This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. MOVIES — Netflix’s “The Sea Beast” brings a “Moby Dick”-like tale down to kid size. The rollicking ocean adventure, directed by “Big Hero 6” filmmaker Chris Williams, is about an orphan British girl (voiced by Zaris-Angel Hator) who stows away on a ship hunting sea beasts. The veteran animator Williams, who co-directed “Moana,” returns to the high-seas for a swashbuckling tale made with the kind of accomplished animation often only found on the big screen. It debuts Friday, July 8. — The Criterion Channel has a new film series sure to knock you out. “In the Ring: Boxing On-Screen” brings together 16 bobbing-and-weaving movies, from the 1927 Alfred Hitchcock silent “The Ring” to Martin Scorsese’s 1980 masterpiece “Raging Bull.” … [Read more...] about New this week: ‘The Sea Beast,’ early Elton John, ‘Maggie’
Entertainment
‘The Princess’ can’t quite rescue itself from a violent, definitely not-Disney movie
(CNN) For anyone wondering why "The Princess" is premiering on Hulu in the US, not sister service Disney+, the movie answers that in the first five minutes, when the title character brutally dispatches a pair of guards sent into the tower where she's being held. While the timing seems right for a princess who rescues herself, there's precious little substance to this violent fantasy, featuring Joey King figuratively letting down her hair. Director Le-Van Kiet brings plenty of action and a degree of visual style to this slightly claustrophobic concept, which takes place almost entirely within the confines of that castle, as the princess fights her way through an assortment of obstacles and foes who are much, much bigger than she is. How she's able to do that is explained via flashbacks, but the film isn't overly preoccupied with plot or details, other than the fact that the psychopathic suitor the princess jilted (played by Dominic Cooper) and his primary henchwoman ("Quantum of … [Read more...] about ‘The Princess’ can’t quite rescue itself from a violent, definitely not-Disney movie
‘The Terminal List’ strands Chris Pratt in a dead-end series as a different kind of avenger
(CNN) Amazon has flexed its muscles with military-style action series (see "Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan" and "Reacher" ), but "The Terminal List" adds a numbingly simple-minded revenge saga to that subgenre. Despite the promotional benefits of featuring star-producer Chris Pratt as a grittier kind of avenger, this brutal eight-episode slog squanders its talent in front of and behind the camera. Adapted from a novel by Jack Carr, the series features Pratt as James Reece, a hard-driving Navy SEAL whose platoon is ambushed and decimated during a covert mission. Reece comes home emotionally scarred, before discovering that his unit might have been the victims of an experiment gone wrong, one that has left him dealing with cognitive trauma that clouds his memories. If that weren't bad enough, Reece is given additional cause to seek out those responsible, which he does with the help of a friend and former SEAL (Taylor Kitsch) while maintaining contact with an investigative journalist … [Read more...] about ‘The Terminal List’ strands Chris Pratt in a dead-end series as a different kind of avenger
Brian Austin Green and Sharna Burgess welcome their first baby
(CNN) Actor Brian Austin Green and professional dancer Sharna Burgess have welcomed their first child together. The couple announced the birth of their son, Zane, in an identical post shared on their Instagram accounts, which showed their newborn holding Green's finger. "Zane Walker Green born 6/28 at 12:12," the "Beverly Hills, 90210" star captioned the black-and-white image, followed by two love heart emojis. Burgess shared her joy by writing alongside the sentimental snap: "Zane Walker Green 06/28/2022 at 12:12pm. My heart is now forever outside of my body." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Brian Austin Green (@brianaustingreen) The Australian "Dancing With The Stars" pro previously revealed that she was due to give birth on July 4, but her son's early arrival will now allow them to celebrate the holiday as a family. Read More Austin Green is … [Read more...] about Brian Austin Green and Sharna Burgess welcome their first baby
Marta Kauffman, co-creator of ‘Friends,’ ’embarrassed’ now by its lack of diversity
(CNN) Marta Kauffman says she now gets why people have been critical of "Friends." The co-creator of the hit comedy series told the Los Angeles Times she had initially thought people were unfairly targeting the sitcom about its lack of diversity , but explained she's "learned a lot in the last 20 years." "Admitting and accepting guilt is not easy," Kaufman said. "It's painful looking at yourself in the mirror. I'm embarrassed that I didn't know better 25 years ago." "Friends," which ran from 1994 - 2004, starred Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer. It had been criticized for a lack of longstanding characters of color. In 2020, Schwimmer told The Guardian he was "very aware of my privilege as a heterosexual white male" and said "Friends" happened during a "pre-woke" time, when story was not as inclusive. Read More "Maybe there should be an all-Black 'Friends' or an all-Asian … [Read more...] about Marta Kauffman, co-creator of ‘Friends,’ ’embarrassed’ now by its lack of diversity
‘Stranger Things’ plays the too-long game in its super-sized season finale
(CNN) "Stranger Things" has taken the idea of playing the long game to heart a bit too literally, capping its super-sized fourth season with two sprawling episodes that total nearly four hours. Whether that's a reward to fans or self-indulgence by the producers rests in the eye of the beholder, but after this, it's hard to imagine many concluding that ending things with season five qualifies as premature. This season has already turned the Kate Bush song "Running Up That Hill" into a chart-topping hit 37 years later , but the way the episodes unfold "running" isn't quite the word for it; rather, it's more like brisk walk with detours along the way. In hindsight, the main innovation might have to do with scheduling, with this Volume 1 and 2 approach (timed first to Memorial Day, and now the Fourth of July) spreading the wealth for Netflix, which really should consider dropping episodes weekly for the finishing run to milk the media attention that much longer. … [Read more...] about ‘Stranger Things’ plays the too-long game in its super-sized season finale
Song by song, country star Luke Combs grows into stadiums
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Singer-songwriter Luke Combs is making big leaps this year in his unprecedented rise to the top of country music, both personally and professionally. The North Carolina-born singer, who holds a Billboard record with 14 consecutive No. 1 country airplay singles with hits like “Beer Never Broke My Heart” and “Beautiful Crazy,” graduated from arenas to selling out football stadiums this year. But as the 32-year-old Combs was preparing to sing in front of a packed-out Nissan Stadium during last month’s CMA Fest, he had something more personal on his mind. Inside his truck parked at the stadium was a hospital bag, waiting for word that his wife, Nicole, was ready to deliver their first child. As it turned out, Combs became a first-time dad with the birth of their son, Tex Lawrence Combs, on Father’s Day. “When we walk off stage tonight, it’s like … [Read more...] about Song by song, country star Luke Combs grows into stadiums
Oscars Predictions: Best Picture — Could ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ Sustain Its Oscar Buzz for Six More Months?
Click here to read the full article. . More from Variety Emmy Predictions: Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie - 'The Dropout,' 'Dopesick' and 'The White Lotus' Could Dominate the Seven Spots Emmy Predictions: Supporting Actor in a Drama Series - Could Ray Liotta Receive a Posthumous Nom for Prime Video's 'Hanna'? Emmy Predictions: Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series - Brett Goldstein Could Be the First Back-to-Back Winner Since Jeremy Piven in 2007 Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official awards predictions for the upcoming Oscars and Emmys ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis; Awards Circuit Column, a weekly analysis dissecting the trends and contenders by television editor Michael Schneider (for Emmys) and Davis (for Oscars); Awards Circuit Podcast, a weekly interview series with talent and an expert … [Read more...] about Oscars Predictions: Best Picture — Could ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ Sustain Its Oscar Buzz for Six More Months?
Johnny Depp ‘in good spirits’ post-trial, focusing on career, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ actor Greg Ellis says
close Video Fox News Flash top entertainment headlines June 29 Fox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines are here. Check out what clicked this week in entertainment. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor Greg Ellis is speaking out about his friend of 20 years, Johnny Depp . The actor, 54, spoke with Fox News Digital about the pair's relationship, his thoughts on the verdict in the Amber Heard v. Johnny Depp trial , and Depp appearing in another "Pirates of the Caribbean" film. Ellis and Depp first met around 20 years ago at the Viper Room on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles for a table read of the "Pirates of the Caribbean." Greg Ellis shared his thoughts on the Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard trial with Fox News Digital. (Getty Images) "Well, you know, we've worked on four movies now," Ellis told Fox News Digital. "I've known him for over 20 years. Our kids … [Read more...] about Johnny Depp ‘in good spirits’ post-trial, focusing on career, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ actor Greg Ellis says
Rock star Randy Bachman reunited with beloved stolen guitar
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 15 TOKYO (AP) — Canadian rock legend Randy Bachman’s long search came to an end Friday when he was reunited in Tokyo with a cherished guitar 45 years after it was stolen from a Toronto hotel. “My girlfriend is right there,” said Bachman, 78, a former member of The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive, as the Gretsch guitar on which he wrote “American Woman” and other hits was handed to him by a Japanese musician who had bought it at a Tokyo store in 2014 without knowing its history. He said all guitars are special, but the orange 1957 Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins he bought as a teenager was exceptional. He worked at multiple jobs to save money to buy the $400 guitar, his first purchase of an expensive instrument, he said. “It made my whole life. It was my hammer and a tool to write songs, make music and make … [Read more...] about Rock star Randy Bachman reunited with beloved stolen guitar