Movies

Kelly Clarkson is no stranger to being watched, but she recently shared that it feels particularly intense when the attention comes from children – especially those who go to school with her own kids. She told Kenan Thompson, the comedian from Saturday Night Live (who also recently wrote a children’s book), about a difficult experience she had while appearing on The Kelly Clarkson Show.

Johnson recalls one morning getting a call from an unfamiliar number. It turned out to be Mike Myers, who wanted to know how Johnson had done his impression of Elon Musk. Myers was preparing to play Musk on Saturday Night Live that evening. Johnson was accustomed to helping cast members with their impressions, but getting a request from Myers was unexpected. He was amazed to be guiding a comedy legend from portraying a character like a ‘goofy South African Bond villain’ to Dr. Evil.

Before Ozark came along, this show was likely the best crime thriller Netflix had ever produced. While some feel it didn’t maintain its initial quality after a fantastic first season that earned critical acclaim, the whole series remains enjoyable to watch even today.

The movie is doing very well on Disney+, currently ranking as the most popular title globally and reaching number one in 42 countries. While it’s popular with viewers, critics haven’t been as impressed – it currently has a 53% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite its success, some viewers feel it doesn’t quite live up to another great science fiction film also available on streaming.

Don Cheadle is widely considered one of the best actors of the 21st century, with memorable roles in films like Hotel Rwanda, Crash, and the Avengers movies. But a lesser-known series showcases a different side of Cheadle, as he plays a charismatic consultant and dealmaker.

Clarke stars as Beatrice “Bea” Grant, and Haley Lu Richardson (known from The White Lotus) plays Twila Hasbeck. The story follows Bea and Twila, who start as embassy secretaries in Moscow during the 1970s and later become CIA agents after tragedy strikes – the death of their husbands.

I’m really excited to hear that HBO is potentially revisiting the world of Game of Thrones! The Hollywood Reporter says they’re working on a sequel, and this time, it sounds like it won’t focus on Jon Snow. Instead, they’re leaning towards a story centered around Arya Stark, played by Maisie Williams, which I think is fantastic! Apparently, the new series would take place in Essos, a huge continent east of Westeros. It’s still very early stages, but this feels like the most solid sign yet that we’ll be seeing more of these characters and that world again, and I’m hoping for the best!

As a critic, I’ve always found something uniquely satisfying about revenge films. They tap into a primal desire for justice that’s rarely indulged in real life. We’re taught to turn the other cheek, but in these movies, flawed characters do fight back – and it feels good! There’s a moral clarity, even if it’s brutal, in seeing the bad guys get their comeuppance. And honestly, the more over-the-top the vengeance, the more I, and I suspect many viewers, enjoy watching it all unfold. It’s a cathartic experience, plain and simple.

As a huge Marvel fan, I found something really cool hidden in the original teasers for Endgame. The Steve Rogers teaser had a code – “1e:24ber:02020” – which actually lines up with the 1:24:20 mark in the movie. That’s the exact moment the Ancient One explains how taking an Infinity Stone creates alternate timelines! And it doesn’t stop there. The Thor teaser ends with “1e:17ber:02020,” translating to 1:17:20. That’s when Ant-Man kicks the Tesseract case, leading directly to Loki’s escape and, well, the whole Loki series! It’s crazy how much they foreshadowed everything.

As a huge fan of the Game of Thrones universe, I’m really excited about the new series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which starts on HBO January 18th. It’s a totally different vibe than what we’re used to, taking place a century before the events of Game of Thrones. We follow Ser Duncan the Tall, a struggling knight played by Peter Claffey, and his young squire, Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell), as they travel around Westeros. Forget massive battles and dragons – this story is much more grounded and focused on everyday life. The first season mainly centers around a jousting tournament, which sounds like a refreshing change of pace!