Is Jacob Elordi now type cast as a sexy beast? The new “Wuthering Heights,” as reinvented by Emerald Fennell, finds fatal attraction in its leading man Heathcliff played by Jacob Elordi, who seduced us as the Monster in “Frankenstein” this season.

Elordi should learn the old Halloween song, “Monster Mash,” because Heathcliff and Frankenstein’s invention are not far from each other.

While Guillermo del Toro found the sweet soul, the innocent child of the monster in the actor, Fennell, putting her perverse stamp on the character, plays his monstrous passion. Those eyes, smoldering yes, a veil of lashes, lush for outsized emotion. A swoon in every close-up.

In Emily Bronte’s creation, the character of Heathcliff is dark and brooding, called a monster, and brought into light by Catherine Earnshaw. Blond and blue eyed, Fennell’s child Cathy (look out for Charlotte Mellington) is simply naughty, the adult the humanized Barbie. She comes in the form of Margot Robbie bedecked in gaudy gems as opulent as her room. Cathy begins to live a false life in marriage to Edgar Linton (Shazad Latif), the rich man next door.

With Heathcliff, she’s wild and open, the sex tender—even if played against the ocean, in nature, and in the rain. Being drenched is a thing. But everyone has to come in out of the elements.

Emerald Fennell is a master at exposing the claustrophobia of massive houses, and the boredom of those who live in them. See “Saltburn,” for example. Her double quote “Wuthering Heights” was a no-brainer for her talents at teasing out the untoward behavior nurtured in these vast estates.

Wanting to hurt Cathy for marrying Edgar Linton, Heathcliff marries Isabelle, Edgar’s ward. Barely a woman, she takes to Heathcliff’s brute abuse willingly, a substitute for her room full of ribbons. Mr. Earnshaw, once a man of wealth and social standing, drinks and gambles away his riches. Oh and, be wary of servants. Nelly (Hong Chau) wields her own hand at fate before Heathcliff, a dirty underling, desperate for love, turns the tables.

At its heart, “”Wuthering Heights””” is a sublime Valentine’s Day gift: Maddening love consummated. In this sick heat, someone has to die. But as we know from Elordi’s Frankenstein, death is not the worst of it. Just ask Lady Gaga’s minions. Being alone, without the other is far, far more tragic—and dark. If Bronte’s novel was influenced by the Gothic genre in her time, Fennell has defined a Gothic for ours. — with Roger Friedman

It looks like Nate Parker has been un-canceled.

Ten years ago the actor-director’s film, “The Birth of a Nation,” was derailed when it was revealed Parker had stood trial in college for rape.

The news, which had escaped attention up that point, caused Fox Searchlight to dump the film, which had been a potential Oscar contender.

What made the story worse: well after the rape trial, the accuser committed suicide. Parker seemed in the press unmoved by that news, and “Birth” died.

Now AMC Theaters has announced it will release “Newborn,” a psychological thriller starring David Oyelowo and directed by Parker. The two men are producing the movie under their partnership called Mansa Studios.

This isn’t Parker’s first film since “Birth.” In 2019, he went with “American Skin,” which was dumped itself and received little attention.

Obviously, Parker can’t go the studio route. Even after a decade he remains a controversial figure. But Nikkole Denson-Randolph, Chief Content Officer, AMC Theatres says: “Newborn is the kind of bold, provocative, and original storytelling that comes alive on the big screen. We’re proud to be the exclusive exhibitor supporting a release model that prioritizes theatrical.”

The movie follows Chris Newborn (Oyelowo) who, after serving seven years in solitary confinement, seeks to rebuild his life and reconnect with his family only to find that freedom has become a terrifying psychological battleground.

It’s an amazing turn of events especially since it involves Oyelowo, a great actor and director himself. It’s unclear if Parker can escape his past. But maybe 10 years is enough punishment for a talented director.

The Academy of Motion Picture Sciences is giving up some old traditions.

They say they won’t be showing Oscar films to Academy members in their screening room.

The reason? They say they’ve been averaging five people per screening.

Everyone’s staying home and watching the films on the Academy app, it appears.

What will they do with their enormous, beautiful theater? Bad Bunny concerts?

It used to be there was a big schedule of Oscar nominated films always running at the Academy. But like everything else, the crowd has moved on. How can you expect audiences to go to cineplexes for twenty bucks if Academy members won’t go see them for free?

This news comes on the heels of the Academy saying the Oscar telecast will feature live performances of only two of the five nominees this year. The other three will be hummed outside by those people who stand along the limo route with placards.

That’s not all. Two weeks ago, the Academy announced it was laying off its five archivists from the library and dissolving its decades old oral history project. The reaction was not met with enthusiasm. See the full statement below.

And so it goes…

Here’s the letter that was sent:

Thank you for your dedication and participation this Oscars season. We hope all of you were able to watch the Oscars Nominations Announcement this week. It was historic!

Over the last several months, we were thrilled to host for members more than 300 first-run Oscar-qualifying film screenings in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, New York and London. This included nominated films as well as all shortlisted International Feature films and the shortlisted films in our three short film categories. Many thanks to all members who participated.

In addition, we have increased member connectivity to FYC screenings by our industry partners via our FYC screenings calendar on the member site. It’s been incredible to see the commitment from industry partners to providing additional opportunities for members to see these films on the big screen. If you have not opted in for this function yet, please do so on the member site.

Moving forward, as turnout for our post-nomination screenings has been incredibly small over the last few years (an average of five members attended these screenings in the last two years), we will not rescreen these films. Please note that, in addition to FYC screening opportunities, all nominated films are available for members to watch on the Academy Screening Room.

Thank you for taking advantage of all these offerings — we appreciate your continued support and passion for watching movies!

Thank you,

The Academy

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