Movies profoundly impact how we perceive various aspects of life, from sports to hobbies and even gambling. The portrayal of activities in films can draw significant attention and influence public behavior. A prime example is the Netflix series "The Queen's Gambit," which sparked a global resurgence in chess. According to CNN, the orders for chess sets surged by 87%, while chess book sales skyrocketed by 603%. The series drove millions to online chess platforms like Chess.com, elevating the game to unprecedented popularity.
27 Latino Organizations sent an open letter in support of the release of BLUE BEETLE. The Warner Bros. film starring Latinos and made by Latinos could be a game changer for Latino representation in the superhero genre, but the WGA and SAG/AFTRA strike is preventing the actors and writers from promoting the superhero movie. The open letter (read below) supports the strikes but hopes the pause won't harm the advancement of representation and Latino creatives.
The new WEIRD: THE AL YANKOVIC STORY trailer hits all the usual biopic tropes on purpose in a parody story for the artist whose claim to fame is parodying popular songs. Evan Rachel Wood stars as Madonna who took him down the wrong path but that may be a running joke. Watch the very funny trailer for the movie which will premiere on the Roku Channel on November 4.
Paramount Network released a new teaser trailer for Yellowstone Season 5 premiering Sunday, November 13 with a two-hour premiere. The short preview titled, "All Will Be Revealed" features the Dutton family members. Guess it's time to review season 4 to refresh what exactly will be revealed.
The film genres that have grown in popularity in America American cinema and television is built from a rich tapestry of story-telling, with multiple genres contributing to the nation’s culture of entertainment. Some classic formats have been with us for generations, while others have arrived more recently.
In this article, we will examine the genres of film in more detail, including some that have long existed in the margins of the mainstream, but which in recent years have evolved to become a more integral part of the cinema, as well as modern streaming channels.
American Cultural Shifts
Before we get down to business, let's set the scene. By its nature, the USA is a melting pot of cultures, with each delivering something that has impacted on how Americans are entertained. But there are other factors at play that also shape this landscape.
Indeed, changes in the very law under which we live are having an impact on entertainment culture in America. One example of this is the deregulation of the gambling sector, which has given rise to the proliferation of online casinos across States, as this article shows.
Emigration, globalization and the communicative power of the internet are perhaps the biggest catalysts behind the changing modes of entertainment in America, including genres of film, but the impact had by changes to the law should not be overlooked.
Which Genres are Growing in Popularity?
There is data available that shows the changing popularity of genres in the cinema and the stats are interesting to break down. For the following genres, we will refer to changes in their popularity over the last 100 years.
A true classic of American cinema, action films have remained very popular for generations, with a spike around the 1970s and 80s helping to rekindle Americans’ love affair with the genre. Today, around 10% of films receiving general release are classed as action.
Sci-fi
This is the first genre on our list that has really experienced an upturn in popularity during the last 50 years. America’s forays into space throughout the middle of the 20th century helped drive interest in what lies beyond our atmosphere, while the runaway success of the Star Wars franchise gave the genre a major boost.
We’re remembering our courageous princess, the iconic Carrie Fisher on her birthday. pic.twitter.com/aGmlZ66jO4
Documentaries have enjoyed a sharp increase in popularity during the last 20 to 30 years. For centuries, knowledge has been gained from books, newspapers and, latterly, the radio, but, as film capabilities have increased, so too have film-makers’ abilities to engage cinema-goers factually.
Horror
Another classic genre, horror has continued to rise in popularity past the turn of the century. New CGI technology has helped film-makers depict frightening images like never before, while modern film-making techniques have turned “jump scares” into a true art form.
Thriller
Somewhere between action and thriller, you will find the final genre on our list – thriller. Thriller films have grown steadily in popularity during the last 75 years, with more advanced technology again playing a key role in story-telling and keeping audiences engaged.
As technology grows in ability and society moves through ever-evolving landscapes and events, it's unavoidable that the focus of entertainment will continue to change. How that will manifest, though, remains to be seen.
Players across the globe are once more beginning to enjoy the game of bingo en masse. Yes, that’s right, the classic game is making a triumphant return both in halls and online with players everywhere.
Both are massive movie production hubs, and both are very popular in parts of the world, but Hollywood and Bollywood movies are very different. Primarily because one embodies the artistry of the United States while the other draws from India’s many cultures, there are stark differences between movies from both despite the often playing into the same themes.
Much has been written about which are the best, and worst casino films out there. But what about the actors that make the films? In this article, we will take a look at three of the curious, compelling, and captivating characters from the silver screen.
Stu Ungar
Stu Ungar was a professional gambler and was widely regarded as the best gin and Texas Hold’Em player of all time. He is one of only two people in the world who have managed to win the World Series of Poker three times. Immortalized in the film “High Roller”, Ungar was played by Michael Imperioli. While the film wasn’t a widespread box office hit, it did win awards at the Nashville Film Festival, San Diego Film Festival, and the PRISM Awards. Famed for his arrogance, Imperioli nails the role, making gripping and realistic viewing from start to finish. While this is something of a cautionary tale, it is also a valuable insight into human nature and what drives professional gamblers.
Ben Campbell
The character of Ben Campbell has a promising future ahead of him but cannot afford the tuition fees. Instead, he applies for a scholarship that would cover the cost but competition is stiff. After impressing his professor, he ends up being roped into a blackjack team that uses card counting and covert signaling to increase their chances of winning.
Cue a tale of cheating, near misses, losses, wins, and everything in between. 21 is a gripping tale of the highs and lows of the gambling world and Jim Sturgess in the role of Ben is not to be missed.
What makes Ben a fascinating character is that he is relatable. You probably went to school with a kid like him - or perhaps you're as smart as he is yourself.
The only difference is when you are looking for the latest casino offers, it's fairly simple to browse through some of the top casino offers and promotions and give yourself a head start as you hit the tables. You don't have to stick to blackjack either. There are deals on slots and roulette available, too.
Sam “Ace” Rothstein
Ok so maybe Ace was not much of a gambler himself but he is still one of the most iconic gambling-related characters of all time. With Robert de Niro taking on the role, supported by Jose Pesci and Sharon Stone, this all ensemble cast worked on one of Scorcese’s finest pieces.
Ace is a Jewish-American gambling expert who lands a job overseeing the casino operations at the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas. The story follows brushes with the mafia, the breakdown of his relationships and various other difficulties he encounters. Based on a real character, de Niro’s portrayal of Ace won him critical acclaim and he became an icon of casino movie culture.
From career-kickstarters to insights into the human psyche and even a lesson or two in the ins and outs of the game of blackjack, some fascinating real-life tales have fuelled the world of casino-based cinema for many years. We can't wait to see what's next.
As one of India’s most major contributions to entertainment, Bollywood is no slouch. Each year, Bollywood sells more tickets and produces more films than its Hollywood counterpart, all while having considerably lower average budgets for both advertising and production. Despite a slow start internationally, Bollywood is increasingly making headway in foreign markets, including the all-important stalwarts of the United States and China.
The widespread popularity of the Deal or No Deal television show has had a huge impact across the planet. How did such a simple game end up being so successful in so many different ways?
Hollywood loves adapting content to the big screen, whether it’s books, anime, or video games. It’s a formula that sort of works because the source material already has a fanbase audience. But for various reasons, film adaptations of things are a tricky business. Like taking the 8-book Dark Tower series and trying to compress it into a bizarre, nearly irrelevant plot, or the absolute absurdity of the Super Mario Bros film that proves the early 90s were a very strange time.
The idea of crossovers between different types of entertainment is old as entertainment itself. In the many forms that this has taken over the decades, few suffer the poor reputation which arises from mixing video games and movies. This is not without reason, as some of the worst movies of all time, like the Super Mario Brothers adaption, are abominations not even worth watching to laugh at. Recently, however, this trend is being bucked.
The organizers behind San Diego's Comic Con announced they still plan on holding the July 23-26 convention this summer even as medical experts predict this coronavirus pandemic may extend until September. The annual event is the hottest ticket in San Diego, but the prospect of attending an overcrowded convention may not be ideal to many. While many have wished for years to get a hard-to-get ticket to attend, this year may be different. So we wanted to take a poll to see whether you'll take the chance and a make the trek to San Diego this summer.
There may be tons of tickets available for #SDCC2020 this year as organizers say they plan to still hold the fan convention. Would you go this year given the #coronavirus situation?
In between all the original productions and straight-to-VOD titles, Nextflix has some of the best movies out there on its platform right now. The popular streaming service has become an institution for homes across the world, given its big selection of box-office hits and wide appeal to all members of the family. There’s truly something for everyone on there and much of the great content comes from their own in-house production team.
Not everyone can capture Marvel's success story when it comes to superheroes but there is another way. The latest Spider-Man movie, INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE proves there's life for overexposed superheroes like Batman, Superman and the web crime-fighter in animated form. SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE is highly original and groundbreaking for a superhero movie. Warner Bros. did it with THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE, one of the funniest and top favorite Batman movies of all time, so perhaps they should consider taking Superman the same route. Here's why.
It seems the ladies’ Power Rangers costume come with a built in bra. In the latest trailer and new images for the movie adaptation, it is clear the Power Rangers outfits are gender specific. If the women have breast plates, do their male counterparts have dick cups?
For the past two years, the Academy Awards has been labeled #OscarsSoWhite, and the controversy has heighted this year with black actors being ignored all together at the 88th Academy Awards. Latinos didn't fare well either in front of thr cameras, but behind the camera, Alejandro G. Iñarritu won back-to-back as Best Director for THE REVENANT and last year for BIRDMAN. THE REVENANT cinematogapher Emmanuel Lubezki also won his third Academy Award. Check out the history of Latino wins in the Academy Awards 88 year history.
Expect to see ANNABELLE the scary doll return to creep out more moviegoers in the near future as the movie passes $250 million at the global hood office.
Sony Studios is taking a page from Marvel Studios’ Avenger films to plant their own seeds for future Spider-Man spin-offs. You have your usual action sequences, the love story, but most importantly, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 spends a lot of time setting up a mythology that ties into future Spider-Man films for the next decade.
It's looks like it's going to be the usual suspects at the Golden Globe Awards in 2014. Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Judy Dench, Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese are some of the familiar faces that are always nominated, but the good news is that there is much more diversity this year.
