Mark Jenkin ’s 2019 film Bait had the rare distinction of being a genuine out-of-the-blue discovery, featuring heavily on UK critics’ year-best lists after a modest arthouse release by the BFI. The black-and-white film’s experimental style was emphasized in all its press coverage, nodding to avant-garde auteurs like Stan Brakhage, Derek Jarman and Guy Maddin — all directors who are interested in the literal grain of film and video (indeed, Jenkin reportedly developed the negative with coffee and washing soda then distressed the image by hand). Throw in post-synch sound, and you have a film more likely to screen to two people and a dog at a smoky underground 1960s cine-club than win a BAFTA. For all its formal intricacies, though, Bait had a very traditional narrative, being the story of a Cornish fisherman who sees his village becoming gentrified after selling his house to a couple of rich out-of-towners. Enys Men , Jenkin’s Directors’ Fortnight entry here in … [Read more...] about Cannes Review: Mark Jenkin’s ‘Enys Men’
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Hear New Songs From Beck, Mark Ronson With Damon Albarn From ‘The Birdsong Project’
Jeff Tweedy, Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, Karen O, Flaming Lips, Animal Collective, and Danielle Haim are among the hundreds of artists, actors, and authors that have contributed new work to For the Birds: The Birdsong Project , a five-volume collection of over 242 recordings inspired by birdsong. The first volume in the yearlong rollout arrived on streaming services Friday, with Beck , UNKLE, Beach House, Kurt Vile, Jarvis Cocker, Jim James, and Mark Ronson with Damon Albarn and Wale among the initial wave of artists in the charitable project. All proceeds from For the Birds will benefit the National Audubon Society. Actors like Sean Penn and Tilda Swinton also provide bird-inspired poetic recitations for the first volume, with pieces from Olivia Wilde, Robert Pattinson, Matthew McConaughey, Jeff Goldblum, Greta Gerwig, and Natasha Lyonne also set to arrive in forthcoming volumes throughout the year. “The Birdsong Project is a community … [Read more...] about Hear New Songs From Beck, Mark Ronson With Damon Albarn From ‘The Birdsong Project’
What Makes Tom Cruise’s Star Shine So Brightly? Directors Share Their Insights – Cannes Disruptors
Top Gun : Maverick ’s Cannes Film Festival premiere marks another high point in the movie star career of Tom Cruise . The actor turns 60 on July 3, and unlike most leading men of that age who become quicker to call for the stunt double, Cruise shows little evidence of slowing down after 43 films. If anything, his Mission: Impossible stunts seem to grow more ambitiously dangerous, not to mention the fact that he and director Doug Liman will become the first to actually shoot a space film in space for real—aboard one of Elon Musk’s SpaceX crafts with the cooperation of NASA. So how does Cruise continue to carve such a path? “I’ve gotten to work with a number of actors who’ve had great success and long careers, Tom being at the top of the heap,” says Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski. “He approaches every day with the enthusiasm that it’s his first movie, and at the same time puts the effort into it like it’s his last movie. That’s a good attitude … [Read more...] about What Makes Tom Cruise’s Star Shine So Brightly? Directors Share Their Insights – Cannes Disruptors
Paramount’s Brad Grey Sends His Exit Memo As Viacom Makes It Official
Paramount’s chairman and CEO Brad Grey has made official what’s been known for a while: He’s leaving the studio after 12 years . He’s just sent a memo to his staff, the day after hosting an intimate party at his home for Paramount Pictures execs who are staying put and other longtime industry allies. Grey wrote that he is handing over most of his duties effective today but is staying “engaged” over the next weeks to “support a smooth transition.” (Read his full memo below.) The memo’s release came at the same time Viacom officially announced Grey’s exit atop the Melrose Ave studio. As Deadline reported , he gives way to a transition committee that includes Marc Evans (President, Motion Picture Group), Andrew Gumpert (Chief Operating Officer), Amy Powell (President, Paramount Television and Digital Entertainment), Megan Colligan (President, Worldwide Distribution and Marketing) and Mark Badagliacca (Chief Financial Officer). “Brad has overseen the production … [Read more...] about Paramount’s Brad Grey Sends His Exit Memo As Viacom Makes It Official
Lil Wayne Claps Back At Mark Cuban, ‘I Will Piss In Ya F’n Mouth Ho’
TMZ.com Lil Wayne once said "You don't want to start Weezy, 'cause the F is for finisher" ... and he's proving to back his words with Mark Cuban -- firing back in his beef with the Dallas Mavericks owner and saying, "I will piss in ya f'n mouth ho." The back-and-forth between the rapper and billionaire has been brewing ever since the Young Money rapper called Luka Doncic a "ho" on Twitter last week ... prompting Cuban to respond after Dallas defeated the Suns by 33 points in Game 7 on Sunday. "It’s a shit show, put you front row " #MFFL https://t.co/cARGnNiyfg pic.twitter.com/ktk0yFkDpg — Mark Cuban (@mcuban) May 16, 2022 @mcuban Wayne didn't take the jab lightly ... unleashing a pretty disgusting response to Cubes in a since-deleted tweet. "Mark Cuban don’t make me get u smacked boy U playing w me??" Tunechi said. "I will piss in ya f'n mouth ho." Shortly after, Wayne followed up for good measure writing, "Ya … [Read more...] about Lil Wayne Claps Back At Mark Cuban, ‘I Will Piss In Ya F’n Mouth Ho’
TWICE Makes Late-Night Live Debut With ‘The Feels’ on ‘Colbert’
K-pop powerhouses TWICE brought their infectious English-language track “The Feels” to The Late Show Wednesday, marking the group’s first-ever American late-night show performance. The song comes off the group’s latest album, Formula of Love: O+T≤3 , which was released last November. The nine-member group — which is comprised of both Korean and Japanese members — made full use of the Late Show stage, even performing at host Stephen Colbert’s desk for a portion of the disco-tinged song. Decked out in coordinating red and black tartan outfits, the girls also showcased their signature precision choreography while swapping vocal duties. While “The Feels” is TWICE’s first English single, the “TT” hitmakers previously recorded several songs in English — including renditions of singles “More & More” and “I Can’t Stop Me,” which also received both Korean and Japanese versions. TWICE recently wrapped their latest world tour with two sold-out shows at Los Angeles’ Banc of … [Read more...] about TWICE Makes Late-Night Live Debut With ‘The Feels’ on ‘Colbert’
Jimmy Wilsey’s Guitar Helped Make Chris Isaak’s ‘Wicked Game’ a Smash. But Wilsey Was Never the Same After
As Lizzo’s “Truth Hurts” recently demonstrated, sometimes it takes a while for a song to catch on and become a hit. Lizzo’s track exploded two years after release, and something similar happened over 30 years ago with Chris Isaak ’s “Wicked Game.” When Isaak’s Heart Shaped World was initially rolled out in 1989, it didn’t make much of an impact. Then, with an assist from director David Lynch, “Wicked Game” caught on and got released as a single in late 1990. Finally, in 1991, the song broke into the Top 10. That was all good news for Isaak, who finally became the star everyone had predicted years before. But it was a mixed blessing for Isaak’s lead guitarist, James Calvin Wilsey , who came up with the swoony guitar lick that ran throughout the Isaak-written song. After a tenure in the San Francisco punk band the Avengers, Wilsey and Isaak formed a rockabilly band, Silvertone, in 1980; by 1985 Isaak was the frontman and Silvertone became the name for his backup group, which … [Read more...] about Jimmy Wilsey’s Guitar Helped Make Chris Isaak’s ‘Wicked Game’ a Smash. But Wilsey Was Never the Same After
‘Better Call Saul’ Leads Quiet Week, But Streaming Makes Noise With New Record Share Of Total TV Viewing In April, Nielsen Says
Better Call Saul captured the top spot on a sleepy week, collecting 821 million minutes of viewing for its first five seasons on Netflix . Along with the rankings for the week of April 18 to 24, Nielsen also released the April edition of The Gauge, its monthly look at overall viewing via TV sets. Helped by an upswing for HBO Max , overall streaming set a new record for the month in terms of its share of total viewing, at 30.4%, up from 29.7% in March. For the first time, HBO Max reached 1% of the viewership pie, a long way from Netflix’s 6.6% but a mark of achievement for the 2-year-old service. Breaking Bad , the series from which Better Call Saul spun off, is also one of the most popular acquired titles on Netflix. Both shows draw audiences that are 55% male, per Nielsen, but 75% of Saul viewers are older than 35. By contrast, half of Breaking Bad viewers are younger than 35. Sampling of past seasons was helped by promotions for Season 6, which just … [Read more...] about ‘Better Call Saul’ Leads Quiet Week, But Streaming Makes Noise With New Record Share Of Total TV Viewing In April, Nielsen Says
Stevie Wonder Makes Surprise Appearance At The CW Upfronts
The CW brought some Superstition to the Upfronts with a surprise musical performance by R&B legend Stevie Wonder . The former child prodigy, who signed to Motown’s Tamla at the age of 11, turned up at the event at New York City Center Theater in Midtown Manhattan to give the event a bit of iconic star power. The CW Upfront: Deadline’s Complete Coverage He played “Superstition” and changed the words to “CW is the way” during the performance, which included a full band and Wonder on keys. He received a standing ovation and raucous applause. The CW boss Mark Pedowitz followed him and said that Wonder’s legacy as an activist, paved the way for its programming that was “open to all” and “daring to defy.” Fall 2022 Primetime TV Grid: No Fox (Yet) As Nets Play It Safe With Much More Of The Same The CW has always brought musical guests to its event, with the likes of Jared Leto’s 30 Seconds To Mars, Katy Perry, Of Monsters and Men, Flo Rida and the Jonas … [Read more...] about Stevie Wonder Makes Surprise Appearance At The CW Upfronts
RS Recommends: The Xbox Series S Is Marked Down to Its Lowest Price This Season
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission. Microsoft’s new Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X consoles are rarely ever in stock, let alone on sale. The same goes for PlayStation 5 consoles , which are almost always sold out unless you know where to look. Lucky for you, the entry-level Xbox Series X is currently down to its lowest price this season at just $269.99 , a $30 discount from its original selling price of $299.99+. This Xbox deal is on Walmart and live until inventory sells out, so if you’ve been on the lookout for a new console, this is your chance to buy an Xbox Series S on sale. Microsoft Buy: Xbox Series S at $269.99 The Xbox Series S is the disc-less, entry-level console released by Microsoft in 2020, along with the Xbox Series X. Unlike its bulkier counterpart though, the Series S packs strong performance in a compact design — I’ve been a … [Read more...] about RS Recommends: The Xbox Series S Is Marked Down to Its Lowest Price This Season