Sad news today. Jonathan Demme, best known for directed “The Silence of the Lambs”, for which he won a Best Director Academy Award, has died at 73. Meryl Streep has spoken out on the passing of filmmaker Jonathan Demme, who directed the Oscar winner in 2015’s rocker comedy, “Ricki and the Flash.” In a statement provided to TheWrap, Streep praised Demme as: “A big hearted, big tent, compassionate man- in full embrace in his life of people in need- and of the potential of art, music, poetry and film to fill that need- a big loss to the caring world.” Demme died Wednesday in New York of esophageal cancer and complications from heart disease. He was originally treated for the disease in 2010, but suffered from a recurrence in 2015. His condition deteriorated in recent weeks leading to his passing. In “Ricki and the Flash,” Streep played an aging rocker coming to terms and dealing with the reconciliation of her music life and her family life. “Juno” Oscar winner Diablo Cody wrote the screenplay. Streep sung and played guitar live for the role. Her and Demme were friends prior to making “Ricki the Flash.” Demme’s other credits include “Philadelphia,” “Rachel Getting Married,” “Melvin and Howard,” “Swing Shift” and “Something Wild.”

Earlier this week, Meryl’s latest film “Ricki and the Flash” has been released on DVD, Blu-Ray and on demand in the United States. If you haven’t seen it yet, or want to relive Jonathan Demme’s romantic comedy that co-stars Kevin Kline, Rick Springfield and Mamie Gummer, be sure to grab your copy. Over 1.000 Blu-Ray screencaptures have been added to the photo gallery. Enjoy!

Movie and music fans will get to rock on with Meryl Streep when “Ricki and the Flash” arrives on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD November 24 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Streep takes on a whole new gig as a hard-rocking singer and guitarist for Oscar® winning director Jonathan Demme and Academy Award® winning screenwriter Diablo Cody in this original film loaded with live musical performances. Streep stars as Ricki Rendazzo, a guitar heroine who made a world of mistakes as she followed her dreams of rock n roll stardom. Returning home, Ricki gets a shot at redemption and a chance to make things right as she faces the music with her family. Streep stars opposite her real-life daughter Mamie Gummer; Rick Springfield as the Flash band member in love with Ricki; and Oscar® winner Kevin Kline as Rickis ex-husband.

A big batch of additional scans for the international Ricki and the Flash promotion have been added to the photo gallery. These recent scans come from the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, France and Italy and have been contributed by Alvaro, Tereza, Marcela and Luciana. My most sincere thanks to all of you for providing such an extensive press coverage on Ricki and the Flash. Enjoy the new scans.

Even more scans from various magazines, featuring articles, interviews and reviews for “Ricki and the Flash”, have been added to the photo gallery, including cover stories from the Sunday Times Magazine and the Australian Yours Magazine. As always, many thanks to Alvaro for sending them in. Also, many thanks to Simona for sending in the Grazia scans. Very appreciated. Enjoy reading.

During its two weeks at the American box office, “Ricki and the Flash” has been a modest success, earning 17,3 million on its 18 million budget. The comedy will expand its run to most European countries during September. Critics have been favorable for the performances, but mixed on the rather predictable storyline. Variety wrote, that Streep’s character “compiles a wealth of impressive actorly attributes without ever really finding a center for the character. She brings plenty of salt, but not nearly enough grit.” Peter Travers wrote in Rolling Stone, “It’s a kick watching Meryl Streep rock out on guitar and vocals. Too bad the rest of the movie, with a script by Diablo Cody, is dime-a-dozen family soap opera.” And the New York Times concluded, “It’s not Mr. Demme’s fault that things didn’t quite work out that way. But “Ricki and the Flash” seems like a squandered opportunity for this humane, curious and liberal-minded filmmaker to reflect on some uncomfortable realities. This isn’t really rock ’n’ roll. It’s easy listening.” Have you seen “Ricki and the Flash”? Feel free to share your comments.

A new batch of magazines scans, all related to the August release of “Ricki and the Flash”, have been added to the photo gallery. The new additions come from various Entertainment Weekly’s, Variety, Time Out and the Sunday Times Culture (great cover, if anyone has the article, think of me :-) There’s also an article on the upcoming “Suffragette” in the latest Entertainment Weekly, which has been added as well. Many thanks to Alvaro for sending these in. Enjoy reading.

Work has prevented me from catching up with all the “Ricki and the Flash” media that happened later in this week, so here’s one big update for you. Several new clips from the film, compilation from the press junket, a report from the New York premiere, as well as Meryl’s August 4 appearance on CBS This Morning have been added to the video archive. Enjoy.

Over 280 pictures from yesterday’s New York premiere of “Ricki and the Flash” have been added to the photo gallery. My biggest thanks to Claudia and Lindsey for their wonderful contributions. Two new clips have been added to the video archive as well – a new clip of Meryl singing “Drift Away” and an interview with her and Rick Springfield by Access Hollywood. Enjoy the new additions.

To conclude yesterday’s promotion for “Ricki and the Flash”, Meryl Streep has attended the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. You can watch it in the video archive and find screencaptures in the photo gallery. Additionally, more pictures from Sunday’s photocall as well as from the tapings of both Fallon and the Today Show have been added.