Media Freaks Over Manafort's Light Sentence; Still Don't Tackle Why His Partner Tony Podesta Was Not Indicted

I do need to get this off my chest. I know this is a movie site but I am utterly fascinated by the way the media in 2019 are complicit in so much hatred in this country. Whether it’d be MSNBC, CNN or Fox News, it doesn’t matter, I am trying to approach this matter in a neutral manner. I am utterly fascinated by the way the media works in 2019, to the point where this isn’t journalism anymore, it’s utter propaganda, that’s the only way to get ratings.

Paul Manafort, former political consultant and Trump presidential campaign chairman was given a slap on the wrist sentence of 47 months by judge T.S. Ellis (very close to T.S. Elliot).

The N.Y. Times noted that the sentence “was far lighter than the 19- to 24-year prison term recommended under advisory sentencing guidelines.”

Judge T. S. Ellis is a 78 year-old Reagan appointee that decided to forgive Manafort and admit that there was no Russian collusion, but rather the actual mundane reality that Manafort cheated on his taxes and had to be sentenced for a few years in jail.

The media consequentially went berserk over the ‘light’ sentence, actually angry that a a 69-year-old-man did not get more jail time for cheating on his taxes. For fooks sake.

Slate called it “Appalling,” The Washington Post “mind-boggling” MSNBC condemned the failure of the justice system and so on.

I don't have a dog to pick in this fight and Manafort deserves a full sentence of jail time for his fraudulent behavior, but Tony Podesta, founder of the now-shuttered Podesta Group, being offered immunity by Robert Mueller to testify against his former business partner Manafort, despite being implicated for near identical crimes, is DISGUSTING. Just because he's not connected to Trump, he is going to escape scot-free and emerge completely unscathed while Paul Manafort will rot in jail. Only one of them made the mistake of chairing Donald Trump's presidential campaign.

Now, I ask you, Is this a fair and balanced justice system?

May el-Toukhy’s ‘Woman Unknown’ Wins the Golden Lion at Venice — Surprise!

The short version: "Woman Unknown" was a compromise. The jury deadlocked over "Possible Love" and "NAZA," not able to com to terms, fell back on their #3, May el-Toukhy's film.

Cory Finley's 'Reasonable People,' Starring Paul Rudd and Sam Rockwell, Shoots This Fall

Cory Finley, a talented filmmaker, has directed three films so far: "Thoroughbreds" (2017), "Bad Education” (2020), and "Landscape with Invisible Hand.”

Bassam Tariq Says Making ‘Blade' at Marvel Was ‘“a Different Thing”: “Somebody Else Is Running This”

Bassim Tariq was the first one in the chair. The "Mogul Mowgli" director spent two years building out the Mahershala Ali vehicle before exiting in 2022, and he's now letting the air out on this one.

‘The Family Stone’ Sequel Greenlit at Searchlight, Fall Shoot, Reunites the Entire Cast — Except Diane Keaton

Claire Danes, Rachel McAdams, Dermot Mulroney, Craig T. Nelson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Luke Wilson, Tyrone Giordano, Elizabeth Reaser, Paul Schneider, and Brian White will all be back.

Critics Are Fighting About ‘Fjord’ at TIFF; Sebastian Stan: “Not A MAGA Movie”

I was curious how Cristian Mungiu's "Fjord" would be received this fall. The Palme d'Or winner has become a culture-war flashpoint, and critics are more split on it than you might expect.

August 19, 2019

3-Hour ‘Midsommar' Director's Cut Screened in NYC

This year’s 12th edition of the Scary Movies festival at Film at Lincoln Center premiered Ari Aster’s extended version of “Midsommar” this past Saturday.

Joaquin Phoenix Reuniting with Mike Mills for Next Film, Shooting in January 2027

Phoenix is set to reunite with Mills on this next film, which is being distributed by A24 and starts shooting January 2027. This will be Phoenix’s first film since “Eddington.”

Paul Thomas Anderson Has Already Chosen His Next Film, Jonny Greenwood Says

“Paul is getting close to pressing the button on the next film, I believe, and I’m already trying to learn a new instrument that would be central to it,” Greenwood tells Screen Daily.

Ridley Scott Says “I Didn’t Say That” After Calling ‘The Dog Stars’ His Best Movie Since ‘The Martian’

In June 2026, Scott told The Buyer that “The Dog Stars” is “probably the best movie I’ve done since The Martian.” He’s now denying he ever said that.

Todd Field-Written ‘The Girls’ Sets Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic to Direct, November Shoot

Cinephiles another Todd Field movie, and although we might have to wait for his next directorial effort, “The Girls” will have to suffice for now.

Fritz Lang’s ‘M’ Tops the Best Films of the 1930s, According to 100+ Critics

We’ve gone through the decades. The ‘40s ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, ‘2000s, and ‘2010s. — all revisited, argued over. Now, here are the results for the best films of the 1930s.

Critics Poll: ‘Citizen Kane' Named Best Film of the 1940s

The results are in, and according to critics, this decade filled with cinematic riches did not have a better film than Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane.” Nobody should be surprised by this result. “Citizen Kane” changed cinema forever.

Critics Poll: ‘Vertigo’ Named Best Film of the 1950s, Over 120 Participants

It was a closer race than anticipated, but Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” has topped our best of the ’50s poll, besting Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen’s “Singin’ in the Rain” by just two votes.

Trending

Critics Polls