📚 Hail to the King, baby 😈
📚 Hail to the King, baby 😈
Chances of a Stephen King book being great? Pretty good! Chances of a Stephen King movie being great? A bit dicier.
King's horror prose and other writing has kept Hollywood busy doing adaptations for nearly 50 years, and it's been a mixed bag, honestly. Which is why when we get a movie like "The Monkey," we celebrate. A cursed monkey toy brings about a whole bunch of bloody death in the latest King film, though you might prefer righteous justice doled out by a really ripped dude. Alan Ritchson is back for another season as the hard-hitting, bone-crushing title hero of "Reacher," and we're also excited about the streaming return of dark comedy travelogue "The White Lotus." (Pro tip: Staycations are the best.)
Now on to the good stuff:
Witness a whole bunch of cartoonish carnage in 'The Monkey'
Director Osgood Perkins (son of legendary "Psycho" star Anthony) adapts King's short story for this horror comedy starring Theo James in a dual role as twin brothers who can't escape a cursed monkey toy with drum sticks and a penchant for causing death "Final Destination" style when it gets wound up. There's a lot explored about how we deal with mortality and dying, and it also boasts a litany of enjoyably nasty like a guy getting disemboweled via harpoon and a woman accidentally setting her head on fire before her face meets the sharp business end of a real estate sign.
The movie's release is also cause to update my best Stephen King movie rankings, where classics like "The Shining" and "Carrie" make the list alongside recent adaptations such as "It" and "Gerald's Game."
See Alan Ritchson punch evil in its fat face with new 'Reacher'
Even when the world's kind of in flames, it's nice to see Jack Reacher settling into a new case and saving the day with his brain and his brawn. Based on the Lee Child novels, "Reacher" is now streaming the first trio of episodes from its third season, which finds Alan Ritchson's buff former Army special investigator working undercover for the DEA to find a confidential informant.
Reacher also runs right into a 7-foot-2 henchman played by Olivier Richters, and they give each other fits. Offscreen, the pair got along great, though Ritchson told me for a "Reacher" preview that their fights took a physical toll because his new co-star is "a monster," he says. "Your body's getting tossed around into walls and floor and ceiling and it starts to hurt after a while. But I think audiences are going to love this and it really makes for a great season."
Stream 'The White Lotus' for all-star travel shenanigans
HBO's anthology series "The White Lotus" tackles wealth and people behaving badly with a satirical edge, a fictional luxury hotel chain and an impressive supporting cast. Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey and national treasure Walton Goggins are among the stars of the third season, which takes place at a swank resort in Thailand. While it's not sharp as previous seasons, TV critic Kelly Lawler writes in her ★★★ review that it's still "deliciously twisty" and "pretty anxiety-inducing to watch, even when you've been on this particular vacation two times before."
But wait, there's more: Check out more "White Lotus" coverage, including why Patrick Schwarzenegger is the Season 3 breakout, the return of a surprise past character (spoilers ahoy!) and how people are already trying to figure out Season 4.
Even more goodness to check out!
Got thoughts, questions, ideas, concerns, compliments or maybe even some recs for me? Email btruitt@usatoday.com and follow me on the socials: I'm @briantruitt on Bluesky, Instagram and Threads.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Veterans Park event will mark US Army's 250th birthday
TUPELO – On Tuesday, June 3, attorney Jak Smith had an idea, and in the days that followed, he put fast action to it. In a week's time, Smith has planned a gathering to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States Army. All are invited to pay homage to the U.S. Army on Saturday, June 14, at Veterans Park. The party will begin at 9 a.m. "I figured I might not make the Army's 300th birthday," Smith said. "So, I decided I was going to do something for the 250th. We may have five people attend; we may have 50. But this is something I wanted to do." Here's what's on tap for Saturday morning's celebration: The Tupelo High School ROTC will be on hand for the posting of the colors; Sabrina Ganaway will sing the National Anthem; and a bagpipe player will provide music. Also, there will be a birthday cake. Speakers, all Army veterans, will include Bro. Chester Harrison, Col. Roger Johnson, Brigadier General Kelly Mims and Smith. "Chester Harrison is a pastor who married my wife and I on Lebanon Mountain in Prentiss County in 1993," Smith said. Harrison will give a benediction and share some of his own Army experiences. "He was a machine gunner who served on the front line in Vietnam," Smith said. Col. Roger Johnson is senior Army instructor of Tupelo High School's Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. Circuit Court Judge Kelly Mims served in the Army National Guard 34 years and retired as a brigadier general. Smith, a 1970 graduate of West Point Military Academy, spent eight years in the Army in Colorado and in the 11th Cavalry in Europe as an artillery officer. He's more than a history buff; Smith can fire off dates and events from farther back than most can even remember. And he especially knows the U.S. Army, in which he proudly served. It was May 10, 1775, when the Second Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia and delegates resolved to create an army that would represent not just New England, but all the British colonies in North America. "In June of that same year, George Washington was unanimously chosen as the commander-in-chief," Smith said. "Washington really set the tone for what the Army should be."
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Parker Posey reveals ‘The White Lotus' fans are making sure she's living a comfortable life
'Thank you, darling! I dressed up for you! I got the flowers in the kitchen!' Parker Posey says, accepting a compliment on how fabulous she looks popping up on our Zoom interview from the Chateau Marmont, wearing her now signature pink glasses and a chic scarf. Although the certified Legend earned her first Emmy nomination last year for guesting on Prime Video's Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Posey considers this her first real awards season, and she's doing it right. If you watched Season 3 of HBO's The White Lotus, you already know that Posey could do no wrong as Victoria Ratliff, the North Carolina matriarch whom show creator Mike White described to the actress as a younger version of Grey Gardens' eccentric Big Edie. Having grown up in Louisiana and Mississippi, Posey couldn't wait to choose her (much-imitated) Southern accent. "I love how funny it sounds. I love how there seems to be an emphasis on feeling but not actually what you're saying," she explains. She zeroed in on Victoria's lines about her country club life. "She's under this grip of achievements, and money, and what people should do and how they should live," Posey says. "I looked at her as someone who was programmed in this kind of male-dominated world. But underneath it all, there was someone lost and waiting to come out. That's why I like her [tsunami] dream so much [in Episode 3]. A character has a dream, then that gives such another dimension to her and what's going on with her." More from GoldDerby Animal skins, clothes-swapping, and those terrifying masks: How 'Yellowjackets' costume designer works with Liv Hewson and cast 'The Last of Us': Gabriel Luna on shooting flamethrowers and what Season 3 could mean for Tommy 'The Studio' dominates 2025 Astra TV Awards with 4 wins, including Best Comedy; 'Severance' takes Best Drama Here, Posey shares how she found inspiration for some of Victoria's most memorable moments — and which scenes fans won't let her forget. Gold Derby: You've said that if Victoria hadn't been funny, she would have come across as a terrible person. Was that your biggest challenge, making her likable? Parker Posey: Yeah, you're exactly right. You know, The White Lotus is already like a brand. So we know what kind of characters we're dealing with. We're dealing with the 1 percent, and then the hospitality industry in these hotels, right? Everyone likes a snob when you look at characters in movies and TV shows, like the person who's just obnoxious. So having a [slips into Victoria's drawl] snotty way of talking, it's really juicy. So I was happy to be able to deliver that. I mean, I hope it's OK. You know I wasn't always confident, in the beginning especially. But I love Evil Under the Sun and Murder on the Orient Express, and these characters, they're almost drawn, they're kind of animated. I remember being a little kid and watching these movies and looking forward to being a grown-up and acting this way. Maggie Smith, and who else was in Evil Under the Sun? Peter Ustinov. You know they had this style and this way of being that you knew they were acting and having fun as they were playing these people, you know, but they were very drawn. It was very archetypal. And so that was fun to enter into that story world of whodunit, you know, and just playing someone who you don't really know what she's capable of doing. Do you trust her? Is she trustworthy? Is she high on lorazepam? What's going on? So all that stuff was such good fun. There's an arc with Victoria, from almost childlike to formidable: When she arrives at the White Lotus, I love how nervous she is when Pam (Morgana O'Reilly) brings up taking a test. And then cut to when she's off the lorazepam and she's the one, not husband Timothy (), who finds a way to stop Piper () from staying in Thailand. What was it like for you to play that change? It was so fun to just play a full-on woman, you know. Like, when she's in a bad way and she needs to take to bed, she's gonna take to bed. And Timothy and the whole family is going to abide by that and take care of mom and worry about mom and hope she's OK. And then, like on a dime, she can drink a cup of coffee and get the show on the road and do some detective work. [Laughs] That kind of drama. She's just a drama queen. Tell me about filming the scene in the finale when Piper reveals to Timothy and Victoria that she isn't staying in Thailand. It's so fun to watch you, as Victoria, figure out what Piper's really saying. You escalate Victoria's response to the hug. Was the thumbs up you give scripted or something that just came to you? No, that was totally scripted. And that was such a beautiful day of work for Sarah Catherine. We shot a lot in a condensed amount of time, and we shot that, I think, within the first or second week. So I didn't know really what the path of Piper was. … It's so tragic in that scene, so much about not being able to escape your family and to accept the limits of what you are capable of doing. And so really what she's saying is, "I'll never be able to leave you." And it's that powerful mother and father that have their child going, "I gotta come back to you." I just thought it's just such great writing and such a great arc. But that was all Mike White. She hugs, and she's like [gives a thumbs up], "Got her!" [Laughs] Jason told me how much he with a live audience and hearing people's reactions to certain scenes. Is there any particular scene you'd have loved to hear the response to? I haven't watched the show yet, and I wasn't there for the finale [screening] because I was working. But I talked to John Valerio, our editor, and I said, "Can you remind me of the piña colada scene? Because all I remember is, it was at like 4 o'clock in the morning. We improvised a lot of different bits, right? We were talking about desserts?" He's like, "That's not in it." He said in the editing of that scene, what was fun is the stuff that was added, just the energy of the scene. Mike would throw out funny lines, like ["Is that it, Tim? Have you ever heard of wine?"]. To be able to work with an ensemble, and to be able to build moments along with the director, who's written the story and knows it so well, it's like all these characters coming to life right in front of his eyes. It's such a remarkable thing. Every actor I've spoken to this awards season has talked about how much they love that on-set collaboration. It made me wonder about a line in Episode 2, when Victoria finds out that Jaclyn () is a famous actress and says, "Actresses are all basically prostitutes… if they're lucky." The laughter from your costars seemed genuine. Was that scripted or something thrown in? "If they're lucky" was thrown in, yeah. And that was my first day of work. Mike is so funny, because you can just hear him cackling. Has anyone done his cackle for you? Patrick (Schwarzenegger) has. It's like [shrieks twice]. Another scene that I thought might also have been enhanced by you was the house party in Episode 7 when Victoria is talking to the Thai beauty (played by Praya Lundberg), asking why she's with her older boyfriend, and telling her to come to North Carolina: "Are you scared of him? I could get you out of this." Praya was a really lovely person. We just connected on set [filming an earlier scene], and I adored her. And I told Mike. I was like, "I love Praya. Can we have a scene with her?" And he thought about it. And then he was like, "I know what I wanna do. I'm gonna bring her into the party," to the scenes that you're talking about. But that [dialogue] was all Mike. … We spent almost seven months [in Thailand], and when I went back to the premiere, people there were like, "Welcome home." Like, it's so hospitable, and the people are so lovely and kind. So I still feel like I'll be returning there soon, even though I'm not. What was cool about the experience was there was the hotel working next to us, and the Butlers. Did I read that you and Natasha Rothwell took the butlers out to dinner? God, that was such a perfect night. That was such a perfect night! Yes, we took our butlers at the Four Seasons. [Names them.] We bonded with them. They were just such cool women, you know. And when they knew that I like to just hang out — we were staying there for like two months — I felt like I got to know them a little bit, and to know just the kind of people that they are. And I just love them. "You know Khun Parker, you don't need a man if they don't enhance your life. And if they don't enhance your life, why…." [Laughs] They were, like, giving advice. … One of my favorite nights was going to set watching Lisa perform [as Mook]. And I watched Lisa dance, and it was so beautiful. The way that they just move, and that beauty, that's their culture. So I cried when I left Four Seasons, and I know how ridiculous that sounds. But I cried, like looking out of the van and waving goodbye to them. We were like, "We'll be back in like six months, five months," and when we came back. … Natasha, Michelle, and I took them all out to dinner. They were all obsessed with Lisa, and it just so happened that Lisa worked that day, and I called her assistant. I said, "Is there any way Lisa can stop by?" And she said, "Well, it just so happens that something's up with Lisa's leg and she's like a five-minute drive [away] getting a massage, and she can stop by on the way." And so we took these pictures of Lisa and the butlers. It's those moments that make it. They were just so happy. Fabio Lovino/HBO Jason told me that people now offer him piña coladas everywhere he goes. Is anything like that happening to you? On Easter Island! I was shooting a movie with Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich on Easter Island, and you know it's the furthest place you can go in the furthest part of the world. The only people there are tourists, and it's just like this hotel we were all staying in. There was a homemade mimosa bar, and so it was like 10 o'clock in the morning, and this woman walks by and she says, 'I have some lorazepam if you need some,' and just walked away. [Laughs] That will be happening for the rest of your life. And then I went on a Delta flight, and the flight attendant asked what I wanted to drink, and I said, "I'll have a seltzer with some ice," and he says, "I just want to make sure you're living a comfortable life." "Oh, thank you. I'm very comfortable." I did want to touch on that "I just don't think at this age I'm meant to live an uncomfortable life" scene. Did you know when filming it that fans would eventually be quoting it? That moment, when she says, "I don't want to live an uncomfortable life, I don't have the will," that's when you don't really know what's gonna happen to Victoria, this being at the end of her rope and what she's been through. [With] those little lines, we get to bring in the history of person. I had the essential oils and the lotions, and you just see how spoiled she is. But also, you know she's broken. She's kind of a mess, and then on the other side, she gets it together, and she's able to, like, Sherlock Holmes this stuff and get her daughter back. I love Mike White and how he writes women! We're talking about a writer who writes great women, and they're alone. They stand alone in a man's world. I feel so lucky I got to play it. Best of GoldDerby TV Hall of Fame: Top 50 best choices who should be inducted next Carrie Preston on fencing with Matthew Broderick and the heart, humor, and growth of 'Elsbeth': 'She's more than just quirky' 'RuPaul's Drag Race': Onya Nurve and Jewels Sparkles dish their 'ride of a lifetime,' stolen jokes, and turning drag 'inside out' Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Making of ‘Mid-Century Modern': How comedy legends created Hulu's freshest sitcom starring Nathan Lane and the late Linda Lavin
Crafting a hit comedy is all about collaboration, and Mid-Century Modern proves just that. Hulu's multi-cam sitcom, set against the vibrant Palm Springs aesthetic, benefits from decades of combined expertise poured into every frame by its talented behind-the-scenes team. Led by co-creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan (Will & Grace), the all-star crew of this freshman series shares their insights in an in-depth discussion about the making of Mid-Century Modern. The panel features legendary director and co-executive producer James Burrows, editor Peter Chakos, cinematographer Gary Baum, and production designer Greg Grande. (Watch the full Making of Mid-Century Modern panel above.) More from GoldDerby Mike White, filming 'Survivor,' sends message to 'The White Lotus' FYC event 'St. Denis Medical' creators Eric Ledgin and Justin Spitzer discuss navigating the 'peaks and valleys of comedy' Liam Payne confirmed as judge for Netflix singing competition, 'Superman' hits hard, and today's other top stories In Mid-Century Modern, Nathan Lane plays Bunny, a successful bra designer who invites his pals Jerry (Matt Bomer) and Arthur (Nathan Lee Graham) to spend their golden years living with him in Palm Springs after a close friend dies unexpectedly. Bunny's quick-witted mother, Sybil (played by the late Linda Lavin in her final TV appearance), mixes things up as the fourth roommate. 'As younger people, we always wanted to write about older people, just because they had lived more life and had had more interesting stories to tell. And now as older people, we find ourselves wanting to write about our peer group,' Kohan says. The cocreators revisited an old script they had worked on years ago titled Senioritis, shedding its original retirement home premise but keeping the heart of telling stories about people with lives and relationships spanning decades. Mutchnick adds, 'We didn't understand why a network, in the glow of the Friends craze, didn't want to make a show about Tony Curtis, Alan Arkin, Sandy Dennis, and Elaine Stritch. But, you know, we put a pin in it, and now we get to kind of visit that world.' SEENathan Lane, Matt Bomer, Linda Lavin, Pamela Adlon: Here is every 'Mid-Century Modern' Emmy acting submission One major turning point for the series was bringing in producer Ryan Murphy, whose expertise in casting elevated the show to new heights. Mutchnick recounts, 'Ryan was very clear from the beginning, 'I don't do what you guys do, but there is a thing that I do very well, and it's casting and marketing these shows.' And he really delivered with flying colors.' Murphy had Nathan Lane on board by the end of the day, and sparked the team to rewrite the part of Jerry for Matt Bomer. The casting process wasn't just about securing big names, but finding the right chemistry. Kohan recalls seeking validation from their director, James Burrows, when considering Linda Lavin: 'Jimmy said, 'She's a heat-seeking missile with a joke. She's the best of the best.' That was basically the end of that conversation.' Mutchnick notes, 'You put these casts together and you know that when you're done, the show is either going to work or it is not going to work. One weak link on a multi-cam stage can bring an entire show down. We didn't have that here.' Editor Peter Chakos adds, "Working with [Max and David] is always great because I know the show is going to be hilarious. It goes back to Will & Grace. These are the funniest shows I've ever worked on — Will & Grace and Mid-Century Modern. They're funny shows with endearing characters. It's so important in a sitcom that you like the characters when you're watching them." Burrows, who has directed some of TV's most iconic sitcoms (Taxi, Cheers, Will & Grace), emphasizes the collaborative process as the core reason he signed on to direct Mid-Century Modern. 'For me, the most important thing is not the cast to begin with; it's the writing and the ability of the collaboration between me and the writers. A lot of times, I'll read a really good script, and I talk to the writers, and there's no flexibility. They're defensive instead of defending their material. This was different.' Burrows also reveals that the magic truly emerged during the cast table read: 'I think all of us were incredibly and pleasantly surprised when these guys interacted with one another like they had been together forever.' Production designer Greg Grande echoes the importance of harmony across the team, saying, 'It's not just the chemistry of the cast. It's the chemistry of the entire group of people. Whether it's notes from Jimmy or Max and David, it becomes a beautiful experience. You capture something only so many times in your career.' Grande also shares his vision for bringing mid-century Palm Springs architecture and design to life. 'Palm Springs is near and dear to me. I had a house out there, so I know it well. Bringing to life that flavor of layering and detail was a joy.' Both he and cinematographer Gary Baum worked to ensure the production design felt like a dynamic character in the show. Baum brought a cinematic flair to the multi-camera sitcom, saying, 'I try to bring some cinematic values into the show that you normally don't see on a sitcom. With Greg's design, I had complete support from Max, David, and Jimmy. That's the fun part—the vibrant color and the detail.' The sudden loss of Linda Lavin during production shaped the final few episodes of the season, forcing the writers to pivot with a delicate balance of grief and comedy. Kohan reflects, 'The first adjustment is — this is a big personal loss. We're all grieving. And then you go to this idea that now we have to honor her and the character. Fear hits first—what are we going to do? Then over time, with the collaborators, you come to a place where it's like, yes, this is what I would have wanted for Linda.' Mutchnick adds, 'We knew very early on that if we didn't deal with it directly, it wouldn't be truthful. So we wrote the experience we just had and infused it with the love we had for her.' With so many career Emmy nominations (and wins) among them, it's no surprise this team values what awards recognition means for a show's future. Kohan points out, 'Validation from something like an Emmy nomination is significant. It's so fear-based right now for executives, so anything that validates a show is helpful.' Mutchnick makes his case for Nathan Lane as the standout: 'There's not a performance in the comedy category that will touch male lead in a comedy any better than Nathan Lane did on Mid-Century Modern this year. It's a masterclass in male comedy.' Burrows sums up what sets Mid-Century Modern apart: 'My dad (Abe Burrows) always said it depends what they say [on a show]. We're not having this discussion if the audience doesn't buy into these characters and these actors. That's the genius that Max and David have — writing characters that are windows into this gorgeous set and incredible world. We wouldn't be talking about the cinematography or editing if these characters didn't say the right words.' In the full video above, watch the team behind Mid-Century Modern discuss in more detail their favorite episodes, most memorable moments, and biggest challenges. This article and video are presented by Disney/Hulu. Best of GoldDerby TV Hall of Fame: Top 50 best choices who should be inducted next Carrie Preston on fencing with Matthew Broderick and the heart, humor, and growth of 'Elsbeth': 'She's more than just quirky' 'RuPaul's Drag Race': Onya Nurve and Jewels Sparkles dish their 'ride of a lifetime,' stolen jokes, and turning drag 'inside out' Click here to read the full article.
