Ryan Reynolds hilariously called out a surprising guest star in HBO Max’s “Peacemaker” on January 29. “Note to internet: Watch more @DCPeacemaker,” the “Deadpool” star tweeted. “Great cameos!” The star in question “acting” opposite John Cena? Turns out it was a bottle of Reynolds’ Aviation Gin, shown on the counter in Peacemaker’s trailer home. Writer-director James Gunn replied, “I just checked with props and that is indeed Aviation Gin,” before retweeting, “Thanks for taking a ride on the Peace Train” to Reynolds....

“Years ago, you know, he tried to scam me,” Trump told reporters, noting how Baron Cohen once disguised himself as a BBC news anchor in an attempt to prank him. “That’s a phony guy. And I don’t find him funny… To me he was a creep.” Baron Cohen responded to Trump on social media, hitting back with the following post: “Donald — I appreciate the free publicity for ‘Borat!’ I admit, I don’t find you funny either....

This year’s SAG is taking place at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica — a move from its usual unveiling in downtown LA. Presenters this year include a mix of nominees, previous winners, and rising talents — Benedict Cumberbatch, Jessica Chastain, Jung Ho-Yeon, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Oscar Isaac, Salma Hayek, Tony Goldwyn, Reese Witherspoon, and more. Cast in a Motion Picture “Belfast” “CODA” (Winner) “Don’t Look Up” “House of Gucci” “King Richard”...

As Rogen said in a 2011 interview, “George Lucas sits down and seriously proceeds to talk for around 25 minutes about how he thinks the world is gonna end in the year 2012, for real. He thinks it. He’s going on about the tectonic plates and all the time Spielberg is rolling his eyes, like, ‘My nerdy friend won’t shut up, I’m sorry.’” The Lucas story naturally makes its way into Rogen’s new book, a collection of essays titled “Yearbook....

Series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk recently said in an interview shared by the Korea Times (via Deadline), “I’m in talks with Netflix over season two as well as season three. We will come to a conclusion any time soon.” While Hwang was previously misquoted as saying there will “indeed” be a second season for the series about cash-strapped contestants who sign away their life rights for a chance at a $38 million prize, Netflix later told Vulture in December that a second season is “in discussions but not confirmed yet....

Season 3, and the jump to the year 3188 with its attendant mystery of “What caused the Burn?,” hasn’t really turned out like we thought, huh? The obvious answer to the season-long mystery would have been some sinister power from “Trek” past, possibly setting up a Dominion War-like arc for the future. Instead, the Burn was caused by a Kelpien man-child’s emotional distress and his unique ability to inflict his damage on the whole galaxy....

The documentary, airing on National Geographic, looks at the city of Chicago throughout 2019 and part of 2020 as the city deals with a contentious mayoral election, claims of corruption, and the deputy-involved shooting and death of Laquan McDonald. The first trailer for “City So Real” will almost make you believe you’re watching tonight’s news, as images of protesters are shown. Mayoral candidate Lori Lightfoot is one of many Black women running for government office in Chicago and we hear about the corruption that will eventually explode onto the national stage....

Following the use of the slur, the BBC stood by the remark, stating, “This was a story about a shocking unprovoked attack on a young black man. His family told the BBC about the racist language used by the attackers and wanted to see the full facts made public… A warning was given before this was reported. We are no longer running this version of the report but are continuing to pursue the story....

The town of Avalonia lies at the center of a valley bordered on all sides by an impassable mountain range. Famous explorer Jaeger Clade (Dennis Quaid) goes missing while searching for a way through the mountains. His son Searcher (Jake Gyllenhaal) becomes the town’s new savior after discovering a plant called Pando. Their electrical fruits are farmed for Avalonia’s power source, allowing the city to blossom into a utopia of commerce and flying machines....

Likewise, I suspect that he faced a version of the same dilemma that confronts anyone who can only access their most private feelings by airing them in public: He could only grapple with the deeply personal devastation of his brother’s death by making a movie about it, but making a movie about it would require him to stream that devastation for the entire world to see (or at least for the inordinately large percentage of it that subscribes to Netflix)....

You can see why: Making the Oscar shortlist for 2022 were Sundance 2021 debuts from Nanfu Wang (HBO’s China Covid exposé “In the Same Breath”), Danish filmmaker Jonas Poher Rasmussen (Neon’s animated immigration saga “Flee”), self-taught Jessica Beshir (Janus’ dive into Ethiopia’s khat industry “Faya Dayi”), Camilla Nielsson (Greenwich Entertainment’s Zimbabwe expose “President”); and rookie filmmaker Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson (Searchlight/Hulu’s 1969 concert film “Summer of Soul”). This year’s new pandemic era Sundance crop is just as impressive....

“Our programming team, led by the fearless Kim Yutani, is deep into screening the mountain of submissions we have already received this year,” said Festival Director Tabitha Jackson in an official statement. “As our press and industry offices open in preparation for the next edition of our festival we are excited to share what details we can today, anticipate sharing more as we know more, and can’t wait to meet audiences wherever they are, including in Utah, in January....

A handful of companies have started to unveil their commercials that will air during the upcoming Super Bowl LV, which will air on February 7 at 6:30 p.m. ET. The 2021 game will feature advertisements from a diverse array of businesses, including Chipotle, Bud Light, Mercari, and Pringles. Though high-profile commercials have long been a Super Bowl mainstay, the 2021 edition of the sporting event will mark the notable absence of several longtime advertisers: The companies behind Coke, Pepsi, and Budweiser ads, which were collectively responsible for some of the most famous Super Bowl moments in the game’s history, recently announced they will not be airing commercials during Super Bowl LV....

It doesn’t happen right away, but the longer the series’ opening season goes, the more it figures out how to utilize all the tools at its disposal. “Swagger” is so concerned with setting up Jace’s stakes from the get-go that the early episodes often feel like a motivational commercial. He’s got pre-dawn workout sessions with him running up a hill. He’s taking shots in an empty gym with a 360 camera swirling around him....

“Our focus is very much on being in person,” SXSW Film head Janet Pierson told IndieWire. “People really do miss gathering together.” The festival, in its 29th edition, will run from March 11 – 20. As previously announced, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s film, “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” will open the festival. The Season 3 premiere for FX’s “Atlanta,” starring Donald Glover, LaKeith Stanfield, and Brian Tyree Henry, will screen on Closing Night....

The essence of the events, and its management, are expected to remain intact while expanding SXSW’s potential for new events and business models. SXSW and P-MRC are now developing the March 2022 event in Austin. P-MRC is a joint venture between Penske Media Corporation and MRC, whose holdings include Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Rolling Stone, Variety, and Vibe. P-MRC will reportedly take a 50% stake in the business, which last hosted its physical edition in 2019....

To be fair, with most of Regal gone and with New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle still closed, that might have reduced the potential gross by as much as half. Had Regal been open, the total would have been over $15 million. If all markets and theaters were open, the total might have been $26 million. The lack of product is a major factor, but this depressed level of business continues suggest that audiences have not restored their appetites for theaters....

When John reveals the racist origins of his nickname for his blonde wife (whom he thinks is white), without the faintest hint of shame, Irene cannot stop herself from bursting out in a fit of nervous laughter. The spell goes on slightly too long for comfort, and the tension of the moment recedes only briefly before rebuilding with each cackling crescendo. Will her outburst raise flags, or further her own cover?...

The espionage genre is as old as filmmaking itself with silent spy movies set against the backdrop of World War I (1914’s “The German Spy Peril” is on YouTube) testing the medium’s limitations early in the 20th century. Literary works inspired many more of the spy movies to follow. Over the years, filmmakers have repeatedly adapted the works of John le Carré, Robert Ludlum, Ian Fleming, and more spy novelists imagining the covert operations of local, national, and international enemies....

When it comes to audio quality, many of us are living in ignorant bliss. We get so used to listening to music on our laptops or watching movies with our TV’s built-in speakers that we forget how good audio can sound. While a cheap speaker can still blast your favorite song, you’re missing out on a richer listening experience, and maybe even doing a disservice to your favorite artist. Once you listen to something on truly high quality speakers that were properly installed, it’s very hard to go back....