Movies

The Guardian reports: James Caan, the American actor renowned for his role as Sonny Corleone in the mafia epic The Godfather, as well as a string of key films in the 1970s, has died aged 82. The news was released by his Twitter account on Thursday. Notorious for a hell-raising party lifestyle, Caan cut a swathe through Hollywood in the …

The Guardian reports: The actor Chris Evans, who voices the main character in the new Pixar animated movie Lightyear, has applauded its depiction of a gay couple, saying those who react negatively should be disregarded. “The real truth is those people are idiots,” Evans said. “Every time there’s been social advancement as we wake up, the American story, the human …

The New York Daily News reports: Disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein’s rape and sexual assault conviction was upheld by a New York appeals court on Thursday. “We perceive no basis for reducing the sentence, and we have considered defendant’s remaining arguments and find them unavailing,” reads the Appellate Division ruling. A jury found Weinstein guilty on Feb. 24, 2020, of …

CBS News reports: The jury began deliberations Friday afternoon, after six weeks of dramatic, disturbing and sometimes graphic testimony that laid bare the troubled marriage between the stars.Both Depp and Heard testified twice. The jury also heard extensive recordings attorneys said displayed violent behavior and saw text messages, including between Depp and fellow actor Paul Bettany, that discussed substance use …

Deadline Hollywood reports: Ray Liotta, the terrific actor whose career breakout came in the 1990 Martin Scorsese crime classic Goodfellas after co-starring in Field of Dreams, has died. He was 67. Deadline hears he died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, where he was shooting the film Dangerous Waters. Liotta leaves behind a daughter, Karsen. He was engaged to be …

Variety reports: Kevin Spacey has been charged with four counts of sexual assault and one count of “causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.” The decision was unveiled today by the U.K.’s prosecution agency Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which has spent over a year reviewing a file passed to them by the Metropolitan Police. “The CPS …

CBS News reports: Vangelis, the Greek electronic composer who wrote the unforgettable Academy Award-winning score for the film “Chariots of Fire” and music for dozens of other movies, documentaries and TV series, has died at 79. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and other government officials expressed their condolences Thursday. Greek media reported that Vangelis — born Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou — …

 Will Smith’s statement in full: I have directly responded to the Academy’s disciplinary hearing notice, and I will fully accept any and all consequences for my conduct. My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable. The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and …

The Washington Post reports: At the 42nd annual Razzies awards this year, Bruce Willis received his own special category: “worst performance by Bruce Willis in a 2021 movie.” Willis — and only Willis — was nominated eight times, for movies including “American Siege” and “Midnight in the Switchgrass.” The actor ultimately won for his performance in “Cosmic Sin,” a sci-fi …

Variety reports: Oscars producer Will Packer has addressed Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars on Sunday night. In a preview clip of Packer’s upcoming interview on “Good Morning America” with T.J. Holmes, he revealed that the Los Angeles Police Department was on the scene Sunday night and ready to arrest Smith if Rock wanted to press charges. “They …

The Associated Press reports: The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences said that Will Smith was asked to leave to Sunday’s Oscars after hitting Chris Rock but refused. Many have questioned why Smith was allowed to remain seated front row at the Academy Awards after the incident. On Wednesday, the academy suggested that it attempted to remove the actor …

NBC News reports: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will determine “appropriate action” against Will Smith after he slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, the group told its members in a letter obtained by NBC News. In the letter, film academy president David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson said the leaders of the nonprofit organization were “upset and …

Variety reports: Bruce Willis’ family has announced the actor is retiring from the profession after being diagnosed with aphasia, a language disorder caused by brain damage that affects a person’s ability to communicate. Willis’ family members posted a joint statement to social media announcing the actor’s retirement. “To Bruce’s amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our …

The Washington Post reports: The day after slapping Chris Rock on the stage of the 94th Academy Awards, Will Smith issued an apology to the comedian, the academy and viewers at home, saying he was “out of line” and that his actions are “not indicative of the man I want to be.” “Violence in all of its forms is poisonous …

CNN reports: Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences leadership “strongly considered” removing Will Smith from the Oscars telecast Sunday night after the actor stormed the stage and slapped Chris Rock in the face, a source close to the situation tells CNN. “There were immediate discussions but the Academy decision makers were seated in various spots in the Dolby Theater …

The Associated Press reports: At the Oscars, they said gay. The first political salvo of Sunday night’s Academy Awards in Los Angeles came in the opening monologue, when Wanda Sykes — one of the trio of hosts for the show — took a thinly veiled jab at Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill. “We’re going to have a great night …

Deadline Hollywood reports: While presenting the award for Best Documentary Feature, which ultimately went to Questlove’s Summer of Soul, Chris Rock made a joke at the expense of Will Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, leading to an on-stage altercation that was not scripted and drew gasps from the room, according to sources. “Jada, I love ya. G.I. Jane 2, can’t …

Variety reports: William Hurt, an acclaimed actor best known for his Oscar-winning performance in 1985’s “Kiss of the Spider Woman” and his work in “The Big Chill” and “Body Heat,” died Sunday of natural causes. He was 71 years old. Hurt was nominated for four Oscars over the course of his long career, scoring two best actor nominations for “Broadcast …

From the Justice Department: A Los Angeles man was sentenced today to 240 months in federal prison for operating a Ponzi scheme that raised at least $650 million with bogus claims that investor money would be used to acquire licensing rights to films that HBO and Netflix purportedly had agreed to distribute abroad. Zachary Joseph Horwitz, 35, of the Beverlywood …

The New York Times reports: The Netflix western “The Power of the Dog” was showered with 12 Oscar nominations on Tuesday, the most of any movie, with “Dune” close behind with 10 and “West Side Story” and “Belfast” each receiving seven. They were all nominated for best picture, a field that will have 10 slots at the 94th Academy Awards. …