Entertainment
Dakota Fanning and Jake Johnson Have Undeniable Chemistry in Alaska So Why Does ‘The Sun Never Sets’ Feel Like It Can’t Quite Make Up Its Mind…
Joe Swanberg’s latest romantic dramedy debuts at SXSW with two charming leads, a beautiful Alaskan backdrop, and a story about an ex you probably shouldn’t call — but the film itself seems just as conflicted as its protagonist.
There is a particular kind of romantic film that lives and dies entirely on the question of whether you believe the two people at its centre could actually fall for each other. Not whether the plot makes sense, not whether the dialogue sparkles on every page, not even whether the ending satisfies — just that one fundamental thing: do these two people feel real together?
By that measure, The Sun Never Sets has something genuinely valuable going for it. Dakota Fanning and Jake Johnson are warm, lived-in, and quietly compelling together in a way that makes you wish the film around them were a little more sure of itself. Because the chemistry is real. The film, unfortunately, is still working out what it wants to be.
Debuting at SXSW — the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas, which remains one of the best places in the world to catch a romantic dramedy before it finds its audience — The Sun Never Sets is the latest feature from director Joe Swanberg, the Chicago-based filmmaker who built his reputation on exactly this kind of intimate, naturalistic, relationship-first storytelling. His Drinking Buddies remains a small masterpiece of the genre — a film about attraction and ambivalence and the particular torture of wanting something you are not quite sure you should have. Fans of that film will find a lot that is familiar here. Whether familiar is enough this time is a more complicated question.
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The Setup: A Break, an Ex, and Alaska
The film centres on a young woman — played by Fanning — who is on a break from a long-term relationship and finds herself in Alaska, that vast and quietly cinematic state that has become shorthand in American film for a certain kind of emotional wilderness. The frozen distances. The light that refuses to disappear in summer. The feeling of being very far from the life you normally inhabit and the decisions you would normally make.
It is in Alaska that she reconnects with her ex, played by Johnson. And from that premise — simple, recognisable, emotionally loaded — Swanberg builds a film that is at its best when it simply lets its two leads exist together in the same space and trusts the audience to feel the pull between them.
The “on a break” framing is doing real narrative work here. It is not quite the same as being single, which means every conversation, every shared meal, every moment of accidental closeness carries a weight that neither character can fully ignore. She is not free, exactly. But she is not entirely committed either. And her ex — warm, funny, carrying his own complicated feelings with the kind of studied casualness that Jake Johnson has essentially trademarked at this point — is right there, being exactly the person she remembered, which is both the problem and the point.
Why Fanning and Johnson Work
Dakota Fanning has been in the public eye since she was a child — one of those rare performers who transitioned from precocious child star to credible adult actress without losing the essential quality that made audiences respond to her in the first place. That quality is a kind of interior richness — the sense that her characters are always thinking something they are not quite saying, always feeling something slightly more complicated than the surface suggests. In The Sun Never Sets, that quality is exactly what the role needs. Her character is a woman caught between two versions of her life, and Fanning plays that in-between state with real nuance and without the melodrama that a lesser performance might have reached for.

Jake Johnson has built an entire career on playing exactly this kind of man — the ex who is too charming for his own good, emotionally intelligent enough to be dangerous, self-aware enough to know he is probably not helping the situation and yet unable to quite remove himself from it. It is a type he has played before, most notably in New Girl as Nick Miller, and he plays it with the ease of someone who has spent a long time understanding what makes these men both frustrating and irresistible. The difference here is that Johnson brings something slightly sadder to the role — a sense of a man who has genuinely not moved on, and knows it, and is not entirely sure what to do with that knowledge.
Together, they are the reason to watch The Sun Never Sets. Full stop.
The Film’s Central Problem: Commitment
Here is where the honest part of this review has to arrive. Joe Swanberg is one of American independent cinema’s most authentic voices when it comes to the messy, unresolved, fundamentally human experience of romantic ambivalence. But ambivalence in a film’s characters is very different from ambivalence in a film’s storytelling — and The Sun Never Sets sometimes struggles to distinguish between the two.
The film is deliberately, almost programmatically, wishy-washy — a word that sounds like a criticism but is actually, in the right hands, a description of something Swanberg does intentionally and well. Life is wishy-washy. Relationships are wishy-washy. The Drinking Buddies formula works precisely because it refuses to resolve its tensions cleanly and trusts the audience to sit with discomfort.
The problem here is that The Sun Never Sets occasionally mistakes vagueness for depth and drift for atmosphere. There are stretches of the film where the lack of narrative momentum stops feeling like a deliberate artistic choice and starts feeling like the film is waiting for something to happen that never quite does. The Alaskan setting — which should be doing enormous atmospheric work, all that impossible light and quiet immensity — sometimes feels like a backdrop rather than a character, which is a missed opportunity given how much location has historically done for films in this genre.
The SXSW Context
Premiering at SXSW places The Sun Never Sets in exactly the right company. This is a festival that has historically embraced precisely the kind of small, character-driven, adult romantic drama that has been steadily crowded out of mainstream cinema by franchise entertainment. The audience here will be predisposed to give it the patience it asks for, and in that context, the film’s quieter qualities will likely land better than they might in a wider release environment.
For Swanberg, this represents a return to the territory where he is most comfortable and most himself. For Fanning, it is another demonstration that she is one of her generation’s most interesting screen presences when given material that trusts her. For Johnson, it is confirmation — as if any were needed — that he is one of the most naturally watchable actors currently working in American independent film.
Whether The Sun Never Sets ultimately lands as a minor gem or a near-miss will probably depend on how much patience any individual viewer brings to a film that is generous with mood and sparing with resolution. One thing is certain: when Fanning and Johnson are on screen together, the sun, metaphorically speaking, is very much still up.
Entertainment
‘Euphoria’ Without Labrinth? Fans Think HBO Almost Lost the Soul of the Show… and the Internet Agrees
As conversations around Euphoria continue to grow, many fans now believe composer was never just part of the soundtrack — he may have been the emotional heartbeat of the entire series.
Few television dramas in recent years have shaped pop culture quite like HBO’s Euphoria. From its neon-soaked visuals to emotionally explosive performances, the series became more than just a teen drama — it evolved into a cultural phenomenon that influenced fashion, music, internet aesthetics, and even the way modern television sounds.
But as fans revisit the show and discussions surrounding its future intensify, one surprising opinion is suddenly dominating social media: Euphoria may never have worked the same way without Labrinth.
For many viewers, the British musician’s haunting score wasn’t simply background music. It became part of the storytelling itself.
Labrinth Didn’t Just Compose Music — He Built the Mood
When Euphoria premiered, audiences immediately connected with its emotionally heavy atmosphere. While much of the praise initially focused on creator Sam Levinson and star Zendaya, fans slowly realized another creative force was quietly shaping nearly every unforgettable moment in the show.
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That force was Labrinth.
His music blended gospel, electronic production, orchestral emotion, and raw vulnerability into something television audiences rarely experience. Songs like “All for Us” and the show’s atmospheric score became deeply tied to the emotional journeys of the characters.
For many fans, certain scenes are now impossible to separate from Labrinth’s sound.
One emotional breakdown, one devastating hallway walk, or one dreamlike sequence often carried extra weight because the music wasn’t merely supporting the scene — it was emotionally narrating it.
Why Fans Are Talking About Him Again
Online discussion surrounding Labrinth’s importance reignited after viewers revisited key moments from Euphoria and compared them to other modern teen dramas.
The consensus across platforms like X and Reddit seemed surprisingly unified: while many shows can imitate Euphoria’s visual style, almost none can recreate its emotional soundscape.
That realization has led some fans to argue that Labrinth deserves far more recognition for the series’ success than he originally received.
In an entertainment industry where composers are often overshadowed by actors and directors, Labrinth managed to create music that audiences instantly associated with the identity of the show itself.

And in today’s streaming era, that kind of musical imprint is incredibly rare.
Zendaya and Labrinth Created a Unique Creative Chemistry
Another reason Labrinth became so essential to Euphoria was his artistic chemistry with Zendaya.
The actress, who earned major acclaim for her portrayal of Rue Bennett, often delivered emotionally exhausting performances that demanded equally powerful musical support. Labrinth’s compositions amplified those moments without overpowering them.
Their collaboration eventually extended beyond the show itself, including memorable live performances that fans still talk about online.
One of the most celebrated moments came when Labrinth appeared during a live concert event and Zendaya unexpectedly joined him onstage, sending fans into a frenzy.
That crossover between television storytelling and live music performance further strengthened the emotional connection audiences had with the series.
‘Euphoria’ Changed How TV Uses Music
Before Euphoria, many teen dramas relied heavily on trendy pop songs and playlist-style soundtracks. But the HBO series approached music differently.
Instead of simply chasing viral hits, the show used original compositions to create emotional continuity.
Labrinth’s score often felt spiritual, chaotic, melancholic, and euphoric all at once — perfectly matching the psychological instability of the characters onscreen.
His work proved that television music could become just as culturally impactful as cinematography or dialogue.
In fact, some viewers now argue that Euphoria’s soundtrack became almost as important as the storylines themselves.
The Pressure on Future Seasons Is Growing
As anticipation continues surrounding the future of Euphoria, discussions about Labrinth’s role have become increasingly significant.
Fans know the series faces enormous pressure moving forward. Long production delays, cast scheduling conflicts, and evolving audience expectations have already complicated the path ahead for HBO’s hit drama.
That’s why many viewers believe retaining the show’s emotional identity will be critical — and Labrinth remains central to that identity.
Without his music, some fans fear the series could lose the hypnotic atmosphere that originally separated it from every other streaming drama.
Why Labrinth’s Impact Goes Beyond One Show
For Labrinth himself, Euphoria represented a career-defining moment.
Already respected within the music industry for his work as a singer, songwriter, and producer, the series introduced his artistry to a much wider global audience. Suddenly, television viewers who had never followed his music career became emotionally attached to his sound.
His influence on the show also highlighted a broader shift happening in Hollywood, where composers and music producers are increasingly becoming essential creative collaborators rather than invisible contributors behind the scenes.
And if recent fan reactions are any indication, audiences are finally beginning to recognize just how important that contribution truly was.
Because while Euphoria delivered unforgettable performances, shocking storylines, and stunning visuals, many viewers now believe the show’s soul was hidden inside Labrinth’s music all along.
Entertainment
Why Kevin Hart’s Roast Turned Into Netflix’s Wildest Night Yet… From Katt Williams Peace Talks to Brutal Height Jokes
Kevin Hart Roast Ends Katt Williams Feud as The Rock, Lizzo & Pete Davidson Deliver Brutal Jokes
The comedy world has seen its fair share of celebrity roasts over the years, but few have delivered the kind of chaotic energy, emotional moments, and jaw-dropping punchlines that surrounded Kevin Hart at the latest edition of the Netflix Is a Joke Festival.
What began as a celebration of Hart’s career quickly turned into a no-holds-barred night where some of entertainment’s biggest names roasted everything from his height to his blockbuster movie choices — and even his personal life. Yet hidden beneath the brutal jokes was something fans never expected: a surprising end to Hart’s long-running tension with fellow comedian Katt Williams.
For viewers inside the packed venue, the evening felt less like a standard comedy roast and more like an unpredictable Hollywood reunion where nobody was safe.
Kevin Hart Becomes the Punchline of the Night
From the moment Hart walked onto the stage, it was clear he had willingly signed up for public humiliation in the name of comedy. The actor-comedian, known globally for films like Jumanji and Ride Along, was relentlessly mocked by friends and fellow celebrities who clearly came prepared.
One of the loudest reactions came when Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson joked about Hart’s tiny frame compared to his own massive physique. Their long-running friendship and on-screen chemistry made the exchange even funnier for fans who have watched the duo tease each other for years both on-screen and across social media.
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Meanwhile, singer and actress Teyana Taylor delivered sharp remarks targeting Hart’s movie catalog, questioning whether he has ever turned down a script in his life. The audience erupted as joke after joke painted Hart as Hollywood’s hardest-working — and most overexposed — comedian.
Even Lizzo joined the roast with fearless energy, while Pete Davidson leaned into dark humor, something he has become famous for throughout his stand-up career.
The Most Uncomfortable Jokes of the Evening
As expected from celebrity roasts, the event occasionally crossed into deeply personal territory.
Comedians Jeff Ross and Chelsea Handler targeted Hart’s troubled relationship with his late father, referencing his struggles with addiction and absence during Hart’s childhood.
The crowd reacted with a mix of shock and laughter — the exact balance roast culture has always thrived on. Hart himself appeared prepared for the attacks, often laughing the loudest at jokes aimed directly at him.
That ability to absorb criticism has long been one of Hart’s strengths. Over the years, he has transformed painful real-life experiences into comedy material, turning vulnerability into one of the defining elements of his career.

The Katt Williams Feud Finally Cools Down
But beyond the laughter and celebrity chaos, one moment stood out more than any insult.
For months, tension between Kevin Hart and Katt Williams had dominated comedy headlines. Williams previously made headlines after criticizing several comedians during viral interviews, with Hart becoming one of the most discussed names in the fallout.
Fans had speculated whether the rivalry would escalate further or eventually fade away.
At the roast, Hart addressed the situation with humor instead of hostility. Rather than attacking Williams directly, he appeared to signal that he was ready to move on from the drama. The tone surprised many fans who expected a more aggressive response.
Industry insiders believe the moment may have quietly ended one of comedy’s most talked-about feuds of recent years.
Netflix Continues Betting Big on Live Comedy Events
The roast also highlighted how aggressively Netflix is investing in live entertainment and stand-up comedy.
The Netflix Is a Joke Festival has become one of the streaming giant’s biggest cultural events, bringing together stand-up legends, actors, musicians, and internet personalities under one banner.
For Netflix, events like these are more than just comedy specials. They are viral moments designed for social media clips, trending hashtags, and endless online discussion.
And judging by the reaction to Hart’s roast, the strategy is clearly working.
Within hours, clips from the event flooded platforms like X, TikTok, and Instagram. Fans debated which celebrity delivered the harshest insult, while others praised Hart for handling the attacks with confidence and humor.
Why Kevin Hart Still Owns the Spotlight
Love him or hate him, Hart remains one of the few comedians capable of turning every appearance into a major entertainment event.
Despite years of criticism surrounding his films, hosting gigs, and public controversies, Hart has maintained a level of cultural relevance many comics struggle to sustain. Whether starring in action films, touring globally, or producing content through his company HartBeat, he continues expanding far beyond traditional stand-up comedy.
The roast reminded audiences why Hart has lasted so long in an industry known for rapidly replacing its stars: he understands how to laugh at himself.
And on a night where Hollywood’s biggest names roasted his height, career choices, family history, and public image, that self-awareness may have been his biggest win of all.
Entertainment
Why Is ‘Wuthering Heights’ Bringing Back VistaVision? DP Linus Sandgren Hints at an IMAX Future That Could Change Cinema Again…
Award-winning cinematographer Linus Sandgren is helping revive classic filmmaking formats for a new generation — and his latest comments about VistaVision and IMAX have film lovers buzzing.
Hollywood is constantly chasing the future, but sometimes the biggest cinematic breakthroughs begin by looking backward.
That idea is suddenly at the center of industry conversation after acclaimed cinematographer Linus Sandgren opened up about using the classic VistaVision format for the upcoming adaptation of Wuthering Heights — while also hinting at an ambitious future involving IMAX filmmaking.
For casual audiences, terms like VistaVision may sound like technical film-school language. But inside the movie industry, Sandgren’s comments have sparked genuine excitement because they point toward something larger happening in cinema right now: filmmakers are rediscovering the emotional power of image quality, scale, and immersive visual storytelling.
And many believe audiences can feel the difference.
A Cinematographer Known for Visual Emotion
Sandgren is not simply another camera technician in Hollywood.
Over the years, the Swedish cinematographer has built a reputation as one of the industry’s most visually expressive artists. His work on films like La La Land, Babylon, First Man, and No Time to Die helped establish him as a filmmaker deeply interested in texture, atmosphere, and emotional immersion.
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Rather than relying purely on flashy visuals, Sandgren often uses cinematography to amplify feeling.
That’s one reason his decision to explore VistaVision for Wuthering Heights has generated such strong reactions among cinephiles and industry professionals alike.
What Exactly Is VistaVision?
Originally introduced by Paramount Pictures during the 1950s, VistaVision was designed to create sharper, more detailed images compared to standard film formats of its era.
Instead of running film vertically through the camera, VistaVision used a horizontal format that captured a larger image area. The result was increased clarity, richer detail, and a more expansive cinematic feel.
Classic productions such as Vertigo and The Ten Commandments famously used the format.
Over time, however, VistaVision largely disappeared as filmmaking technology evolved and digital cinematography became dominant.
Now, Sandgren appears determined to bring some of that large-format magic back.
Why Filmmakers Are Returning to Classic Formats
At first glance, it may seem strange that modern filmmakers are revisiting older technologies in an era dominated by digital cameras and CGI.
But for many cinematographers, classic formats provide visual characteristics that digital systems still struggle to replicate naturally.
Film grain, image depth, softness, light texture, and color behavior all contribute to emotional storytelling in subtle ways audiences often feel subconsciously.
That’s why directors like Christopher Nolan, Quentin Tarantino, and Paul Thomas Anderson continue advocating for large-format and film-based cinematography.
Sandgren’s embrace of VistaVision reflects that same philosophy.
For a gothic, emotionally turbulent story like Wuthering Heights, the format could help create a haunting visual atmosphere impossible to fully recreate through standard digital workflows.
Why ‘Wuthering Heights’ Fits This Style Perfectly
Few literary stories feel more visually suited for sweeping cinematic treatment than Wuthering Heights.
Originally written by Emily Brontë, the novel remains one of literature’s most emotionally intense explorations of love, obsession, revenge, and isolation.
Its windswept landscapes and emotionally raw characters practically demand cinematic scale.
That may explain why Sandgren sees VistaVision as the ideal visual language for the adaptation.
Large-format cinematography often excels at capturing both intimate emotional detail and massive environmental beauty simultaneously. For stories rooted heavily in atmosphere, that combination becomes incredibly powerful.

Sandgren’s IMAX Comments Spark Industry Curiosity
Beyond VistaVision, Sandgren also reportedly discussed his growing interest in future collaborations involving IMAX filmmaking.
That immediately caught the attention of film enthusiasts because IMAX has increasingly become the gold standard for immersive theatrical experiences.
Over the last decade, directors like Christopher Nolan, Denis Villeneuve, and Jordan Peele have embraced IMAX cameras to create visually overwhelming cinematic moments designed specifically for theaters.
Sandgren’s potential interest in that format suggests his ambitions may continue expanding toward even larger-scale visual storytelling.
And in an age where streaming constantly competes with theatrical releases, immersive formats have become more important than ever.
The Battle to Save Theatrical Cinema
The renewed interest in VistaVision and IMAX also reflects a much bigger industry concern: how to keep theaters feeling special.
Streaming platforms have changed audience habits permanently. People can now watch high-quality entertainment from home with convenience that cinemas cannot easily match.
As a result, filmmakers increasingly focus on experiences audiences simply cannot recreate in living rooms.
Massive image formats, immersive sound, and visually breathtaking cinematography have therefore become essential weapons in the battle to preserve theatrical relevance.
Sandgren’s comments arrive at a moment when many directors and cinematographers are actively pushing cinema toward richer sensory experiences.
Why Audiences Are Starting to Notice Cinematography Again
For years, cinematography discussions mostly remained inside film schools or critic circles.
Today, that’s changing.
Social media, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and filmmaker interviews have helped general audiences become more visually aware of how movies are crafted. Terms like “shot on film,” “IMAX cameras,” and “practical effects” now generate mainstream excitement online.
Younger movie fans increasingly appreciate cinematographers as creative artists rather than invisible technical crew members.
Sandgren belongs to that new generation of high-profile cinematographers whose visual style itself attracts audience attention.
Cinema’s Future May Actually Look Like Its Past
Ironically, some of the most exciting developments in modern filmmaking involve rediscovering older techniques.
VistaVision, practical effects, large-format photography, and analog textures all represent a broader artistic movement inside cinema — one focused on restoring visual craftsmanship in an increasingly digital world.
That doesn’t mean technology is moving backward.
Instead, filmmakers appear to be blending old and new tools together to create richer emotional experiences.
And if Sandgren’s vision for Wuthering Heights succeeds, audiences may soon witness one of the most visually distinctive literary adaptations in recent years.
Because in modern Hollywood, sometimes the future of cinema begins with a camera format people thought had already disappeared.
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