J. Kim Murphy “This is the only person to run a studio who knows how to make a movie,” director Allan Arkush exclaimed, hailing his former boss Roger Corman in front of a sold-out crowd at the Aero Theater in Santa Monica Saturday evening.
13.09.2023 - 16:03 / variety.com
Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer In his new documentary “Superpower,” Sean Penn assesses Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia and the meaning of the word “freedom” in a world gone mad. He’s also revisits his own past with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, a moment that Penn calls a dark memory from decades before he would meet up with embattled Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In the doc, Penn recalls a 2001 visit to the Moscow Film Festival where his directorial effort “The Pledge” was premiering.
He and the film’s lead Jack Nicholson had a brief meeting with Putin, a photograph of which is shown in “Superpower.” “We did have a chance to talk for about 20 minutes of that night, one-on-one,” Penn told Variety during an on-camera interview about his Paramount Plus original, a companion to Stephen Rodrick’s lush profile of the actor for this week’s Variety cover. “President Bush had just recently had the famous meeting, where he said he looked [Putin] in the eyes and he knew he could trust him. I don’t think that my insights were any deeper than President Bush’s,” said Penn.
“I think he knew how to be impressive and to guide the conversation … he knew that I would be interested. I had two kids, and he talked about his. He talked about Judo, and he talked about things that I’m sure he was well-practiced at talking about, depending upon who his target was, to just not do his country any damage in conversation.
He was sort of reptilian, but I would say I didn’t feel an abundance of respect shown from him towards anyone in the room. It was more a, ‘What’s my next move?'” Bush was not the only American president Penn touched on in relation to Putin. Variety asked about the future of Ukraine’s independence efforts and how it
.J. Kim Murphy “This is the only person to run a studio who knows how to make a movie,” director Allan Arkush exclaimed, hailing his former boss Roger Corman in front of a sold-out crowd at the Aero Theater in Santa Monica Saturday evening.
Michaela Zee Richard Gere‘s breakout role in 1980’s “American Gigolo” might have made him a household name, but that didn’t mean the actor wanted to be labeled a “sex symbol,” according to veteran British talk show host Michael Aspel. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Aspel recalled Gere’s appearance on his talk show “Aspel and Company” in 1989.
A Ukrainian family are hoping to live a more 'peaceful' life in Edinburgh after escaping the war in Ukraine. Alexander and Yana Savko moved to the capital with their three children for 'refuge' as the war in their home country continues to rage.
Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer Sanna Marin is going from the House of Parliament to the Soho House, as the former Prime Minister of Finland has signed with talent management firm Range Media Partners. Marin sparked global media interest in 2019 when her election to Finland’s highest office made her the youngest prime minister in history at age 34. Range will help the politician explore opportunities in media and entertainment including TV, film, audio and brand partnerships.
Superpower director Sean Penn isn’t mincing words in his denunciation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer The biceps and bro love will flow freely this December, as a new sports drama starring Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White has been given the greenlight to conduct publicity from striking union SAG-AFTRA. “The Iron Claw,” about the ill-fated American pro wrestling family the Von Erichs, has received an interim agreement from the actors guild – meaning its stars are clear to promote the film around the world before it sees a wide release this holiday season.
EXCLUSIVE: Sony Pictures Classics is in exclusive negotiations to acquire Daddio, the Christy Hall-directed two-hander starring Sean Penn and Dakota Johnson. The film established itself as a bright spot in its premiere at Telluride and then at Toronto. SPC will get North America, Latin America and territories throughout Europe and Asia.
Sean Penn and his girlfriend Olga Korotyayeva are enjoying some quality time with friends.
Major stage and musical performers showed for Joe Biden’s reelection campaign on Monday, with a Broadway for Biden fundraiser in which the president quipped about his age but also put the campaign in stark terms.
Superpower, Sean Penn and Aaron Kaufman’s doc about Ukraine’s fight for freedom, is getting a launch in the war-torn Eastern European country today.
Sean Penn urged the White House to take a more aggressive approach toward arming Ukraine, telling a crowd at a screening of his film Superpower that those who are influencing U.S. policy “need to get out of the pure caution business.”
At this point, we’re almost two years removed from Will Smith‘s infamous on-stage slap of host Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars ceremony. So why is Sean Penn still talking about it? Well, it’s partially to drum up hype for his upcoming doc about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who wasn’t allowed to speak about Russian’s invasion of his country at the Academy Awards that year.
Will Smith‘s slap at last year’s Oscars.In a recent cover story for Variety, the Oscar-winning actor questioned why his peers stood and applauded Smith’s Best Actor win for Kind Richard, just moments after he walked onto the stage and slapped host Chris Rock for making a joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith’s hair.Smith, who is subsequently serving an Oscars ban until 2032, has apologised for his outburst numerous times.“I don’t know Will Smith. I met him once.
Sean Penn is still furious with Will Smith for his Oscars outburst!
Sean Penn was truly angered by Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars.
Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, the notoriously hot-tempered Sean Penn is questioning why he was jailed for a similar incident.“I don’t know Will Smith. I met him once,” Penn, 63, told Variety in a new interview. He seemed very nice when I met him.
Sean Penn is promoting the new documentary he co-directed, “Superpower”, which focuses on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the stand taken by the Ukrainian people to defend their homeland, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
he told Variety. So he came up with a negotiation he could pitch to studio heads with a camera crew in the room.“So you want my scans and voice data and all that.
Sean Penn is getting candid about politics and the Oscars.
Sean Penn’s house. Small talk is made about how the coffee table in his living room looks like a junk drawer just exploded on it. There are sunglasses, prescription bottles and a device that shoots salt at mosquitoes.