HBO’s limited series Scenes from a Marriage has unveiled an official trailer in support of its upcoming September 12, 2021 premiere. A contemporary take on Ingmar Bergman’s critically acclaimed 1973 Swedish miniseries, Scenes from a Marriage stars Critics Choice Awards nominee Oscar Isaac (Show Me a Hero) and two-time Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty, The Help) as a married couple attempting to work their way through problems in their relationship.
The five-part series was developed by writer/director Hagai Levi (HBO’s In Treatment). Levi also executive produces along with Isaac, Chastain, Amy Herzog, Michael Ellenberg, Lars Blomgren, Daniel Bergman, and Blair Breard. The limited series was produced by Media Res and Endeavor for HBO.
HBO released the following description of the limited series:
“A captivating re-examination of the dilemmas probed by the original, the five-episode limited series explores love, hatred, desire, monogamy, marriage, and divorce through the lens of a contemporary American couple. Mira (Chastain) is a confident, ambitious tech executive left unfulfilled by her marriage, and Jonathan (Isaac) is a cerebral and accommodating philosophy professor desperate to keep their relationship intact.
Throughout, Scenes from a Marriage mines the full complexity of Jonathan and Mira as individuals who ultimately know their marriage isn’t being torn apart by any one event or flaw, resulting in a radically honest series that allows the audience to eavesdrop on private conversations between two people torn between feelings of hate and love.”
Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain in ‘Scenes from a Marriage’ (Photo credit: Jojo Whilden/HBO)
Scenes from a Marriage Episodes 1-4 Descriptions:
Episode 1 “Innocence and Panic”
Debut Date: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
After a tense day of reflection and disclosure, Mira (Jessica Chastain) and her husband Jonathan (Oscar Isaac) navigate the consequences of unexpected news.
Teleplay by Hagai Levi and Amy Herzog and Directed by Hagai Levi
Episode 2 “Poli”
Debut Date: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
When Mira (Jessica Chastain) returns from a business trip with a crushing revelation, she and Jonathan (Oscar Isaac) struggle to process the complicated aftershock.
Teleplay by and Directed by Hagai Levi
Episode 3 “The Vale of Tears”
Debut Date: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Jonathan (Oscar Isaac) and Mira (Jessica Chastain) share all that they’ve learned since separating, rekindling old connections at the risk of exacerbating dormant wounds.
Teleplay by and Directed by Hagai Levi
Episode 4 “The Illiterates”
Debut Date: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Jonathan (Oscar Isaac) and Mira (Jessica Chastain) reconvene, exploring the root of their connection but ultimately finding the source of their animalistic impulses.
Teleplay by and Directed by Hagai Levi
AMC Studios is in the “exploring the potential” stage of a series based on Anne Rice’sLives of the Mayfair Witches books. If it moves forward, Lives of the Mayfair Witches would be the second series in the works at AMC based on Rice’s bestselling novels. The first – Interview with the Vampire – is expected to premiere in 2022.
Lives of the Mayfair Witches‘ has Esta Spaulding (Masters of Sex, On Becoming a God in Central Florida) and Michelle Ashford (Masters of Sex, The Pacific) attached as writers and executive producers. If AMC greenlights the series, Spaulding would also take on the role of showrunner.
“We have an enormous amount of ambition for these iconic works, which have captivated and entertained millions of fans around the world, so it is gratifying to be moving so quickly from the Interview greenlight to exploring a second series with such talented and accomplished writers and creators as Esta and Michelle,” stated Dan McDermott, president of original programming for AMC Networks and AMC Studios. “We take our responsibility to deliver compelling television to both existing and new fans of this material incredibly seriously, as we move deliberately to develop these titles into a new franchise and universe for AMC+ and AMC.”
AMC’s announcement included the following description of Mayfair Witches:
“The series will focus on an intuitive young neurosurgeon 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.”
Author Anne Rice’s site describes the first book in the series, The Witching Hour:
“The first in the Mayfair Witches series, The Witching Hour introduces the fictional Mayfair family of New Orleans, generations of male and female witches. This tight-knit and deeply connected family, where a death of one strengthens the others with his/her knowledge. One Mayfair witch per generation is also designated to receive the powers of “the man,” known as Lasher. Lasher gives the witches gifts, excites them, and protects them. Unsure as to exactly what this spirit is, the Mayfair clan knows him variously as a protector, a god-like figure, a sexual being, and the image of death. Lasher’s current witch is Deirdre, who lies catatonic from psychological shock treatments.
Deirdre’s daughter, Rowan, has been spirited away from this ‘evil’ and has happily become a neurosurgeon and has an uncanny gift to see the intent behind the facade. Rowan also has a gift few doctors possess–she can heal cells. Yet, though she uses it to save lives, she also fears that she hs caused several deaths. She rescues Michael from drowning. Michael then develops some extraordinary powers that compel him to seek New Orleans and to seek Rowan. He finds both, and pulls the tale closer together by meeting people connected to the Mayfair family who now fear Rowan because she is the first Mayfair who can kill without Lasher’s help.
Michael dives into learning the history of the Mayfair witches: Deborah, Charlotte, Mary Beth, Stella, Antha, and many others across hundreds of years and three continents. When Michael looks up from his reading, he learns that Rowan has come to New Orleans to attend her mother’s funeral. Rowan learns of her family history, her ancestral home in shambles, and Lasher waiting for the next one. Rowan dedicates herself to stopping Lasher’s reign. Michael too has his own mission, but it is foggy and unclear to him. But Lasher is seductively powerful and Rowan’s gifts offer him the opportunity to achieve his ultimate goal.”
Disney+ just released the official trailer and voice cast details for the upcoming original series Star Wars: Visions. The anthology series reimagines the Star Wars galaxy in anime format, with the seven shorts produced by first-class Japanese anime studios.
“Lucasfilm is partnering with seven of the most talented anime studios in Japan to bring their signature style and unique vision of the Star Wars galaxy to this inspired new series,” stated James Waugh, executive producer and Lucasfilm Vice President, Franchise Content & Strategy. “Their stories showcase the full spectrum of bold storytelling found across Japanese animation; each told with a freshness and voice that expands our understanding of what a Star Wars story can be, and celebrates a galaxy that has been such an inspiration to so many visionary storytellers.”
Kamikaze Douga created “The Duel,” Geno Studio (Twin Engine) handled “Lop & Ochō,” Studio Colorido (Twin Engine) created “Tatooine Rhapsody,” and TRIGGER created “The Twins” and “The Elder.” Kinema Citrus is the studio behind “The Village Bride,” Production I.G. created “The Ninth Jedi,” and Science Saru created “Akakiri” and “T0-B1.”
Disney+ has set a September 22, 2021 premiere date.
The English Dub Cast:
The Duel: Brian Tee (Ronin), Lucy Liu (Bandit Leader), Jaden Waldman (Village Chief)
Tatooine Rhapsody:Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Jay), Bobby Moynihan (Geezer), Temuera Morrison (BobaFett), Shelby Young (K-344), Marc Thompson (Lan)
The Twins:Neil Patrick Harris (Karre), Alison Brie (Am), Jonathan Lipow (B-20N)
The Village Bride: Karen Fukuhara (F), Nichole Sakura (Haru), Christopher Sean (Asu), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Valco), Andrew Kishino (Izuma), Stephanie Sheh (Saku)
The Ninth Jedi: Kimiko Glenn (Kara), Andrew Kishino (Juro), Simu Liu (Zhima), Masi Oka (Ethan), Greg Chun (Roden), Neil Kaplan (Narrator), Michael Sinterniklaas (Hen Jin)
Amazon Prime Video’s Welcome to the Blumhouse is set to introduce four new installments this year, kicking off in early October with the double-feature Bingo Hell and Black as Night. The four new thrillers continue in the Welcome to the Blumhouse tradition of featuring emerging filmmakers and diverse casts.
The first four films in Welcome to the Blumhouse – The Lie, Black Box, Evil Eye, and Nocturne – premiered in October 2020. Bingo Hell from writer/director Gigi Saul Guerrero and Black as Night directed by Maritte Lee Go premiere on October 1, 2021. Director Ryan Zaragoza’s Madres and writer/director Axelle Carolyn’s The Manor arrive on October 8th.
Details on the First Four Films, Courtesy of Amazon Prime Video:
BINGO HELL – When a sinister figure threatens the residents of a low-income community, a feisty senior citizen tries to stop him in Bingo Hell, a wickedly original horror movie with a fiendishly funny twist. After 60-something neighborhood activist Lupita (Adriana Barraza) discovers that her beloved local bingo hall has been taken over by a mysterious businessman named Mr. Big (Richard Brake), she rallies her elderly friends to fight back against the enigmatic entrepreneur. But when her longtime neighbors begin turning up dead under grisly circumstances, Lupita suddenly discovers that gentrification is the least of her problems. Something terrifying has made itself at home in the quiet barrio of Oak Springs, and with each new cry of “Bingo!” another victim falls prey to its diabolical presence. As the cash prizes increase and the body count steadily rises, Lupita must face the frightening realization that this game is truly winner-takes-all.
BLACK AS NIGHT – A resourceful teenage girl leaves childhood behind when she battles a group of deadly vampires in Black as Night, an action-horror hybrid with a strong social conscience and a biting sense of humor. Fifteen years after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, a new threat leaves its mark on the Big Easy in the form of puncture wounds on the throats of the city’s vulnerable displaced population. When her drug-addicted mom becomes the latest victim of the undead, 15-year old Shawna (Asjha Cooper) vows to even the score. Along with three trusted friends, Shawna hatches a bold plan to infiltrate the vampire’s mansion in the historic French Quarter, destroy their leader, and turn his fanged disciples back to their human form. But killing monsters is no easy task, and soon Shawna and her crew find themselves caught in a centuries-old conflict between warring vampire factions, each fighting to claim New Orleans as their permanent home.
MADRES – Beto (Tenoch Huerta) and Diana (Ariana Guerra), a young Mexican-American couple expecting their first child, move to a small town in 1970’s California where Beto has been offered a job managing a farm. Isolated from the community and plagued by confusing nightmares, Diana explores the rundown company ranch where they reside, finding a grisly talisman and a box containing the belongings of the previous residents. Her discoveries will lead her to a truth much stranger and more terrifying than she could have possibly imagined.
THE MANOR – A malevolent force preys upon the residents of a sleepy nursing home in The Manor, a gothic tale of terror with a modern twist. When a mild stroke diminishes her ability to care for herself, Judith Albright (Barbara Hershey) moves to Golden Sun Manor, an assisted living facility with a sterling reputation. But despite the best efforts of the staff, and a budding friendship with fellow senior Roland (Bruce Davidson), strange occurrences and nightmarish visions convince Judith that a sinister presence is haunting the massive estate. As residents begin to die mysteriously, Judith’s frantic warnings are dismissed as fantasy. Even her devoted grandson Josh (Nicholas Alexander) thinks her fears are the result of dementia, not demons. With no one willing to believe her, Judith must either escape the confines of the manor, or fall victim to the evil that dwells within it.
Lorde has signed up for a week-long residency on CBS’s The Late Late Show with James Corden in support of her new album, Solar Power. Lorde’s third album will drop on August 20, 2021, followed by her The Late Late Show residency from August 23rd through August 26th.
Lorde‘s expected to perform songs off her new album, including the title track and first single, “Solar Power.” The Grammy Award winner is also going to participate in sit-down chats as well as comedy segments over the course of the one-week residency.
The August 23rd episode marks the late-night series’ return after its summer hiatus. The Late Late Show with James Corden airs weeknights at 12:37am ET/PT on CBS and is also accessible via the CBS app and Paramount+.
CBS’s announcement included a brief bio of the singer whose career launched with “Royals,” the Diamond-certified single off of Pure Heroine:
“In 2013, a 16-year-old Lorde quietly, yet confidently, asserted herself as the voice of a generation with her full-length debut, Pure Heroine. The album would go triple-platinum, win two GRAMMY® Awards, and spawn the certified Diamond, record-breaking, international juggernaut single, “Royals,” and quadruple-platinum follow up “Team.” The former cemented Lorde as “the youngest solo artist and the only New Zealander to achieve #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 since 1987.”
Time exalted her amongst the “Most Influential Teenagers in the World,” she landed on Forbes’s “30 Under 30” List, graced the cover of Rolling Stone and performed alongside Nirvana during the 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. She also curated the official soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 and recorded “Yellow Flicker Beat” as the lead single.
In 2017 Lorde released her second full-length studio album, Melodrama which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 Chart, making her the first ever NZ artist to land a #1 debut album in the United States. The album reached #1 in over 45 countries and earned Lorde a nomination for Album of the Year at the 2018 GRAMMY® Awards.
Lorde makes her highly anticipated return with the critically acclaimed new single, “Solar Power,” from her third full-length studio album, Solar Power, due out August 20th. Lorde currently has over 12 million albums sold worldwide and over 10 billion streams worldwide.”
The sum of The Night House’s parts don’t quite add up to a satisfying conclusion, yet the journey to reach the disappointing finale is worth the investment if only for the stunning performance by Rebecca Hall. Directed by David Bruckner (The Ritual, V/H/S’s best segment, “Amateur Night”), The Night House delivers a sprinkling of well-choreographed jump scares and thrills but the script by Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski contains a series of complicated twists that ultimately don’t pay off.
Hall stars as Beth, a schoolteacher dealing with the sudden death of her husband, Owen (Evan Jonigkeit). Owen’s suicide was unexpected and Beth’s still reeling from the loss of her lover as The Night House opens.
Owen designed and built the gorgeous, sprawling lake house that Beth now occupies alone. She watches their wedding video and gently caresses the empty space on the bed as she works her way through the grieving process.
Any peace Beth hoped to obtain in this lonely home is shattered after a series of supernatural events. There’s an unexplained pounding at her door when no one is there. Wet footprints begin by the lake and make their way past the boat where Owen took his life and up the wooden dock. Music turns itself on in the wee hours of the morning, and at one point Beth believes she’s messaging with her deceased husband.
But is this all a dream or is there a ghostly presence desperately trying to make itself known? Is Beth actually wandering her home at night in hopes of confirming she’s not actually alone? As The Night House unfolds, Beth’s grip on reality becomes increasingly tenuous. Lines blur and the terror level rises as Beth edges ever so slowly closer to discovering the truth.
The R-rated thriller is basically a one-hander with sporadic appearances by Sarah Goldberg (Barry) as Beth’s closest friend, Claire, and Vondie Curtis-Hall (For the People) as a nearby neighbor named Mel who also recently suffered the loss of a spouse. Claire and Mel serve as sounding boards and key voices of reason as Beth spirals downward during her relentless quest to learn if the Owen she loved existed or if that version was simply a layer of camouflage disguising a more feral reality.
Rebecca Hall’s Beth appears to be solidly in the anger stage of grief for much of the film. When Beth discovers secret journals hidden from her during Owen’s life that contain bizarre and frightening references to the supernatural and the occult, Rebecca Hall’s imbues those scenes with a healthy dose of skepticism, frustration, and a deep, sustained sadness. The deeper down the rabbit hole Beth descends, the more layers Hall creates for the character. It’s a fascinating, gripping performance that solidifies Hall as one of the finest – and most underrated – actors of her generation.
Searchlight’s The Night House tosses in awkward and unnecessary twists, and even with a swift nearly two-hour running time there are scenes that play out too slowly. Hall’s terrific performance elevates this thriller. It’s unfortunate the final act lets her down.
GRADE: C+
MPAA Rating: R for some violence, disturbing images, some sexual references, and language
The CW’s Roswell, New Mexico season three episode four gives fans of Max and Liz a brief moment of happiness before ripping it away. Liz (Jeanine Mason) is seated on the beach when Max (Nathan Dean) arrives, declaring he couldn’t stay away. Of course it’s just a dream…but for one second it seemed so real.
In reality, Jones (also Nathan Dean) has escaped his cage, made it to Max’s place, and is busy shaving off his beard. Makeover accomplished, he goes through Max’s private writings and absorbs everything he needs to know. Jones uses his powers to open Max’s safe and takes out his gun. He smiles at a photo of Isobel and Noah, and then looks at a drawing accompanied by a question about the “alighting.”
Isobel (Lily Cowles) wants to work as a guide to help Maria (Heather Hemmens) access details of the funeral, along with a little help from a drug. They need to do this now because the fire’s almost out which means the murder will happen soon.
They dose up and Isobel joins Maria in her vision which, as it turns out, contains items from Isobel’s mind too. That makes sorting things out confusing as Liz points out while serving them piña coladas at the bar. When Maria asks to be shown the psychic vision section, Liz says Maria’s unconscious mind buried it because it’s so unsettling.
Liz explains everyone in this vision represents a hidden truth. She’ll need to confront each person in order to access her vision.
They spot a young girl practicing karate and Isobel confirms that’s part of her dream to open a self-defense school. Once she takes ownership of that vision, the girl vanishes.
Liz claims that was the easy part.
Next, Isobel spots Bronson (Gaius Charles) in a booth with her mom, Louise (Cassandra Jean Amell), and Liz wants her to explain their appearance in this vision. Isobel claims she has nothing to hide. Their attention turns to Max and his identical twin in a booth playing cards and Isobel’s forced to reveal Max is a clone. She explains they found Jones in a cave and still aren’t sure if he’s good or bad. When Isobel adds that he’s currently locked in a cage, Maria is shocked. Isobel clarifies that he’s only been in a cage a week; he spent the other 51 weeks of the previous year in a pod.
Isobel admits their moms were afraid of Jones, but she can feel he’s telling the truth when he says he cares about Max. She also admits he feels like family – and with that Max and Jones disappear from the booth.
They continue to work their way through the people who populate the vision, and Maria confesses that being neither completely human nor completely alien makes her feel lonely. Isobel understands how Maria’s feeling and promises to do a better job of including her.
Sheriff Taylor (Gillian Vigman) delivers a speech claiming she’s all about law and order. Bert (La’Charles Trask) asks how she’s planning on handling the recent racial attacks and she declares she’s going to get to the bottom of it. Taylor says black lives matter as do brown, red, white, etc., etc., etc. She even adds green to the mix since they’re in Roswell.
Elsewhere, Rosa (Amber Midthunder) is interrupted by Wyatt (Dylan McTee) while she’s spraying art on the side of a building. He asks about the woman she’s painted and recognizes the quote surrounding it is from Leonard Cohen’s “Anthem.” Wyatt confesses he still can’t remember his life but thinks something bad happened to his sister. He asks Rosa about it and she claims she doesn’t know anything.
Kyle pays a visit to Michael (Michael Vlamis) to find out why his dad’s old radio played something strange. Michael refuses to help and Kyle places the radio in front of Michael’s face to get his full attention. Michael’s turquoise stone causes the radio to broadcast once again.
Kyle confirms it’s his dad’s voice reacting to Michael’s magic rock. Kyle admits he knows about Jones but didn’t know anything about magic pebbles, and Michael explains it amplifies chemical properties of anything with a current.
Michael opens the radio and discovers alien glass inside. The glass is cracked which will take a while to fix, and Michael wonders why Kyle’s dad hid it in a broken radio in the first place.
The radio features a carving that reads: “In times of trouble let this be your guide”
Michael gets to work on the glass with Kyle’s assistance. He discovers the alien glass makes the radio a transmitter and a receiver and wonders who’s on the receiving end of the messages.
Once the glass is mended, his lab shakes like an earthquake has hit and then the glass activates. A message from Kyle’s dad begins playing and it’s revealed the Valentis have chosen to protect the “others” since the crash in ’47. The Valentis believed they needed to help others who were being persecuted, however, Kyle’s dad has come to believe they were wrong.
The recording instructs Kyle to walk away before it’s too late. He doesn’t want Kyle to “make a sacrifice no more Valentis should make.”
Kyle helps Michael clean up after the quake, and Michael corrects him when he calls the place Guerin Grotto. “First of all, it’s a lair. Second, I’m pretty sure your dad told you to get the hell out of here,” says Michael.
Michael reminds Kyle he’s supposed to get far away, according to his dad. Kyle refuses and Michael becomes angry, admitting he’s as incapable of flying in a ship to his other planet and helping out in a war that’s probably over as Kyle is in helping them. Kyle remains undeterred and refuses to just walk away.
Their argument’s put on hold when Kyle receives a text about a medical emergency at the Lopez Farm. Before he takes off, Kyle suggests Michael quit feeling sorry for himself and talk to Jones to get some much-needed answers.
Wyatt and Rosa chat over coffee and Rosa asks about his relationship with Rosa, which sounds utterly confusing now that I’ve typed that. (Remember, Wyatt thinks this woman is Rosa’s cousin, Rosalinda.) Apparently, Rosa and Wyatt were friends at some point and even shared a love of Nirvana and art.
Their quiet talk’s interrupted by Jordan Bernhardt (Michael Grant Terry) and his minion Zeke (Zacciah Hanson) being tossed from the Take Me to Your Latte shop. When Wyatt tries to get them to leave, Jordan suggests he ask Rosa what happened to his sister. Wyatt explains Rosalinda doesn’t know and his ex-friends are happy to tell him Rosa killed Kate.
Liz is back in LA and attends a party thrown by Genoryx in her honor. Heath (Steven Krueger) tries to lure her back inside to join the celebration and learns Liz has the special spores in her bag but hasn’t done anything with them. She confesses she’s not sure she’s supposed to be in LA working for Genoryx. If she discovers anything important with the spores, Genoryx will own her research.
Heath escorts Liz over to a club with an empty dance floor. He jokes that it’s a good thing as there’s more room for them to show off their moves. The sparks fly as Jeanine Mason’s skills on the dance floor remind us she started her television career on So You Think You Can Dance.
After the number ends, Heath explains he’s there for her and willing to help her do research off-book, if that’s what she wants. He’ll even have his friend set up all the necessary firewalls and protections they need for them to work from her home.
Catching up with Jones…the escaped alien’s reading Tripp’s journal and learns it’s been assumed he’s pure evil and the devil. He becomes angry and fires off Max’s gun, accidentally hitting a poor, innocent dog in the hip.
Jones is a lot of things but he’s not a dog hater. He heals the dog’s wounds and names him Lucky. The twosome return to the cave where Max is now inside the cage and Jones deactivates it. He then touches Max, determined to show him who he really is.
A flashback shows Jones demanding Louise turn over the boy. She refuses to do so.
Jones reactivates the cage after the flashback and uses his alien skills to break into Kyle’s office. He finds Max’s chart and learns he’s in late-stage heart failure.
Kyle arrives at the Lopez Farm and discovers Jordan Bernhardt and Zeke beat Mr. Lopez. Mr. and Mrs. Lopez refuse to go to the hospital because they’re undocumented and only called Kyle because his mom used to take care of them. They don’t have anyone else to turn to.
Michael’s ready to finally have a one-on-one with Jones but finds Max occupying the cage instead. He revives Max and both realize Jones is on the loose. They head over to Max’s and find Jones playing a harmonica and making himself at home. Max warns Michael that Jones is stronger than any of them, but Michael’s not worried about fighting someone with Max’s face.
With a flick of his wrist Jones disarms Michael and gets down to business. He understands why they don’t trust him and confesses he’s come to learn Max is a good, decent man. He deserves a healthy life and knows Max is dying. “Will you trust me enough to let me heal you?” asks Jones.
Max doesn’t think Jones is strong enough to do that, but Jones points out Lucky is just fine. Jones insists he’s okay with dying if it means Max is healed.
Max remains unconvinced and Jones offers to show him the rest of his memories from the ‘40s. Michael doesn’t want him to but Max knows memories can’t be faked.
Another flashback finds Jones in the cave looking at the turquoise stones and an empty pod. He leaves the cave and demands to know where Louise has taken his boy. She admits they moved him and that they were using the stones to fix him. Jones is in tears as he describes them as two halves of a whole; he claims he wants to do what’s right.
An alien sword fight breaks out and Jones is able to disarm Louise. Unfortunately, he didn’t anticipate Bronson shooting him.
Max is yanked out of the flashback with a better understanding of Jones. Jones is okay with returning to his cage and continues to insist he wants to heal Max.
Michael and Max take Jones back to the cage, and Jones asks to keep the harmonica. Max describes what he saw in Jones’ memories and confirms Jones was hunting Nora and Louise but only to save him – not to hurt either woman. Jones thinks of him like a son and felt pain when they locked him away in the pod.
Max is still confused and unsure about letting Jones heal him. Michael remains distrustful but isn’t sure of his own motivations. Is it because Jones revealed things about his mom he didn’t want to know? Maybe.
Michael says he’ll back Max’s decision, no matter what.
The café’s closed when Wyatt pays Rosa a visit. He explains he googled himself and discovered he was a racist prior to losing his memory. Rosa confirms that’s true and that Wyatt shot up the diner and attacked Arturo. She also confesses she doesn’t understand why he’s different now but is sympathetic to his plight having recently gone through rehab to heal herself. She believes people are capable of changing. Wyatt apologizes for his past actions and Rosa doesn’t take responsibility but does apologize for his sister’s death.
Liz shocks Heath by deciding the best thing to do is resign from Genoryx. Heath wants her to think it through before she submits her resignation, but Liz is certain this is the best option. Heath seems more upset than he should be as Liz explains she has people she cares about and should have put her faith in. She hits send and it’s a done deal.
Isobel and Maria have made it through their fears and finally enter the funeral vision. It’s still blurry, but Isobel is seated next to Maria in the vision and says they’ll work through this together. They both turn to look as Bert talks to Michael about the sheriff. That means it’s definitely not Michael’s funeral.
Jordan confronts Kyle as he’s on his way to speak with Sheriff Taylor.
Isobel and Maria watch Rosa hug her mom from the front row of the funeral. Maria realizes this could be Liz’s funeral. Max stands at the podium but is overcome with emotion and unable to speak. He returns to his seat just as Liz rushes in. So, it’s not Liz’s funeral either!
Jordan attacks Kyle, calling his mom a bitch and swearing he’ll make his job more difficult. Punches are thrown and Kyle’s on the receiving end of most of them.
Isobel and Maria approach the coffin, move the flowers on top, and uncover the Valenti coat of arms. OH NO THIS IS NOT HAPPENING!
Jordan pushes Kyle and Kyle’s impaled through the stomach. He chokes up blood as he struggles to breathe. (I refuse to believe everyone’s sounding board, the man who puts all others before himself, is about to die.)
A pool of blood expands at Kyle’s feet.
Max is on the phone with Isobel when he pulls to a stop feet from Kyle. He confirms he’s found him and that he needs an ambulance immediately. As Max approaches Kyle, the lights on Max’s Jeep flash on. In LA, Liz becomes lightheaded and feels pain where Max left his handprint. Lightbulbs explode around Liz’s house and the handprint lights up as she collapses.
MGM’s Flag Day is a real family affair, with Sean Penn directing and starring alongside his daughter, Dylan Penn, in the drama based on a true story. The just-released music video of a song featured in the soundtrack keeps the father-daughter pairing going, with Eddie Vedder writing “My Father’s Daughter” and his daughter Olivia Vedder performing. (Glen Hansard co-wrote the song.)
The cast of Flag Day also includes Katheryn Winnick (Big Sky, Vikings), Josh Brolin (Avengers: Endgame), Norbert Leo Butz (Fosse/Verdon), Dale Dickey (Claws), Eddie Marsan (Ray Donovan), Bailey Noble (Them), and Hopper Jack Penn (Sean Penn’s son).
Jennifer Vogel’s memoir Flim-Flam Man: The True Story of My Father’s Counterfeit Life was adapted by Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth for the screen. William Horberg, Jon Kilik, and Fernando Sulichin produced, with Maximilien Arvelaiz, Lawrence Kopeikin, Thorsten Schumacher, Vincent Maraval, Sidney Kimmel, Allen Liu, Peter Touche, Christelle Conan, Vaishali Mistry, and John Wildermuth executive producing.
UA and MGM have set an August 20, 2021 theatrical release. Flag Day‘s rated R for language, some drug use and violent content.
The Plot:
“Jennifer Vogel’s father John was larger than life. As a child, Jennifer marveled at his magnetizing energy and ability to make life feel like a grand adventure. He taught her so much about love and joy, but he also happened to be the most notorious counterfeiter in US history. Based on a true story and directed by Sean Penn, Flag Day stars Penn and his real-life daughter Dylan Penn in an intimate family portrait about a young woman who struggles to rise above the wreckage of her past while reconciling the inescapable bond between a daughter and her father.”
The announcement today of a straight-to-series order for Field of Dreams is perfect timing on Peacock’s part. The network confirmed they’re moving forward on the series inspired by the Oscar-nominated feature film starring Kevin Costner just days after the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox emerged from the film’s cornfield.
MLB set up a temporary ballpark in Dyersville, Iowa next to where the movie was shot and invited 8,000+ fans. Kevin Costner had the honor of leading the Yankees and White Sox out onto the field prior to the game and of addressing the fans prior to the first pitch. “On the other side of that corn we filmed a movie that stood the test of time. Tonight, thanks to that enduring impact that that little movie had, it’s allowed us to come here again,” stated Costner.
The Peacock stated the series will “reimagine the mixture of family, baseball, Iowa and magic that makes the movie so enduring and beloved.”
The Universal Television production will be written and executive produced by Michael Schur. Lawrence Gordon, David Miner, and Morgan Sackett are also on board as executive producers.
“Through the years, Field of Dreams has remained a fan favorite, maintaining its rightful position in the zeitgeist,” stated Lisa Katz, President, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. “It’s whimsical and grounded, a space where Mike Schur excels, and we’re looking forward to bringing a new version of this classic to Peacock.”
Universal Television President Erin Underhill added, “Field of Dreams is an iconic Universal Film title from venerable producers Lawrence and Charles Gordon, that we could only have entrusted to Mike Schur. His talent, his love for baseball and his reverence for its themes make him the perfect choice to revisit this beloved film that evokes nostalgia and visceral emotion in so many of its fans.”
In addition to Kevin Costner, the critically acclaimed film starred Amy Madigan, Ray Liotta, James Earl Jones, and Gaby Hoffman. Director Phil Alden Robinson earned a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar nomination, and the film also earned Oscar nominations in the Best Original Score (James Horner) and Best Picture categories. Driving Miss Daisy won the Best Picture Oscar that year over Field of Dreams, My Left Foot, Dead Poets Society, and Born on the Fourth of July.
A dead party girl has to set things right with her parents and best friend in order to wind up in heaven rather than hell in Netflix’s Afterlife of the Party. The first official trailer finds Victory Justice playing the ghost on a mission and Midori Francis as her freaked out BFF.
The cast also includes Robyn Scott, Adam Garcia, Timothy Renouf, Gloria Garcia, Myfanwy Waring, and newcomer Spencer Sutherland.
Netflix has set a September 2, 2021 premiere date.
The supernatural comedy was directed by Stephen Herek (Same Time, Next Christmas) from a screenplay by Carrie Freedle (My Secret Valentine). Robyn Snyder and Deborah Evans served as producers.
Poster for ‘Afterlife of the Party’ (Photo Courtesy of Netflix)
The Plot, Courtesy of Netflix:
Party planner and social butterfly Cassie (Justice) is on top of the world, but a freak accident during her 25th birthday extravaganza brings it all crashing down – literally. When she finds herself in the waiting room of the afterlife, Cassie meets Val, her guardian angel, who explains that she has five days as an angel-in-training to make things right on Earth with the people who meant the most to her: her lifelong best friend Lisa ( Francis), her grieving father, and her estranged mother. In order to repair those relationships and make it to the big VIP room in the sky, Cassie breaks through the spiritual plane to communicate with Lisa and enlists her help to set things right with everyone.
In her journey of reflection and forgiveness, and, in true Cassie fashion, a few makeovers and impromptu dance parties along the way, Cassie finds that she might be the one with the most to learn. Featuring the perfect balance of heart and hilarity, Afterlife of the Party is a modern testament to the power of female friendship, the magic of a perfect pop song, and the importance of living and loving each day like it’s your last.
