#entertainment news bradley cooper

[bodybybane]

John Krasinski on Getting Bradley Cooper, George Clooney, Ryan Reynolds to Join ‘IF’: “Most Yeses of My Career” https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/john-krasinski-getting-bradley-cooper-185558856.html

[hollywoodoutbreak]

Bradley Cooper's new biopic about Leonard Bernstein, Maestro, covers more than 40 years of his life, starting back in the 1940s. Cooper also portrays Bernstein throughout the film, just as Carey Mulligan plays his wife, Felicia, through all of those decades. According to Cooper, covering such a long period of time meant that the production crew had a lot of work to do, in terms of designing authentic looks, sets, and makeup for each of the different periods.

Maestro is currently streaming on Netflix.

[usagoodnews]

Bradley Cooper and Daughter Lea 6 at Maestro Premiere

The actor was joined by his daughter Lea De Seine on the red carpet for the premiere of his latest on-screen film, “Maestro,” on Tuesday night.

Cooper, 48, smiled from ear to ear as he and six-year-old Lea posed for cameras at the Academy of Motion Picture Museum in Los Angeles, California.

[thesinglesjukebox]

LADY GAGA AND BRUNO MARS - "DIE WITH A SMILE"

14 years after "Grenade," Bruno finally found someone who would do the same...

[5.70]

Kayla Beardslee: Hey, when is that Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars collab being released? [5]

Ian Mathers: Mars and Gaga are both skilled at their craft in a way that often seems like a throwback to an earlier era of the art/industry, taking the biggest swings possible in terms of seeking mass appeal without feeling like they're compromising or calculated, talented mimics and style chameleons when they want to be. Working together on a big, heartfelt, suitable-for-all-occasions ballad actually feels perfect along those lines. The result is the kind of sturdily good (or "good," depending on your sensibilities) song that, if it catches you at the right moment in your life, might make you bust out crying. [7]

Joshua Lu: This collaboration would've been unthinkable in 2010; now that their careers have somehow converged, the outcome feels weirdly predictable. The emotional heft, vocal runs, and vague nostalgia are there, even if all it does is fill that "Perfect Duet"-sized hole in pop radio. "Die With a Smile" can't help but feel underwhelming in the context of their career trajectories — the kind of corny balladry that Bruno's outgrown and that Gaga mostly uses just to recapture the general public — but it's impossible to wholly reject when it's this nicely crafted. [6]

Grace Robins-Somerville: Most Obamacore song of 2024, hands down. "Die with a Smile" is this very specific meld of the era when you couldn't go to the supermarket without hearing a Bruno Mars ballad and when Gaga was doing a country pivot (although this is far blander than anything on Joanne). It's been a while since I've heard such blatant Grammy bait. [3]

Jackie Powell: Entertainment Weekly's Joey Nolfi wrote that “Die with a Smile” is a song that recalls “the emotional bravado” of “Shallow,” the Grammy- and Oscar-winning smash from Lady Gaga’s A Star Is Born. He’s correct. “Die With a Smile” thrives upon accented and intentional dynamics while making vague and simple lyrics mean more than it they do on the page. That’s also what made “Shallow” so convincing. The difference on “Die With A Smile” is that Bruno Mars is more Lady Gaga’s equal than Bradley Cooper ever was. Mars has more to sing on a song that has Gaga’s name billed first, but both artists shine without the other having to sacrifice. Gaga’s part, which begins at around a minute and a half until the song's end, transforms this from a Silk Sonic B-side into something that’s much more memorable, emotionally resonant and cinematic. It's a song that makes me wish I had someone to sing it to.  [9]

Katherine St. Asaph: So old-fashioned that YouTube's preroll ad recommended me Botox, and so definitively a Bruno Mars song that I'm genuinely unsure why the credits are in the order they're in. It works, albeit in an unexciting way, because Bruno and Gaga have practiced melodrama for years -- see "I'd take a bullet straight to my brain" and "not even the Gods above can separate the two of us," respectively -- and have also practiced singing pretty then belting big. [7]

Jeffrey Brister: When it comes to Bruno Mars, I want immaculately executed genre pastiche, something that sounds like the past but keeps a thrilling modern affect. Gaga, for all of her artsy subversion and slight avant-garde leanings, has just as much of a traditionalist impulse, if not stronger; under the right circumstances, the results can be explosive. That alchemy is present here: two artists synced up and bringing out the best in each other’s performances. There is absolutely nothing new here, but it’s polished and perfectly executed. I’m a mark for that sort of thing. [7]

Jonathan Bradley: It's not right to say Bruno Mars is so adept with pastiche that he transcends it; pastiche is his artform, his milieu, the genre that this genre artist seeks to perfect. "Die With a Smile" has two ideas: the first being the familiar terrain of the Bruno Mars ballad, and the second being "What if a Bruno Mars ballad was Jeff Buckley?" Even a few years after the 1994 release of Grace, pop music seemed like it only had room in its past for an artist like Buckley: a soulful and beautiful singer-songwriter who leaned toward rock-god charisma rather than folkish introspection. Mars has Buckley's swooning fragility as well as his stormy squalls of guitar, but for all that Buckley represented the last of something, he never sounded like he was going over someone else's territory. That fundamentally does not work for Mars's attempt to recreate the sound; navigating someone else's territory is Mars's entire point. If "Die With a Smile" has a third idea, it's the addition of Lady Gaga, who is herself no stranger to pastiche (see the Madonna-isms of "Born This Way," the heartland rock of "You and I," or the way she slipped effortlessly into the Hollywood prestige turn that was "Shallow"). Here, she delivers only competence, as if she'd been asked to sing backup on a new recording of "When I Was Your Man" and found out at the last moment that the assignment had changed. [5]

Harlan Talib Ockey: Once you get past the surprise of "Die With a Smile" being a Jeff Buckley impression, it's remarkably insubstantial. "If the world was ending I'd wanna be next to you" sounds clunky and hyper-literal next to, say, "I'd catch a grenade for you". At least the harmonies are nice. [4]

Iain Mew: Bruno Mars's progression makes it a fruitful idea to go back and invert "Grenade" from a distance. Back then, he took the prospect of death as an opportunity to bitterly prove his unmatched love. Now he meets no less than the end of the world with smooth certainty that it's a chance for mutual togetherness. Lady Gaga's way with projecting intensity and sincerity in the most extreme contexts makes her the perfect foil, and for two lines after she comes in, it's transcendent. Then Mars comes back in, and not only is there not enough space for Gaga to shine, there's barely any space at all. Maybe the old anxiety hadn't gone away completely after all. [7]

Alfred Soto: Bruno Mars hasn't sounded this convincing a love man in years, if ever. Too convincing: Gaga is a backup singer on her own single. Mars sure would fuck himself if he could. [5]

Wayne Weizhen Zhang: Someone pointed out recently how absurd it is that Lady Gaga's Twitter bio is literally advertising for the HBO Chromatica Ball special, Haus Labs cosmetics, Joker: Folie à Deux, and now "Die with a Smile." That sums up my feelings toward this entry into the Gaga canon: random and indicating a certain directionlessness—or perhaps overdirection?—in her career. She sounds great, and the bridge is perfect TikTok fodder, but she and Bruno Mars sound like they have as much sexual chemistry as brother and sister.  [4]

TA Inskeep: Mars and Gaga sound nice enough together, but there’s no frisson, no spark; they’re just two famous singers, singing a duet for you to stream and buy.  [5]

Scott Mildenhall: To the song's great benefit, the annihilatory proposition is underblown. Instead, its precise lilt is folded and finessed throughout, heading hither and thither without over-accelerating or escalating. It's a fine balance between ostentation and undulation. There's minimal vocal chemistry, but the blend is happening elsewhere. [7]

Hannah Jocelyn: I was with family over the weekend, and my brother asked “who is this??” like it was two stunning new artists on their debut single. Upon learning it was Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, his excitement dissipated. Only Andrew Watt could make two of pop’s best vocalists sound anonymous (don’t get me started on that weightless drum sound he's inexplicably made his signature). I can’t tell where Gaga ends and Bruno begins, which is a horrible mental image. [5]

Taylor Alatorre: The drums treat every other measure like it's a climax because the entire song, or more precisely its billing, is one undifferentiated climax. Which means no build-up, no peaks or valleys, no memorable grooves or meaningful sense of release. It's just those two names together on a lighted marquee, a chart-watcher fanfic straight out of 2012, What Could Be measuring short against What Must Be, which in this case is the greatest common denominator of softer-than-talcum piano balladry. At least "Grenade" had cartoon bloodletting on its side, and "Shallow" had the benefit of context. "Die with a Smile" reaches for that old doomsday rhetoric out of sheer reflex, even when the prophesized end is painted in washed-out watercolors, like a dream whose outlines dissipate five seconds after waking. Andrew Watt's approach to retromania is less playful than the Smeezingtons' was, but also strangely less reverent, since if you truly revere the music of the past then you don't try to half-seriously Mandela effect yourself into its hit parade. [2]

Nortey Dowuona: Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga getting to coast by cornering the market on having both vocal talent and a modicum of charisma -- you know, the old-fashioned model -- would be frustrating, but at least Watt's patient hand is keeping this over there next to the white Broadway crowd. Anything but more Bruno funk. [7]

Mark Sinker: Obviously I want to claim I’m only onboard with Bruno as a project at last thanks to Gaga’s in-video cigarette — casually centred, disgustingly compelling — but I have to admit it’s something entirely more wholesome: the actual topic, the actual melody, the actual delivery! He got me in the end! (Also, I like thinking of him as a little monster. He is a little monster….)  [8]

Jacob Sujin Kuppermann: Would be a [6] with flipped Mars-Gaga ratio, but even then this would not quite get to the force of melodrama that would allow it to reach exit velocity and escape the great and depressing middle ground of tasteful 20th-century pop pastiche. These two have taken enough stabs at staid, boring pop songs for all occasions that they have become the legacy acts they once aspired toward and collaborated with. Good for them; bad for us. [4]

Kristen S. Hé: As much as I wish this Venn diagram had produced something more adventurous, it's arguably harder to write a song like this -- one that'll probably be on radio rotation for decades, and that I'll never object to hearing in any context. I've often found Bruno's schtick cloying and insincere, but here, I'd believe it even without Gaga's added star power. Bruno, please stay in this lane forever. (Gaga, please don't!) [7]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox]

[agentnico]

IF (2024) review

Seems like John Krasinski wanted to apologise to his kids after scarring them for life with A Quiet Place.

Plot: After discovering she can see everyone's imaginary friends, a girl embarks on a magical adventure to reconnect forgotten imaginary friends with their kids.

One must ponder the question WHAT IF John Krasinski decided to make a good movie? Okay, that’s harsh, but in all seriousness IF isn’t a great film. About 30 minutes into watching this, I realized it wasn't going to have the broad, universal appeal of many films in this genre. It's extremely sad in parts, and then shifts to total silliness, then back to sad again. Films can be a lot of things at different times, but it was sort of whiplash here going from silly to sad and back again. As such it begs the question who this movie is intended for? Naturally one would think children as it’s got goofy imaginary characters and a lot of slapstick and stupid jokes, but then there are genuinely depressing and hard-hitting moments where it seems to connect more with adults and their traumatic experiences. The film suffers a huge identity crisis that is its primary downfall.

Also IF is boring. The plot just sort of wanders and things happen that bear no purpose towards progressing the primary narrative. The characters are also poorly written without, dare I say, much imagination, with Cailey Fleming as the little girl protagonist being extremely monotone and lifeless, and for someone who’s supposed to be inspiring and helping these imaginary friends find a new home, she lacks any energy to motivate. I recall she was way more likeable and charismatic as Judith Grimes in The Walking Dead and it’s not like that show is known for great writing, especially in the later seasons, yet there she left much more of an impression than in this film. Ryan Reynolds is enjoying his cool uncle era, yet even he felt really restrained here. Like it is still Reynolds doing his shtick, but it was missing something which I can’t put my finger on. As for the imaginary friends themselves, there are lots of voice cameos featured throughout, but again not many of these creatures actually had that memorable of a personality. Steve Carell is trying his upmost best as the big purple fluff that’s walked out of Monsters Inc., but I was finding him irritating more than anything. Of the more amusing ones there was Richard Jenkins as an Art Teacher and he has the most delightful voice, Bradley Cooper as a glass of ice which I found more entertaining than I should have, and Sam Rockwell as a superhero dog deserves a movie of his own. And again why the hell is Awkwafina in this? She’s voiced characters in like a gazillion animations in the last decade but her voice is so grading.

Usually I would admit to not being the right target audience for a movie that’s billed as for children, however in this case I feel the movie doesn’t really fit for anyone per se. It does seem that John Krasinski works best when there’s less dialogue like with his spectacular horror A Quiet Place, yet here IF seems to miss the mark. I’m certain this is done with good intentions, and maybe I’m being overly cynical here, but IF does not paint a solid case for imaginary friends.

Overall score: 3/10

[medusasbush]

read december 2023

The end of business-class A.I. doomerism

Nerd culture is murdering intellectuals

What A.I. art spiral images tell us about A.I. (and art)

you have literally one job: the new taylor swift beat fails to meet the moment

Person of the Year 2023: Taylor Swift

PERSPECTIVES: It was a disappointing year to be a Swiftie

Taylor Swift Film Is Being Screened in Israel, Contrary to Online Post

Taylor Swift, Fatphobia, and Me

Taylor Swift's private jets have spent over 166 hours crisscrossing the US during the singer's colossal Eras tour

Streaming Services Hate This One Weird Trick

How Netflix Built a $200B Business on Reality Shows and Docuseries. A Statistical Analysis

One good TikTok therapist

YouTube Plagiarism and Generation Loss

Some news orgs burnish their brands by giving AI the cold shoulder

Most readers want publishers to label AI-generated articles — but trust outlets less when they do

There Aren’t Too Many Endings in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’

2023: the year culture reached peak nostalgia

The culture is suffering with relatability fatigue

The X-Files script that was too bleak to air

What's the one thing we all hate but can't stop doing?

switching to a "dumb" phone made me feel pretty dang smart

The friendship problem

The 20 Biggest Myths in Hollywood and the Entertainment Industry Right Now

The Rise, Fall, and (Slight) Rise of DVDs. A Statistical Analysis

Tech doesn’t make our lives easier. It makes them faster

Building a village with Philippa Young

The year of Ozempic bodies and Barbie Botox

"deeping it" manifesto: on memes, mimetic desire, and why it's always really that deep.

No, Studying Marx Is Not Elitist

Let Bradley Cooper’s Maestro Be the Death of the Biopic

The World’s Best City Is Online: On Community & the Commercialization of Space

Why the internet isn't fun anymore + A.I. and magic

The Cult of Color Analysis

The only thing we can talk now about is celebrities

sunday energy #45: abolish celebrity

Stigmatize Glitter

Facebook Is Being Overrun With Stolen, AI-Generated Images That People Think Are Real

Twitter Now Showing Ads For Nonconsensual 'AI Undress' Apps

Twitter Is Just Running Ads for Stealing Semen Now

Nobody Knows What’s Happening Online Anymore

The Year Millennials Aged Out of the Internet

If I was an evil techbro…

Media Literacy By the Glass🍷

Hate Speech as Laissez Faire Economics

On Substack Nazis, laissez-faire tech regulation, and mouse-poop-in-cereal-boxes

[zumpietoo]

So this guy can attend a variety event but not a picket line😎(what even is it for? Aren’t all the entertainment events kind of non grata at the moment because of the strike?)

Also funny about the Taylor concert. Only because it’s hilarious that they were hosted by Spotify. Like certain celebrities Taylor herself interacted with, sending them gifts or letters before the show. Like for instance Alicia keys son got a handwritten letter and then Taylor posed for a pic backstage with them. SMG a couple weeks ago got a copy of SN and a handwritten note about how Taylor couldn’t wait to see her at the show. Nothing to Lili or her new faux Cole. Because Taylor doesn’t care. Which is doubly hilarious because Lili presented Taylor with one of her VMAs last august. It’s kind of funny honestly. 

im also not sure why we’re supposed to think this loser liking Taylor and or wearing a Taylor shirt is… something? Like this Guy is acting he’s the only guy who wears Taylor mercy and goes to her shows. There’s a thousand straight non famous men wearing her merch and ddsssinv up. And as for actual famous men, sweetie, Realnobody Jack, z Bradley Cooper went to her show and bought a shirt and was walking around nyc wearing it. Channing Tantum drew a heart on his face and danced with his daughter. I don’t know why he is acting like he’s a straight guy wearing a shirt Of hers Is something. Also my boyfriend would wear a legit one, not one that was an Etsy fan made one.

You are glorious and I’m fucking dying.....all totally correct, BTW

[jedivoodoochile]

Eddie signed this check in 1982 to Warner Brothers for 3 gold and 2 platinum records. He and his bandmates had to reimburse the record company for their own Gold and Platinum records...$105 for each record...

Van Halen had an office at 6525 Sunset blvd., which is home to the famous Hollywood Athletic Club since 1924. The tower (which houses office space) was the tallest structure in Los Angeles when it opened on New Years Eve in 1924. The club fell into disrepair later on and had been on the market for 8 years before concert promoter and investor Gary Berwin purchased the club in 1978 and set about the huge task of restoring the building to its former grandeur.

The Berwin Entertainment Complex quickly became popular with the jet set and celebrities. Some of the famous tenants included the Beach Boys, VAN HALEN, Jose Feliciano, Island Records, and Baby-O Recording Studios. The list of celebrities who visited the building include Priscilla Presley, Lisa-Marie Presley, members of the Michael Jackson family, Steven Spielberg, Muhammad Ali (a regular visitor and friend), Mayor Tom Bradley, Sally Field, Princess Stephanie, Dudley Moore, Michael J Fox, Prince Mashour ben Saud of Saudi Arabia, Madonna, Rodney Dangerfield, Melanie Griffith, Lesley Ann Down, Jon Voigt, Paul Newman, George Lucas, Jaclyn Smith, Jane Fonda, Alice Cooper, Julio Iglesias, Stevie Wonder, Billy Crystal, Shirley McLane, and Gov. Jerry Brown.

[hughmanrights]

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 film review

Director(s):

James Gunn

Main cast:

Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Sean Gunn, Maria Bakalova, Chukwudi Iwuji, Elizabeth Debecki, Will Poulter and Sylvester Stallone.

Runtime: 150 minutes.

Does it pass the Bechdel test? Yes

Basic Plot:

The Guardians go on a dangerous mission to help one of their own. Past traumas are confronted and new paths are set for the Guardians.

Overall Thoughts:

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3. is another Marvel Masterpiece. The special effects, costumes, story and acting are all excellent. Themes of trauma, belonging, family, change and responsibility are explored heavily in this film. Additionally, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 explores the cruelties of animal testing. Although this film is great, the director and some of the cast members have been accused of inappropriate and disturbing past behaviors. Director James Gunn was temporarily fired from Marvel for past problematic tweets. Chris Pratt is a member of an anti-LGBT church. There are several historical allegations of sexual assault against Sylvester Stallone. Despite these controversies, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is an entertaining film and a satisfying swan song for James Gunn’s career at Marvel.

Overall rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars.

[burned-lariat]

Boy this years Nurse's Ball better be good. Despite GH knowing how to do it up big, that doesn't mean all these coinciding stories that will take place before/during/after the Ball will present any kind of "entertainment". Sure there will be surprises but... The bar is set real low, C&D I'm looking at you bastids.

Mostly looking forward to Tracy making an appearance and Epiphany's tribute. I miss Monica/Leslie.

Dead weight: Cody, Esme, Eileen, The Bensons; Millow, Jex, Crew. None of the characters can't even fill in on a filler episode. F is for FAIL! Convince me Fiz is dead and never to return.

Now with that said I saw a clip of Jordan and Finn. Got my Jovan vibes tingling. If Finn stops being a weirdo long enough, I could go for it. And I want to see Chase flip out at Finn dating his boss. Lol ya know actual entertainment.

I need moreQuartermaine family drama (again minus Millow), Selina Wu and Bradley Cooper (more Wus in general) Turi, TJ, Sante and Sprina, Taggert and my ChayLynn (...buffering atm)

Ship name for Austin and Ava?

Ava and Trina are headed for a rough patch. I can't handle the utter thought 🥺😭

The only way I will tolerate little man Michael Corinthis (Quartermaine who?) is if he turns to the dark side. No Jaaon wannabe, but a good guy turned bad because of his fake vendetta against Sonny blowing up in his face and take his little sidekick Joss too. Replace Dex as the Jason prototype we didn't ask for and get this party started. Carly can go sit in a corner and bake imaginary brownies that nobody asked for cause she's been taking lessons from Bobby in secret that we care not to know about. Hansel and Gretel anyone? These kids Wiley and Amelia, better make like Michael and Janet and Scream! lol.

I'd love to see a good story being told without to much of the repeated copy and paste tactics from C&D. The advantage of a serial soap opera is you get more room to explore different types of stories without the limitations of a regular tv series. The last 7 years have not been spectacular for GH. There's not been a "good run" or an era to mark quality soap writing.

Most of the characters are too two-dimensional and inconsistent with the inconvenience of bad writing/retcons.

Which beleved character(s) would you like to make a brief return to shake things up for 2023?

Make it make sense.

1-800-FFS-GH23 🤣 put in a prayer

Considering that cast photo, my expectations are very low for the NB.

Same! And hopefully we see Monica soon!

Agreed. And unfortunately for us, it doesn't seem like the writers will be giving up on Fiz anytime soon 😓

Honestly, keep Dex as the "New Jason." I don't need more Michael, I need less. I need less Benson everything (Bobbie can stay tho).

Absolutely! Or if you reuse a soap trope, put a new spin on it! Mix characters that haven't mixed and let them take the charge.

I'd love to see Brenda & her son as well as the Scorpio-Drakes come back!

[getbudslegalize]

The Best Netflix Stoner Movies and Shows to Watch In Your High Time

The Best Netflix Stoner Movies to Watch In Your High Time

Are you looking for some fun and relaxing stoner movies to watch on Netflix? Whether you're celebrating 420, having a chill night with your friends, or just want to enjoy some quality entertainment while you're high, we've got you covered. In this blog post, we'll share some of the Best Netflix Stoner Movies that will make you laugh, think, and maybe even learn something new. From classic comedies to secret stoner movies, from trippy documentaries to stoner shows, there's something for everyone on this list. So grab your popcorn, light up your joint, and get ready for some of the best Netflix stoner movies to watch in your high time.

The Best Funny Movies to Watch Stoned on Netflix

If you're looking for some fun to watch high on Netflix, you've come to the right place. Here are some funny movies to watch high on Netflix: 1. Pineapple Express (2008): - 6,9/10

This hilarious action-comedy stars Seth Rogen and James Franco as two stoners who get caught up in a drug war after witnessing a murder. The movie is full of weed jokes, crazy chases, and hilarious situations that will keep you entertained from start to finish. Regia: David Gordon Green Sceneggiatura: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Judd Apatow Star: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Gary Cole VM14 1h 51min 2. Superbad (2007): - 7,6/10

This classic teen comedy follows two best friends, Seth and Evan, who are about to graduate from high school and want to lose their virginity before college. They plan to attend a party where they hope to hook up with their crushes, but things go wrong when they have to deal with a fake ID, a pair of incompetent cops, and a drunken friend. The movie is full of raunchy humor, awkward moments, and hilarious dialogue that will make you laugh till you cry. Regia: Greg Mottola Sceneggiatura: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg Star: Michael Cera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse VM14 1h 53min 3. The Hangover (2009): - 7,7/10

This blockbuster comedy follows four friends who travel to Las Vegas for a bachelor party, but wake up the next morning with no memory of what happened the night before. They have to retrace their steps and find their missing friend while dealing with a tiger, a baby, a stripper, and Mike Tyson. The movie is a wild and unpredictable ride that will keep you guessing and laughing. Regia: Todd Phillips Sceneggiatura: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore Star: Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper, Justin Bartha T 1h 40min 4. Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008): - 6,5/10

This raunchy comedy stars Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks as two broke friends who decide to make a porn movie to pay their bills. However, things get complicated when they realize that they have feelings for each other. The movie is full of crude jokes, awkward situations, and heartwarming moments that will make you root for the unlikely couple. Regia: Kevin Smith Sceneggiatura: Kevin Smith Star: Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Craig Robinson VM14 1h 41min 5. Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny (2006): - 6,8/10

This musical comedy stars Jack Black and Kyle Gass as two aspiring rockers who form a band called Tenacious D. They embark on a quest to find a legendary guitar pick that will give them the power to rock the world. The movie is full of hilarious songs, absurd adventures, and cameo appearances by famous musicians. Regia: Liam Lynch Sceneggiatura: Jack Black, Kyle Gass, Liam Lynch Star: Jack Black, Kyle Gass, JR Reed VM14 1h 34min 6. The Legend of Cocaine Island (2018): - 6,9/10

This documentary comedy follows Rodney Hyden, a Florida businessman who hears a story about a hidden stash of cocaine worth millions on a Caribbean island. He decides to recruit a team of misfits and go on a treasure hunt to find the drugs. The movie is full of twists, turns, and laughs as it shows how far some people will go for a dream. Regi: Theo Love Star: Bo Butterworth, Bri Bryant, Edward Craig TV-MA 1h 23min 7. Special Correspondents (2016): - 5,9/10

This satirical comedy stars Ricky Gervais and Eric Bana as two journalists who fake their own kidnapping in Ecuador to boost their careers. However, they have to deal with the consequences when their hoax goes viral and they become the center of attention. The movie is full of witty humor, social commentary, and hilarious situations that will make you think and laugh. Regia: Ricky Gervais Sceneggiatura: Ricky Gervais, Jacques Labib, Simon Michaël Star: Ricky Gervais, Eric Bana, Vera Farmiga TV-MA 1h 41min 8. Mac & Devin Go to High School (2012): - 6,9/10

This stoner comedy stars Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa as two unlikely friends who bond over weed at their high school. Mac is a 15-year senior who has never graduated, while Devin is a valedictorian who has never smoked. They decide to help each other out by teaching each other about life and weed. The movie is full of weed references, funny scenes, and catchy songs that will make you groove. Regia: Dylan C. Brown Sceneggiatura: Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Pooky Brown Star: Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Mike Epps R 1h 15min 9. Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics (2020): - 6,9/10

This documentary comedy features celebrities like Sting, Sarah Silverman, Nick Kroll, and more sharing their stories and insights about psychedelic drugs. The movie is full of animations, reenactments, and humor that will make you learn and laugh about the effects of psychedelics on the mind and culture. Regia: Donick Cary Sceneggiatura: Donick Cary Star: Nick Offerman, Sting, A$AP Rocky VM14 1h 25min 10. Reefer Madness (2005) : - 6,9/10

This cult classic is a parody of the 1936 propaganda film that warned about the dangers of marijuana. The movie follows a group of teenagers who fall victim to the evil weed and end up in a spiral of madness, murder, and mayhem. The movie is full of over-the-top acting, ridiculous scenarios, and musical numbers that will make you laugh at the absurdity of it all. Regia: Andy Fickman Sceneggiatura: Kevin Murphy, Read the full article

[hollywoodoutbreak]

Bradley Cooper's second directorial effort, "Maestro" -- a biopic about Leonard Bernstein -- has earned him rave reviews as both an actor and a director, including Golden Globe nominations for Best Drama Motion Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor in a Drama Motion Picture. Cooper also co-wrote the film's screenplay with Josh Singer. One thing he wanted to make as authentic as possible was the late conductor's relationship with his wife -- played in the film by Carey Mulligan -- and Cooper told us they did a lot of research into the Bernsteins' relationship to get it just right.

Maestro is currently streaming on Netflix.

[sobercentre]

Fame carries along a thrill that most people would yarn for, a stroke of the ego that gives you that ‘on top of the world’ feeling. Yes, it does have its perks, such as adoration, attention, wealth, special treatment, doors to new opportunities, and confidence but all these come at a price (substance abuse). Most celebrities today would trade their spotlight for just a day as an average middle-class person, the mundane life. This is because once the spotlight is on, it never leaves; fame comes at the expense of your privacy due to public scrutiny. The constant pressure of perfection develops gradually and before you know it, you lose the simple pleasures of life like going for an uninterrupted stroll, shopping at the mall, quiet family dinners at a fancy restaurant or something as mundane as reading your favorite book at a park becomes a nightmare – well unless you own the park. More often than not, you are either ditching the paparazzi, denouncing a rumor on the tabloids, or even filing for a restraining order against a stalker. You also get to notice the fake friends that always tag along with you. Seen the pattern yet? This kind of lifestyle tends to take a toll on an individual and provoke them to seek a coping mechanism. A window that has led many high-profile individuals, especially in the art and entertainment industries, into substance abuse and addiction. This is evidenced by a Study published in 2016 on Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy which confirmed there have been about 300 substance abuse-related celebrity deaths recorded between 1970 and 2015. Of this number, 38.6% were musicians, 23.2% were actors, and the remaining shared between artists from other fields and writers. Moreover, numerous artists have come out and confessed their battle with addiction and alcoholism over the years. From Robert Downey Jr. alias Iron Man to Demi Lovato, Bradley Cooper, Drew Barrymore, Ben Affleck, Keith Urban, and Amber Valletta, the list is endless. On that note, this article will look into Zac Efron drug addiction. Zac Efron’s confession about alcohol and cocaine addiction It was only a few years ago that Zachery David Alexander Efron, a mainstream television star publicly opened up about his battle with alcoholism and cocaine addiction. The now 35-year-old American actor had his television debut in the early 2000s in a show called Firefly which earned him a leading role in the High School Musicals as Troy Bolton; a position which rose him to fame and opportunities. Efron has featured in Hairspray which premiered in 2007, 17 Again (2009), New Year’s Eve (2011), The Lucky One (2012), and swiftly transitioned into leading adult roles such as in the Neighbors (2014), Dirty Grandpa (2016) and much more – including a Netflix documentary titled Down To Earth With Zac Efron which won him the Daytime Emmy Award. When did addiction begin? With such an accomplished acting career, Efron disclosed the pressure it put on his life – balancing between his 16-hour-a-day work schedule, media intrusion, and his personal life. It was all too much. “I had done films back-to-back-to-back. I was burned out. Something was lacking; some sort of hole that I couldn’t really fill up. I was just so deep into my work; it was really the only thing I had.” ~ Efron told a Hollywood reporter in an interview. He was constantly stressed out and sought comfort in alcohol and drugs. In addition, Efron was in fear of being in the public eye which made him give up some of his hobbies too. This way, he was left isolated and could hardly notice his growing cocaine addiction and alcoholism which led him to implicitly take some time out for treatment in 2013, after which he disclosed was in rehab. He further expounded, “I mean, you’re in your 20s, single, going through life in Hollywood, “ added Efron, “everything is thrown at you. I wouldn’t take anything back. I needed to learn everything I did.” He further narrated how he would Google his name to see what others’ perceptions of him were.

After his confession, Efron felt a weight lift off his chest because no matter how hard he tried to hide his addiction, the truth always catches up and he decided to face it head-on. How did Efron recover? Addiction recovery is a progressive journey that continues way after rehab. Zac Efron developed a structure of life through his recovery journey. As he puts it, “What I found is structure that led me to a balance of opposites. You get out of life what you put in.” He joined the Alcoholics Anonymous group which helped him through his new life of purpose and even embarked on surfing and skateboarding – his hobbies. Course of action Efron was not the first, and neither will he be the last of his kind to fall into the trap of drug abuse and addiction. However, all is not lost. From the many elite figures who’ve spoken up, their confessions can be used to sensitize the upcoming generation on matters of fame and drug addiction. If at all anything can be done to help new famous personalities get some skin in the game, it would be to raise awareness and adapt coping mechanisms to help deal with stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness, and emotions. Therapy can also go a long way to ease the transformation process. Self-monitoring would keep one alert to their social habits and note a potential problem slowly unfolding. Further expound on the stages of alcoholism to know when you, or a loved one, needs professional help. Whether a diagnosed addict or not, enroll in an AA meeting to meet like-minded individuals and personalities who have been down the road of addiction and recovery. It always helps to know you are not alone and others have succeeded in fighting this disease. Lastly, always practice self-care. At the end of a busy day, take some time off to eat a nutritious meal, relax, meditate and take care of yourself.

[bcoopr]

❊ BRADLEY COOPER ( he/him ) is a FORTY NINE year old ACTOR, living in LOS ANGELES, CA. Bradley is currently ENGAGED and identifies as HETEROSEXUAL.

Below are basic connections for Bradley. If you see a connection you want, please just let me know!

*not the real bradley. everything on this blog is purely fictional for entertainment purposes only.

—— romantic. ❜

partner: CATERINA SCORSONE

flirtationship.

one night stand.

one sided romance.

friends with benefits.

rebound.

blind date.

possible match.

forbidden romance.

exes on good terms.

exes on bad terms.

tinder match.

first love.

love / hate.

unrequited crush.

celebrity crush.

previously friendzoned.

summer romance.

enemies with benefits.

childhood crush / lover.

one leads the other on.

publicity partner.

one night stand or fling that was regretted later.

—— platonic connections. ❜

best friends: ADAM BRODY

close friends.

confidants.

bromance.

role model.

ride or die.

childhood friends.

drunk friends.

online friends.

secret friends.

enemies to friends.

wing(wo)men.

squad.

sibling like friends.

platonic soulmates.

friends over holiday.

unlikely friends.

positive influence.

seem like a married couple.

former lovers to friends.

new friends, aka friends who just met.

—— family connections. ❜

baby mama: IRINA SHAYK, CATERINA SCORSONE

family friends.

siblings.

cousins.

long lost half sibling.

step siblings.

divorced partners.

in laws.

children: LEA AND WILLOW COOPER. ELIZA, PIPPA AND LUCKY GILES

—— negative connections. ❜

enemies.

former (best) friends.

fell for the same person & fought over them.

lifelong enemies.

frenemies.

share a secret.

rivals, direct opposition.

negative influence.

mutual jealousy.

competition.

current lover’s ex, former lover’s current partner.

have mutual friends but don’t get along.

—— miscellaneous. ❜

neighbors on good terms.

neighbors on bad terms.

have mutual friends.

an artist’s muse.

ex roommates.

professional relations.

project partners/co-workers.

band members.

fitness buddies.

game together online.

babysitter and parent.

best friend’s family.

friends of a sibling.

[brcoop]

❊ BRADLEY COOPER ( he/him ) is a FORTY NINE year old ACTOR, living in NEW YORK, NY. Bradley is currently SINGLE and identifies as HETEROSEXUAL.

Below are basic connections for Bradley. If you see a connection you want, please just let me know!

*not the real bradley. everything on this blog is purely fictional for entertainment purposes only.

—— romantic. ❜

partner.

flirtationship.

one night stand.

one sided romance.

friends with benefits.

rebound.

blind date.

possible match.

forbidden romance.

exes on good terms: IRINA SHAYK

exes on bad terms.

tinder match.

first love.

love / hate.

unrequited crush.

celebrity crush.

previously friendzoned.

summer romance.

enemies with benefits.

childhood crush / lover.

one leads the other on.

publicity partner.

one night stand or fling that was regretted later.

—— platonic connections. ❜

best friends.

close friends.

confidants.

bromance.

role model.

ride or die.

childhood friends.

drunk friends.

online friends.

secret friends.

enemies to friends.

wing(wo)men.

squad.

sibling like friends.

mentees.

platonic soulmates.

friends over holiday.

unlikely friends.

positive influence.

seem like a married couple.

former lovers to friends.

new friends, aka friends who just met.

—— family connections. ❜

baby mama: IRINA SHAYK

family friends.

siblings.

cousins.

long lost half sibling.

step siblings.

divorced partners.

in laws.

step children.

children: LEA COOPER

—— negative connections. ❜

enemies.

former (best) friends.

fell for the same person & fought over them.

lifelong enemies.

frenemies.

share a secret.

rivals, direct opposition.

negative influence.

mutual jealousy.

competition.

current lover’s ex, former lover’s current partner.

have mutual friends but don’t get along.

—— miscellaneous. ❜

neighbors on good terms.

neighbors on bad terms.

have mutual friends.

an artist’s muse.

ex roommates.

professional relations.

project partners/co-workers.

band members.

fitness buddies.

game together online.

babysitter and parent.

best friend’s family.

friends of a sibling.

[fictionz]

New Fiction 2024 - March

Dark Disciple by Christie Golden (2015)

I couldn't binge SW without going to the library like the old days to grab one of the recent EU novels. This one continues the Asajj Ventress arc that was cut from the final Clone Wars seasons, and I'm ambivalent about the course of events. But it looks like I chose the perfect time to read it because the final season of The Bad Batch will address things that annoyed me about the ending.

Cathedral by Michael A. Martin & Andy Mangels (2002)

It was feeling a bit shaky in the previous novel (This Gray Spirit) with a lot of time spent on less interesting nuance, but this novel saves this short series by trimming off the expositional fat and keeping up the pace. The cliffhanger ending was fantastic and I've been jittery waiting until I can move on to the next one.

Moby-Dick; or, The Whale by Herman Melville (1851)

Herman, pal, I know what you were going for with the middle 2/3 of this book, but that really should've been a standalone expansion. Tolkien (or maybe his editors) knew to leave that to its own thing. In any case, WHAT A BOOK. How is this from the mid-1800s? Great beginning, great ending, interesting middle for those who can get through the instructional texts on whales and whaling.

"leave your laundry on the floor for them" by Pocketss (2024)

It's good to recycle.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor dev. Respawn Entertainment (2023)

I miss some of the more alien environments from the first game. They definitely borrowed spaghetti western cues from Mandalorian for this, and you see below how much I gripe about that show's influence. Cal's still kind of a dud. But it's great overall. What a fun, huge, expensive-looking game. How does any SW developer going forward beat this?!

Drive-Away Dolls dir. Ethan Coen (2024)

It's reaching out toward those 90s crime comedies the Coens had going, but just kinda falls short. I can't put a finger on what exactly is missing. Maybe it doesn't go far enough?

Madame Web dir. S.J. Clarkson (2024)

One of those laugh-at-the-dialogue-that-isn't-meant-to-be-funny affairs.

Perfect Days dir. Wim Wenders (2024)

I've over the moon for this movie. Just perfect in every way. I felt it in my bones, watched it ten times at theaters all over the area as I chased down showtimes, and I'll gladly watch it again.

The Peasants dir. DK Welchman & Hugh Welchman (2024)

Holy crap, I missed Loving Vincent but this makes me wanna go and check that out, because this animation technique is gorgeous. All of the performances were great, too.

Stopmotion dir. Robert Morgan (2024)

Stopmotion, puppets, horror, madness. It's a perfect combination.

The Taste of Things dir. Tran Anh Hung (2024)

I haven't seen food shot this beautifully since Food Wars.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training dir. Haruo Sotozaki (2024)

Never watched an episode before and I can say that was a helluva fight.

Maestro dir. Bradley Cooper (2023)

Man, I mean, he did it, he sure damn did it, but should he have?

Land of Bad dir. William Eubank (2024)

When the shit hits the fan.

Imaginary dir. Jeff Wadlow (2024)

I was in from the get-go, but it did need a certain something. Maybe 25% more creepy toys.

Love Lies Bleeding dir. Rose Glass (2024)

You'll think you know where it's going but it does not go there.

The American Society of Magical Negroes dir. Kobi Libii (2024)

Justice Smith and An-Li Bogan did amazing work in The American Society of Magical Negroes. Everyone in the cast and crew, really, but they portrayed a lot of complicated feelings and fears with aplomb and also had a really sweet romantic scene that got to me like no romantic scene in recent memory. I fell for Bogan’s character just like Smith’s character did. (And they respond to that by the end.)

Shayda dir. Noora Niasari (2023)

Scheming and plotting to convince my higher-ups to cast Zar Amir Ebrahimi in any of our projects because I just wanna see her cast in more stuff.

One Life dir. James Hawes (2023)

More than most of us.

Problemista dir. Julio Torres (2024)

When there's no choice but to suffer and no one will understand.

Luca dir. Enrico Casarosa (2021)

Oh, this is just The Little Mermaid retold (affectionate).

Late Night with the Devil dir. Cameron Cairnes & Colin Cairnes (2024)

They needed more insanity and a higher frequency of it.

Immaculate dir. Michael Mohan (2024)

Whoa BUDDY, props to Sweeney for going for it in the end.

Exhuma dir. Jang Jae Hyun (2024)

I feel like I'm missing a critical cultural understanding here to get past my tepid response.

Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 dir. Rhys Frake-Waterfield (2024)

I didn't need to do this again.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire dir. Adam Wingard (2024)

Closing in on minimal humans and maximum giant monsters.

The Bad Batch - Season 2 (2023)

Yep, nailed it. They have great character moments here and it continues the tradition of "oh the clones are more interesting than most everyone else."

Andor (2022)

First half is two thumbs up, second half is one shaky thumb up. Big Mandalorian vibes with the whole return from whence you came narrative arc. I'd like to see them break away from Favreau's influence (I unfairly pin the live action ups and downs on him).

The Mandalorian - Season 3 (2023)

It's getting weird with the father figure thing. And it's befuddling when one has to catch a different show to understand key beats in Mandalorian and Grogu's story. Hype status for more seasons is low.

Ahsoka (2023)

The get-togethers are fun, but it meanders a bit and the ending was a headscratcher. Great combat and Star Wars-iness though. I'd come back for more with a hopeful glint in my eye.

Star Wars Resistance (2018-2020)

They could've had something good here, but they really whiffed most of season 1. It starts to get good at the end of s1 and maybe through half of s2, but then they seemed to tie things up hastily when they knew they were getting cancelled. Can't recommend. :(

Tales of the Jedi (2022)

Anthology Star Wars?! Anthology Star Wars!! They make me care about characters from the movies that meant nothing to me, as is Filoni and co's way.

Star Wars: Visions (2021-2023)

MORE anthology Star Wars?!! And "Screecher's Reach" in the second season kinda wrecked me. Just typing this out makes me think of it again and the tears well. It's from the Secret of Kells studio and it's just a phenomenal short. Both anthology shows are must-watch.

The Outer Limits - Volume 2 (1964)

I'm surprised how little of this first season carries through to the 90s revival that I love so much.