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Boston Globe
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
It's safe to go back in the water: ‘Jaws' turns 50.
This was the place where I met films like 'Alien,' 'On Golden Pond,' 'The Color Purple,' 'My Favorite Year,' 'Porky's,' and the movie that cemented the concept of the summer movie season, 'Star Wars.' In fact, I saw the entire original 'Star Wars' trilogy there. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Like Framingham's theater off Route 9, where 'Jaws' also opened, the Hudson Mall's theater was run by General Cinema. Decades before Nicole Kidman's evil AMC Theaters ad, General Cinema ran an unforgettable reminder that you were at one of their theaters: they showed an animated bumper of a projector made out of a G and two rotating C's. Advertisement If you've ever been to one of these theaters, you're probably hearing I dwell on these details to highlight how seeing an influential movie can sear the experience into your memory forever. I once asked my mother what it was like to see 'Psycho' in 1960, and some of my younger friends have inquired about my opening day audience's reactions to 'Star Wars' and 'Alien.' You never forget these moments. Advertisement Based on Peter Benchley's best-selling 1974 novel, ' But success didn't seem so evident at the beginning. Keep in mind that, before 'Jaws,' the summer months were what January and February are now — that is, a dumping ground for movies released with little fanfare. Big prestige movies like 'The Exorcist' opened around Christmas. 'Jaws' was initially scheduled to premiere in December, 1974. Fate had other ideas, and by the time Verna Fields got the footage she'd edit to an Oscar-winning tee, the original deadline had passed. 'Jaws' was a troubled production whose original 65-day shoot took 159 days. The guy behind the camera was a twentysomething newbie named Steven Spielberg who had directed one modest big screen feature and a really good TV movie called 'Duel.' Plus, poor Mr. Spielberg was dealing with a temperamental star, and I don't mean Richard Dreyfuss. I'm talking about Bruce the Mechanical Shark. Not only did Bruce refuse to work, it sank to the bottom of the ocean off Martha's Vineyard once it was pressured to do its job. Advertisement Bruce's moods forced Spielberg to work around the shark, which, in hindsight, was a blessing in disguise. Keeping Bruce hidden for much of the runtime made the film more terrifying, especially when the shark was represented by its This leads us back to June 21, 1975. I distinctly remember hearing the opening notes of Williams's immortal theme during the opening credits. It's become familiar now, but imagine hearing, for the first time ever, those familiar opening notes rumbling through speakers cranked up to 11. My theater vibrated with an ominous sense of foreboding. Williams is an expert at None of those compares to 'Jaws' in this regard, however. Dinosaurs are extinct, Indy is fictitious, and the verdict is still out on whether aliens exist. Sharks, on the other hand, are very much part of our world. So, the theme from 'Jaws' is a wonderful bit of cinematic shorthand and brainwashing. You hear it, and you immediately envision a shark. The 'Jaws' music is so effective that, once I went down the Jersey shore and, as a joke, played the theme through my boombox. I kid you not — people got out of the water. Some of them leapt out like Bruce was underneath them. Bruce, or rather, the idea of Bruce , was definitely under poor Chrissie (Susan Backline), the film's first victim. Without any blood or gore, 'Jaws' gives us a brutally violent and terrifying opening scene. You see nothing; everything happens below the surface of the water. Advertisement The poster for 'Jaws' warned that the film 'may be too intense for younger children,' with the word 'intense' underlined for emphasis. This scene is clearly what they meant. Chrissie's death convinced me that I'd rather see carnage than have to imagine it. Because my mind would craft something far worse than anything a movie could show me. With that in mind, there's a great story (or legend) I once heard about a test screening conducted by Universal in Los Angeles. Somebody, perhaps it was the producers, Richard Zanuck and David Brown, was standing in the lobby when a guy stumbled out of the theater. He wobbled over to a trash can and threw up. Then, without missing a beat, he turned around and went back into the theater. That was when Universal knew they had a hit. Fast forward to April 26, 2025. Nearly 50 years after I first sat through 'Jaws,' I attended the TCM Film Festival anniversary screening at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. Lorraine Gary, Mrs. Brody for you fans, My audience was privy to a gorgeous, pristine Technicolor print—it looked better than the movie did back in 1975. I sat in the front row, drinking in Bill Butler's cinematography and enjoying Robert Shaw's perfect take on the shark-hunting Quint. Advertisement Quint's speech about the USS Indianapolis received thunderous applause, as did Scheider's improvised line, 'You're gonna need a bigger boat.' When Brody finally got revenge on Bruce, cheers rocked the theater. The movie played just like it did 50 years ago. Revisiting 'Jaws' with an enthusiastic audience reminded me that there's something awesome about having been present when the cinematic universe was changed by a movie. Even if you were only five years old. Odie Henderson is the Boston Globe's film critic.
Hindustan Times
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Straw out on Netflix: Full list of cast and characters explored
Straw, a suspense thriller written and directed by Tyler Perry, was released on Netflix on June 6, 2025. The film follows the story of Janiyah Wiltkinson, played by Taraji P. Henson, a single mother facing serious challenges as she cares for her sick daughter, Aria. Janiyah struggles with her daughter's poor health and their tough financial situation. The movie shows how one difficult day brings even more challenges, and how Janiyah fights through it all, driven by her love for Aria. The film offers emotional moments and unexpected twists that keep viewers engaged. Also Read: Miley Cyrus screamed at, forced to sing at Something Beautiful premiere; angry fans slam 'entitled attendees'. Watch Taraji P. Henson leads the cast. She is well-known for many movies like The Color Purple, Hustle & Flow, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. She has won many awards for her acting. Sherri Shepherd plays Nicole Parker, a bank teller who supports Janiyah on this tough day. Sherri is famous for her work on The View, Precious, and 30 Rock. Teyana Taylor appears as Detective Raymond. Her character is kind and tries to understand what Janiyah is going through. Teyana is also a singer and dancer, known for movies like Coming 2 America. Rockmond Dunbar plays Chief Wilson, who is suspicious of Janiyah and does not trust her. He has acted in shows like Prison Break and Sons of Anarchy. Glynn Turman plays Richard, Janiyah's strict boss. He adds to the pressure on Janiyah. Glynn has acted for many years and is known for roles in A Raisin in the Sun and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. Comedian Sinbad plays Benny, Janiyah's kind neighbor who uses a wheelchair. Even when money is tight, Janiyah helps him. Other actors in the film include Ashley Versher, Mike Merrill, Shalet Monique, Diva Tyler, Fracaswell Hyman, Doris Woodruff, and Gabby Jackson as Aria. Straw is a story about love, struggle, and hope. It shows how far a mother will go for her child. The film is now available to watch on Netflix.
CNN
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
In pictures: 10 years of ‘Hamilton'
From left, Diggs, Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr. and Renee Elise Goldsberry pose with the Tony Awards they won in June 2016. Diggs, Odom and Goldsberry all won for their performances in "Hamilton." Erivo won for "The Color Purple." Andrew Kelly/Reuters "Hamilton" co-creators Thomas Kail, Miranda, Andy Blankenbuehler and Lacamoire stand behind fellow Kennedy Center honorees Wayne Shorter, Cher, Reba McEntire and Philip Glass in Washington, DC, in December 2018. Al Drago/REUTERS The cast members surprise "Hamilton" fan Aubrey, top left, with a performance on 'Some Good News,' in April 2020. The show she was going to attend had been canceled because of Covid-19. From Some Good News/YouTube
CNN
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
In pictures: 10 years of ‘Hamilton'
From left, Diggs, Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr. and Renee Elise Goldsberry pose with the Tony Awards they won in June 2016. Diggs, Odom and Goldsberry all won for their performances in "Hamilton." Erivo won for "The Color Purple." Andrew Kelly/Reuters "Hamilton" co-creators Thomas Kail, Miranda, Andy Blankenbuehler and Lacamoire stand behind fellow Kennedy Center honorees Wayne Shorter, Cher, Reba McEntire and Philip Glass in Washington, DC, in December 2018. Al Drago/REUTERS The cast members surprise "Hamilton" fan Aubrey, top left, with a performance on 'Some Good News,' in April 2020. The show she was going to attend had been canceled because of Covid-19. From Some Good News/YouTube
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Willem Dafoe Is a Summer Tenant Tormenting Corey Hawkins in ‘The Man in My Basement' Teaser
Willem Dafoe is deepening his hold on the modern thriller: The acclaimed actor is putting his talents to the adaptation of Walter Mosley's novel 'The Man in My Basement' alongside 'The Color Purple' standout Corey Hawkins. Dafoe stars as Hawkins' unexpected summer tenant who has ill intentions… The logline reads: 'Down on his luck, Charles Blakey (Hawkins) agrees to rent his basement to a mysterious stranger (Dafoe), unaware he may be letting in a force much darker than he imagined.' The film is set in 1994 Sag Harbor, New York, with Charles on the verge of losing his ancestral home to foreclosure. Anna Diop co-stars. More from IndieWire 'Search Party' and 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always' Location Scout Makes Directorial Debut with Meta Indie 'The Scout' - Watch First Look Julianne Moore Talks About Being Drawn Into the 'Stakes' of 'Echo Valley' - and Expresses a Desire to Work with Wes Anderson Nadia Latif makes her feature directorial debut with 'The Man in My Basement.' She opted to have the film take place a decade before the novel is set (in the early 2000s) to coincide with the backdrop of the Rwandan genocide during the Rwandan Civil War of the '90s. Latif teased to EW that the timeline shift was necessary for a meditation on 'who gets to tell whose history,' with a 'darker, scarier, and more baroque' tone than the source material. 'I haven't stopped thinking about the novel since I first read it 20 years ago,' Latif said. 'It's such a dark, twisted, and wickedly funny journey into the heart of evil.' Hawkins also told EW that the film 'asks each of us to sit in the uncomfortable. We're exploring mental health, trauma, exploitation, and yes, the nature of evil, but we're also dealing with legacy, lineage, home, and love. A script centered on blackness in middle-class Sag Harbor in the '90s is loaded with cultural significance. I love that Nadia honored all of that and was willing to deconstruct the script with us, interrogate it, and put it back together — all of the ugly, all of the beauty. She took the essence of Mosley's novel and distilled it into something very unique.' Hawkins, whose role in 'The Man in My Basement' was originally to be played by Jonathan Majors before Hulu parted ways with the actor, previously told IndieWire that he was brought in to replace Majors a few months after he exited the film. 'It's an incredible look at a Black man who is experiencing trauma, but also legacy and family and curiosity,' he said of the feature. 'I don't think we've seen a story like this. It gave me an opportunity as an actor to go deeper than I've ever gone before. To bounce off of somebody like Willem Dafoe day after day after day, it was just like two bulls in the ring. It's a gift.' 'The Man in My Basement' will premiere later this year in theaters and on Hulu. Check out the teaser below. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie Nicolas Winding Refn's Favorite Films: 37 Movies the Director Wants You to See
