Charles Shyer, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter, director, and producer known for his work on iconic comedies such as 'Private Benjamin', 'Baby Boom', and the 1991 remake of 'Father of the Bride' and its 1995 sequel 'Father of the Bride II', has passed away at the age of 83. As per Deadline, the cause of death has not been disclosed. Shyer's death was confirmed by his family in a heartfelt statement shared with Deadline. The Meyers-Shyer family expressed their sorrow, writing, "It's with an indescribably heavy heart that we share the news of our beloved father, Charles Shyer's passing. His loss leaves an unfillable hole in our lives, but his legacy lives on through his children and the five decades of wonderful work he's left behind. We honour the extraordinary life he led and know there will never be another quite like him." Charles Shyer's career spanned over five decades, during which he became a staple in Hollywood for his sharp wit and knack for directing heartwarming comedies. His Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay came in 1981 for 'Private Benjamin', a comedy starring Goldie Hawn. The screenplay, co-written with Nancy Meyers and Harvey Miller, was a huge success and marked the beginning of a prolific partnership between Shyer and Meyers, both professionally and personally. The duo continued their collaboration throughout the 1980s and 1990s, creating some of Hollywood's most beloved films. These included 'Irreconcilable Differences' (1984), 'Baby Boom' (1987), and the hugely popular 'Father of the Bride' franchise. The 1991 remake of 'Father of the Bride', starring Steve Martin and Diane Keaton, was a massive hit, followed by the equally successful sequel 'Father of the Bride II' in 1995. Shyer and Meyers, who married in 1990, were one of the most successful creative teams in the business. Their partnership continued until their divorce in 1999, after which Shyer embarked on a solo career, directing films like 'The Affair of the Necklace' (2001) and the 2004 remake of 'Alfie', starring Jude Law. His most recent projects included writing and directing the 2022 Netflix holiday film 'The Noel Diary' and serving as co-writer and producer on the 2023 Christmas movie 'Best Christmas Ever!' As per Deadline, Shyer is survived by his four children, including filmmaker Hallie Meyers-Shyer. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
29 December,2024 07:59 AM IST | Washington | ANIOlivia Hussey Eisley, renowned for her role as Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli's iconic 1968 film 'Romeo and Juliet', has passed away at the age of 73. Hussey died on 27 December, surrounded by loved ones in her home and according to a statement posted on her official Instagram page, is survived by her husband of 35 years, David Glen Eisley, and their children Alex, Max, and India. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Olivia Hussey eisley (@oliviahusseyeisley) She is also survived by her grandson, Greyson. Her family issued the following statement upon her passing, "It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Olivia Hussey Eisley, who went peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones on December 27th. Olivia was a remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom, and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her. She leaves behind a legacy of love that will forever be cherished in our hearts." Born on April 17, 1951, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Hussey shot to fame with her portrayal of the star-crossed lover in 'Romeo and Juliet', a performance that would become one of the most memorable in film history. The movie, nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, remains one of the most beloved adaptations of Shakespeare's classic tale. It earned Hussey and her co-star Leonard Whiting Golden Globe Awards for their performances. Beyond 'Romeo and Juliet', Hussey's acting career spanned decades, with notable roles in films such as 'Death on the Nile', where she starred opposite Peter Ustinov, and the 1989 film 'Psycho IV: The Beginning', where she portrayed Norma Bates. Her career also included a key role in the 1990 miniseries adaptation of 'Stephen King's It'. In 1977, she reunited with Zeffirelli for his television epic 'Jesus of Nazareth', where she portrayed Mary, the mother of Jesus. The 1968 film, which gained widespread attention for its candid depiction of the young lovers, was met with both acclaim and backlash, as per Deadline. Although it won two Academy Awards, including Best Cinematography and Best Costume Design, the film's depiction of nudity sparked significant debate at the time. Franco Zeffirelli, who passed away in 2019, could not respond to the lawsuit due to his death. However, his son, Pippo Zeffirelli, commented on the matter, expressing his embarrassment over the claims made by Hussey and Whiting. "It is embarrassing to hear that today, 55 years after filming, two elderly actors who owe their notoriety essentially to this film wake up to declare that they have suffered an abuse that has caused them years of anxiety and emotional discomfort," he said in January 2023, as per Deadline. According to Deadline, a judge dismissed the lawsuit in May 2023, citing a "gross mischaracterization" of the film's bedroom scenes and ruling that the First Amendment protected the film's artistic choices. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
29 December,2024 07:56 AM IST | Washington | ANITim Allen is returning to the role of Buzz Lightyear for 'Toy Story 5', and he's already giving fans a glimpse into what's to come in the highly anticipated animated sequel. As per Deadline, in a recent interview, Allen shared details about his experience recording his first session for the movie, which is expected to focus largely on his iconic character. Allen revealed that he recently completed his first five-hour recording session for 'Toy Story 5'. "Well, I don't know what I'm supposed to say. Yes, I just did the first five-hour session for Buzz, probably a week ago," Allen shared, adding "It's really, really weird to get back in it. I can't tell you anything," as per Deadline. Despite his secrecy about the plot, Allen was enthusiastic about the film, praising its story. "It's a very, very clever story," he said. "I don't really believe it's about the money. I'm sure they want it to be a success, but that's not why they did it. Had they not come up with a brilliant script, they wouldn't have done it and they wouldn't have called me and Tom [Hanks]. It's really clever," Allen added, according to Deadline. Allen also spoke about his deep connection with the character of Buzz Lightyear, a role he has voiced since the original 'Toy Story' movie in 1995. Reflecting on his return to the role, Allen expressed his gratitude and excitement, "It was really a struggle to get, and then maybe two hours in, I was doing Buzz. I'm so blessed to be Buzz Lightyear, to be honest. It's gonna be fun." The actor also revealed some details about the production process, explaining that the team is currently working through the film's third act. "I think we're a year out. I've gotten up to the third act. We'll do the third act. And then, we'll go back and clean it. And then, I'll do it about five more times," Allen said. He ended by assuring fans that the story is something truly special, "It's a really good story, guys. It's really good." Fans of the 'Toy Story' franchise will be pleased to know that 'Toy Story 5' is set to hit theatres in 2026. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
29 December,2024 07:47 AM IST | Washington | ANIHollywood star Tom Cruise's upcoming film with Oscar-winning director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu will open in American theatres on October 2, 2026, studio Warner Bros has announced. The film marks Inarritu's first English-language film since the Leonardo DiCaprio-starrer "The Revenant" in 2015, reported entertainment news outlet Deadline. The untitled project is about the "most powerful man in the world" who embarks on a "frantic mission to prove he is humanity's savior before the disaster he's unleashed destroys everything", according to the official logline. For the movie, Inarritu is once again collaborating with his "Birdman" co-writers Alexander Dinelaris and Nicolas Giacobone, with Sabina Berman also sharing a screenwriting credit. In addition to Cruise, the movie will feature Sandra Huller, John Goodman, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jesse Plemons, Sophie Wilde and Riz Ahmed. Warner Bros has also announced new release dates for a host of major films, including Matt Reeves' "The Batman 2", which will now open in theatres on October 1, 2027. The film, which will see Robert Pattinson returning as the caped crusader, was earlier scheduled to be released on October 2, 2026. The studio has swapped the openings of Bong Joon Ho's "Mickey 17" and Ryan Coogler's "Sinners". "Mickey 17", also starring Pattinson, moves from April 18, 2025, to March 7, 2025. "Sinners", which reunites Hollywood star Michael B Jordan, has taken the slot of April 18. "Mickey 17" is Joon Ho's first film since the multiple Oscar-winning Korean movie "Parasite". The movie features Pattinson as an "expendable" constantly sent to perform dangerous jobs on an ice planet that frequently get him killed. But things get messy when one of the expendables survives a mission that was meant to kill him and he gets entangled with the latest iteration of himself. The film, based on a book by Edward Ashton, also stars Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, Mark Ruffalo, and Naomi Ackie. "Sinners" is written and directed by Coogler. It centres on twin brothers " both played by Jordan " who return to their New Orleans hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back. The movie's cast also includes Hailee Steinfeld, Delroy Lindo and Jack O'Connell. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
29 December,2024 07:36 AM IST | Los Angeles | PTICast: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Jon Bernthal, Niecy Nash, Emily Yancy, Vera Farmiga Director: Ava DuVernayRating: 3/5Runtime: 141 min Ava DuVernay’s ambitious film, a challenging adaptation of a bestselling novel, explores the divisions of the world in a way we haven’t really seen before. “Origin,”attempts to reshape the discussion around race in the modern era. Isabel Wilkerson’s acclaimed book, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, is basically brought to life in a sweeping cinematic exploration of human history. This film is basically a drama about the writing of a non-fiction book. In the film, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor plays Isabel Wilkerson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who while navigating deep personal loss uncovers the rigid caste structures of societies worldwide. Her journey spans Nazi Germany, India and the United States. The non-fiction nature of the source may mark this as a film that is different from the traditional but the theme, performances and score just about makes the experience unforgettable. ‘Origin’ is about the unspoken system that has shaped America but the exploration of words and their usage in broad terms is valid for the rest of the world too. ‘Origin’ basically chronicles how lives today are defined by a hierarchy of human divisions. Following a sold-out public talk for her book The Warmth of Other Suns, her persistent editor Amari (Blair Underwood) asks the Pulitzer Prize-winning author to write about the murder of Trayvon Martin. Supported by her husband Brett (Jon Bernthal), Wilkerson begins to question the conditions that made it possible and how people responded to the incident. Then Wilkerson experiences acute grief when she loses the two people closest to her in her life. Thereafter She uses the initial ideas from her work on the Martin death to incorporate a worldwide investigation. In the process she examines how the structures that led to the Holocaust, the subjugation of the Dalits in India, and the slavery of Africans brought to the United States, have much in common. Her work eventually lead to the writing of the bestseller “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.” In the process of her research Isabel ventures to India to meet with Dalit professor Suraj Yengde (as himself) to learn more about the Dalit activist Bhimrao Ambedkar (Gaurav J. Pathania). “Origin” is a journalistic film in which we see a Black woman in a profession that is dominated by white people. Ellis-Taylor’s creation conveys the deep intellectual pursuits of Wilkerson on journeys to Germany and India with deep emotional heft. The final scenes of “Origin” are powerfully impactful as Wilkerson’s narrative exposes everything vile about castes in this world. The film’s greatest strength lies in its ambition. The film tackles weighty themes with unflinching honesty. Brutal historical reenactments force us to confront the ugly truths about humanity’s capacity for cruelty. The narrative structure feels disjointed at times, jumping between timelines and locations. The film also leans heavily on dialogue. Despite the academic nature of the subject ‘Origin’ manages to envision a drama that makes ‘Love’ the essential for confronting or wiping out all the hate in this world.
28 December,2024 06:38 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasCast: Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, J.K. Simmons, Bonnie Hunt, Kristofer Hivju, Kiernan Shipka, Mary Elizabeth EllisDirector: Jake KasdanRating: 2.5/5Runtime: 124 min. This ambitious $250 million adventure with the Christmas myth has a sprawling scale but there’s very little to cheer about. Amazon MGM’s action-adventure Christmas film is a modern take on the Jolly ole St Nick myth but the re-imagined version and modern tech on display is not the kind of entertainment that tradition loving cine goers are likely to cotton on to. The scale is bigger but not better even though the narrative spreads itself all around the globe, has A-list stars, and reindeer with the ability to hyperspace travel. Santa Claus is a sculpted, bench-pressing, cookie loving mythological being that exists and he is under the watchful eye of the Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority (MORA) - obviously an expansive build-up for a cinematic universe of its own. This Santa is decidedly different. He’s a Santa we’ve never seen before. He and his reindeer even get escorted out of Philadelphia back to the North Pole by fighter jets. He even has a military-industrial complex to call his own alongwith protectors aided by the latest tech - the kind we’ve never seen before. Saint Nick believes delivering presents is a matter of physical skill and prowess. So gift delivery is rehearsed and choreographed, for 364 days a year. The North Pole is a domed super-city with advanced technological capabilities, staffed with elves. Santa even has a Mrs. Claus (Bonnie Hunt) to greet him before diving into his regular routine.There are talking penguins and a burly polar bear and Morgan’s screenplay incorporates the Icelandic legend of Christmas Witch Grýla (Kiernan Shipka), a 900-year-old shapeshifter who transforms from a hideous ogress into a diabolical villainess. The head of North Pole security, Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson), confides to Santa that he’d like to retire after this year’s Christmas run, having lost faith in their mission. But soon after that, Santa is kidnapped and renowned hacker Jack O’Malley (Chris Evans) appears to be involved. The winter witch, Grýla (Kiernan Shipka), thinks Kris Kringle has gone soft, decides to take matters into her own hands and punish everyone on his Naughty List. So Callum and Jack have to reluctantly team up to find Santa and stop Grýla as the world faces the possibility of Christmas getting obliterated altogether. Lucy Liu, who plays the director of MORA, is mostly seen barking orders and doing the occasional fight scene. It’s a real pity that she has nothing much to do in this film. Santa’s Christmas Eve run, presented in detail, a delightful mix magic and sci-fi elements is great fun. But the rest of the film is just chaotic. Chris Evans, plays his role with surprising flair. Dwayne Johnson, on the other hand, seems to be in routine bodyguard mode. The message that kindness will overcome the “naughty” forces of the world doesn’t hit home strongly enough. “Red One” has some interesting ideas but it lacks the narrative depth or an expansive script to fully explore that aspect. Too much money has been wasted on adventure like thrills that just don’t generate much adrenaline. The action is picturised in sloppy fashion. There’s not much thrill to be had here.
28 December,2024 06:25 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasKeanu Reeves, the beloved action star behind the iconic John Wick franchise, has expressed mixed feelings about the possibility of returning for a fifth instalment of the hit series.While his heart may be willing, his body, specifically his knees, might not be up for the challenge.As per People magazine, in a recent interview to promote his role as the villain Shadow in 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3', the 60-year-old actor was asked whether he would consider returning for another 'John Wick' film.His response was candid, revealing the physical toll that playing the iconic assassin has taken over the years."You can never say never, but my knees right now are saying, 'You can't do another John Wick,'" Reeves shared, as per People magazine.Although the actor expressed a deep fondness for the role that has made him a global icon, he admitted that the physical demands of the part are becoming increasingly difficult to handle."So my heart wants to, but I don't know if my knees can do it," he said.Despite this, Reeves remains involved in the 'John Wick' universe. He will reprise his role as the legendary hitman in a cameo for the upcoming spinoff 'From the World of John Wick: Ballerina', which is set to hit theatres on June 6.In the 'Ballerina' film, Reeves' character will appear briefly alongside a new cast, including Cisely Saldivar and Ana de Armas.The 'John Wick' franchise, which began with the 2014 film, has become one of the most successful action series of all time.The first film introduced Reeves as a retired hitman seeking revenge for the death of his beloved dog, and it quickly garnered a loyal fanbase.Its success led to three sequels, and the franchise as a whole has grossed over USD 1 billion worldwide, according to People magazine.Along with the films, the 'John Wick' universe has expanded to include a prequel series, 'The Continental', as well as video games and comic books.In a recent interview to mark the 10th anniversary of the original 'John Wick', co-director Chad Stahelski praised Reeves for his dedication and integral role in the franchise's success."Could you have done John Wick without Keanu?" Stahelski asked rhetorically, answering, "No, not the way you see it."He went on to describe Reeves' commitment on set, noting that he is always the first to arrive and the last to leave, as per People magazine.David Leitch, the franchise's co-director, also shared his admiration for Reeves, emphasizing the emotional depth he brings to the character."There really is no other person that could play John Wick," Leitch said, adding, "He brings, obviously, the passion, the physicality, and there's just this undeniable emotional quality to him, where you feel for him and he pulls at your heartstrings," as per People magazine. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 December,2024 12:37 PM IST | Mumbai | ANIVeteran actor Geoffrey Deuel, best known for portraying famed outlaw Billy the Kid in the 1970 John Wayne vehicle Chisum, has passed away. He was 81. As per The Hollywood Reporter, Geoffrey Deuel died on December 22 in hospice care in Largo, Florida, after a battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. His wife Jacqueline Deuel confirmed the news of his demise to the portal. Deuel appeared on many TV shows from the mid-1960s through the mid-'70s, showing up on The Monkees, The Invaders, The FBI, The Flying Nun, Medical Center, Mannix, Adam-12, The Mod Squad, Mission: Impossible, The Streets of San Francisco, Ironside, Cannon and The Young and the Restless, among others. Geoffrey Jacob Deuel was born in Lockport, New York, on Jan. 17, 1943, and raised in nearby Penfield. His father, Ellsworth, was a doctor and his mother, Lillian, a nurse. In the 1980s, Deuel performed in plays in Tampa's Ybor City neighborhood and returned to school to earn a master's degree from the University of South Florida. He worked for years as a substitute teacher. He is survived by his wife - whom he married in 2017 after four decades of being together - and younger sister, Pamela. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 December,2024 07:48 AM IST | Los Angeles | ANIActor Jennifer Lopez's latest Instagram post shows her fun-filled Christmas holidays spent with kids in Aspen, Colorado. Lopez, 55, her 16-year-old child Emme and her niece Lucie, also 16, huddled up together with some toasty coffees while seated on an outdoor bench in a carousel of photos posted to the singer's Instagram, as per Page Six. She captioned the post with snowflakes and a snowman emoji. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jennifer Lopez (@jlo) Lopez could be seen donning a large fur hood and matching boots as she sat beside her offspring, who also kept warm in a puffy jacket. In another image, the proud mom captured her kid wearing red plaid pyjamas while opening presents under their family's luminous Christmas tree. On Christmas Eve, she shared a glimpse inside the group's celebration, during which she and her kids and sister gathered around a fireplace for a cozy evening inside. Meanwhile, on the work front, Lopez will be next seen in a biographical sports drama film titled 'Unstoppable'. She will be playing the role of Judy Robles, the mother of NCAA wrestling champion Anthony Robles.The film is based on the real-life story of Anthony Roble, a one-legged wrestler who defied all odds to become a champion. Directed by debutant Villy Goldenberg, the film stars Jharrel Jerome in the lead role.'Unstoppable' will be released on January 16 on Amazon Prime Video. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 December,2024 07:47 AM IST | Los Angeles | ANIHours after reports of Dua Lipa being engaged to boyfriend Callum Turner surfaced in the media, the singer posted a series of pictures from her Christmas party. Dua prepared a Turkey all by herself for the occasion and flexed her cooking skills on Instagram. The photos show her in a white ensemble with a Santa hat. She wrote in the caption, “Christmas was vvvv cute. The turkey was some of my best work.” Dua Lipa is engaged to her boyfriend Callum Turner Reports of Dua Lipa’s engagement to Callum Turner were fuelled by British media as many outlets pointed out the presence of a ring in the singer’s holiday photo dump. Some also reported that Callum went down on one knee around Christmas at a private ceremony to deliver the sweetest proposal. Dua made her relationship with actor Callum Turner official in July after months of speculation. Despite their public appearances, both Dua and Callum have remained tight-lipped about the details of their relationship. Dua, known for her fiercely guarded privacy, previously expressed the importance of keeping her personal life shielded from the public eye, cherishing the intimacy of her inner circle. About Dua Lipa Dua Lipa is one of the most loved singers of the current generation. Her accolades include seven Brit Awards and three Grammy Awards. Time magazine included her in its list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2024. She worked as a model before venturing into music and signing with Warner Bros. in 2014. She released her eponymous debut album in 2017, which peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart and spawned the singles ‘Be the One’, ‘IDGAF’, and the UK number-one single ‘New Rules’. She was honoured with the Brit Awards for British Female Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act in 2018. Dua was recently in Mumbai for the Zomato Feeding India Concert. Her performance on the mashup of Levitating x Wo Ladki Jo (from Shah Rukh Khan’s film Baadshah) turned out to be the highlight. This was Dua's third visit to India, following her performance in 2019 and her recent vacation in Rajasthan earlier this year.
27 December,2024 10:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFilm: Culpa Tuya (Your Fault) Cast: Nicole Wallace, Gabriel Guevara, Iván Sánchez, Marta Hazas, Eva Ruiz, Víctor Varona, Gabriela Andrada, Alex Bejar Director: Domingo González Rating: 1.5 stars Runtime: 120 min Scripted by Domingo González & Sofía Cuenca ‘Your Fault’ is a Spanish romantic-drama about a forbidden love story and is based on a Wattpad story. The film is based on the second novel in the Culpables trilogy, Culpa Tuya, by Mercedes Ron, and is a sequel to My Fault (Culpa Mía). You can also expect a prospective finale in Our Fault (Culpa Nuestra) since this is intended as a trilogy. Step-siblings Noah (Nicole Wallace) and Nick (Gabriel Guevara) struggle to maintain their forbidden romance despite their parents’ attempts to separate them. As Noah begins university and Nick focuses on his professional career, their lives get entangled in new challenges. The reappearance of Nick’s vindictive ex-girlfriend and the ambiguous intentions of his mother further strain their relationship, threaten to unravel their bond, and disrupt the dynamics of the Leister family. This sequel to the popular Amazon Prime hit finds the same parents continue aggressively in their efforts to stop the young lovers romancing in glamorous locations. Sultry intern Sofia (Gabriela Andrada) is one of the lures that is being dangled below Nick’s nose while Noah’s interest in illegal drag-racing could also become a deal breaker. This is basically a stereotypical romantic drama with no humor or nuance. The performances are wooden and the treatment doesn’t allow for any great affection. But since ‘My Fault’ was well received, this one is also likely to see the same fate. Moreover, Prime Video appears to have latched on to this without much thought mainly because the viewers were already in the bag!
27 December,2024 06:05 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasADVERTISEMENT
