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ISSUE 205 Nov ’21

STACK Issue 205 NOVEMBER 2021 “A dog? What kind of dog do you think it is, mate?”

ISSUE 205 Nov ’21

ISSUE 205 Nov ’21

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SEE ANSWERS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE 3. Princess Diana rollerskated around the Palace listening to Duran Duran ............ 4. Princess Diana’s first overseas tour was to Australia & New Zealand in 1985 ............ 5. The Queen feeds her dogs herself ............ SEE A S E S AT T E B TT OF T E PA E TRUE, FALSE or MAYBE? 1. The Queen loves horses and can ride side saddle ............ 2 . Thatcher left Balmoral early after attending the Braemar Games ............

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(Season 4 Episode 2:The Balmoral Test) There is no record of Thatcher leaving her first visit to Balmoral early, as The Crown Episode 2 suggests, but the dramatized storyline and Gillian Anderson’s masterful acting has made it a great viewing, wouldn’t you agree? Princess Di is a big fan of Duran Duran, although there is no record of her actually did rollerskate in the palace, Golden Globe winner Emma Corrin who has portraited Princess Di undertook her first-ever trip abroad with Prince Charles and baby Prince William. They spent over 40 days in Australia and New Zealand. Also did you know that Terra nullius is a Latin expression meaning “nobody’s land”? excuse to avoid talking to Princess Diana at Sandringham seen in the final episode of this multi-award winning series, in reality, the Queen indeed feeds her corgis!

5. True (Season 4 Episode 10: War) The Queen wasn’t using feeding her dogs as the

4. False (Season 4 Episode 6: Terra Nullius) Sorry we have tricked you! It is in 1983,

Diana in The Crown has defended the scene, saying “I think she did do that.”

3. Maybe (Season 4 Episode 3: Fairytale) It is correct that

ANSWERS: 1. True (Season 4 Episode 1: Gold Stick) Watch the sensational Olivia Colman as the Queen, side saddling in the opening scene of Episode 1.

2. False

ISSUE 205 NOV

FILM & TV 7 Halloween Kills 8 The Suicide Squad (2021) 10 Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings 12 Respect 14 Don’t Breathe 2 16 The Crown - Season 4 18 Candyman CONTENTS

2021

WELCOME James Gunn assembled an A-list cast for his special effects-laden adaptation of The Suicide Squad , and it lands this month on home entertainment in November. STACK was lucky enough to sit down with Gunn and the cast, including Australia’s very own Margot Robbie, to get the inside word. Historic drama doesn’t come much bigger than The Crown. Season four is finally here, packed with enthralling royal and political drama. In Life Tech, we cover the latest arrivals in the world of home automation, outlining the essentials to kickstart your smart home. We review Bose’s incredible QC 45 headphones and Beam, the latest soundbar from Sonos, and lift the lid on tech gift ideas for Christmas. If gamers aren’t getting into the WWII-set Call of Duty: Vanguard this month, they’ll be racing around Mexico in Forza Horizon 5 , or getting down in their lounge rooms with Just Dance 2022 . Ed Sheeran is back with one of the biggest music releases of the year, and we talk to Courtney Barnett and RÜFÜS DU SOL. And a fresh release from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, B-Sides & Rarities II , lands in-store, rounding out an entertainment- loaded November issue of STACK . Paul Jones, Editor-in-Chief

20 Bob J - Gladiator 21 Out this month 22 New on 4K UHD LIFE TECH 26 Life Tech Intro 28-36 Smart Home

38-42 Smart TV 44 Logitech Pop 46 Netgear Orbi 48 Bose Quiet Comfort 45

50 Sonos Beam 52 UHF Radios 54 Windows 11 56-62 Gift Guide 64 What’s New GAMING 70 Take 5/Game Changers! 72 Fast Forward/Q5 74 Call of Duty: Vanguard 76 Forza Horizon 5 78 Just Dance 80 Accessorise Now! 82 STACK Recommends 84 Out this month MUSIC FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK 4-10 The Music Room: Interviews 12 The Wannabe Jubilee: Celebrating 25 Years of SPICE 14 Nick Cave’s Budding B-side Seeds 18 Album tales: ABBA’s Arrival (1976) 20-21 Cover Story: Ed Sheeran 22-23 STACK Record Club

Founder Nic Short Editor-in-Chief Paul Jones Film & TV Editor Scott Hocking Music Editor Zoë Radas Games & Online Editor Amy Flower Creative Director Gary Siewert Movies Consultant Kerrie Taylor Games Consultant Sachi Fernando Music Consultant Mike Glynn

Social Media Manager Imogene Lewis-Granland Production Manager Craig Patterson Correspondence STACK 33 Jessie Street, Richmond, VIC 3121

Marketing Manager Fleur Parker Chief Contributors Bob Jones, Gill Pringle Contributors

Anthony Horan, Glenn Cochrane, Bryget Chrisfield, Jeff Jenkins,

Simon Lukic, Billy Pinnell, Denise Hylands, Simon Winkler, Jake Cleland, Holly Pereira, Adam Colby, Bec Summer

RATINGS GUIDE

Parental guidance recommended

Recommended for mature audiences

Not suitable for people under 15. Under 15smust beaccommpaniedby a parent or adult guardian

Restricted to 18 and over

General

Disclaimer STACK is published by Scribal Custom Pty Ltd (ACN 092 362 135). © Copyright Scribal Custom Pty Ltd, 2021 All rights reserved. All material appearing in this publication is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material or advertisement. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of Scribal Custom Pty Ltd. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of advertisements or information. Whilst care has been taken in the research and preparation of this publication, the publishers, writers or anyone else associated cannot accept any responsibility for any loss, injury or hardship arising from the content contained herein or reliance therefrom, howsoever caused, and it remains your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any such content. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or the editor. By the very nature of this publication, things change daily and we cannot take responsibility for any changes or inaccuracies that occur subsequent to going to press.

24 This Month at JB 26-30 Album reviews

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EXTRAS

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STACK’s ROVING REPORTER

What’s one of your all-time favourite films or TV series, and why?

My favourite TV series is probably The Good Place . A fantastic cast and great plot with brilliant inside jokes makes this one stand out. The twist at the end of season one puts this on the must-watch list for anyone. Special mention to RuPaul’s Drag Race – shantay, you stay!

Do you collect movies and TV series?

EMMA GRAN @ JB Pakenham, VIC

DVD BEST-SELLERS for OCTOBER 2021

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Like everyone else, I was obsessed with Squid Gam e. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that eerie soundtrack. Another recent fave is Ted Lasso – I urge everyone to not sleep on this one! Even if you don’t typically like sports, the characters are absolutely brilliant. What have you been watching lately that you would recommend? Of course! Nothing beats the feeling of unwrapping a new case to pop in a new disc. I have a particularly great Disney collection.

What’s the best thing about working in movies at JB?

I love seeing new release stock when it arrives! From blockbuster films to new Pop! Vinyls, it’s always a highlight of my day. Another highlight is our fantastic regular customers always seeking a chat or recommendation – I love providing suggestions for what to watch next!

1 BlackWidow 2 Jungle Cruise 3 Free Guy 4 Fast & the Furious 9

1 Black Widow 2 Free Guy 3 Jungle Cruise 4 Fast & the Furious 9 5 Chopper 20th Anniversary 6 Zack Snyder’s Justice League 7 In the Heights 8 Godzilla Vs Kong 9 Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard 10 Escape Room: Tournament of Champions

5 Space Jam: A New Legacy 6 Mare of Easttown: Season 1 7 Chicago PD: Season 8 8 Law & Order SVU: Season 22 9 Chicago Fire: Season 9 10 NCIS: Season 18

What’s a movie you saw as a child that has left a lasting impression on you?

The Rocky Horror Picture Show . My dad allowed a probably not-quite-old-enough me to watch it, and I doubt I will ever forget the Meat Loaf freezer scene!

FEATURE CINEMA

“And I think that’s really interesting because it makes you question: What is evil? What is scary? He may be just a human being in a white mask, but there’s something otherworldly about him,” says the no-nonsense actress. (She looks like very little would scare her, dressed today in a bold orange pantsuit.) If the franchise has now passed over to Green, then John Carpenter, 73, remains very much in the picture, both as a composer and executive producer. Produced by horror maestro Jason Blum (whose name has become synonymous with a whole new generation of scary movies), for him, Halloween is the crown jewel of horror. “I like to refer to Halloween as the James Bond of horror franchises," he says. "It’s the horror franchise with the most sequels by far, and I think that’s because when John Carpenter came up with Michael Myers, he just did it in a perfect way. It wasn’t an overly belabored decision, or a decision using data. He didn’t get a bunch of opinions, so the character came together quite quickly.

Halloween Kills is the second installment of a new trilogy. Jamie Lee Curtis talks to STACK about why our obsession with Michael Myers, much like the man himself, will never die. Words Gill Pringle “T he last thing in the world I thought I would do was another Halloween movie - let alone three!” laughs Jamie SCREAM QUEEN

“Michael Myers has gotten under everybody’s skin for so long. John is a brilliant creator who created a definition of evil that has stood the test of time for more than 40 years – and I think will go on for at least another 40, if not longer,” he teases, despite the fact Green’s current trilogy is expected to mark an end to the franchise upon the release of Halloween Ends in October 2022. In Halloween Kills , the stylish Curtis spends most of the film in a shapeless hospital gown, a prospect that could hardly have thrilled the actress. “We had some fun conversations with Jamie about her wardrobe opportunities in the hospital, and how unglamorous it was," confesses Green, who co-wrote the script with Danny McBride. “To some degree, as a writer, I have to take the blame for

Curtis made history by scoring the biggest opening weekend for a movie starring a lead actress over 55 years old. “I’ve been a part of these stories for 43 years, so it feels good," says Curtis, who has been wed to Spinal Tap writer/star Christopher Guest for 35 years. "It feels like family. What I loved about the 2018 movie is that it was about a family – an estranged family, but a family nonetheless.” Curtis has had more than four decades to ponder the enduring terror of Michael Myers. “For me, Michael Myers represents a question of: What is real evil? By making his mask white, I think John (Carpenter) and Debra (Hill), back in the day,

Lee Curtis, 62, talking about Halloween Kills , the second in writer-director David Gordon Green’s current trilogy. Of course, Curtis – the daughter of Hollywood legends Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh – made her film debut with John Carpenter’s original Halloween back in 1978, going on to become a bona fide movie star with roles in Trading Places, A Fish Called Wanda, True Lies and Freaky Friday . Halloween would also establish her as a scream queen, reprising her role of Laurie Strode in sequels Halloween II (1981), Halloween H20: 20 Years After (1998) and Halloween: Resurrection (2002) as well as appearing in numerous horror films including Prom Night and The Fog . When STACK talks to the actress today, she tells us how it was her godson, Jake Gyllenhaal, who coaxed her back into the franchise four years ago, insisting she speak to his friend Green. Halloween Kills has a lot to live up to given that the 2018 reboot marked the highest grossing film in the entire Halloween franchise, while

Because Michael Myers makes no expression, you project on him all your own fears

writing ourselves into a corner. We had to figure out how to get the boogeyman out of the burning basement, and how to keep Laurie alive with a gash in her gut. So, the reality of making a film that picks up where the last film left off, was a hospital bed and a surgical procedure for Laurie. "But it’s a testament to [Curtis's] bravery as an actress, and what a powerhouse she is, that she can use that vulnerability of the hospital gown. She can overcome that to connect with her daughter and granddaughter and the community of Haddonfield, keeping everyone fired up and excited. “She is a force of nature, both on and off screen, and it’s amazing to see her come to life in this way,” he says.

created an idea that you could place your own idea of what is scary upon that mask. Because Michael Myers makes no expression, you project on him all your own fears.

At 73 years old, John Carpenter is no longer making movies, but he's still actively making music. In fact, his latest effort is the original soundtrack for Halloween Kills . The 2018 Halloween soundtrack received unanimous praise and brought a rich and ominous depth to the iconic theme music that was famously recorded by Carpenter on a shoestring budget Carpenter's spooky music career

in 1978. Now, with the Halloween Kills score, director Green has pushed the musicians to be more experimental, and take Carpenter's sound to a chilling new level. The minimal, synthesizer-driven themes to films like Halloween , Escape From New York , and Assault on Precinct 13 are as indelible as their images, and their timelessness was evident when Carpenter performed them live in a string of internationally sold-out concert dates in 2016. This late career recognition has led to new works by Carpenter along with new collector releases and compilations of his past soundtracks.

Halloween Kills is in cinemas now.

7

FILM FEATURE

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MAGNIFICENT SEVENTEEN Seventeen supervillains brought together for a mission they can't refuse: The Suicide Squad is every bit as fun as it sounds. And so is hanging out on set with a star- studded cast, trading gossip. Read on! Words Gill Pringle

every day, going, ‘Hey Idris, what’s up? How are you doing?’” she recalls. Mortified by his lead actress’s discomfort, Gunn explains: “We wanted to make sure that you were really, really, white throughout the whole movie – which is what Harley is. And so that was a great idea when we were doing it, and then in the movie itself, it turned out to be a big hinderance, especially when white is all over Juan Diego Botto’s face,” he says of Harley Quinn’s new paramour. “I certainly wasn’t complaining,” laughs Botto. “My character is the new ruler of this Corto Maltese, and he’s obsessed with two things: his collection of lorikeets, and Harley Quinn. And those two obsessions determine his fate, eventually.” But still, the cast can’t escape the dominant theme of Cena’s Peacemaker package. They argue over what he might have used to stuff his undies, concluding it to be a gourd and two summer squash. Indeed, Peacemaker was such a hit, Cena was immediately awarded his own spin-off TV series, set to debut on HBO Max in January 2022. Ask the cast which one among them has the lamest powers, and Davidson immediately shoots up his hand. ”Me! Blackguard doesn’t have any powers at all," he says. "I just have guns strapped to my chest. But I had a great time, and the people on set were very kind because usually when I’m on sets, they take away the fun toys because I play around with them. But they were very nice and let me hold them,” he grins. “We’d been warned about Pete, so we just needed to make sure they weren’t loaded so he wasn’t shooting anyone,” concludes Gunn. PEACEMAKER SPINS OFF If you want more of the inspired mayhem of The Suicide Squad , then the HBO spin-off Peacemaker will be right up your alley. John Cena reprises his role as the man of action in need of supervision, with director James Gunn back at the helm. The trailer for this eight-episode origin story is already out, and we catch Peacemaker trying to reconcile with his dad played by Robert Patrick, the veteran actor best known as T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgement Day. Peacemaker is slated for January 2022 on HBO .

• The Suicide Squad (2021) is out Nov 3

W hen STACK catches up with the A-list cast of James Gunn’s R-rated The Suicide Squad , it's akin to hanging out in a high school boys’ locker room. Much of our chat is taken up discussing cast outings to Atlanta strip clubs, and what John Cena’s Peacemaker might have used to stuff his undies, while Margot Robbie cracks up as any seemingly innocent topic reverts back to Cena’s tighty- whities. It’s no surprise that Pete Davidson (Blackguard) is the main ringleader in this debate, accusing his co-star of stuffing his package and using a “d-ck filter”. “Yo, bro! You have a huge piece there, dude!” teases Davidson. Our interview began in typical press day fashion, with director-writer Gunn ( Guardians of the Galaxy ) waxing on about his original pitch to Warner Bros and how honoured he was to be “entrusted with this enormous amount of freedom on such a big budget movie”. If some audiences felt disappointed by David Ayer’s 2016 Suicide Squad – featuring Jared Leto as The Joker – then Gunn’s mission was to re-energise an appetite for this misfit band of incarcerated super-villains in order to coax audiences back into the cinema, a job he more or less achieved as the film broke even on its costs versus box office. “I wanted to populate the film with forgotten DC characters from John Ostrander’s original Suicide Squad comic books; characters we don’t usually see on screen," says Gunn, who made good on his promise with Sly Stallone’s King Shark, Idris Elba’s Bloodsport/Robert DuBois, Daniela Melchior’s Ratcatcher 2, David Dastmalchian’s Polka-Dot Man, Nathan Fillion’s T.D.K., Flula Borg’s Javelin, and Mayling Ng’s Mongal. Robbie’s Harley Quinn, Jai Courtney’s Boomerang, Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller and Joel Kinnaman’s Rick Flag serve among the few hold-

overs from the original film, while former Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi portrays evil mastermind, The Thinker.

This time round, the Suicide Squad are sent to the island nation of Corto Maltese to destroy evidence of a giant alien starfish known as Starro the Conqueror. Bright pink and standing at 200 feet tall, he surely gives SpongeBob’s Patrick a run for his money. Robbie was delighted with her new castmates. “When I first read the script – when no one else was announced in the cast – I read Polka-Dot Man with David in my head," she says. "And I’d never met David Dastmalchian before this movie, either! I spoke to James and asked if anyone else was on board yet, and he said David Dastmalchian was going to be Polka-Dot Man. And I said, ‘That is exactly who I pictured!’ I don’t know what it says about Dave, but I’m so happy he’s in it. It was meant to be,” she says. Robbie was less thrilled, however, with her rigorous new make-up routine. ”One of the hardest things we do in this film is not the giant set pieces, and the explosions, and all the stunts. It was re-setting make-up between our characters. When Harley kisses someone, it’s a mess afterwards. Harley just wants to make sure it’s not just a little lipstick on the collar, it's like everyone knows that Harley’s been there. She leaves a mark!” she smiles. “Can I just share a little tidbit that no one would know apart from Margot and I? “ asks Elba.

“Margot and I shared a make- up cabin, and every morning she’d be freezing, being sprayed down. Oh man, I felt for her.” “It was our morning routine.," Robbie agrees. "There’d be a little divider, and I’d be naked on one side getting spray painted

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FILM FEATURE

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INDIE UNIVERSE Through the 13 year history of the MCU, producer and impresario Kevin Feige has demonstrated an uncanny knack for identifying talented indie filmmakers to helm his big-budget superhero spectaculars. Most noteable have been New Zealander Taika Waititi ( Boy, Hunt for the Wilderpeople ) whose comic touch helped make Thor: Ragnarok one of the most loved films in the Marvel franchise. The Russo Brothers similarly weren't big-name directors before being tasked with Captain America: The Winter Soldier . Destin Daniel Cretton's acclaimed indie feature Short Term 12 was partly based on his own experiences in a facility for troubled teens; there was hardly any indication he would have the action chops to make Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings a cinematic smash it. Kevin Feige's winning track record looks set to continue with Chloé Zhao ( Nomadland ) on Eternals . Early word is this will be a stunning new stage in the MCU. Eternals hits cinemas this month!

If Marvel’s latest superhero action flick Shang-Chi and the Legend of theTen Rings looks, upon first inspection, like it came out of nowhere, then eagle- eyed MCU fans won’t be fooled. Words Gill Pringle

Eternals

T he shadowy Ten Rings organisation has been an underlying element of the MCU since 2008, when it surfaced to kidnap Tony Stark in the first Iron Man film. Five years later, the person behind the Ten Rings organisation was deceptively introduced in MCU’s Iron Man 3 , in the form of Iron Man’s arch-enemy The Mandarin, who first appeared in Marvel Comics in 1964, a decade before Shang-Chi. Iron Man 3 revealed that the person purporting to be The Mandarin was actually an actor named Trevor Slattery, played by Ben Kingsley, and hired by the leader of the Ten Rings to impersonate him and promote his agenda. In this new origin story, the modern-day, reimagined Shang-Chi is revealed to be the son of the Ten Rings founder. Wanting nothing to do with his father – whom he blames for the death of his mother – Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi flees China as a teenager, making a new life in San Francisco. Hiding his identity, he goes by the name of "Shaun" when we meet him working as a hotel parking attendant with his best pal Katy, portrayed by Awkwafina. A polite and cautious young man, Shaun is content with his new life, assiduously avoiding unwanted attention. The same could be said for the film’s breakout eponymous star, Simu Liu, a mild-mannered chap who left his Chinese homeland aged five for a new life in Canada, pleasing his aeronautical engineer parents by becoming an accountant. But when Liu was laid off from his accounting job

at a big consulting firm, he found it difficult to tell his hardworking folks that he intended to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. “We had a lot of arguments, and my parents felt like I was throwing my life away,” recalls Liu, 32, who has since made his parents proud starring as the MCU’s first Asian superhero in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings . Not that success happened overnight. Hired as an extra in Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim in 2013, Liu then landed a series of small acting jobs, and three years later scored a lead role in Canadian TV comedy Kim’s Convenience , about a Korean family who run a convenience store. If it seems like Marvel took a major risk casting the little-known Liu to helm its latest superhero movie, then MCU honcho Kevin Feige, is hardly risk-adverse. “I was lucky to be involved in the early Spider-Man and X-Men films before the first Iron Man movie," says Feige, "and I do think still the biggest risk – which seems outrageous to say now – was casting Robert Downey, Jr. It was both the biggest risk, and the most important thing in the founding of the MCU. Without Robert, we wouldn’t be sitting here today. “Everybody knew Robert was an amazing actor, but he wasn’t an action star. But Jon Favreau really had a vision for that movie, and for Robert in that role. And the success of that decision, I think, empowered us to take further risks.” STACK can’t argue with Feige’s logic, further demonstrated by his choice to appoint Destin Daniel Cretton ( Just Mercy , The Glass Castle ) to direct this kung-fu action comedy with no real proven track record in the special effects arena. A former childcare worker at a group home for

portrayed by newcomer Meng’er Zhang. “That job affected my entire life – my world view – so that I feel like the stories I am drawn to are a combination of humour and optimism, without shying away from the very real darkness and pain that we all experience as humans," Cretton tells STACK . "I think this movie really encapsulates a lot of the things that I really believe in,." Reprising his droll turn as Trevor Slattery, veteran actor Ben Kingsley joins in the chat: “There are motives that are life-enhancing, without being patronising, because they do introduce, in a beautiful way, memory, ancestry, loss – and families torn apart and reunited and reconfigured. This is all from Destin and Kevin and the writer’s heart. And if your motives are pure, as a storyteller, the angels will come to assist you with that story. “To tell a story is to heal,” continues Kingsley. “And I think that this story is so rich, that it will ultimately be healing because it’s not propaganda. It’s just a really beautiful story. Trevor, of course, is a Shakespearean actor who finds himself transported into a completely exotic environment, but he survives. I have done 17 out of Shakespeare’s whole canon of plays, so I’m sort of a Shakespearean actor, but as soon as I arrived on set, the fact that my colleagues were from a different culture was immaterial and irrelevant. We are actors together. We live on empathy and transformation. This is our currency,” he expounds. If Kingsley is living in his own Shakespearean world, Shang-Chi' is ultimately a movie about family and friendship – with lots of jaw-dropping kung-fu action sequences peppered with humour and hilarity, featuring the ever-reliable Michelle Yeoh and Tony Leung.

at-risk teenagers, Cretton fully understands the dysfunctional family dynamic, believing himself well equipped to address the lingering childhood pain experienced by Shang-Chi and his sister, Xialing –

• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is out Nov 12 on DVD, Blu-ray & 4K

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10 NOVEMBER 2021

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FILM FEATURE

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Hudson is diplomatic. "You see, that’s the thing: that’s the part of the power that I got from her, to know that, 'Wow, Aretha dealt with the same struggles, but if she can overcome it, so can I.' It’s something that is in many of us, as well, no matter what you do. It’s just a part of it, for some reason. But I feel like it’s a gift, and it’s given me all that strength to know that my power is within me. "And when you look at it, they all needed her; she didn’t need them," she continues. "But not that many people are going to voice that. And to be able to feel and find her power through all of those distractions – of people trying to make it look like she needed them, when in reality it was the opposite... So, again, I feel like that was the gift for me that I discovered and walked away with from this film.” While Hudson makes the process looks effortless, it was far from it. “It was definitely something but still kind of channeling my own emotions at times, it was like different entities all at the same time. The most challenging parts were when it was a very emotional scene, and [I needed] to sing and act in that while portraying someone else,” says the actress, who portrays Franklin over a 13- year period which culminates in her celebrated recording of Amazing Grace at a Los Angeles Baptist church in 1972. “While I was filming, I always said: I know we always have respect for Aretha, but by the time we get to the end of this film, I want people to have a new respect for her, which I also have now – even more so.” When the Queen of Soul lit up the big screen For a jolt of Aretha Franklin soul power, check out her electrifying cameo in 1980 comedy The Blues Brothers . Her appearance as the owner of the Soul Food Cafe was a timely reminder to audiences that even in the era of disco and new wave, here was a voice and talent that could not be ignored. It would lead to an '80s career revivial, with the hits Freeway Of Love and Eurythmics collab Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves . She would also become the first woman inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in 1987. that required a lot out of me," she says. "I had to be present physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually – in every way. And I sang live, so to add that element along with emotion and then allow myself to portray someone else,

When Aretha Franklin anointed Jennifer Hudson to star in the story of her extraordinary life, Hudson says she felt equal parts joy and fear. Words Gill Pringle “E ven though it was a dream come true, you don’t just wake up one morning and decide, ‘I’m gonna be AMAZING GRACE

• Respect is out Nov 19

& B legend, Hudson discovered much about Franklin in the process. “Firstly, I didn’t know that she was an activist to that extent," says the triple-threat actress/singer/best-selling author. "I did not know she had eight albums before Never Loved a Man , when she became the Queen of Soul. Because with artists like that, you assume they always had it made, and it just happened for them. So it was inspiring to see her journey; to see her find her voice; to see her pursue her dreams." Portraying Franklin as a demure diva-in- training who would take years to finally speak up for herself, Respect features a strong supporting cast with Forest Whitaker as Franklin's father, the Rev. C.L. Franklin; Audra McDonald as her sister Barbara; Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington; and Marlon Wayans as Ted White, Franklin’s first husband and former manager. In some scenes, it’s hard to watch Hudson’s Franklin be dominated by the men in her life – emotionally, intellectually and physically – bringing to mind other R & B legends Tina Turner and Whitney Houston. You assume they always had it made, and it just happened for them. So it was inspiring to see her journey; to see her find her voice; to see her pursue her dreams

Aretha Franklin’,” Hudson tells STACK , explaining the complex process in which she re-trained her voice to emulate Franklin’s powerful vocal style. Indeed, this was no overnight process; the American Idol star first met the Queen of Soul 17 years ago, even before her Oscar-winning performance in 2006's Dreamgirls . If Franklin was notorious for not allowing any female artists to open for her on tour, Hudson could not have been more surprised when she received an invitation to open for Franklin in Merrillville, Indiana. “It was right after I’d been eliminated from American Idol too, and she allowed me to sing in her show. I also got to meet her and watch her perform. And then, two years later, we had our initial meeting about me playing her . So the rest is history. It’s like I’ve been holding my breath for 15 years just waiting for this moment. I’ve done numerous tributes to her throughout my career but, to me, this is the biggest tribute yet,” says Hudson, 40, who was in constant consultation with Franklin even up until the week before the icon's death, aged 76, on August 16, 2018. Directed by Liesl Tommy, Respect landed at the US box office just five months after Cynthia Erivo’s Emmy-winning portrayal of Franklin in TV biopic Genius , although that version was blasted by Franklin’s family, who claimed various inaccuracies. In Hudson’s portrayal she delivers an intimate interpretation of the singer; a vulnerable and confused young woman, searching for a hit and trying to escape the domineering forces of both her father and the other men in her life. Despite her close relationship with the R

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Don't Breathe 2 star Stephen Lang first gained attention for his role as bad guy Miles Quaritch in James Cameron blockbuster Avatar. Though much info of Cameron's long-anticipated Avatar sequels is under wraps, Stephen Lang's name has surfaced in the credits... which is strange, considering Lang's character Miles Quaritch died in the finale of the original. Could Cameron be plotting

some kind of resurrection of this formidable villain? We might have to wait for the premiere of Avatar 2 , at the back end of 2022, to find out.

daughter. All is well in his screwed-up universe, until he comes to the attention of some very bad people. Needless to say, young Ms. Grace must contend with some gory atrocities, which no parent would want their own kid to witness. “On set, our job was to make it feel like a game for her, even though the final product is intense and violent," explains writer Sayagues. "But when you’re shooting, it’s not like that at all, and we made it fun for her." Unusual in the horror genre, Don’t Breathe 2 carries some weighty dramatic legacy. “It’s an homage to Star Wars , and so many other things, too," says Alvarez. "At the end of the day, you’re talking about the hero myth, and Joseph Campbell – and if you go back, you can chase it back thousands of years." Amusingly, Alvarez and Sayagues didn’t realise they were treading in Star Wars territory when they first co-wrote the script. “We wrote the dialogue, and then Rodo calls me one day and says, ‘I just found an issue. This line is exactly what Luke says to Darth Vader…’ Rodo didn’t know what to do, and I said, ‘Let’s just leave it for the smart people to figure it out’,” Alvarez laughs. “You can compare the entire final scene with Darth Vader and Luke," adds Sayagues. "It makes such an imprint on your subconsciousness that it’s inevitable that it comes out! But, in all honesty, it was not conscious at all. It just came out in a very natural and organic way, and we love to see that happen." “But there are going to be some hardcore fans in the audience when the dialogue happens, going, ‘What?’” teases Alvarez. He adds in his defense: “Look, every genre movie is inspired by Star Wars . Unless you find one director that makes genre movies that has not seen the Star Wars movies, particularly The Empire Strikes Back !"

Producer Fede Alvarez and director Rodo Sayagues tell STACK why Don’t Breathe 2 isn’t your average horror sequel, and how inspiration came from a most unlikely place… Words Gill Pringle

I t’s been five years since director Fede Alvarez introduced us to “The Blind Man” in the nail- biting horror-thriller, Don’t Breathe . For fans of the original, there are many ways a sequel could have gone down – most obviously with The Blind Man eliciting excruciating revenge on Jane Levy’s Rocky, for robbing his money. “But that would be too easy,” smiles Alvarez, who enlisted his writing partner Rodo Sayagues to direct the sequel. “Filmmakers in general are guilty of the sin of going the easy way, and just giving the audience exactly the same, but bigger – and that’s it. But we tried really hard not to do that, and to come up with a concept that was unexpected, even if that’s what you read from the end of the first film,” he says. “Anybody could easily pitch a sequel from the original story in two seconds: She’s at home alone, there’s a noise outside, who is it? Maybe it’s him, maybe it isn’t. [But] this story required a lot more crafting." Welcome to the all-new Don’t Breathe 2 where, once more, the audience is conflicted about whether or not to actually feel sorry for The Blind Man, and may almost root for him. “The first movie is all about this guy who does horrendous things, yet justifies every single one of them," explains Alvarez. "That’s why he’s such a compelling character, because every time you judge him, it’s like, ‘Yeah wait, but this is why I’m doing it’, and we give you

some very strong arguments as to why he’s doing whatever he’s doing. “In his head he’s convinced he’s right, regardless of the fact he’s doing unspeakable things. So we thought it would be interesting to tell Part 2, where he will have to get out of there and come to terms with what he’s done," explains Alvarez. Born in Uruguay, Alvarez's success with Evil Dead and the original Don’t Breathe has enabled him to helm big-budget thriller The Girl in the Spider’s Web . When we're dropped back into The Blind Man's story, we learn he has taken in a little girl – flawlessly played by Grey’s Anatomy child actress Madelyn Grace – and is raising her as his own

• Don't Breathe 2 is out Nov 10 on DVD, Blu-ray & 4K

Stephen Lang and film co-writer Rodo Sayagues on the set

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Emma Corrin as Diana, Princess ofWales

So, what should you expect from the fourth season? There is a definite sense of urgency this time around, and with so many landmark moments to be depicted, the episodes pivot from one historical event to another. It's more pacy compared to the previous seasons – perhaps a deliberate choice, as momentum builds toward climactic events. From Diana and Charles's tumultuous marriage to the latter's affair with Camilla, to the prickly relationship between Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and the Queen herself, there are plenty of meaty scenes. The Falklands War is chronicled, the Queen is victim to a home invasion, and dark family secrets are revealed. Suffice to say that series four is a scandalous smorgasbord of drama marked by an ensemble of incredible performances. Coleman and Anderson are the clear standouts. Coleman's Queen, while dignified in her every mannerism, suppresses a weight of personal opinion, giving her character a palpable inner conflict for the viewer to relish. Meanwhile, Anderson's Thatcher is simply chilling, with her portrayal of the resolute and (arguably) ruthless Iron Lady one to both fear and marvel at. Peter Morgan has declared that the next two seasons – featuring the next generation of players (including Imelda Staunton, Jonathan Pryce and Dominic West) – will close the book on The Crown , with the storyline carrying us through to the late nineties. He is quoted as saying: "To be clear, series six will not bring us any close to present day – it will simply enable us to cover the same period in greater detail". While there is comfort to be taken from the integrity of his sentiment, surely SPANISH OUTBACK The episode Terra Nullius in The Crown Season 4 depicts Charles and Diana's 1983 tour of Australia. Show creators wanted to capture the royal couple on the climb of Uluru. Out of respect for the traditional owners of the landmark, the producers decided to recreate the scene entirely using the desert regions around Almeria in Spain, along with a generous slice of VFX magic. In fact, none of Terra Nullius was filmed in Australia; Malaga, Spain became Sydney (with, of course, VFX of the Opera House), and scenes were also shot inside London's Australia House. we're all keen to see how the modern era of the Royals might be depicted. If the tabloid media have taught us anything, it's that the hypothetical future seasons of The Crown might give The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and The Kardashians a run for their money.

Anticipation precedes the release of season four of The Crown on home entertainment, arriving November 10th. Words Glenn Cochrane I f you missed the boat and haven't caught up with The Crown , then it's never too late to start. Presenting itself as an assuming the cheeky Prince Phillip role and Helena Bonham Carter as the boisterous CANDLE IN THE WIND

• The Crown: Season 4 is out Nov 10

Princess Margaret. Josh O'Connor ( God's Own Country ) plays Prince Charles while Lady Diana is portrayed by Emma Corrin, who bares an uncanny resemblance to the late royal. Furthermore, Gillian Anderson ( The X Files ) assumes the role of Margaret Thatcher, in what could be described as the performance of her career. The show has become a global juggernaut and has topped almost every credible 'must-see' list for the last several years, and with good reason. Although it is very much a melodrama, the series' showrunner Peter Morgan is no stranger to

anthology (of sorts), the cast of the series is interchanged every two seasons to represent the passage of time while facilitating the ageing of characters. Ol' Liz (pardon me, Her Mage) was played with absolute poise by Claire Foy in the first two seasons, with former Doctor Who actor Matt Smith portraying Prince Phillip. The supporting cast included John Lithgow as Winston Churchill, Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret and Jared Harris as King George VI. Season three and this fourth season have Oscar-winning

Suffice to say that series four is a scandalous smorgasbord of drama marked by an ensemble of incredible performances

actress Olivia Coleman sporting the crown jewels, with Tobias Menzies ( Outlander )

the fictionalised saga of the Royal Family. Having previously written films like The Queen and Frost/Nixon , as well as the celebrated stage show The

Gillian Anderson delivers the performance of her career as Margaret Thatcher

Audience , Morgan has a knack for adapting the Family's true story to the limits of public knowledge, and then filling in the gaps of their private lives with the help of informers and pure imagination. Oh, and on an ironic side note: he also wrote the film Bohemian Rhapsody , about the other Queen.

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In Candyman , filmmaker Jordan Peele confronts the horror lurking within the American psyche. Words Gill Pringle U ndoubtedly one of the scariest horror films released this year – in a bumper 12 months where horror has made a huge revisiting Rose’s original Chicago housing project of Cabrini-Green where locals still tell ghost stories about a supernatural killer with a hook for a hand, easily summoned by those daring to repeat his name five times into a mirror. URBAN LEGEND

Candyman director smashes the glass ceiling When the cinema release of Candyman knocked Free Guy off the top of the box office, it marked an auspicipous first for the movie industry: it made Nia DaCosta the first black female director to make the top of the box office. DaCosta is set for a repeat, as she's helming 2022's eagerly anticipated The Marvels , the sequel to 2019's Captain Marvel . Pictured above: Nia DaCosta and Yahya Abdul- Mateen II in Candyman .

film – a movie for me. So, I wanted to make a movie that looked at this ghost story from a Black perspective.” In today’s iteration, Abdul-Mateen’s artist Anthony effortlessly slips into a role similar to that of Madsen’s Helen Lyle. With his painting career on the brink of stalling, a chance encounter with a Cabrini-Green old-timer (played by Ma Rainey’s Colman Domingo) exposes him to the horrific, true story behind Candyman. Anxious to maintain his status in the Chicago art world, Anthony begins to explore the story's macabre details in his studio as fresh inspiration for paintings, unknowingly opening a door to a complex past that unravels his own sanity and unleashes a terrifying wave of violence. While the violence is more disturbing than it is gratuitous, DaCosta walks a fine tightrope. “It was a balancing act, because I love gore but I think it has to have its place," he says. "So, most of the gore and body horror actually happens to characters we care about, as opposed to throw- away slasher stuff. But we also wanted those moments of the slasher to be moments where you feel them,” says the director ,who has since helmed the highly anticipated MCU film The Marvels – a sequel to Captain Marvel . “But it’s also a film that speaks directly to this moment in Black life and culture," he continues. "On one level, the character of Candyman is a myth and a monster, but as we know, America creates monsters out of Black men all the time. I was interested in telling the truth about the pain at the centre of Black life in America, but also to shine a light on the hope and power of Black creativity and community, too.”

comeback – Candyman offers a fresh take on Bernard Rose’s blood-chilling 1992 cult classic of the same name. For the first time in a major American horror film, a Black man was cast as its titular character and antagonist; a movie “monster” unlike any that had existed in Western pop culture before, becoming a surprise box office hit and spawning two sequels. A teenaged Jordan Peele

It’s now a decade after the last of the Cabrini towers were torn down, as visual artist Anthony McCoy (Emmy winner Yahya Abdul-Mateen; Watchmen, Us ) and his partner, gallery director Brianna (Teyonah Parris; WandaVision, If Beale Street Could Talk ), move into a luxury loft condo in Cabrini, now gentrified beyond recognition and inhabited by upwardly mobile millennials. What could possibly go wrong? Based on Clive Barker’s short story The Forbidden , Rose’s original Candyman starred Virginia Madsen as a Chicago graduate student completing a thesis on urban legends and folklore, leading her to the legend of the “Candyman" – the ghost of an artist and son of a slave, murdered for his relationship with the daughter of a wealthy white man. For all its admirable qualities, the 1992 film was also problematic. Chief

Jordan is so good about bringing social issues to the fore in the horror genre

was paying close attention as he nurtured an early love of horror, the Oscar-winner later going on to direct social commentary horror films Get Out and Us. Early in the process of resurrecting Candyman for a new generation, Peele and his co-producers

resolved to bring in a fresh new voice to direct the film; Nia DaCosta landed on their radar after she wrote and directed 2018 crime western Little Woods , starring Lily James and Tessa Thompson. “I’m a huge fan of Jordan’s and I also loved the original Candyman film," DaCosta tells STACK . "I just wanted to be involved, and thankfully, after my pitch to Jordan, it all worked out. “Jordan is so good about bringing social issues to the fore in the horror genre. We connected on the way we view horror, and our love of horror: breaking down what horror is, how it’s represented, what it means, and why it’s important,” she explains. Not wishing to mess with a good thing, DaCosta returns to the scene of the crime,

among its shortcomings were the unanswered question of why a Black man who had been the victim of white violence was now terrorizing a Black community, and why a white woman was at the centre of its story. “The original film explored the legend of Candyman through Helen’s perspective,” Peele says. “But that movie struck me like a Black

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