Author: FOCUS Newspaper

Toxic Territory

Relationships are a two-way street. Only going one-way, for instance “My way or the highway” creates imbalance. Think of it like walking. Two feet create balance, right? Now try walking with just one foot. How far do you think...

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Time Flies When?

“Baby, if you’ve ever wondered, wondered whatever became of me. I’m living on the air in Cincinnati… Cincinnati, WKRP. Got kind of tired packing and unpacking; town to town and up and down the dial. Maybe you and me were never...

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Your GO TO Closet

Imagine processing 10,000 bits of data almost instantly. Sure, if we were hard wired with a computer chip. Yet our subconscious mind thrives at this velocity. Consciously however, we could probably name roughly 100 items we are...

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NFL Hypocrisy

Last week’s Carolina Panthers season opener at Denver was a stark reminder that the NFL has a long way to go in protecting players from the ramifications of concussions. The league can talk all they want about the protocol in...

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Blair Witch (**) Rated R

Being that the original Blair Witch Project from 1999 was one of the most successful independent films of all time, it’s a surprise that only one sequel was spawned from that first film in the intervening years. That was back in...

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Carolina Panthers Preview

Parity is a bi-product of the NFL these days. Things can change rapidly for a franchise. The Carolina Panthers are attempting to buck the trend by putting together a stretch of winning seasons. Parity in the league is primarily...

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The Other Birthday Party

It is safe to surmise that, at some point, you have seen a movie where the lead character’s birthday is being celebrated. There’s a big cake, delicious looking buffet table, waiters with silver trays full of champagne glasses...

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Throw Back Thursday!

Briiinngg!!! Hey there empty-nesters the 50’s called. Now Don’t Get Bent but they want their Brylcream and Saddle Shoes back. Dang, remember the night you wore the Coonskin Cap and played Backseat Bingo at the Car Hop? It was...

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Across The Rainbow Bridge

Before we begin a bit of clarification seems in order. This week’s title in no way bears reference, positive or negative, towards the homosexual community. So to be clear it is not mentioned here as a symbolic reference to...

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Don’t Breathe (***) R

Sometimes I forget why movies matter and then one comes along that reminds me how much fun it is to be a part of the communal experience that only seeing a movie in a packed theater full of total strangers can provide. The...

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Hell or High Water (***) R

The similarities to the Coen Brothers’ 2007 Oscar winner for Best Picture, No Country for Old Men, are evident right from the start in director David Mackenzie’s bank heist thriller, Hell or High Water. For starters there’s the...

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The cReAtURe

Once upon a time, there was a creature, and…and that seems rather vague and nondescript. As defined by Merriam-Webster a “creature” can be any type of animal. If this were a children’s book, (as opposed to a newspaper...

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Indignation (** ½) R

Poor Phillip Roth. His track record as a well-regarded giant of the literary world, from both a commercial and critical standpoint, may be virtually unassailable but when it comes to film adaptations of his works, well, that’s a...

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Sausage Party (***) R

In a year full of more cinematic disappointments than you can shake a stick at, it comes as a real surprise to me that one of my most enjoyable movie going experiences of the summer comes as a result of an adult themed, animated...

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A-Rod’s Non-Descript Farewell

Alex Rodriguez’s controversial major league baseball career came to a close last Friday. And it was quite anti-climatic. I know most will say that the legacy of Rodriguez is that he cheated and that he lied. That is a given. I...

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Café Society (**) PG-13

There’s one, and I mean just one, reason to take in writer-director Woody Allen’s latest film and it’s not something for which the Woodman can actually receive credit. That is unless you want to give him credit for his choices...

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Pete’s Dragon (** ½) PG

I think it’s best to go on the record and start things off by mentioning that I have a curious relationship with the 1977 film Pete’s Dragon. That film was, supposedly, an idea that sprang from the brain of Walt Disney himself...

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Medalists And Taxes

I spoke last week about where the money goes from current and past Olympic Games. I stumbled across this last week. Actually, this was a topic I wrote of in the past. Most would call it an injustice which is why it looked like...

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Let’s Follow The Money

As you may have heard this summer, the Summer Olympics in Rio is fully immersed on controversy. It is clear that the city is not fully ready for the Games to begin. They will go on of course. But promises made by the city and...

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Suicide Squad (**) PG-13

It’s so apparent that the film division of DC Comics wants desperately to be a serious competitor for the audience share of their chief competitor, Marvel. In fact, it was never more glaringly obvious than with their latest...

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Eat That Question (***) R

I’m not sure exactly how you might categorize Frank Zappa and I’m pretty sure that’s exactly how he would have wanted it. Obviously, he was a musician, leading his beloved band, The Mothers of Invention, for the better portion...

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Star Trek Beyond (** ½) PG-13

J.J. Abrams’ initial reboot of the Star Trek franchise back in 2009 was greeted with much acclaim from the critical community and from audiences as well. I found that to be quite confounding. I felt that the essence of Star Trek...

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Jason Bourne (** ½) PG-13

Jason Bourne, the fifth in the series of theatrical films based on author Robert Ludlum’s character of the same name (not counting TV movie adaptations) does get one thing right. In case you’ve been living under a rock for the...

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NBA Hypocrisy

As threatened, the NBA has pulled the 2017 All-Star Game out of Charlotte in protest of North Carolina’s House Bill 2 (HB2), otherwise known as the “bathroom bill,” the league announced last week. The controversial law, which...

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Lights Out (** ½) PG-13

Filmmaker James Wan, the director behind such spookfests as Insidious and The Conjuring 1 and 2, may only serve as producer on the fright film Lights Out, but his handprints are all over it. This is a horror film filled to the...

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Tis The Wink Of A Breath

The box-fan idles on its medium setting, slowly vibrating itself across the coffee table’s polished wooden surface. Every so often it must be reset into place or it will throw itself into a buzzing tantrum on the living room...

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Two At Troon

I saw that 156 players began the British Open. Eighty-one made the cut and got to play Royal Troon in Scotland over the weekend. But, at it turns out, only two players had a shot at winning. Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson...

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Duncan Hanging Them Up

Tim Duncan, who most feel is the best power forward to ever step on a basketball court, decided to retire on Monday after 19 seasons in the league. Duncan is also likely the most under-appreciated star any sport has ever seen....

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A Darker Shade Of Summertime Blue

“I’m gonna raise a fuss, I’m gonna raise a holler. About a workin’ all summer just to try to earn a dollar. Every time I call my baby, and try to get a date, my boss says, “No dice son, you gotta work late!” Sometimes I...

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Ghostbusters (** ½) PG-13

Before I get into my review of the reboot of Ghostbusters, I think it’s important to address the controversy that has surrounded the film. Said controversy being the choice by director/co-writer Paul Feig to populate the lead...

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CAPRICORN | DEC 22 – JAN 19

New directions connected to other people can be very significant. This could also mean new people coming into your life. There can be an easy alignment with your own priorities. What you need to focus on is what you would have...

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SAGITTARIUS | NOV 22 – DEC 21

You need to have a lot of patience right now – there is too much going on behind the scenes that is in the hands of others. Not that this will necessarily be to your detriment but time has to play out. Part of this can be...

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SCORPIO | OCT 23 – NOV 21

A far greater sense of co-operation from others when it comes to the future can be experienced. This can give you a whole new view of where you can head and certainly something to think about over the next 2 months. The more you...

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LIBRA | SEPT 23 – OCT 22

The need to act on any new directions you want to generate when it comes to commitments or obligations will be uppermost. You need to stay mentally focussed on this for the next 2 months. The opportunity to bring something to an...

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VIRGO | AUG 23 – SEPT 22

You will need to think about how you are affected in any situation involving you with a group of people – there could be more than one group. It might be stretching you too far on a personal level. You might have to realize that...

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LEO | JUL 23 – AUG 22

There is a lot going on behind the scenes that could work out in a most beneficial manner. You need to put your energies into getting a good foundation in place with what you know you are dealing with right now. To do this...

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CANCER | JUN 21 – JUL 22

The New Moon this week occurs in your sign generating new opportunities and new directions on a personal level. At the same time you have a new thinking cycle operating for the next 2 months that can bring many opportunities. It...

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GEMINI | MAY 21 – JUN 20

Your finances will need some attention up to mid September. You may not be able to keep pressure from others at bay much longer. Responsibilities attached are something you would rather escape. Handling the details could be much...

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TAURUS | APR 21 -MAY 20

Any new ideas you have are possessed with great potential, particularly when it comes to things important in your life. Others can be very focussed on themselves right now, so it would pay you to take a more subtle approach if...

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ARIES | MAR 21 – APR 20

Like it or not, it more wise of you to be prepared to follow the structure somebody else wants to put in place – you can benefit from it. It will represent a new beginning of some description that can improve the routine side of...

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Pisces | Feb 20 – Mar 21

Most fortunate circumstances can open up new opportunities for you though it will not be completely free of the influence of somebody else. The more certain you have been about where you want to head, the better will be your...

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AQUARIUS | Jan 20 – Feb 18

Taking a new path when it comes to daily routines is inevitable. Finances can play into this though not in a way you might like. Even so, there is some benefit that perhaps you don’t want to accept. You need to mentally focus on...

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H2-Oh How Fire Works

Exclaiming that “It’s HOT” would not only be stating the obvious, but at this point, probably somewhat redundant. Because if you haven’t heard it an up-teen dozen times, you’ve most likely been saying it yourself. Hopefully not...

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The BFG (** 1/2) PG

You have to hand it to the creative talents behind the horror opus Green Room. I can’t recall ever having seen a fright film where a rock group serves as protagonist and the group members are forced to fend for their lives. And...

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Pessimistic Optimism

A child’s interest changes more often than the tide and is unpredictable as the wind. Case in point, a few weeks ago, due to a day care show and tell incident, the Tot (that’s the live-in grand-saw) suddenly took an obsessive...

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DePalma (*** ½) R

DePalma (*** ½) R My respect and admiration for director Brian DePalma has been mentioned more than once in the pages of this publication. I say that because it should be taken into consideration before reading my review of the...

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Free State of Jones (**) R

If the merits of a film set during the American Civil War were based solely on the technical contributions of the filmmakers, then Free State of Jones would surely rise to the top. The early battle scenes, graphic as they may...

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Disclaimation

DISCLAIMER: “The views, thoughts and opinions contained within this article are those of the writer and his alone. They in no way reflect upon the views, thoughts and or opinions of the FOCUS, the FOCUS staff or any other...

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Finding Dory (***) PG

I think it’s important to mention that I’m one of the very few, and I do mean very few, who found the beloved 2003 Pixar/Disney concoction Finding Nemo to be merely enjoyable and not much else. The tale of a fish and his quest...

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Now You See Me 2 (**) PG-13

The modestly entertaining 2013 film Now You See Me was a fun, albeit slight, piece of pop filmmaking concerning a group of magicians who called themselves The Four Horsemen and built a career out using their talents to make...

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The Conjuring 2 (***) R

 Those of you reading this review who saw the first installment of The Conjuring some three years ago will most likely remember that film opening with a segment-unrelated to the rest of the pic, involving a vengeful possessed...

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Me Before You (** ½) PG-13

Me Before You, based on the best selling novel by Jo Jo Moyes and yet another weepie in the ever-popular Young Adult genre, is the kind of film that did a number on this moviegoer. Just when I thought I was ready to dismiss the...

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The Pover-Ties That Bind

“And even though we ain’t got money, I’m so in love with you honey. Everything will bring a chain of love. And in the morning when I rise, bring a tear of joy to my eyes. And tell me everything’s gonna be all right.”- (excerpted...

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LeBron’s Legacy

As I write this, the Cleveland Cavaliers are down 0-2 to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals and LeBron James’ critics are already making noise. Questions and statements about James’ having a dismal record in NBA Finals....

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Love and Friendship (***) PG

Metropolitan, Barcelona and The Last Days of Disco, the trio of films that put filmmaker Whit Stillman on the map during the decade of the 90s, just never seemed like my cup of tea. I guess every critic has a list of several...

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X Men: Apocalypse (**) PG-13

It’s a funny thing about those X Men films. It always seems that when they hit the third installment things seem to go awry. This happened with the original X Men trilogy—witness X Men: The Last Stand—and now it’s happened with...

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Ocean Breeze

Well my friends, it’s that time of year again when I must, due to other obligations, take a short break from meeting you between the pages of FOCUS. It will pain me to not be here with you each week yet by some colossal cosmic...

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The Meddler (***) PG-13

It’s been awhile since a film truly showcased the sizeable talents of actress Susan Sarandon but as a testament to her acting capabilities, The Meddler should find its spot among the cream of the crop on the actress’ resume....

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Where The Wild Things Were

Everything was changing. This much he understood. As far as to the how and why, he had some conception that it had to do with a coming of age and passage of time. The connection between the two was completely lost on him. At...

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Family Matters

Metaphorically speaking, if you opened your closet door would a skeleton or two fall out? If we’d admit the truth the answer would probably lie somewhere between “Maybe” and a tart “Who wants to know?” Dirty laundry isn’t...

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Money Monster (**) R

Money Monster is Jodie Foster’s first feature film directorial effort since The Beaver in 2011 and I guess Foster’s credit as director was one of the reasons why I expected more from this one. Of the handful of movies that...

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Miles Ahead (** 1/2)

Don Cheadle is an actor I’ve admired since he burst onto the scene in such films as Boogie Nights in the mid 1990s. I’ll have to admit that I never thought of him as being the ideal choice to portray such an iconic figure as the...

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Curry Repeats As MVP

The relatively little guard from Davidson College did it again. Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors repeated as MVP in the NBA. And he made history as Curry is the first unanimous MVP in league history. Curry gave Golden...

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I’m Entitled!

Do you Facebook? The majority of you probably answered yes. In that case, whether you’re a daily user or sporadic like me, you’ve realized certain posts make repeated appearances. Therefore, you’ve probably seen the post about...

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Ride Along 2 (2016) (**)

Ice Cube and Kevin Hart return in the sequel to the surprise hit of 2014 as the two law-men/brothers in law hightail it to Miami, this time around to follow up one of Cube’s leads. If you’re a fan of the original you’ll eat it...

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Value Added Living

“When you get where you’re goin’ Don’t forget turn back around And help the next one in line Always stay humble and kind” Excerpt from Tim McGraw’s new hit song “Humble and Kind.” The song is a beautiful and poignant...

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Questlove Remembers Prince

Questlove Remembers Prince: In This Life, You’re on Your Own When I first got Prince’s album, it was 1982. I was 11, newly in charge of my own record-buying habits. And I couldn’t resist the cover, with its...

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Walkabout

Walk about much? Crocodile Dundee was well known for going on a walkabout; some lasting years. Of course, wandering in the Australian outback poses a unique set of predatory precautions such as…deadly spiders, killer birds and...

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Well…

“Springtime for Hitler and Germany, Deutschland is happy and gay. We’re marching to a faster pace, look out, here comes the master race! Springtime for Hitler and Germany… winter for Poland and France. Springtime for Hitler and...

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Ye Winds Of Change

Once upon a time in a city far, far, away lived “My Lady of Cats” of Charlotte, so dubbed hence her fabulous flare for feline décor proliferated her humble abode with cats of every size, shape and spectacular style.  Be it...

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Midnight Special (** ½) PG-13

Director Jeff Nichols is one of the current crop of directors—and they’re getting fewer and fewer, I might add—whose work I eagerly anticipate. Like many serious fans of cinema, I was enraptured by his second film, Take Shelter,...

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When Will The Money Run Out?

News came out this week that former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel has lost his endorsement deal with Nike. The move from his biggest sponsor is the latest in an ongoing collapse of professional support for the...

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The Boss (* ½) R

While I’m admittedly in the camp of those who believe actress Melissa McCarthy’s on screen persona is best when taken in small doses, I couldn’t help but find myself surprised at how much I enjoyed the actress’ secret agent...

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Macbeth (***) (2015)

Macbeth (***) (2015) Directed by Justin Kurzel and featuring great work by Marion Cotillard and Michael Fassbender, this latest version of Shakespeare’s famed play is definitely worth a look and contains a featurette and Q &...

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Lilies of the Field (1963)

Lilies of the Field (1963)  (** ½) Sidney Poitier may have won his first Academy Award for his role in Lilies of the Field-and he is good here-but it’s a shame the film itself isn’t a bit more substantial. It’s a simple,...

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Gone Fishing!

HOLY MACKEREL!! Striper! Catfish! Blue Gill! Not sure which one will be on the end of my line first but I garuunnnteeeee there’s gonna be some fishing going on around these here waters! Yeppers, dear ol’ dad bought a 25’...

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Saying Wow Was An Understatement

Jordan Spieth’s back nine collapse last Sunday at the Masters is being called the most shocking collapse in golf history by many. I am a fan of the young superstar in the sport and I am still finding it hard to believe what I...

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Open For Interpretation

We open onto a scene of serene white and dead silence. It quickly dissolves into wispy clouds and then fades into a crisp blue sky. We pan down, catching a glimpse of a mountain peak or island floating in the sky? Atop the...

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Concussion (2015)

Concussion (2015) (***) In spite of its TV movie trappings, writer/director Peter Landesman’s dramatization of the story of Dr. Bennet Omalu’s (Will Smith) discovery of football-related head trauma manages to be a fairly...

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I Saw the Light (**) R

For years one of my cinematic dream projects has been for someone to bring the story of the life and times of country music legend Hank Williams to the big screen in a way that’s befitting of the late singer. I always felt it...

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