Mashable

On Oct. 3, former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters was sentenced to nine years in prison for tampering with voting technology used in the 2020 election. She wasn't trying to finesse the count, though, she was trying to prove someone else had. Spoiler: They hadn't. 

Peters' actions turned her into the celebrity face of a movement, one casting doubt on the deeply complex mechanics of how one's vote is counted and vetted, all with the goal of reinstating former president Donald Trump as commander-in-chief. The echoing effects of such conspiracies will be felt again in 2024, using the internet and the public's awareness of the technology's vulnerabilities, to once again call the process into question.

As part of this distrust campaign, conservative figureheads, including Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have demanded the use of paper ballots in the upcoming presidential election, arguing the analog voting process (which offers a physical record of the count) is a more secure bet for vote tabulating. Elon Musk, accompanying Trump on the campaign trail, has continued to claim that voting machines are used to rig elections digitally and has asked that counties hand count paper ballots insteads. What the public may not realize is that just about every state already uses paper ballots. According to estimates by the Brennan Center, a nonpartisan law and policy institute, 98 percent of ballots cast this year will be on paper. 

SEE ALSO: AI might be influencing your vote this election. How to spot and respond to it.

Derek Tisler, counsel in the Brennan Center’s Elections and Government Program, co-authored the center's recent report on the state of paper ballots and has worked extensively in election security and voting machine infrastructure. 

"There is just more attention on the mechanics of election administration," Tisler said, "in a way that there never was before 2020." Where once people's awareness of their vote started and ended with how to cast a ballot, "Now, there is so much more attention on who is running the elections and what the entire voting process looks like, from registration to the day that results are final. That is having different impacts on different people."

Our nation operates what is essentially 50 different electoral processes at once during a presidential election, Tisler says, generating an abundance of rules, guidelines, and mechanics that are in need of constant adjustment in order to create clear and reliable information for voters. Working against this process is rampant conspiratorial thinking by many Americans, built on misconceptions and stoked by rampant fear-mongering — some, like Tisler and other election security experts, view this state of disinformation as the bigger democratic concern.

America's voting machine obsession

Historically, public confidence in elections — and technology's role — has fluctuated. The controversial "hanging chad" issue of the 2000 presidential election resulted in a push for the digitization of the voting process. As a result, advancing tech, like electronic poll books and machines, have made the system more convenient and accessible for many, including those with disabilities and non-English speakers, and has, overall, improved accuracy. It's also cut down costs on a system that relies heavily on a labor force of volunteer citizens.

But foreign interference in the 2016 election, hacking and disinformation attempts in the 2020 election, and continued incredulity thrown at elections by right-wing leadership, have complicated the matter. Lingering fears of interference and unfounded conspiracy theories about things like mail-in voting, poll observers, and (allegedly) rampant fraud, have made the field of information even hazier.

It is your community who is running those elections. It is your neighbors... It's those people who are stepping up to make this process happen. - Derek Tisler, Brennan Center

At the center of the controversy rests the nation's "voting machine crisis," featuring a dearth of modernized machine units and an abundance of outdated machines that couldn't stand up to security risks. Some machines, known as optical scanning machines, simply record hand-penned ballots. Others, direct-recording electronic (DRE) machines, use touch screens and store votes in the machine's internal memory. The latter attempted to correct the accounting issues of the former, but country and state software systems for DREs unveiled a new problem: foreign and domestic cyberattacks taking advantage of outdated machines.

"Some Republicans have spread lies that election machinery is rigged and not to be trusted but there is no evidence to support that," Darrell West, senior fellow at the Brookings Institute Governance Studies program and disinformation researcher, told Mashable. "There were many lawsuits in 2020 and there was no evidence that voting equipment malfunctioned or did not record votes properly."

Following the 2020 results, election tech manufacturers Dominion and Smartmatic USA were accused of enabling a "stolen" election by changing or deleting votes on such machines. But these claims were unfounded, with both companies recently settling defamation lawsuits against the individuals and media networks that popularized the accusations. "It's completely predictable that a lot of the confusion, even conspiracy theories, have centered on technology — on the voting machines themselves," said Tisler. "Anytime you are talking about computers, it is difficult for the average person to understand what exactly is happening and how it works."

This is exacerbated by inflammatory comments like Musks', insinuating that voting machines are easily hacked machinery able to be manipulated by anyone with computer knowledge. "They are tested extensively and not connected to the internet so [they] cannot be hacked. People should feel secure that their votes will be recorded fairly and accurately," said West.

SEE ALSO: Are the 2024 presidential campaigns Too Online?

Foreign interference through phishing schemes, personal data leaks, and breaches of proprietary systems operating election tech are enough to prompt ongoing pressure on government leaders to build a more secure and transparent security protocol. But, as experts have routinely said, it's not enough to question the process entirely, despite urging from conspiracy theorists.

In 2018, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission allocated $380 million toward improving federal election administration, enhancing election technology, and improving election security, as part of the 2002 Help America Vote Act (HAVA). More than $100 million of that was intended for voting equipment upgrades, but few counties had adequate resources to overhaul. Another $800 million investment in 2023 has attempted to fill in the gaps and push the majority of jurisdictions over the bureaucratic hump.  

The Brennan Center has calculated a near $300 million dollar budget to replace voting equipment, which will only increase as current machines also age out. That's to be expected, however. Just as consumers phase out their personal devices for the latest models, election tech must evolve. Voters' knowledge has to evolve, as well. 

Building back trust in the electoral process

General trust in the government has been low for decades. In 2023 polling by the Pew Research Center, 22 percent of Americans expressed trust in a fair government. That's up from only 16 percent in 2022. 

Recent cybersecurity findings suggest continued vulnerabilities in systems storing sensitive public records and legal documents. Another fear-inducing headline: A vulnerability in the state of Georgia's voter registration cancellation portal, allowing malicious actors to disenfranchise swaths of voters, prompting widespread concern of collusion.

Renewed public interest in the mechanics of the electoral process, Tisler explained, is a positive shift, but creates rippling issues. "This is what elections are all about, participation," he said. "But like with anything, you are also going to have people who use that information to cast doubt on the process."

In pursuit of addressing those very actors, Tisler explained, government and election officials have focused more intensely on transparency, opening up voters to the logistics of running a nationwide vote. Some have invited residents into the physical spaces where they work, observing voting machine tests or visiting offices. Others have taken to social media, live streaming preparation and even counts. 

We are never wholly dependent on technology. We are never wholly dependent on humans. - Derek Tisler, Brennan Center

Too much information, however, isn't helpful without understanding, Tisler said. "People need context for what is happening," he urged. "It's not enough that you can see what is happening, if you don't understand the actual steps that are taking place and why they are so important to holding a secure, accurate election."

Meanwhile, advocacy groups and security experts continue to emphasize the importance of clarity and simplicity, beginning and ending with paper.

Don't worry: Your vote will be counted.

Americans shouldn't feel disinclined to vote in 2024 because of technological skepticism, said Tisler. "Without a doubt, the technology is much more secure, much more reliable, than it was even a decade ago," he stated. In fact, according to the country's cybersecurity leaders, they should have more confidence that this year's election is safe from outside threats.

"It is your community who is running those elections. It is your neighbors. It is people who share so many of your values and your experiences," said Tisler. "It's those people who are stepping up to make this process happen. Sometimes, when there is a lot of passion, a lot of anxiety and tension, it's often difficult to keep all that in perspective."

Fears of voting machines and count accuracy, spurred by anti-computer comments like those of Musk, have grown to eclipse other election concerns. Attempts to undermine the election before ballots are cast, through mass disinformation campaigns, generative AI, or even the simple suggestion that our process can't be trusted, have the potential to sow as much mistrust as a genuine cyberattack. Just as big of a risk: Threats of physical violence on election day. But integrity experts and federal officials, including the State Department, have been preparing for it all. And paper has remained an essential part of the process.

People should feel secure that their votes will be recorded fairly and accurately. - Darrell West

"Disinformation is a serious threat because so many people want to believe negative things about the other party," said West. "Some officials spread lies to sow doubt and make people cynical about the political process. There also are foreign entities that have incentives to spread lies in order to disrupt American elections. They want to turn people against one another." Meanwhile, West assures, "paper ballots are guarded night and day in order to maintain the integrity of vote counting. There are Republican and Democratic poll watchers who make sure the other party does not engage in any shenanigans."

According to Verified Voting, a nonprofit focused on responsible voting technology and paper ballot advocacy, almost 70 percent of counties nationwide will use hand marked paper ballots for the majority of voters. Around 25 percent will use ballot marking devices, an electronic version of a ballot that creates a paper record and doesn't store vote counts on the machine, often used for voters with disabilities. Only 5 percent of counties exclusively use DRE machines.

Only two states, Louisiana and Texas, contain counties with completely paperless voting systems. Election-deciding swing states —  Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — all maintain paper records, which are used in post-election audits in 48 states. Paper records include actual paper ballots filled out by hand, as well as printed paper ballots for voters to review after they place their vote on a machine. 

Voters can also learn about the specific machines and voting processes at their polling site ahead of the election. Verified Voting's "Verifier" database provides a breakdown of the type of voting equipment used in each county. 

Tisler recommends concerned voters read through the center's Roadmap to the Official Count, which explains the entire process in administering and validating a presidential election, step-by-step.

"The election process is a system of checks and balances," reassured Tisler. "There is somebody who is constantly making sure that everything is working how it should. They're checking, double checking, triple checking. We are never wholly dependent on technology. We are never wholly dependent on humans. The tech and the human component are working side by side the entire time."

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 26, 2024:

Across"What ___?" (end of a riddle)

• The answer is Am I.

Cheer for a diva

• The answer is Brava.

2024 Chappell Roan hit spelled out in its chorus

• The answer is Hot To Go.

Conjunction that "et" (French) or "y" (Spanish) translates to

• The answer is And.

Danson of "Cheers"

• The answer is Ted.

Place to dive in a pool

• The answer is Deep End.

What a bloodhound tracks

• The answer is Scent.

Activist Yoko

• The answer is Ono.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 25 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 25 DownArchitectural style of Manhattan's Chrysler Building

• The answer is Art Deco.

One might say "Welcome!" or "Beware of Dog"

• The answer is Mat.

"Thumbs down from me"

• The answer is I vote no.

Skeleton's makeup

• The answer is Bones.

Word after ticket or talent

• The answer is Agent.

"I've ___ it up to here with you!"

• The answer is Had.

Strange

• The answer is Odd.

Item on a chain at a bank branch

• The answer is Pen.

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.

Chaos once reigned on Earth.

Huge asteroids or chunks of ancient objects once pummeled planets in the unsettled solar system, and scientists previously found evidence that a particularly monstrous object struck our planet some 3.26 billion years ago. It was 50 to 200 times the size of the dinosaur-killing asteroid. It boiled the oceans, drove global darkness for years to decades, and stoked unimaginable tsunamis (thousands of meters deep) that shredded coastal seafloors.

But even so, new research shows that primitive life found a way to thrive.

"We think of impact events as being disastrous for life," Nadja Drabon, an earth and planetary scientist at Harvard University who led the study, said in a statement. "But what this study is highlighting is that these impacts would have had benefits to life, especially early on, and these impacts might have actually allowed life to flourish."

SEE ALSO: If a scary asteroid will actually strike Earth, here's how you'll know

The research about this dramatic event, known as the "S2" meteorite impact, was recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Scientists suspect the impact left behind a monstrous crater some 297 miles (487 kilometers) wide, and created rock formations that remain exposed today in South Africa — with telltale signs from the ancient collision. In this study, Drabon and her team closely scrutinized layers of this ancient rock, collecting over 200 samples from 5 meters (16 feet) below the fallback layer (of debris falling back to Earth) and up to 8 meters (26 feet) above this blanket of impact material.

Crucially, the post-impact layers showed "significant changes" in their formation and composition, the authors wrote, including a notable increase in iron and iron-rich minerals called "siderites." Siderites often form in environments where microbes cycle iron for energy, meaning they show areas where microbes likely flourished — even as many primitive organisms that required sunlight met their demise.

"These impacts might have actually allowed life to flourish"

"The tsunami, atmospheric heating, and darkness would likely have decimated phototrophic microbes in the shallow water column," the authors wrote. "However, the biosphere likely recovered rapidly, and, in the medium term, the increase in nutrients and iron likely facilitated microbial blooms, especially of iron-cycling microbes."

The graphic below shows how the great tsunami whipped up iron in the heated seas, allowing it to circulate to the surface. The iron-munching microbes exploited this bounty.

A: Shows Earth's environment pre-impact, with green photosynthetic life on the surface and iron (Fe2+) in the deep ocean.

B: Earth's seas are riled just after impact, with iron mixing all over the water column as great tsunamis drove through the water.

C: The boiling ocean experiences evaporation, and nutrients from the tsunami-pummeled land flow into the sea.

D: Iron in the ocean (from the ocean circulation, from the impactor itself, and from erosion), along with nutrients (like phosphorus) from land stoke great microbial activity in the water column, and possibly mass blooms on the ocean surface, too.

E: Eventually, the environment, perhaps thousands of years later, returns to its pre-impact state.

A graphic showing how the S2 meteorite impact allowed iron-cycling microbes to thrive in the seas. Credit: PNAS

Earth scientists will continue sleuthing out Earth's distant — and at times violent — past from this rocky region in South Africa, called the Barberton Greenstone Belt.

The asteroid that hit Earth some 3.26 billion years ago was many times the size of Mount Everest. Credit: AGU The risks of an asteroid impact today

Thankfully, big or catastrophic impacts from space rocks have become rare on Earth. Here are today's general risks from asteroids or comets both tiny and very large. Importantly, even relatively small rocks are still threatening, as the surprise 56-foot (17-meter) rock that exploded over Russia and blew out people's windows in 2013 proved.

• Every single day about 100 tons of dust and sand-sized particles fall through Earth's atmosphere and promptly burn up.

• Every year, on average, an "automobile-sized asteroid" plummets through our sky and explodes, NASA explains.

• Impacts by objects around 460 feet (140 meters wide) in diameter occur every 10,000 to 20,000 years.

• A "dinosaur-killing" impact from a rock perhaps a half-mile across or larger happens on 100-million-year timescales.

A deep sea robot is exploring remote underwater canyons. And the biodiverse sights are astonishing.

On a 55-day expedition off the Chilean coast, scientists aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute's 272-foot exploration vessel, Falkor (too), are dropping a high-tech remotely operated vehicle into the dark depths. It's here, in a region where tectonic plates collide, earthquakes rumble, and methane and chemicals seep from vents, that isolated ecosystems can flourish.

"Along this Chilean margin, unexplored submarine canyons likely host biodiversity hotspots," the institute says.

SEE ALSO: A dominant shark lurks in the deep, dark ocean. Meet the sixgill.

The ROV SuBastian — a 3,200-kilogram (7,055-pound) machine with a slew of scientific instruments — is filming footage and collecting samples of these mysterious habitats between Oct. 11 and Dec. 5. The mission focuses on deep sea seeps — where gas from decomposing creatures escapes through the seafloor — allowing methane-munching microbes to flourish and establish alien ecosystems thousands of feet below the ocean surface. The researchers will also examine hydrothermal vents, found near the boundaries of Earth's tectonic plates, which emit hot, chemical-rich fluid into the ocean. These, too, often harbor rare marine communities.

The first clip below shows an impressive, uncountable amassing of crabs. "Yesterday, we came across a crazy conflagration of crabs 400 meters down. Migration route? Mating season?" Jeffrey Marlow, a biologist from Boston University and chief scientist of the expedition, posted online.

The following footage, recently filmed by the ROV, shows shrimp fighting for a deep sea meal (don't count out the smallest competitor), a curious Humboldt squid, and beyond.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

You can follow these livestreamed "divestreams" on YouTube.

Expeditions to the deeps regularly return with rare or unprecedented sightings. "We always discover stuff when we go out into the deep sea. You're always finding things that you haven't seen before," Derek Sowers, an expedition lead for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Ocean Exploration mission, previously told Mashable last year.

Ocean research organizations are now vigilantly documenting and mapping the deep sea. Scientists want to shine a light — literally and figuratively — on what's down there. The implications of knowing are incalculable, particularly as deep sea mineral prospectors prepare to run tank-like industrial equipment across parts of the seafloor. For example, research expeditions have found that ocean life carries great potential for novel medicines. "Systematic searches for new drugs have shown that marine invertebrates produce more antibiotic, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory substances than any group of terrestrial organisms," notes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

As I wrote in my review of Venom: The Last Dance, this is a movie at war with itself. It is both a sci-fi drama about alien invasion and a buck-wild road trip movie about buddies on a mission. There's plenty to like about writer/director Kelly Marcel's spin in the Spider-Verse, including the comic mayhem her dual anti-heroes get up to. But my absolute favorite bit of business between interstellar BFFs Eddie Brock and Venom (both played by Tom Hardy) is the movie references they drop.

Some might snark that in the way of Shrek, quoting movies like Thelma & Louise, Swingers, and E.T. the Extraterrestrial is a lazy shorthand to laughs. Admittedly, it's absolutely hilarious to hear Hardy's Venom voice boom with excitement, "You look so money and you don't even know it!" A zany thrill of recognition ignites when he explains that more alien beasts are coming their way by saying of a chirping xenophage, "She phoned home!" And maybe most of all, there's a giddy delight in hearing Venom and Eddie refer to each other as Thelma and Louise as they bicker about their next move.

Sure, there are some superficial similarities in each allusion. Venom and E.T. are both aliens who befriended humans. Thelma and Louise were also a dynamic duo prone to violence and determined to get out of their situation by hook or by crook. And Swingers, like part of Venom: The Last Dance, is about two best bros living it up in Las Vegas. But more than these ties, it's what these references suggest about Eddie and Venom that makes my heart sing.

They must have movie nights!

Thelma & Louise, Swingers, and E.T. the Extraterrestrial mean something to Venom. No spoilers, Eddie! Credit: Sony Pictures

While Venom came out in 2018 and its sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, debuted in 2021, in the world of Venom: The Last Dance, the titular symbiote and his human host Eddie have only been together for one year. In that time, they've gone for a dip in a lobster tank, become friends with the endearing bodega clerk Mrs. Chen (Peggy Lu), gone into self-imposed isolation, and gotten rip-roaring drunk, much to the dismay of their Snap-traumatized bartender. And somewhere in all that, they also watched at least these three movies together.

While The Last Dance offers plenty of opportunities to chuckle and thrill at the odd couple that is Eddie and Venom, it tickles me to imagine these off-screen moments. What did Venom think of the end of Thelma & Louise? Did he cheer or cry — or both? What brought the once-iconic, now vintage Swingers into their watchlist? Is Venom a fan of Vince Vaughn's comedic chops, or does he prefer Jon Favreau's blend of heart and humor? What did Venom make of E.T.? Was he charmed by the binocular-headed critter who loved chocolate just as this cinephile symbiote does? Or did he snark at E.T.'s non-violent approach to humans who would capture him?

While Venom: The Last Dance offers extra doses of symbiote fun with both mid-credits and post-credits scenes, I can't help but wish for one more. Maybe a short film that's just Eddie and Venom having a quiet night in, arguing over the remote, and settling in for a movie sure to blow this alien's hive mind.

Venom: The Last Dance opens exclusively in theaters Oct. 25.

TL;DR: Get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more when you get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office 2021 for Windows for just $54.97 (reg. $219.99). This flash sale ends today, so head to the Mashable Shop now to snag this Microsoft Office deal.

Opens in a new window Credit: SmartTrainingLab Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows $54.97
$219.99 Save $165.02 Lifetime License Get Deal

If someone asked you to pay monthly for a T-shirt, it would seem ridiculous. So why do we settle for it with apps we use every day? Apps like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are hard to go without, but Microsoft 365 is expensive, especially considering you're never actually done paying for it. 

A cheaper alternative is to get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Pro 2021. This suite may be a little older, but it comes with many of the same apps you rely on, and you only have to pay for it once, and it's even on sale. For one more day, you can get Office Pro 2021 for life for only $54.97 (reg. $219.99). Remember: This Mashable Shop deal ends on Oct. 26.

What's included?

Microsoft Office 2021 Professional comes with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams (free version), OneNote, Publisher, and Access. This license lets you install the full productivity suite on a single Windows PC. Just follow the directions that come with your purchase, and you'll finally own the apps you rely on for work, school, or just managing your life. 

The applications within the suite have been enhanced with new features that cater to a variety of tasks. For instance, Microsoft Word comes with advanced formatting options and improved collaboration tools, allowing multiple users to work on a document simultaneously.

Excel includes powerful data analysis features, enabling users to handle large datasets with ease. PowerPoint has been revamped with new design templates and animation options, making it easier to create visually stunning presentations.

The ribbon-based user interface across the suite provides quick access to features, tools, and customizations, allowing users to tailor their experience according to their preferences. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for professionals who work across different applications and require a cohesive experience.

Say goodbye to subscription fees forever 

It doesn't have to cost more every month just to do your job, though you'll have to hurry to take advantage of this low pricing. You only have until Oct. 26 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get a Microsoft Office Pro 2021 Lifetime License for $54.97. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

TL;DR: Add a new number to your phone with a lifetime subscription to Hushed, on sale for $19.99 with code SAVENOW. 

Whether you’re making work calls, trying out online dating, or buying and selling things on sites like Craigslist, keeping your information safe can help you avoid unwanted attention and keep your peace of mind intact. Unfortunately, you also have to use your phone number for a lot of those same tasks. That’s where Hushed comes in.

Hushed is a simple, no-fuss solution that puts a second number on your phone, so you can make calls and send texts without revealing your real phone number. And instead of paying the full $150 for a lifetime subscription, it's only $19.99 (for now). 

A new way to digitally comparmentalize

Your Hushed lifetime subscription gives you 6,000 SMS messages or 1,000 phone minutes per year, so you’ve got plenty of coverage for whatever you need. Plus, you can use Wi-Fi or your data to make calls, helping you dodge those hefty service charges. 

Hushed also lets you customize how calls go through. You can set up call forwarding and tailor your voicemail to match your style. 

Hushed is designed to be user-friendly, so you don’t need to be a tech whiz to get it. The app works on both iOS and Android devices, too.

Once you set up your initial plan, it’s easy to add more minutes or SMS credits whenever you need them. With hundreds of area codes available across the U.S. and Canada, you can pick a number that works perfectly for you. 

A secret second number that works like the first

Whether you want to protect your privacy online, establish boundaries at work, or compartmentalize your social life, a second phone number completely changes the game. 

October 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT is the deadline to get a Hushed Private Phone Line Lifetime Subscription for $19.99 with code SAVENOW. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Affinity Click Hushed Private Phone Line: Lifetime Virtual Number Subscription $19.99
$150.00 Save $130.01 Get Deal

TL;DR: 1minAI gives you lifetime access to popular AI models like GPT-4 and Gemini for only $39.99 (reg. $234). 

Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1minAI: Lifetime Subscription $39.99
$234.00 Save $194.01 Get Deal

AI has become an essential part of so many industries. Unfortunately, it's pretty expensive to keep up with the premium versions of all these different AI models, but losing them means losing so much time. 

You don't have to cut productivity to cut costs. 1minAI is an all-in-one tool that brings together popular AI models like GPT-4 and Gemini under one umbrella, and you only have to pay once for lifetime access. During this limited-time sale, a 1minAI lifetime subscription is just $39.99 (reg. $234). 

Replace all your AI subscriptions with this one

You might recognize some of the AI models that come with your 1min lifetime subscription: GPT-4 and GoogleAI's Gemini are both on the table. There's even a built-in grammar checker to polish your work. 

Beyond writing, 1minAI offers advanced image processing capabilities. Users can create and edit images, remove backgrounds, and upscale photos. You don't need to be a Photoshop pro to have beautiful photos anymore.

You can even use 1minAI for audio editing, with AI that can manipulate sound files, convert text to speech, and create high-quality videos for podcasts or other projects.

The 1minAI Pro Plan includes 1,000,000 credits monthly and opportunities to earn more through daily logins and referrals. In practice, that means you can generate over 800,000 words, research up to 1,933 SEO keywords, generate 161 images, remove 24 backgrounds, convert 120,833 characters to speech, or generate up to 12 videos. 

One subscription for all your AI tools

Why pay for all these different AI subscriptions when you can get lifetime access to many of the same tools (and then some) for a one-time payment? 

There's still time to get a 1minAI Lifetime Subscription for just $39.99. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

TL;DR: Until October 27, get the Deeper Connect Air Portable VPN Router on sale for $149.97 — it helps you stay secure online and lets you stream freely, all without recurring fees.

If you travel frequently, you know the struggle of finding reliable internet that doesn't compromise your security. Enter the Deeper Connect Air for $150 (reg. $219) — your ultimate travel companion that wraps your online activities in powerful encryption while keeping you connected to the world.

Enjoy peace of mind knowing your data is secure while you're in coffee shops and airports. This decentralized VPN router is designed to keep your information safe, whether you’re streaming your favorite shows or accessing sensitive work files.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ebjA1Xgy7cM

With the Deeper Connect Air, you’ll experience true global access. Say goodbye to pesky geo-restrictions that limit your streaming options. Whether you're in a hotel room in Tokyo or a cafe in Paris, you can easily bypass those barriers and enjoy your content seamlessly. Plus, its compact and lightweight design means you can take it anywhere.

The best part? You get a lifetime subscription with no recurring fees. That means you can enjoy secure, fast internet for years to come without worrying about monthly charges. Unlike traditional VPNs that rely on centralized servers, this device uses a decentralized network of nodes, providing a more reliable connection.

So, if you’re a traveler, remote worker, or someone who values online privacy, check out the Deeper Connect Air Portable VPN Travel Router for $149.97 until October 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Deeper Connect Deeper Connect Air Portable VPN Travel Router $149.97
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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 Cincinnati Bearcats and Colorado Buffaloes football teams go head-to-head this weekend at Folsom Field Stadium in Boulder, Colorado. The match will take place on Saturday, Oct. 26, and is scheduled to start at 10:15 p.m. ET/7:15 p.m. PT. 

SEE ALSO: How to watch college football without cable Cincinnati vs. Colorado football kickoff time and network

The Cincinnati vs. Colorado football game is scheduled for a 9:15 p.m. ET/6:15 p.m. PT start on ESPN on Saturday, Oct.26.

Best streaming services for Cincinnati vs. Colorado football game

You need to choose a streaming service to watch college football without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for Saturday's Cincinnati vs. Colorado football game on ESPN. 

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

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature 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 you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

Go to the FuboTV website to check if ESPN is available in your zip code. If it is, you can access ESPN with the FuboTV Pro plan, which offers an introductory rate of $59.99 for the first month and a 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: BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $59.99/month for 1 month (Save $20) Get Deal

The LSU Tigers and Texas A&M Aggies football teams go head-to-head this weekend at Kyle Field Stadium in College Station, Texas. The match will take place on Saturday, Oct. 26, and is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT. 

SEE ALSO: How to watch college football without cable LSU vs. Texas A&M football kickoff time and network

The LSU vs. Texas A&M football game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT start on ABC on Saturday, Oct. 26.

Best streaming services for LSU vs. Texas A&M football game

You need to choose a streaming service to watch college football without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for Saturday's LSU vs. Texas A&M football game on ABC. 

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

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

Visit the FuboTV website to see if your zip code includes the ABC broadcast. If it does, then you're good to go - you'll be able to get ABC with the FuboTV Pro plan, which has a one-month introductory rate of $59.99/month and a regular subscription 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: 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 Florida State Seminoles and the Miami Hurricanes football teams go head-to-head this weekend at Folsom Field Stadium Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The match will take place on Saturday, Oct. 26, and is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. 

SEE ALSO: How to watch college football without cable Florida State vs. Miami football kickoff time and network

The Florida State vs. Miami football game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT start on ESPN on Saturday, Oct. 26.

Best streaming services for Florida State vs. Miami football game

You need to choose a streaming service to watch college football without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for Saturday's Florida State vs. Miami football game on ESPN. 

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

Sling TV suggests its Orange Plan for watching the game, which is priced at $20 for the first month and $40 per month after that.

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 you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

Go to the FuboTV website to check if ESPN is available in your zip code. If it is, you can access ESPN with the FuboTV Pro plan, which offers an introductory rate of $59.99 for the first month and a 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: 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 Texas Longhorns and the Vanderbilt Commodores football teams go head-to-head this weekend at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennesse. The match will take place on Saturday, Oct. 12, and is scheduled to start at 10:15 p.m. ET/7:15 p.m. PT. 

SEE ALSO: How to watch college football without cable Texas vs. Vanderbilt football kickoff time and network

The Texas vs. Vanderbilt football game is scheduled for a 4:15 p.m. ET/1:15 p.m. PT start on SEC Network on Saturday, Oct. 16.

Best streaming services for Texas vs. Vanderbilt football game

You need to choose a streaming service to watch college football without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for Saturday's Texas vs. Vanderbilt football game on SEC Network. 

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

Sling TV is an option for the Texas vs. Vanderbilt football game. You’ll need the Orange Plan, which comes at $20 for the first month and $40 for subsequent months. You'll also need the Sports Extra subscription, which costs an additional $11 to secure access to the SEC Network broadcasts.

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 you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

Visit the FuboTV website to see if your zip code includes the SEC Network broadcast. If it does, then you're good to go. FurboTV has a one-month introductory rate of $59.99/month and a regular subscription 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: BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $59.99/month for 1 month (Save $20) Get Deal

The Missouri Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide football teams go head-to-head this weekend at the Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The match will take place on Saturday, Oct. 26, and is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT. 

SEE ALSO: How to watch college football without cable Missouri vs. Alabama football kickoff time and network

The Missouri vs. Alabama football game is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT.  start on ABC on Saturday, Oct. 26.

Best streaming services for Missouri vs. Alabama football game

To watch college football without cable or satellite TV, you'll need a streaming service. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for Saturday's Missouri vs. Alabama football game on ABC. 

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

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

Visit the FuboTV website to see if your zip code includes the ABC broadcast. If it does, then you're good to go - you'll be able to get ABC with the FuboTV Pro plan, which has a one-month introductory rate of $59.99/month and a regular subscription 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: BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $59.99/month for 1 month (Save $20) Get Deal

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Navy Midshipmen football teams go head-to-head this weekend at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The match will take place on Saturday, Oct. 26, and is scheduled to start at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT. 

SEE ALSO: How to watch college football without cable Notre Dame vs. Navy football kickoff time and network

The Notre Dame vs. Navy football game is scheduled for a 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT. start on ABC on Saturday, Oct. 26.

Best streaming services for Notre Dame vs. Navy football game

You need to choose a streaming service to watch college football without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for Saturday's Notre Dame vs. Navy football game on ABC. 

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

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

Visit the FuboTV website to see if your zip code includes the ABC broadcast. If it does, then you're good to go - you'll be able to get ABC with the FuboTV Pro plan, which has a one-month introductory rate of $59.99/month and a regular subscription 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: 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 Nebraska Corn Ohio State Buckeyes football teams go head-to-head this weekend at the Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The match will take place on Saturday, Oct. 26, and is scheduled to start at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT. 

SEE ALSO: How to watch college football without cable Nebraska vs. Ohio State football kickoff time and network

The Nebraska vs. Ohio State football game is scheduled for a 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT start on FOX on Saturday, Oct. 26.

Best streaming services for Nebraska vs. Ohio State football game

You need to choose a streaming service to watch college football without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for Saturday's Nebraska vs. Ohio State football game on FOX. 

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

You can only access FOX on Sling TV in certain 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 not in one of those markets, unfortunately, Sling TV isn't an option

If you’re in one of those markets, getting Sling TV for the Nebraska vs. Ohio State football game would work for you. You’ll need the Blue Plan, which comes at $22.50 for the first month and $45 for subsequent months.

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 you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

Visit the FuboTV website to see if your zip code includes the FOX broadcast. If it does, then you're good to go - you'll be able to get FOX with the FuboTV Pro plan, which has a one-month introductory rate of $59.99/month and a regular subscription 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: 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 Nittany Lions and Wisconsin Badgers football teams are scheduled to go head-to-head at Camp Randall Stadium in LA, Madison, Wisconsin on Saturday, Oct. 26. The game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT. 

SEE ALSO: How to watch college football without cable Penn State vs. Wisconsin football kickoff time and network

The Penn State vs. Wisconsin football game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT start on NBC on Saturday, Oct. 26.

Best streaming services for Penn State vs. Wisconsin football game

If you don't have cable or satellite TV, you'll need to choose a streaming service to watch college football. Here is the best streaming services to consider for Saturday's Penn State vs. Wisconsin football game on NBC. 

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

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can also try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period, so you don't need to commit any cash right away.

Go to the FuboTV website to check if NBC is available in your zip code. If it is, you can access NBC with the FuboTV Pro plan, which offers an introductory rate of $59.99 for the first month and a 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: BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $59.99/month for 1 month (Save $20) Get Deal

The Illinois Fighting Illini and the Oregon Ducks football teams are scheduled to go head-to-head at the Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, on Saturday, Oct. 26. The game is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT. 

SEE ALSO: How to watch college football without cable Illinois vs. Oregon football kickoff time and network

The Illinois vs. Oregon football game is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT start on CBS Sports Network on Saturday, Oct. 26.

Best streaming services for Illinois vs. Oregon football game

To watch college football without cable or satellite TV, you'll need to use a streaming service. There's several to choose from, but here's the best to consider ahead of Saturday's game.

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

FuboTV gives you access to more than 250 channels of live TV as well the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can give it a try first with a seven-day free trial period.

You'll need to check if your zip code includes the CBS broadcast first. To do this, just visit the FuboTV website. If you’re in luck, then you can get CBS with the FuboTV Pro plan, which has a one-month introductory rate of $59.99/month and a regular subscription 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. 

TL;DR: Live stream Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA for free on Ran.de. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Denver Nuggets fell short of achieving their lofty ambitions last season, but that's all in the past now. Any team with Nikola Jokić has a chance of success in the NBA, and they've added Russell Westbrook to their ranks, which could end up being a masterstroke if he's able to gel with his new teammates.

The Nuggets face the Clippers in this early-season matchup, with both teams looking to make a positive start to the campaign. We're expecting a fascinating battle between two strong sides, and you can watch all the action without spending anything.

If you want to watch Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers?

Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA starts at 5 p.m. ET on Oct. 26. This game takes place at the Ball Arena.

How to watch Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers for free

Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers is available to live stream for free on Ran.de.

Ran.de is geo-restricted to Germany, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Germany, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

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At 72, American filmmaker Robert Zemeckis has a storied career on par with few others. He's the visionary behind the extraordinary collision of live-action comedy and cartoon mayhem that is Who Framed Roger Rabbit. He birthed the sci-fi/comedy bliss of Back to the Future and the campy splendor of the cult-adored Death Becomes Her. But far from the madcap humor of these offerings, he helmed the iconic Forrest Gump, a literary adaptation that thrilled audiences and the Academy, who bestowed upon the decades-traversing drama a total of 6 Oscars, including Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture. 

SEE ALSO: 42 movies you'll want to see this fall

Here, Zemeckis' latest offering, has a lot in common with Forrest Gump. On a casting level, it reunites Forrest Gump stars Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, who once more play a couple of young lovers, finding themselves in the 1950s and 1960s. It also reteams Zemeckis with Forrest Gump's Oscar-winning screenwriter Eric Roth, who is tasked this time around with adapting a graphic novel from New York Times illustrator Richard McGuire. Here is also a heartfelt drama spanning time, although instead of mere decades, it takes place across centuries, even millennia.

Yet within this familiar framework, Zemeckis tales big risks that are more akin to his less-celebrated Hanks collaborations, chiefly The Polar Express and Disney's live-action Pinocchio. Where in his earlier films, he blew our minds and won acclaim with practical effects, his later dive into digital effects have often veered into an ugly, uncanny valley. But even as it falters in the details, there's undeniable reason to celebrate the ambition and earnestness of Here. 

Here is a story across time about family.  Credit: Sony Pictures

Remarkably, Here has the look of being filmed in one shot. To be clear, it is not seemingly one long take, like the exhilarating real-time zombie thriller MadS. Replicating the look of McGuire's comic — as teased in the trailer — the whole of Here is shot from a planted perspective, while the action unfurls before it. The trick is, it won't play out chronologically but instead somewhat simultaneously. 

The frame Zemeckis presents shows a New England living room within a "half-Colonial" home, built in 1900. There, various furniture and decor will come and go in smooth visual transitions, and even fade away to show a swamp of galumphing mud, where dinosaurs frolic, then a plain made desolate and white by an ice age, then a verdant forest where Indigenous Americans hunt, gather, and fall in love. But mostly, Here is set in a living room, following families from the early 20th century, the post-Jazz Age, post-World War II, and beyond. 

There, stories collide through frames within the frame, which are outlined in white, a nod to their comic book inspiration. So while much of the scene may be set in the 1960s, where a teenage boy (Tom Hanks, courtesy of de-aging CGI — more on that in a bit!) introduces squabbles with his drunk dad (Paul Bettany), an inner frame might reveal the families who came before. Images of weddings, Thanksgiving celebrations, marital spats, and funerals can potentially pile on top of the scene, succinctly displaying all the stories that play out in this seemingly average space in one hour and 44 minutes of runtime. So, why does it feel so much longer?

Here is a strange experiment at war with itself.  Credit: Sony Pictures

Watching the frame-within-frame device unfold across the screen, it's easy to see how it could work in a graphic novel. On the page, each square urges you to imagine what could lie just outside its borders, a constant reminder of perspective but also how the limitations of the media of the comic book itself can inspire your imagination. 

Film as a form is considered by its audience more literal, which is Zemeckis' first challenge. While in some scenes, the characters exit the frame — inviting the audience to assume what happens off camera — the visual stimuli of new information piling up every moment allows little time for the meaning of this device to wash over us. And yet, despite the collage effect at play across the story, the film feels stuck in its locked position. One might wonder why this spot —  and perhaps that it could be any spot is precisely the point. But the fixed location makes the movie feel like a recording of a stage show more than a film, with performances to match. 

Zemeckis' choices are daring and often jarring.  Credit: Sony Pictures

While the movie leaps across time, a star-stuffed ensemble treads the boards of this living room. Among them are not only Tom Hanks and Robin Wright as teen lovers who get married, have kids, and face a wide array of mature troubles in this space, but also Michelle Dockery as a turn-of-the-century suffragette, Ophelia Lovibond as a spirited flapper with David Fynn as her besotted inventor husband, Daniel Betts as a frustrated bastard son of Benjamin Franklin, Nikki Amuka-Bird as a wealthy 2020s businesswoman, and Joel Oulette and Dannie McCallum as an unnamed Indigenous couple. 

But the main storyline kicks off with Paul Bettany as a WII vet and Kelly Reilly as his doting wife. Their story is cliche, with him being a quick-to-anger patriarch whose parenting tools are yelling and endless glasses of bourbon, while she is the smiling mother devoted to smoothing everything over until she physically can't any longer. The rough edges of Roth's script are only enhanced by the pair's performance style, which is broadly theatrical. Perhaps the idea is to mimic the grandeur of Golden Era cinema — those 1940s black-and-white classics featuring debonair men and fast-talking dames. But this theatricality stretches across the timeline, though it softens if a character is more emotionally stiff (Dockery) or pensive (Wright). Still, the tone Zemeckis pursues calls attention to itself, keeping the audience from settling into the story. 

Interestingly, Zemeckis rejects the standard American movie pursuit of performed authenticity. This movie is not remotely concerned with how people actually talk, but prefers a far more sentimental approach that veers into parable. These characters not only inexplicably rush into big life decisions — like giving up dreams of painting as soon as a survival gig is achieved — but also repeatedly deliver Our Town-like revelations about the cruelty of time's endless momentum. Here is a deeply wistful film, always fretting about how fast time goes by, and yet its own screen time feels like a crawl. 

Roth's main storyline about this 20th-century family is belabored by cliche, making its every reveal feel a bit inevitable. The wordless story of the Indigenous couple, who fall in love, raise their child, die, and mourn, is simplistic but mostly elegant — save for a calamitous close-up revealing just how awkwardly waxen the effects make-up looks. Hanks and company, however, are given scenes that belabor their purpose, spelling out every emotion and telegraphing every turn. So even while they are ardent in their performance, the effect is stagnation, exacerbated by the fixed-camera perspective. 

Here feels more like a play or a gallery exhibit than a film. 

Perhaps this concept of a physical space as a sort of palimpsest, with characters living parallel lives, might have been more compelling on a stage or as a visual projection in a gallery. In the latter, the dialogue could have been pared down, or even eradicated to allow the viewer more freedom to interpret the action, rather than being spoon-fed the emotional beats. If it were played upon a stage, the character's aging could have been communicated through costume and gesturing, wigs and make-up instead of the uncanny technology Zemeckis employs in Here. 

As it is, the CGI employed to turn 68-year-old Hanks and 58-year-old Wright into teenagers is distracting, the same way the bizarre dead-eyed animated characters in Polar Express undercut its Yuletide wonder. Here's VFX team might be able to digitally redefine jawlines and erase wrinkles, but the people who remain don't look real and definitely don't look like teenagers. This effect isn't disastrous, but it does distance us from the reality the film wishes to present because its artificiality cannot be ignored. Theater audiences are more ready and willing to embrace the fantasy, even if the seams of a wig cap or a microphone taped to a forehead are showing. In film, our suspension of disbelief flickers whenever a digital effect looks, well, like a digital effect. And Here often flaunts CGI's limitations. 

This de-aging distraction inevitably draws our eyes to other bizarre details, like a birthday cake that is clearly a prop because it apparently weighs as much as styrofoam. Or how strange it is that the aspiring painter who dreamed of being a professional artist only ever paints what exists in this particular living room. Like in Polar Express and Pinocchio, Zemeckis seems so enchanted by his vision that he's missed the details in the execution that could mar it. He can see the forest beyond his living room, but not the trees. 

In the end, Here works as a movie in fits. Some scenes are undeniably enchanting, including every bit of Lovibond and Fynn as they romance while designing a reclining chair. Other scenes are less effective, primarily because the theatrical tone of the film clashes with the very real and traumatic topics they touch on, which we ourselves in the audience experience — like grappling with grief, fretting over parenting, or dealing with dementia. I found myself wishing it'd been a tight and tantalizing short film instead. As a whole, Here is far from the cohesive and compelling drama of Forrest Gump, far from the exhilarating world-building of Who Framed Roger Rabbit or Death Becomes Her. 

In many ways, Here is an experiment in framing and concept that fails. And yet, I'm in awe that Zemeckis did it. Even with the movie's rough edges, his passion and sentimentality is as clear as ever.

Here was reviewed out of its World Premiere at AFI Fest. The movie will open in theaters Nov. 1.