For four long years, Trump and his press secretary treated the press like their enemies. They were rude, they were condescending, they were snippy, they were accusatory, and they were, simply put, mean. It was hard to remember a time when White House pressers were pleasant, even boring. That all changed mere hours after Joe Biden was sworn in, and it continues with one on Monday, in which Biden himself made sure to tell a Fox News journalist that he “liked him.”
Pres. Biden on Fox News’ Peter Doocy: “I know he always asks me tough questions, and he always has an edge to them, but I like him anyway. So go ahead and ask the question.”pic.twitter.com/51SUBp8vgi
The reporter was Peter Doocy, son of Fox & Friends mainstay Steve, and Biden actually called him himself, as the last reporter to get in a question. He also made sure to let Doocy know he knows who he is. “I know he always asks me tough questions, and [they] always have an edge to them,” Biden told the crowd. It almost sounded like a lead-in to one of Trump’s insults. It wasn’t. Instead, Biden joked, “but I like him anyway.”
People were floored by his decency, to say nothing of his patience.
President Biden is obviously no fan of Fox News, but when his press conference was over today, he took time to take a question from Peter Doocy with Fox News.@POTUS: “I know he always asks me tough questions and he always has an edge to them but I like him anyways.” pic.twitter.com/P1gzUI1aou
This question is dripping in bad faith, and yet still Biden knocks it out of the park. But Doocy shouldn’t be there wasting time in the first place. https://t.co/PH4TdTqeoA
Doocy’s first question, admittedly, wasn’t that “tough.” He asked about his administration’s plans for speeding up the vaccination roll-out, which has been fumbled thus far. Biden replied that he was aiming for a million doses daily within three weeks. Doocy the Younger’s other question had a bit more “edge” to it: “What happened to two months ago when you were talking about, declaratively, that [you were] going to shut down the virus?”
Biden replied:
“I am going to shut down the virus … I never said I’d do it in two months. I said it took a long time to get here and a long time to beat it. We have millions of people out there who have the virus. We’re just, for the first day, I think, correct me if I’m wrong, I’ve been doing other things this morning, speaking with foreign leaders, but one of the first days that the numbers actually come down, the number of deaths, and the number on a daily basis and the number of hospitalizations. … It’s going to take time, it’s going to take a heck of a lot of time.”
That reply was a bit more punchy, but it’s far from the tetchy, furious responses journalists regularly received from Trump and press secretaries like Kayleigh McEnany. And it signals that future White House pressers will only likely make the news when they’re informative, not when someone working for the president, say, distributed doctored videos falsely accusing reporters of assault. Bet you won’t miss those times!
Disney is making some changes to its Jungle Cruise rides (in California and Florida) that happen to coincide with some added interest in the attractions in 2021. The long-running attraction has seen considerable calls to change the ride’s content, as the ride that’s set in the 1930s has some dated references and dialogue to say the least.
As IGN pointed out last year, Splash Mountain getting a similar refresh that eliminates racially-charged language and stereotypes made others point to Jungle Cruise as an attraction Disney fixes up next.
(And while we’re on the subject, how ’bout updating that one part with the “natives” on The Jungle Cruise?)
And according to USA Today on Monday, the ride is getting a refresh that will address some harmful stereotypes about indigenous peoples that have seen complaints from Disneygoers in recent years:
“In this particular case, Imagineers created a storyline that builds upon what people love the most while addressing negative depictions simultaneously,” Disney said in a statement provided by spokesperson Michele Himmelberg. “Imagineers are addressing negative depictions of native people while adding a humorous storyline that follows the adventure of a Jungle Cruise skipper, his passengers and what has become of their boat and its contents. Guests will also find this group of adventurers to be diverse – in background and fields of interest.”
The update is coming at a convenient time for Disney, as it’s hoping Dwyane The Rock Johnson can launch a movie franchise based off the ride.
That film is expected to hit theaters on July 24 of this year, though basically any movie release date is tenuous at this point given the still-ongoing pandemic.
“Quarantine Kit” features interviews with our favorite actors, musicians, chefs, athletes, and artists about their personal methods for killing time, staying fit, and keeping social distance during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
Wylde may not be a household name (yet), but much of the young artist’s latest EP, Castles, is already working itself into our favorite chill-out playlists. At its best, Castles manages to capture the weirdness and alienation of the current moment we’re all collectively inhabiting — you know, that nearly year-long isolation we’ve been subjected to — without ever getting heavy-handed about the current state of the world. Instead, the parallels are aural, and we’re treated to music that is at once intimate and spare yet full of untapped energy bubbling beneath the surface, ready to burst.
Sort of like each and every one of us after a year stuck in pajamas.
This five-song EP marries Wylde’s syrupy vocals with beds of lush synths and steadily evolving grooves, making for a great listen whether you’re marveling at the sunset after smoking a joint in your backyard or hitting the road for a nighttime drive (because the car is the only place left you can still listen to loud music).
To celebrate the release of Castles, we linked up with Wylde, who is Los Angeles based — and therefore subject to some of the strictest quarantine measures in the country — to chat about themes behind her EP and how she manages to stay sane and creative during these precarious times.
Photo Courtesy Of Wylde
How long did it take you to put together Castles, and what is the driving concept/theme?
This EP was created over the course of the last few years. All of the songs were inspired by the realizations and discoveries that made me grow as a person. The lyrics are very introspective and the theme behind most of these songs is self-transformation. My intention for creating these songs was for the listener to feel a sense of hope and be inspired to go a little deeper within themselves.
How have you stayed creative during the lockdown?
My main inspiration is people. I’m so inspired by people, their stories, and just the human experience in general. So it’s been difficult to have less human interaction but it’s made me feel really grateful for the people in my life and excited for the day we get to all come together again. I think that this year is going to give everyone such a deeper sense of gratitude for human connection.
I know I’ll never take for granted being able to embrace another person again.
Photo Courtesy Of Wylde
What activity has been keeping you sane during the stay-at-home orders?
I’m super lucky to live in a beautiful area in Los Angeles where I can still explore the outdoors. Nature is so grounding and I feel fortunate to live in an area where I can still go on hikes and adventure outside. I think that even as adults it’s so important to still prioritize “play.” Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, we stopped playing. When we think of “playing” we always think of children and as we grow older we seem to lose our sense of wonder and the desire to play. Playing can be any playful activity that forces you into the present moment and causes you to lose track of time.
I love finding ways to spark my inner child and get lost in an activity.
How, specifically?
There’s a book that completely changed my life called The Artist Way by Julia Cameron. She talks a lot about nurturing your “artist child” by setting up artist dates for yourself. This can include painting, drawing, etc. Anything where you can creatively connect to your inner artist child. When we were younger we would just create freely without the voice of our inner critic. Practicing getting in touch with your inner child can help you return to that place. Another way I connect to my inner child is by going on adventures by myself. Whether that’s thrifting, having a little picnic at a park, exploring nature — just finding ways to nurture that childlike sense of wonder.
Where are some of your favorite hiking spots around LA?
There’s an incredible trail in Malibu at Point Dume that I’ve been visiting a lot lately. Runyon Canyon is also amazing for Sunset Hikes. I love exploring Mulholland and finding the best views of LA at night. Something about getting to see the city at night is incredibly inspiring to me. I’m originally from Boston and was always so in awe of LA and I love being able to take a step back to take and be reminded how lucky I am to get to live here now.
Boredom can be a real inspiration killer. How do you stay inspired while in lockdown?
Learning to stay present has changed my mindset on boredom. I think that it’s impossible to feel bored and present at the same time. When I’m fully in the present moment there is always so much to be observed and so many things to be grateful for. If I were to find myself becoming bored, I’d use that as an indicator that I may have drifted from the present moment.
Photo Courtesy Of Wylde
What did you discover during this last year in quarantine that you might not have had it been a regular year (new music, new movies, books, etc)?
Mental health is something I’m super passionate about so I’m always looking to expand my knowledge on brain science. Quarantine served as such a positive for me, because it gave me more time to dive in and learn more on these topics. I got tons of books on neuroscience and studied Cognitive Behavioral Therapy so that I could better articulate myself if there is someone that might need help.
There’s a book called Switch On Your Brain by Dr. Caroline Leaf that I read that was life-changing.
What local LA businesses did you find yourself relying on must during lockdown?
I really wanted to support small businesses as much as I could during this time. There’s a brand called “Remember Why You’re Here” that is really incredible. Their mission is to “remind people to live purposely, be consistent, and never settle. They make bracelets and have different merch items that read “Remember Why You’re Here”.
Has isolation driven you to create, or did you find that a hindrance to the process?
Recording sessions look a lot different right now for artists. It was hard not being able to have in-person sessions with my producer. I know a lot of artists are doing Zoom and Skype sessions but nothing beats being able to create together in the same room. Isolation inspired me to start building my own makeshift studio in my closet and start learning how to record my own vocals. Lately, I’ve been getting lost in there for hours.
Photo Courtesy Of Wylde
What is one thing you wouldn’t have been able to live without during this quarantine era?
Mindfulness and spirituality are really important to me and I don’t think I would’ve had the same quarantine experience without these things. Meditation and journaling are a part of my everyday routine and it’s changed the way that I view life. I think we start to truly live when we can learn to quiet the mind and actually be present. It’s been a crazy year and having the tools to nurture my own inner world has helped me keep my peace through everything.
Where is the first place you’re planning on going when it’s safe to travel again and what can we expect from Wylde in 2021?
My mom is from Greece and I’ve been dying to go back there. I went once as a child, but haven’t been back since. I’m really proud of my Greek roots and think that the culture is so special. I’m counting down the days for when it will be safe to travel and explore again.
I’m really looking forward to this coming year and I have so much more music coming. I’ve already started recording the next project and I’m so excited to continue sharing my music with the world.
“Quarantine Kit” features interviews with our favorite actors, musicians, chefs, athletes, and artists about their personal methods for killing time, staying fit, and keeping social distance during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
Wylde may not be a household name (yet), but much of the young artist’s latest EP, Castles, is already working itself into our favorite chill-out playlists. At its best, Castles manages to capture the weirdness and alienation of the current moment we’re all collectively inhabiting — you know, that nearly year-long isolation we’ve been subjected to — without ever getting heavy-handed about the current state of the world. Instead, the parallels are aural, and we’re treated to music that is at once intimate and spare yet full of untapped energy bubbling beneath the surface, ready to burst.
Sort of like each and every one of us after a year stuck in pajamas.
This five-song EP marries Wylde’s syrupy vocals with beds of lush synths and steadily evolving grooves, making for a great listen whether you’re marveling at the sunset after smoking a joint in your backyard or hitting the road for a nighttime drive (because the car is the only place left you can still listen to loud music).
To celebrate the release of Castles, we linked up with Wylde, who is Los Angeles based — and therefore subject to some of the strictest quarantine measures in the country — to chat about themes behind her EP and how she manages to stay sane and creative during these precarious times.
Photo Courtesy Of Wylde
How long did it take you to put together Castles, and what is the driving concept/theme?
This EP was created over the course of the last few years. All of the songs were inspired by the realizations and discoveries that made me grow as a person. The lyrics are very introspective and the theme behind most of these songs is self-transformation. My intention for creating these songs was for the listener to feel a sense of hope and be inspired to go a little deeper within themselves.
How have you stayed creative during the lockdown?
My main inspiration is people. I’m so inspired by people, their stories, and just the human experience in general. So it’s been difficult to have less human interaction but it’s made me feel really grateful for the people in my life and excited for the day we get to all come together again. I think that this year is going to give everyone such a deeper sense of gratitude for human connection.
I know I’ll never take for granted being able to embrace another person again.
Photo Courtesy Of Wylde
What activity has been keeping you sane during the stay-at-home orders?
I’m super lucky to live in a beautiful area in Los Angeles where I can still explore the outdoors. Nature is so grounding and I feel fortunate to live in an area where I can still go on hikes and adventure outside. I think that even as adults it’s so important to still prioritize “play.” Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, we stopped playing. When we think of “playing” we always think of children and as we grow older we seem to lose our sense of wonder and the desire to play. Playing can be any playful activity that forces you into the present moment and causes you to lose track of time.
I love finding ways to spark my inner child and get lost in an activity.
How, specifically?
There’s a book that completely changed my life called The Artist Way by Julia Cameron. She talks a lot about nurturing your “artist child” by setting up artist dates for yourself. This can include painting, drawing, etc. Anything where you can creatively connect to your inner artist child. When we were younger we would just create freely without the voice of our inner critic. Practicing getting in touch with your inner child can help you return to that place. Another way I connect to my inner child is by going on adventures by myself. Whether that’s thrifting, having a little picnic at a park, exploring nature — just finding ways to nurture that childlike sense of wonder.
Where are some of your favorite hiking spots around LA?
There’s an incredible trail in Malibu at Point Dume that I’ve been visiting a lot lately. Runyon Canyon is also amazing for Sunset Hikes. I love exploring Mulholland and finding the best views of LA at night. Something about getting to see the city at night is incredibly inspiring to me. I’m originally from Boston and was always so in awe of LA and I love being able to take a step back to take and be reminded how lucky I am to get to live here now.
Boredom can be a real inspiration killer. How do you stay inspired while in lockdown?
Learning to stay present has changed my mindset on boredom. I think that it’s impossible to feel bored and present at the same time. When I’m fully in the present moment there is always so much to be observed and so many things to be grateful for. If I were to find myself becoming bored, I’d use that as an indicator that I may have drifted from the present moment.
Photo Courtesy Of Wylde
What did you discover during this last year in quarantine that you might not have had it been a regular year (new music, new movies, books, etc)?
Mental health is something I’m super passionate about so I’m always looking to expand my knowledge on brain science. Quarantine served as such a positive for me, because it gave me more time to dive in and learn more on these topics. I got tons of books on neuroscience and studied Cognitive Behavioral Therapy so that I could better articulate myself if there is someone that might need help.
There’s a book called Switch On Your Brain by Dr. Caroline Leaf that I read that was life-changing.
What local LA businesses did you find yourself relying on must during lockdown?
I really wanted to support small businesses as much as I could during this time. There’s a brand called “Remember Why You’re Here” that is really incredible. Their mission is to “remind people to live purposely, be consistent, and never settle. They make bracelets and have different merch items that read “Remember Why You’re Here”.
Has isolation driven you to create, or did you find that a hindrance to the process?
Recording sessions look a lot different right now for artists. It was hard not being able to have in-person sessions with my producer. I know a lot of artists are doing Zoom and Skype sessions but nothing beats being able to create together in the same room. Isolation inspired me to start building my own makeshift studio in my closet and start learning how to record my own vocals. Lately, I’ve been getting lost in there for hours.
Photo Courtesy Of Wylde
What is one thing you wouldn’t have been able to live without during this quarantine era?
Mindfulness and spirituality are really important to me and I don’t think I would’ve had the same quarantine experience without these things. Meditation and journaling are a part of my everyday routine and it’s changed the way that I view life. I think we start to truly live when we can learn to quiet the mind and actually be present. It’s been a crazy year and having the tools to nurture my own inner world has helped me keep my peace through everything.
Where is the first place you’re planning on going when it’s safe to travel again and what can we expect from Wylde in 2021?
My mom is from Greece and I’ve been dying to go back there. I went once as a child, but haven’t been back since. I’m really proud of my Greek roots and think that the culture is so special. I’m counting down the days for when it will be safe to travel and explore again.
I’m really looking forward to this coming year and I have so much more music coming. I’ve already started recording the next project and I’m so excited to continue sharing my music with the world.
Although anything Tory Lanez posts must be taken with a grain of salt in recent months, it looks like Lil Wayne celebrated his official pardon by getting straight back to work, joining Lanez on the set of his new music video for “Big Tipper.” In a clip that Tory posted to his Instagram, Wayne apparently takes on the role of a plastic surgeon, dancing, rapping, and smoking behind a nude woman stretched out on her stomach and receiving a butt lift. In the caption, Tory thanks Wayne for coming to shoot the video just a day after being pardoned and promotes the video as “coming soon.”
Of course, Tory has been accused of fudging the details of his video shoots in posts designed to make it appear his famous friends still support him in the fallout of his assault case. Tory was accused of shooting fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion in the back of both feet during a dispute after a Hollywood party, and Megan has accused Tory of using a number of underhanded means to undermine her credibility. Most recently, Tory posted a photo from what seems to be another shoot with DaBaby, prompting fans to criticize the North Carolina rapper before Megan revealed Tory posted a still from an old video that was never cleared for release.
With that in mind, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that he’s doing the same thing with Wayne. However, since there are still some Tory collaborators, like Jack Harlow, who aren’t willing to write him off just yet, anything is possible.
The Clippers have, unsurprisingly, been among the NBA’s best teams to start the 2020-21 season, going 13-4 out of the gate to put them in a tie with the Lakers atop the Western Conference standings. Paul George’s play, in particular, has been noteworthy, as the star forward is playing All-NBA caliber basketball and has seemingly shaken off his disappointing postseason — as has the entire Clippers team. They’re aided by newcomers in Serge Ibaka, Luke Kennard, and Nic Batum, the latter of whom has looked like the best value signing in the league this offseason.
However, this is still a team driven by its two stars in George and Kawhi Leonard, who combine to average just under 40 points per game and over 10 rebounds and 10 assists per night, and both have posted 50/40/90 seasons to this point. The Clippers will begin a six-game East coast road trip on Tuesday in Atlanta to face the Hawks, but will have to do so without the services of either George or Leonard, who are both now in the league’s health and safety protocols.
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are not flying to Atlanta with the team. Depending on the extent of NBA protocols, Leonard and/or George could potentially join the team on this road trip. https://t.co/0WUPPIfD5v
As ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk notes, depending on what they’re in the protocols for — contact tracing or a positive test — one or both could rejoin the team closer to the end of their road trip. Should it be a contact tracing situation, a 7-day absence for both, pending negative tests, would allow them to return for next Tuesday’s showdown with the Brooklyn Nets. A positive test, however, requires a 10-day quarantine, which would keep them out for the entirety of the 6-game trip.
It is an unfortunate situation for the Clippers, who will turn to a short rotation to make up for the absences of their two stars, in particular Batum, Kennard, and Marcus Morris to pick up the scoring load on the wing — and Lou Williams likely being tasked with more offensively with the bench unit. It also underscores the continuing issues the league is having with postponements and players missing time, just as reports emerged that they are considering putting on an All-Star Game in March.
The NBA decided back in November that it would not host a traditional All-Star Weekend this season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a decision that appears to have been a wise one given the slow rollout of the vaccine and continuing spikes in cases around the country.
As such, Indianapolis’ turn hosting the game was pushed to 2024 and the league said it would revisit a plan for a “revised NBA All-Star 2021” would be announced at a later date. On Monday, we got our first word about discussions for what that revised plan might look like, with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reporting the NBA and NBPA have been talking about hosting an All-Star Game in Atlanta.
ESPN Sources: The NBA and NBPA are discussing scenarios to still hold an All-Star game in March. One site under discussion is Atlanta, home of Turner Sports. That idea includes providing support for HBCU’s and COVID-19 relief. Story soon on site.
Marc Stein of the New York Times confirmed those discussions, while also noting that voting will happen regardless of whether they can agree on playing an actual game.
The NBA will institute All~Star voting this season with or without a game, sources say
Proposals for staging an actual All-Star game include holding it on an HBCU campus in the Atlanta area in the March 6-7 range
It isn’t a huge surprise that the NBA would push for an All-Star Game to be played, as it is a revenue driver not unlike the Christmas Day games that they pushed the start of the season up to be able to have. It would appear the plan would just be to play the game itself based on this initial report, but it’s possible they also could try and host Saturday night festivities as well — and, in the interest of bringing the fewest amount of people possible, it would honestly draw more attention and be smarter if they did those events with just All-Stars. NBPA president Chris Paul is reportedly among the top proponents of putting on the game and using it to benefit HBCUs, including potentially playing in an HBCU gym, per Woj.
There is of course the major issue of having 30 players from across the league, even if you are bringing just All-Stars, coming into one location to play a game when the league has already been struggling with postponements and keeping the season going as positive tests and contact tracing put numerous players in the COVID-19 protocol — this report came out mere minutes before the Clippers announced their two presumptive All-Stars, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, are both out for Tuesday due to health and safety protocols. On top of that, Atlanta is a city with ample temptations and ensuring everyone follows whatever protocols they put in place, which one would assume to be quite restrictive, would be a task of heightened difficulty.
Foo Fighters have been steadily dropping singles ahead of their impending LP Medicine At Midnight, but that’s not the only exciting project they have in the works. To drum up anticipation around the album, the band is launching the SiriusXM station Foo Fighters Radio.
After launching February 3rd, Foo Fighters Radio will be available for a limited time only. The new station will feature fan-favorite music, commentary by the entire band, and a broadcasting of the entirety of Medicine At Midnight at the moment of its release. Foo Fighters are also teaming up with SiriusXM for an exclusive livestream hours after their album officially drops on February 5.
Alongside the station’s announcement, SiriusXM’s chief content officer Scott Greenstein praised Foo Fighters’ decades-long career. “From their inception in mid-’90s to their recent performance at the 2021 Presidential Inauguration celebration, Foo Fighters remain one of America’s biggest rock bands,” Greenstein said. “They have achieved critical acclaim for their music and onstage energy, all while building a large and loyal audience. […] They are a rock band that grabs you and won’t let go, and we love to bring their music and passion to our listeners.”
While the band’s vocalist Dave Grohl is gearing up for the Foo Fighters’ next release, the musician recently revealed he still has dreams about playing music in Nirvana. “I still have dreams that we’re in Nirvana, that we’re still a band. I still dream there’s an empty arena waiting for us to play,” he told Classic Rock. Grohl continued: “I wouldn’t feel comfortable singing a song that Kurt sang. I feel perfectly at home playing those songs on the drums. And I love playing them with Krist and Pat and another vocalist. But I don’t sit down at home and run through ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ by myself. It’s just a reminder that the person who is responsible for those beautiful songs is no longer with us. It’s bittersweet.”
Medicine At Midnight is out 2/5 via Roswell/RCA. Pre-order it here.
An exasperated Cardi B gave her fans a history lesson and a breakdown of her family tree after being pulled into the recent controversy over DaniLeigh’s new song “Yellow Bone.” When DaniLeigh was called out for promoting colorism by fans insisting she isn’t Black because of her Dominican roots, it wasn’t long before some were making the comparison between Dani and Cardi, who is also Dominican.
Cardi wasn’t happy about being dragged into the controversy after explaining her history multiple times since becoming a celebrity as a cast member of Love & Hip-Hop, but it has been over 18 months since the last time and that’s usually about how long it takes for everyone on the internet to forget something happened and bring it back up again. “Every 6 months I gotta explain myself cause people can’t research,” she tweeted. She then followed up with a series of photos and quick responses hashing out her appearance and how she slowly learned to use correct terminology over time.
Explaining that she always embraced her Afro-Latina roots, Cardi cleared up that she hasn’t “always been super woke” and didn’t always use the correct terminology when one commenter said she didn’t know the difference between “race,” “nationality,” and “ethnicity.” She also shared old photos of her family members to support her explanations and told her detractors, “It’s time for ya to pick up a book. Your ignorance at this point is a choice.”
Finally, proving that she’s mastered navigating social media controversies — as she should, considering she’s been at the center of so many — she pivoted the topic to skincare, asking fans for product suggestions for her recent breakouts. Meanwhile, DaniLeigh’s halfhearted apologies for “Yellow Bone” went full Lana Del Rey, bringing up her “chocolate man” and “dark-skinned friends.” Maybe she could take notes from Cardi and Chika, who explained why any Black woman would understand the harmful dynamics involved in “Yellow Bone” reinforcing the tenets of colorism.
Amazon Prime is way more than just a way to get your electronics and books in two days or less. There’s a wide breadth of good movies and TV shows out there to choose from if you know what you’re looking for.
To help you out, we’ve rounded up the 35 best movies on Amazon Prime right now. From new Oscar winners to classic titles, you might be surprised as to what the service has available.
Riz Ahmed stars in this powerful, heartbreaking Amazon original movie from director Darius Marder. Ahmed plays a heavy-metal drummer named Ruben who, along with his girlfriend and the band’s lead singer Lou (Olivia Cooke) hopes to make it big in the music scene. His plans are thrown for a loop when he begins to lose his hearing, putting his life, and his love for music, in jeopardy.
Awkwafina stars in this dramedy from director Lulu Wang that got a fair amount of Oscar buzz this season. The story follows a Chinese family, who discovers their beloved grandmother has only a short time to live. Instead of telling her, they keep the news to themselves, planning a wedding so that everyone can gather to say their goodbyes. It’s a dark comedy to be sure, but it’s given heart by some brilliant performances including Shuzhen Zhao as the central Nai Nai.
Nauseating. Disturbing. A total mindf*ck. Those are all fitting descriptions of Ari Aster’s Hereditary follow-up, a sophomore outing that gleefully embraces the very worst of humanity and shines an unforgiving light on those universal flaws. It’s a horror story, sure, but it’s a relationship drama at its core, flavored with pagan rituals, brutal killings, unsettling imagery, and all-consuming grief. Florence Pugh gives a career-defining performance as Dani, a young woman reeling from a terrible familial tragedy who accompanies her distant, disinterested boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor) and his college bros to a small Swedish village to celebrate the summer solstice.
Jude Law and Haley Joel Osment star in this mind-bending drama from Steven Spielberg about a highly-advanced robot on a quest to become real. Osment plays an artificial child named David, given to a human family whose own son is suffering from a rare illness. David is accepted and loved, until the human boy makes a miraculous recovery, becomes jealous of his new “brother” and orchestrates his exile. From there, David goes in search of answers as to what he is and why he was created, a perilous journey that proves eye-opening. Osment is eerily perfect in the starring role and Spielberg injects just enough emotional tension to make us care past the thrill of the hunt for answers in this world that feels alarmingly possible.
An early work of director Sofia Coppola, this film based on a 1993 novel of the same name, follows the story of the Lisbon sisters, five girls aged 13-17 who make a suicide pact after their youngest sibling kills herself. A sense of mystery and aloofness adds to the girls’ appeal when it comes to the neighborhood boys, through whom much of the story is told. Confined to their house after the death of their sister, the girls find ways of communicating with the outside world through secret phone calls and late-night trysts. Eventually, the sisters make good on their pact, but Coppola chooses to find a sense of freedom and validation in their decision to commit suicide, one that paints the end of the film in a strangely victorious light.
Regina King’s first outing as a director comes in the form of this moving drama that imagines a meeting between some of the most influential icons in the Civil Rights Movement. In a room at the Hampton House in February 1964, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke gather to celebrate Ali’s victory over boxer Sonny Liston where they also discuss their own roles in the movement and confront the harsh realities of the Jim Crow Era.
Starring Cillian Murphy and Brendan Gleeson, this British horror flick follows a pretty unlucky bike courier who wakes up from a coma and finds his city not only deserted but filled with the undead. The reason? A group of animal rights activists freed a chimp carrying a virus that caused the entire human population to, well, you know, drop-dead and then reanimate and crave human flesh. The group tries to make their way to safety, a place untouched by the virus, but you can guess how well that goes.
The mind-boggling success of the Marvel Universe this decade makes it easy to forget it’s humble, fantastically-written origins. We’re talking about the first Avengers team-up, a modest affair in comparison to the universe-spanning, dimension-hopping Endgame, but one that still holds up as a worthy outing for our O.G. heroes. This film marked the first time Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Thor, Natasha Romanoff, Bruce Banner, and Clint Barton shared any real screentime and while most of the fighting is done in-house, the team pulls it together to take on a scheming Loki and his invading army of earth-destroying space monsters in the end.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw stars in this sci-fi thriller about a woman on the run who must return home to the family she abandoned once word of her supernatural abilities spreads. Mbatha-Raw plays Ruth, a woman whose seizures trigger earthquakes. Her mother and young daughter also have telekinetic abilities and when Ruth comes home to escape a dogged scientist determined to experiment on her, she begins trying to understand her powers with their help while also staying under the radar.
Jimmie Fails plays himself in this semi-autobiographical drama about a young man’s attempts to reclaim his childhood home. Fails and his best friend, Mont (Jonathan Majors), visit the old Victorian house where Fails grew up, only to find it in disarray. When the current tenants find themselves embroiled in a fight for ownership, forced to move out while the battle plays out in court, Jimmy and Mont move in, fixing up the place and fighting to restore some of the neighborhood’s old school charm.
Chris Hemsworth stars in this Whedon creation directed by Drew Goddard that’ll make you wary of ever going on a mountain retreat again. Hemsworth plays one of a group of five friends who head to the woods for some R&R. The remote cabin they stay at quickly becomes a hellish prison they struggle to escape from.
There’s a reason Julia Roberts took home an Oscar for her performance in this biopic from Steven Soderbergh. She’s absolutely magnetic as the titular Brokovich, a single mom working her way up the corporate ladder who discovers a passion for helping others through the law. Brokovich is dogged in her pursuit for justice — the real-life inspiration for the character single-handedly brought down one of the biggest energy companies in California — but it’s the quieter, more emotional moments Roberts is able to deliver that feel even more worthy of her “Best Actress” win.
This cult comedy from director Cameron Crowe has earned a dedicated fan following amongst rock-and-roll lovers. Based on Crowe’s own experiences as an underaged music journalist for Rolling Stone, the film follows a 15-year-old kid named William Miller, who goes on the road with rock band and becomes entangled in their exploits. Billy Crudup and Frances McDormand also star, but it’s Kate Hudson, who plays the magnetic groupie Penny Lane, who really steals the film.
Ang Lee’s Oscar-winning martial arts flick defied the odds to become one of the most influential films in the genre, crossing multicultural barriers and introducing audiences to some great talents in the international acting world. The film follows the story of Li Mu Bai, an accomplished Wudang swordsman who retires his legendary weapon only to be pulled back into a battle with his arch-nemesis, a woman who killed his master years earlier and seeks to claim his sword for her own. There’s more happening plot-wise — Bai has a love interest in another skilled warrior, Yu Shu Lien, and they’re both forced to face off against a Wudang prodigy that’s been studying under their enemy — but the real draw here is the perfectly-mapped-out fight sequences, which include just enough special effect to be awe-inducing, but not too much to distract from the beautiful choreography that Lee puts on display.
James Stewart stars in this holiday flick about a down-on-his-luck businessman who laments his suburban life. George Bailey wishes for a different, more successful life, one unencumbered by a wife and kids but when his wish is granted and an angel shows him what life would be like without him, Bailey must figure out how to make the most of the present. Stewart is magnetic in the role and though it’s thought of as a Christmas classic, this film can and should be enjoyed year-round.
This film by Destin Daniel Cretton (the guy Marvel’s tapped to direct Shang-Chi) marks the first leading role for Brie Larson. Long before her Captain Marvel days, Larson was playing Grace Howard, a young woman navigating life as a supervisor of a group home for troubled teens. Other soon-to-be stars like Lakeith Stanfield and Rami Malek also have a role in this thing but it’s Larson’s vehicle and she’s in full command of it.
Jonah Hill’s directorial debut is a nostalgic ode to growing up in the 90s. The film follows a 13-year-old kid named Stevie who spends one summer in L.A. navigating between his troubled home life and a new group of friends that push to him to test his own boundaries. The movie is heavy in skater culture, a scene L.A. was known for at the time, but it’s also an introspective look on making the transition from boyhood to adulthood, and how perilous that time can be.
Call us jaded, but few movies that are as hyped up as this Rian Johnson whodunnit actually live up to the hype. You’ve got an A-list cast that’s somehow managing to share the screen and carve out singular moments for their characters despite a packed plot. You’ve got a story with twists and turns and darkly comedic gags you could never see coming. And you’ve got Johnson, who managed to make an original film that actually competed with, and surpassed, some established franchises at the box office. Something’s got to be wrong with this movie, right? Wrong. It’s as layered and nuanced and perfect as Chris Evans’ waffle-knit sweater. Enjoy.
Disappointing sequels aside, the original installment in J.J. Abrams’ Cloverfield trilogy remains one of the greatest works of found-footage in the history of film. Most of that is because the narrative style lends itself to the tension, chaos, and horror of fleeing a monster destroying New York City. The film follows a group of friends caught in the bedlam after a Godzilla-like creature begins attacking the Big Apple. While trying to save each other and make it out of the city before the bombs drop, the friends document their journey. The directing by Matt Reeves is superb, almost too good, because you often feel a part of the action, for better and worse.
The Truman Show was truly ahead of its time when it landed in theaters in 1998. Starring Jim Carrey, the comedy centered on a young man, Truman Burbank, who unknowingly spent his entire life in front of the camera. With Carrey starring, the film had some funny moments, but it’s probably most memorable because of the subversive commentary it offers on our obsession with the intimate details of people’s lives. That and the fact that Carrey, who’s known for his over-the-top, obnoxious comedy style, kept it relatively low-key for most of the film and proved he could really act.
When filmmaker Kurt Kuenne’s childhood friend Andrew Bagby is killed and his suspected killer/ex-girlfriend reveals she’s pregnant, Kurt decides to make a documentary chronicling Andrew’s life. While largely a love letter to a man who touched the lives of many for Zachary, the son he never met, Dear Zachary also tells the starkly bitter side of a broken Canadian legal system that directly endangered a baby. We follow the drawn-out custody battle between Andrew’s parents and Zachary’s mother, interspersed with loving snapshots into the Bagby family. The story sucks you in, but it’s also the at times comedic, fast-paced, and downright enraging documentary style of the film that breaks up the emotional tale.
Mindy Kaling and Emma Thompson team up for this comedy that imagines the grit and humor it takes to lead a late-night talk show as a woman. Thompson plays Katherine Newbury, an accomplished TV personality who fears she may lose her talk show because of declining ratings and competition from a younger, male comedian. She hires Molly (Kaling) a comedy writer with little experience to diversify her team, and the two women weather hilarious mishaps and a few scandals to bring the show back on track.
Bill Murray and a terrific Scarlett Johansson star in Sofia Coppola’s Oscar-winning dramedy. Murray plays Bob Harris, an aging movie star who has outlived his time in the spotlight and is finding it hard to move on. Johansson plays Charlotte, a young woman neglected and just a bit lost herself. The two form a quirky, thought-provoking bond that gives some much-needed enlightenment and us the chance to witness the actors’ comedic chemistry first hand.
Shia LaBeouf writes and stars in this semi-autobiographical tale of his time as a child star. Noah Jupe plays the younger version of himself while LaBeouf plays his controlling, often abusive father. The two live in motel rooms in L.A. while Otis (Jupe) works on a popular kids TV show. Their relationship becomes strained as Otis ages, and his dad James (LaBeouf) grows resentful of his son’s success. Lucas Hedges plays an elder Otis, who struggles with all kinds of addictions because of his rough, unconventional upbringing. It’s a tough watch but one that feels refreshingly honest, and you can’t deny LaBeouf’s talent and courage in telling such a raw, intimate story.
Based on a historical crime novel set in Victoria-Era England, Park Chan-wook’s lavish, mesmerizing thriller focuses on two young women fighting to escape oppression by the men in their lives. Chan-woo has traded the stuffy British countryside for Japanese-occupied Korea, telling the stories of Lady Hideko and her handmaiden Sook-hee in three parts, weaving a tale of passion, betrayal, dark secrets, and revenge with grander themes of imperialism, colonial rule, and patriarchal corruption. The two women are the draw of the film with both resorting to illicit, illegal, morally compromising schemes in order to gain their freedom, but love is an unintended consequence that leaves the third act — one you might think you have figured out halfway through the film — completely unpredictable.
Kumail Nanjiani and Emily Gordon drew from their own unusual love story for their script about a Chicago comic named Kumail (Nanjiani) who falls in love with Emily, a woman (Zoe Kazan) who falls into a coma while in the midst of a rift in their relationship created by the expectations of Kumail’s traditional parents. The funny, moving romantic comedy also features strong supporting work from Ray Romano and Holly Hunter as Emily’s parents, who form an awkward bond with Kumail as they wait for Emily’s recovery.
Joaquin Phoenix stars as a troubled hitman with a dark past in this thrilling crime flick from Lynne Ramsay. Phoenix plays Joe, a gun for hire, former military man and FBI agent, who spends most of his time rescuing victims of sex trafficking. He’s recruited to save a Senator’s daughter from a brothel that caters to high-end clientele, but the job thrusts him into the center of a conspiracy that costs him everything and ends in blood and tragedy. It’s a relentless slog to be sure, but it works because Ramsay is more interested in profiling the man, not the hits he makes.
Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe star in this truly bonkers period drama from Robert Eggers. It’s a beautifully shot portrait of two men slowly driven to the brink of insanity by their choice in career — they’re stuck alone on a slab of rock, looking after a crumbling lighthouse. Pattinson masturbates to visions of mermaids, and Dafoe gets drunk and does a jig. To say anything more would be spoiling the fun.
Steve Carell and Timothee Chalamet star in this heartbreaking drama about a father trying to save his son from a drug addiction that’s slowly eating away at his family. Carell plays David, a New York Times writer who struggles to help his son Nic (Chalamet) after he falls victim to a worrying drug habit. He has moments of sobriety, attending college, living with his mother in L.A., and working at a drug clinic to help others battling the disease. Yet eventually, his addiction returns, and Nic is powerless to fight it. David is forced to choose between sacrificing his family and his own sanity or continuing to help his son. Both Carell and Chalamet give powerful performances that elevate what essentially is an emotionally restrained look at father-son relationships and the landmines they navigate.
A portrait of a particular moment in music history, when the folk revival found young musicians discovering their voices in old styles and old songs, Inside Llewyn Davis stars Oscar Isaac as a singer/songwriter who can never quite translate his talent into professional success. Joel and Ethan Coen both exactingly recreate early ‘60s New York and use it as the site of one of an affecting tale of the clash between artistic impulses and the needs of the material world, a theme they’d previously explored with Barton Fink and would pick up again with Hail, Caesar!.
Dwayne Johnson and Lena Headey star in this family drama about a pair of siblings with dreams of making it in the WWE. Only one, Florence Pugh’s Saraya, actually makes it, but the road to wrestling stardom is riddled with fake friends, sexism, parental drama, and self-doubt. There’s plenty of great matchups here — body slams, cage matches and the like — but the real draw is Pugh, who completely disappears in the role.
Eva Khatchadourian (Tilda Swinton), who’s unwilling and unable to properly care for her troubled son Kevin, watches her life unravel as her husband (John C. Reilly) ignores their problems and Kevin grows more and more sociopathic and violent. The story jumps around in time, showing Swinton’s character as both a new mother who blames her son for ruining her life and as a woman who eventually blames herself for what becomes of her son. Swinton proves once again that she’s the actress that indie movies need for complex characters that live their lives in grey areas. At its core, We Need To Talk is about the importance of proper parenting, communication, and probably therapy. And it’s not for the faint of heart.
Ten years after his last Ocean‘s entry, Steven Soderbergh revisits the heist genre, this time centering on a pair of unlucky brothers (Channing Tatum and Adam Driver) working a scheme to rip off a big NASCAR race. Memorable side characters, rapid-fire dialogue, and charismatic performances keep the story from becoming too predictable even for a twist-filled heist tale. Soderbergh was even able to cut out major studios and keep complete creative control over the movie, thanks to streaming services and international distribution. It’s a largely light-hearted movie, and frankly, that’s necessary sometimes.
A mysterious pawnshop owner (Won Bin), whose only friend is a child that lives next door, tears the local criminal presence apart after she’s kidnapped. This South Korean thriller from Lee Jeong-beom follows a similar format to such films as Léon: The Professional and Man On Fire of “guy with a shady past protects little girl”, but The Man From Nowhere still crafts an original tale of a heartbroken man out to save the only thing he has left in this world. The action sequences are bloody and intense, and Bin’s stoic performance brings a painful depth to the brutal savior.
Coherence is one of those low-budget sci-fi stories that is extremely tough to explain without either giving too much away or requiring an extended entry. Essentially, a group of friends sifts through their own issues and insecurities during a mind-bending paradoxical experience. Taking place almost entirely in the same room on a single night, the characters struggle to find answers just as much as the viewer. It’s a challenging yet enthralling film, perfect for those who love to overthink things.
Recent Changes Through January 2021
Removed: O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Warrior
Added: The Truman Show, One Night In Miami
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(@BradBeauregardJ) January 25, 2021
