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What happened to the cast of “Caddyshack”? See what the stars of the golf comedy are doing now
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Like gophers on the Bushwood Country Club golf course, you can’t get rid of the cast of this comedy easily.
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2011 might not have been a classic year in cinema history, but it marked an important twelve months of change for the industry. A battle began to emerge with the widespread move from film stock to digital, with the first online cries for classic cinema to return. Hollywood had long been skeptical about certain new technologies, and 2011 saw many of said skeptics finally adopt new practices.
As well as this, theatrical attendances began to drop significantly for the first time in a decade that would see audiences shift from attending across the theatrical line-up to saving their spending money for the burgeoning cinematic universes. So, in a year remembered as a transitional period, it’s worth reminding oneself of the genuinely great cinema we also received. With that in mind, here’s a look at the ten best movies of 2011.
10
‘Take Shelter’
Jeff Nichols‘ 2013 psychological disaster thriller Take Shelter might not be the first name that comes to mind when thinking of 2011, but its place on this list is well-deserved. Starring Oscar nominee Michael Shannon and Oscar winner Jessica Chastain, the film follows one Ohio family man’s sudden visions of an apocalyptic future, and his efforts to save those closest to him.
In modern Hollywood, it feels as if suspense is built in a rush. For Nichols’ most underrated movie, Take Shelter, attention to detail is used to craft a meticulously ascending tension that explodes in a storm of both real and marital proportions. What might seem like an average disaster thriller is, in fact, a clever analysis of paranoia and community.
9
‘Crazy, Stupid, Love.’
2011 was dominated by the more “serious” genres, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t receive some great comedy. The funniest film of 2011, and one that has aged like a fine wine since, is Crazy, Stupid, Love, which is best described as ancient Greek comedy meets four of the best modern actors: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, and Emma Stone.
The twisting, turning romantic lives of Cal (Carell), Jacob (Gosling), Emily (Moore), Hannah (Stone), and more are explored in hilarious and heartwarming detail in Crazy Stupid, Love, all culminating in one of the most jaw-dropping, cathartic twists in 2010s Hollywood. Directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, romantic comedies don’t get much better than this.
8
‘Oslo, August 31st’
Joachim Trier‘s most recent film, Sentimental Value, stole hearts, minds, and even an Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. 15 years prior, he released only his second ever feature film, and the talent that would one day secure Oscars gold was clear for everyone to see.
Oslo, August 31 is a detailed and emotionally devastating story — something that will come as little surprise to anyone who has seen either Sentimental Value or The Worst Person in the World. A tender tale of a day-in-the-life of a young recovering drug addict, this profound achievement succeeds in being both bold and quiet.
7
‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2’
Rarely does the highest-grossing movie of the year also rank as one of the best in terms of quality. In 2011, the stars aligned for the final installment in the magical Harry Potter franchise. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, the eighth film in the franchise, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson)’s mission to destroy the Horcruxes comes to an explosive end via one of the most satisfying cinematic battles ever.
For what it lacks in nuance and misses out on in a disappointing villain death, Deathly Hallows: Part 2 more than makes up for in sheer entertainment value. After two underwhelming previous installments, the pressure was on for director David Yates and co to nail the landing, and they did so with awe-inspiring visuals, a surprisingly emotional core, and some of the franchise’s best performances.
6
‘Submarine’
2011 was a strong year for British film, with Olivia Colman stunning in Tyrannosaur, John Boyega breaking onto the scene in Attack the Block, and Saoirse Ronan showcasing her early talent in Hanna. But the best of the bunch from across the pond actually comes from one of the two main characters in the beloved comedy The IT Crowd.
Richard Ayoade‘s coming-of-age drama Submarine follows the eccentric outcast Oliver Tate (Craig Roberts), who struggles to find romance in school whilst also attempting to repair his parents’ marriage. Hilariously awkward in all the best ways, Submarine taps into the genuine anxiety and confusion that surrounds understanding love and romance at a young age, in all its many ungainly facets.
5
‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’
He might be best known as 007 or private detective Benoit Blanc, but one of Daniel Craig‘s best-ever performances came in this 2011 adaptation of author Stieg Larsson‘s 2005 novel, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Directed by the great David Fincher, just a year after delivering The Social Network, the film follows disgraced financial reporter Mikael Blomkvist (Craig) as he attempts to redeem his career by solving a 40-year-old murder.
Craig’s pitch-perfect performance in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is only bettered by a jaw-dropping turn from Rooney Mara as hacker Lisbeth, for which she was nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards. This was one of five nominations the adaptation earned at the 84th edition of the biggest event in the cinema calendar, with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo winning for Best Film Editing.
4
‘Melancholia’
One of the most thought-provoking movies of 2011 is Melancholia, the 12th feature in the filmography of a man never afraid of symbolic ambiguity, Lars von Trier. The film tells the tale of two sisters, played by Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg, as they live their final days before doomsday strikes and a planet collides with Earth.
An existential masterpiece that captures both the broad and the fine, Melancholia is satisfied with being indefinite, allowing a selection of top-tier performances and some unusual set pieces to capture an essence of humanity on the edge. Key to the film’s success is Dunst, whose turn as the depressed, enigmatic Justine is perhaps her very best.
3
‘The Tree of Life’
There’s no doubt that this pick will prove divisive, as plenty of audiences reacted poorly to Terrence Malick‘s The Tree of Life. However, others have labeled the film his magnum opus, as his many layers of meaning are peeled back through some of the finest cinematography of the year, in a film that will live long in your mind once the credits roll.
Compared by the great Roger Ebert to Stanley Kubrick‘s 2001: A Space Odyssey — which is alone enough to put it on this list — The Tree of Life, to those who loved it, was regarded as the very best of 2011. A bold, visceral drama that is as emotionally diverse as it is visually stunning, The Tree of Life has aged like a fine wine.
2
‘Drive’
15 years before joining Rocky on a mission to save the universe in Project Hail Mary, Ryan Gosling‘s reputation as one of the best actors of his generation began with a simple Drive. It is this very simplicity that helps Nicolas Winding Refn‘s genius to shine through, as arthouse violence and stylish cinematography help frame one of the most stylish and oddly heartfelt crime dramas of the 2010s.
Following Gosling’s Hollywood action film stuntman turned getaway driver, as he spirals into criminal chaos. A neo-noir gem that blends romance, tragedy, and breathless tension, Drive even earned a nomination for an Academy Award in a year when the Academy seemed to get many decisions wrong.
1
‘A Separation’
2011 wasn’t a classic year for American cinema, but thankfully, plenty of international features stood out. One such stand-out, an Iranian production boasting the directorial talent of the genius Asghar Farhadi, is arguably the greatest movie of 2011 entirely. The winner of Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards, A Separation is the most celebrated Iranian film of all time.
Never before have the complexities of marriage, divorce, and the chaos in between been explored in such devastating detail. A tour de force of suspense and intensity, this morally nuanced tale is as dynamic as an action thriller, with all the emotion of a tender drama. Boasting immersive performances and a masterclass in direction, A Separation is an utter triumph.
- Release Date
-
February 15, 2011
- Runtime
-
123 minutes
- Director
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Asghar Farhadi
The last five years have given HBO some true sleeper hits, but none has reached the level of The White Lotus. Initially conceptualized as a limited series, the show went the anthology route and has since become one of the network’s most celebrated dramas. And it’s easy to see why: creator Mike White weaves a tight narrative about a crime that keeps you guessing to the end. Three seasons have aired thus far, with another one in the works, expected sometime in 2027. But in the interim, Netflix is trying to scratch The White Lotus‘ itch with a brand-new series that follows a similar premise.
There are some distinctions to be made, however. Netflix’s series takes place in Spain and follows relatively young characters. Think Elite meets The White Lotus. And instead of a global hotel chain, this is set in an exclusive resort that only admits the richest of the rich. The titular Oasis is Spain’s most luxurious holiday resort reserved for the wealthiest in society. Its private beaches, VIP facilities, and impenetrable security make for one hell of a summer. However, trouble knocks in paradise when police land at Oasis investigating a mysterious disappearance, and there are secrets to unearth. Everyone is a suspect, and no one is leaving until the culprit is found.
Oasis was created by Ramón Campos, Jon de la Cuesta Olaizola, Javier Chacártegui Horrach, David Orea Arribas, and Ricardo Jornet Gallego. The series stars Ana Garcés (Helena), Tomy Aguilera (Dani), and Victoria Kantch (Celia) and includes Manel Duarte (Pablo), Berta Castañé (Maca), Ada Molina (Sofia), Candela Méndez (Alicia), Álex Mola (Jaén), Laura Simón (Laura), Jan Buxaderas (Oliver), Amanda Palomino (Leo), and Blas Polidori (Jon). These cast members bring to life the guests and staff at Oasis, who carry secrets that could lead to a breakthrough in this case.
What About ‘The White Lotus’?
Meanwhile, production for the France-set season of The White Lotus is in progress. The series has already cast all major roles. News recently broke that Helena Bonham Carter had left the series, but her role was recast. The White Lotus Season 4 follows guests at the titular resort during the Cannes Film Festival. The theme for the season is fame and its effects on people in the age of social media. White aims to explore what “prioritizing likes or the attention of strangers over creating real relationships” does to people and society.
Check in to Oasis on June 19, when the full season drops. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
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2021 – 2024
- Network
-
HBO
- Showrunner
-
Mike White
- Directors
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Mike White
- Writers
-
Mike White
A comedy can age really poorly these days, but not one as fabulous as this. Its skincare routine is just too good; it’s moisturizing, minding its own business, and ain’t nobody going to dim its lighting. This is a movie about the things you’ll do for your family, even if that’s completely antithetical to who you are as a person, which is probably why it’s so wonderful. And better than that, it’s free to watch.
The Birdcage follows Armand Goldman (Robin Williams), the owner of a drag nightclub in Miami, and his longtime partner Albert (Nathan Lane), the club’s star performer. When Armand’s son announces that he’s engaged to the daughter of a conservative senator, the family tries to stage an extremely normal dinner to impress her parents. You already know exactly how this is going to go.
The cast also includes Gene Hackman (The French Connection) as Senator Kevin Keeley, Dianne Wiest (Bullets over Broadway) as Louise Keeley, Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal) as Barbara Keeley, and Hank Azaria (The Simpsons) as Agador Spartacus.
Was ‘The Birdcage’ a Success?
The Birdcage hit it big at the box office, with audiences, culturally, and with awards bodies too. The Birdcage cost about $31 million to produce, and went on to gross about $185 million globally, which is just silly money for a comedy like this. It was also the #1 movie in North America the weekend it opened, and it stayed top for a number of weeks, so this wasn’t an under-the-radar performer. As for the critics, they loved it too. It was warmly received and, for those who’ve seen it lately, it still holds up well. Rotten Tomatoes currently has The Birdcage at 84% from critics and 81% from audiences. Awards-wise, it also had real recognition. The cast won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast, and the movie earned an Oscar nomination for Best Art Direction.
Directed by Mike Nichols, The Birdcage is streaming for free now on Fawesome.
- Release Date
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March 8, 1996
- Runtime
-
119 minutes
- Writers
-
Elaine May
No matter how many movies and TV shows Pierce Brosnan stars in, he’ll always be remembered for his role as James Bond in a series of 007 movies in the ’90s. Brosnan has since garnered fame for his performance in the hit Paramount Plus crime thriller show, MobLand, which has spent some unfortunate time in the news cycle over the last few weeks. Reports surfaced online that Brosnan’s MobLand co-star Tom Hardy had been fired from the show for now showing up on set on time and feuding with producers, but this was debunked when it was reported that he had not been fired and the team was mending bridges to ensure his return. Brosnan also recently teamed up with Dwayne Johnson for the 2022 superhero movie, Black Adam, which is currently streaming on HBO Max.
Pierce Brosnan starred in four James Bond movies, starting with Golden Eye in 1995. He reprised his role as 007 just a few years later in Tomorrow Never Dies, and in the final year of the 1990s, he headlined The World Is Not Enough. Brosnan took a break from playing James Bond in 2000 and 2001 before he suited up as the iconic spy for the final time in Die Another Day. Most fans would agree that his final movie is, by far, the weakest of Brosnan’s four Bond movies, which is mostly due to sloppy writing and poor visual effects — it’s no fault of Brosnan’s performance. Still, all these years later, Die Another Day has surged into the VOD top 10 on platforms such as Prime Video and Apple TV. The film does not have a streaming home in America right now, but it could return to Prime Video soon now that Amazon owns the IP.
What Is ‘Die Another Day’ About?
The official synopsis for Die Another Day, which also stars Halle Berry and Rosamund Pike, reads as follows:
“After being betrayed and imprisoned in North Korea for fourteen months, James Bond escapes MI6 custody to hunt down the man who exposed him. His trail leads to a shadowy billionaire and a devastating orbital weapon capable of global destruction — and a mole hiding closer to home than Bond ever imagined.”
Die Another Day was written by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, and Lee Tamahori stepped behind the camera to direct the film. The 2002 James Bond movie grossed $431 million at the box office against a $142 million budget, and it earned scores of 55% from critics and 41% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.
Check out Die Another Day on VOD platforms like Prime Video and Apple TV, and stay tuned to Collider for more streaming updates and coverage of Brosnan’s future projects.
- Release Date
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November 22, 2002
- Runtime
-
133 minutes
- Director
-
Lee Tamahori
- Writers
-
Ian Fleming, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade
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If you’ve ever wondered what sneakers, wedges and loafers would look like as one shoe, Martha Stewart just showed Us. Her summer slip-ons deliver plush comfort with a design worth photographing, making them an incredible upgrade to any summer wardrobe. Somehow, Stewart’s exact shoes are under $100!
In a recent Instagram post, Stewart posed in a breezy beige sweater, tailored pants and these Skechers Relaxed Fit Parallel Lite shoes. They’re dressy enough for a garden lunch yet secretly feel like slippers, which is Stewart’s magic move. Why suffer in something stiff when you can glide through your day in memory foam?
Get the Skechers Relaxed Fit Parallel Lite for $70 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
The Parallel Lite has a delicate knit upper, sleek silhouette and 2.5-inch wedge heel that provides enough lift to feel put together. Clean lines and a neutral palette are just a few other highlights. Rhinestones give these shoes a quiet luxury flair, so don’t be surprised if people think you’re rich.
Summer means sandals, but Kate Hudson isn’t wearing basic slip-ons. Instead, she’s adding an elevated twist by wearing the slingback style that makes even a tee and jeans look rich. Naturally, we’re ready to copy Hudson’s look — for only $40! A few weeks ago, the actress was photographed celebrating her son’s college graduation, juggling a handful […]
Inside, these stylish wonders feature a cooling memory foam insole that keeps your feet from overheating, which matters when you’re walking city streets and hosting on the patio. Better yet, the upper upper hugs your foot without pinching, so there’s no break-in period required.
“This is my second pair,” one five-star reviewer wrote. “I have them in black as well. So very comfortable for walking.”
Stewart paired her slip-ons with tailored-looking pants, but this versatile shoe looks equally stunning with a flowy midi skirt, wide-leg jeans or a sundress at brunch. The simple shape and elegant details do the heavy lifting, so your outfit appears polished regardless.
Stewart clearly cracked the code, and now the rest of Us get to copy. Snag these comfy new Skechers below!
Get the Skechers Relaxed Fit Parallel Lite for $70 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
Jennifer Lawrence always looks effortless, but her latest sandal style takes it to a whole new level. She proved that comfy and chic can totally go together, and all it takes is this $25 look on Amazon. Lawrence was spotted with her little one in the West Village, iced coffee in hand, wearing a soft […]
The Love Island USA couples continued to find ways to act on their chemistry by performing sex acts that were caught on the night cameras — before an emotional elimination.
Viewers noticed that in footage from the Friday, June 12, episode of the Peacock show, Sincere Rhea and Melanie Moreno were getting up close and personal — as did Zach Georgiou and Kayda Bosse. This came after Corbin Mims and Kenzie Annis appeared to take their relationship to the next level.
Love Island USA viewers had a front row seat to the sexcapades that took place this year in Fiji. While past seasons featured some couples finding ways to share an intimate moment or two, it felt like season 7 set some kind of record with the amount of sexual “journeys” taking place in the communal bedroom.
“We did have a code word [for sex which was] ‘journey’ and it kind of traumatizes me now. When somebody outside is like, ‘Oh, a journey?’ I’m like, ‘How dare you!’ I am clutching my pearls,” Amaya “Papaya” Espinal joked on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast in July 2025. “People were having journeys.”
Since there wasn’t room for much privacy, Amaya confirmed that it did get awkward at night, adding, ”I’m like, ‘Can I sleep?’ We already don’t get enough sleep around here and then you hear [sexual noises]. The earplugs [we got] were not plugging? Those were low quality earplugs because we were still able to hear things. Especially if there’s a couple right next to you.”
Amaya was also asked about her time in The Hideaway with fellow winner Bryan Arenales. (The pair have since split.)
“It was steamy, all right. We were hot and we were sweating. It really was a great feeling to just have that private and intimate moment,” she gushed. “We actually do want to talk to each other and we love being next to each other. The next morning, we were just sitting and we were just quiet. It was beautiful and silent. I really did feel like I found my best friend where I could yap away or have a quieter moment.”
When asked whether Bryan really did “eat that kitty in The Hideaway,” Amaya coyly replied, “Well he definitely took that advice. We had a great night.”
They got a text — and found love in the Love Island USA villa. The beloved British dating show made its way across the pond in 2019, following a crop of American bombshells searching for The One in a luxury tropical villa. In season 1, eventual winners Elizabeth Weber and Zac Mirabelli had a connection […]
While Love Island USA viewers know that “journey” is a code word the Islanders use for sex, the term “folded” is another one that has been brought up multiple times last season. Chris Seeley quietly revealed to Bryan that he “folded” the night prior with Huda Mustafa, adding, “I wasn’t going to tell anybody. [But] I couldn’t do it any more. I really tried [to hold out]. I just didn’t want to tell the other boys.”
In a confessional, Chris elaborated on how having sex has helped his connection with Huda evolve.
“I feel like that was just a great step into our physical connection that we probably don’t show in front of everyone else,” he noted. “It definitely made us feel stronger in our physical connection. That is really all I can say about that.”
New episodes of Love Island USA are released six days a week — except for Wednesdays — on Peacock.
Join Us Weekly and Bracketology.tv in our first-ever Love Island USA fantasy league! This is your chance to predict who you think will win Season 8 and rank the Islanders weekly based on how confident you are that they will survive the next elimination. You will be playing against our editors, get access to exclusive content and have the chance to win fun prizes. Sign up for free today!
Entertainment
2 Years Later, Prime Video’s Easy-To-Binge Crime Thriller Keeps Proving Why It Shouldn’t Have Been Cancelled
When it comes to cop dramas, few names carry the same weight as Titus Welliver, who has spent the better part of the last decade playing Harry Bosch. What makes his rise to prominence even more impressive is that most of the world’s most popular police procedurals came from network TV — Welliver was one of the first actors to commit to bringing a great cop drama to life on streaming, which he did thanks to Prime Video. Welliver first played Bosch all the way back in 2014, where he starred as the LA-based detective for seven seasons in the show of the same name. Bosch went off the air in 2021, but fans didn’t have to wait long to see Welliver return to the role in Bosch: Legacy, which even saw him team up with one of his arch-rivals.
Most fans felt that Bosch: Legacy was poised to be the perfect replacement series for the original Bosch, but those same viewers were devastated when it was canceled after only three seasons. What made it more tough to swallow was that it didn’t feel like a natural end to the character, more a studio-based decision that didn’t sit right with fans. Now two years removed from a single episode of Bosch: Legacy hitting Prime Video, fans continue to show why the series should never have been canceled in the first place. Bosch: Legacy has surged back into the streaming top 10 as fans anxiously await the arrival of Ballard Season 2. After featuring in a few episodes of Ballard Season 1, Welliver is confirmed to return in the second season of the spin-off series.
What Is the Bosch Spin-Off ‘Ballard’ About?
The official synopsis for Ballard, which is led by Maggie Q, reads as follows:
“Detective Renée Ballard leads the LAPD’s new and underfunded cold case division, tackling the city’s most challenging long-forgotten crimes with empathy and relentless determination. As she peels back layers of crimes spanning decades — including a serial killer’s string of murders and a murdered John Doe — she soon uncovers a dangerous conspiracy within the LAPD. With the help of her volunteer team and retired detective Harry Bosch, Detective Ballard navigates personal trauma, professional challenges, and life-threatening dangers to expose the truth.”
Prime Video is also actively developing a new Bosch prequel series, Start of Watch, which will give fans a look inside Bosch’s younger days. Welliver is not involved with the show in any capacity, but Amazon has recruited Cameron Monaghan to star as a young Harry Bosch in the show. Monaghan is best known for playing Cal Kestis in the Star Wars Jedi video game series.
Check out all episodes of Bosch and Ballard on Prime Video, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of the Bosch universe.
- Release Date
-
2022 – 2025
- Network
-
Prime Video, Amazon Freevee
- Showrunner
-
Eric Overmyer
- Directors
-
Patrick Cady, Alex Zakrzewski, Sharat Raju, Ernest R. Dickerson, Adam Davidson, Kate Woods, Leslie Libman, Tawnia McKiernan, Hagar Ben-Asher, Haifaa al-Mansour
- Writers
-
Chris Wu, Osokwe Vasquez, Benjamin Pitts, Chris Downey, Barbara Curry
Yellowstone‘s Dutton Ranch spinoff introduced a twist by killing off a surprising character in a gruesome death.
During the Friday, June 12, episode of the hit Paramount+ series, Chet (Hart Denton) was encouraged by Rob-Will (Jai Courtney) to seek revenge for his firing. Chet decided to seek out Joaquin — and even shot him in the hand — before Miguel (Berto Colón) got the chance to take the ranch hand out.
Before his death, Chet worked at 10 Petal and was made a foreman before being demoted and fired by Rip (Cole Hauser).
Yellowstone initially introduced viewers to the Dutton family in 2018. The Paramount Network show came to an end in 2024, expanding its universe with Luke Grimes’ CBS show Marshals and Dutton Ranch, which premiered in May.
Dutton Ranch has introduced some new characters played by Annette Bening and Ed Harris. Other newcomers include Courtney, Natalie Alyn Lind, Pablo Raba, J. R. Villarreal — and Marc Menchaca‘s Zachariah.
Earlier this month, Menchaca weighed in on whether the deadly twists on the show had him worried about his character Zachariah’s fate, telling Us, “It’s always a possibility — and I have a pretty good track record of saying bye bye on a show.”
Menchaca poked fun at his bad luck on screen.
“My wife [Lena Headey] made a death reel for me for my birthday this last year. It was about 10 minutes and it didn’t even have all my deaths,” he quipped. “So I was a little bit [worried].”
He continued: “I was like, ‘They may take me out so I better get on everybody’s good side.’ Hopefully it won’t happen but the way things are now, you get these scripts just a little bit before. Then you start going through and you’re like, ‘Is it gonna happen next scene?’ Thankfully it has not [yet].”
Filming Dutton Ranch allowed Menchaca to connect with his roots.
“I grew up that life. I just took from ranchers that I worked for,” he shared. “I wanted to be a team roper when I was a kid and it brought my childhood back to me.”
Looking ahead, Menchaca teased what is yet to come, adding, “Obviously there’s going to be tension. It definitely creates tension and we will find out that there are some things about the 10 Petal that are unbecoming of a country boy.”
Dutton Ranch airs Fridays on Paramount+.
By Chris Sawin
| Updated
Aliens have existed for a very long time in Disclosure Day, and there’s proof of that. On the one hand, the Wardex Corporation, part of the U.S. Government and secretly assigned to extraterrestrial investigations, wants to keep that evidence from reaching the public. On the other hand, a former Wardex employee named Hugo Wakefield (Colman Domingo) leads a revolution to release that information to the masses worldwide. People have a right to know, regardless of how it affects them, once they do.
Caught in the middle of Wardex and Hugo’s obsession with revealing the truth is Daniel Kellner (Josh O’Connor), a cybersecurity expert running around with what is seemingly all of the government’s extraterrestrial evidence in his backpack. Daniel rescues his girlfriend Jane Blankenship (Eve Hewson) at the beginning of the film, and she tags along or shows up whenever it’s convenient to the storyline. Jane is a former nun solely so Disclosure Day can make comparisons to religion and whether aliens existing and being revealed to the public is blasphemous or not.
Leading Wardex is Noah Scanlon (Colin Firth), a man who insists on using alien technology to catch up to Daniel, even though it is clearly killing him. The film introduces a gray crystal the size of a travel toothbrush holder that allows the user to telepathically control and communicate with others.
As Daniel contemplates just dumping everything he has online as he flees, a Kansas City TV meteorologist named Margaret Fairchild (Emily Blunt) speaks alien dialect on the air and gains the ability to know everything about someone just by looking into their eyes. Margaret and Daniel are connected in a way that will be key in the mission to reveal aliens to the world.
No Surface Is That Reflective
There are a few things Disclosure Day does right. It isn’t fair to say that Steven Spielberg is a hack or has lost just about everything that made much of his previous work enjoyable, because certain elements still suggest otherwise. Cinematographer Janusz Kaminski returns to work with Spielberg for the 19th time, and it shows as the film looks incredible.
The car chase sequence where Wardex finds Daniel and Jane at the farmhouse is a highlight of the film. As Daniel sneaks around the field, the camera impressively waltzes through and around a fence. The sequence is stitched together as a one-take, and it makes you wonder if there are any hidden cuts because it’s executed so well.
The film has an obsession with lens flares and brightly lit background windows, though. Like, if J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg got into a lens-flare-off, it would be like staring at the sun until our eyes exploded. It’s every major sequence for the first half of Disclosure Day, though. It’s an odd choice since the film is like 93% dialogue, and everything around them can’t be that reflective or take place during that time of day.
As a science fiction film, though, Disclosure Day is a chore to sit through. Clocking in at just under two and a half hours, the film is congested with dialogue. You expect a certain amount of exposition in a film to set the story or eventually lead to something worthwhile. Disclosure Day is all exposition and no payoff. The way the film concludes is so melodramatic and unsatisfying. It feels like Steven Spielberg and screenwriter David Koepp were going for how we, as a species, would react if certifiable extraterrestrial proof were unveiled like this.
But all Disclosure Day does is remind you of how stupid the human race actually is. The final moment before the film cuts to black is infuriating, as well. You’ve waited two and a half hours for this moment, and it’s cut short for either obnoxious ambiguity or a potential unwanted sequel. It’s wild that David Koepp wrote 42 drafts of the screenplay, and this is what he landed on.
Awkwardness Abounds
There’s an awkwardness to Steven Spielberg films in the way they’re written that I can’t tell is universally accepted by those who adore his work or goes unnoticed with his status as a well-known director. The attempts at humor are often lame, while the character interactions are overwhelmingly corny. Disclosure Day is no different, and it’s even more irksome because the film feels so long.
Here’s this long-winded and torturous stretch of dialogue with the only reward being a smart ass glance from across the room, a bad attempt at a joke that is total cringe, or body language that is offensively embarrassing for everyone involved. It feels like an intentional dick move you can’t escape from. Disclosure Day is like being trapped in the spiked room in Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom while somebody dry humps one of the spikes as a spike pierces your brain and says something like, “At least I’ll have more leg room on airplanes,” right before you’re crushed to death. It’s trash.
It doesn’t help that the people we’re forced to tag along with for most of the film are selfish, annoying pricks. Margaret has a boyfriend named Jackson (Wyatt Russell) who is such a gigantic POS. Margaret dreams of being a serious news anchor, but is currently stuck dancing and acting a fool while showcasing the weather. She wants to move even though they just got settled in Kansas City, and Jackson doesn’t want to because he has his music and he just scored performances two days a week locally.
To make matters worse, he doesn’t want Margaret to succeed or move on because he likes seeing her dance on television. Screw aliens and career advancement since Margaret gives Jackson boners now. After Margaret learns things she shouldn’t, Jackson worries about the dumbest things that don’t matter while something that affects the entire world is going on. She starts talking about Daniel, and he thinks it’s an ex-boyfriend, and he lies to her and does something that would have derailed the entire story if he had succeeded.
Meanwhile, Emily Blunt overacts, Josh O’Connor underacts, and Colin Firth stumbles around the entire film with that look on his face like he crapped his pants and is now trying to hide it because he can’t go home and change. But everyone knows, Colin. Everyone knows.
The filmmaking aspects of Disclosure Day are impressive, and they should be, considering Steven Spielberg’s illustrious career and the people he continues to work with, but the story feels so elongated for no reason, with no real conclusion, and the dialogue and humor are so awful when there is so much of each.
Disclosure Day is playing in theaters.
Carson Rowland’s absence from Sweet Magnolias has sparked backlash from fans, but the actor has been busy working on a new project — and it’s finally been revealed.
Rowland, 28, will have a “recurring role” on NBC’s The Rockford Files, Deadline reported on Thursday, June 11.
While Rowland’s character on the reboot has not been shared, the show was picked up to series by NBC last month.
The Rockford Files initially aired from 1974 to 1980 starring James Garner as former inmate turned private investigator, Jim Rockford.
Sweet Magnolias is gearing up for its big season 5 return — but Serenity, South Carolina, will be missing one familiar face. Showrunner Sheryl J. Anderson exclusively confirmed to Us Weekly ahead of the show’s Thursday, June 11, premiere that Carson Rowland, who portrays Tyler “Ty” Townsend, made the “decision” to sit out on the […]
In the new iteration, David Boreanaz will portray the lead. Felix Solis and Jacki Weaver have also been announced as part of the cast, playing Jim’s best friend, Nitty, and trailer park neighbor Karma, respectively.
According to the logline, the new series follows Jim Rockford after he’s been “newly paroled for a crime he didn’t commit, who returns to work as a private investigator in Los Angeles but finds himself targeted by both police and organized crime.”
While Rowland hasn’t publicly confirmed his part on The Rockford Files, he’s hinted that he’s back to work via social media in recent weeks.
Carson Rowland on ‘Sweet Magnolias.’ Netflix
“I’m alive. Promise!” Rowland wrote via Instagram on May 28, sharing a series of photos, including one picture of him on camera shooting something.
In addition to filming The Rockford Files pilot, Rowland recently shot three independent movies, according to Deadline, which have not been released.
The actor’s future on Sweet Magnolias, meanwhile, is still up in the air after his character, Ty, was missing from most of season 4.
After it was revealed that Carson Rowland won’t be returning for season 5 of Netflix’s Sweet Magnolias, many fans are now convinced that he may be joining season 2 of Amazon Prime’s hit series Off Campus as Jake. Sweet Magnolias showrunner Sheryl J. Anderson exclusively confirmed to Us Weekly that Rowland, who portrays Tyler “Ty” […]
His absence was explained by Ty — who is Maddie Townsend’s (JoAnna Garcia Swisher) eldest son — going on tour with bandmate Olivia (Tommi Rose). He even missed girlfriend Annie’s (Anneliese Judge) graduation, which led her to break up with him via text.
When season 5 premiered on June 11, fans were surprised that Ty wasn’t present at all. However, he was on the minds of viewers after Annie received a “miss you” text out of the blue.
Showrunner Sheryl J. Anderson told Deadline this month that the text and missed FaceTime message from Ty could spell a return for Rowland’s character down the line.
“We’ll have to wait and see, won’t we?,” Anderson teased.
Serenity saw some major shakeups throughout Sweet Magnolias season 5 — and series showrunner Sheryl J. Anderson is breaking down every twist for Us. Warning: Major spoilers below for season 5 of Sweet Magnolias. For years, Sweet Magnolias has followed lifelong best friends Maddie Townsend (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), Dana Sue Sullivan (Brooke Elliott) and Helen […]
She noted that the writers wanted to “give that story emotional weight, stakes, consequences,” for Annie, explaining that “to just pretend that nobody thinks about him, nobody asks about him, and that he’s not thinking about them would have been insincere, I believe.”
Anderson added, “He’s still out there trying to figure out what happens next, she’s still in Serenity trying to figure out what happens next. And again, open doors we hope will lead to new information, different resolutions. Love isn’t cut and dry. You don’t just wake up one morning and say, I don’t love this person anymore, and move on. It takes time.”
Only time will tell if Rowland returned to Sweet Magnolias for season 6, but for now he’s focused on his new projects and life as a father of two.
Carson announced in October 2025 that his wife, Maris Rowland, gave birth to their second baby, a son named Asa. The couple, who tied the knot in 2021, also share 2-year-old daughter Eden.
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