VENOM: THE LAST DANCE

(15) 109mins

★★★☆☆

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“SCIENCE is sacrifice” declares Juno Temple’s Dr Teddy Payne, a UFO geek who works in a secret underground lab researching alien life.

But not at the expense of an entertaining Marvel storyline.

Tom Hardy is back as the symbiote Eddie Brock for this last instalment in the Venom trilogy.

And it’s a great fun finale.

Half good-looking guy, (I’ve won sexiest man awards, Eddie quips), half genial but grotesque monster, the intertwined duo are now carrying the Codex, a key to other worlds.

But evil Knull, the creator of symbiotes, wants it back.

We find our tangled twosome in Mexico, embarking on a road trip to New York.

They’re being pursued by both military investigator General Rex Strickland (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and a rampaging Xenophage.

The monster can track the location of the Codex and has been dispatched to retrieve it, while Strickland wants to destroy it.

Both predators will ultimately hunt to kill.

After a hitchhike on top of a plane goes wrong Eddie/Venom crashland in the Nevada desert, where they catch a more conventional ride with off-grid-living Martin (a brilliant Rhys Ifans), wife (Alanna Ubach) and children Leaf and Echo.

The family are en route to the about-to-be-decommissioned Area 51 research centre, which theorists allege is an alien research site.

Leaf is scared about what they might encounter, so (nudge-nudge) Eddie/Venom assures him other intelligent lifeforms don’t exist.

Of course, the rumours are true, with other symbiotes including Patrick Mulligan/Toxin (Stephen Graham) contained there.

There’s plenty of satisfying set pieces here and a great soundtrack.

A galloping horse morphing majestically into Venom is a triumph, a camper-van singalong to Major Tom will make you snigger, and the final shapeshifting showdown delivers.

The endless bickering between Eddie/Venom is generally amusing, even if the latter sometimes sounds more like the voiceover man from a TV talent show.

At one point, Venom even helpfully Marvel-splains the plot so far to his host Eddie.

A useful recap for fans in this complicated world, and helpful for bemused Marvel Comic Universe first-timers.

LAURA STOTT

EMILIA PEREZ

(15) 132mins

★★★★☆

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IT’S rare to watch anything these days that feels entirely original – but this Spanish musical-crime drama about a menacing Mexican cartel leader who hires a paralegal to help him undergo gender reassignment surgery- comes close to achieving it.

Directed by Jaques Audiard, the boundary- pushing screenplay with its spoken and sung dialogue would be so at home on the stage, at the end you almost expect the cast to appear for a curtain call.

Rita (an outstanding Zoe Saldana) is an undervalued lawyer, sick of her male boss taking all the credit for her work.

When notorious Narcos “Manitas” Del Monte kidnaps her, offering life-changing sums to help him fully transition into “Emilia” and fake his own death (both roles played by trans actor Karla Sofía Gascón) she sees a way out.

But while Emilia enjoys a renaissance in Mexico City, her past life with old wife Jessi (Selena Gomez) and two kids is implausible to leave behind.

Impossible to categorise, it’s the only film this year where scalpel-wielding Bangkok surgeons trill,” Rhinoplasty, Vaginoplasty!”

THE ROOM NEXT DOOR

(12A) 107mins

★★★☆☆

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LEGENDARY Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar’s English-language debut, is an adaptation of Sigrid Nunez’s 2020 novel, What Are You Going Through.

It stars Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton as old friends who reunite in a crisis.

Ex-war reporter Martha (Swinton), diagnosed with terminal cancer, is grappling with the expectation that she must fight her illness by any means.

Ingrid (Moore), a novelist who has written about her own fear of dying, is unsettled, but eventually supportive, when Martha asks her to be present when she chooses to take her own life.

Almodóvar’s style shines here, with chic costumes and beautiful interiors and the film’s setting, from New York City to its remote modern woodlands, reflects the journey of both characters and Ingrid’s inner turmoil.

There’s certainly strong performances too from both women and John Turturro, who plays their former lover.

But the dialogue feels stunted in the first half of the movie, and there’s a lack of emotional depth.

Yet the film manages to offer a humane portrayal of terminal illness and a frank and open discussion on euthanasia.

LINDA MARRIC

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The third and final season of Good Omens will now be just a single 90-minute episode.

The Prime Video fantasy series is based on the 1990 novel of the same name, which was co-authored by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. It follows the friendship of fastidious angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and fast-living demon Crowley (David Tennant).

The first season aired in 2019, with a second following in 2023. No release date had yet been announced for the third season, which was confirmed back in December.

Deadline reports that the decision to truncate the final season came after Gaiman, who was an executive producer on the series, left the show after facing a string of sexual assault allegations.

Gaiman’s production company the Blank Corporation will also no longer be involved in the show, and a new writer is expected to be brought in to finish the script.

Sheen and Tennant will shoot the television movie in Scotland early next year.

It was reported in September that production on the third season had been suspended, shortly after Gaiman was accused of having non-consensual sex with two young women, one of whom was a nanny to his child, and another, a fan of his writing.

Gaiman allegedly assaulted one of the women within hours of meeting them – when she was 22 and he was 61. Both women accused the author of “rough and degrading sex”. The author has strongly denied any accusations of non-consensual sex with both women.

A further two women accused Gaiman of sexual assault at the start of August, which the writer also denied. At the end of last month, a fifth woman alleged the author had sexually assaulted her. Gaiman claimed their “previous interactions” suggested she wanted intimate contact, Tortoise reported.

The Independent contacted Gaiman’s representatives for comment.

Meanwhile, Good Omens director Douglas Mackinnon – who made the first two seasons – previously confirmed his exit from the show even before a third season was comissioned.

Writing in his Instagram comments in October 2023, Mackinnon told his followers: “I’m not involved with this show anymore.”

Rape Crisis offers support for those affected by rape and sexual abuse. You can call them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk. If you are in the US, you can call Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673)

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Jack Jones, the Grammy-winning singer best known for performing the theme tune to The Love Boat, has died. He was 86.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, his stepdaughter Nicole Whitty announced that Jones died on Wednesday night at Eisenhower Medical in Rancho Mirage, California, after a two-year battle with leukemia.

More to follow

EMILY Atack looked sensational as she posed in a bikini for behind-the-scenes Rivals. snaps

Based Jilly Cooper’s 1988 novel, Rivals launched on Disney+ on October 18.

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Former Inbetweeners star Emily, 34, plays the character Sarah Stratton.

Taking to Instagram, Emily shared on the on-set bikini snaps with the caption: “What ep are you on?”

One fan replied: “Episode 6…second viewing!!!! So good I’ve had to watch it all twice!”

Another commented: “Watched all of them. We need a second series.”

Set in the Eighties in the fictional county of Rutshire, long-held grudges bubble to the surface as the characters vie for business and each others’ affections in the cut-throat world of telly execs. 

Rivals’ all-star cast also includes David Tennant, Danny Dyer, Aidan Turner and Katherine Parkinson.

Less a month after its release, the Disney+ show’s future has already been confirmed.

Early screenings were said to have impressed bosses at the streaming giant.

A TV insider said: “The feeling is that there is still so much more in the story that could easily be made into a sequel.

“Disney+ appear to be on board, even though they haven’t announced an official commission yet.

“Bosses at the streamer can see there is a huge amount of anticipation for this show, and having seen the episodes, they know it won’t disappoint.

“So going for a follow-up is a no-brainer, though these things take money and time, particularly as they have to try to align the very busy diaries of Rivals’ star-studded cast.”

It comes as fans were left raving over the raunchy new series.

Taking to social media, one wrote: “I f*****g love #rivals on #DisneyPlus so glad it hasn’t disappointed me as it is my favourite book ever (and no I’m not embarrassed to admit it).”

Another added: “Episode one done. It’s magnificent! Well done @DisneyPlus and Dame Jilly. #Rivals.”

A third chimed in: “#rivals everything I expected and more! 80s hair, music and debauchery! I love it!”

While a fourth remarked: “Im loving this show!!! #rivals #hulu.”

Rivals is streaming on Disney+.

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Sarah Jessica Parker made reference to her Sex and the City character Carrie Bradshaw as she announced her support for Kamala Harris in next month’s presidential election.

Parker, 59, posted an image of herself holding up a “Harris/Walz” placard on Instagram.

In the caption, she listed 31 reasons why she intends to vote for the Democratic candidates, writing: “For the climate, For hope, For friends and loved ones in the LGBTQ+ community, For freedom, For science, For affordable healthcare, For our union members, For democracy, For my daughters, For my son, For all of our children…

“For equality, For dignity, For hope, For the constitution, For me, For love, For choice, And for a certain childless cat lady I play on TV.

“With an abundance of joy, optimism and pride I am voting for Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz. X, SJ.”

Her reference to a “certain childess cat lady” was not only a nod to Bradshaw, but also an apparent dig at Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance.

The Ohio senator complained in a 2021 interview that the country was being run by “a bunch of childless cat ladies” – including Kamala Harris – “who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too.”

Parker is the latest Hollywood star to endorse Harris for president and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for vice president. In recent weeks, actor Anne Hathaway and lifestyle guru Martha Stewart have each revealed they’ll be voting for Harris on election day, November 5.

“In case you didn’t know, I am voting for Kamala,” Hathaway said during a Broadway for Harris fundraising event. “Is anyone else here voting for Kamala?”

“America is a very big place and not everybody is decided, especially in an election like this when passions are rightly so intense because the stakes couldn’t be higher. It’s still very important to remember that you have to meet people where they’re at,” she continued.

“We thought that it might be nice to make a little space tonight for the undecided voter and contemplate a question that they might be struggling with,” Hathaway said, before breaking out into Queen’s “Somebody to Love,” which she performed in the 2004 film Ella Enchanted.

Meanwhile, Breaking Bad actor Bryan Cranston publicly endorsed Harris at a recent Democratic campaign rally in Phoenix, Arizona – joining the likes of Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Stevie Wonder, and Bruce Springsteen.

A MARRIED At First Sight UK couple hit the rocks tonight after one groom admits the spark in their relationship has gone.

The drama on MAFS takes a heartbreaking turn in the latest episode as Kieran confesses his feelings for his bride Kristina have disappeared, leaving their relationship teetering on the edge.

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The emotional confession comes after an explosive dinner party incident where the Newcastle mechanic, 29, kisses fellow bride Polly as a joke, igniting a fiery argument with Kristina in front of the group.

In a private conversation with his co-star, Kieran then opens up about the growing distance between him and Kristina.

“I feel like the spark is gone,” he admitted, his voice heavy with regret.

“Things just aren’t the same anymore.”

Kristina, who was still visibly hurt from the public kiss with Polly, has been struggling with Kieran’s lack of affection.

Kieran’s revelation came after weeks of tension between the couple, who have yet to be intimate.

While Kieran insists the kiss was harmless, Kristina struggles to move past the public embarrassment in Thursday’s episode.

She says the mechanic hasn’t even kissed her yet because of his “coldsores”.

And she appears to be shaking with anger, saying: “Oh my god.

“Did you just kiss another wife on your lips? I should think not Kieran.

“Remember respect with your wife, please.

“You’re not even at that level with me let alone one of my best friends in here.”

Some of the other brides and grooms exchange uncomfortable glances as they sit in stunned silence, unsure how to intervene.

The experts agree with Kristina though, with Paul Brunson saying: “It’s because of Kristina feeling rejected that of course she is going to feel that in that moment.”

The camera returns to Kristina, who said to Kieran: “Think of my feelings, please.”

He refused to answer her at first, but then he nodded and said: “Yeah, I hear you.”

The damage was already done, and Kristina turned away from Kieran in a sulk.