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Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Five Movies Worth a Repeat Watch
This is an edition of The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here. Welcome back to The Daily's Sunday culture edition. Not all movies are meant to be watched twice. Some leave a glancing effect; others emanate so much intensity that the idea of sitting through them again feels unbearable. But then there are those films that draw you back in, even after you've seen it all before. So we asked The Atlantic's writers and editors: What's a movie you can watch over and over again? Raising Arizona (available to rent on Prime Video) I've probably seen Raising Arizona, the Coen brothers' 1987 classic with Holly Hunter and a 22-year-old Nicholas Cage, a half dozen times over the years. But I've watched the opening sequence many, many more times than that. It's a whole movie-within-the-movie, building up to the title shot with Cage's deadpan narration, rapid-cut scenes, and a jaunty musical bed that goes from whistling and humming to weird ululating. The screenwriting has some all-time great lines ('I tried to stand up and fly straight, but it wasn't easy with that sumbitch Reagan in the White House,' says Cage, with wild hair, aviators, and a 12-gauge shotgun, preparing to stick up a convenience store). The other day, I made my 12-year-old watch it for the first time. When Cage says to his chatty prison bunkmate, incredulously, 'You ate sand?!' my son nearly fell on the floor. A true marker of timelessness. — Nick Miroff, staff writer *** White Christmas (streaming on Prime Video) It makes me miserable to contemplate how many people have never once seen the 1954 film White Christmas, let alone given it 10 to 20 percent of their attention while focusing on other activities, which is the ideal way to view it. Then again, the film's surprising obscurity is its hidden ace: From the moment you press 'Play' on White Christmas, no one who glances at the screen will be able to predict or even comprehend any aspect of the Technicolor encephalitic fever dream exploding before them unless they have previously seen White Christmas. In any given frame, a viewer might be confronted with a horde of people cavorting inside a giant purple void, waggling tambourines adorned with women's faces; the bombed-out smoldering remains of 1944 Europe; or the virtuoso dancer Vera-Ellen, in head-to-heel chartreuse, executing pirouettes at faster-than-heartbeat speeds (for no defined reason). Muted, it makes for terrific social lubricant at a party—there's something dazzling to remark upon nearly every second if conversation lags. Don't concern yourself with the plot; the film's writers did not. — Caity Weaver, staff writer *** The Lord of the Rings franchise (streaming on Max) I suppose my answer is less of a love letter to a movie than it is one to my family. My husband is the movie buff in our family—I'll rarely be caught rewatching movies. But his undying loyalty to the Lord of the Rings franchise means we've watched the trilogy together multiple times, more than once in an 11-plus-hour binge. (Yeah … it's the extended editions, every time.) The movies are a genuinely gorgeous feat of storytelling, bested only by the books; fantasy and action sequences aside, they spotlight friendship, loyalty, and the dueling motivations of pride, duty, and greed. And for our family, at least, they'll be a regular feature—I'm pretty sure it was implicit in our wedding vows that we'd indoctrinate our kids into the LOTR lore—which means that the films are about carving out time for one another as well. — Katherine J. Wu, staff writer *** All Your Faces (available to rent on Google Play and Apple TV) I've watched the French film All Your Faces three times in the past eight months. The movie isn't a documentary, but it's based on real restorative-justice programs in France that were introduced about a decade ago. Why did I repeatedly return to a film about an idiosyncratic feature of a foreign country's criminal-justice system? There's something about the encounter between victim and perpetrator, and the instability and unpredictability of these interactions, that surprised me each time I watched it. Equally intense was the tenderness between the instructors and the programs' participants, most evident between the characters played by Adèle Exarchopoulos and Élodie Bouchez. But it's Miou-Miou, playing an elderly victim of petty street crime, who delivers the most haunting line in the movie: 'I don't understand the violence.' A mantra for our time. — Isaac Stanley-Becker, staff writer *** Little Women (streaming on Hulu) Little Women first came to me as a comfort movie. Based on Louisa May Alcott's 1868 novel, Greta Gerwig's 2019 film adaptation features not so much plot as simply vibes: a familiar tale of four sisters and their childhood friend, scenes of a snowy Christmas morning perfect for the holidays. But with each subsequent encounter during my lonely postgraduate months in a new city, I began to appreciate the little rebellions that make Gerwig's Little Women so special. The story is full of moments of seeing: Professor Bhaer turns around to watch Jo watching a play, Laurie gazes into the Marches' windows, and we, as viewers, feel seen by Jo's boyish brashness. But Gerwig also chooses to focus on Jo's many anxieties. Early in the film, Jo uncharacteristically dismisses her own writing ('Those are just stories,' she says. Just!); later, her monologue reveals a vulnerable desire for companionship (But I'm so lonely!). Gerwig honors the story's essence, but her version is not a granular retelling; rather, it serves as a homage to the art of writing itself—and women's mundane, humble stories, which Jo and Alcott are desperate to tell. — Yvonne Kim, associate editor Here are three Sunday reads from The Atlantic: The perilous spread of the wellness craze Bring back communal kid discipline. The conversations Trump's doctors should be having with him The Week Ahead Ballerina, an action movie in the John Wick franchise starring Ana de Armas as an assassin bent on avenging her father's death (in theaters Friday) Season 3 of Ginny & Georgia, a comedy-drama series about a single mom and two kids trying to settle down in a new town (premieres Thursday on Netflix) The Haves and the Have-Yachts, a book by the journalist Evan Osnos featuring dispatches on the ultrarich (out Tuesday) Essay Diddy's Defenders By Xochitl Gonzalez Diddy—whose legal name is Sean Combs—has pleaded not guilty to the charges he faces of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. Many Americans have taken to the comment sections to offer their full-throated belief in his innocence. Despite the video evidence of domestic violence, the photos of Combs's guns with serial numbers removed, and the multiple witnesses testifying that Combs threatened to kill them, this group insists that Diddy's biggest sin is nothing more than being a hypermasculine celebrity with 'libertine' sexual tastes. Read the full article. More in Culture What the show of the summer knows about intimacy Five books that will redirect your attention Unraveling the secrets of the Inca empire How a recession might tank American romance A film that captures a 'friend breakup' Catch Up on David Frum: The Trump presidency's world-historical heist Adam Serwer: The new Dark Age The coming Democratic civil war Photo Album Take a look at the beauty of the North. These photographs are by Olivier Morin, who captures remarkable images of the natural world, largely focusing on northern climates. Play our daily crossword. Explore all of our newsletters. When you buy a book using a link in this newsletter, we receive a commission. Thank you for supporting The Atlantic. Article originally published at The Atlantic
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Aamir Khan says Mahabharat might be his last film: ‘There's nothing more I can do after that'
Bollywood star Aamir Khan is all set to make his comeback to the big screen with Sitaare Zameen Par after the failure of Laal Singh Chaddha. In a recent conversation with Raj Shamani for his podcast, Aamir revealed that his dream project, Mahabharat, might be his last film. (Also Read: Aamir Khan says Hindi films are struggling as 'they've forgotten their roots': South films are mass, very hard-hitting) When asked what the theme of his last film would be, Aamir said, "It's my dream to make Mahabharat, and I will start working on it after the release of Sitaare Zameen Par on June 20. I feel like that's one project which, once I've done it, might leave me with the feeling that there's nothing more I can do after that. Because the material is like that — it's layered, emotional, vast in scale, and full of grandeur. Everything that exists in the world can be found in Mahabharat." He added, "Well, I hope I die with my shoes on. Like AK Hangal ji used to say, 'I want to die while working'—that's what all of us wish for. Lekin agar aap puch rahe hai toh main ek hi cheez jo main soch sakta hun toh voh yeh hai ki shayad Mahabharat karne ke baad mere andar voh emotion aaye ki bus iske baad mujhe kuch nahi karna hai. Shayad, I don't know" (But if you're asking, then the only thing I can think of is that maybe after doing Mahabharat, I feel an emotion that I don't want to do anything beyond that. Maybe, I don't know). Earlier, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Aamir spoke about making his dream project Mahabharat and said, "You can't tell the Mahabharat in one film. So, I am looking at multiple films and we might need multiple directors if we have to plan it in a certain timeline. If we do it one after the other, it will take very long. Like they did with Lord of the Rings, where they shot all three parts together. (We'll do) something like that?" Sitaare Zameen Par is a spiritual sequel to Aamir's hit film Taare Zameen Par. The film sees the superstar playing the role of a basketball coach, alongside Genelia D'Souza and ten other debutant actors. Helmed by R. S. Prasanna and produced by Aamir Khan and Aparna Purohit, the sports drama is scheduled to hit cinemas on 20 June.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Morris Motors boss may have inspired Tolkien villain
The fascist-sympathising founder of Morris Motors was demonised as a soulless industrialist in an unknown story by JRR Tolkien that is to be published for the first time. William Morris, Viscount Nuffield, is thought to have inspired the Lord of the Rings author to create a villain for a satirical fantasy in which he vented his loathing for the motor car and its devastating impact on his beloved Oxford. Morris made his fortune by mass-producing small cars at affordable prices and, although he donated millions to worthy causes, he also supported Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists. Morris Motors became the major employer in the region during Tolkien's lifetime, providing a pull for workers and businesses supporting the car industry. A dramatic rise in Oxford's population between the wars was driven partly by the growth of the industry, which in turn had a dramatic impact on traffic. The businessman is thought to be the inspiration for a character known as the Daemon of Vaccipratum in the never before published story, called The Bovadium Fragments. It is thought Tolkien also took inspiration from a planning controversy that erupted in the 1940s, when he was the University of Oxford's Professor of English Language and Literature at Merton College. A bid to alleviate clogged-up traffic by building a dual carriageway across Christ Church Meadow, an ancient open space in the heart of Oxford, sparked a protracted public debate well into the 1960s, when the plan was eventually aborted. The Bovadium Fragments reflects his mastery of Latin. Bovadium was the Latinised name for the village of Oxford, and the Daemon of Vaccipratum translates as 'the demon of the cow pasture', or Cowley, which was where Morris had established his motor manufacturing plant. In one passage of the unearthed story, Tolkien writes: 'But it came to pass that a Daemon (as popular opinion supposed) in his secret workshops devised certain abominable machines, to which he gave the name Motores.' The Bovadium Fragments was among Tolkien manuscripts that were either donated or deposited posthumously by his estate to Oxford's Bodleian Library. It will be published in October by Harper Collins. Chris Smith, the Harper Collins publishing director, described it as 'a sharply satirical account of the perils of allowing car production and machine-worship to take over your town, where things ultimately all go to hell, in a very literal sense'. Tolkien's son and literary executor, Christopher, had edited the text before his death in 2020. The book will include an essay by Richard Ovenden, Bodley's librarian, who has conducted extensive research into the planning controversy, having established its inspiration for Tolkien's story. He said that it is about a scholar in the future looking at evidence of a society that is now lost, having 'worshipped the motor car', adding: 'Tolkien was deeply affected by the way that the motor industry was changing his city, and that shines through.' Asked why The Bovadium Fragments had not been published before, Mr Ovenden said: 'Christopher's priority in publishing his father's unpublished works was on the Middle Earth-related material. This material didn't really fit with that or with his father's more scholarly pieces, and so it got left. 'I would visit Christopher and his wife Baillie in France every year. On one of those visits, he drew this to my attention and said, 'What's all this about, what do you think the background of this was?'' Mr Ovenden described it as 'a contribution to environmental literature and the conservation of historic cities'. 'It was written in the late 1950s and 1960s, but it has this extraordinary contemporary resonance,' he said. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
MPT's Chesapeake Collectibles returns for 12th season in June
Popular weekly series set to deliver a season of surprises from collectors across the Chesapeake region Tony Bennett Lord of the Rings Owings Mills, MD, United States, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maryland Public Television's popular original series Chesapeake Collectibles returns for its 12th season with a treasure trove of captivating finds beginning on Monday, June 2. A preview of the new season is available at Collectibles' 13 weekly episodes will be broadcast on MPT-HD and available on the MPT livestream on Mondays at 7:30 p.m., immediately preceding the acclaimed PBS series Antiques Roadshow. Viewers can also find full episodes of the series anytime on MPT's online video player and the free PBS broadcasts of episodes air on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. on MPT2 and the MPT2 live of MPT's most successful flagship series, Chesapeake Collectibles showcases items from around the world brought to the show by individuals from across the Chesapeake region. During each episode, passionate collectors have their unique, antique, and collectible possessions evaluated by expert appraisers, who reveal fascinating facts about each item's history, provenance, and the new season's highlights are a rare first-edition set of The Lord of the Rings, a hand-annotated Lawrence of Arabia movie script, a sketch of the Baltimore skyline by legendary singer Tony Bennett, and a pair of exquisitely crafted silver seahorses by renowned Baltimore jeweler Carl Schon. Additional highlights include a letter from Fort McHenry's commander requesting the very flag that would inspire The Star-Spangled Banner, a bronze statue with a risqué surprise, and a pair of bloomers worn and signed by Baltimore icon Divine. A longer sneak peek of the new season is available for viewing at Nearly 1,000 guests attended the Chesapeake Collectibles season 12 taping event, which took place in October 2024 at The Irene and Edward H. Kaplan Production Studio on MPT's Owings Mills campus. The series' expert appraisers evaluated thousands of items, selecting the most fascinating for inclusion in the upcoming COLLECTIBLES - JUNE EPISODE SUMMARIESEpisode 1 (June 2): A guest shares mementos and memories from an unforgettable dinner with John Lennon. A sketch of Baltimore's Inner Harbor reveals another side of legendary crooner Tony Bennett. An eclectic 'crazy quilt' captures the eye of several appraisers. Hollywood history is found under a stack of books in a home in Baltimore. And, nostalgia for TV westerns fuels a collector's quest to hunt down childhood 2 (June 9): A rare promotional print for Gone with the Wind sheds light on a shameful chapter of Hollywood history. A two-faced ceramic jug reveals the two sides of a politician's personality. An appraiser solves a question that has puzzled the owner of an intricately designed table. A macabre memento proves that love transcends death. And, a ceremonial machete uncovers a remarkable story of service during World War 3 (June 16): A hand-annotated copy of a speech by President John F. Kennedy is the star of a collection of JFK memorabilia. An unusual collection of political artifacts reveals a love for the democratic process. A pair of jeweled seahorses pays tribute to the shimmering treasures of the Chesapeake. A work of art made as compensation for a leaky pipe reveals fascinating techniques. And, an antique blasting machine ends the episode with a 4 (June 23): An elegant bronze statue reveals a risqué surprise. A pair of religious reliefs once owned by America's first Black millionaire opens a window into a remarkable legacy. A set of 18th-century medical texts sparks fresh appreciation for modern medicine. An awe-inspiring collection of World War II artifacts from the Pacific Theater tells a story of service and survival. And one appraiser quite literally steps into his role, donning traditional garb to examine textiles from the 5 (June 30): A veteran reveals the purchase made with his enlistment bonus: a first edition set of The Lord of the Rings. A young collector shares the pieces that launched his journey as a treasure hunter. A stunning trove of elegantly illustrated vintage songbooks is saved from the dumpster. A fashionable find from the Baltimore Orioles' clothing line turns heads. And, a majestic monstrance, rescued from a deconsecrated church, shines for the more information about the series, including how to register for the show's Season 13 taping weekend on October 4-5, visit The website also features the series' Talkin' Collectibles blog, found at funding for season 12 of Chesapeake Collectibles is provided by Alex Cooper Auctioneers and Second Story Books. About Maryland Public TelevisionMaryland Public Television (MPT) is a statewide, public-supported TV network and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member offering entertaining and educational content delivered by traditional broadcasting and streaming on TVs, computers, and mobile devices via its online video player and the free PBS app. A state agency operating under the auspices of the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission, MPT also produces local, regional, and national programming and frequently earns regional Emmy® awards for its work. MPT's commitment to educators, parents, caregivers, and learners of all ages is delivered through its Maryland Center for Media Literacy & Education and MPT's year-round community engagement activities connect viewers with resources covering a wide range of topics. More information is available at Attachments Tony Bennett Lord of the Rings CONTACT: Tom Williams Maryland Public Television 4105814031 tomwilliams@
The Spinoff
5 days ago
- The Spinoff
Help Me Hera: How do I make friends with New Zealanders?
I moved here three years ago, and I've yet to make any local mates. What am I doing wrong? Want Hera's help? Email your problem to helpme@ Dear Hera, I'm not from New Zealand, but I've been here for almost three years. In that time I've met plenty of fun and charming Kiwis but haven't really made that many local friends. Often, I'll meet a Kiwi and it feels like we're connecting, there'll be shared laughter and interests, but afterwards it becomes impossible to hang out again – their schedule is full or my messages go unanswered. Either everyone is extremely busy or I am doing something very wrong. The strangest part is it's a small place, so I always see these people again, sometimes months later, and it'll be exactly like the first time, good vibes and lots of promises to catch up soon. I'm confused. I've lived in a few countries and this hasn't happened before. A Ukrainian friend told me that 'New Zealand is the friendliest unfriendly country in the world'. I think/hope they're wrong, but is there some kind of New Zealand rite to friendship that I'm not adhering to? How do you make friends here without joining a D&D group? Thanks, Nellie No Friends Dear Nellie, Ah, New Zealand, a country where you will never be short of acquaintances, but trying to make friends is like pulling teeth. First of all, my sincere condolences. You are playing on max level difficulty. Your situation, if you haven't already realised it, is one of the most common problems immigrants face when moving to New Zealand. Not a week goes by without someone, reeling from culture shock, posting on the New Zealand subreddit, saying they moved here for work a decade ago, and are yet to meet a solid group of friends. I can only apologise on our behalf and say, no, there is nothing wrong with you. Yes, we are just like this. I think a lot of the confusion stems from the fact that New Zealanders are, on the face of it, a friendly people. Tourists are often lulled into a false sense of security when they encounter a nation of professional chit-chatters, who are delighted to strike up a conversation, as long as it's not about anything deeper than the weather. Moving here is another magnitude of difficulty. Plenty of people have uprooted their lives to live their Lord of the Rings, lichen diverse, bungee-jumping fantasy, only to discover that many New Zealanders are all surface, and no depth. Perhaps this is a lazy caricature. But the truth is, most New Zealanders don't see our attitude as a cultural shortcoming. To outsiders, it's lonely and alienating. To many New Zealanders, it's simply comfortable. It's hard to explain our national psyche to outsiders, especially when you've never had anything else to compare it to. But I've met enough bamboozled immigrants to understand that we just don't have the same culture of friendship that other countries are accustomed to. I want to stress that you're not doing anything wrong. I'm sure there's nothing off about your technique or the way you're approaching people. It's not even that your New Zealand acquaintances are being insincere, or secretly dislike you. I'm confident there's nothing malicious in their refusal to accept your invitations, that they genuinely like you and are happy to see you. They would probably be surprised to hear you're confused and hurt by their reluctance to get to know you on a deeper level. Some people claim that New Zealanders are cliquey and stick with the friends they made in high school. Perhaps there's some truth to this, but I think it's more honest to say we have a lower tolerance for intimacy than other cultures. In some countries, it's normal to see your friends every other day. Many Kiwis I know would privately consider this to be nothing short of a nightmare. Obviously there are many exceptions, but I think this is the root of your problems. So, how do you survive here? The first thing I'd say is, don't take it personally. I'm confident this has nothing to do with your approach. That doesn't mean you should give up. There are plenty of people out there who don't live like a farmer in a Speight's commercial. But you'll have to work a little harder to find them. If I were you, I'd focus my efforts on seeking out and infiltrating groups of people who host regular social events, rather than trying to reform your average Kiwi. Find the people who throw the parties and cling on for dear life. If people don't respond to your invitations, don't take it as a slight. Invite them again. Persistence in this country means a lot and will eventually be rewarded. I know this is hardly a fair arrangement – the onus should be on New Zealanders to extend hospitality to others. But we're so bad at it that your best strategy is to simply take matters into your own hands and do the bulk of the initiating. People are often happy to hang out, but will do nothing proactive to make it happen. Don't take our apathy as an insult. Roll your eyes, and try again. Joining a club isn't a bad idea, especially if you can find a hobby that has a slightly more outgoing demographic of people. Team sports or volunteering for a worthy cause might be a good place to start. My last suggestion is to make friends with other immigrants who are missing that same sense of community and connection. This will hopefully stop you from going completely insane. Don't be discouraged, and keep trying. Making friends in New Zealand is like becoming a registered neurosurgeon. The bar for entry is high, but once you're in, you're set for life. Good luck!
