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☆ ‘Billions’ series finale review (SPOILERS): The Showtime drama settles all accounts with its final showdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Editor’s note: The following contains spoilers about the series finale of “Billions,” titled “Admirals Fund.”After seven twisty seasons, with more double and triple crosses than you can shake a stock certificate at, “Billions” successfully landed the plane (OK, private jet) with its series finale, in a satisfying finish that reassembled the key players and even gave them time to take individual bows. For a show with so much bite and venom, it was oddly sentimental in generally the best of ways. The final season found a way to raise the stakes above high finance, with billionaire Mike Prince (Corey Stoll) running for president, exhibiting enough problematic qualities and questionable beliefs to inspire those within in his inner circle to turn against him and try to thwart his bid. If it wasn’t quite the game of catch scene from “Field of Dreams,” for these purposes the point was much the same. The “Billions” finale is playing on Paramount+ and will premiere October 29 on Showtime.

Persons: Mike Prince, Corey Stoll, Prince, immeasurably, Damian Lewis, Bobby “, ” Axelrod, Chuck Rhoades, Paul Giamatti, Jeffrey DeMunn, Chuck, “, Brian Koppelman, David Levien, Bobby, Wendy, Maggie Siff, Mike “ Wags ” Wagner, David Costabile, ”, Steve Miller Organizations: “, Showtime, Paramount

☆ Movies starring Matthew Perry include ‘Fools Rush in’, ‘The Whole Nine Yards,’ and ‘Almost Heroes’
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Like many stars best known for a major hit, Matthew Perry’s association with “Friends” and the “Could he BE any funnier?” role of Chandler Bing loomed over the rest of his career. That included the movies that came his way during the series as well as various encores in TV after the Must-See TV sitcom signed off in 2004, among them “Mr. Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek in the 1997 romantic comedy "Fools Rush In." Columbia Pictures/Getty ImagesFools Rush In: All the “Friends” stars had movie opportunities, and relatively few of those measured up to the expectations raised by the show. If only the show had consistently remained as strong as its extremely good pilot.

Persons: Matthew Perry’s, ”, Chandler Bing, Perry, Ted Kennedy, Ron Clark, –, Bruce Willis, Oscar Madison, Diana Canova, Matthew Perry, Salma Hayek, Chris Farley, Neve Campbell, Dylan McDermott, Joe Quincy, Wing’s ”, Mike Kresteva, Wing’s ” Aaron Sorkin, Bradley Whitford Organizations: CNN, ”, Columbia, “, West, Republican, Wing’s ” Democratic Bartlet Administration Locations: “

☆ ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ review: Josh Hutcherson stars in another game-to-screen slice of horror
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

“Five Nights at Freddy’s” wants to do for animatronic arcade characters what “It” did for clowns. Fleshing that out, the movie begins by quickly indicating why Freddy’s might need a new employee, and why Mike desperately needs a new job. "Five Nights at Freddy's" turns the game into a horror movie. Even so, the net result is another slice of horror that at best feels a little half-baked. “Five Nights at Freddy’s” premieres October 27 in US theaters and on Peacock.

Persons: ”, Scott Cawthon, Emma Tammi, Seth Cuddeback, ” Josh Hutcherson, Chuck, Mike, Piper Rubio, he’s, Patti Perret, Jim Henson’s, tickle, Hutcherson, Rubio, Elizabeth Lail Organizations: Universal Pictures Locations: Peacock

☆ 'Old Dads' translates Bill Burr's standup into a movie, but the practice hasn't aged well
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Bill Burr as Jack, Katie Aselton as Leah in "Old Dads." The latter’s kid is an uncontrollable little monster, which doesn’t prevent his mother from defending him by saying things like, “What you’re feeling now is what you’re feeling. Burr’s business partner, Mike Bertolina, told the Hollywood Reporter the movie repackaged Burr’s stand-up “in a narrative format,” which is transparently the case. "Old Dads" debuts on Netflix on Friday. “Old Dads” premieres October 20 on Netflix.

Persons: Woody Allen, Louis C.K, Bill Burr, Ben Tishler, Burr, Jack, Jack Kelly, Allen, Marshall McLuhan, Hall ”, Caitlin Jenner, Katie Aselton, Leah, Michael Moriatis, Connor, Bobby Cannavale, ” Jack, Mike, Bokeem, Rachael Harris, Dave Chappelle, revel, “, ” White, Mike Bertolina, hasn’t Organizations: CNN, Netflix, Hollywood Reporter Locations: Los Angeles

☆ 'Killers of the Flower Moon' review: Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro team up on a movie that wants to be epic but just feels long
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —There’s a difference between “long” and “epic,” although in movie terms the two frequently get confused. Martin Scorsese delivers the former but not the latter with “Killers of the Flower Moon,” his second consecutive three-and-a-half-hour movie derived from a true story and underwritten by a prestige-hungry streaming service. Notably, “Killers of the Flower Moon” will receive a wide big-screen launch that includes playing on hundreds of Imax screens. Either way, Scorsese has served up a movie that also plunges into a dark history and comes away with less bang for its bucks. “Killers of the Flower Moon” premieres October 20 in US theaters and will later play on Apple TV+.

Persons: CNN —, Martin Scorsese, ”, Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, Mollie Kyle, Ernest, Bill Hale, De Niro, DiCaprio’s Ernest Burkhart, Mollie, Eric Roth, David Grann’s, Jesse Plemons, “ Oppenheimer, “ Oppenheimer ” Organizations: CNN, Apple, Netflix, Osage, Osage Nation, FBI Locations: Oklahoma, Osage, Tulsa

☆ 'Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour' box office gives theaters a sugar rush. What they need is a steady drip of hits
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

So while the this fall harvest is surely welcome, as is so often true, a Swift solution isn’t likely to be an enduring one. Advance sales for “The Eras Tour” left little doubt that the event would be a major success, leaving only the precise numbers in doubt. In that sense, the next blonde hero flying to the rescue might be more important: Brie Larson, a.k.a. Captain Marvel, whose sequel “The Marvels” hits theaters on November 10. Still, there aren’t many artists with the kind of followings that Swift and Beyoncé command.

Persons: Taylor Swift’s, “ Taylor Swift, “ Barbie ”, ”, Barbie ”, “ Oppenheimer, Swift, –, Brie Larson, a.k.a, Captain Marvel, underwhelming, “ Indiana Jones, “ Barbie Organizations: CNN, Hollywood, “, Marvel, Guardians, Galaxy Locations: North America

☆ 'Messi Meets America' review: Lionel Messi's Inter Miami arrival becomes a flat-footed Apple TV+ docuseries
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Lionel Messi is widely considered the greatest soccer player in the world, which makes one wonder how extensive access to him and his new team could yield such a boring sports docuseries. Still, that adequately sums up “Messi Meets America,” an Apple TV+ project whose first three episodes have all the heft of a latenight infomercial. Part of that, admittedly, has to do with the way that Messi carefully protects his image, exhibiting a knack for speaking very earnestly in classic sports cliches. “Can one guy make that big of a difference?” Miami Herald sportswriter Michelle Kaufman asks early on. “Messi Meets America” premieres October 11 on Apple TV+.

Persons: Lionel Messi, “, Messi, –, David Beckham, Beckham, Messi –, “ Messi, America ”, Reese Witherspoon, Michelle Kaufman Organizations: CNN, “ Messi, Apple, Inter Miami CF, MLS, Netflix, Chicago Bulls, Charitably, Miami Herald, America

☆ Taylor Swift and Beyoncé and could save movie theaters. But for how long?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Add to the list of Taylor Swift and Beyoncé’s accomplishments an unlikely new mission: Helping to save movie theaters, as theater owners – apparently tired of waiting for Hollywood to mount a rescue mission – have seemingly opted to take matters into their own hands. Swift’s deal with AMC to play a concert movie based on her “Eras Tour,” opening October 13, will be followed by Beyoncé’s plan to do the same with her “Renaissance World Tour,” destined to hit theaters in December. Taylor Swift performing in August during her "Eras Tour." Getty ImagesWhether this amounts to a stopgap measure or a full pivot into a new opportunity for theaters remains to be seen. For now, the twin power of Beyoncé and Swift could represent the unlikely heroes for which theaters – having spent the last few years grappling with existential questions about the future – have been waiting.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Beyoncé’s, “ Barbie ”, “ Oppenheimer, –, ” “ Indiana Jones, ”, Swift, Beyoncé, Marvel’s, DC’s Organizations: CNN, AMC Locations: Hollywood

☆ ‘NCIS’ star David McCallum dead at 90
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Actor David McCallum, known for his role on the long-running CBS procedural “NCIS,” has died, the network said in a statement. “He was the kindest, coolest, most patient and loving father,” his son Peter McCallum wrote in a statement from the family, provided by CBS. “He always put family before self.”McCallum died of natural causes surrounded by his family at New York Presbyterian Hospital, CBS said. “David was a gifted actor and author, and beloved by many around the world,” the network’s statement read. McCallum is survived by his wife of 56 years Katherine McCallum, three sons (Paul McCallum, Valentine McCallum and Peter McCallum), his daughter Sophie McCallum and eight grandchildren.

Persons: David McCallum, ”, Peter McCallum, ” McCallum, “ David, “, McCallum, Illya, Robert Vaughn’s, Napoleon Solo, Donald “ Ducky, Katherine McCallum, Paul McCallum, Valentine McCallum, Sophie McCallum Organizations: CNN, CBS, “, New York Presbyterian Hospital, NBC Locations: New, Scotland

☆ The WGA strike might be ending, but Hollywood’s bigger problems aren’t
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Demonstrators carry signs during the WGA strike in New York City in May. Leonardo Munoz/AFP via Getty ImagesWhatever the outcome of this battle, though, there are signs Hollywood overall is losing the war. Now with streaming gains slowing, the revenues from those new subscribers aren’t fully offsetting what’s being lost. That’s bad for the creative class.”So, were there “winners” and “losers” in the writers’ strike? To the extent the strike left their fall TV lineups looking relatively bare, this was a loss for them and gift to the streaming services.

Persons: –, Frederic J . Brown, Leonardo Munoz, they’re, “ Barbie ”, “ Oppenheimer, Indiana Jones, ”, CHRIS DELMAS, ’, Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw, Strong ”, Oscar, Drew Barrymore, Bill Maher, Barrymore Organizations: CNN, Guild of America, WGA, Netflix, ”, Getty, Hollywood, Disney, Charter Communications, ESPN, SAG, Warner Bros, of America Locations: AFP, New York City

☆ Sean Penn and Volodymyr Zelensky: 'Superpower' puts the two men in the center of the action
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Although Penn happened to be in the right (or wrong) place when he was scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, “Superpower,” which Penn directed with Aaron Kaufman, is the product of seven trips to and from Ukraine. Sean Penn and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in November 2022. His conversations with the Ukrainian people prove equally enlightening, both before the war – when many expressed doubts about Zelensky – and during it. Of course, there are those quick to deride or dismiss actors like Penn stepping off the soundstage and into such roles. Still, if you’ve read this far and might not have clicked on a review about another Ukraine documentary, guess what?

Persons: Sean Penn, ” Penn, Penn, Volodymyr Zelensky, Aaron Kaufman, “, Walter Cronkite, Steven Pifer, Vitali Klitschko, Alexander Vindman, Zelensky –, Sean Hannity’s, Penn doesn’t, Hannity, Will Smith Oscar, Johnny Depp, Amber Heard, you’ve Organizations: CNN, “, Penn, European Affairs, United States National Security Council, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Fox News, Paramount Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Haiti, Kyiv, Crimea, Ukrainian, –

☆ ‘The Equalizer 3’ tops the US box office on opening weekend
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —“The Equalizer 3,” Denzel Washington’s third go as brooding assassin Robert McCall, debuted at the top of the US box office this weekend, raking in $34.5 million. Globally, the film raked in $60.6 million, according to Comscore. According to Variety, “The Equalizer 3” is the second-biggest Labor Day weekend opening, after Marvel’s 2021 hit “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” which pulled in $75 million in its first three days. 2 movie domestically this weekend was “Barbie,” the fantasy-comedy that has spent the past six weeks smashing box-office records and becoming the top-grossing film of 2023. In its opening weekend starting July 21, “Barbie” raked in $155 million domestically — the largest opening weekend of the year and the biggest-ever debut for a female director.

Persons: New York CNN —, Denzel Washington’s, Robert McCall, CNN’s Brian Lowry, ”, Dakota Fanning, “ Barbie, Greta Gerwig, “ Barbie ”, ” “ Barbie Organizations: New, New York CNN, Rotten, Variety, Labor, Warner Bros, Warner Bros . Pictures, Warner Bros . Locations: New York, Washington

☆ 'Ahsoka' Episode 3 recap: 'Time to Fly' takes a big jump toward the 'Star Wars' show's future (SPOILERS)
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers about the third episode of “Ahsoka,” “Time to Fly.”CNN —After a somewhat sluggish start, “Ahsoka” felt much more on target as its third episode continued to draw upon “Star Wars Rebels” lore while mixing in abundant action and paying its respects to the original trilogy. The interactions between Ahsoka (Rosario Dawson) and Sabine (Natasha Liu Bordizzo), in particular, echoed the early training of Luke Skywalker by Obi-Wan Kenobi, and offered a reminder that the past and future of “Star Wars” run straight through the Jedi order. For her part, Hera (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) was left to grapple with the myopia of the New Republic leadership to the lingering imperial threat. Whatever the numbers, “Ahsoka” now feels as if it’s more solidly building toward its larger narrative at a brisker pace. Keep doing that, and the ratings – however you choose to measure them – should take care of themselves.

Persons: “, Ahsoka ”, Rosario Dawson, Sabine, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Luke Skywalker, Obi, Wan Kenobi, Thrawn, Ezra Bridger, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, didn’t Organizations: CNN, “ Star Wars Rebels, “, “ Rebels, New, Disney Locations: New Republic

☆ 'Heart of Invictus' review: Prince Harry uses his producing clout on the uplifting Netflix docuseries
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —There is a small strata of Hollywood deal-making where who’s behind a project – and with whom the programmer gets to align itself – carries more weight than the specifics. That would seem to define Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry’s producing arrangement with Netflix, which bears fruit this week with “Heart of Invictus,” a docuseries about the games devoted to wounded, ill and injured veterans. The streaming giant’s 2020 partnership with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex clearly appeared to be modeled after its relationship with Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company, Higher Ground. Yet even with that disclaimer, there are moments in “Heart of Invictus” where one has to be pretty heartless not to get a bit choked up, and it’s hard to question that its heart is in the right place. “Heart of Invictus” premieres August 30 on Netflix.

Persons: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry’s, ”, Duke, Duchess, Barack, Michelle Obama’s, Ted Sarandos “, Harry, Prince Harry, Orlando von Einsiedel, Julien Allen, Na Hyeongyoon, Invictus ” Organizations: CNN, Netflix, “, Daily Mail, Hague, Invictus Games, “ Wheelchair rugby, South Locations: Sussex, Netherlands, Ukraine, Iraq, “, South Korean

☆ ‘The Idol’ is canceled after just one season
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Hafsa Khalil | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Television show “The Idol” has been canceled after just one, poorly received season, HBO has confirmed. “After much thought and consideration, HBO, as well as the creators and producers have decided not to move forward with a second season,” a HBO spokesperson said in a statement sent to CNN Tuesday. Like HBO’s hit show “Euphoria,” “The Idol” was helmed by Sam Levinson. “The expression ‘From the sublime to the ridiculous’ has seldom felt more fitting than in watching ‘The Idol,’ HBO’s new wannabe-sexy drama,” a review from CNN’s Brian Lowry said in June. “HBO can write off ‘The Idol’ as an experiment in creative freedom that didn’t pay off, which happens all the time,” Lowry concluded.

Persons: ”, “, we’re, Lily, Rose Depp, Abel “, HBO’s, Sam Levinson, Jocelyn, won’t, Levinson, Rolling Stone, ’, Brian Lowry, Lowry, ” Lowry Organizations: CNN — Television, HBO, CNN, Cannes Film, Warner Bros, Variety, Rolling

☆ Helen Mirren and Bradley Cooper raise casting questions with 'Golda' and 'Maestro'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Bradley Cooper and Helen Mirren have very different resumes, but they have landed in similar controversies with their latest movies, illustrating shifting standards and sensitivities about actors donning prosthetics to play Jewish characters. The first wave of that discussion came in response to images of Cooper’s makeup to resemble Leonard Bernstein for the upcoming biography “Maestro.” Mirren has drawn more attention in the UK for playing Golda Meir in the historical drama “Golda,” which opens this week. More recently, the debate has often shifted beyond racial and ethnic distinctions to other sources of sensitivity, such as Brendan Fraser wearing a fat suit to star in “The Whale.”Helen Mirren as Israeli prime minister Golda Meir in the movie "Golda." Carey Mulligan as Felicia Montealegre and Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein in "Maestro." “Maestro” is scheduled for limited theatrical release in November and Netflix in December after premiering at the Venice International Film Festival.

Persons: CNN — Bradley Cooper, Helen Mirren, Leonard Bernstein, “ Maestro, ” Mirren, Golda Meir, Golda, Cooper, Mirren, “ Golda, Abraham Lincoln’s, Al Capone’s, what’s, Hollywood’s, Brendan Fraser, ” Helen Mirren, John Hurt’s, ”, Robert De Niro, Jake LaMotta’s, Bernstein, Meir, David Baddiel, Golda ”, Guy Nattiv, David M, Perry, Carey Mulligan, Felicia Montealegre, Bradley Cooper, Jason McDonald, Mark Harris, ” “ Golda ”, Henry Kissinger, Liev Schreiber, wryly, “ We’ve, Mirren isn’t, Ingrid Bergman, Maestro ”, “ Maestro ” Organizations: CNN, Blacks, Daily Mail, Netflix, Venice Locations: “, ”, The, Bleecker, Raging

☆ Hollywood’s math problem: Getting paid for streaming ‘hits’ first means identifying them
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The problem with that is audience levels aren’t the only metric when weighing the value of streaming series. "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," starring Morfydd Clark, was a major investment for Amazon's Prime Video. Matt Grace/Prime VideoThis premium-TV strategy of stirring conversation is something HBO understood long before streaming became a competitor. Even if you didn’t watch “The Wire” or “Boardwalk Empire,” getting HBO meant hanging around with the cool kids. Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams in the Netflix series "Wednesday."

Persons: Lucas Shaw, Power ”, Morfydd Clark, Matt Grace, ”, you’re, Kai ”, Jenna Ortega, Wednesday Addams Organizations: CNN, Bloomberg, Netflix, Amazon, Amazon's, HBO, Hollywood

☆ 'Special Ops: Lioness' review: Zoe Saldana stars in Taylor Sheridan's toothless tale of female soldiers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —“Yellowstone” writer-producer Taylor Sheridan has excelled at luring big stars to television with relatively thin material, a formula that feels especially transparent with “Special Ops: Lioness,” his latest series for Paramount+. Zoe Saldaña takes point in this fact-based tale of female special-ops soldiers, which races through the set up by relying on a litany of war-story cliches. “You came to the right place,” she’s told, before acing her training and being quickly drafted to join Joe’s unit. Nevertheless, when it comes to training an audience to come back week after week, “Special Ops: Lioness” feels about as basic as it gets. “Special Ops: Lioness” premieres July 23 on Paramount+.

Persons: Taylor Sheridan, ”, Zoe Saldaña, Joe, “, Laysla De Oliveira, ” she’s, De Oliveira, Netflix’s “ Locke, Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman Organizations: CNN, Paramount, CBS Locations: Cruz

☆ 'Barbie' review: Margot Robbie stars in Greta Gerwig's 'Barbie'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —“Barbie” comes roaring out of the gate with an inventiveness and energy the movie perhaps inevitably can’t sustain. Still, the closest kin would probably be “The Lego Movie,” which similarly took a familiar toy and built a kind of existential crisis around it. Simu Liu, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in "Barbie." Courtesy Warner Bros. PicturesThe juxtaposition of those more thoughtful elements with the sheer giddiness elsewhere – alternating between the serious and the silly, between art and commerce – doesn’t always quite mesh or feel as fresh as it might. (The film is being released by Warner Bros., like CNN, a unit of Warner Bros.

Persons: CNN — “ Barbie ”, Greta Gerwig’s, Noah Baumbach, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, “ Barbie ”, Ferrell’s, Helen Mirren, Barbie, Ken, Gosling’s Ken, Ariana Greenblatt, Simu Liu, Bird, Gosling, “ Justice League ”, “ Oppenheimer, “, overdoing, ” Organizations: CNN, Mattel, America, Warner Bros, “ Justice League, Warner Bros .

☆ SAG strike: Amid strikes and flops, it's a cruel summer for Hollywood
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —For Hollywood, 2023 will be remembered as a cruel summer, a dead reckoning of a different kind. The summer’s ostentatious setbacks for studios have included “The Flash” (released by Warner Bros., like CNN, a unit of Warner Bros. The asterisk – and it’s a big one – is that the guilds know precious little about the economic specifics of the streaming business, which aren’t widely shared. Actors and writers who once counted on residual payments could see TV ratings and box-office tallies. Because projects are produced far in advance, consumers won’t see the broader consequences of these strikes for a while.

Persons: –, Ronald Reagan, Disney’s “ Indiana Jones, ”, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller, Indiana Jones, “, Tony Gilroy, Duncan Crabtree, Bob Iger, Iger, Mike Blake, George Clooney Organizations: CNN, Hollywood, Screen, Warner Bros, Pixar, Walt Disney Pictures, Variety, ESPN, SAG, Adobe, Disney, Netflix, Writers Guild of America, Reuters Locations: Sun Valley, Los Angeles

☆ 'The Blacklist' series finale review: The James Spader series checks off its final name with an overdue finish (SPOILERS)
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers about “The Blacklist” two-part series finale, “Raymond Reddington.”CNN —Like a lot of things in Hollywood, “The Blacklist” didn’t know when to quit, hanging on for two listless seasons beyond the exit of Megan Boone as Liz Keen in 2021. Yet the show at least knew to provide viewers with a pretty definitive ending, as it did with the two-part series finale that officially bid farewell to James Spader’s oily master criminal Raymond “Red” Reddington. While the precise fate of the task force remained somewhat murky, that seemed like a bit of an afterthought. With Reddington gone, “The Blacklist” had checked off the one name that really mattered, in a show that, other than its usefulness to NBC, should have left Reddington to rest in peace years ago. Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled Dembe's name.

Persons: “ Raymond Reddington, Megan Boone, Liz Keen, James, Raymond “ Red, Toby Leonard Moore, Dembe, Hisham Tawfiq, Reddington, Bob Dylan, Pat Garrett, Billy the, –, Donald Ressler, Diego Klattenhoff, Spader, Keen Organizations: CNN, FBI, NBC Locations: Hollywood, Spain

☆ Dragons, Jedi and zombies find a seat at the Emmy table
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Dragons and zombies and Jedi, oh my. HBO’s gaudy show of force – with half the best-drama nominees and 127 bids overall, the highest total of any individual network or service – featured a combination of both. "Obi-Wan Kenobi," starring Ewan McGregor, was one of three "Star Wars" series to receive multiple Emmy nominations. Fabio Lovino/HBOWhen those nominees need to begin rehearsing their acceptance speeches is itself a source of mystery as of now. The last time a delay of the Emmys happened: 2001, after the September 11 terror attacks.

Persons: we’ll, “, ”, Barry, Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, –, Obi, Wan, Ewan McGregor, “ Andor, “ Obi, haven’t, Jenna Ortega, “ Dahmer, Jeffrey Dahmer, Evan Peters, Dominique Fishback, ” Dominique Fishback, “ Barry, Maisel, Ted Lasso ”, Saul, Trevor Noah, John Oliver ”, Brian Cox, Kieran Culkin, Jeremy Strong, Aubrey Plaza, Will Sharpe, Theo James, Meghann Fahey, Fabio Lovino, Frank Scherma Organizations: CNN, HBO, Warner Bros ., Lucasfilm, “, Amazon, Television Academy, Fox, Variety Locations: Dragons, “

☆ The best new shows of 2023, halfway into a strike-disrupted year
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

‘Bill Russell: Legend’ (Netflix) and ‘The Luckiest Guy in the World’ (ESPN)Bill Russell in 'Bill Russell: Legend.' ‘Daisy Jones & the Six’ (Amazon’s Prime Video)Riley Keough as Daisy Jones in "Daisy Jones & the Six." ‘The Night Agent’ (Netflix) and ‘Hijack’ (Apple TV+)Luciane Buchanan as Rose Larkin, Gabriel Basso as Peter Sutherland in episode 'The Night Agent.' ‘Beef’ (Netflix)Steven Yeun and Ali Wong in the Netflix series "Beef." ‘A Small Light’ (NatGeo/Disney+)Margot Frank, played by Ashley Brooke, and Miep Gies, played by Bel Powley in 'A Small Light.'

Persons: ” “ Barry, ”, Maisel, Ted Lasso ”, It’s, Bella Ramsey, Storm Reid, Liane Hentscher, Pedro Pascal, Jason Segel, Harrison Ford, ‘ Bill Russell, Guy, Bill Russell, Bill Walton’s, Wilt Chamberlain, “ Goliath, Stephen Curry, ‘ Daisy Jones, Riley Keough, Daisy Jones, Fleetwood, Elvis Presley’s, Dominique Fishback, Donald Glover, Janine Nabers, Dominique Fishback’s, ’, Luciane Buchanan, Rose Larkin, Gabriel Basso, Peter Sutherland, Idris Elba, Steven Yeun, Ali Wong, Margot Frank, Ashley Brooke, Miep Gies, Bel Powley, Dusan Martincek, Anne Frank’s, Gies, Liev Schreiber, Otto Frank Organizations: CNN, Writers Guild of America, HBO, Netflix, ESPN, Celtics, NBA, Showtime, Apple, Fleetwood Mac, FBI, Geographic, Disney Locations: Atlanta, London

☆ 'Shooting Stars' review: How LeBron James became a star with an assist from his friends
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —LeBron James continues paving the way for his post-basketball media career, this time by producing a superstar origin story adapted from his book, “Shooting Stars,” about how his hoops heroism came with an assist from a close-knit group of friends. Directed by Chris Robinson, the story is adapted from the book by James and “Friday Night Lights” author Buzz Bissinger, and previously served as the basis for the documentary “More Than a Game.”Sian Cotton, Romeo Travis, Dru Joyce III, Willie McGee, Coach Dru Joyce II and LeBron James, the real-life inspiration for "Shooting Stars." Where “Shooting Stars” merely glances the rim, ultimately, is the basketball sequences themselves, which rely too much on slow motion and don’t conjure much excitement. Heading directly to streaming via Peacock, “Shooting Stars” provides an earnest reminder that James didn’t spring from the ground a fully formed basketball phenom, but was rather shaped in part by the coaches, teammates, friends and mother that helped guide him. “Shooting Stars” premieres June 2 on Peacock.

Persons: LeBron James, ”, LeBron, Dru Joyce II, ” Wood Harris, Vincent –, Dermot Mulroney, I’m, Chris Robinson, James, Buzz Bissinger, ” Sian Cotton, Romeo Travis, Dru Joyce III, Willie McGee, Mookie Cook, Lil Dru, Caleb McLaughlin, Sian, Khalil Everage, Willie, Avery S, Wills, Jr, James ’, Savannah, Katlyn Nichol, pompously, “, ” Dru, There’s, James didn’t Organizations: CNN, NCAA, White Catholic, University of Oregon, lotto, James ’ Lakers, NBA Locations: Akron , Ohio

☆ Summer movie preview 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —Most moviegoers can pinpoint one summer movie – or perhaps, a summer of movies – in their formative years that really and truly cemented their love for going to the cinema, whether it be 1975’s “Jaws,” “E.T. And while streaming has clearly siphoned off part of the audience, particularly for more serious films, what we think of as “summer movies” still have the potential to rake in cash just like the old days. (CNN and DC are both part of the same parent company, Warner Bros. Courtesy Warner Bros. PicturesInitially meant for streaming platforms, this vehicle will herald the cinematic arrival of DC Studios’ first Latino superhero, played by Xolo Maridueña of “Cobra Kai” and “Parenthood” fame. If the fast-paced trailer is any indication, the movie looks sure to whisk those dog days of summer doldrums away quite nicely.

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