The 2016 Memorial Day holiday weekend finished up with the latest X-Men movie, X-Men: Apocalypse, earning the top spot on the box office chart despite less than rave reviews. 20th Century Fox’s X-Men: Apocalypse is one of the worst reviewed films of the entire X-Men franchise, with RottenTomatoes summing up critical reaction to the film with this description: “Overloaded action and a cliched villain take the focus away from otherwise strong performers and resonant themes, making X-Men: Apocalypse a middling chapter of the venerable superhero franchise.” Despite negative reviews, X-Men: Apocalypse managed an $80 million four-day take for the PG-13 film directed by Bryan Singer and starring Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac, Michael Fassbender, Nicholas Hoult, James McAvoy, and Sophie Turner.
Disney’s Alice in Wonderland sequel, Alice Through the Looking Glass, effectively put an end to the franchise – at least with this cast. Alice in Wonderland opened in 2010 to an incredible $114 million domestic box office take, but the sequel failed to generate any heat over its first four days in release. Scathing reviews combined with the domestic abuse charges brought by Amber Heard against Johnny Depp likely combined to keep potential moviegoers away from Alice Through the Looking Glass.
Dwayne Johnson at Disney’s D23 EXPO 2015 (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/ Getty Images for Disney)Dwayne Johnson broke the news via his Facebook and Instagram pages that he’s officially signed on to star in Doc Savage. Shane Black is attached to direct and is penning the script along with Anthony Bagarozzi and Chuck Mondry. Black’s The Nice Guys with Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe is currently in theaters, and Johnson’s upcoming film Central Intelligence with Kevin Hart will open in theaters on June 17, 2016.
Here’s what Johnson posted announcing his involvement in the project:
It’s OFFICIAL: For all comic book fans you already know the world’s first superhero (pre-dating Superman) is the “Man of Bronze” himself Clark “Doc” Savage.
Want to thank my bud director/writer Shane Black and his writing team Anthony Bagarozzi and Chuck Mondry for flying in from LA and sitting with me and our Seven Bucks Productions’s producer Hiram Garcia on this Memorial Day weekend to chop up creative and break story on this very cool project.
Comic book fans around the world know that the cool thing about “Doc” Savage is that he’s the inspiration for Superman. First name Clark, called “Man of Bronze”, retreats to his “Fortress of Solitude” in the Arctic etc etc.
Doc was physically and mentally trained from birth by his father and a team of scientists to become the perfect human specimen with a genius level intellect. His heightened senses are beyond comprehension. He can even identify a women’s perfume from half a mile away. He is literally the master of everything.
But here’s the #1 reason I’m excited to become Doc Savage.. HE’S A F*CKING HILARIOUS WEIRDO!
Confidently, yet innocently he has zero social graces whatsoever due to his upbringing so every interaction he has with someone is direct, odd, often uncomfortable and amazingly hilarious.
After speaking for hours w/ Shane Black I can see why the creator of Superman took only the best parts of Doc Savage and leaving the “weirdo” part behind. But to us, it’s that “weirdo” part that makes Clark “Doc” Savage dope! Can’t wait to sink my teeth into this one of a kind character.
Craig Roberts, Selena Gomez and Paul Rudd in ‘The Fundamentals of Caring’ (Photo by Annette Brown / Netflix)
Netflix has released the official trailer for the original movie, The Fundamentals of Caring. The film’s based on the book by Jonathan Evison, with Rob Burnett adapting the novel, directing and producing. The cast includes Paul Rudd, Craig Roberts, Selena Gomez, Jennifer Ehle, Megan Ferguson, and Frederick Weller. The Fundamentals of Caring will be available on Netflix beginning on June 24, 2016.
The Plot: The film follows the story of Ben, a retired writer who becomes a caregiver after suffering a personal tragedy. After 6 weeks of training, Ben meets his first client, Trevor, a foul-mouthed 18-year-old with muscular dystrophy. One paralyzed emotionally, one paralyzed physically, Ben and Trevor take an impromptu road trip to all the places Trevor has become obsessed with while watching the local news, including their holy grail: the World’s Deepest Pit. Along the way, they pick up a smart-mouthed runaway and a mother-to-be who help test the pair’s survival skills outside of their calculated existence as they come to understand the importance of hope and true friendship.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in ‘Game of Thrones’ (Photo: Macall B. Polay / Courtesy of HBO)
HBO’s Game of Thrones season six episode six airing on May 29, 2016 kicked off by reminding us of the death of Hodor who gave his life to keep Bran and Meera safe. Season six episode six titled ‘Blood of My Blood’ also spent quality time with Sam and Gilly, introducing the Tarlys and confirming Sam’s father is a complete and total jerk. ‘Blood of My Blood’ moved the plot forward in King’s Landing, with Margaery and King Tommen revealing a storyline twist that should be entertaining to watch play out. Episode six also found poor Arya making a difficult – and likely life-changing – choice, and the episode reintroduced two supporting players, one who will be key to the advancement of the Frey/Tully storyline and one who will assist young Bran as he transitions into being the new Three-Eyed Raven. And once again the audience had to wait until the end of the episode to see what’s happening with Daenerys and the Dothrakis (which, by the way, would be a great name for a band).
There wasn’t enough time to squeeze in scenes with Tyrion Lannister and the gang in Meereen or find out what’s happening with Jon Snow and Sansa Stark as they venture out to gather support for an attack on the Boltons at Winterfell. And for those keeping track, Ramsay Bolton didn’t kill anyone this episode (because he wasn’t involved in ‘Blood of My Blood’), Jorah’s apparently still searching for a cure to greyscale, and the Greyjoys were nowhere to be seen.
The Recap:
Without Hodor (may he rest in peace), Meera (Ellie Kendrick) struggles to move through the snow and wind while pulling Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) on the sled. Bran’s still experiencing visions and is unaware of his surroundings, with scenes of the past flying through his head as the cold and the weight of the sled finally get to be too much for Meera and she’s forced to stop. The White Walkers are hot on their trail when Bran comes to and warns Meera they’ve been found. She hugs him, crying and apologizing for failing to protect him. Just then a man on horse arrives to fight off the White Walkers. He’s easily dispatching them as Meera continues to hold Bran to keep him safe. “Come with me, now!” the stranger demands, adding, “The dead don’t rest.” He lifts them up on his horse and they’re safe…for now.
Gilly (Hannah Murray), Sam (John Bradley), and the baby arrive by carriage at his family’s castle. He describes the terrain and what she can expect as the seasons change, rambling on as Gilly notes that he’s a nervous talker. Sam admits he never thought he’d return home and he’s well aware he’s not welcome after being made to renounce his title. Sam reminds her she must say little Sam is his baby and reminds her he hasn’t told his family she’s a wildling. His father hates wildlings and so it’s best she keeps that part of her history a secret. Servants are lined up as Gilly and Sam finally walk through the gate, and his mother (Samantha Spiro) races to embrace him. She says he looks wonderful and then his little sister also hugs him while immediately spilling the beans that she’s being forced to wed a man with yellow teeth. Lady Tarly is even nice to Gilly and takes an immediate liking to baby Sam who is absolutely adorable and would be difficult to dislike. Sam’s dad, Lord Tarly (James Faulkner), is away on a hunt and Lady Tarly invites them inside, telling them Lord Tarly will join them later. Sam’s sister, Talla (Rebecca Benson), offers Gilly a bath and a dress for dinner.
At King’s Landing, King Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman) asks the High Sparrow (Jonathan Pryce) if there’s any option other than forcing Margaery to undergo the Walk of Atonement. The High Sparrow says the people will be nicer to her than they were to his mother, and even lets Tommen pay his wife a visit in her cell. The High Sparrow leaves them alone and Margaery (Natalie Dormer) and Tommen embrace, with Tommen telling her how much he missed her. He feels horrible about the Walk of Atonement, but surprisingly Margaery doesn’t seem to mind making the walk. And, strangely, she actually seems to like and understand the High Sparrow. Tommen agrees the High Sparrow’s not as bad as they thought he was. Margaery says he helped her admit who she is, but Tommen rushes to her defense telling her she’s the best person he knows. However, Margaery says she was just good at seeming good and that it was all lies. She fed the poor but made sure people saw her doing it, she explains. Tommen then asks after Sir Loras, and Margaery says his soul is pure and perfect. He just needs to atone for his sins and then it will all be fine. “The gods have a plan for us all,” says Margaery, who has apparently been the victim of brainwashing.
Gilly looks completely different all gussied up with clean hair, makeup, and a beautiful dress, and Sam tells her she’s beautiful. Off they go to dinner where Sam’s dad does actually show up, glaring at Sam and Gilly. Gilly isn’t sure how to use the utensils but no one comments on it while Sam and his brother, Dickon (Freddie Stroma), discuss hunting. Sam says that north of the Wall if you don’t hunt, you don’t eat. But then Sam takes it a step further, clarifying to say it’s mostly rabbits and squirrels and crediting Jon, Edd, and even Gilly as the talented hunters. Sam’s mom is doing an excellent job of keeping the conversation light, but grouchy Lord Tarly isn’t happy about Sam’s presence in the least. He doesn’t even care that Sam’s with a woman and has a child, or that he’s studying to be Maester of the Night’s Watch.
As Lord Tarly continues to cut down his oldest son, Gilly sticks up for her man, telling the family Sam killed a White Walker and is a greater warrior than Lord Tarly or Dickon. Unfortunately, while discussing Sam’s warrior qualities Gilly accidentally reveals she’s a wildling. Lord Tarly’s furious he’s hosting a wildling in his hall. He points out the Valyrian steel sword, Heartsbane, that’s been with the House of Tarly for 500 years. Heartsbane is supposed to go to Sam, but Lord Tarly says it will never go to Sam and Sam will never be named Lord of House Tarly. Lord Tarly truly hates Sam and now with Gilly admitting she’s a wildling, he’s able to unleash his rage. Lady and Talla take Gilly’s hands and lead her out of the dining hall, telling Lord Tarly he’s dishonoring the family. Lord Tarly continues his attack, telling Sam it’s the last night he’ll ever spend in their home but he’ll allow Gilly and the baby to remain.
Sam apologizes to Gilly for allowing his dad to speak to her that way, but Gilly shrugs off the apology telling him he’s not what his father thinks he is. She kisses Sam, attempting to make him see himself through her eyes. He leaves, tears in his eyes, as Gilly looks about the gorgeous room she and her son will share. Just then, Sam charges back in and tells her they’re leaving. “We belong together – all of us,” says Sam. He takes Heartsbane from above the mantel, an act that worries Gilly. She thinks Lord Tarly will come after them to retrieve it, and Sam says he can “bloody well try.”
Meanwhile in Braavos, the play is on once again with Arya (Maisie Williams) in the audience. The scene playing out is from the Purple Wedding, with Joffrey drinking the poisoned wine and naming his evil uncle as the one who poisoned him. The actress Arya is supposed to kill, Lady Crane (Essie Davis), is playing Cersei and she’s delivering a Tony award-winning performance while her understudy stands off-stage mouthing the lines, just waiting for her opportunity. The play continues but Arya leaves the audience and heads backstage. She finds the bottle Lady Crane was drinking out of and adds the poison given to her by Jaqen.
As the actors head backstage, Lady Crane spots Arya and wants to know why she’s there. She also wants to know how many times Arya’s seen the performance and if she’s ever paid. She thinks Arya might be interested in becoming an actress, and Lady Crane admits she believes the play is horrible. Arya tells her to change the dialogue, making Cersei not only sad but angry. Lady Crane asks Arya if she likes to pretend to be other people but Arya doesn’t answer, saying she has to leave because her father is waiting. The actors discuss the play and it’s obvious they’re all jealous of Lady Crane’s talent. As Lady Crane is about to have a drink, Arya rushes in and knocks the bottle out of her hands, warning her that her understudy wants her dead.
Arya returns to the spot where she landed in Braavos and removes her sword from its hiding place. Meanwhile, the Waif reports to Jaqen H’ghar (Tom Wlaschiha) that Arya failed in her mission. He gives the Waif permission to kill Arya, and the Waif leaves the room with a smug smile.
Jonathan Pryce, Natalie Dormer, and Hannah Waddingham (Photo: Macall B. Polay / Courtesy of HBO)
Back at King’s Landing, Jaime waits as the Tyrell army arrives. Lord Tyrell (Roger Ashton-Griffiths) addresses his troops, telling them madness has overtaken the city and they need to drive it back to where it came. Meanwhile, the people are gathered to watch Margaery make her walk of shame. The High Sparrow ticks off her sins as Jaime and the Tyrell army arrive in the square. As Lady Olenna Tyrell (Diana Rigg) emerges from a carriage, joining the army in the square, Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) asks for the release of both Loras and Margaery. If they’re given over, then the army will leave. The High Sparrow refuses and Jaime says, “Every last sparrow will die before Margaery walks down that street.”
It seems to be a stand-off when suddenly the High Sparrow announces there will be no Walk of Atonement. He’s backed off that demand and reveals Margaery has already atoned for her sins by bringing another into the true light of the Seven. King Tommen walks down the steps, approaching the High Sparrow and Jaime who has ridden his horse onto the steps. The High Sparrow and King Tommen announce a new holy alliance between the Crown and the faithful. The announcement is met by cheers from the crowd. Jaime is obviously upset with this turn of events, watching as his son, Tommen, says the Crown and the faith working together will restore the seven kingdoms to glory, taking Margaery’s hand to enthusiastic cheers. Lady Tyrell knows they’ve been beaten as the High Sparrow smirks and Jaime glares.
King Tommen, sitting on the Iron Throne, demands Jaime relinquish his title as Lord Commander of the King’s Guard. Jaime reminds him he’s been a member of the King’s Guard since before Tommen was born, and that Tommen doesn’t have to answer to the gods if he’s sitting on the throne. Resigned, Jaime wants to know his punishment and Tommen tells him he’ll continue to serve his house and family faithfully but he’ll do so in another city.
Walder Frey (David Bradley) is upset the Blackfish took back Riverrun and that his sons let the Blackfish escape in the first place. Frey will never kiss Tully boots again and will use his 10,000 men to get Riverrun back, but his sons believe Riverrun can withstand a siege for a year and that some of the Frey supporters have turned against them and are backing the Blackfish. The Frey boys say the Blackfish will never yield, but Walder Frey says they need to remind him they have his nephew, Edmure Tully (Tobias Menzies).
Back at King’s Landing, Jaime is fuming over the fact King Tommen’s sending him to deal with the Blackfish because Frey can’t handle it, and Cersei – mistress of the obvious – says that’s better than being in the dungeon. Jaime doesn’t want to do it and instead is fixated on killing the High Sparrow and all his minions, but Cersei wants him standing at the head of their army where he belongs. “Take that stupid little castle back because it’s ours and because you can,” suggests Cersei. Jaime’s worried she’ll go on trial while he’s gone, but Cersei says it’ll be a trial by combat and she has the Mountain. They kiss and she reminds him they’ll always be together and that they’re “the only two people in the world.”
And now it’s time to catch up with Bran… The stranger kills a rabbit for dinner and reveals he’s there because the Three-Eyed Raven sent for him. Bran wakes and the stranger is revealed to be his Uncle Benjen (Joseph Mawle). He was lost beyond the Wall where the White Walkers found his ranging party, stabbed him in the gut, and left him to die. The Children found him and stopped the White Walker’s magic from taking hold with Dragon Glass. Benjen tells Bran he’s now the Three-Eyed Raven and must learn to control his powers. Benjen also says the Night King will find his way to the world of men and Bran needs to be there ready and waiting for him.
The episode ends with a brief but important update on Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) and the Dothraki. Dany and Daario (Michael Huisman) are riding at the head of the Dothraki when she stops and asks Daario how long it will take to reach Meereen and how many ships she’ll need to get to Westeros. Daario tells her she’ll need at least 1,000 ships, but no one has that many. The plan: ride to Meeeren, then sail to Westeros. After that, she’ll take what is hers, but Daario tells her she wasn’t meant to sit on a throne and rule. “You’re a conqueror, Daenerys Stormborn.” As the words leave his lips, Dany rides off, telling them to wait. She returns astride her dragon which lands in front of the Dothraki. Rallying her troops, she says other khals have asked for three blood riders but she won’t have just three…she chooses them all. She wants to know if they’ll ride in ships and kill soldiers wearing armor. They cheer and swear they’ll fight to help her claim her rightful place as the leader of the Seven Kingdoms.
Dwayne Johnson just released via Instagram the first photo of Agent Hobbs in Fast 8. Johnson is reprising the fan-favorite role, slipping into the character after playing him in Fast 5, Fast & Furious 6, and Furious 7. The cast of this eighth Fast and Furious movie is led by Vin Diesel and features Charlize Theron, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris Ludacris Bridges, Elsa Pataky, Kristofer Hivju, and Scott Eastwood.
Fast 8 has F. Gary Gray directing from a script by Chris Morgan. Universal Pictures is aiming for an April 14, 2017 theatrical release.
Je Suis Prete…HOME…TO SCOTLAND!! Thought we had left the French behind, huh? Well we did, but not the Fraser moto, Je Suis Prete {‘I am ready’}. And Starz’s Outlander season two episode eight will help you to know more about the Frasers than ever before. We get the privilege {that is debatable} of meeting Jamie (Sam Heughan) and Jenny’s (Laura Donnelly) Grandsire {grandfather to the rest of us}, Lord Lovet (Clive Russell). Should be highly interesting. Tulach Ard!!!
We start the episode, first things first, with an updated opening song that’s sung now without the French section. I believe I saw an interesting title card too, a glimpse of Lallybroch from a CAR window??? Hmmm… But I digress; to the episode. We are gifted a landscape view of the Highlands. I have certainly missed this character in the show. Claire (Caitriona Balfe) begins by bringing us up to speed on a brief summary of activity between leaving France and settling into life at Lallybroch. The book takes a long time to get us to this point, and a bit of me misses the details and journey. BUT a show is different from the book, so it still brings the story along and works well to keep us in the plot at the proper timing. The entire house is marveling at the first crop of potatoes grown at Lallybroch. Part of the fields were devoted to this crop on Claire’s advice. She knows that a famine will hit the land in a few years. It is also incredible to see Jamie and Claire affectionate again. France was so very hard on them both.
Since this is the first potato crop, the humorous conversation about what to do with them ensues. It is our cutey French transplant, Fergus (Romann Berrux), who offers up the first suggestions by boiling them and eating with salt and butter. Did you hear that? My stomach growled…snort. Ian Murray (Steven Cree) and Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix) enter with the post. In this collection of exciting items and letters, which included books and other friendly items from France, was a letter by none other than Prince Charles (Andrew Gower). And wouldn’t you know it, the little schemer signed Jamie’s name to a letter of intent to invade that brands him as a traitor to the English crown again. SHEESH, he was only pardoned for a few months! Nothing like being volunteered for treason. That hooked him right and proper; Jamie has no way out of it now. It carried the official seal and was distributed before Jamie even knew it. He MUST support the uprising now.
Jamie goes out of the house to think, and Claire eventually follows. What to do, what to do? They discuss running from Scotland, but Jamie keeps his voice of reason as always. Claire is afraid for Jamie because he is branded a traitor again. Jamie wants to fight for his country. He still thinks they can change the future. He enumerates all that Claire did to change other’s futures thus far. He says something that I have heard my own husband say many times, given he is a former soldier: Jamie wants to fight for his family, his home, and his country.
So now the mission becomes winning against the British. Lallybroch starts preparing for the task of joining the Prince. Jamie has to go into the Fox’s Lair to get Lord Lovet’s men for the army as well. All the Frasers have to band together to strengthen the Jacobite army. Naturally, Jenny is not in favor of this idea. She and Jamie have a nice war of words over Jamie going and asking for support. Level-headed Jamie convinces her, like he did Claire, this MUST take place; there is nothing for it now. When Prince Charles signed James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser to that decree, it set Jamie’s course for him.
Jamie is too cute sometimes. That night he warns Claire that his father was a Bastard to Lord Lovet. He asks her forgiveness for not telling her about it before they got married. Claire just smirks and says it doesn’t matter to her. It is so great to see them affectionate and loving again, all poison from France now fully extracted from their relationship. Jamie picks her up and carries her to the bed. Okay, I know I don’t have to say it, but just love a shirtless Jamie too. Terrible to see all the scars he has acquired along the way though, painful memories all.
Claire wakes in the early morning to find Jamie missing from the bed. She goes out of the room to look over the balcony to see Jamie sitting with the newest member of the Murray family on his lap. Ian and Jenny had a third child while Claire and Jamie were in Paris. Jamie doesn’t know that Claire is watching him from above, he is just whispering to the bairn in Gaelic. Miss the subtitles we got with the French, I would love to know what he is whispering to the little angel. Jenny comes out to see Claire, tears brimming in her eyes, watching the newest bairn with Jamie. It is truly a bittersweet moment given that they lost their daughter only months before in France. Such a wonderful scene in the book, I’m so glad they left it in the show, too.
The next morning there are more tears as they send off Jamie and Claire to see Lord Lovet. Jamie is leaving Lallybroch again. Man, he and Claire just can’t get a moment’s peace, can they?! Off they head to the castle of Lord Lovet. We get the gift of that amazing scenery again as they journey across the lands. While on the journey to Lord Lovet, Jamie lets Claire in on some family history…none of it good. Lord Lovet was a highly complicated man and tended to do things that would benefit him alone. He had stolen two of his three wives over his lifetime, he had tried to take Jamie’s mother before Jamie’s father could marry her, and the fact that he plays both sides against the middle on a continual basis. He supports the English when it suits him, and he supports Scotland when it suits him. Like I said, all about him in the end. Anyone else think he is a bit like the Duke of Sandringham, but with less charm? Might just be me…
Jamie and Claire, still with much of the road on them, are taken into the main castle hall to await Lord Lovet’s audience when all of the sudden Colum MacKenzie (Gary Lewis) comes out into the light from the windows. This is a new event that was not in the book. MacKenzie doesn’t talk to Jamie about these events in the book until a later time, but much of the content is the same. And another reason to have this meeting occur now presents itself shortly. Claire takes the opportunity to chastise him for any possible part he might have had in Claire being subjected to the witch trial in the first season. It is known by all that Laoghaire (Nell Hudson) was the one who put Claire in the wrong place at the wrong time so she would have a clear path to Jamie. Just then a surprising entrance is made by Lord Lovet himself.
And in an effort to get off on the right foot {said in all sarcasm} he comes in spouting about Jamie having wed a Sassenach wench. Great first impression there, Granddad!!! Jamie spouts back that HE had no need to steal a woman or rape to get his wife. Claire is told to go while the men chat about politics. This doesn’t go down well, but Claire does leave. While she is out walking about the castle she encounters Laoghaire herself, another action that is not in the book. It does make sense though because later story elements that involve Laoghaire need a clear line of sight. She asks Claire’s forgiveness for the witch trial, but Claire rejects her. Claire tells Jamie about the encounter and he is not forgiving of Laoghaire’s actions either.
They go down to dinner and talk more politics around the table. Jamie warned Claire upstairs to keep her mouth shut. The look she gave him was classic Claire, but she does heed his warning in this instance. Jamie is quite the orator but of course Lord Lovet and Colum continue to reject his request for soldiers. Lord Lovet does nothing that is not in his own best interest, and this means he will want something in exchange for involving himself in the uprising. While the conversation is going on Claire notices that Lord Lovet’s son takes a fancy to Laoghaire.
Lovet and Colum are hesitant given that they do not have the French support secured for the cause. The previous two uprisings have failed because there was no outside support. Lord Lovet’s son, Simon (James Parris), tries to speak in support of Jamie and gets humiliated by his father in the process. After they are back upstairs in their room, Jamie points out that he will have to get Lovet alone to find out what he wants in exchange for helping with the uprising. Colum keeps manipulating the situation when they are all together. Colum might not be physically strong, but mentally he is a force to be reckoned with.
Later as Claire is walking past Lord Lovet’s room she hears Lovet throw a woman out of the door and onto the ground. It is his Seer, Maisri (Maureen Beattie). Claire helps her up off the ground and asks if she is okay. Of course, the woman runs off scared so Claire couldn’t get any information out of her.
Next we see Jamie and Lovet conversing in his study, I’m assuming the next day. In his charming way, he starts insulting Jamie’s father for rejecting him. Brian Fraser wanted nothing to do with his own father. This is the only time we see the Old Fox show any semblance of injury. Lord Lovet wanted to make Brian Fraser his successor but was completely rejected by Brian. Jamie sees what Lord Lovet wants in return for support: the Lallybroch lands. The book explains this point ever so much deeper. Lallybroch is a particularly rich section of land that joins MacKenzie lands and Fraser lands. Both clans would love nothing more than to acquire that section of Scotland for themselves, hence part of the reason that Colum and Lovet are enemies and why Jamie’s parents’ marriage was so distasteful to both families.
Lovet then sinks to an even deeper sewer level by threatening Claire’s honor if Jamie does not sign over Lallybroch. Well, you can imagine how well that went down. Rise La Dame Blanche!! As we know by all events in the first season, Scots are highly superstitious people. Jamie evoking the White Lady again to save his wife seems a reasonable course. Claire is not happy about it but eventually sees it as a good thing. The way Jamie puts it to Lovet sure scared the devil out of him, and certainly deters him from attempting the proposed gang-rape he said would happen to her if he did not get his hands on Lallybroch. Jamie can spin a very convincing yarn…lol. Of course, throwing the alcohol in the fire to emphasize the effect was pretty smart too.
Claire points out that maybe if they get Simon, Lovet’s son, to support Jamie then they can win Lovet over. Claire devises a plan to use Laoghaire to entice Simon to stand up to his father. This gives Laoghaire a chance to redeem herself to Claire, and possibly Jamie. They execute the plan to stoke the fire of the infatuation that Simon feels for Laoghaire.
Claire has Simon show her to the chapel on the Lovet estate. They encounter Laoghaire on the way to the chapel, and Claire leaves them alone to talk while she continues to the chapel alone. In the chapel, she sees Maisri again and Maisri shares what she told Lovet when he threw her out of the room. She does tell Claire that some of the things she sees are possible to change. This gives Claire the hope that the loss of the Highland culture might still be stopped.
A gathering in the great hall is where Lovet puts it to Jamie straight out. Jamie is to either sign over Lallybroch or Lovet signs a separate degree to stay neutral in the Jacobite uprising. As Jamie considers the situation and is just about to sign over his lands, Claire gets up and makes a very convincing spectacle. She portrays the White Lady, mid vision, and Jamie plays it up VERY well. You would have thought they planned it, but this show is our heroine thinking quickly on her feet again. All eyes upon her, Claire says much the same thing as Maisri had said about the executioner taking Lovet’s head with an axe. Lovet pulls a dirk and goes to attack Claire, but his son stops him. You can almost see the lightbulb go off over Lovet’s head when Simon declared to all the room he was to join Jamie in the Jacobite cause. Simon gets ready to go with Jamie and Claire, and they all think they failed.
The next morning Colum tries one last time to get Jamie to give up the entire venture and go home. Of course Colum doesn’t know what Jamie and Claire do about the future. Claire then asks Jamie to say “thank you” to Laoghaire; he has no idea why. But because Claire asks, he does it. Claire doesn’t know that Laoghaire still has designs on Jamie.
As Claire, Jamie, and Simon leave, a band of Highland warriors crest the hill above them. This is Lord Lovet’s army, mounted and ready for the journey to fight in the cause. Lovet signed the pact of neutrality as an official renunciation of the war or support for the Jacobite’s, but then lends his men to the cause by way of his son. He plays both ends against the middle again. Lovet’s men go with his son, and Lovet heads home to say his son took the men of his own accord. Sly ‘ol Fox indeed.
Tim Rozon in ‘Wynonna Earp’ (Photo by Michelle Faye/Syfy/Wynonna Earp Productions)
Just like fans of the Syfy series, Wynonna Earp star Tim Rozon says he’s anxiously awaiting news on a season two renewal. The series, based on the IDW comic created by Beau Smith, has built up a passionate fan base but as of our interview on May 26, 2016, the official word on a second season had yet to be delivered. Rozon joked that the networks like to torture actors by keeping them in the dark, but he remains positive he’ll be able to step into Doc Holliday’s boots for another season. “Trust me, every project I’ve ever worked on, this is the one I want to work on the most,” admitted Rozon.
Wynonna Earp starring Rozon, Melanie Scrofano, Shamier Anderson, Dominique Provost-Chalkley, and Michael Eklund premiered on April 1, 2016 and airs on Friday nights at 10pm ET/PT.
Tim Rozon Interview:
Why do you feel so connected to this particular role? You’ve played other characters that you’ve been into, but what is it about Doc Holliday that’s special?
Tim Rozon: “I have, and I’ve been really lucky to do that. I mean, if you get to do this stuff for a living, you’re very lucky. You know what I mean? I feel super lucky to have it. Everybody’s different and every person is different and every actor’s different and everybody has different wants and needs, but I’m a kid who loved comic books my whole life. I’m also a science fiction fan and I’m also a Western fan. My dream was to be in a Western and my dream was to be in a science fiction show. This is a science fiction show based on a comic book where I play a Western character, and not only a Western character but I play the iconic Western character Doc freaking Holliday. It just was like my dream checklist all checked off at once. It was the greatest thing that could ever happen to me; I’m not lying when I say that. For me, it’s the best thing that ever happened.
It’s been amazing. When we got to go to WonderCon, we got to tour IDW first and the head of IDW, Ted Adams, was amazing and just touring IDW offices, meeting Beau Smith… Beau was one of the nicest men ever and he’s the guy who created Wynonna Earp. Being in the comic book, look, are you kidding me? This is my dream. I’m in a comic book fan. I have long boxes at home. I’m a comic book collector; I’m not joking. It’s just the coolest thing ever.”
And it was just announced the Wynonna Earp cast will be attending the 2016 San Diego ComicCon.
Tim Rozon: “Yeah. For me it’s like I’m going to Egypt, to Mecca. This is the San Diego Comic-Con. I was already blown away at WonderCon, so now to go to San Diego is everything. It’s literally everything. It’s the ultimate dream. It’s the big one. It’s San Diego f**king Comic-Con! I can’t wait.”
Doc is really stealing the show and has become a fan favorite. [Laughing] When’s he getting his own spinoff?
Tim Rozon: “Hey listen, for me it’s really an ensemble cast. It’s like I kind of had this conversation with Dominique who plays Waverly at the beginning. She asked me, ‘What do you think? Do you think people are going to like it?’ I said, ‘To be honest, I’ll tell you what I think, I think in a lot of ways I’m going to be people’s favorite, you’re going to be people’s favorite, Bobo’s going to be people’s favorite.’ I said, ‘The hardest job is Mel’s job.’ You know what I mean? Everybody kind of needs to like Mel.
People are going to love Doc and they’re going to hate Doc. A lot of people are going to have him as a favorite because he’s that different. Whereas poor Mel, everybody’s got to like Wynonna. I think she did an amazing job. I think no one will actually be able to steal the show because at the end of the day, she is still the show. It is Wynonna. It’s her holding it all together. And with such a good cast, I think would Doc be good if it wasn’t against Wynonna or if he didn’t have the chemistry with her? Or the brother/sister relationship he and Waverly have? I really like the relationship with Doc and Dolls, the two opposites. They play so funny together because of the performance of the other actors and the story, and the writing – it’s so freaking good. I think that’s why it is the way it is. I think it’s an ensemble piece.”
But back up a second… You said people are going to love or hate Doc, but I haven’t heard of anyone hating your Doc Holliday in Wynonna Earp.
Tim Rozon: “Well, listen, I don’t want anybody to hate him either. I’ve played the character one way and one way only since the beginning of the show: that’s hell-bent on revenge and that’s toward the Stone Witch. As we get closer to Doc finally dealing with that, he’s got blinders on. He’s got one vision and if anybody gets in his way, unfortunately Doc is not going to stop until he gets that witch. That’s all I’m going to say.”
While he was down at the bottom of that well for all of those years, what was he thinking about? Was anything else on his mind other than revenge?
Tim Rozon: “You know it’s funny because it’s the question everybody asks. I don’t know. Who can say? But for 130 years he was stuck down there. For me, he played it over and over and over in his head. I think Doc is that simple of a guy, just revenge, just anger. He wants revenge. I think if he had the choice of mortality – because right now he’s immortal – or in killing the witch, I think he knows which one he’s going to take. Because right now don’t forget we’re in the interesting situation where I believe he just shot the witch and then we saw he was injured himself, right? I don’t want to give away what happens or anything, but I’m just saying if he has a choice, he would take the witch’s death, even if that meant it was at the expense of his own.”
Tim Rozon as Doc Holliday in ‘Wynonna Earp’ (Photo by Michelle Faye / Syfy / Wynonna Earp Productions)
Can you talk about your fight scene with Shamier Anderson? That looked pretty hardcore.
Tim Rozon: “That was one of those scenes that I was dreading. Shamier Anderson is so good, he’s so physical, he’s so athletic, he loves that stuff. He’s so good at the choreography that I just knew he was looking forward to that for months. I was like, ‘Oh, my god, I’m going to just get toasted here. How am I going to do this?’ It’s a testament to Steve McMichael, the stunt coordinator, how awesome he was. We practiced this thing and Shamier was amazing with me. There was a stunt guy who was dressed up exactly like me and ready to go in and we never used him once. For me, that was one of my greatest accomplishments ever. You’ll see the scene and it’s two minutes long, trust me it was 10 hours. It is just Shamier literally beating the crap out of me and it was one of the funniest days I’ve ever had.
I need to say that the other actor Joris Jarsky who plays Whiskey Jim Byers and all the background performers, they were so amazing that day. They were so into it energy-wise that honestly me and Shamier really fed off them. We were just blown away. I couldn’t even hear the director say cut or action. We couldn’t. Everybody was just going that bananas and they were so into it that it really just was this thing and we just fed off it and we went for it. Stuff happens, yeah, you get hit here or there, but in the scene you don’t care about it. We just went for it and it was this amazing thing. When I finally saw it last week I was like, ‘It just looks freaking amazing.’ I was super proud and happy I did all of that myself. I did it all pretty much myself.”
Congratulations on surviving it!
Tim Rozon: [Laughing] “Yeah, I know, surviving it. Don’t get me wrong, Shamier was already probably at the gym the next day while I was taking Epsom salt baths.”
You speak absolutely nothing like your character. How did you come up with that specific cadence for Doc?
Tim Rozon: “I can’t explain. I don’t know. He was just there. Sounds cliché but I was just born to play this character. I can’t explain it. I can’t even do it for you now. It wouldn’t even be to. I can’t. It’s just I have that mustache, I put that hat on, I put my guns on, I walk out of my trailer, and boom, he’s there. Just there.”
What can you say about the evolving relationship with the Earp sisters?
Tim Rozon: “I can’t give anything away but I will say this, Emily Andras is amazing. She is the showrunner and the head writer on this show. She is going to take everybody on a voyage. Every storyline, no matter how you think it’s insignificant or small will get dealt with by the finale. Every storyline. It’s all coming. Everybody just needs to be patient and remember you’re in good hands because Emily Andras is genius.”
When you get your scripts are you always amazed at what’s in store for Doc?
Tim Rozon: “Of course.”
Has there been one in particular that’s blown you away?
Tim Rozon: “There’s been so many. I remember when I first got the episode with Dolls and you see him taking the drugs. His eyes change and I was wondering what’s going on with Dolls. There have been so many moments where I’m blown away because I’m honestly a fan of the show. It’s weird because I know I’m in it, but I’m such a fan of it. It’s crazy. It’s kind of like I get outside of it and I’m reading the stuff and I go, ‘What?!’ It’s weird because I’m more drawn to the other storylines. I’m a big fan of the Dolls/Wynonna relationship, too. I want to see something happening there because I find their chemistry actually really magnetic. I find it more of a physical thing than a sexual tension there all the time between the two of them.”
I see more of a sexual tension between Doc and Wynonna.
Tim Rozon: [Laughing] “Well, I didn’t say there wasn’t that.”
Is there anything at all that you can tease about the season finale without of course going into any specifics?
Tim Rozon: “I honestly, like I said, put your trust in Emily Andras and she will take you there. Listen, everything is getting resolved, everything everybody wants some way or another is going to be there. Then there’s a bunch of sh*t that’s going to happen that’s going to blow everybody’s freaking mind. That’s the finale. Let me tell you, there’s things coming and people are going to be ripping their TVs out of the wall. Oh yeah, it’s coming.”
As a fan of Westerns, why do you think they’re so few and far between?
Tim Rozon: “I honestly don’t know. My favorite book ever is The Shootist. They made a movie of it a long time ago with John Wayne. He played him and that’s is my all-time favorite book. I’ve seen the movie only once, but a lot time ago, but book-wise it’s the greatest. I’ve always been a huge Western fan. I don’t know why.”
Wynonna Earp has a Western vibe without going overboard.
Tim Rozon: “I’m the only cowboy, honestly. I mean don’t get me wrong, everybody is a cowboy in one way or another, and Wynonna is a cowboy at heart and definitely in spirit. To be honest I’m the only one really who’s a cowboy. Like an honest to goodness cowboy. It’s an interesting dynamic.”
What do you think about Doc Holliday’s adjustment to life in 2016? Is there anything coming up that you can tease that he has a hard time with? Has that been fun to play?
Tim Rozon: “Yeah, to be honest, for me it’s one of the funnest things ever. You know, Doc Holliday’s not scared of a gun fight, he’s not scared of a bunch of demon Revenants, he’s not scared of any of these things. But he has no idea what a tweet is and he’s mystified by a cell phone. He doesn’t know what to think. We kind of saw it in episode eight with him having fun with the car and the wipers, and there will be more of these things. These are all of the fun little moments to have.
I like the way Doc, he’s so serious and he’s dealing with the revenge, but it’s nice sometimes when he has these moments where he’s kind of vulnerable in the sense that he’s from the 1800s. He’s from 150 years ago. He’s stuck here now and he has no idea how to use windshield wipers in a car. It baffles him which is funny. He just got out of a massive fight with Dolls who he knows might or might not be some super creature or whatever because he doesn’t know, but he knows something is up with Dolls and he’s not scared to fight Dolls. Then again he gets in a car and he tries to use wipers and he’s petrified. That’s Doc Holliday. It’s awesome.”
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Here’s our interview with the Wynonna Earp cast from WonderCon:
Amazon Studios and IFC Films have unleashed a new trailer for Wiener-Dog, the new film from writer/director Todd Solondz (Welcome to the Dollhouse, Happiness). The story follows one particular Dachshund as she goes through a series of owners. The cast of the unusual comedy includes Ellen Burstyn, Kieran Culkin, Julie Delpy, Danny DeVito, Greta Gerwig, Tracy Letts, and Zosia Mamet. Wiener-Dog will be walking into theaters on June 24, 2016.
The Plot:Wiener-Dog is a dark, starkly funny story of a single dog and the many different people she touches over her short lifetime. Man’s best friend starts out teaching a young boy some contorted life lessons before being taken in by a compassionate vet tech named Dawn Wiener. Dawn reunites with someone from her past and sets off on a road trip. After leaving Dawn, Wiener-Dog encounters a floundering film professor, as well as an embittered elderly woman and her needy granddaughter—all longing for something more. Solondz’s perversely dark comedy offers an appallingly honest look at the American experience, brought to life by its all-star cast.
Sterling K. Brown, Ravi Patel, Yvette Nicole Brown, Lauren Ash, Craig Ferguson, Mandy Moore, Retta, Malin Akerman, Grace Helbig, Lamorne Morris, Scott Foley, Jay Pharoah, and Sal Masekela (Photo by Trae Patton / NBC)
NBC’s 2nd annual Red Nose Day raised an astounding $31.5 million in donations from individuals and corporations. The donated money will go to assist kids in need in the United States as well as some of the poorest communities around the world. The funds were raised during the two-hour special and in advance of Red Nose Day through fundraising campaigns including the sale of Red Noses at Walgreens stores.
Craig Ferguson hosted the U.S. Red Nose Day broadcast with celebrities including Elton John, Julia Roberts, Paul Rudd, Jack Black, Ellen DeGeneres, Tracy Morgan, Blake Shelton, Will Ferrell, and Zac Efron taking part in helping to entertain the audience as well as encourage people to donate.
Other celebrities who donated their time to help raise money for kids in need included Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Jay Leno, Celine Dion, Kobe Bryant, Anna Kendrick, Seth Rogen, Bono, Ellie Kemper, Blake Griffin, Connie Britton, Mel B, Bill Gates, Tyler Perry, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Vince Vaughn, Sarah Silverman, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Kristen Bell, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Rose Byrne, Chloë Grace Moretz, Steve Buscemi, Danny Trejo, Adam Devine, Jane Lynch, and Minnie Driver.
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jeff Goldblum, Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, Scott Foley, Dax Shepard, Johnny Galecki, Mayim Bialik, Jay Pharaoh, Ben Feldman, Trevor Noah, Iwan Rheon, Chris Hardwick, Yvette Nicole Brown, Lauren Ash, Retta, David Morrissey, Jon Daly, Margot Robbie, Kate Micucci, Malin Akerman, Adam Pally, Tony Hale, Sal Masekela, Lamorne Morris and Grace Helbig were also among the celebrities who lined up to support Red Nose Day, as well as The Walking Dead cast members Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Ross Marquand, Josh McDermitt, Steven Yeun, Christian Serratos, Melissa McBride and Sonequa Martin-Green.
Red Nose Day was created by writer/director Richard Curtis (Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral) who served as an executive producer of the US special. John Irwin of Irwin Entertainment and Lily Sobhani also executive produced NBC’s Red Nose Day.
More on Red Nose Day, Courtesy of NBC:
Red Nose Day is on a mission to lift kids out of poverty. It has raised more than $1 billion globally in the last 25 years, and in the UK become a cultural phenomenon. Red Nose Day launched in the U.S. in 2015 as a special day to come together, have fun and make a difference for kids who are most in need.
In its inaugural year in America, more than $23 million was raised for the Red Nose Day Fund, with the money now at work in all 50 states across America and 15 countries internationally through programs to keep them healthy, safe, and educated. Funds raised have provided children with everything from clean water and their next meal to life-saving malaria nets in Africa, to vaccines to protect against preventable diseases.
All money raised for Red Nose Day goes to the Red Nose Day Fund, which then distributes grants to charities that benefit children and young people living in poverty. Half of the money will be spent right here in America on projects close to home. The other half will be spent in some of the poorest communities internationally. In 2016, partner charities include Boys & Girls Clubs of America; charity:water; Children’s Health Fund; Covenant House; Feeding America; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; National Council of La Raza; National Urban League; Oxfam America; Save the Children and The Global Fund.
Oscar Isaac in ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ (Photo Credit: Courtesy Twentieth Century Fox)
“You are all my children and you are lost because you follow blind leaders,” says En Sabah Nur (Oscar Isaac), the world’s very first mutant who has risen after thousands of years of lying dormant to bring about a new world order with himself as absolute ruler in the 2016 addition to the X-Men franchise, X-Men: Apocalypse.
After almost taking over the world back in ancient Egypt, En Sabah Nur was made dormant by the efforts and sacrifices of Egyptian warriors who recognized Nur for the false God that he is. Jump ahead to the year 1983 and En Sabah Nur is brought out of his ancient sleep by some misguided and foolish Egyptian locals and CIA operative Moira Mactaggert (Rose Byrne) who accidentally expose his resting place to the powers of the sun.
Back at Professor Xavier’s school for mutants, Jean Grey (Game of Thrones‘ Sophie Turner) keeps having nightmares of the end of the world. Professor Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) tries to convince her they are just dreams. Xavier also has his hands full teaching new student Scott Summers/Cyclops (Tye Sheridan) how to handle his powers of optic force beams which he’s just developed.
Back in Egypt En Sabah Nur cannot believe what has become of the world and that ordinary humans are in charge. The extremely powerful mutant sets out to recruit a team of mutants to follow him, including a grief-stricken Magneto (Michael Fassbender). The mutants will assist him in his plan to annihilate mankind and create a new world order with himself as its king. With En Sabah Nur set to claim what he believes is his rightful throne, it falls to a handful of the X-Men – Jean Grey, Professor X, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence), Beast (Nicholas Hoult), Cyclops, Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee), and Quicksilver (Evan Peters) – to team up and work together to stop him from bringing about the apocalypse.
Overly long and lacking originality, X-Men: Apocalypse suffers from a slow start, an uninteresting villain, and a tired and overused plot. Yes, once again it’s X-Men vs. X-men to save mankind from oblivion. Yawn.
The true crime of this entry in the X-Men saga is the utter and complete waste of an extremely talented cast. Jennifer Lawrence seems to be doing a walk-through as Mystique who goes around saving lost and abused mutants from mean and dangerous humans while constantly telling everyone that she’s no hero. Even when she hears how Magneto has joined the wrong side, Lawrence seems to just gaze off out into space showing no real emotion or concern for the one character she’s supposed to still feel a connection to. The extremely talented actor Oscar Isaac is almost unrecognizable under the make-up and CGI effects as the villain of the film, En Sabah Nur, the most powerful mutant of all time. It’s a shame the actor is cast in such a one-dimensional role with no real personality except that of a pompous, powerful jerk.
The best performance in the film is given by Evan Peters as Quicksilver (Marvel’s answer to DC’s The Flash) who portrays the loner hero as a smart-ass but caring young man who’s looking to reconnect with what little family he has left. In the most creative and entertaining scene in the film, Quicksilver races through Professor X’s school trying to evacuate everyone inside after the school is attacked and begins to explode. Shot in slow motion, Quicksilver still manages while saving people to take a sip of someone’s soda and help a young pretty girl from being French-kissed by a goofball student. It’s the most entertaining sequence of the otherwise unremarkable film.
With a one-dimensional (and boring) villain, unimpressive fight scenes, and a redundant story, X-Men: Apocalypse is a forgettable and unnecessary installment in the superhero series.
GRADE: C
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of violence, action and destruction, brief strong language and some suggestive images
