Barry Good: Ezra Miller is the Secret Weapon (one of them) that sets The Flash Apart from the Confusing Trend of Multiverse Superhero Franchises

Review by Arnold Wayne Jones

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

The advent of “Cinematic Universes” is a blessing (mostly to the studios’ bottom lines) and a curse (mostly to folks who just like the fun escapism of comic books). When those CUs started delving into the concept of multiverses… well, it just confused me more. I confess that, when I saw Spider-Man: No Way Home, that was the first indication I had that the Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield Spideys all existed in parallel dimensions. This was news to me; I always assumed the casting changes were occasioned by studio whims and creative choices, not living elsewhere in the timeline. Frankly, none of it makes much sense. Did the recasting Bruce Banner (Edward Norton to Mark Ruffalo) within the Marvel CU signal another universe… and if so, why was General Ross played by William Hurt in both the Norton and Ruffalo incarnations (a part soon to be played by Harrison Ford, occasioned by Hurt’s death). It’s the gymnastics associated with insisting on canon, while simultaneously allowing the reinvention of the franchise at will, that makes no sense. (I loathed No Way Home, and its companion film Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, for those and many more reasons.)

In my adulthood, live-action feature-film Batmen have included Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, Ben Affleck and Robert Pattinson – which of these are in the same world, if any? It simply isn’t worth the effort to figure it out.

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

The news, then, that the new Flash film would include time-travel initially set my teeth on edge. (Time travel always reminds me of the throwaway line in an episode of The Simpsons where guest voice Lucy Lawless says that anytime something in Xena didn’t make sense, “a wizard did it.” On the other hand, the animated series Rick & Morty is so crazy, it doesn't even try to maintain consistency; it’s brilliant.) 

The Flash definitely has a lot of plot holes and related issues tied to its universe-hopping, but it’s also hugely entertaining in its own right. No other superhero film that plays so fast and loose with quantum mechanics is quite so satisfying as this.

The plot in its essence is: Barry Allen (Ezra Miller), who is secretly the super-speed hero known as The Flash, wants to help his dead get out of jail after being wrongfully accused of killing Barry’s mom. Barry figures out how to travel back in time in order to “correct” the injustice, but of course, timelines cannot be toyed with, and the repercussions are dire. (The original Star Trek series did basically the same thing in the class episode “City on the Edge of Forever.”) Barry meets his younger self and together they try to set things right – first finding Batman to enlist his help, then using Batman to track down Superman, who isn’t to be found.

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

One reason for the success, I suspect, is that The Flash makes only limited use of the current DC Extended Universe – there are references to Cyborg and Aquaman, but only Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) and Batman (Ben Affleck) make meaningful appearances. That allows the film to more or less stand on its own without too much clutter and focus on the character of Barry Allen.

And the secret weapon of The Flash isn’t speed…. it’s Ezra Miller. Miller’s personal life – use of they/them pronouns, occasional identity as queer (and then not), acts of violence and inappropriate conduct, mental health crises – have been widely documented, but honestly, it is easy to look past them to appreciate the extraordinary work Miller is doing here. They do twice the lifting of any other actors, playing (for the majority of the film) two separate Barry Allens, each of whom Miller makes distinct and individual. You might even call it three performances, when you add his sexy, ripped heroic mien as The Flash. As Older Barry, Miller is quirky and uptight and stressed out; as Younger Barry, he’s annoying and goofy. You’re never confused about who is whom; it might be the best dual performance I’ve ever seen in a movie.

The plot, despite its complications of logic, is incredibly well-structured within its constraints, so I hesitate to give away much of it, except to say that they majority of scenes with “Bruce Wayne” inject a wondrous nostalgia and set up a contrast to the current DCEU that really serves its legacy.

It’s not only the performances, though: The special effects and storytelling are superior to most DC films in this franchise, and the action sequences are staged to be well-lit and visually coherent in a way that often isn’t the case. It really delivers what you want in a summer blockbuster. The Flash gives you a rush.

5® GUM TEAMS UP WITH YUNGBLUD AND GREG YUNA TO CREATE THE “MASTERPIECES” CAMPAIGN FEATURING LUXURY JEWELRY CONTAINING CHEWED GUM

Fans can own the thrill by bidding-to-win one of 5® gum’s fifteen limited-edition luxury necklaces that feature Yungblud’s chewed 5 gum

Photo courtesies to Jordan Strauss Photography

NEWARK, NJ [October 17, 2022] – Today, one of Mars’ most exhilarating and adventurous brands, 5® gum, announced its “Masterpieces” campaign in collaboration with musician and Gen Z icon, Yungblud, and prominent New York City luxury jeweler and artist, Greg Yuna. The campaign brings to life across multiple touch points the brand’s purpose: to encourage people to embrace the thrill of taking a chance, pushing the limits of their craft, and doing what makes them feel alive.

At the center of the new campaign is the “Masterpieces” collection, a set of 15 custom luxury necklaces designed and crafted by Yuna using pieces of Cobalt Peppermint 5 gum that were chewed by Yungblud as part of his pre-concert ritual during his 5 gum-sponsored U.S. album release tour last month. Leaning into the brand’s namesake of stimulating all five senses, Yungblud chewed a piece of 5 gum before hitting the stage at each show throughout his tour, capturing the anticipation and exhilaration felt moments before doing something life-changing.

Photo courtesies to Jordan Strauss Photography

 After his electrifying concerts, a total of 15 pieces of the iconic bright blue 5 gum were collected and sent to Yuna to handcraft into 15 collectible necklaces, each representing the thrill felt by both Yungblud and his fans before, during and after each performance, as well as by Yuna when ideating and creating such fascinating pieces of jewelry. 

"I love these jewelry pieces that Greg Yuna created. His work is next level and the fact that some of my fans will have the chance to own a little piece of history is amazing,” said Yungblud. “I loved this tour with 5 gum and I couldn’t think of a better way to have celebrated the release of my album than by hitting as many cities in the U.S. as I could and seeing as many of my fans as possible. Playing these new songs for the first time in these beautiful record stores was an experience I’ll never forget.”

No two necklaces of the 15-piece collection are the same. Each one features a piece of chewed cobalt blue gum in its original shape as the center piece, encased in Lucite. White diamonds and a charm engraved with the 5 gum logo and Yuna’s signature stamp surround the gum pendant, which hangs on a 14K white gold chain. Each of the necklaces will be encased in a custom-designed 5 gum jewelry box, featuring an exterior inscription noting the edition number of that specific “Masterpiece” within the larger collection. The jewelry will also come with a certificate of authentication and a pack of the limited-edition Cobalt Peppermint 5 gum featuring Yungblud’s name and image.

Photo courtesies to Jordan Strauss Photography

“Creating slightly shocking luxury jewelry pieces out of an everyday item such as gum is something that has never been done before in the industry, so I loved stepping into the unknown and challenging myself to create pieces that were equally as exhilarating as Yungblud and 5 gum,” said Greg Yuna. “Experiences that heighten your sense is the new luxury, and I’m incredibly proud of both this partnership with 5 gum and the final jewelry pieces. As fans will see, they truly embody self-expression, passion and boldness, which is what I’m all about.”

“As a brand that strives to be the most adventurous and distinct brand for life's most exhilarating moments, 5 gum’s partnership with two authentically bold, artistic geniuses, like Yungblud and Greg Yuna, was a natural fit and a great honor,” said Justin Hollyn-Taub, Senior Marketing Director at Mars Wrigley. “The 15 pieces of custom jewelry, featuring our very own 5 Cobalt gum, were created in such a way that they truly live up to the name of this campaign and collection – Masterpieces. We simply cannot wait for fans to get the unique chance to take home a piece of the thrill that was experienced throughout Yungblud’s tour and the masterful creation of the jewelry.”

Yungblud & Weslo (Wesley Smoot) SOHO House 2022

 Now through October 26, fans worldwide can bid on 5 gum’s Masterpieces collection on eBay at www.ebay.com/e/ad/5GumMasterpieces. Bidding starts at $5 and all proceeds from the sale of each Masterpiece will benefit the National Independent Venue Foundation (NIVF) to further its mission to preserve and nurture the ecosystem of independent venues, promoters, festivals, and cultural hubs of local communities across the United States.

To see a behind-the-scenes look at the thrill felt on stage and in the studio with Yungblud and Greg Yuna, check out this video and follow 5 gum on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Facebook.

Jake Wesley Rogers to Perform at Austin City Limits

Rising superstar Jake Wesley Rogers is set to play ACL both weekends with sets Sunday 10/9 and 10/16 @ 1:15pm on the Miller Lite Stage. Attendees will not want to miss this electrifying, live show.

With the release of new song “Hindsight” for gay rom-com film, BROS this past Friday, major buzz is surrounding up-and-coming queer artist and advocate Jake Wesley Rogers. 

Jake released his first major-label single “Middle Of Love” last May, Paper Magazine said “Give Jake Wesley Rogers a stadium” and now he is performing in arenas across the country, opening for Panic! at the Disco.

“Hindsight” along with earlier releases from this year including  “Modern Love” and “Lavender Forever” which he performed on Ellen and HBO Max’s Legendary can be found on Jake’s upcoming EP.

"My new song Hindsight is very special to me, especially since it will be the end title track in Billy Eichner’s historic new film, “Bros”—the first gay rom-com made by a major motion picture studio. I wrote it with my go-to collaborator Justin Tranter, as well as the producer, Jason Gill. The song is about looking back at the past and longing to make the future better, by actually living and loving (and dancing) to your fullest potential." – Jake Wesley Rogers

Interview coming soon.

Non-Binary Queer Femme Artist THE ORACLE Releases “Cloud 9 Angel” Visual

The Final Single from Debut EP, Lost Amulet

THE ORACLE returns this month with a new visual for “Cloud 9 Angel”, the final chapter of their debut EP Lost Amulet.  The track is magical, dreamy, ethereal; it celebrates the abundance of nature by offering a moment of surreal escapism.  Reflecting on the fantastical whimsy of the song, THE ORACLE and co-director Laura Weyl @metametagasm shot its visual in several iconic NYC locations including the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, and on the historic carousel in Prospect Park. 

“We aimed to capture the crystal desert, a beautiful place of dreams, in the visual,” THE ORACLE explains.  “When I think of the crystal desert, I think of Brian Froud’s Faerie realm, the sandscapes in the sci fi classic Dune, as well as the hallucinatory visual landscapes of the liquid planet in Solaris. The crystal desert can be a wondrous place, but it is also treacherous with danger lurking in hidden corners.  It is best to travel over it securely with a loved one at your side.” 

“Cloud 9 Angel” is one of the six tracks on THE ORACLE’s debut EP from August 2021, Lost Amulet.  In the album, the nonbinary queer femme artist blends a love of poetry with soaring vocals, a futuristic sound, and deeply emotional narratives.  “Cloud 9 Angel” stands apart from the other moody tracks on the EP due to the hopeless romanticism and naivete of the lyrics and sound. No other track on the EP features the bouncy glitches, progressive drums, and soaring melodies that carries this track.

“Cloud 9 Angel was written while a friend and I were on crystal cave exploration in Riviera Maya, Mexico,” THE ORACLE continues.  “The song came to me with the beat, a progression of dreamy, enduring and playful love between two souls. Galen Tipton provides the production, which is a satisfying blend of drum, bass and twinkly pop beats.”

The song relates to THE ORACLE personally because they are a self-identified hopeless romantic who works to paint the reverie of love through all of their relationships. “I am deeply spiritual, a dreamer, but also woefully timid.  It can be hard to relate my deepest wishes to someone I care about when there is so much fear involved. My heart wrote the song from this state of mind.”

THE ORACLE was born in Jerusalem, Israel as Julia Sinelnikova and until five-years-old, lived in St. Petersburg, Russia.  Now living in Brooklyn, NY, THE ORACLE remains an artist, working predominantly in sculpture, lighting design and performance, but also currently expanding their expressiveness into recording and DJ production.Their music has become a soundscape for THE ORACLE’S video art and light art ideas to come together through performance.  “I want my music to encourage psychedelic exploration, excessive dreaming, and the imagination of new, utopian and dystopian worlds,” THE ORACLE sums up.  “Through listening to my songs, I aim to reveal my personas and the details of the worlds in my mind to my audiences.”

THE ORACLE is nearly ready to reveal their ORACLE666 album, the follow-up to Lost Amulet. A music video shot at THE ORACLE’s NYC studio and at The Invisible House in the Joshua Tree Desert is forthcoming, from that album.

Follow THE ORACLE on Instagram.com @ or_acle.  Other links.

Miki Ratsula GeNder Neutral Cover EP ‘made for THEM’

New Project from the Trans, Nonbinary Musician Due July 8 Featuring Gender Neutral Covers Of Tracks From Harry Styles, Phoebe Bridgers & More.

Miki Ratsula has built a sizable audience by openly and honestly welcoming people into their world. The trans, nonbinary artist uses their platform to candidly document their life: from coming out to getting top surgery to their mental health journey. It’s the kind of storytelling that listeners, especially young queer kids, crave and deserve.

Ratsula will release their gender neutral covers EP, made for them, July 8 via Nettwerk. The made for them EP comes on the heels of releasing their acclaimed debut album i owe it to myself this spring. The new project was co-produced by Miro Mackie (St. Vincent, Mallrat, KALI) and features covers of songs by Phoebe Bridgers, Harry Styles, One Direction, Angus & Julia Stone and the EP’s first single, a stunning cover of Dodie’s“she.” 

“When I posted my first gender neutral cover on TikTok, I didn't realize how much it would mean for so many of you. There's something special about feeling represented in music. These songs have a special place in my heart and it was an honor to put my own spin on them. I truly hope you enjoy this piece of work. And thank you to the writers and original artists for creating such beautiful songs.” made for them is available for pre-order / pre-save here: https://mikiratsula.ffm.to/madeforthemep. 

made for them follows the March 2022 release of Miki’s debut album, i owe it to myself – an acoustic pop dream guided by Miki’s lush, lofi-inspired production that captures the full emotional seesaw that rocks between youth and adulthood. It’s a testament to self-love and a gift to anyone seeking the same, and sees Miki at their most vulnerable and fully realized. Their deeply intimate record touches on mental health, loss, love, and everything in between and the album’s singles received praise and playlisting by the likes of Billboard Pride, them., Under the Radar, PopMatters.

‘made for them’ track listing

01 - big jet plane (gender neutral version)

02 - cherry (gender neutral version)

03 - graceland too (gender neutral version)

04 - she (gender neutral version)

05 - steal my girl (gender neutral version)

‘made for them’ Pre-order / Pre-save link: https://mikiratsula.ffm.to/madeforthemep 

FOLLOW MIKI RATSULA 

Official Site | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | Facebook

Gender-Bending Queer Artist ALONE Releases “Everything”, An Ode to His Trans Siblings

Debut Single Declares “Opulence is a State of Mind”

“Everything”, the debut single from the gender-bending Queer artist ALONE, pays homage to the shiny, brassy days of Motown while also serving as an affirming ode to the Transgender Community who continue to enrich our world while battling tremendous negativity. “I want my siblings to know that they are blessed, loved and perfect just the way they are,” says ALONE, who’s own lewk blends disco-rock camp fierceness with svelte Hollywood glamour silhouettes. He wrote, composed, and arranged the soulful RnB Pop track, and topped it off with soaring falsetto vocals brimming with joy fitting for a true anthem. The song was recorded in New York City with a full live band on all-analog equipment. “It is meant to be a bright and feel-good reminder that you already have everything you need to be happy and thrive,” he explains. ALONE’s “Everything” is available now on Apple Music, Spotify and all digital platforms. Its music video is available on YouTube.   

“Everything” started as a love song to a guy I was dating who had a fabulous life but couldn't stop complaining about everything,” ALONE recalls from his NYC home. “I wrote the song to try to convince him to see how good he had it and help him cultivate a spirit of gratitude.” 

During the production of the song, the message grew larger than a simple love song. It became a proclamation for all to appreciate life regardless of unfavorable circumstances. "Your joy is not dependent on external factors," ALONE urges. "Right now, just as you are, you are already as good, as well and as complete as anyone can ever hope to be — and therefore you are already, in fact, everything."

“I wrote the lyric, ‘Opulence is a state of mind,’ while sunbathing on the crumbling roof of an old house I was living in,” he continues. “At the time, I was barely making rent and struggling to find work and ways to bring my music to life. I laid down a patch of Astro turf on that hot tar, covered it with a piece of leopard fabric, treated myself to a box of strawberries and felt like royalty.” 

In the song’s music video, ALONE spotlights an all Trans and Gender Non-Conforming cast. “I wanted to assure the Trans and Queer youth out there that there is a family here for them and that they are beautiful, powerful and worthy,” he says. He enlisted some of the leading activists in the Black Trans Lives Matter Movement including Tahtianna Fermin, founder of Bridges 4 Life, an organization that serves Trans youth in the foster care system; Danni Gucci, founder of the #Wontberased campaign for Trans visibility; and Suburbia, a drag queen who has been featured on HBO Max’s And Just Like That, and is the founder of the POC Collective.

ALONE was born Alon and raised in Israel, in a small coastal town called Herzliya. His father died in military action when he was three and a half years old. He grew up in a household of women, with only his mom and sister. His musical influences were Prince, Grace Jones, George Michael and Sylvester. “Growing up as a Queer kid who never fully fit in anywhere, seeing a Queer artist like Sylvester was a beacon of hope,” ALONE reflects. “It made me feel like I wasn't alone, like there was a future for me and that there were others out there like me.” 

Upon moving to New York City, Alon changed his name to ALONE to reclaim the word; empowering its meaning from something sad and scary to independent and in control. “Being alone is one thing everyone experiences from time to time. There is beauty and strength-building in it. The binary concept that being alone is bad and being together is good is false. Both are equally important to our growth and well-being.”

ALONE’s next single, "Fine", is currently in production and scheduled to be released on April 8th with an accompanying music video. A sultry tribute to homo- and pansexual attraction, it pays homage to 80s rock strip songs while challenging the prevalent notions of sexuality and gender.

ALONE’s “Everything” is available now on Apple Music, Spotify and all digital platforms. Its music video is available on YouTube. Visit his website and follow ALONE on Instagram @ TogethALONE.