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
Buddy Guy and Miles Catons Sinners Tiny Desk Concert is pure blues magic
Legendary musician Buddy Guy brought the blues to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series, with a guest appearance from Sinners actor Miles Caton.
The pair co-star in Ryan Coogler’s Academy Award-nominated smash hit. Caton plays gifted blues singer Sammie “Preacher Boy” Moore, whose music is so brilliant it transcends time (and lures a crew of vampires right to him). Guy plays Sammie 60 years on, when he’s deep into a successful blues career.
Guy kicks off his Tiny Desk Concert with his 1991 track “Damn Right, I’ve Got the Blues” before shifting to his cover of Muddy Waters’ “Hoochie Coochie Man.”
After these classic blues songs, Guy invites Caton to join him for two songs from the Sinners soundtrack. First up is “Travelin,'” which Sammie sings while driving around with Stack (Michael B. Jordan). Then, Guy and Caton launch into “I Lied to You,” the song that brings the house down in Smoke (also Jordan) and Stack’s juke joint. Nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song, “I Lied to You” was written by Raphael Saadiq and Sinners composter Ludwig Göransson.
Don’t expect Guy and Caton to perform these songs exactly as they appear in Sinners, though. Their renditions here are full of blues improvisation and playful banter, with Guy adding his own spin throughout and inviting Caton to join in. For a great trip through the history of blues, this mini concert is a must watch.
Entertainment
Amazon has a 39-inch LG Ultragear Curved Gaming Monitor on sale for almost half off
SAVE $723: As of Feb. 28, Amazon has the 39-inch LG Ultragear curved gaming monitor on sale for $876, which is 45% its list price of 1,599.
$876
at Amazon
$1,599
Save $723
If you’ve been dreaming of putting together a gaming setup with a curved monitor or wishing to upgrade your current equipment, this weekend might be the time to do it. Amazon has the LG Ultragear 39-inch curved gaming monitor on sale for almost half off. This model is perfect for those who want a single-screen OLED monitor with a wicked-fast frame rate and an 800R curve for true immersion. The monitor has a thick, sturdy, white base for folks who don’t mind the look of noticeable hardware.
Mashable Light Speed
Unlike other monitors meant only for running whatever you plug into them, this model has webOS 24 with access to your favorite streaming services built in. This means you could take a break from work or gaming and binge your favorite shows.
The screen is also expertly designed to reduce glare and reflections. This means you aren’t automatically required to find an extremely low-light location for your gaming monitor (although that can sometimes be a vibe). The sale price of this monitor makes this particular model size one of the lowest-priced OLED monitors you can buy on Amazon right now.
Entertainment
How to watch the Brit Awards 2026 online for free
TL;DR: Live stream the Brit Awards 2026 for free on ITVX. Access this live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Some of the biggest names in music are performing at the Brit Awards this weekend. Sure, there are a lot of awards to be presented, but that’s not really what the Brits is about. It’s about incredible performances, risqué jokes from the host, and celebrities behaving very badly. It’s always a messy night (in the best kind of way).
If you want to watch the Brit Awards 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
What are the Brits?
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry’s annual popular music awards. It’s the highest profile music awards ceremony in the UK, with performances from some of the industry’s biggest stars. In 2026, Jack Whitehall will host the ceremony for the sixth time. The likes of Olivia Dean, Mark Ronson, Harry Styles, and Rosalía are lined up to perform.
The Brit Awards have featured some of the most notable events in British popular culture, including the final public appearance of Freddie Mercury, the high-profile feud between Oasis and Blur, the Union Jack dress worn by Geri Halliwell of the Spice Girls, and so many more iconic moments.
When are the Brit Awards 2026?
The Brit Awards 2026 takes place on Feb. 28 at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester. The awards and performances will begin at 8:15 p.m. GMT.
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How to watch the Brit Awards 2026 for free
The Brit Awards 2026 is available to live stream for free on ITVX.
ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the Brit Awards 2026 from anywhere in the world.
Live stream the Brit Awards 2026 from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:
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Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
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Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
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Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
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Visit ITVX
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Live stream the Brit Awards 2026 for free from anywhere in the world
$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the Brit Awards 2026 before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for ITVX?
ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to access free live streams on ITVX, for a number of reasons:
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Servers in 105 countries including the UK
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Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
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Fast connection speeds
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Up to 10 simultaneous connections
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30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Watch the Brit Awards 2026 from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Buddy Guy and Miles Catons Sinners Tiny Desk Concert is pure blues magic
Amazon has a 39-inch LG Ultragear Curved Gaming Monitor on sale for almost half off
