CNN Films

CNN gets a new streaming site

The wobbly relationship between CNN and its new owner may be strengthened a bit.
A new streaming hub, “CNN Max,” was announced today by Warner Bros. Discovery. When it launches Sept. 27, it will be free to people who subscribe to the Max (formerly HBO Max) streamer. Specifics are unclear, but it appears to:
— Help cord-cutters, who might find themselves without a full-time news channel. This will have separate shows, but will cover breaking news and use the regular CNN anchors.
— Be a convenient place to find past productions, including the Oscar-winning “Navalny” (shown here) and two Emmy-winning travel series with Stanley Tucci and with the late Anthony Bourdain. Read more…

CNN Films score (again) with “Navalny”

It’s easy to dump on Jeff Zucker, the former head of NBC and CNN and more.
But let’s look at something that has turned out well: Under Zucker, CNN developed a strong lineup of shows on Saturday and Sunday nights; that’s clear now, with:
–Sundays: “Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy” has just started its second season. Barring breaking news, it’s at 9 p.m. and midnight, with another travel-and-food show (“Nomad with Carlton McCoy”) at 10 and 1, plus a Tucci rerun at 11.
— Saturday, May 14: “Navalny” (shown here), a compelling documentary movie, reruns from 9-11 p.m., followed by Tucci and McCoy reruns. It had been set for May 7, but then was pushed back a week. Read more…

Carole King: the eternal pop star

Carole King is perfecting a new concept – the eternal pop star. Consider:
– She was still a teen-ager when some of the songs she co-wrote – “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” and “Take Good Care of My Baby” – became hits in 1971.
– And now? She’ll turn 80 on Feb. 9 and remains relevant. Proof of that is in “Carole King & James Taylor: Just Call Out My Name,” which debuts at 9 p.m. and midnight ET Sunday (Jan. 2) on CNN, repeats at the same times Jan. 8 and then goes to HBO Max.
The film uses footage from the 2010 tour by King and Taylor (shown here), adding fresh interviews with both, plus their colleagues. Clearly, King – like Paul McCartney, who will turn 80 on June 18 – is remaining a force forever. Read more…

Film savors Ronstadt, who “could sing anything”

At first, the music world wasn’t sure what to do with Linda Ronstadt.
Was she folk? … Or country? … Or rock?
Then people realized she was all of that and more – from 1940s pop to Spanish-language ballads to operettas. “Linda could literally sing anything,” Dolly Parton says in a documentary.
Now that film – fascinating and well-crafted – reaches CNN … which is where it started. Read more…