
‘On Swift Horses' is a mixed bag of eros and agita in 1950s California
So it is with 'On Swift Horses,' an adaptation of Shannon Pufahl's 2019 novel from Daniel Minahan, whose résumé in series TV includes episodes of 'Deadwood,' 'Game of Thrones,' 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'True Blood' and many others. A steamy slow boil of a drama about queerness, sexual and otherwise, beneath the stifling surface of 1950s America, the movie generates a fair amount of heat while hanging some talented actors out to dry.
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New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Jason Momoa shaves off beard for the first time in 6 years ahead of ‘Dune' return: ‘I hate it'
King clean-cut. 'Aquaman' star Jason Momoa, 45, flaunted a clean-shaven look for the first time in six years as he prepares for his next role. 'God damn it, I hate it,' Momoa quipped in an Instagram reel posted on Wednesday. 4 Jason Momoa shaved off his signature beard. Jason Momoa/Instagram The 'Game of Thrones' actor transformed his entire look as a 'kick-off' to reprise his role as Duncan Idaho in 'Dune Messiah,' which was announced as the third and final film in the eight-time Oscar-winning sci-fi series. 'Only for you, Denis,' the actor said, referring to Denis Villeneuve, the director of 'Dune: Part One' and 'Dune: Part Two.' The Hawaii native played Duncan Idaho in the 2021 film, but he did not appear in the 2024 sequel because his character died in the first film. However, he confirmed that he's 'making a comeback' in the third film when his character is resurrected as a clone, according to an interview on the 'Today' show in March 2025. The Hollywood hunk filmed himself shaving off his iconic facial hair in the clip, which also served as a promotion for his reusable bottled water company, Mananalu. 4 'God damn it, I hate it,' Momoa quipped in an Instagram reel. Jason Momoa/Instagram 'I think it's been about six years, maybe a little bit more, since I did 'Dune,'' Momoa said. 'What was really special about that is that's when I started launching Mananalu. At the time, we were one of the first ones to release the aluminum bottle.' The 'Justice League' actor prompted his company's partnership with Boomerang Water, which aimed to reuse water bottles to get 'rid of single-use plastic. For our children and for our planet.' Momoa's son, Nakoa-Wolf Momoa, will be part of the highly anticipated third installment of the 'Dune' trilogy, according to Deadline. 4 Momoa attended the world premiere of the Apple TV+ series 'Chief of War' on July 18. Apple TV+ via Getty Images Nakoa-Wolf was cast to play Leto II, the twin son of Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya's characters Paul Atreides and Chani. The A-lister's son will star alongside 'Silo' actress Ida Brooke, who will portray the other twin, Ghanima. The 'Minecraft Movie' actor shares two teenage kids, Nakoa-Wolf and daughter Lola Iolani, with his ex-wife, 'The Cosby Show' actress Lisa Bonet. The couple's divorce was finalized in June 2024, seven years after they got married. 4 Momoa starred as Arthur in 'Aquaman' and 'Aquaman 2.' Getty Images Momoa isn't the only person getting a new look for the movie. Eagle-eyed fans noticed that Chalamet closely shaved the nape of his neck before an outing with girlfriend Kylie Jenner in St. Tropez on July 7. The 'Call Me by Your Name' actor wore a green bandana over a navy Nike hat, so fans couldn't get a full look at how much hair had been buzzed away. 'Dune Messiah' is scheduled to be released in December 2026.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
What are the best bars in the Midwest? See USA TODAY's 2025 Bars of the Year
If it's history and a gun fight you like, South Dakota has the bar for you. Saloon 10 in Deadwood, South Dakota, not only serves killer drinks, but dishes on the history of the gold mining town where Wild Bill Hickok played his aces over eights — known as the "dead man's hand" — poker hand before he was shot. And if you're a cocktail lover, you've also come to the right place: This list is a don't-miss read. These six cocktail bars — the swankiest, most creative, coolest in the nation — are among the selections in our second USA TODAY Bars of the Year list. The USA TODAY Best Bars in America: The 29 best bars in America in 2025: See USA TODAY's top picks More: Best Bars in America: How USA TODAY picked the 2025 finalists Selected by our network of food writers across the nation — from The Arizona Republic to the Palm Beach Post — these bars represent the best neighborhood taverns, the coziest wine bars and the beachiest beach bars. But for lovers of cocktails, and the bars that serve them, we've created a special sublist here. Here they are, the USA TODAY Bars of the Year in the Midwest. See last year's list The best bars in America in 2024: See USA TODAY's 27 favorite spots The Bartender's Handshake | Des Moines, Iowa Details: 3615 Ingersoll Ave.; 515-630-3008, Midcentury modern decor comes together with a neighborhood bar at The Bartender's Handshake, with its stellar lineup of elevated craft cocktails and three renditions of its namesake drink. Dave Murrin-von Ebers opened this gem in 2019 in a former stained-glass store, adding a curved banquet, two booths for seating and a long bar for slinging modern renditions of classic drinks. Step outside for a patio open year-round with fire pits for the cooler months and apres ski parties, and shade and bocce ball for the sunny days. Order the Prairie Rose – with gin, Campari and raspberry syrup, topped with egg whites – for a nod to the bar's logo and Iowa state flower, or try the Karate Kick – a vodka drink with Ancho Reyes, carrot and ginger – for something that feels healthy with a kick. — Susan Stapleton, The Des Moines Register Read a full review of The Bartender's Handshake on Gabe's | Iowa City, Iowa Details: 330 E. Washington St.; Fifty years of history hangs on the wall at Gabe's. The two-story Iowa City institution pulses with strong pours, cold beer and the gasp of raspy vocals and distorted riffs that rattle the floorboards. Gabe's is a lighthouse of nostalgia, and band posters tell the story, from Nirvana to Danny Brown. Stay downstairs for a no-frills dive bar experience made for a sitcom, with eccentric characters spilling stories of their memories that leak into the urban beer garden in the back. Upstairs, audience members crowd the edge of the stage to see their underground favorites from EDM DJs to hardcore punks. A night at Gabe's is a night of rock 'n' roll history. — Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen Read a full review of Gabe's on Ghost Baby | Cincinnati, Ohio Details: 1314 Republic St.; 513-381-5333, It's four stories underground. It occupies a 19th-century lagering tunnel. And it's rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a toddler. Welcome to Ghost Baby, Cincinnati's very subterranean cocktail bar. Opened in 2019 by former nightclub promoter Josh Heuser, the bar makes imaginative use of the tunnels once used as storage for saloons and breweries before the days of refrigeration. The aesthetic is 1920s F. Scott Fitzgerald meets 1980s Bret Easton Ellis. There are disco balls and chandeliers, bistro tables and classic cocktails. The entertainment might be an out-of-town jazz band or the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Since it opened, Ghost Baby has received several accolades from national press. In 2022, Esquire included Ghost Baby on its list of the Best Bars in America, describing it as a 'Babylon Berlin-feeling nightclub.' — Keith Pandolfi, The Cincinnati Enquirer Read a full review of Ghost Baby on Threes Above High | Columbus OH Details: 2203 N. High St.; 614-732-4404, The off-campus area around Ohio State University has changed dramatically over the past decade. Modern high-rise apartment buildings and national retail and restaurant chains have replaced the old, quirky (and cheap!) local places that were a common thread in the memories of generations of college students at one of the nation's largest universities. Threes Above High is a survivor, though, along the High Street corridor that runs through Columbus' University District. When the wrecking ball came in 2017 for its predecessor, an equally divey place called Too's Spirits Under High, owner Scott Ellsworth opened Threes Above High a few blocks north. And not that anyone's counting, but he has since opened Fours on High and Fives Up High, too. — Bob Vitale, The Columbus Dispatch Read a full review of Threes Above Ground on Saloon No. 10 | Deadwood, South Dakota Details: 657 Main St.; 800-952-9398, Wild Bill Hickok leaned forward from his chair while playing poker at Saloon No. 10 in Deadwood. 'The old duffer, he broke me on the hand!' said the outlaw legend before he was shot in the back of the head by 'Crooked Nose' McCall on Aug. 2, 1876. The chair in which Hickok sat still hangs on the wall of the sawdusty 'ol watering hole on Main Street today. South Dakota's 150-year-old bar and social club in the rowdy valley of the Black Hills has been owned by the Lew and Marion Keehn family since 1963 and is famous for its award-winning whiskey collection, the Butcher's Block steak special and relics from the Old West that hang above the bar and all the way toward the dance floor in the back. Stick around for one more nip to deal your own hand at poker in the gambling hall – just keep your back to the corner. — Angela George, Argus Leader Read a review of Saloon 10 on Agency | Milwaukee, Wisconsin Details: 819 N. Marshall St.; 414-409-5399, Agency is a cocktail lounge in the heart of downtown Milwaukee that lives up to its name: Every patron has the agency to choose whether they drink alcohol or not that night, no matter which cocktail on the menu catches their eye. Owner Ryan Castelaz opened Agency with the goal of providing an elevated drinking experience for both drinkers and nondrinkers, and every drink can be made in nonalcoholic and alcoholic form. Patrons can further customize their drinks with the bar's dealer's choice cards, which are used to custom-make a drink based on a patron's preference, including everything from spirit choice and flavor profile to alcohol content. Agency is a 2025 James Beard Award finalist for best new bar. — Jordyn Noennig, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Read a full review of Agency on This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Best bars in the Midwest: Six spots you need to visit in 2025 Solve the daily Crossword


Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Tom's Guide
New on Apple TV Plus in August 2025 — all the shows and movies to watch
Summer is just flying by, and a new month is almost here. That means Apple TV Plus (along with the rest of the best streaming services) is rolling out a new selection of movies and TV shows to celebrate the beginning of August. This month brings several high-profile returning favorites to the streamer, like the explosive third season of sci-fi drama "Invasion" and the beloved comedy series "Platonic" starring two of Hollywood's most likable comedic talents, Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne. That being said, there's also an epic new historical drama starring Jason Momoa that looks like a must-watch for fans of "Game of Thrones" and Shogun." Whether you're looking for family-friendly entertainment or want to put on something made strictly for adults, Apple TV Plus has plenty of options arriving this month. You can find more info about all the new Apple TV Plus releases coming your way in August 2025 below. Billed as a "passion project" for co-creators Jason Momoa and Thomas Pa'a Sibbett (who share native Hawaiian heritage), "Chief of War" tells the real-life-inspired story of Hawaii's unification on the cusp of the 19th century, during a period of looming colonization. It promises to be an epic historical drama that sheds light on a chapter of history often overlooked by Western media. Told from an indigenous perspective, the series centers on Kaʻiana (Momoa), a fierce warrior and noble, who returns home only to get swept into a brutal campaign to unite the islands against the foreign threat. The cast is predominantly Polynesian, and much of the dialogue is in 'Ōlelo Hawai'i, lending the show a level of cultural authenticity rarely seen in historical dramas. Following its two-episode premiere on August 1, "Chief of War' will release every Friday through September 19. Watch on Apple TV Plus from August 1 Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. "Stillwater," Apple's animated series based on children's author Jon J. Muth's acclaimed "Zen" books, is back to teach kids more important lessons about mindfulness. Each episode blends everyday childhood challenges with mindfulness practices, breathing exercises, and calm storytelling — an approach that has earned the series both a Peabody and a Daytime Emmy Award. "Stillwater" follows the titular wise panda (voiced by James Sie), who teaches three young siblings, Addy (Eva Ariel Binder), Michael (Tucker Chandler), and Karl (Judah Mackey), how to navigate everyday challenges and better understand their emotions. Through his example, stories, and gentle humor, Stillwater offers children tools to grow with empathy and resilience. Watch on Apple TV Plus from August 1 "Platonic's" first season earned this hit character-driven comedy a spot on our best Apple TV Plus shows list. Season 2 promises more laugh-out-loud moments with two of Hollywood's most effortlessly charming comedic talents, Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne. It follows two long-estranged besties, Sylvia (Byrne) and Will (Rogen), who reconnect over their shared midlife crises — much to the discomfort of everyone around them. After his messy divorce in season 1, Will enters a new relationship that threatens to throw the duo's already-fragile dynamic off balance. Determined not to let their friendship derail this time, they attempt to reel in their chaos and start doing more "normal" adult activities. Of course, for these two codependent idiots, that's easier said than done. Watch on Apple TV Plus from August 6 Apple's expansive sci-fi drama "Invasion" returns for season 3 this month, and war has officially arrived. It's all been leading up to this. Previous seasons showed an alien invasion unfold through the perspectives of ordinary people across the globe, each scrambling to survive as society unravels. In season 3, those perspectives collide for the first time as full-scale war erupts. Humanity's only hope to repel the alien threat is if everyone comes together. The international cast of characters we've met thus far pool their expertise to unite as an elite incursion unit on a high-stakes mission to infiltrate the looming alien mothership. As new bonds are formed and relationships tested, the survivors must learn to work as a team before time runs out or humanity's doomed. Watch on Apple TV Plus from August 22 Another show for the little ones, the award-winning"Shape Island" returns with more imaginative adventures in season 2. Based on the beloved books "Shapes" picture book trilogy by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen, this stop-motion animated series follows the aptly named Square, Triangle, and Circle. The trio embarks on adventures, solves puzzles, and builds their friendship — all while learning to understand and appreciate each other's differences. Because, as we all know, friendship comes in every shape and size. Season two features the returning voices of Yvette Nicole Brown ('Frog and Toad') as the narrator, Harvey Guillén ('Puss in Boots: The Last Wish') as Square, Scott Adsit ('Big Hero 6') as Triangle, and Gideon Adlon ('Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths') as Circle. Watch on Apple TV Plus from August 29 Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.