Two-time Emmy Award winner Zendaya (Euphoria) plays a tennis star who, after an injury, transitions to coaching in Challengers which just unveiled an official trailer. With tennis as a backdrop, the drama finds Zendaya at the center of a love triangle involving two best friends.
Mike Faist (West Side Story) and Josh O’Connor (The Crown) star as the friends who vie for Zendaya’s character’s attention. The R-rated drama was directed by Oscar nominee Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name, Bones and All) from a screenplay by Justin Kuritzkes.
Director Guadagnino told Variety that his leads trained for three months prior to the shoot. Complimenting Zendaya’s skills in particular, Guadagnino said, “I mean, wow. We edited the movie and we almost actually don’t use any of her double. She’s so good.”
MGM is releasing Challengers in theaters on September 15, 2023.
Amy Pascal, Luca Guadagnino, Zendaya, and Rachel O’Connor served as producers, with Bernard Bellew executive producing. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are working on the music.
From visionary filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, Challengers stars Zendaya as Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy turned coach and a force of nature who makes no apologies for her game on and off the court. Married to a champion on a losing streak (Faist), Tashi’s strategy for her husband’s redemption takes a surprising turn when he must face off against the washed-up Patrick (O’Connor) – his former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend.
As their pasts and presents collide, and tensions run high, Tashi must ask herself, what will it cost to win.
Focus Features’ press conference for Asteroid City began with writer/director Wes Anderson describing the inspiration for his most recent weirdly wonderful film. Asteroid City is one of the most Wes Anderson-ish of all Wes Anderson films, ranking right up there with The Royal Tenenbaums and Moonrise Kingdom, and Anderson admitted that no one has specifically asked him where the idea came from.
Joining 10 of his film’s stars – Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Jeffrey Wright, Jason Schwartzman, Adrien Brody, Rupert Friend, Stephen Park, Hope Davis, Bryan Cranston, and Maya Hawke – for the virtual conference, Anderson revealed that he normally starts writing a script with a couple of ideas.
”I would say this one the three ideas were, one, Roman Coppola and I created this thing together. We wanted to write a part for Jason Schwartzman at the center of a movie that would be something he hadn’t done before. That was number one. That’s the beginning. And we didn’t really know what it was, but we sort of had a few notions about what this character was going through.
The second thing was we were interested in the setting of 1950s kind of New York theatre. One or other golden age of Broadway-ish thing. In this case, sort of the Actors Studio variety of it.
And the other thing was, we thought we’d tell a story of the play they’re putting on. And the original thing was it was a play called Automat and was going to all be in this automat. And then we sort of decided, you know, automat, it’s too small. So, we expanded it just to the desert.”
Anderson continued: “And I guess it then became something like this interaction of a black and white New York stage and a color cinemascope-ish Western cinema kind of story. And everybody’s both an actor and the role they’re playing, but there’s sort of one thing, too, and they kind of mix together. And that is how I got the idea for Asteroid City.”
Jake Ryan, Jason Schwartzman and Tom Hanks in ‘Asteroid City’ (Photo Courtesy of Pop. 87 Productions / Focus Features)
Two-time Oscar-winner Tom Hanks (Philadelphia, Forrest Gump) makes his debut in a Wes Anderson film with Asteroid City, though he admits he’s wanted to work with the filmmaker for years. “Asteroid City” is the name of the play within a play in Asteroid City the film, as well as the name of the setting of the play – a small town in the middle of the desert in the American Southwest circa 1955. (Trust me, it all makes sense on screen.) Hanks stars as Stanley Zak in the play, wealthy father-in-law of Jason Schwartzman’s character.
”This came about literally because of a lovely email that said, ‘Would you like to come and join us?’ And I said, ‘Yeah. Sure,’” recalled Hanks.
”What is odd is he sends you a version of the movie that doesn’t really need you – the animatic of the film that he put together, which I thought was your voice [indicating Schwartzman], part of it, because I know you collaborate so much, but it was all just Wes. So, you see a complete animatic version of the movie, which I saw, and I called you up and said, ‘Well, I’m in, but I don’t see how you need anybody to do this now,’” explained Hanks.
Hanks added: “It looked like Beauty and the Beast to us. And all this stuff that you hear about turned out to be true. And I haven’t seen a Wes Anderson movie that I didn’t wish that I was in. So, it was great to be a part of this. And the role was great. I think you used the reference of, ‘We’re looking for a retired Ronald Reagan type.’ And I go, ‘I’m your man. I can do that.’”
Bryan Cranston stars as “Host” in writer/director Wes Anderson’s ‘Asteroid City’ (Photo Credit: Courtesy of Pop. 87 Productions/Focus Features)
Six-time Emmy Award winner Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) guides the audience’s journey as Host, which is both his job and the character’s name. Host helps set up the story while backstage at the play, explaining that what we’re about to see is the first-hand creation of a new play mounted on the American stage.
Cranston also referenced the animatic in describing his experience on Asteroid City.
“I think it’s the animatic that really allows us to see where it’s going and the types of characters that he is imagining in his head. We can only take a glimpse into the head of Wes Anderson. We can’t live there. That’s his domain. So, we can only visit.”
Asked if he had any major questions after reading the script, Cranston laughed and replied, “Yeah. What does it mean? It’s so specific and so dense with detail that it is sometimes…I have to read it a couple times to really get a sense of what we’re doing. This is a movie about a television show that’s doing an expose on a theater piece. That in itself is kind of a Russian doll sort of thing. And then there’s the actors who are also playing. So, when you read that in script form, it can be a little daunting. So, it was illuminating to see the cartoon, and extremely helpful.”
Cranston said he approached the part of Host by figuring out what his character’s contribution to the story ultimately was meant to be.
“And in this expositional dialogue, it’s to set up the structure of what the audience is about to see. Mention all the names…there were a lot of names. Lot of interesting names that I had to get straight in my head. But I also thought I should be the one without any emotion. I should just be a blank slate so that people just listen and then follow along and try to key in, and then hand off. Just open up, introduce, and hand off.
I thought that was probably the best thing I could do. You know, something like, almost like a Rod Serling. Ted Koppel’s voice kept coming, popping into my head and I think you hear it – I hear it, anyway – when I watch the movie for some reason. But some kind of established journalistic presence is what I was going for,” said Cranston.
Tom Hanks, Hope Davis, Tony Revolori, and Liev Schreiber in writer/director Wes Anderson’s ‘Asteroid City’ (Photo Credit: Courtesy of Pop. 87 Productions/Focus Features)
The fictional town of Asteroid City is home to a diner, a gas station, and a motel. Just outside of town sits an observatory and a massive crater. The action picks up with a group of Junior Stargazers arriving in town to celebrate Asteroid Day, commemorating the asteroid’s impact with Earth.
Three-time Emmy nominee Hope Davis plays Sandy, mother of Shelly (Sophia Lillis), one of the five Junior Stargazers set to accept an award during the Asteroid Day celebration.
Davis shared how she felt about the vibe on the set.
“You know, moviemaking can be very slow and dull, and this just felt so alive and so playful,” said Davis. “And it reminds you why you got into it in the first place for me.”
Davis compared the experience to the start of working on a play. “You’re finding it in the moment. I mean, some people come in and they know all their lines, and they know where they want to go. But most of us, you’re finding it as you go. And I feel like we had the freedom to do that. But we had the animatic in our heads, so we knew what the frames were going to end up being.”
Scarlett Johansson in director Wes Anderson’s ‘Asteroid City,’ a Focus Features release. (Photo Courtesy of Pop. 87 Productions / Focus Features)
Two-time Oscar nominee Scarlett Johansson stars as actress Mercedes Ford playing actress Midge Campbell in the play. Johansson and Anderson talked about finding Midge and if there was any particular classic actress who came to mind as a model for the character.
”We kind of shared some ideas about what type of a person this could be, or what kind of career she could’ve had. And did she come through the Actors Studio? And what did she sound like? And, you know, I mean, I liked Betty Davis because I thought her career was a good shape, and she felt like, you know, Betty Davis feels,” offered Johansson.
Johansson continued: “When you watch her, she seems comfortable in the space she takes up. And so, I felt like that could be a good beginning. And also, her voice, actually. She has a little bit of that Mid-Atlantic thing. And understanding where that came from and all that stuff was helpful.”
Johansson sums up the Wes Anderson experience as evoking a sense of comradery.
”I think one of the things that really touches me about the movie […] was how supportive all the performances are of one another in this way that’s just, I don’t know, it’s very noticeable in a way. You know, something about it feels – and maybe because we’re all inside it but, of course, every performance stands out – but they make this beautiful sort of orchestra, you know, the pieces all together. And that’s how it feels on the set.
You know, when I got there, my work was sort of truncated into a short period of time. And I could not have done it without having my scene partner, Jason, there. And he was immediately completely available, present, I don’t know, rehearsed. It was just like falling into this comfortable pocket, you know? And I think that feeling is just very unusual.
And also as Hope has said, a lot of time you’re on set and it’s a lot of – you hear all the time – it’s all that waiting and downtime, and you lose momentum. It makes you question what you’re doing with your life and everything. And this doesn’t have that at all. It’s so vivacious and it feels so exciting. And even just to be a new actress coming on the set just to watch other actors performing. And it’s just a very unique experience for a film, I think,” said Johansson.
Pere Mallen, Rupert Friend, Jean-Yves Lozac’h, Jarvis Cocker, Seu Jorge and Maya Hawke in writer/director Wes Anderson’s ‘Asteroid City’ (Photo Credit: Courtesy of Pop. 87 Productions/Focus Features)
Emmy nominee Rupert Friend (Homeland) plays Montana the singing cowboy, and Screen Actors Guild Awards nominee Maya Hawke (Stranger Things) stars as June Douglas, a schoolteacher charged with watching over 10 eight-year-olds amidst the chaos in Asteroid City.
Friend’s and Hawke’s characters’ storylines are intertwined, and both actors credited Anderson with allowing them the freedom to explore that dynamic.
”You know, one of the things we’ve talked about a lot is that Wes wrote one of his more succinct stage directions in the scene where we have our musical number, and it just said, ‘They dance.’ That was it,” said Friend. “We kept saying, ‘When’s the choreographer coming? When’s the rehearsal?’ And it was like, ‘Oh, yeah, another time, another time.’ And we got there and we hadn’t had any of that. And it was just a kind of go for it.
And that feeling of exuberance… I remember it was actually an amazing moment. I don’t know if you saw this, Wes, but when we did that thing [where] I threw my hat in the air, and behind the camera that day, Bill Murray had come to visit set, and he just caught it at the exact moment. And it was just perfect.”
”Yeah, and I feel like everyone’s sort of saying this, but Wes has just sort of cut all the fat and ridiculousness out of the moviemaking process,” added Hawke. “And in so many times when you have a scene partner, you have to establish a bond. You have these, like, chemistry reads. And it’s like, ‘Oh, we’re all going to meet, and we’re going to talk, and you guys are going to get to know each other.’ And instead, Wes is like, ‘Why don’t we just have dinner every night together?’ You know, ‘Wouldn’t that be fine? And actually, you guys are off tomorrow, and you should go for a walk.’
And we just did. And we went for a bicycle ride. And then, you know, so often you’re on hold when you’re doing a movie. And you get brought in and you sit in your trailer, and you wait. And Wes has fixed that by you’re just always on hold 100% of the time. But you don’t feel like you are because he’s taken you out to this magical, wonderful place where you get to be kind of engaged in other people doing their work.”
Maya Hawke continued: “Like, I remember sitting and watching Scarlett and Jason do those incredible scenes between that window. And I would come and sit next to Roman at his little monitor and watch them. And then, after a little while, Adrien would come over and he’d be sitting there, too. We were all engaged in the movie as a whole. And so, it never felt like, ‘Oh, this is my part, this is your part.’ It always felt like everyone was lifting each other up. And that built chemistry really quickly and easily, I think.”
Hong Chau and Adrien Brody in writer/director Wes Anderson’s ‘Asteroid City’ (Photo Credit: Courtesy of Pop. 87 Productions/Focus Features)
Asteroid City was shot under strict Covid-19 protocols. Anderson joked that because of the way he works, his productions have been in Covid-like bubbles for the past 15+ years.
Oscar-winner Adrien Brody (The Pianist), who plays the director of the play, noted that they all stayed in the same hotel. “And then Wes will say, ‘Oh, we got to go,’ and several of us will hop on a golf cart with Wes fully dressed in character. And so, they’ll be alien and a cowboy and a [showgirl] or some children hanging off the back. And then we just kind of make our way with a golf cart on the edge of this road through town, through Spain, and arrive upon this magnificent set.
Like, that is just mind-blowing. That is just as spectacular as it looks in the movie. And show up fully ready to roll and jump right into the scene, and let’s get cracking,” said Brody.
Brody admitted it’s weird to actually play a director in a film.
”The actor always knows his place. There’s always the director. And it just was really a special moment of the film because, you know, part of what’s so beautiful about the storytelling is, for me at least, there’s a bit of nostalgia for this time and place in ’50s Americana. And also, the West and cinema and also a love for theater and the performances and the art of that. And the love for that and which is something that we’re all a part of.
And that time in history was a big shift for the way acting and directing, you know, actors like Marlon Brando and James Dean and directors and actors like Elia Kazan. And so there was a chance to infuse some of that and a love for that and appreciation for that, which is, I’m sure, something that Wes appreciates very much as well. And so, it was really lovely to infuse all of that as a part of this. This vast storytelling.”
Writer/director Wes Anderson, Jason Schwartzman and Tom Hanks on the set (Photo Credit: Courtesy of Roger Do Minh/Pop. 87 Productions/Focus Features)
Screen Actors Guild Awards nominee Jason Schwartzman (The Grand Budapest Hotel) stars as actor Jones Hall as well as the character Hall plays in “Asteroid City,” Augie Steenbeck. Augie’s the father of four – Junior Stargazer award winner Woodrow (Jake Ryan) and three little girls – none of whom realize their mother’s deceased and her remains are being kept by their father in a Tupperware bowl. Augie’s having a difficult time coping with the fact he’s now a widower, and he hasn’t quite figured out how to break the news as we meet the Steenbeck family in the opening moments of the “Asteroid City” play.
Asked about playing someone who’s coping with grief, Schwartzman explained that he believes there’s no wrong way to grieve. “If you don’t feel sad when everyone else is sad, that’s okay. It’s worse to feel bad about not feeling a certain way that everyone else is feeling. So, you just feel the way you feel. And that’ll be okay. Just trust that,” said Schwartzman. “And to me, I didn’t think about that while we were doing it. But when I saw the movie and Adrian’s character says, ‘Just keep doing it,’ to me, that’s what it is like. Don’t feel bad about it, don’t worry about how you’re feeling. Just feel it. It’s okay. Just keep going. This movement really kind of hit me when he said that.”
Jason Schwartzman frequently collaborates with Wes Anderson, and he believes knowing Anderson for so long and working with him is a rare and special thing.
”I think the one thing I value the most about our relationship is that it seems like it’s sort of as it was when we first met. Which was like, the second we met we started talking about music. And it’s about sharing. Things that we were interested in.
I think that over the years, we’ve been through so many different things. But it’s fun to come back and to share the things that you’ve experienced with someone that you know and love. It’s about going off and having adventures,” said Schwartzman.
Schwartzman added: “I think fundamentally, the idea of just enthusiasm and curiosity about something else being out there, that’s, like, that’s the fundamental thing of our relationship. And I think any good relationship, I guess, is let the other person grow and then bring it back.”
* * * * * * *
Asteroid City opened in LA and NY on June 16, 2023. The PG-13 film expands everywhere on June 23rd.
The Plot: The itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention (organized to bring together students and parents from across the country for fellowship and scholarly competition) is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events.
Writer/director Zack Snyder (300, Justice League, Man of Steel) wowed the crowd at Netflix’s TUDUM Global Fan Event with the release of a new behind-the-scenes featurette for Rebel Moon. The two-part sci-fi epic was inspired by Akira Kurosawa 1954 film Seven Samurai and will premiere on Netflix on December 22, 2023.
The cast includes Sofia Boutella as Kora, an Imperium deserter who leaves the peaceful Veldt to fight back; Ed Skrein as Admiral Atticus Noble, a nefarious Imperium enforcer; Charlie Hunnam as Kai, a mercenary pilot whose Tawau-Class freighter will prove invaluable to Kora’s quest; Michiel Huisman as Gunnar, a Veldt farmer who knows little of the galaxy outside of his small, quiet corner of the galaxy; and Djimon Hounsou as General Titus, a hardened gladiator who once served the Imperium.
Staz Nair is Tarak, a noble indentured servant who shares a bond with a flying creature called a Bennu; Donna Bae plays Nemesis, a cyborg sword master whose mechanical hands allow her to wield molten-metal weapons; Ray Fisher is Darrian Bloodaxe, an insurgent who has been harrying the Imperium with guerilla attacks; and E. Duffy as Milius, a refugee who seeks justice for their home — a colony that has already fallen to the Mother World.
Additionally, Fra Fee is Regent Balisarius, the mighty Imperium official — and Noble’s superior — who presides over Veldt’s corner of the universe; Jena Malone is a mysterious and deadly spider-being; and Anthony Hopkins voices Jimmy, an ancient robot knight that once defended a slain king but has now faded into a more peaceful existence.
The ensemble also includes Cleopatra Coleman, Stuart Martin, Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson, Alfonso Herrera, Cary Elwes, Rhian Rees, Sky Yang, Charlotte Maggi, and Corey Stoll.
Kurt Johnstad and Shay Hatten co-wrote the screenplay with Snyder and serve as executive producers along with Bergen Swanson and Sarah Bowen. Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Eric Newman, and Wesley Coller serve as producers.
The Plot:
When a peaceful colony on the edge of a galaxy finds itself threatened by the armies of a tyrannical ruling force, Kora (Boutella), a mysterious stranger living among the villagers, becomes their best hope for survival. Tasked with finding trained fighters who will unite with her in making an impossible stand against the Mother World, Kora assembles a small band of warriors — outsiders, insurgents, peasants and orphans of war from different worlds who share a common need for redemption and revenge.
As the shadow of an entire Realm bears down on the unlikeliest of moons, a battle over the fate of a galaxy is waged, and in the process, a new army of heroes is formed.
#Polin shippers…feast your eyes on the first four photos from Netflix’s Bridgerton season three. Netflix unveiled the first batch of photos during the 2023 TUDUM Global Fan Event, providing a good look at Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington and Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton in the upcoming season.
Coughlan and Newton will be front and center of season three. In addition, season three stars Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton, Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton, Hannah Dodd as Francesca Bridgerton, and Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton. Adjoa Andoh stars as Lady Agatha Danbury, Claudia Jessie is Eloise, Harriet Cains is Philipa Featherington, Bessie Carter is Prudence Featherington, Martins Imhangbe is Will Mondrich, and Jessica Madsen is Cressida Cowper.
Emma Naomi plays Alice Mondrich, Hugh Sachs is Brimsley, Polly Walker is Lady Portia Featherington, and Golda Rosheuvel returns as Queen Charlotte. Joining the massive ensemble for the third season are Daniel Francis as Marcus Anderson, a charismatic new entry to the ton; Sam Phillips as Lord Debling, a likable lord with eccentric interests (and enough wealth for anyone to overlook them); and James Phoon as Harry Dankworth, who may lack wit but makes up for it with dashing looks.
The Bridgerton Season 3 Plot, Courtesy of Netflix:
Bridgerton is back for its third season and finds Penelope Featherington (Coughlan) has finally given up on her long-held crush on Colin Bridgerton (Newton) after hearing his disparaging words about her last season. She has, however, decided it’s time to take a husband, preferably one who will provide her with enough independence to continue her double life as Lady Whistledown, far away from her mother and sisters. But lacking in confidence, Penelope’s attempts on the marriage mart fail spectacularly.
Meanwhile, Colin has returned from his summer travels with a new look and a serious sense of swagger. But he’s disheartened to realize that Penelope, the one person who always appreciated him as he was, is giving him the cold shoulder. Eager to win back her friendship, Colin offers to mentor Penelope in the ways of confidence to help her find a husband this season. But when his lessons start working a little too well, Colin must grapple with whether his feelings for Penelope are truly just friendly.
Complicating matters for Penelope is her rift with Eloise (Jessie), who has found a new friend in a very unlikely place, while Penelope’s growing presence in the ton makes it all the more difficult to keep her Lady Whistledown alter ego a secret.
Penn Badgley promises at least some of the many loose ends from Joe’s past will be tied up with You‘s much-anticipated fifth and final season. Netflix unveiled a short teaser during the TUDUM Global Fan Event that included some of those loose ends – season one’s Dr. Nicky (John Stamos), season two’s Ellie (Jenna Ortega), and season three’s The Conrads (Shalita Grant and Travis Van Winkle) – but didn’t reveal exactly which of Joe’s victims will show up in the final season.
“We’re proud to see how You has captivated audiences around the world, becoming an instant sensation on Netflix with a resounding cultural impact that has grown season over season,” said Peter Friedlander, Vice President of Scripted Series, Netflix, US and Canada. “We’re excited — and a bit terrified — to see how it all ends for Joe Goldberg, but one thing is for sure: You are in for an unforgettable ending.”
In addition to Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg, season four starred Tati Gabrielle as Marienne Bellamy, Tilly Keeper as Lady Phoebe, Amy Leigh Hickman as Nadia, Ed Speleers as Rhys, Lukas Gage as Adam, and Charlotte Ritchie as Kate. Niccy Lin, Aidan Cheng, Stephen Hagan, Eve Austin, and Ben Wiggins were also featured in the fourth season, along with Ozioma Whenu, Dario Coates, Sean Pertwee, Brad Alexander, Alison Pargeter, and Adam James.
Season four part one premiered in February 2023, and part two followed in March. Season five is expected to arrive in 2024.
The first footage from Netflix’s 3 Body Problem, based on Liu Cixin’s novels and created by Game of Thrones‘ David Benioff and D.B. Weiss along with True Blood‘s Alexander Woo, debuted during the streaming service’s TUDUM fan event.
3 Body Problem isn’t expected to debut until January 2024.
Jess Hong stars as Jin Cheng, Eiza González plays Auggie Salazar, Jovan Adepo is Saul Durand, Alex Sharp plays Will Downing, John Bradley is Jack Rooney, and Benedict Wong stars as intelligence officer Da Shi. The cast also includes Saamer Usmani as Raj Varma, Liam Cunningham as Thomas Wade, and Rosalind Chao and Zine Tseng as Ye Wenjie.
In addition, Jonathan Pryce and Ben Schnetzer play Mike Evans, Marlo Kelly is Tatiana, Sea Shimooka is Sophon, and Eve Ridley is Follower.
Benioff, Weiss, and Woo serve as executive producers.
Netflix describes the series as exploring humanity’s response to its gravest threat. The description continues: “We meet a young woman whose fateful decision in ’60s China reverberates across space and time to a group of brilliant scientists in the present day. As the laws of nature unravel before their eyes, five former colleagues reunite to confront the greatest threat in humanity’s history.”
‘3 Body Problem’ presentation at Netflix’s TUDUM 2023 (Photo by Alexandre Schneider / Getty Images for NETFLIX)
Caitriona Balfe in ‘Outlander’ season 7 episode 1 (Photo Credit: Starz)
After a year-long Droughtlander, Starz’s Outlander season seven episode one leaps right into the action, with Claire (Caitriona Balfe) being hung as a murderer. Of course, that doesn’t really happen. Unfortunately for Jamie (Sam Heughan), it’s a vision that’s haunting his every waking minute since being forcibly separated from the love of his life.
Jamie feels deep in his bones that Claire is still alive and is committed to finding her. With Young Ian (John Bell) at his side, nothing will stop the determined Scot from reuniting with the missing piece of his heart.
Claire’s indeed alive and doing as well as can be expected, given that she’s locked up in a Wilmington jail. Margit Tolliver (Liza Sadovy) is in charge of the jail, and she lays down the basic rules of the facility. Claire can purchase extra supplies if she has money, which she does thanks to Tom Christie.
Claire’s cellmate introduces herself as Sadie Ferguson (Sarah Finigan) and explains that there haven’t been any trials in months because the justices are in hiding. Sadie warns Claire to be on guard; a mob could come for her even if she hasn’t been officially found guilty.
Obviously, Claire can’t share that the war will keep the courts closed for years. But that information eats at her.
Morning arrives, and soldiers come to fetch the healer – unaware of whom they’re looking for or what she’s charged with. After Claire says she’s the healer, Sadie steps forward and claims to be the one charged with murder, labeling Claire as a forger.
Sam Heughan in ‘Outlander’ season 7 episode 1 (Photo Courtesy of Starz)
By the time Jamie and Ian make it to town, Claire’s been taken away. Tom Christie (Mark Lewis Jones) has no idea where they took her, but Sadie offers info – for a price. Another prisoner explains that forgery is a capital crime while murderers can repent for their sins. Sadie insists she was simply trying to help.
Mrs. Tolliver reveals Claire was taken on her husband’s orders to do the Crown’s duty. All she knows is that he was on the way to put down some unrest in Fort Johnston.
In fact, Claire’s been taken to a ship to replace a surgeon sent to treat the wounded at Fort Johnston. The patient is a pregnant Elizabeth Martin (Reanne Farley), wife of Governor Martin, and she whines about her current circumstances and that her husband’s being hunted by his own citizens.
Claire treats Elizabeth kindly, but the woman becomes alarmed when she figures out Claire’s accused of murdering her husband’s pregnant mistress. Apparently, Claire is quite notorious; everyone knows her story. Elizabeth makes her swear she won’t hurt the baby before accepting her help.
Elizabeth confesses she’d rather die than lose another baby. (She’s had six pregnancies and lost three of them.) Mrs. Martin’s impressed and thankful for Claire’s loving care. She promises to keep the murder charge a secret.
Claire overhears Governor Martin (Eugene O’Hare) discussing their destination and asks to be let off the ship to retrieve supplies. He won’t allow it and instead suggests she make a list of items to pick up. As they’re speaking, Major Donald MacDonald (Robin Laing) joins them with news that Fort Johnston has fallen.
MacDonald fills Governor Martin in on Claire’s story, including the detail that Jamie resigned his commission as Indian Agent. Martin also learns Claire’s been accused of murder. She swears she’s innocent and that she did everything in her power to save the unborn child. She’ll do the same for his wife and can empathize with his own loss.
Claire outsmarts the Governor and addresses her supply letter to Tom Christie. In it she writes that she’s treating a patient on the HMS Cruizer. The letter explains that the Governor’s man will meet Christie in the harbor and ferry the supplies out to the ship, which won’t be at anchor long.
The supply list includes a request for oil of porcupine, camphor, potassium nitrate, and vir meus. Christie takes the addition of “vir meus” to mean she’s requesting that he find Jamie. Christie does as asked and passes off the note to Jamie.
John Bell and Sam Heughan in season 7 episode 1 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Claire’s on the deck when Jamie arrives in a rowboat. They hug and share a passionate kiss as soon as he climbs aboard, and Jamie immediately asks to speak with Governor Martin. Jamie requests the release of his wife, reminding Martin that since martial law has been declared, he has full control over the prisoners and has the power to release Claire.
Governor Martin remains unconvinced and proposes a deal. If Jamie gathers 200 men and commits to fighting alongside Major MacDonald, then he’ll let Claire go. She’ll remain his prisoner until Jamie does as instructed.
Jamie seems to agree with the proposal but then whispers to Claire that he’ll see her in the morning.
Jamie returns to Wilmington and assures Ian that he’s not about to recruit any men. But he is determined to return to the ship and do whatever he must to free Claire.
Jamie and Ian encounter Tom, a little drunk and asking for Jamie’s help. Tom wants Jamie’s permission to go to the ship and free Claire by claiming he murdered Malva. Jamie swallows his pride and allows Tom to be Claire’s savior.
Tom’s unsure of what his future holds and wonders what Jamie would say at his funeral if he has one.
Jamie replies, “I would say that Thomas Christie was an honorable Scot, a leader of men in his own way, though he didn’t kin quite where to lead them.”
Jamie smiles and adds, “Stubborn as a damn mule, but despite our differences, a man I respected and whose respect I hope I had in return.”
Claire’s on the deck again when Tom Christie arrives in a rowboat. They speak privately, and Tom reveals he’s come to confess to Malva’s murder. Claire’s confused, and Tom confides in her that Malva was his brother’s daughter and that he believed she and her mother were witches. He doesn’t blame his brother because his wife was a seductress who could work her charms on any man.
His wife was eventually hanged for murdering his brother. Tom then raised Malva as his own, alongside his flesh and blood son, Allan.
Tom’s certain Malva was a witch, just like her mother, and she even confessed that she tried to kill him and Claire. This rings true to Claire, who realizes Malva was also behind the love charm. Malva wanted Jamie and would kill to get him.
Claire believes his story but doesn’t believe he killed Malva.
Tom confesses to Claire that he loves her, and then hands her his written confession to the murder of Malva. It’s too late to turn back as he left a copy with the newspaper in Wilmington. He’s spent his life giving his love to those who aren’t worthy of it and asks that now she allow him to give his life for “the sake of one who is.”
Jamie is pacing on the shore when he spots the rowboat appearing out of the fog with Claire at the front.
Later, they share a bed (fully clothed) and she asks if he made Tom confess. Jamie explains what happened, and both agree that Tom didn’t actually kill Malva. Claire feels guilty that Tom confessed just to save her, and Jamie says he would have done the same if it could have saved her.
Once Claire’s asleep, Jamie slips out of bed and into Richard Brown’s room. He spotted Brown’s horse tied up outside earlier and has been waiting for him to return to his room. Brown (Chris Larkin) is shocked Jamie isn’t on board a ship back to Scotland and offers Jamie a drink. Jamie wants to wait until he’s done, and Brown warns him not to harm a hair on his head.
Jamie doesn’t raise his voice or break eye contact as he assures Brown that Ian and the Cherokee have already taken care of Brown’s men. Brown tries to appeal to Jamie’s better angels, calling him a good and moral man. Jamie, eyes locked on his enemy, reminds Brown he’s also a violent man. His goodness comes from Claire, and Brown tried to take that from him.
Jamie suggests Brown should make his peace with the Lord and then closes the gap between the two men as episode one fades to black.
Richard Rankin as Roger and Sophie Skelton as Brianna in ‘Outlander’ season 7 part 1 (Photo Courtesy of Starz)
Roger Has a Shocking Encounter with a Fellow Traveler
When season seven catches up with Roger (Richard Rankin) and Brianna (Sophie Skelton), they’re preparing for Roger’s new position of ministering to soldiers. Roger claims he’s tough enough to handle it but admits Reverend McMillan will surely test his mettle.
Rev. McMillan (Iain MacRae) warns Roger not to judge which side the soldiers fight for. All will need prayer, no matter who they support. The prisoners in chains taunt Roger and McMillan, claiming they have nothing useful to say.
“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, and surely God will go with thee,” replies Roger, quoting Mohammed Ali.
He’s shocked when a man says, “Ali,” in response, and Roger quickly engages the stranger in conversation. Wendigo Donner (first seen in season five, episodes 11 and 12) introduces himself and asks for help. Roger recognizes the name as one Claire told him was among Lionel Brown’s men when she was kidnapped and tortured.
Richard Rankin in ‘Outlander’ season 7 episode 1 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Wendigo (Brennan Martin) swears he didn’t touch Claire and would never hurt her. He’s been conscripted to fight after being caught stealing a gemstone – the gemstone he needs to travel home. Wendigo explains that he traveled with five other Native Americans to help the Indian Nations, but they got separated traveling through the stones. He never made it to where he was supposed to go.
Wendigo begs for help, and Roger collects items that might be useful in helping him escape. Bree’s shocked when she discovers what he’s up to and wonders how exactly Roger thinks he can bust out a prisoner. “You’re not Steve McQueen in The Great Escape!” says Bree.
Roger and Bree agree Wendigo didn’t hurt Claire, but Bree reminds Roger that the time traveler also didn’t lend a hand to help her mother. Roger understands how she feels, but thinks Wendigo is just scared to death and wants to go home. He recalls his own time as part of Stephen Bonnet’s crew and that he would do anything to get back to her. Wendigo did the same to get home.
Later, Roger tries to mend fences by telling Bree he hasn’t helped Wendigo escape. However, he needs to listen to his instincts and help the man – but by praying for him, not releasing him.
The four elements – wind, water, fire, and earth – are the focus of Pixar’s animated romantic comedy Elemental. The fact the elements co-exist in the same city but in their own areas provides the setup for an unlikely romance.
Elemental opens with Ember (voiced by Leah Lewis), a fiery young woman, working at her father’s shop in Firetown that she’s destined to take over one day. But there’s just one problem… Ember has a bad temper and is quick to anger, which makes her terrible at dealing with customers, especially rude and obnoxious ones. Her father, Bernie (voiced by Ronnie Del Carmen), assures her that she’ll eventually get the hang of dealing with customers and get ahold of her temper.
Ember discovers a leak in the shop’s basement during a special sale at the shop, which is bizarre since the water to Firetown was shut off years ago. While trying to plug the leak, she finds Wade Ripple (voiced by Mamoudou Athie), a water person and building inspector who was physically drawn into the basement as part of the leak.
Wade spots several code violations that will shut down the store, and Ember desperately tries to convince him not to say anything, asking Wade for a break. Unfortunately, Wade doesn’t listen and runs off, saying it’s his job.
A chase begins that leads Ember out of the comfort and safety of Firetown and into other parts of Element City for the first time. Feeling bad about her situation, Wade takes Ember to see his boss to plead her case.
Wade’s boss is shocked that water is still getting into Firetown’s pipes. She tasks Wade and Ember with finding out how it’s happening and putting a stop to it. If they can get it done in a week, she’ll toss the violations.
As Wade and Ember begin to work together to carry out this mission, they start to be drawn to each other – even though fire and water don’t mix.
Directed by Peter Sohn (The Good Dinosaur), Pixar’s Elemental’s colorful visuals can’t overcome its two annoying lead characters and its boring rom-com plot. This is easily one of the worst films to come from Pixar Animation Studios.
Leah Lewis and Mamoudou Athie do a fine job bringing the characters of Ember and Wade to life. However, the problem is that both characters are unlikeable. Leah’s Ember is mean, rude, and insulting to Wade throughout most of the film, which makes her an unsympathetic and irritating character. Wade is too nice and sensitive to the point that his character becomes a glutton for punishment. And the focus on the budding romance between Ember and Wade is sure to bore kids in the audience due to the lack of action and excitement on the screen.
The writing’s weak, relying on running jokes and humor that are juvenile and stupid. A perfect example of this is that anything and everything makes Wade become overly emotional and cry himself a river. By the time Ember meets his family halfway through the film and his entire clan floods the rooms with their tears, the running joke’s become more cringe-worthy than funny.
Elemental is the most forgettable animated film to come from Pixar and is its biggest misfire.
GRADE: C-
MPAA Rating: PG for some thematic elements, some peril, and brief language
Welcome to Wrexham with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney scored the Best Sports Show award and The Amazing Race came in first in the Best Competition Series category at the 2023 Critics Choice Real TV Awards. Critics Choice Association members spread the love around, with only RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi, and Top Chef earning two awards each.
Given the quantity and quality of reality programming, the CCA launched the Critics Choice Real TV Awards in 2019 to recognize the best in nonfiction, unscripted, and reality shows. In addition to the regular competition categories, this year the CCA honored Lisa Vanderpump with the Impact Award and Eugene Levy was named Star of the Year.
CRITICS CHOICE REAL TV AWARDS WINNERS
BEST COMPETITION SERIES WINNER: The Amazing Race (CBS)
Lego Masters (Fox)
RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV)
RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars (Paramount+)
Survivor (CBS)
The Traitors (Peacock)
BEST COMPETITION SERIES: TALENT/VARIETY
America’s Got Talent (NBC)
America’s Got Talent: All Stars (NBC)
Dancing with the Stars (Disney+)
The Masked Singer (Fox)
My Kind of Country (Apple TV+) WINNER: The Voice (NBC)
BEST UNSTRUCTURED SERIES
Below Deck Sailing Yacht (Bravo)
Couples Therapy (Showtime)
Formula 1: Drive to Survive (Netflix)
The Kardashians (Hulu)
MTV’s Following: Bretman Rock (MTV) WINNER: Vanderpump Rules (Bravo)
BEST STRUCTURED SERIES
Bar Rescue (Paramount Network)
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (Food Network)
The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning (Peacock)
Gutsy (Apple TV+)
Shark Tank (ABC) WINNER: Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi (Hulu)
BEST CULINARY SHOW
The Big Brunch (HBO Max)
José Andrés and Family in Spain (discovery+)
Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines (Magnolia Network)
Selena + Chef (HBO Max)
Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi (Hulu) WINNER:Top Chef (Bravo)
BEST GAME SHOW
Barmageddon (USA) WINNER: Jeopardy! (Syndicated)
Lingo (CBS)
Password (NBC)
The Wall (NBC)
Weakest Link (NBC)
BEST TRAVEL/ADVENTURE SHOW
Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss (Peacock)
The Great Food Truck Race (Food Network)
José Andrés and Family in Spain (discovery+)
The Piece Maker (Magnolia Network) WINNER: The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy (Apple TV+)
Somebody Feed Phil (Netflix)
BEST BUSINESS SHOW
American Greed (CNBC)
Bar Rescue (Paramount Network)
House Hunters (HGTV)
Restaurant: Impossible (Food Network) WINNER: Shark Tank (ABC)
Wahl Street (HBO Max)
BEST ANIMAL/NATURE SHOW
Big Beasts (Apple TV+)
The End Is Nye (Peacock) WINNER: Frozen Planet II (BBC One)
Our Universe (Netflix)
Prehistoric Planet (Apple TV+)
The Wizard of Paws (BYUtv)
BEST CRIME/JUSTICE SHOW
911 Crisis Center (Oxygen)
Evil Lives Here (Investigation Discovery)
How I Caught My Killer (Hulu)
In Pursuit with John Walsh (Investigation Discovery / discovery+) WINNER:Unsolved Mysteries Volume 3 (Netflix)
Web of Make Believe: Death, Lies & The Internet (Netflix)
BEST SPORTS SHOW
30 for 30 (ESPN)
American Ninja Warrior (NBC)
Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers (Hulu)
Like a Girl (Fuse Media)
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (HBO Max) WINNER: Welcome to Wrexham (FX)
BEST RELATIONSHIP SHOW
Farmer Wants a Wife (Fox)
Indian Matchmaking (Netflix)
Jewish Matchmaking (Netflix) WINNER: Love Is Blind (Netflix)
Married at First Sight (Lifetime)
The Parent Test (ABC)
BEST LIFESTYLE SHOW: HOME/GARDEN
For the Love of Kitchens (Magnolia Network)
Home (Apple TV+) WINNER: Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles (Bravo) Murder House Flip (The Roku Channel)
Trixie Motel (discovery+)
Ugliest House in America (HGTV)
BEST LIFESTYLE SHOW: FASHION/BEAUTY
Glow Up (Netflix)
The Hype (HBO Max)
Making the Cut (Prime Video)
Next in Fashion (Netflix) WINNER: Queer Eye (Netflix)
Say Yes to the Dress (TLC)
BEST LIMITED SERIES American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing (Netflix)
The Hidden Lives of Pets (Netflix)
House of Hammer (discovery+)
Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty (HBO Max) WINNER:Pepsi, Where’s My Jet? (Netflix)
Super League: The War for Football (Apple TV+)
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST IN AN UNSCRIPTED SERIES
Below Deck Sailing Yacht (Bravo)
Dancing with the Stars (Disney+) WINNER: RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars (Paramount+)
Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test (Fox)
Survivor (Season 44) (CBS)
Vanderpump Rules (Bravo)
BEST SHOW HOST
Selena Gomez – Selena + Chef (HBO Max)
Alex Guarnaschelli – Supermarket Stakeout (Food Network) WINNER: Padma Lakshmi – Top Chef (Bravo), Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi (Hulu)
Trixie Mattel – Trixie Motel (discovery+) WINNER: RuPaul – RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV) / RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars (Paramount+)
Ryan Seacrest – American Idol (ABC)
STAR OF THE YEAR
Guy Fieri – Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (Food Network)
Ina Garten – Barefoot Contessa (Food Network) / Be My Guest with Ina Garten (Food Network)
Selena Gomez – Selena + Chef (HBO Max)
Padma Lakshmi – Top Chef (Bravo), Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi (Hulu)
Sandra Lee – Dr. Pimple Popper (TLC) WINNER: Eugene Levy – The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy (Apple TV+)
Peyton Manning – History’s Greatest of All Time with Peyton Manning (History) / Peyton’s Places (ESPN+) / Capital One College Bowl (NBC)
RuPaul – RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV) / RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars (Paramount+)
Series star Diego Klattenhoff makes his directorial debut with NBC’s The Blacklist season 10 episode 18. After taking a two-week break, “Wormwood” will air on Thursday, June 22, 2023 at 8pm ET/PT.
Season’s 10 cast is led by James Spader as Raymond “Red” Reddington. Diego Klattenhoff stars as Donald Ressler, Hisham Tawfiq plays Dembe Zuma, Anya Banerjee is Siya Malik, Sami Bray is Agnes, and Harry Lennix stars as Harold Cooper.
“Wormwood” Plot: Red’s attempt to mediate a meeting between two rival families takes a deadly turn; when an elusive criminal is linked to the incident, the task force races against time to save Red and his associates.
James Spader as Raymond “Red” Reddington in ‘The Blacklist’ season 10 episode 18 (Photo by: Will Hart/NBC)
The Season 10 Plot:
The final season will find Raymond Reddington confronting unparalleled danger. With Reddington’s covert role as an FBI informant facing exposure, former Blacklisters will unite against him in their lethal desire for revenge – testing Red and the FBI Task Force as never before.
Alex Brightman as Herbie Hambright, Harry Lennix as Harold Cooper, and Hisham Tawfiq as Dembe Zuma in the “Wormwood” episode (Photo by: Will Hart/NBC)Hisham Tawfiq as Dembe Zuma, Anya Banerjee as Siya Malik, Harry Lennix as Harold Cooper, and Diego Klattenhoff as Donald Ressler in season 10 episode 18 (Photo by: Will Hart/NBC)Alex Brightman as Herbie Hambright, Harry Lennix as Harold Cooper, Hisham Tawfiq as Dembe Zuma, Diego Klattenhoff as Donald Ressler, and Anya Banerjee as Siya Malik in season 10 episode 18 (Photo by: Will Hart/NBC)Gabriela Torres as Gabriella Sandoval in the “Wormwood” episode (Photo by: Will Hart/NBC)Manny Ureña as Michael Montano and Robert M Jiménez as David Montano in season 10 episode 18 (Photo by: Will Hart/NBC)Manny Ureña as Michael Montano and Frankie J. Alvarez as Izan Sandoval in season 10 episode 18 (Photo by: Will Hart/NBC)
