Entertainment
Overlooked, Unrated Thriller Bends Time And Laughs At Fate
By Robert Scucci
| Published
The concept of free will is a fickle one if you can see your own future and realize that no matter what choice you make in the present, you’ll wind up at the same outcome. 2019’s Volition toys with this deterministic notion when its hero can’t escape his fate no matter how many times he tries to course correct. He’s not living in a choose your own adventure timeline, but in an adventure with a grisly end that always seems to choose him.
Through this framework, Volition succeeds as a time traveling sci-fi thriller where free will and determinism are locked in constant opposition, with no clear way to break the cycle of betrayal, deception, and violence that traps our protagonist Jimmy (Adrian Glyn McMorran). As more variables enter the equation, Jimmy tries to make sense of his surroundings and correct the predetermined path he’s convinced he has to follow, hoping to reach a conclusion he can actually live with.
Clairvoyance, Diamonds, New Relationships, And Death
When we’re first introduced to Jimmy in Volition, we already know he’s blessed or cursed with clairvoyance. He uses his inexplicable ability for sports betting, while also experiencing fleeting flashes of deja vu that hit without warning. Having lived this way without too many complications, Jimmy’s life takes a turn when a woman named Angela (Magda Apanowicz) is mugged by a group of low level criminals. After catching a flash of a future moment suggesting they become friends, or maybe more than friends, he decides to pursue her.
Around the same time, Jimmy’s old friend Sal (Frank Cassini) introduces him to Ray (John Cassini), who offers him the chance to fence a bag of diamonds worth millions. Jimmy only accepts because his visions imply that this is how events are supposed to unfold. In his mind, the future isn’t something to avoid, it’s something he has to fulfill. Up until this point, he’s believed he has no real influence over the outcomes of his visions, so he might as well go with the flow.
As expected, Jimmy and Angela grow closer while Sal and his accomplice Terry (Aleks Paunovic) plan to betray Ray by stealing the diamonds from Jimmy and keeping the profits for themselves. The double cross sets off a chain reaction that forces Jimmy and Angela to flee to Jimmy’s estranged foster dad, Elliot (Bill Marchant), who happens to be a quantum physicist. As fate would suggest, at least in Jimmy’s mind, these events build toward what was always destined to happen. There will be a scuffle at Elliot’s house, and Angela will be shot dead.
Refusing to accept that this is how the scenario must play out, Jimmy consults Elliot, who reveals he created a time travel serum administered intravenously, and that Jimmy’s clairvoyance isn’t mystical at all. It’s the result of being subjected to the serum during childhood. Jimmy is understandably furious that his foster dad used him as a lab rat, but he’s relieved to learn that his visions are actually memories from previous time hops. If that’s the case, he may be able to change the future if he can map it out correctly.
A Time Loop Worth Getting Lost In
Volition becomes especially enthralling once it leans fully into Jimmy’s time loop, which fragments at increasingly absurd levels as he tries to save Angela from the encounter that claims her life. He experiences memories, past, future, and present in rapid bursts, making split second decisions based on limited information. He uses the wall of his apartment as a reference point to track overlapping timelines, watching himself from afar and interfering when necessary, yet still failing to crack the code.
No matter what he does, Angela dies, and he refuses to accept that outcome. If saving her life while sacrificing his own is his purpose, so be it. Having never cared about anyone as deeply as he cares about her convinces him that the ultimate tradeoff might be the only way to find peace.
There aren’t any flashy special effects in Volition outside of Jimmy’s visions, which is exactly what I appreciate in a time travel story. The film benefits from that restraint because the experience isn’t driven by laser beams or futuristic gadgetry. Everything unfolds inside Jimmy’s fractured perception as he buries himself deeper in similar yet slightly different timelines that all appear to lead to the same destination.
To experience the deja vu, the confusion, and one man laughing in the face of fate because he refuses to let a deterministic timeline call the shots, you can stream Volition for free on Tubi as of this writing.
Entertainment
LA public schools pass screen time limits for students in a first
Los Angeles public school students may be returning to the age of college-ruled notebooks and Scantrons, following a Tuesday school board vote that will limit the use of computers, laptops, and tablets in classrooms.
Titled “Using Technology with Intention,” the new resolution mandates the creation of grade-level and subject-specific screen time limits across Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) schools, including a complete ban on device usage for kindergarten and first grade. The use of one-to-one devices, like individual Chromebooks, will be discouraged for second through fifth grades, as well.
Revised guidelines will also address video-aided lesson plans, access to video streaming platforms like YouTube, and expanded restrictions on gaming and social media platforms.
District staff must present the revised tech use policy by June, which will go into effect for all LAUSD students beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. Guidelines will be reevaluated every year, and schools are tasked with tracking and sharing student screen time numbers with parents.
Mashable Light Speed
The resolution cites increasing concern about the effect of screen time on young minds and alleged screen addiction, including recent Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) studies that show a correlation between high screen time and adverse health effects. The board was unanimously in favor of the tech restrictions, with one recusal.
“We know that tech is not going away and can be a powerful tool in the classroom. This is not about going backwards. This is about rethinking school time and screen time in schools to ensure we are doing what actually helps students learn best,” board member Nick Melvoin said during Tuesday’s meeting.
“This is not about going backwards. This is about rethinking school time…”
Advocates, parents, and even students have spent the last year lobbying for greater tech restrictions following the passing of a 2025 bell-to-bell cellphone ban restricting the use of personal devices during school hours. Schools Beyond Screens, a national classroom tech safety coalition founded by LAUSD parents and teachers, helped craft the resolution in collaboration with board members and co-sponsors Melvoin, Karla Griego, Tanya Ortiz Franklin, Jerry Yang, Kelly Gonez, and Rocío Rivas.
“Now is the time for a safe and science-backed approach to classroom technology, one that is not guided by Big Tech talking points like screen value over screen time,” the organization wrote in a press release following the decision.
“There is much work to be done, and this is only the beginning, but today, we are proud, grateful, and – for the first time in a long time – hopeful. Our kids may yet have the kind of public education that they deserve — one that is proven effective and free of undue digital distraction, harmful content, and corporate exploitation.”
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Social Good
Family & Parenting
Entertainment
The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Bluetooth speaker is at the lowest price weve seen all year
SAVE $75: The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Bluetooth speaker is on sale for $224 at Amazon, down from the standard price of $299. That’s a 25% discount.
$224
at Amazon
$299
Save $75
Packing up for an adventure means figuring out how to bring along a soundtrack. A trip to the cabin or a lakeside campground all deserve to be experienced with a great playlist. If you could use an upgrade before summer to get a waterproof Bluetooth speaker, check out this deal at Amazon.
As of April 22, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore Bluetooth speaker is on sale for $224 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $299. That’s a 25% discount that takes $75 off the price. It’s also the lowest price we’ve seen at Amazon so far this year.
A compact speaker with a scratch-resistant aluminum shell is exactly what we should be packing on adventures. With an attached carabiner, the B&O Explore speaker is designed to clip onto your backpack when you hit the trail. Or you can utilize the rubber base to set it on a rock or even in the sand. It’s both waterproof and dustproof, adding to the durability.
Bang & Olufsen notes this model gets up to 27 hours of playtime before it needs to recharge. It weighs under 1.5 pounds, so it won’t add much bulk to your gear. It takes about two hours to recharge the Beosound Explore.
Mashable Deals
Before summer kicks into high gear, add the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore speaker to your pack. It’s ready for any adventure you have planned.
Entertainment
Get some new wrist candy with the CMF Watch Pro 2 at its lowest price ever
SAVE $39.01: As of April 22, get the CMF By Nothing Watch 2 Pro for $39.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $79. That’s a discount of 49% and the lowest price we’ve seen.
$39.99
at Amazon
$79
Save $39.01
There are tons of smartwatches on the market if you’re in need of one. But if you’re willing to look beyond the Apple Watches or Samsung devices out there, you’ll find an awesome alternative from the Nothing brand that’ll save you some serious cash. Not only is it more affordable than the competition, but it’s got everything you could want and then some. In fact, one of the models is on sale right now.
As of April 22, get the CMF By Nothing Watch 2 Pro for $39.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $79. That’s $39.01 off and a discount of 49%. It’s also the lowest price we’ve seen.
This affordable smartwatch not only comes in an attractive form factor, but it has just about everything you could ask for. It has your average comms tools like Bluetooth calling and gesture control, a built-in mic and speaker, contacts, message reminders, and music control. But from there, it offers a wide range of sensors and data to help you take control of your health.
It offers a portable blood oxygen saturation monitor, a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, and so much more. All of this data, including workout information, steps, and much more, can be synced across all your favorite fitness apps, including Apple Health and Google Health Connect. There are 120 sports modes to choose from, GPS positioning, and even a 3D warm-up exercise guide to help get you on your feet each day.
Mashable Deals
With interchangeable watch straps and an attractive face, this extremely reasonable smartwatch is definitely one to rival Apple and Samsung. You’ll want to grab yours while it’s still down to the lowest price we’ve seen.
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