Colbert is without a doubt one of Trump’s most-outspoken critics. Count on this show not being very kind to the leader of the free world and his constituents.
The network’s teaser shows Trump struggling to make the podium for a press conference, while his entourage of animated versions of Melania Trump, Donald Jr. and Jeff Sessions, look on.
“’Our Cartoon President’ examines the quintessentially Trumpian details of the presidency and his most important relationships,” The network stated. “No one is safe, from his close family and confidants, to key political figures from both parties and members of the media.”
Cartoons have always been relatable to politics and vice-versa, but one can only hope, considering that this will be Trump’s third show, along with his Alec Baldwin skits on SNL and ‘The President Show’, that this kickstarter campaign to turn animated versions of both Barack Obama and Joe Biden into a heroic, time-traveling duo, comes through.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is out this weekend and – let’s be honest – expectations were low. It’s a comedy sequel that nobody asked for, out 22 years after the original. The precedence is not good. But in a crazy twist of Shyamalan-like proportions, this flick actually turned out extremely enjoyable.
Welcome to the Jungle is the story of four high school students who get sucked into Jumanji, now a video game instead of a board game. Once inside, they must play as their respective avatars (Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, & Karen Gillen) to beat the game and return home. Simple, right?
With a plot this simple, Jumanji becomes much more character-driven. Luckily, the performances from the main cast really bolster this movie and make it worth watching. Individually, Johnson, Hart, Black, & Gillen all bring the thunder and display stellar comedy chops. But collectively, their chemistry is off the charts and they manage to elevate each other’s performances. And that all goes for the younger actors that play the “real” high schoolers as well. In a movie that’s about teamwork, good chemistry goes a long way.
This is a truly funny flick, with a lot of the humor coming from the acting, and specifically from the actors playing against their usual type. Remember, they’re all supposed to be high school students in avatar bodies. So big, buff Dwayne Johnson is playing a nebbish nerd; Jack Black is playing a popular girl who’s obsessed with her phone. At first, it seems like it will get old fast, but it’s played really well as the story progresses and makes for the film’s best moments.
Once you venture outside of the main cast though, the characters and performances don’t stand out quite so much. Bobby Canavale’s villain is bland and forgettable; the same goes for Rhys Darby’s guide character. However, the huge caveat here is that these guys are playing actual video game characters. They’re supposed to be one-note; it’s actually played for a joke in the script. So although it’s unfortunate from a critical perspective, it’s not really something to hold against the movie. It’s just committing to the video game element.
And that’s something else that the new Jumanji does very well, commit to the video game element and establish the rules of the world. This movie could have easily gone badly, as many other have before, where characters just lay out a bunch of exposition establishing the rules of Jumanji. It’d be a boring waste of potential. But instead, the screenwriters show us the rules; we learn them along with the characters through action. And sometimes it’s beautifully subtle too. Minor things happen and the script doesn’t call that much attention to them, but they’re actually establishing rules that play a major role later on. The writers place a lot of trust in the audience to catch on to these things, which isn’t something I expected from a Jumanji sequel. Just another pleasant surprise.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a lot better than I think anyone expected it to be. It could have been a cookie-cutter flick that cases in on nostalgia, but instead the performances are solid and the laughs are well-earned. If you’re looking for a movie that’s just pure fun this holiday season, this here’s your ticket.
Bad ideas happen sometimes. They can be accidental, or intentional, or retroactively bad ideas. But the news that Chris Brown will co-star in a female-centric movie about women’s basketball deserves its own specific category of trash planning.
The movie is called She Ball, and it will be directed by Nick Cannon. Yeah, Nick Cannon. According to the Variety report, here’s the low down on the project:
“She Ball” follows the love of the game through the struggles of Avery Watts, played by Cannon, who enlists the baddest women’s streetball league in the city to help him save the embattled Inglewood Community Center, which he manages, all while trying to raise his seven-year-old daughter.
Sounds intriguing. It’s not necessarily in my wheel house, per se, but this is the sort of underrepresented world that will certainly have an audience based simply on that synopsis from Variety. Good move, Hollywood. But hey, um, you know what’s NOT a good move? Hiring Chris Brown.
Yes, this is noted woman abuser and all-around garbage human being Chris Brown. If you need a detailed list of the bullshit this asshat has been involved in over the last several years – yeah, there’s enough for a list – check it out here. Some of the super chill and not-at-all troubling highlights include beating up Rihanna, destroying a Good Morning America dressing room, dressing up as an ISLAMIC TERRORIST at a Halloween party, and a few more assaults for good measure.
There isn’t any world where the inclusion of Chris Brown in this project makes any sense. It’s shameful, stupid, and confounding in its inability to read the room. We’ll see if this actually makes it all the way to production. It sure seems hard to imagine at this point.
At least in NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar he is. The network announced the news Tuesday.
“We’re all overjoyed to have world-class musical artist and producer John Legend starring as Jesus,” said Robert Greenblatt, chairman of NBC Entertainment. “This score demands a singer with an amazing range and an actor with great depth, and there isn’t anyone better to bring this story to a new audience. His casting is also groundbreaking as the traditional image of Christ will be seen in a new way.”
Legend is joining Alice Cooper who’s playing King Herrod.
“I’m thrilled to join the cast of this production of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert,’” Legend said. “It’s such a powerful, meaningful musical and I’m humbled to be part of this performance. We’ve already formed an incredible team, and, as we finish casting, I’m certain we will put together some of the greatest talents around to do this work justice.”
The musical was created in 1971 in 1971 by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. It tells the story of Jesus’ last week of life.
Jesus Christ Superstar could put John Legend at EGOT status. He already has 10 Grammys, an Oscar for the song “Glory” in the 2014 drama “Selma”, and a Tony as a producer of “Jitney,” the August Wilson revival.
The rock musical will air live Sunday April 1 from the Marcy Armory in Brooklyn.
This year’s Best Supporting Actress hopefuls are matronly, for better or worse. Mothers are the modus operandi here, some great, some flawed, some kinda terrible.
The field for Best Supporting Actress also feels more finite than other categories. Once you get past the two frontrunners, the rest of the hopefuls thin out fairly quickly. Not every year can be stacked; on the bright side, however, this field has a chance to be refreshingly diverse.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
The two frontrunners this year are two mother characters; one is prickly but loving, the other is just a prick. Laurie Metcalf, who plays the mother to Saoirse Ronan in Lady Bird, and Allison Janney, who plays the monstrous mother to Margot Robbie’s Tonya Harding in I, Tonya, feel like absolute locks at this point. Right behind them is Mary J. Blige, who delivers a performance of quiet power in Mudbound; she may be third in line when it comes to nomination chances, but don’t count out an upset victory for Blige.
That leaves two slots, and two or three possibilities. Octavia Spencer is a supporting standout in The Shape of Water, which is quickly becoming an odd Best Picture frontrunner. For the fifth and final spot, Melissa Leo could sneak in there for her work in Novitiate. Holly Hunter has an outside shot for her mother role in The Big Sick, but the summer season feels like a decade back now when it comes to acting.
Downsizing is getting incredibly middling reviews, but Hong Chau is getting a great deal of buzz for her political activist role in the midst of Alexander Payne’s uneven comedy. She might very well sneak in the back door of the category.
2017 was a great year for television, specifically with nerd-centric shows. There were tons of comic adaptations, cartoon reboots, and dystopian tales. Here is our list of the top “geek” TV shows of the year. You can read last year’s list here, or check out the list of Top 10 New Shows of 2017 (with several of the following shows included!)
Honorary mentions include MARVEL’S RUNAWAYS, DIRK GENTLY, PEOPLE OF EARTH, and HAPPY! If any of your top picks don’t appear on the list, be sure to let us know in the comments, or on Facebook and Twitter.
1No. 7 – 1
7. Future Man (Season 1)
The Hulu sci-fi comedy Future Man has a unique style and sense of humor that sets it apart. The TV show takes on time travel, gaming culture, James Cameron… just about everything nerdy. Future Man can be overly broad in its comedy at times, but it has some great action and performances along the way. It does a great job at taking on the sci-fi genre, poking fun while paying tribute to it as well.
Netflix managed to crank out three seasons of Voltron in one year, while staying consistent across the board. The reboot of the classic cartoon was exhilarating, combining humor and action across each season. From the minds of Avatar and The Legend of Korra, Voltron is equally impressive, visually and story-wise. The line-up of Paladins definitely shifted per season, but the strong dynamics between the group never wavered. Who knows how many seasons will come in 2018, but they will undoubtedly be great.
5. Stranger Things (Season 2)
The instant hit series from last year came back for a second strong season. This new season wasn’t quite as strong as its premiere, which landed the #1 spot on last year’s list. However, Stranger Things S2 was still strong, bringing in new characters and higher stakes. The tribute to 80’s sci-fi expanded upon the world of psychics, demons, and D&D that it built. Plus, it had a phenomenal performance by Sean Astin, who’s a bundle of dorky dad joy. If that doesn’t sell you, who knows what will.
4. Rick & Morty (Season 3)
The raunchy sci-fi comedy Rick and Morty returned for a third season this year. While the show may have some – ahem – overly passionate and rambunctious fans, the show retained its strong voice and sense of humor. The show brought new fan-favorite moments and characters, including Pickle Rick, The Vindicators, and Atlantis (well, sort of). If you’re a fan of Rick and Morty’s particular brand of humor, odds are you’ll love their latest outing.
3. Game of Thrones (Season 7)
Game of Thrones had its biggest season yet. The HBO series united nearly all of its characters, bringing together all the plot lines we’ve followed for six years. The latest season gave us the return of several characters, dragons fighting zombies, and (sigh) more incest sex. Game of Thrones had some great twists and deaths, making this season exhilarating. While some have called season 7 “fan service,” as a fan, it’s hard to complain. Be sure to watch and re-watch this season, as we may not get more Game of Thrones until 2019.
2. American Gods (Season 1)
American Gods is one of the strongest series to premiere this year. With strong source material, showrunners, and performances, the Starz series is brilliant. The first season brought the Neil Gaiman novel to life, while updating it and injecting new elements to it. The TV show does a great job at enhancing the roles of certain characters, like Laura Moon. It’s frightening to imagine what season 2 might look like, now that American Gods has lost both its original showrunners. That said, whether or not season 2 is as strong, season 1 was absolutely fantastic.
1. The Handmaid’s Tale (Season 1)
The best geek TV show of 2017 also happens to be one of the strongest shows across the board. Hulu’s adaptation of the Margaret Atwood novel was a fantastic drama that feels especially relevant today. The way The Handmaid’s Tale explores feminism in a dystopian setting is unsettling, but thematically important and stunning. It has since received several accolades, including Best Drama at the Emmy awards. The Handmaid’s Tale is an incredible series, and absolutely worth your watch.
Sicario 2: Soldado is one of the more unlikely sequels to come out of Hollywood in recent years. Denis Villeneuve’s original 2015 film, from Taylor Sheridan’s screenplay, is this reporter’s favorite movie of that year. This sequel focuses almost exclusively on Benicio Del Toro’s mercenary character, Alejandro, who apparently (in a very sequel-ish move) has the restraints taken off.
Once you hear that familiar groan of the score here, fans of the original film will be all in:
Aside from Benicio Del Toro reprising his role, you have Josh Brolin back as his “boss,” Matt Graver. Joining them this time is Catherine Keener – excellent – and Matthew Modine, who is ripe for a late-career resurgence.
Taylor Sheridan is back with the screenplay, but Villeneuve is not directing. That task has been handed to Stefano Sollima, an unknown in the States who recently created the crime show Gomorrah. Also, Roger Deakins isn’t back as cinematographer, but Dariusz Wolski appears to be mimicking the master as well as he can.
As for this trailer, well, it looks way more over the top than the original. Hopefully it doesn’t suffer traditional sequelitis issues, i.e. excess.
Sicario 2: Soldado opens June 29, 2018. We will see how things shape up.
“It’s been 84 years…” Well, actually, it’s been exactly 20 years, as James Cameron’s epic Titanic hit theaters on this day in 1997. This is one of those movies that is so timeless and is still so fresh in people’s minds that it’s hard to believe that 20 years have passed.
The story follows the star-crossed love affair of Jack Dawson, a homeless artist who wins his ticket aboard the vessel in a lucky hand of poker, and Rose DeWitt Bukater, who is betrothed to Pittsburgh steel fortune heir Caledon Hockley. Their fictional romance is set before the backdrop of the Titanic and its doomed maiden journey. Cameron uses a love story as the basis to tell the story of Titanic because he felt that was best way to convey the emotional impact of the disaster on a micro level.
Though Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jack and Kate Winslet’s Rose are made up characters, Cameron paid special attention to details of the voyage by including some of the famous passengers. Notable travelers included Kathy Bates as The Unsinkable Molly Brown, the woman who encouraged the crewman of her lifeboat to turn around to gather more passengers. Victor Garber portrays Thomas Andrews, the shipbuilder in charge of the RMS Titanic. J. Bruce Ismay, chairman and managing director of White Star Line, played by Jonathan Hyde, later testified before the Senate regarding the ship’s sinking.
Recreation of the most legendary ocean disaster was as historically accurate as possible. Cameron and his team not only built a full-size exterior replica, they created interior spaces that perfectly match photographs of the original ship. The costuming, hairstyles, and makeup were ornate and flawlessly depicted the “gilded age” of the early 1900’s.
The special effects used in this movie were groundbreaking and technologically superior to any film of its time. Cameron made us feel like we were going down with that ship, too.
James Horner’s score ties this film together flawlessly. The music is solemn, tranquilizing, uplifting, and ominous, all which add to the emotions of the story. Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” won the Academy Award for Best Song. It also spent 10 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart.
Titanic is tied for the most Oscars wins at 11 with Ben-Hur and The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. It also garnered numerous nominations and wins at the Golden Globes, People’s Choice, Screen Actors Guild, MTV Movie Awards, and Kids’ Choice Awards. This year, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
Titanic was the first film where I truly became interested in the art of film-making. I watched documentaries on the films creation, and I became enthralled by the behind the scenes goings-on. It was then I realized just how much goes into to creating an epic masterpiece of film.
Titanic is an enduring story of love, greed, class roles, gender roles, heroism, and tragedy. There’s something for everyone in this film, making it a true modern day classic.
How many times have you seen Titanic? What film made you love the art of cinema?
Every con has its pros – and there you have it, the tagline from ‘Ocean’s 8’ as the trailer dropped today on the internet.
Watch the trailer below.
“A criminal mastermind and seven other female thieves try to pull off the heist of the century at New York’s annual Met Gala.”
Sandra Bullock leads the cast as the sister of Dany Ocean, played by George Clooney in the original trilogy. Joining Bullock is Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Mindy Kaling, Rihanna, Elle Fanning, and Sarah Paulson. Gary Ross (The Hunger Games) directs a screenplay from Olivia Milch.
‘Ocean’s 8’ hits theaters June 8 next year, right in the heart of summer movie season.
Happy Birthday Toys! The sweet little film from the 90s finally celebrates its silver anniversary and it’s time to give it the respect it deserves. It is a fun movie, full of great visuals, and heartwarming moments and doesn’t deserve the negative reputation it has garnished.
A Forgotten Wonderland
The best way to sell someone on the movie Toys if they haven’t had a chance watched it is by comparing the film to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The viewer sees a bit of the real world here and there, but once you are inside the factory of Zevo Toys, you are transported to a land straight out of a dream. The sets are full of color and highly designed in a way which makes a person wish they could apply for a job at the company.
The most recognizable attraction of this film is Robin Williams as he plays manchild who seems right at home in the world the film portrays. This is not to downplay the importance of performances by LL Cool J, Michael Gambon, or Joan Cusack in any ways. The entire cast helps to present characters who seem right at home in the world which opens up in Toys.
There is also the underlying aspect of how the film can be applied to modern times. The film’s antagonist wishes to make military toys and by the end of the film produces an army of attack drones. Given how prevalent drones became in modern culture, it’s impossible not to miss this type of foreshadowing.
Bad Rap
It really is important to give the film the appreciation it deserves. The movie resulted in director Barry Levinson receiving a Razzie Nomination (They also gave nominations to The Bodyguard and Newsies so not exactly the best year in there book). It also currently holds an unnecessary 29% on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s not a film which offends the audience and talks down to them. Instead it tries to reward them for having imaginations and enjoying a bit of whimsy.
Conclusion
If not just to honor the late great Robin Williams, this film is a fantastic little ride through some engrossing sets and costume designs. Watch if for yourself and if you enjoy it head over to Rotten Tomatoes and help to raise the user score for the film. It’s pretty low as well.
