It seemed improbable that anything could top the dramatic ups and downs of 2016, but 2017 found a way. And for Hollywood, it was a year where it often felt like the entire town was on fire (and we’re not just referring to the annual wild fires that smolder in the hills). Especially in the second half, where it seemed like a day didn’t go by when the facade of a favorite actor, director or television personality was justifiably shattered into a million pieces.
Most importantly, 2017 was a year of female empowerment. The Harvey Weinstein scandal was the spark that fueled an already burgeoning movement for greater gender equality in the industry across the board. Studios, producers and trade unions have talked the talk, but now they are being told to walk the walk. The next 12 months will determine if true change is possible in an industry that has been progressive publicly and often old school behind closed doors.
The past year also began what is expected to be a series of corporate consolidations. The Walt Disney Company acquired almost all of 20th Century Fox — the absolute biggest story of the year and perhaps the decade outside of the Weinstein — and there are rumblings that other major entertainment powers will merge in order to better tackle their rivals. Change can be good, change can be bad and change can be scary, but it’s coming and it’s coming fast and furious.
Keeping all this in mind, here’s a rundown on the top entertainment stories that have made 2017 one for the history books.
Click here for our full coverage of the best of 2017, including The Worst Films Of The Year, Best TV, Best Scores & Soundtracks, Best Cinematography, Posters, Trailers, Horror, Action Sequences, our Best Films Of The Year, Underrated and Overrated Films of the Year, Breakout Talents, Best Animation, Biggest New Stories Of The Year and the 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2018.
Oscars Best Picture gaffe
In hindsight, when Oscar producers Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd were probably asking for trouble when they selected Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty to present the Best Picture Oscar last February. Boy, did they get it. For the first time in their decades long association with the Academy Awards, the accountants at Price Waterhouse Cooper handed the wrong envelope to Beatty and Dunaway to announce on stage. Instead of a Best Picture envelope, they were given a duplicate Best Actress one that is used in case the first is lost or the presenter enters from the opposite side of the stage. The two cinema icons could have easily just recognized the mistake, but instead, Dunaway shouted out “La La Land,” the film name next to Emma Stone’s name on the Best Actress winner card in Beatty’s hands. The problem, of course, is that much to everyone’s surprise, the Best Picture frontrunner wasn’t the Best Picture winner. Accountants ran to the stage to try and fix the mistake and it was left to “La La Land” producer Justin Horowitz to show the audience the true Best Picture envelope and card which revealed that “Moonlight” had won. When you take into account it was the 89th Academy Awards and nothing this dramatic has occurred at any of the sister awards ceremonies (Tonys, Emmys, Grammys, etc.) it truly was a historic moment for television and the Academy. Now, let’s just hope De Luca and Todd don’t invite Dunaway and Beatty back just to see what happens a second go around.
Meryl Streep vs. Donald Trump
A majority of those in the entertainment industry were not thrilled with Donald Trump’s ascendancy to the presidency in November of 2016. Last January, only two weeks before his inauguration, Meryl Streep received a lifetime achievement award at the Golden Globes. She used her acceptance speech to call out what she described as a performance the year prior that was “not good” but so “effective” it “broke” her heart. Streep was, of course, talking about Trump. The audience on hand and those reacting on social media loved Streep’s remarks, but it touched a nerve with Trump. He tweeted “Meryl Streep is one of the most over-rated in Hollywood.” To say that only angered Hollywood’s collective conscious even more is an understatement. Streep is considered one of the greatest actors of all-time and (mostly) beyond reproach. Trump hasn’t tweeted about Streep since, but she does have a new film out, “The Post,” and is nominated for a Globe this year. Do the math.
Cannes jury turns its nose up at Netflix
The first film of the 2017 Cannes Film Festival hadn’t even officially screened and jury president Pedro Almodovar shocked everyone by revealing at the jury’s official press conference that he would not give any films produced by Netflix consideration for prizes. Netflix and the festival came under a mountain of criticism after it was revealed two films playing at the Palais, Bong Joon-ho’s “Okja” and Noah Baumbach’s “The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected),” would not screen in French cinemas, but only be released on the streaming service. That was a different plan than Netflix had for their releases in the U.S. where they would simultaneously arrive in theaters and on the service. There were a lot of reasons for France’s industry anger, but basically French theater owners and distributors were furious that two films in competition had taken slots for films that would have been shown in theaters. Even with Will Smith, who later appeared in Netflix’s “Bright,” on the jury, Almodovar didn’t budge. Despite earning strong critical notices (enough that they eventually appeared on numerous critics’ end of year top 10 lists) neither film was recognized with any jury awards. Netflix was not happy with the situation and its likely they won’t return to Cannes anytime soon (or so they say).
Bryan Singer loses his protection with “Bohemian Rhapsody”
Anyone who has worked in the movie industry for at least a decade has heard the rumors about “X-Men” franchise director Bryan Singer. And if you are a gay man in the industry you’ve heard even more. Once allegations of sexual harassment began percolating about a number of powerful men in the industry, many believed Singer might be one of the casualties. That hasn’t happened. Instead, and surprisingly, what may have taken the filmmaker down (although likely not “out”) is his general workplace behavior. After a Thanksgiving break, Singer did not return to the set of his latest production, the Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” claiming illness. This forced 20th Century Fox to suspend filming and issue a terse statement to that effect. Reports then began to circulate that Singer had actually been absent or frequently late to not just ‘Rhapsody,’ but his previous films including 2016’s “X-Men: Apocalypse.” Moreover, these unexplained absences had caused a rift between Singer and star Rami Malek. After Singer didn’t return for a complete workweek, Fox fired him and brought on Dexter Fletcher (“Eddie the Eagle”) to oversee the final two weeks of filming. Singer has tried to make his case with an awkward interview with, of all outlets, TMZ, but considering the filmmaker’s long history of on set behavior (his horrific treatment of Halle Berry on the set of “X2” is infamous) it’s hard to see him working for a major studio anytime soon.
Walt Disney company acquires 20th Century Fox
It was a deal that was spurned by an offhand comment by 21st Century Fox CEO Rupert Murdoch during a casual launch with Disney CEO Bob Iger. A few months later Disney announced its intention to acquire 20th Century Fox and assets such as Fox Searchlight, FX, a controlling stake in Hulu and more. No hyperbole, it’s a deal that is an earthquake in a year of hurricanes crashing through Hollywood. Not only will Disney be able to bring the X-Men and Fantastic Four characters back where they belong in the Marvel Studios fold and put the Disney brand and marketing machine on a whole slew of “Avatar” sequels, but it has another output factory for its goal in creating a legitimate streaming service competitor to Netflix. With this move Disney is pretty close to ruling the entertainment world. And its impact? Don’t be surprised if rumors of other mergers (CBS/Lionsgate, Sony Pictures/Paramount) start percolating in the new year.