“No one can serve two masters. We either serve God or serve money,” says Pope Francis into the camera as part of the new documentary about the Pontiff, his teachings, and his views on life in Pope Francis: A Man of His Word.
German Filmmaker Wim Wenders (Buena Vista Social Club, The Salt of the Earth) teams up with the Vatican and His Holiness to make a film that does not tell the Pope’s life story but rather brings the audience in close to the man to hear his ideas and thoughts on a variety of different topics. The documentary crew traveled with the Pope across the world to cover his spiritual speeches and capture how his presence affects thousands of Catholics around the globe who’ve had the privilege of seeing him and hearing his words in person.
One of the film’s most moving and powerful scenes shows the Pope washing and then kissing the feet of prisoners he meets in Philadelphia. The film captures how Pope Francis humbles himself by this act and shows the power of kindness and tenderness to those who have sinned and lost their way in life.
The ambitious documentary also includes an interview with the Pope in which he’s questioned about his views on subjects such as faith, global warming and recycling, homosexuality, the power and struggles of family life, and a person’s purpose in the world. The questions are treated fairly and the Pope gives insightful answers.
Pope Francis: A Man of His Word is an inspiring, touching, and engrossing film. The documentary provides a behind-the-scenes look at the Pope, allowing him to explain his views on important, relevant issues, and shows off his sense of humor as well. Pope Francis: A Man of His Word is an informative look at a man who, when he became Pope, modeled himself after his namesake St. Francis and is truly working to make a difference in this world.
GRADE: B
MPAA Rating: PG for thematic material including images of suffering
Running Time: 96 minutes
Release Date: May 18, 2018 (Limited)
Director Wim Wenders and Pope Francis during the filming of ‘Pope Francis – A Man of His Word,’ a Focus Features release. (Photo Credit : (c) 2018 CTV, Célestes, Solares, Neue Road Movies, Decia, PTS ART’s Factory/ photograph by Francesco Sforza)
The CW’s The Originals will return after a two week break with an episode directed by series star Charles Michael Davis. Davis previously directed The Originals‘ season four episode seven, “High Water and a Devil’s Daughter.”
Season five episode six titled “What, will, I, have, left” was written by Marguerite MacIntyre and will air on May 30, 2018. Candice King and Reign‘s Torrance Coombs return as guest stars.
The fifth and final season of The Originals stars Joseph Morgan as Klaus, Daniel Gillies as Elijah, Yusuf Gatewood as Vincent, Steven Krueger as Josh, Charles Michael Davis as Marcel, Riley Voelkel as Freya, Phoebe Tonkin as Hayley, Danielle Rose Russell as Hope, Nathaniel Buzolic as Kol, Candice King as Caroline, and Claire Holt as Rebekah.
The “What, will, I, have, left” Plot: THE RACE TO SAVE HAYLEY — After learning how she can get Hayley (Tonkin) back, Hope (Russell) sets off on a dangerous mission to end the mess she started. Klaus (Morgan) turns to Caroline (guest star Candice King) for help when he discovers Hope’s plan. Vincent (Gatewood) and Freya (Voelkel) clash over whether to let Declan (guest star Torrance Coombs) in on New Orleans’s supernatural secrets.
The Season 5 Plot: The final season of The Originals begins seven years after the core members of the Mikaelson family – Klaus, Elijah, Rebekah and Kol — each absorb a quarter of the Hollow’s dark energy and flee New Orleans in order to keep both their beloved city and young Hope (guest star Summer Fontana) safe. In the interim, Vincent and Josh preside over a Big Easy almost devoid of conflict, while Hayley and Freya watch Hope grow into a teenager, eventually opting to send her to the Salvatore School so that Caroline can keep an eye on her.
With Marcel following Rebekah out of town and Elijah stripped of his memory, the danger seems to be contained… until a sudden tragedy forces the siblings to return home. As the Mickaelsons return to New Orleans, bringing the pieces of a centuries old evil with them, it becomes clear that the closing chapter of this family saga will be as bloody and emotional as ever.
HBO’s set the premiere dates for the upcoming fourth season of Ballers and the third season of Insecure. Both half-hour shows will return on Sunday, August 12, 2018. Ballers will air Sundays at 10pm ET/PT followed by Insecure at 10:30pm ET/PT.
In addition to the premiere date announcement, HBO released the first trailer for the new season of Ballers.
Ballers was created by Steve Levinson and is executive produced by Levinson, Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Peter Berg, Rob Weiss, Julian Farino, Denis Biggs and Karyn McCarthy. The cast is led by Dwayne Johnson and includes John David Washington, Omar Benson Miller, Donovan Carter, Troy Garity, London Brown, Jazmyn Simon and Brittany S. Hall.
Issa Rae created Insecure, executive produces, and stars in a lead role opposite Yvonne Orji. Larry Wilmore co-created the critically acclaimed series, with Prentice Penny, Melina Matsoukas, Michael Rotenberg, Dave Becky, Jonathan Berry, Dayna Lynne North and Jim Kleverweis serving as executive producers. The cast also includes Jay Ellis, Lisa Joyce, Y’lan Noel, Natasha Rothwell, and Amanda Seales.
Issa Rae has received two Golden Globe nominations in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy category for Insecure. The series was named TV Program of the Year at the 2018 AFI Awards.
Ballers Plot: The show looks at the lives of former and current football players, following former superstar Spencer Strasmore (Dwayne Johnson), who has reinvented himself as a financial manager. This season, Spencer and Joe (Rob Corddry) take their skills to Los Angeles as they look to expand their roster and horizons in the world of action sports.
Insecure Plot: The show follows the friendship of two black women as they deal with their own real-life flaws while attempting to navigate different worlds and cope with an endless series of uncomfortable everyday experiences.
Kevin Bacon as Jackie Rhodes, Aldis Hodge as Decourcy Ward, Mark O’Brien as Jimmy Ryan and Jonathan Tucker as Frankie Ryan in ‘City on a Hill’ (Photo: Eric Ogden / Showtime)
Emmy nominee Kevin Bacon returns to series television with a starring role in the drama, City on a Hill. Showtime’s just given City on a Hill a series order and is targeting a 2019 premiere.
Screen Actors Guild award winner Aldis Hodge (Hidden Figures) co-stars in the dramatic series which received a 12 episode order. The cast also includes Jonathan Tucker (Westworld, Kingdom), Mark O’Brien (Halt and Catch Fire), Jill Hennessy (Crossing Jordan), Lauren E. Banks (Instinct), Amanda Clayton (Tyler Perry’s If Loving You Is Wrong), Kevin Chapman (Brotherhood), and Jere Shea (Passion). Kevin Dunn (Veep) has a recurring role in season one.
Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Jennifer Todd, and James Mangold are executive producing. Chuck MacLean created the series, based on an idea by Affleck, and wrote the pilot. Michael Cuesta (American Assassin) directed the pilot and also serves as an executive producer.
“City on a Hill has the veneer of a classic Boston cops-and-robbers drama, but actually dives head first into challenging the very institutions it depicts,” stated David Nevins, President and CEO of Showtime Networks Inc. “In reality, the series is a penetrating look at the larger criminal justice system and those who operate within it, with mesmerizing performances by Kevin Bacon and Aldis Hodge anchoring the suspense.”
The Plot: In the early 1990s, Boston was rife with violent criminals emboldened by local law enforcement agencies in which corruption and racism was the norm – and then it all changed in what was called the “Boston Miracle.” In this fictional account, driving that change is assistant district attorney Decourcy Ward (Hodge), who comes from Brooklyn and forms an unlikely alliance with a corrupt yet venerated FBI veteran, Jackie Rohr (Bacon). Together, they take on a family of armored car robbers from Charlestown in a case that grows to involve, and ultimately subvert, the entire criminal justice system of Boston.
The CW’s The 100 season five episode four found Diyoza (Ivana Milicevic) and her fellow prisoners agreeing to opening the bunker. Bellamy repelled down and was shocked to see not only Octavia’s transformation, but also the fighting pit spattered with blood. Clarke was finally reunited with her mom, however their reunion was short-lived as Diyoza (of course) went back on their deal. Diyoza and her crew want the entire livable valley to themselves and they threatened to kill everyone if Abby didn’t volunteer to help the sick prisoners. Meanwhile up on the Ark, Raven and Murphy were forced into making the difficult decision to wake the prisoners in order to save their own lives.
Next up, season five episode five titled “Shifting Sands” airing May 22, 2018. Episode five was directed by Omar Madha from a script by Nick Bragg.
The season five cast includes Eliza Taylor as Clarke Griffin, Paige Turco as Dr. Abigail Griffin, Bob Morley as Bellamy Blake, Marie Avgeropoulos as Octavia Blake, Lindsey Morgan as Raven Reyes, Christopher Larkin as Monty Green, Henry Ian Cusick as Marcus Kane, Richard Harmon as John Murphy, Luisa d’Oliveira as Emori, Chelsey Reist as Harper, and Tasya Teles as Echo.
The “Shifting Sands” Plot: CHALLENGES — Octavia (Avgeropoulos) leads her people towards Shallow Valley against the advice of Clarke (Taylor) and Bellamy (Morley). Meanwhile, Kane (Cusick) and Abby (Turco) adjust to a new set of challenges.
The Season 5 Plot: Over the last four seasons The 100 have fought to survive against unimaginable odds, only to see the world end for a second time. Season five begins six years later, with our heroes still separated: Bellamy’s team in space, Clarke on the ground, and hundreds trapped in the bunker below. But when a massive prison ship descends upon the last survivable place on earth, The 100 must come together to reclaim their home.
As two armies converge on one valley, alliances will shift, friends will become foes, and the march to war threatens to destroy all that’s left of the human race. Can our heroes break the cycle, or is humanity doomed to repeat the past? In this epic battle for survival, one thing is certain: there are no good guys.
The CW renewed most of its 2017-2018 primetime lineup, an important move as they head into the 2018-2019 television season. The CW’s taking the bold step of expanding their primetime programming to six nights, adding Sunday to the mix and moving Supergirl to that competitive night followed by the new edition of Charmed. All told, The CW will have more hours of original scripted programming than ABC, NBC, or Fox.
In addition to revealing next season’s primetime schedule, The CW confirmed the new seasons of iZombie, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and Jane the Virgin will be their final seasons.
The just-announced fall schedule includes newcomers Charmed, All American, and The Vampire Diaries/The Originals spinoff, Legacies. (The Supernatural spinoff Wayward Sisters is not moving forward.) New series In the Dark and Roswell, New Mexico will premiere in midseason.
The CW’s 2018-19 Primetime Schedule:
SUNDAY
8:00-9:00 PM SUPERGIRL (New Night)
9:00-10:00 PM CHARMED (New Series)
MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM DC’S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW
9:00-10:00 PM ARROW (New Night)
TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM THE FLASH
9:00-10:00 PM BLACK LIGHTNING
WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM RIVERDALE
9:00-10:00 PM ALL AMERICAN (New Series)
THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM SUPERNATURAL
9:00-10:00 PM LEGACIES (New Series)
Charmed – “Stronger together.” That’s what Marisol tells her daughters, firebrand social justice warrior Melanie “Mel” Vera, and her sister, fun-loving Maggie, about their family. Mel is a graduate student in the women’s studies department her mother heads at Hilltowne University; Maggie is a freshman considering rushing a sorority (to Mel’s amused dismay) and going “on” again with her on-again off-again boyfriend Brian. But then, a shocking tragedy shatters their world and threatens their sibling bond: Marisol dies in a horrifying accident. Or was it?
Three months later, we find Mel unable to accept the official explanation of their mother’s death, while Maggie accuses her of being morbidly obsessed. And then, another huge shock shows up at their front door: they have an older sister, brilliant geneticist Macy, whom their mother kept a secret all these years! Macy is new in town and doesn’t know a soul (except for Galvin, the cute fellow scientist who’s been showing her around). Macy is eager to connect with Mel and Maggie, but Mel can’t handle another shock, and shuts her out. With the emotions of all three sisters running high, each of the girls suddenly exhibit impossible new abilities: Mel can freeze time, Maggie starts hearing others’ thoughts, and Macy has telekinetic powers. But don’t worry, there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation…or so says Harry Greenwood (who as far as they know is the officious new chair of the women’s studies department), when he gathers the three sisters together to reveal they’re actually powerful witches, as was their mother. And he’s not really a professor, he’s their “Whitelighter,” a witch’s advisor and guide! Not only that, but Mel was right: their mother’s death was no accident – she was murdered by unknown dark forces.
It’s a lot to take in, but ultimately the sisters accept their new destiny as The Charmed Ones…and their new duty to protect humankind from the demons that walk among us…one of whom killed their mother. With the Power of Three, they are stronger together… even if they have no idea what they’re really up against. Starring Melonie Diaz, Sarah Jeffery, Madeleine Mantock, Rupert Evans, Ser’Darius Blaine, Charlie Gillespie, and Ellen Tamaki .
All American – Spencer James is a rising high school football player and A student at South Crenshaw High. Compton is the place he calls home. But when Beverly High School’s football coach Billy Baker recruits him to join his team in Beverly Hills, Spencer’s mother, Grace, and his best friend, Coop, convince Spencer it’s an opportunity he has to seize. Now Spencer must navigate two worlds, the south side neighborhood that he knows and the affluent Beverly Hills world that has offered him an opportunity for something bigger.
When Spencer is forced to move in with Billy and his family to protect his transfer permit to Beverly, Billy’s son, Jordan (the team’s starting quarterback), is less than thrilled to be sharing his father’s attention — or the team spotlight — with Spencer. While Spencer struggles to find his footing, he makes an unlikely friend in Jordan’s sister, Olivia, who is dealing with her own demons. He also quickly develops a crush on his classmate, Layla, something her boyfriend, Asher, quickly realizes — and so, he sets out to drive Spencer off the football team and out of Beverly Hills for good. Inspired by the life of NFL player Spencer Paysinger.
All American stars Daniel Ezra, Taye Diggs, Samantha Logan, Bre-Z, Greta Onieogou, Monet Mazur, Michael Evans Behling, Cody Christian and Karimah Westbrook.
Legacies – 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 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 political scion MG 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.
Legacies stars Danielle Rose Russell, Jenny Boyd, Kaylee Bryant, Quincy Fouse and Aria Shaghasemi, with Matt Davis.
In the Dark – Murphy is a hard-living, hard-drinking, disaffected twentysomething with a penchant for cigarettes and casual sex. She’s also blind. Murphy lives with her understanding roommate, Jess, and more reluctantly also lives with her guide dog, Pretzel, whose presence she resents. Her parents, Hank and Joy, own a guide dog school, a venture they opened hoping it would give Murphy a job with some purpose, but so far it’s just another place where she sleeps off her hangovers, much to the particular chagrin of Joy and Felix, the school administrator tasked with attempting to keep the unprofitable school going.
Murphy’s closest friend is a sweet teenager named Tyson. Tyson and Murphy became friends after he saved her from a violent mugging, and his kindness and intelligence are currently going to waste as he deals drugs on the street for his older cousin, Darnell. Then Murphy’s life comes crashing down when, while out for a walk with Pretzel, she stumbles upon what she’s sure is the lifeless body of Tyson in the alley outside her apartment. But when the police arrive, including a charming detective named Dean, there is no body to be found – and with Murphy not exactly sober, the police aren’t especially inclined to investigate. Murphy is devastated, and is only held back from spiraling downward even further by her resolve to learn what happened to Tyson. With the help of Jess – and Pretzel – Murphy is determined to find the truth, no matter the risk… even if it means she has to sober up a little.
In the Dark stars Perry Mattfeld, Brooke Markham, Keston John, Kathleen York, Derek Webster and Morgan Krantz.
Roswell, New Mexico – More than maybe anywhere else on Earth, Roswell, New Mexico is ground zero for those who seek proof that aliens exist. Roswell native Liz Ortecho left it all behind 10 years ago, after the death of her beloved older sister, Rosa. But with her father ailing, she reluctantly returns to her tourist-trap hometown to move back in with him.
When Liz arrives, she reconnects with Max Evans, her teenage crush who is now a Roswell police officer. Their chemistry is instantly electric. But Liz soon discovers a shocking truth: Max is an alien who has kept his unearthly abilities hidden his entire life, along with those of his otherworldly siblings, Isobel and Michael. As the two grow closer after a decade apart, Liz finds it difficult to keep the truth from her best friend, Maria De Luca, and her trusting high school ex, Dr. Kyle Valenti. Also hiding their extraterrestrial origins are Isobel and Michael, with Isobel not even revealing the truth to her husband, Noah, and Michael keeping his identity hidden beneath a bad-boy exterior of hard living and casual hookups. Meanwhile, a long-standing government conspiracy spearheaded by Master Sgt. Jesse Manes, along with the politics of fear and hatred that run rampant in Roswell, threatens to expose Max and his family, and could endanger his deepening romance with Liz…as well as their lives.
Roswell, New Mexico stars Jeanine Mason, Nathan Parsons, Michael Trevino, Lily Cowles, Michael Vlamis, Tyler Blackburn, Heather Hemmens, Trevor St. John and Karan Oberoi.
Deadpool 2 is bold, audacious, outrageous, and wickedly funny. Striking the same tone as the first Deadpool, this 2018 sequel not only lives up to the original but is actually a more entertaining film than its predecessor. No longer saddled with the need to introduce Wade Wilson and explain his transition to a wise-cracking smartass in red leather, Deadpool 2 instead spends its 2-hour running time letting loose the rapid-fire zingers before, during, and after its inventive action scenes.
The R-rated sequel is pretty much everything fans of the first film could want in a follow-up. Of course, Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth repeatedly breaks the fourth wall. There are also plenty of pokes (most of the good-natured variety) at DC Comics, the X-Men franchise, and superheroes in general. The writers capitalize on Deadpool’s anti-hero attitude, but all the wild and raunchy humor is grounded in a surprisingly touching story of love and loss.
There’s more meat to its comedy bones in Deadpool 2. There’s also more to like about the man clad in red leather this time around. What drives him to action in the sequel is the result of a stunning turn of events, and he spends most of the film on a redemption quest. After a bit of rehab at the X-Men mansion followed by a very brief stint as an X-Men trainee, Deadpool figures out his mission. He’s determined to save Russell (who names himself Firefist and is played by Hunt for the Wilderpeople’s Julian Dennison) from the time-traveling metal-armed mutant Cable (Josh Brolin) whose motivations become clear as the film progresses.
Deadpool assembles a motley crew to take down Cable, with newbie Domino (Zazie Beetz) becoming his right-hand mutant mostly by default. The introduction of Domino, whose mutant power is luck, provides one of the film’s best visual sequences. Beetz’s comic timing is impeccable, and director David Leitch (Atomic Blonde) found an ingenious way to visually establish luck as a superpower. A quick flick of her head or a step in a certain direction sets off a chain of events that always leaves her with the desired outcome.
Incredible sight gags, original action scenes, biting pop culture references, and a lead character with an acerbic sense of humor contribute to making Deadpool 2 a ridiculously enjoyable film. Big-name cameos and extra scenes in the credits are just the cherries on top of one of 2018’s most entertaining films.
The only negative comment I could possibly make about the sequel is that it didn’t manage to work in a pack of sexually aggressive canines or Deadpool as a hot bartender. The bizarre “official” synopsis from 20th Century Fox has referenced both, along with a bovine attack and the hunt for a flux capacitor. If somehow the writers had been able to insert nods to the fake synopsis, Deadpool 2 would be the perfect comic book-inspired film. As it stands, it’s a near-perfect sequel.
GRADE: A
MPAA Rating: R for strong violence and language throughout, sexual references and brief drug material
Release Date: May 18, 2018
Running Time: 1 hour 59 minutes
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Morena Baccarin, Julian Dennison, TJ Miller, Karan Soni, Zazie Beetz, Brianna Hildebrand, Shioli Kutsuna, Leslie Uggams, Bill Skarsgard, Terry Crews, Rob Delaney, and Eddie Marsan
Writers: Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds channels John Cusack in ‘Deadpool 2’ (Photo Credit: Twentieth Century Fox)
Wallace Shawn in a scene from ‘The Princess Bride’ (Photo Courtesy of Motor City Comic Con)
Inconceivable! That word is one of the most famous lines in the oft-quoted, beloved 1987 classic The Princess Bride, directed by Rob Reiner.
It was uttered many times in the high-pitched yet distinctive rapid-fire cadence of Wallace Shawn.
It’s inconceivable (or is it?) that Shawn, 74, will no longer say it. In fact, he took this vow of silence more than 20 years ago.
“No one knew that The Princess Bride would become such a beloved film. At first, when people would ask me to say it, it was amusing at the time. At a certain point, though, people thought that’s my catchphrase, but that isn’t how I really see myself… I have a broader view of myself – although that’s probably sheer vanity or sheer narcissism on my part,” explained Shawn. “There’s something about a catchphrase after a certain point that is limiting to the individual – just as many women don’t like to be praised for their breasts, for example. It’s in a way flattering – if you look at it that way – but they didn’t really create their breasts and I didn’t write that line. I was just doing my job saying that line, which was written for the character.”
Shawn will attend the Motor City Comic Con in Novi, MI the weekend of May 18-20, 2018, alongside Tom Welling (Smallville, Lucifer), Stephen Amell (Arrow), Summer Glau (Firefly), Val Kilmer (Batman Forever), Jenna Elfman (Fear the Walking Dead), William Zabka (Cobra Kai), among others.
“As an actor, who’s much less popular now then I was in the 1980s, I’m paid better to sign my name than I am to be an actor,” said Shawn. “It seems I can just meet people for hours on end and I’m still enjoying it – that’s very fascinating.”
A lifelong New Yorker, Shawn is the eldest of three. During elementary school, Shawn did several plays. He liked it so much that he started writing his own.
“My brother and I did some rather ambitious puppet shows,” he recalled.
Shawn earned his undergraduate degree in history at Harvard College. From there, he studied philosophy, politics, economics, and Latin at Magdalen College, Oxford. During his time in England, he saw an announcement about a playwriting contest, where the winner’s play would be produced and performed.
Wallace Shawn (Photo: Serge Nivelle)
“That was very exciting,” he said. “So I wrote a play called Four Meals in May. When I finished writing it, I thought, ‘This was great. They’ll be putting statues of me up in London.’ I didn’t win, but the die was cast. I felt that I want to do this. I felt I could do this forever. Weirdly, whether out of pigheadedness or I don’t know what, I stuck to my plan for some reason and wrote plays.”
Understanding that his plays weren’t for everyone, Shawn began acting in them.
“I realized at a certain point, I could no longer keep borrowing money from friends as a profession. Eventually, I would have to earn money on my own, but I didn’t have a plan for that; all I really wanted to do was write plays. A friend offered me a part in a play that I had translated by Machiavelli called The Mandrake and (paid) me $125/week to be in it. It was a big success. It played the whole season at The Public Theater in New York City.”
Juliet Taylor – long-time casting director of Oscar-winning actor/producer/writer/director Woody Allen – attended a performance. She asked Shawn to meet with Allen, who then cast him in 1979’s Manhattan.
“I began to realize – not immediately – as I was put into other movies, that there was something funny about me. I was funny. It’s hard to define what that means. Apparently, you could make a living off that. So I stopped trying to think of other ways to make a living and accepted that maybe I could keep this going for a little while to support myself as an odd playwright – which it has,” explained Shawn.
Playing an exaggerated version of himself in 1981’s My Dinner with Andre opened many doors for Shawn. Reiner and casting director Janet Hirshenson saw the film. Both were so fond of Shawn’s delivery of the word “inconceivable,” it eventually led to his role as Vizzini, the short, bald-headed leader of a trio who kidnap Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright) in The Princess Bride. Vizzini matches wits and wills with swashbuckling swordsman Westley (Cary Elwes), resulting in his death after drinking poison in yet another oft-quoted scene.
“People found me funny or amusing and – also – people always say I have an unusual voice. It’s not unusual to me because it’s my own voice,” said Shawn. “It was only commented on in high school when the chorus director said that he wished that I could blend in more, that my voice didn’t blend in with the other voices. That was a hint something was odd about my voice – first I’d heard of it. Then 20 years pass, I become an actor at 35, and people say, ‘Oh, you’ve got an unusual voice.’”
While it was a modest success at the box office, The Princess Bride received critical acclaim and achieved a massive following on home video. The movie also earned many awards, including a 97% Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes and inclusion in the National Film Registry. Shawn is recognized for this role more than any other.
Still, he wasn’t Reiner’s first choice to play Vizzini.
“Danny DeVito was the first choice. I might’ve been the 400th choice, I really don’t know. Danny couldn’t do it for one reason or another. They eventually had me in for a meeting. I suppose I read for them – I don’t remember – but I must’ve and I got the part,” he said.
Shawn cannot answer why this fantasy-drama based on William Goldman’s 1973 novel is still a big hit after 31 years.
“I can’t explain that,” he said. “I do ask people about that, but their answers are vague. I say it fulfills a need for a lot of people the way Mozart’s operas do for other people… Popularity is very hard to analyze and explain.”
Another notable role is Wendell Hall in 1995’s Clueless, a modern-day retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma. He’d reprise this role on the Clueless TV series, which was based on the movie.
“Of the Hollywood films I’ve done, it’s the one I feel the greatest affection for,” said Shawn. “I like things charming and benign towards humanity. If compassion, kindness, and charm can be defined, that’s rather thrilling.”
Wallace Shawn in ‘Gossip Girl.’
Shawn’s appeared on many TV series. He’s had recurring roles on Gossip Girl, Family Guy, Crossing Jordan, The Good Wife, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Young Sheldon, et al. On DS9, Shawn played Grand Nagus Zek, the leader of the Ferengi, an alien race bent on profit.
“It was arduous, the hair and makeup – it took three hours! But it was thrilling. It was an amazing gift,” he recalled. “It made acting very easy. If you looked in the mirror, you saw you looked very, very different. I had this anonymity; I was very free and could do what I wanted. It was fun.”
Armin Shimerman, alias Quark, enjoyed working with Wallace Shawn.
“Working with Wallace on (DS9) was always a treat. His bonhomie, talent, and superbly dry wit just made the long days shorter,” said Shimerman. “When he wasn’t educating me about something wonderful, he was giving me a master’s class in comic acting. No one does it better.”
Toy Story director John Lasseter cast him as Rex the dinosaur after seeing Andre, according to Shawn. This beloved franchise, headlined by two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, boasts three movies and several TV specials.
“Once they made the first one, they were stuck with me, really,” he said. “Soon, there’ll be a fourth movie.”
Shawn reunited with Clueless director Amy Heckerling and star Alicia Silverstone in 2012’s Vamps, a vampire comedy co-starring Krysten Ritter and Oscar nominee Sigourney Weaver. It was filmed in Detroit.
“I had a rather thrilling time in Detroit,” said Shawn. “I was there for some time making that movie.”
With Vamps, Shawn joined the ranks of many Hollywood greats – Edward Van Sloan, Peter Cushing, Laurence Olivier, Anthony Hopkins, Christopher Plummer, Hugh Jackman – to play the fearless vampire hunter Van Helsing. He laughed at being in such prestigious company.
“I absolutely loved playing Van Helsing. I think mine is a frighteningly neglected version,” Shawn deadpanned.
He’s looking forward to returning to Michigan this weekend.
“I really do have a big appetite – at least so far – for meeting people. I always enjoy meeting strangers. This is in a nice setting. It’s not always enjoyable to have strangers approach you as you’re taking a big bite of a sloppy sandwich in an airport. But this is a very controlled way to meet strangers,” said Shawn. “I find they’re, of course, predisposed to be friendly and they’ve paid money to meet me. Generally, people don’t come up and say they hated my performances and despise the way I act. They’re usually friendly, in contrast, for example, to the reception I had for many of my plays where people have expressed utter contempt. For me, it’s quite nice. I’m paid to do this, so that’s very agreeable.”
Paulo Costanzo in ‘Designated Survivor’ season 2 episode 22 (ABC/Sven Frenzel)
“You will always have a seat next to me, Emily,” says President Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland) to his Chief of Staff as she hands him her resignation letter in season 2 episode 22 of ABC’s political thriller, Designated Survivor.
As the episode begins, the President and his Secret Service race to the hospital to check on Emily who was shot by a sniper. Turns out he was a bad shot and it only grazed her arm. Emily (Italia Ricci) is ready to get back on the job. (Really?! After just being shot? C’mon!)
The next day at the White House, Ethan West (Michael J. Fox) presents the recommended charges he’s given to the Attorney General against President Kirkman. They include burglary, witness tampering, and obstruction of government proceedings. Kendra (Zoe McLellan) informs West and the Attorney General that the President did none of the things he’s being accused of. West responds by saying Agent Wells did and the President is guilty of conspiracy.
The Attorney General and the two lead senators of both parties suggest to Kirkman that all of this could be avoided if he announced that he has no intention of running for another term. Kirkman ends the meeting.
In the U.S. territory Taurasi, Seth Wright (Kal Penn) and Lyor Boone (Paulo Costanzo) are meeting with the Governor to convince him not to break away from being a U.S. territory. The Governor doesn’t see the benefit of being tied to the U.S. and wants to be its own entity.
Aaron Shore (Adan Canto) meets with Kendra who tells him to get rid of this problem facing the President, Wells needs to testify. Aaron tells her that’s not going to happen because she went off the grid and he can’t find her until she wants to be found.
Over in London, Agent Hannah Wells (Maggie Q) is looking for Rennett’s daughter, Amy, who she believes Valeria the Russian assassin wants dead. With Chuck Russink’s help, Wells gets a lead on where to find Amy.
Back in D.C., Kirkman’s called into the Command Ops Center and is told that a massive earthquake has occurred and created a tsunami headed straight for Taurisi. He watches in horror as the tsunami hits the beaches and heads inland.
Knowing Taurasi will need help, Kirkman meets with the senators of both parties to try to come to an agreement on sending them aid and money. Both senators play politics and say Taurasi is not America’s major concern because they wanted to break away. They offer up a token $3 million which Aaron points out is basically $3 per person.
Angry and fed up with dirty politics, Kirkman asks Kendra to see if there’s a way he can get around Congress with an executive order to help Taurasi. Brainstorming, Kendra tells Emily the President can temporarily redistribute funds. She gets to work on it.
Back in London, Wells finds Amy but Amy clocks her and makes a run for it. She appears to know bad people are after her and believes Wells is one of them. Wells later catches up with Amy and corners her, telling her about her father and that she only wants to protect her. Amy decides to trust Wells for the moment.
Meanwhile, Taurasi has enough power for Kirkman to speak with Boone via satellite. Kirkman tells him he’s relieved he’s okay and to get an update on the situation. Boone and the Governor are informed the President is grave. At least 100 people are dead and massive power outages expand over the island. Kirkman asks where Seth is, telling Boone he wants his input. Boone confesses Seth is still missing.
Meanwhile in London, Amy reveals to Wells she shared a secret safe with her father. Wells tells her they need to check it out. Wells also says whoever is after her is most likely looking for something her father had. When they get there the safe is empty much to Wells’ disappointment. However, Amy reveals it was a list of names on a piece of paper. Amy also tells Wells that she has a photographic memory and has all five pages of names as well as the addresses that were on the list.
Wells realizes after talking with Chuck (Jake Epstein) that the list is a “noc list” of British agents.
Kirkman’s executive action gets shot down by Congress and the Chief Justice because Emily made the mistake of approaching the Justice at a memorial for a colleague. He found that to be in very bad taste and tells the President she should be fired for such behavior. Kirkman meets with Emily after the Chief Justice leaves and scolds her for what she did but leaves it at that.
West meets with Cornelius Moss (Geoff Pierson) and Moss reveals he plans for West and wants him to be his advisor. West replies that he’s happy where he is. He seems to be bothered by Moss’ behavior.
In Taurasi, Boone continues to search for Seth and finally finds him no worse for wear. The two colleagues and friends hug awkwardly and head back to update the President.
Seth, Boone, and the Taurasi Governor explain the south part of the island took the worst hit and there’s looting and chaos happening. This gives Kirkman and his staff the idea to use an AUMF (Authorization for Use of Military Force) to send in food and supplies via the military after the Governor declares the area “a war zone.” The Governor agrees but when Moss gets wind of what the President did, he tries to spin it as though Kirkman sees himself as a dictator not willing to work with Congress or anyone else who disagrees with his ideas or actions.
Over in London, Wells sets a trap for Valeria using Amy as bait back at her apartment. After a few hours, Valeria makes her move and Wells is there to take her on. They fight and Valeria manages to stab Wells and makes a break to get away. However, Wells isn’t badly wounded and gives chase, ultimately getting the drop on Valeria. Valeria reminds her she’s an FBI agent and has no jurisdiction to arrest her. Wells responds by shooting her dead. Before leaving, Wells searches her pockets and secures a flash drive.
Emily meets with Kirkman and hands him her resignation which he refuses to accept. She admits she has lost her way and has found herself doing things she never thought she would to protect him. She’s afraid if she stays, she’ll do something he won’t be able to protect her from. She would never want to do anything to hurt him. “You will always have a seat next to me,” says Kirkman as he’s called away to meet with West.
In the Oval Office, Kirkman tells West he really doesn’t have time for him and West promises to be quick. He’s realized that out of everyone in D.C., Kirkman doesn’t play the angles. “You don’t scheme – you serve,” says West.
West hands Kirkman a piece of paper reminding Kirkman he gave it to him and he’s giving it back hoping it helps. West leaves and Kirkman looks at the paper and sees nothing on it; it’s blank. Kirkman remembers that before West investigated him, he gave West a blank piece of paper saying these were his demands. Since it was blank, it meant everything was open for discussion.
Wells is about to take a cab to the airport to return home when Amy explains that with her father dead, she doesn’t have anyone in London. Wells reluctantly agrees to let Amy come stay with her back in D.C., but the minute she doesn’t listen to her she’ll send her back to London. Smiling, Amy hails them a cab. Wells says out loud to herself, “This is a bad idea.”
President Kirkman addresses the nation and announces his intention to run. He wants to continue to be America’s president as an independent and to keep working for the good of the people.
Wells and Amy board the plane and head for the States. While Amy sleeps, Wells puts the flash drive into her computer to see what’s on it. She’s shocked to find photos of Emily meeting with Valeria and handing her documents!
Designated Survivor Season 2 Episode 22 Review:
Unlike the first season-ender, season two episode 22 titled “Run” failed to have the same sense of suspense, urgency, and intrigue that made the first season of Designated Survivor thrilling and engaging to watch. The season two finale of the political thriller/drama, and most likely the series finale (ABC didn’t renew the series for a third season), focused on charges possibly being brought against the President. They would never hold up in court once Wells testified, so the drama just wasn’t there.
The best-written storyline of the episode was the tsunami disaster in Taurasi. The special effects were impressive, and the struggle to get aid to them during tough and hostile political times on both sides was engaging to watch unfold.
The constant changing of Emily’s moral and ethical conscience also became a problem this season. The evolution of her character strayed too far from how she was written and portrayed in the first season. Hence, her actions didn’t ring true or feel authentic.
Overall, the season/series finale was much like many of the episodes this season, lacking any real tension and turning what used to be a smart, original, and exciting political thriller into a weak and at times boring political soap opera.
In the penultimate episode of The CW’s The Flash season four, Cisco and Caitlin talked Barry into training them to use Flashtime to help take on DeVoe and rescue some hostages. Although it worked, DeVoe was one step ahead of #TeamFlash and was able to begin the Enlightenment process. The episode also found Caitlin discovering Killer Frost has been a part of her since she was a child.
Up next, season four episode 23 titled “We Are The Flash.” The season finale airs on May 22, 2018 and was directed by David McWhirter from a script by Todd Helbing and Eric Wallace.
