Friends don't let friends invite Robert De Niro to a movie premiere.
Director Francis Ford Coppola learned that lesson the first time this week: The Hollywood icon debuted his bold new movie, “Megalopolis,” starring Adam Driver and Jon Voight, to select IMAX audiences nationwide on Monday.
Coppola personally introduced the film to longtime friends De Niro and director Spike Lee via a livestream Q&A before the screening, neither of whom worked on the project but have longstanding personal connections with the director.
The event was meant to celebrate Coppola and his latest film, but De Niro and Lee turned it into a critique of Trump.
They took turns criticizing the Republican front-runner and urging the audience to vote against him on November 5. If you've heard De Niro speak over the past seven years, you know exactly what he said.
Another day. Same script. Yawn.
He's done this trick before. Apple team edits anti-Trump comments Taken from a speech on behalf of the studio's “Killers of the Flower Moon” event in 2023. Stupid Apple. The company wanted to keep the focus on the movies, not the political obsessions of its co-stars.
Either way, the actor was furious at Trump (and Apple for telling him what not to say).
At this point, De Niro needs to be given the Hannibal Lecter treatment in public – strapped to a gurney and with a protective mask over his face to stop him from spewing Trump rhetor – or, if he has a movie to promote, he should be allowed to do what he's supposed to do: stand in front of the camera.
Shocking Abortion
Simply put, what is the biggest problem facing America right now? Unchecked immigration? A disappearing middle class? Rising crime?
No! There aren't enough abortions.
At least according to Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence. The Silver Linings Playbook star explained why she's voting for the award. “Amazing” Kamala Harris It's November.
“I know she will do whatever it takes to protect reproductive rights, and most importantly, she will keep anyone who tries to ban abortion out of the White House.”
However, President Trump has been clear and vocal about not supporting a nationwide abortion ban.
We won't wait for fact-finding, because the pro-abortion movement relies heavily on this kind of ambiguity: otherwise, a fetus could not be both a “blob of cells” and a developing baby at the same time, and it all depends on the mother's feelings.
Lionsgate brings you…Robohack!
The studio is Incorporating AI technology “Develop cutting-edge, capital-efficient content production opportunities.”
This sounds like something an AI bot might write, but when you look at the bigger picture, it couldn't be clearer: AI technology can save Hollywood a lot of money, and in Lionsgate's case, now is the perfect time to do just that.
The studio's summer slate of duds includes “The Crow,” “Borderlands” and, possibly, “Megalopolis.” The expensive saga is $4 million to $8 million this weekendThe film's budget is estimated at $120 million.
Lionsgate's first two films maxed out at the box office with a horrifying $9 million and $15 million, respectively.
The AI announcement may anger some in Hollywood, but others realize it's only a matter of time before they join in.
Christmas mockery
“Red One” has a definite “Jingle All the Way” vibe. Or maybe “Fred Claus”?
A ton of new Christmas movies are released every year, but classics like “Elf” and “Christmas Vacation” stand out in comparison.
What's next? “Red One.” It's so popular that I'm already wishing people would buy coal instead of coal. The budget was significantly exceeded That's because lead actor Dwayne Johnson didn't want to arrive on set as scheduled. Quite.
Johnson and Chris Evans play reluctant partners trying to rescue the kidnapped Old St. Nick (J.K. Simmons).
The trailer makes it look like a flashy, high-tech movie that will wipe out all the Christmas cheer. We'll have to wait until the finished film hits theaters on November 15 to decide. If the movie turns out to be as clunky as feared, watching “Die Hard” will bring the Christmas cheer right back.
Junket Escape
Film journalists are furious and can't take it anymore.
The latest sign? Journalists boycott Johnny Depp's press conference Time constraints have meant that face-to-face meetings with the actors have been brief and embarrassing, following the signing of an open letter by more than 100 entertainment journalists in recent months to protest the lack of opportunities to question the actors.
They have a point: This reporter is frequently given the opportunity to participate in “virtual” press conferences where spokespeople can filter out questions they deem “unfriendly.”
Now, if only they would react with the same horror when Vice President Kamala Harris grills political journalists on a daily basis.
