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‘Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy' Holds Strong at No. 1 as ‘The Monkey' and ‘I'm Still Here' Debut in U.K. and Ireland Box Office

‘Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy' Holds Strong at No. 1 as ‘The Monkey' and ‘I'm Still Here' Debut in U.K. and Ireland Box Office

Yahoo26-02-2025

Universal's 'Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy' continued its box office dominance in the U.K. and Ireland, bringing in £6.8 million ($8.7 million) in its second weekend, according to Comscore. The highly anticipated fourth installment in the 'Bridget Jones' franchise has now reached $34.6 million, maintaining a firm grip on the No. 1 spot.
Disney's 'Captain America: Brave New World' remained in second place with $3.7 million in its second weekend, pushing its total to £13.21 million ($16.74 million).
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'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy' Surpasses $70 Million Overseas, 'Captain America: Brave New World' Nears $300 Million at Global Box Office
Universal's 'Dog Man' stayed in third place, earning $2.5 million in its third weekend. The animated family hit has now amassed $13.9 million. Black Bear's 'The Monkey' opened in fourth place with $1.3 million). The Stephen King adaptation, directed by Osgood Perkins and starring Theo James, Adam Scott and Elijah Wood, proved to be a strong draw for horror fans.
Disney's 'Mufasa: The Lion King' continued its steady run in fifth place, earning $742,349 in its 10th weekend. The prequel has now grossed $41 million. Altitude Film Distribution's 'I'm Still Here' debuted at No. 6 with $616,046. Directed by Walter Salles, the Brazilian drama found an audience across 100+ locations, benefiting from awards buzz.
Paramount's 'Sonic The Hedgehog 3' held onto seventh place with $462,252 in its ninth week. The film has now grossed $32.9 million. The National Theatre's event release, 'Importance Of Being Earnest – NT Live 2025,' made an impact at No. 8, earning $432,246 for a total of $1.3 million. The NT Live production continues to showcase the growing appeal of event cinema in the region.
Disney's 'A Complete Unknown' dropped to ninth place with $286,837 in its sixth weekend, bringing its total to $14.5 million. The Bob Dylan biopic, starring Timothée Chalamet, remains a steady performer.
Rounding out the top 10, Yash Raj Films' 'Chhaava' earned $260,147 in its second weekend, bringing its total to $764,927. The Indian historical epic continues to draw audiences from the South Asian diaspora.
Upcoming releases are headlined by 'The Last Showgirl' from Picturehouse Entertainment. Directed by Gia Coppola and starring Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Dave Bautista, the drama follows a former Vegas showgirl navigating life after the spotlight fades.
Peccadillo Pictures releases 'The Summer With Carmen,' an LGBTQ+ comedy set to play in select locations. Meanwhile, the anticipated Chinese animated epic 'Chang'An' arrives courtesy of Miracle/Dazzler.
Park Circus brings back a cult classic with the re-release of 'The Big Lebowski.' The Coen brothers' 1998 comedy, starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, and Julianne Moore, returns to cinemas in 25+ locations, offering fans a chance to experience The Dude's antics on the big screen.
MetFilm Distribution introduces 'Superboys of Malegaon,' directed by Reema Kagti and starring Adarsh Gourav and Shashank Arora. The film, screening in select locations, explores the lives of aspiring filmmakers in Malegaon, India, adding a unique behind-the-scenes perspective on grassroots cinema.
Also joining the lineup is 'Babymetal Legend-43 The Movie' from Source Entertainment, a concert film that captures the high-energy performances of the Japanese kawaii metal group Babymetal.
Central City Media releases 'Papa,' a drama directed by Philip Yung and starring Sean Lau. The film, playing in 25+ locations, explores loss, complex family relationships and emotional depth.
Bollywood fans can revisit Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Padmaavat,' presented by Bakrania Media. The lavish historical epic, starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, and Shahid Kapoor, returns to the big screen for audiences who missed its original theatrical run.
The week closes with Saturday, March 1, when Dragon Ball fans can experience 'Dragon Ball Z: Battle Of Gods (Extended Cut),' distributed by Piece Of Magic Entertainment. The extended version of the anime blockbuster brings more action, humor, and high-energy battles to the big screen for longtime fans.
Best of Variety
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New movies and shows this week on Apple TV+, Peacock and Netflix
New movies and shows this week on Apple TV+, Peacock and Netflix

Axios

timean hour ago

  • Axios

New movies and shows this week on Apple TV+, Peacock and Netflix

Here's what's new on Apple TV+, Peacock, Netflix, BET+, Disney+ and Hulu. What we're watching: A new sports comedy series starring Owen Wilson and new seasons of "Love Island USA" and "Ginny & Georgia." " Stick" available now on Apple TV+ State of play: Owen Wilson stars as a washed-up, ex-pro golfer who gets a new lease on life by mentoring a troubled, teenage golf prodigy (played by Peter Dager). What they're saying: "I've seen golf explode since COVID. We've seen a more diverse group of people playing. I've been super interested and happy about that. All these things coalesced into [the main character], the show and the story," creator Jason Keller tells Axios. Behind the scenes: The series will feature guest appearances from golf stars including Collin Morikawa, Keegan Bradley, Max Homa and Wyndham Clark. " Love Island USA" season 7 available now on Peacock Friction point: Ten new islanders have entered the villa and will have the burden of following the record-setting sixth season. Driving the news: A spinoff starring the cast of season 6 is set to air this summer. Ginny & Georgia" season 3 available now on Netflix Catch up quick: This season picks up after Georgia (played by Brianne Howey) is arrested for murder during her wedding. The latest: This dramedy will be coming back for a fourth season. " Phineas and Ferb" season 5 on Disney+ After a 10-year hiatus, one of Disney's hottest cartoons has been revived with the original voice cast in tow. Available Friday " Tires" season 2 on Netflix Vince Vaughn, Thomas Haden Church and Jon Lovitz will be guest stars during this season of Shane Gillis' workplace comedy. Available now " Predator: Killer of Killers" on Hulu Set in the "Predator" universe, this animated film follows three fierce warriors at different stages in human history who battle against the titular alien. Available Friday " Straw" on Netflix Taraji P. Henson, Sherri Shepherd, Teyana Taylor and Sinbad star in Tyler Perry's newest thriller about a struggling single mother who robs a bank to get money for her daughter's medicine. Available Friday " Ocean with David Attenborough" on Disney+ and Hulu Attenborough narrates this documentary that zeroes in on humanity's impact on oceans — from destructive fishing methods to their ripple effects on marine life, coastal communities and the climate. Available Sunday "House on Fire" on BET+

Wicked: For Good : Trailer, Release Date, Cast, Soundtrack, and Everything You Need to Know
Wicked: For Good : Trailer, Release Date, Cast, Soundtrack, and Everything You Need to Know

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Wicked: For Good : Trailer, Release Date, Cast, Soundtrack, and Everything You Need to Know

Courtesy of Universal If you have the first Wicked movie on repeat now that it is on streaming, that means you surely think about Wicked: For Good at least once a day. But let's recap a little. Wicked first debuted on Broadway in 2003, where Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel originated the roles of Glinda and Elphaba. The interconnected story of the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West takes place long before Dorothy drops into the wonderful land of Oz. In fact, the prequel details the unlikely friendship between the two then-aspiring witches in their youth before they became enemies, changing the fate of their lives — and Oz — for good. The Tony-winning Broadway musical — a Wizard of Oz prequel ⁠based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West — is establishing itself as a mainstay of the holiday seasons, being adapted for not one but two major motion pictures under Universal, and more and more confirmed details about the second film are slowly trickling in. The Wicked movies are led by mega pop star Ariana Grande and Tony-winner Cynthia Erivo as witches Glinda and Elphaba, respectively, and directed by Jon M. Chu of Crazy Rich Asians and In The Heights fame. As people from all around the world get ready to see Wicked Part One at home, our gaze is already on Wicked Part Two — a.k.a Wicked: For Good. Below, we've gathered everything you need to know about the project. Jump to your preferred section: Announcement Plot Title explained Release date Trailer and photos Filming details Behind-the-scenes Cast Movie differences New music Previously only referred to as Wicked Part Two, Universal and director Jon M. Chu officially revealed the sequel had been renamed on December 16, 2024, and the new title will give fans of the musical goosebumps. Hold your blue-haired horses because Wicked Part Two is now officially Wicked: For Good. In case you are new here, the new title is a reference to the beloved farewell duet performed by Elphaba and Glinda towards the end of the musical. Fans have been anticipating Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande's take on the song, written and composed by Stephen Schwartz, since casting was announced, and if this is any indication, it will be worth the wait. ↑BACK TO TOP Like Gregory Maguire's book, the Wicked movies follow Glinda and Elphaba as students at Shiz University, where they, despite their differences, navigate friendship, magical training, and even romance, all while discovering their own identities. The Wicked movies follow the storyline of the beloved Broadway musical adapted from the book, so you can think of Wicked Part One as the first act of the musical, which ends with 'Defying Gravity,' and the upcoming Wicked Part Two as the second act. The year-long wait between the movies is, of course, the intermission, so you have plenty of time to get the popcorn ready. Wicked Part One ends after Elphaba and Glinda meet the Wizard, with the former fleeing the Emerald City on a broom. Assuming it will be faithful to the musical, Part Two will begin sometime later, with Elphaba now being known as The Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda as Glinda the Good, working for the Wizard. Fiyero is still looking for Elphaba, and there's a long way ahead (and a few transformations) until we can reach the curtain call. Yes! After much anticipation, Universal put out the first official trailer for on June 4, 2025, and it's a weepy one. In the trailer, which you can watch below, we get a peek at Glinda and Elphaba's reunion, getting glimpses of the pair's new lives outside of Shiz. We also see Madame Morrible plotting for Elphaba's demise while tapping Fiyero in the Wizard's squadron — all set to Cynthia Erivo's version of 'No Good Deed" before transitioning into the long-awaited 'For Good' with the two leads' vocals. We also get an appetizer of Fiyero and Elphaba's reunion before the latter ends the trailer on a familiar note: 'I'm off to see the Wizard.' Previously, only a select few were lucky enough to see the trailer at events. Universal had announced that the Wicked: For Good trailer would premiere in theaters on June 4, 2025, to coincide with the first film's one-night return to the big screen in the United States and Canada. We also have a first look at the movie with the official posters. The first poster, which you can see below, shows Elphaba and Glinda in brand-new attire as the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch facing each other from opposing cliffs with the yellow brick road leading up to the Emerald City in the ravine between them. The poster's logline is 'You will be changed,' as a nod to the lyrics in 'For Good.' A second poster was unveiled to coincide with the release of the trailer, and it features Glinda inside her bubble and Elphaba flying high with her broom on opposite sides of the frame, holding up their arms to each other à la Michelangelo's Creation of Adam. Before the trailer was released, Vanity Fair also got a bunch of exclusive first-look pictures from the upcoming movie, which you can see here. To get a better understanding of when Wicked Part Two will come out, we need to look at the release calendar of Wicked Part One. Between calendar shifts and COVID-19-related production delays, the release of the first Wicked movie was moved around quite a bit. A few months before its 2019 premiere, Universal announced that the movie had been pushed to December 22, 2021, though the pandemic set that date back, too. The next date was intended to be December 25, 2024, for Wicked: Part 1 and December 25, 2025, for Part 2. However, both dates were moved up during the spring and summer of 2023. On June 20, 2023, Deadline reported that the first film was slated for a November 27, 2024, theatrical release just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. The pub also noted the second installment would be released almost exactly one year later, on November 26, 2025. However, things changed again in 2024. On July 1, 2024, Jon M. Chu himself announced that the release date for the first Wicked movie had been moved up, setting the final official premiere for November 22, 2024. '5. DAYS. EARLIER!!!! Let's goooo!!" Chu announced on X. The date for the second movie, which was previously expected to be November 26, 2025, also changed. On September 12, 2024, official accounts announced that will premiere on November 21, 2025, ahead of Thanksgiving. Ahead of the release of Wicked: For Good, NBC and Peacock will air an all-new Wicked special led by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. 'Erivo and Grande will be joined by their co-stars and other surprise guests to perform many songs from the first movie — and maybe, just maybe, a little bit from the upcoming Wicked: For Good as well — for a special that will air exclusively on NBC this November and stream on Peacock the following day.' The initial news of Universal's Wicked movie adaptation broke in 2016, with its original theatrical release set for December 20, 2019. Evidently, there have since been delays. On April 26, 2022, Chu shared news that clarified the reason behind the long wait, announcing the story would be split into two movies. 'As we prepared the production over the last year, it became impossible to wrestle the story of Wicked into a single film without doing some real damage to it,' he wrote in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter). 'As we tried to cut songs or trim characters, those decisions began to feel like fatal compromises to the source material that has entertained us all for so many years. We decided to give ourselves a bigger canvas and make not just one Wicked movie but two! With more space, we can tell the story of Wicked as it was meant to be told while bringing even more depth and surprise to the journeys for these beloved characters.' Chu's two-part announcement delighted some fans while downright annoying others. On February 11, 2024, the day the first trailer dropped, Wicked producer Marc Platt defended the decision to split up the movies to Vanity Fair. 'We didn't want to end up making one four-hour movie and then cutting out songs. We want to satisfy the fans of the musical,' said Platt. 'Film allows you to create a place and a time — a university like Shiz, an extraordinary Emerald City governor's mansion. There's so much more to explore.' On December 7, 2022, Grande, Erivo, and Chu confirmed filming on the movie adaptations had begun via several Instagram Stories posts. In one post, the director shared a Wicked-themed drawing from his daughter 'to commemorate the first day of shooting.' Production temporarily shut down amid the SAG-AFTRA strike in the 2023 summer. At the time, Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz confirmed to Variety that there were only 10 days left to complete filming parts one and two. Chu also shared an update during the strike, assuring fans that the 'release date shouldn't be affected' on X: 'Not done yet. Just paused until the strike is over and we can finish the last pieces of the movie. We were only a few days away from being done so we were SO close. It's been very painful to put a halt to it all but we will be back! And we will finish properly strong when the time is right." And time was eventually right: Ariana Grande herself announced she had wrapped filming for both of the movies with a cryptic post on January 25, 2023. 'Like a handprint on my heart,' the star captioned a post on Instagram in reference to the song 'For Good.' The post showed the silhouette of Grande as Glinda on set. Resharing Grande's post to his stories, director Jon M. Chu wrote: 'Will never forget my year with our Galinda. Can't wait for you to meet her. Thank you Ariana Grande for pouring your heart into Oz.' In another story, Chu tagged Cynthia Erivo, adding: 'One more day left. Cynthia Erivo, are you ready?' Erivo replied: 'As ready as I'll ever be!! Let's goooooo!' As of January 26, 2024, filming on both movies had wrapped. There is, indeed. On July 24, 2024, Universal put out a two-minute behind-the-scenes featurette showing viewers how the Wicked world was built brick by brick for the movie. 'We knew that we wanted Wicked to be immersive,' director Jon M. Chu says in the video. 'What does it feel like to be in Oz? To feel it in your fingertips? If you want to be inside that world, you've got to build it.' The next few clips give us an aerial view of the set, including Emerald City and Munchkinland, being built by hand as a 1:1 recreation, including the infamous yellow bricks being painted one by one. 'A lot of it is real. physical, tangible sets,' Ariana Grande adds before Chu shows the field of tulips that were planted and the train that was built for the movie. On September 25, 2024, another featurette called Celebrating Wicked was released. The video shows some behind-the-scenes footage from the movie's filming, as well as interviews with the cast and director. Universal had also put out another Wicked featurette called Wicked - Passion Project with interviews from the cast and crew about joining the project. The two-minute featurette features scenes from Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo's auditions and more, with commentary from director Jon M. Chu, as well as clips from the set. You can watch it below: As previously mentioned, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo star as leads Glinda and Elphaba, the blonde-haired and green-skinned witches who anchor the movies' musical extravaganza. During an appearance on Amazon Music's Zach Sang Show on February 26, 2024, Grande said she has 'never wanted something as badly' as she wanted the role of Glinda, 'hunting' producer Marc Platt for the past ten years. 'Since I was 20, I was like, 'Hey, I don't know when this is happening, but when it's happening, may I please at least just audition?'" recalled Grande. "That's all I wanted, was an audition. I've never wanted anything more.' Grande revealed that 'prepping for the auditions [took] six months," involving rigorous 'voice lessons every day [and] acting lessons every day." 'I trained every single day to prove to [Wicked producers] that I could handle taking on this other person," Grande explained to Sang. "I had to completely erase popstar Ari, the person they know so well, because it's harder to believe someone as someone else because they're so branded as one thing. I had to really go all the way to strip that down.' 'I learned so much from Glinda,' Grande continued, calling the day she got the part 'the best day of my life.' 'I kind of healed a lot of parts of myself alongside and through her. And it actually helped me heal a lot of my own personal, weird stuff that I had with my relationship with music and to being an artist.' Grande and Erivo announced their casting news in respective Instagram posts on November 4, 2021. Wicked alum Chenoweth gave the two stars her seal of approval via another IG post, which included a screenshot of one of Grande's 2011 tweets where she called Glinda her '#dreamrole.' Chenoweth wrote: 'I'm not sure if I've ever been this proud. From the very first day I met you (swipe to see!!), you were destined for this role. Congratulations @arianagrande! The best Glinda you will be with @cynthiaerivo by your side 💗💚 I love you!! 🧚‍♀️👑🪄 @wickedmovie @wicked_musical #wicked.' Chenoweth's former costar, Menzel, echoed similar sentiments when she commented on Grande and Erivo's casting news on X as well. 'Congrats to two amazing women,' Menzel wrote. 'May it change your lives for the better forever and ever as it has for us. So much love.' Joining Erivo and Grande in the Wicked movies is Bridgerton breakout star Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, the witches' love interest. On August 12, 2024, Universal gave us our first proper first-look at movie Fiyero in action with a teaser focused on the character and, yes, he has a British accent and is as charming as the musical's. The teaser gives us a glimpse at Ariana Grande's Glinda finding out Fiyero is in town reading The Shiz Gazette. 'Fiyero Spotted at Shiz,' the headline reads. 'Meet Oz's most eligible bachelor,' the screen then proclaims. 'I see that the responsibility to corrupt my fellow students falls to me,' cheeky Fiyero then proclaims before we get a teaser of his dynamic with both Glinda and Elphaba — IYKYK. The cast also includes Everything Everywhere All At Once star Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, the headmistress of Crage Hall at Shiz University; Broadway veteran Ethan Slater (also Grande's rumored boyfriend) as Boq, the romantic interest of Elphaba's younger sister, Nessarose; and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard. Newcomer Marissa Bode makes feature debut as Nessarose. Saturday Night Live star Bowen Yang and Lockwood & Co. actor Bronwyn James also joined the roster as Pfannee and ShenShen, respectively, Elphaba and Glinda's classmates. Additional Wicked casting includes The Greatest Showman star Keala Settle as Miss Coddle, Hot Fuzz actor Colin Michael Carmichael as Professor Nikidik, and Aaron Teoh as Avaric. As mentioned, the Wicked movies will similarly follow the Broadway musical's plot, though star Cynthia Erivo previously teased that some parts will take a slight departure from the original material. 'I think it's going to be unlike anything you've ever seen before,' she told Entertainment Tonight in 2022. 'I think we're going to enjoy the magic of it. We're going to try and put our own spin on what we know already and show you a story about two women [who] are sisters." According to composer Schwartz, the upcoming Wicked movies will, indeed, include new musical material. Back in 2016, while speaking at a Behind the Music panel during Comic-Con, he predicted that there would 'probably four new songs in the movie." At the time, Playbill reported that three of the songs would be newly written, while one was cut from the original Broadway production. Be that as it may, on December 6, 2023, Schwartz shared an updated count of the new music with The Messenger: two brand-new songs, written exclusively for the film adaptations, will be featured in Wicked Part Two. 'There are some expansions of stuff in the first movie. The point being, the new songs were written because of the demand of the story, not, 'Oh, let's write a new song and stick it in just because,'' said Schwartz. "The storytelling required it, and therefore they were created — the intention was that they were organic and not imposed on the movie." 'It's been very important to us to make sure that it is the show, that it is the story that the fans love and that they're coming to expect and not disappoint them,' he continued. 'And at the same time, [it was also important to] be able to expand the story to make use of what the language of film and the technology of film allows you to do. As we talked about the story we wanted to tell, it was impossible really to get into one movie unless the movie were four hours long. And so the decision was made to make two movies. And consequently, there's new stuff that I think the fans will enjoy.' On March 21, 2024, director Jon M. Chu revealed to Vanity Fair that with both the new and old music, the vocals were recorded live — a stunning feat considering a few of the musical numbers require stunts with harnesses and jumps. According to Erivo, Grande even sang live while 'jumping on a chandelier over my head.' 'These are live vocals,' Chu confirmed to VF. 'When we were shooting it, those girls were like, 'F*ck the pre-records. We're going live.'' Universal released a teaser centering on the music of Wicked on October 9, 2024. The snippet previewed 'Popular,' 'Dancing Through Life,' 'The Wizard and I,' 'What Is This Feeling?', and 'Defying Gravity.' Variety confirmed the official soundtrack for the first Wicked movie with 11 songs total, which you can see below: 'No One Mourns the Wicked' 'Dear Old Shiz' 'The Wizard and I' 'What Is This Feeling?' 'Something Bad' 'Dancing Through Life' 'Popular' 'I'm Not That Girl' 'One Short Day' 'A Sentimental Man' 'Defying Gravity' Wicked Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue Want more great Culture stories from Teen Vogue? Check these out: Underneath Chappell Roan's Hannah Montana Wig? A Pop Star for the Ages Is Your New Favorite Song Real or AI? Bridgerton Showrunner Clarifies Benedict's Sexuality & Talks Francesca's Queer Plot Twist The Borders of Country Music Are Finally Crumbling

‘The Life of Chuck' Review: Don't Worry, Be Happy
‘The Life of Chuck' Review: Don't Worry, Be Happy

New York Times

time2 hours ago

  • New York Times

‘The Life of Chuck' Review: Don't Worry, Be Happy

It's the end of the world as we know it, or at least that's how it seems in 'The Life of Chuck.' A strange, feel-good fantasy about the end times, the movie traces a loose network of characters going about life while facing multiple personal and planetary catastrophes. When the story opens, Earth's big clock, a.k.a. life itself, seems close to running out: Cataclysmic disasters, both natural and otherwise, are raging worldwide, species are rapidly going extinct, people are checking out and the internet is about to do the same. That's bad, though given our enduring connectivity issues, it can also seem like just another day on Planet Reality. 'The Life of Chuck' is a curious movie, starting with its relatively relaxed, almost blasé attitude toward extinction of any kind. It uneasily mixes moods and tones, softens tragedies with smiles and foregrounds a title character — Chuck, an accountant with a tragic past, played as an adult by Tom Hiddleston — who has a tenuous hold on both the story and your interest. Chuck is present from the start but only comes to something like life midway through. He has a kid and is happily married, at least according to the narrator (Nick Offerman), whose dry, lightly detached voice-over winds throughout. That the narrator proves to be a more vivid presence than Chuck is another oddity, one that's presumably unintentional. Written and directed by Mike Flanagan, the movie is based on a vaporous three-part novella by Stephen King, also titled 'The Life of Chuck,' that's included in the author's 2020 collection 'If It Bleeds.' Flanagan's adaptation is scrupulously, unwisely faithful to the source material. As in King's tale, the movie unfolds in three sections in reverse chronological order. Also as in the original, Chuck first appears on a billboard that doesn't seem to be selling anything. It just features a photo of a suited Chuck at a desk smiling out at the world, a mug in one hand, a pencil in the other. '39 Great Years!,' the billboard reads. 'Thanks Chuck!' The billboard catches the eye of the movie's most fully realized character, Marty (Chiwetel Ejiofor), the focal point of the disaster-ridden inaugural chapter. A schoolteacher whose slight connection to Chuck emerges much later, Marty is dutifully plugging away in class despite the world's looming end. 'I contain multitudes,' one of his students unpersuasively reads from the Walt Whitman poem 'Song of Myself.' Given everyone's palpable listlessness, Marty's included, T.S. Eliot's 'The Hollow Men' would probably have been too on the nose: 'This is the way the world ends / Not with a bang but a whimper.' A sensitive, appealing performer, Ejiofor is a master of melancholy, and he gets the movie off to a fine start. His soft face and large, plaintive eyes naturally draw you to him, but even when they water, as directors like them to do, it's Ejiofor's talent for emotional nuance and depth that holds your gaze. That skill is particularly useful for characters as vaguely conceived as Marty, a nice, lonely guy who's still close to his ex, Felicia (Karen Gillan). There's not much to either character or their relationship, but Ejiofor fills in Marty with dabs of personality and a sense of decency that suggests that while humanity is lost, not every individual is. It's too bad the movie doesn't stick with Marty, who warms it up appreciably. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.

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