Paramount Pictures’ new two minute trailer for Babylon edges viewers just a little closer to being able to understand what Oscar-winning writer/director Damien Chazelle’s (La La Land) star-studded film’s all about. Don’t feel bad if you’re still in the dark after watching the trailer, and don’t look to the short synopsis to help you out.
The studio offers this tease: “Babylon is an original epic set in 1920s Los Angeles led by Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, and Diego Calva, with an ensemble cast including Jovan Adepo, Li Jun Li and Jean Smart. A tale of outsized ambition and outrageous excess, it traces the rise and fall of multiple characters during an era of unbridled decadence and depravity in early Hollywood.”
The cast also includes P.J. Byrne, Lukas Haas, Olivia Hamilton, Tobey Maguire, Max Minghella, and Rory Scovel. Additional stars include Katherine Waterston, Flea, Jeff Garlin, Eric Roberts, Ethan Suplee, Samara Weaving, and Olivia Wilde.
Marc Platt, Matthew Plouffe, and Olivia Hamilton produced, with Michael Beugg, Tobey Maguire, Wyck Godfrey, Helen Estabrook, and Adam Siegel executive producing.
The official trailer arrived along with a new colorful poster promoting the December 23, 2022 theatrical release.
On October 5, 2017, journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey published an article in the New York Times that exposed Harvey Weinstein’s lengthy history of sexual assaults and catapulted the #MeToo movement into the mainstream lexicon. Kantor and Twohey’s incredible work is brought to life on the screen in She Said, a powerful drama adapted by Independent Spirit Award nominee Rebecca Lenkiewicz (Colette) and directed by Emmy Award winner Maria Schrader (Unorthodox).
She Said delves into Kantor and Twohey’s research process and how their award-winning exposé rocked Hollywood and heightened public awareness of the prevalence of sexual harassment in workplaces in the entertainment industry and beyond.
In 2022, the #MeToo movement’s widely accepted and embraced as pivotal in spurring changes in behavior both inside and outside the workplace. As for Weinstein, the disgraced media mogul and sexual predator was sentenced to 23 years in jail – and is facing further charges in California. Yet even now, Weinstein’s decades of sexual abuse of employees and actors remain a shocking story that deserves to continue to be examined in depth. In particular, it’s important to understand who enabled it, who ignored it, and who ultimately spoke up against his abusive behavior.
She Said does a remarkable job of taking a subject that nearly all audience members know of and adding layers that make it compelling viewing. Two-time Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan and Emmy nominee Zoe Kazan lead the outstanding ensemble as journalists Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, respectively. The R-rated drama walks us through Twohey and Kantor’s investigation of Weinstein’s multiple improprieties and how difficult it was to pull together a news story given how justifiably reluctant Weinstein’s victims were to go public with their experiences.
Harvey Weinstein was one of the most powerful players in Hollywood as co-founder of Miramax. Weinstein was mentioned in more than 30 Oscar acceptance speeches and could kill careers with a single phone call. Speaking out against a man this powerful and connected within the entertainment industry took an enormous amount of courage. Going on the record for a feature in the NYT meant risking further alienation from the industry.
She Said, like the article and follow-up book that inspired it, reveals the gut-wrenching decision process the victims went through after being approached by Twohey and Kantor. The film provides a riveting look behind-the-scenes at the attempts by Weinstein and his lawyers to squash the story. Also worth noting is the depiction of attorney Lisa Bloom – Gloria Allred’s daughter – as someone who sided with Weinstein and disparaged the victims. That’s one aspect of the story that’s not as well publicized as the actual assault claims but is well deserving of attention.
If it weren’t for the extraordinary bravery of Ashley Judd stepping up and giving permission to use her name and quotes in the article, it’s possible Weinstein would never have been brought to justice. There’s strength in numbers and Judd’s decision sparked other brave women to go public and speak up about the abuse they’d suffered. These unexpected allies took down a studio executive and were integral in changing the predatorial atmosphere in Hollywood.
Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan are fantastic as the pair of NYT reporters who made workplaces safer for women as the result of their game-changing article. Jennifer Ehle as Miramax employee Laura Madden and Samantha Morton as Weinstein’s former assistant Zelda Perkins deliver powerful performances in supporting roles. She Said also benefits from the involvement of Ashley Judd lending the story a real authenticity by appearing as herself.
Maria Schrader assembled an impressive team behind the scenes including editor Hansjörg Weißbrich, cinematographer Natasha Braier, and composer Nicholas Britell. Each adds depth and richness to this character-driven drama.
She Said earns a spot among the better films about journalists. It’s firmly nestled in a list that includes – but isn’t limited to – All the President’s Men, Spotlight, and Zodiac. Furthermore, Schrader’s take on Twohey and Kantor’s Pulitzer Prize-winning work is an important asset in the fight to shine a spotlight on harassment and abuse in the workplace.
GRADE: A
MPAA Rating: R for language and descriptions of sexual assault
Release Date: November 18, 2022
Running Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Studio: Universal Pictures
“Men kill quick with a bullet or a noose. But your fight is with me…and I kill much slower,” warns Cara Dutton (Helen Mirren) in the official trailer for the Yellowstone prequel, 1923. The trailer confirms the Duttons have been fighting against outsiders wanting to take their land since the early days of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. It also shows that the Dutton patriarch has always put his family first.
“You attack my family, it’s gonna be the last thing you ever do,” snarls Jacob (Harrison Ford).
In addition to Oscar winner Helen Mirren and Oscar nominee Harrison Ford, the new drama series stars Darren Mann (Animal Kingdom), Michelle Randolph (A Snow White Christmas), James Badge Dale (Hightown), and Marley Shelton (Scream). Additional cast members include Brian Geraghty (Big Sky), Aminah Nieves (Blueberry), and Jerome Flynn (Game of Thrones).
The second Yellowstone origin story was created by Taylor Sheridan. Sheridan executive produces along with John Linson, Art Linson, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, and Ben Richardson.
1923 will premiere on Paramount+ on Sunday, December 18, 2022.
Harrison Ford as Jacob Dutton and Helen MIrren as Cara Dutton in ‘1923’ (Photo Credit: James Minchin III/Paramount+)
Paramount+ released the following description of 1923:
1923, the next installment of the Dutton family origin story, will introduce a new generation of Duttons, led by patriarch Jacob (Ford) and matriarch Cara (Mirren). The series will explore the early 20th century when pandemics, historic drought, the end of Prohibition, and the Great Depression all plague the mountain west, and the Duttons who call it home.
1923 Cast and Characters:
• Harrison Ford will play Jacob Dutton, the patriarch of the Yellowstone ranch, husband to Cara Dutton and brother of James Dutton (1883‘s Tim McGraw).
• Helen Mirren will play Cara Dutton, the wife to Jacob Dutton and family matriarch.
• Darren Mann will play Jack Dutton, John Dutton Sr.’s son and great-nephew to Jacob Dutton. He is a dedicated rancher who is deeply loyal to his family.
• Michelle Randolph will play Elizabeth Strafford, a feisty and capable young woman set to marry into the Dutton family.
• James Badge Dale will play John Dutton Sr., the oldest nephew and right-hand man of Jacob Dutton.
• Marley Shelton will play Emma Dutton, the dutiful wife of John Dutton Sr. and the mother of Jack Dutton.
• Brian Geraghty will play Zane, a fiercely loyal ranch foreman.
• Aminah Nieves will play Teonna Rainwater, a young woman at a government residential boarding school.
• Julia Schlaepfer will play Alexandra, a British woman who meets one of the Duttons abroad.
Kevin Costner in ‘Yellowstone’ season 5 episode 4 (Photo credit: Paramount Network)
The opening scene of Paramount Network’s Yellowstone season five episode four confirms Beth’s been taken to jail. Her cellmate’s in rough shape and they exchange brief stories of how they wound up in this predicament.
Jamie (Wes Bentley) arrives to speak with his incarcerated sister, but Beth downplays what happened. “What’s the big f*cking deal, Jamie? I got into a barfight in Boseman. Montana Board of Tourism should put that on f*cking T-shirts,” says Beth (Kelly Reilly).
Jamie points out the tourism board wouldn’t be keen on locals beating up tourists. He also explains this can’t be swept under the rug. Beth’s only hope is that the woman doesn’t file charges. If she doesn’t, then Jamie can ask for mercy based on Beth’s “diminished capacity” to control her f*cking emotions.
Jamie can’t bail her out and, at this point, she just has to cross her fingers that no charges are filed. Either way, the press will have a field day with this. Jamie’s serving up the truth and Beth’s only ammo to fight back is to once again point out her dad’s governor while his dad’s dead.
Beth orders Jamie to hang out and wait for the victim. When she shows up, he needs to stop her from pressing charges.
Jamie’s next visit is with the Bozeman police department. His angle: the police should also file charges against the tourist.
Meanwhile, John (Kevin Costner) orders his assistant, Clara (Lilli Kay), to clear the Montana Educators Luncheon from his schedule. He correctly points out that there won’t be any actual educators there on a Thursday. It’s just another meeting of politicians.
He passes a boardroom full of people and learns they’re his policy advisors. John can’t believe his advisors are meeting without him and takes a seat at the head of the table. The room falls silent, and no one answers when John asks what policies they’re discussing. John checks out their agenda for himself and learns first up is an agreement to lease 7,000 acres to a solar farm company.
Stanley introduces himself as John’s chief policy advisor and he’s taken to the woodshed in front of the group for not just popping into John’s office and introducing himself before this.
John continues looking at the list of “his policies” and learns about the end of oil exploration in an area with sage-grouses. John points out Stanley wants John to support the removal of sagebrush to put in solar panels but wants to end oil exploration to help the sage-grouse. Sage-grouse live in sagebrush. Why move forward in clearing 7,000 acres of the birds’ environment while ending oil exploration?
John’s heard enough and fires all of his policy advisors. He believes they’re a waste of taxpayers’ money, and Clara confirms he just saved Montana $1.6 million.
John can’t get out of his next meeting, however. It’s with Park officials and US Fish and Wildlife, and they have a large map tracing the path of two protected wolves. They were on John’s ranch for a few weeks and then suddenly made a quick 30-mile trip back toward the park and the Yellowstone River.
The recovered collar shows that the wolves swam downstream for five miles. Wolves don’t do that. Ranger Art Hansen believes John’s cowboys killed the wolves and took their collars to the river.
John calls Rip (Cole Hauser) on speaker phone and Rip claims they haven’t seen any wolves. Rip adds that Fish & Wildlife already paid the ranch a visit.
One agent points out that it’s possible the wolves attacked John’s cattle and his men killed them from a distance without noticing they were wearing collars. (Which is exactly what happened.) He also points out that an environmental group also monitors the collars, and they will come after the Yellowstone Ranch.
John doesn’t appear to be fazed by this development, but the hits just keep on coming. Jamie calls his dad and fills him in on Beth’s legal problems. John’s response? “This f*cking day.”
John makes a quick call to Senator Lynelle Perry (Wendy Moniz) and after semi-joking about swapping jobs, he sets up a lunch date. They meet and Lynelle once again goes over what’s expected and that meetings with middle school kids have a lasting impact on the kids. It’s an important part of his job.
Lynelle laughs and then apologizes when John reveals Beth got into a barfight. She suggests he ignore and not comment to the press. If she’s convicted, he can pardon her – but that’s opening a can of worms.
John also asks about environmental groups relating to wolves, and Lynelle says to avoid them at all costs. Wolves and buffalo groups were the bane of her time as governor, and he needs to get an environmental advisor ASAP.
The drunken flirty woman on the receiving end of Beth’s punches arrives at the police station and wants to press charges. Jamie explains that there’s no such thing as self-defense in a bar fight and confirms she’s the one who instigated the interaction. Since she threatened Beth with taking her husband, that’s assault. Beth saw her as a threat and reacted.
Since the woman doesn’t live in Montana, she’ll be denied bail after Jamie files charges against her. But if she doesn’t press charges, then Beth will have spent a night in jail and will be charged with disorderly conduct for her actions.
Jamie’s ice cold when the woman says she can’t wait to get out of this state. She asks if she can leave the meeting and Jamie replies, “Please.”
Beth’s not in the least bit thankful Jamie got her off with just disorderly conduct. She’s pissed she has to pick up trash and remains upset when she learns he hasn’t provided a way for her to get home. She wonders if he wants her to hike up her skirt and hitchhike, and Jamie, who’s no longer mincing words, replies, “Doubt it would be the first time.”
Still, he gives in and Beth tosses his paperwork into the backseat. She’s shocked to see a child’s car seat set up back there and Jamie’s forced to confess he has a son.
“You had my womb cut out of me and God gave you a boy?!” snarls Beth.
She punches her brother repeatedly, causing the car to swerve all over the road. When Jamie hits the brakes, Beth storms out of the vehicle in a rage. Jamie quickly follows and tells his sister that taking her to the clinic is the greatest regret of his life. He also admits his son is named after him.
Jamie explains no one – including their dad – knows about his son. Beth pledges to take the boy from Jamie and rob him of fatherhood. She warns Jamie that the next time he sees his son, he needs to kiss him goodbye. “He’s as good as gone,” says Beth.
She walks off, leaving Jamie in the middle of the road. He runs back to his car, shuts the door, and screams. After he lets that out, he nearly hits Beth as he speeds past her. (It probably took all the restraint he could muster to not run her over at this point.)
Elsewhere, Kayce (Luke Grimes), Monica (Kelsey Asbille), and Tate (Brecken Merrill) drive in silence to baby John’s funeral.
Rip, Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith), and the guys spot Mo Brings Plenty and a few men digging in the Dutton cemetery. Rip’s group rides over and Mo asks about John’s dead horse that’s lying nearby. Mo doesn’t explain why he’ll bury the horse next to the baby, but Rip understands it has something to do with Native American traditions. (The timing worked out perfectly since the boy needs an animal companion to join him on his journey in the afterlife.)
Rip sends a couple of guys back to grab more shovels and then the groups combine forces to finish digging the graves.
John and Beth make their way separately back to the ranch in time for the baby’s funeral, but they don’t join the tribal members gathered at the gravesite. Instead, they watch from a short distance away as Monica places the hair she cut off, now in a braid, on top of the little coffin.
John orders Beth to find some impulse control now that she’s out of jail.
Neither John nor Beth was invited, and they weren’t even aware the funeral was being conducted until they saw the cars and a hearse. Beth’s about to walk off, certain they’re not welcome, but John won’t leave. He tells his headstrong daughter that even if they’re not wanted, Luke and Monica need to know they care enough to stay.
Beth walks away anyway, but not before informing her dad she wants to be cremated.
After the baby’s in the ground, John makes his way toward the gravesite. He’s met first by Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) who explains it’s okay to visit the grave now that the ceremony’s over. Thomas also explains that grief isn’t meant to be shared – that’s why they don’t invite everyone to funerals.
However, comfort is welcome and Luke and Monica can use some now.
Thomas realizes now’s not the right time but says he and John will need to talk about the 300 jobs that were eliminated when the airport was canceled. John agrees to meet with Thomas on the reservation as a show of how much he cares about Native Americans.
Monica’s sitting by the grave and John joins her, acknowledging he knows how she feels. He felt that way too when he buried his son. John then shares a secret he hasn’t told anyone. He had a brother for 18 hours and his name was Peter. He was premature and his heart wasn’t strong enough to survive. He reveals they gave Peter back to his mom and everyone prayed, but he passed away.
Peter’s death hardened her and she didn’t want children after that.
When John’s son Lee was born, John’s mom and dad held him. He recalls his father told his mom that their son, Peter, lived a perfect life. His dad told his mom, “All he saw of this planet was you and all he knew was you loved him.”
John believes Monica’s baby also lived a perfect life. John quietly and gently holds Monica and reminds her that her baby only knew her and that she loved him. Monica briefly sobs into John’s shoulder and then thanks him before getting up and joining Kayce and Tate.
Kayce remains behind and John confesses that naming the baby after him means more than Kayce will ever know. John hands Kayce back his badge, aware his son needs to keep drawing a paycheck for now. Kayce still wants to quit, and John confirms he’ll find a replacement if that’s what Kayce wants.
A short while later John and Rip have a chat and John wonders why his horse was buried in the family’s graveyard. Rip assumes it’s so the boy has something to ride in Heaven. John latches onto the idea of horses in heaven. “Wouldn’t that be something,” muses John.
Their chat briefly turns to wolves and Rip explains what happened and apologizes for what went down.
Cole Hauser in ‘Yellowstone’ season 5 episode 4 (Photo credit: Paramount Network)
The following day the bunkhouse boys load up and head out to help another rancher brand his cattle. Their day is full of herding and roping, and it’s a change of pace for the audience after the episode’s emotional first 45 minutes.
John puts his right to pardon people at any time during his term as governor to good use and pardons Summer Higgins (Piper Perabo). He waits outside the jail after she’s released and she jokes, “What took you so long?”
John explains there’s a catch: he has to supervise her for six months. John asks for help in understanding how she thinks; it appears he’s found the environmental advisor that Lynelle told him he needed to bring on board.
Summer makes it clear she’s not about to get into a sexual relationship with John. He’s okay with that.
Wes Bentley in ‘Yellowstone’ season 5 episode 4 (Photo credit: Paramount Network)
Jamie meets Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri) for dinner, and Sarah gets down to business almost immediately. She wonders how they can get John to reverse his decision and how Market Equities can save face. Jamie’s certain ME won’t win in court and Sarah explains they don’t need to win; they just need to keep it in the news and make it impossible for John to win a second term.
They decide they’re not actually hungry, and Sarah suggests they head to the bar. Jamie agrees, and a short while later Jamie’s much more relaxed and actually laughing – although he confesses he’s laughing because he’s so uncomfortable. He also confesses he’s dreading arguing with her in court.
Sarah turns on the charm and wonders why Jamie’s single. He blames it on living away from people, and then they both confess they’re feeling irresponsible. They find a bathroom no one’s using and make out, unaware Beth’s been watching them from a booth in the restaurant.
Beth hears them having sex in a shower stall and while they’re preoccupied, she goes through Sarah’s purse. Beth snaps photos of Sarah’s license and then leaves without making her presence known.
Later that night, Rip wakes to find Beth wide awake and thinking. She suggests that he goes back to sleep while she does some research on Sarah in the living room. She’s just getting into it when she spots Summer heading into the kitchen.
They exchange biting insults before Summer heads back to John’s room and back to the “hard work” she’s doing to stay out of jail.
It’s all too much for Beth and she says, “I am not starting this day sober.” She grabs a bottle and a glass and heads to the porch.
The murder of three prosecutors is investigated by the team on CBS’s FBI: Most Wanted season four episode eight, “Appeal.” Directed by Heather Cappiello from a script by Spindrift Beck, episode eight will air on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT.
Season four stars Dylan McDermott as Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott, Alexa Davalos as Special Agent Kristin Gaines, Roxy Sternberg as Special Agent Sheryll Barnes, Keisha Castle-Hughes as Special Agent Hana Gibson, and Edwin Hodge as Special Agent Ray Cannon. Oriana Bustamante recurs as Ingrid Vargas and Wendy Moniz recurs as April Brooks.
“Appeal” Plot: When three prosecutors are assassinated outside a bar in their small Arkansas town, the team is called in to determine if this was connected to a case from the local DA’s office or if it’s a personal vendetta. Also, Ray feels compelled to help a woman and her young son combat an injustice.
Episode eight guest stars include Caroline Harris, Ja’Siah Young, Anthony Reynolds, Emily Dorsch, Kevin Dean Williams, Anne Bowles, and Paul DeBoy.
FBI: Most Wanted is a high-stakes drama that focuses on the Fugitive Task Force, an elite unit that relentlessly pursues and captures the notorious criminals on the Bureau’s Most Wanted list. The team’s charming but formidable new leader is Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott, who started his career in the New York FBI field office before rising through the ranks of the Bureau in Philadelphia and Las Vegas.
The team includes Special Agent Sheryll Barnes, a former NYPD detective and forensics expert who is raising two young children with her wife; Special Agent Hana Gibson, a gifted millennial computer whiz with a sharp wit and mad hacking skills; Special Agent Kristin Gaines, a Navy veteran who became a star in the FBI’s Miami Field Office as a result of her dogged pursuit of cold cases; and their newest member, former New Orleans cop-turned-junior detective Ray Cannon, who was recently working Violent Crimes in Albany after following in his retired FBI agent father’s footsteps and graduating at the top of his class at Quantico last year.
Always in the field and always on the run, FBI: Most Wanted is a weekly adrenaline shot about the thrill of the chase.
Idris Elba stars in ‘Luther’ 2023 film (Photo Courtesy of Netflix)
Netflix has unveiled the first two photos from Luther, the much-anticipated film sequel to the critically acclaimed series of the same name. The first photos feature Idris Elba reprising his role as John Luther.
Luther earned 11 Emmy nominations over its five-season run which wrapped up in 2019. The film is expected to arrive on Netflix in March 2023.
Dermot Crowley is returning as Martin Schen, with two-time Academy Award nominee Cynthia Erivo (Harriet) and Emmy Award nominee Andy Serkis joining the returning cast members for the sequel. Emmy nominee Jamie Payne directs from a screenplay by Luther series creator Neil Cross.
Peter Chernin, David Ready, Jenno Topping, Neil Cross, and Idris Elba serve as producers, with Kris Thykier, Priscilla Paris, Brendan Ferguson, Miki Emmrich, and Dan Finlay executive producing.
The Netflix film is produced in association with the BBC.
Idris Elba stars in ‘Luther’ 2023 film (Photo Courtesy of Netflix)
CBS’s FBI finishes up 2022 with season five episode nine, an episode that finds a teenager seeking help from the FBI. Directed by Alex Chapple from a script by Rick Eid and Joe Halpin, episode nine – “Fortunate Son” – will air on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at 8pm ET/PT.
Season five stars Missy Peregrym as Special Agent Maggie Bell, Zeeko Zaki as Special Agent Omar Adom “OA” Zidan, Jeremy Sisto as Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine, and Alana De La Garza as Special Agent in Charge Isobel Castille. John Boyd plays Special Agent Stuart Scola and Katherine Renee Turner is Special Agent Tiffany Wallace.
Recurring season five guest stars include Shantel VanSanten as Nina Chase, Taylor Anthony Miller as Kelly Moran, Vedette Lim as Elise Taylor, and James Chen as Ian Lim.
“Fortunate Son” Plot: A teen shows up at FBI headquarters with a large bag of fentanyl, seeking the team’s protection from the men who shot his father. Also, Nina comes to Scola with a proposal he is hesitant to accept.
Episode nine guest stars include Bobby Hogan, Will Sasso, Smitty Chai, James Liao, Rafael Poueriet, and Tara Anika Nicolas.
FBI is a fast-paced drama about the inner workings of the New York office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This elite unit brings to bear all their talents, intellect and technical expertise on major cases in order to keep New York and the country safe. Born into a multigenerational law enforcement family, Special Agent Maggie Bell commits deeply to the people she works with as well as those she protects. Her partner is Special Agent Omar Adom “OA” Zidan, a West Point graduate via Bushwick who spent two years undercover for the DEA before being cherry-picked by the FBI.
Overseeing them is Special Agent in Charge Isobel Castille, who operates under intense pressure and has undeniable command authority. The team also includes Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine, the nerve center of the office whose ability to easily relate to and engage with both superiors and subordinates makes him a master motivator. The smart and outspoken Special Agent Tiffany Wallace, who spent six years with the NYPD, is partner to Special Agent Stuart Scola, an Ivy League-educated Wall Streeter-turned-FBI agent.
These first-class agents tenaciously investigate cases of tremendous magnitude, including terrorism, organized crime, and counterintelligence.
Disney introduces a new family of explorers to the list that includes Christopher Columbus, Marco Polo, Ferdinand Magellan, and James Cook in the animated adventure Strange World.
The 2022 animated film begins by introducing Jaeger Clade (voiced by Dennis Quaid), a big, brawny explorer from the small country Avalonia whose destiny – he believes – is to travel across the huge mountains that surround his country. Jaeger is determined to finally see what’s on the other side and, hopefully, become famous enough to deserve his own statue in the town square.
While on his latest expedition, his young son Searcher (voiced by Jake Gyllenhaal), who is terrified of almost everything, a klutz, and has to be saved by his father at least once during every adventure, discovers a plant that surges with electrical energy called Pando. He believes the plant could power all of Avalonia, but his father insists that they must continue on and cross over the mountains.
Searcher argues they don’t need to and should bring the plant back home, but Jaeger won’t listen and continues with his expedition. Angry that his father won’t listen, Searcher deserts his dad and heads back home with the plant.
25 years later, Avalonia is thriving and has become a leader in technology – all fueled by Pando. Unfortunately, Searcher and his wife, Meridian (Gabrielle Union), soon discover there’s something wrong with the Pando crop. The Avalonian leader, Callisto (voiced by Lucy Liu), brings to their attention that the crops are starting to lose their electrical energy and die quickly. She convinces Searcher, who’s become the country’s hero due to his discovery (there’s even has a statue of him next to one of his missing father in the town square), to travel with her and a search team to where he first found the plant. Callisto hopes they’ll be able to figure out what’s causing the plants to die.
So off Searcher, Meridian, Callisto, her crew, and two stowaways – Searcher’s son Ethan (voiced by Jaboukie Young-White) and the family dog Legend – head on what might be the most exciting and dangerous adventure of their lives. However, the expedition exposes a new problem for Searcher. While he’s a farmer who despises exploring, his son appears to be extremely excited to be along on this expedition and has more in common with his missing grandfather than his dad.
Bright and colorful, Strange World strives to capture the spirit of classic, exciting, adventure films such as Journey to the Center of the Earth and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea but fails miserably due to unlikeable and unoriginal characters and a clunky script. It’s heavy-handed themes come across preachy, obnoxious, and obvious, and the fantastical world the characters discover isn’t that amazing.
The voice talent do solid jobs of bringing the characters to life, but the problem is almost all of the characters are either annoying or forgettable.
Dennis Quaid is well cast as Jaeger, the burly, tough adventurer who laughs at danger and is determined to conquer the mountains at any cost, but it’s a one-dimensional role until near the end. Jake Gyllenhaal does a good job as the voice of Searcher, the whining and complaining ex-explorer who still resents his missing and presumed-dead father for choosing the mountains over his discovery and never seems to remember he would be dead a hundred times over if not for Jaeger saving him. The character becomes even more annoying as the film examines his relationship with his son who he fears might become an explorer like Jaeger. Searcher is a character that’s impossible to like.
Jaboukie Young-White is solid as the voice of Ethan, Searcher’s son who has the adventurous spirit of his grandfather but none of the survival instinct. Unfortunately, Ethan’s another annoying character who almost always does exactly what he shouldn’t and gets himself into one dangerous situation after another. He’s more of a problem than a personality.
The animation is vibrant and lively, but the strange world being explored is not that fantastical and is a real letdown, given all the build-up. With characters who are difficult to care about, forgettable action scenes, and a cumbersome script, Strange World is a real disappointment and not worth exploring.
GRADE: D
MPAA Rating: PG for some thematic elements, action, and peril
Running Time: 1 hour 42 minutes
Release Date: November 23, 2022
Directed By: Don Hall and Qui Nguyen
Garza’s in trouble and needs the team’s support on the season one winter finale of ABC’s The Rookie: Feds. Episode nine, “Flashback,” will air on Tuesday, November 29, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT.
Niecy Nash-Betts leads a cast that includes Frankie R. Faison (White Chicks) as Christopher “Cutty” Clark, James Lesure (Las Vegas) as Carter Hope, Britt Robertson (Big Sky) as Laura Stensen, Felix Solis (The International) as Matthew Garza, and Kevin Zegers (Transamerica) as Brendon Acres.
“Flashback” Plot: When Garza’s character comes into question, Simone and team develop their own covert operation to support their boss.
James Lesure and Niecy Nash-Betts in ‘The Rookie: Feds’ season 1 episode 9 (ABC/Temma Hankin)
The Plot:
From the executive producers of flagship series The Rookie comes The Rookie: Feds starring Niecy Nash-Betts as Simone Clark, the oldest rookie in the FBI Academy. The spinoff was introduced as a two-part event during the fourth season of The Rookie, where Officer John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and the L.A. division of the FBI enlisted the help of Simone Clark when one of her former students was a suspect in a terror attack.
Felix Solis and Reggie Austin in season 1 episode 9 (ABC/Scott Everett White)Courtney Ford, Kevin Zegers, Niecy Nash-Betts, Britt Robertson, James Lesure, and Michelle Nunez in the season 1 winter finale (ABC/Temma Hankin)Felix Solis and Marisol Miranda in season 1 episode 9 (ABC/Scott Everett White)Reggie Austin in the “Desperate Measures” episode (ABC/Scott Everett White)Michelle Nunez, Niecy Nash-Betts, and James Lesure in season 1 episode 9 (ABC/Temma Hankin)Niecy Nash-Betts in season 1 episode 9 (ABC/Temma Hankin)
The team’s called into action when Commander Chase is kidnapped on CBS’s NCIS: Hawaii season two episode nine, “Desperate Measures.” Directed by Kevin Berlandi from a script by Ron McGee, episode nine airs on Monday, December 5, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT.
Season two stars Vanessa Lachey as Special Agent in Charge Jane Tennant, Alex Tarrant as Kai Holman, Noah Mills as Jesse Boone, and Yasmine Al-Bustami as Lucy Tara. Jason Antoon plays Ernie Malik, Tori Anderson is Kate Whistler, and Kian Talan stars as Alex Tennant.
“Desperate Measures” Plot – When Commander Chase (Seana Kofoed) is abducted from her home by an Army Ranger accused of murder, the NCIS team must act quickly to find her and the suspect.
Episode nine guest stars include Moses Goods, Ian Verdun, Erica Luttrell, Michael Marc Friedman, and Emerson Brooks.
NCIS: Hawai’i Season 2 Description, Courtesy of CBS:
The world’s most successful television series continues on the seductive shores of the Aloha State with the #1 new drama, NCIS: Hawai’i, where the first female Special Agent in Charge of NCIS Pearl Harbor, Jane Tennant, has thrived and risen through the ranks by equal parts confidence and strategy in a system that has pushed back on her every step of the way. Together with her unwavering team of specialists, they balance duty to family and country while investigating high-stakes crimes involving military personnel, national security and the mysteries of the sun-drenched island paradise itself.
