PLOT: In 2005, a teenager, Doris (Nico Parker), helps her mother (Laura Linney) care for her dying brother at the same hospice where Terri Schiavo is being treated. With the hospital at the centre of neverending right-to-life protests, Doris sparks an unlikely friendship with one of the protestors (Woody Harrelson).
REVIEW:Suncoast was a late Sundance surprise for me. I wasn’t expecting much from the film, and I entertained the idea of waiting for it to hit Hulu (it has a Feb 9 release date). Still, I found myself unexpectedly charmed by this Searchlight release, which is the kind of crowdpleaser the festival audience loves, with the theatre I saw this in packed with sobbing attendees by the time the credits rolled.
Suncoast was a refreshing change of pace from some of the heavier fare I’ve been watching here, with it refreshingly optimistic and upbeat, even if it deals with grim subject matter. Based on writer-director Laura Chinn’s experience with having a brother in the same end-of-life facility as Terri Schiavo, the film attempts to strike a balance between those who thought she should live as opposed to those who thought she should be let go. No one is portrayed as “right,” with compelling arguments for both perspectives.
Yet, the film isn’t about Shiavo; it is more about Doris’s life as she copes with being there for her dying brother, who’s been left unresponsive by terminal brain cancer, while also making a life for herself at her new high school. She also has to deal with her pre-occupied mother, played by Laura Linney, in a role that sometimes dares to be unsympathetic. In a rough moment, she uses her son’s illness to horribly manipulate her daughter, although the film never judges her too harshly.
Indeed, that’s what makes Suncoast so good. It’s optimistic in that virtually everyone in the film is shown to be good essentially. Doris has moments of selfishness, as she uses the fact that her family home is unoccupied to get in the good graces of a popular clique at school, but she’s a good kid. In a more quintessential teen drama, the teens would be portrayed as selfish, but for the most part, they come off relatively well and genuine in their affection for the likable Doris. Even tiny roles, such as Doris’s Christian ethics teacher (played by Matt Walsh), are non-stereotypical.
The best example, though, is Woody Harrelson’s character. So many films have conditioned us to assume this older man has an unseemly side. Still, he comes across as a benign pseudo-father figure who genuinely desires to help this girl navigate a painful time in her life. Harrelson is excellent as usual, breaking your heart with the depths of his grief for his late wife but also coming across as a kind, quirky friend for someone who needs it.
Of everyone, though, young Nico Parker stands out. Readers may remember her for playing Joel’s doomed daughter in the first episode of The Last of Us, and she’s got a lot of presence. The spitting image of her mother, Thandiwe Newton, Parker seems like a star in the making, and this is an excellent role for her.
Through it all, Chinn keeps the film rolling along at a tight pace (including fun needle drops from the era), likely leading to significant opportunities for her going forward. It’s cut from the same cloth as other Searchlight Sundance faves like Little Miss Sunshine and The Way, Way Back. It’s too bad the studio is making it a Hulu exclusive, as it could have become a word-of-mouth hit. I think a lot of us miss seeing movies like this in theaters.
Netflix has hit an all-time high number of subscribers, with the company reporting a total of 260.8 million paid users. So yes, that whole password crackdown thing has worked out just fine so far.
Netflix added an additional 13.1 million subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2023, pushing it to its new record. That’s more than a 30% increase from the third quarter reports. Further, Netflix exceeded initial expectations in their subscriber bump by nearly five million users.
In a statement, Netflix pointed to their uptick in subscribers at the end of the year to their steady stream of content, something other services aren’t keeping up with. “It’s why continuing to improve our entertainment offering is so important, and as many of our competitors cut back on their content spend, we continue to invest in our slate.” No doubt we can expect to see subscriber numbers increase even more next year, as Netflix announced this week that they also acquired live streaming rights to WWE’s Raw programming, while international markets will host SmackDown and pay-per-view events. The landmark deal is worth $5 billion over the course of 10 years and is yet another sign of Netflix’s desire to bring live content to the streamer.
While there was skepticism and outcry over Netflix announcing last year that they were cracking down on password sharing (so long, Me&Bae!), it has worked tremendously in their favor. Soon after enacting this tactic, they saw their biggest draw of new subscribers since 2019.
Regarding their content that continues to pull in subscribers, Netflix has a total of 18 Oscar nominations this year. Maestro alone earned seven, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress. Netflix also finds Rustin’s Colman Dimingo in the Best Actor race, Nyad’s Annette Bening and Jodie Foster in their respective categories and May December up for its screenplay, just to name a few.
In addition to their subscriber increase, Netflix revenue also went up around $1 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2022.
Did you fall victim to Netflix’s password crackdown? If so, did you end up subscribing on your own?
Madness breeds madness – and in this case, audiences couldn’t be more excited for Joker 2, or rather, Joker: Folie a Deux, which is the official title. 2019’s Joker was one of the best reviewed movies of the 21st century with critics and fans universally praising Joaquin Phoenix for his performance as well as Todd Phillips for his direction. Phoenix won the Oscar for Best Male Performance thanks to his rendition of the Joker, DC’s most notorious and deadly villain, and added to the legacy that the fictional character has built up over the years (we recently made an epic episode of WTF Happened to this Movie about it). And now, that legacy will continue to grow with a sequel.
Joker: Folie a Deux will be a follow-up to the 2019 origin story that Phillips brought to the screen and will allow audiences to once again enjoy the character that they’ve come to love (and despise) so very much. Now, fans shouldn’t put the cart before the horse as the sequel’s not set to hit theaters for another year and a half, but seeing as how fans have already waited more than three years for the sequel, it’s safe to assume that hype is at an all time high. So, with all of that hype building up, let’s take a look at everything we know about Joker: Folie a Deux so far.
First Images & Trailer:
While a trailer for Joker 2 is likely months away, Phillips has been generous as far as images teasing the look of his Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck and Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn go. Phillips recently shared the following to Instagram:
As stated, Joker 2 won’t be reportedly coming out for another year and a half (and that’s provided everything goes right with filming and post-production). So, with the film still so far out, and with the production team wanting to keep the movie under wraps, audiences have been given surprisingly little about what they can expect from the sequel in terms of the plot. The small pieces of information that fans know about are that Harley Quinn will be playing a significant role in the film and that at least part of it will take place in Arkham Asylum.
Another important piece of information about the movie (that will more than likely affect the plot in some way) is that the movie will be actually be a musical. The choice was reportedly made due to the dancing related themes incorporated in the first movie, combined with the casting choice of Lady Gaga as the infamous Harley Quinn. Gaga’s musical background undoubtedly played a part in choosing to have the film be more musically driven and her experience with acting/creating music made the choice a no-brainer.
The last piece of information regarding the plot is that fans need to remember that this particular movie, as well as its predecessor, are not part of James Gunn’s upcoming DCU and will therefore be under the category of DC Elseworlds – stand alone projects set in the DC Universe. This isn’t new information as the original Joker was never part of the larger universe that DC attempted and failed to make, but nevertheless it should still be noted.
Joker: Folie a Deux – The Cast
Joaquin Phoenix gained an Oscar and universal acclaim for his rendition of the Joker so it’s no surprise to anyone that he’ll be returning to play Arthur Fleck/The Joker for the sequel. A notable piece of information to take into account is that thanks to Phoenix’s Oscar-winning performance, his payday for the sequel will be $20 million, opposed to the $4 million that he received for the original movie.
However, as discussed earlier, the biggest addition to the sequel in terms of star-power will be Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. Despite Margot Robbie playing the character for the past decade in three separate DC projects, Robbie has praised the casting choice of Gaga as Quinn and believes that she’ll do an amazing job with the character, saying:
“I think she’s going to do an amazing job. I’m so excited. All I could have ever hoped for Harley is that she would become one of those characters that, kind of like Batman, or Hamlet, gets handed from actor to actor—everyone gets a go at playing them. So, I feel like it’s just a credit to her as a character that people want to see her in multiple interactions. I’m excited.”
After Lady Gaga, other notable actors/actresses that have been added to the cast are Jacob Lofland, Catherine Keener, and Brenden Gleeson. Lofland is reportedly playing an inmate from the Arkham Asylum, and there hasn’t yet been any word on who Keener and Gleeson will be playing. Another new name for the movie is Harry Lawtey (star if HBO’s Industry) who has also been cast in an undisclosed role, however it’s been reported that his role will be a “big” one for the series.
Another name that audiences will be familiar with is Zazie Beetz who played Sophie in the first Joker film. While it was revealed that her and Arthur’s relationship was completely concocted inside Arthur’s head, her overall fate was never revealed in the film. Also, while nothing has officially been confirmed, Zazie has publicly stated that she believes Sophie is still alive in the series. With all of that being said, fans shouldn’t expect to see Zazie in the upcoming sequel, but it’s a very real possibility.
More images reveal Arkham Asylum
Right around the holidays, Todd Phillips gave fans another sneak peek at Joker: Folie a Deux by posting a pic of Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck in his cell in Arkham Asylum, while the other showed Lady Gaga as Dr. Harleen Quinzel. Heck them out:
Joker: Folie a Deux is currently slated for an October 4, 2024 release date. Chances are, it will follow the original film and have a fall festival premiere (likely in Venice, maybe TIFF too).
The Soundtrack:
While Lady Gaga will presumably have a lot to do with the songs, the original composer Hildur Guðnadóttir will also be returning.
What does the Joker 2 title mean?
Folie a Deux (the film’s official title) actually translates to “madness of two” and refers to ‘shared psychosis’ in which “delusion or mental illness is shared by two people in close association”. It can be safely assumed that the title is referring to the relationship that will undoubtedly spread between Joker and Harley Quinn.
How Was It Filmed?
Joker: Folie a Deux was partly shot with IMAX cameras by DP Lawrence Sher.
Everything Else:
Another piece of information that fans might find interesting is that despite being set in New York City, filming actually still took place in Los Angeles. Nevertheless, it’s been revealed in set-photos that the sequel will return to the infamous “Joker-steps” from the first movie. It’s also assumed that since the movie will be a musical, Gaga will be writing the music for at least one of the songs that she will undoubtedly perform during the film – it’s well known that Gaga writes/co-writes all of her own music and has already won an Oscar herself for writing/performing the song “Shallow” in A Star is Born back in 2018.
So, even though fans won’t get a chance to see how The Joker and Harley Quinn get wrapped up in another crazy villainous adventure for quite some time, fans can rest well knowing that the wait will be more than worth it.
Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions announced today that they have acquired Boy Kills World, the action thriller starring Bill Skarsgård which blew away audiences at the Toronto International Film Festival last year. We’ll soon have the chance to check out Boy Kills World for ourselves as the film will be given a wide release in theaters on April 26th.
Bill Skarsgård stars as Boy, a “deaf-mute with a vivid imagination, driven by his inner voice, one which he co-opted from his favorite childhood video game, avows revenge after his family is murdered by Hilda Van Der Koy, the deranged matriarch of a corrupt post-apocalyptic dynasty that left the boy orphaned, deafened, and voiceless. Boy trains with a mysterious shaman to become an instrument of death and is set loose on the eve of the annual culling of dissidents. Bedlam ensues as Boy commits bloody martial arts mayhem, inciting a wrath of carnage and blood-letting. As he tries to get his bearings in this delirious realm, Boy soon falls in with a desperate resistance group, all the while bickering with the apparent ghost of his rebellious little sister.“
“When we saw Boy Kills World at TIFF’s Midnight Madness we were blown away by the crazy action sequences and the terrific cast. Audiences are in for a wild ride,” said Roadside Attractions Co-Presidents Howard Cohen and Eric d’Arbeloff. Sam Raimi, who is one of the producers of the movie, added, “[Director Moritz] Mohr brings a distinct visual style and an unbridled imagination to the screen, creating an original, outrageous, and visceral thrill ride. Boy Kills World‘s eclectic cast, eye-popping stunt sequences, and deranged sense of humor will blow audiences away.“
In addition to Bill Skarsgård, Boy Kills World also stars Jessica Rothe, Michelle Dockery, Brett Gelman, Isaiah Mustafa, Yayan Ruhian, Nicholas and Cameron Crovetti, Quinn Copeland, Andrew Koji, Sharlto Copley, and Famke Janssen.
Our own Chris Bumbray had a blast with Boy Kills World when he caught it at TIFF last year. “The movie is absolutely jam-packed with action, with it being a mix of hand-to-hand and gunplay, most of which seems to be done by Skarsgård himself,” Bumbray wrote. “Some of the gore has sprinklings of producer Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead worked in (perhaps). One of the most notably disgusting bits involves Boy using a box grater in a gory scrap, and another highlight is a hand-to-hand fight where his opponent keeps losing parts of his body.” You can check out the rest of Bumbray’s review right here.
The nominations for the 96th Academy Awards were announced earlier today, and as with every year, they came complete with a few surprises and a few snubs. One Oscar snub in particular seems to be rubbing folks the wrong way, and that’s Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig getting passed over for Best Actress and Best Director for Barbie.
Ryan Gosling, who starred alongside Margot Robbie in Barbie, did receive an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, but he released a statement expressing his disappointment in the snub of Robbie and Gerwig. You can read his full statement below:
I am extremely honored to be nominated by my colleagues alongside such remarkable artists in a year of so many great films. And I never thought I’d being saying this, but I’m also incredibly honored and proud that it’s for portraying a plastic doll named Ken.
But there is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no “Barbie” movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally-celebrated film.
No recognition would be possible for anyone on the film without their talent, grit and genius.
To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement.
Against all odds with nothing but a couple of soulless, scantily clad, and thankfully crotchless dolls, they made us laugh, they broke our hearts, they pushed the culture and they made history. Their work should be recognized along with the other very deserving nominees.
Having said that, I am so happy for America Ferrera and the other incredible artists who contributed their talents to making this such a groundbreaking film.
In addition to Ryan Gosling receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, Barbie also received nominations for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, and Best Original Song.
Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig did receive nominations in many awards ceremonies leading up to the Oscars, including the Golden Globe Awards, the Critics Choice Movie Awards, the Satellite Awards, the Saturn Awards, and more, which makes the snub all the more notable.
Was the Barbie Oscar snub justified or should Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig have received nominations?
As Squid Game remains the most-watched TV series on Netflix, it’s no surprise that anticipation is extremely high for the new season. In a letter to shareholders, Netflix revealed that Squid Game season 2 will premiere later this year.
“Looking ahead, despite last year’s strikes pushing back the launch of some titles, we have a big, bold slate for 2024,” the letter states. “Audiences will be able to choose from hit returning dramas like The Diplomat S2, Bridgerton S3, Squid Game S2 and Empress S2.” The streaming service didn’t confirm an exact premiere date for Squid Game season 2, but it’s exciting to know that the games will continue this year.
The second season of Squid Game will feature Lee Jung-jae returning as Seong Gi-hu, as well as Lee Byung-hun as Hwang In-ho, the Front Man, and Wi Ha-joon as Hwang Jun-ho. Netflix announced a handful of actors who would be joining the series last year, including Yim Si-wan (Unlocked), Kang Ha-neul (The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure), Park Sung-hoon (The Glory) and Yang Dong-geun (Yaksha: Ruthless Operations). Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk teased in 2022 that the new season is shaping up to be better than he expected. “I have a set outline,” he said. “I have a treatment of a whole season two episode with new games and new characters. I like it. I think it’s good. It’s better than what I expected.“
It’s been over two years since Squid Game premiered on Netflix, but the streaming service filled the gap with Squid Game: The Challenge, a reality series which found 456 players competing for a US$4.56 million cash prize by competing in challenges based on those in the series… although without all the death. The streaming service renewed the reality series for a second season last month. “There was no red light in our decision to greenlight season two of Squid Game: The Challenge, the most ambitious unscripted show we’ve premiered at Netflix,” said Brandon Riegg, Netflix VP of Nonfiction Series. “We’re so excited to continue the franchise of Squid Game with our team in Korea, and producers at Studio Lambert and The Garden for this epic competition series.“
Daredevil: Born Again may be billed as a brand-new series, but it’s looking more and more like Daredevil season 4. In addition to Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio starring as Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk, Daredevil: Born Again includes a handful of actors returning from the Netflix series, with a new rumor pointing to the return of Wilson Bethel as Bullseye.
According to ComicBook.com, Wilson Bethel is set to reprise his role of Bullseye for Daredevil: Born Again. He made his first appearance in the Netflix series during the third season, with the character reimagined as Benjamin “Dex” Pointdexter, a psychopathic FBI agent who is able to use any object as a lethal projectile. He also suited up in a replica Daredevil costume. Although the report seems confident that Bethel will appear in the new series, “it’s unclear how extensive his role will be.“
Jon Bernthal is also expected to return as The Punisher, and recent rumours have also pointed to Deborah Ann Woll and Elden Henson reprising their roles of Karen Page and Foggy Nelson. It’s almost like the whole band is getting back together.
After a lengthy hiatus due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, not to mention a significant creative overhaul, Daredevil: Born Again has finally resumed production with a few major changes behind the scenes. Dario Scardapane, who worked on Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan as well as Marvel’s The Punisher on Netflix, was brought in to serve as the new showrunner of Daredevil: Born Again. Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, the directing team who helmed multiple episodes of Moon Knight and Loki season 2, were also hired to direct the remaining episodes of the series. The creative retooling is said to move the series away from a legal procedural and more towards the gritty tone of the original Daredevil series on Netflix.
Daredevil: Born Again will also likely be shorter than we thought. The series was originally announced as an 18-episode series, but it will be scaled back to be more in line with the Netflix series, which consists of 13 episodes per season.
In addition to Bullseye, are there any other Netflix characters who should make the leap to Daredevil: Born Again?
Writer/director Damien Leone had a budget of around $55,000 to work with on the first Terrifier movie, and a budget of “a little over” $250,000 for Terrifier 2 – which was a massive hit when it was released last year, earning $15.1 million at the box office. Since the second film did so well, Terrifier 3 (which is scheduled to reach theatres on October 25, 2024) has a substantially higher budget. A “couple million” is going into this one, which is set to start filming around the beginning of February. Leone recently confirmed to Deadline that Chris Jericho, who made a cameo as a psychiatric hospital attendant in Terrifier 2, is going to be returning for the new sequel – and now, while talking to MovieWeb, Jericho said he won’t be in the movie for very long.
Leone told Deadline, “(Chris Jericho) is super excited. This one is going to pick up where part two left off, in the insane asylum, so, you’re going to see what transpires there, what mayhem unfolds, because seeing how Art and Victoria ended up, is so insane, and seeing how they get out of that situation and what happens next is going to be really wild. So, we have to get Chris back in there and see how he becomes a part of that situation.“
Jericho, who is currently at the Slamdance Film Festival to promote The Death Tour, a wrestling documentary he produced, told MovieWeb, “I have seen the script (for Terrifier 3). I have already kind of done the [prep and prosthetics], the filming that they do when they’re taking molds of your face and all this sort of thing. So, suffice to say I don’t have a good, well, I don’t last very long. But it’s gonna be great. If you love Terrifier 2, you’re gonna love Terrifier 3 because it’s even better, it ups the ante even more.“
Terrifier 3 has the following synopsis: Art the Clown is set to unleash chaos on the unsuspecting residents of Miles County as they peacefully drift off to sleep on Christmas Eve.
David Howard Thornton will be reprising the role of Art the Clown, while Lauren LaVera will be back as Terrifier 2 heroine Sienna and Elliot Fullam returns as Sienna’s brother Jonathan. Samantha Scaffidi is returning as Terrifier and Terrifier 2 character Victoria.
Are you looking forward to seeing Chris Jericho in Terrifier 3, even if he doesn’t last very long? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.
Last week, it was revealed that frequent collaborators Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan – who have worked on Fruitvale Station, Creed, Black Panther, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever together as director and cast member, and have other collaborations that Coogler didn’t direct – have been developing a new project in secret. Coogler has written the script for this project, which is being described as a genre picture that Coogler will be directing and Jordan is attached to star in. They were just looking for a studio the project could call home – and now Deadline reports that the number of contenders is down to three: Sony, Warner Bros., and Universal. They also report that this movie is expected to have a budget of $90 million… and buried down at the bottom of their article is the tag, “Vampire Movie”. So are Coogler and Jordan looking to make a 90 million dollar vampire movie here?
We don’t know for sure just yet, but Deadline hears that “the script is a period genre film that is a true star vehicle for Jordan”. They go on to say, The numbers being thrown around for worldwide rights are large, but not out of line given the commercial track record of both men. There has also been discussion of potential co-ownership of the IP. As well as potential “put” pictures for Coogler and his Proximity Media. Landing Coogler post-Black Panther as a cornerstone filmmaker would be extremely valuable to any of these studios; he has done nothing but hatch hits and critically acclaimed pictures since he broke in to the business with Fruitvale Station. There is so much secrecy surrounding this genre project, it was previously reported that “executives and buyers were forced to make the pilgrimage to the Beverly Hills offices of WME, the agency that represents Coogler and Jordan, in order to take a gander on the script and get details.”
Deadline also notes that the bidding war over this project is coming down to three traditional studios instead of streamers because the filmmakers “are insistent upon a full blown global theatrical play.” Wherever it ends up, Coogler is hoping to start filming this summer.
Coogler (who is also developing a reboot of the TV series The X-Files) will be producing the film with Proximity Media partners Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian. Rebecca Cho serves as executive producer.
Would you like to see a $90 million vampire movie that’s written and directed by Coogler, with Jordan in the lead role? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.
Gary Graham, the beloved film and television actor, has passed away at 73. Graham was a featured player in the Alien Nation franchise, a chameleon of numerous characters in the Star Trek universe, and motion pictures across multiple genres. His ex-wife, actress Susan Lavelle, announced his passing in a Facebook message. She did not provide a cause of death for the gifted actor.
“It is with deep profound sadness to say that Gary Graham, my ex husband, amazing actor and father of our beautiful only child together, Haylee Graham, has passed away today,” wrote Lavelle. “We are completely devastated especially our daughter Haley. His wife, Becky was by his side.”
Graham got his start performing in episodic television in the mid-1970s. With his signature mop of swooping brown hair, Graham appeared in shows like Eight Is Enough, Starsky and Hutch, Police Woman, and more. When the 1980s came about, Graham contributed to shows like CHiPs, The Dukes of Hazzard, T.J. Hooker, Remington Steel, and Moonlighting, to name a few.
In 1989, he played the human detective Matthew Sikes in the TV movie Alien Nation. Partnered with the alien George Francisco (Eric Pierpoint), a Tenctonese police officer, the duo learn about each other’s culture while attempting to solve a drug conspiracy hidden in the subculture of Los Angeles. Driven by Graham and Pierpoint’s on-screen chemistry, Alien Nation became a hit, resulting in a television series and multiple TV films, including Alien Nation: Dark Horizon (1994), Alien Nation: Body and Soul (1995), Alien Nation: Millennium (1996), Alien Nation: The Enemy Within (1996), and Alien Nation: The Udara Legacy (1997).
Graham was also an essential player in the Star Trek universe. His Star Trek debut was for Star Trek: Enterprise as the Vulcan Ambassador Soval. He played a different character in a 1995 episode of Star Trek: Voyager and played Ragnar in Star Trek: Of Gods and Men and Star Trek: Renegades.
Gary Graham may be gone, but his talent and contribution to the entertainment industry live on through his powerful performances and fans. We here at JoBlo wish Mr. Graham safe passage to the Hereafter and would like to extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and fans. Rest well, Mr. Graham.
