Tag: teyonah parris

  • Watch the Marvel Movies in Story Order

    Watch the Marvel Movies in Story Order

    Marvel Studios' Marvel Cinematic Universe. Photo: Marvels Studio.
    Marvel Studios’ Marvel Cinematic Universe. Photo: Marvels Studio.

    It’s fair to say that the Marvel movies, specifically the Marvel Cinematic Universe releases, have reached “cultural event” status.  And there’s a strong case to be made that the MCU is a currently a pop culture juggernaut, the likes of which we haven’t since the original ‘Star Wars‘ trilogy hit theaters for the first time.

    Now the MCU saga is continuing on TV, starting with ‘WandaVision‘ and continuing  with ‘Loki,’ ‘The Falcon and the Winter Solider,’ ‘Ms. Marvel,’ ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,’ ‘Hawkeye,’ ‘Moon Knight,’ ‘Secret Invasion‘, ‘Echo‘, ‘Agatha All Along‘, and ‘Daredevil: Born Again‘.

    Not to mention the new “Special Presentation” movies that Marvel has debuted on Disney+ including ‘Werewolf by Night‘ and ‘The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.’

    It is a great time to watch the Marvel movies in order now and you can watch them all on Disney Plus in 4K format. You can even plan virtual Marvel movie nights with your friends using Disney+ GroupWatch feature.


    Captain America: The First Avenger

    (L to R) Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan in 'Captain America: The First Avenger'. Photo: Marvel Studios.
    (L to R) Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan in ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’. Photo: Marvel Studios.

    During World War II, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is a sickly man from Brooklyn who’s transformed into super-soldier Captain America to aid in the war effort. Rogers must stop the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving) – Adolf Hitler’s ruthless head of weaponry, and the leader of an organization that intends to use a mysterious device of untold powers for world domination.

    33906

    Captain Marvel

    The story follows Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races. Set in the 1990s, Captain Marvel is an all-new adventure from a previously unseen period in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    s1QgqWi6s3bA3Mn7Fv8JY2

    Iron Man

    After being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil.

    24396

    The Incredible Hulk

    Scientist Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) scours the planet for an antidote to the unbridled force of rage within him: the Hulk. But when the military masterminds who dream of exploiting his powers force him back to civilization, he finds himself coming face to face with a new, deadly foe.

    34376

    Iron Man 2

    With the world now aware of his dual life as the armored superhero Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) faces pressure from the government, the press and the public to share his technology with the military. Unwilling to let go of his invention, Stark, with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and James ‘Rhodey’ Rhodes (Don Cheadle) at his side, must forge new alliances – and confront powerful enemies.

    4cOBZDQjuTEdYwsIsMkmE

    Thor

    Against his father Odin’s (Anthony Hopkins) will, The Mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth) – a powerful but arrogant warrior god – recklessly reignites an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.

    30881

    The Avengers

    When an unexpected enemy emerges and threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins!

    33907

    Iron Man 3

    When Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.

    52353

    Thor: The Dark World

    Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos… but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

    54329

    Captain America: The Winter Soldier

    (L to R) Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson in 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier'. Photo: Marvel Studios.
    (L to R) Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson in ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’. Photo: Marvel Studios.

    After the cataclysmic events in New York with ‘The Avengers’, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), aka Captain America is living quietly in Washington, D.C. and trying to adjust to the modern world. But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under attack, Steve becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the world at risk. Joining forces with the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Captain America struggles to expose the ever-widening conspiracy while fighting off professional assassins sent to silence him at every turn. When the full scope of the villainous plot is revealed, Captain America and the Black Widow enlist the help of a new ally, the Falcon (Anthony Mackie). However, they soon find themselves up against an unexpected and formidable enemy—the Winter Soldier.

    54664

    Guardians of the Galaxy

    Light years from Earth, 26 years after being abducted, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) finds himself the prime target of a manhunt after discovering an orb wanted by Ronan the Accuser.

    54663

    Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2

    The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill’s (Chris Pratt) true parentage.

    20068340

    Avengers: Age of Ultron

    When Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron (James Spader) emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure.

    20052338

    Ant-Man

    Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Doctor Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.

    10129934

    Captain America: Civil War

    Following the events of ‘Age of Ultron’, the collective governments of the world pass an act designed to regulate all superhuman activity. This polarizes opinion amongst the Avengers, causing two factions to side with Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) or Captain America (Chris Evans), which causes an epic battle between former allies.

    65108

    Black Widow

    Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.

    tT8ZzfW3h27psN6LzQLDl4

    Spider-Man: Homecoming

    Following the events of ‘Captain America: Civil War’, Peter Parker (Tom Holland), with the help of his mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), tries to balance his life as an ordinary high school student in Queens, New York City, with fighting crime as his superhero alter ego Spider-Man as a new threat, the Vulture (Michael Keaton), emerges.

    20082370

    Black Panther

    Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa / Black Panther in 2018's 'Black Panther.'
    Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa / Black Panther in 2018’s ‘Black Panther.’

    King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) returns home to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country’s new leader. However, T’Challa soon finds that he is challenged for the throne by factions within his own country as well as without. Using powers reserved to Wakandan kings, T’Challa assumes the Black Panther mantle to join with ex-girlfriend Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), the queen-mother, his princess-kid sister, members of the Dora Milaje (the Wakandan ‘special forces’) and an American secret agent, to prevent Wakanda from being dragged into a world war.

    20083572

    Doctor Strange

    After his career is destroyed, a brilliant but arrogant surgeon (Benedict Cumberbatch) gets a new lease on life when a sorcerer takes him under her wing and trains him to defend the world against evil.

    20060089

    Thor: Ragnarok

    Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is imprisoned on the other side of the universe and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok, the destruction of his home-world and the end of Asgardian civilization, at the hands of a powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela (Cate Blanchett).

    20076120

    Ant-Man and the Wasp

    Just when his time under house arrest is about to end, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) once again puts his freedom at risk to help Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) dive into the quantum realm and try to accomplish, against time and any chance of success, a very dangerous rescue mission.

    0vWXbc8UpzcWr8qT7MbLp4

    Avengers: Infinity War

    As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos (Josh Brolin). A despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment – the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain.

    20083432

    Avengers: Endgame

    After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War, the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos (Josh Brolin). With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos’ actions and restore order to the universe once and for all, no matter what consequences may be in store.

    P4hIwBTPRnwELWrG1VOML2

    Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

    Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization and his father, Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung).

    jxexWZrAsj4OkSGUYgMST1

    Spider-Man: Far From Home

    Peter Parker (Tom Holland) and his friends go on a summer trip to Europe. However, they will hardly be able to rest – Peter will have to agree to help Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) uncover the mystery of creatures that cause natural disasters and destruction throughout the continent.

    20063489


    Spider-Man: No Way Home

    Tom Holland in 'Spider-Man: No Way Home.' Photo: Marvel Studios.
    Tom Holland in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home.’ Photo: Marvel Studios.

    Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life from the high-stakes of being a super-hero. When he asks for help from Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) the stakes become even more dangerous, forcing him to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man. Teaming with other Multiverse Spider-Men (Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield), they must now work together to take out the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina), Electro (Jamie Foxx) and other Spider-Man villains from around the multiverse.

    1jkAWdNGH1gxE3kmxbZFq4

    Eternals

    The Eternals are a team of ancient aliens who have been living on Earth in secret for thousands of years. When an unexpected tragedy forces them out of the shadows, they are forced to reunite against mankind’s most ancient enemy, the Deviants.

    7ntA9bxQAz88yPJhNae7O1

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

    Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), with the help of mystical allies both old and new, traverses the mind-bending and dangerous alternate realities of the Multiverse to confront a mysterious new adversary.

    Yn5kjVbedpQ4FE8rL2agE6

    Thor: Love and Thunder

    After his retirement is interrupted by Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), a galactic killer who seeks the extinction of the gods, Thor Odinson (Chris Hemsworth) enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg, and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who now wields Mjolnir as the Mighty Thor. Together they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late.

    A7uWxSuNaTC8jVhL2FovZ2

    Werewolf by Night

    On a dark and somber night, a secret cabal of monster hunters emerge from the shadows and gather at the foreboding Bloodstone Temple following the death of their leader. In a strange and macabre memorial to the leader’s life, the attendees are thrust into a mysterious and deadly competition for a powerful relic—a hunt that will ultimately bring them face to face with a dangerous monster.

    oM9yD6G0SaTUrzO8Ewca17

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

    Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s (Chadwick Boseman) death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda.

    YfwFRIH7gcF9NDbGgfedc2

    The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

    On a mission to make Christmas unforgettable for Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), the Guardians head to Earth in search of the perfect present. The special follows Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) as they set out to give Quill the best Christmas ever, after discovering that Yondu (Michael Rooker) ruined the holiday for him as a child.

    RRfhVBh4lFCPlYzf21OFr5

    Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3

    Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), still reeling from the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.

    k5kA3qeDcQFylAb4AgIbb6

    Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

    (L to R) Kathryn Newton as Cassandra "Cassie" Lang and Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man in Marvel Studios' 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.' Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2022 Marvel.
    (L to R) Kathryn Newton as Cassandra “Cassie” Lang and Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man in Marvel Studios’ ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.’ Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2022 Marvel.

    Super-Hero partners Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), along with with Hope’s parents Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) , and Scott’s daughter Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton), find themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought possible and pits them against Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors).

    B1SAaPWX3xWKnawiOgxUQ1

    The Marvels

    (L to R) Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, and Teyonah Parris as Captain Monica Rambeau in Marvel Studios' 'The Marvels.' Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 MARVEL.
    (L to R) Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, and Teyonah Parris as Captain Monica Rambeau in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 MARVEL.

    Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), aka Captain Marvel, has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. But unintended consequences see Carol shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with that of Jersey City super-fan Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), aka Ms. Marvel, and Carol’s estranged niece, now S.A.B.E.R. astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris). Together, this unlikely trio must team up and learn to work in concert to save the universe.

    clU8QkqfIHVJwWPVCjfPl3

    Captain America: Brave New World

    Captain America/Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) in Marvel Studios' 'Captain America: Brave New World'. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2024 Marvel.
    Captain America/Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) in Marvel Studios’ ‘Captain America: Brave New World’. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2024 Marvel.

    After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), Sam (Anthony Mackie) finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.

    38PIIqJ72BWyVUfWZQqug4

    Thunderbolts*’

    (L to R) Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Bob (Lewis Pullman), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan)in Marvel Studios' 'Thunderbolts*'. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. © 2025 Marvel.
    (L to R) Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Bob (Lewis Pullman), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan)in Marvel Studios’ ‘Thunderbolts*’. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. © 2025 Marvel.

    After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, seven disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.

    ySD9fRBhzaiO2TcznWDp2

    The Fantastic Four: First Steps

    (L to R) Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios' 'Fantastic Four: First Steps'. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025 Marvel.
    (L to R) Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025 Marvel.

    Against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel’s First Family is forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, while defending Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner).

    z9uHs9M5vfCiKZCJCNg4I6 KTFxVjdF

    Deadpool & Wolverine

    (L to R) Hugh Jackman, Wesley Snipes, Channing Tatum, Dafne Keen, Ryan Reynolds and Jennifer Garner in 'Deadpool & Wolverine'. Photo: Marvel Studios.
    (L to R) Hugh Jackman, Wesley Snipes, Channing Tatum, Dafne Keen, Ryan Reynolds and Jennifer Garner in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’. Photo: Marvel Studios.

    Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ delivers the ultimate, iconic, cinematic team-up throw-down on July 26.

    FW15JuJGFTtwqnkn4XqPf5

    Check out our post where we also ranked all of the Marvel movies from worst to best.

  • TV Review: ‘What If…?’ Season 3

    The Watcher (voiced by Jeffrey Wright) in Marvel Animation Television's 'What If...?' Season 3. Photo courtesy of Marvel Animation. © 2024 Marvel. All Rights Reserved.
    The Watcher (voiced by Jeffrey Wright) in Marvel Animation Television’s ‘What If…?’ Season 3. Photo courtesy of Marvel Animation. © 2024 Marvel. All Rights Reserved.

    Landing on Disney+ daily across eight days from December 22nd, the second season of Marvel’s Disney+ animated series ‘What If…?’ wraps up the show’s run –– at least for now –– with another set of episodes where several build to a grand, multiverse-hopping finale.

    Disney’s Marvel arm has seen something of a renewal this year, between the success of ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ (even if that film poked plenty of fun at how tired the idea of the multiverse seems these days) and ‘Agatha All Along.’ And now here comes the welcome return of ‘What If…?’ which again blends more stand-alone stories with some clever easter eggs (and in one case, an actual egg) that knit together to spin a bigger tale around Jeffrey Wright’s powerful The Watcher. Who, it turns out, will have to answer for meddling in the affairs of different universes.

    Does ‘What If…?’ Season 3 still provide multiversal fun?

    A scene from Marvel Animation’s 'What If...?' Season 3. Photo courtesy of Marvel Animation. © 2024 Marvel. All Rights Reserved.
    A scene from Marvel Animation’s ‘What If…?’ Season 3. Photo courtesy of Marvel Animation. © 2024 Marvel. All Rights Reserved.

    In keeping with the previous two seasons, the new run of ‘What If…?’ offers a blend of intriguing possibilities and an overarching spine that only starts to reveal itself towards the end of this final eight episodes. Those who have seen the previous seasons won’t be surprised at what it is building to, though it’s mostly satisfying.

    But the pleasure in this show is usually more in the individual episodes, which here run the gamut between the hilarious (one focused on Howard the Duck and his unlikely, but somehow perfect relationship) and the heartbreaking (an epic, dystopian story of what happens with a ‘Black Panther’-associated character following the near destruction of Earth by Tiamut the celestial). Indeed, there is better use of several elements of the ‘Eternals’ than in the movie itself.

    Another welcome element, near prescient, given the runaway success of her solo show, is the presence of Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha Harkness.

    And that’s probably about all we can say on that front, given the extensive embargoes in place on this!

    Script and Direction

    (L to R) Byrdie (voiced by Natasha Lyonne), Captain Carter/Peggy Carter (voiced by Hayley Atwell), and Kahhori (voiced by Devery Jacobs) in Marvel Animation Television's 'What If...?' Season 3. Photo courtesy of Marvel Animation. © 2024 Marvel. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Byrdie (voiced by Natasha Lyonne), Captain Carter/Peggy Carter (voiced by Hayley Atwell), and Kahhori (voiced by Devery Jacobs) in Marvel Animation Television’s ‘What If…?’ Season 3. Photo courtesy of Marvel Animation. © 2024 Marvel. All Rights Reserved.

    The regular writing team of Matthew Chauncey, Ryan Little and A.C. Bradley are back for the season, and the scripts run the usual gamut of superb to solid. While there isn’t perhaps the knockout winner of, say, last year’s festive episode, there remains a good balance of character interaction and fascinating peeks into unusual corners of the MCU while also blending in some more comics-faithful moments for fans of the printed pages.

    Bryan Andrews and Stephan Franck return to direct the episodes and the look of the show continues to evolve in subtle ways. Most of the characters will be instantly recognizable, while others, such as Obadiah Stane (voiced here by Kiff VandenHeuvel rather than Jeff Bridges) might take a moment.

    Performances

    Storm (voiced by Alison Sealy-Smith) in Marvel Animation Television's 'What If...?' Season 3. Photo courtesy of Marvel Animation. © 2024 Marvel. All Rights Reserved.
    Storm (voiced by Alison Sealy-Smith) in Marvel Animation Television’s ‘What If…?’ Season 3. Photo courtesy of Marvel Animation. © 2024 Marvel. All Rights Reserved.

    As with the past seasons, the new batch of episodes has a blend of original MCU performers (the likes of Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Mackie, Laurence Fishburne, Samuel L. Jackson, Kat Dennings, David Harbour and Hayley Atwell) rubbing shoulders –– or perhaps that should be vocal chords –– with replacements (multi-voice talent Ross Marquand the MVP here).

    There are the occasionally jarring replacements, but on the whole, it’s a satisfying set of voices. Seth Green is great as usual as Howard the Duck, playing perfectly off the energy of Kat Dennings as Darcy. And kudos to Wright who, when given more to do as the Watcher than simply observe and narrate.

    Oh, and you won’t tire of hearing Jackson emote the phrase “Mr. and Mrs.… The Duck.”

    It’s also fun to hear the likes of Jason Isaacs –– something of a genre titan thanks to ‘Harry Potter,’ ‘Star Trek,’ ‘Star Wars’ and the DC animated appearances he’s put in –– as a powerful cosmic entity whose voice fairly drips with withering sarcasm.

    Final Thoughts

    (L to R) Kate Bishop (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld) and Shang-Chi (voiced by Simu Liu) in Marvel Animation Television's 'What If...?' Season 3. Photo courtesy of Marvel Animation. © 2024 Marvel. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Kate Bishop (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld) and Shang-Chi (voiced by Simu Liu) in Marvel Animation Television’s ‘What If…?’ Season 3. Photo courtesy of Marvel Animation. © 2024 Marvel. All Rights Reserved.

    Though it may not quite hit the highs of last year’s festive season run, Season 3 of ‘What If…?’ certainly has enough pleasures to keep fans happy. And though the big finale feels a little predictable at times, it is definitely enough to leave you wishing the company would commission future seasons, especially given how effective the creative team has been in making compelling narratives fit in sub-30-minute episodes.

    ‘What If…?’ Season 3 receives 8 out of 10 stars.

    QWDFtOvtxypXw6I56OqxM7

    What’s the plot of ‘What If…?’ Season 3?

    “What If…?” returns in Season 3 for its culminating adventure through the multiverse.

    Watch as classic characters make unexpected choices that will mutate their worlds into spectacular alternate versions of the MCU. The Watcher (Jeffrey Wright) will guide viewers as the series traverses new genres, bigger spectacles, and incredible new characters.

    Who is in the cast of  ‘What If…?’ Season 3?

    Marvel Animation's 'What If...?' Season 3. Photo courtesy of Marvel Animation. © 2024 Marvel. All Rights Reserved.
    Marvel Animation’s ‘What If…?’ Season 3. Photo courtesy of Marvel Animation. © 2024 Marvel. All Rights Reserved.

    Marvel TV Shows on Disney+:

    Buy MCU Movies On Amazon

    tBzATiml
  • ‘The Marvels’ Crashes at the Box Office

    Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers and Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Marvel Studios' 'The Marvels.'
    (L to R) Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers and Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 MARVEL.

    Preview:

    • ‘The Marvels’ opened to $47 million at the domestic box office.
    • Globally, the movie has made just $88 million.
    • The movie stars Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris and Iman Vellani.

    The movie’s tagline read, “Higher. Further. Faster. Together.”, but the box office results for ‘The Marvels’ has sadly proved to be more “Lower. Slower. Alone.” It’s true: the latest release from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, once considered a license to print money, has cratered at the domestic and international box office.

    ‘The Marvels’, the sequel to 2019’s ‘Captain Marvel’ (which soared to $1.13 billion in total from its own worldwide release), has failed to capture the imaginations of audiences, and earned just $47 million domestically, with $88.5 million worldwide.

    clU8QkqfIHVJwWPVCjfPl3

    What’s the Story of ‘The Marvels’?

    Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, and Teyonah Parris as Captain Monica Rambeau in Marvel Studios' 'The Marvels.'
    (L to R) Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, and Teyonah Parris as Captain Monica Rambeau in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 MARVEL.

    ‘The Marvels’, directed by ‘Candyman’s Nia DaCosta, picks up the story of Carol Danvers, AKA Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) as she’s forced to face the consequences of her actions destroying the Supreme Intelligence of the Kree race.

    A vengeful Kree leader, Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton) has discovered a powerful weapon in her crusade to strike back against both Carol and the Kree’s ancient rivals, the Skrulls.

    And the use of the weapon, plus some malfunctioning space transport portals is also affecting the powers of Carol, Monica Rambeau (who knew her as a child and who we met as an adult in ‘WandaVision’, played by Teyonah Parris) and Kamala Khan , AKA Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani), causing them to trade places whenever they employ their abilities.

    The result is a chaotic chase through space to stop Dar-Benn’s plan to wreak havoc on the Skrulls and humanity, one that also ropes in both Kamala’s family and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson).

    ‘The Marvels’: What Happened at the Box Office?

    Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers in Marvel Studios' 'The Marvels.'
    Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 Marvel.

    Critics are already pointing to a slightly confusing storyline, a need to have some knowledge of previous Marvels shows and movies to understand all the characters’ motivations (a common complaint with the MCU’s output) and a general feeling of superhero fatigue –– which has affected fellow superhero studio DC and others in the genre of late.

    There’s also a disappointing notion that despite the movie being a fun, funny adventure, some sections of the audience were turned off by a film in the genre directed by a woman and starring three women.

    Finally, the SAG-AFTRA strike meant that the stars couldn’t promote the movie until the night of release, all of which didn’t help its fate.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘The Marvels’ 

    What’s next for Marvel?

    Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in 'Deadpool 3.'
    (L to R) Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in ‘Deadpool 3.’ Photo courtesy of Ryan Reynolds Instagram account.

    A bad box office result is by no means the end of the MCU –– after all, Marvel titles have had issues before (the likes of the ‘Ant-Man’ series, for one have rarely big giant cinematic hits). But it will almost certainly mean a reconsideration of strategy and ideas moving forward, as has been seen with the company’s small screen output.

    There is no doubt that Disney and Marvel will be pinning their hopes on ‘Deadpool 3’ (which will mark the full formal entry of Ryan Reynolds’ chatty character into the MCU) next year to deliver, and 2025 is now bringing ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ and ‘Thunderbolts’.

    Yet it’s certainly not a good time for the box office behemoth.

    Marvel Studios' 'The Marvels' opens in theaters on July 28, 2023.
    Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels’ opens in theaters on July 28, 2023.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘The Marvels:’

    Buy Tickets: ‘The Marvels’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy ‘Captain Marvel’ On Amazon

    OiX1CcNa
  • Movie Review: ‘The Marvels’

    Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, and Teyonah Parris as Captain Monica Rambeau in Marvel Studios' 'The Marvels.'
    (L to R) Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, and Teyonah Parris as Captain Monica Rambeau in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 MARVEL.

    Opening in theaters on November 10th is the MCU’s 33rd feature film, ‘The Marvels,’ starring Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Teyonah Parris, and Iman Vellani.

    Initial Thoughts

    Long-delayed and awaited with trepidation by MCU fans, ‘The Marvels’ is far from the strongest entry in the franchise’s 33-film library. But it’s not unwatchably bad as rumored, either. There is some crisp action and moments that are inarguably funny and sweet, while other sequences will make one cringe and wonder who thought they were a good idea. Yet it does benefit from some solid performances, especially Iman Vellani in her big screen debut as Ms. Marvel – except that many more casual viewers may not even know who she is.

    Story and Direction

    Director Nia DaCosta on the set of Marvel Studios' 'The Marvels.'
    Director Nia DaCosta on the set of Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 Marvel.

    As ‘The Marvels’ opens, we are barraged with a bunch of material designed to catch us up, including a more or less complete recap of 2019’s ‘Captain Marvel.’ In addition to it being more than four years since that movie came out, ‘The Marvels’ tries to introduce us to two characters we’ve never seen on the big screen before: Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani) and the grown-up version of Captain Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris). Both made their debuts via Marvel shows on Disney+ — ‘Ms. Marvel’ and ‘WandaVision’ respectively (Monica was a little girl in ‘Captain Marvel’) – and it’s a heavy lift to bank so much of this movie on audiences knowing who they are.

    That’s because the emotional core of ‘The Marvels’ is supposed to be the relationship between these three superheroes, and while our three leads do share some excellent chemistry, it’s hard to feel emotionally invested in the way they come together, since we barely know two of them unless we’ve been tuning into their shows. The plot doesn’t offer them much room to develop either, especially Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel.

    Instability in the space-time continuum – caused by the film’s villain, the Kree revolutionary Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton), punching portals in said continuum – leads Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Ms. Marvel, and Monica to all begin switching places with each other every time they use their light-based powers, thanks to “quantum entanglement” (where’s Hank Pym when you need him?). Tracing the problem back to Dar-Benn with the help of Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and his space-based S.A.B.E.R. squad, the three women learn that Dar-Benn is channeling her power through an ancient armband – the companion to a similar artifact around Kamala’s forearm.

    Zawe Ashton as Dar-Benn in Marvel Studios' 'The Marvels.'
    Zawe Ashton as Dar-Benn in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 MARVEL.

    Fueled by a hatred for Captain Marvel that’s rooted in the latter’s past, Dar-Benn hatches a plan that will allow her to take her revenge while also restoring vitality to her depleted Kree home world of Hala – unless the Marvels can stop her.

    There have been numerous reports of trouble behind the scenes on ‘The Marvels,’ and watching the film does give one the sensation of watching a product that was patched together as best as possible and finally just let out into the world. It’s not bad exactly: it moves relatively quickly – almost too fast at points – and some of its best moments have a sense of fun that’s been lacking in some more ponderous MCU efforts. The title trio also have their moments, with Iman Vellani – who made such a sparkling screen debut on ‘Ms. Marvel’ – a standout and finding her footing after some early unsteadiness.

    But the plot seems murky and half-formulated at times, with people and places coming and going and narrative threads either dropped abruptly or just fading away, victims of the surgery that may have whipped this into presentable form. There are also sequences that just don’t work, most notably a sojourn to a planet where all communication is done via song, an ill-conceived stab at a mini-musical that is just embarrassing.

    With the exception of some in-your-face action scenes (including a climactic battle between the Marvels and the villain that does not, for once, involve massive objects falling out of the sky onto buildings), Nia DaCosta’s direction of ‘The Marvels’ feels anonymous, lacking the mood of her previous films ‘Little Woods’ and ‘Candyman.’ Again, it’s mostly the camaraderie of the three leads that makes individual scenes work and keeps ‘The Marvels’ entertaining despite its deep flaws.

    The Title Trio’s Performances

    (Left) Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Marvel Studios' 'The Marvels.' Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 Marvel. (Center) Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers in Marvel Studios' 'The Marvels.' Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 Marvel. (Right) Teyonah Parris as Captain Monica Rambeau in Marvel Studios' 'The Marvels.' Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 Marvel.
    (Left) Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 Marvel. (Center) Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 Marvel. (Right) Teyonah Parris as Captain Monica Rambeau in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 Marvel.

    As we’ve already been saying, Iman Vellani mostly makes good on the promise of her debut in ‘Ms. Marvel.’ Her initial scenes here are a little shaky, as she overemotes and screams, but she settles in and finds her groove, and is a delight from that point out. She is the audience point-of-view character: a Captain Marvel superfan (in other words, an MCU fan) who can’t believe the things she’s seeing and participating in alongside her idol. It’s a warm, sweet, and charming performance.

    Teyonah Parris’ no-nonsense Monica Rambeau is the other standout, also giving an empathetic performance while conveying a strong sense of the powerful woman behind the light blasts. As for Brie Larson, we’ve always felt that she was possibly miscast as Carol Danvers; we still feel that way. While she has moments that are quite effective, there are times when we’re not sure what she’s doing: a blank, wide-eyed expression frequently comes over her face. In the end, while she interacts well with her partners, Larson just doesn’t have – and perhaps never had – the gravitas that this powerful being requires.

    As for the rest of the cast, British actor Zawe Ashton has a wicked grin and blazing eyes as Dar-Benn (in the comics, a male villain so obscure that he was killed after appearing in two books), but she doesn’t get to do a whole lot except fight and hold out her hammer (which is bigger than Mjolnir). Samuel L. Jackson collects his check as a somewhat cutesier Nick Fury, while Zenobia Shroff is as excellent here as she was in ‘Ms. Marvel’ as Kamala’s mom Muneeba.

    Related Article: Director Nia DaCosta and Producer Mary Livonas Talk ‘The Marvels’

    Editing, Production Design and Music

    Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers and Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Marvel Studios' 'The Marvels.'
    (L to R) Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers and Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 MARVEL.

    The editing on “The Marvels” must have been a challenge for its two editors, Evan Schiff and Catrin Hedström. On one hand, some of the action sequences – especially the hand-to-hand combat between the Marvels, Dar-Benn, and her Kree minions, as the three heroes constantly swap places – are kinetic and surprisingly intimate, getting right up close into the action. But other parts of the film feel cut to the very bone, if not beyond, with the plot feeling less like a coherent narrative and more like just a choppy string of events. Plot points and characters get hustled on and offscreen like Oscar winners on a particularly overlong show.

    Cara Brower’s production design is equally bifurcated, with some of the space-based imagery looking like it jumped off a sci-fi magazine cover, while a lot of the story takes place on Carol’s cramped ship and anonymous hallways in both Dar-Benn’s vessel and Nick Fury’s orbital headquarters. Aside from the cosmic stuff and some colorful costumes in the otherwise ill-advised Aladna sequence, there isn’t much that jumps out as compared to other Marvel movies. The visual effects, such a thorn in Marvel’s side these past few years, are…okay. Some of the imagery crackles and looks sharp, while other scenes (particularly an attack on a Skrull refugee camp) look cheaper and flimsier by comparison.

    Finally, Laura Karpman’s music has grandeur but lacks identity. Like other aspects of this movie, it harkens back to a different generation of franchise films and doesn’t have much in the way of a singular theme or motif to make it leap out to the forefront. Like much in “The Marvels,” it seems generic.

    What Does ‘The Marvels’ Mean For The MCU’s Future?

    Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Marvel Studios' 'The Marvels.'
    Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 Marvel.

    Without getting into spoilers, there are seeds planted by ‘The Marvels’ – especially in the tag before the credits roll and a rather mind-blowing mid-credits scene – that are sure to get fans fired up and speculating wildly about what’s next. As well they should: both scenes herald interesting new developments in the MCU. Beyond that, however, it’s difficult to say what comes next for Captain Marvel herself and her place in the Marvel firmament.

    Brie Larson has made her disillusionment with the vicious toxicity surrounding the role very apparent (and good for Marvel for ignoring all that nonsense and giving this movie four female leads), and with “The Marvels” being for most of its length a fairly self-contained story, it’s hard to see what a third “Captain Marvel” would look like. On the other hand, would Larson be willing to play a supporting, mentor-like role to a very different team of Avengers? Like many members of the MCU’s current roster, Carol Danvers’ future doesn’t have a clear path in front of it.

    Final Thoughts

    ‘The Marvels’ is by no means the catastrophe that online rumors and industry buzz have made it out to be. It’s got some terrific attributes, including the presence of Iman Vellani, the chemistry between the three leads, its unrepentant “girl power” message, compact pacing and a sense of fun. But a lot of it feels patched together, some of the humor falls flat, and it demands a lot of viewers who may not be up on all the Marvel shows on Disney+. Whether it represents the MCU managing to maintain a certain amount of quality control during a tough time or a new lower standard for the studio is not yet clear.

    ‘The Marvels’ receives 6 out of 10 stars.

    clU8QkqfIHVJwWPVCjfPl3

    What is the plot of ‘The Marvels’?

    Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), known in the universe as Captain Marvel, suddenly finds herself switching places physically with her superpowered niece Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and an equally powerful teen named Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani). They trace the anomaly back to a villainous Kree leader (Zawe Ashton) who harbors a deep hatred for Carol and nefarious plans for worlds throughout the cosmos.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Marvels’?

    Marvel Studios' 'The Marvels' opens in theaters on July 28, 2023.
    Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels’ opens in theaters on July 28, 2023.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘The Marvels:’

    Buy Tickets: ‘The Marvels’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy ‘Captain Marvel’ On Amazon

    OiX1CcNa
  • ‘The Marvels’ Interview: Nia DaCosta and Mary Livonas

    YqxELmU8

    Opening in theaters on November 10th is ‘The Marvels,’ which is the 33rd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a sequel to 2019’s ‘Captain Marvel’ and a continuation of the Disney+ series ‘Ms. Marvel’ and ‘WandaVision.’

    The movie stars Brie Larson, Iman Vellani, and Teyonah Parris reprising their MCU roles as Carol Danvers, Kamala Khan, and Monica Rambeau, respectively, and was directed by Nia DaCosta (‘Candyman’).

    (Left) 'The Marvels' director Nia DeCosta. (RIght) 'The Marvels' executive producer Mary Livonas.
    (Left) ‘The Marvels’ director Nia DeCosta. (RIght) ‘The Marvels’ executive producer Mary Livonas.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of sitting down in-person with director Nia DaCosta and executive producer Mary Livonas (‘WandaVision’) to talk about their work on ‘The Marvels.’

    They discussed the new movie, the challenges of crafting a ‘Captain Marvel’ sequel that also includes elements from ‘Ms. Marvel’ and ‘WandaVision,’ introducing Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau to the big screen, working with Brie Larson, navigating the “Marvel System,” the most difficult scene to shoot, and what fans can expect from breakout character Goose.

    Director Nia DaCosta on the set of Marvel Studios' 'The Marvels.'
    Director Nia DaCosta on the set of Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 Marvel.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with DeCosta, Livonas, and composer Laura Karpman.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Nia, can you talk about the challenges as a filmmaker of coming into direct a sequel that is also drawing on storylines from the TV series ‘Ms. Marvel’ and ‘WandaVision,’ as well as the 32 previous MCU movies? Was it difficult to find the right tone?

    Nia DaCosta: Weirdly, the tone was one of the easiest things. It came naturally. I really wanted this to have a very specific tone because it’s a very different kind of film, we have these three heroes together, and it was important to me that it was funny. I wanted a lot of the humor to not necessarily come from jokes, but to come from just the warmth and the reality of the characters. So, the Khan family are just so funny, because their youngest member is a superhero and they’re like, “We’re from Jersey City. What are you talking about?” Then Carol being jaded, and Monica having her experience and her way of dealing with the craziness of everything that’s going on. So, tone was important to me and the thing that came most naturally.

    MF: Mary, as a producer, was it difficult working with Marvel to keep track of all the continuity?

    Mary Livonas: Well, what’s been so great is that this is a team-up that’s been in the works for a very long time. I was fortunate to work on the first ‘Captain Marvel’ movie, and it was a definite decision to make Monica Rambeau the age that she was in that installment because it took place in the past. Because we knew that we wanted Carol and Monica to one day share the big screen together. Then of course when ‘Ms. Marvel’ came up as a possibility for a Disney+ show and that show was developed and came out, it was an awesome experience to work in lockstep with that team to understand what foundation they were laying. But what’s wonderful is that the notion of a team-up is so ingrained in the DNA of Marvel Comics that to put it on screen felt natural for us. Again, I was lucky enough to work on ‘WandaVision,’ so continuing that story thread was also wish fulfillment and a blast to do. Really this is a team up movie unlike anything that we’ve seen before in Marvel. We’ve had the adventures, but this is a team-up movie that stands on its own two feet.

    Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, and Teyonah Parris as Captain Monica Rambeau in Marvel Studios' 'The Marvels.'
    (L to R) Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, and Teyonah Parris as Captain Monica Rambeau in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 MARVEL.

    MF: For both of you, what was it like to have the opportunity to introduce Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau to the big screen?

    ND: It was so fun. It was so great. Especially because I love ‘Ms. Marvel.’ Ms. Marvel is one of my favorite characters in the comics, and I really loved meeting Monica Rambeau in ‘WandaVision.’ So, being able to bring them onto the big screen and do more with them and throw them into a much bigger scenario than they’d been in in the TV shows was really cool.

    Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers and Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Marvel Studios' 'The Marvels.'
    (L to R) Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers and Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 Marvel.

    ML: What’s great is just the ability to celebrate the incredible performances and the characters that Teyonah and Iman have helped develop and introduce them to a larger audience. What’s wonderful about this film and this installment is the notion that together we’re more than the sum of our parts and we certainly find that in the case of ‘The Marvels.’

    MF: Mary, what was it like for you to collaborate with director Nia DaCosta on this project?

    ML: It’s been awesome helping bring Nia’s vision to life and creating this story together. She’s not just wickedly cool, but she’s a total nerd. When we first met, we just gushed about all the characters that we love for hours. So, to make the movie alongside someone who’s as passionate, with a fellow fan was a joy. I can say the same about our crew members, but Nia is just such a talent and a force. Of course, she helped write on this as well and we’re lucky to have her talent.

    Related Article: 10 Things We Learned at the ‘Secret Invasion’ Virtual Press Conference

    Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury in Marvel Studios' 'The Marvels.'
    Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 Marvel.

    MF: Nia, I understand that you’re a big of fan Marvel Comics. How did your knowledge of these characters and the Marvel universe uniquely qualify you to direct this movie?

    ND: I think it was less the knowledge, and more my passion for it. I was really excited by it, and I think because I was a fan, it helped me to put trust into the Marvel system, even when I was like, “Oh my God, I would never do this usually.” It helped in that way. Also, just from day to day, being able to have people on wires, flying around and introduce characters that I really love from the comics, that was so fun. So that’s helpful, just in terms of keeping the passion alive.

    MF: Can you expand on your experience working with the “Marvel System?” What was that like for you as a filmmaker?

    ND: Yeah, it’s interesting because this is one movie in a huge line of films that have come before and will come after, and television shows, and they’re making so much more now, so it was interesting having to navigate and communicate between projects. For the most part, we got to do what we wanted to do, but you always are in a constant conversation with everyone, with Kevin Feige, with the ‘Ms. Marvel” show. Asking about the things coming after, trying to figure out information like, “Have you figured out what you’re doing with that yet? Because that will influence whether or not I have this in this scene.” So, it’s so different, but it was also a fun challenge.

    Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers in Marvel Studios' 'The Marvels.'
    Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 Marvel.

    MF: What’s it like having actress Brie Larson as number one on your call sheet? What kind of tone does she set on the set?

    ND: Well, she’d done ‘Captain Marvel’, she’d done ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ which is obviously one of the biggest movies of all time, not even just because of how successful it was, but just the making of it. So, she was an old hand. She really came in with so much information and a desire to help everyone else and have a good experience. When we initially talked, we both agreed this should be a joyful experience and fun, and she wanted everyone to have a good time. It’s really demanding on actors physically and emotionally doing this kind of movie. You’re on wires, you’re working a lot, so she was a great leader in that sense.

    Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers in Marvel Studios' 'The Marvels.'
    Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 Marvel.

    ML: Brie’s an incredibly giddy, fun-loving person who brings such earnestness and compassion to the role as well as on set. She really helped lead the charge and make sure that the environment was a chill, fun one.

    MF: Nia, was there one scene or sequence in particular that was especially difficult or challenging to shoot?

    ND: Not extremely, but that first big set piece that we have with the switching and the fighting. So that was a big challenge of figuring out the switching, and who’s where when, where are they going, where are they coming from, and what side do we show. Once we got through that big challenge, it really helped us to have an easier time with the rest of the film. So that, I think, would be probably the most challenging. But also, the most informative.

    Goose the Flerken in Marvel Studios' 'The Marvels.'
    Goose the Flerken in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 Marvel.

    MF: Finally, Goose was the breakout star of ‘Captain Marvel,’ what can fans expect from the character in ‘The Marvels?’

    ND: Goose just has the best time in this film, and I think she is the fourth Marvel. She’s the star of the film. So, I think there’s a lot of exciting stuff with Goose in this movie.

    Flerkittens in Marvel Studios' 'The Marvels.'
    Flerkittens in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 Marvel.

    ML: Goose continues to be as chaotic as Goose has ever been and as audiences have seen quick glimpses of, there are more Flerkens afoot. Rizzo is the US-based Goose, but we had Nemo and Tango with us in the UK. They are very exclusive celebrities who have very regimented training schedules. They’re awesome to work with. Incredibly talented, beautiful souls.

    clU8QkqfIHVJwWPVCjfPl3

    What is the plot of ‘The Marvels’?

    While investigating a wormhole linked to the Kree, Monica Rambeau’s (Teyonah Parris) powers become entangled with those of Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) and Carol Danvers (Brie Larson). The trio team up to determine why they are swapping places with each other every time they use their powers.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Marvels’?

    Marvel Studios' 'The Marvels' opens in theaters on July 28, 2023.
    Marvel Studios’ ‘The Marvels’ opens in theaters on July 28, 2023.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘The Marvels:’

    Buy Tickets: ‘The Marvels’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy ‘Captain Marvel’ On Amazon

     

  • Trailer for ‘They Cloned Tyrone’

    hYbNxyf8

    Of all the various shows and movies teased by Netflix as part of its big “TUDUM” virtual event this weekend, perhaps one of the most unexpected – and certainly the wackiest – was the pulpy, pointed mystery caper ‘They Cloned Tyrone’, which stars John Boyega, ‘WandaVision’s Teyonah Parris and Jamie Foxx.

    They’re starring in the new movie, which tells the story of Yo-Yo (Teyonah Parris), Slick (Jamie Foxx), and Fontaine (John Boyega), three unlikely friends who are brought together by their shared discovery of a massive, secret governmental surveillance plan to monitor the lives of Black people before disappearing them and replacing them with clones.

    It’s hard to tell from the trailer just what the end goal of snatching people up is, or how three conspiracy theorists are supposed to take down that sort of operation on their own. But they’re going to give it a shot.

    This first look at the movie proves it’s certainly going for a 1980s vibe, and a campy one (check out Foxx and Parris duetting on a funky number in an elevator, using their guns as microphones) though with definite hints that there’s some serious social commentary lurking a few layers deeper.

    J. Alphonse Nicholson, Robert Tinsley, David Alan Grier, James Moses Black, Megan Sousa, Joshua Michel, Charity Jordan, Tamberla Perry and, though he doesn’t show up in this first burst of footage, Kiefer Sutherland, are all part of the cast.

    Teyonah Parris as YO-YO, Jamie Foxx (Producer) as Slick Charles, and John Boyega as Fontaine in 'They Cloned Tyrone.'
    (L to R) Teyonah Parris as YO-YO, Jamie Foxx (Producer) as Slick Charles, and John Boyega as Fontaine in ‘They Cloned Tyrone.’ Photo: Parrish Lewis/Netflix.

    ‘They Cloned Tyrone’ is directed by ‘Creed II’ and ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy‘ scriptwriter Juel Taylor, who makes his directorial debut and shares a writing credit on this with Tony Rettenmaier.

    Boyega’s having a good year so far – between ‘The Woman King’ and ‘Breaking’, he’s been scoring praise for his work, even if he did end up departing another Netflix project, ‘Rebel Ridge’, in 2021. And outside of the streamer, he has fans excited by gearing up to finally appear in a sequel to cult sci-fi pic ‘Attack the Block’ with director Joe Cornish.

    Foxx, meanwhile, has been on a run of collaborations with the streaming service – he’s been a conflicted action hero for 2020’s ‘Power Project’ and took down vampires in this year’s thriller ‘Day Shift’. He’s scheduled to be seen next year opposite an “un-retired” Cameron Diaz in action comedy ‘Back in Action’.

    As for Parris, she’ll be back as ‘WandaVision’s Monica Rambeau for ‘Captain Marvel’ sequel ‘The Marvels’, sharing screen time with Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers who, of course, was best friends with her mother Maria (Lashana Lynch in that first film) and an inspiration for young Monica (played then by Akira Akbar).

    Scheduled for release on July 28, 2023, ‘The Marvels’ will also see ‘Ms. Marvel’s Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) finally meeting her superhero idol.

    Netflix has yet to confirm a release date for ‘They Cloned Tyrone’.

    'They Cloned Tyrone.'
    ‘They Cloned Tyrone.’ Photo: Parrish Lewis/Netflix @ 2022.
    AN8AYq5VVBeLfZRoMiF255
  • Marvel, Star Wars, & Pixar Updates from the Disney+ Day Announcements

    On Friday, November 12th, Disney+ celebrated its second anniversary with Disney+ Day, where they announced literally dozens of upcoming series from Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar and more. The presentations, which include some new clips, first looks, and upcoming announcements, can currently be viewed on Disney+, but Moviefone is here to break it all down for you.

    MARVEL

    The Marvel video presentation, which is now available on Disney+, begins with recaps of all the 2021 Marvel series that have been released so far including ‘WandaVision,’ ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,’ ‘Loki,’ and ‘What If…?’ Then we get an extended trailer for ‘Hawkeye,’ which drops on November 24th. We also got to see a full scene from the show, which involves Jeremey Renner’s Hawkeye and Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop stealing a car and then getting into a chase while Hawkeye teaches Kate how to use his trick arrows. The sequence is one continuous shot, ending with the two heroes swinging off of a bridge on to a moving train.

    The official synopsis for the series confirms that it is set in a post-blip New York City and follows Clint Barton on a seemingly simple mission to get back to his family for Christmas. But when a threat from his past shows up, Hawkeye reluctantly teams up with 22-year-old skilled archer Kate Bishop to unravel a criminal conspiracy. In addition to Renner and Stanfield, the series also features Vera Farmiga (‘The Departed’), Brian d’Arcy James (‘Spotlight’) and Florence Pugh reprising her ‘Black Widow’ role as Yelena Belova.

    The video presentation also includes fans first look at Oscar Isaac in ‘Moon Knight.’ The series will follow the story of this complex vigilante who suffers from dissociative identity disorder. The multiple identities that live inside him find themselves thrusted into a deadly war of the Gods against the backdrop of modern and ancient Egypt. The clips basically show Isaac’s Marc Spencer being tortured by his dreams, with the character’s voice-over explaining that to the audience. We only get very quick glimpses of Isaac in the Moon Knight outfit, but the presentation ends with him in full costume jumping off of rooftops with the Moon lit full behind him. Actor Ethan Hawke is also set to appear as the show’s big bad.

    We also got new footage from the upcoming series, ‘She-Hulk.’ The teaser is narrated by Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk, as she explains that she is a lawyer but also, something else. There is a quick body shot of Jennifer fully-green with her comic book accurate costume, although it cuts away before we see She-Hulk’s face. We also get two glimpses of Mark Ruffalo, who returns as Jennifer’s cousin, Bruce Banner/Hulk.

    The first scene shows Bruce experimenting on Jennifer when she is just a child, presumably in a flashback, but what is interesting is that he is Smart Hulk in this scene. Since ‘Shang-Chi’ gave us an end-credit scene that revealed that at some point after the events of ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ Smart Hulk reverted back to Bruce, it makes you wonder if this scene takes place between ‘Endgame’ and ‘Shang-Chi.’ If that is the case, and Jennifer was a child during that time period, it makes you wonder if the bulk of the series itself will make a time jump and take place decades after ‘Endgame’? We also get a clip that looks more like a commercial, with Jennifer and Bruce dressed in retro clothes and Jennifer saying, “”Don’t make me angry, you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry,” which is clearly a nod to the 1970’s series, The Incredible Hulk.

    The last series to get new footage in the video presentation was ‘Ms. Marvel,’ which stars Iman Vellani as 16-year-old Kamala Khan. A Pakistani American and a fan-girl of the Avengers, Kamala is overjoyed when she discovers she has superpowers, and now must use them to find her place in the world. The footage shows her revealing her iconic mask for the first time and ends with Kamala standing on a New Jersey rooftop wearing a Captain Marvel Halloween Costume and preparing to use her powers to fly for the first time. Vellani is set to reprise her role, along with Teyonah Parris from ‘WandaVision’ and Brie Larson, in the upcoming feature film, ‘The Marvels.’

    But that’s not it! Marvel also announced a slew of new upcoming shows, some of which had been rumored, and also confirmed that ‘Loki’ and ‘What If…?’ will be getting second seasons. In fact, ‘What If…?’ will also be getting a spinoff with the new animated series ‘Marvel Zombies,’ which imagines a world where Marvel’s heroes have been turned into the undead. Staying with animation, Disney+ also announced a sequel to the classic 90’s animated X-Men series entitled ‘X-Men ’97,’ as well as ‘Spider-Man: Freshman Year,’ which will look at Peter Parker’s first year in high school, and ‘I Am Groot,’ a series of original shorts starring everyone’s favorite sentient tree.

    On the live-action side, ‘Secret Invasion’ was confirmed, which is based on the popular Marvel Comics series. The show will bring Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos back together to fight a faction of shape-shifting Skrulls who have been infiltrating Earth for years. Also confirmed were ‘Echo,’ which will star Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez, who will be introduced in ‘Hawkeye,’ and James Gunn will write and direct ‘The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.’

    Marvel also announced two new series based on the Iron Man franchise. First is ‘Armor Wars,’ which will star Don Cheadle reprising his role as War Machine. The second is ‘Ironheart,’ a series that will star Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams, a genius inventor who creates the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man. Finally, Marvel confirmed the recent rumor that Kathryn Hahn will reprise her ‘WandaVision’ role as Agatha Harkness in her own series, which will be called ‘Agatha: House of Harkness.’


    LUCASFILM

    While there was no new footage included, fans got their first look at the making of the upcoming Star Wars series, ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi.’ The video is narrated by director Debbie Chow and actor Ewan McGregor and explains what fans can expect from the new series. “For this character to come back, the fans have been waiting long enough,” said McGregor. Chow explained that this is a “dark time,” for Kenobi and that it is “not safe” for him with “Jedi hunters” on the rise. McGregor said that his character has one task, which is “to keep Luke safe,” but Chow explained how that is just a starting point for the series.

    “The most beautiful thing of all is that it has brought me back together with Hayden,” McGregor said about the return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. “We couldn’t tell the story of Obi-Wan Kenobi without addressing Anakin or Darth Vader,” added Chow. We are then given some behind the scenes shots of McGregor at rehearsal practicing his lightsaber skills. “To have another swing at each other, might be quite satisfying for everybody,” the actor teased in closing.

    Disney+ also released a Boba Fett documentary called ‘Under the Helmet: The Legacy of Boba Fett.’ It is mostly a “history of the character” video and does not include any new footage from the upcoming series ‘The Book of Boba Fett,’ which premieres on December 29th.

    Finally, the presentation included a video from the set of the new series ‘Willow,’ which is based on the 1988 Ron Howard-directed and George Lucas-produced movie. The film’s star, Warwick Davis returns as the title character, and introduced the cast that includes Ruby Cruz (‘Mare of Easttown’), Erin Kellyman (‘The Falcon and The Winter Soldier’), and Tony Revolori (‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’). The video was done “tongue in cheek” with Davis playing a version of his arrogant ‘Life’s Too Short’ character and getting upset when the younger cast can’t remember the original film and begin to question why anyone would want a sequel series!


    PIXAR

    Unfortunately, Pixar did not have a lot to announce outside of a Cars-based animated series called ‘Cars on the Road,’ which will feature Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy reprising their roles as Lightning McQueen and Mater, respectively. Other announcements from the animation company included behind the scenes documentaries for the upcoming feature films ‘Turning Red’ and ‘Lightyear,’ as well as a new series called ‘Win or Lose,’ which is an animated show that will highlight the perspectives of different characters as a middle school coed softball team prepares for their championship game.


    DISNEY STUDIOS AND NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

    On the Disney Studios side, a remake of ‘Cheaper by the Dozen’ was announced, which will star Gabrielle Union (‘Bad Boys II’) and Zach Braff (‘Oz the Great and Powerful’) and is set to premiere in March 2022. ‘Enchanted’ fans will be happy to learn that the long-awaited sequel, ‘Disenchanted’ will hit the streaming network in the fall of 2022 and once again star Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey. It was also announced that comedians John Mulaney and Andy Samberg will star in the new live-action/CG animation film entitled ‘Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers,’ which is based on Disney’s popular chipmunk characters and will premiere in the spring of 2022.

    Director Robert Zemeckis’ ‘Pinocchio,’ based on the Disney animated classic, will bow in the fall of 2022 as well, and stars Tom Hanks, Cynthia Erivo, and Luke Evans, with the voices of Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Keegan-Michael Key and Lorraine Bracco. Also premiering in the fall of 2022, just in time for Halloween, is ‘Hocus Pocus 2,’ which is a sequel to the cult classic 1990’s movie. Returning stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy are all set to reprise their roles as the Sanderson sisters in the new sequel. A new clip from Peter Jackson’s upcoming documentary, ‘The Beatles: Get Back’ was also released featuring the legendary band performing “I Got a Feeling” in rare behind the scenes footage. The three-part documentary launches on Disney+ November 25th.

    Disney also announced a new series based on the beloved best-selling novels ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles,’ as well as animated spinoff series from some of their most popular films, including Baymax from ‘Big Hero Six,’ Tiana from ‘The Princess and the Frog,’ and’ Zootopia+,’ which opens up the world of ‘Zootopia.’ They also announced ‘The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild,’ which will star Simon Pegg as his ‘Ice Age: Collision Course’ character.

    Finally, National Geographic announced a new six-part series for 2022 called ‘Limitless’ with Chris Hemsworth. The series will follow the ‘Thor’ actor as he helps viewers discover the full potential of the human body. Nat Geo also announced a series called ‘Welcome to Earth,’ which is set to premiere on Disney+ next month. The series will be hosted by Will Smith as he encounters Earth’s greatest wonders.

  • Elizabeth Olsen & Paul Bettany discuss ‘WandaVision’

    Elizabeth Olsen & Paul Bettany discuss ‘WandaVision’

    In this exclusive interview with Made in Hollywood’s Kylie Erica Mar, ‘WandaVision’ stars Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olson, Katherine Hahn, and Teyonah Harris join director Matt Shakman to talk about the new Disney+ series.

    Olsen shares how she felt about hearing Kevin Feige’s idea for the series, and she and Hahn talk about shooting the first episode in front of a live studio audience. Harris and Olsen talk about the different decades covered in the show, and Bettany and Shakman confirm the reports that ‘WandaVision’ has more VFX shots than ‘Avenger’s Endgame.’

    And finally, Bettany shares how excited he was to work with a particular actor for the final episodes of the series. He wouldn’t say who that was, so if you want to know, you’ll just have to watch the series on Disney+.

  • ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ Review: Just Give Director Barry Jenkins All the Oscars Already

    ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ Review: Just Give Director Barry Jenkins All the Oscars Already

    Annapurna

    If Beale Street Could Talk” is, profoundly, what happens when people of color get the opportunity to be authors of their own stories, fiction or fact, from the page to the screen.

    Barry Jenkins, director of the Oscar-winning “Moonlight,” returns with an adaptation of James Baldwin’s eponymous novel about a young man wrongly arrested for a crime he did not commit as his girlfriend prepares to give birth to their first child. This is not a story of false hope, easy solutions, or phony reassurance. Unlike those engineered to highlight exceptional achievement and celebrate triumphant moments in black history, as so many movies about race seem to be, “Beale Street” is a story of resilience, and perseverance about black people, the ordinary and average, as they try to navigate their way through a society that is — at best — indifferent to their place within it, but quite frequently, and in a story crafted from fiction but feels devastatingly authentic, proves much more hostile.

    Newcomer KiKi Layne plays Clementime “Tish” Rivers, a young black woman on the threshold of adulthood. In love with Alonzo “Fonny” Hunt (Stephan James) and in search of a place for the two of them to call home, Tish’s life is thrown into upheaval when Victoria Rogers (Emily Rios, TV’s “Breaking Bad”) accuses Fonny of rape and he is arrested. Further complicating matters, Tish discovers that she is pregnant. In spite of the support of her parents Sharon (Regina King) and Joseph (Colman Domingo), and sister Ernestine (Teyonah Parris, “Dear White People”), she learns that his family — save Fonny’s father, Frank (Michael Beach) — does not receive the news with similar excitement.

    Enlisting a white lawyer named Hayward (Finn Wittrock), Tish and Sharon work tirelessly to find evidence that will exculpate Fonny before their child is born. In between visits to Fonny in prison, Tish recounts the days leading up to his arrest, including an encounter with an old friend, Daniel (Brian Tyree Henry), which would provide him with an alibi if the authorities valued black witnesses. But when Victoria flees New York for Puerto Rico to recover from her assault with her family, Tish and her family are forced to decide how far they will go, and what cost they will pay to a biased, irredeemably prejudiced system, in order to prove Fonny’s innocence.

    Annapurna

    History has provided Hollywood with many stories to tell about blacks and whites overcoming their respective fears and prejudices and learning to understand and even love one another. These stories are illuminating especially for white audiences, frequently because they’re shepherded to the screen via white writers and directors, and predominantly focusing on a white protagonist. As a result, they seem to suggest that at each film’s end, racism is left in the past and enlightenment and tolerance gets taken forward into not just these characters’ futures, but our own. But that isn’t a feeling that many blacks may have, on or off screen, and “Beale Street” courageously gives voice to that lingering, indefatigable fear and resentment that in America, the system is not just corrupt but engineered against the possibility of them prevailing.

    It’s a movie that does not fail to account for the optimism embodied by black leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., but it also recognizes that those feelings are too often undercut or subdued by the back-breaking, dehumanizing effects of racism and a white majority that mostly is unaffected — and therefore goes indifferent — to the suffering that is endured by its black counterpart.

    Jenkins offers an inspiring portrait of strength and resilience — not just in the love shared between Tish and Fonny, but against the odds of his parents, a legal system predisposed to dismiss evidence that exonerates him, after making both of them victim of a society that does not want them to succeed. However, the movie is far from a polemic; rather, it’s a portrait of the memories and shared experiences that empowers these oppressed individuals to persevere and transcend their circumstances. Facing one setback after the next, a bruised and bloodied Fonny reassures Tish just at the moments when she expects that he needs it most, and vice versa; their belief in one another, and their love, is what sustains them even when the odds are stacked irredeemably against them both.

    But it’s also a movie dealing with topics in a sensitive and nuanced way that few other movies dare to spend their time. In her search for answers, Tish is young and inexperienced enough to question whether or not Victoria was raped at all, and Ernestine, reacting with dismay to that very suggestion, explains how she very reasonably chose not to be re-victimized after her assault. Later, Fonny has an extended conversation with Daniel about Daniel’s prison time — again, for a crime he didn’t commit — and Daniel communicates the abject fear and debasement he experienced in prison, something that Fonny later begins to understand during his time behind bars. As Miles Davis’ “Blue In Green” plays hauntingly in the background, Daniel’s experiences give sobering voice to the millions of incarcerated people of color who feel like victims of circumstance. People who simply want to survive, and are forced to draw upon reservoirs less of hope than desperation in order to escape with their lives and their sanity intact.

    Layne and James are a perfect pair as Tish and Fonny, the young but never naïve lovers, who find themselves in circumstances frighteningly out of their control. Tish is the younger of the two and must summon a fortitude she never expected that she would need, and Layne makes that a subtle but resonant transformation. James, meanwhile, oozes with a preternatural resignation to his fate as a black man in 1970s America — frustrated but resolute that the thing that will enable them to prevail is the certainty, and purity, of their relationship. The rest of the cast delivers unilaterally great performances — bringing to life a rich community of different experiences and perspectives born from the same struggle but earned through different coping mechanisms, be they the support of family and friends, the aid of religion, or the escape of drugs and alcohol.

    Annapurna

    But Regina King is deserving of special mention as Tish’s mother, a woman who with a routine “Yes, baby?” communicates an understanding of the news she’s about to hear, and the lived-in love of a lifetime of shared experiences – both as a mom and a black woman.

    Without spoiling its ending, Jenkins’ film doesn’t relieve the tension it’s built adapting Baldwin’s book, or provide this young couple with the sort of reunion, or resolution, that one would more conventionally deem “triumphant.” And yet the film proves triumphant all the same because against time and circumstance and adversity, and mostly without the help of any white people at all, Tish and Fonny’s love has endured — and most importantly, it cannot be stripped from them.

    Ultimately, “If Beale Street Could Talk” is an honest and complex portrait of black life, set in the past, but projected vibrantly onto the present day. It’s a movie that feels unlikely to make whites feel quite as good as they would ordinarily expect as they exit the theater — which is all the more reason for them to see it.