Investigation Discovery (ID) delves back into Hollywood’s dark side with season three of Death by Fame. The new season will premiere on January 13, 2025, with new episodes of the eight-episode season airing on Mondays at 9pm ET/PT.
Season two examined the murder of Judging Amy‘s Tara Correa-McMullen, Run-D.M.C.’s Jam Master Jay (real name: Jason William Mizell), and lawyer-turned-legal reality star Loredana Nesci. Season three dives into the murders of aspiring actress Adriana Pinon, aspiring model Mei Li, fashion designer to the stars Sylvie Cachay, and Valerie Dowden.
Poster for ‘Death by Fame’ (Photo Credit: ID)
“The series delves into the dark side of fame and celebrity, uncovering the shocking true stories behind the murders of some of Hollywood’s most promising stars. Each episode features the expertise of criminal trial attorney Sara Azari, who provides unique insights into these tragic endings. This season, viewers can look forward to eight gripping episodes that chart the rise, fall and untimely deaths of budding talent whose promising futures were cut short,” reads ID’s synopsis. “Through interviews with victims’ families, friends, investigators and journalists along with Sara Azari’s expert commentary, each episode sheds light on a shadowy world lurking behind the pursuit of fame.
In the season premiere, aspiring actress Adriana Pinon is thrilled to land a recurring role as a background actor on the hit soap opera The Young and The Restless. It’s the perfect stepping stone for her dream career. However, her rising star is abruptly extinguished when a jealous individual decides they cannot bear to see her succeed.”
Poster for ‘Creature Commandos’ (Photograph by Courtesy of Max)
Creature Commandos earned a 95% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and now it’s also officially earned a season two renewal from Max. The streamer wants more of the adult animated series that marks the beginning of a new chapter in the DC Universe.
The popular animated series is written and executive produced by DC Studios Co-Chair James Gunn and features the voices of Steve Agee as Economos, Maria Bakalova as Princess Ilana, Anya Chalotra as Circe, Zoe Chao as Nina Mazursky, Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., and Sean Gunn as GI Robot & Weasel. David Harbour voices Frankenstein, Alan Tudyk is Dr. Phosphorus, Indira Varma is The Bride, and Viola Davis is Amanda Waller.
“We’re thrilled to team up with Max for another season of Creature Commandos mayhem. From our spectacular first season of Peacemaker to the astonishing run of The Penguin to the record-breaking launch of Creature Commandos, Max has consistently delivered above industry expectations and beyond our wildest imaginings. Thank you, Casey, Sarah, Pia, Sono, and the entire team for your tremendous support of DC Studios. We are proud to call Max home,” stated Gunn and DC Studios Co-Chair Peter Safran.
Season one premiered on December 5, 2024 and will wrap up on January 9, 2025. Gunn, Safran, Dean Lorey, and Sam Register executive produce, with Rick Morales serving as a supervising producer.
Per Max: “Creature Commandos tracks a secret team of incarcerated monsters recruited for missions deemed too dangerous for humans. When all else fails… they’re your last, worst option.”
Commenting on the renewal, Amy Gravitt, Executive Vice President, HBO & Max Comedy Programming said, “Only James Gunn could have conjured this wild band of misfit monsters who tug at your heart and force you to root passionately for them. We couldn’t be more delighted to continue their stories with James, Dean Lorey, Peter Safran, and our fantastic partners at DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation.”
“Thanks to the brilliant imagination of James and the talent of our amazing artists, DC fans fell in love with this new family of heroes,” said Peter Girardi, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, Warner Bros. Animation. “We are excited to continue this wild ride with our partners at Max. You want more monsters, you’re getting more monsters!”
During his time in the spotlight, pop singer Robbie Williams fell into all of the typical rock star trappings of sex, drugs, and alcohol. And with the popularity of music biopics like Rocketman, Bohemian Rhapsody, and Back to Black, why not make a movie about his life, right? Well, someone did. But there’s a catch.
Better Man is the story of Williams’ rise to fame as a member of the boy band Take That, his dismissal from the group due to substance abuse and unruly conduct, and his eventual rise to success as a solo artist. All typical rock star movie stuff.
The thing is, in this movie, Williams is portrayed as a chimpanzee. In his own words, he’s showing the audience how he sees himself.
Surprisingly, this approach works. More than works, actually. It turns a rudimentary rock star biopic into something unique and worth watching. And despite what one might think, the chimp angle doesn’t really get old. In fact, by the time Robbie is singing “My Way” with his father during the movie’s epilogue, the viewer half expects simian Robbie to morph into human Robbie but hopes that he doesn’t. Because the chimp is what they want to see. Frankly, it’s the best part of the movie.
Director Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) co-wrote the screenplay for Better Man with Simon Gleason and Oliver Cole (both actors making their feature debut as writers), but with Williams playing himself (at least the voice), the pop star seems to have signed off on the story. And, indeed, everything at least seems to follow the public impression of his life fairly closely, warts and all. Williams may not be proud of some of the situations he put himself in over the years, but he at least seems to not be ashamed anymore. He owns his past. He even seems to find some humor in it.
As a musical, Better Man most closely resembles something like Rocketman, where the songs of the primary subject are not just used in diegetic ways, but also as full-blown production numbers. More than once, the cast breaks into song and dance routines, running around city streets or floating aboard luxury cruise ships like no one is watching. Or maybe like everyone is watching. It’s all quite a spectacle.
The problem is that Robbie Williams’ music is not nearly as recognizable (nor as good) as Elton John’s, so while the musical numbers are impressively shot and choreographed, they don’t quite have the kinetic energy or emotional impact as those in Rocketman. They’re just not as much fun, even with a monkey leading the festivities.
Now, the chimp thing is not all laughs and giggles. It does have its serious moments. As the movie goes on, Robbie starts to see his past self everywhere he goes, always as the chimp of course. Even this is somewhat humorous, as the chimp goes through bleached hair and shaved head phases just as the real Robbie did, but the symbolic imagery of Robbie’s illicit past chasing him is unmistakable. It all comes to a head in a Planet of the Apes-style scene as his troubled history catches up with him just as he happens to be playing the biggest show of his life at Knebworth. It’s outrageous, but it’s also kind of creepy. Just like the movie as a whole. Outrageous and creepy.
Maybe having a chimp as the focus would make every mediocre movie better. Would Madame Web have benefited from a Dakota Johnson chimp lead? How great would Twisters have been if the “Tornado Wrangler” had a chimp on his team? What if Robert Zemeckis had used Here’s de-aging budget to turn Tom Hanks into a chimp? The possibilities are endless. Let’s hope this trend continues. Because in the case of Better Man, the chimp doesn’t exactly save it from mediocrity, but it at least makes the mediocrity more entertaining.
GRADE: C+
MPAA Rating: R for nudity, drug use, pervasive language, sexual content, and some violent content
Release Date: December 25, 2024 limited release, January 10, 2025 wide release
Running Time: 2 hours 11 minutes
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Taylor Dearden, Patrick Marron Ball, and Noah Wyle in ‘The Pitt’ (Photograph by Max/Warrick Page)
Max is kicking off the new year with the series premiere of The Pitt, a medical drama that puts ER star Noah Wyle back in scrubs and playing the chief attendant in Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital’s emergency room. Max’s January 2025 lineup also includes the season five premiere of the critically acclaimed, comic book-inspired animated series Harley Quinn, and the series debut of Isadora Moon, based on the bestselling book series.
Season 23 of Real Time with Bill Maher and the premieres of A24’s The Front Room, Look Into My Eyes, and A Different Man stream on Max in January.
Max January 2025 Lineup
January 1
5 Things with Kate Bolduan (CNN)
A Star is Born (1937)
Act of Valor (2012)
All Elite Wrestling: 2019 PPV Events (5 Episodes) (2024)
All Elite Wrestling: Collision 2024 (5 Episodes), Season 2
All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite 2019 (12 Episodes), Season 1
All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite 2024 (7 Episodes), Season 6
All Elite Wrestling: Rampage 12/13/2024, Season 4
Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
Annabelle: Creation (2017)
Balls Out (2015)
Batkid Begins: The Wish Heard Around the World (2015)
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
Batman: The Killing Joke (2016)
Best Of Enemies (2015)
Bitter Creek (1954)
Black Gold (1947)
Blue Velvet (1986)
Buffaloed (2020)
Calamity Jane (1953)
Call Me by Your Name (2017)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Cow Country (1953)
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
Destination Tokyo (1943)
Diggers (2007)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
Each Dawn I Die (1939)
Eat Pray Love (2010)
Fast & Furious (2009)
Floyd Norman: An Animated Life (2016)
Free Birds (2013)
Green Lantern (2011)
Heaven Help Us (1985)
HGTV Dream Home 2025
Home Again (2017)
Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)
Hot Tub Time Machine 2 (2015)
House at the End of the Street (2012)
I Am Love (2009)
Injustice (2021)
Iris (2015)
It Follows (2015)
It: Chapter Two (2019)
Jason Bourne (2016)
Johnny Angel (1946)
Justice League vs. Teen Titans (2016)
Justice League: Doom (2012)
Justice League: Throne of Atlantis (2015)
Justice League: War (2014)
Keeping Up with the Joneses (2016)
Kept Husbands (1931)
Kicks (2016)
Lemon (2017)
Mad Max (1980)
Matilda (1986)
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
Morgan (2016)
Mortdecai (2015)
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
My Favorite Wife (1940)
Mystic Pizza (1988)
Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016)
Night and Day (1946)
Nocturne (1946)
Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band (2020)
Paddington (2014)
Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
Red Light (1949)
Reframed: Next Gen Narratives, Season 1 (2025)
Room for One More (1952)
School Life (2017)
Sex and the City 2 (2010)
Shining Vale, Season 1
Shining Vale, Season 2
Showing Up (2023)
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
St. Vincent (2014)
Steel Magnolias (1989)
Stephen King’s It (1990)
Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine (2015)
Sully (2016)
Supergirl (1984)
Superman & Lois, Season 4
Tangerine (2015)
Task Force (1949)
Teen Wolf (1985)
Tennessee Johnson (1942)
The Accountant (2016)
The Addams Family 2 (2016)
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
The Big Year (2011)
The Birth of a Nation (2016)
The Boondock Saints (1999)
The Cable Guy (1996)
The Conjuring 2 (2016)
The Craft (1996)
The Curse of La Llorona (2019)
The Imitation Game (2014)
The Leopard Man (1943)
The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (1952)
The Mouthpiece (1932)
The Narrow Margin (1952)
The Prince and the Pauper (1937)
The Prisoner of Zenda (1952)
The Purge: Election Year (2016)
The Red Badge of Courage (1951)
The Student Prince (1954)
The Usual Suspects (1995)
The Whistlers (2020)
The Wrong Man (1957)
Volunteers (1985)
Warcraft (2016)
Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic (2008)
Whitey: United States of America V. James J. Bulger (2014)
Wild Boys of the Road (1993)
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Woman in Gold (2015)
World Without End (1956)
January 2
Expedition Files, Season 1 (Discovery)
My 600-lb Life, Season 13 (TLC)
The Deep 3, Episode 227 (TNT)
Isadora Moon, Season 1A (Max Original Series)
Based on the globally best-selling beloved book series by Harriet Muncaster, Isadora Moon follows the delightful adventures of a half-vampire, half-fairy girl, her friends at human school, and her wider magical family.
Brandy in ‘The Front Room’ (Photo Credit: A24)
January 3
Beachfront Bargain Hunt Renovation, Season 10 (Magnolia Network)
Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, Season 49 (Food Network)
The Front Room (A24)
Everything goes to hell for newly pregnant Belinda (Brandy) after her mother-in-law (Kathryn Hunter) moves in. As the diabolical guest tries to get her claws on the child, Belinda must draw the line somewhere…
January 4
Belle Collective, Season 5 (OWN)
January 5
Craig of the Creek, Season 6B (Cartoon Network)
Mecum Top 10, Season 10
Totally Spies, Season 7A
January 6
Worst Cooks in America Celebrity Edition: Heroes vs. Villains (Food Network)
January 7
Cleats & Convos with Deebo Samuel, Episode 111 (B/R)
How It Really Happened, Season 8 (CNN Original Series)
Kids Baking Championship, Season 14 (Food Network)
The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Final Chapter, Season 3 (ID)
The Edge with Micah Parsons, Episode 219 (B/R)
January 8
7 Little Johnstons, Season 15 (TLC)
CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute (2024)
Fixer to Fabulous, Season 6 (HGTV)
Wildcard Kitchen, Season 2 (Food Network)
January 9
Aaron Hernandez and the Untold Murders of Bristol (ID)
Sons of Ecstasy (Max Original)
At the epicenter of the 1990s ecstasy drug trade in Arizona sits an unusual rivalry. English stockbroker, Shaun Attwood, faces off against Gerard Gravano, the son of notorious New York mobster-hitman Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano. For the first time, the Gravanos tell their side of the story. Through riveting first-hand accounts from inside both factions, the film unravels the unexpected showdown between the British business guru and the mafia heir apparent in the Arizona desert. Guns, gangsters and underground raves set the stage in a deadly battle for control of an Ecstasy Empire.
The Pitt, Season 1 (Max Original) THE PITT is a realistic examination of the challenges facing healthcare workers in today’s America as seen through the lens of the frontline heroes working in a modern-day hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Each episode follows an hour of Dr. Robby’s (Noah Wyle) 15-hour shift as the chief attendant in Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital’s emergency room.
January 10
Black Butterfly (2017)
Holla (2006)
Vinnie Jones: In the Country, Season 1-2 (discovery+)
Bill Maher: Is Anyone Else Seeing This? (HBO Original)
This marks Maher’s 13th comedy special for the network. The comedian, writer, and host of Real Time with Bill Maher will tape his special in front of a live audience at the CIBC Theater in Chicago, Illinois.
Look Into My Eyes (A24)
A group of New York City psychics conduct deeply intimate readings for their clients, revealing a kaleidoscope of loneliness, connection, and healing.
January 11
Road to NHL Winter Classic, Episode 204
The Steam Room with Ej and Chuck 125 (TNT)
January 12
Naked and Afraid Spain (Aventura En Pelotas Espana), Season 1 (Discovery International)
January 13
Barney’s World, Season 1B
January 14
Baylen Out Loud, Season 1 (TLC)
Death by Fame, Season 3 (ID)
The Curious Case of…, Season 1 (ID)
The Last Party: Death on Tresco, Season 1 (discovery+)
January 15
Cult of Fear: The Asaram Bapu Story (discovery+)
Marshall (2017)
Uncharted (2022)
An Update On Our Family (HBO Original) AN UPDATE ON OUR FAMILY explores the complex and symbiotic world of family vlogging – a phenomenon in which parents post a steady stream of lifestyle videos on their social media channels to be consumed by loyal subscribers whose views in turn generate money for the vloggers themselves. After controversy around former family vloggers Myka and James Stauffer went public, new scrutiny arose around the industry. The documentary raises questions about what motivates vloggers to expose their lives to the world and examines the issues surrounding making their children’s lives public. The three-part series exposes the hidden-in-plain-sight, unregulated family vlogging industry.
Max renews ‘Harley Quinn’ for season 5
January 16
Becoming Hitchcock: The Legacy of Blackmail (2024)
Divided By Design, Season 1B (HGTV)
Murder Under the Friday Night Lights, Season 4 (ID)
My Sesame Street Friends, Season 15 (Max Original)
Sesame Street, Season 55 (Max Original)
Harley Quinn, Season 5 (Max Original)
The fifth season of HARLEY QUINN finds Harley (Kaley Cuoco) and Ivy (Lake Bell) in a new location: Metropolis! – the home of all things Superman, Lois Lane, and the Daily Planet. Harley and Ivy discover that something sinister is at play and all is not what it seems. Looming threats include Lex Luthor and his sister, Lena Luthor, plus fan-favorite Brainiac. But of course, Harley’s crew of misfits and allies will join her on this irreverent journey that takes no prisoners in having fun in the DC sandbox.
January 17
Better Off Dead (1985)
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
A Different Man (A24)
Aspiring actor Edward undergoes a radical medical procedure to drastically transform his appearance. But his new dream face quickly turns into a nightmare, as he loses out on the role he was born to play and becomes obsessed with reclaiming what was lost.
Real Time with Bill Maher, Season 23 (HBO Original)
Allowing Maher to offer his unique perspective on contemporary issues, the show continues with its opening monologue, one-on-one interviews with notable guests, roundtable discussions with panelists, and its signature “New Rules.”
January 21
Contraband: Seized at the Airport, Season 1 (Discovery)
January 22
Expedition X, Season 8 (Discovery)
January 23
C.B. Strike: The Ink Black Heart (HBO Original)
Strike and Robin are hired to investigate a murder involving a creator of a cult TV cartoon and an anonymous online troll known as “Anomie.” With a complex web of online aliases, business interests and family conflicts to navigate, our heroic pair find themselves in a case that stretches them to their limit with the threat of this mysterious killer around every corner.
January 24
Harpoon Hunters, Season 1 (Discovery)
January 25
Bugs Bunny Builders, Season 2B (Cartoon Network)
January 27
Scars of Beauty (Beleza Fatal), Season 1 (Max Original, Brazil)
Two families, two devastating injustices, and one shared plan for revenge. A daughter who loses her mother is unjustly imprisoned and murdered in jail; a mother who loses her daughter is the victim of medical malpractice. Both join forces to take revenge on those who destroyed their families.
January 28
Chopped, Season 60 (Food Network)
January 29
The Flip Off, Season 1 (HGTV)
January 30
The Other Side (Del Otro Lado Del Jardín) (Max Original, Colombia)
Mermicorno: Starfall, Season 1A (Max Original) MERMICORNO: STARFALL invites audiences into a dazzling underwater world where a team of Mermicornos (enchanting mermaid-unicorns) embark on exciting, hilarious and stylish adventures to save the ocean from the evil Ika Inkblot. During their epic mission, our heroes unlock the magic of creative self-expression, discover new depths of friendship, and find the best bowl of ramen in the sea.
January 31
Guy’s Ultimate Family Cruise (Food Network)
The Eastern Gate (Przesmyk), Season 1 (Max Original, Poland)
After losing her pregnancy while in action, Ewa, a Polish spy, wants to withdraw from the secret service to start a normal life. But when her lover is exposed by Russian intelligence and disappears without a trace, she goes on a rescue mission. The suspense thriller series explores the high stakes battle between intelligence agencies on the global stage during an emerging conflict and international unrest.
Former New York City Assistant District Attorney and legal analyst Beth Karas lends her expertise to Investigation Discovery’s new series The Curious Case Of…. The series kicks off on January 13, 2025 with an episode focusing on the controversy surrounding Jackass star Bam Margera’s conservatorship. Additional season one episodes WILL look at a missing persons case that takes a weird twist and a self-proclaimed prophet obsessed with cats.
New episodes air on Mondays at 10pm ET/PT on ID.
Poster for ‘The Curious Case Of’ (Photo Credit: ID)
The Curious Case Of… Episode Guide
The Curious Case Of… The Girl Who Died Twice
Premieres Monday, January 20 at 10/9c on ID
In 1981, 13-year-old Mary Day vanishes, and investigators suspect her stepfather may have killed her, but they never recover her body. Decades later, a woman claiming to be Mary appears, stirring suspicion and debate. Is this Mary Day or an imposter?
The Curious Case Of… The Orphan Impostor
Premieres Monday, February 3 at 10/9c on ID
Master conman Nicholas Rossi fakes his death to evade justice, adopts new identities and leaves a trail of alleged crimes across continents. Now resurfaced as “Arthur Knight,” he spins his most audacious con in court.
The Curious Case Of… The Funeral Home of Horrors
Premieres Monday, February 10 at 10/9c on ID
Jon and Carie Hallford’s “Return to Nature” promises eco-friendly care but instead leaves bodies decomposing in filth and provides families with concrete instead of ashes. When investigators arrive, the Hallfords flee, leaving families demanding justice and answers.
The Curious Case Of… The Doomsday Cat Cult
2-Hour Episode Premieres Monday, February 17 Beginning at 10/9c ID
Preacher Sheryl Ruthven, a self-proclaimed prophet, beguiles her followers into subservience and uses them to settle personal scores. As her beliefs grow increasingly bizarre, she demands her congregation adopt cats, believing the animals’ souls will save them in the impending apocalypse. Her manipulation drives followers into intense isolation, financial ruin, and bizarre rituals, tearing families apart and exploiting loyalty – all under the promise of salvation.
The Curious Case Of… Jodi Hildebrandt
Premieres Monday, February 24 at 10/9c on ID
Therapist Jodi Hildebrandt’s crusade against masturbation drives a wedge between couples in crisis. She forms a dark alliance with Mormon mommy vlogger Ruby Franke, but a horrifying 911 call exposes the depths of their bizarre beliefs.
Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce in ‘The Brutalist’ (Photo Credit: A24)
A24’s The Brutalist, an epic, powerful, and brilliantly crafted film, is a rare cinematic achievement. Its three-plus-hour running time is fully justified by the richness and depth of its storytelling. Every aspect of the incredible cinematic experience created by director and co-writer Brady Corbet showcases the exceptional talent of the artists involved.
Corbet and co-writer Mona Fastvold set their film in the 1940s and center it on László Tóth (Oscar winner Adrien Brody, The Pianist), a Jewish architect who barely escapes Budapest with his life. He’s forced to leave his wife, Erzsébet (Oscar nominee Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything), and niece, Zsófia (Raffey Cassidy, White Noise), behind when he flees to America with just the shirt on his back.
He’s briefly taken in by his cousin, Attila (Alessandro Nivola, The Room Next Door), who owns a furniture store. Harry Van Buren (Joe Alwyn, Conversations with Friends) commissions the cousins to redesign a library for his incredibly wealthy father, Harrison (Guy Pearce, Memento). Unfortunately, Harrison dislikes surprises, and Attila holds László responsible when the Van Burens refuse to pay. László’s prospects seem dim after being booted from his cousin’s employment. He’s stuck doing manual labor while living in a shelter. Compounding matters, he’s addicted to heroin after suffering an injury while escaping Budapest.
The stars finally align for László once Harrison’s opinion dramatically shifts. The tycoon learns about László Toth’s Pre-Holocaust reputation in Hungary where Toth’s buildings are architectural marvels. When Harrison discovers articles featuring László’s work, the ultra-rich industrialist is uncharacteristically contrite. More importantly, Harrison has the ambition and resources to move forward on a massive community center in memory of his dear, recently departed mother.
The Van Buren Center is so important to Harrison that he invites László to live on the property. He also introduces the talented architect to a friend with the connections to bring László’s wife and niece to America. In short, he controls all aspects of László’s life and ensures his complete attention to the massive community center. Everything László does depends on the whims of Harrison Van Buren, a situation that leads to an unimaginable conclusion.
The Brutalist wouldn’t work without Adrien Brody’s or Guy Pearce’s career-defining performances. Talk about your awards-caliber work. Both Brody and Guy Pearce can expect to have full dance cards come awards season.
Brody delivers a performance as László Tóth that is powerful, raw, and deeply affecting, a physical and emotional commitment to the role that resonates long after the credits roll. Brody’s László is vulnerable to manipulation, and Guy Pearce’s Harrison Van Buren is the sociopathic, charismatic tycoon who seizes the opportunity. Dressed in fine clothing and true nature hidden behind dollar signs, Harrison’s desire to possess László is only matched by his resentment of his artistic genius. However, although Harrison has the money and power, László is the one who holds the Van Buren family legacy in his hands.
The Brutalist includes some of the most unforgettable, stunning shots of any 2024 feature. Impeccably shot by Lol Crawley, The Brutalist is a brutally honest depiction of the American dream. The film explores antisemitism, racism, and classism in all their ugliness. It also depicts sexual violence and, without being graphic, makes its impact clear.
The Brutalist offers an unflinchingly honest portrayal of the immigrant experience, highlighted by its amazing production design and a subtle yet powerful score. As László’s magnificent buildings did in the world Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold created, The Brutalist will stand the test of time.
GRADE: A
MPAA Rating: R for graphic nudity, drug use, rape, some language, and strong sexual content
Release Date: December 20, 2024 limited
Running Time: 3 hours 35 minutes
John Bell in ‘Outlander’ season 7 episode 13 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Starz’s Outlander season seven episode 13 begins on a happy note with the Frasers preparing for Ian and Rachel’s wedding. Rollo naps by the fire as Jamie (Sam Heughan) says he’s happy he rose from the dead in time to attend the wedding. Jamie knows Ian’s dad would be happy for his son, while Ian (John Bell) just hopes Jamie’s letter reaches Denzell in time for him to make it to the wedding.
Ian’s not nervous about his impending marriage but is nervous for Rachel since she’s a virgin. Jamie confesses he was a virgin on his wedding night, and no one gave him good advice except Claire. She told him, “Go slowly. Pay attention.” Jamie jokes that Claire wasn’t gentle with him, but the advice to be patient is still worth following.
Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Mercy (Gloria Obianyo) help Rachel (Izzy Meikle-Small) prepare, and Rachel has chosen a very plain dress that suits her taste. She and Claire will be leaving just days after the ceremony since Ian and Jamie have been given their orders. Rachel wonders if it ever gets easier to watch men go off to war, and Claire and Mercy confirm it doesn’t. However, her love will become her shield and she’ll wake up every day and fight, too.
Denzell (Joey Phillips) rushes in, relieved to learn he’s not too late. Henry Grey (Harry Jarvis) is up and about on Claire’s orders, and Denzell’s happy he’s recovering nicely. Denzell asks Jamie if Lord John Grey made it home, and only then does Jamie learn that Denzell treated Lord John at Colonel Smith’s camp. Lord John was being held as a prisoner of war and scheduled to be hanged when Denzell helped him escape.
Jamie’s shocked at this turn of events but insists John can take care of himself.
The small group gathers and Rachel thanks everyone for joining them for their wedding day. She suggests they listen to the light within them, takes a seat next to Ian, and closes her eyes. The room falls silent for so long that Rollo falls asleep at Ian’s feet. Claire finally whispers to Jamie asking what happens if the spirit never moves them to speak. Jamie doesn’t know, but in answering Claire, Denzell says Jamie’s been moved and can now speak his heart.
Jamie recalls holding Ian as a baby and believing he knew exactly what he would become. Yet, he couldn’t have foreseen the man he turned out to be. Denzell speaks next about his sister standing up for him and being put out of their church because of it. He deeply regrets depriving his sister of support and approval, but Rachel begs to differ. She’s happy and content. Ian speaks up when Denzell says he pushed Rachel into an army of violent men. Jamie wants to interject, but Claire suggests he stay silent, even if the spirit tells him otherwise.
Denzell redeems himself by saying Rachel’s on the right path and has found true love with Ian. The spirit must have intended for her to be on this path.
Ian speaks next and admits he’s known darkness, but Rachel has given him light and joy. “I stand here today a free man. My heart’s once more mine to give,” says Ian, adding, “I hope to give it to you forever.”
Rachel takes his hand and says, “I take thee, Ian, to be my husband.”
Ian follows Jamie’s advice on his wedding night and takes it slow. He compliments her bum, and she caresses his in return. They help each other undress, and Rachel admits she likes it when he moans. She apologizes for being bold during their foreplay, and he says she can never be too bold with him. He’s impressed she’s not scared, and Rachel confesses she’s worried the actual act may hurt. She’d love to get that part over so she can stop worrying.
Ian continues to be gentle as they make love for the first time as man and wife.
Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe in ‘Outlander’ season 7 episode 13 (Photo Credit: Starz)
While Ian and Rachel are enjoying themselves, Jamie’s sitting in bed unable to sleep. He’s thinking about Lord John and about what Claire and John did in this room. Jamie’s upset Lord John was almost hanged. Plus, William is gone, and Jamie thinks he failed him. Claire believes William will eventually realize that what Jamie and Lord John did is because of how much they love him. She sees a lot of Jamie in William.
Morning arrives, and Jamie models his new uniform. Claire smiles and admits she likes him in it. She understands why he must do this, and she’d always choose to sleep next to him in an army cot than alone without him. She steps back and looks him up and down and says, “At least this time it’s the right color.”
Richard Rankin and Diarmaid Murtagh in ‘Outlander’ season 7 episode 13 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Roger and Buck Make an Astonishing Discovery
Buck (Diarmaid Murtagh) observes that the mountains haven’t changed a day since his time, suddenly giving Roger (Richard Rankin) an idea. Roger remembers Bree saying she felt a time portal under the dam. If the stones were there before they built the dam, they’re probably there in 1739!
Roger believes his dad must have gone through them and wants to retrace his steps.
Checking in on Bree (Sophie Skelton) shows that she’s got Rob Cameron locked up. She slaps Rob and threatens to kill him if he doesn’t say where he’s holding Jemmy. The phone’s not working, so Bree and her daughter, Mandy, drive to the police.
Meanwhile, Jemmy is trapped in the mines and calls out for his parents. Jemmy pulls himself together and begins pounding on a metal door. He picks up a miner’s helmet and switches on its light, recalling his mom saying she found a breaker box in the pitch black and flipped on the switches. Just as Jemmy does the same and the tunnel lights up, Mandy reacts in her mom’s car by calling out her brother’s name. Bree pulls over and suggests a game of hotter or colder. Right now, they’re warmer. They drive on, and Mandy says they’re colder, so Bree turns around.
Jemmy walks through the mine as the scene switches to Roger and Buck walking in the same area back in 1739.
Jemmy remembers his mom saying that when the tunnels split, she went right. He follows the right path as Mandy tells Bree they’re getting warmer.
Roger and Buck find the stones and discover something hidden by a rock. It’s a survival kit, complete with old goggles. Roger screams out Jemmy’s name just as we see Jemmy approaching the time portal in the mine. The noise from the portal hurts Jemmy’s ears, so he covers them, but then suddenly, he hears his dad call his name. He yells hello at his dad.
Night’s fallen as this is taking place, and in the car, Mandy tells her mom she doesn’t feel Jemmy anymore. Bree finally realizes Rob’s taken Jemmy into the mines and pulls onto a service road. Mandy pipes up from the backseat and says, “Hot, mommy. Really hot.” So hot that Bree almost runs over her son standing in the middle of the road!
Bree hugs Jemmy, and Jemmy reveals he escaped because he remembered how she said she did it.
Roger and Buck see a young boy nearby, and they give chase when he runs off, scared. They finally catch him, and he’s got Roger’s dad’s helmet. The boy tells a story of helping Roger’s dad and getting the helmet in exchange. But then Roger’s dad stole a lamb and now he’s on the run from the farmer. The boy says the man who gave him the helmet ran into the nearby woods.
Roger and Buck explore the woods, calling out for Jerry MacKenzie. Roger admits he has no idea what he will say to his dad if they find him. They’re still talking as they stumble upon Roger’s dad whose first instinct is to run for his life. But he stops when Roger calls him by his name.
Roger asks if he’s J.W. MacKenzie and holds up his dog tags. When Jerry asks who they are, Roger explains they’re also time travelers. Roger convinces him by saying Winston Churchill is Prime Minister in Jerry’s time and Margaret Thatcher is Prime Minister in his. Jerry understands they’re from his future and asks what year they are in right now. He’s still confused but at least now he doesn’t feel alone.
Roger tends to Jerry’s wound as he explains he’s looking for his son, Jeremiah. Jerry’s sorry he hasn’t seen him and says he wants to get back to his own son, who’s just a baby. Roger assures him his son will be all right and asks how he got there. Jerry has no idea how he got to 1739. He leaned against stones after his plane went down and ended up here. Roger and Buck confirm that’s how it works.
As Jerry explains his secret mission to fly over Nazi war camps and take aerial footage, they hear dogs getting closer in the woods. They run for the stones with the townsfolk hot on their heels. Even though Jerry stumbles and hurts his leg, they reach the stones. Roger tells his dad, who doesn’t know they’re related, to think about his wife, Marjorie, as he touches the center stone. Jerry demands to know how Roger knew his wife’s name and Roger won’t say. But he does tell Jerry that they won the war because of men like him.
Jerry steps through the stones as Roger whispers, “I love you.”
The men and dogs approach and Roger and Buck run off, unaware that Jemmy is now safely back home with Bree.
Bree and the kids make it home, accompanied by the police. Jemmy blames himself for his dad going through the stones, but Bree insists it’s not his fault. The cops open the locked room where Bree was holding Rob, and he’s gone! Bree believes someone must have helped him, and the cops seem to insinuate that Bree and Rob were in some sort of relationship. She explains she’s Rob’s boss, and Roger is in Boston on business. Bree is angry about the line of questioning, and the male cop accuses her of becoming hysterical. Bree warns him, “Oh, you haven’t seen hysterical.”
Sophie Skelton and Iona Claire in ‘Outlander’ season 7 episode 13 (Photo Credit: Starz)
A short while later, Bree sends the kids to stay with Aunt Fiona (Iona Claire) and Uncle Ernie. She asks Fiona to hold on to the lockbox with all the secret papers. Bree has to return home, even though Rob has her keys and the phone lines are still down. She assures Fiona she has a gun and will use it to protect her family. Fiona thinks Roger will come home once he realizes Jemmy isn’t there. However, Bree knows Roger will never give up if he thinks there’s a chance he can find their son.
Roger and Buck procure horses, and Roger confesses he has no new memories of his dad. He’s pretty sure he didn’t make it back. Buck points out that what they’re doing happened before either were born, yet they don’t have memories of it. Roger’s happy that he gave his dad a chance somewhere other than Scotland in 1739. He recalls that when he touched the stones to follow Jemmy, he had a brief thought about his own father and how much he missed him.
“I think the stones brought us here so that I could save his life,” says Roger. He believes sometimes the stones make the choice for them. And, most importantly, if that’s why they came to 1739, then maybe that means Jem isn’t here.
A lot is riding on Superman‘s success so the teaser trailer needs to land well with fans. Based on comments on DC’s YouTube page, it seems to have hit most of the right notes.
The teaser trailer opens with Superman gasping for breath, bloody and calling for help from his trusty dog Krypto. The two-minute trailer has only a couple of lines of dialogue and instead teases us with very brief snippets of all the key characters.
David Corenswet (Twisters) stars as Superman/Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) plays Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult (Nosferatu) is Lex Luthor. Edi Gathegi (For All Mankind) plays Mr. Terrific, Isabela Merced (Alien Romulus) is Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion (The Rookie) is Guy Gardner / Green Lantern, Skyler Gisondo (Licorice Pizza) is Jimmy Olsen, Sara Sampaio (At Midnight) is Eve Teschmacher, María Gabriela de Faría (The Moodys) is Angela Spica / The Engineer, and Wendell Pierce (Selma) is Perry White. Anthony Carrigan (Barry), Alan Tudyk (Resident Alien), Pruitt Taylor Vince (Bird Box), and Neva Howell (Greedy People) also star.
Writer-director – and DC Studios co-head – James Gunn’s behind-the-scenes team includes director of photography Henry Braham, production designer Beth Mickle, costume designer Judianna Makovsky, composer John Murphy, and editors Craig Alpert, Jason Ballantine, and William Hoy. Gunn and DC Studios co-head Peter Safran produce, with Nikolas Korda, Chantal Nong Vo, and Lars Winther executive producing.
’48 Hours’ examines the JonBenet Ramsey case (Photo Supplied by CBS)
The decades-old JonBenet Ramsey murder case is back in the news following the November 2024 premiere of Netflix’s Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey docuseries. Netflix’s documentary series took a deep dive back into the evidence and ended by suggesting further DNA analysis now could potentially lead to the killer’s identity.
CBS’s 48 Hours is also revisiting the 1999 murder of the six-year-old pageant star who was found dead in her family’s basement on December 26th. 48 Hours‘ “The Search for JonBenét’s Killer” airs on December 21, 2024 at 10pm ET/PT, with correspondent Erin Moriarty delving into the case she’s been covering since JonBenét’s death.
The episode will include John Ramsey, JonBenét’s father, discussing his theory of the crime. Ramsey’s convinced his daughter’s murderer was hiding inside the family home when they left to go out for Christmas dinner. “Identifying the killer isn’t gonna change my life at this point, but it will change the lives of my children and my grandchildren,” says Ramsey. “This cloud needs to be removed from our family’s head, and this chapter closed for their benefit.”
“The Search for JonBenét’s Killer” will also feature an old interview with Patsy and John Ramsey. JonBenét’s mom passed away in June 2006 from ovarian cancer.
“This is one of the last interviews Patsy and John Ramsey did together, and the access was incredible,” says Moriarty. “Patsy was undergoing chemotherapy at the time and spoke candidly about how difficult it was for her. But she also made it clear that, for her, dealing with cancer was nothing compared to the pain of losing a child.”
Per CBS: “Join 48 Hours and Moriarty as they revisit this mystery, building on the program’s 2002 investigation, which challenged the wave of coverage surrounding the case. The new details and updates will shed light on the latest search for answers and the lasting impact of JonBenét on her family and the community.”
Matthew Lewis to star in ‘Murder Before Evensong’ (Photo Courtesy of Acorn TV)
Harry Potter‘s Matthew Lewis has signed on to star in Acorn TV and Channel 5’s Murder Before Evensong, based on Reverend Richard Coles’ bestselling series. The crime drama will start filming in 2025.
“I’m beyond thrilled to be throwing on the old dog collar and diving into the world of Champton so charmingly created by Rev. Richard Coles. I’ve been an admirer of his work for some time and love the characters and stories he’s written,” stated Matthew Lewis. “It’s an honour to work with this creative team and have the opportunity to bring the character of Canon Clement to life for fans of the book and new viewers alike.”
Nick Hicks-Beach (Midsomer Murders) adapted the first book in Reverend Richard Coles’ series, and David Moore (Outlander) is confirmed to direct.
Reverend Richard Coles, who will be involved as an executive producer, said “I am beyond excited that Canon Clement and his flock are to be turned into television by the brilliant team at The Lighthouse, and I’m already planning my cameo appearance. Look out for a sinister archdeacon on a sit-up-and-beg bicycle!”
Additional executive producers include The Lighthouse’s Radford Neville and Acorn TV/Acorn Media Enterprises’ Catherine Mackin and Don Klees. Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, Drama, Channel 5, is also serving as an executive producer.
Acorn TV and Channel 5 offered this description of the upcoming series: “British actor Matthew Lewis, best known as Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter film series, will star as Canon Daniel Clement, who shares Champton rectory with his widowed mother—opinionated, fearless, ever-so-slightly annoying Audrey—and his two dachshunds, Cosmo and Hilda.
When Daniel announces a plan to install a lavatory in the church, the parish is suddenly (and unexpectedly) divided: as lines are drawn, long-buried secrets come dangerously close to destroying the apparent calm of the village. And then Anthony Bowness—cousin to Bernard de Floures, patron of Champton—is found dead at the back of the church, stabbed in the neck with a pair of secateurs.
As the police move in and the bodies start piling up, Daniel is the only one who can try and keep his fractured community together… and catch a killer.”
Commenting on the casting announcement, Catherine Mackin, Managing Director, Acorn Media Enterprises (Acorn TV) said, “Richard’s brilliantly layered storytelling offering surprise and delight around every corner is the exact crime-focused fare Acorn TV’s intellectually curious audience craves. Matthew’s embodiment of Canon Daniel promises a bold and compelling adaptation that we can’t wait to see. We’re delighted to work alongside Richard, Nick, David, Matthew, as well as our partners at The Lighthouse and Channel 5, to bring this highly praised bestseller to the small screen.”
