Todd Gilchrist: Last News

Todd Gilchrist editor Many movies have been made about soldiers whose skill set proves out of step once they re-enter the civilian world. Some of them treat those differences with empathy and insight; but more often than not, they leverage them for explosive, empty action sequences. “Rebel Ridge” mostly falls perfunctorily in the latter category.

Todd Gilchrist editor Over his almost 40-year career, RZA has proven himself a renaissance man a few times over: as a rapper, producer, songwriter, actor, filmmaker and author. On Aug.

Todd Gilchrist editor From 1972 to 1981, producers Larry and Alfonso “Fonce” Mizell helped create some of the most popular and recognizable recordings in the history of jazz. These include Donald Byrd’s “Black Byrd,” “Stepping Into Tomorrow” and “Places and Spaces;” Bobbi Humphrey’s “Blacks and Blues” and “Fancy Dancer;” Johnny Hammond’s “Gears;” Gary Bartz’s “Music Is My Sanctuary,” and many more.

Todd Gilchrist editor When the Emmy nominations were announced, “Winning Time” helmer and executive producer Salli Richardson-Whitfield made history as the first Black woman to be recognized in the drama directing category. Such a tremendous achievement might be tempered by the September 2023 cancellation of the show (on the same day of its Season 2 finale, which she also directed).

Todd Gilchrist editor SPOILER ALERT:This article discusses plot points, including the ending of “Alien: Romulus,” now playing in theaters. When Fede Álvarez decided to make “Alien: Romulus,” he knew from the outset that he wanted to honor not just “Alien” and Aliens,” the most acclaimed and popular films in the series, but its entire mythology. “I was like, ‘we have to embrace them all’,” he tells Variety. Even so, he built a pivotal part of the “Romulus” story around a character who died in the original movie: Ash, the synthetic human played by the late Ian Holm with chilling obedience to the franchise’s capitalistic overlords, the Weyland-Yutani Corporation.

Todd Gilchrist editor Fede Álvarez understands that there’s a thin line between an homage, a follow-up and a rip-off. His first film, a remake of Sam Raimi’s “The Evil Dead,” leaned more heavily into the grueling horror of the 1981 low-budget original than its more comical 1986 predecessor, revitalizing the franchise in the process.

Todd Gilchrist editor Herbie Hancock’s August 14 performance of “Head Hunters” at the Hollywood Bowl marks the first time in 50 years that the jazz keyboardist and composer reunited with the collaborators that became the album’s namesake. Given its success and legacy — the first ever jazz album to go platinum, and one of the all-time most famous in the genre — that claim seems improbable.

Todd Gilchrist editor The score for “Alien: Romulus” is coming to digital platforms, to be followed by a physical release in November. Composed by Benjamin Wallfisch, the music for the Fede Álvarez film — which takes place between the events of Ridley Scott’s 1979 “Alien” and James Cameron’s 1986 “Aliens” — arrives digitally on August 16.

Todd Gilchrist editor Four years after the death of British American rapper and producer Daniel Dumile, his alter ego MF Doom lives on — now in the form of an action figure. Pop culture collectibles company Super7 is set to release an action figure to commemorate the 20th anniversary of “Madvillain,” Doom’s acclaimed 2004 collaboration with underground producer Madlib.

Todd Gilchrist editor For 23 years, the OneFamily organization has provided support, rehabilitation and rebuilding services for the victims of terror attacks, their loved ones and their communities. Now, amid heightened conflict in the Middle East, the organization’s founders are heading to Hollywood for Variety’s Responsible Storytelling event presented by OneFamily.

Todd Gilchrist editor Released in May 1996, “Twister” assembled a creative team as formidable as the forces of nature that gave the film its name. Co-written by “Jurassic Park” author Michael Crichton and his then-wife Anne-Marie Martin, produced by Kathleen Kennedy, executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald and directed by Jan de Bont, the $495 million-grossing blockbuster was poised for success before a frame of film was shot.

Todd Gilchrist editor First released in 1984, Martin Brest’s “Beverly Hills Cop” was one of the defining movies of its decade, and a huge stepping stone (along with “48 Hrs.” and “Trading Places”) toward stardom for Eddie Murphy. It not only spawned two sequels over the next decade, but set a template for action comedies that persists today. “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” marks the overdue fourth installment in the franchise and introduces with it a director to watch: Mark Molloy.

Todd Gilchrist editor Pop-culture collections have become a personal signifier unlike ever before, and physical media — especially Blu-rays and 4K discs — is no exception. Whether your library is meticulously curated or a clearinghouse for every title no matter how big or small, it tells a story about your interests, appetites, and general passion for entertainment.

Todd Gilchrist editor If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. Super7 is planning two pop-up events and several exclusive product launches at San Diego Comic-Con 2024.

Todd Gilchrist editor “Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus,” director Neo Sora’s posthumous documentary about Japanese musical luminary Ryuichi Sakamoto, will premiere online as a live event on The Criterion Channel. On Sunday, June 30 at 5 p.m.

Todd Gilchrist editor With “Solo,” the story of a young drag performer navigating a volatile new relationship, Sophie Dupuis delivers a film every bit as mesmerizing as her main character. Affectionately chronicling the drag world, as well as what happens to its inhabitants when the make-up comes off, the writer-director delivers a visually arresting and emotionally involving story that mercifully pivots more on broader familial and romantic conflicts than the ultraspecific cultural ones of its setting.

Todd Gilchrist editor Thrill-seeking is nothing new for Orlando Bloom, who has cracked his skull three times and brokenbones in his back, ribs and all four limbs. Most of those injuries were sustained between action-packed projects such as “Black Hawk Down,” “Kingdom of Heaven” and three blockbuster film series, “The Lord of the Rings,” “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “The Hobbit.” Yet, even after an extended period of inactivity forced upon him by the COVID-19 pandemic, Bloom admits to feeling some trepidation about starring in the Peacock reality series “Orlando Bloom: To the Edge,” where, via three intense challenges, he would quite literallydefy death.

Todd Gilchrist editor Following in the footsteps of ILM Immersive’s (formerly ILMxLAB) “Vader Immortal” game and the company’s virtual reality experiences “Star Wars: Secret of the Empire” and “Avengers: Damage Control,” “What If…? — An Immersive Story” offers fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe an opportunity not just to enter the world of their favorite superheroes, but participate in an adventure with them. Borrowing from the namesake Disney+ anthology television series (and Marvel Comics series that inspired it) that explores speculative timelines in the superhero multiverse, “An Immersive Story” uses Apple’s Vision Pro headset to create a universe where participants can interact with characters like the Watcher, Sorcerer Supreme Wong, and a handful of alternate-reality heroes (and villains).

Todd Gilchrist editor Trailblazing 1980s hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa will make history again as the first female rappers with their very own action figures. On May 29, San Francisco-based pop culture collectible manufacturer Super7 will release a two-pack of plastic figures molded after Salt-N-Pepa’s looks from the music video for “Push It,” their breakthrough song.

Todd Gilchrist editor Gaylen Ross has only a handful of acting credits to her name, but the first of them remains significant enough even today for her to be permanently canonized in horror film history: “Dawn of the Dead.” Playing television producer Fran Parker for writer-director George A. Romero, Ross joins what’s otherwise a boys’ club cast to combat zombies (and post-apocalyptic boredom) in an abandoned shopping mall, in the process adding to the genre’s then-nascent collection of heroines who are forced to summon strength and resourcefulness in the face of unimaginable — and deadly — circumstances.