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Tag: jane-fonda

Best Diane Keaton Movies

Diane Keaton in ‘Annie Hall’. Photo: United Artists.

Diane Keaton has passed away, and the iconic actress will never be forgotten.

The Oscar-winning actress appeared in such beloved franchises as ‘The Godfather‘ and ‘Father of the Bride‘ series, classic comedies like ‘Baby Boom,’ ‘The First Wives Club‘ and ‘Something’s Gotta Give,’ as well as Woody Allen films such as ‘Manhattan,’ and ‘Annie Hall,’ for which she received the Academy Award for Best Actress.
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In honor of the new movie, Moviefone is counting down the 25 best films of Diane Keaton’s career.

Let’s begin!

Related Article: Diane Keaton, Iconic Star of ‘Annie Hall’, Passes Away at the Age of 79

25. ‘Father of the Bride Part II‘ (1995)

Touchstone Pictures

Just when George Banks (Steve Martin) has recovered from his daughter’s wedding, he receives the news that she’s (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) pregnant … and that George’s wife (Keaton) is expecting too. He was planning on selling their home, but that’s a plan that—like George—will have to change with the arrival of both a grandchild and a kid of his own.
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24. ‘The Godfather Part III‘ (1990)

In the midst of trying to legitimize his business dealings in 1979 New York and Italy, aging mafia don, Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) seeks forgiveness for his sins while taking a young protege (Andy Garcia) under his wing.
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23. ‘Hanging Up‘ (2000)

A trio of sisters (Keaton, Meg Ryan and Lisa Kudrow) bond over their ambivalence toward the approaching death of their curmudgeonly father (Walter Matthau), to whom none of them was particularly close.
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22. ‘Morning Glory‘ (2010)

A young and devoted morning television producer (Rachel McAdams) is hired as an executive producer on a long-running morning show at a once-prominent but currently failing station in New York City. Eager to keep the show on air, she recruits a former news journalist and anchor (Harrison Ford) who disapproves of co-hosting with the current morning host (Keaton).
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21. ‘The Family Stone‘ (2005)

An uptight, conservative businesswoman (Sarah Jessica Parker) accompanies her boyfriend (Dermot Mulroney) to his eccentric and outgoing family’s annual Christmas celebration and finds that she’s a fish out of water in their free-spirited way of life.
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20. ‘Maybe I Do‘ (2023)

Vertical Entertainment

Michelle (Emma Roberts) and Allen (Luke Bracey), who have reached the point in their relationship where they are considering next steps, decide to invite their parents (Keaton and William H. Macy, Susan Sarandon and Richard Gere) to finally meet and to offer some understanding of why marriage works. Except the parents already know each other quite well, which leads to some very distinct opinions about the value of marriage.
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19. ‘Darling Companion‘ (2012)

The story of a woman (Keaton) who loves her dog more than her husband (Kevin Kline). And then her husband loses the dog.
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18. ‘Marvin’s Room‘ (1996)

A leukemia patient (Keaton) attempts to end a 20-year feud with her sister (Meryl Streep) to get her bone marrow.
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17. ‘Finding Dory‘ (2016)

Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) is reunited with her friends Nemo (Hayden Rolence) and Marlin (Albert Brooks) in the search for answers about her past. What can she remember? Who are her parents? And where did she learn to speak Whale?
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16. ‘Looking for Mr. Goodbar‘ (1977)

A dedicated schoolteacher (Keaton) spends her nights cruising bars, looking for abusive men with whom she can engage in progressively violent sexual encounters.
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15. ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter‘ (2023)

(L to R) Diane Keaton as Diane, Mary Steenburgen as Carol, Candice Bergen as Sharon, and Jane Fonda as Vivian in ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ a Focus Features release.

The highly anticipated sequel follows our four best friends (Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen) as they take their book club to Italy for the fun girls trip they never had. When things go off the rails and secrets are revealed, their relaxing vacation turns into a once-in-a-lifetime cross-country adventure.
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14. ‘Manhattan Murder Mystery‘ (1993)

A middle-aged couple (Woody Allen and Keaton) suspects foul play when their neighbor’s wife (Lynn Cohen) suddenly drops dead.
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13. ‘Poms‘ (2019)

A woman (Keaton) moves into a retirement community and starts a cheerleading squad with her fellow residents (Jacki Weaver and Pam Grier).
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12. ‘Mack & Rita‘ (2022)

When 30-year-old self-proclaimed homebody Mack Martin (Elizabeth Lail) reluctantly joins a Palm Springs bachelorette trip for her best friend Carla (Taylour Paige), her inner 70-year-old (Keaton) is released — literally.
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11. ‘Manhattan‘ (1979)

Manhattan explores how the life of a middle-aged television writer (Woody Allen) dating a teenage girl (Mariel Hemingway) is further complicated when he falls in love with his best friend’s mistress (Keaton).
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10. ‘Something’s Gotta Give‘ (2003)

(L to R) Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson in ‘Something’s Gotta Give’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.

Harry Sanborn (Jack Nicholson) is an aged music industry exec with a fondness for younger women like Marin (Amanda Peet), his latest trophy girlfriend. Things get a little awkward when Harry suffers a heart attack at the home of Marin’s mother, Erica (Keaton). Left in the care of Erica and his doctor (Keanu Reeves), a love triangle starts to take shape.
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9. ‘The First Wives Club‘ (1996)

After years of helping their hubbies climb the ladder of success, three mid-life Manhattanites (Keaton, Goldie Hawn and Bette Midler) have been dumped for a newer, curvier model. But the trio is determined to turn their pain into gain. They come up with a cleverly devious plan to hit their exes where it really hurts – in the wallet!
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8. ‘Book Club‘ (2018)

Four lifelong friends (Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen) decide that their lives could change by becoming nasty and reading ‘Fifty Shades of Grey‘ in their monthly book club to get inspiration on how to handle sexual pleasure at an elderly age.
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7. ‘Crimes of the Heart‘ (1986)

Three sisters (Keaton, Jessica Lange and Sissy Spacek) try to come to grips with the meaning of their mother’s suicide.
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6. ‘Reds‘ (1981)

An account of the revolutionary years of the legendary American journalist John Reed (Warren Beatty), who shared his adventurous professional life with his radical commitment to the socialist revolution in Russia, his dream of spreading its principles among the members of the American working class, and his troubled romantic relationship with the writer Louise Bryant (Keaton).
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5. ‘The Godfather‘ (1972)

Diane Keaton in ‘The Godfather’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

In the years 1945 to 1955, a chronicle of the fictional Italian-American Corleone crime family. When organized crime family patriarch, Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) barely survives an attempt on his life, his youngest son, Michael (Al Pacino) steps in to take care of the would-be killers, launching a campaign of bloody revenge.
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4. ‘Baby Boom‘ (1987)

The life of super-yuppie J.C. (Keaton) is thrown into turmoil when she inherits a baby from a distant relative.
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3. ‘Father of the Bride‘ (1991)

George Banks (Steve Martin) is an ordinary, middle-class man whose 22 year-old daughter Annie (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) has decided to marry a man from an upper-class family, but George can’t think of what life would be like without his daughter. His wife (Keaton) tries to make him happy for Annie, but when the wedding takes place at their home and a foreign wedding planner (Martin Short) takes over the ceremony, he becomes slightly insane.
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2. ‘The Godfather Part II‘ (1974)

In the continuing saga of the Corleone crime family, a young Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) grows up in Sicily and in 1910s New York. In the 1950s, Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) attempts to expand the family business into Las Vegas, Hollywood and Cuba, while his wife (Keaton) wants out of the family.
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1. ‘Annie Hall‘ (1977)

Diane Keaton in ‘Annie Hall’. Photo: United Artists.

New York comedian Alvy Singer (Woody Allen) falls in love with the ditsy Annie Hall (Keaton).
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October 11, 2025
Edgar Wright to Direct New ‘Barbarella’ Movie
(Left) Writer/Director Edgar Wright on the set of their film ‘Last Night in Soho’ (Right) Jane Fonda in 1968’s ‘Barbarella.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Preview:
- Edgar Wright has entered talks to make a new ‘Barbarella’.
- Sydney Sweeney is aboard to star.
- The 1968 movie starred Jane Fonda.
It would seem that teaming up with one ‘Anyone But You’ star is simply not enough for acclaimed genre director Edgar Wright. Because, following on from news last month that he’s landed Glen Powell to star in his new adaptation of ‘The Running Man’, word arrives via Deadline that he’s now in talks to tackle the fresh take on ‘Barbarella’, which has Sydney Sweeney in the lead.
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What’s the story of ‘Barbarella’?

1968’s ‘Barbarella.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Jean-Claude Forest created the character of Barbarella for serialization in the French ‘V Magazine’ in spring 1962, and in 1964 Éric Losfeld published these strips as a stand-alone book titled ‘Barbarella’. The book caused a scandal and became known as the first “adult” comic for its stories of an emancipated, independent woman who embraced her sexuality.

Roger Vadim directed a 1968 movie adaptation that follows an astronaut from the 41st century (played by Jane Fonda in full sex siren mode) who sets out to find and stop the evil scientist Durand Durand, whose Positronic Ray threatens to bring evil back into the galaxy.

There are sex machines. There are vibrant colors. It’s quite a trip. It didn’t however, set passions aflame at the box office.

Related Article: ‘Euphoria’s Sydney Sweeney will be Barbarella in a New Adaptation of the Sci-Fi Movie

Who is making the new ‘Barbarella’?

Sydney Sweeney in ‘Immaculate.’ Photo: Neon.

Wright, a veteran of movies such as ‘Shaun of the Dead’, ‘Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World’ and ‘Last Night in Soho’ has looked to develop a new take on the ‘Barbarella’ story for a while now and is finally committing to work with Sony and Sweeney on it.

The studio has Jane Goldman –– a veteran of the ‘Kingsman‘ movies and ‘X-Men: First Class’ and her daughter, Honey Ross –– in talks to write the script for the new movie.

It won’t happen for a while, though, as Sweeney is an actor in demand and Wright is deep into pre-production on ‘The Running Man’ himself.

Talking of…
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What’s happening with ‘The Running Man’?

Arnold Schwarzenegger as Captain Benjamin “Ben” Richards in ‘The Running Man.’

As we mentioned, Wright has been developing an updated take on the scathing, violent sci-fi story originally penned by Stephen King (in his days using the Richard Bachman pseudonym) that was first brought to screens in 1987 starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

It’s the story of a dystopian society where criminals –– and those the state wishes to punish/kill –– are forced to participate in a deadly game show where they go up against “champions” who earn money for the most creative kills. A police officer falsely accused of a crime is the latest “runner” sent to try his luck in the game.

The Schwarzenegger film, though, didn’t really faithfully adapt the book, so Wright is going to skew more towards it.
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When will ‘Barbarella’ be in theaters?

We’ll certainly have to wait for this one, since Sweeney has already lined up a biopic of boxer Christy Martin and a thriller called ‘The Caretaker’.

Jane Fonda in 1968’s ‘Barbarella.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Other Edgar Wright Movies:
- ‘A Fistful of Fingers‘ (1995)
- ‘Shaun of the Dead‘ (2004)
- ‘Hot Fuzz‘ (2007)
- ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World‘ (2010)
- ‘The World’s End‘ (2013)
- ‘Baby Driver‘ (2017)
- ‘The Sparks Brothers‘ (2021)
- ‘Last Night in Soho‘ (2021)
Buy Edgar Wright Movies on Amazon
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May 14, 2024
Jennifer Aniston to Produce the Remake of ‘9 to 5’
(Left) Jennifer Aniston in ‘The Morning Show,’ premiering September 13, 2023 on Apple TV+. (Right) Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda in ‘Nine to Five.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.

Preview:
- Jennifer Aniston will produce the remake of ‘9 to 5’.
- The original starred Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton.
- Diablo Cody is writing the script for the new version.
Jennifer Aniston has been working more on the small screen than the big one of late, between her Netflix output and her Apple TV+ series ‘The Morning Show’.

But she’s stayed active behind the scenes on movies via her Echo Films company, and has now found something that could be big, if it works to the level of its inspiration.

According to reporter Jeff Sneider, Aniston will produce the re-imagining of classic workplace feminism comedy ‘9 to 5’.
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What’s the story of ‘9 to 5’?

(L to R) Lily Tomlin Jane Fonda and Dolly Parton in ‘Nine to Five.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.

The 1980 original, directed by Colin Higgins from a script he wrote with Patricia Resnick, starred Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton three female office employees who turn the tables on their sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot boss played by Dabney Coleman.

It was a massive hit in its day, earning more than $103 million at the box office. Parton contributed the iconic theme song, which was nominated for an Original Song Oscar, went platinum and was also nominated for four Grammy Award nominations, winning Best Country Song and Best Country Vocal Performance.

In terms of spin-offs, it inspired a sitcom (starring Rita Moreno), ‘Nine to Five’ that ran for five seasons in the 1980s, while a 2008 Broadway musical (with music and lyrics by Parton), earned four Tony nominations.

More recently, a documentary released in 2022, ‘Still Working 9 to 5’ looked at the movie’s continuing cultural impact.

Related Article: Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston Talk Netflix Sequel ‘Murder Mystery 2’

‘9 to 5’: What has happened with the remake so far?

(L to R) Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda in ‘Nine to Five.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.

Even before the latest remake chatter gathered pace, there was talk of a sequel with original co-writer Patricia scripting and Rashida Jones starring.

Yet talk of a remake has also circulated for years, with Lily Tomlin as one of driving forces.

Here’s what she told Indiewire about it:

“I have a big hope! More than Jane. Jane’s gone on to climate change, and she’s very involved in it and rightly so. I would like any material that’s just really rich and true and not dishonest and somehow its intention is communicating something better to humanity. I’m interested in any human issue, any human condition, anything about humanity that’s positive or says something meaningful about how we’re living or what we’re doing to each other, any number of things like that. But we like to get the comedy in there.”

Right now, ‘Juno’, ‘Jennifer’s Body’ and ‘Lisa Frankenstein’ writer Diablo Cody is involved in the script.

So, why is Jennifer Aniston looking to produce the remake?

Jennifer Aniston in ‘Rumor Has It.’ Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

While it certainly sounds like something Aniston would be interested in regardless –– her company has, after all, been involved in projects such as ‘The Morning Show’, which also tackled attitudes towards women in the workplace.

A closer connection might be Netflix movie ‘Dumplin’, which also saw her starring and producing, and had a soundtrack featuring songs by Parton.

When will the new take on ‘9 to 5’ arrive in theaters?

With the movie still at such an early stage, there is no information about a release date yet, and 20th Century Studios has yet to announce anything.

Jennifer Aniston in ‘Rumor Has It.’ Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

Other Jennifer Aniston Movies:
- ‘Office Space‘ (1999)
- ‘Bruce Almighty‘ (2003)
- ‘Along Came Polly‘ (2004)
- ‘The Break-Up‘ (2006)
- ‘Marley & Me‘ (2008)
- ‘Just Go with It‘ (2011)
- ‘Horrible Bosses‘ (2011)
- ‘We’re the Millers‘ (2013)
- ‘Horrible Bosses 2‘ (2014)
- ‘Cake‘ (2014)
- ‘Office Christmas Party‘ (2016)
- ‘Murder Mystery‘ (2019)
- ‘Murder Mystery 2‘ (2023)
Buy Jennifer Aniston Movies On Amazon
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April 26, 2024
Movie Review: ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken’
Ruby Gillman (Lana Condor) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken,’ directed by Kirk DeMicco.
© 2023 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.

Opening in theaters on June 30th, ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken’ has some interesting visuals and a catchy basic concept, but all of that is built on top of a very standard format and lessons that audiences will have heard a hundred times before. This doesn’t necessarily detract from its entertainment value too much, though.
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What’s the story of ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken’?

Ruby Gillman (Lana Condor) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken,’ directed by Kirk DeMicco.
© 2023 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.

After a quick prologue exploring the unexpected history of giant Krakens –– who in this universe are the staunch protectors of the oceans, doing battle with nasty mermaids –– we’re introduced to teenage Ruby Gillman (Lana Condor), who doing her best to fit in at Oceanside High School.

She’s got a group of loyal friends, a crush (Jaboukie Young-White’s Connor, who she tutors in math), and a desperate desire to attend the prom. But what she also has is a highly protective mother (Toni Collette’s Agatha) who is worried about Ruby going anywhere near the ocean… And the prom happens to be on a boat.

Turns out –– as the title suggests –– Ruby’s family are all krakens, and Agatha brought the family from the ocean to the town before Ruby was born because she’s terrified what might happen should her daughter go into the sea.

Ruby soon learns exactly why –– diving in to save a fellow pupil, she discovers that being under the waves activates her full Kraken self: she grows to kaiju proportions, sports three giant tentacles and has a host of other powers. She also meets her grandmother… sorry, “Grandmamah” (Jane Fonda), who just so happens to be queen of the krakens and encourages Ruby to embrace her destiny.

But our heroine really just wants to enjoy her life as a teenager, which is made even more complicated when she discovers that popular new girl Chelsea Van Der Zee (Annie Murphy) has her own secrets…

Who else is in ‘Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken’?

Jane Fonda voices Grandmamah in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken,’ directed by Kirk DeMicco. © 2023 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.

The voice cast for DreamWorks’ latest also includes Colman Domingo, Sam Richardson, Blue Chapman, Will Forte, Liza Koshy, Ramona Young, Nicole Byer, Echo Kellum, Jordan Matter and Brianna Paige Arsement.

Related Article: 25 Best Jane Fonda Movies of All Time!

What works about ‘Ruby Gillman?’

(from left) Chelsea Van Der Zee (Annie Murphy) and Ruby Gillman (Lana Condor) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken,’ directed by Kirk DeMicco.
© 2023 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.

The movie showcases a fun visual style that, while it won’t challenge animated boundaries the way that the ‘Spider-Verse’ films do, it’s nevertheless an attractive and, at times, electric variant of DreamWorks’ usual style.

One or two sequences, such as Ruby’s impassioned plea to attend prom, delivered via presentation video that calls to mind ‘The Mitchells Vs. the Machines’ do break away from the overall look, and are fun to watch. And whenever the action heads under the sea, the vibrant tones of the krakens and some other ocean life, plus Fonda’s character’s royal palace are realized with impact.

Likewise, the vocal performances are all convincing and emotional, if sometimes leaning towards standard. Collette mostly gets to be the worried mom, though in a nice touch, there’s less of the usual teenager-mother stress than you might expect in a story such as this –– Agatha is given a few layers of her own, even before the movie explores her own parental issues with Fonda.

(from left) Sam Gillman (Blue Chapman), Agatha Gillman (Toni Collette) and Ruby Gillman (Lana Condor) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken,’ directed by Kirk DeMicco. © 2023 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.

And credit to Condor (plus the writing team and directors Kirk DeMicco and Faryn Pearl) for making Ruby feel relatable and grounded despite her fantastical situation.

But the standout voice star here is Sam Richardson of ‘The Afterparty’ and ‘Veep’, as Uncle Brill, Agatha’s brother who Ruby and her younger brother Sam (Chapman) have never even met. He’s a bubbly, silly presence and Richardson totally fills the role. Brill is one of the best characters in the movie and the story is less entertaining when he’s off screen.

Finally, while it isn’t as loaded down with references as, say the ‘Shrek’ franchise, ‘Ruby Gillman’ does manage to offer a few winks. Forte’s Kraken-obsessed Captain Lighthouse has definite Captain Ahab overtones about him. And it’s no coincidence that one of the main mermaids in the film looks suspiciously like a certain Disney character who recently featured in a live-action reimagining of an animated adventure.

What are the movie’s problems?

Ruby Gillman (Lana Condor) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken,’ directed by Kirk DeMicco.
© 2023 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.

‘Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken’ is a fun enough film for families to enjoy, but there is a creeping feeling of familiarity. The whole Kraken storyline is inventive and has some new ideas on its mind, but at its core, it’s full of the sorts of themes about believing in yourself and letting your true light shine.

Don’t get us wrong: those are not bad ideas for a young audience in particular to ingest while enjoying the comedy antics and vocal performances. It’s just that this latest animated offering does very little new with the concepts. We suppose there are only so many ways someone can be advised to embrace who they truly are. Or that you shouldn’t abandon your friends when big things happen in your life. Or that parents and kids really need each other more than they realize. Or… you get the picture.

There are also a few other elements which will have regular viewers of such movies sighing and tutting in recognition as they sit through the 700th version of a character exploring a new world set to a pop hit. For all its story benefit, it’s mostly wasted time.

Final Thoughts

(from left) Chelsea Van Der Zee (Annie Murphy) and Connor (Jaboukie Young-White) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken,’ directed by Kirk DeMicco.
© 2023 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.

Naturally, DreamWorks is hoping this is the launching point for a new franchise, but fortunately there’s only some mild, subtle nods to the idea that the story could continue. For its flaws, ‘Ruby Gillman’ does feel like a full story on its own.

It’s good to report that this is not the 4th installment of a long-established series of movies, because there should always be room for original filmmaking.

‘Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken’ receives 6 out of 10 stars.

(from left) Grandmamah (Jane Fonda) and Ruby Gillman (Lana Condor) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken,’ directed by Kirk DeMicco. © 2023 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.

Other Movies Similar to ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken:’
- ‘The Little Mermaid‘ (1989)
- ‘Shrek‘ (2001)
- ‘Shrek 2‘ (2004)
- ‘Shrek the Third‘ (2007)
- ‘Shrek Forever After‘ (2010)
- ‘Puss in Boots‘ (2011)
- ‘Aquaman‘ (2018)
- ‘Luca‘ (2021)
- ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish‘ (2022)
- ‘The Little Mermaid‘ (2023)
Buy Tickets: ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken’ Movie Showtimes

Buy Jane Fonda Movies on Amazon

‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken’ is produced by Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation. It is set to release in theaters on June 30th, 2023.
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July 1, 2023
Movie Review: ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’
(L to R) Diane Keaton as Diane, Mary Steenburgen as Carol, Candice Bergen as Sharon, and Jane Fonda as Vivian in ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ a Focus Features release.

The sequel to 2018’s ‘Book Club,’ which is entitled ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ opens in theaters on May 12th and is once again directed and co-written by Bill Holderman.

What is the plot of ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter?’

Four older best friends, Diane (Diane Keaton), Vivian (Jane Fonda), Sharon (Candice Bergen) and Carol (Mary Steenburgen), take their book club to Italy for the fun girls’ trip they never had in their youth to celebrate Vivian’s upcoming marriage. But when things go off the rails and secrets are revealed, their relaxing vacation turns into a once-in-a-lifetime cross-country adventure that will change all of their lives forever.
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Who is in the cast of ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter?’

‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’ stars Oscar-winner Diane Keaton (‘Annie Hall,’ ‘The Godfather’) as Diane, Oscar-winner Jane Fonda (‘Klute,’ ’80 For Brady’) as Vivian, Oscar-winner Mary Steenburgen (‘Melvin and Howard,’ ‘Back to the Future Part III’) as Carol, and Oscar-nominee Candice Bergen (‘Gandhi,’ ‘Carnal Knowledge’) as Sharon, as well as Oscar-nominee Andy Garcia (‘The Godfather Part III’) as Mitchell, Don Johnson (‘Knives Out’) as Arthur, Craig T. Nelson (‘The Incredibles’) as Bruce, and Giancarlo Giannini (‘Man on Fire’).

Initial Thoughts

The result is a very predictable comedy that is still funny and overall entertaining thanks to the colorful characters and excellent performances from the four leading actresses.

(L to R) Mary Steenburgen stars as Carol, Candice Bergen as Sharon, Diane Keaton as Diane and Jane Fonda as Vivian in ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ a Focus Features release.
Credit: Riccardo Ghilardi / © 2023 Fifth Season, LLC.

The Sequel’s Story and Direction

‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’ begins during the COVID lock-down and shows our characters dealing with the pandemic by continuing their book club through Zoom. The pandemic soon ends and the four friends are reunited in person, but all their lives have changed. Vivian (Fonda) is now engaged to Arthur (Johnson), Diane (Keaton) is in a serious relationship with Mitchell (Garcia), Sharon (Bergen) has retired from being a Judge, and Carol (Steenburgen) is having issues with her husband (Nelson), while her restaurant closes due to the pandemic.

When Carol is reminded that they all planned to take a trip to Italy together back in their youth, she suggests that they travel there now to celebrate Vivian’s upcoming marriage. As one can imagine, high jinks ensue. While there is not a lot of the actual book club featured in ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ that’s okay, as the character-driven story and the performances of the lead actresses is enough to keep the film moving, funny, and compelling. However, it is also very predictable, and there are not a lot of real surprises in the movie.

For example, the opening scene actually gives away the ending, if you can recognize which of the lead actresses’ voice is the narrator, and spoiler alert … you definitely can! Another predictable moment comes when Carol, who is having issues with her husband coincidentally runs into her old boyfriend in Rome. Sparks fly as you can imagine, but if you guessed that nothing happens between them and she eventually makes up with her husband, you’d probably be on to something.

So the movie is littered with extremely predictable moments but to the credit of director Bill Holderman and the cast, none of that really matters. The heart of the movie are the relationships between these four women, and the slightly outrageous characters each one of them has created, which is where the humor stems from. It’s clear that Holderman realizes that, as he keeps the focus mostly on the leading ladies, their characters, and the beautiful locations of Italy, as nothing else in the movie really matters at all. In that sense, Hollderman has the freedom to allow the other characters, situations, and minor plot points to go to the wayside as the only thing that is important is our four main characters, their friendship, and their experiences together.

(L to R) Diane Keaton stars as Diane, Jane Fonda as Vivian, Candice Bergen as Sharon and Mary Steenburgen as Carol in ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: © 2023 Fifth Season, LLC.

Related Article: Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen Talk ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’

Italy is a Character in the Movie

‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’ shot on location in Italy in some of the country’s most famous locations, and Hollderman takes full advantage of it. Italy is definitely its own character in the movie, and cinematographer Andrew Dunn shoots the actresses with beautiful vistas and famous Italian locations behind them like the Pizza della Rotonda, the Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps. It adds a layer of excitement to the project, and also grounds the film in a certain reality, even in the movie’s most ridiculous or predictable moments.

(L to R) Mary Steenburgen stars as Carol, Jane Fonda as Vivian, Diane Keaton as Diane and Candice Bergen as Sharon in ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: © 2023 Fifth Season, LLC.

Keaton, Fonda, Bergen and Steenburgen

But the movie only works because of the carefully created characters performed by the four excellent leading actresses. You can tell that they all really like working with each other, as it shines through their performances and relationships with each other on screen. It also helps that each actress was perfectly cast and plays a character similar to their own onscreen personas.

Diane Keaton plays Diane (that can’t be a coincidence), a neurotic woman still looking for love, not unlike an older version of Annie Hall. Fonda plays Vivian, an older woman trying to hold on to her youth and beauty, which is almost the same exact character as she recently played in ’80 For Brady.’ Bergen plays Sharon, a bawdy career women fearful of retirement, reminiscent of her classic TV character Murphy Brown. And Steenburgen plays Carol, a free spirited women, who still loves her husband, but is looking for some excitement in her life, which in line with characters she’s played in the past in films like ‘Back to the Future III.’ None of this is meant as a criticism, but rather just to say that the actresses play characters they are well suited for and because of that, create very memorable performances.

In a film like this, it’s easy for one or two of the lead actresses to get less screen time than the others, but that is not the case here. While in some ways the story is told from Keaton’s character’s point of view, all of the main characters have nice arcs and each actress is given time to shine. Keaton and Fonda’s characters find their true voices before the end of the movie, and the two actresses share a very nice emotional scene together. Steenburgen’s Carol has a full arc too, and in many ways her story is the heart of the movie. But Bergen surprisingly has the best comedic moments and is very funny in the film, especially when she is squaring off with Giancarlo Giannini.

(L to R) Diane Keaton stars as Diane, Jane Fonda as Vivian, Candice Bergen as Sharon and Mary Steenburgen as Carol in ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: © 2023 Fifth Season, LLC.

The Men

Speaking of which, Giancarlo Giannini, best known for action dramas like ‘Man on Fire’ and ‘Casino Royale,’ is very funny as an Italian police captain that has it out for Bergen’s Sharon, and in turn her friends. But again, his “change of heart” in the third act is another example of the film’s predictability. But overall, while they have very little screen time, the male actors are very good in the movie and support their female counterparts quite well, without ever drawing the attention away from them.

Andy Garcia, Don Johnson, and Craig T. Nelson all have great chemistry with their significant others, Keaton, Fonda, and Steenburgen, respectively. While Garcia and Johnson both play “nice guys,” Nelson has a little more to do playing the “hapless nice guy,” although again, his character’s turn in the end was about as predictable as they come.

Final Thoughts

In the end, even the movie’s predictability can’t stop the film from being fun and entertaining, thanks to the character-driven story and outstanding performances from Keaton, Fonda, Bergen, and Steenburgen, not to mention the beautiful locations. It may not be for everyone, but I know my mom is going to love this movie!

‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’ receives 7 out of 10 stars.

(L to R) Diane Keaton stars as Diane, Jane Fonda as Vivian, Candice Bergen as Sharon and Mary Steenburgen as Carol in “Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Riccardo Ghilardi / © 2023 Fifth Season, LLC.

Other Movies Similar to ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter:’
- ‘Nine to Five‘ (1980)
- ‘The First Wives Club‘ (1996)
- ‘Something’s Gotta Give‘ (2003)
- ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel‘ (2012)
- ‘And So It Goes‘ (2014)
- ‘Youth‘ (2015)
- ‘The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel‘ (2015)
- ‘Our Souls at Night‘ (2017)
- ‘Book Club‘ (2018)
- ‘Wine Country‘ (2019)
- ‘Poms‘ (2019)
- ‘80 for Brady‘ (2023)
- ‘Moving On‘ (2023)
Buy Tickets: ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’ Movie Showtimes

Buy ‘Book Club’ on Amazon

‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’ is produced by Focus Features, Makeready, and Fifth Season. It is set to release in theaters on May 12th, 2023.
May 12, 2023
‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’ Cast Interviews
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Opening in theaters on May 12th is the sequel to 2018’s ‘Book Club’ entitled ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ which is once again directed and co-written by Bill Holderman.

What is the plot of ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter?’

Four elderly best friends (Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen) take their book club to Italy for the fun girls’ trip they never had. When things go off the rails and secrets are revealed, their relaxing vacation turns into a once-in-a-lifetime cross-country adventure.
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Who is in the cast of ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter?’

‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’ stars Oscar-winner Diane Keaton (‘Annie Hall,’ ‘The Godfather’) as Diane, Oscar-winner Jane Fonda (‘Klute,’ ’80 For Brady’) as Vivian, Oscar-winner Mary Steenburgen (‘Melvin and Howard,’ ‘Back to the Future Part III’) as Carol, and Oscar-nominee Candice Bergen (‘Gandhi,’ ‘Carnal Knowledge’) as Sharon, as well as Oscar-nominee Andy Garcia (‘The Godfather Part III’) as Mitchell, Don Johnson (‘Knives Out’) as Arthur, Craig T. Nelson (‘The Incredibles’) as Bruce, and Giancarlo Giannini (‘Man on Fire’).

Moviefone recently had the honor of speaking with Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen about their work on ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ the friendship between their characters, working together, shooting on location in Italy, and what audiences can expect from the new movie.

(L to R) Jane Fonda stars as Vivian, Candice Bergen as Sharon, and Mary Steenburgen as Carol in ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Riccardo Ghilardi / © 2023 Fifth Season, LLC.

You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Fonda, Bergen and Steenburgen, as well as writer Erin Simms, and director Bill Holderman.

Moviefone: To begin with, what would you say to moviegoers sitting down to watch this film for the first time to prepare them for the theatrical experience they are about to have?

Candice Bergen: Well, it’s more of a film than it seems. It’s a very lighthearted film, but at the same time, it’s inspiring. It’s moving, and you come away from it feeling more about friendship than you did before.

Jane Fonda: Be prepared to laugh a lot and maybe cry a little. And you certainly want to book a ticket to Italy.

Mary Steenburgen: I mean, it’s some of the most beautiful scenery you’ll ever see in a country that all of us deep down inside either want to go to or have already fallen in love with. It was so beautifully shot, and it’s about something real. It’s about real friends, and funnily enough, in real life, we really are friends.

(L to R) Mary Steenburgen stars as Carol, Candice Bergen as Sharon, Diane Keaton as Diane and Jane Fonda as Vivian in ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ a Focus Features release.
Credit: Riccardo Ghilardi / © 2023 Fifth Season, LLC.

MF: Jane, can you talk about Vivian’s nervousness regarding her upcoming marriage and how this trip to Italy with her friends really helps her find her true voice again?

JF: Very well said. I don’t want to give anything away. There is a wedding. It’s not what people are going to expect. There’s a big surprise, and I do think that it’s the experience that she’s had during this trip with her friends that allows her to accept that big surprise.

(L to R) Mary Steenburgen stars as Carol, Jane Fonda as Vivian, Diane Keaton as Diane and Candice Bergen as Sharon in ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: © 2023 Fifth Season, LLC.

MF: Mary, Carol is looking for some excitement in her life, and it’s her suggestion that she and her friends take a trip to Italy. Can you talk about that and the way this vacation really changes her life?

MS: I mean, Carol, my character is a chef that’s had quite a bit of success. At the very beginning of the film, her restaurant, which has been her lifelong dream, has had to close because of COVID. So I think I’m a little lost and I come across this journal that I’d written in when I was a young woman. I realized that the four of us had planned this trip to Italy and we never made it. So I just think it’s time. We’re reading the book, ‘The Alchemist,’ that talks about fulfilling your destiny, listening to the beat of your own heart and going for your dreams. So I just say we have to go, and we do.

(L to R) Diane Keaton as Diane, Mary Steenburgen as Carol, Candice Bergen as Sharon, and Jane Fonda as Vivian in ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter,’ a Focus Features release.

MF: Finally, Candice, can you talk about how Sharon is coming to terms with her recent retirement, and how this trip gives her an opportunity to finally cut loose with her friends?

CB: She does. She cuts loose in a gondola and it was really fun. In fact, it’s the first time she’s been retired and she can be with her friends, and be in Italy and give herself to that trip wholeheartedly. Because she no longer has the burden of being a judge on her shoulders.

(L to R) Mary Steenburgen, Candice Bergen and Jane Fonda star in ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter.’

Other Movies Similar to ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter:’
- ‘Nine to Five‘ (1980)
- ‘The First Wives Club‘ (1996)
- ‘Something’s Gotta Give‘ (2003)
- ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel‘ (2012)
- ‘And So It Goes‘ (2014)
- ‘Youth‘ (2015)
- ‘The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel‘ (2015)
- ‘Our Souls at Night‘ (2017)
- ‘Book Club‘ (2018)
- ‘Wine Country‘ (2019)
- ‘Poms‘ (2019)
- ‘80 for Brady‘ (2023)
- ‘Moving On‘ (2023)
Buy Tickets: ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’ Movie Showtimes

Buy ‘Book Club’ on Amazon

‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’ is produced by Focus Features, Makeready, and Fifth Season. It is set to release in theaters on May 12th, 2023.
May 8, 2023
Best Jane Fonda Movies

(L to R) Rita Moreno plays Maura, Jane Fonda plays Trish, Sally Field plays Betty, and Lily Tomlin plays Lou in ’80 For Brady’ from Paramount Pictures.

Jane Fonda is Hollywood royalty and a living legend!

The daughter of Henry Fonda, and brother to Peter Fonda, Jane Fonda has been acting professionally since 1960, although she took a break in 1990 and did not return to the silver screen until 2005.

She has won two Academy Awards for Best Actress for her performances in 1971’s ‘Klute’ and 1978’s ‘Coming Home,’ and has appeared in a string of classics like ‘Barbarella,’ ‘On Golden Pond’ and ‘Nine to Five.’

Fonda’s latest, ’80 for Brady,’ which also stars Sally Field, Lily Tomlin and Rita Moreno, opens in theaters on February 3rd.

In honor of the new film, Moviefone is counting down the top 25 movies of Jane Fonda’s career, including ’80 for Brady.’

Let’s begin!

25. ‘Georgia Rule‘ (2007)

Georgia Rule follows a rebellious, uncontrollable teenager (Lindsay Lohan) who is hauled off by her dysfunctional mother (Felicity Huffman) to spend the summer with her grandmother (Fonda). Her journey will lead all three women to revelations of buried family secrets and an understanding that – regardless what happens – the ties that bind can never be broken.
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24. ‘The Morning After‘ (1986)

Failed actress Alex Sternbergen (Fonda) wakes up hungover one morning in an apartment she does not recognize, unable to remember the previous evening — and with a dead body in bed next to her. As she tries to piece together the events of the night, Alex cannot totally rely on friends or her estranged husband, Joaquin (Raul Julia), for assistance. Only a single ally, loner ex-policeman Turner Kendall (Jeff Bridges), can help her escape her predicament and find the true killer.
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23. ‘The Electric Horseman‘ (1979)

A former champion rodeo rider (Robert Redford) is reduced to using his saddle skills to promote a breakfast cereal in a gaudy Las Vegas show. When he’s asked to perform with a $12 million horse that he discovers is being doped to remain docile, he flees into the desert astride the beast in an act of defiance. A story-hungry female reporter (Fonda) gives chase.
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22. ‘California Suite‘ (1978)

The misadventures of four groups of guests at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Starring Fonda, Alan Alda, Michael Caine, Walter Matthau, Richard Pryor, and Maggie Smith.
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21. ‘They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?‘ (1969)

In the midst of the Great Depression, manipulative emcee Rocky (Gig Young) enlists contestants for a dance marathon offering a $1,500 cash prize. Among them are a failed actress (Susannah York), a middle-aged sailor (Red Buttons), a delusional blonde (Fonda) and a pregnant girl (Bonnie Bedelia).
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20. ‘Luck‘ (2022)

Apple TV+.

Suddenly finding herself in the never-before-seen Land of Luck, the unluckiest person in the world (Eva Noblezada) must unite with the magical creatures there to turn her luck around. Featuring the voices of Fonda, Simon Pegg, and Whoopi Goldberg.
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19. ‘Our Souls at Night‘ (2017)

Addie Moore (Fonda) and Louis Waters (Robert Redford), a widow and widower, have lived next to each other for years. The pair have almost no relationship, but that all changes when Addie tries to make a connection with her neighbor.
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18. ‘Stanley & Iris‘ (1990)

An illiterate cook (Robert De Niro) at a company cafeteria tries for the attention of a newly widowed woman (Fonda). As they get to know one another, she discovers his inability to read. When he is fired, she takes on trying to teach him to read in her kitchen each night.
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17. ‘Old Gringo‘ (1989)

When school teacher Harriet Winslow (Fonda) goes to Mexico to teach, she is kidnapped by Gen. Tomas Arroyo (Jimmy Smits) and his revolutionaries. An aging American, Ambrose “Old Gringo” Bierce (Gregory Peck) also in Mexico, befriends Gen. Arroyo and meets Harriet. Bierce is a famous writer, who knowing that he is dying, wishes to keep his identity secret so he can determine his own fate.

Though he likes Arroyo, Bierce tries to provoke the General’s anger whenever possible in an attempt to get himself killed, thus avoiding suffering through his illness. Winslow is intrigued by both Bierce and Arroyo, and the men are in turn attracted to her. She becomes romantically involved with Arroyo. When Winslow learns of Bierce’s true identity (a writer whose work she has loved and respected for years), she is singlemindedly determined to fulfill his dying wish.
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16. ‘Julia‘ (1977)

At the behest of an old and dear friend Julia (Vanessa Redgrave), playwright Lillian Hellman (Fonda) undertakes a dangerous mission to smuggle funds into Nazi Germany.
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15. ‘Book Club‘ (2018)

Paramount Pictures

Four lifelong friends (Fonda, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen) decide that their lives could change by becoming nasty and reading ‘Fifty Shades of Grey‘ in their monthly book club to get inspiration on how to handle sexual pleasure at an elderly age.
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14. ‘Youth‘ (2015)

Two lifelong friends bond whilst vacationing in a luxury Swiss Alps lodge as they ponder retirement. While Fred (Michael Caine) has no plans to resume his musical career despite the urging of his loving daughter Lena (Rachel Weisz), Mick (Harvey Keitel) is intent on finishing the screenplay for what may be his last important film for his muse Brenda (Fonda). And where will inspiration lead their younger friend Jimmy (Paul Dano), an actor grasping to make sense of his next performance?
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13. ‘Barefoot in the Park‘ (1967)

In this film based on a Neil Simon play, newlyweds Corie (Fonda), a free spirit, and Paul Bratter (Robert Redford), an uptight lawyer, share a sixth-floor apartment in Greenwich Village. Soon after their marriage, Corie tries to find a companion for her mother, Ethel (Mildred Natwick), who is now alone, and sets up Ethel with neighbor Victor (Charles Boyer). Inappropriate behavior on a double date causes conflict, and the young couple considers divorce.
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12. ‘Fun with Dick and Jane‘ (1977)

When an upwardly mobile couple (Fonda and George Segal) find themselves unemployed and in debt, they turn to armed robbery in desperation.
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11. ‘Cat Ballou‘ (1965)

A woman (Fonda) seeking revenge for her murdered father (John Marley) hires a famous gunman (Lee Marvin), but he’s very different from what she expects.
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10. ‘Monster-in-Law‘ (2005)

New Line Cinema

Office temp Charlotte Cantilini (Jennifer Lopez) thinks she’s found Mr. Right when she starts dating gorgeous surgeon Dr. Kevin Fields (Michael Vartan). But there’s a problem standing in the way of everlasting bliss: Kevin’s overbearing and controlling mother, Viola (Fonda). Fearing she’ll lose her son’s affections forever, Viola decides to break up the happy couple by becoming the world’s worst mother-in-law.
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9. ‘This Is Where I Leave You‘ (2014)

When their father passes away, four grown, world-weary siblings (Tina Fey, Jason Bateman, Corey Stoll and Adam Driver) return to their childhood home and are requested — with an admonition — to stay there together for a week, along with their free-speaking mother (Fonda) and a collection of spouses, exes and might-have-beens (including Rose Byrne, Kathryn Hahn, Connie Britton, Abigail Spencer and Timothy Olyphant).

As the brothers and sisters re-examine their shared history and the status of each tattered relationship among those who know and love them best, they reconnect in hysterically funny and emotionally significant ways.
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8. ‘80 for Brady‘ (2023)

Inspired by the true story of four best friends (Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Rita Moreno and Sally Field) living life to the fullest when they take a wild trip to the 2017 Super Bowl LI to see their hero Tom Brady play.
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7. ‘The Butler‘ (2013)

A look at the life of Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker) who served eight presidents as the White House’s head butler from 1952 to 1986, and had a unique front-row seat as political and racial history was made.

The cast includes Fond as Nancy Reagan, Alan Rickman as Ronald Reagan, Robin Williams as Dwight D. Eisenhower, James Marsden as John F. Kennedy, Minka Kelly as Jackie Kennedy, Liev Schreiber as Lyndon B. Johnson, and John Cusack as Richard Nixon.
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6. ‘The China Syndrome‘ (1979)

While doing a series of reports on alternative energy sources, opportunistic reporter Kimberly Wells (Fonda) witnesses an accident at a nuclear power plant. Wells is determined to publicize the incident, but soon finds herself entangled in a sinister conspiracy to keep the full impact of the incident a secret. Also starring Jack Lemmon, Michael Douglas, and Wilford Brimley.
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5. ‘Barbarella‘ (1968)

Paramount Pictures

In the far future, a highly sexual woman (Fonda) is tasked with finding and stopping the evil Durand-Durand (Milo O’Shea). Along the way she encounters various unusual people.
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4. ‘Coming Home‘ (1978)

The wife of a Marine (Bruce Dern) serving in Vietnam, Sally Hyde (Fonda) decides to volunteer at a local veterans hospital to occupy her time. There she meets Luke Martin (Jon Voight), a frustrated wheelchair-bound vet who has become disillusioned with the war. Sally and Luke develop a friendship that soon turns into a romance.

Fonda won her second of two Academy Awards for Best Actress for this performance.
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3. ‘On Golden Pond‘ (1981)

For Norman (Henry Fonda) and Ethel Thayer (Katharine Hepburn), this summer on golden pond is filled with conflict and resolution. When their daughter Chelsea (Fonda) arrives, the family is forced to renew the bonds of love and overcome the generational friction that has existed for years.
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2. ‘Klute‘ (1971)

A high-priced call girl (Fonda) is forced to depend on a reluctant private eye (Donald Sutherland) when she is stalked by a psychopath (Charles Cioffi). Fonda won her first of two Academy Awards for Best Actress for her performance.
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1. ‘Nine to Five‘ (1980)

20th Century Fox

Frank Hart (Dabney Coleman) is a pig. He takes advantage in the grossest manner of the women who work with him. When his three assistants (Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton) manage to trap him in his own house they assume control of his department and productivity leaps, but just how long can they keep Hart tied up?
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February 3, 2023
Movie Review: ’80 for Brady’

(L to R) Rita Moreno, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Sally Field in ’80 For Brady’ from Paramount Pictures.

Opening in theaters on February 3rd is the new sports comedy ’80 for Brady’ from director Kyle Marvin, which stars Academy Award winners Jane Fonda, Sally Field, and Rita Moreno, as well as Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award winner Lily Tomlin.

The film is loosely based on the true story of a quartet of octogenarians from Massachusetts who become obsessed with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. In the film (not in real life), the ladies decide to take a road trip to Super Bowl LI to finally see Brady play in person, which results in an unforgettable weekend for the four lifelong friends.

The result is a fun but predictable movie that is basically just a commercial for the NFL and Tom Brady’s legacy. However, the weak script, familiar jokes and corny dialogue is transcended by the four fabulous lead characters and the wonderful performances from the legendary actress playing them.

Full disclosure: I’m from Massachusetts. My mother still lives there, she is over 80, and is a diehard Patriots fan. So, it goes without saying that I was already predisposed to like this movie since all four of the main characters, in one way or another, remind me of my mom. While I definitely had some issues with the script and the ridiculousness of the third act, the film is still very enjoyable, mostly because of the lead actresses.

(L to R) Jane Fonda plays Trish, Sally Field plays Betty, Lily Tomlin plays Lou, and Rita Moreno plays Maura in ’80 For Brady’ from Paramount Pictures.

Of the four main actresses, Lily Tomlin is really the lead, playing Lou, the catalyst for the friends becoming such Brady fans. Tomlin, a legendary comedian in her own right, handles the comedy well, as you would expect, but is really impressive in her dramatic scenes, in particular one with Brady himself.

In fact, all four actress were cast extremely well and play relatable characters. Jane Fonda plays Trish, an author of Rob Gronkowski fan-fiction who is desperately trying to hold on to her youth and beauty. Sally Field plays Betty, a book smart former professor, who still loves her husband (Bob Balaban) but is looking for a little excitement in her life. Finally there is Maura, played by Rita Moreno. She is the oldest of the friends, a widow who misses her late husband, and a bit of a hustler living in a retirement home.

In a movie like this, you could easily see one or two of the actresses getting more screentime than the others, but luckily that is not the case. Each actress has more than a few moments to shine on their own, and all of their characters are fleshed out extremely well. Fonda and Tomlin have worked together before in ‘Nine to Five’ and the Netflix series ‘Grace and Frankie,’ and as you expect, have great chemistry together. But I was also impressed with how much chemistry they both had with Field and Moreno. You really get the feeling that these four women have been friends for a long time.

While the characters are well-defined and their backstories well fleshed out, it’s the familiar attempts at humor and ridiculous third act plot points that hurt the film in my opinion. For example, the ladies attend a Super Bowl party where they are given Gummy Bears, which of course they don’t know are laced with THC. This leads to the characters being high, and getting into silly situations that are extremely predictable, like Maura wondering into a celebrity Poker game.

(L to R) Sally Field as Betty and Lily Tomlin as Lou in ’80 For Brady’ from Paramount Pictures.

Another predictable plot point is when the characters, of course, lose their Super Bowl tickets the day before the game. In fact, this is so predictable that you want to yell at the screen because you can actually see them losing the tickets long before the characters realize it, telegraphing for the audience what the next conflict will be.

Which brings me to my biggest issue with the film, which is that once they get to the Super Bowl, it’s all fantasy. What I mean by that is almost nothing that happens at the Super Bowl could happen in real life. No one can get into a Super Bowl without tickets, the security is just too much, so the idea that these four octogenarians could ultimately find their way in without tickets is just laughable.

But the most ridiculous, over-the-top moment of the film comes during the halftime of Super Bowl LI. Football fans will remember that the Patriots were losing to the Atlanta Falcons 21-3 at halftime, and mounted an unforgettable comeback that took them into overtime eventually winning 34-28. Without giving too much away, the movie would have you believe that it was Lou that inspired Tom Brady’s legendary comeback.

Now, while that is a nice idea for the movie, this is a film supposedly set in reality. It doesn’t take place in the Multiverse as far as I know, it takes place in our world where Tom Brady and the NFL really exists. So, the idea that four 80-year-old women could get access to the star quarterback during halftime was so far beyond any reality I could comprehend, that it took me completely out of the movie.

(L to R) Lily Tomlin plays Lou with Producer Tom Brady in ’80 For Brady’ from Paramount Pictures.

For Brady fans wondering if he just has a cameo in the film, I’m happy to say no, his role is surprisingly larger than that. While he is definitely in a supporting role, he pops up throughout the film, both as himself, and also as himself in Lou’s imagination. Brady gives a strong performance, even if he is just playing himself, and is surprisingly good in his emotional scenes with Tomlin. But it is no surprise to me why Brady would want to make this movie, where he also serves as a producer, because the entire film is one giant ego stroke for the GOAT.

The NFL, which famously doesn’t allow its brand to appear in just any movie, ask Oliver Stone about ‘Any Given Sunday,’ clearly was on board with this production. In fact, a large part of the second act takes place at the NFL Super Bowl Experience, and at times seems more like a commercial for the NFL than a narrative movie. The NFL also (presumably) allowed the film to use footage from Super Bowl LI to recreate the game, which works surprisingly well and is still engaging, even though the audience already knows the outcome.

In addition to Patriots like Brady, Gronkowski, Danny Amendola, and Julian Edelman, the movie also features cameos and supporting performances from Guy Fieri, Billy Porter, Patton Oswalt, Glynn Turman, and Harry Hamlin, as well as Sara Gilbert as Lou’s daughter.

In the end, ’80 for Brady’ is a fun movie that NFL and Patriots fans will enjoy, and my mom and her friends will love! While the film at times loses any sense of reality and slips into pure fantasy, and has more than its share of script issues and NFL propaganda, it’s funny and works thanks to the talent of Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Sally Field and Rita Moreno.

(L to R) Rita Moreno plays Maura, Jane Fonda plays Trish, Sally Field plays Betty, and Lily Tomlin plays Lou in ’80 For Brady’ from Paramount Pictures.

’80 for Brady’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars
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February 1, 2023
Sydney Sweeney Starring in New ‘Barbarella’

Sydney Sweeney as Cassie Howard in HBO’s ‘Euphoria.’ Photo: Eddy Chen/HBO.

Off the back of roles on shows such as ‘Euphoria’ and ‘The White Lotus’, Sydney Sweeney is keeping her big screen career bubbling in a big way. And she’s become a firm favorite at Sony, with whom she is developing several projects.

The latest, per Deadline, is a remake of ‘Barbarella’.

Roger Vadim’s 1968 campy cult classic follows an astronaut from the 41st century (Jane Fonda) who sets out to find and stop the evil scientist Durand Durand (Milo O’Shea), whose Positronic Ray threatens to bring evil back into the galaxy. It was sexy, it was over the top and while it didn’t exactly set the box office alight, it has outlived the critical reaction and remains one of Fonda’s most iconic roles.

The film was based on the controversial comic books character created by Jean-Claude Forest for serialization in the French ‘V Magazine’ in spring 1962. In 1964, Éric Losfeld published the strips as a stand-alone book titled ‘Barbarella’. The book caused a scandal and became known as the first “adult” comic book, with the title character frequently depicted having sex.

Several different attempts at a remake have floated around in the last couple of decades.

Drew Barrymore was briefly attached to a new take on the tale shortly before the arrival of 2000’s ‘Charlie’s Angels’. That one would have seen her playing a woman who discovers a secret about her planet and leading a revolution.

Scrub forward to 2007 and you have news that Robert Rodriguez had been developing his own version for a few years, planned to star then-girlfriend Rose McGowan. But though he got an offer from a German company to stump up the budget, he didn’t take because it meant shooting overseas, away from his family. And an attempt to set it up with Universal stalled for other financial reasons.

Jane Fonda in 1968’s ‘Barbarella.’ Photo courtesy of Paramount Movie’s YouTube channel.

“Universal had initially signed on for $60 million,” Rodriguez told The New York Observer, “but then when we were done with the script it wound up at closer to $82 million, and they had just financed a Will Ferrell movie (‘Land of the Lost’) that was a $130 million and they even cut that down to $100 million.”

Around the same time, veteran James Bond writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade were hired by Gaumont International Television to script a TV adaptation, one that eventually ended up in the hands of ‘Drive’ director Nicolas Winding Refn. Yet even that ultimately went nowhere, drifting off into the endless wastes of the development galaxy.

According to Deadline, Sweeney will produce the new movie for Sony, which will now look to lock in a writer and director to move it forward.

It’s just the latest move for the actor, who already has a role in ‘Madame Web’, due in theaters on February 16, 2024.

She’s also filmed a role in crime drama ‘National Anthem’, is developing novel adaptation ‘The Registration’ and has mystery TV series ‘The Players Table’ in the works.

Even more recently, she’s now teaming up with Universal to adapt Marcus Kliewer’s short story ‘The Caretaker’, which tells the story of a young woman who accepts a caretaking job from Craigslist and quickly discovers her responsibilities have stakes far greater (and more dangerous) than she could have ever imagined.

That one will be produced by Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes company.

Sydney Sweeney as Cassie Howard in HBO’s ‘Euphoria.’ Photo: Eddy Chen/HBO.
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October 12, 2022
‘Luck’ Trailer Takes Us into a New World

John Lasseter was once the king of American animation – the genius storyteller and director who led Pixar to huge box office wins, Oscar success and massive popular acclaim with movies such as ‘Toy Story’ and ‘Cars’ and being anointed as the creative boss at both the Emeryville studio and Walt Disney Feature Animation.

He was ousted from his position, though, after revelations about toxic and misogynistic behavior. Yet that situation didn’t seem to worry Skydance Animation, which hired him as its chief in 2019. And now he’s one of the main producers behind new Apple TV+ ‘toon movie ‘Luck’.

The real driving force here, though, is director Peggy Holmes, who works from a script by Kiel Murray, Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger.

‘Luck’ is the story of Sam Greenfield (Eva Noblezada), who is convinced she’s the unluckiest person on the planet. She’s always late, things go wrong constantly around her and she never seems to catch a break.

Then she discovers a mysterious, mystical lucky penny, which turns everything around for her… until she flushes it down a toilet. That leads to her meeting a talking black cat named Bob (Simon Pegg) who in turn accidentally gives her access to the Land of Luck, where on top everything runs smoothly and goes right, but bad luck is banished to the bottom.

(L to R) The Dragon (voiced by Jane Fonda), Bob (voiced by Simon Pegg) and Sam Greenfield (voiced by Eva Noblezada) in “Luck,” premiering globally on Apple TV+ on August 5, 2022.

“The tiniest amount of bad luck can shut down our entire operation,” cautions the CEO of Good Luck, a dragon who has the voice of Jane Fonda.

Humans are strictly not allowed, so Sam’s presence of course causes all sorts of chaos. She’s looking to bring some luck back to her world, but when she severs the connection between good and bad luck… bad things happen.

Now Sam and Bob must put things right, with the help of cheery leprechaun Gerry (Colin O’Donoghue), strict leprechaun leader The Captain (Whoopi Goldberg) and eccentric unicorn Jeff (Flula Borg), who has a thing for exercise routines.

The likes of Lil Rel Howery, Maurice Irvin and Adelynn Spoon (plus former Pixar good luck voice charm John Ratzenberger) also star here.

‘Luck’ itself has not always had the best, well, luck, as it lost the services of Emma Thompson back in 2019, who resigned from the cast in protest of Lasseter’s hiring at Skydance, where the movie was in production. “It feels very odd to me that you and your company would consider hiring someone with Mr. Lasseter’s pattern of misconduct given the present climate in which people with the kind of power that you have can reasonably be expected to step up to the plate,” Thompson wrote in a letter published in the Los Angeles Times.

Apple will of course be hoping for some luck, though it doesn’t have to worry about box office, since it’ll be debuting via Apple TV+ on August 5th.

(L to R) Bob (voiced by Simon Pegg) and Sam Greenfield (voiced by Eva Noblezada) in ‘Luck,’ premiering globally on Apple TV+ on August 5, 2022.
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July 8, 2022