Weekly Horoscope: December 10 to December 16, 2023

. This week launches us straight into Christmas Eve and through that one week of the year when we all ask, ‘What day is it again?’ In Ancient Rome, the festival of Saturnalia was similarly about feasting and frivolity, where the rules and order were turned on their heads, and chaos was the order of the day. Since Mercury is retrograde, step back in time and look at this fascinating festival.

Even by the HFPA’s eccentric standards, Todd Haynes’ May December is a wild card in the Best Musical or Comedy category. But it does feature elements of both, in a deceptively dark story that harks back to the days of Hollywood’s self-imposed censorship code, when ingenious directors found sensitive and intelligent ways to address taboo subjects in mainstream movies. Here, the inspiration is the real-life case of Mary Kay Letourneau, a 35-year-old married teacher who, in 1997, seduced a pupil and was sentenced to prison for it, twice. A year after her release in 2004, claiming their love was “eternal and endless”, Letourneau married the boy, then 21. That wedding, and their subsequent life together, was covered, flatteringly, by the media. May December is not their story, but it does address two key points. What was she thinking. And how did the media become so complicit?

Even by the HFPA’s eccentric standards, Todd Haynes’ May December is a wild card in the Best Musical or Comedy category. But it does feature elements of both, in a deceptively dark story that harks back to the days of Hollywood’s self-imposed censorship code, when ingenious directors found sensitive and intelligent ways to address taboo subjects in mainstream movies. Here, the inspiration is the real-life case of Mary Kay Letourneau, a 35-year-old married teacher who, in 1997, seduced a pupil and was sentenced to prison for it, twice. A year after her release in 2004, claiming their love was “eternal and endless”, Letourneau married the boy, then 21. That wedding, and their subsequent life together, was covered, flatteringly, by the media. May December is not their story, but it does address two key points. What was she thinking. And how did the media become so complicit?

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has shared the proposed, new State Pension and benefits payment rates to come into effect from April 8, 2024. State Pensions will rise by 8.5 per cent, as per the Triple Lock policy, while most benefits will increase by the September Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation figure of 6.7 per cent.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Will the box office hit $9 billion in 2023? Analysts have predicted, or at least hoped, that’s where domestic grosses would wind up. And there are no less than eight new releases set to unspool over the next 14 days, which could help theaters finish the year having passed that coveted figure. But after a 12-month stretch that’s seen two labor strikes wallop a business that’s yet to recover from the pandemic, Hollywood may struggle to get its happily ever after.

. Happy Winter Solstice! We’ve made it to the longest night of the year, so the only way is up from here! That means Capricorn season begins on Thursday. Switch on a pragmatic mindset, swirl in the finest family or cultural traditions mixed with a modern update, and shake for a perfect pour.

more intense drama as December marches on. The Peacock soap opera is ready to unleash all new storylines and kick off some interesting dynamics for the week of December 11 through 15, 2023. Chad and Stephanie will come to a crossroads.

In response to his Golden Globe nomination Monday for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture for May December, Charles Melton starts the conversation with gratitude towards his mother, Sukyong Melton, who he recently deemed his hero in a heartfelt speech while being honored at the Critics Choice Celebration of Black, Latino & AAPI Achievements last week. Though he admits to sleeping through the ceremony and being informed by his team about the nomination, he made sure to call her as soon as he found out. “She was so proud, and I am so happy.” Melton said. 

The movie May December is expected to receive a lot of award nominations this season, but one thing might surprise you.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor Is “May December” camp or not? That’s the question the internet is currently obsessing over, but whether you fall on the “definitely” or “no, rude question!” side, one clue can be found in the dark comedy’s notably prominent score by Marcelo Zavros. Ten minutes into the Todd Haynes movie that’s loosely based on the story of Mary Kay Letournau, Julianne Moore, playing Gracie, the wife and mother, opens the fridge while getting ready for a family barbecue. As she casually comments, “I don’t think we have enough hot dogs,” the lush chords familiar from the 1971 movie “The Go-Between” burst loudly into the scene, lending the mundane moment an unexpected melodramatic punch.

The American Film Institute has announced their annual year-end top 10 lists and, as always, it was filled with several awards contenders. This year’s crop of film honorees includes “American Fiction,” “Barbie,” “The Holdovers,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Maestro,” “May December,” “Oppenheimer,” “Past Lives,” “Poor Things” and “Spider-Man: Across the Universe.” The television selections are “Abbott Elementary,” “The Bear,” “Beef,” “Jury Duty,” “The Last of Us,” “The Morning Show,” “Only Murders in the Building,” “Poker Face,” “Reservation Dogs” and “Succession.” READ MORE: “American Fiction,” “May December” and “Past Lives” top 2024 Spirit Awards Nominations It should be noted, that the AFI committee is not always the best predictor for a Best Picture nomination.

The list of the 10 films chosen for the prestigious AFI Awards is out, and it is good news for Barbenheimer.

EXCLUSIVE: Cloud10 Media and writer, producer & narrator Branden Morgan have joined forces to launch the third season of the true-crime podcast The Devil Within; which literally dropped yesterday. The podcast, which was in a limited format, racked up 8M downloads in its first two season. The podcast will now drop episodes on a 45-week basis.

Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series spotlighting the year’s most talked-about scripts continues with the Todd Haynes-directed May December starring Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman and Charles Melton. It made a splash at Cannes this year when the darkly comedic and complex feature, loosely based on the story of Mary Kay Letourneau, was picked up by Netflix in a splashy $11 million rights deal.

Charles Melton is opening up about wearing a prosthetic for a scene in his new movie May December.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers for Netflix’s “May December” In Netflix’s “May December,” one of the most memorable scenes features Joe Yoo (played by Charles Melton) arriving at the hotel to deliver a letter from his wife Gracie (Julianne Moore) to actress Elizabeth Berry (Natalie Portman). Their encounter leads to a brief yet intense sexual liaison on the floor, culminating in a conspicuous silhouette shot of Joe’s penis. Amid Samy Burch’s narrative brilliance and Todd Haynes’ tantalizing direction, one might imagine Melton — known for his role in The CW’s “Riverdale” — felt immense pressure acting opposite Oscar winner Portman, who also produced the film.

The Gotham Awards, the New York wing of the indie film world, has already handed out its year-end honors and now it’s time for the West Coast to have their say. Bright and early this morning, Film Independent revealed the 2024 Independent Spirit Awards nominees, and, no surprise, Celine Song’s “Past Lives” was at the top of the list with five nominations.

In what is an annual tradition, A24 led all nominations at this morning’s 39th Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominations with 11 nods while their movie Past Lives, along with Netflix’s May December and Amazon MGM’s American Fiction all tied for the most nominations with five apiece.

Jordan Moreau The 2024 Independent Spirit Awards nominations, which honor TV and indie films with smaller budgets, were announced Tuesday morning. Joel Kim Booster and Natalie Morales revealed the nominations. “Saturday Night Live” alum Aidy Bryant will host the awards show on Feb.

Charles Melton was honored at the Critics Choice Celebration of Black, Latino & AAPI Achievements and broke accepting his award.