By Sckylar Gibby-Brown
| Published 56 seconds ago

Quentin Tarantino has covered many genres throughout his filmmaking career, but he’s never tackled a horror film. That doesn’t mean he’s not a fan, however. In fact, the Kill Bill director claims the 1982 horror thriller The Sender is his favorite.

Tarantino shared that The Sender was his favorite horror film while joining Edgar Wright, the writer and director of Hot Fuzz, for a commentary special for the action comedy’s DVD release. During the special feature, the pair talked little about Hot Fuzz, instead discussing the most influential movies throughout their careers. They covered over 190 different features, most of which you’ve probably never heard of, including this forgotten sci-fi horror thriller.

Breaks The Boundaries Of Reality

The Sender is a 1982 British psychological horror thriller directed by Roger Christian and written by Thomas Baum. The film is a tantalizing exploration of trauma, telepathy, and the blurred lines between reality and hallucination. The script is brought to life by a talented cast of actors you’ve probably seen before, including Kathryn Harrold (Raw Deal), Željko Ivanek (Seven Psychopaths), Shirley Knight (As Good As It Gets), and Paul Freeman (Hot Fuzz). 

The Sender unfolds with the discovery of a young man (Ivanek), disoriented and amnesiac, attempting to drown himself on the shore of a lake. Labeled as “John Doe #83,” he is admitted to a mental hospital under the care of psychiatrist Dr. Gail Farmer (Kathryn Harrold). As John’s peculiar behaviors surface, including the projection of his dreams onto others, Dr. Farmer uncovers a web of suppressed memories and psychic abilities.

Amidst visions of a haunting maternal figure and the relentless pursuit of his own demise, John’s telepathic powers spiral out of control. Dr. Farmer’s attempts to understand and aid him are met with skepticism from her colleagues, culminating in a risky electroshock therapy session. However, as the truth of John’s past begins to surface, the boundaries between reality and illusion blur, leading audiences to a climactic showdown at the end of The Sender.

An Exploration Of Trauma

At its core, The Sender grapples with the theme of trauma and its lingering effects on the human psyche, as shown through John’s journey. Baum loosely based the screenplay on his own upbringing, inspired by his experience growing up with an agoraphobic and overly protective mother. 

The concept of telepathy, which appears as a main theme in The Sender, is probably not based on real-life experiences. Using telepathy, John projects his dreams onto other characters in the film, creating a metaphor for the interconnectedness of human consciousness and showcasing the blurred lines between the self and the other. 

Because the film covers such deep abstract concepts, director Roger Christain decided to bring a distinct visual style to The Sender, weaving together elements of surrealism and psychological tension to create the foreboding atmosphere of lingering dread. Tarantino is certainly not the only audience member who remained on the edge of their seat while watching the film flick between terrifying images of John’s hallucinations to the stark, clinical interiors of the mental hospital.

Now, The Sender is a forgotten thriller of days long past. But thanks to Quentin Tarantino, as well as horror auteur Wes Craven, more cinephiles are discovering this film. It’s hard to find this movie on streaming, but you can always rent or purchase on-demand through YouTube, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and Fandango.

Science fiction is a crowded genre, and some of its greatest titles are buried under layers of remakes, reboots, and homages. These days, it’s hard to think of two sci-fi series bigger than Star Trek and Star Wars, but when those franchises started, they were both paying homage to Foundation by Isaac Asimov. Now things have come full circle, as Foundation is in the middle of a bold adaptation on Apple TV. It’s the perfect binge-watch for fans of Star Trek, Star Wars, and other popular sci-fi, as you can simultaneously see the roots of many core ideas for the genre in Foundation, while also seeing the modern influence imposed on it now.

Asimov’s Foundation was first published as a serial from 1942 to 1950, with later novels following throughout the rest of the author’s life. Asimov was inspired by the historical view of the fall of the Roman Empire, and he applied that to an imagined galaxy-wide empire in his books. This clearly inspired other writers, creators, and filmmakers over the years, yet Foundation itself was not adapted to the screen until this decade. Apple TV’s Foundation premiered in 2021. There are now three seasons available, with a fourth on the way.

‘Foundation’ Set The Standard For Space-Faring Sci-Fi

When reading Asimov’s Foundation novels, it’s hard to miss some of the concepts that clearly inspired later works. Even for modern audiences that are familiar with these ideas, the way Asimov describes them stands out, as his target audience had never seen them rendered on screen before. His descriptions of faster-than-light travel, interplanetary communication, and space warfare were major influences on later works like Star Trek. As for Star Wars, the most striking influence is Asimov’s “Second Foundation,” which is an organization of telepaths who have mastered the full potential of their brains through rigorous study, mediation, and mutation — not unlike Jedi.

Once a writer puts a broad concept out there, others inevitably put their own spin on it — and often come up with something more enduring. This is true across genres, mediums, and time periods, and Asimov is no exception. At the end of the day, many sci-fi fans prefer Frank Herbert’s depiction of a galactic empire in Dune over Asimov’s in Foundation, yet the former could not exist without the latter. This becomes even more complicated when compared to TV shows and movies, which took Asimov’s ideas into the visual medium and remixed them with other sci-fi concepts.

Now, a modern Hollywood is finally adapting Asimov’s story directly, making for one of the most unique final products possible. The story, characters, and settings are some of the oldest in the genre, yet the people bringing them to life have been influenced by Star Trek, Star Wars, and others. Fans can’t help but compare Foundation‘s planet Trantor to Star Wars‘ planet Coruscant, whether they know which one came first or not. It’s an endlessly fascinating nexus of ideas and execution.

‘Foundation’ Has Been Built Without Compromise

Image via Apple TV+

The legacy of the sci-fi genre aside, Foundation is an excellent show on its own merits, and a worthwhile binge-watch for any fan of the genre. The series benefits from Apple TV’s approach of letting shows build gradually and find their audience, rather than expecting them all to become overnight successes. The result is that if you’re not onboard yet, you have a treasure trove of 30 episodes to enjoy before the next season premieres.

Foundation centers around the mathematical genius Hari Seldon (Jared Harris) who has discovered a means of predicting the sociological future of humanity based on numbers alone. The field is known as “Psychohistory.” Seldon predicts that the galactic empire will soon fall, plunging humanity into a “dark age” of social and scientific degradation lasting 30,000 years. He creates the “Foundation” in order to combat that backslide through targeted actions over the course of centuries.

The show stars Lou Llobell as Gaal Dornick, a psychohistorian unraveling Seldon’s instructions throughout the centuries. Meanwhile, the show depicts the fall of the empire from inside through the perspective of its cloned emperors. Three versions of the emperor are alive at any given time — a young man called Brother Dawn (Cassian Bilton), an adult man named Brother Day (Lee Pace), and an older man named Brother Dusk (Terrence Mann). They are counseled by a mysterious woman named Demerzel (Laura Birn). Other stars cycle in and out of the story as the centuries go on.

The Foundation TV series has greatly expanded on its source material while bringing it up to speed with some of the great sci-fi productions the books inspired. The best may be yet to come, as the show still hasn’t even gotten to some of the most fantastical ideas in Asimov’s novels. Three seasons are streaming now on Apple TV, and the fourth should be finished filming any day now, though it’s not clear when it will premiere. All six of Asimov’s Foundation novels are available in print, digital, and audiobook formats.

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Release Date

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September 23, 2021

Network

Apple TV+

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Showrunner

David S. Goyer

Directors

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Alex Graves, Roxann Dawson, Jennifer Phang, Mark Tonderai, Andrew Bernstein

Writers

Jane Espenson, Leigh Dana Jackson, Liz Phang, Eric Carrasco, David Kob, Addie Manis, Marcus Gardley, Lauren Bello, Olivia Purnell

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For years, fans The Simpsons have come up with some wild theories about the iconic series, some of which are darker than others. One, in particular, involves the parentage of Ralph Wiggum (Nancy Cartwright), the son of the Springfield Police Department’s chief, Clancy Wiggum (Hank Azaria). For years, fans have speculated that Chief Wiggum isn’t Ralph’s biological father and that Ralph’s actual father is Eddie the Cop (Harry Shearer). Although it’s just a fan theory, the show broached the possibility multiple times and may have confirmed the truth in a Season 36 episode! It’s time to address the elephant in the room: Who is Ralph Wiggum’s real father?

‘The Simpsons’ References the Theory in Season 34

The Simpsons went so far as to reference the fan theory back in the Season 34 episode, “Lisa the Boy Scout.” However, the theory was referenced more as a gag to make fun of the idea rather than as canon. “Lisa the Boy Scout” features a meta, fourth-wall-breaking premise, as two anonymous masked hackers “hijack” the episode during its broadcast, leaking “unreleased” scenes to paint The Simpsons and its characters in a negative light.

One of these scenes features an over-the-top, melodramatic gag like something out of a soap opera. In the short scene, Chief Wiggum confronts his wife, Sarah Wiggum (Megan Mullally), over Ralph’s parentage, yelling, “Look at the hair! Look at the hair!” Of course, the prevailing theory has always been that Eddie is Ralph’s father, since they have similar, thin hairstyles. The problem with this gag is that the aforementioned sequence was fabricated by the hackers, so it’s not a genuine development involving the Wiggum family. Therefore, the gag cannot be treated as genuine canon, but this was not the last time The Simpsons referenced the notion that Eddie is Ralph’s true father.

‘The Simpsons’ Revisits the Theory in Season 36

The Simpsons oddly references the hotly debated theory later in the Season 36 episode “The Last Man Expanding,” where a new weight loss drug called Othinquic is sweeping the Springfield community. Chief Wiggum has even started using it and lost a significant amount of weight, remarking on how he and his wife could start having more kids, remarking to his colleague Lou (Alex Desert), “Sarah and I are making whoopie again. We’re gonna have more Ralphies soon! A big one, a girl one, one that even looks more like Eddie!” The camera then quickly cuts to Eddie, whose eyes suspiciously shift after Chief Wiggum’s remarks.

What is Eddie’s look about in that scene? It certainly seems like a direct acknowledgment by the writers that there’s some fire to this smoke. It’s strange that, only two seasons apart, The Simpsons writers acknowledge what was little more than a fan theory. Plus, while the Season 34 reference was just a gag and an in-joke perpetuated by malicious hackers, what happened in “The Last Man Expanding” occurs in the show’s genuine canon. Is it possible Eddie’s moment in the episode can be treated as confirmation that he’s Ralph’s father? Perhaps, but there’s another instance from years earlier that might throw cold water on the fan theory.

Who is Ralph Wiggum’s Father?

Image via Fox

Now, the point fans always made regarding Eddie being Ralph’s true father is their hairstyles. Yet way back in Season 11, Episode 17, “Bart to the Future,” features a glimpse of characters’ older selves in the future, including an adult Ralph. In the future, Ralph’s hair grew out, colored blue and curly, just like his father, Clancy. As an adult, Ralph resembles Chief Wiggum more in both body and hairstyle.

Fans who believe in the Eddie theory might treat the Season 36 scene as canon, but there’s still enough alternative evidence to suggest that Chief Wiggum is Ralph’s real father. Nevertheless, after the show has referenced the fan theory twice, it wouldn’t be surprising if the show’s writers spring for the hat trick. The scene in Season 36 is definitely suspicious, but it does not necessarily confirm the theory as canon. Perhaps it conveys that the writers are aware of various fan theories and are poking fun at them. The possibility that Eddie is Ralph’s real father is still fairly prolific, since it was referenced in the iconic series.

In the 1990s, Brendan Fraser was the king of fish-out-of-water movies. From his first major role in 1992’s Encino Man to his 1997 turn as the titular star of George of the Jungle, Fraser became known for his skill at portraying charming, lovable heroes who are truly out of their element. His talents for this kind of film reached a crescendo with 1999’s unique genre mash-up Blast From the Past, now streaming for free on Tubi. An unusual comedic mix of a rom-com, sci-fi, and Cold War-era intrigue, Blast From the Past remains an infinitely charming movie that has only grown better with age.

‘Blast From the Past’ Has a Uniquely Fun Premise

Image via New Line Cinema

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In Blast From the Past, Fraser portrays Adam Webber, a 35-year-old man who was born and raised in his parents’ nuclear-fallout shelter. His father, Calvin Webber (Christopher Walken), built the shelter at the height of the Cold War, believing a nuclear attack by the Soviet Union on the United States was imminent. At the peak of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Calvin and his pregnant wife, Helen (Sissy Spacek), take refuge in the bunker, right before a military jet crashes into their home, leaving them trapped inside. Calvin misunderstands the accidental crash as a nuclear apocalypse, and the family stays locked in the bunker for 35 years.

Helen eventually gives birth to their son, whom they raise and teach over the next several decades. Years later, the now-adult Adam ventures to the surface to get supplies for his family’s shelter and possibly find a wife. The plot mixes the fears and paranoia of the Cold War era with a hilarious fish-out-of-water premise, as Adam struggles to learn about the modern world after a sheltered life with his parents’ traditional, conservative 1950s values. Then, he inexplicably meets and falls in love with a single modern woman, Eve Rustikov (Alicia Silverstone), and high jinks naturally ensue. Blast From the Past’s mixture of satire and light sci-fi was whimsical, and something we hadn’t seen in a modern Hollywood rom-com at that point.

Brendan Fraser and Alicia Silverstone Make an Unexpectedly Perfect Romantic Pair

Brendan Fraser and Alicia Silverstone play off each other well as a classic opposites-attract rom-com pair. Silverstone brings a believable, witty, and modern sensibility to the role, showing increasing maturity as an actress following her iconic turn as Cher Horowitz in 1995’s Clueless. Eve is initially confused and put off by Adam’s starry-eyed wonderment and aw-shucks personality, but eventually comes to believe his cover story that he’s traveling from out of town and looking to stock up on supplies for his family.

Eve has a grounded, believable cynicism to her character, and even after she genuinely starts falling for Adam’s charming personality and old-fashioned values, she still suspects that he is too good to be true. After a significant misunderstanding, Adam finally tells Eve the truth, which allows Eve to finally embrace their relationship, and Adam to finally realize that his father was wrong about the nuclear apocalypse. Fraser and Silverstone display amazing onscreen chemistry and since the actors have such a natural, likable dynamic, it’s easy to root for them to get together by the end.

‘Blast From the Past’ Has Only Gotten Better With Age

Image via New Line Cinema

Blast From the Past was not embraced by critics when it was released, but 27 years later, it holds up better than many of its rom-com contemporaries. Its tremendous cast, unique premise, and the incredible chemistry between Fraser and Silverstone elevate the experience, making it exceptionally entertaining.

In addition to its love story, Blast From the Past also has something moving (and perhaps fairly retro) to say about families. Walken and Spacek prove their comedic chops as Adam’s eccentric parents, Calvin and Helen, and director and co-writer Hugh Wilson uses their storyline as a way to nicely showcase how we deal with and accept our parents’ eccentricities. Even after Adam told his father the truth about how the Cold War ended, Calvin is still stuck in his ways; Eve observes her future father-in-law taking measurements outside to build another fallout shelter. As Eve recounts at the end of the movie, “Adam says this is simply how things work. First, the parents take care of the children, and then the children take care of the parents.” It’s a very idealized, albeit charming, view of accepting our parents’ foibles.

Meanwhile, Adam proves that he’s much more adaptable in the modern world, growing more accustomed to life in 1999 by the film’s end. However, he still maintains his more idealized view of the world — and as Eve points out at the film’s end, she refuses to spoil his dreams, saying, “Why spoil his dreams? They’re such wonderful dreams.” This is another element that sets Blast From the Past apart: its genuine earnestness and the heartfelt emotional truth to its characters. The movie is just as much about the love Adam has for his parents as his love for Eve. Blast From the Past is an easy viewing choice for anyone looking for a fun rom-com with a unique sci-fi-esque premise, and it will only continue to get better as time progresses and it becomes even more of a literal blast from the past.

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Blast from the Past

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Release Date

February 12, 1999

Runtime

112 minutes

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Director

Hugh Wilson

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Writers

Bill Kelly, Hugh Wilson

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Time for a Big Brother update before tonight’s curated CBS episode. We’ve got live feeds updates on Rome Seymour saying something that’s vomit and cringe inducing about his showmance partner.

Plus, Angela Murray is yanked back from the brink of a full paranoid meltdown and Ashley Trail (bartender) might actually be safe on Thursday.

Big Brother: Dee’s Strategic Moves and Angela’s Paranoia

On the live feeds, Dee Valladares put in some time suffering through a morning chat with Haley Thogmartin whom she hates. But Dee’s always working. And when Haley asked if Rick Devens would turn on them (aka the fake larger Red Corner alliance), Dee said yes, in the long run.

Dee’s always playing eight or ten moves ahead in any game she’s in. Because she said Devens was her ride or die but in her intro package, she said she’d cut her Final 2 ally if it was better for her in the end. So, setting up Devens as a sacrifice in week 1 is strategic.

Angela Murray was falling apart on Tuesday and Wednesday with her paranoia getting the better of her. I know in a closed room watching the live feeds, Alison Grodner’s cackling and rubbing her hands together, waiting. She wants Angela in full crazy eyes psycho mode.

Angela’s decided Drew Campbell has betrayed them, even though he was specifically tasked with socializing and talking around the BB28 house. So, Angela suspects Drew, Ashley, Mallory Aurichio, Lyric Medeiros, Jason de Puy, LaTrice “Lala” Verrett, Melody Morris, Rome and Taylor Brown are working together. Nine people.

BB28: A Game of Telephone and the Tally

Ashley said she heard them mentioned as an alliance from Drew. Mallory reported back to Drew what Ashley was saying. Dee, Devens and others realize that Angela needs managed. Meanwhile, Drew seems loyal and keeps reporting back to the Crossovers.

He told Devens that Rome approached him for a Final 4 with them, Lyric and Melody, whom Drew’s clearly crushing on. Tuesday evening, Dee warned Ashley that the Blockbuster was her best shot at staying in the BB28 house this week.

Dee, Barrett Pfeiffer and Drew also came up with a plan last night that if Ashley loses the Blockbuster, they’ll spread out and create some confusion trying to protect her. Meanwhile, Yash Patel thinks he has this locked up.

At 3:15 this morning, Angela assured her allies her paranoia over Drew has calmed and she now trusts him. I think her core issue is she can’t accept that Jason betrayed her after that tear-filled moment when Angela opened up about her son.

But yes, Jason’s targeting her. Her allies are right to distrust her because Tucker saved Angela in BB26 and she turned on him. She spins out fast and blows up big.

Big Brother: Showmancing Gone Wrong and Jason’s Lies

Meanwhile, Lyric’s worried that people will know she and Rome are sharing a bed and asked Mallory not to tell anyone. Umm. Hello. They are now sharing a bed for most of the night – how does Lyric think people do not know?

Speaking of bed sharing, Devens and Barrett shared a bed last night, but no cuddling or talking about their love story or plans to get a dog together like Lyric and Rome were doing.

BB28: The Big Ick from Showmance

If you haven’t heard yet, this gave me the ick – a moment with Lyric and Rome. He promised to keep her and everyone safe. That’s nice. Then he said to Lyric, “you’re my little girl.” Then, she asks Rome, “are you saying that you love me?”

He tells Lyric, “No, I’m not saying that yet.” She tells Rome she can’t wait to hear him say he loves her in like a week. The “little girl” stuff is ick. And then Rome called her “little girl” talking to Lala and others too.

And by the way, Drew seems to think Kamuela “Kamu” Kirk and Rome are going to be facing off over who’s the alpha in the house soon. That and Jason calling Barrett “Daddy” and also Devens “Big Daddy” and I’m just ready to turn off the live feeds if I’m being honest.

And speaking of Jason – at this point, I’m not sure if he’s capable of NOT telling lies. He told Lyric he only lies to Angela and Haley which is in itself a lie. And then, Jason cried on Angela less than an hour later in the storage room.

Jason’s boo-hooed and told Angela he loves her and Haley both and doesn’t want to choose between them. Angela played him hard. Because she said she loves him and is on his side. Once Jason left the storage room, her true colors came out.

Angela cam talked and said she thinks she did a good job convincing Jason. Angela smiled and said “Jason thinks he’s got me wrapped around his little finger and I’m freaking loving it.”

Big Brother: Veto Results and Vote Counting

Okay so tonight’s veto comp on the curated CBS episode is supposed to feature Will Kirby and Howie from BB6. And casuals will see Mallory win it, take herself off the block & Dee renoms Ashley.

For those keeping track in real time, it’s time to start counting votes. Ashley has been campaigning and now Dee’s decided that Ashley’s a good get since she’s unclaimed. So, Dee wants to scoop her up. And she brought in Kamu to convince the other two from the real Red Corner.

Dee was able to bring Kamu around that Ashley’s a number for them with no other allies. And that taking out Yash or Taylor destabilizes the other side of the house where allies are building around Rome and Jason. Kamu went back to Chuk Anyanwu and Haley to sell it.

BB28: Women Winning the Majority?

With 17 houseguests on BB28, two final nominees on the block and one HOH, that means 14 available votes. As of now, Angela, Devens, Drew, Kamu, Chuk, Haley and Barrett are ready to save Ashley if she doesn’t win the Blockbuster.

If it’s a 7-7 tie, Dee can break it to save Ashley. Now, if it’s Yash and Taylor in the end, that’s more debatable. The guys want a girl to go because the math is mathing for them. If Yash goes, the guys are down by two.

That being said, Taylor may be safe and Yash could go home. The main reason to evict Taylor is to separate her from Lala and Jason and from Rome, Lyric and that side of the house. Taylor has done some solid campaigning that seems to have benefited her.

Yash campaigned but may be optimistically misreading many houseguests’ responses as confirmation they’ll vote to keep him. Obviously, Wednesday night and Thursday morning are going to be critical to lock in those votes on Big Brother 28.

There are great movies, there are unforgettable movies, and then there are films that redefine what blockbuster filmmaking can be. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey firmly belongs in the latter category. With breathtaking visuals, career-defining performances, and an emotional core that never loses sight of Homer’s timeless story, The Odyssey isn’t simply one of the year’s best films. It stands among the finest achievements of Nolan’s extraordinary career.

Rather than treating Homer’s epic as nothing more than an excuse for massive action sequences and mythical creatures, Nolan crafts a deeply human story about perseverance, family, identity, and the emotional cost of war. Every impossible obstacle Odysseus faces feels meaningful because the journey has always been about one thing: finding his way home.

The Odyssey [credit: Universal Pictures]

Matt Damon delivers one of the most restrained performances of his career. His Odysseus isn’t portrayed as an invincible action hero, but as a weathered man carrying years of physical and emotional scars. The performance perfectly complements Nolan’s vision, showing a legendary warrior whose greatest battle is simply surviving long enough to return to the people he loves.

Anne Hathaway shines as Penelope, bringing remarkable strength and quiet resilience to every scene. Tom Holland delivers one of his strongest dramatic performances as Telemachus, whose own journey becomes just as compelling as his father’s. Robert Pattinson nearly steals every scene he’s in with an unforgettable performance that provides just enough unpredictability to keep audiences on edge.

Visually, The Odyssey is simply astonishing.

Shot entirely for IMAX, Nolan and cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema create images that demand to be experienced on the biggest screen possible. From towering cliffs and endless oceans to mythical encounters that feel both terrifying and beautiful, every frame reminds viewers why practical filmmaking still matters. There is a tangible scale and realism here that computer-generated spectacle rarely achieves.

Ludwig Göransson’s score deserves equal praise. The music elevates every triumph, every loss, and every quiet moment of reflection, becoming the emotional heartbeat of the entire film.

Perhaps Nolan’s greatest accomplishment is balancing spectacle with intimacy. While audiences will undoubtedly remember the Cyclops, the Sirens, and the film’s massive action sequences, it’s the quieter moments between family members that leave the deepest impression. The relationship between Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus gives the film genuine emotional weight that continues long after the credits roll.

The Odyssey [credit: Universal Pictures]

The film’s nearly three-hour runtime never feels excessive. Every chapter serves a purpose, allowing the audience to fully experience the trials that shaped one of literature’s greatest heroes. Nolan’s signature nonlinear storytelling is present but never distracting, adding depth without sacrificing clarity.

If there’s any criticism to be made, it’s only that some supporting characters deserved more time to breathe. With a cast this talented, a few memorable performances inevitably disappear sooner than audiences might hope. Yet even this feels less like a flaw and more like the unavoidable reality of adapting one of history’s greatest epics into a single film.

Critics have been nearly unanimous in their praise. The New York Times named it a Critic’s Pick, calling it “a classic in every sense” and “a transporting affirmation of the art and a work of pure cinema.” The Associated Press similarly praised the film’s emotional depth and breathtaking spectacle, while early reactions have hailed it as one of Nolan’s most ambitious accomplishments.

Christopher Nolan has spent decades pushing the boundaries of blockbuster filmmaking with films like Memento, The Dark Knight, Inception, Interstellar, Dunkirk, and Oppenheimer. Somehow, The Odyssey feels like the culmination of everything he has learned along the way. It is visually magnificent, emotionally resonant, intellectually engaging, and endlessly cinematic.

This is exactly why people go to the movies.

Final Verdict

The Odyssey is an extraordinary achievement that honors one of history’s greatest stories while firmly establishing itself as one of the defining films of modern cinema. It is epic in scale, intimate in emotion, and unforgettable from beginning to end. Christopher Nolan has once again reminded audiences why he remains one of the greatest filmmakers of his generation.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 20 seconds ago

Every now and then, I see the mainstream reaction to a successful movie and it makes me feel like I’m taking crazy pills. Perhaps the greatest example of this is the reaction to The Wolf of Wall Street, Martin Scorsese’s film about the infamous stockbroker named Jordan Belfort. The film is amazing, and it became both a critical and commercial smash hit. Nonetheless, every time I turned around, I saw more people condemning the film. To some degree or another, all of the haters share the same sentiment: that The Wolf of Wall Street effectively glorifies its main character’s illegal, immoral, and downright depraved activities.

Now, that’s an understandable surface-level reading of a movie where a guy parlays manic narcissism into a life of wealth and fame, complete with Margot Robbie in his bed every night. However, what such critics are really complaining about is that Scorsese didn’t give us something with the binary morality and instant consequences of an afterschool special, complete with messages like “drugs are bad, kids!” Instead, the director did something better than pretty much any film since Trainspotting: he revealed the downright intoxicating allure of this hedonistic lifestyle before revealing exactly how much damage it can cause to a man and his family.

Greed Has Never Looked So Good

The Wolf of Wall Street focuses on Jordan Belfort, someone who discovers early on that he is very successful at selling stocks. He opens his own brokerage firm, recruiting his buddies and training them in the art of pumping and dumping. Along the way, he gains fame, acclaim, and more money than God. Unfortunately, this causes him to sink into a life of drug abuse that only gets worse as his criminal activities catch the attention of the FBI. Ultimately, he must decide what to save: the scummy business he built from the ground up, or the brilliant young man who has effectively buried himself in a life of delinquency and decadence.

From the very beginning, The Wolf of Wall Street has been plagued by criticisms that it glorifies all of the excessive and downright dangerous behavior of Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jordan Belfort. These critiques typically focus on the ratio of content we are shown. That is, in its oversized three-hour runtime, we see far more of Belfort and other characters living lavish, impossibly expensive lifestyles than we see them paying for their transgressions. Belfort may get arrested at the end, but the film’s haters don’t believe that is enough to offset the rest of the film emphasizing just how well crime can pay.

Why The Haters Are Wrong

It doesn’t help that Belfort, thanks to DiCaprio, is very handsome and charming. Critics of The Wolf of Wall Street believe this helps the film portray this shady stockbroker as someone to look up to. Throw in the fact that the victims are mostly invisible and Belfort’s life is so luxurious, and you are left with a seeming message that crime really does pay. The whole movie feels like an exciting rollercoaster, one that ends with the charismatic criminal serving less than two years in prison. Because of these things, haters consider The Wolf of Wall Street an unabashed and downright dangerous bit of blatant hero worship.

Of course, the harshest critics of The Wolf of Wall Street are wrong about the movie glorifying Jordan Belfort. From the very beginning, Martin Scorsese’s film reminded me of what producer Andrew Macdonald once said about Trainspotting. That film generated a similar moral panic from haters who thought that it was glorifying drugs. Regarding that panic, the producer once told the BBC that, “we were determined to show why people took drugs … you had to show that it was fun and that it was awful.” This caused director Danny Boyle to chime in: “It’s the music and humor that makes people feel it’s glamorising drugs.”

The Modern Anti-Drug PSA

The similar response to The Wolf of Wall Street proves the aphorism from True Detective is, well, true: time really is a flat circle. Obviously, Boyle’s comments explain why so many think Scorsese’s film is glorifying bad behavior: because Belfort, his friends, and their insane actions are often downright hilarious. Many people have trouble separating fiction from reality in their heads, and their own laughter at these onscreen antics makes them feel guilty. They wouldn’t cheer for actual criminals doing terrible things, so they feel weird cheering a fictional sleazebag. Instead of processing how and why they feel this way, these haters simply conclude that the film must be endorsing bad behavior.

The irony here is that The Wolf of Wall Street does condemn that bad behavior, but it does so in a realistic way. We see Jordan Belfort destroy multiple marriages, lose his reputation, and ultimately get tossed in jail; as both a stockbroker and a human being, he fails on almost every level. Why would he go down such a self-destructive path, knowing how risky it could be? Simple: money and power. Belfort is hypnotized by the obscene amounts of money he is making, and his growing love of wealth steadily erodes his judgment. Nothing is more powerful than money, and Scorsese has crafted a tale of power completely and utterly corrupting someone.

You’re Never Higher Than Before The Fall

As with Trainspotting, The Wolf of Wall Street channels the hilarious highs and sobering lows of drug abuse. One of the reasons that anti-drug commercials were always a joke is that they focused entirely on the consequences of abuse, but never on why someone would be tempted in the first place. Scorsese’s film chronicles how Jordan Belfort’s road to hell was paved with every temptation known to man; by the time we see his epic fall from grace, it’s clear that none of this was worth it, despite the drug-fueled ride. That’s ultimately far more effective than a movie that channels its inner South Park to simply say, “Drugs are bad, mm’kay!”

All of this is, of course, part of the magic. The Wolf of Wall Street can be seen as a cautionary tale, one that goes to great lengths to show the dangers of drug abuse and criminal activity. But it can also be seen as a breezy comedy powered by sex, drugs, and stock’n’roll. In reality, the movie is both things: it entertains us with the exploits of very fallible characters while also exploring the permanent consequences of their drunken follies. Ultimately, The Wolf of Wall Street’s concern trolls need to take their own advice and worry about their own addiction: namely, the high they get from preaching to people on the internet!

The Wolf of Wall Street is currently streaming on Hulu.

A major Marvel rumor is making waves online, with reports claiming that Adam Driver is being lined up to play Magneto in Marvel Studios’ highly anticipated X-Men reboot.

The casting rumor quickly gained traction after surfacing through industry scoopers before spreading across social media, Reddit, and several entertainment news outlets. While Marvel Studios has yet to confirm the report, Driver’s name has rapidly become one of the most talked about possibilities for the iconic mutant leader.

If the rumor proves true, Driver would become the third major actor to portray Erik Lehnsherr on the big screen, following legendary performances by Sir Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender. The role is widely considered one of Marvel’s most complex characters, requiring an actor capable of balancing both villainy and sympathy, something many fans believe Driver has consistently demonstrated throughout his career.

Adding even more excitement to the speculation is the timing. Marvel Studios is expected to return to Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con later this month, and many insiders believe the presentation could serve as the stage for the studio’s first official X-Men casting announcements. While rumors continue to point toward Hall H as the place where Marvel could unveil its new mutant lineup, the studio has not confirmed that any X-Men casting announcements are planned, making the speculation just that for now.

Recent reports have suggested Marvel is assembling a fresh roster of mutants following the events of Avengers: Secret Wars, with younger actors reportedly being sought for characters like Cyclops, Jean Grey, Storm, and Nightcrawler. Veteran actors are still believed to be in the mix for legacy characters such as Magneto and Professor X, making Driver’s rumored involvement a believable fit if Marvel chooses to go that route.

Magneto, Marvel

Driver is no stranger to blockbuster franchises, having portrayed Kylo Ren throughout Disney’s Star Wars sequel trilogy while also earning Academy Award nominations for Marriage Story and BlacKkKlansman. His ability to portray emotionally layered characters has made him a longtime fan favorite for several Marvel roles.

For now, however, fans should approach the rumor with caution. Marvel Studios has remained silent regarding its X-Mencast, and numerous names have been linked to the reboot over the past year without becoming official.

With San Diego Comic-Con just around the corner, fans may not have to wait much longer to learn who will lead the next generation of Marvel’s mutants. Whether Adam Driver ultimately dons Magneto’s iconic helmet remains to be seen, but if the Hall H rumors prove accurate, the official reveal could be just days away.

Actor Sam Neill passed away on July 13, 2026, at age 78. Although he had been open about his cancer struggles, his family released a short statement saying that his death was “sudden” and “unexpected.” Less than a week after his tragic passing, his cause of death was made public by a representative for the “Jurassic Park” actor.

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On July 15, a representative for the actor revealed that the “Jurassic Park” star had passed away due to pneumonia at age 78.

“Prior to becoming sick, Sam had valiantly fought and beaten lymphoma through a new treatment called CAR-T therapy,” the actor’s representative told PEOPLE magazine in a brief statement.

The representative noted that the actor had been busy in the past twelve months. In addition to filming four projects back-to-back, he was also running his winery, Two Paddocks.

Neill’s Rep Requests Donations In Lieu Of Flowers

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A private family memorial will be held at his New Zealand farm. The date of the memorial has yet to be announced.

“I’d like to thank those who were truly close to Sam for considering his privacy with the respect he earned and his loved ones need and deserve during this immeasurably difficult time,” his rep added.

In lieu of flowers, Neill’s rep said that fans could donate to some of the actor’s favorite causes, which include The Dunstan Hospital Foundation, The Snowdome Foundation, the NZ Nature Fund and Sustainable Tarras.

Sam Neill Was Diagnosed With A Rare Type Of Blood Cancer In 2022

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In 2022, “The Hunt for Red October” actor was diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare kind of blood cancer. He later revealed that he was in remission, but admitted that he would have to receive chemotherapy for the rest of his life.

Despite his cancer struggles, his family said that his death was “sudden and unexpected” in a heartfelt statement shared on Instagram following his passing.

“It is with immense sadness that the whānau [extended family] of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney, Australia,” the statement began.

“Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterized his whole life,” they continued. “The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer-free. They would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their incredible care.”

The statement went on to say, “More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss.”

Sam Neill Left Behind Four Children

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The actor is survived by four children. He fathered a son named Andrew in his 20s, but he did not have a relationship with him until the pair reunited in 2014. He shared another son, Tim, with his “Omen III” costar, actress Lisa Harrow.

He adopted another daughter, Maiko, with his ex-wife, Noriko Watanabe, whom he was married to from 1989 to 2017. They also shared a daughter named Elena.

Many Hollywood Stars Paid Tribute To The Late Actor

Many of the late actor’s costars took to social media to pay tribute to the actor following his death. His “Peaky Blinders” costar Cillian Murphy called him “one of the kindest, funniest and gentlest people, and one of the finest actors,” adding, “Like everyone who knew and worked with Sam, I admired him and adored him in equal measure…RIP.”

His “The Hunt for Red October” costar Alec Baldwin shared a tribute on Instagram, saying, “Sam Neill was not only one of the most talented people I have ever worked with, but one of the kindest and warmest as well. After The Hunt for Red October, I had always hoped to work with him again.”

“Jurassic World” director Colin Trevorrow called the actor “a deeply soulful and beautiful man” in his Instagram tribute, adding, “He was a friend and collaborator at a challenging time, and his strength gave us all strength.”

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“I’ll remember him for his tranquility, his love of wine, and for the calm assuredness he brought to his characters,” he continued. “It’s not every lifetime you get to befriend a legend. Forever grateful.”

Roomies, the internet is buzzing and wondering if wedding bells already rang for Moneybagg Yo and Ari Fletcher. Folks think the couple secretly walked down the aisle after Bagg popped out wearing a HUGE rock on his ring finger while celebrating Ari’s 31st birthday in Spain.

RELATED: Ari Fletcher & Moneybagg Yo Bring The Heat To Ibiza For Her Birthday & Fans Can’t Get Enough (PHOTO + VIDEO) 

Fans Speculate That Moneybagg Yo’s Latest Jewelry Flex Means More Than Just Ice

Ari Fletcher hasn’t slowed down on sharing content from her birthday getaway in Ibiza. She recently celebrated her 31st trip around the sun on July 12th with Moneybagg Yo and a few of her close friends. Fans have been clocking her every move, trying to catch a glimpse of the vacation vibes, and one thing they couldn’t help but notice was Bagg’s HUGE ice — which they think could mean more than just a flashy accessory.

Ari recently dropped a carousel of photos from the trip on Instagram, and Bagg made a few appearances. In two flicks, fans spotted some BIG BLING on his ring finger, sparking speculation that the couple may have already secretly tied the knot. However, neither Ari nor BAgg have confirmed that they walked down the aisle.

The Roomies Think Ari & Bagg Already Said “I, Do”

Folks online stood ten toes down on their theories in The Shade Room’s comment section, saying Ari and Moneyabgg’s energy — and even the vibes from the photos are giving VERY much “been married!” Check out some reactions below.

Instagram user @softlifero wrote, “U can tell they already married 😂❤️” 

Instagram user @longlivequeenlexi wrote, “aww he the wedding 😆” 

While Instagram user @changingfaceslove wrote, “They BEEEN married 😂 I love them😍” 

Then Instagram user @zenoviaqueen wrote, “They so cuteeee together 😍😍😍”

Another Instagram user @itssimplyneisha wrote, “Them ppl been married they playing with y’all 😂😂😂” 

Instagram user @1x.autumnn wrote, “That man in love 😍😍😍” 

Then another Instagram user @ris_dejesus wrote, “😍 congratulations we love to see a happy couple.” 

While another Instagram user @sadiekreates wrote, “Now THAT’S a ring!!!! 😍😍😍 💍 🔥” 

Instagram user @naturallykurvedd wrote, “Baby they been married !!” 

Finally, Instagram user @l3av3m3al0n34l wrote, “He loves her down and she loves him just as much. Black Love❤️❤️❤️” 

Ari Previously Spilled Tea About Her & Bagg’s Wedding Plans

While fans are busy trying to figure out if Ari and Bagg secretly said, “I do,” Ari already gave fans some tea about their wedding plans. During BET Weekend, she addressed the huge ring she’s been showing off all year and revealed that she and Bagg have an official wedding date planned for 2027. Ari said she’s excited for their big day but admitted she’s “really nervous” too. When asked why, she kept it real and said, “Cause I’m grown as h*ll […] a wedding?!”

@theshaderoom Aww! Congratulations 🎉! #AriFletcher confirms she is indeed an wedding planning for her 2027 wedding 💗! #BETAwards #BETMediaHouse (🎤: @China_lovelace, @Jade Ashley ♬ original sound – The Shade Room

RELATED: Ari Fletcher Spills Tea On Wedding Plans With Moneybagg Yo As Fans Zoom In On Her Icy Ring (VIDEO)