2025 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show: see photos and videos

February 12, 2025

Katherine Bernardin and her dog Monty the Giant Schnauzer, winner of Best in Show, celebrate during the 149th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show – Junior Showmanship, Group Judging (Sporting, Working, Terrier) + Best in Show at Madison Square Garden on February 11, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images for Westminster Kennel Club)

The following is a press release from Westminster Kennel Club:

The Giant Schnauzer named Monty took home the highest title of Best in Show at the 149th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show presented by Purina Pro Plan. Under Judge Paula Nykiel of Washington, Missouri, America’s most prestigious dog show came to a close at Madison Square Garden, “The World’s Most Famous Arena,” on the evening of Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Monty, a 5-year-old male of Ocean City, NJ, officially known as GCHG CH
Hearthmore’s Wintergreen Mountain RI CGC TKN FITB, is handled by Katherine
Bernardin and owned by Sandra Nordstrom, Katherine Bernardin, and Cherlann
Ambrose. Monty bested a field of over 2,500 entries in conformation, with two days of
Best of Breed judging from Monday, February 10 – Tuesday, February 11, 2025 held at the
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, culminating with the Group and Best in Show
competitions at New York City’s iconic Madison Square Garden. Bourbon, the 9-year-old female Whippet, officially known as GCHP CH Pinnacle Kentucky Bourbon, won Reserve Best in Show with handler, Cheslie Pickett Smithey.

On February 12, 2025, Best in Show was televised live on FS1 from New York City’s
iconic Madison Square Garden, the original home of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog
Show. The Empire State Building illuminated the New York City skyline in
Westminster’s iconic purple and gold to celebrate the 149th annual event.
For full results and video, visit westminsterkennelclub.org.

About The Westminster Kennel Club

The Westminster Kennel Club, established in 1877, is America’s oldest organization dedicated to the sport of dogs. It hosts the iconic, all-breed Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the second-longest, continuously held sporting event in the U.S. after the Kentucky Derby and, since 1948, the longest nationally televised live dog show. The Club’s mission is to enhance the lives of all dogs by celebrating the companionship of dogs and promoting responsible dog ownership and breed preservation. The Club advocates for purpose-bred dogs, with an understanding that each breed has a legacy and history that deserves to be taught, honored, and preserved. The Club uses education to raise awareness and encourage owners to conscientiously select dogs that are the right match for their families.

The annual dog show—a conformation competition for purpose-bred dogs—and the Masters Agility Championship and Masters Obedience Championship—where dogs from all backgrounds are eligible to compete—make Westminster Week, with thousands of dogs from the U.S. and around the world, a pinnacle experience for any dog lover. The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show has captivated canine enthusiasts for more than a century. Learn more at westminsterkennelclub.org. WESTMINSTER. There’s
only one.®

About Nestlé Purina PetCare
Nestlé Purina PetCare creates richer lives for pets and the people who love them. Founded in 1894, Purina has helped dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives by offering scientifically based nutritional innovations.

Purina manufactures some of the world’s most trusted and popular pet care products, including Purina ONE, Pro Plan, Fancy Feast and Tidy Cats. Our more than 11,000 U.S. associates take pride in our trusted pet food, treat and litter brands that feed 46 million dogs and 68 million cats every year. More than 500 Purina scientists, veterinarians, and pet care experts ensure our commitment to unsurpassed quality and nutrition.

Purina Pro Plan is a leader in the advanced nutrition category, with more than 140 targeted formulas to help your pet thrive throughout every stage of life. It is also the food of choice for 17 of the past 18 Westminster Best in Show winners*. For more information, visit www.proplan.com or follow @ProPlan on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

Purina promotes responsible pet care through our scientific research, our products and our support for pet-related organizations. Over the past five years, Purina has contributed more than $150 million towards organizations that bring, and keep, people and pets together, as well as those that help our communities and environment thrive.

Purina is part of Nestlé, a global leader in Nutrition, Health and Wellness. For more information, visit purina.com or subscribe here to get the latest Purina news.

*The handler or owners of these champions may have received Purina Pro Plan dog food as Purina ambassadors.

Review: ‘Union’ (2024), starring Chris Smalls, Angelika Maldonado, Derrick Palmer, Natalie Monarrez, Jason Anthony, Brett Daniels and Madeline Wesley

December 26, 2024

by Carla Hay

Christian “Chris” Smalls (center) and Derrick Palmer (third from right, in pink shirt) in “Union” (Photo courtesy of Level Ground Productions)

“Union” (2024)

Directed by Stephen Maing and Brett Story

Culture Representation: Taking place in New York City from 2021 to 2022, the documentary film “Union” features a racially diverse group of people (African American, white, Latin and Asian) who are connected in some way to corporate giant Amazon.

Culture Clash: Several past and present employees at Amazon’s JFK8 Fulfillment Center (located in the New York City borough of Staten Island) take action to have a union for the center’s employees, but the union activists get pushback and criticism from Amazon’s management, other Amazon employees, and within the activist group.

Culture Audience: “Union” will appeal primarily to people who are interested in documentaries that take a behind-the-scenes look at a “David versus Goliath” story in corporate business, from the perspective of the underdog.

A scene from “Union,” pictured from left to right in middle row: Jason Anthony (with beard and red shirt), Brett Daniels, Christian “Chris” Smalls, Natalie Monarrez (in sunglasses and bandana) and Madeline Wesley (Photo courtesy of Level Ground Productions)

“Union” is a cinéma vérité film that is minimalist almost to a fault. This pro-activist documentary (about the controversial formation of Amazon’s first worker union) is a feel-good underdog story. However, the story is one-sided, has drab pacing, and doesn’t tell enough about union members who aren’t leader Chris Smalls.

Cinéma vérité filmmaking is non-fiction storytelling without narration, re-enactments, animation and other contrived characteristics that are frequently in other documentaries. “Union” barely has a musical score, and there are no “expert” talking head interviews. This “no frills” approach to “Union” works in some ways but doesn’t work in other ways.

Directed by Stephen Maing and Brett Story, “Union” had its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it won a U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Art of Change. The movie also made the rounds at other film festivals in 2024, including the New York Film Festival and DOC NYC. “Union” was one of the 15 documentaries selected for the 2025 Academy Awards shortlist (eligible for the final nominations) for Best Documentary Feature Film.

“Union” is told entirely from the point of view of the activists who were involved in creating Amazon Labor Union (ALU), which in 2022, became the first employee union for Amazon, a notoriously anti-union corporate giant. ALU was created for employees at Amazon’s JFK8 Fulfillment Center, located in the New York City borough of Staten Island. The “against all odds” official sanction (by employee voting) for this union to exist was a historic business event that received significant media coverage. Most people who will be interested in watching “Union” already know that this outcome happened. Therefore, there’s not a lot of suspense in watching “Union,” which was filmed from 2021 to 2022.

When a documentary is about an event or conflict that has a fairly well-known outcome, it behooves the documentary filmmakers to present some fascinating behind-the-scenes insights into how this outcome was achieved. In that respect, “Union” mostly delivers if you want an admittedly biased “root for the underdog” approach to this story. However, the movie falls short in giving viewers a deeper understanding of who the key players were in this battle that took place during the time the documentary was filmed.

Early on in “Union,” the movie juxtaposes two types of footage: (1) the Amazon warehouse employees arriving by bus and (2) news footage of the first suborbital space flight for Blue Origin, the space flight company from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Bezos reportedly spent around $5.5 billion for this four-minute flight.

The contrast is obvious: These Amazon warehouse employees (who probably barely make above minimum wage) can’t afford to travel to work by car, while Bezos spends more money on a four-minute space flight than most people will ever earn in their lifetimes. It should be noted that Bezos stepped down as CEO of Amazon in July 2021, so that he could focus mostly on Blue Origin. Bezos (whose current Amazon title is executive chairman) is still the largest shareholder in Amazon, which has made him one of the richest people in the world.

Even though Bezos’ name is mentioned several times in “Union,” and he’s vilified as the chief corporate villain to Amazon employees who want to unionize, the “Union” documentary leaves out the fact that Bezos was no longer Amazon’s CEO during the making of most of this documentary. It makes “Union” look biased by omitting crucial facts. A epilogue hastily mentions that Amazon officials declined to answer questions for the documentary, but it’s not that hard to include publicly known information about Bezos’ role at Amazon during the time that this documentary was filmed.

It should come as no surprise that “Union” has relentless messaging that Amazon’s management officials are greedy and heartless villains, while the employees who want to form a union are brave and oppressed heroes. The only footage that shows Amazon’s management officials speaking is footage (usually from undercover audio/video taken at Amazon employee meetings) where Amazon’s management tries to squash support for anything related to union activities. Even viewers who agree with the union activities can see that this documentary goes a little too far with its bias.

And that’s why it’s disappointing that “Union” does not go “all in” by showing more of who these union activists really are as people. “Union” is about ALU but keeps most of the ALU members at a vague distance—seen mostly as nameless people at protest rallies or in group meetings. The exception is ALU leader Christian “Chris” Smalls, the only ALU member whose work experience is discussed and his personal life shown in the documentary.

Smalls (a married father, whose home life gets several scenes in the documentary) used to be a mid-level manager at JFK8 until he was fired. “Union” gives no details about the work history of the people who were current Amazon employees at the time this documentary was filmed. After getting fired from Amazon, Smalls put all of his work efforts into forming ALU. The documentary doesn’t give details on how ALU gets funding.

Smalls is talkative, often abrasive, and sometimes arrogant. But in his own foul-mouthed way, he can be a great motivator of people and has above-average persistence. In ALU meetings, Smalls says things such as: “We have to match Amazon’s intensity and power … Right now, Amazon is on their high horse. We need to punch them in the face.”

He is also a better strategist than most of the people who think they are more knowledgeable than he is in how to make this union official. Even with a strategy that ended up working, Smalls makes some mistakes that probably affected people’s perceptions of him as a leader. There are also indications that he’s gotten a bit conceited from the media attention he gets as ALU’s leader.

“Union” does a lot to show that Smalls has a “big personality” but the documentary skimps on a lot of details about the resources needed for this ALU battle. Smalls mentions several times in the documentary that he’s financially struggling because he’s not getting paid enough before the union becomes official. The documentary needed details about ALU’s fundraising and where the money was going during this period of time.

Smalls also mentions that ALU has help from attorneys, but these attorneys are nowhere to be seen in the documentary. And that’s why “Union” is perhaps too narrow in its focus. “Union” has an obvious agenda to make ALU members look like “scrappy, inexperienced underdogs” as much as possible. But as soon as Smalls mentions that the ALU has attorneys, you know this group is getting a lot more help from corporate professionals than what’s shown in the documentary.

All of these are unanswered questions that many viewers might have when there’s scene after scene of ALU trying to get Amazon employees to sign ALU petitions by offering the employees free fast food (such as pizza and hamburgers), free drinks, and free marijuana at makeshift booths stationed in or near the JFK8 parking lot. One of these questions is: “Who’s really paying for all of these giveaways? And how much of that money is from ALU’s budget?” Don’t expect the documentary to answer those questions.

“Union” gets a bit repetitive with multiple scenes of Zoom meetings where ALU members complain about enduring unsafe work conditions; being overworked and underpaid; and getting threats of job termination or job demotion for wanting to join a union. The repetition doesn’t have to do with the complaints themselves. It has to do with the fact that “Union” doesn’t really explain who these disgruntled employees are. If the documentary told us more of about their personal stories, then “Union” would have been a much more impactful movie.

These are the Amazon employees who get more screen time than most of the Amazon employees in “Union”:

  • Angelika Maldonado, the chair of the ALU Workers’ Committee, occasionally clashes with Smalls, but is mostly loyal to him.
  • Derrick Palmer, another Smalls loyalist, was voted ALU’s external vice-president during the making of this documentary
  • Natalie Monarrez was initially a ALU member but quit and became opposed to ALU because she disagreed with ALU’s leadership and strategy.
  • Jason Anthony, who appears to be on the autism spectrum, had an anxiety-ridden meltdown over all the time spends on ALU and threatened to quit when he started to give up hope.
  • Brett Daniels, ALU’s director of organizing, is laid-back and doesn’t try to be the “alpha male” of the group.
  • Madeline Wesley, an optimistic college graduate, is a key organizer for ALU.

Many of the ALU group meetings shown in the documentary are surprisingly bland, except for one meeting that devolves into petty arguing because Smalls scolds a member for being 15 minutes late, even though he frequently excuses himself for being tardy to meetings. The more interesting ALU member interactions are the ones that aren’t official group meetings.

For example, at an ALU recruiting booth, Monarrez confides in Wesley about her concern that ALU leadership is turning into a “boys’ club” where only men get to be at the top. Monarrez also thinks ALU should be led by more experienced union leaders, such as the Teamsters, and ALU should wait for these more experienced leaders to step in and help. Wesley disagrees and says these more experienced leaders aren’t going to arrive in time for ALU to get what they want by ALU’s deadline goals.

Much of “Union” shows ALU members getting petitions signed, planning their next move, and trying to recruit Amazon employees to join ALU or at least vote for the union. ALU has the additional challenge of getting enough petition signatures by people who will still be Amazon employees by the time the petitions need to be submitted and ratified. It’s mentioned that Amazon has a high turnover rate for warehouse employees. And after the peak seasons, the majority of these warehouse employees are almost certain to be laid off and then rehired if they choose to join the company again for the next peak season.

Other information is noticeably absent from “Union.” A few ALU members mention getting wrongfully terminated from Amazon, but the documentary doesn’t follow through to get more details on these terminations. There’s a scene where Smalls and Anthony get arrested because Smalls refused to leave an Amazon parking lot, and Anthony got into a physical confrontation with a cop over it. Smalls and Anthony were obviously bailed out, but the documentary never mentions what happened to these arrest cases.

“Union” gives so much screen time to Smalls and his personal life, while telling almost nothing about the backgrounds and lives of his ALU teammates, the documentary could almost be subtitled “The Chris Smalls Show.” ALU is much more than one man’s vision and truly was a team effort, but the documentary doesn’t give enough proper acknowledgment to Smalls’ subordinates, which is ironic for a documentary that wants to look like it’s a champion for underrepresented and overlooked people.

“Union” acknowledges some of ALU’s internal conflicts but doesn’t adequately explore or examine them. For example, observant viewers will see that Monarrez starts off as one of ALU’s most vocal and active supporters. And then she’s not seen for a great deal of the movie. And then, toward the end of the documentary, Monarrez is abruptly seen again in an interview where she says she quit ALU and will be voting against ALU. After this documentary was filmed, ALU has had even more internal problems, which have been documented in several media reports.

“Union” can be commended for getting exclusive access to filming these activists during the formation of ALU. However, the documentary is more anecdotal than educational, with many questions unanswered or details glossed over or sidelined. Viewers won’t learn anything interesting about the lives of any ALU member after watching “Union.” The documentary is about a “movement” but seems to forget that viewers should know more about the crucial people who made this movement possible.

Level Ground Productions released “Union” in select U.S. cinemas on October 18, 2024. “Union” is available for paid streaming on the movie’s official website and on Gathr.

Review: ‘Babygirl’ (2024), starring Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Sophie Wilde and Antonio Banderas

December 24, 2024

by Carla Hay

Harris Dickinson and Nicole Kidman in “Babygirl” (Photo by Niko Tavernise/A24)

“Babygirl” (2024)

Directed by Halina Reijn

Culture Representation: Taking place mostly in New York City, the dramatic film “Babygirl” features a predominantly white cast of characters (with a few black people) representing the working-class, middle-class and wealthy.

Culture Clash: A high-powered CEO, who’s married with kids, puts her marriage and career at risk when she enters into a secretive dominant/submissive sexual relationship with a younger man, who’s an intern at her company

Culture Audience: “Babygirl” will appeal primarily to people who are fans of the movie’s headliners and are interested in dramas about people with sexual dilemmas.

Antonio Banderas and Nicole Kidman in “Babygirl” (Photo courtesy of A24)

The lifestyle of bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism (BDSM) has always been controversial when it comes to being a choice for sexual fulfillment because the definition of “consent” is often confused or misunderstood in these contexts. The ending of “Babygirl” will largely determine how much a viewer will like this erotic drama. Nicole Kidman gives a memorable and raw performance as a married mother coming to terms with her BDSM desires that are ignited by her affair with a younger man.

Written and directed by Halina Reijn, “Babygirl” had its world premiere at the 2024 Venice International Film Festival, where Kidman won the award for Best Actress. “Babygirl” had its North American premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. Reijn is also one of the producers of the movie.

In “Babygirl” (which takes place mostly in New York City, where the movie was filmed on location), Kidman portrays Romy Mathis, the CEO of an unnamed company that is making a product called Harvest, which is the company “emotional intelligence” answer to artificial intelligence. It’s somewhat of an irony, since much of “Babygirl” is about Romy masking her real emotions with artificial emotions, in order to play the part of a high-powered business executive who has her whole life in order.

Romy is married to a kind of loving husband named Jacob (played by Antonio Banderas), who is a successful director of stage plays. Jacob, just like Romy, has a tendency to be absorbed by his work. But it doesn’t get in the way of the passion he still has for Romy.

The movie’s opening scene shows Romy and Jacob having sex, but viewers soon see that Romy isn’t really sexually fulfilled by Jacob. She wants to BDSM role play during sex, where she plays the submissive role. However, she’s afraid to tell Jacob about this desire. Later, it’s revealed that Romy has never had an orgasm when she’s had sex with Jacob.

At work, Romy is a well-respected and productive leader. The company’s business is doing well financially. At home, things aren’t running so smoothly for Romy. And it’s not because she’s unfulfilled by her sex life with Jacob.

Romy and Jacob have two teenage daughters. Older daughter Isabel (played by Esther McGregor), who’s about 15 or 16, is rebellious and disrespectful to Romy, while younger daughter Nora (played by Vaughan Reilly), who’s about 13 or 14, is obedient and respectful. Isabel rudely insults Romy for a variety of things, including Romy’s physical appearance, by taunting Romy for looking “old.”

Romy is hurt by these types of insults because Romy is self-conscious about looking as young as possible. A scene in the movie shows her getting Botox treatments on her face. The movie implies that Romy is also hurt by Isabel’s disrespectful treatment because Romy and Isabel used to be close, but their relationship has changed. It’s left up to interpretation if it’s just teenage rebellion or something else.

One day, Romy is walking on a street when she sees a German Shepherd running loose after getting away from its owner. She also sees that a young man in his mid-to-late 20s is able to calm down the female dog before handing the dog back to the owner. After this stranger gives the cookie to the dog, he says, “Good girl.” It’s a sentence that Romy will hear again from this same man in a dominant/submissive flirtation.

Later that day, a group of about 10 to 15 new interns are given a tour of the company’s headquarters. Romy’s intelligent assistant Esme Smith (played by Sophie Wilde) is giving the tour and has the interns briefly stop by Romy’s office. After a brief introduction, one of the interns asks a business question that makes Romy slightly uncomfortable because she doesn’t want to answer the question in that moment. Seeing Romy’s discomfort, Esme quickly ushers the interns out of the office.

Romy notices that this inquisitive intern is the same man whom she saw placate the German Shepherd earlier that day. It isn’t long before she finds out his name: Samuel (played by Harris Dickinson), who immediately tests Romy’s boundaries on sexual flirtation. Samuel is skilled at sizing people up psychologically, so he is quickly able to detect Romy’s vulnerabilities.

Shortly after meeting Romy, Samuel notices a Botox bruise on her forehead that Romy has tried to hide underneath her hair. Samuel comments to Romy about the bruise: “It looks good on you.” Romy looks startled but pleased by this unexpected compliment. However, she then covers up the bruise with makeup. Later, Romy asks Samuel how he was able to calm down the German Shepherd that was running loose on the street. Samuel tells Romy that he gave a cookie to the dog, and he flirtatiously asks Romy if she wants a cookie too.

Samuel also tells Romy that she was signed up to his personal mentor during this internship. It’s an excuse for Romy and Samuel to have private meetings inside and outside the office. At first, Romy doesn’t believe that she was signed up to be Samuel’s mentor without her knowledge. But when she asks Esme about it, Esme says the internship program will make Romy look more accessible.

And so, Romy agrees to have a 10-minute meeting with Samuel, who continues to test her boundaries. There is an unspoken attraction between Romy and Samuel that heats up the more that they see each other. Samuel’s seduction of Romy starts off gradually but then it ramps up fairly quickly when he figures out that she wants to be a submissive to a dominant sexual partner.

A pivotal scene to this revelation is when Samuel sees Romy with some colleagues at a restaurant/bar during a work get-together. Samuel orders a glass of milk for Romy, and she drinks it all. As seen in the movie’s trailer, after Romy drinks the milk, he whispers to her, “Good girl.”

“Babygirl” has the expected erotic scenes showing domination and submission, with obvious parallels in how Samuel was able to control the German Shepherd to how he is able to control Romy in this BDSM relationship. And if these parallels aren’t obvious enough, there’s a non-sexual scene with Samuel and the dog in a hotel room that mirrors a scenario that Samuel had with Romy. For example, Samuel makes Romy eat food from his hand, just like someone might do to a dog.

However, there are other layers to Romy’s life that show who she is outside of her sexual desires. Esme sees Romy as a mentor and wants a promotion, but things get complicated when Romy notices that Samueland Esme have a flirtatious attraction to each other. Although Samuel and Romy by no means have an agreement to be “exclusive” with each other, Romy can’t help but feel jealous and insecure that she could have competition with a younger woman who is also her subordinate.

Isabel is openly lesbian or queer, and her sexuality is not a problem or issue with her parents. Isabel has a girlfriend named Mary (played by Gabrielle Policano), who is known and accepted by Isabel’s immediate family. However, when Romy, Jacob and their kids are spending time at their second home in suburban New York City, Romy notices Isabel kissing a 17-year-old neighborhood girl named Ophelia (played by Tess McMillan) in the home’s backyard swimming pool.

When Romy asks Isabel about it later, Isabel responds by saying: “I’m in love with Mary. I’m just having fun with Ophelia.” It’s the first sign that Isabel and Romy are more alike than they think they are. Later, Isabel is the first person in Romy’s family to notice that something is “off” with Romy when Romy’s affair with Samuel gets more intense. Fans of 1980s pop music will appreciate hearing INXS’s “Never Tear Us Apart” and George Michael’s “Father Figure” in two of the movie’s memorable seduction scenes.

As the secret affair between Romy and Samuel heats up, they both start to take more risks. Romy meets Samuel for a steamy tryst at a nightclub, even though there’s a chance that anyone they know could see Romy and Samuel together in this public place. In another scene in the movie, Samuel shows up at Romy’s house unannounced and uninvited to return her laptop computer, but it’s really a way for him to test Romy’s reaction. The main suspense in “Babygirl” is in seeing if anyone will find out about Romy’s secret affair. And if so, what will happen?

One of the flaws of “Babygirl” is that the movie doesn’t give too many details about Romy’s background to explain why she is the person she is. In a conversation with Esme, Romy mentions that she was named Romy by a guru because Romy grew up in a commune. Esme jokes that she thought Romy was raised by robots. Romy mentions in a separate conversation with Samuel that she graduated summa cum laude from Yale University. Samuel replies that he thinks she likes being told what to do.

Before Romy began her affair with Samuel, a scene shows her trying to persuade Jacob to be “dominant” with her during sex, by asking him to have sex with her while he covers her face with a pillow. He awkwardly grants her request but he stops because he says he can’t do it because it makes him feel like a villain. Romy is disappointed but she doesn’t fully explain to a confused Jacob why she made this request.

Sex workers who are paid to dominate people sexually often say that their clients are usually powerful leaders who are secret submissives because the clients feel like it’s freeing to be in sexual situations that are the opposite of the responsibilities and burdens that they have in their work life. It would be easy to assume that Romy might have developed her BDSM desires after she became a CEO, but there’s a scene in the movie where Romy confesses that she’s had these dominant/submissive thoughts going back to her childhood.

Even less background information is revealed about Samuel, although his pursuit of Esme at the same time he pursues Romy is certainly an indication that he’s a serial seducer. As such, Dickinson’s performance as Samuel is effective but intentionally mysterious about who Samuel really is. All of the cast members give believable performances, but none of the performances can come close to the myriad of emotions that Kidman portrays in Romy’s complicated feelings of shame, liberation, arousal and denial.

“Babygirl” doesn’t pass judgment on people who make BDSM choices in their sex lives. Instead, the movie tells one woman’s personal journey in exploring her previously repressed BDSM fantasies. The sex is a manifestation of other issues that are left open to interpretation but can be ascertained as Romy’s desperation to express a part of herself that she can’t share with most people. The movie keeps viewers guessing until the very end if Romy’s choices will ruin her marriage, but the true intention of “Babygirl” is showing how Romy can save herself from self-deception.

A24 will release “Babygirl” in U.S. cinemas on December 25, 2024. The movie will be released on digital and VOD on January 28, 2025.

Review: ‘Day of the Fight’ (2024), starring Michael C. Pitt, Nicolette Robinson, John Magaro, Steve Buscemi, Ron Perlman and Joe Pesci

December 3, 2024

by Carla Hay

Michael C. Pitt and Ron Perlman in “Day of the Fight” (Photo by Jeong Park/Falling Forward Films)

“Day of the Fight” (2024)

Directed by Jack Huston

Culture Representation: Taking place in New York City on December 8, 1989, the dramatic film “Day of the Fight” features a predominantly white cast of characters (with a few African Americans) representing the working-class and middle-class.

Culture Clash: A former champion boxer with a troubled past prepares to make a comeback on the day he has a championship fight.

Culture Audience: “Day of the Fight” will appeal primarily to are fans of the movie’s headliners and well-acted movies about people seeking redemption.

Michael C. Pitt and Nicolette Robinson in “Day of the Fight” (Photo by Jeong Park/Falling Forward Films

“Day of the Fight” doesn’t have much of a plot, but this moody and introspective drama has believable performances. This story about a troubled boxer is more about the fight with his inner demons than any boxing inside the ring. And the entire story takes place during a 24-hour period. In other words, viewers should not expect “Day of the Fight” to be like “Rocky” and “Raging Bull,” which show several boxing matches leading up to a crucial championship fight.

“Day of the Fight,” written and directed by Jack Huston, is his feature-film directorial debut after years of being known mostly as an actor. Jack Huston (who is a grandson of legendary filmmaker John Huston) does not appear on camera in “Day of the Fight” which had its world premiere at the 2023 Venice International Film Festival. The movie has a lot of great talent, but the story might not be action-oriented enough for some viewers expecting to see a lot of boxing matches.

“Day of the Fight” might get a few comparisons to “Raging Bull” (the Oscar-winning 1980 film directed by Martin Scorsese) because—just like “Raging Bull”—it’s a movie filmed in black and white, and it’s about an emotionally damaged middleweight boxer who wants to make a comeback. Scorsese has publicly praised “Day of the Fight,” which is a solid directorial debut from Jack Huston, but it won’t be considered a classic like “Raging Bull,” a movie about real-life boxer Jake LaMotta.

“Day of the Fight” takes place in New York City on December 8, 1989. (The movie was actually filmed in New Jersey.) In “Day of the Fight,” Michael “Mikey” Flannigan (played by Michael C. Pitt) is a boxer who is at tail end of his career because he’s in his 40s. Mikey was a champion middleweight boxer in his 20s, but his career was curtailed because of a scandal that sent him to prison for a number of years. The movie slowly reveals what this scandal was in several flashbacks.

By the time this story takes place, Mikey (a bachelor who lives alone) has been out of prison for a certain period of time that has been long enough for him to be on the comeback trail. On the day portrayed in the move, Mikey will have a televised championship boxing match at Madison Square Garden. Mikey, who is recovering from alcoholism, has a day job as a construction worker and has fallen on hard times. An early scene in the movie shows him selling a ring that used to be owned by his dead mother. The ring is worth about $10,000, but Mikey sells it for $7,000.

Mikey had a very traumatic childhood and has complicated feelings about it. Mikey is still haunted by how his mother died when he was about 11 or 12 years old. Flashbacks show Mikey’s unnamed mother (played by Shannan Click) and Mikey (played by Cypress Huston) when he was about this age. Mikey’s unnamed father (played by Joe Pesci), a former singer, was very abusive to Mikey in Mikey’s childhood. But now, Mikey’s father has dementia. Pesci has a small but very effective role in the movie.

Most of “Day of the Fight” shows Mikey doing a little bit of training, but the movie is primarily about how Mikey visits certain people and tries to repair his relationships with them or get their advice on how to make his life better. The people he interacts with the most during the course of the story are people he’s known for several years.

Mikey’s confidants include his no-nonsense trainer Stevie (played by Ron Perlman), who has known Mikey for 25 years and who owns Stevie’s Gym, the name of the place where Mikey trains; Mikey’s friendly uncle Colm (played by Steve Buscemi), who is a manager at Stevie’s Gym; and Father Patrick Donnelly (played by John Magaro), a Catholic priest who has known Mikey since they were childhood students together. All of them know about Mikey’s troubles and have forgiven him for his mistakes and misconduct.

But there are two people whose forgiveness Mikey wants the most: his ex-girlfriend Jessica (played by Nicolette Robinson) and their daughter Sasha (played by Kat Elizabeth Williams), who is now 13 years old. Jessica and Sasha have been estranged from Mikey for years because Jessica ended her relationship with Mikey shortly after he went to prison. Mikey spent most of Sasha’s childhood in prison. The scenes with Pitt and Robinson are performed with a raw intensity that is very realistic of an estranged ex-couple who are parents of the same child.

Jessica is a part-time nightclub singer, so the movie has a scene of Robinson doing a lovely and poignant version of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Have You Ever Seen the Rain.” The end credits also feature an original song called “Mikey’s Song” performed by Robinson and featuring Pesci, who’s been a singer/recording artist in real life. There’s a scene in “Day of the Fight” where Mikey plays an album that was recorded by Mikey’s father, as a way to help Mikey’s father remember his past. The singer heard in this scene is Pesci. (Fun fact: Pesci co-starred in “Raging Bull” as Joey LaMotta, the younger brother/manager of Jake LaMotta.)

“Day of the Fight” has a wandering quality to it that doesn’t ring quite true of what a boxer would be doing on the day of a high-profile and intense boxing match that will be televised. Still, a lot of it does make sense once it becomes clear that Mikey is still in love with Jessica and wants a chance to possibly get back together with her. Some of the scenes are artistically filmed in a dream-like way, while other scenes are gritty, as a reflection of whatever Mikey’s mood is in each scene. “Day of the Fight” takes viewers on an emotional journey with Mikey and is worth seeing as a story that shows how a boxer’s psychological state of mind is just as important—if not more important—than a boxer’s physical condition.

Falling Forward Films will release “Day of the Fight” in select U.S. cinemas on December 6, 2024.

Review: ‘Death & Taxes’ (2024), starring Robert Reich, Frank Luntz, Darrick Hamilton, Grover Norquist, Ann Price and James Bandler

November 21, 2024

by Carla Hay

An archval photo of Harvey Schein holding son Justin Schein as a baby in 1968 in “Death & Taxes” (Photo courtesy of Shadowbox Films Inc.)

“Death & Taxes”

Directed by Justin Schein; co-directed by Robert Edwards

Culture Representation: The documentary film “Death & Taxes” features a predominantly white group of people (with a few African Americans and Asians), who are middle-class or wealthy, discussing the pros and cons of United States estate taxes (also known as “death taxes”) which apply only a small percentage of wealthy people.

Culture Clash: People who support estate taxes say that these taxes benefit everyone in democratic societies, while people who are opposed to estate taxes say that these taxes are unfair discrimination against the wealthiest taxpayers in the United States.

Culture Audience: “Death & Taxes” will appeal primarily to people who are interested in learning how estate taxes affect political systems and wealth distribution, for better or for worse.

“Death & Taxes” gives a competent overview of estate taxes, while admirably showing a balance of supporters and opponents of these taxes. This documentary, directed by Justin Schein, includes his family history as a very personal perspective. As of 2024, federal estate taxes are mandated for a deceased person’s assets that are worth at least $13.61 million at the time of death. At times, “Death & Taxes” seems more like a family biography than a documentary about estate taxes. However, “Death & Taxes (which was co-directed by Robert Edwards) makes the subject matter more relatable to viewers because Justin Schein shares intimate details about how his domineering businessman father Harvey Schein (who was vehemently opposed to estate taxes) affected his family’s perspectives on taxes and economic inequalities

In the United States, federal estate taxes apply to a deceased person’s assets of at least $13.61 million per person or $27.22 million per married couple. This minimum amount has steadily increased over the years—a trend that suggests that less millionaires are required to pay these estate taxes. This trend has gotten praise (mostly from political conservatives) and criticism (mostly from political liberals). Justin Schein makes his viewpoints known early on in the movie when he says that he’s politically liberal on this issue. He thinks estate taxes help lessen financial inequalities between the very rich and the very poor because the taxes go toward resources that can benefit those who need the resources the most.

“Death & Taxes” (which had its world premiere at the 2024 edition of DOC NYC) begins with archival footage filmed in 2003 of Harvey Schein at the family’s country home in Connecticut. In the footage, Harvey talks about how he doesn’t want his assets to be taxed after he dies. “I don’t want to give half of our estate to the federal government,” Harvey says emphatically. (Harvey Schein died in 2008, at the age of 80.)

Justin Schein, who is the voiceover narrator for the documentary, comments wryly in the voiceover: “Welcome to a Schein family meeting. That’s my dad holding forth on his favorite subject: keeping his hard-earned money from the tax man when he dies. It’s not a bad problem to have—as long as you don’t let it drive you crazy. But, unfortunately, it did.”

Justin describes his relationship with his father as “complicated.” They often argued about money and politics. Justin elaborates in a voiceover commentary: “He was the classic self-made man who embodied the American Dream, if there really is such a thing—and I inherited it. And ever since I was a kid, I’ve been trying to figure out what that literal good fortune means for me, my family and my country—especially in this moment when inequality in America has grown dramatically.”

“Death & Taxes” interweaves anecdotes and facts about Harvey’s life with interview commentaries from experts in economics and politics. Born in New York City in 1927, Harvey was raised in a working-class home, where his father Morris was a textile worker. Growing up during the Great Depression made a tremendous impact on Harvey because he developed a lifelong obsession with saving as much money as possible. According to Justin (who was born in 1968), his father Harvey would constantly lecture his children Justin and Mark (born in 1966) about how not to waste money and how to be “frugal.”

Harvey graduated from New York University and served in the Naval Reserve toward the end of World War II. Through a G.I. bill (which the documentary points out was a privilege only open to white men at the time), Harvey received a scholarship to attend and graduate from Harvard University Law School. After law school, Harvey became a hard-driving executive at CBS Records and later at Sony, where he is credited with being a master marketer for the Betamax video machine. Harvey became a multimillionaire because of all of his success in business, even though he made enemies because of his ruthless and unkind way of treating employees and other colleagues.

Several people in the documentary, including Harvey’s ex-wife Joy Schein (the mother of Justin and Mark), describe him in the same the way that she describes him: “charming, funny, difficult and demanding.” Joy, who also grew up in New York City, met Harvey at a party, and she says she was instantly attracted to him because of his confident charisma. Clive Davis, former president of CBS Records, comments on Harvey: “He had one Achilles heel: He had a tendency to be argumentative.” Yvonne Johnson, a former administrative assistant of Harvey’s, has this to say about him: “Everybody knows … he had a brilliant mind but a very difficult personality.”

Justin says that as a child, he thought his father was like a superhero. But Justin—like many other people in Harvey’s life—both admired and feared Harvey. As an adult, Justin says he developed very different opinions from his father about socioeconomic inequalities and wealthy people’s responsibilities in helping underprivileged people. Conflicts over Harvey’s personality and financial obsessions eventually took a toll on his marriage to Joy and led to their divorce.

“Death & Taxes” has a fairly even amount of screen time given to supporters and opponents of estate taxes. Robert Reich—who was U.S. Secretary of Labor from 1993 to 1997, during the administration of President Bill Clinton—believes that estate taxes are essential. Reich comments in the documentary: “If more and more wealth can be generated and provided to heirs without paying any taxes, then we are on the way to a permanent aristocracy in America.”

By contrast, Republican pollster/strategist Frank Luntz believes that estate taxes are a form of tax discrimination. He thinks estate taxes should be abolished and doesn’t believe that the wealthiest U.S. taxpayers should get these additional taxes imposed on them. Luntz is a firm believer in the “trickle-down economics” policies (made famous by President Ronald Reagan) which touts that wealth is better distributed through charities and consumer spending, rather than higher taxes for the wealthy.

Other people interviewed in “Death & Taxes” include Princeton University sociologist Matthew Desmond, Roosevelt Institute president/CEO Felicia Wong, New School economist Darrick Hamilton, Americans for Tax Reform founder Grover Norquist, Institute for Policy Studies senior scholar Chuck Collins, economist Ann Price, Institute on Tax and Economic Policy Amy Hanauer, New York Times columnist/economist Paul Krugman, ProPublica reporter James Bandler, Justin Schein’s cousin Beverly Edreich, Justin Schein’s brother Mark Schein, New York University finance professor Jimmy Berman, and “Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World” author/journalist Anand Giridharadas.

“Death & Taxes” director Schein also gets his wife Eden Wurmfeld to comment. She says it’s “tricky” to to do the documentary without “making it look like some poor little rich white boy story with the tiniest violin.” Wurmfeld isn’t wrong because “Death & Taxes” does come across as a “rich guilt” documentary from a filmmaker with earnest intentions in better understanding how his wealth and privilege can help those in society who aren’t wealthy or privileged. Whether or not estate taxes are a correct way to try to distribute wealth will remain an ongoing debate that “Death & Taxes” doesn’t try to resolve but instead takes a very humanistic and personal approach that makes these issues easier for the average viewer to understand.

Review: ‘White Bird’ (2024), starring Ariella Glaser, Orlando Schwerdt, Bryce Gheisar, Gillian Anderson and Helen Mirren

October 28, 2024

by Carla Hay

Orlando Schwerdt and Ariella Glaser in “White Bird” (Photo by Larry Horricks/Lionsgate)

“White Bird” (2024)

Directed by Marc Forster

Some language in French and German with subtitles

Culture Representation: Taking place in 1940s France and in 2020s New York City, the dramatic film “White Bird” (based on the graphic novel of the same name) features a predominantly white cast of characters (with a few Asians) representing the working-class and middle-class.

Culture Clash: A French Jewish grandmother tells her 15-year-old American grandson the story of when she was hidden from Nazis by a compassionate gentile family during World War II in France.

Culture Audience: “White Bird” will appeal mainly to people who are fans of the novel on which the movie is based, the movie’s headliners, and stories of about the Holocaust.

Helen Mirren and Bryce Gheisar in “White Bird” (Photo by Larry Horricks/Lionsgate)

“White Bird” might get some comparisons to “The Diary of Anne Frank,” but “White Bird” is a fictional story that won’t be considered a classic. This dramatic film has good performances from the principal cast, despite the movie’s treacly tone and drab dialogue. Overall, the message of “White Bird”—showing kindness and bravery when society becomes consumed by hate—transcends any noticeable flaws in the movie.

Directed by Marc Forster and written by Mark Bomback, “White Bird” is based on R.J. Palacio’s 2019 graphic novel of the same name. The “White Bird” novel was also turned into a regular novel that was published in 2023, the year that the “White Bird” movie was originally going to be released. After several delays, the “White Bird” movie was released in 2024.

The “White Bird” movie has two different timelines: The first timeline is in 2020s New York City. The second timeline is in 1940s France and is depicted in flashback scenes told through the memory of one of the story’s main characters. (“White Bird” was actually filmed in Prague, Czech Republic.)

In 2020s New York City, 15-year-old Julian Albans (played by Bryce Gheisar) is a new student at an elite prep school called Yates Academy. He is introverted and a little socially awkward. On his first day at Yates Academy, Julian is invited by a fellow student named Rahmiya (played by Priya Ghotane) to join the school’s social justice club. Rahmiya also invites Julian to sit with her at the same table for lunch. Julian politely declines to join the social justice club because he doesn’t seem to want to get involved in any political issues.

A stuck-up student named Dillon (played by Teagan Booth) introduces himself to Julian while Julian is sitting with Rahmiya. Dillon says Julian’s mother plays tennis wth Dillon’s mother, who told Dillon to protectively “look out for” Julian and befriend him. Dillon rudely tells Julian: “This is the loser table.” Dillon then says that Julian should have lunch with Dillon and his friends on the following day.

At Julian’s home, a family member makes a surprise visit: Julian’s French grandmother Sara Blum (played by Helen Mirren), who has arrived from Paris. Julian and Sara have not seen each other for years. Sara offers Julian a glass of wine, but he declines and reminds her that he’s too young to legally drink alcohol.

Julian tells Sara about how he’s a new student at Yates Academy because he was expelled from a previous school for being cruel to another boy. (This is in reference to Julian being a character in the 2017 movie “Wonder,” which is also based on a Palacio novel.) Julian says he has learned to be “normal,” which Julian defines as not being cruel or nice but just “minding your own business.” Sara looks slightly appalled that this is Julian’s definition of being “normal,” so she says she is going to tell him what happened to her when she was a child in France during the Nazi occupation of the 1940s.

Most of the movie consists of Sara’s childhood story told as flashbacks, beginning when Sara (played by Laura Hudeckova) was 5 and 8 years old. Sara describes her childhood before the Nazi occupation as happy and idyllic. She was an only child in a loving, middle-class household in the village of Aubervilliers-Aux-Bois.

Her happily married parents were surgeon Max Blum (played by Ishai Golan) and math teacher Rose Blum (played by Olivia Ross), who would take her on picnic trips. These picnics are Sara’s most treasured memories of Sara’s childhood, she tells Julian. Sara comments, “I was a bit spoiled, but I didn’t see it that way.”

But trouble began brewing for Jewish people in their community when the Nazis occupied France in 1940. The Nazi persecution of Jewish people began gradually. First, Jewish people began to lose their jobs and financial freedoms. (Nazis seized bank accounts of Jewish people.)

Then, Jewish people (who were often identified by neighbors who were paid to identify Jews) were rounded up by Nazis and usually separated from family members. Jewish people were then sent to be imprisoned, starved, tortured, and usually murdered in what the world now knows were death camps during this Holocaust. The Holocaust became a central cause during World War II.

At the beginnng of the Nazi occupation in France, teenage Sara (played by Ariella Glaser) is a student at a co-ed high school named École Lafayette, where most of the students are not Jewish. Her two best friends are “popular girls” in the school: Mariann (played by Selma Kaymakci) and Sophie (played by Mia Kadlecova), who are really “mean girls.” This clique and other students at the school sometimes bully a disabled student named Julien Beaumier (played by Orlando Schwerdt), who uses a cane to walk.

Other student bullies at the school are cruel Vincent (played by Jem Matthews) and his two sidekicks Jerome (played by Jordan Cramond) and Henri (played Yelisey Kazakevich). These bullies have given Julien the insulting nickname Tourteau (which means “crab” in French) because they think he walks like a crab sea creature. Sara doesn’t participate in the bullying of Julien, but she doesn’t do anything to stop it either. She can also sense that Julien has a crush on her.

Sara has a talent for drawing. And one day in a classroom, one of her teachers notices an illustration that Sara has made of a white bird. The teacher advises Sara: “A gift is a treasure. Never stop drawing, Sara.”

Sara first begins to suspect that something wrong is happening in the community when her mother Rose announces during dinner one evening that she was abruptly fired from her job for no credible reason. Sara’s father Max has been hearing stories about Jewish people in France being rounded up by Nazis and disappearing. Max thinks Rose was fired because she’s Jewish. He’s alarmed enough to suggest that the family flee as soon as possible to a nation that isn’t occupied by Nazis.

Rose is adamantly against the idea. She thinks what is happening with the Nazi occupation will eventually subside and go away. Rose says she doesn’t want to uproot her life to move to another country. And she doesn’t want to frighten Sara, so Rose scolds Max for even talking about their lives possibly being in danger in front of Sara.

Sara soon finds out that her father was correct about his fears. At school, she notices that she is beng treated differently for being Jewish. This bigotry then escalates until one day, Nazi soldiers show up at the school and take away all students, faculty and staff who are Jewish. Through a series of harrowing circumstances and actions, Sara manages to escape in the Mernuit forest nearby. The Nazi soldiers can’t find her, so they leave. It should come as no surprise that school bully Vincent becomes a Hitler youth informant for the Nazis.

The trailer for “White Bird” already reveals the essence of the story. Julien (who is an only child) comes to Sara’s rescue and brings her to his home to hide. Julien’s parents Jean Paul Beaumier (played by Jo Stone-Fewings) and Vivienne Beaumier (played by Gillian Anderson) show her kindness and compassion by deciding to hide Sara in a barn near the family house, which is somewhat isolated in the rural town of Dannevilliers. Jean Paul is a sewer worker, which is why Julien is familiar with the sewage tunnels in the area.

Sara learns through the Beaumier family that her parents were taken by the Nazis. Jean Paul and Vivien promise Sara that they will do everything they can to find out what happened to Sara’s parents and reunite Sara with her parents. During the time that Sara is hidden in the Beaumier family barn, she and Julien become closer. And their friendship turns into a chaste and tentative romance.

In an attic window, Sara can see a white bird that appears in a tree directly across from the window. This white bird becomes a symbol of hope and freedom for Sara, who does not know how long she will be sequestered and hidden and if she will ever see her parents again. Jean Paul and Vivien also put their lives at risk when the Beaumier family’s upstairs neighbors Monsieur Lafleur (played by Miroslav Taborsky) and Madame Lafleur (played by Zuzana Hodkova) begin to suspect the Beaumier family of hiding a Jewish person.

“White Bird” has some suspenseful moments but offers no real surprises. Perhaps the weakest part of the movie involves a risky trek through the snow-filled forest and an encounter with a wolf. The wolf looks very fake, with substandard visual effects. This phony-looking scene lowers the quality of the movie.

However, the acting in most of the movie is earnest, even if it at times it seems like the cast is trying too hard in their acting instead of performing more naturally. Mirren has played the role of a wise grandmother in so many other movies, what she does in “White Bird” is competent and effective but not anything extraordinary. The other principal cast members also give capable performances, with Glaser and Schwerdt performing in their roles quite nicely as teenagers who grow close and find love under these horrible circumstances.

“White Bird” could have used more authenticity in depicting French people. Most of the principal cast members are obviously not French and don’t have convincing French accents. It’s a noticeble discrepancy that doesn’t ruin the film but it’s an example of how “White Bird” lacks certain attention to realistic details that prevent it from being a completely well-made film. However, most viewers of “White Bird” will find something to appreciate about it so that it shouldn’t be considered a waste of time to watch this somewhat formulaic movie.

Lionsgate released “White Bird” in U.S. cinemas on October 4, 2024.

Review: “Smile 2,’ starring Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kyle Gallner, Lukas Gage, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Dylan Gelula and Ray Nicholson

October 16, 2024

by Carla Hay

Naomi Scott in “Smile 2” (Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures)

“Smile 2”

Directed by Parker Finn

Culture Representation: Taking place in mostly in the New York City area, the horror film “Smile 2” (a sequel to 2022’s “Smile”) features a predominantly white cast of characters (with some Latin people, Asian people and African Americans) representing the working-class, middle-class and wealthy.

Culture Clash: Pop music superstar Skye Riley, who is about to start a comeback tour after recovering from a tragic car accident, becomes haunted by a demon that causes her to have nightmarish hallucinations that people are giving her sinister smiles.

Culture Audience: “Smile” will appeal mainly to people who are fans of the first “Smile” movie and stylish horror films that are effective in being creepy and gruesome.

Naomi Scott in “Smile 2” (Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures)

As flashy as it is gory, Smile 2 is a rare sequel that’s better than the original movie. Naomi Scott gives an impressive performance as a pop diva haunted by a sinister demon spirit. This movie improves from 2022’s “Smile” in almost every way, although it would help if viewers say the first “Smile” movie to understand many of the scenes in “Smile 2,” especially the opening scene.

Parker Finn wrote and directed “Smile” and “Smile 2.” Instead of copying its predecessor, “Smile 2” goes further in character development, production design, visual effects, cinematography and the movie’s overall story. The “Smile” movies are about a demon spirit that gets passed on to a different person after that person goes insane within a week (including hallucinating that people have sinister smiles), and the possessed person commits suicide while smiling, which is the demon’s intention. The demon then possesses the person who was the last one to see the dead person alive in the same room, even if the possessed person dies from something other than suicide.

The first “Smile” movie (which takes place in New Jersey) was mainly about solving the mystery behind these mysterious deaths. A police detective named Joel (played by Kyle Gallner) was investigating. Mild spoiler alert: By the end of “Smile,” Joel became possessed by the demon. This is necessary information to understand the full context of the opening scene of “Smile 2.”

“Smile 2” (which takes mostly in the New York City area) begins six days after the events at the end of the first “Smile” movie. Joel is desperate to find someone who will become posssessed by the demon because Joel knows that he will die soon. He has chosen a ruthless drug dealer/murderer named Yev (played by Roberts Jekabsons), who lives and works with his brother Alexi (played by Zebedee Row). Wearing a hooded mask and armed with a gun, Joel goes to the criminals’ house and does a home invasion that goes horribly wrong.

There’s a shootout that leaves both brothers dead (the demon can only possess people who are alive) in the living room area. Joel is wounded in one of his shoulders. Just as he is about to leave, a drug dealer who buys from Alexi and Yev suddenly appears and startles Joel. The other drug dealer is named Lewis Fregoli (played by Lukas Gage), who understandably gets freaked out by this crime scene that he sees in this room.

Some colleagues of Yev and Alexi also show up shortly afterward. These cohorts see Joel and the bloodbath inside the house, but Joel is in another room. Another shootout ensues, but Joel escapes into the street outside, only to be hit by a car. Lewis was the last person to see Joel alive in the same room. And you know what that means.

“Smile 2” then introduces viewers to the movie’s main character: a pop music superstar named Skye Riley (played by Naomi Scott), who is on the verge of starting a comeback tour. Skye has an image and style that is very similar to Lady Gaga. During a talk show interview on “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Barrymore portrays herself in this cameo role in “Smile 2”), it’s mentioned that this is the first interview that Skye has done since she was in a car accident the previous year. The car crash killed her actor boyfriend Paul Hudson (played by Ray Nicholson), who was driving the car. Skye was the only passenger.

A toxicology report determined that Paul and Skye both had intoxication levels of cocaine and alcohol in their systems at the time of the accident. Skye’s interview on “The Drew Barrymore Show” is a way to redeem herself, promote her upcoming comeback tour, and introduce her new hairstyle. At the time the accident happened, Skye had long black hair. Now, she has a short blonde hairstyle. In some scenes in the movie, it’s shown that Skye has a nervous tic of pulling out strands of her hair when she’s feeling stress or anxiety.

In “The Drew Barrymore Show” interview, Skye admits that she was abusing drugs and alcohol during the period of time when the car accident happened. Skye says that she’s been to rehab and is now clean and sober. She also makes public apologies to her fans, her family and her business team. Skye noticeably leaves out any apologies to Paul’s loved ones. (Paul is prominently featured in marketing materials for “Smile 2,” but he’s not in the movie as much as those marketing materials suggest. Ray Nicholson, a son of Jack Nicholson, will remind some people of Jack Nicholson’s performance in the 1980 horror film “The Shining” in how Ray Nicholson does Paul’s creepy smile.)

The car accident left Skye with long scars on her front torso and on her back. She is very self-conscious about these scars and is still suffering from back pain. Due to her history of substance addiction, Skye cannot get a drug prescription for the pain. And so, out of desperation, Skye secretly goes to the home of her former drug dealer Lewis (who is also her former classmate from high school) to illegally buy Vicodin, after she gets a message from Lewis on her phone.

When Skye arrives at Lewis’ place, she sees him very strung-out on cocaine and babbling about how he’s seeing strange visions. Lewis also tells Skye that whatever is haunting him is in the same room with them. The trailer for “Smile 2” already reveals that Lewis commits suicide in front of Skye by bashing his own head in with a cylinder block from a weightlift. And because Skye was the last person to see Lewis alive in the same room, you know what that means.

The rest of “Smile 2” shows what happens as Skye begins to mentally unravel. With the wrong screenplay, sloppy direction or an untalented cast, “Smile 2” could have been very tedious and badly performed. However, this movie maintains its suspense throughout with good acting and has some truly impactful and memorable scenes that might be too unsettling for sensitive viewers. Some of Skye’s nightmares include flashback memories to what happened in the moments right before the car crash that killed Paul.

In addition to Scott’s standout performance, “Smile 2” has solid performances from supporting characters who are close to Skye. They include her caring and ambitious mother/manager Elizabeth Riley (played by Rosemarie DeWitt); Skye’s sardonic best friend Gemma (played by Dylan Gelula), who reconciles with Skye after they were estranged; Skye’s loyal personal assistant Joshua (played by Miles Gutierrez-Riley); and a record company executive named Darius Bravo (played by Raúl Castillo), who works with Skye and greatly admires her.

The scenes depicting the music industry and concert performances are very realistic. Scott (as Skye) performs some original songs in “Smile 2,” including “New Brain,” “Grieved You,” “Just My Name” and “Blood on White Satin.” At a meet-and-greet backstage with fans, Skye has an encounter with a creep named Alfredo (played by Ivan Carlo), who has to be escorted out by security when he gets too aggressive with Skye. It won’t be the last time that Skye sees Alfredo.

Later in the movie, Skye meets a stranger named Morris (played by Peter Jacobson), who says he’s an emergency room nurse with an idea to help her. This is the most awkward part of the movie because Skye meets Morris at a diner after he randomly texted her messages indicating that he knows her secret. Morris says his brother died of the same curse that he knows that Skye has. He suggests a radical solution to get rid of the demon.

“Smile 2” has enough to satisfy fans of the first “Smile” and win over fans who are new to the “Smile” franchise. There are a few parts of the movie that become repetitive in hammering home the point that Skye is having these terrible hallucinations. What’s realistic is that Skye is not a completely sympathetic character and is prone to having diva tantrums. Even though the odds are stacked against Skye for her to survive the curse, “Smile 2” does a skillful job of keeping viewers guessing about what will happen until the visually stunning last 15 minutes of the movie.

Paramount Pictures will release “Smile 2” in U.S. cinemas on October 18, 2024.

2024 DOC NYC: What to expect at this year’s event

October 15, 2024

by Carla Hay

Celebrating its 15th edition in 2024, the annual DOC NYC, which is headquartered in New York City, is one of the world’s leading documentary festivals, with a slate of more than 200 films (of which more than 100 are feature-length films) from a diverse array of topics. In 2024, DOC NYC takes place from November 13 to December 1, and continues the festival’s tradition of offering an outstanding variety of feature films and short films, with several of the movies focusing on under-represented people and marginalized communities. In-person screenings will take place at IFC Center, SVA Theatre and Village East by Angelika from November 13 to November 21. All of the festival’s movies will be available to view online to the general public from November 13 to December 1. Tickets are available on the official DOC NYC website.

For the fifth year in a row, DOC NYC is having competitions for U.S. documentaries, international documentaries and short films, among other categories. All competitive awards are voted for by appointed juries, except for the Audience Award.

“Black Box Diaries” (Photo courtesy of MTV Documentary Films)

DOC NYC’s annual Short List spotlights movies (features and shorts) that are considered top contenders to get Oscar nominations. This year, the Short List for features are “The Bibi Files,” “Black Box Diaries,” “Dahomey,” “Daughters,” “Ernest Cole: Lost and Found” “Frida,” “Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa,” “No Other Land,” “Queendom,” “The Remarkable Life of Ibelin,” “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat,” “Sugarcane,” “Union” and “Will & Harper.” The Short List: Features jury gives awards in the categories of Director, Producer, Editor and Cinematographer. The Short List: Shorts jury gives a Director Award.

For the fifth year in a row, the festival is presenting DOC NYC’s Winner’s Circle collection, which spotlights movies that have won awards at other film festivals, but might be underrated or overlooked for Oscar nominations. Winner’s Circle documentaries this year are “Hollywoodgate,” “A New Kind of Wildnerness,” “Nocturnes,” “The Last of the Sea Women,” “Patrice: The Movie,”

DOC NYC, which was co-founded by Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen, also has special events in addition to screenings. Even though most of the movies at DOC NYC have had their world premieres elsewhere, DOC NYC has several world premieres of its own. A complete program can be found here.

DOC NYC 2024 WORLD PREMIERE FEATURE FILMS

All descriptions are courtesy of DOC NYC.

“After the Rain: Putin’s Stolen Children Come Home”
Directed by Sarah McCarthy

With the help of golden retrievers and palomino horses at an animal therapy retreat, a group of Ukrainian children who had been abducted by the Russian army and rescued by their family members get a chance to heal. Deep in a forest by the Baltic Sea, the families portrayed in this tender and poetic film overcome their traumatic experiences. A timely cinematic reminder of what love and nature can do for the soul in a time of war.

“After the Rain: Putin’s Stolen Children Come Home”

“All God’s Children”
Directed by Ondi Timoner

Concerned about escalating tensions between Jewish and Black Brooklynites, the spiritual leaders of Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope and Antioch Baptist Church in Bed-Stuy embark on a radical experiment to bring the change they hope to see in their communities. The rabbi and the pastor lead delegations to their places of worship to learn from each other, but soon tensions emerge, testing their dreams of unity. Tackling their complex histories head on, these two New York City devotional institutions find communal traction, fighting side by side for justice and compassion. 

“All Gods Children”

“Anxiety Club”
Directed by Wendy Lobel

Emmy-winning producer Wendy Lobel makes her feature debut with this side-splitting, piercingly perceptive look at anxiety through a group of contemporary comedians who channel their experiences into their acts…and their everyday lives. Part therapy, part behind-the-scenes take on stand-up acts, and all-brilliant, Lobel’s revelatory film is a rarity. 

“Anxiety Club”

“Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse”
Directed by Molly Bernstein and Philip Dolin

This insightful documentary delves into the life and work of Art Spiegelman, the Queens-raised artist who revolutionized comics by exploring dark, complex themes. Shaped by his Holocaust-survivor parents and inspired by MAD magazine’s irreverent satire, Spiegelman’s most famous work, MAUS, is a poignant Holocaust narrative that redefined the medium. The film showcases his resistance to fascism, from Nazis to Trump, and features rich illustrations from his comics, highlighting his significant impact as an artist and cultural critic.

“Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse”

“Death & Taxes”
Directed by Justin Schein

A renowned and successful record company CEO, known for his brilliance—and his combativeness, Harvey Schein lived a rags-to-riches story that embodied the American Dream. But over time he also became obsessed with how to pass on his wealth to his heirs while avoiding taxes. Director Justin Schein turns the camera on his father as a case study in America’s long and problematic history of tax benefits for the wealthy. This timely film deftly interweaves complex family dynamics with American economic policy, illustrating how the rich stay rich and what it costs our country to keep them that way.

An archval photo of Harvey Schein and Justin Schein as a baby in 1968 in “Death & Taxes” (Photo courtesy of Shadowbox Films Inc.)

“Facing the Wind”
Directed by Deirdre Fishel

Linda and Carla each care for their beloved spouses who are living with Lewy body dementia. Eager to learn and share information with others, Linda starts a podcast with Curry, who has the disease, and a community of support groups begins to grow. Linda and Jim decide to go on an epic road trip, and Carla quits her job to devote her time to Patrick. As life becomes overwhelming, their online support group is a lifeline. Intimate, raw, and full of life, this moving portrait gracefully explores the stark realities of caregiving.

“Facing the Wind”

“Front Row”
Directed by Miriam Guttmann

Bertolt Brecht asked whether there would be singing in the dark times. In the throes of war, the United Ukrainian Ballet Company defiantly insists there will be dancing, too. Far from the land they call home, young dancers take quiet comfort from art. For a while, their work feels like the old days, except there is a new troupe member: a soldier learning to dance with prosthetic legs.

“Front Row”

“Gallagher”
Directed by Josh Forbes

With his witty wordplay and wacky props, Leo Gallagher became one of the biggest comedy acts of the 1980s. The comedian’s most famous bit: smashing a watermelon with a giant mallet to the messy delight of audiences. His signature act was a gift and a curse, shooting him to superstardom while breeding both dismissive detractors and imitators, including his own brother. As tastes change, the aging Gallagher seeks the respect he deserves as an innovator in the art of stand-up comedy.

“Gallagher” (Photo by Jeremy Portje/Telegraph Herald via AP)

“Harley Flanagan: Wired for Weirdness”
Directed by Rex Miller

From his harsh childhood in the burnt-out Lower East Side, musician Harley Flanagan burst onto the punk music scene at age 11 as drummer for his aunt’s band, the Stimulators. The founder of the Cro-Mags tells his inconceivable story, with interviews with hard rockers and icons like Flea, Ice-T, Henry Rollins, Michael Imperioli, and surprising guests. Featuring gritty footage of NYC’s downtown 1970s and ’80s music scene, this passionate film showcases Harley’s against-the-odds transformation from chaos to peace, driven by music, family, and personal growth.

“Isla Familia”
Directed by Abraham Jimenez Enoa and Claudia Calviño

Co-director and protagonist Abraham Jiménez, one of the most important voices of Cuban independent journalism, is expecting a baby with his wife, producer/co-director Claudia Calviño. As they become more and more exhausted and depressed from the constant harassment of the Cuban government, the young family embarks on a journey off the island and become political exiles in Spain. A heartfelt, intimate look at daily life in Cuba and the measures taken by one family to protect their freedom.

“Isla Familia”

“Janis Ian: Breaking Silence”
Directed by Varda Bar-Kar

Janis Ian had one of the most remarkable debuts in modern music history. At the age of 13, she began performing her original songs at New York City gigs alongside future legends. From there, the precocious teenager turned fearless singer-songwriter built a career with many chapters–winning Grammys while navigating personal and professional highs and lows–in a remarkable trajectory now entering its fifth decade. Ian’s emotionally transporting songbook and turbulent life story make compelling echoes for the generation of American women who came of age in the 1960s and 1970s, discovering and voicing their power. 

“Janis Ian: Breaking Silence”

“Looking for Simone”
Directed by Nathalie Masduraud and Valérie Urréa

In 1949, philosopher and novelist Simone de Beauvoir wrote the groundbreaking The Second Sex, launching a disruptive discourse on women’s oppression and second-class citizenship. This film dissects the origins and relevance of this bible of feminism, charting de Beauvoir’s fact-finding journey across the US to research her book. The timely and fascinating film honors de Beauvoir’s brilliance and limitations, connecting her revolutionary ideas to the pressing issues women face today.

“Man From Pretentia”
Directed by Chih Hsuan Liang

This documentary paints a portrait of Paul Bridgewater, a quirky, charming, gay NYC art dealer who hitchhiked to Manhattan at 18, eventually becoming a beloved figure in the art world. As Paul preps gallery shows and cooks gourmet meals in his tiny East Village apartment, his passion for art shines. While his impeccable eye for discovering artistic talent shaped careers, his disregard for money ultimately would prove ruinous. A warm, nostalgic tribute to an eccentric art lover.

“Man From Pretentia”

“Mothers of Chibok”
Directed by Joel ‘Kachi Benson

A community of mothers in a Nigerian village struggle to persevere while grieving for their daughters, who were kidnapped by Boko Haram. Intertwining the stories of multiple families, the filmmakers show how life continues in the wake of unspeakable horror. At once cinematically gripping and emotionally stirring, this story of endurance shows the ongoing personal ramifications of an event long forgotten by the news media.

“Mothers of Chibok”

“Out of Plain Sight”
Directed by Daniel Straub and Rosanna Xia

What if you lived in a coastal city never knowing that the ocean hid a deadly poison? That’s exactly what LA residents did for decades, until a scientist alerted LA Times journalist Rosanna Xia to a problem ignored by officials for years. They discover that as many as half a million barrels of DDT waste had been dumped into the ocean, and are finally able to connect the dots between sick sea lions, a poisoned ecosystem, and the legacy of health issues in all who’ve been exposed. 

“Out of Plain Sight”

“The People’s Way”
Directed by Ashley Tyner and William Tyner

After the Black Lives Matter movement sees an international tipping point in the summer of 2020, three young Minneapolis community leaders intersect in their local activism to preserve the legacy of George Floyd, fight systemic injustice, and strive for meaningful change. Jeanelle and her team of caretakers work to transform offerings from the recent uprising into artifacts for the Black historical archive; Robin works to replace the police with a new approach to community safety; and Toshira focuses on demanding justice and accountability for lives stolen by policing.  These committed women find they must dig deep to disrupt complacency and reconcile nuanced contradictions within their own communities.

“Plunderer”
Directed by Hugo Macgregor

“It’s not every day that you meet an old Nazi.” So begins American historian Jonathan Petropoulos, recalling the day in 1998 when he met Bruno Lohse, who was Hermann Göring’s art agent in Paris during World War II. In this riveting account, Petropoulos details Lohse’s role in stealing countless masterpieces from prominent French and Dutch families, while evading meaningful punishment, and continuing to deal art profitably for most of the rest of his life. This explosively compelling tale calls the international art market to task for its continuing lack of regulation.

“Plunderer”

“The Sing Sing Chronicles”
Directed by Dawn Porter

Just north of New York City, Sing Sing Correctional Facility is one of the country’s most notorious prisons. Veteran crime reporter Dan Slepian forges a bond with Jon-Adrian Velazquez, a man serving a 25-to-life sentence in the facility, that leads him on a two-decade-long journey for justice. Directed by Dawn Porter, this multi-part exposé featuring original investigative reporting and thorough research into over 1,000 hours of archival footage, chronicles the two men’s steadfast perseverance against a tragic failure of the American carceral system. Episodes 2 and 4 of the 4-part series will be screened.

“The Sing Sing Chronicles” (Photo courtesy of MSNBC_

“Slumlord Millionaire”
Directed by Steph Ching and Ellen Martinez

This documentary exposes housing injustice in NYC, following the David-and-Goliath battles between ordinary renters and powerful developers. Through stories from neighborhoods across the boroughs, the film reveals the harsh realities of unsafe housing, unethical landlords, and an overwhelmed housing court system. It also uncovers a troubling pattern of desirably located properties being seized for luxury developments in low-income neighborhoods, often with the system’s complicity. Slumlord Millionaire is both empowering and sobering, highlighting grassroots activism in the fight against relentless gentrification. 

“Slumlord Millionaire”

“Southpaw: The Life and Legacy of Jim Abbott”
Directed by Mike Farrell

Yankee Stadium has seen a plethora of legends over the franchise’s storied history, but few have left a legacy as unique as Jim Abbott’s. On September 4, 1993, the pitcher, who was born without a right hand, threw a no-hitter in front of the Yankee faithful. This astonishing achievement is merely one in a lifetime of perseverance, as Abbott continues to advocate for people with disabilities. 

“Southpaw: The Life and Legacy of Jim Abbott”

“Spacewoman”
Directed by Hannah Berryman

Astronaut Eileen Collins is the first woman to pilot and command the space shuttle. From her small town beginnings, she went on to smash many glass ceilings at NASA in her career, culminating in four dramatic and dangerous space shuttle missions. Through sensational archival materials and intimate interviews, Hannah Berryman’s nail-biting film considers the emotional drama Eileen’s family experienced, and a philosophical question about what level of risk is acceptable in human endeavor. 

“Spacewoman”

“Thom Browne: The Man Who Tailored Dreams”
Directed by Reiner Holzemer

In the world of superstar fashion designers, Thom Browne stands apart with his theatrical runway shows, dramatic ready-to-wear creations, and eye-popping originality. From his headquarters in New York City’s Fashion District, Browne recounts his early breaks in the fashion world, how his work garnered support from celebrity fans such as Michelle Obama, Billie Eilish, Zendaya, Lebron James and Anna Wintour, and how his reconceptualization of the classic men’s business suit became his signature achievement. Sparkling highlights from Browne’s personal archives showcase the years of growing wit, edge, and mastery, all the while contrasted with Browne’s humble, gently welcoming persona.

“Thom Browne: The Man Who Tailored Dreams”

“Turtle Walker”
Directed by Taira Malaney

In the 1970s, Satish Bhaskar became a turtle walker: He walked nearly the entire coastline of India and the spectacular Andaman and Nicobar Islands in search of sea turtles. Carrying a camera and a notepad, he documented turtles’ nesting areas and tried to save them from extinction. Then the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami struck, putting all his work and the creatures he loved in peril.

“Unearth”
Directed by John Hunter Nolan; co-directors byAuberin Strickland and Dunedin Strickland

In the pristine Bristol Bay area of Alaska, two sets of siblings are alarmed when they learn of plans for the proposed Pebble Mine in the vicinity of their homes. The Salmon sisters, Native Alaskans, work on the regulatory front – pushing the federal EPA to block the project, and remaining hyper-vigilant to political pressures that could shift at any moment. The Strickland brothers, independent fishermen who know they could be just one mine accident away from losing their livelihood, probe closed-door meetings to expose the truth behind what the developer tells the public. Together, the Salmons and the Stricklands remind us never to quit until Goliath has fallen.

“Unearth”

“We All Bleed Red”
Directed by Josephine Links

The intimate relationship that a photographer develops with the people whose photos he’s taking is at the heart of this film. New York-based Martin Schoeller won acclaim for his ultra close-up portraits of figures like George Clooney, Barack Obama, and Taylor Swift, yet here director Josephine Links focuses on his work featuring people who are not in the public eye, including homeless people and death row exonerees. Through testimonies from everyday people he’s interested in capturing, this documentary shows how some of us survive on the margins of society. 

“We All Bleed Red”

2024 Critics Choice Documentary Awards: ‘Sugarcane’ is the top nominee

Julian Brave NoiseCat and Ed Archie NoiseCat in “Sugarcane” (Photo by Emily Kassie/National Geographic Documentary Films)

October 14, 2024

The following is a press release from the Critics Choice Association:

The Critics Choice Association (CCA) has announced the nominees for the Ninth Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards (CCDA). The winners will be revealed at a gala event on Sunday, November 10, 2024 at The Edison Ballroom in Manhattan. The ceremony will be hosted by longtime event supporter and actor Erich Bergen.

Sugarcane leads the pack with eight nominations including in the category of Best Documentary Feature. The film’s other nominations are Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie for Best Director and Best New Documentary Filmmakers, Christopher LaMarca and Emily Kassie for Best Cinematography, Nathan Punwar and Maya Daisy Hawk for Best Editing, Best Historical Documentary, Best Political Documentary, and Best True Crime Documentary.

Billy & Molly: An Otter Love StoryDaughters, and Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story received six nominations each. The nominations for Billy & Molly are Best Documentary Feature, Charlie Hamilton James for Best New Documentary Filmmaker, Charlie Hamilton James, Johnny Rolt and Bertie Gregory for Best Cinematography, Erland Cooper for Best Score, Best Narration (Written by Charlie Hamilton James and Performed by Billy Mail and Susan Mail), and Best Science/Nature Documentary. The nominations for Daughters are Best Documentary Feature, Natalie Rae and Angela Patton for Best Director and for Best New Documentary Filmmakers, Michael Cambio Fernandez for Best Cinematography, Troy Lewis and Adelina Bichiș for Best Editing, and Kelsey Lu for Best Score. The nominations for Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story are Best Documentary Feature, Ian Bonhôte & Peter Ettedgui for Best Director, Otto Burnham for Best Editing, Ilan Eshkeri for Best Score, Best Archival Documentary, and Best Biographical Documentary.

Erich Bergen is best known for his groundbreaking performance as Blake Moran on the television show Madam Secretary, as well as his critically-acclaimed performance as Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys, a role he performed on stage and reprised in Clint Eastwood’s film adaptation. Broadway audiences also know Erich from the hit musicals Waitress  and Chicago,  and he will be seen on Broadway again next year in Boop! The Musical. Other television credits include BULL, The Good Fight, Gossip Girl, and more. Erich is the creative force behind 6W Entertainment, a full-service production company that has produced over 250 projects for television and live events, including work with Clive Davis, President Barack Obama, John Legend, Cher, Anna Wintour, Michael Kors, and many more luminaries.

The Critics Choice Documentary Awards will be live-streamed through YouTube, X and Facebook.Viewing links will be available on the Critics Choice Association website at 7:00 PM ET on Sunday, November 10.

The Critics Choice Associationhonors the year’s finest achievements in documentaries released in theaters, on TV, and on major digital platforms, as determined by the voting of qualified CCA members. The ninth annual awards ceremony is produced by Bob Bain of Bob Bain Productions and Joey Berlin of Berlin Entertainment. 

The Catalyst Sponsors for the event are Amazon MGM Studios, National Geographic Documentary Films, and Netflix.

At the Eighth Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards, Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie took home five trophies including the top award of the evening, Best Documentary Feature. The film’s other victories were Best Director for Davis Guggenheim, Best Editing for Michael Harte, Best Narration for Michael J. Fox, and Best Biographical Documentary.
 

Nominees for the Ninth Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards
 

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story (National Geographic)
Daughters (Netflix)
The Greatest Night in Pop (Netflix)
Jim Henson Idea Man (Disney+)
Music by John Williams (Walt Disney Studios)
Piece by Piece (Focus Features)
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (Netflix)
Sugarcane (National Geographic)
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios, HBO Documentary Films, CNN Films)
Will & Harper (Netflix)

BEST DIRECTOR
Ian Bonhôte & Peter Ettedgui – Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios, HBO Documentary Films, CNN Films)
Josh Greenbaum – Will & Harper (Netflix)
Ron Howard – Jim Henson Idea Man (Disney+)
Julian Brave NoiseCat & Emily Kassie – Sugarcane (National Geographic)
Natalie Rae & Angela Patton – Daughters (Netflix)
Benjamin Ree – The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (Netflix)

BEST NEW DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER(S) 
Brendan Bellomo & Slava Leontyev – Porcelain War (Picturehouse)
Carla Gutiérrez – Frida (Amazon MGM Studios)
Charlie Hamilton James – Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story (National Geographic)
Sue Kim – The Last of the Sea Women (Apple TV+)
Julian Brave NoiseCat & Emily Kassie – Sugarcane (National Geographic)
Natalie Rae & Angela Patton – Daughters (Netflix)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Michael Cambio Fernandez – Daughters (Netflix)
Charlie Hamilton James, Johnny Rolt, Bertie Gregory – Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story (National Geographic)
Christopher LaMarca, Emily Kassie – Sugarcane (National Geographic)
Iris Ng, Eunsoo Cho, Justin Turkowski – The Last of the Sea Women (Apple TV+)
Zoë White – Will & Harper (Netflix)
Jessica Young – The Blue Angels (Amazon MGM Studios)

BEST EDITING
Otto Burnham – Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios, HBO Documentary Films, CNN Films)
Rik Chaubet – Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat (Kino Lorber)
Paul Crowder – Jim Henson Idea Man (Disney+)
Troy Lewis, Adelina Bichiș – Daughters (Netflix)
Nathan Punwar, Maya Daisy Hawke – Sugarcane (National Geographic)
Robert Stengård – The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (Netflix)

BEST SCORE
Erland Cooper – Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story (National Geographic)
Ilan Eshkeri – Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios, HBO Documentary Films, CNN Films)
Nathan Halpern – Will & Harper (Netflix)
Uno Helmersson – The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (Netflix)
Kelsey Lu – Daughters (Netflix)
Marc Shaiman – Albert Brooks: Defending My Life (HBO | Max) 

BEST NARRATION
Bad River (50 Eggs Films)
   Written by Mary Mazzio
   Performed by Quannah ChasingHorse & Edward Norton

Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story (National Geographic)
   Written by Charlie Hamilton James
   Performed by Billy Mail & Susan Mail

Dahomey (Mubi)
   Written by Makenzy Orcel
   Performed by Lucrece Houegbelo, Parfait Viayinon, Didier Sedoha Nassegande, and Sabine Badjogoumin

Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger (Cohen Media Group)
   Written and performed by Martin Scorsese

Queens (National Geographic)
   Written by Chloë Sarosh
   Performed by Angela Bassett

Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in 2 Pieces (Apple TV+) 
   Written and performed by Steve Martin

BEST ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTARY
Black Twitter: A People’s History (Hulu/Onyx Collective)
The Greatest Night in Pop (Netflix)
Jim Henson Idea Man (Disney+)
Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger (Cohen Media Group)
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat (Kino Lorber)
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios, HBO Documentary Films, CNN Films)

BEST HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Bad River (50 Eggs Films)
Dahomey (Mubi)
The Greatest Night in Pop (Netflix)
Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger (Cohen Media Group)
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat (Kino Lorber)
Sugarcane (National Geographic)

BEST BIOGRAPHICAL DOCUMENTARY
Frida (Amazon MGM Studios)
I Am: Celine Dion (Amazon MGM Studios)
Jim Henson Idea Man (Disney+)
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (Netflix)
Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in 2 Pieces (Apple TV+) 
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios, HBO Documentary Films, CNN Films)

BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY
The Greatest Night in Pop (Netflix)
I Am: Celine Dion (Amazon MGM Studios)
Music by John Williams (Walt Disney Studios)
Piece by Piece (Focus Features)
Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band (Hulu)
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat (Kino Lorber)

BEST POLITICAL DOCUMENTARY
Bad River (50 Eggs Films)
Girls State (Apple TV+)
Porcelain War (Picturehouse)
Stopping the Steal (HBO | Max)
Sugarcane (National Geographic)
The Truth vs. Alex Jones (HBO | Max)

BEST SCIENCE/NATURE DOCUMENTARY
Apollo 13: Survival (Netflix)
Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story (National Geographic)
Blink (National Geographic)
The Last of the Sea Women (Apple TV+)
Secrets of the Octopus (National Geographic)
The Space Race (National Geographic)

BEST SPORTS DOCUMENTARY
Copa 71 (New Black Films)
The Dynasty: New England Patriots (Apple TV+)
Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa (Netflix)
Mr. McMahon (Netflix)
Simone Biles Rising (Netflix)
The Turnaround (Netflix)

BEST TRUE CRIME DOCUMENTARY
American Nightmare (Netflix)
Black Box Diaries (MTV Documentary Films/Paramount+)
Incident (The New Yorker)
The Jinx – Part Two (HBO | Max)
Stopping the Steal (HBO | Max)
Sugarcane (National Geographic)

BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
I Am Ready, Warden (MTV Documentary Films/Paramount+)
Incident (The New Yorker)
Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World (Netflix)
Once Upon a Time in Ukraine (Earle Mack Productions, Storyville Films, Goldcrest Films)
The Only Girl in the Orchestra (Netflix)
The Turnaround (Netflix)

BEST LIMITED DOCUMENTARY SERIES
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (Netflix)
Black Twitter: A People’s History (Hulu/Onyx Collective)
Mr. McMahon (Netflix)
Ren Faire (HBO | Max)
Secrets of the Octopus (National Geographic)
Simone Biles Rising (Netflix)

BEST ONGOING DOCUMENTARY SERIES
30 for 30 (ESPN)
America’s Most Wanted (Fox Broadcasting Company)
The Food That Built America (History)
Independent Lens (PBS)
The Jinx – Part Two (HBO | Max)
POV (PBS)

The Critics Choice Association recognizes the year’s finest achievements in documentaries released in theaters, on TV and on major digital platforms, as determined by the voting of qualified CCA members. 
 

About the Critics Choice Awards
The Critics Choice Documentary Awards are an offshoot of the Critics Choice Awards, which are bestowed annually by the CCA to honor the finest in cinematic and television achievement. Historically, the Critics Choice Awards are the most accurate predictor of Academy Award nominations.

The 30th annual Critics Choice Awards ceremony will be held on January 12, 2025 at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, CA, hosted by Chelsea Handler.  It will air live on E! and will be available the next day on Peacock. 
 

About the Critics Choice Association (CCA) 
The Critics Choice Association is the largest critics organization in the United States and Canada, representing more than 600 media critics and entertainment journalists. It was established in 2019 with the formal merger of the Broadcast Film Critics Association and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association, recognizing the intersection between film, television, and streaming content. For more information, visit: CriticsChoice.com.

Social Media handles:
X: @criticschoice
Instagram: @criticschoice
TikTok: @officialcriticschoice
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@criticschoice
Facebook: https://facebook.com/CriticsChoiceAwards/

2024 New York Comic Con: What to expect at this year’s event

October 14, 2024

by Carla Hay

Colin Farrell in “The Penguin” (Photo by Macall Polay/HBO)

The 19th annual New York Comic Con takes place October 17 to October 20, 2024, in New York City. In 2023, New York Comic Con was affected by strikes by the the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the Writers Guild of America. The striking actors and actresses in attedance either did autograph or photo sessions, or they if they did panel/Q&A discussions, they had to limit the topics to things that didn’t promote work owned or produced by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers companies that they were striking against.

In 2022, New York Comic Con returned to being an in-person-only event, after being a hybrid event (where people could attend in person or virtually) in 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, New York Comic Con was cancelled as an in-person event in 2020, and instead presented as a scaled-down virtual-only event. Before the pandemic, New York Comic Con attracted about 250,000 people per year since 2017, according to ReedPOP, the company that produces the event. The first New York Comic Con took place in 2006.

In 2024, New York Comic Con’s main hub remains the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. New this year, according to a ReedPOP press release: A lineup of professional programming will take place on October 16. The press release says: “This marks the first year that ReedPop will be extending its content into Wednesday, just ahead of opening day for the convention … On Wednesday, October 16 from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., comic book retailers, industry professionals, and sponsors of NYCC will be able to participate in a closed event full of panels, interactive programming, free swag, and private signings in the Javits Center’s River Pavilion before NYCC fully opens on Thursday, October 17. Programming will be offered by ComicsPro, Lunar, Tiny Onion, and more, covering a wide range of topics including ‘Get Your Shop on the News: PR Basics,’ ‘Working With Schools and Libraries,’ and ‘Speed Networking with Comic Book Retailers.'”

TV shows continue to dominate the most high-profile panels and activities. New York Comic Con in 2024 has the following TV shows with panel showcases in the event’s largest rooms: On October 17, HBO will have separate panels for the supervillain drama “The Penguin” and the sci-fi/fantasy series “Dune Prophecy.” On October 20, HBO’s “House of the Dragon” stars Matt Smith, Fabien Frankel and Tom Glynn-Carney sit down for a Q&A discussion. Meanwhile, the AMC series “Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches” has a panel on October 17.

Fans of series about detectives and crimes have several options. On October 18, Prime Video will have a panel for the detective drama “Cross.” On October 20, NBC’s serial killer drama “Hannibal” gets the spotlight for a panel. Also on October 20, is a panel for CBS’s attorney comedy/drama “Elsbeth.”

Animation enthusiasts can look forward to Nickelodeon’s “SpongeBob SquarePants” 25th Anniversary Celebration panel on October 18, the same day that Toei Animation’s “One Piece” panel will take place. On October 17, there will be panel for “Dragon Ball: DAIMA” and a panel for Adult Swim’s “Rick and Morty.” Hulu’s “Futurama” has a panel on October 19. Also on October 19, there will be a panel for “Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War.” Fox is offering panels for “The Simpsons” (on October 19) and “Grimsburg” (on October 20). Also on October 20: Max’s animated series “Creature Commandos” has a panel.

Starz’s “Outlander,” a longtime popular attraction at New York Comic Con, returns for a panel discussion on October 17. AMC’s “The Walking Dead” Universe, another longtime fan fave at New York Comic Con, will showcase “The Walking Dead: Dead City” and “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol” for a panel taking place on October 18. “Star Trek” Universe series on Paramount+ will once again get a spotlight at New York Comic Con, with a panel discussion on October 19. “Goosebumps: The Vanishing” the TV series version of R. L. Stine’s book series gets a spotlight with a panel on October 20.

For people who like comedy series, New York Comic Con has some panels to offer. Apple TV+’s psychiatric sitcom “Shrinking” gets a spotlight on October 17. FX’s vampire comedy series “What We Do in the Shadows” has a panel October 18. CBS’s “Ghosts” is being showcased for a panel on October 19.

MOVIES

Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt and Ke Huy Quan in “The Electric State” (Photo by Paul Abell/Netflix)

Most of the feature films that have panels at New York Comic Con this year are animated films, action films and horror movies. On October 18, sneak preview footage will be shown during a session for Sony Pictures’ “Venom: The Last Dance,” “Karate Kid: Legends” and “Kraven the Hunter.” Netflix’s sci-fi/action film “The Electric State” gets a showcase an October 17 panel. On October 18, prolific horror movie/TV producer Jason Blum will talk about his current and upcoming movies for his BlumFest panel, including “Wolf Man,” “Drop,” “The Woman in the Yard” and “M3GAN 2.0.”

Animated films with panels include “Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League” and “Batman Azteca: Choque De Imperios” (“Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires”) sharing a panel on October 17. Also on October 17: New Line Cinema’s “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” gets its own panel.

OTHER PROGAMMING

The 2024 Harvey Awards Hall of Fame ceremony will be take place during New York Comic Con for a virtual screening on October 18. The recipients are Akira Toriyama, Arthur Adams, Larry Hama, Sergio Aragonés and John Buscema.

And, of course, there will be plenty of panels, exhibits and previews for comic books, video games, podcasts, fantasy novels and other pop-culture attractions.

New York Comic Con also offers specialty areas for attendees with specific identity needs. Returning after its 2022 debut is the Pride Lounge (located in Room 1C01-02), for people with LGBTQ interests, with some LGBTQ-themed discussion panels and guest appearances. Family HQ (in Room 1E03-05) is a family-friendly environment, with an emphasis on activities for pre-teen children. In addition, there are spaces for gamers in the Side Quest rooms offering a variety of gaming options. Interactive activities (such as dance lessons and Jedi light saber training) are located in the River Pavilion. Professional Programming (for industry professionals) will also take place in the River Pavilion.

It wouldn’t be a Comic Con without cosplaying and merchandise sales. The Cosplay Central area returns to the River Pavilion at the Javits Center. While at Cosplay Central, cosplayers can mingle, pose for photos, use the dressing rooms and attend panel discussions. The New York Comic Con finalist round for the Cosplay Central Costume Showcase will take place on October 20 at the Main Stage. New York Comic Con also has an enormous amount of merchandise for sale for numerous types of entertainment.

AUTOGRAPH SESSIONS AND PHOTO OPS

Several stars from movies and TV shows will have individual autograph sessions and/or photo opportunities with fans, for a fee. Prices will vary, according to the celebrity. Participants include:

  • Hayley Atwell (“Agent Carter,” ” Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning” on October 17 and October 18. (Autographs only.)
  • Paul Bettany (Marvel Cinematic Universe) on October 18 and October 19. (Autographs only.)
  • Orlando Bloom (“The Lord of the Rings” movies, “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies) on October 19 and October 20. (Autographs only.)
  • John Boyega (“Star Wars” movies, “Pacific Rim”) on October 18 and October 19. (Autographs only.)
  • Josh Brolin (Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Dune” movies) on October 17 and October 18. (Autographs and photos.)
  • Walton Goggins (“Fallout,” “Justified”) on October 18. (Autographs only.)
  • Kyle MacLachlan (“Twin Peaks,” “Dune”) on October 17 and October 18. (Autographs and photos.)
  • Mads Mikkelsen (“Doctor Strange,” “Hannibal”) on October 19 and October 20. (Autographs and photos.)
  • Elizabeth Olsen (Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Godzilla”) on October 17 and October 18. (Autographs only.)
  • Ella Purnell (“Fallout,” Arcane,” “Yellowjackets”) on October 18. (Autographs and photos.)
  • Jack Quaid (“The Boys,” “Star Trek: Lower Decks”) on October 17. (Autographs and photos.)
  • Denise Richards (“Starship Troopers,” “Wild Things”) on October 17 and October 18. (Autographs only.)
  • Andy Serkis (“The Lord of the Rings” movies, “Planet of the Apes” movies) on October 19 and October 20. (Autographs only.)
  • Kevin Smith (“Clerks,” “Mallrats”) on October 17 and October 18. (Autographs and photos.)
  • Matt Smith (“House of the Dragon,” “Doctor Who”) on October 19 and October 20. (Autographs and photos.)
  • Marisa Tomei (“Spider-Man: No Way Home,” “My Cousin Vinny”) on October 19. (Autographs and photos.)
  • Casper Van Dien (“Starship Troopers,” “Sleepy Hollow”) on October 17 and October 18. (Autographs only.)

TELEVISION AND WEB SERIES PANELS

(All panel descriptions are courtesy of New York Comic Con.)

“The Penguin”

October 17, 2024, 11 AM – 12 PM

Main Stage

Join cast and creatives for a mid-season discussion and extended sneak peek of episode five of HBO’s original limited series “The Penguin” from Warner Bros. Television and DC Studios. Panelists include Colin Farrell (Oz Cobb aka “The Penguin” and Executive Producer), Cristin Milioti (Sofia Falcone), Rhenzy Feliz (Victor Aguilar), Deirdre O’Connell (Francis Cobb), Michael Kelly (Johnny Viti), Clancy Brown (Sal Maroni), Lauren LeFranc (Showrunner and Executive Producer) and Mike Marino (Prosthetic Makeup Designer).

“Shrinking”

October 17, 2024, 11 AM – 12 PM

Main Stage

Apple’s acclaimed, hit comedy “Shrinking” follows a grieving therapist who starts to break the rules and tell his clients exactly what he thinks. Ignoring his training and ethics, he finds himself making huge, tumultuous changes to people’s lives … including his own. Join us for an exclusive panel with some of the brilliant minds behind the camera and the ensemble cast who make the Apple TV+ fan-favorite series so beloved. Panelists will include Emmy-Award winner, co-creator and executive Producer Brett Goldstein, executive producer, co-creator and star Jason Segel, as well as Emmy-Award nominee Christa Miller, Emmy-Award nominee Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell and Ted McGinley. “Shrinking” season two will premiere globally with the first two episodes on Wednesday, October 16.

“Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches”

October 17, 2024, 12:45 PM – 2 PM

Main Stage

An advance screening of the season two premiere episode of “Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches,” followed by a panel with the cast and executive producers to discuss the highly-anticipated new season ahead of its return on AMC and AMC+ early next year.

“Dragon Ball: DAIMA”

October 17, 2024, 12:45 PM – 2:15 PM

Empire Stage

After the reveal at NYCC last year, the all-new original anime series “Dragon Ball: DAIMA” is kicking off this October! To celebrate the 40th anniversary of “Dragon Ball”, we will share the details of the creation behind this wonderous new world. Joined by Akio Iyoku (Executive Producer of Dragon Ball series), we’re also welcoming Monica Rial, English voice actor of Bulma as our host and other special guests. Attendees will be able to see the first episode.

“Dune: Prophecy”

October 17, 2024, 3 PM – 4 PM

Empire Stage

The first-ever panel discussion for the highly anticipated HBO Original drama series “Dune: Prophecy” co-produced with Legendary Television, will include showrunner and executive producer Alison Schapker, executive producer Jordan Goldberg, and cast members Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Travis Fimmel, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Josh Heuston, Chloe Lea and Jessica Barden. From the expansive universe of “Dune,” created by acclaimed author Frank Herbert, and 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides, “Dune: Prophecy” follows two Harkonnen sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind and establish the fabled sect that will become known as the Bene Gesserit.

“Outlander”

October 17, 2024, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Empire Stage

When we last left Jamie and Claire Fraser, they had just returned home to Scotland for the first time in years, momentarily escaping the perils of the American Revolution and excited to reunite with the loved ones they’d left behind. But they soon learn not everything has stayed the same in their absence. After all, home is where the heart is but it’s also the place where it can be broken.

“Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants 25th Anniversary Celebration”

October 18, 2024, 11 AM – 12 PM

Empire Stage

Jumping Jellyfish! Grab a spatula and get ready to celebrate 25 years of one of the most popular characters and beloved animated series of all time – SpongeBob SquarePants. Join the legendary voice cast and producers as they pay tribute to the popular origins and reveal what’s happening next in Bikini Bottom. It’s going to be F.U.N.

“One Piece”

October 18, 2024, 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM

Empire Stage

Join the legendary anime studio Toei Animation, as they invite the team behind the hit series One Piece to discuss the animation and behind the scenes of the series. Joining the discussion, Colleen Clinkenbeard (English Voice Actor of Luffy) and Christopher Sabat (English Voice Actor of Zoro).

“Cross”

October 18, 2024, 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM

Main Stage

Prime Video’s “Cross,” based upon the characters from James Patterson’s iconic bestselling book series, stars Aldis Hodge in the titular role as decorated D.C. homicide detective and forensic psychologist, Alex Cross. Join Hodge, Isaiah Mustafa, Alona Tal, Samantha Walkes, Ryan Eggold, and executive producer/showrunner Ben Watkins, as they tease the mystery thriller. In it, Alex Cross faces a sadistic serial killer and deals with a mysterious threat from his past that aims to destroy his grieving family, career, and his life. Prepare your questions and get ready to meet the stars of this exciting new series!

“What We Do in the Shadows”

October 18, 2024, 4:45 PM – 6:15 PM

Empire Stage

FX’s Emmy®-nominated vampire comedy “What We Do in the Shadows” returns to New York Comic Con by popular demand! Join America’s favorite vampire roommates as they continue their farewell tour with an unforgettable LIVE discussion with the cast and creative team and be among the first to see the first two episodes from the sixth and final season. What We Do in the Shadows is a documentary-style look into the daily (or rather, nightly) lives of vampires who’ve “lived” together for hundreds of years. Season six premieres October 21 at 10pm ET/PT on FX and streams the next day on Hulu. Raise your fangs as the Staten Island vampires take the stage in New Yawk Citay one last time!

“The Walking Dead: Dead City” and “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol”

October 18, 2024, 6 PM – 8 PM

Main Stage

First, the cast and executive producers of “The Walking Dead: Dead City” discuss the highly-anticipated upcoming season ahead of its return on AMC and AMC+ next year. Then, the cast and executive producers of “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol” discuss what’s to come for the rest of the currently airing season.

“The Simpsons”

October 19, 2024, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Main Stage

The Simpsons are coming to New York City! America’s Favorite Family will be visiting New York Comic Con, bringing their unique, subversive, 35-year-old brand of humor to the Big Apple for the first time! The show’s producers, actors, special guests — as well as series creator Matt Groening himself — will share never-before-told stories, show never-before-seen exclusive clips, and give away never-before-given-away prizes! This is it, New York fans, you’ve been choo-choo-chosen to experience the live Simpsons panel thrills that up until now only have only been enjoyed by fans at San Diego Comic Con! It’s unpossible! It’s embiggened! It’s The Simpsons in New York!

“Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict”

October 19, 2024, 12:45 AM – 1:45 PM

Empire Stage

Prepare for the Clash of the Quincies and celebrate the launch of “Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict” with iconic voice actors Masakazu Morita (voice of Ichigo Kurosaki) and Noriaki Sugiyama (voice of Uryu Ishida), presented by VIZ Media! Don’t miss out on exclusive sneak peek content, conversation with the voice actors, and exciting live voice acting from our guests!

“Star Trek Universe”

October 19, 2024, 2:30 AM – 4 PM

Empire Stage

The fan-favorite Star Trek universe panel returns to New York Comic Con, featuring exclusive sneak peeks and conversations with cast members and producers from “Star Trek: Lower Decks,” “Star Trek: Section 31” and more. Plus, more exciting reveals and surprises for fans in attendance that you won’t want to miss!

“Creature Commandos”

October 19, 2024, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM

Empire Stage

Featuring can’t-miss sneak peeks from the first title kicking off the new DC Universe, join the cast and creators for an exclusive discussion about the Max Original adult animated series “Creature Commandos,” from DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation. Panelists include James Gunn (DC Studios Co-Chair and CEO; Executive Producer and Writer), Dean Lorey (Executive Producer), Frank Grillo (Rick Flag Sr.), David Harbour (Frankenstein), Zoë Chao (Nina Mazursky), Steve Agee (Economos), Maria Bakalova (Princess Ilana), Alan Tudyk (Dr. Phosphorus) and Sean Gunn (GI Robot and Weasel). Moderated by Josh Horowitz (Host, Happy Sad Confused podcast).

“Ghosts”

October 19, 2024, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM

Main Stage

“Ghosts,” one of television’s top comedies on CBS and Paramount+, follows Samantha and Jay, a couple running a bed and breakfast inhabited by ghosts that only Samantha can see and hear. Please join series stars Rose McIver, Brandon Scott Jones, Asher Grodman and Sheila Carrasco for an advanced episode screening followed by a lively and spirited panel conversation moderated by Tony Dokoupil (CBS Mornings) discussing what’s ahead in season four.

“A Conversation with Matt Smith, Fabien Frankel and Tom Glynn-Carney”

October 20, 2024, 11 AM – 12 PM

Empire Stage

Join “House of the Dragon” stars Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen), Fabian Frankel (Criston Cole), and Tom Glynn-Carney (Aegon II Targaryen) at New York Comic Con for a Season 2 retrospective! Sitting down with moderator Josh Horowitz of Happy Sad Confused, the cast will share behind-the-scenes stories, reflect on the season’s key moments, and answer fan questions about the Targaryen drama. Don’t miss this chance to hear from the stars of HBO’s epic series as they dive deep into the world of Westeros!

“Futurama”

October 20, 2024, 11 AM – 12 PM

Main Stage

Sci-fi-comedy classic “Futurama” has exploded back into existence! With new seasons now streaming on HULU, the heroic Planet Express crew is infinitely less canceled than usual. Please join creator Matt Groening and Futurama cast and crew LIVE for sneak peeks and spoilers lovingly smuggled back from the year 3024. If you’re only going to see two panels this year, see this one twice!

“Hannibal”

October 20, 2024, 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM

Empire Stage

Prepare yourself for a deep dive into the chilling world of “Hannibal” with an exclusive panel featuring two of the show’s most captivating stars, Mads Mikkelsen (Dr. Hannibal Lecter) and Hugh Dancy (Will Graham.) Join us for a riveting discussion as Mads and Hugh share their experiences working on the critically acclaimed series. From the intense psychological drama to the art of crafting memorable performances, get the inside scoop on what it took to bring these iconic characters to the screen. Expect an engaging conversation about the series’ unique blend of horror and intrigue, behind-the-scenes stories, and perhaps even some insights into the creative decisions that shaped the show’s unforgettable moments. This is a must-attend event for fans (and Fannibals!) eager to learn more about the dark allure of Hannibal and the actors who made it a truly unforgettable experience.

“Grimsburg”

October 20, 2024, 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM

Main Stage

Grimsburg centers on Marvin Flute (Emmy winner Jon Hamm, who also executive produces the series), who may be the greatest detective ever to catch a cannibal clown and correctly identify a mid-century modern armoire. But there’s one mystery he still can’t crack — himself. To do that he must return to Grimsburg, a town where everyone has a secret or three, and redeem himself in the eyes of his fellow detectives, his ferocious ex-wife and his lovably unstable son. Join panelists Jon Hamm, Alan Tudyk, showrunner Chadd Gindin and more for a behind-the-scenes look at Season Two of Grimsburg, followed by a Q&A. The panel will be moderated by Michael Schneider (Variety).

“Goosebumps: The Vanishing”

October 20, 2024, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Main Stage

Join the cast and creative team behind the highly-anticipated new season of the Disney+ and Hulu anthology series “Goosebumps: The Vanishing,” based upon R.L Stine’s worldwide bestselling book series, as they share a never-before-seen sneak peek and discuss the new mysteries to come. Panelists include (subject-to-change): cast members David Schwimmer, Ana Ortiz, Sam McCarthy, Jayden Bartels, Elijah Cooper, Galilea La Salvia, Francesca Noel, and Stony Blyden; as well as executive producers Hilary Winston and Rob Letterman.

MOVIE PANELS

(All panel descriptions are courtesy of New York Comic Con.)

“Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League” and “Batman Azteca: Choque De Imperios” (“Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires”)

October 17, 2024, 3 PM – 4 PM

Main Stage

An exclusive look at two upcoming animated Batman movies – “Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League” and “Batman Azteca: Choque De Imperios” (“Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires”)”. Join creative team members of each film as they share footage and discuss the process of crafting original Batman stories through the lense of each region’s unique stories, mythologies, and culture.

“The Electric State”

October 17, 2024, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM

Empire Stage

Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt join filmmakers Anthony and Joe Russo for a first look at the epic, heartfelt action-adventure “The Electric State.” Set in a retro-futuristic past, the Netflix and AGBO-produced film follows an orphaned teenager (Brown) who traverses the American West with a sweet but mysterious robot and an eccentric drifter (Pratt) in search of her younger brother.

“The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim”

October 18, 2024, 11 AM – 12 PM

Main Stage

Return to Middle-earth for an all-new tale in “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.” The Warner Bros. Pictures presentation at NYCC will explore the first-ever feature length animated film—rendered in beautiful anime—through a robust conversation with filmmakers and voice talent, moderated by Stephen Colbert.

“Blumfest NYCC”

October 18, 2023, 2:30 PM – 4 PM

Empire Stage

BlumFest – the annual October celebration of all things Blumhouse – makes its much-anticipated return to NYCC with its biggest slate of movies ever. Jason Blum, the visionary producer behind some of the most electrifying films in modern horror, reveals plans for Blumhouse’s 15th anniversary in 2025 and it’s going to be BIG. Be the first to see the world premiere of the trailer for “Wolf Man,” directed by Leigh Whannell, chilling first-look footage from Christopher Landon’s “Drop,” Jaume Collet-Serra’s “The Woman in the Yard,” a look at the highly-anticipated “M3GAN 2.0” and many other surprises you won’t want to miss.

Sony Pictures Panel and Footage

October 18, 2023, 7 PM – 8 PM

Empire Stage

Sony Pictures will host a panel with special guests and showcase new footage from “Venom: The Last Dance,” “Karate Kid: Legends” and “Kraven: The Hunter” all soon to be released exclusively in movie theaters. Please be advised that materials shown at this presentation are intended for mature audiences.

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