Saturday, December 14, 2024

Tim Cook Paid $25 Million for “CODA” So No Surprise He Turned Up at Today’s AFI Luncheon

Share

Some people at today’s AFI luncheon in Beverly Hills wondered why Apple chief Tim Cook was in the room?

Answer: he paid $25 million for “CODA,” and part of the deal was getting a cold roll and a hard chair at a long afternoon luncheon.

The crowd applauded him and for good reason: Cook and Apple are now players in the film business. Apple might become the first streaming service to win Best Picture.

Many potential AFI lunch buddies were absent, having gone to London for Sunday’s BAFTA Awards. But among the film people, Steven Spielberg with his “West Side Story” stars Ariana DeBose and Rita Moreo, and Guillermo del Toro with his “Nightmare Alley” star Bradley Cooper were the biggest names, along with Jane Campion and “Power of the Dog” gang, plus Andrew Garfield, a stunning, gray haired Andie McDowell, and lots of TV people from shows like “Succession” and “White Lotus.” But conversely, plenty of the TV people didn’t show, as they were working. The event was postponed from January, which lessened its impact.

Also not present: actors and directors from the movies snubbed by the AFI including “Being the Ricardos,” “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” “The French Dispatch,” and “Respect.” There was no sign of anyone from “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” as well.

On the plus side, Morgan Freeman made an appearance as the voice of God.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

Read more

In Other News