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New York jury awards $1.68 billion to women who accused writer and director Toback of sexual abuse Lawyers for 40 women who accused writer and director James Toback of sexual abuse over a 35-year span say they have been awarded $1.68 billion from a New York jury.
Wednesday's jury award, which includes punitive and compensatory damages, stems from a lawsuit filed in Manhattan in 2022 after New York state instituted a one-year window for people to file lawsuits over sexual assault claims, even if they took place decades ago. Toback was nominated for an Oscar for writing 1991′s “Bugsy,” and his career in Hollywood has spanned more than 40 years. He has denied the allegations in court documents.
Author, wife of Weezer bassist arrested after being shot by police who say she pointed a gun at them LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities say Jillian Lauren, author and wife of Weezer bassist Scott Shriner, was shot and injured by Los Angeles police and arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after pointing a gun at officers. The LAPD said in a statement Wednesday that the 51-year-old Lauren had injuries that were not life-threatening. A message to her manager was not immediately answered.
Police say officers were pursuing unrelated hit-and-run suspects when they came across Lauren holding a gun in a neighboring front yard. Police say they fired when she refused to drop the gun and pointed it at them. She fled into a home where she was taken into custody, hospitalized and arrested.
‘Civil War’ filmmaker and a former SEAL built a new kind of combat movie in ‘Warfare’ Filmmaker Alex Garland has teamed up with former Navy SEAL Ray Mendoza to make a new kind of war film. “Warfare,” opening in theaters nationwide this weekend, is based on a real incident in Iraq in 2006 in which a surveillance mission went wrong. Garland and Mendoza reconstructed the day from the memories of those who were there, including Mendoza himself.
The film plays out in real time. Mendoza, who was the military adviser on Garland's last film “Civil War” said the experience was therapeutic. It's dedicated to his friend Elliott Miller, a medic and sniper who was one of the severely injured and has no memory of the day.
Woman can testify Weinstein used force to rape her despite his acquittal, judge rules NEW YORK (AP) — A judge says an accuser will be allowed to use the word “force” in her testimony at Harvey Weinstein’s retrial even though the disgraced movie mogul was acquitted of a rape charge that alleged he used physical force against her. A judge on Wednesday reversed his earlier decision, saying he reviewed case law and decided it would be unreasonable to put limits on how she describes what she says happened. The woman is one of three accusers whose allegations form the basis of the charges in Weinstein’s retrial in state court in Manhattan.
Weinstein has denied that he raped or sexually assaulted anyone. Movie Review: 'Drop' doesn't phone it in It’s oddly comforting that a movie can still dial M when it wants to. “Drop,” a silly but suspenseful new thriller, carries on the tradition of “When a Stranger Calls" and “Phone Booth” by situating its tension around mysterious threatening phone messages.
It’s a taut little movie with a just keen enough sense of plausible and preposterous that knows to keep the pressure-cooker plot moving while not overstaying its welcome. At a nifty 95 minutes, “Drop” knows when to hang up, writes Associated Press Film Writer Jake Coyle in his review. Jon Hamm steals expensive stuff and likely viewers' hearts in Apple TV+'s 'Your Friends & Neighbors' NEW YORK (AP) — “Your Friends & Neighbors” begins with a once high-flying hedge fund manager waking up in someone else’s luxurious house, next to a dead body and in a pool of blood.
How he ended up there consumes the first season of this compelling Apple TV+ series, which takes a peek at the lives of the ultrarich in a leafy New York suburb. Jon Hamm plays a hedge fund star who finds himself divorced and unemployable. He turns to petty crime.
Like “White Lotus” and “Big Little Lies,” “Your Friends & Neighbors” revolves around the woes of the wealthy and questions why we chase social status. Albums from Miles Davis, Mary J. Blige, Elton John and Minecraft enter National Recording Registry LOS ANGELES (AP) — Albums from Elton John, Tracy Chapman, Mary J.
Blige and the cast of “Hamilton” are among the new inductees to the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress. The 25 recordings entering the archive for their cultural importance Wednesday include John's “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” Chapman's 1988 self-titled debut and Blige's 1994 “My Life.” Other recordings include the original 2011 music from the Minecraft video game and the reboot sound of the Windows 95 operating system, created by musician Brian Eno.
The 2015 original Broadway cast album of “Hamilton” is also among the inductees. Patti Smith will take another look back in a new memoir, 'Bread of Angels' NEW YORK (AP) — Fifteen years after publishing the classic memoir “Just Kids,” Patti Smith has a lot more to say about her life. Random House announced Wednesday that the poet-writer-musician’s “Bread of Angels” will be published Nov.
4. In her new book, she reflects on her childhood, her marriage to guitarist Fred “Sonic” Smith" and her grief over the death of her husband. The release date is deeply personal.
Nov. 4 is the birthday of her late boyfriend, photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, and the anniversary of the death of Fred “Sonic” Smith. It's Met Gala time! Get yourself suitable with this guide on what to expect NEW YORK (AP) — Springtime sunshine has finally hit New York City, and that means the Met Gala beckons.
Fashion's biggest night happens each year on the first Monday in May. This year, the dress code – “Tailored For You” – is focused on classic tailoring, and countless creative versions of the simple suit are expected. As always, the code is inspired by the spring exhibit at the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
“Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” looks at Black style over the centuries and the phenomenon of dandyism. Celebrity co-chairs are Pharrell Williams, Lewis Hamilton, Colman Domingo, and A$AP Rocky. NBA superstar LeBron James is honorary chair.
Book Review: 'John & Paul' explores complex ties between Lennon and McCartney “John & Paul” takes a fresh look at the complicated relationship between John Lennon and Paul McCartney, perhaps the best songwriting team in history. Author Ian Leslie finds compelling hints on their partnership dynamics in the song lyrics, letters and actions of the two men, especially after the band’s breakup. But as Associated Press reviewer Jeff Rowe notes, the author chose to rely almost exclusively on what already has been written about the Beatles so we have few new facts — and no McCartney interview — but rather a fresh conclusion: that Lennon and McCartney’s relationship ranged somewhere between best buddies and a bromance.
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