Cinema’s greatest monster is back. No, not Nosferatu, but Feathers McGraw.
The evil penguin, who first appeared in 1993’s Oscar-winning The Wrong Trousers, returns in Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. Directed by Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham, the meticulous claymation film from Aardman Animations finds Feathers enacting revenge on Wallace and Gromit for getting him locked up in prison by reprogramming Wallace’s robotic garden gnome.
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (which has a perfect 100 percent “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes) premiered in the U.K. on Christmas on BBC One, but when will the film be out everywhere else? Thankfully, it’s a short wait: Vengeance Most Fowl premieres on Netflix on January 3, 2025.
Here’s more:
Aardman’s four-time Academy Award-winning director Nick Park and Emmy Award-nominated Merlin Crossingham return with a brand new epic adventure, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. In this next installment, Gromit’s concern that Wallace is becoming too dependent on his inventions proves justified, when Wallace invents a “smart” gnome that seems to develop a mind of its own. When it emerges that a vengeful figure from the past might be masterminding things, it falls to Gromit to battle sinister forces and save his master… or Wallace may never be able to invent again!
Rema’s sinister “Ozeba” video pays homage to African cinema, borrowing its concept from the cult classic Beninese horror film from which the song takes its name. “Ozeba” means trouble in the Edo language; the idea is made evident through the song’s pulsating rhythm and boastful, menacing lyrics. “I dey vex every day, only thing wey fit make me dey happy na ikebe,” he growls in pidgin English. “Internet gangster, that thing wey you talk, make you come my front, make you for répété.”
“Ozeba” is the seventh single from Rema’s second studio album, Heis. Released in July, Heis peaked at No. 7 on the US World Albums Billbaord chart, propelled by energetic tracks like “Benin Boys” with Shalipoppi and “HEHEHE.”
In Uproxx’s review for Heis, Wongo Okon writes: “With Heis, Rema proves that he has no interest in being conventional. An album like Heis is a risky move, as mixed reviews have proven it to be, but truthfully, it’s just the polarizing jolt that Afrobeats needs.” It was also given one of the highest platforms in the genre thanks to Rema’s role as headliner at Afro Nation festivals in Portugal and Detroit, while “Ozeba” was selected as one of Uproxx’s Best Songs of 2024.
2024 couldn’t just end without one more celebrity dating rumor popping up, could it?
Are Mariah Carey And Anderson .Paak Dating?
As TMZ reports, a little before Christmas, Carey and .Paak were spotted getting dinner together in Aspen. The two were apparently holding hands and .Paak was seen with his arm around her waist.
However, TMZ reports their sources say the two aren’t dating, but are working on new music together and have been in an Aspen studio. This summer, .Paak shared a video revealing he and Carey were working at the famous Electric Lady Studios together, so it appears the two are carrying on with whatever collaboration that is.
Both artists ended relationships recently. Earlier this year, .Paak filed for divorce from his wife after 12 years of marriage. Shortly before that, Carey and longtime boyfriend Bryan Tanaka ended their relationship, with Tanaka writing on social media, “With mixed emotions, I share this personal update regarding my amicable separation from Mariah Carey after seven extraordinary years together. Our decision to embark on different paths is mutual, and as we navigate these separate journeys, we do so with profound respect and an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the invaluable time we’ve shared.”
However, Beyoncé already had a backup plan should things have gone awry. Today (December 27), streamer Netflix announced that the Beyhive can relive her record-setting mini Cowboy Carter concert on the platform now.
“We’re screaming YA YA YA YA YA because BEYONCÉ BOWL, a standalone special, is now on Netflix,” wrote the company on X (formerly Twitter).
After another glance at any Easter eggs sprinkled throughout her performance, the Beyhive is sure to draft a new round of theories surrounding her “Look at that horse” teaser. If not, January 14, 2025, is only weeks away.
The Beyoncé Bowl is now streaming on Netflix. Find more information here.
OG Maco has died at age 32 after being hospitalized for a gunshot wound for the past two weeks. TMZ reports the rapper was surrounded by family and friends in a Los Angeles hospital when he passed; he’d been in a coma since being admitted on December 12. TMZ also reports that while doctors had tried to scan Maco’s brain, scans were disrupted by a number of toxins in the rapper’s system.
Rumors of Maco’s death circulated online on December 13 after he was admitted to the hospital, but those rumors were refuted by statements from his manager and family via his social media accounts. His neighbors had reportedly called emergency services after hearing a gunshot; police responding to the call had found the rapper unconscious with a wound to the head. It was apparently self-inflicted.
OG Maco had risen to prominence in 2014 thanks to his debut single, “U Guessed It,” which earned him a label deal with Quality Control Music and the adoration of the Atlanta trap rap scene. However, after what he felt was a lack of support from the label, and negative response to follow-up songs and projects from fans, Maco became disillusioned with the music industry. In 2016, he’d suffered a near fatal car crash which damaged his right eye, and in 2019, he was diagnosed with flesh-eating bacteria that scarred his face.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
For the larger part of Eminem’s career, the “Temporary” rapper has been viewed as a pot stirrer. The same can be said of Cardi B. However, Eminem chalks it up to something much more simple–not giving a sh*t about other people’s unwarranted opinions.
During an appearance on Sirius XM’s Shade 45 channel, Cardi B was a topic of conversation. When asked for his thoughts on the “Like What (Freestyle)” rapper, Eminem discussed his “mutual love” for Cardi B after host DJ Whoo Kid stated how she would “rave” about her admiration for him in her earlier career.
“I love Cardi too,” he said.
Paul Rosenberg, Eminem’s manager, jumped in to say: “Does not give a f*ck.”
Eminem echoed that adding: “Not one.”
The pair went on to subtly reference why Eminem and Cardi B’s mutual respect for one another could stem from their shared controversial personality trait — being unapologetically blunt.
“She says exactly what’s on her mind and is not afraid of nobody,” said Rosenberg, doubling down on his statement.
“I used to be like that,” Em comically replied.
Eminem being afraid to voice his opinion is hard to believe considering his long list of shocking remarks. But, he isn’t as brazen as he was in the early 2000s.
Each week our staff of film and television experts surveys the entertainment landscape to select the ten best new/newish shows available for you to stream at home. We put a lot of thought into our selections, and our debates on what to include and what not to include can sometimes get a little heated and feelings may get hurt, but so be it, this is an important service for you, our readers. With that said, here are our selections for this week.
SNL. The Comeback. The Office. Parks and Recreation. Brooklyn Nine-Nine. The Good Place. Rutherford Falls. What do all these shows have in common? Michael Schur. Regis Philbin’s son-in-law (it’s true) has either written for and/or created all of them. He’s one of the most important names in comedy this century, and he has a new show on Netflix. A Man on the Inside follows retired widower Charles, played by Cheers and The Good Place legend Ted Danson, who goes undercover in a retirement community to solve a mystery.
If you enjoy the Harley Quinn show and/or James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, you’ll love Creature Commandos. The animated series tracks a secret team of incarcerated monsters — including Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein, and G.I. Robot — who are recruited for missions deemed too dangerous for humans. “When all else fails… they’re your last, worst option,” the Max description reads. Every episode was written by Gunn, while the cast includes Indira Varma, Sean Gunn, Alan Tudyk, Zoë Chao, David Harbour, Maria Bakalova, Frank Grillo, and Viola Davis. It’s a fun introduction to the new DCU.
13. A Nonsense Christmas With Sabrina Carpenter (Netflix)
netflix
It will be a very kitschy Christmas with A Nonsense Christmas With Sabrina Carpenter, a new Netflix special starring the “Please Please Please” singer. There will be holiday covers, special guests (including a duet with Chappell Roan), and, if her live show is any indication, double entendres galore. Pair it with an espresso martini.
In Black Doves, the always wonderful Keira Knightley plays Helen, an undercover professional spy who has been passing on her politician husband’s secrets to the shadowy organisation she works for: the titular Black Doves. But when her secret lover Jason is assassinated, an old friend (Paddington’s Ben Whishaw!) is tasked with keeping her safe. Together, they set off on a mission to investigate who killed Jason, which, as often happens with these kinds of shows, leads them into a vast conspiracy. Pepe Silvia will be watching.
Carry-On makes a single-setting thriller star out of the unsung heroes of the holiday season: TSA agents. Ethan (played by Taron Egerton) is tasked with outsmarting a mysterious traveler (Jason Bateman) who blackmails him into letting a dangerous package slip onto a Christmas Eve flight. Carry-On is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (Orphan, The Shallows, and Black Adam, but don’t hold that last one against him) with a script from Ratchet & Clank (!) writer TJ Fixman.
Created by Tim Miller (Love, Death, & Robots), Secret Level is an animated anthology series with original stories set within the worlds of video games. There’s Armored Core, Mega Man, Pac-Man, Spelunky, and The Other Worlds, among others. The voice cast includes Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kevin Hart, Keanu Reeves, Gabriel Luna, Temuera Morrison, Ariana Greenblatt, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje.
Discover what all the fuss over the vaping cardinal is about. Directed by Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front), Conclave is about the messy drama behind selecting a new pope. Per the official synopsis: “Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence uncovers a trail of deep secrets left in the dead Pope’s wake, secrets which could shake the foundations of the Church.” Such drama queens.
There’s two ways of thinking about Red One. The first: it’s an action-comedy about a jacked security bro (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) who teams up with a muscular hacker (Chris Evans) to locate a ripped Santa Claus (J.K. Simmons). The other: The Rock peed in bottles on set. The choice is yours!
The Dark Passenger-verse expands with Dexter: Original Sin, a prequel to the original series and Dexter: New Blood. This one is set in 1991 and follows Dexter Morgan (played by Patrick Gibson) as he transitions from student to serial killer with guidance from his father Harry (Christian Slater). Michael C. Hall will reprise his role, sort of, as the voice of young Dexter’s inner monologue. Will there be a treadmill? Find out!
My favorite review of Joker: Folie à Deux — the sequel to 2019’s Joker starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga that landed with a thud at the box office — comes from director / camp icon John Waters. “Finally, a love story I can relate to,” he wrote for Vulture. “So insane, so well thought out, so well directed, so much smoking! It’s Jailhouse Rock meets Busby Berkeley with a 9/11 That’s Entertainment! ending that will make you shake your head in cinematic astonishment. Stupid critics. Gaga so good. Joker so right. Die, dumbbells, die!” I am now convinced it’s a masterpiece.
Hunter Schafer doesn’t feel like she’s “deserving” of being called a scream queen yet. But based on her performance in Cuckoo, we respectfully disagree. The Neon horror movie follows Gretchen (Schafer), an American who moves to the German Alps to live with her father. But “something doesn’t seem right in this tranquil vacation paradise,” according to the official logline,” and “Gretchen is plagued by strange noises and bloody visions until she discovers a shocking secret that also concerns her own family.”
Stephanie Hsu, who really should have won the Oscar over her Everything Everywhere All at Once co-star, is joined by Zosia Mamet in the new series Laid. The “f*cked up rom-com” is about a woman who finds out that her former lovers are dying in unusual ways, and must go back through her “sex timeline” to figure out what the heck is going on.
The Six Triple Eight is the latest Netflix movie from Tyler Perry. It tells the true story of The 6888th Central Postal Directory, the only Women’s Army Corps unit of color stationed in Europe during World War II. “I felt like these women were with us in this process,” star Kerry Washington said about making the film. “You felt their spirit all the time.” The cast also includes Ebony Obsidian, Milauna Jackson, Pepi Sonuga, Sarah Jeffery, Shanice Williams, Jay Reeves, Dean Norris, Sam Waterston, Kylie Jefferson, Jeanté Godlock, Moriah Brown, and someone named Oprah. She must be new.
Juror #2 received such a tiny theatrical release, we wrote an entire post about how to see it. It’s Clint Eastwood’s possibly final film for chrissakes! Thankfully, the film is now on Max, so more people can watch the throwback legal thriller starring Nicholas Hoult as a jury member going through a moral dilemma. It’s the most 1994 movie of 2024 (complimentary).
Netflix’s most-watched show is back. Squid Game season 2 sees the return of Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae), a.k.a. Player 456, who has only one goal: to end the horrifying competition for good. This time, Gi-hun finds himself “locked in a tense battle” with the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), as well as trying to survive against the other competitors. Squid Game is the rare water-cooler show in the “death of the monoculture” era. Keep up if you want to know what your co-workers are talking about.
On the day after Christmas yesterday (December 26), Drake teamed up with streamer Adin Ross for a livestreamed event dubbed the “Drizzmas Giveaway.” During the broadcast, though, Drake narrowly avoided a Kendrick Lamar-related slip-up.
While reading a letter from a fan out loud (as seen in this video), he got to a part that said, “…and it’s always ‘f*ck Kendrick.’” Drake cut himself off halfway through Lamar’s first name, though, saying, “Oh, I am not reading that,” before chuckling as he continued reading the letter.
Meanwhile, while initially announcing the event, Drake said (as Complex notes), “People often ask me what was the best day of my life, and there’s so many memories with family, album releases, shows, fans showing deep appreciation for the craft, but my answer is the same every time: the two days I shot ‘God’s Plan’ were the best days of my life. The joy that I experienced on those days, making other people happy, changing their week or their month or their year was an irreplaceable feeling. And that’s why, this December 26, Stake, along with me and Adin Ross, are doing the biggest streaming giveaway of all time.”
Indeed, it was a major giveaway, as prizes included a year’s worth of rent, a trip to Australia to see a Drake show, and $250,000.
The Dallas Mavericks nearly came back from a 28-point deficit on Christmas Day against the Minnesota Timberwolves before falling a little short, something that was especially impressive considering the absence of Luka Doncic. During the second quarter, Doncic made his way to the back in some serious pain with what looked like a calf injury, which held him out for the remainder of the game.
Unfortunately for the Mavs, the injury is going to cost Doncic far more than just the second half of one game. According to Shams Charania and Tim MacMahon of ESPN, Doncic will be sidelined for at least the next month, at which point the injury is going to get reevaluated — this, of course, means that he could end up missing much more than just a month.
Via ESPN:
Doncic has a history of injuries to that calf. Most recently, he missed all of this season’s training camp and preseason because of a left calf contusion. This is the third time Doncic has strained the calf in recent years. He missed the first three games of the 2022 playoffs after straining it during the regular-season finale and was sidelined for most of the 2023 preseason after straining it during a practice in Madrid.
The most unfortunate part of this for Doncic is that he will almost certainly not be eligible for any end-of-season honors due to the league’s recently adopted rules about players who miss a certain number of games. Doncic has already missed eight games this season, and if he misses more than 17 games in total this season, he can’t be named the league’s MVP or receive a spot on an All-NBA team. While the rule was instituted to encourage players to not take nights off, a situation like the one Doncic finds himself in is presumably an unintended consequence.
Doncic is averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists in 35.7 minutes per game this season.
Hip-hop heads claim “regional-sounding” rap is officially back. In the mainstream, many would agree Kendrick Lamar’s album GNX is at the forefront of this revival. While that point is debated among fans, Lamar’s West Coast friends are following his lead.
On Christmas Day (December 25), Tyler The Creator put his hometown pride on full display with a surprise freestyle drop, “That Guy.” On the track, which flips Kendrick Lamar’s “Hey Now,” Tyler puts on for his stomping grounds — Hawthorne, California.
“I was up at Westchester / Dodging all the high beams / Gardena swap meet / Shopping bogus ice cream / I’m a Hawthorne baby / Sh*t is not warm baby,” he raps, shouting out other Southwestern Los Angeles area hot spots.
In the video, similar to Kendrick’s “Squabble Up,” Tyler takes fans around his neck of the woods. From popular meet ups to signature roads or highways, Tyler is as he yells, “A Hawthorne baby.”
Throughout Tyler’s recent chart-topping project Chromakopia, he paid homage to cultural staples in the African American community. This love was quickly reciprocated when Jackson State’s Sonic Boom of the South band performed an arrangement of his song, “Sticky.”
Watch Tyler’s video for “That Guy” above.
Chromakopia is out now via Columbia Records. Find more information here.
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