Big George ForemanPhoto: Sony
For historical context (and for fans of boxing when boxing mattered), in 1968, 19-year-old George Edward Foreman of Marshall, Texas, represented the United States in the heavyweight division of the Mexico City Olympic Games. He won a gold medal and then turned professional. Meanwhile, in the stateside boxing world,...
For historical context (and for fans of boxing when boxing mattered), in 1968, 19-year-old George Edward Foreman of Marshall, Texas, represented the United States in the heavyweight division of the Mexico City Olympic Games. He won a gold medal and then turned professional. Meanwhile, in the stateside boxing world,...
- 4/27/2023
- by Timothy Cogshell
- avclub.com
"Rocky" has endured as one of the most uplifting sports films of all time thanks in large part to its heartfelt portrayal of two social misfits falling haltingly in love as one of them trains for an unlikely, yet plausible shot at the heavyweight boxing title. Sylvester Stallone and Talia Shire give lovely, lived-in performances that are painful to watch at times because Rocky has no idea how awkwardly his gregariousness lands, while Adrian seems terrified that anyone would find her worthy of affection.
For most of its runtime, "Rocky" is a human drama about losers. It soars to life during its Bill Conti-scored training montage that explodes the film into its exhilarating third act. Interestingly, the final match isn't all that long. From the opening bell to the end of the fifteenth round, it occupies a scant eight-and-a-half minutes of screen time. But it feels like trench warfare...
For most of its runtime, "Rocky" is a human drama about losers. It soars to life during its Bill Conti-scored training montage that explodes the film into its exhilarating third act. Interestingly, the final match isn't all that long. From the opening bell to the end of the fifteenth round, it occupies a scant eight-and-a-half minutes of screen time. But it feels like trench warfare...
- 1/13/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Click here to read the full article.
On July 29, 1983, Warner Bros. unveiled the Harold Ramis-directed comedy in theaters, where it would go on to launch a franchise of Vacation sequels and spinoffs. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review is below:
There’s nothing worse than a family vacation. That is, except for this delightfully witty excursion from Warner Bros., which may prove a boon to family participations, a bonanza to cross-country Auto Club sales and certainly a boost to box-office admissions lines. It’s simple but wondrously identifiable: Dad, mom, brother and sis pack up for the summer (against their personal reservations) and hop in the wagon for a cross-country trip. The agreed-upon destination: Wally World — a state-of-the-art amusement park in L.A.
This delirious, entertaining excursion has been trip-ticked by National Lampoon writer John Hughes. He’s penned a four-star entertainment, the kind of thing that even the...
On July 29, 1983, Warner Bros. unveiled the Harold Ramis-directed comedy in theaters, where it would go on to launch a franchise of Vacation sequels and spinoffs. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review is below:
There’s nothing worse than a family vacation. That is, except for this delightfully witty excursion from Warner Bros., which may prove a boon to family participations, a bonanza to cross-country Auto Club sales and certainly a boost to box-office admissions lines. It’s simple but wondrously identifiable: Dad, mom, brother and sis pack up for the summer (against their personal reservations) and hop in the wagon for a cross-country trip. The agreed-upon destination: Wally World — a state-of-the-art amusement park in L.A.
This delirious, entertaining excursion has been trip-ticked by National Lampoon writer John Hughes. He’s penned a four-star entertainment, the kind of thing that even the...
- 7/29/2022
- by Duane Bygre
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A massive 25-1 underdog stunned the boxing world Saturday night at New York’s Madison Square Garden, winning the heavyweight championship and becoming the first Mexican heritage fighter to take the title.
Andy Ruiz Jr. dropped Anthony Joshua four times before the fight was stopped at 1:27 of the seventh round. Ruiz, whose tubby frame was the opposite of Joshua’s chiseled body, was a late replacement for Brooklyn’s Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller in the bout.
The astonishing win was reminiscent of Mike Tyson’s upset loss to Buster Douglas, or Muhammad Ali being beaten by Leon Spinks.
Ruiz was himself knocked down early in the third round, but came back strong in the same round and dropped Joshua twice. He also dropped him twice in the seventh round.
“I just want to thank God for giving me this victory,” Ruiz said to a standing ovation from the sold-out Msg crowd.
Andy Ruiz Jr. dropped Anthony Joshua four times before the fight was stopped at 1:27 of the seventh round. Ruiz, whose tubby frame was the opposite of Joshua’s chiseled body, was a late replacement for Brooklyn’s Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller in the bout.
The astonishing win was reminiscent of Mike Tyson’s upset loss to Buster Douglas, or Muhammad Ali being beaten by Leon Spinks.
Ruiz was himself knocked down early in the third round, but came back strong in the same round and dropped Joshua twice. He also dropped him twice in the seventh round.
“I just want to thank God for giving me this victory,” Ruiz said to a standing ovation from the sold-out Msg crowd.
- 6/2/2019
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
There have been countless Muhammad Ali documentaries, and many of them are acclaimed tributes to one of the most remarkable Americans of the modern age. “When We Were Kings,” an invigorating examination of Ali’s 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” fight against George Foreman, won the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 1996. Filmmaker Clare Lewin’s 2014’s “I Am Ali” was nominated for a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Documentary.
But HBO’s “What’s My Name: Muhammad Ali” is the first documentary told by a fellow professional athlete and cultural icon. LeBron James is an executive producer and, much like his subject, he’s an easy argument for the greatest to ever play his sport, as well as a philanthropist and an activist. James is also 34, around the same age Ali was when he started talking about retiring from boxing, although he didn’t officially step out of the ring...
But HBO’s “What’s My Name: Muhammad Ali” is the first documentary told by a fellow professional athlete and cultural icon. LeBron James is an executive producer and, much like his subject, he’s an easy argument for the greatest to ever play his sport, as well as a philanthropist and an activist. James is also 34, around the same age Ali was when he started talking about retiring from boxing, although he didn’t officially step out of the ring...
- 4/29/2019
- by Ann Donahue
- Indiewire
Marilu Henner admits she had her pick of the litter during Taxi's five-year run. She was the only female co-star of the beloved sitcom about NYC's Sunshine Cab Co. when it debuted in 1978, and "within three weeks, Tony Danza and I were dating," she has said of her hunky ex-boxer co-star. "I mean, c'mon! Oh, and I dated Judd Hirsch, too, the same year. Why not? There were 77 guys on set and me! You think I wasn't going to date at least two of them in five years? Please!" Not all the cast members got along so swimmingly. Andy Kaufman, the stand-up performance artist cast as foreign mechanic Latka Gravas, refused to rehearse and only came into work on Fridays, angering his theater-trained colleagues. Marilu and Tony in 'Taxi.' (Photo Credit: Getty Images) "Before we shot scenes, I would always say to him, 'I got mad because you didn't want to rehearse,...
- 8/4/2018
- by Closer Staff
- Closer Weekly
We pity the fool who doesn’t know who Mr. T is!
With season 24 of Dancing with the Stars just hours away, the ’80s icon is just one of the competitors who will be cutting a rug this season. Here are 5 things you need to know about the 64-year-old former A-Team star.
1. Mr. T is not his real name.He was born Laurence Tureaud in Chicago and was the youngest son in a family with 12 children.
2. He used to be a bodyguard before finding a career in Hollywood.After working as a bouncer, he turned guarding into a lucrative career...
With season 24 of Dancing with the Stars just hours away, the ’80s icon is just one of the competitors who will be cutting a rug this season. Here are 5 things you need to know about the 64-year-old former A-Team star.
1. Mr. T is not his real name.He was born Laurence Tureaud in Chicago and was the youngest son in a family with 12 children.
2. He used to be a bodyguard before finding a career in Hollywood.After working as a bouncer, he turned guarding into a lucrative career...
- 3/20/2017
- by Brittany King
- PEOPLE.com
[[tmz:video id="0_d9pcrj96"]] It's been 38 years since Leon Spinks upset Muhammad Ali for the heavyweight title ... but that didn't stop the former champ from taking one last jab at his old opponent. Neon Leon, and his brother Michael, attended the Pat Cairo cancer outing in Lido Beach, NY on Tuesday when Leon was asked if he wanted to lay a hit on a cardboard cutout of the Goat. "I'm gonna give him a little rest today," he joked before adding,...
- 7/31/2016
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
I had a close friend and brother-in-arms named Larry Schlam, an attorney who specialized in juvenile rights. He later became a law professor and a lecturer on that same issue. He had been a doo-wop singer in Brooklyn, but that has no relevance to this topic. As it comes to us all, Larry died last year.
Back in 1971 or 1972, I was with Larry at his office in downtown Chicago. We were working late – to the extent that we were actually working – and I left around 10 Pm. As I walked towards the elevators, I saw one about to close and, like many late-evening neurotics, I was convinced that was the last elevator for the night. I shouted “Please hold the elevator!” and a giant mitt popped out to hold the door open. I trotted into the booth, turned to thank my benefactor, and found myself face-to-face with Muhammad Ali.
I did...
Back in 1971 or 1972, I was with Larry at his office in downtown Chicago. We were working late – to the extent that we were actually working – and I left around 10 Pm. As I walked towards the elevators, I saw one about to close and, like many late-evening neurotics, I was convinced that was the last elevator for the night. I shouted “Please hold the elevator!” and a giant mitt popped out to hold the door open. I trotted into the booth, turned to thank my benefactor, and found myself face-to-face with Muhammad Ali.
I did...
- 6/8/2016
- by Mike Gold
- Comicmix.com
[Brightcove "4926743081001"] Muhammad Ali - the charismatic, self-proclaimed King of the World, who persevered to win the heavyweight boxing title three different times - has died at the age of 74. Ali's official website confirmed the news on Friday. A family spokesperson told People that Ali died Friday at the Phoenix-area hospital, that he had spent the past few days being treated for respiratory complications. "After a 32-year battle with Parkinson's disease, Muhammad Ali has passed away at the age of 74. The three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer died this evening," spokesman Bob Gunnell said in a statement. "The Ali family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts,...
- 6/4/2016
- by Stephen M. Silverman and Char Adams
- PEOPLE.com
[Brightcove "4926743081001"] Muhammad Ali - the charismatic, self-proclaimed King of the World, who persevered to win the heavyweight boxing title three different times - has died at the age of 74, according to reports. A family spokesperson confirmed to NBC News that Ali died Friday at the Phoenix-area hospital, that he had spent the past few days being treated for respiratory complications. The death comes just days after the boxing legend was hospitalized with a respiratory issue. His rep told People the that Ali was in "fair condition" and was expected to have a "brief" stay at the hospital. The outspoken boxing great...
- 6/4/2016
- by Stephen M. Silverman and Char Adams
- PEOPLE.com
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Mr T's 1985 autobiography, The Man With The Gold, is jam-packed with tree-felling, door-smashing, people-throwing anecdotes...
“I live by the Golden Rule – the man with the gold rules.”
Mr. T. My lifelong hero. A man who has and thrown more “suckers” around than an octopus in a washing machine, and taught aviophobes everywhere that “I aint gettin’ on no plane” is a phrase that can be dished out with attitude.
But what do we actually know about this 80s legend besides the gold chains, Mohawk and fool-based catchphrases?
I suppose we could just trawl through the big man’s Wikipedia profile. It’s surprisingly extensive. But when we’re talking about a lyrical genius responsible for phrases like “I was on him like ugly on an ape” and “the entire place got quiet, so quiet you could hear a mosquito urinate on cotton”, it’s best to go straight to the source.
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Mr T's 1985 autobiography, The Man With The Gold, is jam-packed with tree-felling, door-smashing, people-throwing anecdotes...
“I live by the Golden Rule – the man with the gold rules.”
Mr. T. My lifelong hero. A man who has and thrown more “suckers” around than an octopus in a washing machine, and taught aviophobes everywhere that “I aint gettin’ on no plane” is a phrase that can be dished out with attitude.
But what do we actually know about this 80s legend besides the gold chains, Mohawk and fool-based catchphrases?
I suppose we could just trawl through the big man’s Wikipedia profile. It’s surprisingly extensive. But when we’re talking about a lyrical genius responsible for phrases like “I was on him like ugly on an ape” and “the entire place got quiet, so quiet you could hear a mosquito urinate on cotton”, it’s best to go straight to the source.
- 4/20/2016
- Den of Geek
Leon Spinks has Almost conquered the chicken bone that nearly killed him -- because he's finally out of the hospital and recovering at a rehab center ... TMZ Sports has learned. We broke the story ... the boxing legend underwent several major surgeries after a piece of a chicken bone (which he ingested during a chicken wing eating session) got stuck in his intestine and wreaked havoc on his body. But good news!!! We spoke with Leon's...
- 1/19/2015
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Leon Spinks' recovery from a nasty intestinal issue has taken a turn for the better ... and the timing couldn't be more perfect!!As we previously reported, the boxing legend was hospitalized after a chicken bone got caught in his intestine ... causing a whole lotta serious medical problems that required multiple surgeries. But now, Leon's wife Brenda tells us Leon is making huge improvements and the doctors are finally allowing him to eat solid food again!
- 11/27/2014
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Boxing legend Leon Spinks is finally walking, talking and smiling again ... after a medical scare stemming from a chicken bone accident ... TMZ Sports has learned. As we previously reported, Spinks was hospitalized -- and was in pretty bad shape -- after swallowing a chicken bone ... which got lodged in his intestine. We spoke with Leon's attorney Steve Pacitti who tells us the former champ is still in the hospital -- but he's making tremendous progress.
- 11/7/2014
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Boxing legend Leon Spinks was taken down after going a few round with some chicken wings ... TMZ Sports has learned. We broke the story ... Spinks is currently hospitalized in Nevada -- and now, we've learned Leon's medical problems can all be traced back to a chicken wing meal gone bad. Leon's attorney tells us Spinks is known to his friends as the "Chicken Wing King" -- and during a recent meal, accidentally swallowed a bone...
- 10/17/2014
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Leon Spinks' ex-wife says the boxer gave her Full Control over his medical decisions after they divorced in 2004 -- and if his condition deteriorates she should be the one to call the shots ... not his current wife. TMZ Sports broke the story ... 61-year-old Spinks is hospitalized in Nevada following complications from a recent surgical procedure. Leon's current wife Brenda says he's on the road to recovery. But Leon's ex Betty -- who was married...
- 10/15/2014
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Boxing legend Leon Spinks -- who famously beat Muhammad Ali in 1978 -- is hospitalized in Las Vegas, TMZ Sports has learned ... and his friends say the situation is very serious.Sources connected to the 61-year-old Olympic gold medal winner tell us ... Spinks underwent surgery this weekend and there were complications during the surgery. We're told the situation seemed dire at first ... but Spinks seems to be doing better. Leon's good friend Tony Orlando -- the...
- 10/13/2014
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Former heavyweight boxing champ Ken Norton -- who had 3 classic fights with Muhammad Ali -- died today in Las Vegas ...according to his son.Norton had been in failing health for several years after a series of strokes.Norton defeated Ali -- breaking his jaw in the process -- during their first non-title fight in 1973. They faced each other in the ring two more times ... with Ali winning both. Their last battle was the 1976 classic...
- 9/19/2013
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
'Hacking down the door with an axe was easy – all Jack had to do was make the wood crack well'
Jan Harlan, executive producer
Stanley Kubrick thought hard about whether to do The Shining, because horror wasn't his thing. Then Stephen King gave him the go-ahead to change his book, so Stanley agreed – and wrote a much more ambiguous script.
It's clear instantly there's something foul going on. At the little hotel, everything is like Disney, all kitsch wood on the outside – but the interiors don't make sense. Those huge corridors and ballrooms couldn't fit inside. In fact, nothing makes sense.
Stanley didn't travel, so he never went to Oregon where the exteriors were done. Whenever you see actors outside, they're in the backlot of Elstree Studios in London. The snow was made of formaldehyde and salt, while the fog was finely sprayed vegetable oil.
Stanley never considered any other actors for the lead.
Jan Harlan, executive producer
Stanley Kubrick thought hard about whether to do The Shining, because horror wasn't his thing. Then Stephen King gave him the go-ahead to change his book, so Stanley agreed – and wrote a much more ambiguous script.
It's clear instantly there's something foul going on. At the little hotel, everything is like Disney, all kitsch wood on the outside – but the interiors don't make sense. Those huge corridors and ballrooms couldn't fit inside. In fact, nothing makes sense.
Stanley didn't travel, so he never went to Oregon where the exteriors were done. Whenever you see actors outside, they're in the backlot of Elstree Studios in London. The snow was made of formaldehyde and salt, while the fog was finely sprayed vegetable oil.
Stanley never considered any other actors for the lead.
- 10/30/2012
- by Kate Abbott
- The Guardian - Film News
If IMDb is to be believed, the star of Men in Black 1, 2 and 3 has plans to make Hancock 2, Bad Boys 3 and I, Robot 2. Which films do you want to see Smith revisit?
It's never the most reliable of indicators but, if IMDb is to be believed, Will Smith is going to spend the next few years dwelling exclusively on well-trodden ground. After the success of Men in Black 3 – although that's a relative term, based on whether or not you believe "slightly better than Men in Black 2" to be a valid definition of success – the site would have you believe that Will Smith is only interested in making sequels from now on.
Apparently, after starring in the next M Night Shyamalan movie and a film about a magical horse, Will Smith will make Hancock 2. And then Bad Boys 3. And then, in 2015, I, Robot 2. Add to...
It's never the most reliable of indicators but, if IMDb is to be believed, Will Smith is going to spend the next few years dwelling exclusively on well-trodden ground. After the success of Men in Black 3 – although that's a relative term, based on whether or not you believe "slightly better than Men in Black 2" to be a valid definition of success – the site would have you believe that Will Smith is only interested in making sequels from now on.
Apparently, after starring in the next M Night Shyamalan movie and a film about a magical horse, Will Smith will make Hancock 2. And then Bad Boys 3. And then, in 2015, I, Robot 2. Add to...
- 6/14/2012
- by Stuart Heritage
- The Guardian - Film News
The cast of entertainers and sports icons slated to appear at Keep Memory Alive’s 16th annual Power of Love Gala on Saturday, Feb. 18, in Las Vegas keeps getting bigger every day, though only a limited number of tickets remain for the celebrity-filled fundraiser.
Fans wishing to see what’s happening inside this one-of-a-kind 70th birthday celebration for Muhammad Ali — which will raise funds in support of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and the Muhammad Ali Center — will also be able to tune in to “Ali 70th From Las Vegas” on ABC on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 4 p.m. Et and 2 p.m. Pt. It will re-air on ESPN2 later that same night at 10 p.m. Et.
The lineup for the night includes performances and heartfelt tributes from some of the world’s hottest entertainers and sports icons. The list of performers and celebrity supporters slated to...
Fans wishing to see what’s happening inside this one-of-a-kind 70th birthday celebration for Muhammad Ali — which will raise funds in support of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and the Muhammad Ali Center — will also be able to tune in to “Ali 70th From Las Vegas” on ABC on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 4 p.m. Et and 2 p.m. Pt. It will re-air on ESPN2 later that same night at 10 p.m. Et.
The lineup for the night includes performances and heartfelt tributes from some of the world’s hottest entertainers and sports icons. The list of performers and celebrity supporters slated to...
- 2/9/2012
- Look to the Stars
If Muhammad Ali hadn't existed, Hollywood might have tried to invent him. A handsome athlete who speaks like a poet and can back up his trash talk with his fists, a principled martyr who can take an insane amount of punishment inside and outside the ring, a hero who goes from underdog to champ and back again several times -- if a Hollywood screenwriter had invented such a character arc, who would believe it? Ali, who turns 70 today, was bigger than the movies. Several films have tried to capture portions of his life, but the whole story is simply too big for one movie. Here are five that focus on portions of his life, either in documentary or lightly fictionalized form. None does him complete justice, but together, they'll remind you of why Ali was, and always will be, the Greatest. 1. "Ali the Fighter" (1971). Shot at the time of the...
- 1/17/2012
- by Gary Susman
- Moviefone
In its bid to knock out memory disorders, Keep Memory Alive will turn up the heat at its 16th annual Power of Love Gala on Saturday, Feb. 18, as it celebrates the life and legacy of “The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali, while raising funds in support of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and the Muhammad Ali Center. Tickets for this once-in-a-lifetime celebrity-filled fundraising event are on sale now.
On Feb. 18, Keep Memory Alive, the fundraising arm of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, will transform the MGM Grand Garden Arena into a 70th birthday celebration for Ali designed to honor the boxing legend’s contribution to the world and raise awareness for Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, Als, and Parkinson’s, the disease “The Champ” has been battling since 1984. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health’s work...
On Feb. 18, Keep Memory Alive, the fundraising arm of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, will transform the MGM Grand Garden Arena into a 70th birthday celebration for Ali designed to honor the boxing legend’s contribution to the world and raise awareness for Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, Als, and Parkinson’s, the disease “The Champ” has been battling since 1984. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health’s work...
- 1/16/2012
- Look to the Stars
Filed under: Movie News, Columns, This Week in Movies
What happens in Vegas ... sometimes never stops happening. It has been exactly 10 years since 'Ocean's 11' opened (on December 7, 2001), but the movie remains ubiquitous on TV, as do its two smash sequels. Plus, there's no getting away from its all-star cast -- including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, and Matt Damon -- or from director Steven Soderbergh, whose ongoing career successes (as with this year's 'Contagion,' starring Damon) make us skeptical of his threats to retire from filmmaking. Still, as many times as you've watched Soderbergh's remake of the 1960 Rat Pack heist caper, there are still things you may not know, like whether there's really such a device as a "pinch" that can knock out a city's power grid with an electromagnetic pulse, how wretchedly Clooney fared at the tables of an actual casino, what in...
What happens in Vegas ... sometimes never stops happening. It has been exactly 10 years since 'Ocean's 11' opened (on December 7, 2001), but the movie remains ubiquitous on TV, as do its two smash sequels. Plus, there's no getting away from its all-star cast -- including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, and Matt Damon -- or from director Steven Soderbergh, whose ongoing career successes (as with this year's 'Contagion,' starring Damon) make us skeptical of his threats to retire from filmmaking. Still, as many times as you've watched Soderbergh's remake of the 1960 Rat Pack heist caper, there are still things you may not know, like whether there's really such a device as a "pinch" that can knock out a city's power grid with an electromagnetic pulse, how wretchedly Clooney fared at the tables of an actual casino, what in...
- 12/7/2011
- by Gary Susman
- Moviefone
Ladies and gents: Steven Tyler is just fine. The 63-year-old Aerosmith performer phoned into the "Today Show" with Matt Lauer to explain his ugly fall in the shower on Tuesday while on tour in South America. Speaking from Buenos Aires, Tyler was energetic and good-humored, cracking jokes about his stomach sickness that spurred the fall before more seriously refuting claims that he had relapsed back into alcohol.
"It was the second show in South America and it just so happened that I got that -- what's it called when you eat something -- Montezuma's revenge. I took a walk with the Incas for 48 hours. I went in looking like Baryshnikov and walked out looking like Leon Spinks," Tyler told Lauer.
After his manager called the American Embassy in Paraguay, the music legend was shipped off to the hospital, where he received four stitches for his injured right eye. "It was like one-stop shopping.
"It was the second show in South America and it just so happened that I got that -- what's it called when you eat something -- Montezuma's revenge. I took a walk with the Incas for 48 hours. I went in looking like Baryshnikov and walked out looking like Leon Spinks," Tyler told Lauer.
After his manager called the American Embassy in Paraguay, the music legend was shipped off to the hospital, where he received four stitches for his injured right eye. "It was like one-stop shopping.
- 10/28/2011
- by Youyoung Lee
- Huffington Post
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Aerosmith frontman/"American Idol" judge Steven Tyler called in to NBC's "Today" show Thursday (Oct. 27) morning to explain how he ended up falling in a Paraguay hotel shower.
"I started to get sick, and I just fell on my face. I just passed out," Tyler tells Matt Lauer, explaining that he was the victim of a bad case of food poisoning.
"It was the second show in South America and it just so happened -- what's it called when you eat something? Montezuma's revenge," he continued. "I walked with the Incas for 48 hours -- I walked in looking like Baryshnikov and walked out looking like Leon Spinks."
(No, we have no idea what he means about walking with the Incas. Perhaps a tour?)
Tyler was also anxious to point out that the nasty spill -- he ended...
Aerosmith frontman/"American Idol" judge Steven Tyler called in to NBC's "Today" show Thursday (Oct. 27) morning to explain how he ended up falling in a Paraguay hotel shower.
"I started to get sick, and I just fell on my face. I just passed out," Tyler tells Matt Lauer, explaining that he was the victim of a bad case of food poisoning.
"It was the second show in South America and it just so happened -- what's it called when you eat something? Montezuma's revenge," he continued. "I walked with the Incas for 48 hours -- I walked in looking like Baryshnikov and walked out looking like Leon Spinks."
(No, we have no idea what he means about walking with the Incas. Perhaps a tour?)
Tyler was also anxious to point out that the nasty spill -- he ended...
- 10/27/2011
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
Muhammad Ali: The Greatest (2001) Direction and narration: Carlos Larkin Muhammad Ali Growing up in the 1970s, the specter of heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali — whom I could never stand — was everywhere. Contrary to opinions voiced about him post-Parkinson's Disease, Ali was the most despised athlete of that era. The most beloved was actually soccer superstar Pelé. Nonetheless, from that time on a raft of mediocre documentaries-cum-hagiographies have been made of the man. Not surprisingly, none has gotten to that rotten core. Here are three that I've recently watched in consecutive order: Muhammad Ali: The Greatest, Muhammad Ali: Made in Miami, and Muhammad Ali a.k.a. Cassius Clay. The first documentary I streamed was Carlos Larkin's Muhammad Ali: The Greatest (2001) — not to be confused with William Klein's 1969 Ali documentary of the same title. Of the aforementioned trio, The Greatest is undoubtedly the most hagiographical, as the...
- 9/15/2011
- by Dan Schneider
- Alt Film Guide
Off the top of my head, I'd say you're looking at a Boeski, a Jim Brown, a Miss Daisy, two Jethros and a Leon Spinks, not to mention the biggest Casting Tidbits ever. First up, Lionsgate has added yet another name to their pregnancy-based ensemble romantic comedy What to Expect When You're Expecting. Actor Dennis Quaid is the latest talent to join the project and he'll play husband to Brooklyn Decker's character who is expecting twins. In addition, Quaid is apparently hellbent on on-upping his son who is also expecting a child. He joins an all-star cast that includes Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez and more. Second, The Playlist has word that Sam Rockwell will replace Jeremy Renner in the indie Better Living Through Chemistry. The film follows a straight-laced pharmacist (Rockwell) whose uneventful life spirals out of control when he starts an affair with a trophy ...
- 7/19/2011
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
Off the top of my head, I'd say you're looking at a Boeski, a Jim Brown, a Miss Daisy, two Casting Tidbits and a Leon Spinks, not to mention the biggest Ella Fitzgerald ever. First up, Lionsgate has announced that Lenny Kravitz has landed a role in Gary Ross' anticipated adaptation of The Hunger Games. We heard Kravitz had been offered a role previously, but there was no word on his character. Now it's been revealed that he will play Cinna, the fashion stylist to Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) for the ceremonial lead up to The 74th Annual Hunger Games. He's mild-mannered but his designs are show-stopping. Read on! Second, BBC Entertainment reporter Lizo revealed on Twitter (via TheOneRing.net) that The Hobbit star Martin Freeman had revealed that Benedict Cumberbatch had also joined the cast of Peter Jackson's return to Middle-Earth. If you don't recognize his name,...
- 5/24/2011
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
There have been many great boxing movies over the years, but most of them are about white champs – and there aren't many of those in the real world
The ratio of good films about boxers to bad films about boxers is extraordinarily high. That may be because there is something inherently thrilling about the manly art, but it may also be because Hollywood doesn't make a movie about boxers every week, whereas it does make a movie about young men who treat women badly 52 times a year. It may also be because the great movies about boxers become lodged in the public's memory, while the bad ones (The Main Event, a woeful 1979 outing starring Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal immediately comes to mind) simply vapourise. It may also be because so many movies about boxers have been directed by talented directors (Martin Scorsese, John Huston, Michael Mann, Martin Ritt, Jim Sheridan,...
The ratio of good films about boxers to bad films about boxers is extraordinarily high. That may be because there is something inherently thrilling about the manly art, but it may also be because Hollywood doesn't make a movie about boxers every week, whereas it does make a movie about young men who treat women badly 52 times a year. It may also be because the great movies about boxers become lodged in the public's memory, while the bad ones (The Main Event, a woeful 1979 outing starring Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal immediately comes to mind) simply vapourise. It may also be because so many movies about boxers have been directed by talented directors (Martin Scorsese, John Huston, Michael Mann, Martin Ritt, Jim Sheridan,...
- 1/28/2011
- by Joe Queenan
- The Guardian - Film News
My Son, The History Lesson
On his debut album Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening recorded in July of 2009, comedian Aziz Ansari presents a veritable torrent of pop culture references throughout the hour-long routine. He jokes about harassing his cousin Harris on Facebook, pokes fun at Cold Stone Creamery, Cvs Pharmacy and Craigslist and then finishes with two big pre-encore bits involving Kanye West and R. Kelly, including an extended impression of R&B singer Kelly both in concert and then getting lapdances at the after-party. He even makes fun of himself for being tongue-tied around M.I.A.
It’s a great album from a very funny comic who, given his ongoing role in Parks & Recreation, his hosting this past summer of the MTV Movie Awards and parts in movies like Get Him to the Greek, Funny People and the upcoming 30 Minutes or Less (which will be his first...
On his debut album Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening recorded in July of 2009, comedian Aziz Ansari presents a veritable torrent of pop culture references throughout the hour-long routine. He jokes about harassing his cousin Harris on Facebook, pokes fun at Cold Stone Creamery, Cvs Pharmacy and Craigslist and then finishes with two big pre-encore bits involving Kanye West and R. Kelly, including an extended impression of R&B singer Kelly both in concert and then getting lapdances at the after-party. He even makes fun of himself for being tongue-tied around M.I.A.
It’s a great album from a very funny comic who, given his ongoing role in Parks & Recreation, his hosting this past summer of the MTV Movie Awards and parts in movies like Get Him to the Greek, Funny People and the upcoming 30 Minutes or Less (which will be his first...
- 9/28/2010
- by UncaScroogeMcD
Fans will get chance to meet stars of film, TV and sport - and try out the latest video games - at Birmingham's NEC on March 27 to 28 as the venue once more plays host to the Spring Memorabilia Show.
Among those attending are Gunnar Hansen, who plays the unforgettable Leatherface (pictured above) in 1974's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Richard Brooker, who plays killer Jason Vorhees in Friday 13th Part III.
Hollywood actor William Forsythe will be making his first UK appearance. He has appeared in movies such as Rob Zombie's 2005 crime thriller The Devil's Rejects about a sadistic family of serial killers, in which Forsythe played the Sheriff trying to bring them to justice (see picture below).
His other credits include the movies Once Upon A Time In America; Dick Tracy; and Steven Seagal's Out For Justice, as well as hit TV shows such as Hill Street Blues and The Untouchables.
Among those attending are Gunnar Hansen, who plays the unforgettable Leatherface (pictured above) in 1974's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Richard Brooker, who plays killer Jason Vorhees in Friday 13th Part III.
Hollywood actor William Forsythe will be making his first UK appearance. He has appeared in movies such as Rob Zombie's 2005 crime thriller The Devil's Rejects about a sadistic family of serial killers, in which Forsythe played the Sheriff trying to bring them to justice (see picture below).
His other credits include the movies Once Upon A Time In America; Dick Tracy; and Steven Seagal's Out For Justice, as well as hit TV shows such as Hill Street Blues and The Untouchables.
- 3/18/2010
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
After making the rounds of the festivals and a brief run in a few theaters this past summer, "Facing Ali," a different kind of fight biopic, makes it to TV tonight. And to paraphrase Muhammad Ali himself -- "it's almost the greatest." What makes "Facing Ali" different is that it's told neither from Ali's nor the filmmaker's points of view, but from the points of view of the men who faced Ali in the ring -- and how facing the self-proclaimed, self-fulfilling-prophesy maker affected their lives. The boxers interviewed for...
- 2/15/2010
- by By LINDA STASI
- NYPost.com
Following some festival exposure, notably the AFI Silverdocs last summer, and a limited Oscar-qualifying theatrical run in Los Angeles and New York, in the fall, Facing Ali is now headed for cable TV, via the “male-centered” Spike TV network next month – February 10th.
Directed by Pete McCormack, Facing Ali won the most popular film award at last year’s Vancouver International Film Festival, and is one of 15 feature documentary finalists for the upcoming Oscars.
In the doc, 10 of Ali’s most formidable opponents pay tribute to perhaps the world’s most beloved and inspiring athlete, recounting their pivotal experiences in the ring with Ali, offering “unique insights into a man who remains one of the most prominent figures in American history.” Some of these fighters include, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Leon Spinks and Larry Holmes.
Every review I’ve read of this “riveting,” “compelling,” “impeccably researched...
Directed by Pete McCormack, Facing Ali won the most popular film award at last year’s Vancouver International Film Festival, and is one of 15 feature documentary finalists for the upcoming Oscars.
In the doc, 10 of Ali’s most formidable opponents pay tribute to perhaps the world’s most beloved and inspiring athlete, recounting their pivotal experiences in the ring with Ali, offering “unique insights into a man who remains one of the most prominent figures in American history.” Some of these fighters include, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Leon Spinks and Larry Holmes.
Every review I’ve read of this “riveting,” “compelling,” “impeccably researched...
- 1/15/2010
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
James Toback’s candid interview with “Iron” Mike Tyson may have missed the short list of 15 films vying for the Academy’s “Best Documentary,” but another boxing movie is a contender as the field narrows in a little over a month.
Out on DVD Tuesday (Dec. 29), Facing Ali recalls the career of Cassius Clay, better known as the self-proclaimed greatest boxer of all-time, Muhammad Ali. Ten fighters who faced the man, from George Foreman to Joe Frazier and Leon Spinks to Ken Norton, reminisce on his ring persona and the key bouts that changed their lives.
No former fighter is more open than George Chuvalo, who helps piece together the portrait of a powerful athlete and controversial figure. He recalls the famous taunts that earned Ali the nickname “the Mouth from the South,” the religious and political stands during a turbulent time, and of course the contests that shaped the sport in its prime.
Out on DVD Tuesday (Dec. 29), Facing Ali recalls the career of Cassius Clay, better known as the self-proclaimed greatest boxer of all-time, Muhammad Ali. Ten fighters who faced the man, from George Foreman to Joe Frazier and Leon Spinks to Ken Norton, reminisce on his ring persona and the key bouts that changed their lives.
No former fighter is more open than George Chuvalo, who helps piece together the portrait of a powerful athlete and controversial figure. He recalls the famous taunts that earned Ali the nickname “the Mouth from the South,” the religious and political stands during a turbulent time, and of course the contests that shaped the sport in its prime.
- 12/29/2009
- by Jeff Leins
- newsinfilm.com
Sunday was supposed to be a day of sports and soldiers. I was planning on seeing a documentary called Facing Ali, a feature film about soldiers called The Messenger, and another documentary called Warrior Champions, which showcases some severely wounded veterans competing in the Paraolympic Games in Beijing in 2008. Instead, Sunday was a day of sports and scene kids. Facing Ali My day began again at the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz. Those Alamojitos make it easy to find myself at this place about three times a day. It's no secret that boxing is my favorite sport. It's also no secret that Muhammad Ali is my favorite (non-fictional) sports figure. So, for me, this otherwise minor documentary turned into one of the festival highlights thus far. Lionsgate Films and Spike TV present this great documentary about Muhammad Ali, told from the vantage point of his opponents. In Facing Ali, there's certainly a historical picture of Ali, and...
- 10/27/2009
- by Bethany Perryman
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Muhammad Ali has already been the subject of documentaries, films and biopics, but Facing Ali is different because it looks at the man, the fighter, through the eyes of those who faced him in the ring.
And in looking at the man — and the myth — of Ali, we're told the story of modern prize fighting. It is, English fighter Henry Cooper says in the film's early moments, a story of immigrants and the working class. Fighters, he explains, are motivated to get out of their environment.
Presented by director Pete McCormack (Uganda Rising) and producer Derik Murray (Legends of Hockey chronologically, starting with the 1963 fight between Ali — he was Cassius Clay then — and Cooper, and ending with Ali's 1980 loss to Larry Holmes.
The soundtrack for the film matches the shifting era, too, moving from jazz to funk as we move from the '60s into the '70s.
Along the way...
And in looking at the man — and the myth — of Ali, we're told the story of modern prize fighting. It is, English fighter Henry Cooper says in the film's early moments, a story of immigrants and the working class. Fighters, he explains, are motivated to get out of their environment.
Presented by director Pete McCormack (Uganda Rising) and producer Derik Murray (Legends of Hockey chronologically, starting with the 1963 fight between Ali — he was Cassius Clay then — and Cooper, and ending with Ali's 1980 loss to Larry Holmes.
The soundtrack for the film matches the shifting era, too, moving from jazz to funk as we move from the '60s into the '70s.
Along the way...
- 10/10/2009
- CinemaSpy
'I really haven't done anything nearly as racy as most of what's in the movie,' Ed Helms says.
By Larry Carroll
Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis and Bradley Cooper
Photo: MTV News
Las Vegas — "The Hangover" is the rare Hollywood comedy that is preposterous but believable, intelligent but stupid, well-written but largely improvised. It tells the story of four guys who go to Vegas for a bachelor party, drink too much, and wake up the next morning to a mystery involving tigers, babies, naked Japanese men — and a missing groom.
Normally, we'd write a news article discussing the making of the film. But to fully explain what "The Hangover" is all about, all you can really do is just stand back and let the stars of the film do what they do best. For instance, here's the bizarre route they take while answering a question about the scene where Zach Galifianakis...
By Larry Carroll
Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis and Bradley Cooper
Photo: MTV News
Las Vegas — "The Hangover" is the rare Hollywood comedy that is preposterous but believable, intelligent but stupid, well-written but largely improvised. It tells the story of four guys who go to Vegas for a bachelor party, drink too much, and wake up the next morning to a mystery involving tigers, babies, naked Japanese men — and a missing groom.
Normally, we'd write a news article discussing the making of the film. But to fully explain what "The Hangover" is all about, all you can really do is just stand back and let the stars of the film do what they do best. For instance, here's the bizarre route they take while answering a question about the scene where Zach Galifianakis...
- 6/4/2009
- MTV Movie News
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