Reuters Entertainment News Summary

08/12/2016 8:57

Following is a summary of current entertainment news briefs.

Fast and furious? China's stalling box office points to consumer slowdown

China's cinemas are showing signs of weakness, a concern for policymakers who had looked to stellar box office receipts over the last half-decade as a sign consumers were picking up some of the slack from ailing exports and manufacturing. Ticket sales dropped 10 percent in the second quarter of the year versus 2015, the first dip in around five years and a far cry from stellar growth at the start of the year. July sales slumped further, data from box office tracker EntGroup showed.

Dozens arrested for alcohol misuse at rappers' New York concert

Dozens of people, many of them underage, were arrested at a concert by rappers Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa in Long Island, New York because of alcohol misuse and nine were hospitalized with alcohol related issues, authorities said on Wednesday. Law enforcement officers confiscated alcohol and arrested 75 attendees at Tuesday's show at the Nikon Theater at Jones Beach near Wantagh, a small community in Hempstead. Ambulance crews treated some of those sickened at the scene.

Bridges, Pine find shades of grey in 'Hell or High Water'

Oscar winner Jeff Bridges joins forces with "Star Trek" actor Chris Pine for action drama "Hell or High Water," a gritty film set in West Texas exploring the blurry line between good and bad. Bridges plays a Texas Ranger in the movie while Pine and "Warcraft" actor Ben Foster portray two brothers who rob banks in an attempt to save their family property.

Awkward 'The Office' boss David Brent back in new movie

David Brent, the awkward boss from British television series "The Office," is back in a new movie in what may be his last outing for a while, according to comedian Ricky Gervais who portrays the famously irritating character. "David Brent: Life on the Road" features the former office boss as a traveling salesman now attempting to be a rock star with his band Foregone Conclusion.

Jonah Hill on 'crazy' true story behind 'War Dogs'

A real-life story of two Miami friends who found military business opportunities during the Iraq war was "crazy" and "unbelievable" enough for actor Jonah Hill to star in the Hollywood big screen retelling. "War Dogs," out in theaters on Aug. 18, is a dramedy inspired by two young men, played by Hill and Miles Teller, living in Miami Beach during the Iraq War who exploit a little-known government initiative that allowed small businesses to bid on U.S. military contracts.

Rihanna, Anne Hathaway expected to join female 'Ocean's Eight'

Pop star Rihanna along with actresses Anne Hathaway and Helena Bonham Carter are in talks to join Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett in a female-driven spinoff of the "Ocean's Eleven" crime caper franchise, Hollywood trade publications reported on Wednesday. News of the movie comes a month after the release of the all-female remake of the beloved 1980s action comedy "Ghostbusters," this time starring Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig, that prompted a hate-filled backlash on social media.

Supermarket foods star in Seth Rogen's raunchy 'Sausage Party'

Actor and writer Seth Rogen brings his latest offering to the big screen with "Sausage Party," an innuendo-filled animated film focusing on supermarket foods unaware of what happens to them after they leave store shelves. The movie, whose voice cast includes Salma Hayek and Kristen Wiig, has had a long journey to make it to cinema screens, remaining shelved without financiers for years.

Rihanna to receive MTV's lifetime achievement award

Rihanna will receive MTV's lifetime achievement award at the Aug. 28 Video Music Awards (VMA) show, MTV said on Thursday, joining the likes of Kanye West, Madonna and Beyonce. The Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award is the highest honor in the video music industry, and reflects an artist's impact not just on music but on pop culture, fashion, film and philanthropy.

Meryl Streep makes music, badly, in 'Florence Foster Jenkins'

Meryl Streep has showcased her musical talents in several films, but her abilities take a purposeful turn for the worse in "Florence Foster Jenkins." The triple Oscar-winner portrays the real-life title character, a World War Two-era New York socialite whose passion for music far outweighed her singing skills.

Pedro Almodovar reflects on 'Julieta' at UK premiere

Acclaimed Spanish director Pedro Almovodar said he found a new challenge in his latest film "Julieta," mining a quieter drama for his 20th feature film as he reflected on his decades-long career. "Julieta" is an adaptation of several Alice Munro stories about a single mother drifting into depression as she searches for her missing daughter and discovers much about her traumatic past is not what it seems. The film stars Emma Suarez as the older Julieta and Adriana Ugarte as the younger iteration of the character. Almovodar, 66, known for complex dramas such as "Hable con Ella" ("Talk to Her"), "Todo sobre mi madre" ("All About My Mother") and "Volver," said "Julieta" presented a new challenge for him.

08/12/2016 8:57