Innholdsfortegnelse for #033 i eNews Magazine

Annie Lennox says online criticism leveled at her remarks about the anti-lynching song “Strange Fruit” was hurtful and unfair. “It was so painful. I can’t even begin to tell you. I’m the last person who would disrespect that history,” Lennox said. In a TV interview last fall about her new CD, “Nostalgia,” and the “Strange Fruit” track it includes, Lennox didn’t mention that the 1930s song made famous by Billie Holiday was a direct attack on African-American hangings of the era. Blogs and posts on Twitter accused her of “whitewashing” the song’s origins by referring generally to human violence and bigotry while speaking to PBS host Tavis Smiley last October. Lennox, appearing Monday night at a Television Critics Association meeting to promote a spring PBS “Nostalgia” concert special, was asked…

A recent measles outbreak traced to Disney theme parks in California includes five park employees who were infected, officials said Tuesday. Of the five employees at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, three have fully recovered and returned to work, and two remain off, said Dr. Pamela Hymel, the chief medical officer for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. All of Disney’s “cast members,” as it calls park employees, have been offered immunity tests and vaccinations since the company first heard of the outbreak Jan. 7, Hymel said. Those who have been in close contact with infected employees are put on paid leave until their immunity can be established. Several dozen measles cases have emerged in California, four other states and Mexico in the outbreak linked to December visits to…

CES 2015 SERVES UP PLENTY OF EXCITING DEVICES If you're the kind of person who, when you hear the word 'drone', immediately pictures some arcane military operation taking place in a war-torn part of the Middle East, you're already behind the times. That's because the recent International Consumer Electronics Show, or CES 2015, had a host of new drones on display, demonstrating just what is possible with the technology today. It turns out that the possibilities for drones are rich, and should certainly give loyal users of iOS devices something to get excited about. Indeed, there are drones on the market right now for iGadget users, such as the Parrot AR.Drone 2.0, which is capable of capturing HD photos and videos and can be easily piloted via your iDevice, whether you make it…

Al Pacino delivers his best performance in years in “The Humbling,” a tragicomic look at a veteran stage and film actor on the edge of a nervous breakdown. That description might seem like an unwelcome invitation for another ham-fisted late-era Pacino bit, but, from the opening shot, it’s clear that the infamously over the top actor is trying something different: subtlety. It’s just a shame “Birdman” had to come out first. There’s probably only so much audience thirst for stories about hallucination prone, past-their-prime actors, but Pacino fans (and skeptics) would be remiss to skip this one, even if “Birdman” is the superior film. Adapted from Philip Roth’s 2009 novel, “The Humbling,” directed by Barry Levinson (“Rain Man”), introduces audiences to Axler as he limply applies makeup and recites Shakespeare…

American Beauty / American Psycho Fall Out Boy Following up 2013’s stunning comeback effort Save Rock and Roll might have seemed, in theory, a tall order for the Chicago alternative rockers, but the wealth of positive reviews suggests that they passed that test with flying colors with American Beauty/American Psycho. Its release was preceded by the Platinum pop top 20 lead single, “Centuries”. FIVE FACTS: THE PALE EMPEROR (Deluxe Edition) Marilyn Manson Preceded by “Deep Six”, a number 22 single on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, the ninth studio album of the legendary rock band Marilyn Manson has been described by its eponymous lead singer as “very cinematic” and incorporating more “old blues” influences, while not neglecting the “harder elements” of his previous work. FIVE FACTS:…

James Taylor and Paul Simon paid tribute to late jazz great Michael Brecker with performances and kind words at a cancer benefit for their friend who died in 2007. Taylor, who Brecker’s widow said had the flu, performed “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight” - the first song he played with the jazz saxophonist - in New York City on Tuesday night. Taylor was on guitar as Brecker’s brother, Randy Brecker, played the trumpet. “I miss him all the time,” Taylor said after the performance. “Michael saved my life and probably a lot of other people. He led me to freedom, really from addiction, and showed a number of us the way.” He earned a large applause from the crowd of 400 at the event dubbed “The Nearness of You”…

Linkin Park is canceling the rest of its U.S. tour after its lead singer injured his leg. Chester Bennington says he needs immediate medical attention and it’s impossible for him to perform. Bennington hasn’t said how he injured his leg. Linkin Park’s “The Hunting Party” tour kicked off last week. The rock band performed only three concerts. Bennington appeared onstage with crutches at the band’s Sunday concert in Indianapolis. He said Tuesday he’s “disappointed” he can’t perform and called the first few shows “magical.” Fans can seek refunds for the remaining 16 shows. The Grammy Award-winning band’s hits include “In the End,” “Numb” and “New Divide.” Online: http://thehuntingpartour.com…

“American Idol” producers have talked about a cross-promotion with “Empire,” Fox’s hot new series about a music industry family, perhaps getting some of the contestants on the scripted show, producers said Saturday. “The music connection would be silly to ignore,” said Trish Kinane, executive producer of “American Idol.” The two shows air back-to-back on Wednesday nights. “Empire” has been a success out of the box, already earning an order for a second season, while age has cost “American Idol” its long-time status of television’s biggest show. Folks at “Empire” signaled an interest in the idea later Saturday. “It would be stupid not to,” said actor Terrence Howard, who plays the show’s lead character, Lucious Lyon. “American Idol” producers, host Ryan Seacrest and judges Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick…

While minority actors have made on-again, off-again progress through the years, advances on TV aren’t the same among all groups seeking greater representation. ABC, Fox and NBC can claim a higher percentage of blacks on scripted prime-time shows than there are in the general population, an Associated Press analysis of television diversity has found. But black characters outnumber Latinos on those networks as well as on CBS - despite there being more Latinos (17.1 percent, according to 2013 U.S. Census Bureau figures) than blacks (13.2 percent) in the United States. “What I found over the years is that networks are so committed to developing diversity, but they’re very, very scared about actually programming it,” said Mexican-American actress Eva Longoria, the “Desperate Housewives” star who is producing “Devious Maids” for Lifetime…

Comedy Central says Justin Bieber will be the victim of its next roast. The channel said Tuesday that the pop star will face the music at a taping in Los Angeles on a still-unannounced air date. In a posting on his Twitter account, Bieber said he’s long wanted to be roasted but was told by Comedy Central that he needed to provide more material - and he’s worked hard to do that, he said. Among events that appear ripe for mockery: the egging of a neighbor’s house and the monkey he left in Germany. Last weekend, “Saturday Night Live” took on his new Calvin Klein ad, with “SNL” cast member Kate McKinnon strutting as the underwear-clad, tattooed Bieber. James Franco was the subject of the last Comedy Central roast.…

Empty seats were hard to come by at Clint Eastwood’s “American Sniper” over the holiday weekend, where the R-rated Iraq War drama - all words seldom attached to “blockbuster” - rolled to the kind of runaway success that makes Hollywood sit up and take notice. The film, which blew away box-office expectations with a superhero-sized $107 million over the four-day weekend, was in many ways an old-fashioned kind of Hollywood hit: It was built on star-power (Bradley Cooper and Eastwood), Oscar buzz (6 nominations including best picture) and a largely adult audience (63 percent over 25 years old). The success has made the latest film from the 84-year-old director - his second in half a year - a flashpoint in Hollywood, Washington D.C. and everywhere in between, sweeping “American Sniper”…

The publisher of an authorized best-seller about North Korean defector and human rights activist Shin Dong-hyuk, who has retracted substantial parts of his story, said Sunday that it is anxious for an “accurate understanding” of the facts. Penguin Books publicity director Louise Braverman said in a statement that the publisher was consulting with Blaine Harden, whose “Escape from Camp 14” came out in 2012. Viking, a Penguin imprint, “has been apprised that there were some inaccuracies in the story Shin Dong-hyuk, the subject of the book, told the author,” the statement reads. “We are working with the author on an accurate understanding of the facts.” Harden’s book spent several weeks on The New York Times hardcover and paperback best-seller lists, and, according to Braverman, has been published in 27 languages.…

ADAPTATION OF CHERYL STRAYED MEMOIR IS A BIG HIT One can barely deny the momentous impact of author Cheryl Strayed's memoir, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail since its release in 2012. Sure, it topped the New York Times Best Seller list as well as being the first selection for Oprah's Book Club 2.0, but the tale of Strayed's 1,100 mile hike from the Mojave Desert to the border with Washington State also charmed and inspired endless numbers of readers - and may have now even revived Reese Witherspoon's Oscar prospects. That's because, even before the book's publication, movie rights for it had been optioned by the actor's Pacific Standard film company, with Witherspoon slated to portray Strayed. Add celebrated novelist Nick Hornby as a writer…

The Boxtrolls A human boy, “Eggs” (voiced by Isaac Hempstead Wright) is forced into rescue mode when the loveable, trash-collecting creatures that raised him - known as the Boxtrolls - are captured by evil pest exterminator Archibald Snatcher (voiced by Ben Kingsley). Assisted by his feisty young friend Winnie (voiced by Ellie Fanning), “Eggs” sets off on a truly remarkable adventure. FIVE FACTS: Dear White People Centering on a group of African American students attending a predominantly white American college, Dear White People is a sly, but sharp satire on the state of race relations today. Shining a light on prejudices and identity issues, this Justin Simien-directed comedy forces us to consider what it means, in the early 21st century, to be a black face in a white place. FIVE…

Just as Hollywood’s awards season heats up, half the town takes off for a snowy getaway to Park City, Utah, for the Sundance Film Festival. Celebrating its 31st year, the festival has steadily outgrown its indie-film roots to showcase emerging and established talent in art, music, television, film and new media. All kinds of installations pop up during the 10-day event to lure movie lovers and the Hollywood crowd, from Sundance-sponsored panel discussions to concerts, parties, dinners, gift suites, even camera and car showrooms. The excitement starts Thursday. Here’s a peek at what to look out for during Hollywood’s week in the snow: ALL-STAR CHATS: Lena Dunham, Mindy Kaling, Kristin Wiig, Robert Redford and George Lucas are among the stars participating in the Sundance Institute’s new “Power of Story” programs…