“I returned that book, I remember it very specifically,” Jerry Seinfeld told the library cop, Joe Bookman, in a popular 1991 episode of “Seinfeld.”Jerry allegedly had an unpaid library fine going back to 1971, so Bookman replied, “You’re a comedian. You make people laugh. You think this is all a big joke, don’t you? … You think you’re above the law?”
By Peter Lenaghan and Anders Furze September 8, 2024 — 5.30amNormal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeClimate change is directly affecting tourists’ holiday plans, as fires, floods and storms disrupt travel plans and threaten lives.Wildfires that hit the Greek holiday isles of Rhodes and Corfu during the last European summer are a case in point.As the fires raged in forests close to towns, thousands of people – many of them holidaymakers from across the globe – gathered their children and possessions and fled by boat or by foot along the islands’ famous beaches.A sign warns tourists of extreme heat in California in July 2024.Credit: APThe wildfires in Greece highlight two related issues: global warming is making many popular holiday destinations less hospitable, just as international tourism wrestles with its own contribution to climate change.“Most other sectors of the economy are trending downwards on their emissions; tourism continues to increase,” says Professor James Higham, an industry expert from Griffith University.According to figures published in 2021, tourism’s share of global emissions is said to be between eight and 10 per cent, but there are hopes the industry can reach net zero by 2050.Embracing greener travelIn the meantime, options are growing for tourists wanting to minimise their environmental impact.Copenhagen made waves earlier this year when it introduced “CopenPay”, a program rewarding tourists for cycling, taking public transport and even gardening in public parks.AdvertisementIn Rome, the Borghetto San Carlo Agricultural Estate has transformed 22 hectares of unused farmland into a sustainable tourism project that educates visitors on sustainable farming.Even package tours are offering greener alternatives – Intrepid Travel’s Albania expedition, for example, was developed with MEET, an ecotourism organisation devoted to protecting vulnerable areas in the Mediterranean.“We’ve seen first-hand how climate change has significantly impacted the sector, altering both the accessibility and appeal of many destinations,” says Brett Mitchell, managing director for Australia and New Zealand at Intrepid Travel.“With more extreme weather occurring as a result of climate change, unfortunately travellers’ itineraries and plans will be increasingly affected.”Lesser-known and emerging destinations are becoming popular for those wanting to avoid overtourism. For tourists wanting to hit the hotspots, travelling in shoulder season means avoiding unsustainable crowds and, with summers only getting hotter, probably more comfortable temperatures than peak season.People cool off at Mondello beach in Palermo, during a heatwave across Italy in 2023.Credit: ReutersRoom to growDespite these green shoots, research shows tourists are still confused about how to be greener travellers. A 2022 study by industry research group Skift found 90 per cent of tourists look for sustainable options when travelling, but 70 per cent reported feeling overwhelmed by the process of becoming a more sustainable traveller.“[Climate change] is altering both the accessibility and appeal of many destinations,” says Intrepid’s Mitchell. “Another knock-on effect of climate change is an increase in [the cost of] travel insurance. While this hasn’t climbed significantly; we expect it to in the coming years.”Griffith University’s James Higham says long-haul air travel for shorter trips will also increasingly be questioned.“Instead of travelling multiple times per year, we should be travelling the long-haul trips for sabbatical leaves, for longer periods of time if we can arrange that,” he said. “It’s flying off to Bali for a birthday weekend that’s burning up the planet.”Four ways you can make a differenceAvoid peak season – You’ll generally find cooler weather, cheaper prices and fewer people.Travel locally – Rediscovering your own city as a tourist is fun, easy and avoids the harmful carbon emissions of flying.Think about transport – Where practical, public transport and cycling can be greener options for getting around and also enable you to live like a local.Indulge in an eco-resort – Many eco-resorts demonstrate that luxury and sustainability can go hand-in-hand.Most Viewed in Environment
Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar’s first English-language movie The Room Next Door, which tackles the hefty themes of euthanasia and the climate crisis, won the prestigious Golden Lion award at the Venice film festival on Saturday.Starring Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, the film received an 18-minute standing ovation when it premiered at Venice earlier in the week – one of the longest in recent memory.Almodóvar is a darling of the festival circuit and was awarded a lifetime achievement award at Venice in 2019 for his bold, irreverent and often funny Spanish-language features.He also won an Oscar in the best foreign language category for his 1999 film All About My Mother.Now 74, he has decided to try his hand at English, telling reporters that it was like science fiction for him.Speaking before the premiere, he said his movie highlighted the importance of cherishing life, but also made clear that people should be able to die with dignity at a time of their choosing.“It’s a film in favour of euthanasia,” he said, criticising countries such as the US, where so-called “mercy killing” is illegal, unlike his native Spain.While The Room Next Door had been widely tipped to win, the runner-up Silver Lion award was a surprise, going to Italian director Maura Delpero for her slow-paced drama set in the Italian Alps during the second world war – Vermiglio.Australia’s Nicole Kidman won the best actress award for her risque role in the erotic Babygirl, where she plays a hard-nosed CEO, who jeopardises her career and her family by having a toxic affair with a young, manipulative intern.Kidman was in Venice on Saturday, but did not attend the awards ceremony after learning that her mother had died unexpectedly.France’s Vincent Lindon was named best actor for The Quiet Son, a topical, French-language drama about a family torn apart by extreme-right radicalism.The best director award went to American film-maker Brady Corbet for his three-and-a-half-hour-long movie The Brutalist, the epic tale of a Hungarian Holocaust survivor played by Adrien Brody, who seeks to rebuild his life in the US.The festival marks the start of the awards season and regularly throws up big favourites for the Oscars, with eight of the past 12 best director awards at the Oscars going to films that debuted at Venice.The prize for best screenplay went to Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega for I’m Still Here, a film about Brazil’s military dictatorship, while the special jury award went to the abortion drama April, by Georgian director Dea Kulumbegashvili.Among the movies that left Venice’s Lido island empty-handed were Todd Phillips’s Joker: Folie à Deux, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, the sequel to his original The Joker which claimed the top prize in Venice in 2019.Luca Guadagnino’s Queer, with Daniel Craig playing a gay drug addict, and Pablo Larrain’s Maria Callas biopic Maria, starring Angelina Jolie as the celebrated Greek soprano, also won plaudits from the critics but did not get any awards.The Venice jury this year was headed by French actor Isabelle Huppert.Main award winnersGolden Lion for best picture The Room Next DoorSilver Lion (runner-up prize) VermiglioBest director Brady Corbet for The BrutalistBest actressNicole Kidman for BabygirlBest actor Vincent Lindon for The Quiet SonBest screenplay Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega for I’m Still HereSpecial jury award April by Dea KulumbegashviliBest young actor Paul Kircher for And Their Children After Them
Oscar winner Nicole Kidman has been unable to receive her award for best actress at the Venice Film Festival in person after the death of her “beautiful, brave” mother. Kidman, 57, won the award for her performance as a CEO having an affair with a young intern, played by Harris Dickinson, in director Halina Reijn’s…
Ambassador Sameh Aboul-Enein, Egypt’s Assistant Foreign Minister for US Affairs, led the Egyptian delegation at the Joint Economic Commission meetings between Egypt and the United States, held in Washington, DC, on September 4 and 5, 2024. Ambassador Moataz Zahran, Egypt’s Ambassador to Washington, also participated in the meetings.The meetings aimed to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries and expand bilateral investment and trade opportunities, building on the long-standing strategic relationship between Egypt and the United States.Discussions focused on opportunities for enhanced partnership in key sectors such as renewable energy, technology, infrastructure, and agriculture, aligned with the new Egyptian government’s economic program.Aboul-Enein emphasised the importance of the meetings for supporting sustainable economic cooperation between the two countries.He highlighted Egypt’s view of the United States as a key partner in its economic development efforts. He further stressed Egypt’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment exchanges with the United States, promoting Egyptian economic growth, and creating new job opportunities for young people.He stressed the commission’s importance as a platform for developing economic and trade relations that serve the interests of both peoples.Beyond formal sessions, Ambassador Aboul-Enein held meetings with senior US officials, including the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs and the Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources. Discussions focused on strategic issues of mutual interest, including coordination on regional issues to ensure the stability of the Middle East and enhance cooperation in security and development areas.The Egyptian delegation also met with officials from prominent US institutions, including the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), to discuss frameworks for cooperation in clean energy, infrastructure, and technology. They also explored opportunities to support digital transformation initiatives and empower youth and women in Egypt.Ambassador Aboul-Enein also held meetings with academics and researchers at the Wilson Center and the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) to highlight the Egyptian government’s role in regional and international affairs, including the stabilisation of the Middle East and Africa, the role of diplomacy in conflict resolution, and the promotion of sustainable development.
Ambassador Sameh Aboul-Enein, Egypt’s Assistant Foreign Minister for US Affairs, led the Egyptian delegation at the Joint Economic Commission meetings between Egypt and the United States, held in Washington, DC, on September 4 and 5, 2024. Ambassador Moataz Zahran, Egypt’s Ambassador to Washington, also participated in the meetings.The meetings aimed to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries and expand bilateral investment and trade opportunities, building on the long-standing strategic relationship between Egypt and the United States.Discussions focused on opportunities for enhanced partnership in key sectors such as renewable energy, technology, infrastructure, and agriculture, aligned with the new Egyptian government’s economic program.Aboul-Enein emphasised the importance of the meetings for supporting sustainable economic cooperation between the two countries.He highlighted Egypt’s view of the United States as a key partner in its economic development efforts. He further stressed Egypt’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment exchanges with the United States, promoting Egyptian economic growth, and creating new job opportunities for young people.He stressed the commission’s importance as a platform for developing economic and trade relations that serve the interests of both peoples.Beyond formal sessions, Ambassador Aboul-Enein held meetings with senior US officials, including the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs and the Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources. Discussions focused on strategic issues of mutual interest, including coordination on regional issues to ensure the stability of the Middle East and enhance cooperation in security and development areas.The Egyptian delegation also met with officials from prominent US institutions, including the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), to discuss frameworks for cooperation in clean energy, infrastructure, and technology. They also explored opportunities to support digital transformation initiatives and empower youth and women in Egypt.Ambassador Aboul-Enein also held meetings with academics and researchers at the Wilson Center and the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) to highlight the Egyptian government’s role in regional and international affairs, including the stabilisation of the Middle East and Africa, the role of diplomacy in conflict resolution, and the promotion of sustainable development.
It’s an exciting time to be in Toronto, and I put a lot of energy into making sure I was in the city for the Toronto International Film Festival, a not-for-profit cultural organization with a mission to transform the way people see the world through film. I’m well aware I’m not the biggest movie reviewer like I am in the theatre world, but this fantastic film event brings out that same excited part of my soul, and I’m super excited about what I have lined up. 9 films over 10 days. Sounds like me, if you ask any of my theatre-going friends.
Film # 1: The World Premiere of R.T. Thorne’s “40 Acres“
Canada | 2024 | 113m | English, Cree
In a post-apocalyptic future where food is scarce, the last descendants of a Black family of farmers who settled in Canada after the American Civil War must protect their homestead from an organized militia hell-bent on taking their land.
In a post-apocalyptic future where food is scarce, the last descendants of a Black family of farmers who settled in Canada after the American Civil War must protect their homestead from an organized militia hell-bent on taking their land.
After a series of plagues and wars leaves society in ruins, the Freemans are surviving — even thriving — on a farm in the middle of nowhere… so long as they repel the occasional raiding party. But what good is surviving the end of the world if it means snuffing out your own humanity?
Former soldier Hailey (Danielle Deadwyler) made that choice years ago, believing that isolation was the only way to protect her family. She and her partner Galen (Michael Greyeyes) fled the collapse along with their children, training them to fight (and, yes, kill). But now Hailey’s eldest Emanuel (Kataem O’Connor) is a young man, and when he meets a young woman (Milcania Diaz-Rojas) in the forest beyond the fence, his need for human contact could place the whole family in jeopardy.
Writer-director R.T. Thorne infuses the dystopian narrative with contemporary relevance and an inescapable historical metaphor, placing Black and Indigenous characters at the centre of a story about people defending their land from those who would kill them for it without a second thought.
Deadwyler is electric as the driven Hailey, whose refusal to consider even the slightest deviation from her shoot-first philosophy is rooted in the fear that she won’t be able to protect her people. And Greyeyes finally gets a role that synthesizes his paradoxical strengths as a charismatic badass and deadpan comic player. But Toronto’s own O’Connor is the real discovery as Emanuel, a young man realizing that he might need to defy his family in order to save it. – NORM WILNER
Film #2: The World Premiere of Janicza Bravo’s “The Listeners“
United Kingdom | 2024 | 82m | English
Rebecca Hall (Resurrection, Christine) stars as Claire, a schoolteacher who begins to hear a sound that no one else around her seems to, in this enigmatic adaptation of author Jordan Tannahill’s novel of the same name, directed by Janicza Bravo (Zola).
Claire (Rebecca Hall, Professor Marston and the Wonder Women, TIFF ’17) is perfectly contented, if sometimes slightly underwhelmed, by the tranquil life she leads. As an English teacher with a loving husband (Prasanna Puwanarajah, The Crown, Patrick Melrose) and daughter, Claire’s life holds few surprises. When she suddenly begins hearing a low, persistent humming sound — which, it appears, no one else around her can hear or account for — Claire begins to withdraw into herself, suddenly knocked off-balance by the bizarre shift in her life.
In her search for answers, Claire comes to learn that her student Kyle (Ollie West, The Sparrow) can also hear the sound. They embark on a tentative, faltering journey together, leading them towards a neighbourhood support group led by a mysterious but compelling couple, and away from their own respective families. As Claire and Kyle each navigate their own experiences of the sound, and its impact on their lives, they begin to unravel its meaning — is it a hoax? A curse? A gift?
Director Janicza Bravo (Zola, Poker Face, Mrs. America) deftly manages the complexities and doubts that come with Claire and Kyle’s explorations. Canadian author and playwright Jordan Tannahill adapts his own bestselling novel, and brings to vivid life this haunting story of isolation, faith, mysticism, and longing. The effects of this heady mixture stay with you long after the screen has gone dark — like a persistent, low hum that you can’t quite get out of your head. – GEOFF MACNAUGHTON
Film #3: The Canadian Premiere of Andrea Arnold’s “Bird“
United Kingdom, United States of America, France, Germany | 2024 | 119m | English
Andrea Arnold returns to the Festival with a story about a distracted father (Barry Keoghan) and his lonely and imaginative 12-year-old daughter, Bailey (Nykiya Adams), who must seek attention (and adventure) elsewhere.
Twelve-year-old Bailey (played by charismatic newcomer Nykiya Adams) lives with her father Bug (a devoted but emotionally chaotic Barry Keoghan) in a graffiti-strewn tenement. When Bug informs her that he’ll be marrying his new girlfriend soon, Bailey is furious and hurt, for what will become of her? Her mother lives with a violent, cruel man, and while Bug sports a ferocious love for his daughter, he can be oblivious to the needs of a fledgling teenage girl.
As she often does, Bailey retreats to the open fields on the outskirts of her hometown to seek comfort. It is here she is most herself, with an uncanny ability to communicate with animals and experience nature in a profound way. It is on one of these walks that Bailey has a mysterious, yet deeply meaningful, encounter that helps her when she must force a confrontation with her mother’s vicious partner.
This latest film from renowned English filmmaker Andrea Arnold is a compelling, ultimately joyous story that tackles themes of identity, sexism, loneliness, and class struggle. The director’s empathy and skill at showing us beauty despite dire circumstances elevates Bird beyond its roots. Add to that a crystalline thread of magic realism and the result is an ode to the wondrous transition from childhood to adolescence. – JANE SCHOETTLE
Film #4: The World Premiere of Scott Beck & Bryan Woods’ “Heretic“
United States of America | 2024 | 110m | English
Starring Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, and Chloe East, this fiendishly irreverent chamber horror from writer-director duo Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (the celebrated scenarists behind A Quiet Place) considers how an innocent chat about theology can go terribly awry.
Deliciously dark and frequently hilarious, this chamber horror from writer-director duo Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (the celebrated scenarists behind A Quiet Place) considers how an innocent chat about theology can go terribly awry. Starring Hugh Grant in a brilliantly against-type performance, Heretic is a fiendishly irreverent tale of battling convictions.
Sister Paxton (Chloe East, TIFF ’22’s The Fabelmans) and Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher (Prospect) are cheerfully going about their mission to spread good news about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Working down a list of doors to knock on, they arrive at the quiet suburban house of Mr. Reed (Grant), who seems not only polite and hospitable but also genuinely fascinated by the history and teachings of Mormonism.
In fact, Mr. Reed is quite knowledgeable about all the world’s major religions and is eager to discuss them with the women. Perhaps too eager. With the rain coming down outside and Mr. Reed’s wife making pie in the next room, the setting is utterly cozy. The only thing that could spoil it would be if Sister Paxton and Sister Barnes wanted to leave.
Half the fun of Heretic is waiting to see where it leads you next. Beck and Woods take the familiar and turn it on its head, while their characters ask serious questions about the role of faith and piety in a world rendered incomprehensible by chaos and violence. It’s a chilling, provocative thrill ride, and it showcases Grant’s immense talents. – ROBYN CITIZEN
Film #5: The North American Premiere of Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer“
Italy, United States of America | 2024 | 135m | English
Brilliant, audacious author, meet brilliant, audacious director: it takes risk to translate the work of William S. Burroughs for the screen, but Oscar-nominated filmmaker Luca Guadagnino’s (Call Me by Your Name, TIFF ’17) spin on the Beat legend’s autobiographical novel matches its source material in vulnerability and taboo-smashing adventurousness. Starring Daniel Craig (Knives Out, TIFF ’19) and featuring supporting turns from Jason Schwartzman (Quiz Lady, TIFF ’23) and Oscar nominee Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread), Queer is a hallucinogenic odyssey bathed in desire.
Lee (Craig) mingles with the expatriate set in postwar Mexico City, wandering its streets, frequenting its gay bars, and ingesting whatever illicit substances are available. He is a consummate raconteur who has no trouble finding an audience, but he is also a desperately lonely, middle-aged addict with an alarming fondness for guns. Early in Queer, Lee sets his sights on a journey to the Amazon in search of the potentially telepathic ayahuasca — and he wants handsome young bi-curious Oklahoman Allerton (Drew Starkey, The Hate U Give, TIFF ’18) to accompany him. Their travels will yield a string of unexpected encounters and provide Lee with sobering lessons in what Burroughs dubbed “the algebra of need.”
Adapted by Justin Kuritzkes (who wrote Guadagnino’s Challengers), Queer is both faithful to the book and a radical re-imagining. Period detail is offset by anachronistic musical choices, while an eerie epilogue alludes to the real-life tragedy that prompted Burroughs’ writing career. Through it all, Craig makes Lee his own, creating a fully lived-in protagonist whose unruly obsessions lead to something akin to enlightenment. – ANITA LEE
Film #6: The World Premiere of Samir Oliveros’ “The Luckiest Man in America“
United States of America | 2024 | 90m | English
Featuring Paul Walter Hauser (Richard Jewell), Walton Goggins, and David Strathairn, this stranger-than-fiction drama resurrects a hugely popular 1980s game show and the “luckiest man in America” who broke it.
This stranger-than-fiction drama resurrects a hugely popular 1980s game show and the “luckiest man in America” who broke it. Directed by Samir Oliveros (Bad Lucky Goat) and featuring performances from Paul Walter Hauser (Richard Jewell), Walton Goggins, and David Strathairn, The Luckiest Man in America illuminates a forgotten turning point in television history, when a network executive took a gamble and inadvertently made an obsessive eccentric into a folk hero.
Michael Larson (Hauser) shouldn’t even be there. An unemployed ice cream truck driver from Lebanon, Ohio, Michael only made it into auditions for Press Your Luck because he stole someone else’s appointment. The show’s casting director (an excellent Shamier Anderson) thinks Michael is a creep, but co-creator Bill Carruthers (Strathairn) likes Michael’s chutzpah and sees him as a Middle-American everyman the audience can cheer for — the dark horse is in.
Michael fumbles through the first several minutes of play, but once host Peter Tomarken (Goggins) moves onto the second “spin” section of Press Your Luck, where contestants try to get a randomly lit electronic game board to stop on a winning tile, Michael suddenly can’t lose. In fact, he quickly breaks the show’s record — before breaking its savings account. Is Michael cheating? Or does he understand something about Press Your Luck that no one has seen before?
Written by Oliveros and Maggie Briggs (TIFF ’22’s Joyland), the film ushers us behind the scenes of Press Your Luck’s most infamous episode and speculates on Larson’s motives. With his unruly mane and beard, and his thrift-store blazer and khaki shorts, Hauser’s Michael is the embodiment of nerdy desperation, a man who’s banked everything on the chance to win the American Dream as millions watch. – ROBYN CITIZEN
Film #7: The World Premiere of Fleur Fortuné’s “The Assessment“
United Kingdom, Germany, United States of America | 2024 | 114m | English
Set in a future world destroyed by climate change, a couple must pass an assessment before they are allowed to have a child in this sci-fi thriller starring Alicia Vikander and Elizabeth Olsen.
In the future depicted in The Assessment, everyone gets to live a calm life but the government maintains a strict control of resources. As part of that, and to ensure the world doesn’t become overpopulated, it decides who can and can’t have children.
Mia (Elizabeth Olsen) and Aaryan (Himesh Patel) are nervous about their application to become parents, but they have everything going for them. They live in a peaceful, secluded home where Aaryan has a studio for his genetic research and Mia maintains a greenhouse as part of her work as a botanical scientist. The two are assigned an assessor named Virginia (Alicia Vikander), who comes to evaluate them in their home over seven days.
Virginia asks them invasive and awkward questions about everything from how they first met to how often they have sex. But this is just the beginning as Virginia puts Mia and Aaryan through simulations of the potential horrors children can inflict on their parents. As the tests become increasingly abstract and confounding, the right answers seem less obvious and the assessment foments a rift between the couple.
This debut from director Fleur Fortuné is striking for its precise control of story, performance, and production design. Olsen and Patel capture the psychological turmoil of two people having their lives forensically examined, while Vikander gives an exceptional performance that’s surprising all the way to the end. – ROBYN CITIZEN
Film #8: The Canadian Premiere of Alfonso Cuarón’s “Disclaimer“
United Kingdom | 2024 | 134m | English, Italian
Five-time Academy Award winner Alfonso Cuarón adapts Renée Knight’s novel into a seven-part psychological thriller about a journalist, played by Cate Blanchett, who is threatened with the exposure of her darkest secret.
In Disclaimer, celebrated journalist Catherine Ravenscroft — played by two-time Academy Award winner and TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award recipient Cate Blanchett — has made a career out of exposing the transgressions of others. One day, she receives a mysterious book in the mail. Reading it, she soon realizes the novel’s protagonist is based on her younger self, and the plot reveals her deepest, darkest secret.
Who sent it? What do they want? And how will Catherine protect her husband Robert (Sacha Baron Cohen), her son Nicholas (Kodi Smit-McPhee), and her own reputation if others connect the novel to her past? These are the questions Alfonso Cuarón explores in his seven-part psychological thriller adapted from Renée Knight’s 2015 novel of the same name. In his first foray into serialized storytelling, Cuarón takes full advantage of the format, jumping from past to present, exploring how perceptions, even flawed ones, can be unwavering, and how love can obscure truth.
Matching Blanchett’s brilliance is Kevin Kline, who plays Stephen Brigstocke, one of many characters wrestling with the implications of the mysterious book. Rounding out the incredible cast is Lesley Manville, Louis Partridge, Leila George, and Hoyeon, all at their absolute best. The moral trajectory of their characters and the complexity of the narrative illustrate the best aspects of a 21st-century novel. Luckily, it’s also in the meticulous hands of one of cinema’s greatest filmmakers. – GEOFF MACNAUGHTON
Film #9: The World Premiere of Marielle Heller’s “Nightbitch“
United States of America | 2024 | 98m | English
An overworked stay-at-home mom (Amy Adams) tries to catch a break, any break, while caring for her rambunctious toddler. Also, she might be turning into a dog.
Based on the bestselling 2021 novel of the same name, director Marielle Heller (Can You Ever Forgive Me, TIFF ’21) has created a profoundly original exploration of motherhood and identity, destined to be one of the most talked-about films of the year.
Amy Adams plays Mother, a former city-dwelling artist and curator who chooses to stay home (now a suburban home) with her toddler son as her husband travels frequently for business. She loves her son deeply, but that does not prevent her from feeling isolated and exhausted. How did her life become a numbing grind of diaper changes and cutting bananas into little pieces?
Still unstrung from an extremely unsuccessful attempt to connect with other mothers at the library’s Baby Book Time, and unable to keep her emotions bottled up inside any longer, Mother begins to see and hear things in the night that beckon to her. Soon, something primal and feral rises up within her, allowing her to unleash — and return to — her inner power and identity.
Scoot McNairy plays Mother’s Husband, a relatable, sensitive man struggling with his own challenges around parenthood. But make no mistake, this is Adams’ film. It is her fearless, unselfconscious, and fiercely intelligent performance that makes Nightbitch such a memorable experience. Heller weaves drama, comedy, and significant elements of magic realism into an audacious and important film, examining those aspects of motherhood — both dark and darkly humorous — of which we rarely speak. – JANE SCHOETTLE
At his hotel in Palau, Pai Lee has long hosted tourists on their way to the country’s jellyfish lake and white sand beaches.But fewer are visiting from Asia, including China — an unwelcome trend as the Palau Hotel faces higher costs after the pandemic.”It’s hard for us to raise the price since the demand is much lower,” Mr Lee said.Pai Lee has noticed a decline in tourists visiting Palau from Japan, South Korea and China.
In a surprising turn of events, Qualcomm is reportedly considering acquiring Intel’s PC client business. This strategic move could have far-reaching implications for the competitive landscape of the PC industry, offering Qualcomm a foothold in the x86-dominated market while allowing Intel to refocus on its broader growth initiatives.
According to exclusive reports from Reuters, discussions between Qualcomm and Intel are underway, although no formal communication has been confirmed by either company. Intel has repeatedly emphasized its commitment to the PC business, particularly following the recent launch of its Core Ultra Series 2 processors. However, the company has faced significant challenges in recent months.
Intel’s stock price plummeted by 20% after it announced a 15% workforce reduction and reported a historic drop in revenue. The PC client business, which contributed $29.3 billion to Intel’s revenue last year, experienced an 8% decline, reflecting broader challenges in the PC market. Additionally, Intel’s 13th- and 14th-generation Raptor Lake desktop processors have been plagued by instability issues, leading to crashes and system freezes.
If Qualcomm were to acquire Intel’s PC business, it would gain access to a vast customer base and a well-established brand. Qualcomm’s ARM-based chips have already made significant inroads into the mobile market, and acquiring Intel’s PC business could further expand its reach and diversify its revenue streams.
For Intel, the sale of its PC business could provide a much-needed financial boost and allow the company to focus on its other growth areas, such as AI and data center solutions. By divesting itself of a non-core business, Intel could streamline its operations and improve its overall financial performance.
While the possibility of Qualcomm acquiring Intel’s PC business is still speculative, it is a move that could have a profound impact on the PC industry. If the deal goes through, it could lead to increased competition, innovation, and lower prices for consumers.
Georgia football isn’t wasting any time taking care of business Saturday against Tennessee Tech.The Bulldogs scored touchdowns on their first two possessions with Carson Beck completing his first eight passes for 90 yards and threw three touchdowns. The Bulldogs added a field goal to run out to a 24-0 lead late in the second quarter. The visitors went three-and-out to start on their first two possessions.The second half was off to a hot start with a 50-yard touchdown reception from Beck to Arian Smith to put the Bulldogs up another seven. Lawson Luckie added another on the very next Georgia drive, another quick 23-second drive and Beck became the eighth quarterback in school history to tie the most touchdown passes in a game — he’s at five.The Bulldogs are playing their home opener today in a Sanford Stadium with an expected capacity crowd now that’s ticked up to 93,033 after completing $68.5 million in renovations.Kirby Smart’s imprint on his team, led by quarterback Carson Beck, comes through when players talk about their mindset heading into games.Even if the opponent is Tennessee Tech, an FCS program picked to finish seventh in the nine-team Big South-OVC.“It’s really the same vibe every week,” Georgia inside linebacker Raylen Wilson said. “We’re going in there to beat somebody for four quarters. We don’t really look at the team we’re playing, It’s really about us being better than we were last week.”Georgia relied on several newcomers last week who will make their home debuts including freshman safety KJ Bolden, freshman running back Nate Frazier and transfer wide receivers Colbie Young and London Humphreys.Watch Georgia football vs Tennessee Tech live on ESPN+/SEC Network (subscribe today) 3:58 p.m. Lawson Luckie finishes quick drive with a score for Georgia footballGeorgia football went on another quick drive, one play for 27 yards and 23 seconds, ended by a 37-yard pass from Carson Beck to Lawson Luckie in the end zone.Beck has tied the school record for most touchdown passes in a game. He’s currently completed 18 of 25 passes for 242 yards and five touchdowns. He’s the eighth quarterback to hit this mark, following Stetson Bennett, who hit it most recently against UAB in 2021. 3:52 p.m. Arian Smith adds another seven with 50-yard receptionCarson Beck connected to Arian Smith at the Tennessee Tech 11-yard line on a 50-yard pass, and Smith stumbled into the end zone for another seven on the board. The Bulldogs lead 31-0 with 12:54 to go in the third quarter. 3:15 p.m. Dominic Lovett touchdown lengthens Georgia leadCarson Beck found Dominic Lovett on a 10-yard pass to the right to get another touchdown for Georgia. The Bulldogs lead 24-0 with a minute left to halftime. 2:50 p.m. Georgia Bulldogs settles for field goal inside the 10Georgia moved inside the 10-yard line after a long drive, but after failing to draw Tennessee Tech offsides, it got a 27-yard Peyton Woodring second quarter field goal for a 17-0 lead. 2:37 p.m. First quarter domination for Georgia BulldogsGeorgia has outgained Tennessee Tech 123-12 and leads 14-0 after the first quarter. Carson Beck is 11 of 11 for 116 yards and two touchdowns. 2:22 p.m. Colbie Young touchdown puts Georgia up by two touchdownsColbie Young has two touchdowns now in two games. The Miami transfer wide receiver was wide open and walked in on a 6-yard touchdown. Georgia leads 14-0 after a 7 play, 58 yard drive. 2:13 p.m. Georgia Bulldogs strike fast to go aheadA 46-yard punt return set Georgia up for great field position. Carson Beck hit Dillon Bell for a 22-yard touchdown on the first offensive play. Georgia up 7-0. 1:21 p.m. Updates on Warren Brinson and other UGA players dealing with injuriesDefensive lineman Warren Brinson (ankle/thigh) is dressed out but moving at less than full speed. He’s lined up with the third teamers. As expected running back Roderick Robinson (on a scooter with a right toe injury) and defensive linemen Xzavier McCleod (undisclosed) and Jordan Hall (legs) and offensive lineman Marcus Harrison (right foot) are out. So is defensive back Kyren Jones who has a left leg injury and is also using a scooter. 1:10 p.m Trevor Etienne warms up ahead of Georgia football vs. Tennessee TechRunning back Trevor Etienne, who was suspended for the first game after his offseason DUI arrest, is warming up again pregame. It seems more likely he’ll play this week, especially since he was announced as the starter. Here’s a rundown on Etienne. 12:43 p.m. Georgia football DB Joenel Aguero injury update from pregameGeorgia nickel back Joenel Aguero is on the field dressed out and working out with the other defensive backs. He missed last week’s game with what Kirby Smart called a soft-tissue injury. 11:57 a.m. Hall of Fame SID gets College GameDay shoutoutClaude Felton, who retired after 40 years as Georgia sports information director, got a mention on ESPN’s College GameDay since his name is on the new press box with late legendary tennis coach and SID Dan Magill.Felton will be recognized on the field during the game. 11:25 a.m. Mykel Williams a no-go as expected for UGA footballGeorgia defensive end/outside linebacker Mykel Williams just walked behind the end zone and into the locker room with a walking boot on his left foot after injuring an ankle against Clemson. 11:08 a.m. Your Georgia football vs. Tennessee Tech game officialsAn ACC officiating crew worked the Georgia-Clemson game last week. This time it’s an SEC crew with Marc Curles the referee. Curles is a veteran official who was the ref when A.J. Green was called for a penalty for making “a gesture to the crowd calling attention to himself,” after a touchdown in a 2009 home loss to LSU. Times have changed.This section will be updated when the game begins.Georgia vs Tennessee Tech time todayDate: TodayTime: 2 p.m.Location: Sanford Stadium, AthensWhat channel is Georgia vs Tennessee game on today?TV channel: ESPN+/SEC Network +Streaming: ESPN+/SEC Network+Radio: Georgia Bulldog Radio Network including 960 AM and FM 106.1 in Athens and 95.5 FM in Atlanta.NOTE: Georgia vs. Tennessee Tech will be available only via streaming. Jay Alter and Rocky Boiman will call the game from the booth at Sanford Stadium, with Ashley Stroehlein reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include ESPN+/SEC Network+. (Subscription needed).Georgia vs Tennessee Tech historySeries record: Georgia leads 2-0Georgia’s last win: 38-0 in 2009.Tennessee’s Tech last win: No wins in series.Georgia vs Tennessee Tech predictionsGeorgia 70, Tennessee Tech 3.Georgia steps down in competition to play an FCS program that put a scare into Middle Tennessee last week before falling short. The Bulldogs’ stout schedule means this may be one of the few chances this season for plenty of backups to see significant playing time.Georgia vs Tennessee Tech betting oddsGame lines and odds from BetMGM as of Thursday:Spread: NAOver/under: NAMoneyline: NAGeorgia vs Tennessee Tech injury updatesGeorgia: DE/OLB Mykel Williams (ankle, out), DL Warren Brinson (calf, doubtful), DB Joenel Aguero (soft tissue, questionable), DL Jordan Hall (legs, out), DL Xzavier McCleod (undisclosed, out), RB Roderick Robinson (toe, out). Tennessee Tech: QB Dylan Laible (arm, out).Georgia vs. Tennessee Tech weather updateThe forecast calls for a high of 85 degrees with a 24 percent chance of rain, according to weather.com.Georgia football 2024 scheduleAug. 31: Georgia 34, Clemson 3Sept, 7 Tennessee TechSept. 14 at KentuckySept. 28 at AlabamaOct. 5 AuburnOct. 12 Mississippi StateOct. 19 at TexasNov. 2 vs. Florida in JacksonvilleNov. 9 at Ole MissNov. 16 TennesseeNov. 23 UMassNov. 29 Georgia TechRecord: 1-0Buy Georgia football tickets this season with StubhubTennessee Tech football 2024 scheduleAug. 31: Georgia 34, Clemson 3Sept, 7 Tennessee TechSept. 14 at KentuckySept. 28 at AlabamaOct. 5 AuburnOct. 12 Mississippi StateOct. 19 at TexasNov. 2 vs. Florida in JacksonvilleNov. 9 at Ole MissNov. 16 TennesseeNov. 23 UMassNov. 29 Georgia TechRecord: 1-0Georgia football newsWe occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. 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