Latest news with #summerblockbuster
Yahoo
27-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The leading man we didn't know we needed is a 50-year-old 'daddy' with a heart of gold
Women love him. Men want to be him. Everyone can't wait to see what Pedro Pascal does next. He can play a romantic lead. He can steal scenes in prestige dramas. He can suit up for Marvel. And he can do it all in a way that makes women — and men — swoon. In the heat of summer blockbuster season, you can't miss Pedro Pascal at your movie theater. 'I'm everywherrrrrrrrrrrrrre 👥👥👥👥👥' Pascal playfully captioned a June Instagram post about one of his latest films, Eddington. And he's right. Right now, he's starring in three of the summer's most talked-about movies: Materialists, Eddington and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. His reign isn't limited to the big screen. In addition to dominating multiplexes, he nabbed another Emmy nomination for his role in The Last of Us and has continued to stir conversation about his fashion sense, viral interview responses and general sense of whimsy. It's a pivotal time for Pascal — a 50-year-old actor finally having the breakout moment he worked for his whole life, generating a rabid fan army that's passionate about his upbeat and empathetic persona. But being everywhere has its price. Pascal truly broke out in January 2023 when he starred as the morally complex post-apocalyptic father figure Joel in The Last of Us, which led to a Saturday Night Live hosting gig, which earned him an Emmy nomination and a key role in Gladiator II. As his stardom was reaching inferno levels ahead of the 2024 awards season, he got hurt tackling Paul Mescal while filming Gladiator II. Then, he got hurt again after falling down the stairs. Being in his late 40s, he couldn't recover as quickly as younger actors who were also breaking out as action heroes. Jason Walsh, Pascal's trainer who has also been his friend since 2014, tells Yahoo he saw Pascal go through 'a downward spiral.' 'When he came to me, he was like, 'I'm broken.' He was very vulnerable psychologically,' he said. Pascal, no stranger to the long road to stardom, began an excruciating journey to recovery. Walsh said he and the actor spent a full year just working on 'restabilizing' his body and helping him overcome the fear of being hurt again. Eventually, through setting small goals and working closely together, Pascal attained the strength needed to become a superhero and do most of his own stunts. 'It's one of my favorite stories, and it happened to a good friend … I'm really proud of him because these stories don't get told, because in the world of fitness, it's all about aesthetics,' Walsh says. 'He looks f***ing great, but this is his version of strength and resiliency. He's able to do all these things.' Yahoo reached out to Pascal's team for comment, but he wasn't able to respond due to his schedule. Walsh can't say enough kind things about Pascal, whom he called 'a beautiful person and so courageous' and 'super intelligent to the point where it's intimidating, in a way, but he doesn't rub your face in it.' Pascal's ability to, despite injury, challenge the masculinity norms for middle-aged men in Hollywood stands out to Walsh. 'There's a level of empathy, compassion and love [that is among the] many qualities you don't see in men anymore,' Walsh says. What his friends love about him is also what's won him such a supportive fanbase. That's part of the reason his ascension to superstar happened so swiftly. Once people knew about him, they couldn't get enough. He's just different. 'Vulnerability is a strength' It's no accident that Pascal is ascending at a time when 'toxic masculinity and nationalism' are converging, Deepak Sharma, a culture expert and professor at Case Western Reserve University who uses they/them pronouns, tells Yahoo. 'Pedro offers a kind of masculinity that isn't binary, and people love it,' Sharma explains. 'He presents himself in a way where you can't really pinpoint [his sexuality] … and you see him showing a vulnerable sensibility in his acting and daily life.' Masculinity norms in the Latino community can be even stricter than those in the general population. Pascal knows this firsthand — as the child of Chilean refugees, he has defied stereotypical machismo and advocated for gender equality long before the spotlight was shining brightly on him. Longtime fan Isabelle Deveaux, a 26-year-old who works in the film industry, first became obsessed with Pascal when he appeared in the first season of an FBI drama called Graceland, which premiered on the USA Network in 2013 — before mainstream media took an interest in him in Game of Thrones or The Mandalorian. She tells Yahoo that she tends to keep an eye out for Latinx people in Hollywood like herself. 'He just feels like Princess Diana to me right now. There's a video of him greeting fans out of a car in Mexico City, and I was like, 'That's literally Princess Diana greeting the masses,'' she says. 'He's been grinding for 25-plus years to get where he is, and it wasn't an easy path for him. … I don't think it's a trend. I think it's the fruit of his labor.' Because he's so personable and Deveaux has been rooting for him for so long, she says Pascal feels like one of her friends. That makes her feel even more invested in his success. 'Everything is so bleak, but at least it's Pedro Pascal summer, and I can go see him in everything,' she says. Fans aren't the only people moved by Pascal. The entire Hollywood machine is impressed. Annie Semenova, an acting coach, tells Yahoo that Pascal is —simply put — really good at his job. 'Pascal understands something fundamental that many actors miss: Vulnerability is strength. … He brings a lived-in authenticity that makes audiences feel safe enough to invest emotionally,' she says. 'He's proven he can carry both intimate character studies and tentpole blockbusters because he approaches each with the same level of preparation and emotional honesty.' Fans admire his emotional depth — they aren't just calling him 'Daddy' because he's hot, though he certainly is. The title he's been given isn't exclusively about his looks or his age. He takes on protective roles that inspire people to match his vulnerability with their own. 'It's the natural result of an actor who embodies masculine vulnerability, emotional intelligence and genuine warmth,' Semenova adds. To some, he's Daddy. To others, he's a meme and a progressive icon. All are correct, pop culture historian Marie Nicola tells Yahoo. He's so rare, it's no wonder he inspires such intense fan behavior. 'He's a reflection of us, the audience. Pascal is the first leading man built by the female gaze, the queer gaze and fandom culture — not the male fantasy industrial complex,' she says. 'He belongs to the people' It's also impressive that Pascal has held key roles in several shows and franchises integral to geek culture: the fantasy series Game of Thrones, Star Wars vehicle The Mandalorian, video game adaptation The Last of Us and comic book movie The Fantastic Four: First Steps. He's transitioned seamlessly from franchise to franchise, treating the source material and fandoms involved with dignity and respect. 'He was not cast into stardom. He was assembled — claimed by femmes, nerds, queer fans, Latino communities, moms, dads and those who are emotionally fluent in internet culture,' Nicola explains. 'He belongs to the people who need him to be whatever they want him to be at any given moment, and in that moment, Pascal is always down for it.' Several fans tell Yahoo that they're struck by how Pascal remains politically outspoken in favor of transgender and immigrant rights despite campaigning for major acting awards and leading a blockbuster superhero film. He frequently speaks out on behalf of the LGBTQ community and brings his transgender sister, Lux, to events. That contrasts with the strategy many other stars are employing in the current political climate. Stacy Jones, CEO of influencer marketing company Hollywood Branded, tells Yahoo this is extremely rare — not just the bravery, but the continued widespread support. 'He's walked that tightrope because he leads with empathy, not ego. He doesn't posture. He uses his voice in moments that matter, and audiences respect that,' she explains. 'This current moment [for Pascal] is the result of smart career choices, solid personal branding and real emotional intelligence. He earned trust, and in today's celebrity landscape, trust is the new currency.' On July 17 — with two movies in theaters and a major superhero film on the way — Pascal posted on Instagram about how the Trump administration would soon close the national suicide hotline for transgender youth. ''Maybe kindness is the real punk rock,'' one fan commented on Pascal's post, referencing a line from the new Superman movie, a rare blockbuster the actor doesn't have a role in. Empathy, a rejection of traditional masculinity and activism are not the kinds of things you see a lot from superheroes, but Pascal is in a league of his own — different from his peers in just about every way possible. He is, as his Instagram handle @pascalispunk suggests, punk.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
50 years on, Jaws 'is like the Mona Lisa' - no one should remake it
Just when we all thought it was safe to go back into the water, Jaws returns to celebrate its 50th birthday. Released in 1975, Steven Spielberg's breakout film endured a hellish, high-seas production involving a constantly broken shark and a frequently drunk Robert Shaw. The end result? The summer blockbuster template that Hollywood has tried to replicate ever since. The whole bloody journey is chronicled in Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story. This new film by Spielberg's long-time documentarian Laurent Bouzereau aims to deliver on its titular promise. Produced by Wendy Benchley, wife of late Jaws author Peter Benchley, it gathers plenty of starry faces to celebrate this one-off classic and its impact on Oceanography. Guillermo del Toro, J.J. Abrams, Emily Blunt, James Cameron, Jordan Peele and George Lucas each reveal the impact Jaws had on them as filmmakers and fans. Science boffins discuss the rollercoaster effect it had on shark conservation, one that began with reckless cruelty but ended in increased protections. Meanwhile, Spielberg himself candidly reflects on the whole tumultuous experience, revealing some unexpected takeaways that he's still dealing with today. It's a celebratory look-back that dives deep into the creation and real-world legacy of the movie that changed movies. However, as we endure an age of remakes, reboots and legacy sequels, one element that Bouzereau happily left lost in the depths is whether Spielberg's Great White (playfully nicknamed Bruce after his lawyer) is likely to return to screens. "There are some movies that should not be touched," reasons Bouzereau, suggesting that to remake Jaws, you'd not only need a bigger boat but a damn good reason. "Personally, I feel Jaws captures a flavour that is un-remake-able. It's something that should be preserved." To remake Jaws, you'd not only need a bigger boat but a damn good Bouzereau According to Bouzereau, this very modern quandary was something he put to each of his famous interviewees. However, in the end, he realised it had a very obvious answer. "I did ask that question to everybody in the film but decided not to include it because it just felt like a rabbit hole," he tells Yahoo. "You can really answer it yourself - just look at all the remakes that have already been done on classic films." "Benchley's wife has similar thoughts: Honestly, I don't see any reason to remake it," adds the environmental activist. Over the years, she's seen firsthand how her husband's book and Spielberg's film have impacted fans. "Not only did so many people want to become marine scientists like Hooper but it impacted people in so many different ways," says Benchley, referencing Jaws' loud-mouthed shark expert, played by Richard Dreyfuss. "Families have used it as a teaching tool to get their children interested in the ocean." With a core story focusing on a battle between an unwavering, unstoppable threat that feels more relevant than ever, she feels a reboot would be pretty redundant. "I think every generation that sees it pulls their own meaning, importance and celebration out of it. "It's an age-old story about how people react to a menace they can't control - whether it's Covid, a shark or something else," says Benchley. "Just leave it as it is and let each generation enjoy it in whatever way they want to." Floating the idea of a remake might not be the most welcome news to Spielberg. While discussing his post-Jaws experiences, the filmmaker speaks openly and honestly about the intense levels of post-traumatic stress he was left with after returning from the sea. "There was always the fear that not only were you almost destroyed by Jaws, but also 'How do I top this?'", says the director, commenting on Spielberg's state of mind post-Jaws. "Of course, he did top it with Close Encounters [of the Third Kind] right afterwards - but I could see the anxiety level to which he was able to regress to during our interview. It was quite a moment," admits Bouzereau. "I knew I'd captured an emotional aspect that, if not new, had not been discussed in that manner before." Lingering stresses aside, Bouzereau believes there are too many indelible qualities that stand in the way of any reboot or remake having the same level of audience impact. Bruce's inherent clunkiness is a great example. "Everybody is obsessed with that shark and yet it looks fake," he says, pointing to the screen-used model of Bruce that was saved from decay, recently restored and currently sits high above the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. "And yet, with composer John Williams, [Spielberg] was able to give the shark a voice that we can all relate to. The brilliance of that collaboration alone can't be copied or reproduced. "To me, Jaws is like the Mona Lisa," continues Bouzereau. "It can be copied, but it's never going to match the journey the artist had with it. [A remake] is something I hope never happens - and if it does, I don't think we'll be talking about it for as long as we have been talking about the original Jaws." Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story premieres Friday, 11 July at 8pm on National Geographic and streams the same day on Disney+.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Steven Spielberg Got Candid About Just How Hard Filming Jaws Was And Why He Had 'Consistent Nightmares' About It For Years After They Wrapped
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The stories about the making of Jaws are arguably almost as iconic as the movie itself. The production of the movie that is called the 'first summer blockbuster' was an absolute nightmare to film by all accounts. However, it seems that director Steven Spielberg actually had literal nightmares after making the film due to what was, for him, a truly traumatic experience. In the new NatGeo documentary Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story, available July 10 with a Hulu or Disney+ subscription, Steven Spielberg talks about the experience of directing the eponymous flick, a movie that went significantly over budget and over schedule. The director had an incredibly difficult time getting everything to work during the shoot at Martha's Vineyard, but it was only after filming wrapped that Spielberg really began to have a hard time. He said… When the film wrapped Martha's Vineyard, I had a full-blown panic attack. I couldn't breathe, I thought I was having a heart attack. I couldn't get a full breath of air. I kept going to the bathroom and splashing water on my face. I was shaking. By all accounts, while Spielberg may have been internally panicking during the entire location shoot, he was able to keep himself together. He did a remarkable job in figuring out how to contend with various issues. That includes everything that went wrong with the frequently broken mechanical shark. As crazy as production was, it's wild to think that it wasn't until after the shoot that he apparently really had difficulties. It sounds like he simply let himself go, given that he was at a point where he could lose it a bit without causing problems for the rest of the crew. The Oscar winner says he felt responsible for the shoot being so much longer than it was supposed to be, keeping the crew on location so long. Spielberg continued… It was everything that I had experienced on the island, trying to not only hold myself together, but hold the crew together… I felt really responsible for keeping them there for as long as we had to stay. Following Steven Spielberg's minor breakdown, production on Jaws actually lasted another couple of months after the crew left Martha's Vineyard. Work was done in a water tank at MGM, and various other pickup shots being done anywhere they could do it, including in the swimming pool of the film's editor. The 1975 movie would go on to become the highest-grossing movie ever made at that point, and a massive cultural moment. However, it seems that the film's success did not entirely vindicate Steven Spielberg in his own mind. He says he would continue to have actual nightmares for years afterward, as if he were still directing the movie. He said… I had a real tough time when I finished the movie, and the success was fantastic, but it didn't stop the nightmares. It didn't stop me waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, where the sheets would be soaking wet. We didn't have the words 'PTSD' in those days, and I had consistent nightmares about directing Jaws for years afterwards. I was still on the movie, and the film was never-ending. Of course, Steven Spielberg's filmography speaks for itself, and he would go on to direct some of the most popular and most successful movies ever made. Jaws truly launched his career, but he certainly worked hard, and suffered significantly to get there. I'm not sure if Spielberg is among te the 50th anniversary of the release of his shark-centric thriller film. However, as a fan, I truly believe Spielberg should be proud of what he and his cohorts accomplished all those years ago. Fans can check out Jaws for themselves by streaming it with a Peacock subscription.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
In 'Heads of State,' the special relationship is strictly situational
On its shiny, happy surface, the action comedy 'Heads of State' is so innocuously disposable that it barely merits attention, let alone critique. Anchored by two enormously appealing stars and unfailingly faithful to the strictures of the genre, this summertime programmer — scheduled just in time to divert filmgoers after they've seen 'F1' and before 'Superman' arrives in theaters — is the kind of cheerfully banal, easy lift that feels custom-made for airplane viewing: It might as well come with its own tray table in the open, unlocked position. (Then again, it's available only on Amazon, so … same thing?) John Cena plays U.S. President Will Derringer, a square-jawed, Schwarzenegger-esque former movie star whose biggest role — until the White House, at least — was in a franchise called 'Water Cobra.' Idris Elba plays Sam Clarke, a saturnine British prime minister who very much did not support Derringer's election; the two are headed to a NATO meeting in Trieste when they get word that a joint CIA-MI6 operation has gone awry, with the British agent Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) having gone missing after the decimation of her team. Soon enough, Derringer and Clarke are joining forces in a globe-trotting mission to save Western democracy and their own skins; this is not a special relationship but a situational one, with Clarke's cool English reserve continually butting up against Derringer's can-do naivete. Directed by Ilya Naishuller from a script by Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec and Harrison Query, 'Heads of State' does a nimble job of going through the rote motions: As Derringer and Clarke bond on a road trip that takes them from London to Belarus to Poland and beyond, their bromance is metronomically punctuated by increasingly preposterous seisms of violence; standout scenes include a hair-raising stunt set aboard Air Force One (Harrison Ford, eat your heart out), as well as a pyrotechnical car chase involving the Beast, the bulletproof, heavily armored presidential state car. Real-world adjacencies abound in 'Heads of State,' which centers on a plot to destroy NATO — just days after a NATO summit that was notable for its leaders' obeisance to the current U.S. president, himself a former reality TV star (and, at one point, an outspoken NATO critic). But don't mistake 'Heads of State' for a political satire a la 'Mountainhead,' another small-screen feature that in another era would have played in theaters. The filmmakers here aren't interested in polemic as much as alternating between cartoonish savagery and disarming sentimentalism. Like Cena's fictional president, that combination is quintessentially American, given a congenial sheen with lots of jokes and we're-just-having-fun-here japes, never mind that the guns, grenades, rocket launchers and high-tech crossbows result in fiery carnage and an unholy body count, with nary an unseemly consequence. That's just the kind of PG-13-friendly hypocrisy that is baked into a form of entertainment that Derringer insists on calling 'cinema' (part of the fun of the movie is watching Cena's super-jacked doofus name-check Wes Anderson and Bong Joon Ho). Carping about the promiscuous violence in 'Heads of State' and its ilk is just the kind of scolding that makes Clarke's character such a dreary old stick — a role that Elba leans into with handsome relish. He and Cena — whose self-aware humor is on high alert throughout — develop an easygoing chemistry, and they receive ample support from Jack Quaid, Carla Gugino and Sarah Niles, the last of whom is a bright spot in 'F1.' As a blithely likable blunt instrument, 'Heads of State' gets the job done, justifying its anesthetized mayhem with a sweet-natured message about the importance of friendship, international alliances and institutional continuity. Lessons in filial loyalty by way of fireballs and fusillades: President Derringer might call it cinema, but everybody else knows it's only a movie. PG-13. Available on Amazon Prime. Contains sequences of strong violence/action, language and some smoking. 113 minutes.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'F1' puts audiences with Brad Pitt, Damson Idris behind the wheel of Formula One race car
'F1: The Movie' is a throwback, good ol' summer blockbuster with all of the advantages and flaws associated with such a characterization. It's big, loud, brash with old-timey movie stars (Oh, hi Brad Pitt), stars on the rise (Hey there, Damson Idris) and it exists merely to entertain. In a week where Northeast Ohio is currently baking, it offers the perfect reason to escape to a local theater and not just because it feels like a convection oven outside. 'F1' offers the kind of escapist entertainment that once defined the summer movie season—films unburdened by the weight of expectations stemming from preexisting intellectual property. Truthfully, Formula One, is a property in and of itself, but it's not a world seen on film very often with one recent attempt being the biopic 'Rush.' And it's thoroughly exhilarating to see the race circuit explored via the world of modern filmmaking. The primary reason: Thanks to technology and director Joseph Kosinski's vision, audiences will be thrust into the driver's seat alongside Brad Pitt and Idris Elba, who play rival teammates on a Formula One team led by Ruben Cervantes (Oscar winner Javier Bardem). The team is imploding due to low morale and a lack of wins—both of which have led to financial troubles. In that regard, 'F1' represents an absolute thrill ride, an amusement park attraction come to life with respect to cinematic experience. For those who love being immersed in their film viewing, that's reason enough show up in a theater. Some of us are, however, appreciate the past when minor things such as plot, performances and script are necessary ingredients to that experience. With some exceptions, recent summer blockbusters aren't know for those elements. That's where the pitfalls come with 'F1.' In regards to those aspects, 'F1' can be thoroughly predictable with its story of the grizzled, wily veteran – in this case Pitt's Sonny Hayes – and the suspicious, arrogant wet-behind-the-ears reluctant protégé – Idris' Joshua Pearce – who seems to care more about his social media profile than actually winning. Cervantes obviously brings driver-for-hire Hayes in to force his rookie driver to grow up. Needless to say, that strategy comes with all the tension to be expected. And it doesn't just exist with Pearce. Hayes' arrival causes tension within the organization, especially after Cervantes informs its members that Hayes is auditioning them to see if he wants to join as opposed to the other way around. It's not difficult to predict where this will head. It's familiar ground for director Kosinski, who helmed 'Top Gun: Maverick,' but like any film with these plot points it's a matter of execution. His direction mixed with technology provides the experience. But with Pitt and Idris he has performers who deliver in spades to take it beyond a film completely reliant on the thrills rather than the narrative. Yes, it can be predictable and even cliché, but those elements can easily be forgiven given the overall package. It's a thrill ride, but Pitt easing into a role that requires wisdom rather than smarm and charm is something to relish and in Idris it's not difficult to see he's been mentioned as someone who could play a recast Black Panther. In the case of 'F1: The Movie,' strap in and just enjoy the ride on the biggest screen possible with a premium audio system. George M. Thomas covers a myriad of things including sports and pop culture, but mostly sports, he thinks, for the Beacon Journal. Movie: 'F1: The Movie' Cast: Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon Directed by: Joseph Kosinski Running time: 2 hours 35 minutes Rated: PG-13 for strong language, and action. Grade: B This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: See 'F1' on the biggest screen possible with premium audio
