The Moment I Fell For... Aimee Lou Wood

I keep seeing White Lotus breakout Aimee Lou Wood's quote about feeling "ugly" from her new interview with GQ bouncing around social media today -- Pajiba did a good piece on it here -- and it's making me feel sad, crazy, and angry all at once. So let's give Miss Aimee Lou her roses! I only watched the first season of Sex Education and remember liking her there (although my eye was more drawn to Conor Swindells on that series for, uhh, obvious reasons). But it was her role as a cheerful secretary opposite Bill Nighy (who was giving the performance of his own career) in Oliver Hermanus' 2022 film Living (a remake of Kurosawa's masterpiece Ikiru that I voted my sixth favorite film of that year) where Aimee Lou Wood first won my heart -- I haven't seen Mike White talk about why he was fighting for her so hard to win the role but I would not be surprised if he'd seen Living as well; she should have been nominated for a Supporting Actress Oscar along with Nighy if you ask me. As I said in my review of the film she is tasked with representing all the light and life that Nighy's misplaced amid his daily grudgery, and Wood does so effortlessly (as she did on Lotus, albeit with a darker edge) -- she's just one of those performers that is is incredibly easy to fall head over heels for. And given the beloved memes that her Lotus character of Chelsea gave life to (not to mention the general reaction to the finale) I don't think I am alone in feeling that way. We adore you, Aimee Lou! 

Pics of the Day

Two new photos from the upcoming queer-ish thriller Lurker have arrived -- starring Archie Madekwe as a pop star and Théodore Pellerin as an obsessed fan who weasels his way into the star's inner circle, Lurker played Sundance earlier this year where I saw, loved, and reviewed it and you can read that review right here. We don't have a trailer yet but I am assuming that's imminent because the folks at Mubi (who are distributing the movie) have given us a release date -- you can see Lurker for yourself on August 22nd. Oh unless you're here in NYC in which case you can see the movie much soon as it's the Closing Night movie of the New Directors New Films festival happening right now through this film's screening on April 15th. Looks like there are still tickets for it too! It's a movie to see! Very good.

Five Frames From ?

What movie is this?

Good Morning, World

I'll admit that T.V. is not my main focus and especially not shows about sports, but I'm still surprised me seeing this gif of Jay Ellis on Tumblr this morning was literally the first time I'd heard of a Netflix show called Running Point, which stars Kate Hudson as a woman who takes over a basketball team -- to be honest I usually wince when I see Kate Hudson's name (not a fan) so that might've happened. But the rest of the cast includes Justin Theroux, the great Drew Tarver of The Other Two, and adorable Max Greenfield, along with the stunning Mr. Ellis, so... yeah I probably still won't watch this. But at least now I have heard of it and know it exists and can keep my eyes peeled for more from Jay of this sort! And with this Jay Ellis has earned himself a tag on MNPP, everybody wish him congrats! And if you watch the show please tell me why I'm dumb for not watching it in the comments. 

James Norton Ten Times

Hey, you! Yes you. Not the James Norton"you" seen above and below -- although we do thank him for his service with this new photoshoot for Behind the Blinds magazine, we do -- but you reading this. I mentioned briefly last night that today was going to be a half-day -- well we've officially gone and gotten to the half where I'm gone now. But I'm leaving you in good, sturdy, capable hands -- and yes this time I do mean James Norton. Be back tomorrow, bye! Oh and hit the jump for all the James...

Five Frames From ?

What movie is this?

Good Morning, World

We don't give Tom Ford enough credit for casting male model Jon Kortajarenain his movie A Single Man thereby allowing me to get around my self-imposed rule of not posting exclusively male models here on the site. Jon has actually had a few acting gigs since (I love the gay episode of Tales From the Loop that he was on) but it'll forever be those dreamy cigarette smoking visuals with Colin Firth that I'll be picturing. Anyway here's Jon doing his main gig (via) with some Calvin Klein under-things on display; hit the jump for more...

Don't Look For Enlightenment Here

I didn't even recognize Murray Bartlett in this photo at first but when I did my head spun around like somebody just clocked an owl -- anyway since Murray is the patron gay of The White Lotus I will use this random photo that made me go gee-gosh-golly-damn to ask y'all quick-like to tell me what you thought of the third season finale if you watched it last night? I did and I am firmly ensconced in Camp Loved It, which seems to be an embattled place to be but I don't care -- I'm a maverick and I loved it. People seem to be angry at "plot holes" as if this show has ever been about "plot" or as if you even need a plot to make sense for something to be excellent (go watch any Hitchcock movie and get back to me). It yes is probably the messiest of the three seasons but character-wise Mike White's incisiveness into human behavior is still as sharp and funny as ever. Although the darkness at the heart of this season -- a real spiritual malaise and cynicism and, well, sickness -- was very much felt, and I'd say is pretty resonant with our moment in time! Apologies for being kinda vague in these talking points -- I just don't want to toss spoilers out here in people's face less than 24 hours after the show aired, so have at it with spoilers in the comments if you'd like. Me, I'm heading out to a screening -- actually I should warn y'all right now that I have n incredibly busy week ahead (including a half day off tomorrow) and then I'm going home to visit my family for an extended weekend, so it might be semi-dry up in here for a few days. Not that anything can be too dry with that photo of Murray Bartlett staring at us. In summation -- Carrie Coon rules, the end. 

Today's Fanboy Delusion

Today I'd rather be...

... pinning Jeremy Allen White to the mat. 

Sometime in the past month or so it appears that these outtakes of Jeremy Allen White for GQ appeared online (I don't have an original source) -- they were a part of his already extremely hot gym-bro photoshoot that we posted in 2023 right here. (This was during the Iron Claw press run so these photos were more on brand that they'd be for oh let's say his upcoming Bruce Springsteen bio-pic, for instance.)  Anyway it was cruel of GQ to keep these squirreled away from us for so long but it turns out that I needed something like this today so it all worked out in the end!

Jon Hamm Five Times

Jon Hamm is interviewed by who else Tina Fey in the new issue of Interview Magazine -- but more importantly than anything they have to say to one another are the photos of Jon wearing some nice snug dad shorts which I have helpfully brought over here to MNPP to enjoy. There are more photos of him at the link in other outfits but I think we can all agree that the five photos of him in this outfit in particular are the money shots. Hit the jump for them all...

Good Morning, World

Jason Momoa is turning this Monday
into a buns-day! Oh yeah I said it. (via)

Beggars Off Russell's Backside

Hey look it's Russell Crowe's bum in Virtuosity! Remember when that happened? That was a nice time for the entire family. Pretty sure this was the first time I ever saw Mr. Crowe and while I can't say that I have resolutely stayed a fan of his through the decades this was a perfect introduction. Anyway now that I have your attention this is one of those posts I hate posting but I am feeling the need to today given some unexpected financial difficulties -- and yes I'm deeply aware the world is burning so please feel free to skip on past if you're unable. There are also way more important causes to donate to right now -- I recommend the ACLU first and foremost. But if you have got an extra cent or ten after you've done that why not head on over to my eBay store and buy some movies from me? Like the 4K of Virtuosity, even! (I also added a couple of Michael Haneke box-sets which are total steals!) Plus vinyl and books and posters -- I've got tons of entertainment shite for sale and you can make offers on everything; don't feel the need to pay full price. Or if you don't want anything but would still like to help here is a link for that.You can also set up a monthly subscription over there in the right-hand column too. Or if you wanna use Venmo message me. I seriously appreciate any help, always and forever. Y'all rule. If blogging really dumb thoughts were pennies I'd be a millionaire, but unfortunately I'm just sort of treading (under)water these days. Thanks y'all, from both me and the Crowe butt. 

Grunts Be Gruntin'

I briefly mentioned this earlier this week but I have yet another dentist appointment this afternoon, and so depending on how that goes this might be it for this here Friday. But since we've been posting photos of the Warfare cast of one thousand hotties every day this week I didn't want to let this day go without one, so there's a set photo of Noah Centineo and his grunt's mustache making me grunt in return. Semper f-word, Noah!

Five Frames From ?

What movie is this?

Good Morning, World

An itty bitty gift to us Charlie Cox lovers on this week's episode of Daredevil Reborn -- itty bitty indeed since we barely see Charlie from the shoulders down. But why show a beautiful man undressed when you can luxuriate in extremely gory fight scenes instead? And being a lover of gore I normally wouldn't bring up that old (but not baseless!) "Sex vs Violence in American Entertainment" argument, but since this is Disney we're talking about now (instead of Daredevil's old home of Netflix) and they seem to've embraced Daredevil's violence to a surprisingly notable degree, I do feel this warrants a mention. 

Not that there isn't real heat between Charlie and Margarita Levieva when she sneaks into this shower with him moments after these gifs. The two actors have pretty scorching chemistry. Let's just be honest -- I just wanna see Charlie's butt dammit. I don't think that's too much to ask when I'm also being treated to a serial killer's lair where a bunch of dead women's bodies are hanging from meat hooks. Remind us what we're fighting for! All of the good in the world! In this instance represented by Charlie Cox's butt! Okay I'll step down off my soapbox. Unless you need some extra lather, Charlie...

Kit Connor Sixteen Times

Our impatience has been rewarded! Yesterday when I posted the new photoshoot of Kit Connor's Warfare co-star Will Poulter I bitched and moaned about my impatience waiting for Kit's turn... and here it is! He's been photographed for Flaunt magazine and they did a bang-up sexy-ass job -- and this finally earns Kit a tag here on the site. Good boy! But you don't wanna listen to me ramble so I will now shut up and we can all just hit the jump for all the pretty boy snaps...

Hell of a Summer in 150 Words or Less

May the devil bless Fred Hechinger because he's the only one making anything land in Hell of a Summer, the "Scream at a summer camp" riff that was written and directed by (and co-stars) Strangers Things actor Finn Wolfhard and his Ghostbusters buddy Billy Bryk. The best choice those boys made was giving Hechinger their lead role as a past-his-expiration-date camp counselor who loves the gig too much to let go -- even as the movie flails around him, neither funny enough to be comic nor scary enough to be horror, Hechinger is at least never not charming and goofy and worth following as he makes bad dialogue feel okay enough to pass. Otherwise this is a lazy lazy lazy movie that offers up nothing new or interesting in its under ninety minutes -- one gets the feeling nobody wanted to tell Wolfhard no, so I will say it. No.

Everything You Ever Need To Know About Life...

 ... you can learn from:

Sightseers (2012) 

Carol: You didn't let him see you do 

number twos, did you Tina?

Tina: Never!

Carol: Mystery, Tina, is a woman's sanctuary.

A happy birthday to the brilliant and funny Alice Lowe -- her performances in Edgar Wright's Hot Fuzz and in Ben Wheatley's Sightseers were what initially endeared her to me but then when I saw her second directorial effort Prevenge was when I really fell in love -- in a weird coincidence I finally watched her latest movie Timestalker this past weekend after sitting on it for months and  laughed my fool ass off; you can rent it right here. I'll share the trailer below. She is a delight! Love her.

Pic of the Day

White Lotus three-timer Jon Gries (dude pictured in the middle above who plays Greg / Gary) seems to've had the best time out of anybody on the seven month long shoot in Thailand -- his Instagram has been a non-stop beefcake-fest. But the above photo of him sandwiched between his co-stars Patrick Schwarzenegger and Arnas Fedaravičius really takes the cake. Cakes, even! Lucky man. See a few more below:

Five Frames From ?

What movie is this?