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SAVE $150: As of Jan. 10, get the Samsung Jet 60 Flex vacuum for just $149, down from $299, at Walmart. That's a discount of 50%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Samsung Jet 60 Flex vacuum $149 at Amazon (save $150) Get Deal"I need to vacuum." That's a statement that's probably constantly echoing in your mind if you live with kids or pets, or if you just like to keep an impeccably clean house. But who wants to vacuum when that means dragging around an unwieldy machine that you hate to use? No more of that in 2024. Get a slim stick vacuum that you're going to be excited about using, and for a big discount.
As of Jan. 10, you can get the Samsung Jet 60 Flex cordless vacuum on sale at Walmart for $149, down from $299. That's $150 off and a discount of 50%, and $50 cheaper than Walmart's pricing during its Cyber Week sale.
SEE ALSO: Our top 5 best robot vacuums for carpet are both powerful and detail-orientedThis vacuum is well worth $149 for its lightness and maneuverability alone. It's just six pounds, meaning you don't have to lumber around your home carrying a huge machine that doesn't fit where you need it to, and it has a 180-degree swivel head that lets you get to those hard-to-reach areas.
The Jet 60 Flex can clean everything from hardwood floors to rugs with suction power up to 150 AW. It also has a five-layer filtration system to trap dust and dirt before they're released into the air you breathe. Its removable battery offers cleaning times of up to 40 minutes per charge.
Ready to transform the way you clean? A cordless vacuum can help you get the job done.
SAVE 50%: The Eufy Security S220 video doorbell kit is just $99.99 at Amazon with the on-page coupon, down from the normal price of $199.99. That's a savings of $100.
Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy Security S220 video doorbell kit $99.99 at Amazon (save $100) Get DealIn the age of preferring text messages over calls, a knock at the front door can be the stuff of nightmares. If you'd rather not answer the door (or if you ever wished your superpower was to see through walls), there's a great deal on a video doorbell meant for you at Amazon.
As of Jan. 10, the Eufy Security S220 video doorbell kit is just $99.99 with an on-page coupon, down from its normal price of $199.99. That's a savings of $100 and a 50% discount.
SEE ALSO: The best food subscription boxes for every homeThe wireless video doorbell system gives you a 2K resolution view of your front door with the ability to set a customized detection zone should you wish to see your front yard or driveway, for example. The Eufy Security S220 video doorbell has two-way audio talk capabilities so you can chat with the delivery man and respond to any visitors in real-time. The doorbell is not only waterproof but designed to operate regardless of the weather, suitable for temps as low as -4 degrees Fahrenheit and up to 122 degrees.
The battery-powered doorbell gets about 180 days of life on one charge, so you'll only need to recharge the video doorbell once per year. The Homebase unit sits inside your home and uses AES-128 data encryption to ensure the footage stays private.
Keep watch over your front door for under $100 with the Eufy Security S220 video doorbell kit to ensure you always answer when a neighbor drops by with a plate of cookies.
CES 2024 attendees this week couldn't help but notice a spectacular flying car concept screaming for attention on the convention floor: the Xpeng AeroHT eVTOL Flying Car.
Is this mean machine created by Guangzhou Xiaopeng Motors Technology Co., Ltd. (also known as Xpeng) about to whiz around the skies of American cities? That's not at all clear, but it was there, and boy was it cool.
Xpeng's secret weapon for commanding attention seems to have been a sort of attainable narrative about how this thing could fit into the life of an actual (probably very rich) human being. Let's not abuse the term "practical" here, but it makes more sense than your average flying car concept or personal eVTOL. With the propeller arms folded in, someone can drive it around in the normal manner, or at least as "normal" as driving a Lamborghini-style supercar EV gets. And when the driver hits traffic, they can open up the flying apparatus and take to the skies — local aviation regulations permitting.
SEE ALSO: Turning a retro 1961 Renault into a flying car — Future BlinkPlus, the drone-style eVTOL propeller orientation suggests that piloting this flying car would be relatively simple, unlike other car-aircraft transformer concepts from the recent past, like the Klein Vision Air Car, which starts out as a car, and essentially turns into a plane. That seems like a blast for fully instrument-rated pilots, but not so much for average slobs like me.
SEE ALSO: The best of CES 2024Did CES play host to this beast's first public flight? Not so much — it remained on terra firma for the duration. What's more, it's not immediately clear that Xpeng has even finished the "concept" part of this project. "Xpeng AeroHT" is the name of the company division, and "eVTOL" is an industry term that means "electric vertical takeoff and landing." That means this thing's name is ultimately just "Flying Car."
But that doesn't mean the exhibit wasn't an impressive display of tech imagination and engineering bravado. It's certainly not for nothing that attendees witnessed those propellers folding up and disappearing into the roof of the car right there on the convention floor:
What might something like this cost? How could it ever be legal? When will it be available? These are questions for another time. The more important question this week in Vegas was, gee whiz, did you just see that?
UP TO 41% OFF: As of Jan. 10, you can score up to 41% off a selection of Philips Sonicare electric toothbrushes at Amazon.
Our top picks: Best electric toothbrush deal overall Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5300 $89.96 at Amazon (save $20) Get Deal Best runner-up electric toothbrush deal Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6500 $99.96 at Amazon (save $70 with on-page coupon) Get Deal Best budget electric toothbrush deal Philips One by Sonicare $20.99 at Amazon (save $14 with on-page coupon) Get DealLooking for a high-quality toothbrush that won't cost you an arm and a leg? Right now, you can score up to 41% off Philips Sonicare toothbrushes at Amazon, including the oh-so-popular ProtectiveClan and DiamondClean Smart models.
SEE ALSO: The best electric toothbrushes for improved oral hygieneHere are our top picks for the best savings on Philips Sonicare toothbrushes:
Best electric toothbrush deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Philips Sonicare Store Our pick: Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5300 $89.96 (save $20) at Amazon Get Deal Why we like itThe Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5300 features three brushing modes: clean, white, and gum care. (Simple enough, right?) It also has a built-in pressure sensor and QuadPacer to ensure gentle and effective brushing and a two-minute timer to help you brush for the dentist-recommended time. With its advanced features, two-week battery life, and included travel case, the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5300 is our top pick for an affordable yet high-quality electric toothbrush.
This set also includes one charger, one G2 brush head, and two extra replacement W DiamondClean brush heads.
Best runner-up electric toothbrush deal Opens in a new window Credit: Philips Sonicare Store Our pick: Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6500 $99.96 at Amazon (save $70 with on-page coupon) Get Deal Why we like itThe Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6500 is a close second for those looking for a slightly upgraded option. It's available in several colors (including pink!) and is proven to whiten teeth in just one week compared to a manual toothbrush. The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6500 also features three brushing modes (clean, white, and gum care), a pressure sensor, QuadPacer, and a two-minute timer.
This set includes one charger, two DiamondClean brush heads, and one charging travel case.
Best budget electric toothbrush deal Opens in a new window Credit: Philips Sonicare Store Our pick: Philips One by Sonicare $20.99 at Amazon (save $14 with on-page coupon) Get Deal Why we like itIf you're on a tight budget but still want the benefits of an electric toothbrush, the Philips One by Sonicare is a solid option. It's available in several colors, holds a 30-day charge, and has a built-in timer to ensure you're brushing for the recommended two minutes. It doesn't have any of the fancier features of the models listed above, but it's still a great entry-level option if you want to try out an electric toothbrush without breaking the bank. (It's basically one step up from a manual toothbrush!) Plus, it comes with a travel case.
Even more deals on Philips Sonicare toothbrushes:Philips Sonicare ExpertClean 7500 — $119.99 $199.99 (save $80)
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9500 — $169.96 $199.99 (save $110)
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9750 — $179.96 $339.96 (save $160)
The nominations for the 2024 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards are here, giving us a clearer idea of what to expect from the acting categories and Best Picture categories at the 2024 Academy Awards.
Many of the nominations are not surprises: Every film and TV actor who took home a trophy at the 2024 Golden Globes earned a SAG nod. Critically acclaimed box office juggernauts like Barbie and Oppenheimer are poised to win big, going head-to-head in the film ensemble and supporting actor categories, with leads Margot Robbie and Cillian Murphy earning nominations in their respective categories as well. Historically, the award for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture is often an indicator of what will win Best Picture at the Oscars, giving nominees American Fiction, Barbie, The Color Purple, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Oppenheimer a huge leg up.
SEE ALSO: 25 best movies of 2023, and where to watch themBut aside from the Barbenheimer of it all, let's just say that these nominations feature some truly astounding snubs. Films like Past Lives, Anatomy of a Fall, and May December were shut out entirely, as were their stars (and Golden Globe nominees) Greta Lee, Sandra Hüller, and Charles Melton — all of whom are more than deserving of recognition. Meanwhile, on the TV side, Succession's Jeremy Strong was overlooked in this round of nominations, unlike castmates Brian Cox, Kieran Culkin, and Matthew Macfadyen, perhaps indicating he won't be as strong of a contender at the 2024 Emmys. (How very Kendall Roy of him.)
And the nominees for the 2024 SAG Awards are:Outstanding action performance by a stunt ensemble in a television seriesOutstanding action performance by a stunt ensemble in a motion pictureUzo Aduba, Painkiller
Kathryn Hahn, Tiny Beautiful Things
Brie Larson, Lessons in Chemistry
Bel Powley, A Small Light
Ali Wong, Beef
Matt Bomer, Fellow Travelers
Jon Hamm, Fargo
David Oyelowo, Lawmen: Bass Reeves
Tony Shalhoub, Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie
Steven Yeun, Beef
Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso
Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso
Bill Hader, Barry
Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear
Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
Jeremy Allen White, The Bear
Brian Cox, Succession
Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
Kieran Culkin, Succession
Matthew Macfadyen, Succession
Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us
Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown
Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us
Keri Russell, The Diplomat
Sarah Snook, Succession
The Gilded Age
The Morning Show
Emily Blunt, Oppenheimer
Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple
Penélope Cruz, Ferrari
Jodie Foster, Nyad
Da'Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers
Sterling K. Brown, American Fiction
Willem Dafoe, Poor Things
Robert De Niro, Killers of the Flower Moon
Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer
Ryan Gosling, Barbie
Annette Bening, Nyad
Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon
Carey Mulligan, Maestro
Margot Robbie, Barbie
Emma Stone, Poor Things
Bradley Cooper, Maestro
Colman Domingo, Rustin
Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers
Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction
The 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards will stream live on Netflix Feb. 24.
TL;DR: Through Jan. 31, Walmart is offering $50 in Walmart Cash for free to new and returning members who sign up for a Walmart+ annual membership. Since memberships cost $98 per year, that's basically like getting half your money back to spend as you please.
Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart+ Walmart+ annual membership Get $50 back in Walmart Cash Get DealJust like Amazon hides its perks behind its exclusive Prime membership, Walmart gives its best deals to Walmart+ members. If you're seeking a a way to slash your expenses and enjoy significant savings not only at the grocery store, but also on streaming services, travel fees, and beyond, a Walmart+ membership could be just the ticket. And for a limited time, you'll get half your membership fee back to spend when you sign up.
Through Jan. 31, Walmart is offering $50 back in Walmart Cash to new and returning members who sign up for annual subscriptions. Since memberships are typically $98 per year, that means you'll get over 50% of your annual subscription fee back to spend on essentials. The offer isn't available to current or trial members, or those enrolled in W+ Assist.
SEE ALSO: Shop the best winter clearance sales at Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and WalmartWith your annual Walmart+ membership, you'll enjoy the convenience of free grocery delivery on orders over $35, free shipping on all Walmart.com purchases with no order minimums, fuel discounts, and access to tools like Scan & Go to save time shopping in stores. You'll also get exclusive first access to discounts and major sales (like Black Friday and Cyber Monday), 5% Walmart Cash on hotel bookings and car rentals, 2% Walmart Cash on airfare, and a complimentary Paramount+ subscription to watch thousands of shows and movies, live news with CBS News, and even NFL on CBS Live.
Not that we're comparing, but that's a lot of perks for $41 cheaper than Amazon Prime. Plus, you'll get $50 to spend right off the bat.
SAVE $200: The Dyson V11 Extra cordless vacuum with 12 accessories is just $399.99 at Best Buy as of Jan. 10, down from the MSRP of $599.99. That's a discount of 33%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson V11 Extra cordless vacuum (blue/iron) $399.99 at Best Buy (save $200) Get DealBetween dust, pet hair, and cookie crumbs, keeping the floors clean can feel impossible. If you can't stand the feel of a dirty floor underfoot, one of Best Buy's Deals of the Day is about to make your life a lot less frustrating.
As of Jan. 10, the Dyson V11 Extra cordless vacuum with 12 accessories is just $399.99 at Best Buy, down from the MSPR of $599.99. That's a 33% discount. To grab this deal, select the blue/iron colorway and make your purchase by 11:59 p.m. CT (or before it sells out).
With up to 60 minutes of run time, you'll be parading around on extra clean floors thanks to the Dyson V11 Extra. Not only does the Dyson V11 excel when it comes to sucking up dust and hair, the conical brush bar has an anti-tangle design, so you can say goodbye to cutting off trapped hair. When it comes time to vacuum stairs, blinds, or the car, the Dyson V11 converts into a handheld vacuum, so you won't have to struggle with a large vacuum, let alone a cord.
SEE ALSO: The best Dyson vacuums: A guide to the latest versions of stick, ball, and handheld cleanersFiltration on the Dyson V11 is designed to trap 99.99% of particles and the washable filters will last as long as the vacuum's lifespan. Plus, the LED display shows how much battery life remains when using each of the three power modes so you don't get stuck mid-room.
If you've been eyeing a Dyson but haven't felt great about the steep price, today's deal on the Dyson V11 Extra for just $399.99 is here to ease your hesitation. Clean floors await.
SAVE $15: As of Jan. 10, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is on sale for $44.99, down from $59.99. That's a discount of 25%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max $44.99 at Amazon (save $15) Get DealIf you're looking to invest in a new streaming device, you can't go wrong with one of Amazon's options. A Fire TV Stick is a reliable go-to streamer that's pretty affordable and works with a variety of platforms, so if you're a cord-cutter who likes to switch from one app to another, you're covered. These devices are even sweeter when they're on sale, especially when it comes to the newest model.
As of Jan. 10, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is on sale for just $44.99, or $15 off its normal price of $59.99. That's a discount of 25% and just $5 above its lowest price ever for the most recent Fire TV Stick release.
SEE ALSO: Jam out with 4 months of free Amazon Music Unlimited when you buy select Echo devicesThe Fire TV Stick 4K Max doesn't skimp on features, offering everything the previous model did and then some. It boasts a simple interface, a variety of streaming apps, and much more, including WiFi 6E support and the new Ambient mode. Most importantly, it offers streaming in 4K Ultra HD and is compatible with Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and HDR10+.
WiFi 6E support ensures a faster and smoother streaming experience if you have a router that supports it, and the Fire TV Ambient mode is akin to having Samsung's The Frame TV (or similar smart TV). It lets you display high-quality photos and artwork while idle, effectively turning your TV into a canvas while not in use. With the most storage seen in a Fire Stick yet at 16GB, you've got plenty of room for photos, too.
If you're ready to take the plunge and pick up a new streaming device, you'll want to snag one while it's on sale now.
SAVE $100: The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite (64GB) with an 8.7-inch screen is just $99.99 at Best Buy. That's a 50% discount.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite (64GB, dark gray) $99.99 at Best Buy (save $100) Get DealDo you spend evenings watching YouTube videos on your phone? Do the morning sudoku numbers look too small on your iPhone? It might be time (or way past time) to gift yourself an upgrade and invest in a larger screen that's still easy to take on the go. And you can grab an 8.7-inch Samsung tablet for half off thanks to a great deal at Best Buy today.
As of Jan. 10, get the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite (64GB, dark grey) with an 8.7-inch screen for just $99.99, marked down from its regular price of $199.99. That's $100 off and a 50% discount. This sale price is part of Best Buy's bonus deals of the day which means you have until 11:59 p.m. CT to score the deal, unless it sells out before then.
There's no denying this tablet isn't the latest and greatest. However, for under $100, it's a great option for introducing a better way to watch shows on the go or improve your crossword experience. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 has an 8.7-inch screen which is optimal for web surfing, enjoying the latest episode of your favorite show, or writing emails when you're away from your workstation. With 64GB of storage capacity, you can download your favorite apps, movies for that upcoming overseas flight, and your latest e-book. The microSD slot can easily expand memory if the internal storage proves insufficient.
SEE ALSO: CES 2024: This wacky laptop lets you snap on a tablet ... or a fan ... or a robot companionThe Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite gets up to 11 hours of battery life on a single charge and recharges via a USD-C port (the charging cable is included). It weighs less than one pound, so it's ideal for taking along on car rides or slipping into your work tote bag. Its upgraded metal frame is meant to better withstand accidents, should you be prone to dropping electronics.
If you're looking for a stable and affordable tablet, today's deal on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is your signal to click "add to cart."
Those searching YouTube for emergency first aid tutorials will no longer have to scroll through pages of videos and skip through ads to find life-saving information.
In a new addition to the site's other health content like health labels and crisis resource panels, the website will now prominently display authoritative medical information to the top of search results in order to facilitate speedier searches for things like CPR tutorials and provide viewers with quick and simple first aid advice.
The "information shelves" will appear for a variety of search terms in both English and Spanish, Youtube explains, including:
CPR
Choking / heimlich
Bleeding
Heart attack
Stroke
Seizure
Opioid overdose
YouTube also partnered with medical center Mass General Brigham, the Mexican Red Cross, and the American Heart Association to create a series of pinned videos that provide information on how to perform CPR, how to stop bleeding, and how to help someone who is overdosing, the site also announced on Wednesday.
YouTube is also hosting the American Heart Association's new, free CPR course, which provides structured CPR learning videos to viewers without a medical background.
"We want to help save lives and prevent bad first aid techniques that can be performed without the right medical knowledge," wrote Ana Robles Quijano, the Mexican Red Cross' national fundraising Coordinator, in YouTube's blog post.
"With this information available on YouTube in English and in Spanish anyone can learn the two-steps of Hands-Only CPR. It is also a place to hear firsthand from survivors on the importance of people being able to respond in an emergency," wrote Comilla Sasson, vice president of health science for the American Heart Association.
YouTube says it will continue to add health informational shelves in a variety of languages and regions around the world, potentially with the help of the site's new AI dubbing tool Aloud. According to the announcement, Mass General Brigham has already used Aloud to translate its tutorials into Spanish.
The company says these efforts are to both address the pertinent need for reliable medical information — perhaps a response to growing medical misinformation on the platform — and to grow YouTube's community of "authoritative health creators."
"Today’s announcement is a significant step forward to increase access to authoritative resources on first aid care, especially for those without medical training at times when they may need it most," wrote Dr. Garth Graham, YouTube's director and global head off healthcare and public health partnerships. "We’re committed to harnessing the power of video to make public health information truly public."
CES 2024 has been a wild ride, giving us insight into the most cutting-edge tech startups and big brands have to offer.
This year, however, the laptop category has caught our eye, delivering funky and snazzy systems that stimulated conversation among our peers for days. Here are the wildest laptops we've seen at the world's most popular tech showcase.
SEE ALSO: The best of CES 2024 1. Asus Zenbook DuoThe Asus Zenbook Duo is a dual-display devil of a laptop that commands attention. Imagine having this beautiful monstrosity sitting on your desk.
Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableLong story short, the Zenbook Duo is the successor to a laptop that also had a dual-display design, but unlike the new Zenbook Duo, the second display only took up about half of the deck.
Credit: Joe Maldonado / MashableHowever, for the new-gen laptop, Asus said, "Screw it! Go big or go home!" Now, the second display is equally as large as the main display; both feature 14-inch, OLED panels with 3K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate.
This beast of a laptop can transform into a number of different postures, from having a book-like mode that lets you interact with apps side-by-side to lay-flat mode for sharing content with colleagues.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableWhat I love about Asus, a laptop OEM, isn't afraid to take risks. After all, one of the downsides of innovation is that it may come with negative feedback and poor critical reception. However, Asus doesn't seem to let that deter it.
2. Acer Aspire 3D 15 SpatialLabs EditionIf you look closely, you may find that the arms of the astronaut below are sticking out of the panel. No, your eyes aren't deceiving you. What you're seeing here is a 3D laptop at work.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableAcer isn't new to the 3D laptop market. It even has some systems that can handle 3D gaming and supports over 70 titles and counting. However, the Aspire 3D 15 SpatialLabs isn't designed for 3D gaming; it's best for 3D entertainment and content creation.
When I was a kid, seeing anything in 3D required me to wear a funky pair of glasses. Now, with the Aspire 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition, you can chuck the glasses to the side and enjoy 3D in all of its glory with your naked eyeballs.
3. Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 14ThinkBook 13x Gen 14 features Lenovo's Magic Bay tech on the lid that lets you attach an interesting variety of accessories to it.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableFor now, the ThinkBook 13x Gen 14 supports tame Magic Bay objects like a 4K camera.
However, Lenovo has been cooking up other Magic Bay concepts, and some of them were definitely on the zany side, including an aromatherapy attachment (e.g., a thingamajig that can emanate fumes from essential oils), a fan, a robot companion, and a lightweight tablet.
4. Acer Swift Go 14Acer has been stepping it up with year with the envelope-pushing laptops.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableFor CES 2024, it also released a bizarre laptop that has a touchpad that doubles as media controls.
Interestingly, the Swift Go 14 can "detect" whether YouTube — or any other media platform of its ilk — is playing on your display. Consequently, the touchpad will light up with media controls that let you play, pause, skip and rewind.
5. MSI Cyborg 14Gaming laptops are typically clunky, unwieldy and heavy, but not the MSI Cyborg 14. When I picked it up, I was expecting significant heft, but to my surprise, it shockingly light. In fact, it's as light as my M2 Pro MacBook Pro, my daily driver.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableYou shouldn't expect any impactful performance from this gaming laptop. It is designed to be light and compact, and that trade-off is the "performance oomph" of the more beastly gaming laptops. However, the Cyborg 14 makes for an excellent travel companion for gamers who need some entertainment during long flights or commutes.
Cyborg 14 comes with up to a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU as well as up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU.
Getting hit with double charges pending on your credit card statement after a night out. Trying multiple cards while a line of people grows behind you. We've all been there more times than we'd care to admit. When a payment fails, consumers don’t direct their frustration at the payment processor. They direct it at the business, and will likely take their buying needs elsewhere and hope for a better checkout experience.
That's why it's crucial for commerce businesses to prioritize choosing the right payment solution to ensure a smooth and reliable transaction experience. “There’s a lot going on behind each transaction and it all has to work flawlessly,” says Mike Lozanoff, Global Head of Merchant Acquiring Product and Engineering at J.P. Morgan Payments. “If a card isn’t working, or the website isn’t working, how many times will a customer come back?”
A seamless customer payment experience should be a given. Lozanoff and his team at J.P. Morgan Payments believe that a robust, secure, and innovative payment system is a huge advantage for businesses looking to strengthen their relationship with customers. By prioritizing transparency, end-to-end security, and driving innovation, business owners can take a more strategic approach to their payment processes.
Building solutions around how consumers shop today is crucial to attracting new shoppers and retaining existing ones. By diving into all the ways that we buy things — from tap-and-go to digital wallets — J.P. Morgan Payment’s is building omnichannel payment solutions that take a customer-first approach.
“J.P. Morgan Payments has processed millions of transactions a day for decades,” says Lozanoff. “This experience gives us the capability to know when and how to build solutions that solve for pain points that customers experience.”Post-pandemic, consumers expect the safety offered by contactless payments, combined with the ease and convenience of flexible pickup and delivery options. Merchants need a nimble overarching payment solution that offers multiple ways to pay, allowing their customers to shop and buy how they’ve come to expect. J.P. Morgan Payments’ is investing in omnichannel payment solutions that will allow businesses to go to market faster and provide more flexible payment options while simplifying all the backend processes. What is good for the customer is also great for the business.
J.P. Morgan Payments sets businesses up for further success by providing cash flow transparency, which is critical for companies in rapid growth mode. Seamless pay-in and pay-out solutions offered within an embedded finance platform provides decision-makers with a holistic view of their revenue stream, which is much more challenging when information is scattered across different platforms.
Anchor innovations in advanced security solutionsPeace of mind is priceless for consumers, making a sleek, efficient payment system only as good as its security measures. “Security and compliance form the backbone of J.P. Morgan,” says Lozanoff. “There’s security in everything we build and launch.”
J.P. Morgan Payments combines the firm’s treasury services, trade, commercial card, and merchant services capabilities to process more than $9.8 trillion in transactions daily and uses these insights to inform proprietary algorithms for AI-powered machine learning.
Since its launch, this algorithm has detected double the amount of potential fraud. These stalwart security measures give the J.P. Morgan Payments team the confidence to launch new technology, knowing they won’t be sacrificing security.
Taking a thoughtful approach to innovationWith a steadfast focus on security, Lozanoff and his team also showcase their agility in swiftly adapting to emerging fintech trends that shape the future of our shopping experience. “Payments move fast,” says Lozanoff. A few years ago, many smaller payment processors built systems for crypto payments, only for demand to sputter as the crypto bubble burst. J.P. Morgan Payments has a global team with its ear to the ground.
“What we think we’re going to work on could be completely inside-out in nine months, which is why we need to have the right architecture, and the right culture to react and change,” Lozanoff adds.
Approaching payments as more than daily transactions, but as a growth tool, a security bulwark, and a touchpoint to connect with shoppers is key for business owners when assessing payment partners. With an eye on the long term and not just the flash-in-the-pan trends, J.P. Morgan Payments sets merchants up for success in how we pay today, and how we may pay tomorrow.
Following in the footsteps of Hairspray, The Producers, and Little Shop of Horrors, Mean Girls is returning to theaters, not as a remake but as a flashy musical inspired by a stage production too popular to ignore.
Tina Fey, who wrote the original movie and the book for the Broadway musical, returns to script this incarnation and once more play the flustered teacher Ms. Norbury. However, directors Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. have an added obstacle: Their source comedy wasn't just a cult classic; it was a massive hit that spawned countless catchphrases and memes. Plus, this movie musical updates the timeline from 2004 to today, when teens and tech aren't what they were.
SEE ALSO: 15 catchiest, most dazzling musicals on NetflixSo how does Mean Girls survive this latest re-interpretation? On its side is a solid plotline of popularity, priorities, and Plastics, plus a promising cast of young stars, including The Sex Lives of College Girls' Reneé Rapp, The Nice Guys' Angourie Rice, and Moana's Auli'i Cravalho. But is that enough to make this movie musical sing?
How does Mean Girls (2024) compare to Tina Fey's original? Credit: Jojo Whilden / ParamountThe plot between the 2004 Lindsay Lohan vehicle and this singing-dancing version is virtually the same: Homeschooler Cady Heron (Rice) is excited to go to high school and make friends, but soon realizes the cliques, crushes, and rules of cool are more than she bargained for.
Lucky for her, she clicks with the "art freaks": Janis 'Imi'ike (Cravalho), who has a snarl and a passion for embroidery, and the garrulous Damian Hubbard (Jaquel Spivey), who is "almost too gay to function." But this fresh meat who is "really pretty" also catches the eye of fearsome Queen Bee Regina George (Rapp) and her fellow Plastics: desperate-for-approval Gretchen Wieners (Bebe Woods) and the deeply dippy Karen Shetty (Avantika).
Welcomed into the cool kids' circle, Cady conspires with Janis and Damian to take the menacing Regina down a peg through various sabotages involving face cream, bulk-up bars, and some scandalous secrets. But between the annual holiday talent show, the vicious Burn Book, a well-timed bus, and prom, all of these teens will learn lessons about self-worth, bullying, and what it means to be a friend.
There will also be the re-enacting of many famous lines about big hair full of secrets, cool moms, and Glen Coco. However, several of these feel tacked on, making some punchlines feel more like a punchcard. And overall, Mean Girls has lost a lot of its bite.
This Mean Girls feels too tame. Credit: Jojo Whilden / ParamountSome of the cuts from Fey's original script are smartly made. Gone are the tedious race jokes about Black culture (through a white lens) and excised is the thread about the "Cool Asians" hooking up with the predatory Coach Carr. But also gone is the line, "Oh my god, Karen, you can’t just ask people why they’re white." Early on, this suggests that Fey's revision was less aimed at clearing away dated or problematic jokes and more about dulling the edges of anything that might risk being provocative.
Sex is also toned down here, with slut-shaming language largely absent and innuendo kept very PG-13. Most notably tamed is the Halloween section. Where in the original, "The hardcore girls just wear lingerie and some form of animal ears," 2024's Mean Girls sport costumes that wouldn't make a priest blush. So, the contrast to Cady's creepy costume is less sharp and less funny.
The jokes that remain or are subbed in don't have the bite of the original. This means both ruthless Regina and furious Janis are gentler versions, more complex and worthy of audience empathy. Which throws off the balance, for better and worse.
As Regina George, Reneé Rapp is so wickedly fun, it's almost mean. Credit: Jojo Whilden / ParamountFollowing in the footsteps of Rachel McAdams' iconic turn is no easy feat. But Rapp has had plenty of rehearsal, having played Regina George on Broadway from 2019 to 2020. And while the movie musical gives the Broadway show's song a more pop spin, Rapp makes all of hers a marvel. From the moment her smirking lips appear in close-up, sultry-singing, "My name is Regina George, and I am a massive deal," she has us hooked.
Curiously, Jayne and Perez reflect Cady's captivation with a wide-eyed reaction shot that reads as lusty. But while this time around, Janis is not queer-coded but just flat-out queer, Cady's initial fluster over Regina is never fruitfully explored. So this shot, while impactful, is more confusing than confessional.
Rapp's star power is explosive. Her side-eye slices deep. Her snarled insults hit like grenades lobbed from perfectly manicured nails. She's a dynamo whose swagger swiftly establishes — better than dialogue or songs could ever — just how Regina has the school in a chokehold. However, Regina also gets a song about her conflicted feelings about her ex, Aaron Samuels (Christopher Briney). Her hair thrown about by a rock-star gust of inexplicable wind, Rapp sells this so well that instead of rooting for Cady to score the handsome senior, it's hard not to be in Regina's corner. Especially because Cady has become a shadow of her former self.
Angourie Rice can't compare to Lindsay Lohan's Cady Heron. Credit: Jojo Whilden / ParamountSome may snark, but looking back at 2004's Mean Girls, there's no denying Lohan's charisma. Cast as an every-girl learning hard lessons about teendom, the '00s icon was dynamic and entertaining, never overshadowed by more bombastic characters like Regina and Janis. This made the twisted friendship triangle between the three work! But in this Mean Girls, Cady is less-than. Meaning when Regina or Janis aren't onscreen, the film stumbles.
To her credit, Rice is starting with a disadvantage: She has no voiceover. Storywise, the songs give voice to the ideas present in the original movie. Directors Jane and Perez take advantage of this by replacing the fantasy sequences of teenagers acting like wild animals with sneering classmates turning into beaming backup singers as Cady ponders love and mathematics ("Stupid with Love"). But her monologue about how to dress hot for Halloween becomes a joke-filled song for Karen ("Sexy"). Regina steals her thunder singing to their shared love interest with "Someone Gets Hurt." And the climactic life lesson "I'd Rather Be Me" goes to Janis — not Cady. All of this undercuts the movie's main character, making her a supporting player in her own story.
Auli'i Cravalho stands out as rebel Janis 'Imi'ike. Credit: Jojo Whilden / ParamountWhile Cady becomes less of a hero and more of a device to usher audiences through catchphrases and song numbers, Cravalho establishes herself as a stunner. Sure, the Plastics get most of the attention, and this outcast is robbed of some of her surlier lines. Still, like Lizzy Caplan before her, she imbues Janis with a justifiable fury that bursts forth in casual insults and tough love. She is radiant in her rage.
Her chemistry with Spivey is solid, from their opening bars of the intro song, "Cautionary Tale." But when she sings solo, everyone else fades away. "I'd Rather Be Me" is a banger brought to life not only with Cravalho's Disney-princess voice but also a growling conviction that pulls you to the edge of your seat.
Cravalho and Rapp are forces of nature. So it becomes a shame we don't get to see them go head-to-head. Cady is in between them, making her less a hero and more a frustration as the film's focus on her keeps these two dynamos on separate corners.
Mean Girls lacks a strong vision. Credit: Jojo Whilden / ParamountTo the directors' credit, their cast is stacked with talent. Avantika makes Karen her own with a delivery that is bouncy bimbo perfection. Wood brings a pointed panic to Gretchen that pops in this stressful setting. The likes of Jon Hamm, Jenna Fischer, Tim Meadows, Ashley Park, and Busy Phillips pop up to play grown-ups caught up in teen drama. But the world they build is uninspired, littered with the familiar and a spattering of phone-recorded reaction videos to reflect its new era.
Many of Cady's costumes are so close to the original, the character herself feels instantly dated. Song numbers set in hallways are restrained rather than rapturous. The choreography feels more informed by TikTok than Broadway. It's flashy but lacks emotional weight.
In the end, it seems this team was trying to wed Mean Girls with High School Musical, bleeding out the bits that might have been too jolting for parents so that kids could expand the demographic. It's a strange call since both movies are PG-13. But there's no denying this Mean Girls is playing it safe. And that's not fetch.
The trend these days is for cars to have a big infotainment display in front of the driver, but LG's new automotive display is something else.
On Wednesday at CES 2024, the company showcased what it claims is the world's largest automotive display, the "57-inch Pillar-to-Pillar (P2P) LCD." It's an in-car display that extends over the entire width of the windshield, allowing both the driver and the passenger to see all the entertainment and information they need (and probably some they don't need).
LG says the touch display is curved, with a 3,500-millimetre curvature radius, can withstand extreme temperatures (from -40°C to 85°C), and can show content in high definition, though details on resolution are absent.
SEE ALSO: The best of CES 2024The company also announced a 32-inch slidable OLED display, which should take care of entertainment of passengers in the rear seats. The display is hidden in the ceiling and can be extended downward. It's a curved touch display with a 2,560x1,440 pixel resolution.
The passengers in the rear get a big OLED display all for themselves. Credit: LGLG brought these displays, as well as a couple smaller ones, to this year's CES, placing them into three concept cars to give us an idea of what we can expect from this extreme "screenification" (LG's term) of our future cars.
The company says the front display could be used for video conferencing, something that's currently offered in Tesla cars, albeit on a smaller display. The OLED in the back should allow the passengers to do work or watch TV and movies while on the road.
SEE ALSO: CES 2024: LG's transparent OLED TV disappears when turned offAs for when we can expect to see these displays in actual cars on the road, LG says it's ramping up production to meet the "increasing demand" for automotive displays above 30 inches. Production has already started at LG's plant in Gumi, Korea, and the company plans to start mass production at its plant in Paju, Korea, "after 2025".
Yeah, yeah, Saltburn shares a lot with Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr Ripley. We get it, Mac, we've torn it apart in the pub, we're several beers deep on the nuances. But hark! There's another subtle textual reference in Emerald Fennell's thriller that'll have you digging out your other English textbooks to fuel another round.
Folks, it's Shakespeare. ✨pause for harmonious groaning✨
Hear me out. The Bard's magical and lusty romantic comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream is not only the theme for Oliver's opulent birthday party in Saltburn, but also a key text to exploring the complex relationship between Oliver (Barry Keoghan) and Felix (Jacob Elordi), and how power and status determines their roles.
SEE ALSO: 'Saltburn's most WTF moments: From the bathtub to the grave to 'Murder on the Dancefloor'Like the lofty fairy monarchy in Shakespeare's tale, the wealthy, spoiled, beautiful Catton family exists simply to dabble in the excess and splendor of their realm, with a spot of human manipulation here and there. But specifically, Felix and Oliver embody two characters essential to A Midsummer Night's Dream: Oberon and Puck.
Physically, it's all in their party costumes: Felix (Jacob Elordi) dons a pair of enormous wings, channeling Oberon, the King of the Fairies — an outfit foreshadowed by his large chest tattoo of a wing. Meanwhile, Oliver (Barry Keoghan) adorns himself with antlers as Puck, Oberon's mischievous shit-stirrer and servant.
These fitting sartorial choices not only look banging but also elucidate deeper themes and traits in them and other characters. For example, Felix's father James (Richard E. Grant) dresses up as Theseus, Duke of Athens, the highest-ranking human character whose wedding bookends A Midsummer Night's Dream — and whose dalliance with the Minotaur in Greek mythology is referenced in the Cattons' doomed maze. Yep, there's a lot of hidden imagery in Saltburn.
In case you weren't done with your school exams, let's dabble in a little intertextual debauchery.
Felix: The beautiful and bored royal Credit: MGM and Amazon StudiosIn case you didn't catch it from that golden wingspan and cheeky twinkle in his eye, Felix makes a vague stand-in for the magical monarch Oberon. In this case, the King of the Fairies is the young prince of Saltburn and 2000s Oxford campus ruler. Though he's not as calculating as Oberon — though driving Oliver back to Preston and his brutal fallout with Farleigh (Archie Madekwe) might suggest otherwise — Felix does embody Oberon's bored and beautiful countenance. Elordi easily plays Felix with the same frivolous, sultry intensity as Rupert Everett's Oberon in Michael Hoffman's 1999 film adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
It's not a direct hit; Oberon is described by Puck as "jealous," something Felix only really indicates when Oliver and Felix's sister, Venetia (Alison Oliver) grow close. However, Oberon does love bringing people together through magic flower juice, which Saltburn's princeling indeed does, and he does relish his power.
In Saltburn, Felix's mother Elspeth (Rosmund Pike) dresses up as Titania, Queen of the Fairies, for the party. Yet she shares the role with her daughter Venetia. The affluent, glittering, and extremely bored Cattons tend to adopt a new lost souls like Oliver Quick and Poor Dear Pamela (Carey Mulligan) each summer, just as Oberon and Titania find new lost humans to toy with in Shakespeare's play, leading various mortals through the glimmering night "hand in hand, with fairy grace".
But Felix is mainly rendered Oberonian through his diabolical bestie: Oliver "Puck" Quick. And like Puck and Oberon, Oliver and Felix's relationship is all trust and power dynamics.
Oliver: The horned mischief-maker Credit: MGM and Amazon StudiosWith his small antlers and penchant for trickery, Oliver embodies a deeply sinister version of the mischievous Puck, "that merry wanderer of the night", Shakespeare's sprite, often depicted as a satyr. Like Oberon's own personal Loki, Puck does the king's bidding (not necessarily well) and acts as a guide for the audience through the hijinks of the play. Similarly, Oliver leads us through Saltburn as its narrator. Puck is a shrewd eavesdropper — "sometimes lurk I in a gossip's bowl" — just like Oliver, and his loyalty to Oberon does not make him mindless. Oliver's tendency toward manipulation and trickery aligns with Puck's, the master puppeteer behind the king.
In Shakespeare's tale, Puck is Oberon's confidante and fixer. In this privileged position under the wing of the forest's monarch, Puck can have a little fun, playing a few tricks on weak-hearted humans who stray too far into the woods.
Here's how the Royal Shakespeare Company describes Puck:
"Puck is Oberon’s servant, and seems to willingly carry out his commands, speaking politely and respectfully to the King of the Fairies. In carrying out his orders, and ultimately making a mistake, Puck becomes the catalyst for most of the drama, and the comedy, in the play. To what extent Puck enjoys his tasks, or the mischief he is able to get up to while carrying them out, is open to interpretation..."
In the play, when a fairy questions Puck's identity, she calls him a "shrewd and knavish sprite" that "mislead[s] night-wanderers, laughing at their harm", which fits Oliver like a glove.
Whether Oberon and Puck's relationship is strictly platonic is the stuff of academic debate, but Oliver's love for and obsession with Felix is not. "My gentle Puck, come hither" indeed.
But where their dynamic best overlaps with Shakespeare's duo is Oliver's spending every waking hour trying to please Felix, who can easily cast him aside. "I just gave you what you wanted!" Oliver cries in the maze during the party. It's comparable to Puck's response to Oberon accusing him of negligence in their plans and that he "committ'st thy knaveries wilfully" in the play — "Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook. / Did not you tell me I should know the man / By the Athenian garment be had on? / And so far blameless proves my enterprise," Puck says. Essentially, you wanted what you wanted, this is what you've got.
At the end of Saltburn, as Oliver dances through the halls of the estate naked, you could forgive him for dropping a little of Puck's closing monologue, winking down the camera: "If we shadows have offended, / Think but this, and all is mended, / That you have but slumber'd here / While these visions did appear."
Alas, the nightmarish visions of Saltburn are no dream for the Cattons.
Yes, actor Josh Hutcherson has seen the influx of memes featuring his face to the backdrop of Flo Rida's "Whistle" (basically the internet's new favourite Rickroll). And yes, he's a fan.
Appearing on The Tonight Show, Hutcherson told Fallon that his brother and his brother's boyfriend sat him down over the holidays to explain the meme to him.
"They are very creative, very odd, and I'm here for it," was his response.
Big budget sci-fi is all well and good, but sometimes you just need one actor and one location to create a creepy atmosphere.
This is certainly the case in the trailer for Matt Vesely and Lucy Campbell's Monolith, a claustrophobic-looking story about a disgraced journalist (Lily Sullivan) who retreats to her parents' house to host a new podcast — a deep dive into a weird global conspiracy that starts to bleed into her real life.
Monolith is in cinemas and on video on-demand Feb. 16.
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.
With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.
So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for January 10 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for January 10Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024:
AcrossVehicles queued up at an airportThe answer is cabs.
The answer is allows.
The answer is bigoil.
The answer is snazzy.
The answer is geez.
The answer is cling.
The answer is algae.
The answer is booze.
The answer is Swizz.
The answer is abs.
The answer is sly.
They made their market in epic fantasy, but Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, alongside True Blood writer Alexander Woo, have made the jump to sci-fi for their latest series.
3 Body Problem, based on Liu Cixin's novel The Three-Body Problem (the first in his Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy), features a planet-wide mystery. Top scientists are mysteriously dying and people start seeing an ominous countdown timer hovering in mid-air. There is a lot to unpack in the trailer and some of it only flashes up briefly, but there are some striking shots of the night sky flickering on and off, a large shape moving through the clouds, and a giant ring hovering above Earth that creates a sudden blue flash.
Jovan Adepo, John Bradley, Rosalind Chao, Liam Cunningham, Eiza González, Jess Hong, Marlo Kelly, Alex Sharp, Sea Shimooka, Zine Tseng, Saamer Usmani, Benedict Wong, and Jonathan Pryce star.
Yeah, yeah, Saltburn shares a lot with Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr Ripley. We get it, Mac, we've torn it apart in the pub, we're several beers deep on the nuances. But hark! There's another subtle textual reference in Emerald Fennell's thriller that'll have you digging out your other English textbooks to fuel another round.
Folks, it's Shakespeare. ✨pause for harmonious groaning✨
Hear me out. The Bard's magical and lusty romantic comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream is not only the theme for Oliver's opulent birthday party in Saltburn, but also a key text to exploring the complex relationship between Oliver (Barry Keoghan) and Felix (Jacob Elordi), and how power and status determines their roles.
SEE ALSO: 'Saltburn's most WTF moments: From the bathtub to the grave to 'Murder on the Dancefloor'Like the lofty fairy monarchy in Shakespeare's tale, the wealthy, spoiled, beautiful Catton family exists simply to dabble in the excess and splendor of their realm, with a spot of human manipulation here and there. But specifically, Felix and Oliver embody two characters essential to A Midsummer Night's Dream: Oberon and Puck.
Physically, it's all in their party costumes: Felix (Jacob Elordi) dons a pair of enormous wings, channeling Oberon, the King of the Fairies — an outfit foreshadowed by his large chest tattoo of a wing. Meanwhile, Oliver (Barry Keoghan) adorns himself with antlers as Puck, Oberon's mischievous shit-stirrer and servant.
These fitting sartorial choices not only look banging but also elucidate deeper themes and traits in them and other characters. For example, Felix's father James (Richard E. Grant) dresses up as Theseus, Duke of Athens, the highest-ranking human character whose wedding bookends A Midsummer Night's Dream — and whose dalliance with the Minotaur in Greek mythology is referenced in the Cattons' doomed maze. Yep, there's a lot of hidden imagery in Saltburn.
In case you weren't done with your school exams, let's dabble in a little intertextual debauchery.
Felix: The beautiful and bored royal Credit: MGM and Amazon StudiosIn case you didn't catch it from that golden wingspan and cheeky twinkle in his eye, Felix makes a vague stand-in for the magical monarch Oberon. In this case, the King of the Fairies is the young prince of Saltburn and 2000s Oxford campus ruler. Though he's not as calculating as Oberon — though driving Oliver back to Preston and his brutal fallout with Farleigh (Archie Madekwe) might suggest otherwise — Felix does embody Oberon's bored and beautiful countenance. Elordi easily plays Felix with the same frivolous, sultry intensity as Rupert Everett's Oberon in Michael Hoffman's 1999 film adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
It's not a direct hit; Oberon is described by Puck as "jealous," something Felix only really indicates when Oliver and Felix's sister, Venetia (Alison Oliver) grow close. However, Oberon does love bringing people together through magic flower juice, which Saltburn's princeling indeed does, and he does relish his power.
In Saltburn, Felix's mother Elspeth (Rosmund Pike) dresses up as Titania, Queen of the Fairies, for the party. Yet she shares the role with her daughter Venetia. The affluent, glittering, and extremely bored Cattons tend to adopt a new lost souls like Oliver Quick and Poor Dear Pamela (Carey Mulligan) each summer, just as Oberon and Titania find new lost humans to toy with in Shakespeare's play, leading various mortals through the glimmering night "hand in hand, with fairy grace".
But Felix is mainly rendered Oberonian through his diabolical bestie: Oliver "Puck" Quick. And like Puck and Oberon, Oliver and Felix's relationship is all trust and power dynamics.
Oliver: The horned mischief-maker Credit: MGM and Amazon StudiosWith his small antlers and penchant for trickery, Oliver embodies a deeply sinister version of the mischievous Puck, "that merry wanderer of the night", Shakespeare's sprite, often depicted as a satyr. Like Oberon's own personal Loki, Puck does the king's bidding (not necessarily well) and acts as a guide for the audience through the hijinks of the play. Similarly, Oliver leads us through Saltburn as its narrator. Puck is a shrewd eavesdropper — "sometimes lurk I in a gossip's bowl" — just like Oliver, and his loyalty to Oberon does not make him mindless. Oliver's tendency toward manipulation and trickery aligns with Puck's, the master puppeteer behind the king.
In Shakespeare's tale, Puck is Oberon's confidante and fixer. In this privileged position under the wing of the forest's monarch, Puck can have a little fun, playing a few tricks on weak-hearted humans who stray too far into the woods.
Here's how the Royal Shakespeare Company describes Puck:
"Puck is Oberon’s servant, and seems to willingly carry out his commands, speaking politely and respectfully to the King of the Fairies. In carrying out his orders, and ultimately making a mistake, Puck becomes the catalyst for most of the drama, and the comedy, in the play. To what extent Puck enjoys his tasks, or the mischief he is able to get up to while carrying them out, is open to interpretation..."
In the play, when a fairy questions Puck's identity, she calls him a "shrewd and knavish sprite" that "mislead[s] night-wanderers, laughing at their harm", which fits Oliver like a glove.
Whether Oberon and Puck's relationship is strictly platonic is the stuff of academic debate, but Oliver's love for and obsession with Felix is not. "My gentle Puck, come hither" indeed.
But where their dynamic best overlaps with Shakespeare's duo is Oliver's spending every waking hour trying to please Felix, who can easily cast him aside. "I just gave you what you wanted!" Oliver cries in the maze during the party. It's comparable to Puck's response to Oberon accusing him of negligence in their plans and that he "committ'st thy knaveries wilfully" in the play — "Believe me, king of shadows, I mistook. / Did not you tell me I should know the man / By the Athenian garment be had on? / And so far blameless proves my enterprise," Puck says. Essentially, you wanted what you wanted, this is what you've got.
At the end of Saltburn, as Oliver dances through the halls of the estate naked, you could forgive him for dropping a little of Puck's closing monologue, winking down the camera: "If we shadows have offended, / Think but this, and all is mended, / That you have but slumber'd here / While these visions did appear."
Alas, the nightmarish visions of Saltburn are no dream for the Cattons.
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