Movie and TV show reviews

It has been reported that the cast for the half-hour sitcom “Highly Favored” includes: Michael Colyar (known for “Blackish,” “House Party III,” “The Princess & The Frog,” and “Martin”), KiKi Shepard (recognized from “It’s Showtime at the Apollo,” “Miss Evers Boys,” “Mind Your Business,” and “Grey’s Anatomy”), Anthony S. Goolsby (“Will Trent” and “42”), Chico Benymon (“Half & Half,” “Ali,” and “The Haunted Hathaways”), Rodney Perry (appearing in “Coming to America 2” and “Johnson Family Vacation”), and Melanie Comarcho (familiar from “Phat Tuesdays” and Snoop Dog’s “F*CN Around”).

As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that my favorite network, Peacock, has given the intriguing drama project a script-to-series commitment! Back in December, the buzz was that Universal TV was preparing to sell this captivating show. The talented duo, Goldsmith-Thomas and Darren Star, were announced as co-writers and executive producers, ready to bring their vision to life on our screens.

The movie, serving as Dylan Meyer’s initial directorial effort, recently started filming last week. This makes it one of the first independent films to commence production in Los Angeles post-January’s destructive wildfires. In the United States, Neon will handle its theatrical release, while they’ll also manage the international distribution rights.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I’m thrilled to step into my new role where I will lead the charge for Disney Live Action’s theatrical lineup. My mission is to propel the creation and production of films that tap into the rich trove of stories and characters housed within the studio. Additionally, I will support original projects that ignite our imagination and add fresh perspectives to the cinematic landscape.

17-year-old Johanne (Ella Øverbye) instantly feels a connection with her new teacher Johanna (Selome Emnetu), partly due to their shared name. However, it’s unclear if she is projecting these feelings or if they are genuinely there. The film “Dreams” by Dag Johan Haugerud beautifully portrays the confusing perspective of first love. At one moment, everything around you seems foggy with hormones, but at the same time, you gain an unprecedented clarity about yourself.

The proposed project, currently being marketed at Berlin’s EFM, is a modern adaptation of Mauro Bolognini’s 1977 cult film “Gran Bollito.” In this movie, Shelley Winters played the role of a serial killer who used her victims’ remains to create soap, cake, and cookies.

Based on the logline, “The Applebaum Curse” is being considered for a continuous one-hour drama series featuring Claire Danes in the main role. In this series, Danes will not only play the lead character but also function as an executive producer. On the other hand, Holzman will take up dual roles as both writer and executive producer, as well as overseeing the show as a showrunner.

The trailer starts off indicating that the series, created by 20th Television, derives from numerous tales, viewpoints, hazards, decipherings, and allegations. Although the formal summary doesn’t state this, the program is loosely based on Natalia Grace, a young girl with an uncommon type of dwarfism, who was adopted by Kristine and Michael Barnett in 2010.

Despite the challenges she’s faced through nearly nine decades of experiences marked by highs and lows, Fonda welcomes the chance for a triumphant finale. “Let me make this clear,” she shares with EbMaster, “I’ve been loathed. I understand what it means to feel threatened. Strangers have approached me with warm smiles on their faces only to get almost nose-to-nose and say, ‘I’d like to slit your throat.’ I’ve received death threats and more. So to be admired is incredible.

Jaques Audiard first gained acclaim with his initial feature, “Inner City” (“Etat des lieux”), a gritty depiction of life within a crime-infested housing project that garnered a César Award nomination. Subsequently, he directed “Ma 6-t va crack-er” and “Assault on Precinct 13,” two introspective films dealing with gang violence. His most significant achievement is the epic two-part thriller “Mesrine,” where Vincent Cassel portrayed the brutal yet captivating criminal Jacques Mesrine, for which Audiard received the best director award at Cesar Awards. He also guided Mel Gibson in “Blood Father,” a film that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016.