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Winnipeg Free Press
29 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Movie Review: Tom Hiddleston leads the cosmic puzzle that is ‘Life of Chuck'
'Life of Chuck' is a peculiar movie with grandiose ambitions. It teases out a cosmic mystery about life and some guy named Charles Krantz ( Tom Hiddleston ) in a story told in reverse chronological order that gets smaller and smaller with each act. This is a story that begins with the apocalypse and ends with a middle school dance. Well, kind of. I'm not out to spoil (much) here. It's based on a novella by Stephen King (part of his 'If It Bleeds' collection of stories) and adapted by filmmaker Mike Flanagan, who was also behind 'Gerald's Game' and 'Doctor Sleep.' This, however, is not a horror movie, though there are spooky elements laden with ominous ambiguity. There are also big, joyful dance numbers, a fair share of cynical jokes, whimsical narration from Nick Offerman, earnest conversations about the end of the world and plenty of references to Walt Whitman's 'Song of Myself' — in particularly 'I am large, I contain multitudes.' That is most movingly conveyed in a sweet scene with a teacher (Kate Siegel) and a middle school aged Chuck ( Benjamin Pajak ) on the last day of school. 'Life of Chuck' wants to make you think, feel, laugh and cry about the most mundane of characters: Krantz, a white, American, middle-aged accountant, whose life is modest and whose childhood was full of tragedy and loss. And while I certainly enjoyed elements of this odyssey in reverse, I was ultimately left feeling very little — especially about Chuck and the questionable end-of-film explanation that ties it all together. Hiddleston, it should be said, is not in 'Life of Chuck' as much as one might expect for being the titular character. His presence looms large certainly — it's why we're here. But, in reality, Hiddleston as a performer is more of an ensemble player among a sea of recognizable faces. In the third act, which opens the film, he's everywhere — on billboards and television ads, cheerily smiling in a nondescript grey suit, coffee cup in one hand, pencil in another. 'Charles Krantz. 39 great years! Thanks Chuck!' the signs read. It's the background until it's all that's left as the world appears to be ending. The internet has gone out. Parts of California have drifted into the Pacific. Environmental disasters rage. Suicides are skyrocketing. Hail Mary life decisions are being made. And poor Marty (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is just trying to do his job as a school teacher. His parent-teacher conferences have become parent therapy sessions. Everyone — a maintenance guy (Matthew Lillard), a funeral director (Carl Lumbly) — seems to want to philosophize about what's going on, and who the heck Chuck is. He has big conversations about the history of the universe with his ex-wife (Karen Gillan). And together they wait for the end. In act two, a grown Chuck (Hiddleston) dances in the street in a joyful six-minute sequence. Compelled to move when he hears the beat of a street drummer (Taylor Gordon), he even pulls in a stranger to join him (Annalise Basso). In act one, he's a kid ( Pajak ) who has lost both his parents and unborn sister in a car accident and is living with his grandparents (Mark Hamill and Mia Sara, who it's nice to have back on screen). It's during this segment, which comprises nearly half the movie, that he learns to dance. First, it's through his grandmother freestyling to Wang Chung and curating a movie musical marathon (including 'Singin' in the Rain,' 'Cabaret, 'Cover Girl' and 'All That Jazz'). Then it's at school, where little Chuck learns the perks of being a straight man who can dance. There's also a possibly haunted cupola on the top floor of their house that's causing grandpa lots of anxiety. This is a film with a big heart that has already made a significant impact on some moviegoers. Last fall it won the audience award at the Toronto International Film Festival, an honor which has produced many best picture nominees and winners. And it's one where a second viewing might be rewarding, so you can more appreciate the thoughtful throughlines and the piece as a whole since you know what it's building toward. But I also suspect this particular flavor of sentimentality might not be for everyone. This critic felt a bit like the film was trying to trick you into caring about Chuck, while revealing very little about the man he became and explaining too much about the mystery. And yet it's a nice message, with nice performances and might be that kind of affirming hug of a film that someone is craving. 'Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself.' Film reviews can also contain multitudes. 'Life of Chuck,' a Neon release in theaters Friday, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for language. Running time: 110 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.
Geek Tyrant
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Mike Flanagan Is Working Closely with Stephen King on THE DARK TOWER TV Adaptation: "I'm Not Gonna Let Him Down" — GeekTyrant
Mike Flanagan is still hard at work developing his adaptation of Stephen King's magnum opus The Dark Tower series, and according to the filmmaker, it's just taking time because, well… it's that big. In a recent interview with ComicBook, Flanagan offered a candid update when asked about the long-gestating project: 'It's not that I've put it down. It's just that the thing is so big, it's like building an oil tanker. We've been moving it forward this whole time. 'It's just, that's how big it is. It's constantly in the works, and you better believe as often as you guys may want to ask about it, Stephen King is asking me about it more, and I'm not gonna let him down.' Flanagan is 100% committed to the project and he's collaborating directly with the author himself. King even confirmed earlier this year that he's actively writing material for the series: 'All I can say is, it's happening. I am writing stuff now, and I think that's all I want to say, because the next thing you know, I'll stir up a bunch of stuff I don't necessarily want to stir up yet. I'm in process right now, and to say too much feels like a jinx.' While Flanagan's Dark Tower hasn't landed at a streamer or officially gone into production yet, it is fully outlined. The plan is to make it a five-season series that gives the epic eight-book saga the breathing room it needs. If there's anyone who will be able to do it right, it's Flanagan. His track record with King's work speaks for itself: Gerald's Game , Doctor Sleep , and the upcoming The Life of Chuck , which hits theaters June 6. All these projects have all shown he gets the tone, the heart, and the horror that comes with adapting King's work. He's also developing a new take on Carrie . When Flanagan first announced the project, he said that the pilot script is 'one of my favorite things I've ever gotten to work on.' He shared at the time: 'I wrote a pilot, we view it as a as a series that's going at least five seasons. And having lived with this project as long as I have, I have an enormous amount of it worked out in my brain. 'But I have a pilot script I'm thrilled with and a very detailed outline for the first season and a broader outline for the subsequent seasons. 'I think eventually, if we're able to get it going, there are some other writers I want to fold into that process whom I've worked with before; I think they would be really fabulous for a very small, intimate writers room where we can continue to break it. 'I'll tell you, more than half of my life, I've closed my eyes and been able to watch a lot of this play out, I've dreamed about this. 'That first shot which comes right off at the first incredible sentence of the first book, The Gunslinger, I've had that image just rattling around in my head since I was an undergrad. It's going to have to get out of there eventually, I really need to get it out of my head. 'The pilot script is one of my favorite things I've ever gotten to work on. It's been surreal working on that. So we've been floored and grateful that Stephen King trusts us with such an undertaking, something so precious to him, and we hope to find the right partners to realize it.' The director has been adamant that his adaptation will stick as close to the source material as possible. Back in 2022, Flanagan said: 'It would look like the books. The way not to do The Dark Tower is to try to turn it into something else, to try to make it Star Wars or make it Lord of the Rings . 'It is what it is, what it is is perfect. It's just as exciting as all of those things and just as immersive. It's a story about a tiny group of people, all the odds in the whole world are against them, and they come together. As long as it's that, it'll be fine and there won't be a dry eye in the house.' I cant wait to see what he does with this story!
Style Blueprint
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Style Blueprint
Red Clay Strays: We Can't Get Enough of This AL-Based Band!
Share with your friends! Pinterest LinkedIn Email Flipboard Reddit It's been a banner year for the Red Clay Strays, one that in-the-know publications like Billboard and Rolling Stone knew was coming, but that the Alabama band will never take for granted. They just snagged the title of 'Best New Group' at the 60th Annual Country Music Association Awards (CMAs) with a unique sound that is clearly hitting all the right notes with fans across the globe, selling out shows everywhere from their hometown of Mobile, AL, all the way to Australia. Pin The Red Clay Strays' story began in 2016, when the band started trying out a few original songs in their set list of covers, gradually amassing a following in Mobile and throughout the Southeast. In 2019, their song 'Good Godly Woman' was featured in the movie 'Doctor Sleep,' starring Ewan McGregor. This built momentum for the group and resulted in music festival bookings and other opportunities. Cut to 2020, when COVID-19 put a damper on it all, with concert venues canceling show after show. In an interview with Alabama Public Radio, lead singer Brandon Coleman said, 'I told everybody, 'Y'all need to find something to do. Find a job or something, because shows are going away.'' The band went from being booked out months ahead to shaky gigs at the last minute. They returned primarily to local shows around Mobile rather than the gigs they'd become accustomed to booking across the country. Pin Tragedy also hit close to home in 2020 for the Red Clay Strays. That August, drummer John Hall lost his brother, Jacob, at just 23 years old. Jacob had been an honorary member of the crew, teaching guitarist Drew Nix how to play the harmonica and performing with the band often. The hardship of 2020 prompted the group to turn raw human emotions into art. From the start, the Red Clay Strays was a band of the people, largely relying on crowdfunding for everything from fixing their modest first tour van (dubbed 'The Breeze') to recording their debut studio album, Moment of Truth, in 2022. The band sought to serve the fans that had kept them going, recognizing that the energy of their live shows is one of their greatest assets. They chose to self-record the album live and use only analog equipment to capitalize on their throwback sound, inspired by their rock-and-roll heroes of the '60s and '70s. Their commitment to stick to their roots succeeded, and rumor has it their crowdfunding campaign for the album raised $60,000 in its first week. As journalist Garrett K. Woodward accurately describes in his profile of the band for Rolling Stone, lead singer Brandon Coleman performs his 'fire and brimstone vocals' with the passion and fervor of a charismatic preacher; their songs laced with religious themes in an often somber, other times rowdy mix of country rock and soulful blues. Pin 'It's self-expression,' Brandon Coleman told Rolling Stone, 'I sing every song a little differently each night, depending on the show and how I'm feeling … I'm locked into the crowd.' He's joined by bassist Andrew Bishop, guitarist Drew Nix, drummer John Hall, guitarist Zach Rishel, and the newest member of the group, keyboardist and organist Sevans Henderson. In 2023, their song 'Wondering Why' went viral on TikTok, and the rest is history. The song climbed the charts, breaking into Billboard's Hot 100. The Red Clay Stray's streaming success (to the tune of tens of millions on Spotify) led to a record deal with RCA records in 2024. The band stressed that signing with RCA was contingent upon maintaining their artistic integrity. 'That was the number one thing … that they can't tell us what to do,' bassist Andrew Bishop told That summer, the band released their second studio album, Made by These Moments, and the album reached the number six spot on Billboard's top Americana/Folk albums list. Pin Things seem to only be getting started for the Red Clay Strays. Last year, they took the title of Emerging Artist of the Year from the Americana Music Honors and Awards and were nominated for CMA's Vocal Group of the Year. In addition to this year's CMA title of Best New Group, they were also nominated for Group of the Year. The band strives to keep everything in perspective, despite their recent success. Speaking with Coleman said, 'I think we've always felt like we've made it in a sense. We've been playing music and paying our bills … Just being able to do this is what we enjoy, what we're thankful for, and take pride in.' The Red Clay Strays Summer Tour The band is currently on a sold-out tour in Australia (they're selling out here in the South, too!), but will be back in the States for a summer tour featuring stops throughout the South before heading to Europe in the fall. 2025 Southern Tour Dates Get your tickets here! May 31, Midnight | Gulf Coast Jam | Panama City Beach, FL June 1, 11 p.m. | Railbird Music Festival 2025 | Lexington, KY June 7, 8:30 p.m. | CMA Fest – Nissan Stadium | Nashville, TN June 12 – 15, 2025 | Bonnaroo 2025 | Manchester, TN June 14, 7 p.m. | Beech Mountain Resort Summer Concert Series | Beech Mountain, NC SOLD OUT July 3, 7 p.m. | The Wharf | Orange Beach, AL SOLD OUT July 4, 7 p.m. | The Wharf | Orange Beach, AL July 5, 7 p.m.| The Wharf | Orange Beach, AL August 15, 7 p.m. | Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park | Wilmington, NC SOLD OUT August 16, 7 p.m. | Red Hat Amphitheater | Raleigh, NC SOLD OUT August 20, 7 p.m. | The St. Augustine Amphitheatre | St. Augustine, FL SOLD OUT August 22, 7 p.m. | Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre | Charlotte, NC SOLD OUT August 24, 7 p.m. | Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront | Richmond, VA SOLD OUT September 25, 7 p.m. | The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory | Irving, TX SOLD OUT September 26, 7 p.m. | Cooks Garage | Lubbock, TX SOLD OUT September 28, 7 p.m. | Moody Amphitheater | Austin, TX SOLD OUT October 10, 8 p.m. | Riverfront Revival Music Festival 2025 | North Charleston, SC ********** To stay in the know on the best of the South, subscribe to our daily emails! About the Author Katie Leigh Matthews
Geek Tyrant
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Matthew Lillard Teases Mike Flanagan's Bold, Timely Vision for Stephen King's CARRIE — GeekTyrant
There have been plenty of Carrie adaptations over the years and actor Matthew Lillard says the upcoming series version from director Mike Flanagan ( The Haunting of Hill House, Doctor Sleep ) is shaping up to be something different. Lillard recently joined the cast of Flanagan's reimagined Carrie series for Amazon MGM Studios, and in an interview with ComicBook, he shared his excitement about where this version is headed, and how Flanagan is steering it into very current territory. Flanagan isn't just updating the setting, he's also recontextualizing the story entirely, and even Stephen King is on board with it. Lillard said: 'Well, first and foremost, Mike Flanagan's, I think, a brilliant filmmaker, period. Working with him on Life of Chuck was like a dream, and then getting a chance to do this, I'm very honored to be in his world. So, he called, I said yes.' That creative trust is clearly mutual. Flanagan pitched Lillard on a new concept for Carrie , one that reflects the world we live in now. Lillard continued: 'The exciting thing for me here is that he crafted an idea based around what we're experiencing right now in the world, and shared that with Stephen King, and then Stephen King was like, 'Oh, that's a great idea.' So, it's Stephen King's first published book, it has gone through all these iterations. I think the exciting thing here is that Mike has found a way to make it relevant right now, and I think that it speaks to what we're all experiencing, and so I think that that's going to make a difference.' No plot details just yet, but Lillard's comments hint that this isn't just another blood-soaked prom redo. Flanagan is known for his emotionally rich, psychologically driven horror, and Lillard makes it sound like the series will be more of a cultural reflection than a simple retread. The 1974 novel tells the story of Carrie White, a shy teenage girl with telekinetic powers, dealing with relentless bullying at school and the psychological torment of her religiously fanatical mother. Summer H. Howell is set to star as Carrie, with Siena Agudong playing her infamous classmate and antagonist, Sue Snell. Flanagan's Carrie was officially greenlit last month and is currently in pre-production. No word yet on when filming begins or when it might premiere, but it will consist of eight episodes.
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
We Were Liars OTT Release Date: When and where to watch Emily Alyn Lind & Shubham's teen drama
We Were Liars OTT Release Date: If you've been waiting for a dark, dramatic series to take over your summer binge list, you're in for a treat. We Were Liars, the much-awaited adaptation of E. Lockhart's bestselling novel, drops on June 18, 2025, only on Prime Video. Yes, all episodes. All secrets. All the lies. Dropping at once. What is We Were Liars all about? Picture this: a wealthy family with a private island off New England, glamorous summer vacations, and a group of teens who call themselves "the Liars." Sounds dreamy, right? But We Were Liars is no ordinary beach drama. At the centre of it all is Cadence Sinclair Eastman (played by Emily Alyn Lind), who returns to the island after a mysterious accident left her with memory loss. As the summer unfolds, Cadence starts to discover truths that the Sinclair family would rather keep buried. And trust us, the truth cuts deep. It's part mystery, part psychological thriller, and 100% addictive. Meet the Liars (and the Sinclairs) The cast is packed with fresh and familiar faces, including Emily Alyn Lind (Gossip Girl, Doctor Sleep) as Cadence, Shubham Maheshwari as Gat Patil, Esther McGregor as Mirren, Joseph Zada as Johnny, alongside David Morse, Candice King, Mamie Gummer, Rahul Kohli, and Caitlin FitzGerald. Fun fact: Shubham Maheshwari was discovered through an open casting call on Instagram. Talk about a modern fairytale casting! Behind the scenes, the creators of The Vampire Diaries and Roswell, New Mexico - Julie Plec and Carina Adly MacKenzie - are steering the ship. Want to get a head start? The official We Were Liars audiobook, narrated by Emily Alyn Lind herself, drops on May 20. So whether you're commuting, walking your dog, or lying in bed, the story can follow you anywhere. For more news and updates from the world of OTT and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
