Vampires are experiencing a resurgence, thanks to AMC’s Interview with a Vampire and Peacock’s Vampire Academy, while zombies are on the decline. And the question now is, can cannibals fill the void left by the exit of The Walking Dead et al? If Mimi Cave’s Fresh and Luca Guadagnino’s Bones and All are any indication, then, yes, cannibals are prepared to gnaw their way into our horror-loving hearts.
Bones and All is weird and warped, and am I wrong when I call it the first legitimate coming-of-age cannibal love story? The gore’s delivered in ample servings, but there’s such an amazingly sweet love story flowing through Bones and All’s veins that even those who don’t normally like their dishes served rare will gobble up this R-rated adaptation of Camille DeAngelis’ novel.
The budding romance between 18-year-old Maren (Taylor Russell in a breakthrough performance) and the slightly more worldly Lee (Timothée Chalamet, solidifying his place as one of the best actors of his generation) is the beating heart of the story. Maren’s a loner who, after one mistake too many, is forced out into the cold, cruel world by her single father (Andre Holland). Apparently removing the flesh from a fellow high schooler’s finger is an offense punishable by desertion.
Before he vanished, Maren’s dad recorded a tape explaining his actions. He also left a small amount of money and, most importantly, Maren’s birth certificate. Up to this point, Maren didn’t know much about her mom. Now, on her own with no idea what’s in store for her future, Maren sets out to locate her mother.
Maren’s barely on the road when another flesh-eating foodie sniffs her out. Literally. Fun fact – according to Bones and All, people-eaters have a different smell than the rest of us. The newly orphaned Maren spends a short time with a pathetic loner named Sully (a scenery-chomping Mark Rylance) and picks up a few tricks and tips before his disturbing vibe gets under her skin and she flees.
Fortunately, her next random encounter with an anthropophagist is less threatening. Their meet-cute is more psycho than most couple intros in Hollywood films but just as satisfying.
Maren and Lee are two lonely, lost souls, unsure of each other and of themselves. Yet, there’s an undeniable connection. Although neither Maren nor Lee initially understand how much they need each other, their shared preferred diet sparks a relationship that moves quickly from friends to lovers.
They steal, murder, and do whatever’s necessary as they make their way via backroads and through small towns in search of Maren’s mother. And while it sounds completely mental, these two crazy kids make us want to pull them in for a warm hug and shower them with promises that everything will be okay. They’ll never be able to lead normal lives, and that’s absolutely heartbreaking.
Bones and All is set in the ‘80s which is the perfect decade for this twisted coming-of-age horror romance road trip. Social media access would have doomed this relationship, as would the popularity of cell phones and home security cameras. The road trip affords Maren and Lee the opportunity to reflect on their situation and dream about an actual future together as a couple without distractions.
Although selective, their actions impact the friends and families of their victims, and guilt, remorse, and self-loathing battle for possession of their emotions. But they’re stronger together and able to push those feelings onto the back burner and get out of their own heads for a while.
Director Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name with Chalamet and Armie Hammer) and his outstanding cast, led by the incredible Taylor Russell and always impressive Timothee Chalamet, deliver a heart-wrenching, multi-layered love story. Maren and Lee’s internal battles are exquisitely portrayed, from Lee’s struggle to come to terms with his father’s abuse to Maren’s efforts to understand her family’s history and why her father turned his back on her.
Bones and All is a surprisingly moving, beautifully written character study of two outcasts who, against all odds, find their soulmates. That sentence is not one I expected to write about a movie focused on two young cannibals.
GRADE: A
MPAA Rating: R for language throughout, brief graphic nudity, some sexual content, and strong, bloody, violent content
Release Date: November 23, 2022
Running Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Directed By: Luca Guadagnino
Written By: David Kajganich, based on Camille DeAngelis’ novel
Grammy Award winner Kelly Rowland guest stars on CBS’s The Equalizer season three episode seven, “Paradise Lost.” Episode seven, the fall finale, will air on Sunday, November 27, 2022 at 8pm ET/PT.
Queen Latifah leads the cast as Robyn McCall. Season three also stars Tory Kittles as Detective Marcus Dante, Adam Goldberg as Harry Keshegian, Liza Lapira as Melody “Mel” Bayani, and Laya DeLeon Hayes as Delilah. Lorraine Toussaint returns as Viola “Vi” Marsette. Brett Dalton, Gabriel Sloyer, Chris Vance, and Stephen Bishop recur.
“Paradise Lost” Plot: After Misty (Rowland), a superstar singer deciding to retire, receives a terrifying fan letter, her head of security hires McCall to track down the culprit.
Episode seven guest stars include Sullivan Jones, Frank Whaley, Nikki Renee Daniels, Jaelin Taylor, and Jordon Alexander.
The Equalizer is a reimagining of the classic series starring Academy Award® nominee and multi-hyphenate Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall, an enigmatic woman with a mysterious background who uses her extensive skills as a former CIA operative to help those with nowhere else to turn. McCall presents to most as an average single mom who is quietly raising her teenage daughter. But to a trusted few, she is The Equalizer – an anonymous guardian angel and defender of the downtrodden, who’s also dogged in her pursuit of personal redemption.
Robyn’s clandestine work and her personal life collide when her smart and observant daughter, Delilah, and her aunt Vi, who lives with Robyn to help her balance life as a working mother, discover her secret career as a vigilante. While Robyn contends with uncertainty at home, she is joined in her pursuit of justice by Melody “Mel” Bayani, an edgy bar owner and sniper from Robyn’s past; and Harry Keshegian, a paranoid and brilliant white-hat hacker.
As Robyn aids the oppressed and exploited, she sometimes works with Marcus Dante, an NYPD detective who once sought to uncover her identity, but now respects the need for Robyn’s type of justice even as he often questions her methods.
Thony’s forced to turn to Kamdar for help on Fox’s The Cleaning Lady season two episode nine. “The Ask” will air on Monday, November 28, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT.
Élodie Yung returns to lead the cast as Thony. Oliver Hudson stars as FBI Agent Garrett Miller, Adan Canto is Arman Morales, and Martha Millan is Fiona. Sean Lew plays Chris, Eva De Dominici is Nadia, Faith Bryant is Jaz, Naveen Andrews is Robert Kamdar, and Sebastien and Valentino LaSalle share time playing Luca.
“The Ask” Plot: Thony is determined to do everything for Luca’s illness and asks for Kamdar’s help. Arman talks to Nadia about her secret.
Season two of The Cleaning Lady picks up with THONY (Yung) desperately trying to find her son, LUCA, after he was kidnapped by his father, MARCO (Ivan Shaw). With nowhere else to turn, she enlists the help of FBI Agent GARRETT MILLER (Hudson) to track him down before they leave the country. Meanwhile, an incident involving CHRIS (Lew) forces FIONA (Millan) to shield her son by any means necessary, furthering the theme of how far a mother will go to protect her child.
This season introduces ROBERT KAMDAR (Andrews), NADIA’s (De Dominici) gregarious and charming ex-lover, who is intent on driving a wedge between ARMAN (Canto) and Nadia. Standing to lose everything, Arman must fight to keep his world — and his dignity — intact, while rebuilding his life under the worst of circumstances.
The Cleaning Lady continues to examine the plight of undocumented immigrants and their difficulties accessing necessary healthcare and resources. Galvanized by the many roadblocks she faced while searching for a treatment to save her son, Thony will utilize her expertise as a doctor to find ways to help her underserved community. However, as Thony continues to entwine her business undertakings with Arman, she is dragged further across the moral line and into the dark underbelly of Las Vegas.
The crew’s accused of illegal activity on CBS’s Fire Country season one episode seven, “Happy to Help.” Directed by Antonio Negret from a script by Dwain Worrell, episode seven will air on Friday, December 2, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT.
Max Thieriot leads the cast as Bode Donovan. Season one’s regulars include Billy Burke as Vince, Kevin Alejandro as Manny, Diane Farr as Sharon, Stephanie Arcila as Gabriela, Jordan Calloway as Jake, and Jules Latimer as Eve.
“Happy to Help” Plot: Bode’s crew is accused of stealing a designer watch from a fire mop up, and the crew responds to a high-stakes call about an extremely dangerous gas leak.
Episode seven guest stars include Tom Pickett, Fiona Rene, Karen Leblanc, Julianne Christie, and Barclay Hope.
Fire Country stars Max Thieriot as Bode Donovan, a young convict seeking redemption and a shortened prison sentence by joining a prison release firefighting program in Northern California, where he and other inmates are partnered with elite firefighters to extinguish massive, unpredictable wildfires across the region. It’s a high-risk, high-reward assignment, and the heat is turned up when Bode is assigned to the program in his rural hometown, where he was once a golden all-American son until his troubles began.
Five years ago, Bode burned down everything in his life, leaving town with a big secret. Now he’s back, with the rap sheet of a criminal and the audacity to believe in a chance for redemption with Cal Fire.
Josh Lucas in ‘Yellowstone’ season 5 episode 3 (Photo Credit: Paramount Network)
Paramount Network’s Yellowstone season five episode three opens with a flashback to John Dutton (Josh Lucas) and three men (one of whom is young Rip) searching for cattle. The herd’s scattered and Rip discovers a cow and her calf that have been killed by wolves.
Wolves were recently released in the park and were supposed to remain within its boundaries. But, as John notes, no one told that to the wolves.
The remaining herd’s nowhere to be found.
A town meeting’s held and the ranchers are angry that wolves are killing their livestock. They’re also upset these wolves aren’t even native to the area and instead were brought in from Canada. Fish & Wildlife’s Keith Beasley says there hasn’t been any confirmation the wolves were responsible. The ranchers react as one, rising to their feet and demanding action.
John Dutton’s late to the meeting and takes his seat at the council table. Keith continues to tell the crowd no one can say for sure wolves are behind the deaths, and John quietly tells him it’s confirmed.
After the meeting, the council gather in a backroom and John calmly insists he can show them five dead cattle taken down by wolves. Keith doesn’t think they should just take John’s word for it, and John describes the size of the pawprints and the way the cattle were killed and eaten.
John reminds the group that wolves were allowed to be reintroduced only after the park was able to secure the support of the ranchers. The ranchers will take back that support if action isn’t taken quickly.
The meeting turns contentious when Keith feels it necessary to remind John that killing an endangered species is a felony. After telling Keith to call him Commissioner Dutton, John warns that if Fish & Wildlife officers don’t show up Friday with a check, then trouble’s about to rain down.
Catching up with current events, Beth (Kelly Reilly) gets up early to take care of loose ends in Salt Lake. She gives Rip (Cole Hauser) a quick kiss but doesn’t explain any further, and then joins John (Kevin Costner) on the porch. She’s equally as evasive when he asks what she’s up to.
John’s using the quiet of the morning to reflect on the past. He’s thinking about things he can’t share with his kids, and Beth reminds him she tells him everything – including details of her first threesome. Umm, wait, she actually didn’t tell him that…and John doesn’t want her to share that now (or ever).
John opens up a little and reveals he was thinking about Beth’s mom. He wishes Beth could have gotten to really know her. Beth shuts him down; she isn’t interested in talking about her mom.
Before taking off, Beth suggests her dad find someone new to love instead of just clinging to old memories.
The bunkhouse boys prepare for their day and tease Lloyd (Forrie J Smith) about his birthday. He claims to be mildly offended they think it’s his 70th. Talk turns to penises because…well… because men never outgrow teenage boy humor. (Whoops! The brand’s missing from Walker’s chest as he gets out of the shower!)
Rip joins the group and pulls Lloyd in for a hug. Colby (Denim Richards) wants confirmation that Lloyd’s 70 and Rip says he’s 58. “Did you have cancer or something?” asks Ryan (Ian Bohen).
Cole Hauser in ‘Yellowstone’ season 5 episode 3 (Photo Credit: Paramount Network)
Carter’s busy feeding an orphaned calf in the barn and really enjoying the experience. He tells Rip the calf thinks he’s its mother, and he wonders if it’ll be sold off with the rest. Rip assures him that won’t happen. “Orphans don’t get shipped off around here, Carter, in case you haven’t noticed,” says Rip.
Rip instructs Carter to saddle up. He plans on making a cowboy out of the boy.
Rip’s morning is interrupted by the arrival of Fish & Wildlife agents asking about wolves with trackers who wandered onto the ranch. They found a tracker in the river (strapped to a log) and know the wolf was on the ranch for three days before the tracker was discovered. Rip lies and says he hasn’t seen any signs of wolves, and he gives them permission to follow the wolves’ path on the ranch.
The agents order Rip to ride with them, and they eventually make it to a freshly plowed field. The tracker indicates the wolves stopped there which could mean it’s where they fed. There’s no sign of anything they could have eaten (thanks to the turned-up dirt), so the agents plan on continuing to track the animals’ travels up the nearby mountains.
Rip, however, is finished with this ride. They can go on without him at this point, but he warns them that they’re heading into dangerous territory that’s taken the lives of better cowboys. The agents opt to do the remainder of the search from a helicopter.
As they ride off, the camera pans to a nearby location where the two wolves are buried. (Or at least that’s what I’m assuming, given the location.)
Gil Birmingham, Mo Brings Plenty, and Luke Grimes in ‘Yellowstone’ season 5 episode 3 (Photo Credit: Paramount Network)
Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) and Mo (Mo Brings Plenty) speak with Kacey (Luke Grimes) and Monica (Kelsey Asbille) about the burial of their son. They explain the baby will need a horse to accompany him to the other side, and Kacey’s shocked they plan on killing a horse. Mo explains God will have a horse ready when Kacey’s son’s ready. (Remember, John’s horse had to be put down in episode two but Kacey doesn’t know that.)
Thomas also explains the ceremony is a private thing, and there shouldn’t be anyone in attendance. It’s not for grieving – it’s for sending the boy off in the right way.
Mo believes the ceremony should be held tomorrow, the fourth day after the baby’s death.
Monica’s been silent throughout the discussion and after she excuses herself, Kayce makes a decision. Horrible things have happened to his family since being named Livestock Commissioner. His vision told him he needs to choose his path, and he’s choosing his family over his job.
Decision made, Kacey realizes he needs a job and asks Thomas for a favor to help him get one. Rather than work for the Bureau of Indian Affairs police – which Kacey would be doing – Thomas thinks he’d be wiser to keep his current job. “If I call BIA on your behalf, you’re not policing for my people. You’re policing my people,” explains Thomas.
Mo thinks Jamie could appoint Kayce as a State Investigator.
Monica screams from the kitchen and Mo holds Kacey back outside the front door. Monica’s overcome with grief and needs to work through this on her own. She sobs, alone, lying on the floor.
Elsewhere, Jamie’s assistant hands him paperwork as he arrives at work. Jamie (Wes Bentley) has been officially served and the lawyers from the other side – Ellis Steele (John Emmet Tracy) and Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri) – are waiting in his office.
They have a heated discussion about zoning and promises made. Ellis charges out of the office but Sarah, who to this point hasn’t uttered a word, remains behind. She compliments Jamie’s legal prowess and smoothly tries to ingratiate herself into his good graces. Sarah points out that Montana will lose business since large corporations won’t like John’s new stance on permitting. Plus, Montana doesn’t charge a sales tax. How is the state going to make any money?
Sarah claims Ellis filed the suit and she’s only there to find the “soft landing.” That can’t be found in a courtroom. She invites him to dinner the following evening, and Jamie doesn’t say yes or no. Sarah assumes that’s a yes and leaves.
Ellis is waiting for her and Sarah tells him he did a good job of playing outraged.
Kayce heads to the ranch and has a heart-to-heart chat with his dad. John admits he’s trying to convince himself he has to be good at a job he doesn’t want. He needs to trust what’s good for Montana is good for the family. They discuss Tate and Monica, and Kayce explains Monica wants a funeral at the Yellowstone Ranch and John immediately agrees. It’ll be a traditional service without any attendees, and John will do whatever Monica wants.
Kayce hands over his badge, explaining he can’t serve the Livestock Commission and his wife and son simultaneously. John reminds him the State needs him, but Kayce knows his family needs him more. John doesn’t put up any resistance and accepts Kayce’s resignation.
They head out to pick a spot to bury the baby.
Neither Thomas nor Mo is happy Kayce’s resigning, aware it was important to have someone who respected the tribe’s interest in the position. Thomas also isn’t happy John’s basically done governing after killing the airport project.
They arrive at the casino and a protest/political rally is going on out front. People are angry the project isn’t moving forward since it would have brought jobs and money to the tribe. The leader of the protest is vying for Rainwater’s position as chairperson, and he argues that without progress the casino will remain their only source of income. “The only one who will make money with Rainwater is white people and Rainwater himself,” says Rainwater’s rival.
The rally outside is costing the casino business, and the place is empty as Rainwater and Mo walk through it. Unfortunately for Thomas, there is one customer at the bar and it’s Angela Blue Thunder (Q’orianka Kilcher). She runs down the list of things white people can do that tribal members can’t – pick their own doctors, open a business on their land, choose their own banks – and claims Thomas is enforcing the slave rules.
She’s about to teach him a lesson and warns him it won’t be pleasant. Angela plans on removing him as chairperson.
Meanwhile, Beth’s loose ends are about to be wrapped up. She meets with Robert Baldus (Aaron Lazar) and his team from Berson International (Market Equities’ largest competitor) about a proposal she’s made to sell her controlling interest in Schwartz & Meyer. All she wants is the 28,000 acres of real estate, currently valued at $300 million, owned by the company. Rob thinks this deal’s too good to be true and that she’s giving up an enormous amount of money for no logical reason.
Rob and Beth send the team away and cut to the chase. Rob knows there’s a “rattlesnake” hidden in the deal and Beth lays her cards on the table. It turns out she’s holding a winning hand.
The key points:
– Market Equities will sue her because she violated their NDA, and they’ll claim her severance should be nullified.
– Next, ME will sue her for her part of Schwartz & Meyer claiming she negotiated in bad faith.
– They’ll sue Montana for breach of contract and seek Eminent Domain.
– Beth will place the land in a conservation easement. It’s where they were going to build Terminal 2 so ME will have to take a billion in losses right off the bat, and 20x that over the next 10 years.
– Beth will still control Schwartz & Meyer so she can sell it without ME’s interference. When she does, that’s another $2 billion loss for ME.
It’s a win-win for Robert and Berson International. Beth claims she’s the rattlesnake in the deal and she’s striking out at ME, not Schwartz & Meyer or Berson.
The catch? It’s a one-day-only offer, and Rob has to sign the deal right now. He does because he realizes Beth won’t double-cross him. Her one and only target is Market Equities.
Rob signs and Beth immediately has the conservation easement faxed to the Montana Land Trust. She’s also ready to send a press release announcing the completed deal.
Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser in ‘Yellowstone’ season 5 episode 3 (Photo Credit: Paramount Network)
Beth returns to the ranch and is too excited to eat. Rip and Carter are dining at the small table, and Beth suggests they celebrate because she f*cked someone over today. Carter says they’re throwing a party for Lloyd’s birthday in the bunkhouse, and Rip tells him he needs to stay away from there. But Beth’s all about the party.
Beth’s a ball of energy and hustles off to get dressed while Rip calmly returns to his dinner.
Market Equities CEO Caroline Warner (Jacki Weaver) watches the news and learns of Berson International’s purchase. Ellis adds to the bad news dump by revealing Beth’s placed the land into a conservation easement. It’s all legal and on the up-and-up, and ME’s board wants Caroline to return to New York. Plus, ME wants to drop the lawsuit.
Caroline orders Ellis to find a way to ruin the Dutton family, starting with Beth. However, Ellis thinks this is checkmate. Caroline doesn’t care and says they need to turn Sarah loose to do what she does best.
Back at the ranch, a card game’s going on at the bunkhouse as Beth, Carter, and Rip watch from the sidelines. Carter really wants to play but Rip won’t let him, and Beth wonders if this is really how Lloyd wants to celebrate his birthday.
Beth wants to go to a bar in Boseman, but Rip thinks that’s a bad idea. Mixing fake cowboys with real cowboys will only lead to a fight. But Beth doesn’t give up, saying they’ll be home by midnight.
“Beth, I said no,” says Rip.
“Oh, you said no, huh?” replies Beth, “I guess that settles it. I’m buying, boys.”
The guys get ready as Rip sends Carter back up to the house. Rip admits he said the wrong thing and Beth claims she’s going to force him to have fun.
The minute they walk into The Crystal Bar Beth tells the bartender to put all the cowboys on her tab and start with beers and whiskey shots. Ryan spots Abby (Lainey Wilson), the pretty singer he flirted with during John’s party at the ranch, and heads toward the stage as the guys down their drinks.
Ryan and Abby make eye contact, and Ryan tips his hat. She takes a break and accepts his offer of a drink and a dance. (Isaac Hoskins takes the stage while Abby takes a break.)
Even Rip’s smiling as the cowboys dance and drink. He warns Beth to keep her crazy in check before leaving her on the dance floor while he orders another round for the guys.
Rip chuckles as he watches Beth and Teeter dance. Beth looks genuinely happy for the first time in ages until she sees a woman hanging on Rip’s shoulder, flirting. The woman has no idea who she’s dealing with when she approaches Beth to talk about Rip. Beth slams a beer bottle over the woman’s head as Rip signals to Lloyd and the guys it’s time to go.
Of course, it’s now too late. Fists fly and the cops are called. Everyone’s lined up outside, but Beth can’t resist getting in one more punch on the lady who approached her man.
Sheriff Ramsey (Rob Kirkland) addresses the brawlers and Rip’s livid that they’re placing Beth under arrest. He claims the bouncer put her in a chokehold, so he was forced to react. Rip will not stand for anyone putting their hands on his wife, and Lloyd backs him up.
Sheriff Ramsey lets everyone, except Beth, go. The woman she hit with the beer bottle is going to press charges, and Beth’s taken in for aggravated assault. Rip warns Ramsey this isn’t a smart thing to do and that it’s going to cause him a lot of problems.
Lloyd’s birthday celebration ends with Beth being taken to jail.
The team investigates a kidnapping on CBS’s FBI: International season two episode seven, “A Proven Liar.” Directed by Michael Katleman from a script by Kristina Thomas, episode seven is set to air on Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT.
Season two stars Luke Kleintank as Special Agent Scott Forrester, Heida Reed as Special Agent Jamie Kellett, Carter Redwood as Special Agent Andre Raines, Vinessa Vidotto as Special Agent Cameron Vo, and Eva-Jane Willis as Europol Agent Megan “Smitty” Garretson.
“A Proven Liar” Plot: When an American businessman’s bodyguard and girlfriend are kidnapped a few feet away from him in Barcelona, the Fly Team questions if the man is as innocent as he claims. Also, Raines grows closer to Maya, the owner of the team’s favorite local bar.
Episode seven guest stars include Tara Linke, Sam Edgerly, Maryam Basir, Stephanie Hoston, Maite Jauregui, and Andrea Vasiliou.
FBI: International Series Description, Courtesy of CBS:
FBI: International is the third iteration of the successful FBI brand that follows the elite operatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s International Fly Team. Headquartered in Budapest, they travel throughout Europe with the mission of tracking and neutralizing threats against American citizens wherever they may be, putting their lives on the line to protect the U.S. and its people. The Fly Team’s Special Agent Scott Forrester, their accomplished and dedicated leader, puts his missions ahead of his personal life and is often accompanied by his trusty Schutzhund dog, Tank.
Second in command is Special Agent Jamie Kellett, a heroic and fearless investigator – and her extensive network of informants is a powerful resource. Special Agent Andre Raines shines in the field and makes good use of his accounting background in tracking criminal enterprises’ moving money; and Special Agent Cameron Vo, a competitive West Point grad who excels at interrogation and strategy. Newly embedded with the Fly Team is Megan “Smitty” Garretson, a streetwise Europol agent with an extensive undercover background who liaises with each host country they inhabit.
Margaret steps up to help Lyle’s niece on CBS’s So Help Me Todd season one episode eight. Directed by Nancy Hower from a script by Ira Madison III, episode eight – “Big Bang Theories” – will air on Thursday, December 8, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT.
Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden stars as Margaret Wright, Skylar Astin plays Todd Wright, and Tristen J. Winger is Lyle. Madeline Wise plays Allison, Inga Schlingmann is Susan, and Rosa Arredondo stars as Francey.
Guest stars include Rob Labelle, Marlee Walchuk, Regan Ross, Jasmin Dring, Djouliet Amara, Russell Dennis Lewis, and Matthew Dennis Lewis.
“Big Bang Theories” Plot: When Lyle’s niece, Angie (Amara), is accused of committing a crime on her college campus, Lyle enlists Margaret and Todd to vindicate her.
Marcia Gay Harden and Skylar Astin star as razor-sharp, meticulous attorney Margaret Wright (Harden) and Todd (Astin), her talented but scruffy, aimless son whom she hires as her law firm’s in-house investigator. As the black sheep of the well-heeled Wright family, Todd is a laidback, quick-thinking, excellent former private detective who fell on hard times after his flexible interpretation of the law got his license revoked. Margaret’s penchant for excellence and strict adherence to the law is at complete odds with Todd’s scrappy methods of finding his way through sticky situations: by the seat of his wrinkled pants.
When Todd inadvertently teams with his mother on a case, she’s surprised to find herself duly impressed by – and proud of – his crafty ability to sleuth out information with his charm and his wide-ranging tech savvy. At last, Margaret sees a way to put her son on a “suitable” path to living an adult, financially solvent life she approves of, and she asks him to join her firm. Todd agrees since it means getting his license back and once again doing the job he excels at and loves.
Mother and son working together is a big first step toward mending their fragile, dysfunctional relationship, and they may even come away with a better understanding of each other at this pivotal point in their lives. But whether Todd and Margaret will be able to accept each other for who they are is another case entirely.
CBS’s Ghosts will return from a month-long break with season two episode eight, an episode that finds Sam and Jay turning to Alberta for help. Directed by Nick Wong from a script by Zora Bikangaga, episode eight – “The Liquor License” – will air on Thursday, December 8, 2022 at 8:30pm ET/PT.
Rose McIver and Utkarsh Ambudkar return as Samantha and Jay, the living residents of the mansion. Reprising their roles as the resident ghosts are Brandon Scott Jones as Isaac, Richie Moriarty as Pete, Danielle Pinnock as Alberta, and Asher Grodman as Trevor. Román Zaragoza stars as Sasappis, Sheila Carrasco plays Flower, Rebecca Wisocky is Hetty, and Devan Chandler Long plays Thorfinn.
Episode eight guest stars include Mark Andrada as Cyrus, Neil Crone as Ben Franklin, Kaliko Kauahi as Inspector Sherry, Jonathan Valvano as Blane, and Reanne Spitzer as Amanda.
“The Liquor License” Plot: Alberta’s expertise from her past comes in handy when Sam and Jay run into some complications during their Woodstone whiskey-tasting soiree. Also, Trevor devises a ghost fraternity, which inspires a revelation from Isaac’s past.
Ghosts is a single-camera comedy about Samantha and Jay, a cheerful freelance journalist and up-and-coming chef from the city, respectively, who threw both caution and money to the wind when they decide to convert a huge rundown country estate they inherited into a bed & breakfast – only to find it was inhabited by the many spirits of deceased residents who now call it home.
The departed souls are a close-knit, eclectic group that includes a saucy Prohibition-era lounge singer (Pinnock); a pompous 18th-century militiaman (Jones); a ‘60s hippie fond of hallucinogens (Carrasco); an overly upbeat ‘80s scout troop leader (Moriarty); a cod-obsessed Viking explorer from 1009 (Devon Chandler Long); a slick ‘90s finance bro (Grodman); a sarcastic and witty native from the 16th-century (Zaragoza); and a society woman and wife of a 19th-century robber baron who is Samantha’s ancestor (isocky), to name a few.
The opening of the B&B is a source of intrigue, anxiety, and curiosity among the spirits, but they’ll gladly put up with the commotion as long as they can continue to interact with a living inhabitant – Samantha.
What should be a most divine dining experience for 11 individuals turns into a night of unexpected terror in Searchlight Pictures’ The Menu. The R-rated film from director Mark Mylod (Game of Thrones) is a dark, sharply crafted horror comedy with a wonderful ensemble cast.
The movie kicks off with the introduction of two of the diners – Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Tyler (Nicholas Hoult) – waiting on a dock to board a boat that will take them to a remote island. Their destination: Hawthorne, an exclusive restaurant that charges $1,250 a plate and promises to be worth every dollar.
Nine other guests join them onboard the boat including a past-his-prime movie star (John Leguizamo) and his lovely assistant (Aimee Carrero), Lillian; a pretentious food critic (Janet McTeer) and her brown-nosing editor (Paul Adelstein); Anne (Judith Light) and Richard (Reed Birney), an older couple who have dined at the restaurant many times before; and the obnoxious trio of Dave (Mark St. Cyr), Soren (Arturo Castro), and Bryce (Rob Yang), colleagues and friends who work for the owner of the Hawthorne.
The dinner guests arrive at the island and are greeted by Elsa (Hong Chau), Hawthorne’s no-nonsense manager and loyal right hand of master world-class chef Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes). Following a quick tour of the tiny island, they finally enter the dining room and await their feast.
The ritzy restaurant’s dining room has a clear view of the kitchen where a team of chefs prepare each course under the command of Slowik, responding to all of his commands as though he’s the leader of a cult and they’re his brainwashed followers. Tyler, in particular, is in awe of everything around him, being a foodie who reveres Slowik’s unique and impressive creations. Margot, a last-minute guest, finds the whole setup and demeanor of Elsa and Slowik odd and a little unnerving. Elsa’s so put off by the whole situation that she barely eats any of the first two courses.
It’s with the introduction of the next course, which Slowik titles “The Mess,” that the evening takes a very shocking and unexpected turn for the wealthy patrons of Hawthorne who quickly realize that the price of dining might have to be paid with their lives.
Two-time Oscar nominee Ralph Fiennes ( Schindler’s List, The English Patient) delivers a savory and brilliant performance as the pompous, mad chef Slowik who is determined to create a dining masterpiece for his patrons as well as some brutal punishment for those he views as arrogant and entitled.
Anya Taylor-Joy is absolutely riveting as Margot, the unexpected mystery guest who harbors key secrets and is the only diner out of these self-important customers who seems to be constantly thinking of a way to escape the deadly dinner party. Taylor-Joy perfectly displays the sheer terror her character feels when she first realizes the severity of the situation as well as showing just how intelligent and willful Margot is while trying to find a way out. It’s truly Fiennes and Taylor-Joy’s performances in the film that raise it up to an even higher level of entertainment.
Nicholas Hoult delivers a great comedic performance as Tyler, the extreme foodie who’s more concerned about what Chef Slowik thinks of him – and not missing out on any of the courses – than surviving the night.
The sets and production design are lavish and impressive, and the pacing is tight and suspenseful. Provocative, with excellent performances and clever and witty dialogue, The Menu is an exquisite horror comedy that’s good to the last bite. It’s one of the best pictures of the year.
GRADE: B+
MPAA Rating: R for strong violent content, some sexual references, and language throughout
Desperate Housewives‘ Marcia Cross guest stars on Fox’s Monarch season one episode 10, “Mergers and Propositions.” Episode 10 will air on Tuesday, November 29, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT.
Monarch stars Susan Sarandon as Dottie Cantrell Roman, Anna Friel as Nicolette “Nicky” Roman, Trace Adkins as Albie Roman, and Beth Ditto as Gigi Tucker-Roman. Joshua Sasse plays Luke Roman, Meagan Holder is Kayla Taylor-Roman, Inigo Pascual is Ace Grayson, Martha Higareda is Catt Phoenix, and Emma Milani plays Ana Phoenix.
“Mergers and Propositions” Plot: Media Mogul Skyler Samms (Cross) arrives in Austin with a proposal for Luke and the future of Monarch; Tripp gives Albie an ultimatum; Nicky is torn when Wade returns to town; Gigi grows suspicious of Kayla and Luke; Ace and Ana go viral when with a performance.
In Monarch, the Roman family is headed by the insanely talented, but tough-as-nails Queen of Country Music DOTTIE CANTRELL ROMAN (Sarandon) and her beloved husband, ‘Texas Truthteller’ ALBIE ROMAN (Adkins). Dottie and Albie have created a country music dynasty. But even though the Roman name is synonymous with authenticity, the very foundation of their success is a lie. And when their reign as country royalty is put in jeopardy, heir to the crown NICOLETTE “NICKY” ROMAN (Friel) will stop at nothing to protect her family’s legacy, while ensuring her own quest for stardom.
Middle child LUKE ROMAN (Sasse) is the CEO of the family’s business, Monarch Entertainment. Luke is the apple of his mother’s eye, but he has a troubled relationship with his father, whose approval he can never get, no matter how hard he tries. Youngest daughter GIGI TUCKER-ROMAN (Ditto) is very close to her older brother and sister, but in a family of superstars, Gigi has always felt like a bit of an outcast, in spite of her incredible singing voice.
Gigi is married to KAYLA ROMAN-TUCKER (Holder), a successful music manager who keeps turning down Luke’s offers to join forces with the family company. Outside business, Kayla’s relationships with the Romans reflect a complicated history, and a secret she is keeping could destroy her marriage to Gigi. ACE GRAYSON (Inigo Pascual) also is part of the family. He is a talented and sensitive 18-year-old who was adopted from an orphanage by Nicky and her husband, struggling British actor CLIVE GRAYSON (guest star Adam Croasdell).
Ace is a phenomenal singer with real swagger on stage and dreams of being a country star like his Grandpa Albie. And just when the Romans’ world couldn’t get more chaotic, enter CATT PHOENIX (Higareda), the stunning and unpredictable mother of 17-year-old ANA PHOENIX (Emma Milani), a talented, wide-eyed young singer who is trying to get signed to the Roman family’s record label.
