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New York Times
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Never Quitting ‘Brokeback Mountain'
'I wish I knew how to quit you,' says a frustrated Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) to his secret lover Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) in a now emblematic scene from Ang Lee's 'Brokeback Mountain,' the celebrated gay-themed drama based on Annie Proulx's 1997 short story. The film was originally released in December 2005, but is back in theaters this June for a 20th-annivesary Pride Month reissue. Jack's sorrowful line came to synthesize the doomed love affair between the two rugged men for whom the majestic landscapes of Wyoming became a sacred romantic hide-out — the only place they were free to express desire and tenderness for each other. But that line, and the notion of two men who embody an archetype of American masculinity falling for each other, was both parodied and memed in pop culture — often reduced to 'the gay cowboy movie' — even while the film received critical raves and Oscar nominations (eight, including best picture, a prize it lost to the movie 'Crash'). Arriving at a political turning point in the United States, 'Brokeback Mountain' struck a chord far beyond cinephile circles. For the film critic and author Alonso Duralde, who wrote a book about queer cinema history called 'Hollywood Pride,' the film was a watershed moment for representation in mainstream Hollywood. It was distributed by Focus Features, the indie outfit of Universal Pictures, with a revered director and up-and-coming stars, which meant it could potentially have a wider reach and impact. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Batman Begins turns 20: Nolan's trilogy challenged power, but still sided with the system
Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy is often praised for bringing gritty realism and deeper political themes to superhero films. When Batman Begins premiered in 2005, it reimagined Gotham as a city undone by corruption, inequality and institutional collapse. The trilogy may feature masked villains and high-tech gadgets, but at its core, it grapples with what happens when the systems meant to protect people start to fail. Throughout the trilogy, each of the central villains exposes a different aspect of Gotham's dysfunction. In Batman Begins, Ra's al Ghul (Liam Neeson) sees Gotham as beyond saving, believing its destruction is the only path to renewal. In The Dark Knight, the Joker (Heath Ledger) reveals how fragile the city's moral and social order truly is, pushing its citizens to the brink with chaos and manipulation. Then in The Dark Knight Rises, Bane (Tom Hardy) harnesses class resentment to stage a violent revolution, blaming Gotham's wealthy elite for systemic injustice. While these antagonists raise serious questions about the city's foundations, the films ultimately pull back from endorsing their challenges. Instead, they reaffirm that Gotham's institutions, however flawed, must endure. Radical change, the trilogy suggests, is more dangerous than the corruption already in place. Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here. Batman (Christian Bale) is central to this message. He doesn't work to change Gotham's broken structures. Instead, he tries to keep them from falling apart completely. In The Dark Knight, he faces the Joker's chaos using extreme measures, including mass surveillance. Though he's troubled by it, the film still frames it as necessary. In The Dark Knight Rises, Bane's rebellion taps into real fears about inequality and corruption. But instead of taking those concerns seriously, the story presents them as a threat that Batman must shut down. Rather than offering hope for a better system, the film reassures audiences that the existing one, while imperfect, is still the best option. While the trilogy appears to challenge authority and institutional power, it effectively offers a reassuring message rather than a radical one. Philosopher Slavoj Žižek argued that The Dark Knight transforms a lie into a stabilising force. This is embodied in Batman's decision to let the public believe he was responsible for Harvey Dent's (Aaron Eckhart) crimes, preserving Dent's reputation to maintain hope in Gotham's legal system. As Batman tells Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman): 'Sometimes the truth isn't good enough. Sometimes people deserve more. Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded.' The implication is clear: some truths are too dangerous, and maintaining public faith is more important than exposing systemic failure. The films do question the status quo, but only within safe boundaries. They propose that society's problems can be managed by exceptional individuals rather than through structural reform. In doing so, they frame flawed institutions not as entities to be dismantled, but as pillars that must be upheld, even if only symbolically. You can see the trilogy's impact in later films like Joker (2019) and The Batman (2022). Both explore the collapse of society and what happens to people caught in the middle. But like Nolan's films, they centre on lone characters, not collective solutions. They continue the pattern of showing that things are broken, while still trusting that a single hero can fix them. Two decades after Batman Begins, the trilogy's legacy feels more relevant than ever. As debates over truth, institutional trust and political extremism continue to dominate global headlines, Nolan's films resonate with their portrayal of a society teetering on the edge. In an era marked by public disillusionment and the growing sense that 'the system' is broken, The Dark Knight trilogy explores the discomforting idea that institutions may be flawed but necessary – and that stability sometimes requires myth, not truth. By positioning Batman as a lone moral figure who preserves order at great personal cost, the trilogy reflects a widespread longing for strong leadership amid institutional failure. Yet it also reveals a troubling tendency in popular culture to offer catharsis without change, examination without consequence. As viewers, we are encouraged to acknowledge the depth of societal problems – but not to demand solutions. In that sense, The Dark Knight remains not just a compelling superhero story, but a mirror for our continuing struggles with power, truth, and the difficult question of whether our institutions are worth saving, or simply the only ones we've got. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Irene Zarza-Rubio does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Batman Begins Turns 20: 11 Behind-The-Scenes Facts You Probably Never Knew
It's been 20 years since we were introduced to Christopher Nolan's dark and gritty Batman trilogy. Leading star Christian Bale brought a whole new approach to the iconic superhero in 2005's Batman Begins, which went on to be a huge critical and commercial success, kicking off an Oscar-winning franchise that would make its way into plenty of cinephiles' top 10 lists. Also starring Cillian Murphy, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes and Gary Oldman, Batman Begins brought a rough edge to the Dark Knight's origin story as he vowed to clean up crime in Gotham City. As fans will no doubt be returning to the movie to mark the anniversary, here are 11 behind-the-scenes secrets you might not have known about how the film was made… It's hard to imagine anyone else capturing the fierce intensity of Bruce Wayne in Christopher Nolan's trilogy quite like Christian Bale, but there were a few other big names up for the role. Those included Jake Gyllenhaal (sister of Maggie, who would later take over the role of Rachel Dawes from Katie Holmes), Eion Bailey, Heath Ledger (who, of course, went on to play The Joker in The Dark Knight) and Cillian Murphy, who eventually landed the role of Scarecrow instead. Before the role went to Cillian, director Christopher Nolan was drawn to another big name who he would go on to work with in Oppenheimer: Robert Downey Jr. 'I 100% knew you weren't the guy. In my head, that was already cast,' the director admitted to the Iron Man actor in a joint interview with The New York Times in 2024. However, despite being a 'huge admirer' of the Marvel star's work, Nolan also confessed to being 'a little afraid' of him, claiming: 'I had heard all kinds of stories about how you were crazy. It was only a few years after the last of those stories that had come out about you.' From 1996 to the early 2000s, Robert had been arrested several times for drug-related issues, and went on to spend 15 months in prison before turning his life around. Christian has long been known for his drastic physical transformations in preparation for movie roles, most famously losing around 28kg in preparation for his role in The Machinist. But within just five months of wrapping on that film, he had to bulk up again for Batman Begins, eventually reaching 220 pounds (around 99kg). 'I had to put on a great deal of weight, which was necessary for the character,' he told the BBC. '[Batman] has no superpowers so you have to believe he's capable of this. I kind of knew I could do it. I think Chris was probably worrying far more than me. I was talking to him one time on the telephone whilst we were doing The Machinist and he'd say, 'How're you looking these days?' He continued: 'It was, frankly, pathetic, I was down to 121 pounds and I couldn't do a single push up – this is maybe not the guy you want to cast as Batman. But we had enough time. It was an arduous journey to get there, but I managed to get into appropriate shape by the time we started filming.' When you look at the rock solid exterior of the Batman suit, can you really blame Christian Bale for having a little trouble with acting in it? 'It's true that it's hot and sweaty wearing it, it gives you a headache, but I'm not going to complain about it because I got to play Batman!' he shared in a BBC interview. Still, he told Vulture when the trilogy concluded that he would miss wearing the suit, despite all its problems. 'For all the discomfort and the heat and the sweat and the headaches and everything from it, when you sit back and watch the movie at the end of the day, you go: 'Well, that's fuckin' cool',' he conceded. 'I will miss that, I liked the good bit of rubber.' While it's true that Christian Bale performed many of his own stunts in the movie, including those intense fight sequences, he drew the line at getting behind the wheel of the formidable Batmobile. Instead, a stunt driver George Cottle took charge in those scenes, and apparently went through four Batmobiles during the filming of Batman Begins, according to The Guardian. Meanwhile, the Batpod (the epic motorcycle-like escape vehicle that emerges from the Batmobile itself) was also secretly being designed during Batman Begins to be used in sequel The Dark Knight. Most movie productions will utilise a second unit, which shoots sequences simultaneously that don't necessarily require the main actors, like establishing shots, cutaways or action sequences. But Christopher Nolan decided against that, and instead was reportedly present for the whole 129 days of shooting. 'He said to the studio, 'Why would I want to direct an action film where I hire another director to direct the action?'' director of photography Wally Pfister recalled in an interview with Empire. 'It seemed insane, but it made all the sense in the world to me!' While the fictional Gotham City is set in the US, some pretty important scenes were also shot in England and Iceland. An especially lavish location in the UK served as the setting for Wayne Manor: a 19th century country house in Buckinghamshire called Mentmore Towers. However as of last year, it was identified as being an at risk property by Historic England after falling into disrepair. View this post on Instagram A post shared by M&R (@thewayoffernweh) You might remember the scene where Christian Bale and Liam Neeson have a sword fight on a frozen lake. Well, there were a few hairy moments during that shoot in Iceland. 'I was teaching him how to fight with these little swords, and we were literally fighting at the base of this huge glacier that had a pond of ice at the front, and we had ice wranglers,' explained Liam on Jimmy Kimmel Live. 'Christian and I would be on doing our dialogue and fighting and stuff, and suddenly the ice wranglers would shout 'Stop, everybody off the ice', and we'd all come off very quick, and this glacier would move maybe two inches. And the noise that came up through the earth, and seeing this ice buckle and then settle again, was very, very frightening.' It shouldn't come as much surprise to hear that Ridley Scott's 1982 classic Blade Runner was a huge point of reference for Christopher Nolan. In an interview with Forbes looking back on Batman Begins, the director shared: 'From a pragmatic point of view, Blade Runner is actually one of the most successful films of all time in terms of constructing that reality using sets. 'On Batman Begins, unlike The Dark Knight, we found ourselves having to build the streets of Gotham in large part. So, I immediately gravitated toward the visual treatment that Ridley Scott had come up with, in terms of how you shoot these massive sets to make them feel real and not like impressive sets. 'And immediately we started looking at the rain, the handheld cameras, the longer lenses.' Ahead of the film's release, production company Warner Bros. had been referring to the film with the working title Intimidation Game to keep excited fans off the scent, but they apparently never intended to use it. In a 2005 interview with The Independent, Michael Caine, who plays butler Alfred in the franchise, shared: '[Christopher Nolan] gave me half an hour to read it, because he wouldn't let the script out of his sight. 'It was called The Intimidation Game then, and he was very secretive about it. I mean, he wouldn't leave the house until I'd finished reading, and then he took the script away.' On first glance, those fancy names on James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmers' soundtrack may look like Latin phrases, but there's actually one key detail tying them all together. Each track on the intense classical score is actually named after a different type of bat, ranging from Barbastella, Artibeus, Tadarida. The more you know… This Is How Dakota Johnson Really Feels About Madame Web A Year Later Jodie Comer Names 1 Thing She Wants To Never Do Again After Starring In Ryan Reynolds Blockbuster Miley Cyrus Lost This Major Film Role To Selena Gomez After Penis Cake Controversy
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Don't miss these 3 Netflix movies all with 94% on Rotten Tomatoes – they're all leaving soon!
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. As all of the best streaming services give their libraries a refresh, there's plenty of new Netflix movies to watch this month – however, 'in with the new' also means 'out with the old', with a host of content set to leave the streamer in the coming weeks. While plenty of the best Netflix movies will be around to stream for a while yet, some flicks don't make the cut, so to keep you ahead of the game, we've picked out three movies that you'll want to make sure you catch before the service bids them farewell. From superhero action, to gangster epics and moving romance, there's something for all tastes, so if you're looking to make the most out of your Netflix subscription, we've got you, with these three classic movies that you'll want to catch before they're gone. Leaving Netflix: Sunday, June 1Runtime: 152 minutesMain cast: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Aaron Eckhart, Gary OldmanDirector: Christopher Nolan The middle chapter in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight is considered by many to be among the greatest superhero movies ever made. The films follows the efforts of Batman (Christian Bale), Gotham PD lieutenant Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) and district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) to crack down on organized crime, that is until the Joker (Heath Ledger) surfaces and begins to create anarchy across the city, kicking off a chain of events that have personal ramifications for all three men. The film was released to huge acclaim back in 2008, particularly for Ledger's Academy Award-winning portrayal of the Clown Prince of Crime which critics have called 'one of the best performances of the last twenty years.' But while that performance in particular dominated review headlines back in 2008, Little White Lies point out 'as gigantic as it was, it is only one important feature of an intricately wrought canvas.' The Independent echoed much of the critical sentiment regarding the deft way the film grounds a big superhero movie in an realistic setting, saying 'Among the great strengths of The Dark Knight is the way it combines hardboiled naturalism with the kind of stunts and set-pieces you expect in summer blockbusters.' Taken as a whole, Nolan's trilogy is a masterclass in blockbuster cinema and perhaps the director's best work, but as a stand alone film, The Dark Knight requires little foreknowledge and will have you gripped from opening titles to closing credits. Leaving Netflix: Sunday, June 1Runtime: 146 minutesMain cast: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, Paul SorvinoDirector: Martin Scorsese Another epic film about male angst from a legendary filmmaker, Goodfellas sees Martin Scorsese and Nicholas Pileggi adapt Pileggi's book, Wiseguy. Often brought up in the same conversation as The Godfather, Goodfellas is perhaps the magnum opus of Scorsese's gangster film output. The film charts the rise and fall of Mafia member Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) along with his associates, including Robert De Niro's Jimmy Conway and Joe Pesci's Tommy DeVito. Starting in 1955, the film follows Henry's journey from his rundown Irish-Italian neighborhood in New York, to his rise through the ranks of an organized crime syndicate, ending in 1980 with his entry into the FBI's witness protection programme. Critics have praised the nuance of the film and its realistic portrayal of a world many movies depict as glamorous. Screen Rant called it 'a sobering cautionary tale warning against a life of crime,' while The Telegraph commented that 'seldom has violence been portrayed less glamorously or with more moral effectiveness.' Other critics have noted its importance among Scorsese's body of work, with The Times calling it 'the one towards which all his subsequent films have been reaching,' while Film4 says the film is 'arguably Scorsese's finest hour.' If you're in the mood for an epic journey through the moralities, the lure and the consequences of a life of crime, you could do a lot worse than one of the godfathers of gangster cinema. Leaving Netflix: Tuesday, June 17Runtime: 119 minutesMain cast: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson, Jake Lacy, Kyle ChandlerDirector: Todd Haynes Based on Patricia Highsmith's book The Price of Salt, Carol is a beautiful portrayal of forbidden love between two women in 1950s New York. Cate Blanchett plays Carol, a woman going through a divorce, struggling to find happiness in the world around her. Entering a department store to buy her daughter a toy train for Christmas, she lays eyes on store assistant Therese (Rooney Mara) and finds herself instantly in love. Conspiring to meet Therese again via a toy delivery and a missing pair of gloves, Carol insights a friendship that soon blossoms into a captivating romance. Drawing favorable comparisons to Brief Encounter, Carol wowed critics on release, while earning Academy Award nominations for both Blanchett and Mara, whose performances Herald Sun called 'Achingly precise (and unexpectedly poignant).' Many reviews praised the cinematography and direction from Todd Haynes, with Flickering Myth saying 'there isn't a single scene that is anything less than stunning to look at,' while RTÉ called it 'a sensuous, enchanting piece of work.' A gorgeous and moving romance, you'll want to catch the film Next Best Picture called 'a timeless love story' on Netflix while you still can. For more Netflix TV show-based coverage, read our guides on Stranger Things season 5, One Piece season 2, Squid Game season 3, and Knives Out 3.
Geek Vibes Nation
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
'A Knight's Tale' 4K UHD Blu-Ray SteelBook Review - A Propulsive Popcorn Spectacle
The 14th century takes a rocking new twist in A Knight's Tale, a stylish, music driven, action packed adventure starring Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight, The Patriot), with heroic performances from Mark Addy (The Full Monty, Down to Earth) and Rufus Sewell (Dangerous Beauty, Dark City). Ledger plays William Thatcher, a peasant squire who breaks all the rules when he passes himself off as a nobleman and takes the jousting world by storm. The only thing that stands between William and his dream of becoming the World Champion of the most extreme of sports is the bad boy of the sport Count Adhemar. And when the two rivals go lance to lance at the world finals, you'd better arm yourself and hang on tight for the ride of your life! For thoughts on A Knight's Tale, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required: Video Quality The 4K UHD Blu-Ray debut of A Knight's Tale offers a sterling presentation for this adventure courtesy of a 4K restoration of the Original Camera Negative approved by director Brian Helgeland for both the Theatrical and Extended versions of the film deployed through seamless branching. The previous Blu-Ray was first released in 2006, but we have never been able to view that disc. By all accounts, it was a major disappointment, and luckily this new release comes with a fresh Blu-Ray derived from the new 4K restoration. As nice as it is to get a stronger Blu-Ray, the 2160p Dolby Vision/HDR master is what allows the film to look the best it ever has on home entertainment. This new release preserves the filmic origins of the feature to unleash a world of pleasing texture and detail. The Dolby Vision presentation brings nuance to the rich period aesthetic with a commendable saturation. Highlights offer a great stability without veering into blooming. Black levels are deep which allows this transfer to provide a notable level of fine detail in darker environments. Skin tones look natural and the clarity of the transfer gives you a wonderful amount of facial detail. You can effortlessly distinguish specific details within the makeup, backgrounds, and production design that have otherwise been murkily defined before on streaming and Blu-Ray. The interiors of various structures are given more depth which makes for a more compelling exploration of the world. The improvements in contrast and overall clarity are a standout aspect of the disc, especially when wading through shadowy corridors. This is another top-tier effort from Sony, and fans will delight in watching it. Audio Quality This 4K UHD Blu-Ray gets an audio upgrade in the form of a thrilling Dolby Atmos track that gives the film a dynamic soundscape with a suitably intense and immersive quality. The new disc also offers up the original soundtrack in lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio. Both of these tracks are tremendous in their own ways, but we are glad Sony is continuing the trend of giving fans a choice. Those who choose to embark with the original track may not get the cutting edge in audio, but you will be served a perfectly formidable track without any age-related flaws. The Atmos track conjures atmospheric sound effects appropriately within the mix so that directionality is unrelentingly precise. The track yields the expected emphasis on the front channels for dialogue and other distinct sounds while additional activity flows to the surrounds, rears and overhead speakers to make the world feel more three-dimensional. The height channels are implemented flawlessly as they fully transport you into the journey. Dialogue is crisp and clear without ever getting overshadowed by the music or sound effects. The low end effects from the subwoofer deliver the desired extra weight to enhance the action sequences. Every single sound feels natural and energizing in a way that lifts up every moment. The film shines when it comes to the anachronistic rock soundtrack which complements the narrative really well. Sony has delivered a bombastic audio experience for fans. Optional English, English SDH, and a vast array of other subtitles are provided. Special Features Sony has provided A Knight's Tale with a sleek new SteelBook featuring artwork that is pleasing in person. The front artwork is William in his armor with a sword, and the rear features the whole gang with their arms around one another. The interior is a photo still from a joust. Video of the SteelBook can be found at the top of this review. Audio Commentary: Director Brian Helgeland and Actor Paul Bettany provide a very thorough archival commentary track in which they discuss the production of the film, the Carter Burwell score, the characteristics of the performers, the tricky choreography of certain sequences, the location shooting and much more. Gag Reel: A new two-minute collection of flubbed lines, goofing around, and more. Deleted & Extended Scenes From Tape Dailies: A new nine-minute selection of unused footage is provided in fairly rough quality. Quill & Quarterhorse – 2nd Unit Photography: A new nearly nine-minute look at some of the 2nd unit photography including horses launching off of their mark and a hand writing on parchment. Behind-The-Scenes Featurettes: A 33-minute selection of featurettes is provided here in which the cast and creative team provide the details about the creation of various moments including the complicated stunt work, the music, props, and more. Deleted Scenes: Six unused scenes are provided that didn't make the final cut of the movie. This footage totals 21:40 by itself, or 48:43 if you select to watch it with the optional video introductions from the creative team. HBO Making-Of: A 15-minute archival promotional video in which the cast and creative team discuss the creation of the film. Robbie Williams & Queen: 'We Are The Champions' Music Video (4:08) Trailers (5:03) Final Thoughts A Knight's Tale is a crowd-pleasing action outing that leans heavily into popcorn sensibilities with its aggressively modern soundtrack, its gorgeous (and talented) ensemble, and its sleek, propulsive editing. Those coming for something painstakingly accurate to history or narratively complex are not going to be the most nourished here, but those looking to have a lot of fun will be feasting. This is the definition of a good time. Sony Pictures has released a new 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a fabulous A/V presentation and a worthwhile collection of special features. If you only own this one on Blu-Ray or not at all, this package is by far the best way to view the film. Recommended A Knight's Tale is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray SteelBook. Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray. Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
