80 jili app download free
The company's total expenditure in FY24 was Rs 540.76 crore. It was Rs 687.93 crore in FY23. New Year: E-commerce company Snapdeal has managed to cut down its loss to Rs 160.38 crore in FY24 from Rs 282.20 crore in FY23. Apart from this, the company's Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortisation (EBITDA) loss declined by 88 per cent to Rs 16 crore in FY24. It was Rs 144 crore in FY23. The reason for the reduction in the company's loss is the decline in expenses. The company's total expenditure in FY24 was Rs 540.76 crore. It was Rs 687.93 crore in FY23. The employee benefits expenditure of the company in FY24 declined by 48.5 per cent on YoY (year-on-year) basis to Rs 158.4 crore. It was Rs 307.53 crore in FY23. During this period, the company's advertising expenditure was reduced by 23.5 per cent on YoY basis to Rs 70.37 crore. Snapdeal's operating income increased by 2.1 per cent to Rs 379.76 crore in FY24 from Rs 371.96 crore in FY23. Market services have the biggest contribution of Rs 252.55 crore to the company's revenue. However, it decreased by 9.6 percent on YoY basis as compared to FY23. The company's enablement income increased by 14.8 per cent year-on-year to Rs 103.36 crore in FY24. The company's income from other items has increased 8 times to Rs 23.85 crore in the last financial year. According to the stock exchange filing, Snapdeal has reduced its stake in Unicommerce. The company had raised Rs 33 crore from the secondary sale of 3.4 per cent stake during May-June 2024 ahead of the IPO and Rs 81 crore from the sale of 9.2 per cent stake under the offer for sale in the IPO that came in August 2024. Snapdeal is one of India’s leading e-commerce platforms. Founded in 2010, Snapdeal focuses on the value commerce market in India and has served more than 10 Crore online shoppers over the past 14+ years. Stay informed on all the latest news , real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in india news and world News on Zee News.RBI Innovation Hub pilots digital unsecured loans for gig workers
Display Equipment Manufacturer Manz AG Faces Insolvency and BankruptcyTel-Aviv, Israel, Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ellomay Capital Ltd. (NYSE American; TASE: ELLO) (“Ellomay” or the “Company”) , a renewable energy and power generator and developer of renewable energy and power projects in Europe, USA and Israel, today announced that it will hold an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders (the “ Meeting ”) at the Company’s offices at 18 Rothschild Boulevard, 1st Floor, Tel Aviv 6688121, Israel, on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 3:00 p.m., Israel time, and thereafter as it may be adjourned or postponed from time to time. The agenda of the Meeting will be to approve the terms of service and compensation of Mr. Ben Sheizaf, the Company’s Chairman of the Board. Shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 30, 2024 will be entitled to vote at the Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. The Company plans to mail a proxy statement that describes the proposal to be considered at the Meeting and a proxy card on or about December 31, 2024. A proxy statement and proxy card will also be furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 6-K on or about December 23, 2024. The resolution to be presented at the Meeting requires the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the ordinary shares voted at the Meeting on the matter presented for passage, in person or by proxy or via the electronic system of the Israel Securities Authority. Eligible shareholders may present proper proposals for inclusion in the Meeting by submitting their proposals to the Company no later than December 30, 2024. Shareholders may vote their ordinary shares by means of a proxy card, which is required to be received by the Company, along with the documentation set forth in the proxy statement, by 11:00 a.m., Israel time, on January 30, 2025 (four hours prior to the Meeting), to be counted for the Meeting, or through the electronic system of the Israel Securities Authority until six hours prior to the Meeting. About Ellomay Capital Ltd. Ellomay is an Israeli based company whose shares are listed on the NYSE American and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “ELLO”. Since 2009, Ellomay Capital focuses its business in the renewable energy and power sectors in Europe, USA and Israel. To date, Ellomay has evaluated numerous opportunities and invested significant funds in the renewable, clean energy and natural resources industries in Israel, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Texas, USA, including: Approximately 335.9 MW of operating photovoltaic power plants in Spain (including a 300 MW photovoltaic plant in owned by Talasol, which is 51% owned by the Company) and approximately 20 MW of operating photovoltaic power plants in Italy; 9.375% indirect interest in Dorad Energy Ltd., which owns and operates one of Israel’s largest private power plants with production capacity of approximately 850MW, representing about 6%-8% of Israel’s total current electricity consumption; Groen Gas Goor B.V., Groen Gas Oude-Tonge B.V. and Groen Gas Gelderland B.V., project companies operating anaerobic digestion plants in the Netherlands, with a green gas production capacity of approximately 3 million, 3.8 million and 9.5 million Nm3 per year, respectively; 83.333% of Ellomay Pumped Storage (2014) Ltd., which is involved in a project to construct a 156 MW pumped storage hydro power plant in the Manara Cliff, Israel; A solar plant (18 MW) under construction in Italy; Solar projects in Italy with an aggregate capacity of 195 MW that have reached “ready to build” status; and Solar projects in the Dallas Metropolitan area, Texas, USA with an aggregate capacity of 49 MW that are under construction. For more information about Ellomay, visit http://www.ellomay.com . Information Relating to Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including statements that are based on the current expectations and assumptions of the Company’s management. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding the Company’s plans and objectives, expectations and assumptions of management are forward-looking statements. The use of certain words, including the words “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on the Company’s forward-looking statements. Various important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those that may be expressed or implied by the Company’s forward-looking statements, including changes in electricity prices and demand, continued war and hostilities in Israel, regulatory changes, including extension of current or approval of new rules and regulations increasing the operating expenses of manufacturers of renewable energy in Spain, increases in interest rates and inflation, changes in the supply and prices of resources required for the operation of the Company’s facilities (such as waste and natural gas) and in the price of oil, the impact of continued military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, technical and other disruptions in the operations or construction of the power plants owned by the Company and general market, political and economic conditions in the countries in which the Company operates, including Israel, Spain, Italy and the United States. These and other risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s business are described in greater detail in the filings the Company makes from time to time with Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 20-F. The forward-looking statements are made as of this date and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Contact: Kalia Rubenbach (Weintraub) CFO Tel: +972 (3) 797-1111 Email: hilai@ellomay.comWatch Wicked Movie’s ‘What Is This Feeling?’ Performance by Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo By has released a , showing off and ‘s performance of “What Is This Feeling?” from the recently released movie. What happens in the Wicked video? The new video shows off the performance of “What Is This Feeling?” in its entirety. The song itself is about Galinda (Grande) and Elphaba (Erivo) rooming together at Shiz University, and their initial disdain for one another as they get to know each other. Check out the song below: The movies are directed by Jon M. Chu from a screenplay written by the musical’s book writer Winnie Holzman. It is based on Gregory Maguire’s bestselling novel and the Tony-winning stage musical. The ensemble cast is led by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who play Galinda Upland and Elphaba Thropp in the film, respectively. The rest of the cast includes Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard of Oz, Peter Dinklage as Doctor Dillamond, Bowen Yang as Pfannee, Keala Settle as Miss Coddle, Marissa Bode as Nessarose Thropp, Bronwyn James as ShenShen, Ethan Slater as Boq, and more. “The film tells the untold story of the witches of Oz: Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power; and Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart,” reads the official synopsis. “The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.” Wicked: Part One is out now in theaters. The sequel, , is currently set for November 21, 2025. Anthony Nash has been writing about games and the gaming industry for nearly a decade. When he’s not writing about games, he’s usually playing them. You can find him on Twitter talking about games or sports at @_anthonynash. Share article'Copper’s time has run out': Nvidia, AMD and TSMC have invested millions in a startup which may hold the key to faster chip connectivity to quench AI's thirst for bytes
Friday, November 22, 2024 TUI has unveiled a groundbreaking internal platform that empowers employees to create their own personalized AI assistants. With just a few simple steps, staff can tap into the transformative potential of generative artificial intelligence to streamline everyday tasks, all without needing any IT expertise. Whether it’s analyzing complex Excel data, drafting hotel descriptions, or setting personal career goals, these AI assistants are designed to handle a variety of tasks, enabling employees to focus on more strategic activities. The platform, known internally as the “TUI AI Assistant Store,” has seen remarkable engagement since its introduction. During the initial testing phase, over 200 custom AI assistants were created and used extensively. Within just a few weeks, more than 2,000 employees explored the platform, and today, over 400 assistants are readily available to support the workforce. The platform fosters collaboration by allowing employees to share their AI creations with colleagues. For those who prefer not to build their own assistants, the platform offers a library of pre-existing tools tailored to various job functions. Employees can also invite one another to use specific assistants, promoting teamwork and efficiency. In recent weeks alone, the TUI AI Assistant Store has processed an impressive 50 million words and over 15 million document pieces. These AI-driven solutions are making day-to-day operations smoother and more efficient, highlighting the platform’s significant impact on productivity. By integrating generative AI into the workplace, TUI is not only enhancing operational efficiency but also empowering its employees to innovate and adapt to the evolving demands of the modern workplace. This initiative underscores TUI’s commitment to leveraging technology to support its workforce and drive future growth. “Our developers have been working on AI since 2016. And today, we use more than 15 per cent of our cloud capacity for AI applications. Our focus is on integrating the technology into our processes and platforms. At the same time, we are ensuring that our teams also benefit from the potential of generative artificial intelligence in their day-to-day work with the TUI AI Assistant Store. It was important to us to have an offering that is easy for everyone to use and that guarantees the highest level of security for personal and company data,” says Pieter Jordaan, Member of the Group Executive Committee and Chief Information Officer of TUI Group. The launch of the TUI AI Assistant Store is transforming efficiency for TUI employees. By automating repetitive tasks, the AI assistants allow teams to prioritize essential activities such as personal interactions with customers, quality-focused content creation, and strategic projects. Early results highlight the impact: for TUI’s British ski holiday brand, an AI assistant has reduced the time needed to create hotel descriptions by up to 80%. Tasks that previously required two to three hours are now completed in just 20 to 30 minutes, delivering content that is both audience-focused and SEO-optimized. These AI assistants excel at handling specialized tasks that demand a deep understanding of context. Teams can easily provide this contextual knowledge through presentations, summaries, or text inputs, ensuring accurate and effective results. Additionally, the technology behind TUI AI Assistants supports IT teams in accelerating the deployment of secure and reliable generative AI features for TUI’s app and website, paving the way for enhanced digital experiences.
The Christmas season affects more than just our wallets and waistlines, so how can you reduce the impact of your yuletide celebrations on the environment? The total environmental cost of Christmas is hard to measure – and whether a real or fake Christmas tree is the more ethical choice is up for annual debate – but the Stockholm Environment Institute estimates Christmas festivities account for 650 kilograms of greenhouse gases per person, or about 5 per cent of each person’s annual carbon footprint. Christmas can be the most wonderful, and most wasteful, time of the year. Credit: Monique Westermann Australian shoppers are expected to spend $11.8 billion on gifts this year, up $1.6 billion on last year, Roy Morgan estimates. Australia Institute polling suggests a quarter of Australians anticipate receiving unwanted gifts, most of which are expected to end up in landfill. It is a different story at Lori Spence’s house: she is something of an expert on managing, and reducing, waste. Three-and-a-half years ago, Spence relocated with her husband and two children to Narara Ecovillage, an 130-person sustainability-focused community on the NSW Central Coast. “We have a culture that appreciates crafted, homemade, homegrown and home-baked gifts,” Spence says. Typical presents include homemade elderberry wine or hand sewn knitwear. Lori Spence and her two children try to celebrate Christmas in a sustainable way. Credit: Each family brought a dish to the recent village Christmas party. Leftovers were shared, given to the village chickens, or composted, Spence says. Ten-cent recyclables, including glass bottles and cans, were delivered to the nearby recycling centre. Money earned will be allocated for children’s equipment and craft activities. When it comes to the tree, “decorate a favourite pot plant instead of buying a plastic tree”, Spence recommends. Alternatively, she suggests donating your real tree to keen gardeners on Facebook Marketplace after the holidays. Loading If you’d like to keep the sparkle this Christmas without emission-driven electricity use, Spence suggests solar-powered lights, which require minimal maintenance and can last up to 20 years with proper care. Even better – invest in high-quality decorations or create your own plantable Christmas decor using newspapers, seeds and water, she says. University of Sydney Business School retail academic Lisa Asher requests no Christmas gifts, saying: “The joy of coming together, and being together, is a gift in itself”. “Photos which capture this are worth more than material items,” she says. Asher says Australians produce 30 per cent more waste during the Christmas period due to gift-wrapping paper, food waste, unwanted gifts and over-consumption, describing the environmental impact as “eyewateringly significant”. “We are led to believe buying and consumption is necessary, but is it really?” The federal government’s National Food Waste Feasibility Study found households generate roughly 30 per cent of Australia’s food waste . Asher says businesses and families need to commit to gradual changes. “The Christmas dining table is a great place to start,” Asher says. Sourcing sustainably can be challenging, but small steps like freezing leftovers and eating local produce can reduce carbon emissions of food miles . Secret Santa is a great option for minimising the number of gifts and unwanted items for those who still wish to buy presents, she adds. Loading As part of her sustainable resolution, Asher successfully avoided buying new clothes this year. “I repaired clothes, and if I wanted something new, I purchased it second-hand,” Asher says, a practice she plans to continue and encourages others to adopt in the new year. Queensland University of Technology fashion lecturer Zoe Mellick says there has been a growing disconnect between the gifts we give and their value to the recipient. Mellick suggests creating a wishlist and asking preferences for gifts – “that way, people are receiving gifts that they want,” she says. When buying clothes, Mellick advises considering local brands affiliated with Seamless , a federal government initiative that recognises brands which aim for clothing circularity by 2030. Uturn, a sustainable fashion marketplace, had a threefold increase in sellers listing their unwanted clothes on its website in October. It anticipates wardrobe reassessments will increase in the holidays. Alex Dimou, managing director of Uturn, hopes more customers will embrace sustainable Christmas gifting by buying items secondhand. “We see thousands of designer and premium items come through our stores,” Dimou says. Salvation Army circular economy senior manager Sarah Knop says the organisation sees a significant surge in donations at this time of year. The Salvation Army’s Sarah Knop says more people should shop for gifts secondhand. Credit: Simon Schulter Buying from charity stores is a way “to be more sustainable, but also to ensure Christmas comes within budget”, she says. “Some of the best gifts I’ve seen, to be honest, come from secondhand stores.” Knop suggests decorative silk scarves or cloth as a reusable, zero-waste wrapping alternative to the 150,000 kilometres of wrapping paper the CSIRO estimates Australians use each year. The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article Christmas Family Ethical living Most Viewed in Environment Loading
Guardians officially welcome back free agent first baseman Carlos Santana
Jimmy Carter, 39th U.S. president, Nobel winner, dies at 100
After holding out hope he might recover, OG Maco 's family had to say goodbye . The "U Guessed It" rapper, born Benedict Ihesiba Jr ., has died, according to a statement posted to his Instagram account Dec. 27. He was 32. "With heavy hearts, we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of our beloved Ben, known to the world as OG Maco," his family stated Friday. "His life was a testament to resilience, creativity, and boundless love. Through his music, passion, and unwavering spirit, he touched so many lives and left a lasting impact." They continued, "While we grieve this immense loss, we also celebrate the extraordinary life he lived—one that will continue to inspire and uplift others. Maco's influence, both as an artist and as a person, will remain forever etched in our hearts." His family had previously shared Dec. 15 that he was hospitalized in critical but stable condition and they were "staying hopeful" as he continued to fight. They also noted that the artist's official social media accounts would be the "only source for valid information" for updates. TMZ first reported he was hospitalized in Los Angeles on Dec. 12. Tributes poured out for the rapper from College Park, Ga., a member of XXL 's oft-prescient annual Freshman Class of 2015 (alongside the likes of Gucci Mane and Vic Mensa ) who had risen through the ranks of up-and-coming rappers. "Rest in peace to OG MACO," Ice Cube 's son O'Shea Jackson Jr. posted on X . "You had to endure so much man. I’m so fuckin sorry dude. F--k." While OG Maco released two studio albums, 2021's The God of Rage and a 2023 self-titled LP, plus a slew of EPs and mixtapes, he had suffered along the way. He was injured in a car accident in 2016, sharing photos from his hospital bed and posting, per HotNewHipHop , "Multiple skull fractures, broken orbital (surgery next week), cracked vertebrae (surgery next week) and heart palpations. I feel ALIVE!!!" "On the bright side," he added, "my plastic surgeon says I can’t get any uglier so fixing my face should be easy." (His Instagram account has been scrubbed except for some pictures he posted Nov. 2, captioned "TOXSIC," and his family's two statements.) Referring to a time in his life when there were wild rumors circulating about his health, he told Vlad TV in November 2016 that he'd been "extremely depressed" and "suicidal on top of it." "I'm going to be very honest about it," he explained, "because of all the things that was being taken away from me, I had done so much, I had innovated so much. I did it all by myself." Feeling like "absolutely nothing," it was "a terrible time in my life," he continued. "I got real drug dependent. I didn't want to be around, I didn't want to have to deal with it. I just wanted to make my music, and even if you listen to my music, like '15, was super dark...The hope was kinda gone out of my music." He then shared in 2019 on Instagram that he was battling a painful "skin-eating disease" he developed after being "improperly treated for a minor rash." "This is the best it's looked," he wrote alongside a photo illustrating some of what he was going through. "I hope it gives someone hope. I've been going through this alone 90% of the time, without the support of the person I love, without most of my 'friends,' without anything but my own strength and God." Explaining why no one had heard from him for awhile on social media, he acknowledged his condition had led him into a depression. "I was scared, I didn't know what was going to happen, I didn't know if I was going to lose my entire face... I almost did," he shared in a since-deleted video, per Complex . "My friend told me the other day that maybe I should share what I've been going through instead of beating myself down for feeling how I felt about it, which I wanted to die a bunch of days." He concluded his message, "Once I come out of this, better and more beautiful than ever, I want you guys to be ready... I'm gonna kick ass."With a focus on human rights, US policy toward Latin America under Jimmy Carter briefly tempered a long tradition of interventionism in a key sphere of American influence, analysts say. Carter, who died Sunday at the age of 100, defied the furor of US conservatives to negotiate the handover of the Panama Canal to Panamanian control, suspended aid to multiple authoritarian governments in the region, and even attempted to normalize relations with Cuba. Carter's resolve to chart a course toward democracy and diplomacy, however, was severely tested in Central America and Cuba, where he was forced to balance his human rights priorities with pressure from adversaries to combat the spread of communism amid the Cold War standoff with the Soviet Union. "Latin America was fundamental and his global policy was oriented toward human rights, democratic values and multilateral cooperation," political analyst Michael Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue, a think tank in Washington, told AFP. During his 1977-1981 administration, which was sandwiched between the Republican presidencies of Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, the Democrat sought to take a step back from US alignment with right-wing dictatorships in Latin America. An important symbol of Carter's approach was the signing of two treaties in 1977 to officially turn over the Panama Canal in 1999. "Jimmy Carter understood that if he did not return the canal to Panama, the relationship between the United States and Panama could lead to a new crisis in a country where Washington could not afford the luxury of instability," said Luis Guillermo Solis, a political scientist and former president of Costa Rica. Carter called the decision, which was wildly unpopular back home, "the most difficult political challenge I ever had," as he accepted Panama's highest honor in 2016. He also hailed the move as "a notable achievement of moving toward democracy and freedom." During his term, Carter opted not to support Nicaraguan strongman Anastasio Somoza, who was subsequently overthrown by the leftist Sandinista Front in 1979. But in El Salvador, the American president had to "make a very uncomfortable pact with the government," said Shifter. To prevent communists from taking power, Carter resumed US military assistance for a junta which then became more radical, engaging in civilian massacres and plunging El Salvador into a long civil war. Carter took a critical approach to South American dictatorships in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay, suspending arms deliveries and imposing sanctions in some cases. But his efforts "did not achieve any progress in terms of democratization," said Argentine political scientist Rosendo Fraga. The American president also tried to normalize relations with Cuba 15 years after the missile crisis. He relaxed sanctions that had been in force since 1962, supported secret talks and enabled limited diplomatic representation in both countries. "With him, for the first time, the possibility of dialogue rather than confrontation as a framework for political relations opened up," Jesus Arboleya, a former Cuban diplomat, told AFP. But in 1980, a mass exodus of 125,000 Cubans to the United States, with Fidel Castro's blessing, created an unexpected crisis. It "hurt Carter politically with the swarm of unexpected immigrants," said Jennifer McCoy, a professor of political science at Georgia State University. Castro continued to support Soviet-backed African governments and even deployed troops against Washington's wishes, finally putting an end to the normalization process. However, more than 20 years later, Carter made a historic visit to Havana as ex-president, at the time becoming the highest-profile American politician to set foot on Cuban soil since 1959. During the 2002 visit, "he made a bold call for the US to lift its embargo, but he also called on Castro to embrace democratic opening," said McCoy, who was part of the US delegation for the trip, during which Castro encouraged Carter to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Cuban All-Star baseball game. "Castro was sitting in the front row and we were afraid he would rise to give a long rebuttal to Carter's speech. But he didn't. He just said, 'Let's go to the ball game.'" In the years following Carter's presidency, Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) would go on to resume a full-frontal confrontation with Cuba. Decades later, Barack Obama (2009-2017) opened a new phase of measured normalization, which Donald Trump (2017-2021) brought to an end. US President Joe Biden promised to review US policy toward Cuba, but hardened his stance after Havana cracked down on anti-government protests in 2021. "Carter showed that engagement and diplomacy are more fruitful than isolation," McCoy said. bur-lp-rd-jb/lbc/mlr/bfm/sst/bbk
Movie Review: Nicole Kidman commands the erotic office drama 'Babygirl' The demands of achieving both one-day shipping and a satisfying orgasm collide in Halina Reijn’s “Babygirl,” a kinky and darkly comic erotic thriller about sex in the Amazon era. Jake Coyle, The Associated Press Dec 23, 2024 1:14 PM Dec 23, 2024 1:20 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message This image released by A24 shows Nicole Kidman, left, and Harris Dickinson in a scene from "Babygirl." (Niko Tavernise/A24 via AP) The demands of achieving both one-day shipping and a satisfying orgasm collide in Halina Reijn’s “Babygirl,” a kinky and darkly comic erotic thriller about sex in the Amazon era. Nicole Kidman stars as Romy Mathis, the chief executive of Tensile, a robotics business that pioneered automotive warehouses. In the movie’s opening credits, a maze of conveyor belts and bots shuttle boxes this way and that without a human in sight. Romy, too, is a little robotic. She intensely presides over the company. Her eyes are glued to her phone. She gets Botox injections, practices corporate-speak presentations (“Look up, smile and never show your weakness”) and maintains a floor-through New York apartment, along with a mansion in the suburbs that she shares with her theater-director husband ( Antonio Banderas ) and two teenage daughters (Esther McGregor and Vaughan Reilly). But the veneer of control is only that in “Babygirl,” a sometimes campy, frequently entertaining modern update to the erotically charged movies of the 1990s, like “Basic Instinct” and “9 1/2 Weeks.” Reijn, the Danish director of “Bodies Bodies Bodies” has critically made her film from a more female point of view, resulting in ever-shifting gender and power dynamics that make “Babygirl” seldom predictable — even if the film is never quite as daring as it seems to thinks it is. The opening moments of “Babygirl,” which A24 releases Wednesday, are of Kidman in close-up and apparent climax. But moments after she and her husband finish and say “I love you,” she retreats down the hall to writhe on the floor while watching cheap, transgressive internet pornography. The breathy soundtrack, by the composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer, heaves and puffs along with the film's main character. One day while walking into the office, Romy is taken by a scene on the street. A violent dog gets loose but a young man, with remarkable calmness, calls to the dog and settles it. She seems infatuated. The young man turns out to be Samuel (Harris Dickinson), one of the interns just starting at Tensile. When they meet inside the building, his manner with her is disarmingly frank. Samuel arranges for a brief meeting with Romy, during which he tells her, point blank, “I think you like to be told what to do.” She doesn't disagree. Some of the same dynamic seen on the sidewalk, of animalistic urges and submission to them, ensues between Samuel and Romy. A great deal of the pleasure in “Babygirl” comes in watching Kidman, who so indelibly depicted uncompromised female desire in Stanley Kubrick’s “Eyes Wide Shut,” again wade into the mysteries of sexual hunger. “Babygirl,” which Reijn also wrote, is sometimes a bit much. (In one scene, Samuel feeds Romy saucers of milk while George Michael’s “Father Figure” blares.) But its two lead actors are never anything but completely magnetic. Kidman deftly portrays Romy as a woman falling helplessly into an affair; she both knows what she’s doing and doesn’t. Dickinson exudes a disarming intensity; his chemistry with Kidman, despite their quickly forgotten age gap, is visceral. As their affair evolves, Samuel’s sense of control expands and he begins to threaten a call to HR. That he could destroy her doesn’t necessarily make Romy any less interested in seeing him, though there are some delicious post-#MeToo ironies in their clandestine CEO-intern relationship. Also in the mix is Romy’s executive assistant, Esme (Sophie Wilde, also very good), who's eager for her own promotion. Where “Babygirl” heads from here, I won’t say. But the movie is less interested in workplace politics than it is in acknowledging authentic desires, even if they’re a little ludicrous. There’s genuine tenderness in their meetings, no matter the games that are played. Late in the film, Samuel describes it as “two children playing.” As a kind of erotic parable of control, “Babygirl” is also, either fittingly or ironically, shot in the very New York headquarters of its distributor, A24. For a studio that’s sometimes been accused of having a “house style,” here’s a movie that goes one step further by literally moving in. What about that automation stuff earlier? Well, our collective submission to digital overloads might have been a compelling jumping-off point for the film, but along the way, not every thread gets unraveled in the easily distracted “Babygirl.” Saucers of milk will do that. “Babygirl,” an A24 release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for “strong sexual content, nudity and language.” Running time: 114 minutes. Three stars out of four. Jake Coyle, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Science News Nissan and Honda to attempt a merger that would create the world's No. 3 automaker Dec 23, 2024 8:28 AM AI will eavesdrop on world's wildest places to track and help protect endangered wildlife Dec 23, 2024 7:51 AM Congress is looking to ban Chinese drones that are widely used in US. What to know about the debate Dec 23, 2024 5:30 AM
Toll Brothers Announces Final Opportunity at Verona Estates Community in Chatsworth, CaliforniaHigh Speed Rail (Hong Kong Section) Expands with New Xi’anbei Route, Connecting Key Tourist Destinations and Enhancing Cross-Border Travel