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  • Venice Film Festival Recap: Films We’ll Be Talking About For The Rest of the Year

    Venice Film Festival Recap: Films We’ll Be Talking About For The Rest of the Year

    For those of us who love the glamor and the glitz of the entertainment industry, September passes by in a train of tulle and sartorial spectacle. Fashion weeks across New York, Paris, London, and Milan take the cake.

    Packed front rows and celebrity-studded catwalks keep the internet entranced. From my couch – clad in my hole-ridden sweatpants – I judge couture and ready-to-wear fashion shows from the mega-brands and the sparkling stars who actually attend these exclusive events.

    But to me, fashion week is just the punctuation to the summer film festival season. There’s the Tribeca Film Festival and Cannes, Toronto Film Festival, and Venice International Film Festival to name the heaviest hitters. Some films premiere across all these festivals; others are more selective. But each one has its headlines: the drawn-out standing ovations, the celebrity attendees, the future award winners.

    Indeed, September marked the Venice Film Festival, one of the most anticipated film events of the year, and spawned some of the most talked about films of the year. The 2024 Venice Film Festival’s pomp and circumstance – arguably the film festival circuit’s glittering crown jewel – transforms the floating city into a playground for the cinematic elite.

    Venice has long been the preferred launchpad for Oscar hopefuls and auteur passion projects alike. In recent years, Timothee Chalamet used it to flex his fashion prowess, the cast of The Idol used it to gaslight us into thinking it was going to be a good show (as we extensively reviewed: it wasn’t), and the Don’t Worry Darling cast played out their workplace drama for the world to see. This year was no exception. Lido was alight with couture gowns and paparazzi flashes, albeit a lot less drama and gossip to satiate us. So, rather than hashing out the latest cast feuds, let’s talk about the films.

    What to watch at the Venice Film Festival 2024?

    The 81st Venice International Film Festival is organized by La Biennale di Venezia and ran on the Lido di Venezia from 28 August to 7 September 2024. A parade of A-listers descended upon the city, ferried to Lido in glamorous water taxis to promote some of the films we’ll be seeing at award shows this year, and….some films that flopped.

    Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore – those chameleons of the silver screen – graced the red carpet for Pedro Almodóvar’s English-language debut, The Room Next Door, which ultimately snagged the coveted Golden Lion (Venice’s top prize). The ever-ethereal Nicole Kidman turned heads alongside her fresh-faced co-star Harris Dickinson after her turn in The Perfect Couple. Meanwhile, Daniel Craig proved he’s still got it, swapping his Bond tuxedo Loewe alongside new It Boy Drew Starkey in Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer.”

    This year’s theatrics were at their peak – enough to manufacture and stoke social media chatter. And it worked. Brad Pitt and George Clooney played up their pairing’s nostalgia factor by chasing each other around the red carpet, reliving their youth but also relying on the reputations of their glory days. Luca Guadanino took a selfie with his absolutely stacked cast. Jenna Ortega looking fabulous in one of her gothic Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice outfits proved that thematic press tour dressing is far from dead.

    But this year’s films were just as conversation-worthy. Let’s dive into the films that have everyone talking:

    Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

    Tim Burton returns to the 1988 classic that launched his career, reuniting with Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder while adding Gen Z darling – Jenna Ortega – to the mix. After her turn in Wednesday, Scream, and even the video for Sabrina Carpenter’s “Taste,” it’s clear that Ortega can handle horror – she’s a scream queen with the acting chops to back it up. The result is a nostalgic trip that manages to feel fresh, thanks in large part to Ortega’s deadpan charm (honed to perfection in Wednesday) as set in counterpoint to Keaton’s manic energy. It’s a welcome return to form for Burton. His triumphant release is a rare example of commercially and critically successful and was an energetic opening to the Festival.

    Babygirl

    The latest in the buzzy pantheon of female-driven age-gap dramas, Babygirl carves out a fresh niche for our darling Ms. Kidman. After her comic turn in A Family Affair, A24’s latest offering sees her playing an all-business CEO who becomes entangled with her much younger intern (Harris Dickinson). Fans of Triangle of Sadness, Scrapper, or The Iron Claw will recognize Dickinson and admire his remarkable range. It takes an impressive young actor to shine alongside Kidman but Dickinson is up for the task. Director Halina Reijn – fresh off her Gen Z slasher hit Bodies Bodies Bodies – brings a distinctly female gaze to the May-December romance trope. The result is a steamy, thought-provoking exploration of power dynamics that will have HR departments squirming in their seats.

    The Room Next Door

    Pedro Almodóvar ventures into English-language territory with this Golden Lion winner, proving that his particular brand of melodrama translates beautifully in any tongue. Based on Sigrid Nunez’s book What Are You Going Through, the film pairs Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, two of cinema’s most captivating chameleons. It follows a writer who reconnects with an old friend after years of distance in a tale of friendship, grief, and deep discussions about what it means to be a writer. It’s intimate and intellectual but feels accessible and human thanks to Almodóvar’s direction and the nuanced performances of these two powerhouse thespians.

    Maria

    This year’s Venice International Film Festival was a big one for shimmering stars of the silver screen. Angelina Jolie triumphed as opera legend Maria Callas, securing instant iconic status and positioning herself for Oscar recognition. The gravitas she lends to Pablo Larraín’s portrait of Callas reveals that Jolie’s side projects (like her fashion brand, Atelier Jolie) have not dampened her acting skills. Following in the footsteps of Natalie Portman’s Jackie and Kristen Stewart’s Spencer, Jolie disappears into the role of the troubled diva. Larraín’s dreamlike direction and Jolie’s raw performance make for a haunting exploration of fame, art, and the price of genius. When picking Jolie for the titular role, Larrain said he wanted an actress who would “naturally and organically be that diva,” and Jolie delivered with aching nuance. Oscar buzz is already building, and rightly so.

    Queer

    Speaking of actors challenging themselves, no one is in their comfort zone in Luca Guadagnino’s Queer. For this adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ semi-autobiographical novel, Guadagnino reunites with his A Bigger Splash star Ralph Fiennes and ropes in Daniel Craig. Craig shed his 007 persona entirely in order to play Lee – a Burroughs stand-in – as he navigates the seedy underbelly of mid-century Mexico City. It’s a mix between last year’s Venice darling Strange Way of Life by Pedro Almodóvar and Guadagnino’s famous Call Me By Your Name.Drew Starkey – of Outer Banks fame – is the object of his desire, with Guadagnino’s camera lingering on his lithe frame in a manner that would make even Timothée Chalamet blush. It also stars singer Omar Apollo in his first major acting role. Between unflinching sex scenes and luscious landscapes, it’s a heady blend of desire and ennui that solidifies Guadagnino’s place as cinema’s Yearner In Chief.

    Disclaimer

    Venice isn’t all movies. Some limited dramas also make their way to Lido. Two years ago, The Idol got the full Venice treatment, but we know how that went. Luckily, Alfonso Cuarón’s return to the festival circuit fared better. This twisty psychological thriller stars Cate Blanchett – last at Venice with Tar. This time, she plays a documentary filmmaker whose life unravels when a mysterious novel appears on her bedside table. As always, Blanchett is a force of nature, her icy exterior cracking as she realizes that she’s the subject of a book that will reveal her long-buried secrets. Cuarón proves he’s as adept at space epics as he is with intimate character studies, crafting a nail-biting exploration of truth, memory, and the stories we tell ourselves.

    The Order

    Starring Jude Law, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, and Jurnee Smollett, The Order is a historical crime drama that plunges us into the action-packed world of counterfeiting operations, bank robberies, and armored car heists in the Pacific Northwest. Told through the eyes of the lead detective, these crimes are deemed acts of domestic terrorism, revealing the deep-seated hatred and violence in the United States. Inspired by the January 6 insurrection – when nooses were hung in front of the Capitol Building – this film references a fictional white nationalist insurrection that’s at the center of William Luther Pierce’s 1978 novel The Turner Diaries. Taking this hatred back to its roots, The Order explores how these same psychologies have been buried in the US consciousness for decades.

    The Brutalist

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s8SdygxUhs

    Joe Alwyn, Taylor Swift’s ex-London Boy, sauntered through Venice alongside castmates Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce for Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist. This sprawling epic follows a Hungarian immigrant architect (Brody) navigating love, loss, and artistic integrity. Initially forced to toil in poverty, he soon wins a contract that changes the course of his life for the next 30 years. Clocking in at a hefty three-and-a-half hours, it’s not for the faint of heart. But those who stick with it will be richly rewarded with a deeply felt meditation on the American Dream and the cost of creation. Corbet’s ambition is a labor of love, as his official statement expresses how he spent “the better part of a decade revving the engine to bring this particular story to life.” His toiling is definitely worth it.

    Joker: Folie à Deux

    Closing Venice was the ambitious, melodramatic Jukebox musical Joker: Folie à Deux. It’s the polarizing sequel to the controversial original, and although everyone’s talking about it — no one can make up their minds about whether or not it’s good. Todd Phillips returns to Gotham, bringing Lady Gaga along for the ride as Harley Quinn to Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker. The addition of musical numbers is either a stroke of genius or a bridge too far, depending on who you talk with. Phoenix and Gaga commit fully to the madness, their chemistry undeniable even as the plot threatens to buckle under the weight of its own ambition.

    This is a swing for the fences that doesn’t always connect, but you have to admire the creative audacity. Gaga is electric, though you can’t help but wonder if her talents are wasted in this convoluted film that, just like the original, isn’t always sure what it’s trying to say.

    As the curtain falls on another Venice Film Festival, one thing is clear: cinema is alive and well, continuing to push boundaries and provoke thought even in the face of industry upheaval. Whether these films will stand the test of time remains to be seen, but for now, they’ve given us plenty to chew on as we sail away from the Lido and into the heart of awards season.

    LKC

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  • Meet The Next It Boy: Drew Starkey

    Meet The Next It Boy: Drew Starkey

    Before you come at me: I’ve seen the thirst trap TikToks about Drew Starkey as the erratic Rafe in Netflix’s
    Outer Banks. I know he’s been White Boy of the Month for a select group since 2020.

    Sure,
    Outer Banks has a cast of overly attractive adults playing teenagers ripping off The Goonies. It’s terrific television due to how outrageously good-looking the cast is…and every viewer has their own personal favorite.

    For many, that is Drew Starkey’s reckless, violent and unstable Rafe Cameron. If you search “Rafe Cameron edit” on TikTok, there are a multitude of videos with
    millions of likes. His Outer Banks clips alone have been repurposed and replayed billions of times.

    While Drew Starkey made a name for himself as a heartthrob in the industry, he’s on his way to becoming a serious actor. This time, he’s in the same league as Daniel Craig in Luca Guadagnino’s
    Queer.

    The film — which received a
    nine-minute standing ovation at this year’s Venice Film Festival — is the most daring movie of either actor’s career. Famous for his portrayal of LGBTQ relationships, Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name is a highly regarded film for this generation.

    You already know who Daniel Craig — AKA 007 — is…but with the serious buzz around Starkey, everyone’s wondering: who the hell is he and — more importantly — is he single?

    What is Queer About?

    Queer is a historical romance drama that follows American expat — William Lee — in 1940s Mexico City as he falls in love with a younger man — Eugene Allerton. The film is based on a short novel that was written in the 50s by William S. Burroughs and published in 1985.

    The book is semi-autobiographical and tracks Lee as he travels through South America and Mexico in search of sexual gratification and drugs. Lee — played by Daniel Craig — grows infatuated with fellow drug-addict, Allerton, who is played by Starkey.

    It’s a complex, controversial novel for many reasons: mainly being that the novel came out during the rampantly homophobic 80s. This won’t be an easy love story to consume by any means.

    The film debuted at Venice Film Festival on September 3, 2024 to rave reviews. Many are saying it’s the best performance from either actor. And there’s already Oscar buzz for Craig.

    As the film ended in Venice, Guadagnino was met with chants of “Luca! Luca!” His recent success with
    Challengers starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist was another amazing homoerotic blockbuster.

    But there’s another pressing fact that’s becoming increasingly prevalent: Drew Starkey is about to become the people’s princess.

    Here Comes Drew Starkey Season

    @jcqedits this edit is kinda 🥴 #famouseditxx #edit #fyp #rafecameron #obx #obx3 #outerbanks #outerbanksseason4 #obx4 #jcqedits ♬ som original – 𝗝𝗰 ♞

    If you thought the thirst traps were bad when Drew Starkey starred as deranged sociopath Rafe Cameron…wait till you see Eugene Allerton in
    Queer.

    The ladies have been swooning over his red carpet outfits, his press circuit quips, and
    steamy photos of him during this era. And while the film’s release date has not yet been set, I’m sure theaters will be packed.

    His appearance at Venice Film Festival already stirred up internet memes, with his blue suit giving people PTSD flashbacks to last year’s Harry Styles —
    Don’t Worry, Darling — SpitGate drama.

    He has all the makings for the next Hollywood heartthrob that we’ve been yearning for. Yes, Brad Pitt may be old and a terrible person…but there
    is a whole new wave of young, handsome actors to usher in.

    So, while we gear up for the Drew Starkey inevitable renaissance, let’s answer the question we’re all here for:

    Is Drew Starkey Single?

    People ship the entire
    Outer Banks cast together…but don’t let it confuse you. Essentially, no one in the cast is dating in real life anymore.

    Since his 2022 appearance in
    Hellraiser, Starkey has been linked to fellow co-star Odessa A’Zion. With multiple Instagram appearances on each other’s accounts, it looked like the pair were an item….until recently.

    Neither A’Zion nor Starkey had confirmed their relationship in the first place…so fans are safe to assume that Drew Starkey is single until proven otherwise.

    Jai Phillips

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  • Finally Some Good Freaking Drama: Why “Industry” Is The Best Show On TV

    Finally Some Good Freaking Drama: Why “Industry” Is The Best Show On TV

    Finally, some good TV. MAX, the artist formerly known as HBO, is back to dominating my Sunday nights with its highly addictive, highly stressful brand of terrific television.

    After
    The Idol flopped so badly, I worried that MAX wouldn’t ever live up to its glory days. But Industry, which was a compelling quarantine-watch that I feared might fizzle out in its third season, has proven itself to be the streamer’s latest juggernaut — and possibly one of the best shows of the year.

    Move over prestige period dramas and fantasy epics – the hottest show of the fall is all about the cutthroat world of high finance. HBO’s
    Industry has quietly become must-see TV for its potent cocktail of ambition, excess, and anxiety that capitalizes on our love for “eat the rich” dramas.

    It’s like
    Succession and The White Lotus had a baby, except instead of the quiet comedy of the former or the slow, sleepy thrill of the latter, Industry is an anxiety-inducing feat of stress and success. While The Bear’s third season was just a flash in the pan, thanks in no small part to its immediate release of all of its episodes, Industry is coming out one episode at a time and really allowing us to sit in the stress it creates. And I love every second of it.

    Industry, like all the beloved shows du jour, revels in depicting the bad behavior of the obscenely wealthy. But unlike overly didactic versions of this like Blink Twice or even Don’t Worry Darling,Industry follows a cohort of young finance hopefuls, exploring how a generation raised on social media and economic instability navigates the rarified air of high finance. The result is a show that feels both timeless in its examination of power and greed and painfully specific to our current cultural moment.

    What is Industry about?

    Simply put,
    Industry is about investment banking. But what an antidote to the “looking for a man in finance” song that went viral this summer. If these are the men in finance, keep them away from me! Industry follows a group of analysts at Pierpont, a fictional London investment bank. But it spins all stereotypes on their head.

    There’s the spoiled
    nepo-baby heiress Yasmin (Marisa Abela); the prototypical Oxford boy who turns out to be a sensitive scholarship kid; Rob (Harry Lawtey), the privileged Nigerian golden boy suffering from disillusionment; Gus (David Jonsson); and our main anti-hero Harper (Myha’la), a Black woman from a state school who is both a prodigy and a fish out of water.

    Now in its third season,
    Industry has solidified its place as the rightful heir to the anti-hero drama throne once occupied by titans like Mad Men and The Sopranos. But instead of 1960s ad men or New Jersey mobsters, we’re following viscous Gen-Z frenemies It’s a world of obscene wealth, ruthless competition, and morally bankrupt decision-making. And though Harper, — called a “diminutive Black woman” in a recent episode — might seem the opposite of my beloved yet deeply flawed Don Draper, she’s a talented outsider struggling to make it in a world of wealth. And talk about an underdog we hate to love rooting for.

    The cast makes each of their characters so compelling we can’t look away — even when they’re making a trainwreck of their lives. Myha’la anchors the show with her complex portrayal of Harper Stern, bringing a fierce intelligence and vulnerability to a character who could easily have become a caricature in less capable hands. Marisa Abela’s Yasmin Kara-Hanani has become a fan-favorite for her portrayal of a woman navigating the intersection of wealth, privilege, and gender politics in the boys’ club of finance. “I got a surprisingly large gay following,” she says in one of her opening scenes this season — and I get it.

    But it’s not just the charm and quotable quips. What sets
    Industry apart is its unrelenting pace and frenetic energy. In an era where prestige TV often favors measured storytelling and slow burns, Industry hits like a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart. Honestly, it shares more DNA with the anxiety-inducing rhythms of The Bear with an upper-class flair.

    Admittedly, the middle of the second season dragged. And with all the finance jargon and plotlines heavily contingent on the ups and downs of the market, sometimes it’s tough to follow. Sometimes I call up my friends who are deep in the trenches at Goldman or J.P. Morgan to simply translate whatever I just saw — and to provide a lens on what’s
    actually realistic. I worried that the third season would let me down. But instead, it ratcheted up the show to a level of intensity that shows Industry at its best.

    Watch the Industry Season 3 trailer here:

    Why Industry Season 3 is a game changer

    This latest season doubles down on the show’s stress-inducing tendencies, with the most recent episode drawing comparisons to the Safdie brothers’
    Uncut Gems for its relentless tension. The last time I was this stressed watching an episode of television was during The Bear season 2’s famous episode “Fishes.” If you know, you know that episode was a departure from the Season’s quiet meditations on its characters. It was the epitome of a chaotic family Christmas. And it was critically acclaimed for a reason. Similarly, White Mischief breaks from the narrative to focus on giving us heart palpitations.

    Rishi has been a character on the sidelines who delivers some of the best — though sometimes pretty vile — one-liners. But in this episode, we get an unprecedented spotlight on Rishi as he navigates an even more chaotic Christmas than Carmy’s family. From work to home and back again, the episode takes us through a harrowing 48-hour period of gambling, drugs, and increasingly risky trades. And though it takes such a narrow focus compared to other episodes of the show, this episode exemplifies everything that makes
    Industry so addictive.

    Season 3 has upped the ante considerably, with the addition of Kit Harington (of
    Game of Thrones fame) as an unstable — and perpetually shirtless — tech CEO disrupting the lives of our beloved Pierpoint characters.

    But what exactly is the point of
    Industry, beyond giving viewers weekly panic attacks over concepts they barely understand? At its core, the show is an examination of ambition and its costs — literally and metaphorically. Through its characters’ struggles and their differing axes of identity — the rich trying to get richer and the poor trying to be just like them — it asks how far we’re willing to go to succeed in a system that may be rigged from the start. Through its ensemble of deeply flawed but magnetic characters, Industry explores the toxic allure of power and wealth and the toll it takes on those who pursue it relentlessly.

    As we head further into Season 3, fans are on the edge of their seats to see how the various plot threads will interweave and resolve. Will Harper’s risky plays pay off and allow her to rebuild the glory she tasted for a moment at Pierpont, or will her house of cards finally come crashing down? Can Yasmin successfully navigate the minefield of office politics and her complicated personal life? And where the hell
    is her father? Will Harry get his emotions under control and deal with his grief instead of drinking it away? And just how long can Rishi’s luck hold out before everything implodes spectacularly?

    I mean, we all saw the ending of
    Uncut Gems…

    These questions — combined with the show’s sharp dialogue and on rushing pacing — have made
    Industry appointment-television for all of us who tuned in to watch Succession and White Lotus. It’s the kind of show that demands to be watched in real-time, lest you fall behind on the water cooler — or, more accurately, Slack channel — discussions the next day. In a television landscape often dominated by IP-driven content and safe bets, Industry feels fresh and unpredictable.

    The week between each episode feels unbearable. But if you’re like me, the best way to distract yourself from the wait between good TV episodes is to watch
    more good TV.

    Now, if you like
    Industry, you’ll like these shows — and vice versa. From timeless rewatches to new favorites, this is what I’m watching while waiting for the next episode of Industry.

    1. Mad Men

    For the
    Industry fan craving another dose of high-stakes professional drama, Mad Men is the ideal binge. Set in the cutthroat world of 1960s advertising — March 1960 to November 1970 — this AMC classic shares Industry‘s fascination with ambition, power, and the moral compromises we make in pursuit of success.

    Jon Hamm’s Don Draper is the OG antihero who paved the way for
    Industry’s morally ambiguous leading characters. Like Harper Stern navigating Pierpoint’s treacherous waters, Draper’s journey from mysterious outsider to advertising titan is a masterclass in reinvention and survival. Mad Men may swap Industry‘s glass-and-steel offices for wood paneling and cigarette smoke, but the underlying tensions feel remarkably familiar. Both shows excel at exploring workplace dynamics, gender politics, and the psychic toll of constant performance.

    With 16 Emmys and universal critical acclaim,
    Mad Men set the gold standard for prestige TV. Its influence on shows like Industry is undeniable, from the meticulous period detail to the complex character studies. The type of stress it creates is different and more simmering, as you wonder if Don Draper is going to get away with his indiscretions and if his company will retain their accounts. But it’s just as thrilling. For viewers who appreciate Industry‘s incisive writing and nuanced performances, Mad Men offers seven seasons of equally riveting drama.

    2. Succession

    HBO’s critically acclaimed drama about the dysfunctional Roy family and their media empire shares
    Industry’s fascination with wealth, power, and the corrupting influence of both. Where Industry focuses on hungry young graduates clawing their way up, Succession examines what happens when you’re born at the top — and the constant fear of falling. Both shows excel at depicting the often absurd world of the ultra-wealthy, balancing sharp satire with genuine pathos.

    Jeremy Strong’s Kendall Roy could easily be a glimpse into the future of
    Industry’s most ambitious characters, What happens when you achieve everything you thought you wanted, only to discover that it’s not enough? The ensemble cast, including Brian Cox, Sarah Snook, and Kieran Culkin, delivers performances as nuanced and compelling as anything in Industry. With 13 Emmy wins and counting, Succession is the definitive show about wealth and power in the 21st century. Succession‘s razor-sharp dialogue and complex character dynamics will feel instantly familiar to Industry fans.

    3. The Sopranos

    HBO’s groundbreaking mob drama paved the way for the complicated anti-heroes that populate shows like
    Industry. Both shows excel at exploring the psychological toll of existing in a world of constant pressure and moral compromise. The Sopranos may focus on organized crime rather than high finance, but the themes of loyalty, power, and the American-Dream-gone-sour resonate strongly with Industry’s explorations of late-stage capitalism.

    The Sopranos set the template for the kind of nuanced, morally complex storytelling that Industry excels at. For viewers who appreciate Industry’s deep character work and unflinching look at a cutthroat world, The Sopranos offers 6 seasons of unparalleled drama. Each time I watch Industry, I can relate to Tony’s panic attacks.

    4. The Bear

    If
    Industry is the adrenaline rush of a million-dollar trade, The Bear is the heart-pounding intensity of a dinner service in the weeds. FX’s breakout hit about a high-end, fine-dining chef taking over his family’s struggling Chicago sandwich shop shares Industry‘s frenetic energy and exploration of high-pressure work environments.

    Jeremy Allen White’s Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto — like
    Industry’s Harper Stern — is a talented but troubled protagonist trying to prove themselves in an unforgiving world. Both are prone to panic as much as moments of pure genius; we can’t help but root for them while hoping they finally get out of their own way.

    Both shows excel at depicting the toll that constant pressure takes on the characters, balancing moments of triumph with crushing setbacks.
    The Bear swaps financial jargon for kitchen slang, but the underlying tension feels remarkably similar. The Bear has quickly established itself as one of TV’s most exciting new dramas, finding moments of connection and humanity amidst the chaos.

    5. The Fall of the House of Usher

    For
    Industry fans seeking a different flavor of high-stakes drama, The Fall of the House of Usher offers a gothic twist on tales of wealth and corruption. Based on Edgar Allan Poe’s works, Mike Flanagan’s Netflix limited series shares Industry’s fascination with the dark side of ambition and power. Bruce Greenwood’s Roderick Usher — the patriarch of a pharmaceutical dynasty — can be viewed as a cautionary tale for Industry’s young strivers. Both shows excel at exploring the moral rot that often accompanies great wealth and influence.

    Where
    Industry finds horror in plummeting stock prices, Usher leans into supernatural terrors. Yet both understand that the most frightening monsters are often the ones we create ourselves while in pursuit of success. It’s too new for major awards, but Flanagan’s track record (including the acclaimed The Haunting of Hill House) suggests Usher will be a contender.

    For
    Industry viewers who appreciate that show’s psychological depth and examination of familial legacy, The Fall of the House of Usher offers a compelling, horror-tinged alternative.

    6. The Morning Show

    Apple TV+’s
    The Morning Show shares Industry‘s fascination with high-pressure work environments and the often murky ethics of corporate America. Swapping finance for broadcast journalism, The Morning Show offers another perspective on ambition, power, and the price of success. Jennifer Aniston’s Alex Levy and Reese Witherspoon’s Bradley Jackson — like Industry’s Harper and Yasmin — navigate a cutthroat world where personal and professional lines are constantly blurred.

    7. Good Girls

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbjIaPzODs0

    NBC’s
    Good Girls offers a fresh spin on the high-stakes world of finance that Industry inhabits. Both shows explore how financial desperation can drive people to cross lines they never imagined they would. The stress in Good Girls is more visceral and violent, but the underlying question is the same: what would you do for money?

    Where
    Industry finds drama in legal (if ethically dubious) financial maneuvers, Good Girls dives into outright criminality. Yet both understand that in a world driven by money, the line between legitimate business and organized crime can be surprisingly thin.

    8. Severance

    Apple TV+’s
    Severance shares Industry‘s interest in the dehumanizing aspects of corporate culture — albeit through a surreal lens. This sci-fi thriller — about employees who surgically divide their memories between work and personal life — offers a different flavor of workplace anxiety. Adam Scott’s Mark Scout, like many of Industry’s characters, grapples with the all-consuming nature of his job. Yet both understand that in our late-capitalist world, the boundaries between work and life are increasingly blurred.

    9. Billions

    For
    Industry fans craving more high-stakes financial drama, Showtime’s Billions is the natural next step. Following the chess match between a hedge fund king and the U.S. Attorney determined to bring him down, it shares Industry‘s fascination with the ethical compromises and psychological warfare inherent to the pursuit of vast wealth.

    Where
    Industry focuses on young graduates entering the world of finance, Billions examines those at the very top of the food chain. These aren’t messy college kids living in a house flat who don’t know what to do with their money. These characters have far more to lose — but they’re playing equally fast and loose with their love and money.

    LKC

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  • Blink Twice Review: The Cotton Candy Dissolution of Zoe Kravitz’s Dark Delusion

    Blink Twice Review: The Cotton Candy Dissolution of Zoe Kravitz’s Dark Delusion

    Zoë Kravitz, the ultimate Hollywood cool girl, just made her directorial debut with Blink Twice — the buzzy thriller starring her finance, Channing Tatum. Luckily for us, this isn’t a Don’t Worry Darling situation — a director and actor finding love while their production burns. And it definitely wasn’t an It Ends With Us situation — a director and actor publically waging war against each other.

    But beyond the drama, the main difference between the Blink Twice rollout (complete with a very cutesy press tour featuring Channing and Zoe) is that people are actually responding well to the it-girls directorial debut. A nepo baby with actual talent? More likely than you’d think.

    Zoe has been stretching herself as an actor in recent years, with an especially high-profile role as Catwoman in Robert Pattinson’s emo turn as The Batman. She even got props for her acting chops for her role in Big Little Lies — Season 3 when? — and Hulu’s take on High Fidelity. But Kravitz is new on the directing scene and trying to prove her mettle.

    Just from the trailer (which features the song “Iko Iko” by the Dixie Cups), you can tell Blink Twice is shot beautifully. From its vibrant color saturation to the interesting perspective choices, Zoe is as invested in the beauty of her film as her enviable beauty routine.

    To the point that some freeze frames in the film feel like Sofia Coppolla-esque tapestries that would be at home on Tumblr — except her subject isn’t girlhood, it’s fame and excess.

    And since that’s the world that Kravitz grew up in, she knows it well. Yes, some of the aesthetics start to make the movie feel like a collection sumptuous shots vying to mean something, to say something important.

    It’s clear from the beginning that Kravitz understands the evils of fame. But does her attempt to convey them to us translate or fall flat thanks to its own self-importance?

    While Blink Twice thinks it’s Get Out meets Saltburn, it’s more horrifying than most people will be able to stomach and less effective than Kravitz thinks.

    Watch the Blink Twice trailer here:

    Is Blink Twice a horror movie?

    Blink Twice is billed as a thriller, blending psychological elements with violence and gore. The reviews are coming in and they’re falling in the upper middle percentage range with a 78% on Rotten Tomatoes. Not bad for an ambitious debut. Kravitz, who is surprisingly tight with Taylor Swift, even got the stamp of approval from the megastar via Instagram.

    “This film is incredible. Thrilling, twisted, wickedly funny, and visually stunning. The performances are phenomenal. @zoeisabellakravitz conceptualized this, wrote it, obsessed over every detail, and directed it with such a clear and bold vision. I’m so blown away by what she’s accomplished here and I can’t wait to watch everyone discover this film and this brilliant filmmaker,” said Swift on her Stories.

    Sure enough, she’s faring better than Swift’s other bestie, Blake Lively, whose It Ends With Us press tour has made her Hollywood’s recent favorite villain. Other stars like Ayo Edebiri have been singing the director’s praises but we have to wonder … are they just being good friends? I’ve been known to support my besties even when they make questionable decisions. Or in this case, movies.

    But here at Popdust, we’re not going to applaud any movie just for deigning to have a female director and a moralistic stance on rape culture. Just look at Promising Young Woman by Emerald Fennell, who also directed Saltburn. The buzzy revenge fantasy starring Carey Mulligan got rave reviews from other critics, but we found it wanting any real message. In the same way, Blink Twice falls into the trap of style over substance. Or rather, so much style in the beginning that the director has to rush to hit us over the head with substance by the end.

    In a lot of ways, Blink Twice, which was originally called Pussy Island, feels familiar. We’ve seen the “rich dude bad, women fight back” narrative so many times that it feels a bit 2017. Though this time, the story has echoes of Jeffery Epstein (a sentence I shudder to type) and more contemporary references, some are wondering if Kravitz is just cashing in on a narrative that’s already been done to death.

    What’s the premise of Blink Twice?

    The movie starts with Naomi Ackie as Frida doomscrolling on her phone — relatable. Scrolling past TikTok after TikTok, she stops at a video of a man we later know is Slater King (Channing Tatum), a tech billionaire who is apologizing for something we don’t know about. Frida watches the video with rapt attention before looking him up as we watch, getting the full download of King and his fame. I’ll admit: it’s a compelling opening scene — even if it starts with its protagonist on the toilet. James Joyce did it in Ulysses, after all, and Kravitz is a fan of learning from the greats.

    So now that we’ve seen Frida’s life, an admittedly rushed rendering of a Struggling Person, we’re supposed to rationalize the pressing need for escape that leads her to abandon everything to follow a billionaire to a private island. That, as well as the fact that she has a crush on him before they even meet. As a cocktail waitress (and aspiring nail artist), she’s working King’s event while staring at him and sighing like a lovesick teenager. The two have a meet-cute that might make you think this is a romantic drama: she trips, and he offers his hand to help her hip. Cue the first of many sexually charged close-ups of Channing Tatum’s face. Zoë Girl, if I was making a movie that was 50% intimate shots of Channing Tatum, I’d have gotten engaged to him too.

    After just one night, Frida gets swept up into King’s world and agrees to go on a lavish island getaway that turns into a nightmare. It starts off idyllic, if not a little strange. Kravitz’s directorial eye really shines in sun-drenched snaps of this idyllic retreat where Frida spends a series of seemingly perfect days alongside a cast of characters that include a former reality TV star (Adria Arjona), a wine snob (Simon Rex), and Slater’s therapist/consultant (Christian Slater). As we learned from Jonah Hill, it’s always a red flag when a person’s therapist becomes their friend.

    Yet, all of King’s behaviors are explained away with a shrug — “this must be what rich people do,” Frida rationalizes with her best friend Jess (Alia Shawkat). Until Jess goes missing, the dream vacation turns into a nightmare.

    Is Blink Twice a good movie?

    On paper, it sounds like it could be a sharp, timely thriller set poolside with sleek Spanish architecture. This is a familiar premise, popular in shows like The White Lotus and films like Knives Out. The costume design is on point too, with the women decked out in flowing white dresses that grow more and more sinister as the movie progresses. But style can only take you so far, and Blink Twice often feels like it’s trying too hard to be provocative and edgy.

    The pacing is a major issue. The film’s first half drags, with endless, repetitive scenes of partying and flirting. It’s like Kravitz is so enamored with the glamorous setup that she forgets to move the plot forward. Zoë, if you wanted to make a party movie, you should’ve done that instead of spending over an hour on an ad for a luxury resort before shoving a moralistic ending down our throats. And it’s not just the messaging that’s heavy-handed; it’s the sudden shift to visceral, stomach-turning images of sexual violence.

    When things finally do kick into high gear, the action feels chaotic and the plot unearned. Out of nowhere, we’re inundated with gratuitously graphic scenes that make me wonder: do we really need more female-gaze movies about sexual assault when they say nothing new, offer no fresh perspectives and trigger potential trauma?

    I felt like I was having a panic attack during the whole second half of the movie. It was an overwrought but ultimately unoriginal lecture set to horrifying scenes of violence against women. And wasting such incredible actors’ work on this tired narrative feels like a missed opportunity. Where there was potential for deftness and nuance, we got a sanctimonious sledgehammer that added nothing new to the conversation about rape culture.

    Blink Twice is clearly trying to say something about power dynamics, consent, and the way powerful men can manipulate and abuse women. The problem isn’t that these themes aren’t worth exploring — they absolutely are. But the movie’s approach often feels heavy-handed and simplistic. It’s giving: “I just discovered feminism and now I’m going to make a movie about it.”

    There are moments where the movie hits its stride — the sequence where Frida starts piecing together what’s really happening on the island is achingly tense and well-executed. Ackie’s back and forth with Arjona in this sequence is one of the most satisfying parts of the film — but also where it starts to go south.

    Blink Twice cast

    Yet, despite the circumstances, the actors managed to put on career-defining performances. Naomi Ackie’s turn as Frida is almost good enough to make us forget that the character’s actions — namely, going on a trip with a famously problematic billionaire she met that night — are contrived and unjustified. She shines in the romantic moments and the comedic breaks and is hauntingly convincing in the more violent portions of the film.

    Ackie especially shines alongside Adria Arjona, who is having a great summer starring in both this and Hit Man. The two make me wish this movie was more like Bodies Bodies Bodies, comedic and gory without the forced attempt at wokeness. Her character starts as a typical jealous mean girl who embodies the “cool girl” trope as a former contestant of a Survivor-type show starring girls in bikinis and evolves into one of the film’s standout roles.

    Channing Tatum is a pleasant (or unpleasant) surprise. Known for his comedic roles, his raunchy dance moves, and, let’s be honest, his abs, Tatum shows he can do more than just flash that million-dollar smile. His Slater King is charming on the surface but has an underlying current of menace that grows more pronounced as the movie progresses. Those close-ups of his eyes go from seductive to sinister. But as the movie reaches its climax, Tatum hits the end of his range and, like the movie, falls flat. I just kept thinking I’d like to see him use this intensity for an actual romance — something like The Vow but with more substance.

    Ultimately, the cast is the main reason to watch this film. And the curiosity about what goes on in Zoë Kravtiz’s mind. If it looks like Blink Twice up there, it seems it’s a beautiful but dark place. Despite the nepo baby allegations, there’s definitely potential here. She clearly has a good eye and knows how to create an atmosphere. With less of a need to prove something and a tighter script, she could definitely make something truly impressive in the future. The trouble with being a nepo baby is that you always have to prove you’re not just talented but “deep.” That there’s something within you that justifies your fame. Kravitz was trying to prove that here and ended up doing too much that it basically amounts to nothing.

    Blink Twice controversy

    What’s surprising is how little the film’s darkness — so overdone in the film — was revealed in the press tour. Clearly, Zoë has trouble with balance and tends to err toward extremes. While Blake Lively is getting flack for not emphasizing the themes of It Ends With Us enough during the press tour, the same criticism can be leveled at Kravitz. Her press rollout seems more like an ad for her relationship with Tatum than a movie about violence against women.

    Kravitz has also come under fire for wading into the cancel culture debate — especially when her film is about the hollowness of celebrity apologies. She admitted to loving Roman Polanski in an Esquire interview, where she said she knew it was “controversial.” “It’s okay that somebody bad was involved in something good … What are we supposed to do, get rid of America?” But as someone making a movie about men who abuse their power over women, it’s disappointing to hear such a flippant response on such a nuanced topic.

    Kravitz is not the only one whose hypocrisy is a blot on the film’s pietistic aspirations. Alia Shawkat is famously friends with Brad Pitt, who is the ultimate symbol of the status quo — despite his own allegations of violence against women and his seemingly duplicitous public persona. Yes, he’s far less sinister than Slater King, but where do we draw the line? Is badness about degrees? Or have we lost all nuance as viewers that we only recognize bad character when they murder and rape. Is that the unintentional message of Zoë Kravitz’s dark delusion?

    In the end, Blink Twice is a bag of cotton candy. Rich, but hollow. It’s stylish but shallow, provocative but predictable. It’s the kind of film that will spark some interesting conversations, even if those conversations are more about what the movie was trying to do rather than what it actually achieved.

    LKC

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  • Will Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo Work It Out on the Remix?

    Will Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo Work It Out on the Remix?

    We’re in the best of times (brat summer), but we’re also in the worst of times (constantly fielding articles by Some Guy about how brat summer is dead). But how could brat summer be over if I feel it in my heart? If they’re still playing “Guess ft. Billie Eilish” at Tenants of the Trees in LA (where Charli XCX herself had her birthday party for some reason)? And if the impact of brat summer is still causing ripples through the culture it cannot be over.

    No, I’m not talking about Kamala’s brat green rebrand. I’m talking about something more substantial — the very same thing that had last summer in the same chokehold: the infectious and irresistible power of girlhood.

    Last summer caused a vibe shift. Culture started catering to women. Let’s be real: Women have been the drivers of pop culture for a long time. I, for one, will never forget that artists like The Beatles and Elvis, who are still taken seriously as iconic musical artists today, caused fanatical frenzies, not unlike artists like Justin Bieber and One Direction. Yet, despite our clear good taste, women have historically been written off as fickle while culture catered to men.

    Just think of how the 2000s were defined by blockbuster summer movies. Usually, an action movie would dominate, followed by a “chick flick” that was relegated to date nights or the whims of teenage girls. Yet, when
    Barbenheimer resurrected this dynamic, one had a clear chokehold on the internet and the world. And since I haven’t seen Oppenheimener-flavored Olipops, no prizes for guessing which one it was.

    This summer isn’t defined by movies (Twisters and It Ends With Us aren’t the Barbenheimer redux we wanted) it’s characterized by music. And while the guys gave it the old college try — Kendrick did release the ultimate hater anthem with Not Like Us in the Spring — the girls take it yet again.

    And despite seasonal albums from established pop stars like
    Dua Lipa and Ariana Grande, queer (or queer-coded) female artists have blown up this summer. All of them have also been grafting behind the scenes for years before finally getting their flowers. But now the world is listening. We’re learning. And we’re obsessed.

    Of course, there’s the princess of the summer,
    Sabrina Carpenter, who is the latest Disney veteran to make it big. We’ll get to her Disney drama later, but this summer, it’s all about our Short n Sweet queen’s infectious earworms. We called it earlier this year: she is the moment. Her rise to fame has been inevitable.

    Then there’s the surprise star of the year,
    Chappell Roan. So glad bisexual women decided not to gatekeep this absolute star. The fact that I’ve been listening to Chappell since 2020 and I’m still not tired of “Pink Pony Club” says a lot.

    But
    Charli XCX’s mainstream moment is arguably the most surprising. Charli is a giant to music lovers and, of course, the queer community. A real dyed-in-the-wool party girl, she grew up in the clubs and doesn’t just talk the talk, she throws the parties. Despite her collaborations with literally everyone, her Grammys, and her hits, Charli XCX is only now becoming a household name. Why? Because we’re finally ready for her.

    Girlhood is brat. Brat is girlhood. Girl, it’s so confusing, but it’s about being a girl

    Girlhood is the name of the game and Charli writes for the girls and the gays. Her album speaks to the desire to hold on to the feeling of youth juxtaposed with the realities of growing up. Who can’t relate? She talks about themes integral to girlhood: going on vacation and thinking it will change your life, going to a party and thinking it will change your life, and having dinner with a girl and thinking she hates you.

    @thepopupdates The best duo everrrr #charlixcx #lorde #girlsoconfusing #brat #popmusic #music #foryou #foryoupage #fyp #viral ♬ original sound – Pop Throwbacks & Updates

    The latter was the impetus for the internet-breaking track “The girl, so confusing version with lorde.” After Charli released the original version of “girl, so confusing,” the internet rightly assumed it was about her years-long pseudo-beef with
    Lorde. Lyrics like: “I’m all about throwing parties / You’re all about writing poems,” and “People say we’re alike, they say we’ve got the same hair,” added fuel to the fire of their reported feud. So imagine our surprise when Charli released a version with Lorde herself. Like Miss Ella, honestly, we were speechless.

    Lorde knew what she was doing when she said: “When we put this to bed, the internet will go crazy.” Sure enough, the internet erupted. And it did the same once again when footage was released of the two scream-singing their instant classic of a collab at Charli’s birthday party. What a way to put the feud rumors to bed.

    Will Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo work it out on the remix?

    @ce__1l girl girl 💚 // #ce__1l #fyp #foryoupage #lyricsvideo #music #sabrinacarpenter #oliviarodrigo #brat ♬ Girl, so confusing featuring lorde – Charli xcx & Lorde

    After Lorde and Charli worked out their decade of competition over a Jack Antonoff beat, the internet speculated: who would be next to quell their beef with the power of song? If it seems like the plot of a Disney movie, get in for the ride — the Disney of it all has just begun.

    A few weeks ago, sources reported that former Disney stars turned stadium-selling pop stars Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter might be collaborating on a song. With the upcoming release of Carpenter’s highly anticipated album sneaking up on us, fans speculate that this could be a surprise track waiting on the record.

    If you don’t understand how earth-shattering this is, let me take you back to 2021, when
    Olivia Rodrigo first took the world by storm with her song “drivers license.” The song, and subsequent album, chronicled her heartbreak about how her costar and ex-boyfriend Joshua Bassett left her for “that blonde girl.” The blonde in question? Sabrina Carpenter.

    That’s right. Our very own me espresso was the villain in
    the “drivers license” saga. And you mean to tell me the two of them have put their boy drama aside to collaborate? Please, please, please tell me if this is true. If it is, I’ll be sat watching it unfold. As if I needed another reason to eagerly await the release of Short N Sweet.

    In the meantime, I’m making a list and checking it twice about all the other celebs I want to see quell their beef. And yes, the list gets more and more unhinged as you go down, tis the summer of collabs. And our favorite artists are proving that magic can be made if they do it together. Billie and Charli did it. Kendrick and the entire rap community did it. Who is next?

    @kittywaless their lore😍 (pls keep the comments respectful) #catherineprincessofwales #princessofwales #princesscatherine #princesskate #catherinemiddleton #katemiddleton #duchessofcambridge #brat #girlsoconfusing #britishroyalfamily ♬ Girl, so confusing featuring lorde – Charli xcx & Lorde

    People we want to see work it out on the remix:

    One Direction

    This is my ultimate dream. The
    Paris Olympics may have made you fantasize about what life would be like if you hadn’t quit JV basketball, but it made me dream about seeing my beloved One Direction again. After all, I can’t watch an opening ceremony without thinking about their performance at the 2012 London Games. Stranger things have happened than a boyband reuniting. The second they announce a tour, I’m quitting my job and dedicating my life to following them around on tour. Hold me to that.

    Hilary Duff and Lindsay Lohan

    The Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo feud is the closest our generation will ever get to experiencing the magnitude of drama caused by Lindsay Lohan and Hilary Duff. As the two defining Disney sensations turned movie stars of their time, Duff and Lohan were pitted against each other by the media. Everybody knew it: the two were rivals in their careers and in their relationships. We’ll never experience that kind of TMZ-stoked animosity again. But we’re older now. Duff and Lohan are both in new phases of their careers. If they worked it, the (millennial side of the) internet really would go crazy.

    Shawn Mendes and Justin Bieber

    These two divas have been competing to be the prince of pop for years. And their silent feud runs deep. In a radio interview at the beginning of Shawn’s career, Justin responded to a question about the other Canadian crooner with the dismissive and deadly, “who’s Shawn Mendes?” Then, after Mendes appeared with Hailey Baldwin at the Met Gala in 2018, Bieber quickly reignited his relationship with our favorite nepo baby and married her. Talk about winning the battle. The two already have a song together, “
    Monster,” but no one is buying that they’ve really worked it out. I want to see Shawn at Justin and Hailey’s baby shower or bust.

    Justin Bieber and Harry Styles

    Speaking of pop feuds, Bieber and Styles have been toeing a tension-laden line since 2012. Rumors swirled that One Direction was supposed to open for Bieber on his
    Believe tour but the plans were canceled — and dreams died. Reasons abound as to why but I suppose we’ll never know. As someone who attended that Believe tour, I have been waiting for them to work it out on the remix ever since.

    Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus and The Jonas Brothers

    Other feuds from my childhood I want fixed: the Disney Channel stars involved in the seminal sustainability single, “Send It On.” That was our Fleetwood Mac
    Rumors. With loyalties crossed, relationships breaking friendships, and a whole lot of teen angst going on, the Disney Channel producers had one song and one song only to change lives. While we were watching “Send It On” play during Disney breaks, we had no clue about the drama simmering beneath the surface. But imagine if they put that to bed? The internet would go crazy.

    Joe Jonas and Taylor Swift

    Of all of Taylor’s exes, she’s clearly already worked it out with Taylor Lautner — who was backflipping across her Eras tour stages for a brief stint last summer. But the reconciliation I really want is between Taylor and Joe. Sure, she’s written some scathing songs about him. And she told the world on
    Ellen that he broke up with her in 17 seconds. And she’s befriended Sophie Turner. But for a brief moment, Taylor made up with Kanye West, so stranger things have happened. Can you imagine a mashup between “SOS” by The Jonas Brothers and “The Story of US” by Taylor Swift? My Spotify Wrapped would become unshareable.

    Katy Perry and Taylor Swift

    Though allegedly this feud started due to the backup dancers, Perry has become one of
    Swift’s famed list of enemies. And as the queen of “Karma,” Swifties know that all of Taylor’s adversaries never fare well — just look at Ye or Scooter Braun. Katy Perry’s comeback might be another one of these casualties. Ouch. If the two managed to reconcile their “Bad Blood,” imagine the album Katy Perry would create.

    Nelly Furtado and Fergie

    Remember the song “
    Give It To Me” by Timbaland, Nelly Furtado, and Justin Timberlake? Thanks to TikTok, the song experienced a recent resurgence. But did you know the entire song is a diss track? Justin Timberlake’s verse is about Prince (more insane than “what tour? The world tour”), Timbaland’s verse is about Scott Storch, and Nelly Furtado’s verse is about Fergie. But what if we stopped pitting two pop icons against each other and instead begged them both to have a comeback … together?

    The Don’t Worry Darling Cast

    The
    Don’t Worry Darling press tour pitted all our favorite stars against each other in the public arena: Harry Styles, Florence Pugh, Olivia Wilde, Chris Pine, and Gemma Chan. And while that trainwreck of a movie doesn’t need a sequel, I would animatedly watch one just to keep keen eyes on the press tour.

    The It Ends With Us Cast

    If we thought there would never be another press tour as dramatic as
    Don’t Worry Darling, Justin Baldoni of the It Ends With Us cast just hired Johnny Depp’s lawyer — so it’s inarguably surpassed its dramatic predecessor. With Blake Lively and Baldoni both waging a press war, some are hoping It Ends With Us will just … end. But I need a little entertainment to tide me over into fall. And if the movie itself won’t provide it, the hope of a last-gasp reconciliation might.

    Kendrick Lamar and Drake

    I know this will never happen. In fact, if it did, I’d
    lose some respect for Kendrick, honestly. But sometimes I like to imagine that all of this was just marketing for a joint album a la “Watch the Throne.”

    LKC

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  • It Ends With Us Needs To End Already

    It Ends With Us Needs To End Already

    Let’s start with something about me: I hate Colleen Hoover books. I despise how TikTok convinced the world that her writing was revolutionary, her plot lines intricate, her style original. It’s a step above airport romance novels in my opinion…so when one of her hit novels, It Ends With Us, was adapted to a movie starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, I was disappointed but not surprised.

    And to make matters worse, I was constantly reminded of this fact because it was filmed on my street in Hoboken, New Jersey…but enough about me.
    It Ends With Us finally hit theaters on August 9, and the press tour has been nothing short of catastrophic.

    We have the internet up in flames ready to burn Blake Lively at the stake for a multitude of reasons (including, but definitely not limited to) her fashion sense, her “pick me” attitude, or her dismissive commentary on domestic abuse, which is a main focus of the film itself. Not only that, but there’s clear tension between Justin Baldoni and the rest of the cast, who stumble over cute press questions like “What was it like working together?”

    It’s all very reminiscent of Olivia Wilde’s
    Don’t Worry, Darling, which starred Florence Pugh and Harry Styles, and was riddled with obvious cast member drama from the beginning…yet, it’s less hilarious and more annoying. But let’s break down the It Ends With Us press tour drama before you get even more confused.

    What’s Going On With The It Ends With Us Cast?

    Let’s put it into perspective. Things have gotten so bad that director and actor, Justin Baldoni, has hired the same PR crisis manager (Melissa Nathan) that both Johnny Depp and Logan Paul have used. As the press tour surged on, fans began to notice Baldoni was absent from group press events as reports swirled about disputes between himself and Lively during post-production.

    If you see Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni on the same couch together during this press junket, then consider yourself lucky. They’ve split up their press tour with respective outlets: Baldoni gets
    Access Hollywood, Today, ET!, and GMA; Lively gets Vogue, Capital FM, and CBS Mornings.

    Sources told
    The Hollywood Reporter that disagreements arose during the final cut while filming. Lively, a producer on It Ends With Us, had scenes she wanted and even commissioned her own cut of the film. However, Forbesassures this can happen without indicating a feud.
    @bbcnews Blake said she felt the “responsibility of servicing the people” that care so much about the book, when bringing Lily to life. #ItEndsWithUs #BlakeLively #LilyBloom #ItEndsWithUsMovie #ColleenHoover #BookTok #ItEndsWithUsBook #BBCNews ♬ original sound – BBC News

    Fans have been reading in between the lines during press interviews. Lively has made a few interesting comments furthering the creative control rumors. At one point, she even mentions her husband, Ryan Reynolds, wrote a scene in the film, which some believe was the start of their fight. Then, in another interview, Lively shares she got in a fight with an unnamed person about removing a Lana Del Rey song from the film.

    @sammysamslife I love both Ryan Reynolds and Justin Baldoni so I hope this isn’t true. #itendswithus #justinbaldoni #ryanreynolds #blakelively #colleenhoover #drama #greenscreen ♬ original sound – SAMANTHA💞

    However, given the film’s references to domestic violence, this Lana Del Rey song could have been considered controversial. “Cherry” details loving a man despite all of the hard times in an extremely toxic and unhealthy relationship. So, if Baldoni was the one Lively had to fight, he may have had a point.

    In his own interview with
    Elle, Baldoni admits to tensions on set: “There are all these things that happen every day on set, there’s always friction that happens when you make a movie like this. Then at the end of the day, it’s that friction, I believe, that creates the beautiful art,”

    Cast member Jenny Slate adds fuel to the fire by dodging questions about Justin Baldoni. Slate told a reporter that it “must be difficult working two jobs” when asked what it was like working with him. When Baldoni was asked about Lively, he claimed it “seems like she’s ready to direct.”

    There’s been nothing but shade, and apparently, the movie isn’t even that great. What I think everyone can agree on is this press tour needs to end.

    Jai Phillips

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  • Barbie, Baby!

    Barbie, Baby!

    Growing up as a girl, I played with all sorts of dolls: American Girl, Bratz, Polly Pocket, and of course, Barbies. I had the Dream House, the Dream Car, the color changing mermaid, and don’t forget about Ken. But as I aged, Barbie became a bit more problematic.

    Suddenly, we grew up and realized that Barbie wasn’t representing diversity (by any means) very well. She was dimensionally impossible, but she grew up as our role model! How could we spend our lives aspiring for blonde-haired, cinched-waisted, pink-loving Barbie if the girl selling the dream was unattainable?

    And then there were the controversial Barbies…1965 Slumber Party Barbie had a scale set to 110 pounds and a dieting book titled “How To Lose Weight” with the advice “Don’t Eat!” Not our role model promoting eating disorder culture!

    1965 Slumber Party Barbie

    Daily Mail

    Mattel was failing to realize that by making Barbie a doctor, lawyer, homeowner, extraordinaire, she truly was our role model as little girls. We were looking at these dolls potentially seeing what our future could look like. And if it meant being 110 pounds to have the Dream Car, that sends the opposite message.

    But there is no one I have more faith in than Greta Gerwig to do the injustices of Barbie justice. We have just under one month until Gerwig’s
    Barbie movie releases into theaters…on the same day as Christopher Nolan’s polar opposite Oppenheimer, which has started its own collection of memes for a double-header day.

    Barbie has already stolen the hearts of social media with perhaps the best marketing we’ve seen for a movie in a long time (barring the accidental chaos marketing of Don’t Worry Darling). We’ve gotten picturesque stills of BarbieLand, the Architectural Digest tour of the Dream House, hilarious trailers, and of course the iconic movie posters. The main message of the posters? Barbie (Margot Robbie) is everything, and he’s just Ken (Ryan Gosling).



    From the trailer we can tell that Barbie lives in her pink world with other Barbies and Kens, like Dua Lipa being Mermaid Barbie. But one day when Barbie throws her party (complete with synchronized dance and bespoke song), she lets a thought out:
    “Do you guys ever think about dying?” Party halts.

    Now that she’s contempating her mortality, things for Barbie become less than perfect: her heels touch the ground (gag) and she falls off her roof (gasp)..So she’s given a choice: return to her world (presented as a high heel) or go to the Real World and figure out what life’s really about (presented as a worn out Birkenstock). Unfortunately for Barbie, she has to choose the latter.

    In BarbieLand, she explains, “
    Basically everything men do in your world, women do in ours.” As for the Kens? “I honestly don’t know.” If you can tell the theme of this film so far, it’s that women are running the show.

    But what Greta Gerwig gets right with
    Barbie so far is that BarbieLand is impractical. In the Architectural Digest tour, Margot Robbie shows us how the pool is fake because there are no elements in Barbie’s world. She showers without water, has a fridge filled with decal food, and a lot, she admits with a laugh, is “not super practical, but nothing is for Barbie.”

    The success of the movie already is proving to be major. With Ryan Gosling’s fierce dedication to being Ken, you find it hard
    not to root for this movie in the box office. He’s given us quotes like “If you really cared about Ken, you would know that nobody cared about Ken” and coined the term “Ken-ergy.”

    On Jimmy Fallon, Gosling likened Ken to an un-cool accessory, saying that nobody really ever played with a Ken doll. “
    I was surprised how…some people were clutching their pearls about my Ken, as though they ever thought about Ken for a second. They never played with Ken! Nobody ever plays with Ken.”



    And we’ve already seen the blazing hot pink merchandise that has scattered stores. You can buy Barbie-inspired satin pillowcases, Barbie glassware, Barbie cookware. Our lives are suddenly immersed in our picturesque Barbie DreamWorld,
    but this time with a grown-up twist.

    We’re no longer emulating the Barbie look, per-se…but the Barbie Dream. It’s about female empowerment and uplifting others, becoming successful in your own way, and loving the color pink always. It’s more of the Barbie mindset than the Barbie body.

    With a star-studded cast consisting of Will Ferrell, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Simu Liu, Emma Mackey, Kate McKinnon, and more…and an equally studded soundtrack with features from Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice, Dua Lipa, Ava Max, Charli XCX, Khalid, Lizzo, etc. This movie radiates power.

    As a lover of all things pink, I’m here for the Barbie collabs. Here are my faves to get you ready for the movie of the summer:

    Kitsch x Barbie

    Homesick Barbie Dreamhouse Candle

    Barbie x Barbie

    Bloomingdales Barbie The Movie Popup Shop

    Jai Phillips

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  • The Girls Are Fighting

    The Girls Are Fighting

    If there’s one thing the public loves, it’s celebrity drama. Thriving in the early 2000s amongst OG It Girls like Paris Hilton and Lindsey Lohan, we can’t get enough. In September, we got a taste of what celebrity beef was like with
    Don’t Worry, Darling and it had everything – spitgate, the reviews, Florence Pugh in general.

    We’ve spent so long making celebrities untouchable that we forget they’re just like us – fueled by drama and petty subtweets. At long last, we can finally relate to celebrities! Florence Pugh hating on her coworkers is
    so real.

    And now, celebrity feuds are back and better than ever. Fans of both Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber have taken their respective sides for the battle of the decade. After Selena
    posted a TikTok claiming she accidentally over-laminated her eyebrows, Kylie Jenner posted an Instagram story seemingly mocking the Rare Beauty founder with a close-up of her eyebrows saying “this was an accident????”

    @realdeal1313#selenagomez#kyliejenner#haileybieber#noselenanoclout♬ son original – RealDeal

    It doesn’t come close to ending there. Miss Kylie went on to post another Instagram story Facetiming Hailey Bieber zooming in closely on their eyebrows. This comes a few short months after Hailey and Selena broke the internet with a photograph of them together, signaling that the feud was
    supposedly over.

    Although Kylie Jenner herself commented “this is reaching. No shade towards Selena ever and I didn’t see her eyebrows posts! U guys are seriously making something out of nothing this is silly,” and Selena confirmed, “It’s all unnecessary. I’m a fan of Kylie!” fans were not sold.

    Another eyebrow-raising moment came soon after. A resurfaced clip from years ago showed Hailey Bieber gagging on camera after Taylor Swift is mentioned during an awards show began circulating on TikTok. Selena herself commented in defense of Taylor, saying “So sorry, my best friend is and continues to be one of the best in the game.” It further fueled the Hailey versus Selena drama.

    @indigoreports What is going on with Hailey and Selena 😳🤯 #haileybieber#justinbieber#selenagomez#popculturenews#trending#fyp♬ Ponds – Elpina

    The mean girl behavior has since torn the internet in half, once again questioning the overlap between Selena Gomez’s
    relationship with Justin Bieber and his relationship with Hailey. Justin has notoriously made jokes about his marriage with Hailey being arranged, given that her father is the well-connected Stephen Baldwin.

    Then there’s talk of Hailey Bieber’s obsession with Justin and Selena before she knew the pair. Tweets from young Hailey Baldwin claiming she’s #teamJelena resurfaced alongside more recent clips of Hailey copying Selena’s answers in interviews. Most notably, both Selena and Hailey have said they “wished people knew their hearts better.”

    @hai.lie.bald Replying to @Amal 🫡😋 #haileybieber#haileybaldwin#haileybieberedit#jailey#rhodeskincare#Rhode#selenagomez#selenagomezedit♬ Let Me Go – Daniel Caesar

    Hailey also posted an Instagram story of the song “Calm Down” by Rema in an Instagram story. While there is a version that Selena Gomez was featured on, Hailey oddly chose to share the version
    without her. Also to be noted is that Jordyn Woods, ex-bestie of Kylie Jenner, creator of the Lip Kit, posted herself using a Rare Beauty lip liner.

    In a TikTok by celeb gossip bible,
    Deuxmoi, Gomez has four solid reasons not to like Hailey Bieber – and it isn’t related to eyebrow lamination. Rumors have swirled surrounding whether or not Justin Bieber cheated on Selena with Hailey and even a conspiracy that Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner invited Selena to Dubai for New Year’s Eve so Justin and Hailey could get close.

    It feels like the entire world is invested in whether or not you’re #TeamSelena or #TeamHailey. I’ve seen TikToks of people throwing their
    rhode skin products in the trash – which I’d advise against due to waste. Even Nicki Minaj’s “Beauty and a Beat (feat. Justin Bieber)” which includes the lyric “gotta keep an eye out for Selener” received its largest streaming date in history 11 years after its release with over 500k streams last week.

    @mariannenafsu Hailey and Selena tea #selenagomez#haileybieber#thetea#creepy♬ Spooky, quiet, scary atmosphere piano songs – Skittlegirl Sound

    Selena Gomez seems to be the reigning queen of this battle, with Hailey Bieber losing more than 800,000 followers on Instagram and Kylie Jenner losing over three million. In less than three days, Selena Gomez gained four
    million followers on the social media platform and 10.2 million in under a week. Selena has overtaken Kylie as the most followed person on the app, and the most followed female celebrity across social media.

    Amidst all of the drama, Selena deleted her TikTok for a few days. However, she’s made her triumphal return with a video where she even mouths “thank you” to the camera. It comes after speculation over her looks due to her ongoing battle with Lupus and a flush of attention on the whole love triangle. Her message?
    “Please, please be kinder and consider others’ mental health. My heart has been so heavy and I only want good for everyone. All my love.”

    Jai Phillips

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  • Popdust Wrapped 2022: A Year In Review

    Popdust Wrapped 2022: A Year In Review

    Well, dear readers, it’s been quite the ride together throughout 2022. You’ve come to us for all the gossip, music, drama, fashion do’s-and-don’ts, and every shred of Don’t Worry, Darling coverage. Here at Popdust, we love to dish the latest.

    And as the year drew to a close, you may have been left scratching your head and wondering what just happened? It feels like so much went down over the course of a year that we can’t even remember it all. Bella Hadid’s Coperni spray-on dress, the Queen of England dying, Messi and Argentina winning the World Cup, and let’s not forget all of Pete Davidson’s escapades…

    It’s been a whirlwind of a year and we here at Popdust are grateful for everyone who’s been along for the ride with us. From January 1 – December 31, we have been dedicated to serving up all of pop culture’s greatest moments. Here are some of your favorite moments and most trending articles from 2022:


    Christopher Meloni’s Peloton Commercial 

    What a year it was for Peloton. They started their marketing efforts with a cringey commercial starring a wife in pain as she tries out her new Peloton gifted from her husband. Quickly on the heels was the untimely death of Mr. Big via his beloved bike. Peloton then topped their year off with a Sexy Stabler to complete the trifecta. I mean, what a marketing tactic.


    And So The DWD Drama Begins…    

    We can mark August 18, 2022 as the day the tides shifted. A rumored feud between Olivia Wilde and Florence Pugh over Wilde’s on-set relationship with the people’s boyfriend, Harry Styles, launched a thousand memes and even Spit Gate. The rest, as they say, is history.


    Enter Single EmRata

    Emily Ratajkowski

    AWNewYork/Shutterstock

    Emily Ratajkowski, model, podcaster, mother, overall girlboss enters the singles market. After filing for divorce from her serial-cheating husband, Pete Davidson saw an opening and decided to enter the chat.


    Speaking Of Pete Davidson…

    Comedian and surprising heartthrob, Pete Davidson, made headlines dating the mega-famous Kim Kardashian. After the public fell in love with the unlikely couple, they made even more headlines after their split.


    The Cast Of Euphoria Fell Apart

    Euphoria Sundays were equally as important as football Sunday. However, after season two ended, the drama continued. Barbie Ferreira left, Sydney Sweeney fell under fire, and Hunter Schafer wasn’t far behind.


    Bad Bunny Kissed A Fan

    Bad Bunny

    Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

    The VMA’s always bring a viral moment. This year, alongside Taylor Swift’s Midnights announcement, Bad Bunny kissed a very lucky fan during his performance. If Elvis can kiss his fans, so should everyone else.


    You Loved Fall Fashion

    Metallics, mini UGG’s, and Birks all headlined the 2022 fall fashion roundup. Everyone loves hopping on a trend before they’re sold out, and now you know where to come for the best advice.


    Tom Brady & Gisele’s Divorce 

    It seemed to be the year of celeb breakups. Rumors began to swirl of Tom and Gisele’s divorce until the inevitable happened.


    And Then There Was Adam Levine…

    Behati Prinsloo and Adam Levine

    Scott Roth/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

    Adam Levine inadvertently put Maroon 5 back on the map when women took to social media to expose him for cheating on his wife, Behati Prinsloo. Unfortunately, it was just the start of a long, long string of more allegations.


    We All Want Emma Chamberlain’s Gorgeous Home

    Emma Chamberlain took us inside her picturesque home with Architectural Digest. The sage green marble throughout the kitchen, 50’s-inspired decor, and orange bathroom had us drooling.


    Jeff Bezos May Have Hit His Head

    The notoriously stingy, money-hungry Jeff Bezos decided he was going to shock the world and pledge his fortune to charitable causes. It still feels like a dream.

    Jai Phillips

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  • This Netflix Remake Finally Achieved the Sex Scenes Other Movies Tried To Do | The Mary Sue

    This Netflix Remake Finally Achieved the Sex Scenes Other Movies Tried To Do | The Mary Sue

    There is a lot of writing, planning, and directing that goes into making a sex scene. Many times movies toss in a sex scene to keep audiences interested without adding anything to the character development or story. Yes, they can be hot, but the film industry has held up male gaze standards when filming, keeping things pretty unimaginative. For example, the sex scene in House of Gucci was supposed to be sexy and explosive, yet it didn’t feel like anything new happened in it.

    This year, subverting the male gaze has been the goal of several female directors with mixed results. House of the Dragon improved upon the type of scenes we saw in its predecessor, Game of Thrones. Director Olivia Wilde touted the sex scenes in Don’t Worry Darling as being focused on female pleasure. But after watching the end of the movie, all things that could have been considered progressive and sexy were now tainted and icky. I thought all hope was lost for some decent female-focused sex scenes this year. However, Netflix’s remake of Lady Chatterley’s Lover premiered and blessed us with some of the best sex scenes ever filmed.

    I fell for Lady Chatterley AND her lover

    Before watching Lady Chatterley’s Lover, I didn’t know much about the plot. I knew it was based on a novel by D. H. Lawrence of the same name published widely in 1932. The novel drew immediate controversy for its adult content and themes. That is all I knew when I put on the movie. Little did I know, I would fall in love.

    The plot centers on Constance Chatterley. Her husband became paralyzed from the waist down in the war and stopped seeing her as a person, causing their marriage to sour. Instead of wasting away in their country estate while her husband lords over the miners of the town, Constance (Emma Corrin) found love with the gamekeeper Oliver Mellors (Jack O’Connell).

    Although the story may seem simple, the chemistry between Constance and Oliver and the brilliant direction by Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre elevates the film into a work of art. The sex scenes are sexy and focus on the pleasures of Constance. But what made it even better was the intimacy building between the lovers. Oliver wants to see Constance’s face throughout the experience. After one scene he marveled at the magic of achieving their “peaks” at the same time. During one of their conversations, Constance tells Oliver that he has a tenderness to him (not gentleness). It perfectly sums up how they treat each other, tender and caring, even when things get a little rougher.

    Unlike most sex scenes in movies, these ones go further than just being something visually stimulating. Constance and Oliver communicate their needs to each other, furthering their connection. The scenes literally show the intimacy of their relationship growing each time they are alone together. It also presents Constance going from a tired shadow of a person to someone full of joy and enjoying life. Mixed in with a montage of sex scenes, we see the pair acting like a real couple who love each other. There is laughing while sitting by the fire, vows made in a field of moss, and streaking in the rain.

    Don’t get me wrong, there is still a lot of sexiness and full-frontal nudity, but the sex scenes step up the story in the film. Lady Chatterley reimagined the sex scene as something beautiful, which felt refreshingly more realistic than almost everything else out there.

    (featured image: Netflix)

    —The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

    D.R. Medlen

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  • Love Is Lost In Hollywood

    Love Is Lost In Hollywood

    This has not been a year of love for celebrities. In fact, it’s quite the time to be an eligible bachelor in Hollywood. This past Friday, after everyone scurried home from work and shut their laptops, Harry Styles and Olivia Wilde decided to announce they had officially broken up.

    The Don’t Worry, Darling sweethearts join Leonardo DiCaprio, Emily Ratajkowski, Kim Kardashian, Pete Davidson, and Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen as new singles on the market…and I can’t say anyone’s surprised really.

    After meeting on set for Olivia Wilde’s psychological thriller, the two made their relationship official in January 2020…but not without loads of controversy. In what became one of the messiest relationships – and press tours – of all time, Styles and Wilde most definitely stepped on some toes in the name of love.

    With reports that Wilde was simultaneously trying to win back Jason Sudeikis while courting Styles, fans were speculating a split was on the horizon. Olivia was spotted at Harry’s final show in Los Angeles on November 2_, as well as another one of Harry’s mega-famous newly single ex-girlfriends…Kendall Jenner.

    Interesting enough, Kendall Jenner and NBA star Devin Booker have also reportedly broken up after two years together. As expected, both couples had the same reasoning for splitting: “they’re at different points in their demanding careers.”

    While I’m putting in my application as Styles’ next girlfriend, I wouldn’t be shocked if Kendall is coming back for seconds.

    Jai Phillips

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  • What Was In Olivia Wilde’s Salad Dressing That Had Harry Styles And Jason Sudeikis In A Chokehold?

    What Was In Olivia Wilde’s Salad Dressing That Had Harry Styles And Jason Sudeikis In A Chokehold?

    I’m sure you’re tired of the Don’t Worry, Darling drama that’s been consuming our lives for the past few months…imagine my pain while writing this. The endless spectacle surrounding Harry Styles and Olivia Wilde’s relationship continues.

    Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis’ nanny’s NDA must have run out, because she sat down this week with Daily Mail and spilled. The nanny reveals Wilde and Sudeikis were working on their relationship when Wilde went public about new boyfriend Harry Styles. She details the betrayal, Jason’s potential alcoholism, and Olivia Wilde’s inherent obsession with Styles that she likens to a drug problem.

    Perhaps the least surprising development in it all is that Jason Sudeikis texts exactly like Ted Lasso. With the #believe and “Mornin’ Liv!”, I’m shocked he didn’t reference Roy Kent and the rest.

    If you don’t have time to read up on the countless screenshots and damning evidence…here are the highlights:

    • Jason Sudeikis reportedly found out about Olivia Wilde and Harry Styles’ relationship via an Apple Watch she had left behind
    • Olivia Wilde made the first move on Styles, kissing him at a DWD cast dinner in Palm Springs
    • Olivia and Jason were attending couples therapy together, she was swimming naked in their pool and cooing about how him she loved him – all to go public about the Wilde/Styles romance only days later
    • Sudeikis flung himself under Olivia Wilde’s car to prevent her from driving to see Styles
    • That salad dressing Olivia made for Harry that Jason Sudeikis is so upset about must be pretty freaking outstanding

    What’s genuinely more surprising is that Olivia turned to Instagram stories to post the salad dressing recipe. While hysterical on her part, it’s essentially confirming that at least part of the story is true…who’s to say the rest of the melodrama isn’t?

    Olivia Wilde via Instagram

    The way the Daily Mail practically salivated over Wilde’s dressing, I expected some secret sauce made from liquid gold, not a smattering of red wine vinegar whipped up with olive oil, and Grey Poupon. IMO, that recipe is equal parts basic and disappointing.

    Jai Phillips

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