Francesca-Louise Baker topless in Tony (2025)

Scoop, ... 2 comments.

This is a highly praised biopic/dramedy about the youth of celebrity chef and traveler Anthony Bourdain. It avoided the usual cliché of trying to squeeze Bourdain’s entire 61-year life into two hours. The film focuses entirely on the summer of 1975 when he was an insecure, slightly arrogant 19-year-old kid.

Some are saying that Antonio Banderas will be an Oscar candidate for his role as the mentor.

Tomatometer: 93%
Popcornmeter: 92%
IMDb: 7.3

A 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain stumbles into the chaotic world of a Provincetown restaurant kitchen, setting off a summer that will shape the course of his life, in this origin story of the voice that defined a generation.

Anthony Bourdain’s voice defined my generation? I wonder why I never heard of him until he died. I guess I’m just out of touch.


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Prediction Markets Face Their Biggest Accuracy Test Yet: The Midterms

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Here’s a test that will give us some info on Tuesday about the value of prediction markets: the Iowa Senate race.

There is …

… a difference between modelers, polls and prediction markets in the Iowa Senate race. Polls have shown a race that is evenly split. Modelers, like Mr. Morris, have favored Josh Turek, the Democratic candidate. Prediction markets, including Polymarket, Kalshi and PredictIt, have favored Ashley Hinson, the Republican.

Margaret Qualley in The Dog Stars (2026)

Scoop, ... 9 comments.

This is a Ridley Scott film about a pandemic that wipes out 99% of the population.

Despite the legendary director, a solid cast and a big budget, it came and went unnoticed this summer. The post-apocalyptic thriller grossed only $39.2 million worldwide ($15.0 million domestic and $24.2 million international) against a reported production budget of $110 million.

The principal reasons for its failure:

– Mediocre reviews: Critics found the post-apocalyptic story derivative, slow-moving, and meandering. 41% on the Tomatometer.
– Unhappy audiences: Its C+ CinemaScore suggested that even people attracted by the premise weren’t particularly satisfied.
– A late-August release date: That suggested the studio had little confidence in it.
– A difficult sell: It’s a bleak, character-driven pandemic survival story that had limited appeal to mainstream summer audiences.
– No positive word of mouth: Its $7.7 million domestic opening was followed by a 64% second-weekend decline.
– Unfocused marketing: The campaign failed to distinguish the movie from countless other apocalypse stories

It has shown some life post-release. It scores a respectable 72% on the Popcornmeter and 6.3 on IMDb.

Margaret didn’t get naked, but I thought you might find this pic interesting.

Augmentation or not?


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