News: Paul Reubens has died after a years-long battle with cancer

Earlier, about 30 minutes after the news broke, I heard what happened and let out a shriek. “Not Pee-wee” I cried out, immediately wondering why I hadn’t even known he had cancer. A bit of shame washed over me for not knowing something so serious about someone so beloved. And then I read the note he wrote just before he left us and the sadness pierced through.

I never met the man, but he was a fixture in my childhood. And, because life can be one hell of a crazy ride, I don’t remember a whole heck of a lot of my childhood, but I do remember him clear as day. What a loss. Thank you for everything, Paul Reubens.

Corbis Getty Images

Paul Reubens

27 August 1952 — 30 July 2023

News: Jamie Foxx is not on his deathbed

If you hadn’t heard, Jamie Foxx was in the hospital recently. While there weren’t detailed reports as to what happened to land him there, we were informed that it was serious for a while. In fact, it felt like we might have gotten close to losing him. Thankfully, it appears things have turned around and Jamie Foxx is back at home. According to an instagram story posted by his daughter Corinne, the media has “run wild” with news of her father. However, she’s confirmed that her dad has been “out of the hospital for weeks, recuperating. In fact, he was playing pickle ball yesterday!”

Image: @corinnefoxx (Instagram)

I don’t know about you but that feels like a bit of relief in this otherwise increasingly bleak news cycle we’re collectively living.

News: Leslie Jordan was in an accident earlier today and has died

He was always a delight on screen. Thanks for all the laughs.

Leslie Jordan

1955 - 2022

Production of ‘Call Me Kat’ has halted in light of the tragic news. Jordan collected some amazing credits in his long career including parts on ‘Will & Grace’ and ‘American Horror Story.’ In the process he also collected a lot of friends. The beloved actor, comedian and writer was 67.

Comedian and actor Leslie Jordan dies after car crash at age 67- latimes.com

News: Neon is bringing ‘Oldboy’ back to theaters

Thank you, Neon. There is no better way to celebrate Park Chan-wook’s violent masterpiece than to bring it back to theaters, especially since I’ve never seen it on the big screen. Oldboy is one of my all-time favorites and I’d love the opportunity to see it the way it was meant to be viewed. I’ve only ever watched it on my TV so I can only imagine the impact those visuals will have when put into the proper perspective.

Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, and Kang Hye-jung star in the movie, which won the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. The film’s logline reads: “After being kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su (Choi Min-sik) is released, only to find that he must find his captor in five days.”

Chan-wook wrote the screenplay alongside Hwang Jo-yun and Lim Joon-hyung. Oldboy is the second installment of Park’s Vengeance Trilogy, sandwiched between Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Lady Vengeance.

Neon to Release ‘Oldboy’ in the U.S. for 20th Anniversary - holywoodreporter.com

News: Ethan Hawke (a newer member of the MCU) still not the biggest fan of the super hero genre but that interview is about so much more

Look, it’s great that folks love their comic book movies. It’s fun to watch them get excited for the latest iteration of saving the world in capes. And, it’s easy to get swept up in that excitement. At first even I was a fan—Keaton Batman for life—but then they took over. Every blockbuster, superheroes. Every summer, superheroes. Every modern-day cultural movie moment, superheroes. It’s been that way ever since and the capes are starting to suffocate.

Photo: Tommasso Boddi

When asked about his thoughts on superhero movies now that he’s part of the MCU Hawke said, “If people like Scorsese and Coppola don’t come out to tell their truth about how there are more important things than making money, who’s going to?” Hawke added that critics needed to do better too saying, “If you keep reviewing these movies that are basically made for 14-year-olds like they’re “Fanny and Alexander” or “Winter Light,” then who the hell’s going to get to make “Winter Light”? I appreciate the elder statesmen of the community reminding people not to set the bar too low. I know it makes some people think they’re stuck up, but they’re not stuck up.

Ethan Hawke: Marvel Is ‘Extremely Actor-Friendly’ but ‘Might Not Be Director-Friendly’ - variety.com

What Ethan Hawke likes about working with Marvel is that actors are given lots of freedom to do their jobs. Unfortunately, he says the directors don’t have that luxury.

In this same interview with Indewire, Hawke discusses Tom Cruise’s career, working with Richard Linklater and the ending to Before Sunset. He goes on to talk about his upcoming HBO docuseries that focuses on Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward called The Last Movie Stars and all he’s learned during his long career. Worth a read if you too are a movie nerd.

Ethan Hawke: I’m at ‘the Beginning of My Last Act’ as an Actor - indewire.com

News: James Caan has died

We’ve lost another legend. James Caan was 82. According to his official Twitter account, he passed last night (July 6, 2022). He’ll always be Sonny from The Godfather to me, but man, remember when he came back in the 80s and knocked all our socks off in Misery? I do. He will be missed. Thanks for everything, James Caan.

The Godfather star James Caan dies aged 82 - theguardian.com

News: Ray Liotta has died

It’s being reported by Deadline that Ray Liotta died in his sleep while in the Dominican Republic shooting his new movie Dangerous Waters. He is survived by his daughter Karson and fiancé Jayc Nittolo.

Thank you for your part in giving me one of my favorite movies of all time. Rest In Peace, Ray Liotta.

Ray Liotta 1954 - 2022

News: David Cronenberg said the body horror in his new movie is going to mess some folks up and that’s ok

Viggo Mortensen and Léa Seydoux star as surgical performance artists in Croenberg’s upcoming movie Crimes of the Future. They express the “metamorphosis” of human organs thorough their art. Their story takes place in the not-so-distant future where pain has become almost non existent and as one character puts it, surgery has become “the new sex.” This performance art catches the eye of the feds because they know that organ transplants will lead to the next phase of human evolution. The movie is incredibly graphic as you can imagine and looks set to shock the pants right off some folks.

Hell yes that’s Kristen Stewart

“I do expect walkouts in Cannes, and that’s a very special thing. There are some very strong scenes,” Cronenberg told Deadline. “I mean, I’m sure that we will have walkouts within the first five minutes of the movie. I’m sure of that.”

David Cronenberg Expects ‘Crimes of the Future’ Walkouts at Cannes ‘Within the First Five Minutes’ - indewire.com

Cronenberg also insists his new movie will still be funny. That’s right, it’s sexual, violent, extreme and funny. Why not, right? The trailer is unsettling in the worst way so be sure to check that out when you get a chance. I get queasy easily, so of course I’m adding this to my personal watchlist.

News: ‘Rust’ production company faces max fine of $136,793 for violating workplace safety protocols that lead to death and serious injury

The production company that was making the movie Rust has been fined the maximum penalty for flagrantly violating workplace safety protocols. It turns out the movie production company was issuing bulletins regarding firearm safety and then not following its own advice.

Prior to the incident that ended with the death of Halyna Hutchins and serious injury of Joel Souza, there were three safety incidents on set: Two accidental weapons discharges and one accidental SFX explosive that went off around crew members between takes. Despite the 1st Assistant Director and Safety Coordinator Dave Halls being present when this stuff happened, no corrective measures were put into place. At no time was anyone talked to about the incidents and there were no subsequent safety meetings. On October 20, 2021 Lane Luper (1st Assistant Camera) quit citing safety concerns among other reasons. Ultimately, The Occupational Health and Safety Bureau (a bureau within the New Mexico Environment Department) stepped in and began an investigation.

As a result of the inspection, OHSB determined that Rust was responsible for a serious violation of the New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Act (“the Act”). While no specific state or federal OSHA standards exist for firearms used in the film industry, it is clear both the employer and the film industry recognized the hazard associated with the use of firearms on movie sets, and the potential for serious injury to employees. Further, Rust demonstrated plain indifference to the safety of employees by ignoring recognized hazards inherent to the use of firearms and ammunition by failing to take appropriate corrective or investigative actions after two firearms-related incidents (misfires) occurred on October 16, 2021, and after employee(s) notified management that they did not feel safe with how weapons were being handled on set. Rust failed to follow company safety procedures, which likely would have prevented the accident from occurring.

‘Rust’ Production Company Fined Nearly $137,000 For “Willful & Serious” Safety Violations: “An Avoidable Loss Of Life Occurred” - deadline.com

News: ‘Mississippi Masala’ is back

To be honest, I didn’t know it was lost. Apparently however, “ownership complications made the movie unviewable for years.” The last I remember, it was playing on cable, maybe HBO or something along those lines. I don’t know how accurate that memory is since it was so long ago, but I do clearly recall watching Mississippi Masala (multiple times) and loving it. Add this to the list of reasons why sometimes you just need to buy a physical copy. Believe me when I say I don’t want to be a hoarder but technology is forcing my hand.

The 1991 romance Mississippi Masala was director Mira Nair’s second film, after the Oscar-nominated Salaam Bombay! Beautifully shot, sexy, and funny (Nair wrote the screenplay with longtime collaborator Sooni Taraporevala), the movie was a minor indie hit, thanks to its unpolished warmth—plus the chemistry of its stars, Sarita Choudhury and Denzel Washington. Unfortunately, ownership complications have made it unviewable for years. Contemporary audiences will finally get a chance to see this charmer, as a new restoration is opening this week in New York before rolling out nationwide, and a Criterion Collection edition will follow in May.

You Can Finally Watch the Long-Lost Indie That Showed Denzel Washington at Peak Hotness - slate.com