Romantic Comedies 2018: It’s Slim Pickings for Rom-Com Fans

December 11, 2017

Hollywood studios just don’t put out romantic comedies in the numbers they used to. Remember when Meg Ryan, Julia Roberts, and Sandra Bullock could be depended on to serve up at least one decent romantic comedy every year or so? No one has stepped forward to take over the genre, and it’s times like these when we can use many, many more laughs in theaters that the genre is sorely missed.

Looking back over the list of 2017 romantic comedy releases, The Big Sick was the only memorable entry in the genre. Although The Big Sick has Oscar buzz and was nominated for six Critics’ Choice Awards, two Independent Spirit Awards, and won the Audience Award at 2017’s SXSW Film Festival, it can’t revive the genre on its own.

Here’s a look ahead at the few romantic comedies set to arrive in theaters in 2018. (There’s a possibility some will head straight to DVD/On Demand and others might get their release dates bumped back to 2019.)

Another Time starring Justin Hartley, Mark Valley, Chrishell Stause, James Kyson, Jake McLaughlin, and Alan Pietruszewski

The Plot: Eric Laziter (Hartley) is the top investment manager at his firm when his boss Ben (Valley) assigns him client turnover with Julia (Stause), the stunning owner of the company they just acquired. Julia, a true philanthropist, helps Eric realize that money isn’t everything, and Eric eventually begins to fall for her. Unfortunately, Julia is already engaged! Having a knack for math and science, Eric soon discovers that it may be possible to travel back in time to meet Julia before she meets her fiancé Adam (McLaughlin). With the help of his best friend Kal (Kyson) and local scientist Dr. Joseph Goyer (Pietruszewski), Eric goes on a journey that teaches him the true meaning of love and friendship.

Basmati Blues starring Brie Larson, Scott Bakula, Saahil Sehgal, Utkarsh Ambudkar, and Donald Sutherland

The Plot: Brie Larson leads a wonderful ensemble cast as Dr. Linda Watt, a sheltered but brilliant young scientist who is sent on a work trip to India. She is welcomed by almost everyone, and embraces a world she is unfamiliar with.

Linda is assigned a guide, an ambitious young bureaucrat (Sehgal) who immediately takes a liking to her. But when Linda meets Rajit (Ambudkar), a rebellious college student forced to drop out by lack of funds, there’s instant chemistry! And through their playful antagonism, Linda’s eyes are ultimately opened to the fact she has unknowingly become part of a destructive plan against the farmers. When she and the villagers discover her company’s greedy agenda, they work together to fight against the abusive agricultural giant.

The Competition starring Thora Birch, Claire Coffee, Jason Tobias, and Chris Klein

The Plot: Lauren (Birch) becomes the voice of a generation when, after one too many bad boyfriends, she launches a blog promoting “The PIG Theory.” The PIG Theory insists you can enjoy all that romance has to offer, but only for six months. At this “Point of Infidelity and Guilt,” you must break up before your mate becomes unfaithful. Lauren is a beacon of light for her followers, but Lauren’s sister, Gena (Claire Coffee), is concerned. She introduces Lauren to the perfect man: Calvin (Klein) and they hit it off so an idea strikes: A competition! Calvin will pick five friends who have been in a relationship for longer than six months, and Lauren will pick the enchantress to be their downfall. If three out of five cheat, Calvin must walk away. But if three out of five resist temptation, Lauren must shut down her blog and open her heart to Calvin. Their friends will be the challengers who determine their destiny!

Crazy Rich Asians starring Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan, Lisa Lu, Awkwafina, Sonoya Mizuno, Chris Pang, Jimmy O. Yang, Ronny Chieng, Remi Hii, Nico Santos, and Michelle Yeoh

The Plot: Crazy Rich Asians follows native New Yorker Rachel Chu (Wu) as she accompanies her longtime boyfriend, Nick Young (Golding), to his best friend’s wedding in Singapore. Excited about visiting Asia for the first time but nervous about meeting Nick’s family, Rachel is unprepared to learn that Nick has neglected to mention a few key details about his life. It turns out that he is not only the scion of one of the country’s wealthiest families but also one of its most sought-after bachelors. Being on Nick’s arm puts a target on Rachel’s back, with jealous socialites and, worse, Nick’s own disapproving mother (Yeoh) taking aim. And it soon becomes clear that while money can’t buy love, it can definitely complicate things.

Entanglement starring Thomas Middleditch, Jess Weixler, and Diana Bang

The Plot: While searching for the meaning of his existence, Ben Layten (Middleditch) discovers that he very nearly, almost had an adopted sister – and, with the help of his neighbor, Tabby Song (Bang), Ben sets out to find this not-quite sibling in an effort to find out if his life could have been different.

When he finally tracks down his would-be sister and discovers the mysterious, Hanna Weathers (Weixler), Ben stumbles upon a very different relationship than he’d been hoping for… Soon, Ben is being pulled back to life – dragged by Hanna into an exciting world of adventure and wonder and the seemingly impossible. Ben is forced to confront some dark truths as he faces the possibility that everything he thinks he knows about himself, and about Hanna, just isn’t real… and that life, and love, is a lot more complicated than he ever imagined.

Half Magic starring Heather Graham, Stephanie Beatriz, Angela Kinsey, and Molly Shannon

The Plot: Half Magic is a satirical comedy about three women who use their newly formed sisterhood to fight against sexism, bad relationships and low self-esteem. Through embracing their wild adventures, they learn the secret to ultimate fulfillment. (per The Hollywood Reporter)

Juliet, Naked starring Ethan Hawke, Rose Byrne, and Chris O’Dowd

The Plot: Juliet, Naked tells the story of Annie (Byrne) who is stuck in a long-term relationship with Duncan (O’Dowd) – a huge fan of obscure rock musician Tucker Crowe (Hawke). When the acoustic demo of Tucker’s hit record from 25 years ago surfaces, its release leads to a life-changing encounter with the elusive rocker himself. Based on Nick Hornby’s best-selling novel, Juliet, Naked is a comic account of life’s second chances.

Little Italy starring Emma Roberts, Hayden Christensen, Alyssa Milano, and Andrea Martin

The Plot: Little Italy is a story about a little place with a big heart a community with deep roots that lives life loud and proud.

Off the Menu starring Dania Ramirez, Makenzie Moss, Santino Fontana, and Maria Conchita Alonso

The Plot: An unlikely heir to a Mexican fast-food empire goes ‘cuisine’ hunting for the next culinary big thing, and finds himself in a small, dusty New Mexican town where foodies come from all over to salivate over the culinary treats of a local, authentic, and feisty female chef.

Overboard starring Anna Faris, Eva Longoria, Eugenio Derbez, and John Hannah

The Plot: In a splashy new twist, Overboard focuses on “Leonardo” (Derbez), a selfish, spoiled, rich playboy from Mexico’s richest family and “Kate” (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?

Santa Girl starring Barry Bostwick, Jennifer Stone, and Devon Werkheiser

The Plot: Bostwick stars as a widowed Santa Claus who’s daughter heads off to college. Once there, she has to work to protect her father’s identity and keep the Claus magic a secret.

Valley Girl starring Mae Whitman, Jessica Rothe, Chloe Bennet, Peyton List, and Logan Paul

The Plot: The official plot hasn’t been released, however the 2018 Valley Girl will be a musical remake of the 1983 romantic comedy.

Box Office Report: ‘Coco’ Continues to Cling to 1st Place

Rebecca Murray

December 11, 2017

Coco Has a Strong Box Office Opening — A scene from Disney•Pixar’s ‘Coco’ (Photo © 2017 Coco•Pixar)

Disney and Pixar’s Coco went into its third weekend in theaters in first place and emerged on the other side still at the top of the box office chart. The critically acclaimed Oscar front-runner brought in another $18 million domestically, upping its worldwide gross to $389 million.

The PG-rated film from directors Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina has been nominated for multiple Annie Awards as well as a Critics’ Choice award. The family-friendly movie took home best animated film honors from the National Board of Review, the New York Film Critics Circle, and the Hollywood Film Awards.

Coco hasn’t had much in the way of competition, however that will change when Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Ferdinand open in theaters on December 15, 2017. Star Wars: The Last Jedi is expected to open in the $200 million neighborhood and is nowhere close to being the last time we’ll see the revived Star Wars film franchise launch a new entry in theaters. Solo: A Star Wars Story starring Alden Ehrenreich, Donald Glover, and Emilia Clarke will debut in theaters on May 25, 2018. Star Wars: Episode IX with Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, and Mark Hamill is scheduled to premiere in December 2019.

Rian Johnson, director of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, has been tapped to create a new Star Wars Trilogy. Johnson will write and direct the first of the three films which will feature characters “from a corner of the galaxy that Star Wars lore has never before explored,” according to Lucasfilm.

Box Office Top 10: December 8-10, 2017

Coco – $18,303,000
Justice League – $9,595,000
Wonder – $8,450,000
The Disaster Artist – $6,435,514
Thor: Ragnarok – $6,291,000
Daddy’s Home 2 – $6,000,000
Murder on the Orient Express – $5,100,000
The Star – $3,675,000
Lady Bird – $3,547,469
Just Getting Started – $3,181,568

The Coco Plot: Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel (voice of newcomer Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (voice of Benjamin Bratt). Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector (voice of Gael García Bernal), and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.

‘The Walking Dead’ Season 8 Episode 8 Recap: How It’s Gotta Be

Rebecca Murray

December 10, 2017

The Walking Dead Season 8 Episode 8 Recap — Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes and Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes in ‘The Walking Dead’ season 8 episode 8 (Photo Credit: Gene Page / AMC)

AMC’s The Walking Dead season eight episode seven ended with Rick making a deal with Jadis and then leading her people, the Scavengers, over to Negan’s Sanctuary. Once there, Rick couldn’t raise the snipers on his walkie-talkie and discovered the large hole in the building made by Daryl’s truck. Season eight episode eight – the fall finale – begins with Rick completely confused by the scene that laid out in front of him.

A flashback shows Rick (Andrew Lincoln) chasing down Carl (Chandler Riggs) after they abandon the stranger at the gas station. Carl’s upset Rick could just leave the man behind to fend for himself. Carl reminds his dad they’re fighting for a new future, not just to kill people, and they need to find a way forward into peace.

Rick, Jadis, and the Scavengers approach the Sanctuary, guns drawn. It’s a mess on the outside with walkers in piles all over the place. Rick and his new allies quickly discover they’ve walked right into an ambush, and Carol (Melissa McBride) and Jerry (Cooper Andrews) arrive to save Rick from the Saviors’ attack after the Scavengers flee. Carol believes the snipers got away, but Rick doesn’t think so.

Rick and Carol realize the plan’s ruined.

Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) smiles as he drives away from the Sanctuary unharmed.

Enid (Katelyn Nacon) and Aaron (Ross Marquand) chat while driving, but overall they’re very solemn. Aaron remembers taking road trips like this with Eric, and he’s determined to make sure Eric died for a reason. Enid wonders if Oceanside will actually talk to them and Aaron acknowledges it’s a risk. Aaron realizes it will be difficult to convince them.

Enid takes over driving and makes a pit stop at a distillery.

Back at Alexandria, Michonne (Danai Gurira) promises Judith she’ll be back soon. She’s happy Daryl (Norman Reedus) has returned and apologizes for not helping him ram the truck into the building.

Carl writes a note for his dad, shedding a few tears as he’s lost in his memories.

Tara (Alanna Masterson) tells Rosita (Christian Serratos) they opened up the Sanctuary for the walkers to invade. Rosita confirms all she was able to scrape up weapons-wise were some grenades and air horns. Tara thinks they can redirect the herd with it after the Saviors surrender.

Enid and Aaron pull over for the night to rest after grabbing a truck from the distillery. They notice someone walking quietly up to the truck, and Enid shoots Natania, the leader of Oceanside, as she’s about to spear Aaron.

It’s still night when Michonne finds Carl to tell him it’s time. Just then, Negan and the Saviors arrive outside Alexandria’s gates. Negan uses a PA to tell them he’s knocked out the lookouts. He wants everyone inside Alexandria to apologize, giving them three minutes to open the gates. No matter what, he’s going to kill Rick in front of everyone.

Rick, Carol, and Jerry drive separate cars toward Alexandria. Out of the blue, Jerry’s car is broadsided.

Over at The Kingdom, Ezekiel (Khary Payton) is still alone and depressed. He hears loud bangs outside and hides just as Saviors enter his building.

Jesus (Tom Payne) and Maggie (Lauren Cohan) are also on the road, and Maggie thinks eventually the Saviors will surrender. As they’re driving, they notice a tree across the road. Maggie immediately realizes it’s a trap and alerts the cars behind her to turn around. It’s too late though as the Saviors are right on their tail.

Maggie and Jesus’ Hilltop convoy is surrounded by the Saviors, and Jerry’s tossed out of the back of the lead truck. He kneels as a large wooden crate is placed against Maggie’s car.

Back at Alexandria, Carl’s giving orders for people to escape as Negan continues to taunt them from outside the gates. Carl believes they need to survive this night so that they can fight another day. They’re down to one minute left when Carl orders everyone to leave.

Gavin addresses The Kingdom and tells them they all belong to Negan now. Apparently, the Saviors have enough people to capture all the communities at the same time. All The Kingdom survivors will be put to work with minimum rations. And, the Saviors will move into The Kingdom since the Sanctuary is destroyed.

Back on the road, Simon tells Maggie’s people they need to give up their guns. Simon will have his men shoot Jerry if anyone tries anything. The Hilltoppers, still seated in their cars, begin handing over their weapons.

Negan is still outside when Carl appears at the top of the wall. Negan laughs and says Carl’s answering the door like a big boy. Carl tells Negan there are kids and families inside, but Negan says there were also kids at the Sanctuary. Negan reminds Carl nothing about this is fair. Carl still believes they can stop this, but Negan knows Rick would have killed him – no matter what.

Carl offers himself up to Negan. “What did you say?” asks Negan. Carl replies that he’s serious and Negan should kill him and let the families live. He doesn’t want to die but will sacrifice himself if it helps. He asks Negan if this is who he wanted to be.

As Carl talks, the trucks inside exit the back, running over the Saviors’ cars as they go. Dwight (Austin Amelio) and his team follow the escaping Alexandrians.

Negan can’t believe Carl was just a distraction and orders the Saviors to begin firing into Alexandria. Explosions are heard and flames leap up inside the walls.

Carl falls off the wall as everything inside explodes. He tosses smoke bombs behind him as he makes his way through the community. He’s limping as he watches the church go up in flames. He’s then knocked down when a car explodes.

At The Kingdom, Gavin informs the survivors Ezekiel must answer for all of this. He doesn’t think the people will give him up but asks them to cooperate anyway. He continues, saying Ezekiel broke the rules. If they don’t give him up, this standoff will move into “something traumatic.” He doesn’t want the kids to see what’s coming next. Still, no one speaks.

Finally, he warns them they have five minutes. After that, it’s Negan’s way.

Simon reveals to Maggie that The Kingdom is currently being taken over by the Saviors. The same thing’s happening in Alexandria. Hilltop’s been chosen to keep producing, calling it her lucky day. He hopes Maggie will make things right.

Music begins playing and Simon explains, gleefully, that’s Eugene leading the walkers away. Simon says Maggie has a few choices. One, Jerry can be killed and Maggie can be put in the box leaning against her car. She’ll then be taken to Hilltop and killed. After that, she’ll go on a spike in front of HQ at Sanctuary. His people will then lead the walkers to Hilltop to kill them all. Or, she can turn around and go home. That will save everyone a lot of trouble if the Hilltoppers just get back to work. Of course, that means they’ll have to kill one of her people. He kills Neil, who’s seated in the backseat, and then demands she tell him what to do next. She wants the box to use to bury Neil in.

Eugene gets out of bed at midnight and pours himself a drink. He lies back down and flips back off the light. After taking a deep breath, he flips the light back on and begins crying.

Carl comes to as more explosions are heard. He tries to catch his breath, and houses continue to explode all around him. The town appears to be completely up in flames.

Tara, Rosita, Daryl, and Michonne take the blame for what’s happening as they lurk in the woods. They hear vehicles approaching and Dwight doesn’t stop the cars, fully aware he’s leading them into a trap. He turns on his own people and fires. One woman realizes Dwight’s been the mole this whole time and shoots him in the arm.

Negan finally busts down the gate into Alexandria. He thinks Carl is still there and wants him tied up but not killed. Negan heads off to Rick’s house to “make spaghetti.” He wants Carl as soon as they find him.

Carl limps toward the edge of town and manages to disappear when he’s spotted by slipping into the sewer.

Eugene (Josh McDermitt) uses a headlamp to check on Father Gabriel (Seth Gilliam). He’s going to let the doctor go and Father Gabriel, explaining they can go out a specific gate because he made sure that guard is having massive diarrhea right now. When Father Gabriel asks why, he says it’s because he plans on sleeping tonight.

Father Gabriel invites him to come with them, but Eugene declines. He drops a key to a vehicle they’ll find by the gate.

Ezekiel spreads fuel and then lights it on fire, causing a big explosion. Gavin sends his men over to put out the fire as Ezekiel arrives in a bus. The Saviors chase after Ezekiel as Carol arrives. Ezekiel locks the gate, leaving himself inside with the Saviors while his people escape. He says, “Save them like you saved me.”

Jesus drives Maggie back to the Hilltop, followed by the rest of the convoy. She points out Dean, one of the caged Saviors, and asks for Kal’s gun. She reminds Jesus this one tried to kill him and then she shoots Dean in the face. She leaves the rest locked up. She tells them the Saviors killed one on the road, so she killed theirs. She warns Jesus they have to be ready since all the communities are under attack. She believes it will be up to Hilltop to make the last stand.

Dwight survives and yells out that it’s over. He reminds them he played his part, making sure they could get out the back. He then drove the convoy right up to the attack point.

Daryl asks how the Saviors got out and Dwight says Eugene saved them all. Dwight can still be helpful and he wants Negan to die. He tells them they can settle up afterward.

Maggie puts the dead Savior in the box and writes on it: “We have 38 more. Stand down.” She tells two of the Hilltop people to leave the box where the Saviors will find it.

Gavin talks to Ezekiel while Morgan listens in from a hiding place. The Saviors are gathered behind Gavin as he warns Ezekiel will be placed in front of the Sanctuary, dead. Morgan just listens.

Daryl and the group watch Alexandria explode from a distance. They enter the sewers as Dwight apologizes to Michonne. Michonne doesn’t follow the group into the sewers and instead closes it and walks away.

Rick runs into the woods and arrives back at his home in Alexandria. Negan surprises him and attacks, telling Rick he’s going to cut him into little pieces and feed those pieces to the dead. He’ll do this in front of everyone. He then tells him Carl volunteered to die. Negan thinks in a few years Carl will be one of his top guys.

Rick fights back, gets in a few good licks, and then finally grabs his gun and runs away after crashing through a window. He’s injured but alive.

Michonne walks through Alexandria and is in the middle of killing a Savior when Rick finds her. He asks about his family and friends and Michonne leads him into the sewer where everyone is safe, including Judith.

A weird montage of eye close-ups and Rick in slow-mo walking toward Judith plays out. Carol, Ezekiel, and Morgan closeups lead to another shot of Rick approaching Judith before moving on to Carl. Carl tells his dad he brought them all here to save them. And then we learn the devastating news… Carl lifts his shirt and a bandage on his stomach and shows his dad a bite mark. Rick is speechless as he bends over Carl.

* * * * *

During Talking Dead, Scott M. Gimple confirmed Carl’s bite will play out like bites normally play out in the show. The next episode will be very important to Carl’s story and the whole overall story. “That is a one-way ticket but I’d like to think the things that we see in the next episode are so important to his life and the other characters’ lives,” said Gimple.

‘Outlander’ Season 3 Episode 13 Recap: Eye of the Storm

LRShive

December 10, 2017

Outlander Season 3 Episode 13 — Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe in ‘Outlander’ season 3 episode 13 (Photo Courtesy of Starz)

The season three finale is not the tearjerker of season two’s finale nor the horror of season one’s finale, but an excellent close to a great season of Starz’s Outlander all the same. There were some white knuckle and nail-biting moments that you’d expect from Outlander, and the wealth of information in the 1,000+ page book must have made transitioning it into a 13 episode season rather tricky. Personally, I think they did a great job with it. Things are never exact from book to screen. Slainte Mhath to Starz and the entire crew!

When we left off season three episode 12, Jamie (Sam Heughan) was being dragged away by British soldiers as he shouted for Claire (Caitriona Balfe) to continue to search for young Ian (John Bell). They had just found out Ian was on the plantation of Mrs. Geillis Abernathy (Lotte Verbeek). Season three episode 13 opens with Claire racing as fast as she can down a road through that very plantation in pursuit of young Ian.

Claire left via a side road that led down to the slaves’ quarters. She had apparently gone back to the room she and Jamie had at an Inn in town and changed her clothes. Her gold gown was lying on the bed along with a note to Fergus (Cesar Domboy). Fergus knows exactly what to do with the knowledge Milord has been arrested.

Claire quietly calls out for young Ian as she walks through the row of huts. She eventually comes to a small dog rooting at a pile of hay that has legs sticking out, legs that could belong to young Ian. She moves the hay aside to see another young fair-skinned boy with his throat cut. Just then, large arms grab Claire.

In the house, Geillis is still interrogating young Ian. Her manservant Hercules (Apolinhalo Antonio) gathers up Claire and takes her to see Geillis at the main house. The servants take Ian away as Claire’s brought in. Quite the production our modern-day Jacobite witch has going, ye ken!

Jamie’s on his way with Captain Leonard (Charlie Hiett) when they’re stopped by an island-based contingent of British troops. It’s nice to have friends in high places, especially when it’s the Governor and he’s in love with you, and raising your child.

Lord John Grey (David Berry) sits behind his desk, glaring at the young Captain because of his arrest of Jamie. The Captain tries to explain his case, but neither of the necessary legal papers – in the form of either warrant or sworn testimony – are in the Captain’s possession. (A technicality that works in Jamie’s favor this time.) Since Jamie was arrested on the island and not on a ship out of the Governor’s jurisdiction, Lord John Grey can force the Captain to relinquish his prize. He saves Jamie’s rather lovely backside once again.

Claire explains the trip to save young Ian, but Geillis is not satisfied. Geillis knows Claire’s from the future, just as she was. Geillis is full of wrong ideas about Claire and so Claire tries to explain the truth. Claire tells her she went back to her own time with their child when the uprising failed. She pulls out the pictures after Geillis doesn’t believe Claire traveled through the stones three times up to that point. Claire mentions that Geillis had met her daughter at the university before she left to travel through the stones. Geillis thinks Brianna (Sophie Skelton) is the 200-year-old baby mentioned in the prophecy she heard from Margaret Campbell (Alison Pargeter).

Claire’s taken away and locked in a room in the house. As she’s trying to find a way out, she sees Hercules taking Ian by the window and down a path toward the back of the property. Claire tries even harder to get out, but then sees someone coming from outside the door. She grabs a weapon and swings with all her might just as the figure enters the room. Thanks to the excellent reflexes of our dashing hero, Jamie manages to duck Claire’s swing and he’s not injured. Jamie quickly mentions Fergus got word to John Grey which is why he’s there to get her. They run out and follow the way Claire watched Ian go, toward the woods and the loud drumming.

Outlander Season 3 Episode 13 Recap — Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe in ‘Outlander’ season 3 episode 13 (Photo Courtesy of Starz)

As Jamie and Claire slowly make their way through the thick grass and trees, they come to a clearing. They watch a dance that’s an obvious ritual being performed by natives. Claire has a flashback to the druid dance she witnessed on Craig Na Dun. The pair are discovered and forced into the clearing. The dancing stops at their arrival. Much to their surprise, Mr. Willoughby (Gary Young) comes to their defense and the ritual dancing continues. Margaret Campbell’s telling fortunes with the natives. It turns out Mr. Willoughby and Margaret wish to be together, so they had planned to leave together.

Margaret stops short at the sight of Jamie and walks over to take his hand. She sees him as he was in the field of Culloden and the lone rabbit that Jamie saw as he was at the point of death. Margaret then sees the moment Claire experienced watching a bird on her windowsill back in Boston while she thought of Jamie. She takes both their hands and then begins speaking as if she were Brianna. In the book, it played out a little differently and Jamie actually got to see Brianna as if from a vision in the fire.

Margaret sees a monster grabbing Brianna, and Jamie and Claire become afraid for her. Claire believes Geillis means to go back through the place on the island that functions like the stones on Craig Na Dun in Scotland. Claire notices one of the pictures is missing, the one Geillis took, and they know they’re close to the site of another time portal. The locals call the portal Abandawe.

Archibald Campbell (Mark Hadfield) comes to take his sister away and Mr. Willoughby defends Margaret to the point of killing her brother to stop him taking her.

Jamie and Claire realize Geillis intends to go back to kill Brianna, so now they must save both Ian and Brianna from Geillis. Jamie asks one of the natives where Abandawe is located and learn it’s down the path. Jamie and Claire are able to find the entrance to the cave. Tulach Ard!

The natives take Archibald’s body and add him to the ritual they’re performing. All right, does anyone else think all this is rather crazy? All the time this rather nutty stuff is going on, the drums are beating in the background. I am amazed at the power of music to heighten or calm a difficult scene.

As they enter the cave, Claire reveals she can hear the hum of the portal. They stop long enough to make plans as to what to do next. Jamie instructs Claire she must save Brianna, even if that means following Geillis through the portal. As they get into an open section of the cave, Jamie and Claire spy Geillis setting up her ritual circle that includes the picture of Brianna and several gems from the treasure box. Ian’s tied and laying behind her as Geillis intends a sacrifice of blood to go through the portal. Hercules steps out with a gun pointed right at Jamie’s temple.

Several things happen at once. As Geillis is pouring liquid on Ian so she can set him on fire, Jamie knocks the gun out of Hercules’ hand. Claire runs around the scrambling men to confront Geillis. As Jamie has a rather difficult fistfight with Hercules, a name well earned given his size, Claire has the more treacherous part of stopping Geillis.

Just as Jamie’s grabbing his dirk from where it fell on the ground and getting the better of the large servant, Claire lunges to stop Geillis. Claire pushes her away from the portal, which is a pool within the cave. Geillis makes a dash for it and Claire grabs a machete and almost takes off Geillis’ head in one massive swing of the blade. At the death of his mistress, Hercules stops fighting Jamie.

Jamie runs to untie Ian as Claire looks at Geillis lying dead on the ground. The pool continues to call to her and it takes Jamie grabbing her hand before Claire wakes from the call of the portal. They make it outside and Claire stands there, shaking. She remembers the skeleton Joe Abernathy (Wil Johnson) investigated back in Boston. Everything comes full circle, doesn’t it? Jamie’s so relieved to have both his loved ones back, he takes them safely in his arms for a moment before they head to the Artemis.

Once back on the ship, they set sail with the intention of returning to Scotland. Here comes one of my favorite scenes in the book… I know the Turtle Soup scene was a fan favorite, but this is one of my personal favorites, even over that one. Jamie starts to shave and Claire stops him. The scene is intimate and comical at the same time. Jamie mentions he dreamed of a time when he could have her alone, naked, and just the two of them. Claire reminds him they’re alone now, and the naked part she can fix really quick. Jamie stops her and explains his desire to have her to himself, body and soul. Jamie takes her over to the bed and finishes the instructions. I’m not sure if I’m alone in this, but the narration of events was what caught me so funny.

As they’re wrapped up in each other’s arms, they hear a storm beginning to blow up. The next thing they know they’re in the middle of a horrible, rolling, blowing, monster storm. The crew tries to keep the ship upright as Claire tries to remind all of Jamie’s people to remain below. Claire does what she always does, she heads up anyway with the expectation of being the surgeon and rendering aid. Jamie’s distressed to see her come up on deck because he’s doing all he can to keep the ship upright. It takes two men to keep the wheel steady in the storm.

One of the sailors breaks his leg, so Claire and another sailor try to get the man below. Just then the mast breaks and a massive wave knocks Jamie to the rail and Claire overboard. She’s wrapped up in some of the broken rigging. It’s a miracle the boat doesn’t overturn, and Claire’s taken deep underwater because she’s tied up to the broken, sinking mast.

Jamie dives in and swims to her rescue. He has his dirk so he’s able to cut her free of the rope attached to the mast. Jamie brings her to the surface and finds a piece of floating wood. Claire’s still unresponsive and Jamie’s afraid she’s dead. Naturally, he has no notion of CPR. (And he’s in the water anyway.) The scene pulls back to reveal they’re in the eye of the hurricane.

The next thing Jamie knows he’s face down on a beach. He crawls over to Claire who remains unmoving. As Jamie leans down to kiss her cheek, Claire lets out a cough. They sit up and embrace, thankful to be alive but fearing they survived yet their loved ones on the Artemis have probably died. A local man, Joseph Oliver (Brett Williams), arrives and explains the Artemis did survive the storm – at least most of it. They ask where they landed and Mr. Oliver explains they’re in the colony of Georgia. They made it to America! And we made it to another Droughtlander…sigh. Alas, all things must ebb and flow. Regardless, I’m sure Jamie’s happy to be on solid ground again. Next season we will see what Jamie and Claire make of 18th century America. Tulach Ard!!

– Exclusive Interview on Season 3 with Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore
– One-on-One with Sophie Skelton
– Richard Rankin Interview on Outlander Season 3 and Playing Roger
– Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan and Tobias Menzies Q&A

‘Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency’ Season 2 Episode 9 Recap: Trouble is Bad

Rebecca Murray

December 9, 2017

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency Season 2 Episode 9 — Michael Eklund, Elijah Wood, Lee Majdoub, Zak Santiago, Hannah Marks, Viv Leacock, Samuel Barnett, and Osric Chau in ‘Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency’ season 2 episode 9 (Photo by Katie Yu / BBC America)

Season two’s penultimate episode of BBC America’s Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency kicks off with a flashback of a young Arnold Cardenas walking through the house after his mother murdered his father and then was sent off in a flying car, courtesy of his little brother. He stares at a business card with just a phone number and then decides to call the government and have his younger brother taken away.

As the agents grab the boy in his bedroom – the same room that teleports Panto from Wendimoor and Dirk and Todd to Wendimoor – all hell breaks loose. He has a seizure as the lights in the room burst and then he slips into a coma.

Flash forward to decades later and the boy is the comatose elderly man Dirk spoke to in Blackwing. (But of course, we’d all figured that out by now.)

Off to Wendimoor we go and Queen Suzie (Amanda Walsh) thanks Dirk (Samuel Barnett), but also calls him a moron. She can’t believe The Mage was scared of him, and she threatens #TeamDirk with her wand. Before she can speak, Wygar Oak (Aleks Paunovic) grabs her from behind, clasping his hand over her mouth.

Wygar warns them the Trosts are about to attack, and Amanda (Hannah Marks) sends Silas away to help his family. She promises they will fulfill the prophecy. As Amanda, Todd (Elijah Wood), Dirk, and the Rowdy 3 take off to find the boy, Wygar forces Silas to flee and takes on Queen Suzie. She threatens him, claiming no one will ever tell her what to do again. She uses her powers to kill the much more physically powerful Wygar.

The Kellum knights arrive and inform their Queen they’re assembled for war. She doesn’t want the knights to worry about #TeamDirk as they’re insignificant. She’d rather have the Dengdamors and Trosts killed, mostly because she’s sick of them.

Over at Blackwing, Ken (Mpho Koaho) warns everyone to be wary of Project Lamia. She’s dangerous if provoked. Friedkin (Dustin Milligan) enters his office and can’t find Project Lamia who can change into any inanimate object. Ken tries to explain that Friedkin will never be able to shoot Project Lamia/Mona Wilder, and then Friedkin gets completely confused and believes Ken might be Mona in a different form. He’s about to shoot Ken when Ken realizes the gun Friedkin’s pointing at him is likely Mona Wilder! Ken’s actual gun is still in his holster.

Mona transforms into a metal chain and wraps herself around Friedkin’s neck. Ken explains to Mona that no one wants to hurt her, and they understand why she helped Dirk escape. He also reveals they think Dirk’s in trouble and pleads for her help. Mona (Alexia Fast) changes into real human form.

Tina (Izzie Steele) and Farah (Jade Eshete) wake up on the hill above the quarry and watch as Sheriff Sherlock Hobbs (Tyler Labine) carries supplies into a car The Mage (John Hannah) is leaning on. Farah is forced to stop Tina from screaming for her friend, explaining Hobbs is enchanted. Farah’s determined to stop this and save Hobbs, but they need a plan. The plan they come up with: they’re going to arrest The Mage. However, before Tina makes it to the car, she passes out.

Over at the Cardenas place, Mr. Priest (Alan Tudyk) assembles his Blackwing soldiers. He calls into headquarters and tells Ken he needs his expertise. Why? Because he sees Panto (Christopher Russell) and Bart (Fiona Dourif) walking up the road.

Bart warns Panto that these people want to capture her, and Panto swears he’ll protect her. She tells him these people are dangerous and he reminds her he’s the greatest swordsmen in Wendimoor.

Mr. Priest instructs his team to put their weapons down since the guns only give Bart a reason to kill them all. Mr. Priest and Bart exchange greetings and she explains she just wants to get to Wendimoor for the happy ending. Panto introduces himself as a normal man from this world, and Bart asks Mr. Priest if he’s going to let her into the house. Mr. Priest assures her she can do what she wants, but then holds up his tablet showing Ken at Blackwing.

Bart and Ken are ecstatic when they see each other. She asks how he got into this little square and he explains he’s at Blackwing and is okay. She wants to break him out, but he assures her she doesn’t need to. Instead, she needs to turn herself in. She describes Blackwing as the most boring place ever and then claims she doesn’t even kill anyone anymore. Ken tells her missed her as Panto watches, alert for any trouble. Ken wants her to trust him, but she says Panto is her friend now, too.

Mr. Priest also wants Bart to turn herself in, saying – with a sharky smile – that he’s her friend too. Bart doesn’t believe it. Bart apologizes to Ken, hands the tablet back to Mr. Priest, and picks up her chainsaw as Panto draws his giant scissors. Mr. Priest tries to stop her but Panto tells him to stand aside. A fight breaks out between Panto and a few of the Blackwing soldiers. Mr. Priest yells for them to stand down but they don’t listen. Panto takes them all down and then Bart assures Mr. Priest they don’t want to kill any more people.

Mr. Priest says he can’t let them go to Wendimoor. Bart says, “Panto,” and Panto stabs Mr. Priest in the face with the scissors as Bart laughs. Mr. Priest continues to tell his men to stand down after being stabbed.

Bart asks Ken if he still wants to go to Wendimoor. He pleads with her to come to Blackwing, but she just lets him know that if he changes his mind, he should tell her. Bart kisses the tablet and then she and Panto enter the house.

Panto’s attack would have killed Mr. Priest – if he was a normal human.

In Wendimoor, Dirk explains the pool in the throne room leads to the bed in the Cardenas house. The Rowdy 3 add that they were also pulled through water to get to Wendimoor. The throne room pool might work the same way as Wakti’s, and Amanda thinks she might be able to reach through the pool to find the boy in Blackwing. Unfortunately, she’s not sure where the boy actually is inside Blackwing. Dirk suggests Amanda send him and the Rowdy 3 back to Blackwing as a strike team.

Todd is completely against this idea, believing the team should stick together and take down Suzie. The Rowdy 3 sort of agree with Todd, and then suddenly Todd has an attack of Pararibulitis. He thinks barbed wire is wrapped around his leg and before the Rowdy 3 can help him, Amanda tells Todd he can use this as a training exercise. She tells him to make the barbed wire real and pull it off his leg. “You own this. You control this,” says Amanda.

Todd makes the barbed wire real, just as Amanda told him to, and unwraps it from his leg.

Over at Blackwing, Friedkin (backed by four guards) talks with Mona. She apologizes for hurting his neck, admitting he was scaring her. She adds that the guards are scaring her now, and Friedkin explains they’re only there because she might turn into a bear or something. “Why would I turn into a silly little bear? If I wanted to kill you, I’d just turn into an aircraft carrier right now and this entire place would be destroyed,” says Mona.

Friedkin replies, “Please don’t do that.”

Ken arrives and takes over the interrogation. She asks about Dirk and Ken reveals he’s in trouble and she can help. She claims she’s just a holistic actress and can play any role. He asks why she was the toy and she replies, “I can be anything. A boat or a house or a shovel or a cloud or an old Pakistani man or the Queen of England or a kangaroo, but I don’t know what I’m supposed to be.”

Ken wonders why she sent Dirk away and she claims she just did what the voice said. The voice told her she needed Dirk to find her friend, a boy. The voice believed if she could use Mona’s eyes, she could put people where they needed to be. The voice saw what Mona saw. Mona wonders if this information helps Dirk, and Ken assures her it did. She agrees to stay a person a little while longer.

Back in Wendimoor, Bart can’t believe the moon looks like a smiling man. She calls Panto weird since this is all normal to him, and he tells her to imagine how he felt in her world. Bart wants to go the opposite way Panto is headed and she asks if they can. Panto doesn’t want to as it’s the opposite direction from his home. Suddenly, Silas emerges from the bushes in the direction Bart wanted to head.

Panto and Silas run to each other and kiss. Both immediately blurt out that they’ve found Dirk Gently, and Silas reveals The Mage’s apprentice has also arrived in Wendimoor. Silas and Bart finally speak, and Bart calls Silas’ mom an a**hole. Silas admits the situation has gotten worse and they have to convince his people to lay down their arms.

As they head off, Bart says, “That’s the way I wanted to go in the first place.”

Queen Suzie uses her wand in the pool and cackles because she’s found the boy. All she needs to do is send Lord Triangle Badevil (Christian Sloan) and the knights to her world and kill the boy. She thinks it won’t be tough because she’ll send them through the pool to her world and then they’ll just kill everyone they see until they locate the boy.

Rapunzel the Corgi (Bentley) wakes up with a start on Ken’s bed. The shower turns itself on and Rapunzel whines and races from the room just as Lord Triangle Badevil steps out of the bathroom.

Friedkin follows close on Ken’s heels, confirming he’s completely confused. Ken explains Project Moloch can build things using nothing but his mind. He created the fun house inside the Cardenas house and the file indicates Project Moloch had planned to build the fairy tale land, Wendimoor. Ken believes Project Moloch actually completed creating that world and that’s what put him in a coma. Friedkin remains in his usual state of confusion.

Ken believes Project Moloch’s stroke two months back allowed the voice to come through from Wendimoor to find Mona. Ken’s not sure why that world needs Dirk, but he’s positive they need to lock down the facility now. Ken has gone a little power crazy, telling Friedkin he’s now his equal. Just then Rapunzel races down the hall past Ken and Friedkin. She’s followed by an employee screaming, “Knights are coming! Knights are coming!”

The knights head down the hallway, bullets bouncing off their armor. They’re armed with scissors and kill many of the Blackwing soldiers.

Back in Bergsberg, Tina’s made it into the quarry and yells for The Mage to put his hands up. Farah shoots at him, emerging from her nearby hiding spot, but The Mage easily stops the bullet with his wand. He taunts them, calling their plan dumb and saying Farah’s always been a disappointment. He uses his magic wand to make Farah and Tina aim their guns at each other and then decides to be mischievous by letting them put their guns down.

The Mage explains Hobbs is currently loading explosives into the car so he can drive it into the Cardenas’ house and blow it up. That will destroy the ability to get to Wendimoor. The Mage instructs Hobbs to aim his gun at Tina and he immediately obeys. The Mage cheers him on, saying he loves to strike out at people in person.

Tina and Farah beg Hobbs to put his gun down, but he’s completely under The Mage’s control. A gunfight breaks out with Hobbs shooting Tina and Farah, Farah shooting Hobbs, Tina shooting Farah (against her will as The Mage waves his wand), and Farah shooting Tina. The Mage then has Farah place the gun to her head but there aren’t any more bullets. The Mage uses his wand to make Tina aim at Farah, but Farah’s able to grab the gun and shoots the wand out of The Mage’s hand.

The Mage is incredulous since no one in Wendimoor can defeat him. Farah uses the next shot to make the car explode. The Mage is hurt by the explosion. Hobbs is injured but alive and now he’s freed from the spell. Tina and Farah are alive but also badly injured. The wand lands in pieces by Farah.

Silas and Panto arrive in town in time to see Silas’ mother, Frija Dengdamor (Karin Konoval), and Panto’s father, Jeppum Trost (David Allen Pearson), about to kill each other. They’re surrounded by dead members of their communities. Jeppum can’t believe his son is alive, and Panto begs his father and Lady Frija to help them save the valley of Inglenook. Silas admits to everyone he loves Panto. “If there’s to be any hope for a future in this land, you must wake up and stop this, please,” says Silas.

Jeppum can’t believe how many have died, but Panto assures him they won’t have died in vain if they work together to stop this madness. The Kellum knights pick that moment to arrive, laughing over the fact there aren’t many people alive left to kill. They shoot Silas, Panto, Jeppum Trost, and Frija Dengdamor. Silas and Panto die with their hands almost touching.

Bart cries out for Panto and then stands to face the knights. Of course, they shoot at her and, of course, none of the bullets come close to hitting her. She picks up the chainsaw and turns it on.

#TeamDirk arrives at the pool in the throne room and Amanda thrusts her arms into it. She screams as the water turns colors and bubbles. She can’t keep it open by herself and tells Dirk she can maybe get him there, but he’d probably be stuck there. Amanda then grabs Todd and insists he can use his energy to help her.

Dirk’s girlfriend – or as Vogel calls her, Rainbow Monster – warns them Suzie is coming. Todd quickly agrees to help his sister, but that means he can’t go through the portal to help find the boy. The Rowdy 3 volunteer to go take on Suzie, which leaves just Dirk to go through to Blackwing.

Dirk says he’ll do it alone as they hear Suzie nearby. Dirk begins one of his lengthy rants and Todd cuts him off midstream, assuring him he can handle this.

Amanda confirms Todd will have an attack when he puts his hands into the pool, but he can’t pull out – no matter what. Dirk is ready and declares, “I can do this!”

Amanda and Todd open the portal and Dirk stares at it but doesn’t move.

The Rowdy 3 hear Suzie laughing in the woods. We’re shown quick clips of the knights in Blackwing killing the soldiers and a replay of Hobbs falling after the car explosion. Tina and Farah are either dead or close to it, passed out on the ground feet from Hobbs.

Amanda and Todd scream and Dirk, finally, tells himself not to panic as he jumps into the portal.

– Samuel Barnett and Elijah Wood Interview
– Hannah Marks and Jade Eshete Interview
– Fiona Dourif and Mpho Koaho Interview
– Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine Interview
– Max Landis and Robert Cooper Interview

San Diego Film Critics 2017 Nominees: ‘Three Billboards,’ ‘Shape of Water,’ and ‘Dunkirk’ Top the List

Rebecca Murray

December 9, 2017

San Diego Film Critics Nominees 2017 include Dunkirk — Fionn Whitehead stars in ‘Dunkirk’ (Photo © 2017 Warner Bros Entertainment)

The San Diego Film Critics Society announced their list of 2017 nominees, with Dunkirk, Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri, and The Shape of Water each picking up eight nominations. The group also recognized Lady Bird and Get Out with six nominations, followed by Call Me By Your Name and Beauty and the Beast with four.

Additional 2017 films picking up multiple nominations from the San Diego Film Critics Society included The Disaster Artist, The Big Sick, The Lost City of Z, The Beguiled, and Blade Runner 2049. Those films each earned spots in three categories, while I, Tonya, Maudie, Mudbound, Baby Driver, The Florida Project, and The Post picked up two a piece.

Sally Hawkins earned not one but two nominations in the Best Actress category. The group also proved it still marches to a different drummer by recognizing James McAvoy for his work in Split, Robert Pattinson for Good Time, and Oscar Isaac for his outstanding performance in Suburbicon.

Voting will take place on Monday, December 11, 2017 beginning at 9:30am. We’ll be live tweeting the awards voting at becmur, in case you’d like to follow along.

San Diego Film Critics Society 2017 Nominees:

Best Picture
CALL ME BY YOUR NAME
DUNKIRK
GET OUT
LADY BIRD
THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE OF EBBING, MISSOURI

Best Director
Christopher Nolan, DUNKIRK
Greta Gerwig, LADY BIRD
Guillermo del Toro, THE SHAPE OF WATER
Jordan Peele, GET OUT
Martin McDonagh, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE OF EBBING, MISSOURI

Best Actor
Gary Oldman, DARKEST HOUR
James Franco, THE DISASTER ARTIST
James McAvoy, SPLIT
Robert Pattinson, GOOD TIME
Timothée Chalamet, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

Best Actress
Frances McDormand, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE OF EBBING, MISSOURI
Margot Robbie, I, TONYA
Sally Hawkins, MAUDIE
Sally Hawkins, THE SHAPE OF WATER
Saoirse Ronan, LADY BIRD

Best Supporting Actor
Ethan Hawke, MAUDIE
Oscar Isaac, SUBURBICON
Sam Rockwell, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE OF EBBING, MISSOURI
Willem Dafoe, THE FLORIDA PROJECT
Woody Harrelson, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI

Best Supporting Actress
Allison Janney I, TONYA
Bria Vinaite, THE FLORIDA PROJECT
Catherine Keener, GET OUT
Holly Hunter, THE BIG SICK
Laurie Metcalf, LADY BIRD

Best Comedic Performance
Daniel Craig, LOGAN LUCKY
Ezra Miller, JUSTICE LEAGUE
James Franco, THE DISASTER ARTIST
Lil Rel Howery, GET OUT
Ray Romano, THE BIG SICK

Best Original Screenplay
Christopher Nolan, DUNKIRK
Greta Gerwig, LADY BIRD
Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani, THE BIG SICK
Jordan Peele, GET OUT
Martin McDonagh, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE OF EBBING, MISSOURI

Best Adapted Screenplay
James Gray, THE LOST CITY OF Z
James Ivory, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME
Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber, THE DISASTER ARTIST
Sofia Coppola, THE BEGUILED
Virgil Williams & Dee Rees, MUDBOUND

Best Documentary
EX LIBRIS: THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
FACES PLACES
JANE
LAST MEN IN ALEPPO
THE WORK

Best Animated Film
COCO
LOVING VINCENT
MY ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL SINKING INTO THE SEA
MY LIFE AS A ZUCCHINI
THE BOSS BABY

Best Foreign Language Film
BPM (BEATS PER MINUTE)
FACES PLACES
THE OTHER SIDE OF HOPE
THE SQUARE
THELMA

Best Editing
Jonathan Amos & Paul Machliss, BABY DRIVER
Jon Gregory, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
Lee Smith, DUNKIRK
Sarah Broshar, Michael Kahn, THE POST
Sidney Wolinsky, THE SHAPE OF WATER

Best Cinematography
Ben Richardson, WIND RIVER
Dan Laustsen, THE SHAPE OF WATER
Darius Khondji, THE LOST CITY OF Z
Hoyte Van Hoytema, DUNKIRK
Roger Deakins, BLADE RUNNER 2049

Best Production Design
Anne Ross, THE BEGUILED
Alessandora Querzola and Dennis Gassner, BLADE RUNNER 2049
Nathan Crowley, DUNKIRK
Paul D. Austerberry, THE SHAPE OF WATER
Sarah Greenwood, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Best Visual Effects
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
BLADE RUNNER 2049
DUNKIRK
THE SHAPE OF WATER
WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES

Best Costume Design
Jacqueline Durran, BEAUTY and the BEAST
Jenny Eagan, HOSTILES
Luis Sesqueria, THE SHAPE OF WATER
Mark Bridges, PHANTOM THREAD
Sonia Grande, THE LOST CITY OF Z
Stacey Battat, THE BEGUILED

Best Use of Music
BABY DRIVER
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
CALL ME BY YOUR NAME
DUNKIRK
THE SHAPE OF WATER

Breakthrough Artist
Barry Keoghan
Brooklyn Prince
Greta Gerwig
Jordan Peele
Sophia Lillis
Timothee Chalamet

Best Ensemble
GET OUT
LADY BIRD
MUDBOUND
THE POST
THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE OF EBBING, MISSOURI

Complete List of 2017 San Diego Film Critics Society Winners

(Full Disclosure: I am a member of this group.)

‘The Exorcist’ Season 2 Episode 9 Recap: Ritual and Repetition

Rebecca Murray

December 8, 2017

The Exorcist Season 2 Episode 9 Recap — Ben Daniels in the “Ritual and Repetition” episode of ‘The Exorcist’ (Photo by Sergei Bachlakov © 2017 Fox Broadcasting Co)

Fox’s The Exorcist season two episode eight left off with Father Tomas lost in one of his visions and tricked into believing Andy is still tied up on the bed. Season two episode nine begins with Marcus (Ben Daniels) attempting to revive Father Tomas (Alfonso Herrera), but he’s still consumed by the vision. Father Tomas sees himself standing beside Marcus conducting the exorcism on Andy (John Cho). Andy reminds Father Tomas he promised to help him, and then the vision transforms into Tomas walking into a large church. He’s a Bishop now and although he protests that he shouldn’t be there, he’s told he’s the youngest Bishop in 20 years.

Two men walk through the Seattle Ferry Landing, hunting for Marcus and Father Tomas. They fire into a truck they believe is Marcus’ but it’s not. Instead, the truck belongs to Mouse (Zuleikha Robinson) and she gets the jump on both men. The men (who are from the Vatican) wind up shooting each other as Mouse escapes.

Marcus is forced to leave Father Tomas behind to chase down Andy. He walks slowly through the Holstroms’ house, spotting their dead bodies in the dining room. He also spots blood on the wall and a flashback shows that Andy viciously hit Verity (Brianna Hildebrand) while an already bloody Rose (Li Jun Li) watched from a few feet away. Verity was knocked unconscious and Rose did her best to protect herself as Andy threatened her life. The demon inside him blamed Rose for breaking up his family.

Marcus follows the path of destruction through the house. He spots a pitchfork with blood dripping from its blades and another flashback shows Rose stabbing Andy in the shoulder with it. He begged her stop and she paused long enough for him to knock her out.

Marcus follows drag marks on the ground into the yard.

Back at the dock, Shelby (Alex Barima) sees Andy escorting Caleb (Hunter Dillon) to his car. Harper (Beatrice Kitsos) is already seated in the backseat. Andy apologizes to Shelby for looking so horrible, claiming Marcus and Father Tomas cured him. Shelby pauses outside the passenger door, wondering why Rose didn’t come to get them. Andy swears it’s all over and he won’t hurt anyone ever again.

In Father Tomas’ vision, he’s smiling as he walks down the center aisle in his packed church while the choir sings. He looks unsure as he addresses the congregation and then notices Casey Rance (welcome back, however briefly, Hannah Kasulka!) is in the crowd.

Shelby reluctantly gets in the car and Andy drives them out to the rundown house with the well. Caleb asks what it was like to be possessed, and Andy describes his experience as hell “having to watch while that thing hurt my family, people I love.”

Andy won’t answer Shelby when he asks if the demon is gone. When Harper reminds him he killed her mom, he wonders if maybe her mom was evil and that’s why God brought her to him to be killed. Shelby assures Andy they can help him, but he just laughs. After Andy gets out of the car, the kids lock their doors. Unfortunately, Andy has the keys and remotely unlocks them. Shelby gets Caleb’s cane, ready to protect his foster siblings.

Shelby steps outside the car and Andy immediately attacks. We can hear the fight, but the camera remains on Caleb’s face as yells for Shelby. Harper’s also taken away as Caleb screams out for his brother and sister.

Caleb’s the only one left and he stumbles out of the car. He nearly trips on a big rock and wisely picks it up to use it as a weapon. Unfortunately, he’s no match for Andy who grabs his arm and pulls him toward the deserted house.

Marcus walks around outside the Holstroms’ place and is nearly run down by a horse. He spots more webs in the trees.

Rose and the kids, with the exception of Shelby, are tied up inside the old house. Rose thinks Verity can free herself because she was always able to in the past. Andy brings Shelby in and wonders if they should wait for Truck or “get this party started.”

Casey meets privately with Father Tomas after the service and he asks why she’s in Chicago. She reveals it’s because her mom told her to seek out Father Tomas to get help. Casey doesn’t think she is in control of her own body and admits she has scary dreams in which she’s lost.

Father Tomas realizes she’s not Casey and this isn’t real.

The demon speaks through Casey, reminding him that he left his people behind. She says they bulldozed St. Anthony’s and he doesn’t even care. Father Tomas can’t believe it, and the demon asks if he feels special.

Back at the old house, Andy taunts the kids, asking if they should kill Verity first and finish the job Truck started. The kids yell for Andy to leave Verity alone, and Andy turns his attention to Shelby. He tortures Shelby by grabbing his hurt leg, and Shelby tells the demon he’s not clever. Shelby insists he figured this out days ago. Andy claims God is so much worse than he is, telling the very religious Shelby that he’ll go last after he kills the others.

Andy decides it’s going to be Caleb first and Caleb has a vision of standing on the old well. Rose calls Andy a coward just as he’s about to attack Caleb. She reminds him he’s losing blood from the pitchfork wound, asking why he hasn’t killed her. Andy pulls out his knife and tells the kids to watch. He suspends Rose over the old well, feet inches above the boards.

Rose begs Andy to fight off the demon as he begins his countdown. He breaks the boards that cover the well as Rose whimpers. He makes it to 10 and all but one of the boards have been broken. As the last board breaks, she falls into the well. “Welcome to the family,” says Andy as he walks away, humming.

(Marcus is taking an incredibly long time to make it to the old house!)

Inside the building, Andy announces he’s decided Truck will die last. Shelby begins praying and Andy’s distracted grabbing Shelby’s chin when Verity makes a run for it. She’s worked herself loose and as Andy turns to chase her, Caleb trips him, giving Verity a head start.

Andy runs after her, screaming her name as Verity makes it into the woods.

Meanwhile, Father Tomas is convinced his vision is a fantasy. Casey assures him he can wash away his sins, and Father Tomas continues to engage the demon even though he knows better. Casey tells him Rose is dead and asks who will die next because of him.

The kids hear something outside the building and it turns out it’s Marcus. As he’s untying the kids, they tell him Rose is dead in the well and Andy’s chasing Verity. Shelby takes over caring for the kids as Marcus races out after Verity and Andy.

Verity manages to stay ahead of Andy, walking backward in her own footsteps and then hiding under brush. Andy slowly passes by but then stops.

The kids make their way out of the old house, but Shelby can barely walk. Harper decides to see if Rose is alive, running to the well and calling out her name. Rose is alive but barely keeping her head above water. Shelby and Caleb join Harper to rescue Rose.

Rose tells them to run, but they refuse. They stay with her and toss down a rope.

Casey continues to keep Father Tomas busy, telling him she’s been around forever. She quotes Marcus using his voice and reveals she has an incredible amount of power. She even promises Father Tomas she can make him the first Mexican Pope. He says he doesn’t want that now; what he really wants is to watch her die.

The kids get busy pulling Rose out of the well. They finally manage it and Rose emerges, exhausted, and falls to the ground. She asks for Verity and Harper lets her know Marcus is trying to find her. Rose hugs Harper and reminds them that they should have left her. “You don’t leave family behind,” replies Caleb. And now it’s group hug time.

Andy’s just feet from Verity’s hiding spot, looking at her footprints. He figures out she retraced her steps and discovers her hiding place. She’s tangled in the webs and crying out, “Dad, please,” as he places a web over her face. Marcus arrives just in time to save Verity and he and Andy get into a fistfight. Andy transforms into the demon as Marcus tells Verity to run.

Verity leaves and now the demon’s playing hide and seek. Andy sneaks up on Marcus, grabs his neck, and holds Marcus against a tree.

Meanwhile, Father Tomas yells, “I want to wake up!” and is finally able to emerge from his vision. However, the demon is now in Andy’s house in the form of Casey. Casey’s body falls away and now it’s Nikki. She bites Father Tomas on the shoulder and he begins screaming prayers at her.

As Father Tomas yells prayers at the house, Andy drops Marcus, and Marcus is able to lift a nearby branch and knock him out.

In the house, Nikki fades away and Andy’s at the base of the stairs. He tells Father Tomas the demon is too strong, asking Father Tomas to promise it won’t get away. He repeatedly begs Father Tomas to keep after the demon as the demon slips back into Andy.

It turns out Father Tomas was still in his vision when he spoke to Andy. He finally wakes and clears his head, thanks to the arrival of Mouse. She introduces herself and confesses she came a long way to find him.

More on The Exorcist:
– Recap of The Exorcist Season 2 Episode 1
– Recap of The Exorcist Season 2 Episode 2
– Recap of The Exorcist Season 2 Episode 3
– Recap of The Exorcist Season 2 Episode 4
– Recap of The Exorcist Season 2 Episode 5
– Recap of The Exorcist Season 2 Episode 6
– Recap of The Exorcist Season 2 Episode 7
– Recap of The Exorcist Season 2 Episode 8
– Recap of The Exorcist Season 2 Episode 10

– Interview with Ben Daniels, Alfonso Herrera and Kurt Egyiawan
– Interview with John Cho and Brianna Hildebrand

‘Maze Runner: The Death Cure’ with Dylan O’Brien Releases Its Final Trailer

Rebecca Murray

December 8, 2017

The final trailer’s just been released for the third film of the Maze Runner series, Maze Runner: The Death Cure. Wes Ball directed all three chapters of the trilogy based on the bestselling books by James Dashner, with T.S. Nowlin writing the screenplays for all the Maze Runner films.

Maze Runner: The Death Cure stars Dylan O’Brien (Teen Wolf), Kaya Scodelario (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales), and Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Game of Thrones). The cast also includes Giancarlo Esposito (Better Call Saul), Dexter Darden (Making Moves), Rosa Salazar (Man Seeking Woman), Patricia Clarkson (House of Cards), Katherine McNamara (Shadowhunters), Nathalie Emmanuel (Game of Thrones), Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones), and Jacob Lofland (The Son).

Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen, Joe Hartwick Jr, Lee Stollman, and director Wes Ball served as producers. 20th Century Fox has set a January 26, 2018 theatrical release date for the action adventure film.

The first Maze Runner was released in September 2014 and posted a $32 million opening weekend, domestically. It went on to gross $348 million worldwide before exiting theaters. Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials followed in September 2015, opening to $30 million. The second film of the trilogy made $312 million over its theatrical run.

The Plot: In the epic finale to the Maze Runner saga, Thomas leads his group of escaped Gladers on their final and most dangerous mission yet. To save their friends, they must break into the legendary Last City, a WCKD-controlled labyrinth that may turn out to be the deadliest maze of all. Anyone who makes it out alive will get answers to the questions the Gladers have been asking since they first arrived in the maze.

Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) and Newt (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) star in ‘Maze Runner: The Death Cure’ (Photo by Joe Alblas © 2017 Twentieth Century Fox)

‘The Terror’ Reveals a Teaser Trailer, Premiere Date and First Photos

Rebecca Murray

December 8, 2017

AMC’s set a March 26, 2018 premiere date for the thriller, The Terror, inspired by a true story. The dramatic series just released its first trailer along with three new photos featuring series stars Ciaran Hinds (Game of Thrones) and Tobias Menzies (Outlander). The cast also includes Jared Harris (The Crown, Mad Men), Paul Ready (Cuffs), Adam Nagaitis (Suffragette), Nive Nielsen (The New World), Ian Hart (Neverland), and Trystan Gravelle (Mr. Selfridge).

The series will kick off with a special two-hour premiere, with season one consisting of 10 episodes.

The Terror is executive produced by Ridley Scott, David Kajganich, Soo Hugh David W. Zucker, Alexandra Milchan, Scott Lambert, and Guymon Casady. Scott Free, Emjag Productions and Entertainment 360 in association with AMC Studios produced the series which was shot in Budapest, Hungary.

“The Terror captures a rare combination of fascinating history, complex and flawed characters, the inextinguishable human spirit and the horror and promise of an uncharted world,” stated executive producers and co-showrunners David Kajganich and Soo Hugh. “We are looking forward to bringing viewers into this world in March.”

The Plot: Inspired by a true story, The Terror centers on the Royal Navy’s perilous voyage into unchartered territory as the crew attempts to discover the Northwest Passage. Faced with treacherous conditions, limited resources, dwindling hope and fear of the unknown, the crew is pushed to the brink of extinction. Frozen, isolated and stuck at the end of the earth, The Terror highlights all that can go wrong when a group of men, desperate to survive, struggle not only with the elements, but with each other.

Jared Harris is Captain Francis Crozier, Tobias Menzies plays Captain James Fitzjames, and Ciarán Hinds is Sir John Franklin. Paul Ready is Dr. Henry Goodsir, Adam Nagaitis plays Cornelius Hickey, Nive Nielsen is Lady Silence, Ian Hart is Thomas Blanky, and Trystan Gravelle is Henry Collins.

The Terror TV Series Tobias Menzies and Ciaran Hinds — Ciarán Hinds as John Franklin and Tobias Menzies as James Fitzjames in ‘The Terror’ season 1 episode 1 (Photo Credit: Aidan Monaghan/AMC)

The Terror TV Series Photo — Ciarán Hinds as John Franklin and Trystan Gravelle as Henry Collins in ‘The Terror’ (Photo Credit: Aidan Monaghan/AMC)

Alice Cooper Joins the Cast of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar Live!’

Rebecca Murray

December 8, 2017

Alice Cooper joins Jesus Christ Superstar Live! — Alice Cooper joins ‘Jesus Christ Superstar Live!’ (Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage/NBC)

NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live! has found its King Herod. Alice Cooper has signed on to play the flamboyant King Herod in the network’s musical production set to air on Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018.

“Alice Cooper, whose theatricality is the stuff of legend, is the perfect rock star to play Herod in our live production,” stated Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. “Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice wrote a showstopping musical number for Herod and we all look forward to the ‘King of Shock Rock’ taking on the King of Judea. As the casting for ‘Superstar’ ramps up, we can feel the excitement building for this brand new concert experience of what has long been considered the original rock musical.”

Jesus Christ Superstar Live! will be executive produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, Marc Platt, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. Lloyd Webber and Rice asked Alice Cooper to record “King Herod’s Song” back in 2000 for the cast album from the 1996’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” U.K. production.

British theatre director David Leveaux is confirmed to direct Jesus Christ Superstar Live! for NBC. Leveaux is a five-time Tony Award nominee for directing 2003’s “Nine” with Antonio Banderas, 1984’s “A Moon for the Misbegotton,” 1993’s “Anna Christie,” 2000’s “The Real Thing,” and 2004’s “Jumpers.” Leveaux’s worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Almeida Theatre, and Donmar Warehouse in London’s Covent Garden, and his additional directing credits include “Electra,” “Betrayal,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “The Glass Menagerie,” “Cyrano de Bergerac,” “Arcadia,” and “Romeo and Juliet.”

Details on Jesus Christ Superstar, Courtesy of NBC: The Jesus Christ Superstar album hit #1 on the Billboard charts and made its way to the stage in 1971. It is based on the final week of Jesus’ life. The 1971 musical opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on Broadway and starred Jeff Fenholt as Jesus and Ben Vereen as Judas. It was nominated for five Tonys, including Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical for Vereen. Lloyd Webber won a Drama Desk Award for Most Promising Composer.

Since then, the musical has been considered a classic and has become a staple of theatre and music organizations throughout the world. It has been performed in nearly 20 countries and translated into 18 different languages. There have been many revivals of “Jesus Christ Superstar” over the 46 years since its debut, including 2000 and 2012 Broadway versions that each earned a Tony nomination for Best Revival of a Musical. The 1973 film was directed by Oscar winner Norman Jewison and starred Ted Neeley.

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Alice Cooper Joins the Cast of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar Live!’

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