Bryce Dallas Howard Says ‘The Help’ Isn’t The Best Film For Understanding Racism

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June 9, 2020

Tate Taylor’s The Help is nine years old, but suddenly out of nowhere it became the most-watched movie on Netflix. Why is that? With protests against racism and police brutality taking place around the world, it’s clear that people are looking for a movie that addresses the issue. That’s great, and audiences definitely should take advantage of the wealth of FREE films exploring injustice, systemic racism, and other stories about the black experience. But…well, The Help? Even the movie’s star, Bryce Dallas Howard, thinks you can do better.

Howard noticed The Help‘s sudden surge of popularity and hit social media to encourage people to seek out other projects that might have a little more to say…

“I’ve heard that #TheHelp is the most viewed film on Netflix right now! I’m so grateful for the exquisite friendships that came from that film — our bond is something I treasure deeply and will last a lifetime. This being said, The Help is a fictional story told through the perspective of a white character and was created by predominantly white storytellers. We can all go further.⁣”

“Stories are a gateway to radical empathy and the greatest ones are catalysts for action. If you are seeking ways to learn about the Civil Rights Movement, lynchings, segregation, Jim Crow, and all the ways in which those have an impact on us today, here are a handful of powerful, essential, masterful films and shows that center Black lives, stories, creators, and / or performers: “

Howard then presented a list of options that include Ava DuVernay’s 13th and When They See Us, Just Mercy, Malcolm X, Selma, and Watchmen.

By all accounts, Howard is one of the most thoughtful and genuine people in the business, much like her father on that score, and I hope people take her words to heart.

The Help was a perfectly fine movie but it really hasn’t aged well. I think that’s something we’ll be saying about Green Book in a few years, as well. These movies, which offer a comfortable, fairy tale look at bigotry are a good introduction but they should by no means be your final stop. For me, I don’t remember much about The Help except that it inspired those fantastic memes of Octavia Spencer offering up a slice of shit pie.

Trump’s Space Force May Be In For A Name Change

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John Nolan

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June 9, 2020

The empire had the rebellion, the United Federation of Planets had the Borg, and now Donald Trump is locked in a space battle with the galaxy’s greatest purveyor of C-Grade films and limited series…NETFLIX! Cue dramatic music and lens flares!

If you haven’t already heard this bit of “the world is now actually satire” news, some time ago Donald Trump announced a new organization in the US government that’s been tasked to rid our galaxy of alien invaders (that’s not the actual mission…but it’s all just too ridiculous for me to take the time to look it up), this organization was to be known as “Space Force”. At the same time, unbeknownst to the head Cheeto in charge, Netflix was developing a comedy series starring Steve called…you guessed it, Space Force. The Hollywood Reporter put together a great deep-dive on the subject. Obviously this story has a quick resolution because the US Military is on top of it and filed the patents and trademark applications right away. Except, they didn’t. It’s almost as if they thought the idea, or at the least the name was so ludacris that they wanted a way out of using it. I mean, it’s great for a comedy starring Steve Carrell but for a branch of the strongest military in the world? This is what a 10 year old would come up with. Put the other branches through the same lens. Ground Force, Sea Force, Air For…..oh, right. Thankfully First Amendment rights prevent the government from employing any Draconian tactics to get their name back, but it’s still a very interesting story. Personally, I hope they change it to SPACE RANGERS!, exactly like that, exclamation mark and all.

Blumhouse Producer Is “Working Overtime” To Make ‘Happy Death Day 3’ A Reality

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Travis Hopson

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June 9, 2020

A promising update for HAPPY DEATH DAY fans.

Blumhouse has a knack for creating huge box office hits out of films that come out of nowhere. One of those unexpected gems was Happy Death Day, a fun horror twist on the Groundhog Day scenario. That was followed up with the superior Happy Death Day 2U, but when it failed to show the same muscle with audiences, there was doubt of a third film. Hopefully, that’s about to change.

Speaking with ET, producer Jason Blum was asked about the possibility of Happy Death Day 3, and he confirmed it’s something he’s actively trying to make happen right now…

“Let me tell ya, I’m working overtime on it, believe me,” Blum said. “I’m trying. Nothing official yet.”

That would definitely mean bringing back star Jessica Rothe, who is really the glue those movies hinge on. She’s blown up since then, recently starring in the remake of Valley Girl, but I’m guessing she’d come back if Blumhouse comes calling.

That could be a big “If”, though. Last year, director Christopher Landon was saying a sequel was off the table unless a platform such as Netflix came to the rescue. We haven’t heard anything about that happening, but if Blumhouse wants Happy Death Day 3 to happen, chances are it will.

Is Matt Reeves Introducing A New Joker In ‘The Batman’?

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Travis Hopson

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June 9, 2020

Will a new Joker be introduced in Matt Reeves’ The Batman? That rumor has been going around ever since the new film with Robert Pattinson was announced, but has only gained steam with the $1B success of Joaquin Phoenix’s version of the supervillain.

Take this with a huge grain of salt, but an “insider” for The Direct says Reeves plans on having the Dark Knight face a new Joker as part of his trilogy of films, but will appear in The Batman first. His presence would grow in the final two movies, which is why he’ll be merely referenced as a way of setting that up. This would not be a crossover with Phoenix’s Joker, though, instead it will be one unique to Reeves’ movies.

It’s possible Reeves has big plans for the Joker, which is why it’s impossible to ignore this rumor even though the source is pretty weak. But does it make sense for Warner Bros. to have a third Joker show up in only a handful of years? And with Catwoman, Penguin, Riddler, and more filling out the ranks of The Batman, aren’t there already enough bad guys that fill out his trilogy? It just seems like Reeves is trying to establish his films as different than what we’ve already seen, and using Joker will only draw comparisons to Joaquin Phoenix, which is a battle no actor can possibly win.

The Batman hits theaters on October 1st 2021.

‘Bill & Ted Face The Music’ Trailer: The Band Gets Back Together To Save The Universe

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Travis Hopson

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June 9, 2020

Party on, Wyld Stallyns, it’s Bill and Ted Day! Oh, you didn’t know? That’s right, June 9th is the unofficial holiday of those time-traveling dudes played by Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter. And what better way to celebrate than with the long-awaited first trailer for Bill & Ted Face the Music!

Thirty years after the original movie brought them together, Reeves and Winter are back as Theodore “Ted” Logan and William “Bill” S. Preston Esq., whose band the Wyld Stallyns was prophecied to save the world with their music…but first they had to pass a history test. Now all of this time later, Bill and Ted are fathers themselves and dealing with the boredom of middle age, until they’re warned by a visitor from the future that they have 78 minutes to create a totally awesome song that can save the universe. For that, they’re going to need help, not just from their friends and family, but from musicians throughout history.

Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson wrote the script, which has been around since the duo penned the first two films. Even with this much time having gone by, the basic details of the story really haven’t changed. It was just a matter of finding the right timing to get the band back together. On board to direct is Dean Parisot, best known for another sci-fi comedy classic, Galaxy Quest.

Also starring William Sadler, Samara Weaving, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Kid Cudi, Anthony Carrigan, and Jillian Bell with an expected tribute to the late George Carlin, Bill & Ted Face the Music opens August 21st.

Jake Gyllenhaal To Star In Witness Protection Thriller ‘Snow Blind’

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Travis Hopson

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June 8, 2020

Jake Gyllenhaal has attached himself to yet another dark thriller. Deadline reports he’ll star and produce Snow Blind, based on the graphic novel by Ollie Masters and Tyler Jenkins. Masters is also the writer behind The Kitchen, which was adapted into a movie in 2019.

Snow Blind is described as similar to Gyllenhaal’s 2013 film Prisoners, and centers on a boy who discovers that his quiet life in Alaska is due to his family being in the Witness Protection Program. When he innocently posts a photo of his father on social media, all Hell breaks loose.

The film version will be directed by Danish filmmaker Gustav Möller in his English-language debut, with Patrick Ness (author of A Monster Calls) writing the script. Möller previously helmed the 2018 crime thriller The Guilty, which is being remade with Gyllenhaal attached to star.

It’s unclear where this fits in Gyllenhaal’s schedule, and of course everything is sorta up in the air right now. He’s also set to star in an adaptation of video game The Division, which could be next assuming production is ready to go.

‘Extraction’ Director Sam Hargrave Helped Up The Action In ‘The Mandalorian’ Season 2

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Travis Hopson

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June 8, 2020

Extraction director Sam Hargrave has headed to a galaxy far far away. Once known as just the guy who did a lot of stuntwork and second unit direction for the Russo Brothers’ Marvel films, Hargrave hit the big time when his directorial debut Extraction became Netflix’s most-watched movie ever. And that has led him to a new gig working with Baby Yoda.

Collider caught up with Hargrave, who revealed that he was brought on to The Mandalorian season 2 specifically because of his action stuff. Hopefully, this means Baby Yoda will get some lightsaber swingin’ to do, assuming there’s room for him with all the new characters around…

“I was in the middle of post [-production on Extraction] and I’m editing my movie and I got a call from my buddy Colin Wilson, one of the line producers, who said, ‘Jon [Favreau] and the people over here are looking for someone to bring into the team or add to the family who has experience with action.’ The team that was there did a great job in the first season and it was just all fun. But they wanted to build on that and bring a new perspective and take it to another level for the next season. So, I was like, ‘That sounds like a fun challenge.’”

Even better, Hargrave says the action is indeed better than before, which is really saying something…

“I know the footage we delivered, as a second-unit, they seemed to be happy with. We worked closely with the stunt team there, with Bryan Watson and the team that had done the first season; they did a really great job. You know, it was just to bring a little extra perspective, add a few things, things I’ve learned while working on superhero movies, little tricks which make the performances easier and using visual effects to enhance certain things. Just bringing a little bit of experience and knowledge to where we could take it to another level and up the ante. The next season is really, really cool. The way the story arcs is really cool. So we tried to have the action represent that and take it to the next level. I think we did that.”

The Mandalorian return to Disney+ later this year. Hargrave’s hit film Extraction is available on Netflix now, and a sequel is in the works.

‘The Flash’ Actor Hartley Sawyer Booted After Offensive Tweets Emerged

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Travis Hopson

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June 8, 2020

Unless you watch CW’s The Flash on a regular basis, chances are you could care less about Hartley Sawyer. He’s been playing Ralph “Elongated Man” Diby on the superhero series for a few seasons and is pretty popular. Let’s just say that his disappearance is going to be very tough to explain, because Sawyer ain’t coming back to the show after past racist and misogynistic tweets have come back to haunt him.

Tweets from around years ago have emerged and gone viral, and they don’t make Sawyer look very good at all. While they are all obviously jokes, and some pretty damn weak if you ask me, others are pretty gross. What’s the punchline in saying “If I had a wife I would beat the hell out of her tonight lol”? Other jokes are racist, target overweight people, and even those who commit suicide. If anything, they show him to be a guy with a fucked up sense of what’s funny.

Here’s a statement THR received from Warner Bros. TV, Greg Berlanti Productions, and exec-producer Eric Wallace, confirming Sawyer will not return for The Flash’s seventh season…

“Hartley Sawyer will not be returning for season seven of ‘The Flash.’ In regards to Mr. Sawyer’s posts on social media, we do not tolerate derogatory remarks that target any race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation. Such remarks are antithetical to our values and polices, which strive and evolve to promote a safe, inclusive and productive environment for our workforce.”

While I no longer watch The Flash, this all happens at an interesting time. It’s only been days since Ruby Rose vacated her role on Batwoman, with a brand new character introduced as the lead. Will Flash producers find a way to explain to write Ralph off the show? Or will they recast the role with a new actor and keep it movin’?

New ‘Evil Dead’ Film Confirmed With Sam Raimi’s “Handpicked” Director Lee Cronin

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Travis Hopson

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June 8, 2020

There are always talks of a new Evil Dead movie, but this time the rumors are true. Bruce Campbell spoke with Empire and confirmed the existence of Evil Dead Now, which not only has the iconic Ash actor and Sam Raimi involved, but a director is already in place.

“We’re just getting off the phone with Lee Cronin, who is writing and directing the next ‘Evil Dead,’” Campbell revealed. “It’s called ‘Evil Dead Now.’ Sam handpicked Lee – he did a cool movie called ‘The Hole In The Ground.’ We’re going to get that sucker out as soon as practical.”

As Campbell said, Cronin isn’t a known commodity but his film The Hole in the Ground made a big splash at Sundance last year. He also directed an episode of Raimi’s Quibi horror anthology, 50 States of Fright, which is quickly becoming a breeding ground for his future collaborators.

Campbell talked a little bit about what to expect, and it sounds like Evil Dead Now will be similar to Fede Alvarez’s remake in 2013 in that it will stand apart from the classic movies…

“From this point forward, they kind of have to stand on their own. Which is fine. And liberating. You could have different heroes, different heroines in this case. This one’s gonna be a little more dynamic. We just want to keep the series current. And the mantra, really, is that our heroes and heroines are just regular people. That’s what we’re going to continue.”

It sounds like Raimi is going to try and get Evil Dead Now going as quickly as possible, but with so much still in flux what that means is unclear.

Review: ‘The King Of Staten Island’
Pete Davidson Grows Up In Judd Apatow's Best Comedy In Years

By
Travis Hopson
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In The King of Staten Island, Pete Davidson plays an irresponsible manchild with few prospects, fewer social graces, and yet everybody seems to love him. It doesn’t sound like too much of a stretch for Davidson, who has made a career on playing exactly that type of overgrown kid whether on SNL or in his recent film Big Time Adolescence. And it’s not too far out of the comfort zone for director Judd Apatow; arrested development has been his thing since Knocked Up and The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Hopefully, familiarity won’t breed contempt as this is not only a breakthrough performance by Davidson, but the most mature film Apatow has delivered in years.

Co-written by Apatow and Davidson, the lead character of Scott has a lot in common with the standup comedian. But it’s important to note that it isn’t autobiographical. Scott is a Staten Island kid whose father was a fireman who died years prior. That much mirrors Davidson’s own experiences; his father died on 9/11 and it threw his life for a loop until he recovered with the help of stand-up comedy. But Scott isn’t a comedian, although he has a tendency to drive everyone around him crazy. Most of all his mother (Marisa Tomei), a nurse, and little sister (Maude Apatow) who spend most of their time worrying about Scott as he stumbles from one misbegotten scheme to the next. On the journey to being a responsible, self-sufficient adult, Scott hasn’t bothered to get off the couch.

Scott’s loser routine can be aggravating, and he does some really shitty things like tattooing a minor without his parent’s consent. It’s all part of his disastrous plan to someday open up a tattoo parlor/restaurant, potential health code violations be damned. But the incident connects Scott’s mom with Ray, a divorced firefighter with a no-nonsense attitude. Scott hates him, of course, and breaking them up is the first thing he can seem to focus on in a long time.

The King of Staten Island is no mere stoner comedy, though, nor are the battles between Scott and Ray echoes of Meet the Parents or Anger Management. The jokes are more insightful, reflective of a young man whose entire world view has been altered through tragedy, but also from living in Staten Island, a place he describes as having a “garbage dump you can see from space.” It’s the richest version of the slacker archetype that Apatow has produced, and Davidson plays it better than anyone could have predicted. Scott’s issues go beyond a mere refusal to grow up, they are rooted in tragedy, regret, and other factors that play out in ways we can all recognize and believe.

Davidson is surrounded by a terrific cast all-around. Tomei is wonderful as Scott’s mother Margie, who has been sucked down into her son’s madness for too long. Bel Powley nearly steals the movie as Scott’s on-again/off-again girlfriend Kelsey, who is trying to better herself in ways she wishes he would. And then there’s comedian Bill Burr, who as Ray shows, in some ways, what Scott could be if he ever got his life together. While this is undeniably Davidson’s movie, I won’t be surprised if Burr gets just as busy with offers after this.

All of the positives aside, it takes some time for the movie to get going and that’s only when Scott finds himself with a true foil. At 136-minutes there’s a lot that could be cut away, including some flat, unfunny sequences with Scott’s equally-lazy friends that do nothing to help you want to cheer him on. Perhaps the runtime won’t hurt The King of Staten Island in the long run. Davidson is a divisive figure but he’s one that many seem to be obsessed with. Like him or not, people want to see him succeed or fail, and they’re going to check this film out to see if he sinks or swims. Hopefully, they’ll be willing to give him a fair shot. Truth be told, I’m not a Davidson fan and probably never will be, but The King of Staten Island will have me taking him more seriously from here on out. It does much the same thing for Davidson’s career that Punch-Drunk Love did for Adam Sandler, and I think that’s pretty high praise.

Staten Island pics

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