‘Seven Seconds’ Premiere Date Announced: Netflix’s New Crime Series

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December 22, 2017

Netflix will launch the new series Seven Seconds on Friday, February 23, 2018. The premiere date arrived accompanied by a short teaser video and the show’s creepy poster.

The dramatic series comes from series creator and executive producer Veena Sud (The Killing) and is described as a “thrilling new anthological crime drama that explores the human stories behind the headlines.” The cast of season one includes Regina King (American Crime), breakout British actress Clare-Hope Ashitey (Doctor Foster), Russell Hornsby (Fences, Grimm), Beau Knapp (Sand Castle), Michael Mosely (Ozark), David Lyons (Safe Haven), Raul Castillo (Special Correspondents), and Zackary Momoh (A United Kingdom).

The Plot: In a society fraught with racial tension, sensational headlines, and an audience who would rather be entertained than informed, seven seconds can mean life or death.

In an instant, life is forever changed for Brenton Butler and his family. After a white cop accidentally hits and critically injures a black teenager, a northeastern city explodes with racial tensions, an attempted cover up and its aftermath, and the trial of the century.

Clare-Hope Ashitey portrays KJ Harper, a black assistant prosecutor assigned to the incident, with troubles of her own. She grapples with the weight of the case and what it will mean to bring justice not only for Brenton, but for the Black community. KJ works closely with the teen’s mother Latrice Butler (King) who realizes there may be more to her son than she and her husband (Hornsby) were aware of, and becomes consumed with finding out what happened.

Seven Seconds tackles the controversial issues of race relations between law enforcement, the people they serve, and the personal stories of those involved. At its core, the series goes beyond the headlines, examining the impact a tragic accident has on a community and a family’s need for answers and justice.

‘The China Hustle’ First Trailer Reveals a Tangled Web of Financial Lies

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Rebecca Murray

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December 22, 2017

Magnolia Pictures has just released the trailer for The China Hustle, a new documentary from writer/director Jed Rothstein (Parched, Death Row Stories). Frank Marshall, Stacey Offman, Alex Gibney, Mark Cuban, Todd Wagner, Ben Cosgrove, and Jeff Cuban served as executive producers. Sarah Gibson and Ryan Suffern produced the timely documentary that delves into the financial world in China.

The China Hustle features Dan David, Matthew Wiechert, Carson Block, James Chanos, Soren Aandahl, and Maj Soueidan. Magnolia is set to release the documentary in theaters, On Demand, on iTunes, and Amazon Video on March 30, 2018.

Director Jed Rothstein’s previous credits include Hidden Crisis: Women & AIDS (which he also wrote), God’s Next Army, Before the Spring: After the Fall, an episode of Death Row Stories, two episodes of The New Yorker Presents, and one episode of Parched. Additional producing credits include Made in America, Coma, The IFC Media Project, and Killing in the Name.

The Plot: From the producers of Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room comes a Wall Street heist story about a still-unfolding financial crime so big, it has the power to affect all of our wallets. Investors on the fringes of the financial world feverishly seek new alternatives for high-return investments in the global markets, and have found a goldmine in China. But when one investor discovers a massive web of fraud, everything else is called into question. Jed Rothstein’s documentary rings the alarm on the need for transparency in an increasingly deregulated financial world by following those working to uncover the biggest heist you’ve never heard of.

Best Actors of 2017: Top 15 Standout Performances in Feature Films

By

Rebecca Murray

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December 22, 2017

I spent a considerable amount of time attempting to nail down which actor delivered the best performance in 2017, vacillating between two stunning performances. Two actors stood apart from the pack, and ultimately I went with the performance that solidified a veteran actor’s status as a chameleon capable of completely transforming into any character.

1. Gary Oldman crawled into the skin of Sir Winston Churchill and brought The British Bulldog back to life on the screen in Darkest Hour. It’s a stunning performance and one that exemplifies Gary Oldman’s ability to disappear into any character in any genre or time period.

2. Call Me By Your Name‘s Timothée Chalamet delivered an incredible breakthrough performance that was both heart-wrenching and life-affirming. Chalamet, who had supporting roles in 2017’s Hostiles and Lady Bird, completely inhabited the role of a young man experiencing his first love. It’s a beautiful, textured performance, and all the attention Chalamet’s receiving is well deserved.

3. The remaining 13 actors who made my annual “Best Actors” list were each worthy of the #3 spot behind Oldman and Chalamet. If you consider the multiple personalities James McAvoy had to play in Split as individual characters, he could have filled out a Top 15 list all on his own. Unfortunately, McAvoy’s not earning the awards attention he should, most likely due to Split‘s early release and its genre.

4. Jeremy Renner delivered one of the most controlled performances of his career in the character-driven thriller, Wind River. It’s not a flashy film, or a flashy performance, and it’s easy to overlook the complexity of the story and the layers Renner brings to his character.

5. James Franco not only starred in but also directed The Disaster Artist based on the true behind-the-scenes story of the filming of The Room. The Room‘s considered one of the worst films ever made and Franco manages to refrain from making its writer/director Tommy Wiseau into a two-dimensional caricature, a trap he could have easily fallen into. Plus, the bizarre accent and rhythm of speech he adopts as Wiseau must have been incredibly difficult to maintain throughout filming and yet he never slips out of it for a single scene.

6. Andy Serkis is the master of performance capture work. No one does it better than Serkis, and his final film of the Planet of the Apes trilogy – War for the Planet of the Apes – is his best work to date. It’s such an honest, heartbreaking performance that it makes you forget he’s playing a talking ape.

7. Robert Pattinson has left all remnants of sparkling vampire Edward Cullen behind, moving on to roles that challenge him to stretch his acting muscles. Pattinson’s lead role in Good Time takes his acting to a completely new level. It’s such an outstanding performance that even if you don’t enjoy the film (which I didn’t), he makes you stick with it to the bitter end.

8. Charlie Hunnam has been keeping busy since the end of Sons of Anarchy, and The Lost City of Z marks his best choice in feature film roles since hanging up his SAMCRO jacket. The Lost City of Z is based on the true story of British explorer Percy Fawcett, and Hunnam does a terrific job of capturing Fawcett’s passion for and obsession with the Amazon.

9. Talk about taking the audience for a wild ride… Get Out‘s Daniel Kaluuya leads the incredible cast of one of 2017’s best films. Kaluuya does an outstanding job of allowing us inside his character’s head as he realizes he’s fallen into a trap from which escape seems unlikely.

10. Hostiles hasn’t received the attention you’d expect for a Western starring Christian Bale and directed by Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart, Black Mass, and Out of the Furnace). Reviews have been mixed, but even those who don’t admire Cooper’s vision agree Bale’s performance is awards-worthy. Bale can always be counted on to fully immerse himself in a role, and that definitely holds true for his performance in this dark and disturbing Western.

11. It’s not often the lead in a comic book-inspired film is singled out for attention. Christian Bale earned rave reviews for his take on Batman, but for the most part performances in superhero films are pretty much ignored. However, it’s impossible to overlook Chris Hemsworth‘s entertaining, joyous performance in his third solo Thor film, Thor: Ragnarok. Hemsworth and director Taika Waititi served up an incredibly entertaining, fun, forget-your-problems film just when the world needed it most.

12. Unfortunately for movie fans, Daniel Day-Lewis has confirmed Phantom Thread will be his final theatrical film before he retires from acting. The twisted drama reunites the actor/director team of Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Thomas Anderson from There Will Be Blood, the 2007 critically acclaimed movie that was nominated for eight Oscars and won two. There Will Be Blood is a superior film, but Day-Lewis’ captivating performance in Phantom Thread is more textured and nuanced.

13. Bill Skarsgard is terrifying as Pennywise the Clown in It, based on Stephen King’s bestselling novel. Skarsgard had massive clown shoes to fill taking on the role that Tim Curry owned in the 1990 TV mini-series, and Skarsgard managed to make the character his own. His Pennywise is absolutely terrifying yet a different creature than Curry’s clown. Also, kudos to Bill Skarsgard for scarring a new generation of moviegoers who will have nightmares over this contorted, kid-eating clown for years.

14. Dunkirk was a true ensemble piece, with filmmaker Christopher Nolan assembling an amazing group of veteran actors and newcomers to tell the harrowing, heroic true story of the rescue of Allied troops. Fionn Whitehead has very few feature film acting credits under his belt, and yet he not only held his own but excelled among a cast that included Sir Kenneth Branagh, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, and Mark Rylance.

15. I’m surprised Stronger and its leads – Jake Gyllenhaal and Tatiana Maslany – aren’t receiving more awards attention. The inspirational film’s based on the true story of Boston Marathon bombing victim Jeff Bauman, and Jake Gyllenhaal does an outstanding job of showing Bauman as a decent man thrust into an extraordinary situation. The film currently sits at 93% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with nearly all the positive reviews applauding Gyllenhaal’s stellar performance as a working class guy whose life and legs were shattered in the blink of an eye.

Gyllenhaal’s one of the most talented actors of his generation and has managed to never repeat himself or phone it in. (Even in bad films he’s 100% committed.) 2017 was a strong year for lead roles for men, which is the only reason Jake Gyllenhaal isn’t showing up on more lists recognizing the year’s best actors.

2017’s Top 10 Best Actors:

Gary Oldman – Darkest Hour
Timothée Chalamet – Call Me By Your Name
James McAvoy – Split
Jeremy Renner – Wind River
James Franco – The Disaster Artist
Andy Serkis – War for the Planet of the Apes
Robert Pattinson – Good Time
Charlie Hunnam – The Lost City of Z
Daniel Kaluuya – Get Out
Christian Bale – Hostiles
Chris Hemsworth – Thor: Ragnarok
Daniel Day-Lewis – Phantom Thread
Bill Skarsgard – It
Fionn Whitehead – Dunkirk
Jake Gyllenhaal – Stronger

Also of Interest:

‘Overboard’ Teaser Trailer: Anna Faris Stars in the Romantic Comedy Remake

By

Rebecca Murray

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December 21, 2017

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Pantelion Films has released the first teaser trailer for Overboard, a 2018 remake of the 1987 romantic comedy. The original film starred Goldie Hawn as an obnoxious heiress rescued by the carpenter she bad-mouthed and abused. In the new take on the classic comedy, the genders are flipped.

Overboard was directed by Rob Greenberg (How I Met Your Mother) from a script he co-wrote with Bob Fisher and Leslie Dixon. The 2018 rom-com was produced by Eugenio Derbez, Benjamin Odell, and Bob Fisher, with Brendan Ferguson executive producing.

The cast is led by Anna Faris (Mom, What’s Your Number?) and Eugenio Derbez (How to Be a Latin Lover). Eva Longoria (Empire) and John Hannah (Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency) co-star. MGM and Pantelion Films will release Overboard in theaters on April 20, 2018.

The Plot: In a splashy new twist, Overboard focuses on “Leonardo” (Eugenio Derbez), a selfish, spoiled, rich playboy from Mexico’s richest family and “Kate” (Anna Faris), a working class single mom of three hired to clean Leonardo’s luxury yacht. After unjustly firing Kate and refusing to pay her, Leonardo falls overboard when partying too hard and wakes up on the Oregon coast with amnesia. Kate shows up at the hospital and, to get payback, convinces Leonardo he is her husband and puts him to work – for the first time in his life.

At first miserable and inept, Leonardo slowly settles in. Eventually he earns the respect of his new “family” and co-workers. But, with Leonardo’s billionaire family hot on their trail and the possibility of his memory returning at any moment, will their new family last or will Leonardo finally put the clues together and leave them for good?

Overboard Teaser Trailer — Anna Faris as Kate and Eugenio Derbez as Leonardo in ‘Overboard.’ (Photo by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures / Pantelion Films)

‘A Futile and Stupid Gesture’ Debuts a New Trailer and Poster

By

Rebecca Murray

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December 21, 2017

Netflix has released the first trailer and poster for the comedy film, A Futile and Stupid Gesture. The comedy’s based on the 2006 book by Josh Karp and delves into the life and career of National Lampoon’s co-founder, Doug Kenney. Wet Hot American Summer‘s David Wain directed and Michael Colton and John Aboud (Childrens Hospital) adapted Karp’s book.

The cast includes Will Forte (The Last Man on Earth) as Doug Kenney and Domhnall Gleeson (Star Wars: The Last Jedi) as Henry Beard, one of the other co-founders of National Lampoon. Martin Mull (Arrested Development) plays an older Doug Kenney, Joel McHale (Community) is Chevy Chase, and Matt Lucas (Doctor Who) is Tony Hendra. Thomas Lennon (The Odd Couple) plays Michael O’Donoghue, Seth Green (Austin Powers) is Christopher Guest, Jackie Tohn (House of Lies) is Gilda Radner, and Natasha Lyonne (Orange is the New Black) stars as Anne Beatts. Emmy Rossum (Shameless) is Kathryn Walker, Elvy Yost (The Catch) is Mary Marshmallow, Matt Walsh (Veep) plays Matty Simmons, and John Gemberling (Broad City) stars as John Belushi. Rick Glassman (Undateable) plays Harold Ramis, Camille Guaty (Scorpion) is Alex Garcia-Mata, and Jon Daly (Zoolander 2) is Bill Murray.

The comedy was shot in Los Angeles in 2016. Peter Principato and Jonathan Stern produced the film. David Wain, Michael Colton, John Aboud, Ed Helms, Ben Ormand, Sean McKittrick, and Ted Hamm served as executive producers.

A Futile and Stupid Gesture will have its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2018. It will premiere on Netflix on January 26th.

The Plot: A Futile and Stupid Gesture is the story of comedy wunderkind Doug Kenney, who co-created the National Lampoon, Caddyshack, and Animal House. Kenney was at the center of the 70’s comedy counter-culture which gave birth to Saturday Night Live and a whole generation’s way of looking at the world.

‘All the Money in the World’ Review

By

Kevin Finnerty

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December 21, 2017

“We need to pay the ransom, Mr. Getty,” says Fletcher Chase (Mark Wahlberg). “I do not have the money to spare,” answers J. Paul Getty (Christopher Plummer), the richest man in the entire world as he refuses to pay the ransom for his kidnapped grandson in the dramatic film All the Money in the World.

All the Money in the World is set in 1973 and is inspired by the true story of the kidnapping of then 16-year-old John Paul Getty III by masked men in Rome. After abducting the teen off the street, the kidnappers call the boy’s mother, Gail (Michelle Williams), and demand $17 million for his safe return. “I don’t have any money,” says Gail, obviously in shock when she receives the phone call informing her of the kidnapping. The kidnapper then suggests what seems obvious. “Get it from your father-in-law. He has all the money in the world.”

When J. Paul Getty learns about his grandson’s kidnapping from his personal secretary, he refuses to be disturbed while he looks over the today’s figures from the opening of the market. Later when reporters ask him on live television how much he’s willing to pay to get his grandson back, he answers, “Nothing.” This reply prompts a stunned-but-determined Gail to visit her estranged ex-father-in-law in person.

Gail’s kept cooling her heels at Getty’s estate and then is finally introduced to ex-CIA operative Fletcher Chase. Chase now works for Getty, handling his security as well as some shady foreign deals. Chase informs Gail he’s going to work with her to get her son back, at the request of J. Paul Getty.

As Paul’s held hostage for months, the kidnappers grow increasingly anxious about the diminishing possibility of collecting the ransom. They become more ruthless and even begin to bargain down the ransom to make it happen quicker. When Chase is finally able to rule out the kidnapping as a prank or an attempt by the boy and his mother to score a payday from Getty, he becomes a strong and unlikely ally to Gail in the fight with the kidnappers and with the uncaring and self-absorbed J. Paul Getty in bringing Paul home alive.

Directed by Ridley Scott and based on a true story, All the Money in the World is an engrossing and dramatic thriller that’s made even more effective by the compelling performances of Michelle Williams as Gail Harris and Christopher Plummer as J. Paul Getty.

Williams delivers a masterful performance as Gail, the distraught, desperate, and determined mother who’s at the mercy of the ruthless strangers who’ve kidnapped her son. She’s also at the mercy of her former father-in-law who’s driven by the pursuit of wealth and security the same way Ebenezer Scrooge was in Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. She perfectly portrays all the different emotions Gail goes through, from shock to fear, anger, disgust, rage, hope, and so many more. It’s truly a performance worthy of an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.

Plummer delivers another memorable performance as he seamlessly replaces Kevin Spacey in the role as Getty. Every scene with Plummer as he displays Getty’s obsession with wealth and his resentment towards Gail for divorcing his son is flawless and at times unnerving. He’s also terrific in playing Getty’s disappointment as he realizes all hope’s lost in his dream of having his grandson follow in his footsteps. Plummer captures vividly how empty and void Getty is of sympathy or empathy of his own family’s pain and horror.

Another performance worthy of praise is delivered by Romain Duris as the kidnapper Cinquanta. Cinquanta made the phone calls to Gail and stayed close to Paul, actually feeling more sympathy toward the teenager than Paul’s own grandfather was able to display. Duris shows how over time Cinquanta gets to like and care about his young captive and eventually becomes more interested in making sure Paul gets home alive to his mother than getting any money for his hostage.

The editing, reshooting, and replacing of all of Kevin Spacey’s scenes was necessary after a flurry of sexual assault allegations against Spacey became public. Plummer stepped in at the last minute, and his integration into the film as the senior Getty is impressive. The change in actors is so smooth that no one would ever be able to tell none of Plummer’s scenes were in the original cut of the film.

The only real drawback in All the Money in the World is Mark Wahlberg’s performance as the ex-CIA operative. He has zero chemistry with either Plummer or Williams, and his portrayal of the man who’s supposedly an expert in this line of work comes off wooden and stilted.

Still, with two powerful performances by Williams and Plummer and the expert direction of Scott, All the Money in the World is ultimately a gripping and intriguing film that realistically displays the human drama of the kidnapping and the overwhelming, incomprehensible greed of J. Paul Getty.

GRADE: B

Running Time: 132 minutes

MPAA Rating: R for language, some violence, disturbing images and brief drug content

Release Date: December 25, 2017

‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’ Trailer: The Sequel’s Also a Prequel

By

Rebecca Murray

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December 21, 2017

The first trailer for Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again appears to tease the death of Meryl Streep’s character, Donna. The trailer reveals Amanda Seyfried’s Sophie is pregnant and one of her mother’s best friends, Rosie (Julie Walters), says, “Your mother was the bravest person we ever met.” Keyword = was. The trailer then goes on to lay out Donna’s backstory, with Lily James (Darkest Hour, Baby Driver) playing the younger Donna in flashbacks.

The cast also includes Christine Baranski as Tanya, Dominic Cooper as Sky, Pierce Brosnan as Sam, Stellan Skarsgård as Bill, and Colin Firth as Harry. Young Rosie is played by Alexa Davies (A Brilliant Young Mind) and Jessica Keenan Wynn plays the young Tanya. Jeremy Irvine (War Horse) is the young Sam, Josh Dylan (Allied) is young Bill, and Hugh Skinner (Kill Your Friends) is the young Harry. Plus, Cher is confirmed to be in the sequel, putting in an appearance at the end of the first trailer.

Ol Park wrote and directed the Mamma Mia sequel from a story by Catherine Johnson, Richard Curtis and Parker. Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Phyllida Lloyd, Richard Curtis and Nicky Kentish Barnes executive produce, with Judy Craymer and Gary Goetzman producing. Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus returned to write the music and lyrics for the Mamma Mia! sequel, and also served as executive producers.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again will open in theaters on July 20, 2018.

The original film premiered on July 18, 2008 and was directed by Phyllida Lloyd, working from a $50 million budget. The film’s opening weekend rang up $27 million domestically and went on to gross $609 million worldwide before exiting theaters. Mamma Mia was nominated for two Golden Globes and three BAFTA Awards. It won a Razzie for Worst Supporting Actor (Pierce Brosnan) as well as the “Movie You Wanted to Love, But Just Couldn’t” award from the Alliance of Women Film Journalists.

Gal Gadot to be Honored with the Critics’ Choice Awards #SeeHer Award

By

Rebecca Murray

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December 21, 2017

Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot has been selected to receive the #SeeHer Award at the 23rd Annual Critics’ Choice Awards to be held on Thursday, January 11, 2018. Viola Davis was the winner of the first-ever #SeeHer Award in 2016, an award which “recognizes a woman who embodies the values set forth by the #SeeHer movement — to push boundaries on changing stereotypes and recognize the importance of accurately portraying women across the entertainment landscape.”

Gal Gadot was selected as the 2017 recipient after she “broke through this year as a powerful voice advocating for women, not only on screen as the iconic Wonder Woman, but in life as well, using her platform to encourage those in the entertainment industry and beyond to strive for fairness and parity across genders,” according to the BFCA and BTJA.

The 2018 Critics’ Choice Awards will take place at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, CA, and will be broadcast live on the East Coast at 8pm ET/PT on The CW Network.

“We’re honored to recognize Gal this year with the second annual #SeeHer Award,” said Association of National Advertisers (ANA) CEO Bob Liodice who’s partnering with The CW to honor Gadot. ANA spearheads the #SeeHer movement which launched in early 2016. “Not only was she able to challenge stereotypes in film and find success by starring in one of the biggest blockbusters this year, she also used that success to shine a light on her own industry, and push the boundaries on gender equality in real life.”

“Having critics once again recognize the importance of #SeeHer and including the award in the broadcast is another key milestone for the movement,” added ANA AFE #SeeHer Chair Stephen Quinn. “Entertainment plays such a large part in influencing culture. There has never been a more important time to lean in and support our #SeeHer mission of increasing accurate portrayal of girls and women in media. Gal and Patty are role models for our #SeeHer mission, and we are delighted to have them recognized by the critics and the industry.”

Wonder Woman starring Gal Gadot and directed by Patty Jenkins holds the record as the highest-grossing live-action feature film to be directed by a female. The film’s earned more than $820 million worldwide and currently sits at 92% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

The annual Critics’ Choice Awards are voted on by members of the Broadcast Television Journalists Association and Broadcast Film Critics Association. The BTJA and BFCA are made up of journalists and critics who cover films and/or television on a regular basis.

More on the #SeeHer Movement:

Despite the strides made to accurately portray women and girls in media, an unconscious bias persists against women and girls in advertising, media, and programming. The Association of National Advertisers (ANA) Alliance for Family Entertainment (AFE) launched the #SeeHer initiative in June 2016 in a partnership with The Female Quotient, after the Obama administration announced the elimination of gender bias in media as critical to the nation’s future. #SeeHer’s mission is to accurately portray all women and girls in media by 2020, the 100th anniversary of women winning the right to vote in the U.S. For more information, visit www.SeeHer.com, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Complete List of 2018 Critics’ Choice Awards Nominees

‘The Greatest Showman’ Review

By

Rebecca Murray

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December 21, 2017

The Greatest Showman Movie Review — Zac Efron and Zendaya in Twentieth Century Fox’s ‘The Greatest Showman’ (Photo by Niko Tavernise)

Striking visuals and Zendaya on a trapeze aren’t enough to overcome the many faults of The Greatest Showman, a musical very loosely based on the life of P.T. Barnum. The film lays out Phineas Taylor Barnum’s transition from a poor young boy accompanying his tailor dad on visits to wealthy clients to a dreamer who uses someone else’s worthless ships to con his way into a loan to start a wax museum.

P.T. (Hugh Jackman) has huge dreams and with his loving wife, Charity (Michelle Williams), and their two beautiful daughters cheering him on, P.T. grows his tiny museum into a successful circus. He seeks out individuals with unusual physical characteristics to populate his circus, promising them adulation from the crowd rather than the derision of strangers. And, for a while at least, he supports his troupe and the circus flourishes.

Unfortunately, P.T.’s dreams of being accepted into Manhattan society don’t materialize even though his fortune increases. In the film’s least appealing storyline, P.T. Barnum neglects his circus performers to promote Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind (Rebecca Ferguson), hoping it will lend him some legitimacy and earn the respect of the people he considers his peers. His circus and his marriage suffer as he takes to the road on a concert tour with Jenny. Of course, he’s finally brought to his senses in a very Hollywood-esque turn of redemption.

The Greatest Showman makes the controversial businessman into a, if not heroic, at least likable figure. The film version of P.T. Barnum is highly romanticized, which is fine as The Greatest Showman was never advertised as a biopic. However, the alterations to Barnum’s story lead me to wonder why screenwriters Bill Condon and Jenny Bicks didn’t more fully abandon his history and make the film more of a musical celebration of the past. The trailers tease a much more joyful film than is actually delivered by first-time feature film director Michael Gracey, and that’s not only a shame but also a missed opportunity. When you’ve got Jackman singing and dancing in the lead, and you’ve enticed the audience in with trailers emphasizing the vibrant musical numbers, why bring the film to a skidding stop with a Barnum and Jenny Lind road trip?

It’s P.T. Barnum’s story, and to a lesser extent his relationship with Charity and then Jenny, that’s front and center in The Greatest Showman. Unfortunately, Jackman and Williams’ chemistry isn’t as strong as Zac Efron and Zendaya’s. Efron’s upper-class writer and Zendaya’s wrong side-of-the-tracks trapeze artist relationship turns out to be the more compelling. Efron and Zendaya’s scenes sparkle, and when The Greatest Showman focuses on their storyline, it’s at its most engaging.

In addition to the lack of chemistry, I had an issue with the age difference between Jackman and Williams. Their characters are introduced as children who look the same age (or at least within a year or two). As adults, the age difference is noticeable and distracting.

The Greatest Showman’s underdeveloped plot might have been forgiven if it was compensated for by incredible musical numbers. Unfortunately, that’s just not the case. The songs all sound alike in this musical drama, and you won’t have to worry about any of them getting (annoyingly) stuck in your head.

The songwriting team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul earned an Oscar for their show-stopping “City of Stars” number in La La Land and a Tony Award for the critically acclaimed Dear Evan Hansen. The fact “This is Me” from The Greatest Showman is being recognized with awards nominations speaks more to their reputation, Hugh Jackman’s likeability, and a lack of memorable original songs in 2017 films, than it does to the quality of The Greatest Showman’s musical numbers.

One song, in particular, feels out of place with respect to a supporting character. Rebecca Ferguson plays Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind whose beautiful soprano voice earned her the nickname the Swedish Nightingale. Ferguson’s singing voice was dubbed by Loren Allred, but it’s never explained why, after Barnum touts Jenny as this amazing opera singer loved by audiences worldwide, the only song Pasek and Paul penned for her to sing in the concert scenes is a pop tune. The song doesn’t fit the character’s description and it’s confusing as to why she’s even introduced as an opera singer if the audience only hears her sing something that could have come from Christina Aguilera or Mariah Carey’s repertoire.

The Greatest Showman whitewashes P.T. Barnum’s story, which is not in the least bit unexpected. What is unexpected is how flat the film is, despite the efforts of its talented cast.

GRADE: C

MPAA Rating: PG for thematic elements including a brawl

Running Time: 105 minutes

Release Date: December 20, 2017

‘The Resident’ New Series Details: Photos, Plot, and Cast Info

By

Rebecca Murray

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December 20, 2017

Fox is set to premiere the new medical drama The Resident on Sunday, January 21, 2018 at 10pm ET/PT. The series earned the prime spot behind the NFC Championship Game to make its debut, and will move to its regular time slot of Mondays at 9pm ET/PT beginning on January 22nd.

The medical series comes from executive producers Amy Holden Jones (Mystic Pizza, Indecent Proposal), Antoine Fuqua (Southpaw, Training Day), David Boorstein, Oly Obst, and Todd Harthan (Rosewood). Phillip Noyce (Patriot Games, The Bone Collector) directed the pilot and also executive produces.

The cast is led by Matt Czuchry (The Good Wife) as Dr. Conrad Hawkins and Emily VanCamp (Revenge) as Nicolette Nevin. Manish Dayal (Halt and Catch Fire) plays Dr. Devon Pravesh, Moran Atias (Tyrant) is Renata Thorpe, Shaunette Renée Wilson (Billions) is Dr. Mina Okafor, and Bruce Greenwood (The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, Mad Men) is Dr. Randolph Bell.

The Plot: The Resident is a powerful new medical show focusing on a young doctor’s final years of training that rips back the curtain to reveal the truth of what really happens, both good and bad, in hospitals across the country.