20th Century Fox’s showing off the full trailer for Morgan from first time feature film director Luke Scott. The trailer for the sci-fi horror film finds Kate Mara learning about a dangerous AI. The cast also includes Anya Taylor-Joy, Toby Jones, Rose Leslie, Boyd Holbrook, Michelle Yeoh, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Paul Giamatti. Morgan opens in theaters on September 2, 2016.
The Plot: A corporate troubleshooter (Kate Mara) is sent to a remote, top-secret location, where she is to investigate and evaluate a terrifying accident. She learns the event was triggered by a seemingly innocent “human,” who presents a mystery of both infinite promise and incalculable danger.
Rihanna’s “Sledgehammer” is featured in the final trailer for the upcoming Star Trek movie, Star Trek Beyond. Directed by Fast and the Furious‘ Justin Lin, Star Trek Beyond stars Chris Pine, Karl Urban, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Zoë Saldana, Anton Yelchin, Sofia Boutella, and Idris Elba. Paramount Pictures is opening Star Trek Beyond in theaters on July 22, 2016.
The trailer marks the first official trailer since the death of actor Anton Yelchin on June 19, 2016. Yelchin, who played Chekov in the Star Trek films, died at the age of 27 after he was pinned by his Jeep after it rolled down his driveway.
The Plot:Star Trek Beyond, the highly anticipated next installment in the globally popular Star Trek franchise, created by Gene Roddenberry and reintroduced by J.J. Abrams in 2009, returns with director Justin Lin at the helm of this epic voyage of the U.S.S. Enterprise and her intrepid crew. In Beyond, the Enterprise crew explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a mysterious new enemy who puts them and everything the Federation stands for to the test.
Disney•Pixar’s Finding Dory continues its record-setting ways, snagging the top spot as the animated movie with the highest domestic box office gross over its second weekend in release. The Finding Nemo sequel added $73 million to its domestic box office gross, dropping only 48% from its first weekend. And while Disney has plenty to celebrate, the news isn’t so rosy for the long-awaited Independence Day sequel, Independence Day: Resurgence. The sci-fi action thriller entered theaters without Will Smith and without screening for critics, which is never a good sign. Its $41 million opening weekend was below what was expected and it doesn’t appear the film will have legs over the upcoming weekends when it goes up against new releases including The Legend of Tarzan, The Purge: Election Year, and The BFG.
The June 24 – 26 weekend also found Free State of Jones starring Matthew McConaughey all but ignored by moviegoers. Not even the presence of the charismatic Oscar winner could draw in audiences. However, the weekend was much kinder to Blake Lively and a great white shark. The Shallows performed better than expected, taking in $16 million which is almost the film’s budget.
Peter Dinklage, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Emilia Clarke in ‘Game of Thrones’ (Photo: courtesy of HBO)
I’m positive mine wasn’t the only stomach that was in turmoil in the half-hour leading up to the season six finale of HBO’s Game of Thrones. The sixth season has delivered one outstanding, gut-wrenching, and game-changing episode after another, and its end was greeted with equal parts excitement and sadness. So good you wish it wouldn’t end, season six has given Game of Thrones fans everything we could have hoped for and more. Jon Snow was not only resurrected but was returned to Winterfell in large part due to Sansa Stark’s newfound confidence and ability to lead. Battle of the Bastards featured one of the most creative, complex, brutal, and realistic battle scenes ever to be seen in either a feature film or a television series. Ramsay received a fitting death – something that doesn’t always happen in the world of Game of Thrones – and the penultimate episode finally unleashed all the dragons to do Daenerys’ bidding. The Mother of Dragons gathered her army and ships, forming an alliance with Yara and Theon Greyjoy to return to Westeros and defeat Euron.
In the week between episodes nine and 10, it appeared most fans were hoping to see inside the Tower of Joy and to find out if R+L=J would be confirmed in the season finale. There was also plenty of speculation as to whether we’d see Cersei unleashing wildfire on the Red Keep, King Tommen dying per the prophecy, Walder Frey sent to hell in a gory death, and Jaime Lannister finally realizing just how sick his lover/sister is and that he’s been backing the wrong horse.
So, how many of those Game of Thrones fans’ wishes were granted? Titled ‘The Winds of Winter’ after George R.R. Martin’s ‘as yet unfinished, seems like it will never be published’ novel, the season six finale actually paid off on each and every one of the most requested must-sees.
Game of Thrones Season 6 Episode 10 Recap:
In the “Previously on” montage we return to Dorne, the Tower of Joy is seen, Dany and Yara make their alliance, Margaery reveals she’s not under the High Sparrow’s spell, and Cersei and Loras are told they’ll stand trial. Screams were likely heard in GoT households across the planet as those pivotal scenes from the past played out, guaranteeing the finale will advance all of those stories. Plus, the trailer showed inside Winterfell so the Stark story will also move forward as this season draws to a close.
The episode begins with Cersei (Lena Headey) looking out over King’s Landing while in their separate chambers Queen Margaery (Natalie Dormer), King Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman), and the High Sparrow (Jonathan Pryce) prepare for the day of trials. All look concerned, serious, and even a tad nervous except for Cersei. She just looks prepared and resolute. The Great Sept of Baelor fills as Loras Tyrell (Finn Jones), who is looking haggard and lost, is brought in for his trial.
Grand Maester Pycelle (Julian Glover) sends the whore out of his chambers as a young boy (one of Qyburn’s sparrows) whispers in his ear.
Loras is escorted into the Great Sept and we see Queen Margaery standing next to her father, Lord Mace Tyrell (Roger Ashton-Griffiths). Loras confesses, freely admitting to his crimes. The High Sparrow asks which crimes, and Loras admits to all of them including laying with other men. “I humble myself before the Seven and accept whatever punishment the gods deem just.” Loras kneels before the High Sparrow, saying his only wish is to devote his life to the Seven. “May I be a living example of their grace for others to witness.” Loras will abandon the Tyrell name, renounce his lordship, never marry, and he’ll never father children, he pledges. The High Sparrow asks him if he’ll fight to defend his faith against heretics, and Loras says he will. The High Sparrow motions for his followers to come forward and they lift Loras’ head, holding it in place while they carve their mark into his forehead.
King Tommen turns to say he’s ready and it’s the Mountain at his door. Tommen tries to pass him but is stopped and kept in his room.
Margaery is angry with the High Sparrow for mutilating her brother, something he did not reveal he’d be doing if she convinced Loras to confess. The High Sparrow says he’ll let him go once Cersei stands trial. And speaking of Cersei, she hasn’t shown up so Lancel and the Faith Militant are sent to get her. Lancel notices a young boy heading into the tunnels under the city and follows him.
Qyburn (Anton Lesser) greats the Grand Maester, apologizing for tricking him. As they speak, the little sparrows arrive armed with knives. Qyburn says, “The old must be put to rest.”
Lancel is still following the other boy as the children stab Grand Maester repeatedly. Blood flies everywhere.
Lancel picks up the torch dropped by the young boy and sees the containers of wildfire. The boy returns and stabs him, leaving Lancel to bleed out with a torch nearby.
Back at the Great Sept, Loras bleeds while Margaery looks on, angry.
Lancel struggles to pull his body down the row of wildfire barrels.
Back at the Sept, Margaery changes from angry to concerned. She senses something is not right.
Underground, Lancel is making slow, painful progress. In the Sept, Margaery tells the High Sparrow there’s something fishy going on because neither King Tommen nor Cersei is in court. Margaery realizes that means Cersei doesn’t intend to suffer the consequences of standing trial and warns them that they all must leave.
Lancel is crawling toward small candles set in wildfire, ready to ignite the crates.
Margaery tells Loras they need to leave, as everyone turns toward the doors. The Faith Militant won’t let Margaery or Loras leave, and Lord Tyrell is also being held back from exiting the Sept.
Margaery turns to look angrily at the High Sparrow.
The wildfire explodes, killing Lancel first before completely destroying the Great Sept. Green flames burst out of every door and window as Cersei watches from the safety of the Red Keep, a wicked smile gracing her face. Tommen is also safe in the Red Keep after being denied exit by the Mountain.
Cersei begins her torture of Septa Unella by repeatedly saying, “Confess.” She tells her to confess that it felt good to beat her, starve her, and humiliate her. She knows Septa Unella did it because it felt good, not for her atonement. Cersei says she killed her husband because it felt good, she f**ks her brother because she likes it, and she lies because she wants to keep her son safe. She tells Septa Unella she killed the High Sparrow and all of his little sparrows because it felt good to watch them burn. Nothing’s given her greater joy. She’s even happy to confess all this to Septa Unella. Cersei reminds her that she told her her face would be the last she saw before she died, and Septa’s fine with that because she’s ready to meet her gods. But, not so fast. Cersei’s not giving her a quick death, instead, Sir Gregor is ushered in. He’ll be the one who tortures her, taking off his helmet and revealing his grotesque face. “This is your god now,” says Cersei. “Shame, shame, shame,” she adds as she leaves the room.
King Tommen looks out over the devastation, knowing Margaery and others are dead. He removes his crown, climbs to the ledge, and throws himself out the window. What the hell?! Did not see that one coming.
Walder Frey (David Bradley) toasts the Frey and Lannister alliance. “The Freys and the Lannisters send their regards,” says Walder. Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) lifts his glass but doesn’t look in the least bit impressed. Bronn (Jerome Flynn) teases Jaime about how easy it is for him to get women, and Jaime introduces the nearby ladies to Bronn who takes off for an evening of sex. Walder heads over to Jaime’s table where he wants to talk about the Blackfish, and Walder makes fun of the fact the legendary Blackfish was taken down by foot soldiers. It’s obvious Jaime hates Walder Frey as Walder jokes the Tullys and Starks mocked him and where are they now. Walder believes he and Jaime are now equal since they’re both kingslayers and that fear is a marvelous thing. Jaime knocks him back down to earth by telling him no one fears the Freys. They fear the Lannisters and he wonders why they need the Freys at all.
Cersei asks Qyburn to show her Tommen’s dead body. He uncovers it and Cersei displays no emotions at first. Then tears barely appear in her eyes as she explains what she wants done with his body after it’s burned. She’s cold as ice as she says she wants his ashes spread where the Sept once stood.
Sam (John Bradley), Gilly, and baby Sam are next up as they have now made their way to the Citadel. Sam delivers his letter of introduction from Lord Commander Snow at Castle Black. Sam also updates the Citadel rep on the happenings at Castle Black, and he’s told the Arch Maester will discuss these irregularities but Sam can use the library while he waits. Gilly and baby Sam can’t however, because women and babies aren’t allowed. Sam is in heaven walking among the rows of books and scrolls and emerging to an incredible, gigantic library with books lining the walls up to the sky.
And now we have made our way to Winterfell… Jon Snow (Kit Harington) strokes a chair in the great dining hall, recalling his days with the family. He explains to Melisandre (Carice van Houten) that he would sit away from the family when they had feasts because he wasn’t accepted at the big table. She tells him that despite that he’s lucky. Davos (Liam Cunningham) walks in and tosses Shireen’s burned stag at Melisandre, demanding she tell Jon who it belonged to and what she did to her. “We burned her at the stake,” she says, obviously upset at the memory. Davos asks why, and Melisandre says it was the only way to keep Stannis’ army together. He tells her her lord is evil and she reminds him Jon Snow is alive because the Lord willed it.
Davos loved Shireen like his own; she was good and kind, and he can’t believe Melisandre killed her. Melisandre isn’t about to take all the blame, telling him Shireen’s mother and father also were in on the burning. Davos says she’s the one who told them what to do. They burned the child because of her, and Davos asks Jon if he can execute her for this crime. Jon Snow asks what she has to say for herself, and Melisandre says she’s ready at any time to die if her lord says to. But, she tells Jon she can help him win the upcoming war. However, Jon’s verdict comes quickly and it’s harsh but not fatal. He tells Melisandre to ride south and if she returns to the North, he’ll hang her as a murderer. Davos tells her he’ll execute her himself if she ever returns. She leaves the stag on the table and rides off, with Jon Snow watching her leave Winterfell’s grounds.
Sansa (Sophie Turner) joins Jon to watch Melisandre leave. Sansa tells him he should take their parents’ room, telling him he’s a Stark to her. He says she deserves the room and the battle would have been lost if the Knights of the Vale hadn’t arrived. He asks if she trusts Littlefinger and of course she doesn’t. She apologizes for not telling him about the Vale, and he says they need to trust each other. They can’t fight amongst themselves when they now have so many enemies and kisses her gently on the forehead. She tells him a white raven came from the Citadel. “Winter is here,” she says. They both smile and Jon looks to the sky as the snow falls. “Well, father always promised, didn’t he?” replies Jon. He and Sansa seem to be in a good place, sibling-wise.
It’s off to Dorne next where Lady Tyrell (Diana Rigg) is meeting with Ellaria Sand (Indira Varma). Lady Tyrell puts the young Sand Snakes in their place before fully turning her attention to Ellaria. Ellaria says they need each other now because the Lannisters have declared war on both their Houses. Dorne is going to give Lady Tyrell her heart’s desire – vengeance and justice. Or as Varys puts it when he enters the meeting, “Fire and blood.” Next season it appears we’ll definitely be seeing the people of Dorne and House Martell unite to fight for Westeros with Daenerys, Mother of Dragons.
And now we’re checking in on Meereen where Daario (Michiel Huisman) tells Dany (Emilia Clarke) her ships are ready to sail. She then delivers the bad news that he’s not going to be joining her in the battle. She wants Daario and the Second Sons to stay and keep the peace in Meereen. “F**k Meereen. F**k the people,” replies Daario. But, Dany commands it. She needs to make alliances in Westeros and the best way to do that is with marriage. Daario asks if she’s a queen or fish bait, obviously not worried she’ll respond by having her dragons turn him into a crispy critter.
Dany says she can’t bring a lover to Westeros, but Daario claims to not care. He doesn’t want a crown, he wants her. “I love you and I make you happy. You know I do. Bring me with you. Let me fight for you,” says Daario, but Dany flatly turns him down. He blames her decision on Tyrion and says no other woman will ever measure up to her. She’s going to leave him with orders to take care of Meereen and the newly renamed Bay of Dragons. Daario doesn’t want to stay, but tells her she’ll get her throne and he hopes it brings her happiness. “I pity the lords of Westeros. They have no idea what’s coming for them,” says Daario. So, is this the last we’ll see of Daario? Quite possibly as there’s no legitimate reason to return to Meereen when all the action has moved on to Westeros. We’ll miss Michiel Huisman.
Dany meets with Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) and he knows it was hard for her to tell Daario he had to stay. Tyrion tells her that self-sacrifice makes for a good ruler, but that doesn’t console her. He reminds her this is all actually happening; she has her dragons, ships, and armies…it’s all hers for the taking. “Are you afraid?” he asks and she replies, “No.” “You’re in the great game now, and the great game is terrifying,” says Tyrion. But then Dany confesses the only thing that frightens her is that she said farewell to a man who loved her and that she thought she loved and yet she felt nothing. Tyrion says Daario wasn’t the first man to love her and he won’t be the last. Tyrion explains that he doesn’t believe in anything, but he believes in her. He’d swear her his sword but he doesn’t own one, and laughing Dany says all she asks for is his counsel. Tyrion says it’s hers now and always. She hands him a gorgeous Hand pin. “Tyrion Lannister, I name you Hand of the Queen.” He bows at her feet.
Walder Frey’s in the middle of another feast when he’s brought more bread. He doesn’t recognize the servant girl and asks after his sons who he hasn’t seen since they returned from Riverrun. The servant tells him they’re there. “They’re already here, my lord,” pointing to his food. They’ve been baked into the pie! She carved them up, confessing that Black Walder wasn’t easy to carve. Holy crap! It’s Arya Stark! Arya (Maisie Williams) takes off her face and tells Walder the last thing he’ll see is a Stark smiling down at him as he dies. She slices his throat and smiles as he bleeds out. Go, Arya!!! That’s one more name she can cross off her list.
Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen) approaches Sansa at the tree where she prayed as a child. Sansa says she was a stupid girl and Littlefinger excuses her behavior by saying she was just a child. She asks what he wants and he says she knows. He always sees her face when he closes his eyes. He also reveals he only does things if it advances him toward the outcome of bringing the picture he sees in his mind – him sitting on the Iron Throne with Sansa at his side – closer to fruition. She says it’s a pretty picture but stops him when he leans in for a kiss. Littlefinger reminds him he’s declared for House Stark and the news of the battle will spread and everyone will know it. He asks who the North should rally behind: a trueborn Stark daughter or a motherless bastard born in the South?
Robert Aramayo and Aisling Francioso in ‘Game of Thrones’ (Photo: Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO)
Finally, we’re about to get a visit with Bran which means if episode 10 is going to go to the Tower of Joy, it’ll happen in the next few minutes. Benjen (Joseph Mawle) says he’s leaving Meera (Ellie Kendrick) and Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) since he can’t go past the Wall because of its strong magic. While the Wall stands, the dead cannot pass which means he can’t pass. He knows the great war is coming and he’ll help men against the White Walkers as long as he can. He wishes them both good fortune and rides away on his stallion. Meera and Bran are left to take care of themselves. Bran touches the Weirwood tree and says he’s ready for this because he’s the new Three-Eyed Raven. Immediately he sees a young Ned Stark rushing up the stairs at the Tower of Joy. Lyanna Stark is screaming inside. He bursts in and she calls him to her side.
Soaked in blood and lying in bed, Lyanna can’t believe it’s Ned and thinks he’s just a dream. He assures her he’s there and she says she’s missed him. He’s missed her too. “I want to be brave,” she says. “I’m not.” She doesn’t want to die and he tells her she isn’t, even though it’s obvious she is. He calls out for a doctor and she pulls him down to whisper in his ear. “If Robert finds out, he’ll kill him. You know he will. You have to protect him,” gasps Lyanna before uttering the line book readers have known and been waiting to hear said, “Promise me, Ned,” confirming once and for all that Jon Snow is actually the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen. Baby Jon is swaddled and handed to Ned Stark. Just to completely, without a doubt confirm that Jon Snow is the baby, the scene immediately goes from a shot of the baby’s face to a lingering close-up of Jon Snow.
Following the big reveal, the camera pulls back from Jon Snow’s face to reveal a crowded meeting room where an argument between the free folk, the Knights of the Vale, and the different Houses of the North is taking place. Jon tells them the war is not over and the true enemy won’t wait out the storm. “He brings the storm,” says Jon. There’s much discussion of what they should do and if they should just return home to protect their own people when Lady Lyanna Mormont (the scene-stealing Elizabeth Barrett) stands up. She reminds Lord Manderly that he refused the call. Lord Glover also gets called out for refusing to step up and side with the Starks when they were needed. House Mormont remembers and the North remembers, says the brave Lady Mormont. “We know no king but the King in the North whose name is Stark.” She doesn’t care if he’s a bastard; Ned Stark’s blood flows through Jon’s veins and Lady Mormont declares, “He’s my king from this day until his last day.”
Lady Mormont speaks harshly and truly says Lord Manderly. He didn’t commit to their cause and he was wrong. Jon Snow avenged the Red Wedding. “He is the White Wolf – the King in the North.” Glover also apologizes for not fighting beside him in the field. He admits he was wrong and asks for forgiveness, pledging House Glover to House Stark. “I will stand behind Jon Snow. The King in the North!” They all stand and chant, thanks to Lady Mormont’s brilliant speech. Jon looks surprised, overwhelmed, and then quickly accepting. Sansa smiles at her brother and then catches Littlefinger’s eye. The smile is quickly gone from her face.
Jaime and the Lannister army return to King’s Landing where smoke still rises. The townsfolk line the chamber as Cersei and the Mountain walk in. Cersei approaches the Iron Throne as Jaime secretly watches from the side. Qyburn declares Cersei Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Protector of the Seven Kingdoms. He places the crown on her head. She looks straight out over the crowd and then sits down. Only then does she glance toward Jaime. Neither is smiling. “Long may she reign,” says the crowd after being prompted.
Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) watches his banner fly while standing next to his sister on her ship. They are all sailing toward home with Daenerys, the Unsullied, and the Dothraki. The dragons accompany them, flying over the ships and occasionally dipping their wings into the sea. Dany, Tyrion, Varys, and Missandei stand at the bow of a ship as it heads toward Westeros. The camera pulls back to show the fleet of ships and Dany’s three dragons.
A Brief Summary:
Breathe. Just breathe. It’s over and the expanded 69-minute episode (the series’ longest) will go down as the best season finale in Game of Thrones history. Here are the key events, in brief:
– Cersei and Tommen aren’t present when Sept of Baelor burns, but we lose Queen Margaery, Lord Tyrell, Lancel, Loras, the High Sparrow, all of the Faith Militant, and many of the citizens of King’s Landing.
– Tommen reacts to his mother’s destruction of the Great Sept by jumping to his death.
– Cersei gives Septa Unella over to the Mountain to do with as he pleases. She’ll die a slow, painful death.
– Arya makes her way to The Twins where she serves Walder Frey his sons before slicing his throat, smiling while she holds his head as he bleeds to death.
– Jon Snow banishes Melisandre from the North after Davos makes her confess to burning Princess Shireen Baratheon at the stake.
– The Tyrells and Dorne have now formed an alliance to get revenge on the Lannisters, with help from Varys.
– Littlefinger wants to sit on the Iron Throne with Sansa, but the Northern Houses have now pledged their support to Jon Snow as King of the North thanks to Lady Mormont.
– Jaime Lannister returns to King’s Landing just in time to see his certifiably crazy sister crowned Queen of the Andals.
– However, the biggest reveal was the birth of Jon Snow and the confirmation that R+L=J.
Outlander season two episode 12’s title has several parallel meanings. ‘The Hail Mary’ is about the last-ditch effort to prevent the battle at Culloden Moor. This week also involves two sets of brothers and their relationships before one of the brothers in each pair dies. As we know, this is a horribly difficult period for our dashing Highlander and strong-willed Sassenach. The Jacobite army has traveled to Inverness. They are weakened by lack of food and supplies, by the months of traveling north, and the loss of moral due to the retreat.
Jamie (Sam Heughan), Claire (Caitriona Balfe), Rupert the almost pirate with the eye patch, Dougal (Graham McTavish), Ross (Scott Kyle), Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix), and Fergus (Romann Berrux) all arrive at Inverness to rejoin the army. Jamie sends Dougal after intelligence about the British army. Fergus basically passes out on a desk when Claire sets him down in the chair in front of it. Claire, Murtagh, and Jamie all contemplate the situation at hand. They are but a few miles from Culloden Moor. The situation they now find themselves in was EXACTLY what they have sacrificed, plotted, lied, murdered, and compromised every ounce of their pride to prevent. The date of the battle is now but three days away.Claire goes into Inverness to replenish her medical supplies for the battle she knows is coming. While in the apothecary shop, she finds Mary Hawkins (Rosie Day). Mary informs her that she’s there living with, and taking care of, Alex Randall (Laurence Dobiesz). The tone is unmistakably harsh as Mary hurls the news at Claire that they are to be married. Mary tells her that Alex informed her of Claire’s interference of them being together in Paris. Claire, of course, apologizes for the interference and inquires after Alex’s health. Mary doesn’t know the highly complicated web she has thrown herself into. Claire all but begs to come and see Alex, so Mary informs her of their location in a nearby boarding house.
Back at the camp, a war council has been called for Prince Charles (Andrew Gower) and the other army leaders to determine the next course of action. Jamie does all he can possibly do to deter the Prince from taking the action of battling the British on Culloden Moor. Jamie points out a very sound strategy of divide and conquer, at a later time – and on the ground of THEIR choosing – after some promised French gold arrives. The Jacobites don’t have the arms, men, or supplies to have an open ground battle with the British.
Claire goes to see Alex, and his illness is far advanced. They don’t really say it outright in the show, but in the book Claire knows he has congestive heart failure. Hard to live with any quality of life or long length of years in modern times, rapidly fatal in the day of the Jacobite cause. As Claire goes to the fire to try to brew up something to ease Alex’s cough and chest pain, they all hear a pair of boots enter the room. Claire turns and sees what could be considered the spawn of the devil standing in the doorway. Black Jack Randall (Tobias Menzies) and Claire lock eyes for a second; Claire’s eyes are filled with horror and revulsion. Alex greets his brother with joy, as much as he can muster anyway.
Mary reveals to Claire that Jack is helping to provide for them while they stay at the boarding house. The one decent spot in Jack Randall’s entire being is his affection for his brother. As Claire tries to get out of the room Mary stops her from leaving to ask her when Alex will get well again. Claire has to tell her that Alex cannot get better; he will only get worse. Mary reveals that he must get better because she is pregnant. Claire is relieved that THIS will be Frank’s ancestor, though she does not say so to Mary.
Claire takes her leave of the room, finally, but she’s followed by none other than BJR to beg a request. Claire gets the slightest sliver of pleasure out of the cloud that crosses BJR’s face when she also informs him of Alex’s impending death. Jack begs her, in his own way, to ease his brother’s suffering at the least. Claire agrees but at a cost, she wants to know of the British army’s location. With that trademark BJR smirk firmly placed on his features, Jack remarks at how she can quibble about such things over a poor man’s fate. Claire remarks that she is not the same woman he once met. The inference is that the hard deeds he has put her through brought about this coldness.
As Claire is recounting these events to Jamie back at the encampment, Jamie understandably has an outburst. Claire does reveal the information that she gained about the British army. This calms Jamie, slightly. BJR’s very name is poison to Jamie, and he practically spits his name out each time he says it. Claire wants to go back and help Alex, but Jamie is fully against this risk in BJR’s presence. Claire suggests that Murtagh go with her for protection. In that case, Jamie allows it.
In the book Murtagh knows nothing of any of this, but I do like this change from the novel. I am on Jamie’s side on this one, BJR is NOT to be trusted at all…about anything. Jamie will work to corroborate the intelligence they received while Claire will go back to tend to Alex and try to ease his pain.
Later that night, Colum MacKenzie (Gary Lewis) arrives at the encampment. Colum is in a dire way with his health, too. We knew this from the beginning, given Claire’s knowledge of his illness. Colum insists on a bed, his brother, and his nephew. Claire and Jamie go to see him right away. Claire gives him an exam to assess his situation. They both know the situation is near its end, but not before the pain has gotten so bad in Colum’s body that he makes an amazing request of Claire. Colum sends Jamie out of the room so he can speak with Claire privately. Colum remarks to her that he’s pleased that she and Jamie are happy together. A brief moment of compassion that Colum rarely shows, but he has always had a particular liking for Claire; whether he wanted to or not.
Her healing abilities have given him the greatest help of any other healer he has had in his life. He asks her charity in giving him a more peaceful way of ending his painful torment than the lingering death filled with agonizing pain he now endures. She gives him a vile of yellow jasmine that will end his life at a time of his choosing. Colum does share one ray of light with Claire. Geillis Duncan’s child by Dougal was allowed to be born before she was put to burning after being judged a witch in the first season.
Claire goes back to help Alex at the boarding house. Mary and Jack are there, with Murtagh watching over the activities very carefully. Alex is coughing so much he can hardly breathe. Claire gives him a breathing treatment that might be used for a modern-day asthmatic. His coughing eases off a bit. Jack gets up from the bed to speak to Claire but gets angered (shocker) when she reminds him that she cannot cure Alex, only ease his symptoms temporarily. When BJR puts his hand on Claire’s arm, Murtagh comes across the room like a juggernaut. Murtagh offers to relieve Jack’s frustrations for him. {I bet he would, knowing what this man did to his godson.}
Just then Alex calls for Jack so he rushes back to his brother’s bedside. Alex has a very surprising proposal to make. He wants Jack to wed Mary. Initially, Jack is taken completely by surprise, but Alex knows that the only way to ensure legal protection and position for his love and his child is through marriage to his brother. Jack turns his back and leaves the room. Claire sends Murtagh after Jack because she needs to speak with him. Alex begins his coughs again so she cannot leave to stop Jack herself.
Back at the camp, Dougal arrives after his scouting expedition. Jamie tells him of the intelligence Claire has learned from BJR about the location of the British army. Dougal remarks that it would have been nice to know that before he had taken all that time scouting out their whereabouts. Jamie informs him that Colum has arrived and wants to see him. The look on Dougal’s face is not one of pleasure or excitement.
Claire and Murtagh leave the boarding house to hunt for Jack. Claire is trying to explain to Murtagh the reasons for trying to make Jack wed Mary; Frank’s future is dependent on it. Murtagh is still against giving the poor girl to such a villain as BJR, so he offers to marry her himself. This is not something that is proposed in the book, but I do find it a cute development. We get much more of Murtagh in the show than in the book, and I’m loving every minute of it. I love me a surly Scot! Claire is surprised by the suggestion but tells him how kind and generous his offer is. However, they both know it is not the ideal solution given the war being waged and the fact that Murtagh has no position or home of his own. Jack does have position in the British army, and is son to an English nobleman. Even if Jack were to be killed in the war going on around them, it would give Mary a place to go and a life with the Randall family to raise the child in safety.
Claire goes to the tavern that Jack went to after leaving Alex’s room, asking Murtagh to wait outside. Claire has to convince Jack to do this for his brother. He’s in his cups and feeding on self-pity, again. Jack asks Claire to help him persuade Alex to wed Mary himself. Claire asks what happens to her and the baby when Jack is no longer alive to care for her and Alex is gone. This reminds Jack of the little fact that Claire cursed him with the knowledge of his own death date. She told him he would die on the same day as the battle of Culloden. Show enthusiasts do not know yet if it is during the battle or during other events on that day, but is the day she saw while looking at Frank’s genealogy those few short years ago – and all those centuries ago at the same time.
Claire has a bit of a smug smirk while reminding him of this fact. Jack has to take things back to his torture of Jamie just to hurt Claire with the words. Claire gets up to leave and Jack grabs her by the arm again. She will not entertain his vial sentiments about Jamie. Jack asks Claire if she honestly thinks he can restrain his dark tendencies with Mary. Claire’s last remark to him is that she believes his single tenderness for his brother is what gives her hope that he can control himself with Mary and the baby.
Jamie and Dougal are in the bedchamber with Colum. Dougal thinks that Colum has come to bring the MacKenzies to the rebellion. Colum reveals his purpose of planning for his death, and that his successor will be his son. The boy is not old enough yet so there has to be a guardian for him until the boy is old enough to take the Lairdship. Colum wants Jamie to take this guardian role. This news enrages Dougal, naturally. Dougal has to remind Colum that his son is actually sired by Dougal because Colum was not able to bear a child. Colum knows that Jamie would put his men’s lives above the cause or any other personal drive. Dougal is not able to do the same.
At the boarding house Murtagh and Claire are witnesses to Jack and Mary being wed as Alex watches from his death bed. In the book, Jamie is forced to be a witness, but I like this much better. I never really agreed that Jamie would put aside his hate for Jack enough to stand there and put Mary through this union. I know he understands the impact to Frank, but I still feel his hate would win out. This is my own opinion, but there it is nonetheless.
Back at camp the war council is meeting to discuss the tactics for attacking the British at their encampment just 12 miles away. Jamie has maneuvered the situation to prevent the clash on the Moor. The strategy is agreed upon to have two columns go to take the British by surprise. But one stipulation is placed upon the plot: the Prince and the Quartermaster (Gerard Horan) would lead one column and Jamie and the Lord General Murray (Julian Wadham) lead the other. Jamie was to lead one of them and the General the other, but apparently the Quartermaster wants his page in the history books. Jamie has no choice but to agree.
Dougal enters Colum’s room alone for a private discussion with his brother. Dougal is apparently set to pour out his heart to his dying brother. Colum is even weaker than before. Dougal remarks on and remembers what injured Colum to make his legs begin the process that now causes his death. Something as simple as being thrown from a horse at the age of 10 started Colum down the path of the crippling syndrome that plagued his life. Dougal remarks on how much it wounded him to see his stronger and invulnerable older brother grow weaker and weaker with age because of it. Dougal, ever thinking of himself.
When Colum does not respond, Dougal gets angry and tries to draw his attention, but Colum is beyond it now. Colum is holding the vile that Claire gave him, but he can hear no more of what his brother is saying. When Dougal realizes that his brother is gone he lays his head on his chest in sorrow, but rises accusing him of leaving him alone in the world and causing his words to be stuck in his throat forever.
Back at the boarding house, everyone stands around Alex’s bed listening to him rasp out his last breaths. As the sounds stop you see Mary start to weep and Jack’s face stricken with grief for the first time ever. Jack and Mary look at each other briefly. Then Jack, always going to the shocking and extreme, jumps on his brother and starts pounding him in the chest. Poor Mary turns and practically falls into Claire’s arms. The look of revulsion on Claire’s face is profoundly obvious. Jack finally steps back and straightens his coat and hair, then turns and leaves the room.
At the encampment Claire has to tell Jamie about the marriage, and Jamie is just astonished at all of it. Claire reminds him that Mary will be his widow, not his wife. Jamie tells her that if they succeed that night with the surprise attack on the British, there will not be any Battle of Culloden. Claire then reminds Jamie of her promise to help bleed BJR to death and give Jamie his revenge one way or another.
That night Jamie and the General make it to their position in the surprise attack on the British, but the Prince does not. They got lost and had to turn back. Murtagh had to bring back the grim news, and this means the battle will take place on Culloden Moor as Claire had warned.
Join me for the heart-wrenching season finale on July 9th. Having read the book, I can truly warn you to stockpile Kleenex now!
Jason Statham reprises his role as Arthur Bishop from the 2011 remake of the 1972 action thriller The Mechanic in 2016’s Mechanic: Resurrection. Lionsgate’s finally released an official trailer and poster for the sequel which is heading to theaters on August 26th. Directed by Dennis Gansel (The Fourth State, We Are the Night) from a script by Philip Shelby and Tony Mosher, the cast also includes Jessica Alba (taking a break from running her billion dollar business), Tommy Lee Jones, and Michelle Yeoh.
The Mechanic remake starring Statham, Ben Foster, and Donald Sutherland was directed by Simon West. Opening on January 28, 2011, the film grossed $11.4 million domestically over its opening weekend. Internationally, The Mechanic rang up $62 million in box office business before leaving theaters.
The Plot: Arthur Bishop (Jason Statham) returns as the Mechanic in the sequel to the 2011 action thriller. When the deceitful actions of a cunning but beautiful woman (Jessica Alba) force him to return to the life he left behind, Bishop’s life is once again in danger as he has to complete an impossible list of assassinations of the most dangerous men in the world.
Michael Sheen (Photo Courtesy of QC Entertainment and Dark Horse)
Masters of Sex star Michael Sheen will make his feature film directorial debut with Green River Killer, a thriller based on the true story of serial killer Gary Ridgway. Sheen will also take on the lead role and he’ll produce the crime drama along with QC Entertainment and Dark Horse Entertainment. The film’s based on Dark Horse’s graphic novel Green River Killer: A True Detective Story by Jeff Jensen, and in addition to directing, producing, and starring in the project, Sheen adapted the novel for the screen.
“Michael has written an elegant script which brings his sophisticated vision to subverting the typical serial killer movie,” said QC Principals Sean McKittrick and Ray Mansfield. “Jensen and Ridgway are terrific roles for both an actor of Michael’s caliber and the actor cast opposite him. As producers who have long championed actors making the move to directing, we couldn’t be more excited to be a part of it.”
“This is a dark story but one that ultimately finds hope and meaning in that darkness,” said Sheen. “The story of Tom and Gary, and how they are bound together in time, pulled me in from the beginning and wouldn’t let go. I hope that by now bringing it to life on screen it can make audiences feel the same way.”
“Green River Killer presents the ultimate insider’s account of America’s most prolific serial killer,” added Dark Horse Entertainment President Mike Richardson. “Michael Sheen’s passion for the material was clear when he insisted on adapting the book on spec. His screenplay proves that Jeff Jensen’s Eisner Award-winning graphic novel is perfectly suited for the screen.”
The Plot: The film is the story of Tom Jensen, the man who spent twenty years looking for the ‘Green River Killer,’ and Gary Ridgway (to be played by Sheen), the man he caught. After a two-decade hunt and forty-nine official murders, the two men are forced to live and work together in a dark alliance to uncover the truth.
Warner Bros Pictures’ original horror film Lights Out has just unveiled an intense, creepy new trailer. Director David F. Sandberg makes his feature film directorial debut with this horror movie based on his short film, with horror veteran James Wan producing. The cast includes Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, Billy Burke, Alexander DiPersia, and Maria Bello. Lights Out opens in theaters on July 22, 2016.
The Plot: When Rebecca (Palmer) left home, she thought she left her childhood fears behind. Growing up, she was never really sure of what was and wasn’t real when the lights went out…and now her little brother, Martin (Gabriel Bateman), is experiencing the same unexplained and terrifying events that had once tested her sanity and threatened her safety. A frightening entity with a mysterious attachment to their mother, Sophie (Bello), has reemerged. But this time, as Rebecca gets closer to unlocking the truth, there is no denying that all their lives are in danger… once the lights go out.
Lionsgate’s released the official trailer and film poster for American Pastoral, directed by Ewan McGregor. McGregor (Beginners, The Impossible) makes his feature film directorial debut with the dramatic film based on Philip Roth’s novel. McGregor also leads the cast that includes Jennifer Connolly (Requiem for a Dream, A Beautiful Mind), Dakota Fanning (Every Secret Thing, The Runaways), Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black), and David Strathairn (The Blacklist). American Pastoral will open in theaters on October 21, 2016.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, actor/director McGregor explained why he stepped behind the camera to direct American Pastoral. “I have dreamt of directing a feature for the last 15 years and never found the ‘right’ story. I wanted to direct, not for the sake of being a director, but because there was a story I HAD to tell. Well American Pastoral gave me everything I was looking for. I was incredibly lucky that I had Lakeshore’s trust and incredible talent in front of and behind the camera to make Roth’s story the film I thought it should be. The creative collaboration with the cast and the crew was as thrilling as I had hoped it would be. I was a very happy man making this film and it is the film I wanted it to be,” said McGregor.
The Plot: Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning Philip Roth novel, American Pastoral follows a family whose seemingly idyllic existence is shattered by the social and political turmoil of the 1960s. Ewan McGregor stars as Seymour “Swede” Levov, a once legendary high school athlete who is now a successful businessman married to Dawn (Connelly), a former beauty queen. But turmoil brews beneath the polished veneer of Swede’s life. When his beloved teenage daughter, Merry (Fanning), disappears after being accused of committing a violent act, Swede dedicates himself to finding her and reuniting his family. What he discovers shakes him to the core, forcing him to look beneath the surface and confront the chaos that is shaping the world around him.
Matthew McConaughey in ‘Free State of Jones’ (Courtesy of STX Entertainment)
“Last time I checked, a gun don’t care who is pulling the trigger,” says Newton Knight (Matthew McConaughey), a farmer and deserter from the Confederate Army who’s protecting his neighbor’s wife and daughters from a raid by a local squad of Confederate men in the dramatic Civil War film, Free State of Jones.
While serving in the Confederate Army as a medic during the Civil War, Knight is sickened by all the death and waste of life on the battlefield. When he discovers that his young nephew, Daniel (Jacob Lofland), has been drafted into the army, he sets out to protect him from the battlefield as best he can. Unfortunately, Knight can’t save his nephew from the carnage that is war and he ends up dying in his arms. Disgusted with what the Confederate Army will do to their own people and wanting to take his nephew’s body back home, Newton leaves the army and travels back to Jones County.
Once home it’s not long before Knight hears about how the Confederate Army keeps stealing the crops and livestock from the struggling local farmers for the war effort, leaving them to starve. After helping his neighbor chase off a small band of Confederate thieves, Knight must go on the run and hides out in the swamp where the Confederate soldiers with their horses can’t go. It’s not long before Knight bands together with other small farmers, who have been oppressed by the Confederates, as well as local slaves to launch an uprising against the Confederacy.
As his small army of 200-300 men fights against the local soldiers and eventually a regiment of troops, Knight’s rebellion leads Jones County, Mississippi to secede from the Confederacy, creating the Free State of Jones.
Based on a true story, Free State of Jones is a ponderous, overly ambitious, and melodramatic film that tries to cover too much history and fails as a result. It’s a slow-moving and uneven film that works best when it focuses on Knight being a wanted deserter and becoming the Southern “Robin Hood” of Jones County, rising up against the Confederacy and creating a rebellion. Once the war is over, and the film continues on trying to cover the struggle of blacks in the South fighting for their right to vote and against the KKK, the film becomes a dull, lifeless, and meandering mess.
Almost all the characters are one-dimensional, except for Knight played by Matthew McConaughey who is shown as a smart, determined, and ahead of his time if not his Century rebel and leader. McConaughey delivers a solid performance as Knight but what’s lacking is the usual intensity and charisma that the Oscar-winning actor always brings to his roles. Keri Russell, best known for her strong performance on the FX television series The Americans, is wasted in the film as Serena Knight’s nagging wife who doesn’t support her husband’s actions. The character disappears for half the film only to return to fuel a pointless and uninteresting subplot about Knight’s son. It’s a true crime to waste the talents of such an outstanding actress.
Free State of Jones strives to tell a unique and intriguing story about a little-known part of America’s history, but ends up delivering a boring, painfully slow, and unengaging film.
GRADE: C-
Directed By: Gary Ross
MPAA Rating: R for brutal battle scenes and disturbing graphic images
