Decadent, dazzling, disorderly, and altogether more than a little dizzying, Netflix's The Get Down (its biggest original series to date, as well as one of the expensive television shows ever made) is unmistakably a work of Baz Luhrmann, who's been drawn to theatrical romance and aesthetic excess like a moth to flame since his directorial debut. Its gluttonous premiere clocks in at a mammoth 92 minutes, resplendent with pop-pastiche posturing and far too many characters all clamoring for attention within its larger-than-life setting (1977 The Bronx by way of an adrenalized, NWA-influenced West Side Story). And the subsequent two episodes made available for review, though considerably tighter than their predecessor, still suffer from its commitment to an epic sprawl it can never quite do justice.
Suicide Squad comes at a weird time for the DC Movieverse. This spring's Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice was viewed by its bankrollers as a total slam-dunk, a blockbuster that would bring two of the most famous and enduring superheroes in comic-book history together on screen for the nerd equivalent of the Thrilla in Manila. But then, audiences saw the film, and once solid ground for WB and DC started to feel a whole lot shakier. Simply put, Batman V Superman made money, but it wasn't the killer springboard into a Justice League team-up pic that the studio was hoping for, and it wasn't even the triumphant crowdpleaser execs had taken it for granted to be.
When Jeremy Renner is annoyed at you, Jeremy Renner lets you know. Why? Because Jeremy Renner is an actor, with not one but TWO Oscar nominations and certain expectations for his characters. Yeah, let that sink in.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe changed course slightly a few days ago when it was announced that its studio was scrapping plans for a two-part Infinity War movie, instead opting for two separate Avengers outings that would tell contained, yet understandably connected stories. And yet despite that, scribes Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, seen in part as the creative guardians of Phase Three of the MCU after their script for Captain America: Civil War, have confirmed that they're hard at work on scripts for Infinity War and what's now just Untitled Avengers, toiling away on both films in tandem.
The recipients of each year's Teen Choice Awards are always an interesting combination of zeitgeist-harnessing franchise fare, Teen Vogue cover subjects, and legitimately strong dramatic work, and 2016's crop of winners proved no different. Held tonight at The Forum in Los Angeles and broadcast live on Fox, the ceremony found the one and only John Cena teaming up with former Nickelodeon actress Victoria Justice to host a night filled with performances by the likes of Charlie Puth, Flo Rida, Jason Derulo, NE-YO, and Serayah (of Fox's Empire).
If any of you knew that there was a Maximum Ride movie floating around out there and didn't tell me, I'll have you know I'm mad about it. Not like I've been following this series for years. And I'm especially mad, given how hilariously awful the first trailer for said movie looks.
With Manchester by the Sea rapidly building Oscar buzz ahead of its theatrical release this November, Casey Affleck is lining up another dramatic venture: My Abandonment, an adaptation of the 2009 Peter Rock novel.
Comic-Con attendees were the first to see footage from Warner Bros.' upcoming DC venture Wonder Woman, which holds the lofty distinction of being the first modern superhero blockbuster to be toplined by a female protagonist, but that initial preview has long since been released online. And now, WB is going a step further by recutting the video for a strangely early extended TV spot (remember, the pic's not out until next year).
Oh, True Detective. Sweet, sweet True Detective. When you first appeared in 2014, full of dark poetry and Matthew McConaughney, we were smitten. Nomination after nomination fell into your lap, after that beautiful first year of sky-high ratings and critical thinkpieces. The world was your oyster. Then came season 2 - and we were all just left wondering, what happened? Your aesthetic was scattered, your acting spotty, your story was - well, the less we say about that the better.
There's a surprising amount riding on Universal's reboot of The Mummy, a consequence of the potentially never-ending shared-universe craze Hollywood has locked itself into. A reintroduction to the iconic movie villain, the blockbuster will also set up a world that can comfortably fit all manner of other famed monsters, from the Creature from the Black Lagoon to the Invisible Man.
