Over the past decade, A24 has been one of cinema’s most prolific independent production companies. Most of its films have received critical acclaim, while Amy, Ex Machina, Room and Minari have won Academy Awards. Moonlight even picked up the Best Picture Oscar in 2017.
The Sky Is Everywhere is the latest offering from A24 and the romantic drama possesses many of the hallmarks that have made the company's films so popular. Not only does director Josephine Decker take an inventive approach to writer Jandy Nelson’s 2010 novel, but the story itself is an empathetic and modern look at grief, love and family.
The film examines these themes through the eyes of Lennie Walker (Grace Kaufman), a high schooler in the imaginary town of Clover, California, who is struggling to deal with the sudden death of her older sister, Bailey (Havana Rose Liu).
With her grandmother (Cherry Jones) and uncle (Jason Segel), who are her guardians, also in despair, Lennie becomes closer and then romantically involved with her sister’s former fiance Toby (Pico Alexander). This only exacerbates Lennie’s guilt and grief over Bailey’s death. But she soon starts to find solace with Joe (Jacque Colimon), a new boy in town, who shares Lennie’s love of music.
The Sky Is Everywhere immediately drops its emotional heft on to viewers. Within the opening minute, Lennie is recalling Bailey’s death during her audition for the titular role in Romeo and Juliet, before then detailing her despair and trauma over the next few months.
That doesn’t make for particularly pleasant viewing. But Decker’s innovative use of practical special effects to put us into Lennie’s mindset, as well as her use of bright colours, short scenes and quick editing, make the film’s exploration of such weighty material more palatable.
'The Sky is Everywhere'
Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
Unfortunately, though, The Sky Is Everywhere never quite gets its tone right. Instead, it goes from being an intense drama about a grieving teenager in one scene to a sweet love-triangle romance in the next. As a result, you’re never able to fully invest in Lennie’s plight, despite the best efforts of a rather impressive leading portrayal from Kaufman.
In fact, most of the performances are superb. Kaufman is able to sell Lennie’s emotional anguish, as well as being charming, aloof, and funny. Her cute but awkward chemistry with Colimon also works, while Jones is effective as the grandmother trying to hide her own pain. It’s just a shame that there isn’t more Segel, as his presence immediately brings a quirkiness to the film that it benefits from.
But they can’t make up for The Sky Is Everywhere’s dramatic tonal lurching. While such a shift is fine in a book, as it brings a depth and richness to the characters and the story, in the film, it just makes it harder to engage.
What makes The Sky Is Everywhere’s unevenness all the more frustrating is that Decker’s direction is just as strong as the performances. Her shot compositions are all alluring and gorgeous to look at, while she implements a captivating rhythm that nearly helps to paper over the cracks. But The Sky Is Everywhere’s flat finale ultimately confirms it as a disappointment, while affirming that, when it comes to adaptations, less is usually more.
The Sky Is Everywhere is released on Apple TV+ on February 11
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
How tumultuous protests grew
- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
SPECS
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Tips for entertaining with ease
· Set the table the night before. It’s a small job but it will make you feel more organised once done.
· As the host, your mood sets the tone. If people arrive to find you red-faced and harried, they’re not going to relax until you do. Take a deep breath and try to exude calm energy.
· Guests tend to turn up thirsty. Fill a big jug with iced water and lemon or lime slices and encourage people to help themselves.
· Have some background music on to help create a bit of ambience and fill any initial lulls in conversations.
· The meal certainly doesn’t need to be ready the moment your guests step through the door, but if there’s a nibble or two that can be passed around it will ward off hunger pangs and buy you a bit more time in the kitchen.
· You absolutely don’t have to make every element of the brunch from scratch. Take inspiration from our ideas for ready-made extras and by all means pick up a store-bought dessert.
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Directed by Sam Mendes
Starring Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay, Daniel Mays
4.5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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UNpaid bills:
Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN budget in 2019
USA – $1.055 billion
Brazil – $143 million
Argentina – $52 million
Mexico – $36 million
Iran – $27 million
Israel – $18 million
Venezuela – $17 million
Korea – $10 million
Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN peacekeeping operations in 2019
USA – $2.38 billion
Brazil – $287 million
Spain – $110 million
France – $103 million
Ukraine – $100 million
'The Sky is Everywhere'
Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
