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There are certain filmmakers who seem to specialize in stories where bad things keep happening. Derek Cianfrance comes to mind, or the ending of Million Dollar Baby. The Devil All The Time, Netflix’s new Antonio Campos adaptation of Donald Ray Pollock’s novel, feels reminiscent of those, and probably outpaces them for sheer volume of Terrible Shit Happening. Yet rather than hammer you with the heartbreaking beauty of working-class sadness like Cianfrance might, Campos takes his characters out of the picture frame, where their foibles just seem absurd, almost wryly funny. The Devil All The Time‘s characters are a little too dysfunctional to be entirely tragic; that’s the comedy of life.

Campos’ directing style mimics Appalachian speech, the effect of hearing a terse moonshiner mumble out some matter-of-fact aside that treats shockingly lurid perversion like a description of the weather. The characters all live somewhere in or between Coal Creek, West Virginia and Meade, Ohio, with occasional stops in Knockemstiff, somewhere in between. Donald Ray Pollock’s first collection of stories, Knockemstiff, was published when he was 53, after working at the Mead Paper Mill until the age of 50.

Campos’ adaptation of Pollock’s debut novel retains a narrator, who foreshadows and contextualizes, introducing us to a handful of characters starting with Willard Russell (played by It‘s Bill Skarsgard, who seems to have finally shed his Swedish accent), a veteran of the Pacific conflict still haunted by the crucified soldier he saw there, that he thinks of every time he goes to church. Willard’s mother is always dragging him to church, trying to fix him up with an orphan girl, Helen Hatton (Mia Wasikowska), in order to keep a promise she made to God.

Willard though only has eyes for Charlotte (Haley Bennett, who also stars in Ron Howard’s upcoming adaption of Hillbilly Elegy, almost certain to be a worse version of The Devil All The Time), a waitress he met while passing through Meade. Which is just as well, because Helen Hatton soon falls for Roy Laferty (Harry Melling, whose face tells its own tale of Appalachian dysfunction even though he’s British), a traveling preacher whose showstopper is dumping a mason jar filled with spiders onto his face to prove his devotion to the Lord. Willard eventually makes his own promises to God, far more horrible than his mother’s, leaving his only son Arvin a legacy of traumatic memories and dubious life lessons. And honestly, that’s barely the setup.

The Devil All The Time goes on in this discursive manner, casting aside characters as unsentimentally as George RR Martin along the way, eventually encompassing a horny preacher played by Robert Pattinson, a troubled orphan played by Eliza Scanlen, a perverted pair of swingers played by Riley Keough and Jason Clarke, and a corrupt Sheriff played by Sebastian Stan — all somehow revolving around the now-grown-up Arvin Russell, played by Tom Holland. Every vignette is somehow more casually grotesque than the last, and the cast’s mix of mostly international stars with the occasional authentic regional American thrown in works shockingly well. Harry Melling in particular looks like he could play oddball Appalachian preacher or medieval European prince equally well (two sides of the same coin, perhaps).

This geographically eclectic cast in a vulgar and violent rural gothic is more or less what Martin McDonagh was going for in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. The major difference is that Donald Ray Pollock actually seems to know the people and places he’s writing about (or at least Antonio and Paulo Campos, in adapting him, sure make it seem that way). Pollock and Campos’ story choices are no less far-fetched than McDonagh’s in Three Billboards, but because Pollock can get the vernacular and mannerisms correct, it’s much easier to follow him when he gives us cancer, crucifixions, and ritualistic sex. The Devil All The Time is a wild yarn about death, dysfunction, and perverting the good book into something truly monstrous, but it’s underpinned with a deep well of humanity. These characters all feel like fully-formed people, even when they’re castrating each other and murdering dogs. That’s what’s so gloriously f*cked up about it.

The Devil All The Time is a lovingly-constructed quilt of interlocking insanity, about how the simple life is anything but simple and salt-of-the-earth folk are every bit as screwed up as debauched debutantes. You want to reminisce about the good ol’ days, kid? Well then, let’s peel away the postcard facade. The Devil All The Time is a masterpiece of dark Americana.

‘The Devil All the Time’ begins streaming via Netflix on September 18. Vince Mancini is on Twitter. You can access his archive of reviews here.

After career turn for the worse following his departure from Young Money prior to the release of his 2015 album, The Gold Album: 18th Dynasty, Tyga found success once again thanks to his 2018 single, “Taste,” and since its release, things have been looking much better for the “Rack City” rapper. A few months removed from the one-year anniversary of Legendary, his highest performing solo album since 2013, Tyga delivers another single to his already active year thanks to “Money Mouf” with Saweetie and YG.

The track finds the West Coast rapper in comfortable and alive in his pocket, confident bars over uptempo production that would thrive in strip clubs, well, if they were open at least. After setting the scene with a verse and hook of his own, one that reminds listeners that he invented “racks,” Tyga opens the floor for Saweetie and YG to step through where they lay verse of their own that fit the energy Tyga presents on the song.

The song arrives in a where filled with guest appearances from Tyga that include Curtis Roach’s “Bored In The House,” Kyle’s “Money Man,” Megan Thee Stallion’s “Freak,” and more. As for Saweetie and YG, the song comes after Saweetie laid off a “Tap In” remix with Jack Harlow, DaBaby, and Post Malone and YG unveiled his upcoming album, My Life 4Hunnid would arrive on October 2.

Listen to “Money Mouf” in the video above.

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

Earlier this year, Busta Rhymes announced he is preparing the release of his upcoming album, Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God with the release of “The Don & The Boss” with Vybz Kartel. The album will be the successor of his 1998 album, E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front. Pushing forth with the album’s rollout, the Brooklyn rapper inks and a cross-country connection by recruiting Anderson .Paak for his new single, “Yuuu.”

The single arrives with a matching that visual that presents Busta and .Paak as swore enemies who both aim conquer one another and come out as the superior being. The song is also the second times Busta and .Paak have worked together after they last connected in 2018 for their “Bubblin” remix.

The song arrives just a week after Busta Rhymes joined Trippie Redd for their “I Got You” single. Clearing a sample of his 2002 track, “I Know What You Want” with Mariah Carey, Busta played the OG role for the young rapper in the song’s music video. As for .Paak, the song is another addition to a fairly active year for the California native. After kicking his year off with “Lockdown” track, which was later remixed by Jay Rock, JID, and Noname, .Paak would later tap Rick Ross for a verse on his “Cut Em In” single, before he lent his vocals to India Shawn’s “Movin” and Big Sean’s “Guard Your Heart” track off his newly-released chart-topping album, Detroit 2.

Press play on “Yuuuu” above.

After a nearly five year absence from the music world, Justin Bieber returned earlier this year with his fifth album, Changes. While the project may not have been his best-received release, it was good to see the pop singer back in action and in a better place. After the release of Changes, it was expected that Justin would stay low and refrain from new releases until the album’s 2021 tour, but last week he announced he would return with new music, a sound his manager Scooter Braun defined as a “new era.” Staying true to his promise of the new single, Bieber touches down with “Holy” featuring Chance The Rapper, a song that is paired with a captivating music video.

Bringing his talents to the countryside, Bieber’s new video finds him alongside actress and singer Ryan Destiny, who plays his love interest in the visual. The video begins with the two waking up besides each other before they both depart to their respective day jobs. Unfortunately, things turn for the worse as Bieber and Destiny are evicted from their apartment hours after Bieber is laid off from his job. However, proving in that there are plenty of good people in the world, Bieber and Destiny are offered a ride and a warm meal to close out the video. Chance the Rapper also appears in the video and confidently raps about the good in people and in the world.

The song arrives after Justin Bieber starred in DJ Khaled and Drake’s video for “Popstar” where replaces Drake’s role after Khaled got on the nerves of the Canadian rapper in his attempt to get Drake to shoot his parts for the video. As for Chance The Rapper, “Holy” arrives after he and Ludacris joined forces for their “Found You” single.

Watch the video for “Holy” above.

The WNBA Playoffs continued on Thursday with two more single-elimination games in the second round between the Minnesota Lynx and Phoenix Mercury, as well as the Connecticut Sun and Los Angeles Sparks.

The first game of the night was another that came down to the final possessions, as Phoenix once again found itself in need of a game-winner as they got from Shey Peddy in their first round matchup. However, the Lynx, up 80-79, forced a turnover on the Mercury’s first opportunity at a game-winner and, after two missed free throws, Skyler Diggins-Smith’s desperation attempt at the buzzer was unsuccessful. The Lynx, boasting the Coach of the Year in Cheryl Reeve and Rookie of the Year in Crystal Dangerfield (who had 17 points in the second round win) now advance to square off with the Seattle Storm in a best of five series.

The nightcap was a wire-to-wire win for the Connecticut Sun, who stunned the Sparks in a 22-8 first quarter and never looked back en route to a 73-59 win to set up a semifinals series with league MVP A’ja Wilson and the top-seeded Las Vegas Aces. All five starters for the Sun scored in double figures against L.A., with Alyssa Thomas (19) and DeWanna Bonner (17) leading the way. The Sun were runners up last year, losing in the WNBA Finals to the Washington Mystics, and their run to the semifinals this year has been stunning giving some of the key absences they’re dealing with, namely Jonquel Jones who opted out of the Wubble.

The semifinals will tipoff on Sunday afternoon, starting with Sun-Aces at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN followed by Lynx-Storm on ABC at 3 p.m. ET. The rest of the TV schedule for the semis and Finals can be found below.

Following his tragic death earlier this year, Pop Smoke would have his debut album released posthumous thanks to the work of his management and his estate. Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon arrived in mid-summer — just as Pop intended for it to prior to his death — with features from DaBaby, Future, Quavo, Swae Lee, and more.

Since its release, the album’s most popular song has been “Mood Swing” with Lil Tjay, as numerous TikTok videos have been made with the song in the background. Looking to breathe new life into the song, which currently sits at No. 21 on the Billboard singles chart, the New York rappers welcome Summer Walker onto the track for a new remix.

Kicking off the song, Summer Walker steps into the spotlight and adds a mood of her own with a verse that’s centered around finding the one to fall in love with and settling down with them to build a family. The remix arrives after Summer Walker appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to deliver a sensual and majestic performance of “Body” from her debut album, Over It.

Check out the “Mood Swings” remix in the video above.

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

At the end of June, it was announced that Nine Inch Nails‘ Trent Reznor, along with Labrinth and Kamasi Washington, received a nomination at the 2020 Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Music Composition For A Limited Series, Movie Or Special (Original Dramatic Score) category. Reznor earned his nomination thanks his score of Watchmen with Atticus Ross and now, Ross and the Nine Inch Nails frontman are closer to an EGOT after they pulled away with the win at the 2020 Emmy Awards. The award comes after the duo won the Academy Award for Best Original Score for The Social Network and the Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, bringing them one step closer to the elusive EGOT title.

https://twitter.com/TelevisionAcad/status/1306750485798379520F

The Emmy award win for Reznor arrives in a year that he, along with Nine Inch Nails, were slated to enter the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame along with Whitney Houston, the Doobie Brothers, The Notorious B.I.G., T-Rex, and Depeche Mode. After the induction ceremony was postponed from its original date of May 2, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame announced that they would once again change the plans for the ceremony. The induction ceremony will now be held as a pre-recorded HBO special airing on November 7.

Speaking on his induction, Reznor said, “When I look back at how Nine Inch Nails are received, it always seems like we fall between the cracks or we’re not in this category or ‘that thing.’ I don’t know if it’s a defense mechanism, but I just assumed we’d stay in that category, so I’m pleasantly surprised to see us acknowledged. It feels pretty good.”

Carole Baskin is officially turning into a reality star of her own magnitude after her breakout appearance as the target of a murder plot in the Netflix smash hit Tiger King. Already making an appearance on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars, reports indicated on Thursday that Baskin also has an unscripted show in the works that will take place at her own animal sanctuary.

The New York Times reported Thursday that Baskin and her husband will star in a new reality show that hopes to “expose” animal abuse as well as highlight the work she and her husband do at their own Florida animal rescue.

The new show will star Ms. Baskin and her husband, Howard Baskin, of Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Fla., according to a statement on Thursday from ITV America’s Thinkfactory Media, the production company that is developing the show.

The new show, unscripted and as yet unnamed, will follow the couple “as they work to expose, like never before, those who abuse and take advantage of various animals,” and spotlight history, lawsuits and animal rights violations, Thinkfactory Media said in a statement.

Baskin became a fixture on Tiger King, which chronicled the world of Joe Exotic, who was tried and convicted of hatching a plot to kill his animal activist rival Baskin. But as the series highlighted, Baskin had her own questionable legal history that has become something of a rallying cry of fans of the show that briefly captivated the attention of a nation trapped in quarantine: that some suspect that Baskin was involved in the disappearance of her first husband. On Monday, during her first episode of Dancing With The Stars, the family of her missing first husband ran a commercial about the disappearance.

Tiger King was as much more a show telling the story of these animal rescue owners and their twisted legal filings than a show about animal rescue. So it will certainly be interesting to see what a Carole Baskin reality show looks like, presumably without Joe Exotic in it.

JK Rowling was the mind behind the Harry Potter book series, but Warner Bros. is making it clear it will not be her mind making its latest Harry Potter video game.

Hogwarts Legacy is an action RPG Warner Bros. shared a new trailer and more details about on Wednesday at a Sony games event where we got a release date and, finally, a price for the PlayStation 5. But one thing that wasn’t made clear enough for some fans was whether J.K. Rowling, the creator and writer of all Harry Potter books the game is based on, will be involved in the making of the game itself.

The concern comes after a long series of anti-transgender comments and writings from Rowling, both online and most recently revealed in the contents of a new book written under a male pseudonym. That drew fresh outrage in a summer where Rowling has returned a humanitarian award and seen her comments rebuked by Harry Potter fan sites, actors from the Harry Potter movies and fellow authors. Which may be why on Thursday, Warner Bros. posted a FAQ about Hogwarts Legacy which directly answered whether Rowling is involved in the game.

Q: What is J.K. Rowling’s involvement with the game? Is this a new story from J.K. Rowling?
A: J.K. Rowling is not directly involved in the creation of the game, however, her extraordinary body of writing is the foundation of all projects in the Wizarding World.

This is not a new story from J.K. Rowling.

Since it’s a licensed Harry Potter work it seems likely that Rowling would profit from the game, but much like the company did earlier in the summer it’s making it clear that Rowling is not involved in the work made with her IP. Having the author of the original work involved in a property based off of it is, usually, a fact that can be advertised as a good thing. That doesn’t seem to be the case with Rowling these days.

Moneybagg Yo has slowly but surely worked his way up to being one of the more recognizable names in the new wave of rap. Following a 2018 that ended with him earning a J. Cole feature on “Say Na” off his Reset album, Moneybagg Yo delivered his second album, 43va Heartless, in 2019, an album he followed up with Time Served at the top of this year. Preparing to release his second project of the year, his Code Red joint album with fellow Memphis rapper Blac Youngsta, Moneybagg calls on City Girls and DaBaby to remix his “Said Sum” track.

With City Girls leading the way the Miami duo, as well as DaBaby, fall in line with Moneybagg’s boastful track that finds him speaking down on those they see as incomparable to their rap status.

“I leave a b*tch mad with the stuck face,” JT raps on her verse. “Who the f*ck are hoes playin’ wit’ anyways?” she continues before DaBaby comes through with his trademark impenetrable confidence. “It came with a pillow, I came from the pavement,” he says. “Thought somebody said I ain’t made it.” Before giving the mic back to Moneybagg Yo, Yung Miami steps forward to add some additional City Girls energy to the track with a verse of her own.

As for Moneybagg Yo and Blac Youngsta’s Code Red album, the Memphis duo will debut 13 tracks with help from Yo Gotti, 42 Dugg, Pooh Shiesty, Ari, and more. Listen to the “Said Sum” remix above. Code Red is out on September 18 via Interscope and Epic.