Movies

Ryan Coogler’s historical vampire film, Sinners, achieved a remarkable feat by receiving 16 nominations, including nods for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay – a rare accomplishment for films in this genre. One Battle After Another, despite underperforming at the box office, also earned a significant 13 nominations and was considered a strong Oscar hopeful. Frankenstein garnered nine nominations, though surprisingly, director Guillermo del Toro wasn’t nominated for Best Director.

Chris Pratt stars as Chris Raven, a detective on trial, and Rebecca Ferguson plays Judge Maddox, an artificial intelligence who acts as his judge, jury, and possible executioner. In a review of Mercy, Eric Eisenberg from TopMob criticizes the plot as completely nonsensical, stating that this lack of a solid story prevents the film from being either thought-provoking or enjoyable. He gave the movie a rating of 1.5 out of 5 stars.

Janet Leigh plays Mary Crane in the film, but she also skillfully portrays several other characters, such as Angela and Maria.

It’s become a trend for attractive American actors to showcase their ability to speak another language, and French is a popular choice. Actors like Bradley Cooper, Holt McCallany, and Timothée Chalamet have given interviews in French, subtly signaling their unique skillset. In today’s competitive Hollywood landscape, especially with streaming services reaching global audiences, being bilingual is a definite advantage. (I was recently impressed by Tim Baltz’s French in I Love LA.) However, Ben Affleck’s recent Spanish usage feels different. He’s already achieved significant success – directing an Oscar-winning film, playing Batman, and becoming a popular internet figure. There’s little left for him to prove professionally. So, it’s refreshing to see him highlight a skill he developed as a teenager while living and working in Mexico. (His long acting career is also noteworthy.) While The Rip might be a bit slow-paced, showcasing his Spanish feels like a personal enjoyment for Affleck and a welcome surprise for viewers.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, a new campaign called “Stealing Isn’t Innovation” is launching to address the use of generative AI to create content without the consent of the original artists. A key message of the campaign states:

It’s hard for any historical drama to compare to Shōgun, which many consider one of the best TV shows in decades. However, there are clear parallels between the two series: both are lavish, fictionalized stories set in East Asia and feature British sailors caught up in adventure.

The High School Musical movie series began in 2006 with the first film. It was very popular, leading to two sequels and even a TV show. Recently, after celebrating its 20th anniversary, High School Musical unexpectedly returned to the top of the charts on Disney+, as reported by FlixPatrol.

Alex Honnold is uniquely qualified for this climb – he’s incredibly skilled and experienced, a true legend in the climbing world. He only attempts climbs he’s certain he can complete safely. Still, even with all his preparation, there’s always a small risk, especially with a challenging ascent like Taipei 101, which will be livestreamed on Netflix on January 23rd. We’re hoping everything goes smoothly, of course! To help ease any anxiety before you watch, here are four documentary recommendations showcasing the expertise of the climbers involved – think of it as a way to prepare yourself for the intensity.

Scheduled for release on January 22, 2026, this 79-minute film is directed by Leslie Iwerks and stars Walt Disney. A rating has not yet been assigned.

The series Yellowstone, along with its prequel spinoffs 1883 and 1923, have already finished airing. Despite this, Taylor Sheridan has many more projects in development, including additional stories within the Yellowstone universe and completely new Westerns. Beyond Westerns, Sheridan has also created several successful crime thrillers, and one of those is unexpectedly heading to Netflix.