Dua Lipa Wins Big at Brit Awards
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‘It’s almost like a murder mystery’ To fi lmmaker Gibney, opioid crisis is ‘Crime of the Century’ NEW YORK, May 12, (AP): Not unexpectedly given the subject mat- A former Purdue Pharma salesman, Mark Ross, tells how he got mer federal Drug Enforcement Administration agent who saw his ef- ter, HBO’s two-part documentary “The Crime of the Century” opens involved to make some money and help people with chronic pain. But forts thwarted and is trying to educate the public on what is going on, with a body bag. when he grew concerned about abuses, his bosses told him to stay in and Alec Burlakoff, former sales executive at the rogue company Insys It contained a man from San Diego — his remains carried away in his lane. Therapeutics, manufacturer of fentanyl. the predawn hours after overdosing on fentanyl — one of nearly a half Gibney reports on a little-known memo prosecutors in Virginia drew With the storytelling ability of a born salesman, Burlakoff tells a million Americans to die from opioid abuse since 2001. up in 2006 that detailed Purdue Pharma’s actions, its contents essen- frightening tale of a corporate culture where doctors were bribed and Filmmaker Alex Gibney quickly widens the lens, however, for an tially hidden when the Justice Department reached a settlement. It was intimidated to pump out the dangerous drug. Money was the concern, explanation of how the drugs that caused the crisis came to be, how his “a-ha” moment, seeing the connections between OxyContin, heroin not consequences. companies aggressively promoted and distributed them and how the abuse and the development of fentanyl. Celebratory videos from company events bring the culture to life. government failed to act swiftly and effectively to save lives. Asked for comment on “The Crime of the Century,” a Purdue Phar- “He was able to cast all moral qualms to the side and rapaciously and The story is exhaustive and often sickening, its scope recalling the ma spokeswoman pointed to the company’s recent proposed settlement relentlessly sell a drug that he knew was terrible for people, in ways examinations Gibney and his team have given in the past to Enron, in federal bankruptcy court, intended to clear thousands of lawsuits that were utterly reprehensible,” Gibney said. “But he takes us through to Scientology and, most recently, to the Trump administration’s re- stemming from OxyContin. the process step by step by step in a way that’s just jaw-dropping. You sponse to COVID-19. “We remain focused on achieving a global settlement that would de- understand ultimately how the crime works.” Film “I felt that the whole idea of the crisis was being treated as if it were liver more than $10 billion in value, including 100 percent of Purdue’s Gibney’s fi lm doesn’t avoid the stories of a victim like Roy Bosley, a spontaneous event that just couldn’t have been helped,” Gibney said. assets and millions of doses of opioid addiction treatment and overdose showing in detail how opioids killed the Utah man’s wife. Filmmakers “What was missing was the element of crime, in particular the sort of reversal medicines, to claimants and communities across the country also confront the doctor who ran the pain clinic where Bosley’s wife broad, over-arching conspiracy.” affected by the opioid crisis,” the company said. was treated. If you put everything together, “it’s almost like a murder mystery,” That story illustrates Gibney’s focus on the people and companies he said. “In some way, it is a murder mystery.” Connections responsible for creating addicts. The role of the Sackler family and their company, Purdue Pharma, in Gibney’s Jigsaw Productions worked in tandem with The Washing- “If you understand the perps and what their motivations are, it helps developing the prescription painkiller OxyContin is familiar territory. ton Post on the documentary, and he credits the newspaper’s journal- you understand not only how crimes are committed but how to prevent Gibney’s fi lm digs into the aftermath, including the push to get doc- ists for helping draw connections and bringing stories of government them in the future,” he said. tors to overprescribe the medication and the company’s use of former to life. There is some good in these drugs, in limited doses for people who government regulators to cripple serious oversight. Ross is a key character in Gibney’s fi lm, as is Joe Rannazzisi, a for- have undergone serious operations or are in end-of-life care, he said. Variety s e r u t a Olivia Rodrigo performs during the Brit Awards 2021 at the O2 Arena, London, Tuesday, May 11. (AP) e Music Taylor Swift honored as a global icon NEW YORK: A free e-book com- F Features pilation includes excerpts from up- coming works by Mitch Albom, Lauren Groff, Rick Riordan and dozens of other writers. Dua Lipa wins big at Brit Awards “Buzz Books 2021: Fall/Winter” was released Tuesday by the indus- LONDON, May 12, (AP): British singer Dua Lipa ish male solo artist. gatherings of up to 30 people. Social distancing guid- try newsletter Publishers Lunch. called for a “fair” pay raise for UK health workers as Female singer-songwriters Arlo Parks and Griff ance will remain in place. The 50 highlighted books include adult fi ction, young adult books, she was named a double winner at the Brit Awards in took home the British breakthrough artist and rising All restrictions have been set out to be lifted by nonfi ction and debut works. Fea- London on Tuesday night. star awards respectively. June 21 under the government’s current roadmap, tured novels include Albom’s “The An audience of 4,000 witnessed the glitz of Brit- Former US fi rst lady Michelle Obama sent a video with gigs and music festivals due to return for the fi rst Stranger In the Lifeboat,” Groff’s ain’s leading music prize ceremony at the O2 Arena message as she presented The Weeknd with the inter- time since early 2020. “Matrix,” Ruth Ozeki’s “The as part of a test return to mass attendance events in the national male solo artist prize. Britain’s leading music prize ceremony was being Book of Form and Emptiness” and age of the coronavirus. Billie Eilish was named international female solo used as a pilot event by the government ahead of the Bernhard Schlink’s “Olga.” Among them were 2,500 key health workers and artist winner, while Haim were dubbed best interna- expected full easing of coronavirus restrictions this The compilation also includes their guests who had received tickets in recognition of tional group. summer. such nonfi ction releases as Mat- their efforts during the pandemic. “It’s the fi rst event we’ve been to since the pan- thew Pearl’s “Jemima Boone” Restrictions and Sarah Ruhl’s “Smile: The Lipa, who took home the British female solo artist demic, there’s a great buzz,” said police nurse Brian Story of a Face” and the young and album of the year titles, highlighted the words of Live performers at the ceremony, which was hosted George, who brought his 18-year-old daughter to the adult books “Vinyl Moon,” by nurse and academic Elizabeth Anionwu to say there by comedian Jack Whitehall, included Lipa, Coldplay ceremony. was a “massive disparity between gratitude and re- and a collaboration between Rag’n’Bone Man, P!nk “I’m hoping that with a few more events like this THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021 Mahogany L. Browne, and Riordan’s “Daughter of the Deep,” spect” for those on the health front line. and National Health Service choirs. it’ll be like, by the autumn, let’s open up everything his version of “20,000 Leagues “I think what we should do is we should all give a It was the largest audience for a live music event again,” he said. “That would be fantastic.” Under the Sea.” (AP) massive, massive round of applause and give (British in the UK since March 2020, when pandemic restric- Swift became the fi rst woman to receive the global ❑ ❑ ❑ Prime Minister) Boris (Johnson) a message that we tions were fi rst introduced. icon prize, which has previously been awarded to su- NEW YORK: Sally Buzbee, senior all support a fair pay rise for our front line,” she said. The event is part of the government’s Events Re- perstars such as Elton John and David Bowie. vice president and executive editor In her acceptance speeches, the “Levitating” singer search Program, which has recently seen crowds Comedian Jack Whitehall hosted the ceremony, of The Associated Press, was named also paid tribute to Anionwu, who has campaigned return to soccer matches, an outdoor concert and a with Lipa and rock band Coldplay among the per- Tuesday as executive editor of The against racial injustice for decades, as well as Folajimi nightclub. formers on the night. Washington Post, succeeding the Olubunmi-Adewole and Joaquin Garcia, who jumped Attendees were not socially distanced or wearing The Brits pilot is part of the government’s Events recently retired Marty Baron. into the River Thames near London Bridge to try to face masks, but had to provide a negative coronavirus Research Program, which has recently seen crowds As AP’s top editor since save a woman last month. test ahead of the show. return to soccer matches, an outdoor gig and a night- 2017, Buzbee has directed AP’s Olubunmi-Adewole, 20, did not survive the rescue “It’s the fi rst event we’ve been to since the pan- club.