The United States has handed over notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout to Russian authorities in a prisoner swap that secured the release of WNBA Star Brittney Griner on Thursday.
Bout, nicknamed the “Merchant of Death,” is a former Soviet officer convicted in 2011 on charges including “conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.” Bout was also charged with illegal weapons trafficking, wire fraud, and money laundering related to his work arming the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (Farc). Bout was ultimately sentenced to 26 years in prison.
Bout, nicknamed the “Merchant of Death,” is a former Soviet officer convicted in 2011 on charges including “conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.” Bout was also charged with illegal weapons trafficking, wire fraud, and money laundering related to his work arming the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (Farc). Bout was ultimately sentenced to 26 years in prison.
- 12/8/2022
- by Nikki McCann Ramirez
- Rollingstone.com
Click here to read the full article.
A couple of years ago, when it was announced that FX was doing an American Crime Story season on Monica Lewinsky, there was a wave of nonsensical concern that if the series came out during the 2020 election cycle, it might have some sort of impact.
If there’s been any similar rending of garments about HBO releasing Year One: A Political Odyssey in the middle of a midterm election cycle, I haven’t heard it. This speaks in part to the dilution of the HBO documentary brand, which used to be one of the industry’s gold standards and now simply seems to encompass whatever nonfiction programming — some still tremendous, it must be said — HBO is releasing at a rate of two or three docs or docuseries per week.
There’s no real buzz around Year One: A Political Odyssey on the eve...
A couple of years ago, when it was announced that FX was doing an American Crime Story season on Monica Lewinsky, there was a wave of nonsensical concern that if the series came out during the 2020 election cycle, it might have some sort of impact.
If there’s been any similar rending of garments about HBO releasing Year One: A Political Odyssey in the middle of a midterm election cycle, I haven’t heard it. This speaks in part to the dilution of the HBO documentary brand, which used to be one of the industry’s gold standards and now simply seems to encompass whatever nonfiction programming — some still tremendous, it must be said — HBO is releasing at a rate of two or three docs or docuseries per week.
There’s no real buzz around Year One: A Political Odyssey on the eve...
- 10/18/2022
- by Daniel Fienberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
HBO debuted the trailer for Year One: A Political Odyssey, which examines President Joe Biden’s first year in office, with what the premium network calls a “rare glimpse into the inner working of the White House.”
A standout moment from the trailer is via Secretary of State Antony Blinken, talking about the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. “President [Ashraf] Ghani said to me on the phone, ‘I will stay and fight to the death. he fled the country the next day,” Blinken says, underscoring the extent to which the administration was taken by surprise as the country so quickly fell to the Taliban.
But other moments suggest that key figures learned from Afghanistan and sought to get ahead of the Russian threat to Ukraine, as Biden built alliances that were in place when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion.
Blinken is among those interviewed for the project, along with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan,...
A standout moment from the trailer is via Secretary of State Antony Blinken, talking about the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. “President [Ashraf] Ghani said to me on the phone, ‘I will stay and fight to the death. he fled the country the next day,” Blinken says, underscoring the extent to which the administration was taken by surprise as the country so quickly fell to the Taliban.
But other moments suggest that key figures learned from Afghanistan and sought to get ahead of the Russian threat to Ukraine, as Biden built alliances that were in place when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion.
Blinken is among those interviewed for the project, along with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan,...
- 10/7/2022
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
President Joe Biden’s turbulent first year in office is the focus of HBO’s forthcoming documentary, “Year One: A Political Odyssey.”
In the trailer, which Variety can exclusively reveal, the documentary chronicles Biden’s first year as president, from his inauguration in 2021 to the State of the Union speech in March. Directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker John Maggio, “Year One” explores the dynamics of the President’s inner circle, featuring archival news footage and insider interviews with secretary of state Antony Blinken, national security advisor Jake Sullivan, secretary of defense Lloyd Austin, CIA director William Burns and White House chief of staff Ron Klain, among other members of Biden’s cabinet.
After the Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021, Biden’s presidency began amid turmoil in the nation and the continued global pandemic. The documentary delves into several historical events under Biden’s first year, including the withdrawal from Afghanistan, the rise...
In the trailer, which Variety can exclusively reveal, the documentary chronicles Biden’s first year as president, from his inauguration in 2021 to the State of the Union speech in March. Directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker John Maggio, “Year One” explores the dynamics of the President’s inner circle, featuring archival news footage and insider interviews with secretary of state Antony Blinken, national security advisor Jake Sullivan, secretary of defense Lloyd Austin, CIA director William Burns and White House chief of staff Ron Klain, among other members of Biden’s cabinet.
After the Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021, Biden’s presidency began amid turmoil in the nation and the continued global pandemic. The documentary delves into several historical events under Biden’s first year, including the withdrawal from Afghanistan, the rise...
- 10/7/2022
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
Vladimir Putin sparked further speculation on social media over his health in another video where he showed odd movement in his legs.
However, spokesman for the CIA and MI6 have said that there is no evidence that Putin is suffering from Parkinson’s or cancer as the unfounded rumors have claimed.
The talk, which Putin gave on Monday in the Eastern province of Kamchatka at the Environmental Youth Forum, also included some interesting soundbites.
One clip, shared by The Sun, started with Putin saying, “I can’t say I am the most disciplined. It’s clear I’ve got to work on myself.”
His legs do shift around and he seems slightly uncomfortable, but it is a stretch to suggest more than that.
He also likened having lots of discipline to having a “rubber butt” in a bit of an odd attempt at a joke, and also added, “It is...
However, spokesman for the CIA and MI6 have said that there is no evidence that Putin is suffering from Parkinson’s or cancer as the unfounded rumors have claimed.
The talk, which Putin gave on Monday in the Eastern province of Kamchatka at the Environmental Youth Forum, also included some interesting soundbites.
One clip, shared by The Sun, started with Putin saying, “I can’t say I am the most disciplined. It’s clear I’ve got to work on myself.”
His legs do shift around and he seems slightly uncomfortable, but it is a stretch to suggest more than that.
He also likened having lots of discipline to having a “rubber butt” in a bit of an odd attempt at a joke, and also added, “It is...
- 9/10/2022
- by Jacob Linden
- Uinterview
Svr General, an anonymous Telegram channel claiming to be operated by a Kremlin insider, has claimed that Vladimir Putin’s condition is “sharply deteriorating” to the point that it will be affecting his upcoming public appearances.
This channel has long been stoking rumors of the Russian President’s poor health, which the Kremlin has continuously denied. Their post read that, “soon the President will not be able to personally hold meetings and participate in large events.” They also repeated accusations that Putin has hired body doubles for some public appearances.
Svr General also said that the Russian Government “lays the blame for both the unsuccessful start and, in general, the course of the military operation, and the huge losses of manpower and weapons, precisely on President Vladimir Putin.”
This is an even more outlandish claim than the health accusations, and there would likely be more obvious signs of discontent from...
This channel has long been stoking rumors of the Russian President’s poor health, which the Kremlin has continuously denied. Their post read that, “soon the President will not be able to personally hold meetings and participate in large events.” They also repeated accusations that Putin has hired body doubles for some public appearances.
Svr General also said that the Russian Government “lays the blame for both the unsuccessful start and, in general, the course of the military operation, and the huge losses of manpower and weapons, precisely on President Vladimir Putin.”
This is an even more outlandish claim than the health accusations, and there would likely be more obvious signs of discontent from...
- 8/24/2022
- by Jacob Linden
- Uinterview
Cult movie classic ‘Pretty Poison’ filmmaker Noel Black dead at 77 (photo: Tuesday Weld and Anthony Perkins in ‘Pretty Poison’) Noel Black, best remembered for the 1968 cult movie classic Pretty Poison, died of pneumonia at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital on July 5, 2014. Black (born on June 30, 1937, in Chicago) was 77. Prior to Pretty Poison, Noel Black earned praise for the 18-minute short film Skaterdater (1965), the tale of a boy skateboarder who falls for a girl bike rider. Shot on the beaches of Los Angeles County, the dialogue-less Skaterdater went on to win the Palme d’Or for Best Short Film and tied with Orson Welles’ Falstaff - Chimes at Midnight for the Technical Grand Prize at the 1966 Cannes Film Festival. Besides, Skaterdater received an Academy Award nomination in the Best Short Subject, Live Action category. (The Oscar winner that year was Claude Berri’s Le Poulet.) ‘Pretty Poison’: Fun and games and...
- 8/10/2014
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
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