Port Adelaide’s decision to use blockbuster Hollywood movie about building an atomic bomb as motivation for Brisbane Lions AFL finals showdown lashed for being ‘in poor taste’

• Port Adelaide’s pre-game mode of inspiration was left-field
• Face Brisbane Lions on Saturday night in AFL Qualifying Final
• Power coach Ken Hinkley said teamwork & common goals were key

By Andrew Prentice For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 20:39 EDT, 8 September 2023 | Updated: 20:39 EDT, 8 September 2023

Port Adelaide‘s bizarre decision to be inspired by a controversial Hollywood movie about building an atomic bomb that ended the second World War has been lashed by footy fans online.

It follows star midfielder Ollie Wines being asked whether the Power had called on any motivational themes ahead of Saturday night’s Qualifying Final against Brisbane at the Gabba.

Wines’ response – the film Oppenheimer – raised plenty of eyebrows.

‘It’s a little bit about how much work goes into something,’ Wines told SEN Radio this week.

‘So many people have to come together and work hard for a number of years….[in terms of our team], this finals campaign isn’t just something that’s just been building this year — it’s probably been the last four years.

Port Adelaide ‘s bizarre decision to be inspired by a Hollywood movie about building an atomic bomb that ended the second World War has been lashed by footy fans online (pictured, Power coach Ken Hinkley)

‘The general grasp of the movie is many people come together and work hard to reach a common goal, which hopefully for us is a premiership.’

Stunned footy fans couldn’t believe Port’s left-field method of inspiration.

‘They may want to go re-watch the film a few more times, because this is a dreadful take and incredibly insensitive to theme things around,’ one person wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Another posted: ‘it sounds a bit dodgy to be taking inspiration from a biopic about the development of a nuclear weapon that killed hundreds of thousands of civilians.’

A third stated: ‘The Atomic Bomb!! Seriously??? Tore apart more than it brought together.’

Following an avalanche of criticism, Power coach Ken Hinkley said the collective focus was teamwork under pressure.

Hinkley also bristled at talk the film’s star J. Robert Oppenheimer was an inappropriate role model for his playing group.

Star midfielder Ollie Wines said the key theme derived from the film Oppenheimer is teamwork

Brisbane ($1.50) are heavily favoured to topple Ken Hinkley’s Port Adelaide ($2.70) on home soil in Saturday’s AFL Qualifying Final

‘Every club has some type of theme that they may use at this time of year,’ he told reporters before boarding a flight to Brisbane.

‘The key part about that, as I think Ollie explained incredibly well, is that it’s just a little story around how people had to come together over a long period of time to work really hard on one single thing to get an outcome.

‘We’ve been at this task [winning a flag] for a good period of time — four or five years.’

Hinkley later admitted he hadn’t seen the film himself.

Brisbane ($1.50) are favoured to topple Port Adelaide ($2.70) on home soil, with first bounce at 7.25pm – the winner moves through to the preliminary final.

Barbie soars past The Super Mario Bros. Movie to become the highest-grossing film for 2023 in North America

• Barbie has now grossed $575.4M in North America
• It passed Mario’s impressive $574M domestic haul this week
• The Margot Robbie comedy is also on track to beat Mario’s $1.35B global grosses

By Brian Marks For Dailymail.com

Updated: 12:51 EDT, 24 August 2023

Barbie has reached another milestone, becoming the top-grossing film in North America for the year so far. 

The Margot Robbie–starring comedy has currently grossed around $575.4 million, putting it just past The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s $574 million domestic gross.

The news of the Greta Gerwig–directed film’s runaway success comes after it had already strutted past the $1 billion mark at he global box office.

The top global grosses of the year are also within reaching, as The Super Mario Bros. movie has only earned slightly more than Barbie in other international markets. 

Top of the pack: Barbie has reached another milestone, becoming the top-grossing film in North America for the year so far

Passed over: The Margot Robbie–starring comedy has currently grossed around $575.4 million, putting it just past The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s $574 million domestic gross

She danced, she twerked and she sang. She changed from a figure-hugging sparkling silver bodysuit into a slinky red peekaboo cut-out dress slit to the thigh, then to a Playboy bunny outfit with push-up bustier and floppy rabbit ears.

As she celebrated her 50th birthday last week, Kate Beckinsale proved that she can look and act like a woman half her age – a priceless talent for an actress in Hollywood where turning 30 can be career suicide.

‘What a party – full of love and glitter and the best people,’ the Oxford-educated actress wrote on Instagram.

Ms Beckinsale is one of the most successful British actresses in Hollywood, yet it has been 11 years since she last appeared in a film that earned more than $100 million (£78 million): the remake of Total Recall.

She won Best Actress honours two years running in Britain’s National Film Awards, but neither movie was a box office success: 2021 racial drama Farming earned only £70,000 worldwide, and Jolt took £187,000 last year.

As she celebrated her 50th birthday last week, Kate Beckinsale (centre) proved that she can look and act like a woman half her age – a priceless talent for an actress in Hollywood where turning 30 can be career suicide

Ms Beckinsale is one of the most successful British actresses in Hollywood, yet it has been 11 years since she last appeared in a film that earned more than $100 million (£78 million): the remake of Total Recall

Yet Ms Beckinsale has achieved the formidable tightrope act of enduring as a Hollywood star despite never cracking the A-list.

She lives in a £4.4 million modernist mansion in the Hollywood Hills and is worth a reported £19.5 million and earns at least £1.5 million a year. Paid an estimated £7.8 million for the fifth film in her vampires-vs-werewolves Underworld franchise in 2016, Ms Beckinsale says she is open to appearing in a sixth.

Meanwhile, with 5.6 million Instagram followers, social media is her financial anchor; experts say she could easily command £30,000 a post for brand endorsements.

Her Instagram following dwarfs that of most other British actresses. Mission: Impossible star Hayley Atwell has 1.8 million followers; Kate Winslet 1.4 million; Sienna Miller 1.3 million; and Dame Helen Mirren 1.1 million.

London-born Ms Beckinsale has appeared in commercials for Gap denim, Diet Coke and Lux shampoo, advertised Absolut vodka and Nestle, was the first US brand ambassador for home appliance maker Russell Hobbs, and since 2021 has been the face of MRVL Skin Solutions, a skincare line.

On Instagram she has given shout-outs to places and products including the Castle Elvira luxury hotel in Puglia, Italy; Julia Clancey clothing; Jane Doe Latex dresses; Candy Ice Jewellery; Les Girls Les Boys clothing; and Carversteak at Resorts World in Las Vegas.

Her red carpet appearances at fashion shows, including Chanel, Elie Saab and Bulgari jewellery, may also have been lucrative.

‘Her story serves as a reminder that success in the entertainment industry isn’t always a straightforward path,’ says Los Angeles talent manager Wendy Alane Wright.

‘Throughout her career she has worked and collaborated with incredible co-stars on ambitious projects, even if they didn’t achieve the desired level of success.’

Talent manager Chris Wright says: ‘She’s a better actress than she gets the credit for. She’s been unfortunate that some of the films that were supposed to make a difference in her career didn’t do so. Yet even her not-so-good movies are ones that everyone remembers, such as Pearl Harbor.’

The daughter of Porridge star Richard Beckinsale, who died in 1979 at the age of 31 when Kate was only five, she made her film debut in Kenneth Branagh’s 1993 Shakespeare comedy Much Ado About Nothing. 

The 2001 blockbuster Pearl Harbor, where she appeared alongside Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett, was expected to launch a stellar screen career

Ms Beckinsale credits her age-defying beauty to genetics and occasional ‘facials with platelet-rich plasma’. She insists: ‘No thread lift, no Botox, no laser, no nose job, no filler’

She danced, she twerked and she sang. She changed from a figure-hugging sparkling silver bodysuit (pictured here) into a slinky red peekaboo cut-out dress slit to the thigh, then to a Playboy bunny outfit with push-up bustier and floppy rabbit ears – Kate Beckinsale’s outfits for her 50th birthday

The 2001 blockbuster Pearl Harbor, where she appeared alongside Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett, was expected to launch a stellar screen career.

‘Pearl Harbor was a costly missed opportunity,’ says Wendy Wright. ‘Critics panned the film and audiences were left unimpressed.’

Ms Beckinsale next starred in romantic comedy Serendipity but, says Wendy Wright, it ‘failed to make a lasting impression’.

She then turned to action adventure with the 2003 hit Underworld, falling in love with its director, Len Wiseman. Previously she had been in a long relationship with Welsh actor Michael Sheen, with whom she has a 24-year-old daughter.

Underworld spawned four lucrative sequels, but though the vampire saga developed a cult following, it struggled to resonate with a broader audience, says Wendy Wright. 

‘Kate’s connection to the series’ director, whom she was married to at the time, kept her tied to the project for more years than she may have otherwise chosen.’ Ms Beckinsale and Wiseman married but divorced after 15 years in 2019.

Hollywood’s increasing focus on big-budget blockbusters also limited Ms Beckinsale’s opportunities. ‘Kate Beckinsale has appeared at her best in small indie films,’ says another Hollywood talent manager.

Yet her evergreen popularity makes her highly marketable beyond Hollywood. ‘The magic of celebrity influencer marketing is no passing trend, and there’s no better example than Kate Beckinsale,’ says Stacy Jones, chief executive officer of leading pop culture marketing agency Hollywood Branded.

‘What makes Kate’s online presence a goldmine for marketers is not just her massive follower count. Based predominantly in the US but extending across the UK, Brazil, Mexico, and India, her followers provide a vast, engaged and demographically diverse market.’

Ms Beckinsale credits her age-defying beauty to genetics and occasional ‘facials with platelet-rich plasma’. She insists: ‘No thread lift, no Botox, no laser, no nose job, no filler.’

Stacy Jones adds: ‘What sets Kate Beckinsale apart is the trust and personal connection she fosters with her followers. That trust is marketing gold.’

Talent manager Chris Wright is optimistic about her future. ‘There are still roles for her that encompass danger, beauty, sexuality, and her obvious sense of humour.’

But until that call comes, Kate Beckinsale will remain in the money – grabbing attention on social media in skintight bunny costumes and bejewelled bodysuits.

Kensington Palace has released a stunning behind-the-scenes video of the Prince and Princess of Wales at the King’s Coronation last week.

William and Kate made headlines with their eye-catching outfits at the historic crowning of King Charles III.

Their children Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, also stole the show at the ceremony watched by millions around the world.

A video released by the Wales’s official YouTube account provides a rare glimpse into their family life during the packed Coronation weekend.

The film captures the jubilant atmosphere of the celebration as it shows William and Kate meeting crowds of royal fans on the Mall outside Buckingham Palace the evening before the Coronation.

A stunning new video shows behind-the-scenes footage of the Waleses over the Coronation weekend

Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, four, get ready for the Coronation at Kensington Palace 

It then shows William and Kate getting ready at Kensington Palace along with Charlotte and Louis the following morning.

The royal couple can be seen wearing their stunning Royal Victorian Order Mantles, while Kate wowed with her white Alexander McQueen dress.

The family then leave the palace to travel to Westminster Abbey in a gold carriage, alongside thousands of armed forces personnel and Buckingham Palace household members.

William, Kate and their children are then spotted standing on the Buckingham Palace balcony along with other members of the Royal Family after the Coronation ceremony.

The royals and the thousands of people gathered outside the palace were then treated to a flyover by the Red Arrows despite the poor weather.

The following day, the family can be seen in the film pitching in for the Big Help Out – a volunteering event held across the country to celebrate the King’s years of public service.

Kate greets royal fans gathered on the Mall outside Buckingham Palace the day before the Coronation 

The Princess of Wales prepares to leave Kensington Palace for the Coronation service at Westminster Abbey

William gets in the car to the Coronation wearing his ceremonial robes 

The Waleses stand on the Buckingham Palace balcony with other members of the Royal Family following the King’s Coronation 

Members of the Royal Air Force march past Buckingham Palace as the King and Queen wave to the crowd

Prince Louis gives his father a hand with a digger during the Big Help Out the day after the Coronation 

Prince William rehearses for his speech on stage at Windsor Castle ahead of the Coronation Concert 

Prince William pictured at Windsor Castle for the Coronation Concert where he delivered a tribute to the King 

Katy Perry performs at the Coronation Concert as she helps to round off the historic weekend 

William told his father ‘we are all so proud of you’ at a speech at the concert at Windsor Castle

Prince Louis can be seen helping out with a digger while his brother George has a go at archery before the family join in a group photo with the other volunteers.

The video ends with clips taken at the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle which starred Katy Perry, Lionel Ritchie and Take That before William makes a speech in honour of the King.

He told his father: ‘We are all so proud of you.’ 

The wholesome footage marks a contrast with the Netflix series released by Harry and Meghan which sparked controversy last year.

The couple made a series of bombshell claims against the royals, including Harry saying that his family had not understood that Meghan needed protection against racist attacks.

Meghan also described how she was shocked by the formality of the Royal Family and described how she bowed when she met the Queen.

The documentary sparked a war of words between the Sussexes and the rest of the royals.

Although the programme claimed that members of the royal family declined to comment, Kensington Palace said they had only received an email from a third party which they were unable to verify with Harry and Meghan’s company Archewell.

Harry travelled to the Coronation without Meghan from their home in Montecito, California last week.

The prince spent only 28 hours in the UK and is understood to have had only limited contact with his family members during his time there.

Following the end of the service at Westminster Abbey, Harry travelled straight to Heathrow where he boarded a flight back to the US for his son Archie’s birthday. 

Jennifer Coolidge showed her support for the Writers Guild of America Sunday amid the ongoing writers strike, while accepting the Comedic Genius award in a clip for the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards Sunday, while Drew Barrymore dropped out and was honored with an award, and The Last of Us came away with three large honors.

‘Almost all great comedy starts with great writers,’ The White Lotus star said in her speech. ‘I just think as a proud member of SAG, I stand here before you tonight side-by-side with my sisters and brothers from the WGA that are fighting right now, fighting for the rights of artists everywhere.

She added, ‘I think of the words of Shakespeare where he once said, you know, the play is the thing. Well, I don’t want to put words in his mouth or anything but I think what he really meant was it’s everything!’

Coolidge won a second award for Most Frightened Performance for The White Lotus at the event. She prevailed in the category against Cocaine Bear’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Barbarian’s Justin Long, Bodies Bodies Bodies star Rachel Sennott and Smile’s Sosie Bacon.

‘My gosh, popcorn,’ she said. ‘Thank you. Oh, my go. Most frightening death. Thank you. I hope this is the last time that I ever die on a show. I would like to stay alive.’

Solidarity: Jennifer Coolidge showed her support for the Writers Guild of America Sunday while accepting the Comedic Genius award at the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards Sunday

The Last Of Us star Pedro Pascal won the honor for Best Hero to kick off the award announcements on Sunday, as the show also garnered the honors for Best Show and Best Duo for Pascal and Bella Ramsey. 

Pascal prevailed over a field including Andor’s Diego Luna, Wednesday’s Jenna Ortega, Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania’s Paul Rudd and Top Gun: Maverick’s Tom Cruise for the honors. 

‘I want to say thank you, MTV Movie and TV awards,’ Pascal said in his acceptance speech. ‘I am a child of MTV. This means the absolute world to me. The people at MTV told me that 77.5 million people voted this year. Which blows my mind and just makes it such an honor.’

He continued, ‘I wish we could all be together so that I can look into your eyes and tell you that all young people in the world are my heroes and I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you. I want to say that you deserve a world that serves your interests.

‘You deserve to be healthy. You deserve to be safe. You deserve for your individual rights to be fought for and protected. You deserve real heroes in this world because you are real heroes to me. And I love you. Thank you. Thank you.’

Cruise was named the winner for Best Performance in a Movie for Top Gun: Maverick, besting fellow nominees Austin Butler (Elvis), Florence Pugh (Don’t Worry Darling), KeKe Palmer (Nope) and Michael B. Jordan (Creed III). 

Cruise showed off his trademark showmanship as he delivered his acceptance speech from the air in a jet.

‘Hi, everyone, thank you so much for this award,’ the perennial A-lister said. ‘I make these films for you. I love you. I love entertaining you. How much you enjoy it, how much you appreciate it. There is no better feeling and I hope you enjoy this.

The White Lotus star said in her speech: ‘Almost all great comedy starts with great writers’

The American Pie alum paid tribute to her writing peers in accepting the Comedic Genius honors

Coolidge won a second award for Most Frightened Performance for The White Lotus at the event

She said, ‘My gosh, popcorn. Thank you. Oh, my go. Most frightening death. Thank you. I hope this is the last time that I ever die on a show. I would like to stay alive’

The beloved actress was one of the shining stars of the evening for the pre-taped program 

Cruise was named the winner for Best Performance in a Movie for Top Gun: Maverick

Cruise showed off his trademark showmanship as he delivered his acceptance speech from the air in a jet

‘Dead reckoning coming out in July. It’s a wild ride. Have a wonderful summer. Thank you again for letting me entertain you. It’s an absolute privilege. We’ll see you at the movies.’

Scream VI was named the Best Movie of the year, edging out a field that included Avatar: The Way of Water, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Elvis, Nope, Smile and Top Gun: Maverick. 

Wednesday’s Jenna Ortega was named the winner of Best Performance in a Show, besting a loaded category that consisted of Aubrey Plaza (The White Lotus), Christina Ricci (Yellowjackets), Riley Keough (Daisy Jones & The Six), Sadie Sink (Stranger Things) and Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building). 

The Kardashians were named Best Docu-reality Series over Jersey Shore Family Vacation, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Family Reunion: Love & Hip Hop Edition and Vanderpump Rules. 

In the category of Breakthrough Performance, Stranger Things star Joseph Quinn was crowned with the honor over fellow nominees Bad Bunny (Bullet Train), Bella Ramsey (The Last Of Us), Emma D’Arcy (House of the Dragon), and Rachel Sennott (Bodies Bodies Bodies). 

Vanderpump Rules quarter Ariana Madix, Katie Maloney, Scheana Shay and LaLa Kent was named Best Reality On-Screen Team, besting stars from shows such as Jersey Shore Family Vacation, The Challenge: Ride or Dies, RuPaul’s Drag Race and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Adam Sandler took home the prize for Best Comedic Performance, besting fellow nominees Coolidge (Shotgun Wedding), Dylan O’Brien (Not Okay), KeKe Palmer (Nope) and Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary).

In the category for Best Fight, the Scream VI conflict between Ghostface and Courteney Cox (as Gale Weathers) prevailed of the nominees.

RuPaul’s Drag Race: All-Stars was crowned the Best Competition Series, besting competitors including All-Star Shore, Big Brother, The Challenge: USA and The Traitors.

The Last Of Us star Pedro Pascal won the honor for Best Hero at the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards Sunday 

The beloved leading man praised young people in his speech, saying, ‘You deserve real heroes in this world because you are real heroes to me’

Pascal and Bella Ramsey also won the honors for Best Duo for The Last Of Us 

The actor, who plays the role of Joel on the video game adaptation, had his hands full with three trophies as the HBO series garnered the honors for Best Show

Drew Barrymore was slated to host, but backed out due to the WGA strike. Despite her absence, the Hollywood stalwart was also named the Best Host for The Drew Barrymore Show 

Outer Banks stars Madison Bailey and Rudy Pankow were crowned winners in the Best Kiss category, defeating competitors such as The Last Of Us’ Anna Torv and Philip Prajoux, My Policeman’s Harry Styles and David Dawson, Daisy Jones & The Six’s Riley Keough and Sam Claflin and Only Murders in the Building’s Selena Gomez and Cara Delevingne. 

The 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards aired Sunday in a pre-taped broadcast amid the commencement of the WGA writers’ earlier this week.  

The long-running awards show is one of the first victims of the ongoing dispute between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the Writers Guild of America union.

Officials from the Writers Guild had pledged to picket at the event in Southern California – which will would have put celebrities in the awkward position of crossing the line – until MTV scuttled the live event Saturday evening.

MTV executive producer Bruce Gillmer said in a statement, ‘We’re pivoting away from a live event,’ according to the AP.

Gillmer said that the pre-taped format enables the network ‘to produce a memorable night full of exclusive sneak peaks, irreverent categories our audience has come to expect, and countless moments that will both surprise and delight.’

Writers are now on strike and picketing studios, leading the host Drew Barrymore to announce she was dropping out last Sunday.

The 48-year-old actress-turned-talk show host had been set to MC the festivities, but she is now putting her clout behind writers struggling to earn better pay and guarantees on staffing, as studios increasingly try to limit the size of writers’ rooms and shrink the number of episodes per series.  

‘I have listened to the writers, and in order to truly respect them, I will pivot from hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards live in solidarity with the strike,’ Barrymore told Variety. ‘Everything we celebrate and honor about movies and television is born out of their creation.’

In the category for Best Fight, the Scream VI conflict between Ghostface and Courteney Cox (as Gale Weathers) prevailed of the nominees; the horror villain accepted the honors in a pre-taped speech 

Sofia Carson’s Come Back Home was named the Best Musical Moment for the film Purple Hearts 

Barrymore added that she’ll be watching the show from home, and she stills plans to return as host next year. 

Despite her absence, the Hollywood stalwart was also named the Best Host for The Drew Barrymore Show. 

Though she won’t be at the Barker Hangar in person, she may still be in pre-taped sketches that were filmed prior to the start of the strike. 

The labor action has also led the awards show to cancel its red carpet festivities, and other stars may also drop out to show support to strikers.

On Thursday, Vanderpump Rules star Lala Kent also announced she was no longer attending as a show of solidarity.

‘Although Vanderpump Rules falls under the unscripted sector of TV, that is not an excuse for me to remain silent and carry on as if there isn’t so much at stake for every writer and their families,’ she told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement. ‘We have to protect our creators and I hope you’ll stand with me and many others as we do so until we reach a resolution (hopefully very soon).’

As in previous years, the show will feature gender-neutral award categories. 

The show, which had previously been split over two days for scripted and unscripted content, had been condensed back into a single evening this year.  

Viewers can also stream the show on Paramount+.