Rihanna is the one who put herself out there in the new Eminem video.
But Megan Fox is stealing all the attention.
Megan Fox seems to be sucking up most of the attention for the controversial new video for Eminem's domestic violence song, "Love the Way You Lie."
Whether it's her laudable donation of her fee for acting in the video to a women's shelter or the absurd obsession with her on-screen kiss with Lost actor Dominic Monaghan in the video, it's become all about Megan Fox. Only one problem ... Rihanna (one of the actual musical artists in the video) is the one who has well-documented public experience with being the victim of domestic violence.
If you're going to praise the video for shedding light on domestic violence or rip it for potentially glorifying it, Rihanna — not Fox — deserves to be at the center of the discussion. Rihanna is the one who made a bold decision and put herself out there by teaming up with Eminem (who has his own history of domestic violence incidents) for the song.
Rihanna is the one who sings, "Just gonna stand there and watch me burn/Well that's all right because I like the way it hurts/Just gonna stand there and here me cry/Well that's all right because I love the way you lie" as a house burns down behind her.
Fox just does her usual: Look vapid and act poorly.
Fitting with their personalities, Rihanna is choosing to let the video speak for itself, content to let people draw their own conclusions, while Fox and especially Monaghan talk their way into the spotlight.
When even a video that examines domestic violence becomes a publicity grab, it's apparent that good taste is long gone.
In a time when true movie stars seem to be going extinct, Timothée Chalamet has emerged as an exception to the rule. Since 2021 he has headlined blockbusters like the two Dune movies and Wonka, and also earned an Oscar nomination for playing Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown (his second nomination following 2018’s Call Me By Your Name). Now, he’s almost assured to get his third nomination for the stellar new film, Marty Supreme.
Chalamet plays Marty Mauser, a world-class table tennis player living in New York. But reducing Marty to his best skill doesn’t do him justice, as he’s also a motormouth schemer who will do almost anything to achieve his dreams. He doesn’t have any qualms about wooing married women like neighbor Rachel (Odessa A’zion) or actress Kay Stone (Gwyneth Paltrow), or hiding his true ping pong skills to win money in scams with friends like Wally (Tyler the Creator).
Marty is seemingly on the go the entire movie, whether it’s trying to convince Kay’s millionaire husband Milton Rockwell (Kevin O’Leary) to fund his table tennis ambitions; or trying to track down the dog of Ezra (Abel Ferrara), a man he accidentally injures; or trying to avoid the ire of the boss at the shoe store where he works. Just when you think he might slow down, he’s off to the races on another plan or adventure.
Directed by Josh Safdie and written by Safdie and frequent co-writer Ronald Bronstein, the film is an almost continuous blast of pure energy for 2 ½ hours. So many different things happen over the course of the film that the story defies conventional narratives, and yet the throughline of Marty keeps everything tightly connected. His particular type of brash behavior turns much of the film into a comedy as he does and says things that are both shocking and thrilling.
Another thing that makes the movie sing is the fantastic characterization by Safdie and Bronstein. Almost every person who is given a speaking line in the film has a moment where they pop, which speaks to airtight dialogue that the writers have created. Characters will be introduced and then disappear for long stretches of time, and yet because they make such an impression the first time they’re on screen, it’s easy to pick up their thread right away.
Safdie, as he’s done previously with brother Bennie (Uncut Gems), calls on a host of well-known non-actors or people with interesting faces/vibes to inhabit supporting roles, and to a person they are crucial to the film’s success. O’Leary (of Shark Tank fame), rapper Tyler the Creator, director Ferrara, magician Penn Jillette, and fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi each deliver knockout performances. The relative unknowns who play smaller roles are just as impressive, making each beat of the film feel naturalistic.
Leading the way is the powerhouse performance by Chalamet. For one person to believably play both the famously reserved Dylan and also a firecracker like Marty is astonishing, and this role cements Chalamet’s status as his generation’s movie star. A’zion is a rising star who gets great moments as Marty’s on-again/off-again love interest. Paltrow pops in and out of the film, lighting up the screen every time she appears. Fran Drescher as Marty’s mom and Sandra Bernhard as a neighbor also pay dividends in small roles.
Josh Safdie’s first solo directorial effort is unlike any other movie this year, or maybe even this century. Thanks to its breakneck storytelling, a magnificent performance by Chalamet, and countless intangibles that Safdie employs expertly, the film smacks viewers in the face repeatedly and demands that they come back for more.
Rihanna is the one who put herself out there in the new Eminem video.
But Megan Fox is stealing all the attention.
