Tag: renee zellweger

  • Best Football Movies To Watch On Super Bowl Sunday

    Best Football Movies of All Time.
    Best Football Movies of All Time.

    “Are you ready for some Football?”

    Super Bowl LX is scheduled for Sunday, February 8th and it promises to be an unforgettable game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots.

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    However,  if you still need your football fix, Moviefone has compiled a list of 30 of the best football movies of all time for you to watch after the game.

    These football movies cover what happens both on and off the field, and best of all, every movie here is streaming right now, so you can get started watching any of them immediately.

    Let’s begin!

    Related Article: Tyriq Withers Talks ‘HIM’ Digital Release and Working with Marlon Wayans


    30. ‘The Blind Side‘ (2009)

    (L to R) Quinton Aaron and Sandra Bullock in 'The Blind Side.' Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
    (L to R) Quinton Aaron and Sandra Bullock in ‘The Blind Side.’ Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

    The story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) a homeless and traumatized boy who became an All American football player and first round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman (Sandra Bullock) and her family

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    29. ‘American Underdog‘ (2021)

    American Underdog tells the inspirational true story of Kurt Warner (Zachary Levi), who went from a stockboy at a grocery store to a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion, and Hall of Fame quarterback. The film centers on Warner’s unique story and years of challenges and setbacks that could have derailed his aspirations to become an NFL player – but just when his dreams seemed all but out of reach, it is only with the support of his wife, Brenda (Anna Paquin) and the encouragement of his family, coaches, and teammates that Warner perseveres and finds the strength to show the world the champion that he already is.

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    28. ‘Radio‘ (2003)

    High school football coach Harold Jones (Ed Harris) befriends Radio (Cuba Gooding Jr.), a mentally-challenged man who becomes a student at TL Hanna High School in Anderson South Carolina. Their friendship extends over several decades where Radio transforms from a shy tormented man into an inspiration to his community.

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    27. ‘Gridiron Gang‘ (2006)

    Under the leadership of their counselor (Dwayne Johnson), teenagers at a juvenile detention center gain selfesteem by playing football together.

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    26. ‘All the Right Moves‘ (1983)

    Sensitive study of a headstrong high school football star (Tom Cruise) who dreams of getting out of his small Western Pennsylvania steel town with a football scholarship. His equally ambitious coach (Craig T. Nelson) aims at a college position resulting in a clash which could crush the players dreams.

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    25. ‘The Underdoggs‘ (2024)

    (L to R) Snoop Dogg as Jaycen "2 J's" Jennings and Mike Epps as Kareem in director Charles Stone III's 'The Underdoggs,' an Amazon MGM Studios film. Photo credit: Jacob Kemp. © 2024 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Snoop Dogg as Jaycen “2 J’s” Jennings and Mike Epps as Kareem in director Charles Stone III’s ‘The Underdoggs,’ an Amazon MGM Studios film. Photo credit: Jacob Kemp. © 2024 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Jaycen ‘Two Js’ Jennings (Snoop Dogg) is a washed-up former pro football star who has hit rock bottom. When he is sentenced to do community service coaching the Underdoggs, an unruly pee-wee football team in his hometown, he sees it mostly as an opportunity to rebuild his public image. But in the process, he may just turn his life around and rediscover his love of the game.

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    24. ‘The Longest Yard‘ (2005)

    Pro quarterback Paul Crewe (Adam Sandler) and former college champion and coach Nate Scarboro (Burt Reynolds) are doing time in the same prison and are asked to put together a team of inmates to take on the guards. Crewe enlists the help of Scarboro to coach the inmates to victory in a football game fixed to turn out quite another way.

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    23. ‘The Program‘ (1993)

    Several players from different backgrounds try to cope with the pressures of playing football at a major university. Each deals with the pressure differently some turn to drinking others to drugs and some to studying.

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    22. ‘The Best of Times‘ (1986)

    A smalltown loser (Robin Williams) determines to have one more shot at the big time by winning a football game.

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    21. ‘Varsity Blues‘ (1999)

    In small-town Texas, high school football is a religion, 17-year-old schoolboys carry the hopes of an entire community onto the gridiron every Friday night. When star quarterback Lance Harbor (Paul Walker) suffers an injury, the Coyotes are forced to regroup under the questionable leadership of John Moxon (James Van Der Beek), a second-string quarterback with a slightly irreverent approach to the game.

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    20. ‘The Longest Yard‘ (1974)

    Burt Reynolds in 1974's 'The Longest Yard.' Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    Burt Reynolds in 1974’s ‘The Longest Yard.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    A football player-turned-convict (Burt Reynolds) organizes a team of inmates to play against a team of prison guards. His dilemma is that the warden (Eddie Albert) asks him to throw the game in return for an early release but he is also concerned about the inmates lack of self-esteem.

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    19. ‘The Waterboy‘ (1998)

    Bobby Boucher (Adam Sandler) is a water boy for a struggling college football team. The coach (Henry Winkler) discovers Boucher’s hidden rage makes him a tackling machine whose bone-crushing power might vault his team into the playoffs.

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    18. ‘Jerry Maguire‘ (1996)

    Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) used to be a typical sports agent willing to do just about anything he could to get the biggest possible contracts for his clients plus a nice commission for himself. Then one day he suddenly has second thoughts about what he’s really doing. When he voices these doubts he ends up losing his job and all of his clients save Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.) an egomaniacal football player.

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    17. ‘Invincible‘ (2006)

    Inspired by the true story of Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg), a man with nothing to lose who ignored the staggering odds and made his dream come true. When the coach of Papale’s beloved hometown football team hosted an unprecedented open tryout, the public consensus was that it was a waste of time – no one good enough to play professional football was going to be found this way.

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    16. ‘Leatherheads‘ (2008)

    A light hearted comedy about the beginnings of Professional American Football. When a decorated war hero (George Clooney) and college all star (John Krasinski) is tempted into playing professional football. Everyone see the chance to make some big money, but when a reporter digs up some dirt on the war hero… everyone could lose out.

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    15. ‘HIM‘ (2025)

    Marlon Wayans is Isaiah (back, pointing) and Tyriq Withers is Cam (foreground) in 'HIM', directed by Justin Tipping. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    Marlon Wayans is Isaiah (back, pointing) and Tyriq Withers is Cam (foreground) in ‘HIM’, directed by Justin Tipping. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    After suffering a potentially career-ending brain trauma, Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers) receives a lifeline when his hero, legendary eight-time Championship quarterback and cultural megastar Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), offers to train Cam at Isaiah’s isolated compound that he shares with his celebrity influencer wife. But as Cam’s training accelerates, Isaiah’s charisma begins to curdle into something darker.

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    14. ‘Necessary Roughness‘ (1991)

    When the Texas Southern Armadillos football team is disqualified for cheating and poor grades, the University is forced to pick from a team that actually goes to school. Will they even win a single game?

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    13. ‘North Dallas Forty‘ (1979)

    A semi-fictional account of life as a professional football player. Loosely based on the Dallas Cowboys team of the early 1970s.

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    12. ‘80 for Brady‘ (2023)

    Inspired by the true story of four best friends (Jane 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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    11. ‘Draft Day‘ (2014)

    At the NFL Draft, general manager Sonny Weaver (Kevin Costner) has the opportunity to rebuild his team when he trades for the number one pick. He must decide what he’s willing to sacrifice on a life-changing day for a few hundred young men with NFL dreams.

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    10. ‘The Replacements‘ (2000)

    Keanu Reeves in 'The Replacements'. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
    Keanu Reeves in ‘The Replacements’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

    Maverick old-guard coach Jimmy McGinty (Gene Hackman) is hired in the wake of a players’ strike to help the Washington Sentinels advance to the playoffs. But that impossible dream hinges on whether his replacements can hunker down and do the job, including washed up Quarterback Shane Falco (Keanu Reeves). So, McGinty dusts off his secret dossier of ex-players who never got a chance (or screwed up the one they were given) and knits together a bad-dream team of guys who just may give the Sentinels their title shot.

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    9. ‘Brian’s Song‘ (1971)

    Based on the real-life relationship between teammates Brian Piccolo (James Caan) and Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams) and the bond established when Piccolo discovers that he is dying.

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    8. ‘Heaven Can Wait‘ (1978)

    Joe Pendleton (Warren Beatty) is a quarterback preparing to lead his team to the Super Bowl when he is almost killed in an accident. An overanxious angel plucks him to heaven only to discover that he wasn’t ready to die, and that his body has been cremated. A new body must be found, and that of a recently-murdered millionaire is chosen. His wife and accountant—the murderers—are confused by this development, as he buys the L.A. Rams in order to once again quarterback them into the Super Bowl.

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    7. ‘Wildcats‘ (1986)

    Molly (Goldie Hawn) is a high school track coach who knows just as much about football as anyone else on the planet. When a football coach’s position becomes vacant, she applies for the job, despite snickers from fellow staff members and her former husband.

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    6. ‘We Are Marshall‘ (2006)

    When a plane crash claims the lives of members of the Marshall University football team and some of its fans, the team’s new coach (Matthew McConaughey) and his surviving players try to keep the football program alive.

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    5. ‘The Last Boy Scout‘ (1991)

    (L to R) Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans in 'The Last Boy Scout'. Photo: Warner Bros.
    (L to R) Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans in ‘The Last Boy Scout’. Photo: Warner Bros.

    When the girl (Halle Berry) that detective Joe Hallenback (Bruce Willis) is protecting gets murdered, the boyfriend (Damon Wayans) of the murdered girl attempts to investigate and solve the case. What they discover is that there is deep seated corruption going on between a crooked politician and the owner of a pro football team.

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    4. ‘Rudy‘ (1993)

    Rudy (Sean Austin) grew up in a steel mill town where most people ended up working, but wanted to play football at Notre Dame instead. There were only a couple of problems. His grades were a little low, his athletic skills were poor, and he was only half the size of the other players. But he had the drive and the spirit of five people and has set his sights upon joining the team.

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    3. ‘Friday Night Lights‘ (2004)

    A small, turbulent town in Texas obsesses over their high school football team to an unhealthy degree. When the star tailback, Boobie Miles (Derek Luke), is seriously injured during the first game of the season, all hope is lost, and the town’s dormant social problems begin to flare up. It is left to the inspiring abilities of new coach Gary Gaines (Billy Bob Thornton) to instill in the other team members — and, by proxy, the town itself — a sense of self-respect and honor.

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    2. ‘Remember the Titans‘ (2000)

    After leading his football team to 15 winning seasons, coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton) is demoted and replaced by Herman Boone (Denzel Washington) – tough, opinionated and as different from the beloved Yoast as he could be. The two men learn to overcome their differences and turn a group of hostile young men into champions.

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    1. ‘Any Given Sunday‘ (1999)

    (L to R) Jamie Foxx, Al Pacino and Denis Quaid in 'Any Given Sunday'. Photo: Warner Bros.
    (L to R) Jamie Foxx, Al Pacino and Denis Quaid in ‘Any Given Sunday’. Photo: Warner Bros.

    A star quarterback (Dennis Quaid) gets knocked out of the game and an unknown third stringer (Jamie Foxx) is called in to replace him. The unknown gives a stunning performance and forces the ageing coach (Al Pacino) to reevaluate his game plans and life. A new co-owner/president (Cameron Diaz) adds to the pressure of winning. The new owner must prove herself in a male dominated world.

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  • TV Review: ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 5

    (L to R) Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short in 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 5. Photo: Disney/Patrick Harbron.
    (L to R) Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short in ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 5. Photo: Disney/Patrick Harbron.

    Launching on Hulu on September 9th with the first three episodes (seven more debut once weekly), ‘Only Murders in the Building’ returns for a fifth season of mysterious death, quirky characters and, this time at least, the intersection of old mob ways with New York’s modern powerbrokers.

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    With John Hoffman (‘Grace and Frankie’) once again acting as showrunner, series regulars Steve Martin (‘Roxanne’), Martin Short (‘Innerspace’) and Selena Gomez (‘Emilia Pérez’) are joined by some returning favorites such as Meryl Streep (‘August: Osage County’) and Jackie Hoffman (‘Garden State’) with new recruits this year including Christoph Waltz (‘Django Unchained’), Renée Zellweger (‘Chicago’) and Logan Lerman (‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’).

    Related Article: Renée Zellweger the Latest Star for ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 5

    Initial Thoughts

    Steve Martin in 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 5. Photo: Disney/Patrick Harbron.
    Steve Martin in ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 5. Photo: Disney/Patrick Harbron.

    For the last few years, ‘Only Murders in the Building’ has been a reliable provider of murder mystery mixed with the vaudeville comedy of Steve Martin and Martin Short, plus a side of eye-rolling millennial reactions from Selena Gomez. The combination has worked extremely well, providing confounding cases and lots of laughs.

    The question is, however, does the fifth season do enough to differentiate itself from what has gone before, or should we be happy that we’re getting more of the same if it’s still entertaining?

    Script and Direction

    Renée Zellweger in 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 5. Photo: Disney/Patrick Harbron.
    Renée Zellweger in ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 5. Photo: Disney/Patrick Harbron.

    There remains a lot to like about ‘Only Murders’ –– the scripts remain witty and the central mystery thorny –– in this case, the death of longtime doorman Lester (Teddy Coluca).

    Yet there are some problems with the season this time around –– it’s just not as fresh as it usually feels. The new characters are fine, but compared to previous examples of guest casting, they just don’t have the same amount of zing.

    The show’s direction remains on point –– but with the focus on the Arconia once more (even given some new locations discovered), there’s only so much you can do to keep it interesting.

    Cast and Performances

    Christoph Waltz in 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 5. Photo: Disney/Patrick Harbron.
    Christoph Waltz in ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 5. Photo: Disney/Patrick Harbron.

    Martin, Short and Gomez are still great in the lead roles; the issue is that much of what they get to do here is a variation on previous work.

    Naturally, Martin has some funny physical business, Short gets to be extra in all ways, and Gomez is still the best at a blend of vulnerability and heart, plus her ability to side-eye her older companions.

    Of the new faces this year, Logan Lerman makes the most impact as a young billionaire, while the likes of Christoph Waltz and Renée Zellweger don’t get as much to, but have fun with their roles.

    Final Thoughts

    (L to R) Selena Gomez and Logan Lerman in 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 5. Photo: Disney/Patrick Harbron.
    (L to R) Selena Gomez and Logan Lerman in ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 5. Photo: Disney/Patrick Harbron.

    ‘Only Murders in the Building’ is definitely starting to show its age –– the concept only has so much flexibility in it.

    It’s still a very fun show to watch, but its best days may now be behind it.

     

    ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 5 receives 65 out of 100.

    Tea Leoni in 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 5. Photo: Disney/Patrick Harbron.
    Tea Leoni in ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 5. Photo: Disney/Patrick Harbron.

    What’s the plot of ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 5?

    After their beloved doorman, Lester (Teddy Coluca), dies under suspicious circumstances, Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), and Mabel (Selena Gomez) refuse to believe it was an accident. Their investigation plunges them into the shadowy corners of New York and beyond — where the trio uncovers a dangerous web of secrets connecting powerful billionaires, old-school mobsters, and the mysterious residents of the Arconia.

    The trio discovers a deeper divide between their storied city they thought they knew and the new New York evolving around them — one where the old mob fights to hold on as newer, even more dangerous players emerge.

    Who stars in ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 5?

    • Steve Martin as Charles-Haden Savage
    • Martin Short as Oliver Putnam
    • Selena Gomez as Mabel Mora
    • Michael Cyril Creighton as Howard Morris
    • Jackie Hoffman as Uma Heller
    • Teddy Coluca as Lester Coluca
    • Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Detective Donna Williams
    • Meryl Streep as Loretta Durkin
    • Christoph Waltz as Bash Steed
    • Renée Zellweger as Camila White
    • Logan Lerman as Jay Pflug
    • Bobby Cannavale as Nicky Caccimelio
    • Téa Leoni as Sofia Caccimelio
    (L to R) Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez in 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 5. Photo: Disney/Patrick Harbron.
    (L to R) Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez in ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 5. Photo: Disney/Patrick Harbron.

    Movies and TV Shows Similar to ‘Only Murders in the Building’:

    Buy Steve Martin movies and TV on Amazon

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  • Renée Zellweger Joins ‘Only Murders in the Building’

    (Left) Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones in 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy'. Photo: Jay Maidment / Universal Pictures. (Right) Charles (Steve Martin), Mabel (Selena Gomez) and Oliver (Martin Short) on Hulu's 'Only Murders In The Building'. Photo: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu.
    (Left) Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones in ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’. Photo: Jay Maidment / Universal Pictures. (Right) Charles (Steve Martin), Mabel (Selena Gomez) and Oliver (Martin Short) on Hulu’s ‘Only Murders In The Building’. Photo: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu.

    Preview:

    • Renée Zellweger will appear in ‘Only Murders in the Building’s fifth season.
    • She joins stars Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez.
    • The season has just started shooting.

    Only Murders in the Building’ has long been a witty blend of compelling murder mystery and old-school comedy chaos, anchored by stars Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez.

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    And as it has grown in popularity, the star wattage of its guest cast has grown exponentially.

    In its most recent season –– the fourth –– alone, the show included appearances from Eva Longoria, Eugene Levy, Zach Galifianakis, Molly Shannon, Kumail Nanjiani, Richard Kind, Scott Bakula, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Desmin Borges, Amy Ryan, Griffin Dunne and Jin Ha.

    And that’s without mentioning returning guest stars such as Paul Rudd and Meryl Streep.

    Meryl Streep as Loretta in Hulu's 'Only Murders in the Building.' Photo by: Patrick Harbron/Hulu.
    Meryl Streep as Loretta in Hulu’s ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ Photo by: Patrick Harbron/Hulu.

    So it should be little surprise that the fifth season of the show will boast some suitably big names –– with Renée Zellweger the latest addition, according to Deadline.

    The new season recently started rolling its cameras in New York, following the show’s success at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, where it won Comedy Series Ensemble and a Male Actor in a Comedy Series gong for Short.

    Related Article: Kumail Nanjiani and More Cast in ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 4

    What’s the story of ‘Only Murders in the Building’?

    (L to R) Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez in Hulu's 'Only Murders In The Building' season 2. Photo: Patrick Harbron/Hulu.
    (L to R) Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez in Hulu’s ‘Only Murders In The Building’ season 2. Photo: Patrick Harbron/Hulu.

    ‘Only Murders in the Building,’ which started in August 2021, focuses on a trio of strangers –– Charles-Haden Savage (Martin), a misanthropic semi-retired actor who was the star of the popular 1990s crime drama, Oliver Putnam, (Short) an ambitious but financially struggling Broadway director and Mabel Mora, (Gomez) a young artist and apartment renovator living alone in her aunt’s unit, who was part of a quartet that solved pretend mysteries throughout her childhood and teenage years –– with a shared interest in true crime podcasts.

    The three become unlikely friends while investigating a succession of suspicious murders in the Arconia, their upscale apartment building on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, and producing their own podcast about the cases, titled ‘Only Murders in the Building.’

    Through the previous four seasons, they’ve investigated several mysterious slayings, including an old friend of Mabel’s in the first, another building resident in the second, an egotistical actor in the third and Charles’ good friend and colleague, stuntwoman Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch).

    As is usual for the show, the end of Season 4 set up the new mystery for the fifth –– and it’s really the only solid information we have on the season.

    In the final episode of the season, Charles, Mabel and Oliver discover the body of Lester, (Teddy Coluca) the Arconia doorman, dead in the building’s fountain.

    This is what ‘Only Murders’ showrunner Jordan Hoffman told The Wrap about Season 5:

    “We’re trying to tell a particular kind of take from a New York angle. Season Five will hit on some very current things going on within New York, specifically very relevant things that are happening in the city right now, in ways that honestly we couldn’t have even predicted. We built our story and then certain things revealed themselves, and vice versa. It’s a little bit more reflective, deeply New York, both historically and the modern New York right now too. The show has always been classic meets modern.”

    Who else will show up on ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 5?

    (L to R) Cooper Hoffman and Christoph Waltz in the Action/Comedy film 'Old Guy', a The Avenue release. Photo courtesy of The Avenue.
    (L to R) Cooper Hoffman and Christoph Waltz in the Action/Comedy film ‘Old Guy’, a The Avenue release. Photo courtesy of The Avenue.

    Zellweger isn’t the only Oscar winner who will appear on the show next season –– Christoph Waltz is aboard, alongside comedy veterans Tea Leoni and Keegan-Michael Key.

    But the creative team is staying quiet about who the new arrivals will be playing, looking to maintain the surprise.

    In the past, some of the guests have played themselves, while others added to the quirky ensemble of characters who make up the world of ‘Only Murders.’

    Where else will we see Renée Zellweger?

    (L to R) Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones and Leo Woodall as Roxster in 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy'. Photo: Alex Bailey/Universal Pictures.
    (L to R) Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones and Leo Woodall as Roxster in ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’. Photo: Alex Bailey/Universal Pictures.

    Zellweger was recently back on our screens in possibly her most well-known role, that of Bridget Jones in fourth franchise entry ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.’

    And while ‘Only Murders’ is the only confirmed next job for her, she does have several movies and shows in development including ‘The Back Nine,’ about a golfer getting back to her career and ‘Heft,’ about a mother reaching to her former writing professor to help with her son.

    When will Season 5 of ‘Only Murders in the Building’ hit Hulu?

    Hulu has yet to officially announce the launch date for the new season, but a March production start offers a clue.

    Season 4 started filming the same time last year, and was on screens the following August. So if we were to guess, we’d say to expect more murder, mayhem and comedy in late August.

    (L to R) Oliver (Martin Short), Mabel (Selena Gomez) and Charles (Steve Martin) on Hulu's 'Only Murders In The Building'. Photo: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu.
    (L to R) Oliver (Martin Short), Mabel (Selena Gomez) and Charles (Steve Martin) on Hulu’s ‘Only Murders In The Building’. Photo: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu.

    Movies and TV Shows Similar to ‘Only Murders in the Building’:

    Buy Renée Zellweger Movies On Amazon

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  • Movie Review: ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’

    Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones in 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy'. Photo: Jay Maidment/Universal Pictures.
    Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones in ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’. Photo: Jay Maidment/Universal Pictures.

    ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’ receives 8 out of 10 stars.

    Premiering on Peacock on February 13th, ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’ marks the fourth outing for the ever-hopeful Bridget, brought to screens as always by Renée Zellweger.

    And thankfully, despite the worrying sign of it being sent directly to a streaming service here (it’s in theaters internationally), this is a superior entry in the franchise spawned from Helen Fielding’s columns, eventual books and first on our screens way back in 2001.

    Related Article: Renée Zellweger Returning as Bridget Jones for ‘Mad About the Boy’

    Should you make a date with ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’?

    (L to R) Mila Jankovic as Mabel Darcy, Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones, and Casper Knopf as Billy Darcy in 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy'. Photo: Alex Bailey/Universal Pictures.
    (L to R) Mila Jankovic as Mabel Darcy, Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones, and Casper Knopf as Billy Darcy in ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’. Photo: Alex Bailey/Universal Pictures.

    In the years since that original movie, there has been a healthy evolution for Bridget, and even more hearteningly, some of the people around her. This new offering might not start out as suitable for those who love their happy endings, as the shadow of grief hangs over Bridget, still mourning the loss of her perfect man, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) and dealing with life as a single mother.

    Yet it’s all a spur for a new chapter in her life, as she decides to leave the mournful doldrums and get on with, well, living. Around her, plenty of other characters have similarly come to realizations about their lives, even the irrepressible cad Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) –– though he still has a twinkle in his eye.

    Script and Direction

    (L to R) Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones and Leo Woodall as Roxster in 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy'. Photo: Alex Bailey/Universal Pictures.
    (L to R) Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones and Leo Woodall as Roxster in ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’. Photo: Alex Bailey/Universal Pictures.

    With a script from Bridget’s creator Fielding alongside British TV scriptwriting stalwarts Helen Dan Mazer and Abi Morgan, ‘Mad About the Boy’ manages to pull off the trick of both maintaining what we love about Bridget –– smart yet clumsy, hopeful yet soulful, silly and serious all at once –– while also growing the storyline around her.

    As a widower dangerously careening towards her fifties and trying to be the best mother she can be, it’s a proper new gear for both the character and Zellweger, and the movie makes the most of that.

    Yet the screenplay also doesn’t forget what makes these films so much fun, with moments for Bridget’s friends and colleagues that offering sterling support and plenty of laughs. Her main love interest is perhaps a little bland, but that’s no real issue as he’s mostly just a waypoint for the person you can tell she’s likely to end up with from the moment we meet them.

    Director Michael Morris, whose resume includes movies such as ‘To Leslie,’ has really earned his stripes on the small screen, handling episodes of shows including ‘Better Call Saul’ and ‘For All Mankind.’ And that experience proves invaluable, as he’s able to juggle multiple characters and the film looks cinematic, if relatively simple.

    It’s all in service of the story, though, and helped by some truly beautiful London locations.

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver and Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones in 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy'. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    (L to R) Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver and Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones in ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Since bursting onto our screens all those years ago Renée Zellweger and her near-flawless British accent (never generic, always specific) as Bridget has weathered the highs (the original) and lows (the second and to some degree, third movies).

    Here, she’s given a take on the character she can really work with, and puts in a touching, charismatic performance, easily making Miss Jones –– or Mrs. Darcy as she is these days –– someone you both want to spend time with and root for.

    (L to R) Colin Firth as Mark Darcy and Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones in 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy'. Photo: Jay Maidment/Universal Pictures.
    (L to R) Colin Firth as Mark Darcy and Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones in ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’. Photo: Jay Maidment/Universal Pictures.

    Around her, Bridget’s friends and family remain excellent, whether indulging her latest concerns or trying to offer advice. They might only pop up in support, but they all feel like rounded humans at this point.

    And special mention must be made of Hugh Grant. Having famously skipped the third film because he didn’t like the script, he only agreed to return for this one if he got to change some of Daniel Cleaver’s scenes. Whatever he and the writing team worked out, it was all for the good, as the cheeky Daniel of old shines through while also coming across as being more self-aware of his own ridiculousness. His chemistry with Zellweger also remains on point.

    Less natural is Leo Woodall, who is fine as “Roxter,” the new younger man who enters Bridget’s life when she’s stuck up a tree. Woodall does what he can with the role, and he has some charm, but he’s more plot point that character.

    (L to R) Chiwetel Ejiofor as Mr. Walliker and Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones in 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy'. Photo: Jay Maidment / Universal Pictures.
    (L to R) Chiwetel Ejiofor as Mr. Walliker and Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones in ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’. Photo: Jay Maidment / Universal Pictures.

    The same fate might have befallen Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Mr. Wallaker, a teacher at Bridget’s kids’ school. But in the experienced actor’s calm hands, he’s both funny and relatable, and when the inevitable arrives you can see why she might fall for him.

    One person who comes off less well, if only by dint of her popping up in exactly one brief scene, Isla Fisher as a neighbor and stressed mother who we meet for seconds, threatening to dispatch her unruly kids off to “the squid games.” Was she in more of the movie, but saw her scenes sliced out in editing? We may never know for sure, but she still makes an impact in her one moment.

    Final Thoughts

    (L to R) Sally Phillips as Shazzer, James Callis as Tom, Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones, and Shirley Henderson as Jude in 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy'. Photo: Jay Maidment/Universal Pictures.
    (L to R) Sally Phillips as Shazzer, James Callis as Tom, Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones, and Shirley Henderson as Jude in ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’. Photo: Jay Maidment/Universal Pictures.

    Like the character herself, the ‘Bridget Jones’ film series needed a bit of luck, and ‘Mad About the Boy’ brings it. It’s a deeper, richer, and more satisfying film than the other sequels and if this represents the last time we hang out with the character and her various associates, then it’s a fitting finale.

    As Bridget might write in her diary: V Good.

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    What’s the story of ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’?

    In her latest film, Bridget (Renée Zellweger) is alone once again, widowed four years ago, when Mark (Colin Firth) was killed on a humanitarian mission in the Sudan. She’s now a single mother to their kids, and is stuck in a state of emotional limbo, raising her children with help from her loyal friends and even her former lover, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant).

    Pressured by her Urban Family — Shazzer, Jude and Tom, her work colleague Miranda, her mother, and her gynecologist Dr. Rawlings (Emma Thompson) — to forge a new path toward life and love, Bridget goes back to work and even tries out the dating apps, where she’s soon pursued by a dreamy and enthusiastic younger man (Leo Woodall).

    Now juggling work, home and romance, Bridget grapples with the judgment of the perfect mums at school, worries about son Billy as he struggles with the absence of his father, and engages in a series of awkward interactions with her son’s rational-to-a-fault science teacher (Chiwetel Ejiofor).

    Who also stars in ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’?

    Emma Thompson as Dr. Rawlings in 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy'. Photo: Jay Maidment/Universal Pictures.
    Emma Thompson as Dr. Rawlings in ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’. Photo: Jay Maidment/Universal Pictures.

    Movies in the ‘Bridget Jones’ Franchise:

    Buy ‘Bridget Jones’ Movies On Amazon

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  • Shailene Woodley to Play Janis Joplin

    (Left) Shailene Woodley arrives for the 84th Annual Academy Awards® from Hollywood, CA February 26, 2012. Credit/Provider: Heather Ikei / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S. (Right) Janis Joplin in the documentary 'Janis: Little Girl Blue'. Photo: FilmRise.
    (Left) Shailene Woodley arrives for the 84th Annual Academy Awards® from Hollywood, CA February 26, 2012. Credit/Provider: Heather Ikei / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S. (Right) Janis Joplin in the documentary ‘Janis: Little Girl Blue’. Photo: FilmRise.

    Preview:

    • Shailene Woodley will play singer Janis Joplin in a new movie.
    • She’s also producing the film.
    • The biopic is benefitting from a $2.5 million tax credit handed out by California.

    Given her albeit tragically short-lived but storied contribution to the world of music, it’s shocking that no-one has been able to bring a movie about Janis Joplin to screens yet.

    Still, that isn’t stopping Shailene Woodley, who has plans to star in and produce exactly that.

    Few details have emerged about who else is involved –– we don’t, for example, know who the writer or director are yet –– but production company Temple Hill is backing the film, which has now received $2.5 million in funding from the California Film and Television Tax Credit Program.

    Who was Janis Joplin?

    Janis Joplin in the 1974 documentary 'Janis'. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    Janis Joplin in the 1974 documentary ‘Janis’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Joplin was a musical icon of the 1960s, known as much for her searing blues songwriting and powerful voice as she was for her turbulent rock-and-roll lifestyle. The powerhouse behind ‘Mercedes Benz’ and a variety of respected covers, she died of an overdose in 1970, aged 27, shocking the music world.

    Her life has been brought to screens in a couple of TV movies, but so far, big screen attempts have all faltered (see below).

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    Who else has tried to make a Janis Joplin biopic?

    ‘Wayne’s World’ director Penelope Spheeris.
    ‘Wayne’s World’ director Penelope Spheeris.

    At this point, it might be easier and quicker to fill a list of who hasn’t tried to make a film about, or star as, Joplin.

    Wayne’s World’ director Penelope Spheeris had first Pink attached in 2004 and then Zooey Deschanel in 2006, looking to get ‘The Gospel According To Janis’ into theaters ahead of an effort by Lakeshore Entertainment, which boasted of landing Renee Zellweger to star.

    Sean Durkin, who most recently made ‘The Iron Claw’, took a stab at the idea back in 2012, with Tony winner Nina Arianda playing Janis, but nothing came of that one. Durkin popped back up again with an effort in 2016 that seemingly landed Michelle Williams to star, only for things to go very quiet once more.

    You’ll forgive us, then, for not holding our breath until the movie is actually in theaters.

    Related Article: Director Penelope Spheeris Talks 30th Anniversary of ‘Wayne’s World’

    What did Shailene Woodley say about the new effort?

    Shailene Woodley arrives at the 14th Governors Awards in the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. Credit/Provider: Trae Patton / @ A.M.P.A.S Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.
    Shailene Woodley arrives at the 14th Governors Awards in the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. Credit/Provider: Trae Patton / @ A.M.P.A.S Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

    Woodley seems excited that her version of the story now has a boost for its funding.

    Here’s her statement:

    “I have a feeling Janis would be smiling ear to ear, zipping down the PCH in her psychedelic Porsche knowing her story is bringing opportunities and funding to the city and people that held so much significance to her. Thank you to the California Film Commission’s Film & Television Tax Credit Program — myself and the other producers on this project believe California is the only place to film a slice of Janis’s life with authenticity and truth — and we are so grateful to have received the green light to do so!”

    Actress Shailene Woodley attends the 2011 Governors Awards in the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland in Hollywood®, CA, Saturday, November 12. Credit/Provider: Matt Petit / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.
    Actress Shailene Woodley attends the 2011 Governors Awards in the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland in Hollywood®, CA, Saturday, November 12. Credit/Provider: Matt Petit / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

    Other Movies Similar to Untitled Janis Joplin Movie:

    Buy Janis Joplin Music on Amazon

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  • Renée Zellweger To Return for Fourth ‘Bridget Jones’ Movie

    Renée Zellweger in 'Bridget Jones's Diary.'
    Renée Zellweger in ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Preview:

    • Renée Zellweger will be back as Bridget Jones.
    • Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson are also returning.
    • The movie will adapt Helen Fielding’s third Bridget book.

    It has been nearly a decade since Helen Fielding’s character Bridget Jones was on our screens –– when last we saw the woman played by Renée Zellweger, she was happily married to Colin Firth’s Mark Darcy and had given birth to her first child.

    But though that seemingly wrapped Bridget’s story up in a bow, even before the movie landed, Fielding had plans for the future. ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’, the third book based on the author’s columns, arrived in 2013 and threw the character for a loop (see more on that below).

    Now, Universal and Working Title have set the tale up as the latest ‘Bridget Jones’ movie, with Zellweger locking down a deal to star.

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    What’s the story of ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’?

    Renée Zellweger in 'Bridget Jones's Baby.'
    Renée Zellweger in ‘Bridget Jones’s Baby.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Based on the third book in Fielding’s series, ‘Mad About the Boy’ picks up with Bridget in her early fifties, as she navigates the challenges of modern life while juggling the responsibilities of motherhood.

    Here, though is the big problem –– and it’s a SPOILER ALERT for anyone who hasn’t read the book –– ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’ sees the title character as a single mother to two small children, after the tragic death of Mark Darcy (played by Colin Firth in the other films). Bridget will emerge from her all-encompassing grief to have to figure out dating in a world that has moved on since she was last out there.

    Related Article: Director Eli Roth Talks ‘Thanksgiving’ Blu-ray and the Upcoming Sequel

    Who else is in ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’?

    Emma Thompson and Renée Zellweger in 'Bridget Jones's Baby.'
    (L to R) Emma Thompson and Renée Zellweger in ‘Bridget Jones’s Baby.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Alongside Zellweger, Hugh Grant will return as the dashing Daniel Cleaver, who is likely a little less roguish now he’s an older man (but don’t hold your breath). And we’ll see more of Emma Thompson, who played Dr. Rawlings, Bridget’s OB/GYN in ‘Bridget Jones’s Baby’. We have to assume that she’s still part of Bridget’s life.

    New to the story this time are Chiwetel Ejiofor and Leo Woodall (the latter of which appeared in ‘The White Lotus’ and more recently, in ‘One Day’), but Deadline’s story on the casting makes no mention of who they’re playing.

    Who is making ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’?

    Andrea Riseborough as Leslie in director Michael Morris' 'To Leslie.'
    Andrea Riseborough as Leslie in director Michael Morris’ ‘To Leslie.’

    Michael Morris, whose last film ‘To Leslie’ was the subject of some controversy over star Andrea Riseborough’s Oscar campaign, will direct. Morris also has experience from TV series such as ‘Better Call Saul’, ‘Extrapolations’ and ‘Bloodline’.

    No word on who is writing the script this time, though Thompson co-wrote the screenplay for the last movie.

    When will ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’ be in theaters?

    Working Title and Universal have set a Valentine’s Day 2025 release date for the new movie.

    Renée Zellweger and Colin Firth in 'Bridget Jones's Diary.'
    (L to R) Renée Zellweger and Colin Firth in ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’:

    Buy ‘Bridget Jones’ Movies On Amazon

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  • Renée Zellweger Films You May Have Forgotten

    Renée Zellweger Films You May Have Forgotten

    When asked, Renée Zellweger will tell you that Judy Garland has been playing on various records players in her homes all throughout her life. “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” is one of her karaoke go-tos. She’s even worn gowns inspired by Garland’s. So as you prepare to hear her name mentioned non-stop throughout awards season, we thought it was the perfect time to bring up some of Zellweger’s performances that deserve some love.

     

    ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation’ (1995)

    The fourth in the series, Next Generation certainly has the loftiest goals of the franchise. Starring Zellweger as Jenny and her Texan pal Matthew McConaughey as the unstable Vilmer, she screams and runs and hides from the Sawyer family, only to learn that they are part of a secret society, and that Leatherface now wears drag. Some prom night.

     

    ‘Empire Records’ (1995)

    With nostalgia at an all-time high, it’s hard to imagine this film being one you “forgot,” but we wanted to make sure we mentioned it anyway. On Rex Manning Day, the staff of a record store in Delaware deals with the possibility of the store closing, shoplifters, squabbles, and unrequited love. Zellweger plays Gina, a sweet-but-misguided fan of Rex Manning (Maxwell Caulfield) who gave entirely new context to utilitarian aprons as outerwear.

     

    ‘A Price Above Rubies” (1998)

    While the critical reception of the film was mixed, there was no denying that Zellweger had a knack for drama that would hint at how she carried future roles. Playing a Hasidic Jew named Sonia who has just given birth to her first child, she finds herself torn between honoring her family and honoring her needs as a woman and partner. This leads her to an affair with her brother-in-law (Christopher Eccleston) to devastating short-term results.

     

    ‘One True Thing’ (1998)

    Who here has grown up with a vision of their parents that propels them through life, shaping their interactions and sense of self, only to see it break down with age, like a spiritual version of their joint health/skin elasticity? Zellweger in this film plays such a kid, Ellen, who writes for New York Magazine. Her mother, Meryl Streep, has been diagnosed with cancer, so despite their never having gotten along, she comes home. While she’s there, she sees her parents through an adult’s eyes, and she realizes that the ideas she grew up believing may be completely outdated.

     

    ‘Down With Love’ (2003)

    Taking place in 1962, Down With Love is a tribute to films of that era like Pillow Talk, where women seize their moment as newly-appreciated members of the work force that happen to look great in monochromatic outfits. Zellweger plays an author encouraging women to love freely and live loudly, and in hopes to promote the book, agrees to meet a male author Catcher Block (Ewan MacGregor) who is as “traditional” as she is “wild.” Through a series of zany events, they work to excel at being the other’s arch enemy, but barely know what the other even looks like.

  • ‘Judy’ Trailer: Renée Zellweger Lives Judy Garland’s Last Days

    ‘Judy’ Trailer: Renée Zellweger Lives Judy Garland’s Last Days

    Roadside Attractions

    The curtains come down on Judy Garland’s bright, bold, tragic life in the new full-length trailer for “Judy.

    Renée Zellweger transforms into the iconic actress and singer for the biopic, which takes place in the winter of 1968, when the 47-year-old arrives in London to performa  series of sold-out concerts at the Talk of the Town nightclub.

    The film examines her stormy relationships with her family, managers, musicians, and fans.

    Zellweger reportedly took music lessons and studied Garland’s choreography from the Talk of the Town shows. She also underwent extensive hair and makeup sessions while filming.

    “Judy” also stars Finn Wittrock as Mickey Deans (Garland’s fifth husband), Michael Gambon as manager Bernard Delfton, Rufus Sewell as Sid Luft (her third husband), and Gemma-Leah Devereux as a young Liza Minnelli.

    “I had always wanted to make a film that explores great performance and its cost,” said director Rupert Goold in a statement. “For over 40 years Judy Garland had laughed and loved and entertained no matter what life threw at her, and her public adored her for it. But she paid a price in a childhood lost to Hollywood, an emotional exhaustion and a yearning for a ‘normal’ life beyond the rainbow.”

    “Judy” opens in theaters September 27.

  • New ‘What/If’ Trailer Pops Indecent Proposal From Renée Zellweger

    New ‘What/If’ Trailer Pops Indecent Proposal From Renée Zellweger

    Netflix

    “Nothing worthwhile is ever achieved without sacrifice,” Renée Zellweger notes in the first full-length trailer for “What/If,” Netflix’s “neo-noir social thriller.”

    As the trailer lays out, the question of sacrifice is put to Jane Levy’s character, a woman who owns a start-up that Zellweger’s eccentric tech investor is willing to fund. But there’s a catch: She wants to spend a night with Levy’s husband, played by Blake Jenner. Will Levy sacrifice marital happiness to get her company off the ground?

    The choice triggers a feud between the two women that seems to spiral into dark territory. Levy expresses deep regret at ever meeting Zellweger, while Jenner asks the latter, “How many more people need to be hurt before you get what you want?”

    Created by “Revenge’s” Mike Kelley, the 10-episode first season explores the ripple effects of what happens when acceptable people start doing unacceptable things.

    “What/If” premieres May 24 on Netflix.

  • ‘Judy’ Teaser Trailer Transforms Renée Zellweger Into Judy Garland

    ‘Judy’ Teaser Trailer Transforms Renée Zellweger Into Judy Garland

    Roadside Attractions

    Renée Zellweger is going “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

    The Oscar winner sings the classic song in the first teaser trailer for “Judy,” the biopic chronicling the life of icon Judy Garland. Zellweger plays Garland in the winter of 1968, when the 47-year-old arrives in London to performa  series of sold-out concerts at the Talk of the Town nightclub.

    The film examines her stormy relationships with her family, managers, musicians, and fans.

    Zellweger reportedly took music lessons and studied Garland’s choreography from the Talk of the Town shows. She also underwent extensive hair and makeup sessions while filming.

    “Judy” also stars Finn Wittrock as Mickey Deans (Garland’s fifth husband), Michael Gambon as manager Bernard Delfton, Rufus Sewell as Sid Luft (her third husband), and Gemma-Leah Devereux as a young Liza Minnelli.

    “I had always wanted to make a film that explores great performance and its cost,” said director Rupert Goold in a statement. “For over 40 years Judy Garland had laughed and loved and entertained no matter what life threw at her, and her public adored her for it. But she paid a price in a childhood lost to Hollywood, an emotional exhaustion and a yearning for a ‘normal’ life beyond the rainbow.”

    “Judy” opens in theaters September 27.