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☆ The secrets behind these Christmas movie classics
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Aj Willingham | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ was supposed to be a flop"A Charlie Brown Christmas" is a beloved special, but those involved in its production worried that they'd created a dud. Classic songs were reused, rewritten and dubbed for ‘White Christmas’"White Christmas" is a movie that has a lot of behind-the-scenes lore. Paramount/Kobal/ShutterstockThe 1954 film “White Christmas” is brimming with behind-the-scenes lore, especially when it comes to the music. The animators behind 1993’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” used about 400 different hand-sculpted heads to bring Jack Skellington to life. Michael Caine did a literal balancing act during ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’The Ghost of Christmas Present, left, and Michael Caine, right, in 1992's "The Muppet Christmas Carol."

☆ 'She Said' review: Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan star as the New York Times reporters who helped break the Harvey Weinstein story
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Review Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“She Said” nevertheless joins a long tradition of movies about dogged reporters exposing injustice, and in this case helping spawn a sweeping movement. The film is adapted from the book by New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, which might explain why the work of Ronan Farrow is mentioned but conspicuously shortchanged. Setting that aside, the heart of “She Said,” which begins with Twohey (Carey Mulligan) reporting on Donald Trump, centers on her collaboration with Kantor (Zoe Kazan) to lay bare the predatory behavior of Harvey Weinstein. Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan play New York Times reporters in the fact-based movie "She Said." (The film’s producers include Brad Pitt, who has spoken of confronting Weinstein back when he was dating Gwyneth Paltrow.)

☆ 'Spirited' review: Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds try their hands (and feet) at musical comedy in 'A Christmas Carol' spoof
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Review Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —For those wondering who would build a giant holiday musical-comedy around Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds, the “produced by Will Ferrell” credit provides a helpful clue. “Spirited” tries turning “A Christmas Carol” on its head, and while it’s big and boisterous, the movie (hitting theaters before Apple TV+) isn’t consistently irreverent enough to feel like much more than a streaming stocking stuffer. Of course, playing with Charles Dickens’ oft-told tale brings a lot of shorthand to the proceedings, with Ferrell as the Ghost of Christmas Present, who stumbles upon Reynolds’ fast-talking Clint Briggs, a media consultant introduced trying to commoditize Christmas. Present identifies him as a candidate to become their next “perp,” offered a Scrooge-like shot at redemption. “Spirited” premieres November 11 in select US theaters and November 18 on Apple TV+.

☆ 'The Santa Clauses' review: Tim Allen loads up the sleigh again for Disney+ series
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Review Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —“The Santa Clauses” doesn’t bother trying to reinvent the sleigh, but it does splash a new coat of paint on it, in mostly agreeable and mildly clever ways. After three movies over a 12-year span beginning in 1994, Tim Allen is back in a Disney+ series that, at six half-hour episodes, puts some additional cheer in holiday streaming. Still, producer/showrunner Jack Burditt (a veteran of “Modern Family” and “30 Rock”) does fill his bags with some surprises, and “The Santa Clauses” does a nifty job of cliffhanging its episodes, even the ones that drag a bit, to pull the audience along from one into the next. “The Santa Clauses” extends that relationship, in a festive package that’s bright, colorful and unburdened by loftier pretensions – just the kind of easy lift that should deliver a few good nights. “The Santa Clauses” premieres November 16 on Disney+.

A stunning tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” begins with the death of his character, T’Challa. While the trauma of the Talokans has bonded them together as a people, Shuri’s grief and rage have fueled self-isolation. Shuri also dismisses the Black Panther as a relic of the past. T’Challa’s death and Shuri’s anguished-filled reaction to the devastating loss, among others, are the catalysts upon which “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” hinges. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” doesn’t ask Shuri, Namor or the audience to push past their anger and grief — it’s a constant in this film.

☆ 'Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me' review: Gomez opens up about her mental-health struggles in an Apple TV+ documentary
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Review Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

It’s easy to downplay the courage it takes for celebrities to let down their guard and acknowledge their frailties or fallibility, revealing a side of herself the public doesn’t always see. That alone makes the message significant – a point underscored by the jetsetter parts of Gomez’s life on display here – and if it helps one person, more power to her. Still, if Gomez chafes, understandably, at feeling like “a product,” “My Mind & Me” doesn’t escape the notion that it’s leveraging that fame, and the product-like part of her existence, in order to sell it. “Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me” premieres November 4 on Apple TV+. Disclosure: My wife works for a unit of Apple.

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☆ 'Enola Holmes 2' review: Millie Bobby Brown and Henry Cavill return in a new adventure
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Review Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The game is afoot (again) in “Enola Holmes 2,” a wonderful showcase for Millie Bobby Brown that this time manages to work the character’s famous brother, Sherlock, more organically into the mix. “Enola Holmes 2” contains a considerable amount of action – a bit too much, frankly, given the more cerebral aspects of the character. Sherlock Holmes has gone through numerous iterations through the years, evidence of the character’s durability while underscoring how difficult it is to bring much new to Baker Street. Either way, the roots of the main character’s name notwithstanding, it’s unlikely Netflix will want to leave Enola alone for long. “Enola Holmes 2” premieres November 4 on Netflix.

☆ More good news for workers is bad news for the Fed
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

We the people can create the strongest job market in a generation and what do we get in return? Here’s the deal: The labor market is still very, very strong. And while that’s great news for workers, it’s bad news for the Fed. The “quit rate” held steady at 2.7%, or about 4.1 million workers voluntarily leaving their jobs — not a record, but still historically high. In summary: “If you were waiting for signs of labor inflation easing, you’ll have to keep waiting,” said Lightcast senior economist Ron Hetrick.

But a shorter and more satisfying narrative would not have been as true to the material, or to Remarque’s pacifism. This "All Quiet on the Western Front” doesn’t have a real plot, per se. For most of the movie, viewers and soldiers alike know that peace is coming at any moment. War is a kind of anti-narrative, which causes a rupture in the satisfying progress of the plot. “All Quiet on the Western Front” is an antiwar movie that refuses to turn war into a tale of progress or success.

☆ First on CNN: Most people feel socially connected as Covid-19 precautions ease, but many still need support, survey finds
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Deidre Mcphillips | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

They found that most people around the world feel a sense of social connection as Covid-19 precautions ease, but many still need support or help from others – and the factors that drive feelings of connection vary by country. In-person connection still mattersEven amid a pandemic, in-person interaction was the most common method for social connection. The nonprofit consulting group is focused on building healthy and equitable communities but was not involved in the new survey. It might be easier to feel that sense of connection with an in-person connection, she said, but positive interactions and inclusivity are critical. Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team.

☆ ‘M3GAN,’ the next generation of creepy doll movies, is not playing around
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

“M3GAN” doesn’t hit theaters until January, but the movie’s quick, zeitgeist-piercing creepiness as seen in the teaser is something to behold. “I was always thinking of her as real,” “M3GAN” director Gerard Johnston told CNN of his approach. Universal PicturesJohnstone set out to make Megan (short for “Model 3 generative android,” Williams explains in the trailer) more than just a creepy inanimate doll. “Because she is a living doll… [‘M3GAN’ is a] cautionary tale about A.I. Like creepy doll movies, stories that explore evil and/or self-aware technology call to mind the troublesome and blurry line where the inanimate object ends, and where something akin to humanity – but somehow different – begins.

☆ 'The Peripheral' review: Chloë Grace Moretz stars in Amazon's convoluted sci-fi series, which travels into two futures and still isn't worth the time
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Review Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —In terms of Nolan brothers productions, “The Peripheral” appears to have been made for people who think “Tenet” and the fourth season of “Westworld” weren’t complicated enough. Because of Flynne’s role in that future threats keep invading her present, which is every bit as confusing as that sounds. Although there’s plenty of violent action and cool futuristic weaponry, “The Peripheral” feels like a mashup of sci-fi ideas put to better use elsewhere, from “Avatar” to “Free Guy,” with a lot in between. Mostly, other than the sometimes-striking set design, there’s nothing particularly distinctive about the villains or the scenario, which feels more convoluted than engaging. It’s produced by Warner Bros. Television, like CNN, a unit of Warner Bros.

☆ 'The School for Good and Evil' review
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Review Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Although immersed in fantasy, “The School for Good and Evil” gets lost in a nether realm somewhere between Disney Channel fare like “Descendants” and more epic theatricals like Harry Potter. There’s plenty of action along the way, as well as more wasted cameos, like Patti LuPone and Michelle Yeoh. Yet if you’re going to arrive this late to the party, at least bring something significantly new to it. Granted, that’s not an easy assignment at this stage of the game, but “The School for Good and Evil” doesn’t pass the test. “The School for Good and Evil” premieres October 19 on Netflix.

☆ Oz says he supports Biden on marijuana pardons and opposes federal mandatory minimum prison sentences
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Dasha Burns | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Jonathan-Allen-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

PHILADELPHIA — Mehmet Oz opposes federal mandatory minimum prison sentences and thinks President Joe Biden made a “rational move” by announcing a broad pardon for certain marijuana users, Oz, the Republican Senate nominee in Pennsylvania, said Thursday in an exclusive interview with NBC News. Oz said he supports Biden’s decision to clear the records of ex-convicts who were in federal prison solely on charges of simple marijuana possession, a rare area of agreement with Biden and Fetterman. “I really think judges should be empowered to make the difficult decisions, and they generally do it well,” Oz said. On abortion, Oz reiterated that he opposes the procedure except in cases of rape, incest or risk to the life of the woman. “Being released from prison, especially if you’ve been sentenced to life in prison, it’s a whole different game,” he said.

☆ Beyoncé denies claim she misused ‘I’m Too Sexy’ sample
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-08 | by ( Zoe Sottile | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Genre-crossing superstar Beyoncé has denied allegations that she misused a sample of Right Said Fred’s “I’m Too Sexy” on her newest album. Right Said Fred described Beyoncé as “arrogant” in a comment made to the British tabloid The Sun on Tuesday. Fred Fairbrass and Richard Fairbrass of the band Right Said Fred during the ARD TV-Show "Schlagerbooom - Das Internationale Schlagerfest" at Westfalenhalle on November 2, 2019, in Dortmund, Germany. “The comments made by Right Said Fred stating that Beyoncé used ‘I’m Too Sexy’ in ‘Alien Superstar’ without permission are erroneous and incredibly disparaging,” the singer’s representative told Entertainment Weekly on Friday. Additionally, “Alien Superstar” doesn’t use any of the sound recordings from “I’m Too Sexy,” just the composition, according to the statement.

☆ Workers’ Changing Attitudes Tighten Labor Market
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Greg Ip | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The phrase “labor market” doesn’t do justice to the complex relationship between workers and their jobs. Unlike ordinary goods and services, such as slabs of steel or cups of coffee, workers care about how they’re treated, and have other things to do with their time. Last week, railroad workers nearly went on strike over working conditions, such as how much time they could take off for medical needs without penalty. In Minnesota, nurses walked off the job for more pay and the right to refuse what they consider unsafe situations. In Pennsylvania, striking nursing-home workers just got a pay raise, and limits on how many residents a staffer must care for.

☆ ‘Confess, Fletch’ lets Jon Hamm show off his lighter side without Chase-ing the past
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-16 | by ( Review Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Jon Hamm hasn’t found many roles to rival his breakthrough “Mad Men” part, and “Confess, Fletch” certainly doesn’t either. “Confess, Fletch” doesn’t possess a whole lot of heft, but it manages to serve as an old-fashioned and playful star vehicle, carving out a version of the character that’s distinctive from Chase’s broader, more slapstick-oriented take. There are also small but playful touches, like Fletch wearing Lakers gear in, you know, Boston. Fletch might not really have any reason to confess, but on that modest level, the movie qualifies as a not-so-guilty pleasure. “Confess, Fletch” premieres in US theaters and on digital platforms on September 16.

☆ SEC Climate Rule Won’t Demand Extensive Reporting From Small Businesses, Gensler Says
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-15 | by ( Richard Vanderford | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +3 min

PREVIEWThe SEC in March proposed a rule that would require public companies to report their climate-related risks and their emissions, including in some cases those from suppliers. Mr. Gensler responded by saying that wasn’t the intent of the rule. “[Public companies] either need to estimate, or if they don’t have an estimate just discuss how they’re managing that Scope 3. A manufacturing trade group said the Scope 3 requirements of the proposed rule should be taken off the table. Mr. Gensler Thursday referred to estimates that place the cost to comply with the climate rule in the “single-digit billions across the entire economy.”Write to Richard Vanderford at richard.vanderford@wsj.com

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