Daniel Day-Lewis, pulled out of retirement by his son, finds his acting fire still burns
NEW YORK (AP) — It’s been eight years since Daniel Day-Lewis announced his retirement from acting and said he wanted to “explore the world in a different way.” But the big-screen absence of the actor many would peg as the greatest one alive ends with “Anemone,” a new film directed by his son, Ronan Day-Lewis. The two of them wrote it together. What began as something small, with no real ambitions, grew until a feature film and Day-Lewis’ long-awaited return to movies. In an interview alongside Ronan, Day-Lewis discussed the misunderstood mythology surrounding him, how “Anemone” reawakened his hunger to act and why he liked starting from scratch so much.
PBS 'Masterpiece' series ‘The Gold’ explores Britain’s biggest heist in history
NEW YORK (AP) — PBS's “Masterpiece” series “The Gold” explores Britain's biggest robbery, the 1983 Brinks-Mat heist. Thieves stole 26 million pounds worth of gold bars near Heathrow Airport. “The Gold” traces the crime's ripple effects, moving from a local search to infiltrating an international money laundering cartel. Showrunner Neil Forsyth says the drama is inspired by real events but allows creative freedom. Actor Hugh Bonneville plays Brian Boyce, the lead investigator determined to combat police corruption. The series highlights the clash between new money and the aristocracy in Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's Britain and the complexities of greed and ambition. “The Gold” airs Sunday.
Morgan Wallen denied throwing chair off bar roof to police in 2024, footage shows
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Police video obtained by The Associated Press shows country music star Morgan Wallen denied throwing a chair off a Nashville bar roof before and after his 2024 arrest. Two weeks later, he accepted responsibility on social media, and later pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment. The Metro Nashville Police Department released footage of Wallen’s arrest, which shows officers reacting to a broken chair near their cruiser. Witnesses claimed Wallen threw the chair, and police cited video evidence. The video shows Wallen on the phone with bar proprietor and fellow country star Eric Church. He also sings along to a Thomas Rhett song in a police cruiser.
Stephen King is the most banned author in US schools, PEN report says
NEW YORK (AP) — A new report on book bans in U.S. schools finds Stephen King as the author most likely to be censored. PEN America’s “Banned in the USA,” released Wednesday, tracks over 6,800 instances of books being pulled for the 2024-2025 school year. This number is down from over 10,000 in 2023-24. Around 80% of these bans originated in Florida, Texas, and Tennessee. Meanwhile, states like Maryland and New Jersey have laws limiting book removals. According to PEN, King’s books were censored 206 times, with “Carrie” and “The Stand” among the affected works. Reasons for bans often include LGBTQ+ themes and depictions of race.
Mugler reopens playbook with underground debut show in Paris
PARIS (AP) — The fashion industry is buzzing with changes this Paris season, and Thursday's spotlight is on Mugler's debut. Miguel Castro Freitas, a Portuguese designer with a background at Dior, has taken over the iconic brand known for its bold silhouettes. Mugler has recently attracted stars like Beyoncé and Zendaya. The show took place in a dramatic venue that matched the brand's futuristic style. Freitas embraced Mugler's 1980s legacy with exaggerated shoulders and daring designs. His debut was a confident statement, blending classic Mugler elements with a modern twist. It wasn't a complete reinvention, but it left people talking.
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Movie Review: Bleak family drama 'Anemone' brings the great Daniel Day-Lewis back in from the cold
Eight years ago, the great Daniel Day-Lewis said he was finished with acting. Luckily for us all, he seems to have been exaggerating. It took son Ronan Day-Lewis to bring his father in from the cold with “Anemone,” directed by Ronan and co-written by father and son. The movie is a bleak, sober family drama that is sometimes frustratingly opaque, writes Associated Press critic Jocelyn Noveck in her review. But Day-Lewis has lost none of his brilliance in playing a bitter hermit who has removed himself from his family due to wartime trauma that slowly reveals itself. Opens Friday in theaters.
Movie Review: In ‘Orwell: 2+2=5,’ a powerful portrait of the author and his still relevant writings
Filmmaker Raoul Peck examines the prophetic messages of George Orwell in “Orwell: 2+2=5.” A Neon release in select theaters Friday, the film connects Orwell's writings to modern totalitarianism. “Orwell: 2+2=5” is loosely structured around Orwell’s time on the Isle of Jura, in Scotland, where he wrote what would be his last novel, “1984” while his health was deteriorating from tuberculosis. AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr writes that Peck's film artfully blends images from films, news reports and documentaries and makes a powerful case that 75 years later, Orwell's writings and warnings remain relevant. The film has not yet been rated.
New York rapper who joined Trump at campaign rally sentenced to 5 years for attempted murder
NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City rapper who joined President Donald Trump during a campaign rally last year has been sentenced to five years behind bars after pleading guilty to attempted murder and conspiracy charges. Sheff G, whose legal name is Michael Williams, had agreed on the sentence with the judge when the rapper pleaded guilty earlier this year. He was sentenced Wednesday. Prosecutors say Sheff G used his music earnings to fuel gang violence in Brooklyn. They say Sheff G also acted as a getaway driver in one shooting and lavished money, jewelry and other rewards on gang members.
Jane Fonda revives Cold War-era activist group to defend free speech
NEW YORK (AP) — Jane Fonda has revived an activist group from the Cold War era, originally backed by her father, Henry Fonda. On Wednesday, she announced the launch of a modern version of the Committee for the First Amendment. This group was initially formed in 1947 to support screenwriters and directors targeted for alleged Communist ties. The new mission statement is signed by Florence Pugh, Sean Penn, Billie Eilish, Pedro Pascal and hundreds of others. The Fondas have a long history of activism, with Jane opposing the Vietnam War and Henry supporting Democratic candidates.
'AI actor' Tilly Norwood stirs outrage in Hollywood
NEW YORK (AP) — Like thousands of actors, Tilly Norwood is looking for a Hollywood agent. But unlike most young performers aspiring to make it in the film industry, Tilly Norwood is an entirely artificial intelligence-made character. Norwood, dubbed Hollywood’s first “AI actor,” is the product of a company named Xicoia, which bills itself as the world’s first artificial intelligence talent studio. Since the Dutch producer and comedian Eline Van der Velden launched the digital character’s prospective career, Tilly Norwood has been all the talk in Hollywood. But not in a good way. Guilds, actors and filmmakers have met the Xicoia product with an immediate wave of backlash, protesting that AI should not have a starring role in the acting profession.
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