Latest news with #1950
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
King Princess coming to Glasgow as part of UK tour
King Princess, known for her huge hit 1950, will be performing at the Queen Margaret Union (QMU) in the West End of the city. The show will take place on Friday, December 5. The Brooklyn-based artist first rose to fame in 2018, when she released the single 1950 from her debut EP Make My Bed. The song was a commercial success, charting in multiple territories, and was later certified platinum. Her debut album, Cheap Queen, came out in 2019 to widespread critical acclaim. The singer went on to release her second album, Hold On Baby in 2022, before releasing her new single, RIP KP, this week. Tickets for the Glasgow show will be released at 10am on June 13. Pre-sale tickets will be available from Gigs in Scotland from June 12 at 10am. To purchase tickets or sign in to pre-sale, visit
Wall Street Journal
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
‘The Phoenician Scheme' Review: Wes Anderson's Latest Loopy Father Figure
Aside from Sofia Coppola and her princesses in gilded cages, Wes Anderson might be the filmmaker who is most obsessively focused on a single theme. A charming but outlandishly inept father is once again in the spotlight for his latest comedy, 'The Phoenician Scheme.' As in several other films directed by Mr. Anderson, an ebulliently wacky dad, this time played by Benicio del Toro, tries to reconnect with a suspicious and wounded offspring, in this case Liesl, a novitiate played by Mia Threapleton. It's 1950, and she hasn't seen the old man in six years when he, Zsa-zsa Korda, an internationally loathed rogue trying to pull off a massive series of construction projects, reunites with her to tell her she's his sole heir. Her nine brothers? They don't count, he tells her. One of them fires flaming arrows at the pair (from a crossbow) as they discuss matters.
ABC News
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Wes Anderson's The Phoenician Scheme review: A bland imitation of The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Phoenician Scheme is textbook Wes Anderson — and that's exactly its problem. What: A black comedy centred on an oligarch who reconnects with his daughter and hatches a last-ditch scheme to save his fortune. Directed by: Wes Anderson Starring: Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray, Benedict Cumberbatch, Willem Dafoe, Richard Ayoade, Tom Hanks, Riz Ahmed Released: In cinemas now Likely to make you feel: Like speaking to everyone in deadpan monotony The acclaimed director has earned himself a cult following for visually striking films that create an immersive world complemented by quirky, oddball characters. But after three decades in Hollywood, he's still recycling the same tricks. While The Phoenician Scheme has the ingredients of an Anderson classic, it's missing the heart, nuance and grounding that made his early films so special. Set in 1950, The Phoenician Scheme follows wealthy anti-hero Zsa-zsa Korda (Benicio del Toro). His ruthless business ventures have made him the enemy of just about everyone, and he's hounded by non-stop assassination attempts. In the face of his likely imminent murder, Zsa-zsa decides to prepare his estranged daughter Liesl (Mia Threapleton) to be his successor. As a nun, Liesl is the absolute antithesis to her swindler of a father, but they soon rub off on each other. Zsa-zsa is also in the final stages of a large-scale infrastructure project to find further fortune within the riches of Modern Greater Independent Phoenicia. With personal insect tutor Bjorn (Michael Cera) in tow, Zsa-zsa and Liesl embark on an intercontinental quest to close The Gap — an ever-expanding financial shortfall — complete his life's work and save the family estate. As always, the film has stunning sets, costumes and cinematography, trademark quips and an impressive soundtrack. But with a convoluted plot and seemingly endless characters — all played by A-listers — it can be difficult to follow exactly what's going on and how everyone fits together. At times, The Phoenician Scheme feels more like an SNL skit parodying Wes Anderson than a fully fledged feature. While his earlier films had some delightfully deadpan characters, there were a range of archetypes on show, with boisterous, zany and even grounded personalities balancing out the blunt. Instead, almost every character in Phoenician Scheme gives a comically stony performance, and with no-one to bounce off, much of the original humour is lost. It feels like actors are impersonating Wes Anderson characters, rather than creating anything original of their own. Del Toro plays another wealthy, crass patriarch who has a strained relationship with his children, along the lines of Gene Hackman in 2001's The Royal Tenenbaums, Bill Murray in 2004's The Life Aquatic or 2012's Moonrise Kingdom, and George Clooney in 2009's Fantastic Mr Fox. Del Toro portrays this part well enough, but it's hard not to compare him to the actors who have filled the same shoes in previous films, and he doesn't quite have the warmth and humour that actors like Murray naturally bring to the role. Likewise, nepo baby Threapleton — who has participated in endless interviews about being Kate Winslet's daughter, and who speaks in an uncannily similar voice to her mother — does an impression of Anderson's previous manic pixie dream girls. While she shoots for Cate Blanchett in Tenenbaums or Kara Hayward as the teenager in Moonrise Kingdom, her monotonous delivery falls flat. Although this is of course Anderson's intention with the character, it leads to inevitable comparisons with similar staples of pop culture — Aubrey Plaza's April Ludgate or even cartoons like Daria — who successfully bring earnestness and depth to a cold role. Scarlett Johanssen cameos as del Toro's love interest in the same style, making the two women near-impossible to differentiate and connect with. With The Phoenician Scheme's brisk jumps between a vast array of whimsical locations, enemies hot on their tail, it feels like an attempt to emulate the success of The Grand Budapest Hotel. But there was a tenderness Ralph Fiennes brought to the lead role of that film, also found in the relationship between a lobby boy and his mentor, that's missing here. And for all Phoenician Scheme's hints at father-daughter tension, it doesn't feel like this relationship is taken seriously as a source of conflict, character or growth. The endless celebrity cameos — from Benedict Cumberbatch in a ludicrous beard to Tom Hanks and Bryan Cranston playing basketball — feel more like PR stunts than developed characters, their main addition to the story simply being, "Hey look, it's a Hollywood star!" But The Phoenician Scheme does still fill the cup of those craving what Anderson does best: visuals. This is another perfectly symmetrical feast for the eyes, complete with hieroglyphics, rainforests dotted with quicksand and artfully arranged interiors. Michael Cera also shines as the gentle and good-natured Bjorn, whom he convincingly brings to life through his trademark humour and charm. Overall, The Phoenician Scheme is a wholly acceptable addition to Anderson's catalogue, and is sure to delight diehard fans hungry for more Wes. But it's hard not to get nostalgic for his older films, which, for all their idiosyncrasies, felt human. The Phoenician Scheme is in cinemas now.
News.com.au
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Benicio del Toro heads stellar cast as Wes Anderson gets back to his best in The Phoenician Scheme
With a quirky comedy from a revered Hollywood veteran and truly terrifying horror from homegrown up-and-comers, it's a week of quality extremes on the big screen. THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME (M) Director: Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel) ★★★★ Life is but a scheme For 30 years, American writer-director Wes Anderson has been constantly refining the most distinctive visual aesthetic in movie history. No-one uses colour, light, texture and the precision placement of cameras and props in remotely the same way. Considering Anderson has been at it for so long – the magnificent The Grand Budapest Hotel remains an absolute career high point – most moviegoers will have already decided where they stand on his work. Therefore those who have never connected with all things Wes Anderson can safely put a line through his new movie, The Phoenician Scheme, immediately. However, for those who can't get enough of this singular stylist, the release of The Phoenician Scheme definitely calls for both immediate celebration and attendance. This is definitely one of the best things Anderson has ever put his name to. Benicio del Toro leads the way with a wired and inspired comic performance as the wily billionaire industrialist Zsa-Zsa Korda. The year is 1950 and, as the story gets going, Korda is not only one of the richest men in the world, but also one of the most despised. This would explain all the failed assassination attempts and ill-fated aeroplane journeys that appear in his diary on an all-too-regular basis. In fact, Korda is so loaded and so loathed, no country will have him on their books as a citizen. Nevertheless, the lack of a passport or the likelihood of imminent death is not about to stop Korda from sealing the deal of a lifetime: a project which will bring water to some of the driest locations in the Middle East. All Korda has to do to score his biggest-ever payday is keep a select group of private investors in line until the deal is approved. This proves to be much more difficult than it sounds until Korda's estranged daughter Liesl (Mia Threapleton) takes some time off from her day job as a nun to help her embattled father realise his lucrative dream. As is often the case with Anderson's movies, the intensely deadpan sense of humour underpinning his work needs an exemplary cast to tell his oddball jokes in the right way. Therefore the presence of names such as Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston and newcomer Threapleton (daughter of Kate Winslet) is a gift that keeps on giving throughout. BRING HER BACK (MA15+) ★★★★ General release It was a only a few years back that Adelaide filmmaking brothers Danny and Michael Philippou snapped Hollywood to attention with their low-budget debut Talk to Her. That cleverly creepy horror flick cost around $5 million to produce, and made roughly 30 times that amount worldwide. Was this all a fluke, or are the Philippous the real deal? On the strength of their second feature, they could be the most accomplished and commanding filmmakers in the country right now. All the proof needed is stamped on every frame of Bring Her Back, a consummately intimidating and genuinely frightening horror movie that is clearly one of the year's best. Sally Hawkins has the lead role of Laura, a foster parent of supposed good standing with bad things in mind for the next youths unluckily enough to land on her doorstep. The recently orphaned siblings, Andy (Billy Barratt) and Piper (Sora Wong), are still in a state of shock when they first arrive, but soon notice all is not right inside Laura's dingy, dimly-lit bushland home. Particularly when they start crossing paths with a third child in Laura's lamentable care. Anchored by Hawkins' grotesquely deranged performance (you'll never think of her as the kindly mum from the Paddington series ever again!), Bring Her Back reveals the Philippou brothers to be truly imposing masters of their craft. Whenever they let loose with the scary stuff here, the shocks are instantaneous and powerfully unsettling. Be very afraid … and be very impressed. FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH (M) ★★ Now streaming on Apple TV+ A big bland shambles of an action-adventure movie, stacking many familiar templates from the genre (in particular, the Indiana Jones and National Treasure flicks) into a neat, non-offensive, not-so-entertaining pile. John Krasinski is Luke Purdue, leader of a bunch of a misfits who make a buck nicking rare antiquities on behalf of conniving collectors. Luke's latest assignment is a doozy: a cancer-stricken tycoon (Domhnall Gleeson) reckons a sip from the fabled Fountain of Youth might just reverse his terminal diagnosis. Could Luke find it? Probably. But only after determining whether this magic spring actually exists. This he will ultimately do with assistance from his snarky museum-curating sister Charlotte (Natalie Portman). However, first there must be a rather dull wild goose chase all over the globe before the job at hand can really get started. Though this movie never truly falls apart at any time, it does wobble and shake unconvincingly should you think too hard.
The Print
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
SC rejects plea to include Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's name in 1950 Act to prevent its misuse
A bench of Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih observed there was no violation of fundamental rights of the petitioner. The 1950 law is an Act to prevent improper use of certain emblems and names for professional and commercial purposes. New Delhi, May 27 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea which sought a direction to the Centre to include the name of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in the schedule to the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950. The petitioner, who was appearing in person, told the bench that he has been researching on Savarkar for the last 30 years and he needed an opportunity to establish certain facts about Savarkar in a legally verifiable manner. 'I also want to request the court to issue directions to respondent number two (Union of India) and respondent number three (Ministry of Home Affairs) to include his name in the schedule to the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950,' the petitioner said. The CJI asked, 'What is the violation of your fundamental right?'. The petitioner referred to Article 51A of the Constitution which deals with fundamental duties. He said Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi 'cannot impede my fundamental duties'. The CJI said an Article 32 petition can be entertained only if there was violation of fundamental rights. 'If you want anything to be published in the curriculum, make a representation to the Union of India,' the bench said. The petitioner said he has already made representation to the government. The bench dismissed the plea. In a separate matter, the apex court had on April 25 pulled up Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his 'irresponsible' remarks on Savarkar at a rally in Maharashtra. The top court, however, had stayed the criminal proceedings against Rahul Gandhi in a case lodged in Uttar Pradesh for his remarks. PTI ABA ABA DV DV This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
