Latest news with #RaisingArizona
Yahoo
3 days 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
Atlantic
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Atlantic
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. 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 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. More in Culture Catch Up on The Atlantic 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.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nick Cave Confirms He Too Gets Mixed Up with Nicolas Cage
The post Nick Cave Confirms He Too Gets Mixed Up with Nicolas Cage appeared first on Consequence. Last week, Nicolas Cage made headlines by claiming he is frequently 'mistaken' for Nick Cave due to 'only one letter' separating their last names. Now, Cave has shared an amusing anecdote about posing as the actor while speaking to a heartbroken man named Diego in Brazil. In his latest Red Hand Files newsletter, the musician responded to fan questions about the Cage interview by recalling a story of drunkenly stumbling into a bar while he was living in São Paulo, where he met the 'downcast' and 'maudlin' Diego, who got really excited when the bartender told him he was talking to Nick Cave. Unfortunately, Diego had mixed up Cave's name with that of his wife's favorite actor, Nic Cage. Get Nick Cave Tickets Here 'Diego suddenly became super-animated, jumping around on his stool, saying that he loved me, that he was my greatest fan, and so on and so forth. He kept looking at me, then at his drink, shaking his head in wonder and saying, 'Nick Cave. Fucking Nick Cave,'' Cave remembered. 'I asked him again if he was alright, and he burst into tears and said, 'My wife kicked me out. Told me never to come back. She says she hates me.' I was drunk, so I hugged him and asked, 'Why does she hate you?' He said, 'She thinks I'm stupid.' Then he pointed at me and said, 'But she fucking loves you. Just completely loves you.' I said, 'Really?' He replied, 'Yeah, Peggy Sue Got Married is her favourite film. She's watched it like a hundred times.'' When Diego started crying again, Cave thought about explaining the mix-up, but chose to play along instead. 'I said something like, 'I'm just an ordinary person like you. Hollywood is not all it's cracked up to be. It can be a cruel place. It gets lonely sometimes,' and so on,' Cave wrote. 'After a while, I began to warm to my theme. I told him that making Raising Arizona was the most extraordinary experience and a highpoint in my career, that John Goodman was a fascinating and complex character, and how it was a real privilege to work with the Coen brothers and that they were 'masters of their craft' and all this bullshit.' Hearing this cheered Diego up and gave him the idea to tell his wife the man he believed to be Nic Cage had said 'he's not stupid, and that he's a good guy.' However, he also wanted Cave to come along and 'put in a good word.' Begging off, Cave used the excuse of having to 'be on a movie set early in the morning' and instead penned a handwritten note saying, 'Dear Ana, Diego is not stupid. He's a good guy. Love, Nic Cage.' 'Anyway, these confusions between me and Mr. Cage happen fairly often,' Cave concluded in his newsletter. 'But I don't mind. I'm a fan. Have you guys seen Mandy? My God. What a film.' This isn't the first time Nick Cave has written in his newsletter about being mistaken for Nic Cage. In a 2022 entry, the artist shared that a customs officer once told him that they loved him in Face/Off. In that same entry, Cave wrote about actually meeting Cage in Australia several years back. Cave is wrapping up his current North American tour with the Bad Seeds (get tickets here) ahead of his summer European solo trek (get tickets here). Popular Posts Drummer Chris Adler Opens Up on What Led to Firing from Lamb of God Stephen King's The Long Walk Movie Gets Long-Awaited Trailer: Watch Jazz Pianist Matthew Shipp Derides André 3000's New Piano Project: "Complete and Utter Crap" Say It in Ghor: How Andor Brought a Brand New Language to Star Wars Metallica Perform "Enter Sandman" at Virginia Tech Stadium 25 Years After It Became School Tradition: Watch Nicolas Cage Says He Is "Mistaken" for Nick Cave Almost Every Day Subscribe to Consequence's email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.
Daily Mail
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Nicolas Cage lookalikes take over London as they channel the Hollywood movie star in hilarious contest to celebrate his latest film release
Nicolas Cage lookalikes descended upon the capital on Friday for a hilarious contest to celebrate the release of the his latest film, The Surfer. The Hollywood actor, 61, has had an illustrious film career spanning over three decades, so it is little wonder die hard fans gathered to mark his latest cinematic offering. Taking over London's Prince Charles cinema near Leicester Square, several fans pulled off their best impressions of the Hollywood hunk - with varying results. The winner of the contest turned out to be Daniel Breuer, who managed to capture Cage's childless criminal character Hi from 1987's Raising Arizona - complete with Hawaiian shirt and moustache. Speaking to The Guardian following his win, Daniel quipped: 'I've had a whole lifetime of ridicule and this is my moment of glory.' He noted that he'd been regularly compared to famous people all his life including Al Pacino and Jerry Seinfeld, but said that 'Nicolas Cage has been the only constant.' Nicolas Cage lookalikes descended upon the capital on Friday for a hilarious contest to celebrate the release of the his latest film, The Surfer Meanwhile, Patrick Doran put on an animated display with his blond hair and white vest as he impersonated Nicolas' character character Cameron Poe from 1997's Con Air. Like Daniel, he too has had a lifetime of being compared to the Ghost Rider actor. He added to the publication: 'When I was younger, people used to say I looked like a young Nic Cage. Now it's just: "You look like Nic Cage." I take it as a great compliment.' The group of lookalikes certainly appeared to be having the time of their lives as they larked around and posed for selfies with curious passersby. Unfortunately, the real Nicolas Cage failed to put in an appearance, with competitors having to make do with a life-sized cardboard cutout instead. It comes after Nicolas attended his son Weston's wedding during a romantic outdoor ceremony in Beverly Hills - only weeks after the singer learned of his fate in his felony assault trial. The National Treasure actor could be seen standing on the left side of the altar near his son, 34, in an Instagram video recently uploaded by one of the guests. The nuptials took place at The London West Hollywood last week on April 25, sources informed TMZ. In the short snippet, Cage - who sported a classic black tuxedo for the special day - watched as Weston and fiancée Jenifer Alexa Canter exchanged vows underneath the warm California sunshine. His son was also dressed for the occasion in a black ensemble while the bride wore a strapless, white ballgown that flowed down into a short train. A sheer white veil was pinned at the back of her brunette locks which were styled into elegant curls. Flower petals led up to the altar which was placed on what appeared to be the rooftop of the hotel. Nicolas was possibly part of the wedding party but it is not known if Weston's mother Christina Fulton was in attendance - after she accused him of viciously attacking her last year.
Epoch Times
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
‘The Surfer': Nicolas Cage Goes Full-Tilt Gonzo
R | 1h 40m | Drama, Mystery, Thriller | 2025 Regardless of the issues he has in his personal life (excessive spending, tax debt, five marriages), few can deny the acting talent of Nicolas Cage and his seemingly tireless work in front of the camera. Some naysayers claim Cage's financial woes are why he works so much, which could be true. However, from my perspective, Cage just likes what he does for a living and prefers to stay busy. A fever dream psychological thriller, 'The Surfer,' finds Cage riffing on his 'paranoid persecuted victim' mode. Cage's character lands not too far from his roles in 'Raising Arizona,' 'Red Rock West,' 'Mandy,' and 'Dream Scenario.' The unnamed title character is equal parts optimistic, proud, unwavering, and more than a tad bullheaded. Exterior Chamber Piece The action takes place entirely at a parking lot and the Australian beach it overlooks. 'The Surfer' has a baked-in claustrophobic air that makes it play out like an outdoor chamber piece. Irish director Lorcan Finnegan ('Vivarium' and 'Nocebo') and his fellow countryman, first time feature writer Thomas Martin, slowly amp up the dread factor right out of the gate. Director Lorcan Finnegan (L) and Nicolas Cage on the set of "The Surfer." Roadside Attractions The Surfer and his teen son (credited only as the Kid, played by Finn Little) arrive at the fictional Luna Bay, where the Surfer grew up. After reaching the sand, they are told in no uncertain terms that if they don't live there, they can't surf there. Not wanting to be there to begin with, the Kid implores his father to leave, but the Surfer refuses. When told the same thing by Scally (Julian McMahon), the Surfer only digs in deeper. He tells Scally he's buying his childhood home (which is visible from the beach) in mere days, but no dice. The irresistible force has met the immovable object. Test of Wills For the next hour, 'The Surfer' becomes a test of wills between the Surfer, Scally, and the dozen or so members of Scally's gang dubbed the 'Bay Boys.' Mostly young beach bum types with foul mouths and questionable hygiene, the Bay Boys taunt the Surfer at every turn. This includes, but is not limited to, defacing his Lexus, stealing his belongings, and beating him whenever he encroaches their space, meaning everywhere. Scally (Julian McMahon, C) and the Bad Boys confront the surfer, in "The Surfer." Roadside Attractions The Surfer has separate yet equally disquieting encounters with the Bum (Nic Cassim) and the Cop (Justin Rosniak). He's now convinced there is a giant conspiracy looking to bring him down, which is understandable, but not entirely true. A combination of his own misplaced ego, perceived humiliation, past errors, summertime heat, dehydration, and some major league Bay Boy gaslighting is slowly but surely driving the Surfer mad. Related Stories 1/15/2024 10/13/2023 With many of Finnegan's framing choices, and an odd, up-tempo, light jazz score by composer François Tétaz, the movie carries an unmistakable 1970s-era exploitation genre vibe. This becomes even more apparent with the overlap of subplots. A quick glance at some of the early reviews on Rotten Tomatoes will reveal that many of them (mostly positive) contain the phrase 'toxic masculinity.' A term that came into vogue in the last five or so years, this intentionally negative catch-all description is beyond overused, and that's the case with these reviews. David Fincher This collective knee-jerk labeling could be because there are only four female speaking roles in the movie (one of them off-screen), and that most of the men behave like … well, men. A huge, thoroughly out-of-left-field (but very welcome) third act twist negates most of the alleged 'toxic' qualities. This is the point where Martin (non-spoiler spoiler ahead) tips his hat to two David Fincher movies: 'The Game' and 'Fight Club.' The Kid (Finn Little), in "The Surfer." Roadside Attractions Charged with appearing in all but two of the movie's 100 minutes, Cage spends close to half of that time performing solo, or only in the company of animals. This isn't quite as easy as it might initially sound. Acting is mostly reacting; not having another human to interact with and moving silently to one's own voiceover is something most actors can't pull off with conviction. Cage's performance here easily ranks among his all-time Top 10. 'The Surfer' isn't a movie for all or most tastes. It's blunt, raw, in your face, and unforgiving. It's also strangely cathartic and freeing. Sometimes one has to be broken in order to feel whole and complete. The film opens in theaters on May 2. 'The Surfer' Director: Lorcan Finnegan Stars: Nicolas Cage, Julian McMahon, Nic Cassim, Justin Rosniak Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes MPAA Rating: R Release Date: May 2, 2025 Rating: 4 stars out of 5 What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to
