The post 24 Best documentaries on Netflix right now appeared first on Game News.
]]>We’ve scoured the streaming platform and rounded up the best Netflix documentaries, bringing you a curated list that includes true crime, sports, natural disasters, and everything in between. Sure, we’ve got Blackfish and Tiger King, but we’ve also got titles that might have flown under your radar like Virunga or Mercury 13. So croll on down, peruse our list, and start planning your next binge-watch.
The best documentaries on Netflix
Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed
The documentary: Despite passing away in 1995, painter Bob Ross’ place in pop culture remains as strong as ever. Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed looks beyond Ross’ outwardly cheerful disposition to uncover a legacy that has been hijacked in what Ross’ son, Steve, calls a “shameful” act.
Why it’s worth a watch: Bob Ross is ubiquitous even now, but have we ever questioned why that is? Happy Accidents, Betrayal, & Greed shines a much-needed light on the murky underbelly of profiting on a celebrity long after they’ve passed – and who seeks to gain from it.
David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet
The documentary: Renowned documentary maker David Attenborough takes a step back from looking at nature to see how humanity has wreaked havoc on the animal kingdom and the environment, all while describing first-hand how the world has changed since he began his career in the ’50s.
Why it’s worth a watch: David Attenborough’s nature documentaries are often jaw-dropping. A Life on Our Planet does so for very different reasons. Acting as a wake-up call for a planet sleepwalking towards global disaster, Attenborough’s message is a sharp shock to the system, yet an essential one if we want to keep marvelling out the creatures that continue to amaze us.
Athlete A
The documentary: Athlete A follows the journalists who helped break one of the biggest stories in US sport: the sex abuse scandal that tore through American gymnastics and ruined countless lives.
Why it’s worth a watch: Netflix is fast becoming the place to watch some of the most gut-wrenching, yet necessary, stories of our time. Not only is Athlete A an eye-opening look into the continued brilliance and hard work of investigative journalists, but it’s also a grim reminder of the evil that often hides in plain sight.
Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King
The documentary: Gerry Cotten, founder and CEO of Canadian cryptocurrency QuadrigaCX, owed his fellow investors over $250 million – then he died. The film, directed by Luke Sewell, follows the investors as they investigate Cotten’s death and figure out just where the money might have ended up.
Why it’s worth a watch: It’s a bizarre story that explores multiple theories surrounding Gerald’s death – with a particularly strong one being that he faked his death and ran off with the cash. It also features a dude in a 3D-printed raccoon-head mask speaking in one of those distorted voices meant to hide your identity.
The Social Dilemma
The documentary: A deep dive into social media and how it’s used as a tool of misinformation and corruption in a world where everyone is almost always online.
Why it’s worth a watch: Not many documentaries will make you rethink having a Facebook account, let’s put it that way. Social media continues to dominate our lives but not many have put much thought into the impact of that – until now. The Social Dilemma is a captivating, chilling watch on how everything from algorithms to A.I. are secretly controlling and manipulating our lives.
Formula 1 Drive to Survive
The documentary: Go behind the scenes at the Formula 1 World Championships as tensions boil over across three seasons in one of the world’s most popular sports.
Why it’s worth a watch: It not only scratches that Last Dance itch but, unlike Amazon’s sometimes restrictive All or Nothing series, you get some serious access here: fireworks are never too far away as young egos collide, tragedy strikes, and new drama is only ever just around the corner. One for sports and non-sports fans alike.
The Last Dance
The documentary: Charting the Chicago Bulls’ 1997/98 season, The Last Dance frames that fateful year with archival footage and interviews with Michael Jordan and some of his closest allies and enemies. The ups, the downs, and the slam dunks all feature.
Why it’s worth a watch: You don’t need to be a basketball fan to get the most out of The Last Dance. The joint ESPN/Netflix production dives deep into what makes one of the biggest icons of the 20th Century tick: the feuds, the fights with front office, and the family stories all feature heavily here. It’s all presented in a way that lets you learn as you go, without being condescending. Plus, if you are into b-ball, then you can rest easy in the knowledge that you’re seeing a hidden side of one of the sport’s greatest dynasties. Hundreds of hours of previously unseen footage were used for The Last Dance, and it offers a unique, complex take on the man they once called “Air.”
Mercury 13
The documentary: Tackling a topic that sadly still permeates our culture, Mercury 13 is nevertheless a must-see, diving into the reality of being a female astronaut in the ’60s. Don’t remember them? This film explores why that’s the case, revealing the truth behind their absence in history. Dubbed the Mercury 13 – after the first US space mission, Mercury – these women underwent the same rigorous testing as their male counterparts, and yet were denied the chance to take flight.
Why it’s worth a watch: A piece of history that many of us just don’t know about, this is one of many examples of sexism that’s so ingrained in our collective past, we don’t realise it. If you’re a fan of untold backstories, you’ll be both enthralled and, at times, enraged by the story of these remarkable women and how their dreams were backburnered because of their gender. Told via interviews with the remaining members of the group, this is a fascinating cultural document.
The Bleeding Edge
The documentary: Healthcare. Anyone who’s been shocked to hear their pharmacist utter the words “that’ll be $800, please” for a 30-day prescription knows this is a lucrative industry. That’s what make The Bleeding Edge such a succulent topic for a documentary, as delves into one another medical avenue, the $400 billion medical device industry. You heard. Exploring five devices and the havoc they’ve caused patients, this is jaw-dropping – and very necessary – viewing.
Why it’s worth a watch: Whether you live in a country with free healthcare or not, the sheer gall of some companies in rushing out products prior to being thoroughly vetted is astonishing. Which, of course, makes for compelling viewing.
Tiger King
The documentary: Tiger King’s as bonkers as they say. The seven-part limited series follows Joe Exotic – a gay, gun-toting, mulleted, all-American zookeeper who despises a big cat activist named Carole Baskin. We’re introduced to a host of colourful characters, including another zookeeper who allegedly has a harem, a man who claims to be the influence for Scarface, and a reality-show producer who’s tried to document the whole thing but… well, we won’t spoil it here. Oh, and there’s a murder mystery as well.
Why it’s worth a watch: There’s absolutely no knowing what’s coming next in Tiger King. Each episode adds another twist, and it’s almost impossible to stop watching. Plus, after you’re done, you can do some armchair detective work and find out where they all are now. Because, yes, this really a true-crime documentary, and not another season of American Vandal.
Hot Girls Wanted
The documentary: Porn is something that none of us feels 100% comfortable talking about, but, if we’re honest, we’re all familiar with it one way or another. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to work in the multi-million dollar porn industry, American documentary film Hot Girls Wanted is for you. Directed by filmmakers Jill Bauer and Ronna Gradus, the documentary follows the lives of several 18- to 19-year-old pornographic actresses and premiered at Sundance Film Festival 2015 before being snapped up by Netflix.
Why it’s worth a watch: This documentary doesn’t pull any punches and shows some of the best and worst aspects of working in the porn industry. Netflix was obviously please with its reception as it released an accompanying documentary TV show called Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On to further explore the story.
Jim and Andy: The Great Beyond
The documentary: If you’re a fan of comedian Andy Kaufman, Jim Carrey, or the 1999 biopic which starred Carrey as Kaufman, Man on the Moon (opens in new tab), this is the documentary for you. Director Chris Smith focuses on Carrey during the filming of Man on the Moon in which he stayed in character as Kaufman throughout production, using contemporary interviews with Carrey and never-before-seen footage of the making of Man on the Moon.
Why it’s worth a watch: It’s almost scary how easily Carrey brings his idol Kaufman back to life. The studio reportedly didn’t want the behind-the-scenes footage to ever be released and, once you see it, you’ll understand why. It’s clear that Carrey’s commitment to the role caused problems on set, but Jim and Andy is a compelling story about two of the world’s biggest comedians and why they do what they do.
Icarus
The documentary: Icarus is definitive proof that twists and turns aren’t reserved for the fictions of Hollywood. Filmmaker and cyclist Bryan Fogel planned to make a film about doping in the sports industry, choosing to load himself up on steroids and document the experience. Think of it like Super Size Me, but with pharmaceutical-grade meds instead of Big Macs. His plan was to see how easy it is to get away with doping in professional sport.
Why it’s worth a watch: That concept – of trying to get away with doping in sport – is an intriguing enough premise in light of Lance Armstrong’s shenanigans. However, what he winds up discovering after speaking with a Russian doctor completely changes the purpose of the doc turning Icarus into a powerful, political thriller.
The Staircase
The documentary: In 2001, a 911 operator receives a call from a distraught husband after discovering his wife’s body at the bottom of the stairs. That individual is author Michael Peterson, who becomes the subject of a documentary that unfurls over the course of a decade. Did Kathleen Peterson really fall? Or was she the victim of domestic violence? The French filmmaking crew who tackle the case began rolling immediately after Michael’s indictment, and are given free rein of the entire Peterson family, which in itself, is surrounded by as many bizarre twists as the murder case.
Why it’s worth a watch: So you can enjoy spiralling into the vast array of fan theories afterward! This is a compelling true crime series much like Making a Murderer. Unlike that series, The Staircase has a huge biased edge: as the doc was filmed intermittently over the course of a decade, the editor of the documentary grew close to Peterson and ended up dating him. Seriously, get this watched.
Cheer
The documentary: It’s a behind-the-scenes look into the world of competitive cheerleading told through the eyes of the Navarro College Bulldogs Cheer Team and their coach Monica Aldama.
Why it’s worth a watch: Cheerleading is much more than shaking some pom-poms and screaming ‘Go team!’ It’s a competitive, team-based sport that can take a toll on both the mind and body. Cheer is a heartwarming docuseries about drive and passion and unity, told through the lens of characters that you just can’t help but root for. Season two takes on a much darker tone, as it deals with serious allegations against a former team member and highlights the brave victims who brought them to light.
My Octopus Teacher
The documentary: A cross-species friendship like this is something you’d probably expect to see in an animated movie rather than a documentary. My Octopus Teacher chronicles the bond between an intrepid young octopus and filmmaker Craig Foster. Foster not only earns the octopus’ trust, but is also given the opportunity to learn about the ins and outs of her life, while picking up some more profound lessons along the way.
Why it’s worth a watch: This doc scored an Oscars nomination for Best Documentary Feature, and has scooped plenty of wins and nominations for other awards, as well as critical acclaim, since its 2020 release. It’s not your average nature documentary, with its close focus on one subject and the relationship between octopus and filmmaker, and there’s much to reflect on about humanity and nature by the time the credits roll.
Meltdown: Three Mile Island
The documentary: The Three Mile Island accident saw the partial meltdown of a nuclear reactor – and is still to this day the worst nuclear accident in United States history.
Why it’s worth a watch: The doc is a four-part slow-burn that really builds and builds the impending terror in the days leading up to the disaster. It effectively illustrates how America was just minutes away from its own Chernobyl disaster and highlights the way thousands of civilians were able to narrowly escape being affected by radiation.
The Tinder Swindler
The documentary: Simon Leviev, while masquerading as the son of a Russian-Israeli diamond mogul, used the dating app Tinder in order to meet women and emotionally manipulate them into lending him hundreds and thousands of dollars.
Why it’s worth a watch: Though it may seem like a story about a scammer on a dating app, it’s actually a terrifyingly honest look at the way narcissists and abusers prey on and purposely seek out vulnerable people. The lives of each victim were ruined, and many are still struggling to rebuild.
Virunga
The documentary: If you thought Gorillas in the Mist was harrowing, then prepare yourself for what the inhabitants of Virunga National Park face. We’re not just talking simians, but the brave park rangers whose attempts to rescue these mountain gorillas from extinction is an utterly heart-wrenching feat. The film scored an Oscar nomination for its expose on the Congolese park and the horror of poachers and the devious tactics of oil companies.
Why it’s worth a watch: Be prepared to shed absolute buckets at the horrors. But, it isn’t entirely bleak though, as the real message here is the lengths that people will go to in order to save a species.
Chef’s Table
The documentary: You’ve seen Masterchef, you’ve gobbled up Bake Off, and now it’s time to dip into the process of culinary perfection. Profiling six prestigious world-renowned chefs, whose discipline and determination is staggering, the series visits each of them in their own restaurants. It’s like watching artists at work. There’s no contest here to maintain your interest, no drive to the finish as popularised by most cooking shows.
Why it’s worth a watch: Okay, sure, there’s no contest so you might be wondering what the appeal is. While there’s no competition; this isn’t about the commercialism of the restaurant industry either, it’s simply about how the creative process is born in each chef and the joy they derive from plating up their masterpieces.
Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened
The documentary: Chronicles the tale of the infamous Fyre Festival of 2017, which promised a paradisiacal getaway to the Bahamas, but quickly turned it into a scene straight out of Lord of the Flies thanks to the wild mismanagement of its overconfident organisers, and particularly its chief fraudster, Billy McFarland.
Why it’s worth a watch: In 2019, nothing gets more cathartic than watching the irresponsible follies and misdeeds of America’s elite finally come back to hit them where it hurts. Fyre provides exactly that kind of guilty euphoria, as director Chris Smith (Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond) successfully paints an alarming picture of “entrepreneur” Billy McFarland’s arrogance, arguably sociopath tendencies, and sheer deluded sense of desperation.
Blackfish
The documentary: The truth behind keeping whales in captivity is chronicled in this Netflix Original, tracing the story of an Orca named Tilikum who killed three humans while at Sea World. While there’s no doubt those deaths were tragic, filmmaker Gabriela Cowperthwaite delves into why the killer whale acted in this way. Is it in his nature? Or was it because he was torn away from his family at two years of age, and kept in isolation and confinement for twenty years? Hearing the testimonies of his former trainers will only further break your heart.
Why it’s worth a watch: Both sides of the nature versus nurture coin are explored here in an attempt to make sense of a chewy moral dilemma. This story is one that continues to make waves – should animals be kept in captivity for our entertainment? – making this a must-see Netflix documentary.
Making a Murderer
The documentary: Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you will have heard about Steven Avery, a Wisconsin man who served 18 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Two years after his exoneration he was found guilty of murder. So, did he do it? This docuseries covers his life extensively, beginning with his first brush with crime right up until the present day.
Why it’s worth a watch: One of the best documentaries on Netflix – if not, one of the best true crime documentaries ever made – this is utterly compelling storytelling. It’s the murder trial episodes that carries the most tension, as his defence team argues he was framed by the Manitowoc police department and back it up with some pretty convincing evidence. There’s a reason this show has captured the public’s interest.
Amanda Knox
The documentary: The case of Amanda Knox is a controversial one. In 2007 the American student was put on trial for the murder of Meredith Kercher. Both had been studying abroad in Perugia, Italy, when Kercher was found brutally butchered. A hotbed of speculation sprang up surrounding Knox’s involvement and the media painted her as the villain. She, her boyfriend, and a third party were all tried for murder with the former pair eventually walking free after serving four years behind bars.
Why it’s worth a watch: Told as a story, the case itself is fascinating, however what makes it so compelling are the one-on-one conversations captured on film, including interviews with Knox.
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]]>The post Cannes 2022: the 10 must-see films from this year’s festival appeared first on Game News.
]]>Touted as one of the most promising line-ups in the festival’s history, this year’s slate ultimately proved a broadly solid if generally unexceptional selection, with no obvious breakout hit akin to 2019’s Parasite among the competition for the Palme d’Or. We saw a lot of films. Not all of which we had time to write about at length, but you can read our thoughts on the good, great and truly terrible that didn’t make the Total Film top 10 in our review of Cannes 2022.
As for the crème de la crème, the picks of the Palme, put these at the top of your list when they finally release in cinemas – every one is well worth your time (note: Top Gun: Maverick and Men have been omitted, despite receiving 5* reviews from TF, as both premiered and we’re reviewed by us ahead of Cannes Film Festival). Without further ado, here’s the Total Film top 10 of Cannes 2022.
Close
The movie: In provincial Belgium, a pair of 13-year-old boys find the bond they have had since childhood put to the test when a new school year starts. Embarrassed by Rémi’s neediness, Léo rejects him in favour of new alliances and pastimes. Then something happens that forces him to face up to the consequences of his actions.
Our verdict: Sensitive, graceful and impeccably restrained, Lukas Dhont’s heartbreaking story of two childhood pals drifting apart belongs to a long and noble tradition of poignant coming of agers. The way he gets us to root for and invest in his youthful characters, only to then deliver a devastatingly emotional sucker punch, is more than a tad manipulative. As with his 2018 debut feature Girl, though, this is all in the service of fostering a greater empathy for those who don’t conform and are cruelly ostracized for it.
Read our full review of Close.
Decision To Leave
The movie: After a mountain climber falls to his death, a South Korean detective interviews the dead man’s wife and finds her curiously unimpacted by the fact she has just become a widow. Suspecting foul play the cop sets out to investigate, only to develop a romantic obsession with this mysterious femme fatale that puts his own marriage at risk.
Our verdict: Hitchcock vibes abound in Park Chan-wook’s melodrama, an achingly romantic throwback to the noirs of yesteryear that infuses a contemporary crime thriller with a distinctly retro vibe. Elegant visuals, a Hermannesque score and sophisticated costumes all contribute to the nostalgic mood, while modern devices like fitness apps and Siri are playfully incorporated into its narrative. A drawn-out second half, though, does make the film feel at least 20 minutes too long.
Read our full review of Decision To Leave.
Elvis
The movie: Baz Luhrmann’s biopic of the King of Rock ’n’ Roll spans 30 years of Elvis Aaron Presley’s tragically curtailed life, from formative early encounters with gospel and rhythm & blues music to his untimely death from heart disease at the age of just 42.
Our verdict: A trad but terrifically enjoyable musical biopic with swagger to spare, and a star-making central performance from Austin Butler. Luhrmann is one of cinema’s great, sincere showmen and he tackles the Elvis story with typically exuberant aplomb, striking just the right balance of bombast and character beats. It’ll leave you all shook up.
Read our full review of Elvis.
Falcon Lake
The movie: French actor Charlotte Le Bon makes her directorial debut with this adaptation of Bastien Vivès’ bande dessinée Une Soeur, about a 13-year old Bastien and 16-year-old Chloe, who share a sexual awakening summer romance while holidaying with their families on the Manitoba beauty spot.
Our verdict: Shot in full-frame, sun-kissed soft-focus, Le Bon’s bittersweet ode to young love is a nostalgic and effortlessly charming two-hander, with a pair of perfectly judged performances from the age-mismatched leads. Remarkably assured behind the camera, Le Bon locates gently spooky overtones that payoff with haunting consequences. Up there with The Lost Daughter and Booksmart as the best actor-turned-director debuts in recent memory.
Funny Pages
The movie: A wannabe cartoonist drops out of high school and impulsively moves to the city. Having found dirt-cheap accommodation in a sweltering basement, he strikes up a friendship with a volatile loner who used to work in comic books in the hope he will help him follow in the footsteps of his artistic heroes.
Our verdict: Directed by Owen Kline, son of actor Kevin and a protégé of the Safdie brothers, this rough-and-ready rite-of-passage comedy appears to have a direct line to the scrappy energy of early 1970s cinema. Grainy Super 16mm photography gives it a hand-made quality akin to a film school short, while an extended farcical set-piece set around a calamitous Christmas dinner ends things on a high. As funny as Funny Pages is, though, it has a sad pathos that gives every laugh a tinge of tragic despair.
Read our full review of Funny Pages.
Holy Spider
The movie: In early 2000s Iran, a former soldier turned construction worker is murdering sex workers in the belief he is doing God’s holy work. Frustrated by the authorities’ lackadaisical attitude, reporter Rahimi (Zar Amir Ebrahimi) makes it her mission to bring this opportunistic serial killer to justice.
Our verdict: Reminiscent of Zodiac, Manhunter and the 1967 film adaption of In Cold Blood, Ali Abbasi’s fact-based crime thriller is a grimly compelling procedural that starkly sets out the toxicity of zealotry fuelled by misogyny. Making a fictionalized, composite female character so central to its plotline is problematic, as are the graphic scenes depicting violence against women. For the most part, though, this is a clinical, angry slice of filmmaking that takes an entire society to task for its heartless complicity.
Read our full review of Holy Spider.
Leila’s Brothers
The movie: Said Roustayi’s dense family drama weaves a complex tapestry of tradition and the struggle for a better life in modern day Tehran. Leila has a plan to lift her four layabout brothers out of poverty by opening a shop – easy enough if it weren’t for their stubbornly unhelpful father and Trump’s economy-tanking Tweets.
Our verdict: Possessing the ability to grip like a great stage story, and managing to whip along at pace despite clocking in at nearly 3hrs, Roustayi’s arresting way with dialogue is matched only by his colourful and believably tight-knit cast. Like a great Asghar Farhadi morality play, but funnier.
Moonage Daydream
The movie: Part concert film, part psychedelic art installation, part elliptical account of the major stages in David Bowie’s artistic evolution, Moonage Daydream defies documentary convention to create something thrillingly unique in the space.
Our verdict: Narratively, there’s just enough of a throughline for those with even the bare minimum of background biographical info to keep up with what can generously be called a story here. But where the film really sings (literally) is the stunning remastered performance footage, remixed in multi-channel surround sound from Bowie’s original stems. It’s like hearing Bowie anew.
Read our full review of Moonage Daydream.
Return To Seoul
The movie: A young woman who was born in Korea, adopted as a child and raised by a white couple in France returns to the country of her birth to reconnect with her roots. Over a number of years she forms an attachment to the father she has never known while trying to get in touch with the mother who gave her up.
Our verdict: Low-key, naturalistic and resolutely unemphatic, Davy Shou’s portrait of cultural dislocation doesn’t set out to win the viewer’s affection any more than its heroine does. Slowly, though, it grows on you, avoiding easy epiphanies and pat resolutions in its search for a deeper meaning and resonance. As Frédérique, aka Freddie, Park Ji-min gives us a protagonist who is prickly, spiteful and generally pretty exasperating. That we end up falling for her regardless is a testament to the film’s capacity to beguile.
Triangle Of Sadness
The movie: A glamorous social influencer and her model boyfriend are offered a free cruise on a luxury yacht. Their fellow passengers are a rogue’s gallery of Russian oligarchs, arms dealers and tech nerds. When the ship capsizes and they are stranded on a desert island, though, wealth and privilege count for nothing.
Our verdict: Darkly funny, narratively daring and cuttingly satirical, Ruben Östlund’s follow-up to his Palme d’Or-winning The Square is every bit as pointed as the geometrical polygon in its title. Not since Monty Python’s The Meaning Of Life has so much puke been spewed in the service of comedy, while the ideological divisions between Woody Harrelson’s boozy captain, the yacht’s obsequious crew members and its pampered clientele makes it resemble nothing so much as Downton Abbey At Sea.
Read our full review of Triangle Of Sadness.
Apart from Elvis (out in the UK and US on 24 June), none of the films mentioned in this article currently have a UK or US release date. For more coverage from Cannes 2022, check out our review of Kelly Reichardt’s Showing Up, through that link.
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]]>The post Ethan Coen reveals why he stopped making movies appeared first on Game News.
]]>“Oh, nothing happened, certainly nothing dramatic,” Ethan told the Associated Press (opens in new tab) of why he stopped wanting to make films. “You start out when you’re a kid and you want to make a movie. Everything’s enthusiasm and gung-ho, let’s go make a movie. And the first movie is just loads of fun. And then the second movie is loads of fun, almost as much fun as the first. And after 30 years, not that it’s no fun, but it’s more of a job than it had been.
“Joel kind of felt the same way but not to the extent that I did. It’s an inevitable by-product of aging. And the last two movies we made, me and Joel together, were really difficult in terms of production. I mean, really difficult. So if you don’t have to do it, you go at a certain point: Why am I doing this?”
He added: “It was the production experience and having been doing it for – I don’t know how many years, maybe 35 years. It was the experience of making a movie. More of a grind and less fun.”
But, Ethan is making another film with his wife Tricia Cooke this year, and he put that decision down to “all kind of circumstance,” explaining that the script was finished and he and Cooke thought it would be “fun” to make.
As for Joel, he recently helmed The Tragedy of Macbeth, starring Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand – and Ethan didn’t rule out another collaboration, either, saying they “might make another movie.”
Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind arrives this year after premiering at Cannes Film Festival. In the meantime, check out our roundup of 2022’s major movie release dates for everything else the year has in store for us.
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]]>The post Will Smith was asked to leave the Oscars but refused, the Academy says appeared first on Game News.
]]>At the 94th Academy Awards, Smith slapped Chris Rock after the comedian made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith and G.I. Jane. The protagonist of that movie has a shaved head, and Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia. Smith then returned to his seat and shouted “keep my wife’s name out your fucking mouth” twice.
The Academy’s latest statement on the incident, which follows a meeting of the Board of Governors, reveals Smith stayed at the ceremony despite being asked to leave, and also says the actor potentially faces disciplinary action.
The statement from the Academy, per Variety (opens in new tab), reads: “The Board of Governors today initiated disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith for violations of the Academy’s Standards of Conduct, including inappropriate physical contact, abusive or threatening behavior, and compromising the integrity of the Academy.
The Academy has given Smith 15 days to respond. “Mr. Smith’s actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television,” the statement continues. “Mr. Rock, we apologize to you for what you experienced on our stage and thank you for your resilience in that moment. We also apologize to our nominees, guests, and viewers for what transpired during what should have been a celebratory event.
“Things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated. While we would like to clarify that Mr. Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, we also recognize we could have handled the situation differently.”
The Academy launched an official review into the incident following the ceremony, and, before that, issued a statement against violence that did not mention Smith by name. Previous reports indicated that removing Smith from the Oscars was “seriously” considered – but the actor remained at the ceremony. Another report revealed the backstage reaction to the moment. Rock has declined to press charges.
Smith initially addressed the altercation in his Best Actor acceptance speech without mentioning Rock, saying: “I want to apologize to the Academy, I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees.” He has since apologized directly to Rock online.
“I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris,” a statement posted to Smith’s social media reads. “I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”
For more from the Oscars, check out our Oscars 2022 winners list and our roundup of the five biggest talking points from the night.
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]]>The post New Oscars report reveals backstage reaction to Will Smith and Chris Rock slap appeared first on Game News.
]]>The Hollywood Reporter (opens in new tab) has published a dispatch from behind-the-scenes at the Oscars. Apparently, dress rehearsals of Rock’s speech had gone smoothly, yet the now-infamous joke about Jada Pinket Smith was not part of the script.
On the night, Rock ad-libbed a jab at Pinket Smith, comparing her hair to G.I. Jane, a character who has a shaved head. Jada has previously revealed she had been diagnosed with alopecia, which leads to hair loss, and she was visibly annoyed by the joke. Smith stepped on stage and hit Rock, then returned to his seat and shouted: “Keep my wife’s name out your fucking mouth.”
Backstage, “all hell broke loose”, according to the report. Serena Williams and Venus Williams were there, while some of Hollywood’s biggest stars – Jake Gyllenhaal, Zoë Kravitz, Kevin Costner, Anthony Hopkins, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, and John Travolta – were waiting to give awards. Smith’s own longtime rep, Meredith O’Sullivan Wasson, was also backstage.
There were a few people watching the monitors. Then the Smith incident happened, and everyone paid attention. “It went very quiet,” one insider said. Another added: “Everyone was like, ‘What the fuck is happening?! Did that just happen?! Oh my God!’ People were gasping.”
Whereas most presenters head to the green room – a backstage room for performers – Rock did not return after giving the Best Documentary award to Questlove for Summer of Soul. Unfortunately, Questlove’s speech was overshadowed by the altercation, as audience members and those behind the scenes were completely stunned by what had just happened.
Rock’s manager, Jason Weinberg, was asked to speak to the Los Angeles Police Department, though Rock declined to press charges. Meanwhile, the Oscars producers headed into a private room. A separate report has indicated that they “seriously” considered removing Smith from the ceremony.
Smith, though, was not ejected from the Oscars. On the main Dolby Theater floor, Denzel Washington and Tyler Perry appeared to console and advise Smith, while Bradley Cooper gave him a hug. Smith then went on to win Best Actor at the awards. During his acceptance speech, Smith did not mention Rock, though has since issued a formal statement online apologizing to the comedian.
“I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris,” reads a statement posted to Smith’s social media account. “I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”
“I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us,” Smith continued. “I am a work in progress.”
The Academy responded by posting its own statement. “The Academy does not condone violence of any form,” its official social media account posted. “Tonight we are delighted to celebrate our 94th Academy Awards winners, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world.”
For more from the Oscars, check out our Oscars 2022 winners list and our roundup of the five biggest talking points from the night.
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]]>The post The Harry Potter cast are back together on the new poster for the reunion special appeared first on Game News.
]]>The main trio of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson are front and center – they played Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger in the films. Behind them in the Hogwarts Great Hall is James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley), Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood), Alfred Enoch (Dean Thomas), Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom), and Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley). See the poster below.
The special, titled Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts and filmed at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, looks back at the making of the movies to mark 20 years since Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone released (AKA Sorcerer’s Stone in the US and India).
Other cast members involved include Ralph Fiennes (Voldermort), Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange), Mark Williams (Arthur Weasley), Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid), Ian Hart (Professor Quirrell), Imelda Staunton (Professor Umbridge), Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy), and Gary Oldman (Sirius Black). Chris Columbus, who directed the first two Harry Potter movies and produced the third, will also be part of the reunion.
“The retrospective special will tell an enchanting making-of story through all-new in-depth interviews and cast conversations, inviting fans on a magical first-person journey through one of the most beloved film franchises of all time,” reads the special’s official synopsis.
Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts releases on HBO Max on January 1, 2022. Until then, check out our guide to the best Netflix Christmas movies to plan those festive movie marathons.
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]]>The post Tiger King 2 trailer sees the return of Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin appeared first on Game News.
]]>In the footage, which you can watch above, Joe Exotic makes an appearance from prison, while Jeff Lowe and Carole Baskin also feature. There are more big cats, a glimpse at Joe Exotic’s campaign for a presidential pardon, and plenty more besides.
“When you think you’ve seen it all, you haven’t quite seen it all,” says a voiceover, and we’re inclined to agree.
“With Joe Exotic behind bars and Carole Baskin closing in on ownership of his disreputable zoo, the Emmy-nominated saga continues its twisted course with Tiger King 2 as newfound revelations emerge on the motivations, backstories, and secrets of America’s most notorious big cat owners,” reads the series’ official synopsis. “Old enemies and frenemies, including Jeff Lowe, Tim Stark, Allen Glover, and James Garretson return for another season of murder, mayhem, and madness. Thought you knew the whole story? Just you wait.”
Season one directors Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin are back to helm the second installments, and also executive produce alongside returning Chris Smith and Fisher Stevens.
This isn’t the only new Tiger King-related media on the way, either. Peacock has a take on the tale in the works, starring Kate McKinnon as Carole Baskin and Cameron Mitchell as Joe Exotic. Nicolas Cage was also onboard to play the disgraced big cat owner in an Amazon Prime TV show, but the project was eventually scrapped.
“I read two excellent scripts, which I did think were excellent, but I think Amazon ultimately felt that it was material that had become past tense because it took so long for it to come together,” Cage explained. “They felt at one point that it was lightning in a bottle, but that point has since faded into the distance and it’s no longer relevant.”
Tiger King season 2 arrives November 17, 2022. Until then, check out our guide to the best Netflix shows streaming now to fill out your watchlist.
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