The Daily Valet. - 5/16/23, Tuesday
✔️ Summer Movies Return
Tuesday, May 16th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
I'm a popcorn guy at the movies. Candy is cool, but you can't beat that popcorn.
Today’s Big Story
Summer Movies Return
This summer's films are looking to recapture that blockbuster movie magic you remember
Let's go to the movies! Summer and cinema just go hand in hand, right? That dark, air-conditioned respite from the blazing sun and this is the season when the year's biggest films get released.Sure, a lot has happened since the golden years of the bustling multiplexes of our youth: Most notably the streaming revolution and a multi-year pandemic. But studio heads at last week's CinemaCon (the annual convention where Hollywood shows theater owners what they have in store for the coming year) were quick to thump their chests and say, “Movies are back!”And they might be right. Just look at this year's billion-dollar-grossing Super Mario Bros. Movie or last year's Avatar sequel to see that theatrical movies can be big business again. And while streaming has clearly siphoned off part of the audience—particularly for more serious films—what we think of as “summer movies” can still rake in cash just like the old days.Theaters are no doubt primed for a big return. Boxoffice Pro's Shawn Robbins calls it the “post-Maverick glow”: the halo effect of last year's Top Gun: Maverick, which not only drew record numbers of moviegoers back into cinemas at a precarious post-pandemic moment, but more generally is credited with reigniting the cultural love affair with sharing a communal spectacle—and oxygen—in a darkened auditorium at a moment when many industry observers wondered if the theatrical moviegoing experience was all but extinct.As for what's coming: We've got tentpole superhero flicks, major franchises and some original one-offs. Predicting which titles will break through (at the box office, in the zeitgeist and in critics' reviews) isn't easy, but plenty of outlets are attempting. Mashable has a calendar of 50 films that are on the way. The Manual trims it down to 10. But Vulture offers the most helpful predictions with which sequels, underrated comedies and indie films are worth your time and money.
Throwback:
While we wait for the summer blockbusters, feel free to peruse this list of the best ’90s movies worth rewatching.
Report Condems FBI’s Trump Campaign Probe
Special counsel John Durham says “extremely troublesome” failures appear to stem from bias
Special counsel John Durham concluded in a long-awaited report released Monday that the FBI did not have enough intelligence to merit a full investigation into the 2016 Trump campaign's ties to Russia.He leveled withering criticism at investigators—accusing them of causing “severe reputational harm” to the FBI. The 300+ page report says that investigation (which was known as Crossfire Hurricane) was treated different from how cases related to Trump's then-opponent, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton had been handled. As examples of confirmation bias by the FBI, Durham cites: agents ignoring information that exonerated key suspects in the case and the FBI being unable to corroborate “a single substantive allegation” in a dossier of Trump allegations compiled by British former spy Christopher Steele.However, Monday's report did not uncover any new information, bring any high-level indictments or uncover any evidence of what former President Trump has called “the crime of the century.” What's more, the FBI emphasized its numerous overhauls designed to eliminate future problems from confirmation bias. “The conduct in 2016 and 2017 that Special Counsel Durham examined was the reason that current FBI leadership already implemented dozens of corrective actions, which have now been in place for some time.” According to the Washington Post, the report may actually fuel rather than end partisan debate about politicization within the Justice Department and FBI.
Dig Deeper:
Read John Durham’s full report on the FBI investigation of the 2016 Trump campaign.
We’re Hanging Onto Cars Longer
The average age of a car on the road in the u.s. notches a couple points
The electric age may be on the horizon, but for one reason or another people are not getting rid of their combustion-engined vehicles just yet, according to a new study. Now, the average age of cars and light trucks in the U.S. sits at an all time high: 12.5 years.There are a couple of reasons why, but reduced customer demand because of higher inflation and interest rates is at the top of the list. Something else that is certainly making people hold onto their old cars for a bit longer is the simple fact that new vehicles are now more expensive than ever. The national average monthly auto loan payment is $729 ... making anyone's trusty old car look more appealing.According to CNBC, rising vehicle ages are good news for aftermarket parts suppliers like AutoZone, O’Reilly Automotive and Advance Auto Parts. It also can benefit dealer service centers, but it doesn't bode well for new vehicle dealers and sales. And since cars are sticking around, there are more on the road. In total, the new report found that there are more than 284 million vehicles in operation on U.S. roads—which is a million more than last year.
Meanwhile:
New car prices aren't dropping, despite rising supply and inventory piling up on dealer lots.
What Would You Do for a Free TV?
As you might've guessed, there are strings attached
Never mind free streaming services, one startup is giving away the whole TV. Telly is now taking reservations for free 55-inch 4K screens that continuously display ads on part of a secondary screen. So long as you're willing to accept those ads (or tune them out) and share data, you won't have to pay a thing.As Telly explains, the smaller display also shows “news, sports scores and other useful data.” The set has its own camera, microphones and voice assistant, enabling video calls and motion-captured fitness apps. There's a built-in five-driver sound bar as well. According to Engadget, you're not stuck using the company's platform, as you'll still find three HDMI ports to plug in other media devices.But don't forget that those ads will remain on that screen the whole time you're watching TV, and you won't be able to skip past them. If that's alright with you, then get in that reservation. The company says it will begin shipping the first 500,000 TVs this summer. When you sign up, you'll be asked for specific demographic and lifestyle info, which, according to Variety, “the company will use to target addressable ads to individual households.”
FYI:
Estimates suggest that in 2023 U.S. adults will spend an average of around two hours and 33 minutes watching TV each day.
In Other News
It was the eighth large-scale attack on Kyiv this month.
Have you heard about ...
The Long Read
Privacy Experts Are Worried about “Environmental DNA research”
It has been clear for decades that fragments of our DNA cover the planet like litter. It just didn’t seem to matter. Scientists believed DNA in the environment was too small and too degraded to be meaningfully recovered ... but that turned out not to be true.”
- By Elizabeth Anne Brown
Read It:
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Shopping
What We’re Buying
A Knuckle table lamp
This table lamp is stylish and now half off—you might as well grab two for each nightstand. The modern lamps are made of a luxe brown oak with a satin brass finish and a tactile LED in-line dimmer.
Get It:
Knuckle table lamp, $100 / $50 by Tala
Morning Motto
Don’t stop believing.
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