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New York Times
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Stream These Movies and TV Shows Before They Leave Netflix in June
Oscar winners and tasteful trash get equal footing among the titles departing Netflix in the United States next month, alongside a compulsively watchable crime show, a pitch-perfect Jane Austen adaptation and a cult classic in the making. (Dates reflect the first day titles are unavailable and are subject to change.) 'Beginners' (June 1) Stream it here. The writer and director Mike Mills crafts a lovely, lively combination of memory play and serio-comic romance, weaving together two tales of complicated romance. Oliver (Ewan McGregor) is a modern man, scruffy and sensitive, who falls for a French actress (Mélanie Laurent); his father, Hal (Christopher Plummer), a recent widower, has just come out as gay at the tender age of 75 and is rapturously in love with the much younger Andy (Goran Visnjic) when his health takes a turn. Mills's sharp and sensitive screenplay gracefully sidesteps the clichés of both the coming-out movie and the disease-of-the-week movie, with a big assist from the talented cast. Plummer took home a well-deserved Oscar for his memorable supporting turn, Laurent and Visnjic are lovable but not overly idealized, and this is one of the best showcases to date for McGregor's cozy charm. 'Burlesque' (June 1) Stream it here. Critics were not exactly kind to this 2010 ode to the pleasures of contemporary burlesque from the writer-director Steven Antin — a world in which that old time hoochie-coo has been reclaimed as a rich text of performative femininity, peekaboo voyeurism and good old-fashioned camp. And it's easy to see why; little in his screenplay is particularly original. But that familiarity is part of the movie's appeal. Without winking at the audience or condescending to the material, he cheerfully borrows and deploys the standard narratives of such lower-rung showbiz tales. Christina Aguilera is charismatic as that old chestnut the naïve Midwestern girl with big dreams, while Cher plays the wise old veteran who shows her the ropes with offhand wit and seen-it-all wariness. 'Pride & Prejudice' (June 1) Stream it here. The striking success of the recent 20th anniversary theatrical rerelease of this 2005 award winner is even more surprising when reflecting on its presence on Netflix — viewers could quite easily have stayed home to stream this adaptation of the Jane Austen classic, but its admirers love it so much that they plopped down their ticket money all over again. It's not hard to understand why; Joe Wright's direction is both sweeping and intimate, tender and evocative, while Deborah Moggach's screenplay captures succinctly the wit and romantic longing of Austen's text. Throw in a peerless cast (including Brenda Blethyn, Judi Dench, Tom Hollander, Keira Knightley, Jena Malone, Rosamund Pike, Donald Sutherland and a pre-'Succession' Matthew Macfadyen) and you've got one of the finest Austen adaptations to date. 'Two Weeks Notice' (June 1) Stream it here. Once upon a time, the multiplexes were filled with affable little romantic comedies, in which great-looking stars bantered gamely and pretended not to be perfect for each other for 90 minutes before finally realizing what we all knew during the opening credits. Now, when those films are made at all, they often go straight to the streamers, rarely showcasing stars as bright as Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant, who shared the screen in this 2002 rom-com from the writer and director Marc Lawrence (one of the writers of Bullock's 2000 treat 'Miss Congeniality'). The plot is negligible and the complications silly; all that matters is the chemistry, and Bullock and Grant have chemistry to spare. 'Trap' (June 11) Stream it here. M. Night Shyamalan was once pegged (on the cover of 'Newsweek') as 'the next Spielberg' after the one-two-three punch of 'The Sixth Sense,' 'Unbreakable,' and 'Signs,' which sent critics reaching for new adjectives and audiences scurrying to the box office. But it turned out that Shyamalan wasn't really suited for the crowd-pleasing that title implied; in recent years, he has developed a style that is more personal and eccentric, turning out thrillers that aren't always airtight but also aren't like anything else. His latest fits that description, with Josh Hartnett in a deceptively affable turn as a proud dad who takes his daughter to a Taylor Swift-style arena pop concert, only to find that the F.B.I. is closing in on him. (Oh, he is also a serial killer.) Shyamalan builds tension with the skill of a master craftsman while Hartnett subverts his nice-guy image with glee. 'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' (June 14) Stream it here. It's not uncommon to hear complaints that the human characters in the Warner Bros. Monsterverse (the 2014 reboot 'Godzilla,' 'Kong: Skull Island,' 'Godzilla: King of the Monsters' and the 2021 matchup 'Godzilla vs. Kong') are thin, vapid and uninteresting. Those grievances aren't invalid; they just hardly matter. The dialogue in-between city smash-ups and rock-em-sock-em monster battles is as unimportant as the dialogue in a classic musical — it's sheer filler, tiding us over until the big, loud sequences we're there for. Does this 2024 picture deliver on its central promise of a battling Godzilla and King Kong? Boy, does it ever. 'The Equalizer' Seasons 1-3 (June 16) Stream it here. Some old-school television favorites are rebooted or remade into new series; some are turned into film series. Few have ever become both simultaneously, but that's essentially what happened to 'The Equalizer,' a CBS crime drama about a freelance vigilante, which ran for four seasons in the mid-to-late 1980s. In 2014, Denzel Washington re-teamed with his 'Training Day' director, Antoine Fuqua, for the first of three feature film adaptations (and counting), while the network revived the show in 2021, reimagining the former C.I.A. operative at its center as a single mother, played with force and fire by Queen Latifah. It's a decidedly modern twist on an enjoyable throwback, the kind of weekly, self-contained shot of pulp that used to be standard in our television diets. 'Won't You Be My Neighbor?' (June 16) Stream it here. The Oscar-winning documentarian Morgan Neville ('20 Feet from Stardom,' 'Best of Enemies') directs this warm and affectionate biographical portrait of Fred Rogers, the public television personality known to generations of children (and parents) as Mr. Rogers. Neville smoothly crafts a history that is both personal and social, hitting the expected beats of Rogers's life and career. But he also situates Rogers as a key voice in the movement of early childhood education and pinpoints the real-world events that broke through to the fictional world of his neighborhood. Neville ultimately pushes past the standard bio-doc conventions in order to more fully explore what mattered to this man — more specifically, the big ideas he helped move into the mainstream, and keep there. 'Migration' (June 19) Stream it here. This 2023 animated adventure from the Illumination animation studio (best known for the 'Despicable Me' franchise and its offshoots) boasts an unexpectedly posh pedigree: The screenplay is by Mike White, the mind behind such prestige TV favorites as 'The White Lotus' and 'Enlightened.' That doesn't mean the humor of his story — in which a New England family of mallards migrates to Jamaica — is especially adult, but parents may find more chuckles than expected in White's jaunty script and from the talented voice cast, which includes Awkwafina, Elizabeth Banks, Danny DeVito, Carol Kane, Keegan-Michael Key and a particularly inspired leading turn by the always delightful Kumail Nanjiani. Also leaving: 'Batman Begins,' 'Closer,' 'The Dark Knight,' 'The Dark Knight Rises,' 'Den of Thieves,' 'Goodfellas,' 'Ma,' 'Magic Mike XXL,' 'Ted,' 'Ted 2' (June 1); 'Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story' (June 11); 'Carol' (June 17); 'American Sniper' (June 21).
The Independent
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
‘You have an 80% chance of getting there': Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman on the joy of riding old motorcycles
When the riding gets hard, we usually have the best time,' says , talking fondly about his latest big motorcycle journey with good friend Charley Boorman, forming the fourth series in their Long Way bike travel programmes, Long Way Home. 'That's when you start to laugh a lot. The harder it is, the more bizarrely funny it becomes,' adds Boorman. Returning to our screens this month, the familiar format sees the motorbike enthusiasts get back in the saddle for the 2025 instalment, which starts at McGregor 's house in Scotland and ends at Boorman's house in England. 'Obviously it's just the long way…round,' jokes McGregor, which sees them cover 17 countries. A trip that Boorman calls 'just a short detour'. 'We were on the trickiest terrain in Bolivia, it was probably our most challenging bit of riding,' explains McGregor, which is when the duo seem to have their best ideas, communicating via the mics in their helmets. 'While we're shaking through these rocks and trying to get through this sand and dirt, we started talking about Scandinavia and that would be an amazing part of the world to explore,' he adds. It seems to be a recurring theme. 'We start daydreaming about another trip because it makes it easier to stop the one you're on,' says McGregor, acknowledging there's part of them that 'never wants to stop being on the road. It's such an escape and an adventure'. In the latest series, which started on 9 May and its 10 episodes are drip-fed weekly, they cross 17 countries and rack up almost 10,000 miles. It sees them travel the Netherlands, the Baltic coast, Scandinavia, the Arctic circle, central Europe and back to the UK. Some of the highlights include the famous Lysevegen road with 17 hairpin bends that needs to be seen from above to be properly appreciated, visiting Charley's German family from his mother's side, meeting Vikings, crossing Norwegian fjords and experiencing the Arctic Circle's lack of sunset. Though, what's most impressive is that they're even able to continue the series, considering Boorman's two horrific bike accidents. It's only been since the start 2024 that he says he's 'felt normal and been able to walk again' after many operations and trauma that comes with such crashes and long recovery. In 2016, a crash badly broke both his legs, and he almost lost one. Thankfully, he didn't, but he did lose an inch from one leg. It resulted in 20 surgeries and almost two years to recover. Then, in 2018, after a far worse crash in South Africa, his only memory is waking up in hospital 24 hours later. He suffered a snapped forearm, a broken pelvis, he broke the entire left side of his ribs, a collapsed lung and a serious head injury, all of which took his operations total to 35. For many, that would be the end of their motorbiking career, yet it was the thought of getting back on a bike that kept Boorman going. Despite not being able to walk, he knew he'd be able to ride. For him, it helps improve his mental health too. With long periods of time on the road to think with few distractions, he says it allows him to really live in the present. It's their almost addiction to riding that keeps them returning to the saddle and to the series. Though it has plenty of positives for them both, this time, they've limited the journey to 10 weeks, setting off in June with a week in the middle where they're joined by the families in Helsinki. It's a stark contrast to the 4.5-month-long trips they used to do, when both had young children. 'The older you get, the less you want to be away,' says McGregor, unable to think how they managed to be away for so long for Long Way Round. 'I can't imagine that now,' he adds. As well as shortening the trip length, their bike choice changes with every trip. With a nod to nostalgia, they both opt for classic bikes. Ewan rides a 1974 Moto Guzzi Eldorado, a former US police patrol bike which still has the police siren which he likes to use perhaps a little too often. And Boorman finds a 1974 BMW R75/5 which when delivered to his home, is a little more rusty than he first thought, resulting in weeks of repair work done in just a few days to get it road-ready. The bike choice was also a chance for more freedom compared to Long Way Up, where they rather over ambitiously (considering how early it was for the technology) chose to ride electric bikes. It meant they were confined by unreliable charging, a lack of faster chargers and 'all sorts of fantastic difficulties,' says Boorman, including being unable to fix problems as easily themselves, though he says it 'made it interesting'. Following on from that journey, Long Way Home is more of a back-to-basics trip, more in line with the earlier series. They knew the roads would be far better than what they've been used to, such as the weeks of gravel roads in Northern Kenya or the crater-like potholes in Kazakhstan. So riding on smooth roads in Europe meant 'we had to make it harder for ourselves,' McGregor says, laughing. Admitting old bikes come with their problems too, Boorman says: 'You only have an 80 per cent chance of getting to where you want to'. But with breakdowns and small accidents, 'come the best parts of the trip,' thanks to the people you meet, which is one of the true joys of travelling. It's the unpredictability that you can't plan for that makes for the best experiences – and stories. Though they made it home without too many dings in the bikes (or themselves), the word 'home' in the title could be read as a nod to a finale of their travel programmes. Yet it sounds like there might be plenty more fuel in the proverbial tank for whichever road they choose next. 'I wouldn't say it's the end of the line,' says McGregor, with a slightly knowing smirk.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'A long way home but I can't get enough of Scotland'
From Star Wars to Trainspotting – Ewan McGregor is no stranger to iconic his antics on the small screen have also stood the test of 20 years since the Perthshire actor first got on his bike with his best pal Charley the memorable trip to New York (via several continents) in Long Way Round the pair have covered dozens of countries in the Long Way Up and the Long Way on Apple TV+, the two men are taking the Long Way Home. And this time it's personal. "We're going from my house to Charley's house in England," McGregor told BBC Scotland would appear to be a simple journey, but it also takes in 15 European countries. And, according to Boorman, McGregor gets a misty look in most of them, then declares: "This looks like a bit of Scotland."The reason the series works is the lifelong friendship between the pair, playing out on can't believe he gets to keep having adventures with his friend."Seeing him in front of me or in the mirror, it's a real delight knowing that we are going off doing something we have a real passion and love for. "Doing that with your best mate is a nice feeling." McGregor adds: "This trip was amazing. I watched the first two episodes and I was thinking I'd like to go and do it again. It was a wonderful experience. "In all the other trips we have had huge distances of riding for days and days, where the landscape never changed. "But this, we had different countries coming at us every couple of days, we met people and saw specifically regional sports."In Holland we watched a pole vault-y thing over the canals, then we saw snowmobiles over water. "It was nice and the whole idea of going to our house in Scotland to Charley's house in England was a funny idea - but it made sense."One of the highlights was McGregor's send-off from his home in his father and uncle are all former members of Morrison's Academy Pipe Band which came to play the bikers off."It meant a lot to me, meant a lot to my dad to get the band out," said McGregor. In the programme, he said: "Massive band, isn't it? It was, like, nine of us in the band I was in."I used to be a side drummer in this band."My dad, before me, and my uncle. I come from a long line of drummers."Wait until they crack off, it gets the hairs on the back of your neck."McGregor is emotional about returning home. "It's home and it will always have that unique feeling for me."And now that he has a new house there, he wants to do more in Scotland."I will never feel like I have seen enough of Scotland. I love being there so much."There's whole swathes of it I've never been to. "I have done some islands but not by any means all of them - Orkney and Shetland, I've never been to. "There are loads of places I still want to explore."
Geek Tyrant
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Natalie Portman Says She's Open to Returning as Padmé in STAR WARS — GeekTyrant
While promoting her latest project, the Natalie Portman was asked if she'd ever consider stepping back into the role of Padmé Amidala in a future Star Wars project. She responded; 'Nobody's asked me, but I'm open to everything, you know. Life's only fun if you're open to every possibility.' That's a pretty big maybe, but given recent Star Wars trends, it's not out of the realm of possibility. Over the last few years, Lucasfilm has embraced the prequel-era nostalgia that many fans grew up with. Ewan McGregor returned as Obi-Wan in his own Disney+ series, and Hayden Christensen suited back up as Anakin/Darth Vader in both Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka . With both actors back in the fold, Padmé is the only major piece of the trio still missing. Portman's last appearance in the Star Wars saga was in 2005's Revenge of the Sith , which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary and has grown in appreciation over time, now boasting an 80% Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, the highest of the prequels. The film, directed by George Lucas, saw Padmé's tragic death after giving birth to Luke and Leia, seemingly closing the book on her character. But when has death ever truly stopped anyone from returning in Star Wars ? Between Force ghosts, flashbacks, and cloning the door is definitely cracked open. It was rumored that she might be reprising her role in Ahsoka Season 2. It was reported that 'Filoni is really trying hard to get this one character back. I don't think it's a signed deal yet, but it's close, and it looks like, in Ahsoka , returning could be one Natalie Portman.' But, if Portman is to be beileved that no one asked her, then we shouldn't expect to see her in the series. But it would be cool to see her return in some way at some point.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Kate Winslet's daughter Mia Threapleton and Esther McGregor shrug off the dreaded nepo baby tag to reveal their vastly different upbringings as they lead ELLE's Hollywood Rising Class of 2025
Privileged? Undoubtedly, but Mia Threapleton and Esther McGregor's lives the children of hugely successful actors are vastly different - or at least they were, until they embarked on their own careers in the film industry. Threapleton, the daughter of Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet, and McGregor, whose father is Trainspotting star Ewan, join a host of promising young star's on ELLE 'S latest list of Hollywood rising stars. But while their career trajectories are remarkably similar, the two actresses had vastly different experiences while growing up in the afterglow of their parents' consistent success. Already an established actress with a series of TV and film credits, Threapleton, 24 - the eldest of Winslet's three children - is currently preparing for a brighter spotlight courtesy of her starring role in Wes Anderson's eagerly anticipated The Phoenician Scheme. The forthcoming release, which premiered at the 78th Cannes Film Festival on May 18, pits the British star alongside seasoned actors Benicio Del Toro, Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hanks. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. A challenging task perhaps, albeit one the cynical few among us might easily dismiss as the work of nepotism and the undeniable leverage afforded those with famous parents. But Threapleton insists she's carved out her own opportunities instead of relying on the help of Winslet and her father, the British film director Jim Threapleton. She told the latest edition of ELLE: 'I really could count on one hand - both hands possibly - the amount of times that I went to set as a kid. 'My mother really strived to keep that world separate from our home life. That's something that she really wanted. 'She would say, "all of their experiences will be theirs and theirs alone" - which is exactly what has happened.' Conversely, Esther McGregor admits she 'lived and breathed' film sets while growing up with parents Ewan McGregor - whose career exploded following the release of Danny Boyle's Trainspotting in 1996 - and Eve Mavrakis, a French production designer. The 23-year old has already worked alongside her famous father twice, having taken small roles in Star Wars spin-off Obi Wan and director Emma Westenberg's drama Bleeding Love - which also stars her older sister Clara. More recently, she featured in Halina Reijn's erotic thriller Babygirl alongside Nicole Kidman, Antonio Banderas and Harris Dickinson. And she admits her early exposure to the frenetic environment on set fuelling her own passion for acting. She said: 'I definitely came out singing, for sure. But being in close proximity to anything will build its charm - I immediately fell in love with it. 'I want to give the gratitude that I think deserves its place, in terms of being raised in a family in film. 'Being able to be on sets really aided that love and that breath and that heartbeat. 'As much as I don't think I would be able to do anything else, who knows? It was the way that I was born, the world I was born into. 'So I feel very thankful that I'm able to do what I do, because I need it.' For its latest edition ELLE has selected fourteen rising stars who are poised to dominate screens big and small this year, with roles in everything from post-apocalyptic drama The Last Of Us to the next instalment in the Jurassic World film franchise. Taylor Zakhar Perez, Sarah Pidgeon, Young Mazino, Geraldine Viswanathan, Louisa Jacobson, Luna Blaise, David Jonsson, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, Tati Gabrielle, Benito Skinner, Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Suzanna Son also feature on the new list. The latest edition of ELLE is out now. I Know What You Did Last Summer star Nicholas Alexander Chavez (left) and The Kissing Booth 2 actor Taylor Zakhar Perez (right) also feature on the fourteen strong list of rising stars Saura Lightfoot-Leon (pictured) - the daughter of professional dancer Paul Lightfoot and Sol León - is another rising star on the ELLE list
