Latest news with #PeepShow
Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
'Mountainhead' review: 'Succession' creator skewers super-rich in painfully funny black comedy movie
Watching HBO Max's new movie "Mountainhead" was one of the most uncomfortable viewing experiences I've had in 2025 — and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. "How can that possibly be a compliment?" I hear you ask. Well, that's because "Mountainhead" is the latest project from "Succession" and "Peep Show" creator Jesse Armstrong, a writer well-versed in bringing us stark satire and repugnant (yet incredibly watchable) characters. "Mountainhead" is now available to stream on HBO Max, and it is, in my opinion, every bit as entertaining as what he's brought us before. The "problem," if you could call it that, is simply that "Mountainhead" sees us spending time with quite possibly Armstrong's least likable set of characters yet. If you dive in, you'll be spending a little over 100 minutes with a crass, crude cadre of odious billionaire tech bros as they hole up in a luxury getaway while the world falls apart outside. They're almost cartoonishly evil, and because laughing at them is quite fun, I still managed to enjoy my stay quite so much. Here's my take on "Mountainhead" and why it's worth streaming now. "Mountainhead" picks up as our four super-rich "friends" — Generative AI magnate and chief crisis architect, Venis (Cory Michael Smith), aging, ailing wealth guru Randall (Steve Carell), "Souper", as in "Soup Kitchen"/Hugo Van Yalk (Jason Schwartzman) and their more liberal developer friend, Jeff (Ramy Youssef) — unite for a poker hang at Soup's newly constructed, utterly soulless Ayn Rand homage of a home. What follows is two hours of increasingly farcical drama, as the billionaire bros trade jabs and business jargon, musing on the state of the world (and how they could perfect it) as the crisis outside continues to spiral, and they continue to scroll past countless horrific events on their devices ... even though they're the architects of that collapse. "Mountainhead" is hot-button, of-the-moment filmmaking (thanks in part to having been shot in March and cut together in a short space of time) and dialogue-heavy viewing. Chiefly, it achieves its goals by gleefully skewering tech titans through a one-two punch of witty writing and excellent ensemble work. All four of our stars deserve praise for their respective turns, though my favorite of the bunch might just be Schwartzman's self-humiliating, slimy turn as Soup, the group's "gracious" host and "impoverished" multi-millionaire who really just wants his pals to, and I quote, "bust a B-nut" and invest in his new health and lifestyle app. Without Armstrong's writing, this would be an intolerable nightmare trip, and yet Armstrong serves up a near-constant stream of lines and laughs that just manage to keep the sense of dread at bay. Spoken by this talented cast, the gleefully nasty script comes alive, and it's this bleakly comic combo that makes our stay at this plutocrat's playhouse somehow still a treat. "Mountainhead" is about as unsubtle as you can get, hammering home again and again that you are spending your time with awful people. That watching the movie didn't feel like I was being forced simultaneously to watch paint dry, endlessly doom-scroll and listen to someone demand I plow my entire life savings into cryptocurrency is testament to Jesse Armstrong and the ensemble's comic sensibilities. "Mountainhead" is a painfully funny swing at the super-rich, one that finds plenty of laughs in even its bleakest and most despicable moments. If you can stomach spending this much time with terrible technocrats and unchecked egos, you're in for a treat. "Mountainhead" is now available on HBO Max and will be broadcast at 8 p.m. ET this evening on HBO. Viewers in the UK will be able to watch "Mountainhead" at 2 a.m. BST on Sky Atlantic and NOW from Sunday, June 1.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
What is Mountainhead? Succession creator's new film explained
Mountainhead sees Succession creator Jesse Armstrong's return with another fast-paced tale of obscenely wealthy people squabbling whilst the world collapses. The writer of the hit series about a media empire headed up by Brian Cox's terrifying patriarch Logan Roy is back on familiar ground with his new film, set to debut on Sky Atlantic on Sunday, 1 June. Here's all you need to know about Mountainhead, including its impressive cast. The two-hour film makes its debut on Sky Artlantic on Sunday, 1 June. It will also be available to stream on NOW, and is repeated on Sky Atlantic on Thursday, 5 and Saturday, 7 June. Succession fans mourning the end of Armstrong's hit series will welcome his return project - a film set in a world similar to the one the Roy family occupied that follows another group of obnoxious rich people. Billionaires Randall, Jeff and Venis head up to the mountains for a snowy weekend with super-rich tech entrepreneur Souper at his luxurious ranch. But when they turn on the news, they see that back home things are heating up as fake news spread on a social media platform owned by Venis has sparked riots that are threatening the world's economic stability. The friends have enough money and power at their disposal to effect change immediately, but like any megalomaniac worth their billions, they soon come to the conclusion that they'd much rather leverage a global takeover instead. Armstrong's sharp comedy dialogue and themes of gross excess have more than just echoes of Succession and the film is sure to be a must-watch for his fans. The Peep Show creator told Variety of his new project: "It's a little bit scary after a Succession type of thing that's well-regarded. I knew it was going to be a big thing for me to do the next thing. Maybe it'd be a good idea to run at it fast rather than stewing on it for five years on my second album." Unsurprisingly, Armstrong has attracted another big-name cast for Mountainhead. Playing ranch owner Souper is Jason Schwartzman, who's joined by Steve Carell as Randall, Ramy Youssef as Jeff, and Cory Michael Smith as Venis. Speaking to The Atlantic, Carell said of getting to grips with the pacy, tech-heavy script: "There was a lot of deciphering, a lot of looking up of phrases for all of us—taking notes and watching podcasts." Meanwhile, Smith described Mountainhead as "a cousin to Succession" in a chat with Vogue and added of working with Armstrong: "He gave us space to really play around and try things out, but what we all learned very quickly was that nothing we were going to do was better than what Jesse had written. His command of language breeds envy. It's inspiring. I'd like to think of myself as a smart, clever guy, but it's very clear that he's Ivy League and I'm just…not. So, I was at his behest with every note." Mountainhead debuts on Sky Atlantic at 9pm on Sunday, 1 June.
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
The "disgusting" UK royal wedding scandal that forced Lady Frederick Windsor to speak out after 16 years
Getty Images Lord Freddie Windsor And Sophie Winkleman Wedding Lady Frederick Windsor, previously known as Sophie Winkleman and a British actress best known for her work on Peep Show and Two and a Half Men, is used to being in the spotlight. But in a refreshingly honest interview with The Telegraph, Lady Frederick Windsor has let on that not all royal weddings are like fairy tales—just not when it comes to hair. Winkleman, 44, wed Lord Frederick Windsor in 2009. Lord Frederick Windsor, is the son of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. Prince Michael is a first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II, making Lord Frederick a second cousin to King Charles III and is currently 54th in the line of succession to the British throne But, she recounts the rush of wedding bells and future demands didn't leave much time for pre-wedding beauty preparations. 'It was such a blur because we had to move to Los Angeles the day after [the wedding], and I had to start a brand new job the day after that,' she recalled. 'So we got married on Saturday and moved everything, our whole lives, out to America the day after. And I'd been so concentrating on the work that I hadn't thought about the wedding.'The outcome? A royal hair "don't." 'Which meant that my hair was so disgusting, and Freddie still gets upset about it,' Winkleman admitted with characteristic humor. 'It was just disgusting.' Regarding her attire, Winkleman disclosed that her in-law, Princess Michael of Kent, took charge. 'She sort of took it all over, and I actually didn't mind at all. I thought, 'Great, do everything,' she said. 'I was concentrating on this acting job and saying goodbye to my darling granny, who wasn't very well, and just doing other stuff. But now I look back on it and think I should have worn a simpler dress, and I should have got my hair blow-dried by someone who'd done it before.'In spite of the hair disaster, Winkleman speaks only praise of her royal in-laws. 'Family isn't always brilliant, but this lot are very sweet. I love all of them,' she a mother of two daughters—Maud, age 11, and Isabella, age 8—Winkleman has turned her attention to contemporary parenting issues, such as the dangers of screen time. Working alongside social psychologist Jonathan Haidt and actor Hugh Grant, she's become a vocal critic of over-use of screens in schools, going so far as to make a speech at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship conference in London. Looking back on her own royal wedding day, Winkleman's goofy crackle reminds us that even the most star-studded affairs can have their flawlessly imperfect moments. And sometimes, a bit of "disgusting" hair is just part of the story.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
The "disgusting" UK royal wedding scandal that forced Lady Frederick Windsor to speak out after 16 years
Lady Frederick Windsor, previously known as Sophie Winkleman and a British actress best known for her work on Peep Show and Two and a Half Men, is used to being in the spotlight. But in a refreshingly honest interview with The Telegraph , Lady Frederick Windsor has let on that not all royal weddings are like fairy tales—just not when it comes to hair. Winkleman, 44, wed Lord Frederick Windsor in 2009. Lord Frederick Windsor, is the son of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent . Prince Michael is a first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II, making Lord Frederick a second cousin to King Charles III and is currently 54th in the line of succession to the British throne But, she recounts the rush of wedding bells and future demands didn't leave much time for pre-wedding beauty preparations. 'It was such a blur because we had to move to Los Angeles the day after [the wedding], and I had to start a brand new job the day after that,' she recalled. 'So we got married on Saturday and moved everything, our whole lives, out to America the day after. And I'd been so concentrating on the work that I hadn't thought about the wedding.' The outcome? A royal hair "don't." 'Which meant that my hair was so disgusting, and Freddie still gets upset about it,' Winkleman admitted with characteristic humor. 'It was just disgusting.' Live Events Regarding her attire, Winkleman disclosed that her in-law, Princess Michael of Kent, took charge. 'She sort of took it all over, and I actually didn't mind at all. I thought, 'Great, do everything,' she said. 'I was concentrating on this acting job and saying goodbye to my darling granny, who wasn't very well, and just doing other stuff. But now I look back on it and think I should have worn a simpler dress, and I should have got my hair blow-dried by someone who'd done it before.' In spite of the hair disaster, Winkleman speaks only praise of her royal in-laws. 'Family isn't always brilliant, but this lot are very sweet. I love all of them,' she shared. Now a mother of two daughters—Maud, age 11, and Isabella, age 8—Winkleman has turned her attention to contemporary parenting issues, such as the dangers of screen time. Working alongside social psychologist Jonathan Haidt and actor Hugh Grant, she's become a vocal critic of over-use of screens in schools, going so far as to make a speech at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship conference in London. Looking back on her own royal wedding day, Winkleman's goofy crackle reminds us that even the most star-studded affairs can have their flawlessly imperfect moments. And sometimes, a bit of "disgusting" hair is just part of the story.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Super Hans actor Matt King launches into furious tirade at fans for posting 'f***ing Peep Show quotes' on his Instagram and threatens to block them
Peep Show actor Matt King seemingly isn't the biggest fan of the iconic show after ranting at fans who posted his character's quotes on his Instagram page. Matt, who plays the erratic but lovable Super Hans, portrayed the character for the duration of the show's run, from 2003 to 2015. But there is seemingly no love lost between Matt and the show, as he threatened to block his followers for referencing the programme on his page. In a new update shared to his platform, Matt shared a selfie after going on a walk at 5am in the morning before heading back for a 'mushroom coffee'. He wrote: 'Morning all. Couldn't sleep last night so went for a walk at 5am. Couple of mugs of mushroom coffee when I got back and now I feel like could go for a good forty minutes before giving up on the day. Remember, always give up when things get tough. MK [purple heart emoji]'. 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. In a new update shared to his platform, Matt shared a selfie after going on a walk at 5am in the morning before heading back for a 'mushroom coffee' Someone suggested that he have a 'relaxing bit of crack' to wind down, which is a reference to one of his famous quotes from the show - Matt was less than impressed. Hitting back at the comment, he raged: 'Hitting me with f***ing Peep Show quotes will get you blocked my child.' When someone asked 'do you not like it?', and Matt fired back: 'What do you think?' While fans continued to flood the thread with other memorable quotes, Matt stopped responding to them after making it plain he didn't appreciate them. Elsewhere on the post, Matt warned others that they had 'one strike' after they also shared different Peep Show quotes on his page. One joked about the time Super Hans accidentally ran to Windsor while another poked fun his 'mad for olives' quote - both earning a telling off from Matt. When another person in the comments brought up his 'no logo on the foam' line, he told them to 'let it go'. Matt famously played Super Hans in the show created by Andrew O'Connor, Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain, opposite comedy duo David Mitchell and Robert Webb. Someone suggested that he have a 'relaxing bit of crack' to wind down, which is a reference to one of his famous quotes from the show - Matt was less than impressed Elsewhere on the post, Matt warned others that they had 'one strike' after they also shared different Peep Show quotes on his page When another person in the comments brought up his 'no logo on the foam' line, he told them to 'let it go' It followed the lives of the horrifyingly relatable flatmates Mark and Jez, played by David and Robert, using a unique point-of-view filming style. The two friends are two polar opposite friends who met at the fictional Dartmouth University and went on to live in Mark's flat, in the made-up Zodiac House in South London. Mark owns the flat and frequently references Jeremy's resistance to playing rent and his abuse of the home, thanks to his love of weed and reluctance to work. Super Hans was a fan-favourite character, known for his hilariously wacky and drug-addled one-liners and destructive behaviour. Before landing the part, Matt worked as a chef in Australia, where he met comedian Jimeoin McKeown, who encouraged him to become a stand-up. After 15 years of working as a comic, he was discovered by the Peep Show creators at Edinburgh Fringe, who deemed him perfect for the role of Super Hans. Though back in 2018, it was previously revealed by creator Sam that the part was originally written with Danny Dyer in mind. The role shot Matt into fame, with him going on to land roles in Skins, Doctor Who, Spirited, Paddington and The End of the F***ing World, and writing his own sitcom starring Alan Davies, Whites. It followed the lives of the horrifyingly relatable flatmates Mark and Jez, played by David and Robert, using a unique point-of-view filming style (pictured) In 2019, he also starred in Sam Fender's music video for his single Saturday, showing him doing an interpretative dance routine. But despite being most recognised for his work on Peep Show, Matt revealed he often doesn't remember many of his famous lines, that fans like to reference to him. In 2023, he shocked followers when he took to Twitter to confess he had never watched the critically acclaimed show. He wrote: 'Yes, sometimes I do forget things Hans said in Peep Show. Because I've never sat down and watched an episode. Ever. 'Mainly cos I hate watching myself. So some of the very funny things I said TWENTY f***ing years ago, may on occasion, slip my mind.' Poking fun at Super Hans' famous line: 'I'll tell you what, that crack is really more-ish' he added the hashtag: '#thiscrackisreallyaddictive'. However, last year Matt joking revealed what it would take to film a Peep Show reunion, after fans called for the cast to get back together in response to a viral meme following Noel and Liam Gallagher announcing Oasis' reunion tour. Matt reshared the photo of the brothers alongside one of him with David and Robert which had the caption: 'The reunion we got versus the reunion we wanted.' The role shot Matt into fame, with him going on to land roles in Skins, Doctor Who, Spirited, Paddington and The End of the F***ing World, and writing his own sitcom starring Alan Davies, Whites (pictured in Time Bandits last year with Lisa Kudrow) But despite being most recognised for his work on Peep Show, Matt revealed he doesn't remember many of his famous lines as he had never watched the critically acclaimed show He wrote: 'My mate just sent me this from Australia. I hate memes but this one made me smile. And seriously, I reckon Dave, Rob and myself would consider doing it if we got to split £80 million quid.' Matt then went on to reference the huge backlash Oasis faced as ticket prices shot up due to 'high demand', leading to calls for so-called 'dynamic pricing' for shows to be banned. He added: 'But then again, I wouldn't stitch up my own fans like that. Swings and roundabouts. MK'. Fans commented on Matt's post, urging him to initiate plans for a Peep Show reunion. They wrote: 'Just a Christmas special though to wet this whistle?' and 'I'd pay dynamic prices for the Ed Dude brothers and Super Hans.' 'We need this reunion, on a massive scale, just to obliterate Coldplay.' 'Peep show but they have kids and crippling debt' and 'Don't tease us like this. It's the reunion we all want but probably don't deserve.' Since the show came off air, David and Robert, who met at Cambridge in 1993, have gone on to enjoy life as a double act, while the latter was hit with health woes just before his Strictly Come Dancing stint in 2021 - which ended in an early departure. Fellow stars have enjoyed equally prosperous fortunes since its conclusion, most notably Sophie Chapman actress Olivia Colman, who went on to win an Oscar in 2019. Another headline hitter comes in Sophie Winkleman, who played Big Suze and is now a member of the Royal family. He reshared the meme and went on to reference the huge backlash Oasis faced over the dynamic pricing on tickets
