We’re in something of a live-action adaptation renaissance in Hollywood right now, what with the Barbie doll coming to life thanks to Margot Robbie, and Netflix turning a bunch of anime into real-life shows (to varying degrees of success). The hit anime and manga One-Punch Man is getting a similar treatment by Sony…

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Tom Cruise is generally known to be one of the most committed and nicest guys in Hollywood. As one who stands up for his cast and crew members and provides morale-boosting gifts that show his gratitude for their work, there’s no denying that he has everything it takes for being a stand-up dude. One who can attest to this War of the Worlds co-star Dakota Fanning, who met Cruise when she was on her way to being one of the biggest pre-teen stars of her day. And while it has been nearly two decades since they worked together on the big screen, Cruise still sends her a birthday gift every year.

Speaking with Harper’s Bazaar, Dakota Fanning said that every February 23rd, she receives a present from Tom Cruise, who first did so towards the end of production on War of the Worlds, which wrapped just a couple of weeks after she turned 11. That gift? A Motorola Razr phone. “Oh, my God, I was so excited” even though she “didn’t have anybody to call or text at that time. You know, I was 11. But I loved having it. I loved it. I felt so cool.” She added, “Tom sends me a birthday gift every year, and has since that birthday.” For those keeping score, that’s 20 total gifts from Cruise…We just hope they’re all as hip as a Razr phone!

And while it’s likely that plenty of others join Fanning in receiving birthday presents from Cruise, perhaps his most famous annual gift-giving tradition is the coconut cake he sends to some of his nearest and dearest every Christmas, with recipients including former co-stars Kirsten Dunst (Interview with the Vampire), Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick) and, yes, Dakota Fanning.

Directed by Steven Spielberg, War of the Worlds would go on to take in more than $600 million worldwide, making it one of the biggest hits of 2005. While it doesn’t have the overall impact of the director’s greatest sci-fi films, it’s still quite underappreciated, with some spectacular action and Oscar-nominated VFX, along with a compelling angle of post-9/11 paranoia.

What is your favorite story of Tom Cruise’s generosity? Share one below!

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The music festival Coachella hit this weekend with a wide array of genre artists. Notably, for the older millennial music fans, 90s bands such as Blur and No Doubt would take the stage. The festival would also feature a bevy of guest appearances that include such acts as Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, Shakira, Paris Hilton and Kesha. Kesha would set social media and news outlets ablaze as she changed the lyrics to her hit song “Tik Tok” to say “fuck P. Diddy” during her performance with Reneé Rapp.

The Hollywood Reporter reveals that during J Balvin’s set, Will Smith arrived on stage in his black suit and shades, which was “the last suit you’d ever wear” in Smith’s 1997 blockbuster film, Men in Black. Smith and Balvin would then duet in rapping to the title track of the sci-fi comedy that also starred Tommy Lee Jones. Their performance was enhanced by the background dancers sporting alien costumes as well as the stage featuring an oversized grey alien head. Other dancers were also dressed in the signature Men in Black clothing. At the end of their set, Balvin was humorously taken away from the stage by two men in black suits.

Smith is also set to return to another character that helped launch his film career with the fourth entry in the Bad Boys franchise, Bad Boys Ride or Die. The new sequel sees Will Smith and Martin Lawrence back in the roles of Miami narcotics detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, and they’re joined in the cast by Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Núñez, and Joe Pantoliano. New additions to the cast include Eric Dane, Ioan Gruffudd, and Rhea Seehorn. Tasha Smith is also on board to play Marcus Burnett’s wife, replacing Theresa Randle, who played the character in the first three movies in the franchise.

The directing duo of Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah continue their run as taking over for Michael Bay in this franchise and they say that this installment will have more comedy than Bad Boys for Life. “I think that there’s going to be way more comedy,” El Arbi said. “The third one had the dramatic tone. With this one, it’s really our purpose to get people laughing and having a good time in the theater. Martin [Lawrence] is going to a higher level in this one. This is the culmination of the Marcus Burnett arc.“

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Since the Amazon Prime Fallout TV series premiered, the numbers of people playing various Fallout games has shot up all over. Because you’re all a bunch of sheep, doing whatever The Media tells you to. Like, for instance, how I installed Fallout 76 on my Xbox last night.

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Since Amazon Prime’s Fallout TV series premiered, the numbers of people playing various Fallout games has shot up all over. Because you’re all a bunch of sheep, doing whatever The Media tells you to. Like, for instance, how I installed Fallout 76 on my Xbox last night.

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PLOT: A group of criminals kidnap a young girl who isn’t what she seems.

REVIEW: There was a period in my youth when vampire films ranked amongst the coolest in the horror genre. Films such as The Lost Boys, Fright Night, Near Dark, and From Dusk Till Dawn knew how to tell a story while not forgetting to show us a good time. With directing duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s latest film, Abigail, this pair delivers by bringing the fun back into horror. As with 2019’s Ready or Not, this genre-mixing rollercoaster primarily takes place in a large mansion, but instead of one lead being hunted, it’s an entire group.

The film jumps right into gear with the abduction of Abigail (Alisha Weir), the 12-year-old ballerina who is the daughter of a very powerful and wealthy man. Guaranteed a hefty ransom for the kidnapping is a motley crew of miscreants, each with their own quirks and secrets: Former dirty detective Frank (Dan Stevens), the enforcer and musclebound Peter (Kevin Durand), former Army medic Joey (Melissa Barrera), the spoiled hacker Sammy (Kathryn Newton), ex-Marine and gunman Rickles (William Catlett), and the wheelman Dean (Angus Cloud). Once they rendezvous at another location, the group is met by the heist organizer, Lambert (Giancarlo Esposito). They are given simple instructions: no real names, no personal information, no cell phones. Just 24 hours of babysitting a pre-teen. Being given the task of sole caretaker to Abigail, Joey learns that something bad will happen almost immediately. After discovering the potential identity of Abigail’s father, the group may have bitten off more than they can chew.

We all know going in, this is not your typical 12-year-old girl. Bloodshed looms on the horizon, but the film takes its time to give us the promise of the trailers. This could have been a disappointment, however, the cleverly plotted and witty script, written by Stephen Shields and Guy Busick, unfolds with skill. In the first half, the storyline gives us just what we need to know about the characters, more often than not, in hilarious ways. Sure, they may be lowlifes, but we are emotionally invested before the stakes escalate.

Returning from Radio Silence’s Scream films is Barerra, who is in top form as the heroine of the group. While her role does not require the delivery of comedic punches, like the remaining cast, her character, Joey, easily switches from a caring mother to a full-on gun-toting badass. Sharing palpable chemistry with Barerra is Catlett, our stoic ex-marine, which adds to our emotional investment in the members of this group. Paired up with Barrera is a scene-stealing Stevens. As expected, this man is really leaning into his character. The filmmakers and Stevens are fans of the show I Think You Should Leave, which influences some of the qualities of ex-detective Frank. With his slick-backed hair, I was almost waiting for him to talk about his love for sloppy steaks. You know, a real piece of shit. Much like the lead character in Ready or Not, Newton is the one really put through the wringer. When Sammy is not being thrown into a pool of rotting bodies, she delivers some of the film’s funniest moments, especially when partnered with Cloud as Dean. His comedic timing shows another side we had not seen in previous roles. Real laugh-out-loud moments come from Durand, who plays his character as a hulking mimbo. Peter is a tough yet dumb, loveable enforcer who refuses to believe what’s going on when the bloodshed begins. However, it’s the film’s titular character who is the true star of the show. Weir’s performance as Abigail is nothing short of spectacular. Her portrayal of a scared little girl, afraid of her kidnappers, is convincing. Although, when the monster inside her comes out, Abigail’s pirouettes are lethal, resulting in a blood-soaked ballet.

And blood there is. Straight from the cast, this is the bloodiest film they’ve worked on, and I believe it. The excessive use of blood cannons in this movie takes me back to the glory days of genre films. And Abigail really lets it explode, particularly in the film’s final act.

From the ensemble cast, incredibly detailed production design by Susie Cullen, the choreography of Belinda Murphy, and the practical effects of Matthew Smith, Abigail is a guaranteed good time. It is one of the better vampire films I’ve seen in recent years and one the audience can really sink their teeth into. Chalk this up as another win for team Radio Silence.

Universal will be giving Abigail a theatrical release on April 19th.

Abigail

GREAT

8

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As the year marches on and spring nears its end, not many big franchise movies are set for summer with last year’s dual strikes delaying a number of projects. However, the big daddy of Marvel sequels that remains on schedule is the highly anticipated Deadpool & Wolverine. Fans are ready for the fourth wall-annihilating entry that will bring Hugh Jackman back for a reprisal exception as X-Men’s Wolverine after the actor laid him to rest in 2017’s Logan. The other big element of this movie is Wade Wilson’s official induction into the MCU now that Disney has absorbed 20th Century Fox and all its properties.

According to Deadline, the director of Deadpool & Wolverine, Shawn Levy, recently gave an interview at CinemaCon where he says this installment in the series isn’t simply titled Deadpool 3 for a good reason. Levy would tell ScreenRant, “As far as crafting the Deadpool & Wolverine story, I just felt privileged every day because you’re talking about two massive movie stars in their most iconic roles. It also gave me an opportunity. It’s the third Deadpool movie, but it’s not Deadpool 3. It’s a different thing that’s very much Deadpool & Wolverine. And it’s not trying to copycat anything from the first two movies. They were awesome, but this is a two-hander character adventure.”

The director, who also helmed episodes for another popular franchise, Stranger Things, has teased that the movie is “going to be gnarly” and “it’s gonna be funny,” and above all, “wanted to build a great time at the theater for audiences” as their ultimate goal. Levy has also said that early screenings of the movie “were extremely, extremely promising.” He would also add, “I wouldn’t say that there were any big surprises, but you feel where the pace wants to tighten, you feel where you can afford to slow down and have a deeper, more durable character moment.”

Recently, Kevin Feige unveiled nine minutes of footage for the audience in attendance at the MCU panel during CinemaCon. It actually opened Disney’s presentation with a foul-mouthed “turn off your cell phones” PSA. It showed Hugh Jackson in full costume and featured the pair yelling directly at the audience. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige teased that the film will receive an “intentionally gross” popcorn bucket to rival the one from Dune: Part Two. Feige would also call this R-rated preview footage “F***ing amazing.”

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When we think of the antics of the Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote, there is one iconic image that comes to mind: Wile E. Coyote running full-steam after his nemesis, only to be outsmarted and finding himself running past a cliff’s edge, defying gravity by hovering in the air, nowhere to go but down. Only after the realization of doom does he fall. It’s a perfect metaphor for what happened with Warner Bros.’ abandoned Coyote vs. Acme movie, which the studio shelved last year as a tax write-off despite major hype. But could the movie actually emerge from the tunnel and see the light of day? Maybe, although we’d be as foolish as the coyote to believe it just yet.

According to one spokesperson for Warner Bros., the idea that the studio could use Coyote vs. Acme as a write-off is at this time “inaccurate”, with The New York Times noting they also said no final deal has been put in place. As for numbers, the movie is estimated to possibly bring in upwards of $40 million in tax savings, which would help them recoup any anticipated losses from the $70 million budget. Surely Coyote vs. Acme – which by most accounts was looking to be a pretty fun movie – would have made that back eventually…although it’s that “eventually” that scared the studio.

For Warner Bros., Coyote vs. Acme was just the sort of risk they weren’t willing to take, which is a shame for both audiences and all of the creatives who worked on the movie. In their announcement, the studio seemed to mean well but it reads more as a slap in the face: “With the re-launch of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation in June, the studio has shifted its global strategy to focus on theatrical releases. With this new direction, we have made the difficult decision not to move forward with Coyote vs Acme. We have tremendous respect for the filmmakers, casts, and crew, and are grateful for their contributions to the film.” Right, respect…

After Warner Bros. gave it the ol’ Batgirl treatment, major players like Paramount, Amazon and Netflix all reportedly expressed interest in releasing the movie, with no deal coming through. For most of us, it doesn’t matter who obtains distribution rights, we just want to see Coyote vs. Acme! Really, at what point did we have to start begging studios to release movies that they’ve already made?

Do you think Coyote vs. Acme will ever be released to the public? What will it take for Warner Bros. to follow through?

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The passing of William Friedkin last August put a cloud over what ended up being his final film, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial. At the same time, it predsented an opportunity to celebrate the legendary director, whether it’s from his fans or those he has worked with. Now, the star of the film, Keifer Sutherland, remembers just how special it was for him to collaborate with Friedkin.

Speaking at a recent panel, Keifer Sutherland spoke highly of the late William Friedkin, saying that seeing 1971’s The French Connection on the big screen as a teen had a tremendous influence on his appreciation for cinema and the craft of acting. “William Freakin was responsible for me…I was working as a theater actor – I was only 15, 16 years old in Toronto, Canada. My mother was a great theater actor. It’s the community I grew up in and I was very dedicated to. That was the actor that I wanted to be. And I went and saw The French Connection when I was 15. I didn’t know anything about the film, and my response to it was so visceral and the film was so honest and aggressive. And then obviously the performances of Roy Scheider and Gene Hackman would have affected any young actor…I left that theater that day knowing that I wanted to make films, and I wanted to make films like that…and it had a profound change in my life.”

Sutherland also recalled getting a phone call from Friedkin, but hung up on the director thinking it was a prank from his friends. Realizing they wouldn’t pull off such a joke, Sutherland quickly dialed back, ultimately leading to being cast and certainly one of the highlights of his career

Not only was The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial William Friedkin’s final film, it was also his first in more than a decade. As such, it was definitely near the top of must-see movies from last year, premiering at the Venice Film Festival and hitting Paramount+ in October. It would go on to be one of the best-reviewed films of William Friedkin’s career, with our own Chris Bumbray giving it a 7/10 and calling it “well-assembled and expertly acted.”

The movie’s ultimate source, Herman Wouk’s novel, has been adapted a handful of times for the screen, notably the Humphrey Bogart-starring The Caine Mutiny (1954).

What did you think of The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial? Where would you place it in the works of William Friedkin? Let us know below!

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We may not know if there will be a Barbie 2, but Ryan Gosling is all in for a sequel to “Papyrus.” What’s “Papyrus” you ask? Only one of the greatest runaway skits on Saturday Night Live of the past decade. For those unfamiliar, the instant fan favorite saw an increasingly obsessed Gosling going absolutely insane over Avatar using the Papyrus font for its title card. And now, in his third SNL hosting gig, Gosling has revisited it, bringing us the gift of “Papyrus 2”…and now we totally need a feature length adaptation.

“Papyrus 2” catches up with Gosling’s character, Steve, years after the events of the first one as he still tries to cope with the fact that Avatar used such a by-the-books font, only to be consumed yet again by it. But when he sees that The Way of Water has updated the font, he sees hope in the world – until he discovers that it’s still Papyrus just in bold, thus retriggering his obsession. Spiraling, Gosling again seeks out the designer, leading to moments and revelations that we won’t spoil here; just know that, like the original, this sequel is absolutely worth a watch.

Although he has only hosted SNL a handful of times (he’ll most likely become a member of the Five Timers Club, joining La La Land co-star Emma Stone), his commitment to bits like “Papyrus” and its sequel show just how seriously he takes the job, evoking comedy and drama at a depth that seems far too intricate for SNL; at the same time, we have seen just how much Gosling gives in every performance, whether on the big screen or the Oscars stage or shorts, and would expect nothing less.

The rest of Gosling’s night at SNL was pretty solid as well, with little nods to Ken (which his The Fall Guy co-star Emily Blunt turned up to tell him to move on from) and a hilarious rendition of Beavis to Mikey Day’s Butthead.
How do you like Ryan Gosling as an SNL host? What has been your favorite sketch he has started in? Drop your pick in the comments section below.

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