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Bill Burr Executes Perfect 'Clown Nose On' Backpedal
Bill Burr wants it both ways. And he's not alone. Some satirical comics dig deep into political matters only to backpedal rather than defend their arguments. The tell? 'Hey, I'm just a comedian!' Jon Stewart routinely uses that defense, inspiring some to call it a 'Clown Nose On/Off' trick. Even Bill Maher did something similar when Patrick Bet David backed him into a corner. This allows comedians to riff on the latest headlines without having to soberly explain their views. Others, like Jimmy Dore, are more than happy to engage in a healthy debate. Burr pulled off just such a
'A Minecraft Movie' Misses the Whole Point - Hollywood in Toto
“Minecraft” isn’t like most video games of the modern era. The pace is leisurely and the graphics are purposefully crude. Picture a series of blocks meant to portray sheep, pigs and our plucky avatar, Steve. Those old enough to remember the Atari 2600 gaming system may feel a pang of nostalgia with every round. That retro charm is everywhere in “A Minecraft Movie,” a gaudy attempt to translate the blockbuster game to the big screen. What’s simple and streamlined at home is complicated to the Nth degree on screen. Stars Jack Black and Jason Momoa guide newbies and rabid fans
'Audrey' Is Guaranteed to Make You Squirm
Every once in a while a comedy creates its own wacky universe. Think “The Greasy Strangler” or “Napoleon Dynamite.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UStgU0iQhVs The normal rules don’t apply in these films. Everyone in the cast is sticking to a new, absurdist playbook. “Audrey” is one of those movies. The Aussie comedy is bold and black, a charcoal-hued tale of a stage mother willing to do anything to steer the spotlight back to her. Anything. What begins as a gloriously original romp quickly runs out of steam, falling back on wacky sex scenes and immoral twists to keep us engaged. Nothing doing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve2oz1n0vc0 Ronnie
September 5' and the Limits of The Fourth Estate
In a year when the Oscars’ Best Documentary award went to “No Other Land” — an equivocating Palestinian drama of local activists fighting the Israeli military’s alleged displacements and discrimination — it is fascinating to see a pro-Israeli film break through mainstream Hollywood. Despite Americans’ overwhelming bipartisan support for Israel’s right to defend itself, Hollywood is torn on the issue. The Far-Left and the far-Right either support the Palestinian cause or dissident Christians struggling in the Holy Land. Moderates generally affirm that Israel has not been the aggressor and has held back on intentionally killing civilians. That's despite repeated cries
Val Kilmer Never Shined Brighter Than in 'The Doors '
The boldest touch in Oliver Stone's film 'The Doors' is that it never glorifies its subject matter, rocker/poet Jim Morrison. Rather than create an ode to the so-called 'Lizard King' and celebrate his body of work, Stone's film portrays Morrison as a vile monster, a wordsmith who tarnished every meaningful friendship he had. Morrison fronted The Doors, one of the most influential bands of the 1960s. He left us with a lot of great music. Here's a movie that gives fans what they want and expect but also depicts its key figure in the most off-putting manner possible https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJu9nfVCQmk Val
'The White Lotus' Review: A Season Full of Missed Opportunities
On paper, this is the best season yet for 'The White Lotus.' The Max drama keeps piling on viewers, with the penultimate episode drawing a series-best 4.2 million viewers. That's on top of the third season's massive social media reach. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwQRkOK5KC4&t=5s Fans can't stop talking about the 'incest' episode, that MAGA moment and guest star Sam Rockwell's episode 5 monologue. We've never seen the Oscar winner quite like that before (...maybe that's for the best). There's still one nagging problem. The new episodes are a far cry from the previous, stellar seasons. It's not even close. Some story spoilers ahead
Amber Ruffin Weaponizes ‘Very Fine People’ Hoax
Amber Ruffin got a raw deal. The former Peacock talker got hired, and then dismissed by the White House Correspondents Association to emcee its April gala. The WHCA didn't mention Ruffin's name in the cancellation announcement. Nor did anyone from the corrupt group explain why she was chosen for the honor and, later discarded. She deserves better. That doesn't mean she wouldn't be a train wreck on the night in question. Even by far-Left standards, Ruffin is a progressive bomb thrower, a clapter-approved satirist who hits mostly one side. That's exactly the image the WHCA wants to avoid on its
It's About Time to 'Live Not By Lies'
Rod Dreher has spent more than 20 years saying that community, faith and farms keep us connected to what matters more than political fads and digital advancements ever could. Dreher has helped intellectually lead the charge in seeing these obvious facts. So it isn't surprising that Dreher would care about telling the truth, or as Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn puts it in a 1974 essay, “ not by lies.“ That singular instruction is at the center of Dreher’s book “Live Not By Lies,” even more so than in his other works “Living in Wonder,” “The Benedict Option” and “Crunchy Cons.” Angel Studios brings
Petition Demands Netflix Fire Tony Hinchcliffe
Cancel Culture isn't what it used to be. The scourge left artists fearing for their careers over the past decade. Say the 'wrong' thing, or forget to erase a 'problematic' post from years gone by, and your livelihood could be at risk. This applies to artists as well as everyday citizens. Sanity is making a comeback in recent months. The November election results helped restore a sense of normalcy. Or, as actress-turned-filmmaker Justine Bateman said post-Nov. 5, it feels like we can breathe again. Tell that to MoveOn.org. The group, formed to defend MeToo perpetrator President Bill Clinton in the
'The Friend' Finds Salvation in a Great Dane's Eyes
Must love dogs. No, really. 'The Friend' is a testament to grief, loneliness and the bonds beyond traditional romance. All of the above hinges on a Great Dane that might be our finest animal actor, the Laurence Olivier of the canine set. If you can't stand sharing space with a four-footed beast, 'The Friend' won't land as required. If a dog ever became an integral part of your family, you'll sit and stay for this 'Friend.' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpgLdI--F9M Naomi Watts stars as Iris, a novelist suffering from writer's block and, more importantly, the sudden death of a close friend. Can we
Why 'Last Breath' Is About More than Underwater Survival
”Last Breath,” starring Woody Harrelson, Finn Cole and Simu Liu, joins “The Abyss” in surprising audiences with treasures found under the sea. Its stunning tale touches the soul, though, in a way all its own. Warning: spoilers ahead. In a true 2012 event, commercial divers Chris Lemons and Dave Yuasa were working on massive equipment deep below the surface when Lemons and the diving ship off the coast of Scotland suffered an unimaginable disaster. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNMyooXZZTM As an unrelenting storm tossed and jolted the vessel, the ship's navigation and communication systems were taken offline. The wild careening of the ship, which
Why 'Working Man' Statham Is the Action Hero We Need
Jason Statham is a kid compared to some Hollywood peers. Tom Cruise will be 63 in July. Sylvester Stallone of 'Tulsa King' fame is 78. Liam Nesson turned 72 last year and 'John Wick' alum Keanu Reeves is now 60 (Whoa!). At 57, Statham has plenty of life left in him, at least by action star standards. It helps that he looks a decade younger than his birth certificate and moves like a man in his 30s. That doesn't fully explain why his new film, 'A Working Man,' beat 'Snow White' at the box office over the weekend. The movie,
Timely 'Torn' Sheds New Perspective on Shocking Protests
You'd expect a film focused on Israeli hostages to take sides in the Middle East conflict. 'Torn' does, to a degree. It's also sympathetic to those who see posters of the kidnapped civilians as propaganda. To a degree. Truth matters, and it's hard sympathizing with those eager to call for violence, intimidation and outright bigotry. It's to 'Torn's' credit that the filmmakers broaden the story's scope. They also couldn't deny reality. Many people tearing down those heart-tugging posters have hate in their hearts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzuR42QL-6o The documentary introduces us to two pro-Israeli protesters who leaned on street art following October 7.
Trump Effect: WHCA Fires Far-Left Amber Ruffin from Dinner
Quick, name a right-leaning comedian who hosted the White House Correspondents Association's annual dinner. Need more time? That's understandable. The D.C. annual gala routinely hires left-leaning to hard-Left comics to host the Spring gala. Think: Colin Jost Stephen Colbert Trevor Noah Roy Wood, Jr. Cecily Strong Jimmy Kimmel Michelle Wolf These comedians are known for avoiding Democratic targets and slamming GOP figures at great length. That chasm has only intensified over the last decade. You have to go all the way back to 2002 to recall Drew Carey, an apolitical comic who leans Libertarian, for any balance. That's more than
SHOCK: 'Snow White' Plummets Nearly 70 Percent in Week Two
Disney had one realistic hope for its 'Snow White' adaptation to defy critics. Legs. That's the term for a movie that, while not an instant success, legs out a respectable box office performance over time. The greatest example in recent memory? The 2017 musical 'The Greatest Showman.' The film opened to an alarming $8.8 million before amassing an astounding $174 million stateside. Word of mouth did its job. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jZVsr7q-tE The same isn't happening for 'Snow White.' The film opened to a shocking $42 million last weekend, the worst showing for a Disney live-action film. This weekend? The far-Left Deadline projects
Joe Rogan: Media Downplayed Elon Musk's Astronaut Rescue
Joe Rogan learned firsthand how corrupt the legacy press can be. The Spotify superstar took a gaggle of medications, including Ivermectin, after he tested positive for COVID-19 in 2021. The comic watched in horror as the press turned on him, suggesting he had ingested 'horse paste' and not a Nobel Prize-winning drug. His media Red Pilling commenced. He's been torching the press ever since, spreading the word to his loyal flock. Now, he's excoriating the media anew for something reporters didn't do. They failed to highlight the incredible rescue of two stranded U.S. astronauts earlier this month. Why? Elon Musk's
The ONE Thing Conservatives Need in Today's Hollywood
I’m a straight, white Christian male writer/director in Los Angeles County. I just disqualified myself for 97 percent of the writing and directing jobs in Hollywood. You can call me cowardly for writing this anonymously, and that’s fair. I should stand by my words because I’m an American who values his freedom of speech. Why hide what so many brave men and women have fought for? Here’s why… I have two screenplays in preproduction with two separate studios based in the L.A. area. Contracts haven’t been signed yet, so things could fall apart at any moment. And considering the entertainment
Can These 2025 Movies Save Hollywood?
Help us, Superman! Hollywood could use a lifeline. Badly. The box office numbers were ugly even before the new year. Ticket sales in 2024 fell to $8.7 billion, a 23.5 percent drop from pre-pandemic levels. The first quarter results have been less than inspiring. Only two movies have eclipsed the $100 million mark at the U.S. box office - 'Captain America: Brave New World' and 'Mufasa: The Lion King.' Others have been disappointments, including 'Snow White,' 'Wolf Man' and 'Mickey 17.' The LA Times dubbed the current box office state 'terrible.' Plus, several theater chains have filed for Chapter 11
Avengers Assemble ... But These Heroes Are Missing
Patient MCU fans learned which Avengers would face the next Thanos-level threat this week. Disney's protracted announcement highlighted the gargantuan cast for 'Avengers: Doomsday,' set to hit theaters in 2026. Old favorites like Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Ant Man (Paul Rudd) and the new Captain America (Anthony Mackie) will battle Doctor Doom (Robert Downey, Jr.) in the film. Other superheroes will be on hand, too, including most of the 'Thunderbolts' crew (like Florence Pugh and David Harbour). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZXBFirj6b4 The X-Men will be well represented by stars Kelsey Grammer, Alan Cumming and Patrick Stewart. And, since 'Avengers: Endgame' said goodbye to both
'A Working Man' Brings '80s Heroism Back to Big Screen
Jason Statham is a throwback movie star. Icons like John Wayne knew what fans expected of them and kept delivering film after film. Today, comic actors yearn to do dramatic work and serious stars stretch for comedies. Statham isn't doing Shakespeare anytime soon, nor is he eager to reinvent himself. He delivers bone-crunching action on demand, from last year's 'Beekeeper' to his latest, 'A Working Man.' The action yarn is meatier than previous Statham affairs. Just when you think the story will offer new layers to his brand he settles for standard-issue mayhem. That's frustrating, but let's hope Statham's intensity never
Legacy Media Buries Death Threats Against Gal Gadot
Ayo Edebiri isn't a household name yet, but 'The Bear' star got plenty of media coverage last month. Why? X owner Elon Musk shared a false rumor that she's attached to a female-centric reboot of 'The Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise. That sparked 'death threats' from the usual, pathetic suspects. It's neither pretty nor healthy, but it's sadly the New Normal with pop culture news. This reporter once got a death threat for suggesting 'Bob's Burgers' had jumped the shark. The Edebiri threats sparked a wave of media coverage including CNN, Rolling Stone, Variety, People, The Hollywood Reporter, Vulture and
'Hacks' Star Cites Debunked 'Very Fine People' Hoax
Too many Americans fell for the 'very fine people' hoax. Former President Joe Biden used the lie, a narrative nurtured by the corrupt press against Donald Trump, in his 2020 presidential announcement. Other Democrats did the same over the past few years, including former President Barack Obama as recently as last October. The media never corrected him, either. That's even though the truth is widely available online, and even the liberal 'fact-checker' site Snopes admitted President Donald Trump never called neo-Nazis 'very fine people' - seven years after the fact. He did just the opposite, but reporters loved the lie
The One Survey That Should Scare Hollywood Silly
Remember all the cultural shifts that spelled doom for feature films? The advent of affordable televisions in the 1950s would crush the movie-going experience, some feared. Not even close. Later, cable TV and VCRs threatened the theatrical experience, at least on paper. Why go to the movies when new-ish films wait in your living room? The movies still stood tall. Even video games and Facebook haven't ended movie-going, although both have taken a bite from the theatrical apple in our post-pandemic world. Now, a study suggests a trend that could hit Hollywood where it hurts the most. The results from
'Flight Risk' Deserves a Second Chance
We expect a lot from Mel Gibson when he steps behind the camera. Blame 'Hacksaw Ridge,' 'Apocalypto' and 'The Passion of the Christ.' Heck, the auteur's debut, 1993's 'The Man Without a Face' deserves applause, too. So when 'Flight Risk' hit theaters earlier this year critics were less than overwhelmed. The project, on the surface, is beneath Gibson's talents. It's a genre romp that wraps in 90 minutes and features subplots best served in a B-movie setting. Methinks they missed the point. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojC9JBuccJA&t=3s 'Flight Risk,' on VOD platforms and arriving on 4K UHD (+ Blu-ray™ + Digital) Combo Pack SteelBook®,
'White Lotus' Creator Crushes Woke Guardrails on Storytelling
Mike White isn't a rule-breaking investor, a drug-addled socialite or a Gen Z womanizer. He's a soft-spoken artist who penned those characters for the third season of 'The White Lotus.' The Max series, a critical darling for its first two installments, brings a bevy of flawed figures to wallow in paradise. Watching them squirm is oddly enjoyable. This season, paradise means the sumptuous jungles of Thailand. White, the show's writer and director, has no problem creating characters outside of his personal experience. He's a talented, openly gay man who acts as well as directs. His ability to create a range
Susan Sarandon: 'Gaza Is Here,' Trump Is a 'Criminal'
Susan Sarandon got caught in a censorial dustup following the Sept. 11 attacks. Her opposition to President George W. Bush's War on Terror got her uninvited from a 2003 'Bull Durham' celebration along with co-star Tim Robbins. Neither she nor Robbins, her partner at the time, stayed silent on the matter. That was then. In recent years, Sarandon has stood down while serious free speech assaults rocked the culture. Examples? The Twitter Files attacked conservative thought on a massive platform Cancel Culture scolds policed jokes on the stand-up landscape A U.S. president got booted from several social media platforms Artists
'Somewhere in Time' - Hokey, Illogical and as Magical as Ever
Jeannot Szwarc’s “Somewhere in Time” (1980) has always maintained this constant presence in my life, mostly because it’s the only movie that could, without fail, make my mother cry. In fact, even mentioning the film to her casually does the trick. I used to tease my mom endlessly about this movie. Now, I’m no longer immune to it. In fact, I’m a fan, though, like Christopher Reeve’s main character, it took me many years. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uicvPZSKIM “Somewhere in Time” begins in 1972, where Reeve stars Richard Collier, a playwright who is elated by the success of the opening night of his
'Snow White's' Box Office Collapse Suggests Ominous Trend
'Twitter isn't real life.' That phrase gets repeated often in today's world. It suggests that what's trending online doesn't always reflect reality. And there's plenty of truth to that maxim. Many people don't live and die by what's shown on Twitter, now known as X thanks to Elon Musk. They have more important things to do, like going to work or tucking their children in at night. Some don't even watch those witty video takedowns by Film Threat or The Critical Drinker. (Their loss, but still...) That philosophy was Disney's last, best hope when it came to 'Snow White.' Few
'Tales from the Darkside' Delivers Three Killer Yarns
“Tales from the Darkside: The Movie” is noteworthy for turning 35 this year, being one of the best (if not the all-time greatest) horror anthology films and showcasing the best performance from the chameleon-like David Johansen, who we just lost last month. Johansen's career began with fronting The New York Dolls before becoming a mainstream success as Buster Poindexter, then a character actor in film and TV, and ultimately returning to music. He was a true original. A dynamic performer on stage and a truly magnetic character actor, Johnsen is probably best known as the cab driving Ghost of Christmas
Late Night Laughs While Tesla Dealerships Burn
They don't call it 'Hate-Night TV' for nothing. A few months back members of the 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' staff shared their adoration for Luigi Mangione. He's the young man accused of killing a health care CEO in cold blood. ABC host Jimmy Kimmel shared the mash notes from staffers aimed at the alleged killer. The former 'Man Show' host didn't see anything wrong with that. And why not? Kimmel and co. have been attacking all things GOP so aggressively in recent years they've numbed their audiences to real-world consequences. Now, both 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' and 'The Daily Show' are yukking
Anti-Trump De Niro: Box Office Poison
Robert De Niro used to avoid interviews at all costs. This critic encountered him roughly 20 years ago and he politely refused my queries. It wasn't a one-off. GQ magazine once penned an entire feature in 2006 around the Oscar-winner's reluctance to chat with the press. Since he emerged in the early 1970s as one of the most remarkable, intense, and dazzling actors ever seen onscreen, De Niro has rarely agreed to be interviewed. When he has consented, that was generally when the trouble started. Articles about him typically deteriorated into accounts of the interview's collapse, and of the interviewer's
'Alto Knights' Should Be Whacked by Audiences
You couldn’t ask for a better team to revive the gangster genre. Director Barry Levinson gave us 1991’s “Bugsy.” Scribe Nicholas Pileggi co-wrote 1990’s “Goodfellas.” And Robert De Niro, well, ‘nuff said. The trio unite for “The Alto Knights,” a film that works best as a reminder to re-watch “Bugsy,” “Goodfellas” or any pre-“Fockers” De Niro flick. Even 'The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle.' The drama, based on true events, makes one cataclysmic mistake before the film even opens. That casting choice may have ruined “Alto Knights” on its own, but don’t leave the atrocious screenplay out. It’s equally at
Girlboss 'Snow White' Finds Way Into Our Hearts
This isn't your grandfather's 'Snow White.' Savvy souls understand that going into Disney's live-action take on its 1937 animated film. Judged on its own merits, the new 'Snow White' delivers in ways live-action cash grabs films often don't. It can stand on its own, boasts strong performances and doesn't bludgeon you with woke. Yes, Rachel Zegler's heroine is empowered in ways that are thoroughly modern, and Team Disney tweaked other factors to make it less 'problematic.' Zegler's performance still feels rooted in our storytelling past. That matters. So does this 'Snow White.' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV46TJKL8cU Zegler's Snow White, like the classic film,
Guess What's Missing from 'Happy Gilmore 2' Trailer?
The first teaser for 'Happy Gilmore 2' was just that. We saw a now-bearded Happy squaring off against his old foe Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald). The mad golfer also shares a buss with Julie Bowen, his main squeeze from the original film. And that was it. They don't call it a teaser for nothing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d6WBtDse_Y The first 'Happy Gilmore 2' trailer arrived today, and we're still looking for something crucial to the franchise's brand. Laughs. There's little to indicate the 1996 original was a beloved part of Sandler's canon. Is there a single laugh in this clip? Does Sandler and
Tim Roth: Trump Will Censor Artists
It's an unofficial rule at Hollywood news outlets. Ask questions about President Donald Trump, no matter what the subject in question might be. Reporters are eager to promote negative comments about the Commander in Chief. And, to be fair, the stars almost always take the bait. Consider Tim Roth. The 'Reservoir Dogs' alum weighed in on Trump this week per The Hollywood Reporter's prompting. And, of course, Roth trotted out the 'fascist' card while insinuating the Trump administration has Hitler-like goals. The British star, 63, said his father fought against the Nazis in World War II. The Roth patriarch warned
John Cusack Celebrates Leftists Burning Tesla Dealerships
'I gave her my heart and she gave me a pen.' John Cusack's line in 1989's 'Say Anything' captured his turn as Hollywood's go-to Everyteen. Think 'The Sure Thing,' 'One Crazy Summer,' 'Better Off Dead' and 'Sixteen Candles.' His Lloyd Dobler character in 'Say Anything,' holding a boom box over his head, cemented that image. Today, Cusack works sporadically and spends much of his time raging on X. The Far-Left actor, 58, has turned his attention to Elon Musk, the unofficial head of President Donald Trump's DOGE initiative. Musk is tasked with rooting out corruption and inefficiency in the government,
AGAIN: Critics Ignore Antisemitism Documentary 'October 8'
It's charitable to call the chilly reaction to 'Screams Before Silence' a fluke. The 2024 documentary recalled the rape and torture behind Hamas' Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel. Sheryl Sandberg's documentary featured first-person accounts of the savagery perpetrated against female victims. We also saw some of the footage Hamas terrorists recorded during the invasion. It's a tough but necessary watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StLVZW2Vr1I&t=13s The film was roughly an hour long and was immediately made available for free on YouTube last April. Film critics still ignored it. You can count the number of online 'Screams Before Silence' reviews on two hands, with
'The Last Supper' Inspired by Da Vinci Masterpiece
“The Last Supper” producer Michael Scott ('God’s Not Dead') promises the film lets 'you walk alongside Jesus.' 'You get to experience the dynamic between Judas and Peter,” adds Scott. Director Mauro Borellia ('Mindcage,' 'WarHunt'), was inspired to make this movie after seeing a Da Vinci painting of the Last Supper and pondering how well we understand it. People hear those words, ‘This is my Body,’ and it is such an important moment. But they don’t have many images to connect . So I said, ‘I want to expand that…’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jwAbai7k0s Judas is made more visible than a last-minute deceiver and
Is 'The Host' Bong Joon-ho's Best Film?
Bong Joon-ho’s “The Host” (2006) is the film I tell everyone they need to see if they want to know how extraordinary the South Korean filmmaker’s talent truly is. Some would say to seek out Bong’s “Snowpiercer” (2013), a popular favorite, or his jaw-dropping, genre-defiant Best Picture winner, “Parasite” (2019). I suspect that anyone who felt let down by “Mickey 17” (including this writer) will want to revisit the work that made Bong so acclaimed in the first place. For me, the quick response has always been “The Host.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HRTy26s4hw It begins in 2000, with the only scene in English,
What Oscar Bounce? 'Anora' Stumbles Despite Best Picture Win
'Anora' failed to draw a crowd during last year's busy awards season. Sean Baker's independent film scored critical raves and nominations aplenty. Audiences by and large avoided the hard-R-rated film. The film had earned roughly $16 million after months in theaters. Turns out movie goers aren't eager to watch copious sex, violence and more set in the world of prostitution. Er, sex working. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuPkfvxmtdw&t=2s That could have changed post-Oscar night. The March 2 ceremony crowned 'Anora' as 2024's Best Picture. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also gave it four other statuettes, including honors for Best Director (Baker),