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There was a time when people might have been interested in hearing Mickey Rourke’s thoughts on what constituted a good movie or talented acting. That time was 1987. Still, the opinionated Oscar nominee has almost made a second career out of trashing his own movies. And for more than a decade, his favorite target has been Iron Man 2.

Rourke’s latest knock came via Instagram, in a bizarre game of One of These Things Is Not Like the Other. While gushing about the stellar acting on display in Law & Order: SVU—a show that premiered in 1999, but Rourke only seems to have recently learned about—he took a moment to trash the MCU’s “crap” acting.

After praising the next-level acting of Mariska Hargitay, noting that “There’s very few, if any actresses in films these days that can hold her jockstrap” (a quote she’ll no doubt want to add to her business card); the brilliant “physicality” of Christopher Meloni (wait until he learns about Law & Order: Organized Crime); and “the charisma, the attitude and swag and senserity” of Ice-T, Rourke went on to thank the pandemic for bringing SVU to his attention—then sh*t all over the MCU. Again.

“i guess if it wasn’t this lockdown most likely i’d never see this show, but since i do all my lifting training in my living room my tv been on whole lockdown and i was able to discover this fabulous show. Respect to all of you, the work that you all do is real acting, not like that crap that all on Marvel sh*t.”

Ummmm… thanks?!

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After rising to fame in the 1980s with movies like Diner (1982), The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984), 9 ½ Weeks (1986), and Angel Heart (1987), Rourke all but abandoned Hollywood for a career as a professional boxer. In 2008, he mounted an impressive comeback as the star of Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler—a role that earned him an Oscar nomination and a renewed interest from filmmakers, producers, and casting directors.

It was as a result of this re-found fame that Rourke was cast as Ivan Vanko, a.k.a. Whiplash, a power-hungry Russian physicist determined to take Tony Stark down in Jon Favreau’s highly anticipated Iron Man sequel. But Rourke was bitter that his ideas for the character didn’t make it into the final cut. He told CraveOnline:

“I explained to [screenwriter] Justin Theroux… and to [Jon] Favreau that I wanted to bring some other layers and colors, not just make this Russian a complete murderous revenging bad guy. And they allowed me to do that. Unfortunately, the [people] at Marvel just wanted a one-dimensional bad guy, so most of the performance ended up the floor… At the end of the day you’ve got some nerd with a pocketful of money calling the shots. You know, Favreau didn’t call the shots. I wish he would have.”

You can read Rourke’s full love letter to SVU above.

(Via IndieWire)

A24 has made horror movies (Green Room, The Witch, Hereditary), coming-of-age dramas (Moonlight), science-fiction thrillers (Ex Machina), coming-of-age comedies (Eighth Grade, Lady Bird) a cow movie (First Cow), an Adam Sandler movie (Uncut Gems), and whatever the heck Spring Breakers is (Spring Breakers). But The Green Knight is the indie distributor’s first attempt at full-blown fantasy — and it looks great.

Directed by David Lowery (A Ghost Story), The Green Knight stars Dev Patel as Sir Gawain, King Arthur’s nephew who goes on a quest to confront the titular green-skinned knight and “tester of men.” He looks like a cross between an Oathbreakers and an ent, to put it fantasy terms. You can watch the visually stunning trailer above.

Here’s the official plot synopsis:

An epic fantasy adventure based on the timeless Arthurian legend, The Green Knight tells the story of Sir Gawain (Dev Patel), King Arthur’s reckless and headstrong nephew, who embarks on a daring quest to confront the eponymous Green Knight, a gigantic emerald-skinned stranger and tester of men. Gawain contends with ghosts, giants, thieves, and schemers in what becomes a deeper journey to define his character and prove his worth in the eyes of his family and kingdom by facing the ultimate challenger. From visionary filmmaker David Lowery comes a fresh and bold spin on a classic tale from the knights of the round table.

The Green Knight, which also stars Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, Sarita Choudhury, Sean Harris, Kate Dickie, Barry Keoghan and Ralph Ineson, opens in theaters on July 30.

Jason Statham shot Post Malone… in the trailer for the movie Wrath Of Man that was revealed in March. Malone has a small role in the film, and while he was on set, he apparently asked his co-star to collaborate on some music with him. That was an opportunity that Statham, like he did to Malone in the film, shot down.

In a recent USA Today interview, Statham spoke about what it was like to work with Malone, saying, “Post came in with this big enthusiasm for being killed that day. He’s like, ‘I can’t wait for you to kill me, man.’ I got sucked into that enthusiasm and he did a great job. It’s just a shame that it was a short moment together, but I was privileged to pull the trigger in our little scene.”

He was then asked if the two have plans to collaborate musically, and he noted that Malone did ask to make a song with him: “He invited me to come make a record. I quickly relieved him of that bad choice.”

In a recent interview with Bossip, Statham also discussed how Malone came to be involved with the movie, saying, “[Director] Guy [Ritchie] told me that Post called him up and said, ‘If you’re making a movie, I wanna be in it,’ and it was as simple as that. People wanna work with Guy Ritchie for some reason [laughs]… me too. You know, he’s got a good way, people like his films, and that’s how it happened with Post: He gave the call and he couldn’t have been more gracious. He turned up, just was as down to earth as you could be, so we were really lucky. I’m glad I got to shake his hand, you know?”

Kevin Hart has long been a stand-up playing comedic roles in movies, but his latest project for Netflix is trying hard to pull at your single parent heartstrings. Monday brought a trailer for Fatherhood, a Netflix drama arriving in time for Father’s Day that chronicles Hart’s character as he navigates life as a single father in Boston.

Based on a memoir by Matthew Logelin, the film details the long path of fatherhood taken by Hart’s character after his wife tragically dies a day after their daughter’s birth. There are some funny scenes previewed in the trailer — Hart punches a clown in a funhouse and talks graphically about baby poop after stumbling into a meeting for new mothers — but the movie is a drama at its core and the trailer is complete with touching moments of parental triumph meant to pull at your emotional heartstrings.

As Deadline noted, the Sony picture jumped to Netflix after previously having a a theatrical release date in April. Lil Rel Howery, Alfre Woodard, DeWanda Wise and Anthony Carrigan are also slated to star in the project. But all eyes are on Hart as he takes on a very serious role in a drama that’s certainly supposed to be more heartwarming than laugh out loud.

“I’m well aware of what my daughter doesn’t have,” Hart says to a stern nun lamenting his child’s lack of maternal role model at one point.

Fatherhood hits Netflix on June 18.

If you’re trying to figure out what a new artist will be like live, look no further than Vevo’s live DSCVR videos. These clips not only help support emerging artists who might not have a lot of videos banked yet, but will give fans a great sense of what it might be like to watch the artist perform. That’s exactly what their version of “Blossom” does today for rising artist Audrey Nuna, who is prepping the project A Liquid Breakfast for release in just a few weeks.

The Korean-American artist was already making waves last fall for her style, and followed up the recently-released track “Space” with today’s new song “Blossom.” Even though “Space” only came out a month ago, the slow-burning track has already racked up over a million views. “Blossom” showcases a much different side of the Jersey-based musician, proving that her R&B chops might not be the only thing she’s bringing to the table. In just under two minutes Nuna oscillates between straight-faced, effortless rapping and her beautiful, lilting singing voice, proving that she’s just as versatile as they come.

The track also has personal meaning to Nuna, who shared the following quote about the song: “‘Blossom’ is a song about growing up. My grandma recently told me about her childhood and how she had to flee a war by foot. I’m happy I was able to put her voice in the outro.” Look for her project A Liquid Breakfast out on 5/21, and watch the live performance of “Blossom” above.

When the “Me Too” movement exploded a few years ago, the ubiquitousness of women’s sexual harassment and assault experiences became painfully clear. What hasn’t always been as clear is role that less overt, more subtle creepiness plays in making women feel uncomfortable or unsafe as they move through the world, often starting from a young age.

Thankfully—and unfortunately—a viral video from a teen TikToker illustrates exactly what that looks like in real-time when a man came and sat down with her while she was doing a live video. He asked if the chair at her table was taken, and she said no, thinking he wanted to take it to another table. Instead, he sat down and started talking to her. You can see in her face and in her responses that she’s weirded out, though she’s trying not to appear rude or paranoid.

The teen said in a separate TikTok video that the man appeared to be in his 30s. Definitely too old to be pulling up a chair with someone so young who is sitting by herself, and definitely old enough to recognize that she was uncomfortable with the situation.

Creep approaches teenage girl while she’s live streaming 😐😖 https://t.co/tJa1ZI7Nan

— chris evans (@chris_notcapn)
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The 18-year-old, who goes by @maasassin_ on TikTok, shared the video in two parts on TikTok. The initial video has received more than 11 million views, and though she has comments turned off on her TikTok channel, the commentary on Twitter shows why it resonated with so many women.

@VABVOX @chris_notcapn Yup. Since I was 12. It’s only recently stopped now that I’m a crone.

— Lisa B, Determined (@Tigrrl)
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Women shared that the “creepy guy” thing happens to many of us starting in childhood and that we have to learn how to navigate such situations from a ridiculously young age.

“I don’t know a single woman who didn’t see themselves in this video,” wrote one woman, “and it’s heartbreaking.”

@VABVOX @chris_notcapn This was my exact reaction. We learn how to tactfully deal with these situations to avoid po… https://t.co/X2UDDbsCkR

— Just Your Average Mel (@MelwiththeHair)
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In fact, the response to the video was visceral for many of us. We’ve been in that exact situation, not sure if we’re overreacting, feeling like something’s off or weird but unsure of how to respond to it on the spot, having to balance our own safety with our desire to give people the benefit of the doubt, etc.

@mscarasco_live @chris_notcapn I didn’t realize I was until I exhaled at the end of the clip.

— Oxtail Empanadas & Sauerkraut (@Hollowgirl78)
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Some guys have responded that the man was just being friendly and making small talk and that everyone is overreacting, but no. A man over 30 years old approaching a girl who is clearly in her teens and sticking around when she’s obviously uncomfortable is not being friendly. He’s being creepy, full stop.

@chris_notcapn Any guy responding to this video with “He was just being friendly” is not a safe person. There is no… https://t.co/xHhTnVEcDa

— The Lamityville Horror: Awake at 5AM!! (@AnxiousPenman)
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Some have said that she needed to be more forceful about not wanting him there, setting a clear boundary. But when you’re young and have never had someone act this way with you, it’s an awkward position to be in. And as the guys who said he was just being friendly condescendingly point out, it’s not like he was saying anything directly problematic. His words weren’t inappropriate—his imposed, insistent presence was. And that’s a hard thing to convey to a man who is older and presumably bigger than you are, in a public place in broad daylight where you know he’s not likely to do something to you then and there, but you still feel creeped out and uncomfortable.

He’s the one who should know better. He’s the one who should be given a lecture about setting boundaries.

The teen said in another video that she spoke to the person at the front desk of the hotel who said they know who he is and that they would have a talk with him, so hopefully, he’ll rethink.

In the meantime, a lesson we can all take from this is to be on the lookout for one another. The young woman’s friend who called down from the balcony was so helpful—you could see the relief flood her body as soon as she heard and saw him. We can all keep our eyes open for someone being approached by a stranger when they’re alone and pay attention to their facial expressions and body language. We can intervene in some way if they appear uncomfortable, from slipping them a note to ask if they’re okay to acting like we know them to scare off a creeper who’s clearly bothering them.

No one of any gender should have to feel afraid to just sit someplace by themselves. While we can’t rid the world of all the creepos, we can pay attention to what’s happening around us, watch out for one another, and do what we can to create a safer environment for all.

Elon Musk’s appearance hosting Saturday Night Live drew more controversy before it aired than what was actually on TV, but one sketch that saw some criticism in the days that followed has also drawn a defense from head writer Michael Che. The Weekend Update co-anchor and c0-head writer defended the “Gen Z Hospital” sketch on Instagram after some online discussion over its use of language continued to make headlines online days after it aired.

The sketch, which had Musk working as a doctor in a hospital staffed with a pink-haired nurse, had younger people worried about a patient who showed up at Gen Z Hospital seeking treatment. The cast members in the waiting room used a number of slang sayings and phrases that were apparently meant to represent Generation Z characters. The acronym AAVE — African American vernacular English — circulated on Twitter in reference to SNL on Sunday, as some critiqued the sketch for repurposing AAVE as simply how people of a younger generation talk.

As Deadline detailed, the That Damn Michael Che creator addressed the mild controversy as he often does: on Instagram. In a text post he shared on Monday, Che admitted that the sketch “bombed” but said he had to look up what AAVE even was when people accused the show of misappropriating words and phrases often popular in the Black community.

“I’ve been reading about how my “gen z” sketch was misappropriating AAVE and I was stunned cause what the f*ck is ‘AAVE’? I had to look it up,” Che wrote. “Turns out it’s an acronym for ‘African American vernacular english.’ You know, AAVE! That ol’ saying that actual black people use in conversation all the time.”

Che admitted the sketch didn’t go over very well, but that this particular critique seemed to surprise even him.

“Look, the sketch bombed. I’m used to that,” he said. “I meant no offense to the ‘aave’ community. I love aave. Aave to the moon!”

Che seemed to get support from his cast mates with the post, as Chloe Fineman liked it while Kenan Thompson also liked another post Che shared of a headline from an online news outlet covering his response to the controversy. And while it may not satisfy those who were critical of the sketch, it does at least let us know who was behind the sketch in the first place. That’s not something that’s always entirely apparent when it comes to what makes it to air for SNL, but in this case Che was willing to address whatever controversy still seems to be coming from the show’s latest episode and take responsibility for it.

Festival season is upon us once more, last year’s barren lineups, canceled shows, and quarantine protocols be damned. Now that vaccination is a real option, festivals have slowly but surely begun announcing their lineups, and Delaware’s Firefly Festival joined the fray today. Their four main headliners are no surprise to those who have been following the artists making waves on 2021 setlist: Billie Eilish, The Killers, Tame Impala and Lizzo will hold down the four top spots. And you know what else is great about that lineup, aside from the fact that all four artists make incredible music? That it’s a 50/50 headliner setup with two bands anchored by men, and two women holding their own, too.

The discussion about how male-dominated festival bookings have been has been going on for years, so it’s nice to see that some events took the time off last year to make sure they come back with a bit of gender equity on the docket. Check out the album poster below, along with a list of every artist booked for the event in alphabetical order. And before you ask, yes, Phoebe Bridgers is going to be there. The event kicks off on Thursday, September 23, 2021 and runs through Sunday, September 26, 2021 at Delaware’s Woodlands.

A full list of the artists playing Firefly’s 2021 event:

Almost Monday
Aluna
Anna of the North
Arlo Parks
Atlas Genius
Badflower
Band of Horses
Big Wild
Billie Eilish
Binki
Blackbear
Blossom
Cage The Elephant
Cannons
Caribou
Carolesdaughter
Cassy
Chris Lake
Claud
Clever
Clozee
Deep Sea Diver
Denzel Curry
Des Rocs
Diplo
Dominic Fike
Duckwrth
Duke Dumont
Elohim
Flo Milli
GG Magree and Mija
girl in red
Glass Animals
Gracie Abrams
Grandson
iann dior
Jordy
Judah and the Lion
JXDN
Kenny Mason
Kennyhoopla
Khruangbin
The Killers
Kim Petras
Laundry Day
Lizzo
Lost Frequencies
Lovelytheband
LP Giobbi
Machine Gun Kelly
Madds
Madeon
Marc Rebillet
Maria Isabel
Megan Thee Stallion
Michigander
Middle Kids
Missio
Mt. joy
Nelly
Noga Erez
Oliver Tree
ONR
Orion Sun
Peach Pit
Phoebe Bridgers
Portugal. the Man
Positive Movement Drumline
redveil
Remi Wolf
REZZ
Ritt Momney
Roddy Ricch
Role Model
Royal & The Serpent
Rossy
Rozet
Serena Isioma
Slander
$NOT
Sofi Tukker
St. Panther
Still Woozy
Sub Urban
Surf Mesa
Sylvan Esso
Taking Back Sunday
Tame Impala
Tate McRae
Trevor Daniel
Turnstile
White Reaper
Wiz Khalifa

Some of the artists mentioned are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

If you’re the kind of listener who checks liner notes and obsessively follows songwriters, then it won’t surprise you that massive producers like Skrillex and Four Tet want to work with Starrah on a new track. The songwriter is best known for working with the likes of Travis Scott (though there was a little bit of drama there) and Diplo, along with massive artists like Katy Perry, Drake, The Weeknd, and Rihanna, so it makes sense that returning with his first new music since 2019, Skrillex is spotlighting his collaboration with Starrah.

The new track “Butterflies” is a glitchy track stippled with her vocals, and might signal the beginning of a new era for the super producer. And even as he’s grown to become one of the biggest names in electronic music, the artist born Sonny Moore never forgot his roots, either. Back in 2018 he even went so far as to reunite with his initial emo band, First To Last, releasing a new song with them and proving that even after all the money and the fame, he’s still true to his roots.

Check out the new collaboration above and look for more new music coming from Skrillex soon, this might be the start of a new album cycle. Hey, if festival season is coming back, then maybe Skrillex is, too.

Lil Nas X has had almost unparalleled success during his short time in the music industry, but that doesn’t mean the young rapper is immune to moments of doubt and disappointment. In a recent cover story with British GQ, Nas remembered a low point after last year’s single “Holiday” didn’t pan out like he thought it would. In fact, he was so upset, Nas told GQ he booked a hotel room just to process his sadness, even breaking down into tears over his feelings.

“I was seeing some nice things,” he told GQ. “But I was seeing a lot of f*cking negativity too. And I was like, ‘Oh sh*t. This is not even in the top 200. Oh god. What the f*ck did I do wrong?”

He even went so far as to tell his manager to cancel an episode of Holiday Plays, a Christmas special starring Miley Cyrus that was scheduled for rehearsals the next day.

“I told my manager, ‘I don’t want to do it,” he continued. “‘Let’s cancel it. Let’s get rid of it. There’s no point. Nobody’s really f*cking with this song.’ I was crying. I was upset with myself. I felt like I’d… failed myself, almost. I was crying like a crazy person. You know one of those times where you cry so hard your f*ckin head hurts? It was like that.”

Little did he know the success of “Montero” was just around the corner, even if more drama was coming there, too, eventually. The life of a pop star/rapper is never fully calm I guess. And even if he was initially a little jealous that Billie Eilish won a Grammy over him, he’s also put that to rest. It’s the growth that’s the best!

Read the full feature here.