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The Review Geek
5 hours ago
- Business
- The Review Geek
Mountainhead (2025) Movie Review – Lacks novelty but entertains nonetheless
Lacks novelty but entertains nonetheless Two years after Succession, Jesse Armstrong brings us his feature film debut, Mountainhead. We follow a poker night between three billionaires and one multi-millionaire tech bros and their insufferably absurd minds. As a result, you might stumble upon a gold mine of dialogue like: 'Running a country like Paraguay is easier than breaking into a mature consumer sector' (they are talking about coffee shops, by the way). As their interests in the meeting come to the surface, so does their paranoia, and things start to get dangerous. The cast is incredible, and all of them are believable as these ridiculous satires. Steve Carell (Randall), Jason Schwartzman (Soup), Cory Michael Smith (Venis), and Ramy Youssef (Jeff) prove once again they're the right picks for any comedy movie. Adding to this, it delves not only into a credible problem but one we're already fighting to some degree. An unmonitored and deeply problematic AI is being used to create distrust, controversy, and even armed conflicts. Obviously Venis, its creator, doesn't listen to reason for a second and only thinks about increasing his net worth. Armstrong has the characters in the palm of his hand, fully understanding what goes through their heads. Venus is the best example of that. While talking with Randall, he asks his friend if he believes in people, displaying vulnerability that neither seems to see. This nuance only gets more interesting when we see that his AI is the start of a plan to transcend humanity and rely more on technology. His fears are in plain sight, but they're too superficial to realize. Every character gets moments like this, and we comprehend Soup is a suck-up and the punching bag of the group way before he admits his insecurities. Still, even with incredible stars and good nuances, Mountainhead has a jarring problem. It's lacking a sense of novelty or excitement. This satirical 'Eat the Rich' genre has been especially popular recently, with big names like Saltburn, Ready or Not, Triangle of Sadness, and Knives Out to name but a few. With that, the billionaire/tech bro archetype only feels stale. We've seen the same traits repeated there several times, and, in almost two hours, Armstrong unfortunately can't bring anything new to the table. Although he tries with the AI situation and the slapstick humor, it's a 'small fish in a big pond' problem. A big pond that — for better or for worse — he helped create with Succession. Even its absurdness seems grounded at times. During the second half of the feature, we see a fun twist when three of the characters decide they must kill their other friend. It's funny seeing they fail at that in the dumbest ways possible. However, the viewer can't shake the feeling that the script is confining the story's potential. It's as if the movie is always one more twist or genius idea away from becoming great. Even in its final moments, it feels like Armstrong tries to do that. But he never can, and the screen fades to black. Even though there's nothing groundbreaking about it, Mountainhead is still a good time. When some of the jokes land, they're hilarious. And the character's chemistry never feels off, only when intended. If you're a fan of the genre, it'll likely be a fun watch.
The National
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Mountainhead spoiler review: Ending explains what HBO film is really about
The world is a comedy to those who think and a tragedy to those who feel. Horace Walpole coined that phrase, Succession creator Jesse Armstrong quoted it in his review of a book on disgraced crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried, and his new film Mountainhead brings that sentiment to life. Mountainhead is a film built for the moment – and these days, moments are more ephemeral than ever. That's precisely why Armstrong, rushed his idea for a fictional summit between tech billionaires to the screen in a matter of months. He pitched it to HBO in December, filmed it in March, and released it today on OSN+ across the Middle East. The film stars Ramy Youssef, Cory Michael Smith, Steve Carell and Jason Schwartzman as four of the world's most powerful – and self-declared 'smartest' – men, each with a different claim to fame. It's not based on a true story, but it clearly draws from reality. Randall (Carell) is an elder statesman financier in the style of Peter Thiel, Jeff (Youssef) is an AI entrepreneur like Sam Altman, Venis (Smith) is the richest man in the world who owns a major social media app similar to Elon Musk. Schwartzman, meanwhile, plays a character call 'Souper' – short for soup kitchen, due to his significantly lower net worth. The film is entirely set at a house in the Rocky Mountains, where the four old friends meet for a weekend of fun and end up becoming consumed by the impact of Venis's latest product – generative AI that can create undetectable deepfakes. Within hours of its launch, the world descends into chaos – with inflammatory uses of the tech causing mass violence across the world. Their reactions are naive and self-interested, to say the least. Armstrong has long been interested in the workings of power. But after the conclusion of Succession, and in preparation for his review of Michael Lewis's book Going Infinite, chronicling the rise and fall of Bankman-Fried, he grew obsessed with those on the cutting edge of new technology – men who were changing the course of human history with a hastily-cobbled philosophy guiding their way forward. The venal Prometheans in Mountainhead speaks the language of this philosophy – they talk reverently of 'first principles', for instance – an idea that guides many in the tech space, including Musk. First principle thinking in tech involves boiling down complex problems into their most fundamental, indisputable truths to build new solutions from the ground up – rejecting all orthodoxy completely. The success that the Mountainhead billionaires – who call themselves the Brewsters – have found in life has led them to believe that they have it all figured out. They see themselves as the world's true leaders – and they have their fingers on the buttons that can bend the world to their will. And in their minds, all their actions are for the greater good. The future they are working towards is transhumanist – in which the consciousness of every person on earth will be uploaded into the cloud to exist in a state of bliss. In the meantime, they believe their every innovation will solve all the world's problems and heal all wounds – despite all evidence to the contrary, and with little depth to their analysis. 'Once one Palestinian kid sees some really bananas content from one Israeli kid – it's all over!' Venis remarks. In Succession, Armstrong needed to make his lead characters somewhat sympathetic for the sake of keeping viewers on board for a long-term narrative – here he has no such necessity and chooses not to. The only one with any semblance of a conscience is Youssef's Jeff, who realises his AI detection tech holds potentially the cure to the info-virus that Venis has just unleashed into the world. Youssef, who is an outspoken activist for peace in Palestine in real life, is a knowing bit of casting – but his character proves to be just as corruptible as the rest. Youssef's performance as he captures those layers proves to be the best turn of his career. This all could have become something more akin to a Black Mirror episode if Armstrong had wanted to, but that's just not what interested him. It seems at first that things will play out as a spin on the work of Ayn Rand (the title is a play on Rand's The Fountainhead, after all), with the world's most powerful literally removing themselves from society completely as the world burns. Instead, it becomes a darkly comic spin on Hitchcock film Rope. Before that, the film does toy with the idea of what these men may do if they decided to wield the levers of power at their disposal completely – they consider staging a coup of the United States, buying a country such as Haiti and 'relocating' its inhabitants and turning it into their own state, and more – but these plans are forgotten when they decide that their real problem is Jeff. Jeff wants Randall to push Venis out from his company and stop the world from burning, giving his own AI detection tech to the government for regulatory purposes. Randall, on the other hand, has incurable cancer, and Venis promises him that he will be the first to have his consciousness uploaded to the cloud. Randall then conspires with Venis and Souper to kill Jeff – and they speak about his murder with the same euphemistic Silicon Valley speak. It is there that the film's real message starts to emerge. Yes, these people may be brilliant in many ways, and yes, they may truly believe in their moralistic ambitions. But they are still human, as much as they may pretend to have transcended the rest of humanity. There are still guided by fear, jealousy and pride. They are still capable of stupidity, as much as they feel their net worth inoculates from it. As a result, the techno babble and first principles talk become another tool which they use to get what they want – a lie they tell themselves, each other, and the world. This is a film about the hubris and folly of man – the only true constant in an ever-changing world. They worship 'progress' – and the progress they want is whatever grants them more power. They don't kill Jeff, in the end. After locking him in a sauna, filling it with gasoline and threatening him with a match, they force him to sign over his company to them. And the next morning, when the dust settles, Jeff comes to breakfast with only moderate disgust for his friends. When Jeff goes to leave, Venis follows him, offering him a partnership – to integrate Jeff's tech into Venis's destructive tech to make it even more powerful, and bring about the transhumanist world that they always wanted. Jeff agrees, dropping all of his previously held moral qualms – his only condition being that they cut Randall out completely as an act of revenge. To them, this is all a comedy. They have lost the ability to feel and have no concern for the well-being of humanity. They don't need to create a secret Randian retreat to separate themselves from society – they have already separated themselves in their minds. As a result, we can infer, their actions from here will never take humanity's well-being in concern – and for everyone else, this will become a tragedy. They do the thinking, but the rest of us must feel the consequences. Ultimately, this is the most cynical work yet from Armstrong, and may prove to be his most divisive. But as far as food for thought, there's plenty here to chew on – just be careful of the bitter aftertaste.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
This ‘Mountainhead' Star Only Looks Like a Nihilist
Cory Michael Smith was disappointed. 'I'm a big fan of pepperoni with a little more constitution,' he said, looking down at the slice of pizza on his plate. 'These are tired. They're tired cups.' This was the day after the premiere party for 'Mountainhead,' the Jesse Armstrong movie that premieres Saturday on HBO. A Vantablack comedy of wealth, power and moral negligence, it evokes Armstrong's earlier fable of the megarich, 'Succession,' but is more explicitly attuned to current anxieties about Silicon Valley oligarchs. Smith stars as a social media mogul named Venis (rhymes with menace), a pampered edgelord holed up in a cartoonishly swank chalet (the Mountainhead of the title) with other tech machers, played by Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman and Ramy Youssef. Venis's content creation tools have destabilized much of the global South, but he remains mostly unbothered. 'Nothing means anything, and everything is funny and cool,' he tells his fellow founders, as they swipe past scenes of chaos. In person, Smith, 38, was not quite so nihilistic, though he had dressed the part, a man in black on black on black — pants, coat, shirt, tie, shoes. Offscreen, Smith is abidingly polite, with a wide smile that narrows his eyes to slits. He lives in the West Village, though increasingly work keeps him away. He had flown in for the premiere and soon he would fly out again, to Alaska where he is shooting a film that he was forbidden to discuss. Smith ('Gotham,' 'Carol,' 'May December') is suddenly so in demand that he had to miss Cannes, at which 'Sentimental Value,' a movie in which he co-stars, was awarded the Grand Prix. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman EXCLUSIVE: On Mountainhead, Succession, Irrfan, AI Anxiety
Steve Carell and Jason Schwartzman's Mountainhead directed by Succession fame Jesse Armstrong released on HBO today. In an exclusive conversation with CNN-News18 Showsha's Titas Chowdhury, Steve and Jason speak about the film, comparisons with Succession and the flipside of living in a world predominated by tech bros, artificial intelligence, power and greed. While The Office star admits that he isn't aware of Indian films and actors, Jason fondly recalls working with 'real legend' Irrfan in Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited and spending time in India. Watch the full interview here. bollywood news | entertainment news live | latest bollywood news | bollywood | news18 | n18oc_moviesLiked the video? Please press the thumbs up icon and leave a comment. Subscribe to Showsha YouTube channel and never miss a video: Showsha on Instagram: Showsha on Facebook: Showsha on X: Showsha on Snapchat: entertainment and lifestyle news and updates on:
Tom's Guide
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
5 best new movies to stream this weekend on Netflix, Disney Plus, Max, and more (May 31-June 1)
Another weekend is here at last, which means the question of what to watch is back at the front of our minds, especially since this week brings a slew of new movies across the best streaming services. Leading the pack this week is "Captain America: Brave New World" finally making its debut on Disney Plus. Over on Max, you'll find "Mountainhead," a biting new satirical drama from 'Succession' creator Jesse Armstrong that stars comedy heavy-hitters like Steve Carell and Jason Schwartzman. Meanwhile, Peacock just got a new crowd-pleasing animated adventure, "Dog Man," while Apple TV Plus has a documentary that U2 fans will definitely want to check out: "Bono: Stories of Surrender." Finally, over on Netflix, you'll find an animated sci-fi K-drama that feels like a spiritual successor to the award-winning "Your Name" except set in space. So without further ado, let's dive into the most noteworthy new movies that just landed on streaming this week. For even more recommendations on what to watch, be sure to check out the top new TV shows you can stream this week as well. Marvel's latest "Captain America" film held the top spot at the box office this year until "A Minecraft Movie" dethroned it faster than you can shout 'chicken jockey.' While the new Marvel entry is enjoyable enough, I don't think "Brave New World" does much to pull the MCU out of its ongoing slump (something the critically acclaimed "Thunderbolts" seems to be having better luck with), but you can judge for yourself now that it's on Disney Plus. After his trial run with the shield in the Disney Plus series "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) fully steps into his role as the new Captain America in "Brave New World." But escaping Steve Rogers' shadow is no easy feat, especially in a world increasingly plagued by sinister threats from Earth and beyond. This time around, Sam has a new partner on his left: U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez). When President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) dispatches the pair to stop the villainous Sidewinder (Giancarlo Esposito) and his team from selling stolen classified tech, the mission quickly escalates into a globe-spanning conspiracy — one that threatens to plunge the world into chaos. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Watch it now on Disney Plus I was already out of college when the "Dog Man" series became a childhood staple, but creator Dav Pilkey was a big name in my "Captain Underpants"-obsessed household growing up. I let my little sister drag me to see Dreamworks' "Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie" in theaters and was pleasantly surprised at how much fun it was. I got the sense the animators had a blast capturing the look and irreverent yet wholesome spirit of Pilkey's comics. So when I saw the same studio was tackling "Dog Man," it piqued my interest. With a delightful and goofy storyline paired with vibrant, cartoony visuals, it has all the makings of the next streaming hit for younger audiences, especially now that it's landed on Peacock. The story follows a police officer and his faithful canine companion who are fused together after being injured in the field. (How you ask? Because science!) The result is Dog Man, a half-man, half-dog crime-fighting machine who must adjust to his new identity while taking on Petey the Cat, a feline supervillain terrorizing the city. Like most animated movies these days, "Dog Man" features a star-studded voice cast, including Peter Hastings, Pete Davidson, Isla Fisher, Lil Rel Howery and Ricky Gervais. Watch it now on Peacock "Succession" fans have a lot to be excited about this week. Max's "Mountainhead" feels like a spiritual successor to the streamer's bitingly funny drama series, both because it comes from the same creator, BAFTA-winning screenwriter Jesse Armstrong, and because it's all about rich people being the absolute worst. "Mountainhead" trades Manhattan boardrooms for a lavish mountaintop lodge where a group of ultra-wealthy tech billionaires — played by Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Ramy Youssef, and Cory Michael Smith — gather as an international crisis brews. They sip whiskey, zip around on snowmobiles, and literally write their net worths on their bare chests. Y'know, as you do when you have money to burn. What begins as a laid-back weekend quickly takes a dark turn when it becomes clear that one among their ranks is at the heart of the chaos that's triggering markets and governments to collapse worldwide. Claustrophobic and cutting, "Mountainhead" crackles with satire that feels more relevant now than ever. Watch it now on Max Netflix's first animated K-drama is a breathtaking sci-fi romance about star-crossed lovers that's been hailed as a "visual masterpiece" by "Parasite" director Bong Joon Ho. After watching the trailer, with its glowing cityscapes and vibrant cyberpunk vibes, it's clear to see why. Directed by Han Ji-won, "Lost in Starlight" unfolds in a futuristic Seoul in the not-so-distant year of 2050. A meet-cute between astronaut Nan-young (voiced by Kim Tae-ri) and rising musician Jay (Hong Kyung) blooms into something more, only for the two to be separated just as their relationship takes off when Nan-young embarks on a mission to Mars. What follows is a cosmic romance stretched across galaxies, as the couple grapples with the typical struggles of long-distance relationships and the not-so-typical dangers of deep space that threaten to keep them apart for good. Watch it now on Netflix Apple TV Plus' latest original film, "Bono: Stories of Surrender," is an interesting achievement: It's the first feature-length film available in Apple Immersive Video, the format using 8K cameras that Apple pioneered for its Apple Vision Pro headset. You can still stream the documentary even if you don't have Apple's pricey headset, but those who do can enjoy a special immersive version that makes you feel like you're right there on stage with the U2 frontman himself. Directed by musical documentarian Andrew Dominik, the movie offers a candid look into the story of Bono's life as a rock star, husband, son, and activist. It blends recordings of his one-man stage show, never-before-seen footage from the tour, spoken-word storytelling, and animated visuals drawn from the singer's own sketches. As our global EIC Mark Spoonauer tells it, the Vision Pro experience of "Bono: Stories of Surrender" mixes cinematic storytelling with stunning 3D visuals, immersing you in the heart of the performance and offering a better-than-front-row seat as you take in legendary U2 songs and the personal stories behind them. Watch it now on Apple TV Plus
