No Time to Die, the 25th Bond film, is one of many blockbusters that have been delayed till next year, when — hopefully! — the United States finally gets a grip on the out-of-control pandemic that has rendered 2020 all but cancelled. As of this writing, it’s set to hit theaters in April of 2021, about a year after its original release date. And while its owners at MGM are holding steadfast on it getting a traditional theatrical release, a new report from Variety claims that wasn’t always the case.
According multiple insiders, MGM at some point explored other options. Other studios have made tens of millions selling their big films to streamers, including Coming 2 America, Greyhound, and Without Remorse. (Meanwhile Disney has dropped a number of their own films on their streaming service, in the case of Mulan, for a steep rental fee.) But MGM didn’t think small. When they allegedly approached Netflix and Apple, they were reportedly asking for a princely sum: about $600 million. Alas, that price tag, as per Variety, was deemed “too rich” for the two streamers.
When asked about the rumors, MGM had a curt reply. “We do not comment on rumors,” a spokesperson told Variety. “The film is not for sale. The film’s release has been postponed until April 2021 in order to preserve the theatrical experience for moviegoers.”
MGM has reportedly lost somewhere between $30 million and $50 million due to the delays, which found it first moving to November then six months after that. The budget for the film, set to be Daniel Craig’s fifth and final spin as 007, is $250 million, so either they’re going to have to wait for moviegoing to become safe again — surely they hope to avoid the grim fate that greeted Tenet in the U.S. — or find another way to make back its dough, plus profits.
Jordan Travis and the Florida State Seminoles got off to a 2-3 start to the year, but are coming off of a huge win last week against the then-fifth ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. Travis had one heck of a day on the ground against UNC — 16 carries, 107 yards, two scores — and on Saturday afternoon, he used his legs to get the ‘Noles on the board against Louisville.
Florida State had the ball on the Cardinal eight yard line in the first quarter. The team ran a pretty standard read option on third-and-5, but disaster nearly struck as the ball fell to the ground as Travis went to keep it. He somehow managed to turn tragedy into a touchdown, though, as Travis dribbled the ball, scooped it up, made a whole bunch of dudes miss, and scampered his way into the end zone for six.
The dribbling of the ball is, of course, ridiculous — anyone who has ever bounced a football on the ground knows that its oblong shape makes it nearly impossible to judge as it comes up into your arms, and to do it in this moment as defenders are bearing down on him is wildly impressive. But beyond that, how he made a bunch of dude miss is just as crazy. Football is a game of inches, and that was on display here, both with how Travis had to bounce the ball in a very specific way so this worked and with how he made dudes miss by a hair en route to the end zone.
It’s been three years since War On Drugs‘ last album, namely 2017’s A Deeper Understanding. But that’s about to change: Next month they’re releasing a live album, called simply Live Drugs. The group took to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to debut a brand new single, a liberating new song entitled “Ocean of Darkness.” As is de rigueur in our pandemic times, they performed it in separate homes, each member playing on a different screen.
Live Drugs, set to be released n November 20, is a 10-track effort that the band describes as “a collection culled from over 40 hard drives of recorded live shows spread out across years of touring behind multiple albums” that “is sequenced to reflect how a typical 70-minute show would flow.” The press release also said the band has been working on a new full-length album “over the last six months,” meaning fans won’t only have to subsist on a live album.
Prior to announcing Live Drugs, the band joined The Rolling Stones for a thumping remix of “Scarlet,” which also featured Jimmy Page.
Watch the band’s performance of “Ocean Of Darkness” in the video above.
Live Drugs is out 11/20 via Super High Quality Records. Pre-order it here.
Sacha Baron Cohen has humiliated some of the most powerful — and even the most dangerous — people in the world. In Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, the belated sequel to his 2006 blockbuster, his most prominent victim is Rudy Giuliani, the personal attorney to the most powerful man in the world. Speaking of which, Donald Trump claims the performer once tried to get him — and, alas, failed.
The president was speaking to reporters on Friday when he was asked about the shocking scene in the film, which finds the former New York City mayor putting his hands down his pants on a hotel room bed next to actress Maria Bakalova, who’s character is 15 years old. (In real life she’s 24.) As he often does when asked about things that don’t make him, or his associates, look good, he professed ignorance.
“I don’t know what happened,” Trump said. But he then alleged that he, too, was once the target of a Baron Cohen prank. “Years ago, you know, he tried to scam me. And I was the only one who said no way. That’s a phony guy. And I don’t find him funny. I don’t know anything about him other than he tried to scam me. He came in as a BBC — British broadcasting anchor.”
Trump didn’t go into many details, not even specifying which character Baron Cohen had adopted to get the former reality TV host. Was it Ali G? Brüno? He did say it happened “15 years ago,” so it could be around the time of the first Borat film. Either way, he was not amused: “To me, he was a creep.”
The film — full title: The Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan — hit Amazon Prime on Friday, October 23. One of its deleted scenes finds Bakalova, whose character winds up infiltrating right wing media, works her way into the White House, even chatting with Donald Trump Jr. So Trump may not be finished talking about Baron Cohen and Borat.
Together, PlayStation and Travis, along with his Cactus Jack brand, plan to “produce innovative projects that we hope will delight our collective fans,” as the platform revealed on its website. The first release through their partnership is a promo video, in which they debut a new pair of Nike Dunk Lows with reversed Swooshes and the PlayStation logo placed near the heel. The collaboration is expected to arrive around the release of Sony’s upcoming PlayStation 5, on November 12.
Sony
Travis was recently spotted with advance version of the Playstation 5, more than a month before its release. The Houston rapper spoke about his new role in a press statement saying, “I’m really looking forward to being able to showcase everything that Cactus Jack has worked on with Sony and the PlayStation team.” He added, “Most importantly I’m excited to see how the PlayStation fans and family respond, and I look forward to running some games with everybody very soon!”
You can watch Travis’ promo video with PlayStation above.
Back in 1996, Scream helped launch a new era of self-aware, post-modern horror, featuring characters who watched the genre’s movies and knew all the clichés — though that didn’t always stop them from being killed anyway. It also ushered in something else: It marked what was effectively the beginning of Drew Barrymore’s comeback. The actress had a rough patch in her youth, and though she was only in the opening, it was iconic enough to kickstart her second act, paving the way for the rom-coms that would make her an A-list star and, now, a talk show host who reunites with exes.
Scream itself is being rebooted, and though it won’t feature Barrymore — her character was not so lucky — that doesn’t mean she can’t resurrect her anyway. For The Drew Barrymore Show, the actress/TV personality imagined what life would be like for her character, Casey Becker, had she not run afoul of a serial killer clad in a cape and mask reminiscent of Edvard Munch’s The Scream.
Have you ever wondered what Casey Becker from Scream would be doing if she had lived? pic.twitter.com/BTKdZL5iWz
So what would 2020 Casey be like? Well, she’d still have that blonde bob, apparently. She’d also have traded in that cordless landline for a cellphone. The short sketch finds the movie’s murderer again stalking Casey by phone. But just as most people know not to pick up robocalls, Casey knows not to answer a call from an unknown number and simply goes on living her life. It’s a lesson the writers of Scream 5 better consider: No one answers their phone in the 21st century.
Throughout her father’s presidency, Ivanka Trump has tried to present herself as the humane side of a powerful family seen by many as inhumane. (Though not even Melania is buying it.) But Friday brought a stark reminder of who she really is. Project Lincoln, the group of turncoat Republicans who’ve made it their mission to take down President Donald J. Trump, paid for two new billboards in Times Square. They feature Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, who’s senior adviser to her father. They are not flattering. And Ivanka and Jared are not happy.
On one of the billboards, Ivanka is shown smiling, gesturing enthusiastically to her right. Next to her are some stats: the number of New Yorkers who have died of COVID-19 followed by the nationwide toll. The other billboard has a picture of a Jared, posing majestically next to a quote he made in September, saying that New Yorkers “are going to suffer and that’s their problem.” Kushner made the statement to Vanity Fair in September, claiming that New York state governor Andrew Cuomo didn’t “pound the phones hard enough” when it came to requesting protective equipment.
It’s a damning reminder that they’re involved in an administration that hasn’t taken the coronavirus pandemic seriously enough, resulting in new spikes across the nation, including in New York City.
But Ivanka and Jared are not having it. According to The New York Times, a lawyer representing them sent Project Lincoln a letter, threatening legal action if the billboards are not taken down forthwith. “Of course, Mr. Kushner never made any such statement. Ms. Trump never made any such gesture, and the Lincoln Project’s representation that they did are an outrageous and shameful libel,” the letter read. “If these billboards are not immediately removed, we will sue you for what will doubtless be enormous compensatory and punitive damages.”
Project Lincoln, however, is not budging. “Jared and Ivanka have always been entitled, out-of-touch bullies who have never given the slightest indication they have any regard for the American people,” they wrote in a statement posted to their Twitter account. “We plan on showing them the same level of respect.”
Jared and Ivanka have always been entitled, out-of-touch bullies who have never given the slightest indication they have any regard for the American people.
We plan on showing them the same level of respect.
It remains to be seen how long the billboards will stay up, mere blocks from President Trump’s Trump Tower on 5th Ave. Of course, it can always live on in pictures posted to Twitter.
I’m sure this high profile lawsuit is the last thing the Lincoln Project wants. “Oh no, we are publicity-shy, and we can’t afford lawyers because are oh so poor,” they saying. https://t.co/ShQVQyd2ir
Having a good bourbon around that you can drink straight (with a little water or a few rocks) is always a solid move. But it doesn’t have to be an expensive one. You don’t need to break the bank to find a very solid bottle of bourbon to enjoy sans mixer. There are plenty of sippable bourbons on the shelf for under $50.
What are we looking for in a quality sipping bourbon at that price range? Flavor is a big factor, naturally. So is the most dreaded descriptor in all of the bourbon world: smoothness. Personally, I like a long, warming finish but plenty of newbies find themselves very happy with drams that fade quietly and/or abruptly. To each their own on that count.
The ten bottles below are all easy sippers that we vouch for. And they all hover right around that $50 sweet spot. The best part? You should be able to find these bottles fairly easily or at least get them delivered. Check our tasting notes and feel free to add any personal favorites in the comments!
This double matured whiskey is super easy-drinking. The juice is aged in new American oak for four years and then transferred to new barrels for a second maturation. The results are a deeper and more well-rounded iteration of classic Jim Beam.
Tasting Notes:
Naturally, you’re greeted with oak that’s supported by vanilla, caramel, spice, and a touch of dark chocolate. The sip does a good job of adding in layers of peppery spice and creamy vanilla. The sip ends with a note of fruitiness next to a return of the oak throughout the medium-length finish.
Bottom Line:
At this price, you can easily buy two bottles before shelling out $50.
This bottle celebrates the year Kentucky became a state. The whiskey is small-batched from hand-selected barrels and bottled at a slightly higher proof than your standard bourbons. The rye in the mash bill is what the taste is centered around.
Tasting Notes:
Pepper and cinnamon mingle with oak, vanilla cream, and a wisp of smoke. The spicy rye really kicks in on the tongue with a note of toasted corn, caramel, and salted peanuts. Finally, the sip lingers just the right amount of time with that rye spice and a final flourish of bright citrus.
Bottom Line:
This expression really shines on the rocks. All those spicy rye notes bloom as the water marries the whiskey.
This small-batch expression is a blend of four whiskeys from Four Roses’ distillery. The blend has a focus on mildly spicy and boldly fruity yeasts. The juice is then blended into this easy-sipper.
Tasting Notes:
This is a light and very approachable dram. The nose invites you in with clear notes of fruit next to spice, with a nice oakiness. The berries are the real star of the show as the oak takes a back seat. The sip fades fairly quickly, with warming spice and fruity sweetness.
Bottom Line:
Pour this over a few rocks and enjoy on a long, cool evening. The finish will warm you up nicely.
This small-batch expression is hand-selected by both Jimmy and Eddie Russell. The duo picks out ten-year-old barrels that hit just the right spot in both flavor and texture then small-batch them into this tasty bourbon.
Tasting Notes:
This really is a classic bourbon with clear notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak up top. The sip delivers on the classic feel with more vanilla, spice, oak, fruit, and a hint of smoke. The end is slow, full of warmth, and draws you back for more.
Bottom Line:
Make sure to add a little water to dial-in this easy-drinking sipper.
Sticking with Wild Turkey, Longbranch is where Kentucky meets Texas. The juice was born of a collaboration between Matthew McConaughey and Turkey. The ripple is in the filtration through Texas mesquite, which gives the whiskey an extra layer of depth.
Tasting Notes:
Creamy vanilla, sharp cinnamon, and gooey caramel greet you. The sip holds onto the full-bodied creaminess as honey, oak, and toffee mix with a rush of orange oils. The sweeter aspects of the sip counterbalance the spicer ones on the long end with a whisper of that mesquite smoke.
Bottom Line:
Add some water to really open up the smokiness, then sit back and enjoy this slow-sipper.
This is a great entry-point to the finer whiskeys of Buffalo Trace. The bourbon is made from specially selected barrels from the Buffalo Trace warehouses that have been resting at least ten years.
Tasting Notes:
Fruit, spice, vanilla, and oak open this dram up. The fruitiness yo-yos between berries and apples with Christmas spice and sticky toffee adding complexity. The end fades out at just the right pace while embracing you with warmth, more fruit, and plenty of spicy oak.
Bottom Line:
Adding water really opens this dram up. Honey, chocolate, and leather pop in with a real sense of those Christmas spices.
Master Taster Jackie Zykan picks single barrels from the Old Forester rickhouse for this bottling. That means there around 200 bottles from each barrel for these rollouts — making this a one-off chance to taste the beauty of a single barrel product at a very, very accessible price point.
Tasting Notes:
The taste is going to vary slightly with these but they do follow a pattern. Expect a rye warmth with cedarwood and orange zest on the nose. The sip leans into a buttery, maple syrup/ buttermilk pancake body with plenty of spice, oak, and more of that cedar. The end will be long and circle back to that bright orange fruitiness.
Bottom Line:
This is another enticing whiskey that could easily cost a lot more than it does. Add a single rock or a few drops of water to really amp up the woody notes and awaken a mild, resinous dankness.
This is a solid all-around whiskey. The juice is aged in white oak and then blended from no more than 20 barrels per bottling.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a nice balance of vanilla, oak, and caramel on the nose. That leads to a taste that leans into classic bourbon territory with plenty of bourbon vanilla, accentuated by stone fruit and red berries. The end is long, full of spice, oaky, and closes with a wisp of smoke.
Bottom Line:
While this is a great on-the-rocks sipper, don’t sleep on making a killer old fashioned with this bottle. Is that cheating to recommend a cocktail? We couldn’t resist.
This is the original wheated bourbon. The smoothness of this dram really shines, as the wheat evens out the sip while adding a layer of depth that’s very engaging.
Tasting Notes:
Caramel draws you in. The palate has a gentle oakiness that’s married to rich toffee and fresh honey. There’s a floral flourish that beckons you toward a long, velvety end.
Bottom Line:
This might be the most difficult to find (due to limited supplies and huge popularity) but it’s 100 percent worth the hunt. If you do find it, buy two bottles.
This has become one of Heaven Hill’s signature expressions. The juice spends ten long years resting in the warehouse before barrels are hand-selected for direct bottling. The result is a single-barrel expression that always wows.
Tasting Notes:
Clear and balanced notes of caramel, vanilla, and oak mingle with a bushel of fresh mint. The sharp spices kick in with honeyed sweetness and plenty of oak. The end of the sip is warming, spicy, and lingers on a sweet final note.
Bottom Line:
There will be a little variance amongst these bottles but they tend to always blossom with a little water or a rock or two.
Kurt Vile joined several other musicians like Taylor Swift and JoJo this week by endorsing Joe Biden for president. The singer appeared on a livestream as part of Biden’s Team Joe Sings initiative where he performed a handful of songs, including a cover of Neil Young’s classic “Heart Of Gold.”
Vile opened the set with a rendition of his Bottled It In track “Bassackwards.” Then, the singer was joined by his two young daughters Delphine and Awilda for heartwarming covers of “Heart Of Gold,” as well as Gillian Welch’s “Wayside/Back in Time.”
Offering his support of Biden’s campaign during the set, Vile said:
“Me and my family are for Biden and Harris for so many reasons but I’ll just list a few. One of them is that climate change is totally real and it’s endangering lives and livelihoods everywhere. I want the planet safe for my children and I want people who don’t deny that it’s an issue, it’s pretty obvious. There’s been fires forever but they’re getting out of control and the whole west coast is on fire, it’s a real thing. Biden and Harris aren’t afraid to say that Black lives matter and they don’t deny systemic racism in our society and all these things, all these problems coming to a boiling point. We are just supposed to unite and not divide. We need a president who respects women as equals and Kamala Harris is amazing and Joe Biden has a heart — they both have a heart and they both want to help.”
Watch Kurt Vile cover Neil Young’s “Heart Of Gold,” and Gillian Welch’s “Wayside/Back in Time,” and sing “Bassackwards” above.
Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
It’s no secret that Big Thief vocalist Adrianne Lenker is an incredibly prolific artist. Last year, Big Thief released two albums just a few months apart but when the rest of the band’s 2020 tour was cut short, Lenker camped out in a cabin and began recording even more music.
Transforming those recordings into two more solo albums, Lenker shared her records Songs and Instrumentals on Friday. Instrumentals, as declared in its title, boasts two lengthy works which are fully instrumental while Songs contains 11 full tracks. To celebrate the release of the two projects, Lenker depicted her song “Zombie Girl” with an equally-peaceful video.
Filmed by Philip Weinrobe and Lenker herself, the “Zombie Girl” video offers a serene, slice-of-life glance at the singer’s quarantine location. The song itself is touched with samples of the cabin’s surrounding birds and its visual aims to capture the area’s tranquil nature.
In an interview with the New Yorker ahead of her double album release, Lenker touched on her “Zombie Girl” track. “There’s a fullness that happens when someone is focused on you,” Lenker said. “For me, if I’m being fully looked at and paid attention to and seen, I’m filled up by that.” She continued, “Now there isn’t anyone to text; there are no love messages coming through. I feel so empty. There’s a song on the new record, ‘Zombie Girl,’ and the refrain is ‘Emptiness / Tell me about your nature.’ That’s a real question. I want to understand — what is this feeling of emptiness? Is that me? Am I just hollow and empty? Or is emptiness actually something beautiful?”
Watch Lenker’s “Zombie Girl” video above.
Songs and Instrumentals are out now via 4AD. Get them here.
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NY! 
