Brian De Palma, the legend himself, is stepping back behind the camera. And he’s bringing Mad Men star Christina Hendricks with him.
The Hollywood Reporter broke the news earlier that De Palma, who hasn’t made a feature film since 2012’s little seen Passion, will team with Hendricks and Nicolaj Coster-Waldau for Domino:
Petter Skavlan (Kon-Tiki, Sophie’s World) wrote the script for the film. The story follows a Copenhagen police officer (Coster-Waldau) who is seeking justice for his partner’s murder by a mysterious man called Imran. He teams up with a fellow cop and his late partner’s mistress (Hendricks), to hunt Imran down, but are unwittingly caught in a cat and mouse chase with a duplicitous CIA agent that will take them from Scandinavia to the sun-drenched landscapes of Spain.
The synopsis here could have been anything and I would be excited to see Brian De Palma try his hand once again. There’s no certainty that Domino will be anything special, or maybe even good – Passion was passable but Redacted way back in 2007 was atrocious. It’s been a while since De Palma had his fastball, probably with 2002’s Femme Fatale, and it’s exciting just to see what he can pull off these days.
Domino will head to Cannes to try and secure funding, and it seems like that won’t be too tough. Stay tuned for more details.
The first month of Marvel’s ResurreXion of the X-Men has been a busy one. We’ve already had a major controversy, a delay, and four new titles to absorb. Hopefully the dramatics are behind us and readers can simply enjoy their comic books. With X-Men: Gold #3, Kitty and company make a statement.
***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***
Kitty Pryde and her team of X-Men haven’t settled into their new lives before being thrust into their first conflict. The new Brotherhood Of Evil Mutants attacks the UN and kidnaps NYC’s mayor. It’s up to our mutant heroes to resolve this mess and attempt to keep human/mutant relations in tact.
Writer Marc Guggenheim didn’t waste any time throwing this team of classic muties beauties into a familiar scene. The Brotherhood is more of a routine foe, allowing us to get accustomed to this new team compilation. In these first three issues, the focus has been on Kitty. Guggenheim quickly establishes her as the bold, bad-ass she can be. Ms. Pryde isn’t taking her new role lightly, she wants the world to know that the X-Men are back and they’re not to be trifled with.
Guggenheim’s dialogue hammers home the point that Kitty doesn’t have time to waste, and she’s also very prepared. Her veteran X-Men status shines through and even overshadows valiant efforts by the other longtime mutant champions. Learning some new operational lingo, like “violent extraction”, emphasizes the point that Kitty Pryde and her team are not to be taken lightly.
Despite her silly new code-name (Prestige Worldwide), Rachel Grey also steps up early into the series. Her “psi-fight” with Mesmero is a delightful highlight from the issue. Having established the older characters already as the weathered war heroes that they are, now is the time for readers to get to know the young students.
It’s a real shame that artist Ardian Syaf created such controversy and will no longer be with the team. Syaf’s art really makes these pages sing, picking up the script’s tempo and running with it. The art team plays a significant role in portraying Kitty Pryde as the bad-ass leader. It’s a major relief for readers who last saw her during her romance with Peter Quill.
Frank Martin’s coloring is crucial in making this book in particular feel like home for old-school X-Men fans. X-Men: Gold is still a relatively dark visual experience compared to X-Men: Blue, but Martin sheds light through color and balances out the heavy ink.
With three X-Men titles having come out last week (due to delay), Gold didn’t necessarily stand out. Being the only X-title this week did it plenty of favors, allowing readers to take their time absorbing it. Blue is catching everybody off-guard by how great it is, keeping these two titles apart is a must with the double-shipping schedule to let them both truly breathe.
Now that we’ve gotten the starter course out of the way, the team established, and the world full of fear, let’s get weird. X-Men: Gold is absolutely worth the time of any X-Men fan.
What do you think so far? Which ResurreXion series do you like the most so far? Let us know in the comments below!
Fresh off the success of Get Out, easily the most exciting new film thus far in 2017, Jordan Peele has agreed to a production deal with Universal Studios.
The studio has signed Peele to a first-look overall production deal with his Monkeypaw Productions banner.
Under the two-year deal, Universal stakes a claim to Peele’s next film, an untitled social thriller that he will write, direct and produce. That project is looking to have a larger canvas than Get Out as the budget will be about five times bigger than his low-budget movie Peele made with producer Jason Blum.
The deal comes as nearly every studio had been chasing to work with Peele, who wrote and directed the breakout thriller released in February that became a cultural phenomenon thanks to its creative way of tackling racial issues. The movie, which Universal released, has grossed over $194 million worldwide and was made a budget of about $5 million. The studio moved swiftly and aggressively to bring the actor-filmmaker into the fold.
So we get Peele’s next socio-political thriller with a little more scratch behind it, and whatever project he might have up over the next two years. This is exciting stuff for fans of Get Out. And, honestly, who doesn’t love Get Out?
Let the Jordan Peele follow-up film countdown begin.
Batman and the Flash arrive in the Flashpoint Universe, surprised at how it still exists. After an emotional encounter between Bruce and Thomas Wayne, the Batcave is attacked by a legion of Amazons and Atlanteans. As the father and son Batmen fight off the invaders, Barry Allen repairs the damaged Cosmic Treadmill. With the device fixed, Batman and Flash attempt to return to their own world, only to once encounter Eboard Thawne, the Reverse-Flash!
Batman #22 ‘The Button’ Part 3 Story by: Tom King and Joshua Williamson Written by: Joshua Williamson Art by: Jason Fabok Colors by: Brad Anderson Published by: DC Comics
“The Button” continues, now in its third chapter. Picking up directly where it left off in Flash#21, the story continues to be speed-force fast paced, but takes an emotional bend with this issue that is much welcomed. Read on to find out 11 reasons Batman #22 is both packed with action and drama!
‘Batman’ #22 Page 4
The perfect mix of narrative action and emotion. It’s the kind of balance that makes it impactful.
Bruce using a Batarang to knock a gun out of his father’s hand.
TWO Batmen and a Flash vs the Amazons and Atlanteans!
Jason Fabok’s ability to convey both action scenes and dramatic facial close-ups.
“Something else has kept the Flashpoint going.”
Bruce telling Thomas about his grandson.
“Don’t be Batman. Find happiness.”
Thomas Wayne’s totally bad-ass, emotionally charged and explosive exit.
Fabok’s rendition of the speed-force.
The return of Reverse-Flash! (Seriously I love Eobard Thawne!)
The realization that this story has taken place in what is likely just a few hours for the characters. Makes for great intensity.
‘Batman’ #22 Page 5
Haters be damned, ‘The Button’ has been a fun ride that I have really been enjoying. The mystery has been able to be a slow burn while still maintaining good momentum. Next chapter is called “Hand of God,” which just makes me anticipate it even more. I am now fully on board.
With Backlash just over a week away, it is safe to say that SmackDown LIVE has taken a few steps back since the “Super Star Shake-up.” Although, one can argue the distraction of the SmackDown Live performers working the Raw event Payback distorted focus momentarily. Not so fast. SmackDown lost some of its identity in the “shakeup,” mostly in the form of the show’s MVP… The Miz.
Miz, and his antics, had become some of the best water cooler moments of the wrestling week. Nobody had any clue what the A-Lister was going to say next, and once his feud with John Cena ended at WrestleMania, Miz went to raw while Cena went away. (Not that we can see him anyway. Nobody can.)
Sure, “the blue brand” picked up a couple of stars in the swap. Kevin Owens is always a delight to watch, and with his win at Payback, Chris Jericho will also be joining SmackDown LIVE. (Maybe? We’ll get to that in a second.)
Actually, there has been some highs and lows from the past months, which usually leads to interesting television. Which leads us to our next segment…
SLUG FEST
YAY!: Don’t hinder Jinder!
The biggest marketing ploy SmackDown Live has insisted on since it’s inception last year is the fact that “the land of opportunity” showcases on Tuesday nights. The biggest example came just a few weeks ago, when perennial loser Jinder Mahal won a six-pack challenge match to become the number one contender to the WWE championship.
A saying in wrestling for giving someone a fast promotion is to “put a rocket” on them. Well, Houston, we may have a problem with Jinder Mahal. Pro Wrestling fans are rather ruthless, and any hint of the office trying to influence who their audience needs to care about is usually met with a gigantic backlash. Which is why Jinder aligning himself with the Singh brothers (formerly The Bollywood Boys), and making himself an anti-American heel may be perfect for his career.
Listen, most people are stupid and ignorant. Not knowing the difference between and Indian and a Muslim is common practice. Most people are just booing the turban, which if used to Mahal’s advantage, could really set up some amazing promos. The best villains are the ones who speak a bit of the truth behind their lies. Here’s hoping WWE allows Jinder to grow into a fully fleshed out character.
LONG LIVE THE MAHARAJA!!!
BOO!: The Face Vacant From The Space
Where, oh where, is AJ Styles? Certainly not on SmackDown Live! Nobody should count the mediocre face-off promo Styles and Jericho cut to open the show either. Style’s involvement in the segment was only a way to shoehorn him into the show, probably after someone realized he wasn’t booked on it. Fans get that a cooling off period was coming from Styles, however SmackDown Live needs AJ front and center in all major storylines. After all, he is the best performer on the planet between the ropes.
YAY!: “Dedicated Garment Gum Shoes”
Breezango got their grove back, ya’ll. The duo’s Rockford Files/Law and Order mash-up dubbed “The Fashion Files” was the scene stealer of SmackDown! There has never been any doubt that these two journeymen have talent and charisma, but sometimes it just takes a while to find where potential is fully taken advantage of.
A long underrated tool of sports entertainment is absurdity. When done wrongly (Triple H performing necrophilia on a dummy in a casket) it comes off cheap and idiotic. When done correctly on the other hand (The Undertaker, seriously, everything about his career is absurd. Start to finish, really, just think about it.) Everything about this gimmick is absurd, and everybody is buying in. To get a character over you need to buy in, and much to our enjoyment it seems Breeze and Dango are going to take this pairing over the top.
Seriously, if you haven’t seen this segment, please do so…
BOO!: Noam Dar’s annunciation.
Seriously bro, open your mouth and speak. His promo needed to be rewound three times to remind me not to watch 205 Live. Not that anyone needs that reminder.
BOO!: Charlotte is like a face now?
Charlotte Flair is amazing at her job, and in my opinion was the 2016 WWE performer of the year, she is that good. Usually, when a character becomes so amazing the audience’s first instinct is to begin to cheer them. This is starting to happen to Charlotte.
A six-woman tag between “The Welcoming Committee” and the unlikely alliance of Charlotte, Becky Lynch, and SmackDown Women’s Champion Naomi is on the horizon. WWE would be wise to have Charlotte turn on Naomi after helping them win, because a good guy Flair is no fun.
BTW, stop putting half the women’s roster in groups, there is only like 6 of them to begin with. Who is going to fight now?
YAY!: “Strong Style” is around the bend.
18 days away to be exact… Get your air violins ready!
BOO!: WWE IS DETERMINED TO REMIND US EVERY SIX SECONDS!
Seriously, four commercials during SmackDown Live about the debut of ShinsukeNakamura? Part of me is ecstatic that WWE feels the need to make a big deal about “Swagsuke” and his big debut. The other part is wondering if they realize that airing 373 commercials about anyone is going to lead to over exposure.
Just like Shinsuke swag. After all, the king is going to be the king!
THROWBACK MATCH OF THE WEEK!
Rey Mysterio Jr. vs Dean Malenko for the WCW Cruiserweight Title (Nitro, 1996)
What did YOU think of SmackDown Live? Leave any questions or comments below, and don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @themikeycuralli!
In this episode of the FilmKind Podcast, Kieran reviews the latest installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2. Was the film a worthy follow-up to the original? Are the characters as good as you remember? Listen to the spoiler-free review and find out!
Listen To My Review Of Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol.2 Below!
Make sure you hit the like button, subscribe and review the podcast! Alternatively, you can subscribe to the Monkeys Fighting Robots newsletter to be notified when new episodes are available, plus amazing content!
“Set to the backdrop of ‘Awesome Mixtape #2,’ Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes’ aid as the Marvel cinematic universe continues to expand.”
GotG Vol. 2 stars Chris Pratt as Star-Lord/Peter Quill, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Bradley Cooper as the voice of Rocket Raccoon, Vin Diesel as the voice of Groot, Michael Rooker as Yondu, Kurt Russel as Ego The Living Planet, Karen Gillian as Nebula, Dave Bautista as Drax, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Sean Gunn as Kraglin, and Sylvester Stallone in a currently unknown role. The film is directed by James Gunn.
I don’t think anyone can complain about a lack of Wonder Woman marketing! Warner Bros. has been releasing new teasers and trailers all week and they just struck again with possibly the best teaser trailers yet. The short teaser offers a look at new footage, mainly showing how badass Gal Gadot’s interpretation of Wonder Woman is. Alongside the new teaser, and official Wonder Woman poster has been released, showcasing one of the characters most iconic moments from the various trailers.
The teaser is available in the player above. Get a look at the new poster below!
’Wonder Woman’ hits movie theaters around the world next summer when Gal Gadot returns as the title character in the epic action adventure from director Patty Jenkins. Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, when an American pilot crashes on their shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers…and her true destiny.”
Wonder Woman stars Gal Gadot as the title character, Chris Pine, Robin Wright as Antiope, David Thewlis, Danny Huston, Elena Anaya, Connie Nielsen, Ewen Bremner, and Lucy Davis.
It’s an incredible assemblage of talent: Penélope Cruz, Daisy Ridley, Josh Gad, Michelle Pfeiffer (!!!), Kenneth Branagh, Willem Dafoe, Lucy Boynton, Derek Jacobi, and Leslie Odom Jr. And then, there on the right of the poster, looking like a parody of himself, is Johnny Depp. Not to make this about Depp, but isn’t his act getting somewhat tiresome?
Anywho… Murder on The Orient Express is a remake of Sidney Lumet’s Agatha Christie adaptation. Here’s a layout:
A lavish train ride through Europe quickly unfolds into the thrilling mystery of thirteen strangers stranded on a train, where everyone’s a suspect. One man must race against time to solve the puzzle before the murderer strikes again.
Branagh is pulling double duty as director and co star. Hopefully this Murder on The Orient Express has the richness and rhythms of Lumet’s terrific adaptation. And let’s hope Johnny Depp doesn’t ruin it. It opens November 10.
Brianna’s restaurant has gained some positive attention, so of course that’s when her brother Hans decides to roll into town with his food truck for a little competition!
Writing
There are times when, as a critic, reviews slip through your fingers. You take too long to get around to doing a write up on a particular subject and you have no choice but to shelve it because you have other material which needs to be covered. Yet you still want to make sure the media gets as much attention as possible. This is the case with Brave Chef Brianna, a series which isn’t getting a proper review until the third issue of its miniseries. To the entire creative team behind this book, I apologize for taking too long because it really is a great series.
As Brianna continues to work to keep her restaurant afloat in a city of monsters, she has had a lot of difficulties. A native chef trying to take her down, an impromptu visit by family, and her own doubts and fears not helping anything. All the while, you can feel for Brianna as she works hard to become a chef and inherit her family’s name, which she believes is the only thing to help her stand out as a creative from her siblings. Any reader can easily sympathize with Brianna and her situation and want her to succeed as she works to make her dream come true.
Writer and creator Sam Sykes has created something original by taking a lot of unique themes and mixing them together into a truly delectable entree. One you wouldn’t mind sharing with anyone interested in comics for more than just stories of superheroes. Also, the real recipes in the back of the book by chef Stephanie Goldfarb sound delicious and it makes you want to try to create them yourself.
Artwork
The art team of Selina Espiritu (on illustrations) and Sarah Stern (on colors) work together to produce a very visually pleasing book. They have found a way to create their own style behind recognizable monsters of fiction. Also, the way they illustrate Brianna’s doubt as a swirling black gas trying to consume her is probably one of the best visual interpretations of emotion ever. It really feels like it will swallow her whole if she is not careful.
Conclusion
This series is great and makes you want more. More issues, more recipes, and more of Brianna, a character everyone can relate with. Hopefully more people will pick up this series and the further adventures of this up and coming chef in a city of monsters will be a possibility.
One-hundred-plus years of filmmaking provides a long, rich, and deep history to look back on. Retro reviews and analysis of old films are practically necessary full-time specialties. Month after month, films release, vying to make as much money as possible. Some rise, some fall, but regardless of financial success, it’s never a sign of a lasting effect. A great example is Hancock, the 2008 Will Smith film. Hancock made nearly 630 million at the box office and is barely used as a punchline to a joke today.
May is going to be a busy month for ticket counters. This week is the much-anticipated sequel to Marvel’s beloved Guardians of the Galaxy. The film gets two weeks to demolish all competitors before Alien: Covenant, Baywatch, and a new Pirates of the Caribbean film make their mark. In the end, Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2 will likely be the undisputed master of May 2017 and one of the top five grossing films of the year.
