Melissa McCarthy gives you a behind the scenes conversation about THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS.
About the film: No Sesame. All Street. THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS is a filthy comedy set in the underbelly of Los Angeles where puppets and humans coexist. Two clashing detectives with a shared secret, one human (Melissa McCarthy) and one puppet, are forced to work together again to solve the brutal murders of the former cast of a beloved classic puppet television show.
The film is directed by Brian Henson from a screenplay by Todd Berger and stars Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph, Joel McHale and Elizabeth Banks.
In honor of BlacKkKlansman getting great reviews, and praising Spike Lee’s direction, people praising the film as “His best ever”, to which I have to ask, “Was it the film that established Lee’s footprint on the cinematic landscape, garnered Oscar nominations, and established a new wave of African-American directors, unseen since the Blaxploitation era of the 70s?” No, so Do the Right Thing still stands as the flagbearer of his directorial career; and since I’m the site’s catalog title critic, I’m here to ask: “Is Do the Right Thing still a great movie almost 30 years later?” The answer is a resounding Yes.
I’m not going to do a plot analysis, so I’ll do what a real film critic and talk about what works. First off, this is a film of with a directorial vision, Lee’s directorial style in Do The RightThing, is undeniably unique; several times, the film eschews the 180 degrees rule, for POV shots, a unique concept that works as: a, talking to a character, or b: talking to the audience.
The beginning of a great shot; when the camera moved in, to show the intimacy of the conversation.
Mind you; this leads to Lee’s cinematic sins, every director has them, some more obvious than others. Lee’s core cinematic sin is the lack of subtlety; his films are loud and outspoken, filled with a revolutionary zeal; that is both infectious and disquieting. My thoughts on cinematic sins is a relatively simple one: it only becomes a problem if it affects the quality of the film. Thankfully, that core sin didn’t bring down Do The Right Thing.
This brings us to the acting, which is excellent. Character actors like Danny Aiello, the late Ossie Davis, John Turturro, and the late Ruby Dee, put on great performances, even actors that I had never heard were putting on phenomenal performances (one of the biggest surprises was the late Bill Nunn as Radio Raheem, a character who says little, yet carries massive plot importance). The film also featured pre-fame appearances of Giancarlo Esposito (pre-Breaking Bad), a pre-Nick Fury (and pre-Jules Winfield) Samuel L. Jackson, and even Nunn was pre-fame (he’d later be cast as Robbie Robertson in the Sam Raimi Spider-Man films). Of course, I’m leaving out the main character: Lee himself; he is quite good in his performance. Generally, I would be criticizing a director starring in a film he directed if his performance was terrible, yet Lee portrays Mookie (and the film itself) with a sense of honesty and fairness. So, when events hit the fan, it’s represented in a surprisingly accurate manner.
One of the many Greek choruses in Do the Right Thing
One final thing of note was the use of Greek choruses. Lee uses at least two different Greek choruses during the film; the three African-American gentlemen commenting on the actions and Samuel L. Jackson’s DJ character; both serve this important dramatic purpose. Why did I bring this up? One, you don’t see many Greek choruses in cinema nowadays, let alone two in the same film.
In conclusion, Do the Right Thing, is still a great film. Even though parts of the film have dated, the film more than makes up for it, in strong writing, brilliant performances, and a unique directorial effort by Lee. In short, Do the Right Thing, was the film that Lee needed to put his mark on the medium.
The teenage super genius Riri Williams is ready to step into the spotlight, courtesy of the creative team of Dr. Eve L. Ewing and Kevin Libranda, who will both launch Ironheart #1 this fall.
This is the first opportunity for Ironheart to step out from under Iron Man’s shadow. Now that he is back, she must realize who she wants to be. She has a lot on her plate right from the start in this series as she must face decisions in returning to finish her education at M.I.T., whether she wants to be a superhero or a super genius or whether she just wants a normal life.
“Ironheart symbolizes what happens when you combine incredible strength and might with a sense of love, care and a true desire for justice,” said Ewing. “Not just punishment or showing off or short-term solutions, but real justice. Not to be corny or overly literal, but that’s what it means to combine the power represented by ‘iron’ with the moral compass represented by ‘heart’. Riri’s identity and the place where she comes from means she sometimes has a different perspective than some of her peers on how to deal with people who are doing wrong. There’s a reason she doesn’t just go around blasting everybody to high heaven because, to be real, she definitely could do that if she wanted. But she’s a very tender person at her core, and she doesn’t just want to be a senseless weapon.”
Ironheart #1 goes on sale on Wednesday, Nov. 7. Keep it here and at marvel.com for updates.
Click HERE for the complete Q&A with Eve L. Ewing on the upcoming series and for exclusive looks at some of the variant covers that will drop with the first issue.
Netflix Monday morning released the first trailer for Outlaw King starring Chris Pine and directed by David Mackenzie.
The film will debut as the opening night film at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6 and hit Netflix on November 9.
Outlaw King stars Pine, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Florence Pugh, Billy Howle, Tony Curran, Stephen Dillane, James Cosmo, and Sam Spruell. Bash Doran, James MacInnes, and Mackenzie worked on the screenplay.
About the movie: OUTLAW KING tells the untold, true story of Robert the Bruce who transforms from defeated nobleman to outlaw hero during the oppressive occupation of medieval Scotland by Edward I of England. Despite grave consequences, Robert seizes the Scottish crown and rallies an impassioned group of men to fight back against the mighty army of the tyrannical King and his volatile son, the Prince of Wales.
Are you excited for Outlaw King? Do you think Netflix is pushing for an award? Comment below with your thoughts.
Lil’ Donnie: Executive Privilege knocks Trump and his cronies down a peg, chronicling the “adventures” of the worst president in United States history.
Executive Privilege collects the first 125 strips of Mike Norton’s Rueben Award-nominated webcomic.
You’re probably thinking, “Ugh, I’m so tired of Trump and Trump-based comedy.” It’s understandable. But Lil’ Donnie is the exception to the rule. Norton has described the series as him “screaming into the void.” He is (like many people) infuriated by Trump and company, and this comic strip was his way of “[getting] off his ass” and doing something.” Whatever money he makes at conventions gets donated to organizations that try to counteract the damage Trump is doing.
Each strip tackles something specific that’s been in the news, but with an absurd or surreal twist. A minor twist, at that. That’s probably the funniest thing about Lil’ Donnie – how true-to-life it is despite its absurdity (I’m actually not sure if that’s the funniest thing or the scariest).
Norton admits that the comic is petty, but it’s cathartic to create, and it’s cathartic to read. That’s what sets it apart from the late night monologues and Alec Baldwin impressions that we’ve all grown tired of. Lil’ Donnie channels our collective anger better. It’s not just being silly or stating a punch line. It doesn’t dance around the issues. It takes direct aim at specific people and things and exposes their idiocy. Reading it is like saying “f*ck you” to Trump, which again is admittedly childish, but it also feels good.
The art is what really sells Lil’ Donnie. Norton does little things, like draw Trump’s hands tiny and make Sean Spicer’s suit too big. The window in the Oval Office constantly shows the outside world as being on fire. It tickles you, and makes the biting commentary taste so much sweeter.
Watch us speak with Norton about Lil’ Donnie:
Look, is Lil’ Donnie going to solve all of society’s ills? No. Is it going to humiliate Trump into resigning? God, I hope so, but probably not. But it provides momentary relief, and it’s comforting to see that there are still sane people out there that see the truth.
The world needs art like Lil’ Donnie. It’s so important to support work that keeps those in power in check – especially when those in power are trying to stomp out free speech at every turn. And while it won’t change any Trump supporters’ minds, Lil’ Donnie is a constant reminder to the rest of us that what’s going on in America isn’t normal, and that we shouldn’t stand for it.
Lil’ Donnie: Executive Privilege is out this week from Image Comics. Pick it up and scream into the void with Mike Norton.
Preacher hurtles headlong towards a bloody season 3 climax in the grimly comic, action-packed “Schwanzkopf”.
Preacher Feature is a weekly look into the AMC show Preacher based on the comic book of the same name by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon. In this column, Josh Versalle gives a breakdown of the events from the show (including how they relate to the comics), and speculates as to what’s going on and what might be coming up. That means SPOILERS are bound to follow, so if you haven’t watched the episode yet, turn back now.
Looking to get caught up on last week’s action? Look no further.
With only one more episode coming this season, it’s no surprise this episode was filled with excitement, blood, and outrageous action. “Schwanzkopf” is definitely not for the squeamish, as director Kevin Hooks leans fully into the often hilarious violence that is such a staple of Preacher.
The Long Bus Ride to Hell
Tulip confronts Sydney (the Angel of Death) to get back the briefcase full of souls she worked so hard to steal from Japan. Tulip may be a hard-hearted sonofabitch, but she’s not completely without mercy. Instead of letting Featherstone be dragged to to Hell in her place, Tulip says that Featherstone isn’t the one Satan is seeking. This act of kindness costs her, though, as blissfully naive Eugene calls out to Tulip by name and she gets dragged onto the bus while Jody grabs the souls for Marie.
After a couple of failed escape attempts (accompanied by some delightful diagrams), Tulip goads the Saint of Killers into lashing out at her. His punch sends her flying headfirst into a window, but that window cracks, allowing the possibility of escape. Hitler kicks out the window, but at that very moment his buddy Hal rides in to rescue him, upending the bus with a Nazi tank. Tulip ends up barely conscious on the floor, with Hell’s minions on one side and a pack of Nazis on the other.
“An example must be made”
When Cassidy told Eccarius he would reveal his terrible secret (that Eccarius was killing the people he turned into vampires in order to increase his unholy power), he expected Ecc to kill him. Instead, Eccarius allowed Cass to tell the rest of Les Enfants du Sang, knowing they wouldn’t believe him. Eccarius has them so devoted to him that they are convinced Cassidy is the evil one. Taking a page out of the James Bond villain playbook, Eccarius stakes Cass to a pool table and leaves him to be killed when the sun’s rays reach him.
With Les Enfants gone and his doom nearly upon him, Cassidy uses his charm and guile to convince Mrs. Rosen (in whose basement this is all taking place) to reach out to Lisa and let her know Cassidy is sorry. We’ll have to wait until next week’s season finale to see if this ploy to expose Eccarius will result in Mrs. Rosen helping Cass to escape, but I’d say there’s a strong chance of it.
“On your knees, Man of God”
Facing the prospect of having Genesis be transferred into the imbecilic Christ-child Humperdoo, Jesse manages to get the better of All-Father and instead sends Genesis into the obese head of the Grail. The power of Genesis is so great that, like Tom Cruise before him, All-Father is obliterated in a shower of gore and the supernatural being is returned to Jesse. If you remember from way back in season two, a part of Jesse’s soul is still missing. As Starr returns, the 1% of Jesse’s previously-extracted soul slips out of the disembodied anus of All-Father and falls to the ground. A comically disgusting race ensues (think Double Dare, but with entrails in place of slime) and Jesse once again prevails. With the last bit of his soul back in place, Jesse has the full power of Genesis and the Word of God at his disposal. Everything’s looking up, right? Of course not. In classic villain style, Starr reveals to Jesse the Grail’s 3-part plan:
Reveal Humperdoo, their tap-dancing Christ, to the world.
Allow the world’s population to either accept him as their savior or not.
Nuke the Earth, allowing the faithful to follow Humperdoo into paradise on Earth, while the non-believers are cursed to the fiery pits of Hell.
Starr threatens that if Jesse won’t play the role of Messiah, the Grail will use Humperdoo instead. Jesse responds with his own threat, saying he’ll kill Humperdoo. What Starr already knows is that Jesse isn’t “that kind of murderer” – he won’t kill an innocent like Humperdoo, even if to leave him alive risks Armageddon. But Jesse comes up with a plan even Starr hadn’t considered – he mixes Humperdoo in with all his clones, then sends them out into the world, so that the Grail won’t know which of these cretins is the genuine article.
Jesse, once again in possession of Genesis, heads into the season finale walking towards Angelville, looking every bit the cowboy heading off to a showdown with evil.
Connections and Easter Eggs
For those of you whose German is a little rusty, “schwanzkopf” is slang for dickhead (technically tail-head, but I think we can safely assume).
Just like the hats from a few weeks ago, the wigs Starr is forced to wear to cover his phallus-shaped head is based on a great visual gag from the comics:
There has been no official word yet from AMC about the status of a fourth season of Preacher. Fans may have to wait until after next week’s season finale before they find out if we’ll get to see Jesse finish his quest to find God.
The Scout Regiment of Attack On Titan seems to be at the end of their rope. Will they find a way to bounce back or will this be the act which seals their fate?
Summary
The fate of the Scout Regiment and Commander Smith are revealed.
SPOILERS WARNING
Review
This has got to be one of the few episodes of Attack On Titan without a single battle scene. There is next to no violence whatsoever. The conspiracy theory plays out in a way which seems planned. Of course it’s a series so of course it was plotted out and planned by someone. Still seems like it goes from the “scouts are sentenced to death” to “the scouts are okay and their are on top” in a matter of seconds.
This is the most optimal way for a group to enact a political take over. With no death, no one is going to come back in later episodes screaming about revenge. Still, it seems like one of the nobles should have at least tried to fight back by pulling a pistol or something. Yeah, they were outnumbered but by the end of it they are backed so far against a wall they have no choice but to surrender. You would think at least one of them would snap and try something rash. This episode is the exact opposite of every change of political dynamic which has ever played out in Game of Thrones.
It’s also very amusing when the fake King finally does say something and reveals himself to be a complete puppet. Like Ben Kingsley from Iron Man 3 levels of total imposter. It’s obvious he wasn’t a King who gave a lot of public speeches.
Not the best episode of Attack On Titan but still offers a lot of good world building. Also it looks like the things are really going to get intense next episode.
Black Hammer: Age of Doom returns this week with issue four, and (literally) blows the doors off of everything that’s come before it.
As always, it’s written by Jeff Lemire, drawn by Dean Ormston, colored by Dave Stewart, and lettered by Todd Klein.
Think of Black Hammer as a roller coaster. Up until this point, the series has been climbing up the hill. We know there’s a drop coming, and a crazy thrill ride ahead of us, but we’re not there yet. It’s just build-up and anticipation. It’s still a mystery.
Last issue of Black Hammer, we finally reached the top of that hill. We haven’t taken the drop yet, but we can see it now. The anticipation and tension hit its peak.
This issue finally takes the drop.
It’s the hardest issue to talk about, because everything that happens is a major spoiler. All I can say is that Lemire lays down all his cards in these 22 pages. It’s nuts. The characters all let loose, even the ones that seemed the most calm and put together, and it’s incredibly cathartic to read. Yes, major questions are finally answered…but the answers raise about 100 new questions. This team knows how to keep its audience invested and coming back month after month.
Dean Ormston delivers his most powerful work yet. It’s not just “powerful” as in big action scenes or super-detailed splash pages. It’s emotionally powerful – the kind of powerful that can only be earned after carefully laying the groundwork for so many issues.
Ormston has made Gail the stand-out character of this cast. She’s the heart and soul of the book. She generates the most emotional resonance with the reader, and it’s all through the art. Every time she explodes in a fit of rage, or breaks down in tears, it’s Ormston and Stewart’s art that delivers the gut punch. And you better believe I’m bringing that up because there’s a Gail gut punch (or two…or three) in this issue.
Ok! That’s it! Can’t say any more! Black Hammer fans, you were going to pick up this issue anyway, but trust me when I say pick it up ASAP on New Comic Book Day and put it right at the top of your read pile. No, wait, don’t even put it on the pile. Just pay for it and read it right there in the store. Or in your car if you’re shy.
To all the fans of the Netflix original, animated series, Voltron: Legendary Defender, please listen carefully to the following announcement: Remember the message of this show and understand you have a right to be angry but you need to direct your anger appropriately. Lashing out in rage is not what this series has been about. If the staff is going to learn from there mistakes, so should you. For those who are unaware, let’s start with a little background.
Spoilers For VOLTRON: LEGENDARY DEFENDER Season 7
Criticism For Season 7
Many complaints have come after the release of season 7. Hashtags such as #VoltronLegendaryDisappointment and #VoltronLegendaryQueerbaiting started to appear. It is the second which is the most disconcerting and needs to be addressed.
Queer Baiting is defined as “the practice to hint at, but then to not actually depict, a same-sex romantic relationship between characters in a work of fiction, mainly in film or television.”
After the announcement at SDCC fans were eager to see the relationship Shiro had with a character known as Adam before Shiro went into space. Unfortunately, the fans were let down. There was only a brief scene between Adam and Shiro together, and their relationship could have been view as good friends more than dating. The situation was made worse when Adam is shown to be one of the casualties in the fight against the Galra. The fans claim this act points to use of the trope, “Bury Your Gays” as a way of getting rid of the relationship without having to further address it.
It didn’t help one of the official Netflix tweeters seems to be “baiting” the fans as well.
The fans have become angry at the use of these tropes and expected more from the creators of the series. This is the source of their outrage. The following video helps to explain the situation a bit more and inspired the creation of this article.
The creators behind the series were not blind to the anger of the fans. Joaquim Dos Santos executive producer of the show addressed many of the claims levied by the fans. In a letter, he expresses how the show never intended to bait anyone, mentioned Adam’s sacrifice, and expresses sympathy towards the fans being angry.
This helps to showcase the creators are not blind to the plight of the fans. Unfortunately, fans are often unaware of the damage they do.
Fan Rage
You may be wondering, “It’s just a couple of angry fans. Why are you trying to plead with them?” The need to address this recent backlash is in regards to the fans and how they decided to act on their anger. Their passion has resulted in some less than shining moments.
One fan went as far as blackmailing the studio. The individual posted confidential pictures of storyboards and character designs taken from a tour of the production company Studio Mir. The demands: To make Klance (the shipping name for Keith and Lance) canon in the show. Just a thought but blackmailing the production company probably won’t get you anything but a lawsuit.
The argument about Klance has even found a way to appear after a simple scene in Season 7 where Allura tells Lance “Be safe” and the two characters are blushing. It should be noted, just because two characters seem like they may get together doesn’t mean they will. They may try, much like Mako and Korra did in Avatar: Legend of Korra (another series by the showrunners) but they may find they are just not compatible individuals. There is no need to threaten the cast when it feels like your ship isn’t going to work. Before you ask, yes, real-world threats were sent to people associated with the show.
The stars of the show have felt the venom which is coming from the fandom in real life. The following is a tweet from Bex Taylor-Klaus, the voice of Pidge, showcasing the intensity which they have felt from the community.
Dear #Voltron fans,
Please. Just be kind. Regardless of what happens in the show, just be kind. To each other. To creators. To performers. I’m tired of threats. I’m tired of having to consider cancelling con appearances due to safety concerns. I’m just … tired.
This does not look well for anyone in the community. Actors shouldn’t live in fear of fans coming after them because they don’t enjoy how a show plays out.
The Plea
The insanity of this needs to be pointed out. This entire article is intended to implore civility from fans of an animated series which promotes messages of teamwork, friendship, and overcoming adversity. You shouldn’t harass the writers and staff because a show you enjoy doesn’t have characters you enjoy end up together. Spreading hatred and making others live in fear is the method of the Galra and not of those of the Voltron Coalition.
This article is not a defense of “Queer Baiting.” Far from it. It is instead a plea to the fans to keep his or her anger in check and not lash out destructively. This is not the final battle (season), and the show has much more to offer everyone. Shiro is still gay, a driving force for the team, and one of the most awesome characters to come out of science fiction in years. This is canon. There is another season to go and comic adventures to be had which could help to explore the relationship Adam and Shiro had, much like how the comics helped to expand on Korra and Asami’s relationship.
Adam may be dead, but his legacy could affect Shiro and the audience moving forward and throughout time. After all, his sacrifice made a lasting impact on many viewers. Which seems to be exactly what the creators were hoping for in the long run.
To reiterate to all fans of Voltron: Legendary Defender: You a have a right to be angry but know the rage should not be used to lash out against others. The team has always tried their best to represent the joys of diversity in sexuality, gender, and multiculturalism, which exists in life. Mistakes were made with the unintentional “baiting,” and the creators apologized. The Netflix twitter account should probably do the same, but threats will not help them to realize their mistake any quicker. Those who are actually behind creating the show are going to try to learn from the errors and move forward. Will you?
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What do you think about the claims levied against Voltron: Legendary Defender? Leave a comment below and let us know.
