Network: Cinemax Premiere date: Friday October 16, 10pm
My favorite show of 2014 is finally back! How has The Knick been running without it's famous troubled genius surgeon? Will Thackery ever get clean? Will he ever learn to function without his drugs? How is Cornelia doing out West? Will her and Algernon ever get to be together? How has Nurse Elkins been dealing with her heartbreak over Thackery's downfall? Better yet, how is our dear Bertie dealing with his heartbreak over Elkins? How is Gallinger handling his wife's breakdown? How has Algernon been doing running The Knick? What new financial trouble will Barrow get himself into? What will become of Sister Harriet and Cleary's illegal business?
After being nominated EIGHT times for his extraordinary portrayal of Don Draper, Jon Hamm finally won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series!!!!
It's a travesty that Jon didn't win earlier (although he's had stiff competition over the years) but I guess its better late than never. His impressive body of work on Mad Men will go down as one of the greatest performances in television history. It's impossible to pick just one favorite Don Draper moment, so here are a few:
Peggy gives Don her two weeks notice:
Most of Hamm's best work came when he played off the incredibly talented, Elisabeth Moss. This scene showcases Hamm's ability to cover a wide range of emotions (annoyance, arrogance, denial, anger, desperation, acceptance) all while maintaining Don Draper's cool, guarded facade. That moment when he gives up and kisses Peggy's hand is absolutely heartbreaking.
Don Draper on Speed:
Anyone that has watched any of Jon Hamm's numerous appearances in SNL and other comedies knows how funny the man can be. He didn't get nearly enough chances to show off his comedic chops during Mad Men but we did get to watch Don run through the office, high on speed and it was amazing.
Don Draper doesn't believe in love:
DIALOGUE.
Don "doesn't want to wake up pregnant":
Don's not-so-secret hatred for Pete created some wonderful tension throughout the years but never was it more enjoyable than during this hilarious burn.
Don lashes out at Peggy:
The iconic "That's what the money is for!" line.
Don gets some terrible news:
Watching Don Draper's walls crumble all around him was gut wrenching.
Don and Peggy share a beautiful moment:
The stoic, yet wildly inconsistent tenderness of Don Draper was always a marvel to watch.
Joan and Don share a laugh:
"But that's life, one minute you're on top of the world, the next minute some secretary is running you over with a lawnmower."
Look at these gorgeous cuties!
And of course, the iconic "Polaroid" pitch:
Absolutely mesmerizing. In that moment we were all Harry Crane.
Release date: 8/21/15 Rating: R Run time: 1Hr 19Min Directed by:Paul Weitz Starring:Lily Tomlin, Julia Garner, Marcia Gay Harden, Sam Elliott, Judy Greer,Laverne Cox, John Cho, Nat Wolff Synopsis:"Lily Tomlin stars as Elle who has just gotten through breaking up with her girlfriend when Elle's granddaughter Sage unexpectedly shows up needing $600 bucks before sundown. Temporarily broke, Grandma Elle and Sage spend the day trying to get their hands on the cash as their unannounced visits to old friends and flames end up rattling skeletons and digging up secrets."--IMDb
Why it looks worth seeing: It's exciting to see an older female actress get to be the lead in a film! And there are few actresses I'd rather see in this kind of role than Lily Tomlin. She has been one of my favorites ever since her hilarious performance in 2004's highly underrated dark comedy, I Heart Huckabees.
Premiere date: 8/16/15 8pm Channel: HBO Directed by: Paul Haggis Written by: David Simon, William F. Zorzi and (based on the book written by) Lisa Belkin Starring: Oscar Isaac, Alfred Molina, Winona Ryder, Catherine Keener, Jon Bernthal, James Belushi Synopsis: "Mayor Nick Wasicsko took office in 1987 during Yonkers' worst crisis when federal courts ordered public housing built in the white, middle class side of town, dividing the city in a bitter battle fueled by fear, racism, murder and politics."--IMDb.com
Why it looks worth seeing: Everything about this six part mini-series looks impressive: from the writing (done by David Simon, most famous for his widely acclaimed series, The Wire) and directing (done by Paul Haggis, Crash) to the unbelievable cast (Isaac, Molina, Keener and Ryder, just to name a few). And then there's the show's the intriguing plot: the incredible, real life story of Mayor Wasicsko and the desegregation of public housing in Yonkers in the late 1980's.
Release date: 8/7/15 Rating: PG-13 Run time: 1Hr 42Min Directed by: Jonathan Demme Starring: Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Mamie Gummer, Rick Springfield, Sebastian Stan Synopsis: "A musician who gave up everything for her dream of rock-and-roll stardom returns home, looking to make things right with her family."--IMDb.com
Why it looks worth seeing: ALL HAIL QUEEN MERYL! The woman is such a phenomenal actress that whatever kind of film she makes, she will give it enough depth and heart to win over even the toughest of cynics. Fun fact: Meryl plays opposite her real life daughter (Mamie Gummer) in the film.
Just in case life wasn't soul crushing enough, here's the first trailer for the upcoming 'I Am Chris Farley' documentary. Get ready to feel a lot of feelings.
Release date: 6/19/15 Run time: 1Hr 19Min Rating: R Directed by: Patrick Brice Starring: Adam Scott, Taylor Schilling, Jason Schwartzman, Judith Godrèche Synopsis: "Alex, Emily, and their son, RJ, are new to Los Angeles. A chance meeting at the park introduces them to the mysterious Kurt, Charlotte, and Max. A family "playdate" becomes increasingly interesting as the night goes on"--IMDb.com
Release date: 6/19/15 Run time: 1Hr 55Min Rating: R Directed by: Rick Fumuyiwa Starring: Shameik Moore,Toni Revolori, Kiersey Clemons, Zoe Kravitz, Blake Anderson Synopsis: "Life changes for Malcolm, a geek who's surviving life in a tough neighborhood, after a chance invitation to an underground party leads him and his friends into a Los Angeles adventure."---IMDb.com
Release date: 6/5/15 Run time: 2Hrs Rating: PG-13 Directed by: Bill Pohlad Starring: John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks, Paul Giamatti Synopsis:"In the 1960s, Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson struggles with emerging psychosis as he attempts to craft his avant-garde pop masterpiece. In the 1980s, he is a broken, confused man under the 24-hour watch of shady therapist Dr. Eugene Landy."---IMDbcom
Release date: 6/5/15 Run time: 2Hrs 9Min Rating: PG-13 Directed by: James Kent Starring:Alicia Vikander, Kit Harington, Dominic West, Emily Watson, Taron Egerton Synopsis: "Testament of Youth is a powerful story of love, war and remembrance, based on the First World War memoir by Vera Brittain, which has become the classic testimony of that war from a woman's point of view. A searing journey from youthful hopes and dreams to the edge of despair and back again, it's a film about young love, the futility of war and how to make sense of the darkest times."---Rottentomatoes.com
Why it looks worth seeing: Two words: Jon Snow!
No but really, the film looks gorgeous and intriguing. Although World War I has been covered in films before, its still a bit of a mystery for a survivor of the American public school system like my self (we barely even discussed the topic in history class). Testament of Youth is based off of Vera Brittain's memoir by the same name so it adds a unique legitimacy to the story.
Release date: 5/22/15 Rating: PG-13 Run time: 1Hr 59Min Directed by: Thomas Vinterberg Starring: Carey Mulligan, Michael Sheen, Matthias Schoenaerts, Tom Sturridge, Juno Temple Synopsis: "In Victorian England, the independent and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene attracts three very different suitors: Gabriel Oak, a sheep farmer; Frank Troy, a reckless Sergeant; and William Boldwood, a prosperous and mature bachelor."--IMDb.com
Why it looks worth seeing: I'm a sucker for those British period pieces (I can quote every line of Pride and Prejudice, coincidentally Carey Mulligan's first feature film), especially ones with strong female characters. And the best part? Far from the Madding Crowd stars two of my favorite powerhouse performers: Carey Mulligan and Michael Sheen.
Release date: 04/16/15 Run time: 1Hr 24Min Rating: R Directed by: John MacLean Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Michael Fassbender, Caren Pistorius, Rory McCann, Ben Mendelsohn Synopsis: "'Slow West' follows a 16-year-old boy on a journey across 19th Century frontier America in search of the woman he loves, while accompanied by mysterious traveler Silas."---IMDb
Why it looks worth seeing: As a long time Michael Fassbender fan, I know by now that any movie he's in will probably be a good one. Or, at the very least, its worth seeing for his performance. Kodi Smit-McPhee was fantastic in 2009's The Road and I expect that he'll be just as good in this film.
Why it looks worth seeing: I already talked about why the film looked appealing last year, but after seeing the new footage from the full length trailer and all the overwhelmingly positive reviews, I'm more eager than ever to see the final product!
Release date: 4/10/15 Rating: R Runtime: 1Hr 48Min Directed by: Alex Garland Starring: Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac Synopsis: "A young programmer is selected to participate in a breakthrough experiment in artificial intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a breathtaking female A.I."--IMDb.com
Why it looks worth seeing: Who doesn't love a good sci-fi thriller about artificial intelligence?! Especially ones that star talented people like Oscar Isaac and the lovely Alicia Vikander (who was amazing in A Royal Affair)?
Release date: 4/10/15 (limited) Rating: R Runtime: 2Hrs 4Min Directed by:Olivier Assayas Starring: Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart, Chloë Grace Moretz Synopsis: "A veteran actress comes face-to-face with an uncomfortable reflection of herself when she agrees to take part in a revival of the play that launched her career 20 years earlier."--IMDb.com
Why it looks worth seeing: Kristen Stewart isn't my favorite actress in the world but I've always secretly rooted for her. There has been a lot of great press surrounding her performance in this film and she is the first American woman to win a Cesar Award (the French equivalent of an Oscar) because of it. Juliette Binoche has never been anything less than amazing so it will be interesting to see how these two ladies interact onscreen.
So, Disney's new live action adaptation of Cinderella is sort of pointless. It has nothing new to say. It lacks the clever, feminist believability of its other live action counterpart, Ever After and doesn't quite have the same magical charm of the original 1950's animation. It's a pretty straightforward rehashing of the famous fairytale. But, that doesn't mean its not a fun movie to watch. Kenneth Branagh's vision is big and sweeping and pretty to look at. He infuses the classic (and apparently ancient) fairytale with his own little touches of Shakespearean drama; we see at least two cases of concealed identities (a favorite plot device of the Bard) and there's a lot of focus on parents dying. There's an undeniable Christian influence as well. Cinderella is very much a Christ like figure: she's loving, generous and forgiving, almost to a fault (like in her last scene of dialogue with her stepmother). With modern sensibilities in mind, a good chunk of the film is spent giving the main characters richer, more complex backstories. While most of the focus falls on our amiable heroine's ludicrously happy childhood, the prince gets a chance to be fleshed out as well. He even has a few surprisingly touching scenes with his father. The complexities feel a little underwhelming when it comes to the evil stepmother though (not for lack of trying on Cate Blanchett's part). A brief attempt is made to humanize her but its abandoned before it blossoms into anything serious.
Overall, Cinderella is more enjoyable than you might expect. Yes, it hits you over the head with its redundant message to "be kind and have courage" but, if you're in the mood for a little cheesy Disney romance, it makes for a genuinely entertaining film.
Sophie McShera, Cate Blanchett and Holliday Grainger as Cinderella's step family.
The Acting: The film's success is mostly due to its cast; without them it would feel cartoonish. Leading the pack is the ever graceful Lily James. Most actresses couldn't pull off her character's bubblegum sweetness and still be so likable. It's not all sparkly dresses and pumpkins though; James gives her Cinderella an inner strength and resilience, something the film doesn't play up nearly enough. Richard Madden fits the role of dashing royalty (a skill perfected during his Game of Thrones days, no doubt) with ease and gives him some much needed personality. Cate Blanchett remains impressive, as always. She's quite adept at portraying villains by now, especially ones that need to convey a wide range of emotions (see: Hanna). Helena Bonham Carter does her best "Helena Bonham Carter". She's as much a scene stealer as you'd expect her to be and it's a shame she's not in more of the film (it was jarring to see her in a blond wig and poofy dress though).
Richard Madden as the prince.
Best scene: Cinderella and the Prince's first meeting in the woods. It's obnoxiously cute but the chemistry is there. It will leave you grinning (and swooning over Madden's eyes!) like a Cheshire Cat in the dark. Runner up scene: the transformation of the pumpkin. Also: My favorite running gag of the film wasthat hilariousgoose.
To see or not to see: See it! Sit back and enjoy the pretty cheesiness. Grade: B+ Watch the trailer:
Original air date: 02/08/15 60 second recap:
After Beth's death, the group moves on to Virginia. Rick, Glenn, Michonne, Noah and Tyreese drive off to Noah's old neighborhood to see if any of his family members are still alive. They quickly find out that none have survived. Tyreese accompanies Noah to his house while Rick, Glenn and Michonne scout for supplies. Rick and Glenn discuss Rick's thought process behind killing Officer Dawn. Michonne then convinces them both that they should all head to Washington D.C. After being distracted by a photo on the wall, Tyreese is bit in the arm by Noah's younger walker brother. As the fever sets in, Tyreese starts having hallucinations and flashbacks of Beth, Bob, Mark, Mika, Lizzie and the Governor. Michonne tries to save Tyreese by amputating his arm but he ends up dying later anyways.
Breaking Bad fans rejoice! The seedy, morally ambiguous world of Walter White is back! (minus Walter White) AMC's new spinoff series centers around New Mexico's favorite fast talking, smarmy lawyer, Saul Goodman, before he met his famous meth dealing clients from Hell. Better Call Saul serves as a kind of twisted origin story of the man that would one day become the de facto lawyer of Albuquerque's criminal underworld.
For viewers (like me) that are hesitant to watch a show about a supporting character that wasn't even introduced on Breaking Bad until episode 8 of season 2, we should keep in mind that Better Call Saul is in good hands; two of Breaking Bad's alumni are co-showrunning it (creator Vince Gilligan and writer Peter Gould). Not to mention, Bob Odenkirk (Saul) and Jonathan Banks (Mike Ehrmantraut!) are both phenomenal actors and are guaranteed to impress.
Better Call Saul will air on Mondays at 10pm on AMC
AHHHH!!! THE SEASON 5 TRAILER IS UPON US!! AND IT LOOKS AMAZING!!
Reminder: I have never read the books so all of this commentary is from the perspective of someone who has no idea what's happening next (or who many of these new faces are):
Things we learned from the trailer:
-Jaime is sad (probably because his brother just killed his dad)
-Some badass chick in the desert knows how to use a whip (one of Oberyn's daughters?)
-Tyrion is alive, but is a broken man :(
-Varys is plotting to get Daenerys on the throne and it looks like he wants Tyrion to help him?
-Littlefinger (creepily) tells Sansa to avenge her family
-Cersei is P-I-S-S-E-D
But as usual, her hair/outfit/face is flawless.
-Someone with blond hair cut their finger
-Margaery and Tommen are getting married
-Danaerys is going to break some motherf**king wheels!
-Her dragons are. freaking. terrifying.
-Varys and Tyrion have matching outfits, they're B.F.F.'s now:
(I am totally ok with this.)
-Ser Jorah is fighting someone in a ring
-Theon is still alive (ugh.)
-Melisandre is showing her boobs to someone (again)
-People in gold masks are attacking people in alleyways
-Jaime is being led into a giant, fancy looking building (Dorne??)
-Jon Snow is (still) really pretty:
Yes. Yes he is.
-Arya has arrived at a mysterious looking palace with a black and white door (Braavos??)
-Mance Rayder and his crew are going for a swim
-Missandei and Grey Worm are about to get. it. on.
-Daenerys and her group get ambushed by people in gold masks
-There's a funeral for someone from the 'North Wall crew'
-A giant gold statue gets knocked down
Questions for this season:
How will Tyrion adjust to his new unglamorous life away from King's Landing? Is that weird medical device from last season going to make The Mountain into some kind of super human zombie? How will the rest of the kingdoms react to Tywin's death? Can House Lannister survive such a big defeat? What manipulative move do Margarey/Lady Olenna have up their sleeves? How long will it take before Cersei goes full craycray? Does Sansa's new hair color mean she finally grew a backbone? Will Jon Snow ever touch another woman again? What swift and terrible revenge will Prince Oberyn's daughters bring down on Cersei/Kings Landing/The Mountain? Can Daenerys just be Queen of the Universe already? (Will she be getting more action from her booty call Daario?) Will Arya ever be reunited with her friend of many faces, Jaqen H'ghar? Who is Lady Olenna saying "they'll never even find what's left of you" to? WILL BRIENNE AND JAIME EVER BE REUNITED?
And the most important question: WHERE THE HELL IS GENDRY?!?!?!? (seriously though.) Equally as important: WHERE THE HELL IS BRIENNE?!?!?!? (it sounded like her voice saying "nothing's more hateful than failing to protect the one you love" in the beginning of the trailer) Important but not as important: When will we see Ser Pounce again?!?!
