Showbiz Sandbox 368: Virtual Reality is a Big Winner at the Cannes Film Festival
May 29, 2017
This year’s Cannes Film Festival came to an end over the weekend with the Palm d’Or being awarded to “The Square”, a comedy with socio-political overtones directed by Sweden’s Ruben Östlund. Sofia Coppola won the award for Best Director for “The Beguiled”, only the second time in the festival’s 70-year-history the prize went to a woman.
Though critics found the films selected by Cannes programmers to be underwhelming this year, there was unanimous praise for a virtual reality project created by director Alejandro González Iñárritu which was installed at the festival. We’ll take you inside the unique VR experience and tell you why the fuss being made over it is legitimate.
Meanwhile, this year’s upfronts were held over the past two weeks giving us a pretty good picture about the state of modern television. Here’s the question, if we are presently in the era of peak TV, how come all the new shows networks are trotting out seem so boring.
Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including the controversy over a women-only screening of “Wonder Woman,” Katy Perry signs on to judge the “American Idol” reboot and Steven Soderbergh returns to the directing movies… as we predicted.
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comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of May 28, 2017
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-may-28-2017-300464928.html
‘The Square’ Wins Top Prize at Cannes; Sofia Coppola Is Best Director
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/28/movies/cannes-film-festival-winners-the-square-sofia-coppola.html
Cannes Awards: Controversial Swedish Satire ‘The Square’ Wins Palme d’Or
https://variety.com/2017/film/festivals/cannes-film-festival-2017-award-winners-palme-d-or-1202446856/
Cannes 2017 : Les étoiles de la critique #10
http://www.lefilmfrancais.com/cinema/132555/cannes-2017-les-etoiles-de-la-critique-10
Could Lynne Ramsay Top ‘Loveless’ on Screen’s Cannes Jury Grid?
http://www.screendaily.com/news/could-lynne-ramsay-top-loveless-on-screens-cannes-jury-grid/5118569.article?blocktitle=CANNES-JURY-GRID&contentID=43755
Critic’s Notebook: The Year Cannes Couldn’t
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/todd-mccarthy-year-cannes-couldnt-1008058
‘The Rider’, ‘A Ciambra’ Among Cannes Directors’ Fortnight Winners
http://www.screendaily.com/festivals/cannes/the-rider-a-ciambra-among-directors-fortnight-winners/5118562.article
‘A Man of Integrity,’ ‘Wind River,’ ‘Barbara’ Take Un Certain Regard Awards at Cannes
https://variety.com/2017/film/festivals/a-man-of-integrity-wind-river-barbara-win-cannes-un-certain-regard-award-uma-thurman-mathieu-amalric-taylor-sheridan-1202446610/
Al Franken, Giant of the Senate by Al Franken
http://bookfilter.com/2016/09/06/al-franken-giant-of-the-senate/
Ruthless River by Holly FitzGerald
http://bookfilter.com/2016/12/25/ruthless-river/
TV Ratings: Colbert Narrowly Wins Season With Viewers, a CBS First Since 1995
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-colbert-narrowly-wins-season-viewers-a-cbs-first-1995-1006879
Alamo Drafthouse Spins Success Out of Controversy Over Women-Only Screenings of “Wonder Woman”
https://celluloidjunkie.com/2017/05/29/alamo-drafthouse-spins-success-out-of-controversy-over-women-only-screenings-of-wonder-woman/
Zack Snyder Steps Down From ‘Justice League’ to Deal With Family Tragedy
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/zack-snyder-steps-down-justice-league-deal-family-tragedy-1006455
T.J. Miller Exiting HBO’s ‘Silicon Valley’
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tj-miller-exiting-hbos-silicon-valley-1007767
Harry Styles Becomes 2nd One Direction Member With a Solo No. 1
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/22/arts/music/harry-styles-solo-album-billboard-chart.html
Amazon Inks Exclusive for Soderbergh’s Next Film
https://www.rapidtvnews.com/2017052747379/amazon-inks-exclusive-for-soderbergh-s-next-film.html
Alex Rodriguez Scores Contributor Role at ABC News
http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/alex-rodriguez-abc-news-baseball-1202446619/
A Black Actor in ‘Virginia Woolf’? Not Happening, Albee Estate Says
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/21/theater/a-black-actor-in-virginia-woolf-not-happening-albee-estate-says.html
‘American Idol’: Ryan Seacrest Talks Drag After Katy Perry Deal
https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/american-idol-ryan-seacrest-1202447024/
Ariana Grande Vows to Return to Manchester After Bombing for Benefit Concert: ‘We Won’t Let Hate Win’
http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7809538/ariana-grande-manchester-attack-letter-twitter
Fall TV 2017: The Full Broadcast Schedule
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/fall-tv-2017-full-broadcast-schedule-1004691
Global Pay-TV subs to Break Billion Barrier by 2018
https://www.rapidtvnews.com/2017051547216/global-pay-tv-subs-to-break-billion-barrier-by-2018.html
ESPN Expects to Strike Ad Deals for Live Viewers Across TV, Mobile, Digital Screens
https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/espn-live-viewer-measurement-tv-advertising-upfront-2017-1202428258/
Les Moonves Lays Out CBS’ Top Priority; Talks ‘Idol’ Offer and That Trump Comment
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/les-moonves-lays-cbs-top-priority-talks-idol-offer-trump-comment-1004589
Roger Moore, the Suave James Bond in Seven Films, Dies at 89
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/roger-moore-dead-james-bond-839882
Roger Ailes, Who Built Fox News Into an Empire, Dies at 77
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/18/business/media/roger-ailes-dead.html
Brad Grey, Former Chairman of Paramount Pictures, Dies at 59
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/15/business/media/brad-grey-former-chairman-of-paramount-pictures-dies-at-59.html
Nora Mae Lyng, Actress at the Heart of ‘Forbidden Broadway,’ Dies at 66
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/25/theater/nora-mae-lyng-dead-inspiration-for-forbidden-broadway.html
Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell Dead at 52
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Gregg Allman, Soulful Trailblazer of Southern Rock, Dies at 69
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gregg-allman-dead-southern-rock-trailblazer-was-69-992288
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