Culture This Week: Exciting Returns

Movies: TCM Turns Fridays Into a Film School

Turner Classic Movies is transforming Fridays with a new series called Films on Film. Hosted by Ben Mankiewicz, the series delves into the art, history, and preservation of movies, combining documentaries with classic films.

The series explores themes like Latino representation in Hollywood and the impact of comedies like Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator against fascism. Charlie Tabesh from TCM emphasizes that these documentaries offer fresh perspectives, enhancing viewers’ understanding through paired classic features.

This initiative positions movies as both a reflection of our cultural heritage and a guide for future progress. TCM’s weekly offerings provide educational value and entertainment in equal measure.

Music: Oasis Documentary Highlights the Gallagher Brothers’ Reunion

Fans of Oasis can finally witness Liam and Noel Gallagher together in the new documentary, Don’t Look Back in Anger. This film chronicles their 2025 reunion, marking their first joint interview since their split 15 years ago.

Directed by Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace and penned by Steven Knight of Peaky Blinders fame, the documentary is part concert film, part emotional reunion. It premieres at the Venice Film Festival on September 5, and will be available on various platforms later.

While the reunion might capitalize on nostalgia and financial incentives, it remains questionable whether the siblings have truly reconciled their differences.

Books: Sarah J. Maas Returns to Prythian

After a five-year hiatus, author Sarah J. Maas revisits the world of Prythian in her A Court of Thorns and Roses series. A Court of Splintered Harmony launches on October 27, followed by A Court of Forgotten Melody on January 12, 2027.

This new phase, known as the Valkyrie Cycle, unfolds over four parts. Fans are eagerly speculating online, with discussions on new book covers and storyline directions fueling the excitement.

Maas instructs readers to approach the series as one comprehensive narrative rather than discrete installments. Her return promises captivating storytelling for fans craving more of the smutty, fantasy worlds Maas crafts.

Reality TV: Redemption Awaits on Dancing with the Stars

Dancing with the Stars kicks off its 35th season, offering redemption for two reality TV queens: Ciara Miller from Summer House and Maura Higgins from Love Island UK and The Traitors. After facing scorn in the dating scene, they now aim for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.

Other notable contestants include Guillermo Rodriguez and Jackson Olson. Sharna Burgess makes a comeback five years after winning controversially with Bobby Bones.

The show promises drama over dance skills, with narratives often playing a key role in determining success.

Celebrity: Gwyneth Paltrow’s Controversial Dinner Party

Gwyneth Paltrow continues to attract online ire with her decisions. Hosting OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is her latest move, aligning Paltrow with AI controversies despite her wellness brand.

The event draws criticism, focusing on Altman’s connection to data center pollution and AI’s adverse effects on employment and legal issues. Paltrow’s social media response, featuring fake invites to fictional characters, amplifies the backlash.

Her actions highlight her detachment from public sentiment, drawing historical parallels and media references that criticize the elite.