Richard Curtis' new animated film, 'That Christmas,' streaming on Netflix, shares thematic similarities with his classic 'Love Actually,' featuring interconnected storylines set during the festive season. The film adapts three of Curtis' children's books and includes a playful nod to 'Love Actually' with a scene from the movie, which Curtis humorously claims was added without his prior knowledge. Directed by Simon Otto, the film explores Curtis' fondness for hyperlink cinema, drawing inspiration from directors like Robert Altman.
At the 2024 Governors Awards, Rashida Jones emotionally accepted an honorary Oscar on behalf of her late father, Quincy Jones, who passed away two weeks prior. The ceremony, which serves as both a celebration and a networking event for Oscar contenders, also honored Richard Curtis for his charitable work, casting director Juliet Taylor for her extensive career, and James Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael J. Wilson with the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. The event featured performances and speeches from notable figures like Jennifer Hudson and Hugh Grant.
The 15th Governors Awards honored industry legends including the late Quincy Jones, casting director Juliet Taylor, Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, and filmmaker Richard Curtis. The event, attended by Oscar hopefuls like Angelina Jolie and Paul Mescal, featured emotional tributes, including Rashida Jones accepting her father's honorary Oscar. The ceremony also highlighted the philanthropic efforts of Curtis and celebrated the legacy of the Bond franchise, with Daniel Craig presenting the Thalberg Award to Broccoli and Wilson.
The 15th annual Governors Awards by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences took place at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles, featuring a star-studded red carpet with celebrities like Kate Winslet, Andrew Garfield, and Pamela Anderson. The event honored Quincy Jones and Juliet Taylor with Academy Honor Awards, Richard Curtis with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, and Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli with the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. The evening also saw reunions from films like Gladiator II and appearances by notable figures such as Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson.
Julia Roberts admits to consciously not being "too friendly" on movie sets, acknowledging her tendency to come across as "really harsh" due to her forthright personality. She revealed that she made a savvy business move during the making of Notting Hill by insisting on changing part of the script to increase the value of subsequent movie offers she received, proudly stating, "Because I am a feminist."
Julia Roberts revealed in a recent interview that she almost turned down the role of Anna Scott in the rom-com "Notting Hill" because she felt uncomfortable playing a movie actress and disliked her costume. Despite her initial reservations, the film's iconic line and unexpected moments have become memorable, and she also shared a surprising anecdote about director Barry Jenkins watching the film without audio.
Julia Roberts revealed that she almost turned down her role in the classic romcom "Notting Hill" because she found it uncomfortable to play a movie actress, a role that hit too close to home. Despite her initial hesitation, she took on the challenge and even incorporated her own clothes into one of the film's iconic scenes. Roberts and the film's writer, Richard Curtis, reflected on the movie's legacy, including the enduring friendship between them and the viral live-tweet thread from Barry Jenkins.
Julia Roberts revealed that she almost turned down her iconic role in "Notting Hill" because she felt uncomfortable playing a movie actress and disliked the idea of people thinking the character was based on her. Despite her initial reservations, the film became a hit, grossing over $300 million worldwide and earning her a Golden Globe nomination. Roberts also shared that she turned down another romantic comedy, "You've Got Mail," but has no regrets about her choices, believing it's all destiny.
"Genie" is a holiday film written by Richard Curtis and starring Melissa McCarthy, where a genie helps a man repair his fractured family. The film features numerous jokes about characters carelessly uttering "I wish," but it falls short of becoming a holiday classic and lacks the charm of Curtis' previous work, such as "Love Actually." McCarthy delivers a warm and engaging performance, but the film's special effects and comedic supporting roles are underwhelming.
The casting director of the Christmas classic film Love Actually, Fiona Weir, has admitted that Keira Knightley was too young for her role as Juliet in the movie. Knightley was only 18 at the time, but her "open, joyous quality" won over director Richard Curtis. Weir believes the casting worked and that audiences believed Knightley's character was married to Chiwetel Ejiofor's character and the object of Andrew Lincoln's character's love. Knightley filmed Love Actually before heading off to star in the first Pirates of the Caribbean film.
Scarlett Curtis, the feminist daughter of filmmaker Richard Curtis, criticized her great-great grandfather Sigmund Freud as "sexist and horrible" and called out her father for making size jokes in his films during a literary festival interview. Curtis admitted that his daughter made him realize the insensitivity of his jokes and expressed regret for his past work. Scarlett, a feminist writer and activist, has curated a bestselling book and made her TV writing debut this year. She has been vocal about issues of representation and diversity in the film industry.
Filmmaker Richard Curtis, known for movies like "Love Actually," is curating a stage show called "Christmas Actually" that will feature live music, performance, poetry, and comedy. The show, which is not a sequel to "Love Actually," will serve as a fundraiser for charity Comic Relief. Curtis hopes to create a fun and surprising experience for all the family, with some celebrity appearances. Additionally, Curtis is also working on an untitled Christmas-themed film for Peacock, starring Melissa McCarthy, Paapa Essiedu, and Marc Maron.
