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Movie review: Despite filmmaking flourish, ‘Hypnotic’ proves too absurd to take seriously

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:16:42 GMT

There’s something strange about “Hypnotic,” the new action thriller from writer/director Robert Rodriguez, starring Ben Affleck. There’s a sheen of inauthenticity to the trailer for this film, in which Affleck stars as a detective working a bank robbery while wracked with guilt over the kidnapping of his young daughter. Indeed, for the first 30 minutes or so of “Hypnotic,” there’s something that rings false — it feels like Rodriguez sloppily executing a sketchy exercise in the tropes and aesthetics of a detective noir. But then you realize that’s by design.Because things aren’t what they seem in “Hypnotic,” as Detective Danny Rourke (Affleck) discovers when he descends down the rabbit hole of this inexplicable bank robbery, one that ends in him finding a Polaroid of his missing daughter in a safe deposit box. He follows the signs to a local psychic, Diana Cruz (Alice Braga), who unloads a baffling spiel about the “hypnotic constructs” that have been weaponized by a mysterious man at...

Safe, comfy ‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’ offers more of the golden girls together, this time in Italy | Movie review

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:16:42 GMT

The makers of “Book Club: The Next Chapter” know what their audience wants.Director Bill Holderman and his co-writer, Erin Simms, got all the proof they needed when their 2018 comedy, “Book Club” — starring four beloved actresses over 65 as friends who read “Fifty Shades of Grey,” which unearths some desires in them — earned more than $100 million at the box office.Thus, it’s understandable that Holderman and Simms stick to the formula with “Book Club: The Next Chapter,” which arrives in theaters this week and takes the mostly fearless foursome of Jane Fonda’s Vivian, Diane Keaton’s Diane, Candice Bergen’s Sharon and Mary Steenburgen’s Carole to Italy.“The Next Chapter” is a second serving of broad, frequently sexually charged humor and low-stakes drama. Most important the aforementioned formula is the deep female friendship that keeps the group together and on the move — it’s tons of hugs and a bit of tough love.And we get it.Sure, we’d have liked some zippier dialogue and a more i...

How to find unclaimed money: 5 free ways to track down your lost or forgotten assets

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:16:42 GMT

James Royal | (TNS) BankrateAre you on the hunt for money that may have been misplaced or left entirely forgotten? You or a relative may have money left in an old bank account, a 401(k) from an old employer or even a hidden cache of money in an IRA, annuity or pension. This scenario can happen if a relative dies and the heirs don’t successfully locate all accounts. Often, the unclaimed money ends up being sent to a state office.Surprisingly, 1 in 10 Americans has unclaimed property, according to the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA). More than $4 billion is returned to owners each year, the organization says.Here’s how you can find unclaimed money and where to look for it — all for free!What is unclaimed money?Unclaimed money is money that oftentimes has simply been forgotten about, in one way or another, and tends to wind up being held at a state agency until it is rightfully claimed. Accounts may be considered unclaimed or abandoned in as short as a...

Albany man convicted on sexual assault charge

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:16:42 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On Friday, Jevonte Osterhout, 31, of Albany, was convicted of Sexual Assault in the Third Degree and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Osterhout was accused of having sexual relations with a seventeen-year-old in East Greenbush. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! According to the indictment, Osterhout was employed as an EMT at the Bruen Rescue Squad and as an Albany firefighter at the time of the incident. Sentencing is scheduled for July 7. Osterhout faces a year in prison and will need to register as a sex offender.

U.S. Supreme Court tosses Percoco, Kaloyeros convictions

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:16:42 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court has overturned two notorious convictions. One involving Joseph Percoco, a former aide to Governor Cuomo and the other involving Alain Kaloyeros, former top official to SUNY Polytechnic. Supreme Court sides with ex-Cuomo aide, others convicted of corruption related to ‘Buffalo Billion’ In 2018, Percoco was charged with accepting over $300,000 worth of bribes in exchange for helping two corporate clients of Albany lobbyists. Kaloyeros was convicted of conspiring to rig $885 million worth of bids for state contracts that were part of Cuomo’s one billion dollar investment, known as the "Buffalo Billion." So why are these convictions being tossed out by the Supreme Court? Professor, Vincent Bonventre at Albany Law school, said for Percoco's case, the Court determined that the trial judge explained his crime in a way that was too broad for the jury. "Perhaps what Joseph Percoco did was illegal, maybe it was more in terms ...

DEC releases first sustainability plan

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:16:42 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced the release of the agency’s first sustainability plan. The plan includes commitments to decarbonization projects and to reducing the DEC's impact on the environment. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The DEC identifies 25 goals and 70 actions they aim to take, such as aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, decrease waste, conserving water, and protecting species and habitats. Highlights of their overall goals include:Carbon neutral DEC operations by 2050;Eliminate single-use plastics in operations by 2025;Decrease waste generation 10 percent by 2028; End of National COVID-19 Emergency to impact New York The DEC also announced several new building electrification and decarbonization efforts being planned at its facilities across the state, including locations such as the Green Island maintenance...

Legal fights in the Buffalo Mass Shooting, One year later

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:16:42 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)--Sunday will mark one year since the racially motivated shooting at Tops Supermarket in Buffalo that killed 10 people and wounded three others. The gunman streamed the tragedy online. He plead guilty, but lawsuits continue. On Thursday, a wrongful death lawsuit has been filed by attorneys of some of the victim’s families. They are suing six social media platforms and streaming services, the gunman’s parents, and others. A press conference was held on Friday."This a phenomenon where these young men get on social media, they become addicted to it. They become radicalized review other videos of other mass killings, and they seek to emulate it," said Matthew Bergman, Attorney for Social Media Victims Law Center.Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday filed a lawsuit against gun accessory manufacturer, Mean Arms, which sells a magazine lock that she claims can easily be removed to attach high-capacity magazines. She said despite its advertisement, the lock is ill...

NYSP: Former Granville CSD employee arrested on Grand Larceny charge

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:16:42 GMT

GRANVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The former Granville Central School Transportation Supervisor has been arrested for allegedly making unauthorized purchases with funds from the school district. Tyler P. Kelley, 34, is facing a charge of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Police launched an investigation after a complaint was made by the Granville Central School Administration. Investigators determined that Kelley had used school district funds totaling over $1,800, to make multiple unauthorized purchases for his personal benefit.Police also recovered property that allegedly belonged to the school district that Kelley did not return when he resigned in March 2023. Kelley was processed at SP Greenwich and issued an appearance ticket to the Granville Town Court on June 5.

Lake George A&W getting facelift under new owner

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:16:42 GMT

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - There aren't a lot of A&W fast food restaurant locations left in the North Country. Former places to get a burger in Queensbury and Whitehall are memories now. In Lake George, though, a longtime franchisee has been a staple of the summer tourist season. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! This summer, the Lake George A&W on Route 9 will open under new ownership - and with some fresh touches. Hao Yang, a restauranteur from Albany, has purchased the business for $605,000, according to realtor Mitchell Muroff. Muroff said that Yang is a current business owner within the Albany area. His new venture in Lake George will keep the A&W as what it is, with its signature orange-and-brown colors. The Lake George location offers the same burgers, shakes and root beer that the franchise is known for elsewhere, but also offers unique items like fried fish and seafood. Yang himself recently finished f...

Lake Katrine man indicted for the murder of his father

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:16:42 GMT

KINGSTON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Ulster County Grand Jury has indicted Brian Roberts, 26, for second-degree murder. According to the indictment, Roberts intentionally caused the death of his father, Anthony Roberts, 57, on May 4. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Roberts was living with his parents at the time. He was safely taken into custody while walking on Neighborhood Road.The family claims Roberts suffered from significant mental health issues since he was young. The family says they tried to create a supportive environment for him and tried to utilize resources available in the community, however, they noted that they were often left to navigate the mental health services system by themselves.“Our mental health system, especially the resources available to families with adult children, are severely lacking and the tragedies in our community this year are indicative of the work that must be prioritized at the local, state...