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Actress Daveigh Chase, best known for her role in "The Ring" and for voicing Lilo in "Lilo & Stitch," has died. She was 35. Her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, set up a GoFundMe page, stating that Chase succumbed to meningitis and several serious blood infections while in the hospital for several weeks. It is tragic to lose a former child actress who could have become a talented actress if she had lived longer.
The young actress first appeared on TV as an 8-year-old in "Sabrina the Teenage Witch." She broke out into film, starring as Jake Gyllenhaal's dancing sister in "Donnie Darko." In 2002, Chase received widespread recognition by voicing Lilo Pelekai, the young Hawaiian protagonist in Disney's "Lilo & Stitch." She won an Annie Award for Outstanding Voice Acting for her role in the animated feature and went on to reprise her role in several spinoffs, including "Stitch! The Movie," "Leroy & Stitch," and the Disney Channel series, "Lilo & Stitch: The Series."
That same year, she played the murderous ghost Samara Morgan in "The Ring," for which her haunting performance earned her an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain. She also voiced the lead character, Chihiro Ogino, in the English-language version of Hayao Miyazaki's popular anime film "Spirited Away." In 2016, she made her final acting appearance in the video game "Let It Die."
Marcia Lucas, the Oscar-winning film editor of "Star Wars" and George Lucas's former wife, passed away on May 27th, 2026. She was 80 years old. While George may have created the beloved movie franchise, many regard Marcia, who played a key role in saving Star Wars, as the unsung hero. Without her editing, the film might have been doomed from the outset and faded into obscurity. She is the true heart of the franchise.
Marcia Lou Griffin was born in Modesto, California, on October 4th, 1945. She worked as a film librarian apprentice before becoming a film editor. While working for Verna Fields, a renowned film editor, she met George Lucas, a University of Southern California film student hired as an assistant film editor. The couple married in 1969. Before serving as assistant editor on her then-husband's first directorial feature film, "THX 1138," Lucas assisted in the same role on Francis Ford Coppola's "The Rain People" and Haskell Wexler's "Medium Cool." Subsequently, she became the film editor on George Lucas's follow-up feature, "American Graffiti." The film was a box-office success and earned Lucas an Oscar nomination for Best Film Editing. She then collaborated with director Martin Scorsese on three consecutive movies, "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," "Taxi Driver," and "New York, New York," after which George enlisted her to help edit his 1977 space opera "Star Wars."
George brought Marcia, along with Richard Chew and Paul Hirsch, in to rework the film after he expressed dissatisfaction with John Jympson's rough cut. Her editing turned the Battle of Yavin/Death Star attack into the iconic scene Star Wars fans have enjoyed for generations. In a 2021 article, SFGate described Marcia Lucas as the "secret weapon" of "Star Wars." For their work, Lucas, Hirsch, and Chew won an Oscar for Best Film Editing in 1978.
Marcia later edited the final Star Wars movie, "Return of the Jedi," alongside Sean Barton and Dwayne Dunham. However, her marriage to George was already over. She then left the film industry to spend more time with her family. Nevertheless, she remained involved in the Star Wars universe, particularly by criticising the prequel and sequel trilogies.
Michael Jackson is one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Known as the "King of Pop," he is a groundbreaking artist who undeniably dominated the music scene in the 1980s and early 90s. People admire him not just for his music, including his best-selling album Thriller, music videos, and concert tours, but also for his voice and dance moves. Even after his death, his popularity and influence remain undiminished among fans, as his legacy lives on.
For as long as I can remember, I've heard a lot about Michael and how the public viewed him during his fall from grace, but that was before I started watching his music videos and listening to his songs in either 2007 or 2008. However, I learned much more about the singer after his untimely passing in 2009 and came to appreciate him much more.
As a die-hard Michael Jackson fan, I have waited a long time for this biopic, ever since Bohemian Rhapsody's success led Hollywood to flood the market with musical biopics. It's not entirely unexpected that both Bohemian Rhapsody and Michael have the same producer, Graham King. Many critics were unkind, labelling it "sanitised" and "playing it safe" because Michael Jackson's family and estate endorsed the biopic, and it didn't fully deconstruct his mythos. Fans, however, didn't care; they enjoyed it more than non-fans and critics did.
MICHAEL is a faithful yet honest portrayal of the late pop singer in his early
years, celebrating his creative musical genius, bravado, artistry, and
showmanship. Unfortunately, it lacks substance and doesn't explore the darker aspects of his personal life. It doesn't portray him as deeply troubled, though it presents him as almost entirely perfect, with only hints of his eccentricities. Another problem is the pacing; it should have been longer. The film has some historical inaccuracies, but I won't discuss them in detail. After all, that's common in musical biopics. It glossed over some significant parts of Michael's life, including his relationship with Diana Ross.
Additionally, Janet Jackson is noticeably absent, as she declined to participate, but that's her decision. Michael's other siblings, Rebbie and Randy, are also missing. Aside from Rebbie, Randy, and Janet's absence, the other Jacksons barely register and receive any attention, except for Joe and Katherine. The ending is abrupt because of legal issues that led to reshoots, which further complicated things. It did, however, cover a few details, such as his complicated relationship with his tyrannical and abusive father and the infamous Pepsi commercial accident. Hopefully, the next part will delve deeper into more of Michael's backstory and
address the legal side.
Antoine Fuqua's direction was spectacular. He incorporated
some jaw-dropping scenes that pulsate with energy and atmosphere. In a bold casting move, Michael's real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson, played the King of Pop. Since he had never acted in a film before, this was his debut. He delivers an often uncanny but spectacular performance, mirroring his late uncle by nailing the voice, mannerisms, and signature dance moves, including the moonwalk. He embodies his famous relative's spirit.
Colman Domingo stands out in a detestable role as Joseph. He portrays Joe Jackson as genuinely monstrous and despicable, seeing his children as a ticket to fame and fortune and a way to escape his job at the steel mill. Special mention must go to the makeup department for making Domingo look almost identical to the real man, which is impressive given his imposing presence. Nia Long brings maternal warmth as Katherine, Michael's supportive mother and Joe's complete opposite. Juliano Krue Valdi is sensational as young Michael, and he really shines in the scenes. Mike Myers makes a special appearance as a CBS Records executive, similar to his role in Bohemian Rhapsody.
Technically, many aspects are worth admiring. The production design, costumes, and sound mixing clearly show great care and attention to detail. The
musical sequences flourish as they recreate the iconic moments from
Michael's career, from his music videos to his live performances, including "Thriller" and the Motown 25th anniversary special, capturing the
larger-than-life energy that made Michael Jackson who he is. The film features original recordings by the legendary singer integrated throughout.
In retrospect, MICHAEL
is a fitting tribute to the King of Pop, though it offers a somewhat
predictable yet incomplete narrative. While it has its issues, particularly in its limited exploration of Michael
Jackson, it still adds to the King of Pop's
legacy. Overall, I give it a 7 out of 10 because the film stays true to
its core theme. However, if you're a Michael Jackson fan, you'll want to see this
movie on the biggest screen possible. If you don't care about the late King of Pop or haven't gotten over the controversy surrounding his personal life, just beat it!
Release Date: 18th December 2020 - Australia (Amazon Prime)
Production Companies
STX Films (present)
Anton (present)
Thunder Road Pictures
G-BASE
Riverstone Pictures (in association with)
Elwick Media (produced in association with)
Laura Macara (produced in association with)
Hassik Films (developed in association with)
Genre: Action/Thriller
Rating: M
Runtime: 119 minutes
Budget: $35,000,000
Box Office Gross: $52,300,000 (Worldwide)
Plot Summary
As a planet-killing comet
hurtles towards Earth,
one family struggles to
survive. John Garrity and
his family - his estranged
wife, Allison, and his
young son, Nathan -
embark on a dangerous
journey to their only
hope of refuge. The
Garritys experience the
best and worst of humanity
as they battle growing
panic and lawlessness,
amid chilling reports that
the comet's fragments
flattened the cities
worldwide. As the clock
ticks down to the world's
doomsday, their incredible
journey concludes with
a desperate, last-minute
flight to a possible
sanctuary.
Cast
Gerard Butler - John Garrity
Morena Baccarin - Allison Garrity
Roger Dale Floyd - Nathan Garrity
Scott Glenn - Dale
Randal Gonzalez - Bobby
Rick Pasqualone - National News Anchor
Nicola Lambo - Morning Show Host
Alan Pietruszewski -
Morning Show Host
Scott Poytress - Kenny Jones
Claire Bronson - Debra Jones
Madison Johnson - Ellie Jones
Gary Weeks - Ed Pruitt
Tracey Bonner - Peggy Pruitt
Merrin Dungey - Major
Breen
Brandon Miller - Security Forces Sergeant
Mike Senior - Staff Sergeant Ruiz
Hayes Mercure - Young Airman
Esosa Idahosa - Military Escort
Keegan G. Boos - Military Escort
Anissa Matlock - Robins AFB Airman
Andrew Huntoon - Robins AFB
Airman
Jarrett Spencer - Security
Forces Airman
Kurt Yue - C-17 Loadmaster
Kermit Rolson - Man with Gun
Brandon Quinn - Passenger on C-17
Okea Eme-Akwari - James - Nice Looter
Gabriela DeNardo - Looter
Hope Davis - Judy Vento
David Denman - Ralph Vento
Andrew Bachelor - Colin
Joshua Mikel - Lucas
James Logan - Micah
Randall Archer - Brian
Jay Amor - Blue-Collar Man
Thomas Rosales Jr. -
Hispanic Driver
Rose Bianco - Matriarch
Aaron Gillespie - McGhee Tyson Soldier
Cate Jones - McGhee Tyson Soldier
Tanya Ballinger - F.E.M.A. Worker
Kendrick Cross - F.E.M.A. Worker
Suehyla El-Attar Young -
Rebecca
Leeann Tweeden - Regional
News Anchor
Al Mitchell - Ben
Marc Gowan - Paul
Carlos Lopez - Xavier
Holt McCallany - Twin Otter Pilot
Adam Cronan - Twin Otter
Co-Pilot
Jamie Andrews - Mother on Plane
Susan Williams - Passenger
Otis Winston - Snow Soldier
Danielle Williams - Bunker Airman
Crew
Director - Ric Roman Waugh
Writer - Chris Sparling
Executive Producers - Nik Bower,
Brendon Boyea, François Callens, Adam Fogelson,
John Friedberg, Jonathan Fuhrman, Deepak Nayar,
Danielle Robinson, Robert Simonds and John Zois
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Carsten H.W. Lorenz
Producers - Gerard Butler, Alan Siegel,
Basil Iwanyk and Sébastien Raybaud
Co-Producer - Bill Wohlken
Co-Producer/First Assistant Director - K.C. Hodenfield
Casting Directors - Mary Vernieu and
Michelle Wade Byrd
Production Designer - Clay A. Griffith
Supervising Art Director - Cathy Maxey
Set Decorator - Frank Galline
Property Master - Curtis Akin
Costume Designer - Kelli Jones
Director of Photography/"A" Camera Operator -
Dana Gonzales
Second Unit Director (Uncredited)/Stunt
Coordinator - Brad Martin
Special Effects Coordinator - Joe Pancake
Visual Effects Supervisor - Marc Massicotte
Editor - Gabriel Fleming
Additional Editor - Rowan Maher
Supervising Sound Designer - Victor Ray Ennis
Re-Recording Mixers - Beau Borders
and Scott Millan
Music - David Buckley
Music Supervisor - Laura Katz
Review
It's been years since I last saw a good disaster movie, but GREENLAND is a welcome return to form. Originally scheduled for a mid-2020 theatrical release, the film missed its date because of the global pandemic. Instead, it found a new home on Amazon Prime. Truth be told, I've never reviewed a movie on that streaming service, since I usually watch on Netflix or Disney+. Before GREENLAND's release, disaster films were nothing to
write home about, prioritising spectacle over substance with implausible scenarios, stilted dialogue, and one-dimensional
characters. Thankfully, it avoided the clichés that plagued other disaster films, such as 2012 and Geostorm, and reinvented the genre with personal storytelling and human drama.
The movie is more grounded than other asteroid-themed disaster flicks, such as Armageddonand Deep Impact. It follows a family's harrowing journey to survive the coming extinction as chaos and destruction tear them apart. It also serves as an apology to lead actor Gerard Butler, whopreviously appeared in the disaster movie Geostorm, which did him no favours. With director Ric Roman Waugh, who has previously collaborated with the Scottish actor on Angel Has Fallen, they brought a movie that's both intriguing and impressive. While other disaster films focus solely on spectacle, Waugh relies on emotional intensity and authenticity to create GREENLAND, shunning the traditional approach. Revealing humanity's darker side, including panic, desperation, and moral dilemmas, was a bold choice, but it adds depth and makes the film more compelling.
The cast did a wonderful job, particularly Butler and Morena Baccarin. The former is crucial to the film's success, delivering a spectacular performance as a desperate father grappling with tough decisions to keep his family safe. Baccarin excels as Allison, the mother, infusing the role with genuine emotion and inner strength. Their chemistry is spectacular. Roger Dale Floyd's performance as the deeply traumatised young Nathan Gerrity is captivating, especially during tense family moments. Scott Glenn's brief but impactful late appearance is a highlight. At 81, Glenn's performance proves he still has it.
The comet impacts feel genuinely terrifying thanks to restrained yet effective CGI that doesn't overshadow the human story. Those expecting Emmerich-style action will be disappointed to find little large-scale destruction.
While it conforms to all the clichés of a disaster film at first glance, it is absolutely worth watching. However, GREENLAND offers much more once it reveals itself.
James Tolkan, a character actor renowned for playing stern authority figures, most notably in "Back to the Future" and "Top Gun,"passed away. He was 94.
The actor was born on June 20, 1931, in Calumet, Michigan. He joined the United States Navy and fought in the brutal Korean War. Because of a heart condition, Tolkan received a medical discharge from the Navy. He then trained to become an actor and graduated with a BA in Drama from the University of Iowa. According to an obituary on the "Back to the Future" website, Tolkan took a bus to New York with just $75. He found work on the docks and enrolled in classes with Stella Adler and Lee Strasberg to study acting. Tolkan launched his acting career in 1960 with an episode of the television series "The Naked City." In 1966, while working as an understudy for Robert Duvall, he replaced Duvall as the villain Harry Roat in the original Broadway production of "Wait Until Dark," opposite Lee Remick.
Tolkan took on a dual role as Napoleon and his doppelgänger in Woody Allen's movie "Love and Death" and also appeared in the original Broadway cast of "Glengarry Glen Ross." In 1983, he left New York to pursue a career in California and Canada, accepting a small role as an FBI agent in "WarGames."
In 1985, Tolkan shot to fame for playing the slacker-hating vice principal Strickland in "Back to the Future" and its 1989 sequel. In addition to playing the character in the first two, Tolkan also played Strickland's grandfather in "Back to the Future Part III." The following year, he played Tom Cruise's commanding officer, Stinger, in the iconic film "Top Gun." Tolkan maintained an active presence in films and on television until 2011.
Martial artist and actor Chuck Norris has died. He was 86. Norris was a legend in action movies and best known for his roles in "Way of the Dragon," "Missing in Action,"and "The Delta Force."
Chuck Norris was born in Oklahoma on March 19, 1940. He joined the Air Force in 1958 and then moved to a US air base in South Korea.During his time there, he studied the Korean martial art of Tang Soo Do. In 1968, Norris left the military and began competing, achieving considerable success. He won several titles, including the World Professional Middleweight Karate Championship in 1968.
In 1964, while attending a demonstration event in California, Norris met future action star and fellow martial artist Bruce Lee. The two men became friends and acquired a celebrity clientele of Hollywood stars eager to learn from them. For his directing debut, "The Way of the Dragon," Lee cast Norris as his on-screen rival, and the film concludes with their 10-minute final fight. Released in 1972, the film was a tremendous success. Following Lee's death in 1973, Norris remained active in the film industry, securing a leading role in the 1977 trucker action comedy, "Trucker! Trucker!" Its financial success paved the way for Norris's subsequent career in low- to moderate-budget action movies. While these films did not receive significant critical acclaim, they consistently met expectations and helped to establish a loyal fan base for Norris.
Norris's box-office appeal caught Hollywood's attention after early movies such as the martial-arts-heavy thrillers "A Force of One," "The Octagon," and "An Eye for an Eye." Notably, his 1983 thriller "Lone Wolf McQuade," in which Norris plays a Texas Ranger who takes on an arms dealer, proved pivotal in helping him to reach a broader audience. He also appeared in "Missing in Action" (which spawned a trilogy)and "Invasion USA." In 1985, Norris achieved another milestone with "Code of Silence," winning mostly positive reviews for the first time. A year later, he starred in perhaps his most famous action film: "The Delta Force," opposite Lee Marvin, in which Norris played a special forces operative.
In the 1990s, Norris regularly appeared in action movies, many of which were directed by his brother, Aaron. However, he undoubtedly enjoyed his greatest success with the TV series, "Walker, Texas Ranger," inspired by the film "Lone Wolf McQuade." It premiered in 1993 and ran for 8 years, ending in 2001. It featured Norris as the titular law-enforcement officer, who relied on martial arts more often than not. The popular internet meme "Chuck Norris facts" was inspired by it.
In the 2000s, Norris's film appearances became increasingly sporadic. However, he did share the screen with other action-movie legends, including Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Bruce Willis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger in Stallone's "The Expendables 2."
Now, here are the winners of the 98th Academy Awards.
The big winner is One Battle After Another, which took home six Oscars, including Best Picture. I'm surprised it wasn't Marty Supreme that received the award.
In line with predictions, Sony Pictures Animation and Netflix's record-breaking K-Pop Demon Hunters won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
Best Visual Effects
Avatar: Fire and Ash - Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett
Best Film Editing
One Battle After Another - Andy Jurgensen
Best Costume Design
Frankenstein - Kate Hawley
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Frankenstein - Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel and Cilona Furey
Best Cinematography
Sinners - Autumn Durald Arkapaw
Best Production Design
Frankenstein - Production Design: Tamara Deverell; Set Decoration: Shane Vieau
Best Sound
F1 - Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary Rizzo and Juan Peralta
Best Original Song
"Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters - Music and Lyrics by Ejae, Mark Sonnenblick, 24, Ido, Teddy, and Ian Eisendrath
Best Original Score
Sinners - Ludwig Goransson
Best Casting
One Battle After Another - Cassandra Kulukundis
Best Animated Short Film
The Girl Who Cried Pearls - Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski
Best Live Action Short Film (Tied)
The Singers - Sam A. Davis and Jack Piatt
Two People Exchanging Saliva - Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata
Best Documentary Short Film
All the Empty Rooms - Joshua Seftel and Conall Jones
Best Documentary Feature Film
Mr Nobody Against Putin - David Borenstein, Pavel Talankin, Helle Faber and Alžběta Karásková
Best International Feature Film
Sentimental Value (Norway) in Norwegian and English - Directed by Joachim Trier
Best Animated Feature Film
KPop Demon Hunters - Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans and Michelle L.M. Wong
Best Adapted Screenplay
One Battle After Another - Paul Thomas Anderson; based on the novel Vineland by Thomas Pynchon
Best Original Screenplay
Sinners - Ryan Coogler
Best Supporting Actress
Amy Madigan - Weaponsas Gladys
Best Supporting Actor
Sean Penn - One Battle After Anotheras Col. Steven J. Lockjaw
Best Actress
Jessie Buckley - Hamnet as Agnes Shakespeare
Best Actor
Michael B. Jordan - Sinners as Elijah "Smoke" Moore/Elias "Stack" Moore
Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson - One Battle After Another
Best Picture
One Battle After Another - Adam Somner, Sara Murphy and Paul Thomas Anderson, producers
