Latest news with #TimRobbins
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
When was the last time you found a sex scene sexy?
Back in the day, the actress Greta Scacchi had something of a reputation for 'getting her kit off' on camera. That was the term we all used in the 1990s, and it wasn't so much sexist as highlighting a terribly British, jolly hockeysticks approach to sex. Come on, old thing. Last one to the marital bedchamber's a lemon, that sort of thing. The term popped back into my head this week for the first time in years. Scacchi, a very good actress as well as a paragon of soft-focus eroticism, has been back in the news, telling Radio Times that she finds modern sex scenes, 'the explicit rutting stuff' as she calls it, deeply unsettling. At the height of Scacchi's career – when she appeared with Tim Robbins in The Player, with Charles Dance in White Mischief and with Harrison Ford in Presumed Innocent – everything was very gentle, 'made to look beautiful and slowed down' as Scacchi said. Sex on screen at the time tended to be heralded by a bit of light jazz (often a saxophone) and conducted with tasteful arrangements of Egyptian cotton, the actor's modesty often artfully concealed. Was this good sex? Not exactly – it was inoffensive, and almost as laughable as the act itself, despite the general degree of decorum. Except we now know from the era that such scenes were not always very nice for those involved. While Scacchi was unscathed, there must have been plenty of actresses who had horrible experiences. Julia Roberts has always demanded that anything sexy be toned down, but few women have her clout. There is no doubt that any on-screen nudity from that era, no matter how convivial the circumstances, was all at the behest of a middle-aged director who was either fulfilling their fantasies or had an eye on the commercial big time. In the cold light of day, these old sex scenes feel like part of a wider power trip. Things have changed, as Scacchi points out, but the drift away from the fluffy loveliness of the 1990s has not been straightforward. You would imagine that in the wake of the Me Too movement sex scenes might not have much of a place in film and television, but this is not the case. Indeed, it often feels like there is more sex on screen than ever before, and that modern phenomenon, the intimacy co-ordinator, has their work cut out ensuring that sensitive thespians are entirely comfortable with making the beast with two backs. The end result is not neutered but often quite violent (think of Tom Hollander and Leo Woodall in The White Lotus or Emilia Clarke and Jason Momoa in Game of Thrones) which makes you wonder whether the majority of intimacy co-ordinators are, essentially, sado-masochists. Of course, they, as well as the directors and probably the actors, may well suggest that the end result is due to a sort of artistic quest, a search for emotional truth, but ultimately such scenes seem hardly less ridiculous than those carried out with soft-lighting and a burst of Kenny G. In the worst cases, the sex scenes of today veer dangerously close to pornography, which makes you wonder why the hell the actors agreed to do them in the first place. The truth is that most sex scenes are unnecessary, and it is not as if they are even serving the dirty mac brigade. I remember hearing stories of Channel 4's infamous red triangle; a warning given at the start of any programme during the mid-1980s that included risqué content, and a fillip for the lonely men of the nation (I imagine it was mainly men whose interest was piqued by the promise of a piece of mid-1970s Swedish arthouse erotica). Such needs are now pointless given that we can all seem the most extreme sexual acts on the internet. So is there ever any need for sex on screen? I would suggest that the old cliché about such shenanigans being 'integral to the plot' is only occasionally true, and usually the most effective sex scenes are not about sex at all. I dread to mention Bernardo Bertolucci's Last Tango in Paris (1972) because we now know that Maria Schneider was treated abominably by the director who had decided not to tell her what Marlon Brando was about to do with a tub of Lurpak. But if we set aside the fact that Schneider was essentially being forced into filming a simulated rape while an entire crew watched her, it is a very effective scene which shows the extent to which someone who is incredibly damaged (Brando's character Paul) will try and make someone as damaged as they are (Schneider's character Jeanne). Then there is its near-contemporary Don't Look Now (1973), Nic Roeg's masterpiece about a couple (played by Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie) who travel to Venice after their daughter's death. What we would now call something naff like 'the grieving process' is punctuated by supernatural sightings and the most famous sex scene in history which seems to last a lifetime. It is tasteful, but unlike the noodling of 90s erotica, it feels psychologically real, as two people remain unable to articulate their lingering pain through words. There was no such thing as an intimacy co-ordinator in 1973; and it is telling that Roeg remained friends with both actors. Above all, he managed to do the undoable – he made a film that was actually sexy. The intimacy co-ordinators of today with their dreams of 'explicit rutting' should go back to their day jobs.
NZ Herald
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Listener weekly quiz: June 18
Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman in the Shawshank Redemption (1994). Photo / Supplied Can you score 10 out of 10? Test your general knowledge with the Listener's weekly quiz. Share your score with friends, family and colleagues, and find out who has the sharpest mind.
Digital Trends
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
5 best Amazon Prime Video movies to watch on Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a holiday designed to commemorate those we've lost in war, but it's also a celebration of life. While many people get an extra day off, deciding what to do with that day can be difficult. If you're looking for something easy to do over the long weekend, we've got you covered. We've pulled together five movies on Amazon Prime Video that are all worth your time. Check them out below. Recommended Videos We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+. Bull Durham (1988) Although Memorial Day is mainly about remembering the fallen, baseball has always been crucial to its celebration. Bull Durham tells the story of a veteran minor-league baseball player (Kevin Costner) who mentors a much younger player (Tim Robbins) bound for the majors. As the two of them learn from each other, they both become involved with the same woman (Susan Sarandon), who just happens to be a superfan of their team. Bull Durham is a movie about what it means when your dream becomes your job and the moment you realize that while you might be great at something, you aren't the best at it. You can watch Bull Durham on Amazon Prime Video. The Deer Hunter (1978) A remarkable war movie that reminds us how much soldiers lose even if they get to return home, The Deer Hunter follows a group of friends living in a small Pennsylvania town as they prepare to ship out for Vietnam. When Nick, one of them, returns home, he finds it difficult to return to normal life, so much so that he heads back to Vietnam in search of a friend who never came home. Anchored by remarkable performances from Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, and Christopher Walken, The Deer Hunter is a thoughtful meditation on war that spends most of its time away from the conflict. You can watch The Deer Hunter on Amazon Prime Video. BlacKkKlansman (2018) Based on a true story, BlacKkKlansman follows a Black cop in the 1970s who decides to infiltrate the KKK simply by putting on a white voice. When he recruits a more seasoned cop for help, the two of them work to take down the Klan even as the organization is working hard to sanitize its own image. Written and directed by Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansman also has plenty of style. At its core, though, it's a movie about racism in America and all the ways that it has and hasn't changed over the decades since this film's events took place. You can watch BlacKkKlansman on Amazon Prime Video. Fury (2014) Set in the final days of World War II, Fury follows the hardened crew of a single tank as they execute a mission deep inside Nazi territory. Anchored by one of Brad Pitt's great movie star performances, Fury is the kind of war movie that acknowledges both how much danger these soldiers are in and how much war can pervert the incentives of people who aren't necessarily professional soldiers. With direction from David Ayer, Fury is definitely more hardcore than any other movie on this list, and that's undoubtedly intentional. You can watch Fury on Amazon Prime Video. Till (2022) Till is an examination of one of the most well-known murders in the history of American race relations. Till tells the story of Emmett Till, a young Black boy from Chicago who is lynched while visiting family in Mississippi in 1955. Emmett's death is a well-known story, but Till spends most of its time following Emmett's mother as she works to seek justice for her murdered son and to prove that he was lynched. Anchored by a phenomenal central performance from Danielle Deadwyler, Till is riveting and surprising in ways few movies of this kind manage to be. You can watch Till on Amazon Prime Video.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
TikTok star with two Hollywood A-list parents jokes about his nepo-baby status – can you guess who he is?
A TIKTOK star with two Hollywood A-list parents has joked about his nepo-baby status - but can you guess who he is? The star appeared in a new YouTube video, and poked fun at his nepo baby status. He starred in a video titled "Day in the Life of a Nepo Baby," and in it he can be seen carrying out his day as the son of two very famous people. At one point, he's heard saying: 'Unlike other nepo babies, I am extremely discreet about who my famous parents are.' He's then seeing holding up both arms humorously, with huge fake tattoos of his parents' names. It's none other than Jack Robbins, son of Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins. Oscar-winning actress Susan is best known for iconic 90s movie Thelma and Louise, while his dad - who has also won an Academy Award - is well known for The Shawshank Redemption. But the 36-year-old shows how his 'nepo baby' status can do good in the video, as he partnered with the National Diaper Bank Network in a bid to shine a light on the diaper dilemma going on. Jack says in the video: 'Did you know that 1 in 2 families in America struggle to afford diapers?' He continues: 'Be more mad that people are having to make the decision between buying groceries or buying diapers.' In the comments, fans shared their love for the video and Jack's part in it. 'Way to go Jack,' wrote one person, while a second added: 'Absolutely love that you've done this.' Can you guess the nepo baby with very famous parents Speaking with PEOPLE about the campaign, Jack said: 'I was so very excited when the National Diaper Bank Network and advertising agency Tombras approached me to co-direct and star in this. 'The fact that half of U.S. families with young children can't afford diapers is a serious issue, so it's an honor to use my comedy and 'nepo baby' character for something so clearly good and important as their mission to end diaper need." He also shared what his famous mum Susan thought about it all, adding: 'She loves the character and she's been very supportive of it.' Jack has chosen a career behind the camera and works as a filmmaker in Hollywood. He is credited with many short films and TV projects. Jack also previously served as a segment director for Jimmy Kimmel Live! 5 5 5 5
BBC News
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Silo among TV shows filmed at Hertford County Hall
TV shows and movies including Silo, The Undertow and Grantchester have earned a council £250,000 after scenes were filmed at one of its buildings across 2023 to Hall in Hertford, which is owned by Hertfordshire County Council, will feature in seven productions on platforms including Netflix and for the unreleased third season of Silo, a dystopian drama series starring Tim Robbins and Rebecca Ferguson, took place at the municipal building in County Council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the venue's popularity was due to the "the historic and aesthetically pleasing nature of its architecture and surroundings". Although the first two series of Silo are set almost entirely below ground in a post-apocalyptic bunker, the final series explores the government decisions that created the silo in the first county council received £77,440 from SDTA Productions to use the location. A freedom of information request by LDRS revealed County Hall was also home to filming for Prime Target, an Apple TV series released in January which featured Leo took place in June 2023 and earned the county council £47,000. Shortly after Prime Target was in town, the new crime series The Undertow took over County Hall at a cost of £40,000 to film their show featuring Jamie Dornan. Two series being broadcast on ITV - Grantchester and Code of Silence - earned the council £12,950 for filming in October and November Grantchester is now in its 10th series, Code of Silence, featuring Rose Ayling-Ellis, will premiere on ITVX on 18 May.A feature-length film called My Oxford Year also shot scenes in Hertford and is due to be released in of the productions based at County Hall were released after the LDRS challenged Hertfordshire County Council's initial refusal to disclose the information, on the grounds that it was commercially sensitive.A spokesperson for Hertfordshire County Council said: "We welcome requests for filming and are pleased that County Hall is sought out as a venue due to the historic and aesthetically pleasing nature of its architecture and surroundings."We are always looking at how we can best utilise our assets to generate income to help deliver services to our residents and support the economic growth of the film industry in Hertfordshire." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
