Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman and Rhea Seehorn as Kim in ‘Better Call Saul’ Season 2, Episode 1 (Photo Credit: Ursula Coyote / AMC)
As if there was ever any doubt, AMC and Sony Pictures Television made it official by announncing Better Call Saul starring Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks will return for a third season. Season one earned seven Emmy nominations and season two continues to earn rave reviews as well as big ratings for AMC, averaging 4.4 million viewers per episode. The network also confirmed Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould will remain on board as showrunners. Gould, Gilligan, Mark Johnson, Melissa Bernstein, and Thomas Schnauz executive produce the critically acclaimed prequel to Breaking Bad.
Season three will consist of 10 one-hour episodes.
“What Vince, Peter, Bob and the entire team have accomplished with Better Call Saul is truly rare and remarkable. They have taken one of the most iconic, immersive and fan-obsessive (in the best possible way) shows in television history and created a prequel that stands on its own,” said Charlie Collier, president of AMC, SundanceTV and AMC Studios. “Watching Jimmy McGill’s thoughtful, melodic and morally flexible transformation into Saul Goodman is entertaining and delighting millions of fans, whether their starting point was Breaking Bad or not. This series has its own feel, pace and sensibility and we can’t wait to see what this incredibly talented group comes up with next in season three.”
“It’s been an extraordinary show that lives up to its predecessor,” stated Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg, presidents of programming and production for Sony Pictures Television. “Vince, Peter, Bob and the team are delivering brilliant storytelling and we’re proud to have AMC as our partner for another well-earned season.”
The Better Call Saul Plot:Better Call Saul is set six years before Saul Goodman meets Walter White. When we meet him, the man who will become Saul Goodman is known as Jimmy McGill, a small-time lawyer searching for his destiny and hustling to make ends meet. Working alongside and often against Jimmy is “fixer” Mike Erhmantraut, a beloved character first introduced in Breaking Bad. The series will track Jimmy’s transformation into a man who puts the criminal in “criminal lawyer.”
Holly Taylor in ‘The Americans’ season four (Photo Copyright 2016, FX Networks)
Holly Taylor’s role on The Americans increased significantly when Paige (Taylor) began spending time with Pastor Tim and his congregation, suspecting her parents Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth (Keri Russell) of dishonesty. Now she’s found out the truth that they are KGB spies and the third season ended with Paige ratting them out to Pastor Tim.
Taylor made her Television Critics Association debut on an FX panel for The Americans this year. We got to speak with Taylor before the panel to learn more about Paige and to get to know more about The Americans star. The Americans returns on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at 10pm ET/PT on FX.
Holly Taylor Exclusive Interview:
After the season finale, when did you finally get to know what the aftermath of that would be?
Holly Taylor: “They didn’t give any heads up at all. Nobody knew where it was going. They never really do with this show. It’s always everyone’s on edge. So I found out while I was going back to shoot season four, which was in September/October. It was a hard summer trying to wait it out and see what was going to happen, but it was definitely worth it. They take everything in a direction you couldn’t imagine so it’s really cool.”
How did you feel about her decision to tell Pastor Tim?
Holly Taylor: “Right, when I first got that script that said that she was going to tell Pastor Tim, I was sad about it because she kind of betrayed her parents. Now she’s in this difficult situation and put her parents in danger. But at the same time, once I started to deconstruct it more and understand her character trail, you see, like any other teenager in real life, how would they have handled all that information that their whole life is basically a lie? It was kind of understandable what she did even though it wasn’t what the audience really waned. But it was realistic and sometimes it’s not always how we want things to go.”
Were you hoping she’d be more on board with the program?
Holly Taylor: [Laughs] “Yeah, I was, just because I wanted to be a spy. You know, all that fun stuff, but I was hoping she would be more on board. But when you think about it, realistically I guess she did what anyone else would do.”
Were you asking for more central storylines, or did they just fall in your lap?
Holly Taylor: “Oh no, I’m new to the TV thing. This is my first TV show so I just let them do what they want. I trust Joe and Joel. They’re amazing at what they do and all the other writers in the show. They always come up with amazing stuff so I just let them roll with it however they want. My character’s plot is becoming more thickened and bigger and I don’t mind. It’s a lot of fun.”
Whatever show you do after The Americans is going to have to be really great, isn’t it?
Holly Taylor: [Laughs] “I hope so. If I get anything else after this, it has a lot of expectations to live up to, especially with the cast and the crew and everyone being so nice. It’s going to be hard to live up to that and find another set that’s just as warm and friendly and welcoming as The Americans has been.”
How much do you relate to the idea of seeking guidance from a Pastor Tim-like figure?
Holly Taylor: “To be honest, I never really related to it that much because I do have a very strong relationship with my parents. Even my brother who’s eight and a half years older than me. We’re close. We hardly ever fight, so I’m always able to talk to my parents about anything pretty much. They’re always there for me. So it’s different to see someone like Paige who doesn’t have that stable home life. She has to go out somewhere to get that. So it’s different and it’s interesting to explore that necessity that she has to be able to talk to somebody else and not be able to come home where she’s supposed to feel safe and be able to trust the people around her. She can’t really do that that much.”
What did it mean to you that Paige got to meet her grandmother?
Holly Taylor: “That was a really cool scene. I really liked how they wrote that in there. I thought that was interesting. I thought that that would be something that was too difficult for the KGB to pull off or for them to get Paige to be able to leave the country like that. So I was really impressed with how they wrote that in there. I thought it was a really nice storyline and I feel like it was one thing that really brought Paige and Elizabeth closer together.”
Yeah, what did it mean for their relationship?
Holly Taylor: “Yeah, for their relationship, it really strengthened it. Paige sees her mom as somebody who’s a little distant from her sometimes, is kind of cold, standoffish. Obviously they both love each other very much. They’re family, but still, Elizabeth isn’t somebody she can talk to about her emotions all the time and get a completely compassionate answer. So to see her mother and how she reacted with her mother as a kid, to see how much she meant to her, I think that was a lot for Paige to see. It was like wow, my mom does have this compassion. This is how she was raised and that explains why her parenting style is like that with me. I think it explained a lot for her.”
When you auditioned for The Americans, were you going out for lots of pilots that year?
Holly Taylor: “I was auditioning quite a bit. That was the first year I started auditioning for film and TV, so I was in California and I sent a tape to New York for The Americans and that was how I booked it. But I auditioned for a few other things so it was really cool.”
Did any of the shows you didn’t get make it on the air?
Holly Taylor: “I don’t think so. Maybe a few Disney pilots, but other than that, not really. I got very lucky.”
How much have you learned from your job on The Americans?
Holly Taylor: “I’ve learned so much. I mean, I’m sure there’s still so much that I can learn because I’ve only been on one set, but I’ve learned from Keri, Matthew, Noah and everybody, all the adults on set, how professional and humble and kind they are to everybody. They still do their jobs so well. Hollywood has that stigma of divas, but nobody on set is like that. They’re all just so kind and generous to everybody and they’re amazing at what they do. You don’t need to be demanding or harsh or anything in order to get your point across on screen. So it’s very inspiring to see them and learn from them and have that as my first experience.”
When your workload increased, was that a big adjustment for you?
Holly Taylor: “It’s interesting. It seemed like a big adjustment when you’re watching it, but as we were filming it, it was almost like it was building very gradually. So it all made sense as it was piling on. It was kinda just like I got to ease into it. But I go to school at the same time so the schedule did get a little heavier last year and it was harder to keep up.”
You were doing a lot of this before you were 18, so even if you wanted to work more, there were limits to your hours, weren’t there?
Holly Taylor: “Yeah, that did complicate things. Sometimes they would have to move a scene to another day if another one was taking too long. I’d have to get in my three hours of tutoring and all that fun stuff. It’s hard to work around the schedule but The Americans were really helpful with it.”
If that’s a heavy dramatic scene that you’re prepared for today and it has to be moved, how do you carry that preparation over?
Holly Taylor: “I guess you just put it away. Most of the time I kind of build it up as I get to set, so it’s not too hard to adjust things. I try to keep myself more adaptable because you never know what’s going to happen. Everything’s so up in the air all the time. But it is hard. Usually when you’re in the scene, that’s when you’re the most emotional, so I guess it’s just while you’re on the set that you dive into the character.”
Were you 18 for season four?
Holly Taylor: “Yeah, I was 17 I think for the first few weeks and then for the second and third episode I turned 18 somewhere around there. So I didn’t have to do my tutoring hours. I still have a tutor on set but the ADs didn’t have to worry about getting me back for 20 minute blocks, make sure I get three hours in a day and they could keep me for however many hours they want, lucky them. It’s a lot more convenient for everyone this year.”
Is that a better way to work for you?
Holly Taylor: “I guess it is. It’s nice because I can just do the homework that I have and then be done instead of all my homework’s finished but I still have to make up an hour and a half so I just sit there staring at the tutor. My mom’s still on set with me. I like her to come with me everywhere. Even though I’m 18 it’s very helpful so not too much has changed, but they’re still lenient with my schedule. They understand that I’m in my last year of high school and I still have a life outside of there. So they’re very considerate.”
Do you ever miss the mandated breaks?
Holly Taylor: “Maybe a little bit. Usually not because my breaks are always for homework or something. I guess I have a little more freedom in a way.”
Besides Paige, what would be your dream role?
Holly Taylor: “Oh God, that’s such a hard question. My dream role… I would like to do some comedy. I’ve always loved comedy. That’s one of the classes that I took more than drama ever. I only really took comedy classes, so drama was new for me in a way. Comedy is something that I think is really fun and I enjoy and it might be nice because I’ve been in drama for so long to show that I can do something else. I like to try a little bit of everything so hopefully I can jump into that sometime.”
Would you ever want to do a big franchise like a Hunger Games?
Holly Taylor: “Maybe. The Hunger Games are amazing movies. I love them myself, went to all the midnight premieres and I love Jennifer Lawrence so it’s done amazing things for her and her acting career so you never know.”
Do your high school friends watch The Americans?
Holly Taylor: “There’s a few people who do but most of the time it’s their parents. So if I go to someone’s house, their parents are like, ‘Oh, I saw the episode last night.’ But a lot of my friends just completely forget that I’m even on a show which I love.”
What kind of high school do you go to?
Holly Taylor: “It’s a public high school. It’s pretty big. In my grade, there’s 330 seniors or something. At the same time, I try and know everyone. Everyone’s pretty much aware of who’s there so it’s not too big that you get lost, but it’s a pretty decent size. It’s a fun school. I like it.”
How big is your circle?
Holly Taylor: “I don’t really have a circle per se. There’s maybe nine, or six, or nine of my really close friends. And then I have a bunch of different other groups I dabble in. I don’t like to keep myself restricted. There’s so many people out there, it’s good to get to know everybody.”
Would you go to college?
Holly Taylor: “Yeah, I really wanted to go to college but it looks like I might have to do online college with the schedule that I have right now. That might just be the best option. So I just applied to Penn State because they have a really good online program. I’m waiting to hear back from them, but I also applied to local schools in New Jersey, so we’ll wait and see which one works out the best.”
What would you like to major in?
Holly Taylor: “I wanted to major in psychology but then a lot of people are majoring in that and there’s not many jobs to get for it anymore. So that would’ve been more difficult for me. So then I decided to do marketing, but then I also applied to the advertising and PR at Penn State so that could be something fun to do just as a backup. I’d still love to be an actress. That’s my number one of course, but it doesn’t always work out as everyone plans and you never know, so I’d like to have a solid backup to fall back on.”
When you’re on hiatus from The Americans, what are your high school weekends like?
Holly Taylor: “My high school weekends, I usually eat a lot of food. Like I’ll go to my friend’s house and we’ll bake something. We’ll go on adventures, try and find new spots in New Jersey that we can look for and watch the sunset from. We’re always finding new music. I love bonding with people over music. Just anything that comes along, you know.”
Have you been to proms and homecomings?
Holly Taylor: “Yeah, last year I had my junior formal and that was in March. We usually finish shooting the season in March sometime so I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to go. But we told them that I had a dance that day and I was like, ‘If there’s any chance at all that I can not be working that day, that’d be really good.’ Because you have to go to school in order to be allowed to go to the dance, so even if I left at night I wouldn’t have been allowed to go. It all ended up working out. I went to my formal, and this year I have prom but that’s in June so hopefully that’ll go a little smoother.”
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is taking steps toward its new diversity goals with the addition of three new Board of Governors members. Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs made the announcement of the new Board of Governors members and also revealed the names of six individuals who will be added to different Board committees. The push for diversity in the Academy membership came after the 2016 Oscars once again registered zero nominations for actors who aren’t white, with the popularity of the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite helping to move the Academy into taking action this year.
Boone Isaacs announced Reginald Hudlin (Directors Branch), Gregory Nava (Writers Branch) and Jennifer Yuh Nelson (Short Films and Feature Animation Branch) were appointed governors on the Academy’s Board. They will each serve three year terms. “I’m proud of the steps we have taken to increase diversity,” said Boone Isaacs. “However, we know there is more to do as we move forward to make this a more inclusive organization.”
In addition, the following Academy members were added to the six Board committees that, per the Academy, “provide oversight to specific Academy areas.” The members appointed are:
– Actor Gael García Bernal joins the Awards and Events Committee, chaired by First Vice President Jeffrey Kurland.
– Cinematographer Amy Vincent joins the Preservation and History Committee, chaired by Vice President John Bailey.
– Producer Effie Brown joins the Museum Committee, chaired by Vice President Kathleen Kennedy.
– Executive Marcus Hu and Animator Floyd Norman join the Education and Outreach Committee, chaired by Vice President Bill Kroyer.
– Executive Vanessa Morrison joins the Finance Committee, chaired by Treasurer Jim Gianopulos.
– Producer Stephanie Allain joins the Membership and Administration Committee, chaired by Secretary Phil Robinson.
The Academy Board also confirmed each branch executive committee will determine the criteria for active members based on January’s announcement of new guidelines. The Academy says active Oscar voters are:
– those who have worked in the motion picture industry in the last 10 years;
– those who have worked anytime during three 10-year periods whether consecutive or not;
– members who have won or been nominated for an Oscar®.
Elisabeth Moss and Tom Hiddleston star in ‘High-Rise’
Magnolia Pictures is set to release High-Rise via OnDemand on April 28, 2016 followed by a theatrical release on May 13th, and today they’ve unveiled a new trailer for the dramatic film based on J.G. Ballard’s bestselling novel. Directed by Kill List‘s Ben Wheatley and adapted for the screen by Amy Jump (A Field in England), High-Rise stars Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller, Luke Evans, Elisabeth Moss, James Purefoy, and Keely Hawes.
The Plot:High-Rise stars Hiddleston as Dr. Robert Laing, the newest resident of a luxurious apartment in a high-tech concrete skyscraper whose lofty location places him amongst the upper class. Laing quickly settles into high society life and meets the building’s eccentric tenants: Charlotte (Miller), his upstairs neighbor and bohemian single mother; Wilder (Evans), a charismatic documentarian who lives with his pregnant wife Helen (Moss); and Mr. Royal (Irons), the enigmatic architect who designed the building. Life seems like paradise to the solitude-seeking Laing. But as power outages become more frequent and building flaws emerge, particularly on the lower floors, the regimented social strata begins to crumble and the building becomes a battlefield in a literal class war.
Poster for ‘Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children’
The first official trailer has arrived for the fantasy adventure film Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children along with the movie’s theatrical poster. The 20th Century Fox release was directed by Tim Burton (Alice in Wonderland, Corpse Bride) and adapted from Ransom Riggs’ book by Jane Goldman, with Eva Green (Penny Dreadful), Asa Butterfield (Ender’s Game), Ella Purnell (Kick Ass 2), Allison Janney (Mom), Terence Stamp (Big Eyes), Rupert Everett, Judi Dench and Samuel L. Jackson starring. Fox is releasing Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children in theaters on September 30, 2016.
The Plot: From visionary director Tim Burton, and based upon the best-selling novel, comes an unforgettable motion picture experience. When Jake discovers clues to a mystery that spans alternate realities and times, he uncovers a secret refuge known as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As he learns about the residents and their unusual abilities, Jake realizes that safety is an illusion, and danger lurks in the form of powerful, hidden enemies. Jake must figure out who is real, who can be trusted, and who he really is.
Christina Aguilera on ‘The Voice’ (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC)
Grammy winner and coach of The Voice Christina Aguilera is teaming up with Spike TV for a new game show titled Tracks. Described as an innovative, music-based series, Tracks will be executive produced by Christina Aguilera, MX Productions founder Matthew Rutler (MasterClass), Michael Agbabian, and Dwight D. Smith (Hollywood Game Night). The series was developed by Neal Tabachnick and Michael Aubry with Mission Control Media. Spike TV is aiming to introduce the half-hour game show with a special airing later this year.
“Having finely tuned my ear for music over the years, I thought it would be fun to test other folks and see if they can identify a track – with a twist – since contestants will have to focus on a single component of a song,” said executive producer Aguilera. “I’m excited to have Tracks debuting on Spike TV, and proud to have this as the first project springing from our first-look deal with Lionsgate.”
Details on Tracks:Tracks is an innovative musical game show where a team of two attempts to name a song title just by listening to its individual tracks (e.g. guitar, bass, vocal, etc.). The series will also feature surprise celebrity musical guests performing tracks – which could be their own – or others.
More on Christina Aguilera, Courtesy of Spike TV: “One of the most accomplished performers of the last decade, Christina Aguilera has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, achieved four No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and won six Grammy awards. She has also received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has had the prestigious honor of being named the only artist under the age of 30 included in Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of the 100 greatest singers of all time. In 2011, she entered the world of TV as a coach on NBC’s Emmy Award winning show The Voice. Christina continues to use her voice for good. She has served as global spokesperson for Yum! Brands’ World Hunger Relief effort since 2009 where her participation has helped raised $115 million for WFP and others, providing 460 million meals and saving millions of lives.”
Yes, we’re just two weeks away from April Fool’s Day but this is not a joke. Harrison Ford will once again reprise his role as Indiana Jones for a fifth film of the action adventure franchise. Disney has officially announced there will be a fifth Indiana Jones film and Ford and Steven Spielberg are reuniting to bring it to life on the screen. Spielberg will direct, Ford will star, and Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy will produce.
The fifth film of the blockbuster franchise doesn’t have an official title yet but it does have a release date. Disney’s set to launch the new Indiana Jones film in theaters on July 19, 2019. There’s no word yet on who, if any, of the previous Indiana Jones cast members will be reuniting with Ford and Spielberg for film number five.
“Indiana Jones is one of the greatest heroes in cinematic history, and we can’t wait to bring him back to the screen in 2019,” said Alan Horn, Chairman, The Walt Disney Studios. “It’s rare to have such a perfect combination of director, producers, actor and role, and we couldn’t be more excited to embark on this adventure with Harrison and Steven.”
The first film of the Indiana Jones series, Raiders of the Lost Ark, was released in 1981. Made with a budget of $18 million, the first film grossed $390 million worldwide before exiting theaters. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom followed in 1984, making $328 million at the box office. Film number three, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, opened in theaters in 1989, grossing $472 million overall during its theatrical run. And film number four joined the franchise in 2008 with Harrison Ford teaming up with Shia LaBeouf for long-awaited, much-anticipated Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. That film had a budget of almost $200 million and earned a franchise best box office take with $786 million.
“My name is Bruce Wayne. You killed my parents,” says Bruce (David Mazouz) to the hitman who gunned down his mother and father two years ago, and who Bruce has finally tracked down to kill, in episode 14 of season two of FOX’s gritty comic-book inspired crime thriller, Gotham.
As the episode begins, Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor) is suffering through another mental treatment at the hands of Dr. Hugo Strange (BD Wong). During the treatment, Penguin hallucinates that he’s tied to his old chair at home as his mother lectures him about eating his food, which is absurd since he is also gagged. Penguin then sees another version of himself sneaking up behind his mother and beating her to a bloody pulp with a baseball bat which causes the Penguin still tied to the chair to start screaming. In reality, Penguin is strapped down in the torture chamber (aka treatment room) while Hugo and Mrs. Peabody watch and comment on how successful the treatment to strip Oswald of his violent side seems to be going.
Down a dark alley walks a lone, slim figure approaching a young street woman. It’s Bruce who’s meeting up with Selina (Camren Bicondova) to get the gun he asked her to get for him. Selina hands Bruce the gun and he pauses before he takes it. “What? You asked me to get it for you! If you don’t want it, I’ll just…” Selina doesn’t have time to finish her sentence because Bruce takes the gun from her hand. Selina tells Bruce that guns are for one thing only and that it’s not protection. Slowly Bruce seems to be building both his confidence and determination although it seems that Selina is almost hoping he will change his mind.
Back at the GCPD, Lee (Morena Baccarin) approaches Jim (Ben McKenzie) about Kristen Kringle and she’s become worried because there hasn’t been any word of or from her since she ran off with Tom. Gordon tells Lee he’ll look into it and moments later approaches Ed Nygma (Cory Michael Smith) asking if he’s heard from her. Nygma asks if anything is wrong and Jim plays it off saying he’s following up because she hasn’t cashed any of her paychecks for over a month.
Jim gets a call and has to leave and no sooner is he is gone than Nygma starts to talk to himself as his dark side surfaces, saying that Gordon is on to him and is trying to trick him to reveal what really happened to Miss Kringle.
At Arkham, Penguin takes his lunch tray and sits across from another inmate. The hulking man notices that Penguin has ice cream on his tray and thus begins the ice cream experiment, with Oswald commenting that it’s strange he has ice cream. The very large inmate gets more and more upset about Penguin having ice cream when he doesn’t have any, and Penguin tries to offer the man his ice cream but gets attacked by him and is finally saved by the guards after being told to intervene by the ever-watching Dr. Strange.
On the streets of Gotham, Alfred (Sean Pertwee) and Bruce find a man nicknamed Cupcake at his makeshift fight club. It seems that this man should know the whereabouts of Matches Malone, the man who killed Bruce’s parents. Bruce interrupts Alfred, who is doing a solid job of talking to Cupcake to try to get the information, and reveals who he is and offers Cupcake money for the information. Cupcake likes young Bruce’s determination and decides on $50,000 for the information and that Alfred has to fight him. Bruce offers Cupcake $100,000 and no fight, not wanting to see Alfred get hurt. But unfortunately, Cupcake is all about the fight and won’t talk unless Alfred beats him.
Alfred, none too happy with Bruce, tells him to always pick your battles and not to have your battles picked for you. He gives the young man his coat as he takes on Cupcake who is twice his size. Alfred also uses the fight to teach young Bruce techniques in street fighting and how to use someone’s large size against them. Alfred wins the match but not before taking some serious hits. He winds up passing out right after Cupcake gives them the name of a person who will know where Matches is. Cupcake tells them they need to find Jeri.
Bruce takes Alfred to the hospital where Alfred tries to make Bruce promise not to go after Matches alone. But before he can make the young man promise, he passes out from his pain medication. Bruce leans in and whispers, “I’m sorry, Alfred,” and leaves on his mission to find Jeri and then confront Matches. When Alfred wakes and sees Bruce is gone, he calls Bullock (Donal Logue) and Gordon to finally include them in on his plan. Bullock is not too pleased with Alfred having left them out of the loop on the whole manhunt for the killer of Bruce’s parents.
When Alfred tells the two detectives how Bruce is going to try to kill the man and how he told Bruce that he would do it. Bullock says, “You know we’re cops. You’re not supposed to tell the police your plans on how you’re going to attempt to commit a murder.” Gordon still feels responsible, however, for all of this since he promised Bruce two years ago on the night his parents were murdered that he would find the killer, so he goes off to find Jeri.
Bruce finds Jeri (Lori Petty) at Celestial Gardens, which is a club that pays tribute to the Maniax as video clips are played of their evil acts against the city. Truly this is Gotham’s den of thieves. Jeri herself is covered in white makeup with a Joker-like smile painted on. Jeri already knows that Bruce is looking for Matches and asks if he has a good reason to find him. Bruce offers her money which she says she has no interest in. He then tells her he has a gun. She laughs and says that’s a good enough reason.
Just as Bruce is about to leave, Jeri tells him where to find Matches. Bruce asks her why she told him and she tells him that he is the “childish hand of fate” and that sort of makes her God in a way and who doesn’t like to play God after all?! On his way out of the club Bruce and Gordon see each other and Bruce tries to make a run for it, but Gordon grabs him and tells him he’ll handle it from here. Jeri spots Gordon holding Bruce and turns the spotlight on him, telling her club junkies to get him. They pick him up and carry him on top of the crowd as if they were at a concert and he was in the mosh pit. This allows Bruce to escape.
Back at Arkham, Dr. Strange tells Penguin that he’s almost cured and after only a few more treatments he will be a free man, which Oswald is happy to hear but really doesn’t want any more treatments. Hugo insists it’s the only way Penguin will be cured of his anger issues and Oswald agrees to it, not really having much of a choice.
Bruce makes his way to the address Jeri gave him and finds Matches apartment. Bruce makes up a story that he has a job for him so Matches will let him in. Matches (Michael Bowen) tells young Bruce that his price for killing a man is $10,000, double for women and triple for kids but that he doesn’t kill babies – that’s a deal-breaker. While Bruce talks to the man who killed his parents Gordon has Jeri and some of her partiers arrested.
Back at the GCPD Gordon is interrogating Jeri trying to find out where she told Bruce to find Matches. Jeri enjoys goading Gordon and trying to get him to lose his temper so he’ll hurt her, but Gordon is in no mood for games. Jeri asks him what time it is and when she looks at his watch, she says that she’ll tell him now and he should just make it in time for the cleanup. (I’m sorry but this whole scene is stolen from the now-famous great interrogation scene between Batman and the Joker in the film The Dark Knight.)
Back at Matches’ apartment Bruce reveals to the hired killer who he really is and how two years ago he killed his parents. At first, he doesn’t remember, which bothers Bruce, but when Bruce starts to talk about the murder in detail Matches remembers that night. Bruce tries to get him to tell him who hired him but Matches tells Bruce he has a “killer’s code” and that no matter what he does to him he won’t reveal his client. (Wow, won’t kill babies and would rather die than give up the evil person who hired him. And they say you can’t find good help these days.)
Bruce tries but just can’t pull the trigger because he realizes that Matches isn’t some monster but just a sad, pathetic man. He puts the gun on the table and leaves. As he walks down the hallway he sees Gordon and tells him which apartment Matches is in and it’s then they both hear a gunshot. Jim goes to investigate as Bruce walks on. Matches has committed suicide.
At Arkham, Penguin gets locked in the torture chamber again only this time he is not alone. The man who freaked out about the ice cream is there but restrained. Knives are on the table across from him and Penguin picks one up. Penguin comments on how sharp the knife is and the restrained man’s eyes get wide as he fears Penguin is going to use the knife on him. He doesn’t. Instead, Penguin cuts him loose and lets him have a drink of water. Penguin just passed Hugo Strange’s final test. He’s a free man.
At the GCPD Gordon is finishing up the file on the Wayne murder case when Ed approaches him asking about any leads on Kringle. Jim tells him they don’t have any but that he’s been preoccupied lately and when he does hear something Ed will be the first one he lets know. Nygma doesn’t believe Jim and as he starts helping another officer with a case Ed says out loud to himself that he – meaning Gordon – might have plans but that Ed has plans of his own.
Back at Wayne Manor, Alfred is looking for Bruce who left him a note saying that he has gone to live on the streets for a while with Selina. “You can’t kill murder. You can’t get revenge on evil. You can only begin to fight such things by not doing them. And you can only fight them where they live – not just at Wayne Enterprises – in the streets, the slums, in the bad parts of town. So that’s where I’m going.” He promises Alfred that he’ll be back and asks his good friend and mentor to trust him and not come looking to take him back. This leaves Alfred upset and not knowing what to do next.
In the final scene Nygma is at home with a newspaper that has a photo of Gordon with the title “Hero Cop.” Nygma circles the photo and draws a question mark. (The Riddler Rises!)
Gotham Season 2 Episode 14 Review
Dark and suspenseful, episode 14 titled “This Ball of Mud and Meanness” focuses on the change and growth, both good and bad, of three major characters in the show. Bruce finally finds and faces down his parents’ killer only to realize that simple revenge won’t be real justice for his parents and that it won’t give him peace. Oswald, through Dr. Strange’s weird treatments, might be a calmer, less-lethal Penguin or it might just be an act to get the hell out of Arkham and who could blame him? And Ed Nygma’s darker side seems to be taking over and the birth of the Riddler’s crime spree seems closer than ever.
The stand-out performance in this episode goes to David Mazouz as Bruce Wayne as he hunts down the man who killed his parents and finally gets to meet with him face-to-face. Mazouz’s performance is stellar as he shows how Bruce isn’t quite ready to take the gun from Selina early in the episode and slowly works up the confidence to not only carry the gun but almost pull the trigger and kill the hired goon who has caused Bruce’s greatest heartache, the death of his parents. This is without a doubt HIS episode and he truly shines in it.
With Penguin back out on the streets of Gotham, Nygma’s dark side taking over, and Dr. Hugo Strange experimenting with reanimation as well as other bizarre things, it seems dark and violent times are ahead for Gotham.
Alison Wright as Martha Hanson in ‘The Americans’ (Photo Copyright 2016, FX Networks)
After three years of Television Critics Association panels, FX finally added Alison Wright to the season four panel for The Americans. I have been wanting to talk to her ever since I saw Martha in season one. As Clark, Philip (Matthew Rhys) endears himself to Martha (Wright) by giving her romantic attention when all the men in her office make fun of her.
Martha has become a major part of The Americans and Philip’s double life. This season, she is finally confronted with what Philip/Clark really is after he’s murdered an FBI analyst to protect her. Showbiz Junkies got to speak with Wright before the TCA panel. The Americans returns Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at 10pm ET/PT on FX.
Alison Wright: “Oh yeah? You didn’t ask loud enough. You should’ve kicked up a fuss about it.”
So there are all these lines about how Martha is ugly, and I think you are lovely, so why did they miscast you?
Alison Wright: “Ohhh. There’s one particular story about a secretary and I think it was between East and West Germany. Hers was a case that everybody at work, she was seen in two drastically different ways. She was caught eventually and the Stasi officer confessed that it had all been a ruse and he was never in love with her. There was all of this controversy about her because everybody at work thought that she was this dowdy, plain secretary. And then outside she was this glamorous sexy woman. There was this disparity between the two things so I know they’re hitting on that to be truthful to that particular story in history. But I also look pretty rough in the show, I will say.”
I’m serious, Martha is my type. So when they cast that, how sensitive do they have to be to prep you for how the characters talk about her?
Alison Wright: “In the original breakdown, it just said that she was very plain. All my phones started ringing. They’re like, ‘This one’s for you, Alison.’ I have to just let that bit go.”
It sounds like in real life the spy wasn’t as sympathetic as Clark is.
Alison Wright: “Different ones. There are different cases. Some of them were super cold. There was one particular case, when they were talking about they would take her love letters and pass them on to a psychoanalyst so they could figure out exactly how they could target her. They would laugh at her and find her weak spots. All of this came out in the trial. So there was particularly cruel ones, but then there was times when the line got muddy for the spy too because they would develop a friendship, a love of some sorts with the person. They would have a good relationship and it became difficult for them to separate business and personal. So there was certainly different times when that happened and that was the case, and it did get a little bit complicated, yeah.”
Is the plan to follow the real stories, or could Martha have a happier ending?
Alison Wright: “I think everybody would hope that Martha could have a happy ending. They weave in the reality of it so much in all the elements of the show, so I know that they want to stick to that. In terms of where she ends up, I’m sure that they know and they have known from the very beginning, but that I’m not privy to.”
Would playing a tragedy be appealing too?
Alison Wright: “Sure, yeah, as an actor you want to have all the juiciest stuff that you can possibly have. Happy doesn’t take you very far. Great art isn’t made out of happiness. The sadness and the pain is where all the good stuff comes from. She’s definitely on the road for that. That could easily become her reality.”
Has The Americans opened more doors for you in film and television?
Alison Wright: “I think it has. There’s a tremendous amount of respect for the show. Almost everyone that I come across in the business is a fan of the show, of the work that’s done on the show, the way that it’s created. It’s opened doors for me in terms of my technique as well and my ability, and learning to do different things. So across the board, yeah, and I’ve had great work come from it of course. Work begets work but right now I’m feeling very grateful for the position I’m in. This is going to be a fantastic season for me.”
Figuring out that he wore a wig was pretty clever of her.
Alison Wright: And it’s up in the air about how long she’s known that for too. About whether when she said, ‘Oh, I know you’re wearing a toupee, sweetie,’ whether she really knew it was a toupee or she really actually knew it was a wig. The threads come out as we move through the show about what she did know and when she knew it and that’s something that we do get to explore.”
It was a reasonable assumption that he was bald.
Alison Wright: “Yeah, that would be what you would think, unless you had maybe gone picking around there at night while he was asleep.”
When you read the kama sutra sex scene last season, what were your thoughts?
Alison Wright: “I think I threw up, put down a box of chocolates, put away the cheeseburger. No, that sort of stuff is always tricky, but the way that they shot it and the humor that they brought into it and how funny Matthew was in it, I think it came out really great. Of course that stuff is daunting for everybody, I think, across the board.”
Were you apprehensive about it at first?
Alison Wright: “Yeah, but I don’t have a choice. They just kind of throw the scripts at you and then they run away and you have to do it. Whatever it is, whether it’s having a breakdown or having a baby or being naked, you need to do what’s asked of you.”
Have you ever done an ‘80s period piece before The Americans?
Alison Wright: “I just did something, a project for HBO, Confirmation. That was set in ’90 I think but it was very much still hanging on the back. The ‘80s was still present in all the costumes and everything, but I would like to do 1940s. That’s what I’d like to. I think I have a very good face for that. I love the hairstyles and everything. That’s what I want to do.”
Have you ever dressed up in ‘40s era costumes just for fun?
Alison Wright: “Oh sure, yeah, absolutely. I’m a big fan of musicals. That’s how I found my way into this business as a child. I feel like 1940s musicals are always sort of an element of my general fashion sense anyway. A lot of the shoes I like are sort of character shoes a little bit, like dancers would wear on stage, so I incorporate that all the time.”
Alison Wright: “I play Virginia Thomas, Clarence Thomas’s wife.”
Was that the first time you’ve played a true historical person?
Alison Wright: “Yes, yes it was. And of course she’s still alive, which is its own complicated thing. They weren’t a part of the process. They weren’t a part of the film. Hopefully they won’t be upset or offended by it though. I think they get a very fair shake. It should be a great film.”
What was the process for you of delving into a real person?
Alison Wright: “Really for Virginia, she knows a lot about the government and that’s her business too. It’s not just her husband’s. Her whole family have been involved and she was an active participant in many things since she was a teenager and her mother was involved too. Really, one of the main things was learning all about the things that she would know about. Whether the script she’s talking about them directly or not, she has to know them in the first place and that’s going to inform her opinion of whatever it is she’s saying. So it was a good time for me to learn about the American government and how the senate works and how judges work and how they’re moved between different departments. That was really cool to know about. I just applied to become an American citizen this year as well so I think that helped.”
When would you get your citizenship?
Alison Wright: “I did it already. I just need to be sworn in.”
Following its premiere at SXSW, Sony Pictures has released a restricted (not safe for work) trailer for Sausage Party, the first CG animated movie to earn an R rating from the MPAA. The trailer follows wieners, hot dog buns, baby carrots, and potatoes who’ve finally been selected as the ‘chosen ones’ and given the opportunity to go home with a family. They believe their lives are going to be filled with sunshine and roses, but they soon discover the horrible truth of what happens to food once it leaves the grocery store. Directed by Conrad Vernon (Monsters vs Aliens) and Greg Tiernan (Thomas & Friends), the voice cast includes co-writer Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig, Jonah Hill, Bill Hader, Michael Cera, James Franco, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, Paul Rudd, Nick Kroll, David Krumholtz, Edward Norton, and Salma Hayek. Sausage Party will slip into theaters on August 12, 2016.
The Plot:Sausage Party is about one sausage leading a group of supermarket products on a quest to discover the truth about their existence and what really happens when they become chosen to leave the grocery store.
