‘Stand by Me’ stars reflect on the movie, Rob Reiner and its return to theaters 40 years later
Rob Reiner's beloved coming-of-age film “Stand by Me” is coming back to theaters for one week. The 40th anniversary has reunited stars Jerry O’Connell, Corey Feldman and Wil Wheaton who are eager to remember and honor their director, who died in December. They say the timing of the anniversary has given them a shared place to grieve and remember. It also makes them think about their late co-star River Phoenix. They say the film still connects across generation for its simplicity and authenticity. Audiences at screenings range in age from kids to grandparents. The return to theaters starts Friday.
Celine Dion set to perform in Paris two years after triumphant Olympics appearance
PARIS (AP) — Paris will love her again — and soon. Celine Dion is returning to the French capital for a series of concerts. A person involved in the planning told The Associated Press that Dion will play autumn concerts at the La Defense Arena. The return comes after Dion electrified the opening ceremony in the city of the 2024 Olympic Games where she performed Edith Piaf’s “Hymne à L’Amour” (“Hymn to Love”) from the Eiffel Tower in the rain. In a series of clues, posters recently affixed to lampposts bear the names of Dion song titles, and the singer posted on Instagram a series of shots of her with Paris landmarks.
Stephen Colbert and son will co-write a 'Lord of the Rings' movie
NEW YORK (AP) — Stephen Colbert, famous devotee to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth, is co-writing a “Lord of the Rings” movie with his son. Warner Bros. announced early Wednesday that Colbert will script “The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past” along with series veteran Philippa Boyens and Peter McGee, Colbert’s son. Producer Peter Jackson revealed Colbert’s involvement in a social media video that introduced a “very special partner” on the film. “Shadow of the Past” will come after Andy Serkis’ upcoming “The Hunt of Gollum,” which is set to arrive in theaters next year.
Movie Review: 'They Will Kill You' is a failed attempt at satanic, supernatural horror pulp
“They Will Kill You” follows Zazie Beetz as she storms a New York building run by murderous satanists to find her missing sister. On Friday, the R-rated film hits movie theaters as a Warner Bros. release. Associated Press critic Mark Kennedy says writer-director Kirill Sokolov mixes revenge-movie style with bits of satire, camp and gore but Kennedy says the mix never fully lands as horror or comedy. The story uses Dante’s “Inferno” idea but does not build it out. Beetz still shines in brutal close-combat scenes and the cast also includes Myha’la, Tom Felton, Heather Graham and Patricia Arquette.
Woman pleads not guilty to trying to murder Rihanna and to assaulting the singing superstar’s family
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A woman has pleaded not guilty to firing shots at Rihanna’s home while the singer and her family were there. Thirty-five-year-old Ivanna Lisette Ortiz of Orlando, Florida, appeared in court in Los Angeles to enter the plea. She is charged with the attempted murder of Rihanna and 10 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm against people including Rihanna's partner A$AP Rocky and their three young children. Prosecutors haven't described a motive. Ortiz could face life in prison if convicted. Her public defender sought to lower her bail, but the judge declined after a prosecutor said she's a risk to others and would likely flee.
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Music Review: Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea realizes lifelong dream with solo jazz album, 'Honora'
LOS ANGELES (AP) — After decades with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, bassist Flea introduces a jazz-heavy solo debut in “Honora.” The album opens with a psychedelic instrumental that hints at rock, but the album shifts quickly to jazz. That, and trumpet more specifically, is the focus of the album, writes The Associated Press’ Krysta Fauria in her review. The record leans on big collaborators like Thom Yorke and Nick Cave and includes covers, including of songs from Frank Ocean and Funkadelic. The album is easy to enjoy for jazz newcomers. Flea's foray into the genre may come as a surprise, but the rocker has long maintained the trumpet and jazz were his first musical loves.
Savannah Guthrie in NBC News interview appeals for help finding her missing mother
Savannah Guthrie says in a tearful interview on NBC that "'somebody needs to do the right thing” and provide information that leads to a resolution of the case of her missing 84-year-old mother. Guthrie says she wakes up every night wondering about the terror that her mother went through. The “Today” show aired a portion of Hoda Kotb’s interview with her colleague Wednesday and says it will air more on Thursday and Friday — the first interview Guthrie has given since her mother went missing nearly two months ago. Investigators believe Nancy Guthrie was kidnapped or otherwise taken against her will.
Supreme Court sides with Cox Communications in a copyright fight with record labels over downloads
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has sided with internet service provider Cox Communications in its copyright fight with record labels over illegal music downloads by Cox customers. The justices ruled unanimously Wednesday that Cox bears no liability for the copyright violations of its customers. Cox was accused of not doing enough to deter or cut off customers who downloaded music they didn’t pay for. The music companies are disappointed by the ruling and say there was" overwhelming evidence" that Cox "knowingly facilitated theft.” Cox is praising the court for affirming that internet service providers "are not copyright police.”
Books by Lyse Doucet and Arundhati Roy make shortlist for Women's Prize for Nonfiction
LONDON (AP) — Two books about hotels in wartime are among finalists for the Women’s Prize for Nonfiction. The six-book shortlist announced Wednesday includes “The Finest Hotel in Kabul" by Lyse Doucet and Jane Rogoyska’s “Hotel Exile: Paris in the Shadow of War.” The list also includes Indian author Arundhati Roy’s memoir “Mother Mary Comes to Me” and books about migration and art. The award is a companion to the Women's Prize for Fiction. Organizers launched the prize in 2024 after data showed men dominate major nonfiction publishing and reviews. The winners of both prizes will be announced June 11 in London.
Jason Benetti steps into the spotlight as NBC’s lead voice for 'Sunday Night Baseball'
When NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood learned in November that his network would be back doing baseball, he immediately knew who he wanted as his play-by-play voice and the format for it. Viewers will get their first look and listen on Thursday when NBC has an opening day doubleheader. The prime time game between the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers and Diamondbacks will be Jason Benetti’s debut as the network’s lead baseball announcer. Benetti will be the voice of “Sunday Night Baseball,” which moves to NBC and Peacock after 26 seasons on ESPN. He handled play-by-play for the “MLB Sunday Leadoff” package on Peacock in 2022.
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