“Blink Twice” is many things: a bracing debut feature, already a source of debate fodder —and, undebatably, the career assignment that Channing Tatum really, really needed.

He’s a funny kind of kind-of star. Tatum has learned to command the screen in the right role, working around his technical limitations, mostly to do with his voice. But coming off the strained, overblown romantic comedy “Fly Me to the Moon,” where he could barely get through his rapid-fire banter without gasping for air before the punchline, his performance in “Blink Twice” is pretty astonishing.

Is it because he’s playing a bad guy? No spoiler there; it’s in the movie’s trailers. Antagonists can free an actor, or at least vary an actor’s diet of solemn or sardonic good guys. Often, though, actors see villainy, even complicated villainy, as a license to overkill.

Not here. Tatum’s turn in “Blink Twice” is like the movie itself: crafty, rich, strange and, even when it wobbles a bit, destabilizing in ways guaranteed to lead to a less-than-stellar audience exit poll CinemaScore on opening weekend. More interestingly, it’s a bracing directorial debut for co-writer Zoë Kravitz. It’s also one of the few recent American thrillers with something on its mind, and the wiles to tap into something inside an organically realized nightmare scenario.

Tatum’s character is clouded by a recent, vaguely specified scandal, and “Blink Twice” begins with this man in apology and image-repair mode, having redirected some of his wealth to philanthropic galas and good causes. He has also bought a small private island somewhere, apparently in the Caribbean. There he spends time with close friends, eating stunningly photogenic meals, drinking wines costly enough to tilt the stock market this way or that. Also, he still does some drugs, as he did more carelessly, we hear, in the old days. Now, as Slater King tells one of his guests, it’s “with intention.”

The guest is a newbie, a knockout and agog at her good fortune. She’s the real star of “Blink Twice”: Naomi Ackie, the excellent English actress, playing Frida, a somewhat directionless Los Angeles cocktail waitress who works for a catering firm with her roommate, played by the invaluable supporting ringer Alia Shawkat. At a gala honoring King, the ladies decide the crash the party they’re supposed to be working and it works. King invites them to join his posse for a jaunt down to the island.

The screenplay by Kravitz and E.T. Feigenbaum pretends to be a straight-line narrative, but there’s something afoot, and it’s messing with Frida’s senses and sense of time. Something in the food? In the flowers picked from the nearby jungle, by the perpetually nearby local “help”? The louche male guests, played by Christian Slater and Haley Joel Osment, to name two, dart between conviviality and connivance, while the women — led by Adria Arjona, terrific as the longtime veteran of a babes-in-“Survivor”-land reality series — get high, get drunk, and run around as if being pursued by wolves.

Where this scenario goes next has its payoffs, and a drawback or two. “Blink Twice” lands on a gratifyingly bloody note, and with near-miraculous skill, director Kravitz manages some tonal change-ups beautifully, thanks to the razor-sharp editing of Kathryn J. Schubert and an ever-surprising sound design from Jon Flores, folding nicely in with Chanda Dancy’s score. The visual design of the picture, very big on blood reds and geometric carve-ups of this corner of paradise, feels like a single idea, fully expressed. If the resolution to “Blink Twice” won’t satisfy everyone, well, there it is.

Naomi Ackie stars as Frida and Adria Arjona as Sarah in director Zoë Kravitz’s “Blink Twice,” an Amazon MGM Studios film. (Carlos Somonte/Amazon Content Services LLC/TNS)

Watching the film, certain probable influences come to mind, including Jordan Peele’s work, especially the great scene in “Get Out” with Betty Gabriel as the smiling, freaked-out housekeeper. The private-island premise recalls the late Jeffrey Epstein’s real estate holdings along with his crimes. The mind games and aggressively art-directed evocations of untrustworthy paradise, meanwhile, may link back for some viewers to lesser works such as “Don’t Worry Darling.”

Even if you get ahead of the story here, or resist the daring lurches in tone, “Blink Twice” marks a formidable directorial debut. As an actor (not onscreen here), Kravitz is so effortless, you rarely detect any overt planning or determination in her performances. Her movie’s a different case: a precise visual telling of a tale heading somewhere awful, but also cathartic. There is wit here, and expert supporting turns (Geena Davis is on the money as the billionaire’s assistant who has seen too much). Ackie is exceptional. And as dead-eyed schemer hiding behind a veneer of gentle contrition, Tatum has rarely seemed more alive and engaged on screen.

“Blink Twice” — 3.5 stars (out of 4)

MPA rating: R (for strong violent content, sexual assault, drug use and language throughout, and some sexual references)

Running time: 1:42

How to watch: Premieres in theaters Aug. 22

Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.

 

 

By Eliza Haverstock | NerdWallet

Students and families finally have an idea of what to expect from the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the form that unlocks federal students loans, grants, work-study and scholarships for millions of Americans each year.

The Education Department committed to fully launching the FAFSA by Dec. 1 — but select groups of students will be able to access and submit the form as early as Oct. 1. The early access is part of a beta testing process designed by the Education Department to identify and fix FAFSA issues before the form’s public debut. (In a typical FAFSA year, the form opens to all students on Oct. 1.)

Financial aid experts are optimistic that the phased rollout will prevent the technical glitches and delays that plagued the form’s 2024-25 rendition.

“Hopefully, a lot of the FAFSA completion bugs that applicants found when the 2024-25 FAFSA rolled out late in December last year will already have been caught and resolved before December 1,” says Karen McCarthy, vice president of public policy and federal relations at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

If you’re thinking about going to college in 2025-26, here’s what you need to know about the upcoming FAFSA release.

Second year of the simplified FAFSA

The 2025-26 FAFSA will be the second year of the “simplified FAFSA.” The redesigned form debuted for the 2024-25 school year.

The simplified form has fewer questions: roughly 36, down from as many as 108 in 2023-24 and prior years. It may also calculate financial aid packages slightly differently. For example, the FAFSA redesign removed the “sibling discount” for families with multiple kids in college at the same time.

“If you’re an incoming student who’s never filed a FAFSA at all, hopefully it doesn’t mean much at all. It’s not much of a change to you, because you’re not used to any prior process,” says MorraLee Keller, senior director of strategic planning at the National College Attainment Network.

Phased rollout for some students

A beta testing process will occur between Oct. 1 and Dec. 1. The Education Department will invite groups of student volunteers to participate in phases, closely monitoring their FAFSA experience and gathering real-time feedback. The department will make corrections to the form throughout the testing period, and starting Dec. 1, any member of the public will be able to access the FAFSA.

The Education Department will work with high schools, colleges, state agencies and college access groups to find and invite a diverse group of student volunteers for early FAFSA access. Beta testing will begin with hundreds of participants and ramp up to “tens of thousands” ahead of Dec. 1, a department spokesperson said.

“In a sense, the system will be open, just not to the public,” McCarthy says. “It’s going to be a live system that works. Those will be real FAFSAs. They will be forwarded to the colleges and to the state agencies for the students.”

This phased rollout will be different from the 2024-25 FAFSA’s glitchy “soft launch” in late December 2023. During last year’s soft launch, applicants could try to get into the FAFSA during specific open times, leaving many students and parents frustrated.

Early access won’t get you more aid

Early FAFSA access during beta testing doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get more financial aid, including first-come, first-serve aid, McCarthy says.

“While these early FAFSAs will be real FAFSAs … the [department] will be encouraging schools and states not to make any financial aid offers based on any early [processed FAFSAs] that they see,” McCarthy says. “There’s a fairness aspect to that, and there’s also a little bit of an accuracy aspect to it, because this is live testing.”

There are, however, two key reasons to submit the FAFSA during the test period, if given the opportunity. First, test group members may get access to personalized help from the Education Department, McCarthy says.

“It is intended to be a very high-touch and hands-on process,” McCarthy says. “Depending on what the questions are, it could be helpful to the applicant to have that one-on-one support with Federal Student Aid.”

Second, submitting the FAFSA before Dec. 1 can also help guarantee that you don’t miss any priority financial aid deadlines, Keller says. And once your FAFSA is taken care of, you can move to other items on your list, like scholarship applications.

Don’t worry if you’re not selected for early FAFSA access — you’ll still have time to fill out the form and meet priority financial aid deadlines for your state and college. Submit the form as soon as possible after it opens to the public in December to qualify for the largest award. Some types of aid come from a limited pool, and can run out.

Request your FSA ID in advance

Regardless of when you’re granted FAFSA access, your family can get a head start on the process today by requesting your Federal Student Aid (FSA) IDs on studentaid.gov.

Your FSA ID is the unique username and password combination that you use to sign into the FAFSA form. The student and all other contributors — which may include the student’s parents or spouse — need to request an FSA ID.

Once you submit your identifying information, like your address and Social Security number, expect a three-day turnaround before you get an email with your FSA ID.

“Be prepared this fall,” Keller advises. “Get your FSA ID set up, get your college list ready, work on admissions applications, get all that good stuff out of the way so that come December 1, you’re ready to concentrate on completing the FAFSA.”

Know who to ask for FAFSA help

High school seniors should go to their guidance counselor with any questions about the 2025-26 FAFSA. Prospective college students can also reach out to the financial aid offices at the institutions to which they are applying.

Returning students should reach out to their college’s financial aid office.

Though the phased rollout is unusual, submitting the FAFSA remains essential to getting the money you need to afford college — including federal student loans, need-based Pell Grants and scholarships. There’s no income cutoff to qualify for aid, and you might get more than you think.

“There are a lot of people who are eligible for aid but think that they are not, and they just don’t bother to file the FAFSA, and therefore they’re leaving aid on the table,” Keller says.

Eliza Haverstock writes for NerdWallet. Email: ehaverstock@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @elizahaverstock.

The article Full FAFSA Launch by Dec. 1: What Students and Families Need To Know originally appeared on NerdWallet.

The 2024 Minnesota State Fair starts on Thursday, Aug. 22 and runs through Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 2.

Here’s what you need to know:

Hours

• Fairground hours are from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. except for Labor Day, when hours are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Other hours of operations within the Fairgrounds: Find specific hours for different events, barns and activities at mnstatefair.org/general-info/hours-of-operation/.

Tickets

Pre-Fair discount gate admission tickets cost $15 through Wednesday; starting Thursday, general admission prices are $18 for ages 13-64; $16 for seniors ages 65+ as well as kids ages 5-12; children four and under get in free.

Discounts

On Thursday — opening day of the 2024 Minnesota State Fair — there are discounted admission prices at the entrance gates: $16 for ages 13-64 and $13 for seniors (65+) and kids (5-12).

Other discounts:

• Seniors Day: Discounted admission ($13 for 65+) at the Fair entrance and deals on merchandise and food for all Fair guests on Monday, Aug. 26 and Thursday, Aug. 29.

• Military Appreciation Day: Discounted admission ($13) on Tuesday, Aug. 27 at the entrance gates for active military, their spouses and kids; retired military and their spouses; and military veterans and their spouses (requires valid documentation of service). Also, deals on merchandise and food for all Fair guests.

• Kids Day: Discounted admission ($13) for kids ages five to 12 at the entrance gates on Wednesday, Aug. 28 and Monday, Sept. 2 (Labor Day).

• Mighty Midway and Kidway: There are also special ride and game promotions throughout the Fair for both the Midway and Kidway, including early-bird pricing. Get the dates and hours at mnstatefair.org/deals-and-discounts/.

From Jared Kaufman, here’s more about free stuff.

Getting there

The Minnesota State Fair operates a free Park & Ride bus service from approximately 30 locations around the Twin Cities, including sites in St. Paul, Roseville and at the University of Minnesota. Find all locations and hours at mnstatefair.org/get-here/free-park-and-ride/.

From Imani Cruzen, here’s more about transit and parking options.

Weather

It looks like the rain will hold off for opening day on Thursday. Here’s the 12-day forecast, including air quality and weather history.

Grandstand

Last summer, the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand offered one of its most star-studded lineups in recent memory. While this year’s offerings aren’t quite as spectacular, ticket prices are more reasonable than 2023.

Here’s a preview of the acts from Ross Raihala.

Food

Earlier, the Fair announced 33 official new foods for 2024 including Buffalo cheese curd and chicken tacos, deep-fried ranch dressing and banh mi eclairs.

Six new vendors include St. Paul’s El Burrito Mercado, Kosharina Egyptian Cuisine and Midtown Market’s Indigenous Food Lab.

From Jess Fleming, here’s the list of 33 items.

Beverages

There are 63 new beverages to choose from at the Fair. As usual, there’s a heavy emphasis on sweet stuff and fruited beers, including lingonberry options.

From Jess Fleming, here’s the list of 63 new drinks, grouped by location and including some non-alcoholic options.

What’s new

From a redesigned crop art exhibition hall to deep-fried ranch dressing to a temporary no-go on live cow births at the CHS Miracle of Birth Center, Jared Kaufman has the highlights of what’s changing, what’s new, and what’s gone at this year’s Fair.

First aid

Regions Hospital Emergency Medical Services will be the official first aid provider for the 16th year in a row. From Angeline Patrick Pachec, here’s a list of safety tips and reminders from Regions to help visitors avoid needing medical care while at the Fair.

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Julie Appleby | (TNS) Kaiser Health News

WASHINGTON — The Affordable Care Act is back under attack. Not as in the repeal-and-replace debates of yore, but in a fresher take from Republican lawmakers who say key parts of the ACA cost taxpayers too much and provide incentive for fraud.

Several House Republican leaders have called on two watchdog agencies to investigate, while Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, fired off more than half a dozen questions in a recent letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

At issue are the ACA’s enhanced subsidies, put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of economic recovery legislation. Grassley said in a recent news release that the subsidies “left Obamacare, a program already riddled with problems, wide open to new waste, fraud and abuse.”

While potential fraud in government programs has always been a rallying cry for conservatives, the recent criticisms are a renewed line of attack on the ACA because repealing it is unlikely, given that more than 21 million people enrolled in marketplace plans for this year.

“I see what’s happening right now as laying the groundwork for the big fight next year,” said Debbie Curtis, a vice president at consulting firm McDermott+.

The enhanced subsidies are set to expire in late 2025. Without them, millions of Americans would likely see their premiums go up.

But the debate will also likely draw in other issues, including Trump-era tax cuts, which also must be addressed next year. Also potentially in play are other aspects of the ACA, including a special year-round enrollment period and zero-premium plans for low-income consumers.

Much of what eventually happens will depend on the makeup of the Senate and House, as well as control of the White House, after the November elections.

“The fate of the enhanced tax credits is dependent on the Democrats holding some majority in Congress and/or winning the presidency and is also tied inextricably to the Trump tax cut expiration,” said Dean Rosen, a partner at Mehlman Consulting and a former senior Republican congressional staffer. That’s because both sides have incentive to extend all or part of the tax cuts, but each will want some kind of compromise on other issues as well.

The growing outcry by Republicans about the subsidies goes hand in hand with a controversial recent report from a conservative think tank that estimates millions of people — or their brokers — may be misstating their incomes and getting the most generous ACA subsidies.

The Paragon Health Institute report estimates that the number of people who enrolled in ACA coverage for this year who projected they would earn between 100% of the federal poverty level and 150% — amounts that qualify them for zero-premium plans and smaller deductibles — likely exceeds the number of people with that level of income, particularly in nine states.

It recommends several changes to the ACA, including letting the enhanced subsidies expire, increasing repayment amounts for people who fail to project their incomes correctly, and ending the Biden-backed initiative that allows very low-income people to enroll in ACA coverage year-round rather than having to wait for the once-a-year general open enrollment period.

The Paragon report was cited by both Grassley and the House GOP lawmakers in their letters to government overseers. It also notes what they consider a related concern: ongoing problems of unscrupulous, commission-seeking agents enrolling people in ACA coverage or switching their plans without their permission, often into highly subsidized plans. KFF Health News uncovered the enrollment and switching schemes in the spring.

Some critics, though, question how the Paragon analysis was done.

For instance, Paragon’s findings rely on two unrelated data sets from different years. Combining them makes many people who are eligible for subsidies appear to be ineligible, said Gideon Lukens, a senior fellow and director of research at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. “The analytic approach is not careful or sophisticated enough to provide accurate or even meaningful results.”

Paragon President Brian Blase, a former senior Trump administration official and a co-author of the report, said it used publicly available data that others could use to confirm its results.

Paragon’s recommendations also drew mixed reactions.

Sabrina Corlette, a co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University, said they “would make coverage less affordable, disproportionately affecting low-income people, and that’s the opposite of the goals of the ACA.”

Another ACA expert, Joseph Antos of the conservative American Enterprise Institute, agrees with one of the recommended fixes: changing the structure of the subsidies to limit zero-premium plans.

“Giving health insurance away is the problem,” said Antos, who said it is probably contributing to the unauthorized switching by some rogue brokers, who know if they sign someone up for a free plan without their permission, they’re unlikely to get caught for a while because the person won’t get monthly bills.

Another potential solution to people misstating their income is that “the seven or eight states that still haven’t expanded Medicaid should do that,” Antos said. The expansion would open Medicaid eligibility to more people who earn less than the poverty level, reducing the incentive to overestimate their income to qualify for ACA subsidies.

Among other things, the subsidies are larger now for low-income enrollees. For example, families at the poverty level or just above it ($30,000 to $45,000 for a family of four) can currently qualify for coverage with no monthly premium, whereas before they would have had to pay 2% to 4% of their annual income toward such a plan.

President Joe Biden has pushed to make the subsidies permanent and has often touted the record enrollment in ACA plans under his watch. Across all income groups, nearly 20 million people out of 21 million ACA enrollees this year got at least some subsidy, according to a KFF report.

Subsidies, also called premium tax credits, are generally paid directly to health insurers, and applicants must estimate their income for the coming year to qualify.

Those who incorrectly project their incomes — possibly because they work irregular retail hours, are self-employed and give a best guess of business, or get an unexpected raise or a new job — must pay back all or part of the subsidy, on a sliding scale linked to income.

The cost of the enhanced subsidies has been sharply criticized by some GOP leaders after the Congressional Budget Office recently estimated that making them permanent would add $335 billion to the federal budget deficit over 10 years.

Democrats have pointed to another recent CBO report estimating extending the Trump-era tax cuts would add $4.6 trillion to the deficit over 10 years.

The enhanced subsidies “cost a lot less than that and it’s actually helping people,” Curtis said.

Ultimately, “every health care debate comes down to money,” said Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy at KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News. “There is a trade-off here. Millions of people have gotten coverage and more affordable premiums due to these enhanced subsidies, but extending them would cost the government a lot of money.”

Despite the attention paid by some GOP lawmakers to the fraud concerns, many political observers say they don’t think they will play a direct role during the election campaigns of either party.

“For Republicans, they’ll stay away from health care period. It is not a winning campaign issue for them,” Curtis said. “With Harris’ campaign, we will see a continued drive for affordable coverage being key, particularly drug costs. In neither party will you hear much about the importance of extending the enhanced subsidies. It’s too complicated.”

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(KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs of KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling and journalism.)

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©2024 Kaiser Health News. Visit khn.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.