King Ecbert (Linus Roache) in History’s ‘Vikings’ All His Angels episode (Photo by Jonathan Hession, Copyright 2016)
Read no further unless you are completely caught up on History’s Vikings season four through episode 15 which aired on December 28, 2016. (FYI – The featured photo is not of the dead character.) The devastating episode titled ‘All His Angels’ was one of the season’s best, focusing almost exclusively on the death of one of the show’s most vital and beloved characters. Ragnar Lothbrok, played by Travis Fimmel, was given one of the most brutal death scenes of any lead character on TV. Tortured by King Aelle and his men, Ragnar’s nearly lifeless body was then tossed into a pit of snakes where he was repeatedly bitten before finally succumbing to death.
Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) in History’s ‘Vikings'(Photo by Bernard Walsh, Copyright 2016)
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Fimmel and series creator/writer Michael Hirst discussed Ragnar’s death scene which was based on historical records.
“Ragnar was so ready to die and was happy to die there. He feels like his whole plan has worked, and his kids were coming to avenge him and get revenge on Ecbert,” explained Fimmel who, according to Hirst, had “strong ideas” about how Ragnar’s death should play out in the series. Fimmel was also fully on board with the idea of Ragnar’s death not coming at the end of the season.
Speaking with THR, Hirst explained why he chose not to make Ragnar’s death the focus of the season four finale. “This is the saga of Ragnar and his sons. I didn’t want to suggest to the audience that the death of Ragnar meant some huge breaking point in that saga; it’s just part of the weight. So Ragnar’s sons will continue the saga. This isn’t the end of Ragnar Lothbrok. Ragnar will live on in his fame. He will live on because he was the most famous Viking of the time. But he also, of course, will live on through his sons. I never wanted this story to end when Ragnar dies physically. We’ve shot roughly 25 more hours of TV now after Ragnar’s death, and we are a long way down the line. We are really embracing the sons, but Ragnar hasn’t gone away, because Ragnar is still the inspiration.”
Vikings has killed off major characters before, but with Ragnar fans are holding out hope Travis Fimmel can somehow return as a physical presence (not just in visions or dreams) to the series. Unfortunately, Fimmel put an end to those hopes by telling THR he is not returning to the series. “It sort of doesn’t make sense. My character is an atheist, so I’m not going to be coming up in any ghost, religious ghostly images or anything. I think you have to be very religious for people to have that belief in you,” explained Fimmel.
King Aelle (Ivan Kaye) and Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) in History’s ‘Vikings’ All His Angels episode (Photo by Bernard Walsh, Copyright 2016)Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) in History’s ‘Vikings’ All His Angels episode (Photo by Bernard Walsh, Copyright 2016)Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) in History’s ‘Vikings’ All His Angels episode (Photo by Bernard Walsh, Copyright 2016)
Sarah Paulson as Marcia Clark and Sterling K. Brown as Christopher Darden in ‘The People v. O.J. Simpson’ (Photo Credit: FX Networks)
Sure, 2016 had its share of new TV shows that weren’t worthy of investing any time in checking out. Fortunately, among this year’s crop of new TV shows were more hits than misses. Overall, 2016 was a pretty great year for new scripted shows, making it difficult to whittle the list of the best new TV shows of 2016 down to just 10. Less difficult was deciding which new series earned the top spot as American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson was an easy choice. The series not only made viewers finally understand what lead prosecutor Marcia Clark was up against, but also kept the audience engaged in the murder trial even while the outcome was a done deal.
The ranking of the shows are interchangeable after you get past the first three positions on this Top 10 New TV Shows list. And, in fact, I moved every show ranked #4 through #10 to different spots before locking down the list.
2016’s Best New TV Shows:
American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson – FX
Starring Sarah Paulson, Sterling K. Brown, Cuba Gooding Jr, Courtney B. Vance, John Travolta, David Schwimmer, Nathan Lane, Kenneth Choi, Christian Clemenson, and Bruce Greenwood The Plot:The People v. O.J. Simpson is a limited series that takes you inside the O.J. Simpson trial with a riveting look at the legal teams battling to convict or acquit the football legend of double homicide. Based on the book The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson by Jeffrey Toobin, it explores the chaotic behind-the-scenes dealings and maneuvering on both sides of the court, and how a combination of prosecution overconfidence, defense shrewdness, and the LAPD’s history with the city’s African-American community gave a jury what it needed: reasonable doubt.
Stranger Things – Netflix
Starring Winona Ryder, Matthew Modine, David Harbour, Charlie Heaton, Natalia Dyer, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, and Cara Buono The Plot: Set in Hawkins, Indiana in the 1980s, Stranger Things chronicles the search for a young boy who vanishes into thin air under highly suspicious circumstances. His mother opens an investigation into the boy’s disappearance with local authorities that unravels a series of mysteries involving top-secret government experiments, terrifying supernatural forces and one very strange little girl. A love letter to the ubiquitous cult classics of the ’80s, Stranger Things is a coming of age story for three boys that draws this quaint community into a world where mysteries lurk beneath the surface.
This Is Us – NBC
Starring Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Justin Hartley, Chrissy Metz, Sterling K. Brown, Susan Kelechi Watson, Chris Sullivan, and Ron Cephas Jones The Plot: Sometimes life will surprise you. This refreshingly honest and provocative series follows a unique ensemble. As their paths cross and their life stories intertwine in curious ways, we find that several of them share the same birthday, and so much more than anyone would expect.
The Night Of – HBO
Starring John Turturro, Riz Ahmed, Michael Kenneth Williams, Bill Camp, Jeannie Berlin, Poorna Jagannathan, Payman Maadi, Glenne Headly, Amara Karan, Sofia Black-D’Elia, Paul Sparks, Ben Shenkman, Afton Williamson, Paulo Costanzo, Ned Eisenberg, Mohammad Bakri, Nabil Elouahabi, Ashley Thomas, Glenn Fleshler, and Chip Zien The Plot: Pakistani-American college student Nasir “Naz” Khan, who lives with his parents in Queens, NY, takes his father’s taxi to go a party in Manhattan. But what starts as a perfect night for Naz becomes a nightmare when he’s arrested for murder. The show delves into the intricacies of a complex New York City murder case with cultural and political overtones. The story examines the police investigation, the legal proceedings, the criminal justice system and Rikers Island, where the accused await trial.
Westworld – HBO
Starring Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, James Marsden, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, Tessa Thompson, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Jimmi Simpson, Rodrigo Santoro, Shannon Woodward, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Ben Barnes, Simon Quarterman, Angela Sarafyan, Luke Hemsworth, and Clifton Collins, Jr The Plot: The dramatic series Westworld is a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the evolution of sin. Set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, it explores a world in which every human appetite, no matter how noble or depraved, can be indulged.
Billions – Showtime
Starring Damian Lewis, Paul Giamatti, Maggie Siff, Malin Akerman, Toby Leonard Moore, David Costabile and Condola Rashad The Plot:Billions is a fictional drama that takes an insider look at the world of high finance by tracking the approaching collision between two titanic figures – the hard charging, politically savvy U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades, and the brilliant, ambitious hedge fund king, Bobby “Axe” Axelrod.
The Oa – Netflix
Starring Brit Marling, Jason Isaacs, Phyllis Smith, Emory Cohen, Scott Wilson, Alice Krige, Patrick Gibson, Brendan Meyer, Brandon Perea, Ian Alexander, and Will Brill The Plot: Prairie Johnson, a missing blind girl, returns to the community she grew up in with her sight restored. Some hail her a miracle, others a dangerous mystery, but Prairie won’t talk about her seven missing years with anyone except four teenage boys whom she tells her story to in order to recruit them for a mission.
Atlanta – FX
Starring Donald Glover, Brian Tyree Henry, Lakeith Lee Stanfield, and Zazie Beetz The Plot:Atlanta revolves around two cousins on their way up through the Atlanta rap scene whose opposing views on art versus commerce, success and race will make their quest anything but easy.
The Exorcist – FOX
Starring Alfonso Herrera, Ben Daniels, Geena Davis, Alan Ruck, Brianne Howey, Hannah Kasulka, and Kurt Egyiawan The Plot:The Exorcist is a propulsive psychological thriller following two very different priests tackling one family’s case of horrifying demonic possession. Father Tomas Ortega is the new face of the Catholic Church: progressive, ambitious and compassionate. He runs a small, but loyal, parish in the suburbs of Chicago. He has no idea that his quiet life is about to change forever. Deep in the slums of Mexico City, another priest has found himself locked in a life-and-death struggle with evil. Father Marcus Keane is a modern-day Templar Knight, an orphan raised since childhood by the Vatican to wage war against its enemies. Father Marcus is everything Father Tomas is not: relentless, abrasive and utterly consumed by his mission – and he constantly butts heads with his adversary within the church, Father Bennett.
Caught in the middle of the two priests is the Rance family, who are members of Tomas’ parish. On the surface, they’re a normal, American family, but all is not as it seems in this household. The patriarch, Henry Rance, is recovering from a traumatic injury. Eldest daughter Katherine has become a recluse who refuses to leave her room. Her younger sister, Casey, thinks she’s hearing strange noises coming from inside the walls. And mother Angela believes there is something in the house, a demonic presence, growing stronger by the day. Desperate, she begs Father Tomas for help, unwittingly setting the naïve young priest on a collision course with Father Marcus. Separately, each faces an insurmountable task, but together they become the Rances’ only hope against an evil force that has been mobilizing for centuries.
Designated Survivor – ABC
Starring Kiefer Sutherland, Natascha McElhone, Adan Canto, Italia Ricci, LaMonica Garrett, Tanner Buchanan, Kal Penn, and Maggie Q The Plot: Tom Kirkman is a lower-level cabinet member who is suddenly appointed President of the United States after a catastrophic attack on the US Capitol during the State of the Union. In this dramatic thriller, Kirkman will struggle to keep the country and his own family from falling apart, while navigating the highly-volatile political arena and while leading the search to find who is responsible for the attack.
Tom Hardy as James Keziah Delaney in ‘Taboo’ (Photo by Robert Viglasky, Copyright 2016, FX Networks)
FX is set to debut season one of the dramatic series Taboo on January 10, 2017 at 10pm ET/PT. In support of the series’ upcoming premiere, the network’s released a batch of new photos featuring the show’s stars Tom Hardy and Oona Chaplin. FX also unveiled the plot descriptions for episodes one and two, and a new international trailer features new clips from the much-anticipated series.
Taboo was created by Tom Hardy, Chips Hardy, and Steven Knight. Ridley Scott, Kate Crowe, Tom Hardy, Dean Baker, and Steven Knight executive produce the show, and Timothy Bricknell serving as producer. The cast also includes Jonathan Pryce, Stephen Graham, Michael Kelly, Jessie Buckley, David Hayman, Tom Hollander, Jason Watkins, Franka Potente, Jefferson Hall, Ed Hogg, Leo Bill, Christopher Fairbank, Richard Dixon, Mark Gatiss, Nicholas Woodeson, Lucian Msamati, and Robert Parker.
The Taboo Plot: Set in 1814, Taboo follows “James Keziah Delaney,” a man who has been to the ends of the earth and comes back irrevocably changed. Believed to be long dead, he returns home to London from Africa to inherit what is left of his father’s shipping empire and rebuild a life for himself. But his father’s legacy is a poisoned chalice, and with enemies lurking in every dark corner, James must navigate increasingly complex territories to avoid his own death sentence. Encircled by conspiracy, murder and betrayal, a dark family mystery unfolds in a combustible tale of love and treachery.
Episode 1 Plot Description: James Delaney returns to 1814 London after 10 years in Africa to claim a mysterious legacy left to him by his father. Written by Steven Knight and directed by Kristoffer Nyholm, episode 1 airs on January 10, 2017.
Episode 2 Plot Description: As James Delaney assembles his league of the damned, an unexpected arrival threatens to disrupt his plans. Written by Steven Knight and directed by Kristoffer Nyholm, episode 2 airs on January 17, 2017.
Watch the new Taboo trailer:
Tom Hardy as James Keziah Delaney in ‘Taboo’ (Photo by Robert Viglasky, Copyright 2016, FX Networks)Oona Chaplin as Zilpha in ‘Taboo’ (Photo by Robert Viglasky, Copyright 2016, FX Networks)
Robert Redford and Jane Fonda in ‘Our Souls at Night’ (Photo credit: Kerry Brown/Netflix)
Netflix has just unveiled the first official photo from the original movie, Our Souls at Night. The dramatic film is based on the novel by Kent Haruf and was adapted for the screen by the writing team of Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (The Fault in Our Stars, Paper Towns, The Spectacular Now). The Netflix movie reunites actors Robert Redford and Jane Fonda who worked together in 1979’s The Electric Horseman, 1967’s Barefoot in the Park, and 1966’s The Chase.
Our Souls at Night is being directed by Ritesh Batra (The Sense of an Ending, The Lunchbox). The cast also includes two-time Oscar nominee Bruce Dern (Nebraska, Coming Home), Judy Greer (Archer, Jurassic World), Matthias Schoenaerts (The Danish Girl and the upcoming Lewis and Clark mini-series), and Iain Armitage (Big Little Lies).
The Netflix original film will premiere in 2017.
The Plot:Our Souls at Night is set in Colorado and begins when Addie Moore (Jane Fonda) pays an unexpected visit to a neighbor, Louis Waters (Robert Redford). Her husband died years ago, as did his wife, and in such a small town they’d been neighbors for decades, but had little contact. Their children live far away and they are all alone in their big houses. She seeks to establish a connection, and make the most of the rest of the time they have.
Amy Adams is earning Oscar buzz for her performance in Tom Ford’s edgy dramatic film, Nocturnal Animals, however it’s her work in Arrival that earned Adams the top spot on our 2016 Best Actresses list. Other actresses frequently popping up on year-end Top 10 lists who also made our Best Actresses list include Ruth Negga for her breakthrough performance in the compelling drama, Loving, and Annette Bening for leading the talented ensemble cast of 20th Century Women. Emma Stone seems to be on everyone’s short list as one of the favorites to land a Best Actress Oscar nomination for singing and dancing her way through La La Land, and she took fourth place on our Best Actresses list this year.
Isabelle Huppert is number five on our list for delivering a heartbreaking, genuine, and unflinchingly honest performance in Elle, which for some inexplicable reason was snubbed by Academy members who failed to give it a spot on the short list for Oscar consideration. And snagging the number six spot was Rachel Weisz for her outstanding portrayal of a writer who takes on a Holocaust denier in court. Our 2016 Best Actresses list also includes Natalie Portman who captured one of America’s most beloved First Ladies in Jackie as well as what some may consider to be a surprise appearance by Blake Lively at the number eight spot. Lively shouldered the load almost entirely by herself in the shark versus surfer thriller, The Shallows, and deserves recognition for making the film one of the year’s pleasant surprises.
Finishing out the Top 10 Best Actresses list in spots nine and 10 are Rebecca Hall for her outstanding work in the dramatic film, Christine, and Jessica Chastain for making us care about a ruthless lobbyist in Miss Sloane.
2016’s Top 10 Best Actresses:
Amy Adams – Arrival
The Plot: When mysterious spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team – lead by expert linguist Louise Banks (Adams) – are brought together to investigate. As mankind teeters on the verge of global war, Banks and the team race against time for answers – and to find them, she will take a chance that could threaten her life, and quite possibly humanity.
Ruth Negga – Loving
The Plot: From acclaimed writer/director Jeff Nichols, Loving celebrates the real-life courage and commitment of an interracial couple, Richard (Joel Edgerton) and Mildred Loving (Negga), who married and then spent the next nine years fighting for the right to live as a family in their hometown. Their civil rights case, Loving v. Virginia, went all the way to the Supreme Court, which in 1967 reaffirmed the very foundation of the right to marry – and their love story has become an inspiration to couples ever since.
Annette Bening – 20th Century Women
The Plot: Set in Santa Barbara, the film follows Dorothea Fields (Bening), a determined single mother in her mid-50s who is raising her adolescent son, Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann, in a breakout performance) at a moment brimming with cultural change and rebellion. Dorothea enlists the help of two younger women in Jamie’s upbringing — via Abbie (Greta Gerwig), a free-spirited punk artist living as a boarder in the Fields’ home, and Julie (Elle Fanning), a savvy and provocative teenage neighbor.
Emma Stone – La La Land
The Plot: La La Land tells the story of Mia (Stone), an aspiring actress, and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), a dedicated jazz musician, who are struggling to make ends meet in a city known for crushing hopes and breaking hearts. Set in modern day Los Angeles, this original musical about everyday life explores the joy and pain of pursuing your dreams.
Isabelle Huppert – Elle
The Plot: Michèle (Huppert) seems indestructible. Head of a leading video game company, she brings the same ruthless attitude to her love life as to business. Being attacked in her home by an unknown assailant changes Michèle’s life forever.
When she resolutely tracks the man down, they are both drawn into a curious and thrilling game — a game that may, at any moment, spiral out of control.
Rachel Weisz – Denial (and The Lobster)
The Denial Plot: Based on the acclaimed book Denial: Holocaust History on Trial, Denial recounts Deborah E. Lipstadt’s (Weisz) legal battle for historical truth against David Irving (Timothy Spall), who accused her of libel when she declared him a Holocaust denier. In the English legal system, in cases of libel, the burden of proof is on the defendant, therefore it was up to Lipstadt and her legal team, led by Richard Rampton (Tom Wilkinson), to prove the essential truth that the Holocaust occurred.
Natalie Portman – Jackie
The Plot: Jackie is a searing and intimate portrait of one of the most important and tragic moments in American history, seen through the eyes of the iconic First Lady, then Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy (Portman). Jackie places us in her world during the days immediately following her husband’s assassination. Known for her extraordinary dignity and poise, here we see a psychological portrait of the First Lady as she struggles to maintain her husband’s legacy and the world of “Camelot” that they created and loved so well.
Blake Lively – The Shallows
The Plot: In the taut thriller The Shallows, when Nancy (Lively) is surfing on a secluded beach, she finds herself on the feeding ground of a great white shark. Though she is stranded only 200 yards from shore, survival proves to be the ultimate test of wills, requiring all of Nancy’s ingenuity, resourcefulness, and fortitude.
Rebecca Hall – Christine
The Plot: Christine is the story of a woman who finds herself caught in the crosshairs of a spiraling personal life and career crisis. Christine (Hall), always the smartest person in the room at her local Sarasota, Florida news station, feels like she is destined for bigger things and is relentless in her pursuit of an on-air position in a larger market. As an aspiring newswoman with an eye for nuance and an interest in social justice, she finds herself constantly butting heads with her boss (Tracy Letts), who pushes for juicier stories that will drive up ratings. Plagued by self-doubt and a tumultuous home life, Christine’s diminishing hope begins to rise when an on-air co-worker (Michael C. Hall) initiates a friendship which ultimately becomes yet another unrequited love. Disillusioned as her world continues to close in on her, Christine takes a dark and surprising turn.
Jessica Chastain – Miss Sloane
The Plot: In Miss Sloane, a ruthless and highly successful political strategist, Elizabeth Sloane (Chastain), exposes the cutthroat world of D.C. lobbyists working on both sides of the gun debate. New legislation requiring more stringent background checks for gun purchases is gaining traction in the Senate, and Sloane is approached to spearhead the campaign, pitting her against formidable and powerful political opponents. Deploying her notorious skills and driven by a desire to win at all costs – she jeopardizes those closest to her, and puts her own career at risk.
Honorable Mentions:
Felicity Jones in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Greta Gerwig in Maggie’s Plan
Anya Taylor-Joy in The Witch
The world of LEGOs will be at the center of two animated movies in 2017, and we’ll be treated to a third helping of the Despicable Me gang’s hijinks as part of the year’s animated film slate. Disney/Pixar’s hitting theaters with the third film of the Cars franchise, emojis are getting their own animated movie, and squirrels and other forest creatures return to the big screen in The Nut Job 2. Plus, the weird blue creatures finally get a fully animated movie with Smurfs: The Lost Village coming to theaters in 2017.
Animal Crackers (April 21, 2017) starring Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Sylvester Stallone, Danny DeVito, Sir Ian McKellen, Raven-Symone, Patrick Warburton, and Gilbert Gottfried
The Plot: Owen Huntington’s life is one continuous loop of work, eat, and sleep. A loop that keeps him from ever seeing his wife Zoe, or his three year old daughter MacKenzie. A loop that is sure to kill him. Then, one day, Owen discovers a long lost Uncle (Buffalo Bob… the Rootenist Tootenist Circus Man in the West) passed away… and left his Circus to Owen! What could have been a blessing… soon unfolds into a curse. The circus is broke. The animals are all gone. And most of the crew are too old to be of any use. It’s a disaster.
But something MAGICAL happens. Owen discovers Buffalo Bob’s secret. A box of Animal Crackers that gives the bearer the ability to become ANY ANIMAL IN THE BOX! Eat a Bear…POOF! You’re a Bear! Eat a Lion…POOF! You’re a Lion! Suddenly… there’s hope. If Owen can use the box to become these animals and perform… people will come! They’d pay good money to see a singing giraffe. Or a piano playing hippo. Or even a Lion that can recite Shakespeare! He’ll be RICH! But Owen forgot one thing. Buffalo Bob had a brother. Horatio P. Huntington. Owner of the largest chain of circuses in the world. And Horatio would stop at NOTHING to get his hands on the Magical Animal Crackers. Nothing!
Blazing Samurai (August 4, 2017) starring Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Cera, George Takei, Ricky Gervais, and Michelle Yeoh
The Plot:Blazing Samurai is an action-packed comedy about a scrappy young dog named Hank who fights to save the town of Kakamucho from becoming the litter box of a nefarious feline warlord, transforming society and himself on his quest to become a true samurai.
The Boss Baby (March 31, 2017) starring Alec Baldwin, Tobey Maguire, Steve Buscemi, Jimmy Kimmel, Lisa Kudrow, and Miles Bakshi
The Plot: DreamWorks Animation and the director of Madagascar invite you to meet a most unusual baby. He wears a suit, speaks with the voice and wit of Alec Baldwin, and stars in the animated comedy, DreamWorks’ The Boss Baby. The Boss Baby is a hilariously universal story about how a new baby’s arrival impacts a family, told from the point of view of a delightfully unreliable narrator, a wildly imaginative 7 year old named Tim. With a sly, heart-filled message about the importance of family, DreamWorks’ The Boss Baby is an authentic and broadly appealing original comedy for all ages.
A scene from Disney Pixar’s ‘Cars 3’
Cars 3 (June 16, 2017) starring Owen Wilson
The Plot: Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Lightning McQueen (Wilson) is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back in the game, he will need the help of an eager young race technician, Cruz Ramirez, with her own plan to win, plus inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet and a few unexpected turns. Proving that #95 isn’t through yet will test the heart of a champion on Piston Cup Racing’s biggest stage!
Coco (November 22, 2017) starring Gael Garcia Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Anthony Gonzalez, and Renée Victor
The Plot: Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel (Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (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 (García Bernal), and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.
Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) in ‘Despicable Me 3’ (Photo: Illumination Entertainment, Universal Pictures)
Despicable Me 3 (June 30, 2017) starring Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Trey Parker, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Nev Scharrel, Steve Coogan, Jenny Slate, and Julie Andrews
The Plot: Joining Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig in Despicable Me 3 is Emmy, Tony and Grammy Award winner Trey Parker, co-creator of Comedy Central’s global phenomenon South Park and the Broadway smash The Book of Mormon. Parker voices the role of villain Balthazar Bratt, a former child star who’s grown up to become obsessed with the character he played in the ‘80s, and proves to be Gru’s most formidable nemesis to date.
The Emoji Movie (August 4, 2017) starring TJ Miller, James Corden, and Ilana Glazer
The Plot: The Emoji Movie unlocks the never-before-seen secret world inside your smartphone. Hidden within the messaging app is Textopolis, a bustling city where all your favorite emojis live, hoping to be selected by the phone’s user. In this world, each emoji has only one facial expression – except for Gene (Miller), an exuberant emoji who was born without a filter and is bursting with multiple expressions. Determined to become “normal” like the other emojis, Gene enlists the help of his handy best friend Hi-5 (Corden) and the notorious code breaker emoji Jailbreak (Glazer). Together, they embark on an epic “app-venture” through the apps on the phone, each its own wild and fun world, to find the Code that will fix Gene. But when a greater danger threatens the phone, the fate of all emojis depends on these three unlikely friends who must save their world before it’s deleted forever.
The LEGO Batman Movie (February 10, 2017) starring Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, and Ralph Fiennes
The Plot: In the irreverent spirit of fun that made The LEGO® Movie a worldwide phenomenon, the self-described leading man of that ensemble – LEGO Batman – stars in his own big-screen adventure: The LEGO® Batman Movie. But there are big changes brewing in Gotham, and if he wants to save the city from The Joker’s hostile takeover, Batman may have to drop the lone vigilante thing, try to work with others and maybe, just maybe, learn to lighten up.
The LEGO Ninjago Movie (September 22, 2017) starring Dave Franco, Jackie Chan, Justin Theroux, Olivia Munn, and Michael Pena
The Plot: In this big-screen Ninjago adventure, the battle for Ninjago City calls to action young Lloyd, aka the Green Ninja (Franco), along with his friends, who are all secret warriors and LEGO Master Builders. Led by kung fu master Wu (Chan), as wise-cracking as he is wise, they must defeat evil warlord Garmadon (Theroux), the Worst Guy Ever, who also happens to be Lloyd’s dad. Pitting mech against mech and father against son, the epic showdown will test this fierce but undisciplined team of modern-day ninjas who must learn to check their egos and pull together to unleash their true power.
My Little Pony: The Movie (October 6, 2017) starring Emily Blunt, Kristin Chenoweth, Sia, Taye Diggs, and Michael Pena
The Plot: In the movie, a new dark force threatens Ponyville, and the Mane 6 – Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Rarity – embark on an unforgettable journey beyond Equestria where they meet new friends and exciting challenges on a quest to use the magic of friendship and save their home.
The Nut Job 2: Nutty By Nature (May 19, 2017) starring Will Arnett, Katherine Heigl, Jackie Chan, and Maya Rudolph
The Plot:The Nut Job 2 follows the adventures of Surly Squirrel when the evil mayor of Oakton decides to bulldoze Liberty Park and build a dangerous amusement park in its place. Surly and his ragtag group of animal friends need to band together to save their home, defeat the mayor, and take back the park.
Smurfs: The Lost Village (April 7, 2017) starring Demi Lovato, Rainn Wilson, Joe Manganiello, Jack McBrayer, Danny Pudi, and Mandy Patinkin
The Plot: In this fully animated, all-new take on the Smurfs, a mysterious map sets Smurfette and her best friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty on an exciting and thrilling race through the Forbidden Forest filled with magical creatures to find a mysterious lost village before the evil wizard Gargamel does. Embarking on a rollercoaster journey full of action and danger, the Smurfs are on a course that leads to the discovery of the biggest secret in Smurf history!
Casey Affleck and Lucas Hedges in ‘Manchester by the Sea’ (Photo credit: Claire Folger, Courtesy of Amazon Studios and Roadside Attractions)
It was surprisingly easy to pull together a Top 10 list of the best actors of 2016. There were 10 actors whose performances stood apart, and these performances weren’t all delivered in awards season dramas. Casey Affleck, the odds-on favor to win the Best Actor Academy Award, obviously made the cut for his moving portrayal of a man forced to re-engage with the world in Manchester by the Sea. Ryan Gosling also earned multiple awards nominations from critics groups as well as a Screen Actors Guild nomination for his outstanding performance in La La Land, and he makes our list for that romantic musical as well as the comedy, The Nice Guys. However, Colin Farrell also earned a spot on this Top 10 list and thus far his performance in The Lobster has gone largely unrecognized by awards bodies. Jesse Plemons, terrific in season two of Fargo, has also gone largely unrecognized other than a Spirit Awards Best Actor nomination for his stand-out work in Other People.
It seems even Ryan Reynolds is surprised by how many nominations Deadpool has received, and he made our list of best actors for bringing a trash-talking comic book character with a wicked sense of humor to life on the screen. The much-deserved buzz surrounding Viggo Mortensen’s portrayal of a dad living off the grid in Captain Fantastic (released in July) has been growing stronger following the release of all potential Oscar contenders. And while some awards prognosticators had Andrew Garfield listed as a potential Best Actor Oscar nominee for Martin Scorsese’s Silence, following that film’s unveiling the buzz has all but died out. Garfield still made our list for his portrayal of a conscientious objector in Hacksaw Ridge. And Joel Edgerton can always be counted on to deliver an outstanding performance and he did so once again in Loving, based on a true story.
Filling out the two remaining spots on our 2016 Best Actors list are Adam Driver for his breakthrough performance in the indie drama, Paterson, and Chris Pine for being the lead in one of the year’s most memorable films, Hell or High Water.
2016’s Top 10 Best Actors:
Casey Affleck – Manchester by the Sea
The Plot: After the death of his older brother Joe (Kyle Chandler), Lee Chandler (Affleck) is shocked to learn that Joe has made him sole guardian of his nephew Patrick (Lucas Hedges). Taking leave of his job, Lee reluctantly returns to Manchester-by-the-Sea to care for Patrick, a spirited 15-year-old, and is forced to deal with a past that separated him from his wife Randi (Michelle Williams) and the community where he was born and raised. Bonded by the man who held their family together, Lee and Patrick struggle to adjust to a world without him.
Ryan Gosling – La La Land (and The Nice Guys)
The La La Land Plot: La La Land tells the story of Mia (Emma Stone), an aspiring actress, and Sebastian (Gosling), a dedicated jazz musician, who are struggling to make ends meet in a city known for crushing hopes and breaking hearts. Set in modern day Los Angeles, this original musical about everyday life explores the joy and pain of pursuing your dreams.
Joel Edgerton – Loving
The Plot: From acclaimed writer/director Jeff Nichols, Loving celebrates the real-life courage and commitment of an interracial couple, Richard (Edgerton) and Mildred Loving (Ruth Negga), who married and then spent the next nine years fighting for the right to live as a family in their hometown. Their civil rights case, Loving v. Virginia, went all the way to the Supreme Court, which in 1967 reaffirmed the very foundation of the right to marry – and their love story has become an inspiration to couples ever since.
Ryan Reynolds – Deadpool
The Plot: Based upon Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, Deadpool tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson (Reynolds), who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.
Colin Farrell – The Lobster
The Plot: A love story set in the near future where single people, according to the rules of The City, are arrested and transferred to The Hotel. There they are obliged to find a matching mate in 45 days. If they fail, they are transformed into an animal of their choosing and released into The Woods. A desperate Man escapes from The Hotel to The Woods where The Loners live and falls in love, although it is against their rules.
Andrew Garfield – Hacksaw Ridge
The Plot: Hacksaw Ridge is the extraordinary true story of conscientious collaborator Desmond Doss (Garfield) who, in Okinawa during the bloodiest battle of WWII, saved 75 men without firing or carrying a gun. He believed the war was just, but killing was nevertheless wrong; he was the only American soldier in WWII to fight on the front lines without a weapon. As an army medic, Doss single-handedly evacuated the wounded from behind enemy lines, braved fire while tending to soldiers and was wounded by a grenade and hit by snipers. He was the first conscientious objector to ever earn the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Jesse Plemons – Other People
The Plot: A struggling comedy writer (Plemons), fresh off a breakup and in the midst of the worst year of his life, returns to Sacramento to care for his dying mother.
Viggo Mortensen – Captain Fantastic
The Plot: Deep in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, isolated from society, a devoted father (Mortensen) dedicates his life to transforming his six young children into extraordinary adults. But when a tragedy strikes the family, they are forced to leave this self-created paradise and begin a journey into the outside world that challenges his idea of what it means to be a parent and brings into question everything he’s taught them.
Adam Driver – Paterson
The Plot: Paterson (Driver) is a bus driver in the city of Paterson, New Jersey – they share the name. Every day, Paterson adheres to a simple routine: he drives his daily route, observing the city as it drifts across his windshield and overhearing fragments of conversation swirling around him; he writes poetry into a notebook; he walks his dog; he stops in a bar and drinks exactly one beer. He goes home to his wife, Laura (Golshifteh Farahani). By contrast, Laura’s world is ever changing. New dreams come to her almost daily, each a different and inspired project. Paterson loves Laura and she loves him. He supports her newfound ambitions; she champions his secret gift for poetry. The history and energy of the City of Paterson is a felt presence in the film and its simple structure unfolds over the course of a single week. The quiet triumphs and defeats of daily life are observed, along with the poetry evident in its smallest details.
Chris Pine – Hell or High Water
The Plot: A story about the collision of the Old and New West, two brothers — Toby (Pine), a straight-living, divorced father trying to make a better life for his son; and Tanner (Ben Foster), a short-tempered ex-con with a loose trigger finger — come together to rob branch after branch of the bank that is foreclosing on their family land. The hold-ups are part of a last-ditch scheme to take back a future that powerful forces beyond their control have stolen from under their feet. Vengeance seems to be theirs until they find themselves in the crosshairs of a relentless, foul-mouthed Texas Ranger (Jeff Bridges) looking for one last triumph on the eve of his retirement. As the brothers plot a final bank heist to complete their plan, a showdown looms at the crossroads where the last honest law man and a pair of brothers with nothing to live for except family collide.
Best Actors – Honorable Mentions:
Sunny Pawar in Lion
Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe in Swiss Army Man
Matthew McConaughey in Gold
The horror genre will be well represented in 2017 with new offerings from the Alien, Amityville, Annabelle, Insidious, Resident Evil, The Ring, Saw, and Underworld franchises. Three films based on Stephen King books – It, The Dark Tower, and Gerald’s Game – will be released in 2017, along with a new film from M. Night Shyamalan.
The Mummy is being revived without Brendan Fraser and with Tom Cruise, and 2017’s releases also include remakes of Flatliners and Suspiria. Here’s a look at some of what horror fans can expect in 2017, listed in alphabetical order.
Alien: Covenant (May 19, 2017) starring Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, James Franco, Guy Pearce, and Noomi Rapace
The Plot: Bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, the crew of the colony ship Covenant discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world — whose sole inhabitant is the “synthetic” David (Fassbender), survivor of the doomed Prometheus expedition.
Bella Thorne stars in Blumhouse Productions’ ‘Amityville: The Awakening’
Amityville: The Awakening (June 30, 2017) starring Jennifer Jason Leigh, Bella Thorne, Cameron Monaghan, Jennifer Morrison, Thomas Mann, and Kurtwood Smith
The Plot: Belle (Thorne), her little sister, and her comatose twin brother (Monaghan) move into a new house with their single mother Joan in order to save money to help pay for her brother’s expensive healthcare. But when strange phenomena begin to occur in the house including the miraculous recovery of her brother, Belle begins to suspect her Mother isn’t telling her everything and soon realizes they just moved into the infamous Amityville house.
Director David F. Sandberg on the set of New Line Cinema’s ‘Annabelle: Creation’
Annabelle: Creation (August 11, 2017) starring Stephanie Sigman, Alicia Vela-Bailey, Talitha Bateman, Lulu Wilson, Philippa Coulthard, Grace Fulton, Lou Lou Safran, Samara Lee, Anthony LaPaglia, and Miranda Otto
The Plot: In Annabelle: Creation, several years after the tragic death of their little girl, a dollmaker and his wife welcome a nun and several girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home, soon becoming the target of the dollmaker’s possessed creation, Annabelle.
The Babysitter (TBD 2017) starring Bella Thorne, Robbie Amell, Samara Weaving, Andrew Bachelor, Hana Mae Lee, and Emily Alyn Lind
The Plot: Bella Thorne plays a hot babysitter who is part of a satanic cult that wants to kill the 12 year old boy she’s babysitting.
The Bye Bye Man (January 13, 2017) starring Douglas Smith, Lucien Laviscount, Cressida Bonas, Doug Jones, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Faye Dunaway
The Plot: People commit unthinkable acts every day. Time and again, we grapple to understand what drives a person to do such terrible things. But what if all of the questions we’re asking are wrong? What if the cause of all evil is not a matter of what…but who? From the producer of Oculus and The Strangers comes The Bye Bye Man, a chilling horror-thriller that exposes the evil behind the most unspeakable acts committed by man. When three college friends stumble upon the horrific origins of the Bye Bye Man, they discover that there is only one way to avoid his curse: don’t think it, don’t say it. But once the Bye Bye Man gets inside your head, he takes control. Is there a way to survive his possession?
The Dark Tower (July 28, 2017) starring Idris Elba, Matthew McConaughey, Katheryn Winnick, and Tom Taylor
The Plot: There are other worlds than these. Stephen King’s The Dark Tower, the ambitious and expansive story from one of the world’s most celebrated authors, makes its launch to the big screen. The last Gunslinger, Roland Deschain (Elba), has been locked in an eternal battle with Walter, also known as the Man in Black (McConaughey), determined to prevent him from toppling the Dark Tower, which holds the universe together. With the fate of the worlds at stake, good and evil will collide in the ultimate battle as only Roland can defend the Tower from the Man in Black.
Chace Crawford stars in Vertical Entertainment’s ‘Eloise’
Eloise (February 3, 2017) starring Chace Crawford, Eliza Dushku, Robert Patrick, Nicole Forester, and Brandon T. Jackson
The Plot: Four friends break into an abandoned insane asylum in search of a death certificate which will grant one of them a large inheritance. However, finding it soon becomes the least of their worries in a place haunted by dark memories.
Flatliners (September 29, 2017) starring Diego Luna, Nina Dobrev, and Ellen Page
The Plot: In Flatliners, five medical students, obsessed by the mystery of what lies beyond the confines of life, embark on a daring and dangerous experiment: by stopping their hearts for short periods of time, each triggers a near-death experience – giving them a firsthand account of the afterlife. But as their experiments become increasingly dangerous, they are each haunted by the sins of their pasts, brought on by the paranormal consequences of trespassing to the other side.
Gerald’s Game (September 29, 2017) starring Carla Gugino, Bruce Greenwood, Henry Thomas, Carel Struycken, Kate Siegel, and Chiara Aurelia
The Plot:Gerald’s Game follows Gerald and Jessie Burlingame, who have gone to their summer home on a warm weekday in October for a romantic interlude. After being handcuffed to her bedposts, Jessie tires of her husband’s games, until things take an unexpectedly tragic turn. Still handcuffed, she is trapped and alone. Painful memories from her childhood bedevil her. Her only company is a hungry stray dog and the voices that populate her mind. As night comes, she is unsure whether it is her imagination or if she has another companion: someone watching her from the corner of her dark bedroom.
Get Out (February 24, 2017) starring Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener, Caleb Landry Jones, LilRel Howery, Betty Gabriel, Marcus Henderson, and Keith Stanfield
The Plot: When a young African-American man visits his white girlfriend’s family estate, he becomes ensnared in a more sinister real reason for the invitation. Now that Chris (Kaluuya) and his girlfriend, Rose (Williams), have reached the meet-the-parents milestone of dating, she invites him for a weekend getaway upstate with Missy (Keener) and Dean (Whitford). At first, Chris reads the family’s overly accommodating behavior as nervous attempts to deal with their daughter’s interracial relationship, but as the weekend progresses, a series of increasingly disturbing discoveries lead him to a truth that he could have never imagined.
Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise in New Line Cinema’s ‘It.’
It (September 8, 2017) starring Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Lieberher, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Nicholas Hamilton
The Plot: New Line Cinema’s horror thriller It, directed by Andrés Muschietti (Mama), is based on the hugely popular Stephen King novel of the same name, which has been terrifying readers for decades. When children begin to disappear in the town of Derry, Maine, a group of young kids are faced with their biggest fears when they square off against an evil clown named Pennywise, whose history of murder and violence dates back for centuries.
Laura Vandervoort as Anna in ‘Jigsaw’ (Photo by Brooke Palmer)
Jigsaw (October 27, 2017) starring Tobin Bell, Laura Vandervoort, Hannah Emily Anderson, and Matt Passmore
The Plot: The story and cast have not yet been revealed, however it appears Tobin Bell will be reprising his role as John Kramer for the eighth film of the Saw franchise.
mother! (September 15, 2017) starring Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris, and Michelle Pfeiffer
The Plot: A couple’s relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil existence.
The Mummy (June 9, 2017) starring Tom Cruise, Sofia Boutella, Annabelle Wallis, Jake Johnson, Courtney B. Vance, and Russell Crowe
The Plot: Thought safely entombed in a tomb deep beneath the unforgiving desert, an ancient princess (Boutella) whose destiny was unjustly taken from her is awakened in our current day, bringing with her malevolence grown over millennia and terrors that defy human comprehension. From the sweeping sands of the Middle East through hidden labyrinths under modern-day London, The Mummy brings a surprising intensity and balance of wonder and thrills in an imaginative new take that ushers in a new world of gods and monsters.
Patient Zero (February 17, 2017) starring Natalie Dormer, Matt Smith, Clive Standen, Agyness Deyn, John Bradley, and Stanley Tucci
The Plot: In the pandemic thriller, Patient Zero, humanity is battling intelligent, adrenaline-fueled creatures born from a viral super-strain. After being bitten, human survivor Morgan (Smith) realizes he is asymptomatic and can communicate with the infected, leading the last survivors on a hunt for Patient Zero and a cure.
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (January 27, 2017) starring Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, Shawn Roberts, Ruby Rose, Eoin Macken, Rola, Lee Joon-Gi, William Levy, and Iain Glen.
The Plot: Based on Capcom’s hugely popular video game series comes the final installment in the most successful video game film franchise ever, which has grossed over $1 billion worldwide to date. Picking up immediately after the events in Resident Evil: Retribution, Alice (Jovovich) is the only survivor of what was meant to be humanity’s final stand against the undead. Now, she must return to where the nightmare began – The Hive in Raccoon City, where the Umbrella Corporation is gathering its forces for a final strike against the only remaining survivors of the apocalypse.
Rings (February 3, 2017) starring Matilda Lutz, Alex Roe, Johnny Galecki, Aimee Teegarden, and Bonnie Morgan
The Plot: A new chapter in the beloved Ring horror franchise. A young woman becomes worried about her boyfriend when he explores a dark subculture surrounding a mysterious videotape said to kill the watcher seven days after he has viewed it. She sacrifices herself to save her boyfriend and in doing so makes a horrifying discovery: there is a “movie within the movie” that no one has ever seen before…
Split (January 20, 2017) starring James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, Betty Buckley, Jessica Sula, and Haley Lu Richardson
The Plot: While the mental divisions of those with dissociative identity disorder have long fascinated and eluded science, it is believed that some can also manifest unique physical attributes for each personality, a cognitive and physiological prism within a single being. Though Kevin (McAvoy) has evidenced 23 personalities to his trusted psychiatrist, Dr. Fletcher (Buckley), there remains one still submerged who is set to materialize and dominate all the others. Compelled to abduct three teenage girls led by the willful, observant Casey (Taylor-Joy), Kevin reaches a war for survival among all of those contained within him—as well as everyone around him—as the walls between his compartments shatter apart.
Suspiria (TBD 2017) starring Chloe Grace Moretz, Tilda Swinton, Dakota Johnson, Mia Goth, and Jessica Harper
The Plot: A remake of the 1977 horror film that starred Jessica Harper as Suzy, a young ballet dancer who arrives in Germany to attend a prestigious school and immediately believes there’s something sinister about the Tans Academy. After a series of gruesome murders, Suzy slowly discovers the school’s connection to a powerful witch.
Kate Beckinsale and Theo James in Screen Gems’ ‘Underworld: Blood Wars.’
Underworld: Blood Wars (January 6, 2017) starring Kate Beckinsale, Theo James, Bradley James, and Tobias Menzies
The Plot:Underworld: Blood Wars follows Vampire death dealer, Selene (Beckinsale) as she fends off brutal attacks from both the Lycan clan and the Vampire faction that betrayed her. With her only allies, David (James) and his father Thomas (Dance), she must stop the eternal war between Lycans and Vampires, even if it means she has to make the ultimate sacrifice.
STX Entertainment is returning to the world of Bad Moms with a 2017 sequel titled A Bad Moms Christmas. The sequel to the 2016 R-rated comedy will be released in theaters on November 3, 2017 and will reunite the first film’s stars Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, and Kristen Bell. The holiday-themed adult comedy will be directed by Bad Moms‘ writers/directors Jon Lucas and Scott Moore.
“This is a brand that has enormous goodwill all over the world, so expanding and extending the Bad Moms franchise in an authentic and irreverent way has been a priority for our team. Jon and Scott have a truly hysterical story that was pure perfection,” stated STX Entertainment Motion Picture Group Chairman Adam Fogelson. “Mila, Kristen and Kathryn are excited to re-team, and we will move forward with A Bad Moms Christmas on a similar time table and in much the same way in which we produced the original.”
2016’s Bad Moms was released in theaters on July 29th and made $180 million worldwide before exiting theaters. The film had a budget of $20 million and was produced by Suzanne Todd and Bill Block.
The Original Plot: In this comedy from the writers of The Hangover, Amy has a seemingly perfect life – a great marriage, over-achieving kids, beautiful home and a career. However she’s over-worked, over-committed and exhausted to the point that she’s about to snap. Fed up, she joins forces with two other over-stressed moms on a quest to liberate themselves from conventional responsibilities – going on a wild, un-mom-like binge of long overdue freedom, fun and self-indulgence – putting them on a collision course with PTA Queen Bee Gwendolyn and her clique of devoted perfect moms.
It’s possible that by the time we officially say goodbye to 2016, the box office will have passed 2015’s record-setting North American $11.14 billion. One of the 2016 end-of-the-year releases that’s helping to push the box office into record breaking territory is Disney and Lucasfilm’s Star Wars prequel/sequel, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Currently sitting at 85% fresh on RottenTomatoes, Rogue One retained its hold on the top spot at the box office over the four-day Christmas holiday weekend, pulling in $96 million and easily holding off newcomers Sing, Passengers, Why Him?, and Assassin’s Creed.
The animated singing animals comedy Sing came in second and earned an A from moviegoers, according to CinemaScore. The film marks the second hit of 2016 for Illumination Entertainment following the studio’s success with The Secret Life of Pets. Earning third place over its first weekend in release, Sony’s Passengers had to overcome negative reviews to finish up the extended holiday weekend on the low end of pre-release expectations.
