Latest news with #JerryMaguire


The Herald Scotland
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
First impressions of new Motherwell boss Jens Barthel Askou
This week, the press had their first meeting with new Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou. And to paraphrase from that famous scene in Jerry Maguire, he had me at 'I scored against Airdrie'. It wasn't only his willingness to dredge the dark corners of his memory bank to give the papers a colourful wee line about his strike against the dastardly Diamonds that impressed me, though. The Dane was affable, certainly, but he also came across as driven, direct, and a clear communicator. That will be most important of course in getting his message across to his new players as he looks to implement his style of play. It was striking just how clued up he already appeared to be not only on his own squad, but the playing styles of the other teams in the division, and it was intriguing to hear how he thinks a more 'modern' style of play could be effective in the Scottish Premiership. The cherry on top though is that he comes across well on camera and in print. (Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times) Sometimes, I think the media can be guilty of overemphasising our importance. At the end of the day, if a manager is getting results on the park, fans probably couldn't care less about how his relations with the press pack might be or even what he is saying in his post-match MFC TV interview. Read more: And as we all saw when Ange Postecoglou was prowling around press rooms up here, the majority of fans actually love to see a journalist being chopped down to size and their ego being pricked when they put forward a daft question. Not that it ever happened to me. Not at all, mate. On the other hand, when things aren't going so swimmingly, the ability to convey a compelling narrative and explain what it is you are trying to do can buy managers a fair bit of time, and encourages more patience from the stands. There is an element of familiarity breeding contempt when a manager is wheeled out in front of the cameras for the umpteenth time in a season, particularly when they are on a poor run of results. Fans start to pick up on mannerisms, and start to get annoyed by them, like Stevie Hammell scratching his head, for instance. Or they get fed up with long answers, such as those preferred by Stuart Kettlewell, particularly in the latter days of his Fir Park reign. Otherwise small - even absurd - things, that become big things in the wrong circumstances. If Berthel Askou loses his first 10 games, I'm fairly sure he will be rubbing folk up the wrong way in his post-match briefings too, but the first impressions were good. Scottish football, and I include the media in this, can often be hostile to outsiders when they land one of our top managerial jobs. That doesn't necessarily have to be a foreigner, it could be a coach who hasn't played professionally or as simple as someone who talks a fair bit about xG and low blocks. That has changed significantly over the last few years, but getting the right balance between relaying your tactical plan to your fanbase while also being a personality that people can warm to is still more important, in my view, than some people might care to believe. And having impressed the fans and somewhat charmed the press (not just Motherwell media mafia sorts) in his first press outing, it inspires confidence that he will also be able to communicate what he wants clearly to the players. What he also conveyed, along with a sense that it probably wouldn't be wise to get on the wrong side of him, was a sense of calm. That after the tumult of the last few weeks following the departure of Michael Wimmer, things were back under control and a plan was in place for the new season. (Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times) There is much work to be done, as he readily acknowledged. He needs an assistant manager for one, following the delayed departure of Ahmet Koc on Tuesday. Despite the still decent size of the squad, he also stressed the importance of getting some quality players in, and while not giving away any names, he hinted that he is already a good way down the road in identifying his targets. In short, it was all very reassuring. And more than a little exciting. After the bubble was burst a little following Wimmer's exit, the board seemed to have identified a candidate who inspires the same sort of intrigue around what he may be able to bring to the table and achieve with this team. The proof will be on the pitch, as it always is, but hopefully Berthel Askou's appointment, and his talk of 'breaking barriers' in Scottish football, will reinvigorate a bit of that optimism that was around at the tail end of last season within the fanbase. All he has to do now is give us a wee verse of that song I taught him about Section B and he'll be in with the bricks.


New Indian Express
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Tom Cruise, Debbie Allen, Wynn Thomas, and Dolly Parton to get Honorary Oscars
The Honorary Award specifically acknowledges "extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or outstanding service to the Academy." Cruise, a staunch advocate for theatrical exhibition, played a pivotal role in keeping theatres alive post the COVID-19 shutdown with Top Gun: Maverick. The film earned him a Best Picture nomination as a producer. Known for performing his own daring stunts, Cruise has garnered three acting Oscar nominations for his roles in Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire, and Magnolia. For nearly five decades, Debbie Allen has left an indelible mark on the screen and the stage as an actor, choreographer, and producer. Her choreography graced the Oscars ceremony seven times, plus she contributed her talents to films including Forget Paris, The Six Triple Eight, and A Jazzman's Blues. Allen's producing credits feature A Star for Rose and Amistad, while her notable acting performances include Fame, Your Life Is Calling, Ragtime, and Jo Jo Dancer.

Hypebeast
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Tom Cruise To Receive Honorary Oscars
Summary The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced its esteemed recipients for the 16th annual Governors Awards, a night dedicated to recognizing extraordinary contributions to film. Among the luminaries set to receive honorary Oscar statuettes are global superstarTom Cruise, trailblazing choreographer and actress Debbie Allen, and visionary production designer Wynn Thomas. Additionally, country music legend Dolly Parton will be honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. The awards will be presented at an untelevised ceremony on November 16, 2025, at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles. For Tom Cruise, this marks his first Academy Award, coming 35 years after his initial Oscar nomination. Though he has been nominated four times for his acting and producing work (includingBorn on the Fourth of July,Jerry Maguire,Magnolia, andTop Gun: Maverick), a competitive Oscar has eluded President Janet Yang praised Cruise's 'incredible commitment to our filmmaking community, to the theatrical experience, and to the stunts community,' highlighting his unwavering dedication to big-screen spectacle and his role in championing theatrical releases. In addition, Tom Cruise is joined by Debbie Allen, a multi-hyphenate talent who will be celebrated for her vast impact across dance, film, and television. The contributions of Wynn Thomas to the visual storytelling of cinema will also be honored.


NZ Herald
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Tom Cruise really, really loves the movies
One of the industry's biggest stars is also its most enthusiastic evangelist. He is hoping it pays off for the eighth Mission: Impossible film. Tom Cruise's characters are defined by their enthusiasms. Jerry Maguire boosts his clients. Daniel Kaffee wants the truth, whether or not he can handle it. Maverick

Business Insider
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Tom Cruise has a smart career strategy that's helped him stay relevant after 40 years in Hollywood
Tom Cruise returns with death-defying stunts in "Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning." In 2023, Cruise told Business Insider that he's "always pushing" to make his films bigger and better. Cruise's commitment to his craft, including doing his own stunts, keeps audiences coming back for more. Tom Cruise has been entertaining film fans for over 40 years and, despite weathering his fair share of controversies, is widely considered the last great movie star. How did he do it? The answer is simple: stunts. In the 15 years since the release of 2011's "Ghost Protocol," the fourth " Mission: Impossible" film, Cruise has done increasingly hair-raising stunts in each of his new movies: whether he's climbing the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, or clinging to a plane as it takes off. Earlier in his career, Cruise acted in a greater mix of genres, including the 1994 horror "Interview with the Vampire," the 1996 comedy-drama "Jerry Maguire," and the 1999 erotic thriller "Eyes Wide Shut." In that era, he was considered widely a sex symbol. Now, he trades in extaordinay feats. Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Eammon Jacobs (@eammonjacobs) "Every time they say, 'Can you top it? Can you not top it?' We're always pushing. Every film I do, whatever genre it's in, I want to make it as entertaining as possible for that audience. I know I can do things better," he said. And it's a winning tactic. " Top Gun: Maverick," in which Cruise flew in real fighter jets, raked in $1.5 billion in 2022, while "Dead Reckoning," where he leapt off a mountain on a motorbike, made $567 million. In "Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning," which is out on Friday, Cruise performs two nerve-shredding stunts: a scuba dive into the wreck of a submarine that rolls down into an ocean trench, and the climactic third act, where his character clings on to a biplane in flight. It's expected to make $80 million in its opening weekend, The Hollywood Reporter reported, citing the National Research Group. Cruise's enduring star power can even grab the attention of the most seasoned industry insiders. Rob Mitchell, the director of theatrical insights at film tech company Gower St. Analytics, recalled working as a sales analyst at Paramount in 2011, when employees did a set visit to see Cruise climb the Burj Khalifa. "Everyone was taking pictures inside the Burj Khalifa, with Tom Cruise outside waving in," he told BI. These sorts of stunts signal to audiences that Cruise is a bona fide star who is hardworking and takes his craft seriously—all ingredients of a movie more likely to be worth their hard-earned cash. Referring to "Mission: Impossible," Mitchell said: "There comes a point where people aren't really going for the story as much as they are for the excitement and the thrills." "In an era dominated by CGI superheroes, Cruise's staying power lies in the 'authenticity' of his performances," Stuart Joy, the course leader of film and TV at Solent University, UK, told BI. "Like Christopher Nolan, he champions analogue filmmaking in a digital age. But while Nolan does so behind the camera through practical effects and large-format film, Cruise embodies it on screen through real stunts and real danger." Cruise's dedication to filmmaking has taken him around the world. During an interview at the BFI in London in May, he said he would "force" studios to send him to different countries to learn how movies were made there. He also said encourages younger stars to "spend time in the editing room, produce a movie, study old movies, recognize what the composition is giving you, know what those lenses are, understand the lighting and how to use it for your benefit." Last year, Cruise's "Top Gun: Maverick" costar Glen Powell told GQ that he was sent to a theater in Los Angeles to watch a six-hour "film-school" movie that Cruise made just for his friends. "[Cruise] is like: 'Do we all agree that this is what a camera is? This is the difference between a film camera and a digital camera…' The funniest part is on flying. It was like he put together this entire flight school. So he would literally go 'OK, this is what a plane is. Here's how things fly. Here's how air pressure works,'" Powell said. Centering his career around stunts is a smart PR move As well as being undeniably impressive, stunts help to keep past controversies out of the conversation, Joy said. "Cruise's transition from character-driven roles to stunt-centered performances seems intentional, not just as a creative decision but as a deliberate attempt to recalibrate public perceptions of his star persona," he said. "After the mid-2000s controversies (most infamously the Oprah's sofa moment and scrutiny of his ties to Scientology) Cruise has successfully redirected the audience's attention," Joy added, referring to the moment in 2005 when he jumped on Winfrey's sofa while talking about his love for his then-girlfriend, and now ex-wife, Katie Holmes. "Rather than inviting emotional connection through vulnerability, he now earns our praise and admiration through the spectacle of physical risk," Joy said. Next, Cruise plans to shoot a movie in space with his "Edge of Tomorrow" and "American Made" collaborator, director Doug Liman. In 2020, Deadline reported that Universal planned to spend $200 million on the film, and collaborate with Elon Musk's SpaceX to shoot it. Cruise and Liman were originally set to take flight in 2021, but the project is yet to materialize. If it does get off the ground, audiences will likely flock to see "the ultimate Tom Cruise movie," as Mitchell puts it. But wherever Cruise's career takes him next, Joy said that one thing is for certain: "He's made himself the guardian of a traditional cinematic spectacle."