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Bonus Reason: Laura Linney. Everyone who’s seen the three-time Oscar nominee in action knows what she’s capable of, but too many of her brilliant projects still feel underappreciated — like “The Savages” and “You Can Count on Me” — or her role in lasting hits isn’t what’s typically discussed (like “The Truman Show” or “Mystic River”). “Ozark” seems to be maximizing our Linney appreciation, as the well-seen series has put plenty of focus on her work as Wendy....

The NBCUniversal streaming platform, launched in 2020, and the core Paramount Global streaming service, rebranded from CBS All Access in 2021, are the only two major streaming platforms that have not yet fully matured in the U.S., according to a MoffettNathanson report using data from market research firm HarrisX. Why those two? Even though only one of them is named after a bird, Peacock and Paramount+ are birds of a feather....

Nichelle Nichols famously played Nyota Uhura throughout the original “Star Trek” series’ three season broadcast run and in six subsequent films. Her presence on the show was one of the earliest examples of a Black woman playing a competent character in a leadership role on a major television show. If that wasn’t enough, she made television history by sharing one of the first major interracial kisses with her c0-star William Shatner in 1968....

But those films share something else. All were available for home viewing in the U.S. the same day they reached theaters. Indeed, five of the six biggest grossing titles this year, and six of the top eight, had that option. Theater play elevates films. Still, the studios that provide them to theaters are transitioning to a long-term battle for home platform prominence. Exhibitors are retailers and tend to resist change. They fought TV, cable, video cassettes, streaming....

However, don’t be surprised if Wegner (winner of the Critics Choice Award) pulls off an upset over her fellow Australian and becomes the first woman to win the Oscar for cinematography. Her director, “Power of the Dog’s” Jane Campion, is expected to win the Oscar for Best Director. Previously, Rachel Morrison (“Mudbound”) was the only woman cinematographer ever nominated for both the ASC and Oscars. Updated February 9: The frontrunning “Dune” (Warner Bros....

On Monday, Wells Fargo downgraded Paramount’s stock (PARA) for the second time this month. The first time was October 4, when analysts downgraded PARA from “Underweight” (undervalued, so Buy) to “Equal Weight” (valued appropriately, so Hold) and its target price per share from a healthy $40 to just $19. This morning, Wells Fargo labeled PARA as “Overweight” (overvalued, so Sell) and chopped another $6 off its target price. So now Paramount is worth just $13 per share in the eyes of Steven Cahall’s team of researchers and number crunchers....

The question came up, as it so often does, during the press cycle for Anderson’s latest film (which just scored four Golden Globe nominations, including one for Best Musical or Comedy). In an interview with The New Yorker, Anderson spoke about how he’s “happier than ever” to be able to carve his own niche in filmmaking, while acknowledging that superhero movies are the thing that will most likely bring audiences back into seats....