Entertainment
Tense Survival Thriller Pushes Suspense Into Extreme New Heights
By Robert Scucci
| Published

I can finally end my search for an action adventure thriller set entirely in a hot air balloon after watching 2019’s The Aeronauts. While we can get into the nitty gritty about how it’s “based on true events,” as depicted in the 2013 Richard Holmes book Falling Upwards: How We Took to the Air, anybody with access to Wikipedia can do that. Instead, let’s talk about the film itself. Since we’re ultimately dealing with a fictional piece of cinema inspired by multiple real-life balloon ascents, it’s all but expected that creative liberties are taken, and composite characters are stitched together from their historical counterparts for the sake of a cleaner, more dramatic story.
The Aeronauts, like most films that carry the biographical label, is no exception. As long as you’re not treating it like a history lesson, it’s well worth your time for the visuals and sheer level of suspense alone. I never thought a movie about a giant balloon could be this intense, but here we are, watching two deeply committed people float through the troposphere without even packing proper winter coats.
Floating High And Above

Set in 1862 London, The Aeronauts centers on scientist James Glaisher (Eddie Redmayne) and balloon pilot Amelia Wren (Felicity Jones). James believes that ascending to unprecedented heights will allow him to study atmospheric patterns in a way that could eventually make weather prediction possible. When the Royal Society refuses to take him seriously enough to fund the project, he turns to Amelia, whose skill and nerve make the entire expedition feasible. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn about the political resistance and personal motivations surrounding the journey, but that groundwork is not the main reason you’re here.
The real spectacle unfolds once James and Amelia leave the ground, rising beyond 30,000 feet and shattering the standing record for balloon travel. Completely devoted to his research, James pushes forward as Amelia repeatedly urges him to descend. Awestruck by the vast skyscape around them, James loses track of the balloon’s physical limitations and just how drastically the temperature has dropped while he continues taking notes and running tests.

When it becomes clear they’ve gone far too high for their own good, Amelia takes decisive action after recognizing the signs of James’ worsening hypoxia. That plan immediately falls apart when she realizes the gas release valve at the top of the balloon has frozen shut. Reduced to a speck drifting through the sky, Amelia braves brutal conditions in her attempts to bring both of them back to land. The elements are not on her side, and she soon begins suffering from frostbite as well. With their lives and James’ research hanging in the balance, every split-second decision carries real consequences, and the margin for error disappears fast.
Stunning Cinematography All Around

While the flashback sequences in The Aeronauts are necessary for context, they lean into familiar tropes tied to dangerous missions. Both characters are haunted by their pasts and repeatedly revisit traumatic moments while grappling with their present situation. If I’m being completely honest, I have a hard time taking people in top hats seriously, so these scenes occasionally play as unintentionally funny for me. I fully recognize that I might be a sample size of one here, and your mileage may vary.
What truly impressed me were the sequences that take place inside and around the balloon itself. The horizon, the clouds, and even butterflies drifting through air currents at what were once unheard-of altitudes are the real draw of The Aeronauts. Ice crystallizing across the balloon as Amelia struggles with the frozen gas valve, along with wide shots that emphasize how small she and James are against the open sky, are genuinely striking. The storms that threaten to consume them as they push higher in the name of science add another layer of tension, made all the more effective by how grounded and tactile everything looks.


It’s safe to assume The Aeronauts received a healthy dose of VFX in post-production, but it’s difficult to spot while watching. The visuals feel real and cohesive, creative liberties with characterization aside, and the result is an immersive experience even from your couch. If you’re looking to challenge your fear of heights, or you’re simply in the mood for historical fiction that focuses on discovery rather than warfare, you can stream The Aeronauts on Prime Video as of this writing.
Entertainment
The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro gimbal is back at a record-low price at Amazon: Save over $30
SAVE $33.01: The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro foldable gimbal is on sale at Amazon for $126.98, down from the list price of $159.99. That’s a 21% discount that matches the record low at Amazon.
$126.98
at Amazon
$159.99
Save $33.01
These days, you don’t have to be a professional content creator to share great clips on socials. We have tons of free tools that help us capture video to share on our feeds, whether it’s your dog being silly or your latest trip to Europe. If you’ve been grabbing these videos by holding your phone in your hand, it might be time for an upgrade. Check out this deal at Amazon.
As of Feb. 4, the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro foldable gimbal is on sale at Amazon for $126.98, marked down from the list price of $159.99. That’s a 21% discount that shaves $33.01 off the normal price. It also matches the record low at Amazon.
Insta360 packed the Flow 2 Pro with features that make filming much more convenient. For starters, there’s the active zoom tracking, which can follow subjects even at 15x zoom. The multi-person tracking is also great for filming several subjects, and the 360-degree Infinite Pan Tracking is a standout highlight. This function allows for continuous rotation. Of course, it can also serve as a tripod for still recording.
Mashable Deals
While it’s still at a record-low price at Amazon, upgrade to the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro foldable gimbal for under $127. Your content will look smooth and pro-level with this added accessory.
Entertainment
A Fully Loaded Potato Salad for Dinner


I love potato salad. I love the creamy kind, the vinegar-y kind; I’ll take a warm one with dill, whatever you’ve got. And yet, I’m about to make a bold claim: this potato salad might be my favorite. Why? Because it’s decidedly not a side dish. It’s the whole damn meal.
This recipe comes to us from Melina Hammer, who calls it a “Niçoise-ish” potato salad, because it’s souped up with tuna, eggs, and other classic Niçoise elements. “You get those bright, bold flavors,” says Melina. It adapts easily for the season, she adds, suggesting winter radishes — like purple daikons or watermelon radishes — if you make it this month. “You can also swap the green beans for two cups of chopped escarole or Napa cabbage, and I’m always a fan of thawed frozen peas. No need to cook them any further — just toss ’em in!”
Here’s the full recipe, plus some pointers from Melina:
Niçoise-ish Potato Salad
by Melina Hammer
Serves 4
3 eggs
salt
1 dry quart small red potatoes (approximately 2 lbs), any larger ones sliced in half
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp (or more) freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp capers, strained
2 1/2 oz thin green beans, stem ends trimmed and sliced into 1 1/2-2 inch segments on a diagonal (or swap for peas, cabbage, etc)
1 5-ounce can albacore tuna
3 radishes, ends trimmed and sliced in halves, then thinly sliced
2 tbsp finely sliced chives
2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
Bring a medium saucepan with enough water to cover the eggs by an inch to a boil. Lower refrigerator-cold eggs into the water and cook them on a simmer for 8 minutes, then plunge the eggs into an ice bath until they are cool enough to handle. Peel and then slice the eggs into six wedges apiece and set aside.
Bring the potatoes to a simmer in well-salted water. Cook for 8 minutes or until they yield easily when pierced with a sharp knife. Strain them into a colander with a slotted spoon, reserving the cooking liquid. Transfer the potatoes to a mixing bowl and add the oil, mustard, black pepper, and capers. Gently toss to fully coat.
Blanch the green beans in the potato water for 30 seconds to 1 minute — just long enough for them to turn bright green. Strain, and add to the potatoes. Add the tuna, flaking the fish into the bowl, followed by the radishes and chives. Toss to incorporate, then add the eggs and lemon juice. (Note: “If you’re making this a day or more in advance, hold the lemon juice and add it just before serving,” says Melina. “Otherwise, it will dull the color of the green beans.”) Gently toss once more. “I like to use a silicone spatula and work up from the bottom of the bowl, folding the ingredients together with a light hand so the yolks remain mostly intact.”
As you serve the potato salad, make sure to scoop up all the last bits of custardy egg, straggler chives, and mustardy goodness clinging to the sides of the bowl. Enjoy.

Melina Hammer is a chef, food stylist, recipe developer, and the award-winning author of A Year at Catbird Cottage. Her recipes have appeared on Bon Appétit, Food52, and Edible. You can follow her newsletter, Stories from Catbird Cottage.
What other dinner salads do you love? And do you have a house salad?
P.S. Five ways to upgrade a regular green salad, and white bean soup, because it’s February.
(Photos courtesy of Melina Hammer.)
Entertainment
Streaming deal alert: Get 3 months of MUBI for only $1
SAVE $43.97: Through Feb. 9, new and returning subscribers can get three months of streaming on MUBI for only $1. Usually $14.99 per month, that’s nearly $44 in savings.
If you’re looking to venture away from Netflix and its extravagant costs, MUBI is an excellent choice — especially if you’re a movie lover. There are never any ads, it’s brimming with hand-picked quality cinema, and for a limited time, it’s just a buck.
Through Feb. 9, new and returning subscribers can get three months of streaming on MUBI for just $1. It typically costs $14.99 per month (or $9.99 per month with an annual membership), which means you’ll save nearly $44 total across 90 days. After the promotional period, of course, the price will jump back up to $14.99 unless you cancel first.
MUBI is made for cinephiles, as it prides itself as a place to “discover ambitious films and series by visionary filmmakers — from iconic directors to emerging auteurs.” You’ll find mainstream and independent films, classics and new releases, award winners, and even Mubi originals. That includes one of our favorite movies from 2025, Die My Love, and one of our favorites from 2024, The Substance. It’s also where you can watch Lili Reinhart‘s new show Hal & Harper, as well as Twin Peaks in its entirety.
Mashable Deals
Streaming deals this good don’t stick around long — be sure to secure your $1 subscription by Feb. 9.
