star Nick Nolte, who shared the screen with the actress in the 1994 romantic comedy I Love Trouble. Roberts openly discusses the behind-the-scenes tensions with Nolte, even describing him as “disgusting,” a remark that Nolte later reflects on years later.

Julia Roberts Had a Hard Time Getting Along With Nick Nolte on I Love Trouble

Directed by Charles Shyer, the 1994 romantic comedy, I Love Trouble, follows two rival reporters, Peter and Sabrina, who are forced to work together on the same story and eventually fall in love despite their differences.

Time flies when you're observing genius, and for some of us it feels like just yesterday that Denzel Washington was a preposterously talented young actor with a future of untold greatness laid out before him. What would he be? A charmer like Cary Grant, an everyman like James Stewart, or a stalwart like Sidney Poitier? It felt like he could be anything, everything, and, 43 years later, he's delivered on that promise with interest. Denzel Washington is everything: A gentleman, a playboy, a badass, a crusader, a villain, and a bit of a clown. Without fail, he takes your breath away by being the best possible version of whatever it is his character was written to be.

After a rough start with the wrongheaded 1981 racial satire "Carbon Copy," Washington found his footing in a supporting turn with "A Soldier's Story." In 1988, he received his first Academy Award nomination for his portrayal...

Denzel Washington explains why he enjoys taking on villain roles in addition to the more heroic roles he's often associated with. Washington remains one of the most respected actors working in Hollywood, and he's widely known for more heroic roles, including in such projects as The Book of Eli (2010) and The Equalizer trilogy. He's also just as well-known for playing morally-corrupted figures, however, as he did in Training Day (2001) and American Gangster (2007). He can next be seen as part of the cast of Gladiator 2, playing Macrinus, another antagonistic character.

During a recent interview with Esquire in which he breaks down his various roles, past, present, and future, Washington touches on his penchant for playing antagonist characters. The actor keeps his explanation short and sweet, explaining that the villain characters are often just more fun. Check out his comment below:

Good guys dont have any fun. Bad guys do have all the fun,...

Denzel Washington recalls his bitterness over losing out on two Oscars, revealing that he stopped voting. Washington remains one of the most respected actors working in Hollywood today, appearing in popcorn hits and prestige awards fare. He can next be seen as part of the cast of Gladiator 2. Washington has been widely celebrated at various awards ceremonies, including the Academy Awards, winning two and being nominated for eight others since 1988's Cry Freedom.

In a recent piece he wrote for Esquire, recounting key moments of his life in his own words, Washington reveals that he didn't take two particular Oscar losses very well. He was nominated for both Malcolm X (1992) and The Hurricane (1999), losing to Al Pacino for Scent of a Woman (1992) for the former and Kevin Spacy for American Beauty (1999) for the latter.

Washington recalls the experience of losing to Spacey, in particular, and how the moment ultimately...

It's not that Denzel Washington hasn't made some bad movies — the one where he played the ghost of a lawyer who has to guide Bob Hoskins through a police investigation is pretty indefensible. But the fact is that the best Denzel movies are some of the best movies ever made. The man just knows how to radiate charisma no matter what part he's playing, and his films are all the better for it. Does it mean that you can't help but see Denzel instead of his character most of the time? Well, it depends what era you're talking about.

For many who grew up with Denzel in his "Training Day" era, the actor very much just seemed like his whole Mo was to just show up, be Denzel, and go home. But those of us who were, at the time, too young to remember "Malcom X"-era Denzel were missing...

Denzel Washington might be contemplating retirement from acting after an illustrious career spanning over four decades, but he still wants to do a few more projects and work with a few more legends in the industry before leaving the stage for good.

Credits: Denzel Washington in The Equalizer 3 / Sony Pictures

As one of the most celebrated and respected names in Hollywood, Washington has carved an image of a classic and versatile actor. While many celebrities can only dream of working with him, the 69-year-old star expressed interest in collaborating with three world-class directors before he retires.

Denzel Washington Reveals Three Directors That Inspire Him

Denzel Washington will star as Macrinus in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, but the veteran star hints that it might not be his last project yet. In his interview with Empire, he said: “There are very few films left for me to make that I’m interested in,...

Did Brad Pitt almost leave the leading role in Legends of the Fall? ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Picture this: It’s 1994, and Brad Pitt, the golden boy of Hollywood, almost walked away from his leading role in Legends of the Fall. Can you believe it? Director Ed Zwick revealed that tensions ran high on set, with Pitt needing to be talked “off the ledge” of quitting. Talk about a dramatic behind-the-scenes moment!

Originally, the role of Tristan was meant for Tom Cruise, but he dropped out due to personal qualms about the character’s motivations. Enter Pitt, who took over, but not without his own share of doubts. After a tense table read just days before filming, Pitt’s agent called the studio to say he wanted to quit. Yikes!

Zwick noted that he saw Pitt’s discomfort during the table read, which included heavy hitters like Anthony Hopkins and Julia Ormond.

Some audiences might have first spotted Matt Damon during a notable dinner scene in Donald Petrie's hit 1988 drama "Mystic Pizza." Thereafter, Damon turned up as an extra in "Field of Dreams" and as one of the many handsome students in the 1992 boarding school thriller "School Ties," both of them with his longtime friend and collaborator Ben Affleck. Damon went on to score some considerable screen time in Edward Zwick's "Courage Under Fire" before delivering his first lead performance in 1997 in Francis Ford Coppola's "The Rainmaker." That same year, Damon and Affleck became acclaimed Academy darlings for writing and starring in Gus Van Sant's "Good Will Hunting." The pair won Oscars for their screenplay and have both been major Hollywood players since.

Damon, having gained the clout to be picky and the fame to be noticed, thereafter became attracted to projects by established directors. After having alreayd...

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We Live in Time is a romantic comedy-drama film directed by John Crowley from a screenplay by Nick Payne. The 2024 film employs a non-linear style of storytelling to tell the story of Tobias and Almut, a young couple as they meet each other, fall in love, and have a child. But when Almut is diagnosed with cancer, Tobias must learn to live with her in each moment. We Live in Time stars Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh in the lead roles with Adam James, Marama Corlett, Aoife Hinds, Nikhil Parmar, Heather Craney, and Douglas Hodge starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the heartwarming love story, great emotional scenes, and compelling characters in We Live in Time here are some similar movies you should check out next.

Irreplaceable You (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Irreplaceable You is a romantic...

Sorry, Jack Reacher fans, but your streaming options for the two Tom Cruise-led movies are about to be cut in half. Netflix has announced that 2012's Jack Reacher and 2016's Jack Reacher: Never Go Back will leave the streamer at the end of the month.

Both Jack Reacher movies will leave Netflix on Oct. 31. Before Alan Ritchson stepped into the role of the former U.S. Army military policeman, Cruise played the character who has appeared in 29 novels by Lee Child in two well-received feature-length films. The first, Jack Reacher, was released in 2012, focusing on the titular character Reacher as he is called upon to aid in a homicide investigation involving a trained military sniper believed to be responsible for a mass shooting. The movie, based on the 2005 novel One Shot and written and directed by future Mission: Impossible helmer Christopher McQuarrie, earned favorable reviews from critics and was a box office success,...

Tom Cruise is a name synonymous with Hollywood stardom, especially in the action and thriller genres. Though his career peaked in the 80s and 90s, the 2000s also saw some stellar performances and iconic roles that further cemented his status as a versatile actor.

Despite his eventual transformation into the industry’s biggest action star, Cruise has produced his fair share of hits in other genres as well. Below are the top 7 Tom Cruise movies from the 2000s, ranked based on their impact, critical acclaim, and Cruise’s remarkable performances.

1. Minority Report (2002)

Director: Steven Spielberg

Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Neo-noir

Runtime: 145 min

Starring: Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton

Tom Cruise’s collaboration with Steven Spielberg resulted in Minority Report, a mind-bending adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s short story. The film showcases Cruise as John Anderton, a futuristic cop who arrests criminals before they commit crimes. The movie’s unique...

Tom Cruise starred in numerous blockbuster films throughout his career. While he has delivered exceptional performances, the action star has notably done only two sequels outside of the Mission: Impossible franchise, Top Gun: Maverick and Jack Reacher: Never Go Back.

Top Gun: Maverick | Credit: Paramount Pictures

While Maverick turned out to be a massive hit, renewing the action film series with the 2022 sequel, the same could not be said about the latter. After Christopher McQuarrie’s 2012 film, Edward Zwick took over the sequel, which ultimately fell short of expectations.

The filmmaker later reflected on the movie’s failure in his book, admitting that his attempt to put a personal spin on the story ultimately led to the downfall of the franchise.

Edward Zwick Reflected on the Failure of Jack Reacher: Never Go Back

Based on Lee Child’s bestselling novels, Jack Reacher follows Tom Cruise as the titular hero,...