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The Resident Season 3 Episode 11 Photos: Preview of “Free Fall”

Fox’s popular medical drama The Resident returns from its winter break with season three episode 11. “Free Fall” is scheduled to air on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at 8pm ET/PT.

The cast of season three includes Matt Czuchry as Dr. Conrad Hawkins, Emily VanCamp as Nicolette “Nic” Nevin, Bruce Greenwood as Dr. Randolph Bell, and Manish Dayal as Dr. Devon Pravesh. Shaunette Renee Wilson plays Dr. Mina Okafor, Malcolm-Jamal Warner is Dr. AJ Austin, Jane Leeves is Dr. Kitt Voss, and Glenn Morshower is Marshall Winthrop. Morris Chestnut joins the cast as Dr. Barrett Cain.

“Freefall” Plot – After being terminated from Chastain, Conrad has difficulty figuring out his next step and distracts himself by accompanying a patient on a zero-gravity adventure. In his first move as the new Chief of Surgery, Cain puts the doctors on a commission-based pay system, which causes Devon’s new intern to agree to a procedure before weighing the risks.

Meanwhile, Mina struggles with taking care of Adaku’s baby and Bell’s supplement company get its big break.



The Season 3 Plot, Courtesy of Fox:

Entering its third season, The Resident continues to rip back the curtain and reveal the truth of what really happens, both good and bad, in hospitals across the country. The provocative medical drama follows a group of doctors at Chastain Memorial Hospital, as they face personal and professional challenges on a daily basis while fighting for their patients.

In season three, Red Rock Mountain Medical has taken over, inserting its own doctors – including new neurosurgeon Dr. Barrett Cain – and nurses into the well-oiled machine that was once Chastain Memorial Hospital, and causing the doctors to fight harder than ever against the corrupting influence of money in healthcare. The hospital is being run like a profit-hungry corporation – reaping huge financial gains, while risking the lives of its patients.

Dr. Randolph Bell is well-aware of the dangerous deal he has made with Red Rock in order to get Chastain out of its financial crisis and, as a result, initially turns a blind eye to the new corporate mantra of profits over patients. It’s not long before Dr. Conrad Hawkins incurs Red Rock’s fury when he confronts the problems head-on, becoming a whistleblower. The good fight he leads could ultimately threaten everything he holds dear, including his ability to practice medicine.

The Justice League of young healthcare providers must unite to fight for and with him, with Nicolette “Nic” Nevins in the lead. Nic attempts to recover from a devastating personal loss by throwing herself into patient care and her work for the uninsured through her clinic.

Dr. Devon Pravesh will find himself rotating out of the ER and gaining experience and power of his own in new positions within the hospital, eventually moving up to a first-year resident. Dr. AJ Austin will continue to bond with his mentee, the exceptionally talented surgeon, Dr. Mina Okafor. She’ll be his support as he navigates a relationship with his complicated biological family, while striving to maintain one with the parents who raised him. Okafor will be faced with a potential new family dynamic of her own, when her best friend, Adaku, who carries the BRCA breast cancer gene, returns pregnant with no father in the picture.

Meanwhile, the power and ruthlessness of new neurosurgeon Dr. Cain takes the hospital by storm. He embodies all the evil that can result when doctors care more for the bottom line than for their patients. Dr. Kitt Voss is the first to realize that his charm hides a medical demon, but standing against him could have serious consequences for her future. Cain’s ability to generate millions for Chastain leaves him free to exact swift revenge on those who oppose him – and no one is off-limits.

The Resident Season 3 Episode 11
Guest star Lee Osorio, Manish Dayal, guest star Ezra Dreyfuss and guest star Eline Harris in ‘The Resident’ season 3 episode 11 (Photo by Guy D’Alema © 2019 Fox Media LLC)
The Resident Season 3 Episode 11
Matt Czuchry in the “Free Fall” winter premiere episode of ‘The Resident’ (Photo © 2019 Fox Media LLC)
The Resident Season 3 Episode 11
Matt Czuchry and guest star Bridger Zadina in the “Free Fall” winter premiere episode (Photo by Guy D’Alema © 2019 Fox Media LLC)
The Resident Season 3 Episode 11
Guest star Bridger Zadina and Matt Czuchry in season 3 episode 11 (Photo by © 2019 Fox Media LLC)
The Resident Season 3 Episode 11
Guest star Ezra Dreyfuss, guest star Eline Harris and Manish Dayal in season 3 episode 11 (Photo by Guy D’Alema © 2019 Fox Media LLC)




Dare Me Series Preview: Episode 1 Cast, Plot, and Premiere Date

USA Network’s new series Dare Me, based on the critically acclaimed novel by Megan Abbott, will join the network’s primetime lineup on December 29, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT. Abbott is actively involved in the television adaptation, serving as a writer on the series and executive producing along with Gina Fattore and Film 44’s Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights) and Michael Lombardo.

The season one cast includes Willa Fitzgerald as Coach Colette French, Herizen Guardiola as Addy Hanlon, Marlo Kelly as Beth Cassidy, Paul Fitzgerald as Bert Cassidy, Zach Roerig as Sarge Will Mosley, Rob Heaps as Matt French, and Alison Thornton as Tacy Cassidy.

Episode 1 “Coup D’État” Plot – The arrival of the starry new cheer coach Colette French threatens Addy and Beth’s tight bond.

Details on Season 1, Courtesy of USA Network:

Dare Me is an unflinching exploration of teen angst, jealousy, loyalty and the dynamics of power in a small Midwestern town.

Peering behind the all-American facade, the series dives into the cutthroat world of competitive high school cheerleading. It follows the fraught relationship between two best friends (Guardiola and Kelly) after a new coach (Fitzgerald) arrives to bring their team to prominence. While the girls’ friendship is put to the test, their young lives are changed forever when a shocking crime rocks their quiet rust belt town.

Part coming-of-age story, part sports drama, part murder mystery, Dare Me exposes the physical and psychological extremes that some young women are willing to endure in order to get ahead.”

Dare Me
Willa Fitzgerald as Collette French in ‘Dare Me’ (Photo by: Rafy/USA Network)
Dare Me
Herizen Guardiola as Addy Hanlon and Marlo Kelly as Beth Cassidy in episode 1 (Photo by: Rafy/USA Network)
Dare Me
Willa Fitzgerald as Collette French in episode 1 (Photo by: Rafy/USA Network)
Dare Me
Willa Fitzgerald as Collette French and Marlo Kelly as Beth Cassidy in episode 1 (Photo by: Rafy/USA Network)
Dare Me
Tamberla Perry as JJ Curtis and Paul Fitzgerald as Burt Cassidy (Photo by: Rafy/USA Network)
Dare Me
Alison Thornton as Tacy Cassidy (Photo by: Rafy/USA Network)




To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You Debuts the First Full Trailer

Netflix just released the first full trailer for To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, the sequel to 2018’s young adult romantic comedy, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. Both films are based on novels by Jenny Han, with the sequel adapted from Han’s New York Times bestseller, P.S. I Still Love You.

Netflix will release the romantic comedy on February 12, 2020, just in time for Valentine’s Day viewing.

Lana Condor and Noah Centineo return to lead the cast as Lara Jean and Peter, respectively. The cast also includes Jordan Fisher, Anna Cathcart, Janel Parrish, John Corbett, Sarayu Blue, Ross Butler, Madeleine Arthur, Emilija Baranc, Trezzo Mahoro and Holland Taylor.

Susan Johnson (Carrie Pilby) directed the original film and Michael Fimognari makes his feature film directorial debut as the director of the sequel. Sofia Alvarez and J. Mills Goodloe adapted Han’s book.

The Plot, Courtesy of Netflix:

“It’s a new year and Lara Jean (Condor) and Peter (Centineo) are no longer pretending to be a couple. They ARE a couple. And, as Lara Jean navigates a trove of official firsts with Peter – her first real kiss, her first real date, her first Valentine’s Day – she finds herself leaning more on Kitty and Margot (Cathcart and Parrish), Chris (Arthur), and an unexpected new confidant, Stormy (Taylor), to help her manage the complex emotions that come with this new chapter of balancing a relationship and figuring out her authentic self.

But when John Ambrose (Fisher), another recipient of one of Lara Jean’s old love letters, enters her life again she must rely on herself more than ever as she’s confronted with her first real dilemma: Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?”

To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You
Noah Centineo and Lana Condor (Photo Credit: Netflix / Bettina Strauss)




Kristen Bell to Receive the Critics’ Choice Awards #SeeHer Award

The Good Place Kristen Bell
Kristen Bell as Eleanor in ‘The Good Place’ (Photo by: Colleen Hayes/NBC)

The Good Place star Kristen Bell has been selected to receive the 4th Annual #SeeHer Award at the 25th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards. The Critics Choice Association (CCA) made the announcement today, with Bell set to be recognized with the honor during the awards ceremony on Sunday, January 12, 2020.

Bell joins the list of #SeeHer honorees that includes Gal Gadot, Viola Davis, and Claire Foy. Bell’s credits include Veronica Mars, Frozen and Frozen 2, Bad Moms and Bad Moms 2, Hit & Run, and The Boss.

According to CCA, the annual #SeeHer award “recognizes a woman who embodies the values set forth by the SeeHer movement, to push boundaries on changing stereotypes and acknowledge the importance of authentic portrayals of women across the entertainment landscape. SeeHer is the leading global movement for accurate portrayals of women and girls in media. Led by the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), SeeHer is a collective of leading marketers committed to creating advertising and supporting content that portrays women and girls as they really are.”

The 2020 Critics’ Choice Awards honoring the best in films and television of 2019 will air live on The CW on January 12th beginning at 7pm ET (tape-delayed on the West Coast). Taye Diggs is confirmed to return to guide the awards show as host.




Tenet Trailer Debuts for Christopher Nolan’s Mysterious New Film

What is Tenet? Well, it’s a new film by Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception). That much we know for sure. Nolan’s kept everything other than the title to his mysterious project under wraps, and even this official trailer doesn’t expose much in the way of plot.

Apparently Tenet involves the possibility of the world ending via something worse than a nuclear holocaust. And the title refers to a word that provides access to the right places – and some of the wrong ones.

The trailer can pretty much be summed up by quoting a line of dialogue from the two-minute video: “Don’t try to understand it. Feel it.”

John David Washington leads a cast that includes Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Clémence Poésy, Kenneth Branagh, and Himesh Patel. Frequent Nolan collaborator Michael Caine is also featured in Tenet.

Warner Bros Pictures will release Tenet in theaters on July 17, 2020.

Tenet Poster

FBI: Most Wanted Season 1 Episode 1 Photos: Preview of “Dopesick”

CBS will debut the FBI spinoff, FBI: Most Wanted, on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at 10pm ET/PT. Season one episode one, “Dopesick,” was directed by executive producer Fred Berner from a script by executive producer René Balcer.

“Dopesick” guest stars include Henry Thomas, Rebecca Forsythe, Molly Camp, Robyn Payne, Ryan M. Shaw, Trevor Long, and Maggie Weston. Cassandre Fiering, Sara Hogrefe, Angel Desai, David Roberts, Quinn McLogan, Kelly Klein, Terrell Wheeler, Andrea Bianchi, Jordan Baker also guest star in the series premiere.

Season one stars Julian McMahon as Jess LeCroix, Kellan Lutz as Kenny Crosby, Roxy Sternberg as Sheryll Barnes, Keisha Castle-Hughes as Hana Gibson, and Nathaniel Arcand as Clinton Skye.

“Dopesick” Plot – Jess LeCroix and his elite team of FBI Fugitive Task Force agents track a doctor who’s deeply involved in a world of organized crime, drugs and lies, and is on the run after a phone call records him delivering his wife’s fatal shot.

The Season 1 Plot:

From Emmy Award-winning producer Dick Wolf and the team behind FBI and the Law & Order franchise, FBI: Most Wanted is a high-stakes drama that focuses on the Fugitive Task Force, which relentlessly tracks and captures the notorious criminals on the Bureau’s Most Wanted list. This group of highly skilled agents functions as a mobile undercover unit that’s always out in the field, tirelessly pursuing those who are most desperate to elude justice.

Overseeing the team is Jess LaCroix, a seasoned, enigmatic agent at the top of his game who is called upon to apprehend the most elusive and dangerous fugitives. His trusted crew includes Sheryll Barnes, an ex-NYPD detective with a psych degree and first-rate street smarts; analyst Hana Gibson, a master of data-mining and social engineering; communications expert Kenny Crosby, an Army intel vet Jess has taken under his wing; and Jess’ brother-in-law, Clinton Skye, a deadly marksman with a law degree. These elite agents are always at the ready to answer the call, picking up the trail to hunt down and catch the “most wanted.”

FBI: Most Wanted
Kellan Lutz, Nathaniel Arcand, Roxy Sternberg, and Julian McMahon in ‘FBI: Most Wanted’ (Photo: Michael Parmelee © 2019 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)
FBI: Most Wanted
Julian McMahon as FBI Agent Jess LaCroix (Photo: Michael Parmelee © 2019 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)
FBI: Most Wanted
Nathaniel Arcand as FBI Agent Clinton Skye; Roxy Sternberg as FBI Agent Sheryll Barnes; Julian McMahon as FBI Agent Jess LaCroix and Keisha Castle-Hughes as FBI Analyst Hana Gibson. (Photo: Michael Parmelee © 2019 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)
FBI: Most Wanted
Julian McMahon as FBI Agent Jess LaCroix (Photo: Michael Parmelee © 2019 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)
FBI: Most Wanted
Missy Peregrym as Special Agent Maggie Bell and Julian McMahon as FBI Agent Jess LaCroix (Photo: Michael Parmelee © 2019 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)




Superhero Movies Coming in 2020: Release Dates, Plot Details, and Cast Lists

Birds of Prey
Rosie Perez, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Margot Robbie, Ella Jay Basco, and Jurnee Smollett-Bell in ‘Birds of Prey’ (Photo by Claudette Barius © 2019 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc)

Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of Harley Quinn) – February 7, 2020

The Cast: Margot Robbie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Rosie Perez, Chris Messina, Ella Jay Basco, and Ewan McGregor
Directed By: Cathy Yan (Dead Pigs)
The Plot: You ever hear the one about the cop, the songbird, the psycho and the mafia princess? Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is a twisted tale told by Harley herself, as only Harley can tell it. When Gotham’s most nefariously narcissistic villain, Roman Sionis, and his zealous right-hand, Zsasz, put a target on a young girl named Cass, the city is turned upside down looking for her. Harley, Huntress, Black Canary and Renee Montoya’s paths collide, and the unlikely foursome have no choice but to team up to take Roman down.

The New Mutants – April 3, 2020

The Cast: Alice Braga, Maisie Williams, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Heaton, Henry Zaga, and Blu Hunt
Directed By: Josh Boone (The Fault in Our Stars)
The Plot: An original horror thriller set in an isolated hospital where a group of young mutants is being held for psychiatric monitoring. When strange occurrences begin to take place, both their new mutant abilities and their friendships will be tested as they battle to try and make it out alive.

Black Widow – May 1, 2020

The Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Rachel Weisz, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and O-T Fagbenle
Directed By: Cate Shortland (SMILF, Lore)
The Plot: In Marvel Studios’ action-packed spy thriller Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.

Comic Book Movie - Wonder Woman 1984

Wonder Woman 1984 – June 5, 2020

The Cast: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal, Robin Wright, and Connie Nielsen
Directed By: Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman, Monster)
The Plot: Fast forward to the 1980s as Wonder Woman’s next big screen adventure finds her facing two all-new foes: Max Lord and The Cheetah.

Morbius – July 31, 2020

The Cast: Jared Leto, Adria Arjona, and Matt Smith
Directed By: Daniel Espinosa (Child 44, Safe House)
The Plot: One of Marvel’s most compelling and conflicted characters comes to the big screen as Oscar winner Jared Leto transforms into the enigmatic antihero, Michael Morbius. Dangerously ill with a rare blood disorder, and determined to save others suffering his same fate, Dr. Morbius attempts a desperate gamble. What at first appears to be a radical success soon reveals itself to be a remedy potentially worse than the disease.

Venom 2 – Oct. 2, 2020

The Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Woody Harrelson, and Stephen Graham
Directed By: Andy Serkis (Mowgli, Breathe)
The Plot: Unknown other than it’s a sequel to 2018’s Venom.

Eternals – November 6, 2020

The Cast: Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Brian Tyree Henry, Salma Hayek, Lia McHugh and Don Lee
Directed By: Chloe Zhao (The Rider, Songs My Brothers Taught Me)
The Plot: Official description not confirmed.




FBI Season 2 Episode 11 Photos: Preview of “Fallout”

FBI Season 2 Episode 11
Missy Peregrym as Special Agent Maggie Bell and Zeeko Zaki as Special Agent Omar Adom ‘OA’ Zidan in ‘FBI’ season 2 episode 11 (Photo: Michael Parmelee © 2019 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)

CBS’s FBI is taking a few weeks off for the winter holidays, returning on January 7, 2020 with season two episode 11. Directed by Alex Chapple, “Fallout” was written by David Amann.

Episode 11 guest stars include Roshawn Franklin, Vedette Lim, Don Noble, Kelly Fairbrother, Ryan Vincent Anderson, Catherine Haena Kim, David Healy, Sara Bues, Anastasia Barzee, and Jerry Kernion.

The season two cast includes Missy Peregrym as Special Agent Maggie Bell, Zeeko Zaki as Special Agent Omar Adom ‘OA’ Zidan, Ebonée Noel as Kristen Chazal, Alana De La Garza as Isobel Castille, John Boyd as Stuart Scola, and Jeremy Sisto as Jubal Valentine.

“Fallout” Plot – After a businessman with a history of harassment claims against him is killed, the team suspects it may be one of his many accusers.



The FBI Plot, Courtesy of CBS:

FBI is a fast-paced drama about the inner workings of the New York office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This elite unit brings to bear all their talents, intellect and technical expertise on major cases in order to keep New York and the country safe. Born into a multigenerational law enforcement family, Special Agent Maggie Bell commits deeply to the people she works with as well as those she protects. Her partner is Special Agent Omar Adom ‘OA’ Zidan, a West Point graduate via Bushwick who spent two years undercover for the DEA before being cherry-picked by the FBI.

Overseeing them is Special Agent in Charge, Isobel Castille, who operates under intense pressure and has undeniable command authority. The team also includes Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine, the nerve center of the office whose ability to easily relate to and engage with both superiors and subordinates makes him a master motivator. Kristen Chazal is the team’s most valued resource, a brilliant analyst recruited straight out of university who can piece together the big picture faster than anyone. These first-class agents tenaciously investigate cases of tremendous magnitude, including terrorism, organized crime and counterintelligence.”

FBI Season 2 Episode 11
Zeeko Zaki as Special Agent Omar Adom ‘OA’ Zidan and Catherine Haena Kim as Emily Ryder in season 2 episode 11 (Photo: Michael Parmelee © 2019 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)
FBI Season 2 Episode 11
Missy Peregrym as Special Agent Maggie Bell in season 2 episode 11 (Photo: Michael Parmelee © 2019 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)
FBI Season 2 Episode 11
Zeeko Zaki as Special Agent Omar Adom ‘OA’ Zidan and Missy Peregrym as Special Agent Maggie Bell in season 2 episode 11 (Photo: Michael Parmelee © 2019 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)
FBI Season 2 Episode 11
Zeeko Zaki as Special Agent Omar Adom ‘OA’ Zidan and Missy Peregrym as Special Agent Maggie Bell (Photo: Michael Parmelee © 2019 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)




Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Review

I’m a casual yet longtime Star Wars fan. I’ve seen every Star Wars movie, although it’s only the films that make up the original trilogy that I’ve watched multiple times. Those remain my favorites, in particular Star Wars IV: A New Hope as I can vividly recall standing in line outside the theater for a screening before Star Wars mania had swept the planet.

And here’s a further bit of insight into my view of the Star Wars film franchise. Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens was just A New Hope with different characters and less energy and enthusiasm. Solo: A Star Wars Story was a disappointing cash grab. I enjoyed Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi and applauded Rian Johnson for throwing in twists we didn’t see coming. And Rogue One earned a B+ because it made me believe there’s still artistic life left in this 40+ year-old franchise.

Is Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker a perfect ending to the convoluted, sprawling Skywalker saga? No. Is it entertaining? Absolutely, albeit less so if you’re aware of what is Star Wars canon or if you enter the theater with a preconceived idea of who should “rise” at the film’s conclusion.

J.J. Abrams, director of Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, returned to helm this final chapter of the Skywalker story. Although I can’t recall a single lens flare, The Rise of Skywalker feels like a J.J. Abrams production. Once that iconic opening crawl is off the screen, the action is pretty much non-stop for the next 150+ minutes. (Which is about 20 minutes too long.)

The Rise of Skywalker is a galaxy-wide scavenger hunt that truly only the writers fully understand the meaning behind. Who’s where when and why doesn’t make as much difference as making sure the elaborate journey to get from Point A to B to C and so on down through the alphabet is as weird and wild as possible. It’s one mad dash to some far away but easily accessible planet after another, all while Rey (Daisy Ridley) struggles to come to terms with what it means to be a Jedi and what exactly is her relationship with Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).

There’s an ever-shifting game of cat and mouse going on between Rey and Ren over the course of the film, with the identity of who’s the cat and who’s the mouse fluctuating and fluid. Ultimately both could be considered “cats,” I guess, but let’s not get sidetracked by going down that path.

Star Wars: Episode IX takes a few swipes at Star Wars: Episode VIII, one so incredibly obvious it’s actually shocking the dialogue made the final cut. And as expected, screenwriters Abrams and Chris Terrio (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) attempted to fulfill as many fan fiction fantasies as possible with this chapter while keeping in mind this is a Disney property now and there are certain expectations from being a part of the Mouse House legacy. That said, Abrams did work in a first for a Star Wars film, subtly breaking down a barrier that should have been smashed in a much more obvious manner in The Rise of Skywalker. (Keeping this spoiler-free is a real struggle.)

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo), BB-8, D-O, Rey (Daisy Ridley), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and Finn (John Boyega) in ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ (Photo (c) 2019 ILM and Lucasfilm Ltd)

It’s wonderful, and heartbreaking at the same time, to have Carrie Fisher as General Leia Organa via unused footage incorporated into this final Skywalker tale. Leia’s a pivotal part of this finale, as she should be. Other familiar faces (and voices) pop in to help Rey on her journey and to assist Ren in his struggle to understand and perhaps change his fate. Billy Dee Williams’ first appearance on screen as Lando Calrissian earned a hearty round of applause from the press at the screening I attended, and Williams’ performance evokes memories of the good times had when Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher led us on adventures in a galaxy far, far away.

Another old face from the past also checks in for Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker: Emperor Palpatine, brought to life once again by Ian McDiarmid. Kylo Ren and his redesigned red-veined Darth Vader mask have nothing on the sheer evilness and intimidation in Palpatine’s glare as portrayed by McDiarmid. Palpatine’s return isn’t as jarring story-wise as might be expected, and it makes sense that he’s the ultimate villain in a film that finishes up the Skywalker saga.

Guiding us through the intergalactic treasure hunt are Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and Finn (John Boyega). Isaac and Boyega have terrific bro chemistry and play so well off each other it’s tragic Abrams and Terrio didn’t manage to shove a few more scenes their way somewhere in the 155-minute running time. The few scenes we are treated to of Poe and Finn hanging out prove this twosome deserved more attention than they received over the course of the trilogy. And when you add Rey to the equation, the threesome clearly capture that difficult-to-achieve family vibe.

But at the heart of Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker is the relationship between Ridley’s Rey and Driver’s Ren. Their connection – those intense, complex feelings they share – drives The Rise of Skywalker toward what’s guaranteed to be a divisive, controversial conclusion. Ridley and Driver are terrific in portraying Rey and Ren’s evolving relationship in a realistic, compelling manner.

J.J. Abrams could not and will not please everyone with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. There are a few cheats in the storytelling, not everything makes sense, and some relationship choices made by Abrams and Terrio are – to put it gently – unfulfilling. Yet ultimately The Rise of Skywalker rises above the current trilogy’s biggest mistakes and corrects course enough to deliver a surprisingly hopeful and optimistic finish.

GRADE: B+

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sci-fi violence and action

Release Date: December 19, 2019

Running Time: 155 minutes




Horror Movies Opening in 2020: Plot Details and Release Dates

A Quiet Place Part II
Regan (Millicent Simmonds), Marcus (Noah Jupe) and Evelyn (Emily Blunt) brave the unknown in ‘A Quiet Place Part II’ (Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures)

Preview of 2020’s crop of horror movies, complete with plot details (when available), release dates, and cast lists. Listed in alphabetical order, not chronologically.

A Quiet Place Part II – March 20, 2020
Starring Emily Blunt, Noah Jupe, Millicent Simmonds, Cillian Murphy, and Djimon Hounsou
The Plot: Following the deadly events at home, the Abbott family (Blunt, Simmonds, Jupe) must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.

Antebellum – April 24, 2020
Starring Janelle Monáe, Marque Richardson II, Eric Lange, Jack Huston, Kiersey Clemons, Tongayi Chirisa, Gabourey Sidibe, Rob Aramayo, Lily Cowles, and Jena Malone
The Plot: Successful author Veronica Henley (Monáe) finds herself trapped in a horrifying reality and must uncover the mind-bending mystery before it’s too late.

Antlers – April 17, 2020
Starring Keri Russell, Jesse Plemons, Graham Greene, Scott Haze, Rory Cochrane, and Amy Madigan
The Plot: In Antlers, a small-town Oregon teacher (Russell) and her brother (Plemons), the local sheriff, discover that a young student (Thomas) is harboring a dangerous secret with frightening consequences.

Army of the Dead – Winter 2020
Starring Dave Bautista, Hiroyuki Sanada, Omari Hardwick, Ana De La Reguera, Theo Rossi, Huma Qureshi, Chris D’Elia, Garret Dillahunt, Raúl Castillo, Nora Arnezeder, Matthias Schweighöfer, Samantha Win, and Rich Cetrone
The Plot: Zack Snyder’s return to zombie films picks up six years following a zombie plague devastated Las Vegas.

Brahms: The Boy II – February 21, 2020
Starring Katie Holmes and Owain Yeoman
The Plot: Unaware of the terrifying history of Heelshire Mansion, a young family moves into the estate, where their young son soon makes an unsettling new friend, an eerily life-like doll he calls Brahms.

Candyman – June 12, 2020
Starring Tony Todd, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Colman Domingo, and Teyonah Parris
The Plot: The new film returns to the neighborhood where the legend began: the now-gentrified section of Chicago where the Cabrini-Green housing projects once stood.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It – September 11, 2020
Starring Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Ruairi O’Connor, Sarah Catherine Hook, and Julian Hilliard
The Plot: The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It reveals a chilling story of terror, murder and unknown evil that shocked even experienced real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. One of the most sensational cases from their files, it starts with a fight for the soul of a young boy, then takes them beyond anything they’d ever seen before, to mark the first time in U.S. history that a murder suspect would claim demonic possession as a defense.

The Empty Man – August 7, 2020
Starring James Badge Dale, Samantha Logan, Stephen Root, Joel Courtney, and Marin Ireland
The Plot: Disney/Fox have not released an official synopsis.

Escape Room 2 – August 14, 2020
Starring Isabelle Fuhrman, Taylor Russell, Logan Miller, Holland Roden, Indya Moore , Thomas Cocquerel, and Carlito Olivero
The Plot: The original Escape Room was a psychological thriller about six strangers who find themselves in circumstances beyond their control and must use their wits to find the clues or die.

Fantasy Island Poster

Fantasy Island – February 14, 2020
Starring Michael Peña, Maggie Q, Lucy Hale, Austin Stowell, Portia Doubleday, Jimmy O. Yang, Ryan Hansen, and Michael Rooker
The Plot: In Blumhouse’s new spin on Fantasy Island, the enigmatic Mr. Roarke makes the secret dreams of his lucky guests come true at a luxurious but remote tropical resort. But when the fantasies turn into nightmares, the guests have to solve the island’s mystery in order to escape with their lives.

Fear Street – TBD 2020
Starring Gillian Jacobs, Ryan Simpkins, Sadie Sink, Ashley Zukerman, Fred Hechinger, Julia Rehwald, Jeremy Ford, Kiana Madeira, Emily Rudd, McCabe Slye, and Olivia Welch
The Plot: In 1994, in the aftermath of a brutal tragedy in Shadyside, Ohio, a group of teens discover that a series of horrifying events that have plagued their town over many years might not be random, and that they may be the next victims. (courtesy of Bloody Disgusting)

Gretel & Hansel Poster

Gretel & Hansel – January 31, 2020
Starring Sophia Lillies, Sammy Leakey, Charles Babalola, and Jessica De Gouw
The Plot: A long time ago in a distant fairytale countryside, a young girl (Lillis) leads her little brother (Leakey) into a dark wood in desperate search of food and work, only to stumble upon a nexus of terrifying evil.

The Grudge – January 3, 2020
Starring Andrea Riseborough, Demián Bichir, John Cho, Betty Gilpin, Lin Shaye, and Jacki Weaver
The Plot: A house is cursed by a vengeful ghost that dooms those who enter it with a violent death.

Halloween Kills – October 16, 2020
Starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, and Anthony Michael Hall
The Plot: The saga of Michael Myers and Laurie Strode isn’t over.

The Invisible Man – February 28, 2020
Starring Elisabeth Moss, Aldis Hodge, Storm Reid, Harriet Dyer, and Oliver Jackson-Cohen
The Plot: What you can’t see can hurt you. Emmy winner Elisabeth Moss stars in a terrifying modern tale of obsession inspired by Universal’s classic monster character.

Trapped in a violent, controlling relationship with a wealthy and brilliant scientist, Cecilia Kass (Moss) escapes in the dead of night and disappears into hiding, aided by her sister (Dyer), their childhood friend (Hodge) and his teenage daughter (Reid).

But when Cecilia’s abusive ex (Jackson-Cohen) commits suicide and leaves her a generous portion of his vast fortune, Cecilia suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of eerie coincidences turns lethal, threatening the lives of those she loves, Cecilia’s sanity begins to unravel as she desperately tries to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.

Horror Movie - Last Night in Soho
A scene from ‘Last Night in Soho’ (Photo Credit: Working Title Films/Focus Features)

Last Night in Soho – September 25, 2020
Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie, and Matt Smith
The Plot: Unknown

Malignant – August 14, 2020
Starring Jake Abel, Michole Briana White, Annabelle Wallis, and Maddie Hasson
The Plot: Unknown

The New Mutants – April 3, 2020
Starring Alice Braga, Maisie Williams, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Heaton, Henry Zaga, and Blu Hunt
The Plot: An original horror thriller set in an isolated hospital where a group of young mutants is being held for psychiatric monitoring. When strange occurrences begin to take place, both their new mutant abilities and their friendships will be tested as they battle to try and make it out alive.

The Organ Donor (Saw 9) – May 15, 2020
Starring Chris Rock, Samuel L Jackson, Max Minghella, and Marisol Nichols
The Plot: Chris Rock stars as a detective investigating grisly murders.

Run – January 24, 2020
Starring Sarah Paulson and Pat Healy
The Plot: Paulson plays a mother who raises her teenage daughter in isolation, only to see her life begin to unravel as she discovers her mother’s sinister secret. (courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter)

The Turning Poster
Poster for the 2020 horror film, ‘The Turning.’ (Photo Credit: Universal Pictures)

The Turning – January 24, 2020
Starring Mackenzie Davis, Finn Wolfhard, Brooklynn Prince, and Joely Richardson
The Plot: For more than 100 years, a deeply haunting tale has been passed down to terrify audiences. Next January, DreamWorks Pictures’ The Turning takes us to a mysterious estate in the Maine countryside, where newly appointed nanny Kate is charged with the care of two disturbed orphans, Flora and Miles. Quickly though, she discovers that both the children and the house are harboring dark secrets and things may not be as they appear.

Underwater – January 10, 2020
Starring Kristen Stewart, T.J. Miller, Vincent Cassel, John Gallagher Jr, Jessica Henwick, Mamoudou Athie, and Gunner Wright
The Plot: 7 miles below the ocean’s surface something has awakened. The film follows a crew of underwater researchers who must scramble to safety after an earthquake devastates their subterranean laboratory.




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