Minority Mindset

Vulture’s movie fans have compiled a list of the films they’re most excited about at this year’s festival. Bilge Ebiri highly recommends Kathryn Bigelow’s A House of Dynamite, calling it one of his favorites from Venice. Alison Willmore is looking forward to a double feature of Radu Jude’s Kontinental ’25 and Dracula. Rachel Handler urges everyone to check out Kelly Reichardt’s unique heist film, The Mastermind, which stars Josh O’Connor in a role where he’s clearly out of his depth. Joe Reid is particularly enthusiastic about Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice, suggesting it’s best enjoyed with an audience ready to laugh. Eric Vilas-Boas is keen to see Mamoru Hosoda’s Scarlet. And I can assure you that Lav Diaz’s sprawling, worldwide story, Magellan, is worth every minute of its long running time. If you need even more options, we’ve also recommended another 20 films (and there are twice as many available at the festival!). – Fran Hoepfner

As a follower of Only Murders in the Building, I was on the edge of my seat when Charles, Oliver, and Mabel had to bring in Detective Williams with all their evidence. They just couldn’t investigate Jay, Bash, and Camilla themselves anymore – those three billionaires now control the company making our favorite podcast! But, true to form, they couldn’t resist digging into the mystery, and they found a new clue: a name, “Tommy the Tongue.” Luckily, with Williams’ help, they figured out that “Tommy the Tongue” wasn’t a person at all, but a business registered at Lester’s widow’s house. And the biggest shock? She was meeting with Sophia Caccimelio at the end of the last episode! This week’s episode starts right there, with that cliffhanger, and finally reveals what was really going on between those two widows.

It’s rare for anyone to begin their career at the very peak of their field, and that includes actors. Like most people, actors often take on various entry-level jobs to support themselves while they’re working towards success in Hollywood. Everyone has to start somewhere, and earning a living while pursuing a dream is a common experience. This is especially true in a competitive industry like acting.

Characters like Kirito and Yusuke Urameshi are driven to prove their worth, and they often make the biggest impact in their first season. Unfortunately, subsequent seasons, sometimes suffering from repeating storylines or poor writing, often make them seem less compelling than they originally were. This doesn’t mean these characters became unlikable; many stayed popular and helped their shows succeed. However, their most memorable and enjoyable scenes will always be from Season 1. It’s a common trend in long-running anime. Fans often prefer the initial impression.

Marriagetoxin, created by Joumyaku and illustrated by Mizuki Yoda, centers around Hikaru Gero, an incredibly talented assassin from the Poison Masters Clan who has never been in love. He needs to continue his family’s lineage, so he partners with Mei Kinosaki, an expert in arranging marriages, to find someone compatible. According to a recent announcement, this news comes with a brand new teaser trailer, character designs, and information about the voice actors and team working on the series. The teaser trailer shows how the two very different characters first meet, hinting at a chaotic and exciting journey as the assassin and marriage swindler tackle what seems like an impossible quest for love.

The newest Avatar film is adding layers of moral complexity to the world of Pandora. The first two movies focused on the Na’vi defending their home against the harmful actions of the RDA, but director James Cameron has stated that this next installment will present a more nuanced conflict. Varang, a member of the Mangkwan clan, has been identified as the film’s antagonist. She has turned away from Eywa and is determined to cause trouble for Pandora’s heroes through violent means. Recent previews have already showcased the extent of her destruction, and her alliance with Quartich. Thankfully, this development has also paved the way for the return of a key Pandoran character who was hinted at in the new footage.