Guillermo del Toro’s Latest Oscar Contender; bell hooks Dies at 69; Ben Affleck’s Marriage Story

[How CODA’s Groundbreaking, Powerhouse Cast Came Together]( [View in your browser]( | [Update your preferences](newsletter=vf) [Vanity Fair's Cocktail Hour logo image]( A daily digest of things to discuss over drinks December 15, 2021 [Image may contain: Human, Person, Clothing, Apparel, Furniture, Cate Blanchett, Wood, Home Decor, Flooring, and Hardwood]( [There Are No Surprises Lurking in Nightmare Alley]( [Despite the compelling source material, Guillermo del Toro’s latest Oscar contender is short on mystique and imagination.]( [R E A D M O R E »]( [bell hooks, Feminist Author and Social Activist, Dies at 69]( [A friend of the late writer, whose birth name was Gloria Jean Watkins, said, “the world is a lesser place today without her.”]( [R E A D M O R E »]( [The Images of Belfast: A Black-and-White Ode to Childhood]( [Writer-director Kenneth Branagh and cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos on making a film that was “quieter and more free.”]( [R E A D M O R E »]( [Ben Affleck Says His Marriage Went South for a Lot of the Normal Reasons]( [The actor, who has spoken openly about addiction before, told Howard Stern that his divorce likely allowed him to quit drinking.]( [R E A D M O R E »]( [The Limited-Edition and Luxuriously Chic Makeup That Won’t Require a Gift Receipt]( [A limited-edition Chanel lipstick, Gucci-logo nail stickers, and a chain-strapped Valentino compact set the tone for 2021’s best holiday beauty.]( [R E A D M O R E »]( [From the Archive: The Open Road]( [The silent center of a tabloid hurricane, Jennifer Garner is finally speaking out. With the lead in this month’s Miracles From Heaven, she talks about breaking up with Ben Affleck, dealing with the pain, and keeping her kids and career in focus.]( [R E A D M O R E »]( Get on the list Subscribe to our Hollywood newsletter for your essential industry and awards-season news, every day. [Sign Up Now]( [Condé Nast Spotlight | The breaking news and top stories everyone is talking about. All in one place. The most popular stories from Vogue, GQ, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Wired, Architectural Digest and more. STAY INFORMED]( [Vanity Fair Logo](www.vanityfair.com) [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( This e-mail was sent to you by VANITY FAIR. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, vanityfair@newsletter.vf.com, to your address book. View our [Privacy Policy]( [Unsubscribe](newsletter=vf) Copyright © Condé Nast 2021. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.