A witch always seems to lurk at the corners of the collective imagination, reminding us of unruly women and their threat to the social order. She has been a particularly strong presence in horror films, but she’s also turned up in other places, including in fantasy and comedy. Regardless of where she turns up, the witch always reminds the viewer of the power of magic and the unruly women, and, in the very best movies in which she appears, she resists all of the efforts to tame her, no matter how much the narrative might suggest otherwise. 'Into the Woods' Based on Stephen Sondheim's play of the same name, Into the Woods is a mash-up of the various fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm, including Jack and the Beanstalk and Rapunzel. One of the central characters, of course, is Meryl Streep ’s the Witch, who ends up being one of the film’s most tragic and haunting characters. Like the play, the film is a meditation on the ethics and ethos of responsibility, of the relationships between parents and their children, and of the enduring power of fairy tales. 'I Married A Witch' Frederic March and Veronica Lake star in the very funny romantic comedy I Married A Witch , in which Lake plays a vengeful witch, and March plays the man with whom she falls in love in the process of trying to enact revenge upon him. There’s no doubt that it’s a strange film, but it’s also undeniably charming. Lake is perfectly cast as the witch Jennifer, and Frederic March, as always, makes for a very strong romantic lead. Even after all these years, the film casts a unique spell. 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe' Based on C.S. Lewis' novel of the same name, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a thrilling and epic adaptation, focusing on the four Pevensie children as they are swept into the magical land of Narnia. There, they encounter the beautiful but tyrannical White Witch, portrayed by Tilda Swinton in arguably one of her very best roles. Even though the Witch is the main antagonist of the film, it’s impossible to look away from her as she rules the country with an icy, iron fist, turning to stone anyone who dares to displease her. 'Witchfinder General' Witchfinder General is widely regarded as a remarkable piece of folk horror filmmaking, and it’s easy to see why. Vincent Price gives a chilling performance as Matthew Hopkins, a witchfinder who delights in using his power to terrorize everyone around him. The film is a haunting reminder of just how easy it is for the social order to break down — it takes place during the chaos of the English Civil War — and, just as importantly, how easy it is for bad actors to take advantage of this for their own sadistic ends. 'Sleepy Hollow' Tim Burton adds his unique spin to the story of Ichabod Crane with Sleepy Hollow , which stars Johnny Depp as Crane, who comes to Sleepy Hollow and finds his fate increasingly intertwined with that of the locals. Of particular note in the film is Miranda Richardson, Lady Mary Van Tassel, a wicked stepmother figure who is also a witch and has secretly been controlling the Headless Horseman. It’s one of those roles that Richardson was born to play, and she is perfect as the scheming witch who will stop at nothing to get what she wants. 'You Won’t Be Alone' Goran Stolevski made his feature debut with the thought-provoking You Won’t Be Alone . The film focuses on a pair of witches, Maria and Nevena, particularly the former’s attempts to teach the latter how to be one of their kind. The film breathes new life into the well-worn figure of the witch story with an artsy aesthetic that sets it apart from many other examples of the genre. It is, more than anything else, a fascinating exploration of how the witch has appeared across different cultures. 'The Witches' While the 2020 version of The Witches might lack some of the horrifying bite of its 1990s predecessor, it’s still a fun and entertaining adaptation of Roald Dahl's original novel. Of particular note is the performance from Anne Hathaway as the Grand High Witch, and she deserves credit for working a bit out of her usual character type. Moreover, this version is actually more faithful to the original book, and its striking aesthetic helps to make a worthy successor to Nicolas Roeg’s version. 'The Witches of Eastwick' Based on the novel by John Updike, The Witches of Eastwick focuses on a trio of women who are actually witches (even if they do not know it). When a stranger comes into town, they all find themselves vying for his attention, with chaotic results. The film is at times quite ridiculous, but there’s something quite fun about it, too, particularly given that it stars such heavy hitters as Susan Sarandon , Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Jack Nicholson. 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' Elizabeth Olsen ’s Wanda Maximoff has repeatedly shown that she is one of the strongest characters in the MCU, and this is particularly true in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness . Desperate to find a universe in which she can be reunited with her children, Wanda slowly becomes a monster of her own making, willing to sacrifice anyone and everyone in her efforts. The film has more than a little horror in its DNA, thanks in no small part to Sam Raimi’s direction. Despite the title, it’s really Elizabeth Olsen’s show, and, as always, she makes the most of the role. 'The Crucible' Based on the searing play by Arthur Miller, The Crucible takes place during the Salem witch trials, showing how easy it is for Americans to get caught up in mass hysteria. The film features a number of terrific performances, including from Daniel Day-Lewis and Winona Ryder . Even though it loses a bit of something divorced from the context in which Miller wrote it — the Red Scare — it is nevertheless a film that becomes ever more pertinent, particularly since the residents of Salem are not the only ones prone to persecuting those they see as different. 'The Wizard of Oz' Few witches are as iconic as the Wicked Witch of the West, the primary antagonist of the beloved 1939 film The Wizard of Oz . It would become the role with which actress Margaret Hamilton was forever associated, and there’s no doubt she gave a terrific performance. It’s easy to see why since the Wicked Witch immediately terrifies Dorothy and the audience. Even though the Good Witch, Glinda, does her best to help the little girl from Kansas, everyone knows that it’s really the Wicked Witch who has the real power in Oz, until she meets that fateful bucket of water. 'Halloweentown' The Disney Channel was quite adept at pumping out fun and cheap movies in the 1990s, a few of which managed to become classics. Take, for example, Halloweentown , which stars none other than Debbie Reynolds as Aggie Cromwell, the grandmother of the main character, Marnie Piper, and a formidable witch. While Marnie might be the protagonist, Debbie Reynolds is the star attraction, and it’s clear she’s having the time of her life in this particular role. 'Bell, Book and Candle' Though witches have long been a fixture in horror movies of various types, they’ve also been known to appear in other genres. Bell, Book and Candle , for example, stars Kim Novak as a witch and James Stewart as her neighbor who falls under her spell. It’s an undeniably silly film, but there’s still some magic to it, particularly when it comes to the performances of its leads. It’s also a very beautiful film to look at, particularly when it comes to its Technicolor cinematography. 'Hocus Pocus 2' It would have been very easy to turn in a very cheap and bland sequel to Hocus Pocus , but Hocus Pocus 2 actually manages to capture at least a bit of the magic that made the original so beloved among millennials. Much of its success stems from the fact that Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker all return for their roles as the Sandersons square off against 21st-century teens. The film might trade a fair bit in nostalgia for its predecessor, but it’s always a delight to see the three actresses hamming it up. 'Hocus Pocus' The remarkable thing about Disney’s Hocus Pocus was that it wasn’t a huge hit on its initial release; it would only become so thanks to repeated TV airings over the years. Now, however, no Halloween season is complete without a screening of this fun witchy film focusing on the Sanderson sisters — Winifred, Mary, and Sarah — and the modern-day teens who want to stop them from regaining immortality. It’s funny and creepy, and Bette Midler gives what is arguably the very best performance of her career. 'Practical Magic' Practical Magic could have only been made in the late 1990s. It stars Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as a pair of witch sisters who have to use their powers to dispel a vengeful spirit. There are times when the film can’t quite hold all of its elements and genres together, but there’s no question that both Bullock and Kidman are charming and fun to watch. Moreover, the film is an important reminder that there’s a lot of power in stories about sisterhood, particularly that of the witchy variety. 'The Blair Witch Project' Even though the found footage film is a key part of the horror landscape now, it wasn’t quite as dominant when The Blair Witch Project came out in 1999. It focuses on a trio of filmmakers who set out to find the sinister Blair Witch. Unfortunately for them, things take a very sinister turn, and the film ultimately leaves their fate unknown. In addition to being extremely successful — particularly given its indie status — the film was scary, all the more so since so much of the truly terrifying stuff happens beyond the view of the camera. 'Bedknobs and Broomsticks' Angela Lansbury gives one of her most notable and beloved film performances in Disney’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks . She plays witch-in-training Eglantine Price, who takes three youths into her home during World War II, after which they go on a series of extraordinary adventures and even manage to vanquish a party of invading Nazis. It’s a very fun and enjoyable film with a heart of gold, and it also includes some marvelous animated sequences and musical numbers courtesy of the Sherman Brothers. 'The Witches' Nicolas Roeg directed this film, which is also based on the Roald Dahl novel of the same name. The center of the story is the boy Luke, who stumbles on a secret and malicious cabal of witches who masquerade as humans. The most powerful performance in the film, however, comes from Anjelica Huston , who portrays the beautiful (but secretly hideous) Grand High Witch. It’s one of Huston’s best performances, and she perfectly captures the sinister menace that earns the Grand High Witch herself a place among the best witches in popular culture. 'The Witch' Robert Eggers’ feature debut, The Witch, is a stunning piece of horror filmmaking that shows the extent to which the witch has long been a figure haunting the American imagination. Anya Taylor-Joy stars as Thomasin, a young woman who accompanies her family into exile in the New England wilderness, only to find that a sinister witch lurks there as well. Eggers expertly blends folk horror with period drama, and Taylor-Joy gives one of the most intense performances of her career. There’s even a goat that may, in fact, be the devil. Thomas J. West III earned a PhD in film and screen studies from Syracuse University in 2018. His writing on film and TV has appeared at Screen Rant, Screenology, FanFare, Primetimer, Cinemania, and in a number of scholarly journals and edited collections. He co-hosts the Queens of the B's podcast and writes a regular newsletter, Omnivorous, on Substack. He is also an active member of GALECA, the Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics.
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Alex Ovechkin has not missed many games during his two decades in the NHL with the Washington Capitals, and that remarkable durability is one reason why he is fast-approaching Wayne Gretzky's career goals record. The Capitals had lost 33 of their 59 games without Ovechkin in the lineup during his first 19 seasons, including 23 of 36 over the past decade. In stark contrast to that, they've won six of nine since the 39-year-old captain was sidelined by a broken left fibula — a testament to a roster built not only to help him break the record but prepare the organization for the post-Ovechkin era. “Ovi, he’s a legend, he’s special, he’s always going to probably lead the team in goals and we’re a better team with him, but we’re also a team where I think we’re not necessarily maybe relying on one or two players to win games,” said center Lars Eller, who rejoined the team in a trade from Pittsburgh a month ago. “We have four pretty strong lines, three D pairs and two good goalies. We don’t depend on one or two individuals, and I think that’s the strength of the team.” Depth fortified by the additions of centers Dylan Strome , Pierre-Luc Dubois and Eller, wingers Andrew Mangiapane , Brandon Duhaime and Taylor Raddysh, defensemen Jakob Chychrun, Matt Roy and Rasmus Sandin and goaltenders Charlie Lindgren and Logan Thompson over the past few years has been the key to remaining a playoff contender. Longtime general manager Brian MacLellan, who after the most recent makeover this past summer handed day-to-day duties to Chris Patrick and moved upstairs as president of hockey operations, excelled in keeping Washington's winning window open with Ovechkin in the second-to-last year of his contract. Veteran defenseman John Carlson said the infusion of talent “really lit a fire under everybody.” The Capitals led the Eastern Conference when Ovechkin got injured Nov. 18, and they remain atop the East more than three weeks into his absence. Fourteen players have scored a goal during this stretch, including six wins and an overtime defeat since losing the first two without him. “We’re a deep group,” said right winger Tom Wilson, the team's leading scorer during this stretch with nine points on five goals and four assists who expects to continue playing with a shield protecting his face after breaking a small bone in the sinus cavity area on the left side. "Everybody’s kind of stepping up on any given night. It’s a real group effort, and I think guys are really playing for each other.” Carlson, who along with Ovechkin, Wilson and now Eller upon return are the only players left from Washington's 2018 Stanley Cup championship team, also sees it as a case of younger teammates taking advantage of this chance. “There’s the colossal emptiness of it, but there’s also a lot of opportunity for guys who would never otherwise be there when he’s on this team,” Carlson said. “When someone goes down, it’s obviously always kind of a rallying thing where guys need to step up, guys need to fill in and play bigger roles and play more minutes. But I think the way that our team’s built is depth, and that’s been our strength this year is kind of contributions from everybody.” Ovechkin led all players with 15 goals when he went down, and the Capitals were the high-scoring team in the league at 4.33 goals a game. They still are, down just a tick to an average of 4.04, and their 16 goals from defensemen are a big reason for that after ranking second-last in blue line production last season. “We’re playing to our structure and doing what we want to do out there,” said Chychrun, who has eight points in nine games as part of an impressive start to his contract year. “We’ve got a D corps where everybody’s a really good player on that back end and can play in all situations and two-way guys and guys who have contributed offensively throughout their career.” Another major defense is second-year coach Spencer Carbery , who acknowledged the structure and playing standard as a good place to start but pointed the credit to veteran leaders like Carlson, Strome, Wilson and Nic Dowd for shepherding the Capitals through Ovechkin-less hockey. “They don’t go around the room and go, ‘Hey, we’ve got to do more, guys,’” Carbery said. “They don’t announce it, but what they do is they think about it and go: ‘OK, we’re missing him. I’ve got to step my game up and I need to bring more.’ And that’s not just on the ice, on the power play, on 5 on 6 when we’re defending a lead. It’s not just the Xs and Os. It’s in the locker room. It’s energy in practice. It’s all the things that he brings every day when he’s in the lineup and when he’s practicing.” Ovechkin skated before practice Wednesday and got an assist from longtime running mate Nicklas Backstrom, who stepped away 13 months ago because of a lingering hip injury. Carlson quipped, “I think Ovi wanted someone with a little more skill passing him the rock out there.” The day is coming soon when Ovechkin returns to team drills and then game action. The Capitals are doing more than stay afloat without him, but they'll welcome him back with open arms the moment he's ready. As Eller said, “Obviously I think we’re even better when he’s in the lineup.” ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl Stephen Whyno, The Associated PressThe Gophers football team resembled its fan base in one respect this week. Current players sat down to watch as their predecessors put together highlight after highlight in Minnesota’s 31-26 upset of Penn State in 2019. The positive plays were plentiful. Tanner Morgan’s three touchdown passes, including a 66-yard catch and run from Rashod Bateman to open the game; Mariano Sori-Marin’s pressure to force a lofted pass on Antoine Winfield’s second interception of the game; Tyler Johnson’s fighting off pass interference to make a one-handed catch on a 38-yard score; Chris Autman-Bell taking a screen pass and making multiple Nittany Lions miss on a 21-yard TD; Esezi Otomewo’s big sack; and Jordan Howden’s game-sealing pick. With fourth-ranked Penn State coming into Huntington Bank Stadium on Saturday, the Gophers will look to pull off another upset. Their use of highlights fulfills one of their mottos: Embracing the past to create our future. Minnesota (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) will need to collect a similar amount of big plays and turnovers to pull off an upset as an 11-point underdog to the Nittany Lions (9-1, 6-1). “It’s going to take our best players making plays like that,” head coach P.J. Fleck said about the 2019 victory. “Penn State’s going to say the same thing. We’re going to get their best shot. We know that. I don’t expect anything less from a James Franklin team, but we’ve got to coach them up so they get our best shot, too.” Back in 2019, the Gophers were 8-0 and ranked 13th in the nation. Penn State was also 8-0 and ranked fourth. Minnesota had not beat a ranked team up to that point and doubt remained that Minnesota could play with traditional powerhouses. After the win and fans stormed the field, the Gophers climbed the College Football Playoff rankings the next week. Five years on, it remains of the best wins of Fleck’s tenure since 2017. “That was a great moment spring-boarding us into what we have done consistently,” Fleck told the Pioneer Press. “Then just giving us that ability that we can and that mindset that we can and we will. It’s just a matter of time. A lot of things have to line up for it to happen, but that is what is so fun about it.” For the yesteryear Penn State game, Gophers defensive end Danny Striggow was a visiting recruit from Orono. He and other recruits were told not to storm the field because they were headed into the locker room postgame. “That was a cool game,” Striggow said. “... I was there as a recruit, so it’s kind of funny to look back on it, just being able to experience that as a fan and as a recruit.” Now Stiggow will play in his 50th game in maroon and gold. “(We can) look back at what they did to win that game, learn from that game and go forward and apply it,” Striggow said. Quarterback Max Brosmer said the 2019 Penn State game was the first one he watched to prepare for this year’s match-up. “I was wondering how Minnesota beat them in ’19 and what kind of things worked well for them,” Brosmer said. “... How did they execute the small details well to finish and win that game? We took away some good stuff from that game and we will use that to the best of our advantage.”
Donald Trump is considering making Kimberly Guilfoyle his ambassador to GreeceThe standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.NEW YORK and LONDON , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pearl Diver Credit Company Inc. (NYSE: PDCC) (the "Company") has commenced an underwritten public offering of its Series A Preferred Stock Due 2029. Certain financial and other terms of the Series A Preferred Stock are to be determined by negotiations between the Company and the underwriters. Shares of the Series A Preferred Stock are rated 'BBB' by Egan-Jones Ratings Company, an independent rating agency. In addition, the Company plans to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to the same terms and conditions. Shares of the Series A Preferred Stock are expected to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange and to trade thereon within 30 days of the original issue date under the ticker symbol "PDPA." Lucid Capital Markets, LLC ("Lucid"), B. Riley Securities, Inc. and Kingswood Capital Partners, LLC are acting as joint book-running managers and InspereX LLC and Janney Montgomery Scott LLC are acting as lead managers for the offering. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the offering to acquire investments in accordance with the investment objectives and strategies described in the prospectus supplement and for general working capital purposes. Investors should consider the Company's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The preliminary prospectus, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), contains this and other information about the Company and should be read carefully before investing. The information in the preliminary prospectus and this press release is not complete and may be changed. The preliminary prospectus and this press release are not offers to sell these securities and are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where such offer or sale is not permitted. A registration statement relating to these securities is on file with, but has not yet been declared effective by, the SEC. Copies of the preliminary prospectus (and the final prospectus, when available) may be obtained by writing to Lucid Capital Markets, LLC, 570 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022, by calling Lucid toll-free at 646-362-0256 or by sending an e-mail to Lucid at prospectus@lucid.com . Copies also may be obtained on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . Egan-Jones Ratings Company is a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO). A security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities, and any such rating may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the applicable rating agency. About Pearl Diver Credit Company Inc. Pearl Diver Credit Company Inc. (NYSE: PDCC) is an externally managed, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. Its primary investment objective is to maximize its portfolio's total return, with a secondary objective of generating high current income. The Company seeks to achieve these objectives by investing primarily in equity and junior debt tranches of CLOs collateralized by portfolios of sub-investment grade, senior secured floating-rate debt issued by a large number of distinct US companies across several industry sectors. The Company is externally managed by Pearl Diver Capital LLP. For more information, visit www.pearldivercreditcompany.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements and are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described in the prospectus and the Company's other filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement made herein. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE Investor Contact: Info@Pearldivercap.com UK: +44 (0)20 3967 8032 US: +1 617 872 0945 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pearl-diver-credit-company-inc-announces-offering-of-series-a-preferred-stock-302329464.html SOURCE Pearl Diver Credit Company Inc.
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