Charlize Theron never says die in The Old Guard
Charlize Theron became an action star when you weren’t noticing. From Mad Max: Fury Road to Atomic Blonde (and its upcoming sequel) to the Fast and Furious franchise, she’s pretty much out-Neesoning Liam Neeson, and we’re really into it. For her next one, she jumps and kicks her way into Gina Prince-Bythewood’s (Beyond the Lights) newest, The Old Guard. Theron plays an immortal mercenary who leads a team of similarly gifted never-dying warriors to protect humanity, all the while confronted by villains who’d corrupt their ancient ways. The film is based on the graphic novel by Greg Rucka and features Chiwetel Ejiofor, Matthias Schoenaerts and KiKi Layne (If Beale Street Could Talk). But here’s the bonus: a same-sex romance – one that’s been hot for centuries – between two members of the team, played by international actors Luca Marinelli and Marwan Kenzari. We’ll take it, the delicious queer icing on Theron’s Furiosa cake, when it drops on Netflix July 10.
Queen of The Capital will serve, slay and stream
Daniel Hays has two jobs. By day he’s with the U.S. Department of Labor, working for the government, and leaving his 36-inch-high wig at home. At night, Hays’ drag character, a Southern Christian named Muffy Blake Stephyns, takes over, and she works on a different sort of Washington, D.C. campaign: the competition for the title of “Empress IV” of the Imperial Court. Don’t know what that even means? Well, then, you’ll want to see the new documentary, Queen of The Capital, from director Josh Davidsburg. The film is both a drag documentary and one that explores the old-school, community building work of gay bars via classic drag performance and fundraising, all of it aligned with a camp fantasy of royalty. It premiered earlier this year at Slamdance 2020, and will be arriving in arthouse theaters this summer as well as available now via streaming. If you’re going to brave a cinema then here’s a reason to go.
Romeo San Vicente is ready to stay far away from you all summer.
