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September 15 - September 21

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Coming soon to Apple TV+ is "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters," a new series about everyone's favorite thick-necked, city-destroying, radioactive lizard. Godzilla has already gotten 38 feature films and has made an immeasurable number of cameos over the years, but it truly feels like we're in a golden era of the 'Zilla man. In this epic journey, "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" tracks two siblings following in their father's footsteps to uncover their family's connection to the secretive organization known as Monarch. Clues lead them into the world of monsters and ultimately down the rabbit hole to Army officer Lee Shaw (played by Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell), taking place in the 1950s and half a century later where Monarch is threatened by what Shaw knows. The dramatic saga — spanning three generations — reveals buried secrets and the ways that epic, earth-shattering events can reverberate through our lives...

Before becoming the visionary director and producer he is today, Burton’s first job after attending the California Institute of the Arts was as an animator at Disney. Burton worked for the company from 1981 to 1984, when he was fired by Disney after making the short movie Frankenweenie, which the studio claimed would be too scary for children. Luckily for Burton, his bygone Disney era did not ruin his relationship with the studio. Nearly four decades after his firing from the company, Burton teamed up with Walt Disney Studios for a remake of Alice in Wonderland. Two years later, Disney shockingly supported the feature adaptation of the short film that got him fired — Frankenweenie. Disney may have evolved their delicate sensibilities since 1984, but either way, leaving the studio was ultimately the best outcome for Burton’s legendary career...

The Cannes Film Festival is one of the most prestigious annual film festivals in the world, making it no surprise that it attracts huge names like Quentin Tarantino and Jane Fonda as well as up-and-coming filmmakers hoping to have their work explode onto the scene. Some of the past Palme d'Or winners to note include Paris, Texas (1984), The Piano (1993), Parasite (2019), and Justine Triet's Anatomy of a Fall winning this year. Palm Dog came to fruition thanks to Toby Rose, and it was inspired by his charming fox terrier named Mutt who was born in Champagne, France. The award can go to a single canine or a group, live or animated. After the process of selection, the winner receives the bespoke leather collar named PALM DOG. One of the most notable moments was in 2019 when Quentin Tarantino arrived to collect the award for pitbull Sayuri aka Brandy, in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, who played Brad Pitt's dog in the movie. (Courtesy Angelica Denise Burlaza.)...

Finland is ready to compete with the famed Bergman Estate on Fårö, as a new residence program for Nordic filmmakers takes shape. Set in Söderlångvik, patron of the arts Amos Anderson’s former summer residence on Kimito Island in southwest Finland, it will target mainly actors and directors. The initiative, a result of a collaboration between Föreningen Konstsamfundet association – founded by Anderson in 1940 – and Helsinki Int. Film Festival – Love & Anarchy, is being announced exclusively via Variety on the eve of the fest’s 36th edition. “The comparisons to ‘Bergman Island’ make sense, because we also want to create an inspiring place that brings people together, allowing them to learn from each other and really delve into their craft,” said Love & Anarchy’s executive director Anna Möttölä....

In 1982, when Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial opened, it buried movies that would also be regarded among the best sci-fi movies of all time. Titles like Tron, The Thing and Blade Runner all struggled at the box office under the might of a Reese’s Pieces-loving visitor from another world...

Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro isn’t much worried about artificial intelligence and its impact on making entertainment content. It’s people that keep him up at night, evidently. “People ask if I’m worried about artificial intelligence, I say I’m worried about natural stupidity. It’s just a tool, right?” the Pinocchio and Shape of Water director said during a keynote address at the Toronto Film Festival on Friday. “If anyone wants movies made by AI, let them get it immediately. I don’t care about people who want to be fulfilled and get something shitty, quickly,” he said, arguing that AI would succeed or die based on what people did with it creatively to bring a personal vision to a screen....

Jonathan Demme’s classic Talking Heads concert film “Stop Making Sense” returned to theaters for its 40th anniversary and became Imax’s highest-grossing live event. The film earned $640,839 and sold out 25 screens across 165 Imax locations in North America, according to the company. All things considered, this is a pretty niche record within Imax. The previous benchmark for Imax Live — which consists of early screenings followed by live Q&As with stars and filmmakers — was Brandi Carlile’s “In the Canyon Haze,” which earned $505,000 in September 2022. Prior events have included director Peter Jackson’s Disney+  documentary “The Beatles: Get Back” and Olivia Wilde’s “Don’t Worry Darling.”...

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to take a pottery class with Busy Phillips? Or have dinner straight out of "Mr. Show" with Bob Odenkirk AND David Cross? Perhaps you'd like some help on the New York Times Sunday crossword puzzle with "Poker Face" star Natasha Lyonne? Maybe, just maybe, you're the kind of person who dreams of Adam Scott walking your dog, or of admiring a watercolor painting of your dog created by six-time Emmy-winner John Lithgow. The Union Solidarity Coalition is hosting a Charity Campaign on eBay, and all of the proceeds will benefit the Motion Picture & Television Fund to provide healthcare for IATSE, LIUNA, and Teamsters. ...