The official trailer and poster have arrived for Alias Grace, Netflix’s new series based on Margaret Atwood’s critically acclaimed novel. Sarah Gadon takes on the lead role of accused murderer Grace Marks, Edward Holcroft is Dr. Simon Jordan, Zachary Levi plays Jeremiah Pontelli, Kerr Logan co-stars as James McDermott, Stephen Joffe is Jamie Walsh, and Rebecca Liddiard plays Mary Whitney. Sarah Polley (Stories We Tell, Take This Waltz) adapted Margaret Atwood’s novel and Mary Harron (American Psycho, The Notorious Bettie Page) directed the six-part limited series.
Alias Grace will premiere on November 3, 2017.
The Plot: The story of Alias Grace follows Grace Marks, a poor, young Irish immigrant and domestic servant in Upper Canada who, along with stable hand James McDermott, was convicted of the brutal murders of their employer, Thomas Kinnear, and his housekeeper, Nancy Montgomery, in 1843. James was hanged while Grace was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Grace became one of the most enigmatic and notorious women of 1840s Canada for her supposed role in the sensational double murder, and was eventually exonerated after 30 years in jail. Her conviction was controversial, and sparked much debate about whether Grace was actually involved in the murder, or merely an unwitting accessory.
The New Line Cinema horror film It, based on the classic Stephen King novel, opened in theaters on September 8, 2017 and in support of the much-anticipated movie’s release, I had the chance to interview the film’s Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated composer, Benjamin Wallfisch. Wallfisch has worked on the music for more than 60 films, including A Cure for Wellness and Hidden Figures. Wallfisch’s score for It captures the evil in the town of Derry, Maine, embodied in the killer clown, Pennywise.
How did you get involved with composing the music for It?
Benjamin Wallfisch: “I was very lucky to build a relationship with the studio over the last few years. We did Lights Out together as well as Annabelle: Creation, and we all really enjoy working together. So, I got a phone call from the president of music over at New Line asking if I would be interested in the movie and I said of course. She sent over some examples of my work to the director Andy Muschietti and we met a few weeks later and just sort of hit it off with a shared passion for the book and a love of the classic ’80s scores. A little while later they called me and asked me to score the movie.”
So you were already familiar with the book?
Benjamin Wallfisch: “Absolutely. I read the book when it first came out. I was one of those Stephen King nerds growing up in the ’80s and, yeah, it scared me to death. I connected with the Losers’ Club and the heart of the story which is young people finding strength in number and accepting who they are without trying to fit in. That’s something that I think resonates with people and it’s something that has been translated so powerfully with this film. The chemistry between the young cast is extraordinary. It’s without question the best chemistry as an ensemble cast I have ever seen.”
You created an assortment of musical themes for the film. Can you talk about composing the music for the kids and their scenes of meeting each other and having fun trying to enjoy their summer, as well as the theme for the demonic clown Pennywise who’s hunting them?
Benjamin Wallfisch: “The thing about Pennywise is that he infiltrates everything even when he’s not present. There’s this sense of his inevitability in Derry, Maine where the story takes place. ‘It’ affects all the adults in town and every time you see a grownup on the screen – true to King’s vision – it’s not a good thing and what they are doing is not a good thing, and that’s all Pennywise. So coming up with a theme for Pennywise was all about coming up with finding and creating music that could infect all the other melodies because there are several themes in the film but the Pennywise score, which you hear very quietly when he introduces himself to Georgie in the iconic scene in the beginning, it’s just a very quiet and whispered childlike tune using very high strings. That’s him pretending to be a sweet clown, and then of course at the end you hear the music in all of its savage evil completely transformed.
Pennywise has a second tune, actually, because of how Bill Skarsgard plays him. There’s this weird 17th century children’s play song which we use when Pennywise is thinking about attacking or attacking. It was actually Andy’s idea, our director, and as soon as we put that on up against Pennywise’s eyes as he was about to think about how to bring a child down to float with him, it just sat perfectly – especially with Bill’s performance.
I should also mention about the coming-of-age and budding love story between Bev and Bill that was really important to me to bring to the score to. There’s a lot of emotional heart in the writing, and also at its heart the film is an incredible adventure. I mean, yes, it’s extremely scary but driving all of that is this passionate adventure between young people who are being inspired by Bill to find Georgie. And for me, along with the young love story, that was a really great way into the voice of the score.”
Music enhances movies and usually adds another emotional level and has a direct impact on the audience. This is true especially in the horror genre where music can add much more tension and suspense and in some cases, such as with Jaws and the original Halloween, give the monster a presence even when it can’t be seen. How pivotal do you believe music is in keeping the sense of dread and suspense alive?
Benjamin Wallfisch: “Well, music has this very inherent power which goes back to the beginnings of humanity, I think, where it’s a universal language. There’s this innate need in humanity to create and receive a musical experience. An orchestra is this incredibly potent, emotional delivery system. When you put a string orchestra in front of a picture and they play a melody which is emotionally in tune to what you are seeing on the screen, it will absolutely immediately affect you significantly more than without that music. Now in my particular way of doing things, I’m a bit of an anarchist. I like to think, ‘Okay, what can we do that just blows it up a bit?’
Also with this score, tension and release is the key thing in any horror score. What’s interesting about this movie is there are tons of scares but they’re actually much deeper than jump scares. There are moments when it takes you a while to absorb what you just saw. In this movie, more than any other I’ve seen recently, you are absolutely on this journey with the Losers’ Club and willing them to succeed. I think with this score my main job was to tell the story of these kids and their motivations and what’s driving them to do what they are doing and defeating this evil as a group. I think for me that’s the thing I caught onto most, you know the message that if you need to confront something unimaginably bad, come together as a group and do it as a group. The power of bringing together 70 musicians with that single unifying purpose is really palatable.”
Have you ever been afraid of clowns?
Benjamin Wallfisch: “You know, weirdly I wasn’t. I don’t know if that’s a missing gene or something but to be honest as a kid going to the circus I always loved it growing up in London. You know with the animals and the acrobats and the clowns, it was fun. However, having said that now that I look back at how clowns are portrayed in the U.S. there is something much more evil about that. I think clowns are much more innocuous in the U.K. so I’m sure if I had grown up here I would be just as terrified as most people.”
In support of its Toronto International Film Festival premiere, I Kill Giants has released a new clip from the film. Oscar winner Anders Walter (Best Short Film, Live Action – Helium) directed and Joe Kelly Eisner adapted his graphic novel for the screen, with Michael Barnathan, Chris Columbus, Kyle Franke, Kim Magnusson, Adian Politowski, and Nick Spicer producing.
The I Kill Giants cast includes Zoe Saldana (Star Trek Beyond), Imogen Poots (Roadies), Madison Wolfe (Zoo), and Sydney Wade (Wolfblood).
The Plot:I Kill Giants tells the story of Barbara Thorsen (Madison Wolfe), a teenage girl who chooses to escape the realities of school and a drab family life by retreating into her magical world of Titans and Giants. With the help of her new friend Sophia (Sydney Wade) and her school therapist (Zoe Saldana), she will learn to battle her Giants and face her fears – tackling the mean bullies at school, her sister (Imogen Poots) and her difficult work situation, and eventually her fear of death.
CBS’s Big Brother will be attempting something new with its first celebrity edition. The special celebrity season will air this winter, followed by the show’s 20th regular season airing in the summer of 2018. Julie Chen will return as host and, according to CBS, the reality series’ celebrity edition will be a shortened season.
“Big Brother has been dominating pop culture throughout its 19 seasons, and it is exciting to grow the franchise with the first-ever celebrity edition in the U.S.,” said executive producers Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan. “Celebrities will be under the watchful eye of the Big Brother cameras, facing the classic game elements, and of course new twists in this special winter event.”
The celebrity season will air multiple episodes each week and will feature the Head of Household and Power of Veto competitions as well as live eviction episodes. For those who can’t get enough of the houseguests, CBS All Access will provide a paid subscription live-stream from inside the house. Details on what celebrities will be participating will be announced later this year.
2017’s summer season is averaging 7.3 million viewers.
Series Details:Big Brother follows a group of people living together in a house outfitted with 87 HD cameras and more than 100 microphones, recording their every move 24 hours a day.
Chris Pine stars in ‘Outlaw King’ (Photo Courtesy of Netflix)
Filming is currently underway in Scotland on Outlaw King and the first photo from the production shows Chris Pine (Wonder Woman, the Star Trek film franchise) in his role as King of Scots Robert the Bruce. Pine reunites with his Hell or High Water director David Mackenzie for Netflix’s epic period drama. Mackenzie also wrote the script with Bash Doran (Boardwalk Empire), James MacInnes, Mark Bomback, and playwright David Harrower.
In addition to Pine, the Outlaw King cast includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Nocturnal Animals), Florence Pugh (Lady Macbeth), Tony Curran (Sons of Anarchy), Stephen Dillane (Game of Thrones), and Billy Howle (Dunkirk). Writer/director Mackenzie, Gillian Berrie, Richard Brown, and Steve Golin are producing the drama.
The shooting locations will include the last known resting place of Robert the Bruce’s remains. Netflix expects the film to be released in 2018.
“I am so happy to have the opportunity to dig deep into the story of Robert the Bruce and to discover some of the truths that often get obscured by legend. This is my sixth feature film shot in Scotland and autumn is my favourite time of year to shoot so I am excited to bring this film to light in the beautiful Scottish elements – come rain, shine, storm or snow. I am proud that our little Glasgow based production company, Sigma films, has been able to make this film and thank Netflix for letting us do it.” said director David Mackenzie.
“David’s talent as a filmmaker and storyteller is undeniable. We are excited to be working with him on a project of this scale bringing such a powerful story to life.” stated Netflix’s Scott Stuber. “We believe in the universality of this David and Goliath tale, and that it will be enjoyed and appreciated by audiences all over the world.”
Mackenzie added, “I am also delighted that Chris Pine, with whom I had a great time on our last film, has joined our Scottish and international cast and crew including the excellent Aaron Taylor-Johnson and the exciting emerging talent of Florence Pugh and Billy Howle. I know Chris will bring intensity and flair to Robert the Bruce and his struggle to take back his country, being crowned King of Scots, then suffering a disastrous defeat and left on the run with just a handful of supporters only to claw his way, with bravery and cunning, back to victory. This was an early form of guerilla warfare against the might of a vastly bigger better resourced enemy and is one of the great comeback stories of history.”
The Plot: The screenplay takes place over the extraordinary historic year when Robert the Bruce fights to regain control having been crowned King of Scots, only to be defeated in a surprise attack and made an outlaw by the English King and his occupying forces.
I hate clowns and reading Stephen King’s It when it was first published in 1986 only served to solidify my loathing of their creepy smiling faces and garish costumes. And, I’m not alone in my dislike of clowns. A 2016 Vox poll revealed 42% of the adults questioned were afraid of clowns, while a University of Sheffield study of children confirmed kids disliked even pictures of clowns. Take the existing prejudices against clowns, toss in Stephen King’s ability to turn the ordinary into the horrifying, add in a red balloon or two, and It’s Pennywise holds a special place in clown hell for terrifying generations of horror fans.
King’s It was made into a miniseries in 1990 with Tim Curry taking on the role of Pennywise. Curry was fantastic and terrifying in the role, and Bill Skarsgård had gigantic shoes to fill when he accepted the part in the 2017 feature film. Fortunately for King loyalists and horror enthusiasts in general, Skarsgård doesn’t disappoint. His Pennywise the Dancing Clown will haunt your nightmares.
Chase Palmer, Cary Fukunaga, and Gary Dauberman adapted King’s book, moving the story forward a couple of decades into the ‘80s while keeping intact the premise and tone of the bestselling novel. Set in Derry, Maine (of course), the film follows the formation of the Losers’ Club – a group of seven kids, outcasts all, who are individually picked on, but as a team stand strong against not only bullies but also the killer clown who terrorizes their town every 27 years.
Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise in New Line Cinema’s ‘It.’
The adults in Derry turn a blind eye to the evil that lurks in the hearts of their fellow citizens, ignoring the bullying that goes on and only briefly seeming to care about the extraordinarily high number of children who go missing and are never found. The Losers’ Club, led by the wise-beyond-his-years Bill Denbrough (Jaeden Lieberher), understand it’s up to them to put an end to their town’s deadly legacy. It’s personal for Bill because his adorable kid brother, Georgie, went missing while playing with a little paper boat during a rainstorm. Bill’s near obsession with figuring out what happened to poor Georgie leads the club on a dangerous quest to find the thing responsible for so many deaths in Derry.
It is brought to life on the screen with an incredible group of young, talented actors in the lead roles. It’s easy to believe these kids are friends who could form such a strong bond that they’d be willing to confront pure evil to save each other’s lives. They fight, they tease, they get jealous – everything normal kids do – and they’re also fiercely loyal to each other. The casting is spot-on, making it easy for the audience to not only root for but to connect with this ragtag group of social misfits.
Jaeden Lieberher is perfectly cast as the de facto leader of the group who’s determined to find his beloved kid brother. Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard is terrific as Richie Tozier, a wise-ass who’s quick with a comeback. Jack Dylan Grazer’s a scene-stealer as Eddie Kaspbrak, a walking encyclopedia of illnesses who’s never without his inhaler. Jeremy Ray Taylor’s solid as Ben Hanscom, a chubby kid who comes out of his shell once he’s welcomed into the Losers’ Club. And, Sophia Lillis is absolutely fantastic as the sole female member of the club, Beverly Marsh. Lillis looks like a young Molly Ringwald (in fact one of the characters in the film points that out) and has that same aura as Ringwald did in Sixteen Candles and Breakfast Club. The camera loves Lillis and it’s impossible not to be impressed by her performance as Beverly.
Unfortunately, Wyatt Oleff as Stanley Uris and Chosen Jacobs as Mike Hanlon aren’t allowed to shine as much as their co-stars. Oleff and Jacobs are both relegated to more supporting roles and their characters aren’t as developed as the other Losers’ Club members. That’s understandable for Stanley, but Mike was much more important to the group dynamics in the novel than he is in the film adaptation. In fact, much of what Mike was responsible for introducing into the story has been given to the Ben Hanscom character to explain. Book readers will be left wondering the reason behind the shift and how it will affect the second half of the story which will be told in It Part 2.
Director Andy Muschietti (Mama) delivers a satisfying number of jump scares mixed with humor and a surprising amount of heart. The set pieces are creepy, and all the visual effects are top-of-the-line, including the many manipulations of Pennywise’s physical form. Muschietti’s film is a lengthy one, but it doesn’t feel like it and there’s not a single extraneous scene that made the cut to bog down the pace.
But, It could have all the above and still not work if Bill Skarsgard’s Pennywise didn’t deliver the goods, so to speak, which he does. Skarsgard’s Pennywise is different than Tim Curry’s…not better, just different. Skargard’s Pennywise comes across as more devious and calculating, and you can clearly feel his maniacal glee as he zeroes in each victim’s most intense fear. King’s Pennywise the Clown was such a terrifying killer because “it” knew exactly what scared each of its victims and used that to feed into their fears before murdering them. The film retains that aspect of the story, just as it keeps intact the now iconic red balloon Pennywise is usually seen with.
It is true to Stephen King’s book while updating the setting and altering the events (sometimes just slightly, in other cases completely changing things up) in each of the members of the Losers’ Club lives which led to their belief in the evil lurking beneath the town of Derry. Fans of the book and/or the miniseries will find sufficient scares in this version to justify the price of a ticket.
It is one of King’s most popular books and, thankfully, the movie is one of the better film adaptations of his work. Hopefully, the studio can find an adult cast for It Part 2 that can live up to the work done by part one’s young ensemble. They’ve set the bar really high.
GRADE: B+
Running Time: 135 minutes
MPAA Rating: R for violence/horror, bloody images, and for language
Thor’s asked about the name of the team he’s putting together in the new trailer for Thor: Ragnarok and his answer is “The Revengers.” Or maybe they don’t need a name, he adds. The 45 second TV spot debuted during the season opener of Thursday Night Football and is titled ‘Contender.’
Tickets just went on sale for the November 3, 2017 theatrical release of the superhero film from director Taika Waititi.
Chris Hemsworth leads the cast as Thor, with Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Cate Blanchett as Hela, Idris Elba as Heimdall, Jeff Goldblum as Grandmaster, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, Sir Anthony Hopkins as Odin, and Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk. Kevin Feige produced the comic book-inspired movie. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Brad Winderbaum, Thomas M. Hammel, and Stan Lee are executive producers.
The Plot: In Marvel Studios’ Thor: Ragnarok, Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok—the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization—at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela. But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger—the Incredible Hulk!
One of The Weinstein Company’s potential awards contenders, The Current War, has released its first official trailer. Benedict Cumberbatch plays Thomas Edison, Michael Shannon is George Westinghouse, and Nicholas Hoult is Nikola Tesla in the dramatic film from director Alfonso Gomez‐Rejon (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl). Playwright Michael Mitnick (Sex Lives of our Parents) wrote the script and Katherine Waterston (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them), Tom Holland (Spider-Man: Homecoming), Matthew Macfadyen (Ripper Street), and Tuppence Middleton (The Imitation Game) co-star.
The Current War opens in theaters on November 24, 2017.
The Plot:The Current War is the epic story of the cutthroat competition between the greatest inventors of the industrial age over whose electrical system would power the new century. Backed by J.P. Morgan, Edison dazzles the world by lighting Manhattan. But Westinghouse, aided by Nikola Tesla, has seen fatal flaws in Edison’s direct current design. Igniting a war of currents, Westinghouse and Tesla bet everything on risky and dangerous alternating current.
20th Century Fox’s Murder on the Orient Express has released a new poster with the main cast, one of whom is a killer. The 2017 release is based on Agatha Christie’s bestselling novel which was previously made into a feature film back in 1974 starring Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery, and John Gielgud. The 2017 version stars Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley, Willem Dafoe, and Josh Gad.
Kenneth Branagh directed and also stars in the whodunit heading to theaters on November 10, 2017. The mystery thriller’s produced by Ridley Scott, Mark Gordon, Simon Kinberg, Kenneth Branagh, Judy Hofflund, and Michael Schaefer.
The Plot: What starts out as a lavish train ride through Europe quickly unfolds into one of the most stylish, suspenseful and thrilling mysteries ever told. From the novel by best-selling author Agatha Christie, Murder on the Orient Express tells the tale of thirteen strangers stranded on a train, where everyone’s a suspect. One man must race against time to solve the puzzle before the murderer strikes again.
Fox’s upcoming singing competition series The Four has begun a digital casting call, searching for talented singers who would like a chance to show off their skills on the new series. According to Fox, the new show will feature four finalists who will compete to retain their top four spots against newcomers who will challenge them for the finalist positions.
Fox has not yet announced who will be participating as panelists.
The Four casting details, courtesy of Fox:
Whether you are an aspiring vocalist on the verge of success, a lifelong singer who wants to get back in the game or a local star in your hometown, you can submit your audition video to try and make it into the competition. Participants can submit covers and original songs. Submissions will be accepted digitally only via thefourmusic.com. Candidates must be at least 16 years of age or older, as of December 1, 2017. Submissions will be accepted until 11:59 PM PT on Jan. 26, 2018. For a full list of eligibility requirements, rules and submission requirements, please visit thefourmusic.com.
The four finalists who are chosen by the show’s panel of music industry experts, will fight to defend their coveted seats on the stage each week, as they are challenged individually by new singers determined to replace them. If any of the four are outperformed, they’ll go home and their challengers will take their place. The longer they hold onto their seats, the closer they are to winning the ultimate prize: the panel of industry experts becomes key players on the winner’s team. This elite group of star-makers will help shepherd the winner’s career and be fully invested in making him or her a breakout star.
ITV Entertainment is producing the series which was created by Armoza Formats.
