Latest news with #FreakyTales
Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
This wild Pedro Pascal movie just got an HBO Max release date
HBO Max is adding new movies all the time, and next month, it's adding "Freaky Tales." Now, if you're like me, you've quite possibly not even heard of this movie. Which was surprising — it was a Sundance film, distributed by Lionsgate and stars a pair of actors I love in Pedro Pascal and Ben Mendelsohn. It even has a bunch of punks fighting Nazis! In short, I should have been all over this movie. But somehow it escaped my notice and most everyone else's, because it reportedly only brought in $400K at the box office. But those who have seen this wild comedy have loved it. It currently has an 89% "hot" rating from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, even though critics were a bit more muted in their praise. You'll get to judge for yourself on Friday, Aug. 8, when the movie hits HBO Max. Or, if you're someone who prefers linear HBO to the streaming service, it'll air at 8 p.m. ET the next day (Saturday, Aug. 9) on the premium cable channel. In the meantime, here's what "Freaky Tales" is all about and why this wild comedy needs to be added to your watchlist. The most important thing to know about "Freaky Tales" is that it doesn't follow a typical plot structure. Instead, there are four vignettes that are loosely interconnected, only really all coming together at the end. It's based on real events and real locations in 1987 Oakland, California. The first chapter, "Strength in Numbers: The Gilman Strikes Back," focuses on a pair of young punks, Tina (Ji-young Yoo) and Lucid (Jack Champion), who are at an Operation Ivy concert that comes under attack from Nazi punks. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. HBO Max gives you tons of hit shows and movies, from HBO Originals to A24 movies and more. "Don't Fight the Feeling" is the next story, picking up at the same point as the start of the first chapter, but instead focuses on Barbie (Dominique Thorne) and Entice (Normani), who perform as the hip hop duo Danger Zone. They don't go to the Operation Ivy show, but instead are roped into performing with the rapper Too Short. "Born to Mack" is where Pedro finally arrives. He plays Clint, a career criminal who is looking to get out of the game. When he's asked to pull a job during a Warriors basketball game, that desire to leave crime behind is put to the test. Finally, there's "The Legend of Sleepy Floyd." This is where the story finally starts to come together. Sleepy Floyd (Jay Ellis) is a star for the Warriors, and it's his house that Clint is supposed to rob. But instead, "The Guy" (Mendelsohn), sends the Nazi punks to rob it and things go horribly wrong. As I mentioned earlier, audiences are loving this movie for the most part. Critics are a bit harsher on it, and after combing through the reviews from both parties, this seems to come down to critics judging its (admittedly) loosely connected chapters failing to come together properly in the end. Ultimately, if you want a wild comedy that doubles as an impressive period piece, then "Freaky Tales" seems like it's worth watching. It doesn't necessarily stick the landing narratively, but the acting of its loaded cast is sublime, and its recreation of 1987 Oakland has been masterfully done by all accounts. Even Deadline praised the period elements of the movie in its review, saying, "What does work for 'Freaky Tales' is the film's gritty visuals immediately immerse the audience in the look and feel of late-'80s Oakland." Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. He's not one to shy away from a hot take, including that "John Wick" is one of the four greatest films ever made. Here's what he's been watching lately:
Mint
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Pedro Pascals Freaky Tales OTT release date out
Washington DC [US], July 23 (ANI): Pedro Pascal-starrer 'Freaky Tales' from filmmaker Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden has finally got its release date, reported Deadline. Lionsgate's 'Freaky Tales' is set to make its streaming debut exclusively on HBO Max in the US on August 8. The film, starring Pedro Pascal and many more, will debut on HBO linear on Saturday, August 9 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Set in 1987 Oakland, Freaky Tales is a multi-track mixtape of colourful characters - an NBA star, a corrupt cop, a female rap duo, teen punks, neo-Nazis, and a debt collector - on a collision course in a fever dream of showdowns and battles, reported Deadline. Others in the cast include Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Angus Cloud, and Tom Hanks, reported Deadline. The film premiered at last year's Sundance Film Festival and was released in theatres on April 4. Meanwhile, Pedro Pascal was recently seen in the Marvel film 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps'. 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' was released in theatres on July 25 and features a star-studded cast. Vanessa Kirby will star as Sue Storm / Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm / Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm / The Thing. The film is part of the larger Marvel universe, with Pascal and the rest of the 'Fantastic Four' team set to reprise their roles in 'Avengers: Doomsday.' Pascal has been preparing for the role of Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic, drawing inspiration from the character's elastic abilities. (ANI)
San Francisco Chronicle
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Review: Marvel's ‘Ironheart' proves the MCU still has room for bold, personal stories
Marvel's latest spinoff 'Ironheart' lands on Disney+ not with a bang, but with purpose. Rooted in lesser-known comic book lore, the series is a focused character study — scrappy, assured and determined to prove it deserves its place in the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe. First introduced in 2022's ' Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,' Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne, most recently of the East Bay-set 'Freaky Tales ') emerged as a Tony Stark acolyte with the tech skills to match the ego, and just enough imposter syndrome to make her compelling. The film had clearly meant to lay the predicate for Riri's Disney+ solo outing, which makes Marvel's baffling three-year delay in rolling it out feel like a glitch in the algorithm — especially in the post-'Endgame' era, where momentum is more precious than vibranium. Still, if the passage of time has dulled audience memory, 'Ironheart' makes a strong case for second chances. Overseen by showrunner Chinaka Hodge and executive producer Ryan Coogler (both Oakland natives), the six-episode show doubles as an origin story and a love letter to the Windy City, to Black girl genius and to the corners of the MCU rarely given a spotlight. The show picks up with Riri at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where her prodigious intellect is matched only by her impatience with authority. It doesn't take long before a few ethically gray activities to fund her armored super-suit get her booted and sent back to her hometown of Chicago, where she begins to scavenge components from garages and junkyards. Unlike Stark (RIP), Riri doesn't have a billion-dollar R&D budget or a friendly artificial intelligence system on standby (not yet, anyway). Community, in this case, refers to a cast of grounded, lived-in characters. Anji White (FX's 'Fargo') brings warmth and weariness to the role of Riri's mother, while Lyric Ross ('This Is Us') haunts the edges of Riri's grief as the late best friend whose absence still lingers — in more ways than one. In one of the show's most intriguing turns, Alden Ehrenreich ('Solo: A Star Wars Story') pops in as Joe, a fellow tech savant with deep ties to Marvel continuity that longtime fans will nod at approvingly. But the true wildcard is Anthony Ramos as Parker Robbins, aka the Hood, a character whose comic book origins are folded into the series with admirable restraint. Ramos, back onscreen after 2024's 'Twisters,' strikes a balance between menace and charisma. His storyline, alongside Riri's, offers a parallel arc that adds emotional depth without cliches. 'Ironheart' may not have the visual pyrotechnics of a big-screen tentpole, but it compensates with texture and authenticity. The show knows when to flex its effects budget while keeping its focus on the characters. The drama isn't in sky battles or CG slugfests; it unfolds in quiet conversations, moral dilemmas and the friction between brilliance and belonging. Frankly, this is what Marvel should be doing with its Disney+ platform — telling stories too intimate, too off-kilter or too niche, but that resonate because they reflect the lived realities and cultural nuances of the Black experience in ways a big-budget film often can't. Think 'Ms. Marvel' meets 'Iron Man,' with the social consciousness of 'Luke Cage' and a dash of 'Runaways' energy. Still, for all its strengths, 'Ironheart' feels like it's swimming against the tide of Marvel's broader cultural and corporate recalibration. In an era when the studio is scaling back — pruning timelines, consolidating characters, doubling down on marquee heroes — it's unclear where a show like this fits. But Thorne gives Riri a spark demanding more than a one and done. Disney+ may have labeled this as a miniseries, but the ending practically screams otherwise. And here's hoping Marvel is paying attention. Because if 'Ironheart' proves anything, it's that there's still a place for stories like this. Personal, poignant, and proudly forged from the disparate corners of a fictional universe made all the richer for it.
Geek Culture
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
Marvel's 'Ironheart' Takes Flight As Disney+ Series Trailer Reveals The Hood
Marvel has released the first trailer for its upcoming Disney+ miniseries Ironheart , which will premiere on 24 June this year and run for six episodes. The series will see the return of Dominique Thorne ( Freaky Tales ) as its protagonist, Riri Williams, a gifted MIT student who crafts her own power armour inspired by Iron Man. Riri made her Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) debut in 2022's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever , in which she teams up with the Wakandans to battle against Namor, using her ally's technology to create her Mark II Ironheart armour as well as vibranium suits for the Midnight Angels. The upcoming series, which follows the events of the 2022 film, sees Riri returning home to Chicago, where she gets entangled with the mysterious Parker Robbins (Anthony Ramos), better known as The Hood, a magic user able to harness the dark arts. Its cast will also include Lyric Ross ( This is Us ) as Riri's best friend Natalie Washington, Alden Ehrenreich ( Solo: A Star Wars Story ) as Joe McGillicuddy, Manny Montana ( Blackhat ) as Cousin John, Matthew Elam ( Fargo ) as Xavier Washington and Anji White ( Hope Springs Eternal ) as Riri's mother Ronnie. Ironheart will see the return of Ryan Coogler, serving as its executive producer after his work directing Black Panther: Wakanda Forever . The miniseries is created by Chinaka Hodge ( Snowpiercer ), with Sam Bailey ( Brown Girls , Dear White People ) and Angela Barnes ( Atlanta, Blindspotting ) each directing three of its six episodes. Ironheart is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ on 24 June 2025 with its first three episodes. The miniseries will also be the last television series and the conclusion of Phase Five of the MCU. Check out its official trailer below: Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise 'duds' like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3 . He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying. Disney+ Ironheart Marvel Marvel Cinematic Universe
San Francisco Chronicle
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Bay Area legend to shoot music video at Oakland Ballers game
Too Short is offering Bay Area fans the chance to be part of his musical legacy. The East Bay rap icon plans to perform and record a new music video at an Oakland Ballers game on May 22. The Ballers' field is more than just a local setting for Too Short — he invested in the team in March, along with Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong and Emmy-winning actor Blair Underwood. Filming begins at 6 p.m., and the team's scheduled game against the Ogden Raptors is set to begin at 6:35 p.m. The first 500 fans to arrive will receive a limited edition commemorative cup. Tickets are on sale now. The Ballers are a new independent Pioneer League team and the East Bay's only professional baseball team since the departure of the Oakland A's last summer. Founded by Bryan Carmel, the former head of comedy at Fusion Media Group, and ed tech entrepreneur Paul Freedman, the privately owned club plays at West Oakland's Raimondi Park, which can accommodate 4,000 fans. 'If I can't brag on a big-league franchise I can brag on being a Baller,' he told the Hollywood Reporter, making a dig at the A's, who have temporarily moved to Sacramento where they'll play the next three seasons before permanently moving to Nevada. 'Oakland is the connection, it's the diverse city of all walks of life and cultures.' The rapper recently released his latest studio album, 'Sir Too Short Vol. 1 (Freaky Tales),' which includes features from Snoop Dogg, Larry June and King George. Its release came right before the Oakland-set film 'Freaky Tales,' which he narrated and helped to produce.
