Jennifer Lopez Slays TIFF Red Carpet as She Unveils 'Unstoppable'

Actor and singer Jennifer Lopez arrives for the screening of the movie ‘Unstoppable’ during the 49th annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), in Toronto, Canada, 06 September 2024. EPA/EDUARDO LIMA
Actor and singer Jennifer Lopez arrives for the screening of the movie ‘Unstoppable’ during the 49th annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), in Toronto, Canada, 06 September 2024. EPA/EDUARDO LIMA
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Jennifer Lopez Slays TIFF Red Carpet as She Unveils 'Unstoppable'

Actor and singer Jennifer Lopez arrives for the screening of the movie ‘Unstoppable’ during the 49th annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), in Toronto, Canada, 06 September 2024. EPA/EDUARDO LIMA
Actor and singer Jennifer Lopez arrives for the screening of the movie ‘Unstoppable’ during the 49th annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), in Toronto, Canada, 06 September 2024. EPA/EDUARDO LIMA

Jennifer Lopez infused the Toronto film festival with a dose of A-list glamor Friday at the world premiere of her new movie, true-story sports drama "Unstoppable," which earned a rousing ovation.
The 55-year-old actress, singer and dancer was making her first red carpet appearance since the announcement of her divorce from Ben Affleck, who co-produced the film with best friend Matt Damon but was not in attendance.
And she did not disappoint, wearing a skin-baring metallic silver gown with seemingly nothing but giant black velvet bows holding it together, her hair long and loose. Sky-high silver platform heels finished the look.
In "Unstoppable," Lopez plays Judy, the mother of high school wrestler Anthony Robles (Jharrel Jerome) who, though born with only one leg, doggedly pursued -- and achieved -- his dream of becoming a US university champion.
Oscar nominee Don Cheadle and Michael Pena play his demanding coaches, and Bobby Cannavale plays his abusive stepfather, who repeatedly puts the family in jeopardy.
"Unstoppable" tells Robles's inspiring story while also delving into the difficulties of his family life, and showcasing his close relationship with his mother.
The film had several applause moments in the buildup to Robles's winning run to a college championship for Arizona State University. Then, as the credits rolled, Robles himself, in the theater, earned a standing ovation from the crowd at Roy Thomson Hall.
"When I read the script, I felt like so many women, including myself, could relate to the struggles that she had gone through in her life," Lopez said in a question-and-answer session after the screening.
"This story being a Latino story, being so inspiring -- it was just something that kind of grabbed me."
Jerome said he trained for five months, including with Robles on the wrestling mat.
"As an actor, it is one of the most daunting tasks to portray somebody that is real," he said.
"Unstoppable" was one of the marquee events of day two at the Toronto International Film Festival, the largest in North America, which offers a mix of Oscar-bait movies, feel-good family fare and searing documentaries.
This year marks a return to normal for the event, after twin strikes by actors and writers kept top talent from promoting their work here last year.
Lopez is just one of the major stars visiting Canada's biggest city for the festival.
Ben Stiller, Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry hit the red carpet on Thursday night. Also expected are Angelina Jolie, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Salma Hayek, Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman.
'The Last Showgirl'
Earlier, Gia Coppola debuted her latest effort behind the camera, "The Last Showgirl," starring Pamela Anderson as veteran Vegas performer Shelley, who is left in despair when her show is abruptly canceled.
After a 30-year run dancing half-naked in sequins and high heels in a traditional Sin City show, Shelley must figure out what the future holds.
Coppola -- the granddaughter of legendary director Francis Ford Coppola -- goes beyond the bright lights of America's favorite gambling playground to show the harsh realities of the entertainment industry and what happens to those it discards, especially women.
"I think I’ve been getting ready my whole life for this role," Anderson told the audience after the screening.
The "Baywatch" actress quipped that it was the first time she'd been offered a script that was "coherent."
Jamie Lee Curtis teared up as she spoke about the film. She plays Annette, a onetime dancer and Shelley's best friend who ends up waitressing to make ends meet -- and frittering away her hard-won earnings on bets.
"It's a movie about dreams and going after your dreams," only to discover they may never be realized, said the Oscar winner.



Marlee Matlin, a Trailblazer for Deaf Actors, Opens up in a New Documentary 

Marlee Matlin attends the premiere of "Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore" during the Sundance Film Festival on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, at Eccles Theatre in Park City, Utah. (AP)
Marlee Matlin attends the premiere of "Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore" during the Sundance Film Festival on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, at Eccles Theatre in Park City, Utah. (AP)
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Marlee Matlin, a Trailblazer for Deaf Actors, Opens up in a New Documentary 

Marlee Matlin attends the premiere of "Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore" during the Sundance Film Festival on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, at Eccles Theatre in Park City, Utah. (AP)
Marlee Matlin attends the premiere of "Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore" during the Sundance Film Festival on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, at Eccles Theatre in Park City, Utah. (AP)

Marlee Matlin gives an unflinchingly honest account of her experiences as a deaf actor in the funny and revelatory documentary “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore.” The film kicked off the 41st Sundance Film Festival Thursday, as the first major premiere in the Eccles Theater in Park City, Utah.

After the screening audiences in the theater, some wiping tears away, greeted Matlin with a standing ovation when she took the stage.

The film delves into all aspects of her life, personal and professional: Her childhood and how her family handled learning she had become deaf at 18 months; her experience winning the best actress Oscar for her first movie role in “Children of a Lesser God” and her allegedly abusive romantic relationship with her co-star, the late William Hurt, which he denied; and her experiences in an industry not equipped to accommodate deaf actors.

The film was directed by Shoshanna Stern, who also is deaf. Matlin specifically requested that Stern take on the project when American Masters approached her about doing a documentary.

Matlin has written about her experiences before, including her volatile relationship with Hurt and drugs, in a memoir, “I’ll Scream Later.” But before the #MeToo movement, she felt her allegations were largely dismissed or glossed over.

The documentary isn’t just a portrait of Matlin, but a broader look at deaf culture and how Matlin was thrust into the spotlight at a young age as a de facto spokesperson for all deaf causes.

In addition to being the first, and until Troy Kotsur won for “CODA” in 2022, only deaf actor to win an Academy Award, she helped lobby Congress for closed captioning and delved into the Gallaudet University protest about hiring hearing people to preside over the university, which is the subject of another Sundance documentary, “Deaf President Now!”

Matlin also faced backlash when she spoke while presenting the best actor Oscar the year after she won, an experience that she said made her distance herself from deaf causes.

It features moving interviews from her longtime translator and other important figures in her life such as Henry Winkler, who met her when she was a student at age 12.

Winkler watched her perform a song during a school production after she wrote him a fan letter. Later, she stayed in his home for two years after her breakup with Hurt and had her wedding there. In the film, Matlin said she never would have pursued acting if it weren’t for Winkler, although he disagreed.

The film is closed captioned and includes verbal translations for hearing audiences. In a unique approach, the subjects were interviewed by Stern with an earpiece, allowing them to hear translations from another room.

Matlin said she has struggled occasionally to convince the industry to let her play roles that aren’t necessarily written for a deaf actor. Aaron Sorkin, who wrote a part for her in “The West Wing,” dispelled the notion it is difficult to write for deaf actors.

When “CODA” came around, the studio wanted to cast an A-list, hearing male star opposite Matlin. She threatened to walk if it weren’t a deaf actor and was gratified when Kotsur won the Oscar, hence the “not alone anymore” subtitle. Her big disappointment was not being able to say a few words on stage during the event.

Asked why this moment was the right time for a documentary, Matlin said, “It’s never really the right time. So, why not?”