Eddie The Eagle is so much so the classic underdog story that even marketing has directly labeled it as feel-good. And though that may come with the stigma of cheesy predictability, Eddie embraces the bumps in the road and the inevitable victory with open armsor in this case, wings.
Eddie Edwards (Taron Egerton) is the quintessential never-give-up champion. An unlikely athlete with a paunch belly and thick glasses, Eddie has his heart set on the Winter Olympics and representing Britain as the countrysone and only ski jumper at the 1988 Calgary Games. The only problem is, he has no idea how to jump properlybut to Eddie, its just a matter of try, try, and try again, even if it means broken bones and trips to the hospital. His unwaning determination wins him the grudging admiration of Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman), a washed-up, alcoholic snow plower who was once at the top of the ski jumping game. It is Eddies unquenchable attitude that brings back the spark in Peary as the two bond through ugly but effective methods of training, preparing for 70 and 90 meter jumps that would scare even the most experienced athletes.
The movie doesnt shy away from its straightforwardness, telling it like it is: anexhilarating, inspiring breath of fresh airwith its 80s score and underdog triumphs. Audiences will watch Eddie with a ridiculously wide smile on their faces and laugh out loud at snazzy dialogue and fun performances. You can tell when filmmakersenjoy their workEddie The Eagle is certainly one of those projects.
Taron Egerton (fresh off of Kingsman: The Secret Service) perfectly adapts the eccentricities of real-life Eddie Edwards, striking the balance between lovablyawkward and cartoonish. Hugh Jackman shines as usual with his characters initial cynicism transformed into genuine hope. And Christopher Walken is thoroughly enjoyable in the few minutes of screen time he gets.
There are no major curveballs in the fairly foreseeable plot. The secret of the movie lies with this: the biggest surprise is that most of it is true. While adult audiences may recall theEagle sensation from yesteryear, Eddies story will astound new generations. Here is a man who stood at incredible heights fully knowing he would painfully tumble-down the slopes again and again. Here is a man whodidnt let anything stop him, not financial matters, poor equipment, broken glasses, or consecutively higher slopes. Here is a man who caught the worlds attention not because he finished last or because of his endearing clumsiness, but because he embraced the true spirit of the Olympics: Anyone who has a go is a success.
Fifty Shades of Black Official Trailer #1 (2016) - Jane Seymour, Marlon Wayans Movie HD
Parody of Fifty Shades of Grey has nothing to say funny or otherwise about the S&M book and movie phenomenon
In her recent Jezebel piece Im So d**n Tired of Slave Movies, Kara Brown notes, I want stories about Solomon Northup and Nat Turner and Harriet Tubman to be told. But I also want to watch movies about black debutante b***s and the Great Migration and a coming-of-age movie about a black teenager in Houston who loves to skateboard and gets into trouble with her Desi best friend.
Missing from Browns wish list is a desire for a black Seltzer & Friedberg the perpetrators of Epic Movie and the like mainly because a) no one in their right mind wants that, and b) weve already got one, and his name is Marlon Wayans. And with Fifty Shades of Black he continues his pattern of creating movie simulacra calling them parodies or even spoofs puts far too fine a point on it whereby were supposed to laugh because we recognize the thing that is being reenacted, rather than at some comedic point that the reenactment is making or even at a funny or silly joke that has been draped upon the reenactment.
See Video: Marlon Wayans Spoofs Christian Grey in "Fifty Shades of Black" Trailer
The first Scary Movie had its moments, which seems shocking in retrospect since Wayans, Seltzer and Friedberg are all credited co-writers. (Perhaps that movie represents the Skynet-attains-consciousness moment that some time-traveling film critic should attempt to destroy.) Since then, however, Wayans has subjected us to countless insults to our collective intelligence and sense of humor, including two A Haunted House entries and now Fifty Shades, a laboriously humorlessjab at a movie that already seemed halfway to self-parody on its own.
Compared to other recent Wayans efforts, this one at least maintains a sense of focus, slogging through a scene-by-scene re-do of the original movie with only a few departures into other titles. (Whiplash and Magic Mike, if you must know.) But we still wind up with a slapdash movie thats more unbearable than the heavy-breathing best-seller and its emotionally timid screen adaptation, even though the dreadful Fifty Shades of Black has the audacity to think it has earned the right to mock the slightly-less-dreadful Fifty Shades of Grey phenomenon.
Also Read: Marlon Wayans Not Surprised by Oscar Diversity Debate: "It"s Named After a White Dude"
Hannah Steale (Kali Hawk, Black Jesus) interviews business magnate Christian Black (Wayans, who co-wrote with Haunted House co-conspirator Rick Alvarez), and look, Im not recapping the plot, which touches on just about every moment from Fifty Shades of Grey except for the glider. But heres an example of the ha-ha jokes: Christian puts Hannah over his knee to spank her. He hurts his hand. She feels nothing. He hits her with a shovel. She puts on lipstick. He hits her with a stool, which shatters. She knits. Then she tells him she doesnt feel anything down there since getting b**t implants. Comedy!
As an actress, Hawk comes off as game and misused, and I felt genuinely bad for her for the films entire, nearly unendurable 92-minute running time. I also got very depressed watching Jane Seymour play an oblivious racist, Florence Henderson as a potty-mouthed nymphomaniac, and Fred Willard just being there at all. Jenny Zigrino, as Hannahs oversexed roommate, is subjected to perhaps the films most egregiously embarrassing dialogue and costuming, with the central joke being that shes awful because shes zaftig and likes s*x.
Also Read: NBC Orders DC Comics, Marlon Wayans Comedy Pilots
If anyone involved with Fifty Shades of Black should take pride in their work, its cinematographer David Ortkiese and production designer Ermanno Di Febo-Orsini, who recreate the look of Grey right down to specific shots and sets, as should Wayans personal trainer, who gave the actor a Jamie Dornan-comparable torso. Everyone else should bury this one deep in the back of the bookshelf, like so many rightfully chagrined E.L. James fans.
That"s how Carol Burnett said she felt when SAG-AFTRA President Ken Howard called to tell her she was getting the actors guild"s Life Achievement Award.
"My chum Julie Andrews taught me that word," Burnett said. "Isn"t that a great word? It sounds like what it is. You are gobsmacked."
FULL COVERAGE: SAG AWARDS 2016
Burnett will receive the prize Saturday evening at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, which airs on TBS and TNT. And it"s very apropos that two queens of comedy Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will be giving the award to the legend who has influenced countless contemporary funny ladies.
------------For the RecordJan. 29, 2:52 p.m.: An earlier version of this article and headline incorrectly referred to the Sag Life Achievement Award as Lifetime Achievement. Also, "The Carol Burnett Show ended in 78, not 79.------------
Her legions of fans are probably gobsmacked as to why it took so long for Burnett to receive the SAG honor. Her rubber-faced blend of physical humor, musicality, zaniness and sweetness has long made her one of America"s best-loved performers.
For the last six decades, the 82-year-old Burnett has kept audiences laughing, first on CBS" "The Garry Moore Show" from 1959-62 and her own brilliant, multi-award-winning 1967-78 CBS comedy-variety series "The Carol Burnett Show," which also featured Harvey Korman, Lyle Waggoner, Tim Conway and Vicki Lawrence.
She conquered Broadway ("Once Upon a Mattress," "Moon Over Miami") and starred in several feature films including 1972"s "Pete "n" Tillie," 1978"s "A Wedding" and 1982"s "Annie."
She became an overnight sensation singing Ken Welch"s novelty tune, "I Made a Fool of Myself Over John Foster Dulles" at Blue Angel nightclub in New York in 1957. Burnett was even invited to perform the song on the "The Jack Paar Show" and "The Ed Sullivan Show" in the same week.
Burnett has written three bestsellers including her autobiography, "One More Time," and has just completed a book about her TV series. She"s guest starred in countless TV series including "Glee" and "Hawaii Five-0" and demonstrated her dramatic prowess in such TV films as 1979"s "Friendly Fire."
Last year, several episodes of "The Carol Burnett Show," which hadn"t been seen since their first broadcast, were released on DVD. The series has its own YouTube channel.
In person, Burnett is as warm, funny and gracious as her TV image. She spoke about the origins of her career and her newest fans.
I had no idea you made your TV debut back in New York in 1955 on "The Paul Winchell Show," which starred the famed ventriloquist and his puppets Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff.
I was the girlfriend of Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff. I remember I called my grandmother out here to tell her I was going to be on television. Nanny said, say hello to me. That"s when we came up with pulling my ear. The first song I sang [on TV] was "Over the Rainbow" to Jerry Mahoney.
You go back a long way with Julie Andrews. How did you two meet?
She came with her manager to see me in "Once Upon a Mattress." She was doing "Camelot" at the time. The producer of "The Garry Moore Show," Bob Banner, and Lou Wilson, who was Julie"s manager at the time, said to Julie and me, you girls have got to get to know each other. The four of us went for Chinese after the show. These poor men couldn"t get a word in because Julie and I just hit it off immediately.
Then she came on the "Garry Moore Show" as a guest. Ken Welch, who wrote special material, asked her if there is something you always wanted to do musically. She said "I always wanted to be a cowboy," so he wrote a treatment of "Big D" and we did it as a finale. So Bob Banner said, you girls have chemistry. That is when the idea of teaming us up [for the special "Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall"] happened. We did three specials.
Lucille Ball was a mentor and a friend. You appeared on her series and she would guest on "The Carol Burnett Show."
She came to see me in "Mattress" the second night after we opened. I remember I made the mistake of peeking through the curtain, and I saw the red hair in the second row. I was as, if not more, nervous than opening night because Lucy was in the audience. Afterward, she came back and sat and talked to me for about 25 minutes.
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She called me Kid. She said, "Kid, if you ever need me for anything you call me." About three years later, I was going to do a special for CBS if I could get a top guest. The producer said "you should call Lucy." I called her and I said, "I know you are busy" I was stuttering "I am doing this special" .... She said "when do you want me?"
Is it true you modeled your variety series after Garry Moore"s show?
The thing about Garry and this is what I did with my show because I wanted to emulate him is that we would be sitting around having a table read on Monday morning for a show on Friday. He might have a punchline or a joke and he would say, "Let Carol do this." He was just that way, and that is the way I wanted my show to be a true rep company. There were many sketches where I supported. Though I had the title, we were all equal in the sketches.
I"ve enjoyed watching the DVDs of the so-called "lost" episodes of "The Carol Burnett Show."
Because of all of these [DVDs] and being on YouTube, I am getting fan mail from 10-year-olds on their little lined school paper with the three holes. It"s absolutely wonderful.
I go around the country and do Q&As. I have been doing it for like 25 years and I"m starting to get [audiences] from 9 to 90, which is fabulous. A year or so ago I was in Texas. A little boy in the second row raised his hand. I said, "Hi, what"s your name?" He said, "Andrew." I said, "How old are you Andrew?" He said, "9." I said, "You know who I am?" He said, "Surprisingly yes!"
NEWARK, N.J. Anthony Johnson, Ben Rothwell, Jimmie Rivera and Iuri Alcantara each earned $50,000 fight-night bonuses at Saturdays UFC on FOX 18 event.
Johnson and Rothwell picked up Performance of the Night awards, and Rivera and Alcantara picked up Fight of the Night honors.
UFC exec Dave Sholler announced the winners at the post-event press conference, which MMAjunkie attended.
UFC on FOX 18 took place at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. The main card aired on FOX following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.
Johnson (21-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC), fighting for a potential slot in a future UFC light heavyweight title bout, made quick work of fellow top contender Ryan Bader. Defending an early takedown, Johnson eventually took mount and unleashed big punches that halted the fight in just 86 seconds.
Fighting in the co-feature, Rothwell (36-9 MMA, 6-3 UFC)proved hes a legitimate title contender in the heavyweight division, earning his fourth consecutive victory with an impressive second-round submission, his second consecutive victory via a now-patented gogo choke.
Bantamweights Rivera (19-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and Alcantara (33-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC) clashed on the main card, with the New Jersey crowd in full support of local fighter Rivera. He responded in fine fashion, going toe-to-toe with Brazilian Alcantara but getting the best of the exchanges and cruising to a unanimous decision win.
For more on UFC on FOX 18, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.
Anthony Johnson, Ben Rothwell, Iuri Alcantara, Jimmie Rivera, UFC on FOX 18, News, UFC
San Antonio Spurs vs Phoenix Suns - Full Game Highlights | January 21, 2016 | NBA 2015-16 Season
CHI-RAQ - Spike Lee"s typically hotwire and controversial comedy-drama sells itself by channeling Saul Bass-style cut-outs and revolutionary imagery.
CHI-RAQ - Spike Lee"s typically hotwire and controversial comedy-drama sells itself by channeling Saul Bass-style cut-outs and revolutionary imagery.
This courtesy photo shows Teyonah Parris as Lysistrata in Spike Lees film, Chi-Raq. The film fails in being either wholly thought-provoking or entertaining. The female protagonists are overly sexualized, and the bad guys are stereotypically cool as ice.
This courtesy photo shows Teyonah Parris as Lysistrata in Spike Lees film, Chi-Raq. The film fails in being either wholly thought-provoking or entertaining. The female protagonists are overly sexualized, ... more Photo: Parrish Lewis /Associated Press
U.S. Olympians Tommie Smith, center, and John Carlos, right, give the black pride salute during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner after Smith received the gold medal and Carlos the bronze medal for the 200-meter run at the Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City in this Oct. 16, 1968, file photo.
U.S. Olympians Tommie Smith, center, and John Carlos, right, give the black pride salute during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner after Smith received the gold medal and Carlos the bronze medal for ... more Photo: /AP
See how Spurs Coach Popovich has changed through the years.
See how Spurs Coach Popovich has changed through the years.
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich , third from left, sits on the bench with the Merrillville High School baseball team in this yearbook photo. Popovich was born in East Chicago but grew up in Merrillville, Indiana. To the left with guitar is his best friend Arlie Pierce. They were both best man at their weddings.
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich , third from left, sits on the bench with the Merrillville High School baseball team in this yearbook photo. Popovich was born in East Chicago but grew up in ... more Photo: San Antonio Express-News
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich from his Air Force Academy yearbook
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich from his Air Force Academy yearbook
Photo: Air Force Athletics, Courtesy Air Force Athletics
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich from his Air Force Academy yearbook
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich from his Air Force Academy yearbook
Photo: Courtesy Air Force Athletics
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich"s first head coaching job was at Pomona-Pitzer in Claremont, California. He coached there from 1979-86 and in 1987-88 after taking a leave of absence to be on Larry Brown"s staff at Kansas for a season. Popovich was 76-127 in those eight seasons guiding the Sagehens to their first SCIAC title in 68 years after the 1985-86 season.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich"s first head coaching job was at Pomona-Pitzer in Claremont, California. He coached there from 1979-86 and in 1987-88 after taking a leave of absence to be on Larry Brown"s staff at ... more Photo: Pomona-Pitzer Athletics
Gregg Popovich was the head coach of the Pomona-Pitzer College men"s basketball team from 1979-1987. Image scanned from student handbook.
Gregg Popovich was the head coach of the Pomona-Pitzer College men"s basketball team from 1979-1987. Image scanned from student handbook.
Photo: Courtesy Photo
Assistant coach Gregg Popovich, head coach Larry Brown and assistant coach R.C. Buford in a 1990 contest.
Assistant coach Gregg Popovich, head coach Larry Brown and assistant coach R.C. Buford in a 1990 contest.
Photo: Express-News-file Photo
1988-89 San Antonio Spurs coaching staff, including Gregg Popovich.
1988-89 San Antonio Spurs coaching staff, including Gregg Popovich.
Gregg Popovich, 1990. Original caption reads: "Spurs practice short players so this guy is practicing."
Gregg Popovich, 1990. Original caption reads: "Spurs practice short players so this guy is practicing."
Photo: Express-News File Photo
Head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs leads his team against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on December 18, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs leads his team against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on December 18, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees ... more Photo: Getty Images
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich sits with the Red Auerbach trophy during a news conference after he was named NBA basketball coach of the year, Tuesday, April 22, 2014, in San Antonio. Popovich has won the award three times. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich sits with the Red Auerbach trophy during a news conference after he was named NBA basketball coach of the year, Tuesday, April 22, 2014, in San Antonio. Popovich has won ... more Photo: Associated Press
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich smiles as a question is asked during a news conference for the NBA basketball finals on Saturday, June 14, 2014, in San Antonio. The Spurs play Game 5 against the Miami Heat on Sunday. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich smiles as a question is asked during a news conference for the NBA basketball finals on Saturday, June 14, 2014, in San Antonio. The Spurs play Game 5 against the ... more Photo: Associated Press
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich talks with Marco Belinelli during practice Wednesday June 11, 2014 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Fla.
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich talks with Marco Belinelli during practice Wednesday June 11, 2014 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Fla.
Photo: San Antonio Express-News
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich shouts at a referee during the first half of the Spurs" NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich shouts at a referee during the first half of the Spurs" NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon ... more Photo: Associated Press
San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) and head coach Gregg Popovich in the first quarter during an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) and head coach Gregg Popovich in the first quarter during an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Photo: Associated Press
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, left, puts his head on the shoulder of assistant coach Ettore Messina during the second half of Game 5 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers, Tuesday, April 28, 2015, in Los Angeles. The Spurs won 111-107. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, left, puts his head on the shoulder of assistant coach Ettore Messina during the second half of Game 5 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Los ... more Photo: Associated Press
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 28: Head coach Gregg Popovich and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs confer as they play the Los Angeles Clippers during Game Five of the Western Conference quarterfinals of the 2015 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 28, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. The Spurs won 111-107. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 28: Head coach Gregg Popovich and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs confer as they play the Los Angeles Clippers during Game Five of the Western Conference quarterfinals of the ... more Photo: Getty Images
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich (right) speaks with the media Monday May 4, 2015 at the Spurs" practice facility about last season and the upcoming offseason.
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich (right) speaks with the media Monday May 4, 2015 at the Spurs" practice facility about last season and the upcoming offseason.
Photo: San Antonio Express-News
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich (center) speaks with the media Monday May 4, 2015 at the Spurs" practice facility about last season and the upcoming offseason.
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich (center) speaks with the media Monday May 4, 2015 at the Spurs" practice facility about last season and the upcoming offseason.
Zayn Malik - Pillow Talk (PILLOWTALK COVER) Was one like enough to get One Direction back together? Louis Tomlinson was happy when Zayn Malik liked the baby Freddie picture but a source shares EXCLUSIVELY with HollywoodLife.com that there is still a long way to go.
Consider it an olive branch. Despite the fact that Louis Tomlinson24, and Zayn Malik23, are not on speaking terms, Zayn made a move to work on their estranged relationship when he liked baby Freddie Tomlinsonphoto. So how exactly did Louis react to the kind gesture? Find out below.
Unfortunately, the kind gesturewill not heal everything that has transpired between the former band mates says our source. Its going to take a lot more than a like on Instagram to mend their friendship, considering how much Zayn has been dissing One Direction lately, explains the source. Ahh, that is too bad. Zayn is super talented and his latest hit Pillowtalk is amazing.
Louis looks like he is going to be an terrificfather. A day after the child he had with mother Briana Jungwirth23, was born, Louis released a photo on January 27thon his Instagram introducing baby Freddie to the world.
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Louis is taking his role as dad very seriously, says our source close to the One Direction guys. He doesnt really care that Zayn liked it. Of course he thinks it was cool of Zayn to congratulate him, but Louis main concern right now is his baby boy.It was only a few hours after the photo was posted that Zayn liked the picture because, as he explained in an interview on the Capital London Breakfast Show, his kid is cute as f*ck.
Despite being young and having to learn on the go, Louis is taking to fatherhood quite nicely. Our source explains, Louis has been super involved from the get go. He is a great dad already, very hands-on, changing diapers, holding and rocking little Freddie. Louis couldnt be happier. Our hearts are melting!
What do you think HollywoodLifers? Could baby Freddie help bring One Direction back together?
Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson gave some bizarre answers during Thursday"s GOP debate, the final chance for candidates to make their pitch to voters before next week"s Iowa caucuses.
Responding to a question about Russia, Carson -- not known for foreign policy prowess -- delivered an indecipherable answer involving, among other things, horses and oil.
Putin is a one-horse, uh, country. Oil and energy, he said.
What?
He also named some Baltic countries and may have threatened to invade them, but it was difficult to tell.
Several times during the evening, Carson looked like he was waking from a deep sleep when the moderators called on him.
In his closing statement, Carson took a non-traditional approach. Deviating from the usual stump speech conclusion, he decided to recite the preamble to the Constitution.
We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
"Folks, it"s not too late," he concluded. "Enough said."
Unfortunately for Carson, he flubbed it a little, saying "securing the benefits" instead ofsecure the blessings."
If he wanted to jazz it up a bit, he could have performedthe song from Schoolhouse Rock.
