Brad Pitt Allegedly 'Volatile' on 'LOTF' Set ... So Claims Director in Book

Brad Pitt was a young and restless actor on the set of "Legends of the Fall" way back in the '90s -- so claims the director of that film ... who's painting BP as passionate to a fault.

Edward Zwick -- who helmed the famed romance epic -- which launched Brad into orbit as a heartthrob hunk and a mainstream A-list actor -- has this new book coming out called "Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood."

Vanity Fair obtained some excerpts from the forthcoming memoir ... and there's a fair amount of writing about Brad, who was the lead star of the movie as one of the Ludlow brothers, the free-spirited and wild-hearted Tristan.

As it turns out ... the character and the man playing him might've not been so different -- at least according to Zwick, who says Brad could be "volatile when riled" while they were shooting. Even from the jump EZ claims Brad wanted to quit after just the first table read.

Once they were able to get Brad to stay on, they would often clash when it came to getting the best takes out of Brad -- not to mention what each of them wanted from the character ... especially when it came to showing different sides of himself as an actor.

He writes that Brad would "get edgy whenever he was about to shoot a scene that required him to display deep emotion." Zwick says he wanted Brad to express himself more in portraying Tristan -- but he says Brad would challenge him and push back.

Zwick then says he once gave an acting instruction to Brad in front of the crew, and that they got into a heated argument ... which Zwick describes this way, "I don’t know who yelled first, who swore, or who threw the first chair. Me, maybe? But when we looked up, the crew had disappeared. And this wasn’t the last time it happened. Eventually, the crew grew accustomed to our dustups and would walk away and let us have it out."

In the end, they were able to work past their creative issues and finish the film -- with Zwick ending on a positive note about Brad ... calling him "forthright, straightforward" and "capable of great joy." Frankly, that's exactly what Tristan Ludlow himself was like!

It's also pretty funny that Zwick feels like Brad wasn't emoting enough on camera -- fact is, if you've seen this movie, you know Brad goes balls to the wall as a thespian ... and there are a lot of tears shed by his character.

The way Zwick characterizes things now -- makes you wonder if we only saw the raw emotion Brad showed on the big screen because the director truly pushed him to let it out.

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We've reached out to Brad's team for comment ... so far, no word back.

LEONARDO DICAPRIO POWER MOVES with TEYANA TAYLOR ... Filmin' Scenes Together!!!

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Hollywood moves quickly ... Teyana Taylor's addition to Paul Thomas Anderson's new movie went down just a few days ago, but she's already on set with Leonardo DiCaprio.

TMZ obtained these clips of the pair making power moves in downtown Sacramento, where they were filming scenes on Saturday.

The duo was in business attire, and getting key guidance from Anderson ... right up until cameras rolled, and they made fierce strides into a high-rise.

You can also see it's being shot on a public sidewalk in broad daylight with a significant film crew presence, so there clearly wasn't a chance for passersby to get an up-close glimpse of Leo and Teyana. Admire from a distance only!!

The movie's plot has been shrouded in secrecy, and any scenes filmed so far have been low-key ... so the corporate setting might seem like a clue about the film's premise.

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However, scenes of Leo looking worse for wear in a trench coat and disheveled beard ... shot earlier last week prove otherwise.

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TMZ also got clips of Leo shooting with Regina Hall and a younger, unknown actress at a chill NorCal diner days later ... once again, keeping us on our toes about its plot.

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Two things we do know for sure is the movie boasts a killer cast -- as if Regina, Leo and Teyana weren't enough, it's also got Sean Penn and Alana Haim ... and it's coming out in 2025.

Dua Lipa Movie 'Argylle' Bombs at Box Office ... Despite Incredible Cast

Dua Lipa really stepped out of her comfort zone with her major role in the new movie, "Argylle" ... hopefully, she won't be too discouraged by box office numbers.

If you don't know ... "Argylle" centers on an author who writes secret agent novels -- and whose life becomes one after her latest book starts to reflect real-world events.

However, most of the buzz around the movie's centered less on the plot and more on the cast -- Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, John Cena, Ariana DeBose, Catherine O'Hara, Samuel L. Jackson, Dua ... the list just goes on and on.

But, even an army of stars can't seem to save "Argylle" from the dreaded box office bomb. The first weekend for the comedy-thriller's not going well according to The Hollywood Reporter ... which reports the film grossed just $5.6 million on Friday in the United States and it headed for an estimated $16.5 million domestic opening

The overseas numbers look just as bad for the flick ... with those markets expected to rake in just $16.9 million -- a poor opening for a movie with a blockbuster budget like "Argylle."

Multiple outlets report the film cost $200 million to make .. and, that's not including the marketing budget -- probably another huge sum given the massive commercial campaign the team at Apple launched.

As for what happened, that seems obvious ... early reviews of the movie weren't flattering and may have convinced prospective moviegoers to skip a trip to the cinema. The movie's currently got a 37% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes though audiences are rating it at 65%.

Now, Dua's inclusion in the flick's specifically important here ... because she doesn't do much acting. This is really only her second role listed on IMDb where she's played a character -- she was also a Barbie in "Barbie" but so was half of H'Wood.

So, a box office blow in her first real major role may negatively impact her career prospects ... or maybe not. She's still one of the most popular singers in the world.

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Bottom line ... it seems "Argylle" is living up to its secret agent roots -- 'cause no one seems to be noticing it!

Sylvester Stallone Addresses Carl Weathers' Death ... Emotional Tribute

Sylvester Stallone is speaking on Carl Weathers' sudden death -- and it couldn't be more emotional and heartfelt .... yeah, this one's a tear-jerker.

The actor posted a video Friday just hours after news broke that his 'Rocky' costar had passed away the day prior -- and you can tell Sly is absolutely torn up about it ... fighting back tears as he honors his longtime friend and companion in the ring.

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Sly says he owes so much of his career and success to Carl ... noting the man had a magnetism and energy about him that made him so special -- especially for the 'Rocky' franchise. SS recounts first meeting Carl ... and knowing right away, this guy's a star.

This video was actually filmed with Sly standing in front of the famous painting that was commissioned to recreate the end of 'Rocky III,' where they face off in the ring anew.

Sylvester ends his gut-wrenching remarks here with a special message for his good friend -- "Apollo, keep punching."

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He also adds this of the late Weathers ... "We lost a legend yesterday. My life was forever changed for the better the day I met Carl Weathers. Rest in power."

We couldn't have said it better ourselves.

RIP

OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN Would've Loved Taylor Swift's 'Grease' Role

Olivia Newton-John was apparently a Swiftie -- at least that's what her rep says, telling us the late singer would've gotten a kick out of these Taylor Swift's 'Grease' throwback photos.

Michael Caprio, Olivia's publicist of 25 years and counting, tells TMZ ... Olivia "would be tickled" to see all the childhood pics of young Taylor playing Olivia's famous character in a school production of the hit musical ... which just surfaced earlier this week.

Olivia's publicist adds ... she "had the greatest respect for Taylor as an artist and she was a fan of her talent." So, the fact Taylor was paying homage to her in her youth is kismet.

As we reported ... some old photographs of Taylor in character as Sandy is making the rounds ... it's from June 2000, long before Taylor was the biggest star in music.

Funny enough, Olivia and Taylor actually crossed paths when ONJ was still alive ... Michael says Olivia took a group of girlfriends to see a Taylor concert in Miami in 2010, with Olivia raving about Taylor's performance.

Michael recalls Olivia telling him she thought "Taylor was such a sweet, talented and smart girl."

Sounds like the feelings are mutual ... Michael says Taylor's got a vintage concert t-shirt from Olivia's 1982 Physical Tour in her wardrobe. On its face, they were big fans of the other.

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Ya gotta love it ... Taylor was more than likely hopelessly devoted to the part, and it seems Olivia would've really appreciated that.

Jake Gyllenhaal Director Says Jake Didn't Ruin Movie ... Visions Just Weren't Aligned

Jake Gyllenhaal came under a microscope this week after reports surfaced about alleged erratic behavior on a movie set ... but now, the film's director's clearing the air.

Here's the deal ... director Thomas Bidegain spoke with the French magazine Technikart last week where he discussed his movie "Suddenly" -- which, at one time, had Gyllenhaal and Vanessa Kirby attached before both allegedly dropped out during pre-production.

The interview detailed several alleged frenzied episodes involving Gyllenhaal ... like demanding a car that was neither "red or white," rehearsing in a ridiculous accent like the Pepé Le Pew accent, and stripping down to his undies before launching himself into the freezing ocean -- all of which was being mocked and widely discussed on social media.

Ultimately though, all of it might not be true -- 'cause while Bidegain refused to comment on the validity of those stories, he did tell Variety his issue came from creative differences with JG and VK rather than any unprofessional behavior.

TB explains it like this ... the film was still very early in the process, not shooting and not even in pre-production yet like Technikart suggested. This was in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, so the creative team had only spoken over Zoom when Thomas pitched the idea of meeting as a group in Iceland for a week to work on the project.

The French director said he thought they all were on the same page, but quickly realized their visions weren't in sync when they started breaking down the script together ... Kirby and Gyllenhaal apparently had entirely different opinions on the story's meaning and themes.

Bidegain says he peaced out on the trip after four of the seven days when he realized it wouldn't be a fruitful partnership ... with Thomas noting he'd never worked with an actor-producer like Gyllenhaal before ... and that, he says, created challenges.

Vanessa later contacted Bidegain about purchasing the script, Thomas claims, but he wouldn't sell ... instead making the movie with French actors -- as they seemed more in tune with his vision.

Thomas is more diplomatic in his response now ... saying he wanted to make the movie his own way. We'll admit though ... what he's quoted as claiming against Jake in the OG article is ... a little wild. BTW, this movie of his finally came out last year.

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In any case, it's all water under a bridge, it seems ... and there's a lesson in this.

We're not quite sure what that is, but make of it what you will!

Carl Weathers Apollo Creed from 'Rocky' ... Dead at 76

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3:41 PM PT -- Two of Carl's former costars have expressed condolences for the late actor.

Arnold Schwarzenegger posted a photo of them from the set of 'Predator,' and wrote ... "Carl Weathers will always be a legend. An extraordinary athlete, a fantastic actor, and a great person. We couldn’t have made Predator without him. And we certainly wouldn’t have had such a wonderful time making it."

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Dolph Lundgren of 'Rocky' fame also posted a tribute, writing ... "I was saddened to hear the news this morning. Along with the world, I will miss Carl. He was a great actor, a terrific athlete and a good friend. I cherish many special memories of Carl, both professionally and personally. Like Apollo Creed, he had that special charm that always brought a smile to your face"

Carl Weathers -- famous from a number of movies, but most prominently as Sylvester Stallone's early nemesis in the 'Rocky' movies -- has sadly died ... TMZ has confirmed.

The beloved actor passed away peacefully Thursday while surrounded by loved ones -- this according to a statement from his family. They say, "We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Carl Weathers."

They add, "He died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, February 1st, 2024. … Carl was an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life. Through his contributions to film, television, the arts and sports, he has left an indelible mark and is recognized worldwide and across generations. He was a beloved brother, father, grandfather, partner, and friend."

Unclear what ailments, if any, Carl may have been battling lately ... he'd been actively acting in recent years -- and on the surface, there didn't seem to be much wrong with him.

In any case ... it's an absolute blow to showbiz -- Carl was a titan in the movie industry, with acting credits dating back to the early 1970s when he was guest starring on shows like "Good " 'Kung Fu," "S.W.A.T.," "The Six Million Dollar Man," "Cannon" "McCloud" and more.

His true big break came courtesy of Sly ... Carl was cast as the brash and bold heavyweight champ of the world, Apollo, and he was pitted against Rocky in the ring for two films.

His character stuck around for another two 'Rocky' films ... in the third one, he actually brought the Italian Stallion out of a slump and back to glory with a new type of training he'd never experienced ... making for some iconic, memorable scenes as part of a montage.

The shot of them slow-mo running on the beach, and Sly eventually pulling ahead, goes down in movie history as one of the most awesome and inspiring things caught on camera.

Apollo was killed off in "Rocky IV" -- in dramatic fashion, no less -- but his imprint in that movie franchise lives on even today ... Michael B. Jordan plays his fictional son in the 'Creed' flicks, which are still going strong -- and which continue to be cranked out in Hollywood.

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Even outside of 'Rocky,' Carl's presence left an impression in just about every cult classic flick he's been a part of. Just to name a few right off the bat -- "Predator," "Happy Gilmore," "Action Jackson," "The Defiant Ones," "Braker," "Death Hunt," "Hurricane Smith," and others.

His TV credits are also quite impressive ... CW was on shows like "Fortune Dane," "Tour of Duty," "Street Justice," "In the Heat of the Night," "Brothers," "The Shield," "Arrested Development," "Chicago Justice," ... and more recently, in Star Wars' "The Mandalorian."

He'd appeared in episodes of the latter as recently as 2023. In all, he has 80 acting credits.

Outside of Hollywood, Carl was involved in noble charitable efforts -- including Lupus L.A., The L.A. Police Memorial Foundation, The PEACE Fund and The Tower Cancer Research Foundation.

Prior to his acting career, Weathers played for the Oakland Raiders from 1970-1971 ... and the team addressed the tragic loss in a statement Friday afternoon.

"Always a proud Raider, Weathers will be missed dearly by his Raiders Family and his many fans worldwide," the team said. "Our deepest condolences are with the Weathers family at this time."

He's survived by his two sons. Carl was 76.

RIP

Originally Published -- 3:41 PM PT 

ISSA RAE H'Wood Execs Are Old & Stupid ... Where Did Diversity Go?

Issa Rae has a bone to pick with Hollywood execs ... accusing them of copping out of their promises to increase diversity onscreen ... and continuing to live in the Stone Age.

The "Insecure" creator/actress lays out her thoughts about the current state of the entertainment industry to TIME ... saying she hasn't seen Hollywood so scared, clueless and at the mercy of Wall Street, and stating there are no more smart execs around anymore.

Issa's firm on her stance ... saying that many have aged out, holding onto their position with iron-clad claws and refusing to let young blood in to get that much-needed representation on the big screen. In other words, a bunch of old heads are still calling the shots -- and Issa seems to think they're screwing the pooch 'cause they're out of touch.

A main point she's trying to make is that conglomerate leaders should stay in their lane, focusing on the business side of things rather than making big creative decisions they know nothing about.

One such example -- Issa says these execs haven't caught onto the fact that social media has changed the way we consume entertainment ... saying the only people taking risks are on platforms like TikTok, adding, "That's what's getting the eyeballs of the youth. So you're killing your own industry."

Though, the "Barbie" star ain't blind to the harsh realities of keeping up with the evolving industry herself ... she's had her reality series, "Sweet Life: Los Angeles," canceled, and she also had to lay off 8 staff members amid the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes last year.

But, she's staying true to her brand identity and will continue fighting to have diverse stories told on the big screen.

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From what we're hearing, she's just hoping the power players wake up and deliver on those promises. Sounds reasonable!

BRAD PITT & QUENTIN TARANTINO REUNITING Again ... For Director's Final Flick

Brad Pitt and Quentin Tarantino are back at it ... the duo will be reuniting for the director's tenth and final film, "The Movie Critic."

Pitt walked away with the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his last collab with Q in 2019's "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood" ... and their first collab in 2009's "Inglorious Basterds" also generated tons of praise -- so signing up for another round of acclaim was clearly a no-brainer for the actor, 'cause he's coming back for thirds with QT.

Deadline reports the new movie's eyeing up a 2025 release & producer Stacey Sher, who worked on QT's 1994 hit "Pulp Fiction," has hopped on board as producer ... so it'll clearly be in good hands. Sony's also supposedly picked up the film's distribution rights.

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Quentin has not delved too deep into the movie's premise -- but we know it's based on the life of a movie critic in the late 1970s, as per the title.

Filming will be taking place in his L.A ... Quentin said in a previous statement he started directing movies in Cali ... so it was only fitting he'd shoot his final motion picture in his hometown and cinema capital of the world.

QT's long made it clear he would only direct 10 movies ... telling Playboy back in 2022 that he didn't believe directors got better with age -- in fact, he noticed they got out of touch with what audiences wanted, making their last 4 films their worst.

Also, after forging a career as one of the most acclaimed directors in Hollywood, he may likely be taking a step back to focus on family cause he's got two little ones at home.

'KOTFM' Producer Bradley Thomas Wife Dies by Suicide Jumped from Hotel Balcony

Film producer Bradley Thomas -- who helped make "Killers of the Flower Moon" -- has suffered an unimaginable tragedy ... his wife took her own life this week, TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us Isabelle Thomas jumped from a balcony at the Hotel Angeleno in the West L.A. area Monday night -- and we're told she was discovered dead at the scene when first responders arrived. Our sources tell us she leaped from a high-up floor.

Our law enforcement sources also say no suicide note was left behind.

Her death case is currently with the Medical Examiner's Office -- and they list it as a suicide. The official cause is attributed to multiple traumatic injuries ... consistent with a major fall.

Isabelle and Brad had been married since 2018, and they share two young children together -- and they were even pictured as recently as Jan. 13 at a public event.

It's a tragic turn of events for BT, no doubt, who's in the middle of Oscar season thanks to a movie he produced that's up for Best Picture -- namely, "Killers of the Flower Moon." He's produced tons of other movies over the years ... "Dumb and Dumber," "There's Something About Mary," "Kingpin," "Shallow Hal," "All the Money in the World," "Triangle of Sadness," etc.

Isabelle is survived by her husband and their two children. She was only 39.

RIP

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

DONALD GLOVER 'MR & MRS SMITH' ADVICE FROM BRAD? He Gave Me None!!!

Brad Pitt ain't about giving away his acting secrets ... just ask Donald Glover.

Donald's starring in the new series "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" alongside Maya Erskine -- a reboot of the 2005 film starring Pitt and Angelina Jolie, but Donald says the megastar wasn't exactly keen on passing on the torch.

Donald said Brad skirted giving him advice for the high-octane action series. He was on the 'Tonight Show' with Jimmy Fallon when he revealed a meeting with Brad didn't amount to much.

In fact, he says Brad didn't dish out any actual pointers on how Glover could take on the role. DG added, he "kind of Brad Pitted his way out of it" -- in Layman's terms, he just charmed his way through their interaction, and let him know he'd do a great job.

It's no surprise Glover was fishing for advice from Brad -- especially since "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" was a runaway hit on the big screen ... with its leads having spectacular onscreen chemistry and even falling in love IRL while filming -- something Glover's costar Maya said put heaps of pressure on her.

Maya said they were asked to "sex it up" for the show ... with a photog from the show's promo shoot even asking them to channel their inner sexual animal -- which she says was a worm.

Not really the vibes he was going for, Maya!!

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Alas ... viewers get to judge for themselves whether they live up to expectations -- or whether Pitt's advice really was necessary. All 8 episodes of the "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" reboot series will hit Prime Video on Feb 2.

Leonardo DiCaprio Filming Diner Scene w/ Regina Hall ... Open to the Public???

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Leonardo DiCaprio's all-in on Paul Thomas Anderson's new movie ... shooting in NorCal for the second day in a row -- and working alongside another uber-talented star.

TMZ has obtained video and photos of Leo out at a restaurant Tuesday afternoon opposite "Scary Movie" legend Regina Hall and a younger, unknown actress ... and it looked like he brought some cool confidence to the scene.

Check out the vid -- looks like PTA is giving the Oscar winner some notes while he's chowing down. He's clearly keeping calm -- although we're sure a regular patron or two might've flipped out! The reason we say that ... this appears to have been filmed out in the open.

Eyewitnesses tell us the production team didn't fully shut down the establishment for this shoot -- and, instead, pulled an old H'Wood budget-saving move by allowing regular business to flow while they only took up a few booths to film the scene. That's what's being claimed anyway ... and we'll say this, it sure looks like normies might've been hovering around.

Leo and Regina Hall grabbing lunch together??? Definitely a shock if you happened to be passing through his restaurant. To be fair, PTA's sorta known for his low-budget, indie filmmaking ... even if Leo's normally used to more luxurious catering and a slightly larger budget -- not to mention a much more closed set than what appears to be going on here.

Also worth noting ... all these pics and videos of Leo filming are low-key giving away a lot of clues about the film's story. To be clear, we don't officially know anything about the plot yet ... but if this doesn't look like some sort of family outing, we don't know what does!

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Anyway, just another day on the job for Leo. We broke the story ... LDC was filming in the same small little NorCal town Monday as well, though that scene was a bit more frantic.

Leo was in full-blown costume and makeup Monday in a dirty-looking trench coat and disheveled beard -- definitely appearing worse for wear while cop cars seemingly chased him down.

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The untitled flick doesn't have a release date yet or much more in the way of details ... but we do know Sean Penn's in it -- and it seems only a matter of time before he's spotted too.

Here's hoping the whole movie doesn't come out through leaks before it officially releases. At this rate, it looks like anyone who's hanging around can get an eyeful and then some. 😅

Margot Robbie Breaks Silence on Oscar Snubs ... Greta Deserved a Nod!!!

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Margot Robbie is finally speaking on the Oscar snubs heard 'round the world over "Barbie" -- and while she's taking the high road for herself ... she's going to bat for her director.

The actress shared new remarks on the issue Tuesday night during a SAG-AFTRA panel where she was present and given the floor to air out her thoughts. It's interesting ... MR doesn't address her own snub for Best Actress, but she does explicitly defend Greta Gerwig.

Margot says, "Obviously, I think Greta should be nominated as a director, because what she did is a once-in-a-career, once-in-a-lifetime thing, what she pulled off, it really is. But it’s been an incredible year for all the films."

She went on to say that she's "beyond ecstatic" that 'Barbie' racked up as many nominations as it did (8) -- but in the same breath, noted she understood the disappointment from fans.

Margot finished by saying ... "I just suspect it’s bigger than us. It’s bigger than this movie, it’s bigger than our industry." Unclear what exactly she means by that ... sounds like she's referring to politics within the Academy, though.

Last thing Margot mentioned on this topic ... "We set out to do something that would shift culture, affect culture, just make some sort of impact. And it’s already done that, and some, way more than we ever dreamed it would. And that is truly the biggest reward that could come out of all of this."

Remember, there was widespread outrage over the fact Margot and Greta had been left off the nominations list -- even though Ryan Gosling and America Ferrera got Oscar nods.

Many felt if Ryan was nominated, it was a no-brainer to get Margot in there too ... seeing how she literally carries the film, and is the heart and soul of the whole thing.

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She's clearly a little peeved about it ... but not for herself, it seems. Sounds like she's in the same camp as everyone else on this -- namely, "Barbie" should've gotten more recognition.

Leonardo DiCaprio I Got Oscar Snubbed ... So, Back to Work with PTA I Guess!!!

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Leonardo DiCaprio is getting right back to work on a new movie -- which makes sense, we suppose, since his Oscar campaign is finally done ... with nothing to show for it this year.

TMZ has obtained video of the actor on set Monday in Northern California, where he was in full-blown costume, makeup and character as he and Paul Thomas Anderson's crew shot a scene with at least a few different takes ... and LDC going all out while cameras were rolling.

As you can see here, Leo is taking on quite a different character than what he might normally do -- lately, the guy's been playing more historical figures in period pieces (see "Killers of the Flower Moon," "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood," etc.).

Here, Leo looks like more of a modern down-on-his-luck dude in a setting that looks like present day. In fact, he comes across as kinda homely ... and rough around the edges.

He even puts his acting chops on display in our video ... yelling into the receiver at a payphone, slamming it and slumping down with a lot of emotion. Dude's very in his element.

No word yet on what the plot of this film might be -- it's being kept under wraps for now -- but we do know who else will eventually join Leo as the production continues ... Sean Penn and Regina Hall have also been tapped to star, so it's a solid cast in the mix here.

An eyewitness also tells us that it appears that the fictional town PTA and co. are trying to create might be called Baktin Cross ... 'cause the cop cars that pass feature that signage.

It's all still shrouded in mystery -- but knowing PTA's style, this looks to be shaping up in the vein of "Licorice Pizza," "Boogie Nights," "Inherent Vice," "Punch-Drunk Love" or even "Magnolia." Speaking of 'BN,' fun fact ... Paul has publicly said he wanted Leo for that lead role, but wasn't able to land him, going with Mark Wahlberg instead. LDC was the one who got away!

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Now, he's finally got his chance to work with Leo ... and so far, it appears they're making magic onscreen. It's also not lost on us that PTA has gotten tons of actors nominated at the Oscars over the years ... including Tom Cruise, Joaquin Phoenix, Julianne Moore and others.

Seeing how Leo missed out this year for his Martin Scorsese flick, maybe he wants another bite at the apple with Paul. Based on what we see here ... the homeboy's coming for that statuette.

Just like a boxer ... he's getting right back into the ring for another round. Leo's hungry!

CHRISTIAN BALE Birthday Boy Flexin' ... Whatchu Know 'Bout 50?!?

Christian Bale is known for his extreme on-screen body transformations -- but for his 50th birthday, the dude's reached a great middle-ground ... looking super ripped and toned.

The Oscar-winning actor was photographed Monday ringing in the big 5-0 down in Mexico -- Cabo, to be specific -- and like we said ... the guy was definitely ready to show off his huge guns for the cameras, 'cause he was hanging out on the balcony without a shirt on.

He was also wearing a towel around his waist at one point too ... big-time thirst trap vibes.

Eventually, CB popped on a top, hat, and shades to shield himself from the rays ... making his way down to a beach with his wife, Sibi Blažić, and their nine-year-old son Joseph. We'll say this about him ... even when clothed, Christian puts other dad bods to shame.

Christian and Sibi are also parents to daughter Emmeline, 18 ... although, she didn't appear to be on the family getaway here.

The Hollywood actor is clearly making the most of his downtime after taking a bit of a breather on the career front -- his only 2023 credit was voiceover work for "The Boy and the Heron" ... and he currently has nothing in the pipeline this year.

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Granted, he's still one of the most prolific actors working today -- and he's still killing it at this point in his career. He can most certainly afford to take a break from on-camera work.

Lucky for us (and everyone else) ... he's right here putting on another type of show, no general admission tickets needed either.

Happy bday, Christian ... you're a gem, sir!

Florence Pugh The Camera Broke ... In 'Oppenheimer' Sex Scene!!!

Florence Pugh got caught in a vulnerable state while shooting "Oppenheimer" -- namely, when she and Cillian Murphy were naked ... during which cameras weren't rolling.

The actress shared this cringeworthy story at a recent screening of the blockbuster, where there was a Q&A ... and where FP revealed there were some technical difficulties at one point in the production, and it came at the worst time ... during a sex scene.

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NOT IDEAL TIMING
Universal Pictures

If you've seen the movie ... you know there's at least 3 sex scenes where Florence and Cillian are nude -- so it's unclear which one exactly this happened for, but it sounds awkward.

Apparently, while they were filming this intimate scene, one of the main cameras broke ... and the whole crew had to hit pause while they worked on it to fix the problem. That left Florence and Cillian standing by (naked) as they waited for the issue to be resolved.

Luckily, FP had a good attitude about it all -- her whole point here is that 'Oppenheimer' was very much like an old-school Hollywood production ... and she's talking about how in awe she was by everyone and how they handled their craft. Even during this stop-down, she says she found stuff to appreciate ... and learned a thing or two about the equipment, etc.

Her point about the set being like a classic Hollywood movie isn't lost on us either -- considering Christopher Nolan's rep for wanting his cast/crew to be in the moment (and, allegedly, not to sit down either) ... this kinda makes sense that Florence and Cillian stuck around during this.

You'd figure the stars of a major film like this could head back to their trailers during this in-between time ... not so for a CN flick though, apparently! On his set, you see it through.

Anyway, sticking with it for these inconveniences clearly paid off for Florence and Co. -- 'Oppenheimer' is an Oscar darling this year, and is primed to win a bunch of awards.

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TMZ INVESTIGATES
TMZ Studios

A little sacrifice for art goes a long way ... something Florence is now very familiar with!