There have always been women at the forefront of hip-hop’s 50-year reign over pop culture, and perhaps none is more iconic than Queen Latifah. The “U-N-I-T-Y” rapper is widely acknowledged as one of the genre’s greatest of all time, and last night at the Kennedy Center Honors, she received loving tributes from some of her most iconic peers and proteges.
First up, Missy Elliott repaid Latifah for her touching Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction speech introduction, recalling hearing “Ladies First” for the first time as a teenager and having her life changed by Latifah’s “Queen” moniker and positive messaging.
Then, there were performances. Queen Latifah’s fellow hip-hop pioneers MC Lyte and Monie Love performed her signature hit “Ladies First,” with Lyte taking over Latifah’s verses and Monie performing her own.
Rapsody then performed one of Latifah’s best, but most underrated songs, “Just Another Day…” (Would have been cool if she performed “Hatshepsut,” the song on which they collaborated from Rap’s 2019 album Eve, but extra light being shed on the smooth Black Reign cut is never a bad thing.)
The Kennedy Center Honors simply seal a legendary legacy which includes such accolades as Grammys, Emmys, and Oscar nominations, as well as roles ranging acting to heading one of hip-hop’s first women-led labels. She is, indeed, an icon and a queen.
With the first installment of Rebel Moon now streaming on Netflix, critics and viewers can’t help but notice that the film feels an awful lot like a Star Wars movie. There’s a good reason for that.
Granted, Rebel Moon is not an official Star Wars movie, but it did start out as one. Zack Snyder has not been shy about revealing that the project started out as a pitch to Lucasfilm shortly before George Lucas sold the company to Disney. According to Snyder, the pitch was rejected, but over time, he mulled over making the story a standalone sci-fi series with its own cinematic universe.
Detaching the [Akira] Kurosawa-inspired movie from “Star Wars” didn’t prove difficult, as Snyder said there was no overlap in terms of characters between what he was developing at Lucasfilm and the other movies in the franchise. The director added about his isolated “Star Wars” movie, “It was me saying, ‘Give me the keys and let me take it for a spin.’”
However, the milage may vary on Snyder’s attempt to distance Rebel Moon from Star Wars. The film arrived with a brutally low Rotten Tomatoes score as critics eviscerated the film for repeating way too many of the same beats as the original Star Wars. (The characters wielding laser swords didn’t help.)
“In film school, some professors use the familiar example of Star Wars to teach Campbellian mythmaking, the theories that identify and codify the narrative units re-contextualized since Grecian times,” Charles Bramesco of The Guardian wrote. “Snyder demonstrates a clear fluency in these concepts with his classically minded scripting, except he forgot the part where the archetypes are meant to be refreshed through novel contexts.”
Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire is streaming on Netflix.
One photo of promotional material, featuring a lip kit from her R.E.M. Beauty with a close-up photo of Grande’s red lips and a hand-written note reading, “See you next year”
A muted video of her mother, Joan, moving and grooving to what could only be music from the new album that we cannot hear, which is a cruel thing to do
A video of Grande curled up under a blanket on the couch, laughing and saying, “I’m so tired. I’m so happy and grateful. I also feel like I weigh 3,000 tons.”
So, yes, by all accounts (aside from an official release date being announced), Grande’s album will arrive sometime in 2024. And when it does, it will be her first since 2020’s Positions and end a nearly four-year drought — the longest-ever time elapsed between Grande albums.
Arctic Monkeys‘ 2013 song, “I Wanna Be Yours” has been slowly climbing the charts on Spotify this year, as it currently sits at No. 11 globally, thanks to a boost from TikTok and new listeners discovering it.
Here’s what to know about the lyrics behind the romantic track.
Arctic Monkeys’ “I Wanna Be Yours” Lyrics, Explained
The band’s song reached a billion streams earlier this year. However, what some might not know is that the song originally was a poem by John Cooper Clarke, who sat down for an interview with The Guardian about Arctic Monkeys’ success using it.
“Is that a lot?” Clarke had asked about the billion streams stat. “An American billion is different to a British billion – and I don’t know what either of them is. But it’s a f*ck of a lot of listens.”
Clarke first wrote it in 1982, and it gained popularity in the ’90s after being added to the UK school syllabus — which is where Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner first heard of it.
He also spoke with the publication about the line, “I wanna be your electric meter / I will not run out / I wanna be the electric heater / You’ll get cold without,” pointing out that he wanted the poem to be about “elevating yourself to the level of a commodity for the person of your desire. When you’re in love with somebody, you want to be useful to them, indispensable even.”
This year’s Uproxx Gift Guides are brought to you by Sirius XM. Check out their site to find all the holiday music and content you need to get into the giving spirit.
But otherwise, they might have swung and missed on a few — leaving you with gifts you’re not crazy about. To avoid letting a bunch of stuff fill up your basements or a future landfill, why not return it all and find one splurge-worthy, selfish item that you’ll actually use? We have some suggestions ranging from self-care to adventure to entertainment.
All 13 items on this list have been tested and vetted by our team.
Higher Dose Infrared PEMF Mat
HIGHER DOSE
Price: $1,295
Before we recommend a $1300 infrared mat, let’s just confirm one thing. Do you need this product? Not in the strictest sense. But if you’re looking for a splurge, I’m all about finding something that makes people feel physically and mentally better, and this mat is superb at that.
I was skeptical that a $1300 mat with amethyst crystals embedded into the fabric could do anything more than induce a severe placebo effect. But then I took a nap on it. I stretched on it. I lounged on it before bed. And every time I got on the mat, I felt better. I felt relaxed when I wanted to calm down. I felt energized when I needed a mid-afternoon boost. I slept more deeply and peacefully after using it than ever.
Is it a placebo effect? Maybe. Is it some mystical crystal science? Maybe. But it does something good for me and that’s what counts.
Here’s the brand touts its tech: The Higher Dose PEMF Infrared Mat combines PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) technology with infrared therapy. The PEMF aspect works at a microscopic cellular level to create a gentle pulsing sensation that promotes increased circulation. Improved blood flow means more oxygen and nutrients helping muscles recover faster after a tough workout or a long day of desk surfing. Meanwhile, infrared rays penetrate deep into your muscles, melting away tension and stress. I’m not sure what they claim the crystals do but we all have at least one big crystal believer in our lives who will talk to us endlessly about their benefits — so chat with that person.
As someone who felt skeptical on this mat at first, I have to say — it’s like a spa day without leaving your living room. Something I can definitely get behind (especially when literally everyone seems to be talking about infrared therapy these days).
BUY IT FOR:
Buy it for yourself if you’re ready to prioritize wellness.
Whether you’re a seasoned road biker or someone keen on a road bike adventure, the Specialized Allez Sport road bike is a perfect option. Its lightweight aluminum frame and endurance-focused geometry will allow you to ride faster and longer, even if you’re just commuting to the office or cruising around town. If you’re keen on expanding the hobby beyond commuting and day trips, the bike can be built out if you want to tour or race. You can easily pop on a rack and stick panniers on the back filled with camping essentials if you want to go on a multi-day adventure or go bare bones if you want to break into the gritty, absurd world of cross-racing.
For me, I wanted an upgrade for commuting around town and something lightweight and efficient to expand my exercise regime to long road rides. I live in a bike-friendly city and I love skipping traffic and cruising to work on this bike. It’s often the best part of my day. On weekends, I love packing up panniers and riding from town to town on the coast or heading out to wine country for a ride with friends. I’ve found this bike to be the most versatile bike I’ve ridden — which is important when bikes cost this much.
It also looks beautiful. It’s sleek and comes in a range of colors. It’s a smooth ride and the components are crisp and efficient. In short, my tests proved this to be the Swiss Army knife of bikes.
BUY IT FOR:
Buy it for yourself if you’re looking to pursue road biking as a hobby or are looking for a lightweight commuter that can also take you on weekend adventures.
Alright, hear us out. We get it. A food composter isn’t exactly the sexiest gift on your wishlist. But in a world where young folks are turning their apartments into jungles and attempting to channel their inner master gardeners to grow tomatoes off their balconies, (and let’s not forget the whole planet-saving aspect), an indoor electric composter might just be the unexpected gem on this list.
I’m no exception to the green-thumb craze. Last summer, I transformed my backyard into a haven of native plants – both edible and decorative. I went all out, dropping a couple hundred dollars to ship 2000 garden worms across the country to give my soil some much-needed TLC. But as far as at-home composting goes, I’ve never had much patience.
I’ve dabbled with compost bins before, but dealing with rodents, squirming maggots, and the agonizingly slow composting process was more trouble than it was worth. Enter Reenacle – the indoor electric food composter that turns your food waste into compost gold in just 24 hours. It’s like the human body of composting tech, emulating the digestive system with microbes and automatic mixing rods.
We all know composting is a big move to reduce waste, but for city dwellers without easy access to compost services, it can be a mission. Reenacle makes it stupidly simple, and the satisfaction of watching your kitchen scraps morph into compost is borderline addictive.
As for aesthetics? The Reencle is sleek and unobtrusive. It’s quiet and (almost) odor-free. Sure, if you’re running a farm, the output might not cut it, but for balcony tomatoes or a small backyard veggie patch, Reenacle can provide all the compost you need. The best part? You can toss in over two pounds of food per day, and the microbes that come with it are self-perpetuating and low-maintenance.
BUY IT FOR:
Buy it for yourself if you’re a city dweller with a green heart, or just tired of playing host to rodents in the name of compost.
Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron 5 or 9 Piece Cookware Set
LE CREUSET
Price: $575-$1,170
We’re diving into the heart of culinary indulgence with a name that resonates in every foodie’s soul – Le Creuset. When it comes to leveling up in the kitchen, Le Creuset was the natural choice for a splurge-worthy cooking item because their pots and pans are iconic. Getting one in my family is always a golden ticket gift. They’re beautiful, durable, and truly versatile in the kitchen. And better yet, they’re legacy items.
That’s not just lip service – I have a Le Creuset that’s older than I am that’s still in perfect condition. But they’re not a product for your grandparents to appreciate. Young folks are obsessed too. #lecreuset had over 60 million views on TikTok recently. That’s not a trend; it’s a testament to the enduring allure of these cooking holy grails.
For those of us still honing our skills in the culinary arena, the Le Creuset 5-Piece Ensemble is a game-changer. It’s not just about having a fancy pot; it’s about having the right tools to turn your kitchen experiments into culinary triumphs. From the iconic Dutch oven, the undisputed hero of the kitchen, to the skillet and saucepan, this ensemble covers all bases.
A newbie like me is quick to wonder: does cookware make a difference in the food? Short answer: yes. Absolutely. In my brief journey into the world of fancy pots, I’ve experienced recipes actually turning out as described, and let me assure you, it has nothing to do with my nonexistent cooking talents.
BUY IT FOR:
Buy it for yourself if you’re a cooking newbie or a cooking pro.
Stand up paddleboarding has been having a moment. It opens up access to waterways, is a great workout, and is instant access to a peaceful mind. It’s also the kind of activity that invites everyone to the party – no elite skills required. And when it comes to minimal barriers to entry, the Waterwalker 126 is the MVP. This board is your passport to tranquility on still waters.
Whether you’re navigating calm lakes or tackling a bit of chop, this board handles it all with finesse. The design strikes a perfect balance between nimbleness and stability – a dream for paddlers of all levels. I’ve even tossed a dog on board, and the thing stayed steady.
The best part is that the board is inflatable, which means easy storage and easy transport. There’s no wrestling with tying it onto roof racks and worrying about it flying off on the freeway. You can toss it in the car for a camping trip and since it fits into a backpack, you can walk it to the water access point without much struggle. The board inflates faster than other models I’ve tried and the design of the board is easy to carry.
If you’re ready to elevate your summer water-cruising game, this Thurso Waterwalker 126 is your golden ticket. Consider it an investment in your aquatic escapades. Embrace the waves, my friends, and paddle on!
BUY IT FOR:
Buy it for yourself if accessing natural waterways is an important part of your mental and physical wellness or if you’re looking for a new activity to heighten your summer days.
For the audio aficionados out there, here’s a recommendation: the Bower and Wilkins Px7 S2 headphones. They’re the unsung hero of noise-canceling headphones. They don’t have the name recognition of Beats or Bose, but they deliver a sound experience that rivals and even surpasses many of their more widely recognized counterparts. Music, movies, podcasts – it all sounds fantastic.
Talking practicality, the battery life is impressive, which is a must for wireless headphones. But the best part is the comfort and fit of the design. I can comfortably wear these headphones for an entire long day of travel without making my ears ache or my head feel pinched. The memory foam ear cups are comfortable and the fit is snug without feeling like your brain is in a vice.
Speaking personally, noise-canceling headphones are especially important for anyone in your life who struggles to maintain focus throughout the day or who gets easily distracted by the office noise or coffee shop clatter around them. They’re also great for people who travel often – long days in noisy airports or daily commutes on public transport.
BUY IT FOR:
Buy them for yourself if you need to drown out the constant din of noise and listen to what you want to listen to clearly and fully — that’s absolutely splurge-worthy in my opinion.
I had no interest in lying on a mat of six thousand spikes poking me in the back until a friend described the deep relaxation she experiences after using an acupressure mat as the same feeling she has after really great sex. Naturally, I was convinced. I got the Blissfoam Acupressure mat and pillow from Shakti and while I can’t say I have the same level of devotion to the acupuncture mat as this friend does (who somehow gets so relaxed on the spikes that she falls asleep on them), I was surprised by how much I felt the effects of it.
The first few minutes feel, frankly, awful. It feels like you’re lying on a bed of nails, which… you sorta are. But about ten minutes in, my back got warm and my muscles started releasing. By 20 minutes the pain sensation gave way to a deep body relaxation. By 30 minutes, I was almost asleep.
The way it works is actually quite simple: lying on the spikes activates hundreds of acupoints on the back, which promotes circulation, releases tension, and restores natural energy flows in the body. Acupuncture mats are rooted in the centuries-old yogic tradition of lying on a bed of nails.
“We believe that getting comfortable with the uncomfortable is a force for good,” the company says. The products are handmade in India – the birthplace of acupressure. They donate 10% of their profits to well-being initiatives in India each year. Shakti is so confident you’ll get hooked, they offer a 60-day trial with the mat. I’m two weeks in and have no intentions of sending mine back.
BUY IT FOR:
Buy it for yourself if you’re a yogi who wants to take their practice to another level or if you want to confirm whether lying on a bed of nails can truly emulate post-sex levels of relaxation.
I’m sneaking in an unsung hero of comfort: a weighted blanket. Specifically, the Bearaby weighted blanket – the underdog of coziness, especially for all the anxiety-riddled souls out there. A weighted blanket isn’t exactly the coolest or sexiest gift to give someone, but trust me, if you toss this blanket on your drained lover at the end of a long day, it’ll reset their mood.
Every anxiety-leaning friend has told me to get a weighted blanket for years, and when I finally got one, I understood why. Weighted blankets are like being enveloped in a hug and the gentle weight provides an immediate sense of security and tranquility. (There’s science to back this up!)
Bearaby knows how to do a weighted blanket right. Their design is a masterpiece of comfort and aesthetics. No plastic beads or artificial fillings; just layers of organic cotton or Tencel woven in a chunky knit pattern that’s as visually appealing as it is comfortable.
So as far as a splurge-worthy gift goes (these are $200 blankets!) Bearaby weighted blankets are a really sweet way to remind yourself, “I care about my well-being” without flashy gadgets and over-the-top extravagance. It’s the simple pleasure of feeling snug and secure.
BUY IT FOR:
Buy it for yourself if you’re someone who often needs an emotional reset but who also wants it to be a blanket that looks good in your home.
The Hatch Restore 2 is now my favorite thing in my bedroom. It’s a smart alarm clock, sunrise lamp, and sound machine that can transform your bedroom into a sleep sanctuary. That’s not an exaggeration. The first night I used it, I fell asleep listening to a guided meditation, which then gave way to light rainfall until a gentle morning sunrise and the sound of singing bowls woke me up the next morning.
But the best part? It allows me to leave my phone in another room while I sleep. Between the doom scrolling, middle of the night email check, and accompanying 4 am cortisol boost, and then getting jolted awake by the abrupt alarm sounds the iPhone provides, my phone was a force of destruction in the bedroom. Now, I leave my phone in the other room after choosing from a wide library of dreamscapes or sleep stories to fall asleep to and which chimes or birdsongs I want to awake to.
The Hatch Restore 2 is beautifully designed – with a linen fabric cover unlike other plastic-heavy smart alarm clocks, which has the added benefit of diffusing the light in a gentle way. You can create personal morning or night routines on your phone, combining lights and sounds to create the perfect experience you need to relax or rise.
For those who wish they were morning birds, the 30-minute gradual defused sunrise light feature gently wakes you up before the alarm goes off. For those light sleepers who have ever wanted to kick their snoring partners, the white noise options have the power to save a relationship. And for those whose brains start to race the moment they lie down, the curated library of guided meditations or sleep stories will give your mind something to focus on as it relaxes into sleep.
BUY IT FOR:
Buy it for yourself if you want to build better sleep habits in a hurry!
We couldn’t write a splurge-worthy gift guide without a Vitamix. They’re too good and too versatile. If you’re the type of human who tosses veggies into their smoothies in the morning, the Vitamix will blend them up so well that you won’t even know they’re there.
Vitamix is a no-frills blender. There’s not an insane amount of blending options. There isn’t a built-in computer with a touch screen. It’s straightforward and does the job perfectly — ready to tackle anything you throw its way. Nut butter, frozen desserts, hot soups – the Vitamix Gold Label handles it all with finesse.
The Vitamix has five intuitive settings – smoothies, hot soups, dips and spreads, frozen desserts, and self-cleaning, taking the guesswork out of blending. From silky smoothies to velvety soups and everything in between, this blender delivers perfection every time. The design of the blender is aesthetically sleek and they now come in a variety of colors. I got the green and love that it’s not another stainless steel appliance on my counter.
This blender is so well made, it’s one of those high price tags that makes sense.
BUY IT FOR:
Buy it for yourself if blended foods are a big part of your diet or if you simply want to level up the tools in your kitchen arsenal.
For movie lovers like myself, a quality projector is a fabulous splurge item. The Xgimi MoGo2 Pro projector is a fantastic option to create a cinema-worthy experience in your home. The best thing about it is that it’s extremely portable. It’s small and can easily transform any space into your theater. Whether you’re in the backyard, living room, or even on a road trip in a dingy motel room, this projector can create a beautifully immersive viewing experience.
The visuals are top-notch. The colors are vivid and accurate and the images are crystal clear. It has full HD resolution and HDR10 support, so every frame is vibrant. It also has Android TV built-in, so you can access streaming services and apps too. The device also has built-in Harman-Kardon speakers, delivering immersive audio that complements the visual prowess.
BUY IT FOR:
Buy it for yourself if you’re a movie lover, a gamer, or are that person who loves to throw those karaoke parties your friends hate to go to.
You need a Polaroid in your repertoire and this is the new gen. It’s the first Polaroid to have manual light controls plus a wider aperture — providing you with a chance to practice analog photography in real time. The photos you get are better (and far more consistent) than what you can get with a classic Polaroid camera. The blurry photos and over or under-lit pics are far rarer. There’s a crisper focus and richer depth of field.
That’s all very important. Especially considering that the price of an individual Polaroid photo is about $2.
The tagline on this camera is “Designed for craft” and I certainly agree with this assessment. I’m still practicing but I am fully hooked and my photos are better than ever. Whereas the classic Polaroid is great for weddings, parties, and days at the lake, the I-2 is the one to use if you really care about creating professional results.
There’s a little bit of a learning curve, but I found this so helpful:
Price-wise, this camera is extremely affordable. It’s the aforementioned Polaroid film that gets pricey. Still, a Polaroid is just so much fun — how can you not have one in your camera quiver? It’s so rewarding to share a tangible object rather than texting pics to friends. And the I-2 is the top of the line.
It’s the camera I use the most right now and a great entry point for anyone wanting to learn more about analog photography.
— Steve Bramucci
BUY IT FOR:
Buy this for yourself if you have even a passing interest in getting awesome analog photos. I bring mine everywhere — especially to travel.
Toilet paper is over. It’s dated. The end is nigh. Smart toilets are better on every level. Cleaner. Sexier. Gentler. More elegant.
How did humans ever get convinced that wiping with paper was the way to go? What is wrong with our species?
I don’t want to make us all a tad uncomfortable by laying out all the benefits of this toilet but let me just say that “warming”, “oscillating”, and “multi-directional” are all part of the key specs. The seat is heated and the water is heated and there’s a dryer — so it’s an overall pleasant experience.
It’s also self-cleaning — a huge benefit that is rarely mentioned about smart toilets.
Listen, I could wax philosophic about smart toilets for days (I sorta did in a recent article about hotels) but here’s all you need to know: Once you get a smart toilet, you won’t ever want to go back to toilet paper.
BUY IT FOR:
Buy it for yourself because you deserve to feel clean and comfortable and relaxed. Plus everyone who visits your house will love it.
Each week our staff of film and TV experts surveys the entertainment landscape to select the ten best new/newish shows available for you to stream at home. We put a lot of thought into our selections, and our debates on what to include and what not to include can sometimes get a little heated and feelings may get hurt, but so be it, this is an important service for you, our readers. With that said, here are our selections for this week.
Kristen Stewart’s gay ghost-hunting show has everything: slayances, spook-kikis, haunted strip clubs, and comedian Roz Hernandez snacking on donuts while she yells at homophobic poltergeists. The group – a hodgepodge of paranormal experts that includes a psychic, a witch, and a tarot card reader – road trips across the country in this docuseries produced by the Queer Eye creators, chatting it up with demonic entities and benevolent spooks to get to the root of some very real, very human problems. If there’s a better way to spend your weekend than watching a group of well-dressed Queer spiritualists commune with the dead while cracking jokes and busting stereotypes, we don’t want to know about it.
— A biopic of Civil Rights leader Bayard Rustin, who helped MLK organize the 1963 March on Washington but whose efforts were minimized at the time and therefore largely forgotten since because he was openly gay at a time when that was not convenient for public figures
— From Higher Ground, the production company helmed by Barack and Michelle Obama
— Loaded with talent like Colman Domingo and Chris Rock and Jeffrey Wright and Audra McDonald
Nearly every actor from the original, cult-favorite Scott Pilgrim film is back for this anime-inspired Netflix series that also functions as a clever remix. Is it as good as the actual run of sequels we should have been given over the last 15 years? Noting could be, but it comes close, leaning on its all-world voice cast and the very specific charm that drove the film and Bryan Lee O’Malley’s original graphic novels.
Taylor Sheridan currently has 6666 in the works on the Yellowstone side, but first, he’s taking viewers back to the real Old West. David Oyelowo portrays the legendary Black U.S. Deputy Marshal. This series will harken back to the Post-Reconstruction era, in which Bass Reeves became a notorious frontier hero by capturing thousands of the most frightening criminals in the land. Oyelowo will be accompanied by Dennis Quaid, Garrett Hedlund, and Donald Sutherland.
What if there was an animated movie for kids where Adam Sandler — now hear me out — voiced a talking lizard? And it was co-directed and co-written by Robert Smigel, the comedy genius behind many of the greatest SNL moments ever? And the rest of the voice cast included Jason Alexander, Cecily Strong, Bill Burr, Heidi Gardner, and Stephanie Hsu? Would you believe such a movie exists? Well, it does. It’s called Leo, and it’s on Netflix. Your kids need to be introduced to Adam Sandler eventually. Maybe start here and not, say, Uncut Gems. Save that until they’re older.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters stars Kurt Russell and Godzilla and… are you already sold? You should be. The first live-action TV show in the MonsterVerse — which also includes Kong: Skull Island and Godzilla vs. Kong — makes you care as much about the humans, including Kurt and his son Wyatt, as Godzilla and his “Titan” friends. In an up-and-down year for genre shows, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is a highlight.
There are cringe comedies and then there’s Showtime’s The Curse, a limited series about a married pair of alt-HGTV home flippers gentrifying their New Mexico neighborhood via eco-friendly monstrosities and calling it philanthropy. Created by two masters of squirm – Benny Safdie and Nathan Fielder – the show is a voyeuristic exercise that tests fans’ capacity for second-hand embarrassment as its main characters, the affluent Asher (Fielder) and Whitney (a shockingly unlikable Emma Stone) bulldoze the soul of their small, impoverished community with just a few reality TV cameras and a staggering amount of white privilege. It’s the best, most uncomfortable TV show you’ll watch this year.
Mike Flanagan fans, get ready. The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass showrunner is back along with Carla Gugino, who will spook your soul right out of your bod and deliver a “consequential” evening to “a collection of stunted hearts” that is the Usher family. Yikes. Do not expect a literal adaptation of the Edgar Allen Poe short story. The story focuses here on the hell created by ruthless siblings Roderick and Madeline Usher, who built Fortunato Pharmaceuticals into an empire of wealth, privilege, and power. Horrible secrets shall surface when the heirs to the Usher dynasty start dying at the hands of a mysterious woman, portrayed with glee by Gugino.
David Fincher — director of movies like Fight Club and The Social Network — is back with another uplifting tale about a well-adjusted dude. From the official description: “Solitary, cold, methodical and unencumbered by scruples or regrets, a killer waits in the shadows, watching for his next target. Yet, the longer he waits, the more he thinks he’s losing his mind, if not his cool.” Jokes aside, Fincher does these kinds of movies as well as anyone and usually makes them compelling, so give it a go if you want to spend a few hours with a murderous sociopath in the safest possible way.
There’s been a debate online on whether May December qualifies as “camp.” We have no idea, but we do know it’s a very good movie, one of the year’s best. The Todd Haynes film stars Natalie Portman as an actress who shadows a one-time tabloid sensation played by Julianne Moore for a role. It’s best to go in without knowing more than that, although fair warning: while May December is very funny, it’s also quietly devastating.
Somehow, Joel Kinnaman has now been physically transformed to barely look like Joel Kinnaman while still starring in this alternate-history space-race series, and in the year 2003, the Earth’s nations are competing like hell to capture and mine asteroids full of precious minerals. That doesn’t sound ominous at all, and of course, there’s still plenty of beefing between nations after Happy Valley has grown in size on Mars’ surface.
This is a series based on the best-selling adventure books by Rick Riordan
For those unfamiliar, Percy is “a 12-year-old modern demigod who’s just coming to terms with his newfound divine powers when the sky god Zeus accuses him of stealing his master lightning bolt”
This is probably a lot more than you had going on when you were 12
Bradley Cooper has been nominated for nine Oscars (including four times for Best Picture as a producer) with zero wins. He’s really going for the gold with Maestro. Cooper not only stars alongside Carey Mulligan in the biopic of American composer Leonard Bernstein, he also co-wrote the script, directed the thing, and produced it. Did he also provide the catering? Maybe! Give the man an Oscar for all his hard work, jeez.
The final six episodes of Netflix’s long-running look at the British royal family are here. We know how this all ends because we know the history. There’s a car crash and sadness and some controversy over how it’s all depicted. It’s still a fascinating cultural object, just the whole creative endeavor. If you’ve come this far, it’s time to dive in for the end. So much could have gone wrong here with the recounting and dramatization of tragic events that shook the world, but Netflix does the thing here. Not an easy feat for sure.
The bumbling spies are back, led by a frumpy and farting Gary Oldman. That sentence may not be the best way to sell the show (maybe it is???), but trust us: this show is good. Tense and fun and full of little twists and turns and all over and done with in six 45-minute episodes. Knock the whole season out in a weekend if you want. Once you get started, you might not be able to help yourself anyway
What we have here is the first part of a planned epic series by Justice League and 300 director Zack Snyder, one inspired by everything from Star Wars to the works of Akira Kurosawa to whatever else caught Snyder’s fancy. There’s outer space and mysterious warriors and tyrants deserving of comeuppance and everything else you’d expect here. The reviews have, uh, not been great, but the second installment is already in the pipeline so it could still be worth diving in now to see how
GOOD: Fargo is back, finally, for a fifth installment that features Juno Temple in Home Alone mode and Jon Hamm in a cowboy hat and a murderous little secret that ties them together. Joe Keery from Stranger Things plays a failson named Gator. There’s a lawyer named Danish Graves who has an eyepatch. There are homemade blowtorches and nipple rings and it’s all just extremely Fargo in all the ways you’ve come to expect.
BAD: Hmm. There’s really not any bad news here. But we already committed to this format so… let’s go with “it shouldn’t have taken until season five for them to cast Jon Hamm in Fargo.”
You want a psychological thriller? Cool. Check out this premise: “A family’s getaway to a luxurious rental home takes an ominous turn when a cyberattack knocks out their devices, and two strangers appear at their door.”
You want a solid creative pedigree? Cool. This movie comes from the brain of Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail (who knows a little something about psychological thrillers ), who writes and directs based on a book of the same name.
You want star power? Cool. This sucker stars Mahershala Ali and Ethan Hawke and Julia Freaking Roberts, and features rising star Myha’la Herrold in a major role and Kevin Bacon in a smaller one.
Good news for dads and possibly you, too. Lee Child’s bestselling novels continue to come to hulking life (starring the 6’2″ Alan Ritchson) as opposed to the Tom Cruise movie. Season 3 is already filming, but the second round is now available and should satisfy those pie-and-vending-machine cravings in the meantime. This batch of episodes doubles down on the brilliant simplicity of both Jack Reacher and this show when he teams up members of his former Army unit to stop some murder business. Together, they continue to dive into a high-stakes mystery full of betrayal and revelations, and lest you think that Reacher is all brains and no brain, well, think again.
Greta Gerwig’s massive summer blockbuster hits streaming. There’s not much to say that hasn’t been said. It’s wickedly smart and funny and sly. It’s much weirder than people expected, in the best ways possible. Margot Robbie is incredible as Barbie, providing layers of depth to a character who has rarely before had more than one. Ryan Gosling is a delight as the deeply confused Ken who is watching his simple little world crumble around him. There are cameos galore and touching moments and belly laughs. If you haven’t seen it yet, now’s the time. If you have, well, now’s the time to watch it again. This one is worth a rewatch. Or two. Or five. How you spend your time is your business.
On Wednesday night, December 27, CBS aired The 46th Kennedy Center Honors, taped on December 3 in Washington, DC. The nearly two-hour television special began with Dionne Warwick, one of five 2023 honorees alongside Barry Gibb, Billy Crystal, Queen Latifah, and Renée Fleming.
Following a biographical video montage narrated by Jennifer Hudson and Cynthia Erivo’s performance of “Alfie,” Ego Nwodim introduced Chloe Bailey (also known as Chlöe), who dazzled Warwick with a stirring rendition of “Walk On By,” beginning at the 20:52 mark. Warwick bobbed her head approvingly. At the end, Chlöe looked up toward where Warwick sat and said, “I love you. Thank you.” She blew a kiss to Warwick, who smiled warmly, which must have felt almost as satisfying as receiving a tweet from Warwick. Almost. Warwick’s jam-packed tribute was punctuated by Gladys Knight singing “I Say A Little Prayer.”
The Kennedy Center posted an Instagram video of Warwick reflecting on the evening, in which she says, in part, “Oh, it was wonderful. You know, first of all, artists that I truly believe in and I know. I’m appreciative that they’ve taken the time to discover me and find out what I’m really all about.”
As per Billboard, “Walk On By” earned Warwick her first of 14 Grammy nominations (Best Rhythm & Blues Recording in 1965.) The 1964 classic was inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 1998, decades after peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Watch a clip of Chlöe’s performance above, and learn more about how to stream The 46th Kennedy Center Honors here.
Last night (December 27), the 46th Kennedy Center Honors event aired on CBS, showcasing tributes to Queen Latifah, Dionne Warwick, Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, Billy Crystal, and opera singer Renée Fleming. Many other fabulous musicians appeared to perform dedications for the honorees.
However, for those who might have missed being able to catch it on TV, here’s what to know about how to watch it now.
How To Stream The 2023 Kennedy Center Honors
Following the 2023 Kennedy Center Honors airing on CBS, the special is currently available to stream on Paramount+. And if you don’t have the streaming platform already, there is a current loophole to get around paying for a subscription. As Rolling Stone notes, they are currently offering a free trial for a month by using the promo code “BUTTERS” — a South Park reference.
Some key moments from the event included Chloe Bailey (“Walk On By”), Cynthia Erivo (“Alfie”), and Gladys Knight (“Say A Little Prayer”) honoring Warwick with their song choices. Missy Elliott and Rapsody appeared to support Queen Latifah. Dove Cameron, Tituss Burgess, and Christine Baranski performed selections from musicals for Fleming’s segment.
Michael Bublé, Little Big Town, Ben Platt, and Ariana DeBose treated the crowd to different Bee Gees songs. Finally, Lin-Manuel Miranda helped honor Crystal. Individual clips of some of the event can also be found on The Kennedy Center’s website.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
“You can’t ignore the fact that the Hall & Oates catalog of hits and the 50-year career will always trump almost anything that Daryl does on his own or I do on my own, which is OK because I’m very proud of that music,” Oates said toward the beginning of the episode. “I’m really proud of what Daryl and I created together. I think we made music that will stand the test of time — that, hopefully, will live on forever.”
He continued, “But, at the same time, I’m not very nostalgic. It’s interesting. I make the analogy of — you know what it’s like when you go to a great museum, and you’re really excited to go and see all the beautiful paintings or the exhibits or whatever it might be? And then near the end, your feet start to hurt, and you say, ‘You know what? I can’t wait to get out of here.’ That’s kind of how I feel about it.”
Later, Oates, added, “I have moved on. It’s just a matter of living in my present.”
Similarly, Entertainment Weeklyrecently asked Oates about whether he’d still be open to performing with Hall again in the future. He responded, “Oh, you know what, I never say never to anything. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I just want — right now, I’m focused on where I am in life and leading the best life I can and moving forward.”
On November 29, The Associated Pressshared that Hall’s court declaration included his statement alleging that Oates committed the “ultimate partnership betrayal” by intending to sell their joint venture without his consent. Oates’ court filing expressed disappointment in Hall’s “inflammatory, outlandish, and inaccurate statements about me.”
“Over the years, Daryl has consistently and publicly been adamant about being perceived as an individual rather than as part of a duo or group,” Oates said in his declaration. “Thus, he has insisted on our being known as ‘Daryl Hall and John Oates,’ rather than the more commonly known ‘Hall & Oates. On this point, I agree. I now must act with truthfulness and make decisions that are right for myself, my family, and my artistic future.”
In September, Varietyreported that Cher had been accused “of employing four men” to kidnap her son, Elijah Blue Allman, from a New York hotel room in November 2022. Variety cited a court declaration signed by his estranged wife, Marieangela King, which was “made public as part of the couple’s ongoing divorce case,” as the publication explained at the time.
“That rumor is not true,” Cher told Peoplein October. And that was seemingly that. But on Wednesday, December 27, TMZ reported that Cher “filed for a conservatorship to control access to” Allman’s money.
“In documents filed Wednesday, Cher claims her 47-year-old son is ‘substantially unable to manage his own financial resources due to severe mental health and substance abuse issues,’” TMZ relayed. “The documents state Elijah is entitled to regular payouts from a trust set up by his late father, legendary musician Gregg Allman, but Cher is concerned the money will immediately go toward drugs rather than basic living necessities.”
As per TMZ, Cher also stated that she “is in the best position to serve as conservator” because she is Allman’s mother and “two of Elijah’s siblings have nominated her” to do so.
Peopleadditionally reported that Cher is “seeking to be the sole conservator of her son’s estate,” with a court hearing for a temporary conservatorship scheduled for January 5, 2024 before the hearing regarding permanent conservatorship on March 6, 2024.
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