Latest news with #TheLifeofChuck
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' made Mia Sara a star. Leaving Hollywood has been freeing.
Though she appeared to be on top of the world as a teen star in the '80s, the truth is that Mia Sara found the Hollywood spotlight uncomfortable. Now, at 58, she's happier than ever, thanks to a quiet home life with her husband, Brian Henson, son of Muppets creator Jim Henson, and kids Dashiell Connery, 28, and Amelia, 21. And this month, the actress returned to the big screen for the first time in a decade, starring as a grandmother in an adaptation of Stephen King's novella The Life of Chuck. Best known as Sloane Peterson in the John Hughes classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Sara enjoyed breakout success with roles in All My Children and the fantasy film Legend, later appearing alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme in Timecop. But after appearing in the short film Pretty Pretty in 2013, she stepped away from acting with no intention of returning — that is, until director Mike Flanagan convinced her to sign onto Chuck. 'I love Mike Flanagan, like really adore him just as a person, and we are friends, and I'm just a huge fan,' Sara tells me for Yahoo Life's Unapologetically series. 'When we met [and had dinner], Mike said, 'Why don't you work anymore?' And I said, 'Oh, it's really complicated,' and he said, 'Would you ever work again? What if I offered you something?'' Although Flanagan joked that Sara would come to 'regret that dinner,' she feels quite differently about agreeing to star as Sarah Krantz opposite Mark Hamill's Albie Krantz in The Life of Chuck. 'It was a really healing experience,' she shares. 'Mike creates an incredibly cohesive and really terrific feeling on set. It felt like really nice closure. It did me a world of good.' The harmony and inner peace Sara felt on set mirror what she's currently experiencing in her personal life as she nears 60. 'I feel a huge pressure is off to not be comparing myself to people,' she says. Our conversation touches on the power of stepping away from the spotlight, the beauty (and, yes, some "crappy" parts) of aging and how youth isn't all it's cracked up to be. (Spoiler alert: Being 'very young' contributed to Ferris being a 'cringy experience' for Sara.) What I love about my 50s is that I feel like a huge pressure is off to not be comparing myself to people. And I love the fact that my interactions with people [are] just about me, my attitude, me as a person. I don't feel like I have to get past something anymore with people. [But] there are serious bummers to do with health and pain. So, I'm just looking forward to hopefully remaining healthy and active. I have a Connemara pony called Rory, and he is the greatest pony on the face of the earth — and I'm not the only person who thinks that. I just feel like as long as I can stay in the saddle, I'm good. And for many years now, I've been using this mindfulness app called Happier. I have found it very helpful. Sometimes, for big swaths of time, I'll do it every day, and then, sometimes, I travel a lot and I drop it for a couple of weeks, but I always return to it. I feel I'm less reactive, more present and more aware. You know, my kids have noticed. And the other really good thing about getting older is I have a sense of how fortunate I am. I have a really great life, and I'm really grateful for it. I think meditation does help with that. Oh, and lots and lots of high-quality therapy! Yes, aging comes up in therapy all the time. It's a hard thing. There are definitely really crappy aspects to it that I do grapple with in therapy and with my friends. I'm fortunate to have very dear friends for many years, and we're all going through it together, and we've supported each other through some pretty scary stuff. Scary stuff starts happening at my age. I've been lucky, but I have very close friends who've had some serious illnesses. So, all of the support that you can have to help yourself and others through [the challenges of getting older] is beneficial. A long time ago, I knew this woman, a really good friend of my ex-husband [Jason Connery]. She had been a prima ballerina. I was younger, and I was just complaining about something, and she said, "Look, certain things are not gonna get better than this moment. And you're gonna look back on this moment, at whatever physical thing you're complaining about or feeling critical or judgmental of. So, just enjoy the ride." Enjoy the ride. I haven't thought about that in years, but that's something that I would tell my daughter or my son's wonderful girlfriend. But the other thing is that I've noticed that nobody really follows advice. I feel like if you feel comfortable, you could freely give advice, but never expect them to actually [take it], because we have to learn ourselves. We all have to learn things the hard way. I do. Everyone feels critical of themselves. I've never met anyone who says, 'I'm so perfectly happy with the way I look and how I feel I'm being perceived.' One of the important things to know is that you don't have control over how people are gonna feel about you. So, the thing is to focus on yourself and how you feel about yourself and also how you treat other people. It's so much more important to be kind and to be compassionate as a human being than to focus on your appearance. And that's what my husband and I have tried to model. I would worry about it around middle school when [my daughter's friends] were all endlessly on social media, but my daughter wasn't that into it. So that was lucky. I'm really working toward trying to give myself grace. Especially because of this movie that's coming out [The Life of Chuck], and there are all these retrospective blurbs, and they put a picture of me now, and then they put like all these pictures through time, and it's like, 'I'm melting!' But when I was younger, I always found older women very beautiful. So, when I look in the mirror, I see myself, and I like the way I look. [But it can be] harder when, after a long time, I'm having to confront myself onscreen. That's a very different experience, which is a little challenging. And if you have been considered attractive and beautiful or whatever, and it's a part of your identity, it's hard to let it go. But it is actually really freeing to feel like no one's looking at me. I understand what people mean about being invisible. I don't feel invisible. I just don't feel like I have to put out anymore. It's nice. I can just present myself as myself, and my interactions with people [are] about who I am. I don't feel like I'm being judged as much because of what I appear to be. I think it's possible to feel more and more aligned with who you are as you get older. I like people not looking at me. That was not always very comfortable for me. How did you deal with that as a teen, especially when you were very much in the spotlight for ? I don't think I did very well with it. I was not comfortable. I wasn't mature enough to really take advantage of it. I was really young. I'm a very introverted person. I did not have the greatest time making that movie, because I was in the most awkward stage of my actual adolescence. I was very out of my element and depth. I didn't have that high school experience. So, I felt really out of it. I was younger than the other main cast members [Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck and Jennifer Grey], and they were all a lot more experienced than I was. And it showed in my behavior. When I look back on it, it's a very cringy experience for me. That's sadly how I feel about the movie. I absolutely recognize the durability of it, and I'm really grateful to be in it, and I appreciate the appreciation of it, but the truth is that it was a really bad moment for me.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
How the World Ends in ‘The Life of Chuck'
In 'Anatomy of a Scene,' we ask directors to reveal the secrets that go into making key scenes in their movies. See new episodes in the series on Fridays. You can also watch our collection of more than 150 videos on YouTube and subscribe to our YouTube channel. A whimper? A bang? In this scene from 'The Life of Chuck,' the world ends with a TV glow. At the center of the sequence is Marty (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who is walking through a dark neighborhood as all is falling apart. His phone has died and he is headed to see his ex-wife when he encounters a young woman (Violet McGraw) on roller skates and strikes up a conversation. Their moment is interrupted by the cool glow of screens, all mysteriously projecting images of a man named Chuck (Tom Hiddleston). In his narration, Flanagan said, 'What I found really striking about this scene when Stephen King wrote it is that it's a very kind of casual conversation of two people who just happen across each other during this apocalyptic time.' The sequence is shot in a neighborhood near Mobile, Ala., where, Flanagan said, 'we took over the power grid and basically blacked out the entire world there.' For the glowing screens, rather than using expensive visual effects, Flanagan said, 'we accomplished this the very old-fashioned way by hanging televisions in the windows on their sides and prerecording these videos and running around hitting play on each of them in order to get the image to appear.' Read the 'Life of Chuck' review. Sign up for the Movies Update newsletter and get a roundup of reviews, news, Critics' Picks and more.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Stephen King: It's okay for people to feel joy
It's acceptable for people to feel 'joy' because it is 'part of the human experience', Stephen King has said. King, who is generally regarded as the most prolific horror writer of modern times, said joy should be regarded as a 'valid exploration' for writers. He made the comments as The Life of Chuck, a new film based on his 2020 novella, was released in cinemas. The drama film marks a rare departure from the horror genre for the writer. King, whose works include visceral depictions of murder, mutilation and torture, told the Wall Street Journal he was 'terrified of reviews that say, 'This is corny'' but had 'a strong belief that joy is also a valid exploration'. He continued: 'In the story, there are a lot of things that are very unpleasant, including a man's decline from a brain tumour. 'But you have to understand moments of joy are also a part of the human experience.' King, 77, noted Martin Scorsese's 1976 film 'Taxi Driver', which painted a gritty picture of mid-20th century New York and featured Jodie Foster as a 12-year-old prostitute, had 'fantastic reviews because people say, 'Oh, it's a slice of life''. 'But there are slices of life that are sweet as well,' he added. Referring to a near-death experience when he was hit by a vehicle in the late 1990s, he said: 'And I should know, because I'm just lucky to be here.' King also spoke about his love of dancing in the interview. The Life of Chuck includes a five-minute dance sequence, based on a scene in the book. 'I just love dancing. I was a big Fred Astaire guy' King said, adding that a scene of 'all these people dancing to 'Footloose'' – the 1984 film starring Kevin Bacon – 'always makes me smile'.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
I've Never Sobbed Over A Movie, And I Didn't Expect The New Stephen King Adaptation To Be The Trigger
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Up to this point in my life, no movie had ever made me sob. I'm not a crier, I never have been. However, when the latest Stephen King adaptation was released on the 2025 movie schedule, I ugly cried in a movie theater for the first time ever. That's right, a Stephen King movie made me sob, and I can safely say I never saw that coming. However, after I tell you why The Life of Chuck was the film that made me break down in tears, I think you'll understand why this book-to-screen adaptation was the first one ever to pull this kind of reaction out of me. Spoilers for The Life of Chuck are ahead! Read with caution, and catch the movie in theaters now. Ahead of The Life of Chuck's release, I knew it'd be an emotional journey. However, I didn't expect it to be that way from the jump. This movie does a brilliant job of punching you in the face with a lot of emotions, and for me, it started with fear, anger and melancholy as the world ended during the film's first part, Act III. Before I knew what this world ending crisis actually was, I was sitting there, fighting off tears, as the characters simply accepted that the situation sucked and there wasn't much they could do about it. That feeling of dread and helplessness is one that didn't feel far off from what I felt during COVID or when any major climate disaster happens. Thinking about that anger and dread I felt during The Life of Chuck's first part made me emotional. However, it really got me when I figured out why the world was ending. That melancholic feeling about accepting the world's end, and the anger of doing nothing about it, quickly faded away when I learned why this world was ending. Toward the end of Act III, it's revealed that Chuck, the man on the billboard who no one knows, is dying. So, I quickly figured out that as the power went out and sinkholes appeared on this planet, it was actually Chuck passing away, and this world was in his mind. This idea of a whole universe ceasing to exist when someone dies hit me like a ton of bricks. That's because it's true, in a single person's mind lives an entire unique interpretation of the world, and that is depicted in this film through the town we see that ends when Chuck dies. Then, as the movie went on, this realization grew deeper and deeper as I got to know the man whose light went out. By the end, I wasn't just thinking about him dying, I was thinking about this vast universe going away too that he'd created, and that profound realization made me shed a tear for sure. Every moment involving dance in this movie made me immensely happy. But the one that made me smile the biggest, made me glassy-eyed, was the one involving Cuck and his grandmother in his kitchen. Read More About Life Of Chuck Stephen King Has Seen Tom Hiddleston's The Life Of Chuck, And I'm Intrigued About His Take On The Book Becoming A Movie Realizing that his adoration for dance began with her, and the way they both put their fingers up in a point and ticked their wrist to the beat, is so cute and also deeply meaningful. It became clear to me that Chuck's grandmother helped give him his spark, and she helped teach him how to love life. And my grandmother, my Nannie, did the same thing for me. While we didn't dance, we did jam to music in the car, garden, swim and talk about life together. She was my best friend, and losing her when I was 21 was deeply painful. However, the time I did get with her was magical, and it's impacted my life in the grandest, most positive way. Chuck seemed to go through the same thing in this movie with his grandmother, and that made my heart achingly happy. It made me think about that magical relationship I had and how formative it was. It also made me remember that her life ended too early. But more importantly, it made me appreciate, love and cherish the time I did get with her. As the above sections show, there were a multitude of moments that culminated in the waterfall of tears that came at the end. However, the breaking point was at the very end, when the movie closed with the same words as Stephen King's short story: I will live my life until my life runs out. I am wonderful, I deserve to be wonderful, and I contain multitudes. Obviously, this line is repeated throughout the film; however, it was the mix of Chuck seeing himself on his deathbed and hearing it one more time, and then the story ending right then and there, that hit me the hardest. I think it was a statement and a moment I needed to see. I needed to remember how short life is, and how important it is for me to understand my self-worth, accept myself for exactly who I am, and live my life on my own terms. We're only around for a brief period of time. We deserve to spend that time living it in whatever ways we find wonderful, because we deserve it, and we are wonderful. Truly, what Mike Flanagan did with the brilliant The Life of Chuck was like a magic trick. It's like sleight of hand; while it's presenting this existential, dreadful story at the start, it sneaks up on you and flips into a truly life-affirming and celebratory tale. This movie is life encapsulated, meaning it's equal parts tragic and happy. It also addressed the inevitable head-on – our lives are not infinite, and it's guaranteed to end. I don't know about you, but that's something I don't think about often because it's scary, so having it so directly addressed is emotional. Meanwhile, The Life of Chuck is also a celebration of life and its meaning. Since we're only here for a brief time in the grand scheme of things, we need to do what we love and appreciate all the small and lovely things in the world. To take a page out of Chuck's world, we need to dance. That's why The Life of Chuck made me sob. It made me realize how vast the world is and how small I am. But it also made me realize how big and wonderful I am, too. It had me thinking about the universe I've built in my own head, the people who have impacted me and helped me become who I am, and the tragedy and happiness that comes with all of it. To put it simply, The Life of Chuck made me cry because it encapsulated everything that makes life worth living in a profound, tragic and celebratory way.
San Francisco Chronicle
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Mark Hamill leaves Luke Skywalker behind and rediscovers himself in ‘The Life of Chuck'
Mark Hamill is quick to point out that he considers the Bay Area his true home, and not just because he was born in Oakland or that it's where ' Star Wars ' first took shape in the mind of creator George Lucas. Although Hamill's family moved frequently due to his father's career as a U.S. Navy captain — with stints in Virginia and San Diego — the actor speaks about the Bay Area with an authentic fondness. He still has family here, including his older brother William, a psychiatrist, and Hamill says he has visited often. 'San Francisco is where my second son was born, when I was (onstage) in 'Amadeus,'' Hamill told the Chronicle by phone from Los Angeles, where he's lived for decades since starting his acting career. 'So many great restaurants. It's one of my favorite cities of all time.' That appreciation for place and for life's small joys has taken on deeper meaning for the 73-year-old actor, who helped launch the 'Star Wars' franchise as Luke Skywalker back in 1977. He and his wife escaped the Los Angeles fires in January. Their Malibu home survived thanks to an extensive water protection system they installed after fires threatened their home in the early 1990s, but is inhabitable for now because of the condition of the neighborhood. He said they took a one-year lease on a house and will likely have to extend it, though they hope to eventually return to the home that means so much to them. ('We were married in the backyard,' Hamill said.) Meanwhile, Hamill is keeping busy with work, reveling in what he thinks is one of his best roles in the life-affirming movie ' The Life of Chuck,' which is currently in theaters. In the film, directed by horror veteran Mike Flanagan, Hamill delivers a standout onscreen monologue. Considering that the speech extols the hidden allure of mathematics, on the surface not the most exciting of subjects, it clearly took an actor of significant skill to pull off. 'It's funny because math was never my strong suit in school,' Hamill said with a laugh. 'He's a sort of unremarkable man who probably drinks a little too much and is probably dull company, but he's absolutely electrified by math. It was one of the hardest things I ever had to do in my life, because there's no real through line, and his passion is not my passion, but it defines who the character is.' Based on a Stephen King novella, ' The Life of Chuck ' is a the story of a man's life told in three sections in reverse chronological order. There is an apocalyptic opening chapter starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Karen Gillan, followed by glimpses of Chuck Krantz's life. Tom Hiddleston plays Chuck as an adult, while Benjamin Pajak and Cody Flanagan play him as children. Hamill appears in the film's second half as Albie Krantz, Chuck's alcoholic grandfather, a man blind to the beauty in his own story, even in its brightest chapters. His character crucially acts as a counterpoint to the film, which celebrates life even while acknowledging its transience. 'There's so much that I got to take away from Mark,' Benjamin, now 14, told the Chronicle in a separate video interview. 'One of the things is that he stays in his character the whole day. He became Albie Krantz. It was a little scary at times — scary in a good way because he completely transformed into the character and he made a hell of a performance out of it. Spending that time with him is just moments that will stick with me forever.' When told of Benjamin's comments, Hamill said, 'I learned from him! I wish he was my real grandson.' As for the film, Hamill said audience reaction has been 'a revelation.' He had been nervous because, 'I didn't expect to ever be in anything this original again.' 'I love hearing back from people,' Hamill said. 'I didn't see it with an audience until the Toronto Film Festival (in September). I was just astonished at how they were with us from the get go. They laughed and applauded. At the end, there were people who had tears in their eyes.' Hamill added that people have told him that it reminds them of the Frank Capra classic 'It's a Wonderful Life' (1946). But while his character might not be able to appreciate life during adversity, Hamill says he most certainly does. He is as much in demand as ever. He was given a lifetime achievement award at April's CinemaCon and soon will be seen in another King adaptation, 'The Long Walk,' a dystopian horror film. It is Hamill's third King adaptation; prior to 'The Life of Chuck,' he appeared in 'Sleepwalkers' (1991), filmed in Bodega Bay. One role he appears to be moving on from, however, is Luke Skywalker, whom he recently voiced in the Disney+ limited series 'Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy' (2024). He told NBC's 'Sunday Today' program recently that future planned 'Star Wars' series are focused on new characters, and he's OK with that. 'I had my time,' he told 'Sunday Today' host Willie Geist. He later walked that back a bit, emphasizing that he had not been asked to reprise the role and that he assumed the character's death ended things. But he hopes to work again with Flanagan, whom he met when the filmmaker cast him as Arthur Pym in the Netflix series ' The Fall of the House of Usher ' (2023), based on Edgar Allan Poe's short story. After that, Flanagan immediately wanted him for 'The Life of Chuck.' 'Mike is just a really nice person,' Hamill said. 'I've never seen him lose his temper or get angry and when you go on one of his sets, it's a safe place. And as good a director as he is, he's really underrated as a writer.' He added he'd play anything for Flanagan, whether it involved math or not.
