tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66828371396185066152024-03-19T09:11:49.117+00:00The EphemericEnjoy it While it Lasts...Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comBlogger722125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-15533670858052306632024-03-09T14:08:00.001+00:002024-03-09T14:11:15.803+00:00The 96th Academy Awards Predictions<p> </p><img alt="oscars 86th academy awards 2014" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443782139865281186" src="http://i.imgur.com/d3lwnan.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); display: block; height: 190px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /><br />Welcome back to The Ephemeric. It is Oscar season again, and once again March is the month in which I know not the light of day. I could make the same joke as last year by copy pasting the intro blurb, but instead I'll just get straight to some predictions so we can all go on with our day.<br /><br />Some years are difficult to predict when it comes to the Oscars. This is not one of those years. There's always the chance of a few curveballs, but for the most part there are some pretty clear favourites for each of the major prizes. As usual, I will predict the likely winner for each prize, and then condescendingly lecture you as to why the Academy is wrong about it. Ready? Alright, let's get to it.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Best Picture</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nominations:</span><ul><li>American Fiction – Ben LeClair, Nikos Karamigios, Cord Jefferson, and Jermaine Johnson, producers</li><li>Anatomy of a Fall – Marie-Ange Luciani and David Thion, producers</li><li>Barbie – David Heyman, Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley, and Robbie Brenner, producers</li><li>The Holdovers – Mark Johnson, producer</li><li>Killers of the Flower Moon – Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas, Martin Scorsese, and Daniel Lupi, producers</li><li>Maestro – Bradley Cooper, Steven Spielberg, Fred Berner, Amy Durning, and Kristie Macosko Krieger, producers</li><li>Oppenheimer – Emma Thomas, Charles Roven, and Christopher Nolan, producers</li><li>Past Lives – David Hinojosa, Christine Vachon, and Pamela Koffler, producers</li><li>Poor Things – Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Yorgos Lanthimos, and Emma Stone, producers</li><li>The Zone of Interest – James Wilson, producer</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">And the winner: </span>Oppenheimer</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Who should really win:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: 700;">The Holdovers</span><div><b>Explanation:</b> This seems to be a bit of a foregone conclusion. Oppenheimer has swept most of the major awards and is the runaway favourite to win. It's a fine film, but I have to say it left me a little cold. The choppy, rushed pacing that jarringly jumped between scenes, years and stories with little context, feeling more like a 6 part miniseries that was cut down to fit a Hollywood film length. Of all the films this year, the one that has stuck with me the most, and the one that I expect will endure the best, is The Holdovers and its timeless, bittersweet and, above all, human story.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Best Director</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nominations:</span><ul><li>Justine Triet – Anatomy of a Fall</li><li>Martin Scorsese – Killers of the Flower Moon</li><li>Christopher Nolan – Oppenheimer</li><li>Yorgos Lanthimos – Poor Things</li><li>Jonathan Glazer – The Zone of Interest</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">And the winner: </span></span><span style="font-weight: 700;">Christopher Nolan - Oppenheimer</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Who should really win:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: 700;">None of the above</span></div><div><b>Explanation: </b>I have to say none of the films above really grabbed me for their directorial brilliance. Many have pacing issues. When I think of the films with the most essential direction in 2023, I think of Alexander Payne's work on The Holdovers, Bradley Cooper's work on Maestro and, yes, Greta Gerwig's work on Barbie.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Best Actor</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nominations:</span><ul><li>Bradley Cooper – Maestro as Leonard Bernstein</li><li>Colman Domingo – Rustin as Bayard Rustin</li><li>Paul Giamatti – The Holdovers as Paul Hunham</li><li>Cillian Murphy – Oppenheimer as J. Robert Oppenheimer</li><li>Jeffrey Wright – American Fiction as Thelonious "Monk" Ellison</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">And the winner: </span>Cillian Murphy - Oppenheimer as J. Robert Oppenheimer</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Who should really win:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: 700;">Cillian Murphy - Oppenheimer as J. Robert Oppenheimer</span></div><div><b>Explanation:</b> Cillian will definitely win. This one I will go along with. He is a phenomenal actor and did a superb job in creating a depiction of Oppenheimer to which audiences could connect. Without Murphy, there is no Oppenheimer.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Best Actress</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nominations:</span><ul><li>Annette Bening – Nyad as Diana Nyad</li><li>Lily Gladstone – Killers of the Flower Moon as Mollie Burkhart</li><li>Sandra Hüller – Anatomy of a Fall as Sandra Voyter</li><li>Carey Mulligan – Maestro as Felicia Montealegre</li><li>Emma Stone – Poor Things as Bella Baxter</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">And the winner: </span>Lily Gladstone – Killers of the Flower Moon as Mollie Burkhart</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Who should really win:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"> </span></span><b>Carey Mulligan – Maestro as Felicia Montealegre</b></div><div><b>Explanation:</b> Easy to predict. Gladstone has won most of the major awards, and you know the Academy loves to pretend that it can somehow assuage its white guilt by giving awards to actors who shine a light on the crimes of the past rather than, you know, actually doing anything to make a difference. Picking a worthy winner is more challenging. Gladstone is absolutely brilliant and definitely a strong contender, but so too is Emma Stone and Carey Mulligan. I think if I had to choose, I would go with Mulligan, the performance which, more than any other, connected with me and made me feel something.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Best Supporting Actor</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nominations:</span><ul><li>Sterling K. Brown – American Fiction as Clifford "Cliff" Ellison</li><li>Robert De Niro – Killers of the Flower Moon as William King Hale</li><li>Robert Downey Jr. – Oppenheimer as Lewis Strauss</li><li>Ryan Gosling – Barbie as Ken</li><li>Mark Ruffalo – Poor Things as Duncan Wedderburn</li></ul><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">And the winner</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">: </span><b>Robert Downey Jr. – Oppenheimer as Lewis Strauss</b><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Who should really win:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"> </span></span><b>Robert Downey Jr. – Oppenheimer as Lewis Strauss</b></div><div><b>Explanation:</b> It took every fiber of my being not to pick Ryan Gosling, whose performance in Barbie was brilliant, hilarious, and easily the highlight of a strong film.</div><div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Best Supporting Actress</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nominations:</span><ul><li>Emily Blunt – Oppenheimer as Kitty Oppenheimer</li><li>Danielle Brooks – The Color Purple as Sofia</li><li>America Ferrera – Barbie as Gloria</li><li>Jodie Foster – Nyad as Bonnie Stoll</li><li>Da'Vine Joy Randolph – The Holdovers as Mary Lamb</li></ul><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">And the winner</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">: </span><b>Da'Vine Joy Randolph – The Holdovers as Mary Lamb</b><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-weight: bold;">Who should really win:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"> </span><b>Da'Vine Joy Randolph – The Holdovers as Mary Lamb</b></div><div><b>Explanation:</b> Another one that seems obvious, and I agree with the Academy here. An excellent performance of an excellent role in an excellent film.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Best Original Screenplay</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nominations:</span><ul><li>Anatomy of a Fall – Justine Triet and Arthur Harari</li><li>The Holdovers – David Hemingson</li><li>Maestro – Bradley Cooper and Josh Singer</li><li>May December – Screenplay by Samy Burch; Story by Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik</li><li>Past Lives – Celine Song</li></ul><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">And the winner</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">: </span><b>Anatomy of a Fall – Justine Triet and Arthur Harari</b><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-weight: bold;">Who should really win:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holdovers – David Hemingson</span></div><div><b>Explanation:</b> I think this one is going to Anatomy of a Fall, which has already picked up this prize at the Golden Globes and BAFTA, but personally I couldn't pick any film for this award over The Holdovers. Smart, funny, pitch perfect in its writing and pacing.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Best Adapted Screenplay</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nominations:</span><ul><li>American Fiction – Cord Jefferson; based on the novel Erasure by Percival Everett</li><li>Barbie – Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach; based on characters created by Ruth Handler</li><li>Oppenheimer – Christopher Nolan; based on the biography American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin</li><li>Poor Things – Tony McNamara; based on the novel by Alasdair Gray</li><li>The Zone of Interest – Jonathan Glazer; based on the novel by Martin Amis</li></ul><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">And the winner</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">:</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"> </span>Oppenheimer – Christopher Nolan; based on the biography American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin</b><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Who should really win:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"> </span>American Fiction – Cord Jefferson; based on the novel Erasure by Percival Everett</span></div><div><b>Explanation:</b> This is a tricky one. American Fiction has been picking up a lot of writing awards, and as an adaptation of a very well regarded novel it enters this contest in a strong position. But this is one of those awards that I can see Oppenheimer picking up if it has as good a night as people seem to be expecting.<br /><div><br /><br />So there you have it, The Ephemeric's picks for the year. Enjoy the Oscars tonight, and when the results go as predicted, remember that you heard it here first! <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-63459157157017819232024-02-25T19:32:00.002+00:002024-02-25T19:36:18.793+00:00The Hot List: Essential New Movies of 2024Hello and welcome back to 2024's final post from the Hot List. This week we will be looking at the most exciting new movies set to hit the big screen in 2024, after the cutoff point for this year's awards season.<br />
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<img alt="ephemeric hot list most best hottest anticipated new movies films 2024 exciting" height="250" src="http://i.imgur.com/aRER2cy.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); display: block; height: 250px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 250px;" width="400" /><div><br /></div><div>Cinema is a funny medium. More so than with other forms of art, you can predict with surprising accuracy how good a particular project is likely to be, sometimes even before a single frame has been seen. Take my <a href="http://www.the-ephemeric.com/2023/03/the-hot-list-essential-new-movies-of.html">2023 Hot List</a>, for example. Oppenheimer, Killers of the Flower Moon, Maestro, Rustin, Spiderverse, Past Lives, The Killer, The Holdovers, all movies contesting awards this year. This wasn't an aberration, you can see this in any of my previous previews. Why is this the case? Perhaps due to the collaborative nature of the medium. A good novelist or songwriter can sometimes have an off-day, but for a film to fail requires the director, writer, producer and cast to all have off-days, which is much less likely where good talent is involved.</div><div><br /></div><div>But 2024 is looking to be an unpredictable year. Unlike in previous years, the big hitters are less obvious (with one clear exception). There are a great many projects that on paper look like they could be a hit, but few with the kind of ironclad proven pedigree that I would go so far as to call them a sure thing. That's not to say that this is not going to be a good year in film. On the contrary, it means the year is wide open for new filmmakers and risk-takers to make their mark. There are a number of projects for which I am very excited, and I am thrilled to share those with you now.</div><div>
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So without further delay, the key films to keep an eye on in the coming year (trailers linked in the title where available), starting with number 15:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">15. Bird</span></span><br /><br /><img alt="bird andrea arnold barry keoghan best most anticipated film movie 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/kUZt0nv.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 190px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" />First up we have <b>Bird</b>, the upcoming drama film directed by <b>Andrea Arnold</b>, marking her first narrative feature since 2016's <i>American Honey</i>, having more recently worked on the acclaimed TV series <i>Transparent</i> and <i>Big Little Lies</i>. </div><div><br /></div><div>This film stars <b>Barry Keoghan</b>, one of the industry's most buzzworthy actors today. Keoghan is on an incredible run these past few years, having delivered awards-contesting roles in <i>The Banshees of Inisherin</i> and <i>Saltburn</i>. Could Bird be the film that bags Keoghan the big prize?</div><div><br /></div><div>The film explores themes resonant with Arnold's signature focus on the fringes of society, shot across various locations in the south of England, including Gravesend, Dartford, Ashford, Bean, Kent, and the Isle of Sheppey. The plot remains under wraps, but the combination of Arnold's celebrated directorial approach and the leading actors' rising profiles promises a compelling cinematic experience. A release date has yet to be announced, but this is expected to hit the festival circuit later in 2024.</div><div><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBA 2024</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">14. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zgttt8Q2Rw">Joker: Folie à Deux</a></span></span><br />
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<img alt="joker 2 folie deux sequel joaquin phoenix lady gaga best movies films 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/wT1c5Ea.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 195px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /><div>The first <i>Joker</i> film was something of an odd concept. A classic, comic book villain origin story, presented in a style more reminiscent of a gritty Scorsese psychological crime thriller. It's fair to say it was met with a polarizing response. People either loved it or hated it, perhaps best illustrated by the fact that the film would go on to garner an astonishing 11 Academy Award nominations (and 2 wins), despite a meagre 69% Rotten Tomatoes score. </div><div><br /></div><div>It was also supposed to be a one-off experiment, with no connection to a broader cinematic universe (as was the style at the time) or sequel. Yet here we are, 2024, and an unlikely sequel, <b>Joker: Folie à Deux</b> is incoming. <b>Joaquin Phoenix</b> reprises his Oscar winning role, joined by <b>Lady Gaga</b> as Harley Quinn, as well as the greats <b>Steve Coogan </b>and <b>Brendan Gleeson</b>. It's also apparently a musical... yeah.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you enjoyed the first Joker and its bizarre combination of genres and sensibilities, then this looks to be right up your alley. But if you were one of those who didn't quite know what to make of the original, it's safe to say this won't convert you.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: October 2024</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">13. Gladiator II</span></span><br />
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<img alt="gladiator 2 II sequel russell crowe ridley scott paul mescal best films movies 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/ZFGlbYn.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 190px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></div><div>On the subject of unexpected sequels, <b>Gladiator II</b>. Yes, you heard that right, <b>Ridley Scott</b> has decided to make a sequel to his 24 year old classic, despite the notable handicap of everyone in the first film being dead by the ending credits. But don't worry, this isn't a Roman zombie apocalypse (although I'd watch that), it's a tale of the hitherto unknown illegitimate son of the first film's protagonist, on a journey to learn the truth about his biological father. </div><div><br /></div><div>It sounds like a terrible idea, but the return of Ridley brings legitimacy, as does the casting of <b>Paul Mescal</b>, one of Hollywood's most exciting young actors. Mescal is joined by an excellent cast that includes <b>Denzel Washington</b>, <b>Pedro Pascal</b>, and <b>Derek Jacobi</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>The studios clearly have high hopes for this continuation of the Gladiator saga, and have chosen a plum November release date, with the clear intention of mounting an awards campaign.</div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Release Date: November 2024</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 400;"></span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">12. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDyQxtg0V2w">Civil War</a></span></span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><span style="border-image: initial; color: #3366ff;"><img alt="civil war alex garland beach ex machina 28 days later best films movies 2024 kirsten dunst" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/m6AWrJf.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); color: black; cursor: pointer; float: left; font-weight: 400; height: 190px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></span><div style="color: black;"><b>Alex Garland</b> is a name that demands attention. The acclaimed speculative fiction author of <i>The Beach</i>, <i>The Tesseract</i>, <i>28 Days Later</i>, more recently turned successful film director with <i>Ex Machina</i> and <i>Annihilation</i>. His newest film, <b>Civil War</b>, hits a little closer to home.</div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div>This is a dystopian action film starring <b>Kirsten Dunst</b>, <b>Jesse Plemons</b>, and <b>Nick Offerman</b>. Set in a near-future America engulfed by a Second Civil War, the film follows journalists navigating through a nation divided between the government and separatist "Western Forces." </div><div><br /></div><div>Civil War is slated for a premiere at South by Southwest on March 14, 2024, and a theatrical release on April 12, 2024</div><div><br /></div><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: 700;">Release Date: April 2024</span><br /></span></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">11. Conclave</span></span><br />
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<img alt="conclave edward berger western front ralph fiennes john lithgow stanley tucci pope best films movies 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/LrVWDzj.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 185px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></div><div>Here's one with some real award winning potential. <b>Conclave</b> is the latest from German-Austrian filmmaker <b>Edward Berger</b>, who took the industry by storm in 2022 with <i>All Quiet on the Western Front</i>. That film was met with widespread critical acclaim, but came a little bit too much out of nowhere to really contend for the big prizes. Now Berger is no longer an unknown quantity, and the expectation will be there.</div><div><br /></div><div>Based on the Robert Harris novel of the same name, this film follows Cardinal Lomeli, played by <b>Ralph Fiennes</b>, as he seeks a successor for the deceased Pope, uncovering a secret in the process. The cast includes <b>John Lithgow</b>, <b>Stanley Tucci</b>, and <b>Isabella Rossellini</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Release date is still TBA, with distribution rights only having been confirmed at the end of 2023. But this is expected to release during the peak awards season of 2024.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBA 2024</span><br />
<span style="color: #ff6600;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;"><br /><br /><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">10. We Live in Time</span></span><br /><br /><img alt="we live in time john crowley nick payne florence pugh andrew garfield best films movies 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/0zZQHbz.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 190px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 130px;" /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><b>We Live in Time</b> is an upcoming romantic film from director <b>John Crowley</b>, best known as the award winning director of <i>Brooklyn</i>. His latest is a collaboration with writer <b>Nick Payne</b>, one of the great playwrights of the past ten years, known particularly for the brilliant, award-nominated productions <i>Constellations</i> and <i>Elegy</i>.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">Little is known of the plot, other than this is a love story featuring a strong cast headed by <b>Florence Pugh</b> and <b>Andrew Garfield</b>. This is one of those projects where the sheer weight of talent tells you that it will be something worth watching. In particular, seeing Payne continue to expand his work in cinema makes for a tantalising prospect.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">Release date is to be announced, but it is expected that this will be hitting the various film festivals this summer, with a wider release in the second half of the year.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBA 2024</span></div></span></span><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"></span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;"><div><span style="color: #ff6600;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;"><br /></span></span></span></div><br /></span></span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">9. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWavstJydZU">Inside Out 2</a><br /></span></span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><span style="border-image: initial;"><img alt="inside out 2 sequel pixar best films movies 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/rWaZUj2.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); color: black; cursor: pointer; float: left; font-weight: 400; height: 195px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></span></span></div><div>Something a bit on the lighter side, we have a sequel to what is perhaps <b>Pixar</b>'s greatest film, <b>Inside Out 2</b>. The first film was a brilliant, funny, deceptively insightful metaphor for the internal struggle of growing up, acclaimed by many to be among the greatest animated films ever made. The sequel will follow where that film left off, charting the next stage in life, with whole new emotions and struggles to master. </div><div><br /></div><div>The cast sees <b>Amy Poehler</b>, <b>Phyllis Smith</b>, and <b>Lewis Black</b> return, while <b>Tony Hale</b> and <b>Maya Hawke</b> join the crew. Pete Docter no longer directs, but is replaced by newcomer <b>Kelsey Mann</b>. Pixar has an excellent track record of giving directorial debuts to its behind the scenes crew, we'll see if Mann marks the next of these success stories.</div><div><br /></div><div>Inside Out 2 will release this summer.</div><div><span style="color: #ff6600;"><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Release Date: June 2024</span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">8. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBG3iyr5N70">Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F</a></span></span><br />
<br />
<img alt="beverly hills cop 4 axel f eddie murphy sequel best films movies 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/9n2Edb2.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 170px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></div><div>Unexpected sequels seems to be a bit of a recurring theme in 2024 (who says originality is dead?). Next on this list we have <b>Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F</b>, a long-awaited fourth entry in the classic Beverly Hills Cop franchise, last seen some thirty years ago in 1994.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Eddie Murphy</b>, of course, returns in the title role. He is joined by previous co-stars <b>Judge Reinhold</b> and <b>Paul Reiser</b>, while <b>Taylor Paige</b> and <b>Joseph Gordon Levitt</b> join the cast as newcomers.</div><div><br /></div><div>While it would be easy to be dismissive of this project, especially after Murphy's recent lacklustre return to <i>Coming to America</i>, who cares. Beverly Hills Cop is awesome, and I'm looking forward to seeing this.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: July 2024</span></div><div>
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;"><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">7. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2Qp5pL3ovA">Dune: Part Two</a></span></span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><img alt="dune part two timothee chalamet best movies films 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/2xdqJZD.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); color: black; float: left; font-weight: 400; height: 195px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">A more expected sequel. The sprawling literary series of Dune has long held a reputation as unfilmable, at least over the duration of a film (a miniseries came pretty close). So when Legendary Studios committed the cash for a big budget, multi-part epic adaptation that may never have even seen completion had the first installment not been a success, it was one heck of a gamble.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">Yet, against the odds and under the expert stewardship of <b>Denis Villeneuve</b>, <i>Dune: Part One</i> was a critical and commercial success. Its success means that we will get that second half to the story, with <b>Dune: Part Two</b>. </div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">Dune: Part Two will feature the same creative team and cast of the first film, following <b>Timothée Chalamet</b>'s Atreides' thirst for revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family, and a greater focus on <b>Zendaya</b>'s Chani, seen only briefly in the first film, as her group of Fremen collaborate with Atreides in this quest</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">The first film was an epic adventure that I can't wait to see concluded. Who knows where the series will go from there. There have been rumours of a third film and Legendary is said to be working on a TV spin off.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: March 2024</span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div></span></span>
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">6. The Apprentice</span></span><br /><br /><img alt="the apprentice trump ali abbasi sebastian stan jeremy strong gabriel sherman best films movies 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/bFMWIlf.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 190px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" />This next one is tasty, for a number of reasons. <b>The Apprentice</b> is a biographical film about Donald Trump. But, wisely, it avoids his recent political history, focusing instead on a young Trump, his relationship with his father, and his burgeoning career in the 1970s and 1980s. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Sebastian Stan</b> will portray Trump, joined by <b>Jeremy Strong</b> and Academy Award nominee <b>Maria Bakalova</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am generally wary of films with a political connection released during an election year. What makes this one stand out is the creative talent behind it. This is the debut western production of director <b>Ali Abbasi</b>, a hotly tipped Iranian filmmaker whose filmography to date has garnered numerous awards on the international films circuit, including Cannes, Palm Springs and the European Film Awards. It's being written by <b>Gabriel Sherman</b>, the writer behind the brilliant Roger Ailes expose and its Golden Globe winning miniseries, <i>The Loudest Voice</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>The concept and cast is strong, but the talent behind this hints at a genuinely hard-hitting political film. One that is likely to generate a lot of buzz when it releases.</div><div><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBA 2024</span><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">5. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nosferatu</span></span><br /><br /><img alt="nosferatu dracula vampire bill skarsgard robert eggers willem dafoe best films movies 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/bqIO9g5.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 195px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /><b>Nosferatu</b> is a gothic horror film directed by <b>Robert Eggers</b>, featuring <b>Bill Skarsgård</b> as Count Orlok. This American production, a remake of the 1922 German Expressionist classic, itself an unofficial adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula.</div><div><br /></div><div>As with the original film, Nosferatu explores a tale of obsession and horror between a young woman and a vampire. The cast includes <b>Nicholas Hoult</b>, <b>Lily-Rose Depp</b>, and <b>Willem Dafoe</b>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Eggers has been quietly building a track record for edgy, critically acclaimed films, with the likes of <i>The Witch</i>, <i>The Lighthouse</i> and <i>The Northman</i> to his name. Nosferatu marks his biggest production to date, one with the potential to take his star to the next level.</div><div><br /></div><div>Filming took place in Prague and Romania, capturing the film's 19th-century Romanticism. It's set for release on December 25, 2024, by Focus Features in the US and Universal Pictures internationally.</div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Release Date: December 2024</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hjlyknlTaw">Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire</a></span></span><br />
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<img alt="ghostbusters 4 sequel frozen empire paul rudd finn wolfhard bill murray dan aykroyd rick moranis sigourney weaver grace mckenna best films movies 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/ZU4TDer.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 190px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" />Ghostbusters fans are eating good. After a few decades of waiting for a true sequel to 1989's Ghostbusters II, we are getting a fourth entry in the series just three years after the excellent Ghostbusters: Afterlife.</div><div><br /></div><div>This new entry, <b>Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire</b> appears to be swinging for the fences. Its predecessor seemed to be testing the waters, trying out a new cast of characters, while retaining enough of the old and enough (in truth, gratuitous) nods to nostalgia to ensure a profitable return. Following the commercial and critical success of Afterlife, it now seems that the studio has the confidence to go big.</div><div><br /></div><div>The cast of Afterlife returns, but so too are members of the original film cast. These classic characters appear set for a larger role this time around, having been given more of a surprise cameo role in Afterlife. What follows is, otherwise, a wholly original story, as opposed to Afterlife's rehash of old villains and plotlines. I don't know how they finally convinced <b>Bill Murray</b> to do this, but I am very excited about it.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: March 2024</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">3. Here</span><br />
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<img alt="here robert zemeckis tom hanks eric roth best film movie 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/W3LyHOx.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 170px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></div><div>An adaptation of the Richard McGuire graphic novel, <b>Here</b> is an upcoming drama directed by <b>Robert Zemeckis</b>, covering the events of a single room and its inhabitants over many years, from the past to the distant future.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here reunites the creative team behind classic film <i>Forrest Gump</i>, with writer <b>Eric Roth</b> and stars <b>Tom Hanks</b> and <b>Robin Wright </b>all on board. The wider cast also includes the likes of <b>Paul Bettany</b>. The film is said to use new generative artificial intelligence to face-swap and de-age actors.</div><div><br /></div><div>Scheduled for a 2024 release by Sony Pictures Releasing. Zemeckis is generally good value, even if it's been a while since he has blown us away with one of his films. Perhaps Here will mark his return to form.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBA 2024</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ff6600;"><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">2. Kinds of Kindness</span></span><br /><br /><img alt="kinds of kindness emma stone jesse plemons willem dafoe yorgos lanthimos best films movies 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/GfHA0cc.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></div><div style="color: black;">This one is pretty simple. The Academy loves <b>Yorgos Lanthimos</b>. His last two films, <i>The Favourite</i> and <i>Poor Things</i> were up for, and won, Academy Awards, yet the biggest prizes have so far alluded him. Expect a narrative to form that <b>Kinds of Kindness</b> could be the one that finally gets his due. </div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;">As for the film itself. Much of the plot is under wraps, but is said to be an anthology of stories set in contemporary America. It features an ensemble cast that includes Lanthimos frequent collaborator (and congratulations on your next Oscar, Emma) <b>Emma Stone</b>, along with <b>Jesse Plemons</b> and <b>Willem Dafoe</b>, evidently very busy actors who have already been featured on this list. </div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;">An exact release date is yet to be revealed, but this is in late post-production and expected to release sometime in 2024.</div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Release Date: TBA 2024</span></span></span></span></div></span></div><div>
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<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">1. Blitz</span><br />
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<img alt="best films movies 2024 blitz steve mcqueen saoirse ronan" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/2LKtWYw.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 190px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" />But my number one pick for the year is the upcoming World War II drama, <b>Blitz</b> by <b>Steve McQueen</b>. Hollywood loves a good World War II drama, and Steve McQueen is one of the darlings of the industry, having previously won the Best Director Oscar for <i>12 Years a Slave</i>, becoming the first black filmmaker ever to do so. </div><div><br /></div><div>As the name suggests, his latest is about Londoners during the Blitz, with an ensemble cast that features <b>Saoirse Ronan</b>, <b>Harris Dickinson</b>, <b>Stephen Graham</b>, and, interestingly, musicians <b>Paul Weller</b> and <b>Benjamin Clementine</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is an <b>Apple</b> production, a studio with some pedigree now, and a burgeoning reputation for delivering awards calibre films. The release date is to be confirmed, but expected to be in the latter half of the year when the awards season gets underway.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBA 2024</span><br />
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So there you have it folks: The 2024 Hot List. I will be back with many more articles in due course, but for now let's make 2024 a great year together.<br />
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<br /></div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-7145795336156660322024-02-14T19:08:00.001+00:002024-02-14T19:21:14.277+00:00The Hot List: Essential New Music of 2024<link href="https://i.imgur.com/Uef02VH.png" rel="image_src"></link>
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Welcome back to The Ephemeric's 2024 Hot List. This week we will be having a look at the most exciting new music due for release in the coming year.<br />
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<img alt="best anticipated new music 2024 albums hot list" height="250" src="https://i.imgur.com/Uef02VH.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); display: block; height: 250px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 250px;" width="400" /><br /><div>Join us as we embark on a journey through the most anticipated releases that will shape the soundtrack of our lives in the months ahead. Whether you're a die-hard fan, a casual listener, or somewhere in between, prepare to be inspired, surprised, and moved by the power of music in its ever-evolving glory. Tastes may differ, but if you start your 2024 musical adventure off here, you won't go far wrong.<br />
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So without further ado, here is our list of the top albums to keep an eye on in 2024, starting with number 15:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">15. "Light Verse" by Iron and Wine</span></span><br />
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<img alt="iron and wine new album 2024 best most anticipated music" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/P4pP657.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>Starting off easy for 2023, <b>Iron & Wine</b>'s eagerly awaited seventh studio album, <b>Light Verse</b>, marks the artist's first full-length release in over seven years. </div><div><br /></div><div>The album, which follows two back-to-back Grammy-nominated works, is a testament to Sam Beam's enduring prowess in crafting lyrical narratives that weave together both fictional and personal insights, illustrated by tracks such as <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGVmhrfQqzg">Flightless Bird, American Mouth</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIx1zzE-2MM">Tree By the River</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Described as equal parts elegy, kaleidoscope, truth, and dare, the album promises to be a comprehensive journey through the intricate and emotive landscapes that have long defined Iron & Wine's music. One track has so far been released, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuP0kgY2UfE"><b>You Never Know</b></a>, and if it's any indication we've got a real tour de force coming our way when this releases in April.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: April 2024</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">14. Kenya Grace </span></span><span style="color: #e06666; font-weight: 700;">(New band)</span><br />
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<img alt="kenya grace 2024 debut album best most anticipated new music" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/62kMA2N.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div><b>Kenya Grace</b>, a rising talent with a background that spans continents from South Africa to Southampton, has made waves with her unique blend of music. She began writing music at the age of 10 and has since developed a sound that incorporates elements of dance music, dubstep, and more, showcasing her versatility as an artist. </div><div><br /></div><div>Her biggest hit to date has got to be <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2TaAcwC_zI"><b>Strangers</b></a>, emphasising her mastery of disparate genres, taking electronic influences and crafting it into something with lyrical depth and worldwide appeal.</div><div><br /></div><div>While specific details about a debut album are not available, it is expected to arrive in 2024. Her track record suggests that any such project would reflect her eclectic musical influences and her journey through the musical landscape.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBD 2024</span></div><div><span style="color: #ff6600;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #ff6600;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">13. "Ohio Players" by The Black Keys</span></span><br /><br /><img alt="black keys ohio players new album 2024 best most anticipated music" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/ESHwK9K.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>With their newest album, Ohio rock duo <b>The Black Keys</b> are looking back to where it all began. The title, <b>Ohio Players</b>, pays homage to the legendary funk band of the same name from Dayton, Ohio, and signifies the Black Keys' connection to their roots while exploring new musical territories.</div><div><br /></div><div>The album is introduced by the lead single <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE18ye8YjuY">Beautiful People (Stay High)</a></b>, a bold, retro-infused proclamation of a track that celebrates the rich and diverse musical heritage of their greatest influences. The rest of the album is said to include a wide array of collaborators, including Beck, Dan the Automator, Noel Gallagher and more, inspired by dance parties and "record hangs" the band hosted around the world, aiming to capture the energetic spirit of these gatherings. </div><div><br /></div><div>Carney and Auerbach have described the work as their best record yet, reflecting a significant evolution in their sound and artistic approach. No small amount of hype, then, when the album drops in April.</div><div><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: April 2024</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">12. "People Who Aren't There Anymore" by Future Islands</span></span><br />
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<img alt="future islands people who aren't there anymore new album 2024 best most anticipated music" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/GQIss3t.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>Sticking to the rock and roll genre, we have the seventh studio album from <b>Future Islands</b>. <b>People Who Aren't There Anymore</b> marks a continuation of the band's exploration into the realms of synth-pop, described as a blend of '80s pop and arena rock. </div><div><br /></div><div>The early released tracks include <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9m9yYT2hFc"><b>King of Sweden</b></a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFmovmenhoU"><b>The Tower</b></a>, delivering on the band's signature sound of melancholic yearning blended with full-throated passion. </div><div><br /></div><div>Future Islands are always good value. You can always depend on this band to put all of themselves into their music, and we won't have long to wait until this newest release drops in February.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: February 2024</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">11. Jamie xx</span></span><br /><br /><img alt="jamie xx 2024 avalanches new album best most anticipated new music" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/jFKrWF1.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div><b>Jamie xx</b>, the renowned English musician and producer, is finalizing his eagerly awaited, as yet untitled new album. Best known for being one third of indie rock maestros The xx (who, incidentally, are also allegedly in the studio cooking something up), this new release will mark his first solo project since the widely acclaimed 2015 album In Colour. </div><div><br /></div><div>The biggest hits in his discography include the likes of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP9luRtEqjc">Loud Places</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjLBB-TMa84">I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times)</a>, timeless, retro-infused classics. But his repertoire also includes significant electronic influences, and from the sounds of the new album's initial track <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HC4maVOv0U"><b>It's So Good</b></a>, it seems likely that this is the direction the new album will take. </div><div><br /></div><div>Although specific details about the album remain under wraps, it's known that the album will feature contributions from The Avalanches, hinting at a potentially eclectic and rich sonic landscape. This collaboration promises to blend Jamie xx's signature electronic and dance music influences with The Avalanches' knack for inventive sample-based music, creating an exciting prospect for fans of both artists.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBD 2024</span></div></span></span></div><div style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"><br /></div></span></span></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">10. "The Mess We Seem to Make" by Crawlers </span></span><span style="color: #e06666; font-weight: 700;">(New band)</span><br />
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<img alt="crawlers mess we seem to make best new most anticipated debut album 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/3shaVGz.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>While I am inherently skeptical of bands that go viral online, I will make an exception for Liverpudlian rock band <b>Crawlers</b>, who are set to cap two years of building hype with a full LP release in 2024.</div><div><br /></div><div>The track that originally launched the group to fame, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TCZ7QNpt1k"><b>Come Over (Again)</b></a> is just pure gold, but there is plenty else to admire with tracks like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UCcDLlv6t0"><b>I Can't Drive</b></a> released last year to similar praise, showcasing their range and exploration of eclectic alt-rock sounds, delving into topics like trauma, sexual politics, and mental health. </div><div><br /></div><div>This has all resulted in Crawlers being one of the more hyped bands of 2024, included in many of the industry's one-to-watch lists. That debut album finally drops in February and it is one to be excited for.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: February 2024</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">9. "Book 1" by Grimes</span></span><br />
<br />
<img alt="grimes book 1 new album 2024 best most anticipated music" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/lO5sHyi.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>Bizarre, baffling, and uniquely brilliant. <b>Grimes</b> has come a long way from her humble electro-pop beginnings. Her last album, Miss Anthropocene, ended up being one of the musical highlights of 2020 with some astonishing tracks including <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9SGYBHY0qs">Violence</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGwmFIphNcg">4ÆM</a>. Her latest, <b>Book 1</b>, has been described as a complex, sci-fi influenced concept record, promising to be her most ambitious project yet.</div><div><br /></div><div>With a narrative that seems to delve into futuristic themes, the album has already teased collaborations with notable artists like The Weeknd, hinting at its potential to blend different musical styles from electronic-pop to EDM. Grimes has involved her fans in the creative process, seeking their input on choosing between two distinct options for the album cover. </div><div><br /></div><div>So far we have two tracks that are said to be part of this new album, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADHFwabVJec"><b>Player of Games</b></a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzPElFdxMCM"><b>Shinigami Eyes</b></a>. As one would expect, they largely defy any kind of classification. Suffice it to say, this is going to be "something", and that something could end up being brilliant.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBD 2024</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">8. "Moon Music" by Coldplay</span></span><br /><br /><img alt="coldplay moon music new album best new anticipated music 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/0dVISAV.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>One of those bands that can't be ignored. <b>Coldplay </b>have a new album releasing in 2024. The band's forthcoming tenth studio album, <b>Moon Music</b>, is a highly unusual sequel to their 2021 release, Music of the Spheres. </div><div><br /></div><div>In interviews, frontman Chris Martin has hinted at the album's continuation of the band's foray into universal and celestial themes, promising a collection of songs that build upon their established sound while venturing into new creative territories. Moon Music is not just a follow-up but an extension of the narrative and musical ideas introduced in Music of the Spheres, promising to captivate listeners with its innovative production and collaborative efforts.</div><div><br /></div><div>And... that's about all we know. I don't think I need to link any old tracks, we all know who these guys are. The album is said to be releasing early this year.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: Early 2024</span><br /><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><span style="color: #3366ff;"><b>7. Tommy Lefroy </b></span></span></span><span style="color: #e06666; font-weight: 700;">(New band)</span><br />
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<img alt="tommy lefroy debut album best new anticipated music 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/YR4MTmC.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>Next up, another exciting new artist in <b>Tommy Lefroy</b>, a London-based folk duo inspired by Jane Austen and musicians such as First Aid Kit and Phoebe Bridgers. </div><div><br /></div><div>Tommy Lefroy followed up their well received 2021 EP with a series of tours through Europe and America in 2022. Now they are hard at work at putting out their debut album, which is expected to release in 2024.</div><div><br /></div><div>Folk duos are a dime a dozen, but Tommy Lefroy stand out for their lush instrumentals and impeccable production, with some superb tracks released with their EP, notably <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vtGS6oSZNg">The Cause</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecaZXj9Bepc">Shoot</a>. They have just put out the first track from their upcoming debut, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM_R88Xu8eI"><b>Worst Case</b></a>, and it is a gem of a track. Definitely one to keep an eye on.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBD 2024</span><br /></div><div><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">6. Sam Fender</span></span><br /><br /><img alt="sam fender 2024 new album best most anticipated new music" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/0pafQz6.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div style="color: black;">One of the brightest lights in British music today, <b>Sam Fender</b>'s first two albums have received widespread acclaim and seen him rise to the very heights of the musical firmament. Now a bonafide superstar, his third, as yet unnamed, studio album is set for release in 2024.</div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;">Tipped as a British Bruce Springsteen, Fender has made his name for his massive, anthemic songs, praised for his lyrical depth and societal commentary that shines a spotlight onto the state of the modern British working class. His last album's title track <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAifgn2Cvo8">Seventeen Going Under</a> ranks as one of the finest rock songs of the 2020s so far, and there's very much the belief that his story is just beginning.</div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;">No details available as of yet, but the expectation is for this to release a the conclusion of Fender's big homecoming tour this year.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBD 2024</span></div></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. "Pratts and Pain" by Royel Otis </span></span><span style="color: #e06666; font-weight: 700;">(New band)</span><br />
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<img alt="pratts and pain royel otis debut new album 2024 best most anticipated music" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/Yc1SoSv.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>The fresh faced band you'll fall in love with. <b>Royel Otis</b> are an Australian indie duo consisting of Royel Madell and Otis Pavlovic. This is one of those bands that has been doing the rounds building hype with a series of exciting singles and a well received EP last year. In 2024, the band is releasing debut album <b>Pratts and Pain</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Named after a south London pub, Pratts and Pain aims to capture the exuberance and woes of youth, with music that is at once introspective and whimsical. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtgcYmfo2iI"><b>Oysters in My Pocket</b></a> is absolutely essential listening, and from the sounds of new single <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RmH9trNgUA"><b>Fried Rice</b></a>, we could be in for a very tasty album when this drops in early 2024.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: Early 2024</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">4. Braxe + Falcon </span><span style="color: #e06666; font-weight: 700;">(New band)</span><br />
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<img alt="braxe falcon new debut album best most anticipated music 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/o21S76o.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /><div>One of the most exciting new projects in music. <b>Braxe + Falcon</b> is a new collaboration of legendary French producers <b>Alan Braxe</b> and <b>DJ Falcon</b>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Their work, deeply rooted in '70s disco and pioneering production techniques, showcases a reverence for classic sounds while embracing modernity. 2022 saw the release of the duo's first EP, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqKjFj6YoWM">Step By Step</a>, a fantastic that reflects a seamless blend of timeless music and contemporary flair, featuring the unmistakable vocals of Panda Bear, lead vocalist of Animal Collective and highly successful solo artist in his own right.</div><div><br /></div><div>The EP was well received, generating hype for what was to come next. A smattering of additional singles and remixes have followed to similar praise, but we're all really just waiting now for the inevitable full blown LP, confirmed recently to exist in a Reddit AMA. If, as expected, this sees the light of day in 2024, it will be one of the biggest releases in electronic music for the year.</div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBD 2024</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. "Only God Was Above Us" by Vampire Weekend</span></span><br /><br /><img alt="vampire weekend new album 2024 only god was above us best new anticipated music" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/Nrc7r7S.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" />One of 2024's biggest upcoming releases, <b>Vampire Weekend</b> is set to return with their fifth studio album, <b>Only God Was Above Us</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Vampire Weekend are one of those bands that have been around forever, yet they seem to get bigger and better with each release. Their last album, 2019's Father of the Bride, was a critically acclaimed hit, with great tracks like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlkTVMMkCP4">Harmony Hall</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwkrrU2WYKg">This Life</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>This latest LP marks the band's first project in five years and draws inspiration from 20th-century New York City. Recorded globally in cities like Manhattan, Los Angeles, London, and Tokyo, the album promises a blend of stark grit and complex beauty. No tracks have been released at the time of writing, but we don't have long to wait, with the release scheduled for April.</div><div><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: April 2024</span></div>
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<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. "Loss of Life" by MGMT</span></span><br /><br /><img alt="mgmt kids time to pretend new album loss of life 2024 best most anticipated music" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/NRnDPCa.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>Once the hottest thing in music, <b>MGMT </b>famously followed up their world-conquering debut LP by leaning ever further into obtuse, arguably inaccessible work, earning themselves plenty of critical praise and the following of a diehard set of fans, but nowhere near the commercial success of that first record and its smash hit singles <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe4EK4HSPkI">Kids</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9dSYgd5Elk">Time to Pretend</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>That changed with the release of their fourth album, 2018's Little Dark Age, seen by many as a return to form and a return to prominence. Now their fifth album, <b>Loss of Life</b> is nearing release, the big question is can they build on this?</div><div><br /></div><div>Christine and the Queens is said to be collaborating on at least one track, marking a first for the notoriously protective band. Legendary producer Danger Mouse is also taking the reins on production, his first collaboration with MGMT.</div><div><br /></div><div>We've had just a few brief glimpses into the musical direction of the album thus far, and so far it is difficult to pin down exactly where this is going. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHQrIMo0xak"><b>Nothing to Declare</b></a> seems to suggest at a rather folksier, more sophisticated direction, perhaps in the vein of their sophomore LP, Congratulations. Then there is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDzIO5ahGE8"><b>Mother Nature</b></a>, which seems to be more of a departure into an almost grungy, Oasis-tinged flavour. Well, we will soon know the result, with Loss of Life due to release in February.</div><div><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: February 2024</span></div></div><div>
<br /><br /><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">1.</span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"> "Gangbusters Melody Club" by Caravan Palace</span></div><div><br /><img alt="gangbusters melody club caravan palace new album best most anticipated music 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/DekCfUk.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /><div>But this year's number one most hotly anticipated album is <b>Gangbusters Melody Club</b> from the French monarchs of the electro-swing genre, <b>Caravan Palace</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Undisputed titans of the genre, Caravan Palace are heavily influenced by classical swing and jazz, fusing this retro style with the modern electronic beats of French House. The result is music that is frequently out of this world, with tracks like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbQgXeY_zi4">Lone Digger</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX5ntwkUa48">Plume</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBGSJ3sbivI">Rock it For Me</a> to their name.</div><div><br /></div><div>This newest album looks like more of the same, perhaps with an additional emphasis on the electronic dance elements, and that is no bad thing. The tracks we have heard so far, including <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2y6RQFKEsc"><b>Mirrors</b></a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fo-8DWe6gE"><b>Reverse</b></a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnSd97-lUCM"><b>MAD</b></a> all sound outstanding, and I for one can't wait for the rest of this album to release in March.</div><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: March 2024</span></div><div>
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So there you have it folks: 2024 in music. Tune in next week for this year's final Hot List, where we look at the most exciting new movies in 2024.<br />
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<br /></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-47931661329230529012024-01-28T16:56:00.000+00:002024-01-28T16:56:57.980+00:00The Hot List: Essential New Theatre of 2024<link href="http://i.imgur.com/LM5tQ4X.png" rel="image_src"></link>
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Welcome back to The Ephemeric's 2024 Hot List. This week we will be having a look at the most exciting theatrical productions coming to the stage in the coming year.<br />
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<img alt="best anticipated new theatre theatrical production 2024 hot list" height="250" src="http://i.imgur.com/LM5tQ4X.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); display: block; height: 250px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 250px;" width="250" /><br /><div>As many of my most loyal readers will know, I have recently relocated to Zurich. This presents a challenge for this particular Hot List, as Zurich does not have much of a theatre scene compared to London. What it does have, is a beautiful opera house. So don't be surprised if this list takes a more international and opera-tinged flavour going forward. I am nothing, if not open-minded! <br />
<br />So here it is, our list of the top 10 theatrical productions to keep an eye on in 2024, perhaps with a slight London and Zurich bias, starting with number 10:<br />
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<br /><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">10. "Opening Night" by Ivo Van Hove and Rufus Wainwright, at the Gielgud Theatre</span><br />
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<img alt="london best theatre 2024 opening night john cassavetes ivo van hove rufus wainwright annie lennox" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/TXI1aZ0.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>Starting with a bang, we have <b>Opening Night</b>, a bold musical adaptation of the 1977 psychological drama by John Cassavetes. The plot follows a stage actress who, after witnessing the death of a fan, is haunted their recurring apparition, leading to a nervous breakdown as she prepares for a big curtain on Broadway.</div><div><br /></div><div>This new adaptation is penned by the prolific Belgian director <b>Ivo Van Hove</b>, with music and lyrics from prominent songwriter <b>Rufus Wainwright</b>. The cast is led by <b>Sheridan Smith</b> and <b>Hadley Fraser</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Opening Night begins previews at the <b>Gielgud Theatre</b> in March, and will run until the end of July.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #3366ff;"><div style="color: black;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">9. "The Hot Wing King" by Katori Hall, at the National Theatre</span><br /><br /><span style="border-image: initial;"><img alt="london best theatre 2024 hot wing king national katori hall" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/dRTkhrS.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></span></div><div style="color: black;">Coming late in the 2024 season, we have the London premier of <b>The Hot Wing King</b>, a 2020 comedy by <b>Katori Hall</b> that follows a group of friends in Memphis Tennessee as they prepare for an annual hot wing festival. </div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;">Despite its original off-Broadway run being cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, Hall did end up winning the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for this work, earning praise for its humour and sensitive consideration of issues of race and masculinity. </div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;">A full length run on a major stage could bring a new lease of life to a production whose initial release was so tragically curtailed. The Hot Wing King opens in July and runs until mid September.</div>
<div style="color: black;"><div style="font-weight: 400;"><br /><br /></div><div style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">8. "Carmen" by Georges Bizet, at Opernhaus Zürich</span></span><br /><br /><img alt="best theatre 2024 zurich opera opernhaus carmen bizet" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/PRD79C7.jpeg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 140px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" title="" /></div><div style="font-weight: 400;">As long as I am living La Vida Swizzera here in Zurich, I might as well give some love to my new adopted home. </div><div style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-weight: 400;">Zurich is, of course, home to the famous opera house, and their tentpole production in 2024 will be a new production of </span><b>Georges Bizet</b>'s <b>Carmen</b>, a classic opera famed for its passionate melodies and intense drama. </div><div><br /></div><div>This new production features the star tenor <b>Saimir Pirgu</b>, known for his close association with the Zurich Opera House, as well as <b>Marina Viotti</b> in the title role. Carmen opens in April and will run through the summer.</div><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><b>7. </b></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 700;">"Nye" by Tim Price, at the National Theatre</span><br />
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<img alt="london 2024 best theatre nye national michael sheen" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/todEf4T.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>Heading back to London's <b>National Theatre</b>, <b>Nye</b> is a new play by <b>Tim Price</b>, directed by<b> Rufus Norris</b> delving into the life and legacy of Aneurin 'Nye' Bevan, a monumental figure in British history renowned for his pivotal role in establishing the National Health Service (NHS). </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Michael Sheen</b> will bring Nye Bevan to life, portraying him in a surreal and mesmerizing journey that spans his early days campaigning at the coalfield to his monumental battle to create the NHS. Nye is a co-production between the National Theatre and Wales Millennium Centre, and it promises to be both an epic and deeply personal Welsh fantasia, offering audiences a unique insight into the man who transformed Britain's welfare state.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nye opens in February and will run until the end of May</div><div>
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<br /><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">6. "Dr. Strangelove" by Armando Iannucci at the Noel Coward Theatre</span><br />
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<img alt="best theatre london 2024 dr strangelove stanley kubrick armando iannucci noel coward steve coogan" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/NtVTsQA.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" />Should this be higher up the list? Probably. The London stage is set to witness the theatrical debut of Stanley Kubrick's iconic Cold War satire, <b>Dr. Strangelove</b>, in a highly anticipated adaptation by the acclaimed <b>Armando Iannucci</b>. </div><div><br /></div><div>The production, marking the first-ever stage version of a Kubrick film, will star comedian <b>Steve Coogan</b>, a seven-time BAFTA award winner, who is set to embody several characters. The play, co-adapted and directed by the Olivier Award winner <b>Sean Foley</b>, is expected to be an explosively funny satire that delves into the absurdities and fears of the nuclear age, resonating with the original film’s dark humor and sharp critique of mutually assured destruction.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dr. Strangelove will play at the <b>Noel Coward Theatre</b> and opens in October.</div><div>
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<br /><span style="color: #3366ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">"The Cherry Orchard" by Anton Chekhov, at the Donmar Warehouse</span></span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><span style="border-image: initial;"><img alt="best theatre 2024 london cherry orchard anton chekhov donmar" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/tE3TLGr.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); color: black; float: left; font-weight: 400; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" title="" /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">It seems the London stage will never tire of a good </span><span style="color: black;"><b>Anton Chekhov</b> production. <b>The Cherry Orchard</b> stands among the most enduring and beloved of these works. The last of Chekhov's plays, The Cherry Orchard is</span></span> renowned for its exploration of the changing social landscape in Russia at the turn of the 20th century, and the decline of the aristocracy.</div><div><span style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">This latest production comes from the </span><span style="color: black;"><b>Donmar Warehouse</b> and <b>Benedict Andrews</b>, a director with a formidable track record of adapting Chekhov, following his recent successful adaptations of <i>The Seagull</i> and <i>Three Sisters</i>. The cast features some recognisable faces in <b>Adeel Akhtar</b> and <b>Nina Hoss</b>. </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="color: black;">The Cherry Orchard opens in April and will run until June.</span></span></div><div><div><br />
<br /><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">4. </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 700;">"My Neighbour Totoro" by Joe Hisaishi and RSC, at the Barbican</span><br /><br /><img alt="london best theatre 2024 neighbour totoro miyazaki barbican rsc" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/i10uwZ8.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>In case you missed it back in its original 2022 run, not to worry, <b>My Neighbour Totoro</b> is making a return to the London stage. This is the <b>Barbican</b>'s highly acclaimed stage adaptation of the classic Ghibli film, a magical exploration of the bond between humans and nature, told through the adventures of sisters Satsuki and Mei.</div><div><br /></div><div>In its initial run, the production was widely praises for creating an innovative visual and aural experience, boasting life-sized puppets to bring the iconic Totoro and other forest spirits to life, set against a backdrop of a lush and immersive scenic design. </div><div><br /></div><div>Totoro will run at the Barbican until the end of March.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">3. "The Hills of California" by Jez Butterworth, at the Harold Pinter Theatre</span><br />
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<img alt="london best theatre 2024 hills of california jez butterworth sam mendes harold pinter" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/A5Ay35A.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>In the London theatre scene, <b>Jez Butterworth</b> is one of those names that demands your immediate attention. The award winning playwright has produced some extraordinary theatre (and more recently, film and television) including <i>Jerusalem</i> and <i>The Ferryman</i>. </div><div><br /></div><div>In <b>The Hills of California</b>, Butterworth teams up again with his collaborator on The Ferryman, <b>Sam Mendes</b>. Mendes is, of course, the world famous film and theatre director, best known for <i>American Beauty</i> and the recent <i>James Bond</i> films. This new drama unfolds in the sweltering summer of 1976 in Blackpool, the driest in 200 years. Amidst packed beaches and bustling hotels, the narrative delves into the intense, hidden lives of the Webb Sisters in the sweltering backstreets, far from the seaside frivolity.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Hills of California opens in January and will run until June. Expect this to be one of the hottest tickets of the year.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. </span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">"Mnemonic" by Simon McBurney, at the National Theatre</span><br />
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<img alt="mnemonic complicite simon mcburney national london best theatre 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/X9TQQlW.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 140px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div><b>The National Theatre</b> welcomes back <b>Simon McBurney</b> and his legendary <b>Complicité</b> production company, with this revival of <b>Mnemonic</b>, 25 years after its initial staging. </div><div><br /></div><div>Running on the Olivier stage, this production weaves together narratives of personal and historical discovery, including the search for a lost father and a lover, and the intriguing tale of Ötzi the Iceman, a 5,000-year-old body found preserved in ice. Complicité are known for their experimental and immersive storytelling, making this a must see experience.</div><div><br /></div><div>Mnemonic will open in June and run until mid October.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">1. </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 700;">"Stranger Things: The First Shadow" by Jack Thorne, at the Phoenix Theatre</span><br />
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<img alt="london best theatre 2024 stranger things first shadow phoenix jack thorne harry potter" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/SBdgcXf.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>It would be easy to dismiss <b>Stranger Things: The First Shadow</b> as a bit of an easy money-grab, but the more you look into the work that was done here, the more apparent it is that this is a very ambitious and substantial production.</div><div><br /></div><div>A prequel to the hit Netflix series, this production is set in 1950s Hawkins and follows a (attempting to avoid spoilers) very prominent character featured in the most recent series, as well as younger versions of the adult characters from the show.</div><div><br /></div><div>But it's the creative talent behind this show that really stands out. This is an original story written by the show's writers, <b>The Duffer Brothers</b> in collaboration with <b>Jack Thorne</b>, a very accomplished writer best known in the theatre world for creating the Olivier award winning <i>Harry Potter and the Cursed Child</i>. Direction comes from <b>Stephen Daldry</b>, the Olivier, Tony and BAFTA winning director known for <i>Billy Elliott</i>, <i>The Crown</i>, <i>The Inheritance</i>, and numerous other works. An outstandingly exciting production for new and old fans alike, one which is hotly tipped for awards this year. </div><div>
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So there you have it folks: 2024 in theatre. Tune in soon for our next instalment of the Hot List, covering the essential new music coming this year!<br />
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<br /></div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-86631514555419377312024-01-21T17:42:00.004+00:002024-01-21T17:42:44.146+00:00The Hot List: Essential New Literature of 2024<link href="https://i.imgur.com/91jMJom.png" rel="image_src"></link>
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Welcome back to The Ephemeric's 2024 Hot List. This week we will have a look at the most exciting new literature and novels you'll be reading in the coming year.<br />
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<img alt="best anticipated new novels literature 2024 hot list" height="250" src="https://i.imgur.com/91jMJom.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); display: block; height: 250px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 250px;" width="250" /><br />Best advice I ever received: you can't read too much. If you can find the time, reading a book can offer greater enrichment than any other activity. But time is precious. There's only so many books one can reasonably find time to read. 2024 is shaping up to be another year blessed with an abundance of tantalizing new stories and perspectives, and here I am going to try and whittle that long list down to just the very best.<div><br /></div><div>So here it is: your reading list for 2024, our list of the top 10 upcoming releases from the world of literature to keep an eye on this year, starting, as always, with number 10:<br />
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<br /><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">10. "Anita de Monte Laughs Last" by Xóchitl González</span><br />
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<img alt="best literature 2024 novel book anita de monte laughs last xochitl gonzalez" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/zmrMIyf.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 180px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 130px;" /><div>When Anita de Monte, a rising star in the art world, is found dead in 1985 New York City, her death becomes the talk of the town. But by 1998 her work and legacy are all but forgotten. That is until Raquel, a third year art history student, stumbles upon Anita's story and begins to notice eerie parallels with her own life.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Anita de Monte Laughs Last</b> is the second novel of Xóchitl González. A story of art, power, and legacy told from dual perspectives across time that is being tipped as one of the essential reads of early 2024.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anita de Monte Laughs Last releases in March.</div><div><br /></div><div>
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<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">9. </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 700;">"You Like it Darker" by Stephen King</span><br />
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</div><div>The latest work from horror maestro <b>Stephen King</b>, <b>You Like it Darker</b> is a compelling collection of twelve short stories, showcasing the legendary author's expertise in the realms of horror, suspense, and the supernatural. </div><div><br /></div><div>Published by Scribner in May 2024, this 512-page anthology delves into the darker aspects of life, both metaphorically and literally, and includes many stories that have never been published before. </div><div><br /></div><div>This collection is a testament to King's ability to weave tales that are rich, riveting, and thematically weighty, offering readers a mix of thrills, joys, and mysteries.</div><div><br /></div><div>
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<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">8. "The Demon of Unrest" by Erik Larson</span><br />
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<img alt="best literature 2024 novel book demon of unrest erik larson lincoln" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/PBquXsK.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 180px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 130px;" /></div><div><b>The Demon of Unrest</b> by <b>Erik Larson</b> is a historical narrative that captures the tumultuous five months between Abraham Lincoln's election in November 1860 and the onset of the Civil War. </div><div><br /></div><div>Larson, known for his mastery in blending historical detail with compelling storytelling, brings to life this critical period marked by political strife, division, and a nation on the brink of collapse. The book focuses on several key figures: Major Robert Anderson, the commander of Fort Sumter; Edmund Ruffin, a radical secessionist; Mary Boykin Chesnut, a planter's wife conflicted over marriage and slavery; and Abraham Lincoln himself, struggling with a duplicitous Secretary of State, William Seward, and the looming threat of war. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Demon of Unrest releases in April.</div><div><div><br /><br /><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">7. "The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands" by Sarah Brooks</span><br /><br /><img alt="best literature 2024 novel book cautious traveller guide to wasteland sarah brooks" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/3qZ1kKc.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 180px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 130px;" /></div><div><div>It is the end of the 19th Century and the world is awash with marvels. But there is nothing so marvellous as the Wastelands: a terrain of terrible miracles that lies between Beijing and Moscow. Nothing touches this abandoned wilderness except the Great Trans-Siberian Express: an impenetrable train built to carry cargo across continents, but which now transports anyone who dares to cross the shadowy Wastelands.</div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands</b> by <b>Sarah Brooks</b> is a historical fantasy novel set on the grand Trans-Siberian Express. It portrays a group of passengers embarking on a perilous journey across a magical landscape. </div><div><br /></div><div>Set for release in June, this novel explores themes of humanity, nature, capitalism, and empire</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">6. </span>
<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 700;">"Godwin" by Joseph O'Neill</span><br /><br /><img alt="best literature 2024 novel book godwin joseph o'neill" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/YqVuiAo.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 180px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 130px;" /></div><div>Mark Wolfe is a technically gifted but self-sabotaging writer living in Pittsburgh with his wife and daughter, and his half-brother Geoff, a young, desperate soccer agent from the UK. <b>Godwin</b> by <b>Joseph O’Neill </b>follows the odyssey of these two brothers on a global journey in pursuit of an African soccer prodigy named "Godwin," believed to be the next big thing. </div><div><br /></div><div>The narrative, alternating between the perspectives of Mark and his work colleague Lakesha Williams, weaves together themes of family, migration, and the entwining beauty and darkness of soccer. The brothers' adventure implicates them in the complexities of international business, revealing the perils and promises of the global capitalist system and the lingering shadows of colonialism. </div><div><br /></div><div>Joseph O’Neill began his career in non-fiction, but is building a reputation for incisive writing on the subjects of capitalism and the colonial legacy, set here against a humanist backdrop of familial love and the highest aspirations. Godwin releases in June.</div>
<br /><br /><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">5. "The Last Murder at the End of the World" by Stuart Turton</span><br />
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<img alt="best literature 2024 novel book last murder at the end of the world stuart turton" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/H2NeCLL.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 180px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 130px;" /></div><div>A high-concept murder mystery set in a post-apocalyptic world, <b>The Last Murder at the End of the World</b> by <b>Stuart Turton </b>depicts an idyllic island, home to 122 villagers and 3 scientists, which represents the last bastion of humanity after the rest of the world is destroyed by a deadly fog. The tranquility of the island is shattered when one of the beloved scientists is brutally murdered, triggering a security system failure that threatens to expose the island to the lethal fog. </div><div><br /></div><div>This blend of mystery, suspense, and science fiction, coming from the author of the acclaimed <i>The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle,</i> promises a story full of twists and ingenuity, exploring themes of survival, memory, and human nature under extreme circumstances. This novel releases in May.</div><div>
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<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. "I Cheerfully Refuse" by Leif Enger</span></span><br />
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<img alt="best literature 2024 novel book i cheerfully refuse leif enger" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/M9oJdyC.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 180px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 130px;" /></div><div><b>I Cheerfully Refuse</b> by <b>Leif Enger</b> revolves around Rainy, a bereaved musician, as he embarks on a surreal journey across a sentient Lake Superior in search of his lost, deeply beloved bookselling wife. </div><div><br /></div><div>What follows is a narrative rich with elements of adventure and exploration, as Rainy navigates through harrowing storms and finds a land rife with desperation, illiteracy, and a ruling malignant billionaire class. </div><div><br /></div><div>The novel, described as a symphony against despair and a rallying cry for the future, combines lyrical prose with a reflection on love, loss, and resilience in a world grappling with profound transformations.</div><div>
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<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. "James" by Percival Everett</span></span><br />
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</div><div>Certainly one of the major literary events of 2024, <b>James</b> is a provocative and inventive reimagining of Mark Twain's classic Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, told from the perspective of the enslaved character Jim, more commonly known under a name now considered too offensive to use.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Percival Everett</b>'s narrative retains many of Twain’s original set pieces but grapples with the prejudices of the time to recast Jim as a character of profound agency, intelligence, and compassion. The novel is both a gripping adventure and a deep exploration of themes like freedom, identity, and the human spirit. </div><div><br /></div><div>James is being tipped as one of the most significant releases in recent years, offering a fresh and critical perspective on a classic tale. James releases in March.</div><div>
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<br /><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">2. "Evenings and Weekends" by Oisín McKenna</span><br />
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<img alt="best literature 2024 novel book evenings and weekends oisin mckenna" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/cxNZHhO.jpeg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 180px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 130px;" /></div><div>Described as a Richard Curtis movie in novel-form (with a hint of Sally Rooney), <b>Oisín McKenna</b>'s debut novel, <b>Evenings and Weekends</b>, follows three young adults through a sweltering London heatwave, weaving their interconnected lives as heat and tensions rise.</div><div><br /></div><div>This heartfelt, sexually charged, and humorously disarming narrative offers a mesmerizing dive into the soul of a city and examines the challenges facing young adults in contemporary urban life.</div><div><br /></div><div>McKenna has received a great deal of buzz with this first novel, which releases in April.</div><div>
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<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. </span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">"The Life Impossible" by Matt Haig</span><br />
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<img alt="best literature 2024 novel book life impossible matt haig" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/c1Z2vcC.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 180px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 130px;" /></div><div><b>Matt Haig </b>achieved global success and recognition with his last novel, <i>The Midnight Library</i>. His newest work, <b>The Life Impossible</b>, follows Grace Winters, a widow and retired math teacher. Grace's life, which revolves around solitude, bird watching, and crossword puzzles, takes an unexpected turn when a long-lost friend passes away under mysterious circumstances, leaving her a house on the Spanish island of Ibiza. This unexpected inheritance marks the beginning of a wild adventure and a profound transformation for Grace. </div><div><br /></div><div>The novel promises to be a heartwarming narrative filled with colourful characters, showing how a sudden change in perspective can dramatically alter one's life. Expect a heart-warming narrative, demonstrating how a new outlook can emerge at any moment and change everything</div><div><br /><br />
So there you have it folks: 2024 in literature. Tune in soon for our next instalment of the Hot List, covering the essential new theatre coming up in 2024!<br />
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<br /></div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-39283389761288940292024-01-14T17:21:00.001+00:002024-01-14T17:21:17.128+00:00The Hot List: Essential New Videogames of 2024<link href="http://i.imgur.com/wc38eSz.png" rel="image_src"></link>
Hello and welcome back to the Hot List. This week we will turn our attention to the videogame industry, previewing for you loyal readers the most exciting videogames set for release in 2024.<br />
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<img alt="new videogames games gaming 2024 ephemeric" src="http://i.imgur.com/wc38eSz.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); display: block; height: 250px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 250px;" /><br /><div>What more is there to say about 2023 in gaming? I already expounded at length in the 2023 Debbie Awards on this subject. This was an exceptional year, the year in which all the delays of the pandemic and its knock-on aftershocks finally caught up, and the result was 12 months of near weekly blockbusters, not to mention some of the finest independent output in recent memory. It will surely be remembered as one of the finest ever years for gaming.</div><div><br /></div><div>How do you follow up on such a year? In all probability, you don't. Make no mistake, there is still plenty to be excited about in 2024, but don't expect the same absurd abundance of riches as last year. In some ways, this might be a good thing, giving smaller and independent developers a chance to shine without the big dogs sucking all the air out of the room. To that end, here are the 15 key videogames to keep an eye on in the coming year (trailers linked in the title where available), starting with number 15:</div><div><div>
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<span style="color: #3366ff;"><div style="color: black;"><div><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">15. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbVRZHFfoX0">Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector</a> </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">(PC, Mac, Xbox)</span><br /><br /><span style="border-image: initial;"><img alt="citizen sleeper 2 sequel starward vector 2024 best game" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/UfoYduc.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></span>Let's start off with a sequel to one of the most hyped indie releases of recent years. <b>Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector</b> is the sequel to 2022's Citizen Sleeper, a narrative title about a runaway android on a space station, trying to survive and stay hidden from his former corporate masters.</div><div><br /></div><div>If the gameplay was a little simplistic - a blend between a virtual novel with outcomes determined by the role of dice and the player's balancing of different priorities - the art style, world-building, and timely narrative helped Citizen Sleeper rise to become one of the most acclaimed titles of 2022. </div><div><br /></div><div>With this sequel, developer Jump Over the Age is looking to build on these successful foundations, but add more depth, more complexities. A new location and character, this time with your own ship and crew to manage. Release date has yet to be confirmed, but is expected to arrive some time in 2024.</div><div style="font-weight: 400;"><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBD 2024</span></div></div></span>
</div><div><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #3366ff;"><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">14. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kslU9ZGAGxg">Life By You</a> (PC)</span><br /><br /><img alt="life by you paradox sims beater best games 2024 pc" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/XmR6V6I.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" />Given the wild, runaway, money-printing success that EA have built out of The Sims franchise, it has always perplexed me that there aren't more developers trying to get in on this genre, building their own alternative life-sim</span>. Lord knows there is room in the market, with EA's questionable polices, micro-transactions and, well... everything. Especially after the debacle that was 2013's Sim City, which resulted in EA losing their monopoly of the city-building genre to Paradox's Cities Skylines. It has always felt like a matter of time before someone attempted to pull the same trick on The Sims.</div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;">That someone, as it turns out, is the same someone who defeated Sim City. <b>Life By You</b> is a new title in development by<b> Paradox</b>, which aims to be that developer's take on the life sim genre. Much like Sim City, The Sims has long been on the decline with its increasingly narrow focus, abandoned features, lack of fresh ideas, and focus on lazy microtransactions. Life By You is aiming high, taking the core concept of The Sims, bringing back some of the key elements that have been abandoned in the more recent iterations, and adding a few new tricks of its own. An open world, real-language conversations, greater customisation, greater modding support. In short, Life By You aims to be everything The Sims was but no longer is, everything it could have been but never achieved. At the very least, it could offer some much needed competition in this genre. </div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: March 2024 (early access)</span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: black;"><span style="color: #ff6600;"><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">13. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-QJ86-u2U8">Lost Records: Bloom and Rage</a></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"> (PC, Xbox, Playstation)</span><br /><br /><img alt="lost records bloom rage dontnod life is strange best games 2024 xbox playstation pc" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/2POlljY.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></div><div style="color: black;">As technology has improved and, with it, the capacity for complex storytelling in gaming, a genre of narrative-focused titles has begun to take greater prominence. Developers <b>Don't Nod</b> are arguably at the forefront of this genre, with the great success achieved by their Life is Strange franchise. </div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;">Their newest title, <b>Lost Records: Bloom and Rage</b> is being billed as a sort of spiritual successor to the series that put this dev team on the map (now that Life is Strange has been moved on to other developers) and is expected to feature a similar coming of age story with surreal, thematic elements. For fans of their earlier work, this is looking to be an essential purchase. With those who never experienced the original Life is Strange, this could well replicate that moment for a new generation. </div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;">Lost Records is currently expected to release in late 2024.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: Late 2024</span></div></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div></span></div><div>
<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">12. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PuzpblWpVM">Fallout: London</a> (mod for Fallout 4)</span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"> (PC)</span><br /><br /><img alt="fallout london mod best games 2024 pc" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/LY3em8n.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></div><div>I am about to do something highly unusual, something I have never done before on this blog. <b>Fallout: London</b> is not, in fact, a new game, but a fan-made mod for an old game, Fallout 4. This is the first time that my Hot List has picked a title that was not its own game, much less a fan-made title produced by an amateur team. The cynical among you could look at this and say, well there must not be much coming in 2024 if this makes the list, but on the contrary. This is here entirely on merit. </div><div><br /></div><div>Fallout: London is a fan-made conversion of Fallout 4, one of my favourite titles. Set in a retro-futuristic post-apocalyptic London, within the Fallout universe. While it may be a amateur project, the level of quality on display here is something quite remarkable. An entire open world, built from the ground up, as large in scale as that of the base game. Writing, narrative and original music that looks to be pretty damn near professional quality - that several members of this dev team have since been hired by Bethesda, the original developers of Fallout, says a lot. </div><div><br /></div><div>This looks fantastic. That something of this ambition has been built by non-professionals, non-profit, just out of passion and dedication, is remarkable. I have long been of the view that mods and fan-made games are deserving of a greater spotlight, and this year I am willing to make that statement. After many years of development, Fallout: London releases in April.</div><div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: April 2024</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">11. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-iHDj3EwdI">Hades II</a> </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">(PC, Xbox, Playstation)</span><br /><br /><img alt="hades 2 ii sequel 2024 best game" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/7dQvjdr.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" />Another sequel to another widely celebrated indie title. 2020's Hades was not just a success, it was the pick of many as the best game of 2020. Needless to say, when the sequel, <b>Hades II</b>, was announced, it instantly shot near the top of many pundits' list of most anticipated 2024 games.</div><div><br /></div><div>Set in the same universe as the first game, "Hades II" expands upon the story and world-building of the original. The game introduces a new protagonist, offering a fresh perspective and new dynamics in the narrative. This new character is set to have their own unique backstory, abilities, and relationships with the gods of the Greek pantheon, adding depth and complexity to the game's lore.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hades II is still in production, but expected to be ready for release in the second half of 2024.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: Late 2024</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">10. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Yb9i-cDPTI">Suzerain: Kingdom of Rizia</a> </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 700;">(PC, Mac, Switch)</span><br />
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<img alt="suzerain kingdom rizia best game 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/LWAM8bY.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /><div>Sticking to the theme, here's another sequel to a beloved indie title. Suzerain was a masterpiece, a roleplaying game about politics in a fictional world. On paper, it sounds like the sort of subject that would put most to sleep, in practice it was a riveting, clever and exceptionally well crafted narrative title.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Suzerain: Kingdom of Rizia</b> is the follow up to this title, a prequel set in a monarchistic kingdom. As before, players will govern, engage in diplomacy and politics.</div><div><br /></div><div>It will be interesting to see how developers Torpor Games develop the formula further following the acclaim of their first title, especially with the greater resources and expertise that come with such a success. KoR releases in March.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Release Date: March 2024</span></span></span></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">9. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfyGOg-DKZw">Forever Ago</a></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"> (PC)</span><br /><br /><img alt="forever ago best games 2024 pc" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/TgVu7CM.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">I've said as much in previous previews, but </span><b>Annapurna Interactive</b> might just be the best developer in the game right now. An offshoot of the successful, award winning film studio, Annapurna have managed to replicate that success in gaming, producing some of the finest games of the past decade, including What Remains of Edith Finch, Outer Wilds, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Stray, The Artful Escape, and so many others.</div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;"><b>Forever Ago</b> follows in the style of earlier Annapurna titles by focusing on narrative depth, with mature themes and characters. It's a classic story of redemption, with a protagonist embarking on a road trip north, meeting new people, encountering beautiful places. </div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;">Forever Ago is poised to offer a refreshing take on adventure gaming, appealing to players who enjoy rich storytelling, emotional depth, and exploration. Its unique perspective and heartfelt narrative are set to make it a memorable addition to the narrative game genre.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBD 2024</span></div></span></span></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">8. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhutN8sE2NY">Nivalis</a> </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 700;">(PC)</span><br /><br /><img alt="nivalis cloudpunk best game 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/GzXkpWh.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></div><div><b>Ion Lands</b>' debut title Cloudpunk placed them as one of the new darlings in indie gaming. But while the cyberpunk taxi simulator was blessed with tight driving mechanics and surprisingly adept storytelling, what really elevated the game to prominence was its setting, a stunning voxel cyberpunk dystopia oozing with atmosphere. Follow up project <b>Nivalis</b> builds on that strength. A slice of life sim set in that same immersive setting.</div><div><br /></div><div>In Nivalis, players control a new character aiming to build a life in this city. The game will feature business management, social simulation and home decorating. Like a cyberpunk version of Stardew Valley, with more life-sim features. Ion Lands recognise that the biggest asset of Cloudpunk was its world, and Nivalis aims to capitalise on that asset by turning it into a fully immersive experience in which players can live and explore, and really feel a part of the setting.</div><div><br /></div><div>After many years of development, Nivalis has been confirmed for a 2024 release.</div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Release Date: TBD 2024</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">7. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfGnxh0PNL8">Pacific Drive</a> </span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">(PC, Playstation)</span><br /><br /><img alt="pacific drive best game 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/eHJfkHS.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" />On the surface, </span><b>Pacific Drive</b> looks like just another crafting survival sim, the likes of which there are already far too many in today's industry. But what <b>Ironwood Studios</b> understands is that gameplay mechanics are only one component, albeit a necessary one, that makes a great game. You could liken it to the engine of a car.</div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;">Around this engine, Ironwood have built a dynamic, unpredictable world shrouded in mystery and tension. In "Pacific Drive," players find themselves navigating the perilous roads of the exclusion zone, a region filled with supernatural phenomena and dangerous anomalies. The game's central premise revolves around a road trip through this hazardous area, with the player's car serving as their primary means of survival and a mobile base of operations.</div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div>A unique blend of survival, exploration, and horror, set amid an intriguing and mysterious setting. This is a game that will appeal to fans of survival challenges, atmospheric storytelling, and anyone looking for an adventure off the beaten path.</div><div><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Release Date: February 2024</span></span></span></div></span></span></div><div>
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<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">6. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i88rlDT57OY">Frostpunk 2</a> </span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">(PC)</span><br /><br /><img alt="frostpunk 2 sequel best game 2024 pc" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/GRs7iVy.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></div><div>2018's Frostpunk was perhaps the greatest survival city builder yet created. Set in a steampunk post-apocalyptic vision of Victorian England that had descended into a new ice age, the survivors of this world survive in ramshackle towns built around great coal-burning furnaces for heat and warmth. Players built and managed their city, exploring the wastes, managing resources, and making the difficult policy decisions needed to survive the harsh environment.</div><div><br /></div><div>Set thirty years after the first game, the world has changed in <b>Frostpunk 2</b>. Humanity survived, and now it must figure out how to move forward. Players control their much larger and more developed cities at the district level, managing factions and debating policy to decide what kind of society will grow in this new world.</div><div><br /></div><div>City builder is not a genre that often meshes well with narrative and complex themes, but what <b>11 Bit Studios</b> achieved with the first game was truly excellent. This sequel easily sits high up our list of the most anticipated titles in 2024.</div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Release Date: TBD 2024</span></span></span></div></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F8dFsK_o10">Skate Story</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 700;">(PC, Mac)</span><br /><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="border-image: initial;"><img alt="skate story sam eng blood cultures best game pc mac 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/thXQPGz.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></span>Sometimes a project will sell you on the tagline alone: "You are a demon, made of glass and pain. And yet you must skate." The Devil has given you a skateboard with a simple deal: Skate to the Moon and swallow it — and you shall be freed.</div><div><br /></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Skateboarding games have long fallen out of fashion since the halcyon days of Tony Hawk and Skate. Perhaps what they've needed is something more than just generic urban grit. Such is the thinking of </span><b>Sam Eng</b>, the one man band behind <b>Skate Story</b>. </div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;">There's a lot to love about this project. It is visually absolutely stunning, with great music to complement the lonely, wistful themes. The story is just daffy and over the top enough to work. If they can nail the feel of the controls, this looks like it will be solid gold. A baffling, brilliant original.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: 700;">Release Date: TBD 2024</span></span></span></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. Final Fantasy VII Remake Part II: Rebirth</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 700;">(Playstation)</span><br />
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<img alt="final fantasy vii sequel remake part 2 ii rebirth best game pc 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/REgBvzO.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /><div><b>Final Fantasy VII Rebirth</b> is the highly anticipated second installment in the Final Fantasy VII Remake project, continuing the reimagining of one of the most iconic and beloved games in the Final Fantasy series. Developed by <b>Square Enix</b>, this title promises to build upon the success of the first remake, offering fans and newcomers alike an even deeper and more immersive experience into the world of Gaia.</div><div><br /></div></div><div>Picking up where the Final Fantasy VII Remake left off, Rebirth delves further into this remixed journey of Cloud Strife and his companions as they continue their battle against the malevolent Shinra Corporation and the enigmatic Sephiroth. The game is expected to expand on the story, exploring new areas of the narrative and potentially offering alternate perspectives on key events. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Final Fantasy franchise has been met with some fairly mixed reception in recent years. The first episode in this remake trilogy stands as one of the most unequivocally praised entries in years, taking a classic and expanding it into something bigger, better and more richly detailed. I can't wait to continue the journey.<br />
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: February 2024</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Harold Halibut </span></span><span style="color: #3366ff;">(PC, Xbox, Switch, Playstation)</span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><img alt="harold halibut claymation wes anderson wallace and gromit best game 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/0ExsYct.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); color: black; float: left; font-weight: 400; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></span></span><div>Taking inspiration from the likes of Wes Anderson and Aardman Animations,</div><div><b>Harold Halibut </b>is the culmination of ten years' painstaking work in perfecting a unique and, frankly, stunning hand-made claymation art-style. The result is one of the most striking games in recent memory, which from early appearances seems to have the humour and narrative flair to match. </div><div><br /></div><div>Looking past the aesthetic flair, one finds a fairly traditional point-and-click adventure game in the style of Monkey Island, Sam and Max, or for more recent gamers the various output of Telltale Games. Set on a marooned space ship some 250 years in the future, players must help unravel the mysteries of their new home and find a way to return their ship on course before time runs out.</div><div><br /></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span style="color: black;">After many years of delays, Harold Halibut is due for release in 2024</span><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">.</span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Release Date: Early 2024</span></span></span></span></span></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULsF7B6bFuU">Avowed</a></span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">(PC, Xbox)</span><br /><br /><img alt="avowed obsidian pillars eternity skyrim outer worlds best game 2024 pc xbox ps4 ps5" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/Jl0TshK.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /><div>There is not a single thing about the pitch behind <b>Avowed</b> that I do not like. <b>Obsidian</b> are masters of the RPG genre, known for the excellent Pillars of Eternity series as well Fallout: New Vegas (and indeed the team features many of the original creators of the Fallout franchise) and most recently the award winning The Outer Worlds. This is a Skyrim-like first person action RPG set in the same world as their Pillars series.</div><div><br /></div><div>Obsidian are known for crafting immersive, fully fleshed out worlds that provide a high level of player agency, where the player's decisions have a real tangible impact on the story. The opportunity to dive into a new Obsidian RPG is always a reason for excitement, but I am especially excited to see the Pillars series (previously an old-school isometric RPG) reimagined from a fully immersive first person perspective.</div><div><br /></div></div><div>A perennially delayed title. After a, clearly premature, reveal several years ago, Avowed will finally see release in 2024 and I can't wait to sink my teeth into this.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBD 2024</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">1. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5S6nNg7VeM">Homeworld 3</a></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"> (PC)</span><br /><br /><img alt="homeworld 3 best games 2024 pc" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/HEMGsDo.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" />The original Homeworld was a title that carried a great amount of hype when it launched in the late 1990s. An epic, bombastic space opera with cutting edge graphics and presentation, not to mention pioneering 3D gameplay unlike anything other developers were putting out back then. It was a game of unprecedented cinematic flair for the time, which went on to greatly influence the genre and industry as a whole going forward. While critically acclaimed at the time, the series has laid dormant since 2003's Homeworld 2, due in part to the IP kerfuffle in the wake of original publisher Sierra's collapse. </div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">Homeworld went on to form something of a legendary cult status and has seen a revival in recent years with a prequel spin-off and remastered versions of the original games finding release. The announcement, finally, of <b>Homeworld 3</b> may have been somewhat inevitable in retrospect, but still a very welcome surprise. </div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">Originally due for release in 2023, Homeworld 3 was tipped to be one of the biggest releases of the year until some late delays pushed it to 2024. The title finally releases in February, and I can't wait. The Ephemeric's most hotly anticipated title of 2024.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: February 2024</span></div></span></span></div><div>
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So there you have it folks: 2024 in videogames. Tune in next week for the most exciting new novels and literature coming this year!<br />
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<br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-78836815479558641622024-01-04T16:58:00.003+00:002024-01-04T17:01:52.778+00:00The Hot List: Essential New TV Shows of 2024<link href="http://i.imgur.com/QmagRbM.png" rel="image_src"></link>
Happy New Year to all and welcome back to The Ephemeric. No rest for the weary blogger. It seems like just days ago I finished writing up the Debbie Awards and already it's straight back to the grind with the first installment of <b>The Hot List</b>, this week focusing on the most exciting new TV series set to drop in 2024. <div><br /></div><div>So here it is, your ultimate guide to the year ahead, The Ephemeric's 2024 Hot List. In this first entry we will be looking at the most exciting things happening in the world of television over the next 12 months, with a particular eye cast over the brand new shows hitting your screens in 2024.<br />
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<img alt="best anticipated new tv television shows 2024 hot list ephemeric" height="250" src="http://i.imgur.com/QmagRbM.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); display: block; height: 250px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 250px;" width="400" /><br /><div>At a time of relative cultural abundance, with many industries finally playing catch up in the wake of the great disruptions of the last few years, 2023 ended up being a strangely bland year for television. Much of this can be attributed to the various strike actions in 2023, which ran from May until the end of September and resulted in many of the year's most anticipated releases being delayed or bumped into 2024. Make no mistake, there was still plenty of quality to be found, with high quality returning series such as The Bear, Ted Lasso and For All Mankind, and exciting debuts for series including The Last of Us, Shrinking and Daisy Jones & the Six. But it's fair to say it was a fairly front-loaded year, with the period from early summer onwards fairly "mid" by the standards of recent years.</div><div><br /></div><div>By contrast, 2024 is looking to be a bumper year for television, with many of these delayed productions now back on track and set for release in what may be one of the most overstuffed television lineups in a long time. Whittling this long list down to just 15 proved to be a genuine challenge, but this final list should have something for everyone. </div><div><div><br /></div><div>So without further ado here are the top 15 essential television shows, both new and returning, that will hit the airwaves and their web-equivalent in 2024:</div><div>
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<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">15. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82bST-tsEdY">The Regime</a> - HBO </span><span style="color: #e06666; font-weight: 700;">(New TV Show)</span><br />
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<img alt="regime hbo tv show 2024 best most anticipated kate winslet hugh grant stephen frears" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/wBZqEZm.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" title="" /></div><div>We will start off with some good old fashioned political satire, in <b>HBO</b>'s <b>The Regime</b>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Directed by the great <b>Stephen Frears</b>, best known for The Queen and High Fidelity, but with a long and accomplished CV to his name. This series depicts the final year within the palace of a crumbling authoritarian regime, and from the looks of the trailer will stick to a decidedly comedic satirical style, focusing on the inherent absurdity prevalent in such forms of government. </div><div><br /></div><div>The cast is led by <b>Kate Winslet</b> and includes some big names such as <b>Hugh Grant</b> and <b>Matthias Schoenaerts</b>. The Regime is scheduled for release in March.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Start Date: March 2024</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3366ff;"><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">14. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAN5uspO_hk">Shogun</a> - Hulu/Disney+/FX </span></span><span style="color: #e06666; font-weight: 700;">(New TV Show)</span><br /><br /><img alt="2024 most anticipated tv shogun hulu disney fx" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/dA6uCgE.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Based on the 1975 novel of the same name by James Clavell, </span><b>Shogun</b> is a historical drama set in feudal Japan.</div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;">Starring <b>Cosmo Jarvis</b> and <b>Kiroyuki Sanada</b>, Shogun is a fictionalised version of real history, telling the story of an English sailor shipwrecked in Japan, who would go on to become a samurai and become embroiled in the political conflicts between a powerful Daimyo and his rivals.</div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;">As someone with an interest in history, I'm always pleased to see new work in this genre, particularly that relate to under-represented chapters in our history. World War 2, the American Revolution and the Royal Courts of England are all very well covered, it's nice to get a look at other moments in our world's fascinating lore.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Start Date: February 2024</span></span></span></div></span></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">13. The Last of Us - HBO</span></span></div><div><br /><img alt="last of us season 2 hbo most anticipated tv 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/dNV20vY.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>To say that videogame adaptations have a poor reputation, probably harshly in this day and age, would be an understatement. As such, few were expecting much from <b>HBO</b>'s adaptation of <b>The Last of Us</b>. It ended up being arguably the surprise hit of 2023.</div><div><br /></div><div>Where many videogame adaptations fail by adhering too closely to the source material, or by attempting to pander to the perceived demographics of the source games, The Last of Us succeeded by focusing first and foremost on being a good TV series. It will be interesting to see what the showrunners make of the material's second chapter, which was generally not as well received by the gaming community.</div><div><br /></div><div>Season 2 entered production in late 2023, so it is not expect that we will see this for some time, but a late 2024 release is still on the cards.</div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Start Date: Late 2024</span></span></span></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">12. Curb Your Enthusiasm</span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"> - HBO </span></div><div><br /><img alt="curb your enthusiasm season 12 final finale tv show 2024 best most anticipated" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/NqIUB7w.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" title="" /></div><div>The end of an era? <b>Curb Your Enthusiasm</b> is the vehicle of comedian <b>Larry David</b>, stand up comedian and co-creator of Seinfeld. </div><div><br /></div><div>Since its debut in 2000, Curb has developed a legendary reputation as a comedy series, with its acerbic wit and lack of filter depicting a fictionalised version of the comedian's life. Curb succeeds by its focus on the mundane trivialities of life and taking them to their absurd extreme.</div><div><br /></div><div>Curb also has a reputation as a somewhat sporadically produced series - despite it's debut 24 years ago, it's now just entering its twelfth season. So, while this new season is being billed as the series finale, we've heard this before. It's only final until Larry decides to come back.</div><div><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Start Date: February 2024</span></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">11. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZwKcSlhbu4">Squid Game</a> - Netflix</span></span><div><br /><img alt="squid game 2 sequel netflix 2024 most anticipated tv shows" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/kIUj8iZ.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>Well, it has to be on here somewhere. <b>Netflix</b>'s biggest ever series, <b>Squid Game</b> is confirmed to be coming back for a sequel. </div><div><br /></div><div>Squid Game is, of course, the crown jewel of westernised South Korean culture. A series about desperate people engaging in a series of games where the prize for winning is a life changing amount of money, and the penalty for losing is death. The social commentary is incisive enough, but it's the panache with which it is told that most elevates Squid Game from just another exploitation story to something truly global.</div><div><br /></div><div>In fact, the only reason this is as low as it is on this list is because of how doubtful it is to evene release in 2024. No release date has yet been announced, but with the teaser dropping over a year ago at this point, there is every hope that it may be finished in the not too distant future. Absolutely nothing is known about this series for now, but it's safe to say that when it finally drops, it will be big. </div><div><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Start Date: TBD 2024</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">10. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIn-D8FVvwA">Death and Other Details</a> - Hulu </span></span><span style="color: #e06666; font-weight: 700;">(New TV Show)</span><br /><br /><img alt="death and other details mandy patinkin hulu 2024 most anticipated tv shows" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/mtZrdd1.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div><b>Hulu</b>'s new series, <b>Death and Other Details</b> is a delightfully schlocky murder mystery crafted in the same vein as the likes of Only Murders in the Building and Knives Out.</div><div><br /></div><div>Set on a luxury cruise, amid the glamour of the global elite. <b>Mandy Patinkin</b> plays a curmudgeonly but brilliant detective tasked with solving this locked-door murder mystery, when the only suspect, played by <b>Violett Beane</b>, protests her innocence.</div><div><br /></div><div>An homage to Agatha Christie, this series should be a good, fun time when it releases later this month.</div><div><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Start Date: January 2024</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">9. Severance - AppleTV+</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><br />
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<img alt="2024 most anticipated tv severance apple appletv plus season 2" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/ov7yiyd.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /><div>The original content coming out of <b>AppleTV+</b> has been remarkable in recent years, propelling them almost instantly to the top tier of streaming networks. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Severance</b> was a real surprise package in 2022, a quirky, humorous, pitch black satire of corporate exploitation. Anchored by strong performances and whip-smart writing, the first season ended on the mother of all cliffhangers, making a follow up not only essential, but a mere formality with the success of its debut. </div><div><br /></div><div>Initially due for release in 2023, season 2 was ultimately delayed by the strikes. With production now resumed, filming has wrapped and we are expecting a release some time in 2024.</div></div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Start Date: TBA 2024</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">8. The Way </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">- </span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">BBC </span><span style="color: #e06666; font-weight: 700;">(New TV Show)</span></div><div style="color: black;"><br /><span style="border-image: initial;"><img alt="the way bbc james graham michael sheen 2024 most anticipated tv" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/7VJzLVC.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></span></div><div style="color: black;">Next we have a tasty new <b>BBC </b>political drama, <b>The Way</b>. </div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;">Penned by <b>James Graham</b>, perhaps Britain's best political playwright. With a cast that features <b>Michael Sheen</b>, <b>Paul Rhys</b>, <b>Luke Evans</b> and <b>Callum Scott Howells</b>, The Way focuses on a family caught in the middle of a civil uprising in an industrial town.</div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;">Said to be darkly humorous in its depiction. There is no doubt that, with a writer of this calibre, The Way will be something very much worth watching when it releases later in 2024.</div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Start Date: TBA 2024</span></span></span></div><div>
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<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">7. Manhunt - AppleTV+ </span></span><span style="color: #e06666; font-weight: 700;">(New TV Show)</span><br /><br /><img alt="manhunt lincoln tobias menzies apple best tv show television 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/NoeH4nC.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" title="" /></div><div><b>AppleTV+</b>'s latest series, <b>Manhunt</b>, is a historical drama based on the James L. Swanson novel, Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer.</div><div><br /></div><div>Set after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Manhunt focuses on his friend and Cabinet member Edwin Stanton. A desperate manhunt ensues for the assassin, John Wilkes Booth, which gradually takes its toll on Stanton's mental health. </div><div><br /></div><div>The cast features <b>Tobias Menzies</b>, <b>Anthony Boyle</b> and <b>Patton Oswalt</b>, with creatives who have previously worked on genre shows such as Fargo, Mindhunter and Dahmer. It's clear this series is in the best of hands, and I can't wait to see it when it releases in March.</div><div><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Start Date: March 2024</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">6. Disclaimer - AppleTV+ </span></span><span style="color: #e06666; font-weight: 700;">(New TV Show)</span></div><br /><img alt="disclaimer apple appletv plus most anticipated tv 2024 alfonso cuaron cate blanchett kevin kline sacha baron cohen" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/I6WSQEo.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /><div><div>A new thriller and the latest addition to <b>AppleTV+</b>'s increasingly impressive line up of original content, <b>Disclaimer</b> is based on the 2015 novel of the same name by <b>Renée Knight</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>The story follows Catherine Ravenscroft, played here by the great <b>Cate Blanchett</b>, a famed TV journalist who discovers that she is a prominent character in a novel that reveals a secret she has long tried to keep hidden. Blanchett is joined by an impressive cast that includes <b>Kevin Kline</b>, <b>Lesley Manville</b>, <b>Sacha Baron Cohen</b> in his latest dramatic turn, and <b>HoYeon Jung</b> in her first major role since her breakout performance in <i>Squid Game</i>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Perhaps most exciting is the attachment of <b>Alfonso Cuarón</b>, the Academy Award winning director of <i>Gravity</i>, <i>Roma</i>, <i>Children of Men</i>, and, surprisingly, <i>Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban</i> as showrunner.</div><div><br /></div><div>Release date is still TBD, but expected for release in 2024. </div></div><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Start Date: TBD 2024</span><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kQ8i2FpRDk">Fallout</a> - Amazon </span></span><span style="color: #e06666; font-weight: 700;">(New TV Show)</span><br />
<br />
<img alt="fallout game videogame bethesda walton goggins jonathan nolan 2024 most anticipated tv" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/PihSMAh.jpeg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div><div>Yes, this is really happening. <b>Amazon</b> have ordered a TV series based on the celebrated videogame franchise <b>Fallout</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>For those not in the know, Fallout is a series of mostly RPG videogames, set in a post-apocalyptic world heavily stylised by the retrofuturism of midcentury America. It's a largely lighthearted affair that plays as a clever satire of post-war American exceptionalism and the unbridled optimism of the atomic age. It also happens to be one of my favourite series.</div><div><br /></div><div>Quite how they turn this into a TV show, I am not sure. Getting the balance right for a witty comedy-adventure set in a nuclear wasteland will be tricky enough, but such a significant part of the Fallout series lies in player choice and autonomy, that I really wonder how well it will translate to a non-interactive format. </div><div><br /></div><div>That said, Fallout has some solid creative talent behind it, with <b>Lisa Joy</b> (<i>Pushing Daisies</i>)<i> </i>and <b>Jonathan Nolan</b> (<i>Person of Interest</i>, as well as co-writer on his brother's films <i>The Dark Knight</i> and <i>Interstellar</i>) attached as showrunners. This, combined with the good track record that Amazon has with sci-fi and other high concept works, has me cautiously optimistic for now.</div></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Start Date: April 2024</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA-1JCRguZ0">Masters of the Air</a> - AppleTV+ </span></span><span style="color: #e06666; font-weight: 700;">(New TV Show)</span><br /><br /><img alt="masters of the air apple appletv plus tom hanks spielberg austin butler 2024 most anticipated tv" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/ClnduJs.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /><div><b>Cary Fukunaga</b>, a director best known for <i>True Detective</i>, <i>The Alienist</i>, and the most recent Bond film <i>No Time To Die</i>, brings us this new war drama, courtesy of <b>AppleTV+</b>.</div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><b>Masters of the Air</b> tells the true story of the Eighth Air Force of the United States during World War II, backed by the production companies behind <i>Band of Brothers</i> and <i>The Pacific</i>, headed by none other than <b>Steven Spielberg</b>.</div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>With the talent involved, this could well end up being one of Apple's flagship dramas in 2024. Initially slated for a 2023 release, Masters of the Air is one of many productions delayed by last year's strikes. It will finally see release this month.</span></div></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Start Date: January 2024</span></span></span></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><div><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">3. The Bear</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> - </span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">Hulu </span></div><div><br /><img alt="2024 most anticipated tv the bear season 3 hulu" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/cU3bgxq.jpeg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>Arguably the best show on TV right now. Fresh off its historic Debbie Award win, <b>The Bear</b> is returning for a third season in 2024.</div><div><br /></div><div>For those not acquainted, The Bear focuses on a formerly up and coming young chef, suffering from burnout, who takes over his deceased brother's run-down sandwich shop in downtown Chicago. A drama with elements of comedy, filmed in a realistic, diegetic style that allows the directors to dial up the intensity when needed. The Bear is a magnificent roller coaster of a series that can both stress and delight when needed, making its moments of relief all the more cathartic.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Bear's new season is said to be in the later stages of production, with filming expected to wrap by the springtime, targeting a June release.<br /><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Start Date: June 2024</span></div></div><div>
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<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. </span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">Stranger Things - Netflix</span><div><br /><img alt="stranger things season 5 netflix new most anticipated tv 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/5jWL7QV.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>All good things come to an end. This is the final chapter in what has to be one of the decades defining TV series, <b>Stranger Things</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>For many, this is the series that put <b>Netflix</b>'s original content department on the map. A glorious homage to the horror and adventure films of the 1980s, which expertly manages to balance its frights with humour, all presented with impeccable style. Stranger Things is a nostalgia trip for anyone who grew up in the 1980s or 1990s, but it is also so much more than that.</div><div><br /></div><div>So what do <b>the Duffer Brothers</b> have in store for this final series? They are understandably playing their cards close to their chest, but it is safe to say that ST5 will build towards a final, climactic battle with Vecna, revealed in season 4 to be the mastermind behind all the spooky shenanigans that have plagued Hawkins over the years. It's a shame that Stranger Things has to end, but at least its creators will get to end things on their own terms.</div><div><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Start Date: Late 2024</span></div></div><div>
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<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. </span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lj99Uz1d50">3 Body Problem</a> - Netflix </span><span style="color: #e06666; font-weight: 700;">(New TV Show)</span><div><br /><img alt="three body problem netflix liu cixin new most anticipated tv 2024" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/Uxey1yi.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>And finally, our top pick for 2024 goes to another long-gestating project. The oft-tipped, highly anticipated, eye-wateringly expensive adaptation of <b>Liu Cixin</b>'s award winning series of novels, Death's End. This series takes its name from the first book in that series, <b>3 Body Problem</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Put simply, the novel is a masterpiece of science fiction. A deeply intelligent series that draws on mankind's history and contemporary society to depict a hypothetical first contact scenario. Everything about the novel is sublime, from its clever real-world allusions to the tantalisingly slow-paced drip-feed of revelations as we learn more of its central mystery, and its rigid adherence to hard-science and the constraints that puts on many of our most common sci-fi tropes.</div><div><br /></div><div>After a protracted bidding war (at one point Amazon were allegedly willing to drop $1billion on it), the series has ended up at <b>Netflix</b>, with a cast that includes <b>Benedict Wong</b>, <b>John Bradley</b>, <b>Liam Cunningham</b>, <b>Jonathan Pryce</b>. </div><div><br /></div><div>The one thing that gives me pause is the involvement of <i>Game of Thrones</i> showrunners Benioff & Weiss (some may see this as a good thing). In my view one of the worst scourges of current sci-fi/fantasy TV is the tendency for producers to try and "Game of Thrones-ify" their series. The recent Star Trek series are a great example, Apple's Foundation as well (albeit to a lesser extent). I really hope that doesn't happen here.</div><div><br /></div><div>After many delays, most recently with the strikes, 3 Body Problem will finally release in March. If they manage to do the novel series justice, then it could well be a landmark series. Fingers crossed.<br /><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Start Date: March 2024</span></div>
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So there you have it folks: 2024 in television. Tune in next week for the essential <strong>new videogames </strong>of the year!<br />
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<br /></div></div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-6888796019688587652023-12-29T16:27:00.000+00:002023-12-29T16:27:41.018+00:00The Debbie Awards 2023<link href="https://i.imgur.com/ntOpB7I.png" rel="image_src"></link>
<img alt="debbie debbies end of year awards 2023 best films music" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/ntOpB7I.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); display: block; height: 270px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 350px;" /><br /><div>It's that time of year again. The bubbly is uncorked, the salad forks chilled. The tables are set for an evening of debaucherous hedonism. Break out your finest evening wear and your dancing shoes, because tonight we are all going to the big show with VIP tickets. It's the Debbie Awards, the traditional end of year showstopper that celebrates the good, the bad, and the downright dazzling of the year gone by. </div><div><br /></div><div>As 2023 draws to a close, it stands out as a year marked by significant global transformation and resilience. The world saw substantial progress in the fight against climate change, with unprecedented international agreements taking bold steps towards sustainability. Technological advancements continued at a rapid pace, particularly in the fields of AI and renewable energy, leading to innovative solutions to long-standing challenges. </div><div><br /></div><div>On the cultural front, 2023 witnessed something of a content overload as the world continues to play catch up on all the delayed projects of the last three years. Music, theatre, film and videogames. Increasingly it's a challenge (but a good one) to keep up with everything. This means there is never any shortage of new culture, but it is not for the FOMO of heart. Despite its challenges, 2023 was a testament to human adaptability and the enduring spirit of cooperation in shaping a more hopeful future<br />
<br />Without further ado, let the curtain fall upon 2023 as we begin our definitive review of the past 12 months:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff6600;">2023 Debbie Awards</span></b></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cinema & TV</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">1. The Debbie for <span style="font-weight: bold;">TV Show of the Year </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: The Bear (Hulu)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">Runner Up: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount+)</span><br />
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<b><br /></b><b><br /></b>At a time when there exists more numerous premium streaming networks than hours in the day, it's only natural that occasionally, just occasionally, you will miss something good. I have to hold my hands up and say that <b>The Bear</b>'s first season was that something for me. Well this year, with season 2, I made no mistake. The Bear is a tour de force of television. A raw look into the food industry, as capable of delivering tender character moments as it is scenes of stomach-churning intensity. The sixth episode of the season, Fishes, might just be the best episode of a television series I've seen this decade, and it's followed up by Forks, another episode that could well compete for that title. If you have not yet watched The Bear, do yourself a favour and do so now.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm definitely going to get some stick for this runner up prize. But you know what, I'm owning it. <b>Star Trek: Strange New Worlds</b>' second season is not just fantastic Star Trek, it's fantastic television. It shows that the production team at Paramount have finally struck the right blend between drama and levity, but also that they are having fun in the process. This season features a number of bold creative decisions, including a crossover episode with an animated TV series that might just be the funniest episode in the franchise's history, and a fully musical episode that has to be seen to be believed.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">2. The Debbie for <b>New TV Show</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"> of the Year </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: The Last of Us (HBO)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">Runner Up: Daisy Jones & the Six (Amazon)</span><br />
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<br />An increasingly competitive field, with an absolutely astronomical number of high quality new series released each year (hard luck on narrowly missing out, Scott Pilgrim). But this year's standout is a series that was named by many critics to be amongst the best of all TV series this year, <b>The Last of Us</b>. I'll admit I was caught off guard by this one. Videogame adaptations generally don't have the best of track records, and I wasn't a big fan of the source game in the first place. The Last of Us succeeds where others have failed by keeping the focus on the narrative substance of its source material, trying to find ways to make it accessible to new audiences, rather than lazily attempting to pander to fans of the game. The result is a masterful example of character-focused storytelling that manages to find the human element amid all the horror. Also, forget what I said above for The Bear. Episode 3, Long, Long Time might just be the best television episode of the decade.<br />
<br />Runner up goes to <b>Daisy Jones & the Six</b>, the adaptation of the wonderful novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid. It was always going to be challenging to make a one to one adaptation from a novel notable for its non-conventional narrative format. The result is a much more traditional form of storytelling, but one which still manages to capture the essence of the text; the frictional genius, the price of stardom, the interplay between art and life. That it manages to do so with a suitably catchy original soundtrack only sweetens the deal - you won't quite believe that these are the timeless hits they claim to be, but they're good enough that within the fiction you could believe. <br />
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<span style="color: #3366ff;">3. The Debbie for </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">Film of the Year </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: Maestro</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">Runner Up: The Holdovers</span><br />
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<br />I have to say, Bradley Cooper is a far better actor than I ever gave him credit. His performance in <b>Maestro</b> is nothing short of magnificent, such a total embodiment of composer Leonard Bernstein that at times you can scarcely believe it's actually Cooper on screen. His talents are equally matched by his co-star Carey Mulligan, one of the finest actresses of her generation, and a potential Oscar contender (albeit in a crowded field). Cooper may also be a better filmmaker than an actor. If his debut picture, 2018's remake of <i>A Star is Born</i>, hinted at his potential talent, his second film absolutely confirms it. Maestro is an impeccably produced visual treat with some of the most gorgeous cinematography I've seen in years. </div><div><div><br /></div><div>Coming in second this year is a film that seems to have flown under the radar for many. <b>The Holdovers</b> is the latest film from Oscar winning director Alexander Payne. Set against the backdrop of an American boarding school, Paul Giamatti plays a curmudgeonly teacher tasked with watching over the students who have nowhere to go during the holiday season. A heart-warming and poignant blend of humour with deep emotional resonance, the film skilfully balances its lighter, comedic moments with its more reflective, introspective beats, creating a narrative that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #3366ff;">4. The Debbie for </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">Variety Show Host of the Year </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: </span></span><span style="color: #3366ff;"><b>Hannah Waddingham</b></span><br />
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<br />Alright, we're giving this to <b>Hannah Waddingham</b>. Let's face it, it's Hannah's year. In 2023 the Ted Lasso and Game of Thrones star shot to "national treasure" status and has been the go-to option for charming British hosts, heading up a variety of events and specials, most notably Eurovision and her own Christmas special Home for Christmas. She's a talented actress, funny, great singer, and naturally charming. Let's hope to see more of this in 2024.<br />
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<span style="color: #3366ff;">5. The Debbie for </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">Rising Star of the Year </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: Jack Wolfe</span></span><br />
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<br />Always a tricky contest to award, not least of all because by the time the year comes to a close, most of those rising stars will have risen and no longer be a prospect of the future. This year's prize goes to a young actor who has been making a lot of noise in London musical theatre, <b>Jack Wolfe</b>. 2023 has turned out to be a breakout year for the actor, earning wide acclaim and awards recognition for his role in the Pulitzer prize winning musical, Next to Normal, which is making a West End transfer next year. This year also saw Wolfe take his first starring role in the successful Netflix series Shadow and Bone. Whether it's in theatre, television, or film, there's a lot of hype about this young man and a sense that he could catch fire in the next couple of years.<br />
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<span style="color: #3366ff;">6. The Debbie for </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">Web-Show of the Year </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: Did You Know Gaming?</span></span><br />
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<br />If you're a fan of gaming and the Internet, chances are you will have come across this blog and web series. <b>Did You Know Gaming</b> has been around forever, enlightening audiences with geeky game facts and trivia. Until now it's just been one of those bits of institutional Internet fun, the kind of thing that will get bounced around social media without much thought paid. The last year has seen something of a reinvention, a shift towards far more substantial investigative work, with serious research, in depth interviews, and some truly major scoops. </div><div><br /></div><div>No longer just obscure and quirky trivia, but uncovering lost and cancelled games, never before seen footage, including from some major franchises including Sonic the Hedgehog and the Legend of Zelda. As a perennially online geek myself, I thought I had heard everything, but some of the content they have been putting out this year has been truly eye opening.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Music, Art & Theatre</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">7. The Debbie for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Theatrical Production of the Year </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner:</span></span><span style="color: #3366ff;"><b> Patriots (Noel Coward Theatre)</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #3366ff;">Runner Up: Next To Normal (Donmar Warehouse)<br /></span>
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<br />2023 has, quietly, been one of the better years in theatre that I can remember. I can only apologise that there are a number of excellent productions that will not make this list, and even among the two I have named here, it's so close that the difference comes down to almost a coin flip. Either one of these productions would have been a worthy winner in another year. But ultimately, I have decided to give top prize to <b>Patriots</b>, the latest production from legendary writer Peter Morgan. Patriots unwinds the messy story of Russia's fall from communism, the rise of the oligarchs and, in particular, the conflict between Vladimir Putin and Boris Berezovsky. This is such a complicated, convoluted series of events, but one that is so pivotal to understanding modern geopolitics and so much of the military and political conflicts in the world today. That they were able to take this story and make it so accessible and entertaining, is really something of a miracle. Patriots is not just excellent theatre, it's essential.</div><div><br /></div><div>Despite my fervent praise for Patriots, on another day I may easily have gone with <b>Next to Normal</b> instead. That this is only the eighth musical in history to win the prestigious Pulitzer prize should give you some idea of its substance. I'll not say too much, as it is best to go into this one completely blind, but suffice it to say this production plumbs some very deep and dark places, boldly addressing the topics of mental health and treatment. Yet, it does so in a way that is strangely energizing, owing much to its tight scripting, catchy music and some dazzling performances. Next to Normal is transferring to the West End in 2024. If you haven't yet seen it, make sure that you do.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">8. The Debbie for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Album of the Year </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: Javelin - Sufjan Stevens</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">Runners Up: For That Beautiful Feeling - The Chemical Brothers, Fantasy - M83</span><br />
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<br />Folk musician <b>Sufjan Stevens</b> has a particular sound that he does well, and on his latest album <b>Javelin</b>, he does it spectacularly well. This is an album of crystalline, perfectly composed tracks that lean heavily into his intimate, singer-songwriter stylings, but with a level of multi-instrumental polish in the production that belies the artist's increasing confidence and technical adroitness. This is, perhaps, best accomplished in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoFJbrNkyBw">a Running Start</a>, a song of singular longing that starts off sounding like a sweet, sunny composition of late sixties folk pop, before bursting into a flying instrumental finale. The more on-the-nose-edly titled <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLeCIRC4taY">Will Anybody Ever Love Me?</a> is another instant classic slice of pop goodness. But perhaps the standout here comes in the 8 minute epic, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74uuV-bMcEY">Shit Talk</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>2023 also saw a strong return to form for <b>The Chemical Brothers</b>. The venerable electronic music artists have been making music since before I started listening to music, but latest album <b>For That Beautiful Feeling</b> may rank among their best work, certainly in the last fifteen years. Lead single <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-mGA4V2LK0">The Darkness That You Fear</a> is a hopeful, driving epic, named by this blog as the best track of 2021 and certainly among the best tracks to be released in the 2020s so far. Elsewhere, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqU4g5iJk2Y">Live Again</a> is a mesmerising, irresistibly danceable rave of a track. Spectacular album.<br />
<br />And in third place, the latest adventure from French synth-pop outfit <b>M83</b>, <b>Fantasy</b>. While it may not reach the heights, overall, of the band's finest work, Fantasy nevertheless presents a collection of fantastic individual tracks that bely the group's mastery of their craft. The soaring <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyaO0zgBxa8">Earth To Sea</a> is probably the pick of the tracks, but together with lead singles <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryFV9dORPPw">Oceans Niagara</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zNqhzl2Qv0">Amnesia</a> they form one of the most compelling opening salvos of any album. This is music you want to just dive into and swim.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">9. The Debbie for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Debut Album of the Year </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: the record - boygenius</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #3366ff;">Runner Up: A Producer from Vienna - Filous</span><br />
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<br />2023 has also been a very strong year for new musical artists. This year's winner, <b>boygenius</b> is an artist whose debut album <b>the record</b> has been named by many critics as among the year's very best from all artists, old and new. Having previously burst onto the scene in 2018 with their eponymous EP, this first full length LP has been coming for a while, and it's safe to say it did not disappoint. A raw, confessional style album that weaves the unique voices of the band's three creatives, Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker into a cohesive vision. It's a balance of styles: the delicate acoustics of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPuIUFtesYk">Cool About It</a> with the more powerful, resonant moments of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIX_ouNJsTs">Not Strong Enough</a>. But the highlight track has to be <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_lIApYxIIE">True Blue</a>, an introspective, beautiful piece of music. <br />
<br />A similar story for the runner up position. Austrian DJ <b>Filous</b> emerged way back in 2015 with a highly successful EP and has been slowly working his way to a full LP release in the years since. In 2023, this finally came to pass with <b>A Producer from Vienna</b>, a debut album that is as diverse and creative as one would expect from his past work, featuring collaborations with an array of elite artistic talents, including the Kooks with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFMaokRBFhc">Hey Love</a>, and Daoi Freyr with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-4p6kB5WVE">Sabada</a>. A strong and confident debut piece of work. I look forward to seeing what comes next.</div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">10. The Debbie for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Song of the Year </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: Earth to Sea - M83</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">Runners Up: Sightseer - Nation of Language, Running Start - Sufjan Stevens</span><br />
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<br />A competitive year for music then, even more so when it comes to specific tracks. For this year's top prize, however, there was one clear standout. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyaO0zgBxa8"><b>Earth To Sea</b></a> is the stand out track from <b>M83</b>'s new<b> </b>album, Fantasy. An absolutely blazing anthem that drips with the nostalgia of 1980s Hollywood, evoking a sense of adventure and, well, Fantasy.</div><div>
<br />Our first runner up is <b>Nation of Language</b> with the highlight track of their 2023 album Strange Disciple, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShyrscJySK0"><b>Sightseer</b></a>. A rich and layered blending of nostalgic 1980s synth-pop with modern indie sensibilities, Sightseer epitomizes the signature sound of NoL. Something timeless, mesmerising and quite special.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, third place goes to my pick of <b>Sufjan Stevens</b>' Debbie Award winning album Javelin, <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoFJbrNkyBw">Running Start</a></b>. This is classic Sufjan: sparse, intimate acoustic notes with lyrics that only get better the more closely you read them, building towards a bold and stunning breakdown in the final third of the track that sweeps you off your feet. Possibly one of the best songs he's ever written.</div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">11. The Debbie for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Live Concert of the Year </span></span><br style="color: black;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner:</span></span><span style="color: #3366ff;"><b> Stars</b></span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><img alt="stars best live performance concert 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/967NBKW.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); color: black; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">We're going full dad-rock for this year's live performance prize. Canadian indie rockers <b>Stars</b> are a seminal group for the angsty teens of the early 2000s, but unlike many artists of that ilk, their work holds up, with classic tracks including <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5Or6-HOveg">Your Ex-Lover is Dead</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFhcBWVaoO8">Take Me to the Riot</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuaWQIbCLJE">Dead Hearts</a></span><span style="color: black;">. The band have lost none of their edge over the years and this year's tour, in particular, was just an overflow of fun, with special guests, fun anecdotes, an amusing bait and switch, and great music. Just an overall fantastic night out.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">12. The Debbie for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Art Exhibition of the Year </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner:</span></span><span style="color: #3366ff;"><b> Hallyu! The Korean Wave - V&A</b></span><br />
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<br />The <b>V&A</b> in London has put on some excellent exhibitions in the last few years, celebrating disparate cultures, pop movements and specific artists in memorable fashion. Their 2023 headline was <b>Hallyu!</b> a deep dive into South Korean culture that has increasingly taken the western world by storm with the prevalence of K-pop, K-drama, and global smash hits such as Squid Game and Gangnam Style. All this and more is represented in this vibrant and colourful exhibition, well worth an afternoon in South Kensington.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">13. The Debbie for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Book of the Year </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner:</span></span><span style="color: #3366ff;"><b> The Wager - David Grann</b></span><br />
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<br /><div><div><b>The Wager</b> is historical non-fiction, telling the true story of the HMS Wager, which shipwrecked in 1781. Several months later, a group of survivors return to Britain to be greeted as heroes. A further six months on, a second group of survivors return, accusing the first of mutiny and murder. <b>David Grann</b>, author of Killers of the Flower Moon, has pulled off something remarkable here. Taking us step by step through the ill-fated voyage, from its conception and preparation, to the first weeks of the mission, the ensuing shipwreck and establishment of a makeshift settlement. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am not a big non-fiction reader, but then I never imagined that non-fiction could be as gripping or as exciting as The Wager. The attention to detail, the psychological insight, the historical context. It's all impeccable and really brings the reader into the story. For a non-fiction novel to have characters who are so vivid and well-explored, a setting and narrative that is so immersive, is truly impressive. </div></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Business & Technology</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">14. The Debbie for<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Scientific/Technological Breakthrough of the Year </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: Alzheimer's Immunotherapy</span></span><div>
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<br /></div><div>2023 saw significant breakthroughs in<b> Alzheimer's immunotherapy</b> bringing renewed hope to what was once seen as a uncompromising and irreversible illness. This year's developments increased our understanding of the role of the immune system in Alzheimer's pathology, leading to the development of innovative immunotherapies. </div><div><br /></div><div>These treatments, aimed at targeting the underlying causes of Alzheimer's, showed promise in clinical trials by reducing amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain, key hallmarks of the disease. The year may mark a turning point, demonstrating efficacy in halting cognitive decline. While more research is needed, the 2023 breakthroughs offered a ray of optimism for hopes that this could one day become a fully treatable condition.<br />
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<span style="color: #3366ff;">15. The Debbie for </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">Videogame Console of the Year</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: Nintendo Switch</span></span><br />
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<br />This year saw a bit of a quiet period in terms of new videogame systems, with the latest generation now in full flow, and the next at least a few years away from reveal. Despite this, the <b>Nintendo Switch</b> pulled out a few new tricks that make it worthy of praise. </div><div><br /></div><div>Firstly, this year saw the release of the Nintendo Switch Online service, essentially the "virtual console" of this generation. Among the various online and multiplayer focused services, NSO also offers access to a staggeringly large library of classic games from generations gone by, including the Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, and even non-Nintendo systems like the Sega Megadrive. This makes it immediately one of the best gaming libraries accessible anywhere. </div><div><br /></div><div>The second feather in the Switch's cap comes from its support of indie game developers. Between a streamlined dev kit, more favourable online shop policies, and regular official showcases, there isn't a better system for small developers looking to break into the industry.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">16. </span><span style="color: #3366ff;">The Debbie for </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">Videogame of the Year </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">Runners Up: Alan Wake 2 (PC, Xbox, Playstation), A Highland Song (PC, MacOS, Switch)</span></div><div><span style="color: #3366ff;">Honourable Mention: Starfield (PC, Xbox)<br /></span>
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<br />First let me preface: 2023 was an absurd year for gaming. One of the best single years I can ever recall, in terms of releases. This was the year that all the delayed and postponed games of 2020, 2021 and 2022 finally saw release. The result is a year that was so ridiculously stocked with significant games, that barely a week went by without some major release. So before I announce this year's winners, I would like to give a shout out to all the incredible games that, in another year, would surely have made the podium or even taken the top prize. Games such as Baldur's Gate III, Octopath Traveler II, Hogwarts Legacy, Seasons, Final Fantasy XVI, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, The Pale Beyond, Oxenfree 2, and Spider-Man 2. Just listing those out really hits home at how remarkable this year was for gaming.</div><div><br /></div><div>With that said, let's get to this year's winner. Even with the incredible array of titles released in 2023, one game still managed to stand out for me. <b>The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom</b> represents one of gaming's great developers at their absolute pinnacle. A title which takes the formula of a game widely considered one of the greatest of all time, and makes it even better, even more brilliant. It's a title that puts barely a foot wrong anywhere, a landmark title against which all open world games should be measured.</div><div><br /></div><div>As for a runner up, this was a tricky one - and again to all those I mentioned in the first paragraph, I really feel for you, you were all very worthy of a mention here. Ultimately, I award second place to <b>Alan Wake 2</b>. The first game in this series, released some thirteen years ago following a notoriously difficult and protracted development, was a flawed, but brilliant psychological horror game that stood out most for its (at the time) revolutionary blending of multimedia formats: film, 3d graphics, literature, and its presentation which blurred the lines between all three. While a direct sequel has taken a fittingly long time to arrive, developers Remedy have spent the years building on this talent with their other titles, most recently 2019's <i>Control</i>, and with each release they just get better and better at it. The result is another masterful horror game, with impeccable presentation, brilliantly bonkers creativity, and some of the best atmosphere I have ever seen created in a game.</div><div><br /></div><div>For third place, <b>A Highland Song</b>. In contrast to the other, more prominent releases here, A Highland Song is the latest title from indie developer Inkle. A title of deceptive simplicity that reminds us that clever game design does not necessarily require a big team or budget. A beautiful and evocative title that puts players in the shoes of Moira McKinnon, a young girl running away from home to see her uncle at his lighthouse on the coast. Players navigate Moira through a series of highland vistas, stunningly rendered in watercolour style, in a game focused on exploration and (minimal) puzzle solving. This title is an absolute treat for the senses, but while the surface quality may dazzle initially, what ultimately shines from this game is the clever design. This is a title built with replayability in mind. Each subsequent playthrough allows you to keep all of the items and maps that you have found, meaning that you are constantly finding new routes, new stories. Gradually you will find that you do, in fact, learn these hills like the back of your hand. It's a sublime example of exploration gameplay at its best and most organic.</div><div><br /></div><div>And because I still haven't spent enough time talking about videogames, I want to make one special shout out for Bethesda's new RPG <b>Starfield</b>. There are few treats in gaming that compare to a new Bethesda open-world RPG, and while Starfield is clearly a flawed title, it still contains that trademark magic. For all its problems, this is ultimately the game that I spent the most time playing in 2023, and a title that will continue to get better and better through expansions and modding. That merits a special mention, even if its flaws out of the box are too noticeable for me to reasonably give it a top three position.</div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">17. The Debbie for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Company of the Year</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: Ambr</span></span></div><div>
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<br />For me, well-being and mental health could well be the new killer app. This is, or should be at the forefront of all good companies' thinking in 2024 and I can see it becoming a massive area for new business. One such business to emerge in 2023 is <b>Ambr</b>, a new app that empowers individuals to take control of their mental health through daily mindfulness and meditation practices. What sets Ambr apart is its personalized approach, tailoring meditation recommendations based on user feedback and progress. With its soothing visuals, calming sounds, and a library of resources to enhance mental resilience, Ambr serves as a valuable companion on the journey to inner peace and mindfulness in the digital age.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sports</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #3366ff;">18. The Debbie for </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">Footballer of the Year </span><br />
<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">Winner: Erling Haaland - Manchester City</span><br />
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<br />This was not a difficult prize to award. <b>Erling Haaland</b> is the best player in the world right now, and he has had the standout season to boot, scoring a record 36 goals in his debut Premier League season whilst winning a historic first ever treble for Manchester City. It's difficult to draw conclusions so early in a player's career, but right now there is no indication that Haaland is going to slow down. Still just 23 years old, it seems pretty likely that Haaland will be a player that dominates world football for the foreseeable future.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #3366ff;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">19. The Debbie for <b>Under-21</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Footballer of the Year </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: Jude Bellingham - Real Madrid</span></span><br />
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<br />But Haaland won't be alone in the footballing firmament of the 2020s and 2030s, and one player who might well be joining him is <b>Jude Bellingham</b>, this summer's new signing for Real Madrid. Bellingham is a player who has drawn a considerable amount of hype over the past few years, despite having only just turned 20. But few could have imagined the instant impact he would have at Madrid, with 17 goals scored in his first 21 games. It's an astonishing outlay for any midfield player, much less one so young arriving at such a massive football club. Bellingham is the real deal and is likely to be a star for years to come.</div><div>
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<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">20. The Debbie for <b>Football Manager</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"> of the Year </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: Unai Emery - Aston Villa</span></span><br />
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<br />In a year where the managers at more prominent clubs either lived up to lofty expectations or, in some cases, failed spectacularly to do so, there are a few names from the less expected clubs that manage to stand out. Aston Villa manager <b>Unai Emery</b> is perhaps the manager who has most seen his stock rise in 2023. Little was expected of the man who flopped at Arsenal, taking over a club near the bottom of the Premier League table, but his transformation has been instantaneous. </div><div><br /></div><div>Since joining at the tail end of last season, Emery's side rose from the foot of the table to Europa League qualification. This season has been even more remarkable. Half-way through the season and Aston Villa find themselves in third place, just one point off the top spot. That they are contenders for the top four seems obvious now, but at this point you'd have to consider them also potential title challengers.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">21. The Debbie for <b>Football Club</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"> of the Year </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: Manchester City</span></span><br />
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<br />It is difficult to award this prize to anyone other than <b>Manchester City</b> in a year where they have achieved that rarest and most highly acclaimed of feats, the treble. Last season saw the Citizens win the Premier League title, FA Cup and the Champions League. It would be easy to dismiss this as simply a par performance from a club with near limitless finances. But as other clubs have proven, there is much more to success than just spending money. You need to spend it in the right way and City have consistently done so. It's not just about signing the right players, it's about putting in place the right infrastructure, facilities, youth set up, coaching. Manchester City have done it all right, and this, not just the money, is the reason why they are the best football team on the planet right now.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Current Events</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #3366ff;">22. The Debbie for </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">Politician of the Year </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: Hakeem Jeffries</span></span><br />
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<br /><br /></div><div>For a moment I considered going a bit farther afield for this prize this year. I could have mentioned Olaf Scholz, navigating his way through perhaps the trickiest political circumstances in Europe, or Albanese's popularity in Australia, or Kishida's resurgent Japan. But in 2023, I truly think <b>Hakeem Jeffries</b> needs commendation for his leadership of the Democratic minority in the House of Representatives. </div><div><br /></div><div>Not only did Jeffries lead his party to a historic overperformance in the 2022 midterms, but under his leadership the party has continued to overperform in the off-year elections in spite of an incumbent President with mixed popularity. Add to this his ability to operate and maintain the dignity of his caucus amid the unprecedented chaos of the House Republican leadership, that constantly changing, childishly infighting leadership, and you really have to give him credit. Increasingly likely to take the gavel after next year's elections, Jeffries' reputation has seen quite the rise over the past 12 months.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #3366ff;">23. The Debbie for </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">Scandal of the Year </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: The criminal prosecution of Donald Trump</span></span><br />
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<br />It couldn't really be anything other than this, could it? A President of the United States had never been criminally indicted prior to 2023. Now it has happened 91 times. In the past year, <b>Trump has been criminally indicted</b> for multiple counts of financial fraud in New York, electoral fraud in Georgia, and Federally for stealing and hiding classified documents and for conspiring to rig an election. </div><div><br /></div><div>I feel like we've become so desensitized to his scandals and obscenities that news like this has a tendency to wash over us. So take a moment to step back and absorb these facts, that the former President of the United States is facing criminal charges for the highest and most serious of crimes, crimes that could see him locked up for the rest of his life. It's going to be a busy few years of these historic criminal trials, the likes of which have never been seen. You thought the last few years were crazy? Buckle up.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #3366ff;">24. The Debbie for <b>Cause</b></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"> of the Year</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: </span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 700;">Responsible Use of AI</span><br />
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<br />The use of <b>Artificial Intelligence</b> has been one of the hot topics of technology for the past several years. Discourse can vary from the sober to the very alarmist and even scaremongering. Now, I am not one of those who fears that AI is going to end the world, or even that it's going to take all our jobs and plunge the world into an era of poverty and servitude. I think it is a tool like any other that will revolutionise how we do things, and reshape our idea of productivity and work for the better. However, what I will agree is vitally important, and what should be the greatest focus of the AI discussion, is how to use this technology responsibly. </div><div><br /></div><div>Deep fakes, revenge porn, political propaganda. This technology is becoming so powerful that it's increasingly difficult to tell the real from fake. Figuring out how to manage this will require a great undertaking. I don't know if it will require regulations or restrictions on the technology (in my opinion, trying to put the genie back in the bottle is futile, someone will find a way around), or a greater education effort to help people understand that they can't necessarily trust what they see any more. I'm not worried about our robot overlords taking over the world, I'm worried about regular shitty people using the technology in a way that detriments others.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #3366ff;">25. The Debbie for </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">Person of the Year </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: Jack Smith</span></span><br />
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<br />Sometimes a great man is not the person who makes a great noise or shakes the world, but merely someone who does great things without fuss. The last several years have not been kind to the rule of law in the United States, or the reputation of the nation's institutions. At every turn, they have failed to bring justice to obvious unlawfulness. As a nation we just assumed that flagrant corruption and criminality in the highest ranks of government couldn't happen here, because our institutions would be too strong, too clever to allow it. That this failed to happen has shaken the national confidence in a profound way that I don't think has been truly appreciated yet. </div><div><br /></div><div>Step up <b>Jack Smith</b>, the right man at the right time. Smith has quietly, diligently and professionally executed his duties as the special prosecutor in charge of the Donald Trump investigations. He has worked without giving in to political pressure from both sides, guided by the very simple notion to uphold the rule of law to the letter. In doing so, he shattered the malaise that had begun to set, the nihilistic view of institutional weakness, of defeatism that we were powerless to right the wrongs in our country. He has proven to us that the institutions still work, and that in this country "right" still matters.</div><div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Social & Lifestyle</span></b><br />
<br /><span style="color: #3366ff;">26. The Debbie for </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">Restaurant of the Year </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: Weisses Rössli</span></span><br />
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<br />I award this year's best restaurant Debbie to the gem of Zurich's culinary scene, <b>Weisses Rössli</b>. In a town where restaurants often veer between very simple traditional fare, and over-the-top extravagance for the Zurcher 1%, Weisses Rössli gets it absolutely right. This is honest, Swiss cuisine, but executed to an outstandingly high level of quality. </div><div><br /></div><div>The food is both beautiful and delicious. Our meal included a coconut pumpkin soup that was among the tastiest things I've eaten all year, a perfectly cooked venison with chestnuts, and a mascarpone mousse for dessert that was almost too pretty to eat. The wine list is also excellent. The Barbera I had was so deep and dark you could sink into it, like being kissed by a decadent velvet sofa. Yeah, I'm going back here, and I need to find where I can get a few bottles of that Barbera.</div><div><br /></div><div><br />
<span style="color: #3366ff;">27. The Debbie for </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">New Restaurant of the Year </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: </span></span><span style="color: #3366ff;"><b>De Juwelier</b></span><br /><br /><img alt="de juwelier amsterdam best new restaurant 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/r1xQzja.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" />
<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The newest venture from Amsterdam's celebrated two Michelin star restaurant Restaurant 212, <b>De Juwelier</b> is an intimate affair, with just a few tables and some bar-seating, but a menu no less ambitious. De Juwelier's thing is using every bit of the animal. Suffice it to say, if you are a vegetarian, this isn't the place for you - having said that, their mushroom soup was delicious. The restaurant's signature dish is a mushroom bone marrow dish served in the bone. While the food may be a touch adventurous for some, it is completely unpretentious, cosy, and absolutely delicious. A real gem on the canals. </div><div>
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<span style="color: #3366ff;">28. The Debbie for </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">Club/Bar of the Year </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: The Bell</span></span><br />
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<br /><br />There's few things as great as a classic English country pub, and <b>The Bell</b> in Langford is as close to the quintessential experience as you will find. A historic building in picturesque Oxfordshire building. Warm, cosy interiors, crackling fireplaces, serene garden seating. The fact that it is home to a highly acclaimed restaurant only sweetens the deal. The Cotswolds are home to some of the finest pubs in the world, but The Bell still manages to stand out as a jewel in the English countryside.<br />
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<span style="color: #3366ff;">29. The Debbie for </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">Destination of the Year</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: Mauritius</span></span><br />
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<br />2023 was a year for far-flung adventure. Swimming with the dolphins, hiking through the rainforests, haggling in the local markets. Or if you're like me, reclining on the beach with ceviche, fresh fruit and a cocktail. <b>Mauritius</b>, set in the heart of the Indian Ocean, is renowned for its breathtaking beaches with crystal-clear turquoise waters, lush, mountainous interiors, and vibrant coral reefs. What sets Mauritius apart is its unique blend of cultures - a fusion of African, Indian, European, and Asian influences - that is reflected in its cuisine, music, and festivals, providing a truly multicultural experience. Additionally, the island has made significant strides in sustainable tourism, ensuring that its natural wonders are preserved for future generations. <br />
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<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">30. The Debbie for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wine of the Year </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: Boeri Barbera d'Asti DOCG Superiore Pörlapà</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #3366ff;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>I've already touched on this within the Weisses Rössli review above, but the <b>Boeri Barbera d'Asti DOCG Superiore Pörlapà</b> is about a gloriously decadent a red wine as you will ever sip. Impossibly deep and dark, velvety smooth, surrounding you like a plush velvet armchair. Senses of leather, oak, and clay of the deepest caves. Calms the soul. Probably cures disease. A truly exceptional wine experience. <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">31. The Debbie for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tipple of the Year </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Winner: Rushen Cottage Sloe Port</span></span></div><div>
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And finally our award for best tipple, we're looking close to home. That's right, the best drink I've had the pleasure to sup in 2023 is the <b>sloe port hand-crafted right here in Rushen Cottage</b>. Sloe is a slow process that takes place over several months. Combining the leftover sloe berries (after making sloe gin) with red wine, sugar and brandy for fortification, results in a delightful port with the smooth taste of a mellow honey. A perfect way to close out an evening, and I still have a few bottles.<br />
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Well there you have it, another year in the books. Here's to 2024 being a year of peace, good health, and further progress. See you there!
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<br /></div></div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-76785789203173222292023-12-18T19:12:00.001+00:002023-12-18T19:17:06.686+00:00The Ephemeric 2023 Book Review<p>The tradition continues. 12 months, 12 books. The year is coming to an end and, don't you worry, The Debbie Awards are coming up. But before we get to that, let's warm up with The Ephemeric's now annual book review, a curated list by your faithful blog-enthusiast of whatever the heck I happened to feel like reading over the past year, old and new.</p><br /><img alt="one book every month year challenge 2021 ephemeric" height="250" src="https://i.imgur.com/Iivzp6r.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); display: block; height: 220px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 350px;" width="400" /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">January - "Really Good, Actually" by Monica Heisey</span></span><div><span style="color: #3366ff;"><b><br /></b></span><div>Starting off with something on the light and relatable side. Really Good, Actually is the debut novel by Monica Heisey, known for her work as a writer on the hit comedy series Schitt's Creek. </div><div><br /></div><div>A novel about break ups, coping and moving on. That about sums it up really. This novel was fine. Not as funny, nor as clever as it tries to be. Most of RGA's 400 pages delve deeper into the neuroses and insecurities of its narrator, but these attempts at coping with pain through wit mostly come off as glib, while there's not enough of an emotional conclusion to really justify this journey. There's little here that's especially insightful or new, but for the right audience I can imagine this being worth a read. </div><div><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">February - "In Ascension" by Martin MacInnes</span></span><br /><br /></div><div>We're not off to the best start here. On paper, Martin MacInnes' new novel In Ascension sounds like it should be right up my alley. A young deep-sea oceanographer in the Netherlands, whose unique skill-set sees them drafted into an experimental mission to investigate an anomaly in space. </div><div><br /></div><div>On the surface, it has all the makings of some classic speculative fiction in the style of The Abyss, Sphere and the writings of Emily St. John Mandel. The reality is quite different. MacInnes makes the bold choice of relegating this big, book-selling mystery to the background of the piece, focusing instead on the psychology and personal foibles of its characters. This in itself wouldn't be an issue if the characters were more compelling, but they are just so fragile and unstable that it simply doesn't ring true that such people would be chosen to go on such an important and delicate NASA mission. Add to this the unjustifiably glacial pacing, overly poetic language (eg: "Earth, the infinitesimally small star") and the frequent digressions into family history/traumas that adds little to the plot, and this just comes off as an unsatisfying read.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">March - "Victory City" by Salman Rushdie</span></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Now we're talking. Salman Rushdie's latest epic is a vast and ambitious tale of magical realism, following the life and legacy of a grief stricken young girl who is given the power to breathe an entire empire into existence, only to be consumed by it over the centuries.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>The brilliance of Rushdie's work lies in how it captures the complexities of real society through its fantastical allegory. The tangled threads of politics and religion, the irascible nature of the many, and how the tendrils of history can be set by a person's actions. While the mechanics of this world may be far removed from our own, the depth and detail is such that you'll believe it's a real place (the faux non-fiction style helps), and that's pretty remarkable.</span></div><div><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">April - "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Taking a break from new releases to catch up on one I missed from last year. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow was one of the hype novels from 2022, picked by many as the best book of the year. I can see what all the fuss was about.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>This is a story spanning decades in the life of two game developers, their friendship, their creative endeavours, their romances. I went into this expecting some geeky references and a breezy romcom type story, but what's here exceeds that by far. This is multi-layered, superbly characterised, and always fresh, resisting the urge to fall into tropes. There's no drag in this novel, it keeps your attention riveted until the end. I can't recommend it highly enough.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 700;">May - "Biography of X" by Catherine Lacey</span></div><div><span style="color: #3366ff;"><br /></span></div><div>What starts off seeming like a nostalgic throwback to mid century glamour quickly develops into something of far greater ambition. This fictional biography of X, an iconoclastic artist and writer, ends up constructing an elaborate alternate history of the United States, as seen through the lense of its central premise. </div><div><br /></div><div>An absolutely fascinating piece of work that, for the first 75%, serves as a masterclass in worldbuilding, tracing the timeline of this familiar, but radically changed world, and how this affects our society and the cultural zeitgeist across the decades. If anything, it almost gets a bit too lost in its alternate history, under-developing the more personal narrative that runs through the life and career of its leading figure. This ultimately leads to an ending that sputters out to a degree once the (far more compelling) historical exploration run dry. Still an exemplary piece of writing. Thought provoking, clever, and embellished with a delightful attention to detail in its fictional bibliographies, photographs and source documents.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 700;">June - "Cuddy" by Benjamin Myers</span><br /><br /></div><div>Benjamin Myers is one of those writers that you either love or hate. To call him brilliant only tells half the story. Truly there are few authors out there who push the limits of the creative form in the way that he does, and Cuddy is a perfect example of this.</div><div><br /></div><div>Myers' work tends to draw on local folklore and history. When done well (see last year's The Perfect Golden Circle) this can make for a delightful and charming viewpoint of bucolic Britain. Cuddy follows very much in this spirit. A retelling of the story of the hermit St. Cuthbert, unofficial patron saint of the North of England. Told in four distinct parts presenting a variety of viewpoints from different times and societal elements, but crucially all written in a completely different literary format. One part takes the form of an epic poem, another bursts into stream of consciousness. This is unfortunately part of the problem with this piece; different sections will appeal to different readers, and with such little continuity in narrative or style from one part to the next, it can be a challenge to stay engaged. While I generally like Myers' work, I struggled with this one. For me it is just too self-indulgent, too focused on the technical theory behind it, and not enough on what actually makes for a compelling story.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">July - "The Ferryman" by Justin Cronin</span></span><br /><br /></div><div>This one was... almost a delight. Set on a seemingly idyllic island, founded by an elusive genius and isolated from the outside world. The Ferryman owes much to Ray Bradbury, as well as the dystopian science fiction of the 1960s and 1970s. The island's citizenry enjoy long, fulfilling lives until the monitors in their arms detect that their psychological wellbeing drops below 10%, at which point they are ferried to an outside facility, where they are processed, reborn, and return to society fresh, memory wiped, and ready to start a new life. </div><div><br /></div><div>For the most part this works. The premise is intriguing and the writing is compelling from the start. This is mystery-box storytelling, but it's an example of it being done well. At least until the ending. I don't want to spoil anything, but it's a bit of a cop-out. Nevertheless, it's clear that the point of The Ferryman is not simply to solve the mystery. It's about loss and familial relationships, about power and institutional corruption. But when the framing device for these themes is such a compelling mystery, you can't help but be disappointed when the solution amounts to so little. This is nevertheless a thrilling and enjoyable ride, so we can begrudge it a slightly underwhelming conclusion.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">August - "The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece" by Tom Hanks</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>I like Tom Hanks. Do you like Tom Hanks? Who doesn't like Tom Hanks. Unfortunately, the good folks at Knopf like him so much that they just didn't have the heart to edit his work. Hanks recently met with a positive reception for his work writing short stories, and TMoAMMPM was intended to be his big, awaited debut into longform fiction. It's not without its charm. </div><div><br /></div><div>TMoAMMPM is about the making of a movie, specifically an adaptation of a (fictional) graphic novel. Hanks wants you to see literally every aspect that goes into making a movie. Set across decades, we see the inspirations behind the graphic novel, explore the backstory and personal troubles of its writer. We see the studio execs, their thought processes, their compromises as the search for a commercial way to bring a product to screen. We see the Hollywood stars they cast, the scriptwriters who chop, change, subvert and combine the original source material with other works. We see how the sausage gets made, basically. Nothing wrong with that, but it drags. Unfortunately, much of this just isn't that interesting, and I say that as someone who is obsessed with the movie industry. There is so much unnecessary detail, so many characters introduced, their backstories explored in detail for no reason and then dropped. There's very little narrative drama or conflict. It's 450 pages, most of which are just random scenes being filmed, actors going into makeup, crew discussions. Someone needed to take a hatchet to this manuscript.</div><div><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">September - "The Wager" by David Grann</span></span><br /><br /></div><div>My word what an outstanding piece of work. The Wager is historical non-fiction, telling the true story of the HMS Wager, which shipwrecked in 1781. Several months later, a group of survivors return to Britain to be greeted as heroes. A further six months on, a second group of survivors return, accusing the first of mutiny and murder. David Grann, author of Killers of the Flower Moon, has pulled off something remarkable here. Taking us step by step through the ill-fated voyage, from its conception and preparation, to the first weeks of the mission, the ensuing shipwreck and establishment of a makeshift settlement. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am not a big non-fiction reader, but then I never imagined that non-fiction could be as gripping or as exciting as The Wager. The attention to detail, the psychological insight, the historical context. It's all impeccable and really brings the reader into the story. For a non-fiction novel to have characters who are so vivid and well-explored, a setting and narrative that is so immersive, is truly impressive. </div><div><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">October - "Pushing Ice" by Alastair Reynolds</span></span><br /><br /></div><div>Alastair Reynolds is one of the best writers of hard science fiction in the business today. I was impressed enough from my reading of House of Suns last year that I decided to follow it up with another of his works, one that had been highly recommended to me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pushing Ice is set in a mid-21st Century where Humanity has started to expand into the Solar System. A mining crew is suddenly diverted on a secretive mission, after it transpires that Saturn's moon Janus has left orbit and is quickly leaving the Solar System. What follows is a dizzyingly big adventure that takes the reader to the edge of the universe and thousands of years into the future. The elements of this story may seem familiar, but what sets Reynolds' work apart from that of his peers is his commitment to hard science and the strikingly fresh interpretation he applies to just about every concept. A fine, memorable novel.</div><div><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">November - "The Bee Sting" by Paul Murray</span></span><br /><br /></div><div>I picked this one for November on the back of some rave reviews and a nomination for novel of the year in some quarters. Rarely have such accolades led so far astray. On the surface, The Bee Sting is a pastiche of a classic familial melodrama. Husband in financial difficulties, estranged wife, children each with their own set of growing pains and struggles. Each chapter follows one of the four main characters as their disparate threads slowly build and intertwine into an intense finale. </div><div><br /></div><div>There's nothing wrong with the general narrative here, but neither is it as fresh or essential as it tries to be. Certain sections are also clearly more interesting than others. The wife's chapters in particular, which occupy much of the mid-section of the book, seriously drag down the pace, with almost 200 pages written in non-stop stream of consciousness. That brings us on to the length. At almost 700 pages long, this novel is an absurd slog that is simply not justified by the content. So much character backstory is unnecessary, so much is repeated ad infinitum. So many good story-beats are then milked to death with a 100 page follow-up that adds nothing. Towards the end, the novel tries to work in a little bit of climate anxiety to try and a bit of substance, but it's just kind of there, and not at all integrated into the rest of the work. Every so often, you see a novel that gets praised for checking boxes, rather than for its success as a whole. I suspect this is one of those novels.</div><div><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">December - "Yellowface" by R.F. Kuang</span></span><br /><br /></div><div>And finally we have Yellowface, a first foray into literary fiction from R.F. Kuang, an author best known for her work in the fantasy genre. Yellowface focuses on two writers, more frenemies than friends. One is an overnight success, the toast of the literary scene. A queer, ethnic minority, and a genius to boot. She ticks all the right boxes to become a media icon and a celebrity. The other faces much more of a struggle, unremarkable in both her talent and her backstory. The first writer dies suddenly, leaving behind a manuscript for her next masterpiece. The second writer is the only person who knows of its existence, and publishes it under her own name.</div><div><br /></div><div>What follows is a delicious and darkly comic satire of the publishing industry and of modern culture in general. It's a funny, clever and compelling story that always feels on the verge of falling apart, and it just keeps you glued to the page. Yellowface was recently named Goodreads' novel of the year, and it's definitely a good shout that I highly recommend.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So there it is. Twelve months in books. Can I keep it going another year? You bet, because reading is awesome.<br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-15717085949235993942023-11-04T17:08:00.003+00:002023-11-04T17:08:47.947+00:00"Dear England" Theatre Review<span style="font-weight: bold;">Directed by</span> Rupert Goold<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Written by</span> James Graham<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Starring</span> Joseph Fiennes<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Theatre </span>National/Prince Edward<br />
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<br />Of all the figures that one could have chosen from Britain's extensive pantheon of folk heroes, England manager Gareth Southgate might seem like an odd choice to make the subject of a theatrical production. <div><br /></div><div>Southgate was a prominent footballer of the 1990s, most notable for missing the penalty that cost England a place in the final of Euro 96. After many years of middle management in the national set up, he has more recently become known for his impressive work, in turning England into a respectable football team, including guiding the side to a first major tournament semi-final since 1996, and a first major tournament final since 1966.</div><div><br /></div><div>But throughout his career, Southgate has shied away from the limelight. He's not the flashiest, nor the most charismatic. Even now, at his greatest prominence, the clear preference is to not be the focus of attention, deferring credit, instead, to the accomplishments of his players.</div><div><br /></div><div>So the choice to create a major stage production about Southgate, before his tenure at England has even come to an end, no less, is an intriguing one. But then, that's what <b>Dear England</b> is about: challenging our preconceptions of leadership, of traditional masculinity. </div><div><br /></div><div>Penned by the great <b>James Graham</b>, acclaimed for his work in theatre and TV, which includes the productions <i>This House</i>, <i>Ink</i>, <i>Quiz</i>, and <i>Best of Enemies.</i> Dear England portraits Southgate as a reformer, a man who took the youthful trauma of his own playing career and used it as the basis for a new school of sports management, one that concerns itself as much with psychological conditioning as physical, and respects its athletes, not just as physical tools, but as flawed humans. In doing so, he comes up against the established order of old boys and the traditional image of stoic manliness.</div><div><br /></div><div>But in classic Graham fashion, Dear England casts its gaze wider than just telling a dramatic sports story and looks at football's role as the national pastime. This madness and obsession that sweeps the nation every four years, that inspires such intense jubilation, as well as the deepest bile that society can muster.</div><div><br /></div><div>The greatest compliment that I can pay Dear England is that if you don't "get" football, or why it inspires such passion, you will by the end of this play. I know this because I went to see the play with my wife, who cares not one whit about football, and is not even from this country. But by the end, she was so caught up in the drama and excitement that she wanted to cheer as its sporting events unfolded. While Dear England has a lot of worthwhile things to say, it is perhaps this that is the most impressive, that it does such a superlative job of capturing what makes this game into such an obsession, and inspires the emotions that so deeply weigh on both fan and player.</div><div><br /></div><div>We've already discussed the writing, which ranks amongst James Graham's best work. It's clever and deeply funny stuff that does an impressive job of capturing all the dynamics around English football and coming up with a sort of "unifying theory" to explain England's fortunes on the pitch, and the change of mindset that has come in with Southgate. This is, of course, a heavily dramatised interpretation of events that streamlines and bends fact in order to make for a more satisfying narrative, and it is undeniably weird to portray this story as a beginning, middle and end to a career that is still ongoing. But it is undeniably effective, so long as you don't try to view this as a literal, factual telling of events.</div><div><br /></div><div>Much of Dear England's success can also be attributed to the direction. <b>Rupert Goold</b> is, of course, one of England's great theatre directors. Current artistic director of the Almeida and former head of the Headlong company, whose credits are numerous and brilliant. There's a flamboyance and boldness to the production, which incorporates music, singalongs, and big spectacle to drive home the scale of its themes, but Goold also knows when to go intimate. Those moments of vulnerability with the cast are some of the highlights of the show.</div><div><br /></div><div>Massive credit needs to go to the cast. The lead, <b>Joseph Fiennes</b>, is brilliant. His transformation into Southgate borders on uncanny, right down to the mannerisms, the twitchiness, his manner of speaking. The likeness is really quite astonishing. Yet it never feels like imitation or parody. Fiennes captures the man's awkwardness, his insecurities, but also his sincerity and almost accidental charm. The rest of the cast is equally brilliant. <b>Will Close</b> as Harry Kane, <b>Gunnar Cauthery</b> as Gary Lineker, <b>Josh Barrow</b> as Jordan Pickford. They all do a truly remarkable job of capturing the likeness of their subject in a way that always feels sincere, with performances that blend comedy with drama effectively.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are pacing issues here. The second act is noticeably less actionpacked than the first, not helped by the fact that real life simply hasn't lent itself to a particularly satisfying ending. It's clear that the focus has been on the early days of Southgate's tenure, with most of the supporting cast built around that first core of players, and fewer of the newer squad included. This does have the effect of limiting the scope for character drama in these later tournaments.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dear England is a wonderful play. If you love football and theatre, then this is a dream combination of the two. But even if you don't care about the sport, this is superlative work that will keep you hooked. I really can't recommend it highly enough.<br />
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<br /></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-25130044982462745402023-10-22T15:17:00.002+01:002023-10-22T15:19:40.504+01:00"Starfield" Videogame Review<span style="font-weight: bold;">Developed by</span> Bethesda<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Published by</span> Bethesda<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Genre</span> Role-playing game<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Platform</span> <i>PC</i>, Xbox<br />
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<img alt="starfield bethesda skyrim elder scrolls fallout best game 2023 microsoft xbox playstation pc" src="https://i.imgur.com/six7Yh8.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 350px;" /><br />In a year that is already historically stacked with notable videogame releases, the release of a new <b>Bethesda</b> RPG still stands out as an event of particular significance. Over the past three decades, Bethesda have developed some of the most celebrated games in the industry, including the <i>Fallout</i> and <i>Elder Scrolls</i> franchises, the most recent release of which, <i>Skyrim</i>, is commonly viewed as a landmark title in the open world RPG genre. Bethesda have drawn their fair share of flak over the years for controversial DLC policies and notoriously buggy releases, but there are few things in gaming that can match the experience of diving into one of their immersive worlds for the first time.<div><br /></div><div>Their latest title, <b>Starfield</b>, marks a significant moment in the studio's history. This is the first game developed since the studio's buyout by Microsoft. It's the first completely original IP developed by the studio in twenty five years. It might also be their most ambitious title yet. The idea behind Starfield has apparently been percolating in the mind of director Todd Howard for decades, but until now the technology hasn't existed to make it reality. Having spent some time playing with the game now, I would argue that it still doesn't, but we will come back to that later.</div><div><br /></div><div>Starfield is set in our world, a few hundred years in the future when mankind has developed the technology to travel the stars. A catastrophic event has rendered the Earth uninhabitable, and the remnants of humanity are spread over a sector of space comprising of some 100 stars, collectively known as the Settled Systems. The balance of power is split between three primary nations. There's the United Colonies, essentially your classic vision of utopian future Humans, heavily influenced in aesthetics by the real life United Nations and the Federation from Star Trek. There's the Freestar Collective, a rival confederation of libertarian-minded systems that runs the gamut from neo-noir cyberpunk corpo cities to wild west frontier towns. Finally there's the mysterious House Va'ruun, a reclusive faction of religious fanatics that has ceased contact with the other two factions (think of them as space-Slytherin). Then we have a variety of secondary factions, including corporations, mercenary groups and pirates, all vying for influence and power.</div><div><br /></div><div>As always, players create their own character. This system has seen some significant improvement from previous Bethesda games. The physical sliders are more detailed and allow for some very impressive fine tuning of appearance. In all my years of playing these games, I think Starfield was the first time I felt I ended up with a character that actually looks something like me. </div><div><br /></div><div>Once designed, players choose a backstory and "traits". The backstory allows for some fairly interesting character design, as disparate as industrialist, chef, club bouncer, etc, and each come with their own skill perks. The traits allow for some pretty cool gameplay modifiers. These might include affiliation with a particular faction or religion. The more interesting ones include a trait to add your parents to the game, who will provide you with gifts and flavour in exchange for sending some of your credits to them each month. Another adds a "dream home" on a peaceful planet, in exchange for a steep mortgage you need to pay off. These are pretty neat and have had a surprising amount of thought put into their implementation. For example, I was surprised at just how frequently my parents popped up during the story in various places, and that was quite humorous and enjoyable. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am pleased to see that Starfield makes greater use of your character background and perks in gameplay, unlocking additional dialogue options in quests. This was a major complaint against Fallout 4 compared to Skyrim and New Vegas, and it's great to see them making better use of these RPG mechanics once again.</div><div><br /></div><div>At the same time, there were moments where some fairly obvious implementation has not been done. For example, you can get married in this game, yet your parents don't show up to that. The game bizarrely also starts with your character working as a miner, a decision which seems oddly incongruent with the ability to choose a different character background. Why is my famous chef/diplomat/cyberneticist working as a miner? Skyrim and Fallout cleverly avoid this issue by leaving your character's starting background ambiguous, it is strange that they did not do the same here.</div><div><br /></div><div>The general gameplay loop of Starfield will be very familiar to those who have played any of Bethesda's previous titles. Players design their character, assign a few starting skills and traits. You explore the Settled Systems, taking on a series of quests that vary in scope from substantial ongoing questlines, to one-off side quests and random tasks. Along the way, you encounter various populated "hub" cities, colourful characters some of whom can be recruited, and plenty of out-of-the-way locations that may not relate directly to a quest, but provide the immersive environmental storytelling for which Bethesda is known. Players will acquire and upgrade their gear and weaponry, rank up their skills and perks, and craft all manner of items. The settlement mechanic has been brought over from Fallout 4, and now players can also design their own spaceships using a similar system.</div><div><br /></div><div>The general gameplay mechanics work well enough. The running and shooting all feels nice and crisp, probably the best it has done in a Bethesda game to date. The addition of jump-packs to blast around in the middle of a combat situation is also a lot of fun. </div><div><br /></div><div>So far, it all sounds like a standard evolution of the tried and tested Bethesda formula. But as we will see, it differs in some pretty significant ways. The core evolution in the Bethesda formula this time is that rather than one big open game world, you have an entire sector of space to explore. 120 systems, 1000 planets, all fully explorable. This is achieved through a combination of hand-crafted locations and procedural generation. </div><div><br /></div><div>Space itself is not explorable as an open world, so practically what this means is players fast travel from planet to planet, exploring a narrow slither of space around the planet, and then landing on the surface. Players can land anywhere on the surface. Technically the entire planet is explorable, but not as a single contiguous space. Rather the game divides each planet into a grid of "instances". When you land on the surface you enter one such instance. That instance is populated with procedurally generated geometry, resources, biomes, flora and fauna and other points of interest. But you can't walk from one instance into the next, you need to go back to your ship and land in a different spot. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ostensibly, this breaks the illusion of a galaxy of fully explorable planets, but in truth the instances are each so big that you will never notice the limitation unless you go deliberately looking for it. In my entire playtime, I never had a situation where I reached the explorable boundary of an instance. </div><div><br /></div><div>Partly, this is because there just isn't much reason to explore so much of any specific instance. Starfield adds an exploration system, which allows players to scan minerals, flora/fauna, and other points of interest in order to survey a planet. You get experience points for this, and you can build outposts to harvest the resources (more on that later). You can scan everything in a particular biome without having to explore too much in any single instance, after which there just isn't really any reason to explore further, other than for the view. </div><div><br /></div><div>Fortunately, the view is often worth the trip. Starfield is generally quite a pretty game, and the world engine does a good job of creating memorable locations, from hazy jungles, to ragged mountain ranges and windswept beaches. Standing on an alien coastline on some moon, looking up a gas giant setting over the horizon... it's quite a sight, and it's impressive how often I felt the need to just stop and take in my surroundings. </div><div><br /></div><div>The procedural generation system also puts down various points of interest in these instances: factories, outposts and the like. It does a serviceable enough job of creating these, but since they are procedural they rarely have much that is worth going out of your way to explore. Some of these generated points of interest contain some quite nice environmental storytelling (in classic Bethesda fashion), or a few generic interactive NPCs with generic, procedurally generated quests, but you'll find they quickly repeat themselves and after the first few you'll probably just start ignoring them. It adds nice flavour and spices up the exploration gameplay, but it's not hugely substantive on its own.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, there are also hand-crafted random encounters that are not procedurally generated, and some of these can be pretty fantastic. Memorable encounters I've had include running into a ship captain singing delightful sea-shanties, another included a colorful lady calling herself "grandma" who invited me aboard for a meal. Stuff like this makes the universe feel alive, but there could be more of it.</div><div><br /></div><div>So while, yes, technically you can explore an entire planet, there is rarely any practical reason to explore more than the small area around your landing site. This has the benefit that the technical limitations of the game engine don't really end up mattering much, but at the same time it does make the selling point of all that exploration seem a little superfluous. More a tagline than something substantial.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ultimately, most players are probably just going to be going from one of the hand-crafted quest locations to the next. Which is fine, but it takes much of the openness out of the game and arguably turns Starfield's biggest selling point into a weakness. In Skyrim or Fallout 4, by contrast, a player could simply pick a direction, explore, and know that they'll find something interesting, hand-crafted, and usually with some substantial story, character or quest attached to it. In Starfield, that isn't the case. You can aimlessly explore on a planet's surface, but you won't find much there aside from nature to scan, and the occasional point of interest. Most substantial content is essentially reached by fast travel. This isn't necessarily a good or bad thing, it's just a departure from other Bethesda titles. Personally, as a fan of sci-fi and space exploration, I did enjoy this system and exploring just for the sake of exploring, but I can understand some longtime fans feeling that Starfield exploration lacks a bit of something as a result.</div><div><br /></div><div>With respect to the more story-focused, hand-crafted content, this is generally quite good. Aesthetically, the world of Starfield is rendered in a delightfully fresh "NASA-punk" style. It's futuristic enough to look convincing, but still grounded in the chunky, functional realworld tech that we use to get into space today. This helps the world feel real and like a genuine continuation of our world. It also just looks really cool.</div><div><br /></div><div>But the aesthetic is weirdly inconsistent and incongruent within itself. There's no real explanation for why humanity would build some cities with a ultra-shiny Star Trek aesthetic, others like a wild-west cowboy town, and others still as a super gritty cyberpunk city. In the real world, different locations have wildly different aesthetics due to disparate cultures developing separately over thousands of years. There's no real reason why this would have happened in the world of Starfield. It provides nice variety to the game world, but doesn't really make much sense.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's a small gripe, but I also feel the "destroyed Earth" trope is a bit tired. It's usually implemented in games for the wrong reasons, rather than because it actually makes sense or adds anything to the story. In this case, the reasons behind it are limitations in technology and imagination. It's pretty apparent that the only reason they contrived the destruction of Earth was so that they didn't have to choose between a fully explorable, populated Earth, and having to compromise on that "fully explorable" tagline. In this case it was probably the wrong choice. A barren, sand-covered Earth doesn't really make much sense. Even if the planet was destroyed, the ruins of those cities would still be there after just a few hundred years, and the story-reasons behind the destruction also come off as somewhat lazy and contrived. It would have been trivially easy to simply make Earth one planet that either couldn't be landed on, or with only certain specific locations to visit, and players would have understood the reasons for it.</div><div><br /></div><div>The quests are pretty fun and contain a nice amount of variety, from more combat focused military ventures to corporate espionage and diplomatic missions. There's a pretty decent quantity of quests as well. One of my main complaints with Fallout 4 was how few quests there were in the game compared to Skyrim. While Starfield certainly doesn't match the volume of quest that there were in Skyrim, there is still more here than in Fallout 4. Particularly in the early stages of the game, it sometimes feels overwhelming, like you can't go for a walk without stumbling onto some new quest.</div><div><br /></div><div>If there is one major problem with the various quest lines it's that they never seem to have any consequences. One of the hallmarks of Bethesda games is that players make decisions in resolving quests, and those decisions have long-lasting effects on the game world. In Fallout 3, your choices could result in entire cities being destroyed. In New Vegas your choices would turn certain factions against you and shut off their questlines. In Starfield this is often glaringly absent. You can complete the pirate questline, and in doing so stage a massive attack against the United Colonies, and then straight afterwards you can play the entire UC questline with ostensibly no blow-back from your earlier actions. It's quite disappointing. To be clear, this is not always the case. There are some quests where your choices manifest themselves quite nicely in the wider world, but far too often there's just nothing acknowledging or referencing what should be fairly major developments.</div><div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />At this point it's worth also mentioning the modding community. One of the main attractions of a Bethesda game is how moddable it is, and how the fanmade modding community is so active. Fifteen years later, and Skyrim is still receiving worthwhile new content from fans. New characters, quests, worlds and adventures. Starfield, more than any other game to date, feels like a game that was designed with modding in mind, with its extraordinary amount of empty space just begging to be filled with content. I can't wait to see what fans will come up with in the years to come.</div><div><br /></div><div>One thing that is still affected by your decisions is your relationship with the game's various characters and companions. This "affinity" system is something carried over from Fallout 4 and was quite a big advancement at the time for Bethesda. In older games (including the widely praised Skyrim and Fallout: New Vegas) companions really didn't have much depth to them. Sometimes they came with a quest, or a particular perk, but that was it. Fallout 4 changed that, by introducing a system whereby your relationship would progress over time depending on your actions, dialogue, and the amount of time spent with the character. This affinity system is implemented again in Starfield. Unfortunately, the companion system as a whole is one area which seems to have inexplicably taken a big step back. </div><div><br /></div><div>Fallout 4 had some fourteen interactive companions with a fully implemented affinity system. They would react to your actions, provide new dialogue and story as time went on, as well as new quests and companion perks. Starfield, incredibly, only has four. To be clear there are some twenty companions in Starfield in total, but for whatever reason, only four of them have affinity systems implemented. The other sixteen are a throwback to the bad old days of older Bethesda titles, with little progression, no quests or perks, and only minimal story content. Companions, in general, are also just much less interactive than they were in Fallout 4. In that title, you could speak to them, give them commands or instructions, ask for feedback. There's much less of that in Starfield. You can trade with them, or discuss the same handful of conversation topics, but that's it. This is a huge disappointment, and it's hard to understand why they did it this way.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's also worth mentioning the writing. The writing in Bethesda games is generally decent... no Bioware, but better than most. The storylines are mostly pretty good and the dialogue ranges from serviceable to quite excellent. One area they have always been pretty weak on is in writing romance dialogue, and that is especially the case here. It's awful, it's cringy, and often out of character for the person involved. </div><div><br /></div><div>The world of Starfield, in general, strikes a bit of an odd balance of whether it wants to take itself seriously or not. This isn't Fallout, and yet the writers often inject satire and comic book levels of exaggeration as if it were, while other times keeping things pretty straight. You can tell these writers had previously worked on that series, and it often feels like they aren't quite sure what identity they want to create for this new franchise. In my view, Starfield's writing is at its best when it leans more heavily into high-concept sci-fi setting, with quests featuring things like alternate universes, quantum physics and genetic engineering. This is where the game truly finds its own voice and stands out from Bethesda's other work.</div><div><br /></div><div>Without spoiling too much, it's also worth mentioning the new game plus. New game plus is a common mechanic in videogames which allows you to start a new game, while carrying forward certain benefits from your first playthrough, such as XP/levels. Starfield does something very clever that I've not seen before in a game, and makes new game plus an actual continuation of the story. Without spoiling the story specifics, this takes the narrative into some remarkably effective metafictional directions about player choice and the morality of the game's central characters. They've even taken it a step further by including various narrative and quest variations in new game plus that allows you to use your knowledge from the first playthrough to achieve different outcomes. Some rare new game plus variants also result in some drastically different (and often hilarious) shake ups of the setting and characters. It's all very clever, the problem is that not everyone likes the idea of a new game plus, or replaying games more than once. By hiding ostensibly "new" content behind this mode, it almost makes it a necessary expansion of the experience rather than an optional choice for players who are so inclined. I can see this annoying some players.</div><div><br /></div><div>The last significant gameplay mechanic to discuss is the crafting/building side of things. Weapon and spacesuit crafting is basically what you would expect from previous Bethesda titles, although many components are locked behind perks and research projects (unlockable at the new research station). </div><div><br /></div><div>The outpost building system is similar to Fallout 4's settlements. On the one hand, it's a less restrictive system in that outposts can be built anywhere, as compared to the preset settlement locations in Fallout 4. On the other hand, the outpost components themselves are much fewer and more restrictive than in Fallout. I suppose this has the benefit that outposts all fit within a consistent NASA-punk aesthetic, but it can be frustrating when things don't work as intended. Building on uneven terrain can be a pain, and sometimes habitats simply refuse to click together for no discernible reason. The furniture options are also something of a mixed bag. This is one of the areas that I look forward to seeing modders expand.</div><div><br /></div><div>Where this system differs from Fallout 4's settlements is in its purpose. Fallout 4's post apocalyptic setting is one where survival is the main goal. Accordingly, the settlement system was built around providing access to food, clean water, and security. Random settlers from around the Commonwealth would seek safety in your settlements, and your goal would be to provide their needs and raise their happiness levels. Almost like a mini "Sims" style game. In Starfield, there are no randomly generated settlers. You can only assign your companions to outposts (and they will have skills that boost the output of the outpost). There is no happiness to raise, no resources to provide. Rather, the system's sole purpose (other than roleplaying and building something cool) appears to be for harvesting crafting materials. The problem is, there really is no need for this. Basically all crafting materials can be purchased easily and cheaply from the hub cities. It is pretty fun building up supply chains and linking outposts to build more advanced and complex materials, but there really is no purpose behind them. You can't make any real money selling the materials, and there's no need for high quantities of any single item. The outpost system sadly is a bit under-baked, a cool feature that hasn't figured out a reason to exist.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then there are the spaceships, which can be built by sticking modules together similar to the outpost system. This is very cool, and allows players to build some very unique and creative looking ships. There is a very special pleasure enjoyed by walking around the inside of a spaceship you designed yourself, and it's a brilliant addition. As with the outpost system, this can be a bit janky and temperamental. Currently there is also no way to choose where to place connections between modules (hallways and ladders), which is quite an oversight and can result in some bizarre, labyrinthine spaceship layouts. </div><div><br /></div><div>Lastly, let's talk about the bugs. Bethesda games are known for being buggy, and Starfield is no exception. That said, Starfield is probably the most stable of the company's releases. I did encounter an occasional crash to desktop, but these were much rarer than in past titles. I also encountered far less stuttering, frame-rate issues and general lag compared to older Bethesda titles. The bugs that do exist in Starfield tend to be more annoying than game-breaking. Things like companions not properly equipping the items you give them, HUD bugs, the occasional quest logic error. I noted a number of bugs relating to the companions. Sometimes they would just vanish from the crew list, or become non-interactive. Most of the time, this was fixable, but in one case this seems to have affected one of my companions permanently, which still hasn't been patched. The worst bug I encountered takes place (with 100% frequency) after a certain story quest that takes place in a main hub city, and resets all of the player housing in that city - any furniture, items, etc you left in that place, just gone. Amazing that this still hasn't been patched.</div><div><br /></div><div>So in the end Starfield is a bit of a flawed gem. Some design elements have seen considerable improvement from previous Bethesda titles, while others have inexplicably taken a step backwards. Some elements have clearly not been thought out and either serve little or no purpose. What's here is often excellent, but equally often superficial and lacking in depth. For its flaws, Starfield does create an immersive and absorbing new universe, filled with interesting lore, characters and environments. It manages to deliver a grand adventure with a sufficient (if not consistent) sense of player agency. This is still an experience full of that classic Bethesda magic, just begging to be explored. </div><div><br /></div><div>I think, ultimately, how you feel about Starfield will depend on how much you connect with the core concept. If you have always wanted to design your own spaceship, blast off into the unknown and see what you find, you'll enjoy this. If you like a good, high concept space opera with cinematic storytelling and thought provoking ideas, you'll enjoy this. Starfield is a very good game that often buckles under the weight of its ambition, but lays the groundwork for something that, be it through DLC or mods, could yet be expanded into something truly great.</div><div><div>
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<br /></div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-67892311287726709102023-08-28T13:06:00.002+01:002023-08-28T13:06:23.917+01:00The Ephemeric Premier League 2023/24 PreviewAnother football season is underway, with fascinating competitions and narratives in store all up and down the table. From the rise of Newcastle, the up and coming clubs of Brighton and Brentford, to the chaos and drama at Wolves and Chelsea. Increasingly, the Premier League is proving to be such a tight and competitive league. Arguably any of the top ten clubs could push for Europe, and equally there's no one side seemingly destined for relegation. One outcome that seems in little doubt is the prospect of Manchester City winning yet another title. But this is football and anything can happen. Watch this space.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #e69138;">Premier League 2023/24 Predictions in a nutshell:</span></b><br />
<b>Champions:</b> Manchester City<br />
<b>Champions League qualifiers:</b> Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool<br />
<b>Relegated: </b>Sheffield United, Everton, Luton<br />
<b>Golden Boot winner:</b> Erling Haaland (Manchester City)<br />
<b>Golden Glove winner:</b> Ederson (Manchester City)<br />
<b>Player to watch:</b> Erling Haaland (Manchester City)<br />
<b>New signing to watch:</b> Sandro Tonali (Newcastle)<br />
<b>Young player to watch:</b> Levi Colwill (Chelsea)<br />
<b>First manager to get the sack:</b> Paul Heckingbottom (Sheffield United)<br />
<b>Shock of the season:</b> Sean Dyche to flame out and get sacked early by Everton<br />
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<b><span style="color: #b45f06;">ARSENAL</span></b><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Nickname:</span> The Gunners<br />
<b>Ground:</b> Emirates Stadium<br />
<b>Capacity:</b> 60,000<br />
<b>Position last season:</b> 2nd<br />
<b>Manager:</b> Mikel Arteta<br /> </div><div>Last season saw a huge step up from this club. For the first time in a generation, Arsenal looked like genuine contenders, and only a late collapse saw them what miss out on what would have been a first title in twenty years.</div><div><br /></div><div>The response to narrowly missing out on the title has been to, once again, spend big. Arsenal have spent some £200 million on players this summer, most notably on the former West Ham midfield dynamo Declan Rice, and the Chelsea midfielder who has inexplicably been pretending to be a striker for two years, Kai Havertz. These are very fine signings. I have no doubt that playing Kai in his correct position will elicit improved performances from the player. Along with Martin Odegaard, this may well be the best midfield trio in the league.</div><div><br /></div><div>The problem that Arsenal face is that their potential rivals have improved to an even greater degree. One could argue that their formidable title charge last season owed as much to the relative weakness of the other contenders as to Arsenal's own brilliance. If the other big clubs manage to hit the ground running this year, Arsenal may not enjoy the same heights as last season.</div><div><br />
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<b>Key Signing:</b> Declan Rice<br />
<b>Key Man: </b>Martin Odegaard<br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Verdict:</span></b> Possible title contenders, but against improved opposition they may struggle to keep pace.<br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>ASTON VILLA</b></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Nickname</span>: The Villans<br />
<b>Ground: </b>Villa Park<br />
<b>Capacity:</b> 42,095<br />
<b>Last season:</b> 7th<br />
<b>Manager:</b> Unai Emery<br />
<br />Predicting big things of Aston Villa, only for the Birmingham club to disappoint, seems to have become a bit of a yearly tradition. The Villans have spent big in the past few seasons, with ambitious plans afoot to finally give England's second city a club worthy of that stature, but a series of false dawns and stuttering starts have so far seen them fail to deliver.</div><div><br /></div><div>This year there is, once again, great optimism around Villa Park. This is mostly attributed to manager Unai Emery, and the drastic turnaround that took place after his arrival last season. In just six months, the Spaniard transformed the club from a relegation risk to European qualifiers. There is excitement to see what can be accomplished with a full pre-season to prepare.</div><div><br /></div><div>The headline signing to date has been Moussa Diaby, Emery's primary target and a pacey attacker who can contribute both goals and assists. Equally shrewd has been the free transfer of Youri Tielemans from relegated Leicester City, a midfielder of known Premier League quality in his prime years.</div><div>
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<b>Key Signing:</b> Moussa Diaby<br />
<b>Key Man:</b> Ollie Watkins<br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Verdict:</span></b> Optimistic times at Villa Park, who will be targeting a top seven finish.<b style="color: #b45f06;"><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><br /><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><b style="color: #b45f06;">BOURNEMOUTH</b><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nickname</span>: The Cherries<br /><b>Ground: </b>Dean Court<br /><b>Capacity:</b> 11,364<br /><b>Last season:</b> 15th<br /><b>Manager:</b> Andoni Iraola<br /><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">It was a difficult return to the top flight for Bournemouth, one that they just about survived. Now the club is ringing the changes, with the aim of consolidating their position.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">This started with the appointment of Andoni Iraola, the club's first foreign manager, and continued with the spending of more than £100 million on reinforcements, including the likes of Justin Kluivert, Max Aarons and Hamed Traoré. But the stand out among the new business has to be late signing of Tyler Adams from relegated Leeds, a player who had been linked with high profile clubs such as Chelsea and Liverpool over the summer.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">Despite the investment, this still looks among the weaker squads in the league. Defence was a problem last year, one which new manager Iraola seems to believe will be solved by a more attacking playstyle. I suspect he may be in for a rude awakening.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /><b>Key Signing:</b> Philip Billing<br /><b>Key Man:</b> Tyler Adams<br /><b><span style="color: #351c75;">Verdict:</span></b> A prime relegation candidate.<br /><b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></b></div>BRENTFORD</b><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Nickname</span>: The Bees<br />
<b>Ground: </b>Brentford Community Stadium<br />
<b>Capacity:</b> 17,250<br />
<b>Last season:</b> 9th<br />
<b>Manager:</b> Thomas Frank<br />
<br />It's been an impressive few seasons for London's newest representative in the top flight. Brentford increasingly look at home in this league and weren't far off from European qualification last season.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Bees would do well to temper their ambitions however. The top half of the league is increasingly competitive, and with the club's talismanic striker Ivan Toney sidelined until January they could struggle in these early stages. A great deal will rest on Yoane Wissa, the man who, ostensibly, is set to step into Toney's place. </div><div><br /></div><div>The club could also struggle with the loss of goalkeeper David Raya to Arsenal on a season-long loan. Raya was one of the most impressive shot stoppers in the league last season and new signing Mark Flekken has some big shows to fill.</div><div><br />
<b>Key Signing:</b> Mark Flekken<br />
<b>Key Man:</b> Ivan Toney<br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Verdict:</span></b> Should be safe in midtable, but a season of consolidation could be seen as a victory.<br /><b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></b><b style="color: #b45f06;"><b>BRIGHTON</b><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><span style="color: black;">Nickname</span><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">: The Seagulls</span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><b style="color: black;">Ground: </b><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">Falmer Stadium</span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><b style="color: black;">Capacity:</b><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"> 31,800</span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><b style="color: black;">Last season:</b><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"> 6th</span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><b style="color: black;">Manager:</b><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"> Roberto De Zerbi</span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><b><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></b></b></div><div><b style="color: #b45f06;"><b><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">Brighton's success has been the story of the Premier League in recent seasons. A well run outfit, whose progress up the league system in recent years has made for a remarkable story. Flush with cash and one of the most successful scouting outfits in the country, Brighton find themselves in an enviable position to push on, but how far can they go?</span></b></b></div><div><b style="color: #b45f06;"><b><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></b></b></div><div>The club is rightly riding a high after last season's record finish, which saw Brighton qualify for their first ever Europa League campaign. But that extra fixture congestion can be a curse as much as a blessing, and Brighton will pay for their success with the additional strain that is normally endured by wealthier clubs with deeper squads. </div><div><br /></div><div>It also can't be ignored that the club has lost two huge stars of last season, Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool and Moises Caicedo to Chelsea. Brighton have spent big to bring in nine players this summer, including club record signing <b style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">João Pedro from Wolves, </span></b>but it remains to be seen whether these reinforcements will be able to bring the same kind of success.</div><div><br /></div><div>That is not to say that Brighton are in store for a bad year, but with these additional challenges they would do well to match the high finish of last season.</div><div><br /></div><div><b style="color: #b45f06;"><b style="color: black;">Key Signing:</b><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"> João Pedro</span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><b style="color: black;">Key Man:</b><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"> Pervis Estupiñán</span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><b style="color: black;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Verdict:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"> Matching last season's feats will be a tall order, but should achieve a solid top half finish.</span></b></div><div><b style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><div><b style="color: #b45f06;"><b>BURNLEY</b><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><span style="color: black;">Nickname</span><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">: The Clarets</span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><b style="color: black;">Ground: </b><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">Turf Moor</span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><b style="color: black;">Capacity:</b><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"> 21,944</span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><b style="color: black;">Last season:</b><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"> Promoted (Champions)</span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><b style="color: black;">Manager:</b><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"> Vincent Kompany</span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><b><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></b></b></div><div>Second tier champions last season, with a whopping 101 points earned. Led by a manager considered one of the hottest in British football and a legend of the sport as a player. The momentum is very much with Burnley, but the Premier League is a different prospect entirely, and they face a steep challenge to stay up.</div><div><br /></div><div>For those who don't watch much Championship football, be warned that this is not your father's Burnley. This is not Sean Dyche anti-football. Kompany has transformed Burnley into an adventurous, attacking side. If the club's summer signings are any indication, Kompany is looking to emphasise this focus, with additional firepower being brought in with Swansea's Michael Obafemi and Swiss youngster Zeki Amdouni. But anyone who watched Burnley last season will tell you that the key signing so far has been that of defender Jordan Beyer, on loan with the club last season, now signed to a permanent deal.</div><div><br /></div><div>Otherwise, the club has done well to keep ahold of its key players, midfield Joshes Brownhill and Cullen chief among them. It's a squad with some promise, but whether they can step up to this level remains to be seen.</div><div><br /></div><div><b style="color: #b45f06;"><b style="color: black;">Key Signing:</b><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"> Jordan Beyer</span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><b style="color: black;">Key Man:</b><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"> Josh Brownhill</span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><b style="color: black;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Verdict:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"> Great optimism surrounds the club, but they remain a relegation risk</span></b></div></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>
<b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">CHELSEA</span></b><br />
<b>Nickname:</b> Blues<br />
<b>Ground:</b> Stamford Bridge<br />
<b>Capacity:</b> 41,837<br />
<b>Last season:</b> 12th (not a typo)<br />
<b>Manager:</b> Mauricio Pochettino<br /><br /></div><div>Round 2 in what has got to be the most disastrous tenure in the history of Premier League owners. Mike Ashley will be looking at this and thinking, "Yeah, I did ok actually."</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been reading a lot of pundit analysis tipping this Chelsea side for a comeback, for great things, and I just can't believe what I'm reading. Most people seem to be looking at the vast quantities of cash being spent as some kind of indication that the club is building a strong side. But let me ask you this, if Chelsea went out and spent £1 billion on a wheelbarrow, would that make them title favourites? Of course not, the amount of money spent means nothing, it's what you spend it on that matters.</div><div><br /></div><div>For all the eye-watering expenditure, this is a team whose first choice goalkeeper was Brighton's third choice last season. This is a team that is without a proven top flight striker in the squad. A team whose starting central defence partnership is an unproven 20 year old academy product and a 40 year old who's lost his pace. This is a team that began the season with only one central midfielder (at least until this week's last minute panic signings, another cool £200 million out the window). You might well ask yourself, what the hell have they been spending all that money on? And you'd be right.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, no, I don't buy all the hype that Chelsea are back. This is a threadbare side with massive holes in the squad and razor thin depth. A side that has sold off its strongest assets and gambled their future on unproven talent (literally, if those 8 year contracts don't work out, this club could very well go bust). I haven't even mentioned the fact that the club sacked its medical team and replaced them with celebrity doctors from Hollywood (and we wonder why their injury rate is through the roof all of a sudden) or that the club literally has no shirt sponsor currently. Club management currently seems unable to perform even the basic functions of running a club, and until that changes I don't see anything above a midtable finish in the cards, no matter how many billions they spend.</div><div>
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<b>Key Signing:</b> Christopher Nkunku (if he ever comes back from injury)<br />
<b>Key Man:</b> Reece James (if he ever comes back from injury)</div><div>
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Verdict:</span> </b>In a good season, they might break into the Europa League places. Most likely, smack in the middle of the table.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #b45f06;">CRYSTAL PALACE</span></b><br />
<b>Nickname:</b> Eagles, Glaziers<br />
<b>Ground:</b> Selhurst Park<br />
<b>Capacity:</b> 25,486<br />
<b>Last season:</b> 11th<br />
<b>Manager:</b> Roy Hodgson<br /> </div><div>For a club that is entering its second decade in the top flight, a surprising air of uncertainty remains over Crystal Palace. Every time the club looks set for an upturn in fortunes, setbacks occur. The exciting Vieira boom didn't last, and now the Eagles find themselves looking for a new identity, a new long term strategy.</div><div><br /></div><div>The man tasked with helping the club to find its way forward is none other than Roy Hodgson, now 76 years young and embarking on his second stint as Palace manager, third stint if you include his playing career. The thinking is clear: Palace face an uncertain future, and the presence of a much loved steady hand brings reassurance to both players and fans alike. Whether this will lead to success is much harder to divine. </div><div><br /></div><div>The big development in terms of playing staff will be the departure of the talismanic Wilfried Zaha, an ever present figure at this club over the past fifteen years. While his best may be behind him, replacing his presence will nevertheless be a tall order. A will now rest on the hotly tipped youngster Michael Olise, a player who had been tipped with a move away this summer but now seems set to stay. A more direct replacement for Zaha might end up being the new signing Matheus França, a young Brazilian with a reputation for his exciting, attacking play. His addition to the squad might just be the boost Palace need.</div><div>
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<b>Key Signing:</b> Matheus França<br />
<b>Key Man:</b> Michael Olise<br />
<b style="color: #351c75;">Verdict: </b>I don't expect Palace to be a relegation risk, but this is very much a transition year and expectations should be set accordingly.<br />
<b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">EVERTON</span></b><br />
<b>Nickname:</b> Toffees<br />
<b>Ground:</b> Goodison Park<br />
<b>Capacity:</b> 40,170<br />
<b>Last season:</b> 17th<br />
<b>Manager: </b>Sean Dyche<br />
<br />In the annals of underperforming Premier League teams, few earn their place more than Everton. For a club with such a significant history and dedicated fanbase, they just can't seem to do themselves justice. After years of stagnation, the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti a few years back seemed promising, but turned out to be a false dawn. Frank Lampard briefly got pulses racing, but failed to take the club forward. Now, the man the club has chosen to take the Toffees to the next level is... Sean Dyche?</div><div><br /></div><div>Dyche has a reputation as a tactician, someone who can grind out the necessary results no matter how ugly. Crucially, he has a reputation of someone who can guarantee survival, but I'm not sure this is really earned. Everton's issues run deeper than just the manager, but it's hard to see even Dyche doing much with this threadbare squad. That the marquee signing of the summer looks set to be a 38 year old Ashley Young says it all.</div><div><br /></div><div>Add to this the spectre of investigations and uncertain ownership, and it paints a gloomy picture for Everton's prospects in the short term.</div><div>
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<b>Key Signing:</b> Ashley Young<br />
<b>Key Man:</b> Jordan Pickford<br />
<b style="color: #351c75;">Verdict: </b>The alarm bells are ringing. Everton are not a side you expect to see relegated, but it's a real risk this season.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></b><div><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">FULHAM</span></b><br /><b>Nickname:</b> The Cottagers<br /><b>Ground:</b> Craven Cottage<br /><b>Capacity:</b> 22.384<br /><b>Last season:</b> 10th<br /><b>Manager:</b> Marco Silva<br /><br /></div><div>Tipped by many for relegation last term (not here though, because I am not a hack), it's fair to say that Marco Silva's side exceeded anyone's expectations by achieving a top half finish. Indeed, right up until the tail end of the season, they were within touching distance of European qualification.</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, one of the main driving forces behind this success, Aleksandar Mitrovic, has departed the club this summer. Fans will undoubtedly be looking to new signing Raúl Jimenéz to take his place up front. At 32, the Mexican forward is hardly a long term solution, but for the meantime he represents proven Premier League quality</div><div><br /></div><div>Elsewhere, the club has done well to keep hold of its key performers, midfielder Palhinha and youngster Harrison Reed, but it is that former Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno who may prove most essential in determining the club's prospects this season.</div><div><br /><b>Key Signing:</b> Raúl Jimenéz<br /><b>Key Man:</b> Leno<br /><b style="color: #351c75;">Verdict: </b>Should be safe, even without Mitrovic, but repeating the feats of last season seems unlikely.<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">LIVERPOOL</span></b></div><div>
<b>Nickname:</b> Reds<br />
<b>Ground:</b> Anfield<br />
<b>Capacity:</b> 54,074<br />
<b>Last season:</b> 5th<br />
<b>Manager:</b> Jurgen Klopp<br /> </div><div>The great Klopp era of Liverpool dominance may already be over, or so the conventional wisdom goes. Ever since their title win, Liverpool have struggled to live up to expectations, and will be disappointed to participate in just the Europa League this season. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Liverpool squad is facing a bit of a shake up this season. The captain Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Firmino have all gone to Saudi Arabia. Milner, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain, also departing. Taking their places in the squad will be Brighton's World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister, and the hotly tipped Hungarian midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai. This is still a strong squad, but it's difficult to say that they look stronger than last season. Liverpool will be hoping that last term's struggles were a blip rather than an indication of some deeper problem.</div><div><br /></div><div>Klopp, surely, has achieved legendary status for his past success with the club, but he won't be able to live on that forever and fans will be expecting to see some progress back towards the top of the table this season.</div><div>
<b><br /></b><b>Key Signing:</b> Alexis Mac Allister<br />
<b>Key Man:</b> Mo Salah<br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Verdict:</span></b> Will expect a top four finish.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">LUTON TOWN</span></b></div><div><b>Nickname:</b> The Hatters<br /><b>Ground:</b> Kenilworth Road<br /><b>Capacity:</b> 10,356<br /><b>Last season:</b> Promoted (3rd)<br /><b>Manager:</b> Rob Edwards<br /> </div><div>Most pundits' heavy favourite for the drop this season. I am not most pundits... but it's hard to disagree here. The Premier League is probably the most competitive league in the world. It's not enough to be a good side. Even the bottom ranked teams are good squads bristling with talent, and when you look at this Luton squad, it's difficult to see how they compete with those around them.</div><div><br /></div><div>If recent history is any guide, the newly promoted teams that stay up need to have some spine, and some top flight experience. This Luton team earned their promotion chiefly through their solid defensive play and conservatism. But Premier League offences will ask much greater questions, and it just isn't clear that they will be up to that task. At the other end, Carlton Morris brings goals and had a great season in the second tier, he will no doubt be key to the Hatters' chances. </div><div><br /></div><div>As for top flight experience, this is something sorely lacking from this squad. Even their summer signings have tended to be a mix of promising EFL players, rather than those that have proven themselves at the highest level. They may yet step up and prove everyone wrong, but it's a tall order.</div><div><b><br /></b><b>Key Signing:</b> Thomas Kaminski<br /><b>Key Man:</b> Carlton Morris<br /><b><span style="color: #351c75;">Verdict:</span></b> Favourites for relegation.</div>
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<b><span style="color: #b45f06;">MANCHESTER CITY</span></b><br />
<b>Nickname:</b> Blues<br />
<b>Ground:</b> Etihad Stadium<br />
<b>Capacity:</b> 55,017<br />
<b>Last season:</b> Champions<br />
<b>Manager:</b> Pep Guardiola<br /><br /></div><div>Champions, and favourites to win it again for a record breaking fourth consecutive season. Manchester City's squad is one of the world's strongest, has depth for miles, and probably the single best footballer on the planet in Erling Haaland.</div><div><br /></div><div>If they weren't already formidable enough, they've strengthened well this summer. Joško Gvardiol is one of the best defensive prospects in world football today, Mateo Kovačić is a highly underrated player who will show his best at City, and Doku provides a different option going forward when plan A doesn't work. It's difficult to think of a real weakness in this side. Kevin de Bruyne's injury problems definitely pose a concern, especially with City's failure to sign Pep's top target in Jude Bellingham as a long-term replacement, but they're not exactly short of options in the short term.</div><div><br /></div><div>City's greatest obstacle may simply be statistics. No one has ever managed to win four top flight titles in a row in this country, and there's a reason for that. Football is an unpredictable game. Injuries happen, teams under and over perform. Anyone can win on the right day. Still, there's no doubt that City start the season as the most likely team to win by far.</div><div>
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<b>Key Signing:</b> Joško Gvardiol<br />
<b>Key Man:</b> Erling Haaland<br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Verdict:</span></b> Title favourites.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #b45f06;">MANCHESTER UNITED</span></b><br />
<b>Nickname:</b> Red Devils<br />
<b>Ground:</b> Old Trafford<br />
<b>Capacity:</b> 74,879<br />
<b>Last season: </b>3rd<br />
<b>Manager: </b>Erik ten Hag<br /> </div><div>A big season for Manchester United. It's been some time since the club could rightly consider itself among the very highest calibre of football clubs, arguably not since Alex Ferguson's retirement. But this year, there's the sense that Erik ten Hag may finally be turning things around. Last season's modest silverware, the EFL Cup, may not seem like such a grand prize, but it's a start. More significant will be the late season surge in form that saw United return to the Champions League.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is a much more balanced United side than we have seen in many years. Shaw, Wan Bissaka and Varane have really come into their own as a defensive unit, while the captain Bruno Fernandes has led by example going forward. But it's last season's signing of Casemiro that might just have been the lynchpin to pull this whole thing together, and he has quickly become an integral cog in one of the league's tightest midfields. </div><div><br /></div><div>Their summer business has been strong, with the big money signings of Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount and the addition of further firepower up front with Rasmus Højlund. But the most significant addition will likely be André Onana, a goalkeeper who has long been tipped with a Premier League move, who now looks set to finally bring stability to a position that has been something of a question mark for United in recent seasons. This team means business, and it will be a sore underperformance if they don't finish top four with ease.</div><div><br /></div><div>
<b>Key Signing:</b> André Onana<br />
<b>Key Man:</b> Casemiro<br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Verdict:</span></b> Top four is the minimum expectation, but they have their target set on bigger things.<br />
<b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></b><div><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">NEWCASTLE</span></b><br /><b>Nickname:</b> The Magpies, Toon<br /><b>Ground:</b> St James' Park<br /><b>Capacity:</b> 52,305<br /><b>Last season:</b> 4th<br /><b>Manager:</b> Eddie Howe<br /><br /></div><div>What a difference a year can make. Newcastle, formerly the butt of so many jokes for so many years, have been transformed by their new owners from one of the worst run clubs in the country to one of the very best. The result was the Toon making an unlikely return to the Champions League for the first time in two decades.</div><div><br /></div><div>The club's Saudi owners have defied every fan's worst fears and shown themselves to be measured and shrewd operators, spending well and hiring the right people. Eddie Howe has matured into one of the great managerial stars of the English game. This is a good team, to boot. Nick Pope is one of the finest shot stoppers in the country, Kieran Trippier that rare breed of defender who contributes as much going forward as most attacking players. Sven Botman, Miguel Almirón, both hugely impressive pieces of business. This squad is the envy of any in the league.</div><div><br /></div><div>They're still building, too. Harvey Barnes and Tino Livramento are great additions, but it is the signing Milan's Sandro Tonali, considered to be one of the most exciting young midfielders in the world, that really makes a statement. These owners are ambitious, and they fully intend to take the club all the way. They might get there eventually, but it probably won't be this season.</div><div><br /><b>Key Signing:</b> Sandro Tonali<br /><b>Key Man:</b> Kieran Trippier<br /><b style="color: #351c75;">Verdict: </b>The additional strain of Europe will pose challenges, but I think this squad is good enough to push for top four once again.<br /><b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></b></div><b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><div><b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></b></div>NOTTINGHAM FOREST</span></b><br />
<b>Nickname:</b> The Reds<br />
<b>Ground:</b> City Ground<br />
<b>Capacity:</b> 30,445<br />
<b>Last season:</b> 16th<br />
<b>Manager:</b> Steve Cooper<br /> </div><div>Nottingham Forest survived their long-awaited return to top flight football, just about. But repeating the feat and, in doing so, avoiding the dreaded second season syndrome, will be a tall order. </div><div><br /></div><div>As has been the case with so many of these previews, it's not that Forest have a poor side, it's that they are up against some very good sides indeed, even just to survive. </div><div><br /></div><div>In order to compete at this level you need goals, and in this side those are going to come from Taiwo Awoniyi, last season's top scorer for Forest and the key focal point in this side's attacking play. Steve Cooper has got his side playing an attractive progressive game, but the flip side to that is vulnerability at the back, and it is conspicuous that Forest conceded the third most goals of any side last term. The signing of fullback and Chelsea academy product Ola Aina to help shore up that defence may prove a shrewd signing in a problem area. </div><div><br /></div><div>Forest have done the smart thing in bringing in some proven Premier League talent, but most of those players are on the wrong side of 30, and it's not clear how many of the younglings they're supposed to help mentor will ever reach that level.</div><div><br /></div><div>Forest would gladly take a boring season of consolidation if it meant another season in the top flight, but when you look at this squad, there's a genuine question of whether they have what it takes.</div><div>
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<b>Key Signing:</b> Ola Aina<br />
<b>Key Man:</b> Taiwo Awoniyi<br />
<b style="color: #351c75;">Verdict: </b>Not a foregone conclusion, but definitely one of the risks for relegation.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">SHEFFIELD UNITED</span></b><br /><b>Nickname:</b> The Blades<br /><b>Ground:</b> Bramall Lane<br /><b>Capacity:</b> 31,884<br /><b>Last season:</b> Promoted (Runner up)<br /><b>Manager:</b> Paul Heckingbottom<br /> </div><div>Even the younger Premier League fans may remember Sheffield United's last adventure into the top flight (it was just four years ago, after all). That brief stay was almost the stuff of legends, achieving a near miraculous top half finish in their first season up, only to go right back down, rock bottom, the following season. The Blades will be hoping for a little more sustained success this time around, but the first order of business is survival, and they face a big challenge to accomplish that.</div><div><br /></div><div>The summer after promotion is usually a glut of development. The Premier League is a massive step up for any club, and most look to spend their considerable TV windfall to ensure that that they have a squad capable of competing. It is concerning, then, that Sheffield United arguably begin their season with a weaker squad than they ended last season. They've lost their top scorer from last season, as well as a few bright loan signings, and their replacements have little in the way of proven quality.</div><div><br /></div><div>A lot will depend on newly signed forward Bénie Traoré, ostensibly their main threat up front now, as well as Tom Davies, newly signed from Everton, and one of the few arrivals with Premier League experience. Of the players that remain from last season, there is some genuine quality. Anel Ahmedhodžić has shown himself to be a very influential player, both at the back and also as a goal threat on the other end. He is partnered at the back by the hugely experienced Chris Basham and talented youngster Jayden Bogle. That defence will be key to United's survival chances, because they look threadbare elsewhere.</div><div><br /><b>Key Signing:</b> Bénie Traoré<br /><b>Key Man:</b> <span>Anel Ahmedhodžić</span></div><div><span><b style="color: #351c75;">Verdict: </b></span>Will be in and around the relegation battle.</div><b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR</span></b></div><div>
<b>Nickname: </b>Spurs<br />
<b>Ground:</b> Tottenham Hotspur Stadium<br />
<b>Capacity: </b>62,850<br />
<b>Last season:</b> 8th<br />
<b>Manager:</b> Ange Postecoglou<br /> </div><div>Whisper it quietly, but Tottenham could be in for a good year? One might expect the club to be a place of doom and pessimism now that the talismanic Harry Kane has departed for greener pastures. But new manager Ange Postecoglou has managed to instil an impressively optimistic atmosphere around the club, and there is a genuine sense that they could build something here.</div><div><br /></div><div>Postecoglou is an interesting manager. He's achieved some impressive feats in his surprisingly long managerial career, but equally he has shown a tendency to flame out in a spectacular fashion, and remains unproven at the highest level. Still, he has a reputation for being able to squeeze a surprising amount out of very little, which will serve him well at a club like Tottenham. I say this not to be glib, but because that really, truly is an important requirement when managing a club run by Daniel Levy. The club's recent managerial recruitments have tended to focus on the star man, Mourinho, Espirito Santo, Conte, and they haven't worked. Perhaps they needed to think outside the box all along.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let's not beat around the bush, Harry Kane's departure is a big blow. But the man is 30, it had to happen at some point. The big question mark, then, is where are these goals going to come from. While the club has been busy in the transfer market this summer, they have notably not brought in a star striker by way of replacement. One has to assume that much of the club's fortunes will rest on Son Heung-Min, now surely the central figure in this squad. </div><div><br /></div><div>While they may not have brought in a striker, they've spent that Harry Kane money wisely, bringing in the goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, wing back Pedro Porro, and the talismanic star of relegated Leicester City, James Maddison. Even without Kane, this is a strong squad that could make a good go of pushing for top four this season.</div><div>
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<b>Key Signing:</b> James Maddison<br />
<b>Key Man:</b> Son Heung-Min<br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Verdict:</span></b> A strong top four contender..<br /><b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">WEST HAM UNITED</span></b><br />
<b>Nickname: </b>The Hammers<br />
<b>Ground:</b> London Stadium<br />
<b>Capacity: </b>60,000<br />
<b>Last season:</b> 14th<br />
<b>Manager:</b> David Moyes<br />
<br />I think people have been sleeping on West Ham a bit this summer. That's saying something coming from me, a commenter who typically mocks the media's fascination with The Hammers and that bold new era of success that never comes. </div><div><br /></div><div>True, West Ham were far from impressive last season, stumbling their way to a finish in the lower mid table. They've also lost their star man Declan Rice this summer. But his sizeable transfer kitty has been put to good use, with well over £100 million spent on the trio of James Ward-Prowse, Edson Álvarez, and Mohammed Kudus. Ward-Prowse, in particular, I have always considered to be an underrated player, whose set pieces alone should win the club points this season.</div><div><br /></div><div>While it's hard to get too excited about a side managed by David Moyes, West Ham's is a squad surprisingly stocked with top level quality. Last season's record signing Lucas Paquetá has proven to be an influential figure in the squad, while Antonio remains a handful up front. The defence is sturdy and has depth. But the underrated lynchpin of this team is Jarrod Bowen, shrewdly signed from Hull some three seasons ago for relatively little, by today's standards. As a winger, Bowen creates problems for any defence and is frequently the channel through which West Ham launch their most effective attacks.</div><div><br /></div><div>So what can this side achieve? I think pushing into the top half of that table is a very realistic target, perhaps with a push on the Europa League places.</div><div>
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<b>Key Signing:</b> James Ward-Prowse<br />
<b>Key Man:</b> Jarrod Bowen<br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Verdict:</span></b> Will push for Europa League qualification, finish in the top half.<br />
<b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS</span></b><br />
<b>Nickname: </b>Wolves<br />
<b>Ground:</b> Molineux Stadium<br />
<b>Capacity: </b>32,050<br />
<b>Last season:</b> 13th<br />
<b>Manager:</b> Gary O'Neil<br /><br /></div><div>Last, but not least, Wolves. For a number of years, Wolves were seen as one of the next big things in English football. With deep pockets, some shrewd business, and hugely ambitious owners, Wolves were shaping up to be a very fine squad with the potential of pushing on into Europe. That era seems to have passed now, with the club slumping in the last few seasons to lower mid table. A chaotic summer, with seemingly little in the way of a long term plan, leaves the club adrift, with the risk that things could go horribly south if not steadied soon.</div><div><br /></div><div>This all came to a head with the sensational departure of manager Julen Lopetegui, just days before the start of the season. His choice of replacement, Gary O'Neil, has raised more than a few eyebrows. The fact is, the club finds itself in a dire financial mess, which has resulted in an exodus of key players, most notably Rúben Neves, Raúl Jiménez, Adama Traoré and Nathan Collins. Despite this, they've gone for the big money signing of Matheus Cunha, their hand forced by the terms of last season's loan agreement. This outlay has forced the club to be somewhat stingier in the rest of its business, with a number of mostly free transfers coming in, including the re-signing of Matt Doherty from Atletico.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nothing about this situation instills confidence for the upcoming season. No one wants to say it, but Wolves really need to consider the possibility of being drawn into the relegation battle. We've seen it time and time again, but chaos off the pitch can often be as fatal as lack of quality on it.</div><div>
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<b>Key Signing:</b> Matheus Cunha<br />
<b>Key Man:</b> Neto<br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Verdict:</span></b> Without further reinforcements will struggle, and perhaps risk relegation.<br />
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<b>Predicted table:</b><br />
1. Manchester City<br />
2. Manchester United</div><div>3. Arsenal</div><div>4. Liverpool<br />
5. Newcastle<br />
6. Tottenham Hotspur<br />
7. Chelsea<br />
8. West Ham United<br />
9. Aston Villa<br />
10. Brighton<br />
11. Brentford<br />
12. Fulham<br />
13. Crystal Palace<br />
14. Burnley<br />
15. Wolverhampton Wanderers<br />
16. Nottingham Forest<br />
17. Bournemouth<br />
18. Sheffield United<br />
19. Everton<br />
20. Luton<br />
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</div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-75623163219116845992023-07-07T11:22:00.003+01:002023-07-07T11:22:40.422+01:00"The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom" Videogame Review<span style="font-weight: bold;">Developed by</span> Nintendo<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Published by</span> Nintendo<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Genre</span> Action-Advenutre<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Platform</span> Switch<br />
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"How do you follow up one of the best videogames ever made" is not a question that most developers will ever need to answer, but for Nintendo this is familiar ground. <div><br /></div><div>When <i>The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time</i> released in 1998 it built the foundations of 3D gaming that developers still follow to this day. Widely considered among the greatest games of all time, following it up seemed an impossible task at the time. Yet somehow Nintendo not only managed to build and release a sequel in two years, but that sequel, <i>Majora's Mask,</i> was considered by many to be even better.</div><div><br /></div><div>How did they do it? Nintendo realised they would never be able to top the scale of its landmark predecessor on the available hardware, so instead they looked to other ways they could innovate the formula. The result remains one of the most unique and brilliantly designed games ever made.</div><div><br /></div><div>So in crafting a follow up to 2017's <i>Breath of the Wild</i>, a groundbreaking masterpiece of open-world game design considered by many to be the very greatest of all games, can Nintendo do it again?</div><div><br /></div><div>There will be some gameplay spoilers here, and very mild story spoilers (nothing beyond the opening section).</div><div><br /></div><div>One thing that struck me in the build up to <b>The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom</b> is just how little we have seen of the game pre-release. Ordinarily for such a big release the publisher would blitz the media with advertising and previews, yet in this case we saw little more than a few cryptic teaser trailers until just the last few days prior to release, and practically nothing in the way of story or gameplay details.</div><div><br /></div><div>What we did know was that Tears of the Kingdom began life as a DLC expansion for Breath of the Wild, before growing in scope to the point where it was ultimately broken out as its own standalone project. This fact, combined with the lack of pre-release information, had given way to some concern among the fanbase. Fears abound that this would amount to little more than a glorified expansion pack, reusing assets and setting with only meager additions. I am pleased to say that this is very much not the case.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is true that Tears of the Kingdom "reuses" the same world map as Breath of the Wild (more on that later) and reuses many of the same graphics and other assets. This might lead you to wonder what they have spent the better part of the last six years doing. As with Majora's Mask, it seems that much of Nintendo's focus in this case has gone towards gameplay innovation. </div><div><br /></div><div>One of the things that made Breath of the Wild great was its complex physics system which managed to seamlessly combine many granular mechanics in ways that were conducive to very clever puzzle design, but equally could be exploited by creative players in ways that the game developers could never have imagined. Attaching leaves to logs to create a makeshift boat. Using inflatable monster parts to create a hot air balloon, or even just something as daft as a catapult to launch players across the map. Even now, six years after release, players are still coming up with new ways to use these physics systems to achieve weird and wonderful things. With Tears of the Kingdom, Nintendo clearly looked at what players were having fun doing and said "yeah, let's have more of that." </div><div><br /></div><div>Fuse is a new power that allows Link to attach items to weapons, shields and arrows. This includes just about any item in the game world. You can attach rocks and monster parts, gemstones, even food items. This serves a few purposes. Fusing items increases their durability, which is essential in Tears of the Kingdom as the game opens with an event that "decays" all weapons in the world to the point where they will break after just a few uses. Different items will also confer certain attributes or bonuses. This may be something as simple as increased damage, or defense. Fusing certain items may give you increased temperature resistance, or allow you to set fire to or freeze things. Attach a "puffshroom" to a shield to create a cloud of smoke. Attach a fan or spring to a shield to send enemies flying. Attaching spikes, horns and certain stones to a shield allows you to effectively dual wield weapons. Attach a Keese eye to an arrow and it will home in on enemies. Those are the obvious examples, then there's the less obvious. Attach a minecart to a shield and you have a skateboard. Attach a spear to another spear and you have a stupidly long weapon that can attack enemies from great distance. There are hundreds of items in this game, each with their own properties and benefits. The possibilities are staggering. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then there's ultra-hand. Ultra-hand takes essentially the same concept as Fuse but expands it to the entire world. So instead of attaching items to your equipment, you can now attach different objects to each other. This might be useful to create a platform, or ramp, or a makeshift boat. Or you can attach them to one of the myriad of new "Zonai devices". There are dozens of different types of these devices, ranging from fans, to wheels, to balloons, gliders, cannons, springs and much more. By combining these devices with the objects around you, the game opens up truly endless possibilities. You can build just about anything you can imagine. For the purposes of gameplay, the idea is you can build yourself cars, boats, even aircraft. But already there are some truly creative people out there putting together all manner of contraptions, combining wheels and springs to create a functioning suspension system for all-terrain vehicles, fashioning giant walking mech-robots or automated flying laser drones. I saw one Reddit user create an automated egg farm that worked by attracting and then trapping chickens. Another figured out that frozen meat is simultaneously quite durable and has zero friction, making it an excellent contact point for a hovercraft. And this is just the beginning. The game has only been out a matter of weeks and I can only imagine what people will be building a year from now. </div><div><br /></div><div>Even before we get onto the rest of the game, what Nintendo have built here is incredible. To have crafted such a rich, complex system of physics and mechanics, complete with a very direct element of player agency, in all its unpredictability, is hugely impressive. There's little else like it. The fact that they did this and that it is so seamless, so polished, so bug free, is really nothing short of a miracle. Nintendo allegedly delayed this game by a year just to add polish, and it shows. Other developers would do well to take note.</div><div><br /></div><div>But of course this is not Garry's Mod, or some kind of physics sandbox. This is still a Zelda game, and just because Nintendo have devoted a massive effort to these kinds of features does not mean that the rest of the game has been neglected. </div><div><br /></div><div>Tears of the Kingdom is very much a full-blooded Zelda adventure, complete with an epic story, colorful cast of characters, and a sweeping array of different locations to explore. In fact, while I expect most of the attention will be on the new powers, it is here where I feel Nintendo have most improved on Breath of the Wild. As brilliant as that game was, it did have a fairly simplistic story, with a cast of characters who barely featured, and disappointingly slight dungeons to explore. It was quite a lonely experience that was very much focused on its sandbox qualities and puzzles.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tears of the Kingdom has a much more ambitious story, more thrillingly presented. It has characters that are actually present throughout the story and play a major role in your adventuring. In fact, in a first for the franchise, Tears of the Kingdom actually features "companions" to a limited degree, who will accompany you through dungeons and fight alongside you. The dungeons are also bigger, more numerous, and feature actual unique bosses rather than just the same one reskinned with a different coat of paint. The world itself is much livelier. There are more people out and about doing things, more side quests, more characters.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then there is the world itself. This was, for me, the true star of Breath of the Wild. This incredible open world rich with hand-crafted detail, every inch of which could be explored. It was a treat simply to load up the game, pick a direction at random, and go explore. Very few games before or since have managed to achieve what that game did. As I have previously mentioned, Tears of the Kingdom reuses the overworld from Breath of the Wild, and pre-release this had me worried that the game might feel stale, or a rehash of what came before. If so much of the joy of the first game was exploring this world, then how could this game possibly recreate that feeling using a world that I've already explored?</div><div><br /></div><div>It turns out I needn't have worried. Yes, this is the same Hyrule that we have previously explored, and yet, somehow, it feels fresh. It's clearly been remixed to a fair degree, ensuring that just about everything is new or changed from what you will remember. Nintendo have also been clever in guiding players (through quests and world design) to spend more time in areas that you won't have explored as much in Breath of the Wild (eg Hyrule field), and less time in areas that were used extensively (eg the Great Plateau). Perhaps it is a testament to just how impressive the original design was, but I was quite surprised by the extent to which this felt like exploring a new world.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pre-release much has been made of the addition of a new "layer" of sky islands, effectively a new overworld above the old one. These I actually found a little disappointing. The sky islands are fun enough to explore, but they're mostly quite small and lacking in depth, and since they are only dotted sporadically around the world they don't come even close to matching the scale of the surface level world.</div><div><br /></div><div>But Nintendo had one final trick up its sleeve. The underground layer, a whole new layer of world to explore that was never even mentioned in the pre-release trailers. That's right, Tears of the Kingdom effectively features three over-worlds: the sky level, the surface level, and the underground. This underground layer covers the entirety of this giant world of Hyrule and it is absolutely massive. It is just unfortunate that more isn't made of this underground layer. The amount of space here is huge, but for the most part it is used mainly for farming crafting materials, boss fights, and the occasional side quest.</div><div><br /></div><div>Perhaps my biggest issue with this game is how the "companions" have been implemented. To be clear, I like the idea of companions in Zelda, it's a good idea, but it has been used poorly here. Companions function essentially as surrogate equipment. Whereas in a previous game you might have had an item that allowed you to get a speed boost, or electrically charge your weapons, in this game you "activate" your companions in order to do so. This in itself is not a terrible concept, the problem is that these abilities aren't tied to a particular button or menu, rather you need to actively chase down your companion and activate the power physically while standing right next to them. This is incredibly tedious, especially as companions are coded to always stand behind the player so as to not block the camera, meaning that while you're chasing them down, they're often running away. Imagine having to do this in the middle of combat. It's surprising, considering how polished and well thought out the rest of the game is, that this one mechanic is so janky and poorly conceived. A rare example of poor game design.</div><div><br /></div><div>But, this aside, my other criticisms with this game are very minor.</div><div><br /></div><div>As mentioned above, while the surface layer of the world has been impressively reused, more could have been done to make the other layers as compelling to explore. </div><div><br /></div><div>Some of the menus and interfaces remain a bit too fiddly, especially when trying to fuse an item to an arrow, for example, which requires you to scroll through a list of potentially hundreds of items and gets tedious quickly.</div><div><br /></div><div>While most of the puzzles and shrines are great fun, occasionally you will find one that is either poorly or unfairly designed, or poorly explained, in a way that causes frustration rather than enjoyment. In particular, the puzzles that rely on "platforming" style gameplay tend to feel a bit weak. Zelda has never been a platformer, and the controls simply aren't responsive or precise enough to make that kind of gameplay feel anything other than an irritation.</div><div>
<br />Minor annoyances aside, you'd have to say that Nintendo have somehow done it again. They've followed up a landmark game with yet another landmark game, one that expands and objectively improves upon just about every element of its predecessor. Tears of the Kingdom is simply brilliant, and there's really no other way to describe it.<br />
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<br /></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-20264171924140515742023-06-04T19:03:00.000+01:002023-06-04T19:03:02.640+01:00"Fantasy - M83" Album Review<span style="font-weight: bold;">Genre</span> Synth-pop<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Label</span> Virgin<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Producers </span>Anthony Gonzalez<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Every band has that one album that's so good that it serves as a milestone against which all future albums must be compared. For <b>M83</b> that album is 2011's <i>Hurry Up, We're Dreaming</i>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Considered one of the seminal albums of the 21st Century so far, it's proven an unsurprisingly high bar for the French synth-poppers to meet. The immediate follow up, <i>Junk</i>, marked a major change in direction and was met with decidedly mixed reception, while the fully instrumental <i>DSVII </i>represents the only other output we've seen in the years since. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Now, some 12 years later, we finally have a genuine successor to Hurry Up, We're Dreaming, <b>Fantasy</b>. An album which very nearly achieves the impossible.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Musically, Fantasy takes a page from its illustrious predecessor. The heavily 1980s influenced dreamscapes return, with imagery and texture inspired by the films of your childhood. But there's an added edge here, something drawn on the indie and shoegaze roots of M83's earlier work that keeps the music from sounding like empty nostalgia.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">It works very well, these songs are excellent.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Lead single <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryFV9dORPPw">Oceans Niagara</a> </b>is just pure 1980s adventure film. It's the Goonies, it's The Neverending Story, it's The Last Starfighter. A mainly instrumental track that is at once wistful and romantic, yet explosive in the "chorus". It's a perfect summary of what M83 are all about in musical terms.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Much of the album follows this formula, drawing you in with the welcoming synths of a Hollywood score, before achieving lift off through an ecstatic wall of sound. A prime example being <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zNqhzl2Qv0">Amnesia</a></b>, another radio-friendly number that drives forward with a chorus that's practically tripping over itself to break free.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">As with M83's previous work, these euphoric highs are broken up by moments of introspection; the day-dreaming <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrEQjbCgPoM"><b>Radar, Far, Gone</b></a>, the reckoning of closing track <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMsU1k9tlWA"><b>The Dismemberment Bureau</b></a>. But the album's high points are undoubtedly when M83 goes bold. The mid-album epic <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyaO0zgBxa8"><b>Earth To Sea</b></a>, might just be one of the band's finest tracks yet, certainly one of the biggest, most soaring.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In its best moments, the music of Fantasy is as good as anything M83 has ever recorded, possibly with even higher highs than Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. Yet there's something that holds this album back from true greatness.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Hurry Up, We're Dreaming was not just a collection of great songs, it was a great experience as a whole. When you listen to that album from start to finish, it feels like going on an adventure, with emotional beats that follow the narrative course of an epic movie or novel. And much like a great movie or novel, when you reach the end you feel saddened, like something has ended. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Fantasy doesn't quite evoke the same feeling. These songs are great, but there's no single thread running through them, one song doesn't logically flow into the next in the same way. This doesn't feel like a single journey all the way through, rather a collection of unrelated ephemeral moments. Thirteen really excellent things rather than one really excellent thing. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">As a result, Fantasy never really feels more than the sum of its parts in the way that its predecessor did. It is an excellent album without doubt, perhaps one of the best of the year, but it never quite reaches that zenith to place it alongside the truly great albums of our times.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc6600;">Must Listen :</span></span><br />
<b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyaO0zgBxa8">Earth to Sea</a></b><br />
<b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryFV9dORPPw">Oceans Niagara</a></b><br />
<b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zNqhzl2Qv0">Amnesia</a></b><br />
<b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMsU1k9tlWA">Dismemberment Bureau</a></b><br />
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<br />Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-52379941801556673342023-05-29T19:56:00.000+01:002023-05-29T19:56:35.875+01:00The Ephemeric Premier League 2022/23 Review<p>Another Premier League campaign in the history books and it was a season of heartbreak for many. Arsenal led the way for most of the year before faltering in the final weeks. Tottenham similarly looked set for Champions League qualification before a late fall saw them drop out of contention for any European competition. At the foot of the table, recent Premier League champions Leicester city shockingly dropped down to the Championship. Chelsea also existed.</p><br /><img alt="premier league 2023 manchester city champions klopp pep guardiola tuchel lampard chelsea ephemeric european super league" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/FbdbL3P.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 350px;" width="350" /><br /><div><div>And now I am going to take the unprecedented step of jumping straight to the end of season awards, because this season is not worth talking about in any greater detail.</div><div><div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">The Ephemeric Premier League Awards 2023:</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Winners:</span> <b>Manchester City </b><br /><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Relegated:</span> <b>Leicester, Leeds, Southampton</b><br /><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Player of the Year:</span> <b>Erling Haaland (Manchester City)</b><br /><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">U-21 Player of the Year:</span> <b>Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)</b><br /><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Best Goalkeeper:</span> <b>Nick Pope (Newcastle)</b><br /><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Top Scorer:</span> <b>Erling Haaland (Manchester City) (36)</b><br /><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Most Assists:</span> <b>Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) (16) </b><br /><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Manager of the Year:</span> <b>Unai Emery (Aston Villa)</b><br /><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Best signing of the season: </span><b>Erling Haaland (Manchester City)</b><br /><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Worst signing of the season: </span><b>Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Chelsea)</b><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">The Ephemeric Premier League Team of the Season 2023:</span></span></span><br /><br /><img alt="english epl bpl premier league best team xi of the season 2023" height="380" src="https://i.imgur.com/a8ezmC3.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 350px;" width="350" /><br /></div><div>So there we have it, another season of Premier League football gone by. We'll see you again next season!</div><div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><br /></div></div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-90893705914139397072023-04-22T12:54:00.000+01:002023-04-22T12:54:51.244+01:00"The Super Mario Bros Movie" Film Review<span style="font-weight: bold;">Directed by</span> Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic <br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Written by</span> Matthew Fogel<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Produced by</span> Chris Meledandri, Shigeru Miyamoto<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Starring</span> Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, Charlie Day, Seth Rogen<br />
<strong>Studio </strong>Illumination<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Running time </span>92 minutes<br />
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There are no good videogame movies, or so the conventional wisdom goes. Any time a celebrated videogame series is adapted to other media, this old chestnut invariably rears its head. Only, it's not really true and hasn't been for a while. Just this year we've had an adaptation of The Last of Us released to high critical acclaim, while the last few years have seen not one, but two Sonic the Hedgehog movies and Detective Pikachu, all certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. So it is perhaps not so unheard of as the wisdom would suggest. What is fair to say is that videogame adaptations have a low hit-rate. While there are plenty of good ones, most are not (the reason for why that is the case is a discussion for another time). </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So when <b>Nintendo</b> decided to try their hand at adapting Mario to the big screen this year, it predictably spawned the usual breathless headlines asking whether this would be the film to break the (mostly mythical) videogame movie curse. Lazy journalism aside, the point stands that there is a lot riding on the success of this film. Nintendo clearly has visions of an expansive cinematic universe, yet has historically been very protective of its IP - understandably so given their early misadventures into Hollywood in the 1990s. So the real question is simply, have they finally cracked the movie industry?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>The Super Mario Bros Movie</b> is an adaptation of Nintendo's beloved mascot. Fully animated by the people at <b>Illumination</b>, best known for Despicable Me and Minions. The decision to award such a flagship IP to a studio known for fairly forgettable kids movies certainly raised a few eyebrows, but in truth it's hard to imagine any of the top tier animation studios agreeing to adapt someone else's IP so it shouldn't have come as a surprise. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">It is fair to say that this is a cut above the typical Illumination movie in terms of quality. The animation is gorgeous and highly detailed, the writing is witty and there's a general sheen of quality throughout. The film is also jam-packed full of references and your favourite characters from the games. It's actually fairly impressive how much they've managed to cram into a short runtime without it falling apart completely. There's Mario Kart, Donkey Kong... they manage to sneak in a few obscure references to Jump Man and Kid Icarus. We even get the obligatory "your princess is in another castle" gag. The score also makes extensive use of the music from the games, to good effect. This is all very pleasing to a videogame nerd such as myself.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The characters themselves are fairly well translated to the big screen. Mario and Luigi are basically the Italian-American plumber stereotypes you expect them to be. Donkey Kong is a lovably arrogant jock. Toad is delightfully zany (a good call there). But the real star of the show has to be what these writers have done with Princess Peach. In the games, Peach is almost always just there as a squeaky-voiced damsel in distress, just waiting to be rescued by Mario. Here, she is reimagined as kind of a badass. Tough, independent and capable. A truly great character for young girls to be watching in a movie. I really hope Nintendo follow suit with this interpretation of the character in their future games. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The cast is also mostly pretty good. Anya Taylor-Joy, of course, is great as Peach. Jack Black gobbles up every scene he's in as Bowser. Charlie Day turns out to be pitch perfect casting as Luigi. If there is one somewhat weak spot, it is, unfortunately, the main character. It's hard to see Chris Pratt's casting as Mario as anything other than betting on starpower. His performance here is mixed, and not just because of his inconsistent accent. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Unfortunately, but for these strengths there's just not much there under the surface. This is quite a shallow movie. There's not much of a real story so to speak and the characters have only minimal depth to them. No one really has an actual character arc. There's no hero's journey, Mario doesn't learn and grow from his experience. He starts off as a plucky, if underappreciated, plumber who wants to save Brooklyn, and ends up basically the same guy. The same goes for Princess Peach, who starts off a badass, and remains so throughout the film. They could have at least added some tension in the form of Peach being initially skeptical or cold towards this mysterious newcomer, Mario, or have Mario start off as jaded and cynical before growing into the hero we know and love, but they don't. There's perhaps a slight hint of growth for Luigi, who starts off a bit of a coward before finding some bravery at the end, but it's all very perfunctory.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">You might argue that this is the fault of the source material, after all the Mario games are more known for gameplay than story and have rarely attempted any kind of character development or consistent worldbuilding. But a good adaptation needs to consider the elements of the source material that do and don't work in a new medium and adapt accordingly. The Sonic movie is a good example of this. Paramount correctly decided that simply transposing a game onto the big screen wouldn't work and instead focused first and foremost on making a good film, using elements from the IP. At the time, that film was criticised by many from straying too far from the source material, but the Mario movie is a golden example of the opposite, what happens when you adhere too closely to the source material.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The film does also struggle a bit for trying to fit too much into its short runtime. As noted earlier, the film doesn't completely fall apart into a mess, but it does sometimes feel a bit slap-dash, like a sprint to see how many references and elements they can squeeze in, with little rhyme or reason to any of it. It's good that they introduced all these elements, it gives me hope that there is more to come when Nintendo grow this into their envisioned cinematic universe. It is my hope that this serves mainly as an introduction, and that the next projects flesh these elements out a bit more.</div>
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To be clear, this is definitely not a bad movie, but set your expectations appropriately. This is a fun little romp with a lot of bright colourful gags for kids, and nostalgia for adults. It's unfortunately a bit shallow and forgettable, but the real value may yet be realised in how it sets up the future Nintendo cinematic universe.<br />
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<br />Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-57401654067386288412023-04-09T16:19:00.000+01:002023-04-09T16:19:11.795+01:00"Hogwarts Legacy" Videogame Review<span style="font-weight: bold;">Developed by</span> Avalanche Software<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Published by</span> Warner Bros Games<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Genre</span> Action role-playing game<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Platform</span> PC, <b>Playstation</b>, Xbox, Switch<br />
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<img alt="hogwarts legacy avalanche rowling harry potter best game 2023" src="https://i.imgur.com/4YzgMFe.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 350px;" /><br />For years, fans have been asking for a game like this. If you asked a group of people what their dream videogame would be, often you'd get a response along the lines of "an open-world Harry Potter RPG that lets you live and go to school at Hogwarts." It's become something of a meme to ask why this game doesn't exist. You can see why. Harry Potter and the Wizarding World is, after all, one of the biggest franchises in the entire entertainment industry, with a built-in fanbase conservatively estimated in the multi-millions strong. Not to mention a fanbase that is notable for its passion, to the point where brick and mortar Wizarding World merchandise shops exist all over the world, with people routinely buying their own wands and Hogwarts regalia. A game that allows those fans to live out their fantasies seems like an obvious money-maker.<div><br /></div><div>Well, they finally listened to the memes and did in fact make that game. <b>Hogwarts Legacy</b> is an open-world action RPG set in the Wizarding World of the late 1800s. In this game, players will design their own unique character, attend classes at Hogwarts, explore both the castle as well as the surrounding countryside and villages, and embark on an original adventure alongside a colorful cast of characters and fellow students. On the surface, it's everything fans have been waiting for.</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, before we can really dive into reviewing this game, we need to address the elephant in the room. The creator of the Wizarding World, J. K. Rowling, has taken a lot of heat in recent years for making transphobic comments that have offended many and sparked an outraged response, to the extent that many have called for a boycott of all things Potter-related, including this game. While I obviously do not condone hate speech, nor the specific comments in question, I also feel strongly that the actions of one person do not justify disregarding the world of hundreds of others. Game designers, writers, and everyone else who has devoted years of their lives to creating this game, potentially the biggest project of their careers to date. They deserve to have their work evaluated on its merits, and not have their livelihoods trashed for the bad fortune of being in close professional proximity to Rowling. That is all I will say on the subject.</div><div><br /></div><div>On first impression, it is surprising and impressive just how much this game tries to do. This game has clearly been designed with the fans in mind and goes to great lengths to provide fans with as complete a Wizarding World experience as possible. The staples are all here. Players can customise their wand in both appearance and various components. Players get sorted by the Sorting Hat into their house (and can choose if they don't get the sorting they desire). Players make friends, attend classes. You can fly your broom as well as various mounts including Hippogriffs and Thestrals. There is a chunky main quest line as well as numerous side quests. You can even play a few games around campus: broom racing, Summoner's Court and duelling. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is all more or less what I was expecting. What I was not expecting was for the world to be quite as vast as it is. Hogwarts itself is spectacular to explore. A whimsical, twisting, Eschereque maze of a setting filled with secrets and puzzles. It is everything that Hogwarts should be. But there is also a wide world outside of Hogwarts. Huge amounts of countryside and smattering of villages and towns, all full of various quests and collectibles. Hogsmeade itself is present and full of activities, some substantial, others more for flavour. </div><div><br /></div><div>There is a "player housing" type experience in the form of the Room of Requirement, a remarkably customisable space that players can decorate and furnish with all manner of items they discover from exploring the world. Much of this is superficial and solely for the enjoyment of the player, although there is a practical component from the various crafting mechanics and items.</div><div><br /></div><div>Most surprising is the deeper than expected beast-rearing mini-game. That's right, Hogwarts Legacy draws heavily on the Fantastic Beasts films as well, with players able to explore and "rescue" various beasts, which can then be kept in a vivarium. Beasts can be pet and fed in exchange for various crafting resources, they can be bred, with a surprisingly deep set of genetic traits.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is all so "extra" that it's surprising the game isn't a sprawling, chaotic mess. There's a lot here, a lot that didn't need to be here, but it's all very well executed and holds together. It's even more impressive considering the developer. With the greatest of respect, Avalanche Software has historically been a purveyor of fairly minor ports and licensed products. They have never come even close to taking on a AAA project of this ambition and scope. For them to have taken this project, and delivered on it to such an extent is a remarkable accomplishment and a huge step up for this team. But there are moments where the seams start to tear, and Avalanche's inexperience with projects of this scale begin to show. </div><div><br /></div><div>There are glitches. I've seen everything from crashes, to duplicating inventory items, to randomly falling through the floor. Most of the time the bugs are fairly minor or can be corrected by reloading an earlier save file. Sometimes the bugs do prevent progress, such as one I encountered when exploring a treasure cave, but was unable to proceed because my character randomly floated into the ceiling and got stuck. I will say, however, that I never encountered such large bugs along the main story quest, only while exploring. Still though, this is a console game. The hardware is identical for everyone. There is really no excuse for such noticeable bugs remaining at launch.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are also a few moments where the game design can't keep up with its ambition. The game is large, but there's only the same three types of enemies, wizards, goblins, and spiders. This might seem like a fairly minor complaint, but when you're playing a side quest that takes you into yet another spider cave for the 30th time, it starts to get a bit tedious.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's also quite a lonely game. For a franchise which focuses so much on friendship and the adventures of a core cast of characters, there is surprisingly little emphasis on this in the game. Your character does have friends in this game and they are pretty good, but outside of a few specific quest instances, you can't really do anything with them. It would have been nice for there to be more ways to interact with these characters, be it in sports or mini-games, attending more classes together, or some form of companion system where they can join you on your adventuring. It is hard not to feel like something is missing from the experience without that.</div><div><br /></div><div>The quality of writing is noticeably variable. The main quest is fine, if unremarkable. Some of the side quests are excellent, others highly forgettable. In general, the game is at its best when it keeps you in Hogwarts, doing quests with your classmates and professors, so it is disappointing that there isn't more of this (such as those additional character interactions, as noted above).</div><div><br /></div><div>It is also worth noting what this game is not. This is not a life simulator. There is no relationship system with your classmates. You can not repeatedly attend classes or go through the student life (as you can in, for example, Rockstar's Bully). I don't want to criticise a game for what it is not, but I can imagine a lot of Potter fans disappointed that there aren't more of these types of things in the game, especially when they've gone to such lengths to add unnecessary immersion in other areas.</div><div><br /></div><div>But while it can be a bit rough around the edges in places, it comes pretty damn close to delivering on that vast potential. While it isn't perfect, Hogwarts Legacy is an excellent adventure game that will delight fans of both the source material and the genre in general. If these developers can tighten up the weak aspects and flesh out its strengths, the sequel could be spectacular.</div><div>
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<br /></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-54481874846817163442023-04-02T14:37:00.000+01:002023-04-02T14:37:16.390+01:00The Historic Criminal Indictment of Donald Trump<p>On March 30, 2023, a grand jury convened by the Manhattan District Attorney, unanimously voted to criminally indict the former President of the United States, Donald Trump. While the exact charges remain under seal, they are believed to include more than 30 fraud-related charges, including at least one (perhaps several) that rise to the level of a felony. It is a historic moment in American history, but to call it a shock would be untrue. Frankly, if anything about this surprises you, you just haven't been paying attention.</p><br /><img alt="2020 2021 trump presidential legacy failure failed one single term president shame darkness embarrassment" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443782139865281186" src="https://i.imgur.com/eJy3V7M.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); display: block; height: 200px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 350px;" /><br />This has been coming for a long time. Donald Trump's criminal investigations are numerous and it has been pretty clear for a while now that he would face some form of indictment eventually. The only question has been which investigation would get to him first. There is some irony to the fact that a man currently under investigation for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FBI_investigation_into_Donald_Trump%27s_handling_of_government_documents">Espionage Act violations</a>, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/21/us/trump-georgia-grand-jury-indictments.html">election interference in Georgia</a> as well as the attempted Jan 6 coup d'etat would first be brought down by sleeping with a porn star, but as we will soon see, there are very real and serious crimes here, the facts of which have long been established in law. It is no surprise to see these charges lead the way.<div><br /></div><div><br /><div><u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Background</b></span></u></div><div>It is expected that when the charges are revealed, they will include various fraud charges. It has been widely anticipated that these would include charges in relation to hush money payments Trump made during his first Presidential campaign to cover up an affair with porn star Stormy Daniels, but the most recent understanding is that the charges are broader than that and will cover additional dealings.</div><div><br /></div><div>While the specific charges have not been officially detailed, there is a lot we can infer from publicly available information. Hush money payments are, themselves, not illegal. Misrepresenting their purpose in tax and business filings is illegal. This in itself would be a misdemeanor charge. What elevates this illegality to the level of felony is where the fraud has been perpetrated in the act of covering up another crime. In this case, the crime being covered up is believed to be some form of campaign finance violation, with these payments constituting a campaign contribution in kind that were either not properly disclosed or that exceeded the maximum contribution limits. Once the official charges are revealed, we will learn more.</div><div><br /></div><div>From what we can tell, this investigation began with the Mueller Report (remember that guy?). Robert Mueller's report outlined ten instances in which Donald Trump <a href="http://www.the-ephemeric.com/2019/04/the-mueller-report-yes-collusion.html">may have criminally obstructed justice</a>, but ultimately declined to indict on the basis that charges could not be brought against a sitting President. It was widely overlooked at the time amid this more dramatic headline, but Mueller also identified a number of other potential legal matters that were referred to other investigators. One of these matters related to potential wire fraud and FECA charges in relation to Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen, which were then referred to New York investigators. These charges mark the culmination of this line of investigation.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>How Serious are the Charges?</u></b></span></div><div>Very serious. Financial crime may not be as dramatic or easily understandable as some of the other things for which Trump is being investigated, but they are significant crimes for which people go to jail.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>How Likely is Trump to be Convicted?</u></b></span></div><div>Of course, no one can make any reasonable prediction on this without knowing what the charges are and what evidence exists. That being said, from the information available now, our starting presumption should be that it is quite likely.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>There are a few reasons for thinking this. Firstly, this is a grand jury charge. Grand jury charges usually result in a successful conviction. The main reason being that in order to even make the indictment to begin with you need to convince a jury that there is a prosecutable case. Different juries may come to different conclusions, and the burden of proof is different, but unless significant new facts come to light it stands to reason that if one jury is convinced, another could also be convinced.</div><div><br /></div><div>More directly on this case, however, is that many of these facts have already been established in law. Cohen was ultimately charged in relation to these same crimes in 2018 and found guilty. Even more damning for Trump is that in that 2018 Cohen indictment, Trump himself was named as an <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/donald-trump-named-as-co-conspirator-to-a-crime-by-prosecutors-11687574">unindicted co-conspirator</a>. At the time, more than 1,000 Federal prosecutors formally issued a statement that <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/former-federal-prosecutors-trump-indicted-wasnt-president-1439716">Trump would have been indicted</a> had he not been protected by presidential immunity.</div><div><br /></div><div>So it is pretty clear that as far back as 2018 prosecutors felt there was a case against Trump here. I, for one, have been expecting an indictment on this since the day Trump left office and have been mystified as to why it has not materialised until now. Many speculated that it may have been shifted aside in favour of the larger ongoing investigations. It turns out this was not the case.</div><div><br /></div><div>There have been suggestions that the case is weak, or that other investigators passed on filing charges. This is demonstrably untrue. Mueller didn't pass on the case, he referred it to New York because he felt it was outside the purview of his investigation. The Manhattan DA's predecessor didn't pass on it (in fact he explicitly came out saying that he felt there was a prosecutable case), the investigation simply wasn't complete until now.</div><div><br /></div><div>There have been suggestions that there is political motivation behind these charges. This also appears unlikely. The investigation, of course, began under Trump's own administration, who clearly held no bias against him. This DA has, notably, passed on bringing charges in other Trump investigations (the asset valuation investigation), for which he was heavily criticised, making clear that he is being selective in his cases rather than simply grasping at whatever he can get. Most clearly, this indictment was voted on by a grand jury, not by the DA. So even if he was a partisan hack it wouldn't matter, the jury ultimately decided that there was a prosecutable case.</div><div><br /></div><div>So ignore the spin, ignore the revisionist history. These charges are serious, and there is every indication that the case is strong, valid, and will end poorly for the former President.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>What is Trump's Potential Legal Exposure?</u></b></span></div><div>This is difficult to say without further detail on the charges. But if, as believed, they include felony fraud charges, these could result in a maximum sentence of 4 years in prison each. If there are misdemeanour charges, these could each also result in a maximum sentence of a year, with fines or community service also a possibility. </div><div><br /></div><div>The problem Trump faces is that there are believed to be more than 30 such charges. These add up. If Trump is convicted on all charges, he will likely face many years in prison. At his age, that could potentially be the rest of his life.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>How Will This Affect Trump Politically?</u></b></span></div><div>This is a legal matter. As far as I'm concerned, politics shouldn't come into it at all and so this part of the discussion should not be relevant. That said, Donald Trump is a political figure, one who is currently running for President, so such questions are inevitable.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>I can't believe I need to say this, but being criminally indicted will not benefit Donald Trump politically. Anyone who suggests otherwise is speaking a load of nonsense or trying to drum up outrage and clicks. These are the same people who were convinced Americans didn't care about Jan 6 and that Republicans would accordingly romp to a MAGA-fuelled tsunami in 2022 that never materialised. It's not reality.</div><div><br /></div><div>First, the obvious, Americans in general do not sympathise with Donald Trump on this matter. A <a href="https://maristpoll.marist.edu/polls/donald-trump-investigations/">wide majority</a> of Americans believe that Trump did wrong and that the investigations against him are fair. Trump himself has <a href="https://law.marquette.edu/poll/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/MLSPSC13PressRelease_NationalIssues.pdf">extraordinarily low favorability ratings</a> with Americans at just 34%. Trump and the MAGA wing of the Republican party have fared poorly in recent elections, losing three election cycles in a row (2018, 2020 and 2022) as moderates flee in droves. His political influence only seems to be declining.</div><div><br /></div><div>So even if his indictment does fire up support from the Trump base, his base alone does not appear to be enough to win a national election. The polling suggests that no one outside of his base is particularly sympathetic and it is difficult to imagine that changing. All the moderates who left Trump after Jan 6 aren't going to suddenly come back when he's been charged with mass fraud.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then there is the practical impact of criminal indictment. If Trump is in the middle of a trial, or even in prison, that is going to reduce the amount of campaigning he can do. No more rallies, no live appearances. Anyone who thinks an effective modern Presidential campaign can be run from a prison cell clearly hasn't thought it through.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Republican primary, however, will be interesting. Trump's wing still comprises a significant portion of the Republican voter base. So while their being fired up probably doesn't help Trump in a general election, I can see it potentially having an impact on the primary. Ultimately, though, I think this says more about the state of the Republican party than anything else. To be perfectly frank, if Trump's Republican rivals can't capitalise on such a gaping vulnerability, they're clearly in big trouble for 2024.</div><div><br /></div><div>So despite what the right wing propagandists are telling you, despite what the media's outrage-mongers are saying to drive clicks, sometimes the obvious reality holds true. Being criminally indicted is bad for Donald Trump. To suggest otherwise is absurd.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>What Happens Next?</u></b></span></div><div>The legal process can be long, this case is likely to drag out for a while yet, perhaps even beyond the 2024 election, but the future looks bleak for Donald Trump.</div><div><br /></div><div>It looks even more bleak when you consider that this is just the first and, in the eyes of many, possibly the least substantial of Trump's legal exposures. It's entirely likely that Trump will be hit with further criminal charges in Georgia, or for Federal crimes, before this case is resolved.</div><div><br /></div><div>For now, just appreciate what this moment represents. A man who has, for so long, evaded any manner of consequences for his actions, finally has gotten his comeuppance. Finally we have seen the proof that no one is above the law, no matter how powerful. I've seen a lot of sentiments reflecting on this as a dark, somber moment for the country. But I don't see it that way. This is an emphatic victory for America. This is a victory for democracy, the rule of law, and the fundamental values of fairness and equality on which the country is built.</div></div><div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-60919767434239818052023-03-12T16:23:00.001+00:002023-03-12T16:24:13.948+00:00The 95th Academy Awards Predictions<p> </p><img alt="oscars 86th academy awards 2014" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443782139865281186" src="http://i.imgur.com/d3lwnan.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); display: block; height: 190px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /><br />Welcome back to The Ephemeric. It is Oscar season again, and once again March is the month in which I know not the light of day. I could make the same joke as last year by copy pasting the intro blurb, but instead I'll just get straight to some predictions so we can all go on with our day.<br /><br />This was actually a pretty tricky year to call. I am very torn between The Banshees of Inisherin and Everything Everywhere All at Once for the bulk of awards. Both are love it or hate it kind of movies that could really go either way depending on who's voting. Meanwhile many of the technical awards are being contested by an array of sumptuously produced but otherwise aggressively "just ok" films like Elvis, Avatar 2 and The Fabelans. I'm usually pretty accurate with these predictions, but who knows, this year could spring a few surprises!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Best Picture</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nominations:</span><ul><li>All Quiet on the Western Front – Malte Grunert, producer</li><li>Avatar: The Way of Water – James Cameron and Jon Landau, producers</li><li>The Banshees of Inisherin – Graham Broadbent, Peter Czernin, and Martin McDonagh, producers</li><li>Elvis – Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin, Gail Berman, Patrick McCormick, and Schuyler Weiss, producers</li><li>Everything Everywhere All at Once – Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, and Jonathan Wang, producers</li><li>The Fabelmans – Kristie Macosko Krieger, Steven Spielberg, and Tony Kushner, producers</li><li>Tár – Todd Field, Alexandra Milchan, and Scott Lambert, producers</li><li>Top Gun: Maverick – Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, David Ellison, and Jerry Bruckheimer, producers</li><li>Triangle of Sadness – Erik Hemmendorff and Philippe Bober, producers</li><li>Women Talking – Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Frances McDormand, producers</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">And the winner: </span>Everything Everywhere All at Once</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Who should really win:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: 700;">Everything Everywhere All at Once</span><div><b>Explanation:</b> I am torn this year between EEAaO and Banshees of Inisherin. Banshees is a brilliantly made movie, one of McDonagh's best, but EEAaO is one of those once in a generation slices of insanity that will enthrall some and repulse others. My initial impression was that Banshees was the superior film, but EEAaO has grown on me since I saw it, for its ambition, its imagination. I think it will win the big prize today.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Best Director</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nominations:</span><ul><li>Martin McDonagh – The Banshees of Inisherin</li><li>Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert – Everything Everywhere All at Once</li><li>Steven Spielberg – The Fabelmans</li><li>Todd Field – Tár</li><li>Ruben Östlund – Triangle of Sadness</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">And the winner: </span></span><span style="font-weight: 700;">Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert - Everything Everywhere All at Once</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Who should really win:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: 700;">Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert - Everything Everywhere All at Once</span></div><div><b>Explanation:</b> As best picture goes, so also does best director often go. Hard to argue with a director who is able to make audiences weep over a scene of two rocks arguing.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Best Actor</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nominations:</span><ul><li>Austin Butler – Elvis as Elvis Presley</li><li>Colin Farrell – The Banshees of Inisherin as Pádraic Súilleabháin</li><li>Brendan Fraser – The Whale as Charlie</li><li>Paul Mescal – Aftersun as Calum Paterson</li><li>Bill Nighy – Living as Mr. Rodney Williams</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">And the winner: </span>Brendan Fraser – The Whale as Charlie</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Who should really win:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: 700;">Colin Farrell – The Banshees of Inisherin as Pádraic Súilleabháin</span></div><div><b>Explanation:</b> Another tricky one to call. Everyone is falling over themselves with praise for Brendan Fraser this year. But one suspects that a significant part of it is the story behind his career, his abuse and the shameful treatment he received. People like the story of the Brendan Fraser comeback. On the merits of performance, my pick goes to Colin Farrell for delivering a career best performance in Banshees.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Best Actress</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nominations:</span><ul><li>Cate Blanchett – Tár as Lydia Tár</li><li>Ana de Armas – Blonde as Norma Jeane</li><li>Andrea Riseborough – To Leslie as Leslie Rowlands</li><li>Michelle Williams – The Fabelmans as Mitzi Schildkraut-Fabelman</li><li>Michelle Yeoh – Everything Everywhere All at Once as Evelyn Quan Wang</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;">And the winner: </span>Michelle Yeoh – Everything Everywhere All at Once as Evelyn Quan Wang</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Who should really win:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"> </span></span><b>Michelle Yeoh – Everything Everywhere All at Once as Evelyn Quan Wang</b></div><div><b>Explanation:</b> No argument here, Michelle Yeoh is queen.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Best Supporting Actor</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nominations:</span><ul><li>Brendan Gleeson – The Banshees of Inisherin as Colm Doherty</li><li>Brian Tyree Henry – Causeway as James Aucoin</li><li>Judd Hirsch – The Fabelmans as Boris Schildkraut</li><li>Barry Keoghan – The Banshees of Inisherin as Dominic Kearney</li><li>Ke Huy Quan – Everything Everywhere All at Once as Waymond Wang</li></ul><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">And the winner</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">: </span><b>Ke Huy Quan – Everything Everywhere All at Once as Waymond Wang</b><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Who should really win:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"> </span></span><b>Ke Huy Quan – Everything Everywhere All at Once as Waymond Wang</b></div><div><b>Explanation:</b> None here either, Ke Huy Quan's performance in EEAaO was astonishing, especially considering Quan has been out of acting for such a long time. That rare example of feel good hype that is actually justified by the work. What a story, what a performance.</div><div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Best Supporting Actress</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nominations:</span><ul><li>Angela Bassett – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as Queen Ramonda</li><li>Hong Chau – The Whale as Liz</li><li>Kerry Condon – The Banshees of Inisherin as Siobhán Súilleabháin</li><li>Jamie Lee Curtis – Everything Everywhere All at Once as Deirdre Beaubeirdre</li><li>Stephanie Hsu – Everything Everywhere All at Once as Joy Wang / Jobu Tupaki</li></ul><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">And the winner</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">: </span><b>Jamie Lee Curtis – Everything Everywhere All at Once as Deirdre Beaubeirdre</b><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-weight: bold;">Who should really win:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"> </span><b>Stephanie Hsu – Everything Everywhere All at Once as Joy Wang / Jobu Tupaki</b></div><div><b>Explanation:</b> I have a feeling the Academy will choose to recognise Curtis, as much for her performance as for her body of work over the years (as the Academy tends to do). I would actually have awarded this to her EEAaO co-star Stephanie Hsu, whose performance was simply spellbinding.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Best Original Screenplay</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nominations:</span><ul><li>The Banshees of Inisherin – Martin McDonagh</li><li>Everything Everywhere All at Once – Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert</li><li>The Fabelmans – Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner</li><li>Tár – Todd Field</li><li>Triangle of Sadness – Ruben Östlund</li></ul><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">And the winner</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">: </span><b>Everything Everywhere All at Once – Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert</b><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-weight: bold;">Who should really win:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Banshees of Inisherin – Martin McDonagh</span></div><div><b>Explanation:</b> Let me just say, EEAaO and Banshees would both deserve this prize should they emerge victorious, and with the way the hype train is going I expect they will go for the former. Banshee's masterful character study and wit makes for a marginally more deserving winner, in my opinion.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Best Adapted Screenplay</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nominations:</span><ul><li>All Quiet on the Western Front – Edward Berger, Lesley Paterson, and Ian Stokell; based on the novel by Erich Maria Remarque</li><li>Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery – Rian Johnson; based on characters created by Johnson and the film Knives Out</li><li>Living – Kazuo Ishiguro; based on the original motion picture screenplay Ikiru by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, and Hideo Oguni</li><li>Top Gun: Maverick – Screenplay by Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, and Christopher McQuarrie; Story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks; based on the film Top Gun written by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr.</li><li>Women Talking – Sarah Polley; based on the novel by Miriam Toews</li></ul><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">And the winner</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">:</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"> </span>Women Talking – Sarah Polley; based on the novel by Miriam Toews</b><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Who should really win:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"> </span>Living – Kazuo Ishiguro; based on the original motion picture screenplay Ikiru by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, and Hideo Oguni</span></div><div><b>Explanation:</b> For my money, there is one standout film from this list, Kazuo Ishiguro's beautiful Living. A film that has flown surprisingly under the radars of the American awards bodies. Subtlety is a British trait, after all.<br /><div><br /><br />So there you have it, The Ephemeric's picks for the year. Enjoy the Oscars tonight, and when the results go as predicted, remember that you heard it here first! <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-52330939551354543922023-03-11T14:33:00.000+00:002023-03-11T14:33:33.438+00:00"The Last of Us" TV Review<span style="font-weight: bold;">Created by</span> Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><b>Network</b> </span>HBO<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Starring</span> Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Genre</span> Post-apocalyptic Drama<br />
<b>Running Time </b>45-80 minutes<br />
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It is the TV series of 2023, so far, that everyone is talking about. But it's a smash hit that few saw coming. After all, <b>The Last of Us</b> is a videogame adaptation, one based on that most tired of genres, the zombie survival horror. By all accounts, it's not a concept that should have yielded anything of value. But <b>HBO</b> didn't see it that way and they were willing to invest the considerable talents of <b>Craig Mazin</b>, creator of the award winning <i>Chernobyl</i> into bringing this project to life. It's a gamble that seems to have paid off.<br />
<br />So how have HBO managed to pull this sleight of hand and succeed beyond all expectation? I think it is important to preface this discussion by stating that I have played the original game, although I was never a particularly big fan of it. I think The Last of Us, the videogame, is a perfectly decent title that has been hyped beyond all reason, lavished with praise for its storytelling which, in truth, is no more impressive that any number of other titles in gaming. I mention this in order to provide context when I say that, while I find the original source material to be slightly overrated, the TV series is absolutely brilliant.<div><br /></div><div>Conceptually, The Last of Us sounds just like any number of post-apocalyptic zombie stories. A parasitic disease sweeps the world, turning people into zombies, resulting in the collapse of civilisation. The survivors struggle through a post-apocalyptic world where they must contend both with the overt horrors of the infected, as well as the hidden horrors of humanity's own greed and cruelty. Our free-spirited livewire of a main character Ellie makes a road trip across the post-apocalyptic United States with her gruff, emotionally repressed surrogate father figure, Joel, in the hopes of finding a cure and, well, saving the world.</div><div><br /></div><div>There's a few things that elevate The Last of Us beyond the typical, beginning with the backstory and depiction of the crisis itself. There is nothing supernatural behind this zombie apocalypse, nor is it some lazy macguffin cooked up in a lab. Rather it is a cautionary tale based on a plausible, if highly unlikely extrapolation of real science, one that arises as a direct consequence of man-driven climate change. Second, and most important, is the focus on complex character-driven stories rather than gore and action. This world is full of deeply human stories. A young man who compromises his own integrity in order to protect his younger brother, an unlikely romance forged in the fire of apocalypse, a grieving father given a second chance to redeem himself for the child he was not able to save.</div><div><br /></div><div>In many ways, the zombies themselves exist in the background of this story. The Last of Us is really about how we treat one another and how different people cope with extreme circumstances. It is these moments in particular, the attempts to find little pockets of humanity and hope in an utterly dystopian setting, that are most effective. In a genre where the character arcs are usually skin-deep contrivances to bridge the gap between zombie splatter and chainsaws, this is not really something we have seen before, at least not to this great an extent. These elements are all present in the games already, which is why they have been so well received, but the TV series takes it so much further, expanding and fleshing out nearly everything.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then there is the execution. The Last of Us begins with a masterclass in world building, filling in hours' worth of detailed lore and alternative history through news headlines, talk show clips and flashbacks. It's an extremely elegant method for filling in the audience in a way that doesn't feel like soulless exposition and doesn't take too long to arrive at the dramatic story beats. These moments also do a fantastic job of fleshing out the world into something that feels lived in and real, showing us the societal and cultural impact of these moments, beyond just the action of the central narrative.</div><div><br /></div><div>HBO also deserve great credit for taking such a bold and experimental format. This is a series so confident in its world building that it frequently has the bravery to break away from its main characters entirely to show alternate perspectives and stories set in this world. This is most notable in the third episode, essentially a self-contained film centred around two characters only briefly mentioned in the games. This is one of the finest episodes of television I have seen in years and has been widely acclaimed in particular. I would be stunned if it did not garner recognition come awards season.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have already spoken about the depth of the characters, but crucially this is matched in the casting. If he wasn't already after The Mandalorian, <b>Pedro Pascal</b> is now a bona fide star, but in particular this series will surely serves as a launching point for the bright career of co-star <b>Bella Ramsey</b>. Even the smaller roles and guest parts are performed with aplomb, with that third episode's starring duo of <b>Nick Offerman</b> and <b>Murray Bartlett</b> both being tipped for awards.</div><div><br /></div><div>It goes without saying that The Last of Us stands as one of the best videogame adaptations of all time, admittedly not the highest of bars. But this an excellent series by any standard, one that stands out in a crowded genre and delivers a sublime example of to blend horror with character-driven storytelling.<br />
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<br /></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-62478319601976310092023-03-05T16:04:00.000+00:002023-03-05T16:04:41.277+00:00The Hot List: Essential New Movies of 2023Hello and welcome back to 2023's final post from the Hot List. This week we will be looking at the most exciting new movies set to hit the big screen in 2023 from March onwards, after the cutoff point for this year's awards season.<br />
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<img alt="ephemeric hot list most best hottest anticipated new movies films 2023 exciting" height="250" src="http://i.imgur.com/aRER2cy.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); display: block; height: 250px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 250px;" width="400" /><div><br /></div><div>2023 is so far shaping up to be a strange year for film. Usually, even at this early stage, you can get a pretty good idea of what films are coming out when, and which are likely to be the big contenders come awards season the following year. I don't know if it's from the disruption to film scheduling that has come about from all these online streaming production companies, but there seems to be a lot more ambiguity this year. A lot of films that are supposed to come out, but not set in stone, a lot of films supposedly close to completion, but without even a film trailer or poster to look at. It's odd this year. </div><div><br /></div><div>That said, there is still a lot of exciting stuff on offer, including a few tantalising debut filmmakers, as well as several of the old favourites like Fincher and Scorsese. If I have one observation from this year's selection, it's that there are a lot of biographical films and films based on real events. There's space there for something to come out of left field and really take the industry by surprise, much in the same way that Everything Everywhere All At Once did this year.</div><div>
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So without further delay, the key films to keep an eye on in the coming year (trailers linked in the title where available), starting with number 15:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">15. You Hurt My Feelings</span></span><br /><br /><img alt="you hurt my feelings julia louise dreyfus holofcener best most anticipated film movie 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/6kfKUkP.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 190px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /><b>Julia Louis Dreyfus</b> became a household name in the 1990s for <i>Seinfeld</i>, and more recently established herself as an awards calibre actress in Armando Iannucci's <i>Veep</i>. 2023 will see Dreyfus in her most significant starring role to date in a Hollywood film, with <b>You Hurt My Feelings</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is the latest film from writer/director <b>Nicole Holfcener</b>, herself a previous Academy Award nominee for <i>Can You Ever Forgive Me?</i>. This latest, which co-stars <b>Tobias Menzies</b>, sees Dreyfus play a struggling novelist, whose marriage is suddenly upended when she overhears her husband giving his honest reaction to her latest book.</div><div><br /></div><div>You Hurt My Feelings had its world premiere at Sundance this past January to strong critical acclaim, and is expected to be a fixture when it releases later in 2023, perhaps even with a 2024 Oscar nod for Dreyfus?</div><div><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBA 2023</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">14. Dune: Part Two</span></span><br />
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<img alt="dune part two timothee chalamet best movies films 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/2xdqJZD.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 195px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /><div>The sprawling literary series of Dune has long held a reputation as unfilmable, at least over the duration of a film (a miniseries came pretty close). So when Legendary Studios committed the cash for a big budget, multi-part epic adaptation that may never have even seen completion had the first installment not been a success, it was one heck of a gamble.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yet, against the odds and under the expert stewardship of <b>Denis Villeneuve</b>, <i>Dune: Part One</i> was a critical and commercial success. Its success means that we will get that second half to the story, with <b>Dune: Part Two</b>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Dune: Part Two will feature the same creative team and cast of the first film, following <b>Timothée Chalamet</b>'s Atreides' thirst for revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family, and a greater focus on <b>Zendaya</b>'s Chani, seen only briefly in the first film, as her group of Fremen collaborate with Atreides in this quest</div><div><br /></div><div>The first film was an epic adventure that I can't wait to see concluded. Who knows where the series will go from there. There have been rumours of a third film and Legendary is said to be working on a TV spin off.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: November 2023</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">13. Asteroid City</span></span><br />
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<img alt="asteroid city wes anderson best films movies 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/oGx2GhW.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 190px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></div><div>Depending on your tastes, the occasion of a new <b>Wes Anderson</b> film may evoke excitement or tedium. Since striking gold with his award winning <i>The Grand Budapest Hotel</i>, Anderson's last few films have been met with decidedly more muted response. His next project, <b>Asteroid City</b> is said to hold loftier ambitions.</div><div><br /></div><div>Co-written with <b>Roman Coppola</b>, Asteroid City is a period film set at a 1950s junior stargazing convention in the American midwest. The cast will, once again, feature a lengthy ensemble of big names, including many frequent Anderson collaborators such as <b>Tilda Swinton</b>, <b>Adrien Brody </b>and <b>Jason Schwartzman</b>, as well as big name newcomers <b>Tom Hanks</b>, <b>Margot Robbie</b>, <b>Scarlett Johansson</b>, <b>Bryan Cranston</b>, <b>Jeff Goldblum</b>, <b>Liev Schreiber</b>, <b>Rupert Friend</b> and many, many others.</div><div><br /></div><div>Will Asteroid City break the Wes Anderson mould, or prove to be another exercise in cinematic excess? We will see when it releases this summer.</div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Release Date: June 2023</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"></span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">12. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phRXBLwcy5I">A Good Person</a></span></span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><span style="border-image: initial;"><img alt="a good person zach braff best films movies 2023 scrubs garden state elizabeth pugh" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/pJlABOo.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); color: black; cursor: pointer; float: left; font-weight: 400; height: 190px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></span><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Twenty years ago, then TV star </span><b>Zach Braff</b> released his directorial debut, <i>Garden State</i>. This was met with critical acclaim, with Braff being dubbed a filmmaker to watch, compared favourably by many with a young Woody Allen. It didn't quite pan out that way and his work since has been sporadic, but solid, if unable to evoke the same response.</div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;">His latest film, <b>A Good Person</b>, sees Braff step behind the camera completely. The rising <b>Florence Pugh</b> starts alongside <b>Morgan Freeman</b> in a tale about a young woman bonding with her would-be father in law, after a fatal accident. </div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;">It's a drama rather than Braff's usual blend of dramedy, borne out of personal grief in the wake of the pandemic, but one which will strive to find optimism and meaning in strife. A Good Person releases in March.</div><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: March 2023</span><br /></span></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">11. The Holdovers</span></span><br />
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<img alt="the holdovers paul giamatti best films movies 2023 alexander payne" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/NoSv1WW.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 185px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></div><div><b>The Holdovers</b> marks a reunion for <i>Sideways</i> collaborators <b>Alexander Payne</b> and <b>Paul Giamatti</b>. Payne has built an award winning career on satirical depictions of Americana, while Giamatti may well be one of the most celebrated actors not to have won an Oscar to date, although he was nominated in 2006 for <i>Cinderella Man</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Holdovers marks a return to smaller scale films after a few disappointing big budget turns from Payne. Giamatti plays a curmudgeonly teacher at an elite New England academy, forced to stay over the Christmas break to babysit the handful of troubled students with nowhere to go.</div><div><br /></div><div>The film tested to enthusiastic review at the end of 2022, with a cinema release now slated for November of 2023 and potential 2024 Oscar nods in mind.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: November 2023</span><br />
<span style="color: #ff6600;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"></span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">10. Dumb Money<br /></span></span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><span style="border-image: initial;"><img alt="dumb money gamestop game stop reddit wallstreetbets short squeeze craig gillespie paul dano best films movies 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/VSlzBgh.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); color: black; cursor: pointer; float: left; font-weight: 400; height: 195px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></span></span></div><div>Based on the book The Antisocial Network by Ben Mezrich, <b>Dumb Money</b> is a dramatization of the real life GameStop short squeeze of 2021, instigated by a ragtag band of Reddit trolls, that managed to stun Wall Street.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hollywood does these absurd finance and current events stories well (see The Big Short, Too Big To Fail) and the man bringing this one to screen is <b>Craig Gillespie</b>, a man with a steadily growing body of fine work. Gillespie started in the indie scene with quirky films like <i>Lars and the Real Girl</i>, but has more recently moved into bigger projects, most notably the Academy Award winning duo of <i>I, Tonya</i> and <i>Cruella</i>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Dumb Money features an ensemble cast including <b>Paul Dano</b>, <b>Sebastian Stan</b>, <b>Seth Rogen</b>, <b>Vincent D'Onofrio</b>, <b>America Ferrera </b>and <b>Anthony Ramos</b>. Gillespie's reputation for stylish, high-flair, high-energy productions would seem a perfect fit for this story. This could well be the film that takes his career in another big step towards stardom.</div><div><span style="color: #ff6600;"><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Release Date: TBA 2023</span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">9. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl_UmoY_Ivw">The Killer</a></span></span><br />
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<img alt="the killer david fincher michael fassbender best films movies 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/PGXtC4S.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 170px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></div><div>An adaptation of the French graphic novel of the same name, <b>The Killer</b> follows the life of an initially unnamed assassin.</div><div><br /></div><div>This adaptation comes from screenwriter <b>Andrew Kevin Walker</b>, best known for writing <i>Seven</i>, while directorial duties lie with the great <b>David Fincher</b>, with whom Walker collaborated on Seven. Fincher has a penchant for dark, heavily stylised filmmaking in the noir genre, The Killer would seem to be a perfect match for his style.</div><div><br /></div><div>The title role will be filled by the always excellent <b>Michael Fassbender</b>, with a supporting cast that includes <b>Charles Parnell </b>and <b>Tilda Swinton</b>. The Killer will release on Netflix in November.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: November 2023</span><br />
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<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">8. Rustin</span></span><br />
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<img alt="bayard rustin obama george wolfe best films movies 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/1LuCyHF.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 180px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></div><div>The first feature film to come out of <b>Barack </b>and <b>Michelle</b> <b>Obama</b>'s production company, <b>Rustin</b> is a biopic about the life of gay civil rights icon Bayard Rustin. </div><div><br /></div><div>Fittingly penned by <b>Dustin Lance Black</b>, screenwriter of <i>Milk</i>. Rustin is notable as a rare film credit for director <b>George C. Wolfe</b>, better known as the Tony Award winning theatre director of various productions, including <i>Angels in America</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>The title role goes to <b>Colman Domingo</b>, another highly decorated theatre and TV actor with Tony, Olivier and Emmy awards to his name. The supporting cast includes <b>Jeffrey Wright</b>, <b>Chris Rock</b> and the up and comer <b>Da'Vine Joy Randolph</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Rustin releases late in 2023 on Netflix.</div><div><br /></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Release Date: TBA 2023</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">7. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA244xewjcI">Past Lives</a></span></span><br /><br /><img alt="past lives best films movies 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/TRp6euU.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 190px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></div><div><b>Past Lives</b> marks the directorial debut of Korean-Canadian writer/director <b>Celine Song</b>, and may be one of the most exciting debuts in years.</div><div><br /></div><div>A deeply personal character study of two friends reuniting after many years, told across three distinct periods of their lives. The cast is led by <b>Greta Lee</b>, an actress many will recognise from her TV work on <i>Russian Doll</i> and <i>The Morning Show</i>, and <b>Teo Yoo</b>, an actor well known in Korean cinema making his western debut.</div><div><br /></div><div>Past Lives premiered at Sundance in January, receiving high acclaim as one of the best debut features in recent memory, as well as a likely contender for film of the year, even at this early stage. A wider release will come later in the year, but based on the buzz this could well be one of the surprise packages of 2023.<br /><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBA 2023</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">6. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqGjhVJWtEg">Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse</a></span></span><br /><br /><img alt="spiderman spiderverse sequel 2 spidergwen across part one spider-verse spider-man best films movies 2023 miles morales" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/HtEueAW.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 190px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" />Pixar have typically been considered the animation kings in recent years, and to a lesser extent Disney. So you can imagine the surprise when this unassuming Spider-Man animation from Sony managed to beat both (and Wes Anderson's Isle of Dogs to boot) to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar back in 2019. It was deserved, Into the Spider-Verse was an outstanding film. </div><div><br /></div><div>In <strike>2022</strike> 2023, we will see the sequel: <b>Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse</b>. The first in a planned duo of sequels, to be followed by Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, along with an apparent Spider-Gwen spinoff that has been in development since the first film. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>This sequel will see Mile Morales traveling across the Spider-Verse, teaming up with an array of alternate Spider-Men to take on a new enemy. <b>Phil Lord </b>and <b>Christopher Miller</b> return as writers. The main cast of the original returns, <b>Shameik Moore</b>, <b>Jake Johnson</b>, and <b>Hailee Steinfeld</b>. They will be joined by <b>Oscar Isaac</b>, who made a brief appearance in a post-credits scene in the first movie.</div><div><br /></div><div>Spider-Verse 2 releases in June. </div><div><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: June 2023</span><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">5. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Next Goal Wins</span></span><br /><br /><img alt="next goal wins taika waititi best films movies 2023 michael fassbender elisabeth moss" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/qYWP8wJ.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 195px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" />This one has been on my list for a few years now, but in 2023 it looks to be finally heading for a release, with a September premiere currently planned. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Taika Waititi</b><span style="color: black;"> is having something of a moment, the New Zealand filmmaker and actor has come a long way from indie comedy hits like </span><i>Flight of the Conchords</i><span style="color: black;"> and </span><i>What We Do in the Shadows</i><span style="color: black;"> to running the </span><i>Thor</i><span style="color: black;"> franchise for Disney and, of course, his Oscar winning success with </span><i>Jojo Rabbit</i><span style="color: black;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: black;">His next film,</span><b> Next Goal Wins</b><span style="color: black;">, is based on the true story of Dutch football coach Thomas Rongen and his efforts to take the American-Samoa national team, then considered the worst in the world, to the 2014 World Cup.</span><br /><br /><b>Michael Fassbender</b><span style="color: black;"> stars as Rongen, and he will be joined by </span><b>Elisabeth Moss</b><span style="color: black;">, </span><b>Armie Hammer</b><span style="color: black;">, and long-time Waititi collaborator </span><b>Rhys Darby</b><span style="color: black;">.</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Release Date: September 2023</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. Maestro</span></span><br />
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<img alt="maestro leonard bernstein bradley cooper best films movies 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/pt4j7gN.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 190px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" />Making the jump from actor to director is a challenge for anyone. But when <b>Bradley Cooper</b> made his debut as a director in 2018 with his remake of <i>A Star is Born</i>, it's fair to say he made a pretty good go of it. His follow up, <b>Maestro</b>, releases in 2023.</div><div><br /></div><div>An interesting choice for a second film. Maestro is a biographical drama about the life of legendary composer Leonard Bernstein, with a focus on his marriage to Felicia Montealegre.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cooper will play Bernstein himself, with a strong supporting cast that includes <b>Carey Mulligan</b>, <b>Jeremy Strong</b>, and <b>Maya Hawke</b>. Maestro will release in late 2023.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBA 2023</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">3. Napoleon</span><br />
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<img alt="napoleon ridley scott joaquin phoenix best film movie 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/DaKA2R7.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 170px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></div><div>The idea of adapting the story of <b>Napoleon</b> into a historical epic has been bouncing around Hollywood for decades. Stanley Kubrick wanted to do it back in the day, then for years Spielberg was linking with adapting Kubrick's concept into a miniseries. But it was always just talk. Now, in 2023, <b>Ridley Scott</b> is finally bringing the story of Napoleon to the big screen.</div><div><br /></div><div>The choice of casting is pretty much perfect. The diminutive demagogue himself will be played by <b>Joaquin Phoenix</b>, with <b>Vanessa Kirby</b> co-starring as Empress Joséphine.</div><div><br /></div><div>Simply put, this is going to be one of the major players in 2023 cinema. Napoleon is expected to release through AppleTV+ by the end of the year.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBA 2023</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">2. Killers of the Flower Moon</span></span><br /><br /><img alt="killers of the flower moon scorsese dicaprio best films movies 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/RzlXWS7.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><b>Martin Scorsese</b>'s long-gestating adaptation of <b>Killers of the Flower Moon</b> will finally see release in 2023. </div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">Based on the non-fiction book of <b>David Grann</b>, this is the story of a series of murders in 1920s Oklahoma following the discovery of oil on local tribal lands. A core cast of <b>Leonardo DiCaprio</b>, <b>Robert De Niro</b> and <b>Jesse Plemons</b>, with smaller roles for <b>Brendan Fraser</b> and <b>John Lithgow</b>. </div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">This film has been delayed time and time again, but the quality of the creative team behind it demands attention. It's an event whenever Scorsese releases a new film, and this will be no different.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">Killers of the Flower Moon is targeting a summer release date through AppleTV+.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Release Date: TBA 2023</span></span></span></div></span></div><div>
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<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">1. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK6ldnjE3Y0">Oppenheimer</a></span><br />
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<img alt="best films movies 2023 oppenheimer chris christopher nolan" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/9jdryDH.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 190px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" />But my number one pick for the year sees the return of the great <b>Christopher Nolan</b> with his latest project, <b>Oppenheimer</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oppenheimer, as the name suggests, is a biographical film about scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, better known as the father of the atom bomb. <b>Cillian Murphy</b> stars in the title role, alongside an all star cast that includes <b>Emily Blunt</b>, <b>Matt Damon</b>, <b>Robert Downey Jr</b>, <b>Florence Pugh</b>, <b>Rami Malek</b>, <b>Kenneth Branagh</b>, <b>Gary Oldman</b> and many others.</div><div><br /></div><div>Intriguingly (if you're a film geek like me) Nolan will be partnering again with cinematographer <b>Hoyte van Hoytema</b>, one of the best in the business despite never having won an Academy Award. Perhaps this will be their year.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oppenheimer releases in July and will be one of the year's biggest films.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: July 2023</span><br />
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So there you have it folks: The 2023 Hot List. I will be back with many more articles in due course, but for now let's make 2023 a great year together.<br />
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<br /></div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-24915452682523705362023-02-12T17:03:00.000+00:002023-02-12T17:03:07.109+00:00The Hot List: Essential New Music of 2023<link href="http://i.imgur.com/1JelLzw.png" rel="image_src"></link>
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Welcome back to The Ephemeric's 2023 Hot List. This week we will be having a look at the most exciting new music due for release in the coming year.<br />
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<img alt="best anticipated new music 2023 albums hot list" height="250" src="http://i.imgur.com/1JelLzw.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); display: block; height: 250px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 250px;" width="400" /><br /><div>If variety is the spice of life, then there has never been a finer time to be into music. Democratisation of music streaming and a departure from the traditional "album" has left us with an overabundance of new artists and releases each year. The sheer volume can be difficult to manage, which is why the act of curation is more vital than ever. With this year's Hot List, The Ephemeric aims to provide a concise and thorough list of the most exciting music coming from debut artists as well as returning favourites. Tastes may differ, but if you start your 2023 musical adventure off here, you won't go far wrong.<br />
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So without further ado, here is our list of the top albums to keep an eye on in 2023, starting with number 15:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">15. MGMT</span></span><br />
<br />
<img alt="mgmt kids time to pretend new album 2023 best most anticipated music" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/NIbFqBG.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div><b>MGMT</b> are still best known for their trailblazing debut, <i>Oracular Spectacular</i>, released some 15 years ago. The singles from their first album, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9dSYgd5Elk">Time to Pretend</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe4EK4HSPkI">Kids</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmZexg8sxyk">Electric Feel</a>, proved to be generational hits with longevity to this day.</div><div><br /></div><div>It would not be accurate to say they have struggled since this strong beginning, so much as they have eschewed the familiar pop stylings that made them such an instant success. Their work since then has veered more into the experimental and genre-defying, to rather more divisive reception. </div><div><br /></div><div>This all seems to have changed with their most recent album, 2018's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtL5oMyBHPs">Little Dark Age</a>, marking a return to the radio-friendly electronic pop that worked well on the debut. That album was a critical and commercial success, considered by many to be some of their best work to date. </div><div><br /></div><div>In 2023, the band is set to release a new, as yet untitled album. We have no idea what it will look or sound like; if it is to continue the formula of OS and LDA, or dive into something new entirely. Whatever comes of it, it's sure to be worth checking out.<br />
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: Summer 2023</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">14. "Bubblegum" by Biig Piig </span></span><span style="color: #e06666; font-weight: 700;">(New band)</span><br />
<br />
<img alt="bubblegum biig piig 2023 debut album best most anticipated new music" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/5pQrHy2.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>Next we have Irish performer <b>Biig Piig</b>, a consistent fixture on the music industry's one-to-watch lists for 2023. </div><div><br /></div><div>A series of EPs released over the last few years have generated considerable hype for the West London-based rapper and songwriter, including tracks such as <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHrbzX7LWu4">Sunny</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqJ8oud7l2Q">Feels Right</a>. In 2023, her debut album <b>Bubblegum</b> will release and it has industry watchers very excited.</div><div><br /></div><div>Biig Piig stands out for her unique, genre-hopping blend of pop and rap, with lead singles as disparate as the tender and delicate <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqed1ffUQug"><b>In the Dark</b></a> and the more acerbic <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsrC5q-TjIM"><b>Kerosene</b></a> (which I don't care for as much). There's considerable talent here and Biig Piig are likely to be a name we hear more going forward.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: January 2023</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">13. "Angels & Queens: Part II" by Gabriels</span></span><br />
<br />
<img alt="gabriels debut new album 2023 angels and queens part 2 ii best most anticipated music" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/masBB6u.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" />Last year's winner of the Debbie for best debut album, along with a host of other lesser awards, 2023 will see an immediate follow up from <b>Gabriels</b>. 2022's debut album was intended to be released in two parts and in 2023 we will get <b>Angels & Queens: Part II</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>This soul-singing trio has been hotly tipped for success by many pundits in the industry and attracted glowing endorsements from heavy hitters like Elton John, who described last year's release as one of the most seminal releases of the past 10 years.</div><div><br /></div><div>Gabriels' sound builds on the entire history of Black American music, with influences in gospel, soul and blues. Their debut release last year earned hype reviews and awards. At the time of writing, no tracks have been released from the upcoming Part II, aside from the fact that it will feature the lead track from their 2021 EP, and still the best song they have written, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpYHlRFV39U"><b>Love and Hate in a Different Time</b></a>.</div><div><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: March 2023</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">12. "Continue as a Guest" by The New Pornographers</span></span><br />
<br />
<img alt="continue as guest new pornographers new album best most anticipated new music 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/RBjNMnD.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" />While they may not be the flashiest name in the music industry, few things are as dependable as Vancouver rock band <b>The New Pornographers</b> putting out an album of catchy, crowd-pleasing tracks every couple of years.</div><div><br /></div><div>Considered a supergroup, comprised of musicians who have succeeded either as solo artists or as part of other notable bands in the Canadian indie scene. I could spend all day listing out some of their memorable tracks, so here's just a sample: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7v9uu08Ii0">On the Table</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyHg2kPY5xA">Falling Down the Stairs of Your Smile</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHWWWa8EvzI">Challengers</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>The band's latest album, <b>Continue as a Guest</b> is set to release in March and promises more of the same quality, with lead single <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oWiY61IbPE"><b>Really Really Light</b></a> boding well for what is to come.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: March 2023</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">11. Crawlers </span></span><span style="color: #e06666; font-weight: 700;">(New band)</span><br />
<br />
<img alt="crawlers best new most anticipated debut album 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/9Q5yw0N.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>While I am inherently skeptical of bands that go viral online, I will make an exception for Liverpudlian rock band <b>Crawlers</b>, who are set to cap two years of building hype with a full LP release in 2023.</div><div><br /></div><div>The track that originally launched the group to fame, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TCZ7QNpt1k"><b>Come Over (Again)</b></a> is just pure gold, but there is plenty else to admire with tracks like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UCcDLlv6t0"><b>I Can't Drive</b></a> released last year to similar praise.</div><div><br /></div><div>This has all resulted in Crawlers being one of the more hyped bands of 2023, included in many of the industry's one-to-watch lists. That debut album should hit sometime later in 2023 and it is one to be excited for.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBD 2023</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">10. Tseba </span></span><span style="color: #e06666; font-weight: 700;">(New band)</span><br />
<br />
<img alt="tseba debut new album 2023 best most anticipated music" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/xVmzVU0.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" />Another new artist for 2023, <b>Tseba</b> have been making waves in the electronic music scene for their collaborations with genre artists such as JAM and Electric Fields.</div><div><br /></div><div>Billed as a project to blend the old and new in electronic music, hearkening back to the roots of house with with a modern pop twist. Tseba's work manages to tap into nostalgia without sounding tired.</div><div><br /></div><div>If tracks such as <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CZSXXEzRJs">Must Be Love</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_cWyAEj7-g">Smile</a> are anything to go by, then Tseba's reputation as one of the more exciting new songwriters in the dance genre appears to be well-founded. Their debut LP is going to be one ot keep an eye on.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBD 2023</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">9. Lemon Twigs</span></span><br /><br /><img alt="lemon twigs new album best new anticipated music 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/n5xm99o.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">Long Island art rock maestros <b>Lemon Twigs</b> have been going strong since their hype 2016 debut <i>Do Hollywood</i>. </div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">A smattering of EPs, tours with major acts like Arctic Monkeys, and experimentations in various nostalgia-tinted projects had been met with mixed success until their most recent album, 2020's <i>Songs for the General Public</i> nailed the formula. The result was some of their finest work to date, most notably hit single <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TNVOqRLBwU">The One</a>.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">In 2023, Lemon Twigs are returning with a new, as yet untitled album that will build upon the band's niche in retro, harmony-rich rock and roll. Starting with recently released single <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2w4moS3oFU"><b>Corner of My Eye</b></a>.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBD 2023</span><br /><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div>8. Tommy Lefroy </span></span><span style="color: #e06666; font-weight: 700;">(New band)</span><br />
<br />
<img alt="tommy lefroy debut album best new anticipated music 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/YR4MTmC.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>Next up, another exciting new artist in <b>Tommy Lefroy</b>, a London-based folk duo inspired by Jane Austen and musicians such as First Aid Kit and Phoebe Bridgers. </div><div><br /></div><div>Tommy Lefroy followed up their well received 2021 EP with a series of tours through Europe and America in 2022. Now they are hard at work at putting out their debut album, which is expected to release in 2023.</div><div><br /></div><div>Folk duos are a dime a dozen, but Tommy Lefroy stand out for their lush instrumentals and impeccable production, with some superb tracks released with their EP, notably <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vtGS6oSZNg">The Cause</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecaZXj9Bepc">Shoot</a>. They have just put out the first track from their upcoming debut, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM_R88Xu8eI"><b>Worst Case</b></a>, and it is a gem of a track. Definitely one to keep an eye on.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBD 2023</span><br /></div><div><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">7. Jamie xx</span></span><br /><br /><img alt="jamie xx 2023 avalanches new album best most anticipated new music" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/jFKrWF1.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div style="color: black;">The 2010s were a good time to be in the "xx" business. This was the decade where London rock band The xx took the world by storm with their trio of albums, and at the same time saw the launch of founding member <b>Jamie xx</b>'s own highly successful solo career, in particular his platinum single <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP9luRtEqjc">Loud Places</a>.</div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;">Now several years since either act has released a new album, both have been teasing an imminent release. Of the two, Jamie xx's as yet untitled third album appears to be the farthest along, allegedly in the final stages of editing before release. </div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;">Little is known of this new album, other than that it will feature a collaboration with Melbourne's legendary plunderphonics duo The Avalanches, and is said to have been highly influenced by their sampling work with old records. We're expecting this to release sooner rather than later and when it does it will be one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: Spring 2023</span></div></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">6. Fleet Foxes</span></span><br />
<br />
<img alt="fleet foxes new album 2023 best most anticipated music" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/zcf3Ard.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>Few bands evoke as much anticipation as Seattle's <b>Fleet Foxes</b>, one of the modern day masters of folk rock. </div><div><br /></div><div>Of their four albums to date, at least two have been bona fide masterpieces, including The Ephemeric's album of the decade, <i>Helplessness Blues</i>. Their most recent album, <i>Shore</i> marked a strong return to form and was one of the finest records of 2020, earning runner up position in the 2020 Debbies. </div><div><br /></div><div>In 2023, the band will release an as yet untitled fifth album. No tracks have yet been released, but the existence of the new record was confirmed during interviews following the recent release of new single <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DDi7lqEmSI">A Sky Like I've Never Seen</a>. This track itself is not expected to be part of the new record, written instead as the soundtrack to a new Amazon documentary, but if it is any indication Fleet Foxes are in fine form.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: Summer 2023</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">5. Braxe + Falcon </span><span style="color: #e06666; font-weight: 700;">(New band)</span><br />
<br />
<img alt="braxe falcon new debut album best most anticipated music 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/o21S76o.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /><div>One of the most exciting new projects in music. <b>Braxe + Falcon</b> is a new collaboration of legendary French producers <b>Alan Braxe</b> and <b>DJ Falcon</b>. </div><div><br /></div><div>2022 saw the release of the duo's first EP, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqKjFj6YoWM">Step By Step</a>, a fantastic track featuring the unmistakable vocals of Panda Bear, lead vocalist of Animal Collective and highly successful solo artist in his own right.</div><div><br /></div><div>The EP was well received, generating hype for what was to come next. A smattering of additional singles and remixes have followed to similar praise, but we're all really just waiting now for the inevitable full blown LP, confirmed recently to exist in a Reddit AMA. If, as expected, this sees the light of day in 2023, it will be one of the biggest releases in electronic music for the year.</div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBD 2023</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. "Urban Hermit" by Aloboi </span></span><span style="color: #e06666; font-weight: 700;">(New band)</span><br /><br /><img alt="aloboi urban hermit new debut album 2023 best new anticipated music" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/yBwdGZp.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" />It's finally here. A perennial item on The Ephemeric's Hot List, <b>Aloboi</b> has been building hype for years with a series of excellent EPs and singles. From the retro chill out vibes of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZIMfXNbtKw">A Pleasing Smile</a>, to the more danceable electronic stylings of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZIMfXNbtKw">Want To Love</a>, the classical remix of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qB5qWFvpldI">Night Train (Claire de Lune)</a>, or the dazzling genre mash up of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNHkgqqMxWM">Somebody Feel</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>2023 will, at long last, see the release of a debut LP <b>Urban Hermit</b>. My first impression is that it is a shame for the LP not to include the hit singles that we have heard so far. While I am excited for entirely new music, I can't help but feel like they're leaving their star players on the bench. But make no mistake, this is still excellent music from one of the freshest composers in the industry today. Remember the name, because Aloboi looks set to become a mainstay in the electronic music scene.</div><div><br /></div><div>Urban Hermit will release in February 2023.<br /><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: February 2023</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. "Cracker Island" by Gorillaz</span></span><br />
<br />
<img alt="cracker island gorillaz 2023 new album best new anticipated music" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/vsnfmNN.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>It feels like a long time since we have had a truly great release from <b>Gorillaz</b>. The <b>Damon Albarn</b>-led virtual band has been a core fixture in pop music for 20 years now, producing some of the world's biggest hits with tracks like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyHNuVaZJ-k">Feel Good Inc</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXR-bCF5dbM">19-2000</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04mfKJWDSzI">On Melancholy Hill</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>2010's <i>Plastic Beach</i> was a masterpiece and arguably the last great album from the group, with their more recent work, <i>Humanz</i>, <i>The Now Now</i>, and <i>Song Machine: Season One</i>, being met with more lukewarm reactions, despite the occasional nugget of gold. </div><div><br /></div><div>Their latest album, <b>Cracker Island</b>, looks like a return to the style of their older work, with excellent early singles <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZPnmEeXnRY"><b>Baby Queen</b></a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZWfEqqfDaM"><b>Skinny Ape</b></a> boding very well indeed for what's to come. This could be a genuine return to form and is one of the most exciting albums to keep an eye on in 2023.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: February 2023</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. The Killers</span></span><br />
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<img alt="the killers new album 2023 best new anticipated music" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/9PSFh0H.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>Next we have a band that requires absolutely no introduction. You all know their hits. <b>The Killers</b> are one of the world's biggest bands, now with decades of seminal work under their belt.</div><div><br /></div><div>The band have been on something of a creative hot streak since the pandemic, with albums released in 2020 and 2021. 2023's as yet untitled album is set to make it three in four years, an impressive output in just a few years. Even more impressive is that these albums have represented some of their best work to date, with <i>Imploding the Mirage</i>, and <i>Pressure Machine</i> both releasing to immense critical acclaim.</div><div><br /></div><div>So far just the one track has been released from the upcoming album, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-nYliG8MRs"><b>Boy</b></a>, and it is a good one, with a danceable, electronic style that hints at a throwback to the pop stylings of <i>Day & Age</i>. I don't know how long the band can keep this up, but they are absolutely in the midst of a creative renaissance and long may it continue.</div><div><br /></div><div>
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: Summer 2023</span><br />
<br /><br /><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">1.</span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"> "Fantasy" by M83</span></div><div><br /><img alt="fantasy m83 midnight city new album best most anticipated music 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/SCwxuVG.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /><div>But this year's number one most hotly anticipated album is <b>Fantasy</b>, the latest from French electronic music group <b>M83</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is not a group that releases music often. 2011's <i>Hurry Up We're Dreaming</i> was a masterpiece, ultimately finishing as runner up in The Ephemeric's top albums of the decade. But that was over a decade ago. The years since have seen a brief foray into 1990s kitsch and an experimental instrumental record released, but there has been no proper follow up.</div><div><br /></div><div>That looks set to change with Fantasy, with the early singles indicating a return to the nostalgic 1980s pop with a modern twist that worked so brilliantly in HUWD and <i>Saturdays = Youth</i>. The tracks revealed so far are not just good, they're great. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryFV9dORPPw"><b>Oceans Niagra</b></a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyaO0zgBxa8"><b>Earth to Sea</b></a> compare favourably with the band's best work and the rest of the tracks ooze quality. This could well be the successor to HUWD that we've been waiting on all these years, as well as an early album of the year contender when it releases in March.</div><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: March 2023</span></div><div>
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So there you have it folks: 2023 in music. Tune in next week for this year's final Hot List, where we look at the most exciting new movies in 2023.<br />
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<br /></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-17270716890274244312023-02-05T18:15:00.006+00:002023-02-05T18:22:26.591+00:00The Hot List: Essential New Theatre of 2023<link href="http://i.imgur.com/LM5tQ4X.png" rel="image_src"></link>
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Welcome back to The Ephemeric's 2023 Hot List. This week we will be having a look at the most exciting theatrical productions coming to the stage in the coming year.<br />
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<img alt="best anticipated new theatre theatrical production 2023 hot list" height="250" src="http://i.imgur.com/LM5tQ4X.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); display: block; height: 250px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 250px;" width="250" /><br /><div>Theatre is in vogue again. We talk about it around the proverbial watercooler. The biggest names in the dramatic arts, all around the world, flock to the London stage. 2023 is set to feature household names, on and off the stage, working their craft. We have world premieres, West End transfers, Broadway hits making their way across the Atlantic for the first time and, believe it or not, still some postponed 2020 shows due to make their long-awaited debuts. <br />
<br />2023 is an exciting year for theatre in and around London. So without further ado here's our list of the top 10 theatrical productions to keep an eye on in 2023, starting with number 10:<br />
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<br /><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">10. "Next to Normal" by Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt, at the Donmar Warehouse</span><br />
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<img alt="london best theatre 2023 next to normal musical brian yorkey tom kitt donmar" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/VXoQ6Mh.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>We start off with <b>Next To Normal</b>, the London debut of the acclaimed Broadway musical about a bipolar woman coming to terms with her family's history.</div><div><br /></div><div>With book and music by <b>Brian Yorkey</b> and <b>Tom Kitt</b> respectively, Next to Normal was a Tony and Pulitzer prize winning phenomenon during its time on Broadway, and a move to the London stage was always an inevitability. </div><div><br /></div><div>That this long awaited debut will come at the <b>Donmar</b>, rather than one of London's bigger stages, might come as a bit of a surprise. But this will ensure the ideal intimate experience for those who manage to get tickets when its run begins in August of this year.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #3366ff;"><div style="color: black;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">9. "Best of Enemies" by James Graham, at the Noel Coward Theatre</span><br /><br /><span style="border-image: initial;"><img alt="london best theatre 2023 james graham best enemies noel coward zachary quinto david harewood" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/Uj7s32L.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></span></div><div style="color: black;"><b>James Graham</b> is one those playwrights that demands attention. His recent work reads like a guide to some of the finest work in topical or political theatre, with <i>This House</i>, <i>Ink</i>, and <i>Quiz</i> to his name, among others.</div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">His latest, </span><b>Best of Enemies</b>, is a fictionalised depiction of the 1968 debates between intellectuals William F. Buckley Jr. and Gore Vidal during the Democratic National Convention, the ensuing fallout and litigation, and the legacy that its coverage left on political discourse in America. </div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;">This latest West End transfer stars two major film actors in <b>Zachary Quinto</b> and <b>David Harewood</b> and has been met with widespread critical acclaim. The current run only extends until the end of February (although another extension or transfer seems likely), so see it while you can.</div>
<div style="color: black;"><div style="font-weight: 400;"><br /><br /></div><div style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">8. "Free Your Mind" by Sabrina Mahfouz & Danny Boyle, at Factory International</span></span><br /><br /><img alt="best theatre 2023 manchester danny boyle free your mind matrix" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/jFuus50.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 140px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" title="" /></div><div style="font-weight: 400;">Now for something a little bit different, in many ways. </div><div style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div><b>Free Your Mind</b> is an immersive theatrical dance adaptation of <b>The Matrix </b>featuring hundreds of dancers, debuting at <b>Factory International</b> in Manchester, taking place over multiple "flexible spaces".</div><div><br /></div><div>Sound weird, wild and ambitious? Sure. But it's also being directed by none other than <b>Danny Boyle</b>, the legendary film, stage and Olympics director who has won just about every accolade under the sun and produced work tantamount to genius over the past thirty years. It doesn't really matter what Free Your Mind is, with Boyle attached you're going to want to see it.</div><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><b>7. </b></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 700;">"Oklahoma!" by Rodgers and Hammerstein, at Wyndham's Theatre</span><br />
<br />
<img alt="london 2023 best theatre oklahoma rodgers hammerstein wyndham" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/3FSaMm5.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" />I know what you're thinking. Really? <i>That</i> <b>Oklahoma!</b>? The cheesy, schmaltzy aw shucks musical by <b>Rodgers and Hammerstein</b>? Yes, is my answer. But this is Oklahoma! like you have never seen it before.</div><div><br /></div><div>The original musical is primarily about love triangles, awkward romances and drama, but in an innocent, high school kind of way. This new interpretation, revived for Broadway in 2021 and the subject o widespread acclaim, is a much more provocative piece of work. Darker, more sexually charged, more real.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's the same play, but reinterpreted in an entirely new light and energy. It should be an exciting watch for any musical fans, but particularly for those acquainted with the original.</div><div>
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<br /><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">6. "The Secret Life of Bees" by Lynn Nottage, Duncan Sheik and Susan Birkenhead, at the Almeida</span><br />
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<img alt="best theatre london 2023 secret life of bees nottage sheik birkenhead almeida" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/0xNEMo3.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" />
Another musical, but this time a brand new world premiere. This one looks to be something quite special.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Secret Life of Bees</b> is a musical adaptation of the award winning novel of the same name. A coming of age story set against the backdrop of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. </div><div><br /></div><div>The adaptation has a huge amount of theatrical pedigree behind it, including <b>Lynn Nottage</b>, writer of the incredible award winning <i>Sweat</i>, as well as the musical minds behind the Tony Award winning <i>Spring Awakening</i>. This is going to be a big one when it hits the <b>Almeida</b> this April.</div><div>
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<br /><span style="color: #3366ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead" by Olga Tokarczuk and Simon McBurney, at the Barbican</span></span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><span style="border-image: initial;"><img alt="best theatre 2023 london drive your plow over bones dead simon mcburney complicite barbican" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/Z51bOma.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); color: black; float: left; font-weight: 400; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" title="" /></span><span style="color: black;">A new production from <b>Simon McBurney'</b>s legendary <b>Complicité</b> theatre company is always an event to be savoured. Complicité are renowned for their creativity and invention, often making groundbreaking use of technology, minimalism and visual ingenuity.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="color: black;">This latest work adapts a violent, genre defying Nobel Prize winning novel of the same name by <b>Olga Tokarczuk</b>. </span></span>Set in remote rural Poland, men from the local hunting club are dying in mysterious circumstances and Janina Duszejko – an eccentric older local woman, ex-engineer, environmentalist, devoted astrologer and enthusiastic translator of William Blake – has her suspicions. </div><div><span style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">DYPOTBOTD is touring the country through 2023. For those in London, it will be at the </span><span style="color: black;"><b>Barbican</b></span><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"> in March.</span></span><div><br />
<br /><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">4. </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 700;">"Trouble in Butetown" by Diana Nneka Atuona, at the Donmar Warehouse</span><br /><br /><img alt="london best theatre 2023 trouble in butetown donmar diana nneka atuona" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/BVUsKbP.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" />Back to the <b>Donmar</b> with <b>Trouble in Butetown</b>. </div><div><br /></div><div>A world premiere play by highly regarded playwright <b>Diana Nneka Atuona</b>, Trouble in Butetown is the story of a black GI gone AWOL during wartime, seeking refuge in an illegal boarding house set in the port town of Butetown, Cardiff. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's part war story, part social commentary, but ultimately just a fascinating and personal story of a man trying to leave his old life behind and escape prejudice. Butetown is set to be the spring tentpole in the Donmar's theatre lineup when it launches at the end of February.<br /></div><div>
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<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">3. "The Pillowman" by Martin McDonagh, at Duke of York's Theatre</span><br />
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<img alt="london best theatre 2023 pillowman martin mcdonagh duke of york" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/B1mwZCg.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" />One of the most celebrated works of the multi award winning playwright, screenwriter and director <b>Martin McDonagh</b>, best known for his work in Hollywood that includes <i>In Bruges</i>, <i>Seven Psycopaths</i>, and <i>Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri.</i> <b>The Pillowman</b> made its debut at the National Theatre back in 2003. Now, some 19 years later, it returns to the stage at <b>Duke of York's Theatre</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Pillowman is the story of Katurian, an author living in a police state whose work comes under scrutiny when it becomes apparent that the violence depicted in his writing bears striking similarities to a series of gruesome child murders that take place. This West-End revival comes with a fairly prominent star in <b>Aaron Taylor Johnson</b>, and a dark turn for comedian <b>Steve Pemberton</b>. </div><div><br /></div><div>This was one of those productions originally slated for 2020 before the pandemic hit. The Pillowman is finally going to hit the stage in summer of 2023.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. </span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">"The Motive and the Cue" by Jack Thorne, at the National Theatre</span><br />
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<img alt="motive cue jack thorne national hamlet gielgud richard burton elizabeth taylor sam mendes johnny flynn mark gatiss london best theatre 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/b7tTC2W.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 140px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>Some productions just have everything on paper. <b>The Motive and the Cue</b> is an exciting new play fictionalising the making of the 1964 production of Hamlet by Richard Burton and John Gielgud and the creative tensions that nearly tore the team apart.</div><div><br /></div><div>Written by highly prominent film, TV and theatre writer <b>Jack Thorne</b>, whose body of work is too numerous to itemise, but includes films like <i>The Aeronauts</i> and <i>The Swimmers,</i> TV series including <i>This is England</i>, <i>His Dark Materials</i> and <i>The Eddy</i>, and best known in theatre for his Olivier Award winning work with <i>Harry Potter and the Cursed Child</i>. It will be directed by a legendary director of the film and stage who needs no introduction, <b>Sam Mendes</b>, and feature a big name cast that includes <b>Johnny Flynn</b>, <b>Mark Gatiss</b> and <b>Tuppence Middleton</b>. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Motive and the Cue will be the <b>National</b>'s big summer production on the Lyttleton Stage.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">1. </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 700;">"Patriots" by Peter Morgan, at the Noel Coward Theatre</span><br />
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<img alt="london best theatre 2023 patriots peter morgan almeida noel coward ruper goold tom hollander" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/NUsGst0.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></div><div>We end our theatre preview with the new play from legendary playwright <b>Peter Morgan</b>, known for <i>Frost/Nixon</i>, <i>The Queen</i>, <i>The Crown</i>, and many, many others brilliant works. </div><div><br /></div><div>His latest, <b>Patriots</b>, looks at the scramble for power between Russia's oligarchs following the collapse of the Soviet Union, focusing particularly on Boris Berezovsky, played by the award winning <b>Tom Hollander</b>. The presence of <b>Rupert Goold</b>, a man with an enviable track record in theatre, in the director's chair is the final ingredient to what should be an electric piece of theatre.</div><div><br /></div><div>Patriots will play at the <b>Noel Coward Theatre</b> from May, transfering from The Almeida.<br />
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So there you have it folks: 2023 in theatre. Tune in soon for our next instalment of the Hot List, covering the essential new music coming this year!<br />
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<br /></div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-61334767742668949402023-01-22T15:19:00.000+00:002023-01-22T15:19:52.784+00:00The Hot List: Essential New Literature of 2023<link href="https://i.imgur.com/91jMJom.png" rel="image_src"></link>
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Welcome back to The Ephemeric's 2023 Hot List. This week we will have a look at the most exciting new literature and novels you'll be reading in the coming year.<br />
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<img alt="best anticipated new novels literature 2023 hot list" height="250" src="https://i.imgur.com/91jMJom.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); display: block; height: 250px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 250px;" width="250" /><br />I'll be honest, compiling this list was more difficult this year than it has been recently. Some years are abundant with exciting new work, new voices, the latest from established legends of literature. 2023, at first blush, looks to be a year slightly bereft of originality. Far too many of the year's biggest releases fall into predictable niches. Most are topical fare or biographies exploring political and social issues, which is fine, but does every single book need to be about that these days? It makes me worried for the past-time of reading that so much of the industry seems to be about catering to outrage and grievance at the moment, at the expense of actual storytelling and creative new voices.<div><br /></div><div>But if you look for it, there is interesting work out there. After a little more digging and some concerted exploration, I found them. So, for all my concerns, what follows is a list of 10 very exciting books that I will be looking out for in the year ahead. <br />
<br />So here it is: your reading list for 2023, our list of the top 10 upcoming releases from the world of literature to keep an eye on this year, starting, as always, with number 10:<br />
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<br /><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">10. "Really Good, Actually" by Monica Heisey</span><br />
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<img alt="best literature 2023 novel book really good actually monica heisey schitt creek" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/9sJzKp6.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 180px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 130px;" /><div>We start with something on the light and relatable side. <b>Really Good, Actually</b> is the debut novel by <b>Monica Heisey</b>, known for her work as a writer on the hit comedy series <i>Schitt's Creek</i>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Break ups are messy, everyone knows what that feels like and can relate. This is the premise behind Really Good, Actually, a story of break up filled with wit and humorous observations of the absurdities of social norms and our own flawed psyches.</div><div><br /></div><div>There's nothing here that will break unprecedented ground or expand your greater understanding of the world, but Heisey's comedy bona fides as a writer make this a worthwhile proposition. </div><div>
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<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">9. </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 700;">"Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and the World" by Malcolm Harris</span><br />
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<img alt="best literature 2023 novel book palo alto malcolm harris" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/uPz92Wl.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 180px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 130px;" />
</div><div>Malcolm Harris is a journalist of some prominence. Editor of The New Inquiry, heavily involved in the Occupy Wall Street movement and considered a leading voice in millennial literature. </div><div><br /></div><div>His latest work, <b>Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and the World</b>, is a work of non-fiction that aims to be nothing less than the definitive treatise on the region, its transformation during the digital revolution, and the consequences for the wider world at large.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's radical, ambitious stuff and a must read for anyone with an interest in the subject matter or the industry as a whole.</div><div>
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<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">8. "The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece" by Tom Hanks</span><br />
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<img alt="best literature 2023 novel book tom hanks making another major motion picture masterpiece debut" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/w4O7Hz9.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 180px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 130px;" /></div><div>It turns out that in addition to being a pretty good actor, <b>Tom Hanks</b> is a pretty good writer as well. His recent foray into short story writing was critically and commercially well received. He returns now with his debut novel.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece</b> sounds like something that should fit perfectly with Hanks' experience. A novel set across three decades about the making of a major superhero film and the comic books that inspired it.</div><div><br /></div><div>This generational tale runs side by side with a tie-in comic strip, also created by Hanks, woven in with the novel's prose. For a first time author, Hanks is showing some impressive ambition in his use of the form here.</div><div><div><br /><br /><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">7. "Ascension" by Nicholas Binge</span><br /><br /><img alt="best literature 2023 novel book ascension nicholas binge" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/sD9f1Lq.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 180px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 130px;" /></div><div>For this next one we break away from depictions of the real world for something a little bit different. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Ascension</b> is a speculative thriller, with events set into motion by the sudden appearance of a new mountain in the Pacific Ocean. Framed through the discovery of a series of letters depicting a team of scientists ascending its peak, hoping to uncover its mysteries. </div><div><br /></div><div>Binge has a track record when it comes to tales of the fascinating and strange. His latest will challenge the limitations of science and faith, and consider what it means to be human.</div></div><div><div><br /><br /><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">6. </span>
<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 700;">"Biography of X" by Catherine Lacey</span><br /><br /><img alt="best literature 2023 novel book biography of x catherine lacey" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/gXhWzan.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 180px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 130px;" /></div><div><b>Catherine Lacey</b>'s new novel <b>Biography of X</b> is a unique blending of fiction and biography depicting the life and times of X, recently deceased artist and iconoclast, one of the great creative forces of her time.</div><div><br /></div><div>What follows is a tale that covers decades in an alternate America following X and their rise to prominence, from Europe to the ruins of America's divided territories, and through her collaborations and feuds with everyone from Bowie and Waits to Sontag and Acker. Written in the style of a biographical work composed by a grieving widow seeking to understand her deceased spouse, their work and the numerous mysteries and betrayals they carried.</div><div><br /></div><div>The scope of this work is staggering. An alternative history that explores every part of this new world from the politics and social issues, to the cultural zeitgeists across decades of history. From a conceptual perspective, it's one of the more interesting pieces I've seen in recent years and is being tipped as one of the most hotly anticipated novels of 2023.</div>
<br /><br /><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">5. "Cuddy" by Benjamin Myers</span><br />
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<img alt="best literature 2023 novel book cuddy benjamin myers" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/4wKo7sY.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 180px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 130px;" /></div><div><b>Benjamin Myers</b>' last novel, <i>Perfect Golden Circle</i>, was one of the better reads of 2022, a true-to-form blend of wit, Britannic folklore and bucolic charm. </div><div><br /></div><div>Myers has shown himself to be adept at tracing the arc of history, how point A leads to point B, and weaving that into his immediate narrative. His latest, <b>Cuddy</b>, draws on similar themes and influences, but laid over a far more ambitious framework. A story that unfolds across centuries, consisting of multiple interwoven tales with an array of characters. Incorporating poetry, prose and real historical accounts in an ambitious retelling of the story of St. Cuthbert, unofficial patron saint of Northern England. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's a more experimental piece of work than what we have come to expect from his recent writing, typically noted for its simplicity and pared back form. I look forward to seeing how his style works with this more unusual narrative structure.</div><div>
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<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. "The Ferryman" by Justin Cronin</span></span><br />
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<img alt="best literature 2023 novel book ferryman justin cronin" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/RUl7hDm.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 180px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 130px;" /></div><div><b>The Ferryman</b> sounds like a classic bit of Nolan or Bradbury-esque science fiction. Set in a seemingly idyllic island utopia where denizens have their health monitored at all time, "retiring" to a location known as the nursery when their vitals fall below a certain threshold, where they are renewed and restored to a fresh body with their memories wiped. </div><div><br /></div><div>You can probably see where this is going. All is not as it seems in this island paradise. What ensues is a suspenseful slice of dystopian fiction as our protagonist seeks to uncover the truth behind this mysterious society.</div><div><br /></div><div>Best known for his acclaimed 2010 novel, <i>The Passage</i>, author <b>Justin Cronin</b> has been compared to the likes of Stephen King and Michael Crichton. It's easy to see their influence in what is sure to be one of the biggest novels of the summer.</div><div>
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<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. "The Deep Sky" by Yume Kitasei</span></span><br />
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<img alt="best literature 2023 novel book deep sky yume kitasei" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/3EGYA6p.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 180px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 130px;" title="" />
</div><div>This next pick takes us on a murder mystery adventure in deep space. <b>The Deep Sky</b> is a debut novel from author <b>Yume Kitasei</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>With Earth on the verge of environmental collapse, the planet's nations pool their resources to send a ship containing the best and brightest to a distant liveable planet. A last hope for the future of humanity. Part way through their journey, a bomb goes off. There is one prime suspect, and she must race against the clock to uncover the true culprit.</div><div><br /></div><div>Whether you enjoy detective novels, space exploration, or the obvious parallels to videogame Among Us, this novel has a lot to be excited about and is being tipped as one of the most promising debuts of 2023.</div><div>
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<br /><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">2. "In Ascension" by Martin MacInnes</span><br />
<br />
<img alt="best literature 2023 novel book in ascension martin macinnes" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/aBqhG29.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 180px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 130px;" />It is unfortunate that we have two such similarly named books on this list, but the inclusion of <b>In Ascension</b> is more than justified. In his third novel, <b>Martin MacInnes</b> has crafted an irresistible mystery that has been likened to the movies Arrival and The Abyss, as well as the writings of Emily St. John Mandel.</div><div><br /></div><div>In Ascension starts with a young researcher in the Netherlands with a fascination for the sea and the organisms that live there. What follows is a global adventure investigating a series of unexplained phenomena across the natural world that will confront the greatest questions of our existence.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's a big step up in scope for MacInnes, whose previous work has clocked in around the 250 page mark, roughly half of In Ascension. It's certainly his most ambitious work to date, and if it works then it could be one of the most exciting reads of the year.</div><div>
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<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. </span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">"Victory City" by Salman Rushdie</span><br />
<br />
<img alt="best literature 2023 novel book victory city salman rushdie" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/QmafVlG.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 180px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 130px;" /></div><div>A new epic from <b>Salman Rushdie</b> is always going to be a major event in literature, more so this year given that this is the first work published since Rushdie suffered life changing injuries in last year's attack, which took place after this work was completed.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Victory City</b> is an epic tale of a young girl in 14th Century India who, grief stricken by the death of her mother, is given the power to breathe an entire empire into existence, only to be consumed by it over the centuries. </div><div><br /></div><div>As with Rushdie's other novels, Victory City is an ambitious tale of magical realism, with allegories on religion and history woven throughout his work.</div><div>
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So there you have it folks: 2023 in literature. Tune in soon for our next instalment of the Hot List, covering the essential new theatre coming up in 2023!<br />
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<br /></div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682837139618506615.post-36809124331582319782023-01-15T19:11:00.000+00:002023-01-15T19:11:19.309+00:00The Hot List: Essential New Videogames of 2023<link href="http://i.imgur.com/wc38eSz.png" rel="image_src"></link>
Hello and welcome back to the Hot List. This week we will turn our attention to the videogame industry, previewing for you loyal readers the most exciting videogames set for release in 2023.<br />
<br />
<img alt="new videogames games gaming 2023 ephemeric" src="http://i.imgur.com/wc38eSz.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); display: block; height: 250px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 250px;" /><br /><div>It's a strange time in the gaming industry. Whether it's as a result of the inherently long project gestation periods, or the sheer number of multidisciplinary moving pieces that require coordination, it's clear that this form of media has felt the effects of the pandemic longer and harder than others. While other forms of entertainment production have largely returned to normal levels of productivity, gaming remains beset by delays and setbacks. </div><div><br /></div><div>In many ways, 2022 feels like a year of gaming that never happened, with most of the major releases being pushed back into 2023. From last year's Hot List, a whopping 12 out of 15 expected 2022 releases ended up being delayed. The result of this is that 2023 is, on paper, one of the most fully stocked years of videogame releases in recent memory, with all the expected 2023 releases plus the many various delayed 2022 releases. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's a daunting task to whittle this down to just the usual 15. As a result, I briefly considered expanding the list to 20 for this year but, frankly, even I would struggle with that many games. So instead, I've decided to just be ruthless. Any game with a vague, uncertain, or otherwise tenuous release date is off the list. Got a game coming out "winter"? I'm going to assume that's early 2024 and it's off the list. What we are left with is a bullet proof list of the heights of 2023 gaming, a strong mix between smaller independent projects and the big, blockbuster releases.</div><div><div>
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So here it is, the 15 key videogames to keep an eye on in the coming year (trailers linked in the title where available), starting with number 15:<br />
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<br />
<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><div><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">15. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0f0LdibJcQ">Oxenfree II: Lost Signals</a> </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">(PC, Mac, Xbox, Playstation, Switch)</span><br /><br /><img alt="oxenfree 2 II lost signals netflix 2023 best game" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/RrAyZBq.png?1" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" />The first game was an acclaimed indie darling, a surprise hit that delighted with its smart design and accomplished writing. The sequel, <b>Oxenfree II: Lost Signals</b> comes with rather more auspicious trappings; the weight of expectation from its forebear and the status of being the first major acquisition in Netflix's new push into interactive media.</div><div><br /></div><div>But that new expectation is also driving greater ambition. Oxenfree II is bigger than its predecessor, more open ended, more personalised. The aesthetic and tone may be familiar for fans of the developer, but it is clear that with this next release they are trying to mix things up a bit in surprising ways.</div><div><br /></div><div>While an official release date has not yet been provided, it has been confirmed to be out in 2023, and leaked data suggests sometime in spring.<br /><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBD 2023</span></div></div></span>
</div><div><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #3366ff;"><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">14. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jXBsqSXD0U">Octopath Traveler II</a> (PC, Playstation, Switch)</span><br /><br /><img alt="octopath traveler 2 ii switch playstation square final fantasy best games 2023 pc" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/Eo1KBmT.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" />The first entry in the series is remembered as the Nintendo Switch's first great JRPG. A promising, if flawed reimagining of the classic Final Fantasy formula that innovated through its impressively flexible combat system and a stunning 2.5D graphical style. </span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2023 a sequel will be released, </span><b>Octopath Traveler II</b>. The signs so far are promising, with early release materials quick to emphasise the ways in which <b>Square Enix</b> have listened to fan feedback. This sequel will feature a new setting and characters, but with greater emphasis on the story and party interactions that make JRPGs such an enduring and compelling form in gaming. </div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">Octopath Traveler II will release for Switch, Playstation and Windows at the end of February.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: February 2023</span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: black;"><span style="color: #ff6600;"><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">13. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIQ3xNqkVC4">Marvel's Spider-Man 2</a></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"> (Playstation)</span><br /><br /><img alt="marvel spider man spiderman 2 ii playstation ps5 best games 2023 pc" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/25yVuJG.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" />While the superhero genre thrives in cinema (too much so), gaming is another story. The very nature of these stories and their superpowered characters poses an extreme challenge in terms of balancing, while the high cost of production and licensing leaves less budget to actually make a good game. The history of videogames is full of expensive superhero flops.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the rare exceptions to this trend is </span><b>Sony</b>'s recent adaptation of the Spider-Man series for Playstation and its more recent Miles Morales spin-off. These were excellent games, giving players the freedom to feel like they had the powers of Spider-Man, without breaking the game or making it too easy. The fully explorable New York is a joy to explore, the interpretation of characters and lore stands out among the best of the franchise, and the game as a whole is just full of references, bonuses and unlockables that make it a treat for fans.</div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;"><b>Marvel's Spider-Man 2</b> comes out this year, a full sequel that will bring together Peter and Miles, along with a fan favourite character I won't spoil here (but is pretty obvious if you watch the trailer). It is expected to come out sometime in the latter half of the year.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: Autumn 2023</span></div></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div></span></div><div>
<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">12. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC-3kHd7Cjs">Final Fantasy XVI</a></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"> (Playstation)</span><br /><br /><img alt="final fantasy xvi 16 ffxvi best games 2023 playstation" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/5EC82jz.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></div><div>In what promises to be a big year for <b>Sony</b> releases, few franchises command the kind of status that Final Fantasy enjoys. A new entry in the series is always a big deal and <b>Final Fantasy XVI</b> feels particularly significant.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's an odd time for the franchise, with every recent release plagued by crisis and drawn out development periods. <b>Square Enix </b>have inexplicably spent most of the past fifteen years trying to expand the world of Final Fantasy XIII, probably the most poorly received title in the series, with various sequels and spin-offs. FFXIV was an MMO spin-off rather than a mainline title, which went through a calamitous release <a href="https://www.pcgamer.com/how-final-fantasy-14-clawed-its-way-back-from-disaster-to-become-2020s-best-mmo/">(and, in fairness, a miraculous comeback)</a> and had to be redesigned from the ground up. Leading us to the most recent title, FFXV, which was itself a repurposed spin-off from the FFXIII era ultimately transformed into a standalone title following more than a decade of development hell. Through this entire period, the only out and out success story for the developers has been its remake of FFVII.</div><div><br /></div><div>So there is a lot riding on FFXVI. Fortunately, the game appears to be in sound hands, with Naoki Yoshida, the man credited with FFXIV's turnaround, at the helm. The title will see a return to western medieval-inspired high fantasy, with a completely original setting and cast of characters. The title releases this summer. </div><div><div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: June 2023</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">11. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpSsiPTJlYU">A Highland Song</a> </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">(PC, Switch)</span><br /><br /><img alt="highland song inkle 80 days overboard heaven vault 2023 best game" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/0TlQIyD.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /><b>Inkle</b> might just be the most underrated indie developer in the industry. Primarily known for their mobile titles, including 80 Days, arguably the greatest travel game of all time. Their first major home console title, Heaven's Vault, was well received for its originality and unique linguistics-based gameplay. </div><div><br /></div><div>A new Inkle game is cause for celebration. Their latest, <b>A Highland Song</b> looks to be another joyful and original twist on gaming formulas: a musical survival platformer set in the Scottish Highlands. Visually, this looks like one of Inkle's finest works, with a hand-drawn watercolour aesthetic and liquid smooth animations. </div><div><br /></div><div>Set your expectations for a light and serene side-scrolling adventure when A Highland Song releases for Switch and PC in 2023. Date still to be confirmed.</div><div><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: TBD 2023</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">10. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb5ztJBDAGQ">World of Horror</a> </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 700;">(PC, Playstation, Switch)</span><br />
<br />
<img alt="world of horror best game 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/resysCv.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /><div>Sticking to the indie theme we have <b>World of Horror</b>, the long-gestating debut project from Polish gamedev and full time dentist Paweł Koźmiński. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>World of Horror is a love letter to 1-bit pixel-art games. An adventure game with turn-based combat inspired by the horror of Japanese folklore, as well as the works of horror authors H.P. Lovecraft and Junji Ito. World of Horror employs semi-randomised roguelike elements, which sees players explore various locations and fight otherworldly creatures in a series of constantly changing modular stories, which are set for further expansion after launch.</div><div><br /></div><div>After three years of development and a pro-longed early access period, World of Horror will release in summer of 2023. </div><div><br /></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Release Date: Summer 2023</span></span></span></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">9. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pacXW5eZb9w">Homeworld 3</a></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"> (PC)</span><br /><br /><img alt="homeworld 3 best games 2023 pc" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/HEMGsDo.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" />The original Homeworld was a title that carried a great amount of hype when it launched in the late 1990s. A massive, bombastic space opera with cutting edge graphics and presentation, not to mention pioneering 3D gameplay unlike anything other developers were putting out at the time. It was a game of unprecedented cinematic flair for the time, which went on to greatly influence the genre and industry as a whole going forward. While critically acclaimed at the time, the series has laid dormant since 2003's Homeworld 2, due in part to the IP kerfuffle in the wake of original publisher Sierra's collapse. </div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">Homeworld went on to form something of a legendary cult status and has seen a revival in recent years with a prequel spin-off and remastered versions of the original games finding release. The announcement, finally, of <b>Homeworld 3</b> may have been somewhat inevitable in retrospect, but still a very welcome surprise. </div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">Little is known so far, but it can be presumed that Homeworld 3 will follow its predecessors in gameplay and style. This has been tentatively pencilled in for a summer 2023 release.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: Summer 2023</span></div></span></span></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">8. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_l8ZYXrTT0">Alan Wake II</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 700;">(PC, Xbox, Playstation)</span><br /><br /><img alt="alan wake 2 ii best game 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/zXeqxw9.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></div><div>At long, long last, after many years of rumour and speculation, and the longest cliffhanger in history, <b>Remedy</b> is bringing us their sequel to Alan Wake. Us old fogies will remember the notorious ambition and hype that surrounded the original title throughout its long, delayed development time. So it seems fitting that <b>Alan Wake II</b> has taken an equally extravagant amount of time to reach us.</div><div><br /></div><div>Little is known of this title other than that it will be a survival horror game, picking up where Alan Wake's story left off in the first game. It will be interesting to see what angle they take given the sticky situation in which Wake found himself at the end of the previous game. It will also be interesting to see how, if at all, Remedy intertwines the worlds of Alan Wake with that of their more recent hit title, Control. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Remedy Connected Universe is ripe with spooky storytelling opportunity and this will undoubtedly be one of the titles to keep an eye on in 2023.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Release Date: TBD 2023</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">7. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O6Qstncpnc">Hogwarts Legacy</a> </span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">(PC, Xbox, Playstation)</span><br /><br /><img alt="hogwarts legacy harry potter best game 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/YW2NXPv.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" />When <b>Hogwarts Legacy</b> first <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttPsIKcORH4">leaked</a> a few years back, it created about as much of a stir as one would expect. A massive open world RPG based on the Harry Potter franchise is the stuff of many gamers' dreams, not to mention the closest thing to a money-printer you can find in the entertainment industry. It would have been easy for <b>Avalanche Software</b> to rely on this fact and simply put out something safe and sufficiently fan-servicey. But the more we have seen of this title, the more ambitious it looks. </div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;">Players will control a student at Hogwarts in the 1800s, attend classes, explore the environs, and presumably embark on some grand adventure. The game looks to be extremely customisable, with players able to design their character in quite specific detail, choose their House and wizarding proficiencies. Players even have access to their own room of requirement and beast vivarium, all of which can be customised down to the smallest detail.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">Hogwarts Legacy looks to be the ultimate experience for fans of Harry Potter, allowing players to live within this world and enjoy all it has to offer in a way never seen before. I predict this will be a big deal when it releases, barring some unprecedented botching. After much delay, this title is due for release in February.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Release Date: February 2023</span></span></span></div></span></span></div><div>
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<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">6. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmHWaryqA_c">Deliver Us Mars</a> </span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">(PC, Xbox, Playstation)</span><br /><br /><img alt="deliver us mars moon best game 2023 pc xbox playstation" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/TSoKgag.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></div><div>2018's Deliver Us the Moon was perhaps the most underappreciated title of the past five years. An atmospheric, hard sci-fi puzzle adventure that sees players explore an abandoned lunar base to discover what led to its downfall. Think Everybody's Gone to the Rapture mixed with Gravity and you have some idea of the experience. A very impressive storytelling experience for an indie title.</div><div><br /></div><div>With the sequel, <b>Deliver Us Mars</b>, everything is bigger and more ambitious. The success of the original has allowed for a much expanded budget and development team. The result is more action-adventure gameplay, fully animated cinematic cutscenes. If this manages to capture the thrill and mystery of the original, combined with its higher production values and the increased expertise of its developers, then it will be one to watch in 2023.</div><div><br /></div><div>Originally planned for release last autumn, Deliver Us Mars will now be out in February 2023.</div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Release Date: February 2023</span></span></span></div></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F8dFsK_o10">Skate Story</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 700;">(PC, Mac)</span><br /><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span><span style="border-image: initial;"><img alt="skate story sam eng blood cultures best game pc mac 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/thXQPGz.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /></span>Sometimes a project will sell you on the tagline alone: "You are a demon, made of glass and pain. And yet you must skate." The Devil has given you a skateboard with a simple deal: Skate to the Moon and swallow it — and you shall be freed.</div><div><br /></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Skateboarding games have long fallen out of fashion since the halcyon days of Tony Hawk and Skate. Perhaps what they've needed is something more than just generic urban grit. Such is the thinking of </span><b>Sam Eng</b>, the one man band behind <b>Skate Story</b>. </div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;">There's a lot to love about this project. It is visually absolutely stunning, with great music to complement the lonely, wistful themes. The story is just daffy and over the top enough to work. If they can nail the feel of the controls, this looks like it will be solid gold. A baffling, brilliant original.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: 700;">Release Date: TBD 2023</span></span></span></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fckQom8gTvA">Bomb Rush Cyberfunk</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 700;">(PC, Mac, Switch)</span><br />
<span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span>
<img alt="bomb rush cyberfunk jet set radio hideki naganuma best game pc 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/PBCIGoP.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" />I'm a 90s kid. That means I inherently love Sega. But Sega are an objectively bad company. How else can you explain why a company that always appears to be on the verge of collapse is allowing a vast catalogue of classic intellectual properties and franchises (arguably matched only by Nintendo in depth) to just collect dust in a warehouse somewhere? Chief among these is the great Jet Set Radio series of games. Frustrated by their intransigence, a group of indie devs (and apparent fans of the series) have taken matters into their own hands by crafting their own spiritual successor to the long dormant franchise. The result is <b>Bomb Rush Cyberfunk</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fans of Jet Set Radio will find much of what they love here. Bright, cell-shaded visuals, the funky musical stylings of the brilliant <b>Hideki Naganuma</b>, and the same mesmerising neo-futuristic urban setting. Featuring a colourful cast of characters, you will skate around a dizzying cityscape full of gangs, graffiti and rebel-spirit. So far it looks great.</div><div><br /></div><div>Release is confirmed to be summer 2023. Can this indie team succeed where larger studios have failed and emulate the success of this classic title? We shall see.<br />
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<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: Summer 2023</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_nj6wW6Gsc">Kerbal Space Program 2</a> </span></span><span style="color: #3366ff;">(PC, Xbox, Playstation)</span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><img alt="kerbal space program 2 jebediah best game 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/d4Ptltn.png?1" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); color: black; float: left; font-weight: 400; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" /><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">The original game remains one of the greatest gaming surprises of recent years. Created by one amateur coder during his lunch break, the concept was fairly simple: build rockets and try to launch them into space under realistic physics and orbital mechanics. The deceptively deep toybox-like design tools proved such good fun that you could sink hours into just getting that one perfect spacecraft into orbit before even realising you had other planets to visit. Now a full team of professional designers are bringing a full-blooded sequel, </span><b style="color: black;">Kerbal Space Program 2</b><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">The goal of this sequel appears to be to take the successful foundations of the original and just build on it. More parts, colony building, multiple star systems. It's the type of feature list that fans and modders have been dreaming about, but the key will be to get the basics right. The physics system has to feel as solid as the original, the building tools need to be as intuitive. It won't be enough to just slap a coat of Kerbilish paint on a pale imitation.</span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;">Originally revealed back at the end of 2019 with an expected 2020 release date. The team has evidently been hit bad by the pandemic, but two years' worth of delays appear to finally be on the verge of bearing fruit. The recently returned series of dev diaries doing much to allay fans' fears. KSP2 is now set for a 2023 release, initially in early access.</span><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><br style="color: black; font-weight: 400;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">Release Date: February 2023 (early access), TBD (final)</span></span></span></span></span></div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. </span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYqyVpCV-3c" style="font-weight: bold;">Starfield</a><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-weight: bold;">(PC, Xbox, Playstation)</span><br /><br /><img alt="starfield bethesda fallout best game 2023 pc xbox ps4 ps5" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/SEalGkn.png?1" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" />For many, this is the biggest game coming in 2023. <b>Starfield</b> promises a grand space opera in the style of a <i>Mass Effect</i> or <i>Star Wars</i>, with open-world exploration built around the same concepts as Bethesda's tried and tested <i>Fallout</i> and <i>The Elder Scrolls</i> series, only set over a series of star systems and multiple worlds. </div><div><br /></div><div>Bethesda games often get a lot of flack, sometimes deservedly, but their track record speaks for itself and includes some of the most celebrated titles of the past 20 years. Engrossing world-building and lore, moddable to an unprecedented extent (for a AAA game). Open world RPGs are incredibly complex beasts and few developers have ever managed to create such immersive and flexible examples as Bethesda. While there may be valid criticisms over some of their recent decisions and business practices, they truly are one of the grand masters of the genre.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is also notable that Starfield comes in the wake of 2019's The Outer Worlds, a similarly spacefaring RPG created by rivals and original Fallout creators Obsidian. That title met with moderate initial success, and it will be interesting to see how a competing effort from the current Fallout stewards compares.</div><div><br /></div><div>After many years of speculation and delay, Starfield is due for release by summer of 2023.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: Summer 2023</span></span></div><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SNF4M_v7wc">The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom</a> (Switch)</span></span><br /><br /><img alt="legend of zelda breath of the wild 2 sequel tears of the kingdom skyward sword switch best game ever 2023" border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/geFtWtU.png" style="border: 1px solid rgb(76, 76, 76); cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 160px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 140px;" />But as hyped as I am for a new Bethesda RPG, there are few things in any part of the entertainment industry that catch the spotlight as much as a new entry in <b>Nintendo</b>'s fabled The Legend of Zelda series.</div><div><br /></div><div>How do you follow up a game that is often considered to be one of the greatest ever made? That is the question Nintendo will be asking now as they craft <b>The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom</b>. In fairness, it is a position in which they have found themselves before in following up the Ocarina of Time. The result on that occasion was Majora's Mask, a game considered by many to be even better than its predecessor. So no pressure then.<br /><br />TotK will ostensibly make use of the same open world as its predecessor, with some added verticality and a new time manipulation mechanic. Lore-wise there appears to be some form of connection to a previous title in the series, Skyward Sword, but is otherwise a direct sequel to the events of BotW. No question about it, no other game in 2023 will command as much attention as this.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">Release Date: May 2023</span></span><br />
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So there you have it folks: 2023 in videogames. Tune in next week for the most exciting new novels and literature coming this year!<br />
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<br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01632174209644559197noreply@blogger.com