The Daily Wine Down Friday (12-4)

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Dec 4

Did Warner Bros Lower the Death Knell?

Warner Bros announced they were releasing their entire slate of 2021 movies on HBO Max and at the theaters simultaneously. This includes movies like Matrix 4, Dune, and In the Heights just to name a few, are all going to be released on streaming the same day as they’re released in the theaters. I have so many questions. WTF being the main one. I know the next year is still looking uncertain especially as far as Rona recovery is concerned. Even with some promising vaccines on the horizon, there’s no telling how long into the new year we will have to wait to start trying to establish the new normal. I wish I could say this was just about that uncertainty but this is about WB trying to build HBO Max into a major streaming network along the lines of Apple TV+ and the one they’re all chasing Netflix. Even though they say this is temporary and gives HBO Max a ton of clout, this very well may have killed the theater industry, whose already fragile stocks took another major hit upon WB’s announcement. Needless to say the theater chains are not happy. Quite honestly as someone who loves going to the movies, neither am I. Once this is done there is no going back. Regardless of how this turns out movie-going has been forever changed. (Variety)

Big Sky Producers Respond to Call Out

I actually like Big Sky show and had planned to do a Quick Pop on it. The show and its original source material the novel series by C.J. Box are under fire from indigenous and Native American groups for their lack of representation of indigenous and Native American women. The whole premise of the show is about the search for two missing young (white) women who go missing along a Montana Highway. The Native American and indigenous groups are upset because neither the show nor the book, The HIghway address the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women, especially in Montana. The Indigenous and Native American population makes up 7% of Montana’s total population but indigenous and Native American women account for 26% of its missing cases. Talk about a missed opportunity. I’m siding with the Tribal leaders and councils on this one. This was a chance to give a voice to the voiceless and often forgotten victims. As well as spread awareness about the issue. The producers claim they have been in contact with the tribal organizations and plan to do better. in the future. Whatever that means, They were just as vague in their response which left tribal organizations wondering the same thing. They say they have not heard from the network or Big Sky producers and would like to know who they have been talking to about these improvements and what they are. Which in all honestly would depend on the show being renewed since this season has already been filmed. (EW)

Revisiting The Godfather III

It’s the 30th anniversary of the Godfather III or Coda, The Death of Michael Corleone as it’s officially called. I recently heard they had remastered the movie, which by all accounts is most people’s least favorite movie in the trilogy. But apparently not only has it been remastered but also recut,. Those who have seen the recut/remastered version including star Al Pacino, say the film is infinitely better. Dammit, am I gonna have to rewatch this movie now? Honestly, it was one of those one and done movies. But it was also a horrible end to an epic saga, so I guess I should give it a watch and see if it’s what they say it is. (Deadline)

The Wait Is Over

Today is the day Selena debuts on Netflix. I have been waiting for this one. And if I didn’t have to prepare for next week’s popcast this would be at the top my must-watch list this weekend. But I was surprised to learn that even though this billed as a limited series it is set up to tell the star’s story over multi seasons and this is truly just the beginning. Intriguing. (TVLine)

Prime Premiere Spot

The Equalizer is returning to its television roots with Queen Latifah in the lead role. She plays Robyn McCall a character similar to that of Denzel Washington’s in the movie and Edward Woodward in the original series from the 1980s. I have been excited about this show since I first heard about it. Although details have been scant. CBS announced the show will be getting a big-time premiere boost. It will bow in the prime post-Super Bowl spot. This means its guaranteed to draw an audience. I just hope the series has the same success as its predecessors. I loved the movies. I was all in for the new tv series reboot and even more so when I found Queen Latifah was going to be playing the female lead. The Super Bowl is scheduled for Sunday, February 7, 2021./ (TVLine)

Making Progress But Still A Long Way To Go

There have been some major strides taken as far as representation and diversity goes, especially in television. However, a recent Nielsen survey confirms there is still a lot more work to be done. The survey shows that women and people of color are still being underrepresented on television in proportion to the percentage of their population makeup. In simple terms television is still being dominated by white men. One group is doing something to try and change that. The same day the results of the survey were announced MTV Entertainment Group announced they were committing $250 million to develop projects from women and BIPOC owned production companies. I can’t stress enough how much representation matters and how important it is for people especially young people to see others who look like them doing amazing things. Not just in arts and entertainment but in all fields. (THR)