Jessica Alba stars in ‘Sin City: A Dame to Kill For’ (Photo Courtesy of Dimension Films)
Jessica Alba cuts off her long locks and gets fierce in this new clip from Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller’s Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. Also featured in this clip from the thriller are returning Sin City stars Mickey Rourke and Bruce Willis.
Dimension Films is releasing Sin City: A Dame to Kill For in theaters on August 22, 2014.
The Plot:
Co-directors Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller reunite to bring Miller’s visually stunning Sin City graphic novels back to the screen in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. Weaving together two of Miller’s classic stories with new tales, the town’s most hard boiled citizens cross paths with some of its more reviled inhabitants. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is the follow up to Rodriguez and Miller’s 2005 groundbreaking film, Frank Miller’s Sin City.
“I’ve seen some horrible things but nothing that can’t be explained by human behavior,” says New York police officer Ralph Sarchie (Eric Bana). “Then you haven’t seen true evil,” replies Father Mendoza (Edgar Ramirez) as he tries to prepare Sarchie for dealing with the supernatural for the first time in the horror/thriller, Deliver Us From Evil.
Investigating a series of crimes involving a domestic abuse case and a mother trying to kill her child at the Bronx Zoo, officer Sarchie realizes that both cases involve three men who served in Iraq together and came back home under suspicious circumstances. Father Mendoza tells Sarchie that he believes the mother, Jane (Olivia Horton), who tried to murder her own child, is really suffering from a spiritual sickness…possession. Sarchie just waves it off, telling the unconventional priest she’s going to the “looney bin” where she belongs.
However, when some of Jane’s bizarre behavior, like scratching at the hard ground till her fingers bleed and speaking in a foreign tongue, are the same behaviors as the abusive husband in the domestic abuse case, Sarchie realizes they are connected and begins to slowly believe that Father Mendoza might be right.
Together, Sarchie and Mendoza work to find the third Iraq soldier, who it seems is possessed by a powerful demon commanding the other two to do his bidding. They must find the missing soldier so that they can perform an exorcism and stop the evil before it harms, or even kills, anyone else. Things get personal when Mendoza warns Sarchie that because he’s now involved and can actually sense the evil entity – during the course of the investigation, Sarchie keeps hearing weird music and seeing demonic flashes – he and his family have become a target.
Inspired by actual events, Deliver Us From Evil strives to be a creepy crime/supernatural thriller but suffers from uneven pacing and unoriginal scares. Eric Bana seems miscast, unfortunately, as the street-wise, tough, no-nonsense Bronx cop Sarchie who slowly begins to find his way back to the Catholic faith. With his Bronx accent going in and out and constantly looking surprised, it will be difficult for the audience to accept him as Sarchie.
Edgar Ramirez delivers a solid performance as Father Mendoza, the priest who’s an expert on exorcism and wants to bring Sarchie back to the faith. The best scenes in the film are between the two men. Both Olivia Horton and Sean Harris are extremely effective as two people possessed by demons. Horton’s wide-eyed stare and erratic behavior are sure to give the chills to most moviegoers huddled in dark theaters.
The film’s look and production are strong, capturing the darker and uglier side of the Bronx in New York. One area where the film has a major problem, however, is going from the streets of the city and the police station where Sarchie spends most of his time working to his home and family life which feels forced and incredibly awkward. It almost seems as though Bana is a stranger and an intruder in the family scenes.
The other weakness is in the climatic exorcism scene that comes up way short when compared to the horror classic The Exorcist or even director Scott Derrickson’s earlier possession film, The Exorcism of Emily Rose. That said, there are still enough conventional scares in Deliver Us From Evil to effectively creep out audiences looking to have a shiver or two go up and down their spines for a matinee price.
GRADE: C
Deliver Us From Evil is rated R for bloody violence, grisly images, terror throughout, and language.
HBO’s kicking off the new half-hour comedy series Jonah From Tonga with back-to-back episodes on August 8, 2014, and in support of the upcoming premiere the network’s released a 30 second trailer. Created, written by, and starring Chris Lilley, Jonah From Tonga will have a six-episode run which finishes on September 5, 2014.
The Plot:
After being expelled from Summer Heights High, Jonah Takalua’s father, Rocky, banished him to the island of Tongapatu to spend time with his extended family and get his life back together. But four months later, fed up with Jonah’s antics, his uncle sends him back to Sydney to enroll in yet another school, the Holy Cross School. Once again, the always impressionable Jonah finds himself adapting to a new school and fending off new foes and other delinquents, all while trying to be a “good boy.”
Cameron Diaz skates into the room wearing tiny undies in this new clip from the comedy movie Sex Tape directed by Jake Kasdan (Bad Teacher). Sex Tape reunites Diaz with her Bad Teacher co-star Jason Segel, but this time around they play a married couple who accidentally release their sex tape to friends and family members.
The cast of the R-rated comedy also includes Rob Corddry, Ellie Kemper, and Rob Lowe. Columbia Pictures is opening Sex Tape in theaters on July 18, 2014.
The Plot:
When Jay (Jason Segel) and Annie (Cameron Diaz) first got together, their romantic connection was intense – but ten years and two kids later, the flame of their love needs a spark. To kick things up a notch, they decide – why not? – to make a video of themselves trying out every position in The Joy of Sex in one marathon three-hour session. It seems like a great idea – until they discover that their most private video is no longer private. With their reputations on the line, they know they’re just one click away from being laid bare to the world… but as their race to reclaim their video leads to a night they’ll never forget, they’ll find that their video will expose even more than they bargained for.
Josh Bodwell, Caroline Russell, Jeff Wortham, Chris 51, Heather Maranda and Chris Jones in A&E’s ‘Epic Ink’ (Photo by Zach Dilgard/Copyright 2014)
A&E’s debuting a new tattoo series titled Epic Ink on August 20, 2014 at 10:30pm ET/PT. The 10-episode first season centers around a Springfield, Oregon tattoo shop called Area 51 Tattoo that specializes in hyper-realistic tattoos.
The tattoo artists working at Area 51 Tattoo are into pop culture and sci-fi art, and Area 51 clients travel from far and wide to get tattoos that include figures from the world of Star Wars and celebs.
The Plot:
In each episode of Epic Ink, the talented staff brings comics, cartoons, and fantasy to life with unique ink ranging from portraiture to hyperrealism, to geek-culture mash-ups. From closet nerds to creative cosplayers, sci-fi fans travel to Springfield from across the country to get tattoos from the artists at the shop. The Area 51 clientele even includes a few celebrities, such as Butch Patrick (Eddie Munster) and the Mistress of the Dark herself, Elvira, who appears in an upcoming episode to get her very first tattoo.
In between clients, the staff is likely to be found debating over who would win a fight – Spock or Chewbacca – or which ‘80s Saturday morning cartoon was best. When they’re not working at the shop, this family of misfits travels around the world tattooing at comic cons and tattoo shows to share their talents and geek out with the most hardcore fans around.
The cast of Epic Ink features some of the most talented tattoo artists in the world, including five of only a handful of tattooists worldwide who are licensed by LucasFilms to tattoo their properties. Chris 51 is one of the most well-respected tattoo artists around and the proud owner of Area 51, located in the hometown of his most beloved cartoon family, The Simpsons.
Welshman Chris Jones has been nominated for three-consecutive Tattoo Industry Awards for Best UK Male. Wild child Heather Maranda is a self-taught artist who specializes in hyper-realistic tattoos that appear to jump out of the skin. Josh Bodwell combines his love of geek culture and tattoo art into custom realism and portraiture tattoos and is a walking encyclopedia of sci-fi trivia. After early run-ins with the law, Lifelong sci-fi fan Jeff Wortham looked to tattooing to turn his life around and now travels the globe to tattoo at sci-fi conventions. Rounding out the group is receptionist Caroline Russell who serves as the “Nerdio translator” between the full-fledged geeks and the rest of the world.
In the premiere episode, Josh takes a client down the rabbit hole with an Alice in Wonderland tattoo. When Heather crafts an epic portrait of a beloved Goonies character, the gang is shocked to learn that Caroline has never seen the ‘80s classic. Chris Jones gives a client a Herculean Arnold Schwarzenegger tattoo to match his stature, naturally launching the rest of the staff into conversation over their favorite Schwarzenegger flick.
Keira Knightley can sing? Yes, it’s true. The Oscar-nominated actress stars opposite Maroon 5’s Adam Levine and Mark Ruffalo in Begin Again, written and directed by John Carney (Once), where she gets to show off her singing ability. And in this music video from the romantic comedy, Knightley sings “Like a Fool” from the film’s soundtrack.
The Plot:
Begin Again is a soul-stirring comedy about what happens when lost souls meet and make beautiful music together. Gretta (Knightley) and her long-time boyfriend Dave (Levine) are college sweethearts and songwriting partners who decamp for New York when he lands a deal with a major label. But the trappings of his new-found fame soon tempt Dave to stray, and a reeling, lovelorn Gretta is left on her own. Her world takes a turn for the better when Dan (Ruffalo), a disgraced record-label exec, stumbles upon her performing on an East Village stage and is immediately captivated by her raw talent. From this chance encounter emerges an enchanting portrait of a mutually transformative collaboration, set to the soundtrack of a summer in New York City.
Rose McIver (Masters of Sex, Once Upon a Time) stars in Warner Bros. Television’s zombie crimedy series iZOMBIE, airing midseason on The CW.
Warner Bros Television is bringing 15 – yes, 15! – series to this year’s San Diego Comic Con. Warner Bros. Television and DC Entertainment previously announced details on a special event involving Arrow, The Flash, Gotham, and Constantine, and now WBTV has confirmed The Following, The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, The Originals, Childrens Hospital, Mike Tyson Mysteries, Person of Interest, The 100, iZOMBIE, Teen Titans Go!, and The Big Bang Theory will all be a part of the 2014 Con.
Here’s the scoop on what fans lucky enough to have tickets to the sold-out event can expect from Warner Bros Television:
SPECIAL SNEAK PEEK PILOT SCREENINGS – WEDNESDAY, JULY 23
6:00 p.m. — It’s OK, you can peek — WBTV gets Comic-Con off to a dramatic start for the seventh year in a row by hosting a special sneak peek, world-premiere screening event on Preview Night, debuting some of the most hotly anticipated new series of the year. For 2014, WBTV will screen the complete pilot episodes of The Flash, Constantine and iZOMBIE. Additionally, Warner Bros. Animation will unveil a brand-new episode of Teen Titans Go! Ballroom 20
The Flash: From the Arrow creative team of executive producers Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg and director David Nutter, The Flash is a fast-paced super hero drama based upon the characters from DC Comics that follows the high-speed adventures of the Fastest Man Alive. With a pilot written by Berlanti, Kreisberg and DC Entertainment’s Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns, the action drama follows police scientist and everyday guy Barry Allen (Grant Gustin), who, after an unexpected Particle Accelerator accident, is suddenly charged with the ability to move at incredible speeds, which he uses to help the people of Central City.
Constantine: Based upon the characters from DC Comics and executive produced by Daniel Cerone (Dexter) and David S. Goyer (Man of Steel, The Dark Knight films), Constantine reflects the lore of the fan-favorite comic, combining noirish storytelling with the evolving mythology of John Constantine (Matt Ryan), a morally challenged character who doesn’t come down on the side of either good or evil … but ultimately might be the only thing defending us against the dark forces from beyond.
iZOMBIE: Co-created and executive produced by Rob Thomas & Diane Ruggiero-Wright (Veronica Mars), along with executive producers Danielle Stokdyk and Dan Etheridge (also of Veronica Mars), Rose McIver (Masters of Sex, Once Upon a Time) stars as Olivia “Liv” Moore, a 25-year-old medical resident on the fast track to a perfect life … until she’s turned into a zombie. Liv transfers her residency to the coroner’s office for access to the brains she must reluctantly eat, but with each brain she consumes, she inherits the corpse’s memories. With her medical examiner boss and a police detective, she now solves homicides to quiet the voices in her head. iZOMBIE is based upon characters created by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred for Vertigo.
Teen Titans Go!: Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Beast Boy and Raven continue the fun in Teen Titans Go! with all-new comedic adventures, giving viewers a look at what life is really like as a teen super hero … once the cape comes off.
THURSDAY, JULY 24
6:00–7:00 p.m. — Childrens Hospital (New episodes in 2015, Adult Swim): Creator and star Rob Corddry will share an exclusive video sneak peek at season six and will be joined onstage by select members of the show’s cast for a lively — and medically accurate — Q&A. Room 25ABC
FRIDAY, JULY 25
10:00–11:00 a.m. — The Big Bang Theory (Mondays 8/7c CBS, season premiere September 22; Thursdays 8/7c CBS beginning October 30): Back by popular demand! The Big Bang Theory writers are back in San Diego and ready to share secrets behind TV’s #1 comedy. Ballroom 20
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. — iZOMBIE (Midseason on The CW): iZOMBIE makes its Comic-Con debut with a screening of the complete pilot episode, followed by a Q&A with series stars Rose McIver (Once Upon a Time), Malcolm Goodwin (Breakout Kings), newcomer Rahul Kohli and Robert Buckley (One Tree Hill), as well as executive producers Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars) and Diane Ruggiero-Wright (Veronica Mars). Room 6BCF
2:30–3:15 p.m. — Mike Tyson Mysteries (Premiering this fall, Adult Swim): In this new animated comedy series, Mike Tyson is taking the fight from the boxing ring to the streets … by solving mysteries! Join us for a first look at this new adult animated series and a can’t-miss panel featuring Mike Tyson, Rachel Ramras (MAD), Jim Rash (Community) and producer Hugh Davidson (The Looney Tunes Show). Indigo Ballroom
3:15–4:15 p.m. — The 100 (Wednesdays 9/8c The CW, season premiere October 22): After the stunning events in the season finale, join us for a special video presentation followed by a Q&A with series stars as well as executive producer Jason Rothenberg. Room 6BCF
4:15–5:15 p.m. — The Originals (Mondays 8/7c The CW, season premiere October 6): Last season’s top new series on The CW returns to Comic-Con! Join executive producer Julie Plec, co-executive producer Michael Narducci and series stars Joseph Morgan, Daniel Gillies, Phoebe Tonkin, Charles Michael Davis, Leah Pipes and Danielle Campbell for a special video presentation followed by a Q&A. Ballroom 20
5:30–6:30 p.m. — Arrow (Wednesdays 8/7c The CW, season premiere October 8): Arrow series stars Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, David Ramsey, Emily Bett Rickards, Colton Haynes, Willa Holland, Paul Blackthorne and John Barrowman — with executive producers Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim and Andrew Kreisberg — will take aim at San Diego with a special video presentation and panel discussion previewing the show’s upcoming and highly-anticipated third season. Ballroom 20
SATURDAY, JULY 26
4:00–4:45 p.m. — The Vampire Diaries (Thursdays 8/7c The CW, season premiere October 2): The cast and creative team behind The Vampire Diaries return to San Diego for a sizzling sixth appearance at Comic-Con! Series stars Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder and Kat Graham join executive producer/writer Julie Plec on stage for a video screening and Q&A session. Ballroom 20
5:15–6:15 p.m. — Constantine (Fridays 10/9c NBC, series premiere October 24): Based upon the characters from DC Comics, Constantine reflects the lore of the fan-favorite comic, combining noirish storytelling with the evolving mythology of John Constantine, a morally challenged character who doesn’t come down on the side of either good or evil … but ultimately might be the only thing defending us against the dark forces from beyond. Attendees will see a screening of the complete pilot, followed by a Q&A with series stars Matt Ryan (Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior), Harold Perrineau (Lost) and Charles Halford (True Detective), along with executive producers Daniel Cerone (Dexter) and David S. Goyer (Man of Steel, The Dark Knight films). Room 6BCF
6:15–7:00 p.m. — Person of Interest (Tuesdays 10/9c CBS, season premiere September 23): The smash hit Person of Interest returns to San Diego for the fourth year! Join executive producer Greg Plageman along with series stars for a special video presentation and Q&A. Room 6BCF
8:00–11:00 p.m. — Warner Bros. Television & DC Entertainment Present: The Flash, Constantine, Arrow and the World Premiere of Gotham with Special Appearances by Casts and Producers: For the first time ever at Comic-Con, Warner Bros. Television presents an entire evening filled with some of DC Entertainment’s greatest characters, featuring the world premiere pilot screening — and only Comic-Con screening — of the highly anticipated new series Gotham (Mondays this fall, 8/7c on FOX). The much-buzzed about pilot of The Flash will also be screened — if you can catch it — along with exclusive video presentations of returning hit Arrow and new thriller Constantine. Cast members and producers from all four shows will make special appearances on stage throughout the night. Hall H
10:00–11:00 a.m. — Supernatural (Tuesdays 9/8c The CW, Season Premiere October 7): Join series stars Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Misha Collins and Mark A. Sheppard, along with executive producer Jeremy Carver as they answer questions from the audience about what’s in store for the tenth season of this exciting series, including its upcoming 200th episode! Fans will also be treated to an exclusive video presentation featuring series highlights, and special features from the upcoming Supernatural: The Complete Ninth Season DVD and Blu-ray™ release. Hall H
11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. — The Following (Midseason on FOX): Hit thriller The Following returns to Comic-Con for a third year! Series stars Kevin Bacon, Shawn Ashmore, Sam Underwood and Jessica Stroup will join creator/executive producer Kevin Williamson and executive producers Marcos Siega and Jennifer Johnson for an on-stage Q&A and special video presentation. Hall H
11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m. — Teen Titans Go! (Thursdays 6/5c Cartoon Network): Find out what’s in store for Robin, Starfire, Beast Boy, Cyborg and Raven — or just throw a meatball party with your friends! The Teen Titans are back at it again with all-new comedic adventures and, after screening a brand-new episode, there will be a Q&A with producers Michael Jelenic (Batman: The Brave and the Bold) and Aaron Horvath (MAD) and members of the voice cast. Plus, making a special appearance at the panel will be Puffy AmiYumi, the Japanese pop duo responsible for the iconic theme song from the original Teen Titans series. Room 6BCF
Channing Tatum as Mark Schultz and Mark Ruffalo as Dave Schultz in ‘Foxcatcher’ (Photo by Scott Garfield, Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics)
Sony Pictures Classics has released a new teaser trailer for what could possibly be one of the frontrunners for a Best Picture Oscar. Foxcatcher‘s based on a true story and stars Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, and Mark Ruffalo, and was directed by Bennett Miller (Moneyball, Capote).
Foxcatcher opens in theaters on November 14, 2014.
The Plot:
Based on true events, Foxcatcher tells the dark and fascinating story of the unlikely and ultimately tragic relationship between an eccentric multi-millionaire and two champion wrestlers.
When Olympic Gold Medal winning wrestler Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) is invited by wealthy heir John du Pont (Steve Carell) to move on to the du Pont estate and help form a team to train for the 1988 Seoul Olympics at his new state-of-the-art training facility, Schultz jumps at the opportunity, hoping to focus on his training and finally step out of the shadow of his revered brother, Dave (Mark Ruffalo). Driven by hidden needs, du Pont sees backing Schultz’s bid for Gold and the chance to “coach” a world-class wrestling team as an opportunity to gain the elusive respect of his peers and, more importantly, his disapproving mother (Vanessa Redgrave).
Flattered by the attention and entranced by du Pont’s majestic world, Mark comes to see his benefactor as a father figure and grows increasingly dependent on him for approval. Though initially supportive, du Pont’s mercurial personality turns and he begins to lure Mark into an unhealthy lifestyle that threatens to undermine his training. Soon du Pont’s erratic behavior and cruel psychological game-play begin to erode the athlete’s already shaky self-esteem. Meanwhile du Pont becomes fixated on Dave, who exudes the confidence both he and Mark lack, knowing that these are things even his money cannot buy. Fueled by du Pont’s increasing paranoia and alienation from the brothers, the trio is propelled towards a tragedy no one could have foreseen.
Martin Freeman as Dr. John Watson and Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes (Photo (C)Robert Viglasky)
Filming will begin on a Sherlock special next January with shooting on a new season taking place later that year, so says BBC One. And BBC One confirmed that the new season will be made up of three new episodes starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman.
Commenting on the return of the show, writer/creator Steven Moffat said, “A special, plus a new series of three episodes – it’s a record-breaking run! Of course, it’s far too early to say what’s coming, but we’re reasonably confident that the very next thing to happen to Sherlock and John, is the very last thing you’d expect…”
“Series Four! At last! It’s always special to return to Sherlock but this time it’s even more special as we’re doing… a Special! Not only THAT, we’ll then be shooting three more episodes which will take Sherlock and John Watson into deeper and darker water than ever before,” added writer/creator Mark Gatiss. “The whole Sherlock team are terrifically excited to return for four new adventures. The Game is on – again!”
“It’s taken a little while to get the dates sorted as none of the boys are exactly sitting back twiddling their thumbs but there was unanimous goodwill to make this work, so we’re thrilled that 221b is going to be inhabited again,” explained executive producer Sue Vertue.
And Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama, stated: “Steven and Mark are ready to unleash the most shocking and surprising series of Sherlock yet. The only thing to expect is the unexpected…”
Joan Allen in a scene from Netflix’s “The Killing” Season 4. (Photo Credit: Carole Segal for Netflix)
The fourth and supposedly final (yes, we’ve heard that before) season of The Killing will arrive on Netflix on August 1, 2014 and for those still into the often-cancelled series, here’s a look at what you can expect.
The Plot:
As Detective Linden (Mireille Enos) and Detective Holder (Joel Kinnaman) struggle to manage the fallout from their rash actions at the end of last season, they are assigned a new case — a picture perfect family is murdered, survived only by the son, Kyle Stansbury (Tyler Ross), who was shot in the head during the massacre. Joan Allen guest stars this season as Colonel Margaret Rayne, the headmaster of the all-boys military academy where Kyle attends. The new season also stars Gregg Henry, Sterling Beaumon and Levi Meaden.
