‘Shell’ aims to take some comedically horrific jabs at beauty standards, Hollywood hypocrisy and rich types putting their faith in dodgy technology, yet the stew of different ideas never quite gels.
And in a world in which ‘The Substance’ exists, it looks all the more an example of skin-deep satire.
Writer Jack Stanley’s previous credits include Netflix action thriller ‘Lou’ and 2023’s ‘The Passenger’ and ‘Shell’ follows a familiar pattern for his script work –– a decent idea somewhat undercut by a descent into trope and familiar plot turns.
As director, Max Minghella finds some entertaining moments, but the overall effect is somewhat hindered by a lack of grasp on tone and some very predictable points being made.
Moss’s ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ connection to Minghella might explain her presence in this when she’s otherwise normally known for more complex and intriguing stories. But she’s perfectly fine in the role of an actress suffering the slings and arrows of a near-future Hollywood.
Kate Hudson, meanwhile, has a largely predictable role as a seemingly beneficent owner of the eponymous beauty company who turns out –– to surely no-one’s surprise –– be harboring some dangerous secrets.
Both the leads do solid work, but neither can really prevent it from going off the rails in the final act.
The themes presented in ‘Shell’ are worth repeating; it’s just a shame that the movie has a very basic view on them all. There’s some gloopy body horror to be had, but it’s a minor effort in the genre.
Desperate to reclaim her career, once-beloved actress Samantha Lake (Elisabeth Moss) is drawn into the glamorous world of wellness mogul Zoe Shannon (Kate Hudson)—only to uncover a monstrous truth beneath its flawless surface.
Who is in the cast of ‘Shell’?
Elisabeth Moss as Samantha Lake
Kate Hudson as Zoe Shannon
Arian Moayed as Dr. Hubert
Kaia Gerber as Chloe Benson
Este Haim as Lydia Elizabeth Berkley as Jenna Janero Amy Landecker as Detective Flores Lionel Boyce as Detective Abramson
Ryan Gosling in ‘Project Hail Mary’. Photo: Amazon MGM Studios.
Preview:
‘Project Hail Mary’ touched down at Comic-Con.
The panel included Ryan Gosling, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.
The movie adapts Andy Weir’s book.
‘Project Hail Mary’ represents the collaboration between some fairly stellar names in filmmaking. Take directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who have brought acclaimed comedies and Oscar-winning animated superhero movies to screens while having fun with genre.
Add in Ryan Gosling, who has proved his chops in both the dramatic and laugh-grabbing departments. And blend them with the invention of Andy Weir, whose book ‘The Martian’ became a wildly successful movie in its own right.
The result is a space-set adventure that appears to offer plenty of laughs and humanity to go with the big ideas.
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So the movie was naturally one that Amazon MGM Studios knew could play well at Comic-Con, with the team showing up for a panel in Hall H.
Ryan Gosling in ‘Project Hail Mary’. Photo: Amazon MGM Studios.
‘Project Hail Mary’ is set in the near future. Our hero is Ryland Grace (Gosling), a school teacher-turned-astronaut who wakes up from a coma, alone, on a space station with no memory of who he is or his mission.
His memory returns in bursts and he pieces together that he was sent to the Tau Ceti solar system, 12 light-years from Earth, to reverse the impact of a space event that had already hurled our planet into the early stages of an Ice Age.
As details of the mission unravel, he must call on all of his scientific training and sheer ingenuity, but he might not have to do it alone…
What happened at the ‘Project Hail Mary’ panel?
Ryan Gosling in ‘Project Hail Mary’. Photo: Amazon MGM Studios.
Much as with big movies such as ‘TRON: Ares’, the ‘Project Hail Mary’ team made good use of the giant screens that stretch down the sides of Hall H, projecting logos and the galactic map seen in the trailer.
Those on stage included directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, author Andy Weir and screenwriter Drew Goddard (who also adapted ‘The Martian’).
Gosling talked about why he wanted to join the projecting, citing Weir as the greatest science fiction writer (and not just because he was sitting next to him on the panel). He knew it would be great, but not how great.
Here’s what else he said:
“It’s about a scared guy who doesn’t know what he’s doing and I was a scared guy who didn’t know what I was doing, trying to turn it into a movie.”
He called Lord and Miller, which seems like a smart move…
For their part, the directors also used a movie metaphor to describe working with Gosling, in that it’s about collaboration and they had a great time working with the actor.
The filmmakers shared new concept art from the movie, including spaceship designs and more.
Biggest news of the panel? Daniel Pemberton, who has experience working with Lord and Miller on the ‘Spider-Verse’ movies, is the composer for this.
But the best part of the panel? The first five minutes of the movie were shown, including Gosling waking up from an induced coma, befuddled and unsure of where he is. He struggles with a robot that is trying to help him and discovers that the crew in the chamber with him are all dead.
Other clips were shown, but from later in the movie, so we’ll avoid discussing those to stay away from spoilers.
When will ‘Project Hail Mary’ be on screens?
Unlike some of the other projects touted at this year’s convention, we still have a wait for ‘Project Hail Mary’.
Amazon MGM Studios will release the movie in theaters on March 20th, 2026.
Ryan Gosling in ‘Project Hail Mary’. Photo: Amazon MGM Studios.
Jeremy Allen White as Carmen ‘Carmy’ Berzatto in ‘The Bear’ Season 4. Photo: FX.
‘The Bear’ Season 4 receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.
Released via FX on Hulu with its entire 10-episode fourth season on June 25th, ‘The Bear’ returns us to the world of Carmen ‘Carmy’ Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) and his attempts to blend fine dining with the chaotic world of his extended Chicago family.
It’s no secret that after a sleeper hit first season, a critically acclaimed, award-winning and much-watched second, culinary drama ‘The Bear’ went off the boil somewhat in its third. The ingredients were the same –– great performances, visually stylish and one of the better collections of needle drops on TV –– but somehow the script and the pace let it down.
The big question going forward is whether Season 4 sees the blend back in balance.
Early reports had the fourth season shot back to back with the third, but aside from a couple of small elements, this was not the case. But the overarching feeling, even in a meta sense, is of the series almost apologizing for past stumbles.
That’s perhaps not all that surprising in a show where the main characters are all a work in progress in terms of their own careers and healing journeys, dealing with a soup of past trauma, self-esteem issues and other psychological problems. The character of Carmy in particular realizes the damage he has inflicted on those around him and (mostly) aims to make good.
Unlike the last season, this is handled in compelling fashion by the narrative, which finds a better mix of the tone of the show and moving its story alone.
There are still lingering problems with pace in some scenes, it’s as if everyone decided that certain moments didn’t need to be edited and could instead play out way beyond their useful time scale. And while the show’s long sequences of food preparation largely remain compelling, some still come across as filler.
‘The Bear’s visual style remains excellent, making good use of Chicago locations and keeping us close to the characters when the emotional flames are high.
Even the humor level is raised this year –– even if the series really shouldn’t be competing in the comedy categories.
He remains the main character and focus of the show, but Jeremy Allen White’s Carmy is still dialed down a little bit this year. The actor’s mournful face and low-key performance work for the role, and he plays well against almost anyone, particular Edebiri and Moss-Bachrach.
As Syd, Ayo Edebiri continues to rank among the series most valuable performers, and co-wrote her own showcase episode this year, which saw her taking a day away from the restaurant to ponder a tempting job opportunity elsewhere while she’s getting her hair done by a cousin (there are so many cousins in this show, it’s almost hard to keep track). She’s typically great as the genius cook with the almighty crisis of confidence.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach is likewise a star of the show, an actor who has proved he can steal scenes no matter the genre or material. Richie is a particularly juicy part, a screw-up who is committed to turning his life around and has found his calling running the dining experience at in-show restaurant The Bear. His turbulent personal life –– his ex-wife is getting re-married and he wonders about his connection to his young daughter –– is also fuel for superb performances.
Liza Colón-Zayas’ Tina isn’t in the spotlight quite as much last season (when she got her own showcase episode), but she’s still a welcome presence, struggling with the timing on a new pasta dish. She’s also a welcome sprinkling of spice in other scenes, such as when she’s encouraging Carmy on his own journey.
Around the main cast is a variety of excellent supporting performers, ‘The Bear’ always working best as a stew of people and personalities rather than just Carmy’s obsessions. Episode 7, ‘Bears’ is the true highlight of the season, an hourlong entry set at the wedding of Richie’s ex-wife Tiffany (Gillian Jacobs) to Frank (Josh Hartnett).
It features the return of top-caliber recurring performers such as Jamie Lee Curtis (as Carmy and Natalie’s troubled mother Donna), Bob Odenkirk as “Uncle” Lee Lane (Donna’s occasional boyfriend), and the welcome addition of –– spoiler alert in case you don’t want to know about new guest stars –– Brie Larson, who fits perfectly as one of the sprawling Fak family.
There is also the welcome return of Will Poulter as Chef Luca, bringing a humble, funny energy to the kitchen.
It might not be simmering back at the level of the first or second seasons, but ‘The Bear’ has certainly found a better mix for its various elements for a more satisfying final dish this time.
While the finale leaves some plot threads dangling, if the cast’s increasingly busy schedule makes future seasons challenging, this would work to put a lid on the show.
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What’s the plot of ‘The Bear’ Season 4?
Season 4 of ‘The Bear’ sees Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) grappling with the restaurant’s success and his own future, leading to a dramatic shift in his role and the restaurant’s leadership structure.
The season explores themes of family, trauma, and the relentless pursuit of perfection within the high-pressure environment of a fine-dining restaurant. Sydney faces her own career crossroads, while Richie continues his journey of self-discovery and leadership.
Jeremy Allen White in ‘The Bear.’ Photo: Courtesy of FX.
Arriving on FX with its entire third season of 10 episodes on June 26th, ‘The Bear’ marks the return of one of the most highly acclaimed (and awarded) shows in recent history. But that praise appears to have gone to the heads of the series’ showrunners, as the new season is an exercise in overworked stylistic flourishes and undercooked plotting.
Liza Colon-Zayas in ‘The Bear.’ Photo: Courtesy of FX.
Cooking at the level portrayed –– endlessly –– in ‘The Bear’ requires careful development, endless tweaking and the ideal mix of ingredients, fire and time. Yet while the first two seasons of the show exhibited plenty of all three, the new run of episodes finds itself in a repetitive, style-over-substance loop.
One or two episodes break free of the spiral and feel fresher than the others (particularly this year’s flashback to how Liza Colón-Zayas’ Tina came to work at The Original Beef, the sandwich joint that main character chef Jeremy Allen White’s Carmen ‘Carmy’ Berzatto replaced with his fine-dining effort), but overall the feeling is of a team taking the wrong lessons from all that success.
Script and Direction
Ayo Edebiri in ‘The Bear.’ Photo: Courtesy of FX.
Co-showrunners Christopher Storer and Joanna Calo lean into their worst impulses on the writing front, often sacrificing an engaging ongoing story for long sequences of characters preparing food set to music. The true pressure and tension only really comes out here and there, and episodes such as “Next” (which chronicles a month of tricky nights at the restaurant) do help that.
When the show takes its foot off the pedal and allows the emotion to seep back in, it also works to some level, though the whole is most certainly less than the sum of its parts.
Jeremy Allen White in ‘The Bear.’ Photo: Courtesy of FX.
Storer also directs the lion’s share of the episodes, and his sensibility is turned up to honestly annoyingly indulgent levels, like a chef spinning a grill’s controls to its highest setting. The first episode in particular is a moody dive into Carmy’s head, but it rarely illuminates anything new about the character, simply re-treading well-walked emotional paths. We already know he had revelatory moments in his past work with some of the best chefs, and that he was endlessly bullied by most recent boss Chef David (Joel McHale). While those moments do at least set up a clash with the taunting tyrant in the season finale, it remains more frustrating than entertaining.
One true highlight from both a writing and directing front is “Napkins” the episode as mentioned above focused on Tina’s past. Show co-star Ayo Edebiri steps up for that one, and delivers a relatable, nuanced outing that hinges on superb work from both Colón-Zayas and Jon Bernthal as Carmy’s brother Michael.
Performances
Lionel Boyce in ‘The Bear.’ Photo: Courtesy of FX.
It’s in the cast where the show remains redoubtable. Even when the creators are going off on flights of fancy, you can rely on the actors to do their best in keeping things grounded.
Jeremy Allen White as Carmen ‘Carmy’ Berzatto
Jeremy Allen White in ‘The Bear.’ Photo: Courtesy of FX.
When the show ventures inside Carmy’s head, it suffers, yet White is still able to find real emotion, even as he’s often left with scenes where he’s pouting like a fish on the plate while more interesting things happen elsewhere.
Ayo Edebiri as Sydney Adamu
Ayo Edebiri in ‘The Bear.’ Photo: Courtesy of FX.
Syd overtakes Carmy in the compelling stakes this season, and Edebiri is more than up to the challenge. While her business partner wallows, she’s making moves, considering whether to accept a chunk of the restaurant or head to potentially greener pastures.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Richard ‘Richie’ Jerimovich
Ebon Moss-Bachrach in ‘The Bear.’ Photo: Courtesy of FX.
“Cousin” as he’s always known –– though he’s really just a family friend of Carmy’s late brother who is so close to the clan he’s considered part of it –– is, like, Syd, a highlight of the show. Yet even Ebon Moss-Bachrach gets less to do this year, his storyline rarely as compelling as his arc from last season. Still, when he’s handed emotionally deep work such as scenes with ex-wife Tiffany (Gillian Jacobs), he shines.
Other Notable Cast and Cameos
Abby Elliott in ‘The Bear.’ Photo: Courtesy of FX.
Around Carmy, Syd and Richie, there are great performances on display from the likes of Colón-Zayas, Abby Elliott (as Carmy’s sister Nat, who gives birth in one of the other standout episodes) and Lionel Boyce as pastry chef Marcus, who channels his grief at losing his mother into his work. If we’re honest, we’d rather spend more time with their entertaining stories than endless rehashes of Carmy’s issues.
On the actor cameo front, we won’t spoil some of the more delightful surprises, but they all make impacts with relatively small roles. The likes of Bernthal, Olivia Coleman and Jamie Lee Curtis all make welcome returns. Yet the real issue comes via the parade of famous culinary types who are sprinkled across several episodes. The finale in particular leans so much on them that they become less a welcome ingredient and more filler for an episode that looks to fill a 10-gallon pot with a single gallon of story.
Final Thoughts
Ebon Moss-Bachrach in ‘The Bear.’ Photo: Courtesy of FX.
It is a little ironic that a show which has received such good reviews, and which partially bases its driving narrative on the potential for a negative one to be handed down to the titular restaurant dives into the overly experimental side of its presentation, often at the expense of the more fulfilling emotional story beats.
There are only so many artfully crafted montages one can sit through while waiting for something nourishing on a narrative level. A great soundtrack can’t distract from the feeling that you’re watching re-heated emotional themes.
‘The Bear’ Season 3 receives 6 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the story of ‘The Bear’ Season 3?
‘The Bear’s third season picks up shortly after the events of the Season 2 finale, in which friends and family night, one of the soft launches of the eponymous restaurant, turns into a fraught nightmare for the staff, as obsessed head chef Carmen ‘Carmy’ Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) has an emotional meltdown while trapped in the kitchen’s walk-in freezer, leaving others to pick up his slack.
In the aftermath of that, several characters are either deciding what the future truly holds for them (such as Ayo Edebiri’s Sydney Adamu, who mulls Carmy’s offer to become a full partner in the business at the same time she receives an attractive alternative option) or deal with their own dysfunctional family issues.
Carmy, meanwhile, remains as exhaustingly focused as ever, looking to set impossibly high standards for himself and those around him, while fretting the first review of his fledgling venture.
Who else is in ‘The Bear’ Season 3?
The cast of ‘The Bear’ also includes Matty Matheson and Edwin Lee Gibson, with a sprinkling of cameos including the returning likes of Will Poulter.
Matty Matheson in ‘The Bear.’ Photo: Courtesy of FX.
