Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 273

July 24, 2024

BORDERLANDS Trailer Asks a Rag-Tag Team to Save the Galaxy

Borderlands can already lay claim to being one of the most popular, best-selling video game series of all-time. Now it has its sights set on conquering the big screen. The franchise’s first live-action film is coming to theaters this summer. And latest Borderlands trailer shows its loaded cast will have to find a way to work together. Not so it can pull off the biggest score in the galaxy’s history. They’ll have to learn how to be a team if they want to save themselves and everyone else.

Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Ariana Greenblatt, Florian Munteanu, and Jamie Lee Curtis are ready to break the “vault” in the latest look at director Eli Roth’s upcoming Borderlands adaptation. But there’s a lot more to this story than just a heist. Edgar Ramirez’s dangerous Atlas wants the unlikely, rag-tag group to find something much more valuable to him.

Here’s Borderlands‘ official synopsis from Lionsgate to accompany the trailer:

Lilith, an infamous bounty hunter with a mysterious past, reluctantly returns to her home, Pandora, the most chaotic planet in the galaxy. Her mission is to find the missing daughter of Atlas, the universe’s most powerful S.O.B. Lilith forms an unexpected alliance with a ragtag team of misfits – Roland, a seasoned mercenary on a mission; Tiny Tina, a feral pre-teen demolitionist; Krieg, Tina’s musclebound protector; Tannis, the oddball scientist who’s seen it all; and Claptrap, a wiseass robot. Together, these unlikely heroes must battle an alien species and dangerous bandits to uncover one of Pandora’s most explosive secrets. The fate of the universe could be in their hands – but they’ll be fighting for something more: each other.

Borderlands movie cast including Cate Blanchett and Jamie Lee Curtis (1)

LionsgateWhat Is the Release Date for the Borderlands Live-Action Movie?

Roth co-wrote the script with Joe Crombie. If they have even a fraction of the success the franchise’s video games have they’ll have a hit on their hands. We’ll find out if they do when Borderlands crashes into theaters next month on August 9, 2024.

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Published on July 24, 2024 09:01

James McAvoy Is Charming and Unhinged in SPEAK NO EVIL’s Unsettling Trailer

Would you like a solid piece of life advice? Sure you would. Do not go hang out with people in some random location unless you know them really, really well. If you just met a couple on vacation and they invite you to their not-so-humble abode in the middle of nowhere, think twice before you accept that invitation. This may seem like common sense, but if you look around, you’ll see that common sense is not so common. Speak No Evil unveils the very obvious dangers of not using your common sense in its creepy trailer.

If this film seems familiar, that’s because it already exists, basically. Speak No Evil is a remake of the (quite excellent) 2022 Danish film of the same name (also known as Gæsterne) where the general plot is very similar. Only this time, James McAvoy is playing an unsettling estate owner whose behavior gets increasingly more disturbing. And, there will probably be some cultural differences considering the couple that accepts the invitation is from America.

As we see in the Speak No Evil trailer, the Daltons (played by Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy) connect with Paddy (McAvoy) and Ciara (Aisling Franciosi), a British couple, on vacation. They accept an invite to their abode and things get increasingly weird. I certainly won’t tell you what happens in the original Danish film for two reasons. First, I think it is worth watching. And, I get the feeling that this remake will travel down a similar (if not identical) road. There’s one scene with the Dalton daughter Agnes (Alix West Lefler) and Paddy’s son Ant (Daniel Hough) that really sets things in a dark direction.

James McAvoy screams with blood running down his face in speak no evil trailer

Universal Pictures

Here’s a synopsis of Speak No Evil:

When an American family is invited to spend the weekend at the idyllic country estate of a charming British family they befriended on vacation, what begins as a dream holiday soon warps into a snarled psychological nightmare.

From Blumhouse, the producer of The Black Phone, Get Out and The Invisible Man, comes an intense suspense thriller for our modern age, starring BAFTA award-winner James McAvoy (Split, Glass) in a riveting performance as the charismatic, alpha-male estate owner whose untrammeled hospitality masks an unspeakable darkness.

What Is the Release Date for the Speak No Evil Remake?

If ever there were a person to play an unhinged yet charming man, it is James McAvoy. Speak No Evil will hit theaters on September 13.

Originally published on April 11, 2024.

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Published on July 24, 2024 08:20

WICKED Clip Takes Us Into Building the Wonderful World of Oz

L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz got turned on its head with Gregory Maguire’s Wicked. The 1995 book put the spotlight on Elphaba and her life, often one full of hardship, until Dorothy kills her. Wicked became a Broadway musical in 2003 and has since become the fourth longest-running Broadway series. And this journey through Oz doesn’t stop with a musical: we’re getting a two-part film adaptation from director Jon M. Chu.

We really love this Wicked featurette with Chu taking us into building the world of Oz.

Wicked‘s New Release Date

Wicked was slated to be released on November 27, but it will now release a little earlier on November 22.

Watch the Wicked Movie’s Trailer

The Wicked trailer shows off a beautifully cinematic version of Oz and the beginning of Elphaba and Glinda’s fateful and witchy friendship.

Cynthia Erivo plays Elphaba and Ariana Grande plays Glinda. They meet as students at Shiz University and become close friends. Elphaba and Glinda could not have more different backgrounds. Those backgrounds definitely put a thorn in the side of the friendship. As Wicked‘s synopsis explains:

The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

We’re glad to see the Wicked movie trailer embrace its roots and even tease the movie’s version of the many iconic musical songs. We can’t wait to hear them in full.

You Can Also Check Out the Wicked Trailer in LEGO Form

In case the real version of Wicked‘s movie trailer left you wanting more, you can also check out a LEGO version. Who doesn’t love LEGO Oz?

Wicked Movie Featurette and First-Looks

Wicked is an epic and long story. Is it a story that needs two movies? Only time will tell. Happily, it does seem like the cast and crew of the movie are very passionate about it.

Elphaba and Glinda on a green background in the poster for Wicked, released with the Wicked trailer

Universal

In addition to Erivo and Grande, the cast for Wicked includes: Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible; Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero; Ethan Slater as Boq; Marissa Bode as Nessarose; and Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz. Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, and Keala Settle also star. Most recently we learned that Peter Dinklage would Dr. Dillamond, a goat with the ability to speak. You can see more first-looks from the movie, below.

Here Are Some New Looks at Wicked‘s Cast

Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero in ‘WICKED.’

In theaters November 27. pic.twitter.com/puAf9mGV1n
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) March 21, 2024

Ariana Grande as Glinda in ‘WICKED.’

In theaters November 27. pic.twitter.com/DLlL7ZMQdC
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) March 21, 2024

Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible in ‘WICKED.’

In theaters November 27. pic.twitter.com/LR4jrw59Lh
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) March 21, 2024

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo insisted on singing live when filming #Wicked, says director Jon M. Chu.

“When we were shooting it, those girls were like, ‘F—k the pre-records. We’re going live.’”

🔗: https://t.co/IJpREEjocR pic.twitter.com/mbo3CcYGqK
— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) March 21, 2024

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in ‘WICKED.’

In theaters November 27. pic.twitter.com/0QduNvx3gy
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) March 21, 2024

Wicked arrives in theaters on November 22, 2024. Wicked Part Two will follow on November 26, 2025.

Originally published on February 12, 2024.

Featured Image: Universal

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Published on July 24, 2024 08:15

Timothée Chalamet Is a Young Bob Dylan in A COMPLETE UNKNOWN’s First Trailer

Just like every song must begin with a single note, every legendary artist’s story must begin with someone finding out just how talented they are. That’s the story director James Mangold will tell with A Complete Unknown, which will show how one of the most iconic and influential musicians ever began his climb to the top. The first trailer for A Complete Unknown introduces Timothée Chalamet as a young Bob Dylan on the precipice of true stardom.

This trailer makes clear something we already knew about A Complete Unknown. No matter how good this film may or may not be, it’s going to have a pretty amazing soundtrack. But there’s a lot more to this movie than just its incredible music and wig budget. It’s a story about someone going from anonymity to the upper stratosphere of fame and everything that comes with it. Here’s the film’s official synopsis from Searchlight Pictures:

Set in the influential New York music scene of the early 60s, A Complete Unknown follows 19-year-old Minnesota musician Bob Dylan’s meteoric rise as a folk singer to concert halls and the top of the charts – his songs and mystique becoming a worldwide sensation – culminating in his groundbreaking electric rock and roll performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.

Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan playing the guitar and singing while singing in A COMPLETE UNKNOWN

Searchlight Pictures

Bob Dylan isn’t the only famous figure a big Hollywood star will play in the film. A Complete Unknown also features Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo (who Dylan dated during this era), Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash, Scoot McNairy as Woody Guthrie, Norbert Leo Butz as Alan Lomax, and Dan Fogler as manager Albert Grossman.

What Is the Release Date for A Complete Unknown?

Two-time Oscar nominee Jay Cocks (The Age of Innocence, Gangs of New York) co-wrote the script with Mangold. However, there’s one thing we don’t know about this story of a legendary career’s start just yet. Searchlight Pictures says it will arrive in theaters “soon.”

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Published on July 24, 2024 07:12

Max’s THE PENGUIN Series Takes Place Soon After THE BATMAN and Sets Up Its Sequel

The universe of Matt Reeves’ The Batman is expanding exponentially. Separate from the DCU involving the other DC heroes, Reeves’ world is hyper gritty, and focused solely on the world of Gotham City. And the first project of this new The Batman-verse is a Max (formerly HBO Max) series focusing on Oswald “Oz” Chesterfield Cobblepot, a.k.a. the Penguin.

While we don’t have an exact release date for The Penguin series yet, The Batman spinoff show does have a confirmed timeline and a bit more about its plot. In an Entertainment Weekly interview, showrunner Lauren LeFranc confirms that The Penguin takes one week after The Batman‘s events. We’re in Oz’s world,” LeFranc says. “We’re living in the underbelly of the city. Oz is a mover and a shaker. He can’t always be trusted. He’s very smart and very methodical, but he’s also extremely impulsive. You can’t predict what he’s going to do.”

Max

LeFranc confirms that the show will be a bridge between The Batman and its upcoming sequel in 2026. As we already know, this all exists in its own universe, now known as the “Batman Epic Crime Saga.” …Okay.

Colin Farrell says we will get into his villain’s backstory and personal life, including Oz’s relationship with his mother and with Carmine Falcone’s daughter Sofia. She’s fresh from Arkham Asylum and ready to add her madness into the mix. “They’re two survivalists who’ve been immersed in worlds of duplicity and defeat and violence,” Farrell said about Sofia and Oz. “They’re very suspicious. They also have a very personally connected backstory.”

Additionally, Farrell shares of The Penguin series:

It’s dark, that’s what I can tell you about it. It’s really dark. It’s really heavy, I think – it certainly was doing it. Which is not to say I didn’t have fun, I had an amazing time doing it. It’s incredibly violent.

It’s one man’s rise to what he’s always dreamed of inhabiting which is a certain power or social status. The death of Carmine Falcone at the end of [The Batman] the film, leaves this vacuum in Gotham to be filled and so there are various people that are grabbing for that power and this is Oswald’s journey trying to rise to the top through extraordinary obstacles.

DC Comics

Here’s everything we know so far about the upcoming The Penguin series centered on the so-called criminal King of Gotham, once again played by Colin Farrell.

Title

The title of the series is simply The Penguin.

The Penguin‘s Plot Colin Farrell as Oz Cobblepot, the Penguin.

Warner Bros.

Based on early statements, it seems the plot of the series focuses on Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot as he rises in the ranks of Gotham’s underworld, and becomes a power player. It will take place in the aftermath of the flooding of Gotham City, as seen in the final act of The Batman. Here’s what producer Matt Reeves had to say about the show’s premise:

Colin exploded off the screen as the Penguin in The Batman. Having the chance to thoroughly explore the inner life of that character on HBO Max is an absolute thrill. Dylan and I are so excited to work with Lauren in continuing Oz’s story as he grabs violently for power in Gotham.

The series will have eight episodes.

Behind the Scenes

Lauren LeFranc will write the script for the series and serve as showrunner. The Batman director Matt Reeves and producer Dylan Clark will serve as executive producers, along with star Colin Farrell. Reeves won’t be directing, at least not early on. Directing an early episode is Craig Zobel.

The Penguin‘s Cast The Penguin in Carmine Falcone's office in The Batman.

Warner Bros.

In the title role is the returning Colin Farrell. Also in the cast is Cristin Milioti as the female lead of the show, Sofia Falcone.

In addition, Michael Kelly, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Deirdre O’Connell, Rhenzy Feliz, Michael Zegen, James Madio, Scott Cohen, Carmen Ejogo, François Chau, David H. Holmes, and Theo Rossi will also appear.

Most recently, we learned that Clancy Brown has joined the cast as Salvatore Maroni. Worth noting, in the comics, Maroni was responsible for throwing acid at Harvey Dent. This, of course, led Dent to become Two-Face. This could be an interesting way to bring the iconic villain into The Batman‘s world.

Dexter's Clancy Brown joins The Batman Penguin show

ShowtimeThe Penguin‘s Release Date

The Penguin will officially come to Max in September of 2024.

Originally published November 9, 2022.

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Published on July 24, 2024 06:40

July 23, 2024

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Is Just the Bloody, Puerile, Heartfelt Movie We Wanted

The charm of Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool persona wore thin for me around the time of Deadpool 2. The actor/producer/writer had made his own public image almost indistinguishable from the foul-mouthed quip factory and I got tired of it. As a result, I didn’t really enjoy the second film as much as I would otherwise. Even riding the X-Men-high of this past year, and the promise of Logan’s return, I wasn’t sure Deadpool & Wolverine would do much for me. I sit here corrected. I loved this movie so much.

Deadpool smooches Dogpool while Wolverine looks annouyed

Marvel Studios

As a function of spending my entire professional career covering different superhero media, I have certainly felt the so-called “fatigue.” In truth, the last several MCU outings have elicited little more than a consternated shrug. Plus, the mess of Sony’s Spider-Man universe, the demise of the DCEU, and the absorption of the Fox Marvel continuity is kind of exhausting. With all of this in mind, Deadpool & Wolverine was a much-needed release. It’s a roast of all of this nonsense, while still getting to the heart of these characters.

Part of the joy of the movie is discovering its many (many, many) surprises, so I’ll only indulge in the briefest of plot summaries. Wade Wilson (Reynolds) has hit some personal troubles and hangs up his Deadpool costume. Now he sports a stapled-on hairpiece and has a job selling cars. To break up this humdrummery, the TVA and specifically Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) appear and present Wade with a choice. He can either watch his world die or he can try to save it. But in order to do that, he’ll need a Wolverine. Too bad his universe’s died in Logan.

Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) with Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) who is holding a TVA Tempad.

Marvel Studios

Wade eventually finds a Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) who has nothing left to lose and everything to gain. The two embark on what amounts to a hyper-violent, expletive-filled road movie through the Void. Anyone worried the two immortals won’t fight enough, fear not. They eventually cross paths with Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin), Professor Xavier’s twin who died in-utero (it’s a comics thing) and her evil ways. Snikt snikt, stab stab, quip quip, etc. (Hard to describe this movie without plot stuff.)

Deadpool & Wolverine is less about specific characters within a specific universe and more about what happens to the characters when a cinematic universe goes away. It gets very Theatre of the Absurd. As Deadpool can break the fourth wall, that has always been an excuse to comment on the artifice of the movies and comics. Here, though resting within a narrative with surprisingly resonant emotions, it’s a meta narrative on the transience of franchises from the perspective of characters whose franchises ceased to exist. And somehow it’s not annoying. Deadpool himself is annoying, but that’s his whole raison d’etre.

Depressed Wolverine from Deadpool and Wolverine

Marvel Studios

Reynolds has the unique ability to play up the pathos within Wade Wilson amid a litany of swear words so foul they’d make Sam Kinison blush. I honestly think Ryan Reynolds says the F word with as much musicality as Samuel L. Jackson in the ’90s. Jackman proves what a great actor he is and what a perfect Wolverine he makes. He conveys all the pain and anguish of this particular Logan variant while still getting the tone of the movie. It’s easy to be the boring one opposite Deadpool, but his journey is the heart of the story. It isn’t just who this Wolverine is to his own universe, but who Wolverine is to fans of these movies.

Macfadyen and Corrin are superb as well with what are at times fairly thankless expository roles. They are astonishingly good actors who never wink or overplay the potential silliness of the movie. While certainly the MCU (and really every superhero movie) continues to have a problem with creating compelling villains, Cassandra Nova works much better than most. Maybe it’s just a character I like, and Corrin’s performance helps a lot, but Nova at least felt like she was in the same movie. The same could not be said for villains in other comedic superhero fare. Thor movies specifically.

Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds walk down a street in Deadpool & Wolverine

Marvel Studios

Reynolds and director Shawn Levy co-wrote the script with returning Deadpool writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, and comic writer Zeb Wells. They had a Herculean task of balancing the meta jokes, myriad cameos, exceedingly bloody violence, filthy dialogue, comic book plotting, and resonant character journeys. In that respect, I think this is the most successful of all the Deadpool films. Deadpool 2 went deep into comic book stuff and it felt dissonant; here it’s part and parcel. It’s 25 years next May since the release of the first X-Men movie and they managed a heartfelt tribute to that wonderful mess while taking every ounce of piss out if it, and a gross of other films besides.

I’m sure people will find fault in some of the convenient plot moments or unclear time/universe mechanics. Ultimately, none of that matters. Deadpool & Wolverine is an unbridled joy. If this be the final time any of these characters appear (and honestly who the hell knows at this point), it’s a worthy, hilariously profane farewell.

Deadpool & Wolverine ⭐ (5 of 5)

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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Published on July 23, 2024 15:00

Whoopi Goldberg on Her Graphic Novel THE CHANGE, BITS AND PIECES Memoir, and Her Heroes

Whoopi Goldberg is undoubtedly a big part of Millennial and Gen Xers pop culture experiences. From her beloved role as Guinan in the Star Trek franchise to the Sister Act movies, us sci-fi and musical nerds feel like we’ve known her our whole lives. Now, the acclaimed EGOT winner and host of The View is stepping into yet another arena with The Change, a graphic novel featuring a superhero who is unlike anyone we’ve met before.

front cover image of whoopi goldberg graphic novel the change

Sunkanmi Akinboye/Khary Randolph/Dark Horse Comics

Isabel’s a grandmother who loves gardening, ganja, and her grandson Fury. When she begins to experience the symptoms of menopause, she gets a few new abilities that she didn’t quite expect. You know, those of the pyrokinetic and electrokinetic variety, among other fun things. Now, it’s up to her to fight crime and injustice in her tight-knit community while facing a turning point in her personal life. We caught up with Whoopi Goldberg (no, you’re freaking out!) to talk about The Change, her new memoir Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me, and the real-life heroes that inspired her iconic journey towards fame.

Nerdist: I absolutely loved The Change, especially its heroine Isabel Frost. She’s quite unorthodox with such a killer outfit and a personality that just jumps off the page. Can you tell me more about how you crafted that character and what made you want to write this story?

Whoopi Goldberg: Well, 20 years ago, I was going through “the change” and watching all of these superhero movies come out and not seeing any superheroes [like me] with the exception of Storm. [There were] no black women, nobody with an uneven chest, and nobody whose butt is really big. [laughs]

And I thought, “Well, if you’re going to b**ch about it, you better write it! You better do it yourself!” And so I created it and I took it to Marvel and they loved it. Then, I got their conditions and their contract and they basically said, “You’d lose all control over it.” There was no guarantee she was going to be a Black woman and that she’d be going through the change.

They wanted the rights to use this idea. And I thought, “Well, the idea is too good, so I’m just going to hold onto it. I’m not going to let y’all have it.” They loved it, but they wanted to do what they wanted to do with it. I’ve tried for 20 years to figure out how to get it together. And friend of mine, Jamie Paglia, I said to him, “So I’m writing this thing about a superhero and she’s going through menopause and she’s a certain age and it’s something I want to do.”

It took forever! Now I’ve aged out of [the change]… but I wanted to make sure that [menopausal women] were part of this conversation about who can save the world… you have all these superhero origin stories from different planets [and] those characters had parents. Were their mothers superheroes too? What happened to them? Usually they kill everybody off, but if they were there, they would be a certain age now and they would be going through whatever changes they’re going through. So I believe that there’s a place for lots of different women in this arena. Dark Horse Comics was kind enough to say, “Yes, we believe that too. Write it and we’ll put it out there.”

That’s awesome. And it seems that Dark Horse stuck to your vision. You know, one part of The Change that hit my heartstrings was the relationship that Isabel has with her grandson Fury. It provides a great foundation to the story. Why was it so important to have him be a part of her hero’s journey?

Goldberg: It was important because I have three grandkids and they have always seen me as a superhero, even though they are grown now. I knew I had to have a little kid who recognizes what’s going on. Isabel has grown up and she’s stopped doing a lot of things and didn’t do things she wanted to do. She did what many women of a certain age do. They drop their lives to pick up a life with their partner and their children and move forward. [Fury] recognizes all of these things that Isabel sort of forgot about. She’s a gamer and she knows that these things happen there, but she would never put it together [in real life].

Timothy White

Right, he can see and believe the supernatural things going on. Fury is also that audience surrogate to kind of help bring the reader along with the journey, right?

Goldberg: Yes!

He’s great at giving us a new perspective on this world. Interestingly, The Change leaves us with this big cliffhanger. Where is the story going next for the “Pyro Princess,” as she’s called on TV?

Goldberg: Wouldn’t you like to know? [grins] It is my hope that if people really get behind [the book], Dark Horse will say yes to a series.

Hey, I have to ask, even if I know I won’t get a straight up answer! Fury’s grandmother is his hero and you are such a pop culture hero for many of us Millennials and Gen Xers. Who were your heroes when you were younger and what were the nerdy things you loved?

Goldberg: I was into comic books! My heroes were really in my house. It was my mom and my brother. Those are the folks who said, “There’s more to the world than you’re seeing here. Look at this. What about this? You could do this. Who is that? That could be you.” All of these things were presented to me by people who I now see maybe didn’t have the encouragement that I got and maybe didn’t have the kinds of talents that I had at the time. But they recognized it in me… I don’t know who I would’ve been had I not had those two. My brother was amazing. I wasn’t ever a “pain in the butt” as a little sister to him. We went on adventures.

I love that! How sweet.

Goldberg: Yeah. And there was my mother who, I think, as a Black woman, felt that people were trying to limit her imagination. So she poured all of that into our brains and I believed that everything was possible. Those are my heroes.

Whoopi Goldberg on Her Graphic Novel THE CHANGE, BITS AND PIECES Memoir, and Her Heroes_1

Blackstone Publishing

And look at where that got you! Your accomplishments are amazing, including The Change. You’ve also written your memoir, Bits and Pieces. Why did now feel like the right time to tell your story and open up about your family?

Goldberg: I was forgetting things. It was just the three of us: my brother, mother, and me. I know this is going to sound naive, but it never occurred to me they wouldn’t be here. I mean, I knew it, but I ignored the fact that one day I’d be the lone repository for our history. And so I thought, “Okay, let me remember some stuff.”

Recording your personal history and your family’s history is so vital and important. With the level of fame that you have, how do you really decide what parts of your life that you want to share with the world? How do you find that line between being open and not oversharing?

Goldberg: In this world that we live in, there is no way to keep your personal life personal. Nobody has a personal life. In the days when I was getting famous, we had the National Enquirer. So there’s not a lot about me that people don’t know. What the memoir does is tell you my perspective, the person who lived it. This is just “cleaning house” in a funny way. Just to say, “You thought this happened? No, this didn’t happen like that. This is what went down and this is why they said it happened like that, to keep you thinking other stuff was going on.”

Got it. And so you got to narrate the audiobook for Bits and Pieces, correct?

Goldberg: Yes!

What was that experience like?

Goldberg: That was lots of fun! I could take my time and make a story less wordy by saying a couple of things, and then you get it… when you’re narrating, it allows you to have your voice and feel how you’re feeling about any given thing…

Absolutely. One last question in regards to The Change. If you could describe that book in three words, what would you say?

Goldberg: Nothing is normal.

Truer words have never been spoken.

Whoopi Goldberg’s The Change is currently available via Dark Horse Comics and bookstores. Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me is available to purchase here.

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Published on July 23, 2024 14:49

STARVE ACRE Is a Folk Horror Flick That Dances With Sinister Spirits and Sorrow

There’s something exceptionally sinister about a folk horror film. Its gorier counterparts build their foundation on splatter and tension that gives way to frenetic action, and newer psychological thrillers lean into sleek visuals and swelling scores to evoke dread. While they both please many horror-loving palates, folk horror is the grimier and gnarled cousin. It dares to dive into humanity’s collective fears of isolation and the darkness that exists naturally—both what’s outdoors and within our souls.

It rests in enduring legends, religious tenets, and oral traditions, toying with one’s emotions and beliefs. Folk horror is an imperfect, grainy, and unsettling mess with violence that feels all too plausible. Writer and director Daniel Kokotajlo’s Starve Acre, anchored by Matt Smith and Morfydd Clark’s stellar performances, mostly falls into the “contemporary” folk horror subgenre. It is a 1970s-era British tale that’s quiet, disturbing, and a decidedly morbid exploration of grief, mystery, and blurred reality.

Archaeologist and professor Richard (Smith) and his wife Juliette (Clark) relocate to the dreary countryside to give their son Owen (Arthur Shaw) a carefree place to grow. The family move into Richard’s childhood home, sinisterly named Starve Acre, and adjust to their new beginnings. A strange neighbor soon eases his way into their lives with local folklore as Richard digs into his father’s belongings. Stories align in regards to a demonic force named Jack Grey (whose lore gets occasionally bogged down), an ancient oak tree, and occultism as Owen begins to demonstrate uncharacteristic behavior.

STARVE ACRE Is a Folk Horror Flick That Dances With Sinister Spirits and Sorrow_1

Brainstorm Media

A tragic moment splinters the family as Juliette and Richard are swallowed into the crushing, dark depths of grief. Predictably, that’s not the only darkness that consumes their thoughts and actions. Starve Acre allows us to walk the pathway of personal loss, longing, and the desperate grasps at coping and understanding alongside Richard and Juliette in quiet moments of observation.

We also bear witness to their ongoing “waking nightmare” as reality slips from their grips. Who are they? Better yet, what are they by the end of this film? It’s open to the viewer’s interpretation, as is the film’s usage of the hare. A folklore legend, the hare has quite a few meanings, depending on who you ask. European legends say it is a place to store an evil man’s soul to force them into a more docile nature. This certainly fits the bill with all the Jack Grey chatter. But there’s also room for a reincarnation story, a restoration of what’s lost that comes with a hefty soul(s) price. This exploration of the relationship between spirit and sorrow is when the film is at its best. While the cast is few, their performances deftly convey the longing, strangeness, and despair needed to drive emotional elements home.

Brainstorm Media

Starve Acre boasts a similar aesthetic appeal to The Wicker Man and the more recent She Will, with an eerie score by Matthew Herbert to match. However, those looking for particularly explosive and/or gratuitously violent moments to slice through the evenly-keeled drama and occasional scares simply won’t get them. And that’s not a bad thing. Starve Acre is an introspective vibe, a long walk into the forest’s brush versus a frantic run.

There are some elements, like the uncovering of vital information, that take far too long to unveil themselves in the most anticlimactic ways possible. A few too many ideas circulate and never quite get the exploration they deserve. And, a few jarringly silly happenings stir you out of the film’s trance. It does not happen enough to completely throw the narrative off its axis, but it is always unwelcome.

Starve Acre isn’t as entertaining as The Blood on Satan’s Claw. It is also not an absolute stunner like Kototajlo’s Apostasy, a gut-punching examination of a Jehovah’s Witness family. But it is still a solid offering that will send an eerie chill (or three) down your spine.

Starve Acre ⭐ (3 of 5)

Starve Acre hits theaters on July 26.

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Published on July 23, 2024 13:14

Who Is Marvel’s X-23, a.k.a Laura Kinney? From LOGAN to DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE

After making a splash in the film Logan back in 2017, the latest trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine shows that Wolverine’s daughter Laura Kinney, also known as X-23, is in the film. The MCU’s X-23 is once again played by Dafne Keen, most recently seen in The Acolyte. But who is Wolverine’s daughter/clone/female counterpart? We’ve got the pertinent details about X-23 and her bizarre history in our latest article series devoted to breaking down this Marvel Comics character, her live-action adventures, and more.

X-23 in the comics (L) and in Deadpool & Wolverine (R)

Marvel Comics/Marvel Studios Who Is Marvel’s X-23, a.k.a Laura Kinney?

Learn all about X-23, a.k.a. Laura Kinney, in our latest explainer series, which answers all your burning questions about this Marvel character. From her powers to her appearance in Logan to her potential MCU future, dive on into the story of Wolverine’s daughter, X-23.

X-23’s First Animated Appearance and Marvel Comics History Is X-23 Wolverine’s Daughter or a Logan Clone in the Marvel Universe? What Are X-23’s Powers and Abilities? X-23 in Logan, the Fox X-Men Universe, and Deadpool & Wolverine

The post Who Is Marvel’s X-23, a.k.a Laura Kinney? From LOGAN to DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE appeared first on Nerdist.

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Published on July 23, 2024 11:31

X-23’s First Animated Appearance and Marvel Comics History

In our latest deep-dive into the characters of Marvel Comics, we explore X-23, a.k.a. Laura Kinney. In this piece, we’ll explore X-23’s first appearance and her Marvel Comics history. You can check out the full series here.

Technically, the first appearance of Laura Kinney, a.k.a. X-23, was in the animated series X-Men: Evolution in 2003. Series writer Craig Kyle created her. Much like DC’s Harley Quinn, Marvel created X-23 for TV animation before transferring her over to comics. She then appeared in the official Marvel 616 continuity in 2004’s NYX series.

The first animated appearance of X-23 in X-Men: Evolution, and her comics origin.

Marvel Comics How Was X-23 Created in Marvel Comics?

A top secret government program known as “the Facility” was responsible for the creation of X-23 in Marvel’s comics, all in an attempt to create their own clone of Wolverine. A scientist named Dr. Martin Stutter was behind the project and recruited known mutant geneticist Dr. Sarah Kinney. Because the genetic samples from Logan were damaged heavily, they could not grow a proper clone of Wolverine. Unable to salvage the Y chromosome, after 22 attempts, Kinney proposes they create a female twin of Logan. She carries the child to term herself, and on the 23rd attempt, X-23 is born into the world of Marvel Comics.

X-23: Marvel Comics’ Living Weapon A young X23 right before joining the X-Men

Marvel Comics

The scientists subject X-23 to all kinds of torturous experiments. All in order to activate her mutation early, which is identical to Logan’s. Once her healing factor kicks in, they graft an adamantium skeleton to parts of her body. She now has metal claws, just like her genetic donor Logan. The scientists create a lethal assassin in X-23, one they hoped to control in a way they never did with Wolverine.

Eventually, with the help of her birth mother, X-23 escapes the facility, but not before they trigger her into a murderous rampage, one which kills all the scientists in the facility. She also accidentally kills her mother, but in her last moments, Sarah reveals X-23’s true name—Laura. Telling her daughter she loves her, she instructs Laura to find Wolverine and the X-Men for help. By the time she joins the X-Men, she is a teenager.

X-23 and the X-Men X-23 as a member of X-Force.

Marvel Comics

After escaping the Facility, and going through one harrowing event after another, Laura eventually made her way to the X-Mansion. She joined the X-Men, and formed a bond with Wolverine (eventually). Laura also formed close friendships with other famous X-Men, like Gambit, Jubilee, and Psylocke. She also had a brief romance with a teenage version of the founding X-Man Angel, who came from the past via time travel.

Laura Kinney in the Wolverine costume in the comics.

Marvel Comics

Laura eventually grew close to her father Logan, who became protective of her. She even tried to forge a relationship with her villainous brother, Daken. Eventually, Logan and Laura serve on the militant mutant squad called X-Force together. During a time when they believed that Logan was dead, Laura dropped the X-23 name and took on the codename Wolverine in his honor. Even when he returned from the dead, she kept his name and yellow costume, and now the X-Men has two Wolverines.

The Full Story of Marvel’s X-23

If you’d like to learn more about X-23, check out the rest of the pieces in our explainer series, below:

The post X-23’s First Animated Appearance and Marvel Comics History appeared first on Nerdist.

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Published on July 23, 2024 11:31

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