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When A League of Their Own hit theaters on July 1, 1992, it was up against a crowded slate of blockbusters, including Batman Returns , Lethal Weapon 3 , Patriot Games , and Universal Soldier , that were expected to linger around multiplexes all summer. But when Labor Day rolled around two months later, all those other movies had faded away, and A League of Their Own was still packing in crowds on its way toward a $107.5 million domestic gross. Love for the Penny Marshall-directed film about the World War II-era All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, staring Geena Davis , Lori Petty, Tom Hanks , Madonna , and Rosie O’Donnell, has only grown in the three decades that followed thanks to VHS rentals, DVD sales, and endless replays on cable television. It’s a rare movie that appeals to people across all age groups and demographics, and it revived interest in the half-forgotten AAGPBL. In honor of A League of Their Own ‘s 30th anniversary, we spoke with … [Read more...] about ‘There’s No Crying in Baseball!’: ‘A League of Their Own’ Turns 30

This post contains full spoilers for the final two episodes of Stranger Things Season Four, which are streaming now on Netflix. Midway through the super-supersized Stranger Things fourth-season finale, “The Piggyback,” Nancy (Natalia Dyer), Steve (Joe Keery), and Robin (Maya Hawke) are climbing a haunted house’s stairway in the Upside Down as part of a complicated plan to keep the hell dimension from breaking through into their own world. They have avoided attention so far, but suddenly Robin wakes up the demonic tentacles that surround them, and within moments, all three teens are pinned to the walls, having the life choked out of them. The scene cuts to another set of characters, leaving the viewer on edge about how (or if, but not really) Nancy and the others will escape what looks like certain doom. A few scenes later, the season’s main villain, Vecna/One/Henry/Mother of Dragons/Breaker of Chains/Cleaner of Carpets (played under at least some of those names by … [Read more...] about ‘Stranger Things’ Season Four Finale: Runnin’ Up That Hill for Two-Plus Hours Isn’t So Fun

Asked to direct Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation —following his work on two prior installments of the franchise—the biggest obstacle Genndy Tartakovsky faced was that he didn’t want to make the film in the first place. Seeing installments one and two snowball to major commercial success, the director was nonetheless loathe to repeat himself, continuing the story of Dracula—played by Adam Sandler—and the castle to which he is bound. Breaking out in television, through the creation of hit Cartoon Network series including Dexter’s Laboratory and Samurai Jack , Tartakovsky was used to the creative control that came with this arena, which presented an altogether different creative experience, still informing his work to this day. When he was approached by Sony Pictures Animation to make his feature debut with the original Hotel Transylvania , Tartakovsky couldn’t have anticipated the internal conflict that would result. Seeing major results at the helm of studio … [Read more...] about ‘Hotel Transylvania 3’ Helmer Genndy Tartakovsky Confronts Studio Notes, Striving To Break Out With Original Works

A four-time Oscar winner best known for the Wallace and Gromit stop-motion series, Nick Park has an abiding affection for his own iconic creations, often contemplating what the next chapter might be, when it comes to the eccentric inventor and his anthropomorphic dog. At the same time, Park is an artist of diverse interests, who knows when it’s time to turn the page. Winning Best Animated Feature with 2005’s The Curse of the Were-Rabbit —which saw the pair digging into a curious mystery involving garden sabotage—Park saw the opportunity to try something new with his next feature, Early Man , introducing a whole new group of characters and a compelling prehistoric world, which stemmed from an idea he’d contemplated for years. Set at the dawn of time, Aardman Animations ’ latest follows Dug, a prehistoric man who unites with his tribe to combat a threat from Lord Nooth, the leader of a Bronze Age city encroaching on his own. Facing the obliteration of life as he … [Read more...] about ‘Early Man’ Director Nick Park On Realizing Longtime Vision For Caveman Sports Comedy

In his first collaboration with Wes Anderson on Isle of Dogs , Paul Harrod translated an auteur’s live-action style to stop-motion, a medium that allowed for a spectacular visual presentation, but came with a set of limitations that proved problematic. Gathering reference materials and establishing certain visual parameters early on was Adam Stockhausen , an Oscar-winning production designer who has been the auteur’s go-to craftsman since Moonrise Kingdom , and had to leave the production early on, heading into the VR world of Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One . Picking up the baton, co-production designer Harrod brought 30 years of stop-motion experience to Anderson’s set, realizing early on that this production would challenge him like no other. Set in a specific vision of Japan—caught between past, present and future— the film would follow Atari, a young boy who goes on an odyssey in search of his lost dog. “Wes likes everything to be in focus, and of course, when … [Read more...] about The Art Of Craft: ‘Isle Of Dogs’ Production Designer Bends Form Of Stop-Motion To Realize Vision Of An Auteur

After working for years on the socially conscious Zootopia and seeing it win the Oscars’ Best Animated Feature prize in 2016, Phil Johnston and Rich Moore had no time to rest on their laurels, returning to work on Ralph Breaks the Internet . A sequel to 2012 Disney hit Wreck-It Ralph —a beloved work centering on video game characters Ralph and Vanellope, and the friendship they share—this film would send its two heroes on a mission into the Internet, where they would confront new personal challenges and an astonishing new world. Making his directorial debut alongside veteran Moore, from a script he co-wrote, Johnston explains that with the second Ralph installment—as is often the case—themes emerged first. “The first idea of sending them to the Internet was more about looking for a place where Ralph and Vanellope’s friendship could be tested. One of the themes we’re working with is the idea of change, that friendships change, and that good friendships can survive and … [Read more...] about Confronting Fairy Tale Tropes, ‘Ralph Breaks The Internet’ Directors Examine A Friendship In Flux Within A Whole New World

Splash Mountain will be transformed into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, with the reconceived attraction set to open at Disneyland and Disney World in late 2024. Carmen Smith, SVP, Creative Development – Product/Content & Inclusive Strategies for Disney, confirmed the plans in a blog post. Disney had indicated in 2020 that it would overhaul the attraction in 2020, sharing the news as protests against racial injustice were roiling the country. Splash Mountain had been based on the Uncle Remus Br’er Rabbit story in the company’s controversial 1946 film Song of the South . As Smith’s post and an accompanying YouTube video took pains to note, the focus of Imagineers in this updated effort is to pay homage to the history and heritage of New Orleans. The new tie-in will be to Disney’s 2009 animated film, The Princess and the Frog . The flume ride’s new incarnation will pick up the story of the movie after the final kiss, following Princess Tiana (played by Anika Noni … [Read more...] about Disney Reveals Opening Date And Details Of Splash Mountain Transformation Into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Gauahar Khan has been winning hearts of many people with her performances in her web series such as Tandav , Bestseller and the latest one- Salt City . She started her acting career in 2004 with a dance number in the film Aan: Men At Work . After that, she appeared in several movies such as Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year, Game, Ishaqzaade and so on. Recently, the Bigg Boss 7 winner interacted with Film Companion and revealed that she lost a big project in the past due to her good looks. In the candid conversation, Gauahar Khan said that she appeared for five rounds of auditions for the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire , but the director Danny Boyle couldn't picture her as someone from the slums with her pretty face. She stated that she has lost several projects because she is too good-looking. On the other hand, Gauahar also mentioned that Danny Boyle praised her for her acting skills. While recalling the moment, the actress said, … [Read more...] about Gauahar Khan Reveals She Lost Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire Due To Her Good Looks; Read Statement

Rihanna made her first official outing since becoming a mom, venturing out across the pond to support the new father and her partner, A$AP Rocky . RiRi surfaced Friday at Wireless Fest in London, weaving her way through the crowd with her security detail as Rocky was performing on stage. She looks a little annoyed ... but that might have to do with the screaming fans surrounding her. Rihanna spotted out for the first time since giving birth in May at Wireless Fest in London. A$AP Rocky is headlining. pic.twitter.com/6SjjuOrrMf — Rap Alert (@rapalert6) July 1, 2022 @rapalert6 Rihanna was wearing a black puffy jacket, Cuban link chain, hoop earrings and black leggings. She was spotted in L.A. getting on a private jet for the U.K. with baby in tow, so looks like the whole fam is there. TMZ broke the story ... Rihanna and Rocky's little baby boy was born on May 13 in Los Angeles. Gallery Launch Gallery Diggzy/Shutterstock … [Read more...] about Rihanna’s First Public Outing Since Giving Birth, Supports A$AP Rocky at Concert