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    McConaughey, Van Sant film greeted harshly at Cannes

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments768 Views
    From left, direct Gus Van Sant, Matthew McConaughey and Naomi Watts pose for photographers at the photo call for film The Sea of Trees, at the 68th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 16, 2015. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP)
    CANNES, France (AP) --

    Matthew McConaughey's remarkable comeback streak in recent years — the so called "McConaissance" — hit a bump at the Cannes Film Festival premiere of Gus Van Sant's "The Sea of Trees."

    The film, about two men (McConaughey, Ken Watanabe) who find each other in a Japanese "suicide forest," was greeted harshly by critics and was loudly booed in its initial screenings to Cannes media. Ahead of the film's official premiere, McConaughey was sanguine about the reaction.

    "Anyone has as much right to boo as they do to ovate," McConaughey told reporters Saturday.

    "The Sea of Trees," which was picked up for U.S. distribution by Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions ahead of the festival, is about a man who wrestles with guilt over a bitter marriage (Naomi Watts plays his wife) and travels to Japan to kill himself.

    Van Sant recalled that films of his have previously drawn divisive responses in Cannes. His Palme d'Or-winning school shooting drama "Elephant," he said, caused a fist-fight between festival audience members.

    McConaughey plays another scientist character — a community college science professor — following last year's brainy space epic "Interstellar."

    "Interstellar was an exploration out there. This was an exploration in here," said McConaughey, pointing at his chest.

    Tags:Cannes Film FestivalGus Van SntMatthew McConaughey



    DirecTV calls off acquisition of rival Dish, possibly ending a yearslong pursuit

    Friday, November 22, 2024
    Dish Network satellite dishes are shown at an apartment complex in Palo Alto, Calif., Feb. 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)

    DirecTV is calling off its planned acquisition of rival Dish after the offer was rejected by bond holders at that company.

    The deal was reliant on Dish bond holders agreeing to trade in the debt they held for debt in the new company, a swap that would have cost them about $1.6 billion, collectively.

    The retreat by DirecTV this week may end a years-long effort by the company to acquire both Dish and Sling after it announced the bid in September.

    DirecTV was looking to acquire Dish TV and Sling TV from its owner EchoStar in a debt exchange transaction that included a payment of $1, plus the assumption of approximately $9.8 billion in debt. The deal was contingent on several factors, including regulatory approvals and bondholders writing off debt related to Dish.

    "While we believed a combination of DirecTV and Dish would have benefited all stakeholders, we have terminated the transaction because the proposed exchange terms were necessary to protect DirecTV's balance sheet and our operational flexibility," DirecTV CEO Bill Morrow said in a statement.

    The prospect of a DirecTV-Dish combo has long been rumored, and reported talks resurfaced over the years. And the two almost merged more than two decades ago — but the Federal Communications Commission blocked the deal valued at the time at $18.5 billion deal, citing antitrust concerns.

    The pay-for-TV market has shifted significantly since. As more and more consumers tune into online streaming platforms, demand for more traditional satellite entertainment continues to shrink.

    DirecTV says that it will continue to invest in next-generation streaming platforms and offer new packaging options while integrating content from live TV alongside direct-to-consumer... Read More

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