The Anne Rice universe on AMC has been growing, but one series isn’t going to get a second life. Talamasca: The Secret Order will not be coming back for Season 2. The Nicholas Denton-led series follows the organization that monitors supernatural beings in the world. Guy Anatole (Denton) learns about the order and becomes one of the people who look over the witches, vampires, and more. A spin-off from Interview With the Vampire, the show also featured Justin Kirk‘s Raglan James as well as music from Sam Reid‘s Lestat de Lioncourt.

Much like the Alexandra Daddario–led Mayfair Witches, the show did stand on its own, but it was part of Rice’s larger universe of supernatural books that are connected by the Talamasca watching over the creatures that lurk in the dark. In Rice’s novels, she touches on werewolves, taltos, mummies, spirits, and plenty of other creatures that haven’t been mentioned in the flagship series. But with the cancellation of Talamasca, fans might have to wait a while before we get more adventures in the Rice universe.

“While we are not proceeding with another season of Talamasca: The Secret Order, we are proud of the series and grateful for the efforts of everyone involved. The Talamasca has a storied place within the Anne Rice Immortal Universe, and we expect to see at least some of these characters, and the organization itself, in future expressions of the franchise,” AMC said in a statement. The Rice universe is set to release Season 3 of Interview With the Vampire, renamed The Vampire Lestat, later this summer, focusing on Reid’s Lestat de Lioncourt.

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Image via AMC

Prior to the release of Interview With the Vampire on AMC, we had the 1994 film. While Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt were great as Lestat and Louis, Reid and Jacob Anderson‘s chemistry on the AMC series has taken over the conversation. That, and the advantage of being able to explore the books more in-depth, has led to a renewed passion for Rice’s series. The cancellation of Talamasca is sad for the fans though. Getting to see the growth of this world meant fans hoped we could see some of Rice’s lesser known works getting adapted, but as AMC said, the organization of the Talamasca isn’t gone just yet. Raglan and Guy aren’t going anywhere.

You can watch Talamasca: The Secret Order on AMC.

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October 19, 2025

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Directors

Eva Sørhaug

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Writers

Donald Joh

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  Nicholas Denton

  Guy Anatole

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To win an Oscar is perhaps the greatest honor that any film can possibly aspire to. To win multiple Oscars is an achievement so great that most filmmakers throughout the Academy’s existence have only ever dreamed of it. To win multiple Oscars and then go on to win Best Picture, the single biggest and most prestigious award that the film industry has to offer, is nothing short of transcendental.

However, there can only be one Best Picture winner; and, as such, the vast majority of films nominated during any given year will go home without the big prize—even if they’ve won many other Oscars. There have been only a few noteworthy Best Picture nominees throughout history that have managed to win five or more Academy Awards—already a huge feat in itself—, yet still failed to get the biggest award of the night.

12

‘Hugo’ (2011)

Won: Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, and Visual Effects

Martin Scorsese is one of the most legendary filmmakers in history, and many would go so far as to call him the greatest currently-working director. However, there’s a long track record of proof that the Academy loves to nominate his movies, but not actually give them all that many Oscars. That’s not always the case, however, and Hugo—one of the best family movies of the 2010s—is proof of that.

This family adventure drama is tied with The Aviator as the Martin Scorsese film with the most Oscar victories, with five. They were all well-deserved, too. In the end, however, the film lost Best Picture to one of the most controversial recipients in the award’s history: Michel Hazanavicius‘ French-Belgian silent dramedy The Artist, which was the clear Best Picture frontrunner throughout most of the 2011-12 season. Did Hugo ever really stand a chance at the top prize? Not really, but its tie with The Artist as the biggest winner of the 84th Academy Awards has to count for something.

11

‘The Aviator’ (2004)

Won: Supporting Actress (Cate Blanchett), Cinematography, Art Direction, Film Editing, and Costume Design

Image via Miramax Films

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The other biggest Oscar winner in Scorsese’s catalog, The Aviator is a spectacular biopic about Howard Hughes that has aged like fine wine. It’s one of the best Oscar-winning biopics of all time, and its status as the winner of the most Oscars at the 77th Academy Awards (an impressive five) is nothing to scoff it. For a good portion of the season, in fact, it was a strong frontrunner for Best Picture.

However, The Aviator‘s biggest competition was Clint Eastwood‘s Million Dollar Baby; and by the time the movie won both the DGA and PGA, it seemed like the deal was sealed. Indeed, Eastwood’s film went on to win Best Picture and three other Oscars. Even still, time has been kind to The Aviator. In particular, Cate Blanchett‘s Supporting Actress win for playing Katharine Hepburn is one of the best-liked of the 2000s, and it marks the only time that an actor has won an Oscar for playing a fellow Oscar winner.

10

‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ (1966)

Won: Actress (Elizabeth Taylor), Supporting Actress (Sandy Dennis), Black-and-White Art Direction, Black-and-White Cinematography, and Black-and-White Costume Design

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

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Based on the legendary 1962 stage play by Edward Albee, Mike Nichols‘ Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is far and away one of the most impressive film directing debuts in Hollywood history. It’s also the vehicle for one of the most undeniable Best Actress Oscar wins of all time, as Elizabeth Taylor‘s performance here is an absolute tour-de-force.

But that towering performance isn’t the only thing this masterpiece has going for it, nor was it its only Oscar victory. However, while Virginia Woolf was the biggest nominee of the night with 13 nods (it’s one of the few films ever to be nominated in every single category it was eligible for), it wasn’t the biggest winner of the night. That title went to what the Academy deemed to be the Best Picture of 1966, the historical drama A Man for All Seasons, which won 6 Oscars in total. It’s a fantatsic film, indeed, but whether it’s superior to Nichols’ debut is up for debate.

9

‘Doctor Zhivago’ (1965)

Won: Adapted Screenplay, Color Art Direction, Color Cinematography, Color Costume Design, and Original Score

Image via MGM

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David Lean was the undisputed king of the epic film genre, a master of his craft who used his artistic skills to make some of the biggest, most sweeping motion pictures of his time. That includes Doctor Zhivago, a historical romance based on Boris Pasternak‘s 1957 novel. To date, it remains the 9th highest-grossing film of all time internationally after adjusting for inflation. No wonder.

It may not be Lean’s best, but it’s still a marvelous cinematic achievement, as well as one of the most perfect romantic war movies ever made. It very well could have won Best Picture, but it happened to be nominated in 1966 alongside a movie that had just as many nominations and wins as it did (ten and five, respectively): the beyond-iconic musical The Sound of Music, no doubt a deserving winner.

8

‘The King and I’ (1956)

Won: Actor (Yul Brynner), Color Art Direction, Color Costume Design, Sound Recording, and Musical Picture Scoring

Image via 20th Century Studios

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Based on the iconic 1951 Rodgers and Hammerstein stage musical, Walter Lang‘s The King and I is one of the best Hollywood musicals of the ’50s. It was a critical and commercial success that was praised for its story, its tunes, and its impressive production values. It had quite a bit of buzz going into the 1957 Academy Awards, but it wasn’t really a frontrunner.

That race, precursors had set up a race between the James–Dean-starring Giant (the biggest nominee of the ceremony, with 10 total nods) and what would end up becoming another one of the most controversial Best Picture recipients ever, Around the World in 80 Days. That movie tied with The King and I as the biggest winner of the night, with five total wins. Though Giant would definitely have been the Best Picture winner that would have aged the best from this lineup, The King and I would undoubtedly have been more deserving than the actual winner.

7

‘A Place in the Sun’ (1951)

Won: Director (George Stevens), Screenplay, Black-and-White Cinematography, Black-and-White Costume Design, Film Editing, and Dramatic or Comedy Picture Scoring

Image via Paramount Pictures

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George Stevens‘ tragedy film A Place in the Sun is one of those somewhat forgotten ’50s movies that have aged like fine wine and deserve a re-discovery. Based on Theodore Dreiser‘s 1925 novel An American Tragedy and the 1926 stage play of the same title, the film was also inspired by Chester Gillette‘s murder of Grace Brown in 1906.

At the 24th Academy Awards, the most nominated film was A Streetcar Named Desire, with 12 nods. The biggest winners, however, were A Place in the Sun and the ceremony’s Best Picture winner: Gene Kelly‘s endearing musical An American in Paris, both of which won 6. Fittingly, both were the precursor frontrunners that season, American in Paris having won the first-ever Best Comedy or Musical Golden Globe and Place in the Sun having won the first-ever Best Drama Golden Globe, on the first year that Best Picture was split into two at the Globes.

6

‘Dune’ (2021)

Won: Original Score, Sound, Film Editing, Cinematography, Production Design, and Visual Effects

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

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Frank Herbert‘s Dune is one of the greatest sci-fi book masterpieces of all time. As such, and especially after David Lynch‘s panned 1984 adaptation and Alejandro Jodorowsky‘s failure to get his adaptation made at all, it was believed that it was impossible to make a film worthy of Herbert’s legacy. Enter Denis Villeneuve, easily one of the most talented filmmakers working in Hollywood today.

Villeneuve knocked it out of the park with 2021’s Dune, and proved that the material was in more-than-capable hands. What better demonstration than a whopping six Oscar wins, the most of any film from the 2022 Academy Awards? The ceremony’s biggest nominee was Jane Campion‘s The Power of the Dog, but the Best Picture recipient actually ended up being neither of these two films. That honor went to CODA, which won all three Oscars it was nominated for, making it one of less than 10 films that have ever gotten Best Picture without losing in any category. Dune was never really a frontrunner this season, but its being the biggest winner of the night speaks volumes.

5

‘La La Land’ (2016)

Won: Director (Damien Chazelle), Actress (Emma Stone), Cinematography, Original Score, Original Song (“City of Stars”), and Production Design

Image via Lionsgate

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Alas, the 2017 Academy Awards will forever be infamous for the Best Picture announcement mix-up; but that should never detract from the praise that the year’s two best films, Barry Jenkins‘ Moonlight and Damien Chazelle‘s La La Land, most definitely deserve. As one of the movies with the most Oscar nominations in history, La La Land is simultaneously a wonderful homage to classic musicals and a marvelous, dazzlingly original musical in its own right.

The movie is a technical wonder; so, rather unsurprisingly, it had both the most nominations and the most wins of the night, with 14 and six, respectively. It was neck-and-neck with Moonlight as the Best Picture frontrunner for pretty much the whole 2016-17 awards race; and, in the end, the best thing that could have happened did happen. Moonlight walked away with Best Picture, while La La Land walked away as one of the biggest Oscar winners in history.

4

‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)

Won: Costume Design, Film Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling, Production Design, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

After two Happy Feet movies and three decades away from Max Rockatansky’s wasteland, George Miller returned to the action genre in spectacular fashion. At first, Mad Max: Fury Road seemed like a legacy sequel like any other. As soon as it came out, however, fans of the genre immediately came to recognize it as one of the greatest action flicks of the 21st century. That reputation hasn’t died down.

It’s one of the blockbuster action movies with the best acting, even if none of its 10 nominations (the second most of the year, after The Revenant‘s 12) were for acting. It was far and away the biggest winner of the night, and deservedly so. Though this was one of the most unpredictable Best Picture races of the 2010s, Fury Road was rarely ever predicted to win. Instead, the Academy went for something far more subtle and socially sharp: Spotlight, one of the few Best Picture winners in history with only two Oscar wins in total. But endurance as a modern classic always ends up being the biggest award of all, and that’s something that Fury Road has in droves.

3

‘Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope’ (1977)

Won: Art Direction, Costume Design, Film Editing, Original Score, Sound, and Visual Effects

Image via Lucasfilms

George Lucas‘ Star Wars needs no introduction. It’s nothing short of the biggest and most popular transmedia franchise in history, but it all had to begin somewhere—and in this case, that somewhere was 1977’s Star Wars, now retroactively called Episode IV — A New Hope. The movie had one of the longest theatrical runs of all time, and it isn’t hard to see why: It’s pure, enthralling, absolute movie magic.

Not counting its Special Achievement Award and its Scientific and Engineering Award, Star Wars won six Oscars, the most of any film from the 50th Academy Awards. It was also nominated for another four, though the most nominated movies of the year were Julia and The Turning Point. The Best Picture winner of 1978, however, was one of the greatest rom-coms ever made: Annie Hall, which also won another three Oscars. The court of public opinion matters most, though, and there’s no doubt about it: Star Wars is, and perhaps forever will be, the most iconic film of 1977.

Performance hiatus Nelly Furtado is back in the studio with a new gem!

The singer, who announced an indefinite time off the stage in October 2025 after body-shaming episodes, shared content from the recording booth with her fans, teasing new music dropping soon.

Nelly Furtado became famous over two decades ago with her album “Whoa, Nelly” in the year 2000, continuing her run by releasing her seventh studio album in September 2024.

Nelly Furtado Is Ready To Drop New Music On April 10

The musician uploaded a short clip of herself getting busy in the studio with music producer Boi-1da, captioning it: “New muuuusic! Excited to share this and grateful to be part of this exciting collabo @boi1da x @perfectpitchcanada x @canadasoccer.” 

Furtado updated her fans that the new single “Electric Circus” would be released on April 10. The singer looked really good in the video, sporting a brown, skin-tight, mock next maxi dress paired with a matching motor-inspired bomber jacket.

The musician styled her hair in a sleek side part with the front safely tucked behind her ears. Furtado’s undeniable face card popped with a fresh coat of dewy makeup tied together with gold hoop earrings. The singer also posed with some studio staff and crew, waving to the camera and wearing the biggest smile.

The Singer’s Fans Expressed Enthusiasm About Her New Project

Furtado’s comment section received a surge of reaction from fans who have been waiting for the creative to drop a new project, like this user who declared, “Can’t wait for this track to drop so that I can listen to it properly on repeat.”

Other Instagram users claimed that the new track, which was added to the clip, sounded so much like a “GLOW sample-remix.” The producer for her new project, Boi-1da, was equally excited in the comments with a GIF of him dancing, as Furtado responded with a laughing emoji.

Of course, Furtado’s stunning look also earned her a few compliments from fans who could not get over her flawless face. Another commenter emphasized that the Canadian singer needs to start working with Timbaland again.

Nelly Furtado Stepped Back Performances Five Months Ago

The media personality reflected on her journey in the music industry and achievements so far over the quarter century while thanking fans for making everything worth it last October.

As noted by The Blast, Furtado’s nostalgic post was soon followed by the underwhelming news of her seeking change, which meant putting a pause on performance for the foreseeable future. According to her, the break would allow her to focus on some other “creative and personal endeavors” that would fit perfectly into the next phase of her life.

Furtado was incredibly glad to have been able to make a living from what started as a hobby. The singer’s break came nearly a decade after she announced a musical hiatus in 2017 because she could not handle the level of fame she had come into. 

The 47-Year-Old Ushered In 2025 Embracing Body Positivity

Furtado took her social media followers on a ride on January 5, 2025, by sharing two unedited pictures of herself, alongside a caption promoting self-love and acceptance for one’s flaws and imperfections. As stated by The Blast, the singer admitted how much she had become aware of the aesthetic pressure embedded in the music industry while also unlocking new heights of embracing herself.

Furtado explained that aside from getting veneers on her top teeth, she had never altered a part of her body and would very much love to remain that way. The “Say It Right” singer credited expert skincare for keeping her looking youthful and a proper diet, including adequate water and sleep, to help her maintain the refreshed red carpet looks.

She concluded the post by urging her followers to embrace their individuality and feel comfortable in their own skin, while revealing just how much magic her makeup artist performs with face and body tape.

Nelly Furtado Activated Legal Action Against Image Lifters

The Canadian songwriter stood on business last year as she announced her decision to drag people who are in the habit of using her image and likeness to promote their health and beauty services online. 

In November 2024, she got honest with Alex Cooper on “Call Her Daddy,” breaking down what being in her 40s, as a famous face in Hollywood, meant to her. Furtado noted that it has been fun climbing up the 40s ladder in style with a renewed confidence that she has never felt before. 

The singer declared that she has been visited by the gods of the “40s glow-up.” She added that getting older also gave her ample time to work on herself, which contributed greatly to her confidence boost.

Congratulations to Nelly Furtado!

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 1 hour ago

Comics haven’t been only for kids for a very long time, if ever, but the general public has had a perception that they are primarily superhero stories about good vs. evil and everything is resolved with a fight. There’s a whole world of comics out there that are different, but straddling the line between noir mysteries and cape-filled superheroes is Powers by Brian Michael Bendis.

The award-winning series follows two Chicago homicide detectives investigating the deaths of “powers” (superheroes). It’s a police procedural mixed with superheroes, and Netflix is making an animated series out of it, finally giving fans the adaptation they’ve wanted for 25 years. 

One Of The Best Crime Comics Ever Printed

Powers starts off with a bang with the “Who Killed Retro Girl?” story arc, which introduces us to the detectives, rookie Deena Pilgrim and the veteran Christian Walker, both of whom have connections to the powers community that slowly come to light over the series. The blonde bombshell Retro Girl was one of the most popular superheroes, which means the list of suspects is long, from villains to those jealous of her success. It’s a classic noir storyline filled with red herrings, and it slowly peels back the layers of Bendis’ superhero universe, with each new revelation bringing with it even more questions. 

The second arc, “Roleplay,” involves a college LARP (live-action roleplaying) club in which, of course, the members are being murdered one by one. It’s not as good as the first arc, but that’s more a testament to the quality of the first murder mystery than it is the second. No matter the story, it looks incredible thanks to the artwork of Michael Avon Oeming, with big, bold characters, colors, and matching the noir story by evoking the classic comics of the 1930s. 

Second Time’s The Charm For Powers

Netflix’s choice to bring Powers to the service as an animated series makes sense not only because of the success Amazon has found with Invincible, another adult superhero series, but Sony’s 2015 live-action Powers series was a complete disaster. Starring Sharlto Copley as Walker, the show was the first original series for the PlayStation Network. If you forgot PSN ever had original shows, don’t worry, everyone forgot this happened despite the show airing for two full seasons. 

This time, Powers is being handled correctly, and the move to animation means, hopefully, it will be closer to the source material. Invincible proved there’s an audience out there for animated adult superhero shows. It remains to be seen if there’s an equally massive audience for Netflix’s new show, which is more police procedural than action epic. 

In September 2025, Powers came back for a new 12-issue run, proving that there’s at least an audience of comic readers out there anxious for more adventures in Bendis’ original universe. Advertising “from the creator of Miles Morales and Jessica Jones” will go much further in 2026 than it did in 2015. There’s still a wait to see if Netflix can pull it off, with no announced release date, but that’s alright, it gives you more time to hunt down the collected editions and enjoy one of the best superhero crime comics of all time.

From Die Hard to Mad Max: Fury Road, several of the greatest action films of all time are injections of adrenaline in full color. However, color is by no means required for an action movie to be great, exciting, or even visually appealing. Indeed, throughout history, several of the best action films in history have achieved greatness through a purely black-and-white color palette.

From gangster pictures like Scarface to samurai classics like Yojimbo, these black-and-white films either defy expectations or deliver everything anyone could want from the genre, and then some. They’re exciting, suspenseful, full of movement, and action-packed from start to finish. Nowadays, action is almost always shot in color, which only makes it even more fun to look back at these classics and appreciate everything they were able to do with only black and white.

10

‘Scarface’ (1932)

Image via United Artists

Before Brian De Palma and Al Pacino took on the story, Howard Hawks directed Paul Muni in 1932’s Scarface, a pre-Code gangster action film loosely inspired by Al Capone. Like many great Hollywood crime films from before the Hays Code started being strictly enforced, Scarface was heavily censored upon release, making it a box office disappointment. With the passage of time, however, it has come to be recognized as one of the greatest films of the ’30s, making it a success story of triumph against censorship.

Hawks set up the entire archetype for the gangster movie genre, which became particularly popular during the ’30s and ’40s (particularly gangster pictures produced by Warner Bros.). But aside from its historical significance, Scarface is impeccably made, with Muni at the very top of his game and stylish black-and-white visuals that make the violence feel even grittier.

9

‘The Longest Day’ (1962)

Image via 20th Century Studios

Based on Cornelius Ryan‘s non-fiction book of the same name, The Longest Day follows the D-Day landings in Normandy with a stunning scope and tremendous technical qualities. In the modern day, the movie’s cast can be critiqued for its lack of diversity, but the fact of the matter is that an ensemble this star-studded, featuring actors of the stature of John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Sean Connery, and Henry Fonda, is objectively one of the most impressive of any war film ever.

But aside from being a three-hour-long war epic, The Longest Day is also an action film through and through. It’s a dramatic, testosterone-filled gem that many still think of as the definitive D-Day movie, and the way it takes full advantage of every second of its runtime to paint war as hell without the need for bright-red blood is admirable.

8

‘The Train’ (1964)

Image via United Artists

Directed by John Frankenheimer, The Train is another one of the greatest action war movies ever made. Loosely based on a non-fiction book by Rose Valland, the film is about the mission to recover the works of art that had been looted by Germany from museums and private art collections during World War II. The result is a fascinating meditation on the debate between cultural preservation and the protection of human lives.

But on top of being thematically gripping, The Train is also one of the best war thrillers of all time, full of adrenaline-pumping action sequences that never let up. It’s a potent, surprisingly complex film that results purely from expanding the moral question at its core to a feature-length story. Powerfully philosophical and absolutely visceral, it’s a black-and-white movie whose lack of color feels designed to amplify the depth of its moral nuances and themes.

7

‘Sanjuro’ (1962)

Image via Toho

Many would perhaps refer to Akira Kurosawa as the single greatest filmmaker in history, and he achieved that status mainly by making action movies—several of them belonging to the beloved samurai subgenre. Kurosawa, in fact, can very reasonably be called the leading voice in samurai cinema, and for proof, one needn’t look much further than the sequel to 1961’s Yojimbo, Sanjuro.

It’s one of those Kurosawa movies that are bangers from start to finish. Action-packed, well-paced, and often unexpectedly funny, it’s a hugely influential masterpiece whose score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes is perfectly deserved. With a fantastic Toshirô Mifune in the lead role and some of the most jaw-dropping swordplay of any action movie in history, Sanjuro is evidence enough that black-and-white action films can be as fun as those in color.

6

‘The Sword of Doom’ (1966)

Image via Toho

Another one of the greatest samurai films in history, this one directed by Kihachi Okamoto and starring Tatsuya Nakadai, The Sword of Doom is as brutal as it is fast-paced. It’s one of the darkest samurai movies ever made, with a largely amoral main character (frankly, a rarity for the genre) that Nakadai plays to absolute perfection.

From the gorgeously lit and staged black-and-white imagery to the breathtaking action sequences, Sword of Doom is the work of a master at the top of his game. It’s one of the bleakest, angriest, most existentially violent action movies of the 20th century, and a complete must-see for anyone and everyone who even remotely enjoys well-made samurai films.

5

‘Yojimbo’ (1961)

Image via Toho

Sanjuro may be great, but there’s no beating the original. Yojimbo is such an immensely iconic and influential samurai flick that Sergio Leone pretty much copied it when he invented Spaghetti Westerns with A Fistful of Dollars, to the point that Kurosawa successfully sued him for copyright infringement. But who could blame Leone? Yojimbo is such a faultless film that anyone looking to make a great action flick should be at least tempted to imitate the perfection of Kurosawa’s efforts.

It’s also one of the best classic Japanese movies for beginners, perfectly friendly and welcoming to all those who might not be used to watching international (or even black-and-white) action movies. Full of flawlessly shot and edited action sequences, and supported by Mifune and Nakadai at their best, Yojimbo is one of Kurosawa’s most narratively enthralling and visually exquisite works.

4

‘White Heat’ (1949)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

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White Heat succeeds at earning many superlatives at once. On the one hand, it’s one of the best noir films of all time, displaying the psychological twistiness and black-and-white gorgeousness of the genre perfectly. On the other hand, it’s one of the best crime films of Hollywood’s Golden Age, serving as one of the earliest masterpieces of the gangster genre as we know it today. And on the other hand, it’s a ravishing action movie full of showstopping sequences of thrill and suspense.

For one, James Cagney is a powerhouse here, and his performance alone makes White Heat obligatory viewing for crime action film fans. As if that weren’t enough, however, the film also has a level of psychological depth that was rare among crime films made during the Hays Code era. Lastly, it has one of the darkest and most explosive finales of any action film from Hollywood’s Golden Age.

3

‘The General’ (1926)

Image via United Artists

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Before Tom Cruise made it cool and mainstream for actors to do their own stunts, there was Buster Keaton. Charlie Chaplin and Keaton are to silent cinema what salt and pepper are to food, and while Chaplin tended to focus more on elements of melodrama and romance, Keaton was considerably more interested in elaborate slapstick action sequences. Enter The General, easily one of the best comedy movies of all time.

Aside from having some of Keaton’s most revolutionary death-defying stunts, The General also has some of the most effective gags and action set pieces of his whole filmography. The movie was a box office and critical failure when it originally came out, but as the years have passed, cinephiles have warmed up to it tremendously. Today, it’s remembered as one of the greatest films from before Hollywood’s Golden Age, and one of the most perfect early examples of what the action genre could do at its best.

2

‘Sherlock Jr.’ (1924)

While The General is amazing, Sherlock Jr. is simply out of this world. Clocking in at only 45 minutes of runtime (barely qualifying it as a feature film), it’s also a delightfully breezy watch for those looking for a quick classic masterpiece to watch. Sherlock Jr. is one of the coziest mystery movies ever, but people looking to watch it shouldn’t be fooled by that coziness, because it also has some of the craziest stunts in Keaton’s filmography.

Funny, uplifting, romantic, creative, and an absolute blast of fun from start to finish, Sherlock Jr. shows just how amusing and ambitious action films could be back in the day. At no point is color something that people miss when watching this masterpiece, especially because so much happens. Indeed, there’s an essential old-school charm to this film that you simply can’t get anywhere else.

1

‘Seven Samurai’ (1954)

Image via Toho

Throughout history, Seven Samurai has widely been recognized as Akira Kurosawa’s magnum opus, and it’s easy to see why. It is, after all, one of the most perfect action films ever made, delivering absolutely everything that any fan of the genre could want in a movie. Though it moves somewhat slowly through its three-and-a-half hours of runtime, Seven Samurai is an exciting blast from start to finish.

The riveting action sequences are marvelously performed, choreographed, shot, blocked, and edited, but like any filmmaker of his quality, Kurosawa understood that well-made action wasn’t all you needed in order to make a samurai movie work. That’s why Seven Samurai is primarily a character-driven film, and its many story arcs are so fascinating that you can’t help but watch the whole thing on the edge of your seat. Often imitated, never matched, this masterpiece is the pinnacle of not just black-and-white action filmmaking, but action filmmaking as a whole.

Valerie Bertinelli is getting candid about her body.

“I mean, if you read the book, you’ll know that my boobs are deformed,” Bertinelli, 65, said during a recent 92Y panel discussion, promoting her Getting Naked: The Quiet Work of Becoming Perfectly Imperfect memoir. “I talk very extensively and graphically about how deformed they are.”

She continued, “My boobs suck, but I’m not dating, so it doesn’t matter.”

Bertinelli explained that she had “four surgeries” in 2024 to remove the breast implants she initially got in the early 1980s.

Related: Valerie Bertinelli ‘Freaked Out’ After Trying Botox, Details Implant Rupture

Valerie Bertinelli got candid about the work she had done to enhance her appearance.. Bertinelli, 65, opened up about getting a breast augmentation and experimenting with Botox in her new book, Getting Naked: The Quiet Work of Becoming Perfectly Imperfect, which was released on Tuesday, March 10. In 2019, she “tried Botox” for the first […]

“Mine were mocked relentlessly. They were called ‘little quarters,’ ‘itty-bitty titties,’ and ‘tiny boobies,” the actress wrote in her book about her decision to go under the knife. “I took it all to heart. Instead of appreciating the changes my body was going through, I dreaded them. I had no idea what I was supposed to look like; I only knew it was wrong.”

Bertinelli’s implants eventually ruptured, which she subsequently needed to have removed.

“I couldn’t believe they had been in my body. I went home bandaged and sore, with drains under my arms, uncomfortable but hopeful,” she recalled in a book passage. “For the first two weeks, everything was great. About a week later, my right breast took on shades of green, yellow, and blue. The next day it started to swell and turned a dark purple. I felt myself getting dizzy. By nighttime, I was running a fever.”

After developing an infection, Bertinelli had another surgery to install a “small implant under the muscle” to help restore “what was left of [her] nipple.” She said it took nearly a year for her breasts to take “shape.”

“They are now two completely different sizes; the implant on the left is over the muscle, and my right side is sad and misshapen,” she further wrote. “Eventually, I will have a fourth operation that will, I am assured, even things out once and for all.”

Related: Celebs Who’ve Had Their Breast Implants Removed — and Why

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Elsewhere in Getting Naked, Bertinelli detailed her experience with other cosmetic procedures like Botox.

“I didn’t like it and had a mini freak-out when I saw it changed the shape of my eyebrows, which changed the shape of my face, which was a shock because my face is the way I recognize myself,” she wrote, revealing she got injections for the first time in 2019. “I didn’t like what I saw. I didn’t want to see a puffy, distorted version of me in the mirror. I didn’t want to wake up and say, ‘Knock knock, is Val there?’”

Bertinelli continued, “Don’t get me wrong. I am not against plastic surgery or Botox and fillers. Some people look amazing when it works. They feel much better about themselves after a procedure. I get it — and I’ve been there.”

By TeeJay Small
| Updated 8 seconds ago

I recently penned a scathing review of Alien 3, wherein I posed the question: What kind of god would allow such a horrendously bad film to ever see the light of day? Despite my better judgment, I decided to continue my binge of the Alien film franchise, only to be pleasantly surprised by the fourth installment, Alien: Resurrection.

This film has all the signs of a terrible sequel, and a 56 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, which made me think I was sitting down for another miserable viewing experience. Maybe I’m still recovering from the rage-induced concussion I developed while watching Alien 3, but I’d go so far as to label Alien: Resurrection the most underrated entry in the entire franchise.

The Problem With The Previous Alien Movie

We all know and love 1979’s Alien and the 1986 Aliens sequel. But even the most faithful Xenomorph super-fan should be able to admit that they’re tired of watching Ripley wake up in a cryopod, face off against a terrifying obsidian monster from beyond the stars, get back in a cryopod, and repeat the cycle for three films in a row.

When Ripley died in the final moments of Alien 3, I was just happy to see the character finally get a moment of rest, and for the franchise to move on to other protagonists. So imagine my surprise when Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley wakes up once again during the opening credits of Alien: Resurrection, this time as a lab-grown clone.

Ripley Returns In Alien: Resurrection

Right then and there, I was prepared to turn off the movie and spend the rest of my afternoon shaking my fist in the angry dome a la Professor Farnsworth. But as the film progressed and introduced Winona Ryder, Ron Perlman, and Breaking Bad’s Raymond Cruz, I started falling in love with the ensemble and their mission to escape the military scientists’ vessel alive.

The look of the film grabbed me, too. The Xenomorphs in Alien: Resurrection look far superior to their counterparts in Alien 3. That complements their wicked cunning and shocking intelligence as they utilize their own acidic blood to break containment and traverse the ship.

Having been bred to incubate a Xenomorph queen embryo, clone Ripley, AKA Ripley 8, realizes that she’s got more genetically in common with the alien creatures than ever before. Her DNA is intrinsically tied to theirs, allowing her to develop some otherworldly powers that completely redefine her character. Unlike Alien 3, where Ripley becomes beholden to the protection of men, Alien: Resurrection allows her to regain her autonomy and become the biggest badass on the screen, even when Ron Perlman is present.

When she comes across a lab full of horribly deformed experiments that came before her, Ripley 8 puts them out of their misery by torching them the same way the OG Ripley did with the Xenomorph nest in the final act of Aliens. The whole scene felt like a cathartic way to express how I’d felt watching bad writers butcher her character in the previous outing. It was as though director Jean-Pierre Jeunet was burning the very concept of Alien 3 right in front of my eyes.

In Defense Of The Xenomoph Hybrid

Nearly thirty years after its release, there are now sequences where dated special effects don’t hold up. That doesn’t matter, because the writing from a young Joss Whedon does. Alien: Resurrection’s fresh ideas make it a cut above several other entrants in the franchise.

One of the largest criticisms levied at Alien: Resurrection centers on the hybrid newborn creature, which is aggressively disturbing. This creature is a cross between an alien queen and Ripley herself, taking on traits of a baby, a Xenomorph, and a Cronenbergian nightmare that cost the studio roughly $7 million to build.

The animatronic for the newborn required nine puppeteers to operate and was considered the most complex practical effect in cinema history at the time. The whole thing is weird, gross, and insane, but it works better than most audiences give it credit for.

Alien: Resurrection Is As Influential As The First Two Alien Movies

A modern rewatch reveals how many popular films of the early 2000s straight-up stole action scenes from this movie. With a fresh set of eyes, you could comfortably say that Alien: Resurrection is as influential as the first two films in the series, even if it doesn’t usually receive the same fanfare.

Whether you initially caught Alien: Resurrection back in 1997, or you’ve just never been compelled to check it out before, now seems like the right time to revisit the classic sci-fi sequel. Unfortunately, Alien: Resurrection isn’t currently available for free on any of the major streaming services, and can only be purchased through transactional video on demand. Still, it’s well worth the price of admission if you decide to rent or purchase it through Amazon Prime or YouTube.

Jason Earles is reflecting on his past days as Jackson Stewart on the hit Disney TV show “Hannah Montana.” While celebrating the show’s 20th anniversary in late March 2026, the Disney alum revealed what he would tell his younger self while filming the series in the early 2000s.

What Would Jason Earles Tell His Younger Self While Filming ‘Hannah Montana’ In 2006?

On March 23, 2026, the cast of “Hannah Montana” gathered at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles, California, to celebrate the show’s 20th anniversary.

While speaking with PEOPLE, Earles, 48, reflected on his early days filming the series alongside Miley Cyrus.

“I think just… settle in sooner,” Earles said, adding that he was concerned he was not the right fit for the series when production began.

“I was really nervous about fitting in and if my humor was the right sense of humor for the show and if I was… approaching it as an actor the right way,” he said. “I think I was just not as confident as early as I could have been.”

Earles Was Nervous About Filming ‘Hannah Montana’ For A Bigger Reason

Earles was not only worried about his on-set skills, according to The Blast. During an episode of his podcast, “Best of Both Our Worlds,” the actor revealed he was concerned he would be fired from the series due to a secret he was holding on to.

“I was desperately afraid that I was going to be fired and recast because I had a big secret,” he said before admitting he lied to producers about his age during the audition.

“When I auditioned for the show, I lied to them and told them I was 18 years old,” he revealed, despite actually being 28.

Earles And Other ‘Hannah Montana’ Alum Gather On The Red Carpet For The Show’s Disney+ Special

Earles is not the only “Hannah Montana” alum reflecting on their time on the show. According to a previous report from The Blast, Cyrus sat down with the host of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, Alex Cooper, to talk about the show’s impact on pop culture during a Disney+ special.

“Hannah Montana will always be a part of who I am. What started as a TV show became a shared experience that shaped my life and the lives of so many fans, and I’ll always be thankful for that connection,” Cyrus said about the TV show. “The fact that it still means so much to people all these years later is something I’m very proud of. This ‘Hannahversary’ is my way of celebrating and thanking the fans who’ve stood by me for 20 years.”

Actor Shanica Knowles, who played one of the show’s mean girls, also shared a moving message as she looked back on the series, calling it “a wild ride.”

In her message, Knowles spilled the tea on what it was like to work with Cyrus, calling the “Flowers” singer one of the most “down-to-earth home girls” she has ever worked with, and then mentioned some of their childhood experiences.

“The world may see you as Miley Cyrus, but I’ll always see you as the girl I had fun slumber parties with, wrote songs together with, talked about boys together with, and stayed up all night laughing on the phone with. I’ll always see you as just…Miley,” Knowles wrote.

Emily Osment Says The Disney Show ‘Changed My Life’

While the “Hannah Montana: 20th Anniversary Special” premeire included a handful of the show’s main cast, Cyrus’ on-screen besties, Emily Osment and Mitchel Musso, were notably absent.

On Instagram, Osment said her absence was due to her work on the CBS show “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.”

The actress also shared an emotional message in her caption, saying that working on “Hannah Montana” not only “changed my life” but also gave the performer “a lifelong respect for this medium of comedy.”

Osment went on to say that she is always moved when meeting “HM” fans over the years, adding that the “sweet messages” mean more to her than people know.

“Thank you for letting me into your living rooms and I hope to still be there many years from now. Would never be where I am without you guys,” she finished.

Musso Thanks The Fans For Sticking With Him Over The Years

Musso, meanwhile, reflected on the show with a carousel of his own images. In the caption, the “Hey” singer said the show would forever be “wrapped around my heart,” before thanking the audience for sticking by his side over the years.

“Thank you for believing in a goofy kid from Texas who wore some questionable outfits with a haircut like that,” he wrote. “To all of you, thank you for welcoming me into your homes and hearts 20 years ago and still allowing me to be here today. I’m honored we get to share all of this together.”

Ryan Gosling halted an L.A. event promoting his new film “Project Hail Mary” to pitch his brother-in-law, Carlos Mendez, to Hollywood Directors and producers.

Carlos has opened up about his struggles in securing a top acting job and shared that he doesn’t want to call on his sister, Eva Mendes, for favors.

Unlike her brother, Eva had a successful acting career but let everything go to focus on raising her daughters, Esmeralda and Amada, whom she shares with Ryan Gosling.

Ryan Gosling Interrupted An L.A. Event To Support His Brother-In-Law’s Acting Career

Ryan Gosling showed how wonderful it is to have him as a brother-in-law during an L.A. event promoting his new film “Project Hail Mary.”

In a viral TikTok video, the “Barbie” star was seen seated on stage as part of a panel but took an unexpected detour so that he could promote his brother-in-law Carlos Mendez’s acting profile and help him get a gig.

Addressing several Hollywood power players in the room, he described Carlos as the “hardest-working nonworking actor” he knew, before going on to call on movie executives to hire him.

“Can I stop you one second? Carlos are you in the audience? Can you stand up for a second?” Gosling called out, prompting his brother-in-law to stand to his feet.

He then continued, “Okay, how many of you are directors? Raise your hands. How many producers? How many writers? This is Carlos Mendez, he’s Eva Mendes’ brother. He is the hardest-working nonworking actor in this town that I have ever met.”

Much to the admiration of the crowd, the actor added, “So my Hail Mary is, please, hire this man! He deserves it. Get his number. If you’re writing something, directing something, put him in it. He deserves it. He’s as talented as he is handsome.”

Fans Praise Ryan Gosling For The Sweet Gesture, As Some Joke About ‘Nepotism’