IT General

Writer/director Barry Jenkins has proved himself as a passionate filmmaker through such gorgeous, human dramas as the San Francisco-set love story Medicine for Melancholy, the Best Picture-winning coming-of-age tale Moonlight, and the poignant adaptation of James Baldwin's If Beale Street Could Talk. So, if anyone could course-correct Disney away from the dead-eyed CGI remake of 2019's The Lion King, it'd be Jenkins, right?

Mufasa: The Lion King might be the greatest challenge the filmmaker has ever faced. Gone are the gorgeous human faces from which his sophisticated lens captured emotions big and fragile. The dialogue here is not penned by him or translated from a celebrated playwright, but comes from Jeffrey D. Nathanson, whose credits include Speed 2: Cruise Control, Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull, and the "live-action" Lion King. The vibrant colors and enthralling animation style of the 1994 Disney animated classic have been chucked in favor of a more photorealistic look, draining Jenkins' previously bold palette. And because this is a prequel, there are requisites of plot and aesthetic that inherently confine the filmmaker's creativity.

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So, has Jenkins overcome all this to make a film worthy of his reputation? No, but he makes a noble effort.

Mufasa: The Lion King is a bunch of origin stories no one asked for. Credit: Disney

Have you ever wondered how Mufasa met Rafiki? How Zazu's morning reports came about? Where Rafiki got his signature walking stick or why Pride Rock looks like it does? No. Oh, well, this just got awkward. Yes, the main thrust of Mufasa: The Lion King is the backstory of how Mufasa came to be the King of the Pride Lands. But that doesn't stop this prequel from ham-fistedly shoving in additional lore to an eye-roll-worthy degree. The same attitude is taken with crudely wedging in popular characters — or at least cute and comedic ones — that have nothing to do with Mufasa's origins for some easy fan fodder.

As such, Mufasa begins with an adult Simba (Donald Glover) leaving his cub Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter) with babysitters Timon and Pumbaa (Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen), who swiftly cede storytelling duties to Rafiki (John Kani). From there, things get very Princess Bride, in that the story the mystic mandrill tells will be interrupted for Kiara to ask clarifying questions or for Timon and Pumbaa to deliver fart jokes or inexplicable pop culture references, including an allusion to The Lion King on Broadway. (Timon is furious he's a puppet in it.)

Credit: Disney

Amid these oft-irksome interruptions, the story of a young Mufasa takes shape both slowly and too swiftly. The Shakespearean gravitas of the original Lion King is lost amid the ruthlessly realistic animal faces that look mostly accurate aside from their mouths twisting to deliver lines like "I've always wanted a brother!"

The broad strokes of the plot are these: After a flash flood washes Mufasa far away from his homeland, he's rescued by a young, British-sounding prince/cub named Taka. After a rousing musical number, they decide they will be brothers (no matter what Taka's royal and xenophobic father says about "strays"). But when a pride of white-furred lions led by the fearsome Kiros (Mads Mikkelsen, because of course Mads Mikkelsen), a now-adolescent Mufasa (Rebel Ridge's Aaron Pierre) flees with Taka (Chevalier's Kelvin Harrison Jr.) to preserve the royal bloodline, heading for the mythical lands of Milele. Along the way, the pair will meet several familiar Lion King characters, before revealing the most telegraphed plot twist in all Disney history.

Mufasa: The Lion King brings together an astounding cast and Lin Manuel-Miranda as lyricist. Credit: Disney

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To Jenkins' credit, his cast is full of phenomenal talent. Pierre won praise earlier this year for his grounded and gritty action-hero turn in the hard-hitting thriller Rebel Ridge. Harrison Jr. has awed in critically heralded dramas like Luce and Waves, Joe Wright's adaptation of Cyrano, and the achingly underseen but moving biopic Chevalier. Also in the mix voicing lions are Emmy winner Thandiwe Newton (Westworld), BAFTA winner Lennie James (Save Me), Anika Noni Rose (aka the voice of Princess Tiana in The Princess and the Frog), Keith David (Dr. Facilier in The Princess and the Frog), and Folake Olowofoyeku (Bob Hearts Abishola). Plus, from 2019's The Lion King, Jenkins inherited Glover, Rogen, Eichner, Kani, and Beyoncé as Nala, who shares a brief scene with her real-life daughter Blue Ivy Carter, playing Kiara.

Collectively, this ensemble brings gravitas, emotions, and life into these characters. And new songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, Moana, Encanto) deliver some welcomed joy amid the grim plotline of conquest, jealousy, and death. However, the songs here don't compare to Miranda's best, nor Elton John and Tim Rice's work in the original Lion King. Instead, much like the Miranda-less Moana 2, they feel like pale imitations of the original.

"I Always Wanted a Brother," sung as a duet of young Taka and young Mufasa, running about the other species of their terrain, echoes the youthful enthusiasm and naïveté of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King." Elsewhere, Mikkelsen delivers surly commitment and snarling cheek with the threatening "Bye Bye," but can't compare to Jeremy Irons' grandiose (and more cleverly written) "Be Prepared," an all-time best of Disney villain songs. The best of the soundtrack is "Tell Me It's You," sung by Aaron Pierre and Tiffany Boone, who voices Sarabi. "Can You Feel The Love Tonight," is undoubtedly hard to live up to, but actually hearing the lions at the song's center sing of their love is undeniably impactful, the hesitancy of their confessions of love playing out in a rushing, winsome song. But there's one big enemy to creativity that this could-have-been epic collaboration of talents can't overcome.

Mufasa: The Lion King is dragged down by the "live-action" aesthetic. Credit: Disney

I can't get past it, not in 2019 and not now. The decision to make a "live-action" Lion King binds the filmmaker to an animation style that bleeds away so much of the expressiveness that makes this medium a place for the impossible. Imagination is drowned in place of photorealism, which brings nothing interesting or exciting to these films. This pursuit of naturalism robs Jenkins of the freedom to play with color, as he did so memorably and movingly in Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk. Here, aside from splotches of occasional flowers, his lions live in a world of neutral colors. And perhaps it's a world gorgeously rendered, but the constantly moving "camera" won't allow you to linger on anything.

The shots in Mufasa: The Lion King are short and always moving. Watching the film on 3D IMAX, I realized I couldn't focus my eyes on anything, not because of the glasses, or some projection issue, but because nothing stayed consistently in frame for more than five or seven seconds. The eyes of the lion, the arc of a distinctive tree, the feathers of a soaring bird. I tried again and again to focus my eyes and take in natural wonders Disney has clearly spent plenty on recreating, but the constant prowling of the camera makes taking in such elements impossible to savor.

Perhaps Jenkins and director of photography James Laxton (Moonlight! If Beale Street Could Talk!) were looking to recreate the sense of a lion on the move, constantly swerving the camera to take things in. Or maybe they were keeping things moving to hide the seams of a world that strives for realism and falls short of the awe evoked by actual nature? Either way, it's disappointing. Mufasa: The Lion King is not the eyesore of its predecessor. The sparkling clear eyes of cub Kiara alone prove that point. But neither is it the awe-inspiring vision of the 1994 original.

Faced with the fan service expectations demanded of sequels and the soul-crushingly uninspired "live-action" animation style, Jenkins strove to break through with radiant human talent, swelling song numbers, and a physical point-of-view that perhaps allows the audience to feel part of the pride. But his swipes at originality are swallowed by so much IP. In the end, Mufasa: The Lion King is periodically entertaining but falls far short of reaching the heights of the original.

Mufasa: The Lion King opens in theaters Dec.20.

Flying was never the most stress-free way to travel, but thanks to never-ending airline delays, unruly passengers, and the incredible shrinking airline seat, it can be a nightmare. If you're ready to upgrade your flying experience, picking up a pair of noise-cancelling headphones can go a long way.

You definitely have options: plenty of headphones, from over-ear headphones to wireless earbuds, offer active noise cancellation. And in 2024, it's not too hard to find ANC headphones that cost under $100. That said, we do recommend spending a little more to enjoy maximum calm at 35,000 feet, but to make sure your investment is worth it, we've tried and tested some of the top noise-cancelling headphones on the market.

SEE ALSO: The 6 best Bluetooth speakers for basically any situation How much should I spend on noise-cancelling headphones?

If you want to find the best noise-cancelling headphones for flying, you should be prepared to pay $250 to $500. Premium headphones offer improved active noise cancellation, customizable settings, and transparency modes that allow you to hear those all-important gate announcements.

Many cheap headphones claim to offer "noise-cancelling" features, but a random pair of $50 over-ear headphones is more susceptible to letting sounds around you through, struggling to connect easily and switch between devices, or simply wearing more uncomfortably.

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At the end of the day, going for that good all-around pair is worth it, because on a flight, ANC on its own won't save the day — otherwise, we'd just direct you to our guide to the best noise-cancelling headphones. For long flights, comfort is also key. It won't matter if your headphones block sound if you only want to wear them for two out of five hours of your flight. And because this is a flying-focused roundup, we did give extra points to headphones with thoughtful design that makes storage easy.

If that $250-plus price range feels totally out of the question, we've included a couple of budget earbuds in the under-$100 category, but they come with tradeoffs. If you're okay with a mid-range pick, consider buying wireless earbuds with ANC instead of over-ear headphones.

If the cost of a pair of headphones is off-putting, you can always wait for a sale to start. We see headphones from Bose, Sony, and Apple get marked down year-round — if you don't want to keep your eyes peeled yourself, Mashable's deals coverage is a great place to find any noteworthy headphone deals.

What are the best noise-cancelling headphones for flying?

Noise-cancelling headphones are at their most useful on airplanes. It's difficult to find a moment's peace when so much is going on around you. Frequent flyers may prefer to rest or work, and the best way to prepare for either is by using the best ANC headphones to block out the chaos. 

Because shopping for headphones shouldn't be as stressful as heading to the airport, we've done extensive testing to bring you the top options. So, read on to find the best noise-cancelling headphones for airplanes in 2024 — all based on Mashable's hands-on headphones reviews.

If you know nothing about The Room Next Door beyond its co-stars, Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, you might understandably assume the film would be a heart-wrenching drama like We Need to Talk About Kevin and Magnolia or a brilliantly offbeat comedy like Problemista and The Big Lebowski. That the film is written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar isn't really a clue one way or the other. After all, the celebrated Spanish filmmaker has run the gamut from tender melodramas (All About My Mother, Parallel Mothers) to outrageous comedies (Dark Habits, Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!) to sentimental Westerns (Strange Way of Life) and nerve-shredding thrillers (The Skin I Live In). Essentially, between the three of them, there's so much range that anything is possible in The Room Next Door. 

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Some may be disappointed that rather than the theatrical symbolism of Almodóvar's last collaboration with Swinton, the short film "The Human Voice," or the bonkers broad comedy of the airplane-set musical I'm So Excited, the multifaceted filmmaker offers something subtler. But once you've found the wavelength of The Room Next Door, it's undeniably beautiful, smartly amusing, and definitively humane. 

What's The Room Next Door about? 

Adapted from Sigrid Nunez's novel What Are You Going Through, The Room Next Door centers on two old friends who reconnect in New York City as one is releasing her latest book and the other is facing a terminal diagnosis. Novelist Ingrid (Moore) is quick to reconnect with war reporter Martha (Swinton) as soon as she hears the tragic news through a mutual friend. A visit in the hospital swiftly reignites a lively friendship, as the two share stories, memories, and regrets. Before long, Martha hatches a plan.

Death is inevitable, particularly hers. So she decides to go out on her own terms. Having secured a drug from the dark web, she proposes to Ingrid that they go to a beautiful rental house in a lush forest in upstate New York for one last trip. It's a vacation where they can sunbathe, read, relax, and where Martha is determined to die. It's important Ingrid be there, but not too close, just "in the next room." Reluctantly, Ingrid agrees, and Martha's death becomes more real with every moment, whether they're watching an old movie or swapping notes on a once-shared lover (silver fox John Turturro). In this, Almodóvar and his stars perform a moving ballet of mortality, grief, and acceptance. 

The Room Next Door is defiantly beautiful in the face of death.  

While the subject matter risks falling into maudlin territory, Almodóvar balances the thematic darkness with visual splendor. As the sun sets on the skylines of New York City, the buildings glisten in lavender, punctuated with pink windows alive with light. The forests surrounding the upstate vacation home are almost unreal in their rich greens, yellows, and purples. The spaces where these women move about are striped with bold reds and deep teals. And the women themselves are bedecked in gorgeous shades of fuschia, neon yellow, mustard, and lime. Beyond being pretty, these elements serve as a visual reminder of the persistent beauty found even in the darkest days. 

Almodóvar applies a painter's eye in The Room Next Door, reflecting the emotional state of Ingrid and Martha through where they stand in the frame. In moments of brewing stress, his cinematographer Eduard Grau often positions Ingrid alone, far off the center of the frame, reflecting her unease in this painful scenario. By contrast, Martha thrives in the center of the frame, confidently resigned. Yet their moments of quiet understanding and affection are visually balanced, with the cinematographer putting them either together in the center or spaced just so that a scale wouldn't topple. 

In one of the film's most visually striking moments, Almodóvar creates his version of Christina's World, the famous Andrew Wyeth painting that presents a woman, seated in a grass field, looking off to a distant house. While the message (and politics) of that painting have been debated since its debut in 1948, here Almodóvar contextualizes the image as an eerie moment of death and fate, two things which even the most gorgeous, vividly dressed woman cannot escape. And in doing so, The Room Next Door quietly urges its audience to embrace the now, for it is all that's certain beyond an end. 

Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton are wondrous in The Room Next Door. 

Compared to Almodóvar's brassier offerings, The Room Next Door plays as subdued. But that's a suitable reflection of Martha's serenity in the face of death. Tears won't help. Tantrums will only waste time. And so she, and through unintentional peer pressure, Ingrid, regards this final chapter of their shared story with a warm reflectiveness. Flashbacks pull us into a careless youth, made more romantic by remembering. Playing narrator to such scenes, Swinton has a slight swoon to her voice, as Moore's tone takes on an encouraging curiousness. 

Whatever the mood, be it jubilant, blissful, or wounded by loss, these two connect in tone and touch, masterfully establishing a friendship loyal and robust. Then, in a third act that leaps to an unpredictable chapter, Swinton and Moore's dynamic shifts. And once more, they find a mesmerizing balance between two women looking from different sides of an experience. Incredibly, The Room Next Door gently lays us in their space of overlap, presenting not just a life and a death, but a friendship that defined both. 

The Room Next Door is now playing in limited release.

UPDATE: Dec. 19, 2024, 3:28 p.m. EST "The Room Next Door" was reviewed out of its North American Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in this article, originally published Sept. 27, 2024. It has been updated to include current viewing options.

Celebrated indie writer/director Sean Baker isn't precious about sex. On social media, pearl-clutchers chatter about love scenes being unneeded in media. In politics, our bedroom activities and identities become fear-mongering talking points. Meanwhile, Baker shrugs off such puritanical shame, turning out one critically heralded movie after another that offers a defiantly casual yet humane portrait of sex work in the U.S.

Among his most notable: Tangerine, which won a slew of Gotham Awards, follows two enchanting trans sex workers around during a harried Christmas in Los Angeles. The Florida Project, which features Willem Dafoe in an Oscar-nominated supporting role, centers on the mischievous child of a sex worker, being raised in candy-colored squalor under the shadow of the Disney theme park. Palme d'Or nominee Red Rocket stars Simon Rex as a washed-up porn star looking for a new lease on life with a fresh-faced ingénue. Now, Baker's Palme d'Or winner Anora chases the Pretty Woman dream — a "hooker with a heart of gold" marries a wealthy white knight — to a far less Hollywood ending. 

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Rejecting both the Holly Golightly/Vivian Ward version of sex for sale and the gritty thriller route of treating sex work as scandalous set dressing, Baker has made films about Americans living on the fringe of a society that wants yet rejects them. And Anora may be his best yet.  

Anora is outrageous, sexy, and hilarious.  Mikey Madison stars as Ani in "Anora." Credit: NEON

Written and directed by Baker, Anora stars Mikey Madison (Scream 5, Better Things) as its eponymous heroine (and she would really prefer it if you called her Ani). When she's not getting shit from her sister/roommate in their humble Brooklyn apartment, the twentysomething is shaking her G-string-clad bum at a strip club with a beguiling smile on her face. Like Baker's previous films, sex work is shown with a mix of frankness and humor. So amid a montage of lap dances, Ani is also shown eating dinner out of a Tupperware while arguing with her boss about her rights as a freelance contractor. This snatch at office comedy is a simple way to demystify a job that's such a point of fascination and condemnation for American audiences. 

However, Ani soon finds a way out of this grind when a sweet-faced and suspiciously wealthy Russian boy offers her a sugar daddy deal. What begins as a house call soon escalates into a trip to Vegas and a quickie wedding. But this isn't a flat-out love match for either. For Ani, it's a chance to be a trophy wife to a young, hot, rich husband with whom she actually enjoys hanging out. For Vanya (Mark Eidelshtein), Ani is a ticket to a green card that can keep him in the U.S. and away from the tedious demands of his oligarch parents back in Russia. As you might expect with such a setup, their honeymoon is short-lived. Before long, a couple of thick-necked goons come knocking at Vanya's New York City home, demanding an explanation about the rumor he's married beneath his station. 

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Mafia movies train us to brace for violence in such a scenario. And Baker delivers, but not in the way you'd expect. Rather than showing men brutalizing a beautiful, scantily clad young woman (a real danger for women in sex work), Ani turns the tables — and shatters them — in a sequence that is wild and unnervingly funny.

Far from a frightened mouse, Ani rages at these intruders who aim to bully her out of her dream and into an annulment. What follows is a wonderfully bewildering road trip movie. With Vanya having fled in a juvenile panic, it's up to a reluctant Ani, a motley crew of brooding Armenian brothers (Karren Karagulian and Vache Tovmasyan), and a bit of extra muscle in the introverted but emotionally intelligent Igor (Yura Borisov) to find the thrill-seeking heir before his very pissed-off parents land in their private jet. 

Mikey Madison is a force of nature.  Mikey Madison stars in "Anora." Credit: NEON

Anora demands a lot of its leading lady.

Ani's work means Madison's body is on recurring display, performing steamy dances and acrobatic pole work in long shots that keep every extension in frame. The story's emotional arc has dizzying highs and gut-churning lows, while the stunt work includes (but isn't limited to) the previously mentioned fight scene with shattered glass and a broken nose (not hers). On top of all of this, Madison must shoulder the story as every man in the vicinity of her heroine acts like a buffoon or a bully.

All this demands more than being Julia Roberts-level charming, which she is. It demands a smirking self-awareness, an edged brand of humor, and a vulnerability that can flash to defense in the blink of an eye. Madison isn't performing Ani; she's bringing to life a woman in full, from her carefully lacquered pedicure to her tinsel hair extensions. Ani might not be like someone you know, but by the end of the movie you will know her intimately. 

It's easy to fall in love with Ani. And we're not the only ones who do. 

SEE ALSO: What happened at the end of 'Anora'? Yura Borisov is superb in Anora.  Yura Borisov is an unexpected heart throb in "Anora." Credit: NEON

From Tangerine's Mya Taylor to The Florida Project's Brooklynn Prince to Red Rocket's Simon Rex, Baker has an eye for casting. In his homeland of Russia, Yura Borisov has a sizable filmography. And whether you're familiar with it or not, it's easy to see why from the moment he makes eye contact with Ani. Though Igor is brought along in case there's trouble, his face is not one of aggression or threat. He's not some Goon #2, as his eyes glisten with a sharp understanding of every situation he finds himself in.

While all around him there's hollering and proselytizing and drama, his words are few and his tone is soft. Steadily and subtly, he becomes a counterpoint to the other characters, quietly making space for Ani's feelings and thoughts where others reject them. It's character work that relies so heavily on physicality that every shift of his eyebrow, shrug of his shoulder, or flex of his finger carries weight. And as Ani begins to notice this, the film moves further and further from the conventions of a mafia drama or a Hollywood happy ending, into a path that is Baker's to chart. And where it ends up is at once funny, frustrating, and yet satisfyingly cathartic. 

Anora is hands down the year's best.  Yuriy Borisov, Mikey Madison, Vache Tovmasyan, and Karren Karagulian walk by a rollercoaster in "Anora." Credit: NEON

Ushering audiences from the back rooms of a sweaty strip club to the silk sheets of a posh condo, to the dazzling, neon-lit promenade of Las Vegas, and back to the pungent Russian restaurants of Coney Island, Anora is magnificently alive. Madison is its shining star, her charisma absolute as she wields a Brooklyn accent like a whip to dazzle with or wreak havoc as she sees fit. The supporting cast — including Lindsey Normington as a vicious rival — is terrifically grounded in Baker's Brooklyn of bumbling intimidation and reckless lust, nurturing sharp comments and sharper punchlines. But Borisov proves the perfect foil to Madison, allowing her to glow all the brighter under his gaze. He reflects our own growing awe of this badass broad who won't — to borrow from another 2024 cinematic sex worker — will not accept a life she does not deserve.

Underscoring this passionate tone, the cinematography of Drew Daniels draws us in closer, following over Ani's shoulder as she strides onto a stage or into a challenge. The resplendent colors — rich reds, cool teals — are set off against environments of posh beiges or urban grays, setting Ani apart as extraordinary in every moment. Altogether, Anora is a visceral experience, making its audience not voyeurs but one of the crew. Thus embedded, our pulses race, our eyes grow wide, our hearts dance as our heroes do. Anora offers a glorious thrill, as bold as it is brilliant.

Anora is available on Prime Video for purchase.

UPDATE: Dec. 19, 2024, 4:38 p.m. EST Anora was reviewed from the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 7, 2024. This post has been updated to include the latest viewing options.

The Brutalist is a towering paean to the American dream, in all its force and folly. Set over several decades, Brady Corbet's post-World War II immigrant saga is — like the architectural achievements of its protagonist — constructed with meticulous consideration, resulting in a work of multifaceted technique and piercing humanity.

The film, arresting from its first frames, spends three-and-a-half engrossing hours on the tale of László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a fictitious Jewish Hungarian architect and survivor of the Holocaust, whose arrival in America yields both rigorous struggle and tempting opportunity. It embodies the kind of American epics no longer really made by Hollywood studios. Comparisons to The Godfather have abounded since its Venice International Film Festival premiere (though as a vast immigrant saga, a more fitting analogy might be The Godfather Part II). Time will tell whether these are hyperbole, but while watching The Brutalist, it's hard not to think of the truly great American stories of the 20th century, like Once Upon a Time In America, and on occasion, even Citizen Kane.

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The latter is the loftiest possible invocation, but it's a comparison of scale and subject matter, not of technical innovation. The Brutalist, for all its splendor, is not a forward-thinking film like Orson Welles' Kane — but this is, in fact, a key piece of its aesthetic and thematic puzzle. The immediacy with which it conjures past masterpieces is part of its enormous thesis on the purpose of art, which it smuggles beneath a soul-stirring saga of survival, one that exists in conversation with, of all things, Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead. The film is both a densely-packed text, filled with rich thought on the world at large, as well as an excitingly rhythmic work of cinema that moves with a fearsome passion. It's hard not to think of it as a new American masterpiece.

What is The Brutalist about?

Written by Corbet and Mona Fastvold, The Brutalist begins in 1947, in a time of reconstruction and uncertainty. When László arrives on Ellis Island — an intimate, disorienting scene that begins in his darkened ship bunk and moves above deck — his wife Erzsébet (Felicity Jones) and niece Zsófia (Raffey Cassidy), from whom he was separated during the war, remain stuck in the Soviet Union.

Taken in by his cousin Attila (Alessandro Nivola) in Philadelphia and working in his furniture shop, László begins proposing unique Modernist designs, until he's commissioned to build a library for a wealthy family, the Van Burens. Over the years, these aristocratic, old-money magnates — the boastful Harrison Lee (Guy Pearce) and his slimy son Harry (Joe Alwyn) — become a vital part of László's story. The film is novelistic in its unfurling, occasionally taking the form of an epistolary, via the letters sent between László and Erzsébet, but to borrow a phrase from a fellow critic, it's also "Great American Novel-istic." László's architectural passions, and his desperation to be reunited with his family, become deeply entwined with his personal and artistic ambitions. To put it simply, money is the solution at every turn, even if it corrodes his soul — but The Brutalist isn't quite so didactic.

While it spends several hours chronicling the way László changes, and is changed by the United States, the temptations of wealth and power are a small subset of the larger forces that mold him into a much angrier and bitter person. A party scene in Harrison's mansion diverts its focus from conversations to slow-motion shots of champagne and expensive jewelry, just as László is about to sign a long-term contract with the family to construct a community center. However, at no point does Corbet cut to reaction shots of László noticing these trinkets. They represent the fabric of the world he's about to enter, though as his chat with Harrison proceeds, he continues to speak of architecture with poetic adoration. ("I always find our conversations intellectually stimulating!" Harrison rasps, disguising the knowledge that he'll never be László's intellectual equal.) Wealth may not change László’s passions, but it might change how he approaches them.

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All the while, the film also explores the fraught corners of post-World War II Jewish identity in the West. From the moment László arrives on America's shores, he's presented with questions of assimilation. His cousin Attila has married a Catholic woman, Audrey (Emma Laird), and has converted. The store he runs is called Miller and Sons, even though his last name is (or was) Molnár, the Hungarian equivalent — and as László quips, "You have no sons!" Before long, news of the infant state of Israel reaches him, leading to other Jewish characters in his vicinity wrestling with their rights and obligations.

Filming on The Brutalist was completed in May of last year, before the events of Oct. 7 led to a more widespread discussion on understanding of the colonial aspects of Israel's founding. The film doesn't get into granular detail — László himself may not be aware of the U.N.'s plans for the region, or how they might displace local Arabs — but the looming specter of this conversation imbues the movie with a tragic dilemma. László's options, as a refugee, are to bring other people harm through displacement, or to continue bringing harm to his own soul, through his immersion in American capitalism.

As the film proceeds, it centers a key question that applies to every facet of its construction: "What is strength?"

László's vision for the Van Burens' building — a blocky, pyramidic structure few others seem to understand — is uncompromising to a fault, even if it means pushing other people away in the process. But as the film proceeds, it centers a key question that applies to every facet of its construction: "What is strength?" What is its nature? Is it the materials and the deep concrete foundation László builds? If so, must this come at the cost of the shakier foundation of his roots in a new country? He is always seen as an outsider, whether because of his Jewish-ness, his foreign-ness, or both. Does strength involve living with the physical and psychological pain he's endured, and the strain it puts on his marriage? Or does it involve numbing that pain at any cost?

This thematic exclamation point would mark the end of discussions on most modern American films. But in the case of The Brutalist, it's merely the beginning, thanks in large part to Corbet's multifaceted, referential, and at times reverential use of form.

Every aspect of The Brutalist is finely tuned

What stands out first and foremost about The Brutalist is Adrien Brody's lead performance. It's funny, and stirring, and risible. However, there's not a single moment where the Hungarian-American actor isn't reaching into the depths of his soul, mining some corner of either his previous roles (such as in The Pianist) or of his mother's experience as a Hungarian woman of Jewish descent forced to flee her country in the 1950s. There's an awkwardness to László too, given the way he interacts with the world around him — which is to say, the country around him. To the untrained ear, his Hungarian dialogue (and his Hungarian accent while speaking English) seem just fine, but the Queens-born actor also purges himself of any remotely American intonation or idiosyncrasy. Whether or not he nails Hungarian specificities, he plays "foreigner" to a tee, between the way he gesticulates, to the way he enters and leaves both rooms and conversations. He is, first and foremost, an outsider.

While Brody's work is magnificently pained, let it not go unsaid: Guy Pearce is the movie's secret weapon, as the actor charged with creating the in-groups and inner circles which tacitly reject László in the first place. As Harrison, the Australian actor channels an air of arrogance that the character often smarmily re-frames as benevolence, leading to moments of shockingly casual cruelty towards László, usually played off as jokes. This dynamic is a key part of the story, and of the America in which László starts to assimilate, taking on Harrison's traits in turn.

Corbet's camera helps these performances shine, especially in the moments that The Brutalist takes dark and dour turns. Cinematographer Lol Crawley bathes certain scenes in darkness; his palette's contrasting warmth and shadow may have led to some of the Godfather comparisons, but the film isn’t interested in mere imitation, even though it conjures old-world styles as though they were forgotten spirits.

SEE ALSO: Where to watch the best holiday movies

The Brutalist was shot on VistaVision, an IMAX-like technique first developed in the 1950s, in which 35-millimeter film stock was run sideways through a camera, increasing the surface area of the frame (the movie was subsequently projected on 70-millimeter at its premiere). This results in a crisper, sharper image than results from most modern digital workflows, but The Brutalist also appears to employ older lenses with numerous flaws, and razor-thin margin for what is or isn't in focus, revealing new dimensions to spaces and even people. Between its use of era-appropriate techniques and withered tools, The Brutalist ends up existing in a liminal space between past and present; it's simultaneously of an older era, as well as a window to that era, revealing a complicated relationship to the past.

'The Brutalist' ends up existing in a liminal space between past and present; it's simultaneously of an older era, as well as a window to that era, revealing a complicated relationship to the past.

For László, this relationship manifests as a pull-and-push between art and industry, and a struggle to preserve the forms his buildings take under capitalist constraints. However, the film itself takes intriguing form as well, wielding a litany of techniques owed to numerous different film movements over the years (that they even remotely gel together is something miraculous). The Brutalist is, in large part, shot with the classical composition of old Hollywood, with controlled framing and movement, but it often breaks from this norm.

On occasion, one might find the pronounced jump cuts of the French New Wave (created, ironically, as a response to the classic Hollywood studios), alongside the use of Soviet montage, accompanied — equally ironically — by voiceover and spliced footage from American propaganda newsreels about industrial innovation. The stark and careful shadows of Godfather cinematographer Gordon Willis, of New Hollywood, find themselves alongside techniques from contemporary independent movements in New York, like the freewheeling, improvisational, up-close-and-personal style of John Cassavetes. You might even find some Hungarian influence if you look closely enough (certain shots are owed to Béla Tarr, while others to László Nemes), and as the film moves forward through time, it even pulls from Lynchian surrealism, and techniques developed during the early video revolution.

Corbet's use of these contrasting techniques isn't just pronounced, but powerful and purposeful. He employs them to create jolting moments of narrative impact, but he also seems to pay homage to the history of the cinematic medium (and its development) as a means to embody the very story he's telling, about the complicated ways in which people hold on to the past. And, as a film that's as much about László's painful history as it is about America's past, it makes for an aesthetic refutation of one of its biggest influences: Ayn Rand.

The Brutalist remixes and transforms The Fountainhead

The Brutalist owes much of its story and structure to Rand's The Fountainhead, from its basic premise of an uncompromising architect, to plot developments like László being plucked from toil and obscurity to create something lasting; he shovels coal for a period, the same way Rand's hero Howard Roark worked in a granite quarry. But as visualized in King Vidor's much-maligned 1949 film version of the book — which stars Gary Cooper, and for which Rand herself wrote the screenplay — Modernist and Brutalist architecture take on a fascistic tone in The Fountainhead. They become about leaving the past behind, and shaking off the influences of Graeco-Roman styles, in favor of a "form flows from function" approach. This function-first belief, though it has older origins, was notably espoused by Adolf Hitler, who abhorred "stupid imitations of the past."

Brutalism, though it has more egalitarian origins like low-income social housing, does have a stylistic and philosophical overlap with totalitarian architecture. Both come to similar aesthetic conclusions — the angular, the monochrome, the display of materials — albeit for very different reasons. Vidor's The Fountainhead, in which Roark creates in a Modernist style verging on Brutalist, arguably does a disservice to form, both as an architectural concept, and a filmic one. In Vidor’s story, the influence of the past is framed as a cloying, constraining force intent on snuffing out individuality, and the way that story is told is similarly functional (the film has its charms, but it's straightforward in its presentation, and rote in its delivery of dialogue).

Vidor's film is hardly a defining pillar of modern American politics, but Rand's Objectivist philosophies certainly are. Her rejection of collectivism both tapped into and subsequently clarified the heart of American capitalism — the very same heart Corbet puts on display, and presents as a magnetic force for László, pulling him toward more autocratic ideals. The Brutalist never expands on László’s political outlook, or that of his wife, because the movie's immigrant characters tend to tiptoe around these questions, from poor and wealthy Americans alike, at a time when foreigners (and communists) were looked upon with suspicion. However, Corbet leaves plenty by way of breadcrumbs to figure out what their beliefs might be, and how those beliefs come into immediate conflict with the ideals of their adopted home.

'The Brutalist' is, deep in its bones, a collectivist film that not only places immense emotional value on people and their history, but creates and embodies that value too.

Though he puts on an uncompromising front when it comes to his designs, László is always found compromising when it comes to belief, and the way he conducts himself. These are tensions The Brutalist works into every scene, making its gargantuan runtime seem like a piece of cake. It's a film from which you cannot look away, and wouldn't want to — even when it takes dark and dour turns, whose presentation verges on the phantasmagorical.

As much as The Brutalist is a film of steel and concrete, it's a film of the spirit too, and the way the soul is built and constructed from local materials. It's about all the things that make America, and make American stories. Ultimately, when the movie reveals a previously obscured detail about László's work, it makes for a devastating cinematic mic drop that elucidates its meaning in complicated ways, while exposing the risk of having that meaning distorted and re-appropriated. It reclaims even the Randian notion that Modernism, Brutalism, and progress at large are ideals that must be cut off from the past, and from connections to other human beings. The Brutalist is, deep in its bones, a collectivist film that not only places immense emotional value on people and their history, but creates and embodies that value too.

The Brutalist is now playing in theaters. 

UPDATE: Dec. 19, 2024, 2:10 p.m. EST "The Brutalist" was reviewed on Sept. 2, 2024 out of its World Premiere at the Venice International Film Festival. This post has been updated to include the most current viewing options.

Save $129: As of Dec. 18, Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G55C curved gaming monitor is available for $199.99 at Amazon, a 39% discount from its regular price of $329.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G55C Curved Gaming Monitor $199.99 at Amazon
$329.99 Save $130.00 Get Deal

Gamers, it's time to level up your setup with the Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G55C curved gaming monitor. Packed with premium features and designed to immerse you in every frame, this monitor is now on sale at Amazon for $199.99 — a fantastic $130 off its original price of $329.99.

Odyssey G55C's 1000R curved display is engineered to pull you into the action. With QHD resolution (1.7 times the pixel density of Full HD), the visuals are razor-sharp, detailed, and vibrant. It's like stepping into another dimension and is perfect for gaming, streaming, or work. The 16:9 aspect ratio provides ample screen real estate, so you'll never feel cramped during intense sessions.

SEE ALSO: Mashable Readers’ Choice Awards: Smartest Home 2025

Performance-wise, this monitor is built for speed. The 165Hz refresh rate ensures ultra-smooth gameplay, eliminating lag and stutter. At the same time, the 1ms response time keeps blur at bay, giving you the edge in fast-paced action games. Pair that with AMD Radeon FreeSync, which synchronizes the monitor and graphics card refresh rates to prevent screen tearing, and you've got yourself a buttery-smooth gaming experience.

HDR10 support adds an extra layer of immersion, delivering deeper blacks, brighter whites, and an incredible spectrum of colors. Whether exploring shadowy dungeons or basking in a game's luminous landscapes, every detail comes to life in vibrant clarity.

Samsung also considers your comfort. Eye Saver Mode reduces blue light to minimize strain during extended gaming marathons, while anti-flicker technology keeps the display easy on your eyes so you can stay focused longer.

The monitor's glare-free finish ensures you're not distracted by reflections, and its sleek, modern design looks as good as it performs. Whether you're a casual gamer or a competitive pro, this monitor offers the specs and style to match your passion.

At $199.99, Samsung Odyssey G55C is an unbeatable deal for anyone looking to up their game. Don't let this offer slip away and click "add to cart" before it's too late.

Save $500: As of Dec. 18, Sony 75-inch X85K 4K Ultra HD LED Smart Google TV is on sale for $798 at Walmart, a $500 discount off its regular price of $1,298.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony 75-inch X85K 4K Ultra HD LED $798.00 at Walmart
$1,298.00 Save $500.00 Get Deal

If you dream of a big-screen upgrade for your living room, the Sony 75-inch X85K 4K Google TV is a deal you won’t want to miss. Right now, it’s available at Walmart for $798, saving you a whopping $500 off its original price of $1,298.

What makes the X85K so impressive? Its 4K HDR Processor X1 delivers smooth, clear, and lifelike visuals, enhanced by TRILUMINOS PRO, which reproduces over a billion accurate colors. This means movies, sports, and shows come to life with natural hues and detailed contrast, making every scene pop.

SEE ALSO: Mashable Readers’ Choice Awards: Smartest Home 2025

This TV is perfect for streaming and gaming. The Google TV platform organizes all your favorite content in one place, supporting apps like Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV, and HBO Max. It’s also compatible with Apple AirPlay 2, so you can easily stream from your iPhone or iPad.

For gamers, the X85K is a winner. With HDMI 2.1 features like 4K/120Hz, VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), you’ll experience responsive, blur-free gaming. Add exclusive features for the PlayStation 5, and you have a screen that enhances your gaming adventures.

Thanks to the 120Hz native refresh rate and Motionflow XR technology, sports, and fast-moving scenes look smooth and natural. With 4K XR-Reality PRO, even older content gets upscaled to near-4K quality, bringing new life to your favorite shows and movies.

Design-wise, the X85K is as sleek as it is functional. Its flush surface and narrow bezel ensure your focus stays on the screen, delivering an immersive viewing experience. Plus, it’s BRAVIA CAM compatible, so you can video chat with friends or control your TV with gestures for a truly modern touch.

At $798, the Sony X85K offers premium features and stunning visuals at an unbeatable price. Whether you’re hosting movie nights, gaming marathons, or just binging your favorite shows, this TV is ready to deliver. Act fast — deals like this don’t last long.

Save $30: As of Dec. 20, Hohem iSteady M7 gimbal stabilizer is on sale for $299 at Amazon, with an additional $30 off coupon applied at checkout.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hohem Hohem iSteady M7 Gimbal Stabilizer $269.00 at Amazon
$299.00 Save $30.00 Get Deal

Content creators, vloggers, and anyone serious about smartphone videography meet your new best friend: the Hohem iSteady M7 Gimbal Stabilizer. It’s packed with pro-level features, and right now, it’s available for $299 at Amazon. Plus, you can apply a $30 coupon to sweeten the deal even further.

The iSteady M7 is a game-changer for capturing smooth, professional-looking videos. Its orthogonal three-axis design offers complete freedom of movement, with 360° infinite pan rotation and a 325° wide tilt range. Whether planning a landscape, capturing action shots, or tracking a subject, this gimbal keeps your footage steady and cinematic.

SEE ALSO: Mashable Readers’ Choice Awards: Smartest Home 2025

One standout feature is the detachable remote control, equipped with a 1.4-inch touchscreen for intuitive controls and real-time previews. This makes it easier to adjust your settings on the fly or frame your shots perfectly.

For creative flexibility, the built-in extension pole lets you experiment with unique perspectives — think overhead shots, pet-eye views, or dynamic angles that set your videos apart. And let’s not forget the RGB and CCT fill light, which provides customizable brightness and color temperature to ensure your scenes are always perfectly lit, whether you’re shooting selfies or backlit subjects.

The iSteady M7 also boasts an impressive 12-hour battery life, ensuring you won’t run out of juice mid-shoot. It even supports reverse charging, so your phone can borrow power. This makes it perfect for all-day shoots whilst traveling, live streaming, or creating content for social media.

Compatible with a wide range of devices, including iPhones (from the X to the latest 16 Pro Max) and Samsung Galaxy models, this gimbal ensures versatility and reliability for all your shooting needs.

At $299 with an extra $30 off coupon, the Hohem iSteady M7 offers pro-level features at an approachable price. Are you a budding filmmaker or an experienced content creator? This gimbal is a must-have tool to elevate your videos.

The best streaming deals for watching the Golden Globes: BEST DEAL TO WATCH LIVE Paramount+ with Showtime annual subscription Free 7-day trial, then $119.99/year (save 23%) Get Deal BEST DEAL TO WATCH ON-DEMAND Paramount+ Essential annual subscription Free 7-day trial, then $59.99/year (save 38%) Get Deal BEST THIRD-PARTY DEAL Free Paramount+ with Walmart+ membership free 30-day trial, then $98/year Get Deal BEST FOR STUDENTS Paramount+ for students $4.50/month (save 25%) Get Deal BEST LIVE TV STREAMING DEAL YouTube TV free 10-day trial, then $59.99/month for three months Get Deal

Awards season is upon us once again after a pretty big year of film and television. The Golden Globe Awards will kick things off in January, giving us a little taste of what's to come. Stars will flock to Los Angeles, where the best in movies and TV will be honored for their work over the past year.

Not only will the awards have comedian Nikki Glaser as the first woman to solo host Hollywood's "party of the year," but also plenty of first-time nominees — including Pamela Anderson, Ariana Grande, Zoe Saldaña, Glen Powell, Jesse Plemons, Karla Sofía Gascón, and Glaser herself.

If you want to be a part of Hollywood's big night and see your favorite stars shine, here's everything you need to know to watch live.

When are the Golden Globe Awards?

The 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards is set to take place on Jan. 5, 2025, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, at 8 p.m. ET.

Who is nominated at the Golden Globes?

Mindy Kaling and Morris Chestnut announced the 82nd Golden Globes nominees in a live CBS broadcast on Dec. 9. The musical Emilia Pérez earned the most nominations with 10, followed by The Brutalist, which our reviewer called a "modern American masterpiece," with seven. On the TV side, The Bear leads nominations with five, followed by Only Murders in the Building and Shōgun (our favorite TV show of 2024) with four apiece. Our favorite film of the year — Sean Baker's bold dramedy Anora — also picked up five nominations, which we couldn't be more excited about.

Check out the full list of nominees.

How to watch the Golden Globes live without cable

Thanks to a new five-year deal between the Golden Globe Awards and CBS, the awards show will be broadcast on the network live. If you don't have cable, however, you'll be able to livestream the show on Paramount+ with Showtime only. The Paramount+ Essential plan will only get you access to the on-demand broadcast the next day after the awards air.

Paramount+ with Showtime will run you $12.99 per month, while Paramount+ Essential is just $7.99 per month.

Another option is to sign up for a live TV streaming service like YouTube TV or Fubo. These services offer live streaming of local channels, including CBS, so you can catch the broadcast as it's happening. They cost a lot more than Paramount+, but they do offer free trials if you're a new subscriber.

Is there a Paramount+ free trial?

Yep! Paramount+ offers free seven-day trials for newbies for both the Essential and with Showtime tiers. So, technically, if you've never subscribed to Paramount+ before, you can sign up for a week-long trial and watch the Golden Globes for free during that time. Just remember to cancel your subscription before the trial ends if you want to avoid charges.

Don't qualify for the free trial? We've also found a few different ways you can save some money on a subscription. Check out the best Paramount+ streaming deals below.

The best Paramount+ streaming dealsBest deal to watch live: Save 23% on a Paramount+ with Showtime annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ with Showtime Paramount+ with Showtime $119.99/year Watch Now

The only way to watch the Golden Globe Awards live on Paramount+ is with the Showtime plan, which will run you $12.99 per month. However, if you opt for an annual plan for $119.99 instead, you'll save 23%. That brings the monthly cost down to just $10 instead of $12.99. Of course, you'll have to pay upfront, but it's definitely more bang for your buck. Beyond just unlocking the live broadcast, you'll also get access to Showtime originals and movies (like Yellowjackets and The Curse) and live sports.

Best deal to watch later: Save 38% on a Paramount+ Essential annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ Essential annual subscription $59.99/year (save 38%) Watch Now

If you don't mind watching the awards show after it airs (and can avoid spoilers), you can subscribe to Paramount+ Essential for a single month at $7.99. You'll be able to catch the broadcast on demand the day after it airs live. Just remember to cancel before your month is up if you want to avoid further monthly charges. Want to stick around and save some money? Opt for the annual plan and save 38% on your subscription. It'll run you just $59.99 per year, which breaks down to $5 per month instead of the usual $7.99. That's like getting 12 months for less than the price of eight.

Best deal for students: Save 25% on Paramount+ Essential Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ Essential for students $4.50/month (save 25%) Watch Now

College students can score a Paramount+ Essential monthly subscription for just $4.50 per month, so long as they can verify their student status using SheerID. Once verified, student discounts are valid for four years, even if you graduate prior to the four-year period. After four years, you'll be charged the standard rate for an Essential monthly subscription. While you won't be able to watch the awards show live, you can tune in the next day on demand.

Best third-party deal: Get Paramount+ for free with a Walmart+ membership Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart / Paramount Walmart+ membership Free 30-day trial, then $98/year Watch Now

It may not be the simplest way to watch, but a Walmart+ membership gives you free access to Paramount+ Essential and plenty of other sweet benefits. Better yet, you can kick things off with a free 30-day trial, so you can enjoy an entire month of streaming without paying a cent. Just be sure to cancel before your trial ends if you want to avoid charges. If you want to keep your Walmart+ membership going, it'll cost you either $12.95 per month or $98 per year ($8.17/month). As we noted above, Paramount+ Essential will only get you access to the on-demand broadcast the day after the Golden Globes air.

SAVE $100: As of Dec. 20, the Garmin vívoactive 5 is on sale for $199.99 at Amazon. That's a 33% discount on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin vívoactive 5 $199.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

Garmin deals are few and far between, especially on newer models. So when we see a deal like this on the vívoactive 5, we can't help but get excited. This latest deal sees the popular fitness tracker reduced by $100, down to $199.99 (as of Dec. 20). A great excuse for a pre-Christmas treat.

This deal is available in the navy, black, and ivory color options, with different deal options available for the orchid model.

SEE ALSO: The Apple iPad (10th Gen) is at its lowest-ever price — better than Black Friday and Cyber Monday

The vívoactive 5 was released in late 2023, bringing a stark upgrade from the previous model. Unlike the vívoactive 4, the 5 benefits from a bright AMOLED display, making colors incredibly vibrant and much more noticeable. It also has a much-improved battery life, boasting 11 days when in smartwatch mode.

Stats-wise, it is packed with advanced health-tracking features, including heart rate monitoring, SpO2 tracking, stress tracking, and in-depth sleep insights. The sleep insights have also had an upgrade, now featuring sleep coaching. Sports tracking includes running, cycling, swimming, and more.

You'll notice that more advanced features such as training status and training readiness are missing from this model. For statistics like these, you'll want to look at the higher-end watches, including the Forerunner range. But for a general smartwatch for tracking a range of sports and health stats, this is a fantastic option.

Head to Amazon before the deal ends.

SAVE $10: As of Dec. 20, the Apple AirPods 4 are on sale at Amazon for $119. That's a saving of 8% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $119.00 at Amazon
$129.00 Save $10.00 Get Deal

Christmas is fast approaching, and if you still have some gifts to purchase for friends and loved ones, head over to Amazon's Daily Deals section for incredible discounts. Like this deal on the new Apple AirPods 4.

As of Dec. 20, you can find these AirPods for $119 at Amazon, saving you $10 on list price. It's not a huge discount, but this model was only released in September. This deal has also been active for a while, meaning they are still at the same price as they were during Black Friday.

SEE ALSO: The Apple iPad (10th Gen) is at its lowest-ever price — better than Black Friday and Cyber Monday

This particular deal at Amazon is for the AirPods without active noise cancellation or AppleCare+, but there are discounts across all variations if you want to add these. Powered by the H2 chip, these AirPods create an incredibly immersive listening experience. Personalized Spatial Audio and dynamic head tracking makes it feel like the sound is moving all around you, creating a theater-like listening experience.

The microphone audio is top notch too. It uses advanced computational audio to reduce background noise while isolating and clarifying the sound of your voice. Perfect for phone calls or voicemails while out and about.

Battery life will remain strong for a good five hours on a single charge, and the case adds a total of 30 hours of listening time. If you're not convinced yet, check out our review to see how impressed we were.

Head to Amazon now to grab this deal before Christmas.

SAVE $69: As of Dec. 20, the Beats Studio Buds are reduced to $79.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 47% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Studio Buds $79.99 at Amazon
$149.95 Save $69.96 Get Deal

Beats are some of the move beloved headphones and earbuds on the market. Known for their punchy bass and quality sound, you can't go wrong with one of their products. And with Christmas fast approaching, there couldn't be a better time to treat yourself or a loved one to the Beats Studio Buds, because as of Dec. 20, these popular earbuds are reduced to just $79.99 on Amazon.

One of our favorite features of these earbuds is the two listening modes: Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) and Transparency mode. Transparency mode allows you to listen to your music or podcasts while still being able to hear noise around you such as cars, bikes, or other loud noises. This is also ideal for runners who want to remain safe and aware of their surroundings, but also need good music to keep them motivated.

SEE ALSO: Get $180 off Beats Studio Pro at Best Buy

Like most Beats earbuds, these are designed with comfort in mind. They come with three soft ear tip sizes for a secure and comfortable fit. They also boast an eight-hour battery life, with an additional 16 hours provided by the charging case. And if you take your earbuds on the go, these are IPX4-rated sweat- and water-resistant earbuds, so there's more protection for strenuous use or any accidental mishaps.

The package includes the earbuds, a charging case, ear tips in three sizes, a USB-C to USB-C cable, a Quick Start Guide, and a warranty card.

This deal is only available for a limited time, so don't miss out.

I had always gone out of my way to recycle and conserve electricity. But I didn't understand the true gravity of environmental decline until I watched A Plastic Ocean on Netflix six years ago. That documentary changed my brain — and the way I go about nearly everything on a daily basis. A big part of that has been a new approach to not only shopping for myself, but for other people.

Guilt about over-indulgent holiday shopping was a budding sentiment back in the late 2010s, with the conscionable desire to waste less and buy less exploding into a whole-ass internet trend in 2024. With underconsumption core, fast fashion is out, hauls are out, and going hard on Black Friday just because stuff is cheap is out, while simply using the items you already have, damn it — then buying higher-quality, less-expendable stuff when you do need something new — is in.

Consumerism really puts a damper on holiday cheer particularly as it applies to waste and ethics. Consider how much non-recyclable packaging will be used, how many old tech devices will be trashed to make room for new ones, or how many underpaid workers put in extra hours to get those Shein prices so sketchily low. Of course, there's always the question of whether your giftee will even use that gift you bought in a hasty scramble, or if they'll gift it to the trash can to keep the peace in their junk drawer.

SEE ALSO: The Mill food recycling bin keeps your kitchen scraps from going to a landfill by feeding them to chickens instead

As extreme weather makes the climate crisis harder to ignore, many of us wonder what we can do to help. Outside of voting for candidates who take climate change and pollution seriously, using your dollar to shop and gift sustainably is a tangible way to get involved at the individual level.

This isn't to dismiss the fact that big corporations and their disastrous polluting habits are the root of the problem. We can't talk about trying to limit our own personal carbon footprint via sustainable gifts without acknowledging that the concept of carbon footprints was created and fed to us by BP, one of the world's biggest corporate carbon contributors, to shift the blame to people throwing straws away. But making a point to be more eco-friendly on an individual level is still important. The single-use plastic that we toss after 12 minutes will either sit in a landfill and release methane for hundreds of years or join the 8 million metric tons of plastic dumped in the ocean every year that end up in our drinking water, mess with the ocean's ability to sequester carbon, and have deadly effects on marine life.

If nothing else, an environmentally-friendly gift could spark your giftee's interest in the bigger sustainability movement, and that's not nothing. I've gathered a solid list of the best sustainable gift ideas below, including several items that I personally use and tell loved ones about. There are affordable add-ons like dishwasher-safe sandwich bags that simply act as a less-wasteful version of something people already use regularly, or more creative, premium eco-friendly gifts like a matching workout set or the comfiest comforter ever — both of which happen to be made from recycled plastic bottles. There's a gift for every point (and budget) on the journey to go green.

Wondering how to watch college football this season? Here are your best options: Best for affordability Sling TV Blue Plan $20 for the first month, then $40/month (save $20 ) Get Deal BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $59.99/month for 1 month (Save $20) Get Deal

The No. 9 Tennessee Vols and the No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes will face off in the first round of the College Football Playoffs (CFP). The match will take place at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Dec. 21, and is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Tennessee is 10-2 overall and 6-2 in conference. Ohio State was also 10-2 overall, but was 7-2 in conference.

The CFP has moved to a 12-team playoff format that allows the highest ranked winners of the top four conferences to take the top four seeds. The highest ranked winner of a fifth conference will take the 12th seed, if the team is not ranked higher than 12. The rest of the playoff field is filled out by ranking in a bracket released by the CFP committee. The top four seeds earn a first-round bye.

The winner of Tennessee vs. Ohio State will go on to face the Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl.

SEE ALSO: How to watch college football without cable Tennessee vs. Ohio State football kickoff time and network

The Tennessee vs. Ohio State football game is scheduled for a 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT start on ABC/ESPN on Saturday, Dec. 21.

Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit are expected to be in the booth. Holly Rowe is expected to be reporting from the sidelines.

Best streaming services for Tennessee vs. Ohio State football game

You need to choose a streaming service to watch college football without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Tennessee vs. Ohio State football game on ABC/ESPN. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most channels: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Pro plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Nearly 10,000 Amazon workers across the U.S. have gone on strike mere days before Christmas. Organised by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the union is accusing Amazon of failing to negotiate a fair contract with them. In response, Amazon claims that the workers striking aren't actually its employees.

The Amazon strike began on Thursday at 6 a.m EST, with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters announcing picket lines in New York City, Atlanta, Southern California, San Francisco, and Illinois. This action follows Teamsters issuing a deadline to Amazon earlier this month, demanding it come to the negotiating table by Dec. 15. 

SEE ALSO: Amazon workers plan global protests and strikes on Black Friday

Workers across several Amazon facilities voted to authorise strikes over the past week, with Amazon ultimately failing to recognise their union and meet Teamsters' deadline for negotiations. The union's concerns include "low wages, disrespect, and illegal union busting," as well as workplace safety issues.

"If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon’s insatiable greed," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien. "We gave Amazon a clear deadline to come to the table and do right by our members. They ignored it."

Unsurprisingly, Amazon has refuted Teamster's characterisation of the situation, calling it a "PR play" and accusing them of acting illegally. Specifically, Amazon alledges that Teamsters has "actively threatened, intimidated, and attempted to coerce" employees and contractors to join them.

"There are a lot of nuances here but I want to be clear, the Teamsters don’t represent any Amazon employees despite their claims to the contrary," said Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel.

At least some of the striking workers are reportedly employees of a third-party contractor rather than direct hires of Amazon itself. Even so, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) previously determined that Amazon is a joint employer with its subcontractors, and has enough control over workers' conditions to be responsible for them under law.

Of course, Amazon disagrees. Yet rather than argue these facts, Amazon has challenged this decision by attacking the NLRB itself, claiming that the 90-year-old government agency is unconstitutional. The company previously presented the same argument in February, joining SpaceX and Trader Joe's in attempting to undermine the NLRB's legitimacy. 

Amazon also attempted to overturn the first ever union of Amazon warehouse workers last year, though was ultimately unsuccessful.

Pay and working conditions at Amazon have been constant concerns for many years. Last month, employees across the globe went on strike during Black Friday for the fifth annual Make Amazon Pay campaign. Protestors have consistently demanded the e-commerce giant improve its treatment of workers, respect their right to organise, operate sustainably, and give back to society. The Make Amazon Pay campaign is not organised by Teamsters, and involved workers in over 20 countries this year.

The net worth of Amazon founder and executive chairman Jeff Bezos currently sits at $237 billion, putting him second only to Elon Musk on Forbes' Real-Time Billionaires list. This is a $68 billion increase since Bezo's net worth during last year's Make Amazon Pay protests — a bump larger than Myanmar's GDP, and the approximate size of Alaska's.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2025 United Cup for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Tennis fans really don't have to wait long between top tournaments. There is generally always something to watch, but the last month or so will still have been painful for dedicated followers of the sport.

The 2024 ATP Finals and WTA Finals took place in November, so what have fans been doing all this time? They've been patiently waiting for the 2025 United Cup, that's what.

If you want to watch the 2025 United Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the United Cup?

The United Cup serves as the opener for the 2025 ATP Tour and the 2025 WTA Tour.

This international hard court tennis competition features mixed-gender teams from 18 countries, with three groups of three countries competing in a round robin format followed by knockout rounds.

When is the 2025 United Cup?

The 2025 United Cup is the third edition of the competition. This year's event will be held from Dec. 27 to Jan. 5 at two venues in Perth and Sydney.

How to watch the 2025 United Cup for free

The 2025 United Cup is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 United Cup by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Watch the 2025 United Cup for free from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the United Cup before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. This might be a good time to invest, because 9Now is offering free coverage of the Brisbane International, Adelaide International, and Australian Open.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream the 2025 United Cup for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Is getting in shape long overdue? Or are you looking to upgrade your workout routine? If that sounds right, it might be time for a fitness tracker. And when you're talking fitness trackers, one name stands above all others: Fitbit.

There's a reason that "Fitbit" has become common parlance for any kind of tracker. Fitbits come in a lot of shapes and sizes (and prices, of course) and have multiple functions. There's a Fitbit out there for you, whether you’re looking for something that truly just measures your steps or something more advanced with a heart monitor, GPS, and other built-in features. There are even Fitbits for kids.

If you need help choosing the best Fitbit to suit your health and lifestyle needs, we've pulled together some helpful information and a list of the top-rated Fitbit models.

What do Fitbits do?

At their most basic level, Fitbits were invented as a sort of wearable pedometer, originally existing just to track your steps. Of course they’ve become more tech-savvy (and more complicated) since then. These days, they come in a range of models, each of which offers its own unique combination of Fitbit’s technology and sensors. They can stand in as phones, push app notifications to you, and even pay for your Starbucks latte — plus they'll keep an eye on things such as heart health and sleep tracking.

What features do Fitbits have?

The most expensive Fitbit models offer a slew of features, mostly available through sensors. These involve keeping an eye on your heart beat variability, measuring your temperature around the clock, and even monitoring your stress levels as the company begins what will surely be a longer foray into the mindfulness aspect of health. A lot of the running and swimming Fitbits — yes, you can wear some of them in the pool and shower — also advise you when to take a recovery day.

How many exercise modes do Fitbits have?

You won't be starved of variety, let's put it that way. Fitbits have stacks of exercise modes, usually starting at 20. So whether you're a runner, cyclist, swimmer, yogi, weight lifter, boxer, or whatever else, the Fitbit will likely have you covered. They can automatically detect when you start working out, too.

What do Fitbits look like?

Fitbits have sleek, minimalist aesthetics, with bands that you can swap in and out and clock faces that you can customise for a display that suits your mood. Some are slimmer while others have a more Apple Watch-like, square display. Ultimately, they're designed to blend in with everyday life. There are no hefty runner-style watches or wrist-based eyesores.

How long does the battery last on a Fitbit?

It's a key point — especially if you need the convenience of something that will just run and run and doesn't require the hassle of daily charging. Fitbits tend to run for about a week — between six and eight days is fairly standard. Bear in mind that some features, like GPS, can run it down sooner.

How much do Fitbits cost?

There are a wide range of Fitbits out there that begin at under £100 and go up to a significant chunk of change. How much you want to spend might depend on why you’re using it (as a workout buddy versus an all-day companion) and what kind of features you want to be sure are included.

What is the best Fitbit?

There is a Fitbit out there that's perfect for you and your lifestyle. To help you find it, we have lined up a selection of the best models for every type of task.

These are the best Fitbit fitness trackers in 2024.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

Are you looking for a full body workout at home? Or an exercise machine that just doesn’t take up too much space? Take it from us: A rowing machine is a solid choice.

There are plenty of rowing machines out there — plus, a variety of price points, sizes, and spec. Indeed, when it comes to purchasing a rowing machine, there are a lot of factors to consider. Air or magnetic resistance? Hi-tech features or just the basics? Built-in workouts or rowing solo?

Fear not, we're here to answer all of your questions and steer (or row) you in the right direction. Yes, we’ve done most of the work for you, so we can get you off the computer and onto your rower in no time. Thank us later when those muscles are bulging.

Why do you need a rowing machine?

Rowing machines give you a full body workout. It’s cardio-heavy but low-impact. That means less stress on your joints or over-worked muscles, and less chance of sustaining an injury. This makes rowing a safe and effective workout for people of all ages, sizes, and abilities.

There’s more — rowing is good as both a warm-up and warm-down, if you’re having an intense or lengthy workout. It also adds variety to the run-of-the-mill weights and jogging routine.

What are the types of rowing machine resistance?

Here’s a bit of jargon you need to know about when buying a rowing machine. Resistance is the thing that makes it hard to pull back those handlebars, and thereby works the muscles. But there are multiple types of resistance, which each have their own plus points and negatives:

• Air Resistance — As you pull, the flywheel spins and creates its own air resistance. The harder you row, the tougher the resistance. This simulates the experience of rowing on water — but these machines can be noisier than the magnetic resistance options.

• Hydraulic Resistance — This is a standard mechanism on low-cost, stripped-down rowing machines. They use pistons, which push against liquid or air to create resistance. It’s not as smooth or robust of a workout as you get with other rowers, but it does the trick if all you want is the basics. These machines are usually smaller and easy to store.

• Magnetic Resistance — This is the most common type that you'll find on home gym rowers. It works by placing a strong magnet at a varying distance from the flywheel, which can increase and decrease the resistance. These machines are quieter but don’t necessarily simulate an authentic rowing experience.

• Water Resistance — These use a small tank of water. As you row, the flywheel paddles through the water. Unsurprisingly, this is the closest you get to the real rowing-on-water experience. Once again, the harder you row, the harder the resistance. They make a “swoosh” sound as you go. These tend to be high-quality, high-cost, and generally bigger. They won’t fold away quite so easily — if at all.

Keep these categories in mind when shopping around.

What features do rowing machines offer?

Once you’ve got a type of resistance in mind, the next thing is to look at other spec — specifically the display screen and how tech-savvy it is.

Some will offer basic information, such as distance, calories burned, strokes per minute, and time — while other hi-tech models will offer pre-programmed workouts and Bluetooth connectivity that can hook you up to fitness apps. Ultimately, it’s about how serious you are about rowing, and how much you’re willing to spend.

Other features include the number of resistance levels – around 10 is standard — and whether or not the rower folds up for easy storage.

How much does a rowing machine cost?

That’s the big question, of course. We’ve included models across a range of price points. It’s possible to pick up a rowing machine for under £100. It’s also possible to spend well over £1,000.

For anything above a very basic model, prepare to spend at least a few hundred pounds. But it’s worth the cash if you want a durable, full-body workout machine — and in the comfort of your own home.

What is the best rowing machine?

We have lined up impressive models from top brands like NordicTrack, WaterRower, and XS Sports. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your workouts up a notch, we’ve compiled a list of the top rowing machines for everyone.

These are the best rowing machines in 2024.

There’s never a bad time to start a new fitness routine or improve on an existing one. And while we can’t all afford a personal trainer to get us through the reps and work towards those goals, remember this is the 21st Century — there are other options. Most notably, enlisting the help of a fitness tracker.

It doesn’t matter if you’re buying a tracker for the first time or upgrading your current model, the benefits of these little training buddies are wide-ranging. You might be looking to shift a couple of kilos or work towards a marathon. Either way, a fitness tracker can help. In fact, you don’t need to be training at all to see the benefits. They’re great for providing rolling data on all kinds of wellness and health metrics, such as sleep and body composition.

The tricky business is picking one that suits you. We all have different lives and schedules, and each fitness tracker is made for different lifestyle requirements. And with so many brands and models, you want to find one that suits you — not to mention your budget. Fortunately, we’ve done some research and put together this roundup of fitness tracker options, along with some helpful pointers.

Do you need a fitness tracker?

Actively monitoring your fitness progression isn't just for athletes or people training for their local parkrun. It's a factor of wellness that people are building into their daily groove. The best fitness trackers are the ones that will keep you in check throughout your workout as well as the rest of your day. The positive impact that these high-tech bracelets and other wearable fitness gadgetry can have on your lifestyle as a whole is pretty incredible.

What can fitness trackers do?

Fitness trackers have gone way beyond just step counting and heart rate monitoring. Depending on the spec, fitness trackers can monitor and feedback on your sleep, blood oxygen, energy levels, stress, body temperature, menstrual cycles, BMI, and more. In terms of actual fitness, they can give your workout plans, track calories burned and fitness progress and coach you towards smashing your personal best. Fitness trackers with GPS can also track runs and set routes for you. Oh, and you'll also get smartphone compatibility, including text and call notifications.

What's the difference between a fitness tracker and a smartwatch?

A fitness tracker is essentially a bracelet with sensors that send data to your phone to provide an expanded picture of the data it collects, and usually requires a phone for GPS and music, too. A smartwatch is essentially your phone, but on your wrist. It has GPS built-in and can download apps, from the likes of Spotify to Tinder. With something like an Apple Watch, you can send voice messages or take calls, or have a full conversation via iMessage.

But for people strictly focused on black and white fitness metrics or people who want a hands-off tracker that doesn't require a super-involved setup process or daily charging, we'd make the case that a fitness tracker without high-end connectivity is the smarter, more cost-effective choice.

We've included a selection of both fitness trackers and smartwatches on this list.

Are fitness trackers waterproof?

Any respectable tracker should be able to accompany you on a run in the rain without breaking down. At this point, almost every tracker goes past splash and sweat resistance to hit a 5 ATM rating, meaning the device can withstand pressure equivalent up to 50 metres (164 feet). These should be fine to wear in the shower, in the ocean, or in a hot tub.

Swimmers have a bit more to consider than the waterproof rating. Look for a tracker with built-in GPS that can not only follow you underwater, but accurately track your laps and pace. Dedicated modes for pool swims and open water swims are ideal. Even the most rugged, most swim-friendly watches and trackers probably aren't suitable for extreme water sports or activities that involve high-velocity, deep submersion.

What is the best fitness tracker?

There are a whole lot of models out there for you to consider, with something for everyone and every budget. We have taken stock of everything on the market to bring you a selection of the very best devices, including fitness trackers from top brands like Apple, Samsung, Fitbit, and Garmin.

These are the best fitness trackers in 2024.

Shopping for gifts for gamers is a double-edged Master Sword. On the one hand, there are so many cool games, consoles, and accessories to choose from. But there's also just so much to choose from, to the point where you might feel under-leveled for the "simple" task of picking that just-right gift. That's where we come in.

To help you on your side quest to find the perfect present for a gamer friend or loved one, we've compiled a massive list of more than 50 gamer gift ideas for the 2024 holiday season — including a bunch of games we've played and products we've tested ourselves. If you're gifting on a budget, you'll do well with a new accessory for your recipient's existing setup, a few months' worth of their favorite video game subscription service, or a copy of a popular game from the past few months. Leveling up over the $100 mark expands your options to high-end peripherals, while $200 and above unlocks current-gen consoles, bundles, and gaming laptops. We've peppered in a few limited-edition collectibles at different price points, too.