9
May
Before there was Baldur’s Gate 3, there was Divinity: Original Sin 2,the critically acclaimed 2017 tactical RPG that proved Larian Studios were masters of the formula. Now you can grab it for just $13 on Steam.
Month: May 2024
9
May
Before there was Baldur’s Gate 3, there was Divinity: Original Sin 2,the critically acclaimed 2017 tactical RPG that proved Larian Studios were masters of the formula. Now you can grab it for just $13 on Steam.
9
May
Studiocanal and The Picture Company’s new psychological thriller Control is starting up production with its star James McAvoy. Deadline has also revealed the list of actors that will be rounding out the cast for the film. Julianne Moore has been added to the film, starring opposite McAvoy. In addition to McAvoy and Moore, Sarah Bolger, who is known for A Good Woman Is Hard To Find, joins the cast, along with Nick Mohammed from Ted Lasso, Jenna Coleman, whose credits include The Sandman, Rudi Dharmalingam, known for Role Play, Kyle Soller of the Disney+ show Andor, plus August Diehl and Martina Gedeck. The film will be directed by Robert Schwentke, whose resume includes the Bruce Willis action comedy Red.
The synopsis (per Deadline) reads,
“Control is based on the podcast from Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie. The film revolves around a troubled doctor who wakes up one morning to the sound of a mysterious voice in his head. With his reality now in question, the voice makes a series of escalating demands he must follow or devastating consequences will unfold.” It is known that Julianne Moore’s character is a mysterious presence that McAvoy’s character, Doctor Conway, must contend with. The additional announcements of the crew include director of photography Roman Vasyanov (Fury), and BAFTA-nominated editor Sven Budelmann (All Quiet On The Western Front). Costumes in this film are to be designed by prolific costume designer Mona May (Clueless), with casting by Reg Poerscout-Edgerton and Lillie Jeffrey (Rocketman).
Control will be marking the fifth film Studiocanal and The Picture Company have shot in Berlin in conjunction with Studio Babelsberg. The Picture Company has partnered together producers Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman. They will produce the film under their long-term overall deal with the production company Studiocanal. Luc Etienne will serve on board as executive producer. Ron Halpern and Shana Eddy are to oversee the project for Studiocanal.
McAvoy can also be seen in the upcoming Speak No Evil. The psychological thriller is a remake of the 2022 Danish film of the same name and stars James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, and Scoot McNairy. It centers on an American family who are invited to spend the weekend at the idyllic country estate of a charming British family they befriended on vacation, but what begins as a dream holiday soon warps into a snarled psychological nightmare. The film is slated to hit theaters on September 13th.
The post Control: James McAvoy’s psychological thriller starts production with newly announced cast appeared first on JoBlo.
9
May
Helldivers 2’s terrible, no-good, very bad week was meant to be over by now, but instead the game and its developer are taking yet another hard knock. First there was the debacle last week that saw Helldivers 2 a) pulled from Steam in various countries over a PSN login requirement, b) get review-bombed by its own fans,…
9
May
Helldivers 2’s terrible, no-good, very bad week was meant to be over by now, but instead the game and its developer are taking yet another hard knock. First there was the debacle last week that saw Helldivers 2 a) pulled from Steam in various countries over a PSN login requirement, b) get review-bombed by its own fans,…
9
May
It’s a big day for bears, as new details for Seth MacFarlane’s Ted and FX’s The Bear dominate the entertainment news cycle. The first teaser for The Bear Season 3 is here, alongside a first-look image and release date for the gourmet goodness coming to Disney+ in Canada on June 27.
In The Bear Season 3 teaser, Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) surveys a spotless kitchen while contemplating his next dish and what could go wrong as he turns the page on a new life chapter.
Welcome back, Bear. FX’s The Bear is streaming June 27 on Disney+ Canada. pic.twitter.com/zBOFggmeIF
— Disney+ Canada
(@DisneyPlusCA) May 9, 2024
Here’s the official synopsis for The Bear Season 3 courtesy of Disney+:
Season three of FX’s “The Bear” follows Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edebiri), and Richard “Richie” Jerimovich (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they do what it takes to elevate The Bear, their beef stand turned fine dining establishment, to the highest level, all while doing their best just to stay in business. It’s a losing battle every single day in the restaurant business. Carmy pushes himself harder than ever and demands excellence from his crew, who do their best to match his intensity.
Their quest for culinary excellence will propel the crew to new levels and stress the bonds that hold the restaurant together. As the team grows in size, each member will strive to reach a greater level of service within their role. In the restaurant industry, you’re never on solid ground, and with that ever-changing landscape comes new challenges and opportunities. Our chefs have learned that every second counts, but this season, we’ll find out if they have what it takes to make it to tomorrow.
The half-hour series also stars Abby Elliott, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, and Matty Matheson, with Oliver Platt and Molly Gordon in recurring roles.
There’s nothing more terrifying than not knowing where your next meal will come from, and in The Bear‘s case, the kitchen crew’s next meal could be served on the unemployment line at any moment. With Carmy cracking the whip, team members making more significant moves, and word of mouth about The Bear’s delectable dishes spreading faster than a kettle of soup that’s hit the floor, the next season of this pulse-pounding kitchen drama can’t come soon enough.
Are you excited for The Bear to return on June 27?
The post Yes, Chef! Jeremy Allen White returns to the kitchen as The Bear Season 3 gets a teaser and premiere date appeared first on JoBlo.
9
May
From the second the mysterious swordswoman Acheron was revealed in Honkai: Star Rail, fans had an inkling that there was more to her than developer HoYoverse was letting on. The release of version 2.0 in February confirmed they were correct, showing her to be a semi-amnesiac who barely knows herself. But with the…
9
May
From the second the mysterious swordswoman Acheron was revealed in Honkai: Star Rail, fans had an inkling that there was more to her than developer HoYoverse was letting on. The release of version 2.0 in February confirmed they were correct, showing her to be a semi-amnesiac who barely knows herself. But with the…
9
May
Movie promotion can get more creative these days with the use of social media. Sometimes, staged moments in public also enhance the “viral” intention. Years ago, stories made the rounds of creepy clown sightings spotted in neighborhood areas, complete with haunting pictures of said clowns standing eerily still. The sensation coincidentally would do wonders for the release of the It films, and similar viral marketing was attempted with the Ghostface killer for the new Scream movies. Low and behold, The Strangers – Chapter 1 is about to be released by Lionsgate and the movie is all about property invasion by mysteriously scary figures.
The new film from Renny Harlin is getting in on the action as costumed killer characters were seen at Coachella as well as creepy viral footage of these characters appearing on Ring cameras as they stalk on doorsteps. People Magazine has now reported that Lionsgate would attempt to reach audiences with a TikTok livestream in an effort to promote The Strangers – Chapter 1. However, the account would get temporarily banned from the social media app for being too disturbing. As the livestream shut down, the app alerted viewers that it was ended due to violations of “dangerous activities and challenges.” At one point, there was a particularly creepy moment when a mysterious masked figure was seen holding up a sign that read, “Is Tamara Here?” A viewer took to the comment section to exclaim, “STOP I DONT LIKE THIS.”
Once the livestream was ended, an alert from TikTok would state, “We do not allow showing or promoting dangerous activities and challenges. This includes dares, games, tricks, inappropriate use of dangerous tools, eating substances that are harmful to one’s health, or similar activities that may lead to significant physical harm.”
JoBlo would have the opportunity to meet the cast and director of The Strangers – Chapter 1 as our own Tyler Nichols got to stalk the red carpet. He posted, “At the red carpet premiere of @thestrangersfilm where our own @zombievictim chatted with @madelame @rennyharlin @sarafreedland @thebrookelenajohnson and more! Stay tuned to @joblomovienetwork for more! #thestrangers #thestrangerschapter1”
The post Lionsgate’s TikTok Livestream of Strangers characters gets shut down for being too disturbing appeared first on JoBlo.
9
May
Plot: As Louis and Claudia escape to Paris after killing Lestat, and are ready to embark on new relationships in the new city. But they find themselves in a world influenced by Lestat, especially when they join the Theatre de Vampires, a performing group found by Lestat.
Review: Timed perfectly to Halloween, the 2022 debut of Interview with the Vampire beautifully updated the first volume in Anne Rice’s vast series for a new generation. With a young cast and a more overt take on the homoerotic elements of the novels, AMC’s series was designed to kickstart a cinematic universe of adaptations from the author’s works. While Mayfair Witches did not work as well, the second season of Interview with the Vampire is a welcome return to the stories of Louis, Claudia, Lestat, and more. Billed as “Part II,” the second season chronicles the back half of Rice’s novel. Expanding on subplots and deepening the characters of Armand and Santiago, this eight-episode season completes the adaptation of the source material in a far more satisfying way than the feature film did while setting a path towards future seasons taking on the subsequent books in The Vampire Chronicles.
The first season of Interview with the Vampire concludes with the reveal that Louis’ (Jacob Anderson) manservant Rashid (Assad Zaman) is the vampire Armand. Played in the feature film by Antonio Banderas, this take on Armand is far more subtle and shares a deeper connection with Louis as the film portrayed. It also puts the focus of this season on the Parisian acting troupe, Les Theatre Dus Vampires, at the center of the narrative. The troupe, a two-century-old coven of vampires, is led by Armand and lead actor Santiago. Played by Ben Daniels in the role originated by Stephen Rea in the 1994 film, Santiago is the season’s main antagonist and serves as a surrogate for Lestat’s presence. But that does not mean Lestat is not present in this run of episodes. An ever-present specter in flashbacks and physically embodied by Sam Reid in dream sequences and voice-overs, Lestat is still a formidable part of Louis and Claudia’s journey despite the relationship between Louis and Armand being at the forefront of these chapters.
The biggest change between the first season and Part II is the departure of Bailey Bass as Claudia. Now played by Delainey Hayles, something announced by a title card before the first episode like a change in a stage production, Claudia’s arc is far more detailed than in the movie. While Kirsten Dunst’s performance was exceptional, Hayles plays Claudia as a maturing woman trapped in a child’s body. The physical resemblance between Bass and Hayles helps to keep the character consistent. Still, Hayles adds a layer to her performance that accentuates the loneliness and desire beneath the surface. The fate of Claudia as part of Louis’ tale was protracted in the movie but a centerpiece of this run of episodes. Claudia’s relationship with Madeleine (Roxane Duran) is less of a desire for a mother as it was in Neil Jordan’s film and now more of a partner to spend her eternal life with. The dynamic between Louis and Claudia shifts this season with the younger vampire feeling at home with the theater troupe, something being alone with Louis never gave her.
The other expansion, as compared to the film version, is the contemporary story featuring Armand and Louis regaling reports to Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian) with their history. In this series, Louis first told his story to Molloy in 1973 and returns for added details in the modern day. Having Armand and Louis share their story with Molloy offers conflicting perspectives and adds layers to the connection between the three men. The fact that Molloy suffers from Parkinson’s is also key to the narrative, and his reluctance to trust the vampires after the end of season one adds to the tension of where this story is headed. This season also adds to the Order of the Talamasca, a secret society investigating vampires and witches, with Justin Kirk serving as their representative. The Talamasca were a key figure in the first season of Mayfair Witches and are designed as a connective element for the shared Immortal Universe that AMC has planned. Their appearance in this series is limited but hopefully pans out as more than a forced connection.
The modernization of Interview with the Vampire from the late 18th century to taking place in the early 1900s and modern day helps energize the narrative. The Part II shift from New Orleans to Paris also affords a deeper look at how European culture was more inviting to minorities regarding race and sexuality. Set in the wartime era, the inclusion of Nazi influences serves as a mirror for the persecution that is a key theme in this tale. These elements are built organically into the story over the first six episodes made available for this review. Returning writers, led by Hannah Moscovitch and Rolin Jones, manage to expand this story in wonderful ways while directors Craig Zisk, Levan Akin, and more leverage the Old World aesthetics of Paris to drench this series in atmosphere. The consistency between the two seasons of Interview With The Vampire is impressive, especially considering how dramatically different the geographic settings of the halves of the story are.
Having not seen the final two episodes of the season, I know exactly where they are headed, having read the novel and seen the feature film. I am excited and terrified to see how the creative team handles the ending of this story, which is already shaping up to be very different from what has come before. Interview With The Vampire deserves the Part II subtitle rather than being saddled with being a second season. This is the rest of the story started in those first seven episodes and is shaping up to be one of the best adaptations of any novel for the small screen. With exceptional performances and expansions on Anne Rice’s source material that the author herself would have loved, Interview with the Vampire is once again one of the best series on television. Whether this dovetails into an adaptation of The Vampire Lestat or forges an original path for a third season, this is must-see programming that fans of the first season and newcomers alike will love.
Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire Part II premieres on May 12th on AMC.
The post Anne Rice’s Interview With The Vampire Part II TV Review appeared first on JoBlo.