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Oscar 2021: ‘Two Distant Strangers’ win the academy award as best live action short film

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Furthermore, the winner is a high-stakes, highly timely and controversial short.

“Two Distant Strangers” won the Academy Award Sunday for Best Live Action Short Film, demolishing American entries “Feeling Through” and “The Letter Room,” just as Israel’s “White Eye” and Palestine’s “The Present.”

“Today, the police will kill three people. And tomorrow, the police will kill three people,” said writer and co-director Travon Free, noticing that all things average, police murder three individuals day by day and that, “disproportionately,” those victims are Black. “I just ask that you please not be indifferent.”

The movie, likewise co-directed by Martin Desmond Roe, is a polarizing take on “Groundhog Day,” except instead of a weatherman learning out how to mollify, it’s about a youthful Black man who keeps reliving his murder because of a white cop.

“There’s no way to avoid the fact that the reality of being Black is often painful and traumatic,” Emmy winner Free said this week in defense of his film — which has been called “more triggering than thought-provoking.”

In spite of the fact that every competitor is emotionally charged in its own specific manner, “Two Distant Strangers” is uncommonly timely.

The Oscars came less seven days after the fatal police shooting of 20-year-old Daunte Wright, and only days after the homicide conviction of previous Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin, who is white, for the 2020 killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man. The day Chauvin was sentenced, Columbus adolescent Ma’khia Bryant was lethally shot by a cop as she evidently went at someone else with a knife.

The following day, Andrew Brown Jr. was fatally shot by police in North Carolina.

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“Him” Teaser: Jordan Peele’s New Sports Horror Film Tackles Obsession and Sacrifice

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How far would you go for greatness?

The first chilling teaser for “Him”, a Jordan Peele-produced psychological sports horror film, has dropped—and it raises an unsettling question: What must athletes truly sacrifice to achieve superstardom? From blood and sweat to faith and identity, the film looks to unpack the cost of ambition in the most terrifying way possible.

A Dark Tale of Fame and Obsession

“Him” stars Tyriq Withers, a real-life former college wide receiver, as Cameron Cade, a fictional rising-star quarterback whose dreams are crushed after a brutal attack by an obsessed fan. Just when his future in football seems over, Cade is offered a lifeline from his idol: Isaiah White, an NFL legend played by Marlon Wayans.

Isaiah invites Cade to train at his secluded compound—an invitation that seems too good to be true. As their training intensifies, Cade discovers that his mentor’s charm masks a much darker force. What starts as a chance at redemption turns into a psychological descent that threatens Cade’s mind, body, and soul.

Official Synopsis

“Cameron Cade (Withers) is a rising-star quarterback who has devoted his life and identity to football. On the eve of professional football’s annual scouting Combine, Cam is attacked by an unhinged fan and suffers a potentially career-ending brain trauma. Just when all seems lost, Cam receives a lifeline when his hero, Isaiah White (Wayans), a legendary eight-time Championship quarterback and cultural megastar, offers to train Cam at Isaiah’s isolated compound that he shares with his celebrity influencer wife, Elsie White (Julia Fox). But as Cam’s training accelerates, Isaiah’s charisma begins to curdle into something darker, sending his protégé down a disorienting rabbit hole that may cost him more than he ever bargained for.”

A Star-Studded, Genre-Bending Cast

Joining Withers and Wayans are Julia Fox as Isaiah’s enigmatic wife, Tim Heidecker, Jim Jefferies, MMA star Maurice Greene, hip-hop artist Guapdad 4000, and Grammy-nominated musician Tierra Whack.

Directed by Justin Tipping, the film is based on a Black List screenplay by Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, with Tipping contributing to the final script. The production is helmed by Monkeypaw Productions, the creative powerhouse behind Peele’s genre-defining hits like Get Out and Nope.

Monkeypaw’s Latest Mind-Bending Vision

“Him” is the latest project under Monkeypaw’s ongoing five-year deal with Universal Pictures, signed in 2019. Producers include Jordan Peele, Ian Cooper, Win Rosenfeld, and Jamal M. Watson, with David Kern and Kate Oh serving as executive producers.

Jordan Peele has teased his own fourth directorial project is in the works, calling it potentially his “favorite movie yet.” In a 2024 interview on Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, Peele emphasized the importance of “grounding characters” in both horror and comedy, “The fantastical and the imagination… that becomes a certain type of project and exercise. But the exercise of grounding it is always what makes it work. That to me, in horror especially, is the hardest part.”

Conclusion: A New Era of Horror and Sports Collide

With a unique mix of psychological horror, sports drama, and social commentary, “Him” promises to be a genre-defying thriller that pushes the boundaries of what a sports movie can be. As the line between dedication and obsession blurs, audiences are left to ask: How much would you give to be the best?

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Danny Boyle Drops Second Trailer for ’28 Years Later

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Danny Boyle Drops Second Trailer for '28 Years Later

The undead are back, and they’re angrier than ever. Columbia Pictures has unveiled Official Trailer 2 for 28 Years Later, the long-awaited sequel to Danny Boyle’s iconic post-apocalyptic film 28 Days Later. This marks the first in a new trilogy from the original team—director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland—joined by a high-profile cast and a grittier vision of the infected-plagued UK.

A New Generation Faces the Rage Virus

Set nearly three decades after the original outbreak, the film follows a small band of survivors quarantined on an isolated island connected to the mainland by a single fortified causeway. When one member ventures into the devastated mainland, he unearths horrifying truths—not just about the infected, but about what humanity has become.

The trailer offers a grim and suspenseful look at a UK transformed by chaos, brutality, and survival instinct.

Star Power and New Horrors

The cast includes Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, and Ralph Fiennes. Original franchise lead Cillian Murphy, now an Oscar winner for Oppenheimer, is confirmed to executive produce—and hinted to appear later in the trilogy.

At CinemaCon, Boyle said, I still love an apocalypse, British-style. I still love the infected. And I still love blowing shit up.”

Meanwhile, director Nia DaCosta teased the second sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, calling it “very different” and creatively liberating.

The Legacy Continues

From the gritty terror of 28 Days Later to the haunting vision of 28 Years Later, this new chapter expands the franchise while holding true to its roots. With advanced visuals, chilling plot twists, and deep social commentary, the rage virus saga evolves for a new generation of horror fans.

If Trailer 2 is any indication, 28 Years Later is set to reignite the apocalyptic horror genre. With the original creative duo at the helm and a powerhouse cast, this is one sequel fans won’t want to miss.

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HBO Confirms Hogwarts Staff Casting in Harry Potter TV Series

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HBO Confirms Hogwarts Staff Casting in Harry Potter TV Series

The magic is officially returning! HBO has confirmed the first wave of casting for its highly anticipated Harry Potter TV series, unveiling fresh faces who will take on the legendary roles of Hogwarts’ iconic staff.

New Cast Revealed for Hogwarts Roles

Here’s who has officially joined the cast:

  • John Lithgow (The Crown, Conclave) as Albus Dumbledore
  • Janet McTeer (The White Queen, Tumbleweeds) as Minerva McGonagall
  • Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You) as Severus Snape
  • Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) as Rubeus Hagrid
  • Luke Thallon will play Quirinus Quirrell in a recurring role
  • Paul Whitehouse joins as Argus Filch, also in a recurring role

Showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod praised the casting, stating, “We’re delighted to have such extraordinary talent onboard and can’t wait to see them bring these beloved characters to new life.”

HBO has promised a faithful adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s bestselling book series. Each season will explore one book in-depth, aiming to expand the magical universe while staying true to the original stories.

Filming is expected to begin this summer, and while the main trio—Harry, Ron, and Hermione—has yet to be cast, over 30,000 actors submitted auditions following HBO’s open casting call.

The series is being written and executive produced by Francesca Gardiner, with direction and executive production by Mark Mylod. The production is a collaboration between Brontë Film and TV, Warner Bros. Television, and Heyday Films.

Executive producers also include J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts, and David Heyman, who produced all eight original Harry Potter films.

With such a powerhouse team and a carefully selected cast, HBO’s Harry Potter series is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated TV events in years. Stay tuned for more magical updates from the wizarding world!

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