‘FEUD: Bette and Joan’ Premiere: The Good, The Bad, The Campy

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March 5, 2017

This First Episode Introduces The Biggest Hollywood Feud Ever

After months of hype, Ryan Murphy’s newest FX show ‘FEUD: Bette and Joan‘ is finally here! This show retells the events that led to the iconic feud of actresses Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, focusing on the filming of ‘Whatever Happened To Baby Jane‘.

Starring Susan Sarandon as Bette and Jessica Lange as Joan, this show had a lot of promises but did all the hype pay off?

“That was a feud of biblical proportions.”

The Good:

The acting is incredible. The tension between Lange’s Joan and Sarandon’s Bette blows everything out of the water. Like the subject manner, it’s hard to not compare the two actresses. Personal biased aside, Jessica Lange is perfect but Susan Sarandon owns everything that makes Bette Davis tick. It’s really all about Bette!

Ryan Murphy TV shows have great opening credits but I think this could be my favorite. It encapsulates the film, time period, and wildness of the show. I’m curious if there will be any changes in the upcoming episodes!

This show is more than iconic Hollywood drama. ‘FEUD: Bette and Joan‘ digs into many of the problems these women faced in the industry. Topics of misogyny & ageism are the obvious ones but viewers also see the dark underbelly of Hollywood.

The Bad:

The pacing of the first episode didn’t work with me. It boils down to the character of Robert Aldrich taking up a lot of screen time. The great actor Alfred Molina does well with the material but it takes away from what audiences really want to see.

If you know the story of ‘Whatever Happened To Baby Jane‘ and love insane pop culture knowledge, this doesn’t really break any new ground. Most of the references are the obvious ones like Crawford’s attachment to Pepsi and Davis’ attitude.

The Campy:

The campiness of this whole show is easy to point out. ‘FEUD‘ comes from shocking TV director/writer Ryan Murphy and is about an iconic camp classic; it was bound to be insane. Everything is as over-the-top as you’d expect.

Nailing the visuals was important and art direction plays a major part of ‘FEUD‘. All of the costumes and sets pop and become a character all in their own. Production designer Judy Becker and art director Jamie Walker McCall deserve a special shoutout!

My favorite scene of the episode is the first time we see Bette Davis in her iconic makeup for Baby Jane. From the transformation to the reveal, it’s one of the most memorable TV scenes in a very long time.

Final Thoughts:

Everything comes together for an insanely fun time in ‘Feud: Bette and Joan‘. There is some flaws but the good certainly outweigh any of the bad.

This comes with a recommendation to fans of Ryan Murphy’s work or lovers of old Hollywood drama. If anything, watch it for Susan Sarandon alone!

Let me know what you thought of the episode in the comments.

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Hugh Jackman Sends Out “Thank You” Video On Instagram

By

Aric Sweeny

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March 5, 2017

With Logan being Hugh Jackman’s last appearance as Wolverine on film, fans have been thanking the actor via all social media platforms. Now, Jackman has sent a thank you back to all the appreciative fans, in the form of a video. Watch it below.

Thank you. HJ

A post shared by Hugh Jackman (@thehughjackman) on Mar 5, 2017 at 10:35am PST

What are your thoughts on the video, as well as Jackman’s legacy as Wolverine? Is he the greatest comic book movie performer of all time? Comment below!

Plot synopsis: “In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces.”

Logan stars Hugh Jackman as Wolverine/ Logan, Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier, Dafnee Keen as Laura Kinney/X-23, Boyd Holbrook as Donald Pierce, Doris Morgado as Maria, Richard E. Grant as Dr. Zander Rice, Stephen Merchant as Caliban, Elizabeth Rodriguez as Gabriela, and others.

The film is in theaters now.

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‘Arrow’ Felicity Goes Darkside, Becomes BFF with Helix?

By

Devon Kenney

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March 5, 2017

Helix is back, and this time is targeting our sweet dear Felicity. Or, is it the other way around?

Helix, the dark web group of hacktavists, is back and going forward with a new member. Felicity has been through a lot, and with the death of her boyfriend, she is seeing things in a new light.

Alena (Kacey Rohl) gave Felicity an invitation to join the Helix, as they needed a new member. According to my source, she willingly accepts, and they become instant bffs. Alena gets to show Felicity the proverbal ropes, and most importantly be her mentor.

We all knew that it was only a matter of time before Felicity went full on dark side, but is this a permanent move? Will she return back to the happy go lucky girl we once knew?

No real word on that for now, but seeing the darker Felicity is a little fun for us fans. Getting out of her shell, and really doing some damage might be exactly what needs to happen in order for the team to wake up and get their act together.

OLIVER SEEKS THE TRUTH — Oliver (Stephen Amell) gets closer to the truth about Prometheus. Meanwhile, Helix refuses to continue helping Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) until she does a favor for them.

The episode, entitled Check Mate, is airing on Wednesday March 8th at 8/7c.

Ken Shane directed the episode written by Beth Schwartz & Sarah Tarkoff.

Based on the characters from DC, ARROW is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (The Flash, Supergirl), Marc Guggenheim (Eli Stone, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters), Andrew Kreisberg (The Flash, Supergirl), Wendy Mericle (Desperate Housewives, Eli Stone) and Sarah Schechter (Supergirl, Blindspot).

‘Arrow’ airs Wednesday nights at 8/7c on The CW.

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Monkeys Fighting Robots Appears On 44 On The Town To Discuss ‘Logan’

By

Dewey Singleton - Film Critic

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March 5, 2017

With Logan poised to be the #1 movie in America, I was lucky enough to be invited to join fellow film critic T.M. Powell to discuss all things, ‘Logan.’ The discussion ranged from how great the film was, to whether the movie could be a “date night” movie, to honoring Hugh Jackman’s body of work as Wolverine. Click on the link below to see the segment.

44 on the Town | Logan Review

What are your thoughts? Have you seen the film? Did you agree with our assessment? While I understand that referring to ‘Logan’ as a “date night” movie is a little strange, the story line is just so rich and developed that I think it would appeal to anyone (even your significant other). I did appreciate that we spent some time reflecting on how great Hugh Jackman was in that role and just how hard he will be to replace.The last thing that stood out from this experience was just how cool all the props were that he had on set (those claws T.M. had are calling to me). Special thanks again to T.M. for having me on the show. Be sure to check out his show every Sunday at 11 am on CW 44 (that’s in the Tampa market). If you live outside of Tampa, then click on the word link.

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‘Iron Fist’ Will Not Wear Classic Costume In Netflix Series

By

Aric Sweeny

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March 5, 2017

Iron Fist showrunner Scott Buck was interviewed by SFX, and in the discussion he talked about why Danny Rand won’t wear his classic Iron Fist suit in the upcoming show.

“There was no good reason we could imagine to put Danny Rand in a costume. Because Danny Rand is still discovering who he is as a hero and where he is going to be, so he’s not yet ready to put on a mask or a costume.”

He then talked about the problem Rand faces with not wearing anything to cover his true identity.

“[A]t the same time he is someone who is rather well known as a billionaire, so he can’t necessarily go out in public and do the things he does without being recognised. It does become an issue for the character.”

Now, lastly, Buck briefly discussed the realism of Iron Fist.

“We’re trying to keep things extremely grounded and real and tell our stories through characters. So the mystical aspect is something we like to hint at, the idea that there is something bigger and larger out there, but we don’t delve into it all that deeply.”

We are less than two weeks away from seeing “The Final Defender” on the small screen. Are you excited? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments below.

“Returning to New York City after being missing for years, Daniel Rand fights against the criminal element corrupting New York City with his incredible kung-fu mastery and ability to summon the awesome power of the fiery Iron Fist.”

Season one of Iron Fist launches on Netflix starting March 17.

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Check Out Three New TV Spots For ‘Ghost in the Shell’

By

Aric Sweeny

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March 5, 2017

We Got This Covered has released three new TV spots for Ghost in the Shell. Watch them below.

Promo – “Past”

Promo – “Control”

Promo – “Fog of Memory”

Are you looking forward to Ghost in the Shell? Comment below!

“Based on the internationally acclaimed sci-fi manga series, ‘Ghost in the Shell’ follows the Major, a special ops, one-of-a-kind human cyborg hybrid, who leads the elite task force Section 9. Devoted to stopping the most dangerous criminals and extremists, Section 9 is faced with an enemy whose singular goal is to wipe out Hanka Robotic’s advancements in cyber technology.”

The film is set to be released in theaters on March 31.

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‘Table 19’ Review: Solid Performances From Anna Kendrick And Stephen Merchant Make This Film Worth RSVPing For

By

Dewey Singleton - Film Critic

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While ‘Table 19’ has its flaws, audiences will ultimately enjoy the film based on the solid performances of Anna Kendrick and Stephen Merchant.

Summary

The film centers around a group of people who are placed at the same table at a wedding because the bride didn’t know where to put them.We have Eloise (Anna Kendrick) who at one point was the maid of honor, but was replaced when the bride’s brother Teddy (Wyatt Russell) broke up with her. Next to her are the Kepp’s (Craig Robinson and Lisa Kudrow) an Ohio couple who own a diner and seem to be headed towards a divorce. To the right, we have the bride’s former nanny Jo Flannagan (June Squibb) who love to tell everyone about what the kids were like as children. On the other end of the table, we have Renzo (Tony Revolori) and Walter (Stephen Merchant). Renzo is only at this wedding after his mom assured him that he’d be at the singles table and Walter is the “black sheep” of the family. Everyone at the table seems to have his or her secret, and we begin to see how these strangers’ lives start to intertwine with one another.

What Worked

I loved seeing Anna Kendrick in a role that isn’t typical for her. In the trailer for Table 19, Eloise appears just to be a scorned ex-girlfriend who is looking for love. You quickly find out there is much more to her character than just being hurt. She has moments on the screen where she completely broke down, and it showed a layer of authenticity that was shocking.

The Duplass brothers constructed a balanced narrative that appeared to be like most rom-com’s but ends up being more of a character driven piece about self-worth.

Stephen Merchant is hysterical in the film. I imagine the Duplass brothers had to have written the part of Walter with only him in mind. Director Jeffrey Blitz had to enjoy seeing Merchant bring his physical comedy talents to the role. As much as Merchant is the perfect goofball/nerd on screen, his character radiates a warmth towards all the people at Table 19 because they are now “his friends.”

What Did Not Work

Why was Craig Robinson and Lisa Kudrow cast as a married couple? They had no chemistry at all, and their scenes appeared to be forced. Even their “fights” were rote and monotone. Anytime Mrs. Kudrow had to do something romantic with Mr. Robinson; she had the look of “Why me.” Craig Robinson is the guy who you cast in a comedic role in Hot Tub Time Machine and not the man who has to project being hurt on screen.

I felt that June Squibb was grossly underused in this film. Squibb is a wonderful actress and has demonstrated her prowess over the years. Nanny Jo has more to her storyline than just being the person who babysat the bride. She has a few poignant moments with Eloise where she helps her navigate the current turmoil in her life (remember no spoilers), and It just made me wonder if Nanny Jo should have been allowed to have more of a profound impact on her other table mates.

Final Thoughts

Table 19 is the type of film that critics like just to bash, and it’s quite frustrating. What were they expecting? Were they expecting this profoundly deep character study? The Duplass has crafted an enjoyable character driven film about self-worth. Eloise feels lost now that she’s single and facing something completely unexpected. While Walter is hilarious, he’s still dealing with the notion that no one in his family wants anything to do with him. Is the film perfect? No, but it’s an entertaining film that’s perfect for either a date night or a girls night out.

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‘Logan’ Screenwriter Compares Film To ‘The Wolverine’

By

Aric Sweeny

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March 5, 2017

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Logan screenwriter Scott Frank compared talked about why the new film is better than The Wolverine.

“We didn’t have to connect it to any larger “universe.” Or as Jim keeps saying, “we didn’t have to sell Happy Meals.” And so that was great. Whereas, the last one, my favorite part is where he’s in the middle of rural Japan and with this woman and being a human being and feeling what it’s like to be a human being. But we’re not there very long before we’re back to giant robots and stuff. And then it becomes just another superhero movie with a lot of CG stuff. And we were trying to avoid that this time around and the studio had changed studio heads and they were very much into the idea of trying something new, because otherwise what’s the point? The only way these movies have value is if they become about something else. They can’t all about saving the world.”

Which movie did you enjoy more, Logan or The Wolverine? Comment below!

Plot synopsis: “In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces.”

Logan stars Hugh Jackman as Wolverine/ Logan, Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier, Dafnee Keen as Laura Kinney/X-23, Boyd Holbrook as Donald Pierce, Doris Morgado as Maria, Richard E. Grant as Dr. Zander Rice, Stephen Merchant as Caliban, Elizabeth Rodriguez as Gabriela, and others.

The film is in theaters now.

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‘United Kingdom’ Review: Pacing And Politics Distract From A Fascinating Narrative

By

Dewey Singleton - Film Critic

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The pacing and the politics of ‘United Kingdom’ distract audiences from a fascinating narrative.

Summary

This film is centered around the actual story of Seretse Khama (David Oyelowo), the heir to the throne of Bechuanaland (Botswana) and the turmoil surrounding his birthright. Seretse is attending school in Britain during the 1940’s and meets Ruth Williams(Rosamund Pike), and it’s love at first sight. After a short courtship, he proposes, and they get married. However, their marriage offers a new set of problems for the lovebirds. Ruth and Seretse live in a world where racism (both institutional and societal) is rampant. His Uncle who lives in Bechuanaland refuses to recognize their marriage, and the British government has refused to allow their marriage to stand. Ruth’s family has shunned her, and it appears if Seretse brings back a queen who is white that it could lead to civil unrest in his country.

Acting

David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike deliver solid performances in their respective roles. His character is driven by a sense of morality that society will see that there is nothing wrong with their love. Mr. Khama had to go through a great deal of personal pain as he was forced into an exile by the ruling British government (due to his marriage) and spent years away from his wife and newborn daughter. The power in Oyelowo’s performance doesn’t stem from something he says to his people, but from what he doesn’t say. You can see the stress of not being of his family wearing on him. He’s able to hold it together until it reaches his breaking point and loses it in his apartment in Britain.

Rosamund Pike’s character seems to be caught between two worlds. She desperately wants her family to accept her life, but won’t just stand by and allow people to defame her or Seretse. Ruth Williams is a driven individual and doesn’t shy away from standing up for what’s right, even if it means denouncing the acts of a prominent historical figure.

Writing and Direction

Director Amma Asante places the focus on the turmoil surrounding Mr. Khama’s marriage, and that’s absolutely the right decision. Everything in the film’s staging is meant to emphasize the chaos going on in this young couple’s life. She’s working from a script that Guy Hibbert adapted from the 2006 non-fiction release Colour Bar, and that’s where this film begins to have its problems. The book tells the tale of Mr. Khama and the fight for his marriage, but does so from a legal perspective. Yes, there were many legal hoops they had to overcome in this story, but seeing many scenes in offices or British parliament is quite tedious. Had Mr. Hibbert choose to place the focus more so on the societal issues they had to overcome, it would have made for a better film.

This is not Mrs. Assante’s first time tackling such heavy source material. In 2004 she directed the film Belle, the actual story of the mixed race daughter of Admiral Sir John Lindsay. She uses her pieces as a vehicle to tackle bigger topics. In Belle, Dido Elizabeth Belle is entitled to certain things due to who her father is, but because the Admiral’s daughter is of mixed race, she’s shunned by others.

My biggest criticism of the film is it’s pacing. At times, the narrative seemed to be stuck in quicksand as we went through many scenes in offices and parliament. Then there were times where things felt a bit rushed. For example the courtship scenes at the beginning of the film. Instead of dedicating the appropriate amount of time to seeing just how Ruth and Seretse meet, it seemed we went from two people not knowing one another to Ruth telling her dad that she was going to be married in roughly 15 minutes. Why would you do that? This was some of the most compelling elements of the film.

Final Thoughts

‘United Kingdom’ is attempting to make the same type of statement that the film ‘Get Out’ did just a few week ago. However, this movie is mired in its politics and pacing issues and falls short of it’s intended goal. That’s not to say that both Rosamund Pike and David Oyelowo don’t do a tremendous job in their respective roles. This is the type of movie that you should wait till you can either see it on-demand or pick it up at Redbox. The less you have invested in the film, the better.

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ECCC: Swamp Thing Headed to Tom King’s and Mitch Gerads ‘Batman’

By

Manuel Gomez

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March 5, 2017

Swamp Thing is finally coming to the new Batman series, reports ComicBookResources.com. The Batman/Swamp Thing pairing was originally intended for release in January. It will now come in this May’s “Batman” #23, as revealed by penciler Mitch Gerads on Saturday afternoon during the DC Comics: Essential panel at Emerald City Comicon in Seattle.

The solicitation reads:

STREETS AND SWAMPS! Swamp Thing comes to Gotham City with a mysterious request for Batman—but these longtime allies will have to make up for lost time and work together in order to confront a growing threat that only they can stop!

This bit of news is exciting for me as one of my earliest comic book memories was finding a copy of Brave and The Bold #176 at a mom and pop drugstore when I was a kid. And Batman continues to be one of the best of the Rebirth relaunch titles.

What do you guys think? Are you excited to see the Rebirth team-up of these two DC titans? Discuss and comment below.

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