Movies

This week’s episode of Elsbeth centers around the murder of Dave Coppins, the athletic director at St. Ivan’s University, who was killed by a blow to the head while recovering in an ice bath. The case itself feels a bit underdeveloped, largely because we don’t see the connection between the killer, Coach Russell Willoughby (played by Sam McMurray), and the victim. Instead, we learn what happened through Elsbeth’s observations and deductions. Interestingly, the dynamic between Elsbeth and Coach Willoughby’s younger girlfriend, Peyton Ramsay (Lana Condor), is more compelling – and ultimately more important to the story – than the murder mystery itself.

In an interview on the Deadline Crew Call podcast, James Gunn revealed he worried the DC Universe he’s building might not get a chance to fully develop, and could be cancelled before it had the opportunity to succeed, especially leading up to the release of Superman.

Set in 1991 Madrid, the movie Veronica centers on a teenage girl named Veronica and her friends. The story starts with the group trying to contact spirits during a séance – Veronica hopes to speak with her deceased father, and a friend wants to reach her late boyfriend. This leads to a terrifying series of events, as Veronica becomes possessed by a demonic force determined to torment her and everyone she cares about.

Simu Liu came to the defense of Jake Connelly, the actor from Stranger Things, after Connelly received criticism for using a stunt double in the show’s fifth season. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Liu explained that Connelly likely wanted to perform the stunt himself, but producers made the right decision to prioritize his safety. Liu pointed out that using a stunt double is standard practice when there’s a risk to a young actor, and urged people not to jump to conclusions without knowing the full story.

A new crime drama set in 2025 is now available on Netflix in the U.S. It first premiered on Paramount+ in August. The show centers around Joni Gray, a psychologist haunted by the unsolved disappearance of a friend during a teenage seance.

Everything feels comfortable and familiar, like no time has passed at all, even though the episode mostly catches us up on what the women have been doing since last season. Let’s start with Dorit. As soon as filming began, her soon-to-be-ex-husband, PK, was photographed kissing another woman – a rather unappealing display, reminiscent of Mauricio’s behavior but with less attractive company. (At least Mauricio’s encounters are exciting, even if only for Kyle.) Dorit is understandably upset about the divorce, and she’s frustrated that PK is seeking joint custody despite his frequent travel and unsuitable lifestyle for raising their children.

Comedians Zach Woods and Alec Baldwin both publicly defended actor Paul Dano in short video posts on Instagram. Woods jokingly said that ‘weird-looking white boys’ need to support each other, and directly criticized Quentin Tarantino. Baldwin simply expressed his affection for Dano, telling anyone who disagreed to be quiet.

The 1990s were a fantastic decade for anime films, with at least one truly exceptional movie released every year. While major studios like Studio Ghibli and Gainax consistently delivered hits, popular series such as Pokémon also made impressive transitions to the big screen. Generally, these films were visually stunning for their time, boasted creative stories, and were filled with genuine emotion.

Inara Serra is a standout character in Firefly, but looking back, some of her storylines haven’t aged well. While the show was forward-thinking for its time in depicting a sex worker, modern feminist perspectives reveal problematic and sexist elements within that portrayal, consistent with other works by Joss Whedon. Despite this, Inara remains a highlight of the series, brilliantly brought to life by Morena Baccarin, and she deserved a more thoughtfully written arc.

Paul Tazewell, the costume designer for Wicked, explained that Elphaba’s cardigan acted like a comfortable robe, especially considering she didn’t have access to modern stores. He told NPR that she creates her own clothes, weaving them in her treehouse from materials around her, and the sweater fits that resourceful character. He playfully suggested that a glamorous black robe wouldn’t make sense for her – where would she even get it? Perhaps a future Wicked story could explore Elphaba’s journey into the world of fabrics and textiles.