Director Peter Berg and Mark Wahlberg unite for the third time with Patriot’s Day, based on the devastating bombing of the Boston Marathon. The two-minute teaser trailer follows Wahlberg’s character the morning of the attack and then shows brief clips from the moments after the attack. Berg (Deepwater Horizon, Lone Survivor) co-wrote the script with Matt Cook and Joshua Zetumer, and Wahlberg, Scott Stuber, Hutch Parker, Dylan Clark, Stephen Levinson, Dorothy Aufiero, and Michael Radutzky produced the dramatic film.
In addition to Wahlberg, the Patriot’s Day cast includes Kevin Bacon, John Goodman, J.K. Simmons, Michelle Monaghan, Alex Wolff, Themo Melikidze, James Colby, Michael Beach, Rachel Brosnahan, Christopher O’Shea, Jake Picking, Jimmy O. Yang, Vincent Curatola, Melissa Benoist, and Khandi Alexander. CBS Films will open Patriot’s Day in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles on December 21, 2016. A nationwide release is planned for January 13, 2017.
The Plot: An account of the Boston Marathon bombing, Patriot’s Day is the powerful story of a community’s courage in the face of terror. In the aftermath of an unspeakable attack, Police Sergeant Tommy Saunders (Wahlberg) joins courageous survivors, first responders and investigators in a race against the clock to hunt down the bombers before they strike again. Weaving together the stories of Special Agent Richard DesLauriers (Bacon), Police Commissioner Ed Davis (Goodman), Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese (Simmons) and nurse Carol Saunders (Monaghan) this visceral and unflinching chronicle captures the suspense of one of the most sophisticated manhunts in law enforcement history and celebrates the strength of the people of Boston.
“So, what should we call this brave new world that you’ve whipped up for us? I was thinking…Flashpoint,” says the Reverse Flash (Matt Letscher) to Barry (Grant Gustin) while being imprisoned in a speed-proof glass cell in a run-down abandoned warehouse in the first episode of the third season of CW’s comic-book inspired fantasy action series, The Flash.
As the episode begins it’s been three months since Barry went back and changed history by stopping the Reverse Flash from killing his mother. When we catch up with Barry he couldn’t be happier because both his parents are alive and he’s living with them in his old home. He’s still a CSI but with a different Police Captain as a boss who really likes him, and he’s working up the courage to ask Iris (Candice Patton) out. He still has his speed but it seems there is a new Flash protecting Central City so Barry has been living a fairly ordinary life and doesn’t seem to miss being a superhero. When Barry approaches Iris to ask her out at CC Jitters, he sees a news story on the television about Kid Flash going up against his enemy “The Rival” and decides to go watch the action up close.
Barry speeds to the part of the city where Kid Flash and The Rival are fighting. Keeping his distance, Barry watches with a light smile on his face as this other Flash in a yellow and red suit fights The Rival who’s suit looks like it came from a costume shop. (Up to this point the outfits of the heroes and villains on the show were always impressive.) The Rival hurls a few lightning strikes at police cars and also one at Barry who is about to use his speed to dodge it but Kid Flash speeds over to Barry and saves him. “You okay?” asks the young speedster. “Yeah, thanks,” answers Barry as The Rival speeds away. As Kid Flash starts to chase after him, he says that The Rival is really starting to get to him. “Don’t worry. You’ll get him next time, Flash,” says Barry, enjoying the fact he doesn’t have to be a hero anymore.
Barry races back to CC Jitters and this time is successful in starting up a conversation with Iris; he even gets her to agree to go out with him. This new timeline does seem to be going Barry’s way, but it has a price. The first is the West family dynamic. Joe (Jesse L. Martin) is now a lazy, angry, drunk detective who’s not on good terms with Iris and is going to get suspended if he gets caught being late to his shift again by the Captain. Barry doesn’t have the same relationship with Joe or Iris because in this timeline he never had to live with them. In fact, Joe doesn’t like Barry in the least, even though Barry is constantly covering for him. This new antagonistic relationship is on display when Barry goes to Joe’s place and uses his speed to get a hung-over Joe dressed and to work (he’s already an hour late) and Joe responds by basically telling him to leave him alone.
Barry leaves work a little early telling the Captain he has dinner plans with a friend when in actuality Barry has brought dinner to his prisoner and enemy, Eobard Thawne/Reverse-Flash. Keeping him in a speed-proof glass cage, Barry seems to enjoy gloating to his nemesis that he has everything back that he and Zoom took away from him. Thawne tells Barry, “This isn’t your home. This is a mirage that will end us both unless you let me out.” Barry enjoys seeing Thawne get angry and tells him he’s never getting out. Thawne warns Barry that their enemy is already after them. Barry doesn’t understand and asks about what enemy. “Time,” replies Thawne. He continues to warn Barry that he’s created a new timeline and before long he’ll be begging him to kill his mother again to set things right. Barry just shakes his head and leaves.
While on his date with Iris, Barry tells her about his parents and how close they all are. Just then he has flashes of memories of the original timeline and then they’re gone from his mind…permanently. At the same time, police officers race to their patrol cars and Barry asks them what’s going on. They tell him Kid Flash and The Rival are fighting again and tell him the area needs to be evacuated. Iris apologizes and tells Barry she needs to go, but also says she definitely wants a rain check on their date. Barry speeds off to where Kid Flash and The Rival are fighting up on a building when The Rival throws Kid Flash out a window and he begins to fall to his doom. Barry quickly looks around to make sure no one is there and uses his powers to create a wind to slow Kid Flash’s fall. He lands in a dumpster and Barry checks to see if he’s okay. He removes the speedster’s mask to reveal it’s Wally West (Keiynan Lonsdale).
Wally takes Barry back with him to his place and reveals he’s been working with his sister Iris to take down The Rival. Iris is concerned that Barry was only interested in her because of her brother, but he tells her that’s not the case. He asks Wally how he got his powers and Wally tells Barry that he was in a car racing on the streets when it got hit by lightning. That plus the chemicals he used to give the car extra speed combined and made him the speedster he is today. Barry offers to help them stop The Rival and Wally and Iris are only to happy to add him to their team. Barry suggests they go to S.T.A.R. Labs and Iris and Wally look at each other funny.
In the next scene the three heroes are at what used to be S.T.A.R. Labs but is now known as Ramon Industries. Yes, it seems Cisco (Carlos Valdes) bought it from Harrison Wells after becoming one of the richest men in America by selling his inventions and apps. They approach Cisco who wants nothing to do with their crime-fighting adventures, reminding Iris and Wally he created Wally’s suit but that was all he was going to do for them. Barry starts to try to talk to Cisco as though they’re still friends and the irritated billionaire tells the “string bean” that they don’t know each other. Barry tries again calling him Mr. Ramon, which Cisco likes, and tells him that he knows deep down he wants to help people. Barry shares a story Ramon told him in the original timeline about his brother, and Cisco is moved and confused about how he knew it. Barry senses someone is missing and looks something up on the computer. A big smile crosses his face and he speeds out and back in with Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker) who’s surprised and confused asking, “What just happened?” “Wait, did you just kidnap this person?” asks Cisco. “No. She’s I mean eh well maybe…we need her. She’s a scientist,” replies Barry. “I’m not a scientist, I’m a pediatric ophthalmologist,” answers Caitlin still confused as to where she is and how she got there.
Barry keeps trying to explain to the group about the time travel and the new timeline but Wally doesn’t want to believe it, Cisco finds it amusing and awful that somewhere there’s a time when he’s not filthy rich, and Caitlin is still unclear what is going on. Iris pulls Barry aside and tells him she believes him and asks him if in the original timeline they knew each other and how. He tells her it’s complicated and she smiles knowing that they are meant to be in each other’s lives. Barry gets another bad headache and gone are more memories from the original timeline. He races out to go see Thawne.
Thawne tells Barry that this new timeline is erasing the old one and soon all his memories of the original one will be gone. When that happens this new timeline will be permanent. Barry asks why Thawne’s memories are okay and at first the Reverse Flash doesn’t know but then he realizes the truth and laughs, telling Barry, “Your speed. The more you use your speed, the faster you lose your memories.” Barry becomes angry and walks out not wanting to believe it. Thawne yells after him, “Who’s the villain now, Flash?!”
Back at Ramon Industries, Caitlin – being the brilliant mind she is – finds a way to use one of the programs to track The Rival. Both Flashes team up and go after him, but when The Rival taunts them Wally turns stubborn and takes him on first instead of as a team as Barry suggested. It looks like Kid Flash has The Rival beat at one point but he makes the horrible mistake of turning his back on his enemy and The Rival stabs him with a pipe. Upset, Barry tells Wally he’s going to get him out of here but The Rival tells The Flash he’ll only let him leave if he beats him. The Rival then uses his speed to create two tornadoes. Barry keeps losing his memories and begins to think he won’t be able to win, but Iris gives him a short and effective pep talk which allows Barry to remember how he beat the Weather Wizard back in the pilot episode. Using his speed, Barry unravels both tornadoes and knocks off The Rival off his feet. Barry makes the same dumb mistake and turns his back on his enemy and just as The Rival is about to strike, he’s shot multiple times. Joe West has just saved The Flash and Barry (who isn’t wearing his mask so Joe knows who he is) says Wally is the wounded Flash laying there on the ground.
Barry gets Wally back to Ramon Industries but for some reason he isn’t healing the way Barry does. Caitlin apologizes that she can’t do more for him and asks if she can go back to her life now. A sad and hesitant Barry nods yes and she leaves. Realizing he has made a mistake, Barry heads home with Iris to say goodbye to his parents one last time. After hugging them and telling them how much he loves them, Barry goes with Iris to see Thawne.
Barry’s speed isn’t working well and he keeps getting the headaches, so it’s up to Thawne to speed them back in time to kill Barry’s mother again. “Today, I get to be the hero,” says Thawne as he speeds them off into the past and once again the Reverse-Flash kills Barry’s mother. (Seriously, this needs to be the last time the show revisits this particular moment in time. It’s just too painful and it borders on being redundant.) He returns Barry to the present time and lets him know that he’ll have to wait and see what else is different now.
Barry enters Joe’s house and finds Joe and Wally there. Barry hugs Wally happy to see him okay and the three of them toast to the memory of Henry Allen because now that the timeline has been put back and corrected both of Barry’s parents are gone. Barry asks where Iris is and Joe gets angry and says he’ll just chalk that up to grief as he leaves the room. Barry asks Wally what’s wrong and Wally tells Barry that Joe and Iris aren’t on speaking terms. Barry sits on the couch, shocked, and asks out loud, “What have I done?!”
The Flash Season 3 Flashpoint Review:
Surprising and fun, season three episode one titled “Flashpoint” brings the fantasy action series back with some of the humor, action, and tone that was in the first season but sadly missing in the second. It reinvents new versions of most of the original characters, except for Barry and Iris, to show that although Barry’s life is much better in the new timeline it comes at the price of everyone else he cares about. Caitlin never met Ronnie and never married him, plus she’s not a brilliant scientist but a pediatric eye doctor. Cisco became rich but lost most of his soul. Worst of all, Joe became a drunk, unlikable jerk.
The stand-out performance goes to Grant Gustin who finally gets to play Barry happy, which is something the audience hasn’t seen since his dad got out of prison. Gustin really knows how to play Barry in all levels of his emotions. The cocky attitude he has when he visits Thawne and enjoys having his mortal enemy caged and helpless is refreshing and very human. The despair and sadness that Gustin displays while trying not to let on anything is wrong as he says goodbye to his parents for the final time is heartbreaking.
With Joe and Iris not speaking, scenes showing a new villain in Central City, and clips also showing Caitlin’s hands turning icy cold, this season of The Flash might just be the best one yet.
Wolverine himself, Hugh Jackman, had the honor of revealing the final title of the upcoming Wolverine 3 movie. The film will be called Logan as confirmed on the giant billboard in Jackman’s tweet. Director James Mangold (The Wolverine) also confirmed the title, attaching the official movie poster to a tweet. Mangold even took the reveal a step further by tweeting out a photo of page two of the script.
In answer to the question of whose hand is featured in the poster, Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) joked that it’s his.
20th Century Fox has set a March 3, 2017 theatrical release date for Logan. In addition to Jackman, Logan will star Patrick Stewart, Eriq La Salle, Elise Neal and Elizabeth Rodriguez.
Brad Pitt attempts to figure out if Marion Cotillard is a German spy in Allied‘s new trailer. The war drama is one of Paramount Pictures’ Oscar hopefuls and was directed by Robert Zemeckis (The Walk, Flight). The cast also includes Lizzy Caplan (Masters of Sex, The Night Before) and Matthew Goode (The Good Wife, Downton Abbey). Allied will open in theaters on November 23, 2016.
The Plot:Allied is the story of intelligence officer Max Vatan (Pitt), who in 1942 North Africa encounters French Resistance fighter Marianne Beausejour (Cotillard) on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Reunited in London, their relationship is threatened by the extreme pressures of the war.
AMC just announced details on a new dramatic series titled Lodge 49 and set in Long Beach, CA. The series, which is described as a modern fable, was created by Jim Gavin and is produced by Peter Ocko (Pushing Daisies), Paul Giamatti (Billions), and Dan Carey (Outsiders). Gavin is also writing and producing Lodge 49 with Ocko serving as the series’ showrunner. According to the official announcement, season one will consist of 10 one-hour episodes.
“Lodge 49 is a show that defies easy categorization. It is, at once, a show about a loveable loser, the idea that life can be magical if you look at it from the right angle, what it means to be on the fringe, and the importance of community. It’s also incredibly funny, poignant and truly entertaining” said Joel Stillerman, President of Original Programming and Development for AMC and SundanceTV. “This is a formidable creative team beginning with series creator Jim Gavin, show runner Peter Ocko, and the awesome producing team of Dan Carey and Paul Giamatti. Their passion and vision won the day, and we look forward to working with them to bring it to life.”
Giamatti added, “We are beyond excited to be doing this unique show under the auspices of the fine folks at AMC.”
The Plot:Lodge 49 is a modern fable set in Long Beach. The series is centered on Dud, a deadbeat but charming ex-surfer who joins a fraternal order hoping to reclaim the simple, happy lifestyle he lost when his father died. Through the Lodge and his newfound connection with the other members, Dud will come to find the missing sense of purpose in his life and confront his deepest fears and greatest hopes. Other key characters featured in Lodge 49 include Liz Dudley, Dud’s twin sister and Ernie Fontaine, a middle-aged African American and long-time lodge member who welcomes him into this mysterious new world.
The first trailer’s arrived for Get Out, a suspense thriller from writer/director Jordan Peele (of Key and Peele). The film marks Peele’s first movie as director and stars Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener, Caleb Landry Jones, LilRel Howery, Betty Gabriel, Marcus Henderson, and Keith Stanfield. Peele, Jason Blum, Sean McKittrick, and Edward H. Hamm Jr. produced the Universal Pictures release which is targeting a February 24, 2017 theatrical release.
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.
Dolly Parton will receive CMA’s Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award (Photo Credit: Fran Strine / Provided by CMA)
Country legend Dolly Parton will receive the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award during the 50th Annual CMA Awards on November 2, 2016. Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, and John Cash previously won the Lifetime Achievement Award which is given to an “iconic artist who has attained the highest degree of recognition in Country Music.” The honor recognizes not only artistic ability but also a Country artist’s philanthropy and humanitarian efforts.
“Dolly epitomizes the very definition of the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award,” stated Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “She is a trailblazer who continues to enchant and captivate fans around the world, from her latest No. 1 album, to her sold-out tour, and numerous television projects. She is a treasure and deserving of this industry acclaim for her undeniable contributions to the success of Country Music, today.”
Parton’s no stranger to the CMA Awards stage having picked up 44 nominations and nine wins. She was named the Entertainer of the Year in 1978 and twice won the Female Vocalist of the Year award (1975 and 1976).
More on Dolly Parton’s Career, Courtesy of CMA:
“An internationally renowned superstar, the iconic and irrepressible Parton has contributed countless treasures to the world of entertainment. Her latest album Pure & Simple recently debuted at No. 1 – her first in 25 years. All-inclusive sales of singles, albums, hits collections, paid digital downloads, and compilation usage during her illustrious career have topped a staggering 100 million records worldwide. Achieving 25 RIAA certified Gold, Platinum, and multi-Platinum awards, Parton has had 25 songs reach No. 1 on the Billboard Country charts, a record for a female artist. Making her film debut in the 1980 hit comedy 9 to 5, Parton earned rave reviews for her performance and an Oscar nomination for writing the title tune, along with her second and third Grammy Awards. Roles in Steel Magnolias, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Rhinestone, and Straight Talk followed.
Parton saw a cherished dream become a reality in 1986 with the opening of her own theme park, Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. In 1988, Parton began the Dollywood Foundation which funds Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library across America and in Canada by giving every preschool child a book each month from the time he or she is born until the child reaches kindergarten. Currently 80,000,000 books are mailed to children in the U.S., Canada, and throughout the U.K. In 1999, Parton was inducted as a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. She has her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in 2004, the U.S. Library of Congress presented her with their Living Legend Award for her contribution to the cultural heritage of the United States. In December 2015, more than 13 million viewers tuned in to Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors, which was the most-watched film on broadcast network television since May 2012.”
‘America’s Got Talent’ stars Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Simon Cowell (Photo by Trae Patton/NBC)
Simon Cowell has committed to judging the next three seasons of America’s Got Talent, striking a deal with NBC that will keep him on the judging panel through 2019. According to the network, Cowell will once again serve as a judge alongside Mel B., Heidi Klum, and Howie Mandel in season 12 which is set to air in 2017. Nick Cannon is also confirmed to return as the show’s host.
“It was terrific to see Simon in his judge’s chair this past season, bringing his unique expertise and enthusiasm to the show, night after night,” stated Paul Telegdy, President, Alternative and Reality Group, NBC Entertainment. “His brilliance has made AGT the industry leader that it is today and his ability to evaluate and spot talent is unmatched, so we couldn’t be happier to have him seated at the judge’s table for the next three years.”
“America’s Got Talent is a fantastic and – most importantly – fun show both to work on and to watch,” added executive producer Cowell. “NBC have been brilliant partners and the entire team who make this show are one of the best in the world. I’ve loved this past season and look forward to discovering more great talent together in the years to come.”
Season 11 was ranked first among 18-49 viewers and was the show’s most watched season in five years. AGT season 11 had a ratings boost with Cowell as part of the judging team, pulling in an average of 13.5 million viewers. Auditions for season 12 are currently underway. For more info, visit agtauditions.com.
The fourth and final season of Starz’ Black Sails will premiere on Sunday, January 29, 2017 at 9pm ET/PT. Along with announcing the series’ final premiere date, the network released the season four poster featuring a skull covered in gold. Black Sails‘ fourth season will consist of 10 one-hour episodes, with the action taking place in the West Indies.
The popular pirate series was created by Jonathan E. Steinberg (Jericho) and Robert Levine (Touch). Steinberg, Levine, Michael Bay, Brad Fuller, Andrew Form, Chris Symes, Brad Caleb Kane, and Dan Shotz executive produce. The final season will star Toby Stephens as the brilliant and unstoppable Captain Flint; Hannah New as Eleanor Guthrie; Luke Arnold as the classic character John Silver in the years before his well-known feats; Jessica Parker Kennedy as Max, a former prostitute with an eye towards advancement; Tom Hopper as Billy Bones of Treasure Island fame; Ray Stevenson as the iconic pirate Blackbeard; and Luke Roberts as the governor Woodes Rogers.
Black Sails has been averaging 3.6 million viewers over its first three seasons. The series earned Emmy Awards for its sound editing and visual effects as well as the 2016 GLAAD Award for Outstanding Drama Series.
The Plot:Black Sails takes place twenty years prior to Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic, and follows the most feared pirate of the day, Captain Flint (Stephens). The 10-episode fourth season of the stand-out high seas drama brings fans to the heroic conclusion of the Treasure Island prequel, and finds our pirates at war in the West Indies. The shores of New Providence Island have never been bloodier, but the closer civilization comes to defeat, the more desperately, and destructively, it will fight back.
Patrick Warburton stars in Netflix’s ‘Lemony Snicket’s: A Series of Unfortunate Events.’
Netflix is bringing Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events to viewers as a new series debuting on January 13, 2017. The announcement of the series’ premiere date came with a teaser trailer featuring the set and Patrick Warburton (who plays Lemony Snicket) keeping with the Lemony Snicket’s tone of doom and gloom while explaining what it’s been like shooting the series. In addition to Warburton, the eight episode series will star Neil Patrick Harris (Count Olaf), Joan Cusack (Justice Strauss), Malina Weissman (Violet Baudelaire) and Louis Hynes (Klaus Baudelaire).
“If you like watching stories in which children enjoy pleasant rides in truck beds, on their way to colorful destinations where they finally solve the curious mysteries plaguing their lives…That story is streaming elsewhere.” — Lemony Snicket
The Plot: Based on the internationally best-selling series of books by Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler) and starring Emmy and Tony Award winner Neil Patrick Harris, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events recounts the tragic tale of the Baudelaire orphans — Violet, Klaus, and Sunny – whose evil guardian Count Olaf will stop at nothing to get his hands on their inheritance. The siblings must outsmart Olaf at every turn, foiling his many devious plans and disguises, in order to discover clues to their parents’ mysterious death.
