Thanksgiving in the United States comes with a number of traditional televised events, but maybe none as seamless and low-key entertaining as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
This year marks the department store’s 97th parade down the streets of New York City, and the event once again promises floats, musical numbers, and big cartoon balloons, albeit with an extremely 2023 touch. Here’s what to know — and a few things you may never think about while watching.
How to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade stream
The official telecast of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will air on NBC and be simulcast on Peacock. Today’s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker will be back per usual to yap about the floats. A Spanish language simulcast will air on Telemundo, hosted by Carlos Adyan and Andrea Meza.
What time does the Thanksgiving Day Parade start
This year’s parade starts a little earlier than usual: the simulcast runs from 8:30 a.m. ET to 12 p.m. ET., but will also begin at 8:30 a.m. in all time zones, so no need to wake up at the crack of dawn. NBC will also air an encore of the parade at 2 p.m. ET.
The new parade balloons and how they got here
Photo: Macy’s, Inc/Getty Images
This year’s balloon lineup sees a number of returning Giant and Novelty favorites, including Spongebob, Grogu, Bluey, and Smokey the Bear. The commerce of it all means a number of unfamiliar faces will join the lineup, too, including Leo, Adam Sandler’s 74-year-old lizard from the upcoming Netflix animated film; Uncle Dan, the mallard main character of Illumination’s new movie Migration; and Blue Cat & Chugs, the mascots of the Web3 company Cool Cats Group and the winner of a Macy’s contest to decide which NFT brand should earn a coveted character in the parade. 2023, baby! Anime continues its mainstream takeover as well, with legacy balloons Goku and Pikachu joined for the first time by One Piece’s Monkey D. Luffy.
Time has not just modernized the balloon characters, but the process itself. Kathleen Wright, Macy’s director of production operations, tells Polygon that the journey of devising a balloon, rendering it in inflatable form, then parading it along Central Park has taken on the quality of a Seal Team 6 operation. Computers allow designers to test balloon concepts in various weather conditions to determine the appropriate center of gravity and lift, all while minding the dimension requirements that allow it to float through New York.
In the week leading up to the parade, Wright and her team walk through the route with various city departments to size up potential hindrances for the buoyant stars, including any protruding lamp posts, which are manually swung in the opposite direction by city workers on the eve of the parade. On the day-of, the balloons — once made of rubber, but now built as modular polyurethane pieces that are heat sealed together and painted — are inflated with a combination of helium and regular air, based on required lift. Ninety handlers are assigned to each balloon, with 40-50 people securing the handling lines at any given time (and you thought pop stars were needy). By the time you watch the parade at home, a balloon’s “flight envelope” has been completely broken down and considered. There is no room for error, and based on Wright’s description, they don’t leave any.
The rest of the parade lineup
Along with the balloons and fleet of floats (including a sadly inedible Wonka one), the Thanksgiving Day Parade will once again tout a ton of talent shivering in their knickers while performing on the street. The show kicks off with a performance by Jon Batiste, with expected performances by Bell Biv DeVoe; Brandy; Chicago; En Vogue; David Foster and Katharine McPhee; Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors; Jessie James Decker; Ashley Park and the monsters of Sesame Street; Pentatonix; Paul Russell; Amanda Shaw and Alex Smith; and Manuel Turizo. Oh, and ENHYPEN will be there — so if you hear an inordinate amount of screaming from the crowd, it’s because the parade has gone full K-Pop, bless.
At Polygon, a lot of us are fans of sitting down to a movie with as little up-front information as possible, for the feeling of discovery. But sometimes, it helps to know a few things going in, whether it’s an interesting fact about the movie’s history, or just knowing how many end-credit scenes to wait for. Here are five things we think you should know about Walt Disney Animation Studios’ new animated feature Wish before watching.
Does Wish have a post-credits scene?
It does! It’s a brief, wordless sequence that doesn’t have any plot relevance, so you can decide for yourself whether it’s worth staying to watch. Like a lot of other elements in Wish, it’s mostly intended as a visual celebration of Disney’s 100-year anniversary. In the scene, a character with a lute plucks out a simple acoustic version of Disney’s signature ballad “When You Wish Upon a Star,” which segues into Disney’s updated CG animated anniversary logo. There isn’t a lot to it, except as another way the movie taps into Disney history. But if you’re sitting there at the end of the movie feeling the kind of nostalgia Disney intended you to feel, it might bring on the warm fuzzies.
Why does Wish’s animation look different from other Disney movies?
Wish is expressly intended as a salute to Disney history, which is why it’s packed full of visual references to past Disney movies. Part of that project had the directors, Chris Buck (Frozen) andFawn Veerasunthorn (Raya and the Last Dragon story head), trying to digitally approximate Walt Disney Animation’s classic 2D hand-painted look. For this film, they used a digital approach previously tested on the experimental Disney short Paperman.
Possibly anticipating piracy and deciding to just get all the video-play payout for themselves, Disney has released the Wish soundtrack in an official playlist on YouTube. There are quite a few songs, so if these were all actual clips from the movies, you’d be able to watch a significant chunk of Disney’s Wish free online. Instead, these are lyric videos. If you’re the kind of person who likes to listen to a musical’s songs ahead of time (we don’t understand you, but we know you’re out there), or you’re previewing the movie for younger viewers, or you come out of Wish with a particular song you want to revisit, that’s the easiest way to do it.
As of press time, a few of the songs were also on Spotify on Disney’s channel, but the whole album hadn’t been uploaded yet.
Who wrote the songs in Wish?
Disney fans may notice that Wish’s songs don’t have that Broadway-number, singalong quality common to so many Disney musicals, and that they’re more like radio-ready modern pop. That’s because the lyrics were written by Grammy-nominated pop artist Julia Michaels, who’s previously written songs for Justin Bieber (“Sorry”), Ed Sheeran (“Dive”), Gwen Stefani (“Used To Love You”), and Britney Spears (“Slumber Party”), among others. The music is by Michaels and indie-rock producer Benjamin Rice. They gave Wish a much glossier pop sound than most Disney movies, somewhat akin to the radio remixes of Disney soundtrack songs that have been common since the Disney Renaissance.
Why do some of Wish’s characters look so familiar?
Oof. So you may wind up wondering why the protagonist, Asha (Ariana DeBose), has a squad of seven pals backing her up — characters who mostly don’t have a lot to do, but are almost always together throughout the movie. Those characters are an extended gag from Disney history: They’re modeled after the dwarfs from Disney’s first animated movie, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Not only are their outfits color-coded after the dwarfs, they each have characteristics specific to the Snow White characters.
Image: Walt Disney Animation Studios
Image: Walt Disney Animation Studios
How to tell which Wish character is which dwarf? The fastest way is to check the first letters of their names. Dahlia (Jennifer Kumiyama), Asha’s best friend with the little round glasses and a tendency to lead the group, is Doc. The paranoid, constantly complaining Gabo (Harvey Guillén) is Grumpy. Smiley but not very assertive Hal (Niko Vargas) is Happy. Simon (Evan Peters), the big guy who’s dazed and half-conscious for much of the movie, is Sleepy. Safi (Ramy Youssef), whose only characteristic is that can’t stop sneezing, is Sneezy. Dario (Jon Rudnitsky), the big-eared guy whose job is saying clueless things, is Dopey. And Bazeema (Della Saba), the introvert who keeps disappearing early in the movie, is Bashful. None of this is spelled out in the movie, but once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
Each week, we round up the most notable releases new to streaming and VOD, highlighting the biggest and best new movies for you to watch at home.
This week, The Killer, David Fincher’s latest psychological thriller, finally arrives on Netflix following its brief theatrical run. Charlie Day’s satirical comedy Fool’s Paradise comes to Hulu, while a new documentary on actor-director-comedian Albert Brooks premieres on Max. There’s a ton of other new releases to choose from on VOD, including the biographical comedy-drama Dumb Moneystarring Paul Dano, A24’s Dicks: The Musical, and more.
Genre: Action thriller Run time: 1h 58m Director: David Fincher Cast: Michael Fassbender, Arliss Howard, Charles Parnell
Based on the 1998 French graphic novel, David Fincher’s latest stars Michael Fassbender as a professional assassin who becomes the center of an international manhunt after his latest assignment goes wrong.
In theory, The Killer could be seen as a film about the ruthlessness of the gig economy, disguised as a crime thriller. It sends the Killer through a Russian nesting doll of missions until there’s little delineation between his personal life and his profession. But Fincher and Walker have little to say about anything they present on screen, or the fleeting thematic subtext they introduce. The film is airtight in its construction, but slight in its artistic objectives. Beyond Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ nerve-wracking score, there really isn’t that much to it.
Genre: Art documentary Run time: 1h 41m Director: Anton Corbijn Cast: Paul McCartney, Roger Waters, Jimmy Page
Dutch photographer and director Anton Corbijn (The American, A Most Wanted Man) makes his second straight doc about the music industry here after 2019’s Depeche Mode concert movie Spirits in the Forest. This time, he turns his eye on the album art design studio Hipgnosis, with the help of some rock ’n’ roll luminaries.
Genre: Satirical comedy Run time: 1h 38m Director: Charlie Day Cast: Charlie Day, Ken Jeong, Kate Beckinsale
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s Charlie Day makes his feature directorial debut in this satirical comedy about a mute amnesiac (Day) who is abducted by a desperate publicist (Ken Jeong) to impersonate his client — a method actor who refuses to leave his trailer to film a biopic about Billy the Kid. It gets even weirder than that, trust me.
Genre: Documentary Run time: 1h 28m Director: Rob Reiner Cast: Albert Brooks, Judd Apatow, James L. Brooks
Framed as a dinner conversation between actor-director Albert Brooks and director Rob Reiner, this documentary charts Brooks’ career from his early work on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and his mainstream acting debut in Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver to his meteoric rise to fame starring in such films as Private Benjamin and Broadcast News. Guests include Larry David, Conan O’Brien, Sarah Silverman, and Jonah Hill.
New on Shudder
Birth/Rebirth
Where to watch: Available to stream on Shudder
Image: IFC Films/Shudder
Genre: Horror Run time: 1h 38m Director: Laura Moss Cast: Marin Ireland, Judy Reyes, Breeda Wool
This horror-thriller follows a morgue technician who performs a miracle by successfully bringing the body of a dead girl back to life. Unfortunately, this miracle comes at a price, forcing the technician to hunt down pregnant women in order to harvest their biological material to keep the girl alive.
New to rent
Dumb Money
Where to watch: Available to rent on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu
Photo: Claire Folger/Sony Pictures
Genre: Biographical comedy-drama Run time: 1h 45m Director: Craig Gillespie Cast: Paul Dano, Pete Davidson, Vincent D’Onofrio
Remember the GameStop short squeeze of 2021? No? That’s OK — admittedly, it was a very hectic and wild time, what with the whole… everything going on. In case you’re looking for a refresher, this biographical comedy-drama about a middle-class financial analyst who struck big during squeeze might be just what you’re looking for.
Where The Big Short was patronizing but still hugely entertaining and legitimately informative, Dumb Money’s creators seem uninterested in explaining what the hell happened with the GameStop scenario, or how the hell it happened. The script assumes that the audience is either already familiar with the story, or doesn’t much care about the financial specifics and just wants to see the news reenacted by people they know. Most of the jargon goes unexplained, and the series of events that facilitated the saga is just shrugged off in favor of a simplistic “isn’t this crazy?!” tone.
Dicks: The Musical
Where to watch: Available to rent on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu
Image: A24
Genre: Musical comedy Run time: 1h 26m Director: Larry Charles Cast: Josh Sharp, Aaron Jackson, Nathan Lane
This musical comedy follows two longtime business rivals who inadvertently discover they are identical twin brothers separated at birth. Concocting a scheme to get their divorced parents back together, they switch places in order to orchestrate a reunion. Think The Parent Trap, but with more musical numbers, dick jokes, and Megan Thee Stallion.
Dicks takes shots at different kinds of modern movies early on, starting with other A24 movies. A24’s logo is accompanied by grandiose music, and its signature elevated horror threatens to become a tongue-in-cheek thematic inspiration when Trevor and Craig wonder whether their predicament meets the qualifications for abuse and trauma. The film’s New York-set, American Psycho-esque corporate saga is clearly filmed in Los Angeles, with the seams of several sets and stages showing in the margins, while the stock footage it uses of NYC is all distinctly anachronistic.
Rebel
Where to watch: Available to rent on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu
Genre: Drama Run time: 2h 15m Directors: Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah Cast: Aboubakr Bensaihi, Lubna Azabal, Tara Abboud
Rebel follows the story of Kamal (Aboubakr Bensaihi), a Moroccan-born Belgian rapper who chooses to travel to Syria to aid victims of a war. After being abducted by the Islamic State, Kamal is forced to work as a cameraman filming the group’s skirmishes against the military. While trying to find a way to escape, Kamal must find a way to save his impressionable younger brother, Nassim, who is being groomed as an Islamic State recruit.
Foe
Where to watch: Available to rent on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu
Image: Amazon Studios
Genre: Sci-fi drama Run time: 1h 50m Director: Garth Davis Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Paul Mescal, Aaron Pierre
Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal star in this sci-fi psychological thriller about Henrietta and Junior, a married couple whose love is put to the test when Junior is called to work on a large space station orbiting Earth. In his stead, Henrietta will be left in the company of a robotic replica of her husband. Remember that one episode from the sixth season of Black Mirror that starred Aaron Paul and Josh Hartnett? This sounds kind of like that.
Happy Friday, Polygon readers! Each week, we round up the most notable releases to streaming and video rental, highlighting the biggest and best new movies for you to watch at home.
This week’s biggest debut is Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, which is now streaming on Netflix. That’s not all, as Insidious: The Red Door — the fifth installment in the Insidious horror franchise — also arrives on the platform this week alongside Jawan, one of the biggest Indian action movies of the year. There’s plenty more exciting releases this week too, with A Haunting in Venice now streaming on Hulu, the Italian superhero movie Freaks vs. the Reich on Prime Video, plus the premiere of The Kill Room and Outlaw Johnny Black from director-star Michael Jai White on VOD.
Genre: Superhero action Run time: 2h 20m Director: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson Cast: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Isaac
The highly anticipated follow-up to 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse sees Miles Morales facing off not only against a dimension-hopping nemesis in the form of the Spot, but a whole multiverse of Spider-Mans, Spider-People, and even a Spider-Dinosaur as he attempts to save the day once again.
Not every theme and plot and moment in Across the Spider-Verse lands, particularly with the other part of this story still most of a year away. But in the end, the theme of the Spider-Verse movies is shaping up to be a story about people trying to be bigger and bolder themselves, trying to reach beyond what they’re told they’re capable of, and do more. It’s no wonder that every part of Across the Spider-Verse is an attempt to outdo the first movie. The idea of growing, of surpassing and ignoring everyone else’s limits, is the heart of this series’ heroes and their individual journeys. It looks like the movies themselves are designed to follow suit.
Genre: Action thriller Run time: 2h 50m Director: Atlee Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi
The biggest Indian movie of the year has landed on Netflix. Directed by Atlee (Mersal), Jawan features megastar Shah Rukh Khan (between this and Pathaan, he is truly back) and is basically “Robin Hood meets Charlie’s Angels.”
Insidious: The Red Door
Where to watch: Available to stream on Netflix Saturday
Image: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Genre: Supernatural horror Run time: 1h 47m Director: Patrick Wilson Cast: Ty Simpkins, Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne
The fifth movie in the Insidious franchise is the directorial debut for star Patrick Wilson. It’s also a sequel to Insidious: Chapter 2, as the last two movies in the franchise were prequels.
As a director, Wilson isn’t as effortless a horror ringmaster as Wan or Whannell: He favors more actor-centric scares than wild imagery. But he makes great use of expressive close-ups (often of himself) and shallow focus, with a few creepy It Follows-like shots of blurry figures approaching from the distance, and a terrifically claustrophobic scene inside an MRI machine. Dalton’s college story, meanwhile, occasionally borders on campus-prank zaniness: It includes what can only be described as a puke ghost, and there’s one amusing use of the horror movie cliche about the haunted little kid who makes terrifying drawings of the ghouls only he can see. (Naturally, that kid grows up to become a star pupil in an insufferable freshman art class.)
Sly
Where to watch: Available to stream on Netflix
Image: Netflix
Genre: Documentary Run time: 1h 35m Director: Thom Zimny Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Quentin Tarantino
This documentary takes a close look at the life of one of the great American movie stars and film writers: Sylvester Stallone.
Genre: Biographical sports drama Run time: 2h 1m Directors: Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi Cast: Jodie Foster, Annette Bening, Rhys Ifans
Nyad tells the (questionably) true story of swimmer Diana Nyad, who swam from Cuba to Florida at 64 years old, among many other swimming accomplishments.
Mélanie Laurent (Inglourious Basterds) is both behind and in front of the camera in this action comedy about women thieves on the run looking to pull off one last job.
Kenneth Branagh’s Poirot adaptations have generally been a fun time, even when they have problems (looking at you, Death on the Nile). A Haunting in Venice is his best yet, as Branagh’s confidence as director and performer in this mode only continues to grow. It’s perfect fall viewing.
Genre: Comedy Run time: 1h 39m Director: Jessica Yu Cast: Awkwafina, Sandra Oh, Will Ferrell
Sandra Oh and Awkwafina play a pair of estranged sisters who try to win big on a game show to pay off their mom’s debts. The supporting cast includes Will Ferrell, Jason Schwartzman, Tony Hale, and the late Paul Reubens.
New on Prime Video
Freaks vs. the Reich
Where to watch: Available to stream on Prime Video
Image: VMI Releasing
Genre: Superhero/circus war movie Run time: 2h 21m Director: Gabriele Mainetti Cast: Claudio Santamaria, Aurora Giovinazzo, Pietro Castellitto
This offbeat Italian superhero movie follows a group of circus performers in World War II who are sought after by the Nazis and team up to stop them. I have heard it’s funny, sweet, and has strong action — definitely on my weekend watchlist.
Genre: Romantic comedy Run time: 1h 32m Director: Nia Vardalos Cast: Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Louis Mandylor
One of cinema’s most endearingly goofy families is back, in the most family-centric franchise this side of the Fast and Furious movies. It’s the first Greek Wedding movie since 2016, which came nearly 15 years after the original smash hit. This time, star-writer Nia Vardalos takes over directorial duties, following up her 2009 directorial debut I Hate Valentine’s Day.
New on AMC Plus
Sympathy for the Devil
Where to watch: Available to stream on AMC Plus
Image: RLJE Films
Genre: Psychological thriller Run time: 1h 30m Director: Yuval Adler Cast: Nicolas Cage, Joel Kinnaman
A largely two-person movie that sounds a bit like Collateral, Sympathy for the Devil stars Nicolas Cage as a passenger who holds a driver (Joel Kinnaman) hostage on a long car trip.
New to rent
Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie
Where to watch: Available to rent on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu
Image: Paramount Pictures
Genre: Action adventure Run time: 1h 35m Director: Cal Brunker Cast: Mckenna Grace, Taraji P. Henson, Marsai Martin
The Paw Patrol is back — this sequel to the first movie sees the pup get superpowers in their quest to stop Mayor Humdinger from destroying Adventure City.
The Kill Room
Where to watch: Available to rent on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu
Image: Shout! Studios
Genre: Dark comedy thriller Run time: 1h 38m Director: Nicol Paone Cast: Joe Manganiello, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman
Joe Manganiello stars as a hitman turned artist in this funny comedy about how the worlds of fine art and high crime aren’t so separated after all. When he turns to art as a method of laundering money, the hitman becomes an unexpected overnight sensation in the high-art scene.
Genre: Satirical Western Run time: 2h 10m Director: Michael Jai White Cast: Michael Jai White, Anika Noni Rose, Erica Ash
Michael Jai White’s long-awaited follow-up to Black Dynamite is finally here: a “West-ploitation” movie about an outlaw who pretends to be a preacher and settles in a new troubled town. The star and director spoke to us at length about the movie and the long road it took to get here.
Sound of Freedom
Where to watch: Available to rent on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu
Image: Angel Studios/VidAngel Studios
Genre: Crime thriller Run time: 2h 11m Director: Alejandro Gómez Monteverde Cast: Jim Caviezel, Mira Sorvino, Bill Camp
One of the most surprising (and controversial) box-office hits of the year, Sound of Freedom purports to be a true story about stopping child trafficking. The truth is much more complicated than that.
Happy Friday, Polygon readers! Each week, we round up the most notable releases to streaming and video rental, highlighting the biggest and best new movies for you to watch at home.
No Hard Feelings, the coming-of-age sex comedy starring Jennifer Lawrence, arrives on Netflix this week alongside Old Dads, the directorial debut of comedian Bill Burr. The action comedy-drama Polite Society comes to Prime along with the Chinese World War II thriller Hidden Blade starring Tony Leung, while the horor thriller Cobweb featuring Antony Starr (The Boys) lands on Hulu. There’s plenty of new films available to rent as well this week, like Saw X; the latest installment in the long-running horror franchise starring Tobin Bell, and more.
Genre: Comedy Run time: 1h 43m Director: Gene Stupnitsky Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Laura Benanti
Jennifer Lawrence stars in this raunchy and endearing comedy as Maddie, a young woman struggling between her job as an Uber driver and a part-time bartender to pay off the house she inherited from her late mother. After her car is towed, Maddie is presented with the opportunity of a lifetime: Seduce Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman), the college-bound son of a wealthy couple on their behalf, in exchange for a brand new set of wheels. Simple enough, right? Yeah, that’s what Maddie thought too.
Like most funny stories, No Hard Feelings seems like a bad idea at first. It’s a movie in which Jennifer Lawrence, in her first lead role in a full-on comedy, spends approximately 103 minutes trying to seduce a socially awkward 19-year-old for financial gain. It’s also wildly funny, and a great reminder of how good J-Law is at lighting up a screen.
Genre: Comedy Run time: 1h 44m Director: Bill Burr Cast: Bill Burr, Bokeem Woodbine, Bobby Cannavale
Three old friends become fathers later in life, only to be confronted with the generational annoyances that come with interacting with anyone born (or anything created) after the 1980s. Old Dads is Bill Burr’s directorial feature debut and shares a co-writing credit with writer-producer Ben Tishler.
Genre: Horror thriller Run time: 1h 28m Director: Samuel Bodin Cast: Lizzy Caplan, Woody Norman, Antony Starr
This horror-thriller from the creator of the scariest show on Netflix follows Peter (Woody Norman), a troubled young boy who — after hearing mysterious knocking sounds coming from the walls of his home — attempts to seek help in unearthing a terrible secret hidden from him by his parents.
Bodin attempts to invoke dread with long shots of the film’s few distinctive set elements — the aforementioned pumpkin patch, or an old grandfather clock and icebox that each hide a hidden passage — but he doesn’t do much to render those images as something powerful or sinister. It’s as if Cobweb is set in a haunted house where nothing actually happened long ago, even as it hides a girl’s voice in its walls.
New on Prime Video
Polite Society
Where to watch: Available to stream on Prime Video
When a teenage girl on her path to being a stuntwoman learns that her sister is betrothed to a man, she suspects the man and his mother are up to no good. So she does the only thing you can in such a situation: try to sabotage the relationship and beat the shit out of the guy in the process.
Polite Society sounds like an uproarious fun time, and it’s one of the movies I’ve most looked forward to catching on streaming after a brief limited U.S. run. After you see it, make sure to read this interview with the director about Polite Society’svaried influences.
Hidden Blade
Where to watch: Available to stream on Prime Video
Image: Well Go USA Entertainment
Genre: Period espionage thriller Run time: 2h 8m Director: Cheng Er Cast: Tony Leung, Wang Yibo, Zhou Xun
This Chinese World War II thriller stars the incredible Tony Leung as the Director of Shanghai’s Political Security Department, who finds himself in the middle of a time of great upheaval. The Japanese occupation is in its dying embers, China’s Communist Party is on the rise, and Leung’s character finds himself caught in the middle of it all. It’s a tense, gorgeous, occasionally opaque thriller with a great leading performance by one of the finest actors of his generation.
Silver Dollar Road
Where to watch: Available to stream on Prime Video
Genre: Documentary Run time: 1h 40m Director: Raoul Peck Cast: John C. Barnett, Classie Curley, Melvin Davis
I Am Not Your Negro director Raoul Peck turns his sight to story of the Reels family in this new documentary. Following the plight of the family’s fight to preserve their claim to their waterfront property in North Carolina from predatorial developers, Silver Dollar Road draws on archival footage and interviews with the family to tell their story.
Surrounded
Where to watch: Available to stream on Prime Video
Image: MGM
Genre: Western Run time: 1h 40m Director: Anthony Mandler Cast: Letitia Wright, Jamie Bell, Michael K. Williams
Letitia Wright (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Small Axe) stars in this new Western as a freedwoman who impersonates a man in a plot to claim a gold mine. Her journey brings her face-to-face with the legendary outlaw Tommy Walsh (Jamie Bell), whom she holds captive after her stagecoach is ambushed by a gang of marauding thieves and killers. Surrounded also features the final performance by the late Michael K. Williams, who completed filming prior to his death in 2021.
Genre: Documentary Run time: 1h 32m Director: Errol Morris Cast: John le Carré
John le Carré is a personal favorite author for me. His spy novels are notable for their groundedness — as a former spy himself, he had a lot to draw from — but also for their cynicism towards the heartlessness of that particular trade. Esteemed documentarian Errol Morris (The Thin Blue Line) turns his camera towards the life of the late, great le Carré, one of the finest and most important authors of the 20th century.
Genre: Action-comedy Run time: 1h 31m Director: Kirk DeMicco Cast: Lana Condor, Toni Collette, Annie Murphy
This animated comedy follows an awkward high schooler who discovers that she’s descended from a long line of warrior Kraken monsters. Destined to inherit her grandmother’s throne and defend the seas from tyrannical mermaids, Ruby must master her newfound powers and choose her own path as she prepares to embrace her destiny.
New to rent
Saw X
Where to watch: Available to rent on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu
Image: Lionsgate
Genre: Horror Run time: 1h 58m Director: Kevin Greutert Cast: Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Synnøve Macody Lund
Tobin Bell reprises his role as the machiavellian Jigsaw killer in the 10th installment of the long running Saw horror franchise. A prequel set between the events of the original film and 2005’s Saw II, Saw X follows John Kramer as he travels to Mexico to undergo an experimental treatment in order to cure his cancer. When he realizes that the entire program is a total scam, John enlists the help of his apprentice Amanda Young (Shawnee Smith) to orchestrate a series of elaborate “games” in order to exact his own twisted brand of justice.
Lynch/Oz
Where to watch: Available to rent on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu
Genre: Documentary Run time: 1h 48m Director: Alexandre O. Philippe Cast: Amy Nicholson, Rodney Ascher, John Waters
This documentary takes a magnifying glass to the career of David Lynch, one of the most unique and experimental storytellers of his generation, and how his life-long love for the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz has inspired his work. Split into six chapters, the film features narration by several notable directors, including Karyn Kusama, Rodney Ascher, and David Lowery.
An artist’s impression of a revamped Dalton House (right) and Vautier House (left) in Napier. Photo / Te Whatu Ora Hawke’s Bay
Well-known buildings on the edge of Napier’s CBD have been sold ahead of a major redevelopment, with new tenant Te Whatu Ora set to move offices in.
It’s a move it says could allow an expansion of healthcare services in Napier, without the need to expand the nearby Napier Medical Centre building on Wellesley Rd.
Plans have been revealed to Hawke’s Bay Today that will see the six-storey Dalton House and connecting five-storey Vautier House turned into modern office spaces.
The two were recently purchased by Wallace Development for an undisclosed amount.
Te Whatu Ora Hawke’s Bay (formerly the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board) will be a key tenant and will use a large area of the premises for office space.
Dalton House and Vautier House have been sold and will receive a revamp under new ownership. Photo / Colliers
Te Whatu Ora Hawke’s Bay hospital and specialist services interim lead Paula Jones said they were expecting the interior fit-out to be completed by next year.
Te Whatu Ora will shift over offices and services into the premises from the likes of Napier Medical Centre and Hawke’s Bay Hospital.
However, that space will be used for offices as opposed to a new treatment or medical centre, and will be known as the ‘Napier community health hub’.
In a nod to America’s great affection for furry friends, the United States Postal Service unveiled two new ‘Love Forever’ stamps. The stamp dedication took place at the Austin Pets Alive! Texas animal shelter, with adoptable pets available for the event, allowing participants and attendees to see the animals receive and benefit from the love of the community.
The stamps display illustrations of a puppy and a kitten with their paws lightly resting on a red heart, perfectly timed for Valentine’s Day. USPS said each forever stamp is intended to evoke feelings of warmth and playfulness. They can add sentiment and whimsy to letters, birthday or graduation cards, baby shower invitations or thank you notes.
“The kitten and puppy rest their front paws on a large red
heart, which perfectly captures the love we have for these special
creatures, and their love for us in return,” said Judy de Torok, vice
president of Corporate Relations for the Postal Service. , who served
as the ceremony’s opening official and is a pet lover. “I have a
feeling these may be some of our most popular labels.”
Also participating in the event were Dr. Ellen Jefferson, president and CEO of Austin Pets Alive!; Kelly Holt, Senior Manager of Austin Pets Alive! cat program; Richard Scott, volunteer dog behavior specialist with the rescue and Matt Beisner, star of “Dog: Impossible” on Disney+.
APA! officials hope the stamps will encourage people to support their local animal shelters.
“Our
hope is that anyone who’s watching this or a part of this will share what’s happening in Austin and share the success of animals
being saved in city shelters across the country.” Ellen Jefferson said.
Customers can purchase the stamps through the online postal store or at their local post office
Annual program provides funding and innovative leadership development opportunities for young people to tackle some of society’s most pressing problems.
Press Release –
Jan 18, 2023
NEW YORK, January 18, 2023 (Newswire.com)
– Riley’s Way Foundation opened theirCall For Kindness program today, calling on young changemakers (13-22 years old) from across the country to submit their ideas for projects rooted in kindness, empathy, and inclusivity. The Call For Kindness, now in its fifth year, offers youth the chance to participate in a dynamic Leadership Development Fellowship and win up to $3,000 to fund a project that strengthens their local, national, or global communities.
“It’s been incredibly inspiring to see the range of projects young people are leading in their schools and communities,” remarked Dr. Christine O’Connell, Executive Director of Riley’s Way Foundation. “Their passion, resolve, and leadership remind us that the hope for the future lies in great part with the ideas and actions of today’s youth.”
Young people (13-22) are invited to submit a new or existing idea, managing everything from prevailing social justice issues to pressing community-based needs. As many as 36 youth-led projects will receive awards. This year, a separate category will consider 10 projects focused on environmental justice, as the climate crisis and other environmental problems require critical attention.
Additionally, Riley’s Way will continue to support a dance and arts category, the Yuriko Kikuchi Arigato Award, in honor of Yuriko, the pioneering dancer, and choreographer.
“Becoming a Riley’s Way Call For Kindness Fellow has meant that even if things get hard, I’m not alone, and have all these resources if I need anything,” shared 2022 Call For Kindness Fellow Ryan Syed, founder of SAYA’s Project Loving Me.
Past projects have addressed the mental health and well-being of vulnerable communities, promoted education equity, bridged the tech industry’s demographic gap, supported those experiencing homelessness, combatted food insecurity, and much more. The complete list of Call For Kindness projects can be found here.
“The future belongs to a new generation of leaders, who with unshakable determination and a clear sense of purpose, will blaze a trail of innovation and progress to tackle society’s toughest challenges,” shared Ian Sandler, Co-Founder, Board Chair of Riley’s Way. “I am honored to be a part of their journey and will tirelessly work to empower them with the tools and resources they need to make their boldest visions a reality.”
Riley’s Way Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that empowers a youth-led kindness movement, providing young people with the programs, support, and inclusive community they need to thrive as changemakers. Their programs provide young leaders with the tools and resources to envision and achieve change. Riley’s Way is committed to supporting these young leaders to build a better world that values kindness, empathy, connection, and the voices of all youth. Mackenzie and Ian Sandler established Riley’s Way in 2014 in memory of their daughter Riley Hannah Sandler.
I’m always looking for shortcuts – quick hacks that will make my life just a little bit easier. Whether it’s taking a few extra minutes to get organized, or a few extra dollars to save my overall sanity.
If you’re hosting, get help! There’s no need to go at it alone. If you’re having a big group over, make it a potluck so everyone pitches in. Or, meal kit services like HelloFresh can streamline the whole process by delivering all the ingredients and recipes you need right to your front door (they even have an all-inclusive Thanksgiving kit too).
Meal plan. Take the time on the weekend to plan the dinners for the week. Take it a step further and prep some stuff for breakfast and lunch too (cutup veggies and fruits, meal muffins, and more). It will save you the headache of figuring things out in the moment day-to-day.
Organize some reciprocal playdates. If you need a few extra hours during the week, suggest to a fellow parent that you’ll take turns hosting playdates after school or on weekends.
Take time for you. You know what will make you a better parent – if you’re a happier, healthier parent. No, there’s isn’t always time in the day for alone time or a nap, but you can always find 10 minutes here and there for some quiet downtime, some yoga stretches, a walk, or just sitting quietly and decompressing.
A full-time work-from-home mom, Jennifer Cox (our “Supermom in Training”) loves dabbling in healthy cooking, craft projects, family outings, and more, sharing with readers everything she knows about being an (almost) superhero mommy.
A digital management app conjoined email and journaling features for canines and owners is out in April 2022
Press Release –
Apr 18, 2022
SEOUL, South Korea, April 18, 2022 (Newswire.com)
– Kickcrab, a tech startup based in Seoul, Korea, has recently launched its first project, Dialodog, in April 2022. Dialodog is a lifestyle mobile application for dog owners combining email and journaling apps. With Dialodog, owners can now create their custom email addresses using their dog’s name and breed and track their dog’s daily basis with an easy tapping system.
The unique side of Dialodog comes from finding the balancing point between real life and life on the internet. By merging two different archiving services, email and journal, it is created to help dog owners who have trouble organizing scattered information and thoughts about their dogs. Decluttering digital spaces not only means clean storage, but it will also clear the thoughts and help to acquire the information owners need.
Dognalized email, an email for your dog
Create a custom email address of your dog with their name and breed.
Store and manage every email that you receive for your dog.
An easy recording system to track your dog’s daily business
A tracking diary of your dog’s daily basis.
The premise is very simple. No more typing but a few taps to complete your recording.
Record your dog’s body language by matching it with an icon.
After the first launch, Kickcrab is set to update with new features: a forum for dog owners and an email helpline for missing pets. To learn more about Dialodog, visit www.dialodog.com
Dialodog is only available on mobile (iOS, Android).
Thank you for sticking with us as we navigate our way through this journey towards APA!’s forever home.
Just as you help us every day by fostering, adopting, volunteering, and donating to find homes for animals, we really need you to act now so APA! can land safely and continue our important work with as few interruptions as possible.
We have received word that our item DID make it on the agenda for the November 4th city council meeting and we are officially item #38. The resolution is very good overall as it clearly removes the restriction that would prevent us from saving the lives of those on death row all over our state while also maintaining that Austin’s No Kill status is first and foremost. As you may recall, this is important because there are no other city contracts (that we are aware of) that limit the mission and scope of a nonprofit that provides a distinct service to the city. It’s also important because our mission is to eliminate the killing of shelter animals and we can’t do that if our work is artificially restricted.
We are grateful the resolution also directs staff to negotiate with APA! regarding the percentage of animals we are responsible for pulling from the city shelter and clearly indicates those animals should be based on those at risk of euthanasia. This has always been the intent of our partnership with the City and we are eager to ensure our contract reflects that.
We are committed to working with the city, and each of you, into the future to ensure there are checks and balances in place to institutionalize live outcomes and progress for decades to come. Given the fact that AAC has the nation’s largest animal services budget per capita, it is truly time to establish best practices and hold ourselves to a higher standard; a standard expected by our tax-payers. We know that a fair and equitable agreement between APA and the City of Austin is the first step towards achieving this goal and making No Kill a priority in our city.
We are incredibly grateful to the co-sponsors for their leadership: Mayor Adler, Leslie Pool, Ann Kitchen, Greg Casar and Vanessa Fuentes. We recognize how much work has gone into resolving this important issue and we are grateful they have worked so hard to ensure it is placed on the agenda.
What we need now is for you to THANK these co-sponsors and ask your council member to vote yes on agenda item #38 between now and the vote on November 4th.
Thank you for being here for the animals, all the animals, and ensuring that APA! continues to keep Austin No Kill.
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