Entertainment
Sinners' Success Is A Condemnation Of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey
By Jennifer Asencio
| Published
Ryan Coogler’s period vampire movie Sinners made Oscars history with a record 16 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Director, and nominations in three of the four acting categories. It has also been nominated for or won top awards from nearly every industry organization in the United States and abroad. It has drawn a lot of buzz since its release, and now that the Oscars are almost here, you should know if it was worth all the hype.
Michael B. Jordan plays Smoke and Stack, twins returning to their 1930s Mississippi home after a long absence. They plan to open a “juke joint,” a blues club for black people in the segregated South. They buy an old lumber mill, enlist their cousin Sammy and a bunch of friends to help run the place, and are all set for a night of partying. But when Sammy’s musical talents attract the attention of an ancient vampire and his newly minted minions, the mill becomes a prison of human carnage.
Sinners Detractors Call It A Tarantino Knockoff
A lot of people critical of the movie’s nominations have said that it’s basically From Dusk Till Dawn, but many vampire movies are going to have similarities. In this case, it’s probably the brothers and the enclosed location that remind so many people of the Quentin Tarantino-Robert Rodriguez collaboration.
I think the movie has a lot more in common with The Lost Boys: two brothers that don’t belong to the mainstream being offered a chance to make a mainstream of their own with a new family. The vampire in Sinners is not a vicious killer but a lonely old soul looking for a collective and “finding” it by making one of his own.
Michael B. Jordan Does Double Duty And Earns His Nomination
Michael B. Jordan shines as twins Smoke and Stack, two different personalities with a conflicted past and a plan to change their community. Jordan switches between these characters very well, definitely worthy of his Oscar nomination, and maybe even more so because he had more to do in this film than the other actors with the nod, who only had one character to play.
Fellow nominee Delroy Lindo is heartbreaking as Delta Slim, a drunken pianist who is a staple of the Black community in this rural Southern town. Best Supporting Actress, Wunmi Mosaku, plays the very intriguing Annie, whose introduction to the movie serves as a beacon to the audience that the supernatural is already alive and well in this world. She is the closest parallel to the plot of From Dusk Til Dawn, filling in for Harvey Keitel’s “mean m-f’ing servant of God” with herbal magic and traditional African charms.
A Place That Feels Real And Authentic
Another major area in which Sinners shines is the establishment of its setting. The town, the slaughterhouse, and the fields all have an authenticity to them that draws you into their Depression-era world. No stone is left unturned: vehicles were chosen with care, costumes and hair were given close attention. Interior and exterior sets show no sign of divergence. The production design, costumes, hair, and makeup were all noticed by the Academy, with good reason.
The most important element of a story about music as a superpower is the music itself. Composer Ludwig Göransson received two nominations, one for Best Original Score and one alongside Raphael Saddiq for the song “I Lied to You,” the incredible arrangement performed by Sammy that draws the vampires to the joint.
Aesthetically, this is the weakest scene in the film because it relies heavily on imagery that echoes through time and calls upon the heritages of everyone in the place, and the movie’s only anachronism made the scene both a little silly and amazingly intense. The message is clear: music is timeless, universal, and consolidating.
There are a few categories that I’m not sure it will win, such as editing and cinematography; not that these things were bad, but I haven’t seen enough of the other nominees to fairly compare them. Based only on its own merits, these technical achievements were outstanding.
Why Sinners’ Success Is A Condemnation Of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey
Some complaints about the movie’s Oscar nominations claim that it is only up for so many awards because of its attention to race, both onscreen and behind the scenes. It’s true that much of the production was led by Black and Asian people, with writer-director Ryan Coogler of Black Panther fame, leading the way with his Filipino wife at his side.
That’s actually part of why this movie does deserve so many awards, though: this is a quality original film that is Black-cast and Black-led, evidence that such things exist, and that there is no reason for gratuitous inclusion in existing properties, like Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. The work put into this movie earned its acclaim organically.
The movie’s Oscars fate will be decided on March 15, 2026, on ABC and Hulu. Does it live up to the hype? To me, it does, but judge for yourself, because Sinners is streaming free to subscribers on HBO Max.
Entertainment
How to avoid getting scammed online in 2026
If there’s anything last year’s Qantas data breach has taught us, it’s that your online information isn’t as secure as you think it is. While you may think you’ve secured your digital footprint by using ‘strong’ passwords or switching to incognito mode, there’s a world of online trackers and threats waiting for one slip-up to weasel their way onto your devices. And unfortunately, slip-ups do happen from time to time.
Before you purchase with your card details or enter your shipping address, we at PCMag have a couple of tips to make sure your data is secure while browsing online:
Regularly Change Your Passwords
Though this seems pretty obvious from the outset, remembering to regularly change your passwords is harder than you think—especially when you’re one to forget easily. Yet, the first and best way to maintain your security is to switch up your credentials every few months. If you often struggle thinking of a strong password, you can always rely on Bitdefender’s Password Manager to store or generate a password mixed with letters, numbers, and symbols. Your online security will be stronger than ever.
Be Wary of Suspicious Links and Attachments
Using phishing emails or links to infect your devices is a hackers’ favourite way to get your personal details. So, the last thing you want to do when a dubious email or link makes its way into your inbox or messages is click it. However, if you do, make sure you don’t enter in any personal or banking details. If you’re unsure about any links or texts you’ve been sent, Bitdefender’s Scamio and Email Protection software will scan your online activity and inbox for any devious threats lurking beneath the surface. You’ll be fully aware of any threats to your information in no time.
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Trust in Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
There’s no such thing as being “overly secure,” and setting up two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts is a great example. A security method meant to shield your accounts from phishing or hackers, 2FA pairs your password with an additional layer of identity verification—ranging from PIN codes and personal questions to security tokens and smart keys. Should any break-ins or data breaches occur, you’ll be thankful this extra layer of protection will keep your information protected.
Keep Your Devices Updated
We’ve all been frustrated by a random system update. However, updating your devices with the latest software protects your tech from vulnerabilities hackers often exploit. Though you might hesitate to install a major operating system update (or simply don’t have the time and energy to sit through the update), any weaknesses will be patched up quickly and easily so your system runs smoothly and safely. Not only that, keeping your system, browser, and apps up-to-date also helps extend the life of your devices.
Invest in Antivirus Software
You know what they say: it’s an oldie but a goodie. Investing in robust antivirus software is a surefire way to maintain the security of your personal data. One of our personal favourite Antivirus suites of 2026, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, keeps your devices protected against the Trojans, ransomware or spyware that try to set up shop on your devices. Yet, if you’d prefer an even higher level of protection, Bitdefender Ultimate Security comes equipped with an unlimited VPN, anti-tracker extension, and comprehensive email and SMS protection. Check out our extensive coverage for more information.
Stay On Top of Your Cyber Security Needs
Hackers and online scammers will stop at nothing to get hold of your personal information, but you don’t need to suffer at the hands of a data breach you can’t prevent. While you can always rely on us here at PCMag to keep you informed on the best security suites on the market, Bitdefender is the next best one-stop-shop for keeping your life confidential—and you can always check out the Bitdefender blog for more online security tips and tricks, too.
Entertainment
NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 15, 2026
Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is easy for people that watch Conference Championship week.
As we’ve shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.
Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the “common threads between words.” And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we’ve served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today’s puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
What is Connections: Sports Edition?
The NYT‘s latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication’s sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there’s only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
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Here’s a hint for today’s Connections: Sports Edition categories
Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
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Yellow: Basketball no-no’s
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Green: Next round of the tournament
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Blue: Women’s coaching GOATs
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Purple: CBB conference champions
Here are today’s Connections: Sports Edition categories
Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:
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Yellow: Basketball Fouls
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Green: First Words in NCAA Tournament Rounds
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Blue: Women’s College Basketball Coaches
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Purple: Teams Qualified for the 2026 Men’s NCAA Tournament
Looking for Wordle today? Here’s the answer to today’s Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today’s puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today’s Connections: Sports Edition #538 is…
What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?
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Basketball Fouls – BLOCK, CHARGE, HOLD, REACH-IN
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First Words in NCAA Tournament Rounds – ELITE, FINAL, SECOND, SWEET
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Women’s College Basketball Coaches – AURIEMMA, CLOSE, IVEY, STALEY
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Teams Qualified for the 2026 Men’s NCAA Tournament – GONZAGA, HIGH POINT, QUEENS, TROY
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Connections.
Entertainment
Hurdle hints and answers for March 15, 2026
If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.
There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it’ll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.
An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.
If you find yourself stuck at any step of today’s Hurdle, don’t worry! We have you covered.
Hurdle Word 1 hint
To draw attention to.
Hurdle Word 1 answer
FOCUS
Hurdle Word 2 hint
To start up.
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Hurdle Word 2 Answer
CRANK
Hurdle Word 3 hint
Move.
Hurdle Word 3 answer
SHIFT
Hurdle Word 4 hint
Murky.
Hurdle Word 4 answer
MUDDY
Final Hurdle hint
A truck.
Hurdle Word 5 answer
LORRY
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
How to avoid getting scammed online in 2026
NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 15, 2026
