Latest news with #BlackWidow
The Wire
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Wire
'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' Revives Marvel by Turning Idealism into a Superpower
Yes, I'm as surprised as any of you. Marvel's lacklustre run since Avengers: Endgame (2019) has meant that Kevin Feige has been looking to consolidate for a while. He's been badgered with constant firefighting that's been needed since the sudden passing of Chadwick Boseman in 2020 (Black Panther), the abuse allegations against Jonathan Majors, who was playing Kang – supposed to be built up as the next big Marvel villain after Thanos – and the reality-check that Feige got for the female-led films like Black Widow (2020), The Marvels (2023), and a black Captain America (played by Anthony Mackie) – all of which turned out to be disappointments. Coupled with Marvel's strained relations with director Ryan Coogler, actors Scarlet Johansson, Brie Larson, and the two main draws – Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr sitting out (till RDJ was announced to return as Doctor Doom) – it all looked like the cinematic universe was too scattered. But that seemed to take a new turn with Thunderbolts*, which teased reinvention of the Marvel movies with almost a M Night Shyamalan-esque take on a superhero movie. In Matt Shakman's The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the Marvel cinematic universe (MCU) goes back to the comic books – something James Gunn tried doing with the new Superman movie as well. The genre seems to have junked the gritty look, in favour of colouful comic book panels. Unlike Superman – which feebly delivers some commentary on Israel-Palestine, I liked that Shakman's film makes no effort at real-world commentary, instead building an alternate version of 1960s America. By doing so it moves away from the cynicism, showcasing a world that still hasn't given up on decency. After three relatively forgettable attempts to launch the characters through two different casts, Shakman fully commits to the comic book movie look by making the indoor scenes look like a family-friendly sitcom, and rooting in something 'real': parental anxiety. A still from 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps.' In the film's first scene, Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) tells Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) that they're going to be parents soon. The good news, the excitement around which quadruples after the couple tell their brother Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) and best friend, Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), is followed by bouts of self-doubt. Pascal is excellent in the way he shapes Reed Richards around a person constantly grappling between cold logic and the less logical sentiments. Moss-Bachrach brings a lot of his breakout role Richie (in the FX series, The Bear) into Ben Grimm. Blessed with an atypical appearance, Grimm effortlessly plays the doting uncle, helping Sue through her pregnancy. Quinn refuses to play Johnny Storm as a dull jock, like Chris Evans did in the 2000s, instead finding a more nuanced version of the character. Quinn plays Storm in a way where he's well-aware of his reputation as a daredevil womaniser, one he constantly keeps fighting around his team-members to showcase he's more than that. A still from 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps.' Vanessa Kirby is excellent and in my opinion one of the highlights of the film, blurring the lines between a female superhero and a first-time mother. It reminded me of another one of Kirby's films, Pieces of a Woman (2020) – a bleaker look at a woman expecting her firstborn. I loved the energy of a mother willing to do everything to protect her child, harnessed into The Invisible Woman – a more cliched, but still a classical storytelling trope imbued into Kirby's character. It was a more defined character than the versions played by Jessica Alba and Kate Mara. What I truly enjoyed about The Fantastic Four: First Steps is how it didn't seem to be trying to cater to the larger Marvel universe, with unnecessary Easter Eggs (except for a mid-credit scene). It tells a coherent story, which doesn't need to use the MCU as a crutch for its own muddled telling. The four superheroes are already hailed and celebrated when Shakman's film opens, and through a superb stretch even beginners are told about how they came to be. A team of astronauts sent to space after being exposed to cosmic rays, develop superhuman ability. They use these powers to save the world against extra-terrestrial entities. Until one day, the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) shows up to tell them that Earth has been chosen by Galactus (Ralph Ineson) as the next planet he's going to feed on. I loved Garner's mournful delivery, making her Silver Surfer almost this reluctant ally to this space God with an insatiable hunger. Ineson, who has spent his career playing characters from the beyond in The Green Knight (2021) and Nosferatu (2025) more recently, is adequately intimidating as Galactus. A still from 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps.' It has the usual Marvel contrivances in its climax, something I've come to expect from such films. But to my surprise, it doesn't overstay its welcome at 116 minutes, and deftly moves from one plot point to the next. As hard as it is to take sermons from films cynically propped as a part of an assembly line to deliver manifold profits, I was surprised to find myself moved by the idealism in Shakman's film. By harking back to an era, when the world was on the brink of space exploration, the film recreates the wonder of a time when the future looked promising. There were challenges even then, but somehow we were naive enough to believe that we could break out of our cyclical lust for power. The film reiterates American author Margaret Mead's lines: 'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful and committed citizens can change the world' during a key scene. If nothing else, The Fantastic Four: First Steps pictures a world when we're still kind to one another, and apathy hasn't taken over. The hope hasn't been extinguished, even if it's in a fantasy superhero film in 2025.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘Stress levels are high', cries RTE star as she offers candid pregnancy update as fans say ‘just you wait'
RTE star Anna Geary has offered her fans a candid pregnancy update as she's pregnant with her second child. The native, who is a fan favourite coach on hit fitness competition, , became a first-time mum back in 2023. Advertisement 2 Anna Geary offered a candid pregnancy update Credit: Instagram 2 Anna is pregnant with her second child Credit: Instagram Anna and her hubby Kevin Sexton The TV star took to her Instagram today to share a candid pregnancy update with her fans. The mum-of-one was sat in her car and began to clap her hands furiously. She was clapping her hands in tune with the song Black Widow by Iggy Azalea to convey her rage as she said: "Giving myself a round of applause for staying quiet instead of punching them in the face." Advertisement read more on anna geary And although the frustrated star didn't directly mention who she wanted to punch, she did give a slight clue as to what could have been driving her mad. In her caption she admitted that her "stress levels are high" and that her pregnancy hormones are making it difficult for her to "bite her tongue". She continued: "What do you do when people say something to pi$$ you off? Tips welcome. "(Pregnancy hormones are making it hard to bite my tongue)." Advertisement Most read in News TV Friends and fans raced to her comment section to gush over the light hearted video. Aine gushed: "That's me today (not the pregnant part thankfully)." Ireland legend joins Jacqui Hurley in making quirky prediction for Women's Euros semi from RTE couch Joanne commented: "Well done. I struggle to not say anything then say too much lol." Another fan added: "You're a good few years off going through the menopause, but wait until you hit that phase." Advertisement The TV star took to her Instagram today to share the exciting news with her fans that she is pregnant with her second child. BIG NEWS The mum-of-one shared a series of images of her walking with her son through a stunning wooded area. The presenter grinned wide as she held onto her son's hand while they enjoyed their stroll. In the snaps Anna dressed her son in a beautiful white jumper that was embellished with the word "brother". Advertisement Meanwhile, Anna stunned in a gorgeous forest green dress, with a pair of sunglasses on her head. Sharing the news with fans, Anna said: "Things are going to get a whole lot busier. #bigbrotherpromotion @kev_sexton xxx."
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Rita Ora puts on a leggy display in white lace leotard as she takes to the stage at star-studded Summer Gala in Saint-Tropez
Rita Ora ensured all eyes were on her as she took to the stage during the Summer Gala by Gala One Saint-Tropez 2025 in Gassin, France on Thursday. The singer, 34, put on a leggy display as she performed for attendees in a whit elace leotard that highlighted her incredible figure. The Black Widow hitmaker also wore a pair of tights and added height to her frame with black ankle boots. Rita attended the event with her husband Taika Waititi and when she wasn't on stage, she slipped into a black midi dress with a sweetheart neckline. The star also wore a pair of black heels and styled her blonde locks into a curly updo for the evening. The singer, 34, put on a leggy display as she performed for attendees in a whit elace leotard that highlighted her incredible figure Film director Taika looked dapper in a teal blazer and matching trousers along with a white shirt. Also in attendance at the event wasJamie, 57, Foxx who looked dapper in an all-white suit and shirt combo, finishing with white trainers and a silver chain. He was joined by his daughter Corinne, who stunned in a black cut-out dress with a dramatic thigh-high slit. Rita also posed for a snap with fashion designer Georgina Chapman who looked stunning in a black strapless dress with a bewelled embellishment. Model Frida, 30, was effortlessly elegant in a satin brown halter-neck gown that highlighted her bronzed glow. While Kelly Rutherford, 56, looked radiant in a white off-the-shoulder lace dress, adding white heeled mules and a Birkin bag. Leonardo DiCaprio was among the guests and kept a characteristically low profile in a black cap. Also in attendance were Victoria Silvstedt, Casey Affleck, and Chantel Jeffries. The singer, 34, posed up a storm on the red carpet, joining Jamie Foxx, Frida Aasen, and Kelly Rutherford at the glamorous event. Model Frida, 30, was effortlessly elegant in a satin brown halter-neck gown that highlighted her bronzed glow The glamorous evening brought together stars from film, fashion, and music for a dazzling night on the French Riviera. The event comes just days after Rita admitted that she felt 'ugly' in her late twenties because she 'wasn't as thin as other people'. The singer appeared on Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast in partnership with Dove's Self Esteem Project for a candid body confidence chat. Rita opened up about how her relationship with her body has changed in recent years, as she revealed she used to feel like her body wasn't 'hot'. 'I think for me the idea of looking a certain way in my late 20s, that's when it started to hit me because my stamina was low, I wasn't looking after my body, I was getting sick a lot and I didn't feel like my body was hot,' Rita said. 'And I didn't accept the idea of okay well I'm not as thin as these other people - and so I'm ugly. And that's really sad to think back on because I know I wasn't. 'It's like what you do when you're attacking your younger self like in therapy, and it's like that girl was still really beautiful.' Sharing the clip on Instagram on Wednesday, Rita wrote: 'I sat down with @Dove and @HappyPlaceOfficial to share why I believe body confidence starts with self care focusing on what your body needs - not what it looks like. 'Proud to partner with the Dove Self Esteem Project on #Why2k - together we're rewriting the rules and helping women build body confidence.' It comes after Rita recently revealed how Beyoncé has always been her 'protector' as she discussed being hit by speculation that she was 'Becky with the good hair'. Beyoncé's smash hit 2016 album Lemonade featured poignant lyrics about cheating and she sang about the mysterious woman in her track Sorry. Fans widely speculated it referred to alleged infidelity by Beyoncé's husband Jay-Z with a woman called 'Becky', and theories began circulating online about her identity. Rita found herself at the centre of the rumours as she was wrongly accused of having an affair with Jay-Z, with the singer forced to hit back and deny the claims. Now, Rita - who was represented by Jay-Z's Roc Nation label at the time - revealed she was so upset by the claims because Beyoncé has always been her 'protector'.
The Sun
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
My run-in with rude Scarlett Johannson still shocks me to this day… she may be worth £11bn but money can't buy manners
AS Scarlett Johansson was ushered up the red carpet looking breathtaking in a skin tight nude gown, crowds gasped and flashbulbs exploded in a frenzy as it became clear we were watching a star being born. In a sea of skinny starlets, she was refreshingly curvy, and her stunning looks were already drawing gushing comparisons with 1950's sex symbol Marilyn Monroe - but Scarlett was just 19 years old and nervous. 16 16 That was 20 years ago. Now the phenomenal success of Scarlett's latest action movie Jurassic World: Rebirth has sent the actress' earning power stratospheric - with her worldwide box office takings soaring to a staggering £11billion ($14.8bn). She surpassed Marvel Cinematic Universe stars Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Downey Jr. to become the biggest name in movies - largely thanks to having played Black Widow for 10 years in mega money blockbusters like Avengers: Endgame, Infinity War, The Avengers and Age of Ultron. It's an astonishing feat, but when I first met the actress as she was starting out in Hollywood she was, in my opinion, not prepared for the intense scrutiny that lay ahead. We had a painfully awkward encounter at the Golden Globe Awards in January 2004, where she was nominated for Lost In Translation, the 2003 role that first shot her to worldwide fame. I was reporting on the awards show for an American entertainment magazine, and about halfway through the ceremony I nipped away from the press area in the balcony to use the toilet. As I was washing my hands, Scarlett emerged from a cubicle behind me and our eyes met in the mirror. I smiled, but she did not smile back. I blurted out: "I love your dress!" In hindsight it was a pretty obvious thing to say, but I genuinely meant it. She looked fantastic. Scarlett Johansson corrects Today's Savannah Guthrie after host botches famous Jurassic Park line in awkward moment I looked away, and turned off the tap. But instead of giving a polite nod or simply saying, "Thanks," she glared back, slowly looked my plain black frock up and down, and asked with a sarcastic sneer: "Is this the part where I'm supposed to say I like yours?" I was too stunned to reply, and spent the rest of the evening wondering why on earth she would have even bothered to be so rude to a total stranger. Uncomfortable incidents 16 However, as the years have gone by there have been a steady stream of uncomfortable incidents involving the screen siren. She is now a 40-year-old mother-of-two and has the world at her feet, but continues to rub people up the wrong way. Her love life has been colourful, to say the least. She briefly dated Hollywood producer Jack Antonoff when they were at high school together, and in 2006 had a year-long fling with Pearl Harbour hunk Josh Hartnett, 46. Next she fell for heartthrob Ryan Reynolds, 48, who would become the first of her three husbands. They had only been dating for a year when it emerged they had tied the knot on Vancouver Island in September 2008 - but their marriage was over three years later, allegedly due to her workload. Scarlett swiftly moved on to movie executive Nate Naylor in 2011. By 2012 however, she had fallen for French journalist Romain Dauriac during a trip to Paris, and they married in a secret ceremony at a ranch in Montana in 2014. They had a daughter - Rose, now 10 - but that marriage was done and dusted after barely two years. There was a bitter custody battle over where Rose would live, and in a terse statement issued at the time Scarlett pleaded for privacy. She said: "Out of respect for my desires as a parent and out of respect for all working moms, it is with kindness that I ask other parties involved and the media to do the same." Yet she bounced back fast and was dating Saturday Night Live comedian Colin Jost by 2017. The pair tied the knot in New York in October 2020 and now have a three-year-old son called Cosmo. Sexy roles But it's not just Scarlett's tumultuous private life that has raised eyebrows. She has also complained about being typecast as a sex symbol. "I think women that are curvy can be pigeonholed in that bombshell thing,' she moaned. 'It's not like I actively look for sexy roles. 'It's not a requirement that my character be pretty and delicate. I never think about my character being sexy, unless that's written in." Earlier this year, in March, she grumbled about eager fans asking for photos with her. In an interview with InStyle magazine she revealed her strict policy for getting rid of unwanted admirers. 'It really offends a lot of people," she admitted. 'It doesn't mean I'm not appreciative, of course, that people are fans, or happy to see me. 'But I always say to people, 'I'm not working.' And that means I don't want to be identified as being in this time and place with you. I'm doing my own thing. 'I like to be in my own thoughts that have nothing to do with what other people think of me. I don't like being self-conscious.' Just last week Scarlett was caught shrieking at photographers while filming her new drama Paper Tiger. 'Move out the f*****g way,' she yelled, ushering a snapper away with her hand. 'I'm working.' Furious backlash Scarlett has also faced furious backlash for her outspoken opinions - including her consistent defence of controversial director Woody Allen over allegations of sexual abuse made by his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow. Scarlett starred in three of his most successful films - Match Point, Scoop, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona - and said in 2019: 'I love Woody and I believe him and I would work with him anytime. 'I see Woody whenever I can, and I have had a lot of conversations with him about it. He maintains his innocence, and I believe him.' Meanwhile other stars including Colin Firth, Mira Sorvino and Greta Gerwig said they regretted working with him, while Timothee Chalamet said he would donate his wages to charity. Scarlett was also accused of "whitewashing" Japanese manga art when she was cast as a cyborg in Ghost In The Shell in 2015. In the original animated films and video games her character was Asian, and more than 15,000 people signed a petition urging producers to replace her with an Asian actress. Scarlett defended herself, arguing: 'Acting goes through trends. "You know, as an actor I should be allowed to play any person, or any tree, or any animal because that is my job and the requirements of my job. 'There are a lot of social lines being drawn now, and a lot of political correctness is being reflected in art." She came under fire again in 2018 for arguing that a straight woman should be able to play trans characters - but amid a torrent of harsh criticism from the trans community she dropped out of her role in Rub and Tug. She had been set to play crime kingpin Dante 'Tex' Gill, who was born Lois Jean Gill but identified as a man, and used his massage parlours as a front for prostitution dens. A year later Scarlett admitted she had been insensitive. 'In hindsight, I mishandled that situation,' she said. 'I was not sensitive, my initial reaction to it. 'I wasn't totally aware of how the trans community felt about those actors playing and how they felt in general about cis actors playing transgender people. "I wasn't aware of that conversation, I was uneducated. So I learned a lot through that process. I misjudged that, It was a hard time. 'It was like a whirlwind. I felt terribly about it. To feel like you're kind of tone-deaf to something is not a good feeling.' Perhaps it's not as much fun as it sounds being universally admired as a sex bomb and hounded by adoring autograph hunters - but that evening in the ladies loo of the Beverly Hilton Hotel, I was simply being polite. And she should have done the same. 16
Japan Today
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
'Butter': The foodie feminist bestseller skewering sexism in Japan
Japanese author Asako Yuzuki's novel '"Butter" was inspired by the real-life story of "Black Widow" Kanae Kijima, who poisoned three men she met on dating sites. By Caroline GARDIN Japanese writer Asako Yuzuki did not expect her novel "Butter" to capture a cult following abroad, hailed as a biting feminist critique of sexism and body-shaming. Translated into English last year, the tale of murder and misogyny has whetted an insatiable appetite, selling 610,000 copies overseas, including 400,000 in Britain -- more than Japan -- where it won multiple awards. Yuzuki was inspired by the real-life story of "Black Widow" Kanae Kijima, a woman sentenced to death in 2012 for poisoning three men she met on dating sites. The sensationalized media coverage at the time largely focused on Kijima's appearance, speculating how someone described as homely and unattractive could be considered a femme fatale. Many credited her romantic success to her homemaking prowess -- notably in the kitchen. "When the case broke, the Japanese media mainly remembered that the suspect liked to cook and took classes ... to 'please men'," Yuzuki told AFP in an interview. "That deeply disturbed me." In "Butter", a journalist likewise disquieted by the portrayal of a Kijima-like character (renamed Kajii) writes to the jailed suspect, hoping to secure an exclusive interview by appealing to her gourmet tastes. Via a letter soliciting the beef stew recipe that Kajii reportedly fed her final victim, the pair begin an intimate and life-changing relationship. This proves a vehicle for Yuzuki to chew over the roots of misogyny in Japan, where traditional male and female roles still dominate and women are held to impossible beauty standards. In politics and boardrooms for example, women remain rare. Japan ranks 118 out of 146 in the World Economic Forum's 2025 Gender Gap Report. "Japan is a deeply patriarchal country. Very often, it is the father who occupies the central position within the family unit. This is the basis for laws even," Yuzuki said. Food -- particularly butter, that artery-blocking symbol of pleasure and excess -- forms the molten core of the story. Through sumptuous descriptions of butter-rich ramen and lavishly buttered rice, Yuzuki explores the tension between indulging appetites and the self-denial required to fulfill the societal pressure on women to stay thin. "There is an incredible amount of adverts for weight loss, cosmetic surgery and diets. This country is obsessed with fatphobia," Yuzuki said. It is also tough for women in Japan, where the #MeToo movement never really took off, to speak out about discrimination and sexual assault. Shiori Ito, a journalist who took the rare step of publicly accusing a prominent Japanese TV reporter of rape -- a charge he denies -- is a case in point. Ito's documentary "Black Box Diaries", which was nominated for an Oscar, was not released in Japan because it used material recorded clandestinely or intended for judicial use only. "In other countries, especially the United States, from the beginning of #MeToo, many well-known journalists have seriously investigated these cases, and it is because this information was made public officially that the victims were able to be protected," Yuzuki said. But in Japan, "women who have had the courage to speak out are reduced to the role of activists and consumed by the media within that framework," she said. Another example is Masahiro Nakai, a boyband member and a star TV presenter accused of sexual assault. He initially disputed the facts and then apologized. The scandal shone a spotlight on the toxic culture of young women being pressed into attending dinners and drinking parties with powerful figures. "What strikes me is this uninterrupted chain of sexual violence, and especially that these are crimes committed within one organization, covered up by another organization... that of the media," Yuzuki said. Yuzuki is convinced that change can only come from outside. "When foreigners take up a topic, especially the English-language media, it completely changes the way it is perceived in Japan," she said. "If the European media" continue to be interested in these issues, then "the situation could perhaps change a little." © 2025 AFP
