Month: March 2024

Every single week, our TV and film experts will list the most important ten streaming selections for you to pop into your queues. We’re not strictly operating upon reviews or accrued streaming clicks (although yes, we’ve scoured the streaming site charts) but, instead, upon those selections that are really worth noticing amid the churning sea of content. There’s a lot out there, after all, and your time is valuable.

TIE: 10. Anyone But You (Sony film on VOD & Amazon Prime)

It’s no secret that romcoms have largely become a streaming-only sensation in recent years. Yet Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell changed that game — and you can watch them at home if you missed it in theaters — by virtue of looking far too attractive in swimsuits, pretending to hate each other, and still not making people upset when their characters did the predictable thing in the end. This film was a take on Will Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and proved that sleeper comedies can still exist and even outdo the most VFX-filled movies that also happen to include Sydney Sweeney. Fun and frothy is a combination that should not be discounted, y’all. Give us more.

TIE: 10. This Is Me… Now: A Love Story (Amazon Prime movie)

Speaking of predictability, that attribute is the opposite of what anyone expected from Bennifer after they broke off their engagement in the wake of too much Gigli-fueled nastiness. Now, JLo is onscreen with a heightened version of her own storied love life to reveal how far, in a very meta way, that she has come today. Ben Affleck somehow put down the Dunkin’ to haunt this film, too, and exactly how much of this film’s script happens to be true? JLo ain’t telling.

9. House Of Ninjas (Netflix series)

If you go in without knowing anything about this show, then you will be pleasantly be surprised to be wrapped up in a shadow-filled blanket full of choreography, battle scenes, and engrossing ninja lore. Additionally, this film has (as the title suggests) a gathering of ninjas who also happen to be a dysfunctional family. Naturally, there is no such thing for them as ninja retirement, so it’s time for some last ninja jobs. This is sheer escapism, so binge to your little black heart’s content.

8. Halo (Paramount+ series)

Sh*t got truly rough for Master Chief this week with a host full of battle wounds and a few days of lost consciousness to boot. Of all the video game adaptations currently swamping TV and movies, this selection might be the most stressful to behold. Pablo Schreiber went on record to reveal how he was looking forward to a darker season, and he certainly received it.

7. The Tourist (BBC One/Stan series streaming on Netflix)

This series originally streamed on Max and found new life after moving over to Netflix for its second season of U.S.-based streaming. Jamie Dornan’s character took a hell of a road trip in the Australian Outback and has now crossed a few ponds to land in Ireland, where he’s attempting to make progress against those ultra-bad dudes who want to take his also-bad dude self off the map. First, he’ll be drawn into a family feud — the most delicate kind of feud. This show is wildly entertaining, and thank goodness that Jamie Dornan is finally able to punt his Fifty Shades era into the dust.

6. Shōgun (FX series streaming on Hulu)

This series might be the next big thing by harnessing the Game of Thrones manner of epic drama without even adding dragons. In doing so, the show brings James Clavell’s beloved 1975 novel, the most well-known title of Asian Saga, to life in vivid detail. The story kicks off with Lord Yoshii Toranaga finding himself opposed by the Council of Regents in 1600s feudal Japan. As his enemies position themselves for power, he finds an ally in John Blackthorn, an English sailor whose craft has become marooned, and their fates become forever entwined. Blackthorn is based upon historical figure William Adams, who met his destiny by learning the ways of the samurai.

5. Dune (WBD film on Max)

Dune: Part 2 has hit theaters with Timothée Chalamet riding a sandworm and no Jason Momoa to behold, but that’s alright. Florence Pugh joins the cast, Zendaya got bumped up to a lead role, Austin Butler looks nothing like his handsome self, and Rebecca Ferguson is everything. Our own Mike Ryan absolutely loved this sequel from Denis Villeneuve, and of course, you can stream the first film before heading to the multiplex.

4. Poor Things (Searchlight Pictures film on VOD & Amazon Prime)

If you’re planning on catching the March 10 Academy Awards broadcast, then this highly nominated film is one to brush up on before airtime. Emma Stone portrays the young woman, Bella Baxter, who is resurrected in a Frankenstein way in the victorian era. The film is a little saucier than initially portrayed to be (surprise!), but audiences have gotten lost within Bella’s whirlwind ride around the globe, in which she achieves true liberation. (Also, this hits Hulu next week.)

3. The Regime (HBO series streaming on Max)

HBO and Kate Winslet are old friends and current partners as she takes charge again of her old Mildred Pierce and Mare of Easttown stomping grounds. Winslet portrays the authoritarian leader of a crumbling European government, and given that she falls under the spell of a new and unlikely yet handsome confidant, Herbert Zubak (Matthias Schoenaerts), that slide into the ocean might soon be complete. Hugh Grant and Martha Plimpton co-star, and Winslet might be having too much fun with this messy role.

2. Avatar: The Last Airbender (Netflix series)

Here comes the latest attempt from Netflix to adapt beloved IP into live-action mode, and in doing so, it must strive for the high bar of the animated series and clear the low bar set by the M. Night Shyamalan movie. The show was conceived with at least three seasons in mind, but for now, the story begins with Aang, an Air Nomad who must attempt to (with the help of a few pals) take his rightful ruling position after bringing harmony to the realms. Fire Nation, however, has plenty of wrenches to throw into that effort. Let’s just say that the current social media response from bingewatchers is mixed, so we shall see whether more seasons surface after the dust settles.

1. The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live (AMC show streaming on AMC+)

Rick and Michonne Grimes are back in each other’s arms again after being apart for more years than they were together. That’s only the start of the challenges that they will face in this worthy love story (even for non-romantics), and finally, this world has enlightened The Walking Dead audience on the meaning of “A”s and “B”s. The CRM’s true reach and dubious goals are also becoming known, and you know that Michonne will not stand for this type of existence. Rick, on the other hand, has lost a hand, and that horrific reality makes his yearning-filled dreams (and the leading duo’s chemistry) even more wonderful to witness onscreen.

Syndey Sweeney can do it all. From acting, modeling, and bringing on the laughs, the Anyone But You actress has displayed a wide range of talents. Last night (March 2), Sweeney added yet another skill to her impressive resume — solving cold cases.

In a Saturday Night Live sketch, Sweeney played an intern at a police station. She and her fellow intern, Chloe Fineman, were presented with a series of tasks — each of which involved finding a man who had gone on the run. Through social media searches and quick Googling, Sweeney and Fineman successfully track down each missing man.

When asked how they were able to find each man, Sweeney offered a simple explanation.

“We’re 22-year-old girls in situationships,” she said.

Fineman then added, “We can find out anything about anyone with literally no information. My screen time is 23 hours a day.”

Toward the end of the sketch, the dynamic duo helped a woman, played by Heidi Gardner, find her missing husband.

“My husband, I thought he was on a business trip, but he hasn’t come home for six weeks,” said Gardner.

The two young ladies quickly solved the case.

“Girl, he’s on Love Is Blind,” said Sweeney.

You can watch the sketch above.

In her second performance of the night, Kacey Musgraves shared her latest single “Too Good To Be True” from her upcoming album Deeper Well on the Saturday Night Live stage.

During the performance, Musgraves played her acoustic guitar, letting her vivid lyricism take front and center. Over the course of the song, she details falling in love after experiencing a harrowing heartbreak.

Deeper Well arrives at a new stage in Musgraves’ life. Since her previous album, Star-Crossed, Musgraves has gone through divorce, and has since quit smoking weed. In an interview with The Cut, she expressed gratitude for the lessons she’s learned throughout these phases of her life.

“I don’t regret living and loving as hard as I do,” Musgraves said. “Whenever I’m in a relationship, I’m all f*cking in. I think that hesitancy breeds hesitancy, and if you go in with something with one foot, it’s going to fail. After divorce, it’s like on one hand I do want to self-protect, but at the same time, if your heart is feeling open, I think you have to just show up for it. I’m still trying to figure out the balance of that.”

You can see the performance of “Too Good To Be True” above.

Deeper Well is out 3/15 via Interscope and MCA Nashville. Find more information here.

Sydney Sweeney kept the laughs coming in her Saturday Night Live debut. Last night (March 2), the prolific actress hosted the show for the first time. From the very beginning, she displayed a commitment to her craft while maintaining a strong sense of humor — even if many of the laughs came at her expense.

In case you’re one of very few people who’s not familiar with Sweeney, she offered the audience a bit of a refresher.

“My name is Sydney Sweeney,” she said. “You might have seen me in Anyone But You or Euphoria. You definitely did not see me in Madame Web.

Though she seemed to be referring to the fact that Madame Web was widely panned by critics, she promised viewers a full display of her range.

“Tonight, I’m excited for everyone to get to know the real me. I feel like people only see me as the girl on TV who screams, cries and has sex,” Sweeney said. “Sometimes it’s all three at the same time.”

Toward the end of the monologue, she cleared up a few rumors about herself. But notably, she set the record straight on the rumors of a fling she had with one of her co-stars.

I’d say the craziest rumor I’ve seen is that while I was filming Anyone But You, I was having an affair with my co-star Glenn Powell,” she said. “That’s obviously not true. Me and my fiance produced a movie together, and he was there the entire shoot. And I just want to let everyone know that he’s the man of my dreams. And we’re still together and stronger than ever. He even came here tonight to support me.”

Sweeney then asked the crew to cut to her fiance. But the camera then revealed Powell himself, who made a surprise appearance in the audience.

You can see the opening monologue above.

Tonight (March 2), country superstar Kacey Musgraves graced the Saturday Night Live stage for the third time. Ahead of her upcoming fifth studio album Deeper Well, Musgraves delivered an emotional performance of the album’s title track.

While on the SNL stage, Musgraves wore a lovely blue and white quilted jacket, as she shared silky, polished vocals. The studio version of “Deeper Well” sounds a bit somber in tone, but this particular performance imagined the song in a more lighthearted, content sound. In her new era, Musgraves is introducing an older, wiser, and more principled version of herself.

Ahead of her upcoming album, Musgraves has partnered with candle brand Boy Smells for a candle appropriately called “Deeper Well.” In an interview with Vogue, Musgraves shared the story behind the notes that inspired this candle, and why she chose to name it after the title track, as opposed to an upcoming song called “Lonely Millionaire.”

“I had a vision of somebody who smells really good after just coming in from the rain,” Musgraves said. “You give them a hug, and it smells like them, but they also still have the outdoors on them.”

You can see the performance of “Deeper Well” above.

Deeper Well is out 3/15 via Interscope and MCA Nashville. Find more information here.

Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper’s book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men’s Feelings.

In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they’re not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.

One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.

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Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?

IS IT?

Sorry, I didn’t mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.

When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you’re telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.

When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don’t want your male coworkers to think you’re getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just “thinking out loud,” “throwing something out there,” or sharing something “dumb,” “random,” or “crazy.”

Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don’t come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.

If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let’s face it, no one might’ve ever heard it if he hadn’t repeated it.

When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.

Men love explaining things. But when he’s explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, “I already know that.” Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.

Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it’s important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you’re too sure about it. People will appreciate your “hey what do I know?!” sensibilities.

Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you’d be great for the role even though you don’t really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.

Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don’t take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don’t stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.

When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.

When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.

When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!

Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a “secret power” because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn’t frighten and intimidate others. That’s what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.

About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men’s Feelings, is out now.

A satirical take on what it’s like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she’s a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.

This article was originally published on 3.25.19

The 2024 BRIT Awards is the most coveted night in entertainment for talent across the UK. But that doesn’t mean artists from the US, Canada, and other parts of the world aren’t welcome. One of the more notable international recording artists to attend is Uproxx cover artist Tate McRae.

Although McRae lost out to Miley Cyrus for her sole nomination (International Song), that didn’t impact her spirit. On the mainstage, McRae devoured her performance of hit song, “Greedy” (watch it here). For months, fans have praised McRae’s showings on late-night television, but tonight (March 2), she proved that presence isn’t an in-studio trick.

As she moved in sync with her background dancers, she left no part of the stage unexplored. McRae floated above the elevated floor props, at the peak, leaping off for a brave trust fall, making you fall in love with the track all over again.

During an interview with Uproxx’s Megan Armstrong in December 2023, McRae spoke about the inspiration behind the record and more. “Honestly, writing for this album came a lot more naturally because I was pulling from real experiences,” she said. “I had gone through. Both the experiences that led to the confident, empowered tracks like “Greedy” and the experiences that led to more contemplative, reflective, and nostalgic songs like ‘Calgary.’”

Think Later is out now via RCA Records. Find more information here.

The British are coming. Well, more specifically, the 2024 BRIT Awards. On March 2, the annual showcase of the UK’s biggest names went down. As usual, the televised performances were elaborately over-the-top. But what did shake things up, at least for the viewing audience at home and abroad, was the winner’s list.

“Flip A Switch” singer RAYE absolutely dominated the night, taking home a grand total of 6 awards (British Album Of The Year, British Artist Of The Year, New Artist, Song Of The Year, R&B Act, and Songwriter Of The Year). SZA took home the trophy for International Artist.

In addition to performing her single, “Training Season,” Dua Lipa snagged the award for Pop Act. As a surprise to no one, Miley Cyrus’ hit “Flowers” won for International Song. The Global Icon Award was bestowed on Kylie Minogue. While the Rising Star Award was given to The Last Dinner Party. Continue below for the complete list of winners.

British Album Of The Year

Blur – The Ballad of Darren
J Hus – Beautiful and Brutal Yard
Little Simz – No Thank You
Raye – My 21st Century Blues
Young Fathers – Heavy Heavy

British Artist Of The Year

Arlo Parks
Central Cee
Dave
Dua Lipa
Fred Again
J Hus
Jessie Ware
Little Simz
Olivia Dean
Raye

British Group

Blur
Chase & Status
Headie One & K-Trap
Jungle
Young Fathers

New Artist

Mahalia
Olivia Dean
PinkPantheress
Raye
Yussef Dayes

Song Of The Year

Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding – “Miracle”
Cassö, Raye and D-Block Europe – “Prada”
Central Cee – “Let Go”
Central Cee and Dave – “Sprinter”
Dua Lipa – “Dance the Night”
Ed Sheeran – “Eyes Closed”
J Hus – “Who Told You”
Kenya Grace – “Strangers”
Lewis Capaldi – “Wish You the Best”
PinkPantheress – “Boy’s a Liar”
Raye – “Escapism”
Rudimental, Charlotte Plank and Vibe Chemistry – “Dancing Is Healing”
Stormzy and Debbie – “Firebabe”
Switch Disco and Ella Henderson – “React”
Venbee and Goddard – “Messy in Heaven”

International Artist

Asake
Burna Boy
Caroline Polachek
CMAT
Kylie Minogue
Lana Del Rey
Miley Cyrus
Olivia Rodrigo
SZA
Taylor Swift

International Group

Blink-182
Boygenius
Foo Fighters
Gabriels
Paramore

International Song

Billie Eilish – “What Was I Made For”
David Kushner – “Daylight”
Doja Cat – “Paint the Town Red”
Jazzy – “Giving Me”
Libianca – “People”
Meghan Trainor – “Made You Look”
Miley Cyrus – “Flowers”
Noah Kahan – “Stick Season”
Robin Schulz and Oliver Tree – “Miss You”
Olivia Rodrigo – “Vampire”
Peggy Gou – “(It Goes Like) Nanana”
Rema – “Calm Down”
SZA – “Kill Bill”
Tate McRae – “Greedy”
Tyla – “Water”

Rock/Alternative Act

Blur
Bring Me the Horizon
The Rolling Stones
Young Fathers
Yussef Dayes

Hip-hop/Grime/Rap Act

Casisdead
Central Cee
Dave
J Hus
Little Simz

Dance Act

BaCan’tan’t Swim
Becky Hill
Calvin Harris
Fred Again
Romy

Pop Act

Calvin Harris
Charli XCX
Dua Lipa
Olivia Dean
Raye

R&B Act

Cleo Sol
Jorja Smith
Mahalia
Raye
Sault

Songwriter Of The Year

Raye

Producer Of The Year

Chase & Status

Rising Star

The Last Dinner Party

Global Icon

Kylie Minogue

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

A pretty common complaint in the NBA right now revolves around officiating. Basically, referees have to toe a really thin line between imposing themselves on a game and not letting things get away from them, and while it’s a difficult job, the criticism of how they do it sure seems to be louder than ever from fans, coaches, and players.

On Saturday, we got a pretty good example of a referee getting a little too carried away in a situation. During the Atlanta Hawks’ game against the Brooklyn Nets, Hawks guard Dejounte Murray went to the bench after a timeout was called by Quin Snyder. One of the referees, Tony Brothers, wanted to say something to Murray, but he wasn’t having it, so he looked away and made a gesture with his hand. Brothers didn’t like this, so he hit Murray with a technical foul.

It’s unclear if literally anything else happened here, but this is not an especially good look for Brothers, who really does look like he was way too punitive towards a player who didn’t want to have a conversation with him during a timeout. We’ll let you know if either Murray or Brothers discusses this at all.

Brooklyn went on to win the game, 114-102.

The 40-yard-dash has become the marquee event during NFL Combine week, particularly when the defensive backs and wide receivers step up to the line inside Lucas Oil Stadium.

John Ross entered the 2024 NFL Combine as the record-holder with a 4.22 official time in the 40, but his record figured to face some stiff competition this year. One of the top candidates for the fastest time, DB Tyler Owens from Texas Tech (who jumped the second longest broad jump ever at 12’2), didn’t run because he picked up an injury between the jumps and the 40. Nate Wiggins, a corner out of Clemson, owned the fastest time of the DBs with a 4.28, and coming into Saturday it wasn’t clear if any of the receivers would be able to threaten that.

However, in the second receiver group, Texas speedster Xavier Worthy stepped up and absolutely roasted his first 40, posting a 4.25 that Daniel Jeremiah knew was special almost as soon as he got out of his stance.

Some guys run a 40 like that and call it a day, but Worthy wasn’t done and stepped up for his second run and somehow bested his first, eliciting a very funny noise from Rich Eisen at the line and causing DJ to just laugh at what they’d witnessed.

The 4.22 unofficial time would tie Ross, but word came down from the official laser time that Worthy had in fact run a 4.21 and the fastest performance in Combine history.

Worthy hauled in 75 catches for 1,014 yards this season for Texas and was considered a potential first round pick coming into the Combine (Mel Kiper Jr. had him going 32nd to the Chiefs), but after running this fast in Indy, he might have bumped his stock even higher.