Connect with us

Movie Reviews

Oscars musical performance reviews including Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo

Published

on

Oscars musical performance reviews including Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo

No best song nominee performances? No problem.

The 97th Academy Awards didn’t have the traditional best original song performances in a rare but not unprecedented move. But producers didn’t skip music entirely in this year’s ceremony.

“El Mal” from “Emilia Pérez” nabbed the best original song Oscar over songs recorded by Elton John and Brandi Carlile, H.E.R., Adrian Quesada and Abraham Alexander and Selena Gomez.

And with spotlights turned to “Wicked,” the James Bond franchise and a tribute to the late Quincy Jones, the 2025 Oscars were as heavy as in recent years when it came to uniting music and movies.

Advertisement

Here are the best and worst musical moments from the 2025 Oscars:

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, ‘Over the Rainbow,’ ‘Home,’ ‘Defying Gravity’

Not only did Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo defy gravity during their spectacular opening performance, but defied every conceivable expectation.

Following a brief homage to Los Angeles, still suffering the fallout from devastating wildfires, Grande emerged from a puff of gray smoke, luminous in a sparkly ruby-red gown.

Advertisement

Her hair in a bun, her eyes shaded with glitter and her voice a crystalline wonder, Grande unspooled a graceful rendition of “Over the Rainbow.”

As she waltzed through an ocean of dry ice, her doe eyes capturing the camera’s every twitch, Grande filled the timeless ballad with vocal curlicues that never overpowered.

As she finished the song in front of a backdrop with an illuminated moon and, of course, rainbow, Grande stepped aside for her “Wicked” co-star, the striking Erivo.

In a souffle of a white gown adorned with a sprig of flowers, Erivo beamed her way through “Home,” the tender ballad from “The Wiz,” another offshoot of “The Wizard of Oz.”

Advertisement

Erivo’s Broadway-bred pipes made a lovely match with the “Wiz” classic, but it was the moment when she and new bestie Grande clasped hands and sang the opening lines of “Defying Gravity,” the signature song from “Wicked.”

There is no questioning the authenticity of the friendship between them as they locked eyes while trading verses and Grande sweetly kissed Erivo’s hand as she backed into the shadows to watch her buddy with obvious pride.

Erivo nailed the wallop of a finale of “Defying Gravity” while being raised on a small platform. The audience could barely wait for her voice to close the final note before launching upright to rightfully heap praise on an already classic Oscars performance.

James Bond medley: Lisa, ‘Live and Let Die’; Doja Cat, ‘Diamonds are Forever’; Raye, ‘Skyfall’

Advertisement

As Halle Berry mentioned in her introduction of a tribute to the James Bond franchise and producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, “every generation has their Bond.”

Such was the sentiment with the complementary medley of three Bond theme songs.

While Blackpink’s Lisa, singer-rapper Doja Cat and upstart British soulstress Raye landed their assignments with pluck and passion, it felt like a moment lost to not have at least one artist associated with some of the most famous Bond songs present.

Instead of Paul McCartney leading a fiery rock version of “Live and Let Die,” we had Lisa slinking through the 1973 hit. While it lacked gravitas, the performance was perfectly watchable.

Doja Cat detoured from her wheelhouse to croon “Diamonds are Forever,” the Shirley Bassey classic from the 1971 Bond movie of the same name, belting the song as lasers slowly rotated behind her. It’s a tough song to tackle, and Doja, in a gown dripping in the song’s namesake, showed viewers her chameleonic abilities.

Advertisement

And while recent best new artist Grammy nominee Raye possesses the vocal chops to adroitly swoop through the song, it’s hard to hear “Skyfall” and not recall Adele’s superior original (which won the best original song Oscar in 2013). Raye brought the song to a powerful close with commendable verve, but the entire production sagged more than soared.

Queen Latifah, ‘Ease on Down the Road’

To suitably salute the legacy of Quincy Jones, the Oscars would have needed a 20-minute segment.

Instead, a reverent Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey – stars of “The Color Purple,” which the multifaced Jones co-produced – introduced Queen Latifah for a vivacious, yet all-too-brief homage to Jones with “Ease on Down the Road,” famously performed by Michael Jackson and Diana Ross in “The Wiz,” a film on which Jones worked on the musical adaptation.

Enveloped in a billowing silver cape, Queen Latifah romped through the frisky tune that kept with a vague theme of all things related to “Wicked” on Oscars night. Surrounded by dancers in pleated skirts and prep school blazers, Queen Latifah broke into a few of her own dance moves while an eager Colman Domingo, Grande and Erivo got into the groove in the front row.

Advertisement

Jones, a 28-time Grammy winner who was also the first Black film composer nominated for an Oscar in 1967 for “In Cold Blood,” engineered a brilliant career of skyscraper proportions. His memory deserved more.

Movie Reviews

8News Reel Talk: ‘Toy Story 5’ movie review

Published

on

8News Reel Talk: ‘Toy Story 5’ movie review

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — In this episode of 8News Reel Talk, Julia Broberg sits down with Hekla Petursson and Catori Ryan to talk about “Toy Story 5.”

The hosts gave their reviews and provided the following star ratings:

Catori: ★★★★

Hekla: ★★★★★

Julia: ★★★★.2

Advertisement

To watch more livestreams and digital video content, head to the WRIC+ Originals page. You can also watch full on-demand videos on your smart TV using the WRIC+ app.

Continue Reading

Movie Reviews

Mark Jenkin’s ‘ROSE OF NEVADA’ – Movie Review – PopHorror

Published

on

Mark Jenkin’s ‘ROSE OF NEVADA’ – Movie Review – PopHorror

Rose of Nevada is a genuinely poetic movie that pushes the boundaries of the Groundhog Day-style time-travel narrative while carving out an identity completely its own. Rather than relying on the familiar mechanics that audiences have come to expect from the genre, the film approaches the concept through a more reflective and emotional lens. The result is a movie that feels thoughtful, ambitious, and surprisingly moving.

It makes a huge on-screen presence felt through its cast, particularly George MacKay and Callum Turner, who both deliver performances that elevate the material beyond a simple science-fiction premise. Combined with breathtaking visuals and a strong directorial vision, Rose of Nevada becomes something far more memorable than many of its genre contemporaries.

George MacKay continues to prove why he is one of the most compelling actors working today. Following his acclaimed work in 1917, he once again demonstrates an ability to carry a film through sheer presence and emotional authenticity.

Every scene feels grounded because of his performance, even when the story ventures into more abstract territory. Alongside him, Callum Turner delivers what could easily be viewed as a breakout performance. The chemistry between the two leads helps anchor the film, allowing audiences to connect with the characters even as the narrative challenges conventional storytelling expectations.

Advertisement

One of the film’s greatest strengths is its visual presentation. The cinematography is nothing short of earth-shattering. Nearly every frame looks like a carefully crafted painting, capturing both the beauty and mystery of the world these characters inhabit. There is a dreamlike quality to the imagery that perfectly complements the film’s themes of time, memory, and destiny.

The camera lingers on landscapes just long enough to allow viewers to soak in their beauty without ever slowing the pace. It’s the kind of cinematography that demands to be appreciated on the largest screen possible.
Director Mark Jenkin continues to establish himself as one of the most distinctive voices in modern British cinema. Following the atmospheric and haunting Enys Men, Jenkin once again crafts a story that feels deeply connected to folklore and place.

The British backdrop becomes a character in itself, with rugged coastlines, open landscapes, and isolated locations contributing to the film’s unique atmosphere. His direction never feels showy or excessive; instead, he trusts the audience to absorb the experience and interpret its deeper meanings.

What makes Rose of Nevada especially fascinating is how it recalls classic time-travel films without simply copying them. There are moments that evoke the spirit of The Final Countdown, particularly in the sense of wonder and uncertainty surrounding the temporal elements.

Advertisement

Yet the film remains firmly rooted in its own identity, focusing more on emotion and introspection than spectacle. It invites viewers to engage with its ideas rather than simply consume them.

This is also one of those rare films that benefits from reflection after the credits roll. It is not a movie designed to provide easy answers. Instead, it lingers in the mind, encouraging discussion and interpretation. The more time you spend thinking about it, the more rewarding it becomes. Much like a fine wine, Rose of Nevada continues to improve with age, revealing new layers and details upon reflection.

Overall, Rose of Nevada is a beautiful, ambitious, and visually stunning piece of filmmaking that deserves to be experienced on the big screen. Powered by exceptional performances, remarkable cinematography, and confident direction, it stands as one of the more unique takes on time travel in recent memory.

Overall Grade: 4/5 Stars

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Movie Reviews

‘Supergirl’ review: DC Studios serves up a second less-than-super movie

Published

on

‘Supergirl’ review: DC Studios serves up a second less-than-super movie

James Gunn isn’t exactly crushing it.

Named co-chairman and chief executive officer of the newly formed DC Studios in 2022, the “Guardians of the Galaxy” filmmaker wrote and directed the division of Warner Bros. Discovery’s largely disappointing “Superman,” released last year.

This week, DC Studios’ second big-screen affair, “Supergirl,” lands in theaters with similarly underwhelming results.

‘Superman’ review: James Gunn gets DCU off to rocky, overstuffed start

Starring Milly Alcock as the movie’s namesake Kryptonian heroine — who also goes by Kara Zor-El and is the cousin of David Corenswet’s Superman/Clark Kent/Kal-El — “Supergirl” isn’t distractingly zany the way its 2025 sister film was. Instead, it’s tonally boring, a chore of a movie chock full of thinly drawn characters and increasingly bombastic and violent.

Advertisement

To be clear, Gunn isn’t at the helm for “Supergirl.” Instead, it’s the typically dependable Craig Gillespie (“I, Tonya,” “Cruella”), working from a script by Ana Nogueira, making her less-than-impressive feature-writing debut.

This planet-hopping adventure in the new DC Universe isn’t a complete space wreck, however, thanks largely to the spunky performance by Aussie Alcock, best known for portraying the younger Rhaenyra Targaryen in the early episodes of HBO’s “House of the Dragon.”

When we catch up with Kara, she’s basically as we left her late in “Superman”: a super-sized mess. She’s out with her beloved, rambunctious dog, Krypto — the peppy and powerful pup having already been a major player in “Superman” — and enjoying a 23rd-birthday pub crawl among planets under a red sun. (Quick reminder: Supergirl, like Superman, draws her incredible powers from a yellow sun, like Earth’s, so she’s at least vaguely normal under a red sun and, importantly, can become intoxicated. The color of suns is a major factor throughout “Supergirl,” and it’s the movie’s most inventive narrative element.)

It is on such a world where a drunken Kara encounters 13-year-old Ruthye Marye Knoll of the Danastia Clan (Eve Ridley), whose family has just been brutally slain by the ruthless Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts). Understandably, Ruthye wants revenge against Krem — leader of the Brigants, a band of male pirates and traffickers — and can think of little else.

Advertisement

She’s offering anyone who will help a sword made by her family of skilled weapons makers. The beyond-buzzed Kara isn’t interested, but she gets involved when a scumbag type tries to take the sword. She continues to do her best to fend off Ruthye’s subsequent pleas for assistance in her quest to kill Krem, but when the baddie — in the process of stealing her floating RV of a spaceship — shoots a charging Krypto with a poison dart, Kara has designs on punishing him, too. In fact, she needs to retrieve the specific antidote Krem carries with him to save her four-legged bud.

Milly Alcock, left, as Kara Zor-El, and Eve Ridley, as Ruthye Marye Knoll of the Danastia Clan, appear in a scene from “Supergirl.” (Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures)

And so the gals are off to other worlds, initially traveling via the space equivalent of a beat-up Greyhound bus, on which they run into a trio of pillaging Sklarian Raiders. The sequence in which Kara retrieves stolen possessions and extracts information from them is as zany as “Supergirl” gets.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending