Director Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival is a stunning and intelligent science fiction masterpiece. Arrival is best seen with as little pre-screening knowledge of the plot as possible, which means this extraordinary, thought-provoking, conversation-inspiring film has led to one of my shortest films review in 18 years of critiquing movies.
Paramount Pictures’ Arrival is heart-wrenching yet life-affirming, ambitious on a grand scale yet intimate and personal. Amy Adams stars as Dr. Louise Banks, a professor of linguistics who is called upon by the U.S. government to attempt to communicate with one of 12 alien spacecraft that have landed on Earth. In a series of flashbacks, we learn of a devastating event in Louise’s recent past and that she’s now solitary and absorbed in her work. Jeremy Renner plays Ian Donnelly, a physicist who approaches the problem of communicating with an alien life form via mathematics. Together, they must establish some form of communication to determine the purpose of the aliens’ visit to our planet while working against preconceived ideas and mass hysteria that could result in military action against these visitors from a distant planet.
The plot sounds so simple when squeezed into just a few sentences, but there are so many layers to the story that Arrival is anything but easily describable. Adams and Renner are outstanding as two scholars who find common ground in their approach to problem-solving after being initially overwhelmed by the ground-breaking task of learning an alien language. Adams is the heart and soul of Arrival and her character is the audiences’ entry into taking this fantastic sci-fi journey and making it so very human. Renner and Adams, who previously worked together in American Hustle, are a formidable onscreen team. Their wide-eyed view of an alien presence and its implications to life on our planet allows entry into a story that’s at times almost overwhelming in its presentation.
Time shifts within the story keep us constantly reassessing our understanding of what’s happening on screen, and will spark discussion after the credits roll. Eric Heisserer’s smart script, adapted from Ted Chiang’s short story, keeps us guessing the outcome up until the final frame. Don’t assume you know all the answers by the second act as Arrival patiently holds on tightly to its secrets until that perfect moment when the truth of the story is revealed.
The CW’s Supergirl season two has come out of the gate strong, proving it’s a show that’s found its footing after struggling through an uneven first season on CBS. The new characters introduced into Supergirl’s universe this season have been fun additions, in particular Chris Wood as Mon-El who has terrific chemistry with Melissa Benoist as Kara/Supergirl. And in episode six of season two Mehcad Brook’s character develops into a full-fledged hero complete with new suit and a cool new nickname.
Season two episode six titled ‘Changing’ airs on November 14, 2016 at 8pm ET/PT. The episode was directed by Larry Teng from a script by Andrew Kreisberg and Caitlin Parris, based on a story by Greg Berlanti.
The ‘Changing’ Plot: THE GUARDIAN DEBUTS IN NATIONAL CITY – The Guardian debuts to lend a hand after a parasite alien drains Supergirl (Benoist) of her power. Mon-El (Wood) considers a less than desirable new career which then leads him to contemplate his motives. Alex (Chyler Leigh) struggles with a new reality. The cast also includes Jeremy Jordan and David Harewood.
Rollo (Clive Standen) from HISTORY’s ‘Vikings’ (Photo by Bernard Walsh Copyright 2016)
The second half of season four of History’s Vikings premieres on Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at 9pm ET/PT with an episode titled ‘The Outsider.’ And as the premiere date approaches, History’s releasing short character videos including one focusing on Rollo, played by Clive Standen (soon to be seen headlining the new action series, Taken). The three and a half minute video provides a refresher on events from the first half of the season as well as a look forward at what to expect from Rollo over the second half of the fourth season.
The Plot: After being defeated in a monumental battle in Paris against his brother Rollo (Standen), Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) disappeared following his humiliating loss. Vikings then took an enormous leap forward during the midseason finale, time-jumping to a new era in its characters’ lives.
In the midseason premiere, Ragnar’s reappearance in Kattegat triggers a chain of events no one – except the Seer – could have ever imagined. He unexpectedly arrives home to see what has become of his sons and to handle unfinished business in Wessex with King Ecbert (Linus Roache). Meanwhile, Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) plans a power play in Kattegat and Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) prepares to fulfill his long-held dream to explore the Mediterranean in a sleek new boat built for him by Floki (Gustaf Skarsgård).
CBS announced their primetime holiday fare will include Robbie the Reindeer: Hooves of Fire and Robbie the Reindeer: Legend of the Lost Tribe. Both animated holiday specials will air on November 26, 2016 and feature the voices of Ben Stiller, Hugh Grant, Britney Spears, Jim Belushi, Leah Remini, and Brad Garrett. The Robbie the Reindeer specials were executive produced by Helen Nabarro, Kevin Cahill and Richard Curtis, with Peter Peake directing Legend of the Lost Tribe and Richard Goleszowski directing Hooves of Fire.
The Robbie the Reindeer: Hooves of Fire Plot: Robbie must train to compete in the Reindeer Races against reindeer-gone-bad Blitzen to become a part of Santa’s sleigh team. Robbie (Stiller) travels to Coldchester, the ski resort where the Reindeer Races are held, to try out for a position on Santa’s team. Blitzen (Grant), however, feels his position of captain on Santa’s team is threatened by the arrival of the new recruit and airs his insecurities to Prancer (Garrett).
When Santa (Belushi) throws a party to unveil his new sleigh, which features a sophisticated radar system designed by the conniving Blitzen, Robbie realizes he must work hard to win a place on Santa’s team. Assisting Robbie in his training is veteran coach Old Jingle (Jerry Stiller) and Donner (Spears), who has a crush on Robbie. However, Robbie only has eyes for the vampish Vixen (voiced by Leah Remini). Also, Des Yeti (Dick Enberg) and Alan the Snowman (Dan Dierdorf) prepare to announce the action at the Reindeer Races. When Robbie’s day of competition arrives, a turn of events makes for interesting surprises for Robbie and the rest of the reindeer bunch.
The Robbie the Reindeer: Legend of the Lost Tribe Plot: Robbie, with the help of an elusive tribe of Vikings, battles Blitzen in an effort to stop his nemesis’ launch of a reindeer theme park. Robbie and his reindeer friends, including Donner, Prancer, Old Jingle and Tapir (Belushi), are all working hard in Santa’s North Pole Holidays Office; however, not all is cheery in the workplace since the reindeers’ attempts to make money have failed. Meanwhile, all of Robbie’s attentions have been focused on the tribe of Vikings which saved him from falling down the crevasse of a mountain.
Worries about the office’s success are cast aside by the re-appearance of Blitzen, who was recently released from prison for good behavior. Blitzen assures the other reindeer that he has “turned over a new antler” and is eager to help out. He suggests they open up a luxury hotel to turn new profits. But, soon Blitzen shows his true colors, using the luxury hotel as his “Reindeer World” theme park, with plans to use the reindeer gang as the robotic attractions. Robbie, Donner and Prancer search for the tribe of Vikings to help the rest of the reindeer escape the clutches of the evil Blitzen and his thugs. In their own unique way, the Vikings devise a plan to disguise themselves and save the reindeer, while Blitzen meets Robbie and Donner in a final confrontation.
Maxim Roy, Isaiah Mustafa, Katherine McNamara, Alberto Rosende, Emeraude Toubia, Matthew Daddario, and Stephanie Bennett in ‘Shadowhunters’ (Photo Credit: Freeform/John Medland)
Freeform’s popular series Shadowhunters returns for its second season on Monday, January 2, 2017 at 8pm ET/PT with an episode titled ‘This Guilty Blood.’ The network has just released details on the season two premiere which will pick up the action shortly after the season one finale. Returning Shadowhunters stars include Katherine McNamara as Clary Fray, Dominic Sherwood as Jace Wayland, Alberto Rosende as Simon Lewis, Emeraude Toubia as Isabelle Lightwood, Matthew Daddario as Alec Lightwood, Isaiah Mustafa as Luke Garroway, and Harry Shum Jr. as Magnus Bane. Series executive producers include Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer, McG, Michael Reisz, Matt Hastings, Mary Viola, Martin Moszkowicz and Robert Kulzer.
The ‘This Guilty Blood’ Plot: The Institute is in upheaval after Jace’s departure with Valentine in “This Guilty Blood,” the season two premiere of Shadowhunters. Only hours have passed since Jace left with Valentine and all hell has broken loose at The Institute. Alec, Isabelle and Clary are desperate to find Jace, but are quickly stopped in their tracks with the arrival of Victor Aldertree, who means business about getting the Institute back on track. But getting the New York Shadowhunters in-line with The Clave may be counterintuitive to Alec, Isabelle and Clary’s plan to rescue Jace.
Meanwhile, Jocelyn has a lot to catch up on now that she is awake.
The Season 2 Plot: The second season of Shadowhunters returns with the Shadow world in upheaval as Valentine and The Circle continue to grow stronger by the minute and our Shadowhunter team quickly becoming disillusioned with The Clave and their reaction to the recent events. Loyalties will be tested, unlikely bonds will be made and relationships will be pushed to the limit as the Shadowhunters and their Downworlder friends are making their own way in a new world.
Joanne Jansen and Alberto Rosende in ‘Shadowhunters’ (Photo by John Medland / Freeform) Harry Shum Jr, Stephanie Bennett, Emeraude Toubia, and Matthew Daddario in ‘Shadowhunters’ (Photo by John Medland / Freeform) Harry Shum Jr and Matthew Daddario in ‘Shadowhunters’ (Photo Credit: John Medland / Freeform)
Patti LaBelle is confirmed to perform on the 2016 VH1 Divas Holiday: Unsilent Night set to air on Monday, December 5, 2016 at 9pm ET/PT. LaBelle joins previously announced performer Mariah Carey for the holiday-themed musical event taking place at the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, NY. LaBelle headlined the VH1 Save the Music Foundation in 2004, her first appearance on a Divas special.
“I’m so excited to share the VH1 DIVAS stage with Mariah, who is not only a phenomenal singer and performer, but also my goddaughter. This is going to be really, really special,” said LaBelle.
The VH1 Divas series launched in 1998 and the 2016 holiday show marks the first new Divas in four years. The Unsilent Night special will be executive produced by Jesse Ignatovic, Evan Prager, Chris Choun, Jen Jones, Lee Lodge, Amy Doyle, Ryan Kroft and Elena Diaz.
Details on VH1 Divas: “VH1 Divas has assembled the most dynamic and prolific female performers the industry has to offer, celebrating their raw talent and invaluable contributions to pop culture. After a four-year hiatus, the Divas have returned, just in time for the holidays, for a night that promises to be both festive and fabulous in equal measure. Additional performers will be announced shortly.”
In episode seven of Fox’s Lucifer, the retired Lord of Hell shadowed Detective Dan (aka Detective Douche) in an attempt to discover how to be a better human being. The unlikely pairing of Lucifer (Tom Ellis) and Dan (Kevin Alejandro) kicked off a bromance that hopefully will continue to grow over the remainder of season two. And coming up in episode eight, Lucifer has a new partner in crime-fighting when he teams up with Ella (Aimee Garcia). Episode eight titled ‘Trip to Stabby Town’ will air on November 14, 2016 at 9pm ET/PT.
The cast of Lucifer season two includes Tom Ellis as Lucifer, Lauren German as Chloe, DB Woodside as Amenadiel, Lesley-Ann Brandt as Maze, Kevin Alejandro as Dan, Scarlett Estevez as Trixie, Rachael Harris as Linda Martin, Tricia Helfer as Charlotte, and Aimee Garcia as Ella. Episode eight’s guest stars include Andrea Bogart as Corrina Huff and Ryan Alosio as Jenson Glory/Jamie Ostrowski.
The Trip to Stabby Town Plot: After discovering that Azrael’s blade has been stolen by a human, Lucifer quickly connects it with a string of violent stabbings revolving around a local yoga studio. While Chloe investigates the murders, Lucifer enlists Ella’s help in locating the sword to stop the carnage in the all-new “Trip to Stabby Town” episode.
Lucifer Series Details:Lucifer is the story of the original fallen angel. Bored and unhappy as the Lord of Hell, he has abandoned his throne and retired to L.A., where he has teamed up with an LAPD detective to take down criminals.
The cast of ‘Hairspray Live’ (Photo by Brian Bowen Smith / NBC)
NBC’s next big live musical event will be Hairspray Live! set to air on December 7, 2016 at 8pm ET/PT. The much-anticipated musical production is based on the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit and stars Harvey Fierstein, Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande, Kristin Chenoweth, Martin Short, Derek Hough, and newcomer Maddie Baillio in the lead role of Tracy Turnblad. Alex Rudzinski and Kenny Leon are directing, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are executive producing, and Fierstein wrote the teleplay. Hairspray Live! features catchy musical numbers with music and lyrics by Tony Award-winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.
The Plot:Hairspray Live! takes place in 1962 Baltimore. Plump teenager Tracy Turnblad’s dream is to dance on “The Corny Collins Show,” a local TV program. When against all odds Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight and meets a colorful array of characters, including the resident dreamboat, Link; the ambitious mean girl, Amber; an African-American boy she meets in detention, Seaweed; and his mother, Motormouth Maybelle, the owner of a local record store. Tracy’s mother is the indomitable Edna, and she eventually encourages Tracy on her campaign to integrate the all-white “Corny Collins Show.”
Rehearsals are currently underway and with the musical event a month out from its air date, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman took time out of their busy schedules to discuss Hairspray Live!. Shaiman and Wittman participated in a conference call to talk about the songs included in this version, the cast, and what it feels like to be able to delve once again into the fun world of Hairspray.
Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Interview:
What were the challenges in working on Hairspray Live! in terms of which songs could be included in the final NBC production?
Marc Shaiman: “We basically used the Broadway production and then took the film songs that we most enjoyed, songs that we got to write for the film, and have incorporated them into it. So now it’s become a real nice hybrid of the Broadway version and the movie version. There’s one or two things from Broadway that are not included and there’s maybe one or two things written for the movie that are not included. I don’t know that I’m at liberty to say, specifically. But it will be very nice to see it all put together as one.
What was such a blessing is all these stars came in, and we would have understood if someone had said, ‘Hey, I want to have something new.’ Or, ‘Write something just for me,’ or, ‘Change this part a little bit more because I’m who I am.’ But no one said that. Everyone wanted to play the parts as written. Scott and I have actually had a pretty nice time of not having to work strenuously.”
Scott Wittman: “We’re so lucky that this is even happening in our lifetimes. That it’s fun here, too, to read it [and] to go back and explore the material again.”
Marc Shaiman: “We may be the first songwriters of a live musical in the modern age to be alive when the shows are put on.”
Do you look back on Hairspray with pure fondness or do you wish you could have changed something? How does it feel when you revisit the old material and will there be any brand new songs that we’ve never heard before in this production?
Scott Wittman: “Looking back on Hairspray, I wouldn’t change a thing. But for television, because the act breaks are different, Harvey (Fierstein’s) done a wonderful job of reshuffling the cards in that area.”
Hairspray Live! will be performing at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade which is exciting. Could you possibly tell us what they might be performing? Will it be a medley?
Scott Wittman: “We don’t know because we’re in London making a movie. We read about it on Instagram and things like that. We don’t know about that yet.”
Marc Shaiman: “The kind of big headline for us is that we are – as Scott said in England – working on the movie sequel to Mary Poppins called Mary Poppins Returns. Not a remake, a sequel. And the very bittersweet fact is that we, although alive, are just a little bit more involved with the show than some of the dead composers and the lyricists of the previous productions. So we’re sort of heartbroken that we can’t be there every single day because there’s simply nothing as fun as rehearsing Hairspray. We’ve learned that over the years.”
When you first composed the music, how did you decide which scenes from the original film called for a musical number?
Marc Shaiman: “I mean, in the original movie when Tracy steps out of the beauty parlor with Edna in her entirely new ’60s look and says, ‘Momma, welcome to the ’60s, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to say that’s a song cue. There were moments like that in the original film that just, well, sang out. Also, when Tracy says at one point, ‘Now all Baltimore knows I’m big, blonde, and beautiful,’ Scott and I both go, ‘Well, that’s a song title.'”
Scott Wittman: “The original movie, which is so brilliant, is almost a musical in its form as is. So it was great fun to pay homage to (John Waters) for that.”
Harvey Fierstein and Maddie Baillio (Photo by Brian Bowen Smith/NBC)
You’ve been in London but have you had an opportunity to work with the new cast during the rehearsals? Have you had a chance to really experience them experiencing and exploring these songs?
Scott Wittman: “Well, Kristin Chenowith, yes.”
Marc Shaiman: “Yes. Luckily for us Kristin is in New York and so she had to do her work with us at our studio in New York. And I also got to meet with her by chance when I was in LA. That was our first meeting with her was to see what we could do with ‘Baltimore Crabs’ to show off everything that Kristin has to show off. And, that’s a lot. We did have that absolute joy of getting to watch (her). You know, when I record someone in my home studio I usually actually have my back to them because of the way that the room is set up, which also seems okay because in my home studio there isn’t a glass partition between the booth and where someone’s singing. It’s almost like you’re invading your space and it’s almost nicer to keep your back to them. But with Kristin I kind of realized that at one point I wanted to watch her singing and so I just turned around and practically forgot to hit all the right buttons to stop and start and record because it was just so much fun to watch her sing the song over and over again for the cast album that they’re making.”
Scott Wittman: “We also worked with Maddie (Baillio) which was great, great, great fun because she’s really a fantastic singer.”
Will “Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now” be included in Hairspray Live!?
Scott Wittman: “Yes, it’s back. How can we not do it with Kristin and Andrea (Martin). It would be a sacrilege.”
Marc Shaiman: “(We are) working on Hairspray Live! with a different group of collaborators. All the folks that worked on the movie and although there were a lot of people who worked on the movie who are working on Hairspray Live! – Craig (Zadan) and Neil (Meron), obviously – but, you know, there are different points of view and a different structure to the show. They like to present the musicals pretty closely to what the actual…”
Scott Wittman: “…experience is.”
Marc Shaiman: “…the Broadway production. I mean, we couldn’t be luckier than the fact that we got to make a movie of our show. So, we get to have these two versions and we’re so also ecstatic to have this version where Harvey’s work and Jerry Mitchell’s work will equally be able to be enjoyed by the audience.”
How did you come up with “You Can’t Stop the Beat?”
Marc Shaiman: “Scott and I were talking and we just kind of…Scott came up with the idea of how the beat sort of symbolized both the show and the idea that it just goes on and on and sort of relates to life and America and just about everything you can think of. […] We had been working all day and Scott was about to leave to go hang out with his friends up at Angus’s Bar, a hang out that is no longer. He was on his way up there but we had sort of settled on something about the beat and can you stop the beat. We weren’t quite sure what those words were. Scott left and it must have been 10:30 but I was at the piano and I started playing a rhythm and then that song just started pouring out of me like hot lava. I called Scott like 20 minutes later. I said, ‘Scott, come home because you’ll be mad at me if I write anymore and it’s just like flowing out of me.’
He turned right around and came home and we wrote that song like they say how songs are floating there in the air and songwriters just have to capture them. That one came out that way. I mean, there were like three inner rhymes within lines that just came out with rhymes. But, like, we weren’t even trying. It was just coming out of our mouths that way. And then the idea of just keep writing more verses for all the characters and figuring out later can we really sing all these verses? Luckily, our collaborators Jack and Jerry were brilliant at figuring out how to make it all work.”
Were there any actors who had a difficult time with that song because it’s so challenging?
Marc Shaiman: “Well, the truth is that it’s somewhere online if you write ‘original demo of You Can’t Stop the Beat’, believe it or not it was faster. I do remember one of my main thoughts was to try to write one of those songs – what’s that other one called? – ‘Life is a Run, But the Radio Rolls?’ It’s like a long list of names. I was like, ‘Oh this should be one of those songs that can you get all the lyrics out? Can you spit them all out? And if you do, it’s just like this huge accomplishment.’ So musically speaking I did kind of almost make a test for the singers. They do call it ‘You Can’t Stop to Breathe.'”
Scott Wittman: “Jerry’s staging of it is just incredible. It just builds to everyone doing the exact same step which is what the show is about.”
What has it been like for the two of you to work together in so many projects over the years? How have you seen yourselves evolve?
Marc Shaiman: “I’ve seen my stomach evolve to larger form.”
Scott Wittman: “It’s been great fun because when you work together as long as we have together, you finish each other’s sentences. That’s good in a collaboration.”
Marc Shaiman: “We think alike and we can be honest with each other and we love each other.”
Scott Wittman: “And we have a shared sense of humor, yes.”
Marc Shaiman: “So, it’s glorious. As they would say, it’s the greatest. As Gershwin said, ‘Nice work if you can get it.'”
What can you tell us about your upcoming projects?
Scott Wittman: “We spent a fabulous day with Lin-Manuel (Miranda) and Emily Blunt singing. So that’s always a joy to be hearing.”
Marc Shaiman: “Yes. Literally all day we sat in a room with them singing our songs right into our faces. Mary Poppins Returns is really taking over our lives completely the last few months and for the next few months. And then we go directly from the final recording session for the prerecords for Mary Poppins Returns and we fly back to New York for first day rehearsals for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
Scott Wittman: “We’re in London at Shepperton Studios where they made Oliver so that’s just a great joy to walk around there.”
Josh Dallas in ‘Once Upon a Time’ season 6 episode 8 (Photo by Jack Rowand / ABC)
The Evil Queen continues to torment the heroes of Storybrooke in ABC’s Once Upon a Time season six episode eight. The episode titled ‘I’ll Be Your Mirror’ and airing on November 13, 2016 at 8pm ET/PT also brings Aladdin (Deniz Akdeniz) and Princess Jasmine (Karen David) back into the story as key players in helping to take down the Evil Queen. Episode eight was directed by Jennifer Lynch from a script by Jerome Schwartz and Leah Fong.
The Once Upon a Time season six cast includes Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White/Mary Margaret, Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan, Lana Parrilla as the Evil Queen/Regina, Josh Dallas as Prince Charming/David, Emilie de Ravin as Belle, Colin O’Donoghue as Hook, Jared S. Gilmore as Henry Mills, Rebecca Mader as the Wicked Witch/Zelena and Robert Carlyle as Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold. Guest starring on episode eight are Beverley Elliott as Granny, David Avalon as Doc, Gabe Khouth as Sneezy/Mr. Clark, Tzi Ma as the Dragon, and Olivia Steele Falconer as Violet.
The ‘I’ll Be Your Mirror’ Plot: Emma and Regina formulate a plan to trap the Evil Queen in a prison of their own making, while Snow and David adjust to life without each other. As Henry nervously prepares to take Violet to the school dance, the Evil Queen impersonates Regina to give him some advice that could lead him down a dark path. Meanwhile, Zelena agrees to help Belle, and together they enlist Aladdin to steal a magical object from Mr. Gold that could protect Belle and her unborn child from him forever.
Robert Carlyle in ‘Once Upon a Time’ (Photo by Jack Rowand / ABC)Deniz Akdeniz as Aladdin in ‘Once Upon a Time’ (Photo by Jack Rowand / ABC)
Focus Features and Working Title Films announced filming is underway on the dramatic film Darkest Hour starring Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill. The cast also includes Ben Mendelsohn, Lily James, John Hurt, Stephen Dillane, and Kristin Scott Thomas. Joe Wright (Pan, Atonement) is directing from a script by Oscar nominee Anthony McCarten (The Theory of Everything), with McCarten, Lisa Bruce, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, and Douglas Urbanski producing.
Production will take place in the United Kingdom. Focus will open Darkest Hour in North America on November 24, 2017. Universal Pictures International is releasing the film internationally on December 29, 2017.
Director Wright is reuniting with his Anna Karenina costume designer Jacqueline Durran, frequent collaborator production designer Sarah Greenwood, and Atonement‘s composer Dario Marianelli on Darkest Hour. Four-time Oscar nominee Bruno Delbonnel is the director of photography, two-time Oscar nominee Kazuhiro Tsuji is the prosthetics designer, and Florence Foster Jenkins‘ Valerio Bonelli is on board as the editor.
The Plot: Within days of becoming Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill must face one of his most turbulent and defining trials: exploring a negotiated peace treaty with Nazi Germany, or standing firm to fight for the ideals, liberty and freedom of a nation. As the unstoppable Nazi forces roll across Western Europe and the threat of invasion is imminent, and with an unprepared public, a skeptical King, and his own party plotting against him, Churchill must withstand his darkest hour, rally a nation, and attempt to change the course of world history.
