Latest news with #CharlizeTheron
TimesLIVE
4 days ago
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
The MINI Cooper S fights for its identity in a changing world
It has been more than two decades since the Hollywood remake of The Italian Job hit screens. Revenge-based storyline and Charlize Theron aside, most car fans will agree the real star of the show was the reinvented MINI. The leading role did a great deal for the cool factor of the British hatchback, shortly after it had been re-birthed by German custodians, BMW. Though the millennium MINI looked like a copy of the original, albeit modernised, it shed the humble economy car essence of its progenitor and was instead a bona fide premium offering: a junior, front-wheel drive BMW of sorts. Even at that time critics lamented that the reincarnated MINI was costly and, relatively speaking, not so miniature. Criticisms that could still apply today. Time to give it a break though, because it is unrealistic to expect any modern interpretation of an original to stay completely faithful to the practical aspects — and dimensions — of its ancestor. In real-world terms, even the purists might agree that thick A-pillars, deforming crumple zones, more airbags than one has fingers and intelligent semi-autonomous driving features provide peace of mind for driver and occupants. Driving a classic Mini in the contemporary world, you would not want to be on the receiving end of a Datsun Go that did not pull up in time. Since that first BMW-made MINI came about in 2000, the portfolio has expanded to include variants of nearly all shapes and sizes. You now have SUV options such as the Countryman and in-between, crossover shapes such as the Aceman. There was also a Mini Roadster. The traditional three-door hatchback format continues to form part of the range in 2025. What a nifty thing it was to see in our basement parking. Parked next to my Countryman SE long-termer, the three-door MINI looked diminutive. But when parked next to a genuine A-segment budget car, the MINI's girth and generous footprint is significant. Opening one of its heavy front doors, you find entry is akin to slinking behind a low-slung sports car's wheel. The access height might reveal the weaker parts of your back structure, especially in the frigid air of winter, as I learnt. This exercise seemed much easier the previous time I tested a three-door Cooper several years ago. Chalk it down to age. In a world of Chinese crossovers with aggressive lines and angry gazes, the doe-eyed, rounded look of the MINI three-door is friendly and endearing. Design-wise, the Mini is mentioned in the same company as icons such as the Porsche 911, Volkswagen Transporter or Ford Mustang — with distinctive aesthetic personalities that cannot be replicated. The new Cooper is modelled on futuristic executions shown in concept cars from yesteryear, such as the 2011 Rocketman. It is minimalistic and digital. There is an expansive dashboard surface. The slim front pews are positioned inches above the ground — no SUV-like 'commanding view' here. Right in the middle of the fascia is an oversized central touchscreen display. There are a few remaining elements of physical switchgear, including a toggle for driving modes. That element will see infrequent use as you are likely to want to keep the Cooper S in its sportiest Go-Kart setting. This also changes the ambient mood lighting to an appropriately racy hue of crimson. Blasting through Los Angeles tunnels and empty waterways like Charlie Croker's gang was a much nicer fantasy than the reality of dodging Egoli's potholes, splashing through flowing sewage. Our city's road surfaces vary from not-so-bad to bad and it is an environment that hardly flatters the firmly-sprung MINI, on its optional 40-profile, 18 inchers. A set of 215/45/17 wheels are standard fitment. The Cooper S retains the frantic character of a city mouse that slugged spilt energy drink, champing at the bit, goading its driver into seizing gaps and keeping that 2.0 l engine in the peak of its power band. There are no shifter paddles to manually slice through the ratios of its seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic, but there is a setting marked 'L' on the gear selector nib, which engages a more dynamic shifting characteristic, holding the gears for longer. Acoustically, the turbocharged, four-cylinder unit is as characterful as can be expected — within the constraints of emissions regulations. It has a buzzy, eager note from within the cabin, delivering enough shove to launch the three-door from standstill to 100km/h in a claimed 6.6 seconds. It is remarkable how tidily the MINI handles. Even mid-corner, the driven (front) wheels are never flummoxed by the foot-flat summoning of the entire 150kW/300Nm output — almost no 'torque-steer' to speak of. The Cooper S is an entertaining, fun compact that likes to be grabbed by the scruff of its neck. Though I could not help but think about how the SE model (that is the electric one) delivers the same level of agility and swiftness but with a more effortless, silent nature typical of responsive electric powertrains. Never thought I would have found myself more partial to the latter sensations — could be that living with the quiet, zero emissions Countryman SE has altered my worldview. Still, there is a price advantage, having the standard three-door Cooper S over its electric SE counterpart. The petrol engine model costs R646,395 compared with the battery-powered model, which is R802,000. These prices are before options. As a newer generation of drivers embrace electric technologies, the hallmarks of what defines a performance car are changing — with less emphasis on sounds, vibrations and other aspects that offer a visceral connection between driver and machine. It is good that MINI wants to pander to both camps (for now, anyway) with a traditional Cooper S and the progressive Cooper SE, rather than forcing its fans to pick a side.
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
The Voet'Tsekkers fly while Afrikaans turns 100
Perhaps the most unforgivable part of the Great Trek 2025 edition of 49 Afrikaner refugees (five more than Charlize Theron's... Newly arrived South Africans during welcome statements by US officials in Dulles, Virginia on May 12, 2025. Picture: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images North America / Getty Images via AFP Perhaps the most unforgivable part of the Great Trek 2025 edition of 49 Afrikaner refugees (five more than Charlize Theron's 2022 census), clad in their down jackets and toting their bespoke luggage on a chartered flight to freedom in the US, was that the clamour last week overshadowed a far more important milestone. On Thursday, 8 May, it was 100 years since the great writer CJ Langenhoven introduced a Bill in parliament for Afrikaans to be recognised as one of the country's two official languages. It's still an official language to this day, albeit with 11 others. Afrikaans' trajectory from kombuistaal to an official language used to defend academic theses and highly complex legal arguments has been a benchmark for all indigenous tongues. The language has been robustly promoted and protected by white speakers throughout its history, but they only make up about 40% of the people who actually speak it as a first language. It's South Africa's third-most used language, spoken by almost 13% of the population and when you look at its representation in literature, film, culture and advertising, it's second only to English which, ironically, is the mother tongue of less than eight percent of the population, ranking sixth in the official language table. ALSO READ: Second chance for Amerikaner 'refugees' Afrikaans has been a success story by any metric, much like white Afrikaners themselves. In terms of their representation in the formal job market, ownership of businesses, directorships and, of course, agriculture, they have proven – as so many African nationalists have said over and over – how affirmative action can really benefit a group of people, so many of whom were unemployable, unskilled and poverty stricken when the Union of South Africa was formed in 1910, which continued to weigh heavily upon the minds of their leaders well beyond the end of World War I – and definitely after 1948. In 1960, Harold MacMillan rattled white South Africans when he told them in no uncertain terms about the Wind of Change blowing through Africa. Three years before, MacMillan had shocked Britons when he told them they'd never had it so good. It's a truth that quietly resonates for all the Afrikaners who remain here, just as it does for all their other white compatriots who aren't leaving. That's why 187 years since Piet Retief left Makhanda for freedom, the 49 now have their own name from those they left behind; the Voet'Tsekkers. God bless Afrikaans. NOW READ: Afrikaner 'refugees' spot a ruse
Daily Record
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Netflix thriller with A-lister but fans only have days to watch
Dark Places is set to be pulled from Netflix next week, as viewers have been left disappointed by the thriller - and it's not hard to see why With a measly 23% approval rate on Rotten Tomatoes, it's no wonder Netflix is parting ways with the contentious thriller Dark Places. The flick is adapted from Gillian Flynn's 2009 bestseller and features Oscar winner Charlize Theron with other celebs like Nicholas Hoult and Chloe Grace Moretz in the marquee. Yet despite the stellar cast, viewers are uniformly branding the film as "disappointing". A critic said: "Big stars, but ultimately a big disappointment. My only complaint is that the story just fails to convince entire duration of the film." Echoing this sentiment, another chimed in: "Was so disappointing compared to the book. It seemed to lose all the tension built through the book." Dark Places tried to emulate the success of Flynn's earlier hit Gone Girl, which was turned into a film with Rosamund Pike, Ben Affleck, and Emily Ratajkowski in 2014, earning rave reviews and dazzling fans of the book, reports Surrey Live. Despite being less celebrated, Dark Places unravels the grim tale of Libby Day who as a seven year old girl witnessed the murder of her mother and two sisters. In court, a bewildered young Libby accused her brother, then 16, sealing his fate with a lifetime behind bars. Despite it being 25 years since the harrowing family catastrophe, Libby can't escape her troubling past and takes an offer to speak at a true-crime event, reliving that fateful evening. As she digs for the truth about her brother's supposed innocence, she revisits her darkest memories. A viewer critical of the film pointed fingers at the casting as the reason for its lacklustre performance, saying: "Dark Places, although a decent story worth reading, didn't make such a successful transition to the big screen," they said. Their critique was particularly scathing for Charlize Theron's portrayal of Libby Day: "I felt that the casting choices were way off, none more so than Charlize Theron as Libby Day. The only person I felt was a good fit was Nicholas Hoult as Lyle. Those in the story who were placed there to be a threatening menace just didn't come across as such. It wasn't a terrible film, but with the right cast it could have been a really decent thriller." Yet, one opinion diverged from the common consensus, expressing surprise at the film's low reception: "I know it got a low score, but I thought it was a gripping story. If you're into the show Dateline, this is right up your alley. I was actually shocked at the low score on Rotten Tomatoes. Definitely a dark movie but extremely realistic. It was a little all over the place but sets up for a gripping ending." If you're intrigued to see what all the negative reviews are about, you can catch Dark Times on Netflix before it vanishes from the streaming platform on June 5.
Fox News
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Charlize Theron suffers on-set injury after performing dangerous stunt work without harness
Charlize Theron is on the mend after suffering an on-set injury. The Oscar-winning actress has revealed that while filming her latest action-packed project, "Apex," she sustained a painful injury after doing some of her own dangerous stunt work—without protective equipment. "Our crew delivered a really impressive movie, and yours truly did some stunts and action — without a harness, sometimes," Theron said at Netflix's 2025 upfront presentation earlier this week, according to Entertainment Weekly. "Don't tell Netflix." "It's actually a miracle that I'm here today," she noted. The "Mad Max: Fury Road" actress continued to detail the risks involved while she worked on her physically demanding role. "Apex only wrapped like a week ago, so I'm fresh off the mountain. I still have some Australian dirt under this pretty manicure, and my cute boot is hiding a fractured toe… I can go on and on and on, but I won't." Despite the physical toll, Theron, 49, remained in good spirits as she recovered. "I can honestly say that shooting 'Apex' was one of the most incredible experiences of my life," she added. Theron went on to say that she never imagined she could top the intense stunts she performed in previous projects. "I actually never thought that I would be able to outdo the action that I did in 'Old Guard 2,'" she remarked. "Back to me almost dying, I'm really proud to share a little of this mammoth movie that I got to work on…" She's set to star in the action-packed film alongside actor Taron Egerton. When describing "Apex," Theron said the movie focuses on "a woman trying to rediscover herself only to be hunted by a ruthless and unforgiving human predator." Reps for Theron did not immediately respond back to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Theron isn't the only Hollywood star that's recently sustained injuries. Earlier this week, Jennifer Lopez suffered a facial injury during rehearsals just weeks before hosting the American Music Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada. The "Let's Get Loud" singer took to social media Tuesday to share a photo of her icing one of her eyes. "So this happened…" Lopez, 55, posted on her Instagram Story. She shared a second selfie without the ice pack, explaining that the injury happened while she was rehearsing for the American Music Awards, set to take place on May 26. Lopez is booked to host the show. A visible cut is seen at the top of Lopez's nose and a slight discoloration is visible around her eye. Lopez posted a third photo next to plastic surgeon Dr. Jason Diamond and in her caption she wrote, "Thank you for stitching me up Dr. Diamond. A week later and a whole lotta ice, I'm good as new." It's unclear what caused the injury.
Geek Tyrant
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Charlize Theron Says Uma Thurman Deserved an Oscar for KILL BILL - "A Hundred Percent" — GeekTyrant
Most movie fans who have seen Quentin Tarantino's films would agree that Uma Thurman's portrayal of Beatrix Kiddo/The Bride/Black Mamba in the Kill Bill movies is one of the greatest characters in both Thurman's body of work, as well as Tarantino's imagination. She is among the most badass fighters, a defier of death, many times over, and a mom that will do anything to reunite with her child, and kill the man who took her from her. Fellow actress Charlize Theron, who has played her share of kickass characters, feels so passionately about Uma Thurman's role in the films, that she spoke about it in a recent interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The pair faced off with one another in the upcoming Netflix sequel The Old Guard 2 , and Theron talked about working with Thurman, who she's always been a fan of, stating: 'We knew each other kind of offhand, but I knew her from being a massive fan, just watching her work, and always wanted to do something with her. Because when I came into the action world, she was really, to me, like, the sensei. She was the OG.' 'I agree. She should've won the Academy Award for Kill Bill , right?' asked Kimmel, to which Theron responded: 'A hundred percent.' Theron added: 'I think men get a lot of credit for these movies. … What she did in that film was just so unbelievable. And to me, she's just such a badass. So, since I've been in action movies, I've been like, 'Who do I want to work with and do an action sequence with?' It's always been Uma Thurman. Always.' Although Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003) and Volume 2 (2004) was snubbed by the Academy, Thurman received two consecutive Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress — Motion Picture Drama. In The Old Guard 2 , Theron reprises her role as Andy/Andromache of Scythia, with Thurman as her new nemesis Discord, 'the first of the immortals.' The Old Guard 2 hits Netflix on July 2nd. via: Deadline
