Latest news with #FiftyShadesFreed
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Netflix fans have just days to binge watch 'steamiest' romance franchise
There are just four days left to tune into the romantic drama Netflix viewers have just a few days left to stream a divisive film franchise based on raunchy romance novels. The streamer is set to remove Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed from its library this Thursday, July 31. Based on E. L. James's bestselling novels, the erotic drama propelled Jamie Dornan to mainstream fame. It follows a sexual relationship between university graduate Anastasia Steele (played by Dakota Johnson) and young businessman Christian Grey (Dornan). As their relationship blooms, Christian introduces Anastasia to BDSM sexual practices. Although sex takes centre stage in the trilogy, the story also delves into interesting themes such as working through emotional trauma. Upon its 2015 debut release, the R-rated franchise received poor reviews. Rotten Tomatoes critics awarded it a sour 25% rating, with audiences rating it a more generous 41% score. Critics described the first film as a "less than satisfying experience," but that didn't prevent the franchise from expanding. The following films, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, were released in 2017 and 2018 respectively. They were similarly slammed by critics. However, some moviegoers were quick to defend the franchise. "It's easy, it's fun, it's a little mischievous, it's got a story line... I dunno why people are so harsh," reviewed one IMDb user. They same fan added: "I watch films to relax and switch off. It left a smile on my face at the end maybe I'm a romantic at heart, who knows. I guess I liked the ultimate love conquers all message." Another simply penned: "Plain and simple, I loved all of the series.. beyond the pale sensuality with this undertone of wanting to find love.. I loved it." Meanwhile, book blogger 'Natasha is a Book Junkie' shared a glowing review: "It [Fifty Shades of Grey] pulled off the almost impossible task of faithfully bringing these fictional characters to life and making them even more psychologically layered and three-dimensional than they might have been in the first place, turning my overall viewing experience into an absolute thrill start to finish."
Perth Now
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Rita Ora continues to feel Liam Payne's presence
Rita Ora "still feels" Liam Payne's presence. The 34-year-old singer duetted with the tragic One Direction star - who passed away aged 31 after a falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina last October - on the track For You from the soundtrack to the 2018 movie Fifty Shades Freed and explained that she sings the tune "all the time" to keep his memory alive. Asked if she will be watching Liam's final project - the Netflix show Building the Band - Rita told Elvis Duran and The Morning Show: "I 100 per cent will watch it. "That's a really great friend of mine. I still sort of feel him anyway, so it's fine." The Let You Love Me hitmaker continued: "I have the last song that I think we did together as a duo and I sing it all the time. And it just feels like he's just right there. And we always do a cute little moment of a photo of him and it feels fantastic to just feel like he's still around through music. "That's why music is so powerful. It really does bring back a person, a memory, a feeling. "So yeah, I have this incredible memory with him, with For You, our song together, and I'll always have that." Rita hosted the MTV EMA Awards a month after Liam's death last year and paid an emotional tribute to him at the ceremony in Manchester. She tearfully said: "I just want to take a moment to remember someone that was very, very dear to us. "We lost him recently, and he was a big part of the MTV world and my world, and I think a lot of yours at home and everybody in here tonight. Liam Payne was one of the kindest people that I knew. "And you know, there were so many ways that we were talking about honouring him, and I think sometimes just simply speaking is enough." Ora added: "He had the biggest heart, he was always the first person to offer help in any way that he could. He put so much joy into every room he walked in. And he left such a mark on this world. So let's just take a moment to remember our friend."
Belfast Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Co Antrim school's new facilities opened after donation from family of well-known author: ‘You have to stand up for what you believe'
They were provided at Integrated College Glengormley with assistance from Niall Leonard, and officially opened by comedian Tim McGarry. Mr Leonard penned the Crusher trilogy of crime novels, and his other credits include Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, as well as TV dramas Silent Witness, Hornblower and Monarch of the Glen. The donation means pupils will benefit from the new Leonard Sports Pitches, as well as the Rose Maguire 6th Form Suite. There will also be an annual 'Contribution to the ICG Way' award. He said his family's long-standing support for integrated education was the inspiration. He added: 'That's what Ma and Da Leonard tried to teach us — you have to stand up for what you believe and you have to act on your beliefs. 'That's what the Spirit of ICG is about and why we want to acknowledge those pupils who best embody and demonstrate those values of openness, curiosity, willingness to learn, not fearing what's new or different, rejecting prejudice and building community.' The award will be given annually to a pupil for their dedication to integration. The 6th form suite, named after Mr Leonard's mum, is comprised of a study area, computer room and garden. IC Glengormley principal Rickey Massey said: 'The family have been supporters of this college for many years and their kind donations have made a huge difference to the students.' Watch: Lady Mary Peters visits NI school 50 years on Paul Caskey, chief executive of the Integrated Education Fund, added: 'The Leonard family have been friends of IEF for a very long time and we want to thank them for their unwavering support and commitment to integrated education. 'Their support for Integrated College Glengormley is an inspiring way to honour the memory of their parents by investing in the future of the students going to school here.'
Belfast Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Author Leonard helps fund new facilities at integrated college in memory of his mum and dad
They were provided at Integrated College Glengormley with assistance from Niall Leonard, and officially opened by comedian Tim McGarry. Mr Leonard penned the Crusher trilogy of crime novels, and his other credits include Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, as well as TV dramas Silent Witness, Hornblower and Monarch of the Glen. The donation means pupils will benefit from the new Leonard Sports Pitches, as well as the Rose Maguire 6th Form Suite. There will also be an annual 'Contribution to the ICG Way' award. He said his family's long-standing support for integrated education was the inspiration. He added: 'That's what Ma and Da Leonard tried to teach us — you have to stand up for what you believe and you have to act on your beliefs. 'That's what the Spirit of ICG is about and why we want to acknowledge those pupils who best embody and demonstrate those values of openness, curiosity, willingness to learn, not fearing what's new or different, rejecting prejudice and building community.' The award will be given annually to a pupil for their dedication to integration. The 6th form suite, named after Mr Leonard's mum, is comprised of a study area, computer room and garden. IC Glengormley principal Rickey Massey said: 'The family have been supporters of this college for many years and their kind donations have made a huge difference to the students.' Paul Caskey, chief executive of the Integrated Education Fund, added: 'The Leonard family have been friends of IEF for a very long time and we want to thank them for their unwavering support and commitment to integrated education. 'Their support for Integrated College Glengormley is an inspiring way to honour the memory of their parents by investing in the future of the students going to school here.'
Japan Today
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
James Foley, ‘Glengarry Glen Ross' director, dies at 71
FILE - Director James Foley poses during a photocall for the world premiere of "Fifty Shades Freed" in Paris on Feb. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File) By LINDSEY BAHR James Foley, a journeyman director best known for 'Glengarry Glen Ross,' has died. He was 71. He died earlier this week after a yearlong battle with brain cancer, his representative, Taylor Lomax, said Friday. In his long and varied career, Foley directed Madonna music videos, 12 episodes of 'House of Cards' and the two 'Fifty Shades of Grey' sequels, but it was his 1992 adaptation of David Mamet's foulmouthed Pulitzer Prize winning play that stood above the rest. Although it wasn't a hit at the time, 'Glengarry Glen Ross' wormed its way into the culture and grew into an oft-quoted cult favorite, especially Alec Baldwin's made-for-the-film 'always be closing' monologue. Critic Tim Grierson wrote 20 years after its release that it remains 'one of the quintessential modern movies about masculinity.' He added, 'while there are many fine Mamet movies, it's interesting that the best of them was this one — the one he didn't direct.' Born on Dec. 28, 1953, in Brooklyn, Foley studied film in graduate school at the University of Southern California. Legend has it that Hal Ashby once wandered into a film school party where his short happened to be playing at the time and he took a liking to him. Foley would later attribute his ability to make his first feature, 'Reckless,' a 1984 romantic drama about mismatched teenagers in love starring Daryl Hannah, Aidan Quinn and Adam Baldwin, to the Ashby stamp of approval. It was also the first screenplay credited to Chris Columbus, though there were reports of creative differences. He followed it with the Sean Penn crime drama 'At Close Range,' the Madonna and Griffin Dunne screwball comedy 'Who's That Girl' and the neo-noir thriller 'After Dark, My Sweet," with Jason Patric. Critic Roger Ebert included 'After Dark, My Sweet' in his great movies list, calling it 'one of the purest and most uncompromising of modern film noir' despite having been 'almost forgotten.' He also directed several music videos for Madonna including 'Papa Don't Preach,' 'Live to Tell,' and 'Who's That Girl,' and an episode of 'Twin Peaks.' Foley adapted John Grisham and worked with Gene Hackman on 'The Chamber' and made the Reese Witherspoon and Mark Wahlberg teenage love-gone-scary thriller 'Fear,' as well as the largely derided Halle Berry and Bruce Willis psychological thriller 'Perfect Stranger,' which was released in 2007. It would be a decade before his next film was released, when he was given the reigns to the 'Fifty Shades of Grey' sequels, 'Fifty Shades Darker' and 'Fifty Shades Freed.' 'For me, what's most challenging is stuff that doesn't involve the actors, oddly enough — in three, there's a big car chase and there's different stunts and stuff and that stuff really bores me,' he told The Associated Press at the UK premiere of 'Fifty Shades Darker.' 'So when the actors aren't around, that's difficult because the actors give me so much energy and kind of engagement and a car driving by doesn't do the same thing.' Foley was not an easily definable director, but that was by design. In 2017, he told The Hollywood Reporter that he had no interest in repeating himself. 'I've always just followed my nose, for better or for worse, sometimes for worse,' Foley said. 'What's best and what's worst (about the industry) are almost the same to me. What's worst is you get pigeonholed and what's best is I haven't been. It means that I'm still making movies, despite hopping all over the place.' Foley is survived by his brother, Kevin Foley, and sisters Eileen and Jo Ann. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
