James Franco is confirmed to star in the Hulu Original series 11/22/63 based on Stephen King’s bestseller. The new series is from King, executive producer/writer Bridget Carpenter, J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions, and Warner Bros. Television. In addition to taking on the lead role of English teacher Jake Tepping, Franco is also on board as a producer.
11/22/63 will air as a nine-hour event series.
Back in September 2014 when the series was announced, King said, “If I ever wrote a book that cries out for long-form, event TV programming, 11/22/63 is it. I’m excited that it’s going to happen, and am looking forward to working with J.J. Abrams and the whole Bad Robot team.”
The Plot:
11/22/63 is a thriller in which high school English teacher Jake Epping travels back in time to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. But his mission is threatened by Lee Harvey Oswald, his falling in love and the past itself … which doesn’t want to be changed.
The Walking Dead creator/executive producer Robert Kirkman’s Outcast has received a series order from Cinemax. Season one of the supernatural thriller will consist of 10 episodes with Kirkman and Chris Black, David Alpert, Sharon Tal Yguado, and Sue Naegle executive producing.
“We are thrilled to be in business with Robert Kirkman, a visionary talent who has the unique ability to tap into today’s zeitgeist, making him a perfect fit for the newly expanded Cinemax roster,” said Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming.
“We couldn’t be more excited to bring Robert Kirkman’s new drama to Cinemax. Outcast is an ambitious series and Adam Wingard has directed a powerful pilot. I am very proud of the work that Robert, Sharon and team have put together,” said Hernan Lopez, President and CEO, FOX International Channels.
The Plot:
Outcast, based on the Skybound/Image comic title by creator Robert Kirkman and artist Paul Azaceta, follows Kyle Barnes, a young man who has been plagued by demonic possession all his life. Now, with the help of the Reverend Anderson, a preacher with personal demons of his own, Kyle embarks on a journey to find answers and regain the normal life he lost. But what Kyle discovers could change his fate — and the fate of the world — forever.
Patrick Fugit (Gone Girl) stars as Barnes, a man searching for answers, and for redemption, who sequesters himself from those he loves for fear of causing greater hurt. Philip Glenister stars as Reverend Anderson, a West Virginia evangelist who believes he is a soldier in God’s holy war against the forces of evil on Earth. An inveterate drinker and gambler, he doesn’t believe God intends people to sweat the small stuff. Gabriel Bateman stars as Joshua Austin, an eight-year-old who lives across town from Kyle. To his family’s dismay, he appears to be in the clutches of demonic possession, but there’s something very different about this possession and its connection to Kyle Barnes.
Oscar producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced Grammy winner Lady Gaga will perform on this year’s Oscars. According to the producers, Lady Gaga will make her first appearance on the awards show performing a “special tribute.”
“Lady Gaga is a once-in-a-lifetime artist whose musical evolution keeps growing. We are proud to have her perform on the Oscars for the very first time,” says Zadan and Meron.
Lady Gaga joins a list of musical performers that includes Anna Kendrick, Adam Levine, Jennifer Hudson, Tegan and Sara, The Lonely Island, Tim McGraw, John Legend, and Common. The 2015 Oscars will take place on February 22nd with Neil Patrick Harris set to host. ABC will air the show live beginning at 7pm ET/4pm PT.
This week’s episode of The Vampire Diaries will be bittersweet as it’s the last episode for actor Steven R. McQueen who plays Jeremy on the popular The CW series. Airing on February 12, 2015, “Stay” was written by Brian Young and Caroline Dries and directed by Chris Grismer.
The Plot:
GOODBYE, MYSTIC FALLS — It’s Jeremy’s (McQueen) last day in Mystic Falls and Elena (Nina Dobrev) puts on a brave face as they reminisce about their past. Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Caroline (Candice Accola) find themselves growing closer as they prepare Caroline’s family cabin for her mother to live out her final days. While packing up her office, Sheriff Forbes (guest star Marguerite MacInytre) turns to Damon (Ian Somerhalder) for help solving one of her remaining open cases involving Elena’s parents.
Elsewhere, when a violent confrontation with Enzo (Michael Malarkey) leaves Jeremy wondering whether he should leave or not, Matt (Zach Roerig) finds his own life on the line after Enzo lures him and Sarah Salvatore (guest star Tristan Mays) into his dangerous plan. Lastly, Caroline rushes to the hospital after learning her mother has taken a turn for the worse.
Sony Pictures has released the first official photo of Daniel Craig as James Bond in the action adventure film Spectre directed by Sam Mendes. The studio also unveiled the first behind the scenes vlog (video blog) from the film’s shoot in Austria. The short video provides a look at a major action scene from the new Bond film along with interviews with the cast and crew, as well as a brief shot at the end of Daniel Craig in action.
In addition to Craig, the Spectre cast includes Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, Rory Kinnear, Christoph Waltz, Léa Seydoux, Dave Bautista, Monica Bellucci, and Andrew Scott.
Spectre opens in theaters on November 6, 2015.
The Plot:
A cryptic message from Bond’s past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE.
Judd Apatow (The 40 Year Old Virgin) is back in the director’s seat with Trainwreck written by and starring Amy Schumer. The first trailers have arrived – both the okay for most audiences and the restricted not-safe-for-work versions – along with a new poster for the 2015 comedy.
The cast also includes Bill Hader, Brie Larson, John Cena, Tilda Swinton and LeBron James. Yes, that LeBron James. Trainwreck opens in theaters on July 17, 2015.
The Plot:
Since she was a little girl, it’s been drilled into Amy’s (Schumer) head by her rascal of a dad (Colin Quinn) that monogamy isn’t realistic. Now a magazine writer, Amy lives by that credo—enjoying what she feels is an uninhibited life free from stifling, boring romantic commitment—but in actuality, she’s kind of in a rut. When she finds herself starting to fall for the subject of the new article she’s writing, a charming and successful sports doctor named Aaron Conners (Bill Hader), Amy starts to wonder if other grown-ups, including this guy who really seems to like her, might be on to something.
Antony Starr in ‘Banshee’ season 3 episode 1 (Photo by Gregory Shummon / Courtesy of Cinemax)
Cinemax has given a fourth season order to the action series Banshee from executive producers Alan Ball, Greg Yaitanes, Jonathan Tropper, Peter Macdissi, Adam Targum, and Ole Christian Madsen. The fourth season will air in 2016 and will consist of eight new episodes.
In announcing the renewal, Cinemax didn’t confirm which cast members will be returning for the fourth season.
Details on the Series, Courtesy of Cinemax:
Banshee stars Antony Starr as Lucas Hood, an ex-con and master thief who assumes the identity of the sheriff of Banshee, Pa., where he continues his criminal pursuits while enforcing his own code of justice. Ivana Milicevic plays as Carrie Hopewell, a notorious jewel thief who lives in Banshee under an assumed identity with her family, which has recently learned of her criminal past; Ulrich Thomsen is Kai Proctor, an intimidating, wealthy businessman who believes he is above the law; Frankie Faison plays Sugar Bates, a powerful and wise former boxer and ex-con who is now the owner of the local watering hole; and Hoon Lee is Job, a dangerous transvestite computer hacker who assists Lucas and Carrie in their criminal enterprises.
Blake Lively and Michiel Huisman star in ‘The Age of Adaline’ (Photo Courtesy of Lakeshore Entertainment)
The new trailer for the romantic drama The Age of Adaline is gorgeous and features new clips of Blake Lively playing a woman who remains young and beautiful while those around her age and die. Directed by Lee Toland Krieger, the cast also features Michiel Huisman, Kathy Baker, Amanda Crew, Harrison Ford, and Ellen Burstyn.
The Age of Adaline arrives in theaters on April 24, 2015.
The Plot:
After miraculously remaining 29 years old for almost eight decades, Adaline Bowman (Lively) has lived a solitary existence, never allowing herself to get close to anyone who might reveal her secret. But a chance encounter with charismatic philanthropist Ellis Jones (Michiel Huisman) reignites her passion for life and romance. When a weekend with his parents (Harrison Ford and Kathy Baker) threatens to uncover the truth, Adaline makes a decision that will change her life forever.
Nickelodeon has tapped Nick Jonas to be the host of the 2015 Kids’ Choice Awards airing live on March 28th at 8pm ET (taped delayed on the West Coast). This year’s event will be held at the LA Forum and will – for the 28th year – celebrate celebrities from the worlds of music, sports, film, and television as chosen by kids.
And, of course, there will be slime. Lots and lots of slime.
Once voting opens, kids across the globe will be able to vote on localized voting sites, according to Nickelodeon. Kids will also be able to vote via Twitter this year using the #KCA hashtag.
Jonas’ first solo album was released on November 11, 2014 and has already scored a #1 spot on US radio charts along with a #7 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the single, “Jealous.” He’s set to take off on tour with Iggy Azalea this April and is also keeping busy acting, with a starring role in the TV series Kingdom and Scream Queens.
Thank you screenwriter Kelly Marcel and director Sam Taylor-Johnson for not including a single line of dialogue containing the words “inner goddess” in Fifty Shades of Grey the movie. And thank you Marcel and Taylor-Johnson for taking a book that had pretty much nothing to it and giving it a little depth. The movie is actually better than the source material (something that rarely happens) and a better adaptation than the source material deserved.
However, Fifty Shades of Grey isn’t the movie fans of the book series might be expecting given the source material and the sexy trailers and clips. If you’ve bought your tickets because you’re hoping to see Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey minus his expensive wardrobe you’ll be sorely disappointed. Yes, there are a smattering of scenes with Dornan’s shirt off and, yes, there are a few shots of his naked butt. But for the most part this Fifty Shades is all about female nudity. And let’s face it, the majority of the readers of E.L. James’ books appreciated her story of the handsome but twisted billionaire and the virginal Anastasia Grey while picturing Christian naked as a jaybird and not because they were fantasizing over Anastasia’s nude body.
It seems unfair that this R-rated film is being promoted as being a movie women will get hot and bothered over when A) the nudity scale tips solidity in favor of the woman being the one without clothes, B) there’s only a handful of sex scenes (all very carefully choreographed to not show any lower frontal nudity), and C) music videos are actually more erotic that what’s on screen in this adaptation.
The film sticks with the book in that it has Christian meeting Anastasia when she covers for her sick roommate and interviews the billionaire at this office. The two immediately make a connection and it’s not long before Christian is asking her to sign a contract and be his submissive. Ana won’t be able to touch him or sleep in his bed, but she’ll have the pleasure of his company as long as she puts up with his unusual behavior, obeys the rules, and accepts that she is his to do with as he wishes in his special Red Room that’s equipped with all sorts of whips, handcuffs, ropes, and other S&M material.
Now, if you haven’t read the books and are just checking out the film because of the hype, then Christian’s behavior comes across as psycho-stalker-ish. Even if you have read the books, his behavior appears that way – but at least book readers know there’s a backstory. A little about his troubled past is included in the film version, but not enough that at the end you won’t be left wondering what the hell Ana was thinking.
As for the casting of the leads, Dakota Johnson is a real surprise as Anastasia. She’s got the lip-biting, teary eyes down pat, and she did a great job of portraying vulnerability. What doesn’t work is her near immediate acceptance and reaction to all the strange and wonderful gifts Christian bestows on her as he’s attempting to get her to sign the agreement and be his 16th submissive. Anastasia’s behavior would make sense only if she was an alien plopped down on Earth to discover what human relationships are about and somehow wandered into Christian’s presence without ever having encountered another male. Since Ana’s not from a galaxy far, far away, it’s hard to understand why she doesn’t question everything about Christian, including his gifts.
Still, that’s the way E.L. James wrote the books, and writer Marcel and director Taylor-Johnson had to bend to James’ wishes as she had an incredible amount of control over the film adaptation, and Ana’s behavior (and lack of reactions to events) may have been a choice made by the author and not the writer or director. Dakota Johnson does the best she can with what she’s been given and she has such expressive eyes that she’s able to sort of clue the audience in on why she’s just going with the flow in a situation most women would be turning tail and running from.
Jamie Dornan doesn’t fit the physical description of Christian Grey from the books, but he is a terrific actor who nails the smoldering yet standoff-ish look and attitude. If you want to see what Dornan can do when he’s given material in which he utters more than 10 words at a time, check him out in The Fall (it’s on Netflix). As Christian, Dornan’s saddled with playing a closed-off character who emotes little and says even less.
Considering this is a film adaptation of a book series referred to as “mommy porn,” there are surprisingly few sex scenes. What this movie does have that was lacking in the books is a solid sense of humor, and not merely unintentional humor (the piano scene is especially cheesy and laugh-inducing, but, again, it’s in the books).
Fifty Shades of Grey is going to draw in an audience no matter what anyone says so it doesn’t matter what grade I give this review. Still, as someone who made it through two and a half out of three Fifty Shades books, I feel compelled to warn book fans to go in with their expectations lowered a bit. I overheard two ladies seated behind me at the advance screening saying they didn’t understand what happened. They said they went into the screening expecting to feel all hot and bothered but came away feeling cold, an indication the film missed its mark.
Fifty Shades isn’t a horrible movie, just one that feels reined in considering its themes of domination and submission. In fact, had the movie not been saddled with being a faithful adaptation of the books, Fifty Shades would have been a compelling relationship drama. The budding relationship between Christian and Ana (and not their bedroom antics) is what drives the movie, and because the Red Room is tamed down in the film version those scenes actually felt out of place.
Just as there was a power struggle behind the scenes in making the film, there’s a power struggle on screen over what Fifty Shades the movie wants to be. It needed to take the plunge, strengthen the sexual moments, and submit to the book’s “mommy porn” reputation. Instead, it played it too safe.
GRADE: C+
MPAA Rating: R for strong sexual content including dialogue, some unusual behavior and graphic nudity, and for language
