Fans of Sylvester Stallone may know that the actor also has an affinity for art outside of movies. Stallone, in addition to his creative endeavors as an actor, writer and director, also does paintings in his personal time. If you follow Stallone on his official social media accounts, from time to time, you may get a glimpse of pieces he’s been working on. Or maybe just past works that he was keen to share. Stallone also loves to share the works of others that have captured the spirit of his films.
On his official Instagram account, Stallone shared a striking painting that captures one of the many iconic scenes of the first Rocky. In the piece titled The Chosen One, we’re shown a still from the very first scene of the movie where we’re introduced to Rocky Balboa scrapping for change in a bottom-of-the-barrel boxing fight at a church with many drunks in attendance. Balboa is fighting Spider Rico, who famously cheats, and would also make a return in Rocky Balboa in 2006.
Stallone’s post about the painting reads, “A fantastic painting by @john_rivoli depicting Rocky’s beginnings. As though he was chosen to make that enlightening journey. Check out @john_rivoli the best Rokie artist in the world.” The artist, John Rivoli, is an official creator for Sly’s online store and is an official Rocky (or “Rokie”) artist. Rivoli’s own post for the painting reads, “THE CHOSEN ONE New Art Release available now! www.iconsinart.com. follow me for more rare content. Get your Limited Edition Fine art prints at IconsInArt.com!”
Famously, in Rocky III, Stallone would display two stunning paintings from artist LeRoy Neiman — one of Rocky in a pose with his championship belt that was made from an image used in the original poster and certain home video covers, and of course, the famous painting of the freeze frame at the end when Rocky and Apollo have their secret rematch behind closed doors and both take a swing at each other simultaneously, leaving it a mystery as to who arose as the victor until Rocky revealed that Apollo won in Creed.
It’s official. Both the Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Wii U will be switching off their online play on April 8 at 7 P.M. ET. After that, your devices will sit alone, detached from the wider world, until the madness of solitude sets in.
It’s official. Both the Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Wii U will be switching off their online play on April 8 at 7 P.M. ET. After that, your devices will sit alone, detached from the wider world, until the madness of solitude sets in.
Take it outside, folks! Amazon MGM Studios has dropped the first official poster for the upcoming Road House reimagining starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Check it out below!
LOVE that they’ve kept the original neon sign font. Looks fantastic. The Road House poster also features a handful of easter eggs from the original 1989 movie, including a framed photo of Dalton’s three simple rules: 1) Expect the unexpected. 2) Take it outside. 3) Be nice. There’s also a Double Deuce shot glass on the counter, a reference to the original bar, and a piece of graffiti reading “For a great Buick, call 555-7616.” There are a few others to be found, but I’ll leave them for you to discover. Let us know what you find in the comments.
Per the official logline: “In this adrenaline-fueled reimagining of the ’80s cult classic, ex-UFC fighter Dalton (Gyllenhaal) takes a job as a bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse, only to discover that this paradise is not all it seems.” In addition to Gyllenhaal, Road House stars Daniela Melchior, Billy Magnussen, Jessica Williams, Joaquim De Almeida, and Conor McGregor in his first film role. The film aims to pay homage to the original while providing its own unique and exhilarating spin to introduce Dalton, the roadhouse, and all its chaos to a new generation.
Hopefully, the first trailer for Road House will be close behind. What we’ve seen so far looks promising, but I still wish the movie would get a theatrical release. A report detailing why Joel Silver was fired from several Amazon productions mentioned that the once powerful producer was upset that Amazon was giving Road House a straight-to-streaming release. This is despite the remake reportedly receiving the highest-testing scores in director Doug Liman’s career. The movie does seem to be staying in the spirit of the original with an R-rating for “violence throughout, pervasive language, and some nudity.” I can’t wait to see it.
Road House will debut on Prime Video on March 21st in more than 240 territories worldwide.
Bob Marley’s message of love, peace, and unity is being told in the new film, Bob Marley: One Love. Unfortunately, since his time, the world seems to have gotten more hectic and that message is surely needed to land with people nowadays. Paramount celebrates the man, the myth, the legend, and the biopic with its premiere being held in Kingston, Jamaica, where guests and fans were also treated to a concert of various musical acts. The event took place at the Carib 5 Theatre in Kingston on January 23 with Fae Ellington hosting the festivities.
The stars from the movie in attendance included Kingsley Ben-Adir, James Norton, Aston Barrett Jr., Anna-SharéBlake, Gawaine “J-Summa” Campbell, Naomi Cowan, Alexx “A-Game” Gallimore, Quan-Dajai Henriques, David Kerr, Hector Roots Lewis, Abijah “Naki Wailer” Livingston, Brian Todd Boucher, Cornelius Grant, Sheldon Shepherd, Wilfred Chambers (aka Ricky Chaplin), Nia Ashi and Sundra Oakley. They were joined by Director Reinaldo Marcus Green, Producers Robert Teitel, Jeremy Kleiner, Ziggy Marley, and Rita Marley and Executive Producer Orly Marley.
Some of the additional special guests in attendance included Paramount Pictures President & CEO Brian Robbins and wife Tracy Robbins, Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and Most Honorable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica.
KINGSTON, JAMAICA – JANUARY 23: (L-R) Brian Robbins, James Norton, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Mike Ireland, Robert Teitel, Reinaldo Marcus Green and Jeremy Kleiner attend the Premiere of “Bob Marley: One Love” at the Carib 5 Theatre on January 23, 2024 in Kingston, Jamaica. (Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images)KINGSTON, JAMAICA – JANUARY 23: (L-R) Jeremy Kleiner, Reinaldo Marcus Green, Mike Ireland, Robert Teitel, Brian Todd Boucher, David Kerr, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Hector ‘Roots’ Lewis, James Norton and Brian Robbins attend the Premiere of “Bob Marley: One Love” at the Carib 5 Theatre on January 23, 2024 in Kingston, Jamaica. (Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images)KINGSTON, JAMAICA – JANUARY 23: (L-R) Robert Teitel, Jeremy Kleiner, James Norton, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Andrew Holness, Reinaldo Marcus Green and Ziggy Marley attend the Premiere of “Bob Marley: One Love” at the Carib 5 Theatre on January 23, 2024 in Kingston, Jamaica. (Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images)KINGSTON, JAMAICA – JANUARY 23: (L-R) Jeremy Kleiner, Quan-Dajai Henriques, Robert Teitel and Nia Ashi attend the Premiere of “Bob Marley: One Love” at the Carib 5 Theatre on January 23, 2024 in Kingston, Jamaica. (Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images)KINGSTON, JAMAICA – JANUARY 23: Yohan Marley attends the Premiere of “Bob Marley: One Love” at the Carib 5 Theatre on January 23, 2024 in Kingston, Jamaica. (Photo by Jason Koerner/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures,)KINGSTON, JAMAICA – JANUARY 23: Yohan Marley performs during the Premiere of “Bob Marley: One Love” at the Carib 5 Theatre on January 23, 2024 in Kingston, Jamaica. (Photo by Jason Koerner/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures,)KINGSTON, JAMAICA – JANUARY 23: Fans in Kingston, Jamaica celebrate “Bob Marley: One Love” at a pre-premiere party including live music from DJ Zuri Marley, Mystic Marley and Yohan Marley, food, drinks & on stage interview with cast and filmmakers (host Kamilah McDonald) at the Carib 5 Theatre on January 23, 2024 in Kingston, Jamaica. (Photo by Jason Koerner/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures.)KINGSTON, JAMAICA – JANUARY 23: Fans in Kingston, Jamaica celebrate “Bob Marley: One Love” at a pre-premiere party including live music from DJ Zuri Marley, Mystic Marley and Yohan Marley, food, drinks & on stage interview with cast and filmmakers (host Kamilah McDonald) at the Carib 5 Theatre on January 23, 2024 in Kingston, Jamaica. (Photo by Jason Koerner/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures.)
The official synopsis from Paramount reads, “BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE celebrates the life and music of an icon who inspired generations through his message of love and unity. On the big screen for the first time, discover Bob’s powerful story of overcoming adversity and the journey behind his revolutionary music. Produced in partnership with the Marley family and starring Kingsley Ben-Adir as the legendary musician and Lashana Lynch as his wife Rita, BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE is in theatres February 14, 2024.”
PLOT: In 2005, a teenager, Doris (Nico Parker), helps her mother (Laura Linney) care for her dying brother at the same hospice where Terri Schiavo is being treated. With the hospital at the centre of neverending right-to-life protests, Doris sparks an unlikely friendship with one of the protestors (Woody Harrelson).
REVIEW:Suncoast was a late Sundance surprise for me. I wasn’t expecting much from the film, and I entertained the idea of waiting for it to hit Hulu (it has a Feb 9 release date). Still, I found myself unexpectedly charmed by this Searchlight release, which is the kind of crowdpleaser the festival audience loves, with the theatre I saw this in packed with sobbing attendees by the time the credits rolled.
Suncoast was a refreshing change of pace from some of the heavier fare I’ve been watching here, with it refreshingly optimistic and upbeat, even if it deals with grim subject matter. Based on writer-director Laura Chinn’s experience with having a brother in the same end-of-life facility as Terri Schiavo, the film attempts to strike a balance between those who thought she should live as opposed to those who thought she should be let go. No one is portrayed as “right,” with compelling arguments for both perspectives.
Yet, the film isn’t about Shiavo; it is more about Doris’s life as she copes with being there for her dying brother, who’s been left unresponsive by terminal brain cancer, while also making a life for herself at her new high school. She also has to deal with her pre-occupied mother, played by Laura Linney, in a role that sometimes dares to be unsympathetic. In a rough moment, she uses her son’s illness to horribly manipulate her daughter, although the film never judges her too harshly.
Indeed, that’s what makes Suncoast so good. It’s optimistic in that virtually everyone in the film is shown to be good essentially. Doris has moments of selfishness, as she uses the fact that her family home is unoccupied to get in the good graces of a popular clique at school, but she’s a good kid. In a more quintessential teen drama, the teens would be portrayed as selfish, but for the most part, they come off relatively well and genuine in their affection for the likable Doris. Even tiny roles, such as Doris’s Christian ethics teacher (played by Matt Walsh), are non-stereotypical.
The best example, though, is Woody Harrelson’s character. So many films have conditioned us to assume this older man has an unseemly side. Still, he comes across as a benign pseudo-father figure who genuinely desires to help this girl navigate a painful time in her life. Harrelson is excellent as usual, breaking your heart with the depths of his grief for his late wife but also coming across as a kind, quirky friend for someone who needs it.
Of everyone, though, young Nico Parker stands out. Readers may remember her for playing Joel’s doomed daughter in the first episode of The Last of Us, and she’s got a lot of presence. The spitting image of her mother, Thandiwe Newton, Parker seems like a star in the making, and this is an excellent role for her.
Through it all, Chinn keeps the film rolling along at a tight pace (including fun needle drops from the era), likely leading to significant opportunities for her going forward. It’s cut from the same cloth as other Searchlight Sundance faves like Little Miss Sunshine and The Way, Way Back. It’s too bad the studio is making it a Hulu exclusive, as it could have become a word-of-mouth hit. I think a lot of us miss seeing movies like this in theaters.
Netflix has hit an all-time high number of subscribers, with the company reporting a total of 260.8 million paid users. So yes, that whole password crackdown thing has worked out just fine so far.
Netflix added an additional 13.1 million subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2023, pushing it to its new record. That’s more than a 30% increase from the third quarter reports. Further, Netflix exceeded initial expectations in their subscriber bump by nearly five million users.
In a statement, Netflix pointed to their uptick in subscribers at the end of the year to their steady stream of content, something other services aren’t keeping up with. “It’s why continuing to improve our entertainment offering is so important, and as many of our competitors cut back on their content spend, we continue to invest in our slate.” No doubt we can expect to see subscriber numbers increase even more next year, as Netflix announced this week that they also acquired live streaming rights to WWE’s Raw programming, while international markets will host SmackDown and pay-per-view events. The landmark deal is worth $5 billion over the course of 10 years and is yet another sign of Netflix’s desire to bring live content to the streamer.
While there was skepticism and outcry over Netflix announcing last year that they were cracking down on password sharing (so long, Me&Bae!), it has worked tremendously in their favor. Soon after enacting this tactic, they saw their biggest draw of new subscribers since 2019.
Regarding their content that continues to pull in subscribers, Netflix has a total of 18 Oscar nominations this year. Maestro alone earned seven, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress. Netflix also finds Rustin’s Colman Dimingo in the Best Actor race, Nyad’s Annette Bening and Jodie Foster in their respective categories and May December up for its screenplay, just to name a few.
In addition to their subscriber increase, Netflix revenue also went up around $1 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2022.
Did you fall victim to Netflix’s password crackdown? If so, did you end up subscribing on your own?
Madness breeds madness – and in this case, audiences couldn’t be more excited for Joker 2, or rather, Joker: Folie a Deux, which is the official title. 2019’s Joker was one of the best reviewed movies of the 21st century with critics and fans universally praising Joaquin Phoenix for his performance as well as Todd Phillips for his direction. Phoenix won the Oscar for Best Male Performance thanks to his rendition of the Joker, DC’s most notorious and deadly villain, and added to the legacy that the fictional character has built up over the years (we recently made an epic episode of WTF Happened to this Movie about it). And now, that legacy will continue to grow with a sequel.
Joker: Folie a Deux will be a follow-up to the 2019 origin story that Phillips brought to the screen and will allow audiences to once again enjoy the character that they’ve come to love (and despise) so very much. Now, fans shouldn’t put the cart before the horse as the sequel’s not set to hit theaters for another year and a half, but seeing as how fans have already waited more than three years for the sequel, it’s safe to assume that hype is at an all time high. So, with all of that hype building up, let’s take a look at everything we know about Joker: Folie a Deux so far.
First Images & Trailer:
While a trailer for Joker 2 is likely months away, Phillips has been generous as far as images teasing the look of his Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck and Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn go. Phillips recently shared the following to Instagram:
As stated, Joker 2 won’t be reportedly coming out for another year and a half (and that’s provided everything goes right with filming and post-production). So, with the film still so far out, and with the production team wanting to keep the movie under wraps, audiences have been given surprisingly little about what they can expect from the sequel in terms of the plot. The small pieces of information that fans know about are that Harley Quinn will be playing a significant role in the film and that at least part of it will take place in Arkham Asylum.
Another important piece of information about the movie (that will more than likely affect the plot in some way) is that the movie will be actually be a musical. The choice was reportedly made due to the dancing related themes incorporated in the first movie, combined with the casting choice of Lady Gaga as the infamous Harley Quinn. Gaga’s musical background undoubtedly played a part in choosing to have the film be more musically driven and her experience with acting/creating music made the choice a no-brainer.
The last piece of information regarding the plot is that fans need to remember that this particular movie, as well as its predecessor, are not part of James Gunn’s upcoming DCU and will therefore be under the category of DC Elseworlds – stand alone projects set in the DC Universe. This isn’t new information as the original Joker was never part of the larger universe that DC attempted and failed to make, but nevertheless it should still be noted.
Joker: Folie a Deux – The Cast
Joaquin Phoenix gained an Oscar and universal acclaim for his rendition of the Joker so it’s no surprise to anyone that he’ll be returning to play Arthur Fleck/The Joker for the sequel. A notable piece of information to take into account is that thanks to Phoenix’s Oscar-winning performance, his payday for the sequel will be $20 million, opposed to the $4 million that he received for the original movie.
However, as discussed earlier, the biggest addition to the sequel in terms of star-power will be Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. Despite Margot Robbie playing the character for the past decade in three separate DC projects, Robbie has praised the casting choice of Gaga as Quinn and believes that she’ll do an amazing job with the character, saying:
“I think she’s going to do an amazing job. I’m so excited. All I could have ever hoped for Harley is that she would become one of those characters that, kind of like Batman, or Hamlet, gets handed from actor to actor—everyone gets a go at playing them. So, I feel like it’s just a credit to her as a character that people want to see her in multiple interactions. I’m excited.”
After Lady Gaga, other notable actors/actresses that have been added to the cast are Jacob Lofland, Catherine Keener, and Brenden Gleeson. Lofland is reportedly playing an inmate from the Arkham Asylum, and there hasn’t yet been any word on who Keener and Gleeson will be playing. Another new name for the movie is Harry Lawtey (star if HBO’s Industry) who has also been cast in an undisclosed role, however it’s been reported that his role will be a “big” one for the series.
Another name that audiences will be familiar with is Zazie Beetz who played Sophie in the first Joker film. While it was revealed that her and Arthur’s relationship was completely concocted inside Arthur’s head, her overall fate was never revealed in the film. Also, while nothing has officially been confirmed, Zazie has publicly stated that she believes Sophie is still alive in the series. With all of that being said, fans shouldn’t expect to see Zazie in the upcoming sequel, but it’s a very real possibility.
More images reveal Arkham Asylum
Right around the holidays, Todd Phillips gave fans another sneak peek at Joker: Folie a Deux by posting a pic of Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck in his cell in Arkham Asylum, while the other showed Lady Gaga as Dr. Harleen Quinzel. Heck them out:
Joker: Folie a Deux is currently slated for an October 4, 2024 release date. Chances are, it will follow the original film and have a fall festival premiere (likely in Venice, maybe TIFF too).
The Soundtrack:
While Lady Gaga will presumably have a lot to do with the songs, the original composer Hildur Guðnadóttir will also be returning.
What does the Joker 2 title mean?
Folie a Deux (the film’s official title) actually translates to “madness of two” and refers to ‘shared psychosis’ in which “delusion or mental illness is shared by two people in close association”. It can be safely assumed that the title is referring to the relationship that will undoubtedly spread between Joker and Harley Quinn.
How Was It Filmed?
Joker: Folie a Deux was partly shot with IMAX cameras by DP Lawrence Sher.
Everything Else:
Another piece of information that fans might find interesting is that despite being set in New York City, filming actually still took place in Los Angeles. Nevertheless, it’s been revealed in set-photos that the sequel will return to the infamous “Joker-steps” from the first movie. It’s also assumed that since the movie will be a musical, Gaga will be writing the music for at least one of the songs that she will undoubtedly perform during the film – it’s well known that Gaga writes/co-writes all of her own music and has already won an Oscar herself for writing/performing the song “Shallow” in A Star is Born back in 2018.
So, even though fans won’t get a chance to see how The Joker and Harley Quinn get wrapped up in another crazy villainous adventure for quite some time, fans can rest well knowing that the wait will be more than worth it.
Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions announced today that they have acquired Boy Kills World, the action thriller starring Bill Skarsgård which blew away audiences at the Toronto International Film Festival last year. We’ll soon have the chance to check out Boy Kills World for ourselves as the film will be given a wide release in theaters on April 26th.
Bill Skarsgård stars as Boy, a “deaf-mute with a vivid imagination, driven by his inner voice, one which he co-opted from his favorite childhood video game, avows revenge after his family is murdered by Hilda Van Der Koy, the deranged matriarch of a corrupt post-apocalyptic dynasty that left the boy orphaned, deafened, and voiceless. Boy trains with a mysterious shaman to become an instrument of death and is set loose on the eve of the annual culling of dissidents. Bedlam ensues as Boy commits bloody martial arts mayhem, inciting a wrath of carnage and blood-letting. As he tries to get his bearings in this delirious realm, Boy soon falls in with a desperate resistance group, all the while bickering with the apparent ghost of his rebellious little sister.“
“When we saw Boy Kills World at TIFF’s Midnight Madness we were blown away by the crazy action sequences and the terrific cast. Audiences are in for a wild ride,” said Roadside Attractions Co-Presidents Howard Cohen and Eric d’Arbeloff. Sam Raimi, who is one of the producers of the movie, added, “[Director Moritz] Mohr brings a distinct visual style and an unbridled imagination to the screen, creating an original, outrageous, and visceral thrill ride. Boy Kills World‘s eclectic cast, eye-popping stunt sequences, and deranged sense of humor will blow audiences away.“
In addition to Bill Skarsgård, Boy Kills World also stars Jessica Rothe, Michelle Dockery, Brett Gelman, Isaiah Mustafa, Yayan Ruhian, Nicholas and Cameron Crovetti, Quinn Copeland, Andrew Koji, Sharlto Copley, and Famke Janssen.
Our own Chris Bumbray had a blast with Boy Kills World when he caught it at TIFF last year. “The movie is absolutely jam-packed with action, with it being a mix of hand-to-hand and gunplay, most of which seems to be done by Skarsgård himself,” Bumbray wrote. “Some of the gore has sprinklings of producer Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead worked in (perhaps). One of the most notably disgusting bits involves Boy using a box grater in a gory scrap, and another highlight is a hand-to-hand fight where his opponent keeps losing parts of his body.” You can check out the rest of Bumbray’s review right here.
The nominations for the 96th Academy Awards were announced earlier today, and as with every year, they came complete with a few surprises and a few snubs. One Oscar snub in particular seems to be rubbing folks the wrong way, and that’s Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig getting passed over for Best Actress and Best Director for Barbie.
Ryan Gosling, who starred alongside Margot Robbie in Barbie, did receive an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, but he released a statement expressing his disappointment in the snub of Robbie and Gerwig. You can read his full statement below:
I am extremely honored to be nominated by my colleagues alongside such remarkable artists in a year of so many great films. And I never thought I’d being saying this, but I’m also incredibly honored and proud that it’s for portraying a plastic doll named Ken.
But there is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no “Barbie” movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally-celebrated film.
No recognition would be possible for anyone on the film without their talent, grit and genius.
To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement.
Against all odds with nothing but a couple of soulless, scantily clad, and thankfully crotchless dolls, they made us laugh, they broke our hearts, they pushed the culture and they made history. Their work should be recognized along with the other very deserving nominees.
Having said that, I am so happy for America Ferrera and the other incredible artists who contributed their talents to making this such a groundbreaking film.
In addition to Ryan Gosling receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, Barbie also received nominations for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, and Best Original Song.
Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig did receive nominations in many awards ceremonies leading up to the Oscars, including the Golden Globe Awards, the Critics Choice Movie Awards, the Satellite Awards, the Saturn Awards, and more, which makes the snub all the more notable.
Was the Barbie Oscar snub justified or should Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig have received nominations?
