Halloween 2022 looks to be the first “normal” one since 2019, before the pandemic gave everyone a real scare. It’s pretty crazy to remember that in 2020, some places didn’t allow trick-or-treating at all.
For the first big Halloween in years, it’s time to make a bold statement by being the one home on the block that isn’t just decorated with big spiders, ghosts or tombstones. Now’s the time to give people a scare they’ll never forget.
Horror is all about the element of surprise, and here are nine out-of-the-box outdoor Halloween decorations that will make a real impression on your neighbors this Halloween.
If a caterpillar goes into a cocoon and turns into a butterfly, what does a dead human turn into after being wrapped up in a tight silk envelope? Your neighbors’ imaginations will run wild when they see this eerie cocoon hanging on your lawn but they probably won’t want to see what happens next.
This body in a bag is a pretty simple Halloween prop. But it’s exactly what everyone is afraid of running into, whether it’s in a dumpster or washed up on the banks of the Hudson River. The true freakiness about this prop is that it could be real.
Spider egg sacs are super scary because, much like the human cocoon we mentioned earlier, it’s all about potential. What kind of spiders are in those sacs? Black widows? Tarantulas? Brown recluses? Everybody wants to know, but no one wants to find out the hard way.
Ever wondered what would happen if Rainbow Dash from “My Little Pony” had her wings clipped and she fell out of the magical skies of Ponyville? Now you can follow Rainbow’s magical trip through the afterlife with this 11-foot-tall blow-up arch gate sure to make your neighbors super confused.
You know that Halloween is getting scary when ghosts are holding on for dear life. Horror is all about the imagination and what in the world is so terrible that it would freak out something that’s already dead? Give your neighbors something horrifying to ponder this Halloween with this cute, frightened ghost.
These solar-powered flaming trees will scare the bejesus out of trick-or-treaters as they attempt to make it up your walkway to get some treats. The flaming trees are solar-powered so they come on once the sun goes down.
This six-foot-tall hanging pirate looks like an extra from “Pirates of the Caribbean.” But instead of singing about the joy of life on the seven seas, he’ll surprise your neighbors as they walk by your house by yelling, “Scared you, didn’t I?”
This witch should have asked for directions. Instead, she’s done a face plant into a tree on your lawn. Your neighbors will get a good laugh from this elaborate comedy prop before they are traumatized by one of the other terrifying things you find on this list.
This 50-inch hanging talking clown ghost looks a lot like Pennywise from the “It” movies and is sure to give a huge fright to the folks who dare come down your block on Halloween. “Come closer, I got something for you and it is not a balloon” the clown will scream at your neighbors as they pray they make it through the night alive.
It was a wild summer at U.S. airports where there were more cancellations and delays than usual due to spiking demand after the pandemic, understaffed airlines and severe storms. But a story from Tampa International Airport in Florida shows that amid the chaos, there was a brief glimmer of humanity.
News Channel 8 in Florida reports that after finishing her freshman year at college, Kira Rumfola was ready to return home to New York for the summer when she ran into a problem at Tampa International Airport. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to bring her pet betta fish, Theo, with her on a Southwest flight home.
“As a recent addition to Kira’s life, Theo is very special to her, having provided comfort and companionship as she adjusted to college life,” Southwest wrote in a Facebook post.
“Ismael, our Customer Service Agent, talked Kira and her father through multiple options,” Southwest wrote on Facebook. “When nothing worked out, Ismael offered to take care of Theo himself while Kira was home for the summer.”
Kira swore she’d be back in the fall for the next school session and would pick up her fish when she returned to Florida.
According to a Southwest Twitter post, Kira stayed in touch with Ismael and Jamee, his fiance and fellow Southwest employee, all summer. The couple regularly shared photos of Theo with Kira and they even bought him a larger fish bowl.
POV: After learning at the airport that you can’t bring your fish home, a Southwest Customer Service Agent offers to take care of him until you come back. pic.twitter.com/MqRogKMLvl
Kira (the Customer with the fish) kept in touch with Ismael (our Employee, aka “Airport Fish Taker”) all throughout the summer after her freshman year in college as Ismael and his fiancé Jamee (a fellow Southwest Employee) took care of Theo (the Beta Fish). pic.twitter.com/HjndxnQFWv
On September 15, Southwest shared a photo of Kira, Ismael and Jamee when they met up to reunite the student and her fish. Kira gave the couple a gift card as a thank-you. “Thank you again for the gift card, it was completely unnecessary,” Jamee wrote in a text shared by Southwest. “We hope you guys got back to your dorm ok. Let us know if you need anything.”
Theo lived with Ismael and Jamee for the entire summer—they had to be a bit teary-eyed to see him go.
The story struck a chord with people on Facebook, who thought it was an amazing show of customer service and humanity.
“That definitely shows going over and above. There is still kindness in our world!” Shelly Tibbs Eber Caulfield wrote.
“Ismael deserves a promotion! He’s clearly shown he’s willing to do any-fin possible to help a customer,” Kristen Calvert wrote.
Matt Pope wins best joke. “That’s the greatest fish story featuring a guy named Ismael since that book by Melville,” he wrote, making a reference to “Moby Dick.”
Everyone appreciates a great story about someone going above and beyond in their job to help a customer. But what Ismael and Jamee did went far beyond customer service. They showed up as human beings to help a stranger take care of a beloved family member when they had run out of options. Now, that’s a great example of humanity at its best.
The only remaining question is, what will Kira do with Theo next summer?
The Arizona Cardinals picked up a shocking win on Sunday afternoon. Arizona traveled to Las Vegas to take on the Raiders, and despite entering the fourth quarter facing a 23-7 deficit, the Cardinals rallied back, forced overtime, and picked up the win on a 59-yard scoop-and-score with les than four minutes remaining in the extra period.
The 29-23 victory was the first of the year for the Cardinals. One day later and much of the attention is not on the unique manner in which they won. Instead, the focus has shifted to a moment in the immediate aftermath of the win when Arizona players ran to one end of the field to celebrate. A clip appeared to show someone in attendance striking Kyler Murray’s face while he was trying to enjoy the win with some fans — head to the 30-second mark of the below video, where you can see that Murray appears to get hit and becomes upset with someone in the crowd.
According to ESPN, the authorities in Las Vegas were able to confirm that “a battery complaint was made about 6:30 p.m. at the stadium.” It was not specified who filed the complaint, but a Las Vegas Police Department spokesperson said that “a spectator at the stadium struck a professional football player.”
It’s been a little over a year since Kendall Jenner’s 818 hit the tequila scene, and in that short time, the brand has scooped up more than 20 tasting awards at intentional spirits competitions, snagged the Gold Medal and Best Reposado at the World Tequila awards, and has crushed our own blind taste tests, beating out all the other celebrity brands we’ve tried, and even holding its own against respected brands like El Tesoro and Fortaleza.
Since I came of legal drinking age and in my two years of writing about tequila at Uproxx (and let’s face it, before that), I’ve drunk all sorts of different bottles of tequila, from bottom-of-the-barrel well brands to ultra premium, absurdly-priced blends. In that time I’ve amassed a collection of blancos, reposados, añejos and extra añejos that would make even the biggest tequila snobs turn green with envy. If you know me personally, I’ve probably given you a good handful of free tequila bottles because I have so many different bottles that it’s a legit space problem in my apartment.
Now just to be clear, I don’t want to provide this caveat, it’s not an attempt at a flex. But I feel like I have to say this because I’m about to talk about a tequila associated with Kendall Jenner. Specifically, Jenner’s new premium luxury tequila, Eight Reserve, and I know that by doing so, I’m about to summon the snobs and haters out of the woodwork to tell me I don’t know anything about tequila or whine about how Kendall is ruining the tequila industry (mostly without offering any justification as to how).
Kendall Jenner being a massively wealthy celebrity from an omnipresent family that has shaped culture for the last decade or so makes her an easy target. While there are legitimate conversations to be had about cultural appropriation in the tequila space, there aren’t a million think pieces about George Clooney’s Dos Hombres. Again, I don’t want to talk about this stuff, it’s not what this article is about, I just feel like I have to, and that’s a shame because it does sort of a disservice to the booze itself.
The new Eight Reserve, a blend of añejo and extra añejo tequila aged for eight years and produced at NOM 1607, Mieles Campos Azules in Amatitán Jalisco (where only one other brand is produced — Astral), is the brand’s best expression yet.
Together with 818’s new director of tequila operations, David Yan González (who has logged 26 years in the spirits and tequila industry, is a certified tequila taster, and is recognized by both Francisco Villalobos and tequila maestro Ana Maria Romero Mena) Jenner, González and the jimadores that help make this tequila possible have created something that is in line with what we’ve come to expect from 818, yet has also elevated what the brand can offer. This is a luxury tequila in every sense of the word — expensive, flashy, and delicious. I tried the new bottle, and had some thoughts, which I can share in this review. But stick around, because we also had the chance to ask Jenner a few questions over email about Eight Reserve and 818 in general.
Part 1: Eight Reserve Review
Eight Reserve
Tequila 818
Price: $200
ABV: 40%
The Bottle:
Before we talk about what Eight Reserve tastes like, we need to talk about the bottle. While talking to 818’s director of tequila operations David Yan González, I referred to it as “this crazy bottle,” to which he said “it’s not crazy!” and proceeded to explain to me what they were going for and why. The idea, González says, was that this bottle would instantly stand out on shelves, both in bars and liquor stores, be easily identifiable, and contain a visual elegance that set it apart from the competition — while still being stylish in the way Jenner is known for. In that regard, it’s a success, and while I was initially skeptical about the design, there is a sort of elegance that comes with pouring it.
Dane Rivera
The bottle is handmade ceramic, produced by local artisans in Pachuca, Mexico and despite its slightly awkward shape, the way it requires two hands to safely anchor the bottle and ease the pour into a glass does in fact feel special. Serving it feels like you’re pouring a drink for a Goddess or some shit. I stand by my assessment that it’s crazy. If you have a bar cart or a shelf that you keep your liquor on, this is going to require a lot of real estate.
You might even need to put it in its own space. And maybe that’s by design. It’s unlike any other bottle design in tequila right now, take that however you want to take it.
Tasting Notes:
Dane Rivera
I’d say 818’s strongest attribute is its ease of drinkability. All of the expressions are nearly wince-free and travel across the palate smooth as honey, and Eight Reserve is no different. On the nose it has a pleasant intensity, offering a bouquet of vanilla, cinnamon, cardamon, chocolate, and almond notes with a tinge of fresh orange rind that draws you in. On the palate the flavors bloom into honeyed notes, rich vanilla, and butterscotch, with a finish that bounces between cooked agave and crushed raspberries.
This is the sort of tequila that changes with each tasting. After a second sip I started to pick up on soft floral notes, coffee, and dried apricot, with a lingering spice that lives in the nose as you breathe out. You get a sense of the barrel — French and American oak — but not in a way that muddles the more delicate and sweetened notes like some extra añejos can.
Eight Reserve is supremely smooth and mouthwateringly savory, offering something new to fall in love with on each taste.
Where To Buy:
As to be expected, Eight Reserve is going to be pretty hard to find initially. The tequila’s website has pre-order information (most of which is already sold out) but hits store shelves in New York, California, and Florida beginning today, with a roll out to Illinois, Texas, and Nevada to soon follow.
Eight Reserve will also be available to order online via ReserveBar and Drizly.
The Bottom Line:
Eight Reserve takes what the brand already does well and elevates it with a new level of complexity and an ever-shifting flavor that makes it a true joy to drink and explore.
Part 2: The Interview
818
There are a lot of tequila brands, both celebrity owned and otherwise, out there. When you first brought 818 into the scene, how were you trying to differentiate the brand from what else was already out there?
818 Tequila is my brand and was my idea from the get-go, which I think immediately differentiates us from many celebrity brands because there are some that are more like celebrity endorsement deals. I always say this, but 818 Tequila really is my baby, and in my opinion the product has proved itself over the past year and a half – the liquid that we produce is delicious, we’ve won over 30 international tasting awards, and we were the number one new spirit of 2021 (not just new tequila, new spirit!).
We also make sustainability a priority in everything we do – we are members of 1% for the Planet and we do as much as we can to minimize the environmental impact of our supply chain (for example, our distillery is powered by biomass and solar, and our boxes, labels, and corks are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council for coming from sustainably managed forests).
How will Eight Reserve expand upon the brand? What sort of changes to the process/craft were implemented to develop Eight Reserve?
As we were launching 818, we realized there was also an appetite for an ultra-premium and luxury tequila to complement our existing line. We started working on Eight Reserve over a year ago, and we have since been blending and having tons of tastings with our whole leadership team to really perfect the liquid and get it to that desired depth of flavor.
Eight Reserve takes what makes 818 Blanco, Reposado and Añejo so beautiful and brings it to the next level. We sourced the very best Extra Añejo to complement our own Añejo, so that the final Eight Reserve liquid is a blend of Añejos aged from one to eight years.
What’s your favorite way to enjoy 818 in general, are you sipping over ice, mixing in a cocktail, and what is your preferred expression? I love the Reposado personally.
Thank you! I love our Reposado as well. I go through phases, I always love a delicious Reposado Margarita, but recently I’ve also been into our Añejo on the rocks. Or, of course, a simple neat and chilled pour of Eight Reserve.
What sort of initiatives/ programs have 818 implemented to help support the surrounding town and community where 818 is produced?
818’s sustainability mission is one that I’m extremely passionate about. I mentioned our work to limit the impact our supply chain has on the environment, but I am also especially proud of our 818 Bricks Program with S.A.C.R.E.D. where we use the byproducts of tequila production to create adobe bricks and donate them to community initiatives across Mexico. Right now we are working with local communities on a library in Zapotitlan de Vadillo, as well as a Community Plaza in Rio de Parras, and more.
I’ve noticed recently that the listed distillery for 818 changed from NOM 1137, La Cofradia, to NOM 1607, Mieles Campos Azules. Why the change?
We realized early on (within a few weeks of our initial launch in May 2021) that we needed a partner that could scale with us to meet the demand we were seeing. We officially switched over to NOM 1607, Grupo Solave and the change definitely helped us scale our production without sacrificing the traditional methods we use to make our tequila. They also really shared our commitment to sustainability which was super important to us.
A few years back I think a lot of people would’ve assumed you’d launch a makeup or apparel line but you decided to do something different from your sisters and launched a tequila brand instead. What drew you to this industry, what was your relationship with tequila before starting 818?
So, though I am known for my work in fashion, I also grew up in a household that really loved tequila – my parents were always super into it. As I got older, I started to share that love and I wanted to create something that brought people together. I also wanted new drinkers in my generation to be excited about sipping and savoring tequila vs just thinking about it in a shot form.
Celebrity-owned brands face a lot of extra scrutiny as I’m sure you’re aware, some of it is fair but sometimes a lot of that criticism seems aimed at things that don’t have much to do with the tequila itself. Obviously, the brand has won a lot of awards, personally, I’m a big fan and I’ve subjected a lot of tequila snobs and friends to blind taste tests where 818 routinely blows people away once their biases are removed. To the people who are skeptical of Tequila 818 (and to the haters) what would you say to them?
First of all, I appreciate you! I agree with your approach – let the liquid speak for itself. When we have people taste it blind, we usually win. I’m just proud of what we’ve created and I can say with confidence that we have a truly delicious, award-winning liquid and a real team of great people behind it in the U.S. and in Mexico. We are also committed to supporting our sustainability and community initiatives in Mexico for the long haul.
Issa Rae has come a long way since appearing in Pharell’s music video for “Happy” in 2013. The writer/director/actress/sometimes dancer recently wrapped up her acclaimed series Insecure, which she starred in for five seasons, and will voice Spider-woman in the upcoming sequel Spider-man: Across The Spider-Verse. On top of all of that, Rae is the executive producer for HBO Max’s music industry drama Rap Sh!t,which aired its first season over the summer.
Naturally, because of everything going on at HBO Max, it was unclear if the series would return for a second season, especially once the streamer merges with Discovery next summer. Even Rae herself took to Twitter to joke that she would “seduce and scheme” (a line from Rap Sh!t season one) some execs in order to secure a second season. It worked!
Rae confirmed on Twitter last week that the series would get a second season, which will likely have to air on HBO Max Discovery’s upcoming streaming service.
Set in Miami, the series follows aspiring rap duo Shawna and Mia as they begin making waves in the South Beach music scene. The series is known for its killer soundtracks featuring up-and-coming female rappers and producers. There is no confirmation yet on what exactly season two will bring, but it will be happening (as long as HBO Max still exists!).
The full first season of Rap Sh!t is available to stream on HBO Max.
At the end of the month, Yeah Yeah Yeahs will be out with Cool It Down, the band’s first album in nine years. Singer Karen O, guitarist Nick Zinner, and drummer Brian Chase were the toast of the New York indie rock scene when they emerged in the early 2000’s, alongside acts like The Strokes and Interpol. So much so, that it earned Yeah Yeah Yeahs a major label deal with Interscope, who released the band’s first four albums. Now in an interview with Vulture, Karen O was very candid about the band’s days with Interscope and how label founder Jimmy Iovine had grand hopes for O as a solo pop star in the shape of No Doubt’s Gwen Stefani.
“Jimmy Iovine was hoping I would be the next Gwen,” O said. “But I wasn’t. In my own way, I carved out something for myself. But I didn’t deliver on the goods as far as that major-label expectation was concerned.”
When asked about whether she herself had any ambitions of being a solo pop star, O set the record straight it just wasn’t in her nature. “I had this quite naïve, useful fantasy. The reason you go to a major label is because it gives you a better shot at reaching the maximum number of people,” O said. “But — similar to not understanding the reality of touring — I had a very detached, abstract notion of that role. Myself — and probably a lot of the other front men that came up with me — buckled under the weight of commercialization and the demands that come with that. Because it just wasn’t really what we set out to do.”
Cool It Down is out 9/30 via Secretly Canadian. Pre-order it here.
Aside from their brief involvement in the now-defunct Kevin Durant Sweepstakes and roller-coaster contract negotiations with Deandre Ayton, the Phoenix Suns’ 2022 offseason has been rather uneventful. After a disappointing second-round exit to the Dallas Mavericks this past spring, their roster and rotation entering the fall looks quite similar to 2021-22.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, however, the Suns are involved in trade negotiations, largely centered on starting power forward Jae Crowder, who has one year and $10.1 million remaining on the three-year deal he signed back in 2020.
“Jae Crowder is a player who’s available on the market right now,” Windhorst said.
Windhorst also said “it’s possible” Phoenix executes a deal that brings back more money.
“In folks that I’m talking to, they don’t get the sense that the Suns are afraid to continue to spend, that they may be spending more,” he said. “It would not surprise me if the Suns get involved in the negotiations for Bojan Bogdanovic from the Utah Jazz, who is available on the market right now. Several teams are bidding for him.”
Bogdanovic is set to earn $19.3 million in the final season of a four-year, $73.1 million contract. Last season, the 33-year-old averaged 18.1 points and 4.3 rebounds on 59.9 percent true shooting, including 38.7 percent beyond the arc. He’s an excellent secondary scorer and off-ball shooter.
Assuming the price is reasonable, both Crowder and Bogdanovic would be worthwhile acquisitions for a number of playoff teams or contenders. I’m skeptical a deal with the framework of a Crowder-Bogdanovic swap alleviates Phoenix’s perimeter creation issues, though, and it doesn’t fill any long-term hole at the 4-spot. Windhorst did mention the Suns are negotiating with reserve power forward Cam Johnson on a contract extension, which would kick in at the start of 2023-24 and help address that question mark in the starting unit.
With the highly anticipated Star Wars series, Andor, hitting Disney+ this week, fans will get a chance to watch Diego Luna‘s title character and the Rebel Alliance become a force to be reckoned with as the series show off five years before the events of Rogue One. Helmed by showrunner Tony Gilroy, Andor has already been confirmed as a two season tale that will span 24 episodes as it depicts a Galactic Empire that’s grown complacent in its power as its overreach and decadence ultimately leads to its downfall.
As for when Star Wars fans can expect the second and final season of Andor, Gilroy has revealed that there will be a bit of a wait. Via The Wrap:
“I have two more years to go,” Gilroy said. “We start shooting in November on Part 2. And I don’t know if … Our past pattern was two years, but I mean, I’ll be on … We’ll shoot from November to August. And then our post[-production] last time was about a year.”
That probably means, at the earliest, we can expect “Andor” Season 2 (or part two, as Gilroy calls it) in fall 2024.
While a two-year wait is probably not what Star Wars fans want to hear, the good news is that the second season of Andor is full steam ahead. Shooting is already set for this winter and early reviews are indicating that the prolonged production has made Andor “one of the best Star Wars spinoff series so far.”
The first three episodes of Andor Season 1 premiere September 21 on Disney+ with new episodes arriving on Wednesdays.
Bannon joined a bunch of other conservative talking heads making an appearance at a conference called “Defeating the Great Reset.” The event’s main purpose was to drum up fear and paranoia about some obscure global strategy Bannon and his buddies think signals the end times. Bannon hypothesized that the World Economic Forum’s “Great Reset” plan was all in an effort to create “human 2.0.” We’re guessing he means some advanced civilization of human beings because, in clips from the event, he rambles on about world leaders secretly funding scientific experiments with the end goal of achieving immortality.
“They’re all godless,” Bannon can be seen telling the crowd in the clip below. “They all want to live forever. They talk about how they’re going to save kids, but that’s all crap! They want to be immortal.”
Steve Bannon says Biden administration’s initiative to cure cancer is a covert operation to eliminate the human race pic.twitter.com/eW9RdQsk9L
First off, who doesn’t want to live forever? Our pop culture obsession with vampire movies proves immortality is “in” right now. But even more importantly, Bannon has no factual basis for these claims, he’s just spewing nonsense to a collection of easily manipulated people who think that he can make the world work for them again. Case in point: no one bats an eye when later in his speech, Bannon riffs about Biden trying to replace humanity by sending people to the moon and calling it some sort of cancer cure.
None of it makes any sense, but that won’t stop someone’s cousin from buying all the way into this ridiculousness and giving his life savings to the guy who couldn’t even build a wall so that he can “save America.” Maybe the latest round of fraud charges will actually stick.
True crime stories are booming like never before, from podcasts to docuseries to the constant influx of deeply researched new books on murders, heists, kidnappings, and more. Everyone has their own preferred method of consuming these stories, but in the hands of the right filmmaker and the right cast, a based-on-a-true-story project can gain new meaning and force, giving us a reflection of the real world through immersive, troubling tales.
Thankfully, many of the very best of these films are out there on a major streaming service, meaning they’re just a click away. Here are 10 of the best true crime movies you can stream right now.
Based on Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’s book of the same name, Alan J. Pakula’s film about two dogged reporters who broke the Watergate scandal wide open remains one of the great political dramas in all of cinema. But for true crime nerds, it’s the detective story that lingers, from the cloak-and-dagger secrecy of Woodward’s meetings with “Deep Throat” to Bernstein’s pure, relentless pursuit of every lead and every secret. Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman are absolutely magnetic as the two reporters, and the result is an American classic.
Infamous upon its release in 1967 for its graphic violence, Arthur Penn’s depiction of the legendary doomed love story between Clyde Barrow (Warren Beatty) and Bonnie Parker (Faye Dunaway) is equal parts American folk tale and true crime masterwork. Through dark comedy, raw sexuality, and bluegrass-driven mythmaking, Penn simultaneously depicts the rise of the Bonnie and Clyde legend and the internal strife of the couple, as they slowly start to realize their crime spree can only end one way. Nearly 60 years later, it’s still an effective, bittersweet masterpiece.
Truman Capote’s 1965 nonfiction novel In Cold Blood is one of the foundational texts of modern true crime, and Bennett Miller’s film is both an examination of why the text was so formative, and how it came to be. Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman in an Oscar-winning role, Capote examines both the crime behind In Cold Blood and the author’s dark fascination with it, merging the two stories into a thoughtful, haunting meditation on our public obsession with human darkness. Hoffman is incredible in the title role, and supporting performances from Catherine Keener, Clifton Collins Jr., and Chris Cooper turn the film into an ensemble tour de force.
Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can follows Frank Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) through his own self-described spree (in his autobiography) of cons and getaways in the 1960s, giving Spielberg plenty of opportunities for both a grand tour of a richly textured American decade and for witty visual flourishes. DiCaprio is great in the leading role, Tom Hanks is equally great as the man pursuing him, and the film gets added brilliance from the notion that Abagnale may or may not have lied about all of the details. So, whether the story is true or the story was an elaborate lie that was eventually made into a feature film, we’ve just been taken in by a great con man.
Sidney Lumet’s film based on a Life Magazine article about a bank robbery gone wrong features legendary work from Al Pacino and John Cazale. It’s a tense, deeply human chronicle of desperation, emotion, and white-knuckle fury, all filtered through the lens of the particular American darkness of the 1970s. Whether you’ve seen it once or you’ve seen it a dozen times, it’s one of those movies that just keeps living up to its own hype and remains a truly indispensable piece of American cinema.
Martin Scorsese has made several great works of American true crime, from Casino to The Wolf of Wall Street, but it doesn’t get any better than his 1990 ensemble triumph. Based on Nicholas Pileggi’s book Wiseguy, about the life of mobster Henry Hill, the film is a decades-long chronicle of a tight-knit group of friends as they rise and fall through the mafia. Built on Ray Liotta’s wonderful central performance as Hill, the film also features some all-time great work from Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci (who won an Oscar for the film), Paul Sorvino, and Lorraine Bracco. Throw in a killer soundtrack, Thelma Schoonmaker’s fearless editing, and some of the boldest choices of Scorsese’s iconic directorial career, and this is a ca n’t-miss classic.
Charlize Theron won an Oscar for her transformative work as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in this film, and while her physical transformation grabbed headlines, it’s the emotional depth of the change that still strikes a chord. Theron disappears into Wuornos for Patty Jenkins’ brutal film, embodying the rage, resentment, and desperation of one of America’s most fascinating serial killers. It’s no wonder that no less a cinema luminary than Roger Ebert called her work one of the best performances in all of cinema.
You don’t usually think of “true crime” when you think of Michael Bay, but the action director extraordinaire tried his hand at the genre, and knocked it out of the park, with this film about a trio of bodybuilders (Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, and Anthony Mackie) who went on a gobsmacking crime spree in the 1990s. The sheer mayhem of the story is perfectly suited to Bay’s filmmaking style, and the merging of the true-crime reality of the narrative with the “Bayhem” visuals creates a uniquely jaw-dropping portrait of American excess.
Inspired by the Boston Globe’s Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalism that broke open the Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal in the U.S., this Best Picture winner is both a thrilling detective story and a chronicle of sheer human determination. A clear cinematic successor to All the President’s Men, Tom McCarthy’s film makes even better use of an ensemble cast to tell its story. Led by Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, and Rachel McAdams, the film’s performances are both tremendous exercises in restraint and deeply emotional chronicles of what happens to investigators when they keep drawing closer to an abyss of subsumed suffering.
Some true crime stories simply don’t have neat solutions, and the mystery of the Zodiac Killer looms large in that category. So, it’s no wonder that David Fincher’s film adaptation of Robert Graysmith’s book is both the story of Zodiac’s real-life crimes and the story of Graysmith’s (Jake Gyllenhaal) own relentless pursuit of a truth that might never fully surface. Even when Zodiac answers certain questions within its own version of events, it’s a film about how mysteries consume us the closer we get to them. Shot with haunting precision by Fincher and featuring a slew of unforgettable performances, Zodiac’s mystery just might consume you too.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
