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Associated Press
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Movie Review: Tom Hiddleston leads the cosmic puzzle that is 'Life of Chuck'
'Life of Chuck' is a peculiar movie with grandiose ambitions. It teases out a cosmic mystery about life and some guy named Charles Krantz ( Tom Hiddleston ) in a story told in reverse chronological order that gets smaller and smaller with each act. This is a story that begins with the apocalypse and ends with a middle school dance. Well, kind of. I'm not out to spoil (much) here. It's based on a novella by Stephen King (part of his 'If It Bleeds' collection of stories) and adapted by filmmaker Mike Flanagan, who was also behind 'Gerald's Game' and 'Doctor Sleep.' This, however, is not a horror movie, though there are spooky elements laden with ominous ambiguity. There are also big, joyful dance numbers, a fair share of cynical jokes, whimsical narration from Nick Offerman, earnest conversations about the end of the world and plenty of references to Walt Whitman's 'Song of Myself' — in particularly 'I am large, I contain multitudes.' That is most movingly conveyed in a sweet scene with a teacher (Kate Siegel) and a middle school aged Chuck ( Benjamin Pajak ) on the last day of school. 'Life of Chuck' wants to make you think, feel, laugh and cry about the most mundane of characters: Krantz, a white, American, middle-aged accountant, whose life is modest and whose childhood was full of tragedy and loss. And while I certainly enjoyed elements of this odyssey in reverse, I was ultimately left feeling very little — especially about Chuck and the questionable end-of-film explanation that ties it all together. Hiddleston, it should be said, is not in 'Life of Chuck' as much as one might expect for being the titular character. His presence looms large certainly — it's why we're here. But, in reality, Hiddleston as a performer is more of an ensemble player among a sea of recognizable faces. In the third act, which opens the film, he's everywhere — on billboards and television ads, cheerily smiling in a nondescript grey suit, coffee cup in one hand, pencil in another. 'Charles Krantz. 39 great years! Thanks Chuck!' the signs read. It's the background until it's all that's left as the world appears to be ending. The internet has gone out. Parts of California have drifted into the Pacific. Environmental disasters rage. Suicides are skyrocketing. Hail Mary life decisions are being made. And poor Marty (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is just trying to do his job as a school teacher. His parent-teacher conferences have become parent therapy sessions. Everyone — a maintenance guy (Matthew Lillard), a funeral director (Carl Lumbly) — seems to want to philosophize about what's going on, and who the heck Chuck is. He has big conversations about the history of the universe with his ex-wife (Karen Gillan). And together they wait for the end. In act two, a grown Chuck (Hiddleston) dances in the street in a joyful six-minute sequence. Compelled to move when he hears the beat of a street drummer (Taylor Gordon), he even pulls in a stranger to join him (Annalise Basso). In act one, he's a kid ( Pajak ) who has lost both his parents and unborn sister in a car accident and is living with his grandparents (Mark Hamill and Mia Sara, who it's nice to have back on screen). It's during this segment, which comprises nearly half the movie, that he learns to dance. First, it's through his grandmother freestyling to Wang Chung and curating a movie musical marathon (including 'Singin' in the Rain,' 'Cabaret, 'Cover Girl' and 'All That Jazz'). Then it's at school, where little Chuck learns the perks of being a straight man who can dance. There's also a possibly haunted cupola on the top floor of their house that's causing grandpa lots of anxiety. This is a film with a big heart that has already made a significant impact on some moviegoers. Last fall it won the audience award at the Toronto International Film Festival, an honor which has produced many best picture nominees and winners. And it's one where a second viewing might be rewarding, so you can more appreciate the thoughtful throughlines and the piece as a whole since you know what it's building toward. But I also suspect this particular flavor of sentimentality might not be for everyone. This critic felt a bit like the film was trying to trick you into caring about Chuck, while revealing very little about the man he became and explaining too much about the mystery. And yet it's a nice message, with nice performances and might be that kind of affirming hug of a film that someone is craving. 'Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself.' Film reviews can also contain multitudes. 'Life of Chuck,' a Neon release in theaters Friday, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for language. Running time: 110 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Nick Offerman slams homophobic Ron Swanson meme: 'Ron was best man at a gay wedding'
Nick Offerman slams homophobic Ron Swanson meme: 'Ron was best man at a gay wedding' Show Caption Hide Caption 'Mission: Impossible 8': Tom Cruise saves day at sea and in skies Superspy Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) needs to stop a rogue AI from taking over the world in "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning." Nick Offerman has no time for homophobic Ron Swanson memes. The actor, 54, took to X to call out a post from Michael Flynn Jr., son of former national security advisor Michael Flynn, that used his "Parks and Recreation" character to express opposition to Pride Month. Flynn's post included a clip of Ron Swanson throwing a computer in the trash, but with a rainbow flag superimposed over the computer. "Just wanted to post how I feel about 'pride' month," Flynn wrote. In response, Offerman slammed Flynn as "dumb," while pointing out that Ron Swanson "was best man at a gay wedding." The Emmy-winning actor added, "#HappyPride." In the series finale of "Parks and Recreation," which aired in 2015, Ron serves as best man in his hairdresser Typhoon's (Rodney To) wedding to Craig (Billy Eichner). An earlier episode had shown that Ron took an instant liking to Typhoon after being introduced to him by his colleague Donna (Retta). Nick Offerman slams 'homophobic hate' for his 'Last of Us' episode This isn't Offerman's first time calling out homophobia. In 2023, the "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning" actor starred in an acclaimed episode of "The Last of Us" as Bill, a gruff survivalist who falls in love with Frank, played by Murray Bartlett. Speaking with i News, Offerman shared that he received "a lot of homophobic hate" about the episode via social media, despite critics hailing it as a highlight of the season. "I was kinda fascinated by how openly people will express hate and brand themselves as bigots," he told the outlet. "I kept thinking: 'We can see you!'" Nick Offerman gets philosophical on Mother Nature in new book: 'We're all the same batch of molecules' When Offerman won a Film Independent Spirit Award for the role in 2024, he called out this homophobic hate in his speech. "When homophobic hate comes my way and says, 'Why did you have to make it a gay story?' we say, 'Because you ask questions like that,'" he said, adding, "It's not a gay story, it's a love story."
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Nick Offerman SLAMS anti-gay Parks and Recreation joke during Pride month amid latest Jonathan Joss murder theory
Nick Offerman publicly blasted Michael Flynn Jr. for tweeting an anti-gay Parks and Recreation joke during LGBTQIA Pride month. The nepo baby of disgraced National Security Advisor Michael Flynn shared a doctored clip of the 54-year-old Peabody Award winner's character Ron Swanson trashing a Pride flag (which was really a computer) into a dumpster. 'Good morning and Happy Sunday!' Flynn captioned his X post on Sunday. 'Just wanted to post how I feel about "pride" month.' Outraged, Nick - who boasts 3.4M social media followers - offered his NSFW response on Monday: 'Ron was best man at a gay wedding you dumb f***. #HappyPride.' Indeed, Offerman's parks and recreation director was the best man at his hairdresser Norman 'Typhoon' Montalban's (Rodney To) nuptials to Craig Middlebrooks (Billy Eichner) in the 2015 series finale of the NBC mockumentary sitcom. And in 2023, the Illinois native won an Emmy Award and an Independent Spirit Award for his searing portrayal of doomsday prepper Bill - who enjoyed a 20-year, post-apocalyptic romance with Frank (Murray Bartlett) - in HBO 's The Last of Us. The nepo baby of disgraced National Security Advisor Michael Flynn shared a doctored clip of the 54-year-old Peabody Award winner's character Ron Swanson trashing a Pride flag (which was really a computer) into a dumpster Nick's tweet came the day after he suffered the loss of his openly gay former co-star Jonathan Joss, who portrayed Chief Ken Hotate in five episodes of Parks and Recreation spanning 2011-2015. Jonathan was pronounced dead, at age 59, when paramedics were unable to revive him after neighbor Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja (being held on $200K bond) confessed to shooting him several times - according to TMZ. And while Joss' widow Tristan Kern de Gonzales alleged the shooting was a hate crime, the San Antonio Police Department 'has found no evidence to indicate that his murder was related to his sexual orientation.' 'The cast has been texting together about it all day and we're just heartbroken,' Offerman wrote in a statement to People on Monday. 'Jonathan was such a sweet guy and we loved having him as our Chief Ken Hotate. A terrible tragedy.' The Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning actor has been married to Will & Grace alum Megan Mullally for over 21 years, and the couple are scheduled to appear at Australian festival Vivid Sydney on June 14. Nick currently voices divorced father-of-four Beef Tenderloin Tobin in the fifth season of Alaska-set animated sitcom The Great North, which airs Thursdays on Fox. Offerman will then portray anti-government Jerry Kane in Christian Swegal's father-son crime drama Sovereign - hitting US theaters July 11 - alongside Megan Mullally, Dennis Quaid, and Jacob Tremblay. Outraged, Nick - who boasts 3.4M social media followers - offered his NSFW response on Monday: 'Ron was best man at a gay wedding you dumb f***. #HappyPride' And in 2023, the Illinois native won an Emmy Award and an Independent Spirit Award for his searing portrayal of doomsday prepper Bill - who enjoyed a 20-year, post-apocalyptic romance with Frank (L, Murray Bartlett) - in HBO's The Last of Us Nick's tweet came the day after he suffered the loss of his openly gay former co-star Jonathan Joss (pictured), who portrayed Chief Ken Hotate in five episodes of Parks and Recreation spanning 2011-2015 And while Joss' widow Tristan Kern de Gonzales alleged the shooting was a hate crime, the San Antonio Police Department 'has found no evidence to indicate that his murder was related to his sexual orientation' Nick currently voices divorced father-of-four Beef Tenderloin Tobin (M) in the fifth season of Alaska-set animated sitcom The Great North, which airs Thursdays on Fox The Umbrella Academy actor also voices Papa Smurf's brother Ken in Chris Miller's animated musical Smurfs - hitting US/UK theaters July 18 - alongside Rihanna, James Corden, Natasha Lyonne, Jimmy Kimmel, Kurt Russell, and John Goodman. Nick and co-author Lee Buchanan will release their 224-page children's guide book to 'tools and tomfoolery' Little Woodchucks on October 14. It will mark Offerman's sixth book.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Chris Pratt gets emotional over murdered Parks & Recreation co-star Jonathan Joss amid new shock twist
Chris Pratt has paid an emotional tribute to his murdered former Parks & Recreation co-star Jonathan Joss after he was allegedly shot by his neighbor. The late actor, 59, died in San Antonio, Texas, on Sunday after a reported altercation with Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja, TMZ reported. Ceja was captured by law enforcement shortly after fleeing the scene and has been booked on suspicion of murder. He is being held on $200K bond. Joss notably portrayed the character of Chief Ken Hotate in the beloved NBC sitcom over five episodes, with Pratt taking to his Instagram stories in June 2 to laud his late friend. Pratt, 45, wrote: 'Damn. RIP Jonathan. Always such a kind dude. He played Ken Hotate in Parks and was also in Mag 7. Sad to see. Prayers up. Hug your loved ones.' SUBSCRIBE to our new Showbiz newsletter for all the latest on Chris Pratt. Joss' husband has since claimed the star's death was a homophobia-fueled murder - although in a new twist, police have dismissed this theory. A statement from a San Antonio PD spokesman read: 'Despite online claims of this being a hate crime, currently the investigation has found no evidence to indicate that Mr. Joss's murder was related to his sexual orientation.' This comes after fellow Parks & Recreation star Nick Offerman broke his silence about the tragic killing. 'The cast has been texting together about it all day and we're just heartbroken,' Nick said in a statement to People on Tuesday. 'Jonathan was such a sweet guy and we loved having him as our Chief Ken Hotate. A terrible tragedy.' Joss was pronounced dead on Sunday when paramedics were unable to revive him after neighbor Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja allegedly shot him several times following an argument. The San Antonio Police Department captured the suspect in his car a block from the scene after he fled, and he's being held on $200K bond. Last Saturday, Jonathan — who boasts 9K social media followers — shared a video of himself in good spirits, urging fans to visit him at Tribe Comics and Games in Austin, TX for a signing. On Sunday morning, Joss thanked fans on Facebook for helping him secure a ride back to San Antonio. The Our Lady of the Lake University grad's last IMDb-credited gig was voicing characters for CD Projekt RED's video game Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty in 2023 alongside Keanu Reeves and Idris Elba. In a statement to People on Tuesday, Nick expressed: 'The cast has been texting together about it all day and we're just heartbroken. Jonathan was such a sweet guy and we loved having him as our Chief Ken Hotate. A terrible tragedy'; Joss (right) and Poehler (left) seen in NBC series Jonathan also voiced the character Healing in Paul McComas and Holly Trasti's animated drama Unplugged alongside the late Louis Gossett Jr., the late Ed Asner, Christina Ricci and Jeri Ryan. But Joss is best known for voicing musician and healer John Redcorn, who embarked on a 14-year-long affair with anchorwoman Nancy Hicks-Gribble (Ashley Gardner), on the Fox animated sitcom from seasons 2–13. Last Friday, the charismatic actor of Native descent crashed the King of the Hill reunion at ATX TV Festival in Austin and with co-creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels as well as actors Pamela Adlon, Lauren Tom and Toby Huss. On January 23, Jonathan suffered the loss of his three beloved dogs when his childhood home, that his father built in 1957, burned to the ground. Joss also lost his car in the blaze, but the GoFundMe organized by Logan Kostroun successfully raised $10,721 from a $15K goal. But neighbors told TMZ on Monday that his house burned down because he attempted to use a BBQ pit to heat it after the city allegedly 'shut off his power when the property was deemed unsafe and uninhabitable.' On Monday, the star's widow Tristan Kern de Gonzales — whom he wed on Valentine's Day — claimed he was murdered after they were 'harassed' for two years by 'openly homophobic' individuals who 'did not accept our relationship.' 'When we returned to the site to check our mail we discovered the skull of one of our dogs and its harness placed in clear view. This caused both of us severe emotional distress,' the South Carolina native recalled on Facebook. 'While we were doing this a man approached us. He started yelling violent homophobic slurs at us. He then raised a gun from his lap and fired. Jonathan and I had no weapons.' He continued, 'We were not threatening anyone. We were grieving. We were standing side by side. When the man fired Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life.' Tristan added, 'My focus now is on protecting Jonathan's legacy and honoring the life we built together.' Tristan added, 'My focus now is on protecting Jonathan's legacy and honoring the life we built together' However San Antonio PD have said they currently have no evidence Joss' murder was a hate crime Jonathan is also remembered for his role as Chief Ken Hotate in five episodes of NBC's mockumentary sitcom Parks and Recreation spanning 2011–2015. Joss had small roles in TV shows like Walker Texas Ranger, Charmed, ER, Ray Donovan and Tulsa King. He also acted in films like True Grit, The Magnificent Seven, Pocahontas 2: Journey to a New World and Johnson Family Vacation. Fans have since taken to social media to mourn over the loss of Joss and also expressed their condolences. One penned on X, 'Such a tremendous loss. His talent and spirit will be deeply missed,' and another wrote, 'Rest in peace. So so sad.' 'Iconic voice, such an awful way to go. RIP,' a fan shared, while one typed, 'RIP Jonathan Joss. Voice of one of the best and funniest characters in King of the Hill.' Another commented, 'RIP to a legend, I haven't watched parks and rec for a long time but I had no idea he played the Casino owner... 'Literally one of the funniest episodes and side characters. What a legend,' they continued.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Nick Offerman says he and ‘Parks and Recreation' cast ‘heartbroken' over shooting death of Jonathan Joss
Jonathan Joss, 'King of the Hill' actor who voiced John Redcorn, dies in Texas shooting. (Jonathan Joss/Facebook) Nick Offerman has spoken out about the shooting death of his 'Parks and Recreation' costar, actor Jonathan Joss. 'The cast has been texting together about it all day and we're just heartbroken,' Offerman said in a statement to People. 'Jonathan was such a sweet guy and we loved having him as our Chief Ken Hotate. A terrible tragedy.' CNN has reached out to reps for Offerman for additional comment. On 'Parks and Recreation,' Joss played the tribal elder of the Wamapoke Native American tribe and owner of the Wamapoke Casino. He was fatally shot near his homeover the weekend, according to police in San Antonio, Texas. Police were dispatched Sunday to a location on Dorsey Drive in San Antonio, Texas, for a reported shooting in progress, where officers found Joss, 59, 'near the roadway of the location' and 'attempted life saving measures,' authorities said. The actor was pronounced dead by emergency service responders. A suspect has been arrested on suspicion of murder and an investigation is ongoing, police said. Joss' husband Tristan Kern de Gonzales confirmed his death in a text message to the Associated Press. He said he and Joss were approached and threatened by a man with a gun while checking the mail at Joss' home, which in January was damaged by a fire that also killed their three dogs. 'Jonathan and I had no weapons. We were not threatening anyone. We were grieving. We were standing side by side. When the man fired Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life,' de Gonzales said. He and Joss, who married in February, had previously faced 'openly homophobic' harassment, de Gonzales said. The person who killed Joss yelled 'violent homophobic slurs' before opening fire, he added. 'He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other,' de Gonzales said. 'Despite online claims of this being a hate crime, currently the investigation has found no evidence to indicate that the Mr. Joss's murder was related to his sexual orientation,' San Antonio police said in a statement posted to social media on Monday night. Beyond his work on 'Parks and Recreation,' Joss voiced the character of John Redcorn on 'King of the Hill.' Some of his other credits include appearances in 'Ray Donovan,' 'Tulsa King' and the 2016 film 'The Magnificent Seven.' By Lisa Respers France, CNN
