New this week: 'White Noise,' 21 Savage and Kennedy Honors
This weekโs new entertainment releases include a streaming concert from 21 Savage, a Netflix film starring Adam Driver made from Don DeLilloโs 1985 novel โWhite Noiseโ and a movie marathon on Turner Classic Movies featuring the martini-swilling detectives Nick and Nora Charles from โThe Thin Man.โ.
Itโs 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 โThe Sopranosโ 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.
How much do you remember from 2021? Take our pop culture quiz now
Look, SO much happened this year that itโs hard to believe 2021 is coming to a close. Are we still processing what went down in 2020? Absolutely. But 2022 is around the corner, and itโs time to reminisce about the year we just had.
Roanoke moviemaker shoots short film in and around the Star City
ROANOKE, Va. โ The Star City isnโt 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 โParallax,โ 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 Flemingโs first film, and he is now submitting his movie to several film festivals. โYou donโt see very many films being made in Roanoke, even short films,โ 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 โ โSoulโ and โWonder Woman 1984โ โ will be going straight to streaming. โ Also arriving Christmas Day is โWonder Woman 1984,โ Patty Jenkins' sequel to her barrier-breaking 2017 film. With Gal Gadot returning, โWonder Woman 1984โ fast-forwards from 1918 to the โgreed is goodโ decade. โ AP Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy___Catch up on APโs 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. โIโm proud of everyone at Hallmark Channel for making the holiday table bigger and more welcoming and warmer this year,โ 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 โWedding Every Weekend.โโThe Christmas Houseโ 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 AMCโs website and fill out an online request form. In the form, you need to specify what movie youโd like to watch, the date you want to go and what AMC location you want to rent from. Prices vary from what movie youโd 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. โ 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. โThe Weekendโ 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 Countyโs Cave Spring High School. This is his second movie shot in the Star City, and he said heโs proud to show off his hometown.
Freeformโs โ31 Nights of Halloweenโ schedule is out, and itโs 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, itโs all about watching endless hours of Halloween movies. Thatโs why Freeform is the hottest channel to visit during the month of October, because it has its annual โ31 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, โHocus Pocus,โ 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 youโll be able to watch include both โAddams Familyโ movies, โBeetlejuice,โ โGhostbustersโ and โCasper.โFreeform didnโt forget about the kids.
What to watch this weekend: โPen15,โ โRatchedโ and more
Thinking that youโve dried up the old Netflix cue when it comes to new shows and movies to watch? Here are a few suggestions if youโre looking for something new to watch this weekend. It kind of resembles another Netflix competition show, โNailed It," in which amateur bakers are encouraged to just do their best. โGreat British Baking ShowโThe tent is back, the tent is back! โAmerican Barbecue ShowdownโIf youโre a fan of โGreat British Baking Show,โ then โAmerican Barbecue Showdownโ will be right up your alley.
โHocus Pocusโ coming to Christiansburgโs drive-in theater
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. โ The Sanderson Sisters are returning to the big screen! The 1993 Halloween-classic film will be playing at Christiansburgโs 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 canโt make it out either night, donโt 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 โDirty Dancingโ are in for a treat. Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer confirmed there will be a new โDirty Dancingโ movie starring Jennifer Grey, who played Baby in the 1987 original, Deadline reported. Grey is also executive producing the movie, according to Deadline. Officials havenโt said yet when the new โDirty Dancingโ movie will premiere. Parts of the original โDirty Dancingโ were filmed at Mountain Lake Lodge in Giles County.
Walmart transforming 160 parking lots into drive-in movie theaters
ROANOKE, Va. โ 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 โHamiltonโ on Disney+ over the weekend
Since thereโs likely to be a good chunk of people who will watch โHamiltonโ over the weekend whoโve probably never seen it before, here is a quick rundown of what you need to know before experiencing the phenomenon. The โHamiltonโ on Disney+ is a filmed version of the show, not a movie. Itโs easy to call the version of โHamiltonโ coming out on Disney+ a movie, but technically, itโs the stage version, filmed. An actual movie version of โHamiltonโ 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, youโre 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 itโs 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.
Watch Frozen II at Salem Civic Center lot turned drive-in theater
SALEM, Va. A parking lot behind the Salem Civic Center will transform into a drive-in movie theater on Friday night. The Salem Parks and Recreation Department is hosting Frozen II.Gates open at 7:30 p.m. and the move will begin at dusk, around 9 p.m. Admission is free and the parking lot is limited to 50% capacity. Cars will face the entrance of Salem Memorial Ballpark, lined up in every other parking spot to ensure proper social distancing. Organizers ask guests to practice common sense social distancing and wear face coverings when theyre outside of their vehicles.
These movies, shows and documentaries about race should be required viewing
Netflixโ13thโDirected by Ava DuVernay (sheโll come up again in this list), the documentary shows you how America changed after the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, but also kickstarted the prison boom in America. โMoonlightโThis Oscar-winning picture tells the story of a young black gay man living in Miami. chronicles the Central Park Five, a group of young black teenagers who were wrongfully convicted of a crime they didnโt commit. The documentary tells the story of the days of protests, unrest and riots that followed. Itโs a great film that shows how two different groups of people can react to fatal police shootings.
Local movie theater to hold weekly drive-in movies
LYNCHBURG, Va. Venue Cinemas in Lynchburg will soon hold weekly drive-in movies in their parking lot. According to their Facebook, they are still working out some of the details. They say as of now, they plan to show movies Fridays and Saturdays. Depending on the response they could add more days.
You should revisit these 11 movie franchises while quarantined
Luckily for us, there are tons of films that have gone on to become major movie franchises, with sequel after sequel bringing back some of the most beloved characters of all time. So, if you want to take a break from binging โThe Officeโ for the 10th time and want to dig in to some classics, consider watching these movie franchises from front to back. โStar WarsโWriter and director George Lucas created a movie about a team of rebels fighting evil in a galaxy far, far away, and itโs gone on to become one of the most influential movie franchises of all time. โToy StoryโA lot of the movie franchises are for teens and adults, but the โToy Storyโ movies are great because the entire family can enjoy them. โMarvelโAnyone who has gone to see a Marvel movie knows that there are a ton of them.
Finished โTiger Kingโ? 5 over-the-top things to watch next
Will anything ever compare to the antics of Joe Exotic, Doc Antle or Carole Baskin, of โTiger Kingโ fame? But we have to assume youโve finished the show by now, which leads us to this next question: What will you watch next? The following five recommendations seem to be just as crazy as โTiger Kingโ -- not necessarily the same brand of crazy, but on par when it comes to unbelievability, like, โHow can this possibly be real?โ(OK, and from the sounds of it, No. 5 miiiiight be the same genre as โTiger King.โ)Anyway, to compile this list, we asked around and brainstormed ourselves. Iโll never get those two hours back.โThose werenโt exactly ringing endorsements, but we thought it was worth a mention.
What to watch on Netflix with your kids: 7 fresh ideas
We asked around for some of the best parent-endorsed picks when it comes to Netflix offerings. So, not only are you providing good entertainment for your kids, but youโre instilling a love of classic rock, as well. Although this one isnโt new or new to Netflix, we were surprised just how many parents hadnโt seen this one yet. "Masha and the Bear""My kids think this is the funniest show ever," one father of three said. Iโm not suggesting you plop your kids down in front of a screen all day -- or even every day.
You can watch these new movies from the comfort of your couch
Thanks to the power of video on demand with streaming services Amazon Prime and Apple TV, most of the movies that planned on hitting theaters during this time are now available to watch from the comfort of your own couch. The movie tells a story of a modern world run by mythical creatures who use magic to do amazing things. โStar Wars: The Rise of SkywalkerโThe final installment of the โStar Warsโ movies already hit theaters around the holidays, but itโs now available to buy digitally so you can watch it at home. Since the rest of the โStar Warsโ movies are on Disney+, we wouldnโt be surprised to see it pop up there soon. Itโs a psychological thriller that probably isnโt for everyone, but it is available to purchase and watch at home.
Oscars 2020: Pick your winners!
Awards season is in full swing as the 92nd annual Academy Awards take place this weekend. Leading with the most Oscar nominations is โJoker,โ with 11 nominations in total. โThe Irishman,โ โ1917โ and โOnce Upon a Time...in Hollywoodโ each received 10 nominations. What or who do you think will win? Let us know what you think in the comments or by voting in the polls below.
These 7 Disney villain deaths are oddly the most satisfying and savage of all time
Weโre going over seven Disney villain deaths that we think are the worst, and we want you to choose which one you think tops them all. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - 1937 (Walt Disney Animation Studios)1. The Little Mermaid - 1989 (Walt Disney Animation Studios)2. The Hunchback of Notre Dame - 1996 (Walt Disney Animation Studios)3. RELATED: Take your love for Disney villains on the goWe took care of the hard part.
How do Netflix, Hulu stack up lately? What are the most popular shows by state for 2019?
(High Speed Internet)Now letโs get to the most popular Netflix show for each state this year. If youโre wondering how the website got the data, the team said it compiled a list of the most popular shows on Netflix in 2019. (High Speed Internet)โThe Umbrella Academy,โ by the way, was Americaโs overall most popular Netflix show in 2019. โBlack Mirrorโ and โThe Haunting of Hill Houseโ were the most popular Netflix shows in eight and six states, respectively. Hulu also keeps shows around longer than Netflix.โHulu also has a live streaming service called Hulu + Live TV.
These baby Yoda memes are driving the internet crazy
Whether youโre a fan of โStar Warsโ or not, weโre sure you have fallen prey to the baby Yoda craze that is sweeping social media. Thus, the baby Yoda craze was born, but weโre not complaining. Well, weโve scoured the web looking for the best baby Yoda memes the internet had to offer. Every single baby Yoda meme has been me like HOWWW pic.twitter.com/z4yLusRgYv โ scandal (@eskandalowithak) November 29, 201921. We know the internet is full of other baby Yoda memes, so share your favorite in the comments below.
Rosalรญa marks historic night for women at Latin Grammys
1โ won album of the year at the Latin Grammys in 2006. He helped the former Fifth Harmony member, who didnโt attend the show, win her first pair of Latin Grammys before sheโs even won a Grammy Award. Like Bad Bunny, Daddy Yankee earned a nomination in one of the urban categories: best urban fusion/performance. โThank you so much.โThe Latin Grammys kicked off its 20th anniversary show with a festive performance highlighting various sounds from the genre as 20 artists united onstage to honor Latin music. Other performers included Luis Fonsi, Ozuna and Residente, who extended his record as the most decorated artist in the history of the Latin Grammys to 25 wins.
Lincoln Center in New York City to honor Spike Lee in April
NEW YORK, NY โ Spike Lee will receive Film at Lincoln Center's 46th Chaplin Award. Lincoln Center announced Thursday that the 62-year-old filmmaker will be honored in its annual fundraising gala on April 27. For its 50th anniversary last year, Lincoln Center skipped a Chaplin Award honoree and instead hosted a special gala that featured Martin Scorsese, Pedro Almodovar, Tilda Swinton and others. The four previous Chaplin Award winners were Helen Mirren, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Robert Redford. Lee's last film, "BlacKkKlasman" was nominated for six Oscars including best picture.
Annette Bening to receive AARP Movies for Grownups award
LOS ANGELES, CA โ Annette Bening will receive AARP the Magazine's lifetime achievement honor at the Movies for Grownups Awards next year. The magazine announced Tuesday that Bening will accept the career achievement award at the ceremony on January 11, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. The 19th annual Movies for Grownups Awards will air January 19 on PBS. Bening won Golden Globe awards for best actress for the 2004 film "Being Julia" and 2010's "The Kids Are All Right." Previous career achievement honorees include Shirley MacLaine, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Costner and Robert De Niro.
'Ralph Breaks the Internet' directors realize cyber dreams
That's exactly what co-directors/co-writers Rich Moore and Phil Johnson have masterfully achieved with their new animated feature "Ralph Breaks the Internet," the long-anticipated sequel to the 2012 Oscar-nominated blockbuster "Wreck-It Ralph." In "Ralph Breaks the Internet," opening Wednesday in theaters nationwide, we find Wreck-It Ralph and Vanellope within the 8-bit video game arcade from the first movie, until a crucial component breaks on her "Sugar Rush" game. While "Ralph Breaks the Internet" is big on comedy and action, Moore and Johnston astutely took the opportunity to use the film to address the ever-growing problem of the vitriol people encounter on social media. The directors felt that including a scene about Ralph being cyberbullied on social media was an absolute necessity. "We said, 'We don't want to just show good things about the internet and what's fun about the internet and what are the positive things.'
Kenneth Branagh co-writes song for 'Orient Express' that you'll never forget
With a huge presence in front of and behind the camera, Branagh's fingerprints are all over "Murder on the Orient Express," including the area of songwriting, a place he's only ventured to once before. Now, with "Murder on the Orient Express," Branagh has put his pen to paper once again for the lyrics to "Never Forget," the haunting end credits song for which Doyle wrote the music. In a phone conversation with the actor-filmmaker this week, Branagh discussed "Never Forget," an ethereal ballad sung by his co-star Michelle Pfeiffer. The song serves as an elegy for the tragic loss of a character at the heart of the film's narrative. "It reminded me of moments in my youth when I used to hear my granny get upset," Branagh recalled.
Miles Teller honored to play Army vet Adam Schumann in 'Thank You for Your Service'
In a recent phone conversation from Chicago with Schumann and Miles Teller, who plays the soldier in the film, the answer is simple. "I think, 'Welcome home' is the best thing you can say to anybody," Schumann said. Teller added that there are other ways to respond to veterans, too; something that he gained insight by working on the film. Teller realizes that sometimes asking about military service is a difficult subject to broach with veterans, particularly for those who served in wars prior to Iraq and Afghanistan. Hall, who also tapped into the nerve of the subject matter with his Oscar-nominated screenplay for "American Sniper," very much did the same with "Thank You for Your Service," Schumann said.
Filmmaker Jason Hall continues fight for veterans with 'Thank You for Your Service'
"As for 'Thank You for Your Service,' the depiction of what David Finkel did in the book was so frustratingly harrowing to me. Opening in theaters nationwide on Friday, "Thank You for Your Service" tells the compelling true-life story of Army Staff Sgt. "I think the effects of war are a battle of their own, in as much as the war continues to echo in, around and in front of these veterans," Hall said. At a certain point it's up to society to find a welcome these guys back in, because it's not just the VA," Hall said. Sometimes, Hall said, soldiers have been affected by war in ways most people wouldn't expect.
'American Assassin' star proud to bring book to life on big screen
It's a Friday afternoon -- exactly one week before his new film "American Assassin" is slated to open in theaters nationwide -- and actor Dylan O'Brien is waiting patiently to attend the premiere of the film in St. Paul, Minnesota. For "American Assassin," the actor said he informed himself of who Mitch Rapp was in reverse, essentially, since he didn't read any of Flynn's work before he got the role. "The script was my first introduction to the role, then obviously I did my research and read about all of the books and the character," O'Brien recalled. O'Brien, 26, said that readers of the "American Assassin" novel will notice changes from the page to the screen adaptation, mostly because of the shift in time periods. She was so happy and so grateful just to come to the set to see the story brought to life.
Elodie Yung finds happiness, hilarity on 'The Hitman's Bodyguard'
She will return as the newly-revived Elektra in Marvel's superhero mashup "The Defenders, " and in a pivotal role opposite Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson in the high-energy action comedy "The Hitman's Bodyguard." In a phone conversation from Los Angeles Tuesday, Yung said she's certain her role in "Daredevil" and reprisal of it in "The Defenders" had something to do with her being cast in "The Hitman's Bodyguard," but not necessarily for the kick-butt skills she's known for. Yung stars in "The Hitman's Bodyguard" as Amelia Roussel, a French Interpol agent once romantically involved with ex-CIA Agent Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds). Elodie Yung in "The Hitman's Bodyguard"The problem with the transport is Bryce is still in a personal and professional tailspin from the breakup with Amelia. Perhaps the biggest departure on "The Hitmanโs Bodyguard" from Yung's previous work was not only that the film was a comedy, but that she had a chance to help create the laughs.