Jennifer Lopez, one of the most versatile and enduring performers in entertainment history, achieved a landmark career milestone on January 26, 2025, with the premiere of her first movie-musical, Kiss of the Spider Woman, at the Sundance Film Festival.
The event, held at Park City’s Eccles Center Theatre, drew an amazing audience who responded with a standing ovation, a moment Lopez described as a lifelong dream realized.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life,” Lopez said during a post-screening Q&A. “This crowd made my dream come true!”
This premiere not only marked a major personal achievement for Lopez but also highlighted her continued dedication to pushing artistic boundaries.
The actress, singer, dancer, and producer brought together decades of experience to deliver a performance that critics and fans alike celebrated as electrifying, heartfelt, and career-defining.
A Lifelong Love for Musicals
Lopez shared the deeply personal roots of her passion for musical theatre during the Q&A.
She reminisced about watching West Side Story with her mother every Thanksgiving, a tradition that ignited her fascination with storytelling through song and dance.
“I remember being mesmerized. I was like, ‘That’s what I want to do,’” Lopez recalled. “And now, for the first time, I actually get to do it.”
Her journey into the realm of musical films has been long and multifaceted.
Known globally for her chart-topping music and award-winning acting, Lopez has consistently balanced a demanding schedule of recording, touring, and acting.
Yet, she emphasized that this film represented a full-circle moment where her love for musicals, storytelling, and performance intersected in a deeply personal way.
The Story Behind ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’
Kiss of the Spider Woman is adapted from Manuel Puig’s 1976 novel and further interpreted through the celebrated stage adaptation by John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Terrence McNally.
Set against the backdrop of Argentina’s political turmoil during the 1980s, the film follows the story of Diego Luna as a political prisoner.
Luna’s character shares a cell with another man portrayed by Tonatiuh, and within their confined world, storytelling becomes both an escape and a tool for survival.
Lopez plays Luna/Aurora, a character within a musical that one prisoner recounts to the other during their incarceration.
The role allowed her to showcase her exceptional talents in singing, dancing, and acting, combining elements of theatrical spectacle with intimate, character-driven storytelling.
The festival synopsis praised Lopez as “an astonishing scene-stealer,” noting her ability to command attention while balancing the film’s dramatic and musical components.
An Homage to Broadway Legends
During the post-screening discussion, Lopez acknowledged the immense influence of Broadway pioneers on her performance.
She cited Chita Rivera, Fred Ebb, and Terrence McNally as inspirations whose dedication to musical theatre artistry helped shape her understanding of the genre.
Jennifer Lopez (Credit: YouTube)
“It’s an honor to be part of this movie,” Lopez said. “I thank you all so much for this moment.”
Her remarks underscored the importance of legacy and mentorship in the arts.
By embracing the history of musical theatre while adding her own distinctive voice, Lopez bridged generations of performers and demonstrated how timeless narratives can be reimagined for contemporary audiences.
The Power of Storytelling and Love
Lopez also spoke about the deeper themes explored in the film, emphasizing the universal power of storytelling.
“Films help all of us get through the hardest times, just like music,” she said.
She highlighted how stories and musicals not only entertain but also inspire empathy and understanding.
“They show the importance of love and seeing each other as human beings, and how love can shorten the gap between people.”
Through Kiss of the Spider Woman, Lopez illustrates that cinema and music are more than art forms—they are vehicles for connection, healing, and shared experience.
Her performance elevates the film, drawing viewers into a world where narrative, emotion, and spectacle converge.
Lopez as Producer and Collaborator
In addition to her starring role, Lopez served as a producer alongside Ben Affleck and Matt Damon through their company, Artists Equity.
Her involvement in the production demonstrates her evolving role in the industry—not just as a performer, but as a creative force shaping the vision and execution of major projects.
Her keen insight into the mechanics of filmmaking, combined with her experience in music and performance, has helped ensure that Kiss of the Spider Woman maintains both artistic integrity and audience appeal.
Anticipation and Cultural Impact
While the film does not yet have an official release date, it has already generated significant buzz due to its combination of high-energy musical numbers, dramatic storytelling, and Lopez’s standout performance.
Critics and festival-goers alike have praised the film for its ambition, innovation, and emotional resonance.
The premiere at Sundance has positioned the film as a potential milestone in contemporary musical cinema, reigniting interest in the genre and demonstrating the enduring power of Lopez’s talent.
A Defining Moment in a Legendary Career
For Jennifer Lopez, Kiss of the Spider Woman represents more than a film- it is the culmination of a lifelong passion, a celebration of artistic perseverance, and a testament to her versatility as a performer.
From her early fascination with musicals to her global stardom in music, film, and television, Lopez has continually reinvented herself while remaining committed to the craft.
The Sundance premiere, marked by a standing ovation and widespread acclaim, is a recognition of her artistry and a defining moment that she has long awaited.
Through this performance, Lopez cements her legacy as not only a global superstar but also as a dedicated advocate for musical storytelling, demonstrating that even in a career filled with milestones, some dreams are worth waiting a lifetime to achieve.
Few scandals in modern British journalism have caused as much outrage as the News of the World phone-hacking scandal, a controversy that exposed the invasive tactics of tabloid media and ultimately led to the newspaper’s downfall in 2011.
In his Irish Times review, critic Ed Power praises The Hack as a thoughtful, socially charged retelling of an important real-world event, though he argues that its creative choices sometimes undermine the power of its message.
The show, he writes, is both fascinating and frustrating — a mixture of meticulous journalism drama and eccentric visual flair that doesn’t always gel.
Public Service Drama at Its Best- or Almost
The UK has a long-standing reputation for producing world-class public service dramas — shows that combine entertainment with social commentary.
Power begins his review by situating The Hack within this tradition, comparing it to earlier successes like Mr Bates vs the Post Office, which shed light on institutional injustice against sub-postmasters, and Adolescence, Thorne’s Netflix project that explored how toxic online masculinity shapes young men.
The Hack (Credit: YouTube)
Just like those dramas, The Hack aims to do more than tell a story.
It seeks to hold power to account, exploring how corporate greed, political influence, and press corruption can collude to exploit ordinary citizens.
For Power, this ambition is commendable- a reminder that British television still dares to tackle difficult truths.
David Tennant’s Riveting Portrayal of Nick Davies
At the heart of The Hack lies a commanding performance from David Tennant, who brings intensity and empathy to the role of Nick Davies, the real-life Guardian journalist who uncovered the systemic phone hacking by News of the World reporters.
Tennant’s connection to the subject matter runs deeper than the script. He was himself a victim of phone hacking, one of several celebrities and public figures targeted by tabloids.
This personal history adds weight to his performance- an authenticity that manifests in every scene.
According to Power, Tennant’s Davies is “world-weary yet relentless,” a man driven by moral conviction and haunted by the enormity of what he discovers.
His portrayal captures both the exhaustion of investigative journalism and the righteous fury of a man standing up against corruption in his own industry.
A Strong Supporting Cast: Toby Jones and Robert Carlyle
Tennant’s portrayal is grounded by equally strong supporting performances. Toby Jones plays Alan Rusbridger, The Guardian’s editor at the time, providing a measured counterbalance to Tennant’s intensity.
Jones, known for his understated intelligence, brings warmth and quiet authority to the role, reflecting Rusbridger’s reputation as a steady hand guiding the paper through its most explosive story.
In a later episode, Robert Carlyle joins the cast as a police constable investigating the disappearance of a private detective.
His subplot eventually intertwines with Davies’s investigation, broadening the scope of the drama and showing how the tentacles of corruption reached beyond the newsroom.
Power notes that this narrative thread adds texture to the story, giving it a detective-like momentum that keeps the audience engaged.
A Story Worth Telling- But Weighed Down by “Wackiness”
While The Hack is praised for its storytelling ambition, Power is less impressed by some of its stylistic experiments.
Much like Thorne’s previous show Adolescence, which filmed each episode in a single take, The Hack introduces a layer of surrealism that he finds distracting.
While these flourishes aim to externalize the psychological toll of the investigation, Power argues they instead create an atmosphere of “wackiness” that detracts from the gravity of the story.
“The tale is strong enough to stand on its own feet,” he writes, suggesting that the surrealism dilutes rather than enhances the tension.
Ambition vs. Authenticity
Power acknowledges that Thorne’s creative risks stem from a desire to make journalism exciting and cinematic.
After all, investigative reporting doesn’t naturally lend itself to thrilling visuals- it’s long, repetitive, and cerebral work.
However, by layering The Hack with overt artistic metaphors, the series sometimes sacrifices realism for spectacle.
Despite this, Thorne’s script remains sharp and intelligent.
It explores not only the mechanics of the phone-hacking scandal but also the ethical dilemmas faced by journalists- the blurred line between exposure and exploitation, public interest and privacy invasion.
The drama’s moral complexity makes it compelling, even when its execution falters.
The Guardian as the Hero: A Love Letter to Journalism
Unsurprisingly, Power notes, journalists are drawn to stories that portray their profession heroically.
The Hack fits that mold, casting The Guardian and its staff as truth-seekers fighting against powerful enemies.
Yet, the show’s reverence for its protagonists doesn’t feel self-congratulatory. Instead, it highlights the immense pressure and isolation that come with holding the powerful to account.
Tennant’s Nick Davies is not presented as infallible- he’s exhausted, conflicted, and sometimes unsure whether the public will even care about the corruption he’s exposing.
This vulnerability makes him a more human and relatable figure, deepening the emotional impact of the series.
A Flawed but Fearless Retelling
Ultimately, The Hack succeeds as a bold and thought-provoking exploration of one of Britain’s most consequential media scandals.
Ed Power’s review captures both its strengths and weaknesses: a remarkable story told with passion, slightly undermined by stylistic indulgence.
The series reaffirms David Tennant’s status as one of Britain’s finest television actors, while cementing Jack Thorne’s reputation as a writer unafraid to tackle uncomfortable truths.
Even if its experimental visuals don’t always land, The Hack reminds viewers why the press matters- and what happens when it loses its moral compass.
For all its imperfections, The Hack stands as a timely reflection on power, accountability, and truth in the age of media manipulation, proving that sometimes the biggest stories are the ones about those who tell them.
