Skip to Content

Entertainment

‘Elvis’ drowns Austin Butler’s spot-on performance under a frenetic flood of style

Review by Brian Lowry, CNN “Elvis” has entered the theaters, but in a package that often recalls the excesses associated with his Vegas-residency years: Looking bloated, gaudy and at times bordering on self-parody. Those missteps, courtesy of director Baz Luhrmann and an ill-used Tom Hanks, squander Austin Butler’s brilliant moments in the title role, which

Continue Reading

‘Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe’ launches the dimwit duo into the 21st century

Review by Brian Lowry, CNN The planet’s dumbest animated duo make a semi-triumphant return in “Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe,” which — unlike when they “did” America 26 years ago — premieres via Paramount+. Basically one long, idiotic misunderstanding, it’s just the thing to fill the black hole of mindless and inappropriate comedy. Series

Continue Reading

‘Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes’ presents a harrowing window into the nuclear disaster

Review by Brian Lowry, CNN Even if you watched the Emmy-winning 2019 HBO miniseries (recommended, incidentally), “Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes” has plenty to offer as a documentary companion, presenting a former Soviet Union where the fondness for lies and obfuscation has its share of contemporary parallels. It’s another harrowing reminder of the danger when governments

Continue Reading

‘The Umbrella Academy’ weaves Elliot Page’s journey into its messy third season

Review by Brian Lowry, CNN In the most newsworthy aspect of “The Umbrella Academy’s” third season, the Netflix series incorporates Elliot Page’s transitioning into the story, a moment that’s addressed sensitively and relatively early. Beyond that, the show descends from its second-season cliffhanger into an ever-more-convoluted world of shifting timelines, battling super-teams and existential dangers,

Continue Reading

Paul Haggis, Oscar-winning screenwriter and director, detained in Italy on sexual assault charges

By Toyin Owoseje and Hada Messia, CNN Oscar-winning filmmaker Paul Haggis has been detained in Italy over allegations of sexual assault and aggravated personal injury, according to a statement from local prosecutors and his legal team. The 69-year-old Canadian-born director and screenwriter, who won two Oscars for the 2004 crime drama “Crash,” was in the

Continue Reading

Chaka Khan, Khalid, Ne-Yo and more light up the stage at CNN’s ‘Juneteenth: A Global Celebration of Freedom’

By Scottie Andrew, CNN CNN’s inaugural “Juneteenth: A Global Celebration of Freedom” concert was a moving commemoration of history and a joyous night of music. The Hollywood Bowl event celebrated Juneteenth, the holiday that marks the end of slavery in the US. From icons like Earth Wind & Fire to R&B stars like Khalid, Black

Continue Reading

Eurovision organizers ask UK to host next year’s song contest in place of Ukraine

By Sarah Dean and Toyin Owoseje, CNN This year’s Eurovision Song Contest winner, Ukraine, will not host the competition in 2023; instead, the chance will be offered to the United Kingdom, organizers the European Broadcast Union (EBU) said in a statement Friday. Ukrainian folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra triumphed last month with their track “Stefania,” surfing

Continue Reading

Jennifer Lopez’s ‘Halftime’ is too much of a licensed product to feel particularly super

Review by Brian Lowry, CNN “Halftime” could have just as easily been titled “The Importance of Being J-Lo,” focusing on Jennifer Lopez’s life and career, somewhat arbitrarily, through a particularly busy, high-profile stretch in 2019 and early 2020. Although the documentary fritters around the edges of being interesting, it’s too much of a licensed product

Continue Reading

Mick Jagger tests positive for Covid-19

By Lisa Respers France, CNN The Rolling Stones have canceled a concert in Amsterdam after lead singer Mick Jagger contracted Covid-19. Jagger’s positive status was announced in a statement on the band’s verified Instagram account. “The Rolling Stones have been forced to call off tonight’s concert in Amsterdam at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, following Mick

Continue Reading

Tony Awards 2022: See the list of winners

By Sandra Gonzalez and Chloe Melas, CNN The Tony Awards celebrate the best in theater and this year’s celebration returned to Radio City Music Hall for the first time since the pandemic. “West Side Story” star and Oscar winner Ariana DeBose hosted the ceremony. See below for a complete list of nominees, with the winners

Continue Reading