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Review: Sandler, Aniston Reteam in ‘Murder Mystery 2’

Jennifer Aniston, left, and Adam Sandler arrive at the premiere of "Murder Mystery 2" on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at the Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP)
Jennifer Aniston, left, and Adam Sandler arrive at the premiere of "Murder Mystery 2" on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at the Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP)
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Review: Sandler, Aniston Reteam in ‘Murder Mystery 2’

Jennifer Aniston, left, and Adam Sandler arrive at the premiere of "Murder Mystery 2" on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at the Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP)
Jennifer Aniston, left, and Adam Sandler arrive at the premiere of "Murder Mystery 2" on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at the Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP)

You would have a hard time defending the limp plotting, the bland action-adventure set pieces or the Agatha Christie-light whodunit twists of the first “Murder Mystery.” And, yet, it was kind of good.

“Murder Mystery,” one of Netflix's most-streamed films, was chock full of exotic settings and mysterious murders. But the only thing that mattered, really, was the banter between Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler. Though “Murder Mystery” could be said to epitomize that very modern kind of passive and painless viewing experience on streaming platforms, their married couple was a throwback to a long-ago movie era. Audrey and Nick Spitz, a pair of working-class New Yorkers turned semi-amateur detectives, might as well be Nick and Nora Charles, the 1930s crime solvers.

“Murder Mystery” and its new sequel don't have anywhere near the sparkle of the “The Thin Man” movies, with William Powell, Myrna Loy and their wire fox terrier Asta. But like those films, everything in “Murder Mystery” and “Murder Mystery 2” is secondary, and distantly so, to the comic and sweet rapport between the Spitzes, a bickering but lovingly connected married couple. Like its predecessor, “Murder Mystery 2” is built on old-fashioned star power and the interplay between Sandler and Aniston. They’re good company to be in, and sometimes that’s enough.

Whether “Murder Mystery 2” meets that somewhat low bar will probably depend on just how casually you're watching it. For many, it may be enough to say that “Murder Mystery 2," which debuts Friday on Netflix, fits the bill as amiable background noise.

And this one, in which Jeremy Garelick (writer of “The Hangover”) takes over directing with James Vanderbilt returning to write the screenplay, starts out like a new season to a TV series, with a narrated recap of what the Spitzes have been up to since the last film. After their luck solving their first case, they've made themselves full-time private eyes. The clients aren't lining up, though, so it's welcome news when a friend from the first film, the Maharajah (Adeel Akhtar), calls up to invite them to his wedding and fly them out to his private island and then to Paris.

For those who have accused Sandler of using movies as an excuse to hang out with friends in beautiful locales, the “Murder Mystery” movies won't disappoint. This time, the action has been turned up a notch, especially once the Maharajah is kidnapped and an MI6 hostage negotiator (Mark Strong) shows up. Strong's potent presence lends some credibility to the mayhem, mostly in Paris, but he also gives Sandler and Aniston a straight man to bounce their jokes off of. Some of the gags are pretty dusty, even by “Thin Man” standards, including one Sandler line comparing marriage to hostage negotiations and a dance scene at an Indian wedding that's unlikely to draw any comparisons to “RRR.”

All of this may lend some scale to “Murder Mystery 2” but it's no help to the comedy. Despite that, good comic chemistry can be hard to come by, and Aniston — who's been wonderful in these films — and Sandler keep these films more entertaining than they should be.

Especially in recent years — a chilly period for big-screen comedies — the movies have struggled to figure out what do with bright, funny women like Aniston despite their abundant talent. Even in these decent-at-best comedies, her natural sense of timing is sharp and lively, and she and Sandler make a charming, easy-flowing duo. All they really need, to borrow a trick from Nick and Nora, is a dog.

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Entertainment

Crime Thriller Steals Best Pic at Bollywood Awards in UAE

Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez was one of many stars on the green carpet. Giuseppe CACACE / AFP
Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez was one of many stars on the green carpet. Giuseppe CACACE / AFP
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Crime Thriller Steals Best Pic at Bollywood Awards in UAE

Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez was one of many stars on the green carpet. Giuseppe CACACE / AFP
Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez was one of many stars on the green carpet. Giuseppe CACACE / AFP

Crime thriller "Drishyam 2" was crowned best picture as Bollywood glossed over its recent struggles with a high-octane International Indian Film Academy Awards show in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Director Abhishek Pathak's gritty remake of a Malayalam film took the top honor at the end of a four-hour ceremony of pumping dance routines that showcased the Hindi-language movie industry, AFP said.

Best director went to Ranganathan Madhavan for "Rocketry: The Nambi Effect". Hrithik Roshan won best actor for his role in "Vikram Vedha" and Alia Bhatt took best actress for "Gangubai Kathiawadi".

"Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva" picked up a number of prizes including best supporting actress for Mouni Roy and best female playback singer for star vocalist Shreya Ghoshal.

The IIFA awards, intended to reach an international audience, were held for the second year running in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates where more than a third of the 10 million population is Indian.

The Hindi-language film industry was worth $2.5 billion in 2019. India also releases hundreds of films in its 21 other official languages, churning out about 1,600 each year total.

But Mumbai-based Bollywood, the world's most prolific producer of movies, has been mired in crisis since the pandemic with ticket sales remaining low since cinemas reopened.

The rise in streaming services, competition from other parts of India and demand for meatier fare than Bollywood's trademark song-and-dance routines have all contributed to the slump, experts say.

However, superstar Shah Rukh Khan's "Pathaan" smashed Indian box office records in January, in a positive sign for the industry.

Shiny gold shirt

Indian cinema also received a boost in March when viral dance hit "Naatu Naatu" won an Oscar for best song, a first for a film from the country.

"What does IIFA mean for (Indian) cinema? I think opening up to the global stage and also bringing us to the global stage as well, so it's exciting both ways," said actress Jacqueline Fernandez, wearing an Arab-inspired head covering.

Among the highlights, heart-throb Varun Dhawan, wearing a shiny gold shirt, rode onto the stage on a mini-dune buggy, and ceremony host Vicky Kaushal drew screams from the audience when he launched into a dance number.

Actor and eco-activist Dia Mirza reminded the crowd about pressing environmental concerns months before the UAE, one of the world's biggest oil producers, hosts the COP28 United Nations climate talks in November and December.

Veteran actor Kamal Haasan was awarded for his outstanding achievement in Indian cinema and Anil Kapoor won best supporting actor for his role in "Jugjugg Jeeyo".

"Darlings" took best original story, and best female debut was Khushali Kumar in "Dhokha: Round D Corner".

The IIFA show, one of a number of Indian awards ceremonies, has been held in several countries since its debut in London in 2000. Voting is done online by fans.

Entertainment

‘Succession’ Fans Brace for Series Finale of Emmy-Winning Hit Drama

This image released by HBO shows Justin Kirk as Jeryd Mencken in a scene from the series "Succession." (HBO via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Justin Kirk as Jeryd Mencken in a scene from the series "Succession." (HBO via AP)
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‘Succession’ Fans Brace for Series Finale of Emmy-Winning Hit Drama

This image released by HBO shows Justin Kirk as Jeryd Mencken in a scene from the series "Succession." (HBO via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Justin Kirk as Jeryd Mencken in a scene from the series "Succession." (HBO via AP)

Jennifer Gould, an Oregon-based trusts and estates lawyer, thinks the premise of “Succession” – HBO’s hit series chronicling a billionaire media mogul and his children’s struggles to take over the family company — is a little flawed.

“The idea that they wouldn’t have a firm succession plan in place is ridiculous,” Gould said.

Still, she has set aside Monday for “crying and grieving” after watching the hotly anticipated series finale airing Sunday evening.

With the critically acclaimed drama's fourth and final season ending, dedicated fans of “Succession” are locking in plans to watch the whopping 88-minute finale while turning online for emotional support, memes and endless theories about how the show could end and who will prevail.

“No one I know in real life watches the show,” Gould said, adding that the emotional toll of season four made her look for support online, which is how she landed on the social news website Reddit, where a chat dedicated to all things “Succession” has more than 456,000 members.

In preparation for Sunday, Gould also is rereading “King Lear,” among Shakespeare’s bleakest tragedies, about a declining monarch and his children’s battle for the crown. Gould thinks the play could offer clues to how the series will end.

“It’s fairly obvious that it’s a loose retelling of King Lear,” Gould said of “Succession.” “I watch it obsessively. I don’t think there’s another way to watch it.”

“Succession” always has been about the membership of its audience, not its size, and its popularity among the coastal media and agenda-setting groups that the show depicts and attracts means the finale should leave a cultural mark.

More recent prestige TV finales are a better analogue for “Succession” than those of the network behemoths of decades past. For example, “The Sopranos” suddenly cutting to black to the song “Don’t Stop Believin’” in 2007 set the standard for both talkability and inscrutability.

Pamela Soin, a management consultant in New York City, said the end of the monumental New Jersey mob saga was the only finale generating more excitement than “Succession” for her “because that was after seven years of investment.”

Soin and a group of friends have watched every “Succession” episode this season with a serious ritual.

“We turn off all the lights, cinema style, put on the surround sound and watch in complete silence,” Soin said. “Then we have a debrief.”

But Soin said she'll be alone for the final episode because of the Memorial Day holiday weekend in the US.

On social media platforms including Twitter, Reddit and the chatting app Discord, popular among gamers, “Succession” fans share countless memes and swirling theories about which of the Murdoch-esque Roy family members, corporate executives and hangers-on will prevail in the finale. Fans have searched for clues in past episodes, characters' names, the show's opening sequence and elsewhere.

Show creator Jesse Armstrong told The New Yorker earlier this year “there’s a promise in the title of ‘Succession,’” which some have taken as a sign that the show's central question will be answered.

Soin thinks the finale will leave many unresolved plot lines and questions open to interpretation.

“I love how they handle a lot of things off-camera,” Soin said of the show's writers, who throughout the series have peppered pivotal backstories of the main characters in later scenes and passing conversations.

“Just like in real life, you find out about things that happened when you weren’t there,” Soin said.

Conclusions to hit TV series can be hit-or-miss. The bloody 2013 ending of Walter White’s story on “Breaking Bad,” and Don Draper’s more zen ending on “Mad Men” in 2015, generally satisfied their finicky fans. The 2019 conclusion of “Game of Thrones” — the last big finish for an HBO show — generally did not. Endings are hard to pull off and disappointment tends to be the norm, to which the makers of “Seinfeld” and “Lost” can attest.

HBO has been able to ratchet up suspense ahead of Sunday's “Succession” finale in part by airing only one episode per week, a decision that fans who grew up in the streaming age may be too young to remember was once the norm for TV series.

Suraj Nandy, a 20-year-old college student from Bengaluru, India, said he was counting down the hours until Sunday's finale, which airs at 6:30 a.m. local time.

“I'm going to huddle, get a blanket and snacks and sit there in awe,” Nandy said.

An economics student at Canada's University of Western Ontario, Nandy said he was disappointed by the “Game of Thrones” conclusion and had watched all of “Breaking Bad,” too, but considers “Succession” “easily, by far, my favorite show of the bunch.”

As for his finale plans, Nandy said he'll join some friends online for a virtual watch party. But it won't end there.

“I’ll probably cry for a couple of days and then watch it again,” Nandy said. “I’d like to reexperience the whole thing in one sitting.”

Entertainment

‘Anatomy of a Fall’ Wins Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or; 3rd Time Female Director Wins Top Honor

Director Justine Triet, Palme d'Or award winner for the film "Anatomie d'une chute" (Anatomy of a Fall), Director Hirokazu Kore-eda, the receiver of the Best Screenplay award for the film "Kaibutsu" (Monster) on behalf of screenwriter Yuji Sakamoto, and Director Jonathan Glazer, Grand Prix award winner for the film "The Zone of Interest", stand with their awards as they pose for a photo during the closing ceremony of the 76th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 27, 2023. (Reuters)
Director Justine Triet, Palme d'Or award winner for the film "Anatomie d'une chute" (Anatomy of a Fall), Director Hirokazu Kore-eda, the receiver of the Best Screenplay award for the film "Kaibutsu" (Monster) on behalf of screenwriter Yuji Sakamoto, and Director Jonathan Glazer, Grand Prix award winner for the film "The Zone of Interest", stand with their awards as they pose for a photo during the closing ceremony of the 76th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 27, 2023. (Reuters)
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‘Anatomy of a Fall’ Wins Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or; 3rd Time Female Director Wins Top Honor

Director Justine Triet, Palme d'Or award winner for the film "Anatomie d'une chute" (Anatomy of a Fall), Director Hirokazu Kore-eda, the receiver of the Best Screenplay award for the film "Kaibutsu" (Monster) on behalf of screenwriter Yuji Sakamoto, and Director Jonathan Glazer, Grand Prix award winner for the film "The Zone of Interest", stand with their awards as they pose for a photo during the closing ceremony of the 76th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 27, 2023. (Reuters)
Director Justine Triet, Palme d'Or award winner for the film "Anatomie d'une chute" (Anatomy of a Fall), Director Hirokazu Kore-eda, the receiver of the Best Screenplay award for the film "Kaibutsu" (Monster) on behalf of screenwriter Yuji Sakamoto, and Director Jonathan Glazer, Grand Prix award winner for the film "The Zone of Interest", stand with their awards as they pose for a photo during the closing ceremony of the 76th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 27, 2023. (Reuters)

Justine Triet's "Anatomy of a Fall" won the Palme d'Or at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in a ceremony Saturday that bestowed the festival's prestigious top prize on an engrossing, rigorously plotted French courtroom drama that puts a marriage on trial.

"Anatomy of a Fall," which stars Sandra Hüller as a writer trying to prove her innocence in her husband’s death, is only the third film directed by a woman to win the Palme d'Or. One of the two previous winners, Julia Ducournau, was on this year's jury.

Cannes' Grand Prix, its second prize, went to Jonathan Glazer’s "The Zone of Interest," a chilling Martin Amis adaptation about a German family living next door to Auschwitz. Hüller also stars in that film.

The awards were decided by a jury presided over by two-time Palme winner Ruben Östlund, the Swedish director who won the prize last year for "Triangle of Sadness." The ceremony preceded the festival's closing night film, the Pixar animation "Elemental."

Remarkably, the award for "Anatomy of a Fall" gives the indie distributor Neon its fourth straight Palme winners. Neon, which acquired the film after its premiere in Cannes, also backed "Triangle of Sadness," Ducournau's "Titane" and Bong Joon Ho's "Parasite," which it steered to a best picture win at the Academy Awards.

Triet was presented the Palme by Jane Fonda, who recalled coming to Cannes in 1963 when, she said, there were no female filmmakers competing "and it never even occurred to us that there was something wrong with that." This year, a record seven out of the 21 films in competition at Cannes were directed by women.

After a rousing standing ovation, Triet, the 44-year-old French filmmaker, spoke passionately about the protests that have roiled France this year over reforms to pension plans and the retirement age. Several protests were held during Cannes this year, but demonstrations were — as they have been in many high-profile locations throughout France — banned from the area around the Palais des Festivals. Protesters were largely relegated to the outskirts of Cannes.

"The protests were denied and repressed in a shocking way," said Triet, who linked that governmental influence to that in cinema. "The merchandizing of culture, defended by a liberal government, is breaking the French cultural exception."

"This award is dedicated to all the young women directors and all the young male directors and all those who cannot manage to shoot films today," she added. "We must give them the space I occupied 15 years ago in a less hostile world where it was still possible to make mistakes and start again."

After the ceremony, Triet reflected on being the third female director to win the Palme, following Ducournau and Jane Campion ("The Piano").

"Things are truly changing," she said.

Speaking to reporters, Triet was joined by her star, Hüller, whose performance was arguably the most acclaimed of the festival. (The festival encourages juries not to give films more than one award.) But "Anatomy of a Fall" did pocket one other sought-after prize: the Palme Dog. The honor given to the best canine in the festival's films went to the film's border collie, Snoop.

The jury prize went to Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki’s "Fallen Leaves," a deadpan love story about a romance that blooms in a loveless workaday Helsinki where dispatches from the war in Ukraine regularly play on the radio.

Best actor went to veteran Japanese star Koji Yakusho, who plays a reflective, middle-aged Tokyo man who cleans toilets in Wim Wenders' "Perfect Days," a gentle, quotidian character study.

The Turkish actor Merve Dizdar took best actress for the Nuri Bilge Ceylan's "About Dry Grasses." Ceylan's expansive tale is set in snowy eastern Anatolia about a teacher, Samet (Deniz Celiloğlu), accused of misconduct by a young female student. Dizdar plays a friend both attracted and repelled by Samet.

"I understand what it's like to be a woman in this area of the country," said Dizdar. "I would like to dedicate this prize to all the women who are fighting to exist and overcome difficulties in this world and to retrain hope."

Vietnamese-French director Tràn Anh Hùng took best director for "Pot-au-Feu," a lush, foodie love story starring Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel and set in a 19th century French gourmet château.

Quentin Tarantino, who won Cannes' top award for "Pulp Fiction," attended the ceremony to present a tribute to filmmaker Roger Corman. Tarantino praised Corman for filling him and countless moviegoers with "unadulterated cinema pleasure."

"My cinema is uninhibited, full of excess and fun," said Corman, the independent film maverick. "I feel like this what Cannes is about."

Saturday’s ceremony drew to close a Cannes edition that hasn't lacked spectacle, stars or controversy.

The biggest wattage premieres came out of competition. Martin Scorsese debuted his Osage murders epic "Killers of the Flower Moon," a sprawling vision of American exploitation with Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone. "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny," Harrison Ford’s Indy farewell, launched with a tribute to Ford. Wes Anderson premiered "Asteroid City."

The festival opened on a note of controversy. "Jeanne du Barry," a period drama co-starring Johnny Depp as Louis XV, played as the opening night film. The premiere marked Depp's highest profile appearance since the conclusion of his explosive trial last year with ex-wife Amber Heard.

Entertainment

Green Carpet in UAE Welcomes India's Film Elite for Bollywood Awards Ceremony

Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela arrives to attend the 23rd International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards In Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, May 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela arrives to attend the 23rd International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards In Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, May 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
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Green Carpet in UAE Welcomes India's Film Elite for Bollywood Awards Ceremony

Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela arrives to attend the 23rd International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards In Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, May 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela arrives to attend the 23rd International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards In Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, May 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Indian celebrities and Bollywood stars on Friday walked a green carpet for a second year in a row in the United Arab Emirates — the signature color of the International Indian Film Academy awards.

The 23rd edition of the “Bollywood Oscars” is being hosted at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital, over two days. Friday night kicked off with performances by Bollywood A-listers such as Badshah and Rajkummar Rao.

The spotlight will shift on Saturday night to the main event, a grand awards ceremony that recognizes cinematic achievements from the past year.

“Often film stars and the industry are something that’s far away from things like India and with us traveling around the world, we can bring them closer and create a bigger industry,” said Noreen Khan, vice president of IIFA.

Entertainment

Celine Dion Cancels Rest of World Tour Over Medical Condition

FILE PHOTO: Singer Celine Dion and Pepe Munoz arrive to attend the Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2019/20 collection show by designer Alexandre Vauthier in Paris, France, July 2, 2019. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Singer Celine Dion and Pepe Munoz arrive to attend the Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2019/20 collection show by designer Alexandre Vauthier in Paris, France, July 2, 2019. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau/File Photo
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Celine Dion Cancels Rest of World Tour Over Medical Condition

FILE PHOTO: Singer Celine Dion and Pepe Munoz arrive to attend the Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2019/20 collection show by designer Alexandre Vauthier in Paris, France, July 2, 2019. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Singer Celine Dion and Pepe Munoz arrive to attend the Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2019/20 collection show by designer Alexandre Vauthier in Paris, France, July 2, 2019. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau/File Photo

Canadian pop singer Celine Dion announced on Friday that she was canceling the European stretch of her world tour, scheduled to resume this summer, due to a medical condition that makes it difficult for her to perform, Reuters reported.

The announcement comes four months after the 55-year-old Quebecoise singer said she was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder called stiff-person syndrome that causes muscle spasms. At the time, the disorder forced her to postpone some European shows on her "Courage World Tour."

“I’m so sorry to disappoint all of you once again," the singer - best known for the "Titanic" movie theme song "My Heart Will Go On" - wrote on Instagram on Friday morning.

"I’m working really hard to build back my strength, but touring can be very difficult even when you’re 100%."

The tour's European stretch consisted of 42 shows in seven cities from late August to early October and another 17 cities during the spring of 2024. Dion said ticket holders would receive refunds.

Stiff-person syndrome causes muscle rigidity and increased sensitivity to sound, touch and emotional stimuli that can trigger spasms. The condition led the multiple Grammy winner to postpone her Las Vegas residency in October 2021.

The tour - her first in the United States in 10 years - kicked off in Quebec City in September 2019. It was accompanied by the release of her latest album "Courage."

The singer said the album’s title was inspired by the 2016 death from throat cancer of her husband and manager Rene Angelil. The couple had three children.

Entertainment

Actor Hugh Grant Can Pursue Part of Lawsuit against Murdoch Paper

FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017 file photo, Hugh Grant arrives at the 23rd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, file)
FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017 file photo, Hugh Grant arrives at the 23rd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, file)
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Actor Hugh Grant Can Pursue Part of Lawsuit against Murdoch Paper

FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017 file photo, Hugh Grant arrives at the 23rd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, file)
FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017 file photo, Hugh Grant arrives at the 23rd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, file)

British actor Hugh Grant, who is suing Rupert Murdoch's UK newspaper arm with Prince Harry over phone-hacking and other allegations, can proceed with some of his claims but others are too late, London’s High Court ruled on Friday.

Grant, famous for film comedies such as "Notting Hill", is suing Murdoch's News Group Newspapers (NGN) for alleged unlawful information gathering he said were committed on behalf of its tabloid, the Sun.

Judge Timothy Fancourt said in a written ruling on Friday that some allegations in Grant’s lawsuit had been submitted too late but others could continue to trial, Reuters said.

NGN had also asked the judge to throw out Harry's lawsuit at a hearing in April but a ruling in his case is not expected until after further discussions in July at which Harry will ask for permission to rely on an alleged "secret agreement" between Buckingham Palace and senior figures at NGN.

Grant – who previously brought a lawsuit against NGN in relation to the now-defunct News of the World tabloid, which was settled in 2012 – has become a prominent campaigner on press reform since the phone-hacking scandal emerged.

His latest lawsuit alleged Sun reporters used private investigators to tap his landline phone, place listening and tracking devices on his house and car, burgle his property and obtain his private information by deception.

NGN denies the allegations and its lawyers argued at April’s hearing that it was "unreal" for Grant to have not known enough to bring a lawsuit in relation to the Sun earlier than he did.

In his ruling, Fancourt said Grant had brought his claim in relation to voicemail interception – widely known as "phone-hacking" – too late.

But the judge said the question of whether Grant's allegations of "landline tapping, bugging, blagging, burglary and instructions to private investigators to do any of those things" were brought too late must be determined at trial.

Entertainment

Abu Dhabi to Host 23rd International Indian Film Academy Awards

The 23rd edition of the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) is set to take place in Abu Dhabi on May 26-27
The 23rd edition of the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) is set to take place in Abu Dhabi on May 26-27
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Abu Dhabi to Host 23rd International Indian Film Academy Awards

The 23rd edition of the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) is set to take place in Abu Dhabi on May 26-27
The 23rd edition of the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) is set to take place in Abu Dhabi on May 26-27

The 23rd edition of the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) is set to take place in Abu Dhabi on May 26-27.

In a partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Miral, the celebration of Indian Cinema will be held at Etihad Arena.

Saleh Mohamed Saleh Al Geziry, Director-General of Tourism, DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Our relationship with India, which is based on shared cultural and economic interests, has been boosted even further by the fact that Abu Dhabi has served as the setting for a number of Bollywood blockbusters.”

Executive Director of Group Communication and Destination Marketing Miral Taghrid Alsaeed also expressed honor to host the awards. “This exceptional event, set to unite remarkable movie stars on the island, further reinforces our commitment to positioning Yas Island as a global destination for leisure and entertainment.”

IIFA 2023 will kickstart the celebration with Sobha IIFA Rocks on May26, hosted by Farah Khan Kunder and Rajkummar Rao and will feature performances by Amit Trivedi, along with several popular singers, Badshah, Sunidhi Chauhan, Nucleya, Sukhbir Singh.

The highly awaited special addition this year to the Sobha IIFA Rocks is the premiere of an exclusive showcase by leading celebrity designer, Manish Malhotra, who is celebrating 25 years in the fashion industry.

The Nexa IIFA Awards will take place on Saturday and will be hosted by Abhishek Bachchan and Vicky Kaushal along with performances by Bollywood superstars Salman Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon, Nora Fatehi and Rakul Preet Singh.

One of the highlights of the Sobha IIFA weekend is a set of masterclasses designed for film buffs, aspiring filmmakers and enthusiasts. The masterclass series features, ‘Director’s Cut’ with Kabir Khan and Omung Kumar along with a must-attend session by celebrity hair and makeup artist Nabila.

Entertainment

Tributes for Tina Turner, the Global Music Superstar, after Her Death at 83

Singer Tina Turner arrives on the red carpet for the fashion show by 77-year-old designer Giorgio Armani at the 798 art complex in Beijing on May 31, 2012 . (Photo by MARK RALSTON / AFP)
Singer Tina Turner arrives on the red carpet for the fashion show by 77-year-old designer Giorgio Armani at the 798 art complex in Beijing on May 31, 2012 . (Photo by MARK RALSTON / AFP)
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Tributes for Tina Turner, the Global Music Superstar, after Her Death at 83

Singer Tina Turner arrives on the red carpet for the fashion show by 77-year-old designer Giorgio Armani at the 798 art complex in Beijing on May 31, 2012 . (Photo by MARK RALSTON / AFP)
Singer Tina Turner arrives on the red carpet for the fashion show by 77-year-old designer Giorgio Armani at the 798 art complex in Beijing on May 31, 2012 . (Photo by MARK RALSTON / AFP)

A collection of tributes that poured in Wednesday from musicians, actors and athletes following the death of musical superstar Tina Turner,

“I’m so saddened by the passing of my wonderful friend Tina Turner. She was truly an enormously talented performer and singer. She was inspiring, warm, funny and generous. She helped me so much when I was young and I will never forget her.” — Mick Jagger said on Instagram. Turner performed with Jagger during a show in 1985 and toured with the band in the 60s, said The Associated Press.

“We have lost one of the word’s most exciting and electric performers. A total legend on record and on stage. She was untouchable. Condolences to Erwin and her family. The saddest news.” — Elton John said on Instagram.

“How do we say farewell to a woman who owned her pain and trauma and used it as a means to help change the world? Through her courage in telling her story, her commitment to stay the course in her life, no matter the sacrifice, and her determination to carve out a space in rock and roll for herself and for others who look like her, Tina Turner showed others who lived in fear what a beautiful future filled with love, compassion, and freedom should look like. Her final words to me — for me — were “You never mimicked me. Instead, you reached deep into your soul, found your inner Tina, and showed her to the world.” I shall hold these words close to my heart for the rest of my days.” — Angela Bassett, who played Turner in the 1993 film “What’s Love Got to Do With It”

“Tina Turner was raw. She was powerful. She was unstoppable. And she was unapologetically herself—speaking and singing her truth through joy and pain; triumph and tragedy. Today we join fans around the world in honoring the Queen of Rock and Roll, and a star whose light will never fade.” — former President Barack Obama, on Twitter.

“In addition to being a once-in-a-generation talent that changed American music forever, Tina’s personal strength was remarkable. Overcoming adversity, and even abuse, she built a career for the ages and a life and legacy that were entirely hers.” — President Joe Biden, in a statement.

“Rest in peace to one of my favorite artists of all time, the legendary queen of rock n’ roll Tina Turner. I’ve seen her many many times and hands down, she gave one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen. She always gave you your moneys worth.” — NBA legend Magic Johnson, who posted a photo with him and Turner on Twitter.

“Cultural Icon down. Safe Journey Anna Mae Bullock . You were HERE.” — singer Erykah Badu said Instagram.

“Heaven has gained an angel. Rest in Paradise Tina Turner. Thank you for the inspiration you gave us all.” - singer Ciara said on Twitter.

“What a woman, what a life, what a warrior!!! The day I met you Ms Tina, I couldn’t believe I was standing in the presence of your greatness!! (Thanks to my big sis @oprah!!!) I got to celebrate and thank you for all the love you’ve poured out around u. The songs you sang gave us courage to step out and be our full selves. You are a fierce force as a woman and a performer! All of these things have been beacons of light for not only me, but all the people around the world finding ourselves and our fearlessness, through our vulnerability!!” — Alicia Keys said on Instagram.

“Truest rocker. Greatest performer. Most profoundly sexy woman. What a dynamo, what a story, what a heroine. Always an energy inspiration for me, always tapping the source. Tina forever. Man. Always been in awe of her and the infinite power.” — Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea said on Instagram.

“A Survivor and a Badass. Every note she sang shook the room and shook your soul. There will never be another like her. Shake the roof off of Heaven Tina Turner.” — musician Diane Warren said on Twitter.

“Tina Turner was iconic, talented, and fierce. What a journey. What a life, filled with great highs and great lows. She left an abusive marriage. She found love again. She made her way in this world, selling millions of albums. She became a mother, she experienced terrible sadness, and she still kept going. She brought joy to so many, even when she was experiencing such tragedy. I’ve always admired her. I first met her as a teenager and followed her throughout her inspiring life. May we honor Tina, and may we continue to play her music loudly and dance!” — journalist Maria Shriver said on Twitter.

Entertainment

Halle Bailey Soaks up Good Vibes for Ariel Role in ‘Little Mermaid’ 

This image released by Disney shows Halle Bailey as Ariel, left, and Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric in "The Little Mermaid." (Disney via AP)
This image released by Disney shows Halle Bailey as Ariel, left, and Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric in "The Little Mermaid." (Disney via AP)
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Halle Bailey Soaks up Good Vibes for Ariel Role in ‘Little Mermaid’ 

This image released by Disney shows Halle Bailey as Ariel, left, and Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric in "The Little Mermaid." (Disney via AP)
This image released by Disney shows Halle Bailey as Ariel, left, and Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric in "The Little Mermaid." (Disney via AP)

As the second Black Disney princess in history, Halle Bailey, who plays Ariel in the new "The Little Mermaid" movie, says she has been moved by videos of Black children and parents delighted by her history-making role.

And then there was the video that hit closer to home, sent by her mother, of her grandparents viewing the film's trailer and her grandfather crying as he watched it on repeat.

"Special moments like that make me feel like I'm in the right place because they have been through so much," Bailey told Reuters. "My grandmother remembers seeing her family members in the cotton fields."

When the 23-year-old American singer was cast as Ariel, it was a moment of both celebration and struggle, as she became the target of a racist backlash on social media.

Bailey chose to embrace her historical casting by reading the book "The Little Mermaid: Make a Splash" to children at the White House in April and soaking up the good vibes from her little fans' videos.

"I just focus on the positivity and the beautiful reactions from these babies and realize the greater meaning and purpose in all of this is for them to be able to see themselves and know that they're worthy," the "Grown-ish" actor said.

The movie splashes into theaters on Friday.

Based on the animated 1989 film and the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale of the same name, the new movie directed by Rob Marshall follows the mermaid Ariel, who makes a deal with a cruel sea witch, Ursula, in which Ariel trades her voice to become human and reunite with Prince Eric after rescuing him from a shipwreck.

The cast includes Jonah Hauer-King as Eric, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula and Javier Bardem as King Triton. Among the voice actors, Daveed Diggs plays the crab Sebastian, Awkwafina is the diving bird Scuttle, and Jacob Tremblay is the fish Flounder.

With encouragement from loved ones, Bailey dove into her role, literally, by taking mermaid lessons.

"I had these amazing synchronized swimming coaches," she said. "They would come over to my house every Sunday and they would just teach me how to swim."

Acting veteran McCarthy also embraced the opportunity to play Ursula, a character she felt attached to long ago.

"I absolutely remember thinking Ursula is my gal," McCarthy said, recalling the original animated film she first saw at the movie theater when she was 20 years old.

McCarthy appreciated being able to explore Ursula's fears and loneliness.

"I think you start to kind of develop this full three-dimensional version of who she really was and I really quite fell for her," she said.

Entertainment

Netflix to Charge an Additional $8 Month for Viewers Living Outside US Subscribers’ Households 

The Netflix logo at the Netflix Tudum Theater in Los Angeles, California, on September 14, 2022. (AP)
The Netflix logo at the Netflix Tudum Theater in Los Angeles, California, on September 14, 2022. (AP)
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Netflix to Charge an Additional $8 Month for Viewers Living Outside US Subscribers’ Households 

The Netflix logo at the Netflix Tudum Theater in Los Angeles, California, on September 14, 2022. (AP)
The Netflix logo at the Netflix Tudum Theater in Los Angeles, California, on September 14, 2022. (AP)

Netflix on Tuesday outlined how it intends to crack down on the rampant sharing of account passwords in the US, its latest bid to reel in more subscribers to its video streaming service as its growth slows.

To combat password sharing, Netflix said it will limit US viewership of its programming to people living in the same household. Those who subscribe to Netflix’s standard or premium plans — which cost $15.50 to $20 per month — will be able to allow another person living outside their household to use their password for an additional $8 per month, a $2 discount from the company’s basic plan.

Without providing details how it authenticates subscriber identities or accounts, Netflix assured that everyone living in the same household of a US customer will still be able to stream TV series and movies “wherever they are — at home, on the go, on holiday.”

The company based in Los Gatos, California has roughly 70 million US accountholders.

The long-anticipated move, telegraphed by Netflix a year ago, seeks to end a practice that the company allowed to go unchecked for years while its streaming service was attracting subscribers in droves. At that time, management had little incentive to risk riling customers by reining in password sharing.

While Netflix looked the other away, an estimated 100 million people worldwide were getting passwords from family and friends to freeload on Netflix TV series such as “The Crown” and films such as “All Quiet On The Western Front.” Those passwords were funneled through Netflix’s 232.5 million worldwide paying subscribers, who generated the bulk of the company’s $32 billion in revenue last year.

But after a year of lackluster subscriber growth that included its largest customer losses in more than a decade, Netflix is putting its foot down.

In February, it began blocking freeloading viewers in Canada, New Zealand, Portugal and Spain, following similar moves in Latin America.

Before the crackdown on password sharing, Netflix began introducing features, such as the ability to transfer the profiles set up on subscriber accounts to make it easier for people to retain their viewing histories after they are no longer able to watch shows for free.

Netflix’s effort to force more of its viewers to pay for access to its programming follows the launch of a $7 monthly plan that inserted commercials into its service for the first time. Netflix has picked up an additional 9 million worldwide subscribers since the ad-supported option debuted, although not all of those signed up for the low-priced plan.

Although the new US surcharge for viewers living outside subscribers’ households is less than Netflix’s basic streaming plan, it comes at a time that Americans have been paring their discretionary spending because of high inflation. That inflationary squeeze, combined with more competition from other streaming services, is one of the main reasons Netflix has suffered a slowdown in growth.

Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters acknowledged last month that the crackdown on password sharing is likely to trigger an uptick in subscriber cancellations, but expressed confidence the company will be better off in the long run after people adjust to the clampdown.

“We see an initial cancel reaction, and then we build out of that both in terms of membership and revenue as borrowers sign-up for their own Netflix accounts,” Peters assured analysts, citing how the crackdown has unfolded in Canada since February.

Netflix’s shares fell 2% Tuesday to close at $355.99. The stock remains up by about 20% so far this year.