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VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images By Elizabeth Ayoola ·
The post Snoop Dogg Says Charlie Wilson Kept Him From Leaving His Wife appeared first on Essence.
VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images By Elizabeth Ayoola ·
The post Snoop Dogg Says Charlie Wilson Kept Him From Leaving His Wife appeared first on Essence.
When it was first announced in 2021 that multi-hyphenate artist Donald Glover (Atlanta) was coming out with a new version of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, the eye-roll reception was to be expected. People love to hate remakes, believing that revisiting previous stories and concepts and approaching them from a different perspective lacks originality. Well, this is Donald Glover, and no one should expect him to simply remake the 2005 Brangelina action rom-com. He told EW, “I hope some people are like, ‘This is better than the original,’ and some people are like, ‘This is far worse.’”
Co-created by Francesca Sloane (Fargo, Atlanta), Prime Video’s eight-episode series reimagines a decidedly more grounded, relatable Jane (Maya Erskine) and John Smith (Glover). The action-packed opening scene may be more along the lines of a spy thriller. But there’s a distinct shift in tone to a sleeker, more corporate setting where we meet the titular spies. Their interviews look like they’re taking place in an episode of Black Mirror, which creates an immediate sense of unease and excitement. The two are strangers to each other, paired by an unknown agency that gives them new identities and a set of wedding rings.
The newlyweds/partners have their unconventional, extremely awkward meet cute in their new home, a beautiful Manhattan brownstone decked out with high-end everything and the best mood lighting. They also now live right next to Paul Dano’s charming character, accurately credited as “Hot Neighbor.” I was immediately invested in this marriage and eager to see how two expert liars open up to a new spouse, or if it is even possible for them to do so. Their relationship is tested as they discover each other’s appealing traits and annoying habits (gross mouth sounds, adorable laughs, etc.).
Both Erskine and Glover have perfected being endearingly weird and awkward characters. With similar senses of humor and fearless vulnerability when it comes to acting, their incredible chemistry and comedic timing are what makes the series compelling from beginning to end. This series allows them to play into their natural comedic talents while providing genuinely dramatic moments and surprisingly intense action scenes. Whether they’re on the streets of New York arguing over how to intercept packages or laying in bed exchanging hilarious observations, Jane and John enjoy a lot of awkward intimacy, which either has you feeling anxious or joining in on their infectious laughter, usually both.
The two share the screen with an impressive roster of guest stars including John Turturro, Parker Posey, Wagner Moura, Michaela Coel, Ron Perlman, Sharon Horgan, Billy Campbell, Alexander Skarsgård, and Eiza González. Whether they’re in multiple episodes or only one scene, the actors all deliver mesmerizing performances as characters varying in eccentricity and threat level.
And as seen in the trailer, the Smiths go see a couples’ therapist played by the wonderfully talented Sarah Paulson. At the center of the series is the growing relationship between Jane and John as colleagues and as a real couple. These scenes remind me of You, Season 3, when Joe and Love go to therapy and have to talk about her “breaking a vase” that was actually her killing someone again.
Speaking of body disposal, a similar incident occurs early on in this series and it’s one of the best scenes. Getting rid of a dead body is usually horrific and messy or presented with slapstick silliness, but Mr. & Mrs. Smith has it both ways, which feels more realistic. Authenticity is consistent throughout the series, especially when it comes to relationships. They experience the good and the bad and go through the usual things that couples have to deal with. They just happen to be figuring it out while they’re surrounded by constant danger.
Glover and Erskine each wrote and starred in semi-autobiographical TV shows, Atlanta and PEN15, respectively, both of which can be just as relatable as they are surreal. And the two get to tap into some of that surrealist comedy here. Real life is often bizarre in general. But their job requires pretending to be other people and surviving life-or-death situations. They’re thrown into intense shootouts and have masked assassins on motorcycles chasing them in beautiful locales around the world. But this isn’t James Bond or even Austin Powers for that matter. John and Jane aren’t the suave spy and femme fatale. The specificity in their personalities — John’s laid back optimism and Jane’s coldness and need for control — feels familiar and relatable.
Fans of Atlanta will recognize the similarities in cinematography — off-center shots, close-ups, voyeuristic ’70s-era horror angles — because Glover shares directing credits with directors and DPs who also worked on his series — Hiro Murai, Christian Sprenger, Amy Seimetz, Stephen Murphy, Cody Jacobs, along with Karena Evans (Dead Ringers). More behind-the-scenes talent includes writers Stephen Glover (Swarm, Atlanta), Adamma and Adanne Ebo (Honk for Jesus, Save Your Soul), Carla Ching (Home Before Dark), Yvonne Hana Yi (Raising Dion), and Schuyler Pappas.
For all the skeptics: this isn’t a remake, reboot, or requel; it’s a new story inspired by Donald Glover’s own viewing experience of the 2005 film. There are more differences than similarities, and honestly, if the character names and the series title weren’t Mr. & Mrs. Smith, it probably wouldn’t have been compared to the film at all. It wasn’t created as a race-swapped version, either. (Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge was originally slated to be Jane before exiting because of creative differences).
Mr. & Mrs. Smith is a fun comedy with high-stakes action and realistically imperfect romance. The series subverts the crime thriller and rom-com genres, taking a look at the reality behind the spectacle of espionage, the mundane moments post-mission when all they want to do is take off their shoes, wash off the blood, and watch cartoons. Jane and John don’t calmly walk away from explosions; they faceplant and disorientedly flee the scene.
Between the exceptional writing and direction, composer David Fleming’s (The Last of Us) mix of modern beats and retro doo-wop music, costume designer Madeline Weeks’ (Armageddon Time) stylish fits, and the absolutely stacked cast, Mr. & Mrs. Smith is an undeniable hit that more than deserves another season or five.
Some may feel like the series isn’t something they need but they’ll sure want it.
All eight episodes of Mr. & Mrs. Smith debut February 2, 2024, on Prime Video.
Of all the streaming shenanigans that have come to pass in recent history, password-sharing crackdowns seem like the most unfair (and, sadly, one of the most effective) tactics of them all. Yes, someone has to pay in order for streaming services to survive. But it does feel especially discordant to limit the use of a digital product in such a way. After all, no one would prevent you from mailing a friend a DVD you purchased. But password-sharing crackdowns seem to be the new horizon for streamers. Netflix first began the sharing limitations, and since then, Disney+ added language to set up a similar restriction. Now, Disney-owned Hulu has also taken the first measures for a password-sharing crackdown of its own, following in the footsteps of the other streamers.
The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Hulu sent an email to its subscribers warning them of the password-sharing crackdown to come. The email noted, “Unless otherwise permitted by your Service Tier, you may not share your subscription outside of your household… ‘Household’ means the collection of devices associated with your primary personal residence that are used by the individuals who reside therein.”
Additionally, Hulu cautioned, “We may, in our sole discretion, analyze the use of your account to determine compliance with this Agreement. If we determine, in our sole discretion, that you have violated this Agreement, we may limit or terminate access to the Service and/or take any other steps as permitted by this Agreement.”
Sigh! This Hulu password-sharing crackdown language feels very similar to what Disney+ shared with its subscribers in September of 2023. It doesn’t seem like Disney+ has offered any further action or explication of the message after the terms of agreement change, though. But Disney sending this notice to Hulu’s users seems to hint at an escalation across platforms. The Hulu password-sharing crackdown will go into effect on March 14.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney CEO Bob Iger shared last summer, “We’re actively exploring ways to address account sharing and the best options for paying subscribers to share their accounts with friends and family… we will roll out tactics to drive monetization sometime in 2024.” We guess we will see how harshly Hulu and Disney+ legislate password sharing in the coming months.
The post Hulu to Begin Password Sharing Crackdown, Mirrors Disney+ Tactics appeared first on Nerdist.
When Hidden Figures came out in 2016, it was a global success. The film grossed over $236 million worldwide and was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Motion Picture of the Year, and Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role.
More than just a box office success, the movie played a crucial role in honoring women Black women scientists. Retelling the stories of Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Katherine Johnson helped inspire thousands of Black girls and women.
Eight years later, it’s vital to continue acknowledging Black female scientists.
Here is a look at the women Hidden Figures was based on and the women continuing their legacy.
Remembering the Black Women Pioneers of NASA
Let’s begin by acknowledging the women who inspired the book and the movie Hidden Figures.
Mary Jackson was a mathematician, an aerospace engineer, and the first Black woman to work for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Played by Janelle Monáe in the movie, Jackson was one of the few Black female engineers of her time. Known as the human “computer,” Jackson eventually rose from working in a segregated department to working for the famous aeronautics engineer Kazimierz Czarnecki.
Another crucial character was Dorothy Vaughan, played by Octavia Spencer. She was NASA’s first African American manager as well as a mathematician. She was the head of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and the segregated West Area Computing Unit from 1949 until 1958.
Last is Katherine Johnson, played by Taraji P. Henson in the movie. Johnson was a mathematician who worked with NASA for over three decades. It was her calculations that helped analyze the flight paths of numerous spacecrafts. She helped astronauts travel to the moon.
Because of these three ladies, the progress of Black female scientists, mathematicians, and engineers has advanced. Because of the women of the past, we can continue to celebrate Black success with even more women at NASA.
Current Groundbreaking Women of NASA
Although NASA was once a segregated institute, much has changed since those times. Now, NASA is dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion within their ranks. Here are some women who are no longer hidden figures but recognized and honored women of NASA.
Wendy Okolo
Born in Nigeria, Dr. Wendy A. Okolo became an aerospace engineer and received her doctorate from the University of Texas. She was the first Black woman at the university to earn that degree.
Okolo is an award-winning engineer who has been honored and recognized for her research on technology development. Some of her awards include being the first female recipient of the NASA Ames Early Career Researcher Award, the NASA Ames Award for Researcher/Scientist, and a NASA Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal.
Outside of NASA, she has also been honored with the Black Engineer of the Year Award for Most Promising Engineer in the U.S. Government.
Beyond research, Okolo works to ensure NASA’s commitment to women’s recruitment, retention, and promotion by working as a Special Emphasis Programs Manager for Women.
Concha Reid
Concha Reid had a strong interest in math and science at a young age. She grew up on the Virgin Islands, where she experienced many power outages. Reid knew she could help solve her hometown’s electrical problems if she studied math and science. Although her school didn’t have advanced programs, her teachers and father mentored and supported her interests.
When she came to the United States to study engineering, she created a new life that consisted of building a strong family and a solid career.
Reid earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering, emphasizing power systems. She also met her husband during graduate school and took time off to have and raise three children.
However, her time away didn’t slow her down. When she returned to work, she began working at the Power Division at NASA’s Glenn Research Center. There, she worked with fuel cells and batteries. Yet, her career growth didn’t stop there.
Her superiors encouraged her to join the leadership development program at NASA, where she worked with the European Service Module Integration Office. In this new position, she was responsible for exchanging and delivering spaceflight hardware between the European Space Agency (ESA), Lockheed Martin, and NASA.
This was certainly a role that put a lot of responsibility and pressure on Reid’s shoulders, but she got the job done and made crucial contributions to the Artemis project, which will send the first woman and first person of color to the moon.
Lyndsey McMillon-Brown
Lyndsey McMillon-Brown works at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, focusing on solar cells. These cells convert energy from light into electricity.
Her work as a research electrical engineer focuses on making solar cells more affordable and efficient for use on Earth and in space. Solar cells would lessen the need to use fossil fuels for energy.
Constantly inspired by nature and books, McMillon-Brown and her team are developing a new type of solar cell using a lightweight and cost-effective material called Perovskite. Her research could revolutionize how we use energy on Earth and in space.
Every day, these women are not only helping math and science progress, but they are helping to reshape the image of Black women and how powerful and influential they can become.