Singer seeks to hire a lawyer of her choice Spears hearing to deal with turmoil from her dramatic speech LOS ANGELES, July 14, (AP): Three weeks after Britney Spears’ of her fi nances, and had more measured criticism for Jodi Mont- gomery, as the Conservator of the Person, should be working as dramatic comments in court condemning the conservatorship that gomery, the court-appointed professional who serves as conserva- a team to ensure that Ms. Spears’ best interest are being met, that has controlled her life for 13 years, a Los Angeles judge and oth- tor of her person, overseeing her life choices. she is on a path to recovery and termination of her conservator- ers with legal power over the pop star will convene for a hearing James Spears said in a legal fi ling that the court needs to inves- ship, and that she is living her best life possible,” Montgomery Wednesday to deal with the aftermath. tigate the allegations and Montgomery’s role, pointing out that said in a court fi ling. “Instead, Mr. Spears has decided it is time Spears’ remarks led to the resignation of her court-appointed his daughter’s personal life has been beyond his control since he to start the fi nger-pointing and media attacks ... The mud-slinging lawyer, the withdrawal of an estate-management company that resigned as conservator of her person in 2019, a role he played by Mr. Spears and his new ‘It wasn’t me!’ strategy — after being was supposed to oversee her fi nances, and a volley of accusations for 11 years. her sole or co-conservator for more than 13 years — leaves Ms. between her father and a professional conservator over who’s to Montgomery no other choice but to defend herself.” blame for the legal circumstances Spears said are “abusive” and Threats Despite nearly two years on the job, Montgomery’s status is need to end. He opposed Montgomery’s request for money to hire security still technically temporary. She appeared to be on track for perma- Spears is not expected to speak again at the afternoon hearing, because of recent death threats, saying he has been subjected to nent appointment before recent events. in which all the parties are expected to take part remotely, but she similar threats for years. Britney Spears will still be represented at Wednesday’s hearing by People may weigh in as she seeks to hire a lawyer of her choice. Montgomery denied that Britney Spears was prevented from her longtime court-appointed lawyer, Samuel Ingham III, who fi led At the June 23 hearing, her fi rst public words in court on the marrying or forced to use birth control. She lashed back at James documents last week saying he resigned, effective as soon as she got matter, Spears said she was being forced to take medication and Spears, saying that Britney Spears has expressed no desire to oust a new attorney, which at the June hearing she said she wanted. use an intrauterine device for birth control, said she was not al- her as she has with her father. The Bessemer Trust, a fi nancial company that Spears had lowed to marry her boyfriend, and said she wanted to own her Montgomery said she is committed to staying on the job and sought as a replacement for her father last year but was instead own money. is putting a care plan in place to help end the conservatorship, appointed to work alongside him, also withdrew from the conser- “I just want my life back,” Spears said. something she said James Spears has expressed no desire to do. vatorship last week, saying it no longer wanted to take part in a She was harshly critical of her father, who serves as conservator “Mr. Spears, as the Conservator of the Estate, and Ms. Mont- legal arrangement that she didn’t want. Variety s e r u t a Jean-Christophe Reymond, from right, Vincent Lindon, director Julia Ducournau, Agathe Rousselle, Garance Marillier and Lais Salameh pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the fi lm ‘Titane’ at the 74th international fi lm festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, July 13. (AP) Film e Damon bridges Oklahoma, France in dramatic thriller NEW YORK: The NBA Finals has gained some, but not all, of its audience back after last year’s trip to the pandemic bubble. The fi rst three games of the F Features A father on a mission in ‘Stillwater’ championship match between the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee CANNES, France, July 14, (AP): The set-up of Tom a local single mother (played by the French actress people became charmingly protective of the star in Bucks averaged just about 9 mil- McCarthy’s “Stillwater” sounds very Liam Neeson. Camille Cottin, star of “Call My Agent” and her their midst. lion viewers, the Nielsen company said. Matt Damon stars as a tough, terse Oklahoma young daughter Maya played by Lilou Siauvaud) and “I’m much more taken care of than Bill by any That’s up 41% from the 6.38 father who travels to Marseille, France, to visit his slowly, reluctantly begins to adapt and, maybe, ex- community I parachute into,” says Damon. “People million who watched the fi rst three jailed daughter (Abigail Breslin), who has been pand his very ethnocentric perspective. The movie’s tend to just be really nice and open and helpful.” games of last year’s series be- imprisoned for her role in a scandalous Amanda subtle question: Can a nationalistic, narrow-minded Marseille, a bustling and multicultural port city, tween the L.A. Lakers and Miami Knox-styled murder case. Damon, a gruff, working- American change his ways? Oui or non? also infatuated Damon. If he were younger and liv- Heat. The 2000 series was held class roughneck, sticks around to seek justice for his The production, itself, wasn’t so different. It was ing in France, he’d move there, he says. But is Da- in the odd time of late September daughter and fi nd a mystery man who may have been largely shot in Marseille with a mostly local crew. mon’s French any better than Bill’s? In the movie, and October and played without the real killer. Shortly after premiering the fi lm in Cannes, they re- Bill rarely gets more than a few French words out. live audiences due to COVID-19 restrictions. McCarthy, the director of “Spotlight,” “Win Win” turned to Marseille to screen it. “Hell yeah, ça va,” he says with a strong Oklahoman This year’s series is close to and “The Station Agent,” had long pursued Damon “Too many times American movies pitch their accent. normal in timing, and live audi- for one of his movies. In “Stillwater,” he knew audi- tent,” says McCarthy. “Thank you, Pedro. Thank “It’s maybe worse,” Damon says sheepishly. ences have returned. Compared to ences would come in expecting Damon as a quintes- you, Francoise. Stay over there.” “Actually much worse,” laughs McCarthy. the pre-COVID 2019 series where sentially American hero. “Stillwater” could be seen as Hollywood’s version “Stillwater” debuted to strong reviews at Cannes Toronto beat Golden State, this “I have a very specifi c set of skills,” Damon, doing of a Middle America newspaper profi le, the kind that and early Oscar nominations speculation for Da- year’s audience is down 34%, his most gravelly Neeson, jokes while sitting along- gets written a lot during election seasons. But the mon’s lead performance. Produced by Participant Nielsen said. THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021 side McCarthy in an interview. fi lmmakers made an effort to get beyond clichés. Be- Media and distributed by Focus Features, it will try Most events tend to lose view- ers from year to year, with the “Stillwater,” though, is more than it might appear. fore shooting the movie, Damon and McCarthy took to stoke interest as a theatrical release that appeals to increased choices that consumers The fi lm, which premiered at the Cannes Film Fes- a pre-production trip to Oklahoma for, as McCarthy both blue states and red, American moviegoers and have. The 2019 series also fea- tival and will open in North American theaters on says, “three days in a truck and a lot of barbeque” to European ones. It’s an increasingly uncommon kind tured the well-known Golden State July 30, is an anomaly — a US-Euro hybrid set just get a sense of the region’s character. Both came back of movie: a star-fronted drama for adults from an Warriors, who were competing in down the coast from Cannes yet one of the biggest with a new understanding. original idea, made for theaters. their fi fth straight Finals. American fi lms at this year’s festival. As “Stillwa- At the premiere, Damon was moved to tears at The Finals helped ABC dominate ter” progresses, it takes its premise in unpredictable Empathy simply being back in a full movie theater. the prime time ratings, as the net- directions, turning the American-abroad thriller on “It was coming at a time where we were super “It was completely overwhelming,” Damon work averaged 4.6 million viewers its head. polarized. My French co-writers used to say: You says. “It was a really powerful reminder of watch- for the week. NBC had 2.9 million, CBS had 2.7 million, Univision had “It’s a movie that owes as much to American sto- were so angry when we were writing this,” McCa- ing things on the little screen in my house, what the 1.8 million, Fox had 1.7 million, rytelling as it does to European storytelling,” says rthy says.