Pierce Brosnan has been ordered to appear in court in January after being charged with trespassing in Yellowstone National Park.

According to the BBC, the former James Bond actor, 70, has been charged by US National Park Service rangers for going off trail near Mammoth Hot Springs in the Wyoming section of the park.

He will be required to appear in a Wyoming court on January 23, after reportedly straying into the off-limits area on November 1. He is alleged to have entered an out-of-bounds, ecologically sensitive area on foot.

Brosnan has not commented publicly about the charges.

He had been in the area filming Unholy Trinity, an upcoming film in which he will appear alongside Samuel L. Jackson.

The area of Yellowstone in question contains hot springs, geysers and mud pools, and more than 20 people are known to have died after falling into the park’s most dangerous geological features. The national park also says that in certain zones, the ground is brittle and thin, and can collapse, leading way to hot acid pools beneath.

Brosnan played Bond in four films between 1995 and 2002. He had previously risen to fame on the TV show Remington Steele, and also starred in films including Mrs. Doubtfire, The Thomas Crown Affair and Mamma Mia!

Last year, Brosnan opened up about the “stupid” comment that he thinks led to him losing the role of Batman.

He auditioned for the role during Tim Burton’s directorial reign over the caped crusader’s films, and revealed that a quip he made that he thought would win him the role did just the opposite.

“I remember saying something stupid to Tim Burton,” Brosnan said. “I said, ‘You know I can’t understand [why] any man who would wear his underpants outside his trousers.’” Michael Keaton would ultimately land the role.

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A private funeral has taken place for South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, who was best known for his roles in films such as Parasite and A Hard Day.

The service took place today (December 29) and was attended by the late actor’s family, close friends and colleagues, with the Korean media shut out of the event. His family had appealed to the media to stop making “painful and abrupt” visits to Lee’s home and agency as well as the service following months of intrusion into his personal life while he was under investigation for drugs use.

The media had also been criticised for publishing his alleged last note to his wife.

Lee is said to have been found dead in a car located in the Jongno District of Seoul, South Korea on Wednesday with a “charcoal briquette” in the passenger seat in what is believed to have been a suicide. Lee had also reportedly written “memo akin to a suicide note” prior to being found.

He was most recently spotted returning home on Christmas Eve (December 24), following a 19-hour police questioning over his alleged drug use.

At the time, Lee said, per Yonhap News Agency: “I’ve finished the questioning by the police about the blackmail case. I hope the police wisely determine which statements are more reliable between mine and the blackmailers.”

Lee Sun-kyun started his acting career in 2001 with stage roles in plays and musicals, before breaking into mainstream popularity with roles in the 2007 K-dramas White Tower and Coffee Prince.

In the following years, the actor would transition to film, with roles in several projects by Hong Sang-soo. These included 2008’s Night and Day, Oki’s Movie in 2010 and 2013’s Nobody’s Daughter Haewon.

In 2014, Lee would go on to star in the critically acclaimed feature film A Hard Day, before returning to television in 2016’s Listen to Love. He also led the 2021 Apple TV+ original series Dr. Brain.

The actor is perhaps best known for his role in Bong Joon-ho’s Academy Award winning 2019 film, Parasite, for which he won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

For further help and advice on mental health:

• ‘Am I depressed?‘ – Help and advice on mental health and what to do next
• Help Musicians UK – Around the clock mental health support and advice for musicians
• Music Support Org – Help and support for musicians struggling with alcoholism, addiction, or mental health issues
• YOUNG MINDS – The voice for young people’s health and wellbeing
• CALM – The Campaign Against Living Miserably
• TONIC – Peer led support on mental health in the music industry
• The Samaritans – Confidential support 24 hours a day

The post Funeral held for ‘Parasite’ actor Lee Sun-kyun appeared first on NME.

Gary Oldman has revealed that he believes his work in the Harry Potter film franchise was not up to his own standards. 

Oldman played Harry’s godfather Sirius Black across four of the films, starting with 2004’s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and winding up with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in 2007.  

But now, in an interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, he has said that he is not especially proud of his contribution to the films. 

“I think my work is mediocre in it,” he said. “No, I do. Maybe if I had read the books like Alan [Rickman], if I had got ahead of the curve, if I had known what’s coming, I honestly think I would have played it differently.” 

“I’ll tell you what it is. It’s like anything, if I sat and watched myself in something and said, ‘My god, I’m amazing,’ that would be a very sad day, because you want to make the next thing better.” 

Just earlier this month, Oldman took time to explain how the Potter films, as well as the Dark Knight trilogy, “saved” him when he became a single father. 

“At 42 years old, I woke up divorced and I had custody of these boys,” he says. “So that was hard because there was a shift in the industry where a lot of productions were being [filmed in], it was Hungary, Budapest, Prague, Australia, you know, all of these places.” 

“Thank God for Harry Potter,” Oldman added. “I tell you, the two – Batman and Harry Potter – really they saved me, because it meant that I could do the least amount of work for the most amount of money and then be home with the kids.” 

Oldman is currently starring in the Apple TV+ series Slow Horses, which released its third season last month. The show was renewed for a fourth season in June last year. 

In a five-star review of season three, NME wrote: “The sad thing about Slow Horses is how few people are watching it on Apple TV+ in the UK. Far fewer are subscribed versus the other streaming giants. However, this season could change all that as the buzz around the show becomes impossible to ignore: it’s the best show on TV right now.” 

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Emma Heming Willis has opened up about having a difficult time celebrating her anniversary with Bruce Willis this year amid the actor’s ongoing dementia struggle.

The action star’s family have been open about Willis’ deteriorating health, after they first issued a statement in March 2022 announcing that he was retiring as he battled aphasia.

Earlier this year, they revealed that his condition had progressed to frontotemporal dementia. A close friend recently revealed that the actor has since lost his “language skills” and is no longer reading.

Emma shared a video to Instagram Thursday (December 28), in which she said she had a “good cry” with one of her close friends as she marked 16 years with her husband.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Emma Heming Willis (@emmahemingwillis)

“Holidays are hard. Anniversaries are hard,” she said. “But for me, this year has really been about building a community and connection. And I just want to say that has been my lifeline and I just want to thank you for that.”

She elaborated in her caption that Willis calls it the “inner circle”, as she thanked her community of followers for their support.

“I receive countless messages of love and support because Bruce is so beloved,” she continued. “That showers on him and I am fortunate enough to stand below that to catch those sprinkles that yet, feel like a waterfall of kindness. I wish I could answer all the messages because they are deep, raw and poetic but please know that I appreciate them so very much. It also makes me feel less alone. I am grateful to you.”

In a separate post celebrating their anniversary, she wrote that her “love and adoration for him only grows”.

Emma admitted back in August that she was “not good”, after sharing in March that she has “times of sadness every day”.

Last month, Willis’ daughter Tallulah shared an update on her father’s condition, and spoke about her family’s desire to be open about his health struggles. “On one hand, it’s who we are as a family, but also, it’s really important for us to spread awareness about FTD,” she said.

The post Bruce Willis’ wife had a “good cry” marking “hard” anniversary amid actor’s dementia struggle appeared first on NME.

Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal paid emotional tribute to Robin Williams during the 46th annual Kennedy Center Honors this month.

The View host was honouring Crystal at the ceremony – which took place earlier this month but aired Wednesday (December 27) – when she took a moment to remember the late actor, who died by suicide aged 63 in 2014.

“I want to acknowledge the person who should also be standing here with me is our brother Robin,” Goldberg said as she paused to gesture at the empty space beside her.

Redirecting her attention to Crystal, she said: “You are my family, you’re my big brother, and you have no idea what an honour it is to see you get your due. I love you. You’re a mensch. You’re a national treasure. National treasure. Billy, congratulations.”

@cbs

#WhoopiGoldberg acknowledging #RobinWilliams during her tribute to #BillyCrystal has us all tearing up #KCHonors

♬ original sound – CBS

During taping for the honours ceremony earlier this month, Crystal spoke on the red carpet about his close bond with the Good Will Hunting actor.

“I’m really feeling I’m missing my friend Robin tonight, very much so, because of all of what we did together,” the actor told reporters (via People). “I know that he would be here, and he is. So it’s special, and a lot of feelings for me tonight.”

The pair starred appeared on screen together in numerous projects over the years, including 1997 films Father’s Day and Deconstructing Harry and a season three episode of Friends.

Both Crystal and Goldberg delivered speeches at William’s funeral in 2014.

Earlier this month, the Sister Act star spoke to Jessica Chastain about William’s impact on her career, with the latter expressing regret that she never had a chance to thank him in person.

Chastain, who received the Robin Williams Scholarship to get her through acting school, described the financial help as a “beautiful thing”.

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Barack Obama has published his annual list of his favourite films of 2023 – check out the full list below.

• READ MORE: The 20 best films of 2023

The former president has long been publishing his personal lists of favourite music, films and books at the end of every year.

In a post on X, Obama introduced his list by writing: “Earlier this year, writers and actors went on strike to advocate for better working conditions and protections. It led to important changes that will transform the industry for the better.”

Earlier this year, writers and actors went on strike to advocate for better working conditions and protections. It led to important changes that will transform the industry for the better.

Here are some films that reflect their hard work over the last year — including some like… pic.twitter.com/TMH9LeQgsT

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 27, 2023

Obama included a list of 13 films in total, starting with the three produced by Higher Ground, the production company that he founded alongside his wife Michelle. Those three are apocalyptic thriller Leave the World Behind, the biopic Rustin and the Jon Batiste documentary American Symphony.

The remainder of the list includes Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, BlackBerry – the film that charts the rise of the mobile phone brand – and the Cannes Palme d’Or winner Anatomy of a Fall.

Also included are a number of films that are still waiting for their official UK cinema releases: Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers, Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Monster and Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction.

Obama also lists Past Lives, which claimed the top spot on NME’s list of the 20 best films of the year.

Barack Obama’s full list of favourite 2023 films is as follows: 

Rustin
Leave the World Behind
American Symphony
The Holdovers
BlackBerry
Oppenheimer
American Fiction
Anatomy of a Fall
Monster
Past Lives
Air
Polite Society
A Thousand and One 

Earlier in 2023, he refuted any suggestion that he does not compile these lists himself. When asked, he said: “I do! Listen, I am so glad that I have this opportunity. People, they believe the books and the movies, but the playlists, they somehow think — and this is mostly coming from young people like you — somehow, y’all think you invented rock ‘n’ roll. You invented hip-hop.”

“And so the fact that my lists are, you know, pretty incredible — people seem to think, well, he must’ve had some 20-year-old intern who was figuring out this latest cut. No, man! It’s on my iPad right now.”

In July, Obama shared his annual summer playlist, which included tracks from Boygenius, Janelle Monaé, Ice Spice, Bob Dylan, SZA and more.

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Hannah Waddingham has said she has “no time” for those who criticise Tom Cruise.

• READ MORE: ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ review: staggering stunts can’t make up for the nonsensical plot

Waddingham has been filming scenes alongside the actor for the concluding instalment of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, which will arrive in cinemas in 2025.

The actress and TV presenter had plenty of praise for Cruise when he was brought up in her appearance on ITV series James Martin’s Saturday Morning on Christmas Day.

Having spent “five intense days” with Cruise on the USS George HW Bush fighter carrier, Waddingham told TV chef Martin: “I have to say, I have a real problem with anybody that goes at him now.”

She continued: “He is without doubt one of the loveliest and encouraging, positive and inspiring human beings I have ever met. Isn’t he gorgeous? I have no time for anyone saying anything about him.”

Despite Cruise being held in high esteem in Hollywood, he has faced controversy over his off-screen behaviour throughout the years.

In 2005, he made headlines after jumping on the sofa during an appearance on Oprah Winfrey’s chat show to declare his love for then girlfriend Katie Holmes and, that same year, labelled the practice of psychiatry “pseudo-science” in a quarrel with Matt Lauer.

He has also faced particular backlash over his longtime association with the Church of Scientology. In 2008, the actor bewildered fans in a leaked promotional video where he discussed the benefits of the controversial religion.

Meanwhile, Cruise has been sending out hundreds of $125 coconut cakes to friends, family and numerous figures in the entertainment world for Christmas in what has become an annual tradition.

The white coconut bundt cake is only made by Doan’s Bakery in Los Angeles and in past years, stars who have been lucky enough to receive one have included Tom Hanks, Kirsten Dunst and Jimmy Fallon.

It was also reported that Cruise is supposedly dating socialite Elsina Khayrova, the daughter of a prominent Russian MP and ex-wife of a diamond-trading oligarch.

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Sophie Ellis-Bextor has reacted to the scene in Saltburn which depicts Barry Keoghan dancing in the nude to her song ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’.

• READ MORE: The sound of ‘Saltburn’: five perfect noughties indie bangers in the film

Irish actor Keoghan stars in Emerald Fennell‘s dark comedy-thriller about Oxford student Oliver Quick who become immersed in the aristocratic family of Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi).

Among various shocking moments in the film, the memorable final scene finds Oliver dancing throughout the Saltburn estate mansion in the nude to Ellis-Bextor’s 2001 hit.

The singer has since shared her reaction to the full-frontal scene, telling People this month that while she knew what would occur, she still “wasn’t quite prepared for the visual”.

“Seeing it written down as a premise is different,” she said. “I mean, Barry really went for it. And it’s, like, the whole song!”

“Whenever your music’s used, you get a little synopsis,” she explained. “So I saw Emerald’s name connected to the project and I already was familiar with her and how talented she is. I’ve seen Promising Young Woman and really enjoyed it.”

“This little synopsis described how the character would be dancing, but I didn’t have any context. I’ve got quite a quirky sense of humor anyway, so I was like, I think I have to see how this plays out.”

“I didn’t really know exactly how it would play in terms of the role it was in the movie until I saw it at the screening, but I absolutely loved it,” she added. “I think it’s such a clever, funny, smart film. I really enjoyed it.”

Ellis-Bextor added that she was happy for Fennell to use her song, because they “didn’t really have a plan B” for the film.

“She just felt like it tied everything together in terms of the tone of the film and the juxtaposition of the sort of sweetness of the pop song, but also a little sting in the tail with the lyrics as well,” she said. “I think it works. But how lovely for me, I mean, look, I’ve been singing ‘Murder’ for over 20 years and it’s so nice that it still has the power to surprise me.”

The singer also met Keoghan after she watched the scene, sharing that the pair “just had a giggle”.

“I mean, he’s never going to be able to hear that in the same way again,” she added, laughing. “And every time he’s out and that comes on, people are going to think he’s going to strip off!”

The film, set in 2006, is full of hit noughties tracks like Girls Aloud‘s ‘Sound Of The Underground’, Bloc Party‘s ‘This Modern Love’ and The Killers‘ ‘Mr. Brightside’.

In a four-star review of Saltburn, NME described the film as an “intoxicating new satire”, adding: “Saltburn isn’t the most talked-about party of the year, but you shouldn’t miss it all the same.”

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Donald Trump has refuted director Chris Columbus’ claims that he “bullied” his way into being featured on Home Alone 2: Lost In New York.

• READ MORE: The 20 best films of 2023

In a 2020 interview with Business Insider celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Home Alone franchise, Columbus expressed that Trump’s cameo in the film was the product of needing to film at New York’s Plaza Hotel, which he owned.

“We couldn’t rebuild The Plaza on a soundstage,” Columbus told Business Insider. “Trump said OK. We paid the fee, but he also said, ‘The only way you can use the Plaza is if I’m in the movie.’ So we agreed to put him in the movie.”

He added that “the oddest thing happened” when they screened the film for the first time. “People cheered when Trump showed up on-screen,” Columbus said. “So I said to my editor, ‘Leave him in the movie. It’s a moment for the audience.’ But he did bully his way into the movie.”

Now, the former US president has taken to his social media platform, Truth Social, to address Columbus’ comments. “Director Chris Columbus, and others, were begging me to make a cameo appearance in Home Alone 2… I was very busy, and didn’t want to do it,” Trump claimed.

“They were very nice, but above all, persistent. I agreed, and the rest is history! That little cameo took off like a rocket, and the movie was a big success… Now, however, 30 years later, Columbus (what was his real name?) put out a statement that I bullied myself into the movie,” Trump added.

“Nothing could be further from the truth. That cameo helped make the movie a success, but if they felt bullied, or didn’t want me, why did they put me in, and keep me there, for over 30 years? Because I was, and still am, great for the movie, that’s why!”

It’s truly amazing how this fragile, sensitive snowflake is viewed as some kind of tough guy by the cult. What a baby. pic.twitter.com/oyyzRwzYTq

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) December 27, 2023

In the film, Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin MacAllister asks Trump for directions to the hotel lobby, to which Trump replies: “Down the hall and to the left.” His cameo lasts about 6 seconds in total. Watch Trump’s cameo in Home Alone 2: Lost In New York below:

Earlier this month, Macaulay Culkin was awarded with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His on-screen mother, Catherine O’Hara, was present to make a speech honouring the former child star, in addition to Culkin’s long-time friend, Natasha Lyonne.

Nearer to the Christmas period, a YouTube creator made a parody trailer for a hypothetical third Home Alone film, which follows MacAllister and the Wet Bandits more than three decades after the last film.

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Tom Smothers, one half of comedy duo the Smothers Brothers, died on Tuesday (December 26) at his home in California. He was 86, and had been battling cancer in recent years.

Smothers was joined by his brother, Dick, to perform as the Smothers Brothers beginning in 1961, and were booked to play venues like New York’s Blue Angel. As the Smothers Brothers, Tom and Dick performed satirical numbers which were targeted at the rising folk scene in New York at the time.

That year, The New York Times’ Robert Shelton commented on the pair’s appeal, calling them “a pair of tart-tongued singing comedians” and writing: “It is a result of a good deal of musical acumen and a fresh type of stinging satire, directed at a field wide open for it – folk music. The pair use a merciless variety of musical and comedy devices to smother the folk-song craze in wit.” Shelton particularly praised Tom for being responsible for “a bulk of the humour”.

In the early 1960s, the Smothers Brothers made frequent appearances on television programmes including The Judy Garland Show, Burke’s Law and The Ed Sullivan Show, before finally debuting their own comedy show, The Smothers Brothers Show, in 1965. While that programme was short lived, it was succeeded by the more successful The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in 1967. It featured a mix of musical guests including George Harrison, Joan Baez and Janis Ian, and rising comedy stars including Steve Martin and Bob Reiner.

When The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour was eventually cancelled in 1969, Tom Smothers remarked that he believed CBS was ordered to remove the programme from the air by President Richard Nixon. “When Nixon said, ‘I want those guys off,’ they were off,” he said in a 2001 interview. “If [Vice President Hubert H.] Humphrey had been elected, we would have been on.”

The pair would go on to pursue acting roles in films including Brian De Palma’s Get To Know Your Rabbit following the end of their programme, and in 2011, Tom Smothers was awarded the Jack Green Civil Liberties Award by the American Civil Liberties Union’s Sonoma County chapter, for his advocacy against censorship and political activism.

In a statement, Journey Gunderson, executive director of the National Comedy Centre, praised Tom’s political activism and groundbreaking approach to comedy with his brother. “Tom Smothers was not only an extraordinary comedic talent, who, together with his brother Dick, became the most enduring comedy duo in history, entertaining the world for over six decades – but was a true champion for freedom of speech, harnessing the power of comedy to push boundaries and our political consciousness,” he wrote.

In addition, Tom’s brother, Dick, also expressed his admiration for his brother in his own statement. “Tom was not only the loving older brother that everyone would want in their life, he was a one-of-a-kind creative partner,” he wrote. “I am forever grateful to have spent a lifetime together with him, on and off stage, for over 60 years. Our relationship was like a good marriage – the longer we were together, the more we loved and respected one another. We were truly blessed.”

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