Latest news with #RayLiotta
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Cycling great Thomas bids emotional Tour farewell
There is a scene in Goodfellas, a continuous one-take shot as iconic as the film itself, where the protagonist Henry takes his future wife Karen to an exclusive club, skipping the queue by entering via a backdoor, walking through a vast, winding kitchen and into the dining room, handing out cash and fleeting niceties to the scores of different people he passes along the may have seen it even if you have not watched the film. A table is then specially brought to the new couple, played by Ray Liotta and Lorraine Bracco, in a prime position near the stage, and a fellow diner sends over Sunday night in Paris, walking alongside Geraint Thomas making his way from the Tour de France finish line to his team bus felt like a cyclist's reimagining of that the 39-year-old is retiring at the end of the year, this was his final Tour, a chance to bid farewell to the race that made him a national hero when he won it in 2018. And everybody wanted a piece of in his kit, on his bike and with his five-year-old son Macs sat on the handlebar, Thomas could barely move without a hand reaching out for a high five. As he wheeled past rival team buses, riders and coaches were constantly calling his name, falling over themselves to congratulate the achievements elevate one's status in Paris like wearing the yellow jersey as the Tour de France champion, crowned atop the podium in the shadow of the Arc de he was not victorious this year, Thomas was still in demand, given his 18-year association with this grand old was the youngest rider at the Tour de France in 2007, the champion 11 years later, and now the oldest participant in cycling's greatest race - the only man in the Tour's long and storied history to have been all three."It's been amazing," Thomas told BBC Sport Wales. "Looking back, I never thought I'd be doing 14 Tours and to win it was just bonkers. I can look back with fond memories."It was something I always dreamed of doing so to have just done it and be in Paris once is special you know. To do 14 is unreal really, one hell of a journey."I'm not one to be too sentimental and look back or whatever, you're always sort of thinking of the next thing. But I guess when it comes to the end there's nothing else to look forward to is there?" Thomas is not an outwardly emotional or demonstrative person by nature, but the Tour is a race like no other, a cultural phenomenon that transcends is the reason why Thomas, as a child, begged his parents for a Eurosport subscription, why he rushed home from school to watch on TV, hooked on a sport which was something of an alternative curiosity when it came to the sporting order of things in the UK in the Tour, however, has always cut through. Mention the yellow jersey to almost anyone and they will think of this race, regardless of whether or not they've actually ever watched is why Thomas has often said that it was winning the Tour that really changed his after successive Olympic gold medals and several world titles, he was only occasionally recognised even in his home city of Cardiff when he went out with friends and once he became Tour champion, Thomas was hurled into a different was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year, sat next to Nicole Kidman on Graham Norton's sofa and exchanged shirts with Lionel Messi at the Camp Nou. There were backstage passes for an Elton John concert too, what with Thomas signed up by Sir Elton's of that was remotely normal for a cyclist, regardless of how successful or likeable Thomas might be. Cycling is not a sport that lends itself to a glamorous have to sacrifice their family lives, their social lives, their diet – pretty much everything – to make it to the there is the colossal physical effort the sport was Thomas' 14th Tour, during which he has cycled for more than 1,000 hours and in excess of 26,000 miles – which is longer than the circumference of the still only makes up a fraction of the distances he will have clocked in all his other races and training sessions; literal years spent on a wonder, then, that he was ready to call it a day."It definitely feels like the right time now. It was a super hard race," Thomas said."The Tour is always hard, but the way racing is changing, not just physically, the aggression in the peloton and everything, the respect, everything is changing, so I'm definitely happy to be stepping away now." A decision on what comes next can wait. First, a chance to spend more time with Thomas sealed victory after the final time trial in 2018, the first person he saw after crossing the finish line was his wife Sara, flown in by the team bosses to surprise their new champion. On Sunday, she was by his side once more."It hasn't really hit home yet that this is the last one. We were just walking up the Champs Elysees, seeing the Arc de Triomphe and thinking, 'It's not every day you get to do this'," Sara said."It is a big part of our life but we're both very sure it's the right time to finish and excited for what lies ahead."The highs are amazing but the lows are so incredibly low that sometimes you start thinking if it's worthwhile, but then you get those amazing days again."It's going to be strange. It's going to be quite an adjustment having him always at home. It will be nice for him to do the mundane jobs, like the school pick-up and drop-off. Less travelling and being in one place for longer. I'm looking forward to that."The feeling was mutual."When you actually start to think about everything you've been through, you know, that's when it gets a bit like... yeah, it gets you," Thomas said, his voice breaking a little."They go through so much, just as much as me, if not more because they live the highs, but they live all the lows as well."And it's just been great that Macs has been able to be on the podium with me three times. Special memories."This is not quite the end of the road for Thomas, who will retire fully at the end of this year. Before then, there is time for one final race, September's Tour of Britain which will fittingly finish in a child with dreams of becoming a professional cyclists, Thomas had no Welsh role models whose paths he could follow, so he blazed his own becoming the first Welshman to win the Tour de France – having been only the second to compete in the iconic race – Thomas transformed cycling in his homeland, and secured his own legendary thousands who lined the streets of Cardiff for his 2018 homecoming were proof of that; freshly-converted cycling fans congregating to form the kind of throng usually reserved for Six Nations matchdays in the Welsh is Thomas' Tour legacy."This is where it all stated," Thomas said as he motioned towards the splendour of his Parisian surroundings."I did it my first year as a pro and was the youngest guy then and the oldest guy now, so it's full circle. It's the pinnacle of the sport, it's the biggest bike race in the world."To do 14 is unreal really, one hell of a journey."
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
GTA 6 leak shows new wanted system with smarter police
Source: Rockstar Games There is another GTA 6 leak making waves online that provides a glimpse at perhaps the most sophisticated wanted system in the series to date. Posted by influential fan accounts on social media, the information indicates that Rockstar Games is going all out for a more realistic and engaging law enforcement AI. While as of yet unverified, the leak has generated anticipation among fans, who think that these features have the potential to revolutionize police interactions in open-world games. Leaked wanted system equals smarter cops and strategic richness The leak states that GTA 6's wanted level system will extend way beyond dodging stars. Police response is said to be dynamic based on player behavior, with increased realism and strategic depth. — GTAVI_Countdown (@GTAVI_Countdown) Some of the main leaked features include: Police will be able to interrogate witnesses and suspects at a crime scene Returning to the scene reportedly marks the player as a 'person of interest' with one star Running away from questioning raises wanted level further Playing nice or being cooperative could mean no action by law enforcement beyond that Police units can deploy K9 dogs, tear gas, riot shields, and advanced combat techniques Officers are able to identify your vehicle and set up roadblocks to cut off escape Areas can be cleared of civilians, with police calling for player surrender NOOSE and FIB units attack in waves, intensifying the fight If NOOSE is defeated and there are hostages being held by the player, the FIB can try to negotiate Military employs suppressive fire and grenades and breaks into tactical teams to pin down the players These mechanics work towards building tension and realism so that each police encounter will feel unpredictable and engaging. Fans respond to changes in wanted level and realism in GTA 6 The leak has created a lot of responses within the community. One of the fans posted, "The witness questioning and tactical escalation (dogs, roadblocks, military waves) could really make GTA 6 feel like a living crime world. Excited to see if Rockstar pulls this off, those May 2026 delay rumors might be worth it for this kind of depth." Another posted, "Well if true. Sounds sooo grape and about time we got a wanted system as such." Players are making comparisons to Red Dead Redemption 2's law system and are expecting GTA 6 to expand upon that with more freedom, unpredictability, and repercussions. If the leaked information holds true, GTA 6 could offer the most realistic police system to date in an open-world game. With intelligent AI, tactical escalation, and moral decision-making integrated into every interaction, Rockstar might be on course to create a new benchmark for realism and replayability. As fans eagerly wait for the confirmation, one thing is certain, hopes for GTA 6 have just shot even higher. Also Read: Why GTA 6's launch day has Vice City fans talking about Ray Liotta For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Why GTA 6's launch day has Vice City fans talking about Ray Liotta
Source: Rockstar Games Rockstar Games recently announced that GTA 6 will launch on May 26, 2026, a date that unexpectedly stirred emotions within the Grand Theft Auto community. That's because May 26 also marks the death anniversary of Ray Liotta , the legendary actor who voiced Tommy Vercetti in GTA: Vice City. Fans are now wondering if this date was chosen as a subtle tribute to his legacy. GTA 6's release date shares an emotional connection with Ray Liotta On May 26, 2022, Ray Liotta passed away at age 67. He was best known in the GTA universe for voicing Tommy Vercetti, the sharp-tongued protagonist of GTA: Vice City (2002). With Rockstar now revealing that GTA 6 will launch on May 26, 2026, exactly four years later, fans quickly connected the dots. While Rockstar hasn't officially stated that the release date is a tribute, the coincidence is hard to ignore. The announcement has sparked widespread discussion on Reddit and social media, with many players applauding the potential gesture. Some even believe that Liotta's character or voice might appear in a flashback, easter egg, or in-game homage, though no such inclusion has been confirmed. — GTAVI_Countdown (@GTAVI_Countdown) Fan theories and community reactions continue to grow Across Reddit threads and gaming forums, players have shared heartfelt tributes to Liotta, crediting him for bringing depth and charisma to one of GTA's most iconic characters. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Aparat de sudură cu laser de 9000 W (4 în 1) – o revoluție în sudură! Află mai multe Undo Others have speculated that the Vice City connection in GTA 6, given that the game is set in a modern-day version of Vice City, makes this possible tribute all the more meaningful. Articles from outlets like Gamerant and have picked up the theory, though all confirm that it remains speculative. Nonetheless, Rockstar's history of embedding subtle nods and emotional callbacks in their games gives fans hope that something related to Liotta could appear in GTA 6. Whether intentional or not, the alignment of GTA 6's release date with Ray Liotta's death anniversary has given fans a poignant reason to look forward to the game. Even without official confirmation, the possibility that Rockstar is honoring one of its most beloved voice actors has added emotional weight to the anticipation surrounding GTA 6. Also Read: Death Stranding 2's stunning visuals draw comparisons to GTA 6 trailer For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Daily Mail
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Martin Scorsese details devastating reaction from audiences during the first screening of his iconic 90s film
Martin Scorsese has revealed that the audience walked out in disgust during one of the first ever screenings of Goodfellas. The 82-year-old director recalled how his acclaimed 1990 gangster film had not gone down well with initial viewers due to its unrelenting violence and dark humor. Speaking to audiences at Tribeca Film Festival's 30th Anniversary Screening of Casino at the Beacon Theater on Thursday night alongside Robert De Niro, he said: 'The previews were terrible. They got mad at us. 'The first ten minutes was like an exodus from Egypt. '[They were] walking down the aisle like prophets were beating them out of the theater.' Scorsese reasoned that it was the film's humor and violence that left those early theatergoers shocked. 'Well, to be fair, they hadn't expected... I think they were really upset by… the dark humor of it. The humor and the violence together...' De Niro, who starred in the film as gangster James 'Jimmy' Conway, praised his longtime collaborator for holding 'firm' on his vision of the project. 'He's so tough with the pressure of making a movie and the money,' he said. Goodfellas, adapted from Nicholas Pileggi's book Wiseguy, famously starred Ray Liotta as American mobster Henry Hill and Joe Pesci as hardened criminal Tommy DeVito. Despite the unsavory first reviews, the picture would go on to gross $47 million at the box office against a budget of $25 million. The film – which is regarded as one of the best ever to be made – also achieved worldwide acclaim and received an impressive six Academy Awards nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. Pesci won Best Supporting Actor for his role as Tommy. Turning his attention to the connection between Goodfellas and Casino, which was released five years later in 1995, Scorsese said: 'The idea was to take the last 15 minutes before he [Henry Hill] gets arrested in Goodfellas and make that one film: let's take that even further and just go.' 'Goodfellas is like a stand-up routine,' he added. 'You take that and extend that and see how far it can stretch until it all blasts away.' Giving advice to the filmmakers of today, Scorsese implored up and coming directors to not lose their 'amateur' status. 'Often if you get a bigger budget, it's worse in terms of production,' he said. It's horrible issues. 'It's also the more money the more risk and therefore the pressure means taking less chances aesthetically and artistically.' He said that the love one has for the art form is 'the thing you've got to hold onto with all the money flying around.'
