Chicago (Photo Courtesy of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame)
The nominees for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016 have been announced, with the list representing a wide variety of musical genres. Potential members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016 released their first recording in 1990 or earlier as part of the eligibility requirements, and 800+ artists, select members of the music industry, as well as historians will vote on the nominees. Music fans can also play a role in choosing who will be added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by voting at rockhall.com now through December 9, 2015. The five artists receiving the most votes will each have a fan ballot added in when calculating the results of all the completed ballots. The results of the vote will be announced in December.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees:
Yes (Photo Courtesy of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame)
The Cars
Chaka Khan
Chicago
Cheap Trick
Chic
Deep Purple
The J.B.’s
Janet Jackson
Los Lobos
Steve Miller
N.W.A.
Nine Inch Nails
The Smiths
The Spinners
Yes
About the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum:
“The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum’s mission is to engage, teach and inspire through the power of rock and roll. The institution carries out its mission by giving voice to the stories of the people, artifacts and events that shaped rock and roll — through Museum exhibits, materials in the Museum’s Library and Archives, traveling exhibitions, and a wide array of innovative educational programs and activities. The 150,000 square-foot Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, located in Cleveland’s rapidly developing North Coast Harbor, is home to major artifact collections, four state-of-the-art theaters, and year-round educational and concert programming.”
Andrew Garfield and Michael Shannon in ’99 Homes’ (Photo Courtesy of Broad Green Pictures)
How desperate would you have to be to accept a job from a man who kicked your family to the curb? Would you be able to put aside your anger and moral outrage over the loss of your home if the man who tossed you out dangled a lifeline when no other options were available? And if you said yes to his offer of employment, how much shame would you feel at being grateful for his money?
99 Homes is set during the worst U.S. housing crisis in history, a period in which homes were foreclosed on at one of the highest rates in history in large part due to abusive lending practices by financial institutions and mortgage companies. The court system was unsympathetic to homeowners behind on their payments, and banks snatched up properties while families were left struggling to find an alternate place to call home.
Andrew Garfield plays Dennis Nash, a single father faced with taking jobs from Rick Carver (Michael Shannon), the realtor who enforced the bank’s foreclosure order. The Nash family was literally given just a few minutes to take only the items they could not live without, with their neighbors and friends watching in shock from the sidewalk as Dennis was blocked from re-entering his home by law enforcement officers working with Carver. After losing his family’s home, Dennis, his young son, and his mother (Laura Dern) have no choice but to move into a low-rent motel where other families in similar situations are also temporarily housed.
Dennis works in construction, but the jobs are few and far between, so when Rick offers him a chance to earn much-needed cash, there isn’t an option to say anything other than yes if he wants to feed his family. He’s too ashamed to admit who he’s working for to his mother and son, but he’s not too ashamed to take on additional job duties for Rick, eventually becoming his right-hand man. And in that elevated capacity, Dennis becomes the man he hated, knocking on doors and delivering the devastating eviction news to people who have no means to fight the legal orders.
Co-writer/director Ramin Bahrani (Man Push Cart, At Any Price) doesn’t paint Rick as the devil in a business suit but instead allows him to be multi-layered, providing a plausible backstory into how he became a millionaire at the expense of struggling Orlando, Florida homeowners. Michael Shannon is near brilliant as a man who, on the surface, appears to barely register the consequences of his actions as they’re taking place, yet you know he fully realizes the impact he has on the lives of strangers in financial trouble.
Andrew Garfield is terrific as Dennis Nash, a father who will do anything, no matter how it tears him apart inside, to keep his son fed and safe. The best scenes in 99 Homes come when it’s just Shannon and Garfield’s characters on screen, feeling each other out, and Shannon’s Carver pushing all the right buttons in order to get Dennis to alter his moral code in order to collect a healthy, life-altering paycheck.
99 Homes is exceptional storytelling until the final act. The resolution to Dennis’ moral dilemma over being employed by a man he despises is too tidy and false. It plays out as though the true ending would have been too harsh for audiences to accept and so this alternate ending was selected just so we could feel slightly better about having empathized with Dennis in the first place. Was this ending what Bahrani had in mind all along? I walked out of the theater feeling cheated by just how neatly the story ended and disappointed by what’s basically a cop-out after having been emotionally invested in Dennis’ journey from the opening scenes. 99 Homes rang the doorbell on greatness and then ran away before letting the audience see what’s really behind the door.
GRADE: B-
MPAA Rating: R for language including some sexual references, and a brief violent image
Jason Bateman and Nicole Kidman in ‘The Family Fang’
Jason Bateman’s comedy/drama The Family Fang has been picked up by Starz for U.S. distribution. Bateman directed the film and stars alongside Nicole Kidman, Christopher Walken, and Maryann Plunkett. Kidman and her producing partner at Blossom Films, Per Saari, optioned Kevin Wilson’s book and David Lindsay-Abaire adapted the novel for the screen.
Starz is planning a 2016 theatrical release through Starz Digital followed by a release on demand and a TV premiere on Starz.
“Jason Bateman continues to impress as a director,” stated Brett Marottoli, Vice President of Acquisitions for Starz, commenting on the acquisition. “The Family Fang is as moving as it is funny and features a stellar cast at the top of their game. We can’t wait to bring such an impassioned film to audiences.”
The Family Fang Plot:
Adult siblings Baxter (Bateman) and Annie (Kidman), scarred from an unconventional upbringing, return to their family home. When their parents (Walken and Plunkett) — performance artists famous for elaborate public hoaxes — go missing under troubling circumstances, Baxter and Annie investigate. Unsure whether it’s foul play or just another elaborate ruse, nothing can prepare them for what they discover.
ABC Family’s debuted the first official trailer for the upcoming fantasy series Shadowhunters starring Katherine McNamara as Clary Fray and Dominic Sherwood as Jace Wayland. The new series, which will debut in 2016, also features Alberto Rosende as Simon, Emeraude Toubia as Isabelle Lightwood, Matthew Daddario as Alec Lightwood, Isaiah Mustafa as Luke Garroway, and Glee‘s Harry Shum Jr. as Magnus Bane.
McG (Terminator Salvation) is executive producing Shadowhunters and directed episode one.
The Plot:
Based on the bestselling young adult fantasy book series The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, Shadowhunters follows 18-year-old Clary Fray, who finds out on her birthday that she is not who she thinks she is but rather comes from a long line of Shadowhunters – human-angel hybrids who hunt down demons.
When her mother Jocelyn is kidnapped, Clary is thrown into the world of demon hunting with mysterious Shadowhunter Jace and her best friend, Simon. Now living among faeries, warlocks, vampires and werewolves, Clary begins a journey of self-discovery as she learns more about her past and what her future may hold.
‘True Blood’ star Sam Trammell (Photo by Richard Chavez / Showbiz Junkies)
With filming getting underway in Virginia, Lionsgate Premiere’s just announced Toni Collette, Sam Trammell, and Tracy Letts have signed on to the cast of Imperium. Collette, Letts and Trammell are joining previously announced star Daniel Radcliffe in the dramatic film based on true events. Daniel Ragussis is directing and co-wrote the script with former FBI agent Mike German. German’s experience in counter-terrorism inspired the film.
Andrew Mann, Jeff Elliott, Chad Moore, Barry Brooker, Stan Wertlieb, Eric Gold, and Warren Goz are on board as executive producers. Atomic Features and Tycor International Film Company are producing the thriller.
The Plot: Based on true events, Imperium focuses on Nate Foster, a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation who specializes in domestic terrorism and covert operations. Foster (Radcliffe) goes undercover and joins a white supremacist group in order to expose a sizable terrorist plot to create a dirty bomb. The bright up-and-coming analyst must confront the challenge of sticking to a new identity while maintaining his real principles as he navigates the dangerous underworld of white supremacy.
Toni Collette plays veteran battle-hardened colleague FBI Agent Angela Zampino, and Tracy Letts is Dallas Wolf, a modern-day leader of the white supremacy movement. Sam Trammell plays Jerry Conrad a seemingly normal suburban Dad who is also the local Ayran youth recruiter.
Nasser Faris as Khaled, Alice Krige as Amira, Ashraf Barhom as Jamal, Moran Atias as Leila, Adam Rayner as Barry, Anne Winters as Emma, Jennifer Finnegan as Molly, Noah Silver as Sammy in ‘Tyrant’ season 2 (Photo by Patrick Harbron / FX)
FX will be bringing back Tyrant from executive producer Howard Gordon for a 10 episode third season. Season two recently wrapped up after averaging 2.47 million viewers, and season three is expected to air in 2016. The dramatic series also has Glenn Gordon Caron, Chris Keyser, David Fury, Gideon Raff, Avi Nir, and Hugh Fitzpatrick involved as executive producers.
Making the renewal order announcement, FX Networks and FX Productions President of Original Programming Eric Schrier said, “Tyrant’s second season took the show to a new level thanks to the skill and direction of Howard, Chris and Glenn and their creative team, the exceptional cast and a story steeped in family, loyalty and intrigue. We look forward to the next chapter and a sensational third season of Tyrant.”
The Season Two Plot:
Tyrant is the story of an unassuming American family drawn into the inner workings of a turbulent Middle Eastern nation. Bassam “Barry” Al-Fayeed (Adam Rayner), the youngest son of a war-torn country’s controversial dictator, returns to his homeland after a self-imposed 20-year exile in America, only to be forced back into the treacherous familial and national politics of his youth. When his brother, Jamal (Ashraf Barhom), assumes the presidency, Barry becomes a powerful force within the government, fueled by visions of bringing humanitarian freedoms to his homeland. Upon realizing that Jamal lacks any sense of justice or morality, Barry colluded with members of the U.S. government on a failed attempt at overthrowing his tyrannical reign and was arrested on charges of treason. Having been betrayed by the West, Jamal now sets his sights on the East, developing an alliance with China that he hopes will make Abuddin a global power. But Barry continues to be a thorn in Jamal’s side, becoming a symbol of freedom for the increasingly vocal insurgency.
Scoot McNairy as Gordon Clark and Lee Pace as Joe MacMillan in ‘Halt and Catch Fire’ (Photo by Richard DuCree / AMC)
There’s no stopping Halt and Catch Fire as AMC just announced the dramatic series has been picked up for a third season. Season three will consist of 10 new episodes, and creators/writers Christopher Cantwell and Christopher C. Rogers will be the new season’s showrunners.
Halt and Catch Fire season three will air in the summer of 2016. Lee Pace, Scoot McNairy, Kerry Bishé, and Mackenzie Davis star, and Cantwell, Rogers, Mark Johnson, and Melissa Bernstein executive produce.
“We love what the creative team and cast have been able to deliver on Halt and Catch Fire and are particularly grateful to the critics and fans who supported the show throughout the second season and have been pulling for its renewal,” said Joel Stillerman, president of original programming and development for AMC and SundanceTV. “We’re so thankful for the talent and leadership of Jonathan Lisco over these first two seasons and glad that we are able to continue this story with co-creators and showrunners Chris Cantwell and Chris Rogers at the helm. In a world of TV series filled with scary, mythical creatures like zombies and dragons, we’re thrilled to be able to follow these characters to Silicon Valley and finally bring unicorns to television.”
“We are beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to continue telling this story. Halt and Catch Fire has been a passion project of ours from day one, and we are so thankful that AMC not only shares this passion, but also continues to champion bold character-driven storytelling in an increasingly crowded television landscape,” added Cantwell and Rogers. “While we know we would not be here were it not for the leadership and mentorship of former showrunner Jonathan Lisco, we’re incredibly excited to continue working with our wonderful producing partners at Gran Via, as well as our extremely talented cast and crew. Much in the way that Halt is about underdogs overcoming convention and breaking new ground, the story of season 3 will endeavor to further stretch the medium and challenge the form.”
The Plot:
Halt and Catch Fire captures the rise of the PC era in the early 1980s, focused on four main characters attempting to innovate against the changing backdrop of technology and Texas’ Silicon Prairie.
The first Ant-Man movie starring Rudd, Michael Douglas, and Corey Stoll opened on July 17, 2015. Ant-Man made $57 million domestically over its opening weekend and has collected $409 million worldwide thus far during its theatrical run.
With Ant-Man‘s sequel now scheduled to come out on July 6, 2018, Black Panther has moved up to February 16, 2018. And, Captain Marvel will now open on March 8, 2019. The studio also revealed three untitled films have secured May 1, 2020, July 10, 2020, and November 6, 2020 release dates.
Special IMAX poster for ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2’
Tickets are now on sale for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, Josh Hutcherson as Peeta, Liam Hemsworth as Gale, and Sam Claflin as Finnick, and Lionsgate’s just released a few new assets from the action film to mark the start of ticket sales. In addition to its release in conventional theaters, the final Hunger Games film is getting an IMAX release and today a new special IMAX poster has arrived along with a new clip. The clip is titled ‘Star Squad’ and provides a look at the group of rebels (including Katniss and Finnick) who will be the face of revolution during the invasion of the Capitol.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 was directed by Francis Lawrence and will open in theaters on November 20, 2015. The cast also includes Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Willow Shields, Jena Malone, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Julianne Moore, Mahershala Ali, Natalie Dormer, Wes Chatham, Elden Henson, and Evan Ross.
The Plot:
With the nation of Panem in a full scale war, Katniss [Lawrence] confronts President Snow [Donald Sutherland] in the final showdown. Teamed with a group of her closest friends – including Gale [Hemsworth], Finnick [Claflin] and Peeta [Hutcherson] – Katniss goes off on a mission with the unit from District 13 as they risk their lives to liberate the citizens of Panem, and stage an assassination attempt on President Snow who has become increasingly obsessed with destroying her. The mortal traps, enemies, and moral choices that await Katniss will challenge her more than any arena she faced in The Hunger Games.
Landon Liboiron in ‘Hemlock Grove’ (Photo by Steve Wilkie / 2015 Netflix)
Netflix’s original horror series Hemlock Grove is coming to an end with the third and final season set to be released on October 23, 2015 at 12:01am PT. The Final Chapter has just released the official two minute trailer with a warning it’s restricted to fearless audiences due to gory mayhem, organ harvesting, and blood bank orgies.
All 10 new episodes of the series will be available for binge-watching on October 23rd. Executive produced by Eli Roth, Charles Eglee, Brian McGreevy, Lee Shipman, Eric Newman and Michael Connolly, Hemlock Grove stars Famke Janssen, Bill Skarsgard, Landon Liboiron, and Madeleine Martin.
The Plot:
Hemlock Grove comes to a riveting and deliciously disturbing conclusion. As the town’s grim secrets continue to unravel at an alarming pace, Olivia (Janssen), Roman (Skarsgård), Peter (Liboiron) and Shelley (Martin) are introduced to mysterious new people while facing dangerous and unexpected obstacles. As enemies both foreign and familial close in, Peter and Roman learn that in order to prevent the ‘end of days,’ they will both need to sacrifice their humanity and release their true inner monsters.
