Entertainment
Alan Arkin, Oscar-Winning ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ Actor, Dies At 89
(LOS ANGELES) – Alan Arkin, the witty character actor who displayed his versatility in everything from hilarious comedy to chilling drama while receiving four Academy Award nominations and winning an Oscar for “Little Miss Sunshine,” has died. He was 89.
On Friday, his sons Adam, Matthew, and Anthony acknowledged their father’s death through the actor’s publicist. “Our father was a uniquely talented force of nature, both as an artist and as a man,” the family said in a statement.
Paul Reiser, Michael Rapaport, and Patton Oswalt were among those who paid tribute to Arkin. “What a wonderful, unique voice for comedy.” And, on the few occasions I was in his company, he was a kind and generous soul. I learned a lot from watching him. “And the laughs I got from his glorious work seem endless,” Jason Alexander tweeted.
Arkin, a member of Chicago’s legendary Second City comedy group, was an initial success in films with the Cold War parody “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming” and peaked late in life with his award for best-supporting actor in the surprise 2006 smash “Little Miss Sunshine.” His first Oscar nomination, for “The Russians Are Coming,” came more than 40 years after his nomination for playing a devious Hollywood executive in the Oscar-winning “Argo.”
In recent years, he co-starred with Michael Douglas in Netflix’s comedy series “The Kominsky Method,” for which he received two Emmy nods.
“When I was a young actor, people wanted to know if I wanted to be a serious actor or a funny one,” Michael McKean said on Twitter on Friday. ‘I’d respond, ‘Which type is Alan Arkin?’ and that would silence them.”
Arkin reportedly told The Associated Press that the best part about being a character actor was not having to strip naked for a role. He wasn’t a sex symbol or a superstar, but he was always busy, appearing in over 100 TV and feature films. His trademarks were likability, relatability, and complete immersion in his roles, no matter how unusual, whether he was playing a Russian submarine officer in “The Russians Are Coming” who struggles to communicate with the equally jittery Americans or he was the foul-mouthed drug-addicted grandfather in “Little Miss Sunshine.”
“Alan’s never had an identifiable screen personality because he just disappears into his characters,” “The Russians Are Coming” director Norman Jewison famously noted. “His accents are flawless, and he can even change his appearance.” He’s always been underrated, partly because he’s never worked for his success.”
While still with Second City, Carl Reiner cast Arkin as the young protagonist in the 1963 Broadway comedy “Enter Laughing,” based on Reiner’s semi-autobiographical novel.
He drew rave reviews and the attention of Jewison, who was planning to helm a 1966 comedy about a Russian submarine that causes panic when it gets too close to a small New England town. Arkin’s next major film proved, albeit unwillingly, that he could also play a villain. In ‘Wait Until Dark’, Arkin is featured as a ruthless drug dealer who takes a blind woman (Audrey Hepburn) hostage in her flat, convinced that a narcotics shipment is stashed there.
Alan Arkin, the witty character actor who displayed his versatility in everything from hilarious comedy to chilling drama, has died.
In a 1998 interview, he recalled how tough it was to terrorize Hepburn’s persona.
“Just awful,” he exclaimed. “Being mean to her was difficult because she was an exquisite lady.”
Arkin’s career took off again in 1968 with “The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter,” in which he portrayed a sensitive man who couldn’t hear or talk. He played the bumbling French investigator in “Inspector Clouseau” the same year, although the picture was overshadowed by Peter Sellers’ Clouseau in the “Pink Panther” films.
Arkin’s reputation as a character actor flourished further when fellow Second City graduate Mike Nichols cast him as Yossarian, the victim of wartime red tape, in 1970’s “Catch-22,” based on Joseph Heller’s million-selling novel. Arkin appeared in films such as “Edward Scissorhands,” in which he played Johnny Depp’s neighbor, and in David Mamet’s “Glengarry Glen Ross,” he played a tenacious real estate salesman. In the 1998 film “The Slums of Beverly Hills,” he and Reiner played siblings, one successful (Reiner) and the other struggling (Arkin).
“I used to believe that my work was diverse. “However, I realized that for the first twenty years or so, most of the characters I played were outsiders, strangers to their surroundings, foreigners in some way,” he told The Associated Press in 2007.
“That began to shift as I became more and more at ease with myself.” A few days ago, I received one of the finest compliments I’ve ever received. They stated that they believed my characters were frequently the heart, or moral center, of a picture. I didn’t understand it, but I enjoyed it, and it made me happy.”
Other recent projects include “Going in Style,” a 2017 remake starring fellow Oscar winners Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman and “The Kominsky Method.” He portrayed a Hollywood talent agency and Douglas’ character’s pal, a once-promising actor who now runs an acting school after his career faltered.
He also played Wild Knuckles in the 2022 animated feature “Minions: The Rise of Gru.”
Arkin also directed the film adaptations of Jules Feiffer’s 1971 dark comedy “Little Murders” and Neil Simon’s 1972 play about feuding old vaudeville partners, “The Sunshine Boys.” Arkin was featured on television in the short-lived programs “Fay” and “Harry” and played a night court judge in Sidney Lumet’s drama series “100 Centre Street” on A&E. He also wrote several children’s novels.
Alan Arkin, the witty character actor who displayed his versatility in everything from hilarious comedy to chilling drama, has died.
He was born in the New York City borough of Brooklyn and relocated to Los Angeles with his family, including two younger brothers, when he was 11. His parents got positions as teachers but were sacked because they were Communists during the post-World War II Red Scare.
“We were dirt poor, so I couldn’t afford to go to the movies very often,” he explained to the Associated Press in 1998. “But I went whenever I could and focused on films, as they were more important than anything else in my life.”
He studied acting at Los Angeles City College, California State University, Los Angeles, and Bennington College in Vermont, where he received a scholarship.
He married Jeremy Yaffe, a fellow student, and they had two boys, Adam and Matthew.
After his divorce from Yaffe in 1961, Arkin married actress-writer Barbara Dana, with whom he had a son, Anthony. All three sons became actors, with Adam appearing on the TV show “Chicago Hope.”
“It was certainly nothing that I pushed them into,” Arkin claimed in 1998. “It didn’t matter to me what they did as long as it allowed them to grow.”
Arkin began his entertainment career as an organizer and vocalist with The Tarriers, a group that briefly rode the late 1950s folk musical revival wave. Later, he moved on to theatre acting, mostly off-Broadway and in tragic parts.
He collaborated with Nichols, Elaine May, Jerry Stiller, Anne Meara, and others at Second City to create intelligent, high-speed impromptu parodies on current fads and follies.
“I had no idea I could be funny until I joined Second City,” he explained.
SOURCE – (AP)
(VOR News) – The “Merc with a Mouth” will return to the big screen in Deadpool & Wolverine this weekend, and his contribution to Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe extends beyond his R rating.
“Deadpool & Wolverine,” the third standalone feature film featuring Ryan Reynolds as the regenerative reprobate, is expected to gross between $160 million and $180 million in its opening weekend at the domestic box office.
The movie has already surpassed the greatest number of ticket pre-sales in 2024, according to data provided by Fandango. It is anticipated that it will break numerous records during its opening weekend.
Most noteworthy among these accomplishments is the most successful premiere for an R-rated film in history, as well as the largest domestic opening of 2024.
Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” has achieved the highest opening of the year with a total of $154.2 million, as per the data provided by Comscore.
Additionally, the first “Deadpool” film has achieved the highest début for any R-rated feature film with a total of $132.4 million.
Mike Bowers, the president and CEO of Harkins Theatres, a theatre corporation located in Arizona, stated, “I am confident that this will be the largest R-rated film to ever be released if it is released.” Furthermore, it is already one of the most successful presale films in the annals of our company.
“Deadpool & Wolverine” was initially rated R because of its trailer.
It is also the 34th Deadpool & Wolverine film to be released under the Marvel Cinematic Universe banner. The two Deadpool films that preceded it, both of which were rated R, were produced and distributed by 20th Century Fox.
The reintroduction of the X-Men and Fantastic Four into the broader Marvel catalogue was the consequence of Disney’s acquisition of the corporation in 2019.
Similar to other Marvel Cinematic Universe films, “Deadpool & Wolverine” is benefiting from the enthusiasm of its audience.
Audiences are anxious to view the film during its opening weekend in order to prevent spoilers. Disney has maintained the confidentiality of the majority of the film’s content, and only a limited number of press screenings have been conducted prior to the film’s release.
Bowers anticipates that individuals will continue to return for additional viewings in the weeks following the film’s premiere.
He made the observation that “this is a film that there is so much happening, so many jokes and funny sequences that no one is going to be able to eat just one, you know, they’re going to be back.”
Ellis Jacob, the president and chief executive officer of Cineplex, the largest cinema theatre operator in Canada, echoed Bower’s viewpoint. Jacob asserted that “Deadpool & Wolverine” is replete with Easter eggs and that viewers will revisit the film to attempt to locate them all.
Furthermore, he stated that a substantial number of moviegoers are purchasing tickets for premium screenings, such as IMAX, Dolby, and ScreenX, which are more expensive.
Additionally, Marvel has collaborated with movie theatres to grant licenses for items such as collector popcorn tubs and drink containers, which the theatre operators anticipate will be in high demand.
Historically, concessions have been the most profitable revenue source for movie theatres, and the presence of limited-edition products can result in even greater sales of food and beverages.
” Deadpool & Wolverine” is an essential Marvel release.
Shawn Robbins, Deadpool & Wolverine the inventor and owner of Box Office Theory, announced that Disney had “slowed down the pace” and had scheduled fewer films in the series that has dominated the global box office for over a decade. Box Office Theory is also associated with Robbins.
He stated that Disney is making an effort to correct the course after a series of theatrical errors and poor box office performance, as well as a flood of streaming content that overwhelmed even the most devoted fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Robbins pointed out that “in the end, despite the fact that this is a Marvel movie, it may be viewed equally as a midsummer action comedy that stars personalities and brands that are loved by both die-hard fans and casual viewers.”
The fact that Reynolds and Jackman have both made a name for themselves in Deadpool & Wolverine popular culture and have maintained a cordial relationship through interviews and social media makes them an ideal pairing.
Likewise, there is genuine curiosity regarding the first R-rated film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and whether it will retain the qualities that made the first two Deadpool films and [Jackman’s 2017 Wolverine film] Logan so successful.
SOURCE: CNBC
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Turner Sports hopes to continue its long-standing relationship with the NBA.
On Monday, Warner Bros. Discovery informed the league that it will match Amazon Prime Video’s $1.8 billion annual bid. Turner has had an NBA package since 1984, and games have been broadcast on TNT since the network started in 1988.
“We studied the offers and accepted one of them. This will allow fans to continue to experience our unequaled coverage, including the greatest live game productions in the business and our legendary studio shows and talent, as we build on our proven 40-year commitment for many more years,” WBD stated. “We submitted our matching paperwork to the league today.” We are looking forward to the NBA completing our new contract.”
Warner Bros. Discovery Informs NBA It Will Match Amazon Prime Video’s Offer To Carry Games
The NBA Board of Governors approved the league’s 11-year media rights deals with Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video on Tuesday at its meeting in Las Vegas. WBD received all three contracts on Wednesday, beginning the five-day clock for deciding whether to match.
The new deals, for $76 billion, will begin with the 2025-26 season and entail a game being shown or streamed nationally every night during the second half of the season.
The Prime Video package would have offered games on Thursday night after it finished carrying NFL games. The other nights were Friday and Saturday.
TNT would air games on Thursday, with the other nights being streamed on Max.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav warned at an RBC Investor Conference in November 2022 that Turner and WBD “don’t have to have the NBA.”
Warner Bros. Discovery and the league could not negotiate an agreement during their exclusive bargaining period, which ended in April. Zaslav and TNT Sports Chairman/CEO Luis Silberwasser have recently announced that they intend to match one of the agreements.
“During our four-decade collaboration with the NBA, we have consistently provided exceptional coverage for basketball fans. WBD stated that they behaved in good faith to offer strong proposals that were fair to both parties throughout exclusive and non-exclusive negotiations to maintain their long-standing collaboration. “Regrettably, the league notified us of its intention to accept other offers for the games in our current rights package, leaving us to proceed under the matching rights provision, which is an integral part of our current agreement and the rights we have paid for under it.”
NBC and WBD would alternate broadcasting one of the conference finals series. ESPN and ABC will continue to broadcast the league’s top package and will host conference finals and the NBA Finals each year.
According to people familiar with the negotiations, Amazon’s offer contained a mechanism for paying many years in advance into an escrow account, which many thought would be difficult to match. However, WBD has informed the league that it has the financial resources to do so.
“The Ringer’s” Bill Simmons originally mentioned the Amazon provision on “The Town” podcast.
People talked to the AP anonymously because they were not at liberty to discuss such serious topics.
Warner Bros. Discovery Informs NBA It Will Match Amazon Prime Video’s Offer To Carry Games
WBD pays $1.4 billion per season under the existing nine-year contract, which expires after next season.
WBD is making a large financial investment, but it is necessary. Without the NBA, it would have struggled to charge its present subscriber fees to cable and satellite companies.
Retaining the NBA would also ensure that the popular “Inside the NBA” show will continue. Charles Barkley was dismissive of WBD’s negotiation position and did not believe it would match. Barkley revealed at the end of this season that he planned to retire following the next season.
SOURCE – (AP)
Celebrity
American Who Made Social Media Threats Against Taylor Swift Detained Ahead Of German Concert
BERLIN — An American man who made threats against Taylor Swift on social media was seized before her first concert in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, and will be held in custody until her gigs there end, authorities said Thursday.
swift | AP news Image
American Who Made Social Media Threats Against Taylor Swift Detained Ahead Of German Concert
According to police, the accused stalker, a 34-year-old whose name has not been disclosed, had a ticket to Taylor’s concert at Gelsenkirchen’s Veltins-Arena on Wednesday. They stated that he was detained at event admission checks because an early assessment could not completely rule out a risk.
According to police, the man threatened Taylor and her partner on social media. They say he was detained after receiving tips from the event’s organizers.
The American superstar will perform in Gelsenkirchen on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday as part of her Eras tour. According to authorities, a local court has ordered that the suspected stalker be detained until Saturday.
They went on to say that Swift and the audience were always safe. The event drew approximately 60,000 people on Wednesday evening and went off without incident.
American Who Made Social Media Threats Against Taylor Swift Detained Ahead Of German Concert
Before the concerts, Gelsenkirchen temporarily renamed the town “Swiftkirchen” and honored the singer on a “Walk of Fame” dedicated to local luminaries.
Taylor has plans to perform in two more German cities after Gelsenkirchen: Hamburg and Munich.
SOURCE | AP
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