John Cena stars in ‘American Grit’ (Photo by Michael Lavine / FOX)
Fox will be premiering the new competition series American Grit in 2016 starring WWE Superstar John Cena. The 10 episode series is described as a military-inspired competition that will involve four teams of made up of four men and women facing survival-themed, military-grade challenges. Cena will work with Rorke Denver, Noah Galloway, Tawanda “Tee” Hanible and Nick “The Reaper” Irving – all of whom have military backgrounds – to push the teams to their limits.
“The U.S Military is the epitome of resolve and dedication, which is why I am so excited to be a part of American Grit,” said Cena. “This show will not only be a challenging and fierce competition, but it will give viewers a glimpse into the perseverance and training of the men and women of the Armed Forces.”
“American Grit is a bold, aspirational competition series that aligns with the spirit of the FOX unscripted brand,” said David Madden, President, Entertainment, FOX Broadcasting Company. “The team at Leftfield and the incredible John Cena have created a series built on the pillars of determination, dedication and strength that we know will resonate with our audience. John is not only a phenomenal athlete but a motivational force, who inspires fans around the world, and we are thrilled he is leading the charge.”
The American Grit Plot:
American Grit embodies the military ethos “no man left behind,” because only the first team to complete the challenges together is safe from elimination. Each episode will culminate in “The Circus,” a punishing, endurance-based obstacle course designed to break the weakest competitors. With up to a million dollars of prize money at stake, this is the ultimate test of strength, grit, the human spirit and, most importantly, teamwork.
Details on the Mentors, Courtesy of Fox:
· Rorke Denver – Commander Rorke Denver has led Special Forces missions around the world, and has run every phase of training for the U.S. Navy SEALS. He starred in the film “Act of Valor,” and wrote the book “Damn Few: Making the Modern SEAL Warrior.” Denver uses the skills he’s gained from training SEALS to teach leadership and motivate company teams to perform at their highest potential.
· Noah Galloway – A Purple Heart recipient, Noah Galloway served in the 1st Battalion of the 502nd Infantry with the Army’s 101st Airborne Division. Having lost his left arm and leg during deployment, Galloway had to learn to overcome his disability and, in turn, has dedicated his life to empowering fellow veterans through fitness and motivational speaking. He started the No Excuses Charitable Fund, and works closely with Operation Enduring Warrior and Homes for Our Troops. He placed third on “Dancing with the Stars” on Season 20.
· Tawanda “Tee” Hanible – A Gunnery Sergeant with the U.S. Marines, Hanible recently retired from 19 years in the Marine Corps. She deployed to Iraq for the initial invasion in 2003, and was the only female to go out with her unit. Her organization, Operation Heroes Connect, connects at-risk youth with service members and veterans as full-time mentors.
· Nick “The Reaper” Irving – The first African-American sniper in the U.S. Army’s 3rd Ranger Battalion to deploy in the Global War On Terrorism, Nick Irving earned his nickname, “The Reaper,” from his fellow soldiers for his sharp shooting. Irving is the deadliest sniper in the Army’s 3rd Ranger Battalion, with 33 confirmed enemy kills in less than four months. He wrote the New York Times Best Seller “The Reaper,” chronicling his experiences. He owns and operates a training facility company, HardShoot.
Lee Jones as Wilkin Brattle and Sam Spruell as Toran Pritchard in ‘The Bastard Executioner’ (Photo by Ollie Upton / FX)
Before we begin this week’s recap of The Bastard Executioner, I’m sure you’ve already seen the full page ad Kurt Sutter posted to his Instagram, which effectively said that there wasn’t enough viewership for him to do a second season. I completely disagree and am really disappointed that this is what he’s chosen to do because he felt the majority of show viewers said “meh”. At the very least, the final episode of the series nicely wrapped up storylines for fans of the show, but we’ll always be wondering where this show could have gone. Many fans have already taken to social media to proclaim their love for the show and to beg Sutter to continue with the series, but I think that with the Sons of Anarchy spinoff in the works, perhaps Sutter just doesn’t have the time to devote to TBX. With heavy heart and my own TBX Wil and Love fanfic starting to form in my mind, here’s the finale recap.
In the final episode of The Bastard Executioner, we begin where we left off last week, with a stunned Wil (Lee Jones) as Annora (Katey Sagal) cries out to him, calling him her son. The Dark Mute (Kurt Sutter) enters, telling him to sit. Wil sits and Annora holds out her hand to him.
Milus (Stephen Moyer) looks through Father Ruskin’s (Timothy V. Murphy) room, finding a hidden compartment that holds a cache of weapons, much to his surprise. He then spies Leon Tell (Alec Newman) in the chapel, praying. Milus appears to be regretting giving Wil and Toran (Sam Spruell) permission to take Tell and Locke’s (Ross O’Hennessy) life in return for helping him get Gaveston.
Guards stand watch over Father Ruskin and Luca (Ethan Griffiths) in Annora’s now abandoned cave. Luca sleeps, while Ruskin looks on.
Isabel and Love talk about what will happen when Jessamy (Sarah Sweeney) wakes to find out that Luca still has not been to see her. Isabel also questions Love about her feelings for the punisher. She admits she does care for him.
Meanwhile, Toran follows Locke to the wood shed, where he is chopping wood. He reveals to Locke that he is not Marshall, that he is instead the husband of a woman who Locke had slain. He pulls a sword on Locke, who rather than fight, holds his arms out, ready for his fate. He tells Toran that he follows the orders of his captain but that he is the only one who can answer for the blood on his own hands. He doesn’t ask for mercy because he has not earned it. Locke also puts together that the punisher is not who he says he is, which Toran confirms. Toran instead offers Locke a fair fight. The two spar with sword and ax, until Locke gains the upper hand. Toran reveals that it is fitting that he should be the one to send him on to his wife and child. Locke says while this place holds no mercy, it does hold honor, and drops the sword. He warns Toran however, that any other attempts on his life and Locke will kill him, but that neither will he reveal to anyone who Toran and Wil truly are as they have earned their place in Ventris. Locke picks up his wood and leaves. Toran leans on his sword, crying.
Back in Wil and Jessamy’s home, Annora gives the Book of the Nazarene to Wil, who questions his devotion. Annora tells him that his devotion is true. She explains that the singular experience of devotion with God is meant to be singular, and that the church would use God’s words to their own ends. Annora says that the truth will be given from the Seraphim to man when the words can be understood, but until then, the Seraphim, descendants of Jesus, will carry and protect the word, passing it on in each generation. She explains that she is from the blood of Jesus, a descendant. Wil realizes that if he is Annora’s son, then he is also a descendant and carries the blood of Jesus – he will one day be a Seraphim.
Wil plainly asks her if she and the Dark Mute are the Nun and the warrior he sees in his dreams. Annora doesn’t tell him outright if they are, only says that they loved him from afar, always watching over him. Dark Mute says that this truth is needed to save the boy. Annora tells him he must reach out to the ones he loves in order to fight the battle.
Wil goes to Love (Flora Spencer-Longhurst), tells her all that Annora has shared with him and that he believes what she has told him. Before he can tell her this, however, Isabel (Sarah White) threatens to hurt him if he ever hurts her Lady. When he is finally allowed to see her, Wil divulges the truth from Annora and that the boy and Father Ruskin were taken by Knights of Rosula, the Archdeacon’s men, because they thought Ruskin would lead them to Annora. They had no idea the boy was with Father Ruskin. He says he needs to find men, friends, and those who are not looking for payment or who will fight under a banner, to help him rescue them from Robinus and his men. He bargains his friends in servitude – if they help rescue them, will Love free them? She promises. Wil also reveals that Milus knew all about Wil from the very beginning, which she is surprised at.
Meanwhile, Sir Cormac (Ed Sheeran), who gives all gingers a bad name, comes for Father Ruskin, asking where the Seraphim hide. Ruskin tells him he only ever met them in the cave in which they now currently stand. Cormac and Robinus (Trevor Sellers) do not believe him and yank Luca from the floor, placing a sword to his neck. Ruskin shouts no, and as they are about to slice him open, Luca reveals that the Gray Woman and her Dark Mute are at Heaven’s Eye. As the men leave to check out the intel, Luca and Ruskin nod at one another quietly – a plan all along between them both.
Back in Ventris, Berber (Danny Sapani) and his scribe (Scroobius Pip) talk of what the price will be for Berber to keep the scribe’s secret, that he is a practicing Jew. Berber hands the scribe his Koran, saying now they are even and there is no price as they both must keep each other’s secrets. They then talk childhoods, the scribe stating he came from a dirty hole where only the Torah and survival were taught. Berber asks what crime he committed to get 20 years of service as punishment. Scribe revealed that a man who teased him every day for looking like a Jew broke him. He stabbed the man four times but he did not die. After he was left to hang in the village square and rot, they ended up bringing him down to work in servitude as they had need of his skills. Berber then reveals that he came from a family of scholars who escaped slavery. His wife and daughter escaped but neither he nor his brother escaped.
Milus and Love meet about Wil’s crazy plan to get Luca and Ruskin back. Milus says it is too much of a risk, but she says she knows Milus is aware of who Wil truly is. She compliments her chamberlain on his tactics and abilities and it is what Ventris needs in a chamberlain. He says he will gather the men Wil requires in return for Love honestly considering Baron Pryce to wed and protect the shire. She says she will keep all prospects open to all. Despite his tactics, she tells Milus that she cares for him and he returns her sentiment.
Isabel lies to Jessamy about Luca’s whereabouts, leaving laundry near the window. She leaves and Jessamy has the means to escape.
Milus and Love meet with Wil, Annora, Ash (Darren Evans), Berber and Toran to determine their plan of action. Milus says he can get half a legion, Love offers familial help, Berber offers a scribe who would like his servitude reduced.
Jessamy escapes to her home with Wil, only to find the Mute there. She screams about Luca, and how the Mute is a demon and then she goes in search of Wil in the castle. She bursts in on the meeting and attempts to attack Lady Love once more. Milus stops her by knocking her out.
Sir Cormac tells Father Ruskin they found no truth in Heaven’s Eye. Father Ruskin says he will tell them the truth.
Leon Tell and Locke string Jessamy up in the punisher’s cage and Wil wonders what will happen to her. Tell dismisses Locke, until they are alone. Leon recalls what Jessamy told him before they could stop her from screaming, that Maddox is really Wilkin. He draws his sword on Wil. Wil reveals all, that he was one of King Edward’s Knights under Ventris, but had been living the life of a farmer after battle until the Baron and his men raided their village and killed their families. He points to the cross around Tell’s neck, stating that it was his wife’s. Leon says he did not kill the pregnant woman, could not do that. Wil doesn’t believe him and they fight. As Leon is pinned down and Wil is about to kill him, Leon holds up the cross. He tells Wil that he wears this not as a trophy but a reminder, God before crown. The light in the room changes and Wil looks to a bound and gagged Jessamy, who turns into Petra (Elen Rhys). She tells him not to kill Leon.
Wil reveals to Leon how he found his wife on top of the pile of bodies, his daughter cut from his wife’s womb. Leon realizes that Milus knew who Wil was the whole time and made him his dog. Milus enters, saying Jessamy is to only be confined until her trial per the Lady’s request. Wil leaves and Milus asks Leon what happened. “Nothing you do not already know.”
Meanwhile, at the caves on the beach, Robinus, Sir Cormac and their men set up camp, sending scouts along the cliffs as they prepare for battle.
Wil and Love meet in the chapel, they discuss the vision they shared of their child being born. She asks him if it was real and he says yes. They hold hands until Toran shows up. She tells Wil that she can see no clear path for them, but that all candles are lit for him and to come home safe. He promises he will return.
The Dark Mute, Scribe, Wil and his friends get ready to leave with Milus. Locke and Leon turn up, offering their services. Milus tells them they will receive no pay for this battle. Leon says they are here to help, not plunder. Leon hands Wil the cross that belonged to his wife.
Annora plays the piano inside castle Ventris, when Love enters. She tells Love that she was born on the way to the Black Sea, to parents who were always ‘on the way’ somewhere. Love says she misses the comfort that a castle cannot provide. Annora tells the woman that she is happy of the comfort she finds with Wil. Love asks Annora about her bond with Wil, to which Annora replies that answers will come.
Wil’s army gathers on a cliff, planning to meet the other army in battle. They meet the Wolf (Matthew Rhys) and his band of rebels on the beach. Milus is suspect, but Toran says that while their beliefs are different, the honor is the same. Overhead, one of the Archdeacon’s men spies them meeting and runs to tell Sir Cormac what he has seen.
The two armies ride toward one another. The Mute says that they cannot defeat the Archdeacon’s men on steeds. He walks forward and tells Wil that he will know what to do soon. He leaves the army and lays his cape down on the sand, revealing that he has carried two jugs with him. He pours oil all over his body. Sir Cormac tells Robinus that the Mute is here but the old woman is not. He deduces that the old woman must be hidden at the castle. He rallies his troops to take out Ventris’ men. As they rush forward, the Mute takes his two swords and brings them swiftly down on the two jugs, causing an explosion that sets him on fire. The Mute runs into the oncoming army, lighting soldiers on fire as he goes and slicing them down from their horses with his double blades. Wil and his men follow, the battle begins. Ash revels in the bloodshed, stabbing the same man over and over again.
Back in castle Ventris, Annora knows her man has fallen dead. She stops playing the piano as he falls to the ground, still aflame.
Sir Cormac has been stabbed and runs. Wil sees the Mute on the ground, dead and realizes that this is his father who has died. Robinus moves towards the battle and away from Father Ruskin and Luca, who have been tied and left back for safety with Robinus. He moves towards the battle just as Cormac comes back, telling him to run. Robinus says, “This can’t be happening.” Berber cuts Ruskin and Luca loose. Luca stabs Robinus from behind, killing him. Cormac comes back for Robinus and finds him dead, with Luca still standing there with the knife in his hand. He gives chase and they both scramble over the top of a grassy dune. Wil sees the exchange and goes after them, however Luca makes quick work of Cormac, slicing him across the leg. Luca runs into the arms of Wil, who wants to go after Cormac to ensure he is dead, but Luca asks his father not to leave. He carries his son down into the now finished battle, where they have overtaken the Archdeacon’s men.
The Wolf and Milus meet. Milus asks what the Wolf possibly gained from this. The Wolf replies that they never fight for gain, they only fight to keep what is already theirs.
Milus, Ruskin, and Leon Tell return to Ventris and meet Love in the chapel. She hugs Milus and Ruskin, thanking them both. Ruskin excuses himself for a bath and contemplation. Milus dismisses Leon, but not before telling him that he fought true. The chamberlain updates Love on what happened, and their losses. Love acts surprised when Milus reveals that the Wolf and his men showed and helped them win. However, Milus is not a fool and knows she had something to do with it.
Love asks Milus how long he thinks it will be before the truth of her condition is known. He estimates two months, maybe three if they ignore missives from the king. He states they can announce that while the child of the Baron and Baroness was loved, he was also so special to God that he was called home before he had yet been born. He tells her that she will handle it with grace and advises her that the punisher was on his way to see Annora.
Frenchie (Matthieu Charneau) and Isabel plot together, taking a basket of rags into the punisher’s chamber where Jessamy is being held. Frenchie is nervous and gives too much information to the exiting guards, causing Isabel to quip, “So pretty but so stupid.” She takes a bottle of liquid from the basket and a set of keys, presumably to free Jessamy.
Annora welcomes Luca and Wil home, and even Toran, hugging all three of them. Wil updates her as Toran leads Luca from the room. He brings up her mate, and she says she knew. They embrace as Annora cries for her man. Love enters and Annora pushes Wil away. Wil and Love kiss.
Jessamy is in the back of a wagon, surrounded by furs and blankets. Isabel and Milus tell Frenchie that one of Baron Pryce’s men will meet him on the road and will lead him to the sanctuary. Milus gives the cloak off of his back to Frenchie because the weather is too cold to be without one. As Frenchie leaves, Isabel asks what will happen to Jessamy. Milus reveals that in the punisher’s book, she will have jumped off a cliff to the sea, but she will be taken to Baron Pryce who will have her locked in a sanctuary where she will be treated for her madness. Isabel wants to know if it is true that they ram hard pokers into the head as a form of treatment. Milus says if that is true, he would rather live with the madness. He then propositions her, asking how long it had been since she’d had a long, hard poker rammed into her. She looks shocked and then says it will depend on the length and size, before she flounces away. Milus smirks, taking this as an invitation to continue his cheeky innuendo. We ship it, as long as he doesn’t get all murdery!
Finally, FINALLY! The last scene in the season one/series finale is the one we’ve been waiting for! WiLove is happening people, it’s really happening! The pair meet in her private chambers, with Wil shirtless and Love in her flimsy nightdress. They both strip, get into bed and she asks him the question all girls in love ask and want to know the answer to – does he love her? He looks deep into her eyes and says he has always loved her. Then, the pair get started on making that vision baby come true!!
The Bastard Executioner has been a wild and bloody ride. We’ve cried with Wil as he lost his family, cheered him on as he fought against Milus and his manipulations, and pined for Love and Wil to get together. With today’s news that the series will not return, the adventure has come to an end and we are left with questions that may never be answered. What was Wilkin’s true destiny? Now that the Dark Mute has died, what will Annora do? Will Milus find happiness with Love’s handmaiden Isabel, or perhaps with Frenchie? Looks like creative minds will have to create their own future for the characters of TBX. Thanks for a great show, Kurt. We’re sorry to see that it won’t continue in future seasons and wish the cast and crew of the show success in all future endeavors.
Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis at the San Diego Comic Con (Photo by Richard Chavez / Showbiz Junkies)
Once Upon a Time series creators Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz are teaming up with Once writer Ian Goldberg on a new ABC Family series titled Dead of Summer. Dead of Summer has been given a straight-to-series order with Kitsis, Horowitz, and Goldberg writing and executive producing.
The new horror series will premiere in 2016 on ABC Family which is switching to the new name of Freeform in January 2016.
Commenting on the new show, ABC Family Executive Vice President, Programming and Development Karey Burke stated, “Dead of Summer is about what happens when summer camp goes wrong – really, really wrong. The horror genre is new for us and I’m thrilled to have Adam, Eddy and Ian bring their immeasurable talent to our network and usher us into this new space.”
The Dead of Summer Plot:
Set in the late 1980s, school is out for the summer, and a sun-drenched season of firsts beckons the counselors at Camp Clearwater, a seemingly idyllic Midwestern summer camp, including first loves, first kisses – and first kills. Clearwater’s dark, ancient mythology awakens, and what was supposed to be a summer of fun soon turns into one of unforgettable scares and evil at every turn. Part coming-of-age story, part supernatural horror story, Dead of Summer is a bold, new series that mixes genres as it examines the light and dark of a summer like no other.
Jessica Chastain and Chris Hemsworth star in ‘The Huntsman: Winter’s War’
Following hot on the heels of the release of four character posters, Universal Pictures has unveiled the first trailer for The Huntsman: Winter’s War. The studio also released two new posters featuring the films stars Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, Emily Blunt, and Jessica Chastain. Directed by Cedric Nicolas-Troyan, The Huntsman will open in theaters on April 22, 2016.
The Huntsman: Winter’s War Plot:
Long before the evil Queen Ravenna (Theron) was thought vanquished by Snow White’s blade, she watched silently as her sister, Freya (Blunt), suffered a heartbreaking betrayal and fled their kingdom. With Freya’s ability to freeze any enemy, the young ice queen has spent decades in a remote wintry palace raising a legion of deadly huntsmen — including Eric (Hemsworth) and warrior Sara (Chastain) — only to find that her prized two defied her one demand: Forever harden your hearts to love.
When Freya learns of her sister’s demise, she summons her remaining soldiers to bring the Magic Mirror home to the only sorceress left who can harness its power. But once she discovers Ravenna can be resurrected from its golden depths, the wicked sisters threaten this enchanted land with twice the darkest force it’s ever seen. Now, their amassing army shall prove undefeatable…unless the banished huntsmen who broke their queen’s cardinal rule can fight their way back to one another.
Watch the trailer:
Emily Blunt and Charlize Theron star in ‘The Huntsman: Winter’s War’
Paramount Pictures has released the first official trailer for the comedy movie Zoolander 2 with Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson reprising their roles as male models. Someone is targeting the most beautiful people in the world and as they’re dying they all strike Derek Zoolander’s iconic Blue Steel pose. Penelope Cruz plays Interpol Agent Valentina Valencia who recruits Zoolander and Hansel (Wilson) to find out who’s behind the killing. The new trailer features Benedict Cumberbatch as the biggest supermodel in the world, Justin Bieber as one of the beautiful people taken out by the killers, and Will Ferrell back as super villain Mugatu.
Lee Jones as Wilkin Brattle and Flora Spencer-Longhurst as Baroness Lady Love Ventris in ‘The Bastard Executioner’ (Photo by Ollie Upton / FX)
Prior to what we assumed was the final episode of season one of FX’s The Bastard Executioner, creator Kurt Sutter posted a heads up on Twitter and Instagram to be prepared for the “final” episode. He didn’t say season finale or final episode of season one, and there’s a good reason for that: Sutter canceled The Bastard Executioner. Not one to do things conventionally, Sutter announced the cancellation with an ad in The Hollywood Reporter.
“Tonight. The final episode of The Bastard Executioner. 10;10 pm PST on @fxnetworks. Truths revealed.…” – @sutterink
Sutter thanked his cast and crew for their commitment to the series in the ad, but before it ran he sent emails to The Bastard Executioner family to let them know there would not be a second season. The series didn’t catch on with FX viewers and Sutter, whose Sons of Anarchy was a ratings hit, told THR that we didn’t want to write a show no one was watching. The Bastard Executioner premiered to 2.1 million viewers but went down in the ratings each week. The writing was on the wall when it drew less than 1 million viewers for an original episode.
In the ad, Sutter acknowledges the lack of viewers: “The audience has spoken, and unfortunately, the word is, ‘meh.’ So with due respect, we bring our mythology to an epic and fiery close. Uno tempore. Uno amor.”
Speaking with THR, Sutter said that he’d been in contact with FX Networks CEO John Landgraf throughout the season. “John and I have been in touch the whole time, and it’s not like it had a chance and I said, ‘Let’s not take it.’ But yes, it was a mutual decision in terms of the timing of it. First, I’m so OCD, it’s hard for me to begin something new if something else is still dangling. It’s almost like, I had to clean up, put it away and say, ‘Thank you very much, this was fun.’ But, also, I didn’t want to string the cast along. I just think it’s unfair when that happens, when people don’t find out for another three months whether they have a job in May. To me, the way we are handling it — in terms of, is it going to happen? Is it going to work? Let’s figure it out, give me a yes or no — is the way it should be done.”
Abertoir: The International Horror Festival of Wales just concluded six days of genre films this past Sunday, November 15, 2015. The festival lists Vincent Price as its official patron saint and that reflects the programmers’ dedication to paying as much respect to horror’s past as to its future. To reflect the festival’s agenda, here’s a list of the ten best films that played at the festival with half being films from the past and half being new releases.
Best of the Classic Features:
1. Deep Red (1975)
Dario Argento’s giallo – brimming with bold style – never gets old. David Hemmings plays a musician who witnesses a murder and then gets involved in tracking the killer. Each murder is a set piece from the brutal murder of a man dragged by a truck to the insanely creepy puppet prelude to death scene. The music by Goblin endows the film with an over the top energy. One of Argento’s best.
2. The Descent (2005)
This film about a group of women on a spelunking adventure has lost none of its claustrophobic tension. Director Neil Marshall uses editing and cinematography to slowly collapse the world of these women until the audience finds it hard to breathe. Then just as we think the cave is their worst enemy, Marshall throws us a curve and turns the film into something even more terrifying. At the festival, attendees got to visit a mine and experience the darkness, cold, and claustrophobia firsthand before watching the film. Perfection!
3. The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
What a joyride this Vincent Price starrer is! Robert Fuest gives this B-horror flick a gaudy sense of style with outlandish costumes and production design. It also has the kinds of ingenious kills that put the Saw movies to shame. And Price takes absolute delight in his role as a husband exacting revenge for the death of his wife.
4. Rasputin: The Mad Monk (1966)
There’s not much real history in this “biography” of the Russian mad monk Rasputin but Christopher Lee has a field day devouring the part. Best line in the film from Rasputin: “When I go to confession I don’t offer God small sins, petty squabbles, jealousies… I offer him sins worth forgiving!” Lee is hypnotic to watch.
5. Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972)
Not as good as its predecessor and rushed into production for the following year, this sequel is still a hoot to watch. The kills once again are highly imaginative.
Best of the New Features
1. Bone Tomahawk (2015)
Wow! Just wow! This is a beautifully paced slow burn of a Western. Writer/director S. Craig Zahler understands something many modern directors seem to have forgotten that if you take the time to build our empathy for the characters you can ratchet up the tension to unbearable levels because we care about what happens to them. Grueling, brutal, and brilliant. Plus, it’s always great to see Kurt Russell get a role that’s worthy of his talents. And just as Howard Hawks twisted genre expectations with Rio Bravo (he mocked High Noon by having his sheriff accept the help of a drunk, a cripple, and a young kid), Zahler too provides some surprising twists. But while Hawks tweaked genre tropes with a wink, Zahler is deadly serious about his Western. Which is not to say it is humorless. Stunning work all around.
2. Robbery (2015)
This serves up Asian extreme in a most unusual manner. It’s deliriously nihilistic yet oddly endearing. Think of the end of The Beyond but with a Hello Kitty cuteness. My head is still spinning. It suffers from a few too many endings but overall this Hong Kong film by Fire Lee is an extreme delight. And it was the perfect midnight movie to open the Abertoir film festival.
3. Deadman’s Inferno (2015)
Just when you thought there was no way to reanimate the zombie genre along comes this yakuza versus the living dead to prove you wrong. The chief pleasure was in how it played cleverly off of both the yakuza and zombie tropes. Good mix of action, humor, and appealing characters.
4. The Witch (2015)
Knowing how to end a film is a true skill and The Witch would have been infinitely better if it ended just a few minutes earlier. But despite a frustrating ending, director Robert Eggers delivers a beautifully crafted period film that draws on real accounts of witchcraft in New England decades before the infamous Salem Witch Trials. It pairs up well with Jim Mickle’s We Are What We Are for pairing horror and beauty, and for detailing ritual and religion within an increasingly dysfunctional family unit. It perfectly captures a growing sense of hysteria within a family that takes its religion a bit too seriously. An appropriate film to be coming out in today’s climate of political hysteria about so many things.
5. Hollow (2014) Hollow is not a great film but kudos to Ham Tran (who did the exquisite Journey From the Fall) for delivering a solid genre film from the small Vietnamese film industry. The film also mixes a very Asian style ghost story with a very current sense of social commentary. The film reflects how Asian cultures accept the supernatural in a different manner than American films do (unless they are remaking an Asian film!). Some genuinely creepy moments.
Jamie Foxx’s daughter Corinne Foxx has been selected by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association as Miss Golden Globe 2016. Foxx will be taking the stage for the 73rd Annual Golden Globe® Awards to help hand out the awards to winners on January 10, 2016. Ricky Gervais was recently announced as the host for the show airing live on NBC from 8:00-11:00pm ET/5:00-8:00pm PT.
“We are delighted to have Corinne Foxx continue the tradition and have her as our 2016 Miss Golden Globe,” said HFPA President Lorenzo Soria. “Like her father, she leads a fine example of following her dreams and we can’t wait to see what she does next.”
“Throughout the years I’ve grown up watching my dad establish himself as a well-respected actor,” said Corinne Foxx, a senior at University of Southern California. “I’m honored that HFPA has given me the opportunity to now share the same stage where he’s been recognized for some of his greatest accomplishments.”
The honor has been bestowed on the son or daughter of an actor, director or producer annually since 1962. Among the previous Miss or Mr. Golden Globes are Melanie Griffith, Dakota Johnson, Francesca Eastwood, Sam Fox, Gia Mantegna, Rumer Willis, Laura Dern, and Freddie Prinze Jr.
Nick Offerman as Karl Weathers in ‘Fargo’ (Photo by Chris Large / FX)
FX’s Fargo season two is so smart that it’s truly a joy to tune in each week. Episode five stands as the best episode thus far but episode six comes in a close second, with Nick Offerman delivering an Emmy-worthy performance as lawyer Karl Weathers. Ted Danson has the best line of the episode but it’s Offerman as a drunk yet still somehow fully capable of dealing with complex, life and death issues lawyer who gives the stand-out performance. Episode six titled “Rhinoceros” aired on November 16, 2015, with much of its running time dealing with Charlie and Ed in jail. Although the action centered around Charlie and Ed, there was still time to advance the battle between the Kansas City mafia and the Gerhardts.
Recap of Fargo Season 2 Episode 9:
Peggy’s furious that Hank Larsson (Danson) and Lou Solverson (Patrick Wilson) are hauling her husband, Ed (Jesse Plemons), away in handcuffs but Ed’s keeping his wits about him and remaining calm. Sitting in the back of Lou’s squad car, Ed has tears in his eyes but a blank look on his face.
Betsy (Cristin Milioti) is waiting at the station when Lou walks in with Ed. Betsy’s been worried about Lou because of the fire at the butcher shop, but he says there’s no need to worry. Betsy asks if she can help with anything and Lou tells her to take Noreen home with her since she lost her place when the shop burned down. Lou says she’s just a kid, “emancipated or not.”
Officer Percy lets Charlie (Allan Dobrescu) out of his cell to make his one phone call.
Bear (Angus Sampson) talks to his dad on the porch, at night, all bundled up. He’s recalling his dead brother, but he can’t really remember his face. He just remembers the soldiers delivering the news along with a folded-up flag. He wonders what his brother, who was the oldest, would do about the Kansas City situation. Dodd (Jeffrey Donovan) drives up and Simone (Rachel Keller) comes out on the porch to tell Bear Charlie’s on the phone. Dodd hates what Simone’s wearing and tries to give her a life lesson about whores.
Just then Bear comes back out and beats up Dodd because he now knows what happened to Charlie. Hanzee (Zahn McClarnon) stops the fight and Dodd, who was on the losing end, tells Bear he’s going to beat him with the belt. Bear is upset about Dodd allowing Charlie, a 17-year-old with a crippled arm, to take on the task of shooting the Butcher. For some reason, Bear is ready to allow Dodd to beat him with the belt buckle when Floyd (Jean Smart) screams, “No!” and makes Dodd stop.
After Dodd and Bear tell Floyd about Charlie’s incarceration, she sends her men (and her sons) out to rescue Charlie and finish the job of killing the Butcher. While everyone’s outside, Simone calls Mike Milligan (Bokeem Woodbine) and gives him the scoop on what’s going down. She tells him everyone’s off to Luverne to rescue Charlie and she wants Mike to make sure to kill her dad.
Peggy makes coffee for Hank at her house, but she won’t let Hank pick up the beauty and travel magazines to have a seat at the table. She’s still planning on driving up to Sioux Falls tomorrow and wants to know what he needs from her. Hank’s got a bunch of dead people and a burnt-out store, but Peggy insists it was a robbery. Hank’s equally insistent that they went to the butcher shop specifically to kill Ed. Hank says Peggy and Ed are mixed up in a turf war between the Kansas City gang and the Gerhardts.
Peggy’s still going off about the seminar and being the best that she can be when Hank asks her point-blank if she’s a little touched. She says she just has dreams, that’s all. Hank doesn’t think she understands they tried to kill Ed along with burning down his shop. She quotes the seminar people and talks about life being a journey and how they’ll just move to California. Hank lets her know that before she makes plans for leaving, he’s got a forensic team coming down tomorrow to check her car for blood. Hank tells her he got permission from Sonny to do the test for blood, and he’d really like her to just come clean about the night she hit Rye Gerhardt.
Jesse Plemons in ‘Fargo’ (Photo by Chris Large / FX)
At the station, Lou reminds Ed he gave him a chance to tell his story back at the house. Ed claims to be the victim, and Lou reminds him there was a cleaver in the man’s head that Ed put there. He also tells him about the war that started after he or Peggy ran over Rye with their car. Ed declares he’s going to take care of what’s his, and Lou warns him the Gerhardts won’t rest until he’s dead. Ed demands a lawyer and won’t talk until he gets one.
Percy finds Karl Weathers (Nick Offerman) and tells him Ed needs him at the jail. Karl is the best – and only – lawyer in town. He’s a little drunk but he’s off to help Ed anyway, with Sonny as his designated driver since he’s inebriated.
Hank wants to know why Peggy didn’t drive to the hospital or wave someone down after she hit Rye. Peggy answers that it’s like decisions you make in a dream. She wouldn’t look back if she has to run; she wouldn’t miss this place at all. She buys the magazines because she’s living in a museum of the past here in Ed’s parents’ house. Hank hears a car outside and goes out to find three vehicles parked in front of the house. Hank tells Peggy to hide in the basement and not come out no matter what she hears.
Dodd approaches with a taser, looking for Ed. Hanzee sneaks around the side of the house while Hank is being kept busy out front. Hank tells them Ed was hauled away to the jail. More men get out of the cars and Hank’s facing down a bunch of killers by himself. He says quietly, “That’s what I thought,” followed by, “There we go.” Hanzee gets the drop on him and knocks him out.
Dodd and his men search the house looking for Ed and find the basement filled with Peggy’s magazines. Peggy shoots one of the men and knocks another out with a sink. Dodd continues to search for her, but she surprises him with a taser.
Floyd’s feeding her husband and wants to know from Simone if she’s with the family or not. Simone says she is and Floyd says she needs to use her example and be strong, be a leader. Just then Mike, the Kitchen brothers, and other KC mafia goons open fire on the Gerhardt house.
Karl visits Ed at the jail and Lou tells him he has 30 minutes. He and Ed know each other and Karl tells him it’s a sad and fortuitous day. Karl reveals they’re probably being recorded and works out an elaborate scheme to trick the cameras or recorders in the jail. He leaves the sheriff’s station only to encounter Bear Gerhardt and his men. He turns to the jail and tells Lou, “The jackboots are upon us.” Lou calls for reinforcements because there’s a lynching mob outside and then heads out to talk to Bear and the men, letting them know he’s called for backup but it’ll be 30 or 40 minutes before they arrive. Lou explains the charges and tells Bear Ed’s safe inside the jail, guarded by armed men. Bear gives him five minutes to send Charlie out.
Lou goes inside the station and tells his deputy to secure the building, barricade the doors, and smash up light bulbs so they’ll hear anyone who tries to get in. He confesses to Karl the nearest backup is actually at least an hour away and they’ve never faced “serious men” before. Lou asks Karl to talk to Charlie’s dad since Lou has just appointed him Charlie’s lawyer.
Lou gets Ed and tells him there’s a lynch mob outside ready to string him up. He’s going to get him out of the building.
Hank comes to on the porch at the Blomquist house. He makes it to his car and he learns there’s a lynch mob outside the station.
The men grow impatient outside the station and gear up, prepared to go in. Karl comes out and tells them they’re allies. Inside the building, Lou and Ed jump down from a second-story window. Hanzee hears the noise and goes to investigate. Karl tells Bear he’s his son’s attorney and that he’s working on legally getting him out. Hanzee sees the open window Lou and Ed jumped from. Karl tells Bear he’s making it worse because Charlie’s a minor so reduced sentencing would apply. Even though he tried to shoot someone he missed so he’ll probably get 10 years and be out in five for good behavior.
Meanwhile, Lou and Ed sneak quietly through the woods. Karl goes on to explain if Bear takes him now, Charlie’s a wanted fugitive and will be shot on sight. Karl tells him to leave now and none of this will go against Charlie. If they take Ed, they’ll loop Charlie in as a conspirator to kidnapping, assaulting a police officer, etc. Karl says the best thing for Charlie is a fast retreat, and Bear does the smart thing and gets his men and leaves. Charlie remains in jail.
Lou and Ed work their way through the woods with Hanzee hunting them. Ed’s worried something happened to Peggy and that maybe the Gerhardts went by the house first. Just then Hank pulls up and Lou is astonished to see the size of the wound on his forehead. As they talk Ed makes a break for it and runs down the road. Lou and Hank get in the squad car, knowing Ed will be heading back home to check on Peggy. Hanzee emerges from the woods right after they leave. He walks down the road, following Ed.
Ryan Gosling (Photo by Richard Chavez / Showbiz Junkies)
NBC announced Saturday Night Live will finish up 2015 with three new December episodes. Ryan Gosling, soon to be seen in The Big Short with Brad Pitt and Christian Bale, will host the December 5, 2015 episode. The gig marks Gosling’s first time as host of SNL. The musical guest will be Leon Bridges who’ll also be making his SNL debut.
Thor‘s Chris Hemsworth returns to the SNL stage for the second time to host the December 12th episode. His hosting gig will come one day after his Moby Dick film, In the Heart of the Sea, opens in theaters. He’ll be joined by musical guest Chance the Rapper, a newbie to SNL who’s just finishing up his national tour.
Then on December 19th, best buddies and former SNL players Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will share the hosting duties. The funny twosome are co-starring in the comedy movie Sisters which hits theaters on December 18. The final musical guest of 2015 will be Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. The December 19th episode will be Springsteen’s third time on the show.
