Film: The MonkeyCast: Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Christian Convery, Colin O’Brien, Rohan Campbell, Sarah Levy, Osgood Perkins, Adam Scott, Elijah WoodDirector/Screenplay : Osgood PerkinsRating: 2/5Runtime: 98 min The “Longlegs,” director goes on to his next project, a horror comedy, with a sense of fatalistic fun. It’s nothing like “Longlegs” which was a tricky, gimmicky, choppy serial killer mystery with a creepy atmosphere, great horror cinematography and a Nicolas Cage, looking unlike himself with long hair and heavy makeup. Perkins’ follow-up film,“The Monkey,” adapted from a 1980 Stephen King short story, is funny because its really messy and clumsy in it’s attempt to generate macabre enjoyment. The tone is all over the place and the action is over-the-top. It’s neither classy nor subtle - just a whole lot of body parts splattering in ridiculous fashion. “The Monkey” is a half-baked story of twin brothers who hate each other (and we’re not convinced why?). Theo James plays twin brothers Hal and Bill who were gifted a wind-up money by their traveling father. It’s when their father and subsequently, their mother die in freakish ways that they begin connecting the dots. But for the audience it’s a done deal even before the first kill.The brothers are estranged and reunite only when Bill compels Hal to go see if the monkey has somehow gotten loose. Hal’s teenage son Petey (Colin O’Brien), is the add-on complication. Right from the beginning we know what we’re in for - The opening sequence has an airline pilot (Adam Scott), his cap and uniform stained with blood, walking into a pawnshop with a wind-up monkey he wants to sell. It’s somewhat like ‘Chucky’ but there are no scares to keep you winded. The moment the monkey's right paw hits the ground with its drumstick, someone is killed and the weirdest thing is that whoever turns the monkey’s key will not be killed. The kills are all spectacularly splashy, tasteless in an operatic horror movie form. It’s a rather crude series of macabre, freaky, gratuitous scenes put together in an attempt to tell a story. The ghoulish chain of events and macabre weirdness don’t count when the deaths don’t even feel shocking. The Monkey is morbid horror comedy that fails to generate any kind of rush. Perkins’ follow up is a madcap misadventure that fails to keep you engaged.
07 March,2025 07:07 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasGrammy-nominated, multi-platinum singer/songwriter, Shawn Mendes, known for his captivating performances and chart-topping hits like 'In My Blood', 'Treat You Better', and new single 'Why Why Why', returns to the live stage after more than two years as he is set to perform at Lollapalooza 2025 in Mumbai. Recently, Shawn was spotted at Mumbai’s Colaba Causeway as he stepped out for some street shopping. Watch the video below. UNREAL UNREAL UN FUCKING REAL he’s literally gorgeous pic.twitter.com/eMFesaxRiK — sam 🫧 3 days till louis (@s1ut4zourry) March 6, 2025 Shawn Mendes considered quitting music Last year, Shawn revealed that he had aspirations of being a therapist, and he considered quitting music for the same. When asked about his alternative plan, he told fellow singer John Mayer on 'How's Life', “I have no idea. For real, I seriously thought about it. I actually took a small therapy course and I was like, ‘I might just become a therapist in a small town’. It’d be weird at first for everyone, and then eventually they would just get used to it”. Elsewhere in the interview, Shawn, who recently declared he is still figuring out his sexuality and previously romanced Camila Cabello, admitted he is ready to find love. Asked if he's going to date again, he said, “Yes. For sure. I think, yeah. I guess as long as we’re living, we are healing”. About Lollapalooza 2025 in Mumbai Besides Shawn Mendes, Green Day is set to headline the musical extravaganza. Lollapalooza's new edition will take place in Mumbai from March 8-9, 2025. The third edition of the two-day festival will showcase an impressive line-up of renowned global artists, some sure to fulfill bucket list dreams alongside brilliant indie and popular Indian performers. The festival has become a showcase for live music, featuring an array of global and local artists across genres like pop, rock, hip-hop, EDM, and techno. Other artists include former member of the boy band One Direction, Louis Tomlinson, Glass Animals, known for their hit single, Heat Waves, EDM powerhouse Zedd and the unstoppable John Summit. Indian rapper Hanumankind, who shot to international fame with his superhit English song Big Dawgs will also bring raw energy and thought-provoking lyrics to the event.
06 March,2025 10:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThose waiting for the India release of The Monkey, the screen adaptation of Stephen King’s short story of the same name, can breathe a sigh of relief. The horror comedy has been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) with an ‘A’ certificate, without any scene deletions. While concerns were raised about potential cuts since the CBFC took that route with the past few Hollywood releases, including The Brutalist and Babygirl, we have learnt that four expletives have been muted in the Theo James-starrer, leaving the movie otherwise intact for its theatrical release. Directed by Osgood Perkins, The Monkey follows twin brothers who discover their father’s old toy monkey and realise it is linked to a series of mysterious deaths. As they grow older, the brothers are forced to confront their past when the toy resurfaces. Sources close to the board revealed that the members found the film to have a balanced tone of horror and dark comedy. “The film has intense horror elements, but the mix of dark humour offsets it, making it palatable for an adult audience. It didn’t warrant scene deletions, as the violence was not excessively graphic. The only modifications involved muting four instances of strong language,” a CBFC insider said. In the past, horror offerings like It (2017) and Evil Dead Rise (2023) saw dialogue modifications and minor scene alterations, while filmmaker Ari Aster’s psychological horror Midsommar (2019) was not released in Indian theatres due to its disturbing imagery.
06 March,2025 06:54 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuFilmmaker Celine Song is set for another project starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal. The film is set to be released on June 13. A24 confirmed the premiere date for 'Materialists' on X on Tuesday. "Save the date. Celine Song's MATERIALISTS 6.13.2025," the post said, with a photo of a heart-shaped Materialists cake, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The romantic comedy follows a young matchmaker in New York City (Johnson), who is torn between her ideal match and an imperfect ex. The ensemble cast features Zoe Winters, Marin Ireland, Dasha Nekrasova from Succession, and Louisa Jacobson. Principal photography on Materialists began in New York on April 29, 2024, and wrapped the following June. Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler of Killer Films, together with David Hinojosa of 2AM, are producers, as per the outlet. Song's plays include Endlings and The Seagull on The Sims 4 (both 2020). Her directorial film debut, Past Lives (2023), received critical acclaim and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. "I didn't know I knew how to make a movie until I was doing it," said Song, adding, "And then once I was doing it, I was like, 'Oh my God, I'm going to do this until I die.'" Johnson, who was last on our screens in Madame Web, will unite with Avengers star Evans and Gladiator II's Pascal, according to The Hollywood Reporter. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 March,2025 08:05 AM IST | Washington | ANIActor Demi Moore failed to win the Best Actress trophy at the recent Academy Awards but that did not deter her from mission out on the chance to celebrate Oscar night. After the prestigious ceremony, she attended the Vanity Fair Oscars Party alongside her three daughters - Rumer Willis, Scout Willis and Tallulah Willis - in a gold halter dress. But Moore's real party began when following the afterparty, she slipped into her comfy clothes and gorged on trays filled with French fries, as per People. View this post on Instagram A post shared by tallulah willis (@buuski) Moore's daughter, Tallulah Willis, shared a photo of the Oscar nominee posing with her beloved dog Pilaf and two massive trays of French fries after the Academy Awards. "My winner," she captioned the post. Older sister Scout, 33, reposted the image, writing, "Queen of my heart!" She also shared a message to her mom on her Instagram Stories in the wake of Moore's loss, writing, "So beyond proud, this woman is nothing but integrity, bright beaming light and love! What grace. I've never been more proud to be her daughter." Calling Moore her "forever winner," Rumer added, "Watching you today, standing in your power, in your brilliance, in the culmination of decades of hard work, resilience, and undeniable talent -- I have never been more proud. You have dedicated your life to your craft, pouring every ounce of yourself into the stories you tell, the characters you bring to life, and the barriers you continue to break. And tonight, the world gets to witness what I have always known: you are a force." Moore was nominated for best actress in a leading role for her acclaimed performance in "The Substance," which won the Oscar for best makeup and hairstyling. The movie also secured nominations for best director and best picture. Many considered Demi Moore to be a shoo-in for Best Actress as she had already taken home the Golden Globe, Critics Choice Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance in The Substance earlier this year. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 March,2025 08:03 AM IST | Los Angeles | ANIActor Lindsay Lohan has promised that Freakier Friday will be “everything” that the fans want, ahead of its release later this year. Lohan played the role of Anna Coleman in the 2003 body-swap comedy and now she has reunited with her on-screen mother, Jamie Lee Curtis, for the sequel. She told in an interview, “I’m very excited. It’s gonna be everything the fans are wanting and more. I have seen it and I love it!” In Freaky Friday, a feuding mother and daughter switch bodies for a day and learn what life is like for each other before switching back. The upcoming film will see the duo endure another body-swap crisis, but this time with a pair of 14-year-old girls. The sequel will release on August 8. The actor recently announced that filming was about to wrap as she thanked the cast and crew and promised that the film had “love, laughter and a ton of heart” in it. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 March,2025 07:04 AM IST | Los Angeles | AgenciesHollywood star Angelina Jolie attended the mother-daughter brunch in Alabama, with daughter Zahara Jolie-Pitt to raise awareness about period poverty. The National Institutes of Health describes period poverty as women and girls “having insufficient access to menstrual products, education, and sanitation facilities.” Zahara, who joined Spelman College’s chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority in November 2023, was the keynote speaker for the Women in Training Inc’s fourth Mother-Daughter Brunch at the Renaissance hotel. “We are truly honoured that Zahara Jolie-Pitt will speak at the fourth annual Mother-Daughter Brunch about her passion to end period poverty, which is the mission of Women in Training,” the non-profit organisation’s president and CEO Adeyela Bennett said. She continued, “We are also excited that her mother, the internationally renowned movie star Angelina Jolie, will join us to support her daughter and our goal of ensuring that every girl and young woman has the products she needs to live her life to the fullest extent.” Jolie adopted Zahara in 2005 from Ethiopia when she was seven months old while on a visit with her eldest son, Maddox. The Oscar-winning actor shares six children—Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh and twins Knox and Vivienne—with ex-husband Brad Pitt. Roughly one month before attending the mother-daughter brunch, Jolie and the kids got together to give back once more, this time for the families affected by the recent wildfires in Los Angeles. “Her kids are volunteering around the state, asking for what’s needed and jumping in. She knows what’s important is to bring supplies and donate and fall in line. Angelina went to see the firefighters at the Rose Bowl and is close to the team at World Central Kitchen. She isn’t posting or announcing efforts. Just trying to listen and learn,” a source close to the actor shared. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 March,2025 07:03 AM IST | Los Angeles | AgenciesMillie Bobby Brown will not take it anymore. The Stranger Things actress took to her Instagram and dropped a video of herself calling out people for pointing fingers at her over how she looks. Recently, there have been several instances where media houses shared articles surrounding her looks and how she is growing up. This particular conversation didn’t sit well with the actress, who has now called out such articles. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Millie Bobby Brown (@milliebobbybrown) Millie Bobby Brown taking a stand for herself In her video, Millie shared, “I want to take a moment to address something that I think is bigger than just me, something that affects every young woman who grows up under public scrutiny. I think it’s necessary to speak up about this. I started in this industry when I was 10 years old. I grew up in front of the world, and for some reason, people can’t seem to grow with me. Instead, they act like I’m supposed to stay frozen in time, like I should still look the way I did on Stranger Things Season 1. And because I don’t, I’m now a target.” ‘This isn’t journalism’ Further, while questioning the journalistic approach nowadays, Millie shared a few of the headlines written about her and said, “Let’s talk about the articles, the headlines, the people who are so desperate to tear young women down. ‘Why are Gen Zers like Millie Bobby Brown ageing so badly?’ by Lydia Hawken. ‘What has Millie Bobby Brown done to her face?’ by John Ely. ‘Millie Bobby Brown mistaken for someone’s mom as she guides younger sister Ava through LA’ by Cassie Carpenter. ‘Little Britain’s Matt Lucas takes savage swipe at Millie Bobby Brown’s new “mommy makeover” look’—written by Bethan Edwards, amplifying an insult rather than questioning why a grown man is mocking a young woman’s appearance. This isn’t journalism. This is bullying.” ‘I will not be shamed for…’ She further stated that the fact that some of these articles are written by women makes it even worse. “Disillusioned people can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman on her terms, not theirs,” she added. To conclude her point, the Godzilla vs. Kong star put the record straight and said that she isn’t apologizing for growing up. She said, “I refuse to make myself smaller to fit the unrealistic expectations of people who can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman. I will not be shamed for how I look, how I dress, or how I present myself.”
04 March,2025 07:31 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentCarl Dean, husband of country music legend Dolly Parton, has passed away. Carl Thomas Dean died at the age of 82 in Nashville, Tennessee, on Monday. Dean was a businessman who owned an asphalt-paving company in Nashville. He is survived by his wife and siblings. The news of Dean's untimely death was shared by Parton on her Instagram. The post gave information about his demise, his life, and also included an emotional note. Carl Dean passes away The post shared the information about Carl's demise, which reads, "Carl Dean, husband of Dolly Parton, passed away March 3rd in Nashville at the age of 82. He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending. He is survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dolly Parton (@dollyparton) "Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy," Parton's post continued. "The family asks for privacy during this difficult time." Netizens extend condolences As Dolly shared this emotional and heartfelt post, netizens started sharing their condolence messages for her. One user wrote, "Oh Dolly, my heart goes out to you and yours, my deepest sympathies." "I am so, so sorry for your loss, Dolly. I’m glad you got to have so many wonderful years with him, and I’m sorry you couldn’t have more," another comment read. A third fan shared, "Dear Dolly! I’m sending you my blessings. It was such an honor to have worked with you in your movie Mountain Magic Christmas. May Carl rest in peace. Lots of love." A user, while sharing the comment, wrote, "Sending you much love, Dolly, and I send my deepest condolences to all who knew and loved him…" Dolly Parton on relationship with Carl Dean Earlier, reflecting on their long marriage, Parton shared with PEOPLE in 2021, “My husband and I, we’ve been together 56 years. We’ve just been married 54 years this past May. But we still have our little times, like in the springtime when the first yellow daffodils come out. Even if there’s still some snow around, my husband always brings me a bouquet. And he’ll usually write me a little poem. Which, to me, that’s priceless."
04 March,2025 10:05 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAdrien Brody took home his second Oscar at the 97th Academy Awards. Brody was recognized for his outstanding performance as a Holocaust survivor in The Brutalist, directed by Brady Corbet. Adrien won big at the Academy Awards, but it was his winning speech that made a lot of headlines. Adrien set a new record at the Oscars by delivering the longest acceptance speech ever, surpassing the previous record held for over 80 years. Read on to know the duration of Adrien's speech. Adrien Brody spoke for 5 minutes and 40 seconds, marking the record for the longest Oscars acceptance speech ever given. His speech at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles stole the show. As the Academy began to play music to signal the end of his time, Brody politely told them to "turn the music off." "I'm wrapping up, please turn the music off," Brody said, adding, "I've done this before. Thank you. It’s not my first rodeo, but I will be brief." Earlier, British actress Greer Garson set the record in 1943 with a five-minute and 30-second speech after winning Best Actress for Mrs. Miniver, according to Guinness World Records. About Adrien Brody's win Brody’s first Oscar came at the young age of 29 for his role in The Pianist. Brody won the Best Actor award at the Academy Awards, defeating strong competition from other nominees, including Timothée Chalamet, Colman Domingo, Ralph Fiennes, and Sebastian Stan. As Brody walked on stage at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday (local time) to accept his trophy, he made an entrance by spitting out his chewing gum into his hand and throwing it to his partner, Georgina Chapman. With his second Oscar win, Brody joins the A-list group of actors who have won the Best Actor award twice, including Spencer Tracy, Jack Nicholson, and Tom Hanks. Sonu Sood congratulated Adrien Brody Sonu Sood extended his congratulations to Hollywood star Adrien Brody after the actor won his second Oscar at the 97th Academy Awards. Taking to Instagram, Sonu Sood shared a throwback picture of himself posing with the Oscar-winning actor. Along with the picture, Sood added a caption that read, "Congratulations, my brother @adrienbrody, on your second Oscar. Many more on your way." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sonu Sood (@sonu_sood) The Brutalist depicts the struggles of Hungarian Jewish architect Laszlo and his wife, played by Brody and Felicity Jones, as they rebuild their lives in America after the Second World War.
04 March,2025 10:04 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNorwegian alt-pop sensation Aurora is all set to perform at Lollapalooza India this year. Growing up surrounded by forests and mountains near Bergen in Norway, Aurora Aksnes has turned her individuality, her independence and her strength of spirit into platinum discs, more than a million album sales, 12.4 million monthly listeners and a whopping 10 billion streams. The multifaceted pop artist is admired by many of her peers - from Troye Sivan and Doja Cat to Katy Perry and Shawn Mendes. By the time she was 12 she had written Runaway, a song that would later receive a full release on her debut album All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend and, later still and thousands of miles away, would inspire another 12-year-old, Billie Eilish, to make her own music. Her fastest ever streamed single Cure For Me, from the album The Gods We Can Touch, and 2016’s hit Runaway, both gained sensational viral moments on TikTok, bringing Aurora's cinematic and sweeping melodies to a bigger audience than ever before, hitting singles charts all around the world and counting over a hundred billion views on socials. Ahead of Lollapalooza India produced and promoted by BookMyShow live, on March 8 and 9, Aurora opened up to Mid-day about what she expects from her first-ever trip to India. Is this your first time in India? Do you have plans to travel to any other part of the country or explore Mumbai city? Sadly this time I only get to see Mumbai. But I am very curious about Jaipur and Udaipur. I think arriving in India might be the biggest culture shock coming from Norway, and honestly I cannot wait. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this way. And I am unbelievably excited!! What are you looking forward to at Lollapalooza India? Mostly to just be in India, I have never been before but I know I’m going to love it. I feel in my BONES. Also I love that we get to perform outside, with the wind and the sun. I hope we don’t melt away. Compared to Norway, India is very hot. Are you prepared for the weather? No! Help! What can the audience expect from your performance? A lot of energy. Haha. I love to make sure both I and the people in the crowd feel alive and free during my shows. Concerts are quite a special thing, because people finally get together just to feel. And I guess that is what I do best. Emotion. People can expect emotion. Can you tell us a bit about the set list that you have prepared for your Indian fans? A good mix between joy and anger. A bit of death, and mostly life. It will be good. Sacred. How would you define your music to someone who has never heard you before? I guess I would describe my music as very earthly. But still it floats a lot. Like a mountain with wings. Any Indian musicians that you have heard and liked? I love Ananda Shankar. And I love Khayal. It sounds like a dream to me. There is more for me to learn, and I am incredibly curious and determined to learn much much more.
03 March,2025 06:59 PM IST | Mumbai | Bohni BandyopadhyayADVERTISEMENT
