Film: LockedCast: Bill Skarsgard, Anthony Hopkins, Ashley CartwrightDirector: David YaroveskyRating: 3 starsRuntime: 95 min The remake of the Argentinian original ‘4x4,’ this film ‘Locked’ has a clever conceit. The script has a down-on-his-luck guy stuck in an SUV for multiple days over the course of about 80 minutes of screen time. This film may sound similar to Steven Knight’s 2013 movie, ‘Locke’ but the concept is the only common ground. ‘Locke’ had Tom Hardy, a troubled guy see his life unravel during a feature-length road trip while Yarovesky’s new thriller, ‘Locked’, has Bill Skarsgard trapped in a nightmare car with no way out. It’s a concept film and gimmicky to boot but the treatment is such that you don’t get much time to think about it and the runtime is short enough to distract you. Eddie (Bill Skarsgard) is trapped in an SUV vehicle. He is in it because he is searching the car, for anything he can swipe and sell. Eddie’s desperation stems from the need to make, find, or steal just a few hundred dollars in order to pay off some minor repairs on the delivery van that’s his main source of income. Without it, he's stuck in a completely different way. The narrative tells us that Eddie’s not a bad guy. He had a rough upbringing and his back story is a sad one. So right away you feel some empathy for his plight. And when you know that the man who arranges for Eddie to be locked in an SUV and proceeds to make him suffer all sorts of physical and psychological strain, puts him under various forms of torture, is doing it because he has a vigilante’s warped sense of justice, the sympathy piles up. William (Anthony Hopkins), the SUV's owner, is playing his own twisted game. The unseen psycho vigilante William (Anthony Hopkins) has rigged the car in such a way that bad things happen. He makes repeated phone calls to the SUV taunting Eddie, pretending to be worried about him, and enacting all sorts of tortures upon him. And there is no way out for Eddie. Eddie pleads that he doesn’t deserve to be an unwilling prisoner and a pawn in William’s twisted game but William simply doesn’t care. He sees Eddie as a criminal and no pleas and no logical arguments will change his mind. There’s even a political battle happening and can be read as such, between the lines. We see both sides of the argument. We also see the conflict and the struggle that unfolds as Eddie tries to find some way of escaping the SUV. As the narrative progresses the full extent of William’s sinister design for this trap keeps revealing itself. Despite the cramped space, we get a really good performance from Skarsgard. He is put through the wringer and it shows up. Hopkins dialogue heavy largely vocal performance leaves a strong impact. Yarovesky and his DOP keep the surprises coming, getting inventive and diabolical as the story progresses. This is a clever thriller, plotted and staged to keep you in its grip throughout. Go enjoy!
22 March,2025 03:10 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasBella Ramsey who is known for her role in 'The Last Of Us' revealed that she was diagnosed with autism on the sets of the HBO drama series during its first season, reported Variety. In an interview with British Vogue magazine, as quoted by Variety, Ramsey said that her diagnosis of autism came after a crew member of the series pointed out the symptoms of this brain disorder condition in her. "I've spoken a bit about neurodivergence before, but I always for some reason didn't want to say what it was. I got diagnosed with autism when I was filming season one of 'The Last of Us." said Ramsey as quoted by Variety. According to Ramsey, a member of the crew with an autistic daughter assumed Ramsey had it too, which prompted them to eventually seek out a formal psychiatric assessment and diagnosis. As per Variety, the 'Last Of Us' actress described feeling like a 'weirdo' and a 'loner', admitting autism was something she had always wondered about. Sharing her condition, Ramsey said that she experiences sensory issues common to people on the spectrum and expressed "painful hyperawareness of other people's micro-expressions and body language." "I've always been watching and learning from people. Having to learn more manually how to socialise and interact with the people around me has helped me with acting." Ramsey said being on set helps them set a daily routine: "I have a call time, and I'm told what to wear, how to stand, where to stand and what to eat." The makers recently unveiled the first official trailer of the highly anticipated season, giving fans a glimpse of what's to come, which will feature intense action, new characters, and dangerous threats. The trailer begins with Ellie (Bella Ramsey) sneaking through an abandoned building, looking tense as she moves carefully over broken glass. A dog can be seen in the background, and the scene quickly shifts to a mysterious graveyard with wooden crosses draped in medallions. Joel (Pedro Pascal) is then shown travelling with Ellie through a forest. He checks on her, asking, "You OK?" to which Ellie replies, "Yeah," though she appears troubled. 'The Last of Us' returns April 13 for Season 2 on HBO. 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
22 March,2025 12:20 PM IST | Mumbai | ANIMusic producer Benny Blanco confessed that his singer-actress fiancée Selena Gomez was “grumpy” and “almost didn’t come” on the day of the proposal. On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the host congratulated Blanco and Gomez on their engagement. After Fallon, 50, asked the "Scared of Loving You" singer, if she had any inklings about the proposal, Gomez said it was a complete surprise that turned her frown upside down, reports people.com. “We had to do a lot of promo for the album,” Gomez said. “So I woke up, and I was very confused on what was happening, on where we were going, because it seemed kind of far. So, I'm kind of a little grumpy. I'm, like, tired... I said, ‘After this shoot, I'm going to go hang out with my friends.’ And he starts, I guess, going, ‘Okay, sure. We'll see when you get here.’ “ Blanco added: “She almost didn't even come. She was like, ‘I really don't feel that well. I think I'm just going to stay home today. Can't we just make up the shoot another day?' And I was like, ‘Uhh...’ I'm trying to figure out a way to do..." "First of all, getting engaged to someone is the craziest thing in the world," Blanco said. He shared: "It's like, right before you're going to tell someone you're going to be married to them forever. They're like, ‘Show me how good you can lie to me.’ It's the hardest... She was just upset with me because the day before, I was making bad lies.” In December 2024, the couple announced their engagement via Instagram, after a little over a year of dating. The proposal included a romantic picnic featuring Gomez’s favourite Taco Bell. “We're definitely not planning exactly at this moment, but we do want to make sure that the music's good,” Blanco added.
22 March,2025 11:00 AM IST | Los Angeles | IANSHollywood studio Warner Bros has released the first teaser of One Battle After Another, the maiden collaboration between acclaimed filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson and Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio. The explosive teaser, which the studio shared on its official social media handles, opens with DiCaprio taking a sip from his beer pint, while his pregnant partner, played Teyana Taylor, fires an automatic rifle into a distant rural setting. Amidst the relentless gunfire in the background, the scene shifts to a crib, marking the arrival of their newborn. Plot and character details remain under wraps, but the movie’s inspiration is believed to be Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland, a novel set during the Reagan era that explores a clash between the free spirits of the ’60s and the War on Drugs in the ’80s. The film also stars Regina Hall, Sean Penn, Teyana Taylor, Wood Harris, Alana Haim, Shayna McHayle, Chase Infiniti, and Benicio del Toro. 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
22 March,2025 07:50 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesCast: Song Hye-kyo, Jeon Yeo-been, Lee Jin-uk, Moon Woo-jin, Huh Joon-ho, Kim Kuk-hee, Shin Jae-hwi, Gang Dong-wonDirector: Kwon Hyeok-jaeRating: 3/5 Runtime: 115 min. Exorcism with two nuns actively involved, this film is yet another variation, albeit a Korean one, on William Friedkin’s ‘The Exorcist’ story. So far we’ve seen horror movies with Priests (excommunicated or otherwise) playing the exorcist. But this Korean import finds a fresh way to approach the subgenre. A young boy, Hee-Joon (Moon Woo-jin) is demonically possessed. When a priest is unable to arrive in time to help him, two young nuns, Sister Junia (Song Hye-kyo) and Sister Michaela (Jeon Yeo-been) take matters into their own hands despite being forbidden. The Church rules clearly state that the practice must be carried out by a qualified male. They must confront the terrifying cost of their sacrilegious actions, and save the boy at all costs. Though conventional and stereotypical, Dark Nuns has nice unique touches that make it an enjoyable watch. There are plenty of twists and turns in the race to save the boy. The scenes of possession have a visual style that is different from the commonplace. The nuns don’t carry a small bottle of holy water they have a gas can full of it. Junia and Michaela have their own demons and doubts to deal with. Junia, has a terminal illness, while Michaela suffers from disturbing visions and uses tarot cards to understand them. Junia also doesn’t entirely believe in possession, while Michaela very much does. Both characters have complex arcs and therefore retain credibility. The issue of patriarchy within the church is prominently highlighted in the film. They are often marginalized and their endeavors are overshadowed by the authority of the priests. Initially enigmatic, “Dark Nuns” offers a captivating narrative that eventually becomes clear and engrossing. The film’s narrative, driven by strong female characters, challenges traditional diktats. The evocative visuals and meticulously crafted soundscapes enhance the emotional depth of the story. “Dark Nuns” effectively delivers moments of suspense and intrigue, ensuring an engaging viewing experience.
21 March,2025 09:47 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasCast: Rachel Zegler, Emilia Faucher, Gal Gadot, Hadley Fraser, Lorena Andrea, Andrew BurnapDirector: Marc WebbRating: 3/5Runtime:109 min This film is not exactly a faithful retelling of The famous 1812 Brothers Grim fairy tale or a live-action faithful version of the 1937 Cartoon feature “Snow white and the seven Dwarves”. Of late live-action remakes have not set the Box-office on fire so one doesn’t know how ‘Snow White’ will fare. This is a new interpretation, an ambitious live-action adaptation of the classic much-loved story and therefore might not enthuse the purists. Disney’s most iconic film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves was a firestarter for the Walt Disney empire and this new film undoubtedly, will add more weight to their coffers for sure - whatever be the reception it receives from the critics. In this film the princess is proactive in joining forces with seven dwarfs to liberate her kingdom from her cruel stepmother the Evil Queen. This film starts off traditionally enough with the legend, ‘Once upon a time…..’ and we get the backstory of Snow White, a little girl who belonged to a happy storybook kingdom, suddenly finds herself at sea once her beloved mother dies tragically young. Her father, the King, remarries a conniving woman, the Evil Queen (Gal Gadot) who relegates Snow White (Emilia Faucher as a girl, Rachel Zegler as the older version) to castle cleaning whilst she enjoys the riches of the country. One day, when the mirror tells her that Snow White is the fairest of them all, she decides to do away with her altogether. The Wicked Witch orders a guard to take her into the forest and kill her but the squeamish guard allows her to run off deep into the forest where she comes across the seven dwarves. The story diverges from the beloved original from hereon and becomes one about female empowerment. The wicked witch manages to poison Snow White and she is awoken with a kiss by Jonathan(Andrew Burnap) the leader of woodland bandits. No Prince to the rescue but Snow White herself leads the villagers to over throw the tyrannical Queen. Some of the songs, especially the old favourites ‘Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho’, ‘Whistle while you work’ work up some affection but the absence of ‘Someday my prince will come’ and the presence of new instantly forgettable songs don’t add much to the filmed experience. The dwarves all done in CGI fail to enthuse the byplay. The CGI designs blend in with one another, making it hard to tell the dwarfs apart.They also have very little to do in the scheme of things. The resort to CGI instead of easily attainable ‘live’ actors is inexplicable for such a big-budget live action film. The woodland animals look adorable even though they are also CGI creations, Zegler makes for a charismatic and nuanced Snow White but Gal Gadot is unable to go all out in villain mode. Her singing is also not up to the mark. Unfortunately, her performance is the weakest link here. She is unable to drum up camp in the villainy expected of her. The landscapes are true to fantasy, the castles look grand - this snow white is more about looks than depth. Webb’s unwavering steering allows for some excitement though. Though modern in politics and thought, he plies it like a fairy tale with a soft romantic glow. Everything here is rather simple and less intricate.But excessive CGI dulls the overall excitement considerably. Disney’s risk-taking does pay off somewhat. Even though faulty, Snow White is better than any of Disney's other recent live-action remakes.
21 March,2025 09:44 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasCast: Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian, Vache TovmasyanDirector: Sean BakerRating: 3.5/5Runtime: 138 min After sweeping 5 Oscars at this year's academy awards and around 107 awards and counting, worldwide, Anora comes to the screens as part of the Red Lorry festival package and is also playing on OTT. The film is basically a rowdier version of the ‘Pretty Woman’ construct and doesn’t cater to the fairy tale ending. It is basically about how great sex and drugs can color the way you think and after you’ve woken up to reality, harsh perspective changes take its place instead. Two cultures, two languages (English & Russian) and money, drugs and sex fuel this ‘Cinderella’ gone sour story that makes love a commodity, romance a bitter unreality and sex and marriage a game. This film, like countless Hollywood fantasies, tells the story of how young people from different cultures fall in love while in drug induced fervor and then deal with the consequences once they run into obstacles. It’s a reality check on the fairy tale romance concept. A New York stripper and the reckless son of a Russian oligarch are the two principal characters here. Ani (Mikey Madison), works at a Manhattan strip club giving lap dances to businessmen and, a rich Russian kid called Ivan/Vanya Zakharov (Mark Eydelshteyn), becomes her client because she knows a little Russian and he doesn’t speak or understand English. Improbable as it seems, the two manage to somehow hit it off communicating via a clumsy mix of the two languages. A couple of years younger, guileless, unconditionally generous, Ivan falls for Ani and Ani, thinking that She has won the lottery grabs him for all he is worth. Ani thinks she is in charge and has found a way out from the drudgery of her profession but Ivan wakes up from his drug fuelled stupor prompted by his father’s henchmen. With her dreams shattered Anora tries to regain control but to no avail. Baker says it like it is. It’s a transactional relationship and a transient one at best. There’s no romantic glow or chemistry to color whats happening here. Ani and Ivan’s sessions are rather humorous though. Once Ivan’s godfather, Toros (Karren Karagulian), gets involved, dispatching a pair of thugs — a fellow Armenian named Garnick (Vache Tovmaysan) and the Russian-speaking Igor (Yura Borisov), the gloves are off so to speak. The violence is minimal and Ani is no shrinking violet. Even the so-called bad guys are not painted black. They are just concerned individuals who are tackling the problem in a way they know best. Baker infuses energy and spontaneity into the proceedings. He is able to capture the impulsivity and unpredictability beautifully. His film is a compassionate vocal, unapologetic effort to destigmatize sex work and sex workers. Eydelshteyn is no Prince Charming to look at but his fake bravado ends up becoming pathetic once his parents get involved. His is a performance that is an effective foil for Madison to shine. 2022 “Scream” actor Madison is the big surprise here. She brings a hint of waif-like youthful vulnerability to the stereotypical tough, hard as nails prostitute construct. Beneath the exterior trappings is a smart and resourceful, girl who is willing to fight for what she holds dear. It’s not love but security couched in vacillating emotion. Anora is bold, brash, and a force of nature and Mikey Madison embodies those traits beautifully. Madison and the madcap turns Baker’s subversive sex farce takes, are the captivating factors here.
21 March,2025 09:41 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasHollywood singer and actress Selena Gomez and her fiance Benny Blanco have released a new single titled, "I Said I Love You First." Talking about her latest creative burst Gomez revealed that while making the song, she and her fiance explored so many sides of themselves and also as a couple. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) She penned on the micro-blogging site "Through the creation of I Said I Love You First, benny and I got to explore so many sides of ourselves as individual people and as a couple. I love the Sunset Blvd side which is fun, carefree, and boldly in love, and I equally love the softer, quieter, more introspective parts of us." Teasing 'Younger and Hotter Than Me", a song off "I Said I Love You First", she added, "You can hear that side in Younger and Hotter Than Me. It’s a special song for both of us, and the music video will be out tonight with the album... We wanted to give you a sneak peak of Younger And Hotter Than Me before tonight, so the behind the scenes of the music video is out now on YouTube. We can’t wait for you to hear this album, thank you for being here. #ISaidILoveYouFirst." On Monday, Gomez took a trip down memory lane, sharing a rare childhood audition video on social media while teasing, "Younger and hotter than me." She took to her Instagram stories and wrote, “We’re not getting any younger," using a lyric from the track. The clip featured Gomez having a conversation with the executives during an audition. She can be heard saying, "I'm Selena and you're watching Disney Channel. We draw it all the time," in an attempt to recreate the iconic early 2000s commercials. A person interrupted her in the background, saying, "You know what? You might not be too far off. You never know, right?". Additionally, Gomez explained during the audition, "I'm trying to get into my singing career or my acting career." She added, "I want to do that when I get older. I want to be both." 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
21 March,2025 12:17 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSThe Big Bang Theory spinoff has finally got a title. It will be titled 'Stuart Fails to Save the Universe' as reported by Deadline. As per the title, it is believed that actor Kevin Sussman's character in the original Big Bang Theory will be in the spotlight in this spin-off. The spin-off extends the trend of every Big Bang Theory spinoff being named after its main character(s), following in the footsteps of Young Sheldon and its offshoot Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage. According to Deadline, it is also the first title of a Big Bang spinoff that is connected thematically to the moniker of the 2007-19 mothership series The Big Bang Theory, named after a popular theory about the origin of the universe. On Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, fellow Big Bang joins actor Sussman alums Lauren Lapkus, who plays Stuart's girlfriend, Denise, Brian Posehn (Bert Kibbler) and John Ross Bowie (Barry Kripke), reported Deadline. The new series is written and executive produced by Chuck Lorre, co-creator and executive producer of Big Bang and all of its spinoffs to date, Zak Penn and Big Bang co-creator Bill Prady. Speculation has been ongoing since the Big Bang spinoff was unveiled in April 2023 that it may revolve around Stuart Bloom (Sussman) and his comic book store, Deadline reported. As per the original Big Bang Theory show, the kind-hearted Stuart was seen as lonely and depressed as he strived to belong and be part of the Big Bang gang. Things started looking up for him when he met Denise. He also became close friends with Raj in Season 6 of the blockbuster mothership series. 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
21 March,2025 11:55 AM IST | Washington | ANIAuthor J.K. Rowling, who is known for the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise, has once again triggered a wave of controversy with her new social media post. Netizens believe that her cryptic post is aimed at her former ‘Harry Potter’ stars, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, reports ‘Mirror.co.uk’. The 59-year-old author, who boasts 14.3 million followers, responded to a question asking which actor or actress instantly ruins a movie by cryptically writing, "Three guesses. Sorry, but that was irresistible”. As per ‘Mirror.co.uk’, she ended her post with three laughing emojis, which many interpreted as a jab at the three actors who portrayed the iconic characters in her beloved franchise. The tension between Rowling and the actors has been building for years, particularly due to her outspoken views on trans rights. In 2022, after the publication of the Cass report into gender treatment in the UK, which recommended halting puberty blockers for children, Rowling took to social media to express her strong opposition to the support for gender transitioning, especially among minors. At the time, she publicly stated that she could not "forgive" Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watsonand other public figures who had "cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women's hard-won rights”. Her remarks came after Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson had been outspoken in their support for the trans community. Rowling, in contrast, has been a vocal critic of allowing children to transition, and she has repeatedly called for people who support this practice to apologize to "traumatised detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single sex spaces”. Rowling’s comments on trans rights have sparked significant backlash, with many accusing her of promoting harmful rhetoric. Following the release of the Cass report, she expressed that it was a "watershed" moment and that it "lays bare the tragedy" of allowing children to transition. In a tweet, Rowling wrote, "Not safe, I'm afraid" when someone claimed Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson owed her "a very public apology... safe in the knowledge that you will forgive them”. She added, "Celebs who cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women's hard-won rights and who used their platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors can save their apologies for traumatised detransitioners and vulnerable women reliant on single sex spaces”. 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
21 March,2025 11:25 AM IST | Los Angeles | IANSThe first season of Apply TV+ legal thriller 'Presumed Innocent' will compete in the Limited or Anthology Series categories at the 2025 Emmy Awards, reported Deadline. This shocking category change after 'Presumed Innocent' was submitted as a drama series for the Golden Globes and SAG Awards, earning star Jake Gyllenhaal a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series, Drama. The show is also being featured in various drama category Emmy prognostications. The reason for the switch in categories is that the evolution of 'Presumed Innocent' took place over the last few months. The show started as a limited series adaptation of Scott Turow's bestselling novel of the same name with no blueprint for a second season, reported Deadline. When Apple TV+ ordered a second season following the original instalment's breakout success, the initial idea was to follow The White Lotus series model of a new story and largely new cast each season, with a character possibly crossing over, serving as connective tissue. According to Deadline, 'Presumed Innocent' was submitted as a drama series for the first wave of awards shows it was eligible for much like The White Lotus switched from limited to drama series after Season 1. Per the Emmy Awards rules & procedures for a series to be considered limited or anthology, "the story arc must be completely resolved within its season, with no ongoing storyline and/or main characters in subsequent seasons", reported Deadline. Starring Gyllenhaal in the lead role of chief deputy prosecutor Rusty Sabich, the first instalment of the anthology series focuses on the horrific murder that upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorney's office when one of its own is suspected of the crime. The ensemble cast also includes Ruth Negga, who was nominated for Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series at the Film Independent Spirit Awards, where series are not separated by genre, Bill Camp, Elizabeth Marvel, Peter Sarsgaard, O-T Fagbenle and Renate Reinsve. 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
21 March,2025 11:13 AM IST | Washington DC | ANIADVERTISEMENT
