Back to normal? Cannes Film Festival prepares to party
After the 2020 Cannes Film Festival was canceled by the pandemic and the 2021 edition was scaled back — even kisses were forbade on the red carpet — the lavish French Riviera cinema soiree is set to return with a festival that promises to be something like normal.
'Concrete Cowboy' shows Philadelphia's Black cowboy culture
“Concrete Cowboy,” an urban Western about African American riders in Philadelphia starring Idris Elba, is about an often unseen — and persisting — Black cowboy culture. “Concrete Cowboy" is a father-son drama set around Fletcher Street Stables, one of the oldest and last-remaining of Philadelphia's hardscrabble inner-city stables. But through tenacity and improvisation, Fletcher Street has remained a cherished refuge and an ardent pastime for both kids and adults on the streets of Philadelphia’s Strawberry Mansion. “It didn’t occur to me until the Bob Marley song ‘Buffalo Soldier,’ which opened my interest about Black cowboys. They’re trying to raise money for an equestrian center and to convince Philadelphia government officials that the Fletcher Street heritage is worth preserving.
New this week: Godzilla vs Kong, 'Concrete Cowboy' & Mahalia
This combination photo shows poster art for the film "Godzilla vs Kong," premiering on HBO Max on March 31, left, "Concrete Cowboy," premiering April 2 on Netflix and "Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia," premiering April 3 on Lifetime. (HBO Max/Netflix/Lifetime via AP)Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. MOVIES— Two of cinema’s most famous giants are headed for an old-fashioned big budget clash in “Godzilla vs. Kong,” available on HBO Max for 31 days starting Friday. After a pandemic-induced blockbuster drought, Henry told the AP that the film will be a welcome change of pace. Ad— Legendary gospel singer Mahalia Jackson gets overdue biopic attention in a Lifetime film debuting Saturday.
Spike Lee's children named Golden Globe ambassadors
FILE - Director Spike Lee, second right, and his family, from left, son Jackson Lee, wife Tonya Lewis Lee and daughter Satchel Lee, right, arrive at the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Jan. 6, 2019. Lees daughter and son have been chosen as the Golden Globe ambassadors to assist with the awards ceremony. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)LOS ANGELES – Spike Lee’s daughter and son have been chosen as the Golden Globe ambassadors to assist with the awards ceremony. Jackson is partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters, the volunteer-supported mentoring network. Callen-Lorde and Big Brothers Big Sisters will each receive a grant from the HFPA for $25,000 made on the Lees' behalf.
Roku buys library of the short-lived streaming service Quibi
FILE - This Aug. 13, 2020 file photo shows a logo for Roku on a remote control in Portland, Ore. On Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, Roku is buying short-lived streaming service Quibis content library to bolster content for its free Roku Channel. AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)Roku is buying the content library of Quibi, the short-lived streaming service, to bulk up its own free ad-supported channel. Quibi, short for quick bites, raised $1.75 billion from investors including major Hollywood players like Disney, NBCUniversal and Viacom. Roku created its business solely as a hub for other streaming services, but has recently begun piling up content for its free Roku Channel. Idris Elba, Kevin Hart, Liam Hemsworth, Anna Kendrick, Nicole Richie, Chrissy Teigen and Lena Waithe have all been in Quibi shows.
People magazine names Michael B. Jordan as Sexiest Man Alive
FILE - Michael B. Jordan arrives at the Hollywood Film Awards on Nov. 4, 2018, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Jordan has been crowned as 2020's Sexiest Man Alive by People magazine. Known for his critically-acclaimed performances in "Fruitvale Station," "Creed" and "Black Panther," he was revealed as this year's winner Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020, on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)LOS ANGELES – Actor Michael B. Jordan has been crowned as 2020's Sexiest Man Alive by People magazine. “When my grandmother was alive, it was something that she collected, and then my mom naturally reads it a lot and my aunts as well,” Jordan said. Jordan has been active in the Black Lives Matter movement and vocal about early voting registration for this year’s election.
Cardi B's pledge to seek Nigerian citizenship sparks rivalry
LAGOS – Cardi B's announcement that she wants to seek Nigerian citizenship has set off a Twitter feud between her West African fans in friendly rivals Nigeria and Ghana. I'm filing for my Nigerian citizenship," she tweeted. But most Nigerian fans were quick to offer up a passport exchange, underscoring the mix of pride and confusion that the 27-year-old star would prefer Nigeria to America. It was not immediately clear how the rapper might acquire citizenship in Nigeria, though a number of celebrities have recently been given honorary citizenship in other African countries. And fellow rapper Ludacris recently acquired citizenship in Gabon after marrying a woman from the Central African nation.
Banana, duct tape add up to $150,000 at Art Basel Miami
In this Dec. 4, 2019 photo, gallery owner Emmanuel Perrotin poses next to Maurizio Cattlelan's "Comedian" at the Art Basel exhibition in Miami Beach, Fla. The most talked-about artwork of the week was titled “Comedian” — a spotty banana duct-taped to a wall by artist Maurizio Cattelan. The Paris-based Perrotin gallery raised the price to $150,000 for the third piece, which will be sold to a museum. On Saturday, David Datuna removed the banana from the wall, unpeeled it and took a bite as a large crowd documented it with their phones. The city of Miami Beach commissioned a million-dollar traffic jam by artist Leandro Erlich.