Latest news with #Eulogy
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Black Mirror' Sets Emmy Campaigns for Paul Giamatti, Rashida Jones, Cristin Milioti and More (EXCLUSIVE)
Netflix has a strong Emmy hand to play this TV awards season, positioning the seventh season of its flagship anthology series 'Black Mirror' for a major awards run — and this time, the dystopian drama might be among its most formidable contenders yet. Confirmed exclusively to Variety, the streamer is submitting three standout performances for lead acting honors in the limited or anthology series or TV movie categories: Paul Giamatti for the melancholic and moving 'Eulogy,' and Chris O'Dowd and Rashida Jones for their resonant turns in the sociopolitical two-hander 'Common People.' It's a bold push that signals high hopes for a season already being hailed as a return to form — and possibly the series' strongest outing since its Emmy-winning heyday. More from Variety Netflix Orders Adult Animated Comedy 'Mating Season' From 'Big Mouth' Team Netflix Sets 'Mad Unicorn' Thai Drama on Express Delivery Startup Saga 'North of North' Renewed for Season 2 at Netflix Giamatti's performance as Phillip, a solitary man navigating grief through digital means in 'Eulogy,' has generated both tears and buzz. The 46-minute episode explores the ethics of AI-driven memorials, as Phillip participates in the virtual funeral of a former flame with the help of an empathetic AI guide, played by Patsy Ferran. In 'Common People,' Jones and O'Dowd deliver career-best performances as a couple who agrees to a contract with a startup to remotely restore her brain function following a tumor diagnosis for a monthly fee. Co-star and Emmy nominee Tracee Ellis Ross, will vie for supporting attention. Indeed, the streamer has stacked its acting deck, and many of the other notable cast members will also seek attention in the supporting actor and actress categories, notably: Issa Rae and Emma Corrin's enigmatic turns in 'Hotel Reverie,' Peter Capaldi's unhinged villain in 'Plaything,' rising star Siena Kelly's fiery and timely execution in 'Bête Noire,' and Cristin Milioti and Jesse Plemons' return in the meta-sequel 'USS Callister: Into Infinity,' which all add to the campaign's power. Milioti, notably, is also an early frontrunner in the lead actress race for HBO's 'The Penguin,' making her a potential double nominee. But 'Black Mirror' isn't chasing gold in a vacuum. Netflix is also juggling two other high-profile limited series contenders: the British mystery thriller 'Adolescence,' starring Stephen Graham, and Ryan Murphy's biographical crime drama 'Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.' If all three land nominations in the limited series category, Netflix would achieve a rare trifecta — a feat last accomplished in 2022 by Hulu with 'Dopesick,' 'The Dropout' and 'Pam & Tommy.' That lineup, however, was ultimately bested by HBO's 'The White Lotus,' which has since transitioned to the drama category. 'Black Mirror' creator and writer Charlie Brooker will submit two episodes for Emmy consideration in the writing categories: 'Common People' (teleplay by Brooker, story by Brooker and Bisha K. Ali) and 'Eulogy' (written by Brooker and Ella Road). Four directors — Ally Pankiw ('Common People'), Haolu Wang ('Hotel Reverie'), David Slade ('Plaything') and Chris Barrett and Luke Taylor ('Eulogy') — are eligible to submit individually for their respective episodes. Per Emmy rules, Toby Haynes, who directed both 'Bête Noire' and 'USS Callister: Into Infinity,' must choose one episode to submit, with a final decision expected by the May 8 submission deadline. With Emmy voters facing tough choices, Netflix is clearly betting that a reinvigorated 'Black Mirror,' rich with emotional depth, biting satire and top-tier talent, will rise above the competition. The nomination voting window runs from June 12 to June 23, with official nominations set to be announced in July. Season 7 of 'Black Mirror' is now streaming on Netflix. Variety Awards Circuit: Emmys Check out this week's Emmy predictions in key series and acting categories below. For a full breakdown of every Primetime Emmy race, visit our main awards page, and explore the official rankings on each individual category page. Drama Series'Andor''The Diplomat''The Last of Us''The Pitt''Severance''Slow Horses''Squid Game''The White Lotus' Lead Actor (Drama)Sterling K. Brown, 'Paradise'Jon Hamm, 'Your Friends and Neighbors'Gary Oldman, 'Slow Horses'Adam Scott, 'Severance'Billy Bob Thornton, 'Landman'Noah Wyle, 'The Pitt' Lead Actress (Drama)Kathy Bates, 'Matlock'Britt Lower, 'Severance'Melanie Lynskey, 'Yellowjackets'Elisabeth Moss, 'The Handmaid's Tale'Bella Ramsey, 'The Last of Us'Keri Russell, 'The Diplomat' Supporting Actor (Drama)Patrick Ball, 'The Pitt'Zach Cherry, 'Severance'Walton Goggins, 'The White Lotus'Jason Isaacs, 'The White Lotus'Young Mazino, 'The Last of Us'Sam Rockwell, 'The White Lotus'Tramell Tillman, 'Severance'John Turturro, 'Severance' Supporting Actress (Drama)Patricia Arquette, 'Severance'Leslie Bibb, 'The White Lotus'Carrie Coon, 'The White Lotus'Fiona Dourif, 'The Pitt'Allison Janney, 'The Diplomat'Katherine LaNasa, 'The Pitt'Isabela Merced, 'The Last of Us'Parker Posey, 'The White Lotus' Guest Actor (Drama)Andy Garcia, 'Landman'Scott Glenn, 'The White Lotus'Shawn Hatosy, 'The Pitt'Joe Pantoliano, 'The Last of Us'Jeffrey Wright, 'The Last of Us' Guest Actress (Drama)Gwendoline Christie, 'Severance'Kaitlyn Dever, 'The Last of Us'Catherine O'Hara, 'The Last of Us'Hilary Swank, 'Yellowjackets'Merrit Wever, 'Severance' Comedy Series'Abbott Elementary''The Bear''The Four Seasons''Hacks''Nobody Wants This''Only Murders in the Building''Shrinking''The Studio' Lead Actor (Comedy)Adam Brody, 'Nobody Wants This'Seth Rogen, 'The Studio'Jason Segel, 'Shrinking'Martin Short, 'Only Murders in the Building'Jeremy Allen White, 'The Bear' Lead Actress (Comedy)Kristen Bell, 'Nobody Wants This'Quinta Brunson, 'Abbott Elementary'Ayo Edebiri, 'The Bear'Natasha Lyonne, 'Poker Face'Jean Smart, 'Hacks' Supporting Actor (Comedy)Ike Barinholtz, 'The Studio'Colman Domingo, 'The Four Seasons'Paul W. Downs, 'Hacks'Harrison Ford, 'Shrinking'Ebon Moss-Bachrach, 'The Bear'Tyler James Williams, 'Abbott Elementary'Bowen Yang, 'Saturday Night Live' Supporting Actress (Comedy)Liza Colón-Zayas, 'The Bear'Hannah Einbinder, 'Hacks'Kathryn Hahn, 'The Studio'Janelle James, 'Abbott Elementary'Catherine O'Hara, 'The Studio'Sheryl Lee Ralph, 'Abbott Elementary'Jessica Williams, 'Shrinking' Guest Actor (Comedy)Jon Bernthal, 'The Bear'John Cena, 'The Bear'Bryan Cranston, 'The Studio'Timothée Chalamet, 'Saturday Night Live'Christopher McDonald, 'Hacks'Martin Scorsese, 'The Studio' Guest Actress (Comedy)Jamie Lee Curtis, 'The Bear'Cynthia Erivo, 'Poker Face'Ariana Grande, 'Saturday Night Live'Melissa McCarthy, 'Only Murders in the Building'Julianne Nicholson, 'Hacks'Sarah Polley, 'The Studio' Limited or Anthology Series'Adolescence''Black Mirror''Disclaimer''Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story''The Penguin' Television Movie'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy''The Gorge''Mountainhead''Out of My Mind''Rebel Ridge' Lead Actor (Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie)Colin Farrell, 'The Penguin'Paul Giamatti, 'Black Mirror'Stephen Graham, 'Adolescence'Brian Tyree Henry, 'Dope Thief'Cooper Koch, 'Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story' Lead Actress (Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie)Cate Blanchett, 'Disclaimer'Rashida Jones, 'Black Mirror'Cristin Milioti, 'The Penguin'Amanda Seyfried, 'Long Bright River'Michelle Williams, 'Dying for Sex' Supporting Actor (Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie)Javier Bardem, 'Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story'Owen Cooper, 'Adolescence'Rob Delaney, 'Dying for Sex'Rhenzy Feliz, 'The Penguin'Diego Luna, 'La Máquina'Wagner Moura, 'Dope Thief'Ashley Walters, 'Adolescence' Supporting Actress (Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie)Emma Corrin, 'Black Mirror'Erin Doherty, 'Adolescence'Lesley Manville, 'Disclaimer'Cristin Milioti, 'Black Mirror'Deirdre O'Connell, 'The Penguin'Jenny Slate, 'Dying for Sex'Christine Tremarco, 'Adolescence' Talk Series'The Daily Show''Hot Ones''The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' Scripted Variety'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver''Saturday Night Live' Directing (Drama)'Andor' — Alonso Ruizpalacios'The Last of Us' — Mark Mylod'The Pitt' — John Wells'Severance' — Jessica Lee Gagné'Severance' — Ben Stiller'Squid Game' — Hwang Dong-hyuk'The White Lotus' — Mike White Directing (Comedy)'The Bear' — Ayo Edebiri'The Four Seasons' — Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini'Hacks' — Lucia Aniello'Mid-Century Modern' — James Burrows'The Ms. Pat Show' — Mary Lou Belli'Only Murders in the Building' — John Hoffman'The Studio' — Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg Directing (Limited/TV Movie)'Adolescence' — Philip Barantini'Black Mirror' — Chris Barrett and Luke Taylor'Disclaimer' — Alfonso Cuarón'Dope Thief' — Ridley Scott'The Penguin' — Craig Zobel'Presumed Innocent' — Anne Sewitsky Writing (Drama)'The Agency' — Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth'Andor' — Tony Gilroy'The Last of Us' — Craig Mazin'Matlock' — Jennie Snyder Urman'Severance' — Dan Erickson'Slow Horses' — Will Smith'The White Lotus' — Mike White Writing (Comedy)'Abbott Elementary' — Quinta Brunson'The Four Seasons' — Tina Fey, Lang Fisher, Tracey Wigfield'Hacks' — Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky'The Studio' — Alex Gregory'The Studio' — Peter Huyck'The Studio' — Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory, Frida Perez'What We Do in the Shadows' — Sam Johnson, Sarah Naftalis, Paul Simms Writing (Limited/TV Movie)'Adolescence' — Stephen Graham, Jack Thorne'Black Mirror' — Charlie Brooker'Black Mirror' — Charlie Brooker, Bisha K. Ali'Disclaimer' — Alfonso Cuarón'Dying for Sex' — Kim Rosenstock, Elizabeth Meriwether'The Penguin' — Lauren LeFranc Best of Variety 2025 Tony Awards Predictions: Kieran Culkin Eyes Historic Triple Crown, Latinos Take Center Stage and Star Power Could Rule Broadway Honors New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Netflix in May 2025
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Paul Giamatti talks ‘Black Mirror,' playing a ‘Star Trek' villain, and his go-to In-N-Out order
In his Black Mirror debut, Emmy-winning actor Paul Giamatti stars as a lonely man who confronts a past love by literally stepping into old photographs to recall his late girlfriend's face. The Season 7 episode 'Eulogy' calls on Giamatti to convey a wide range of emotions — often all at once — whether that's anger, hurt, or self-loathing. How does an award-winning actor prepare for that? More from GoldDerby Natasha Rothwell says goodbye to 'How to Die Alone' (for now), reveals what would've happened next The making of 'Matlock': 'I wanted it to be a love letter to women in the workforce' 'The White Lotus' will enter these 20 Season 3 actors - along with surprise submission Ke Huy Quan - for the 2025 Emmys 'I'm filled with defensiveness, anger and hurt,' Giamatti joked to Gold Derby on the red carpet of the show's FYC event at the Television Academy's Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, Calif. 'It's weirdly enjoyable in some really sick way for actors to do that.' While he said he 'worried' most about the ending and the final scene 'landing naturally,' The Holdovers actor also credited the episode's writers, Ella Road and creator Charlie Brooker. 'It's in the script when someone tells me what to do,' he said, adding, 'it's my job to see if I can bring that stuff up.' Tracee Ellis Ross and Rashida Jones, who star in the episode "Common People," agree that the script is key to balancing the series' darkly satirical tone. 'I think so much of it is in the writing,' says Ross. "Common People," written by Brooker and Bisha K. Ali, explores what happens after a woman (Jones) experiences a medical emergency and her husband (Chris O'Dowd) signs her up for a brain-altering subscription service that causes her to awkwardly spout ads for coffee, therapy shoes, and more. 'It does lay somewhere in between a darkness, like an underbelly, undercurrent, of hyper-reality — and also it's funny,' Jones said. Black Mirror is known for delving into the dark side of tech — or at least what happens when humanity takes technological advances in a dystopian direction. 'Usually at the end of a Black Mirror [episode], the main characters are dead or despairing or disgraced — or all of the above,' Brooker said during the Q&A portion of the event, explaining why almost all episodes of the anthology series are one-off stories. Netflix However, reviving the 'USS Callister' storyline from the original 2017 episode was something Brooker wanted to do, saying he felt they could 'start a new chapter with them.' Calling the original 'something we were immediately proud of,' the Season 7 follow-up, USS Callister: Into Infinity, is even larger in scope. '[In the original], we're slightly riffing on Star Trek, but we weren't taking the piss out of Star Trek,' Brooker, a former video-game journalist, explained to Gold Derby. 'In this one, we're slightly riffing on Star Wars and video games — things like No Man's Sky, Fortnite, and Destiny — multiplayer, huge games like that.' While the USS Callister sequel was heavy on visual effects, the world of Eulogy — which brought Giamatti's character, Phil, along with his avatar guide (Patsy Ferran) into those grainy pictures—presented an effects challenge that relied less on CGI and more on the talents of mimes and other actors. 'We shot with real people on real stages so that Paul and Patsy could move amongst them, touch them,' VFX supervisor James MacLachlan told Gold Derby. Mixing metalwork with a movement choreographer, MacLachlan said the actors held 'very specific poses,' with some added help. 'We had some of these people holding these poses for upwards of 30, 40 minutes,' he explained. 'But they had certain supports — wedges under their legs, supports up through their arms—so in a weird way they could sort of slightly rest into a situation.' The series reintroduces the small, round brain-chip device Nubbin in multiple episodes, including "Eulogy," to virtually transport characters inside pictures or movies. There are different sounds that come through the Nubbins, including Phil's guide (Ferran), but supervising sound editor Tom Jenkins admitted that they 'had some fun with it.' 'My son was born during the post-process of Black Mirror, so every little opportunity, there's little snippets of my boy in all the sounds,' Jenkins told Gold Derby, 'so even the Nubbins, there's a little bit of his voice in there.' Calling Season 7 'very reflective' and saying 'there's a little more hope' during the event Q&A, Brooker told Gold Derby that he's actually pro-technology in his everyday life. 'I think most technology can be used to bring us together,' he said. 'It's how we use these powerful tools that's the issue.' As for sci-fi enthusiast Giamatti, the Oscar-nominated actor will appear as a villain in the upcoming series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. 'I love Star Trek,' says Giamatti. 'The villain part, I was like, 'I definitely want to do this.' Also, the Star Trek villains are so great. To be able to be a Star Trek bad guy, I was like, 'How can I not do that?'' He added that the character is 'funny, too, which is actually something I really liked about him. But it's a really … it's a big character so I got to have a good time with it.' With awards season upon us, we might see Giamatti heading back to In-N-Out as he did after his 2024 Golden Globe win for The Holdovers and he knows exactly what he'll order. 'I just get it very standard,' he told Gold Derby. 'I just get a double-double raw onion. I don't do anything fancy.' Best of GoldDerby The making of 'Matlock': 'I wanted it to be a love letter to women in the workforce' Is 'SNL' new tonight? Host, musical guest details How Natasha Rothwell helped Belinda get her groove back in 'The White Lotus' Season 3 Click here to read the full article.
Globe and Mail
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
Black Mirror's Eulogy episode revels in the dangers of memory and main character energy
We are all the heroes of our own stories, but that doesn't make our feelings fact. Black Mirror's newest season reminds us of that in 'Eulogy,' an intense exploration of love, grief and how technology can revisit the past. The 47-minute episode is one of the series' simplest in seven seasons, proving that sometimes less really is more. It follows the story of an isolated man who learns his ex-girlfriend has died. When her family requests that he share his memories via a new tech service called Eulogy, he's forced to reckon with decades-old heartbreak and the realization that his bitterness and anger have strangled his memories. Paul Giamatti stars as Phillip, the misanthrope in question, and delivers a gut-punching performance full of subtle nuances and emotion. When the AI service tries to dislodge his memories of his ex, Carol, he can't bring her to mind. A guide convinces him to pull out a series of photographs of his time with Carol to help, and launches him into the actual photos to have a look around. The only problem? Phillip has scratched out Carol's face in every instance, and can no longer remember what she looked like. It's a nostalgic reminder that back before smartphones and digital technology, photos didn't capture every instance of a person's life. Once the snaps that did exist were ruined, there was no getting them back. In 'Eulogy,' that story device allows viewers to revisit the past through Phillip's eyes as he recalls the strong love he once held for this woman and the anger that consumed him after they broke up. There's a slight mystery as to what happened as the story unfolds, and new insights as to memory versus circumstance as the Guide (Patsy Ferran) points out inconsistencies in the memories Phillip recalls. It becomes clear Phillip has painted a victim narrative in his head after his loss; however, a picture, as they say, is worth a thousand words. As he progresses through his memories, Phillip makes some hard realizations. It's a beautifully delivered story about how things can go so wrong when we fail to be objective. As Phillip turns to the bottle to quell his anger and pain, his actions have devastating consequences that he's failed to see for years. Rather than deal with his grief and resolve his issues, he's turned to a sad life of solitude. In the hands of Giamatti, the character gets under your skin and lingers, and Ferran is every bit his equal. Together they deliver a powerful message about how anguish comes in many shapes and forms, whether grieving a death or the death of a relationship. It's also a reminder that when we self-soothe with substances, or these days via things such as doomscrolling, we can miss the very real life that's going on around us. For Black Mirror, a series that typically dwells on the devastating effects of technology, it's a surprisingly uplifting and relatable episode that highlights some of the good that can come from these societal advancements. Not everyone wants the option to linger in the past, but addressing it for what it was rather than repressing it or holding onto bad memories can ultimately be healing. It's a standout episode in the Twilight Zone-inspired series and one of the best reasons to tune into the latest season. 'Eulogy' might not have the Hollywood noir appeal of Season 7's 'Hotel Reverie,' the relevance of privatized health care that 'Common People' does, or the flash of the 'USS Callister' sequel episode, 'USS Callister: Into Infinity.' But what it is is a deeply moving story about the lasting effects of love even after our strongest memories fade away.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘I didn't think he was a jerk': Paul Giamatti on finding the humanity in his standout ‘Black Mirror' episode
The only formula for Black Mirror is that there isn't one. 'Eulogy,' the fifth episode of the current season, is essentially an hour-long solo performance by Paul Giamatti. Though he does have a costar in Patsy Ferran, he holds the screen himself for nearly the full hour, acting opposite an avatar (spoiler alert!) as a middle-aged man named Phillip coming to terms to terms with long-buried memories of a lost love. What's first presented as a simple ask to collect memories soon reveals itself to be a far deeper, more emotional journey, led by Ferran's 'The Guide' through — and into — old photographs. And it takes an actor of Giamatti's caliber — with accolades from the Oscars, the Emmys, the Globes, BAFTAs, SAGs, and more — to keep us riveted. More from GoldDerby Charlie Cox teases 'sense of oppression' and 'slightly different genre' for 'Daredevil: Born Again' Season 2 11 Oscar contenders with the most to gain at this year's Cannes Film Festival 'The Masked Singer' is skipping the fall season 'to regroup' Here, Giamatti tells Gold Derby why he empathizes with Phillip, why he likes playing bad guys, and why he was excited to revisit Downton Abbey: 'They finally let me in the house!' (Watch the full interview above). SEEPaul Giamatti, Chris O'Dowd, Rashida Jones, Cristin Milioti, Jimmi Simpson, and every 'Black Mirror' Emmy acting submission Gold Derby: You've said the script came to you through your manager. What made you say yes? Paul Giamatti: First of all, that it was Black Mirror would have been enough. Because I really like that show, and I like things like this. There's a moment in it when [Phillip] says, 'I've sort of had it with this, this is not working,' and [The Guide, played by Ferran] says, 'Do you want to stop?' And he says, 'No.' That was the moment that I went, 'This is cool.' This poor guy is so in conflict with himself. And I thought what a cool way to dramatize somebody's conflict about stuff through the technology. Did you have any conversations then with [series creator] Charlie Brooker about where you wanted it to go from there? Any changes you wanted to make? The only thing that needed to change was the character was British, written for an Englishman. Other than that, nothing needed to be changed. I had nothing to offer, except just getting out of the way of it and letting it play itself when we had to do it. How did you film the scenes where you're transported into your old photos? None of it is CGI. They're all actual people standing there just frozen. They would freeze for the length of the take. They were all dancers and mimes who could maintain a position, be expressive, and hold it for a really long time. We did a lot of actual work with them so they could stage that, so it was very tricky. The effect of it going 2D to 3D was very complicated, so there was a lot of work that needed to be done before even getting into the studio. They also had to find a guy who looked like me because they weren't going to de-age me. They want to do as little digital stuff as possible, which I thought was great. What about the scenes when 'The Guide' was just a voice in your head? Yes, she was there, sitting in the corner, which was great. A lot of actors wouldn't have done that. I wouldn't have expected anything else from her, but it was great to have her there, so it was never like I was alone. I had not quite realized how much I was alone in it. When I first read it, when we came to rehearsal to shoot it, I suddenly thought, Oh, my God! There's a good two-thirds of this, three-quarters of this, I'm alone in here. But once we did it, it didn't feel like that at all. Knowing what an emotional rollercoaster the episode was going to be, how did you calibrate your performance throughout? A lot of it's in the writing already. I could see it in the writing and so there's a way in which it's almost like it's a temperature chart. It was really clear where he goes up or down, and he gets upset or doesn't. That was a tricky line. I'm sure there's people who walk away from this thinking the guy is a real jerk. I didn't think he was a jerk. The levels of him being maybe unpleasant at times, that was tricky. But if it's well-written, that's helping you a lot. And the directors were really terrific and were really good at helping modulate it sometimes. SEEAll 34 'Black Mirror' episodes ranked, including 'USS Callister: Into Infinity' and 'Eulogy' Was there a specific note or direction they gave you that was helpful? Actually an interesting thing was that his life is OK. He's not suicidally miserable. He starts in a place where he's OK. He gets taken somewhere he doesn't want to go, opens all this stuff up, and then he's kind of not OK. By the end, I think he's more OK. But it was an interesting thing for them saying to me, the starting point is not one of miserableness. He's got his life. He prunes his roses. He's got some kind of job, and he's lived in this nice place, and he's reached a kind of middle-aged contentment. What's your takeaway of the ending? When I saw the actual piece put together, I found it much more hopeful than it was on the page to me when I first read it. When we were actually doing it, I thought, 'Oh, this is terrible what this poor guy is kind of being forced to do.' But then when I saw it, I thought it maybe isn't. It was much more positive than I thought it was going to be. I mean, it's strange that everybody's sitting there with this thing in their head all zoned out at the end. He's the one person who's not, though, which is kind of cool because he doesn't need it at this point anymore. There's some way in which he sees her again, he finds her again. But he also knows it's gone, it's all gone, and she's dead, and it's all in the past. Why did he agree to participate in this trip down memory lane that he knows is going to be painful for him? That's what I mean — that's why that moment of my saying 'No, I don't want to stop' was so interesting to me. It's that strange thing that we have, like I can't stop picking at this scab, and when he says 'I haven't thought about her in a long time' I'm not sure that that's true. He can't quite see her the way he'd like to; he can't remember what was real about it, what she really was like anymore. But the other thing that I found interesting is that thing of why does he do it in the first place. I actually said to them, 'This is so strange. Does there need to be some moment of ' but then the more I thought about it the more I thought the interesting thing about this technology is that we just obey it. … Technology is gently coercive like that. We just obey these things. We have to do what they tell us to do. It's really strange. That to me is at its best when it's asking those questions. What's the message for you from the episode? I think it's just asking the questions. It's about regret and grief. I keep thinking of this short story I read which is all about a technology event where you can remember everything from the second you're born until the present moment. And the whole point in that story is, is it good to actually remember everything? Maybe we're meant to forget. Maybe we're meant to misremember. Maybe we have to have the narrative wrong sometimes. Maybe we shouldn't know when we were right or wrong. And so there's that question on this one, would he have been better off? Did it really serve some sort of purpose? I think it does ask that question. But then I also just hope it's a kind of moving story — a nice, melancholy story about a guy who's given a second chance. You also have the finale movie coming this fall; you've said you were surprised to be coming back. Why? I was a really, really marginal character. So I was a little bit like, "You really want me to come back?" And then I actually do something of great significance. But I loved doing that show the first time around. I love period stuff like that. And you know anything like that I'm a sucker for. And I actually got to be in the house this time! You're also going to be in the series. What appealed to you about that one? Science fiction. I love Star Trek. I've been a big Star Trek fan. They came to me with a really great part to play in this really good series. Talk about good writing! And Holly Hunter plays the captain. I was like, I can't say no. What can you reveal about your character? I'm a bad guy. I'm a very bad guy. That's what I can reveal! I like being the bad guy. I don't get to play so many out and out bad guys often, which is good. I play sort of ambiguous people often, but I do like to play like an out and out bad guy. Best of GoldDerby 'Grotesquerie' star Niecy Nash-Betts on that shocking coma twist, and Travis Kelce's 'greedy' appetite TV Cinematography panel: 'Anne Rice's Interview With the Vampire,' 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy,' 'Étoile' 'Étoile' cinematographer M. David Mullen on reuniting with the Palladinos Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Black Mirror' Sets Emmy Campaigns for Paul Giamatti, Rashida Jones, Cristin Milioti and More (EXCLUSIVE)
Netflix has a strong Emmy hand to play this TV awards season, positioning the seventh season of its flagship anthology series 'Black Mirror' for a major awards run — and this time, the dystopian drama might be among its most formidable contenders yet. Confirmed exclusively to Variety, the streamer is submitting three standout performances for lead acting honors in the limited or anthology series or TV movie categories: Paul Giamatti for the melancholic and moving 'Eulogy,' and Chris O'Dowd and Rashida Jones for their resonant turns in the sociopolitical two-hander 'Common People.' It's a bold push that signals high hopes for a season already being hailed as a return to form — and possibly the series' strongest outing since its Emmy-winning heyday. More from Variety Netflix Orders Adult Animated Comedy 'Mating Season' From 'Big Mouth' Team Netflix Sets 'Mad Unicorn' Thai Drama on Express Delivery Startup Saga 'North of North' Renewed for Season 2 at Netflix Giamatti's performance as Phillip, a solitary man navigating grief through digital means in 'Eulogy,' has generated both tears and buzz. The 46-minute episode explores the ethics of AI-driven memorials, as Phillip participates in the virtual funeral of a former flame with the help of an empathetic AI guide, played by Patsy Ferran. In 'Common People,' Jones and O'Dowd deliver career-best performances as a couple who agrees to a contract with a startup to remotely restore her brain function following a tumor diagnosis for a monthly fee. Co-star and Emmy nominee Tracee Ellis Ross, will vie for supporting attention. Indeed, the streamer has stacked its acting deck, and many of the other notable cast members will also seek attention in the supporting actor and actress categories, notably: Issa Rae and Emma Corrin's enigmatic turns in 'Hotel Reverie,' Peter Capaldi's unhinged villain in 'Plaything,' rising star Siena Kelly's fiery and timely execution in 'Bête Noire,' and Cristin Milioti and Jesse Plemons' return in the meta-sequel 'USS Callister: Into Infinity,' which all add to the campaign's power. Milioti, notably, is also an early frontrunner in the lead actress race for HBO's 'The Penguin,' making her a potential double nominee. But 'Black Mirror' isn't chasing gold in a vacuum. Netflix is also juggling two other high-profile limited series contenders: the British mystery thriller 'Adolescence,' starring Stephen Graham, and Ryan Murphy's biographical crime drama 'Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.' If all three land nominations in the limited series category, Netflix would achieve a rare trifecta — a feat last accomplished in 2022 by Hulu with 'Dopesick,' 'The Dropout' and 'Pam & Tommy.' That lineup, however, was ultimately bested by HBO's 'The White Lotus,' which has since transitioned to the drama category. 'Black Mirror' creator and writer Charlie Brooker will submit two episodes for Emmy consideration in the writing categories: 'Common People' (teleplay by Brooker, story by Brooker and Bisha K. Ali) and 'Eulogy' (written by Brooker and Ella Road). Four directors — Ally Pankiw ('Common People'), Haolu Wang ('Hotel Reverie'), David Slade ('Plaything') and Chris Barrett and Luke Taylor ('Eulogy') — are eligible to submit individually for their respective episodes. Per Emmy rules, Toby Haynes, who directed both 'Bête Noire' and 'USS Callister: Into Infinity,' must choose one episode to submit, with a final decision expected by the May 8 submission deadline. With Emmy voters facing tough choices, Netflix is clearly betting that a reinvigorated 'Black Mirror,' rich with emotional depth, biting satire and top-tier talent, will rise above the competition. The nomination voting window runs from June 12 to June 23, with official nominations set to be announced in July. Season 7 of 'Black Mirror' is now streaming on Netflix. Variety Awards Circuit: Emmys Check out this week's Emmy predictions in key series and acting categories below. For a full breakdown of every Primetime Emmy race, visit our main awards page, and explore the official rankings on each individual category page. Drama Series'Andor''The Diplomat''The Last of Us''The Pitt''Severance''Slow Horses''Squid Game''The White Lotus' Lead Actor (Drama)Sterling K. Brown, 'Paradise'Jon Hamm, 'Your Friends and Neighbors'Gary Oldman, 'Slow Horses'Adam Scott, 'Severance'Billy Bob Thornton, 'Landman'Noah Wyle, 'The Pitt' Lead Actress (Drama)Kathy Bates, 'Matlock'Britt Lower, 'Severance'Melanie Lynskey, 'Yellowjackets'Elisabeth Moss, 'The Handmaid's Tale'Bella Ramsey, 'The Last of Us'Keri Russell, 'The Diplomat' Supporting Actor (Drama)Patrick Ball, 'The Pitt'Zach Cherry, 'Severance'Walton Goggins, 'The White Lotus'Jason Isaacs, 'The White Lotus'Young Mazino, 'The Last of Us'Sam Rockwell, 'The White Lotus'Tramell Tillman, 'Severance'John Turturro, 'Severance' Supporting Actress (Drama)Patricia Arquette, 'Severance'Leslie Bibb, 'The White Lotus'Carrie Coon, 'The White Lotus'Fiona Dourif, 'The Pitt'Allison Janney, 'The Diplomat'Katherine LaNasa, 'The Pitt'Isabela Merced, 'The Last of Us'Parker Posey, 'The White Lotus' Guest Actor (Drama)Andy Garcia, 'Landman'Scott Glenn, 'The White Lotus'Shawn Hatosy, 'The Pitt'Joe Pantoliano, 'The Last of Us'Jeffrey Wright, 'The Last of Us' Guest Actress (Drama)Gwendoline Christie, 'Severance'Kaitlyn Dever, 'The Last of Us'Catherine O'Hara, 'The Last of Us'Hilary Swank, 'Yellowjackets'Merrit Wever, 'Severance' Comedy Series'Abbott Elementary''The Bear''The Four Seasons''Hacks''Nobody Wants This''Only Murders in the Building''Shrinking''The Studio' Lead Actor (Comedy)Adam Brody, 'Nobody Wants This'Seth Rogen, 'The Studio'Jason Segel, 'Shrinking'Martin Short, 'Only Murders in the Building'Jeremy Allen White, 'The Bear' Lead Actress (Comedy)Kristen Bell, 'Nobody Wants This'Quinta Brunson, 'Abbott Elementary'Ayo Edebiri, 'The Bear'Natasha Lyonne, 'Poker Face'Jean Smart, 'Hacks' Supporting Actor (Comedy)Ike Barinholtz, 'The Studio'Colman Domingo, 'The Four Seasons'Paul W. Downs, 'Hacks'Harrison Ford, 'Shrinking'Ebon Moss-Bachrach, 'The Bear'Tyler James Williams, 'Abbott Elementary'Bowen Yang, 'Saturday Night Live' Supporting Actress (Comedy)Liza Colón-Zayas, 'The Bear'Hannah Einbinder, 'Hacks'Kathryn Hahn, 'The Studio'Janelle James, 'Abbott Elementary'Catherine O'Hara, 'The Studio'Sheryl Lee Ralph, 'Abbott Elementary'Jessica Williams, 'Shrinking' Guest Actor (Comedy)Jon Bernthal, 'The Bear'John Cena, 'The Bear'Bryan Cranston, 'The Studio'Timothée Chalamet, 'Saturday Night Live'Christopher McDonald, 'Hacks'Martin Scorsese, 'The Studio' Guest Actress (Comedy)Jamie Lee Curtis, 'The Bear'Cynthia Erivo, 'Poker Face'Ariana Grande, 'Saturday Night Live'Melissa McCarthy, 'Only Murders in the Building'Julianne Nicholson, 'Hacks'Sarah Polley, 'The Studio' Limited or Anthology Series'Adolescence''Black Mirror''Disclaimer''Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story''The Penguin' Television Movie'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy''The Gorge''Mountainhead''Out of My Mind''Rebel Ridge' Lead Actor (Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie)Colin Farrell, 'The Penguin'Paul Giamatti, 'Black Mirror'Stephen Graham, 'Adolescence'Brian Tyree Henry, 'Dope Thief'Cooper Koch, 'Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story' Lead Actress (Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie)Cate Blanchett, 'Disclaimer'Rashida Jones, 'Black Mirror'Cristin Milioti, 'The Penguin'Amanda Seyfried, 'Long Bright River'Michelle Williams, 'Dying for Sex' Supporting Actor (Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie)Javier Bardem, 'Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story'Owen Cooper, 'Adolescence'Rob Delaney, 'Dying for Sex'Rhenzy Feliz, 'The Penguin'Diego Luna, 'La Máquina'Wagner Moura, 'Dope Thief'Ashley Walters, 'Adolescence' Supporting Actress (Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie)Emma Corrin, 'Black Mirror'Erin Doherty, 'Adolescence'Lesley Manville, 'Disclaimer'Cristin Milioti, 'Black Mirror'Deirdre O'Connell, 'The Penguin'Jenny Slate, 'Dying for Sex'Christine Tremarco, 'Adolescence' Talk Series'The Daily Show''Hot Ones''The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' Scripted Variety'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver''Saturday Night Live' Directing (Drama)'Andor' — Alonso Ruizpalacios'The Last of Us' — Mark Mylod'The Pitt' — John Wells'Severance' — Jessica Lee Gagné'Severance' — Ben Stiller'Squid Game' — Hwang Dong-hyuk'The White Lotus' — Mike White Directing (Comedy)'The Bear' — Ayo Edebiri'The Four Seasons' — Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini'Hacks' — Lucia Aniello'Mid-Century Modern' — James Burrows'The Ms. Pat Show' — Mary Lou Belli'Only Murders in the Building' — John Hoffman'The Studio' — Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg Directing (Limited/TV Movie)'Adolescence' — Philip Barantini'Black Mirror' — Chris Barrett and Luke Taylor'Disclaimer' — Alfonso Cuarón'Dope Thief' — Ridley Scott'The Penguin' — Craig Zobel'Presumed Innocent' — Anne Sewitsky Writing (Drama)'The Agency' — Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth'Andor' — Tony Gilroy'The Last of Us' — Craig Mazin'Matlock' — Jennie Snyder Urman'Severance' — Dan Erickson'Slow Horses' — Will Smith'The White Lotus' — Mike White Writing (Comedy)'Abbott Elementary' — Quinta Brunson'The Four Seasons' — Tina Fey, Lang Fisher, Tracey Wigfield'Hacks' — Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky'The Studio' — Alex Gregory'The Studio' — Peter Huyck'The Studio' — Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory, Frida Perez'What We Do in the Shadows' — Sam Johnson, Sarah Naftalis, Paul Simms Writing (Limited/TV Movie)'Adolescence' — Stephen Graham, Jack Thorne'Black Mirror' — Charlie Brooker'Black Mirror' — Charlie Brooker, Bisha K. Ali'Disclaimer' — Alfonso Cuarón'Dying for Sex' — Kim Rosenstock, Elizabeth Meriwether'The Penguin' — Lauren LeFranc Best of Variety 2025 Tony Awards Predictions: Kieran Culkin Eyes Historic Triple Crown, Latinos Take Center Stage and Star Power Could Rule Broadway Honors New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Netflix in May 2025
