Jude Law debuts portrayal of Vladimir Putin in 'The Wizard of the Kremlin' at Venice Film Festival
VENICE, Italy (AP) — Jude Law transforms into Vladimir Putin in “The Wizard of the Kremlin,” which premiered Sunday at the Venice Film Festival. The film, directed by Olivier Assayas, adapts Giuliano da Empoli’s bestselling book about Putin's rise to power. Paul Dano plays a fictional adviser inspired by real political strategist Vladislav Surkov. The film's release coincides with Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. This marks Assayas’s English-language debut. Filming took place in Latvia due to restrictions in Russia. Assayas describes the film as a reflection on modern politics and its deceptive nature.
'Weapons' regains the top spot as the summer box office winds down
LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Weapons” crawled its way back to the top of the box office during the Labor Day weekend. The movie generated $10.2 million during its fourth weekend in theaters. Universal’s 50th rerelease of “Jaws” also made a splash in theaters, securing the second spot with $8.1 million domestically. Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for the data firm Comscore, says this summer's box office is likely to narrowly miss last year's summer earnings, and failed to meet the typical pre-pandemic summer box office benchmark of $4 billion. He says that “there were casualties this summer. It’s a very crowded summer, very competitive."
Man is found dead at annual Burning Man festival in Nevada, a sheriff's office says
RENO, Nevada (AP) — Authorities say a man has been found dead in a pool of blood at Burning Man, and the death at the yearly art and music festival in the Nevada desert is being investigated as a homicide. Deputies were alerted Saturday about a deceased man Saturday at the gathering in the Black Rock Desert about 110 miles northeast of Reno. A sheriff's statement Sunday said officers found the single white adult male lying dead on the ground. His identity wasn't known. The sheriff’s office said it appeared to be a singular crime and urged festivalgoers to be vigilant of their surroundings and acquaintances. The festival ends on Monday.
PBS, NPR stations struggle with Trump-fueled government funding cuts
NEW YORK (AP) — A month after Congress voted to strip public media of public money, PBS and NPR stations are working to cope — and survive. More than 500 radio and television stations are affected, and while some have issues in common, most have problems and strategies unique to their own area. For example, the PBS station in Spokane, Washington, has turned to viewers for emergency donations, but a significant part of their membership is from Canada, and many are already angry with the U.S. because of President Donald Trump's drive to make the country the 51st state. Many stations are heartened by the way viewers are responding, and different ideas to save money are emerging.
The success of AI music creators sparks debate on future of music industry
LONDON (AP) — Oliver McCann, a British AI music creator, uses AI to produce songs across various genres. Despite lacking musical talent, McCann signed with Hallwood Media after one of his tracks gained 3 million streams. The rise of AI tools like Suno and Udio has sparked debate about AI's role in music. Experts say AI is set to transform the industry, though its impact on the global music market remains unclear. AI-generated music is growing, but it faces legal challenges over copyright. Creators hope AI will become a mainstream part of the music world.
Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ premieres at Venice with Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi
VENICE, Italy (AP) — Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi walked the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival for the world premiere of Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein.” Isaac plays Victor Frankenstein, while Elordi is the monster in this adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel. Del Toro has been dreaming about making this film for decades. The last time he was at Venice was in 2017 with “The Shape of Water,” which won the festival’s top prize. “Frankenstein” is up for big awards at Venice, competing with films like Yorgos Lanthimos’s “Bugonia.” Netflix plans to release it in theaters on Oct. 17.
Julia Roberts' 'After the Hunt' stirs #MeToo debate at Venice Film Festival
VENICE, Italy (AP) — Julia Roberts has made her Venice Film Festival debut with the psychosexual drama “After the Hunt.” And it's already stirring debate. The film, set in the world of higher education, premiered Friday evening. Roberts plays a beloved professor whose Ayo Edebiri-played mentee accuses her friend and colleague, played by Andrew Garfield, of crossing the line. Questions at the press conference revolved around complicity, #MeToo and even Woody Allen and fonts. Directed by Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, “After the Hunt” is playing out of competition, so it won’t be up for major awards. Amazon MGM Studios plans an Oct. 10 theatrical release in North America.
Arizona State fans miss most of 2nd half of victory due to ESPN transmission issue
BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — ESPN blamed a transmission issue for fans missing most of the second half of No. 11 Arizona State's game against Northern Arizona. The game, streamed on ESPN+ as part of the Big 12’s agreement, wasn't the only one affected but was the most high-profile. An ESPN spokesperson said the issue occurred late Saturday and affected multiple feeds. Interruptions began early in the second half, with the feed mostly blank with choppy audio. Arizona State's athletic director apologized, and former ASU running back Cam Skattebo expressed frustration on social media. Upcoming games will be available on traditional TV channels.
Lady Gaga will perform during the MTV Video Music Awards. Here's everything to know about the show
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lady Gaga will take the stage at this year's MTV Video Music Awards stage. The “Mayhem” singer is the show's leading nominee with 12 nods, including artist of the year and best album. Gaga has a long-standing history with the VMAs, with 57 total nominations throughout her career. She joins a slew of artists already confirmed to perform. This year’s VMAs will air on Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. Eastern and will run live from the UBS Arena on New York’s Long Island. The show will be broadcast by CBS for the first time, and also simulcast on MTV and available for streaming on Paramount+.
