Movie and TV show reviews

During a recent press event for his upcoming thriller “Cleaner,” Campbell shared that the filmmaking process didn’t spark any interest in him about making superhero films: “Absolutely none.” He attributed its commercial disappointment (earning $237 million against a reported budget of $200 million) to his lack of familiarity and subsequent disinterest in the genre.

(Note: I have attempted to make the sentence more conversational and easier to read, while still preserving the original meaning.)

This week on Hulu’s “Paradise,” Dr. Gabriela Torabi, played by Sarah Shahi, is striving diligently to prevent Paradise from transforming into a living hell. In her informal role as intermediary between rebellious Secret Service agent Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown) and Paradise’s manager Samantha “Sinatra” Redmond (Julianne Nicholson), she finds herself struggling to maintain composure by the end of the episode.

Collaboratively, Wald and Spivak are set to assume the responsibilities that were previously handled by Keith Le Goy, following his promotion to the position of Sony Pictures Television chairman in January. In these newly assigned roles, they will continue to keep Le Goy informed.

Hey everyone, Dan Aykroyd here, excitedly cheering for the victorious SNL 50th anniversary! I’m happy I didn’t attend because that meant I could watch every moment of the concert and show on TV. My kids said, ‘Look at daddy’s grin!’ And they weren’t wrong, I had a smile from beginning to end. Kudos to Lorne, as always, for an outstanding job.

Approximately twenty years ago, Speciale, who was a senior media buyer at MediaVest responsible for negotiating commercial time prices and terms, proposed an interesting concept to TV networks: Could her company purchase an entire ad break and arrange it with client ads in such a way that viewers wouldn’t change the channel or go get a snack? For instance, the trailer for a movie might play before an ad for a floor cleaner. This strategy could potentially keep viewers engaged – and ratings might increase as a result.

For the very first time since 2014, the ASC’s feature competition field boasts seven nominees, and among them is Alice Brooks, who has been recognized for her exceptional work in “Wicked,” marking only the second time a woman has received this top prize – Mandy Walker did so in 2023 for “Elvis.

It has been reported that the cast for the half-hour sitcom “Highly Favored” includes: Michael Colyar (known for “Blackish,” “House Party III,” “The Princess & The Frog,” and “Martin”), KiKi Shepard (recognized from “It’s Showtime at the Apollo,” “Miss Evers Boys,” “Mind Your Business,” and “Grey’s Anatomy”), Anthony S. Goolsby (“Will Trent” and “42”), Chico Benymon (“Half & Half,” “Ali,” and “The Haunted Hathaways”), Rodney Perry (appearing in “Coming to America 2” and “Johnson Family Vacation”), and Melanie Comarcho (familiar from “Phat Tuesdays” and Snoop Dog’s “F*CN Around”).

As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that my favorite network, Peacock, has given the intriguing drama project a script-to-series commitment! Back in December, the buzz was that Universal TV was preparing to sell this captivating show. The talented duo, Goldsmith-Thomas and Darren Star, were announced as co-writers and executive producers, ready to bring their vision to life on our screens.

The movie, serving as Dylan Meyer’s initial directorial effort, recently started filming last week. This makes it one of the first independent films to commence production in Los Angeles post-January’s destructive wildfires. In the United States, Neon will handle its theatrical release, while they’ll also manage the international distribution rights.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I’m thrilled to step into my new role where I will lead the charge for Disney Live Action’s theatrical lineup. My mission is to propel the creation and production of films that tap into the rich trove of stories and characters housed within the studio. Additionally, I will support original projects that ignite our imagination and add fresh perspectives to the cinematic landscape.