Amazon Prime Video is the place to go for movies this month, with a plethora of original films as well as new library additions for just about every movie fan. The Emma Roberts-led original Space Cadet hits the streaming service aptly on the Fourth of July, for anyone looking for a fish-out-of-water style comedy. My Spy the Eternal City, the newest film in the Dave Bautista-led family action series also drops on July 18.

Action film fans are also in for a treat with recent films The Beekeeper and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning coming to Prime Video in July.

As far as TV shows go, the most notable addition this month is the adult animated series Sausage Party: Foodtopia, a continuation of the 2016 film Sausage Party.

Here’s everything coming to Prime Video and Freevee in July – Amazon originals are designated with an asterisk.

New on Amazon Prime Video...

This July, beat the heat with the latest additions at Prime Video and Freevee!

It’s a light month for original series, films, and specials as we head into the summer lull, but there is still plenty to watch throughout the month: over 140 classic films between the two Amazon streamers will be added this month, from horrors such as the genre-changing “The Silence Of The Lambs” and last year’s newest “Evil Dead” franchise installment “Evil Dead Rise,” the first five films of the “Rocky” franchise, and comedies like “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “Animal House,” “13 Going On 30,” and much, much more.

But after the majority of the film load drops on July 1, don’t forget to head back to the services’ additions throughout the month, including Season 2 of the critically acclaimed “Troppo,” the new “Legally Blonde“-like comedy “Space Cadet,” and a new documentary from award-winning documentary filmmaker Dawn Porter,...

Paramount has announced the lineup of movies, TV shows, and live sports coming to the Paramount+ streaming service in July. The Paramount Plus July 2024 schedule includes season two of Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years, the music documentary Melissa Etheridge: I’m Not Broken, the espionage docuseries Mafia Spies, a 24/7 stream of Big Brother, and more.

It’s been 25 years since SpongeBob SquarePants first made a splash, and we all got swept away in his underwater hijinks. In July, brand-new adventures are in store for the seafaring superstar and the residents of Bikini Bottom when Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years returns for a second season.

Paramount+ is marking SpongeBob SquarePants’ silver anniversary in style with several unique activations. Audiences can customize their profiles with over 15 new SpongeBob avatars, explore the refreshed SpongeBob Universe collection along with special carousels curated for the franchise’s most beloved characters, and check out the SpongeBob takeover on the Paramount+ app.

NBA legend and former genie in a bottle Shaquille O’Neal is ready to stick bananas in tailpipes and take Beverly Hills by storm as Shaqxel Foley for Netflix‘s Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F! In a new promo for the long-gestating sequel starring Eddie Murphy in one of his most iconic roles, Shaq proclaims his love for the Beverly Hills Cop film series while auditioning to replace Murphy as the wise-cracking Detroit law enforcement officer import Axel Foley. Shaq brandishes a banana in the video while reciting lines from the upcoming action film. Shaq, known for his skills on the basketball court, is a humble giant with comedic chops. Check out his Hot Ones interview if you want to see Shaq hamming it up for laughs. It’s a classic piece of internet goodness.

Mark Molloy directs Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F from a story by Will Beall. Beall co-wrote...

Louis Gossett Jr., best known for his acclaimed roles in An Officer and a Gentleman and Roots, has died at 87 years old. He was the first Black man to win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

Gossett’s first cousin Neal L. Gossett revealed to The Associated Press that the actor died on Thursday night (March 28th) in Santa Monica. No cause of death was given, but Gossett announced that he had prostate cancer in 2010.

Born May 27th, 1936 in Brooklyn, New York, Gossett Jr. began acting in high school and debuted on Broadway when he was just 17 years old. In 1959, he played the role of George Murchison in A Raisin in the Sun, making his feature film debut a few years later in the movie adaptation of the play.

After returning to New York City and becoming a Broadway star, Gossett Jr. landed a breakout TV role in the 1977 ABC miniseries Roots.

Exclusive: Rtg Features, the sister studio to basketball media company Slam, is partnering with arts organization Heartland Film to launch the first annual Slam Film Festival dedicated to basketball-themed movies.

The festival, which will take place February 16-18, 2024, at Living Room Theaters in Indianapolis, will be a mix of world premiere titles, recent festival circuit movies and iconic films. The event will be the first-ever film festival exclusively focused on basketball, and is launched in celebration of Slam’s 30th anniversary in 2024. Scroll down for the lineup.

There will be 30th anniversary screenings of Steve James’ classic doc Hoop Dreams, William Friedkin’s Nick Nolte and Shaquille O’Neal film Blue Chips and Jeff Pollack’s Above The Rim. Newer films set to screen will include Palm Springs 2024 title Amongst The Trees, exec-produced by NBA star Paul George, and recent doc biopic Stephen Curry: Underrated (2023).

In addition to screenings and post-screening Q&As,...

In 1994, professional basketball was all the rage, largely thanks to the rise of Michael Jordan and the historic run of three back-to-back NBA championships across 1991, 1992, and 1993, as chronicled in "The Last Dance" documentary series. Before his domination of the NBA, Jordan was considered a blue chip player, an athlete regarded as a hot prospect to be drafted into a professional franchise. Jordan gained blue chip status out of high school in the early 1980s, but he'd go on to attend college at University of North Carolina before being drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1984. It wouldn't be until 10 years after Jordan's draft that "The Exorcist" and "The French Connection" director William Friedkin would direct a movie about the corrupt and complicated practice of college recruitment for sports in the perfect basketball movie, "Blue Chips."

"Blue Chips," released in 1994, follows Nick Nolte as Pete Bell, head coach of the fictional Western University Dolphins in Los Angeles.

William Friedkin was an acclaimed American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He gained recognition for directing notable films such as “The French Connection” (1971) and “The Exorcist” (1973), the former of which earned him an Academy Award for Best Director. Friedkin’s filmography also includes “The Boys in the Band” (1970), “Sorcerer” (1977), “Cruising” (1980), “To Live and Die in L. . (1985), “Blue Chips” (1994), “Jade” (1995), “Rules of Engagement” (2000), “The Hunted” (2003), “Bug” (2006), and “Killer Joe” (2011).

In 1965, Friedkin relocated to Hollywood and released his debut feature film, “Good Times,” featuring Sonny and Cher. He continued to make artistic films, such as the adaptation of Mart Crowley’s “The Boys in the Band,” as well as “The Birthday Party,” based on an unpublished screenplay by Harold Pinter, which he adapted from his own play. However, Friedkin aimed to establish himself as a director of action and serious drama, exploring themes of crime, hypocrisy, the occult, and amorality within the...

William Friedkin, the Oscar-winning director behind The Exorcist, The French Connection, To Live and Die in L.A., The Boys in the Band, and more, is dead at 87. Friedkin died in Los Angeles, said his wife, former producer and studio head Sherry Lansing.

Born on August 29, 1935, in Chicago, Friedkin started directing television before disgusting audiences with projectile pea soup and dealings with demons. In the mid-’60s, Friedkin shot an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Hour and helmed various telefilms. Before the era was over, he got behind the camera for features like Good Times (1967), The Birthday Party (1968), and The Night They Raided Minsky’s (1968).

He started the ’70s off with a band by directing The Boys in the Band. With his name already on the lips of executives everywhere, he moved on to The French Connection, a show-stopping thriller starring Gene Hackman as Detective Popeye Doyle. The French Connection won multiple Oscars,...

William Friedkin, who won an Oscar for directing The French Connection, scored a nomination for The Exorcist and also helmed The Boys in the Band, Cruising, To Live and Die in L.A., Rules of Engagement and many others, died today in Los Angeles of heart failure and pneumonia. He was 87.

His death was confirmed by CAA via his wife, Fatal Attraction producer and former studio chief Sherry Lansing.

Friedkin beat out some serious heavyweights to win the Best Director Academy Award for The French Connection at the 1972 ceremony. Also up for the statuette that year were Stanley Kubrick (A Clockwork Orange), Peter Bogdanovich (The Last Picture Show) and Norman Jewison (Fiddler on the Roof). He would go up against more heavy hitters with The Exorcist two years later. George Roy Hill won that year for The Sting, also besting Bernardo Bertolucci (Last Tango in Paris), Ingmar Bergman (Cries & Whispers...

William Friedkin, Academy Award-winning filmmaker of The Exorcist, has died at the age of 87.

The director passed away in Los Angeles, according to his wife Sherry Lansing, a former producer and movie studio executive. Among other films, Friedkin also helmed The French Connection, To Live and Die in L.A., Sorcerer, and Rules of Engagement.

In the 1970s, Friedkin was part of a generation of directors alongside Francis Ford Coppola, Hal Ashby, and Peter Bogdanovich who blazed their own path through Hollywood. Following Friedkin’s success with The Exorcist, he formed The Directors Company with Coppola and Bogdanovich as a power play for creative independence. However, the short-lived business partnership dissolved not long after they collectively turned down Star Wars.

Friedkin’s entryway into entertainment was a two-year stint in the mailroom of the Chicago TV station WGN after high school, which kickstarted his rise into directing television shows and documentaries.

William Friedkin, the Oscar-winning director of “The French Connection” and legend behind “The Exorcist,” has died at age 87. His death in Los Angeles was first reported by Variety, and the news was confirmed by Chapman University dean Stephen Galloway, a friend of Friedkin’s wife, former studio head Sherry Lansing.

Friedkin’s sensational 1971 “The French Connection” earned five Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Picture. Friedkin’s 1973 “The Exorcist” changed the game for horror, earning Best Picture and Director nominations.

Friedkin is regarded as a maverick of the New Hollywood school of filmmakers alongside the likes of Peter Bogdanovich and Francis Ford Coppola. His other features include his breakout “The Birthday Party,” “The Boys in the Band,” “Sorcerer,” “Cruising,” “To Live and Die in L.A,” “Bug,” and most recently “Killer Joe” — all films that garnered controversy in one way or another.

Friedkin’s latest film, “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial,...

To paraphrase Wesley Snipes circa 1992, "I only have [five] words for you: 'White Men Can't Jump' [remake]." That's right, you favorite comedic basketball hustlers, or a 2023 facsimile of them, are back in a Hulu original film that's coming your way this May. It's been over 30 years since Snipes issued his immortal declaration to Woody Harrelson about the slam-dunking abilities, or lack thereof, of white guys on the b-ball court, and now a new generation of actors and filmmakers is here to update the story for the streaming age.

We first heard about the "White Men Can't Jump" remake way back in early 2017, so it's been gestating for a while, with "black-ish" creator Kenya Barris attached to write. NBA player Blake Griffin and former NFL player Ryan Kalil are set to produce alongside Barris through their production company Mortal Media. In late 2021, we finally got an update on the project with the news that Calmatic,...

March 2022 is a great month for blonde women with cold, dead stares on Hulu.

With its list of new releases for March 2022, Hulu is highlighting two major original series ripped straight from the headlines. The first is The Dropout, which premieres on March 3. This show stars Amanda Seyfried (taking over from the previously cast Kate McKinnon) as Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. This story about high-level corporate fraud is truly wild, enough so to accommodate several books, podcasts, and even an upcoming film starring Jennifer Lawrence. Hulu is certainly hoping its version is the definitive one.

Read more TV Pam & Tommy Will Make You Hate Everyone But Pam By Alec Bojalad Movies Why The Princess Bride Is a Perfect Fantasy Movie By David Crow

The Dropout‘s spiritual counterpart will be The Girl From Plainville, which premieres on March 29. This is another story you might be familiar with. If not, just...

Though Marvel has decided to consolidate all of its cinematic universe offerings onto Disney+, some outliers still live on for other streaming services. In May 2021, Hulu is set to premiere the latest non-canon Marvel series.

The animated comedy Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K. is set to premiere on May 21 and stars Patton Oswalt as the titular Marvel villain. Oswalt’s Modok is every bit the devious floating head that he’s depicted as in the comics. He’s also your every day family man and the show will take on the format of a workplace sitcom. Sounds kinda fun! It’s no wonder that M.O.D.O.K. is the last Hulu Marvel show standing.

In non-Marvel offerings this month, Shrill will debut its third and final season on May 7. This comedy based on Lindy West’s memoir and starring SNL‘s Aidy Bryant has been a consistently bright presence on the streaming scene since...

Midway through Steven Soderbergh’s “High Flying Bird,” a taut drama set among rookie players and veteran agents in the midst of an NBA lockout, a wise ex-player played by Bill Duke gives us a CliffsNotes version of the entire history of race in professional basketball. Moving from the Harlem Globetrotters to the Nbl to the NBA, he explains how a group of largely white owners and executives managed to build a billion dollar entertainment empire in the backs of primarily black athletes. As he puts it, simply: “They invented a game on top of the game.”

Scarcely showing any footage of the game of basketball itself, Soderbergh’s film is concerned entirely with this meta-game of contract negotiations, TV rights, marketing, labor disputes and barely-concealed racial stratification. Positioned somewhere between William Friedkin’s “Blue Chips” and Soderbergh’s own “Erin Brockovich,” High Flying Bird” is mesmerizingly talky and marvelously acted,...

Hulu’s slate of new titles arriving on the platform in November is here.

“Wonder,” starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Jacob Tremblay, will arrive on Hulu Nov. 2. The movie, based on the novel of the same name, tells the story of August Pullman, a boy with facial differences who enters the fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time.

The complete series of “Married with Children” will arrive on the platform on Nov. 9, and the Season 1 premiere of “The Bisexual” will drop on Nov. 16. The “Oceans” trilogy will also become available, beginning Nov. 1.

Also Read: Hulu in Talks to Create a Smaller, More Affordable TV Bundle

Here’s the complete list of titles coming to and leaving Hulu below.

Available Nov. 1

K: Complete Season 2 (Dubbed) (Viz)

Sailor Moon: Complete Season 3 (Dubbed) (Viz)

Six: Complete Season 2 (History)

10 to Midnight (1983)

28 Days Later (2002)

2001 Maniacs (2005)

The Accused (1988)

The Adventures of Priscilla,...

Amazon Prime has confirmed that several of its original series will be debuting new episodes on the streaming service in July, including the first seasons of both the Indian reality competition series “Comicstaan” and the Tour de France travelogue “Eat.Race.Win” and season 4 of the charming children’s series “Tumble Leaf.”

And there will also be new to Amazon Prime seasons of some of your favorites from other networks, including the final episodes of the Emmy-winning FX drama “The Americans,” all 12 seasons of the groundbreaking police drama “NYPD Blue” and all seven seasons of the Kyra Sedgwick crime series “The Closer.”

Likewise, there will be plenty of movies making their first appearances on Amazon Prime including the four films in the “Jaws” franchise and the Oscar-winning “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”

See Netflix schedule: Here’s what is coming and leaving in July

Available July 1

21 Jump Street (Seasons 1-2)

Burn...

Amazon Prime members who like tragic spies, sparkle vampires, being-depressed-about-global-warming or old school television have plenty to look forward to in July, as the streaming service is adding a ton of new movies and TV shows.

On the TV front, three new Prime Originals come this month, including Indian stand up series “Comicstaan” on July 13, “Tumble Leaf” on July 24, and “Eat. Race. Win,” a behind-the-scenes look of the Tour de France landing July 27.

The streaming service is also giving members a visit from the Ghost of TV Past on July 1 when it adds undercover-cops-in-high-school Fox series “21 Jump Street,” the complete run of USA Network’s “Burn Notice,” and all 12 seasons of ’90s cop drama “NYPD Blue,” among others.

And skipping ahead to month’s end, “The Americans” season 6 lands on Prime July 29.

Meanwhile, on July 1 Prime Video is also adding a few classics to its film library, including “American Psycho,...

In a bit of pointed counterprogramming, Netflix released its latest original film “Amateur” — about a 14-year old basketball prodigy who gets recruited by a shady prep-school athletics program — in the middle of March Madness. The Ncaa has taken a lot of heat for its systemic exploitation of young college players, offering them academic scholarships but then forcing them to sideline their education in order to play ball full time, making the school millions in the process.

Based on his short film of the same name, Ryan Koo’s “Amateur” explores not only the corrupt business of athletic recruitment, but how those recruiters are targeting younger and younger players, forcing them to make difficult life-defining decisions before they’re even in high school — decisions that are often offered in bad faith. Given that the film is executive produced by current NBA superstar Tony Parker and former NBA All Star Michael Finley,...

LeBron James was "that dad" at his 12-year-old son's youth basketball game this weekend -- talking mess from the sidelines and telling his kid to get in his opponents' ass, "like a bike without a seat." It all went down at an Aau tournament in Vegas where Bronny's team -- the North Coast Blue Chips -- were taking on the Utah Elite ... and LeBron wasn't happy with the way things were going.  You can hear James say,...

Just the other day, Joey published his review of Mississippi Grind, a gambling film that debuted at this year's Sundance Film Festival. He seemed to enjoy the movie, and I know he'd get a kick out of this supercut from MovieClips of gambling on film since that's one of his favorite genres. Seeing this makes me want to watch Rounders again. Here's the list of films featured in the supercut:

48 hrs.

Anchorman 2

Blue Chips

Cheap Thrills

Cruel Intentions

Dirty Work

Don’t Be A Menace in South Central While Drinking the Juice in the Hood

Dr. No

Fast Five

Four Rooms

Indecent Proposal

Lost in America

Margot at the Wedding

The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear

Passenger 57

Rounders

Sanctum

She’s All That

Some Kind of Wonderful

Superman II

Swingers

The Gambler

The Sting

The Wood

Treasure of the Sierra Madre

H/T: LaughingSquid...

Skidoo

Written by Doran William Cannon

Directed by Otto Preminger

USA, 1968

Of the nearly 70 films I’ve written about in this column, I would whole-heartedly recommend each without reservation, to not only watch, but to spend good money on. With 1968′s Skidoo, out now on a new Olive Films Blu-ray, I’m breaking that tradition. I wouldn’t suggest anyone purchase this film, though everyone should see it. This is a most unusual, absolutely indefinable, wholly unique motion picture.

I initially viewed Skidoo on the sole basis of its starring Alexandra Hay, who I’ve been smitten with since first seeing her in Jacques Demy’s Model Shop, released the following year. On this point, Skidoo succeeds. Hay is a delightful beauty, charming in a way that is very much of the era. Admittedly unfamiliar with her biography, I can’t imagine why she didn’t have more of a career.

“Money alone sets all the world in motion.”

—Publilius Syrus, Maxim 656

The desire for money, for personal gain or business interests, is a frequent catalyst for dramatic action in William Friedkin’s films. In The Night They Raided Minsky’s (1968), The French Connection (1971), Sorcerer (1977), The Brink’s Job (1978), Deal of the Century (1983), To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), Blue Chips (1994) and, more recently, Killer Joe (2011), the pursuit of money entails underhand tactics, struggle, betrayal and violence. Dollar bills are passed from one person to another, in plain view or sight unseen; or promised at the completion of a job; or seized, burned or spent. But the money always materializes again, somehow, coursing into the narrative economy and organizing social relations.

In a notable sequence in To Live and Die in L.A. we see this material created illegally, and witness its eruption and flow into the system. Friedkin here offers an...

A quarter-century ago, Kevin Costner hit a double-play, following up "Bull Durham" with "Field of Dreams" and becoming king of the sports movie. Twenty-five years later, as "Field of Dreams" marks its 25th anniversary (it was released on April 21, 1989), Costner is back with "Draft Day." The movie's about football, not baseball, and Costner's character plays in the executive suite, not on the field, but his mere presence still offers a reminder of great sports movies past.

And after all, isn't nostalgia a key element of sports movies? "Field of Dreams" makes this explicit -- we long for the sports heroes of our childhood, for a supposed long-gone golden age of our preferred sport, as a way of connecting with our past and bridging the generational divide that separates us as adults from our parents. Sports movies offer more than just the drama of winners and losers, or the journey from dream to achievement,...

Ron Shelton—the writer/director best known for a string of sports movies that includes Bull Durham, Blue Chips, Cobb, The Great White Hype, and White Men Can't Jump—is stepping up to the plate again, taking it one game at a time, and just trying to win one for the team. The team in question is Showtime, which is developing a basketball drama that Shelton will write, executive produce, and give 110 percent to, while showing mental toughness and bringing his A-game. While Shelton explored amateur basketball with White Men Can't Jump, this new series will be ...

Legendary director William Friedkin has just been given a lifetime achievement award at the Venice film festival, but he is still making big, critically acclaimed movies, such as last year's Killer Joe. He looks back on his career, and the film he considers his best, 1977's Sorcerer

On a hot, sticky Tuesday in Venice, the American film director William Friedkin sauntered from his hotel to see an exhibition of paintings at the nearby Doge's Palace. There, he stood in front of Manet's L'Evasion de Rochefort, which depicts the flight of the man who challenged Napoleon III. He saw the little boat packed with indistinguishable figures and the mighty sea churning all around. It struck him that the painting summed up what he thinks of the world: that we're stuck on a boat, at the mercy of nature. Possibly it has something to say about his own career too.

Friedkin is...

With March Madness in full swing, Xfinity on Demand is featuring films that will prepare you for the occasion. "Blue Chips," “Space Jam,” and "Radio" are available. Haven’t seen them, or want to watch them again? Check out the descriptions below and tune in. "Blue Chips" – A college basketball coach, played by Nick Nolte, bends the rules in order to get the players he needs to stay competitive in this film featuring Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway as talented finds, and directed by William Friedkin ("The Exorcist"). "Space Jam" – Michael Jordan meets Bugs Bunny in this fantasy from music video director Joe Pytka (the man behind Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel" and...

The filmography of celebrated director William Friedkin is a colorful one indeed. First-year film buffs will, of course, point to classics like The French Connection (1971) and The Exorcist (1973), while the more seasoned of the celluloid-obsessed will rattle off titles like Sorcerer (1971), Cruising (1980), To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), Blue Chips (1994), Rules of Engagement (2000), and Bug (2006) -- and the hardcore completists will also cite The Boys in the Band (1970), The Brink's Job (1978), Rampage (1987), and The Hunted (2003). Hell, I even saw the guy's 1990 arbor-related horror flick The Guardian! Like, love or hate the individual films, but there's no denying that, as a whole, they represent a rather eclectic storyteller. Most directors find a...

Oscar-winning director William Friedkin has signed with ICM Partners. Friedkin won the Academy Award for best director for The French Connection, the 1971 cop thriller that starred Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider. Friedkin also directed The Exorcist (1973) and was nominated for another Oscar for his work on the iconic horror film. His other directing credits include Sorcerer (1977), Blue Chips (1994), Rules of Engagement (2000) and The Hunted (2003). Friedkin, who is married to former Paramount Pictures head Sherry Lansing, recently directed Killer Joe. The Nc-17 black comedy was released in July and stars Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch

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William Friedkin certainly has a directing resume that most Hollywood types would be envious of. If you don't know his name, you certainly know the titles he's directed, from The Exorcist, The French Connection, To Live and Die in L.A. and, yes, Blue Chips. Friedkin returns to feature filmmaking following a five-year hiatus with the Nc-17 rated Killer Joe starring Emile Hirsch and Matthew McConaughey. Unlike The Weinstein Company's recent public battles with the MPAA over Nc-17 ratings, Friedkin and Ld Distribution have taken the Shame route and accepted the scarlet rating. The MPAA rating reason is as follows: graphic aberrant content involving violence and sexuality, and a scene of brutality. The film features an excellent group of co-stars including Juno Temple,...

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By MoreHorror.com

Dawna Lee Heising of MoreHorror in Hollywood interviewed the creative talents of Richmond Riedel and Eric Shapiro about the upcoming powerful drama about cults called The Devoted.

Please check out the video interview below the official details about the project.

MoreHorror in Hollywood has announced the availability of a recent discussion with the creative team intent on bringing The Devoted to the big screen. In the new video segment Dawna Lee Heising questions the team about the reason they chose to “The Devoted,” the story’s plot, the estimated opening date and the goals of filmmaker Richmond Riedel, his producing partner Thom Michael Mulligan and writers Eric Shapiro and Rhoda Jordan.

The Devoted was written by Eric Shapiro and Rhoda Jordan. Shapiro and Jordan co-produced the film Rule Of Three, and which, like Target Practice, was released in 2010 by Big Screen Entertainment Group. Earlier this month, Ravenous Shadows,...

0:00 - Intro 3:30 - Headlines: Oscar Ratings Up Slightly from Last Year, Jason Segel Won’t Return for The Muppets Sequel, Lucy Liu to Play Watson in Elementary, Ed Helms Rumoured for Vacation Reboot 19:50 - Review: Project X 51:00 - Review: We Need to Talk About Kevin 1:19:15 - Trailer Trash: The Avengers, Piranha 3Dd, Frankenweenie, That's My Boy 1:32:22 - Other Stuff We Watched: The Color of Money, The Cable Guy, Beauty Day, Celebrity Apprentice, Wake In Fright, The Captains, Thrillkill, Sky Riders, Def-Con 4, Battle for Brooklyn, Fever Year, Juno, Blue Chips, Terri 2:10:30 - Junk Mail: Inconsistent Fonts, Life Events That Change Your Reaction to Movies, Good Scores to Bad Movies, Blu-ray Digibooks, Lost 2:29:55 - This Week's DVD Releases 2:34:00 - Outro

Film Junk Podcast Episode #360: Project X and We Need to Talk About Kevin by Filmjunk...

Warrior; Abduction; Johnny English Reborn; Restless; Dolphin Tale; Friends With Benefits

Cementing his reputation as Hollywood's best-loved wounded bear, the gruff Nick Nolte recently picked up his third Oscar nomination essaying yet another broken-down has-been in the mixed martial arts punch-up pic Warrior (2011, Lionsgate, 15). He plays Paddy Conlon, a recovering alcoholic and troubled father whose fractious relationship with his fighting Irish sons provides the dramatic backbone for this pumped-up, pugilist spectacle.

A quasi-mythical tale of two estranged brothers, one a renegade war veteran, the other a bruised teacher, destined inevitably to sort out their differences in the arena, Gavin O'Connor's punchy upmarket exploiter has been widely compared with Rocky but actually owes a far greater debt to Gladiator – not Ridley Scott's lavish, award-winning sword-and-sandals epic, but Rowdy Herrington's altogether cheaper and more cheerful 90s boxing romp. Like Herrington, O'Connor understands the visceral pleasure of watching two muscular...

By Zachary Swickey

Looks like Shaquille O’Neal is taking a post-retirement cue from Larry King by embarking on his first ever comedy tour. While O’Neal – along with Cedric the Entertainer – has spearheaded a few Shaq’s All-Star Comedy Jam television specials since 2009, this will find the retiree taking hand-picked comedians – Aries Spears, Corey Holcomb, Tommy Davidson, Capone, Gary Own, and Tony Roberts – out on the road for the first time.

The tour kicks off September 9 in Memphis, Tenn., and runs through mid-November. There are also plans to film the gigs for the upcoming reality show All-Star Comedy Jam Backstage Pass. Think he’s bitten off more than he can chew? You might be surprised to read about all of the “hats” he has donned over the years.

Rapper

Younger fans of O’Neal may be unaware of his musical past, but the dude has five albums under his belt.

Everett Collection Shaquille O’Neal in “Steel” (1997).

Shaquille O’Neal didn’t exactly shock the world today when he tweeted that he’s about to retire from professional basketball. When he was in his prime, he was one of the greatest centers in NBA history; this season, O’Neal had been plagued with injuries and it probably was time for him to hang up his size 22 sneakers.

With the whole NBA thing out of the way, perhaps now he can...

After 19 seasons in the NBA, Shaquille O’Neal, the most awesome physical presence in the sport’s history, announced his retirement today on Twitter. Listed at 7’1”, 325 pounds, O’Neal was a gentle giant — unless you stood between him and the basket. In his prime, he brought down entire backboards while winning four league titles. He also filled the pop-culture void left by the retirement of Michael Jordan in the mid 1990s, releasing rap albums, playing himself in several TV series and movies (who else could he play?), and eventually hosting a semi-successful reality show.

He also starred in several feature films,...

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but in Hollywood, age is in the eye of the casting director. In the movies, playing a high schooler is less a matter of the actors' real age than the filmmakers' state of mind. Who cares if you're pushing 30 and married and you've got a couple kids? How do you look in trendy clothes? How are your sideburns? Good, you're hired.

True, movies are fantasies. And there are few fantasies more potent than high school fantasies: we've all indulged dreams of what our lives would have looked like if we'd only been more popular or more beautiful back in the day. But movies should also reflect reality, and so few high school movies do. And way too many feature casts that should be forced to read disclaimers before the film starts: "I'm not a real teenager, but I play one in the movies.

With the Ncaa Basketball Tournament, aka "March Madness," in full court, it seemed appropriate to gather 10 of the best basketball movies of all time. These movies inspire, teach, and are filled with all the great up-and-down-the-court action!

Top 10 Basketball Movies of All Time10. "Blue Chips" (1994)

This look at the world of college basketball shows the price of victory, while weaving in the corruption of amateur sports. Stand-out performances by Shaquille O’Neal and Nick Nolte.

This was a banner year for Twitter-Wood Halloween costume photos. In fact, that's about all that anyone was posting in our feed last night, with Shaq showing up in drag, "Eclipse" actor BooBoo Stewart punching his mom and his co-star Jodelle Ferland getting suited up as Katniss Everdeen from Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games" books.

There were all kinds of couples costumes in the feed, too. Eliza Dushku played Lois Lane for Rick Fox, who went as Superman; Seth Green let his inner Harry Potter geek shine, and Ice-t got a little mad. Check out links to all the TwitPic posts after the jump.

I'm @brianwarmoth, and this is Twitter-Wood for November 1, 2010.

Twitter Pic of the Day:

@elizadushku Comme c'est delicieux ! @rickafox is.... Superman! http://twitpic.com/32v91f

-Eliza Dushku, Actress ("Dollhouse," "True Lies")

@jodellemicah My Katniss Halloween costume http://twitpic.com/32tmtt

-Jodelle Ferland, Actress ("Eclipse,...

A couple of veteran action heroes spoke up on Twitter in the last 24 hours to comment on their past accomplishments, and you may be interested to see how Sylvester Stallone feels about cheesiness, as well as how Arnold Schwarzenegger responded to an accusation that he sold out when he made "Junior."

Elsewhere, other headline news topics of the day showed up: Jim Carrey sent a message out to the miners in Chile, Todd Barry defended coverage of David Arquette and Courteney Cox's split, and Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter reacted to recent comments by Christine O'Donnell.

I'm @brianwarmoth, and this is Twitter-Wood for October 14, 2010.

Twitter Pic of the Day:

@THE_Real_SHAQ I'm n da apple store, I almost got away wit dat new iphone just kidding go c randy and david they got u http://plixi.com/p/50602511

-Shaquille O'Neal, Actor ("Steel," "Blue Chips")

@TheSlyStallone When...

Disproportionately large numbers of picture tweets continued to be a Friday trend today, with another on-set shot of "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" showing up from Jerry Bruckheimer, Ludacris hanging out with Paul Walker, and Rose McGowan showing up to a Uso event with an actor you may recognize from "Sons of Anarchy."

Jon Favreau continued to update everyone about the production status of "Cowboys and Aliens," while Eli Roth and Diddy both joined the critical praise pile-on for "The Social Network." Find out if you agree with them and why Shaq says Kevin Garnett got mad at him after the jump.

I'm @brianwarmoth, and this is Twitter-Wood for October 8, 2010.

Twitter Pic of the Day:

@Ludacris Paul Walker Loves it!!!! http://plixi.com/p/49410253

-Ludacris, Actor ("Crash," "Hustle and Flow")

@Jon_Favreau Last weekend before I see the editors assembly of #CowboysandAliens. The sleeves are about to roll up.

The Wrap is reporting that Boston Celtics center Shaquille O'Neal will appear as himself in Adam Sandler's "Jack and Jill" comedy, which is set to begin filming in October. In the film, Jack, a family man, deals with his twin sister, Jill, when she visits for Thanksgiving then won't leave. Sandler will play both Jack and Jill. Katie Holmes (Batman Begins) will play Sandler's wife. Al Pacino will also cameo as himself. Shaq's acting career started with "Blue Chips" back in 1994, and then expanded to such films as "Kazaam" and "Steel." He has also appeared as himself in such films as "The House Bunny" and "when in Rome."...

I have to admit from the start that the popularity of Dancing with the Stars completely eludes me. It was an interesting bit of fun the first time around, but mainly for its novelty value. There was a nice combination of showcasing famous people, and giving them something to do that was mildly entertaining without being embarrassing simply for the sake of being embarrassing.

The second and third seasons had a few moments of interest, even if the biggest tune-in sell was watching people who weren’t any good, rather than watching any “talent” take shape. Now, however, I just don’t get it anymore. Much like the Circus of the Stars of days gone by, the novelty is over, “Stars” is becoming more and more loosely defined, and we are thus at a point where we have to come clean and admit we’re watching ballroom dancing. And, much...

Amanda Bynes' retirement from acting didn't last long, and she let the world know that she's back in the business Friday. Twitter-Wood took notice and reacted accordingly, and I've retweeted a couple such comments after the jump. Brian Lynch's in particular could be a billion-dollar idea.

Elsewhere, someone new has fallen for Justin Bieber, and who it is may surprise you. He claims to have been at a concert and liked what he saw. You can find out what his identity is below, as well as what it looked like watching the "Mad Men" Season 4 premiere with the cast and crew, what Danny DeVito thoughts of it and what Tyra Banks' new profile pick looks like.

I'm @brianwarmoth, and this is Twitter-Wood for July 26, 2010.

Twitter Pic of the Day:

@feliciaday Unbelievable Mass Effect cosplayers! http://yfrog.com/ncrikj

-Felicia Day, Actress ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Bring It on Again...

The "Eclipse" actor tweets continued today, this time with Alex Meraz going out on the town before the London premiere. Eli Roth got excited about the film's box office successes, and Neil Gaiman has been hearing about it from his daughter.

In other tweets, NBA free agency stories are flying around sports pages right now, and Shaquille O'Neal made feelings know about the subject on his account. 140-character-or-less statement can be found below, along with the words of a newly converted "Jersey Shore" fan and Simon Pegg's iPhone horror story.

I'm @brianwarmoth, and this is Twitter-Wood for July 1, 2010.

Twitter Pic of the Day:

@aasif_mandvi Partying with my boy Dev. http://twitpic.com/21eaqh

-Aasif Mandvi, Actor ("The Last Airbender," "Spider-Man 2")

@THE_REAL_SHAQ Ahhhhh shhhh its free agent time

-Shaquille O'Neal, Actor/Athlete ("Blue Chips," "Steel")

@StephenAtHome I hope this spy ring is cooler than the one I found.

Emma Roberts may have opted to delete her Twitter account (R.I.P.) after announcing her allegiance to Team Jacob, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse drew some Twitter hate that he was forced to respond to today after attempting to make a joke about the situation.

Another team you don't want to mess with right now is the Los Angeles Lakers. They took home this year's NBA championship honors last night, and some fans in their home city decided to tear some streets up in celebration. Find out what Twitter-Wood thought about that and what Lindsay Lohan's iPad artwork looks like after the jump.

I'm @brianwarmoth, and this is Twitter-Wood for June 18, 2010.

@mrosenbaum711 Wow!!!!' unreal game 7. Big phil Jackson in front of me. Stud. Jeanie rules!!!! Thanks for the good times. http://yfrog.com/2greuwj

-Michael Rosenbaum, Actor ("Smallville," "Poolhall Junkies")

@MintzPlasse How dare Emma Roberts say she is on team Jacob.

Jon Favreau may or may not know the secrets in store for the "Lost" finale, but he paid a visit to the folks who do after he wrapped "Iron Man 2." Damon Lindelof, meanwhile, teased that he gave away everything, but you can judge for yourself below.

Luckily, "Lost" won't have to compete with last night's Ncaa men's basketball final, though. Duke's win over Butler bought together seasoned basketball player/fans like Shaquille O'Neal, as well as occasional watchers like Wil Wheaton. Check out what they thought after the jump along with pics of Tom Hanks and Busta Rhymes. It's all in Twitter Wood for April 6th, 2010.

Twitter Pic of the Day:

@tomhanks http://twitpic.com/1dji76 - Location scouts at night?? The work never stops. Hanx

-Tom Hanks, Actor ("Saving Private Ryan," "Big")

Duke vs. Butler pt. 1: @THE_REAL_SHAQ Duke does it again I thought dat last shot by butler was good.

After directly jumping from high school to the NBA, LeBron James never got to experience the college basketball ritual of March Madness, but if it were a condition rather than an event, I'd say his decision to star in the Universal comedy "Fantasy Basketball Camp" might just count for some sort of insanity. James is set to play the lead in the film, directed by "Soul Men" helmer Malcolm D. Lee, about a group of friends who head to Vegas and learn life lessons in addition to tips on how to set picks at the Cleveland Cavalier's fantasy camp.

Of course, James already has some big screen experience under his belt with last year's Spirit Award-nominated doc "More Than a Game" about his Ohio high school squad, as well as some small-screen experience on "Saturday Night Live" and multi-character Nike commercials. Still, the track record for basketball stars crossing over...

Oscar-winning director William Friedkin.

In July of 1997, I conducted the first of two lengthy interviews with director William Friedkin, regarded by many as the "enfant terrible" of the so-called "Easy Riders and Raging Bulls" generation of filmmakers who, for one brief, shining moment, seemed to reinvent American cinema in the late '60s thru the late '70s. Meeting Friedkin was something of a milestone for me at the time: I was still in my 20s, had been writing for Venice Magazine less than a year, and "Billy," as he likes people to call him, was the first person I interviewed who was one of my childhood heroes--a filmmaker whose one-sheets hung on my bedroom walls when I was growing up.

Below are the two interviews, conducted a decade apart from one another, and posted in reverse chronology. In both, Billy reveals a cunning intellect, a sometimes abrasive personal style,...