Bryan Cranston stars in ‘The Infiltrator’ (Photo Credit: Liam Daniel / Broad Green Pictures)
Broad Green Pictures debuted a new official theatrical trailer for The Infiltrator starring Bryan Cranston. The film’s based on a true story and has the Breaking Bad star working to take down drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. Directed by Brad Furman (The Lincoln Lawyer), The Infiltrator also stars Diane Kruger, John Leguizamo, Benjamin Bratt, Yul Vazquez, Joseph Gilgun, Olympia Dukakis and Amy Ryan. Broad Green’s set a July 13, 2016 theatrical release date for the dramatic thriller.
The Plot: Federal agent Robert “Bob” Mazur (Bryan Cranston) goes deep undercover to infiltrate Pablo Escobar’s drug trafficking scene plaguing the nation in 1986 by posing as slick, money-laundering businessman Bob Musella. Teamed with impulsive and streetwise fellow agent Emir Abreu (John Leguizamo) and rookie agent posing as his fiancé Kathy Ertz (Diane Kruger), Mazur befriends Escobar’s top lieutenant Roberto Alcaino (Benjamin Bratt). Navigating a vicious criminal network in which the slightest slip-up could cost him his life, Mazur risks it all building a case that leads to indictments of 85 drug lords and the corrupt bankers who cleaned their dirty money, along with the collapse of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, one of the largest money-laundering banks in the world.
Asa Butterfield stars as the first human being born on Mars in the sci-fi drama The Space Between Us. STX Entertainment’s released the first official trailer for the adventure film directed by Peter Chelsom (Shall We Dance, Hector and the Search for Happiness) from a script by Allan Loeb. In addition to Butterfield, the cast includes Gary Oldman, Carla Gugino, and Britt Robertson. The Space Between Us will be opening in theaters on August 19, 2016.
The Plot: In this interplanetary adventure, a space shuttle embarks on the first mission to colonize Mars, only to discover after takeoff that one of the astronauts is pregnant. Shortly after landing, she dies from complications while giving birth to the first human born on the red planet – never revealing who the father is. Thus begins the extraordinary life of Gardner Elliot – an inquisitive, highly intelligent boy who reaches the age of 16 having only met 14 people in his very unconventional upbringing.
While searching for clues about his father, and the home planet he’s never known, Gardner begins an online friendship with a street smart girl in Colorado named Tulsa. When he finally gets a chance to go to Earth, he’s eager to experience all of the wonders he could only read about on Mars – from the most simple to the extraordinary. But once his explorations begin, scientists discover that Gardner’s organs can’t withstand Earth’s atmosphere. Eager to find his father, Gardner escapes the team of scientists and joins with Tulsa on a race against time to unravel the mysteries of how he came to be, and where he belongs in the universe.
Do not read any further unless you have watch HBO’s Game of Thrones season six episode five titled ‘The Door’ which aired on May 22, 2016. You’ve been warned! Reaction among fans to the devastating events at the end of the episode prompted Jimmy Kimmel to ask series creator DB Weiss and David Benioff to issue a public apology to fans of the show. Seated on couches surrounded by money, Benioff and Weiss sincerely apologized not for killing off fan-favorite Hodor (played by Kristian Nairn) – by their count they’ve killed off over 700+ key characters – but for all of the idiots who will now shout “Hodor!” when going through a door. “We forgot how annoying people can be. That’s our bad,” says Weiss. “We should have seen that coming,” adds Beniof.
In other Hodor news, actor Nairn has been tweeting about the love shown by fans and about his time on the set of Game of Thrones. Fans have also been showing their support for the now-deceased character with tributes involving, of course, doors.
Hodor. Thank you guys,for the love,+ know that I love you back.I never dreamt of all this.Huge props to @SamColemanActor for an amazing job
John Irwin, President of Irwin Entertainment (Photo Courtesy of NBC)
Since launching in the UK 25 years ago, Red Nose Day has raised more than $1 billion to help out kids in need. In 2015, the annual fundraising event made its way to the United States, with NBC airing the first American-based Red Nose Day Special on May 21, 2015. The first-ever U.S. Red Nose Day brought in $23 million and according to executive producer John Irwin, President of Irwin Entertainment, the goal set for the 2016 broadcast is $30 million.
Airing on Thursday, May 26th at 9pm ET/PT, the 2016 Red Nose Day Special will be hosted by Craig Ferguson and will feature appearances by celebrities including Elton John, Julia Roberts, Will Ferrell, Blake Shelton, Ellen DeGeneres, Jack Black, Tracy Morgan and Kobe Bryant. Also set to help raise much-need funds for designated charities are Paul Rudd, Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Jay Leno, Celine Dion, Anna Kendrick, Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Bono, Ellie Kemper, Blake Griffin, Connie Britton, Mel B, Bill Gates, Tyler Perry, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Vince Vaughn and Sarah Silverman.
The list of celebrities on board is incredible, with the talent including Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Kristen Bell, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Rose Byrne, Chloë Grace Moretz, Steve Buscemi, Danny Trejo, and Adam Devine donating their time to help raise money for kids in the U.S. and in the poorest communities in the world.
For more information or to donate visit rednosedayusa.com.
John Irwin Exclusive Interview:
How did you initially become involved in Red Nose Day?
John Irwin: “I became involved because I’ve been doing quite a few things for NBC recently. I do the New Year’s Eve show for them every year. Then, I did the Burrows tribute with the cast reunion. Then they reached out to me, NBC did, to get involved in Red Nose Day and of course I met with Richard [Curtis] and hit it, and that’s kind of how it came to pass.”
Your schedule is loaded. Was it a tough sell to get involved in a special this big?
John Irwin: “No. Here’s the thing, to be able to work on something that, literally, the hope is that we are going to raise north of $30 million this year to help kids across the country. I don’t know how you’d say no. That’s something for me to get behind; something like that is amazing. The fact that it is combined with comedy, which is obviously one of my passions, it’s kind of a dream job.”
$23 million right off the bat from the US version’s first year is a huge number. Of the $30 million you’re hoping to raise this year, how much of that is actually brought in by sponsors ahead of time and how much of that will come from the public donating while being entertained during the broadcast?
John Irwin: “Well, Walgreens does a huge nationwide campaign. You can walk into any store and they are selling red noses and all kinds of stuff. They are definitely a big driving force behind helping to raise money. Then there’s quite a few other sponsors out there. But we’ve got a really, really powerful show this year. It’s got really good comedy with really big names. I mean we’ve got Tracy Morgan, who is doing a piece, Key & Peele, Sarah Silverman, Jack Black, Margot Robbie, and then we’ve got Bono, Will Ferrell, Julia Roberts, and Ludacris. Julia went to Phoenix and Ludacris went to Atlanta to do appeal film pieces.
It’s a really jam-packed show with a lot of celebrities and a lot of funny comedy and a lot of really moving pieces. Based on that, I feel like it’s going to be hard for people watching not to want to make some kind of contribution.
The thing that I think for me which got me really excited about this project is that I think we are trying… I think one of the hard things for people is understanding where is the money going. We have really this year tried to spell out to the American public some the various things. One of the things we do is helping kids get meals. There are kids across the country who on the weekends literally have no food. It’s a pretty grave situation that we all who are privileged, and that’s most of us, don’t really think about.”
When you are putting together a special like this, how difficult is it to find the right balance? You’ve got to entertain people, you’ve got to give them some things to laugh at, but you also are putting across a very important message while raising funds for charities. How difficult is it to find that balance?
John Irwin: “I mean, it has been very difficult. I think that really is the goal, is trying to find the balance. Obviously, the other piece of it is the transition from comedy to the moving stuff. You know what I mean? It’s what we’ve spent most of our time working on, quite frankly. Like you just said, we want a show that’s going to entertain people. You don’t want to get too dark or too depressing that you have to turn the TV off, so that’s the biggest challenge.
Then, there’s that coupled with the fact that we’ve got 11 comedy sketches – pre-taped comedy pieces – in the show. That alone is a challenge, to get funny comedy. But it’s all kind of coming together magically. It’s all very exciting.”
At this point, do the celebrities just pretty much line up and volunteer to be involved? I would imagine you don’t have to beg people to be on the show.
John Irwin: “They really have. It’s been an amazing experience. It’s just a great thing. I think that’s really kind of what the show represents, that this is Hollywood getting behind and trying to help. Everybody is doing it for free. We’ve got Craig Ferguson and, Paul Shaffer. Craig is hosting and Paul’s the house band. We have Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis who literally have said they just want to do the phone bank. They didn’t want to come on and do a comedy piece, they really just wanted to take phone calls. It’s stuff like that where you just think, ‘My god, it’s so amazing.”
Craig Ferguson (Photo by: Paul Drinkwater/NBC)
Why is Craig Ferguson the perfect host for this year’s show?
John Irwin: “That’s another big challenge is trying to find a comedic personality. You need a comedic personality who knows how to host, who can handle the business of a live show, who has comedy chops, and who also has heart and can go from funny one moment to very sincere the next. I think that’s really what Craig brings. In working with him, he’s amazing. He takes this stuff very seriously. We are just so lucky to have him. And Paul – I think Paul’s going to be great. Paul’s a legend.”
How many months in advance have you been working on this?
John Irwin: “We started working on it I would say in January, just from the standpoint of staffing and stuff like that. It’s a pretty massive endeavor because there are so many moving parts. You’ve got the comedy pieces and then setting up these appeal films and coordinating Julia Roberts going to Phoenix to go meet with different families and Ludacris. That’s like a whole endeavor in of it itself are these are shorts they’re doing.”
That’s a lot to put together logistically. How are the charities chosen? How do you select who’s going to receive the funds raised from Red Nose Day?
John Irwin: “The Red Nose Day Group which has obviously been in existence for north of 30 years, it started in the UK. They have a huge initiative that for years they have been [handling]. That is something I have been less involved with because they are really the ones who know how to properly get the money out and make the right connections. When the show came to the US, they plugged into additional charities and they’ve got a great program in place for that.”
Do you believe the Red Nose Day special will continue to air annually on NBC? Will it stick around the way it has in the UK?
John Irwin: “This is the second year and I think with the help of NBC and Walgreens, definitely more and more people are getting to know about it. My hope is this becomes our Jerry Lewis Telethon. You know what I mean? It goes on and on and on because it is such an amazing cause. That’s why it needs to go on. I think it’s our job to do whatever we can to make it entertaining so that it sticks here.”
I think one of the surprising things was that it was solely in the UK for so long and it finally came to America. It seems like it was a natural fit for American audiences all along.
John Irwin: “Yeah, it’s so true. That’s a good question and I don’t have the answer to why did it take so long to get here? Who knows? Just the fact that they raised north of $20 million last year. In my mind, if we can get to 30, that will be a huge milestone. God knows, in a couple years hopefully it builds to over $100 million. The thing that’s crazy is you realize that for a dollar you can feed a kid. Like, the money that people are giving makes such a huge impact. That’s the part that’s so staggering. The smallest amount of money can really change things.”
Is that the part of all this that surprised you the most is the actual impact on the people that you are helping out?
John Irwin: “Oh my God, 100%. Last year, Jack Black went abroad and did a piece where he met this kid, Felix. Because of Red Nose Day and what they did last year, Felix is now in a totally different situation and we have a follow-up on him this year. To see it actually working, I think that is fantastic. Our biggest initiative this year has been to be really help educate people as they are watching the show to understand, ‘Okay, I see that you raised $20 million. What does that mean? Where is it going?’
Also, for them to understand that a couple dollars can make such an incredible difference for kids. That’s something that I didn’t realize. I’ve always felt like problems were, to a certain extent, insurmountable. We’re trying to spread the message out there that we are talking about lives and kids who are literally dying. An expensive meal out for somebody can change a kid’s life for months.”
Matthew Rhys as Philip Jennings and Keri Russell as Elizabeth Jennings in ‘The Americans’ (Photo by Patrick Harbron / Copyright 2016 FX Networks)
There’s good news and bad news for fans of FX’s critically acclaimed dramatic series The Americans. The network announced they’ve renewed the award-winning series for two more seasons, however they’ve also confirmed season six will be the show’s final season. Season five will air in 2017 followed by the show’s final season in 2018. Season four is currently airing on Wednesdays at 10pm ET/PT, with three all new episodes remaining. The finale will air on June 8, 2016.
Season five will consist of 13 hour-long episodes. Season six will finish up the show’s run with 10 episodes. The Americans was created by writer/executive producer Joe Weisberg. Joel Fields also writes, executive produces, and is a co-showrunner with Weisberg. Graham Yost, Chris Long, Stephen Schiff, Justin Falvey, and Darryl Frank are involved as executive producers.
“Through its first four seasons, critics have lauded The Americans as one of the best shows on television and, remarkably, a series that keeps getting better every year,” said Eric Schrier, President of Original Programming for FX Networks and FX Productions. “All credit for that achievement goes to everyone who has worked on the show, and especially Co-Showrunners Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields, Graham Yost, our brilliant stars Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Noah Emmerich, Allison Wright, Holly Taylor, Annet Mahendru and the ensemble cast for their incomparable performances every season. We have no doubt that this two-season order will allow Joe and Joel to tell this story to its perfect conclusion. On behalf of our producing partners at Fox 21 Television Studios and Amblin TV, we look forward to a brilliant final act of the Jennings family saga.”
“I echo the sentiments of our friends at FX in congratulating Joe, Joel and everyone at The Americans on creating one of the most critically acclaimed, thought provoking and spectacularly acted television shows ever to be broadcast,” added Fox 21 Television Studios President Bert Salke. “It remains our privilege to partner with FX Productions on this series, and while we are already mourning the eventual end, we are grateful to FX for this generous two-season pickup that enables the show to go out on its own terms and gives the creators time to craft a final stretch as satisfying as the show itself.”
“It’s hard to believe we’re heading into the final stretch on The Americans, and we’re so grateful to know we’ll be telling the story to its conclusion,” stated Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg. “The best part of the last four years has been the intensive and fruitful collaboration with all of the people who make this show – the teams at FX, Fox 21 Television Studios, FX Productions and Amblin, our amazing cast, crew, and production team and our fellow writers. It’s a lot of people putting their hearts and souls into The Americans, at this point for a lot of years. We’re looking forward to the final two.”
The Plot:The Americans is a period drama about the complex marriage of two KGB spies posing as Americans in suburban Washington D.C. during the Reagan administration. The arranged marriage of Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell) grows more passionate and genuine by the day, but as the pressures and demands of the job grow heavier, the personal toll becomes almost too exhausting to bear. Having revealed their true identities to their teenage daughter Paige (Holly Taylor), Philip and Elizabeth must keep her best interests at heart while ensuring that their cover identities, and thus their lives, remain protected. Their previous missions have already placed Philip and Elizabeth in great jeopardy. Martha (Alison Wright), a valued secretary at the FBI whom Philip married while undercover, has been an invaluable source of intel. However, when her cover is nearly blown, Philip must make increasingly difficult decisions to ensure her safety and allegiance. The Jennings’ neighbor, FBI Agent Stan Beeman (Noah Emmerich), could also prove to be a renewed threat. His KGB lover/asset Nina (Annet Mahendru), having failed to turn him against the U.S., was sent back to Moscow to face an unsure fate. With Nina gone, Stan has made an effort to become closer with his family, and has formed a bond with the Jennings’ 12-year-old son, Henry (Keidrich Sellati). He has also cultivated his relationship with KGB officer Oleg Burov (Costa Ronin), behind the back of Oleg’s boss, Director of the KGB Rezidentura Arkady Ivanovich (Lev Gorn). Stan’s newfound dedication to wiping out Directorate S has also led him to become suspicious of Martha’s uncharacteristic behavior. As he begins to investigate what’s been in front of him all this time, he might finally get closer to uncovering the “Illegals” – Philip and Elizabeth – that have eluded him for so long.
It was a double feature of CBS’ action crime series Person of Interest‘s season five on Tuesday, May 24, 2016. The first episode titled “Qso” had Root (Amy Acker) being placed by the Machine to look after Max, a late-night radio talk show host who specializes in conspiracy theories and aliens. All the while Root keeps talking to the Machine, telling her she wants to focus on trying to find Shaw (Sarah Shahi) but the Machine is determined Root needs to protect Max.
It turns out that Max, along with one of his regular listeners, has been working on a coded static message that he discovered on his radio. He hasn’t been able to crack it but has decided to go public with it. This isn’t a good idea because it’s actually being created by…yes, you guessed it…Samaritan. So now Samaritan operatives are after poor Max, something Root is able to figure out after he lets her hear the code and she realizes it’s a way that Samaritan can communicate with its operatives.
When Root asks Reese (Jim Caviezel) to go check on Max’s regular listener after he called in threatening to kill himself, Reese enters his apartment only to discover the listener has been dead for over a week. The message had been digitally spliced together by Samaritan to create the suicide call. Reese is in the process of telling Root this when Max loses control of his broadcast board to Samaritan and it activates a spliced monologue of Max saying he’s going to off himself. Root realizes that Samaritan agents are on their way to kill Max so she works quickly to get Max out undetected by the security cameras at the station.
While Root and Max are heading down to the lobby via the back stairs, she calls Finch (Michael Emerson) and the two of them realize in talking that the code Samaritan is using may actually be a way for Root to get a message to Shaw. Root puts Max in the supply closet to keep him safe, telling him not to move until she comes back for him. Root goes back to the control room and, using a technological toy the Machine told her to “borrow” earlier in the episode, discovers it’s the printer in the room that has the Samaritan malware on it and is creating the signal. She uses it to send a coded message to Shaw hoping she will get it. Of course, just as Root is finishing Samaritan’s agents arrive.
Root says she’ll give up without a fight if she’s taken to the holding cell where Shaw is being kept. A computer’s voice comes across one of the radio speakers saying it can’t see Root (the Machine’s ID covers for her operatives and blocks Samaritan from seeing their true identity) but will agree to her terms. It’s then that Reese enters, shooting the two Samaritan agents and disconnecting Samaritan briefly from the control room. Root is not pleased with John telling him she was going to finally find Shaw. Reese responds by telling Root she can’t give herself to Samaritan, that she would be playing right into its hands.
Root and Reese offer to take Max back to meet Harold and get him a new identity but Max refuses. He now knows part of the truth that an AI is out there spying on the world and trying to control it. Root tells Max not to broadcast the signal or talk about it and that as long as he does that, he’ll be left alone by the deadly AI. Later when Reese and Root are back in the subway headquarters/hideout they hear Max broadcasting info on the signals and what they really mean. Reese starts to head off to the station but Root tells him the Machine says it’s too late. Max was poisoned while live on the air by the radio’s receptionist who it turns out is an agent for Samaritan.
When Reese and Root tell Finch what happened he’s angry they failed, but Root insists the real mission was to get a message to Shaw which she hopes they did and that Max made his choice. Harold is still extremely upset and asks the Machine if it warned Reese and Root about Max and the Machine declares Max exercised free will. Finch becomes even more upset, saying that using the idea of free will to excuse moral attrition is wrong.
GRADE: B-
The second episode titled “Reassortment” Reese is following a POI who ends up in the emergency room because he has what seems to be the flu. Reese tells Finch the Machine must have gotten it wrong but Finch is insistent that Reese should stay with him. That turns out to be a wise decision because not long after the man gets an injection to help fight off the flu, he passes out in the hall and dies. Reese flashes his NYPD badge and offers to help and the doctor who was treating the now dead man says she suspects it might be some weird virus. They’ll have to test his blood to see but the doctor advises everyone should remain in the emergency room until they know what they are dealing with. Reese, along with the security guard, lock down the emergency room.
Just before Reese is about to lock the back door, Finch shows up with Bear the dog. Finch believes Reese will need his help and he informs Reese that Root is back at their subway hideout trying to see when and where the POI came in contact with this new super virus. It turns out that once again Samaritan is behind this deadly Avian Flu super virus at the hospital. Samaritan is targeting two doctors who’ve been complaining about error messages and blips the automated computer system has been experiencing. Samaritan’s other big plan is to create an outbreak just big enough so that it will scare the public into being willing to give a DNA sample to the CDC. Samaritan has taken control over the CDC computer systems to categorize people and figure out where they would best fit in the world – if they do at all. Samaritan sends in Jeff Blackwell (Josh Close), an ex-con who’s been recruited by Samaritan agents, to be a low-level driver and grab-and-go guy to actually kill the two main doctors in the ER.
Meanwhile, Shaw has been going through simulation after simulation and is finding it hard to tell what is real and what is just another simulation. She did, however, receive Root’s message through the air conditioning unit which has given her newfound strength. Shaw digs a hole in her bathroom that leads to a tunnel that exits in a South African prison. She works with one of the inmates there to break out of the cell and continues to make a run for it until Agent Lambert catches up to her (he’s actually very impressed by her escape) and tries to convince her it’s all just another simulation. She calls his bluff and says, “Okay, then shoot yourself in the head.” He hesitates and tries again to convince Shaw it’s all just a simulation and she’s mixing up real memories with fake ones. Shaw doesn’t agree and shoots Lambert who falls to the floor, bleeding to death. “Don’t worry. The orderlies should be coming in any minute to take the electronic goggles off of me and you’ll be fine…or not,” taunts Shaw as she runs off. As she drives away in a truck, she turns on the radio and hears about the virus outbreak in New York.
Back in the Big Apple, Fusco survived the demolition and is finally out of the hospital but isn’t interested in working with Finch or John anymore, believing that they don’t respect or trust him enough to bring him into the loop. Fusco’s tracking Blackwell after getting a lead (thanks to Elias) about Blackwell driving to deliver the demolition explosives. He shows up at the hospital looking for Blackwell who, it just so happens, has been posted in the ER with two deadly syringes to use to kill the two doctors.
At the subway hideout, the Machine has found a cure to the super bug and gives Root the ID she’ll need to go get it and deliver it to the hospital. At the ER, Blackwell finally makes his move and ends up getting one of the doctors but Fusco tackles him and fights him off, getting stabbed with the other syringe himself. Blackwell runs off and is protected by Samaritan which gives him another cover ID. Root shows up with the cure just in time to save both the doctor and Fusco. (WHEW!)
At the police station, Reese tries to talk to Fusco who has boxed up his personal belongings. “What? Did they fire you?” asks Reese. Fusco tells him he’s getting a transfer that he requested. Fusco reiterates to Reese that he’s tired of not getting the respect he deserves from both he and Finch so he’s done. He also warns Reese not to tell him anymore to not do his job. Reese tries to tell Fusco that he and Finch are attempting to protect him, but Fusco points out that it’s not working. (C’mon, Team Machine! Bring Fusco into the loop already! There’s no way they can win against Samaritan without him.)
Finch pays a visit to Elias (Enrico Colantoni) to see if he gave Fusco the tip that almost got him killed. Elias admits to Finch he did and tells Finch that he’s going to need all his people in this war he’s fighting – not just his favorites. “War requires sacrifice,” says Elias to which Finch replies, “I’ll take it under advisement.” Elias warns Harold that underneath all his intelligence he is the darkest of all of them. He hopes that he’s not around when Finch’s pot finally boils over. Finch tells Elias he’s wrong,g but it’s clear that at least part of what Elias is saying is true and Finch knows it.
Review of Person of Interest episodes 7 and 8:
Suspenseful and engaging, episodes seven and eight move the series ever closer to the final showdown between the Machine and Samaritan, and finally has Shaw actually escaping to rejoin her friends in New York. (No more annoying simulation episodes! YES!) One of the stand-out performances once again belongs to Amy Acker as Root who starts to stand up to the Machine and even threatens to start ignoring it if it didn’t figure out a way to send a message to Shaw. It’s real growth for her character to care so much about her friends over the Machine who she used to think was god. The other stand-out performance goes to Sarah Shahi as Shaw who’s finally back in action and back to her old wise-cracking, ass-kicking self. The scene where she shoots Lambert is the true highlight of the double-header. Shaw pretending to be confused as to what is real or not so he will lower his guard is priceless.
With Shaw headed back to NYC and Samaritan trying to control and categorize every citizen in New York and soon the world, here’s hoping Team Machine is getting ready for the ultimate showdown.
A creepy teaser trailer has arrived for Morgan, a suspense horror film arriving later this year. The teaser trailer avoids showing the actual Morgan, but the poster puts the titular character front and center. Directed by first time feature film director Luke Scott from a script by Seth Owen, the cast includes Kate Mara (House of Cards), Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch), Toby Jones (Wayward Pines), Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones), Boyd Holbrook (Narcos), Michelle Yeoh (Marco Polo), Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight), and Paul Giamatti (Billions).
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.
Wow, just wow. Show of hands of those found themselves holding their breath multiple times during The Flash season two’s final episode. Episode 23 was a total game-changer that will make the wait for season three incredibly difficult to endure. Season two episode 23 titled ‘The Race of His Life’ revealed the true identity of the man in the iron mask, a twist that no one saw coming. It also found Zoom and Barry locked in a race with the future of the multiverse hanging in the balance. The season two finale airing on May 24, 2016 was a real white knuckle ride that featured Grant Gustin’s best performance in the series to date.
The Recap:
The episode picks up exactly where episode 22 left off, with Zoom (Teddy Sears) killing Barry’s dad, Henry Allen. Barry sinks to his knees, screaming and crying while Zoom says, “Now the two of us are the same.” The Flash responds by slamming Zoom into a wall in a rage which is exactly the reaction Zoom was hoping for. Zoom pushes past The Flash and the two take off on a race around the city, with The Flash getting the upper hand throughout the race. Then suddenly someone else enters the fray, taking down Zoom. It’s the real Zoom; the one who was defeated was just another time remnant. Zoom teases Barry by telling him there might be two Barrys at some point and he’ll just have to be ready to kill himself. “You’re almost ready,” says Zoom, speeding away.
The stormy weather is completely in keeping with the mood at Henry’s funeral. It’s all too much for Barry to handle and he can’t say the words he wants to at his father’s grave. Joe (Jesse L Martin) speaks, saying Henry suffered two great losses: his wife and Barry. But, Henry was also proof that love can get you through the darkest of days. “That love will keep him alive in all of our hearts,” says Joe. Barry kneels down, telling his father he will find Zoom and take from him what he took from his father.
Back at the West house, now that Wally’s (Keiynan Lonsdale) in on the secret he thanks Barry again for everything he’s done for him and for the whole city as The Flash. He also tells Barry if he ever needs anything, just say the word. Barry tells the gang they have to come up with a plan to take down Zoom, and Cisco (Carlos Valdes) points out Zoom has hidden talents they still don’t know about. Cisco can’t figure out why he keeps vibing Earth-2 being ripped apart. “It’s like I’m watching Transformers in 4D but like 10 times more realistic and with much better acting,” says Cisco, delivering what will undoubtedly be one of the best lines of the episode.
Barry and Iris (Candice Patton) step outside, and Barry says he thought he’d almost come to grips with his mom’s death when Zoom took his father. He doesn’t know how he’ll find peace with it, and Iris says he has to try or else it’ll tear him apart. As they’re sitting there, Zoom races by. Barry chases after him, even though Iris begs him not to. Zoom taunts Barry, saying there’s always more to take and Barry responds by telling Zoom he has to stay away from his friends and family. Zoom needs to be the best and challenges Barry to a race. If Barry wins, it’s all over and Barry can be the hero. If he doesn’t race, them Zoom will kill more of his friends. Zoom claims all he’s ever wanted was to know who is the fastest man alive. With that, Zoom speeds off.
Back at S.T.A.R. Labs, Barry delivers the race challenge news to the gang, and Cisco thinks in a crazy way it actually makes sense. Joe and Wells (Tom Cavanagh) don’t believe it, and Wells thinks a power amplifier (also called a magnetar) can be weaponized and that’s what has destroyed Earth-2 in Cisco’s vision. Zoom wants to siphon the energy off of the two speedsters to activate the amplifier, and that makes sense to Caitlin since Zoom told her he’s now measuring his success in the number of Earths he conquers. Wells thinks Zoom actually wants to take out not just Earth-2 but every other Earth (and there are an infinite number of those). One pulse will destroy them all, and Barry now knows he has to race Zoom and, most importantly, he has to win.
Joe pleads with Barry to change his mind and not accept Zoom’s challenge, suggesting the team will find another way to take down Zoom. Barry doesn’t want to take that chance. He won’t let anyone else die if he can prevent it, and Joe figures out Barry’s real motivation is that he wants to kill Zoom. Barry admits it and also admits he wants him to suffer first for everything he’s done. Joe tries to calm Barry down, but Barry will not back off the idea of racing Zoom. Joe apologizes as Wells tranquilizes Barry.
Barry wakes up to find he’s locked up and his friends are gathered outside the cell. Joe tells him he’s too angry and doesn’t have a plan, and they won’t let him out. Wells says if Barry races Zoom on Zoom’s terms, he’ll lose. Joe adds that they all made this decision together, but Cisco clarifies that he went back and forth and was a good “60/40” at first. Barry’s devastated and begs them not to keep him locked up. They walk away as Barry pounds on the door to be let out.
Wells says locking up Barry was the easy part – their plan to take down Zoom will be the hard part. Cisco tracks down Zoom via the computer and Caitlin (Danielle Panabaker) assures the team she’s ready to do her part. Caitlin will distract Zoom, Wells and Joe will hit him, Cisco will open the breach, and then they’ll push Zoom through it. (Nothing about this plan could possibly go wrong, could it?) All of this will take place without Barry’s assistance.
As Wells is loading up, Jesse (Violett Beane) asks her dad what’s next. She’s been thinking about it because of how Wells is when he’s around Team Flash, and Jesse knows he cares about the Earth-1 gang. But, she wants to return to Earth-2 to be with her friends. Jesse tells her dad it’s okay if he stays on Earth-1 as long as he’s happy.
Team Flash minus the actual Flash get into position. The bait (aka Caitlin) is in place and she calls out for Jay. He appears and the gang prepares to do their parts. Caitlin tries to convince him she’s there alone and begins to move toward Jay as she speaks. Caitlin gets closer to Jay, telling him she has darkness in her just like Killer Frost. Caitlin says she’s ready to accept who she really is and apologizes for hurting him. He seems like he’s falling for it but then suddenly says it’s too late. Fortunately, as he’s ready to attack we discover Caitlin is just a hologram. Team Flash starts attempting to take Jay down, but Joe’s weapon jams and he has to plunge the tranquilizers into Jay up close. The breach opens and not only is Zoom sent through but Joe is also now on his way to Earth-2!
Cisco vibes to check on Joe but can’t see him. Cisco’s going to keep trying but it’s like his brain is channel surfing. The team also failed to turn off the magnetar as they had planned. If they attempt to move it now, Earth-1 will be history. Wally walks in and Iris has to break the news that their dad is with Zoom on Earth-2. Wally didn’t know about the plan or that they attempted to pull it off without Barry’s help. Wally, obviously, wants to retrieve his father but Iris explains they all agreed that if they got Zoom off this Earth they would close the breaches and never open them again – no matter what. Wally didn’t agree to it and will not let this stand. He leaves the room, angry and confused.
On Earth-2, Jay has Joe locked up which Jay believes means he’ll now get Barry to agree to the race to save his only surviving dad. Joe says no way and that he made sure that wouldn’t happen. Joe wants to know who the man in the iron mask is and Jay finally reveals the man’s secret identity. He explains how he got his powers and became the fastest man alive, but that he wanted more. He created Velocity-9 which made him fast enough to run to other Earths. On one of those Earths, he discovered the man who is now in the iron mask. After figuring out the V-9 was killing him, he tried everything including manipulating the speed force. The man in the iron mask was brought to Earth-2 so Zoom could steal his speed and then Zoom found Barry, took his speed, and now the man in the iron mask is really just a trophy. Zoom got so tired of being the villain that he borrowed the man in the mask’s name – Jay Garrick. Zoom threatens that after he proves he’s the fastest man alive, Barry will be forced to rot in a cage like the one Jay is in now, gloating that then he’ll have two Flash to keep him company.
Back on Earth-1, Wally frees Barry from the cell because he needs his help. Wally and Barry join the team in the lab, and Iris is pissed at her brother for breaking Barry out. Barry’s mad at everyone for letting Zoom take Joe, still believing it would have been better if he just raced Zoom in the first place. Cisco tells Barry he’s not in control of himself right now and they’re worried he’s too emotional and angry to handle Zoom at this moment. Caitlin reminds Barry that he kept her in check and told her to stop and take a breath. Wells says if he’s doing this for revenge, then he will lose. But Barry says no matter what he has to beat Zoom, even without their help.
The team reluctantly agrees and Cisco vibes The Flash to Earth-2. The Flash tells Zoom the race is on, but only if Joe is returned completely unharmed. Zoom agrees but adds that he won’t release Joe until after they’ve raced. A deal is struck.
Team Flash meets up with Zoom who kept his end of the bargain and has Joe. Wells tells him they know his plan, but Zoom says he doesn’t want to destroy every Earth. He’ll leave Earth-1 because it’s the access point to every other Earth. “I need to have some place to hang my cowl,” says Zoom. Barry promises he’ll save Iris and Wally’s dad, and Wally corrects him and includes Barry as Joe’s son, too. Although Barry wants them all to go back to S.T.A.R. Labs before the race begins, they refuse. Wells says he believes in Barry and Iris tells Barry to kick Zoom’s ass.
Zoom explains how the race will go and that for Barry to win he has to stop Zoom from powering up the magnetar. If Barry calls off the race at any point, Joe and the rest of Team Flash will be killed. And they’re off! Zoom seems to be winning and the magnetar is close to being powered up when a time remnant joins Barry to help him out. The Flash frees Joe and Zoom slams Barry to the ground, enraged, telling him he’s too late. The magnetar looks to be fully charged but Barry’s time remnant is still running around, creating his own pulse. His body won’t be able to handle it and he’ll die, explains Wells, as the remnant continues to run while burning up. Fortunately, what he managed to do was enough to stop the magnetar, which further enrages Zoom. Now it’s time for hand-to-hand combat and this time Barry has the upper hand. Zoom reminds him he’s a hero and therefore he can’t kill someone and Barry agrees, saying, “I won’t have to,” as the speed wraiths arrive to deal with Zoom.
Back at S.T.A.R. Labs Wally tries to figure out how Barry ran back in time to make a remnant while Barry explains his master plan. Wally’s still confused and Barry says the time remnant was willing to sacrifice himself for them. Wally laughs, knowing this is beyond him at this point, and tells Barry he’s just happy he’s safe.
And now it’s time for the huge reveal… Wells and Cisco trade insults as they work to free the man in the iron mask. They remove the mask and he faces Team Flash to reveal the real Jay Garrick is Barry’s father’s doppelgänger. Barry leaves the room in tears, with Joe hot on his heels. Barry can’t believe he looks just like his father, and Barry remembers his father’s mom’s maiden name was Garrick but he never put two and two together. Joe reminds Barry that this man doesn’t know he is Barry’s father’s doppelgänger and Joe says he’ll ask Garrick to leave if this is too upsetting for Barry. Barry just asks for a minute to recover from the shock.
Back in the lab, Cisco explains to Jay that he didn’t have his powers because there was a dampener in the mask. Without the mask, Jay has his powers back and he also has his speedster suit. However, he explains the helmet was all the fake Jay’s creation. When Wells says it stands for hope on Earth-2, Jay decides he might just use it after all. Placing the helmet on his head, the outfit is now complete. Jay thanks them all, and especially The Flash, for saving them from Zoom. He’d like to go home to Earth-3 and Cisco says he can get him to Earth-2. Wells and Jesse volunteer to help him get to Earth-3 from there, which means the Wells family is heading back home to Earth-2. The gang take turns hugging Dr. Wells, and he stops to say goodbye to each of them before taking off. Cisco says, “Don’t be surprised if I project myself over to Earth-2 every once in a while just to throw your stuff across the office,” and Wells and Cisco share a laugh. Jesse and Wally also share a hug before Jay, Dr. Harrison Wells, and Jesse head off through the breach to Earth-2.
At the West house, the team is relaxing except for Barry. He steps outside to sit on the porch and Iris follows. Barry confesses he just can’t stop thinking about his dad’s doppelgänger. Somehow it’s just made him miss his dad even more. They’ve won the Zoom battle but Barry doesn’t feel like a winner right now. Iris says maybe their relationship will help Barry heal, but Barry’s just not in the right mindset to actually try to be with Iris now. “I feel so hollowed out inside right now. I feel more broken than I’ve ever felt in my life,” says Barry, with tears in his eyes. He says he has to find peace before he can be with her, and Iris says she’ll wait for him because he’s always waited for her. She’ll be there whenever he gets back. Iris says she loves him and they share a beautiful, gentle kiss. “I love you, too, and I always will,” says Barry. Iris goes back inside and Barry looks in at his friends and family through the window. He whispers an apology to them and then races back through time to the night of his mother’s murder and this time he saves his mom. He looks up and sees The Flash from season one observing the action from the doorway. That time-traveling Flash briefly smiles and then fades away. Barry’s completely altered the past. He bends down to comfort his mother who has no idea at this point that this young man is her son.
Director R.J. Cutler (The World According to Dick Cheney) and producer John Battsek (Searching for Sugar Man) are teaming up with Showtime for a feature-length documentary on comedian/actor John Belushi. The documentary is being made with the full cooperation of John Belushi’s widow, Judith Belushi Pisano. Commenting on the documentary, Belushi Pisano said, “John Battsek and I have been discussing the possibility of making this film for over a decade. I’m thrilled to finally embark upon that journey together with him and director RJ Cutler. Passion Pictures is poised to make the definitive documentary on John Belushi – a man who not only had a profound effect on the comedy landscape of America, but also made an indelible mark on the social fabric of his time which continues to reverberate today.”
Cutler and Battsek are producing, and Belushi’s long-time collaborate Sean Daniel will executive produce with Bill Couturie. Filming’s expected to begin this fall.
“Belushi was one of my very first heroes. At a time when film, television, and music were undergoing tectonic shifts within American culture, he was at the center of it all,” stated Cutler. “At that moment, he had the number one show on television, the number one film at the box office, and the number one record on the charts. We plan to explore his unique genius and how his creative influence is still making an impact to this moment.”
“This is a film I have wanted to make for many years as John was a great hero of mine. Having Judy cooperate for the first time on a feature documentary of his life is very special and means we know we will be making a truly authentic film,” commented Battsek. “We plan to assemble a deep and three-dimensional look into the life of a man of great complexity and talent who went on to become an American comedic icon.”
A new trailer and poster have arrived for the action thriller Collide starring Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road) and Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything). Ben Kingsley and Anthony Hopkins co-star in the dramatic film from co-writer and director Eran Creevy. Collide, with Hoult back in full-on action mode, will open in theaters on August 19, 2016.
The Plot: After a heist goes terribly wrong, Casey Stein (Nicholas Hoult) finds himself on the run from a ruthless gang headed by mob boss Hagen (Anthony Hopkins). Now Casey has precious cargo that belongs to Hagen, who will stop at nothing to retrieve it. Left with no choice, Casey calls his former employer and drug smuggler Geran (Ben Kingsley) to protect his long-time girlfriend Juliette before Hagen gets his hands on her. Casey sets out on an adrenaline-fueled car chase on the German highways to save the love of his life before it’s too late.
