Movie and TV show reviews

At the Harmony Gold Theater on Feb. 8, Barco’s EbMaster Screening Series showcased an intriguing thriller about the election of a new pope. The event brought together Berger, producers Tessa Ross and Mike Jackman, editor Nick Emerson, composer Volker Bertelmann, costume designer Lisy Christl, and leading actor Ralph Fiennes, who portrays Cardinal Lawrence. Upon his entrance, Fiennes received a hearty standing ovation that lasted quite some time.

Starting from late February, Williams will be reporting directly to Paul Higginson, the Executive Vice President of EMEA for Universal Pictures International. Her role will involve managing the day-to-day operations within the region. Notably, she is stepping into the shoes previously filled by Rob Huber, who parted ways with the company at the end of 2024.

Curry and Erick Peyton are overseeing the production of “Spirit” through their multimedia company, Unanimous Media, in collaboration with The WorkShop Content Studios and FreshFly. This four-part series tells the story of a cheerleading team from George Washington High School who, for the first time in Philadelphia’s school district history, qualified for the NCA High School Nationals.

In the movie “Friendship,” suburban father Craig (Robinson) develops an intense crush on his charming new neighbor (Rudd). As Craig tries to find an adult male friend, this budding relationship could have disastrous consequences for them both. The film also features Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer, Josh Segarra, and Billy Bryk in their roles. Andrew DeYoung penned and directed “Friendship,” which marks his first feature-length directorial effort.

As a passionate cinephile, I can’t contain my enthusiasm for the upcoming film! This project promises to be something truly extraordinary, a gem in the cinematic world. Being a dedicated fan of Östlund’s work, and having collaborated with Philippe Bober on several projects such as Lou Ye’s “An Unfinished Film” at Cannes and Jessica Hausner’s award-winning “Club Zero” at Sitges, I am particularly looking forward to this one. Currently in production, the film is slated for release in 2026.

On Tuesday, Publicis Groupe’s media-investment division presented Women’s Sports Connect, a novel service provided by their Publicis Sports agency. This service secures ad placements and funds original content creation to enable advertisers to be part of sports and programming focused on female athletes. The introduction of this offering comes as there is growing interest in leagues like the WNBA and Unrivaled, along with women’s college basketball.

In a significant shift, the proportion of high-earning movies with leading ladies has finally reached parity with those starring men, as per a recent study by the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University. In the year 2024, out of the 100 highest-grossing domestic films, 42% showcased female leads, mirroring the number of movies with male leads. This is a marked improvement from the previous year, where just 28% of these films were centered around women, while a majority (62%) revolved around men.

100 Choices presents contestants with an extremely difficult question along with a list of 100 potential answers. To narrow down the possibilities, they must complete five physical tasks. Success in each task allows them to eliminate incorrect options. This creates a dynamic format that blends intelligence, strength, and teamwork for maximum enjoyment. The show is suitable for family viewing and can be customized for both studio broadcasts during prime time and outdoor filming locations.

The movie was helmed by directors Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni, under the production of Gandom Films Production.

At a Berlinale Series Market Spanish Thrillers exhibition on February 17, one of the two highlighted titles is “Shades”. This title will be followed by “Shattered Bonds” at an EFM showcase focusing on “Narratives Against Rising Youth Violence” on February 18. Julian Kostov, known for his role in “The White Lotus”, will headline “Shattered Bonds”.