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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps': Instant Oscar odds
Back in 2018, Black Panther took Marvel Studios' first steps towards achieving Best Picture status. And Ryan Coogler's gamechanging blockbuster remains the only superhero picture set in either the Marvel or the DC cinematic universes to be in the running for that particular prize ... unless you choose to count the Batman-affiliated — but also Batman-free — Joker. Ever since then, Marvel has hoped to repeat in the Best Picture race, mounting campaigns for 2019's Infinity Saga-capping Avengers: Endgame (a campaign that Robert Downey Jr. declined to participate in) as well as the box-office disappointment Eternals, directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao. But lightning hasn't struck twice, not even for Coogler's own Black Panther sequel, Wakanda Forever — although that film did score the studio's first-ever acting nomination with Angela Basset securing a Best Supporting Actress nod. More from Gold Derby Jim Jarmusch's 'Father Mother Sister Brother' set for North American premiere at New York Film Festival Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' moonwalks out of 2025 Oscar contention Now here comes The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the cinematic reintroduction of Marvel Comics's First Family — a super-squad that's particularly close to studio chief Kevin Feige's heart. Feige has been intimately involved with the latest attempt to make the Fantastic Four a viable film franchise after earlier incarnations struggled. The movie stars Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby as married team leaders Reed and Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as hothead Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bacharach as the stone-faced Ben Grimm and tasks the quartet with a truly impossible mission: stop the planet-devouring Galactus from ending the world as they know it. This new take on the Fantastic Four hews closely to the version of the team that launched the Marvel Era of superhero comics in the 1960s, with retro-future elements that essentially make it a period piece — a genre that's always popular with voters. The movie also throws its arms around the theme of familial love and devotion, digging towards an emotional core that many recent Marvel movies haven't tried to reach. Despite the obvious devotion that Feige has for the Fantastic Four, though, First Steps won't become Marvel's second Best Picture nominee. Key to Black Panther's success in the category was a narrative that grounded the action with thematic weight and a world we hadn't seen put onscreen before. This film may take place on a different planet in the Marvel multiverse — specifically Earth 828, so named to mark the Aug. 28 birthday of Marvel legend and Fantastic Four cocreator Jack Kirby — but the conceit of a heightened '60s world isn't exactly revolutionary when placed alongside pastiche period movies like Down With Love, Tomorrowland or Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Furthermore, the storytelling displays signs of the editing-room overhauls that First Steps director Matt Shakman has alluded to in pre-release interviews, including the elimination of John Malkovich's role as one of the team's antagonists, the Red Ghost. And while Shakman — who entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe with WandaVision — was the first director of a Marvel television series to receive a Best Director nomination at the Emmys, he's not going to achieve a similar feat at the Oscars due to the movie's occasionally muddled vision and visuals. Among the cast, Kriby has the meatiest role as Sue Storm and is a past Best Actress nominee to boot; she received that nod for her star turn in 2020's Pieces of a Woman. But like her costars, Kirby is too often stymied by a plot that omits the grace notes amidst the blockbuster bombast, with even the emotional moments ratcheted up to 11. While the major Oscar statuettes may be out of First Steps's grasp, this quartet still has enough power to make their presence felt in the awards race. Here are the four categories where the Fantastic Four stands their best shot at a nomination. Best Production Design Already an Emmy nominee for his work on the first season of the Marvel series Loki, Kasra Farahani could very easily add "Oscar nominee" to his résumé for bringing the Silver Age of comics to life onscreen. The bulky, boxy machines, sleek skyscrapers and pointy cars and spacecrafts capture a very specific vision of a near-future Earth that only existed in the minds of comics artists and readers. One could make the case that the production design is the real star of the movie, and voters could choose to award the film accordingly. Best Score An avowed lover of all things retro — just watch his Hammer horror-influenced one-shot Marvel tale, Werewolf by Night, which he scored and directed — Michael Giacchino's choral-backed title theme announces itself as a contender from the film's first frame. His subsequent compositions also complement The Fantastic Four: First Step's overall aesthetic, somehow sounding both analogue and digital at the same time. (Some might argue that this is Giacchino's second time scoring a Fantastic Four film: he memorably soundtracked Pixar's The Incredibles, which was a loving homage to the comic team.) Giacchino has been nominated twice before in this category for two of his other Pixar efforts, Ratatouille and Up (he won for the latter), so this could be his inaugural Marvel nod. Best Original Song Like James Gunn's Superman, First Steps has its own fake song that could be a real candidate for Best Original Song honors. Played over the closing credits, "Let Us Be Devoured" is a Flower Power-esque folk ballad that takes a more positive view of Galactus's world-eating habits. Bonus: the song was written and performed by Giacchiono's spouse, Andrea Datzman. Reed and Sue would approve of a matched set of husband-and-wife nominations. Best Visual Effects Real talk: Franklin Richards — Reed and Sue's infant son — has one of the least convincing CGI doubles since all of those falling babies in The Flash. But Julia Garner's Silver Surfer and her towering boss Galactus are major visual-effects wins, more than making up for the low-fi versions that previously made it to the big screen in the 2007's justly-forgotten, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. The VFX team also clearly worked in concert with Farahani, adding retro-future digital flourishes to his IRL production design. Best of Gold Derby Everything to know about 'The Batman 2': Returning cast, script finalized Tom Cruise movies: 17 greatest films ranked worst to best 'It was wonderful to be on that ride': Christian Slater talks his beloved roles, from cult classics ('Heathers,' 'True Romance') to TV hits ('Mr. Robot,' 'Dexter: Original Sin') Click here to read the full article. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘9-1-1's Angela Bassett Pens Touching Tribute To Late Co-Star And Friend Malcolm-Jamal Warner: 'Words Fail To Adequately Describe The Unimaginable Grief'
A loss as heartbreaking and momentous as Malcolm-Jamal Warner is incredibly difficult to put into words. But in wake of the tragic news that the talented actor died at age 54, Warner's longtime friend and co-star Angela Bassett shared a touching tribute to him on Instagram. 'When a special soul like @malcolmjamalwar leaves us far too soon, words fail to adequately describe the unimaginable grief,' Bassett wrote alongside photos of the two from American Horror Story: Freak Show and 9-1-1. 'Malcolm was more than a gifted actor; he was a longtime friend. When I met him, he was a star on the show that was TV royalty, The Cosby Show. He warmly embraced me as a working actor who was trying to find my way. Even in his youth, Malcolm's empathy, quiet strength, and his bright light surrounded us all. Then to have the opportunity to work with him again last year on @911onabc was a memorable full circle moment for us both,' Bassett continued. 'In this life, Malcolm is what's known as a soulful artist whose deep commitment to his craft left an impression on me that has never faded. He carried the weight of cultural legacy with grace, and he always made space for others to shine. His light will remain in our hearts always. My prayers are with you and yours. Rest in perfect peace until we meet again.' In a May 2024 interview with Decider, while speaking about his four-episode guest arc as Amir Casey on 9-1-1, Warner also took the time to shout out his long-running friendship with Bassett. 'It's cool, because this is actually my fourth time working with Angela. She did Cosby. We did an episode of Tour of Duty together like in '85 or '86. And then American Horror Story. So each time I get to have more camera time [with her], which is always great,' Warner explained. During the interview, Warner also opened up about the close connection he formed with 9-1-1 co-star Peter Krause, revealed he was a huge Six Feet Under fan, and expressed interest in returning to the series down the line if the story ever called for it. While Krause isn't currently on social media, during a May 2024 interview with Decider he returned the praise for Warner, saying, 'He's fantastic — one of the most generous actors with whom I've ever had the pleasure of working. He also did a great job with that character. That was not an easy role to play… He's a pretty great guy. He's funny. We did have to shut down our comedy and laughter once in a while to be able to do our scenes, but off-camera we got along very well and I'd love to work with him on something else.' With more than 80 credits in his incredible acting career, Warner will be terribly missed. You can read Decider's full 9-1-1 interview with Warner here, along with his love for his co-stars of The Resident. 9-1-1 and The Resident are now streaming on Hulu. Solve the daily Crossword
New York Times
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Taye Diggs Can't Resist a Good Rom-Com
Taye Diggs got his big break when he played the landlord Benny in the original Broadway cast of 'Rent,' back in 1996, and he credits the stage for creating, as he put it, 'who I am and why I am who I am.' Problem is, live performance had been taking a back seat in his life. 'Once one is lucky enough to cross over to film and TV, it's easy to get kind of stuck and become an audience member when it comes to theater, and then fear starts to set in,' Diggs said. 'I found myself in the audience wondering how these actors onstage memorized all their lines. That's when I started to get scared.' Not scared enough to turn down the opportunity to step into 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical,' though — Diggs is currently in rehearsals for the show, in which he'll play the scheming, wealthy Duke of Monroth starting Tuesday and through Sept. 28. Diggs's presence on New York stages has been sporadic in the decades since 'Rent.' One reason is that he has been living in Los Angeles; the other is why he's in California. His screen career took off a couple of years after 'Rent,' when he helped Angela Bassett track down her mojo in his film debut, 'How Stella Got Her Groove Back.' This led to lead roles in the beloved rom-coms 'Brown Sugar' and 'The Best Man.' Diggs has also been a steady presence on television, with lengthy runs on 'Private Practice' and 'All American.' But now he's putting his summer to good use by returning to Broadway, his first appearance there since a stint in 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch' in 2015. It helped that he's a fan of 'Moulin Rouge,' having seen the show, he said, about 10 times. And the Duke is a juicy character. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CBS News
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Two Los Angeles firefighters honored with Pat Tillman Award at ESPYs
Two Los Angeles-area firefighters were honored at the ESPYs Awards on Wednesday night, receiving the Pat Tillman Award for Service for their response to the devastating January wildfires. David Walters, a Los Angeles Fire Department firefighter, and Erin Regan, with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, were given their awards by actress Angela Bassett in front of a packed Dolby Theatre, recognized for their dedication to their community. Following an emotional montage of footage from the Palisades and Eaton fires, along with some commentary from the two first responders, the entire theater stood to applaud the pair as they walked towards the stage. "On behalf of the many firefighters from LA City and LA County who stood shoulder to shoulder during the fires, thank you to ESPN and the Pat Tillman Foundation," Walter said after accepting his award. "Erin and I are honored to stand here, not for ourselves, but for all the men and women who put duty above all else in these critical days meeting the moment with skill and strength." "To echo what David said, no one fights fires of this magnitude by themselves, so we recognize that this is not an individual award. It's a team award and we are proud to be representatives of our respective departments and every single firefighter that was out there in January," Regan said, also addressing the crowd. The award is annually given "to a person with a strong connection to sports who has served others in a way that echoes the legacy of the former NFL player and U.S. Army Ranger Pat Tillman," said a news release from ESPN, shared when the recipients were announced in June. "Both Walters and Regan were on the front lines battling extreme winds and fire behavior while tragically losing colleagues and working tirelessly to defend their city in one of the most devastating fires in Los Angeles history." Walters joined LAFD nearly a decade ago, only after establishing himself as an all-time Olympian. He is a world-record holder in the men's 4x200-meter relay, along with Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte and Ricky Beren for their performance at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships and a gold medalist as part of the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. "An Olympic gold medalist and former world-record holder, David brought that same grit and dedication to the front lines during California's wildfire crisis in January," said a post on Facebook from LAFD. "We are incredibly proud of Firefighter Walters." Regan was a goalkeeper for the women's soccer team at Wake Forest University, where she set several school records on her way to first-team All-ACC honors. She then played professionally in the Women's United Soccer Association, playing in the Founder's Cup before joining LA County Fire in 2008. While there, she has used her passion to help co-found the Girls Fire Camp and the Women's Fire Prep Academy. "The County of Los Angeles Fire Department is incredibly proud of Fire Fighter Erin Regan and congratulates her on being selected as the recipient of the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2025 ESPY Awards," said a statement from LACoFD. "Erin exemplifies the spirit of service, teamwork, and commitment both on and off the field. Her dedication to the community and public safety reflects the very best of our Department. We express our gratitude to ESPN and the ESPYs for this recognition."
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Forum Members Review the ‘Perfection' of a Giorgio Armani Privé Haute Couture Fall 2025 Collection
Leave it up to Giorgio Armani to deliver pure, unapologetic glamour during Haute Couture Paris Fashion Week. Tonight, as the second day of the couture festivities came to a close, the undisputed King of Italian fashion welcomed guests like Angela Bassett and Christine Chiu into the newly-opened Palazzo Armani on Rue François for a collection aptly titled 'Noir Séduisant' as a tribute to the mystery of elegance. The iconic Italian designer, aged 90 (and absent from his bow at the show finale), turned up the glamour with a shimmer-filled collection consisting of mostly black ensembles. 'WOW! His black is really blacker and more gorgeous than all the others. That fluid silk that has become a sort of trademark of his couture was incredible. A sort of best of, we have seen it all before but it's always a pleasure to watch.' [carla56] 'Always a pleasure! Despite his collections blending together, it's always interesting to look at. This show is in my top 3 highlights of couture week!' [Mrs.T] 'The color palette reminds me of his Fall 2008 RTW show, which was always one of my favorites! I love the tightly tailored jackets at the beginning.' [IsabelMarantBoy] 'How does this man never get one wrong? Superb collection as always, the true meaning of couture.' [fashionlov] 'This is Giorgio at his most Armani. He's playing with his codes, adding just enough distortion to keep us alert. That black is really BLACK, as already noted. This is reliability as luxury, probably the rarest kind these days.' [QuantumCouture] 'I agree, the black was incredible ! It was so luxurious. I am feeling very happy I can appreciate Armani now. For me it's filling a void that Karl's Chanel left open for me.' [Salvatore] 'Such perfection in the execution and such integrity in the vision. A really emotional collection by a master. My favorite this season.' [Monsieur Cristobal] See all the looks from the Giorgio Armani Privé Haute Couture Fall 2025 collection and join the conversation, here. The post Forum Members Review the 'Perfection' of a Giorgio Armani Privé Haute Couture Fall 2025 Collection appeared first on theFashionSpot.
