Entertainment Report: Kristen Bell Pledges $100,000 for Medical Bills; Legal Drama Unfolds in Hollywood

The excitement is growing as the 36th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival begins today, marking one of the most anticipated events of the year for movie lovers.
Festival-goers have been camping out since New Year’s Eve, hoping to catch a glimpse of the stars who will be walking the red carpet at tomorrow night’s prestigious awards ceremony. Our own Mandy the Movie Guy will be on the scene, sharing all the action as it unfolds. The festival runs until January 13th, and film enthusiasts can expect a range of screenings, panel discussions, and celebrity appearances throughout the event.

While the film festival takes center stage, in the world of philanthropy, Kristen Bell has made headlines with her generous pledge of $100,000 to help pay medical bills for families struggling with healthcare costs. Partnering with Tom Marcus, an internet star known as Quentin Quarantino, Bell is helping to raise funds for people in need. The duo has a combined social media following of 17 million, and together they are sharing a new health-related GoFundMe campaign every day for a week. For each campaign, they are crowdfunding half of the needed amount, while Bell herself donates the remainder.

In other news, the legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni continues to unfold, following allegations of harassment on the set of the movie It Ends with Us. Lively filed a formal complaint with the California Civil Rights Department accusing Baldoni of harassment and retaliation. Baldoni, in turn, has filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times, claiming that their coverage of the issue was biased and detrimental to his reputation. Baldoni argues that the paper relied on an unverified and one-sided narrative presented by Lively, omitting crucial evidence that could have cleared his name. The legal drama continues to evolve, with both sides preparing for a lengthy legal battle.

As Hollywood looks to January, several exciting new releases are on the horizon. Fans of biographical films can look forward to the Robbie Williams biopic, Better Man, which opens in theaters next weekend. Meanwhile, action fans will get a sequel to the hit film Den of Thieves, starring Gerard Butler in Den of Thieves 2. Also coming is the Pamela Anderson starring film, The Last Show Girl, directed by Gia Coppola.

On January 17th, the historical drama September 5, based on the 1972 Munich massacre, is set to hit theaters. This film takes a unique perspective by telling the story through the eyes of the journalists who were covering the tragic event. Another big release on the same weekend is the buddy comedy One of Them Days and the horror-thriller Wolfman. Later in the month, January 31st will see the release of the sci-fi romantic drama Love Me, as well as the psychological thriller Companion and the animated adventure Dogman.

As we start the new year, Hollywood is buzzing with a wide array of new releases, charitable initiatives, and high-profile legal battles that will keep the entertainment world on edge. Whether you're tuning into the Palm Springs Film Festival or watching the next big movie, there’s no shortage of excitement in the entertainment world.