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'Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood' will be rereleased in theaters with 4 new scenes

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Once Upon a Time in Hollywood 3 Sony

  • Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" is coming back to theaters beginning Friday.
  • According to Sony, the movie will play on over 1,000 screens and will feature 10 minutes of additional footage.
  • During its original theatrical run, the movie brought in over $368 million worldwide, only behind "Django Unchained" (over $425 million) for the highest-grossing Tarantino movie ever.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

 

It's time to cruise through Hollywood again with Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth. 

Sony announced on Wednesday that Quentin Tarantino's hit movie "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" is coming back to theaters beginning Friday.

The movie, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie, will play on over 1,000 locations in the US and Canada, according to the studio. And it will feature 10 minutes of additional footage across four new scenes.

The movie was a critical and box-office hit when it was released in late July, bringing in over $368 million worldwide.

Read more: While doing reshoots of "The Current War," the director added a new scene based on the "bullying" and "intimidation" of working with Harvey Weinstein

Tarantino's ninth movie was a lock to earn over $400 million with a release in China, but the release was pulled. Though no official reason was given, multiple reports said it was, at least in part, because Bruce Lee's daughter, Shannon Lee, had filed a complaint with China's National Film Administration over her father's portrayal in the movie.

"Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" is only behind Tarantino's 2012 movie "Django Unchained" as the director's highest-grossing movie ever. "Unchained" brought in over $425 million worldwide.

SEE ALSO: The lavish budgets of Disney and Apple's upcoming original TV shows make "Game of Thrones" look frugal

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NOW WATCH: How to choose between IMAX, 3D, and Dolby Cinema at the movie theater


10 rules to follow if you want to survive a horror movie disaster

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friday 13th jason horror

  • Horror movies often follow familiar patterns.
  • Those characters who were lucky enough to survive films like "Friday the 13th" and "Scream" can tell you there are certain things you should never do in a horror disaster.
  • Here's exactly what you need to do to survive if you ever find yourself in these characters' shoes.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

The more horror movies you watch, the more you pick up on certain themes.

That's true of any genre, of course — but most characters don't run the risk of sudden, violent death in romantic comedies. 

Related:The 12 worst horror movies of all time

If you ever have the bad fortune to find yourself inside a horror movie, there are a few ground rules you need to follow if you want to survive — stay out of the basement, for one, and under no circumstances should you ever split up from your group.

Unfortunately, some people just can't help themselves, and it usually doesn't turn out well for them.

But if you're looking to survive in a horror movie, follow these 10 pieces of advice.

Move away from haunted houses — or better yet, don't live there in the first place.

Anyone who's seen "The Haunting of Hill House" knows what a bad idea living in a perpetually haunted house can be — but this is a list about movies, not TV shows.

Still, that Netflix series just reinforces what horror films have been driving home since at least"The Amityville Horror," according to Atlas Obscura. That principle also goes for houses built on top of gravesites. What's that you say? Your house is built over a desecrated Native American burial ground? Apart from the fact that the house shouldn't exist, and those remains never should have been disturbed — you also shouldn't live there. So, don't.



Always check the inside of your car — including the backseat and trunk or hatch — before you get into it.

That's not a bad idea for living your life, let alone surviving in a horror movie — if you read, watch, or listen to enough pieces in the true crime genre, you'll hear plenty of real life stories where something bad has happened like this. 

Anyway, '80s slashers like "Ghoulies" and the original "Child's Play" demonstrate very clearly why you should always check your backseat before you get in the car. Of course, if your villain is as tiny as Chucky, it might be easy to miss him with a quick, terrified glance over your shoulder — but trying can't hurt.

Trunks and hatches are good to check too, because in some cars, they connect to the passenger cabin. A villain hiding back there could kick through to the main passenger area and cause you harm.



Don't split up — even to go check something suspicious out.

If you're in a situation with one or more people, don't split up — for any reason. Slacktory posted a great supercut of several horror movie scenes from the 1970s through the 2000s that illustrates exactly why splitting up is very likely to get you killed. 

You might want to send someone to do some recon before your whole group exits the house for the car, or some other very practical scenario. Possibly, you heard a weird noise and want to make sure everything is OK.

Caution is important since, as mentioned elsewhere on this list, a killer could be hiding in your backseat. Still, your party should all go check it out together, instead of sending one or two of your group off to die what will surely be a terrible death. 



If you find an ominous book written in a language you can sort of sound out (but don't really understand), don't read it out loud.

The "Evil Dead" franchise showed you why this is a terrible idea pretty clearly when hero Ash (played by Bruce Campbell) read aloud from the Necronomicon and — surprise! — demons came a-runnin'. 

Would this have happened if he'd just read it quietly, while drinking a beer by the fire? It's unlikely — and of course, would have made a boring movie if he hadn't made such a bad decision. Still, if this is real life and we've learned anything from watching movies like these, this is a rule we should definitely follow.



If you suspect something or someone is haunted or possessed, don't stick around trying to make contact with otherworldly spirits.

I know, you're just curious, and thinking maybe they don't want to kill you or control you to help bring them and their demon buddies into your house, howling as they go. Maybe you want to learn from them. Totally understandable. 

Still, if "Poltergeist" didn't teach us not to mess with malevolent otherworldly spirits, probably nothing will. 



Don't ever go into the basement or attic alone.

It's such a classic horror movie trope that terrible things are happening in basements and attics everywhere. I mean, it makes perfect sense — what other rooms naturally have few or no windows, and are therefore pretty good places to hide dark deeds? 

It's so classic that there was an entire horror film released in 2018 starring Mischa Barton that was simply called "The Basement." 

Go all the way back to Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" from 1960 and where was Norman Bates (played by Anthony Perkins) hiding his dearly departed mother's corpse? The basement, of course. Where did Lila (played by Vera Miles) very nearly die as a result of making this horrifying discovery? Same.



Never, ever say 'I'll be right back' — or any variation on that phrase.

The 1996 horror classic "Scream"made this point pretty clear in a scene where Randy (played by Jamie Kennedy) spelled out a few basic horror movie rules that everyone needs to follow if they want to survive. 

Saying that phrase or a reasonable facsimile thereof is like you're tempting fate — or whatever horror movie monster is after you, at any rate. Don't do it. 



Stay out of the forest.

Unless you're a magical elf who can blend seamlessly into the trees and sneak up on whatever's stalking you, getting lost and bumbling your way through the forest is probably going to result in your death. 

OK, you might think. Am I not safe staying in a nice woodsy cabin, taking a digital detox and getting in touch with nature? Cabin-in-the-woods horror movies became such a trope that they were the inspiration for the parody-homage movie called "The Cabin In The Woods" in 2012.

The film was directed by Drew Goddard (who you might also know from Marvel's "Daredevil" series on Netflix), and neatly illustrates exactly why you should stay out of the woods at all costs.



If you're a woman and you notice that everyone else seems to be dropping like flies around you — congratulations, you're a Final Girl, and you’ll probably survive!

This is an extremely well known trope that is mostly associated with films in the slasher subgenre of horror — but it's a trope for a reason. Basically, if you're a smart and resourceful woman, and you keep your head and don't start randomly tripping over everything in existence trying to run away, you might just make it through this thing alive.



Don't think it's ever over.

In one of the most famous twist endings in the entire horror genre, "Friday the 13th" scares the pants off first-time viewers even now with this ending (spoiler warning).

Just because you think everything has safely returned to normal, doesn't mean that it actually has. After all, there could be a sequel — or an entire franchise! Just ask Jamie Lee Curtis.



'Joker' could make as much money in profit as 'Avengers: Infinity War'

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"Joker" is on its way to making the kind of money that only Disney movies usually take in.

Warner Bros.' box-office sensation has brought in over $745 million at the worldwide box office and is on pace to earn a profit that could be as big as "Avengers: Infinity War" had.

The dark origin story of the legendary DC Comics villain is looking to make at least $464 million in profit, after you factor in TV deals plus streaming and DVD/Blu-ray sales added to its global box office, according to Deadline. And if "Joker" gets up to $900 million globally at the box office, Warner Bros. is looking at a half billion in profit, which is what Disney/Marvel Studios got from "Infinity War," according to the trade.

Read more: "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" will be rereleased in theaters with 4 new scenes

Whatever "Joker" ends up making in profit, it will certainly be an astounding number for a movie that was made for around $60 million (the budget for "Infinity War" was over $300 million).

After "Joker" had the biggest opening weekend ever in October with a $96.2 million take, the movie has been a global hit.

  • It's currently the seventh-highest-grossing movie of 2019 at the domestic box office with $256.2 million (sitting between "It Chapter Two" with $209.8 million and "Aladdin" with $355 million).
  • The movie's global box office makes it Todd Phillips' biggest earner of his career.
  • And on the all-time list of R-rated movies at the domestic box office, "Joker" is only behind Phillips' own "The Hangover" ($277.3 million) to break into the top 10 (it's currently sitting at 11).

It's hard to imagine a scenario where Warner Bros. does not convince Phillips and the movie's star Joaquin Phoenix to return for a sequel. Simply put: the movie has become a cultural phenomenon.

Just look at what's happening in the Bronx. The set of stairs in the New York City borough used to shoot the scene where Arthur Fleck dresses as a clown and dances wildly has become a tourist destination. People who haven't even seen the movie and only know the location from their Instagram feeds have flocked there to take pictures of themselves on the steps.

SEE ALSO: While doing reshoots of "The Current War," the director added a new scene based on the "bullying" and "intimidation" of working with Harvey Weinstein

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NOW WATCH: Alexander Wang explains how to wear all black without looking boring

Why Netflix's 'Dolemite Is My Name' is dedicated to Eddie Murphy's brother, Charlie

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Charlie Murphy Christopher Polk Getty

  • "Dolemite Is My Name" is dedicated to Charlie Murphy, the older brother of Eddie Murphy.
  • Charlie is the one who introduced Eddie to the 1975 blaxploitation classic, "Dolemite," and its sequels.
  • Eddie has been trying to make a movie about "Dolemite" creator Rudy Ray Moore for over a decade.
  • Charlie died from leukemia in 2017.
  • "Dolemite Is My Name" director Craig Brewer told Business Insider that Charlie "seemed like the right person to pay homage to."
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

 

"Dolemite Is My Name" is getting rave reviews with many critics calling it a comeback movie for Eddie Murphy. But none of that would have been possible without Murphy first being introduced to the talents of "Dolemite" creator Rudy Ray Moore by his older brother, Charlie Murphy.

Charlie, who is known best for starring and being a writer for the Comedy Central series, "Chappelle's Show," was such a fan of "Dolemite," the 1975 blaxploitation classic, and its sequels, that he was constantly quoting lines Moore said from the movies to Eddie in their teens. After Eddie became a huge star, he never forgot about Moore's unique profanity-laced one-liners and how it led to "Dolemite" becoming a sensation. Eddie decided he wanted to make a movie about Moore, and though it took over a decade to happen, "Dolemite Is My Name" is the fruits of that labor.

Directed by Craig Brewer ("Hustle and Flow"), the movie (available on Netflix beginning Friday) is a look at the down-and-out life of Rudy Ray Moore (played by Eddie Murphy) and how he got "Dolemite" to the screen despite having never made a movie before. Alongside Murphy is a talented ensemble that includes Wesley Snipes, Snoop Dogg, Mike Epps, Keegan-Michael Key, Craig Robinson, and Tituss Burgess.

Sadly, Charlie isn't in the movie. He died from leukemia in 2017 before filming began.

This image released by Netflix shows Eddie Murphy in a scene from But Brewer still wanted to recognize Charlie, so he asked Eddie if he could dedicate the movie to his older brother.

"I usually always dedicate my movies to someone, so I went to Eddie and said the first time I ever heard Charlie Murphy was in an interview on the radio where he did the whole act of 'Signifying Monkey,'" Brewer told Business Insider, referring to the famous comedic speech Moore gives in "Dolemite.""He had recently passed and so when Eddie and I started talking about that, it seemed like the natural thing to do was dedicate the movie to Charlie because Charlie introduced Eddie to Rudy Ray Moore's world."

Most of Charlie's career in show business was overshadowed by the stardom of his younger brother, though later in his life, he found acclaim starring on "Chappelle's Show"— most notably recounting his experiences of 1980s Hollywood with the likes of Prince and Rick James.

"He may not have been as famous as Eddie, but he was a really talented and funny cat," Brewer said. "He just seemed like the right person to pay homage to at the end of the movie."

SEE ALSO: "Joker" could make as much money in profit as "Avengers: Infinity War"

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How to choose between IMAX, 3D, and Dolby Cinema at the movie theater

Why the acclaimed Eddie Murphy Netflix movie 'Dolemite Is My Name' is a comeback story for its director

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dolemite netflix

  • Director Craig Brewer is riding high with the acclaimed "Dolemite Is My Name," a look at the making of the Blaxploitation hit "Dolemite," and is currently shooting the anticipated "Coming to America" sequel. 
  • But for years, Brewer struggled to stay in the business following the success of his hit indie "Hustle & Flow."
  • Brewer talked to Business Insider about what helped him bounce back and why the story of Rudy Ray Moore getting "Dolemite" on the big screen is similar to his own story.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

 

Though many who have seen the Netflix comedy "Dolemite Is My Name" (in select theaters Friday and on the streaming service starting October 25) have pointed out that Eddie Murphy gives one of his strongest performances in years, he's not the only one making a comeback with this movie.

Director Craig Brewer, who is known best for his 2005, Memphis-set gritty underdog indie "Hustle & Flow," has spent a lot of time since that movie trying to navigate what can be the cruel and confidence-shattering business.

"Hustle & Flow" put Brewer on the map thanks to the breakout, Oscar-nominated performance by Terrence Howard and the hit Three 6 Mafia song "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp" (Three 6 Mafia became the first rap group ever to win an Oscar). But after that, Brewer struggled to capitalize on the success.

hustle and flow paramount picturesHis follow-up, "Black Snake Moan," starring Samuel L. Jackson and Christina Ricci, wasn't the hit "Hustle & Flow" was. And his 2011 remake of "Footloose" was forgettable. For the next handful of years, Brewer bounced around trying to get TV pilots and feature scripts off the ground with little success. The biggest wins he got for his effort were creating the online series "$5 Cover" for MTV in 2009 and getting a screenwriter credit on the 2016 movie "The Legend of Tarzan."

"It was getting really hard to get movies made," Brewer told Business Insider. "But I think it was a good healthy time for me to go through a rough patch."

Read more: "Joker" is a chilling look at one of the greatest villains in comics that's all the more twisted because of its realness

But around 2015 things changed when Lee Daniels, the cocreator of the hit Fox series "Empire," hired Brewer to write, direct, and produce two seasons of the show. It was the shot in the arm the filmmaker needed to prove to himself that he could still be a storyteller.

"My career was rescued by Lee Daniels," Brewer said. "I kind of fell in love with directing again on that show. It wasn't this heartbreaking place that movies had gone to for me where you write a script and then spend three years to get it going and then it would die."

In fact, Brewer said his first encounter with Eddie Murphy was just that: teaming on a project that never got off the ground. But that led to Brewer being on Murphy's mind when he was developing "Dolemite Is My Name," a movie that looks at the making of the Blaxploitation classic "Dolemite" and its driven creator, Rudy Ray Moore.

dolemiteThough the late-1970s movie is known best for its below-par filmmaking and profanity-laced insults delivered throughout by Moore's Dolemite character (which he had been perfecting for years on the stand-up circuit), the backstory of how Moore came up with his Dolemite alter-ego and then got a movie made and seen by audiences was ripe for a Hollywood telling (think "Ed Wood" or "The Disaster Artist").

And Murphy wanted Brewer to bring to the movie that root-for-the-underdog sensibility he had in "Hustle & Flow."

"I think Eddie understood that I enjoy playing in a very human world of underdogs going after the American dream," Brewer said. "I really had a specific idea about the tone of the movie and I didn't want it to go into an area where you wouldn't believe that Rudy is going after this dream."

Craig Brewer Eddie Murphy Invision APHaving the story grounded doesn't hurt the laughs. Murphy is hilarious as Moore, who has to be part salesman part filmmaker to make the Dolemite character on the big screen become a reality. But part of the reason Murphy is getting so much praise is the direction by Brewer (and the script by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski). The story pulls at the heart strings as we see Moore navigate his personal and professional highs and lows.

With "Dolemite Is My Name" sporting a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (the highest score ever for a Brewer movie) and with Brewer currently in production on "Coming 2 America," the highly anticipated sequel to the Eddie Murphy classic "Coming to America," the director is fully aware he's riding a hot streak. And he can't help but compare it to the underdog story of Rudy Ray Moore told in "Dolemite Is My Name."

"I felt this project is similar to what I've been going through of having ups and downs," he said. "To make this movie and now 'Coming 2 America,' it's a dream come true."

 

SEE ALSO: How box-office hit "Abominable" was drastically changed for the Chinese release

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NOW WATCH: Tobey Maguire's 'Spider-Man' is a classic, even though it's one of the more under-appreciated superhero films

Kevin Smith's latest movie, 'Jay and Silent Bob Reboot,' is a box-office hit thanks to all the live fan shows he's done for over a decade

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Jay and Silent Bob Reboot Saban Films

  • Kevin Smith's "Jay and Silent Bob Reboot" is finding success at the box office.
  • Smith and his costar Jason Mewes are embarking on a roadshow where they will be doing Q&As at the screenings.
  • The first screening was last weekend on one screen in New Jersey and it brought in $93,520. That's the year's second-best per-screen average, only behind Neon's "Parasite" and beating Disney/Marvel's "Avengers: Endgame."
  • Business Insider was provided the roadshow screenings for this week and "Reboot" brought in $339,998 on four screens. That's a per-screen average of $85,000.
  • "Reboot" has a cumulative box-office take currently of $1.351 million.
  • Smith told Business Insider the success is due to the decade-plus of doing live Q&As and podcasts about his old movies to feed his fanbase.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

 

Whether you like Kevin Smith's movies or not, there's one thing you have to respect: he knows his brand.

The writer-director who climbed to stardom in the 1990s thanks to movies like "Clerks,""Mallrats,""Chasing Amy," and "Dogma" is proving with his latest movie, "Jay and Silent Bob Reboot," that he can still pack in the theaters. And it's all thanks to the fanbase he's forged over his 25-year career.

Last week, following two screening through Fathom Events that showed the movie on a combined 1,427 screens nationwide on Tuesday and Thursday, "Reboot" played Saturday and Sunday on one screen in Smith's home state of New Jersey to kick off a roadshow tour of the movie (in which Smith and his costar Jason Mewes do Q&As) and that brought in $93,520.

That's the second-best per-screen average of 2019, only behind Neon's "Parasite" ($128,000 on 3 screens). And it's better than A24's "The Farewell" ($88,915 on 4 screens) and Disney/Marvel's "Avengers: Endgame" ($76,601 on 4,662 screens).

Since then, the good times have kept rolling for Smith. Business Insider was provided the box-office stats for the first week "Reboot" has been on its roadshow and it's a huge success. On four screens, Smith has brought in $339,998. That's a per-screen average of $85,000.

Detroit Reboot City! Last night the @jayandsilentbob #rebootroadshow Tour hit the #motorcity so folks could take a Michigander at our new flick, #jayandsilentbobreboot! And just like in Chicago, the good folks who filled up @fillmoredetroit made lots of noise for the Jersey boys! The flick played through the roof and made folks feel like they were in their 20’s again! After the show we met a guy with a Mall-Calf featuring @jaymewes, me, and #jasonlee - another reminder that I don’t have a #jayandsilentbob tattoo of my own. I’ll have to rectify that soon! The #rebootroadshow Tour rolls on with a stop in #grandrapids tonight! And you can see the Reboot at theaters in NEW JERSEY, CHICAGO, DETROIT and GRAND RAPIDS starting THIS FRIDAY! Get tickets at @fandango! (Photos by @joshroush!) #kevinsmith #jasonmewes #movie #detroit #thefillmoredetroit #tattoo

A post shared by Kevin Smith (@thatkevinsmith) on Oct 23, 2019 at 5:06pm PDT on

 

The total box-office gross for "Reboot" to date is $1.351 million.

How in the world is Smith pulling this off? He has a dedicated fanbase that he's been entertaining with podcasts and live Q&As for over a decade.

"No one was lining up to finance a Jay and Silent Bob movie," Smith told Business Insider.

But then it dawned on him. People pay to see him live to talk about his old movies, so why not use the same model but show them a new one.

"If we didn't have the last ten years of doing podcasts on the road talking about the old movies, we don't have that model to bring to this movie," Smith said.

According to Smith, "Reboot" cost $10 million to make. Broken down, that's a "couple million," he said, thrown in by Saban Films, which is releasing the movie. It also includes a "couple million" from Universal, which came in to release the movie outside of North America. The rest was done through equity financing. Smith is using the roadshow as his means to pay that back.

The roadshow tour has close to 80 dates across the country going until early next year and most are sold out already. And Saban Films will expand the release to more theaters beginning Friday.

"We'll be able to pay back our equity financiers from just the tour money," Smith said. "Nobody gets paid back in the movie business, so that is big."

But this is not the first time Smith has gone the do-it-yourself route and found success. In 2011, when no distributor would released his thriller "Red State," he took it out on the road and brought in over $1 million domestically playing over 28 weeks.

The first weekend of the "Red State" release, on one screen, Smith brought in $204,230.

You have to respect the hustle.

SEE ALSO: Kevin Smith on life after the heart attack, reconciling with Ben Affleck, and how "Jay and Silent Bob Reboot" became his most emotional movie in years

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How to choose between IMAX, 3D, and Dolby Cinema at the movie theater

Netflix's 'Dolemite Is My Name' director shares 2 wacky stories from the making of the original movie that he couldn't fit in

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This image released by Netflix shows Eddie Murphy in a scene from

  • "Dolemite Is My Name" is filled with wacky moments recounting Rudy Ray Moore's quest to make the blaxploitation classic, "Dolemite," but director Craig Brewer said most of it really happened.
  • Brewer told Business Insider that there were even more ridiculous stories from the making of "Dolemite" that he couldn't fit in his movie.
  • The director shared two with us.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

 

"Dolemite Is My Name" (available now on Netflix) stars Eddie Murphy as Rudy Ray Moore, a comic-musician-entertainer who gained stardom in the mid-1970s when he brought a character he'd been crafting on the night club circuit for years, Dolemite, to the big screen.

Moore's Dolemite alter ego is brash, knows kung-fu (debatable), and has one of the foulest mouths in movie history.

Though the movie, "Dolemite," may be one of the worst-produced feature films ever made, Moore's performance made it a classic from the blaxploitation era. And Moore's profanity-laced insults and rhyming speech in the middle of the movie, called "Signifying Monkey," has gone on to gain popularity with stand-ups, rappers, and other entertainers.

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"Dolemite Is My Name" delves into Moore's underdog story and spotlights the lengths he had to go to get his character on the big screen. That included living in a dilapidated hotel that doubled as a shooting location, and spending every dollar he had to make it (made for $100,000, it went on to earn $12 million).

And Brewer insisted that most of the events in "Dolemite Is My Name" really happened.

"The reality is we didn't have enough room in the movie to put it all in," Brewer told Business Insider.

During our interview, Brewer gave us two examples of things that really happened on the set of "Dolemite" that he couldn't fit into his movie:

SEE ALSO: Why Netflix's "Dolemite Is My Name" is dedicated to Eddie Murphy's brother, Charlie

The “Waterman” who lived at Dunbar Hotel

In "Dolemite Is My Name," we watch as Rudy Ray Moore (played by Eddie Murphy) takes the closed-up Dunbar Hotel in Los Angeles and uses it as the nerve center for "Dolemite." It's a production office, wardrobe space, string of sets, and place for Moore to live. And to power the building, he stole the electricity from the building next door.

But Brewer said Moore wasn't the only one living at the Dunbar.

"There was one story about this guy, this Mexican guy, that he let live for free there," Brewer said. "He was known as The Waterman. His job was when they were filming he was bringing water to the cast and crew. But there was no running water at the hotel, so he had to go somewhere, get water, bring it back, put it in cups and give it to the cast and crew. Because of that he got to stay in one of the rooms for free."



Wesley Snipes' performance seems over the top, but the director of "Dolemite" was that outlandish

One of the highlights of "Dolemite Is My Name" is the performance by Wesley Snipes as D'Urville Martin. An actor in the 1970s known best for playing Diego the elevator operator in "Rosemary's Baby," Martin met Moore by chance before shooting started. Moore wanted him in "Dolemite" but Martin demurred. Then Moore told him he could direct the movie and that sold it.

But as "Dolemite Is My Name" depicts it, Martin was very unenthusiastic about the project. Realizing he was surrounded by amateurs, he spent his time on set drinking and giving an outlandish performance as the movie's villain, Willie Green.

It may seem Snipes is going overboard with the portrayal of Martin, but Brewer said that's really how he was. And he got confirmation from the cinematographer of "Dolemite" when he visited the set.

"The kung-fu scene where Rudy kicks the guy into the trunk, we filmed at the same house they filmed the scene in 'Dolemite,'" Brewer said. "That day we invited the original director of photography, Nick Josef von Sternberg. He was telling us stories about D'Urville Martin, saying that he would come to set and was so not interested in the movie because he realized there was no money in it that he just stayed drunk. At one point he just laid on the floor, semi-passed out, and just directed from a reclining position."



‘Joker’ beats ‘Maleficent’ sequel in dead heat weekend box office match-up

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This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Joaquin Phoenix in a scene from

  • In a photo finish for the top domestic weekend box office spot, "Joker" edged out "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" with an estimated $18.9 million.
  • "Joker" is now the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever at the worldwide box office with a total of $849 million.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

It's not often that Disney has to battle for a box office win, but that's exactly what happened this weekend when its "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" went up against Warner Bros.' sensation, "Joker."

When the dust settled "Joker" won the domestic box office with an estimated $18.9 million. "Mistress of Evil" came in second with $18.5 million. Because there are only estimates, the official winner of the weekend will be known on Monday when the exact figures are posted by the studios.

The "Maleficent" sequel came into the weekend as the reigning box office champ, winning last weekend with a $36.9 million take in its opening. However, that was below industry expectations, which made it vulnerable to be topped this weekend, a quiet one with no major release opening as it's just before Halloween.

The weekend before Halloween is always a dull one when it comes to movie releases. The conventional wisdom is that many are out and about, leaving the holdovers to rule the multiplexes.

Maleficent Mistress of Evil DisneyBut with "Mistress of Evil" not performing the way Disney expected it has opened the door for another title to take the crown, and Warner Bros.' "Joker" was happy to take on the challenge.

The origin story of the DC villain continues to amaze in its fourth week in theaters. With its $849 million global cume to date, the movie has passed "Deadpool" ($782 million) and its sequel ($785 million combining the R-rated and PG-13 rated releases) to become the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever at the worldwide box office. Its $277.6 million domestic gross puts it seventh all-time at the domestic box office (passing "The Hangover," which is the previous hit by "Joker" director Todd Phillips).

With its win over a Disney title to recapture the domestic box office crown this weekend (for now), it's is just the latest amazing achievement for "Joker," one of the most unlikely success stories of 2019.

 

SEE ALSO: Why Netflix's "Dolemite Is My Name" is dedicated to Eddie Murphy's brother, Charlie

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Nxivm leader Keith Raniere has been convicted. Here's what happened inside his sex-slave ring that recruited actresses and two billionaire heiresses.


How sex scenes are shot in movies and television

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  • For the genuinely romantic depictions of sex on screen, actors and directors can face a myriad of challenges. Film sets are often packed, demanding, and tiring. 
  • It's only in the last few years that a specified role to guide and coach actors for love scenes has become mainstream. 
  • Intimacy coordinator Ita O'Brien worked on Netflix's "Sex Education," as well as HBO's "Watchmen."
  • We attended one of Ita's workshops in South London.
  • Visit INSIDER's homepage for more stories.

Ranging from the cordial, to the steamy, to the… er, bestial, love scenes feature in films to advance the relationship between certain characters. Some films intentionally feature dodgy intercourse to invoke humor. In this, sex is depicted as corny or crass.

But for the genuinely romantic depictions, actors and directors can face a myriad of challenges. Film sets are often packed, demanding, and tiring. A far cry from the sexy mood you see on screen. 

Moviegoers generally accept that the first ever on-camera orgasm in a non-pornographic film was in the 1933 Czech film "Ecstasy," a romantic drama starring Hedy Lamarr.

But it's only in the last few years that a specified role to guide and coach actors for love scenes has become mainstream. One such Intimacy coordinator is Ita O'Brien, who worked on Netflix's "Sex Education," as well as HBO's "Watchmen."

On "Sex Education," Ita worked closely with the young cast to bring about authentic storytelling as well as keeping the actors safe on set. A scene is broken down into individual movements, with permission sought at each level.

And actors do need protecting. Maria Schneider accused director Bernardo Bertolucci of emotionally assaulting her by insisting on a now infamous rape scene in 1972's "Last Tango In Paris." Salma Hayek accused controversial producer Harvey Weinstein of forcing her to perform a nude scene in "Frida." 

Coordinators like Ita have introduced a few practices to prevent incidents like this from happening. These include hiring a more gender-inclusive crew and encouraging crew members from different areas of production to get involved in an intimacy workshop.  

For scenes that require nudity, female actors can wear a merkin, which is an artificial cover for pubic hair. In an interview with Allure magazine, Kate Winslet said producers made her one for her Oscar-winning turn in 2008's "The Reader."

Nipple pasties can be worn to cover breasts. Depending on how much skin is being shown, some actors may choose to wear flesh-colored underwear. 

Practical effects can also assist scenes. If two people can't keep their hands off each other, why not add in a little thunder and lightning, or get them soaked in the rain?

Glycerin spray, oil, or water can be added to actors' skin to give them that "sweaty" look. 

And then there's the more extreme augmentation. Visual effects have been used to superimpose actors heads on porn actors' bodies. In Lars Von Trier's "Nymphomaniac," actors' faces were superimposed on porn performers' bodies using CGI. 

We joined Ita at a workshop in south London.

 

Produced by Ju Shardlow

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What 18 actors took from movie sets

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  • Though it's not always easy to take things from a movie set without getting caught, many famous actors have managed to take props home from sets to keep as mementos.
  • For example, Robert Downey Jr. said he took home a giant letter "A" from the "Avengers" set.
  • Emma Watson said she took a few things from the set of "Harry Potter."
  • Jennifer Lawrence said she took home Katniss' leather jacket and boots from the "Hunger Games" set.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Considering how much time they spend on set, it's no surprise that actors make a lot of memories while filming movies. And so, it's not surprising that some stars want to take home a few mementos to symbolize their time spent portraying a certain character.

Movie studios typically own the props that help make movies magical so it's not exactly easy for actors to swipe things from set. But sometimes stars find a way to take home some impressive or strange props.

Here are some actors who took props home from their movie sets.

Zac Efron said he has taken a few things from a wide variety of his movie roles.

In an interview with BBC Radio 1, Efron said he's taken a few things from movies he's been in.

He said he took his board shorts from "Baywatch," his basketball jersey from "High School Musical," and the belt he wore as Link Larkin in "Hairspray." He said he sometimes still wears the belt.



Ashley Tisdale said she took her character's entire "High School Musical" wardrobe.

In 2018, Ashley Tisdale, who played Sharpay Evans in "High School Musical," told BuzzFeed that she took her character's entire wardrobe from the first film.

"A lot of our clothes are in hall of fames and they didn't have Sharpay's stuff and Disney tried so hard to get the clothes from me and I was like 'No, this is mine," she told BuzzFeed. "So yeah, they don't have any of the clothes from the first movie. I do." 



Jennifer Lawrence said she took home Katniss' leather jacket and boots from the "Hunger Games" set.

From 2012 to 2015, Jennifer Lawrence portrayed literary hero Katniss Everdeen in the "Hunger Games" film series. Katniss was skilled at both hunting and archery and was rarely seen on screen without her brown leather jacket and boots.

In an E! News interview from the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con, Lawrence was asked if she took anything home from the final film set and responded, "I have the leather jacket the leather hunting jacket and my leather hunting boots."

Read More: 12 surprising things you probably didn't know about 'The Hunger Games'



Robert Downey Jr. said he has the giant Avenger's "A" from the "Avengers: Age of Ultron" set.

The expansive Marvel Cinematic Universe can be traced back to its humble beginnings with "Iron Man" (2008), so it makes sense that Iron Man himself (Robert Downey Jr.) would want a piece of Avengers history.

"On Age of Ultron, there was a massive Avengers 'A' outside the Avengers center. I have it," Downey said during a "Jimmy Kimmel Live" interview for "Captain America: Civil War" in 2016.



Chris Hemsworth said he took home multiple copies of Thor's hammer.

During a 2018 interview about "Thor: Ragnarok," Jimmy Kimmel asked Chris Hemsworth, who plays Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, if he got to take Thor's famed hammer Mjolnir home.

Hemsworth replied that he actually took "a few ... about five." When Kimmel questioned where he keeps all of them Hemsworth said, "One's next to the toilet, one's on a mantelpiece somewhere."



Chadwick Boseman said he took Kimoyo beads from the set of "Black Panther."

In a 2018 Jimmy Kimmel Live interview for "Avengers: Infinity War," Kimmel asked the cast if they had kept any mementos from the Marvel sets.

"I kept the beads, the Kimoyo beads," Chadwick Boseman said. "I have them on right now."

Boseman wore the Kimoyo beads, an accessory made from Wakandan technology when he played King T'Challa in "Black Panther." 



Sir Ian McKellen said he took golden coins and a house key to Bag End from "Lord of the Rings."

Acclaimed British actor Sir Ian McKellen notably portrayed the wizard Gandalf in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy and the subsequent "Hobbit" films.

In an "Ask Me Anything" thread on Reddit in 2016, McKellen wrote that he took some gold coins from the lair where the dragon in the film was hiding.

McKellen also wrote that he managed to take home the "front door key to Bag End, which I know [director] Peter Jackson is looking for, but will never find."



Robert Pattinson said he took a few pairs of Edward Cullen's underwear from the "Twilight" set.

Per CBS New York, at a 2012 press junket for "Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2,"Robert Pattinson (who played the sulky vampire Edward Cullen) said he took home a few pairs of underwear from the movie set. 

"I took a lot of underwear to be honest. I did that on all the movies," Pattinson said. "They have the best underwear and I have no idea where they get it from. I use it every day."



Kristen Stewart said she took home some rings from the "Twilight" series.

In a 2012 interview with People, Kristen Stewart said she's taken several of her character's rings from the set of the "Twilight" movies.

In particular, she said she took a moon ring from Bella's mother and the diamond-studded engagement ring Edward proposed to Bella with.

The rings "are really, really extremely important to me," Stewart said in the interview. "I love those things."

 



Gabrielle Union said she still has her "Bring It On" cheerleading uniform hanging in her closet.

In the 2000 comedy "Bring it On" Gabrielle Union played Isis, a young high-school student who led the East Compton Clovers cheer squad. Union's green cheer outfit, striped with accents of orange and yellow, has become synonymous with the movie itself.

In an interview with People Style in 2017, Union said that she still has the cheer outfit in her closet, though she doesn't wear it. 



Daniel Radcliffe said he took home two pairs of Harry Potter's glasses.

Daniel Radcliffe, who portrayed Harry Potter in the notable fantasy franchise that spanned eight films, said he took home two pairs of glasses from set — one from the first film, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," and another from the seventh, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1."

In an interview with Daily Mail in 2011 Radcliffe said, "The ones from the first film are absolutely tiny now, but they are very sweet. They are all lens-less as well. There was rarely ever any glass in the actual glasses because of filming problems with reflections."



In 2011, the late Alan Rickman said he took home Severus Snape's wand.

The late Alan Rickman played the grim Severus Snape throughout the entire "Harry Potter" series. In a 2011 interview with HitFix, Rickman said he kept Severus Snape's wand.



Emma Watson said she snagged Hermione's cloak, wand, and Time-Turner from the "Harry Potter" set.

Emma Watson, who portrayed the highly intelligent witch Hermione Granger in all eight "Harry Potter" films, said she took home several things from the set that reminded her of her time as a Hogwarts student.

"I took my wand, I took my Time-Turner, and I took a cloak," Watson said in her interview with Time for Kids in 2010.



Rupert Grint said he snagged a memento from Harry Potter's old house and also tried to take a costly dragon egg.

Rather than simply taking glasses or a wand, Rupert Grint said he and his co-stars who played George and Fred Weasley attempted to steal a golden dragon egg from the set of "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."

"I took the golden egg that was in the fourth film — a dragon egg. Apparently, it was worth a few thousand dollars. I put it in a pillowcase, it was with James [and] Oliver, it was a joint effort. But they tracked it down and got it off us," Grint, who played Harry's best friend Ron Weasley, told BBC Newsbeat in 2010,

In regards to a prop that Grint successfully took home, he told the Daily Mail in 2011 that he got the "number 4" from 4 Privet Drive, the house where Harry was raised by his aunt and uncle.

"Well, I kind of stole [it], I suppose," Grint told the publication. "That's quite a nice thing to keep."



Simon Pegg said he took a Starfleet badge from "Star Trek: Into Darkness" but said he'd bring it back.

Per Female First's reports, at a press conference for 2013's "Star Trek Into Darkness," Simon Pegg talked about how difficult it was to take anything from the set of the "Star Trek" reboot in 2009.

Apparently, security was more relaxed on the set of the sequel because Pegg said he was able to take a Starfleet badge home when he reprised his role as Scotty.

"It was on my costume when I got back to my trailer and it's a beautiful little brass thing," Pegg said. "And I put it in my bag."

Pegg then turned to the film's director J.J. Abrams and joked, "Yeah! What are you gonna do?" before promising Abrams he would bring it back in for the next film.



Taron Egerton said he took a neon sign from the "Rocketman" set.

In a 2019 interview with British GQ, Taron Egerton (who played famed musician Elton John) said he took the neon Troubadour sign from one of the film's concert stages.

"[It] is obviously really cool and is exactly as it is in the club in LA, which I visited after the shot," Egerton said in the interview.

He said Richard Madden, his co-star in the film, told him to take it and put it in his kitchen. Egerton did. He said it's still there today. 

 



Kimberly J. Brown said she has lots of things from the set of "Halloweentown."

In a YouTube video with Manny Gutierrez, actress Kimberly J. Brown shared that she took a lot of things from the "Halloweentown" (1998) set. 

The actress said she took the titular book from the film and that Disney gave her the puppet that was Kalabar's bat assistant.

"I also have Marnie's purple cloak and hat from the second and third 'Halloweentown' movies," she said in the video.

She said she also has Marnie's little broom from the second movie.  



Timothée Chalamet said he has a helmet and a chain from "The King."

While working on the 2019 film "The King," Timothée Chalamet told BBC Radio 1 that he got to keep a few things from the set, although he regrets not trying to take home a big sword.

He grabbed the "thick, metal helmet" and a period chain with a "contemporary feel to it" instead. 



10 surprising things you didn't know about 'Practical Magic'

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  • "Practical Magic" (1998) is a cult-classic film about the Owens women, a family of witches who navigate life, love, and curses together. 
  • Although the film is now a cult classic, it was a bit of a box-office flop that critics ripped apart for years.
  • A real witch consulted on "Practical Magic" and later threatened to curse the movie, according to the film's director. 
  • Jimmy was supposed to be from Texas, but the character was rewritten for actor Goran Visnjic.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, "Practical Magic" (1998) is a film about a family of witches who navigate the ups and downs of life, love, family, and, of course, magic. 

In the decades since its release, the film has become a cult classic that's especially popular around Halloween— and it still holds a few interesting secrets that even the biggest fans may not know. 

Here are some of the surprising things you never knew about "Practical Magic." 

Despite ultimately becoming a cult classic, "Practical Magic" did not initially do well at the box office or with critics.

"Practical Magic" opened in 1998 and, according to Box Office Mojo, the ultimate worldwide gross of the film was roughly $68.3 million, meaning it did not make back its reported $75 million budget. 

On top of the film potentially losing money, many critics didn't love it either.

Famed critic Roger Ebert called the film "too scary for children and too childish for adults" and said the script lacked wit and imagination. Other reviewers seem to agree, as "Practical Magic" has a mere 21% on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 46 on Metacritic.

However, regardless of box-office sales or critic ratings, fans of the film have made it into a cult classic that's still relevant today.



Rubber floors were installed on set for Nicole Kidman’s exorcism scene.

The scene where the women hold an exorcism to rid Gillian of Jimmy's spirit was an "intense" one to shoot, according to director Griffin Dunne. 

In an interview with Yahoo!, Dunne recalled that Nicole Kidman, who played Gillian, wanted to make the scene as real as possible by slamming her head against the floor during her character's violent exorcism.

And so, production installed rubber panels to try and protect her from the blows. 

"I just remember her, take after take, slamming her head," Dunne said. "She looked totally possessed. I mean, I think she brought on a rash. Her skin would go bright red, from white to red to white in waves of, you know, purging. It was intense."

 



A real witch consulted on the film and reportedly later threatened to curse the movie.

In an interview with Vulture, director Dunne admitted that although he loved the setting of the story and the book, he was not well-versed in witchcraft. And so, he hired a witch consultant for the film to talk with him about the movie and observe rehearsals with the actresses. 

Dunne said although he feels the witch consultant was paid well, she later demanded extra money and a percentage of the film's profits.

According to Dunne, when told that pay bump would not be possible, she told a producer, "I'm going to put a curse on you. I'm putting a curse on this movie, and I'm putting a curse on Griffin."

Dunne said he later received a voicemail from her threatening additional curses and speaking in tongues. He said the woman sued Warner Bros. and the legal team was so freaked out that they just "[paid] the witch off."



Just in case, the director said he held a real exorcism to get rid of the curse.

Although Dunne told Vulture that he didn't "give the curse any power," he held his own exorcism to cover his bases. 

"It was a very simple, New Agey ceremony… It was mostly chants and smoke," he recalled. "If you're a person with any kind of spiritual sensibility or if you believe in a kind of higher power, you're open to beliefs in many things … I'm open-minded enough to at least spend a hundred bucks on an exorcism."



The film is based on a book, but it takes many creative liberties.

The film is based on the Alice Hoffman book of the same name. However, the plot lines and characters vary greatly between the book and the film adaptation. 

The movie created entirely new plot lines including the infamous midnight-margaritas scene and the film's central curse, which says that any man who falls in love with an Owens woman will die.

The film also focuses heavily on the aunts, who are more minor characters in the book. In fact, the aunts' house is not even a setting in Hoffman's novel.

The book also focuses primarily on Sally Owens' daughters, Antonia and Kylie. 

 



The movie has had multiple spin-offs that never made it to air, and now it has a prequel in the works.

After the cult-classic success of the film, a few attempts were made to turn it into a series.

First, in 2004 there was a pilot called "Sudbury." Starring Kim Delaney, Jeri Ryan, and Kat Dennings, the pilot was executive produced by Sandra Bullock but unfortunately did not get picked up.

The second attempt was in 2010 when ABC Family (now Freeform) announced it would be producing a television reboot of the film. This series, too, never made it to the small screen. 

Luckily for "Practical Magic" fans, a new story about the Owens family is in the works.  

"The Rules of Magic," Alice Hoffman's recently released prequel to "Practical Magic," is slated to be produced for the streaming service HBO Max. The story will follow Franny, Jet, and Vincent Owens throughout their trials and tribulations in New York City during the 1960s.



Barbra Streisand reportedly wanted to buy the aunts’ house in the film ... but it's not real.

A character in itself, the enchanting Victorian-style house that Sally and Gillian's eccentric aunts live in has since become a stunning icon of the film.

It's so iconic that, according to the house's designers, Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch, musical icon Barbra Streisand called them after seeing the film in hopes of purchasing it. 

Unfortunately, the house didn't actually exist. The builders created what's called an "architectural shell" in San Juan Island, Washington, to serve as exterior setpieces and the interior sets were built on sound stages in Los Angeles, California.

After filming, the exterior was torn down and now the home lives on only in the film.



Jimmy was originally supposed to be from Texas, but the character was rewritten for actor Goran Visnjic.

Gillian's abusive boyfriend, Jimmy, was originally written as Jimmy Hawkins, a guy from Texas. However, after Dunne saw actor Goran Visnjic in the 1997 film "Welcome to Sarajevo," he asked Visnjic to audition for "Practical Magic," per The Guardian. 

Visnjic, of course, got the part and the character was changed to Jimmy Angelov, an Eastern European, to better work with Visnjic's Croatian heritage. 



Some of the cast and crew actually drank alcohol during the filming of the midnight-margarita scene.

Arguably the best scene in the film, the Owens women dancing drunkenly to Harry Nilsson's "Coconut" while downing midnight margaritas was partially fueled by actual alcohol. 

During the "Practical Magic" commentary, Bullock said that the actresses drank bad tequila that Kidman had brought while filming the scene. 

The director also told Yahoo!that the cast weren't the only ones enjoying the drinks. 

"We all drank tequila and shot that scene — thank God the [director of photography] didn't have any — but we shot it and they all went nuts, and we all danced around," Dunne recalled.

He said after the scene wrapped, the cast and crew continued drinking and dancing. 



The score you hear in the film was actually not the first score written for "Practical Magic."

Composer Michael Nyman said he wrote an entire score for "Practical Magic" that was not used in the movie  — instead, the studio chose a score by Alan Silvestri.

According to an interview with Soundtrack.net, Nyman said that although he felt the music he wrote for the film was sexy, sleazy, humorous, scary and "very high quality," Warner Bros. thought the score was not enough of a "Hollywood soundtrack" and opted to go in a different direction. 

Some of Nyman's score can still be heard on the original CD release of the soundtrack, which was recorded before the studio changed the music. 

Nyman said that he regrets the fact that his music exists on the album because it limits people's exposure to his work, but does appreciate that, at the very least, it proves his involvement in the film. 

Read More:



Keegan-Michael Key explains what it was like to act opposite Eddie Murphy in 'Dolemite Is My Name,' and how advice from his wife helped him nail the performance

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  • Keegan-Michael Key talked to Business Insider about starring in the Netflix hit, "Dolemite Is My Name."
  • In the movie, he plays Jerry Jones, the screenwriter of the blaxploitation classic, "Dolemite."
  • Key explained what it was like to work with Eddie Murphy and shared his favorite scene to shoot.
  • Key also addressed the great year he's had, as he's also starred in "Toy Story 4" and "The Lion King."
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

 

Keegan-Michael Key is having an impressive 2019.

He's starred in two of the highest-grossing movies of the year with "The Lion King" (voicing the hyena Kamari) and "Toy Story 4" (playing Ducky opposite his "Key & Peele" partner, Jordan Peele, as Bunny), and now he's in the acclaimed Netflix movie "Dolemite Is My Name" (currently available on Netflix).

In "Dolemite Is My Name," Key plays screenwriter Jerry Jones, the serious artist opposite the outrageous Rudy Ray Moore, played by Eddie Murphy. The movie chronicles Moore's quest to get his alter ego stage presence onto the big screen with the 1975 movie, "Dolemite," which became a blaxploitation classic.

Business Insider chatted with Key about the responsibility he felt playing a real-life person, which scene was his favorite to shoot, and how advice from his wife (producer Elisa Key) helped him work with Eddie Murphy.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.


Jason Guerrasio: First, we have to address the year you've had so far: "Toy Story 4,""The Lion King," now "Dolemite Is My Name."

Keegan-Michael Key: Yeah, it's coming up roses this year. 

Guerrasio: Are you a reflective person? Do you allow yourself a moment to think back on your successes?

Key: I try to be like that. I attempt to be like that. But I don't often get to do it. I have really not stopped to smell the roses this year yet. Those releases have happened and I've been doing press for them while working on other TV shows and movies, so it has been a real hectic year. Which I guess I should count as a blessing. 

Guerrasio: No. Keep it going. But in regards to "Dolemite," it sounds like in your youth you would pop in the VHS and watch it with friends. What grabbed you about the movie back then?

Key: The audacity of it. I didn't know what was happening. I was 19 or 20 when I first saw "Dolemite" and at that time in movies it was the early 1990s. People were spending a lot of money on production design. So even the bad movies, the lighting was great and there were A-list actors, but maybe there was really bad writing. Or you would have an A-list actor who wasn't terribly good but made money at the box office.

But then you see something as bare bones as "Dolemite." It's one thing to make an independent film, it's another thing to make "Dolemite." We did not know what we were witnessing. It was the first example in my life of good bad. You know what good bad is?

dolemite

Guerrasio: Oh, you are talking to a "Mystery Science Theater 3000" fan, so yes. 

Key: Bingo. So that was my first time of dipping my toe into what good bad was. And that's not just good bad, it's good bad, sublime. And the reason is because everything Rudy Ray Moore did he did in earnest. And I think there's a charm to that. He was flying blind making that movie. So for him to have finished it, gotten the post production done, and released it is a miracle. I had never seen anything like that. 

Guerrasio: After I saw "Dolemite Is My Name," it so happened that "Dolemite" was available on Amazon Prime. So I watched it and there's a whole new appreciation for it after seeing you guys tell the backstory. 

Key: I feel people who have seen "Dolemite" in the past will now be able to have the experience that I had when I showed it to my wife, which was you hit play and then you spend the whole movie looking at the other person. [Laughs.] How are they going to react to this?

Guerrasio: How did they come to you to play Jerry Jones?

Key: I had a meeting with ["Dolemite Is My Name" director] Craig Brewer and originally I asked if there was any chance I could play Jimmy Lynch [played by Mike Epps]. But he really wanted me to play Jerry. He did what everyone should do, and that's to speak to an actor's ego. [Laughs.] He was like, "You're very educated and I thought because you were so damn smart this is your role." And I was like, "I'm yours." But it was a blessing because he's one of the few characters you can have some source material on. He is in "The Long Goodbye," he was in "Mission: Impossible" and "The Brady Bunch" episodes, and the "Dolemite" sequels. 

Guerrasio: Is this the first time you have ever played a real-life person?

Key: This is the first time on camera. It was a thrill. I have played biographical people on stage.  

Guerrasio: Is there pressure in taking that on? Did you want to talk to his family?

Key: I got to meet Jerry Jones' daughter and son-in-law and grandsons and they very much enjoyed the film. That just gave me a big sigh of relief that I had the opportunity to showcase their father in a positive light. 

Guerrasio: And the way you play the role, you are the straight man to Eddie's outlandish Rudy Ray Moore. Did you two discuss how that would work?

Key: It was more of it working on the page. A lot of it was showing up on set and letting the dynamic that both of us had independently created play out. That was a lot of fun because you get to act across one of the great masters of comedy. By the third scene I did with Eddie, I thought, "Why don't I play against his energy?" Against Rudy's excitement. I just wanted to have Jerry be grounded and have him be as much the opposite of Rudy. It was a tip my wife gave me, actually. I was working on it with her and she said, "I know you love Eddie, but don't get swept up in his energy. Play opposite that."

dolemite is my name 2 netflix

Guerrasio: I'm sure you were a pro on set, but there had to have been a freak-out moment that you were working across from Eddie Murphy.

Key: Absolutely. There were two acting jobs happening simultaneously. One is acting in the film, the other is acting like it's no big deal. [Laughs.] But Eddie would get down to work and that makes you focus. You're like, "Oh, right, we're here to work." So the gushing element starts to dissipate. It was amazing to work with him because every time he's just trying to make it better and better. And I was like, I'm going to start doing that. And when he improvises it's not as often as you think. 

Guerrasio: Oh, interesting. 

Key: When he does it, he's doing it for a purpose. I've been on plenty of projects where you can screw around with the material if you want. But this was not like that. It was a clinic in getting the comedy on camera but also being very mindful of what you were doing. 

Guerrasio: What was your favorite scene to shoot?

Key: The one where Eddie and I are together talking about the script and he's talking about kung-fu and I ask, "You know karate?" And he says no. And I'll admit that's the scene I worked on the hardest. To be in that room and really breathe into life what Jerry was trying to accomplish. [In Jerry Jones voice] "We are going to write this script, and it's going to be great, man. We're going to do the best thing to get the word out to the community." And here's this other individual with him who is just vomiting out ideas that don't make any sense. Rudy is thinking about nothing but entertainment and Jerry is the complete opposite. And it was just me and Eddie. That was my favorite scene, by far.

Guerrasio: So going back to this great year you've had: Does that change the mindset of your career goals? Does the game plan of what you are forging become more ambitious?

Key: They have changed in regards to momentum, but there are definite goals that our team have that we are trying to meet. So there is nothing different there. I just feel like we knew which direction we were going, now it just feels like there has been a little more greasing of the rails. Hitting those goals may come sooner than we expected.  

 

SEE ALSO: Netflix's "Dolemite Is My Name" director shares 2 wacky stories from the making of the original movie that he couldn't fit in

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Octopuses are officially the weirdest animals on Earth

16 Halloween costume ideas inspired by music, movie, and TV show icons

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Elton John has an easily-copied, recognizable look perfect for a Halloween costume.

The makings of his iconic show outfit can be pulled together with shimmering sunglasses and a flashy suit. Although it might be hard to top Harry Styles' take on Rocketman



Sarah Michelle Gellar garnered herself "icon" status after her long-running role on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

There's no doubt that Gellar is one of the most well-known TV stars of the '90s and early 2000s. If you sport her character's signature red pleather pants and a black tank top this Halloween, you'll be sure to capture attention from any "Buffy" fan.



Lady Gaga has had so many artistic lives that there are endless options when it comes to dressing like her.

If you want an instantly recognizable and over-the-top costume, her infamous meat dress from the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards or her 2019 Met Gala ensemble are excellent choices. 



Alicia Silverstone nailed her role as Cher Horowitz in "Clueless."

A yellow plaid blazer and skirt combo would instantly transform you into Silverstone's iconic character. This could also easily become a duo costume if Cher's best friend Dionne is added to the mix. 



In terms of dressing like an icon, one could never go wrong with channeling the "Queen of Pop," Madonna.

The iconic singer has had quite the fashion evolution through the years and her "Like A Virgin" wedding dress look would definitely grab attention on Halloween.



Jerry Seinfeld is so iconic that he had a TV show named after him.

While the NBC series included plenty of other memorable characters, Jerry was definitely at the forefront.



At only 26, Ariana Grande is already an icon in her own right.

A babydoll dress with thigh-high boots and a high ponytail are all that's needed to channel Grande.



Famed country crooner Dolly Parton is known for her outlandish ensembles.

A trip to your local thrift store will probably give you all the makings to look like this southern belle.



Any of the Sanderson sisters from "Hocus Pocus" would make for a spell-binding costume.

Bette Midler's Winifred "Winnie" Sanderson with her red hair and detailed cloak is particularly memorable.



Elvis Presley will forever be known as the “King of Rock 'n' Roll.”

His on-stage get-up consisting of a crisp white jumpsuit, sunglasses, and a cape will make you the reigning King of Halloween.



Marilyn Monroe is one of the most iconic actresses to date.

All you need to emulate Monroe is a flowing white dress. 



For a spookier take on an icon, consider channeling Michael Jackson from his "Thriller" music video.

Not only is Jackson a music legend, but his album "Thriller" became one of the highest-selling records of all-time.



Audrey Hepburn was classy and classic all at once in her role as Holly Golightly in "Breakfast at Tiffany's."

With plenty of pearls and a sleek black dress, you'll instantly become the iconic character. 



If your inner rocker is dying to be unleashed, Joan Jett is the costume for you.

All you need is plenty of black and leather articles of clothing to pull off Jett's look. 



Sarah Jessica Parker mastered both fashion and relationships alike with her "Sex and the City" role.

It's easy to channel Parker's Carrie Bradshaw with sky-high stilettos and a tutu skirt. 



Sonny and Cher are a great option if you're part of a pair.

Whether you're looking for a couples costume or you and your best friend are teaming up, Sonny and Cher are a dynamic duo that you can easily channel during the spooky season.



'Bridesmaids' director Paul Feig totally disagrees with the 'Joker' director's claim that 'woke culture' is ruining comedy

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Paul Feig Chris Pizzello AP

  • Comedy director Paul Feig reacted to "Joker" director Todd Phillips saying he stopped making funny movies because of "woke culture."
  • Feig, who created "Freaks and Geeks" and directed "Bridesmaids," said jokes can be made without offending people.
  • Feig said he likes woke culture because "we're actually caring about people's feelings."
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

 

"Joker" has become a box-office sensation, and its director Todd Phillips is thankful because, according to him, in today's world comedies don't work anymore.

While being interviewed for a Vanity Fair profile on his lead actor in "Joker," Joaquin Phoenix, Phillips explained why he gave up on making comedies like "Old School" and "The Hangover."

"Go try to be funny nowadays with this woke culture," Phillips said. "There were articles written about why comedies don't work anymore — I'll tell you why, because all the f---ing funny guys are like, 'F--k this shit, because I don't want to offend you.' It's hard to argue with 30 million people on Twitter. You just can't do it, right? So you just go, 'I'm out.'"

Phillips' comments went viral. And one person who read them was director Paul Feig, who is known for comedies like "Freaks and Geeks,""Bridesmaids," and "Spy."

"I have an issue with this," Feig told Business Insider, when asked about it while promoting his new movie "Last Christmas" (in theaters November 8).

Todd Phillips Jamie McCarthy Getty"I think Todd's a brilliant director, he changed the face of comedy, I just think jokes can be made without offending people," he said.

Feig said his movies are filled with jokes that don't shame the audience. And when he does cross that line, he feels bad about it. One example he gave was a joke he did in 2013's "The Heat," starring Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock as undercover cops. In one scene, they run into a cop who is albino, and they make jokes at him that they thought he was a bad guy because albino people are usually villains in movies.

"I got a letter from this woman whose child was albino and she said this is really bad for him, and I felt awful," Feig said. "I didn't go, 'F--k this, we can't make jokes about anything.'"

Since then, Feig is more conscious of his material. He said what he believes is fair game are choices people make, but what's off limits are gender, race, or core beliefs.

"Why would I want to make fun of that?" he said. "I can make a million jokes that are going to make people laugh that won't offend them."

Feig continued: "I like woke culture because woke culture means we're advancing and we're actually caring about people's feelings. I know in certain parts of the internet it's like, 'People's feelings, who cares?' Well, all we have are people's feelings because we're humans. So I just don't want to step on that."

SEE ALSO: Keegan-Michael Key explains what it was like to act opposite Eddie Murphy in "Dolemite Is My Name," and how advice from his wife helped him nail the performance

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Behind the scenes with Shepard Smith — the Fox News star who just announced his resignation from the network

Apple and Disney are about to shake up the streaming wars in a monumental way (AAPL, DIS)

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  • Apple and Disney are about to launch their highly anticipated streaming services.
  • Apple TV Plus launches on Friday and costs $5 a month. Disney Plus launches on November 12 and costs $7 a month.
  • A standard subscription to Netflix, meanwhile, costs $13 a month — more than the price of Disney Plus and Apple TV Plus combined.
  • The presence of Apple and Disney is going to raise the bar for what people expect from a subscription streaming service. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The streaming landscape is going to change drastically in the next couple of weeks.

Right now, the big names in streaming are Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and HBO. It's been this way for years now.

But on Friday, Apple will join the fray.

And in about two weeks, Disney, the 800-pound gorilla, will enter the picture.

The competition is about to heat up. Apple and Disney are about to raise the bar for what people expect out of streaming services in terms of quantity, quality, and price.

SEE ALSO: Apple used helicopters and drones to film stunning 4K screensavers for the Apple TV — here's how to get them on your computer

On Friday, Apple will release Apple TV Plus, where Apple's original programming will live. It costs $5 a month, but you get one free year of service if you buy an Apple product, such as an iPhone or Mac computer.



Early reviews for Apple TV Plus are mixed, with some critics calling series like "The Morning Show" and "See" underwhelming, at least at launch. But Apple has a ton of star power — and promise — attached to this thing.

Just look at all of the names who have committed to building series for Apple TV Plus: Steven Spielberg, Steve Carell, Chris Evans, the NBA star Kevin Durant, Kristen Bell, Rashida Jones, and Oprah Winfrey (to name a few).

Questions about quality aside, these are A-listers you don't usually see attached to streaming services. Netflix and HBO get some pretty big names too, including some of the names above, but Apple and Disney are going to attract a lot of big-name Hollywood talents. That will put more pressure on Netflix and HBO to continually do the same.



In about two weeks, Disney will launch Disney Plus, which costs $7 a month. (Disney has also been offering promotions throughout the year so it can be even cheaper than that.)



Disney Plus, like Apple TV Plus, will host a ton of original programming, but it also benefits from Disney's massive vault. On top of Disney's own movies and shows, Disney also owns Pixar, Marvel, "Star Wars," National Geographic, and Fox (including "The Simpsons"), so expect an onslaught of options.



Even if you buy subscriptions to both Apple TV Plus and Disney Plus, that's still cheaper than a single standard subscription to Netflix.

Netflix has three plans:

  • "Basic" limits you to one screen and is standard-definition only. It costs $9 a month.
  • "Standard" gives you high-definition video and lets you watch two screens at once. That costs $13 a month.
  • "Premium" offers 4K support (on content where it's available), and you can watch on four screens at once. It costs $16 a month.


Similarly, HBO Now costs $15 a month.



A lot of people watch HBO and Netflix, since they have a ton of programming that people like to talk about, but the presence of Apple and Disney might make some people rethink their subscriptions.

All these streaming services start to add up. Hulu can cost anywhere from $6 a month to $12 a month. Amazon Prime Video can cost $9 a month, though it's included if you're an Amazon Prime member.

If you want all the above services, plus the new ones from Apple and Disney, it's going to cost you: If you buy into all the above services — Apple TV Plus, Disney Plus, a standard Netflix subscription, HBO Now, and Hulu — you're going to pay around $46 a month.



It will be interesting to see how people receive Apple TV Plus and Disney Plus. But given how the companies behind these services have a ton of power, money, and influence in the tech and entertainment spheres, I'm expecting a big shift in the landscape. The pressure will be on incumbents like Netflix and HBO to prove the value of their offerings.

HBO is in pretty good shape, even after the global bow of "Game of Thrones." It has a ton of hit shows, big-name actors, and interesting series, like "Watchmen,""Euphoria," and "Silicon Valley." It has always been a premium service, so don't expect much to change there. HBO will also have a new service, HBO Max, coming in 2020, and the company is pouring a ton of resources into it.

Netflix, on the other hand, is perhaps the most popular streaming service — for shows like "Stranger Things," movies like "To All The Boys I've Loved Before," and excellent docuseries like the new "Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner" series from David Chang — but it also has a ton of programming I'll just never watch. Netflix could definitely be pickier about which shows and movies it chooses to produce.

As Apple and Disney release their streaming services, it will be interesting to see how these mainstays respond. There will be more pressure to create shows that are not just good but phenomenal— both popular and critically acclaimed. Hopefully, these services (particularly Netflix and HBO) choose to also reexamine their own monthly prices.

But two things are certain: More competition in this space is a very good thing, and there has never been a better time to be a cord cutter.




Ray Romano was very anxious acting across from Robert De Niro in 'The Irishman,' but says the de-aging dots on the legend's face weren't distracting

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  • Ray Romano talked to Business Insider about what it was like to star in Martin Scorsese's Netflix movie, "The Irishman."
  • In the movie, Romano plays connected mob lawyer Bill Bufalino, and most of his scenes are with Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, or Joe Pesci, which Romano said filled him with anxiety. 
  • The actor also described one scene where De Niro had dots on his face for the de-aging to his character that was done in post production. 
  • Looking back on his career, Romano said it "bothers" him that his 2004 movie, "Welcome to Mooseport," is currently the last movie legendary actor Gene Hackman has starred in. 
  • "I retired him," Romano said, while also telling a funny story of the first time he met Hackman.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

 

Ray Romano is known best as the star of the TV sitcom, "Everybody Loves Raymond," which ran for nine years on CBS and earned him an Emmy as the lovable Long Island father. But recently, he's thrown a little edginess into his everyman persona — thanks to Martin Scorsese.

First, there was the short-lived Scorsese/Mick Jagger-created HBO series, "Vinyl," in which Romano played a cocaine-snorting music executive (Romano said Scorsese cast him though he had no clue who he was). That led to him playing a shady B-movie producer on the Epix series ,"Get Shorty" (now in its third season), and a convincing not-so-innocent school board president in the upcoming HBO movie, "Bad Education," starring Hugh Jackman.

Now Scorsese has called on Romano again. This time, Romano stars in the Oscar-winning director's most ambitious gangster movie yet: "The Irishman" (in select theaters starting Friday, and on Netflix beginning November 27).

The movie looks at the life of mobster Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran (played by Robert De Niro), who before his death, claimed he killed the International Brotherhood of Teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino). Romano plays Bill Bufalino, who from the late 1940s to the early 1970s was the attorney for the Teamsters and had ties to the mob through his cousin, Pennsylvania syndicate boss Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci).

Business Insider spoke with Romano on how working with Scorsese on "Vinyl" didn't lower his anxiety — especially since his scenes for "The Irishman" were either with De Niro, Pacino, or Pesci. He described what it was like to act across from De Niro while he had dots on his face for the de-aging that would be done for his role. And Romano explained why, after 15 years, he still can't get over that his first starring role in a movie, "Welcome to Mooseport," has been Gene Hackman's last movie.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Jason Guerrasio: Have you seen "The Irishman" yet?

Ray Romano: I've seen it twice. I saw it once in Scorsese's screening room in his office in New York, and then I saw it at the New York Film Festival premiere. 

Guerrasio: So I'm assuming getting the Bill Bufalino role was an easier experience than getting the Zak role in "Vinyl"?

Romano: It was easier. For "Vinyl," I had to put myself on tape and the feedback we got was that Scorsese liked what he saw, and he's never heard of me. And I was like, I get it, he doesn't watch TV. So there was that. But for this one, he just gave me this role. 

Ray Romano Vinyl HBO

Guerrasio: So you've come a long way!

Romano: Yes, but it scared me more because for "Vinyl" he saw on tape how I was going to play the character. On this one, he gave me the role, but how does he know I can do it? So I was very worried. 

Guerrasio: Because of that, do you go crazy on the research and find out everything you can about who this guy was?

Romano: They gave me as much info as they had: articles and books and pictures. But the only thing they had of video of him was literally a seven-second clip, I'm not kidding. It was him testifying in front of Congress. So all I got was this little glimpse of how he held himself in court. So I just ended up creating my own backstory for the guy.

Guerrasio: On top of the anxiety of trying to pull off the character, most of your scenes are with De Niro, Pacino, or Pesci. 

Romano: I know. 

Guerrasio: Was anything about working on this movie normal?

Romano: [Laughs.] Of course not. Joe Pesci I know because we golf together. I kind of feel okay around him. I'm still a little intimidated. But the other two guys I've never met. Look, I get nervous anywhere — on any show, whatever. But with two of the biggest stars in the world, it was crazy. But they made me feel comfortable.

The Irishman NetflixThough they are different. Pacino is a little more gregarious and out-there. With Bob De Niro, it took like half a day of working with him and starting a conversation that eventually I found him to be very friendly. The insecurity never goes away but the fear kind of went away with each guy. 

Guerrasio: The first time we see you in the movie you are in a scene opposite De Niro, and in the scene he's de-aged. So does that mean when you filmed it he had dots all over his face for the de-aging process that would happen in post production?

Romano: He had dots on his face but it's not like years ago where they had these big dots on you. 

Guerrasio: So it wasn't noticeable?

Romano: Sometimes you couldn't notice it at all. They are clear and there aren't too many of them. But in your head, you have to know that you're not talking to a 75-year-old man, I'm talking to a 40-year-old man. I was talking to someone younger than me. 

Guerrasio: What was the chatter on set about the de-aging? Was everyone very curious how they were going to pull it off?

Romano: The chatter with me and Bobby Cannavale and Jesse Plemons was just how awesome it was. There's a scene where Jesse Plemons and I are walking down the Bronx courtroom hallway with Pacino and De Niro in front of us and there are people surrounding us. Doing that scene, knowing that it's going to be Pacino and De Niro in their 40s, and we're right behind them, we were blown away. Every time we did that scene and had to walk back down the hallway for another take, Jesse and I would be like, "I can't believe we are walking behind these guys." Everyone was looking forward to seeing how these guys would look.

The Irishman Netflix Martin Scorsese Robert De Niro

Guerrasio: Well, did it live up to your expectations when you finally saw the movie?

Romano: Yeah, I actually liked that you weren't looking at a Ken doll. 

Guerrasio: I agree.

Romano: Even when they de-aged them, they still had a weathered look to them. Naturally, it is going to take a few minutes to get used to it, but after a while it wasn't distracting. 

Guerrasio: So there's a moment in the movie where I thought you may have broke character. It's the scene where Pacino says, "When it's a gun, you run at them; when it's a knife, you run away." 

Romano: No. No. No. I didn't break character. 

Guerrasio: Because your reaction when he says that line is perfect. You turn away from the camera like you are holding back from laughing.
 
Romano: I don't think the line was written the way Pacino said it. During a Q&A, I did ask Al Pacino if that line was scripted or did he improv it. And he said the line was written that way but he said it with more of a rhyme feel. He gave his own little flair to it. But I wasn't breaking character. I was just reacting. 

Guerrasio: With this movie and another one that's coming out soon, "Bad Education," you are playing these characters where they are involved in shady things, but you aren't necessarily fully involved in the bad stuff going on. 

Romano: [Laughs.] I haven't gone full bad guy yet. 

bad education hbo

Guerrasio: Has it been fun to play these kinds of roles, something very different from the character that made you famous in "Everybody Loves Raymond"? 

Romano: Yeah. It's real fun. But you're right, I'm still the everyman, but now I'm the everyman in pretty questionable situations. I'm waiting for that role to come where it's like, this is a bad dude. But, honestly, I don't know if I could pull it off. I'll give it a try. 

Guerrasio: I have to bring this up. It has been 15 years since "Welcome to Mooseport" came out — 

Romano: [Laughs.]

Guerrasio: And that is still Gene Hackman's last movie. I mean, does that —

Romano: It bothers me. 

Guerrasio: I mean, no disrespect, but you would never have to talk about the movie ever again if it wasn't because of that. 

Romano: Every now and then, something pops up online like, "Why does that have to be his last movie." [Laughs.] I retired him. I retired Gene Hackman. Listen, the movie is whatever. It's charming. It's cute. It didn't really end up being what we thought it would be like. But it shouldn't be his last movie. We became friends on that movie. I haven't seen him since. 

Welcome To Mooseport Fox

Guerrasio: I don't know if anyone has seen him since, Ray. 

Romano: Yeah. I know. I think he's writing books now.  He's still doing something. 

Guerrasio: But unless he comes out of retirement you will forever be linked to Gene Hackman.

Romano: That was my first starring role, by the way. 

Guerrasio: I know!

Romano: I'll tell you a funny story. When we started the movie, we had a dinner the night before we started filming. I had just met Gene. One by one we introduce ourselves to the table and who we are playing. So it's a long table. I'm at one end and he's at the other end and I go, "I'm Ray Romano, I'm playing —" I think it was Handy or something, "and I just want to say how much of a thrill this is, this is my first movie." And from down at the other end you hear Gene go, "Holy s--t."

Guerrasio: [Laughs.] 

Romano: He was joking. It got a huge laugh. But we had a great little relationship there. We became friends and bonded over, this is going to sound nerdy, but "American Idol."

Guerrasio: What?

Romano: That's back when it was big and I was a big fan. So there was "Canadian Idol" ("Welcome to Mooseport" was shot in Ontario and Toronto) so I would get the DVDs of "Canadian Idol" and I would give it to him because he was into it also. 

Guerrasio: Wow. Gene Hackman was into "Idol"!

Romano: I don't know if he wants me to reveal that side of him. 

Guerrasio: He's got a tough guy reputation to protect.

Romano: Yeah. 

 

SEE ALSO: Keegan-Michael Key explains what it was like to act opposite Eddie Murphy in "Dolemite Is My Name," and how advice from his wife helped him nail the performance

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Behind the scenes with Shepard Smith — the Fox News star who just announced his resignation from the network

Netflix's 'The Irishman' is a monumental movie that only Martin Scorsese could attempt — and pull off

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  • Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman" is a cinematic experience you shouldn't miss. 
  • Scorsese's storytelling is at its creative peak, and Robert De Niro delivers an incredible performance playing a character from his 40s to his 80s.
  • The movie hits Netflix on November 27, but try to see it in theaters if you can (it starts Friday).
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

After an idea that spent decades rattling around in the heads of Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro, the movie "The Irishman" is finally here (in theaters Friday and launching on Netflix on November 27).

Based on the Charles Brandt book "I Heard You Paint Houses," the movie takes an epic look at the life of Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran (played by Robert De Niro), who before his death admitted to killing Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino), the charismatic president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters who suddenly vanished in 1975.

With a running time close to 3 1/2 hours, the movie is nothing short of an experience.

Scorsese's talents as a storyteller are in full glow here. And De Niro's portrayal of Sheeran over the span of decades is just another reminder how few actors can captivate an audience quite the way he can.

And then there's the technology involved, which made it possible for De Niro, Pacino, and Joe Pesci, who plays the mob boss Russell Bufalino, to look decades younger. It brings an added layer to the storytelling, but thankfully it is not overwhelming. In fact, there are some scenes in which it's hard to tell whether it's the de-aging technology we're looking at or just a good job by the makeup department.

The movie begins with the camera creeping through a retirement home until we come upon an elderly man in a wheelchair. It's Sheeran, living out his final days. He begins to speak about his life. He's not talking to anyone in particular, though we the audience are hanging on his every word.

The Irishman 2 Netflix finalAfter World War II, he became a truck driver, got involved with the mob, and then found a profession that would make him useful for years: hitman.

But Sheeran also had a Forrest Gump-like existence in the Mafia, as it seemed he was involved in the biggest mob events from the 1960s and 1970s. From the Bay of Pigs, to the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and, of course, Hoffa's rise and disappearance, a lot of history is explored in "The Irishman." In less capable hands, trying to weave all this together would be a mess, but Scorsese is fully in his element.

If you are hoping for a story where De Niro and Pacino interact a lot, you will not be disappointed. The meat of the story is the relationship between Sheeran and Hoffa. It's Sheeran's loyalty to Hoffa that makes it all the more heartbreaking when Sheeran finally has to turn on him. (How it's done, and how Scorsese tells it, will keep you on the edge of your seat, even for those who have read "I Heard You Paint Houses.")

You will find similarities in "The Irishman" to Scorsese's other works. Sheeran's life story is similar to Henry Hill's in "Goodfellas"— though less glamorous. Sheeran is certainly more focused on pleasing the bosses than Hill was. Then there's a scene where Sheeran figures out the guns to use for a hit by spreading them all out on a mattress. It mirrors Travis Bickle buying guns on the black market in "Taxi Driver." And, as with all Scorsese movies, the soundtrack is prevalent.

But there's also a quietness to this movie. There are long sections where no soundtrack or score is used. Some scenes seem to go on for an extra beat. (Perhaps working for Netflix brought even more freedom for Scorsese than he typically gets at a studio.)

De Niro, Pacino, and Pesci give fantastic performances, especially De Niro's work of playing a character from his 40s to his 80s (it's not the first time De Niro has done it, he had a similar task in Sergio Leone's "Once Upon a Time in America" playing "Noodles" Aaronson). And get ready to be amazed by the acting from character actor Stephen Graham ("Gangs of New York,""Rocketman"). Graham plays Hoffa's rival Anthony Provenzano, or "Tony Pro," and the scenes where they go head-to-head are some of the most memorable in the movie.

And, yes, "The Irishman" will be on Netflix at the end of November. But this is a Martin Scorsese movie. If you can, attempt to see the movie for the first time in theaters. This is the kind of story you want to see on the big screen. 

Just don't order the large soda.

 

SEE ALSO: Yes, Ray Romano was very anxious acting opposite Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in "The Irishman"

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NOW WATCH: Watch the 20 details you may have missed in the new trailer for 'Birds of Prey'

12 of the best and 12 of the worst Leonardo DiCaprio movies of all time

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  • Leonardo DiCaprio has become one of Hollywood's most recognizable talents since making his film debut back in 1991.
  • The actor has made memorable appearances in critical hits like "Titanic,""The Departed," and "Inception."
  • However, not all of DiCaprio's roles have been lauded, with some critics panning his films like "The Basketball Diaries" and "Critters 3." 
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more.

During the course of his lengthy career, Leonardo DiCaprio has starred in a broad range of films, from thrillers to romances. 

With countless accolades under his belt, including his long-awaited Academy Award for best actor, the Hollywood veteran has had many iconic performances while on the job — and he's also had a few cinematic missteps. 

Here are 12 of the best and 12 of the worst Leonardo DiCaprio movies, according to critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

Note: All scores were current on the date of publication and are subject to change.

 

DiCaprio was lauded for his strong performance as Frank W. Abagnale Jr. in "Catch Me If You Can" (2002).

Rotten Tomatoes: 95%

The Steven Spielberg film — which was based on the real-life story of the legendary con artist — also featured Tom Hanks as FBI Agent Carl Hanratty, who made it his mission to bring Abagnale Jr. to justice.

Many critics lauded DiCaprio's performance, with critic Stanley Kauffmann of The New Republic writing that "DiCaprio has the breeze and aplomb to keep it all bouncing along."



The actor played the lead Billy Costigan in the cult-favorite film "The Departed" (2006).

Rotten Tomatoes: 91%

In the film, DiCaprio took on the role of an undercover cop as he infiltrated a South Boston criminal organization.

Fellow Hollywood heavyweights like Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, and Martin Sheen also starred in the Martin Scorsese flick.



DiCaprio narrated the 2019 documentary "Ice on Fire" (2019).

Rotten Tomatoes: 90%

In general, critics lauded the actor's narration of the documentary, which is meant to put the climate-change crisis into perspective while also offering hope to viewers.

As critic Brian Lowry wrote for CNN, "A better-than-most film on the topic that gets beyond the dire warnings to contemplating what can actually be done to help turn, or at least significantly curb, the tide."



With one of his earliest roles as Arnie Grape in "What’s Eating Gilbert Grape" (1993), DiCaprio began his film career on a successful note.

Rotten Tomatoes: 90%

Starring opposite Johnny Depp in the 1993 film, DiCaprio earned rave reviews for his role in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape."

Critics called DiCaprio's performance "astonishing" and "enormous," with many praising the young actor for stepping into such a big role. 



"Titanic" (1997) is arguably DiCaprio's most well-known film.

Rotten Tomatoes: 89%

Although the actor has famously said he believes he should have passed up the role of Jack Dawson in favor of appearing "Boogie Nights" (1997), the film itself won 11 Academy Awards including one for best picture.

DiCaprio would later go on to star alongside leading lady Kate Winslet once again in 2008's "Revolutionary Road."



As ideas thief and lead Dom Cobb, DiCaprio enthralled both critics and audiences alike in "Inception" (2010).

Rotten Tomatoes: 87%

Many critics applauded director Christopher Nolan for his inventive storyline and mind-bending plot, calling his film "a spectacular fantasy thriller."

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard, and Ken Watanabe also starred in the 2010 film.



Also in 2010, DiCaprio narrated "Hubble 3D," a NASA film dedicated to looking at the universe through the lens of the Hubble Space Telescope.

Rotten Tomatoes: 87%

Many critics praised the quality and visuals of the film, with many noting that it contains a lot of impressive and beautiful footage. 



DiCaprio received an Academy Award nomination for his role as Calvin Candie in "Django Unchained" (2012).

Rotten Tomatoes: 86%

Starring as the proprietor of an infamous plantation, DiCaprio appeared in the film alongside both Jamie Foxx and Samuel L. Jackson.

The Quentin Tarantino film was generally praised by critics for being an entertaining and emotional crowd-pleaser. 

 



DiCaprio teamed up with Martin Scorsese once again to play Howard Hughes in "The Aviator" (2004).

Rotten Tomatoes: 86%

Acting alongside Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, John C. Reilly, and Alec Baldwin, the actor brought an eccentric billionaire to life in this 2004 biopic.

Blanchett won an Oscar for playing Katharine Hepburn in the film and DiCaprio was nominated for best actor in a leading role, but he did not win. 



Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" was one of the most-anticipated films of 2019.

Rotten Tomatoes: 85%

This 2019 film starred Margot Robbie, DiCaprio, and Brad Pitt and although it wasn't panned, many critics didn't think it quite lived up to its hype.

As critic Josephine Livingstone wrote for The New Republic, "Don't mistake me: This movie is good. It all depends on how hard you're willing to work to justify its pleasures."



"Marvin's Room" (1996) told the story of two estranged sisters and also starred Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton, and Robert De Niro.

Rotten Tomatoes: 84%

Keaton, Streep, and DiCaprio were all lauded for their powerful leading performances, with critic David Ansen of Newsweek writing, "[Director] Zaks knows enough not to get in the way of his three superb stars, who put on a display of emotional fireworks that is lovely to behold."



DiCaprio took home a long-awaited Academy Award for his role in "The Revenant" (2015).

Rotten Tomatoes: 79%

Based on a true story, the film showed explorer Hugh Glass' struggle to survive in the wilderness while plotting revenge on a member of his hunting team who killed his son. 



Even though "Blood Diamond" (2006) scored DiCaprio an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Danny Archer, critics weren't big fans of the film.

Rotten Tomatoes: 63%

Viewers gave the film a 90%, but critics didn't like it nearly as much, with some calling it out for doing a poor job of covering a very real issue.

As critic Fernando F. Croce wrote for CinePassion, "Diamonds may be forever, but 'Blood Diamond' hopefully will only last through the Oscar season."



DiCaprio played Kid in the 1995 Western "The Quick and The Dead," which received mixed reviews.

Rotten Tomatoes: 57%

The post-modern Western also starred Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, and Russell Crowe.

Although many critics applauded the film for being "fun," some also felt it dragged on a bit too long, noting that it seemed dull by the end. 



Reviews for the thriller "Body of Lies" (2008) were decidedly mediocre, with several critics slamming the film's plot.

Rotten Tomatoes: 55%

The fast-paced espionage thriller starred Russell Crowe and DiCaprio, but most audience members and critics seemed to feel that it fell flat.

It was called out for not having enough of an emotional impact, with critics like Candice Frederick of Reel Talk Online writing that "it was a waste of two talented actors."



Baz Luhrmann's "The Great Gatsby" (2013) was applauded for its visuals, but the rest of the film appeared to fall flat with viewers.

Rotten Tomatoes: 48%

Based on the F. Scott Fitzgerald book of the same name, this film was widely praised for its stunning visuals, but it was panned overall.

"Just because a film looks like it was dipped in 18-karat gold doesn't mean it's rich in quality," wrote critic Mara Reinstein for Us Weekly.

 



DiCaprio was the lead in "The Basketball Diaries" (1995), a film loosely inspired by a memoir from writer and artist Jim Carroll.

Rotten Tomatoes: 46%

Mark Wahlberg and Jim Carroll himself also appear in the film, which was set against the backdrop of a heroin epidemic.

Although some critics called the film "hard to watch" and "muddled," many applauded a young DiCaprio for his "raw dynamic performance." 



The actor, who played the leading man in the Clint Eastwood-directed "J. Edgar" (2011), was lauded for his performance.

Rotten Tomatoes: 43%

Although DiCaprio got praise for his role, the J. Edgar Hoover biopic — which also starred Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, Josh Lucas, Judi Dench, and Ed Westwick — was called "muddled" by critics who also dubbed it a "missed opportunity."



DiCaprio had a part as Brandon in the black-and-white Woody Allen film "Celebrity" (1998).

Rotten Tomatoes: 41%

The movie, which examined the country's cultural obsession with celebrities, also starred Kenneth Branagh, Hank Azaria, Judy David, Winona Ryder, Melanie Griffith, and Famke Janssen.

Some critics said the film was technically impressive, but was just too scattered to be enjoyable. 



"Poison Ivy" (1992) was DiCaprio's second film, and he had a small part as "first guy."

Rotten Tomatoes: 36%

Headlined by Drew Barrymore and Sara Gilbert, the 1992 film — although not beloved by critics — was apparently successful enough to spur multiple more "Poison Ivy" installations a few years later. 



DiCaprio played both King Louis XIV and his brother in the "Three Musketeers" epilogue, "The Man in the Iron Mask" (1998).

Rotten Tomatoes: 33%

In "The Man in the Iron Mask," DiCaprio took on the role of two leads— even so, the film fell flat. 

The period piece, which also starred Hollywood heavyweights like Jeremy Irons and John Malkovich, was labeled corny by many critics, with Roger Ebert calling it "just a costume swashbuckler."



"Total Eclipse" (1995) depicted DiCaprio as the young 19th-century French poet Arthur Rimbaud.

Rotten Tomatoes: 25%

In the film, the actor starred opposite Romane Bohringer, who depicted fellow poet and Rimbaud's mentor Paul Verlaine, as they began a forbidden love affair.

Many viewers said that the film didn't do enough to fully illustrate Rimbaud's persona, with critic John A. Nesbit of Old School Reviews writing, "Noble effort to capture Rimbaud's genius, but it fails to take enough risks to get close to the enigmatic poet."

 



"The Beach" (2000), DiCaprio's first major project after "Titanic," was lambasted by viewers.

Rotten Tomatoes: 20%

DiCaprio starred in this action-filled romance film opposite Tilda Swinton and Guillaume Canet.

The film, which is an adaptation of the Alex Garland novel "The Beach," was called "bland" by critics who otherwise praised its cinematography.

 



DiCaprio's film debut in "Critters 3" (1991) received a 0% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Rotten Tomatoes: 0%

In his very first film, which was the third one in the "Critters" franchise, DiCaprio played Josh.

Overall, his first role was a bit of a misstep as critics generally labeled "Critters 3" as "subpar" when it was released in 1991. 

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'Terminator: Dark Fate' director takes us behind the scenes on the franchise reboot, from the debate over an R rating to a disagreement with James Cameron over time travel

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Terminator Dark Fate Paramount

  • "Terminator: Dark Fate" director Tim Miller ("Deadpool") opened up to Business Insider about some of the decisions made behind the scenes while making the movie. 
  • Miller said it wasn't decided until post production that it would be released as an R-rated movie. 
  • The director also said that, at one point, the team discussed releasing the movie in a PG-13 version and an R-rated version simultaneously.
  • Miller touched on a time-travel element he and franchise creator James Cameron disagreed about. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

 

After Tim Miller built a successful career in visual effects with his company, Blur Studio — whose work spans from the Ninja Ninja arcade sequence in 2010's "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," to the opening credits in 2011's "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"— he became a savior in some corners of the fanboy space by directing 2016's long-delayed "Deadpool" feature film.

The movie went on to be the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever at the worldwide box office until it was recently dethroned by "Joker." But due to creative differences, Miller exited "Deadpool 2" before it was made.

Now Miller is back to helm of another IP in triage.

"Terminator: Dark Fate" (in theaters Friday) is a complete overhaul of the franchise. "Dark Fate" ignores parts three, four, and five, and picks up where "Terminator 2: Judgement Day" left off. This time there is a new future in despair, and a new Terminator, but Linda Hamilton is back to play Sarah Connor, along with franchise creator James Cameron in a producer role (the most hands-on he's been since "T2").

Miller talked to Business Insider about some of the major decisions made behind-the-scenes, including talk of the movie having simultaneous PG-13 and R-rated releases, and the disagreement Miller had with Cameron over a time-travel element.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Jason Guerrasio: These are some of the better reviews a "Terminator" movie has had in over a decade. That has to make you feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Tim Miller: Well, there are enough split reviews that I just feel warm maybe not fuzzy. I know lots of people have franchise fatigue and it was going to get dinged for being the sixth "Terminator" film, even though it's the third one. So I was disappointed but not surprised. 

Guerrasio: When you came on the project was it already established that the other movies were going to get essentially erased from the canon and this one would take place after the events of "T2"?

Miller: When I came onto the project Jim [Cameron] had not even decided to come back. There were a lot of rights issues, who had what rights, and it was messy. So when I came in it was sort of blank page. [Skydance Media CEO] David [Ellison] asked me to rebuild the franchise. I told him that two things were very important to me: that Jim comes back and that we continue the "T2" story. Many people made different choices since then, which is fine, but I didn't want to feel beholden to those choices.

Tim Miller Richard Shotwell AP

Guerrasio: And is it true that while you were filming it wasn't decided yet if the movie would be PG-13 or R rated, so there was talk at one point that the movie be released simultaneously in a PG-13 cut and an R cut?

Miller: You're absolutely right, which I think was slightly problematic but overall I think it was a good thing. And here's why: the disparity of budgets that come with PG-13 and R.

Guerrasio: And not to mention box-office projections. 

Miller: Totally. So we didn't decide to make it an R movie until we were into post. That meant I got all the benefits of making a PG-13 movie in terms of budget and scope and then we switched it to R, which is what we all hoped for. 

Guerrasio: So when you were shooting did you basically act like you were making an R movie and if that didn't happen you would tweak in post?

Miller: I would have just used alternate takes. Say I did five takes of a moment, four of them would have "f--k" in it and one of them would not have it. I didn't think we would do an R because of the temperature at the studio and Skydance, so worse case we do an R-rated release along with a PG-13. So we did talk about a simultaneous release. 

Guerrasio: But why does everyone eventually agree it should just go out as R?

Miller: This is going to sound arrogant, I don't mean it to be, but I do I feel a little bit indirectly responsible for that. "Deadpool" was successful at an R rating, that allowed "Logan" to be made with an R rating, and because "Logan" made more money than any PG-13 Wolverine movie I think there was a realization that some stories are meant to be told a certain way. The DNA of "Terminator" is R rated, and when you change that the fans punish you for it because they feel the false step. 

Guerrasio: I don't think you should feel arrogant at all because I was going to ask, through all this back and forth on if "Dark Fate" should be R or not, couldn't that all have stopped by you speaking up and saying, "Guys, I made 'Deadpool' as an R, why are we f-ing around?"  

Miller: [Laughs.] If only I had that kind of juice, oh would I use it. But we did make the case that there are two directors who have made enough money on R-rated movies to justify the budget of "Terminator." One of them is directing the movie and the other created the franchise. 

Guerrasio: How difficult is it to make a movie with a time-travel element in it?

Miller: Well, I think you can do it poorly and make it really confusing because by its nature it's a confusing structure. We had a lot of conversations and a lot of complexity in making it simple because I don't believe the audience wants to hear a lot of exposition and theoretical talk about time travel.

Terminator Dark Fate 2 Paramount

Guerrasio: But give me a glimpse behind the scenes, were there some involved with the movie who really wanted to go far out in regards to time travel?

Miller: Everybody was pretty on board with keeping it simple. At the beginning of the writers' room, Linda hadn't agreed to come back. Jim had to make that call to Linda and he didn't get a no, let's say, so that made us go down that road feeling she would eventually say yes. The biggest discussion with Jim was at some point there has to be a first time that someone comes from the future. Is Dani (the person the Terminator is on the hunt for, played by Natalia Reyes) a natural in this movie? Is everything that's happening to her happening for the first time? And that was really the decision to be made, which Jim held onto for a while but I immediately knew we couldn't do it. Jim really wanted to try to do that and eventually he came around. It wouldn't have worked when you add in certain plot points in the movie that Grace (a soldier from the future ordered to protect Dani, played by Mackenzie Davis) knows. Future Dani wouldn't know all that stuff if this was the first time.

Guerrasio: That's what I mean by time travel getting messy.

Miller: But we do think all that s--t out. For instance, you get dinged in a few reviews when people say, "Why are they calling them Terminators when it's a new future," and I thought about that. Dani calls them Terminators because when she meets up with Sarah, she calls them Terminators. So Grace calls them Terminators because Dani called them that. So the cycle makes sense. 

Guerrasio: How has the experience of "Deadpool 2" and making this movie made you grow as a filmmaker?

Miller: That's a tough question to answer. I honestly don't feel I'm any different a person than I was before I made "Deadpool." I felt pretty fortunate then. I had a good career in visual effects, I own my own company and get to work with artists everyday. What I love about the live-action filming experience is it's an intense experience that creates these relationships with people. Many people have said it was the best movie they worked on in terms of the experience, because we have a good time on set. I have some fights with the people above me in the chain of command but never below. Then you're a dick. Save the anger and fight the people above you. I don't shy away from that. I feel I used my 15 minutes of fame to collect the greatest concentration of nerd projects ever. I'm the luckiest guy around. 

 

SEE ALSO: Ray Romano was very anxious acting across from Robert De Niro in "The Irishman," but says the de-aging dots on the legend's face weren't distracting

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The author of 'The Social Network' just wrote a scathing op-ed criticizing Facebook's political ad policy (FB)

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The Social Network

  • The writer of "The Social Network"— the movie about Facebook's founding— just published a scathing letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in The New York Times.
  • "You and I want speech protections to make sure no one gets imprisoned or killed for saying or writing something unpopular, not to ensure that lies have unfettered access to the American electorate," Aaron Sorkin wrote.
  • Sorkin is the latest to criticize Facebook's choice to continue running political ads without fact-checking those ads first.
  • On Wednesday, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg defended the choice as one of principle rather than profit. "We're not doing it because of the money,"she said. "This is less than 1% of our revenue and the revenue is not worth the controversy." 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The writer behind "The Social Network"— the Academy Award-winning dramatization of the founding of Facebook— just published a scathing letter to Mark Zuckerberg.

In The New York Times on Thursday, Aaron Sorkin criticized Zuckerberg's repeated defense of Facebook's political ad policy. The policy, which has come under fire from users, lawmakers, and other tech companies, states that Facebook won't police political advertising on Facebook — even if those ads contain outright lies.

"Right now, on your website, is an ad claiming that Joe Biden gave the Ukrainian attorney general a billion dollars not to investigate his son," Sorkin wrote. "Every square inch of that is a lie and it's under your logo. That's not defending free speech, Mark, that's assaulting truth."

In a speech at Georgetown University earlier this month, Zuckerberg argued that Facebook's political ad policy is build around Facebook's interest in preserving free speech. 

"We don't fact-check political ads," he said. "We don't do this to help politicians, but because we think people should be able to see for themselves what politicians are saying. And if content is newsworthy, we also won't take it down even if it would otherwise conflict with many of our standards."

Sorkin pushed back on that standard in his letter to Zuckerberg on Thursday. 

"This can't possibly be the outcome you and I want, to have crazy lies pumped into the water supply that corrupt the most important decisions we make together," Sorkin wrote. "Lies that have a very real and incredibly dangerous effect on our elections and our lives and our children's lives."

Mark Zuckerberg at Georgetown University

In 2016, political ads with misinformation — in addition to work by Russia's Internet Research Agency, a Russian troll farm — aimed to influence American elections, including the US presidential election.

Though Facebook profits from political ads sold on its massive social networks, COO Sheryl Sandberg said in an interview on Wednesday with Bloomberg that a very small portion of ad revenue comes from political ads.

"We're not doing it because of the money," she said. "This is less than 1% of our revenue and the revenue is not worth the controversy."

Instead, she said, it's a measure of Facebook's belief in free speech — and political advertising "can be an important part of that." 

Zuckerberg made a similar argument during his speech at Georgetown, that Facebook allowing political ads would "ensure people can see primary source speech from political figures that shapes civic discourse." 

Sorkin pushed back on that argument as well in his letter to Zuckerberg.

"You and I want speech protections to make sure no one gets imprisoned or killed for saying or writing something unpopular, not to ensure that lies have unfettered access to the American electorate," Sorkin wrote.

SEE ALSO: Sheryl Sandberg says political ads are worth less than 1% of Facebook's revenue and the money is not worth the controversy

Join the conversation about this story »

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