Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards 2018 Winners: ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor?,’ ‘Free Solo’ Top the List

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November 11, 2018

Critics' Choice Documentary Awards Won't You Be My Neighbor — Fred Rogers on the set of his show ‘Mr. Rogers Neighborhood’ from the film, ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor,’ a Focus Features release. (Photo by Jim Judkis / Focus Features)

Director Morgan Neville’s moving tribute to the late Fred Rogers took home the top award at the Third Annual Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards. Won’t You Be My Neighbor? earned the Best Documentary, Best Director, and Best Editing awards as voted on by members of the Broadcast Film Critics Association* and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association*.

The extraordinary account of Alex Honnold’s quest to be the first person to climb the 3,200-foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park without a rope also earned three awards at the Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards. Free Solo, directed by Chai Vasarhelyi (Incorruptible, Meru) and Jimmy Chin (Meru), picked up the Best Sports Documentary, Best Innovative Documentary, and Best Cinematography awards. The documentary’s subject, Alex Honnold, was also one of the people recognized with a Most Compelling Living Subject of a Documentary award. Additional winners in that category included Scotty Bowers (Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood), Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG), Joan Jett (Bad Reputation), Quincy Jones (Quincy), David Kellman and Bobby Shafran (Three Identical Strangers), John McEnroe (John McEnroe: In the Realm of Perfection), and Leon Vitali (Filmworker).

This year’s Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards gala was hosted by Bill Nye. Celebrities in attendance included Rashida Jones, Pamela Adlon, Matt Dillon, Natasha Lyonne, Steve James, D.A. Pennebaker, Chris Hegedus, Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, Bing Liu, and Morgan Neville.

“As the documentary world is exploding with great works, we are thrilled to shine a light on the best of the best,” stated BFCA President Joey Berlin. “In The Year of the Documentary this was a very special night celebrating the giants in our business and some amazing newcomers.”

In addition to the regular awards, special awards were given to Michael Moore and Stanley Nelson. Robert De Niro had the honor of presenting Moore (Fahrenheit 11/9) with the Critics’ Choice Lifetime Achievement Award. Last year’s Critics’ Choice Impact Award winner Joe Berlinger presented Nelson with this year’s award in that category.

Third Annual Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards:

Best Documentary: Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
Best Limited Documentary Series: The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling
Best Ongoing Documentary Series: Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
Best Director: Morgan Neville for Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
Best First Time Director: TIE: Bing Liu for Minding the Gap, and Cristina Costantini and Darren Foster for Science Fair
Best Political Documentary: RBG
Best Sports Documentary: Free Solo
Best Music Documentary: Quincy
Most Innovative Documentary: Free Solo
Best Cinematography: Free Solo
Best Editing: Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

The BFCA and BTJA’s Critic’s Choice Documentary Awards are sponsored by Focus Features, National Geographic Documentary Films, Netflix, CNN Films, and CuriosityStream.

* – I am a member of both BFCA and BTJA.

‘The Blacklist’ Season 6 Gets a January 2019 Premiere Date

By

Rebecca Murray

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November 10, 2018

NBC’s The Blacklist will return for its sixth season on Friday, January 4, 2019. The series will kick off season six with a two-hour special beginning at 8pm ET/PT, with subsequent sixth season episodes airing on Fridays at 9pm ET/PT.

According to the network, season five of the dramatic series averaged 8.6 million viewers. It took the number two spot on Wednesdays at 8pm ET/PT in total viewers and increased NBC’s viewership in its time slot year over year.

The Blacklist season six has Megan Boone as Elizabeth Keen and three-time Golden Globe nominee/three-time Primetime Emmy winner James Spader as Red Reddington returning to lead the cast. Additional season six stars include Diego Klattenhoff (Homeland) as Donald Ressler, Harry Lennix (Billions) as Harold Cooper, Amir Arison (Jane Wants a Boyfriend) as Aram Mojtabai, Mozhan Marnò (House of Cards) as Samar Navabi, and Hisham Tawfiq (Redemption) as Dembe Zuma.

The series was created by writer/executive producer Jon Bokenkamp. John Eisendrath, John Davis, John Fox, James Spader, Lukas Reiter, J.R. Orci, Carla Kettner, and Laura A. Benson also serve as executive producers. The behind the scenes team includes casting directors Bonnie Finnegan and Steven Jacobs, production designer Nicholas Lundy, directors of photography Mike Caracciolo and Saade Mustafa, and editors Chris Brookshire, Dave Post, and Orlando Machado, Jr.

The Blacklist Plot:

Following the startling revelation that Raymond “Red” Reddington (Spader) isn’t who he says he is, Elizabeth Keen (Boone) is torn between the relationship she’s developed with the man assumed to be her father and her desire to get to the bottom of years of secrets and lies. Meanwhile, Red leads Liz and the FBI to some of the most strange and dangerous criminals yet, growing his empire and eliminating rivals in the process.

All throughout, Liz and Red engage in an uneasy cat-and-mouse game in which lines will be crossed and the truth will be revealed.

Backstreet Boys 2019 DNA World Tour Dates Announced

By

Rebecca Murray

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November 9, 2018

The Backstreet Boys will be back on the road with their largest arena tour in nearly 20 years. The Backstreet Boys will be touring in 2019 in support of their upcoming album, DNA, which is dropping on January 25th.

“When this group started 26 years ago – and through all the highs and lows of our career – we’ve had to learn it wasn’t about us as individuals but about what’s best for the group,” said Howie D, explaining the title of the album and tour.

“That’s what I love about this album,” added Kevin Richardson. “We were able to bring all of our influences and styles into one coherent piece of work. These songs are a great representation of who we are as individuals and who we are as a group. It’s our DNA. We’re really proud of that.”

“The journey is ongoing with us and there is so much left to do,” stated Brian Littrell. “We’re living the next chapter that hasn’t been told yet, and that’s exciting.”

The DNA World Tour will kick off on May 11, 2019, just a few weeks after the group wraps up its “Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life” Las Vegas residency. “Vegas has been amazing and these next set of dates are going to be a party,” said Howie. “Then it’s time for us to visit our fans all over the world.”

Tickets to the DNA World Tour will go on sale on November 14, 2108 via LiveNation.com. Every purchase will include a physical copy of DNA.

Backstreet Boys DNA Tour Dates:

UK and European Tour Dates:

North American Tour Dates:

‘The Affair’ Adds Anna Paquin for Season 5

By

Rebecca Murray

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November 9, 2018

Anna Paquin joins The Affair — Anna Paquin joins Showtime’s ‘The Affair’ season 5 (Photo by Kevin Scanlon)

Oscar winner Anna Paquin (The Piano) has signed on to the fifth and final season of Showtime’s The Affair. According to the network’s official announcement, Anna Paquin will play what’s described as a pivotal role as “Alison and Cole’s now adult daughter Joanie Lockhart who returns some years in the future to a climate-change ravaged Montauk to piece together the truth about what happened to her mother, bringing the whole story full circle.”

Anna Paquin joins the cast that’s led by Golden Globe nominee Dominic West and Golden Globe winner Maura Tierney. The season five regulars also include Julia Goldani Telles and Jadon Sand as Noah and Helen’s children, Whitney and Trevor Solloway; and Sanaa Lathan, as Janelle, Noah’s love interest.

Guest stars for the final season include Claes Bang (The Girl in the Spider’s Web) as Sasha Mann, a charismatic movie star and love interest for Helen. Emily Browning, Omar Metwally, Russell Hornsby, John Doman, Kathleen Chalfant, Max Fowler, Abigail Dylan Harrison and Jake Siciliano are also on board as guest stars.

WGA Award winner Sarah Treem (House of Cards, In Treatment) created the series and serves as an executive producer and showrunner. Jessica Rhoades (Sharp Objects), Hagai Levi (In Treatment), and Michele Giordono (Nurse Jackie) also executive produce.

Showtime expects the fifth and final season of The Affair to premiere in 2019.

The Affair Season 5 Plot:

Season four found Noah (West), Helen (GTierney), Alison (Golden Globe winner Ruth Wilson) and Cole (Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Joshua Jackson) in their own orbits, alienated from each other, spinning further and further away from where they all began. Season five will chronicle the aftermath of the season finale’s horrific events and find the characters coming to terms with the consequences of their choices – as they make the realization that if they really want to change their futures, they must first, face the past.

This final season is about how everything does really fall apart in the end, but somewhere in that wreckage, the seeds of change finally sprout.

Legacies’ Season 1 Episode 4 Photos: “Hope is Not the Goal” Preview and Plot

By

Rebecca Murray

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November 9, 2018

The CW’s Legacies season one episode three revealed why Lizzie is so jealous of Hope, and found Hope and Josie growing closer. Episode three also featured a gargoyle attacking the school, Rafael showing off his werewolf skills, and the return to the world of The Vampire Diaries by Steven R. McQueen as Jeremy. It turns out Alaric’s hired Jeremy, an expert tracker, to keep an eye on Rafael and Landon.

Prior to episode three airing, The CW announced Legacies has earned an additional three episodes. The first season will now consist of 16 one-hour episodes.

Up next, season one episode four titled “Hope is Not the Goal” and airing on November 15, 2018. The episode was directed by Chris Grismer from a script by Bryce Ahart and Stephanie McFarlane (story by Brett Mathews).

The season one cast includes Danielle Rose Russell as Hope, Matt Davis as Alaric Saltzman, Jenny Boyd as Lizzie Saltzman, Kaylee Bryant as Josie Saltzman, and Quincy Fouse as Milton Greasley/MG. Aria Shahghasemi is Landon Kirby and Peyton Alex Smith plays Rafael Waithe.

The “Hope is Not the Goal” Plot: FOLLOWING THE TRAIL — When two local students go missing, Alaric (Davis) sends Hope (Russell), Lizzie (Boyd), MG (Fouse) and Landon (Shahghasemi) to Mystic Falls High to investigate. Meanwhile, as Josie (Bryant) helps Rafael (Smith) adjust to his new life at the school, his reluctance to follow the wolf pack’s rules puts a target on his back. Lastly, an unsettling discovery puts Alaric and Sheriff Donovan (guest star Zach Roerig) at odds with one another.

The Season One Plot:

“For the last decade, the iconic heroes and villains of The Vampire Diaries and The Originals have captivated audiences worldwide. They left an enduring legacy of love and family in their wake, which continues in Legacies, a thrilling new drama that tells the story of the next generation of supernatural beings at The Salvatore Boarding School for the Young and Gifted. It’s here that Klaus Mikaelson’s daughter, 17-year-old Hope Mikaelson; Alaric Saltzman’s twins, Lizzie and Josie Saltzman ; and other young adults — including high-energy vampire MG, newly-triggered werewolf Rafael Waithe and the mysterious Landon Kirby — come of age in the most unconventional way possible, nurtured to be their best selves…in spite of their worst impulses.

Will these young witches, vampires and werewolves become the heroes they want to be — or the villains they were born to be? As they fight to protect their secret, their town of Mystic Falls and eventually the world, they will have to rely on ancient folklore and tales to learn how to battle their far-reaching enemies.”

More on Legacies:

Legacies Season 1 Episode 4 — Jenny Boyd as Lizzie and Kaylee Bryant as Josie in ‘Legacies’ season 1 episode 4 (Photo: Bob Mahoney © 2018 The CW Network)

‘The Grinch’ Movie Review: Benedict Cumberbatch Voices the Grumpy Green Creature

By

Kevin Finnerty

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November 9, 2018

The Grinch Animated Movie — A scene from the 2018 animated movie, ‘The Grinch.’ (Photo Credit: Illumination and Universal Pictures © 2018 Universal Studios)

“Today we will steal Christmas in style,” says the Grinch (Benedict Cumberbatch) to his dog Max as he gets ready to steal all the presents from the Whos down in Who-ville in the 2018 big screen adaptation/extended version of the Dr. Seuss classic holiday tale, The Grinch.

The Grinch hates everything to do with Christmas, and every year the Whos down in Who-ville celebrate it bigger and louder than the year before. When The Grinch finds out the Whos intend to make Christmas three times bigger this year, he decides the only way he will ever have any peace is if he steals Christmas.

The Grinch sets out to rob the Whos of their Christmas by posing as Santa Claus, sneaking into their houses after the real Santa has visited, and stealing all their presents, trees, decorations, holiday food, and anything else Christmasy.

Bigger, louder, and much longer (of course) than the original 1966 animated classic Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas television special, 2018’s The Grinch is nothing more than a big screen, shiny, slapstick, empty extended remake of a perfect holiday classic.

Benedict Cumberbatch does a good job of bringing to life this not necessarily mean but more just misunderstood Grinch who is way too nice right from the start of the PG-rated film. The reason the original story works so well is that the Grinch is mean to everyone, even his loyal dog Max, until the end when he discovers the true spirit of Christmas. Cumberbatch’s performance of the cranky, ill-tempered green creature is just too tolerant of the Whos from the get-go and is a best buddy to Max. This is an awful, and seemingly unnecessary, change that weakens the moral of the story.

The storyteller this time out is Pharrell Williams who pales in comparison to the wonderful delivery and performance by the legendary Boris Karloff in the original television special. Karloff brought to life Dr. Seuss’ words and gave the Grinch his Grinchyness. (Granted, there aren’t many people who wouldn’t suffer in comparison to Karloff.) Williams’ style along with his hip-hop redoing of the original songs feels out of place and sounds as though they belong in a different film altogether.

The subplot of little Cindy Lou Who also feels like an unnecessary alteration.
In the 2018 version of Dr. Seuss’ beloved tale, Cindy Lou Who is no longer two but closer to 10. The film also trades out the character’s adorableness and innocence by turning her into a high-energy, overactive child who just wants to make her mom happy for Christmas. This change obliterates a very important element of the story.

This new remake of the television special lacks the heart, humor, magic, and Christmas spirit that makes the Chuck Jones animated TV show a holiday Christmas classic.

GRADE: C

Directed By: Scott Mosier and Yarrow Cheney

MPAA Rating: PG for brief rude humor

Running Time: 90 minutes

Release Date: November 9, 2018

‘Captive State’ Teaser Trailer #2: Resist the Alien Invaders

By

Rebecca Murray

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November 9, 2018

The second teaser trailer for Captive State boasts that the state of the union is strong and unemployment is at the lowest point in history. However, the resistance wants everyone to wake up and realize it’s all a lie. Citizens who want to fight back against the forces in command should wait for a signal and be ready.

And, no, Captive State isn’t a documentary. It’s an alien invasion film that’s set a decade following the take-over of our planet.

The cast of the sci-fi drama is led by John Goodman (The Conners) and includes Ashton Sanders (The Equalizer 2), Jonathan Majors (White Boy Rick), Colson Baker (Roadies), and Vera Farmiga (Bates Motel).

The alien thriller comes from Rupert Wyatt (The Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Escapist, The Gambler). Wyatt directed the film and co-wrote the script with Erica Beeney (The Battle of Shaker Heights). He also served as a producer along with David Crockett.

The behind the scenes team includes director of photography Alex Disenhof, editor Andrew Groves, production designer Keith P. Cunningham, and costume designer Abby O’Sullivan, with music by Rob Simonsen.

Focus Features is set to release Captive State in theaters on March 29, 2019. The MPAA’s rated the film PG-13 for sci-fi violence and action, some sexual content, brief language and drug material.

The Plot:

“Set in a Chicago neighborhood nearly a decade after an occupation by an extra-terrestrial force, “Captive State” explores the lives on both sides of the conflict – the collaborators and dissidents.”

Captive State with John Goodman — John Goodman stars as Mulligan in Rupert Wyatt’s ‘Captive State,’ a Focus Features release. (Photo Credit: Parrish Lewis / Focus Features)

AMC Announces Their “Best Christmas Ever” Holiday Programming Lineup

By

Rebecca Murray

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November 9, 2018

AMC’s unveiled information on the classic films that will be airing as part of the “AMC Best Christmas Ever” holiday programming lineup. The network also announced dozens of holiday specials and family-friendly films that make up what AMC describes as their largest holiday programming slate to date.

“AMC Best Christmas Ever” programs will kick off on November 26, 2018 and run through Christmas Day. All told, more than 600 hours of holiday-themed programming is planned.

“In the same way ‘AMC Festfest’ has become a destination for horror fans every October, ‘AMC Best Christmas Ever’ is poised to become a new holiday tradition for viewers as we showcase 30 days and nights of Christmas movies and specials,” stated Tom Halleen, executive vice president of programming and scheduling for AMC and SundanceTV. “We are thrilled to expand our holiday slate – our largest ever – which was many years in the making, so that viewers can turn us on and keep us on all-month long.”

AMC Best Christmas Ever Lineup

Holiday Films:

Holiday Specials:

Family Favorite Films:

‘The Good Doctor’ Season 2 Episode 7 Photos: “Hubert” Preview, Cast and Plot

By

Rebecca Murray

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November 9, 2018

ABC’s released a batch of photos from The Good Doctor season two episode seven airing on Monday, November 12, 2018 at 10pm ET/PT. The new photos show Dr. Murphy visiting a pet store and making a few new furry friends. Episode seven is titled “Hubert” and was directed by David Renaud from a script by Marisol Adler.

The drama’s season two cast includes Freddie Highmore as Dr. Shaun Murphy, Antonia Thomas as Dr. Claire Browne, Nicholas Gonzalez as Dr. Neil Melendez, Hill Harper as Dr. Marcus Andrews, Richard Schiff as Dr. Aaron Glassman, and Tamlyn Tomita as Allegra Aoki. Christina Chang is Dr. Audrey Lim, Fiona Gubelmann is Dr. Morgan Reznick, Will Yun Lee is Dr. Alex Park, and Paige Spara plays Lea.

The guest cast of season two episode seven features Lisa Edelstein as Dr. Marina Blaize, Marsha Thomason as Dr. Isabel Barnes, Teryl Rothery as J.L. and Elfina Luk as Nurse Dalisay Villanueva. David Shore, Daniel Dae Kim, David Kim, and Sebastian Lee are the executive producers.

The “Hubert” Plot: Dr. Shaun Murphy and Dr. Morgan Reznick must contend with two brothers who are bargaining over life and death. Meanwhile, Dr. Claire Brown’s friend who is dying of cancer asks her for something she doesn’t think she can give her; and Dr. Aaron Glassman is dealing with the effects of his treatment.

The Good Doctor Season 2 Plot:

Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, relocated to San Jose, California, to join the prestigious St. Bonaventure Hospital’s surgical unit. Alone in the world and unable to personally connect with those around him, his only advocate, Dr. Aaron Glassman, challenged the skepticism and prejudices of the hospital’s board and staff by bringing him in to join the team. Shaun’s world has begun to expand as he continues to work harder than he ever has before, navigating his new environment and relationships to prove to his colleagues that his extraordinary medical gifts will save lives.

The Good Doctor Season 2 Episode 8 Preview

The Good Doctor Season 2 Episode 7 — Freddie Highmore and kittens in ‘The Good Doctor’ season 2 episode 7 (ABC/Jack Rowand)

‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’ Video Shows the Connection to Harry Potter

By

Rebecca Murray

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November 8, 2018

Warner Bros Pictures’ latest video from Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald connects the dots to the world of Harry Potter. The film’s stars – Eddie Redmayne and Jude Law – introduce the new video which features clips from the Harry Potter franchise as well as new scenes from this second movie of the Fantastic Beasts series.

The film features an ensemble cast led by Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander, Katherine Waterston as Tina Goldstein, and Dan Fogler as Jacob Kowalski. The cast also includes Alison Sudol as Queenie Goldstein, Ezra Miller as Credence Barebone, Zoë Kravitz as Leta Lestrange, Callum Turner as Theseus Scamander, Claudia Kim as Nagini, Kevin Guthrie as Abernathy, Carmen Ejogo as Seraphina Picquery, Poppy Corby-Tuech as Vinda Rosier, Jude Law as Albus Dumbledore, and Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald.

Harry Potter‘s David Yates directed from a screenplay by J.K. Rowling. David Heyman, J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves, and Lionel Wigram produced the second film of the franchise. Tim Lewis, Neil Blair, Rick Senat, and Danny Cohen served as executive producers.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald will open in theaters in 2D, 3D, and IMAX on November 16, 2018. The MPAA’s rated the fantasy adventure film PG-13 for some sequences of fantasy action.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Jude Law — Jude Law as young Albus Dumbledore in ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’ (Photo by Jaap Buitendijk)

The Plot:

At the end of the first film, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Redmayne). But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings.

In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore (Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.

ShowbizJunkies

Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards 2018 Winners: ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor?,’ ‘Free Solo’ Top the List

Third Annual Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards:

‘The Blacklist’ Season 6 Gets a January 2019 Premiere Date

Backstreet Boys 2019 DNA World Tour Dates Announced

Backstreet Boys DNA Tour Dates:

‘The Affair’ Adds Anna Paquin for Season 5

Legacies’ Season 1 Episode 4 Photos: “Hope is Not the Goal” Preview and Plot

‘The Grinch’ Movie Review: Benedict Cumberbatch Voices the Grumpy Green Creature

‘Captive State’ Teaser Trailer #2: Resist the Alien Invaders

AMC Announces Their “Best Christmas Ever” Holiday Programming Lineup

AMC Best Christmas Ever Lineup

‘The Good Doctor’ Season 2 Episode 7 Photos: “Hubert” Preview, Cast and Plot

‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’ Video Shows the Connection to Harry Potter

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