Songs, Movies & Moments: January 2023

Stephen Curry documentary; Beyoncé on Apple Fitness app; actress Nia Long; M3GAN opens.

Stephen Curry. Photo: Max Morse
Stephen Curry. Photo: Max Morse

A Look at Entertainment

by T.J. Moore –

Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry will be headed to Sundance in the summer … or at least his documentary is.

A special screening of Stephen Curry: Underrated, directed by acclaimed director Peter Nicks, is set for a 2023 Sundance Film Festival premiere. Featuring Ryan Coogler and Erick Peyton, the documentary explores the evolution of Curry from an undersized sharpshooter from Davidson to one of the NBA’s all-time greats.

“Stephen Curry is one of the most influential, dynamic, and unexpected players in the history of basketball,” reads the documentary’s official description. “Intimate cinematic video, archival footage, and on-camera interviews reveal Curry’s rise from an undersized college player to a four-time world champion.”

Underrated is among four new films added to the initial announcement. Beyond Utopia, Flora and Son, Past Lives and Earth Mama, round out the lineup.

Beyoncé on the Apple Fitness app.
Beyoncé on the Apple Fitness app.

Beyoncé is coming to Apple Fitness. The iconic pop star will pair exercise classes with her catalog as the soundtrack. Her music will be featured in seven types of classes including cycling, dance, HIIT, Pilates, strength, treadmill, and yoga classes.

“No matter where people are on their health and well being journey, Fitness+ makes it easy to get started and stay motivated with workouts and mediations that are welcoming to all,” says Jay Blahnik, Apple Vice President of Fitness Technologies. “Whether people want to boost their cardio with the newest workout-type move to Beyoncé’s latest hits, or wind down before bed with a mediation, there really is something for everyone to take care of their body and mind in the new year.”

Fans can tap into Beyoncé’s collaboration with Apple Fitness on Jan. 9.

Nia Long
Nia Long

Actress Nia Long may be one of the biggest Black stars, but she doesn’t like being categorized as such. Films with predominately Black casts being called “Black movies” or actors being called “Black famous” doesn’t sit well with her.

“I think terms like that hold us back,” Long shared to Buzzfeed. “And I have to catch myself sometimes too, because I’m very proud of who I am.”

Long says when she refers to her films as Black, it’s a way to acknowledge how the movie spotlights the Black experience.

“When I use the word ‘Black,’ I don’t use it as away to separate ourselves from anyone—I use it as a way to put an exclamation point behind our greatness, because I don’t think it’s always been celebrated and recognized.”

Atomic Monster’s M3GAN is dominating the box office, with an opening of $30.2 million after racking in $11.7 million during the opening Saturday.

M3GAN had an incredible debut and rightly so, certainly not surprising that a collaboration between Blum House and James Wan’s Atomic Monster would produce such a fun, creepy, thrilling story that audiences are piling into theaters to see,” Uni Domestic Distribution Boss Jim Orr shared to Deadline.

M3GAN pulled in $2.5M admissions on opening weekend, representing a third of all foot traffic, compared to Avatar 2, which counted for 39%.