Benjamin Lee

Brooklyn, New York

East Coast Arts Editor, Guardian US at The Guardian

Articles

Bride Hard review - Rebel Wilson action comedy is hard to endure

1 week ago | theguardian.com | Benjamin Lee

In Apple’s 2023 car crash Ghosted, things went from worse to genuinely never been this bad when the sounds of Uptown Funk erupted during another shoddily choreographed action sequence. It was a marriage so heinous that one would be tempted to think it was parody had it not existed in a film so entirely devoid of humour and self-awareness.
Deliver Me From Nowhere: first trailer for Oscar-tipped Bruce Springsteen biopic

1 week ago | theguardian.com | Benjamin Lee

The trailer for Bruce Springsteen biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere has offered the first real look at Jeremy Allen White in the lead role. The award-winning star of The Bear plays the musician as he puts together his sixth album Nebraska in the early 1980s. The film, from Crazy Heart director Scott Cooper, is based on Warren Zanes’ 2023 book.
Tom Cruise and Dolly Parton among stars set to receive honorary Oscars

1 week ago | theguardian.com | Benjamin Lee

Tom Cruise and Dolly Parton will be among this year’s recipients of honorary Oscars. The pair join choreographer, actor and director Debbie Allen and production designer Wynn Thomas, all scheduled to receive special Oscars at this year’s governors awards in November. Academy president, Janet Yang, called them “four legendary individuals whose extraordinary careers and commitment to our film-making community continue to leave a lasting impact” in a statement.
Mel Brooks to reprise role in Spaceballs sequel

2 weeks ago | theguardian.com | Benjamin Lee

Mel Brooks is set to reprise his role as Yogurt in an already-confirmed sequel to Spaceballs. Brooks, who turns 99 later this month, co-wrote, directed and starred in the 1987 original which spoofed the Star Wars franchise among other films. “I told you we’d be back,” Brooks wrote in a Bluesky post on Thursday. Last year it was announced that a follow-up was in development at Amazon-MGM with Brooks producing and Josh Gad co-writing and potentially starring.
Harris Yulin, character actor and Broadway star, dies at 88

2 weeks ago | theguardian.com | Benjamin Lee

Harris Yulin, a character actor with more than 100 film and TV credits, has died at the age of 88. According to Deadline, his death was announced by family and his manager. He died on 10 June of a cardiac arrest in New York City. The Los Angeles-born actor appeared in films including Scarface, Ghostbusters II, Training Day, Rush Hour 2, Night Moves, Doc, Final Analysis, Multiplicity, The Hurricane, Bean and Clear and Present Danger.
‘Authoritarian and un-American’: celebrities outraged by Trump’s response to LA Ice protests

2 weeks ago | theguardian.com | Benjamin Lee

Celebrities have reacted to the ongoing chaos in Los Angeles, calling out Ice officials and praising those protesting against them. After a series of crackdowns targeting immigrant communities in the city, tensions reached fever pitch over the weekend with thousands of community members taking to the streets. Donald Trump has since mobilized marines and national guard members in a move that has further enraged locals.
Tony awards 2025: Maybe Happy Ending and Nicole Scherzinger win big while George Clooney misses out

2 weeks ago | theguardian.com | Benjamin Lee

Romantic robot musical Maybe Happy Ending has triumphed with six wins at this year’s Tony awards, with actors Cole Escola and Kara Young also making history in their respective categories. Maybe Happy Ending was named best musical, with its star Darren Criss also taking home the award for leading actor in a musical.
Tony awards 2025: full list of winners

2 weeks ago | theguardian.com | Benjamin Lee

Best book of a musical Marco Ramirez, Buena Vista Social Club Itamar Moses, Dead Outlaw Marco Pennette, Death Becomes Her Will Aronson and Hue Park, Maybe Happy Ending, – WINNER! David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts, Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical Best sound design of a play Paul Arditti, Stranger Things: The First Shadow – WINNER! Palmer Hefferan, John Proctor is the Villain Daniel Kluger, Good Night, and Good Luck Nick Powell, The Hills of California Clemence...
The Life of Chuck review - unmoving Stephen King schmaltz

3 weeks ago | theguardian.com | Benjamin Lee

As prestigious as it might sound to win the Palme d’Or at Cannes or the Golden Lion at Venice, the surest indicator of Oscar recognition has become victory at the far less fancy, far more mainstream Toronto film festival. There isn’t a jury-based award, instead there’s one decided by an audience vote and, far more often than not, their picks have lined up with those of the Academy.
Will Ferrell to bring Eurovision musical to Broadway

3 weeks ago | theguardian.com | Benjamin Lee

Will Ferrell is set to turn his 2020 comedy Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga into a Broadway musical. The actor starred in and co-wrote the Netflix film with Harper Steele and the pair will develop the show with Anthony King, whose Broadway credits include Beetlejuice and Gutenberg! The Musical!. There is no timeline yet to the production. “We are more than excited to bring Eurovision to Broadway,” Ferrell said in a statement.