The CW’s Riverdale season two episode two focused on the gang, led by Betty, attempting to save Pop’s and on Archie trying to connect the murder of his former teacher/lover with the shooting of his dad. The episode also found Jughead doing whatever he could to get his father’s prison sentence reduced. Riverdale season two episode three continues Archie’s search for the truth and his hunt for the masked shooter. Directed by Kevin Sullivan and written by Ross Maxwell, episode three titled “The Watcher in the Woods” airs on October 25, 2017.
The season two cast includes KJ Apa as Archie Andrews, Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper, Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge, Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones, Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom, Marisol Nichols as Hermione Lodge, Mӓdchen Amick as Alice Cooper, Luke Perry as Fred Andrews, Casey Cott as Kevin Keller, Ashleigh Murray as Josie McCoy, and Mark Consuelos as Hiram Lodge.
The “Chapter Sixteen: The Watcher in the Woods” Plot: TAKING A STAND — Frustrated by the lack of progress made in catching his father’s shooter, Archie (Apa) takes matters into his own hands in order to send the gunman a message. Meanwhile, Veronica (Mendes) is thrilled when Hiram’s (Consuelos) attempt to start fresh means she gets to introduce him to her friends, including Archie. Elsewhere, Jughead (Sprouse) starts his first day at Southside High and is befriended by a Southside Serpent named Toni (guest star Vanessa Morgan), while Kevin’s (Cott) attempt at having a little fun causes Betty (Reinhart) to grow concerned for his safety. Finally, an unexpected turn of events leads the town to realize their darkest chapter may be far from over.
“Sooner or later the fire is going to come knocking at our home town. But until we’re certified, my crew won’t even be able to set foot on the line,” says Eric March (Josh Brolin) to Duane Steinbrink (Jeff Bridges), making the powerful argument that his crew needs to be promoted to frontline firefighters in the dramatic film, Only the Brave.
Marsh leads a crew of twenty T1 firefighters in Prescott, Arizona, a designation signifying they’re the mop-up crew to the frontline firefighters nicknamed “Hotshots.” Marsh knows more about wildfires and how they burn than most firemen on the force, yet he and his men have been held back due to budgets and some unnecessary political games being played. Concerned about what looks to be a bad wildfire season, Marsh pushes once again for his crew to get certified.
Looking to replace two men who left Marsh’s crew, Eric interviews young Brendan McDonough (Miles Teller), a burnout and recovering drug addict who admits he’s made some bad choices in the past. Brendan recently discovered he’s going to be a father and wants his daughter to have things his father never gave him. Basically, he wants to be a good dad. Marsh, seeing a little of himself in the young man, decides to give him a chance.
As the rookies and established firefighters learn to work together as a team and to look out for each other, Marsh realizes he has the best firefighting crew in the state and hopes that their talent, drive, and determination will be enough to get them certified in time for the worst fire season in Arizona’s history.
Based on a true story, Only the Brave is a powerful, engaging, and inspirational film that captures the heart, courage, and spirit of ordinary men who put themselves in harm’s way to protect their town. The film’s also a well-deserved tribute to the Granite Mountain Hotshots who met with tragedy during the 2013 wildfires.
Josh Brolin delivers another great performance as Eric Marsh, the crew chief who knows his men are the best firefighting crew in Arizona and need to be on the frontlines to do the most good for their town. Marsh is a haunted man with a troubled past but has more than enough strength to lead his crew. He’s incredibly perceptive and understands how bad the wildfires will become. Brolin portrays perfectly Marsh’s tough and determined leadership as well as the softer and caring side towards his wife, Amanda (Jennifer Connelly), and the men who he holds dear to his heart.
Miles Teller delivers a solid performance as Brendan, the burnout who’s determined to work hard and be a good provider for his baby girl. Along the way Brendan becomes a strong member of the crew and eventually bonds with the one member who couldn’t stand him at first, Mackenzie, played by Taylor Kitsch. Teller and Kitsch have superb chemistry in the second half of the film as they become roommates and eventually best friends. One of the most entertaining scenes in the film is when Brendan finally gets to have his infant daughter stay over for the weekend and he and MacKenzie panic and struggle to take care of her when she develops a fever.
The film, extremely well-directed by Joseph Kosinski, also brings to the screen the camaraderie and brotherhood that develops between the men in the crew and their chief. Only the Brave captures how these men will tease, insult, and kid one another, but in an instant be willing to risk their lives for each other.
With a well-written script, a strong cast, and a story worthy to be told, Only the Brave is a fitting tribute to likeable, honest, and hardworking men who were nothing less than real life heroes. See it.
GRADE: B+
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for thematic content, some sexual references, language and drug material
Thomas Jane stars in ‘1922’ (Photo Courtesy of Netflix)
Thomas Jane delivers one of the best performances of his career in Netflix’s 1922, a 2017 adaptation of Stephen King’s 2010 novella which was published in his Full Dark, No Stars collection. Zak Hilditch wrote and directed the grisly horror film which follows a murderer who’s increasingly plagued by reminders of his actions. Dylan Schmid offers strong support as Jane’s character’s son who’s manipulated into assisting his father in the disturbingly brutal killing of his mother.
Adaptations of Stephen King’s books and novellas have been hit and miss, but recent additions to the long list of feature film and television projects based on King’s work have fallen more into the former rather than latter category. It, Mr. Mercedes, and Gerald’s Game remained true to the source material and struck winning chords with critics and with fans of the books that inspired the projects. The Mist and The Dark Tower were much less successful, with The Mist series easily ranking as one of the worst ever adaptations of a King story. Fortunately, writer/director Zak Hilditch’s 1922 can be added to the successful adaptation list as it captures the tone and texture of King’s story in a powerful manner.
1922 centers on the James family – Wilfred (Thomas Jane), Arlette (Molly Parker), and Henry (Dylan Schmid). Arlette inherited a 100-acre farm but she’d rather live in the city. She’s anxious to sell the property and move to Omaha, something her husband is dead set against. Wilfred conspires to turn his teenage son, Henry, against Arlette using guilt and the potential separation of Henry from his pretty girlfriend if Arlette has her way. Henry is initially a reluctant player in the murder scheme, but when the moment comes to strike he’s by his father’s side for the unexpectedly messy and prolonged attack on Arlette.
Wilfred and Henry prove adept at covering up the murder, convincingly lying about Arlette’s whereabouts. Her body is stuffed down a well and Wilfred cleverly kills one of the farm’s cows, claiming it fell into the well and necessitating the covering of that water source since it’s impossible to remove the cow’s carcass.
As the years go by, the horrific act weighs heavy on both Wilfred and Henry’s minds. Strange things happen around the farmhouse and, as with most Stephen King stories, the guilty are ultimately punished in unexpected ways for their bad deeds.
Thomas Jane’s grizzled appearance matches well with the Nebraska drawl he adopts as Wilfred. His scruffy, weather-worn appearance adds an additional layer, but it’s Jane’s commitment to ensuring Wilfred is never a sympathetic character that gives 1922 its bite.
1922 is a slow burn, a psychological horror tale that weaves a simple yet captivating story. As Wilfred’s conscious eats away at him, his grasp on reality loosens and 1922 transitions from a crime story into an eerie and at times grotesque horror film.
1922 premieres on Netflix on Friday, October 20, 2017.
GRADE: B
Running Time: 101 minutes
Supporting Cast: Kaitlyn Bernard, Brian D’Arcy James, Neal McDonough, and Bob Frazer
The CW’s The Flash season four episode two found Barry having a few issues with the new Flash suit Cisco created for him. The episode also found Barry and Iris hitting a speedbump in their relationship, and Cisco and Gypsy going on an actual date. Plus, fans got another brief look at a central character this season: The Thinker. Season four episode three will bring back in fan favorite Harry Wells and introduce a new interesting metahuman.
The Flash season four episode three is directed by Armen V. Kevorkian from a script by Sam Chalsen and Judalina Neira. Titled “Luck Be a Lady,” episode three will air October 24, 2017.
The season four cast includes Grant Gustin as Barry Allen/The Flash, Tom Cavanagh as Harrison Wells, Danielle Panabaker as Caitlin Snow, Candice Patton as Iris West, Keiynan Lonsdale as Wally West/Kid Flash, Carlos Valdes as Cisco, and Jesse L Martin as Joe West.
The “Luck Be a Lady” Plot: DC COMICS’ CHARACTER HAZARD COMES TO PLAY IN CENTRAL CITY — Barry (Gustin) and the team are hit by a string of bad luck and realize it is the handiwork of a new meta, Becky (guest star Sugar-Lyn Beard) nicknamed Hazard, who has the ability to give others bad luck, while cashing in the benefits for herself. Meanwhile, Harry Wells (Cavanagh) returns to Earth-1 to give Wally (Lonsdale) a message from Jesse.
WGN America’s set a January 23, 2018 premiere date for the dramatic crime thriller, Bellevue, starring Anna Paquin (True Blood). The network also unveiled a new four-minute behind-the-scenes video along with four new posters for the series created by showrunners Jane Maggs (The Offering) and Adrienne Mitchell (Bomb Girls).
In addition to Paquin, Bellevue stars Shawn Doyle (House of Cards), Allen Leech (Downton Abbey), Madison Ferguson (The Stanley Dynamic), Sharon Taylor (Ghost Wars), Billy MacLellan (Defiance), Vincent Leclerc (Being Human), Janine Thériault (Degrassi: The Next Generation), Joe Cobden (Blindspot), Victoria Sanchez (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan), and Sadie O’Neil.
The eight-episode season one is executive produced by Paquin, Maggs, Mitchell, Janis Lundman, Michael Prupas, Morwyn Brebner, and Jesse Prupas.
The Plot: The gripping and eerie original series is set against the backdrop of a small town with big secrets. Twenty years ago, the murder of a young woman traumatized the community of “Bellevue.” Now, the killer is back. Or is he/she? When a high school hockey star, who is wrestling with his gender identity, goes missing and all signs point to foul play, Detective Annie Ryder (Paquin) must unravel all the pieces to this gripping mystery before her own life falls apart.
As the case pulls her further away from her family, she is also confronted by a mysterious person from her past with disturbing answers to lingering questions and a terrifying need to play mind games. Along the way, Annie must navigate a complicated relationship with her on-again, off-again ex, Eddie (Leech), and her boss on the force, Chief Peter Welland (Doyle).
Per the network: Earlier this year, WGN America announced that three more acquisitions would be joining its ‘Prime Crime’ lineup in 2018, including 100 Code, starring Dominic Monaghan (Lost) and the late Michael Nyqvist (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo); Shoot the Messenger starring Elyse Levesque (Orphan Black), Lyriq Bent (She’s Gotta Have It, The Book of Negroes), Lucas Bryant (Haven), and Alex Kingston (Doctor Who, ER); and season one of Pure, starring Ryan Robbins (Warcraft, Apollo 18), Alex Paxton-Beesley (The Strain), A.J. Buckley (CSI: NY), and Academy and Golden Globe Nominee Rosie Perez (Search Party, White Men Can’t Jump).
The U.S. premiere of Bellevue follows the series’ lauded debut on Canada’s CBC.
Lionsgate just released a new trailer for the dramatic film, Wonder, based on the bestselling book by R. J. Palacio. Adapted by Stephen Chbosky, Steven Conrad, and Jack Thorne, and directed by Chbosky, the cast includes Oscar winner Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, Jacob Tremblay, Mandy Patinkin, Daveed Diggs, and Izabela Vidovic. Wonder‘s set to open in theaters on November 17, 2017.
The Plot: Based on the New York Times bestseller, Wonder tells the inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman. Born with facial differences that, up until now, have prevented him from going to a mainstream school, Auggie becomes the most unlikely of heroes when he enters the local fifth grade. As his family, his new classmates, and the larger community all struggle to find their compassion and acceptance, Auggie’s extraordinary journey will unite them all and prove you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out.
Julia Roberts and Jacob Tremblay in ‘Wonder’ (Photo by Dale Robinette)
Warner Bros Pictures released the first official trailer for 12 Strong, based on the bestselling book Horse Soldiers by Doug Stanton. The action drama is directed by Nicolai Fuglsig from a script by Ted Tally (The Silence of the Lambs) and Peter Craig (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Parts 1 & 2). The cast is led by Chris Hemsworth and Michael Shannon, with Michael Peña, Navid Negahban, Trevante Rhodes, Geoff Stults, Thad Luckinbill, Austin Stowell, Ben O’Toole, Austin Hebert, Kenneth Miller, Kenny Sheard, and Jack Kesy co-starring.
The supporting cast includes Laith Nakli, Fahim Fazli, Yousuf Azami, Said Taghmaoui, Elsa Pataky, William Fichtner, and Rob Riggle. The Alcon Entertainment, Black Label Media and Jerry Bruckheimer Films production was executive produced by Andrew A. Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Chad Oman, Mike Stenson, Ellen H. Schwartz, Garrett Grant, Yale Badik, and Val Hill. Jerry Bruckheimer, Molly Smith, Trent Luckinbill and Thad Luckinbill produced.
The Plot:12 Strong is set in the harrowing days following 9/11 when a U.S. Special Forces team, led by their new Captain, Mitch Nelson (Hemsworth), is chosen to be the first U.S. troops sent into Afghanistan for an extremely dangerous mission. There, in the rugged mountains, they must convince Northern Alliance General Dostum (Negahban) to join forces with them to fight their common adversary: the Taliban and their Al Qaeda allies.
In addition to overcoming mutual distrust and a vast cultural divide, the Americans—accustomed to state-of-the-art warfare—must adopt the rudimentary tactics of the Afghani horse soldiers. But despite their uneasy bond, the new allies face overwhelming odds: outnumbered and outgunned by a ruthless enemy that does not take prisoners.
Chris Hemsworth as Captain Nelson in Jerry Bruckheimer Films’, Black Label Media’ and Alcon Entertainment’s war drama ’12 STRONG,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. (Photo by David James)
Pamela Adlon as Sam Fox, Olivia Edward Duke, Hannah Alligood as Frankie, and Mikey Madison as Max in ‘Better Things’ (Photo by Pamela Littky / FX)
FX announced they’ve renewed the adult comedy series Better Things for a third season. The Peabody-winning comedy was co-created by and stars Emmy nominee Pamela Adlon, with Adlon also directing the show’s second season. In addition, Adlon writes and executive produces with series co-creator Louis C.K.
“Better Things‘ success is testament to the creative genius of Pamela Adlon as a writer, director and actor,” said Eric Schrier, President of Original Programming, FX Networks and FX Productions. “It has been a joy for everyone at FX to support Pamela and see the critics and industry recognize this series as one of the very best shows on TV. Pamela and the enormously talented cast, producers and crew have our deepest appreciation.”
Season two airs on Thursdays at 10pm ET/PT. Season three will premiere in 2018.
The Plot:Better Things centers on Sam Fox (Adlon), a single, working actor with no filter raising her three daughters, Max (Mikey Madison), Frankie (Hannah Alligood) and Duke (Olivia Edward) in Los Angeles. She’s mom, dad, referee and the cops. Sam also watches out for her mother, Phil (Celia Imrie), an English expatriate who lives across the street. Sam is flawed and fierce with her love for her daughters, and her own mother as well, sometimes heaping the love on when she feels guilty. Sam’s just trying to earn a living, navigate her daughters’ lives, have fun with a friend or two and also — just maybe — squeeze in some private time once in a while.
The first official teaser trailer for Neon’s I, Tonya arrived featuring Margot Robbie as disgraced ice skater Tonya Harding. The nearly one minute trailer gives away nothing from the film, but does have a voice-over of Robbie as the ice skater who fell from grace after attacking a fellow competitor. Directed by Craig Gillespie, the cast also includes Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney, Julianne Nicholson, Paul Walter Hauser, and Bobby Cannavale.
I, Tonya will open in theaters on December 8, 2017.
The Plot: Based on the unbelievable but true events, I, Tonya is a darkly comedic tale of American figure skater, Tonya Harding, and one of the most sensational scandals in sports history. Though Harding was the first American woman to complete a triple axel in competition, her legacy was forever defined by her association with an infamous, ill-conceived, and even more poorly executed attack on fellow Olympic competitor Nancy Kerrigan.
Featuring Margot Robbie as the fiery Harding, a mustachioed Sebastian Stan as her impetuous ex-husband Jeff Gillooly, Allison Janney as her acid-tongued mother, LaVona Golden, and an original screenplay by Steven Rogers, Craig Gillespie’s I, Tonya is an absurd, irreverent, and piercing portrayal of Harding’s life and career in all of its unchecked––and checkered––glory.
Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) declares that the world needs to see the truth in the new trailer for Marvel’s The Punisher. Netflix used the new trailer to finally announce the series will premiere on November 17, 2017.
In addition to Bernthal, the season one cast includes Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Girls), Deborah Ann Woll (Marvel’s Daredevil, True Blood), Ben Barnes (Westworld), Amber Rose Revah (Emerald City,), Michael Nathanson (The Knick), Jaime Ray Newman (Bates Motel), Jason R Moore (A Lonely Place for Dying), Daniel Webber (11.22.63), and Paul Schulze (Nurse Jackie). Hannibal‘s Steve Lightfoot serves as showrunner and executive produces the comic book-inspired action series with Jim Chory (Marvel’s Daredevil, Marvel’s Jessica Jones, Marvel’s Luke Cage) and Marvel’s Head of Television Jeph Loeb (Marvel’s Daredevil, Marvel’s Jessica Jones, Marvel’s Luke Cage).
The Plot: After exacting revenge on those responsible for the death of his wife and children, Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) uncovers a conspiracy that runs far deeper than New York’s criminal underworld. Now known throughout the city as The Punisher, he must discover the truth about injustices that affect more than his family alone.
Jon Bernthal stars in ‘Marvel’s The Punisher’ (Photo Credit: Jessica Miglio / Netflix)
