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A story that unfolds on death's doorstep, Oh, Canada is a thoughtful, reflective work from Paul Schrader, if an occasionally rushed one. Whether or not its hurried approach is a defect — it most certainly plays like one, as though there was only so much time to wrap it up before the reaper comes a-calling — it also results in a more intimate embodiment of everything on Schrader's mind when it was made.

SEE ALSO: New York Film Festival preview: 10 movies you ought to know about

The tale of a documentary filmmaker on his deathbed who becomes the camera's subject, the film is based on the 2021 novel Foregone by Russell Banks. (Schrader previously adapted Banks' novel Affliction in 1997.) The author would sadly pass away in January 2023, a few months before filming began, and shortly after Schrader himself had a brush with death thanks to COVID-19.

This proximity to grief, and to the grave, informs Oh Canada's storytelling, which plays like a recollection of regrets. Its structure and narrative POV shift in beguiling ways, as though the movie's main character — played by two actors at different ages — was rushing to absolve himself of sin. Along the way, he confuses and collapses his many confessions into a single, muddled mythology that constantly shifts through elliptical editing, as if to reflect the character’s disoriented state of mind. The details may be unreliable, but his story pulses with riveting emotional truths, born from lifelong remorse. 

What is Oh, Canada about?   

Now confined to hospice care, Canadian filmmaker Leonard Fife (Richard Gere) agrees to an interview conducted by his former film students, Malcolm (Michael Imperioli) and Diana (Victoria Hill), during his final weeks of life. Cancer has ravaged his body, and his treatment has left him tired, but as an artist who has always used his camera to unearth people's truths, he hopes Malcolm and Diana's lens will do the same for him, and help him unburden himself as his wife, Emma (Uma Thurman), looks on.

Many details of Leonard's life are publicly known, especially his conscientious Vietnam draft-dodging, after which he left the U.S. for the Great White North as a political asylee. However, just as much of his story remains shrouded in mystery, which he now unpacks as last rite. In flashbacks set in the '60s and '70s, Leonard is played by Jacob Elordi (of Priscilla fame), though on occasion, Gere himself strides through scenes where Elordi ought to be, a swap that occurs either through straightforward cuts, or the occasional Texas Switch.

The seamlessness with which the older Leonard replaces his younger self has an eerie effect, as though something in the fabric of his story were deeply amiss. As he reveals some particularly shameful and macabre family secrets, Emma remains in denial over his revelations and insists that Leonard must be confused about the details. He is, in a way, given the overlap between events and characters he recalls, but all of these revelations come from a place of deep pain and repression. Whether or not they're logistically true, Gere makes their emotional truth feel undeniable via a towering, career-defining performance as a man both afraid and determined to stare at the camera and be seen by it, as he struggles to purge himself of demons that have long been eating at his soul.

Paul Schrader brings a thoughtful filmmaking eye to Oh, Canada. Credit: Cannes Film Festival

Throughout Oh, Canada, Leonard's regret is enhanced by Schrader's interrogative filmmaking, which draws from numerous documentarian techniques. The film for which he provides his personal testimony — about his own life, and his work as anti-war activist after his illegal border-crossing — takes the form of a traditional interview talking head, albeit with an aesthetic twist that yields several haunting close-ups.

In order to pay tribute to Leonard, his students film him with the use of a camera set-up he invented. In reality, this is the Interrotron developed by The Thin Blue Line director Errol Morris; it’s a teleprompter that allows the subject to meet the interviewer's eye (or rather, a reflection of it) while staring directly down the camera's lens. By attributing the tool to the fictitious Leonard, Schrader creates a double-edged sword. The technique has long afforded Leonard the comfort of sitting behind a video monitor, rather than meeting his subjects' gaze directly. But now, as the subject of his own camera, his confession occurs in a darkened, lonely room.

There are people nearby, like the filmmakers, and Leonard's wife, Emma, whose reflection theoretically appears in the teleprompter, but we only ever glimpse this briefly. For the most part, Schrader locks us into a trio of close-ups of Leonard from three angles (two profiles, and one directly head-on), which appear on side-by-side video screens for Malcolm and Diana, and whose angles Schrader often cuts between. This triptych framing makes the cameras feel incredibly invasive, and by almost never cutting away from Leonard's close-ups, Schrader forces us to view his self-reflections the way the aging documentarian sees them. His interviewers' faces may be visible to him on a screen, but he recognizes his own filmmaking facade, and he knows just how lonely he is, here at the end of his life.

This loneliness takes stirring form during Leonard's flashbacks, too. In isolated moments, Elordi and Gere's attention occasionally drifts from the characters to whom they're speaking, and their gaze falls upon nothing in particular, as though they know they're trapped in a framing device. People from other points in the story sometimes appear where they shouldn't, and on occasion, a white light consumes the frame, as though hypoxia (or the embrace of death) had threatened to provide Leonard with respite from his confessions.

The question then remains: Does Leonard want to die without having exposed the worst parts of himself?

Schrader's shifting narrative makes Oh, Canada a holistic self-reflection.

Like Schrader's most recent works — especially First Reformed, The Card Counter, and Master Gardener, a similarly confessional trilogy — Oh, Canada makes frequent use of voiceover. But in the aforementioned films, these narrations took the form of diary entries by each protagonist, whereas in the latest, the framing device is not only a camera this time, but one that isn't in Leonard's control.

Sometimes, the movie's voiceover comprises snippets from Leonard's filmed confession. Other times, it draws from an impassioned inner monologue. And on some occasions, the voiceover is spoken by a different character entirely, revealed to be a person who feels deeply betrayed by Leonard. In a literal sense, this patchwork of perspectives helps unearth Leonard's story from multiple points of view, as Schrader deconstructs both a man and the mythology around him.

However, this shifting POV also serves a spiritual purpose. In essence, it blends the known and the imagined, and plays as though Leonard were in a desperate grasp at absolutely, slowly stepping outside himself and finding sudden empathy for someone he had deeply — perhaps knowingly — wronged.

Credit: Canne Film Festival

Oh, Canada is a work of deep-seated guilt frothing to the surface, and while its story is largely fictional, Schrader's presentation takes strikingly personal form. On one hand, the older Leonard is styled to resemble Banks — Schrader’s friend of many years, who requested the filmmaker to adapt Foregone before he died — but from many angles, this man with short, graying hair and an unkempt beard also resembles Schrader himself, who made the film when it seemed like the nearly 80-year-old filmmaker might not win his long battle with COVID and pneumonia. (He was hospitalized, and suffered breathing difficulties in the aftermath.)

But there's another personal element to the movie, too, one made far less apparent on screen. Around the time of Banks' death and Schrader's illness, the director also moved into an assisted living facility with his wife, Mary Beth Hurt, whose Alzheimer's had been worsening. Oh, Canada is as much a film about death and elusive truths as it is about memory and its fleeting nature, and it's hard not to read the visual manifestations of Leonard's confusion as Schrader's depiction of his wife's condition.

Moreover, it depicts a filmmaker whose confessions to his wife — a woman who knows him better than anyone, but still doesn't know his darkest moments — don't seem to stick, both because of his illness and his inability to properly articulate them. While Schrader's avatar suffers from distortions of recollection in the film, and is assisted by his wife, the reverse is true in reality. The idea of a man unable to fully give himself over to the woman he loves because of the impermanent nature of memory is the tragic result, regardless. While Oh, Canada talks through (but quickly skips past) many of these central themes — en route to a conclusion that wraps up too quickly, and too neatly — it stands as one of Schrader's most personal, most moving, and most impactful films.

Oh, Canada is slated to hit theaters this December.

UPDATE: Sep. 25, 2024, 4:44 p.m. EDT Oh, Canada was reviewed on May 30, 2024, out of the Cannes Film Festival. This post has been updated to toast its New York Film Festival premiere.

TikTok's legal troubles in the United States continue.

Reuters reported that the state of Texas sued TikTok on Thursday. According to state Attorney General Ken Paxton, TikTok has allegedly violated Texas state law and jeopardized children's safety with the popular video-sharing app's policies.

SEE ALSO: TikTok is convinced a buried rug in a woman's yard contains a body

Paxton accused TikTok of not providing proper privacy settings for accounts belonging to children, as well as targeting advertising at children. He wants civil penalties of as much as $10,000 per violation of Texas's Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act.

This isn't the first time TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese technology firm ByteDance, has been sued over children's safety concerns in the U.S. The federal government sued the company with similar allegations back in August. In addition to that, the federal government is seeking to ban TikTok in the country due to alleged safety problems for American users.

In other words, enjoy TikTok while you can.

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: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Saturday, October 5, 2024:

AcrossLego piece

• The answer is Brick.

Company whose name is spelled with up to 10 O's toward the bottom of its webpages

• The answer is Google.

Inventor of the first commercially available electronic instrument, a synthesizer

• The answer is Bob Moog.

Largest country without an official language

• The answer is USA.

Some smart devices

• The answer is TVs.

Muscular dog with black and tan fur, familiarly

• The answer is Rottie.

Precipitates freezing rain

• The answer is Sleets.

Warty hopper

• The answer is Toad.

DownMilky drink with "pearls"

• The answer is Boba Tea.

CD-___

• The answer is Rom.

"Aha!"

• The answer is I Got It.

Pumpkin spice ingredients

• The answer is Cloves.

Large beer containers

• The answer is Kegs.

Break off from the rest of the band

• The answer is Go Solo.

Go "pop"

• The answer is Burst.

Bill's time-traveling partner of film

• The answer is Ted.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.

Scientists have found a trio of stars dancing a high-speed cosmic do-si-do. 

In fact, the stars' tempo is so rapid, astronomers have labeled this a new record: Here, a pair of stars orbit each other in less than two Earth days, while a third makes a trip around them in 25 days. Before this discovery, the fastest known three-star grouping was Lambda Tauri, with its farthest star circling in 33 days.

It took 68 years to beat the record holder. A NASA satellite, MIT researchers, artificial intelligence, and even a few amateur astronomers worked together to find the triplets, part of a system called TIC 290061484 in the constellation Cygnus. 

"It’s exciting to identify a system like this because they’re rarely found," said Saul Rappaport, a retired MIT astronomer, in a statement, "but they may be more common than current tallies suggest."

SEE ALSO: Barnard's star tricked scientists before: why this planet is real.

You can watch the stars' unique orbit in the video below:

NASA's TESS mission — short for Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite — is mostly looking for new worlds as they pass in front of their host stars. But this unusual trio was detected because of the group's "strobe lights." The system is almost flat from the telescope's vantage point in space, so that means as the stars cross in front of each other during their orbits, they create eclipses. As the nearer star blocks the farther star's light, it will cause a flicker. 

Amateur astronomers who were looking for interesting cases found the eclipse patterns among TESS data with the help of machine learning. These sleuths originally met as participants in an online citizen science program called Planet Hunters. Later they collaborated again with professional astronomers to form the Visual Survey Group, an ongoing project of more than a decade. The team's paper detailing the unusually fast triplets was published in The Astrophysical Journal this week. 

The three stars are more massive than the sun, each ranging from six to eight times its weight. Based on their configuration, the stars' orbits are thought to be stable for millions of years. But, as they age, they'll eventually merge, exploding in a supernova and leaving behind a neutron star, one of the densest objects in space. That probably won't happen for 20 to 40 million years. 

Amateur astronomers found the trio's eclipse patterns among NASA's TESS mission data. Credit: NASA illustration

So far the team knows of no planets circling these stars. In the unlikely event that there is one, it would probably be far away, circling the three as if they were one star. The triplets' waltz through the sky is quite compact, happening within a ballroom more cramped than Mercury's orbit around the sun. 

"No one lives here," Rappaport said. "We think the stars formed together from the same growth process, which would have disrupted planets from forming very closely around any of the stars." 

Scientists say more than half of all stars in the galaxy have one or more companion stars. These solar systems can differ widely. Some have large hot stars coupled with smaller cooler ones, or pairs in which one star cannibalizes the other. The systems discovered have ranged from two to seven stars. 

The way these stellar groupings orbit each other can be extremely complex. In one six-star system, TYC 7037-89-1, three couples orbit each other, but two of the three pairs also circle one another. The third duo, in a vaster orbit, revolves around the other two pairs. 

A grouping of six stars has an extremely complex set of interconnected orbits. Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center infographic

In the newly discovered system, there's one more surprise. The stars are merely cogs in a larger machine. That's right: There's yet another comparable star among this group, making a distant loop over 3,200 days. 

The team wants to continue studying TIC 290061484 to collect more data on the fourth straggler star, as well as capture more details about the other stars' orbits, masses, sizes, and temperatures. With more sophisticated observatories in the future, such as NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope under development, studying other eclipsing star systems of even larger groups may become easier. 

"Before scientists discovered triply eclipsing triple star systems, we didn’t expect them to be out there," said co-author Tamás Borkovits, a research scientist at The University of Szeged in Hungary, in a statement. "But once we found them, we thought, 'Well, why not?'" 

NASA's about to launch a huge spacecraft to a world harboring voluminous seas.

Planetary scientists suspect Jupiter's moon Europa contains an ocean at least twice the size of Earth's. The Europa Clipper probe — which is the length of a basketball court and the largest craft the agency has sent on a planetary mission — is slated to blast to this distant realm on Oct. 10. Before the launch, NASA released a new detailed view of the moon's cracked surface, which shows why for decades researchers have been drawn to this tantalizing place.

"It's perhaps one of the best places beyond Earth to look for life in our solar system," Cynthia Phillips, a NASA planetary geologist and project staff scientist for the space agency's Europa Clipper mission, told Mashable.

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

On Oct. 2, NASA shared the view below, which was taken from data gathered by the Galileo mission in 1998. It shows a close-up of Europa's chaotic landscape, which is evidence that something below the moon's thick icy crust — like an ocean — is stoking lots of change and deformity. Salty water may escape to the surface along fractures, leaving telltale reddish colors on Europa's ground. And irregular chunks of ice have likely been created by relatively recent surface movement.

"This region sports ice rafts that look like those at Earth's poles, where large chunks of ice break away and float freely on the ocean," the agency wrote. "Much of the region bears the reddish/brownish discoloration seen here — the same as seen along many of Europa's fractures. Scientists believe this material may contain clues about the composition of an ocean beneath the icy surface, if it is proven to exist."

A region on Europa called "Conamara," which demonstrates the icy moon's chaotic surface. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / Orion Moon An artist's conception of the Europa Clipper spacecraft flying by the ice-covered moon Europa. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech

To prove whether an ocean exists and if it could host suitable conditions for life, Europa Clipper will make around 50 close flybys of the moon's surface. It's fitted with a number of high-resolution cameras, a ground-penetrating radar, and even a device (called SUDA) that will literally sample particles of Europa that have been ejected into space by tiny meteorites.

After looping through the solar system on a 1.8-billion-mile (2.9-billion-kilometer) journey, the craft will arrive at Europa in 2030, and spend 3.5 years collecting unprecedented data. To determine if the Jupiter moon is habitable, mission scientists need to answer some major questions. For example, all life needs energy: Does this ocean world provide an energy source? And does it harbor the basic chemical ingredients, like carbon, to form the building blocks of life as we know it?

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And, if all those conditions are satisfied, is there evidence the ocean has been around for billions of years, providing a stable environment for life to evolve and sustain itself in Europa's dark sea?

We'll find out.

Over-the-ear headphones are everyone's usual go-to solution for blocking out the world. And listen, I get it. You couldn't pry my Sony WH-1000XM4s out of my cold dead hands. But honestly, as much as I love them, carrying around a clunky pair of headphones when I'm on the go is not ideal. I want a pair of headphones to tuck in my pocket that will still block out noise. That's the promise of the best noise-cancelling earbuds

Every top brand has its own take on ANC earbuds, each with a unique style and a plethora of features. Since you can't possibly try them all, I've taken on the task of reviewing noise-cancelling earbuds for you.

How do noise-canceling earbuds work? Noise-cancelling earbuds are small enough to slip in your pocket. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

All noise-canceling headphones, including earbuds, have some passive noise-cancellation. While over-the-ear headphones naturally block out noise by wrapping around the ears, earbuds don't block sound as effectively. Instead of covering your ears, wireless earbuds deliver sound directly into the ear canal to drown out other noises. They rely more on active noise cancellation (ANC) to reduce environmental noise.

ANC is an electronic process within the headphones. Internal microphones listen to your surroundings and then invert the sound, effectively canceling it. Sometimes, with noise-canceling headphones and earbuds, you'll hear a slight buzzing or humming in the background, and that's the ANC at work. The best ANC earbuds shouldn't have this buzzing, however.

What are the best noise-cancelling earbuds? Not all earbuds are created equal — some are far more comfortable than others. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

While there are plenty of audio brands that provide good sound quality and noise cancellation, audio leaders Bose and Sony are in a league of their own. Not only do they offer phenomenal ANC, but they also make music and podcasts sound better. On a good pair of headphones, "Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter sounds even catchier with its sickly sweet tune.

Earbuds usually aren't as comfortable as over-the-ear headphones. I know this well, as I've found many pairs of earbuds that just plain don't fit in my ear. Others are downright uncomfortable. Once again, Bose tends to offer the best comfort. However, Bose and Sony aren't the only brands out there. That's why I set out to test the best the market offers and see what makes a great pair of earbuds.

Since you probably don't want to go through the process of buying and returning a dozen pairs of noise-cancelling earbuds before finding the right ones, I did that work for you.

"Stunning" doesn't even begin to cover it, but RaMell Ross' Nickel Boys is one of those rare Hollywood productions — perhaps alongside this year's I Saw the TV Glow — that feels aesthetically transformative. A moving film about a violent reform school in 1960s Florida, it adapts Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize–winning novel The Nickel Boys in a particularly arch manner, bringing to life its story of young Black teens caught in an oppressive system (as well as the real events on which the book was based) with meticulous detail.

SEE ALSO: New York Film Festival preview: 10 movies you ought to know about

The film is told, for the most part, through first-person point of view, a tall ask for audiences accustomed to more traditional filmmaking. However, over the course of its 140 minutes, Nickel Boys unfurls numerous pathways into its unique construction, practically teaching viewers how to watch it, as it builds a tale of personhood that's as intimate in presentation as it is political in implication. In Whitehead's novel, the words on the page are just as meaningful as the blank spaces between them — an approach Ross recreates not through absence, but through the layered use of archival video and images that blend fiction with reality in both wistful and harrowing ways.

All the while, Ross avoids the tendency to luxuriate in the visually traumatic; instead, he maneuvers around cinematic exploitation by embodying the bone-deep effects of trauma. The film's non-linear structure occasionally flashes forward several decades, mimicking how profoundly our minds and bodies keep the score. Few narrative feature debuts have felt so poignant and so richly formed that they practically speak their own language, as Nickel Boys does, while also managing to articulate its drama clearly and instinctively. The result is a dynamic work of resilience and self-actualization. 

What is Nickel Boys about?

The film, like the novel, follows 16-year-old Elwood Curtis (Ethan Herisse), a promising teen from Tallahassee who lives with his grandmother, Hattie (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), and navigates the Jim Crow-era South. On his way to a technical college for advanced classes, the high schooler finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, leading to false charges of theft and internment at the Nickel Academy, an isolated juvenile home on a sprawling estate that presents itself as a place of hard work and reform.

A young adherent of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., Elwood's idealism quickly clashes with Nickel's harsh reality of segregation and corporal punishment. However, he also finds guidance and companionship in Turner (Brandon Wilson), a fellow student hailing from Houston whose more upbeat demeanor and slick survival tips exists in close proximity to his own fears of the school's ruthless staff. Should the boys misbehave, they know that the ominous administrator Spencer (Hamish Linklater) will whisk them away in the middle of the night for a severe beating — or something worse. (The film makes the novel's implications of sexual violence slightly more pronounced.) 

What is perhaps most surprising about Nickel Boys is how casually this information is relayed to Elwood. The fates of several former students who have "mysteriously" disappeared isn't so much rumor and innuendo as it is common knowledge among the boys, keeping them in line as they toil away from dawn to sundown, plowing fields and making local deliveries for what one assumes is little (if any) pay. The film evokes images of American slavery at every turn, between white students overseeing their Black counterparts as they pick crops, to rusty rings that have been embedded in the nearby trees for so long that they're practically part of the foliage, conjuring images of young Black boys chained up in the darkness.

These evocations exist in the minds of the audience thanks to the prominence of slavery cinema (and television, à la Roots). Few mainstream films, however, have focused on the kind of institutional violence directly descended from chattel slavery a century later in the way Nickel Boys does. Its echoes don't point to older horrors, but ones that were still alive and well when the film was set, and for many years after. Ross simply threads the needle in ways most viewers might understand, frequently employing footage of the Sidney Poitier-led prisoner drama The Defiant Ones to further make its point in montage. 

"There are four ways out of Nickel," Turner says. There's aging out at 18, being let out for good behavior, and if you're lucky — as Elwood hopes to be, with his grandma's help — having family contact lawyers to have your sentence overturned, though this is a long and arduous process. The fourth way out is the most dangerous, so few avail of it: escaping Nickel's grounds, at the risk of being chased and killed. For Turner, the film is about finding ways to adapt and survive. However, the more book-smart Elwood believes in a fifth way: challenging the system itself, given its illegal practices, though this may be even riskier. Ruffle any feathers when inspectors come to visit, and you'll end up being "taken out back."

With the boys torn between trying to withstand a system and dismantle it from within, the stakes are monumental, even though much of the movie unfolds across gentle scenes of blossoming friendship and mutual understanding. These are told mostly through Elwood's eyes, and on occasion, Turner's. However, Nickel Boys harbors a sense of tragic inevitability. Brief scenes of Elwood in the future — played by Hamilton original Daveed Diggs — signal their removal from the '60s through shots of computer screens and contemporary paraphernalia, but remain tethered to the era through Elwood's research into the past, as news stories of the school's mass graves come to light.

In these moments, the movie's self-imposed visual constraints also become its biggest strengths.

Nickel Boys takes a powerful aesthetic approach.

Ross is hardly the first filmmaker to employ point-of-view shots for lengthy stretches. Temporal experiments like Russian Ark and the video game gimmick of Hardcore Henry come to mind, but Nickel Boys is most like the films of Gaspar Noé in this regard, especially his spiritual, out-of-body POV experience Enter the Void, albeit in a much more grounded manner. From its opening frames, Ross' adaptation, co-written by Joslyn Barnes, feels fully embodied in its mood and motions, as an adolescent Elwood catches glimpses of himself in reflective surfaces, like bus windows and his grandmother's steam iron. It feels worth mentioning that The Nickel Boys is largely written in third person, but the film's astounding narrative shift accentuates the nuances of Whitehead's drama and characterization.

Between the young child's observations of Hattie's daily life and his viewing of Dr. King Jr.'s speeches on TV screens in store windows — his own reflection visible all the while — he begins to come to an awareness of his own place in the world. This is crystalized in a key POV shot of Elwood looking down at his arms and inspecting his own skin, echoing the writings of James Baldwin on similarly formative realizations of Blackness in his youth.

It's an inciting incident of sorts, shaping Elwood's understanding of himself while situating the audience firmly in his perspective, though Ross makes certain visual adjustments along the way. While the camera's movements mimic reality, cinematographer Jomo Fray uses soft focus and telephoto lenses to strip away the image's topmost naturalistic layers, especially in moments of extreme close-up. While still captured from a distinct perspective, these highly textured shots zero in on sensory details in ways that make them feel like nostalgic memories. When Hattie's cake knife rattles along a plate, as she cuts Elwood a slice of a homemade, spongy delicacy, you can practically smell the warmth and love with which it was baked.

This impressionism is complemented by an essayistic use of archival footage, sourced mostly from the African American Home Movie Archive. (Some of it also comes from NASA; the Space Race, with "Whitey[s] on the Moon," is the grand American antithesis to the reality of Black boys at Nickel.) Old film footage of Black children and families in joyful moments is intercut and contrasted with the boys at the Academy, matching their movements, and transporting us rhythmically from the confines of their harsh surroundings to a wider world outside, albeit briefly. The movie, despite its mimicry of human perspective, employs a narrow 4:3 aspect ratio, creating a sense of tunnel vision that keeps Elwood and Turner practically blinkered. They can't see past their oppressive confines — and so the film, in a way, imagines the outside world and its liberation for them. The viewer's desire to see them freed becomes all the more pressing. 

However, when the movie's borrowed footage begins incorporating the magnetic flaws of video tape — a format that wouldn't be popular for decades after the film is set — it pulls the viewer forward through time, in a way. This takes the form of vignettes of life in Harlem in the '80s, where we also glimpse an adult Elwood, but this isn’t the only way the movie signals its cinematic time travel. 

While the use of interspersed archive footage is intentionally scattered, almost random, the way the narrative hops back and forth is much more precise. In a moment when Elwood becomes the victim of his school's corporal punishment, Ross makes a masterful switch with disquieting impact and presents him from the rear, shooting his back as though he had slipped outside himself. This moment of traumatic dissociation carries over into the movie's future scenes, wherein Elwood (Diggs) is shot exclusively with a "Snorricam" rig attached to his body from the rear, matching his every moment so that we remain fixed to his point of view — but so that his perspective is now removed from his sense of physical self, thanks to the violence he endured as a child.

This is also when the movie begins employing real-world photographs and news footage of the Dozier Academy, the actual school on which Whitehead modeled Nickel, down to the shed reserved for the boys' harshest physical punishments. Although we don't spend much time with the older Elwood, he becomes the center of some of the most emotionally striking scenes. Diggs effectively "operates" the camera through his body language. When Elwood runs into a now-adult schoolmate who recounts his own harrowing tales — a tremendous one-scene performance by Craig Tate — his hesitance to chat, and his reluctance to be vulnerable, become heartbreakingly embodied by the minor movements of the frame.

There's no such aesthetic equivalent for trauma in literature, or in any other medium, but Ross' film deftly captures the silent poetry between Whitehead's words, making it a particularly potent work of adaptation.

Nickel Boys is a magnificent literary translation. 

While there are minor plot departures along the way, the biggest difference between Nickel Boys and Whitehead's novel is the way it expands upon (and arguably deepens) the material through sheer aesthetic force. Some of this occurs during fleeting moments — Alex Somers and Scott Alario's rustling, clanking score captures the academy's foreboding when it first appears — but much of it comes down to Ross' approach to translating between mediums.

The director only has one other feature under his belt, the immense and oblique documentary Hale County This Morning, This Evening, but it makes for a perfect B-side to Nickel Boys. The Oscar–nominated doc uses similar techniques, with close-ups of sensory moments disembodied from time used to illustrate the daily lives of Black residents of Alabama. Whitehead's novel comes with a similar level of detail, with each description of a person, object, or even surface hinting at a deeper history, which Ross subsequently captures through Elwood and Turner's eyes, focusing on each fleeting feature just long enough to conjure thought and feeling.

SEE ALSO: 10 books that helped Colson Whitehead write 'The Underground Railroad'

However, the film practically outdoes its source material in its conception of both leads. In portraying the world through Elwood and Turner's eyes, Ross confers a constant sense of personhood upon the camera, forcing the viewer to reflect on each moment as an extension of someone's humanity. But in switching between the two boys' points of view, Nickel Boys also takes on a more traditionally cinematic form when they're together, cutting between their close-ups, as though their connection had inadvertently conjured familiar comforts. The film, in this way — and through its deeply considered performances — approaches a love story. Whether or not it's remotely queer or romantic, it features a sense of gentleness that must exist by necessity, in order for the two boys to simply survive.

The film's use of POV also brings to mind the work of Barry Jenkins — who, as it happens, adapted another Whitehead novel, The Underground Railroad. Jenkins' work makes frequent use of characters looking straight down the lens so we can reflect on their humanity, a technique that was further emphasized in The Gaze, a video exhibit that spun out of Railroad. Ross' approach, however, plays like its equal and opposite. In employing a first-person perspective to this degree, Nickel Boys presents each supporting character — those who love Elwood, and those who would do him harm — through similar shots of them staring at the camera, and revealing their most honest selves in the process. However, they act as mirrors too, constructing numerous conceptions of Elwood's humanity as well, just from the way they look at him. 

The result is not just dehumanization at close proximity, but what critic Robert Daniels calls, in his review of The Underground Railroad, a subsequent "re-humanization." In Nickel Boys, the camera constructs a powerful sense of self and personhood through the kind of thoughtful, propulsive artistry the American mainstream has seldom seen, making its opposition to violence and racist oppression wholly self-evident through its visual approach. The film is unlike anything else, but it feels intimately familiar.

Nickel Boys was reviewed out of its New York Film Festival Premiere. It will open on Dec. 13 in NYC and in Los Angeles Dec. 20. 

Nuclear fuel lasts a long time. But not forever.

Both Voyager craft, launched in 1977, convert heat produced by the decay of radioactive plutonium-238 into electricity. Over the decades, NASA engineers have strategically shut off instruments to extend the life of Voyager 1 and 2, which are respectively well over 15 and 12 billion miles away. As their mission nears a half century, this fuel is dwindling, and the agency just turned off another gadget on Voyager 2, leaving it with four remaining science instruments.

"Mission engineers have taken steps to avoid turning off a science instrument for as long as possible because the science data collected by the twin Voyager probes is unique," NASA said in a statement. "No other human-made spacecraft has operated in interstellar space, the region outside the heliosphere."

SEE ALSO: NASA spacecraft keeps on going faster and faster and faster

The gadget the space agency shuttered on Sept. 26 is the "plasma science" instrument. It measured the flow of electrically charged atoms in space, particularly from the solar wind — a relentless flow of these particles from the sun. But in 2018, Voyager 2 left our solar system's heliosphere — a protective bubble of particles and magnetic fields created by the sun and solar wind — and entered interstellar space. The instrument was rarely being used, so it could be sacrificed.

The four remaining instruments on Voyager 2 are:

- Cosmic Ray Subsystem (CRS): A particle detector that looks for the highest-energy types of particles, such as from other stars. "The CRS makes no attempt to slow or capture the super-energetic particles," NASA explains. "They simply pass completely through the CRS. However, in passing through, the particles leave signs that they were there."

- Low-Energy Charged Particles (LECP): Another particle detector, whose work overlaps with the Cosmic Ray Subsystem. The LECP captures energetic particles from planets, stars, and the greater galaxy.

- Magnetometer (MAG): This instrument measures the sun's magnetic field and previously did so with the magnetic fields of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

- Plasma Wave Subsystem (PWS): Two antennae that observed plasma environments near the outer planets and now do so in interstellar space.

Voyager 1 has the same last four instruments running, too.

A radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG), which generates electricity for the Voyager mission. Each craft carries three of these. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech A graphic showing the different science instruments on the Voyager craft. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech

The plutonium fuel supply will gradually produce less power as it loses 4 watts each year. A toaster uses 800 to 1500 watts, and, amazingly, each Voyager craft only generates around 249 watts.

Yet even with this dwindling power, the craft can still speak with NASA. To turn off the plasma science instrument, the agency beamed a radio signal 12.8 billion miles through space. It took 19 hours to reach Voyager 2, and another 19 to send a return message.

The space agency expects that the Voyagers have enough fuel to operate with "at least one operational science instrument into the 2030s." Sometime that decade, the craft will likely lose its ability to communicate. Yet the greater mission of interstellar communication — as each craft packs information about our civilization — will carry on for billions of years.

Godspeed.

TL;DR: Save 75% on this classic MacBook Air with a refurbished model while supplies last.

Like almost everyone, I’ve always wanted a Mac. Maybe it was watching Carrie Bradshaw write with one or seeing them around my college campus, but the price tag always kept me a (regretfully) loyal PC user. Then I heard about refurbished MacBook deals. I nabbed a MacBook Air for only $239.99 (a $999 value) — can you believe it?

How is it so cheap?

Refurbished laptops are pre-owned computers that are given a second chance at life. As someone who buys dented cans of soup in the grocery store because I feel bad for them, I love this idea — and it’s better for the environment. The laptop arrived with normal amounts of wear on the outside, which I covered up with a cute pink case.

My MacBook Air was originally from 2017, so it’s a classic model. I know some Mac users want the fanciest features (honestly, if I had the cash, I would too), but I really only needed a laptop for home use — aka online shopping, streaming movies in bed, and the occasional Microsoft Office session. 

Check out the laptop’s specs:

• 13.3-inch screen

• Intel Core i5

• 8GB of RAM

• 128GB SSD storage

• Up to 12 hours of battery life

• Weighs under three pounds

This MacBook works just fine for my needs. I notice lagging when I have around 30+ Chrome tabs open, but my PC was the same way, so that’s what I expected.

I can still hardly believe I saved 75% on this refurbished MacBook Air. They’re selling out fast, though, so if you want one, get yours for $239.99 (reg. $999) before they’re gone.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 13.3" (2017) 1.8GHz i5 8GB RAM 128GB SSD Silver (Refurbished) $239.99
$999.00 Save $759.01 Get Deal

TL;DR: This coding certification bundle packs everything you need to learn to code, from Python basics to AI development, all for just $39.97 through October 27.

Opens in a new window Credit: StackCommerce The 2024 Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle $39.97
$1,500.00 Save $1,460.03 Get Deal

Looking to level up your tech skills or dive into the world of programming? This Premium Learn to Code certification bundle is your all-in-one resource for mastering some of the most in-demand languages and tools in the industry today — and it's on sale for $39.97.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer, this bundle has something for everyone, from Python and C++ to AI, web development, and more.

With Python, you can jump right into one of the most beginner-friendly languages, perfect for writing your own programs. Move on to C++ if you're after a crash course in a language that powers everything from gaming engines to operating systems. If you're more into AI, the OpenAI Fundamentals course will teach you how to tap into the world of machine learning with ChatGPT.

For web developers, you'll find courses on JavaScript and Vuex, perfect for building dynamic websites and apps. Plus, the bundle covers Flutter and Ruby on Rails, helping you bring your mobile and web app ideas to life. And for younger learners (or the young at heart), there's even a course in game development for kids, so you can create playable characters and design your own games using Unity.

With this bundle, you can build apps, dive into AI, or create websites — all at your own pace with lifetime access to over 17 courses.

For just $39.97 through October 27, this Learn to Code course bundle can help you code your way into the future.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Upgrade to Windows 11 Pro for just $17.97 — enhance productivity, security, and collaboration — but this price only lasts through October 6.

If you're looking for a professional-grade operating system at a budget-friendly price, you’re in luck. For a limited time only, you can upgrade to Windows 11 Pro for just $17.97 (reg. $199). This offer is valid through October 6 at 11:59 p.m. PT, so now’s the perfect time to get Microsoft’s latest OS for less.

Windows 11 Pro comes with a sleek, modern user interface that’s user-friendly and designed to improve your workflow. Features like Snap Layouts and virtual desktops let you juggle tasks more efficiently, making multitasking less of a chore, whether working on complex projects or switching between multiple apps.

One of the most exciting additions to Windows 11 Pro is the built-in AI integration, with Copilot acting as your personal assistant. From summarizing lengthy emails to pulling important details from documents, Copilot helps you work faster and smarter, making it the ultimate tool for students and professionals alike.

Security is also at the forefront of Windows 11 Pro. Features like BitLocker, TPM 2.0, and Smart App Control help ensure your data is safe from threats, whether you’re using it for business or personal tasks. Biometric login and Azure AD integration give you enterprise-grade security, which is ideal for professionals and remote workers.

With integrated Microsoft Teams and Windows Virtual Desktop, staying connected with your colleagues or clients is made to be much easier. It doesn't matter if you’re managing virtual desktops or using Azure AD for secure remote access, Windows 11 Pro is optimized for today’s remote and hybrid work environments.

And if you love gaming during your downtime, Windows 11 Pro brings DirectX 12 Ultimate for better graphics and enhanced performance. Even professionals can utilize this upgrade for smoother video editing, design software, and more.

Don't wait to take the leap to an updated OS that can keep up with your modern life.

Windows 11 Pro is just $17.97 through October 6 only.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: SmartTrainingLab Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $17.97
$199.00 Save $181.03 Get Deal

TL;DR: Get lifetime access to all 14 Babbel languages for just $149.97 (reg. $599) through October 6 and prepare for your next bucket list trip.

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $149.97
$599.00 Save $449.03 Get Deal

Dreaming of your next big adventure? Whether you’re jetting off to Paris, exploring Tokyo, or planning a trek across South America, Babbel’s lifetime subscription to all 14 languages can make your journey unforgettable.

For just $149.97 (reg. $599) through October 6, you can learn the local language (plus 13 more). Understanding the language on your trip isn’t just about getting by — it’s about immersing yourself in the culture. With Babbel, you can find local spots, order like a pro at restaurants, and skip the tourist traps by connecting with locals in their language. Whether it’s French, Spanish, Italian, or Japanese, Babbel has you covered.

With Babbel’s 10- to 15-minute lessons, you don’t need to clear your schedule to learn. You can squeeze in a quick language lesson during your coffee break, before bed, or while waiting for your next flight. It’s the perfect way to build conversational skills, fast. And with real-life topics like shopping, dining, directions, and more, you’ll be prepared to navigate most situations.

Babbel’s language courses are backed by research from universities like Yale, CUNY, and Michigan State University and developed by over 100 expert linguists. Using time-tested strategies, Babbel gets you speaking confidently in no time. It’s not just another app — it’s a proven approach to mastering languages.

Babbel tailors its lessons to your level, whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced learner. You won’t waste time on tedious drills; instead, you’ll jump right into practical language skills that make a difference when you travel.

Babbel’s speech recognition technology helps you fine-tune your pronunciation so you sound like a local. Plus, you can download lessons to use them when being online isn't an option.

For new Babbel users in the U.S., you can secure a lifetime of access for just $149.97 (reg. $599) through October 6.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get a beginner-friendly drone that packs obstacle avoidance, dual 4K cameras, and easy controls into one affordable package: just $64.97 (reg. $119.99) through October 27.

Opens in a new window Credit: RochasDivineMart 4K Dual-Camera Drone for Beginners with Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance $64.97
$120.00 Save $55.03 Get Deal

Flying a drone shouldn’t feel like dodging disaster.

This 4K dual-camera drone is here to make sure you get the perfect shot without worrying about a crash landing, and you can get it on sale for $64.97 (reg. $119) until October 27. Designed with obstacle avoidance technology, this drone knows when something’s in its path, giving you more freedom to focus on capturing epic 4K photos and videos.

Even if you’re new to drones, its one-key start/stop and gesture controls are designed to be easy to use — so you won’t have to spend hours trying to figure it out. And when it comes to durability, the foldable design means it’s ready to handle a few bumps and drops along the way.

Whether you’re flying in tight spaces or just exploring new angles, this drone has you covered. Plus, the 100-meter range and 20-minute flight time give you enough freedom to explore without constantly worrying about recharging.

Tips for flying:

• Start in Beginner mode before you move on to more advanced settings.

• Practice flying in different directions and heights to get comfortable.

• Always keep an eye on your battery life, and land before it runs out.

• Approach your landing slowly for a smooth finish every time.

Fly with confidence and get this 4K dual-camera drone for beginners with intelligent obstacle avoidance on sale for $64.97 through October 27.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Looking for the best Kindle for your next read? You'll have to pick a model first, as Kindles have evolved since their debut back in 2007 (the same year Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released). Today, Amazon has a whole lineup of Kindles, including the cute yet highly functional Kindle Kids edition. After extensive testing of Kindles and the competition, we still think Amazon makes the best e-readers.

If you haven't yet been converted to the lovely world of Kindles and e-books, we have to ask, frankly: What the heck are you waiting for?

SEE ALSO: Early Kindle deals you can get ahead of Prime Day 2024

We know nothing compares to the feel of a book in your hands as you thumb through page after enticing page. Yet, even if you're a ride-or-die bibliophile whose favorite smell is that of a bookstore (guilty), Kindles have undeniable benefits. You no longer have to pack 10 different books when going on vacation because you never know which book will suit your mood at any given time. You can also read poolside or at the beach without worrying about damaging your precious books.

Will Kindles go on sale during October Prime Day?

As one of Amazon's flagship devices — who else is old enough to remember when Amazon was primarily a bookseller? — you'd think that Prime Day would be the best time to buy a Kindle. Unfortunately, during Prime Day in July, the Kindle deals were rather lackluster. Now, we're looking ahead to October's Prime Big Deal Days, coming October 8 and 9. We've already spotted some early deals on Kindle bundles and Kindles for kids, so we're staying cautiously optimistic for the big event.

Testing the auto-adjustment feature on the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable What should I look for in the best Kindles?

As of July 2024, Amazon makes six different Kindles, after the Kindle Oasis was recently discontinued. The current lineup includes a new generation of Amazon e-readers released in 2022 as well as some older models still worth buying.

When shopping for a new Kindle, consider the following factors:

• Display size. The smallest Kindle has a 6-inch display while the largest has a 10.2-inch display.

• Storage capacity. Kindles range from 16 GB to 32 GB of storage capacity.

• Battery life. Kindles generally have outstanding battery life (depending on your usage). On the low end, they last up to six weeks per charge, while others last up to 12 weeks.

• Waterproof protection. Not all Kindles are waterproof, but those that are provide peace of mind when reading in the tub.

All the latest Kindles boast a 300 ppi, high-resolution display with zero glare so you can enjoy sharp text and images at any viewing angle. Kindles are also equipped with WiFi connectivity to allow you to download all the reading material you could ever want. (Select Kindles also have cellular connectivity.) Plus, you can listen to audiobooks on Audible via any Kindle's built-in Bluetooth connection.

To pick the best Kindle for your lifestyle, you'll want to consider your particular needs and preferences as you shop. 

The Kindle Scribe is the only Kindle e-reader that comes with its own stylus for note-taking. Credit: Molly Flores/Mashable

Perhaps you like to read outside often; you'll want a Kindle with an auto-adjusting light so you don't have to constantly fix the brightness. The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition and Kindle Scribe all have this auto-adjustment feature.

Or, maybe you like to read before bed and want to cut out blue light; opt for a Kindle with adjustable warm light so you can shift the display color. And after the 2022 release of the Kindle Scribe, there's even a Kindle that will allow you to jot down notes on your texts for later reference.

We've gathered our favorites below along with highlights from our Kindle reviews, so read on to find the best Kindles for your reading pleasure.

Wondering how to watch college football this season? Here are your best options: Most affordable Sling TV Blue + Sports Extra $31 for the first month, then $51/month (save $20 ) Get Deal BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $59.99 for 1 month (Save $20) Get Deal

The Indiana Hoosiers and Northwestern football teams are scheduled to meet at Martin Stadium in Evanston, Illinois, for a Big Ten Conference contest on Saturday, Oct. 5. The game is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. CT. 

Indiana, ranked No. 23 in The Associated Press poll, enters the matchup 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten. Most recently, the IU Hoosiers defeated Maryland 42-28 on Sept. 28. Northwestern comes into the contest 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the Big Ten. On Sept. 21, Washington beat Northwestern 24-5. Entering Saturday, Northwestern leads the all-time series 47-35-1 vs. Indiana.

SEE ALSO: How to watch college football without cable

Curt Cignetti is the Indiana Hoosiers football head coach. David Braun is the Northwestern football head coach. 

IU Hoosiers vs. Northwestern football kickoff time and network

The Indiana Hoosiers vs. Northwestern football game is scheduled to be broadcast by Big Ten Network at 3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Oct. 5. BTN broadcasters are scheduled to be Chris Vosters (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (analyst), and Dannie Rogers (sideline reporter). 

But if you don’t have cable or satellite TV, here are some options to watch the game via online live stream. Those options include FuboTV and Sling. 

Best streaming services for Northwestern vs. Indiana football game

To watch college football without cable or satellite TV, you’ll need to choose a streaming service, and to see the Northwestern vs. Indiana college football game on Big Ten Network, here are your best streaming options.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Blue + Sports Extra Get Deal

To get the Big Ten Network for the Indiana Hoosiers vs. Northwestern football game requires Sling TV’s Sports Extra package and the Sling Blue plan. The Sling Blue plan provides 43 live TV channels. The Blue package is $20 for the first month and $40/month for subsequent months. The Sports Extra package is an extra $11/month for 18 additional channels. 

So at $31 for the first month and $51 for subsequent months, you can watch the Big Ten Network through Sling TV.

Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Pro plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers a seven-day free trial period. It also offers more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once.

College football fans can get most of the channels they need through FuboTV’s Pro tier, which is $59.99 per month for the first month and then $79.99 monthly subsequently. Big Ten Network is included in the Pro tier for aspiring IU Hoosiers vs. Northwestern football viewers.

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Wondering how to watch college football this season? Here are your best options: Most affordable Sling TV Blue + Sports Extra $31 for the first month, then $51/month (save $20 ) Get Deal BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $59.99 for 1 month (Save $20) Get Deal

The USC and Minnesota Gophers football teams are scheduled to meet in Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis for a Big Ten Conference contest on Saturday, Oct. 5. The game is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. CT/4:30 p.m. PT. 

USC, ranked No. 11 in The Associated Press poll, enters the matchup 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten. Most recently, USC beat Wisconsin 38-21 on Sept. 28. Minnesota comes into the contest 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten. On Sept. 28, Michigan defeated Minnesota 27-24. Entering Saturday, USC leads the all-time series 6-1-1 vs. Minnesota.

SEE ALSO: How to watch college football without cable

Lincoln Riley is the USC football head coach. P.J. Fleck is the Minnesota Gophers football head coach. 

USC vs. Minnesota Gophers football kickoff time and network

The USC vs. Minnesota Gophers football game is scheduled to be broadcast by Big Ten Network at 6:30 p.m. CT/4:30 p.m. PT on Saturday, Oct. 5. BTN broadcasters are scheduled to be Guy Haberman (play-by-play), Yogi Roth (analyst), and Rhett Lewis (sideline reporter). 

If you're cutting the cord, you’ve still got plenty of ways to catch the game online. Streaming platforms like FuboTV and Sling offer live coverage, giving you the chance to stay in the action without a traditional cable subscription.

Best streaming services for MN Gophers vs. USC football game

If you’re looking to stream college football without a cable or satellite setup, you’ll need to pick the right service. For fans tuning into the Minnesota Gophers vs. USC matchup on Big Ten Network, here are your top streaming options to make sure you don’t miss a snap.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Blue + Sports Extra Get Deal

To catch the USC vs. Minnesota Gophers game on Big Ten Network, you’ll need Sling TV’s Sports Extra package alongside the Sling Blue plan. The Sling Blue package gives you access to 43 live channels, with the first month at $20 and $40 per month after that. Adding the Sports Extra package, which brings in 15 more channels including Big Ten Network, costs an additional $11/month.

So for $31 in your first month and $51 per month after, Sling TV gives you full access to Big Ten Network and plenty of other live sports action.

Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Pro plan Get Deal

FuboTV gives sports fans a chance to explore its service with a seven-day free trial, offering more than 250 channels of live TV and the ability to stream on up to 10 devices simultaneously. 

For college football enthusiasts, FuboTV’s Pro tier is a solid option, priced at $59.99 for the first month and $79.99 thereafter. The Pro tier includes Big Ten Network, making it a go-to for those eager to catch the USC and Minnesota Gophers football matchup.

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Wondering how to watch college football this season? Here are your best options: Most affordable Sling TV Orange Plan + Sports Extra $31 for the first month, then $51/month (save $20 ) Get Deal BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV 7-day free trial, then $59.99 for 1 month (Save $20) Get Deal

The Alabama and Vanderbilt football teams are scheduled to meet at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, in a Southeastern Conference contest on Saturday, Oct. 5. The game is scheduled to start at 3:15 p.m. CT. 

Alabama, ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press poll, enters the matchup 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the SEC. Most recently, Alabama beat Georgia 41-34 on Sept. 28. Vanderbilt comes into the contest 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the SEC. On Sept. 21, Missouri defeated Vanderbilt 30-27 in double overtime. Entering Saturday, Alabama leads the all-time series 62-19-4 vs. Vanderbilt.

SEE ALSO: How to watch college football without cable

Kalen DeBoer is the Alabama football head coach. Clark Lea is the Vanderbilt football head coach. 

Alabama vs. Vandy kickoff time and network

The Alabama vs. Vanderbilt football game is scheduled to be broadcast on SEC Network at 3:15 p.m. CT on Saturday, Oct. 5. SECN broadcasters are scheduled to be Tom Hart (play-by-play), Cole Cubelic (analyst), and Alyssa Lang (sideline reporter). 

You can enjoy watching college football through various online streaming options such as FuboTV and Sling, eliminating the need for cable or satellite TV.

Best streaming services for the Vanderbilt vs. Alabama football game

Without access to cable or satellite TV, you will need a method to enjoy college football via online live streaming. For the Vanderbilt vs. Alabama football game on Saturday, these streaming services are your top options. 

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Orange Plan + Sports Extra Get Deal

For access to the SEC Network on Sling TV, you need the Orange + Sports Extra tier, which includes 48 channels. The Orange + Sports Extra tier is $31 for the first month and then $51 for subsequent months. Get it, and you’ll be all set to watch the Alabama vs. Vanderbilt football game. 

Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Get Deal

With FuboTV, new subscribers can enjoy a seven-day free trial and more than 250 live TV channels, along with simultaneous streaming on 10 devices. College football fans can subscribe to FuboTV’s Pro plan for access to SEC Network and get matchups such as the Alabama vs. Vanderbilt football game. The Pro tier, which includes 184 channels, has a rate of $59.99 for the first month before increasing to the regular rate of $79.99 per month. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Wondering how to watch college football this season? Here are your best options: Most affordable Sling TV Orange Plan $20 for the first month, then $40/month (save $20 ) Get Deal BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV 7-day free trial, then $59.99/month for 1 month (Save $20) Get Deal

Josh Heupel is the Tennessee Vols football head coach. Sam Pittman is the Arkansas Razorbacks football head coach. 

UT Vols vs. Arkansas football kickoff time and network

The Tennessee Vols vs. Arkansas Razorbacks football game is scheduled to be broadcast on ABC at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Oct. 5. The ABC broadcasters are scheduled to be Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), and Holly Rowe (sideline reporter). 

Catch the excitement of Saturday’s game without cable or satellite TV by choosing an online live-streaming option such as FuboTV or Sling. 

Best streaming services for the Arkansas vs. Tennessee football game

Without cable or satellite TV, you can still enjoy college football by opting for a streaming service. To dive into Saturday’s game between the Arkansas Razorbacks and Tennessee Vols football teams, consider these streaming options.  

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

For fans looking to stream games, Sling TV’s Orange & Blue Plan is a solid option. At $55 per month, it provides 46 channels, including ESPN3, which simulcasts ABC games. New subscribers can take advantage of getting the first month for $35.

If you're mainly tuning in for the Tennessee vs. Arkansas football action, the Orange Plan might be a better fit. It starts with a discounted rate of $20 for the first month, then moves to the standard $40/month rate.

Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Get Deal

FuboTV offers a complimentary seven-day trial that includes access to more than 250 live TV channels and 10-screen viewing. After the free trial, college football fans can access channels like ABC for the Tennessee vs. Arkansas football game with FuboTV’s Pro plan at a rate of $59.99 for the first month. The Pro tier’s regular rate is $79.99 per month.

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

Wondering how to watch college football this season? Here are your best options: Most affordable Sling TV Orange Plan $20 for the first month, then $40/month (save $20 ) Get Deal BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV 7-day free trial, then $59.99/month for 1 month (Save $20) Get Deal

The Georgia Bulldogs and Auburn football teams are scheduled to meet at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia, for a Southeastern Conference contest on Saturday, Oct. 5. The game is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. CT. 

Georgia, ranked No. 5 in The Associated Press poll, enters the matchup 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the SEC. Most recently, Alabama beat the UGA Bulldogs 41-34 on Sept. 28. Auburn comes into the contest 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the SEC. On Sept. 28, Oklahoma defeated Auburn 27-21. Entering Saturday, Georgia leads the all-time series 64-56-8 vs. Auburn.

SEE ALSO: How to watch college football without cable

Kirk Smart is the Georgia Bulldogs football head coach. Hugh Freeze is the Auburn football head coach. 

UGA Bulldogs vs. Auburn football kickoff time and network

The Georgia Bulldogs vs. Auburn football game is scheduled to be broadcast on ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Oct. 5. The ABC broadcasters are scheduled to be Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst), and Molly McGrath (sideline reporter). 

Catch the excitement of Saturday’s game without cable or satellite TV by choosing an online live-streaming option such as FuboTV or Sling. 

Best streaming services for the Auburn vs. Georgia football game

Without cable or satellite TV, you can still enjoy college football by opting for a streaming service. To dive into Saturday’s game between Auburn and Georgia football teams, consider these streaming options. 

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

For $55 per month, Sling TV’s Orange & Blue Plan delivers 46 channels, including ESPN3 that simulcasts ABC games. You can get an introductory offer of $35 for the first month of the Orange & Blue Plan. 

If you’re primarily interested in the Georgia Bulldogs vs. Auburn football game then you can go for the Orange Plan, with an introductory offer of $20 for the first month and then a standard charge of $40/month.

Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Get Deal

FuboTV offers a complimentary seven-day trial that includes access to more than 250 live TV channels and 10-screen viewing. After the free trial, college football fans can access channels like ABC for the Auburn vs. UGA Bulldogs football game with FuboTV’s Pro plan at a rate of $59.99 for the first month. The Pro tier’s regular rate is $79.99 per month.  

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

Wondering how to watch college football this season? Here are your best options: Best for affordability Sling TV Blue Plan $20 for the first month, then $40/month (save $20 ) Get Deal BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $59.99/month for 1 month (Save $20) Get Deal

The Penn State and UCLA football teams are scheduled to meet at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania, for a Big Ten Conference contest on Saturday, Oct. 5. The game is scheduled to start at noon ET/9 a.m. PT. 

Penn State, ranked No. 7 in The Associated Press poll, enters the matchup 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten. Most recently, Penn State beat Illinois 21-7 on Sept. 28. UCLA comes into the contest 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten. On Sept. 28, Oregon defeated UCLA 34-13. Entering Saturday, UCLA leads the all-time series 4-2 vs. Penn State.

SEE ALSO: How to watch college football without cable

James Franklin is the Penn State football head coach. DeShaun Foster is the UCLA football head coach.  

Penn State vs. UCLA football kickoff time and network

The Penn State vs. UCLA football game is scheduled for a noon ET/9 a.m. PT start on FOX on Saturday, Oct. 5. The FOX broadcasters are scheduled to be Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (analyst), and Jenny Taft (sideline reporter). 

If you're cutting the cord but still want to catch the Penn State vs. UCLA game, streaming options like FuboTV and Sling will have you covered. Both services offer live streaming without the need for traditional cable or satellite TV.

Best streaming services for UCLA vs. Penn State football game

If you're looking to stream college football without cable or satellite, there are several strong options to catch the UCLA vs. PSU game on FOX. Top choices include FuboTV and Sling, each offering reliable access to live sports coverage so you won't miss a moment of the action.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Blue Plan Get Deal

FOX is available on Sling TV in select markets. Those include Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Gainesville, Houston, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Tacoma, Tampa, and Washington, D.C. 

If you're outside of those select markets, Sling TV won’t be the solution for catching the Penn State vs. UCLA game. 

However, if you're in one of the covered regions, Sling TV's Blue Plan will get the job done. It’s priced at $20 for the first month, then $40 each month after that — giving you access to the UCLA vs. PSU showdown and more.

Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Pro plan Get Deal

FuboTV gives you access to over 250 live channels and lets you stream on up to 10 screens simultaneously. They also offer a seven-day free trial, making it easy to test out the service. 

Head to the FuboTV website to check if your zip code qualifies for the FOX broadcast. If it does, you can catch the Penn State vs. UCLA game with the FuboTV Pro plan, which starts at an introductory rate of $59.99 for the first month, before jumping to the regular $79.99/month rate. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.