The trailer for Netflix’s The Unforgivable opens with Ruth Slater (Oscar winner Sandra Bullock) exiting jail after serving time for murder and is quickly forced to realize life on the outside’s going to be rough. (The trailer reveals she shot a cop and it wasn’t an accident.) Directed by Nora Fingscheidt (Systemsprenger, Brüderlein), The Unforgivable follows Ruth’s search for the younger sister she left behind while dealing with repercussions of her actions.
In addition to Sandra Bullock, the drama’s cast includes Vincent D’Onofrio (Godfather of Harlem) stars as John Ingram, Jon Bernthal (The Punisher) is Blake, Richard Thomas (Tell Me Your Secrets) stars as Michael Malcolm, and Linda Emond (The Bite) is Rachel Malcolm. The cast also includes Aisling Franciosi (Black Narcissus) as Katherine Malcolm, Rob Morgan (The United States vs. Billie Holiday) as Vincent Cross, Emma Nelson (Where’d You Go, Bernadette) as Emily Malcolm, Tom Guiry (Roe v. Wade) as Keith Whelan, and Oscar winner Viola Davis (Fences) plays Liz Ingram.
Peter Craig, Hillary Seitz, and Courtenay Miles wrote the screenplay. Bullock, Graham King, and Veronica Ferres served as producers.
Netflix will release The Unforgivable in select theaters on November 24, 2021 followed by a December 10th release on the streaming service.
The Plot:
Released from prison after serving a sentence for a violent crime, Ruth Slater (Bullock) re-enters a society that refuses to forgive her past. Facing severe judgment from the place she once called home, her only hope for redemption is finding the estranged younger sister she was forced to leave behind.
Murphy helps a man who was the victim of a hate crime on ABC’s The Good Doctor season five episode five. Directed by Rebecca Moline from a script by Sam Chanse and Jessica Grasl, episode five – “Crazytown” – will air on Monday, November 1, 2021 at 10pm ET/PT.
The cast of season five features Freddie Highmore as Dr. Shaun Murphy, Antonia Thomas as Dr. Claire Browne, Hill Harper as Dr. Marcus Andrews, and Richard Schiff as Dr. Aaron Glassman. Christina Chang plays Dr. Audrey Lim, Fiona Gubelmann is Dr. Morgan Reznick, Will Yun Lee is Dr. Alex Park, and Paige Spara stars as Lea Dilallo.
Guest stars include Rachel Bay Jones as Salen Morrison, Francois Chau as Leonard Song, and Jee Young Han as Emily Song.
“Crazytown” Plot: Dr. Park and Dr. Murphy treat an elderly Asian man brought to St. Bonaventure by his daughter after being the victim of a hate crime. In addition, Lea goes behind Shaun’s back to help raise his negative patient satisfaction scores.
The Good Doctor Description, Courtesy of ABC:
Dr. Shaun Murphy (Highmore), a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, continues to use his extraordinary medical gifts at St. Bonaventure Hospital’s surgical unit. As his friendships deepen, Shaun tackles the world of dating for the first time and continues to work harder than he ever has before, navigating his environment to prove to his colleagues that his talents as a surgeon will save lives.
Freddie Highmore and Will Yun Lee in ‘The Good Doctor’ season 5 episode 5 (ABC/Jeff Weddell)Fiona Gubelmann and Will Yun Lee in season 5 episode 5 (ABC/Jeff Weddell)A scene from the “Crazytown” episode (ABC/Jeff Weddell)Freddie Highmore, Jessica Garcie and Paige Spara in season 5 episode 5 (ABC/Jeff Weddell)Christina Chang and Hill Harper in season 5 episode 5 (ABC/Jeff Weddell)Will Yun Lee and Freddie Highmore in season 5 episode 5 (ABC/Jeff Weddell)Francois Chau, Freddie Highmore and Will Yun Lee in season 5 episode 5 (ABC/Jeff Weddell)
Mike Colter stars in ‘Luke Cage’ (Photo Credit: Myles Aronowitz/Netflix)
The first question Mike Colter, who currently stars on Paramount+’s Evil, was asked was something his fans are dying to know: Would he reprise his role as the superhero Luke Cage?
“I will if they (Marvel) give me a call. We can talk about it,” said Colter, 46, at the Motor City Comic Con in Novi, MI earlier this month, marking his first time in Michigan.
Created as a response to the trend of Blaxploitation movies of the early 1970s, Cage, alias Power Man, debuted in 1972’s Luke Cage, Hero for Hire No. 1. Published by Marvel Comics, Cage is the first African American superhero to star in his own comic book series, which ran from 1972 to 1986 (and underwent several title changes, most notably Power Man and Iron Fist). In the 21st century, he has been featured prominently in Alias, The Pulse, various Avengers titles, as well as another Power Man and Iron Fist series and another Cage series.
“I see why he’s significant,” said Colter. “I see why people like him. He’s one of the first Black superheroes in comics. He’s got a significant place in the history of comic books. It was a pleasure to get to play him.”
Not Actively Seeking the Role He was Destined to Play
Mike Colter debuted as Cage in a supporting role during the first season of Netflix’s Jessica Jones in 2015 before graduating to his own eponymous series, Luke Cage, for two seasons. He later appeared on The Defenders, which consisted of other Marvel superheroes that were part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) appearing in their own respective Netflix series, including the aforementioned Jessica (Krysten Ritter, Breaking Bad), Daredevil (Charlie Cox, Boardwalk Empire), and Iron Fist (Finn Jones, Game of Thrones). By 2019, Netflix cancelled all its MCU series.
Colter wasn’t too familiar with Cage since he didn’t read the comics. He spoke about what attracted him to the role.
“I feel like it found me in a sense,” he said. “When I went in, there wasn’t much material. They wouldn’t show me a script, but I felt really good about it. There was something about this role that felt right. A month later, they had me come in and test some more. I still didn’t see the full script because Marvel is so secretive. I feel the people at Marvel have a real specific sense of what they want when it comes to casting. I felt like I was on their radar for a while. I felt like it was destined for me. I didn’t know too much about Cage; I didn’t read the comics, so I definitely wasn’t seeking the role.”
By his own admission, Colter didn’t become an actor to play a superhero. This would be a way to branch out and diversify himself as an actor.
“This came along and I got lucky, you know? Timing’s everything. They’ve been working on this project for a few years. So many things have to fall into place to work out and it did for me,” said Colter. “I got on the elevator with (Jeph Loeb, head of Marvel Television) when I went up to read. I didn’t know who he was. He knew me, I didn’t know him. I said ‘hello,’ he said ‘hello.’ We went into the room and eventually I read. I saw him back there. He told me later (that he said to his colleagues), ‘I just got into the elevator with our Luke Cage.’ He even told them that (I got the part) before I even read, so it was that kind of momentum.”
Mike Colter Knew Krysten Ritter Would be Jessica Jones
Colter also had an instinctual feeling that Ritter would be cast as Jessica.
“We first met at the chemistry read. She was there with a few other girls in the waiting room. Honestly when I first laid eyes on her, I thought immediately, ‘That’s the girl. That’s Jessica Jones.’ The reason I felt that was there’s something innate when you meet someone, when you cast someone,” he said. “She’s an incredible actress who knows what she’s doing. I felt that she’s edgy and had a lot of the ingredients needed for Jessica.”
When the two met and read, they meshed pretty well.
“There was something about it that worked. I can’t put my finger on it but when it works, it works. I’m really happy she was cast. I knew she was gonna get it,” said Colter. “When you work with her, you know she’s gonna bring her A-game – that’s all you can ask for when you’re working with such an actress.”
When it was confirmed he got the role, Colter put on 30 pounds of muscle. He also read the comics, particularly from the 1970s. However, the way Cage would be portrayed in the early 21st century would be much different from the 1970s.
“I knew we had a chance to do something unique and special, so that was something I was excited about,” said Colter. “I was excited about the opportunity… and actually being the first Luke Cage ever cast. I just needed to be certain of the direction of the character and that we were doing something unique, not clichéd. When I saw the scripts, I thought, ‘This is something I can really sink my teeth into and something I’d really enjoy.’”
A Full Circle Moment
The youngest of four, Colter was born and raised in South Carolina. After graduating from Calhoun County High School in St. Matthews, SC, he attended Benedict College in Columbia, SC for a year. He transferred to the University of South Carolina, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in theater. He later obtained his master’s degree in acting from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ.
It was 1984’s Oscar-nominated A Soldier’s Story, an adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1981 play called A Soldier’s Play, that inspired Colter to become an actor. The movie follows an African American military officer and lawyer named Captain Davenport (Howard E. Rollins, Jr., King) investigating the murder of an African American sergeant (Adolph Caesar, The Color Purple) in Louisiana at the end of World War II during a time when being an African American officer in the U.S. Army was unprecedented. The movie also featured future Oscar winner Denzel Washington (Training Day, Glory) in one of his early roles.
“I always had an interest doing what I saw on television. That’s all I could really relate to in a sense… As I got older, I realized I didn’t want to grow up and stop playing pretend. It was a good place to put all my energy because I had a creative urge and felt (acting) was a good fit for me. I just didn’t know how to get there,” he said. “I saw A Soldier’s Story on television one day. A lot of things piqued my interest at that point, but I saw a lot of people in this film that reminded me of myself… a lot of young Black men doing something that seemed really cool and seemed like it was real – it moved me. So, when I saw it, I thought, ‘I’d like to do that.’ And since I saw a lot of people like me do it, I thought I could do it too. So that was a lot of the inspiration there.”
Colter starred in a 2005 theatrical revival of A Soldier’s Play.
“It was full circle. I remember what I felt when I saw the film,” he recalled. “I couldn’t play the guitar and I thought, ‘It’s a long shot.’ My agent approached me, and I said I believed I could do the role, so I went in and auditioned. I had a good audition. I had to sing a cappella because I didn’t play the guitar – I remember being the only guy who came into the audition who didn’t have a guitar… so it was sink or swim. I think I swam. I did okay.”
“Who Do I Have to Kill to Get Into This Movie?”
Mike Colter’s film debut was playing Big Willie Little in 2004’s Million Dollar Baby starring Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood (who also won an Oscar for Best Director), Hilary Swank (who won an Oscar for Best Actress), and Morgan Freeman (who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor). He has fond memories of that experience.
“It was great because I remember going on set and meeting Clint for the first time because I never auditioned in person – he does everything through video,” said Colter. “I put myself on tape and the casting director, a wonderful woman named Phyllis Huffman – God rest her soul – said to me a month before it was being cast, ‘Clint Eastwood is doing this movie. He’s got a part in it that’d be really good for you.’ I almost rolled my eyes. Talk about somebody blowing smoke up my… you know. I’m like, ‘Really? Whatever.’”
However, Colter got the role. The first time he read the script, he was in tears.
“I was like, ‘This is great. There’s no way this doesn’t win everything there is to win, whenever this comes out.’ I told my agent, ‘Who do I have to kill to get into this movie?’ I didn’t know who was playing anything – all I had was just the words on the page,” he said. “It was one of those unique opportunities that comes along every so often and if you’re lucky to be a part of something like that, you just enjoy it because it doesn’t happen very often… It really created a lot of (opportunities) for me – I’m really appreciative of that.”
Colter went on to appear on the Law & Order franchise, as well as the movies Zero Dark Thirty and Men in Black 3. He was a regular on the short-lived Sarah Michelle Gellar series Ringer. He also had a recurring role on The Following, as well as The Good Wife and its spin-off The Good Fight. The latter two shows were created by the husband-and-wife writing team of Robert and Michelle King, who created Evil.
“They’re great. I’ve worked with them on three shows now… They’re great writers, and they make my job really easy,” Colter praised the Kings.
On Evil, Dr. Kristen Bouchard (Katja Herbers, Westworld), a forensic psychologist, and seminarian David Acosta (Colter) try to explain strange phenomena. Acosta believes supernatural elements are involved, whereas the skeptical Bouchard seeks to debunk his theories – even though she experiences unexplainable, disturbing events herself. Their roles are similar to Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully’s (Gillian Anderson) roles on The X-Files.
“I was looking for something different than Luke Cage. It was hard to find (a next project) that was really exciting because Cage’s a superhero, so where do you go from there in terms of another television show?” he said. “Evil was perfect for me. I was looking for something that was more cerebral, something that was more interesting in a way I couldn’t put my finger on it. I read the pilot and thought it was great and saw the potential, but I didn’t see where it was going. But I trusted the Kings. I knew them, I knew their writing, I knew how they developed characters.”
When it debuted, Evil aired on CBS. However, it moved to Paramount+ for its second season due to its graphic content. The show will return for a third season.
Colter couldn’t comment on the third season. At the end of the second season, which recently concluded, Acosta becomes an ordained Catholic priest. Kristen comes to him and confesses her sins, which include murder and infidelity. After forgiving her sins, Acosta breaks his vow of chastity and kisses her.
“We have such a gifted, talented cast on Evil. Katja’s a phenomenal actress,” said Colter. “We did the read together, we were cast together, and offered the roles. It’s a good chemistry. It is what it is. Most times when you have chemistry reads, they’ll test you to see if people get along… sometimes, you don’t have it; sometimes, you do. We naturally seem to have it. We try to use it to our advantage.”
When he first took the role of Acosta, Colter didn’t know much about Catholicism, which prompted him to do some research.
“The whole thing about science and religion – that was particularly interesting because everybody stands on one side,” he said. “Ultimately, I love the fact the creators had written something they could debate about and respectfully argue and still be on two opposite sides of it and still be a couple. That was weird because you see it in the writing. In some ways, they said (Katja’s) character and my character are (the Kings). They argue their points of view in a very respectful way.”
SIDEBAR: Burning Questions
At Mike Colter’s panel at the Motor City Comic Con in Novi, MI, fans lined up to ask him some burning questions.
QUESTION: Did Thanos (Josh Brolin) snap you and the other Defenders away (when he achieved omnipotence at the end of 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War, obliterating half of existence with a snap of his fingers)? Can you take your best guess?
MIKE COLTER: If they didn’t give us a scene, you can’t snap us away. (The audience replied with thunderous applause.)
QUESTION: Can Cage take Blade (Wesley Snipes)?
MIKE COLTER: I don’t know enough about Blade. He’s half-vampire, right? So he can die, right? Well, then, there you go. (The audience laughed.)
QUESTION: What about the Black Panther (the late, lamented Chadwick Boseman)?
MIKE COLTER: I won’t let him get his suit on. (What would he say) ‘Wait right here. I’m gonna go change. Then I’m gonna come back’? ‘No, you’re not gonna go. I wouldn’t want you to go to the trouble. I’m not gonna stretch while you go get dressed. I catch you without your clothes, it’s over.’ (More laughter.)
QUESTION: What about Spider-Man (Tom Holland)?
MIKE COLTER: Spider-Man’s pretty tough. It’s hard to get your hands on him. He’s a slippery little fella.
The team investigates the poisoning of a journalist on CBS’s FBI: International season one episode five, “The Soul of Chess.” Directed by Alex Zakrzewski from a script by Wade McIntyre, episode five will air on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at 9pm ET/PT.
The season one cast includes 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 Christiane Paul as Europol Agent Katrin Jaeger.
Episode five guest stars include Magdalena Korpas, Aaron Serotsky, Pawel Szajda, Toni Belafonte, and Alexander Sokovikov.
“The Soul of Chess” Plot: The team investigates an American journalist’s death by poison after his attempt to meet with an anonymous source in Poland. Also, Kellett takes Forrester to task for being overprotective with her during the mission.
Season One 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 the world 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 rarely seen without the team’s “secret weapon” – their trusty Schutzhund dog, Tank. Second in command is Special Agent Jamie Kellett, not afraid to tussle – in an alley or courtroom – 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 the group’s newest member is Special Agent Cameron Vo, a competitive West Point grad who excels at interrogation and strategy.
A key part of the mix is the unflappable Europol Agent Katrin Jaeger, a multilinguistic liaison between the FBI Fly Team and each host country they inhabit. Always at the scene where American interests are at risk, FBI: International is a globe-trotting depiction of law enforcement overseas.
Hana is back with the team on CBS’s FBI: Most Wanted season three episode five, “Unhinged.” Directed by Ken Girotti from a script by Melissa Scrivner Love, episode five is set to air Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at 10pm ET/PT.
The season three cast includes Julian McMahon as Supervisory Special Agent Jess LaCroix, Alexa Davalos as Special Agent Kristin Gaines, YaYa Gosselin as Natalia “Tali” LaCroix, and Roxy Sternberg as Special Agent Sheryll Barnes. Keisha Castle-Hughes plays Special Agent Hana Gibson and Miguel Gomez is Special Agent Ivan Ortiz.
Jen Landon recurs as Sarah Allen and Taylor Cooper recurs as Zadie.
“Unhinged” Plot: After a deadly fire at an arcade, the team discovers the blaze was just the first step in an intricate plan to exact revenge on one of the victims. Also, Hana rejoins the team, finding new adjustments in all aspects of her life.
FBI: Most Wanted Series Description, Courtesy of CBS:
From Emmy Award winner Dick Wolf and the team behind FBI and the Law & Order brand, 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.
Led by Supervisory Special Agent Jess LaCroix, an expert tracker and profiler with a complicated past, the team includes: Special Agent Sheryll Barnes, a former NYPD detective and forensics expert who is raising one child with her wife with another on the way; Special Agent Hana Gibson, a gifted millennial computer whiz with a sharp wit and mad hacking skills; and Special Agent Kenny Crosby, a young Army vet and brash Oklahoma farm boy who specializes in weapons and tactics; Special Agent Ivan Ortiz, a transplant from Los Angeles with a street cop’s instincts and a gift for undercover work; and their newest member, 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.
Always in the field and always on the run, FBI: Most Wanted is a weekly adrenaline shot about the thrill of the chase.
CBS’s SEAL Team season five episode four kicks off a three-episode arc on Sunday, October 31, 2021 at 10pm ET/PT. Directed by Tyler Grey from a script by Tom Mularz and Mark Semos, episode four – “Need to Know” – finds the team working on preventing a terrorist attack.
David Boreanaz returns to lead the cast as Jason Hayes. Max Thieriot plays Clay Spenser, Neil Brown Jr. is Ray Perry, AJ Buckley is Sonny Quinn, and Toni Trucks stars as Lisa Davis.
Episode four’s guest cast includes Judd Lormand, Parisa Fakhri, Sallieu Sesay, C. Thomas Howell, Alona Tal, and Kerri Medders.
“Need to Know” Plot: As each member of Bravo confronts major family obstacles, the team gets spun up on a sudden mission in Africa. When the intel alters their plan, the team finds themselves in a rush to prevent a major terrorist attack, in part one of a three-part episode arc.
Part two of the three-episode arc of SEAL Team (season five, episode five) will be available the next day on Paramount+, as the series moves exclusively to the streaming platform beginning on Sunday, Nov. 7th. Future new episodes will air on Sundays on Paramount+.
SEAL Team is a military drama that follows the professional and personal lives of the most elite unit of Navy SEALs as they train, plan and execute the most dangerous, high stakes missions our country can ask of them. Jason Hayes is the respected, intense leader of the Tier One team whose home life has suffered as a result of his extensive warrior’s existence.
His team includes his trusted confidant, Ray Perry, the longest-tenured operator with whom Jason shares an ingrained shorthand; Sonny Quinn, an exceptional, loyal soldier with a checkered past who still combats self-destructive tendencies; and Clay Spenser, a young, multilingual, second-generation SEAL with insatiable drive and dedication.
Vital to the team’s success is Ensign Lisa Davis, a no-nonsense, take-charge officer. Deployed on clandestine missions worldwide at a moment’s notice and knowing the toll it takes on them and their families, this tight-knit SEAL team displays unwavering patriotism and fearless dedication even in the face of overwhelming odds.
Netflix just released the first photos from Inventing Anna, the new drama from Shonda Rhimes starring Ozark‘s Julia Garner. Inspired by a New York Magazine article by Jessica Pressler, Rhimes’ new series explores the story of a woman who faked being an heiress, infiltrated New York social circles, defrauded banks and hotels, and wound up convicted of grand larceny.
In addition to Julia Garner in the title role, Inventing Anna stars Anna Chlumsky as Vivian, Arian Moayed as Todd, Katie Lowes as Rachel, and Alexis Floyd as Neff. Anders Holm plays Jack, Anna Deavere Smith is Maud, Jeff Perry stars as Lou, Terry Kinney is Barry, and Laverne Cox is Kacy.
Shonda Rhimes created the series and serves as showrunner, writer, and executive producer. Executive producers Tom Verica and David Frankel directed episodes and Matt Byrne, Jess Brownell, Abby Ajayi, and Nick Nardini joined Rhimes as writers. Daisy Von Scherler Mayer, Ellen Kuras, and Nzingha Stewart also directed episodes.
Inventing Anna is set to premiere in 2022.
Netflix released the following season one description:
“In Inventing Anna, a journalist with a lot to prove investigates the case of Anna Delvey, the Instagram-legendary German heiress who stole the hearts of New York’s social scene – and stole their money as well. But is Anna New York’s biggest con woman, or is she simply the new portrait of the American dream?
Anna and the reporter form a dark, funny, love-hate bond as Anna awaits trial and our reporter fights the clock to answer the biggest question in NYC: who is Anna Delvey?”
Fox’s 9-1-1 season five episode seven finds the team helping a man who was buried alive. Season five episode seven, “Ghost Stories,” will air on Monday, November 8, 2021 at 8pm ET/PT.
Executive producers Angela Bassett and Peter Krause return to lead the cast as Athena Grant and Bobby Nash. Jennifer Love Hewitt plays Maddie Kendall, Oliver Stark is Evan “Buck” Buckley, Aisha Hinds is Henrietta “Hen” Wilson, and Kenneth Choi is Howie “Chimney” Han. Ryan Guzman plays Eddie Diaz, Rockmond Dunbar is Michael Grant, Corinne Massiah is May Grant, Marcanthonee Jon Reis is Harry Grant, Gavin McHugh is Christopher Diaz, and John Harlan Kim plays Albert Han.
“Ghost Stories” Plot: The members of the 118 race to rescue a man who claims he was carjacked, shot and buried alive. Then, they arrive at a home where the owner thinks her roommate is a ghost, Hen receives a visit from the past and Athena and family are concerned that Harry is still haunted by visions of Jeffrey.
The Season 5 Plot, Courtesy of Fox:
The first responders race into action when a series of ransomware attacks target computer systems, air traffic control towers and hospitals. Then, a massive city-wide blackout causes havoc in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Athena deals with a family emergency, Maddie’s postpartum depression worsens, Eddie suffers a health scare and a new call center operator takes charge.
Peter Krause in ‘9-1-1’ season 5 episode 7 (Photo by Jack Zeman / FOX)Oliver Stark in the “Ghost Stories” episode (Photo by Jack Zeman / FOX)Oliver Stark in season 5 episode 7 (Photo by Jack Zeman / FOX)Aisha Hinds and Peter Krause in season 5 episode 7 (Photo by Jack Zeman / FOX)Aisha Hinds in the “Ghost Stories” episode (Photo by Jack Zeman / FOX)Aisha Hinds and Peter Krause in season 5 episode 7 (Photo by Jack Zeman / FOX)
In 1965, Frank Herbert’s science fiction novel Dune was published and won the inaugural Nebula Award for Best Novel from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). It’s now considered one of the best science fiction novels of all time and has long been thought to be one of the most difficult novels to adapt for the big screen.
In the 1970s cult filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky (El Topo, The Holy Mountain) attempted to convert the novel to film but after three years had to abandon the project due to budget concerns. In 1984 filmmaker David Lynch (Twin Peaks) brought his adaptation to the big screen to dismal reviews and less than stellar box office receipts. (It ranks at 46% with critics and 65% with audiences on Rotten Tomatoes).
Now filmmaker Denis Villeneuve’s (Arrival, Blade Runner 2049) version of the epic interstellar adventure story of worlds at war over the most precious resource in existence, spice, hits theaters. Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name) stars as Paul Atreides, a brilliant and talented young man who dreams of a world made of sand and a stunning woman who he’s never met. His father, Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac), has accepted the title of Governor of the planet Arrakis from the Emperor to get the harvesting of spice, used for enhancing metal capacity and making interdimensional space travel possible, back on track. Upon landing on Arrakis, Paul realizes it’s the planet he’s been dreaming about.
Duke Leto is suspicious of the planet’s inhabitants and fears the Emperor is setting him up to fail by putting his family in a dangerous situation. The Atreides, their loyal subjects, and important friends are on the planet only a few days when an assassination attempt followed by an all-out attack is launched against them by Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgard), the head of House Harkonnen who was in control of Arrakis prior to House Atreides. Paul and his mother, Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), escape their would-be killers and venture out into the desolate, barren and deadly desert while Paul’s friend, mentor, and House Atreides warrior Duncan Idaho (Jason Momoa) puts up a mighty defense.
Dune is visually stunning with breathtaking effects and above average performances from the talented cast. The epic and overly long science fiction adventure brings the worlds and characters of Herbert’s novel to life in memorable fashion. The film’s style, production design, and costumes are fantastic and should be remembered during awards season.
Timothee Chalamet tops the list of stand-out performances in the film, perfectly capturing the wonder and excitement Paul feels once he arrives on Arrakis and while trying to understand the special mental powers he’s inherited from his mother. Chalamet has solid chemistry with both Ferguson and Isaac in their scenes together.
Jason Momoa steals every scene he’s in as Duncan, a mighty, loyal warrior who’s more than just a mentor to Paul; he’s a true friend. Momoa’s performance is perhaps the most natural in the film. Stellan Skarsgard, who is almost unrecognizable under heavy makeup and in a fat suit, delivers an unforgettable and truly menacing performance as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen. He’s sure to end up on the list of most memorable science fiction villains right next to The Emperor from Star Wars.
Although powerful and original, Hans Zimmer’s score becomes, at times, overbearing and even distracting, especially during the action scenes. Another problem Dune has is the long and tedious setup introducing most of the characters and the worlds in this universe. This causes the film to drag and feel like a very slow burn when a more rapidly paced setup would get the point across just as well.
Still, with stunning visuals, wonderful sets, and strong performances, Dune is an engaging sci-fi adventure that should be experienced up on the big screen.
GRADE: B
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some disturbing images, sequences of strong violence, and suggestive material
Emmy nominee Jeff Goldblum reminds us it’s all about the journey and not the destination in the season two trailer for The World According to Jeff Goldblum. The minute-and-a-half trailer finds Goldblum racing in an ATV, being wowed by magic, and dealing with an upset Tuna (the dog, not the fish).
Disney+ released the season two trailer in celebration of Jeff Goldblum’s birthday and in support of the new season’s upcoming premiere on Friday, November 12, 2021 (“Disney+ Day”). Season two will debut with the release of the following five new episodes:
Magic: Jeff learns mind-bending tricks from Las Vegas icons Penn & Teller and has his perception of reality destroyed by viral superstar Zach King. But magic isn’t all about big names and crazy illusions — for some, magic can be a celebration of nature, a connection to our cultural heritage and a means to explore our deepest selves.
Fireworks: Now a billion-dollar industry, Jeff learns the fireworks business is booming. From a dazzling drone display to spectacular stargazing, Jeff discovers how the feeling of awe affects us and the weird and wonderful ways we seek it out.
Monsters: Jeff discovers the frightening truth behind why we love to be scared and meets master monster-maker Phil Tippet in his legendary studio before embarking on a monster hunt in the Big Foot forests among the California redwoods.
Dogs: From a wild ride with a pack of huskies and a family of urban mushers to the weird and wonderful world of Instagram dogs to a puppy pile-on with a squad of trainee service dogs, Jeff meets every kind of working dog imaginable and gets to the heart of why dogs mean so much to us.
Dance: Jeff does a grand jeté into the world of dance. From spinning in a roller disco to entertaining a dance battle, Jeff uncovers the reason we can’t resist moving and shaking to a sweet melody.
Additional new season two episodes will arrive in 2022.
The series is a Nutopia production for National Geographic and is executive produced by Goldblum, Keith Addis, Jane Root, Sara Brailsford, Arif Nurmohamed, Matt Renner, and Chris L. Kugelman.
The World According to Jeff Goldblum Description, Courtesy of Disney+:
Jeff is back, and he’s as curious as ever in the second season. He’s our playful and inquisitive guide to uncover more surprising secrets about seemingly familiar topics — magic, fireworks, monsters, dogs and dance. In each new episode, Jeff’s insatiable appetite for learning and sense of wonderment take him from coast to coast to meet with passionate fans, experts and scientists, to gain a deeper understanding of how ordinary objects are extraordinary.
This season, Jeff meets with legendary magicians Penn & Teller to discover the real secrets of magic; experiences mind-bending reality with viral star Zach King; meets with two-time Oscar®-winning animator Phil Tippet, who is known for his work on Star Wars and Jurassic Park; ventures to the dark, mysterious woods of Northern California to search for Bigfoot; meets with Atlanta influencers Collab Crib; and has a dance-off with a sea lion to discover the secret language of dance.
