Priya Kansara stars in ‘Polite Society’ (Photo Courtesy of Sundance Institute / Photo by Parisa Taghizadeh)
Ria Khan is “the fury,” or so she repeatedly claims, in Polite Society, an absolutely bonkers action-packed comedy from writer/director Nida Manzoor (We Are Lady Parts). Ria’s a schoolgirl with big dreams and no filter in Manzoor’s wild and crazy feature film directorial debut.
Don’t mess with the Khan sisters or Ria (Priya Kansara) will unleash hell. Or at least she’ll try her damnedest. She’s got her mind set on becoming a stuntwoman, even though her kicks miss more often than they connect. Never mind that her incredibly patient Pakistani parents aren’t supportive of her chosen profession or that her teacher tries to squash her dreams by suggesting she’s more suited to become a doctor. The horror! Nothing will keep Ria from her chosen profession.
Fortunately, her older sister Lena’s got her back. A recent art school dropout, Lena (Ritu Arya) is recruited to film Ria’s promotional videos and help with her training. They’re thick as thieves, and nothing’s going to come between these simpatico siblings – at least not if Ria can help it.
Ria’s also got two BFFs – Clara (Seraphina Beh) and Alba (Ella Bruccoleri) – in her corner who not only provide backup when the school’s resident mean girls rear their ugly heads but also when life at home gets incredibly complicated.
It seems Ria’s losing her wing woman, and that’s not something she can accept lying down. Lena decided there’s no future in art, but there is a future with Salim (Akshay Khanna). Salim’s got the looks, the money, and a successful career as a doctor. And if you can overlook his overbearing mother, Raheela (Nimra Bucha), then he’s pretty much the perfect match. So what if it’s sort of an arranged marriage? These two are wild about each other, and Lena’s all in on love and all done with art.
But Ria’s spidey senses are tingling. She takes an instant dislike to Salim, and she’s certain there’s something wonky about the entire Shah clan. The fact Lena is now wearing cardigans is the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
Ria, with support from Clara and Alba, puts a plan into action that will expose Salim for the fraud she suspects him to be. If that means taking on her new archnemesis Raheela in a kung-fu battle for the ages, then so be it. The Fury is on the case and the only acceptable outcome is vanquishing the Khans.
Polite Society is Priya Kansara’s feature film debut, but you’d never know it without googling it. Kansara’s a breath of fresh air, incredibly dynamic, and the camera absolutely loves her. The press notes state that she did many of her own stunts, which makes the fact this is her film debut even more impressive.
Kansara and Ritu Arya (Lila Pitts in The Umbrella Academy) sell that sibling bond; the chemistry’s there and they’re a dynamic duo on screen. The rest of the supporting cast are all outstanding, but it’s Nimra Bucha as Raheela, Ria’s main adversary, who steals scene after scene.
At its heart, Polite Society is a heartwarming story of the special bond between sisters. But there are so many crazy layers wrapped around this sibling love story that it’s super hard to define. Writer/director Manzoor didn’t settle into any genre and instead threw in a wide variety, mixing in kung-fu action, Bollywood dance numbers, romance, a smidgen of sci-fi, and over-the-top comedy. It’s a lot yet never too much.
Manzoor cites Jack Chan films, Bollywood, and The Matrix as influences, and a legitimate comparison would be 2022’s critically acclaimed Everything Everywhere All at Once. Not story-wise, but in Polite Society’s ability to successfully juggle genres without dropping a single ball.
Writer/director Nida Manzoor knocked it out of the park with Polite Society. This entertaining female-driven action comedy is fresh, funny, and fabulous.
GRADE: A-
Written/Directed By: Nida Manzoor
Starring: Priya Kansara (Bridgerton), Ritu Arya (Red Notice), Shobu Kapoor (We Are Lady Parts), Ella Bruccoleri (Call the Midwife), Seraphina Beh (Top Boy), Shona Babayemi, Nimra Bucha (Ms. Marvel), Jeff Mirza (We Are Lady Parts), and Akshay Khanna (Chloe)
Running Time: 103 minutes
Polite Society screened at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Focus Features has set an April 28, 2023 theatrical release date.
Season one episode four of AMC’s Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches finds Rowan learning more about her family’s strange history. “Curiouser and Curiouser” will air on Sunday, January 29, 2023 at 9pm ET/PT.
Alexandra Daddario leads the cast as Rowan Fielding. Season one also stars Jack Huston (Fargo) as Lasher, Tongayi Chirisa (Another Life) as Ciprien Grieve, and Harry Hamlin (Mad Men) as Cortland Mayfair. Beth Grant plays Carlotta, Hannah Alline is Suzanne, and Jen Richards is Jojo.
“Curiouser and Curiouser” Plot: At Deirdre’s funeral, Rowan is plunged into the world of the infamous Mayfair family; Uncle Cortland and Aunt Carlotta present diverging views on Lasher; Rowan must choose whom to trust and face the dire consequences; Sip identifies Deirdre’s killer.
Alexandra Daddario as Dr. Rowan Fielding and Charlayne Woodard as Dolly Jean Mayfair in ‘Mayfair Witches’ Season 1, Episode 4 (Photo Credit: Alfonso Bresciani/AMC)
Mayfair Witches Plot:
Based on Anne Rice’s best-selling trilogy, Lives of the Mayfair Witches, the 8-episode series focuses on an intuitive young neurosurgeon, Rowan (Alexandra Daddario), who discovers that she is the unlikely heir to a family of witches. As she grapples with her newfound powers, she must contend with a sinister presence that has haunted her family for generations.
A scene from season 1 episode 4 (Photo Credit: Alfonso Bresciani/AMC)Tongayi Chirisa as Ciprien Grieve in season 1 episode 4 (Photo Credit: Alfonso Bresciani/AMC)Alexandra Daddario as Dr. Rowan Fielding in the “Curiouser and Curiouser” episode (Photo Credit: Alfonso Bresciani/AMC)Beth Grant as Carlotta Mayfair in season 1 episode 4 (Photo Credit: Alfonso Bresciani/AMC)Alexandra Daddario as Dr. Rowan Fielding in season 1 episode 4 (Photo Credit: Alfonso Bresciani/AMC)Jen Richards as Jojo Mayfair and Alexandra Daddario as Dr. Rowan Fielding in season 1 episode 4 (Photo Credit: Alfonso Bresciani/AMC)Alexandra Daddario as Dr. Rowan Fielding, Beth Grant as Carlotta Mayfair, Harry Hamlin as Cortland Mayfair, and Jen Richards as Jojo Mayfair in episode 4 (Photo Credit: Alfonso Bresciani/AMC)
CBS has renewed the half-hour comedy The Neighborhood starring Cedric the Entertainer and Max Greenfield for a sixth season. Currently airing on Mondays at 8pm ET/PT, The Neighborhood has been averaging 6.13 million viewers.
Cedric the Entertainer stars as Calvin Butler, Max Greenfield is Dave Johnson, Beth Behrs is Gemma Johnson, and Tichina Arnold is Tina Butler. The cast also includes Sheaun McKinney as Malcolm Butler, Marcel Spears as Marty Butler, and Hank Greenspan as Grover Johnson.
“The Neighborhood has become a hit by not only delivering laughs but by telling stories of cultural impact,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. “From gentrification to Black Lives Matter, to addiction and pregnancy loss, the incredible writers and this amazing cast push boundaries and endlessly entertain us. As they film their 100th episode this week, directed by Cedric the Entertainer, we are thrilled to announce that we are welcoming this outstanding series back for a sixth season.”
The series is executive produced by Bill Martin, Mike Schiff, Aaron Kaplan, Wendi Trilling, Cedric the Entertainer, and Eric Rhone.
The Neighborhood stars Cedric the Entertainer in a comedy about what happens when the friendliest guy in the Midwest moves his family to a neighborhood in Los Angeles where not everyone looks like him or appreciates his extreme neighborliness. Dave Johnson is a good-natured, professional conflict negotiator. When his wife, Gemma, gets a job as a school principal in L.A., they move from Michigan with their young son, Grover, unfazed that their new dream home is located in a community quite different from their small town.
Their opinionated next-door neighbor, Calvin Butler, is wary of the newcomers, certain that the Johnsons will disrupt the culture on the block. However, Calvin’s gracious wife, Tina, rolls out the welcome wagon; their chipper younger son, Marty, thinks the Johnsons could be good for the community; and their older son, Malcolm, finds Dave may finally be someone who understands him.
Dave realizes that fitting into their new community is more complex than he expected, but if he can find a way to connect with Calvin, they have an excellent chance of making their new neighborhood their home.
Ryan Hansen, Zoe Chao, Martin Starr, Adam Scott, and Tyrel Jackson Williamsin ‘Party Down’ season 3 (Photo Credit: Starz)
It’s been 12 and a half years since the final episode of Party Down season two aired and none of the series’ stars has aged a day in a dozen years. Seriously, just look at the first batch of photos Starz released from the upcoming third season.
Returning Party Down stars include Adam Scott (Severance) as Henry Pollard, Ken Marino (The Other Two) as Ron Donald, Jane Lynch (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) as Constance Carmell, Martin Starr (Silicon Valley) as Roman DeBeers, Ryan Hansen (Veronica Mars) as Kyle Bradway, and Megan Mullally (Will & Grace) as Lydia Dunfree. Joining the gang for season three are Jennifer Garner (The Adam Project), Tyrel Jackson Williams (Brockmire), and Zoë Chao (The Afterparty).
James Marsden (Dead to Me) shows up as a recurring guest star.
Adam Scott as Henry Pollard and Jennifer Garner as Evie in season 3 (Photo Credit: Starz)
The six-episode third season will premiere on Friday, February 24, 2023 at midnight on the Starz app. It will air on the Starz channel on Feb. 24th at 9pm ET/PT.
Party Down alum Rob Thomas (iZombie), John Enbom (Benched), Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), Dan Etheridge (Veronica Mars), and Adam Scott executive produce. Enbom guides the series as showrunner.
Starz offers this description of the new season:
“Ten years later, most of the Party Down catering team has moved on, including actor/bartender Henry Pollard (Scott). After a surprise reunion, the gang find themselves once again stoically enduring the procession of random parties and oddball guests all over Los Angeles.”
Megan Mullally as Lydia Dunfree and Jane Lynch as Constance Carmell in season 3 (Photo Credit: Starz)Ken Marino, Megan Mullally, Ryan Hansen, Jane Lynch, Martin Starr, and Adam Scott in season 3 (Photo Gredit: Starz)Ken Marino season 3 (Photo Credit: Starz)James Marsden in season 3 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Nickelback will be embarking on a 38-city tour beginning on June 12, 2023 in Quebec City. The tour is in support of the rock group’s 10th studio album, Get Rollin’, and will stop in cities including Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Boston, Nashville, and St. Louis.
The major tour wraps up on August 30, 2023 at the UBS Arena in Belmont Park, New York. Nickelback will be joined by Brantley Gilbert and Josh Ross on all non-festival dates.
Tickets for the “Get Rollin'” tour go on sale on Friday, January 27th via Ticketmaster.
Get Rollin’ was released on November 18, 2022 and hit the #2 spot on rock, alternative, and digital album charts. It also marked the group’s first #1 debut in Switzerland.
Nickelback 2023 Tour Dates
Mon Jun 12 – Quebec City, QC – Videotron Centre
Wed Jun 14 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
Fri Jun 16 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
Fri Jun 17 – Bloomington, IL – Tailgate N’ Tall Boys ^
Tue Jun 20 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre
Thu Jun 22 – Saskatoon, SK – SaskTel Centre
Sat Jun 24 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place
Sun Jun 25 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome
Wed Jun 28 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
Fri Jun 30 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre
Sat Jul 01 – Ridgefield, WA – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
Thu Jul 06 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
Sat Jul 08 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheater
Sun Jul 09 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
Wed Jul 12 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center
Fri Jul 14 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum
Sat Jul 15 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena
Tue Jul 18 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
Thu Jul 20 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
Sat Jul 22 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavillion
Sun Jul 23 – The Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchel Pavilion
Sat Jul 29 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sun Jul 30 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheater
Tue Aug 01 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
Thu Aug 03 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Sat Aug 05 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheater
Mon Aug 07 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
Wed Aug 09 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
Fri Aug 11 – Oro-Medonte, ON – Boots and Hearts Festival ^
Sun Aug 13 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theater
Wed Aug 16 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
Fri Aug 18 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Sat Aug 19 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
Tue Aug 22 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
Thu Aug 24 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater
Sat Aug 26 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
Sun Aug 27 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium
Wed Aug 30 – Belmont Park, NY – UBS Arena
What does Harley Quinn love about Valentine’s Day? It’s the only day when there’s a built-in excuse for doing cheesy sh*t for your partner. (Her words – not mine!) HBO’s critically acclaimed adult animated comedy Harley Quinn will air a special love-themed episode in honor of the most romantic day of the year, according to candy companies and greeting card sales. Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special will stream a few days prior to the holiday it’s celebrating, premiering on HBO Max on Thursday, February 9, 2023.
The streaming service offered this description of the special:
“As Harley goes to obsessive lengths to ensure that her first Valentine’s Day with Ivy is the best ever, Bane’s efforts to impress an unexpected date go horribly awry. Meanwhile, after an unfortunate online dating encounter, Clayface engages in some self-love.”
Kaley Cuoco leads the voice cast as the titular character. Lake Bell provides the voice of Poison Ivy and Alan Tudyk is Clayface. The special also features the voices of Matt Oberg, James Wolk, Natalie Morales, Chris Diamantopoulos, James Adomian, Jim Rash, Vanessa Marshall, and Janet Varney. Plus, Rachel Dratch, Leila Birch, Tyler James Williams, Josh Helman, Casey Wilson, and Michael Ironside lend their voices to the Harley Quinn special.
Kaley Cuoco, Justin Halpern, Patrick Schumacker, Dean Lorey, Jennifer Coyle, and Sam Register serve as executive producers. The Valentine’s Day special is produced by Delicious Non-Sequitur Productions and Yes, Norman Productions in association with Warner Bros. Animation.
Based on DC characters, Harley Quinn premiered in November 2019. The animated series was renewed for a fourth season in August 2022 and is expected to air in 2023.
A Look Back at the Season 3 Plot:
In season three of the biting and uproarious adult animated comedy series, Harley Quinn (Cuoco) and Poison Ivy (Bell) wrap up their “Eat. Bang! Kill. Tour” and return to Gotham as the new power couple of DC villainy. Along with their ragtag crew – King Shark (Funches), Clayface (Tudyk), Frank the Plant (Smoove) – “Harlivy” strives to become the best version of themselves while also working towards Ivy’s long-desired plan of transforming Gotham into an Eden paradise.
Cassandro, writer/director Roger Ross Williams’ joyous celebration of the indomitable spirit of Saúl Armendáriz, is the perfect vehicle to introduce the Lucha Libre world and its groundbreaking, barrier-busting gay star to a wider audience.
The film catches up with Saúl (played by Gael García Bernal) in the 1980s when he’s wrestling as designated loser El Topo (which translates to The Mole). Saúl’s in a rut, and the only way out is to transform into an exótico. But that transformation would require him to incorporate his homosexuality into a character in front of a large audience that includes his homophobic estranged father. It would also mean he’d be forced to continue to lose since the wrestling world – both in the ring and in the stands – doesn’t embrace homosexuals. Gay wrestlers are mocked and ridiculed and subjected to disgusting sexual slurs. (It’s the ’80s and this is a very masculine sport.)
A chance encounter with trainer Sabrina aka Lucha Libre star Lady Anarquía (Roberta Colindrez) changes everything for Saúl and, ultimately, for the world of Lucha Libre. Sabrina recognizes Saúl’s talent and stokes the fire already burning inside the talented, charismatic wrestler. Under her tutelage, Saúl reimagines himself as Cassandro the exótico.
Saúl’s new Lucha Libre persona isn’t willing to just be a flamboyant foil in the ring. Through hard work, persistence, and unwavering self-confidence, Cassandro topples the established luchador hierarchy – and does it in style.
Writer/director Williams and co-writer David Teague do an incredible job of following Cassandro’s rise to fame and how in the process of taking the Lucha Libre world by storm, he became an important, influential role model for gay youth.
Cassandro’s spirited performances won over audiences, which in turn changed the attitude of match organizers/promoters. It was the radical shift by fans who went from hurling epithets to chanting his name that allowed Cassandro to win in the ring, something unheard of at the time for an exótico. And by conquering what was regarded as a homophobic sport, Cassandro helped open doors that had been nailed shut to the LGBTQ+ community.
Gael García Bernal delivers one of his career-best performances, and it’s obvious how much respect he feels for the real-life Lucha Libre superstar he’s playing. García’s particularly effective in the quieter scenes he shares with Perla de la Rosa who plays Saúl’s supportive mother, Yocasta. Saúl and Yocasta’s relationship was extraordinarily close, and de la Rosa and García have terrific chemistry as a mother and son who are each other’s best friends and close confidants. They share everything, including a home, and Yocasta’s fierce yet loving personality influenced her son’s approach to life.
Gael García Bernal and Raúl Castillo also have incredible chemistry as lovers forced to keep their relationship a secret. Castillo plays fellow luchador Gerardo (aka El Comandante), a married man who becomes involved with the free-spirited Saúl but refuses to come out of the closet. The pain Saúl feels as Cassandro’s popularity forces the two to part ways is heartbreaking and cuts deep, thanks to Garcia and Castillo’s compelling performances.
Gael García Bernal looks like a natural in the ring, and the action scenes are well-choreographed and entertaining. I’m more than a little embarrassed to admit my only knowledge of Mexican Lucha Libre wrestling prior to watching Cassandro came from 2006’s Nacho Libre. Basically, I went into Cassandro as a Lucha Libre virgin, so my take on whether the wrestling scenes looked authentic should be taken with a grain of salt. They looked realistic enough to me that I flinched in response to a few blows delivered on screen.
Writer/director Robert Ross Williams was very familiar with Saúl Armendáriz after directing the documentary The Man Without a Mask which chronicled the luchador’s remarkable career. That familiarity and the friendship the filmmaker and subject now share makes Williams the perfect director to honor Saúl Armendáriz’s struggle to overcome bigotry and shatter stereotypes. Williams accomplishes all that while also showcasing Saúl’s unbreakable spirit in an exceptionally entertaining film.
GRADE A
Cassandro had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Amazon Studios is targeting a 2023 release on Prime Video.
Directed By: Roger Ross Williams
Written By: Roger Ross Williams and David Teague
Starring: Gael García Bernal, Roberta Colindrez, Perla De La Rosa, Joaquín Cosío, and Raúl Castillo. Special Appearances by El Hijo del Santo and Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio aka Bad Bunny
Running Time: 109 minutes
Paramount+ dives into the world of werewolves with the new supernatural series Wolf Pack. Based on Edo Van Belkom’s book series, Wolf Pack follows four teenagers who share a strange bond that includes transforming into werewolves. Episode one, “From a Spark to a Flame,” premieres on Thursday, January 26, 2023.
The four teenagers whose lives are far more complicated than normal high school students are played by Tyler Gray as Harlan Briggs, Chloe Robertson as Luna Briggs, Bella Shepard as Blake Navarro, and Armani Jackson as Everett Lang. Rodrigo Santoro stars as Garrett Briggs and Sarah Michelle Gellar plays Kristin Ramsey. Additional season one cast members include Bailey Stender, Chase Liefeld, Hollie Bahar, Lanny Joon, Rio Mangini, Stella Smith, Zack Nelson, James Martinez, Amy Pietz, Bria Brimmer, John L. Adams, and Sean Philip Glasgow.
Teen Wolf‘s Jeff Davis writes and executive produces. Sarah Michelle Gellar, Christian Taylor, Jason Ensler, and Capital Arts’ Mike Elliott and Karen Gorodetzky also executive produce.
“From a Spark to a Flame” Plot: A raging California wildfire jumps onto a roadway, trapping a bus full of high school students. Everett and Blake have an encounter with something lurking in the flames and smoke. Luna and Harlan cross the fire line in a desperate search for their missing Park Ranger father, and Kristen Ramsey, a very determined arson investigator, arrives on the scene.
Based on the book series by Edo Van Belkom, Wolf Pack follows a teenage boy and girl whose lives are changed forever when a California wildfire awakens a terrifying supernatural creature and drives it to attack a highway traffic jam beneath the burning hills. Wounded in the chaos, the boy and girl are inexplicably drawn to each other and to two other teenagers who were adopted sixteen years earlier by a park ranger after another mysterious wildfire. As the full moon rises, all four teens come together to unravel the secret that connects them – the bite and blood of a werewolf.
Lily LaTorre in ‘Run Rabbit Run’ (Courtesy of Sundance Institute | Photo by Sarah Enticknap)
When we meet fertility doctor Sarah Gregory she’s well put together, professional, and leading a neat and tidy life. By the time we say goodbye to Sarah, everything’s gotten messy and her grip on reality has been pried loose. What transpires that forces this decay in her mental state is alternatingly terrifying and disappointingly predictable in Run Rabbit Run.
Succession’s Sarah Snook stars as Sarah, mom to Mia and ex-wife of Pete. Sarah’s raising Mia and doing a terrific job of it until the day of Mia’s seventh birthday. The first hint of something unusual comes when Mia announces that she misses people she’s never met all the time. Sarah finds that quirky but brushes it off, unaware that statement’s about to play an integral role in what happens next.
Mom and daughter arrive home to an open garage door and a white rabbit gracing their doorstep. Still, Sarah’s barely concerned about either event.
Mia’s immediately taken with the rabbit, which happens to have been one of her favorite animals even before the creature mysteriously appeared at her front door. Where did it come from and why did it arrive on Mia’s birthday? To answer those questions, you must follow Sarah and Mia down the rabbit hole and watch as Sarah’s past trauma rears its ugly head and takes over their lives.
Sarah’s recently lost her beloved father and is estranged from her mother, Joan, a woman Mia has never met and knows nothing about. However, as Mia enters her seventh year, she suddenly begins to show a bizarre interest in Joan. And it’s not just that she wants to meet Joan; that would be strange and worrying. But Mia takes it a step further and insists she knows Joan.
As Mia’s detachment from Sarah increases, so does her level of resentment. Mia asks questions Sarah has no intention of answering until, finally, their relationship reaches a point where the only way to mend it is to allow Mia to visit Joan in a care center. (She’s been diagnosed with dementia.)
Rather than soothe the young girl, the visit with Joan drives a deeper wedge between Mia and Sarah. As Mia continues to insist that she’s not Sarah’s daughter, Sarah begins to unravel. Unwelcome memories resurface, and a traumatic event she’s attempted to block out invades her thoughts. The barrier she’s erected to retain her sanity and be able to function crumbles as Mia pushes all the right buttons and forces her mother to confront her past.
Sarah Snook and Lily LaTorre star in ‘Run Rabbit Run’ (Courtesy of Sundance Institute / Photo by Sarah Enticknap)
Director Daina Reed (Shining Girls, The Handmaid’s Tale) describes Run Rabbit Run as a modern-day ghost story, and Sarah Snook does a remarkable job of taking the audience through Dr. Sarah Gregory’s transformation from loving mom to a troubled woman haunted by her past. Snook’s particularly effective in portraying Sarah after her carefully curated life begins to unravel. There’s a startled, haunted look Snook affects that makes her character’s ultimate – but not unexpected – revelation genuinely feel like a deeply buried secret that’s only now bubbling to the surface, decades after a devastating tragedy.
First-time screenwriter Hannah Kent (author of Burial Rites and The Good People) lays the cards on the table too soon and Run Rabbit Run’s final act lands with more of a thud than the desired bang. The underlying themes of guilt and suppressed grief are fascinating to delve into but giving so much away early on mutes their exploration.
Despite powerful performances from Sarah Snook and newcomer Lily LaTorre, Run Rabbit Run is a psychological thriller that lacks teeth. Still, Snook and LaTorre make it watchable, even if the ending leaves much to be desired.
Run Rabbit Run screened as part of the Midnight section at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.
GRADE: C+
Directed By: Daina Reid
Written By: Hannah Kent
Starring: Sarah Snook, Lily LaTorre, Damon Herriman, Greta Scacchi, and Trevor Jamieson
Running Time: 100 minutes
The war inside the prison continues on Paramount+’s Mayor of Kingstown season two episode two, with one inmate beaten to death in the opening scene. That means chaos will continue to reign outside as gangs fight over territory without any leadership.
A voiceover by Mike (Jeremy Renner) points out that there aren’t any innocent victims inside the walls. However, “Outside, innocent victims is how you fight the war.” That point’s punctuated by the murder of an innocent woman who just happens to be in a house that comes under attack.
Ian (Hugh Dillon) calls Mike to come to the shooting, but first Mike has to drop Iris (Emma Laird) someplace safe. In this particular instance, that safe place in the middle of the night is with Kyle (Taylor Handley). Mike’s pissed – as he should be – that Iris broke out of witness protection which is where she needs to be. He reminds her that nothing stays hidden in a town. It’s inevitable that Milo will find her.
Kyle doesn’t want to babysit Iris who, as it turns out, he didn’t even realize his brother had located. The situation escalates when Iris tries to leave and wakes up Tracy (Nishi Munshi) and Miriam (Dianne Wiest). Miriam’s the only person to remain calm, and she invites Iris to stay in their spare room.
Mike doesn’t fill his mom in on everything but does admit Iris is in the worst kind of trouble.
Squad cars and a coroner’s van fill the street and Ian’s in one hell of a mood when Mike finally arrives on the scene. Ian’s blaming Bunny for the attack, but Mike’s certain the hit was ordered from inside the prison. Someone’s trying to fill the leadership void by taking out their enemies on the outside.
“Tail’s wagging the f**king dog, right, and this is the result,” says Mike.
A cop tosses his cookies inside the house, reacting to the brutality of the crime scene. It’s a slaughterhouse, with blood and bodies everywhere. Mike, Ian, and Stevie (Derek Webster) walk through what’s basically the scene of a mass execution, and even Mike’s visibly disturbed.
A uniformed officer explains they engaged with the shooters, and in return, the gang “unleashed hell” on them. Fortunately, while the shooters were escaping one of them dropped a weapon. A quick glance at the rifle and Ian realizes it’s not a typical gangster gun. It’s more advanced than their normal weapons and even has a muzzle brake.
Mike and Ian follow a blood trail leading away from the weapon and down the alley. They spot the shooter hidden behind a dumpster and Mike tells him his name. The gang member recognizes it and allows Mike to come over to talk. (He admits he dropped his gun and claims to be unarmed.)
The man’s been shot in the gut and probably won’t last much longer. He says everything’s going south and nowhere is safe. It’s going to escalate to the point that churches will be shot up since family members are now being targeted.
Mike figures out that based on the weapons, the Crips have partnered with the Mexicans and the Bloods are working with the Aryans. The man knows he’s dying and confirms Mike’s correct. He also reveals no one ordered the hit; the gangs are just going to war on their own.
As Mike heads off to talk to Bunny, he disagrees with Ian that the town is going to be locked down. Mike thinks if that hasn’t happened yet, it never will. He also delivers a brief pep talk to Asst. D.A. Evelyn Foley (Necar Zadegan) who’s completely over her job at this point.
Morning’s arrived by the time Mike makes it to Bunny’s new headquarters. No one answers the door or responds when Mike calls out, so he resorts to tossing beer bottles onto the roof. That finally gets Bunny’s attention.
Mike joins Bunny (Tobi Bamtefa) on the roof and immediately gets in his face about the massacre. Bunny insists it didn’t happen under his flag and he isn’t responsible. Bunny claims it came from the inside, but Mike reveals the shooter told him it didn’t. Bunny is sure it’s all coming from the prison guards. They’re behind the war and are orchestrating moves.
Mike wants Bunny to meet with the Bloods, Aryans, and Mexicans and calm the situation down. Bunny knows that won’t happen without someone doing something about the guards, and Mike promises he’ll take care of that. Bunny explains that every time a leader steps up, he’s taken down in prison. That’s got to be because the guards are pulling the strings.
If the streets don’t calm down, the National Guard will roll in and take care of it.
Bunny wants Mike to referee the meeting. Without a mediator, nothing will get done. Mike, very reluctantly, agrees. He has an idea that he thinks will work, but Bunny’s going to have to trust him. It’ll sting, but then after it’s over, Bunny won’t have to hide out on a roof.
Bunny agrees to trust Mike and to meet in three hours without an army backing him up.
Mike calls Evelyn about his idea, which is to turn over the current leaders of all four gangs to her. But they have to go to the penitentiary – not County – and they have to be arrested for felony possession of firearms. The catch: she’ll need to drop all the charges. So, what’s the point? To get them inside where they can pick new leaders and then get them back out without serving time.
Evelyn speaks the truth when she says the plan sounds insane. But Mike points out that the inside rules the outside, so it’s necessary to get the inside under control first.
Evelyn also agrees to trust him. I mean, at this point, is there really any other option?
Mike’s next stop is to meet with Captain Kareem Moore (Michael Beach) who’s temporarily in charge of the prison. Mike explains they need to pick new leaders inside so that the outside’s safe, but Kareem’s of the opinion they should let the gangs kill each other off. Mike points out that innocent citizens will die in the crossfire, and they could start shooting up schools and churches.
Kareem gets on board, grabs his gun, and goes with Mike.
Robert (Hamish Allan-Headley) is already at the meeting spot when they pull up, and he’s got his SWAT team in place. Moore’s second-in-command, Carney (Lane Garrison), shows up with a vest, a shotgun, and a bad attitude, and Mike has to remind him they’re not heading into a fight. This is supposed to be a peaceful meeting.
Bunny’s the first to arrive and Robert pats down his men and sends them off, allowing only Bunny to stay for the meeting. The remaining three representatives also show up, and you can cut the tension with a knife.
Mike announces that whatever they decide here and now has to be enforced inside. Mike declares that Captain Moore and his guards will patrol the prison again and will intervene in all conflicts. Food is an issue and Moore claims bag meals are the price of riots.
The reps are shocked when Evelyn Foley shows up and Mike explains, “She’s going to be giving you the pill you’re going to swallow.”
Sirens fill the air as Robert warns everyone to remain calm. SWAT surrounds the group as Mike explains they’re being arrested for felony possession of firearms. He adds, “And when there’s peace in the mother**king valley, charges will be dropped.”
He specifically tells the guards they need to keep it peaceful. This will only take as long as it takes the leaders to get their houses in order inside.
Bunny’s furious that he’s being placed under arrest and demands that Mike stay and watch when he attempts to walk away.
Once the meeting’s over Mike returns home to retrieve Iris and discovers she escaped through a window.
Meanwhile, Kyle and his partner, Morass (Michael Gaston), pull over a driver towing a boat going 25 in a 45 mph zone. Kyle’s irritated Morass tailgated the guy, forced him to speed up, and then pulled him over. His anger escalates when Morass refuses to allow him time to check out the guy’s plates.
Kyle’s not able to get into a position to backup his partner before Morass approaches the driver’s door. Morass is immediately met with gunfire. He goes down as Kyle unloads through the back window, killing the driver and his passenger.
Kyle calls in that Morass is down with multiple gunshot wounds. The assailant is also down, and Kyle needs EMS now. Kyle’s so shocked and upset by what just happened that he can’t even tell dispatch his location, other than that he’s on Highway 31.
He takes a knee for a minute and then jumps up when he hears a noise inside the car. Kyle discovers a baby in a car seat in the backseat and realizes he could have shot him when he unloaded into the vehicle. (Kyle needs time off and serious counseling!)
It’s nighttime when Iris makes her way to an empty church. She walks down the aisle and enters the basement. She says, “I have nowhere to go,” to a man seated at a laptop with his back toward her. He turns slowly and it’s Milo! Iris knew where he’d go to hide out and tells him that she doesn’t have a home. She kneels and places her head in his lap while holding tightly to his leg.
Milo says, “You’re home now.”
Episode two ends with the four leaders arriving at the temporary outdoor prison. The prisoners go from yelling at the bus to near silence as the four exit the bus and walk through the prisoners into the yard.
