A 150-year old painting has left art lovers speculating, as its subject appears to be scrolling on an iPhone.
13.04.2023 - 23:25 / deadline.com
It is hard to look at any movie with “Exorcist” in its title and not immediately think of William Friedkin’s eternal 1973 Oscar-winning horror classic that is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Nevertheless there have been dozens of films of various stripes that have tried to conjure their own magic in this sub-genre, but none that have managed to surpass what Friedkin and screenwriter William Peter Blatty did with that brilliant film.
Now though, with a bit of a twist we have a new entry, The Pope’s Exorcist, which is hoping to lure audiences with the promise of the story of an actual exorcist — and not just any run-of-the-mill demon slayer but rather Father Gabriele Amorth, who for 36 years plied his trade at the Vatican, rising to chief exorcist there in 1992 until his death in 2016. Along the way he wrote books, “good ones” as this film notes, An Exorcist Tells His Stories and An Exorcist: More Stories, that were acquired as the basis for the screenplay of the film that also had the good sense to cast Russell Crowe in a witty, colorful and determined portrait of Amorth, who shared many different aspects and stories of his “exorcisms.”
Lest you think this is a biopic with an emphasis on actual events, think again, or just stay until the end-credit roll is over to find out “this is a work of fiction” featuring characters with no resemblance to any living or dead person. In that way what the screenwriters and director Julius Avery have cooked up is a story more familiar in the horror genre focusing on the possession by the devil and subsequent exorcism of a young boy named Henry. But before we get to that we meet Amorth performing another exorcism, one that gets him in hot water (something he was used to)
A 150-year old painting has left art lovers speculating, as its subject appears to be scrolling on an iPhone.
LA Confidential writer James Ellroy has torn into the 1997 film adaptation of his book, calling it “turkey”.Speaking to the Los Angeles Times at the publications Festival of Books event – where he was presented with the Robert Kirsch Award for lifetime achievement – Ellroy slated the film adaptation of his book, which was a box office smash and earned a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars.The writer said he was now free to “disparage” the 1997 crime thriller following director Curtis Hanson’s death in 2016.“People love the movie ‘L.A. Confidential,’” Ellroy told the publication.
Can you imagine the iconic drama "Gladiator" without Russell Crowe? It was in the realm of possibility, according to Crowe himself, who admitted he almost left the project for a multitude of reasons. "‘Gladiator's' my 20-something movie. I was confident about my abilities as a leading man.
Russell Crowe has had several iconic performances over the course of his decades-long career. However, at the end of the day, the film he will probably be remembered for most is Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator.” This is a film that was nominated for 12 Oscars and won five of them (including Best Picture and Best Actor).
Gladiator is one of Russell Crowe‘s biggest movies and most recognizable roles. However, he recently revealed that he had some hesitations about the part.
How did you get involved in “The Pope’s Exorcist?”I’ll tell you this much, it took me a while to read it because the exorcism genre is done to death. But then I picked it up. And I started reading it.
Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor SPOILER ALERT: This story discusses major plot points, including the ending for “The Pope’s Exorcist” currently playing in theaters. Director Julius Avery has “only seen parts” of William Friedkin’s classic “The Exorcist.” “I’m not a massive aficionado of exorcist movies,” he tells Variety. Yet despite that, his latest release, “The Pope’s Exorcist,” which is based on Gabriele Amorth’s books “An Exorcist Tells His Story” and “An Exorcist: More Stories,” follows the Vatican’s chief exorcist to Spain. Played by Russell Crowe, Father Amorth teams up with a priest, Father Esquibel (Daniel Zovatto), to investigate a young mother, Julia (Alex Essoe), and her children, who have recently become possessed by a powerful demon.
Five wide releases hit theaters this weekend, but Illumination and Universal’s Super Mario Bros. Movie will reign supreme with a second weekend, -60% of $58M. Already the plumbers have plunged a running stateside total through nine days of $260M, with $300M+ this weekend in sight.
Como se dice, “What the hell?”The priest, whose beard is mysteriously much whiter than his hair, is sent to the abbey by the pope — “Charlie’s Angels” style. The building was recently inherited by Julia (Alex Essoe) after the car-accident-impalement death of her husband.
declared of the new movie “The Pope’s Exorcist,” starring Russell Crowe, which hits theaters Friday.The 29-year-old Catholic organization added: “The end result is to instill the conviction that exorcism is an abnormal, monstrous and frightening phenomenon, whose only protagonist is the devil, whose violent reactions can be faced with great difficulty.”There’s more to their ire than Hollywood’s flair for exaggeration. The IAE, it turns out, has a personal beef with the movie.The supernatural horror film takes its inspiration from their late founder, Father Gabriele Amorth (played by Crowe), who held the title of chief exorcist of the Vatican for more than two decades.
Russell Crowe, who features in horror movie “The Pope’s Exorcist, ” is actually not fond of scary films.
The Pope’s Exorcist has been branded “unreliable splatter” by the International Association of Exorcists (IAE).In the trailer and other promotional material, the movie claims to be “inspired by the actual files of father Gabriele Amorth, Chief Exorcist of the Vatican”.“There is actually a real job called the Chief Exorcist in the Vatican,” Crowe explained in the film’s production notes. “Father Gabriele Amorth was a real man who held that office for 36 years, and was involved in tens of thousands of exorcisms.”However, in a statement issues last month, the IAE, which Amorth himself founded in 1990, described the film as “unreliable splatter cinema” (via The Guardian).The statement claimed that the film’s plot, which involves a Vatican conspiracy, raised “unacceptable doubt” as to who “the real enemy is, the devil or ecclesiastical power”.It continued: “The end result is to instil the conviction that exorcism is an abnormal, monstrous, and frightening phenomenon, whose only protagonist is the devil, whose violent reactions can be faced with great difficulty.“This is the exact opposite of what occurs in the context of exorcism celebrated in the Catholic church in obedience to the directives imparted by it.”Amorth was president of the IAE until 2000 and died in 2016.
A "Gladiator" sequel is in the works without Russell Crowe, and the actor admitted he’s "slightly jealous." In an interview with Collider promoting his new movie, "The Pope’s Exorcist," Crowe said, "Look, the only thing that I really feel about it is slightly jealous, you know? Because I was a much younger man, obviously, and it was a huge experience in my life." He continued, "It's something that changed my life, really. It changed the way people regarded me and what I do for a living, and, you know, I've been very lucky to be involved in lots of big movies, but the legs on that film are incredible." "Gladiator" earned 12 Oscar nominations, and took home a total of five, including best picture, and best actor for Crowe. "You don't always get that kind of longevity with every film you do, so, it obviously holds a special place in my heart," the 59-year-old said.
Collider of “Gladiator 2,” which will star Paul Mescal and is set for release late next year. “I was a much younger man, obviously, and it was a huge experience in my life,” he further explained. “It’s something that changed my life, really.
Gladiator sequel.Crowe recently confirmed that he is “not involved” in the upcoming sequel to the 2000 film, with Normal People and Aftersun star Paul Mescal rumoured to take the starring role.“I mean, look, the only thing that I really feel about it is slightly jealous, you know? Because I was a much younger man, obviously, and it was a huge experience in my life,” Crowe told Collider.“It’s something that changed my life, really. It changed the way people regarded me and what I do for a living, and, you know, I’ve been very lucky to be involved in lots of big movies, but the legs on that film are incredible.”He added: “Here it is, it’s 2023, and we made that film in 1999.
Russell Crowe is opening up about the Gladiator sequel Ridley Scott has been working on and that will be released in November 2024. The actor, who won an Oscar for his role in the aforementioned movie, is not part of the follow-up and is saying he’s “slightly jealous.”
Russell Crowe has confirmed that he has no involvement in the upcoming sequel to “Gladiator” — but he kind of wishes that he did.
Russell Crowe is feeling some sort of way about the upcoming Gladiator sequel.
Guy Lodge Film Critic On the face of it, “The Pope’s Exorcist” would have you believe that it’s rooted in the real-life experiences of the late Father Gabriele Amorth, the Catholic priest who served for 30 years as the head exorcist of the Diocese of Rome. Its screenwriting credits proclaim as much, for starters, while a surfeit of onscreen dates and locations in the early going lend proceedings the faintest of docudrama veneers; moreover, the film is backed by the non-profit production arm of the Jesuit research university Loyola Marymount, with Loyola rector Father Edward J. Siebert among its executive producers. Even Catholics in high places, it turns out, have a sense of humor: You needn’t wait for the “work of fiction” disclaimer in the closing credits to discern that “The Pope’s Exorcist” is ripely fantastical trash, inspired by Amorth’s work in much the same way that SunnyD is inspired by Florida oranges, and no less enjoyable for those liberties. Rather than the Bible or any of Amorth’s autobiographies, Julius Avery’s film instead swears by the trusty story template shaped by every demonic-possession horror film since “The Exorcist” a full half-century ago, as a hapless American teen is inhabited by an ancient minion of Satan with increasingly yucky, upchucky consequences, while a venerable priest is called upon to clear up the mess.
45th president is being indicted over his alleged involvement in a hush-money scandal — but if his unprecedented legal woes are turned into a biopic it doesn’t look as though Russell Crowe will be playing him.While promoting his new film “The Pope’s Exorcist,” Crowe was asked by Australian Channel Seven Sunrise host Natalie Barr if he would ever consider playing Trump in a film.The typically outspoken Crowe sidestepped a direct response to say he’s “really busy” at the moment.“I’ve got lots, lots, and lots of things to do,” the 58-year-old actor told Barr, looking at the watch on his wrist.The “Gladiator” Oscar winner is not short on roles, starring in four films in 2022, including: “Thor: Love and Thunder,” “Prizefighter: The Life of Jem Belcher,” “The Greatest Beer Run Ever,” and “Poker Face,” which he also directed.Crow is currently in production on a number of films including “Sleeping Dogs,” and recently finished filming “Kraven the Hunter.”His latest film, “The Pope’s Exorcist,” comes out April 14.Trump was indicted last week by a Manhattan grand jury over an alleged $130,000 “hush money” payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. The former president surrendered at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office Tuesday afternoon.The exact charges against Trump will remain under seal until the hearing.