Steve Pond's Blog, page 2050
December 3, 2019
Trevor Noah Unpacks the Plot ‘Twist’ of Kamala Harris Dropping Out of Democratic Primary (Video)
On Tuesday night’s “The Daily Show,” Trevor Noah took a second to come to terms with the news that Sen. Kamala Harris has dropped out of the Democratic presidential race, comparing that election season twist to the experience of watching “Game of Thrones.”
Earlier in the day, the California Democrat told supporters: “I’m not a billionaire. I can’t fund my own campaign. And as the campaign has gone on, it’s become harder and harder to raise the money we need to compete. In good faith, I can’t tell you, my supporters and volunteers, that I have a path forward if I don’t believe I do.” She also vowed to “do everything in my power to defeat Donald Trump and fight for the future of our country.”
Noah offered his own take on Harris’ decision. “I don’t think anybody saw this coming. Because when this race started, she was one of the favorites,” he said. “This has been a twist, like how in Season 7 of ‘Game of Thrones’ we all thought that Daenerys would become queen, but then in Season 8 we realized that it was a s— TV show that none of us should have watched. We wasted our time!”
(And for those of you still sore about how the final season shook out, the audience cheered at that joke.)
Also Read: House Intelligence Committee Releases Trump Impeachment Report
Noah continued, saying that he was particularly interested in what people have been saying about Harris’ campaign since she dropped out. “Like, some people say that it proves that even in the Democratic party, black women don’t have the support that they deserve,” Noah noted. “But other say there wasn’t enough black girl magic to erase Kamala’s record as a prosecutor.”
After conceding that he found “it’s a little bit of both,” Noah ended the segment with a joke aimed at one of Harris’ fellow Democratic senators who is still a candidate for president. “All I know is, Cory Booker, I’m gonna say a phrase you’ve probably never heard before in your life: You are now the blackest person in the room. Don’t let us down, Cory!”
Watch the whole clip below:
TONIGHT: Yes, that's right: Kamala Harris dropped out before Marianne Williamson. pic.twitter.com/xzdnbWSx2Q
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) December 4, 2019
Related stories from TheWrap:
John Travolta Swears His Fans Aren't Like His Disturbed Character in 'The Fanatic' (Video)
'Soundtrack' Trailer: Every Song Is a Love Song in Netflix Musical Series (Video)
Sharon Osbourne Goes Off on NBC, 'America's Got Talent': 'NBC Can Kiss My A–' (Video)
Johnny Messner, DMX and Steven Seagal Fill People With Bullets in ‘Beyond the Law’ Redband Trailer (Exclusive Video)
Sometimes if you want something done right, you need to empty a ton of guns into a ton of people yourself. At least, if you’re the ex-cop gunning for revenge against the people who killed his son in the gleefully violent action thriller “Beyond the Law.” And ahead of the film’s day and date release later this week, you can see the glorious carnage for yourself in the new redband trailer, available exclusively at the top of the page.
From director James Cullen Bressack (“Alone,” “Bethany,” “Blood Craft”), “Beyond the Law” stars Johnny Messner (“Silencer,” “Weaponized”) as that ex-cop, who gets dragged back into his old life after his son is murdered. With nothing to lose, he mixes it up with the city’s lowlifes and crosses paths with a veteran detective (DMX) also determined to uncover the truth. But as their investigations drag them deeper into the criminal underworld, the come up against the local mob, and a mysterious criminal enforcer (Steven Seagal).
And no bones about it, things get bloody in the new trailer, which sees Messner grimly searching for his son’s killer and occasionally pausing to shoot someone in an extremely painful place, like a shin. Ouch. Meanwhile, as DMX tries making sense of the whole thing, Seagal shows up to do some extremely Seagal things — like break someone’s wrist as he points their own gun at them.
Also Read: DMX and Johnny Messner Hunt Steven Seagal in Bloody Trailer for 'Beyond the Law' (Exclusive Video)
From Cinedigm Corp., “Beyond the Law” also stars Zack Ward, Chester Rushing, and Bill Cobbs (“Demolition Man”). Written by Chad Law and Johnny Martin Walters, it’s produced by Bressack, Timothy Woodward Jr., and Micah E. Brandt, and co-produced by Gordon Woloson. Matthew Helderman, Luke Dylan Taylor, Joe Listhaus, Randy Charach, Kim DeLonghi and Patrick DePeters serve as executive producers, with Kirk Shaw and Dan Grodnik co-executive producing.
“Beyond the Law” opens in select theaters Dec.6 in 11 markets including Los Angeles, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Houston, Chicago and Toronto; it will also be available day and date on-demand and on digital platforms.
Related stories from TheWrap:
The 'Arrowverse' Assembles in Final 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' Trailer (Video)
Awkwafina Has Some Serious Adulting to Do in 'Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens' Trailer (Video)
John Travolta Swears His Fans Aren’t Like His Disturbed Character in ‘The Fanatic’ (Video)
In “The Fanatic,” John Travolta plays a disturbed genre movie buff whose passion for his favorite horror actor goes way too far. But don’t worry, “Grease” and “Pulp Fiction” fans. This performance isn’t based on any of you.
“I didn’t do this film to exorcise anything or blow off some steam on any fanbase,” Travolta said at TheWrap’s Screening Series at The Landmark in Los Angeles. “Fred [Durst, the director], might have had a different history than I have, but I’ve always felt this deep appreciation for my fans. I met this one woman a few days ago that got a tattoo of me. She didn’t know she would ever meet me, she just did it. I appreciate that what I’ve done means that much to people.”
For Moose, Travolta’s character in “The Fanatic,” horror film star Hunter Dunbar (Devon Siwa) is the Travolta in his life. He longs to get an autograph from his idol and even practices in front of a mirror how he would meet Hunter. But it’s not just an autograph and a handshake he’s looking for: he wants Hunter to be his friend at any cost, even if it means breaking into his house to get his attention.
Also Read: John Travolta and Jimmy Fallon Compete in 'John Travolt-Off' Challenge (Video)
While he’d never go as far as Moose does, Travolta feels that such a devoted passion is something that everyone could empathize with and was the core aspect of Moose that made him enjoy the role so much that he stayed in character even in between takes.
“When I was a little boy, I dreamed that Jimmy Cagney would love me as much as I loved him. I imagined that Paul McCartney would be my buddy,” he said. “I enjoyed playing my own heartstrings but within a circumference of a person that’s so different from how I move and act and think.”
That desperate need to be liked coalesces in a climax where Moose ties Hunter to his bed, making him the literally captive audience to an audition where Moose tries to earn Hunter’s respect by giving his own performance inspired by the actor’s work. Again, Travolta found a kernel of personal truth inside of that moment, connecting it to how watching others act inspired him to get up and perform himself, albeit on a movie set rather than in a house he sneaked into.
Also Read: Paramount to Reboot John Woo '90s Action Hit 'Face/Off'
“Whenever I have a little dip of inspiration…I look for someone to spark me up. Recently I watched Sam Rockwell and I got jolted again. He approaches these roles like I do, whether it’s ‘Fosse/Verdon’ or ‘Three Billboards.’ I just got excited about acting again by watching him.”
“Sometimes it’s someone you’d never expect. Three years ago I got into Pitbull, and I’m not kidding! When I become a fan, I become a fan!” he said. “And it got to a point where I got to be in one of his videos and show off my moves, which is what I know how to do. 14 million views later, it’s part of my mosaic and my history. So I definitely believe in fandom.”
Also Read: Here's Why 'Pulp Fiction' Wasn't Used When De-Aging Samuel L Jackson in 'Captain Marvel'
“The Fanatic” is available to stream now on Amazon Prime.
Related stories from TheWrap:
Here's Why 'Pulp Fiction' Wasn't Used When De-Aging Samuel L Jackson in 'Captain Marvel'
'Pulp Fiction' House Up for Sale, Dead Body Not Included
John Travolta Most Memorable Onscreen Hairdos (and Don'ts), From 'Grease' to 'The Fanatic' (Photos)
Why ‘Invisible Life’ Director Was Compelled to Make a Portrait of His Mother’s Generation
zWhen filmmaker Karim Aïnouz read Martha Batalha’s book “The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmao,” he wished it was a novel he could’ve written. The book was not only a well known story in his home country of Brazil, but he picked up on numerous similarities between the book’s characters and his own grandmother and mother.
The book was so iconic that he even felt conflicted about being a man directing a movie based on a quintessentially female story. But with his film “Invisible Life,” Brazil’s official submission to the International Feature race at the Oscars, he felt it was time to do a portrait of his mother’s generation.
“I thought it was an important portrait to do of women of a certain generation who I thought had been not really represented, neither in literature, history or cinema,” Aïnouz told TheWrap’s Steve Pond following a screening of the film Monday at the Landmark Theatres in Los Angeles. “And I thought it was an important document, the novel itself, because it talked about women that probably today who are 90 or 80 years old, and it was important to tell their stories while they are still here.”
Also Read: How 'Queen of Hearts' Director Made a Feminist Story About a Bad Person
“Invisible Life” is the story of two sisters, Euridice and Guida, who are separated from each other while living in Rio in the 1950s. The two are living mere miles apart, but their father, ashamed that Guida ran off and became pregnant out of wedlock, banishes her from the family and lies to Euridice that her sister ever returned home.
Aïnouz worked within the melodrama genre to make this period film relevant to how women are still fighting for rights and agency in their lives and families today. He was equally inspired by the film “Imitation of Life” and by Brazilian soap operas, and he ultimately felt this genre was right to tell this generation’s story.
“There are so many things that have changed between the 1950s and now, but particularly in Brazil, there’s a nostalgia for a certain kind of family and femininity,” Aïnouz said. “How can I do this without making it seem dusty or stale? It’s treated as a subgenre, but it’s probably the most politically efficient genre of all time, because it really talks about people who have been put down. It’s really about that struggle between the world and the individual, and this is the time to do it.”
Also Read: 'The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmao' Wins Top Award in Cannes Un Certain Regard Section
Aïnouz also took a noticeable departure from Batalha’s book, as he felt it was crucial to show the repercussions of what this father has done to Guida and Euridice’s lives. He spent years writing and developing his adaptation, and it wasn’t until two months before shooting that he finally found the right scene that could fit the story he aimed to tell.
“When I started, I thought I was just telling the story of my family, but when I really dove into the book, I realized it was the story of a lot of women,” Aïnouz said. “I felt this was the time to do a portrait of a generation of my mother, and there was something there I needed to go back to. For me, this was a document of war. These women have been through so much that we know so little about.”
“Invisible Life” made its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and won the Un Certain Regard prize, and it hits American theaters beginning on Dec. 20.
Related stories from TheWrap:
'Commitment' Filmmaker Says 'The Real Director' of Turkish Drama Was an Infant Baby
Academy Stumbles Again With Another Oscars International Disqualification, This Time Austria
Oscars Shake Up Voting in the Best International Feature Film Category
Devin Nunes Sues CNN for $435 Million-Plus in Defamation Suit
Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) has sued CNN for over $435 million in a defamation suit filed on Tuesday in Virginia.
The 47-page lawsuit opened by calling CNN “the mother of fake news” that was “eroding the fabric of America” and claimed that the network published a “demonstrably false hit piece” about Nunes on Nov. 22. The article reported that Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas was willing to testify that Nunes had met with a former top Ukrainian prosecutor last year in Vienna to “discuss digging up dirt on Joe Biden.” (Nunes had “declined repeated requests for comment” for the piece.)
Nunes’s suit said that Parnas was a “fraudster and a hustler” and that Nunes has never met the Ukrainian prosecutor, nor was he in Vienna during that timeframe. Nunes claims that CNN’s report caused him “insult, pain, embarrassment, humiliation, mental suffering, injury to his reputation, special damages, costs, and other out-of-pocket expenses.” He is seeking compensatory and punitive damages amounting to at least $435,350,000.
Also Read: McClatchy Newspapers Strike Back at GOP Rep Devin Nunes Over 'Baseless' $150 Million Lawsuit
This isn’t the first time Nunes has sued for defamation: In March, the GOP congressman sued Twitter for $250 million after a number of Nunes parody accounts gained popularity. The following month, Nunes sued McClatchy newspapers for $150 million over a story that reported on a company partially owned by Nunes.
A spokesperson for CNN declined to comment.
Related stories from TheWrap:
McClatchy Newspapers Strike Back at GOP Rep Devin Nunes Over 'Baseless' $150 Million Lawsuit
'Devin Nunes' Cow' Parody Account Gets More Followers Than Nunes After His Twitter Lawsuit
Congressman Devin Nunes Files $250 Million Defamation Complaint Against Twitter
Baby Yoda Love Goes Hollywood: 7 Starry ‘The Mandalorian’ Memes
The Baby Yoda phenomenon keeps getting bigger and bigger, with celebrities now creating their own memes of the adorable character from “The Mandalorian.”
Friday’s episode gave viewers the most Baby Yoda screentime to date, and of course, plenty of meme fodder.
The scene were Baby Yoda sips broth while former Rebel shock trooper Cara Dune (Gina Carano) and the Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) brawl spawned countless memes.
If I had one word of advice baby yoda it would be to watch out for those seagulls! https://t.co/JkJHbnGdi4
— Gillian Anderson (@GillianA) December 1, 2019
Gillian Anderson retweeted a side-by-side photo of herself and the character, cups in hand, captioning “If I had one word of advice baby yoda it would be to watch out for those seagulls!
Also Read: Baby Yoda Plush Dolls Are Available to Order - But Won't Arrive Until May
Even presidential candidate Julian Castro got in on the action, retweeting a meme from 538 editor in chief Nate Silver.
https://t.co/siKv3D1urv pic.twitter.com/DtOrs1PThm
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) December 3, 2019
“If the Democratic Party wants a field that’s representative of its members and its voters, it probably shouldn’t have two states as white as Iowa and New Hampshire vote first every year,” Silver’s post read. The broth is replaced with Lipton ice tea; “sipping the tea” being slang for throwing shade or adding snarky commentary.
Later in the episode, Baby Yoda fiddles with the controls on the Mandalorian’s ship, a scene that also became a meme.
Nick Carter joked they were listening to the Backstreet Boys hit “I Want It That Way.”
P.S. #TheMandalorian is INCREDIBLE!! ???????? #BabyYoda #BackstreetBoys https://t.co/AA1iqMkQ33
— Nick Carter (@nickcarter) December 3, 2019
While the YES Network claimed they were tuning into Yankees baseball.
Even Baby Yoda has Yankees baseball on the brain pic.twitter.com/j6aPpFaMNo
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) December 2, 2019
Alex Rodriguez also claimed that Yoda’s is a Yankees fan.
News alert !!!
Baby Yoda is a @YANKEES FAN.
“Games, we shall win. A Jedi’s strength flows from the Pinstripes.” ???????????? pic.twitter.com/cvc9S8lUSW
— Alex Rodriguez (@AROD) December 3, 2019
Also Read: Rian Johnson Had Been 'Holding the Secret' of Baby Yoda in His Heart for Weeks
And you can’t unsee Guy Fieri’s take on the character, complete with bleached blond hair, matching chin strap, and the celebrity chef’s signature backward sunglasses.
Guy Fieri, I am. For America’s greatest Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives I look. pic.twitter.com/tYb5zYvrFs
— Guy Fieri (@GuyFieri) December 2, 2019
Finally, FunnyOrDie addressed the parental feels we get when seeing Baby Yoda.
SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK
- Cyber Monday
- Giving Tuesday
- Drink At Your Desk Wednesday
- Look At Pictures Of Baby Yoda And Start Crying Because You're Worried You'll Never Have Babies Of Your Own Thursday
- Friday
— Funny Or Die (@funnyordie) December 3, 2019
Chapter 5 of “The Mandalorian,” which will surely spawn more memes, will debut Friday on Disney+.
Related stories from TheWrap:
Why Are 'The Mandalorian' Episodes So Short?
When Does 'Star Wars: The Mandalorian' Take Place?
'The Mandalorian' Fans Drag Disney's First Wave of Baby Yoda Merchandise
‘Avengers: Endgame’ and ‘1917’ Among 20 Films to Advance in Oscars VFX Race
“Avengers: Endgame” is in the Oscar game as the Academy on Wednesday released the 20 films that are in contention for the Visual Effects category in the 2020 Oscars race, including Best Picture hopefuls “The Irishman,” “1917” and “Ford v Ferrari.”
A shortlist of 10 films, ahead of the nominees, will be selected from this list of 20 eligible films later this month.
Also appearing on this list are superhero films “Captain Marvel” “Spider-Man: Far from Home,” “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” and “Terminator: Dark Fate”
Also Read:
This is the first of three steps toward an Oscar nod, with this list of 20 being whittled down to 10 and then to the final five nominees. In 2017, 20 films were also initially announced in the visual effects race ahead of the shortlist.
Nominations for the 92st Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2020. Awards will be handed out on Sunday, Feb. 9.
Here’s the full list of potential nominees:
Ad Astra
The Aeronauts
Aladdin
Alita: Battle Angel
Avengers: Endgame
Captain Marvel
Cats
Dumbo
Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
Ford v Ferrari
Gemini Man
The Irishman
Jumanji: The Next Level
The Lion King
Men in Black: International
Midway
1917
Spider-Man: Far from Home
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Terminator: Dark Fate
Related stories from TheWrap:
'The Irishman' Re-Review: Does Martin Scorsese's Epic Feature Play Better on the Small Screen?
'He Liked His Ice Cream': Al Pacino Talks Hoffa's Strange Affinity in 'The Irishman'
'The Irishman': Here's When to Take a Break From Watching 3.5 Hour Epic
‘Soundtrack’ Trailer: Every Song Is a Love Song in Netflix Musical Series (Video)
Netflix released the first trailer for “Soundtrack” on Tuesday, giving a first look at the musical drama series from “Quantico” creator Joshua Safran.
Described as a romantic musical drama that “looks at the love stories connecting a diverse, disparate group of people in contemporary Los Angeles through the music that lives inside their hearts and minds,” the series is set to premiere on Netflix on Dec. 18.
“Every song is a love song,” star Paul James proclaims in the trailer. “Each one of us has a soundtrack, and it tells the story of all we have loved.”
Also Read: 'Mixtape': Paul James to Replace Raul Castillo in Netflix Musical Drama
Originally developed at Fox under the title “Mixtape,” the series stars James, “La La Land” alum Callie Hernandez, Jenna Dewan and “Revenge” star Madeleine Stowe. Robbie Fairchild, Jahmil French, Campbell Scott, Christina Milian, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Megan Ferguson and Evan Whitten also star.
Safran, whose credits also include the NBC musical drama “Smash” and HBO Max’s upcoming “Gossip Girl” series, is writer and executive producer. Ali Krug is co-executive producer, and Annapurna bosses Sue Naegle and Megan Ellison are executive producers.
“Soundtrack” hails from Annapurna Pictures in association with 20th Century Fox Television and Fox 21 Television Studios.
Related stories from TheWrap:
Netflix's 'Messiah' Trailer Asks: Is This a Con Artist or the Second Coming? (Video)
#PayUpHollywood Survey: Majority of Assistants Take Home $500-$900 in Weekly Pay
A survey of Hollywood assistants, led by the #PayUpHollywood movement, found that a majority of respondents make between $500 and $900 a week after taxes and experience depression and anxiety because of their work.
The results, released on Tuesday, were taken from the responses of 1,516 current or former assistants across the entertainment industry. About 69 percent of the respondents identified as women and 78 percent were white.
Almost 73 percent of assistants reported making between $500 and $900 a week after taxes, and 90 percent of assistants said they were “rent-burdened” because of their salary or pay rate. As for yearly salary, roughly 64 percent of respondents said they make less than $50,000 and 68 percent reported having to work a second job “to make ends meet while working as an assistant,” according to the results released on Tuesday.
Also Read: #PayUpHollywood: Former 'Walking Dead' Showrunner Offers Tips on How to Support Underpaid Assistants
Ninety-two percent of respondents said they have felt an increase in anxiety because of their work, while 66 percent reported an increase in feelings of depression. Roughly 24 percent of assistants said they had increased their substance use because of their work. Almost 83 percent said they did not feel comfortable taking time off from work to take care of their mental health.
The assistants also reported being physically threatened at work, with 104 respondents — about 8 percent — claiming that a boss or supervisor had thrown an object — such as a stapler or a chair — at them. Forty percent of respondents said they worked 50-60 hour weeks, while 15 percent reported their hours as being above 60.
“What is astoundingly, pervasively clear is that the Hollywood system and culture is broken,” Liz Alper, a TV writer and co-founder of the #PayUpHollywood movement, wrote on Twitter. “Hollywood did not always negligently add to the income inequality, housing and mental health crises our country is facing. We can and must do better.”
View the survey results here.
Related stories from TheWrap:
#PayUpHollywood: Former 'Walking Dead' Showrunner Offers Tips on How to Support Underpaid Assistants
Harvey Weinstein Made His Assistants Fetch Him Penile Injections
Anita Hill's Hollywood Commission Launches Industry-Wide Workplace Culture Survey
Gal Gadot to Produce Adaptation of Israeli Series ‘Queens’ for Endemol Shine
Gal Gadot will produce a U.S. adaptation of the Israeli crime drama “Queens” for Endemol Shine, the company announced on Tuesday.
The most-watched series of 2018 for the Israeli network HOT, “Queens” follows the women of the Malka family who must band together after all the Malka men are murdered by a rival crime syndicate. Thrust into a life that they did not choose or necessarily want, the women realize they can finally control their own destinies and respond to each other and the world around them as complete individuals, all while trying to stay alive.
Gadot and Jaron Varsano will executive produce the drama via their Pilot Wave banner. Endemol Shine North America and Endemol Shine Israel will produce.
Also Read: 'Justice League': Gal Gadot, Ben Affleck Join Call to #ReleaseTheSnyderCut
“We are so excited to celebrate these women through the ‘Queens’ story. These complex characters are captivating, delightfully funny and emotional. It is rare to find content that conveys characters in such a truthful way, while mirroring society. We are looking forward to bringing their story to the world and working with the Endemol Shine team on this project,” Gadot and Varsano said in a joint statement.
HOT’s Nadav Hanin, Mirit Toovi and Guy Levy, Endemol Shine Israel’s Amir Ganor, Gal Zaid, Ruth Zaid, as well as Endemol Shine North America’s Sharon Levy and Lisa Fahrenholt will also serve as executive producers.
“‘Queens’ is a complex piece about being female in our day in age, and all that goes with that from a family, career and relationship perspective,” Endemol Shine North America’s Levy said. “Watching these women make bold decisions, hilarious mistakes and learn to lean on one another set against a thriller backdrop, gives this show such a unique spirit that we all fell in love with it immediately. It’s gratifying to see a series that treats women with a deft complexity, showcasing that our differences are the strengths that unite us.”
Also Read: TheWrap's Top 100 Portraits of 2018, From Gal Gadot to Spike Lee (Photos)
“Queens is a brilliant story of female empowerment, with comic undertones and larger-than-life, eccentric women at its heart,” Zaid said. “HOT nurtured this show and laid excellent groundwork to ensure its success and I’m absolutely thrilled to evolve the dramatic characters for the U.S. version with Gal, Jaron and the talented team at Endemol Shine North America.”
Related stories from TheWrap:
'Justice League': Gal Gadot, Ben Affleck Join Call to #ReleaseTheSnyderCut
Gal Gadot Calls Out Benjamin Netanyahu for Saying Israel Is for 'Jewish People Only'
'Wonder Woman 1984' Stars Gal Gadot, Chris Pine Re-Create 'Breakfast Club' Poster
Steve Pond's Blog
