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Nigella Lawson on Feud Rumors With Bake Off’s Paul Hollywood

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Nigella Lawson Replaces Prue Leith as New Judge on 'Great British Bake Off'

Nigella Lawson is addressing speculation she had a feud with fellow judge Paul Hollywood on the set of The Great British Bake Off

“We chatted for 10 minutes and had a great time. I knew instantly it was going to work,” Lawson, 66, told The Guardian of her first interaction with Hollywood, 60, in a Friday, September 18, interview.. “It surprised even us, I think, how well we hit it off.”

She continued, “It was lucky that we did get on. Can you imagine if we didn’t? I bet Paul would have said so!”

News broke in January that Lawson would replace Hollywood’s fellow judge, Prue Leith, on the fan-favorite cooking competition. (Leith, 86, voluntarily stepped down after nine years. She took over the role in 2017, when original judge Mary Berry exited the program.)

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Nigella Lawson Replaces Prue Leith as New Judge on 'Great British Bake Off'


Related: Nigella Lawson Replaces Prue Leith as New Judge on ‘Great British Bake Off’

Nigella Lawson is stepping in as a judge on The Great British Bake Off after Prue Leith‘s surprise departure. “I’m uncharacteristically rather lost for words right now,” Lawson, 66, said in a statement on Monday, January 26, about her new role. “Of course it’s daunting to be following in the footsteps of Prue Leith and […]

Lawson and Hollywood will be joined in the tent by cohosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding.

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“I decided to meet everyone properly before we started. I didn’t want the first time we hung out together to be on set,” Lawson recalled, noting she first invited Hollywood to her home for drinks. “[There was] salami, olives, that kind of thing. I wasn’t going to bake for him. That would be madness.”

Upon their first meeting, the two celebrity culinary experts effortlessly went back and forth.

“One of the many lovely things about Paul is that he’s good at being teased. I called him ‘Professor Precision’, then he teased me back and suddenly it all relaxed,” she quipped. “He’s much more playful than he looks on camera. He often acts [like the] bad cop and does that laser stare but he’s always himself, which encourages other people to be themselves, too.”

Lawson added, “We complement each other. He gets straight to the point and … I’m a witterer. I love talking about food and sometimes can’t stop.”

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Edd Kimber (2010) The Great British Bake Off Winners Where Are They Now


Related: ‘The Great British Bake Off’ Winners: Where Are They Now?

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The Great British Bake Off has crowned many winners since its debut on BBC Two in 2010, and the show has managed to entice viewers worldwide thanks to its popularity on Netflix. Fans instantly fell in love with the endearing contestants, accomplished judges — including Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood (and later Prue Leith) — […]

While Lawson also quickly bonded with Hammond, 51, and Fielding, 53, she was more wary about stepping into Leith’s shoes.

“I was apprehensive at first. I wasn’t sure whether I was even qualified and mindful that it was a risk, both for me and the show,” she mused to The Guardian. “I had a big meeting with the producers and said, ‘Look, these are the things I can’t do.’ They said, ‘That’s OK, that’s what Paul does.’ I didn’t want them to go to the wrong shop, as it were. I’m not a scientist, a technician or a professional baker but what I can do is talk about food, its taste, texture and why I like it.”

The Great British Bake Off premieres on the U.K.’s Channel 4 Tuesday, September 22, at 8 p.m. BST, and stateside on Netflix Friday, September 25.

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Paris Hilton Details Her ‘Undercover’ Disguise When Incognito

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After more than 20 years in the spotlight, Paris Hilton has perfected her super secret “undercover” look when she wants to go incognito in public.

“For the Gucci show, [Gucci creative director] Demna [Gvasalia] wanted me to go with the dark hair — brunette — which I absolutely loved and I actually do that all the time when I’m going undercover,” Hilton, 45, exclusively told Us on Tuesday, September 14, while attending The Blond’s 20th Anniversary Fashion Show.

“If I wanted to be low-key, or if I’m going to Disneyland or the mall or something on the weekend, I always wear a brown wig,” she continued of her go-to disguise. “It’s something that I do all the time, but I would never fully do it because, being blonde, I don’t want to mess with it.”

The “it girl” of the early aughts and beyond added, “Dyeing it back and forth from brunette to blonde is just not good for a blonde. It will damage your hair.”

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Related: Paris Hilton Teases ‘New Project’ With BFF Nicole Richie: ‘Making Plans’

Iconic best friends Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie could be reuniting on screen once more. “Nicole and I are talking now and making plans for another new project soon, so I cannot wait,” Hilton, 45, exclusively told Us on Monday, September 14, at the Blonds’ 20th anniversary fashion show. “Nicole and I have been best […]

When Paris — who wore a custom look by luxury apparel brand The Blonds, inspired by the new motorola razr embellished with Swarovski crystals, on Tuesday — isn’t trying to cause a scene during a public outing, she simply follows her now-iconic fashion sense and without worrying about the most popular trend.

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Paris Hilton walks the runway during THE BLONDS 20th Anniversary Runway Show presented by motorola razr
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“I just wear what I love,” she explained. “I feel like since the beginning, when I was a teenager [and] moved to New York, I had no stylist, no agent, no publicist — it was literally my sister and I going downtown to [fashion designer] Patricia Field’s store just picking out the sickest clothes. And I feel like I’ve always been that way.”

She continued, “I’m not someone who follows trends — I’m someone who starts them and wears things first. And I feel like I’ve always been really ahead of my time, and I just know what I love.”

The confidence to buck trends and follow her own fashion-forward gut instincts was a kill that took time for the heiress and former reality TV star to hone.

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Paris Hilton Shares Her Makeup Evolution After Signature Glossy Lips Cat Eye Lashes and Being Tan Copy of Paul Mitchell_Paris Hilton_07


Related: Paris Hilton Shares Her Makeup Evolution From 2000s Glam to Now

Paris Hilton has entered a new era of glam — and is giving some of her Y2K beauty favorites a modern twist. The pop culture icon and Global Ambassador for Paul Mitchell, 44, revealed that she used to do her own makeup in the early 2000s during an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, and would […]

“I feel like I developed confidence over time,” she explained. “I was always shy growing up, but then when I moved to New York City, and especially during Fashion Week, is when I really would come to life. I learned how to do the runway walk, and just being on the catwalk and fashion … you can’t help but feel confident.”

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Hilton added of her fashion revolution, “New York Fashion Week has always been so special to me. I just have so many memories of my sister and I going to all the shows, walking in them, and I’ve loved The Blonds forever. So when they asked me to be part of the 20th anniversary, it was an immediate yes because I love them so much. They’re so talented and creative. Their pieces are art, and I was just I’m so happy to be here [and] to support them.”

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Apple TV’s Stellar Sci-Fi Series Is So Good, It Got 6 Seasons and a Spin-Off

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Rebecca Ferguson looks up in Silo Season 2

“Stellar” isn’t a word that should be used lightly when describing anything, but every once in a while, something just fits the bill perfectly. Not only is For All Mankind one of Apple TV’s best series, but it’s arguably its best science fiction series, period. Co-created by TV veteran Ronald D. Moore, it has enough pedigree and competence to actually run its intended six-season course and even go beyond it with an equally stellar spin-off, Star City. For All Mankind creates a universe among sci-fi’s greatest by changing history with one simple question: what if the Moon landing had been different?

‘For All Mankind’ Completely Changes the History of the Space Race

Everyone knows how history went down: on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong took his iconic “small step” on the Moon and all but won the Space Race for the U.S. The USSR never managed to catch up, and space ceased to be a priority for the West until very recently. In For All Mankind, history is flipped on its head, with the Soviets landing on the Moon before the Americans. In its very first scene, cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, whom everyone is watching, takes steps on the Moon, not Armstrong.

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Being second to the Soviets in anything just isn’t acceptable to the U.S., but, unfortunately, the USSR also doesn’t plan on slowing down after its initial triumph. In For All Mankind, the Space Race never ends. Each season takes place in a different decade, with the world benefiting from every advancement that comes from the continued investment in space exploration. In its sixth and final season, the Apple TV series is finally set to catch up to the present day in its alternate history.

On the other side of the Space Race, Star City examines how the Soviets achieved such an incredible feat before the U.S. While For All Mankind has a deeply hopeful outlook on the potential for human cooperation, its spin-off feels completely different, framed as a political thriller full of espionage. The human cost of exploration and its inherent sacrifices are a big part of both shows, which is what really makes it feel like a single universe.

‘For All Mankind’ Tells a Sprawling Story With Great Characters

Joel Kinnaman smiles in his spacesuit in For All Mankind
Joel Kinnaman in For All Mankind
Image via Apple TV
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Despite its epic concept, For All Mankind also follows characters and families across decades as they push the boundaries of humankind in space, generation after generation. Most characters in the earlier seasons are based on historical figures from the 1960s, like astronaut Ed Baldwin (Joel Kinnaman) and NASA engineer Margot Madison (Wrenn Schmidt), but, considering its premise, For All Mankind often rotates its cast to follow the passage of time. The series’ alternate history often differs greatly from real history, but its generational saga is every bit as interesting as the big achievements.

Of course, like its main series, Star City also emphasizes the importance of individuals as the driver behind historical progress. Since For All Mankind already introduces much of the Soviet context in this alternate Space Race, the spin-off adapts by revealing what the main series can’t, like the constant surveillance and control the Soviet regime subjects its cosmonauts to. For them, the stakes are even higher than for the astronauts at NASA, although they all share the goal of taking humanity ever further into the cosmos.

‘For All Mankind’ Is the Rare Case of a Series That Gets To Run Its Intended Course

Fans of For All Mankind have had a great year so far, with the flagship series’ fifth season and the spin-off’s debut releasing one right after the other. It’s rare to get such a treatment in the streaming age, and most of it can be traced back to the fact that co-creators Ronald D. Moore, Ben Nedivi, and Matt Wolpert always intended to see For All Mankind reach the present day.

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This is rare nowadays, considering that audience ratings are usually what drive most streaming platforms to decide whether to renew a show or not. For All Mankind never had this problem, as its ratings have consistently placed it among Apple TV’s most-watched series, which is saying something, given how many great shows it has in its catalog. Apple has also long championed original sci-fi programming, making For All Mankind‘s feat all the more impressive as it stands among gems like Pluribus and Severance.

For All Mankind‘s sixth and final season is currently on track to release in 2027, while Star City has yet to be renewed for Season 2. Given how rare it is for sci-fi series to last beyond a couple of seasons, the fact that these two shows have managed to create and expand a completely original universe is remarkable in today’s wildly competitive streaming landscape. Hopefully, we’ll get to spend a little more time in Star City after For All Mankind ends.

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Netflix Is Removing Taylor Kitsch’s Forgotten ‘Sicario’ Replacement

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Taylor Kitsch as Ben Edwards in a profile close-up in The Terminal List: Dark Wolf

Taylor Kitsch was given perhaps the biggest platform a young actor could ask for in Hollywood, with three major movies releasing in the span of a single year. However, such a high-profile launch can be a double-edged sword. When none of the three movies did well at the box office, Kitsch found himself having to rebuild from the ground up. The comeback took several years, and he’s now landing lead roles in major projects again. In the last couple of years, he has headlined the Netflix Western limited series American Primeval and the Prime Video action spin-off The Terminal List: Dark Wolf. Fans of his work have an opportunity to check out one of his first major movies, which is streaming on Netflix for the remainder of September.

The film was released in 2012, along with the epic sci-fi tentpoles John Carter and Battleship. Unlike those films, which cost a combined total of more than $500 million and tanked at the box office, Kitsch’s other 2012 release was a mid-budget crime-thriller. It was directed by A-list filmmaker Oliver Stone, and featured a stacked cast that included Blake Lively, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, John Travolta, Salma Hayek, Benicio del Toro, and Demián Bichir. The movie follows two small-time marijuana growers who get caught in a battle with a Mexican cartel.

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Collider Exclusive · Action Franchise Quiz
What Action Series Would You Thrive In?
Wick · Fast · Mission · Die Hard

Four franchises. Four completely different ideas of what a hero is: the assassin with a code, the family that never leaves anyone behind, the man who does his own stunts, and the guy who simply refuses to die. Only one of them runs on your particular brand of trouble. Eight questions will tell you which one you would survive.

🐕Wick

🏁Fast

🧨Mission

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🎄Die Hard

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01

How does a room know you’ve walked into it?
Every action hero arrives differently. Some of them arrive before they arrive.




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02

It turns physical. What does your fighting actually look like?
Choreography is character. Yours says something about you.




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03

Who is standing beside you when it starts?
Some franchises are built on a team. Others are built on one person walking in alone.




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04

It has gone badly wrong. What keeps you upright?
Act two exists to find out what you’re actually made of.




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05

There’s a vehicle. What are you driving, and how?
No action franchise has ever survived without a car chase. This one is yours.




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06

How do you feel about the people giving the orders?
There is always an institution. There is rarely a good one.




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07

Underneath all of it, what are you actually doing this for?
The stunts are the reason people come. This is the reason they stay.




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08

When the credits roll, what do people say about you?
Every franchise is really an argument about what makes someone worth watching.




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Casting Has Been Completed
Your Franchise Is…

Four action series. One of them is built around exactly the way you
handle pressure, people, and a room that has just gone very quiet. Here is where you would survive
the trilogy, and probably headline it.

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John Wick · Chapters 1–4 · 2014–2023

John Wick

You are precision with a grudge. You don’t posture, you don’t
escalate, and you don’t warn anybody twice. That is exactly why the people who know you are
so careful never to be the reason you start.

  • The Wick films run on discipline: an underworld with actual etiquette, a hero who
    honours every rule of it, and a world that unravels the instant someone breaks one
    against him.
  • You share that quality. You are extraordinarily reasonable right up to the line, and
    then completely immovable past it.
  • Focus, commitment and sheer will. You’d be the one carrying grief through three sequels
    and turning it into technique rather than noise.
  • People wouldn’t call you dangerous. They’d say your name quietly and let that do the
    work.

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The Fast and the Furious · Fast X · 2001–2023

Fast & Furious

You understand the thing the whole franchise is secretly about:
the cars are spectacular, but the crew is the point. You collect people, you keep them, and
you’d drive through a building for any one of them.

  • This series went from street racing to orbit without ever changing its actual subject,
    because loyalty scales and plot doesn’t have to.
  • You have the same instinct. You build a family out of whoever turns up, and then you
    defend it past the point of reason.
  • You’d thrive here because the franchise rewards exactly your strengths: warmth, nerve,
    an absolute refusal to leave anyone behind, and a relaxed relationship with physics.
  • The mission can wait. The barbecue cannot.

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Mission: Impossible · The Final Reckoning · 1996–2025

Mission: Impossible

You over-prepare and then take the dangerous part yourself
anyway. It looks like control, but it’s really responsibility. You have never worked out how
to ask somebody else to carry the risk.

  • This is the franchise of the plan that collapses on schedule: the team, the mask, the
    rooftop, and the one person sprinting flat out because sprinting is all that’s left.
  • You share that refusal to accept an outcome. Told the odds, you treat them as an
    administrative error.
  • You’d thrive here because these films reward competence and loyalty in equal measure.
    The mission matters, but nobody on the team gets left on the wrong side of a door.
  • Some people delegate the cliff. You have never once been that person.

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Die Hard · A Good Day to Die Hard · 1988–2013

Die Hard

You are not the most trained person in the building, the best
equipped, or the one anybody would have picked. You are simply the one still standing at the
end, which turns out to be the only qualification that matters.

  • Die Hard invented the modern action hero by making him mortal: outgunned, out-planned,
    bleeding, and extremely funny about it.
  • You share that stubbornness. Adversity doesn’t make you noble, it makes you sarcastic,
    and then it makes you unstoppable.
  • You’d thrive here because these films reward improvisation and nerve over preparation,
    and you’ve never had the luxury of preparing anyway.
  • You didn’t want any of this. You just declined to be the person who let it happen.
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Taylor Kitsch Is Slated to Star in His First Movie Since 2019

The movie we’re talking about is Savages, which underperformed commercially and received mixed reviews upon release. It now holds a 50% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “It’s undeniably messy, but Savages finds Oliver Stone returning to dark, fearlessly lurid form.” The movie grossed $86 million worldwide against a reported budget of $45 million. Three years later, Taylor Sheridan and Denis Villeneuve‘s Sicario grossed almost exactly the same amount at the global box office, but cost $10 million less. It emerged as a major home-video hit, which prompted a sequel to be made. Savages, however, slipped into the ether. You can watch it on Netflix until October 1. Kitsch is set to headline his first new movie in seven years. Directed by Peter Landesman, the crime thriller is titled Eleven Days. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.


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Release Date

July 6, 2012

Runtime
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131 minutes

Director

Oliver Stone

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Quentin Tarantino’s 10/10 War Thriller Is Officially Taking Over Streaming

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War movies tend to be constrained by history. And history tends to be based on facts. Things that happened for certain. No room for doubt. Well, Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction) decided he wasn’t particularly interested in that restriction when making this beauty, turning World War II into a violent alternate-history revenge fantasy featuring one of the filmmaker’s most audacious gallery of rogues. Missed it? Good news.

Seventeen years after its theatrical release, Inglourious Basterds has officially landed on Hulu, giving subscribers access to one of Tarantino’s biggest and most acclaimed movies. Like many of Tarantino’s films, it unfolds across several interconnected stories in Nazi-occupied France. Jewish-American Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) leads a group of soldiers tasked with hunting down Nazi forces, while cinema owner Shosanna Dreyfus (Mélanie Laurent) bides her time in hiding while plotting vengeance against the regime responsible for murdering her family. Their plans eventually converge around a movie premiere attended by the highest levels of the Third Reich.

The cast is led by Pitt alongside Laurent, Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained) as Hans Landa, Eli Roth (Hostel) as Donny Donowitz, Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class) as Archie Hicox, Diane Kruger (Troy) as Bridget von Hammersmark, Daniel Brühl (Rush) as Fredrick Zoller, and Til Schweiger (Atomic Blonde) as Hugo Stiglitz.

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Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz
Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive?
The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars

Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you’d actually make it out of alive.

💊The Matrix

🔥Mad Max

🌧️Blade Runner

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🏜️Dune

🚀Star Wars

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01

You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do?
The first instinct is often the truest one.





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02

In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely?
What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.





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03

What kind of threat keeps you up at night?
Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.





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04

How do you deal with authority you don’t trust?
Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.





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05

Which environment could you actually endure long-term?
Survival isn’t just tactical — it’s physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.





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06

Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart?
The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.





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07

Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all?
Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they’re actually made of.





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08

What would actually make survival worth it?
Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.





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Your Fate Has Been Calculated
You’d Survive In…

Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.

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The Resistance, Zion

The Matrix

You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You’re a systems thinker who can’t help but notice the seams in things.

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  • You’re drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
  • You’d find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines’ worst nightmare.
  • You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
  • The Matrix built an airtight prison. You’d be the one probing the walls for the door.


The Wasteland

Mad Max

The wasteland doesn’t reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That’s you.

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  • You don’t need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
  • You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you’re good at all three.
  • You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
  • In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.


Los Angeles, 2049

Blade Runner

You’d survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.

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  • You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
  • In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
  • You’re not a hero. But you’re not lost, either.
  • In Blade Runner’s world, that distinction is everything.


Arrakis

Dune

Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.

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  • Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they’re survival tools.
  • You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
  • Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You’d learn its logic and earn its respect.
  • In time, you wouldn’t just survive Arrakis — you’d begin to reshape it.


A Galaxy Far, Far Away

Star Wars

The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn’t have it any other way.

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  • You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
  • You’d gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire’s grip can be broken.
  • You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn’t something you’re capable of.
  • In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.

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Was ‘Inglourious Basterds’ a Success?

The movie was nothing short of a critical triumph, and it currently sits with a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics. Waltz’s breakthrough performance as Hans Landa was particularly acclaimed, bringing his genius to a whole new audience and, in the process, winning him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. We dare you to try and drink a glass of milk with someone around a table again after seeing this film. Particular acclaim went to the performances of Brühl and Laurent, whose fascinating romantic arc was a tense treat in the Parisian portion of the film. And the scene with Fassbender in the pub is one of the most iconic scenes you’ll see, and is memed to this day.

It was also Tarantino’s biggest commercial success at the time, earning approximately $321 million worldwide against a reported $70 million budget. Its combination of critical acclaim, awards success, and blockbuster box office helped usher in another enormously successful phase of Tarantino’s career.

Inglourious Basterds is streaming now on Hulu.


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Release Date

August 21, 2009

Runtime
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153 minutes

Producers

Lawrence Bender

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AI Video Of Tyler Perry, Law Roach Has The Internet Seeing Twins

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Rihanna Seemingly Addresses Baby Rumors, Talks "Little Pouch"

Chileeee! A social media user put Tyler Perry and Law Roach in the spirit tunnel together in an edited video, and now folks are seeing double! Apparently, the creator merged clips from the filmmaker and stylist’s separate appearances on ‘The Jennifer Hudson Show.’ And do we really ne ed to mention that the internet, Black Threads especially, is cuttin’ up with jokes about the superstars’ resemblance to each other. Twins. Brothers. Brother, cousins. All that!! Keep reading for a kiii.

RELATED: Come On Energy! 10 Viral ‘Spirit Tunnel’ Moments From ‘The Jennifer Hudson Show’ (VIDEOS)

When Did Tyler Perry & Law Roach Have Their Spirit Tunnel Moments?

Tyler Perry both appeared on ‘The Jennifer Hudson Show’ earlier this week, on Sept. 14 and Sept. 17 respectively. Perry was the show’s season five premiere guest while Roach popped by for the new season’s fourth episode.

Perry reportedly discussed his latest ‘Why Did I Get Married’ film, now showing on Netflix. He also admitted under questioning that he’s not interested in getting married due to how he’s seen it and divorces impact people around him. Meanwhile, Law Roach, famously known for slaying stylings of Zendaya, shut down attempts to get details regarding her and Tom Holland’s marriage. Also, Roach talked about judging on ‘Project Runway,’ and paid tribute to the late designer Bob Mackie.

Then, on Sept.17, Threads user @mspackyetti, who is political strategist and writer Brittany Packnett Cunningham, posted the AI video. She captioned it, “I’m not playing with y’all no more,” and it showed Law Roach and Tyler Perry dancing around each other through the spirit tunnel. The post has over 400 comments and more than 1,700 shares. And that’s just ONE post of the AI clip, other Threads users have since posted it, racking up 100s of comments and views. The theme songs are changing every time, and folks just can’t get enough of the resemblance between the two. Neither Tyler Perry nor Law Roach have addressed the kiii or twin talks!

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NotKarltonBanks Is Brought Into The Dance Mix!

In one circulating version of the Tyler Perry and Law Roach clip, IG personality NotKarltonBanks is seen joining the dancing stars with his own spirit tunnel walk. Yup, just like Perry and Roach, NotKarltonBanks, real name Karlton Humes, has also previously popped in to chitchat with Jennifer. In the clip featuring him, the video is captioned, “We’re The Perry’s!!”

 

 

 

 

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Social Media Timelines Are Crackin’ Up At Tyler & Law Roach

In The Shade Room’s Instagram comment section, the roomies had the jokes rolling over the twin, and even triplet, lookalikes.

 

RELATED: Tyler Perry Calls Out Allstate Insurance After 81-Year-Old Woman Reportedly Denied & Displaced Following Water Damage To Her Home

What Do You Think Roomies?

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Sally Field’s Luxe-Looking ‘Ballet’ Sneakers Style Is on Amazon

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Laura Dern

Us has affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a purchase. Learn more!

News flash: not all sneakers are sporty. They can be dreamy, boutiquey and luxe, as seen from Sally Field‘s latest shoe style. Her ballet sneakers are incredibly polished, and we found an identical version for only $43 on Amazon!

At a Netflix event in Santa Monica, the actress wore a beige blazer and trouser set, a black floral blouse and, in place of heels, crisp white ballerina sneakers adorned with delicate lace. Her sneaker style softened the outfit, adding romance to a look that could have easily leaned boardroom.

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Get the Kifiwui Lace Ballet Sneakers for $43 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

Like Field’s, these Kifiwui Lace Ballet Sneakers borrow from the ballet shoe trend while giving you actual walking support. They’re designed with a sleek low profile, classic top laces and dainty lace fabric that channels boutique energy. It’s a finishing touch that elevates jeans, transforms midi skirts and, as Field demonstrated, makes a beige suit feel feminine.

Memory foam insole handles the cushioning, and the breathable construction means you can wear them through a full day. One happy shopper called the sneakers “breathable, stylish and effortlessly feminine” and “the perfect everyday shoe when you want comfort without giving up that soft, pretty aesthetic.” We couldn’t have put it better ourselves!

Another five-star reviewer added, “It provides a soft, cushioned feel under the feet and makes the shoes comfortable for everyday activities, such as shopping, running errands, traveling or walking around for several hours.”

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Clearly, these kicks deserve a permanent spot in your rotation — both by your door and on your feet. Steal a page from Sally Field’s styling playbook and let a pretty pair of sneakers do the talking!

Get the Kifiwui Lace Ballet Sneakers for $43 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more chic fall shoes, and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

UsNow Fall Sale Alert: These chic fashion finds are up to 60% off – plus free shipping

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Welcome to fall with our biggest sale of the season. Our favorite dresses, tops, handbags, and shoes are all on sale + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone.

Laura Dern


Related: Run! Laura Dern‘s Exact Fall-Ready ‘Sneakerinas‘ Are Still in Stock

Choosing between sneakers and flats is a real struggle, especially if you want to look like a rich mom. But Laura Dern isn’t choosing. She’s enjoying the best of both worlds with ballerina-style sneakers (aka ‘sneakerinas’), and we found her exact pair hiding on Amazon! Dern arrived at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival wearing […]

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G Herbo Buys 4-Year-Old Daughter Emmy A Ring Like Mommy’s

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Ice Her Out! G Herbo Is Giving ULTIMATE Girl Daddy After Buying His 4-Year-Old Emmy A Ring Like Mommy's (VIDEO)

G Herbo is not playing about giving his baby girl, Emmy Love Wright, the same soft life she sees Mommy enjoy! Recently, Taina Williams, who is engaged to the rapper, shared a photo of her and Emmy’s matching manicures and shining diamond rings.

RELATED: He Got Money! G Herbo’s Reaction After Daughter Emmy Says He’s “Rich” Has Fans Weak (VIDEOS)

G Herbo Upgrades His 4-Year-Old Daughter’s Ring Finger

As mentioned, Taina dropped a photo of her daughter’s new ice from daddy! She wrote on the photo, “Lol Herb got Emmy a ring…her first love,” adding laughing and a red heart emoji. Meanwhile, the photo itself showed Taina and Emmy’s matching black-and-white polka-dot manicures. Mom was wearing her engagement ring from G Herbo with the oversized center diamond and diamond-encrusted band. Emmy’s ring also appears to be diamond-encrusted with a square-cut stone! A plaything, the new piece of jewelry is NOT!

In a video, Taina asks Emmy to show her ring, and the 4-year-old holds it up with a smile as her daddy pulls her closer to him. “My girl is lit,” Mama Williams says in response. Another short clip shows Herbo putting the ring on his daughter’s finger.

 

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The Roomies React To Emmy Love Wright’s New Rock

In The Shade Room’s Instagram comment section, the roommates wasted no time envisioning how high Emmy Love Wright’s standards will be as she ages. Plenty other applauded Herbo’s daddy’s girl era, while others joked about Taina not being able to have anything to herself moving forward!

@babydollcode commented, “Anything a Dad does to show his daughter she’s special😍, I’m here for it. Idc idc buy her a zoo next just for bedtime stories f it! 🤷🏽‍♀️.”‘

“Taina can’t have nothing 😩Emmy always gone make sure herb gets two lol 😍😍,” @andrea.michelle___ wrote.

“When you have a daughter, you can’t have anything to yourself 😂,” @naybarker added.

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“She is gonna give men hell when she becomes a woman I love it 😂💜,” @wewantchachi said.

“That’s his only girl boy is she gonna run his pockets dry 😭😭😮‍💨,” @shes_persian_ joked.

@fortheyappers commented, “My dad did this for me when I was a kid too. I still have it to this day ❤️.” 

“Emmy’s level of diva is out of this world and I love when she reminds us, that she’s THAT girl! LOL,” @attractivebeing said.

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“When she get older a nigga gon have to really step his cookies up to sit next to her daddy 😭💯💯,” @nae2x__23 added.

Emmy Felt Left Out ONCE & Herbo Has Been Showing Out Since

Days after G Herbo proposed, Emmy let it be known she was “sooo jealous” of her mother’s huge ring, and wanted to crush her flowers because of it. All this afterrrr the then 3-year-old kissed the rock and said the engagement was cute.

For Valentine’s Day, Emmy claimed her mommy’s bouquet for herself, saying the long-stem roses were for both of them. Then, when Herb gave Taina Williams a necklace for Mother’s Day, Little Ms. Wright let her irritation show out! She told her parents she didn’t like mommy’s gift because she didn’t also get a necklace. At the time, he shared a post that said, “Everything gotta come in 2s ATP.” A few days later, G Herbo got his mini-me new diamond earrings and she didn’t miss the chance to tease Taina over her new gift. The moment came ahead of Emmy’s fourth birthday, on which Herb penned the hilariously sweet message:

“THESE SOME OF MY FAVORITE PICTURES OF ME AND MY BABY! ITS BEEN 4 YEARS OF HAVOC LOL YALL WISH MY BABY A HAPPY BIRTHDAY 🤣🤣💞💞.”

IRELATED: Taina Williams Defends Daughter Emmy After Critics Call Her Behavior In A TikTok Challenge Inappropriate (VIDEOS)

What Do You Think Roomies?

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Ed Sheeran’s Tour Is Taking A Different Shape

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Ed Sheeran performs in Madrid

The fate of Ed Sheeran performing before a sold-out crowd is urgently in limbo, thanks to the Macklemore fallout!

The “Shape of You” singer, who has built a cult following over the years and normalized a full arena of audience members blasting back his lyrics, may experience a different atmosphere in Philadelphia as his show is set to commence tonight, September 19.

Ed Sheeran’s name has lingered in the news for days now after Macklemore publicly shared that the singer told him via phone call that Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft wanted him off the “Loop” tour.

Ed Sheeran performs in Madrid
Europa Press / MEGA

As the Grammy winner gears up to take the stage at Lincoln Financial Field, StubHub, a ticket-selling outlet, has confirmed that hundreds of tickets between the prices of $56 and $251 are still up for grabs.

With hours left for the singer to appear on stage in Philadelphia, heavy clouds of uncertainty have been cast over the possibility of the show being tagged “sold out.”

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Outside the arena, Sheeran has had to deal with pushback from pro-Palestine protest groups who have blamed him for his apolitical stance and refusal to speak up in defense of Macklemore. The “Can’t Hold Us” singer was shown the door on tour after a performance in New Jersey where he made some remarks in favor of Palestine.

Macklemore, alongside Lukas Graham, Finneas, Aaron Rowe, and Sheeran’s backing band, Beoga, have all now taken a permanent break from the rest of the tour on the basis that some conditions to perform do not align with their interests and morals.

As noted by TMZ, some musicians like Roger Waters have equally blamed Sheeran for caving in to pressure and sending Macklemore off, although Sheeran insisted it was the promoters that made the call, not him.

The ‘Thinking Out Loud’ Singer’s Concert Likely To Be A Protest Spot

Ed Sheeran at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend Festival
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Aside from the lag in ticket sales, Sheeran may also get to witness some protest from two pro-Palestine groups who will physically express their displeasure with the manner of Macklemore’s exit from his tour.

As shared by The Blast on September 17, the Philly Palestine Coalition and Shut Down D&Z earlier called on supporters to gather outside Lincoln Financial Field on September 19. 

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According to flyers creating awareness about the protest, the group planned to target the billionaires and pro-zionists, stressing that everyone supporting the war in Gaza is not a friend of Philadelphia.

Sheeran’s history with Lincoln Financial Field goes all the way back to 2023, when he set the all-time attendance record for a concert at the venue in June of that year, pulling 77,900 fans during his “Mathematics” tour.

Tonight’s show has attracted heightened security attention around the venue as local police have reportedly been deployed to ensure the planned demonstrations outside the venue do not escalate into something disastrous.

Ed Sheeran Reportedly Wanted Robert Kraft And Other Stadium Owners To Match His Donations

Robert Kraft at Trump Press Conference Prior to Kennedy Center Board Meeting
Aaron Schwartz – Pool via CNP / MEGA

Right before Macklemore’s challenge and million-dollar donation dominated the headlines, Kraft recently shared that Sheeran had been making moves behind the scenes to get him and others to commit huge sums to humanitarian efforts.

In a public statement, the stadium owner explained that Sheeran privately urged him to match his $2 million donation to provide relief in Gaza and combat the ongoing humanitarian crisis. He continued that Sheeran also had plans to contact more stadium owners and billionaires to match his donation and build helpful bridges.

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Macklemore, after his removal from the tour, hopped on Instagram to inform the public that he would like to redirect their attention towards Palestine and the horrors going on there.

On the live, he pledged to donate all his net earnings from opening on Sheeran’s tour to six organizations supporting Palestine while beckoning on Kraft to match his donation.

“Whatever we disagree about, perhaps we can agree on this: Palestinian lives are worth protecting. A Palestinian life is no less valuable than any other life on this earth,” Macklemore stressed.

The Grammy Winner Reaffirmed His Commitment To Keep Performing On The ‘Loop’ Tour

Loredana Sangiuliano / MEGA

Sheeran, explaining his side of the story, noted that his platform has for years brought people across the world together for the love of music. He stated that the central theme of his shows and career still has not changed, while adding that fans who attend his show do not expect a political gathering.

The Blast shared that Sheeran’s ongoing tour, which has about 17 dates left, will carry on with the musician as the solo act. The singer’s solo appearance has not posed a concern to his team, who have watched him take down big arenas in the past without a band.

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Speaking of a band, Beoga, who have sung with Sheeran at several arenas across the world for over a decade, explained in their statement that they appreciated Sheeran’s decision to carry them along.

However, they continued that they have decided to leave the tour in support of Macklemore’s speech, as they also supported Palestine as founding members of the Irish Artists for Palestine movement.

Ed Sheeran’s Music Pulled From Irish Radio Station’s Playlist

Ed Sheeran at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Festival - Press Room
CraSH/imageSPACE / MEGA

While the songwriter deals with the backlash of the public over Macklemore’s exit, an independent Irish radio station, Classic Hits Radio, has removed Sheeran’s songs from its line-up for the foreseeable future.

The singer’s tunes have ruled the airwaves for years, but events over the past few days have seemingly changed public perception of his craft. According to an official from the establishment, several callers have asked that a huge adjustment be made to their music playlist to exclude Sheeran’s tracks as much as possible.

Due to their status as an independent radio station, Kelly noted that these requests must be considered and respected. On his part, Sheeran has stressed that the move to remove Macklemore became dire when the remaining venues for upcoming dates threatened to pull out if Macklemore would still open for Sheeran.

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He expressed that his personal views on the conflict in the region remained his, and he has been appalled by the violent exchange. The singer reaffirmed his respect for Macklemore as an artist, as the rest of his dates remain unchanged for now.

Will the tide turn in Ed Sheeran’s favor with a sold-out show?

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The 10 Best Rock Music Videos of All Time, Ranked

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The 10 Best Rock Music Videos of All Time, Ranked

Today, when your favorite artist puts out a new music video, you can go to YouTube and watch it as often as you like. This wasn’t always the case. In the days before the internet, you had to turn on MTV and be patient, waiting and hoping for the video you desperately wanted to see to show up on your TV screen. In 2026, MTV might be a thing of the past, but music videos aren’t, even for rock and roll, which has been declared dead so many times. Whether it be huge bands from the 80s, or smaller acts from the 21st century, these ten songs and the videos attached to them will live forever as the best of the format.

10

“Learn to Fly” by Foo Fighters (1999)

The Foo Fighters were born in tragedy following the death of Nirvana‘s Kurt Cobain. Their drummer, however, refused to be consumed by darkness. Instead, Dave Grohl found light and humor with his own band, Foo Fighters. Many of the group’s earlier music videos steer towards comedy, and they were never funnier than in 1999’s “Learn to Fly.” As Grohl sings about learning “to fly high,” the video shows the band on a commercial airplane playing multiple roles, such as the lead singer as both the pilot, an overweight woman struggling to fit in her seat, and a pig-tailed girl. It’s four minutes of fun, with cameos from Jack Black and Kyle Gass of Tenacious D included. “Learn to Fly” is a silly masterpiece.

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9

“Coffee and TV” by Blur (1999)

London, England’s Blur began in 1988 and found mainstream success with songs such as “Girls & Boys” and “Song 2”. For this best video, however, you have to go to one of their smaller hits, 1999’s “Coffee and TV.” The second single from the album 13 has the singer wanting his vices to escape from a harsh reality. The music video goes in its own direction. In it, an animated carton of milk goes on a search for the missing boy shown on his side. Along the way, he encounters terrors like a weed whacker and a motorcycle, before hitching a ride to the city, where he falls in love with a strawberry carton of milk, only to witness her getting smashed by a foot. In the end, it’s the missing boy who drinks from the carton and returns home. Now dead, but having served his mission, the carton grows angel wings and floats up to Heaven with a smile on its face.

8

“Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden (1994)

Soundgarden had already found great success throughout the late 80s and early 90s, but in 1994, with their album Superunkown, they reached their peak thanks to the colossal hit “Black Hole Sun.” Without a doubt their biggest song, it was elevated by the accompanying video. In it, Chris Cornell and the rest of the band play on a stretched out sunny hill. Interspersed are shots of an exaggerated suburbia, with creepy smiles plastered on the townsfolk as they go about their day. In the end, all are sucked into a black hole, their lives of nothing all for not. It’s the perfect example of surrealist art as a part of music.

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7

“We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister (1984)

Suburbia strikes again in Twisted Sister‘s “We’re Not Gonna Take It.” It begins with a boy in his bedroom pretending to rock out on a guitar, only to be interrupted by his angry, disciplinarian father. When the man asks what he wants to do with his life, the boy confidently replies, “I wanna rock”, before twirling into the flamboyant Dee Snider. Screaming to his old man that he’s not gonna take it, Snider goes downstairs and gets his conservative brothers to join him. An anthem for the youth of America wanting to break free, the video is a call to action.

6

“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen (1975)

Queen‘s “Bohemian Rhapsody” just might be the greatest rock song ever made, and its music video brilliantly captures the magic. The opening shadowy shot of the four band members singing together is iconic and has been parodied often. It’s so much more than that though. The actions shots of the group playing, Freddie Mercury clad in white and feeling free, are simplistic while simultaneously full of so much energy. With two billion views and counting on YouTube, this video alone has created countless fans of Queen.

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5

“Addicted to Love” by Robert Palmer (1986)

Englishman Robert Palmer had a steady career through the 70s and the first half of the 80s, only to really blow up and have a moment in time as the biggest thing on MTV with the success of “Addicted to Love.” Dressed in a white dress shirt and black tie, Palmer radiates coolness as he croons in front of models in black pretending to play instruments. There is nothing more to it than Palmer’s voice and the exaggerated, red-lipped, non-smiling women, but the video accurately captures the freedom and excess of a carefree time for many.

4

“This Too Shall Pass” by Ok Go (2010)

OK Go was never a huge rock band who dominated the charts. They didn’t need to be. The group wisely found another outlet to get them attention from the masses: YouTube. Ok Go has created a variety of experimental and jaw-dropping videos, and none are more flooring and hard to comprehend the complexity of than 2010’s “This Too Shall Pass.” The song is catchy. It’s the video, though, which brought in millions of views. With a Rube Goldberg machine, dominoes are knocked over, leading to the release of one contraption after another, the band fittingly in the background for the shots. At the end, it all goes right, and everyone is sprayed with paint cannons as an audience cheers. How they got that all in one take is beyond us.

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3

“Jeremy” by Pearl Jam (1991)

Pearl Jam quickly became disgusted by anything to do with commercialism, which included MTV and music video success, but at the beginning of their careers, with the album Ten, few bands did it better. Their most famous video is a heartbreaking masterpiece of pain. In “Jeremy,” Eddie Vedder sings about the boy he picked on as a kid next to shots of the troubled boy all alone and struggling. At the end, the kid walks into his classroom and puts a gun in his mouth. You can listen to “Jeremy” on the radio and get lost in the beat. The video won’t let you rest. The real life story of Jeremy Wade Delle demands your attention.

2

“Sledgehammer” by Peter Gabriel (1986)

In the beginning of the band Genesis, there was Peter Gabriel. When he left the band, he didn’t disappear. Gabriel only got better, hitting his peak in 1986 with the dazzling music video for “Sledgehammer.” It became so iconic that it won nine trophies, a record, at the next year’s MTV Music Video Awards. It was a well deserved honor. As the beat launches, Gabriel comes to life, but everything is off kilter. State-of-the-art technology allowed stop-motion, claymation, and surrealism to come together for a bizarre video. Forty years later, there’s been nothing like it.

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1

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana (1991)

In the early 90s, every teenager seemed to be wearing flannel shirts, ripped jeans, and Chuck Taylors. It all started with Nirvana‘s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” a song which took the rock genre and flipped it on its head with something fresh and filled with energy. The video created an aesthetic all on its own. There is no high concept here. The success of Nevermind‘s opening track comes from the vibe of the moment. A new decade was revolting, and for a moment its spokesman was Kurt Cobain. Screaming his lungs out in a foggy gymnasium for a raucous high school pep rally, Cobain stares right through the viewer and tells us what every kid demands: “Here we are now, entertain us.” At the end, a movement had been born.

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The 10 Greatest Mystery Books That You Haven’t Read

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Distant Sons book cover

When handled right, mystery fiction is one of the most satisfying genres. Who doesn’t love a suspenseful setup and a twisty plot? Not for nothing, mystery novels have long been fixtures on the bestseller lists and have produced some of the most famous characters in literature, from Sherlock Holmes to Hercule Poirot.

However, there are also some slightly lesser-known mystery books that many of the genre’s die-hard fans may not have checked out yet. This list gathers a few of the best of them, from unsung classics to metafictional whodunnits. All of them are worthy of your time, and you’ll likely be a much better mystery appreciator after experiencing them.

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‘Distant Sons’ (2023)

Distant Sons book cover Image via Algonquin Books

“Sometimes a man gets stuck in a place he never meant to stay.” Distant Sons begins with a familiar crime-fiction setup and then steadily becomes something a little stranger, not to mention sadder. The main character is Sean Courtland, a young man drifting across the Midwest whose truck breaks down near the small Wisconsin town of Ice River. Needing money for repairs, he takes a job doing construction work for an elderly local man.

Sean also befriends another drifter, Dan Young (a character from another one of the author’s novels), and the two gradually become entangled in questions surrounding children who disappeared from the area decades earlier. From here, the novel plays out as an organic, character-driven thriller; very much a slow-burn. It’s also cleverly structured, with the main storyline, set in 2018, juxtaposed with italicised flashback chapters from 1977.

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‘Into the Darkest Corner’ (2011)

into the darkest corner book cover Image via Text Publishing

“Four years ago, I became very good at pretending everything was normal.” Like Distant Sons, Into the Darkest Corner moves between two periods, contrasting the outgoing young woman Catherine Bailey once was with the isolated, hypervigilant person she becomes after an abusive relationship with Lee Brightman. We slowly learn how a relationship that initially appeared exciting became coercive and terrifying, while the later timeline follows Catherine attempting to rebuild her life. It also features a hopeful new romance.

Crucially, the depiction of Lee’s darkness is more realistic than you usually find in this subgenre. In writing those sections, author Elizabeth Haynes draws on her real-world background as a police intelligence analyst. Instead of being over-the-top monstrous, Lee’s manipulation is subtle at least at first, relentlessly intensifying from mind games to isolating Catherine to, eventually, much worse.

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‘Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead’ (2009)

Drive your plow over the bones of the dead book cover Image via Fitzcarraldo Editions

“I must always wash my feet thoroughly before going to bed, just in case an ambulance has to take me away in the night.” This book was written by the Polish writer Olga Tokarczuk, winner of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Literature. The eccentric narrator of Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead lives in a remote Polish village near the Czech border, studies astrology, translates William Blake, cares deeply about animals, and has very little patience for the hunters and authority figures surrounding her.

When local men begin dying under peculiar circumstances, Janina develops a theory: perhaps the animals are taking revenge. This is a novel of ideas disguised as noir, confidently mixing elements of murder mystery, black comedy, philosophy, and ecological fable. It simultaneously serves up a tense plot as well as hard-hitting commentary on everything from animal rights and loneliness to the ways society decides who matters.

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‘The Inugami Curse’ (1951)

The Inugami Curse book cover Image via Pushkin Vertigo

“Death had already entered the Inugami family.” The Inugami Curse is a cornerstone of Japanese crime writing, having been adapted twice for the screen in its home country (and once into a Nintendo game, believe it or not). In it, detective Kosuke Kindaichi is drawn into the affairs of the enormously wealthy Inugami family following the death of patriarch Sahei Inugami. His will creates an explosive struggle among his descendants, and it isn’t long before the prospective beneficiaries begin dying in increasingly elaborate ways.

While some of those plot devices are familiar, author Seishi Yokomizo gives them a darker treatment than most of his contemporaries did. For example, the murders themselves are memorably macabre, giving the book an almost Gothic quality as the inheritance dispute spirals into something resembling a family curse. Indeed, the Inugamis are a nest of lies, resentments, romantic rivalry, wartime trauma, and financial ambition, meaning practically everybody has a plausible motive.

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‘The Red House Mystery’ (1922)

the red house mystery book cover Image via Vintage Classics

“Mark Ablett’s sudden return was the one topic of conversation in the village.” Long before Winnie-the-Pooh made him immortal, A.A. Milne wrote a detective novel, and it’s actually pretty solid. Mark Ablett is entertaining guests at his country manor when his estranged brother Robert unexpectedly arrives from Australia. Soon afterward, a gunshot is heard, Robert is found dead, and Mark has vanished. Into this conveniently mysterious situation wanders Antony Gillingham, who decides to investigate with the assistance of his friend Bill Beverley.

Their dynamic is one of the book’s greatest pleasures. Rather than presenting Antony as another grim professional detective, Milne embraces the sheer fun of amateur sleuthing, with the pair openly enjoying the opportunity to play Holmes and Watson. In this regard, The Red House Mystery warmly pokes fun at many crime fiction tropes, giving this mystery a refreshingly playful tone, especially for its time.

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‘A Man’ (2018)

A Man Hirano book cover Image via  Amazon Crossing

“Who was the man who had lived as my husband?” This stylish novel centers on divorce attorney Akira Kido, who is given an unusual assignment from one of his clients: finding out who her deceased husband really was. After Rie’s husband Daisuke died in an accident, she learned that he had been living under another person’s identity. As Akira digs deeper, he finds himself increasingly ensnared by a web of exchanged identities and concealed histories.

Identity is the main theme here, which writer Keiichiro Hirano explores more thoughtfully than your average crime writer. In particular, he writes an unusually three-dimensional protagonist in Akira. He’s dealing with a midlife crisis and a strained marriage, as well as continued struggles to belong, since he’s a third-generation ethnic Korean living in Japan. His investigation reveals the ways that a person’s origins can be weaponized against them.

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‘Crocodile on the Sandbank’ (1975)

Crocodile on the Sandbank book cover Image via Mysterious Press

“I am convinced that many of the difficulties of life would be eliminated if one could remain comfortably at home.” This one was a big bestseller back in the ’70s, but many mystery fans may not have read it yet. Crocodile on the Sandbank introduces us to the wealthy, intelligent, practical, and magnificently self-assured Amelia Peabody, a woman with a passion for history and archaeology. She travels to an excavation site in Egypt, where strange events begin occurring. Most memorably, a mummy appears to be wandering around after dark.

Crocodile on the Sandbank ultimately launched a lengthy series, and it’s easy to understand why. A mystery can only be as enjoyable as the detective investigating it, and Amelia Peabody is tremendous company. Her no-nonsense attitude ensures that the book is cheeky and humorous, occasionally bordering on parody without ever becoming absurd. It melds adventure, comedy, romance, and suspense, alongside meticulously researched historical elements. Indeed, the author herself had a PhD in Egyptology. ​​​

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‘Pressure’ (2006)

Cover of Pressure by Jeff Strand Image via Earthling Pubns

“Three people went into the house. Only two came out.” Not to be confused with the recent movie about World War II weather forecasting, Pressure follows Alex Fletcher, who reunites with childhood friend Darren in college. The charismatic, intelligent Darren has since become a cunning killer. The core suspense stems from Darren’s absolute conviction that Alex possesses the exact same violent darkness inside of him… and he will go to any lengths to force Alex to acknowledge it.

Darren is a monster, but author Jeffrey Strand writes him with enough depth and complexity that he feels believable and entirely plausible. Alex is drawn in shades of gray, too, to the point that we sometimes wonder how much of what Darren sees in him may actually be there, just beneath the surface. The prose is fast and accessible, which makes the increasingly ugly material hit with surprising force: part mystery, part thriller, part horror.

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‘Death in Her Hands’ (2020)

Death in her Hands book civer Image via Penguin Books

“Her name was Magda.” Death in Her Hands is a mystery by author Ottessa Moshfegh, most famous for her 2018 breakout hit My Year of Rest and Relaxation. It revolves around elderly widow Vesta Gul, who discovers a note in the woods reading: “Her name was Magda. Nobody will ever know who killed her. It wasn’t me. Here is her dead body.” However, there’s no body in sight. Vesta doesn’t know who Magda is, who wrote the note, or whether a murder has actually occurred.

Rather than simply reporting the discovery and moving on, Vesta begins constructing an investigation around almost no evidence whatsoever. Moshfegh uses that setup to subvert the standard whodunnit blueprint, turning a murder investigation into a metafictional puzzle about the human mind’s propensity for drawing connections, even where none really exist. The elaborate case Vesta concocts is really an emotional proxy, a way of processing trauma from her life while also speaking to the current obsession with true crime.

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‘Night Film’ (2013)

Night Film book cover Image via Penguin

“Everyone has a Cordova story, whether they like it or not.” In Night Film, Stanislas Cordova is a reclusive filmmaker whose disturbing movies have long courted controversy. When Cordova’s 24-year-old daughter Ashley is found dead in an apparent suicide, disgraced investigative journalist Scott McGrath becomes convinced that there is considerably more to the story. Writer Marisha Pessl spins this into a Gothic techno-thriller that pays homage to horror cinema.

Plot aside, a big part of what makes Night Film stand out is its postmodern, interactive format. The text is interspersed with screenshots and printouts, and is meant to be read in conjunction with an app that can unlock video and audio files. This singular reading experience will certainly not be for everyone, but it’s part of what makes Night Film a cult novel for those willing to openly engage with it. At the time, it was pretty forward-thinking stuff.

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