Brutalized: Why 'The Brutalist's A.I. "Controversy" Is B.S. and Those Who Perpetuated It Should Be Ashamed

Happy Tuesday, folks!

Earlier today, I scooped Variety on the news that Legendary is teaming with Terrifier distributor Cineverse to release Macon Blair’s reboot of The Toxic Avenger starring Peter Dinklage, Kevin Bacon, and Elijah Wood.

This weekend, I watched Dave Chappelle crush it on Saturday Night Live, and then I finished watching Peacock’s four-part docuseries SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night. I was particularly fascinated by the second episode, which follows the show’s writing staff and theorizes why so many SNL writers go on to run their own shows.

I also indulged in two new Law & Order episodes, a new episode of The Agency, the finale of Dope Thief, and yet another episode of Beast Games, which has had me yelling at my TV every week in both anger and amazement.

As for Netflix’s tepid Jamie Foxx-Cameron Diaz movie Back in Action, the less said, the better. It is instantly forgettable, and if these are the kinds of movies that Diaz came out of retirement to make, she should’ve just stayed home.

I also did my best to watch what NFL action I could, and as much as it’ll pain my pal Justin Kroll to read it, I have to tip my cap to the Washington Commanders on their upset victory over the Detroit Lions. I can’t wait to watch the NFC Championship game this weekend, as it’s going to be a doozy thanks to those two quarterbacks. And the AFC Championship should be a pretty good game, too, if a little more familiar.

Over the weekend, Sony’s Keke Palmer-SZA comedy One of Them Days beat Blumhouse’s Wolf Man at the domestic box office, though Disney’s Mufasa still roared its way to the top spot. Still, Sony should be very pleased with this result, and it wouldn’t shock me to see them greenlight a sequel titled Another One of Them Days. I hope to catch up with that movie soon…

Before we get started tonight, you’ve likely already seen the latest footage of Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni from the set of It Ends With Us. Edited or not, the “You smell good” exchange certainly appears to be far more innocuous than Lively initially suggested, and her claims that her employer (Baldoni) touched her without her consent also seem like a stretch.

How will male actors and directors feel about working with Lively knowing she could accuse them of similar behavior if she doesn’t get her way? And will female actors be reluctant to work with Baldoni going forward? Both of them feel that the newly leaked footage proves their point… and both of them continue to look terrible in the press.

Regardless of who wins that day’s battle, both of them are going to lose in this obnoxious media war. And what’s wild about the whole thing is that Lively and Baldoni actually have good chemistry in the footage that was leaked. What a shame… and a sham.

Tonight’s newsletter features my thoughts about the lame AI controversy that erupted around The Brutalist just as the film shored up its status as the season’s frontrunner to win Best Picture. I also discuss Sydney Sweeney’s new A24 movie, and what’s going on with all of her other movies, too.

Plus, there are items about Ryan Gosling heading to a galaxy far, far away, Jennifer Aniston’s casting wishlist for her 9 to 5 reboot, a new project from Twisters director Lee Isaac Chung, the latest additions to The Righteous Gemstones and Dexter: Resurrection, and the trailer for A24’s thriller Opus starring Ayo Edebiri and John Malkovich.

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