Luc Besson's "The Fifth Element" certainly has one of the most eclectic casts of any '90s blockbuster. On one hand, you have a variety of established actors. Then-beloved action hero Bruce Willis was the film's centerpiece, propped by British thespians like Gary Oldman and Ian Holm, both of whom had garnered recognition in major Hollywood blockbusters. On the other hand, you have a variety of unknown variables: Milla Jovovich, a young Russian model just getting her start on film; Chris Tucker, a hyperactive comedian slowly on the rise after "Friday," which also just so happened to feature "Fifth Element" co-star Tommy "Tiny" Lister Jr., an actor-turned-wrestler-turned-actor-again. Besson's call sheet of obscure talents goes on and on. However, it is exactly the director's ethno-galactically diverse, if often aesthetically disparate, vision for the film that makes the cast of "The Fifth Element" fit surprisingly well together.
By extension, the places...
By extension, the places...
- 12/11/2023
- by Larry Fried
- Slash Film
Unlike other TV comics of his generation, the late Friends actor could never transfer his small-screen fame to cinema – the film industry was the worse for it
‘An alcoholic from the age of 14’: Matthew Perry’s troubled life and foreshadowed death
Dr Doug Ross from TV’s ER made it in the movies. Wisecracking, balding private detective David Addison from TV’s Moonlighting made it in the movies. West Philadelphia-born-and-raised-kid Will Smith in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air made it in the movies.
So why not Chandler Bing? Why couldn’t Matthew Perry, that brilliant performer whose glorious TV character became everyone’s ideal friend and the very dating-app epitome of Gsoh, have joined George Clooney, Bruce Willis and Will Smith in the cinema? Or as a shrewd, smart writer, could Perry have followed Richie Cunningham from TV’s Happy Days – director Ron Howard – for a career behind the camera?...
‘An alcoholic from the age of 14’: Matthew Perry’s troubled life and foreshadowed death
Dr Doug Ross from TV’s ER made it in the movies. Wisecracking, balding private detective David Addison from TV’s Moonlighting made it in the movies. West Philadelphia-born-and-raised-kid Will Smith in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air made it in the movies.
So why not Chandler Bing? Why couldn’t Matthew Perry, that brilliant performer whose glorious TV character became everyone’s ideal friend and the very dating-app epitome of Gsoh, have joined George Clooney, Bruce Willis and Will Smith in the cinema? Or as a shrewd, smart writer, could Perry have followed Richie Cunningham from TV’s Happy Days – director Ron Howard – for a career behind the camera?...
- 10/30/2023
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
“Moonlighting” was more than a watercooler show. It was an obsession. Episodes were taped and rewatched. And for good reason. There had never been a anything on the small screen like the 1985-89 ABC romantic screwball comedy detective series. The rapid-fire dialogue recalled such Howard Hawks’ classics as 1938’s ‘Bringing Up Baby” and 1940’ “His Girl Friday.” Fourth walls were broken. There was a black-and-white episode and even and wild and crazy take on William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” That was just the tip of the innovations.
Creator and executive producer Glenn Gordon Caron told me in a 2000 L.A. Times interview that ABC didn’t give him total freedom when it came to the episodes: “The truth is no one let me do everything. I just did it. Ignorance is bliss. There were rules and I chose not to listen to anybody. At a certain point, the network said- ‘This is working.
Creator and executive producer Glenn Gordon Caron told me in a 2000 L.A. Times interview that ABC didn’t give him total freedom when it came to the episodes: “The truth is no one let me do everything. I just did it. Ignorance is bliss. There were rules and I chose not to listen to anybody. At a certain point, the network said- ‘This is working.
- 10/16/2023
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
The Story: Eddie Hawkins (Bruce Willis) aka the Hudson Hawk is a master cat burglar recently released from prison after a long stretch. Determined to go straight, he’s nonetheless blackmailed by the psychotic Darwin (Richard E. Grant) and Minerva Mayflower (Sandra Bernhard) to undertake a series of jobs in Rome involving the components of a machine designed by Leonardo da Vinci that converts lead into gold.
The Players: Starring: Bruce Willis, Andie MacDowell, Danny Aiello, James Coburn, Richard E. Grant and Sandra Bernhard. Directed by Michael Lehman.
The History: With Bruce Willis’s sad health situation forcing him into retirement, it’s worth digging into his filmography to examine some of his less-seen gems. For me, one of the big ones is Hudson Hawk. In 1991, Bruce Willis was arguably at the peak of his fame. “Moonlighting” was done and Die Hard had made him into one of the biggest action stars in town,...
The Players: Starring: Bruce Willis, Andie MacDowell, Danny Aiello, James Coburn, Richard E. Grant and Sandra Bernhard. Directed by Michael Lehman.
The History: With Bruce Willis’s sad health situation forcing him into retirement, it’s worth digging into his filmography to examine some of his less-seen gems. For me, one of the big ones is Hudson Hawk. In 1991, Bruce Willis was arguably at the peak of his fame. “Moonlighting” was done and Die Hard had made him into one of the biggest action stars in town,...
- 8/10/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Bruce Willis became a household name in 1985 after starring in the TV show Moonlighting alongside Cybill Shepherd. Willis played investigator David Addison and Shepherd played former model Maddie Hayes. Why was Moonlighting canceled? Here’s what we know Willis and Shepherd’s show.
Bruce Willis’ movies and TV shows Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis | ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
One of Willis’ early acting roles was an appearance in a 1984 episode of Miami Vice titled “No Exit.” He played the character Tony Amato. Willis also spent some time off-Broadway, starring in Sam Shepherd’s Fool for Love. He starred in the hit series Moonlighting alongside actor Cybill Shepherd the following year. Willis remained on the series for 66 episodes until it ended in 1989.
In 1987, Willis had one of his first major film roles. He played Walter Davis in Blind Date alongside Kim Basinger. Willis established himself...
Bruce Willis’ movies and TV shows Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis | ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
One of Willis’ early acting roles was an appearance in a 1984 episode of Miami Vice titled “No Exit.” He played the character Tony Amato. Willis also spent some time off-Broadway, starring in Sam Shepherd’s Fool for Love. He starred in the hit series Moonlighting alongside actor Cybill Shepherd the following year. Willis remained on the series for 66 episodes until it ended in 1989.
In 1987, Willis had one of his first major film roles. He played Walter Davis in Blind Date alongside Kim Basinger. Willis established himself...
- 3/14/2023
- by Sheiresa Ngo
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Bruce Willis' role in "Die Hard" is perhaps the most iconic of his career. Even with movies like "The Fifth Element" and "The Sixth Sense" counted in his favor, there's no more prototypical Bruce Willis experience than the "Die Hard" franchise. Willis just perfectly embodies the everyman cop forced to become an action hero.
But "Die Hard" was not Willis' first iconic character — that would be his role on the sitcom "Moonlighting," which aired from 1985 to 1989. In that series, Willis played the wisecracking detective who had a will-they won't-they romance with Cybill Shepherd. It was actually quite an innovative sitcom, featuring things uncommon in the '80s like fourth-wall breaks.
It was a good gig for Willis, and when he was offered "Die Hard" in 1987, he initially believed he'd have to turn it down because of his commitment to the show. At the time, Willis' future was very uncertain, according...
But "Die Hard" was not Willis' first iconic character — that would be his role on the sitcom "Moonlighting," which aired from 1985 to 1989. In that series, Willis played the wisecracking detective who had a will-they won't-they romance with Cybill Shepherd. It was actually quite an innovative sitcom, featuring things uncommon in the '80s like fourth-wall breaks.
It was a good gig for Willis, and when he was offered "Die Hard" in 1987, he initially believed he'd have to turn it down because of his commitment to the show. At the time, Willis' future was very uncertain, according...
- 10/24/2022
- by Matt Rainis
- Slash Film
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