LOS ANGELES (AP) — Actress Chloe Grace Moretz and the creators of her upcoming animated film apologized Wednesday after promotional materials were criticized of body shaming women. Moretz, 20, wrote on Twitter that she had talked to producers for the film “Red Shoes & the 7 Dwarfs” about the marketing choices, including a billboard appearing … Continue reading
Category Archives: Movies
Actress Gal Gadot discovers Wonder Woman’s power in costume
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Despite wielding the golden lasso and deflecting bullets with her bracelets on the big screen for more than a year, “Wonder Woman ” star Gal Gadot still doesn’t see herself as a superhero. “I’m not there yet,” the 32-year-old actress said in a recent interview. “When I look on playback or … Continue reading
‘Dandy Lion’ rejects young black male stereotypes
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Seven years ago, Shantrelle P. Lewis was consumed by the negative images of young, black men being depicted in media as aggressive and dangerous. Most looked nothing like the black men she knew: in her family, her social circle, from her college days at Howard University, or from living in New Orleans, … Continue reading
Tony presenters will include Scarlett Johansson, Tina Fey
NEW YORK (AP) — Kevin Spacey will have some starry names helping him hand out Tony Awards: Orlando Bloom, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Josh Gad, Taraji P. Henson, Scarlett Johansson, Anna Kendrick, Keegan-Michael Key and Olivia Wilde have all signed up to help present trophies. Spacey, who won Oscars for the movies “The Usual Suspects” … Continue reading
How Hollywood is giving its biggest stars digital facelifts
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Johnny Depp is 53 years old but he doesn’t look a day over 26 in the new “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie — at least for a few moments. There was no plastic surgeon involved, heavy makeup or archival footage used to take the actor back to his boyish “Cry Baby” … Continue reading
Review: ‘Wonder Woman’ film and star live up to the name
“Wonder Woman ” has been the subject of so much superfluous fuss, it’d be easy to forget that behind all of the hand-wringing and both symbolic and real pressure to succeed there’s actually a movie meant to entertain. Yet, like the heroine at its center, “Wonder Woman” the movie rises with powerful grace above the … Continue reading
Americans don’t trust media, but feel better about favorites
NEW YORK (AP) — While Americans have doubts about how much they should trust the “news media” in general, a poll by the Media Insight Project released Wednesday suggests they have a higher opinion of the sources they personally rely upon to follow the world. The survey by the project, a partnership between The Associated … Continue reading
Technical problems force HBO to scrap Jon Stewart venture
NEW YORK (AP) — HBO is scrapping a web-delivered satirical project it was developing with Jon Stewart, a change of plans that keeps the popular political humorist on the sidelines as the Trump administration continues to provide his fellow comedians with comic gold. “HBO and Jon Stewart have decided not to proceed with a short-form … Continue reading
Roger Moore had prouder achievements than playing James Bond
LONDON (AP) — Sir Roger Moore saw more to life than a well-mixed martini. “I felt small, insignificant and rather ashamed that I had traveled so much making films and ignored what was going on around me,” he would say years after starring in seven James Bond movies and upon accepting a role that his … Continue reading
Review: Fifth ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ flick fights bloat
The opening scene of the new “Pirates of the Caribbean” is a fitting metaphor for where we stand in this long franchise: A creaky old galleon is unceremoniously yanked up from the ocean depths and the only things aboard are cranky old ghosts. A weary, battered fifth chapter — “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men … Continue reading
Hugh Jackman’s secret? He didn’t know wolverines are real
NEW YORK (AP) — After playing Wolverine in nine movies, Hugh Jackman arguably knows more about the superhero than anyone. But that wasn’t always the case. He recalls researching the animal when he first got the role and being somewhat mistaken about the character. For one thing, he had no idea that a wolverine is … Continue reading
‘Wonderstruck,’ with deaf newcomer Simmonds, lands at Cannes
CANNES, France (AP) — The cacophony of the Cannes Film Festival was tamed Thursday by a deaf 14-year-old actress, Millicent Simmonds, whose screen debut is being hailed as a breakthrough. Todd Haynes’ partly wordless fable “Wonderstruck” premiered in competition at Cannes, bringing the festival one of its most anticipated films and a possible Academy Awards … Continue reading
Marvel Universe LIVE!: Superheroes save the day in new show
ELLENTON, Fla. (AP) — There’s a moment at the start of the new Marvel Universe Live! Age of Heroes show when Spider-Man enters from backstage and zigzags through the air, soaring above the floor. Such display of superpower strength is startling, the director says, and the scene still takes his breath away. “It’s an incredible … Continue reading
Will Smith, Almodovar open a testy Cannes Film Festival
CANNES, France (AP) — The 70th Cannes Film Festival opened Wednesday under sunny Cote D’Azur skies and the high-wattage smiles of stars including Will Smith and Marion Cotillard. But a brewing storm over Netflix’s place at the world’s most prestigious film festival continued to steal the spotlight as Cannes rolled out the red carpet. Optimism … Continue reading
Mass Communications and Journalism Dept. receives full reaccreditation from ACEJMC
(Chicago) — The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) voted unanimously 21-0 to fully reaccredit the Department of Mass Communications and Journalism at Norfolk State University for another six years. “The unanimous vote reflected ACEJMC’s enthusiastic acceptance of the case for reaccreditation presented in (1) our self-study report of 138 pages and … Continue reading
Daniel Kaluuya responds to “black enough” criticism
by Omar Ross The movie “Get Out” was released on Feb. 24 and received great feedback from viewers. Although the feedback was good, many people criticized the star of the movie for not being “black enough.” Daniel Kaluuya still has to prove his race, although he is a dark-skinned man. “People say ‘You’re too black.’ … Continue reading
Marion Cotillard, partner welcome 2nd child, a baby girl
Marion Cotillard is now a mother of two. The French actress’ representative has confirmed a People magazine report that she and partner Guillaume Canet (gee-YOOM’ KAN’-ay) have welcomed a daughter. The couple also has a 5-year-old son. The 41-year-old Cotillard hasn’t revealed the baby’s name. Cotillard starred alongside Canet in the French-Belgian film “Love Me … Continue reading
‘Hidden Figures,’ Henson among top NAACP Image Award winners
LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Hidden Figures” and Taraji P. Henson had a big night at the NAACP Image Awards, where Hollywood glamour shared the stage with somber remarks from the director of Washington’s new African-American museum. “Hidden Figures,” the fact-based drama about the contributions of black female mathematicians to the U.S. space program, won the … Continue reading
Angelina Jolie in Cambodia for premiere of her new film
SIEM REAP, Cambodia (AP) — Angelina Jolie said Saturday that she hopes her new film about Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge will help educate the world about the brutality of the 1970s regime and shed a light on the plight of young people in war zones today. “First They Killed My Father” is based on … Continue reading
Spartan Report for the week of Feb. 13
Marisa Grey from the Norfolk State University Office of Communications and Marketing offers this Feb. 13 installment of the Spartan Report. In this week’s report, the university tells about the appearance of the Spartan Legion marching band in a Super Bowl commercial, NSU’s own connection to one of NASA’s “Hidden Figures,” and a UNCF grant. Continue reading
Hugh Jackman shows off bandaged nose after cancer treatment
Hugh Jackman has revealed another treatment for skin cancer. The 48-year-old star of the X-Men and Wolverine franchises posted a selfie on social media Monday showing off his bandaged nose. Jackman writes, “Another basal cell carcinoma. Thanks to frequent checks & amazing doctors, all’s well. Looks worse w the dressing on than off!” He also … Continue reading
The ‘Hidden Figures’ screenwriter had NASA in her blood
LOS ANGELES (AP) — NASA has been part of “Hidden Figures” screenwriter Allison Schroeder’s life for as long as she can remember. Not only did a childhood near Cape Canaveral mean that the space program was an ever-present reality — fire drills in school were timed so the kids could see the launches and the … Continue reading
Valentino designer in solo couture debut; Gaultier goes acid
PARIS (AP) — All eyes in Paris were on the debut solo couture display from Valentino designer Pierpaolo Piccioli following the move of his design partner to Dior. And if the rousing applause was any indication, his sublime styles of ethereal goddesses were a hit for the guests that included Kristin Scott Thomas, “La Vie … Continue reading
‘Stranger Things’ season 2 set to hit Netflix on Halloween
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Netflix has used the Super Bowl to announce the return of “Stranger Things.” Last summer’s 1980s-set science-fiction hit for the streaming service will return for a second season on Halloween later this year. Netflix previewed the season in a trailer that debuted during Sunday night’s Super Bowl. It opened with what … Continue reading
Pharrell Williams, wife welcome triplets to join son, 8
Pharrell Williams and his wife, Helen Lasichanh, have welcomed triplets. Williams’ publicist says that “the family is happy and healthy.” She didn’t say where or when the babies were born or their genders. The babies join 8-year-old big brother Rocket. The 43-year-old Williams married Lasichanh, a model, in 2013. It’s shaping up to be a … Continue reading