New this week: 'White Noise,' 21 Savage and Kennedy Honors
This week’s new entertainment releases include a streaming concert from 21 Savage, a Netflix film starring Adam Driver made from Don DeLillo’s 1985 novel “White Noise” and a movie marathon on Turner Classic Movies featuring the martini-swilling detectives Nick and Nora Charles from “The Thin Man.”.
It’s a-him, Chris Pratt! Watch the trailer for upcoming Mario movie
While the jury is still out on if famously non-Italian Chris Pratt will actually be successful at voicing the character of Mario (was Michael Imperioli from “The Sopranos” not available?), the trailer for the upcoming movie is out and it looks SO good.
The Sanderson Sisters return in Hocus Pocus 2, teaser trailer released
The Hocus Pocus producer, Adam Shankman, announced that Hocus Pocus 2 will be available to stream on Disney+ in the fall, along with the Hocus Pocus 2 trailer and the creation of an official Hocus Pocus Disney Instagram page on Tuesday.
Roanoke moviemaker shoots short film in and around the Star City
ROANOKE, Va. – The Star City isn’t necessarily known for movie stars, but an aspiring filmmaker from Roanoke decided to capture his hometown on camera. Michael Fleming directed the short thriller film “Parallax,” which premiered at the Grandin Theatre earlier this month. Fleming shot the nine-minute film on a $300 budget in the Roanoke area, mostly at the Shell gas station on Electric Road near Tanglewood Mall. This was Fleming’s first film, and he is now submitting his movie to several film festivals. “You don’t see very many films being made in Roanoke, even short films,” Fleming said.
New this week: 'Soul,' a Tom Hanks film & 'Bridgerton' on TV
This image released by Disney-Pixar shows the character 22, voiced by Tina Fey, left, and Joe Gardner, voiced by Jamie Foxx, in a scene from the animated film "Soul." But with more than half of U.S. theaters closed, two of the biggest movies of the year — “Soul” and “Wonder Woman 1984” — will be going straight to streaming. — Also arriving Christmas Day is “Wonder Woman 1984,” Patty Jenkins' sequel to her barrier-breaking 2017 film. With Gal Gadot returning, “Wonder Woman 1984” fast-forwards from 1918 to the “greed is good” decade. — AP Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy___Catch up on AP’s entertainment coverage here: https://apnews.com/apf-entertainment.
Hallmark premieres its first LGBTQ holiday movie with a gay lead couple
The Hallmark Channel is known for its cheesy but heartwarming Christmas movies. This year, the channel decided to diversify its casts by featuring its first openly gay lead couple. “I’m proud of everyone at Hallmark Channel for making the holiday table bigger and more welcoming and warmer this year,” Bennett told NBC News. The Hallmark Channel vowed in July to put more LGBTQ representation in its content following criticism that the movies lacked diversity. Back in August, the channel showed its first same-sex wedding in the movie “Wedding Every Weekend.”“The Christmas House” premiered on Nov. 22.
AMC allowing movie lovers to rent a theatre all to yourself
Starting at $99, movie lovers can rent out a whole auditorium at AMC Theatres to watch a movie. Anyone who wants to rent out a theatre can go to AMC’s website and fill out an online request form. In the form, you need to specify what movie you’d like to watch, the date you want to go and what AMC location you want to rent from. Prices vary from what movie you’d like to watch. Some of the available movies cost between $149-$349, excluding class, but most movies cost $99.
Director brings Lifetime movie shoot back to his hometown of Roanoke
ROANOKE, Va. – The streets of Roanoke are a backdrop for a made-for-TV movie and one local native has the vision for it all. On Friday night, film crews shot at the Wells Fargo Tower Plaza for a movie that will air on Lifetime. “The Weekend” is a thriller about a young black woman abducted for her organs to be sold on the black market. Director Dylan Vox is a 2000 graduate of Roanoke County’s Cave Spring High School. This is his second movie shot in the Star City, and he said he’s proud to show off his hometown.
Freeform’s ‘31 Nights of Halloween’ schedule is out, and it’s about to be spook-tacular
The best part about Halloween might be dressing up in a silly costume and loading up on pounds of your favorite candy, but for some, it’s all about watching endless hours of Halloween movies. That’s why Freeform is the hottest channel to visit during the month of October, because it has its annual “31 Nights of Halloween," and the network finally released its schedule of movies. The month-long marathon kicks off with the unofficial best Halloween movie ever created, “Hocus Pocus,” which stars Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker. Even though the film came out almost 30 years ago, millennials everywhere have given it a second life due to the nostalgia factor. Other classic Halloween films you’ll be able to watch include both “Addams Family” movies, “Beetlejuice,” “Ghostbusters” and “Casper.”Freeform didn’t forget about the kids.
What to watch this weekend: ‘Pen15,’ ‘Ratched’ and more
Thinking that you’ve dried up the old Netflix cue when it comes to new shows and movies to watch? Here are a few suggestions if you’re looking for something new to watch this weekend. It kind of resembles another Netflix competition show, “Nailed It," in which amateur bakers are encouraged to just do their best. ‘Great British Baking Show’The tent is back, the tent is back! ‘American Barbecue Showdown’If you’re a fan of “Great British Baking Show,” then “American Barbecue Showdown” will be right up your alley.
‘Hocus Pocus’ coming to Christiansburg’s drive-in theater
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. – The Sanderson Sisters are returning to the big screen! The 1993 Halloween-classic film will be playing at Christiansburg’s Starlite Drive-In Theater on Oct. 2 and 3. There will be one showing each night at 8:30 p.m.Gates open at 6:45 p.m. If you can’t make it out either night, don’t be too bummed. If you have Disney+ you can watch the 96-minute film wherever you are.
Dirty Dancing sequel with Jennifer Grey confirmed by Lionsgate CEO
Fans of “Dirty Dancing” are in for a treat. Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer confirmed there will be a new “Dirty Dancing” movie starring Jennifer Grey, who played Baby in the 1987 original, Deadline reported. Grey is also executive producing the movie, according to Deadline. Officials haven’t said yet when the new “Dirty Dancing” movie will premiere. Parts of the original “Dirty Dancing” were filmed at Mountain Lake Lodge in Giles County.
Walmart transforming 160 parking lots into drive-in movie theaters
ROANOKE, Va. – Imaging enjoying your popcorn while watching a movie on the big screen... in a Walmart parking lot. Walmart is transforming 160 of its store parking lots into contact-free drive-in movie theaters where people can safely gather to watch movies. Walmart is partnering with Tribeca Drive-in to make this happen. Starting in August, the drive-in tour will run through October. The company plans to make more information available at https://walmartdrive-in.com/ as the date approaches.
What you need to know before streaming ‘Hamilton’ on Disney+ over the weekend
Since there’s likely to be a good chunk of people who will watch “Hamilton” over the weekend who’ve probably never seen it before, here is a quick rundown of what you need to know before experiencing the phenomenon. The “Hamilton” on Disney+ is a filmed version of the show, not a movie. It’s easy to call the version of “Hamilton” coming out on Disney+ a movie, but technically, it’s the stage version, filmed. An actual movie version of “Hamilton” will probably happen eventually, but this is a great way to really capture the magic of the stage version of the show. And because the people at Disney are incredibly smart, free trials of the streaming service have ended, so if you want to watch, you’re going to have to sign up.
Do you have what it takes? Submit a short film to the Black Life Film Fest
Now more than ever it’s so important to lift up and amplify black artists and creators, which is why a new film festival was created to do just that. The inaugural Black Life Film Fest will take place Sept. 5, and luckily for people who are interested in watching the selected films, the film festival will happen virtually, from the comfort of your home. Swirl Films and Mansa Productions are producing the festival, and the people there are asking for short film submissions that fit any kind of category. From documentaries and comedies to drama or animation -- as long as the film shows the black experience, it is eligible for submission. To find out more information about how you can submit your short film, or just general details pertaining to the new festival, you can visit the website here.
Movies to see (or not) this July 4th
The pursuit of happiness is right there in the Declaration of Independence. So on this Independence Day has our critic David Edelstein found happiness at the movies? He reports on the latest offerings, including "Independence Day: Resurgence," "Free State of Jones," "The Legend of Tarzan" and "The BFG."
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