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The Hindu
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘The Life of Chuck' movie review: Tom Hiddleston dances into our hearts to the end of the world
With a movie featuring Mike Flanagan — the man behind horror hits like The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, and The Fall of the House of Usher — and Stephen King, the master of the macabre, you would be forgiven for expecting a one-way ticket to the seventh circle of hell. Incidentally, Flanagan helmed the underwhelming King sequel to The Shining, Doctor Sleep. The Life of Chuck (English) Director: Mike Flanagan Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Jacob Tremblay, Mark Hamill Runtime: 110 minutes Storyline: As the world falls apart, a man's life comes to an end, forging poignant connections both big and small The Life of Chuck, adapted from King's novella, is an altogether different beast. Though set at the end of the world — with earthquakes, floods, volcanoes erupting in Germany, and even the internet going down — The Life of Chuck is a marvellous meditation on memory, mortality and the importance of legacy. Like the novella, the story is told in three parts retroactively, starting with Act 3, which sees the end of the world through the eyes of a teacher, Marty Anderson (Chiwetel Ejiofor). As things fall apart, Marty sees billboards appearing with the words, '39 Great Years! Thanks, Chuck.' His ex-wife, Felicia (Karen Gillan), is a nurse and she hears an ad on the radio thanking Chuck for 39 great years. Marty tells his neighbour, Chuck seems to be the 'Oz of the Apocalypse' and 'Our last meme.' Act 2 features a drummer (Taylor Gordon), who sets up on a sunny street corner. When she sees a businessman (Tom Hiddleston) walk down the street, she strikes a groove and the man inexplicably drops his briefcase and starts dancing. Lauren (Annalise Basso), who was dumped by a boyfriend via text, is walking down the street in a hurt fury when she joins the impromptu performance much to the delight of the gathered crowd. In Act 1, we see a young Chuck (Jacob Tremblay, Benjamin Pajak, Cody Flanagan) who comes to stay with his paternal grandparents, Albie (Mark Hamill) and Sarah (Mia Sara), after he loses his parents in a car crash. His grandparents' house is a lovely Victorian and Chuck has a free run of it except for the cupola which is always kept locked. Sarah introduces Chuck to the joys of dancing, which is developed further in school by the dance teacher, Miss Rohrbacher (Samantha Sloyan). Chuck's 'hippy dippy' English teacher, Miss Richards (Kate Siegel), reveals Walt Whitman's truth of 'I contain multitudes' from his 'Song of Myself.' Fun fact: 'I contain multitudes' is the opening track of Bob Dylan's 39th studio album, Rough and Rowdy Ways. ALSO READ:'Karate Kid: Legends' movie review: Jackie Chan and Ben Wang star in sweet, '80s-style martial arts drama Despite its metaphysical underpinnings, The Life of Chuck is a joyful experience. While the acting is superb, from Ejiofor, Hamill and Jacob Tremblay, as the funeral director to Hiddleston, who anchors the film with a whimsical performance, it is the dancing that adds that extra zing to the film. Hiddleston, Basso and Gordon set the screen ablaze with the blindingly sweet moves as do the young actors. Pajak and Cody Flanagan (director Mike Flanagan and Kate Siegel's son) learning dancing from grandma and the dance teacher at school and the dance at the gym are so graceful and tender, bringing an unexpected lump to your throat, even as you grin widely. It is a gentle reminder of the attention we owe to the little things in life. The Life of Chuck is currently running in theatres
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First Post
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
The Life of Chuck movie review: Tom Hiddleston-Mike Flanagan create magic with a soulful adaptation of Stephen King's novella
The Life of Chuck is a masterpiece and deserves your attention read more Star cast: Tom Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Jacob Tremblay, and Mark Hamill. Director: Mike Flanagan After The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, Gerald's Game, and Doctor Sleep, director Mike Flanagan has taken a different route by exploring a sentimental story from Stephen King's with The Life of Chuck. The movie tells the story of a middle-aged accountant named Charles 'Chuck' Krantz (Tom Hiddleston), who leads a modest life and whose childhood was marked by tragedy and loss. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Divided into three acts having reverse narrative style, The Life of Chuck showcases the lead protagonist's happy memories, sad moments and mundane moments along with the people who play pivotal parts in his life including a teacher, Marty Anderson (Chiwetel Ejiofor), his grandfather Albie Krantz (Mark Hamill), a grade school crush, Cat (Trinty Jo-Li Bliss). The story has a supernatural element, similar to The Green Mile, as the room where Chuck lives is reportedly haunted, according to his grandfather. Mike Flanagan's direction looks like flawless poetry where questions like 'What happens next?' or, 'Why does anything have to have a conclusion?' explore the dynamics and essence of life. In the other two acts, where we see Chuck at different ages, engage in the core emotion of human values, which is beautifully written by the filmmaker. Talking about the performances, Tom has given one of his finest performances with restraint yet impactful act. He rules the screen with his nuanced and emotional expressions. Mark Hamill and Mia Sara as Chuck's grandparents are great while Ejiofor makes his strong presence with effortless act and charm in his brief role. Benjamin Pajak is simply phenomenal as young Chuck and you can't take your eyes off him. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On the whole, The Life of Chuck is a masterpiece and deserves your attention. Rating: 3.5 (out of 5 stars) The Life of Chuck is playing in cinemas
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
'Carrie' going from page to Prime
Great news for horror lovers: Amazon has officially announced that it will be producing a series based on Carrie, one of Stephen King's most iconic and widely acclaimed novels, originally published in 1974. As reported by Variety, the show is described as a "bold and timely reimagining of the story of misfit high-schooler Carrie White (Howell), who has spent her life in seclusion with her domineering mother. After her father's sudden and untimely death, Carrie finds herself contending with the alien landscape of public high school, a bullying scandal that shatters her community, and the emergence of mysterious telekinetic powers." Cast and crew The upcoming series will be directed by acclaimed horror filmmaker Mike Flanagan, known for his work on projects such as The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass. Flanagan will also serve as executive producer, showrunner, and writer, alongside Trevor Macy as executive producer. The show, produced by Amazon MGM Studios, is set to premiere on Amazon Prime, adding to the platform's growing list of original horror content. In April, in an interview with Variety, Vernon Sanders, head of television for Amazon MGM Studios, said: "Carrie is an iconic story that has withstood the test of time with continued cultural relevance. With Mike Flanagan at the helm and the accomplished team assembled, including executive producer Trevor Macy, this provocative series is sure to captivate our global customers." According to Variety, ten actors have already been confirmed as series regulars. Leading the cast as the titular character Carrie White, Summer H Howell brings with her an impressive background in the horror genre. She began her acting career at the young age of eight, when she was cast as Alice in the cult horror film Curse of Chucky (2013), directed by Don Mancini. Since then, Howell has gone on to appear in several other horror and thriller films, including Cult of Chucky (2017), The Midnight Man (2016), All Fun and Games (2023), and Spirit in the Blood (2024), among others. Her experience in the genre gives hope for a stellar performance in the lead role. Playing her mother, Margaret White, is Samantha Sloyan who has been a recurring collaborator of Flanagan. She has starred in his shows The Haunting of Hill House, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Midnight Club, and Midnight Mass. Sloyan also appeared in Flanagan's 2016 film Hush. Joining them are Siena Agudong as Sue Snell, Alison Thornton as Chris Hargensen, Thalia Dudek as Emaline, Amber Midthunder as Miss Desjardin, Josie Totah as Tina, Arthur Conti as Billy, and Joel Oulette as Tommy. According to Variety, the Carrie series was first reported to be in development at Amazon in October 2024. After several months of planning and pre-production, the show officially received the green light in April 2025. Amazon has ordered a total of eight episodes for the first season, with production scheduled to begin in Vancouver, Canada, in the coming weeks. A rich legacy King's Carrie has previously been adapted multiple times. The first adaptation was directed by Brian De Palma in 1976, starring the award-winning actor Sissy Spacek. A sequel to the 1976 film, titled The Rage: Carrie 2, was released in 1999. It was directed by Katt Shea and featured Emily Bergl in her debut role. In 1988, a musical theatre adaptation by the Royal Shakespeare Company was performed five times at the Virginia Theatre before closing. This proved to be one of Broadway's most infamous failures, losing $7 million. However, in 2012, an off-Broadway revival of Carrie as a musical was staged to more favourable reviews. Later, in 2018, the popular television series Riverdale aired an episode inspired by the musical. In 2002, another adaptation of Carrie was produced as a television film, also filmed in Vancouver. It was created by Trilogy Entertainment Group and MGM Television, intended as a pilot for a potential TV series. In 2013, Carrie was adapted again for film, this time directed by Kimberly Peirce. This version featured a star-studded Hollywood cast, with Chloë Grace Moretz as the titular character and Julianne Moore as Margaret White. The ensemble also included Judy Greer, Portia Doubleday, Gabriella Wilde, Ansel Elgort, and Alex Russell.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Ferris Bueller 'Star Mia Sara Makes Rare Red Carpet Appearance for First Movie in Nearly 15 Years
Mia Sara made a rare red carpet appearance on Monday, June 2 as she attended the Los Angeles premiere of her new movie The Life of Chuck Sara, best known for costarring with Matthew Broderick and Alan Ruck in 1986's Ferris Bueller's Day Off, had not appeared on the big screen since 2011 prior to taking a part in Mike Flanagan's latest Stephen King adaptation "If Mike needs me, I'll be there," Sara told PEOPLE about whether she would act againMia Sara is making her return to the big screen for her first movie role in a decade. On Monday, June 2, Sara — the actress best known for playing Sloane Peterson opposite Matthew Broderick and Alan Ruck in the 1986 teen classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off — stepped out for a rare red carpet appearance at the Los Angeles premiere of her new movie The Life of Chuck. Sara, 57, posed for photos alongside the movie's director Mike Flanagan and costars Tom Hiddleston, Benjamin Pajak, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mark Hamill, Kate Siegel, Karen Gillan, Carl Lumbly and Annalise Basso, among others. The Ferris Bueller star's role in The Life of Chuck comes more than a decade after she last appeared onscreen in 2011's Dorothy and the Witches of Oz. In 2013, Sara appeared in a short film titled Pretty Pretty. Sara told PEOPLE in a recent interview about the movie, adapted from a novella written by Stephen King, that she felt inspired to end her hiatus from acting to work with filmmaker Flanagan, 47, and his wife Siegel, 42, citing the pair's 2021 Netflix horror miniseries Midnight Mass as "one of my favorite things I've ever seen." "We've been such fans, and we met socially, he and the magnificent Kate Siegel, and he just said, 'Well, don't you ever really want to work again?' " Sara recalls. "And I said, 'Oh, I don't know.' He said, 'Well, what if I offered you something?' I said, 'Well, okay, if you offer me something, I'll do it.' " Sara, who was born in New York City, tells PEOPLE that she currently lives in "a 17th century farmhouse" in England with her husband Brian Henson, son of Muppets creator Jim Henson. She spends her free time riding horses, reading crime fiction and cooking. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In The Life of Chuck, Sara portrays Sarah Krantz, the grandmother of Hiddleston's lead character Charles Krantz. The movie follows the events of Charles' life in reverse-chronological order. Sara largely worked with younger actors Pajak and Jacob Tremblay, who play young versions of Charles throughout the film, as well as Hamill, 73, who portrays Sarah's husband Albie. "Honestly, it really was all about Mike," Sara says, when asked if she envisions more acting roles for the future. "If Mike needs me, I'll be there." The Life of Chuck is in select theaters June 6 and expands nationwide June 13. Read the original article on People
Fox News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
'Ferris Bueller' actress makes surprise Hollywood comeback after 14-year acting hiatus
Mia Sara, best known for playing Matthew Broderick's girlfriend, Sloane, in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," made a rare red carpet appearance this week following her first film role in 14 years. Sara, 57, stars in the Stephen King adaptation "The Life of Chuck," telling People magazine she only decided to return to the big screen to work with "The Haunting of Hill House" and "Doctor Sleep" director Mike Flanagan. Sara told the outlet Flanagan's 2021 Netflix limited series "Midnight Mass" was "one of my favorite things I've ever seen." Sara said that Flanagan's wife, Kate Siegel, who starred in both "The Haunting of Hill House" and "Midnight Mass," met her socially a while back and asked her, ''Well, don't you ever really want to work again?'" She said she told the actress she wasn't sure and Siegel responded, 'Well, what if I offered you something?'" "I said, 'Well, okay, if you offer me something, I'll do it.'" The sci-fi/fantasy film is described as a "life-affirming, genre-bending story based on Stephen King's novella about three chapters in the life of an ordinary man named Charles Krantz." Along with Sara, it stars Tom Hiddleston, Jacob Tremblay, Mark Hamill, Benjamin Pajak, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Karen Gillan, among others. Sara plays the eponymous Chuck's grandmother, variously played by Tremblay, Pajak and Hiddleston. Sara's last big screen role was in 2011 when she played Princess Langwidere in "Dorothy and the Witches of Oz." Sara told Entertainment Weekly that she found fans' excitement over her return to acting a "little daunting, but I'm very grateful! It's unexpected." "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" was one of Sara's first film roles, which came out in 1986, following her big screen debut in Ridley's Scott's "Legend" in 1985. The film also starred Tom Cruise and Tim Curry. Sara told People that she mainly spends her time riding horses, cooking and reading at her 17th-century farmhouse in the English countryside, where she lives with her husband Brian Henson, son of "Muppets" creator Jim Henson. "Honestly, it really was all about Mike," Sara told People when she was asked if she planned to act more in the future. "If Mike needs me, I'll be there." "The Life of Chuck" premieres in limited theaters on Friday and nationwide on June 13.
