In a surprising bit of news, Cate Blanchett has decided to join Eli Roth’s upcoming adaptation of The House With A Clock In Its Walls.
Blanchett will join Jack Black, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film is based on a John Bellairs book of the same name, and here’s a synopsis of the book:
Orphaned Lewis Barnavelt comes to live with his Uncle Jonathan and quickly learns that both his uncle and his next-door neighbor are witches on a quest to discover the terrifying clock ticking within the walls of Jonathan’s house. Can the three of them save the world from certain destruction?
Jack Black will play the uncle, and Cate Blanchett will play a character named Mrs. Zimmerman, who turns out to be a witch. It’s somewhat of an unexpected choice for Blanchett, although she does appear to be kickstarting a genre phase in her career given her villainous turn in the upcoming Thor: Ragnarok.
As for this film, well, there is the concern that Eli Roth is directing it. I’m still waiting on the dude to make a good movie, and don’t even try and come at me with Hostel. Have you watched that one again lately? Yeah, me neither.
There’s no release date attached to The House With A Clock In Its Walls yet, so stay tuned for more updates as they become available.
A mixture of Rebecca Blunt’s stellar narrative plus fantastic performances from Adam Driver and Daniel Craig make Logan Lucky one hell of a good a time.
Summary
The story centers around the Logan brothers. Jimmy Logan (Channing Tatum) is a former high school superstar quarterback whose career was cut short by a traumatic knee injury. Not knowing what to do with his life, Logan drifts through job after job failing at every turn until he gets work as a construction worker at the local speedway. On top of everything, his marriage is in shambles, as Logan barely has custody of his daughter. Just when things couldn’t get much worse, he finds out his ex-wife (played by Katie Holmes), her new husband and their daughter are moving outside of Boone County, West Virgina. The move infuriates Logan, and he vows to get a lawyer. The only problem with such a declaration is that they cost money and he’s broke (plus he was fired earlier in the day for a workman’s comp issue). So Logan hatches a plan to rob Charlotte Motor Speedway with the help of his brother played by Adam Driver.
What Worked
Daniel Craig! His portrayal of incarcerated explosives expert Joe Bang was without question the biggest highlight of the film for me. The character is completely oblivious to any sense of right and wrong and most societal norms but makes up for it with an unusual amount of chemistry knowledge that allows him to turn anything into an explosive. His deadpan comedic delivery and charm liven up any scene he’s in. Logan Lucky wouldn’t nearly have been the movie it turned out to be if Craig hadn’t portrayed Mr. Bang.
While Driver looks nothing like his onscreen brother, the chemistry that those two have are another reason why this film takes off. Tatum’s character is the muscle and the brains behind this heist. Driver’s character is the logic and reason. The Logans’ complement each other well. Driver’s dry wit and backwoods mentality hit all the comedic beats in the film.
Blunt’s narrative captures the disenfranchised portions of rural America. The Logans’ want a better life and feel deep down they deserve one. After all, one brother was the star QB while the other one had half of his arm blown off fighting for his country. She’s able to find the humor in these circumstances and in the people they surround themselves with.
Soderbergh’s direction gave the film a down home quality. Instead of shots of the motor speedway and high-speed getaways, we were treated to shots of local establishments and the back of a hair salon. This gave the caper a country twist and a southern tinge. Just as he brought out the idiosyncrasies of each character in Oceans 11, the quirkiness of this southern fried crew is on full display.
Overall
For being released so late in the summer movie season, Logan Lucky is a surprisingly good film. The humor and the wit in the script are well balanced. For those walking into see the film expecting some combination of Joe Dirt meets Oceans 11 certainly will be pleasantly surprised by the final product. Maybe this release benefits in large part due to diminished expectations? Perhaps, but that doesn’t diminish my desire to recommend this movie to everyone.
Will Daniel Craig reprise his role of James Bond for the upcoming film? Yes, yes he will! The star went on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert to promote his new film Lucky Logan. Things turned to the upcoming Bond film and Craig confirmed the news of his returning.
“Yes. I couldn’t be happier. … I have to apologize to all the people I’ve done interviews with today, because I wanted to tell you.”
Cinema Blend reports, Craig apologized to fans of The Late Show for his game of hide and seek with the film press, and further explained just how long he’d known he was coming back. His answer, is, as follows:
“It’s been a couple of months. We’ve been discussing, and we’ve just been tryng to sort of figure things out. I always wanted to, i needed a break.”
This is the 25th film is the James Bond franchise and Craig’s fifth playing the titular character.
When asked about doing a 26th film he added, “This is it. I just want to go out on a high note, and I can’t wait.”
While the film hasn’t been named, it’s being referred to as Bond 25. It will be written by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, and produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.
It has big shoes to fill, Skyfall, the 23rd film in the series grossed over $1 billion worldwide, while the 24th film Spectre released in 2015 made 880.7 million.
Tricked into thinking she is meeting her resurrected lover Harvey Kinkle, Sabrina is, in fact, being manipulated by her undead father, the warlock Edward Spellman. As she sits down with ‘Harvey’ to explain to him how he came back to life, she is confronted by her aunts, Hilda and Zelda, who bring with them some supernatural back-up. But all of this is just part of Edward’s elaborate plan for revenge. A plan that includes not just his family, but every living thing as well.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina #8 Written by: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa Art by: Robert Hack Lettering by: Jack Morelli
Published by: Archie Comics
Like all Archie Horror titles, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina takes well-known characters and concepts and pushes them into the realm of horror. But unlike the other books (After Life With Archie, Jughead: The Hunger) Sabrina has always been about the supernatural, so it’s less of a stretch and more a..ahem..natural fit. But it’s more than just that which separates this from the rest of the Archie horror line. Sabrina has been crafting a story set in the ’60s, with a deep mythology steeped in classic American horror fiction and even history.
Sabrina vs her family!
Writing
This issue has more action that we have seen before, and it’s nice to finally see Sabrina use her various powers in different ways. Writer Roberto Aguierre-Sacasa paced the issue well, beginning and ending it with tension, and making the center piece a big fight between Sabrina and her aunts. It shows us how powerful Sabrina just may be if she can take on two seasoned witches. He also crafts some pretty disturbing themes, playing and teasing elements of incest.
The way the narrative is told is also clever. It has an omniscient narration that reads like old school E.C. horror comics, something this book has always been a welcome call back to.
Another great aspect is, despite all that, he still is able to give Sabrina a bit of innocence and naivety. She’s in over head, may be doing bad things, but is far from an ‘evil witch’. She’s still likable and it’s her father Edward that is the true villain here.
And if you are an Archie fan, there are some nice easter eggs and nods. We get to see the Jughead of this world, as well as a GREAT allusion to the zombie Jughead that kicked off the Afterlife With Archie title a few years ago. It’s a neat way of connecting the books without having a “continuity”. Oh and the spell battle happens at Pop’s Diner which is fucking perfect.
Sabrina unleashing some power!
Art
Robert Hack once again illustrates the hell out of this book. There is a wood grain like texture to his work that is perfect for the atmosphere this title needs. It emphasizes the feel of the woods and town.
The color palette is all oranges, browns and Earth tones. It feels like fall, Halloween, etc. You can almost feel the chill in the wind, the crispness of the fall.
Oh, and the monsters and gruesome moments are again straight out of the Tales From The Crypt school of horror comics. The art does not hold back on the gore when it needs to, and it creates quite a striking contrast with the elegance of the whole thing.
Conclusion
Both horror and Archie fans will find much to enjoy in this comic. It’s a book for fans of the genre done with a lot of love for the medium. The worst you can say about it is it has a bit of an irregular release schedule, but then it makes it almost an event when a new issue is out. Get in on this now.
Welcome to the ninth episode of the Comic Show by Monkeys Fighting Robots! DARK NIGHTS: METAL #1 is finally here, and we debate whether or not it’s actually as “metal” as advertised. Plus, beat reporter Brandon Griffin joins in to discuss Marvel’s “ResurreXion”, BABYTEETH #3, and help us answer the question, “where is the line between creativity and absurdity?”
The Killing of a Sacred Deer is the latest from Yorgos Lanthimos, the eccentric filmmaker behind The Lobster and Dogtooth. And it’s clear from this trailer that Lanthimos has abandoned the kindhearted nature of The Lobster.
Check it out:
A teenager’s attempts to bring a brilliant surgeon into his dysfunctional family take an unexpected turn.
Lanthimos is never concerned with telling a straightforward tale, and The Killing Of a Sacred Deer looks to have the same quiet intensity of Dogtooth, his best film. You might know what’s going on after seeing this trailer, you might not. One thing is certain, however, whatever you think is happening probably isn’t. Is that a cryptic enough statement for you?
Along with Farrell and Nicole Kidman, The Killing of a Sacred Deer also stars Barry Keoghan as the teen who apparently upsets the group dynamic, and Alicia Silverstone (!).
Few things have excited me more in Hollywood these last few years like the career evolution of Colin Farrell. I have always been in his corner, and now it seems he is finding the right outlets for his unique acting abilities these past few years.
The Killing Of a Sacred Deer opens November 3. Are you looking forward to this one?
Dark Nights Metal really has no proper descriptor for it other than “Metal.” It’s as if Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo made a comic from Iron Maiden album covers, but with DC superheroes. No, even better: it’s like they blasted an Iron Maiden album while slamming their favorite action figures together.
You might think I’m being facetious and dismissive with that statement. But, honestly it’s a fantastic read. Dark Nights Metal is fun, exciting, engaging, and absolutely awesome. It’s without a doubt the best event comic of 2017, and definitely worth checking out for all comic fans. For DC Fans, this is a must buy.
Written by the Doom Commander
Scott Snyder crafts an epic tale that kicks off with the Justice League in gladiatorial combat against giant robots. Then it goes from there into a large mythical conspiracy going on in Batman’s world. No spoilers in this review, but Snyder is pulling from all of DC’s continuity to make this story. Particularly with Hawkman’s origin and history.
Snyder may love Batman, but all the Justice League members shine here too. There’s great witty dialogue between them all. Each one feels unique, specific, and utilized well too. It’s the New 52 Justice League team, and it’s great to see them all together again. This story also feels huge in its scope. We start with the League fighting in space, go back to Gotham (which has a new mountain), and then end up on Dinosaur Island where they discover something called the Dark Multiverse.
While this first issue gives readers all the information they need, it’s advisable to pick up the prologue issues Dark Days: The Forgeand Dark Days: The Casting for some more context. However, Dark Nights Metal remains focused on its narrative, its characters, and its heavy metal aesthetic.
Art of the Pain Bringer
Speaking of heavy metal aesthetics, Greg Capullo’s reunion with Scott Snyder will be the big draw for most fans. Capullo’s pencils have incredible detail and convey a lot of action. The character designs are great and distinct from each other. The fight scenes are energetic and frequent and live up to the scale that Snyder imagines, which is how an event comic should be. It’s great to see these two back together again, and hopefully we’ll see more from them in the future.
Joining Capullo on the Dark Nights Metal art side are Jonathan Glapion on inks and FCO Plascenia on colors. Both compliment Capullo’s art brilliantly. Plascenia in particular shines with his colors. While there is a dark aesthetic in some of the pages, the colors are usually very striking and detailed. Very much reminiscent of a Jack Kirby comic (like New Gods, or Kamandi), but with a stronger contrast. The art is damn near flawless, and worth the price of the series.
Time to Rock Out
This book is absolutely the event series to read. It’s just awesome, plain and simple; and has one hell of a hook for fans. It’s Kirby meets Iron Maiden. The heavy metal fantasy we never new we wanted. The kick off for a DC event series that could easily be the biggest event the company has ever had. If you love DC Comics you need to read this book. It is required reading.
And if you need further convincing… Batman rides a fucking dinosaur in it!
Desperate to end the bloodshed between the Joker and the Riddler, Bruce Wayne (NOT Batman) makes a dangerous play. He invites the two warring villains and their allies to Wayne Manor to sit down over a full-on seven-course meal. His plan, it seems, is to hopefully end their fighting. But as is everything with Batman, nothing is what it seems. And something much more than a meal just might be being served.
Batman #29 “The War Of Jokes and Riddles” Part 4 Written by: Tom King Art by: Mikel Janin Inks by: Hugo Petrus & Mikel Janin Colors by: June Chung Lettered by: Clayton Cowles
‘The War of Jokes and Riddles’ has been a very deliberately paced story; full of odd time jumps, interludes, and narration. So it’s fitting thematically and narratively that we are probably at what is the half-way mark and we have a literal sit down dinner that brings all the major players together. It’s a daring, striking and surreal trick that pays off immensely. It makes for one of the weirdest (on an almost Grant Morrison level) Batman issues of Tom King’s, and really anyone’s, run. And I mean that as a compliment.
Dinner is served in Batman #29
Writing
Tom King continues to write the hell out of this title. And with this storyline, he has really crafted something unique. The arc itself has been experimental in execution, but on top of that, each chapter carries that experiment further in different directions. This ‘dinner issue’ (as I have chosen to call it) is one of the most surreal and tense comics I have read from a mainstream publisher. It could have easily fallen apart and into silliness, but King’s pacing keeps it tens. His use of grid panel lay outs is excellent here. Using each course of the meal as a ‘chapter’ within a chapter also adds to the already bubbling tension.
His characterization of Joker, Riddler and Bruce Wayne is also fantastic. The Joker here is a creature of true menace and insanity. We’re used to seeing Joker as a cackling madman (which is great of course) but there is an undeniable frightening quality to a Joker who doesn’t smile or laugh, and who can coldly discuss how he would simply choke Batman as he sits over a dinner plate (his fantasy of this is the only time we actually see Joker smiling, which hits hard). Riddler too is unique, coming off as a cold, methodical serial killer who just knows he probably is the smartest guy in the room (perhaps not this dining room, but still…). And then there is Bruce Wayne. As readers we know he is Batman, but to the everyone else he is a desperate citizen of a city in peril. But this actually IS a young, desperate Batman, so we are seeing an aspect of Bruce rarely seen but always welcome; human, emotional and unmasked. This is a multi-layered story arc, and this chapter is a microcosm of that.
Batman #29
Art
Mikel Janin, Hugo Petrus and June Chung have crafted a gorgeous book with drawings of food that border on ‘food porn’. The art is elegant and fancy, befitting the scene and theme. Everything is clean, crisp and has an element of stillness. Janin is also one of the best at capturing ‘acting’ in his characters, giving them subtle expressions that don’t rely on exaggeration to get emotions across. His Joker has become my favorite, second only to Brian Bolland’s in The Killing Joke (which seems to be an influence here). The coloring and inks add weight to the pencils, creating an intimate atmosphere that feels like you’re sitting at this incredibly awkward and scary dinner. Some of these panels are worthy of being prints. That’s how good this book looks. Plus we get to see almost all of Batman’s rogues’ gallery again drawn by this team, which is always a treat.
The lettering also deserves a mention, as each person’s dialog, including Batman’s narration, is rendered in distinct styles that create true voices.
Conclusion
This is absolutely my favorite issue of ‘The War of Jokes and Riddles’ so far. It’s a surreal sequence that feels almost Lynchian in its bizarreness and mood, working almost like the strangest short Batman film you will ever see. Like the great issue with Swamp Thing, this is one that will be remembered and collected whenever ‘Best of Batman’ stories are compiled. So sit down and devour it now.
After 27 years since cinemas were graced with Gremlins 2: The New Batch, talk of a Gremlins 3 is real and original screenwriter Chris Columbus has apparently written a script — and it’s going to be “twisted and dark.”
“I’m really proud of the script,” Columbus said in a Slash Film interview. “It is as twisted and dark as anything, so we’ll see. It’s always a budgetary conversation when we’re going to shoot it. I wanted to go back to the really twisted sensibility of the first movie. I found that was a very easy place for me to fall back into and start writing again so hopefully we’ll see that movie soon.”
Columbus said his script asks a question which have been on many fans’ minds since the original Gremlins: if all the gremlins originated from getting Gizmo wet and feeding the mogwai after midnight, should Gizmo be killed off?
“I think it probably is a good idea to be honest with you,” Columbus said. “Too many people are dying.”
While this may disturb fans of the fluffy critter, there is some good news about this potential sequel/reboot. Despite significant advancements, the Gremlins themselves will still be brought to life as puppets, and not with CGI.
“Oh, without a doubt, minimal CGI,” Columbus said. “CGI will enable us to remove wires and make the puppeteers lives a little easier. It was brutal. It was like a marathon every night for those guys. In the bar scene alone there were 18 or 20 people behind the bar. No one had any space to move. It was just hellish for those guys so CGI will simplify that a little bit, but it’s all puppets.”
So, good news, we may be getting the Gremlins sequel we deserve after nearly three decades. Not so good news – things may take an extremely dark turn.
Need A Refresher Before Justice League? Check This Out!
It’s been a winding road to the November release of Justice League. The team-up event from the DC Extended Universe promises one of the biggest moments in superhero history. Even with only four movies before this film, there’s a lot of ground to cover.
Below is a break down of all things DCEU and Justice League as we head into the release. You will find a history of the DC Extended Universe, a look into each major character, and some news of what will happen in the movie.
Previous DCEU Films
Man of Steel:
The most recent DC cinematic universe began with 2013’s Man of Steel. Filmmaker Zack Snyder reinvented Superman; stripping back the “boy scout” mentality and replacing it with a more introspective take on the hero. It tore the fan base apart as some welcomed the change, while others grabbed their pitchforks.
While Man of Steel has the label as the first film in this series, it serves mostly as a solo origin story for Superman. There are some easter eggs for things to come, but nothing major happens to distract from this being a real look at Superman. Even the villains being Zod and Faora works to show the struggles of what Superman’s life on Earth is. In hindsight, every decision in this movie led into the next. Especially the killing of Zod; that moment weighs in on him during the entirety of Batman v Superman.
Batman v Superman
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is the most polarizing superhero film in the last decade. If the first entry divided fans, this built a wall in-between them. Taking the finale of Man of Steel and adding Bruce Wayne’s point of view, Batman v Superman is the real launching pad for the DC Extended Universe. Much to the dismay of some fans, there is a lot of world building happening and introduces things that wouldn’t pay off until later films. It also continued the radical alternative takes on the DC characters, examples being Jessie Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor and a more brutal Batman.
When looking at how these movies will affect the DCEU and Justice League, Batman v Superman is considered as the source of everything. Not only did it give minor introductions of all of the League members, but Justice League’s story directly follows this. Also, the film includes a “Knightmare” sequence that plays into Justice League. That dream/premonition gave viewers the first look at a militant Superman and Parademons.
Suicide Squad:
Unlike other films in the DCEU, Suicide Squad will most likely not play a significant role in the upcoming movie. David Ayer’s take on the criminal gang was plagued with production drama and a critical bashing; it’s hard being the film to follow Batman v Superman. Much of the original cut got lost in the shuffle, and it felt like a half-heartened attempt at both a standalone film and as a world-building event.
Suicide Squad did give fans another look at The Flash and some more Batman scenes, but nothing of real substance. It’s also apparent that there isn’t room for any more characters in an already character-filled Justice League movie.
Wonder Woman:
Bow down to the queen. Wonder Woman is the movie that saved the public perception of the DC Extended Universe. Not only is the film a powerful experience, but it has a sleek style of filmmaking. Patty Jenkins took on the task of bringing this Amazonian to screen after 75 years and swing the favor back over to the brand. She did just that when the film opened to record-breaking numbers and ranks highly on movie review aggregator sites.
With the Wonder Woman solo film set in the past, there wasn’t a lot of chances to dive into the current DCEU timeline. That doesn’t mean it won’t connect to Justice League at all. In multiple trailers for the film, you can see the Amazons battling it out with Parademons. The San Diego Comic-Con trailer also revealed that a Mother Box is on Themyscira, the home of Wonder Woman.
The Characters
Batman:
Batman is the face that runs the place. Without Bruce Wayne and his alter ego Batman, the entire DC film universe wouldn’t exist. That goes beyond just the DCEU; Batman is the most prolific character from the brand. Ben Affleck took on the role of the Caped Crusader to some hate initially but quickly turned fans around with a stellar performance.
Yes, this version of Batman is grisly. His dark side even cost Superman’s his life in the long run, even if Batman eventually saw the error in his ways. Now with Justice League, Bruce Wayne is using his superhero skills to team up, rather than push people away. The character arc is polarizing. Seeing the very worst to build to the hero we know drove fans mad, but this film hopes to be the perfect pay off.
Wonder Woman:
If she wasn’t a big part of the movie before, the success of Wonder Woman launched her to the forefront of Justice League. Our Amazonian warrior won fans and critics over with her single film earlier this year, and DCEU fans are hoping that love translates to this. Her role as a founding member of the League is exciting; she’s seemingly replacing Superman’s founding role due to his death. But her story goes beyond just uniting the team!
With a war coming to her island of Themyscira, this marks the return to her homeland. The question is how the island will look when she gets there? Will the villain Steppenwolf slaughter the Amazons? This moment will surely drive Wonder Woman over-the-edge. Thankfully she has her newly less-cynical friend Bruce Wayne to keep her focused.
The Flash:
Other than the “DC Holy Trinity,” The Flash is the most recognizable character from the brand. His hit-show on The CW makes him a household name, and Justice League’s Flash is labeled a scene-stealer in the trailers. While Grant Gustin is beloved on the television show, actor Ezra Miller is already a fan-favorite.
Little is known about the movie version of the character. Some of the trailers did give a glimpse at Barry with his imprisoned father and that he’s a loner, but that’s about it. Expect everything in Justice League to lead us to his solo film; the iconic DC event named Flashpoint. The Flash could attempt to turn back time in the movie and trigger something.
Aquaman:
Somehow, Jason Momoa turned Aquaman into the bad-ass we see before us. The character sadly saw years of ridicule with a campy version of Super Friends and later becoming a meme. Comics eventually rebranded him with a longer hair & hook for a hand. It helped, but nothing works quite like seeing Jason Momoa as Arther Curry.
With Batman, Wonder Woman, and The Flash do not doubt Aquaman’s ability to steal the movie. Justice League has tons of characters, but few have this kind of appeal. This role is the type that men want to be him and women want to be with him. There is more to Aquaman than good looks though. His story as Atlantis King is interesting and we could see a minor origin story for the character. His water-bending wife Mera will appear as well.
Cyborg:
Victor “Cyborg” Stone started as a Teen Titan, and now he’s here. Cyborg is one of the newest characters to mainstream audiences. That will likely change with a fun performance and a story that ties deep into world building. Justice League follows the minor introduction in Batman v Superman that showed Silas Stone, Cyborg’s dad, creating him after an accident. There is resentment there and is a topic in the movie.
Besides some creation drama, there is also the fact that Cyborg is made-up of a Mother Box. A Mother Box is an object in DC mythos that is synonymous to Darkseid and his Parademons. This connection to the villains of Justice League adds an interesting dynamic. How much of this machine will take over the remaining man side?
Steppenwolf:
Steppenwolf is the first step in the introduction of DC’s New Gods. Once the parademons made their appearance in Batman v Superman, Darkseid and the New Gods was evident. Thankfully they didn’t jump right in with the big bad and send this troubled villain. The odds of him making it out of this movie alive are slim, but he’ll be impactful.
Ciarán Hinds is taking on the role of Steppenwolf using motion-capture. He spoke about calling his friend Liam Neeson for advice on doing this type of performance. An esteemed actor diving into a unique role like this will be thrilling to see.
What Will Happen In ‘Justice League?’
Let’s address the Kryptonian elephant in the room. Yes, we all know Superman is returning from the dead in Justice League. The real mystery isn’t if, but how will he return? Odds are it will be a heroic return to save the day. That’s something some fans are begging for after a Superman they didn’t recognize. Don’t be surprised if it does get darker though, much like the “mullet Jesus” Superman of the 90’s.
After reshoots that are rumored to be fairly extensive, the tone of the film will be uneven. With Batman v Superman seeing criticism for being “too dark,” these newer scenes will introduce a lighter toner and something more hopeful (like Wonder Woman). Rumored reports say that Cyborg was a major focus in the reshoots, in an attempt to make him more like his comic-book counterpart. You can also expect a more lighthearted tone sprinkled throughout as Zack Snyder’s plan was to make this lighter than his grim previous entries. With the late addition of director Joss Whedon, the tone will be even lighter than originally intended.
What are you most looking forward to with Justice League? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Unite with the League in theaters on November 17th.
It features an ensemble cast that includes Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher, Ciarán Hinds, Amy Adams, Willem Dafoe, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, Connie Nielsen, and J. K. Simmons.
