Martin Cid's Blog: Martin Cid Magazine, page 47

Edward Norton’s Longevity Hackers to Screen at the 2025 Beverly Hills Film Festival

(Exclusive) Edward Norton’s documentary Longevity Hackers, directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Michal Siewierski (Food Choices, Diet Fiction), will screen at the upcoming Beverly Hills Film Festival, running April 1–6, 2025. The screening marks the film’s first major festival appearance following its release earlier this year.

Narrated by Norton, the film delivers exclusive insights from a lineup of high-profile icons, including Mark Cuban, Tony Robbins, Steve Aoki, Bryan Johnson, Tony Hawk, and breathing pioneer Wim Hof offering a deep dive into the science of longevity and the future of human health.

“Showcasing Longevity Hackers at the Beverly Hills Film Festival is an honor,” said Siewierski. “With insights from some of the most influential minds today, the film is a wake-up call to rethink what’s possible for human health and longevity.”

Produced by Ruben Figueres,( God Bless Bitcoin) with James Pratt ( Malibu Crush ), and Marina de la Mora ( Desert Heist ) serving as executive and associate producers, the film had a successful Apple TV release in January. The April 3rd screening marks the official date of the screening and the film’s first major festival appearance, reinforcing its place at the crossroads of Hollywood and cutting-edge science.

“Longevity Hackers offers a rare glimpse into a future where human life could be radically transformed,” added Figueres. With the caliber of voices involved it reaches a global audience.

Bert Kreischer returns to Netflix for his new stand-up special, “Lucky”

Bert Kreischer is back in his fourth collaboration with Netflix, this time from Tampa, Florida, the hometown of the popular American comedian.

As always, the comedian appears shirtless, with a beer in hand and showing off his ample abdomen, and not precisely from hitting the gym. This time, Kreischer will regale us with countless anecdotes about life and its absurdities, with his special natural flair for comedy and joke-telling. He’ll even dare to attempt weight loss and share a few anecdotes involving famous personalities that are sure to delight his fans. Bert Kreischer is a guy who, above all, knows how to convey joy and a zest for life, and perhaps that’s why his fans, who number in the thousands, love him so much.

“Lucky” is a stand-up comedy special that is truly special to him, and you can feel the affection he has for people, his closeness to the audience, and his enthusiasm for doing this stand-up.

And Bert Kreischer’s fame continues to rise: in 2023, he starred in an action comedy (“The Machine”) and his tour shows keep filling stadiums. For this one, tickets sold out in just a few hours.

You know, if you’re looking for a laid-back and unapologetic stand-up, who better than America’s number one party animal to have a good laugh with.

Enjoy!

Dónde ver “Bert Kreischer: Lucky”

Netflix

Louise Bourgeois Exhibition “Soft Landscape” at Hauser & Wirth Hong Kong

Hauser & Wirth Hong Kong presents “Louise Bourgeois. Soft Landscape,” an exhibition exploring the dynamic relationship between landscape and the human body in the late artist’s work. Curated by Philip Larratt-Smith, this marks Bourgeois’s second show at the gallery’s Hong Kong location.

The exhibition features a selection of works spanning from the 1960s until Bourgeois’s death in 2010. It sets up five interlocking dialogues revolving around an iconography of nests, holes, cavities, mounds, breasts, spirals, snakes, and water. These images correspond to themes Bourgeois explored throughout her career, including motherhood, fecundity, protection, vulnerability, and the passage of time.

Louise Bourgeois. Untitled 1993. Painted wood and fabric wall relief. 57.2 x 89.5 cm / 22 1/2 x 35 1/4 in. 67.3 x 99.7 x 8.9 cm / 26 1/2 x 39 1/4 x 3 1/2 in (framed). Photo: Sarah Muehlbauer. © The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

Bourgeois’s diverse material palette includes bronze, rubber, lead, aluminum, wood, and marble. The exhibition highlights certain formal devices developed by the artist, such as hanging forms, spirals, and reliefs. As is characteristic of Bourgeois’s work, the pieces oscillate between abstraction and figuration.

The show includes works from Bourgeois’s Lair series, created in the early 1960s as she emerged from a period of depression and psychoanalysis. These sculptures represent protective retreats, conveying a sense of interiority and withdrawal.

Making its Asian debut is “Spider” (2000), a sculpture inspired by an ostrich egg. The piece expresses the burdensome responsibilities of motherhood, with Bourgeois’s iconic spiders serving as both an ode to her mother and a self-portrait.

© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

Several previously unexhibited works are on display, including four wall reliefs of painted wood that merge landscape and biomorphic forms. These reliefs, fashioned from old crates once used to transport Bourgeois’s Personage sculptures, are complemented by a horizontal scratchboard landscape portraying isolation.

Another first-time exhibit is the bronze fountain “Mamelles” (1991 [cast 2005]), featuring multiple breast-like forms with water spilling from the nipples. This piece symbolizes both the passage of time and maternal nourishment.

The exhibition also includes late works on paper and a series of double-sided drawings titled “Time” (2004), which showcase Bourgeois’s meditative mark-making and diaristic quality.

Louise Bourgeois, born in Paris in 1911 and deceased in New York in 2010, was one of the most influential artists of the past century. Her work, spanning various mediums but primarily focused on sculpture, expressed a range of emotions through a visual vocabulary of formal and symbolic equivalents. Bourgeois’s art often dealt with themes of family relationships, guilt, jealousy, betrayal, and abandonment, countered with love and reparation.

The exhibition “Louise Bourgeois. Soft Landscape” opens on March 25 and runs through June 21, 2025, at Hauser & Wirth Hong Kong. It coincides with a major survey exhibition tour organized by the Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, which will be on view at the Fubon Art Museum, Taipei, from March 15 to June 30, 2025.

Louise Bourgeois. Landscape 2002. Acrylic and scratched drawing on India ink prepared board. 61 x 182.9 cm / 24 x 72 in. 68.6 x 190.5 x 5.1 cm / 27 x 75 x 2 in (framed). Photo: Sarah Muehlbauer. © The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

New Exhibition Showcases Contemporary Polish Realism in New York

The Kosciuszko Foundation in New York is set to present “The Real Within: A New Generation of Polish Realism,” a group exhibition featuring works by eight contemporary Polish painters. The exhibition, which marks the centennial of the Foundation’s activities, aims to highlight the ongoing evolution and relevance of Polish realism in contemporary art.

The showcase brings together artists who engage with realist figuration, expanding its emotional and mystical possibilities while refining techniques of image-making. These contemporary works are characterized by their imaginative and precise approach to pictorialism, producing figures, portraits, landscapes, and still lifes that diverge from both Photorealism and Surrealism.

Jakub Podlodowski, The Evening by The Autumn River

Participating artists include Katarzyna Adamiak-Jaśnikowska, Eva Evangelista, Agnieszka Kotarska, Jakub Podlodowski, Ewa Pronczuk-Kuziak, Daria Solar, Katarzyna Widmańska, and Anna Wypych. Their interpretations of realism are described as free from nostalgia, offering a fresh, immediate perspective that resonates with the current zeitgeist.

The exhibition is curated to demonstrate how these artists continue the tradition of Polish realism, known for its technical mastery and deep emotional resonance. The contemporary works will be presented alongside the Foundation’s permanent collection, which houses masterpieces by 19th-century Polish luminaries, providing a context for the ongoing development of this artistic tradition.

Eva Evangelista, Pair with Carbon

Of note, works by all eight artists featured in the exhibition have been included in The Lunar Codex, an archive of contemporary art, literature, music, poetry, and film launched to the Moon via NASA’s Artemis program.

The Kosciuszko Foundation, founded in 1925, is a national not-for-profit, nonpartisan, and nonsectarian organization. Its mission is to promote educational and cultural exchange between the United States and Poland, fostering greater American understanding of Polish culture and history. The Foundation operates through its headquarters in New York City, its Washington, D.C. Center, and regional chapters across the United States.

“The Real Within: A New Generation of Polish Realism” will be on display from March 20 to June 30, 2025, at The Kosciuszko Foundation, located at 15 East 65th Street in New York. The exhibition will be open to the public Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on national holidays. Admission is free.

Daria Solar, Intermission.

“Until You Burn” on Netflix: A Colombian Revenge Thriller Lights Up the Screen

Are you in the mood for a revenge thriller with a telenovela twist? As you know, Colombian telenovelas have been evolving, and in recent times, they’ve been moving closer to the thriller genre, presenting increasingly complex narrative stories with progressively higher production quality.

As always, international impact has played a significant role, especially when it comes to a global platform like Netflix, which gives series even more momentum. “Until You Burn” Returns: Netflix’s Colombian Drama Heats Up for Season Two” is a prime example, with a complex story that, while maintaining the spirit of the telenovela, offers a plot of revenge, murders, and intricate conspiracies that remains consistently entertaining. Of course, without losing sight of romance.

Plot

The series focuses on Brian O’Connor, an ex-convict driven by a single mission: to uncover the truth about his brother Sonny’s death. Following a complex plot, Brian must disguise himself as Vinicio Gallo, a respected ship captain, to infiltrate the powerful Obregón Martelli family, the main suspects in his brother’s murder.

Until You Burn – Netflix

The Actors

The series features a cast including Cristian Gamero as Brian O’Connor, Essined Aponte as Victoria ‘Vicky’ Iguarán, and María Elisa Camargo as Katherine Andrea Obregón.

About the Series

60 episodes to get lost in this tale of revenge and class differences, where a man will infiltrate one of Colombia’s most powerful families to clarify the death of his friend, his “soulmate brother”.

“Until You Burn” boasts high-quality settings and a good pace: constant scene changes, script twists, surprises, and of course, attractive actors – perhaps the common denominator of this type of series.

Beyond the complexity of the characters, “Until You Burn” focuses on complicating the plot and delving into a choral world with numerous secondary characters. The murder of Sonny and Brian’s attempts to solve it will be the trigger for a series of stories that will undoubtedly captivate fans of telenovelas and similar narratives.

Without reinventing television, “Until You Burn” offers quality, good actors, more than adequate production, excellent photography, and an interesting story. For telenovela lovers, it’s definitely a great option to enjoy.

Where to Watch “Until You Burn”

Netflix

“Inside”: The Netflix Reality Show with Influencer Contestants

Social media stars, those people who have millions of followers for taking a photo with a cake… those young girls and boys who are lucky enough to be liked by many… they are internationally known as “influencers”.

“Inside” is a Netflix reality show born from a YouTube channel of a group known as Sidemen: 10 influencers compete for seven days for a prize of one million pounds. 10 contestants from the most diverse backgrounds, each with their own personality, but with something in common: they are all social media stars.

Inside – Netflix

Can you imagine the opportunity for them to appear on a Netflix show? It’s clear: they’re going to give it their all to impress the camera and do what they do best: captivate audiences.

However, they’ll have to do this stripped of their mobile phones, without the protection of their fans, and competing for the one-million-pound prize.

The second season of “Inside” arrives this week on Netflix with a different format for the channel: the seven episodes of the series will be released one per day during a week, and we’ll discover who will win the famous one-million-pound prize.

“Inside” doesn’t reinvent television and is based on the ideas that have made reality shows so popular: cohabitation, taking contestants out of their comfort zone, and above all, creating a social experiment of coexistence and challenges. You know the drill: competition, jealousy, social reality, and carefully chosen contestants so that audiences take sides and actively get involved in the contest, and thus, through controversy and confrontation, obtain better television ratings.

But “Inside” plays with contestants who are already experts at this, at gaining audiences in such a competitive medium as the internet, and in this confrontation, bringing out the best (or worst) in each of them.

Promising, right? 7 days of conflicts and contestants facing off for a one-million-pound prize.

The second season of “Inside” is now available on Netflix.

Enjoy it.

Where to Watch “Inside”

Netflix

Transvangarde: Luminous Matter Explores Artistic Meditation Across Cultural Boundaries

The October Gallery presents a nuanced exploration of artistic practice through its upcoming exhibition, Transvangarde: Luminous Matter. Curated to showcase the work of seven artists from diverse eastern backgrounds, the exhibition delves into the intricate relationships between cultural experience, philosophical perspective, and artistic expression.

At the heart of the exhibition, Chinese artist Xu Zhongmin’s work exemplifies the show’s thematic depth. His recent Egg Series challenges viewers’ perceptions through dynamic sculptures that radiate an enigmatic luminescence. Zhongmin’s pieces probe profound philosophical questions about time, life cycles, and the individual’s place within humanity.

Kenji Yoshida contributes ethereal paintings crafted from gold, silver, and precious metals, bridging traditional Japanese appliqué with modernist abstraction. His artistic journey, which began with a move to Paris in 1964, reflects a dialogue with Abstract Expressionists like Rothko, seeking transcendent spirituality through visual language.

The exhibition further explores cultural intersections through Tian Wei’s monochromatic canvases. Wei’s work ingeniously plays with linguistic and visual perception, overlaying Chinese calligraphic forms with English words that deliberately confuse and challenge viewers’ understanding of communication and cultural boundaries.

Govinda Sah ‘Azad’ brings a metaphysical approach to his paintings, evolving from realist techniques to abstract representations inspired by natural phenomena. His canvases, created through what he describes as a “long unfolding conversation between artist and canvas,” reflect meditations on light and environmental transformation.

Jukhee Kwon’s innovative book sculptures represent another fascinating dimension of the exhibition. By meticulously transforming abandoned books into intricate paper constructions, Kwon explores themes of recycling and rebirth. Her work Endless, comprising 10,000 tiny seed-filled envelopes, symbolizes the cyclical nature of existence.

Golnaz Fathi represents a unique artistic perspective, having been trained in traditional Persian calligraphy before choosing a contemporary artistic path. Her works, such as Sunset and No rain will put out this fire…, demonstrate a remarkable fusion of traditional refinement and bold abstraction.

Huang Xu contributes photographic works that use high-resolution 3D scanning to reveal hidden essences of objects. His Flower Series, particularly the chrysanthemum piece, transforms technological precision into a meditation on cultural symbolism and natural beauty.

The exhibition will run from 10th April to 17th May, 2025, at the October Gallery. A gallery talk is scheduled for Saturday, 12th April at 3 PM, offering visitors an opportunity to engage more deeply with the artists’ perspectives.

French Pop Sensation Vendredi sur Mer Breaks into English-Speaking Markets

Vendredi sur Mer, the Swiss-born musical project led by Charline, is making a strategic move into English-speaking territories with her latest single “Hard,” a collaborative effort featuring Hanni El Khatib. The track represents a calculated expansion of her musical universe, building on her previous critically acclaimed projects Premiers Émois and Métamorphose.

Produced by Sam Tiba, a veteran French rap producer known for his work with artists like Zola and Georgio, the single marks a deliberate shift towards a more assertive pop sound. Tiba, formerly of the music collective Club Cheval, brings his production expertise to amplify Vendredi sur Mer’s distinctive musical approach.

The collaboration with Hanni El Khatib, a prominent figure in the 2010s California garage rock scene and creative director at HUF, adds depth to the track. Positioned as a romantic breakup duet, the single draws inspiration from the elegance of French chanson and the bold aesthetics of 1980s pop.

Vendredi sur Mer has already established a significant digital footprint, amassing nearly 300 million streams and over 600 million TikTok views worldwide. Her previous releases have achieved notable commercial success, with platinum certification for “Écoute Chérie” and gold status for “La Femme à la Peau Bleue” and “Les Filles Désir.”

The artist’s musical style is characterized by dreamy synth-pop sounds and poetic lyrics that explore themes of romance, sensuality, and introspection. Her soft, sultry vocals and cinematic approach have garnered an international audience, positioning her as a notable export in the contemporary French pop landscape.

With “Hard,” Vendredi sur Mer continues to expand her global reach, signaling potential upcoming tours and further international engagement. The single represents a calculated step in her artistic evolution, blending nostalgic elements with a modern musical sensibility.

“Dope Thief” brings a realistic crime drama to Apple TV+

“Dope Thief,” the new offering from Apple TV+ for this weekend, is a gritty crime drama based on Dennis Tafoya’s 2009 novel. Starring Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura, the series takes us to Philadelphia and into the world of drug trafficking through the eyes of two childhood friends.

The best: the performances of its protagonists. A realistic series that, indeed…

Created by Peter Craig, known for his work on “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Dope Thief” follows two old friends from Philadelphia whose small-time scam turns into a life-or-death enterprise. The road to “Dope Thief” hasn’t been without its bumps. Initially announced under the title “Sinking Spring,” the production faced challenges including cast changes and delays due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.

The Artistic Team

Leading this series is a star-studded cast headed by Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura. Henry, who also serves as executive producer, brings his formidable talent to the forefront, while Moura, a late addition to the cast, stepped in to replace Michael Mando after an on-set altercation. The ensemble is rounded out by industry veterans Marin Ireland, Kate Mulgrew, and Ving Rhames, whose promising performances will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

Behind the camera, the series boasts an impressive team. Ridley Scott, the director of “Blade Runner” and “Gladiator,” directed the pilot episode and serves as executive producer.

About the Series

While not groundbreaking, “Dope Thief” delves into the world of drug trafficking on the U.S. East Coast with veracity, accuracy, and realism. Without being an atrocious portrayal of the drug world, the series focuses on its two protagonists and the crime that kicks off the series, around which events unfold.

“Dope Thief” is an interesting series and an engaging thriller, but it’s not a series that marks an era, neither for its plot innovations nor for its production: without being just another series, it also fails to distinguish itself from the thousands of other criminal thriller series we’ve already seen: two childhood friends involved in drugs, serving as an excuse to showcase the criminal environment and what surrounds the drug world.

That said, the series features two great actors and a good script. With a more or less generic idea, it manages to well-define these two characters, and the actors make their characters much better.

You know, you can watch it starting today on Apple TV+.

Enjoy it!

Where to Watch “Dope Thief”

Apple TV+

“The Electric State” Arrives: Netflix’s $320 Million Sci-Fi Spectacle

The Russo brothers (Anthony and Joe) are the directors of this incredibly expensive Netflix sci-fi film that’s hitting our screens today, a true retro-futuristic spectacle starring Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt.

Netflix is betting big on spectacle with this movie based on Simon Stålenhag’s book. However, it’s an adaptation that takes quite a few liberties. Those expecting a faithful adaptation or some transcendental reflection should quickly forget about it, because “The Electric State” is all about spectacle, comedy, and reaching wide audiences with a very light, yet entertaining movie.

The Electric State – Netflix

Plot

Set in an alternate 1990s America, “The Electric State” follows Michelle (Brown), an orphaned teenager on a desperate quest to find her missing little brother. Accompanied by a mysterious robot and Pratt’s character, a roguish smuggler, Michelle navigates a world of decaying technology and vast desolate landscapes.

Alan Silvestri Returns for the Soundtrack

Legendary composer Alan Silvestri brings to life the film’s unique aesthetic, which blends 90s nostalgia with advanced but decaying technology.

The Electric State – Netflix

About the Movie

We know it’s difficult, but if we can forget about the movie’s budget for a moment, “The Electric State” is entertaining, very funny, and achieves what it sets out to do: be a spectacle for all audiences and reach the widest international viewership. In this sense, it was impossible to please everyone and offer the deeper movie that many wanted. The Russo brothers, and especially the producers, opt to offer a well-executed, entertaining, and fun spectacle.

It leans more towards comedy than action, showcasing itself more in terms of setting and retro-futuristic reconstruction rather than telling a more or less coherent story. “The Electric State” seems to want to show us more of the power of its effects, the quality of its setting, and the team’s effort in creating this world full of amusing robots.

The story of the two siblings takes too much of a backseat, and all the philosophy from the novel, the reflections, seem to dissolve in this spectacle that Netflix proposes.

That said, looking on the bright side: the movie is a visual and effects spectacle. It knows not to overwhelm the viewer and gives the story an appropriate pace, taking its time to introduce the characters and, above all, make the viewer feel comfortable in this newly created reality.

Thus, everything in “The Electric State” seems created for easy consumption, ensuring no one gets lost in complicated plots (even the explanations about quantum reality are understandable by anyone): “The Electric State” wants to be a simple, accessible movie for everyone and give wide audiences what they want.

Will it convince everyone? No, that’s almost always impossible, but “The Electric State” has more than enough quality to entertain and amuse. We can criticize the initial vision, the tendency towards simplistic spectacle, but in accordance with the film’s intentions, “The Electric State” achieves what it wants: to entertain.

Enjoy it!

Where to Watch “The Electric State”

Netflix

The Cast

Millie Bobby BrownWoody HarrelsonChris PrattKe Huy Quan

Giancarlo Esposito
Stanley Tucci
Anthony Mackie
Brian Cox
Jenny Slate