Category: media

Films and filmmakers mythologize coming-of-age stories in all kinds of ways, ways that focus on the magic of whatever change or reference point young adults make their way into the adult world. But middle school isn’t like that. “It’s incredibly difficult to mythologize, or at least to do so with any kind of light. It’s far too awkward and irredeemable a time.”

It’s her mother’s maiden name, you guys, it doesn’t mean anything: “Manafort, the movie’s writer and director, used a pseudonym in connection with the project: Jess Bond.”

“King’s enjoyed numerous renaissances since Carrie put him on the map in 1973 — the era following Brian De Palma’s 1976 film adaptation; the early ’90s one-two punch of Misery‘s Oscar win and Tommy Lee Wallace’s It miniseries; the two-year spell at the turn of the millennium when he dropped the final three Dark Tower books. This one, however, is markedly different than those that came before, due not only to its scale and scope, but also because it’s unfolding in a generation that’s succeeded at both commodifying and intellectualizing nostalgia.”

“Five years after being tapped to lead the newly relaunched Paramount Television banner, Amy Powell is out.” Multiple individuals had complained about things Powell reportedly said about black women on a conference call about the company’s TV adaptation of The First Wives’ Club, which features a largely African-American cast.

“The streaming giant has announced a partnership with SiriusXM that will see it create and launch a comedy-focused satellite radio channel, a move that signals the company’s interest in extending its programming foothold beyond its online video roots.” The channel’s name: Netflix Is a Joke.

The premise of director Boots Riley’s movie is the largely unearned success that the black characters gain when they use a “white voice.” And, as Danny Glover’s character tells his young telemarketing colleague, “I’m not talking Will Smith–white. I’m talking about the real deal” — meaning with dubbed-in dialogue spoken by white actors sounding their absolute whitest. Hunter Harris reports on how Riley came up with and implemented the idea.

Comcast investors reacted favorably to the withdrawal, boosting the company’s stock 3% in morning trading, to $35.12. Disney shares also jumped, gaining 2% to $113.24. Fox, which has gained nearly 30% since early June on the bidding war, slumped nearly 2% to $45.86.

“Well, I love Apu. I love the character, and it makes me feel bad that it makes other people feel bad. But on the other hand, it’s tainted now — the conversation, there’s no nuance to the conversation now. It seems very, very clunky. … I think particularly right now, people feel so aggrieved and crazed and powerless that they’re picking the wrong battles.”