Killers of the Flower Moon / OppenheimerCredit: Apple / UniversalWhen Killers Of The Flower Moon first released in theaters and then later on Apple TV, I found the runtime and the subject matter too daunting. A three-and-a-half hour movie about the murders of Osage tribe members based on a true story about oil and greed sounded fascinatingand depressing. Sometimes, when you struggle with depression, a depressing movie is less appealing.I did, however, go see Oppenheimer in theaters and walked away with incredibly mixed feelings. As a fan of Christopher Nolans films, I wasnt surprised by the strange, non-chronological format used to tell Oppenheimers story, but Im still not sure that it worked. (I called it a haunting, muddled biopic in my review). Theres no doubt it was a brilliant piece of cinema, and Cillian Murphys performance was outstanding. Still, I left the theater underwhelmed.Both films are based on true events, each dealing with complex histories and people, epic in scope and runtime, and both great movies in their own right. If any two films in the 2024 Academy Awards running for Best Picture ought to be examined side-by-side, its these two, each from acclaimed directors and each boasting incredibly talented casts and crew. But after watching Killers of the Flower Moonwhich was shut out entirely at the Academy Awards by Oppenheimerits clear to me that the better film was snubbed.I finally got around to watching Killers of the Flower Moon over the Christmas break. Despite its long runtime, I found myself utterly absorbed from start to finish. Absorbed and horrified. Its a long movie but it didnt feel like it. I was too engrossed by the story and characters to notice time passing.Killers Of The Flower MoonCredit: AppleMORE FOR YOUBased on the book by David Grann, Martin Scorseses film tackles one of the most troubling conspiracies in the history of the American West. When the Osage tribe finds oil on their land, they become extremely wealthy overnightthe wealthiest people per capita in the entire world. But the government assigns guardians to manage their money, the first of many exploitative acts that would begin to eat away at the Osage people, not just draining them of their newfound wealth but breaking their spirit along the way. Robbery and theft and flagrant murders follow.The film follows Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) who returns from WWI to work for his uncle, William Hale (Robert De Niro) a wealthy rancher in Oklahoma who proclaims that the Osage are the most beautiful people in the world and makes great public shows of his support for the tribe. Hale encourages Burkhart to marry an Osage woman, Mollie (Lily Gladstone) because she has full-blood land rights, making herand whoever inherits her estatewildly rich. Ernest is neither particularly smart nor particularly scrupulous, and hes easily manipulated by his uncle, the King of Osage Hills.The story unfolds under the shadow of the nearby 1921 Tulsa race massacre, and the Osage become increasingly worried as more and more of their people are shot to death or die of mysterious, unexplained illnesses or suicide. What happened to the African Americans in Tulsa in one brutal attack was playing out slowly and insidiously in Osage. None of the deaths are investigated, and when the tribe brings in their own private investigators, theyre murdered as well. I wont spoil where the story goes from here, but its both gripping and terrible. The depravity of human greed at its most despicable and depraved on full display. By the end, I was left in tears.DiCaprio and De Niro put in tremendous performances. I dont think Ive ever despised a character either has played so utterly. The only other DiCaprio villain that comes close was his role as Calvin Candie in Django Unchained, but theres something almost cartoonish about Tarantinos villain. Burkharts wickedness is more intimate, more complex, more human. That hes based on a historical person guilty of these terrible crimes and injustices only deepens the disgust you feel toward him, even as you cling to hope that hell do the right thing.Killers Of The Flower MoonCredit: AppleLily Gladstone is equally terrific in her Oscar-worthy role as Mollie Burkhart. Where DiCaprio is brash and wild and uncouth, Gladstone is understated, filled with a deep sadness but also a well of light and humor. The tragedy that befalls her and her family is so enormous, its almost incomprehensible. Gladstone captures it all, all the pain and all the hope, in her performance.If there is anything I wish wed seen more of in Killers Of The Flower Moon, it would be the Bureau of Investigations actual investigation, which is largely glossed over in the third act of the film. I understand why. The story is focused primarily on the events surrounding these two families. The investigation and trial ultimately play second fiddle. The runtime would either have to drastically increase or a great deal of Ernest and Mollies story would need to be cut. Neither would have been ideal. Still, I can envision a different movie that treated this story as more of a mystery told from the point of view of former Texas Ranger Tom White (Jesse Plemons) and his team of undercover agents. Whether it would have been as good or compelling or tragic is another question. In the end, Im glad Scorsese chose to tell a more personal story.Thats largely the same choice Nolan made with Oppenheimer, focusing mostly on the life of the brilliant scientist rather than his own trial. Where that movie foundered was in its insistence on telling the story out of order, giving us bits and pieces of Oppenheimers trial and Lewis Strausss (Robert Downey Jr.) betrayal of Oppenheimer scattered throughout the film in an attempt to give the story a twist. That twist felt more jarring than effective. The mystery-puzzle format Nolan is so fond of, and so good at using most of the time, was unnecessary here. Where Killers Of The Flower Moon focuses on character, Oppenheimer focuses on plot. This isnt to say that Oppenheimer failed to make me feel anythingit was deeply unsettlingbut it still left me cold, whereas Killers Of The Flower Moon left me shattered and furious.Killers Of The Flower Moon is available to stream on Apple TV. Check out my list of Best TV Shows Of 2024 right here. Two of Nolans best sci-fi films also just landed on Netflix if youre looking for more movies to add to your queue.Im catching up on all the 2024 Best Picture nominees. Next up: Poor Things, which won a Best Actress Oscar for Emma Stone.What did you think of Killers of the Flower Moon and Oppenheimer? Let me know on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky or Facebook. Also be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me here on this blog. Sign up for my newsletter for more reviews and commentary on entertainment and culture.

What just happened? With the start of CES 2025 now just days away, companies are rushing to reveal their new products ahead of the world's biggest consumer electronics event. Three tech giants have just unveiled 27-inch 4K OLED 240Hz monitors, and at least two support DisplayPort 2.1a. Asus, Samsung, and MSI have announced their claims for producing the world's first 27-inch 4K OLED 240Hz monitors, all using Samsung's 4th-generation QD-OLED panels.The Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM, which has a screen size of 26.5 inches, boasts a peak brightness of 1,000 nits, HDR10 and Dolby Vision support, a 0.03ms response time, VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black compliance, and more.MSI's monitor is the MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED. Its spec list shares many similarities to Asus' monitor, while also including support for VRR and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode). It's DisplayHDR 400 True Black compliant and ClearMR 13000 certified the latter is the highest tier for the metric that compares the ratio of clear pixels to blurry pixels during motion. It offers a 166PPI display, but there's no Dolby Vision HDR support.The final monitor is Samsung's Odyssey OLED G8. Like the others, it boasts VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 and G-Sync/FreeSync Premium Pro compatibility, along with 165 PPI on its screen.Both new monitors from Asus and MSI include DisplayPort 2.1a (UHBR20). The standard offers 80Gbps bandwidth, allowing users to enjoy 4K at 240Hz without the need for Display Stream Compression (DSC). Samsung doesn't say anything about DisplayPort 2.1a in its release, but it's fair to assume that it'll be there.The monitors also support HDMI 2.1; it was recently confirmed that HDMI 2.2 will be unveiled at CES, but it'll be a long time before that standard appears in monitors and consumer televisions.The monitors come with advanced OLED protections, such as MSI OLED care 2.0 and Asus OLED care Pro. Those two companies also offer a three-year warranty that includes burn-in protection. Samsung has yet to confirm its warranty specifics.Last week we heard that LG plans to unveil new UltraGear OLED monitors at CES, including a 45-inch 5K2K bendable model with dual-mode functionality. Asrock also has an upcoming dual-mode monitor with built-in Wi-Fi 7 antennas.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Creature Commandos season 1, episode 6.Welcome to the DCU, Batman. In the latest episode of Creature Commandos, Batman is standing on a rooftop, looking down at Doctor Phosphorus (Alan Tudyk). The brief appearance of the caped crusader marks his arrival in the DC Universe.Recommended VideosIn an interview with Rotten Tomatoes, Creature Commandos creator James Gunn and director Dean Lorey spoke about Batmans inclusion in the latest episode. Gunn mentioned that the first edit of the episode featured more of Batman, something he changed rather quickly.Please enable Javascript to view this contentWhen they first gave it to me, we saw a lot more Batman, and I [was] saying, I am not ready to commit to that. Im not ready to commit to that. Im not ready to commit to that,' Gunn said. So I [was] just like more silhouette, more silhouette, more silhouette.'James Gunn Reveals BATMAN in Episode 6 of 'Creature Commandos'Gunn later confirmed that the Batman inCreature Commandosis the DCUs Batman. This ends the speculation that Robert Pattinsons Batman from Matt Reeves Batman universe would also play the DCUs version of the character. Plus, Batmans silhouette in Creature Commandosis much different than Pattinsons Batman.RelatedFor Gunn, the purpose of Batmans brief appearance is to prove his existence, meaning the character does not need an origin story.He [Batman] already exists in this universe, just like when we come to the Superman movie, we see that Superman already exists. Hes already known by the people in Metropolis. And so, we dont need to hear the origin story again, Gunn explained. Thats just a way to introduce that Batman is a part of this universe. Hes an important part of this universe, and he has an impact on it, including defeating such pretty dangerous, scary people. Like Phosphorus, whos pretty tough.The DCUs live-action Batman is set to appear in The Brave and the Bold. However, director Andy Muschietti recently mentioned that the film has been postponed a bit. Whenever the live-action Batman appears in the DCU, its clear that Gunn has huge plans for the character.This is the DCU Batman. Were going to do great things with him, Gunn added. Hes the most popular superhero in the world, and I cant wait for people to see more of him along with Superman and together.Editors Recommendations

Focus FeaturesTable of ContentsTable of ContentsThe Bikeriders (2023)Abigail (2024)Me Before You (2016)Looking for something to scare you silly? Perhaps a visually stunning, 1960s-set crime drama, or a romantic drama that will bring on the waterworks? Youre in luck! There are three underrated movies on Amazon Prime Video you need to watch in January 2025 that fit these parameters.Featuring stars like Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, Dan Stevens, and Emilia Clarke, these movies are all from the last decade, two of them from the last few years. Theres something for every mood, so get the popcorn, maybe some tissues, turn down the lights, and enjoy!Recommended VideosNeed more recommendations? Then check out thebest new movies to stream this week, thebest movies on Netflix, thebest movies on Hulu, thebest movies on Amazon Prime Video, thebest movies on Max, and thebest movies on Disney+.RelatedThe Bikeriders (2023)THE BIKERIDERS - Official Trailer 2 [HD] - Only In Theaters June 21Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Norman Reedus, and other familiar faces star in this 1960s-set crime drama about the fictional Vandals Motorcycle Club. The Bikeriders follows the goings-on among the group members as they battle internally for power, get into dangerous situations with rivals, and deal with personal challenges.Named after the Danny Lyon photo book and inspired by the real-life Outlaws Motorcycle Club, The Bikeriders received decent reviews. Digital Trends Alex Welch calls it light, buoyant, and constantly engaging, adding that it offers an assured fun and supremely cool cinematic slice of 1960s American life.Stream The Bikeriders on Amazon Prime Video.Abigail (2024)Abigail | Official TrailerOf all the horror movies released throughout 2024, Abigail is one you may not have heard of. The horror comedy vampire movie, inspired by the 1936 movie Draculas Daughter, flips the concept of kidnapping on its head. A young ballet dancer named Abigail (Alisha Weir) is abducted by six criminals. But little do they know that she isnt an ordinary little girl, and they are the ones who should be afraid.Our reviewer describes Abigail as a wacky thrill ride with plenty of bite. While its heavy on the grotesque and runs a bit too long, the cartoonish violence is oddly satisfying if you appreciate that kind of thing. The movies specific brand of horror, our reviewer adds, demands that it find the right balance between tongue-in-cheek cleverness and outright absurdity.Stream Abigail on Amazon Prime Video.Me Before You (2016)Me Before You - Official Trailer [HD]Its not uncommon for critics to pan cheesy romantic films that fans absolutely adore. Such is the case with Me Before You, a romantic drama with a sappy, heartwarming, and sweet story. Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) is Louisa Lou Clark, caregiver for Will Traynor (Sam Claflin, Daisy Jones & the Six), a tetraplegic whose life as a successful banker and sportsman has been altered dramatically following a tragic motorcycle accident.Hired by Wills mother, the upbeat Lou is tasked with trying to help lift the understandably depressed Wills spirits and stop him from going through with an assisted suicide. Its easy to figure out where the story goes from here as Will is initially closed off until the two get to know one another better.Warner Bros.Yes, the story is devastating, unimaginable even. Me Before You has so many highs and lows, and its far from being a traditional romantic film. But if youre looking for a bona fide tearjerker, this is it.Stream Me Before You on Amazon Prime Video.Editors Recommendations

The Samsung Galaxy S25 series rumor mill has been turbulent, and thats putting it lightly. An unbelievable amount of information has emerged about this phone, but one debate that was never settled is whether it would use the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip or the Exynos 2400 chip. Now we have an answer thanks to leaked benchmarks: its all Snapdragon, all the way.The most recent Galaxy S25 Geekbench results show a score of 2,986 single-core and 9,355 multi-core, a base frequency of 3.53GHz, and two separate processing clusters. The first has six cores clocked at 3.53GHz, and the second has two cores clocked at 4.47GHz, according to Tarun Vats on X.Recommended VideosThe key takeaway is under CPU information. It shows a Qualcomm ARM unit in the international version of the Galaxy S25, which is undoubtedly the Snapdragon 8 Elite. The international model of the Galaxy S24 used the Exynos 2400 chipset, and early on, the S25 was believed to follow the same pattern. This leaked score suggests that Samsung is placing all its bets on the Snapdragon in the next iteration.Please enable Javascript to view this contentBreaking Galaxy S25 (SM-S931B) just surfaced on Geekbench! Powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite Processor with 12GB RAM! Single-Core: 2986Multi-Core: 9355 Snapdragon 8 Elite is officially confirmed for Vanilla model in International markets (India, Europe & more)! pic.twitter.com/9ySZFnKxRt Tarun Vats (@tarunvats33) December 31, 2024RelatedOf course, take this with some skepticism. Another leak from November pointed to the Exynos chip as the likely choice for the S25 series in Europe, so until the handset actually releases, we wont know for sure.Both the Snapdragon 8 Elite and the Exynos 2400 are quality chips, but Snapdragon tends to be slightly more powerful and more energy-efficient than its competitor. The Galaxy S23 also used Snapdragon for every model in its lineup.The one downside to using the Qualcomm Snapdragon chips is the higher cost. Samsung would be able to reduce costs with the Exynos chip, but Snapdragon is the more popular format for most fans. Opting to use all Snapdragon chips for the S25 series is a smart plan, but it might also account for part of the rumored price increase in the Galaxy S25.Editors Recommendations

Gain insight on CyberArk Software, Tesla, Kuaishou Technology and more in the latest Market Talks covering Technology, Media and Telecom.

Apple agreed to resolve a class-action lawsuit that alleged the company obtained private communications and shared them with third parties without consent through Siri.

Its up to the Supreme Court whether the U.S. will join China, Afghanistan and other authoritarian countries that have barred their citizens from using the popular social media app.

Whether you want a hearty brunch or a vegetarian dinner, this Mexican-accented spin on an American classic delivers

Introducing Chul-Su Meet Squid Game S3s new killer doll After getting 68 million views in first three days, Squid Game's third season is already being teased.. Jennifer Ouellette Jan 2, 2025 12:58 pm | 3 Chul-Su is a new killer doll in S3 of Squid Game Credit: Netflix Chul-Su is a new killer doll in S3 of Squid Game Credit: Netflix Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreSquid Game's hotly anticipated second season debuted on Netflix the day after Christmas and racked up more than 68 million views in just three days. It had already been renewed for a third and final seasonfilmed back-to-back with S2but Netflix ushered in the new year by gracing us with a 15-second teaser on X, introducing a brand new killer doll dubbed Chul-susimilar to the giant "Red Light, Green Light" doll Young-hee.(Spoilers for S1 below; some spoilers for S2 but no major reveals.)As previously reported, the first season followed Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-Jae, seen earlier this year in The Acolyte), a down-on-his-luck gambler who has little left to lose when he agrees to play children's playground games against 455 other players for money. The twist? If you lose a game, you die. If you cheat, you die. And if you win, you might also die.In the S1 finale, Gi-hun faced off against fellow finalist and childhood friend Cho Sang-woo (Park Hae-soo) in the titular "squid game." He won their fight but refused to kill his friend, begging Sang-woo to stop the game by invoking a special clause in their contract whereby they get to live but do not get the prize money. Sang-woo instead stabbed himself in the neck and asked Gi-hun to take care of his mother. Wracked with guilt, Gi-hun was about to fly to America to live with his daughter when he spotted the game recruiter trying to entice another desperate person. He didn't get on the plane, deciding instead to try to re-enter the game and take it down from the inside.S2 is set three years later, and by the end of the second episode, Gi-hun has successfully finagled his way back into the game after winning Russian roulette against the game's recruiter and tracking down game overseer Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) at a Halloween party. The desperate players this time include a YouTuber who launched a failed crypto scam and a couple of victims of said scam bent on revenge. There's also a compulsive gambler and his mother, a rapper addicted to ecstasy, a loud and neurotic self-appointed shaman, a former Marine, and a transgender woman who once served in special forces.Meanwhile, Front Man's police officer brother, Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon), has hired mercenaries to track down the island where the game is staged. As in the first season, alliances form and shift as the games proceed, and betrayals abound, culminating in a cliffhanger ending. That's because series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk conceived of S2 and S3 as a single season, but there were too many episodes, so he split them over two seasons.Squid Game S3 will premiere on Netflix later this year. Other than the new killer doll, we don't know much about what's in store for Gi-hun and his quest to destroy the game other than that it will pick up where S2 left off and will most likely end with a final showdown against Front Man. Is the cynical Front Man right about human nature ensuring that the game will never end?Jennifer OuelletteSenior WriterJennifer OuelletteSenior Writer Jennifer is a senior reporter at Ars Technica with a particular focus on where science meets culture, covering everything from physics and related interdisciplinary topics to her favorite films and TV series. Jennifer lives in Baltimore with her spouse, physicist Sean M. Carroll, and their two cats, Ariel and Caliban. 3 Comments