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Calgary Herald
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Star of Vancouver-shot Stick Owen Wilson talks golf, gambling and the Grouse Grind
For a few months last summer, there seemed to be daily Owen Wilson sightings in the Lower Mainland. Article content Photos of Wilson riding his bike, hiking the Grouse Grind, or out enjoying a meal were everywhere. The Wedding Crashers, The Royal Tenenbaums and Midnight in Paris star was in Vancouver filming his new 10-part series Stick, which premiers on the streamer Apple TV+ on June 4. Article content 'I felt like people sort of would almost go, 'Oh god, there he is again',' said Wilson during a Zoom interview with his Stick co-star Judy Greer. 'It certainly felt, by the end of five months, that it wasn't, you know, how it felt in the beginning. When people are a little bit excited you're there.' Article content As for the Grouse Grind, Wilson said he was a regular on the challenging hiking trail, clocking his best time of 53 minutes just before the series wrapped shooting last September. Article content 'I don't know if there's a more beautiful place, you know, certainly in the summer,' said Wilson about Vancouver. 'I was so happy we shot there, because for a while it was going to be in Atlanta, which is nice. But Atlanta in the summer, it's hot, a totally different experience.' Article content Article content Article content Article content 'I've worked there so much over the years. I love it,' said Greer (Ant-Man and The Wasp, Adaptation). 'A great crew. Everyone I've ever worked with there from small-budget things to big-budget things — everyone in production there is so talented.' Article content In Stick, Wilson plays Pryce Cahill, an over-the-hill, ex-pro golfer whose career prematurely missed the cut 20 years ago. After his marriage to Amber-Linn (Greer) fails and he gets fired from his sports store job, Pryce discovers young-gun golfer Santi Wheeler (Peter Dager) and manages to convince the troubled 17-year-old and his single mom (Mariana Treviño) that he can help him make it to the show. Pryce convinces his former caddy and longtime friend Mitts (Marc Maron) to come along for the ride. Well, actually supply the ride in the shape of a motor home, to ferry the newly formed rag tag team of misfits toward golf greatness. Article content Article content 'Someone mentioned it reminded them of The Wizard of Oz, about this group of people who were travelling together that all had an empty space that they needed to fill. A hole they were trying to fill, something they were trying to get. And they were going to be together and try to get it,' said Greer. 'I thought that was really, really beautiful.' Article content Article content While the story could have used any sport, show creator and showrunner Jason Keller chose golf because it offered him a slate upon which to draw the human condition. Article content 'A lot of people are struggling, you know, with emotional baggage,' said Keller over Zoom. 'When I see golfers, especially at the elite level, out there alone on a golf course, that's what I see. I see someone who is very cut off from everybody around them, struggling with their mindset, hoping to sort of get it right on the golf course. Both those worlds kind of seem to fit together.'
Vancouver Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Star of Vancouver-shot Stick Owen Wilson talks golf, gambling and the Grouse Grind
For a few months last summer, there seemed to be daily Owen Wilson sightings in the Lower Mainland. Photos of Wilson riding his bike, hiking the Grouse Grind, or out enjoying a meal were everywhere. The Wedding Crashers, The Royal Tenenbaums and Midnight in Paris star was in Vancouver filming his new 10-part series Stick, which premiers on the streamer Apple TV+ on June 4. 'I felt like people sort of would almost go, 'Oh god, there he is again',' said Wilson during a Zoom interview with his Stick co-star Judy Greer. 'It certainly felt, by the end of five months, that it wasn't, you know, how it felt in the beginning. When people are a little bit excited you're there.' As for the Grouse Grind, Wilson said he was a regular on the challenging hiking trail, clocking his best time of 53 minutes just before the series wrapped shooting last September. 'I don't know if there's a more beautiful place, you know, certainly in the summer,' said Wilson about Vancouver . 'I was so happy we shot there, because for a while it was going to be in Atlanta, which is nice. But Atlanta in the summer, it's hot, a totally different experience.' Greer too was quick to jump on the Vancouver-is-great bandwagon. Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'I've worked there so much over the years. I love it,' said Greer (Ant-Man and The Wasp, Adaptation). 'A great crew. Everyone I've ever worked with there from small-budget things to big-budget things — everyone in production there is so talented.' In Stick, Wilson plays Pryce Cahill, an over-the-hill, ex-pro golfer whose career prematurely missed the cut 20 years ago. After his marriage to Amber-Linn (Greer) fails and he gets fired from his sports store job, Pryce discovers young-gun golfer Santi Wheeler (Peter Dager) and manages to convince the troubled 17-year-old and his single mom (Mariana Treviño) that he can help him make it to the show. Pryce convinces his former caddy and longtime friend Mitts ( Marc Maron ) to come along for the ride. Well, actually supply the ride in the shape of a motor home, to ferry the newly formed rag tag team of misfits toward golf greatness. Stick kind of defies a straightforward label as it successfully combines the family dramedy, road trip, buddy comedy, coming-of-age and comeback genres. 'Someone mentioned it reminded them of The Wizard of Oz, about this group of people who were travelling together that all had an empty space that they needed to fill. A hole they were trying to fill, something they were trying to get. And they were going to be together and try to get it,' said Greer. 'I thought that was really, really beautiful.' While the story could have used any sport, show creator and showrunner Jason Keller chose golf because it offered him a slate upon which to draw the human condition. 'A lot of people are struggling, you know, with emotional baggage,' said Keller over Zoom. 'When I see golfers, especially at the elite level, out there alone on a golf course, that's what I see. I see someone who is very cut off from everybody around them, struggling with their mindset, hoping to sort of get it right on the golf course. Both those worlds kind of seem to fit together.' For the golfing sequences, the production tee'd up a handful of golf courses in the Langley and Surrey area before wrapping up the show with the Pitt Meadows Golf Club standing in for a PGA event. Lots of locals were put to work as actors, golfing doubles, background actors and, of course, crew. Included on that list was Richmond teaching pro and former PGA Tour Canada golfer Nathan Leonhardt, who was the golf consultant for the series. 'I just like the guy a lot. We came to rely on him a lot,' said Keller. 'I really empowered him to speak up when he thought we weren't getting the golf right. He was key to the entire production, all the way through postproduction.' Leonhardt worked closely with Wilson. And, when the cameras weren't rolling, they could be found making some friendly golf-related wagers. 'Not surprisingly, he won money from me. But it doesn't take much for me to sort of want to bet on something,' said Wilson. 'So, in between takes when you're filming on a golf course, you got plenty of opportunities to bet. I'm just glad I didn't lose more money … I felt like I beat Nathan by just losing as little money as I did lose.' Losing only a little money to a pro is impressive when you consider Wilson headed into this job having only played games with his family and completing just one 18-hole round. He left the shoot, he figures, with a 14 handicap and is now eagerly trying to lower that number. 'I had never thought that I'd become a golfer. I thought I'd kind of missed that boat. Both my brothers are good. (I thought) they're too far along. I can never catch them. But I've learned that, oh yeah, I can catch them,' said Wilson. 'The idea that I got to sort of be a part of this show and tell this story and learn to play golf, in a way, kind of makes it one of the best creative experiences of my life.' Maron, a veteran standup comedian, actor and author, and the host of one of the original and still very successful podcasts, WTF with Marc Maron, didn't have any history with golf. Luckily for him, his role only required him to talk a good game. 'The first thing that went through my mind was, why me? I don't know anything about golf, really,' said Maron when asked over Zoom if he was a golfer. 'But you know, when it became clear that my role was not essentially about golf, that it was about the emotional counterpart to a friendship that has gone on for decades that was not necessarily strained, but definitely has had its ups and downs, and that these are a couple of guys that have been through a lot in life, on their own and together, I thought that was a very interesting dynamic, and something I wanted to be part of and to explore. 'Also, I'm not that unlike the guy.' For Keller, Maron was indeed like that guy. 'Marc is the only person I wanted for the role. I met him for coffee, and I think he was really sizing me up when we met,' said Keller. 'I think he was sort of wondering what kind of collaborator I would be with him. And I think I was very upfront with him, and I was throughout the development and shooting of the show, that I wanted his input. He's a very smart guy. He has a really interesting point of view, very funny … that character developed certain colours that weren't on the page because Mark gave his input.' When asked about the perils of being a comedian faced with other people's writing, Maron said: 'My policy is that, if the joke fits the character and it's not there just to sort of button a scene, I'll work with it.' And if he thought the jokes didn't work? 'There were definitely times where I thought that the jokes didn't fit the character, or were not really necessary,' said Maron, who just taped his latest HBO comedy special a few weeks ago. 'It's something that I thought about a lot when reading the scripts, because Mitts was a supporting character. In order to keep him real, I would opt for fewer jokes. And Jason and Chris Moynihan, we would talk about it, and we would sort of navigate that when there was an issue. 'Because I'd rather play it for the emotion than the joke. Because I don't think it's really that type of show. It's not a joke show.' While shooting Stick, Maron like Wilson, was spotted around Vancouver including onstage at a Jokes Please! show back in July. Fans of Maron's WTF know he is less than happy about what has transpired politically in the U.S. and has made it clear that he's open to making a move north. He has set the wheels in motion for gaining permanent residency in Canada. 'I'm waiting. I just heard from my guy today,' said Maron when asked about his PR status. 'The world is falling apart a little bit. I just hope that I have that option. I love Vancouver. I had a nice time up there. That was definitely the longest time I'd spent there. I did a lot of comedy.' And he also did the Grouse Grind with Wilson. 'I did it once,' said Maron. 'Owen didn't tell me that he had done it a lot. So, he had already adapted to it … he's just kind of going right up it like it was nothing. And I hike a lot, but that's hard. 'I was very mad at Owen for pretending like (he'd) never done it before.' Dgee@
The Advertiser
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
This is a warm and friendly comfort-feed of a film
Nonnas PG, 115 minutes 4 stars This is a comfort-food movie. It's not out to surprise or overwhelm you, but offers warmth and likeability and familiarity served up with care. One of the characters says, "Food is love" and the movie, streaming on Netflix, demonstrates how and why. It's inspired by the true story of Joe Scaravella, a Brooklyn native who risked everything after his mother died. Scaravella, who worked for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, had no food-industry experience. What he did have was a passion for the food his Italian-American mother and grandmother had made. He wanted to pay homage to them with a place that served traditional recipes cooked by nonnas. Enoteca Maria, named after his mother, was the result. It's not really a spoiler to say the Staten Island restaurant is still going: this isn't the kind of movie that has an unhappy ending; it's about the beginning. Vince Vaughn plays Joe in the movie. Vaughn has had a varied career ranging from comedy (Wedding Crashers, Dodgeball) to drama (True Detective, Hacksaw Ridge) and even horror (Freaky and the misbegotten remake of Psycho, for which we will forgive him). He makes the man likeable. You want him to succeed when he's spending his inheritance and getting into debt for what his best friend Bruno (Joe Manganiello) fears is a doomed enterprise (though he still helps out with the renovations). Bruno's wife Stella (Drea de Matteo) is also very supportive. Joe is lucky there. But the movie doesn't make things seem easy for Joe. He has to get his workmates to cover for him (he needs the money) and has to negotiate the details of a new enterprise. And soon he faces mounting debts, piles of bills, building inspections and other challenges. Nobody said pursuing, much less achieving, a dream was as easy as having one. The nonnas who are recruited are vital to the story and are played by seasoned and appealing actresses. Two are old acquaintances: Gia (Susan Sarandon), who was Maria's hairdresser and is a talented baker; and Roberta, Maria's best friend, (Lorraine Bracco), who welcomes time away from her nursing home. Another lady, Teresa (Talia Shire), a former nun, is a walk-in who gets signed up and a chance encounter at a market reunites Joe with Olivia (Linda Cardellini), his high school crush. She's with her neighbour Antonella (Brenda Vaccaro), who becomes the last of the nonna quartet whose recipes and culinary talents will be essential. But then comes the final challenge: opening the place and attracting customers and reviewers. That's never easy for a new restaurant but being away from Manhattan and unknown makes It harder. If you like looking at ingredients being prepped and food being cooked, you'll have a good time here and maybe even wish for more of those scenes. You might even be tempted to go and cook something yourself (or at least buy and eat it). Some might find the presentation of Joe's childhood memories - and the adult relationships - a bit cliched but, having Italian-American relatives, I can confirm the centrality of food and family in that culture and the sometimes volatile nature of the relationships. There's some predictable but enjoyable comedy as the feisty women from different places butt heads and show off their dishes. The women seem to be having a wonderful time. Don't turn off as soon as the credits begin: little visual and factual morsels are sprinkled through the closing credits, providing evidence of and updates to the story - including the fact that he extended his recruitment to non-Italian nonnas. Food is love, regardless of the culture. Nonnas PG, 115 minutes 4 stars This is a comfort-food movie. It's not out to surprise or overwhelm you, but offers warmth and likeability and familiarity served up with care. One of the characters says, "Food is love" and the movie, streaming on Netflix, demonstrates how and why. It's inspired by the true story of Joe Scaravella, a Brooklyn native who risked everything after his mother died. Scaravella, who worked for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, had no food-industry experience. What he did have was a passion for the food his Italian-American mother and grandmother had made. He wanted to pay homage to them with a place that served traditional recipes cooked by nonnas. Enoteca Maria, named after his mother, was the result. It's not really a spoiler to say the Staten Island restaurant is still going: this isn't the kind of movie that has an unhappy ending; it's about the beginning. Vince Vaughn plays Joe in the movie. Vaughn has had a varied career ranging from comedy (Wedding Crashers, Dodgeball) to drama (True Detective, Hacksaw Ridge) and even horror (Freaky and the misbegotten remake of Psycho, for which we will forgive him). He makes the man likeable. You want him to succeed when he's spending his inheritance and getting into debt for what his best friend Bruno (Joe Manganiello) fears is a doomed enterprise (though he still helps out with the renovations). Bruno's wife Stella (Drea de Matteo) is also very supportive. Joe is lucky there. But the movie doesn't make things seem easy for Joe. He has to get his workmates to cover for him (he needs the money) and has to negotiate the details of a new enterprise. And soon he faces mounting debts, piles of bills, building inspections and other challenges. Nobody said pursuing, much less achieving, a dream was as easy as having one. The nonnas who are recruited are vital to the story and are played by seasoned and appealing actresses. Two are old acquaintances: Gia (Susan Sarandon), who was Maria's hairdresser and is a talented baker; and Roberta, Maria's best friend, (Lorraine Bracco), who welcomes time away from her nursing home. Another lady, Teresa (Talia Shire), a former nun, is a walk-in who gets signed up and a chance encounter at a market reunites Joe with Olivia (Linda Cardellini), his high school crush. She's with her neighbour Antonella (Brenda Vaccaro), who becomes the last of the nonna quartet whose recipes and culinary talents will be essential. But then comes the final challenge: opening the place and attracting customers and reviewers. That's never easy for a new restaurant but being away from Manhattan and unknown makes It harder. If you like looking at ingredients being prepped and food being cooked, you'll have a good time here and maybe even wish for more of those scenes. You might even be tempted to go and cook something yourself (or at least buy and eat it). Some might find the presentation of Joe's childhood memories - and the adult relationships - a bit cliched but, having Italian-American relatives, I can confirm the centrality of food and family in that culture and the sometimes volatile nature of the relationships. There's some predictable but enjoyable comedy as the feisty women from different places butt heads and show off their dishes. The women seem to be having a wonderful time. Don't turn off as soon as the credits begin: little visual and factual morsels are sprinkled through the closing credits, providing evidence of and updates to the story - including the fact that he extended his recruitment to non-Italian nonnas. Food is love, regardless of the culture. Nonnas PG, 115 minutes 4 stars This is a comfort-food movie. It's not out to surprise or overwhelm you, but offers warmth and likeability and familiarity served up with care. One of the characters says, "Food is love" and the movie, streaming on Netflix, demonstrates how and why. It's inspired by the true story of Joe Scaravella, a Brooklyn native who risked everything after his mother died. Scaravella, who worked for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, had no food-industry experience. What he did have was a passion for the food his Italian-American mother and grandmother had made. He wanted to pay homage to them with a place that served traditional recipes cooked by nonnas. Enoteca Maria, named after his mother, was the result. It's not really a spoiler to say the Staten Island restaurant is still going: this isn't the kind of movie that has an unhappy ending; it's about the beginning. Vince Vaughn plays Joe in the movie. Vaughn has had a varied career ranging from comedy (Wedding Crashers, Dodgeball) to drama (True Detective, Hacksaw Ridge) and even horror (Freaky and the misbegotten remake of Psycho, for which we will forgive him). He makes the man likeable. You want him to succeed when he's spending his inheritance and getting into debt for what his best friend Bruno (Joe Manganiello) fears is a doomed enterprise (though he still helps out with the renovations). Bruno's wife Stella (Drea de Matteo) is also very supportive. Joe is lucky there. But the movie doesn't make things seem easy for Joe. He has to get his workmates to cover for him (he needs the money) and has to negotiate the details of a new enterprise. And soon he faces mounting debts, piles of bills, building inspections and other challenges. Nobody said pursuing, much less achieving, a dream was as easy as having one. The nonnas who are recruited are vital to the story and are played by seasoned and appealing actresses. Two are old acquaintances: Gia (Susan Sarandon), who was Maria's hairdresser and is a talented baker; and Roberta, Maria's best friend, (Lorraine Bracco), who welcomes time away from her nursing home. Another lady, Teresa (Talia Shire), a former nun, is a walk-in who gets signed up and a chance encounter at a market reunites Joe with Olivia (Linda Cardellini), his high school crush. She's with her neighbour Antonella (Brenda Vaccaro), who becomes the last of the nonna quartet whose recipes and culinary talents will be essential. But then comes the final challenge: opening the place and attracting customers and reviewers. That's never easy for a new restaurant but being away from Manhattan and unknown makes It harder. If you like looking at ingredients being prepped and food being cooked, you'll have a good time here and maybe even wish for more of those scenes. You might even be tempted to go and cook something yourself (or at least buy and eat it). Some might find the presentation of Joe's childhood memories - and the adult relationships - a bit cliched but, having Italian-American relatives, I can confirm the centrality of food and family in that culture and the sometimes volatile nature of the relationships. There's some predictable but enjoyable comedy as the feisty women from different places butt heads and show off their dishes. The women seem to be having a wonderful time. Don't turn off as soon as the credits begin: little visual and factual morsels are sprinkled through the closing credits, providing evidence of and updates to the story - including the fact that he extended his recruitment to non-Italian nonnas. Food is love, regardless of the culture. Nonnas PG, 115 minutes 4 stars This is a comfort-food movie. It's not out to surprise or overwhelm you, but offers warmth and likeability and familiarity served up with care. One of the characters says, "Food is love" and the movie, streaming on Netflix, demonstrates how and why. It's inspired by the true story of Joe Scaravella, a Brooklyn native who risked everything after his mother died. Scaravella, who worked for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, had no food-industry experience. What he did have was a passion for the food his Italian-American mother and grandmother had made. He wanted to pay homage to them with a place that served traditional recipes cooked by nonnas. Enoteca Maria, named after his mother, was the result. It's not really a spoiler to say the Staten Island restaurant is still going: this isn't the kind of movie that has an unhappy ending; it's about the beginning. Vince Vaughn plays Joe in the movie. Vaughn has had a varied career ranging from comedy (Wedding Crashers, Dodgeball) to drama (True Detective, Hacksaw Ridge) and even horror (Freaky and the misbegotten remake of Psycho, for which we will forgive him). He makes the man likeable. You want him to succeed when he's spending his inheritance and getting into debt for what his best friend Bruno (Joe Manganiello) fears is a doomed enterprise (though he still helps out with the renovations). Bruno's wife Stella (Drea de Matteo) is also very supportive. Joe is lucky there. But the movie doesn't make things seem easy for Joe. He has to get his workmates to cover for him (he needs the money) and has to negotiate the details of a new enterprise. And soon he faces mounting debts, piles of bills, building inspections and other challenges. Nobody said pursuing, much less achieving, a dream was as easy as having one. The nonnas who are recruited are vital to the story and are played by seasoned and appealing actresses. Two are old acquaintances: Gia (Susan Sarandon), who was Maria's hairdresser and is a talented baker; and Roberta, Maria's best friend, (Lorraine Bracco), who welcomes time away from her nursing home. Another lady, Teresa (Talia Shire), a former nun, is a walk-in who gets signed up and a chance encounter at a market reunites Joe with Olivia (Linda Cardellini), his high school crush. She's with her neighbour Antonella (Brenda Vaccaro), who becomes the last of the nonna quartet whose recipes and culinary talents will be essential. But then comes the final challenge: opening the place and attracting customers and reviewers. That's never easy for a new restaurant but being away from Manhattan and unknown makes It harder. If you like looking at ingredients being prepped and food being cooked, you'll have a good time here and maybe even wish for more of those scenes. You might even be tempted to go and cook something yourself (or at least buy and eat it). Some might find the presentation of Joe's childhood memories - and the adult relationships - a bit cliched but, having Italian-American relatives, I can confirm the centrality of food and family in that culture and the sometimes volatile nature of the relationships. There's some predictable but enjoyable comedy as the feisty women from different places butt heads and show off their dishes. The women seem to be having a wonderful time. Don't turn off as soon as the credits begin: little visual and factual morsels are sprinkled through the closing credits, providing evidence of and updates to the story - including the fact that he extended his recruitment to non-Italian nonnas. Food is love, regardless of the culture.
IOL News
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
From grief to gratitude: how 'Nonnas' serves up love and healing through grandmother's recipes
Vince Vaughn offers a sensitive performance in 'Nonnas', a touching narrative exploring grief and healing, centered around the grounding influence of grandmothers and food. Image: X/ @MoselloATC I don't know about you, but seeing Vince Vaughn on screen is always a treat. From "Wedding Crashers" to "Dodgeball", the man's unmatched comedic timing makes him a walking punchline with heart. So it was surprising (in a good way) to see him in something a little more grounded and heartfelt. Vaughn's been lighting up our screens since the mid-'90s, but Netflix's "Nonnas" lets him flex some emotional muscle we rarely see. And you know what? He pulls it off. "Nonnas", based on a true story, is a love letter to the women who've kept families full, connected and comforted for generations: grandmothers, mothers, aunties. And through food, glorious, healing, life-giving food. From homemade pasta to the kind of soup that could cure a heartbreak, the film wraps you up in nostalgia from the first scene. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ When Joe inherits her life insurance, he takes a leap: opening a restaurant where the only chefs are Italian grandmothers. Image: X/@DavidOpie Joe (Vaughn) is mourning the loss of his mother. He's stuck. But memories of their kitchen rituals, lit like golden snapshots from childhood, stir something deep. When he inherits her life insurance, he takes a leap: opening a restaurant where the only chefs are Italian grandmothers. It's chaotic (as some golden oldies can be), touching, and surprisingly funny because these nonnas come with sass. What "Nonnas" does beautifully is remind us how grief and comfort often sit side by side at the table. Whether it's dishing up warm soup after a funeral or recreating your late mother's stew in your tiny apartment kitchen, food gives us a way to hold on even when everything else has changed. It's the small rituals: peeling vegetables the way she did, boiling rice with the same pinch of salt, smelling onions on the stove that suddenly takes you back. Vaughn's Joe finds healing not in therapy, but in recreating the meals that made his childhood whole. That emotional layer sneaks up on you. This film also reminds us that food is never just food. It's a cultural heirloom. Across the world, there's always that one dish that says, 'home'. For many of us, food was how love was served, in pots, plates and plastic containers sent home after family gatherings. Watching "Nonnas" might make you think of your own gran's Sunday lunch: chicken so soft it fell off the bone, roast potatoes that could end wars, and that secret gravy recipe no one's quite managed to recreate. Susan Sarandon starring in 'Nonnas'. Image: X/@msboland_botwin Whether it's pap and stew, biryani, or koeksisters, we all have those dishes that carry our families' stories. As the film suggests, 'One does not grow old at the table.' Because when we eat these meals, we are reminded and reconnected. The supporting cast is pure magic. Susan Sarandon is looking fabulous as always, and legends like Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire and Brenda Vaccaro add plenty of spice. Their onscreen chemistry feels like you're watching real aunties argue over how long the pasta should boil. While the plot is simple, the message lingers: food is memory. Food is connection. Food is healing. "Nonnas" doesn't reinvent the recipe, but it doesn't have to. It brings enough heart, humour, and flavour to leave you smiling and probably craving your grandmother's cooking. So yes, "Nonnas" is about Italian grandmothers. But it's also about yours. *** solid and enjoyable, though not groundbreaking.
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Isla Fisher shares telling post amid $119m divorce with Sacha Baron Cohen
Australian actress Isla Fisher has shared a cryptic post to social media amid her divorce from Sacha Baron Cohen. The Wedding Crashers star, 49, posted a photo to Instagram on Thursday of a male embracing a woman crying. 'In Japan you can rent a handsome man just to cry with you and wipe your tears,' the post read. It comes after Isla recently opened up about her divorce from Cohen and how the end of their marriage changed her life. The Aussie actress split with the Borat creator, 53, at the end of 2023 after 13 years of marriage. Speaking to Stellar, Isla revealed that now she is single again and her children are growing up she is planning to re-focus her efforts on her work. 'I think because of the challenges I've gone through in the last two years, I don't see that it will change much,' Isla admitted. She added her career had previously been put on the 'backburner' while she raised her children with Sacha. Earlier this year, the actress and her ex shared a friendly exchange on social media amid reports their divorce was getting 'messy'. The exes engaged with one another on the Australian star's recent Instagram post, which shows her in a sultry photoshoot for Style Magazine. 'Stunning,' the British actor complimented his former wife in the comments below the post, which he also 'liked'. Isla replied some hours later, tagging her ex-partner and writing, 'Thank you'. The friendly interaction occurred amid reports her amicable divorce from comedian Sacha is set to turn sour as they divide their £60million (AUD$119million) fortune. Sources close to the actor said 'it's war' and 'any remaining veneer of civility has gone' after Isla opened up about how she was handling their separation. It comes after Isla recently opened up about her divorce from Cohen and how the end of their marriage changed her life Isla and Sacha revealed in a joint statement in April, 2024 they had 'quietly separated' the year before. 'After a long tennis match lasting over 20 years, we are finally putting our racquets down,' they told fans. Discussing the split with the Sunday Times, Isla said: 'It's the most difficult thing that I've been through and I've learnt so much about myself in the process. 'I never imagined my family being separated but we are committed and loving parents.' Isla explained her own parents separated when she was nine-years-old and admitted their peaceful arrangement was what she now strives for. She said: 'It was very harmonious, I don't ever remember them fighting about anything… they were very inclusive of each other.'
