WednesdayWed, September 9th Edition Go Back
Today in the World Countries
- Independence Day is being celebrated in Tajikistan
- National Day is being celebrated in North Korea
- People born on this day are Virgo as their zodiac sign.
Today in History
On this day in 2022
- DEATHS
- Tommy Smith, Family Member.
- MOVIES: NOT RATED
- The Story of Film: A New Generation is released. A decade after The Story of Film: An Odyssey, an expansive and influential inquiry into the state of moviemaking in the 20th century, filmmaker Mark Cousins returns with an epic and hopeful tale of cinematic innovation from around the globe. In The Story of Film: A New Generation, Cousins turns his sharp, meticulously honed gaze on world cinema from 2010 to 2021, using a surprising range of works — including Joker, Frozen and Cemetery of Splendor — as launchpads to explore recurring themes and emerging motifs, from the evolution of film language, to technology’s role in moviemaking today, to shifting identities in 21st-century world cinema. Touching on everything from Parasite and The Farewell to Black Panther and Lover’s Rock, Cousins seeks out films, filmmakers and communities under-represented in traditional film histories, with a particular emphasis on Asian and Middle Eastern works, as well as boundary-pushing documentaries and films that see gender in new ways. And as the recent pandemic recedes, Cousins ponders what comes next in the streaming age: how have we changed as cinephiles, and how moviegoing will continue to transform in the digital century, to our collective joy and wonder.
- True Things is released. Kate (Ruth Wilson) is living on the fringes of society becomes intoxicated by a stranger (Tom Burke) who overwhelms her quiet life.
- Dos Estaciones is released. Dos Estaciones follows iron-willed businesswoman María García (Teresa Sánchez), the owner of Dos Estaciones, a once-majestic tequila factory now struggling to stay afloat. The factory is the final holdover from generations of Mexican-owned tequila plants in the highlands of Jalisco, the rest having folded to foreign corporations. Once one of the wealthiest people in town, María knows her current financial situation is untenable. When a persistent plague and an unexpected flood cause irreversible damage, she is forced to do everything she can to save her community's primary economy and source of pride.
- Hold Me Tight is released. In the family drama Hold Me Tight, Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread, Bergman Island) plays Camille (Vicky Krieps) is a woman on the run from her family for reasons that aren’t immediately clear. The film alternates between Camille’s adventures on the road and scenes of her abandoned husband Marc (Arieh Worthalter) as he struggles to take care of their children at home—a structure that keeps viewers uncertain as to the reality of what they’re seeing until the film's final moments. [Kino Lorber]
- MOVIES: NR
- Speak No Evil is released. On a vacation in Tuscany, two families – one Danish, one Dutch – meet and become fast friends. Months later, the free-spirited Dutch family extends an invitation to the more conservative Danish one for a holiday weekend getaway at their countryside home. However, it doesn't take long before things gradually get out of hand as the joy of reunion is replaced with misunderstandings. The Dutch hospitality quickly turns unnerving for the Danes, and they find themselves increasingly caught in a web of their own politeness in the face of eccentric…or is it sinister…behavior.
- MOVIES: R
- Medieval is released. The story of fifteenth century Czech icon and warlord Jan Zizka, who defeated armies of the Teutonic Order and the Holy Roman Empire.
- House of Darkness is released. Driving home to her secluded estate after meeting at a local bar, a player (Justin Long) out to score thinks his beautiful, mysterious date (Kate Bosworth) will be another casual hook-up. While getting acquainted, their flirtation turns playful, sexy and sinister. Hoping to get lucky, his luck may have just run out.
- End of the Road is released. Queen Latifah and Chris Bridges star in this road trip thriller about a mom of two kids who relocates across the country with her kids and brother. The family's move to the southland is thrown into complete chaos when they witness a murder on their road trip. Now, the murderer will stop at nothing to find them. [Netflix]
- Athena is released. After the death of his youngest brother following an alleged police altercation, Abdel (Dali Benssalah) is called back from the frontline to find his family torn apart. Caught between his younger brother Karim's (Sami Slimane) desire for revenge and the criminal dealings of his older brother Moktar (Ouassini Embarek), he struggles to calm the rising tensions. As the situation escalates, their community Athena is transformed into a fortress under siege, becoming a scene of tragedy for both the family and beyond.
- Barbarian is released. In town for a job interview, a young woman arrives at her Airbnb late at night only to find that her rental has been mistakenly double-booked and a strange man is already staying there. Against her better judgement, she decides to stay the night anyway, but soon discovers that there is much more to be afraid of in the house than the other house guest.
- TV SERIES
- Cobra Kai: Season 5 is released. Daniel seeks to stop Terry Silver from opening a franchise of Cobra Kai dojos across the valley, while Johnny and his son look for Miguel Diaz in Mexico in the fifth season of the Karate Kid spin-off series.
- American Gigolo: Season 1 is released. Julian Kaye (Jon Bernthal) tries to restart his life and find who is responsible for his wrongful conviction for murder after being released from a 15-year jail sentence in this series reimagining of the 1980 movie of the same name.[Premieres on the Showtime app and on-demand on 9 Sep 2022 and on the Showtime network on 11 Sep 2022]
- Gutsy: Season 1 is released. Dr. Jane Goodall, Goldie Hawn, Kate Hudson, Kim Kardashian, Megan Thee Stallion, Amy Schumer, Gloria Steinem, and Wanda Sykes are some the women Hillary and Chelsea Clinton talk to in this documentary series based on their book, The Book of Gutsy Women.
- ALBUMS
- How Do You Burn? was released by The Afghan Whigs. The ninth full-length studio release for alternative rock band The Afghan Whigs features contributions from the late Mark Lanegan, Van Hunt, Susan Marshall, and Marcy Mays.
- Arrangements was released by Preoccupations. The fourth full-length release for Canadian post-punk band Preoccupations was partially recorded remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- As Above, So Below was released by Sampa the Great. The second full-length release for the Zambian-born, Australian-based poet/rapper features guest appearances from such artists as Denzel Curry, Joey Bada$$, Angélique Kidjo, and Kojey Radical.
- My Boy was released by Marlon Williams. The third full-length release for the New Zealand singer-songwriter Marlon Williams was co-produced by Tiny Ruins guitarist Tom Healy.
- Natural Brown Prom Queen was released by Sudan Archives. Race, womanhood and relationships are some of themes on the second full-length release for Los Angeles-based violinist/singer Sudan Archives.
- Patient Number 9 was released by Ozzy Osbourne. The 13th full-length solo release for Black Sabbath's Ozzy Osbourne features guest appearances from Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Tony Iommi, Mike McCready, and Zakk Wylde.
- I Love You Jennifer B was released by Jockstrap. The debut full-length release for London-based duo Jockstrap was created over three years.
- Hideous Bastard was released by Oliver Sim. The debut full-length release for The xx bassist/singer Oliver Sim features a guest appearance from Jimmy Somerville and was produced by Jamie xx.
- Jude was released by Julian Lennon. The first full-length studio release in 11 years for British singer-songwriter Julian Lennon features guest appearances from Paul Buchanan and Elissa Lauper.
- Spirituals was released by Santigold. The first full-length studio release in four years from Santigold features contributions from such artists as Boys Noize, Lido, Rostam, SBTRKT, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Nick Zinner.
- Two Sisters was released by Sarah Davachi. The latest full-length release for Canadian experimental composer Sarah Davachi features contributions from Mattie Barbier, Mira Benjamin, Dorothy Berry, Bridget Carey, Johnny Chang, Judith Hamann, Jessika Kenney, Rebecca Lane, Anton Lukoszevieze, Gordon MacKay, Andrew McIntosh, and Tiffany Ng.
- When the Wind Forgets Your Name was released by Built to Spill. The latest full-length release for indie rock band Built to Spill features Oruã's Le Almeida and João Casaes.
- GAMING: PC
- Betrayal At Club Low for PC is released. Tonight you're on a surprise mission at the inimitable Club Low. This former coffin factory-turned-nightclub has, for years, been a beacon of nocturnal energy, a haven for wild-limbed dancing, mind-altering music and shady characters aplenty. It's also a place to prove your skills as an undercover agent.An old colleague is trapped in the club, caught up in an intel-gathering mission with a notorious business captain. Your mission is to sneak into the club incognito and get him out before he blows his cover. Can you do it?
- Broken Pieces for PC is released. When Elise and her fiance decided to leave urban life and settle near the French coast, she could not imagine that she would end up completely alone.Now, surrounded by strange phenomena in a dark, post-Cold War climate, Elise will have to investigate and unravel the mysteries surrounding the region of Saint-Exil, its ritualistic cult, and its lighthouse overlooking the coast.Broken Pieces is an action-packed investigative and adventure video game set in France. The game puts you in the shoes of Elise, a woman in her thirties who finds herself in the village of Saint-Exil in an imaginary region reminiscent of Brittany. Following an unexplained paranormal phenomenon, Elise is stuck, completely alone and out of time.
- GAMING: PLAYSTATION 5
- NBA 2K23 for PlayStation 5 is released. NBA 2K23 features a completely rebuilt version of NBA 2K11's Jordan Challenges that had players trying to virtually recreate Jordan's real-life feats. One of these was a challenge to score at least 38 points and grab 7+ rebounds like Jordan himself did in June 1997 during his memorable "flu game"when a sick Jordan still put up big numbers and drained the winning basket in the NBA Finals. [GameSpot]
- GAMING: SWITCH
- Splatoon 3 for Switch is released. Ink up the Splatlands in the next Splatoon game. Enter the Splatlands, a sun-scorched desert inhabited by battle-hardened Inklings and Octolings. Splatsville, the city of chaos, is the adrenaline-fueled heart of this dusty wasteland. Even in this desolate environment, Turf War reigns supreme and battles rage in new stages located in the surrounding wilds. Dynamic new moves help these fighters dodge attacks and cover more ground, along with a new bow-shaped weapon to sling ink. Ink it up with a new entry in the Splatoon series Discover the Splatlands, a new sun-soaked region with trendsetting inhabitants Experiment with new styles for Inklings and Octolings 4v4 Turf Wars* are back, with new stages, new maneuvers, and new weapons
On this day in 2021
- EVENTS
- 17 hospital patients die after heavy rainfall and flooding in Tula, central Mexico.
- US 2021 summer the hottest on record with average 74 degrees Fahrenheit, overtaking record set in 1936, during the Dust Bowl.
- DEATHS
- Urbain Braems, Belgian soccer manager (Anderlecht, Beveren, Standard de Liège, Trabzonspor), who died at 87.
- Danilo Popivoda, Serbian soccer forward (20 caps Yugoslavia; Olimpija, Eintracht Braunschweig), who died at 74.
- GAMING: PC
- Dice Legacy for PC is released. In this roguelike survival city builder, you lead your realm by rolling the dice - literally, because the dice rolls determining your fate aren't happening in the background but are one of the main gameplay elements of Dice Legacy. Discover uncharted lands and guide your loyal subjects.Put your faith in the dice as you gather resources, construct buildings and expand the borders of your realm. Create a strategy that fits your playstyle as you explore the wilderness. Test your luck as you make contact with the enigmatic factions populating the ringworld. But beware: something wicked is lurking in the mists beyond your realm, waiting for its chance to strike.
- The Artful Escape for PC is released. The Artful Escape of Francis Vendetti is a video game about great expectations, famous folk singers, lingering shadows, space Gods, hallucinogens, individuality, reptile shops, and wild imaginations. It's an action, adventure, exploration, narrative driven, musical-laser-light-battle kind of game.
- GAMING: PLAYSTATION 4
- Ultra Age for PlayStation 4 is released. Change Your Blade, Change Your Destiny. Ultra Age is a high-speed, sword-swinging action game set in the far future that follows the story of young warrior Age, who embarks on a mission to save humankind from extinction. Use your blades to cut through robotic and mutant foes, explore futuristic locales, and unravel a vast conspiracy concerning the fate of the planet. Far in the future, the resources of Earth have become insufficient, its ecosystem long ago changed irrevocably by a passing meteor. Humankind has divided into two: the people who have escaped Earth and relocated to the space colony, 'Orbital Arc, ' and the others who have remained on Earth in a facility called ‘The Shelter.’Humanity vanished from Earth after civilians from The Shelter failed an experiment that was meant to be the last hope for humanity, while people from Orbital Arc sent expeditions to Earth in search of resources. Failing to find any signs of life, a young sword-wielding warrior named ‘Age’ falls down from orbit to Earth. Accompanied by his floating android, Helvis, he must find the indispensable key to the survival of humankind.-Unleash Combos with Blade-Changing Action-Slash through foes with a variety of blades in high-speed, stylish action! Change blades on the fly with powerful moves to create linkage and run devastating combos. Different attributes and varied actions call for unique strategy against different types of foes.-Narrow Gaps Using the Wire-Launch the wire skill to pull smaller enemies toward you, or Quantum Warp to get instant access to larger foes! Use the wire to strategically overcome numerical inferiority, traverse gaps on land and quickly grab items.-Get the Edge with Skills-Gather elements to enhance your blades, expand your skills, and learn new combos. Install modules and power gear to level up Age and increase your arsenal of blades to take down the toughest of enemies. Use Helvis to burst into Critical Rage, cast Healing Pocket to recover, or Time Shift to loot more items.-Experience a Post-Apocalyptic Earth-Follow Age on his journey in the year 3174. Experience cutscenes that tell the story of Age’s mission across futuristic mecha, forests and deserts developed with Unreal Engine. Encounter mysterious characters and overcome menacing bosses to uncover the story behind the fate of humankind.
- GAMING: SWITCH
- Olympia Soiree for Switch is released. With her entire clan wiped out years ago, Olympia has been isolated for most of her life. Now she lives as the only person on Tenguu Island who can perform a ritual that restores light to a world shrouded in darkness. The heads of each Primary district Red, Blue, and Yellow lead a society governed by the island's rigid class structure.As Olympia travels between the districts, she discovers their wonders and their weaknesses, as well as an entire underground community of shunned individuals whom she becomes determined to help. If she can find the person destined to be her soulmate, she will finally be able to open her heart and reveal her true name, continue her bloodline, and save the world before it is destroyed.
- Espgaluda II -Be Ascension. The Third Bright Stone of Birth- for Switch is released. Galuda is a biological weapon that connects the Holy Spirit and humans through alchemy and mechanical engineering.The "Shinra"military nation, which gained power from Galuda, was destroyed by the two Galuda "Ageha"and "Tateha"they created.Three years have passed since that war.After an experiment involving contraindications, "Soma"artificially acquired Galuda's abilities.And the only Galuda to be born, "Asagi"who was the assassin of King Soma."Tsubame"and "Janome"who are also artificial Galuda and prince and princess of the Soma country chasing Asagi.Then Ageha and Tateha go to Asagi's rescue to stop the tragedy.The battle with the real Galuda and the Galuda built is about to begin.
- SPORTS
- Tom Brady becomes first player in NFL history to start 300 regular season games as he guides Tampa Bay Buccaneers to an opening day 31-29 win at home to Dallas Cowboys.
On this day in 2020
- EVENTS
- Donald Trump purposely downplayed the pandemic in early 2020 to avoid panic according to Bob Woodward's new book "Rage".
- Global death toll from COVID-19 pandemic passes 900,000 with the US the most deaths at 190,589.
- San Francisco Bay area blanketed by dark orange skies and smoke due to California wildfires.
- DEATHS
- Ronald Bell, American rock saxophonist and composer (Kool & The Gang), who died at 68.
- Shere Hite [Shirley Diana Gregory], American-German sex therapist (The Hite Report), who died at 77.
- Alan Minter, Boxer.
- MOVIES: NR
- Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President is released. If it hadn’t been for a bottle of scotch and a late-night visit from musician Gregg Allman, Jimmy Carter might never have been elected the 39th President of the United States. The documentary charts the mostly forgotten story of how Carter, a lover of all types of music, forged a tight bond with musicians Willie Nelson, the Allman Brothers, Bob Dylan and others. Low on campaign funds and lacking in name recognition, Carter relied on support from these artists to give him a crucial boost in the Democratic primaries. Once Carter was elected, the musicians became frequent guests in the White House. The surprisingly significant role that music played throughout Carter’s life and in his work becomes a thread in this engaging portrait of one of the most enigmatic Presidents in American history.
- MOVIES: PG13
- All In: The Fight for Democracy is released. In anticipation of the 2020 presidential election, All In: The Fight for Democracy examines the often overlooked, yet insidious issue of voter suppression in the United States. The film interweaves personal experiences with current activism and historical insight to expose a problem that has corrupted our democracy from the very beginning. With the perspective and expertise of Stacey Abrams, the former Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives, the documentary offers an insider’s look into laws and barriers to voting that most people don’t even know are threats to their basic rights as citizens of the United States.
- The Social Dilemma is released. Technology wizards have masterminded a new form of capitalism, and humanity is now the raw resource feeding the machine. Powerful, hidden artificial intelligence tasked with hijacking our attention is tearing apart social norms, jeopardizing truth and democracy, and putting civilization on a programmed path toward self-destruction. Set in the dark underbelly of Silicon Valley, The Social Dilemma fuses investigative documentary with enlightening narrative drama—think An Inconvenient Truth meets The Matrix. Expert testimony from tech whistle-blowers exposes our disturbing predicament: the services Big Tech provides—search engines, networks, instant information, et cetera—are merely the candy that lures us to bite. Once we’re hooked and coming back for more, the real commodity they sell is their prowess to influence and manipulate us.
- MOVIES: TVMA
- Cuties is released. Amy, an 11-year-old girl, joins a group of dancers named "the cuties"at school, and rapidly grows aware of her burgeoning femininity - upsetting her mother and her values in the process.
- TV SERIES
- Woke: Season 1 is released. San Francisco cartoonist Keef (Lamorne Morris) is close to making it into the "big time"when something happens that challenges his previous point-of-view in this comedy inspired by the personal experiences of writer/executive producer (and fellow cartoonist) Keith Knight.
- GAMING: PLAYSTATION 4
- The Suicide of Rachel Foster for PlayStation 4 is released. Coming back to the family hotel after years, a young woman finds herself trapped with the ghosts from her past and an old cellular telephone as the only way to unveil a terrible truth.1993 - LEWIS & CLARK COUNTY, MONTANA, USTen years ago, teenager Nicole and her mother left the family hotel after discovering her father Leonard's affair with, and pregnancy of Rachel, a girl her own age who eventually committed suicide.Now that both of her parents have passed, Nicole hopes to fulfill her mother's last will to sell the hotel and make amends to Rachel's relatives. With the will and determination to put that chapter behind her, she returns to the hotel with the family's lawyer to audit the decaying structure.As the weather unexpectedly turns for the worst, Nicole has no way to leave the large mountain lodge, and finds support in Irving, a young FEMA agent, using one of the first radio telephones ever built.With his help, Nicole starts to investigate a mystery far deeper than what people in the valley thought. A story of love and death, where melancholy and nostalgia melt into a thrilling ghost tale.
- The Outer Worlds: Peril on Gorgon for PlayStation 4 is released. The Outer Worlds: Peril on Gorgon takes place on the Gorgon asteroid, which was the site of one of the most ambitious scientific undertakings in Halcyon: the development and synthesis of Adrena-Time, a drug intended to improve the productivity of workers across the Halcyon colony.
On this day in 2019
- EVENTS
- Scientist reveal evidence of humans earliest milk consumption,6,000 years ago from the dental plaque of teeth of prehistoric farmers from Britain.
- John Legend and wife Chrissy Teigen fire back at Donald Trump on social media after he calls them "boring" and "filthymouthed" in tweets over Criminal Justice Reform.
- Poet John Milton's own copy of Shakespeare's First Folio of 1623 has survived with his annotations according to scholar Jason Scott-Warren in Philadelphia library, could be world's most important modern literary discovery.
- Australia experiences its earliest and most severe start to the fire season after fighting dozens of bushfires in Queensland and New South Wales.
- DEATHS
- Brian Barnes, English golfer (Ryder Cup 1969-79), who died of cancer at 74.
- Danny Frawley, Australian Rules Footballer.
- Robert Frank, Photographer.
- GAMING: PC
- GreedFall for PC is released. Explore uncharted new lands as you set foot on a remote island seeping with magic, and filled with riches, lost secrets, and fantastic creatures. Forge this new world's destiny, as you befriend or betray companions and entire factions. With diplomacy, deception and force, become part of a living, evolving world - influence its course and shape your story.* Engage in a core roleplaying experience achieve quests and complete objectives in a multitude of different ways through combat, diplomacy, deception, or stealth.* Complete freedom in character progression play as a male or female, customize your appearance, and freely choose your abilities, spells and skills.* Delve into a mysterious world of magic begin a grand journey and uncover ancient secrets protected by supernatural beings, manifestations of the island's earthly magic.
- POLITICS
- Nigerian government says it will repatriate 600 people from South Africa after two people killed in wave of xenophobic violence in Johannesburg.
On this day in 2018
- EVENTS
- Nia Franklin representing New York crowned Miss America 2019, first competition without a swimsuit section.
- Russian police detain over 1000 people amide nationwide protests against pension reform.
- Swedish General Election: no party wins a majority with far-right Sweden Democrats making gains.
- Green Bay Packers start 100th season with historic 24-23 comeback win over Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field; first ever Packer recovery from 17+ points deficit at 3/4 time (20-3).
- CBS chief Les Moonves departs the company after six more women make allegations of sexual abuse in "The New Yorker".
- Eminem was at No.1 on the UK chart with his tenth studio album Kamikaze. The album also reached No.1 in 15 countries, becoming Eminem's tenth consecutive No.1 album in the United States, and later becoming the best-selling hip-hop album of 2018..
- DEATHS
- Kae Kanyakorn, Entrepreneur.
- Kyrzayda Rodriguez, Blogger.
- TV SERIES
- Kidding: Season 1 is released. Jeff (Jim Carrey) plays Mr. Pickles, a children's television personality, who slowly begins to unravel as he tries to cope with family difficulties.
- The Miniaturist is released. The adaptation of Jessie Burton's novel is set in 1686 Amsterdam where 18-year-old Nella Oortman (Anya Taylor-Joy) moves in with her new husband Johannes Brandt (Alex Hassell), who gifts her a dollhouse copy of their home. Nella begins questioning the extra packages of mini furniture and life-like dolls from a miniaturist appear to predict future events.
- The Deuce: Season 2 is released. The second season of the drama about the porn industry from George Pelecanos and David Simon jumps forward to 1977 with Candy (Maggie Gyllenhaal) now working as a director as well as on camera.
- YOU: Season 1 is released. Bookstore manager Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) becomes obsessed with an aspiring writer (Elizabeth Lail) in this psychological thriller based on the Caroline Kepnes novel of the same name.
- SPORTS
- Arirang Mass Games begins in North Korea to mark country's 70th anniversary featuring tens of thousands performing.
On this day in 2017
- EVENTS
- Egyptian archaeologists announce the discovery of a 3,500-year-old tomb of a goldsmith and his family in Draa Abul-Naga, Egypt.
- 74th Venice Film Festival: "The Shape of Water" directed by Guillermo del Toro wins the Golden Lion.
On this day in 2016
- EVENTS
- North Korea conducts its fifth nuclear test at the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, at the time its largest ever test at 10 kilotons but superseded by the 2017 test.
- DEATHS
- James Stacy [Maurice William Elias], American actor (Lancer), who died at 79.
- Eric Tovey, Wrestler.
- MOVIES: NOT RATED
- For the Love of Spock is released. For the Love of Spock tells the life story of Star Trek’s Mr. Spock and the actor who played him, Leonard Nimoy, for nearly fifty years. The film’s focus began as a celebration of the fifty-year anniversary of Star Trek: The Original Series, but after Leonard passed away in February 2015, his son, director Adam Nimoy, was ready to tell another story: his personal experience growing up with Leonard and Spock. Adam not only shares details on the creation, evolution, and universal impact of Mr. Spock, but also about the ups and downs of being the son of a TV icon. For the Love of Spock is laden with never-before-seen footage and interviews of friends, family and colleagues that include William Shatner and the original Star Trek cast, Zachary Quinto and the new crew of the Starship Enterprise, the Big Bang Theory cast, filmmaker JJ Abrams and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. [Gravitas Ventures]
- Dancer is released. Ukrainian-born “bad boy of ballet” Sergei Polunin became the Royal Ballet’s youngest ever principal dancer at age 19. But two years later — at the height of his success — he walked away from it all, resolving to give up dance entirely. Steven Cantor’s Dancer tracks the life of this iconoclastic virtuoso, from his prodigal beginnings in the Ukraine to his awe-inspiring performances in the U.K., Russia, and eventually the U.S., where he went viral after David LaChapelle filmed him dancing to Hozier’s “Take Me to Church.” Yet beyond celebrating the raw talent and wild ambition of Polunin, whose sights are now set on Hollywood, Dancer considers how wealth and success may not be enough when it comes to finding personal and professional identity. [IFC Films]
- Cameraperson is released. A boxing match in Brooklyn; life in postwar Bosnia and Herzegovina; the daily routine of a Nigerian midwife; an intimate family moment at home: these scenes and others are woven into Cameraperson, a tapestry of footage collected over the twenty-five-year career of documentary cinematographer Kirsten Johnson. Through a series of episodic juxtapositions, Johnson explores the relationships between image makers and their subjects, the tension between the objectivity and intervention of the camera, and the complex interaction of unfiltered reality and crafted narrative. A hybrid work that combines documentary, autobiography, and ethical inquiry, Cameraperson is both a moving glimpse into one filmmaker’s personal journey and a thoughtful examination of what it means to train a camera on the world. [Janus Films]
- As I Open My Eyes is released. Tunis, summer 2010, a few months before the Revolution: Farah,18 years-old, has just graduated and her family already sees her as a future doctor. But she doesn't think the same way. She sings in a political rock band. She has a passion for life, gets drunk, discovers love and her city by night against the will of her mother Hayet, who knows Tunisia and its dangers too well.
- London Road is released. London Road documents true events that occurred in 2006, when the town of Ipswich was shattered by the discovery of the bodies of five women. The residents of London Road had struggled for years with frequent soliciting and curb-crawling on their street. When a local resident was charged, and then convicted, of the murders, the community grappled with what it meant to be at the epicenter of this tragedy. Using their own words set to an innovative musical score, London Road tells a moving story of ordinary people coming together during the darkest of experiences.
- Other People is released. A struggling comedy writer (Jesse Plemons), fresh from breaking up with his boyfriend, moves to Sacramento to help his sick mother (Molly Shannon). Living with his conservative father and younger sisters, David feels like a stranger in his childhood home. As his mother worsens, he tries to convince everyone (including himself) he’s “doing okay.” [Vertical Entertainment]
- The Apostate is released. An existential comedy about a man (Alvaro Ogalla) trying to make himself an apostate of the Catholic Church.
- Transpecos is released. On a remote desert highway a makeshift Border Patrol checkpoint is manned by three agents: Flores (Gabriel Luna): with an uncanny ability to track; Davis (Johnny Simmons): joined the Border Patrol with dreams of romancing señoritas and riding on horseback; Hobbs (Clifton Collins Jr): one of the old guard who believes a college degree can’t stop a bullet. It's like most boring days, but soon the contents of one car will change everything. What follows is a journey to uncover the surreal, frightening secrets hidden behind the facade of this lonely outpost. The end of the path may cost them their lives along a border where the line between right and wrong shifts like the desert itself.
- MOVIES: PG
- The Wild Life is released. On a tiny exotic island, Tuesday, an outgoing parrot lives with his quirky animal friends in paradise. However, Tuesday can't stop dreaming about discovering the world. After a violent storm, Tuesday and his friends wake up to find a strange creature on the beach: Robinson Crusoe. Tuesday immediately views Crusoe as his ticket off the island to explore new lands. Likewise, Crusoe soon realizes that the key to surviving on the island is through the help of Tuesday and the other animals. It isn't always easy at first, as the animals don't speak "human."Slowly but surely, they all start living together in harmony, until one day, when their comfortable life is overturned by two savage cats, who wish to take control of the island. A battle ensues between the cats and the group of friends but Crusoe and the animals soon discover the true power of friendship up against all odds (even savage cats).
- Ithaca is released. Fourteen-year-old Homer Macauley is determined to be the best and fastest bicycle telegraph messenger anyone has ever seen. His older brother has gone to war, leaving Homer to look after his widowed mother, his older sister and his 4-year-old brother, Ulysses. And so it is that as spring turns to summer,1942, Homer Macauley delivers messages of love, hope, pain... and death... to the good people of Ithaca. [Momentum Pictures]
- MOVIES: PG13
- Sully is released. On January 15,2009, the world witnessed the “Miracle on the Hudson” when Captain “Sully” Sullenberger glided his disabled plane onto the frigid waters of the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 aboard. However, even as Sully was being heralded by the public and the media for his unprecedented feat of aviation skill, an investigation was unfolding that threatened to destroy his reputation and his career.
- When the Bough Breaks is released. John and Laura Taylor (Morris Chestnut and Regina Hall) are a young, professional couple who desperately want a baby. After exhausting all other options, they finally hire Anna (Jaz Sinclair), the perfect woman to be their surrogate - but as she gets further along in her pregnancy, so too does her psychotic and dangerous fixation on the husband. The couple becomes caught up in Anna's deadly game and must fight to regain control of their future before it's too late. [Sony Pictures]
- MOVIES: R
- The Disappointments Room is released. Dana (Kate Beckinsale) and David (Mel Raido) move from Brooklyn to a once-grand southern mansion with their 5 year old son looking for a fresh start. But Dana’s discovery of a secret room unleashes unexplainable events that test her sanity and slowly reveal the home’s terrifying past. [Relativity Media]
- Kicks is released. Fifteen-year-old Brandon longs for a pair of the freshest sneakers that money can buy; assuming that merely having them on his feet will help him escape the reality of being poor, neglected by the opposite sex and picked on by everyone -- even his best friends. Working hard to get them, he soon finds that the titular shoes have instead made him a target after they are promptly snatched by local hood, Flaco. Seemingly the embodiment of menace, Flaco harbors complexities of his own that will be revealed when Brandon goes on a mission to retrieve his stolen sneakers with his two best friends in tow.
- Author: The JT LeRoy Story is released. On January 9,2006 The New York Times sent shockwaves through the literary world when it unmasked “it boy” wunderkind JT LeRoy, whose tough prose about a sordid childhood had captivated icons and luminaries internationally. It turned out LeRoy didn’t actually exist. He was the creative expression of 40-year-old San Francisco former phone-sex operator turned housewife, Laura Albert. Author: The JT LeRoy Story takes us down the infinitely fascinating rabbit hole of how Laura Albert—like a Cyrano de Bergerac on steroids—breathed not only words, but life, into her avatar for a decade. Albert’s epic and entertaining account plunges us into a glittery world of rock shows, fashion events, and the Cannes red carpet where LeRoy becomes a mysterious sensation. As she recounts this astonishing odyssey, Albert also reveals the intricate web spun by irrepressible creative forces within her. Her extended and layered JT LeRoy performance still infuriates many; but according to Albert, channeling her brilliant fiction through another identity was the only possible path to self-expression.
- Come What May is released. May 1940. To escape the imminent German invasion, the inhabitants of a small village in northern France flee their homes, like so many millions of their compatriots. Max, a German boy, travels with them. His father, Hans, opposed the Nazi regime and was imprisoned in Arras for having lied about his nationality. Hans is eventually set free and sets off to find his son, accompanied by a Scottish soldier who is trying to get back home.
- Demon is released. Newly arrived from England to marry his fiancée Zaneta (Agnieszk Zulewska), Peter (Itay Tiran) has been given a gift of her family’s ramshackle country house in rural Poland. It’s a total fixer-upper, and while inspecting the premises on the eve of the wedding, he falls into a pile of human remains. The ceremony proceeds, but strange things begin to happen. During the wild reception, Peter begins to come undone, and a dybbuk, the iconic ancient figure from Jewish folklore, takes a toehold in this present-day celebration for a very particular reason. [The Orchard]
- TV SERIES
- Quarry: Season 1 is released. Based on the series of novels by Max Allan Collins, Mac Conway (Logan Marshall-Green) returns from Vietnam to Memphis in 1972 only to struggle with acceptance and his experiences as a Marine sniper. He is recruited by The Broker (Stellan Skarsgård) to join a group of contract killers who work along the Mississippi River.
- ALBUMS
- Lady Parts was released by Fudge. This is the debut release for the collaboration between Guillermo Scott Herren (aka Prefuse 73) and Michael Christmas.
- The End of Comedy was released by Drugdealer. The latest release from Michael Collins features guest appearances from Ariel Pink, Danny James, Sheer Agony, and Weyes Blood.
- Sunlit Youth was released by Local Natives. The third full-length release for the Los Angeles indie rock band was recorded in Hawaii, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Ojai, and Thailand.
- Splendor & Misery was released by clipping.. The second full-length studio release for the experimental hip-hop trio from Los Angeles is a concept album about "the sole survivor of a slave uprising on an interstellar cargo ship, and the onboard computer that falls in love with him."
- Schmilco was released by Wilco. The 10th full-length studio release for the Chicago alt-rock band was recorded during the same sessions for 2015's Star Wars.
- Same Language, Different Worlds was released by Tim Burgess. The debut release for the collaboration between Tim Burgess and Peter Gordon features contributions from Ernie Brooks, Peter Zummo, Mustafa Ahmed and Nik Void.
- Skeleton Tree was released by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. Nick Cave's 15-year-old son died in an accident while he was working on the alternative rock band's 16th album. The recording sessions were filmed for Andrew Dominik's documentary, One More Time With Feel.
- GLA was released by Twin Atlantic. The fourth full-length release for the Scottish alternative rock band was inspired by its hometown of Glasgow.
- Goodbye to Language was released by Daniel Lanois. The latest solo release for the producer/guitarist who worked with Bob Dylan and Brian Eno features the pedal steel guitar and Rocco DeLuca on lap steel.
- Here was released by Teenage Fanclub. The Scottish alternative band returns after six years for its 10th full-length studio release recorded in France, Scotland and mixed in Germany.
- Calico Review was released by Allah-Las. The third full-length release for the Los Angeles garage rock/psychedelic pop band was produced by Kyle Mullarky.
- Away was released by Okkervil River. The eighth full-length studio release for the indie rock band features contributions from Marissa Nadler, Shearwater's Jonathan Meiburg, and yMusic.
- AIM was released by M.I.A.. The fifth full-length studio release for the London artist features contributions from such artists as Blaqstarr, Diplo, and Zayn.
- Wild World was released by Bastille. The second full-length studio release for the British indie pop band led by Dan Smith was produced with Mark Crew.
- Transcendence was released by Devin Townsend Project. The 17th full-length release for the Canadian artist's project features a new version of "Truth"(from the 1998 album Infinity) as well as a cover of Ween's "Transdermal Celebration."
- GAMING: PLAYSTATION 4
- Jotun: Valhalla Edition for PlayStation 4 is released. In Jotun, you play Thora, a Norse warrior who has died an inglorious death and must face the challenges of Viking purgatory to prove herself to the Gods and enter Valhalla.
- GAMING: XBOX ONE
- King Oddball for Xbox One is released. Squash puny humans in this outlandish PS4 puzzle game.How hard can it be?Use just a single button to cause mayhem - crush as many targets as possible by releasing a boulder suspended by the King's giant tongue.With more than 120 increasingly challenging levels on the road to world domination, master King Oddball by anticipating how boulders roll, bounce and launch from explosions.
On this day in 2015
- EVENTS
- Queen Elizabeth II becomes Great Britain's longest-reigning monarch at 63 years and seven months, beating the previous record set by her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria.
- Apple unveils the iPad Pro and iPhone 6S in San Francisco.
- DEATHS
- Robin McDonald, Scottish rock guitarist (Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas), who died at 72.
- MOVIES: NOT RATED
- How to Change the World is released. In 1971, a group of friends sail into a nuclear test zone, and their protest captures the world's imagination. Using never before seen archive that brings their extraordinary world to life, How To Change The World is the story of the pioneers who founded Greenpeace and defined the modern green movement.
- Time Out of Mind is released. George (Richard Gere) is a man struggling to find food and a place to sleep in New York City. Shuffled into the unforgiving bureaucracy of a men’s shelter, George seems destined to wind up as just another lost soul swallowed up by the system—until he meets a gregarious, down-and-out ex-jazzman (Ben Vereen) who inspires George to reconnect with his estranged daughter (Jena Malone). [IFC Films]
- Welcome to Leith is released. Welcome to Leith chronicles the attempted takeover of a small town in North Dakota by notorious white supremacist Craig Cobb. As his behavior becomes more threatening, tensions soar, and the residents desperately look for ways to expel their unwanted neighbor. With incredible access to both longtime residents of Leith and white supremacists, the film examines a small community in the plains struggling for sovereignty against an extremist vision. [First Run Features]
- MOVIES: PG13
- Coming Home is released. Lu Yanshi (Chen Daoming) and Feng Wanyu (Gong Li) are a devoted couple forced to separate when Lu is arrested and sent to a labor camp as a political prisoner, just as his wife is injured in an accident. Released during the last days of the Cultural Revolution, he finally returns home only to find that his beloved wife has amnesia and remembers little of her past. Unable to recognize Lu, she patiently waits for her husband's return. A stranger alone in the heart of his broken family, Lu Yanshi determines to resurrect their past together and reawaken his wife's memory. [Sony Pictures Classics]
- TV SERIES
- You're the Worst: Season 2 is released. The second season of the comedy moves to FXX.
- GAMING: PC
- Dragon Age: Inquisition - Trespasser for PC is released. Trespasser tells an entirely new story, set 2 years after the main game. The story explores what it's like to be a world-saving organization when the world no longer needs saving.
- Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime for PC is released. Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is a 2-player co-op micro-platformer set inside a neon spaceship locked in battle with hordes of space baddies. Players work together running back and forth between ship control rooms, manning turrets, lasers, shields and thrusters to rack up points and stave off a vacuumy demise. In mish-mash terms you could describe it as Jumpman meets Asteroids meets Han saying "Don't get cocky."
- GAMING: XBOX ONE
- Castle Crashers Remastered for Xbox One is released. New multiplayer mini-game called Back Off Barbarian. Five times larger texture sizes than the original.
- POLITICS
- EU Migrant Crisis: European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in his annual address proposes plan based on EU quotas.
On this day in 2014
- EVENTS
- Ali Hosseini Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran, undergoes prostate surgery.
- Scottish guitarist Robert "Throb" Young died at the age of 49. Young founded Primal Scream with school friend and singer Bobby Gillespie in Glasgow in 1984. As a member of Primal Scream, Young performed on all of the group's records up to 2006's Riot City Blues, and including their most famous album, Screamadelica..
- DEATHS
- Robert 'Trob'Young, Scottish musician (Primal Scream), found dead at 49.
- Antonín Tucapský, Czech composer, teacher, and choral conductor, who died at 86.
- Firoza Begum, World Music Singer.
- Denny Miller, American actor, who died from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at 80.
- ALBUMS
- El Pintor was released by Interpol. Self-produced, the first release in four years for the New York rock band is also its first without bassist Carlos Dengler and features contributions from Secret Machines' Brandon Curtis, Jellyfish's Roger Joseph Manning, Jr., and Bon Iver's Rob Moose.
- Endgame was released by Ital. The latest release for Brooklyn-based producer Daniel Martin-McCormick was mixed with M. Geddes Gengras.
- Haven't Got the Blues (Yet) was released by Loudon Wainwright III. The 26th release for the singer-songwriter was produced by David Mansfield and features Aofie O’Donovan as well as Loudon's daughter Martha Wainwright on backing vocals.
- Goddess was released by Banks. The full-length debut for the Los Angeles pop singer-songwriter features production and songs co-written by Tim Anderson, Lil Silva, Justin Parker, Shlohmo, Sohn, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, and Jamie Woon.
- A New Nature was released by Esben and the Witch. The third full-length release for the British rock trio was produced by Steve Albini.
- At Best Cuckold was released by Avi Buffalo. The second full-length release for the indie pop band led by Avi Zahner-Isenberg was self-produced.
- Commonwealth was released by Sloan. The writing of the songs on the 11th studio release from the Canadian power pop band was divided between the four members.
- Crush Songs was released by Karen O. The debut full-length solo release for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs singer was originally recorded in 2006-07.
- Carnival of Souls was released by Pere Ubu. This is the 15th studio release from the experimental Ohio rock band led by David Thomas.
- Ryan Adams was released by Ryan Adams. The 14th solo studio release for the rock singer-songwriter was self-produced.
- Single Mothers was released by Justin Townes Earle. The fifth full-length release for the Americana singer-songwriter was co-produced with Adam Bednarik and recorded live.
- Songs of Innocence was released by U2. The surprise release of the Irish rock band's 13th studio album on iTunes features production from Danger Mouse, Paul Epworth, Flood, and Ryan Tedder. A physical release is scheduled for 14 Oct 2014.
- Souled Out was released by Jhené Aiko. The debut full-length release for the alternative R&B artist features guest appearances from Cocaine 80s and Common.
- The Physical World was released by Death from Above 1979. The second full-length studio release for the Canadian duo of Sebastien Grainger and Jesse F. Keeler was produced by Dave Sardy.
- The Dew Lasts an Hour was released by Ballet School. This is the debut full-length release for the Berlin-based pop trio.
- Lullaby and... The Ceaseless Roar was released by Robert Plant & the Sensational Space Shifters. The tenth solo album for the British rock singer backed by his band the Sensational Space Shifters feature influences from African, dance and jazz music.
- Lateness of Dancers was released by Hiss Golden Messenger. The fifth full-length release for M.C. Taylor features Phil and Brad Cook of Megafaun, William Tyler, Scott Hirsch, and Alexandra Sauser-Monnig of Mountain Man.
- Jaiyede Afro was released by The Heliocentrics. The latest release from the Nigerian saxophonist Orlando Julius is a collaboration with the British funk ensemble The Heliocentrics.
- Into the Wide was released by Delta Spirit. The fourth full-length release for the California indie rock band was produced by Ben Allen.
- Ritual in Repeat was released by Tennis. The third full-length release for the Denver husband-and-wife indie pop duo features production from Patrick Carney of The Black Keys, Jim Eno of Spoon, and Richard Swift.
- Perfect Hair was released by Busdriver. The latest studio release for the Los Angeles rapper features guest appearances from Aesop Rock, Danny Brown, Open Mike Eagle, Pegasus Warning, and VerBS.
- Whorl was released by Simian Mobile Disco. The fourth full-length studio release form the British electronic duo was written over three days and recorded at a show near the Joshua Tree National Park.
- GAMING: PC
- Hack 'n' Slash for PC is released. Hack ‘n’ Slash is a puzzle action game about hacking -- reprogram object properties, hijack global variables, hack creature behavior, and even rewrite the game’s code. The only way to win is not to play...by the rules.
- GAMING: XBOX ONE
- Destiny for Xbox One is released. In Destiny (from the creators of Halo) you are a Guardian of the last city on Earth. You are able to wield incredible power. Explore the ancient ruins of our solar system, from the vast dunes of Mars to the lush jungles of Venus. Defeat Earth’s enemies. Reclaim all that we have lost. Become legend. Embark on an epic action adventure with rich cinematic storytelling where you unravel the mysteries of our universe and reclaim what we lost at the fall of our Golden Age. The next evolution of the first-person action genre that promises to provide an unprecedented combination of storytelling, cooperative, competitive, and public gameplay, and personal activities that are all woven into an expansive, persistent online world. Venture out alone or join up with friends. The choice is yours. Personalize and upgrade every aspect of how you look and fight with a nearly limitless combination of armor, weapons, and visual customizations. Take your upgraded character into every mode, including campaign, cooperative, social, public, and competitive multiplayer.
On this day in 2013
- EVENTS
- Barry Avrich’s film "Filthy Gorgeous: The Bob Guccione Story", about the life of Penthouse founder Bob Guccione, premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival.
- 60 people are killed in conflict between rebels and loyalists in the Central African Republic.
- BIRTHS
- Nareah Pierre, YouTube Star, born in United States.
- Jojo Redd, Rapper, born in United States.
- ALBUMS
- Summer Camp was released by Summer Camp. The second full-length release for the indie pop duo of Elizabeth Sankey and Jeremy Warmsley was produced by Stephen Street.
- Snapshot was released by The Strypes. The debut full-length release for the Irish blues-rock band was produced by Chris Thomas.
- POLITICS
- Erna Solberg is elected Prime Minister of Norway after a centre-right coalition wins a majority in their elections.