Category: News

A couple weeks ago, No Time to Die crossed a major milestone: It became Hollywood’s top grosser of the pandemic era. (It wasn’t the world’s biggest moneymaker. Two films from China, The Battle at Lake Changjin and Hi, Mom, have both Hoovered up more.) But the news isn’t all good. It was already known that the latest Bond — and Daniel Craig’s final spin with the spy — would have to make an obscene amount of money to turn a profit. And a new report points out it still hasn’t gotten there.

As per Variety, No Time to Die’s current international tally is a whopping $735 million, $155 million of that from the United States. Hooray! Problem is, it cost more than $250 million to produce, plus at least another $100 million to promote. And therein lies the rub:

Insiders say “No Time to Die” needs to make closer to $900 million to break even, a feat that would have been realistic had a global health crisis not entirely upended the theater industry. As a result, the film now stands to lose $100 million in its theatrical run, according to sources close to production. Other industry sources suggest the losses wouldn’t quite reach the nine-figure mark though they would still be substantial.

But one group is disputing the argument that the top-grossing Hollywood film of 2021 is a money-loser: MGM, the studio who produced it. In a statement to Variety, they called the news “categorically unfounded and put more simply, not true,” saying the movie “has far exceeded our theatrical estimates in this timeframe.” They also point out the film, released worldwide in October, is still in theaters, and is still in the box office Top 10 in North America, to say nothing of the PVOD release doing well as well.

Of course, even to argue whether a Bond movie, which has outgrossed a Fast and Furious installment, is a money-loser or not is a grim reminder of what the pandemic has done to the moviegoing experience. Adult audiences, the Bond franchise’s core demographic, are still reluctant to return to theaters. Meanwhile, even Marvel movies, including Shang-Chi and Eternals, are underperforming, at least relative to the bounty they regularly raked in back in the before-time.

(Via Variety)

Since trailers started airing for Spider-Man: No Way Home started dropping, people have been freaking out about all the series’ returning vets. (They’ve also been speculating about the folks we haven’t seen, yet.) But if you’re stoked for multiple Spider-Men and former baddies, don’t forget one of the most distinctive (and non-superpowered) characters: J. Jonah Jameson, loudmouth publisher and editor-in-chief of The Daily Bugle (now TheDailyBugle.com, natch), played by Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons.

He’s coming back for No Way Home, but he was almost missing one of his best features: that epic ‘stache. As per Entertainment Weekly, Simmons spoke about the star-studded threequel on the podcast Happy, Sad, Confused, where he revealed he had to have some heated discussions with the producers about hair. He said they were against him bringing back that flat-top, which was fine: Simmons was okay with him going bald. But he drew the line at the mustache.

“It was a negotiation then at that point,” Simmons revealed. “Obviously, the most important thing is that he’s still the same blowhard and he does have the same damn mustache, close to it, and cigar at least.”

Simmons won out, but he did reveal he was a touch different…but not that different. “To me, it’s a slightly different character,” he said. “It’s the same blowhard… the same guy with less hair.”

When No Way Home arrives, it won’t be the only time Simmons dusted off his Marvel character. Back in 2019, he wound up in the end credits for part two in the Tom Holland iteration, Far From Home, and even did a fake promo ad for his publication.

Spider-Man: No Way Home hits theaters on Dec. 17.

(Via EW)

It’s been over a month since the tragic shooting on the set of the Western Rust, which ended with its director injured and its cinematographer dead. Investigations into what happen are still underway, and so are two civil lawsuits, which have named, among others, Alec Baldwin, star and one of its producers, who unwittingly fired a loaded prop gun. And now, Baldwin has obtained a lawyer to handle the legal fallout.

As per Variety, the actor-producer has enlisted L.A. based attorney Aaron S. Dyer to represent him in the two (so far) civil lawsuits in which he’s named. One was filed by script supervisor Mamie Mitchell, who has said that she suffered “physical and emotional injuries” after the incident. The other comes from gaffer Serge Svetnoy, who is arguing something similar after being in close proximity to the shooting.

One group that has yet to file a lawsuit is the family of Halyna Hutchins, the director of photography killed in the incident. Hutchins’ husband and family have told reporters that they are still in mourning and awaiting findings of investigations into what happened.

Dyer’s previous clients include Joe Francis, creator of the Girls Gone Wild line, who had been charged with charged with racketeering and child pornography. He also represented astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who punched a conspiracy theorist who had told him the 1969 moon landing of which he was a part was faked.

So far, Baldwin has not faced any criminal charges and it appears he won’t. Meanwhile, the cravenly likes of Donald Trump and his son have made baseless claims about Baldwin’s actions on set that day and/or tried to ghoulishly profit off of unspeakable tragedy.

(Via Variety)

Warning: This piece contains spoilers for The Sopranos, a very good program you should watch.

The Sopranos may be popular once again, thanks to the prequel The Many Saints of Newark. But people still take umbrage with how certain characters exited the show. There’s Tony’s own ambiguous end, of course, the debate over which continues to annoy the show’s creator, David Simon. There’s the also maddeningly mysterious fate of Valery, the Russian operative who simply vanishes in the beloved/notorious “Pine Barrens.” And then there’s Dr. Jennifer Melfi, Tony’s on-again-off-again shrink, who in the penultimate episode just…peaces out.

There’s one person who perhaps dislikes the anticlimactic capper to Dr. Melfi’s arc more than anyone: Lorraine Bracco, the actress who played her. The Goodfellas alum swung by Michael Imperioli and Steven Schirpa’s podcast Talking Sopranos, and she made sure to speak her mind about how Simon and team gave her what she felt was an insufficiently decent goodbye.

The big farewell happens in “The Blue Comet,” the show’s penultimate episode. Melfi is at a dinner party. One of her colleagues brings up a new study about sociopaths taking advantage of talk therapy. She does some investigating and concludes that it’s right. She then cuts ties with Tony, not providing an explanation. That’s it.

“I remember being upset [with] the direction that David [Chase] was bringing Melfi,” Bracco told her fellow castmates. “I just felt like he wanted me to get rid of [Tony]. I felt that he did it in a very abrupt way. I don’t think that she should have done it that way. I would have liked for it to have been more meaningful. I think she cared for Tony. Even though he was a f*ck-up and he was never going to really straighten out. But I think she really cared for him. You don’t spend seven years with someone and [then] discard them. I felt bad about that.”

Bracco had an idea for how Melfi’s storyline could have ended. “Wouldn’t that have been great for him to have said that to her? ‘F*ck you. I am doing what I am doing. I don’t care what you say to me. I don’t care morally where you want to guide me,’” she said. “I think that would have been powerful.”

That said, it’s not like she was mad at Simon. She even wanted him to play her husband, who had never before been seen. “I begged David to play my husband,” Bracco said. “I begged him. He said no. He was too busy writing, editing and blah blah blah.”

You can listen to the podcast below.

(Via THR)

Jonny Greenwood and silver screen director Paul Thomas Anderson know each other very well. The Radiohead guitarist and keyboardist has composed the musical score for a number of Anderson’s films in the past, including the California oil drilling saga There Will Be Blood, the cult leader mind trip The Master, stoner detective flick Inherent Vice, and the ’50s British fashion period piece Phantom Thread. Greenwood has always expertly added the necessary musical drivers to help bring Anderson’s peculiar movies to life.

Anderson’s newest film is Licorice Pizza, a Hollywood coming-of-age story starring the youngest Haim sister, Alana, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s son, Cooper alongside Sean Penn, Tom Waits, and Bradley Cooper. Greenwood is the composer behind the film’s score cues and also one of its original tracks, titled simply “Licorice Pizza.” Greenwood flashes his uncanny ability to capture the distinct moods that arise from the film and with “Licorice Pizza,” the feeling of teenage nostalgia within the ups and downs of the fast lane is palpable. Droplet keys and evocative strings ring through the track, adding depth to a perceived moment of stillness.

Along with Greenwood’s song, the Licorice Pizza soundtrack also features songs from Nina Simone, The Doors, David Bowie, and Sonny & Cher.

Listen to “Licorice Pizza” above.

The Licorice Pizza (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is out now via Republic Records.

Late in the first quarter of the Houston Rockets’ 118-113 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, rookie guard Jalen Green left the game with a hamstring injury. On Friday, head coach Stephen Silas told reporters that Green suffered a left hamstring strain and will be re-evaluated in a week. The Rockets play three games between Friday and next Wednesday (Dec. 1), so at a minimum, this injury will cost the him three contests.

Shooting 38 percent from the floor and 27 percent beyond the arc (49.8 percent true shooting), Green’s first NBA season has largely been dominated by learning curves. Yet there have been glimmers of promise, like four outings with at least 20 points, including 30 against the Boston Celtics on Oct. 24. And over his past five games — including Wednesday — he was averaging 14.4 points on 60.5 percent true shooting.

He opened Wednesday’s duel with 11 points on 4-for-5 shooting in the opening frame, and showcased his versatile jumper and explosive finishing. Injuries are never welcomed, but this one seemingly comes at a time when Green may have been finding his footing to turn scoring flashes into scoring consistencies.

Houston welcomes the Charlotte Hornets to town on Saturday to mark their first action without the No. 2 overall pick from last summer’s Draft.

Hanna: Season 3 (Amazon Prime series) — Esmé Creed-Miles is back as the pint-sized, badass title character, who’s still attempting to defeat the mysterious powers that be while Dermot Mulroney’s operative is as sinister as ever. The third season promises more fight scenes and thrills, all while more characters get backstories, and Mireille Enos’ character forms one half of a lady power duo to cross generations.

F Is For Family: Season 5 (Netflix series) — Bill Burr returns to the 1970s with his animated fever dream of a time when no such thing as political correctness (or helicopter parenting). Not only is the voice of Burr back but also Laura Dern, Justin Long, Sam Rockwell, and more, all returning for the profane ride.

Here’s some regularly scheduled programming:

How To With John Wilson (Friday, HBO 10:00pm) — The “anxious New Yorker” (as he refers to himself) and documentary filmmaker returns for more slice-of-life and refreshingly funny accounts of existing in the Big Apple. This season promises some unexpected moments with unyielding honesty at every turn. Don’t worry, you’re in good hands.

The Waltons’ Homecoming (Sunday, CW 9:00pm) — Another reboot surfaces with the Walton family in 1933, when a winter storm causes John Boy to embark upon a most dangerous mission.

Succession (Sunday, HBO 9:00pm) — It’s Kendall’s birthday party, all while Shiv and Roman are maneuvering alongside Lukas Matsson following his Logan snub.

Fear The Walking Dead (Sunday, CBS 9:00pm) — The tower’s a dangerous place for Morgan when he needs help, probably from Strand.

Dexter (Sunday, Showtime 9:00pm) — The new season is a bloody good time, and this week, Harrison is lauded as a hero, but there’s more than meets the eye to this situation.

The Hot Zone: Anthrax (Sunday, Nat Geo 9:00 & 10:00pm) — Daniel Dae Kim stars in this season that foucses upon an anthrax attack upon the United States and, more specifically, heads to 30 Rock.

Hightown (Starz 9:00pm) — Ray’s feeling more positive on the Thanksgiving holiday while Frankie and Jackie feel otherwise.

Mayor of Kingstown (Paramount 9:00pm) — Jeremy Renner alongside Kyle Chandler and Dianne Wiest as a member of the power-brokering McLusky family, who are running their Michigan town. This week, Mitch and Mike are acting as prisoner liaisons while navigating the community.

The Walking Dead: The World Beyond (Sunday, AMC 10:00pm) — This season will soon draw to a close, and hopefully, those timelines will start to intersect regarding the undead.

Yellowjackets (Sunday, Showtime 10:00) — The group must decide whether or not to look for shelter or stay put, all while Taissa and Shauna are navigating a tough present tense.

Curb Your Enthusiasm (Sunday, HBO 10:30pm) — Larry David will fight a “tiny woman,” apparently. Put this episode on your weekend agenda.

Here are some more streaming picks:

The Real World Homecoming: Los Angeles (Paramount+ series) — Oh boy, this is the season of the “trueeee storyeeee” as put into earworm mode by country singer Jon Brennan. That would be Season 2 of the infamous O.G. reality series “when people stopped being polite… and start getting real.” They’re back (that’d include Beth Anthony, Beth Stolarczyk, David Edwards, Glen Naessens, Irene Berrera-Kearns, and Tami Roman) after 30 years, and we’ll see if those beefs survived the decades.

The Beatles: Get Back (Disney+ miniseries) — The Fab Four (obviously John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr) will appear in this three-part (Peter Jackson-produced) documentary series that covers the making The Beatles’ 1970s album, Let It Be. In addition, we’ll get to dive behind the curtain to watch them prep for their first live show in years. Expect to see some myths dispelled about how this period really went down for the band.

Saved By the Bell: Season 2 (Peacock series) — This reboot worked out to harness a new generation of viewers, along with those who watched the O.G. effort during their own youth. The ultimate Zack Attack last season meant that Mark-Paul Gosselaar was on hand to portray a bad California governor, but fortunately, Tiffani Thiessen, Elizabeth Berkley, and Mario Lopez all arrived to help make things right. The revival was surprisingly socially relevant, too, and expect more of the same to come with a student leader who finds herself with more of a mess to clean up than she expected.

True Story (Netflix limited series) — Wesley Snipes and Kevin Hart star in this Philly-set story about a famous comedian who touches down in his hometown for a tour stop. In the process, his personal life rears its head, of course, and he must confront existential dilemmas, including the importance of protecting what’s near and dear to one’s heart. A lot of that drama comes from the comedian’s brother, which proves that no one knows you better (and worse) than your own family.

Elves: Season 1 (Netflix series) — This surprisingly spooky show revolves around a family who believes that they’re going to reconnect on a remote island, but then fierce creatures that are actually elves make themselves known. If that wasn’t awful enough, then a fiercely religious human population is there to make things even weirder. There’s a tenuous balance at work, though, and this family sure as heck disrupted it, so this turns into a survival tale. Yikes.

The Wheel of Time: Season 1 (Amazon Prime series) — Rosamund Pike finally goes not play a sociopath while starring in this sprawling adaptation of one of the most popular fantasy book series (by Robert Jordan) ever. Here, she portrays Moiraine, who’s a member of an exclusive, magical, all-ladies organization known as Aes Sedai. The story follows Moiraine’s dangerous quest with a group that contains the prophesied Dragon Reborn, who shall be the key to humanity’s fate. Whether that fate is to be destroyed or saved, who really knows? Sit back and surrender to the epic journey.

Masters of the Universe: Revelation: Part 2 (Netflix series) — Kevin Smith channelled his childhood, blood, sweat, and literal tears into this show. Sure, some people overreacted, but overall, the first batch of episodes hit a home run while staying loyal to the O.G. show’s spirit and putting some real stakes behind the He-Man vs. Skeletor rivalry. This second edition picks up with Skeletor holding the Sword of Power while Eternia’s heroes must square off against an actual threat to, well, eternity.

Sometimes the best new R&B can be hard to find, but there are plenty of great rhythm-and-blues tunes to get into if you have the time to sift through the hundreds of newly released songs every week. So that R&B heads can focus on listening to what they really love in its true form, we’ll be offering a digest of the best new R&B songs that fans of the genre should hear every Friday.

This week feature Bryson Tiller’s return as he arrived with a new holiday project, A Different Christmas. Additionally, Leon Bridges added another song to his excellent album, Gold-Diggers Sound, thanks to “Summer Rain” with Jazmine Sullivan. Lastly, months after releasing his Aura III project, Elhae is back in action with “FOMO.”

Bryson Tiller — A Different Christmas

Months after sharing the deluxe version of his third album Anniversary, Bryson Tiller decided it was best to end the year by spreading some holiday cheer to those who might have to celebrate it alone. His A Different Christmas project is laced with seven songs and appearances from Kiana Lede, Justin Bieber, Poo Bear, and his daughter Harley “Halo” Tiller.

Leon Bridges — “Summer Rain” Feat. Jazmine Sullivan

This past summer, Leon Bridges dropped off his phenomenal third album Gold-Diggers Sound, a release he called his “most personal album yet.” Thanks to collaborations from Robert Glasper, Ink, and Terrace Martin, this label proved to be quite true. Now, the album experience gets extended thanks to the addition of “Summer Rain” with Jazmine Sullivan. Together, the duo’s lush vocals combine for a truly beautiful track.

Elhae — “FOMO”

Elhae returned to action this year with Aura III, and while some might have thought that was all he had in store for the year, he returns this week with a new drop. His new single “FOMO” is dedicated to a new love interest in his life. Something about them grabs his attention, and due to his fear of missing out, he sets his eyes on exploring a possible love with her and not letting this opportunity slip by him.

Alex Isley & Jack Dine — “Still Wonder” Feat. Robert Glasper

For the third time this year, Alex Isley has graced us with a new beautiful record to enjoy. Joining a Lucky Daye-featured remix of “Good & Plenty,” as well as “Remind Me” with Butcher Brown, “Still I Wonder” features frequent collaborator Jack Dine and Robert Glasper for a truly peaceful and captivating track from Isley. Hopefully, this is all a part of a larger project Isley has on the way.

August 08 — “Keep Me Around”

Nearly a year after releasing Emotional Cuh, singer August 08 is gearing up to flood the music world with another batch of great music. He kicks it off with “Keep Me Around.” August 08 says the track “speaks to the willingly complicated dynamic in relationships,” adding that it focuses on the “piece of fear we all have as we dive into trusting someone new, even though we know, with every fiber of our being, that we could be either hurt or fall madly in love.”

Masego & Devin Morrison — “Yamz”

With Thanksgiving this week, Masego and Devin Morrison’s new single “Yamz” is perfectly timed — except for the fact that the “yamz” the duo speaks of is not the plate that could end up at the dinner table. Love and money serve as double entendres for “yamz” as Masego and Morrison express their desire on the relaxed and sensuous track.

Muni Long — Public Displays Of Affection

Led by “No R&B” with Ann Marie and “Ain’t Easy,” Muni Long’s new project Public Displays Of Affection has finally arrived, presenting eight songs for her first project since this past summer’s Nobody Knows. In a press release, Long describes Public Displays Of Affection as a “beautiful and introspective collection of records touching on heartbreak, love, empowerment, and self-confidence.”

Tamera — Afrodite

UK singer Tamera takes her biggest step into the spotlight with her debut EP, Afrodite. The project, which is inspired by Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and passion, finds the singer exploring love, life, and her heritage through five strong tracks. Boosted by a lone feature from Tay Iwar, Tamera shines brightly on the new project.

Dylan Sinclair — “Regrets”

At just 20 years old, Toronto singer Dylan Sinclair is making his mark in the R&B world. After receiving a nomination at the JUNO Awards, Sinclair returns with his heartwrenching new single, “Regrets.” The singer called the track “a letter to a love who I wish I had never pushed away,” and the emotional ballad beautifully captures the pain that he feels for missing out on a love that was surely going to be a good one.

Projexx — Queen Hill

If the name Projexx looks familiar to you, it’s probably a result of his highlight feature on Wizkid’s “True Love” with Tay Iwar, which was one of the many memorable moments from Wizkid’s Made In Lagos album. Now, Projexx is stepping out on his own with his latest project, Queen Hill. Backed by seven songs and features from Bakersteez, Toian, Jesse Royal, and Ruger, Queen Hill is a strong display of reggae sounds from Projexx.

Camille Parker — “The Flame”

Meet Camille Parker, the rising singer/songwriter surprising Nashville with her growing popularity thanks to the success of her debut single “The Flame”. The single, released this spring, amassed over 1.5 million streams, and after much encouragement from new fans, the North Carolina native has returned with the accompanying visual. The visual story follows the moments before the rising star sets out on a life-changing journey. Parker’s searing vocals and honest songwriting make her an exceptionally exciting artist to watch as she continues to blur the sonic lines of R&B, country, and pop in innovative, refreshing ways on “The Flame” — and hopefully, on her future releases.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

It’s been a relatively quiet past few years for Father John Misty. His most recent album is 2018 God’s Favorite Customer and he’s only popped up with new material on occasion since then, like when he dropped “To S.” And “To R.” in the summer of 2020. Now, though, it appears Misty may have something going on, even if it’s not entirely clear what it is.

This afternoon, he took to Instagram to share a mysterious 15-second video. The clip shows a nighttime cityscape and an object (or objects) in the distance in front of it, although it’s not easy to identify what’s going on. It looks like it could be a pair of people standing next to some sort of structure that’s a bit taller than they are, but again, it’s hard to say definitively. All the while, some reverb-heavy music plays.

The post doesn’t include a written caption and none of Misty’s social media platforms indicate anything about this video or anything the artist has coming up, and neither does his website. So, at the moment, all we have is this cryptic teaser. It’s also possible that this video exists in a vacuum and isn’t connected to anything else, but rather, is just its own mysterious thing.

Whatever the case may be, eager fans might want to keep an eye out for potential upcoming news from Misty.

There are two Ball brothers in the Charlotte Hornets system. LaMelo Ball, of course, is the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year and has established himself as the centerpiece of whatever the franchise is building going forward, and after spending some time with the team during the NBA Summer League, the Hornets decided to bring in LiAngelo Ball as part of their G League affiliate.

In the eyes of their father, that second thing is a bit of an issue. TMZ caught up with LaVar Ball and asked him about the team’s decision to keep LiAngelo in the G League, and he’s unsurprisingly not a big fan.

“They don’t understand what they got,” Ball said. “They need to let my boy go ahead and play. I dropped them a superstar in the G-League and they don’t know what to do with him.”

LiAngelo has played a little for the Swarm this season, averaging 9.3 points per game and connecting on 50 percent of his attempts from three, although he’s only shot 14 of them in the four games he’s played. The Hornets are 12-8 on the year and don’t especially need another sharpshooter, even though they’re 15th in the league in three-point percentage and can always use more shooting around LaMelo.

If this doesn’t come to fruition and the Hornets decide they don’t view LiAngelo as an NBA player, the Big Baller has an idea of where he can go next.

“I already said the Lakers, but then they got rid of Zo,” Ball said. “Then I said Charlotte, you got him in your backyard. Bring him in, let him play with Melo. Now, I got a new destination: LA Clippers, here we go!”