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☆ NBA roundup: Thunder win on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's late shot
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Nnaji was fouled on an offensive rebound and hit two free throws to tie it at 99-all with 30.2 seconds left before Gilgeous-Alexander's late heroics. Clippers 112, Mavericks 98Kawhi Leonard had 30 points and nine rebounds, and visiting Los Angeles dominated the fourth quarter in a win over Dallas. Paul George scored 21 points and Norman Powell added 19 for Los Angeles, which outscored the Mavericks 33-19 in the final period. New Orleans' CJ McCollum took a 3-pointer with 7.6 seconds left that would've given the Pelicans a 99-98 lead, but the shot missed off the front of the rim. Dennis Schroder added 24 points, eight assists and six rebounds as Los Angeles won its second straight game.

☆ This isn't a bull market yet, but it's starting to look like one
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Bob Pisani | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

That is not a bull market yet, but it's getting there. What would it take for a real bull market to show itself? "You don't get a secular bull market in stocks until the wind is at your back," he said Friday on " Power Lunch ." "In market downtrends like this one, prices typically bottom some 10 months ahead of a bottom in earnings," Gretz explains. "In other words, wait for the trough in earnings, and you're some 10 months late to a new bull market.

☆ NBA roundup: Nets sink Cavs for 9th straight win
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

While Garland made 14 of 20 shots and finished with his fourth 40-point game of his career, Donovan Mitchell was held to 15 points. Kevin Durant scored 32 points but fouled out for the sixth time in his career when he bumped Garland with 1:54 remaining. Isaiah Stewart had 21 points, Killian Hayes tossed in 18 with 10 assists and Jalen Duren added 15 points and 12 rebounds. Bennedict Mathurin put up 15 points and Myles Turner scored 14 to lead the Pacers, who finished a 2-1 road trip. Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 32 points and 12 rebounds.

☆ 'National Treasure: Edge of History' review: A Disney+ series adds a young-adult chapter to the movies
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Giving the “National Treasure” movies a young-adult spin, “National Treasure: Edge of History” transforms the franchise into a Disney+ series, one that offers the same playful approach to the past while weighing that down with tiresome relationship issues and a protagonist with her own Scooby gang. The opening episodes have their moments, but it’s less something to treasure than at best mildly enjoy. Nicolas Cage starred in the 2004 movie and its sequel, a sort of discount “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” The baton here passes to Lisette Olivera as Jess, a whip-smart Dreamer whose father, a protector of treasures, disappeared when she was a baby. As the recent “Willow” reminds us, Disney has aggressively mined its movie library for titles that might lend themselves to streaming-series treatment, and “National Treasure,” with its episodic aspect as Jess must locate and crack new clues, perhaps works on that level better than most. “National Treasure: Edge of History” premieres December 14 on Disney+.

☆ 'Kindred' review: Hulu adapts Octavia E. Butler's novel into another time-travel tale that takes its sweet time
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —After starting out well, “Kindred” gets lost in a maze of its own making, adapting Octavia E. Butler’s time-traveling novel into an eight-part Hulu series that spends far too much time spinning its wheels. The series does begin promisingly enough, as Dana (Mallori Johnson) moves into a new house in Los Angeles and begins to experience a series of eerie visions. Mallori Johnson (left) in the Hulu series "Kindred." Brace yourself, in other words, for a lengthier commitment to glean greater insight into how all of this works. “Kindred” premieres December 13 on Hulu.

☆ ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ rekindles the wonder in a way that demands to be seen
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —“Avatar” took a very basic story and adorned it with eye-popping spectacle, in a way that made the film a must-see commodity, and a record-breaking hit in the process. Thirteen years later, braving much different theatrical tides, director James Cameron has done it again with “Avatar: The Way of Water,” a state-of-the-art exercise that rekindles that sense of wonder and demands to be seen by anyone with lingering interest in watching movies in theaters. The children, in particular, must grapple with the personalities and pettiness associated with becoming the new kids on the reef. Ultimately, though, “The Way of Water” melts away any skepticism that it might be too late or too long in its return to Pandora. “Avatar: The Way of Water” premieres December 16 in US theaters.

☆ 'Top Gun' and 'Avatar' nab Golden Globe nominations, pointing the way for the Oscars
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The cliché about award shows is that it’s an honor just to be nominated. Having endeavored to address those issues on both fronts, the Globes are here again, although not everyone has embraced the event or the HFPA with open arms. "Avatar: The Way of Water" debuts Dec. 16. The steep decline in award-show viewing, exacerbated by the pandemic, hasn’t made studios or talent any less enthusiastic about earning such recognition. In that sense, however tarnished the Golden Globes might be, its example could be another factor that helps point the way for the Oscars when those nominations are unveiled in January.

☆ 'The White Lotus' season finale review: 'Arrivederci' says goodbye to a brilliant second season (SPOILERS)
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers about “The White Lotus” season finale, “Arrivederci.”CNN —It started with floating bodies, and finally brought home its various threads with a sly nod to the fact that the sex in this visit to “The White Lotus” tended to be transactional. In between, the second installment proved almost as engrossing, uncomfortable and meme-worthy as its Emmy-winning predecessor, which is no small accomplishment for writer-director Mike White. Tanya, however, wasn’t the only character being manipulated for money or advantage, which is what connected the show’s various threads. Discovery), but thanks to “The White Lotus,” it’s home to one of the best things on television, and as anthology-style concepts go, potentially one of the most durable. So now that everyone obsessed with the show has said “Arrivederci” to Sicily, the only real question is, “Where are we going next?”

☆ 'Pinocchio' review: A reimagined story is beautiful but comes with too many strings attached
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The mere title “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” announces that this stop-motion animated movie reflects the keen eye and visual style of the directing auteur, with a healthy dose of revisionism and reimagining baked into that. Yet despite its beauty, several of those narrative touches don’t fully work, leaving behind a movie that’s aesthetically lovely but narratively uneven. Perhaps foremost, del Toro makes the ill-advised decision to incorporate songs into the story, although he keeps interrupting them, which might speak to a certain lack of conviction about that particular aspect. It’s around that point where del Toro (who shares directing credit with animator Mark Gustafson) appears determined to connect this “Pinocchio” to larger and more ambitious themes. “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” premieres December 9 on Netflix.

☆ 'The Whale' review: Brendan Fraser's standout performance can't keep Darren Aronofsky's film afloat
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The love showered on Brendan Fraser out of film festivals inflates expectations for “The Whale” wildly out of proportion, in a movie based on a play that occurs almost entirely within a lone apartment. Weighted down not by its morbidly obese protagonist but rather its stick-thin supporting players, Fraser deserves praise for his buried-under-makeup performance, but that’s not enough to keep the movie afloat. Adapted by Samuel D. Hunter from his play, “The Whale” actually derives its title from the book “Moby Dick,” although the convincing enormity of Charlie’s physique obviously provides another meaning. As poignant and heartbreaking as Charlie’s plight is, “The Whale” can’t transcend the line between theater and film. While it’s easy to root for Fraser to earn accolades, in the annual hunt for award-worthy movies, consider this another one that got away.

☆ "Emancipation" review: Will Smith casts an Oscar-shaped shadow over Antoine Fuqua's earnest movie
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Any discussion of “Emancipation” will inevitably be clouded by the Will Smith of it all, and Apple’s decision to release the movie into the teeth of awards season. Taken to work laying railroad track, Peter overhears word of Lincoln’s pronouncement and realizes his best chance at freedom involves reaching the Union Army in Baton Rouge. Effectively adopting a Haitian accent, Smith captures the physicality of the role, and Peter’s defiance toward his captors without uttering a word. “Emancipation” premieres December 2 in US theaters and December 9 on Apple TV+. It’s rated R. (Disclosure: The writer’s spouse works for a unit of Apple.)

☆ Australia proposes to overhaul 'broken' environment laws
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Australia will overhaul its environment laws and set up a new nature protection agency which would have powers to make decisions on the approval of development projects, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said on Thursday. The move by the centre-left Labor government comes more than two years after an independent review found Australia's environment laws were outdated and required fundamental reform. The independent Environment Protection Agency (EPA) will be responsible for all project assessments and decisions but the federal environment minister will retain the power to review EPA approvals. What we are seeking is a win-win - a win for the environment and a win for business," Plibersek told reporters. The EPA will act as "a tough cop on the beat" that can help reverse the deterioration of Australia's environment, Plibersek said.

☆ 'Unveiled: Surviving La Luz Del Mundo' review: HBO shines a light on decades of alleged abuse within a mega-church
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Spanning decades, “Unveiled: Surviving La Luz Del Mundo” is another #MeToo story, this time on a disturbingly epic scale, exploring alleged sexual abuse that occurred across generations in a Guadalajara, Mexico-based mega-church, and the victims that eventually rose up to speak out. Founded in 1926, La Luz Del Mundo (Spanish for “The Light of the World”) says it has branches around the world, carrying the word of God from a designated apostle chosen from the ranks of its guiding family. CNN has reached out to La Luz Del Mundo for comment. While HBO’s poster for “Unveiled” features the line, “Bringing the truth into the light,” time will tell whether that light turns out to be the best disinfectant. “Unveiled: Surviving La Luz Del Mundo” premieres December 6 at 9 p.m.

☆ How CISOs Can Wield More Power in Organizations
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Anthony Vance | Michelle Lowry | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Many chief information security officers, or CISOs, seem to be struggling with the same dilemma: They get no respect. They may have the word “chief” in their title, and play a critical role in the security of companies in an increasingly digital economy, but they generally aren’t considered peers of the board or C-suite. As a result, they are often excluded from strategic decision-making.

☆ 'Sr.' review: Robert Downey Jr. deals with his late dad in an intimate Netflix documentary
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —At the end of “Sr.,” a documentary so personal the word “intimate” almost doesn’t do it justice, Robert Downey Jr. ponders what his 90-minute ode to his father was really all about. The simple answer, stripped of celebrity, is the painful process of saying goodbye to an aging, increasingly infirm parent, filtered through the careers of these two entertainers. It’s a conversation Downey Sr. clearly doesn’t relish having, although their interplay throughout is one of warmth, forgiveness and love, and if there was second guessing or recriminations on the way to making that peace, you won’t find it here. Shot over three years, the film captures Downey Sr.’s physical decline as he experiences the ravages of Parkinson’s disease. “I’ll miss him,” Downey Jr. says after visiting the old man with his own young son, Exton.

☆ 'George & Tammy' review: Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon stand by an oft-told musical tale
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Chastain continues to carve out an inordinately unique niche of standout performances playing women named Tammy, although “Tammy Faye” embodied a different realm of high-profile personalities. That is, of course, an oft-told tale, a la “Sid and Nancy” or Ike & Tina Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” among past dramatizations within different musical genres. Understandably, stars are invariably drawn to these kind of showy roles, with “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Rocketman” and “Elvis” among the recent examples. Thanks to Chastain and Shannon (who admirably pull off their own singing), “George & Tammy” provides a warts-and-all window into Wynette and Jones’ lives. “George & Tammy” premieres December 4 at 9 p.m.

☆ 'Violent Night' review: David Harbour delivers the goods by putting Santa Claus in 'Die Hard' mode
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The idea of a nasty Christmas movie is nothing new, but “Violent Night” still manages to deliver the goods, mixing “Die Hard” and “Rambo”-style action with a fair amount of hokey ho-ho-hokum. David Harbour makes a particularly good cranky, butt-kicking Santa, in a movie that offers the sort of shared experience that should bring theaters some much-needed cheer. Still, pulling off that combination of over-the-top violence, goofy comedy and (in this case) Hallmark-style meaning-of-Christmas stuff is a pretty formidable challenge, and while the setting proves slightly claustrophobic, “Violent Night” mostly overcomes it. That might not be the formula for a fun-for-the-whole-family holiday perennial, but to its credit, those sitting through “Violent Night” should rarely stay silent for long. “Violent Night” premieres December 2 in US theaters.

☆ 'Willow' review: Warwick Davis returns in Lucasfilm's series sequel for Disney+
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Review Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Setting that aside, a Disney+ revival series isn’t without its charms, in a more contemporary narrative that brings back Warwick Davis while focusing on the next generation. The latter were played by Val Kilmer and Joanne Whalley, respectively, who as an off-screen bonus got married after the film. Jonathan Kasdan (who also worked on “Solo”) serves as showrunner, collaborating with four directors who each oversaw back-to-back episodes. While that combination doesn’t add up into making “Willow” significantly worthier of the “beloved” label than its late-’80s predecessor, consumed on its own unpretentious terms, it’s easy enough to like. “Willow” premieres November 30 on Disney+.

☆ Being your own boss comes with some tradeoffs. Here's how Gen Zers are managing the challenges.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Gen Z will be a major player in entrepreneurship, with 45% very likely to start a venture. Here's how Gen Z founders are managing loneliness, financial stress, and mental health. In fact, 45% of Gen Zers are very or extremely likely to become founders, according to a 2021 survey of 1,509 Gen Zers by Ernst & Young. But even with the pitfalls that come with starting your own business, young founders do find success. While imposter syndrome and lack of experience are inevitable for many Gen Zers, there are ways to learn and delegate when necessary.

☆ ‘Glass Onion’ sharpens the ‘Knives Out’ formula in a polished Netflix sequel
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Review Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Rising to the challenge of matching its successful predecessor, “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” maintains the razor-sharp formula, with a setup that feels even more conspicuously like an Agatha Christie homage before an extremely clever series of twists kick in. Writer-director Rian Johnson again assembles a solid cast behind Daniel Craig, but it’s his use of language – where nary a word is wasted – that finally gives the sequel its edge. Netflix opportunistically stepped up to acquire the “Knives Out” franchise and, departing from its usual “Stroke the filmmakers’ egos” approach to theatrical distribution, will actually give the movie a wide one-week-only release before it hits the streaming service in late December. Happily, “Glass Onion” finds new layers to explore, in a way that makes the prospect of a new “Knives Out Mystery” every few years sound like a perfectly reasonable idea, wherever and however one chooses to consume it. “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” premieres November 23 in US theaters and December 23 on Netflix.

☆ 'Welcome to Chippendales' review: Kumail Nanjiani stars in a Hulu limited series that looks a little under-dressed for success
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Review Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Hulu has carved out an impressive niche of salacious fact-based limited series, including several with a true-crime hook. “Welcome to Chippendales” checks off those boxes, but in a less-appealing package that’s surprisingly lifeless, and even with its trashy selling points looks under-dressed for success. The story begins with Indian immigrant Somen “Steve” Banerjee (Kumail Nanjiani) who is introduced as a gas-station/quickie-mart attendant before he gambles his savings by opening a high-end backgammon club. Ultimately, though, “Chippendales” is defined by its trashier aspects, while its assortment of supporting players and their soap-opera problems too often feel as if they’re just killing time. “Welcome to Chippendales” premieres November 22 on Hulu.

☆ 'Wednesday' review: Jenna Ortega makes Netflix's Addams Family series look like a snap
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Review Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Although the main character’s name was inspired by the poetic line “Wednesday’s child is full of woe,” “Wednesday” is generally a delight, thanks almost entirely to Jenna Ortega. Having outgrown her Disney Channel days, Ortega makes the Addams Family’s now-high-school-age daughter the coolest humorless goth sociopath you’ll ever meet, in a Netflix series that’s more kooky than spooky or ooky. – a “five-fingered discount.” The writers extract a great deal of comedic mileage from that extremity, so give them a hand. Seeking to bring something new a property like the Addams Family, which has been done so many times before, isn’t easy without altering its DNA. To its credit, “Wednesday” rises to the challenge and mostly manages to make it look like a snap.

☆ 'The Walking Dead' series finale review: Episode 24 of the extended 11th season finally comes to an end, after biting off more than it could chew (SPOILERS)
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Review Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers about “The Walking Dead” series finale, “Rest in Peace,” which premiered November 20. CNN —Forgive AMC, at least a little bit, for almost drunkenly celebrating “The Walking Dead” in its heyday by feeding audiences as much content related to the zombie drama as they possibly could. In its early seasons, “The Walking Dead” excelled in part because of its unpredictability, as the montage of characters who had died reminded the audience. Those plans later morphed into a limited series, but the sense that “The Walking Dead” was no longer the priority in AMC’s “Dead” universe had been pretty well cemented. Television is always hungry for another hit, and at its height “The Walking Dead” was the TV equivalent of a supernova.

☆ 'Disenchanted' review: Amy Adams turns the page on a princess' storybook ending on Disney+
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Review Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —“Disenchanted” asks the existential question, “What comes after ‘Happily Ever After?,’” which is, naturally, a sequel … only (because it’s 15 years later) for streaming. Amy Adams nimbly steps back into the role of an animated princess trying to adapt to the live-action world, in an epilogue to “Enchanted” that has moments of magic without completely delivering on the premise. As recounted in storybook fashion, Adams’ Princess Giselle settled down with her unexpected prince, single dad Robert (Patrick Dempsey), and had a baby with him. If there appeared to be room to creatively advance the mythology, “Disenchanted” merely chooses to recycle it. “Disenchanted” premieres November 18 on Disney+.

☆ '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.)

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