Laurence Leboeuf as Dr. Magalie Leblanc and Hamza Haq as Dr. Bashir Hamed in ‘Transplant’ season 3 episode 9 (Photo by: Van Turcotte/Sphere Media/CTV)
NBC’s Transplant kicks off 2024 with season three episode nine, “Rumination.” Airing on Thursday, January 4th at 9pm ET/PT, episode nine finds Bash taking a different approach to dealing with his PTSD.
Hamza Haq leads the cast as Dr. Bashir “Bash” Hamed and Sirena Gulamgaus stars as Amira. Rekha Sharma plays Dr. Neeta Devi, Laurence Leboeuf is Dr. Magalie “Mags” Leblanc, and Ayisha Issa stars as Dr. June Curtis. Jim Watson plays Dr. Theo Hunter, Torri Higginson is Claire Malone, and Gord Rand is Dr. Mark Novak.
“Rumination” Plot: Bash’s psychiatrist suggests an unusual form of therapy to help with his PTSD. Mags counsels an irascible patient in a similar health situation to her own. Theo finds himself in an awkward spot with a patient’s mother. June reaches a breaking point between her personal and professional lives.
Hamza Haq as Dr. Bashir Hamed, Susanna Fournier as Van, and Laurence Leboeuf as Dr. Magalie Leblanc in the “Rumination” episode (Photo by: Yan Turcotte/Sphere Media/CTV)
The Season 3 Plot, Courtesy of NBC:
The new season finds Bashir “Bash” Hamed (Haq) continuing his journey to start over, but with each new milestone comes a new challenge. While pursuing Canadian citizenship for himself and his younger sister, Amira (Gulamgaus), Bash closely examines who he’s becoming in his adopted country.
Still being asked repeatedly to prove himself, Bash works closely with his colleagues as they move forward following the dramatic conclusion of season two. Everyone continues to find themselves looking to adapt to change and understand how they fit in, both within and beyond the walls of York Memorial Hospital.
After Dr. Bishop’s (John Hannah) sudden departure, the team gains a new boss with the forward-thinking Dr. Neeta Devi. Dr. Devi has big ideas when it comes to overhauling the emergency department at York Memorial.
Ayisha Issa as Dr. June Curtis and Sugith Varughese as Dr. Aajay Singh in season 3 episode 9 (Photo by: Yan Turcotte/Sphere Media/CTV)Karl Graboshas as Reid and Jim Watson as Dr. Theo Hunter in season 3 episode 9 (Photo by: Sphere Media/CTV)Sugith Varughese as Dr. Aajay Singh and Ayisha Issa as Dr. June Curtis in season 3 episode 9 (Photo by: Yan Turcotte/Sphere Media/CTV)Laurence Leboeuf as Dr. Magalie Leblanc and Rekha Sharma as Dr. Neeta Devi in season 3 episode 9 (Photo by: Yan Turcotte/Sphere Media/CTV)Tonjha Richardson as Violet, Gina James as Shay, and Ayisha Issa as Dr. June Curtis in the “Rumination” episode (Photo by: Yan Turcotte/Sphere Media/CTV)
Rachel McAdams as Barbara Dimon and Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret Simon in ‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret’ (Photo Credit: Dana Hawley)
As we get ready to close out 2023, it’s time to look back at the films that entertained us and left a lasting impression. It was the year of Barbie vs. Oppenheimer (affectionately referred to as “Barbenheimer”) battling for the summer box office, and The Flash with Michael Keaton returning as the Caped Crusader in a film that fell short of reviving the DC movie franchise. A classic coming-of-age story from the 1970s finally found its way to the screen, and 2023 also served up yet another delightful adaptation of an Agatha Christie novel.
The following Top 10 Films of 2023 represent my personal favorites of the year. These films, from a wide range of genres, mesmerized me and reminded audiences of the magic of movies.
10) AIR Starring Matt Damon, Viola Davis, and Ben Affleck
The somewhat true account of how NIKE signed up-and-coming NBA superstar Michael Jordan to promote their basketball sneaker line is a classic underdog story with outstanding performances by Damon, Davis, and Jason Bateman. Ben Affleck successfully returned to the director’s chair and also delivered a compelling performance.
Air captures a slice of the American dream and reveals the lengths people are willing to go to to achieve it.
9) GUY RITCHIE’S THE COVENANT Starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Dar Salim
Filmmaker Guy Ritchie’s gritty and powerful war thriller about loyalty and the bonds between two men who serve in combat together is a realistic look at war, with two strong performances delivered by Gyllenhaal and Salim. The excellent camerawork gives the film a docudrama feel during the battle scenes, which adds to the film’s tension.
8) SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE Starring Shameik Moore and Hailee Steinfeld
Visually dazzling with intense action and beautiful 3D/2D animation, the bigger and more ambitious sequel follows the further adventures of Miles and his friend Gwen. Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson, this entry in the Spider-Man franchise is one of the best animated films of 2023 and also one of the most entertaining movies of the year.
7) A HAUNTING IN VENICE Starring Kenneth Branagh, Tina Fey, and Kelly Reilly
This third entry in actor/filmmaker Kenneth Branagh’s adaptations of author Agatha Christie novels is the best yet, with Branagh returning as master detective Hercule Poirot in a slick, gothic murder mystery where everyone, even an old friend, is a suspect. The film is perfectly balanced between being a murder mystery and haunted house thriller. Add the top-notch performances of Branagh, Fey, and Reilly, and the striking production design, and Branagh’s A Haunting in Venice proves Christie’s writing still provides fascinating fodder for films.
6) MIGRATION Starring Kumail Nanjiani and Elizabeth Banks
This funny, sweet, and visually breathtaking film follows a family of ducks making their first trip south for the winter, with a helicopter dad overreacting most of the way. It’s an absolute delight for the entire family and has an excellent cast of actors bringing the lovable characters to life.
In my opinion, Migration is not just one of the best films of the year but also ranks as one of the best films to come from Illumination.
5) THE IRON CLAW Starring Zac Efron, Harris Dickinson, Jeremy Allen White, and Holt McCallany
Based on the real-life story of the Von Erich family, a family of professional wrestlers ruled over by patriarch Fritz Von Erich (McCallany), the film captures the love, competitiveness, drive, and devotion the brothers have for each other. It also showcases the turbulent and toxic relationship they share with their father. It’s a powerful and tragic story beautifully acted and well told.
Tom Cruise and Hayley Atwell in ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance
4) MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING, PART ONE Starring Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, and Simon Pegg
Ethan Hunt and his IMF team are back in what can only be described as a near-perfect action film, complete with jaw-dropping stunts, thrilling action scenes, and beautiful locations. The genuine chemistry that Cruise, Rhames, Pegg, and Ferguson have on screen makes the film that much more entertaining. Dead Reckoning, Part One snags the title of the best action film of the year.
3) OPPENHEIMER Starring Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., and Emily Blunt
Filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s might be a little too long, but nevertheless, it’s an intriguing and powerful historical epic about the father of the atomic bomb and what became of him after his success. Oppenheimer’s a must-watch for the remarkable performance by Cillian Murphy as the titular character. Murphy perfectly captures the complexity of the man who knew he was a genius but still craved – and demanded – respect and adoration.
And, of course, Robert Downey Jr.’s a scene-stealer as career politician Lewis Strauss.
2) THE HOLDOVERS Starring Paul Giamatti and Dominic Sessa
Director Alexander Payne reunites with his Sideways star Paul Giamatti for the feel-good story, The Holdovers. Giamatti plays Paul Hunham, an ancient history teacher who’s stuck babysitting a handful of students at a New England boarding school during the Christmas break.
The Holdovers is both a coming-of-age story and a triumph of friendship over isolation, disappointment, and even death. Giamatti is at his very best and will hopefully be remembered during Oscar season as the tough, curmudgeonly instructor who slowly builds a bond with a troubled student struggling with his own family drama.
1) ARE YOU THERE GOD? ITS ME, MARGARET Starring Rachel McAdams and Abby Ryder Fortson
Finally, 50+ years after it was published, the beloved Judy Blume book comes to the big screen – and it was more than worth the wait. Abby Ryder Fortson shines as 11-year-old Margaret who is dealing with moving, making new friends, and trying to understand God and her relationship with religion. Fortson portrays Margaret as a sweet, fairly innocent girl who really just wants to fit in among her peers.
Rachel McAdams delivers one of the best performances of her career as Margaret’s mom, Barbara, a loving and supportive parent who’s adjusting to being a stay-at-home parent while putting her paint brushes away and burying her lifelong passion for art. McAdams is pitch-perfect and has real chemistry with Fortson.
With the excellent production design capturing the 1970s, McAdams and Fortson’s fantastic performances, and Hans Zimmer’s compelling score, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret captured the top spot on my list of the Best Films of 2023.
Wyatt Russell in ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ episode 8 (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)
After a brief visit back in time to a discussion between Bill Randa (Anders Holm) and Keiko Miura (Mari Yamamoto), Apple TV+’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters episode eight catches up with Lee Shaw (Kurt Russell) and Duvall (Elisa Lasowski) in 2015 as they head to a target in Kazakhstan.
But don’t get comfortable in the more modern era, as the first half of this episode recap is going to concentrate on the events of 1955.
Lee (Wyatt Russell), Keiko, and Bill meet with Lt. Hatch in Washington DC. He’s unimpressed with their latest work on gamma rays and thinks they’re wasting money on a ridiculous project. If a Godzilla-type monster shows its face, the U.S. will take care of him with a nuke. Hatch wonders why, after two years of throwing money into Monarch, there aren’t any new monster sightings.
Hatch believes the money should be used to ferret out hostile agents instead of chasing imaginary monsters. And speaking of hostile agents, do they have one in their midst? He’s very suspicious of Keiko and has no idea how she ever qualified for a top-secret clearance.
Bill, Lee, and Keiko realize that Hatch is going to write a negative report that will likely affect Monarch’s funding. To save Monarch, Lee suggests they tell Hatch that Godzilla isn’t dead. (They’ve been keeping his reappearance a secret.) Sure, the government will go after Godzilla again, but at least their funding won’t be pulled.
Bill and Keiko disagree, so Lee proposes that they draw Hatch a map of where the Titans are hiding since he’s so anxious to see more monsters. They have just three days to take all their research and put together a package that will convince General Puckett and the other senior officers that Monarch is doing important work.
Bill and Keiko put their heads together, with Keiko instructing Bill to remove anything that’s not a confirmed sighting from the map. He does so, but very reluctantly.
Mari Yamamoto and Anders Holm in ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ episode 8 (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)
Bill’s still hard at work trying to figure out what they’re missing on the map when suddenly an ant crawls through a hole in the paper. Bill has an epiphany and heads to Keiko’s place, too excited to wait until tomorrow to share his discovery.
Keiko’s shocked when he pounds on her door and begs Bill to keep his voice down. She won’t tell him why, but Bill’s so bursting with news that he doesn’t question what’s going on. He explains the ants showed him what he was missing – the Titans live underground in another realm that exists together but separate from our world! That allows them to move around the planet without being seen.
Keiko says that’s a brilliant idea but doesn’t have time to say anything else before a little boy pops in and says, “Mama.” She introduces Bill to Hiroshi, and now it’s Bill’s turn to be shocked.
Keiko explains she requested to do her post-graduate work at Berkeley so Hiroshi would have better opportunities. She was surprised at how long it took to save the money to bring him to America, but he’s been here for six months now. Keiko confesses she wanted to tell him and Lee. She didn’t because of how she’s been treated being a woman and Japanese. If the officers had discovered that she was a widow raising a child, they never would have let her work at Monarch.
Bill insists he – and Monarch – have her back.
Elsewhere, Lee Shaw has an urgent meeting with General Puckett about Monarch’s funding. Puckett believes Hatch’s report is correct and that there’s no reason to continue funneling money to Monarch. Lee hands him Bill and Keiko’s map, showing potential Titan threats Monarch is currently assessing. When Puckett doesn’t change his mind, Lee informs the general that they did not kill Godzilla.
Puckett moves their chat into a private room, and Lee confirms he saw Godzilla with his own eyes. Finally, Puckett agrees to look at the map while Lee emphasizes the map came from Keiko and Bill – not from Hatch. Hatch had nothing to do with it, and it wasn’t included in his report.
Lee asks Puckett to agree that Keiko and Bill’s authority over Monarch’s scientific operations will remain unchallenged. Puckett confirms that’s the case.
Ren Watabe and Kiersey Clemons in ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ episode 8 (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)
Worlds Collide in 2015
Meanwhile, Duvall, Lee, and their team arrive at the Kazakhstan location, which is where Keiko fell into the pit of endoswarmers all those years ago. Lee says whatever is inside the building won’t be for the faint of heart.
Tim (Joe Tippett) takes Cate (Anna Sawai), May (Kiersey Clemons), and Kentaro (Ren Watabe) to Monarch, which isn’t as impressive as they expected. But Tim’s got a card up his sleeve and shows them Monarch’s inner sanctum. “Now, this is more like it,” responds May.
Monarch outposts all across the globe are picking up gamma-ray bursts reminiscent of G-Day in locations Hiroshi has visited. Deputy Director Verdugo (Mirelly Taylor) doesn’t know whether Hiroshi’s following the bursts or predicting them.
Verdugo reveals that after Shaw set off explosions in the Alaska rift, the gamma-ray emissions there dropped. However, they increased at other locations. If Shaw lets loose with more explosives, the world could have another G-Day on its hands.
Time is running short, and Monarch’s options are limited, so Verdugo needs Cate and Kentaro to think about where they believe Shaw will head next. They saw their dad’s map and may have better insight into Lee’s plans than anyone at Monarch does.
The Scooby gang heads to Tim’s office, which just happens to be the same one Keiko and Bill shared back in the day. Tim believes there’s something in all the paperwork he’s kept (he’s pretty much a hoarder) that could help them find Lee’s next location. Tim’s certain there’s a direct line from Hiroshi’s map to the current gamma-ray readings.
Cate discovers a report on Keiko being lost during field duties, a report that declares her missing and presumed dead. The report was signed by Lee Shaw. Since Keiko died in Kazakhstan, the group believes that’s where Lee is headed next. Verdugo is skeptical, but Cate insists that Lee is a sentimental guy and that he spoke of Keiko as if he was in love with her. Tim’s certain Lee’s rewriting the past, which means Kazakhstan has got to be the next target.
Verdugo decides only a small team can go, and Cate, May, and Tim volunteer. She agrees, saying, “Sure. Why not? I always thought Goonies deserved a sequel.”
Kentaro’s a reluctant member of the team, unsure if he wants to continue to follow their dad. He ultimately agrees to go with them to Kazakhstan, but not because of their dad.
A small team of Monarch personnel joins the gang to protect them from anything dangerous. Cate’s worried that if Shaw sees armed “monster nerds,” he won’t let them get close. Kentaro and Cate truly believe Lee wants them there to take over the family business and won’t hurt them, so they refuse bulletproof vests.
Ren Watabe, Anna Sawai, and Kiersey Clemons in ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ episode 8 (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)
They arrive at the location, and it’s clear Lee’s group blasted its way into the building. Tim, Cate, Kentaro, and May step through the hole behind three armed Monarch personnel. The radiation reading inside is bad-adjacent – similar to a chest X-ray. Tim notes this building was supposed to be uninhabitable, but apparently, something is absorbing the radiation.
They make their way through the building with just flashlights guiding the way. Tim nearly faints when he steps on a creature. Fortunately, it’s only an exoskeleton. Dozens of them can be seen in the immediate vicinity. Cate points out that animals molt when they’re growing, which isn’t what anyone in the group wants to hear.
They continue to head toward the reactor and to where Keiko was last seen alive. Cate’s sure that’s where Lee will be.
The hole Keiko fell into is still there, but now it’s obvious that it extends thousands of feet into the earth. Tim calls it a portal/entry point to “tinfoil-hat land,” and Kentaro wonders if maybe Shaw’s plan to close it isn’t actually a good idea after all.
There are enough charges set up around the perimeter of the hole to bring down the entire building. As they’re taking a closer look, Duvall and her team surround them at gunpoint, ordering them to step away from the explosives.
Duvall reminds Tim he’s not cut out for fieldwork, and Cate finally speaks up, demanding to see Lee Shaw. Lee shows up at the mention of his name and agrees to speak only to Cate. Lee believes Godzilla isn’t a mindless destructive force. Instead, he’s guarding a world below us that Lee knows exists because he visited it a long time ago.
Monarch doesn’t believe him, but Cate says she does. She wants to know what he saw, and words fail Lee. However, he learned that Keiko was right about needing to keep Godzilla alive. Godzilla is keeping us safe by keeping the Titans in their own world.
Lee is determined to seal off every portal, but Cate wonders if he’s not actually making things worse. Gammy rays spike in other locations when he closes off a portal.
Lee refuses to believe that, suggesting Monarch’s misinterpreting the data. It’s more important to believe in the work than it is to overanalyze data. Lee thinks Keiko would want this, too, and Cate knows all this is to make up for losing her.
Lee agrees but also points out it’s impossible to actually make up for her loss. However, closing the portals will honor the work Bill and Keiko did.
Suddenly, the earth begins to rumble just as Lee has the explosives begin their two-minute countdown. Duvall yells that something’s coming and everyone makes for the exits, except May who turns back to fetch Cate. Unfortunately, May slips into the pit and falls. Cate stops to try and help her just as a Titan roars up from underground.
Cate’s on the verge of tumbling into the hole when Lee grabs her hand, screaming at her to hold on. She’s still holding Lee’s hand when they both plummet toward the other realm.
The final scene of episode eight shows the building going up in a massive explosion.
Two Barbie stars, the new Willy Wonka and Ariel, and two veterans of comic book-inspired films named Chris will go head-to-head in the 26th Annual Family Film and TV Awards‘ Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film category. CBS announced the nominees representing the best of 2023’s family-friendly film and TV shows, with the winners set to be revealed on Saturday, January 27, 2024.
The Talk hosts Akbar Gbajabiamila and Amanda Kloots will handle hosting duties for the 2024 broadcast.
“Recognizing and celebrating content that holds a universal appeal and is suitable for audiences of all ages has always been a core principle of our role as stewards of this esteemed award show. Emulating the celebrated legacy of Dick Clark presents a formidable challenge, and our commitment lies in restoring the event to its original essence. It is a distinct honor to bestow recognition upon those productions that exhibit unwavering dedication in delivering entertainment that resonates with viewers of every generation,” stated executive producer David McKenzie of Associated Television International.
The 2024 Family Film and TV Awards will feature a special segment honoring U.S. Marines. Lieutenant General James B. Laster, USMC (Retired), CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, will be recognized for his “ongoing efforts to assist families in challenging circumstances,” per CBS.
26TH ANNUAL FAMILY FILM AND TV AWARDS NOMINATIONS:
Outstanding Actors in a Feature Film
● Chris Pine (“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves”)
● Chris Pratt (“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”)
● Halle Bailey (“The Little Mermaid”)
● Margot Robbie (“Barbie”)
● Ryan Gosling (“Barbie”)
● Timothée Chalamet (“Wonka”)
Outstanding Actors in a TV Series
● Beth Behrs (“The Neighborhood”)
● Cedric the Entertainer (“The Neighborhood”)
● Patrick Stewart (“Star Trek: Picard”)
● Rob Lowe (“Unstable”)
● Rosario Dawson (“Ahsoka”)
● Tim Allen (“The Santa Clauses”)
Best Iconic Family Film
● “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”
● “Ghostbusters”
● “Home Alone”
● “The Goonies”
● “The Sandlot”
Best Iconic Classic Series (Television)
● “Family Matters”
● “Full House”
● “I Love Lucy”
● “The Brady Bunch”
● “The Dick Van Dyke Show”
Best Family Film (Television)
● “A Million Miles Away”
● “Family Switch”
● “Good Burger 2”
● “Peter Pan & Wendy”
● “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah”
Best Family Entertainment Series (Television)
● “Masters of Illusion”
● “Survivor”
● “The Amazing Race”
● “The Great British Baking Show”
● “The Masked Singer”
Best Gameshow
● “Family Feud”
● “Jeopardy!”
● “Let’s Make A Deal”
● “The Price Is Right”
● “Wheel of Fortune”
Best Ensemble Series (Television)
● “Loki”
● “Percy Jackson and The Olympians”
● “Star Trek: Picard”
● “The Neighborhood”
● “Unstable”
Best Ensemble Feature Film
● “Barbie”
● “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves”
● “Fast X”
● “Haunted Mansion”
● “The Little Mermaid”
Best Animated Family Film
● “Elemental”
● “Leo”
● “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”
● “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem”
● “The Super Mario Bros. Movie”
Best Family Feature Film
● “Barbie”
● “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”
● “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”
● “Shazam! Fury of the Gods”
● “The Hill”
LL Cool J and Cardi B join ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest’ (Photo Courtesy of ABC)
Grammy winners LL Cool J and Cardi B have joined the lineup of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2024 performers. LL Cool J featuring DJ Z-Trip is confirmed to perform a medley of hits in the minutes leading up to midnight. Cardi B will help send off 2023 from the Fontainebleau Miami Beach.
ABC also announced Gabriel ‘Fluffy’ Iglesias, Matt Friend, Ms. Pat, and Sebastian Maniscalco will contribute comedy segments during this year’s broadcast. Plus, Airrack will spend the final hours of 2023 attempting to set a new Guinness World Record.
The Details:
Leading stand-up comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, with almost 1 billion views on YouTube and over 25 million fans on social media, will rank his least favorite fashion trends of 2023.
Comedian and impressionist Matt Friend will join Ryan Seacrest and Rita Ora live in Times Square to wish viewers “Happy New Year” through a variety of celeb impressions.
Comedian, author, radio host, podcaster, and actress Patricia Williams (aka Ms. Pat) will discuss things that went on strike in 2023.
Multihyphenate Sebastian Maniscalco, who celebrated a string of record-breaking sold-out arena shows, will share pop culture moments in 2023 that “ain’t right.”
Innovative content creator Airrack will end his current “30 Videos in 30 Days” series by traversing New York City and making a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS attempt by visiting the most fast food restaurants in 24 hours. Airrack will make the record attempt even more challenging by only visiting counter-service pizza shops. Earlier this year, Airrack clinched the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS’ title for making the World’s Largest Pizza.
The just-announced performers join a roster that includes Megan Thee Stallion, Tyla, Jelly Roll, Sabrina Carpenter, Aqua, Doechii, Ellie Goulding, Green Day, Janelle Monáe, and Loud Luxury x Two Friends with Bebe Rexha. Post Malone, NewJeans, Ludacris, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Paul Russell, Reneé Rapp with Coco Jones, and Thirty Seconds to Mars are also confirmed as performers.
New Year’s Rockin’ Eve airs live on ABC on Sunday, December 31, 2023 at 8pm.
Color me surprised twice over. I missed the press screening of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the closing chapter of the DC Extended Universe, and ventured to a theater to check out a screening in IMAX on Christmas Day. The lobby was packed with customers, most of whom were going to see The Color Purple on its opening day. Given how much I’ve forgotten random stuff recently, I’ll go with that as the excuse for why I wasn’t expecting so many people to be watching movies on December 25th. That was surprise number one. Surprise number two, Warner Bros. Pictures’ Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom wasn’t a complete disaster.
Sure, it’s not going to earn a spot in the Top 10 (out of 15) DCEU films. But it wasn’t the catastrophic failure that needed to be hidden away by the studio the way some had suggested. If this is the last time we see Jason Momoa’s long, flowing locks drifting around his head in all their CG glory, then at least it can be said Momoa went out giving it his all. No matter the wonky dialogue and despite the recycled feel of the plot, Momoa entertained.
2023’s sequel to the 2018 solo Aquaman film returns Momoa to the undersea world as Arthur Curry/Aquaman, the current King of Atlantis. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II returns as Aquaman’s nemesis, David Kane/Black Manta – the big bad of The Lost Kingdom. The sequel also brings back Patrick Wilson as Orm, Arthur’s jealous, brooding half-brother. Orm still holds a grudge, believing himself the better and more deserving of the two siblings. If Arthur is the DCEU’s Thor, then Orm is its Loki – without the twisted sense of humor, wit, or cleverness. Scratch that, Orm’s not Loki-ish at all, but Momoa’s take on Aquaman is still reminiscent of Chris Hemsworth’s version of Thor.
Moving along… The sequel spends a good deal of time on Arthur’s family life. He’s a proud papa, and his dad, Tom (Temuera Morrison), dotes on his first grandchild. Mera (Amber Heard) pops in now and again, mostly to save her hubby, dispense advice, or help take care of Arthur Junior. Nicole Kidman also puts in sporadic appearances to try and get her boys to stop bickering, and to divulge key details on the political life of Atlanteans. Looking for exposition? Kidman’s Atlanna’s full of it.
What Arthur doesn’t know about running the undersea world and negotiating with the council could fill volumes. He’d flounder if his mom weren’t there to get him out of fishy situations.
While Black Manta is a worthy adversary, in this outing David’s gone full-on crazy after discovering the ruler of the Lost Kingdom’s black trident. Kordax (Pilou Asbaek) gets into David’s head, making promises about how powerful David will become if the Lost Kingdom is returned to its evil glory. But to do so, David will need to cause havoc above ground by heating the planet, and he’ll need to kidnap and kill Junior. Only the King of Atlantis’ DNA can break the curse that holds Kordax captive in a frozen state, and Black Manta stands a better chance at capturing a baby than he does at incapacitating Aquaman – even though Black Manta’s primary motivation from the film’s opening minutes is to kill Aquaman.
The story is simple yet manages to get all tangled up in the minutia, what with the world of the Lost Kingdom, the destruction of the environment, and the political shenanigans going on in the undersea universe. The cherry on top of this massive plot ball is the relationship between Arthur and Orm.
The dysfunctional relationship between Arthur and Orm is Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’s beating heart. Their love-hate relationship powers the film, and nothing else comes close to having the same impact. Jason Momoa and Patrick Wilson are an entertaining duo and have much better onscreen chemistry than Momoa and Amber Heard, who is hardly heard from in this sequel. Arthur’s the cut-up, the class clown, the big man on campus who everyone loves. Orm’s the straight man, playing the part of the reluctant foil in this superhero duo. Together, they make a formidable team and help overcome some of the film’s narrative missteps.
As for the action, it doesn’t seem to have progressed much from the first Aquaman. It’s only when the sequel reaches the final battle that the action feels as if there’s anything at stake. Everything leading up to that is so over-the-top and CG-heavy that there’s no sense of urgency or emotional investment in the fight sequences.
2023’s been a crummy year for the DCEU, with problematic stars headlining two of their releases – Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash – which contributed to their disappointing box office performances. Blue Beetle deserved to have drawn in a larger audience, but strikes, the lack of major star power, and a central character that’s unknown to those who aren’t into comics hurt its chances at success. At $128 million worldwide, Blue Beetle has the dubious distinction of being the lowest-grossing film in the DCEU.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’s guaranteed to beat Blue Beetle’s numbers after its $120 million global opening weekend, but that’s nothing to boast about.
Put a fork in the DCEU, it’s done after 15 films. And, sadly, despite Jason Momoa’s efforts, the DCEU’s going out with a splat rather than a bang! pow! KABOOM!
GRADE: C+
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some language and sci-fi violence
Release Date: December 22, 2023
Running Time: 2 hours 4 minutes
Directed By: James Wan
Sam Spruell as Ole Munch in ‘Fargo’ season 5 episode 7 (Photo CR: Michelle Faye/FX)
FX’s Fargo season five episode seven begins with the introduction of an obnoxious new character. However, don’t get too attached to the deadbeat dude as Ole Munch (Sam Spruell) decides to wipe him off the face of the earth in an act that’s brutal yet justifiable within the episode’s first five minutes. Can’t say that the jerk didn’t have it coming.
Dot (Juno Temple) is burning the candle at both ends, trying to keep ahead of Roy Tillman and his many minions. She briefly nods off at the wheel but wakes before the car drifts off the road. Dot wisely decides to grab a meal and a coffee at a roadside café.
Poor Dot, she nods off again right at the table, waking to the delivery of smiley face pancakes.
Back on the road, she pulls over in the middle of nowhere and walks a short distance to a windmill. Buried at its base is a box containing a postcard from Camp Utopia with a note of apology from Linda.
Dot navigates snowy roads until she runs out of gas at the turn-off for Camp Utopia. She’s forced to walk the remaining distance, which is actually perfect since there isn’t a road leading into the camp, despite the sign pointing the way.
Dot makes it to the main house and walks in while a puppet show is underway. The room is full of a couple dozen women watching the performance – a performance that involves a male puppet beating a female puppet, who apologizes for making a mistake. The male puppet threatens to kill her and continues ruthlessly beating the female puppet with a piece of wood.
Dot has flashbacks to her own treatment at Roy’s hands. She faints.
Dot wakes to discover she’s in a bed she doesn’t recognize with a woman she doesn’t know talking to her about a baby bear sleeping in the wrong bed. Dot’s shocked to learn that all the women at this camp go by the name Linda. It’s a transition name they’re each given after they leave an abusive relationship.
Dot confesses she’s tired, and Linda says it’s normal after fleeing a relationship. Dot corrects her, explaining she’s been in a loving marriage for the past decade. Her trauma occurred before her current marriage.
Dot reveals she needs her Linda’s help because she knows about Roy. This Linda explains they call Linda Tillman “Saint Linda” and that she built Camp Utopia to help abused women start new lives. Dot doesn’t share the opinion that Linda’s a saint, although she did take her in when she was on the street.
Dot’s brought to Linda, whom I’ll refer to for clarity reasons going forward as Saint Linda, and instead of a warm embrace, Dot punches her in the face. The other Lindas are shocked, but Saint Linda understands why she deserves that.
Saint Linda calls her Nadine, and Dot corrects her while insisting she needs to go with her to tell the police about Roy’s abusive behavior. “You used me. You fed me to him so you could escape,” snarls Dot, adding, “You left your boy, too – Gator.”
Since Saint Linda and Dot don’t agree on the truth, the group will hold a tribunal to sort things out. That means Dot will have to tell her truth via a puppet show.
David Rysdahl as Wayne Lyon in ‘Fargo’ season 5 (Photo CR: Frank W Ockenfels III/FX)
Meanwhile, Wayne (David Rysdahl) is on babysitting duty while at work. Scotty (Sienna King) does her homework while Wayne, who’s still not all quite there, has a discussion with a salesman about a family that wants to buy a car. They have a decent trade-in but bad credit, and the salesman thinks he’ll have to turn them down for a loan because they don’t qualify.
Wayne notes the potential customers are a nice-looking family and decides that a car for a car is the best way to go – even though that doesn’t make a lick of sense, business-wise. The salesman points out that isn’t how capitalism works. They’ll take a $13,000 loss if they just let the family drive off in the car they fell in love with.
“Give a car, get a car. Each has received a gift, use it to serve one another. That’s in the Bible, right?” says Wayne.
The completely confused salesman delivers the good news to the family, and they’re overjoyed over their unexpected good fortune.
Back at Camp Utopia, a Linda walks Dot through the steps of making her puppets, including examining the wood to see her true self in it.
Later, Dot sits next to Saint Linda at the dinner table, and they discuss Dot’s favorite foods. Dot notes that Saint Linda hasn’t asked about her 27-year-old son, Gator, and describes him as someone who wants to be good but also wants to be like his dad. (Diametrically opposed desires.)
Dot insists she’s in control of her life now, but Saint Linda won’t let her skip the process of putting on a puppet show. It’s integral to healing.
Joe Keery as Gator Tillman in ‘Fargo’ season 5 episode 7 (Photo CR: Michelle Faye/FX)
Over at the Tillman ranch, Gator (Joe Keery) loads his rifle and heads out to hunt down Ole Munch. (He placed a tracker on his car at the end of episode six.) The tracker emits quick beeps, indicating Gator is near his target. He spots the car and pulls over, aiming his rifle at the silhouette of a man in a rocking chair visible through a second-story window.
He shoots, unaware that it’s a setup. Ole Munch smokes and pulls a rope from another room while the man he attacked with an axe at the beginning of the episode is propped up in the chair.
Gator’s impressed with himself for taking down his sworn enemy. He fetches the tracker and is shocked to see the bag of cash in the backseat of Ole’s car. It’s locked so he breaks a window. Just as he’s reaching in, Ole Munch’s mom arrives home from her daily beer-buying grocery trip and hits him with a bag of fruit. She yells, “Thief!” as the two struggle.
Gator shoves her away and she falls, cracking her head on the frozen curb and instantly dying. Blood pours from her head as Gator runs away. Ole Munch steps outside and discovers his deceased mother lying in a pool of blood. His anguished face indicates Gator’s going to very much regret his actions.
Wayne shares a special moment with Scotty as she prepares to fall asleep. Forgetting to bring a book to read in bed, Wayne makes up a story about Dot that’s heartbreaking in its display of how much he loves his wife. In his story, Dot is loved by the sun but forced to fight against the darkness to save the rainbows. That’s why she had to leave her family at home.
Dot wakes up at Camp Utopia with a renewed sense of purpose. She sets to work creating puppets to help tell her truth. Once finished, Saint Linda reminds the other Lindas not to challenge or interrupt Dot as she speaks her truth.
The puppet show is an exceptionally smart method of feeding viewers more details on Dot’s backstory. In it, Dot recalls being a young girl who was set upon by human wolves once she started menstruating. She’d run away from home when she was saved by Mrs. Linda Tillman while shoplifting cookies.
Linda took her home and introduced her to Roy and Gator. She was only 15 years old, and at the beginning, Roy just seemed big and strong, like a normal dad. But then Linda started pushing her toward Roy as a way of diverting all the abuse from herself onto a new target.
Gator used to seek comfort from her while Roy beat his mom.
Linda left to visit her sister, and Nadine became the woman of the house, complete with all the physical abuse that came with that position.
When Linda returned, Roy got back to the business of beating his first wife. After which he’d go to Nadine, declaring what they had was true love. Linda finally left for good, packing a bag and sneaking off in the night without saying goodbye to Nadine or Gator.
The puppets reenact the beatings Nadine continued to suffer at Roy’s hands after she became his wife.
The puppet show ends, and the Lindas take turns hugging Dot. Finally, she stands before the woman who introduced her to Roy, and Saint Linda agrees to go with her to face Roy together.
As they drive, Linda apologizes for leaving Dot and Gator, and Dot asks why she didn’t take them with her when she escaped. Linda doesn’t answer. Dot thanks her for coming with her to face Roy.
However…and this is a huge twist…none of this actually happened. There isn’t any Camp Utopia or “Saint Linda.” Dot didn’t just spend time with Roy’s first wife, the woman who saved her from the streets only to place her in harm’s way by bringing her to live at the Tillman Ranch.
Dot nodded off in the café and dreamed the whole encounter.
She finishes her meal and heads to her car, but her timing is rotten. An out-of-control big rig skids into the parking lot, runs into a car and forces it across the parking lot and right into Dot. She comes to in a hospital bed, and the nurse says her husband’s there waiting to take her home. Dot believes she means Wayne, but of course, she’s wrong.
Roy (Jon Hamm) steps into the room and closes the door. He calls her Nadine, and Dot quivers in fear as he leans in and quietly declares, “I gotcha.”
* * * * * * * *
New Fargo season five episodes air on FX on Tuesdays at 10pm ET/PT.
Producers Jason Blum of Blumhouse and James Wan of Atomic Monster take fans on a deep dive behind the scenes of Night Swim, a twisted horror film from writer/director Bryce McGuire. Night Swim, based on a short film by McGuire and Rod Blackhurst, will arrive in theaters on January 5, 2024.
Wyatt Russell (currently playing a younger version of his dad Kurt’s character in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters), Oscar nominee Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin), Amélie Hoeferle (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes), and Gavin Warren (Fear the Walking Dead) star. Blum and Wan (the Saw and The Conjuring franchises) serve as producers, with Blumhouse’s Ryan Turek and Atomic Monster’s Michael Clear and Judson Scott executive producing.
Universal Pictures offers this synopsis of the PG-13 supernatural thriller:
The film stars Wyatt Russell as Ray Waller, a former major league baseball player forced into early retirement by a degenerative illness, who moves into a new home with his concerned wife Eve (Condon), teenage daughter Izzy (Hoeferle) and young son Elliot (Warren). Secretly hoping, against the odds, to return to pro ball, Ray persuades Eve that the new home’s shimmering backyard swimming pool will be fun for the kids and provide physical therapy for him.
But a dark secret in the home’s past will unleash a malevolent force that will drag the family under, into the depths of inescapable terror.
The first teaser trailer for writer/director Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver shows the battle is now underway, with the rebels prepared to do whatever is necessary to save their land. Rebel Moon – Part One debuted on December 22, 2023 and Part Two will premiere on Netflix on April 19, 2024.
The cast is led by Sofia Boutella and includes Djimon Hounsou, Ed Skrein, Michiel Huisman, Doona Bae, Ray Fisher, and Anthony Hopkins (as the voice of Jimmy). Staz Nair, Fra Fee, Cleopatra Coleman, Stuart Martin, Ingvar Sigurðsson, Alfonso Herrera, Cary Elwes, Rhian Rees, E. Duffy, Sky Yang, and Charlotte Maggi also star.
Hulu’s murder mystery series Death and Other Details (formerly known as Career Opportunities in Murder and Mayhem) premieres on January 16, 2024 with the release of the first two episodes. Episode one, titled “Rare,” introduces the key players, led by Imogene Scott (Violett Beane, God Friended Me) and Rufus Cotesworth (Mandy Patinkin, Homeland), who get caught up in a murder investigation.
Episode one also stars Lauren Patten as Anna Collier, Rahul Kohli as Sunil Ranja, Angela Zhou as Teddy Goh, Hugo Diego Garcia as Jules, Pardis Saremi as Leila, and Linda Emond as Agent Hilde Eriksen. Jayne Atkinson plays Katherine Collier, Jere Burns is Llewellyn Mathers, Danny Johnson is Father Toby, and Annie Q Riegel is Winnie Goh.
In support of the upcoming premiere, Hulu’s released a batch of photos from the first episode along with this synopsis:
“Set amidst the glamor of the global elite, Death and Other Details centers on the brilliant and restless Imogene Scott (Beane), who finds herself in the wrong place/wrong time (okay, it was kinda her fault) and becomes the prime suspect in a locked room murder mystery. The setting? A lavishly restored Mediterranean ocean liner. Suspects? Every pampered guest and every exhausted crew member. The problem? To prove her innocence, she must partner with a man she despises—Rufus Cotesworth (Patinkin), the world’s greatest detective.”
“Rare” was directed by Marc Webb (Gifted, The Amazing Spider-Man) from a script by Heidi Cole McAdams and Mike Weiss. The 10-episode season also has David Petrarca, Alrick Riley, Yangzom Brauen, James Griffiths, and Dinh Thai involved as directors.
Mike Weiss, Heidi Cole McAdams, Marc Webb, Mark Martin, and David Petrarca serve as executive producers.
Imogene Scott (Violett Beane) and Rufus Cotesworth (Mandy Patinkin) in ‘Death and Other Details’ episode 1 (Photo by: Michael Desmond/Hulu)Imogene Scott (Violett Beane) and Jules (Hugo Diego Garcia) in episode 1, “Rare.” (Photo by: Michael Desmond/Hulu)Imogene Scott (Violett Beane) and Rufus Cotesworth (Mandy Patinkin) in episode 1 premiering on January 16, 2024 (Photo by: Michael Desmond/Hulu)Imogene Scott (Violett Beane) in episode 1, “Rare” (Photo by: Michael Desmond/Hulu)Sunil Ranja (Rahul Kohli) in episode 1, “Rare” (Photo by: Michael Desmond/Hulu)Jules (Hugo Diego Garcia), Teddy Goh (Angela Zhou), and Rufus Cotesworth (Mandy Patinkin) in episode 1 (Photo by: Michael Desmond/Hulu)
