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Gulf Weekly
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gulf Weekly
Heroes return
Marvel superhero film The Fantastic Four: First Steps is out now in theatres. Starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn, the film tackles the titular team who must protect their 1960s-inspired retro-futuristic world Earth-828 from the planet-devouring cosmic Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his herald the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). Known for her role as Nadia Vulvokov in the Netflix series Russian Doll, actress Natasha Lyonne is also set to appear in the film. 'I think people are going to love it (the film), and I'm so proud to be a part of it,' she said in an interview. Director Matt Shakman revealed that he cast the Marvel heroes without auditions, explaining that he had an instinct for who would be right for each part. 'Great actors create great chemistry. You bring people together, and you build a process that supports the building of that chemistry,' he said. The director made sure to decorate the rehearsal room in a 1960s style and had the cast learn period dances. He also included archival stills from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) launches to immerse the performers into the film's atmosphere. 'We approached the story dramaturgically as you would a play, before we got on our feet with anything,' Pedro, who plays the role of Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, said. 'It was Matt setting up the circumstances to be together as a cast and flesh out a language that bonded each of us together as a family,' he added. The film marks the comic heroes' return to the big screen since the critical and commercial failure of 20th Century Fox's Fantastic Four (2015). It is expected to be received positively due to the new version's vibrant retro aesthetic that better captures the illustrated books' essence than its predecessor's dark and edgy approach.
Daily Maverick
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Russian Doll revisited: Will the SANDF's ‘dirty dozen' expose the top brass?
The assassination of top Hawks official Lieutenant Colonel Frans Mathipa seemed destined, until this week, to remain a cold case – another high-profile murder that is politically simply too hot to handle. This underscores the magnitude of the breakthrough in the case, led by Hawks investigators, that has culminated this week in a prosecution process targeting 12 SANDF officials. They stand charged with the murder of Mathipa, two other unnamed individuals and numerous other crimes. In a country so accustomed to rough justice, we have come to expect state institutions to be either unable or unwilling to hold the very powerful to account. From apartheid killers to State Capture titans and any number of criminals embedded in the country's political and economic elite, impunity has the risk of becoming systemic. With the case against 12 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) officials arrested for the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Frans Mathipa, we have an opportunity to change that. The crimes Open Secrets' four-part Russian Doll investigation, published by Daily Maverick in 2023, highlights a harrowing tale which links members of South Africa's elite Special Forces to the assassination of Frans Mathipa as well as to separate instances of torture of civilians and possibly at least one other murder. Open Secrets exists to investigate the economic crimes of the powerful, focused on private actors. However, when we started an investigation of possible sanctions busting involving the Lady R vessel, we uncovered a much broader network of abuse and criminal activity involving the SANDF. We crossed lines in terms of our mandate because it is in the public interest to do so. While every one of these alleged crimes is significant, the murder of Mathipa demands our attention because members of an elite unit within the SANDF stand accused of turning their guns on a top cop. It represents a breakdown of the constitutional order and the rule of law. When officers in uniform kill one another with the intention of covering up other crimes, it is only logical to assume that they will turn their guns and the power of the state against civilians. What the Open Secrets investigation has shown is a pattern of abuse of power within the SANDF involving multiple units, including Special Forces, Defence Intelligence, the Military Police and Defence Legal Services. We have linked at least one Special Forces officer whom Mathipa was investigating for the abduction of two civilians from the Mall of Africa – Colonel Sunnybooi Pinny Wambi – to allegations of torture and even murder. One of the people who has been the focus of ongoing investigations by the Hawks has been described to us by a senior law enforcement official as being akin to notorious apartheid political assassin Eugene de Kock. It suggests we are now mimicking the very worst violence of the late apartheid state when death squads prowled the streets. All this begs the question of whether their activities might have extended to other assassinations? Might some of these have been political in nature, involving internal party squabbles, political dirty tricks or money heists to shore up funds for election campaigns? While we do not currently have the answer to these questions, the prosecution of the SANDF's 'dirty dozen' might open a can of worms that many powerful people would wish remained secret. The cover-up Following the publication of the Russian Doll investigation in Daily Maverick and an exposé by Carte Blanche based on the same investigation, the Chief of the SANDF General Rudzani Maphwanya called a rambling press conference in December 2023 at which he accused Open Secrets and Daily Maverick of fabricating stories and the prosecutable offence 'an act of defeating the ends of justice'. However, at the same press conference, Chief of Defence Intelligence Major General Thalita Mxakato confirmed the existence of a 2023 internal SANDF board of inquiry report that examined allegations by concerned SANDF whistle-blowers of corruption and abuse of power, including torture within the SANDF. Open Secrets had made public the existence of this report, compiled by Brigadier General Moorhouse, as part of our investigation (the 'Morehouse Report'). We submitted access to information requests to the Department of Defence for a copy of this report, which were flatly ignored for well over a year. In April 2025, we were informed that the SANDF was now considering this request. At this stage, it seems that the SANDF has failed its legal obligation to respond timeously in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, inviting further legal steps against it. The politicians, who exercise ultimate oversight over the SANDF, have been informed of various allegations of wrongdoing by Open Secrets but have ignored our pleas that they intervene to prevent the abuse of power. We wrote to then Minister of Defence Thandi Modise in August 2023. We followed that up with a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa in December 2023 and again in December 2024 – to which we never received a substantive response. As a result, none of their office can deny knowledge of these abuses. Promotion for an alleged torturer What accountability has there been for the individuals linked to abductions, torture and abuse? Until now, very little. This again shows that the SANDF has done nothing to deal with a very real problem within its ranks. This serves to stain the reputation of the many honest and hard-working members of the SANDF. In one instance, a military officer linked to torture was subsequently promoted. A post on the SANDF's Instagram account in February 2025 records that one of the lead 'torturers' – Military Police official Lieutenant-Colonel Doris Netshanzhe was promoted to the position of military attaché this year. This promotion is likely to lead to a plum posting in another country, which will send her to an as yet unnamed South African diplomatic mission to hob-nob with diplomats, foreign militaries and live a life of comfort at the public's expense. As we showed in Russian Doll 3, Doris Netshanzhe – nicknamed 'Mama Skebenga' (Mama Gangster) – was the active co-participant, with Sunnybooi Wambi, in the torture of a man we know only as 'Sphamandla' at the Military police bar at Thaba Tshwane military base in February 2020. According to witness accounts, Sphamandla died that night as a result of his injuries and his body was possibly buried in the grounds of the Special Forces headquarters outside Pretoria. A test for the President The prosecution of the SANDF 'dirty dozen' represents a significant political challenge for Ramaphosa. The commander in chief has been informed of abuses within the military. He has also known that officers within the SANDF have been implicated in the murder of a top police officer. He and the politicians in the Ministry of Defence and the parliamentary defence committee have not lifted a finger in public to call for the suspension of implicated officers. The military top brass have either remained silent or simply denied any allegations of abuse. Their collective silence risks making the political establishment accomplices to these crimes if they do nothing to address this. At the very least, one or more generals should be dismissed for this inaction and the President needs to consider why the chief of the SANDF has done so little to tackle this — and hold him accountable. All of this underscores the extraordinary public importance of the prosecution of the SANDF's 'dirty dozen' and the work of the Hawks and prosecutors in bringing these matters to court. They will no doubt face intense backroom pressure to drop these charges. This represents a test for our democratic state and demands vigilance to ensure that all those implicated are held to account. Ultimately, we need to ensure that not only are the perpetrators held to account, but also the system of cover-up and silence which has enabled it. We owe this to victims and their families. DM Open Secrets is a non-profit organisation which exposes and builds accountability for private-sector economic crimes through investigative research, advocacy and the law. To support our work, visit Support Open Secrets.
Buzz Feed
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Natasha Lyonne On Aging In Hollywood, Cosmetic Work
Natasha Lyonne has been in the public eye for almost all of her life, having bagged her first role at age 6 in the children's TV series Pee-wee's Playhouse. After starring in movies like American Pie and But I'm A Cheerleader, Natasha reached a new level of success when she played Nicky Nichols in the 2013 Netflix series Orange Is The New Black. But it wasn't until fairly recently that Natasha's career really took off. She played the leading character in Netflix's Russian Doll from 2019 to 2022, which earned her three Emmy Award nominations, and she currently stars in the Peacock series Poker Face. This week, Natasha, 46, sat down with Marie Claire for a wide-ranging interview, during which she was asked about her growing opportunities in Hollywood. The journalist noted that despite the 'popular misconceptions about women, aging, and showbiz,' Natasha made it clear that she's gaining more and more recognition as she gets older. 'It's not actually [true] that a woman has less opportunities at a certain age,' she said. 'As someone fully entrenched on that other side of that Maxim magazine I never did, now I have more opportunities than I ever did.' Elsewhere during the interview, Natasha briefly touched on the subject of cosmetic work. Though she didn't explicitly clarify what she has had done, the actor pointedly said, 'Listen, I don't think you're going to find any woman in this town who hasn't had a dermatologist put a laser on their face,' before adding, 'But I've never had anything that made me not be able to go to dinner right after.' She then continued, 'If I could, I would get one of those really poufy upper lips. That's why I'm always overdrawing my upper lip line. I'd probably also get really big boobs and a really big BBL.' You can find Natasha's full Marie Claire interview here.
TimesLIVE
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Not just a poker face
Natasha Lyonne enters the London Hotel, West Hollywood, looking like Austin Powers. The outfit is designer. Cerise leggings hug her skinny legs, and an exquisite black, collarless jacket of raw silk is embellished with huge diamanté buttons so ornate that they could pass for individual brooches. It's the kitten-heeled ankle boots that take the haute couture ensemble and reshuffle it as '60s cool. Her makeup is minimal, her delicate features surrounded by a riot of auburn curls. The character actress has found critical and commercial acclaim in the television series, Poker Face, now in season 2. It's an inverted detective series, where we know who the perpetrator is and the mystery lies in how to catch them — if at all. Though her name may be unfamiliar, you'll recognise the gravel-voiced actress from a plethora of classics as far back as American Pie (1999). For decades she has quietly been delivering knock-out performances in such varied fare as Russian Doll (2019-22), Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022), Orange Is the New Black (2013-19) and His Three Daughters (2023). Indeed, she began her career at age 6 and is one of the few child actors who appears to have transitioned to adult star unscathed. The conceit of Poker Face is that Charlie Cale (Lyonne) can tell when someone lies. Each week brings a new challenge — murder, fraud or theft — that allows a star-filled cast of guest actors to play supporting roles as Charlie gets pulled in to solve the crime. Oscar-winner Adrien Brody is just one of the recent actors willing to do television to be part of Lyonne's ensemble. So is Cynthia Erivo, who co-stars in multiple roles this season. Lyonne often pulls in stars she encounters in her social life, calling them the next day to ask if they want to be a guest on the show. That's led to awesome names turning up, but with some, such as Jude Law, politely declining. 'No shade on Jude Law,' notes the actress in an aside. The structure of Poker Face is one that was made popular in Columbo (Peter Falk) way back in the '60s and '70s, yet still holds fascination for the viewing public. Charlie comes to each episode trying to find her place in the world, which also gives us more ammunition for what makes each episode tick. It's a show about lying. Each episode, Charlie does some level of character development from the beginning to the end. Each episode starts with a flashback as we see Lyonne get to know either the victim or the killer and form a relationship with them. When things go south, that's what draws her into solving the crime. Lyonne's eyes are like black wet pebbles, but brimming with intelligence; she tilts her head and arcs her hands to ensure the point resonates. 'That connection is important,' she rasps, 'because Charlie's not a cop. It's not her job to solve the crime, so she needs an emotional way in, in every single episode.' She hunches her shoulders, looking over the sea of reporters as she talks, the intonation of a professor giving a lecture. 'I think it's been a lonely journey for Charlie between seasons 1 and 2. It's a long time to not be in touch with any family or friends. It's the loneliness of the long distance runner.' Her commentary is full of insightful, esoteric and lyrical asides. 'We are meeting a little bit of a 'hollow man' at the top of the season,' explains the native New Yorker of her character. 'Charlie comes to each episode trying to find her place in the world, which also gives us more ammunition for what makes each episode tick. It's a show about lying. Each episode, Charlie does some level of character development from the beginning to the end.' Lyonne, along with series creator Rian Johnson, also holds the titles of executive producer, writer and director. Fiercely intelligent, as witnessed by her obscure, informed asides, it's not a surprise to hear the co-executive producers enjoy solving the New York Times crossword puzzle while on set between scenes. Rather than a random activity, the puzzle-solving helps ground the actress. 'Completing the crossword is like Charlie with a mystery,' she grins. 'You've got to finish that puzzle once you start.' After an excellent first run, the sophomore season takes a slightly bizarre turn, including existential scenes of self exploration. 'Charlie's taking a journey and does things that surprise the audience, which allows us to not repeat ourselves and have fun. She's looking for connection, while also being on the run from the police (Benjamin Bratt).' Ultimately, Charlie is an unusual female lead. Strong, wily and singular. When looking for role models as a young actress, Lyonne identified more with Pacino, De Niro and Stallone than Meryl Streep — with whom the young actress worked in Heartburn in her film debut, after a stint on the soapie As The World Turns. Lyonne confesses that she channels Bogart, Betty Davis and Mae West in the role of Charlie, some of the industry's greatest character actors. 'I hate that, for women, success means that you had a kid or you got married. It's a bummer for us because then that means we failed if we don't.' That mindset — combined with maverick character choices stirred with murder — is what makes Poker Face a standout show.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy Season 2 OTT Release Date: When and where to watch Cirocco Dunlap's show
The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy Season 2 OTT Release Date: This animated sci-fi comedy series returns with its second season on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. All eight episodes will be available for streaming on the release day. Here's everything you need to know! Plot overview Created by Cirocco Dunlap, known for her work on Russian Doll and Baymax!, The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy follows two alien surgeons, Dr. Sleech (voiced by Stephanie Hsu) and Dr. Klak (voiced by Keke Palmer), as they navigate bizarre medical cases in a space hospital. The voice cast also includes Natasha Lyonne, Maya Rudolph, Kieran Culkin, and Sam Smith. The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy Season 1 recap In Season 1, Dr. Sleech and Dr. Klak tackled a variety of unusual medical cases, such as anxiety-eating parasites and patients trapped in time loops. The season also explored the personal lives of the doctors, including Dr. Klak's struggle with anxiety and Dr. Sleech's mysterious past. What to expect in Season 2? The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy Season 2 explores more into Dr. Sleech's backstory as a persistent cyborg journalist investigates her past, uncovering controversial incidents. Viewers can expect more outlandish medical scenarios, including alien parasites, ailing hybrid creatures, and the controversial prospect of a new mind control therapy. The show will mark return of Stephanie Hsu as Dr. Sleech, Keke Palmer as Dr. Klak, Kieran Culkin as Dr. Plowp, Natasha Lyonne as Nurse Tup, Maya Rudolph as Dr. Vlam, Sam Smith as Dr. Azel, Andrew Dismukes, Gary Anthony Williams, Lennon Parham, and guest stars like Tracee Ellis Ross, Bowen Yang, and Abbi Jacobson also lend their voices to various characters. The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy is produced by Amazon MGM Studios, Animal Pictures, and Titmouse, Inc., with Cirocco Dunlap serving as the showrunner.
