'The Mandalorian' Recap, Review, And Thoughts On That Shocking Cliffhanger

*SPOILERS!!!*

After what feels like an eternity of build-up, the first live-action Star Wars series, The Mandalorian, has arrived. It's no surprise they chose it as a launch title for Disney+ because, honestly, who doesn't want to see this? Who hasn't been waiting years for it, ever since those first whispers of a TV series?  And now it's here, and backed by the promise of a huge reveal in the first episode. Well, Lucasfilm wasn't dicking us around on that one. This first episode (of an eight-episode first season) ends on one Hell of a cliffhanger that opens up all sorts of questions.

However, cliffhangers aside, was the episode any good? Absolutely, especially if you're a die-hard Star Wars fan. Creators Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni dive right in and don't bother holding your hand through it. Let's be honest; nobody who isn't already a Star Wars nut is watching this anyway, right? They've got Lady and the Tramp and Noelle for that.  So we don't need a ton of explanation for the mysterious Mandalorian (played by Pedro Pascal), a bounty of obvious renown who kicks things off by taking down a couple of dim-witted toughs who have been harassing his intended prey. An perilous encounter with an ice monster later, we get our first look at an entire cabin full of carbonite prisons, a reminder of when Han Solo was trapped in one of those bad boys by the baddest Mandalorian of them all, Boba Fett.

Little nods like that are what make The Mandalorian so much fun, along with the familiar sound effects, screen wipes, and bits of oddly-placed humor the franchise is known for. We're soon after introduced to Greef Karga (Carl Weathers), who not only takes all of the Mandalorian's cargo off his hands, but gives him another high-paying gig. This one is so secretive it can't go through the usual Bounty Hunter guild channels. There's no description of the asset, other than it's around 50 years old, a vague location of its last sighting, and a meager means of tracking it. Of course, we know nothing of the Client, either.

However, that Client turns out to be the secretive figure played by director Werner Herzog, and he's kinda perfect for this role. Personally, I've always found Herzog to be scary as fuck, and more than a little intimidating. The Client says the asset can be returned dead or alive, preferably alive, but dead for half-price. This angers his colleague, Dr. Pershing (Omid Abtahi), who says this wasn't part of the deal. Clearly, he wants this thing back alive for a reason.

In exchange, the Client offers a piece of beskar metal, sacred to the Mandalorian warriors and essential in crafting their unique armor. We not only see this metal smelted into usable fashion, but flashbacks to the Mandalorian's war-torn childhood as a foundling. You can feel Dave Filoni's fingerprints all over this section, having crafted so much of their history in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels.

Arriving at the location of the Asset, the Mandalorian encounters an old Ugnaught named Kuiil (voiced by Nick Nolte), and battle droid IG-11 (voiced by Taika Waititi). The latter assumes he has a new rival for the prize, but instead he and the Mandalorian team up to gun down the guards protecting the Asset. Once they get inside, the Mandalorian is momentarily puzzled at what they find: a baby.

"They said 50 years old."

"Species age differently", IG-11 responds.

The battle droid says his orders were "quite specific" and is ready to kill the baby, only to be fried by the Mandalorian who decides to either protect the child or just bring it in alive. We aren't quite sure yet, but I think we all have a pretty good guess. Also, I think we can assume the IG-11 was hired by somebody completely different, hence the differing orders.

The creature turns out to be of Yoda's species. Now, those who may be lost in the Star Wars timeline may be a bit confused by this. The Mandalorian takes place after events of Return of the Jedi but before The Force Awakens. Yoda is dead, having lived something like 900 years, and has even been seen as a Force Ghost. So this ain't the O.G. Yoda. Nor is this Yaddle, the only other being of this kind ever seen in the Star Wars canon.  George Lucas always kept Yoda and his kind extremely secret.

The implication is that the birth of one of these creatures is extremely rare, and would be devastating to anybody who fights for the Dark Side. Yoda was arguably the most powerful Force-sensitive creature in the galaxy until all of those darn Skywalkers started sprouting up, and Yaddle was also on the Jedi Council. It stands to reason this one will be very powerful in the Force and could be a huge asset to whichever side it fights on. Remember what's going on at this point. The Jedi are only just starting to rebuild with the emergence of Luke Skywalker, and the Empire has effectively been crushed.

Personally, I quite like the idea of an evil Yoda. Maybe he gets hand delivered to Snoke?

The Mandalorian appears to be setting itself as a Lone Wolf and Cub-style epic, with our hero (?) escorting this child through a series of escalating adventures. Considering the rate at which Yoda age, we probably won't see the baby reach maturity, but might it show off some early Force abilities? That's gotta be in the cards.

Favreau and Filoni deserve a ton of credit for making this first episode truly feel like a space Western, with a stoic, near-silent protagonist whose personal code of ethics clashes with the violent reality he walks in. My only true gripe is they do a terrible job of introducing characters to us. Most of them never even get a name and you have to look them up in the credits. There's enough going on that you shouldn't have to do that.

Also, I need more IG-11. Just more battle droids, period. Battle droids kick ass.  Where's my boy IG-88 at? Can I get a Bossk sighting, please?

Good start for The Mandalorian, and that ending is sure to rock the Star Wars universe like an exploding Death Star. The next episode should arrive this Friday, November 15th.

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Review: 'Angel Has Fallen', The Franchise Gets Back On Its Feet In A Big Way

I must admit to having a soft spot for the 'Has Fallen' movies. They are ridiculously absurd, knuckle-headed action movies with a generic tough-guy lead, basically the kind of flicks I grew up on and I get a ping of nostalgia every time. The first one, Olympus Has Fallen, had the misfortune of coming out around the same time as carbon copy White House Down, with both turning out pretty good. The second, London Has Fallen, is average in every way other than Gerard Butler's unwavering commitment to the role of indestructible Secret Service dude Mike Banning. And now the franchise comes to an end (???) with Angel Has Fallen, which is not only the best movie in the series, it's only marginally as unbelievable as the others. I kinda want these movies to continue. Is that crazy?

Before you ask, no, this movie doesn't take place in the fictional town of "Angel".  The title refers to the codename given to the head of Secret Service, a role Banning is offered just in time for President Allan Trumbull (Morgan Freeman, who keeps on comin' back for more) to be the target of an assassination attempt via enough armed drones to put Spider-Man: Far from Home to shame. Banning, being the loyal and patriotic guy that he is, sacrifices himself to get the Prez to safety, only to wake up from unconsciousness handcuffed to a hospital bed and accused of attempting to kill the man he just saved. How does that happen? Because law enforcement, in this case the FBI (led by a very bored-looking Jada Pinkett Smith) must be portrayed as dumbasses always one step behind.  It's standard.

Of course, it isn't long before Banning breaks free of his bonds and turns fugitive, willing to kill anything in his path to clear his name. Meanwhile, you can spot the bad guys a mile away by the mere presence of perennial villains Danny Huston, as one of Banning's ex-military buddies now a failed business owner, and Tim Blake Nelson as the scheming Vice President who takes aggressive advantage of the President being out-of-action. The movie isn't the least bit subtle, nor is the casting. You don't bring those guys in other than to be who we know they're going to be.

But then, these movies aren't known for being particularly complex. Banning is an aging gladiator who has only one way of handling any situation, and that's to kill it or beat it into submission. However, Angel Has Fallen scores some points by acknowledging this fact about Banning and building a story around it. Banning is feeling the effects of saving the world a couple of times in the last few years. He's got insomnia, headaches, blurry vision, and a bad back. He's popping pills every five minutes just to stay upright. It gets so bad while on the run that he turns to his wacko survivalist father Clay Banning, played by Nick Nolte (!!!), just to lay low for a while. Not that there are many lulls in the film, but the moment Nolte shows up, looking like he's been crossbred with a grizzly bear and Mark Boone Junior, it goes off the grid crazy in the best way possible. Clay is a total nut and his presence lightens up the tone considerably, especially when you see the joy he has in taking out a squad of mercenaries who carelessly step into his fiery killzone.  Both of these guys need some serious therapy for PTSD, and thankfully, the movie's writers don't make it seem like the wimpy thing to do in asking for help. 

Behind the camera is Ric Roman Waugh, a director who has proven a steady hand in better-than-expected crime movies such as Felon, Snitch, and Shot Caller. He's not the flashiest filmmaker but he's a damn sight better than the last guy and knows how to put together action sequences that are exciting and make sense.  You're not going to find many surprises here, and sometimes that's perfectly okay. At this point, you have to know what you're in for. Angel Has Fallen is a lot like its star, which is why Butler is so right for it. It's not going to win any style points, and the rough exterior is a big part of the charm, but if you just want to watch a flag-waving guy with serious anger issues save the country from terrorists, Angel Has Fallen's  got you covered.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

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'Angel Has Fallen' Trailer: Gerard Butler's Loyalty Is Put To The Test

After only two action-packed chapters, the Has Fallen franchise has run out of places to topple. Now the only thing Secret Service agent Mike Banning has to resurrect is his career, and naturally, if he fails it also means the end of the free world or something. Angel Has Fallen finds Gerard Butler back as Banning, who is framed for an assassination attempt on the President, played by a returning Morgan Freeman.

Behind the camera this time is Ric Roman Waugh, the director behind solid crime flicks such as Shot Caller, Felon, and Snitch. He's working on a much bigger canvas this time, as Banning's adventures usually lots of things blowing up around him. Like it or not, these movies have been very successful on a global level, and if this one does well there will be more until Butler finally calls it quits.

Butler and Freeman are joined by Piper Perabo, Danny Huston, Tim Blake Nelson, Jada Pinkett Smith, Lance Reddick, and Nick Nolte who plays Banning's survivalist father.

Angel Has Fallen hits theaters on August 23rd. Check out the trailer and new character posters below.

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'Angel Has Fallen' Trailer: Gerard Butler's Action Franchise Won't Stay Down

Say what you will about Gerard Butler's Olympus Has Fallen franchise, because that's what it is now, a franchise, but these movies make money. Between the original in 2013 and 2016's sequel London Has Fallen they've combined for over $370M, don't cost a ton of money, and have a cool title ready-made for sequels. You can do these things anywhere. Zimbabwe Has Fallen!! Albuquerque Has Fallen! Well, the third effort takes a slightly different route with Angel Has Fallen, which finds Butler's character engaging in more mind-numbing action, not in service to the USA, but to clear his own name.

Angel Has Fallen once again follows Secret Service agent Mike Banning, who is framed for an assassination attempt on the President. To prove his innocence, he'll have to get past the FBI in hopes of finding those truly responsible. Other than Butler, the only returning actor is Morgan Freeman as Alan Trumbull, who is moved up the ranks to become President. Jada Pinkett-Smith joins the cast as an FBI agent tracking Banning, Piper Perabo has replaced Radha Mitchell as Banning's wife. Other impressive additions include Nick Nolte, Lance Reddick, Tim Blake Nelson, and Danny Huston.

Taking over behind the camera is Ric Roman Waugh, who has done some impressive work in the past on films such as Snitch and Shot Caller.  It's easy to make fun of these movies but they've generally been decent, turn-your-brain-off action flicks and Waugh should at least be able to hit that standard if not surpass it.

Angel Has Fallen opens August 23rd.

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Lucasfilm Confirms Full Cast For 'Star Wars' Series 'The Mandalorian'

After weeks of casting rumors on Disney's The Mandalorian series, the full cast has finally been revealed. While most of it is confirmation of what we already knew, there are a few new faces including one that makes me especially happy.

Pedro Pascal has been confirmed to star as the title character, a gunfighting Mandalorian on the galaxy's Outer Rim. Also confirmed are the previously-mentioned Carl Weathers, Nick Nolte, Gina Carano, and Werner Herzog, which is such a wild group to imagine I have to think most of them are voicing CGI aliens. Also joining the cast are Emily Swallow (Supernatural), Omid Abtahl (American Gods), and best of all, Giancarlo Esposito of Breaking Bad, School Daze, The Maze Runner, and so much more. In his case I hope he's playing a human character and not hidden by digital effects or tons of makeup.

Production is underway now but details remain scarce. We've heard of at least one surprising motivation for the Mandalorian's journey, however there's nothing in Lucasfilm's press release that reveals anything further.

The Mandalorian will be exclusive to Disney+ beginning late next year.

Lucasfilm is pleased to announce the cast of the first-ever Star Wars live-action series — The Mandalorian.

Pedro Pascal (Narcos) has been cast in the title role as a lone Mandalorian gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy. He is joined by Gina Carano (Deadpool), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), Emily Swallow (Supernatural), Carl Weathers (Predator), Omid Abtahi (American Gods), Werner Herzog (Grizzly Man), and Nick Nolte (Affliction).

“We’re having a great time working with this incredibly talented group and excited for everyone to see what we’re up to,” says Executive Producer Jon Favreau.

Currently in production, The Mandalorian is written and executive produced by Jon Favreau, with Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels) directing the first episode and serving as executive producer alongside Kathleen Kennedy and Colin Wilson. Additional episodic directors include Deborah Chow (Jessica Jones), Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), Bryce Dallas Howard (Solemates), and Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok).

The highly-anticipated series will be exclusive to Disney+, The Walt Disney Company’s upcoming direct-to-consumer streaming service, which is set to launch in the U.S. in late 2019.

Stay tuned to StarWars.com for updates.

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Nick Nolte Joins 'Star Wars' Series 'The Mandalorian'

Unexpected casting news alert! I can't think of any actor I'd expect to see be part of Star Wars less than Nick Nolte. Even in his "Sexiest Man Alive" years it would have been an odd fit but now it makes even less sense. And yet it's happening, as Nolte has joined the increasingly strange cast of The Mandalorian, the first Star Wars series headed to Disney+.

THR has the news of Nolte's casting, and of course there are no details on his role. He joins Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano, and supposedly Carl Weathers, which is just wild. Now, it's possible Nolte and others are being brought on to voice CGI characters, or will be hidden under heavy prosthetics. In Nolte's case that would make sense because production has been ongoing for a while now and he's only just coming aboard. It's possible his role is pretty small, at least initially. 

Honestly, I'm just glad the 48 Hrs. star is still out there and staying busy. He spent the last couple of years starring in the Epix series, Graves, and has starred in two movies this year, Til Schweiger's Head Full of Honey and drama film The Padre. He'll next be seen opposite Gerard Butler in the action sequel Angel Has Fallen. 

The Mandalorian will be part of Disney+ when it launches next year. 

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Review: 'A Walk In The Woods' Starring Robert Redford and Nick Nolte

NOTE: This is a reprint of my review from the Sundance Film Festival. A Walk in the Woods opens September 2nd.

Who's ready for another literal walk to self-discovery? Robert Redford's latest film, A Walk in the Woods, is one he's been developing for years, originally to co-star with Paul Newman. It's based on travel writer Bill Bryson's memoir about his long hike along the Appalachian Trail with a boozing buddy. But unlike Tracks and Wild which feature incredibly challenging physical performances by their lead stars, the combination of Redford and Nick Nolte only manages to make this walk in the woods as exciting as a summer stroll.

Redford plays Bryson, a very successful travel writer who is starting to feel the restless itch. He hasn't written a book in years, and while his marriage (Emma Thompson plays his wife) is comfortable something is missing. He decides to take on a challenge most men half his age wouldn't dare; hiking the 1800-mile Appalachian Trail. Why? Eh, because it's there? It's a familiar retort from danger-seekers when attempting some remarkable challenge, but Bryson is no thrill-seeker and his reasons for embarking on such a journey are never made clear. Since his wife is convinced he'll be mauled by bears or poisoned by bug farts or something, he must find a companion to tag along. The only one who agrees is Steve Katz (Nolte), and he wasn't even invited. There's a bit of a sting there as Katz realizes Bryson asked people he doesn't even like ahead of him, but before we long we see why he did. Katz is overweight and can barely walk, but he's also a former alcoholic who may have relapsed.

Truthfully, there isn't much that happens on their trek, and when it does it's usually some bit of lousy slapstick. Of course jokes about their age are prevalent early on, especially when they encounter an irritating know-it-all (Kristen Schaal) who won't leave their side. The film goes to great pains to establish how difficult the hike will be, but at no point does it ever feel dangerous. Where are the stakes? There's no peril, but even enlightenment seems to elude them. The guys ponder life, love, growing old and past regrets, but it never amounts to a broader revelation. At the end we're still left wondering why either man felt compelled to do what they did.

Nolte and Redford are too good for their not to be some good individual scenes, and the veteran pair fit comfortably into their "odd couple" roles. Bryson is an intellectual with a sharp wit, while Katz is a brute who can't stay out of trouble or out of the beds of married women. A thin screenplay gets a visual boost from director Ken Kwapis, who finds majesty in wide, sweeping natural vistas. Kwapis directed the whale rescue film Big Miracle and seems to be securing a niche as the chosen filmmaker for this kind of frothy material.

Redford wasn't expecting the film to be added to the Sundance slate and has expressed some shock that it was. It's pretty easy to see why. By the festival's standards A Walk in the Woods is pretty weak, lacking anything close to edginess. It's not a terrible movie but it's doubtful anyone under the age of 60 will care to see it.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

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Take a Hike with Robert Redford and Nick Nolte in Trailer for 'A Walk in the Woods'

>Sigh<  Where to begin with A Walk in the Woods? The film has been a passion project of Robert Redford's for more than a decade, and the actor once had hopes of starring in it alongside Paul Newman. That never developed, and for a time Richard Linklater eyed the director's chair before moving on to other projects. Along came another veteran actor in Nick Nolte to take the co-starring role, and eventually Ken Kwapis (Big Miracle) took over as director.

Based on Bill Bryson's cherished memoir, the story centers on two old friends, long estranged, who decide to hike the 2100-mile Appalachian Trail. So it's another one of those walkabout films, only this one deals with two guys who are long past their prime, and one is an overweight alcoholic. It also means the story relies heavily on the chemistry between the two stars, and while Nolte and Redford work well together neither is really suited to slapstick comedy, which is about all this film offers. Not my favorite Sundance movie, no.

A Walk in the Woods opens September 2nd.

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Rosamund Pike wants Revenge in Trailer for 'Return to Sender'

Rosamund Pike was tremendous in David Fincher's Gone Girl last year, taking insanity to heights we haven't seen since Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction. And she's clearly mining the same crazy territory in Return to Sender, a thriller about another woman with a vicious streak. Only this time Pike doesn't have the same level of talent around her, and the film looks rather terrible as a result.

Directed by Fouad Mikati (the mediocre Operation: Endgame) and co-starring Rumer Willis, Nick Nolte, and Shiloh Fernandez, the film supposedly centers on a nurse who is assaulted by a man who isn't what he claims to be, so she sets out to get her life back. But there's obviously more to it because this trailer doesn't make a whole lot of sense. There seems to be some kind of relationship that forms between Pike's character and her attacker, but it may be part of a larger scheme. It almost certainly is.

Anyway, there aren't a lot of reasons to be optimistic except for Pike, so hopefully Return to Sender gets a U.S. distributor soon. It opens in the U.K. on May 22nd.


Return to Sender (2015) Official Trailer #1 by Zeemu28

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Sundance Review: 'A Walk in the Woods' starring Robert Redford and Nick Nolte

Who's ready for another literal walk to self-discovery? Robert Redford's latest film, A Walk in the Woods, is one he's been developing for years, originally to co-star with Paul Newman. It's based on travel writer Bill Bryson's memoir about his long hike along the Appalachian Trail with a boozing buddy. But unlike Tracks and Wild which feature incredibly challenging physical performances by their lead stars, the combination of Redford and Nick Nolte only manages to make this walk in the woods as exciting as a summer stroll.

Redford plays Bryson, a very successful travel writer who is starting to feel the restless itch. He hasn't written a book in years, and while his marriage (Emma Thompson plays his wife) is comfortable something is missing. He decides to take on a challenge most men half his age wouldn't dare; hiking the 1800-mile Appalachian Trail. Why? Eh, because it's there? It's a familiar retort from danger-seekers when attempting some remarkable challenge, but Bryson is no thrill-seeker and his reasons for embarking on such a journey are never made clear. Since his wife is convinced he'll be mauled by bears or poisoned by bug farts or something, he must find a companion to tag along. The only one who agrees is Steve Katz (Nolte), and he wasn't even invited. There's a bit of a sting there as Katz realizes Bryson asked people he doesn't even like ahead of him, but before we long we see why he did. Katz is overweight and can barely walk, but he's also a former alcoholic who may have relapsed.

Truthfully, there isn't much that happens on their trek, and when it does it's usually some bit of lousy slapstick. Of course jokes about their age are prevalent early on, especially when they encounter an irritating know-it-all (Kristen Schaal) who won't leave their side. The film goes to great pains to establish how difficult the hike will be, but at no point does it ever feel dangerous. Where are the stakes? There's no peril, but even enlightenment seems to allude them. The guys ponder life, love, growing old, and past regrets, but it never amounts to a broader revelation. At the end we're still left wondering why either man felt compelled to do what they did.

Nolte and Redford are too good for their not to be some good individual scenes, and the veteran pair fit comfortably into their "odd couple" roles. Bryson is an intellectual with a sharp wit, while Katz is a brute who can't stay out of trouble or out of the beds of married women. A thin screenplay gets a visual boost from director Ken Kwapis, who finds majesty in wide, sweeping natural vistas. Kwapis directed the whale rescue film Big Miracle and seems to be securing a niche as the chosen filmmaker for this kind of frothy material.

Redford wasn't expecting the film to be added to the Sundance slate and has expressed some shock that it was. It's pretty easy to see why. By the festival's standards A Walk in the Woods is pretty weak, lacking anything close to edginess. It's not a terrible movie but it's doubtful anyone under the age of 60 will care to see it.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

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Review: 'Hateship Loveship' Starring Kristen Wiig, Guy Pearce, and Hailee Steinfeld

Kristen Wiig's career trajectory after Bridesmaids shot her into the popular stratosphere has been curious, to say the least. Rather than pushing forward on a sequel or even taking on other straight-up comedies, she's drifted into indie films and quirky dramedies with mixed results. While her smaller roles in Friends with Kids and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (and the upcoming The Skeleton Twins) showed her dramatic and romantic sides, Girl Most Likely didn't showcase any of her talents very well. But it was a long stretch ahead of Hateship Loveship, a somber, monotonous cure for insomnia if there ever was one.

Wiig, Nick Nolte, Guy Pearce, Hailee Steinfeld, and Jennifer Jason Leigh look like they could use a dose of smelling salts throughout Hateship Loveship, which is based on a short story by Alice Munro. Sarah Polley adapted another of Munro's works into the devastatingly emotional Away from Her, and that only adds to the disappointment of this film's decided lack of dramatic punch. Wiig doesn't get to tell any jokes, or do anything remotely fun as Joanna, a mousy and reserved caregiver who barely speaks. She's spent so much time looking after others she doesn't know how to function. She hardly smiles, and dresses like a 19th century midwife.

After her latest client passes away, Joanna's new gig thrusts her into the troubled McCauley family, coping with the recent death of a loved one. Her job is to watch over teenaged Sabitha (Steinfeld), a rebellious and hormonal teen living with her grandfather (Nolte) since her mother's death in a car accident. At the wheel was her father Ken (Pearce), a junkie who can barely take care of himself, much less his daughter. For the most part, Joanna tries to stay out of their way, keeping quiet when squabbles break loose. A total innocent in the ways of love, Joanna misinterprets a simple letter of thanks sent by Ken, writing him a length and deeply personal response. Sabitha, who resents having a babysitter, send her a fake love letter from Ken, starting a phony back-and-forth that has the terminally shy Joanna gleeful at the romantic attention. Yeah, she totally got catfished. Her response is borderline stalker-ish, rushing out to buy new clothes, stealing antique furniture from the family, and moving into Ken's home unannounced. Considering he's always drunk or high, Ken accepts her presence readily, even dumping his skanky girlfriend (Leigh) for no good reason.

It's a pretty complicated jumble of characters and emotional riffs to play off of, and there are many more that weave in and out. But mostly this is about Joanna and Sabitha, two men coming into their own at different stages of life. It's fertile material given director Liza Johnson to tread, if only she bothered to do it with even a hint of passion. Instead, her stifling approach limits the performances of a cast any competent filmmaker would bend over backwards to spotlight. Overly-mannered and submissive, Wiig never fits comfortably into a role that requires a smothering of her natural appeal. We want to like Wiig in everything, but you have to give us a reason to!

Interestingly, the story also seems to suggest, well...it really sort of shouts it....a misguided and old-fashioned notion that women can find fulfillment just by fixing up the right man. Joanna throws herself into rebuilding Ken's life, getting him and his house clean, without really having any needs of her own met. Not that we ever learn enough about her to know what those needs are. Certainly she needs more than just the occasional roll in the hay and a dirty floor to mop up....right? It's clear that she has been able to find some measure of happiness watching over others, but the lack of evolution in her character makes us more likely to pity Joanna's future than want to celebrate it. It's a weak and somewhat insulting resolution to a film it's easy to have 'hateship' for, assuming you can stay awake through it.

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New Trailer for 'Hateship Loveship' Starring Kristen Wiig, Guy Pearce, and Nick Nolte

Alice Munro's tenth celebrated collection of short stories, Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage, has already produced one terrific film adaptation. Sarah Polley took the short story "The Bear Came over the Mountain" and adapted it into Away from Her a few years ago. Now Kristen Wiig, Nick Nolte, Hailee Steinfeld, and Guy Pearce have gathered for Hateship Loveship, an adaptation of the collection's title story.

Directed by Liza Johnson (Return), the film looks like a clear step into low-wattage dramatic territory for Wiig. She plays Joanna, a housekeeper to a family rife with internal conflict. Nolte plays the elderly grandfather who is having problems with his outcast son-in-law Ken, played by Pearce. Steinfeld is Ken's daughter, Sabitha, and she's responsible for tricking Joanna into thinking Ken has a romantic interest in her. It makes for an odd blend of tones, even in this trailer, and one can only think it continues into the film as a whole.

Hateship Loveship is available now exclusively on DirecTV (review to come), and will hit VOD and theaters April 11th.


HATESHIP LOVESHIP by Teaser-Trailer.com

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Adam Driver Joins Martin Scorsese's 'Silence'; Nick Nolte Added to 'Noah'

The third season of HBO's Girls debuted over the weekend, which no doubt has Lena Dunham fans (and fans of her boobs) dancing in the streets. While she and many of the women on that show have raised their profile significantly, the biggest breakout has been co-star Adam Driver. Over the last couple of years he's worked alongside Stephen Spielberg, the Coen Brothers, Noah Baumbach, Clint Eastwood, and is getting mentioned for major franchise flicks like Batman vs. Superman and Star Wars: Episode VII. So what's next up for him? How about working with Martin Scorsese?

Driver has joined Scorsese's long-developing adaptation of Silence, based on the Shusaku Endo novel about a pair of 17th century Jesuit priests who face persecution while spreading Christianity in Japan. Andrew Garfield, Ken Watanabe, and Issei Ogata are set to star. The only question is if Scorsese will actually get around to filming it this year as suspected. A July start date was mentioned before but doesn't seem to be set in stone just yet. [Showbiz411]

From one potential project to one that is nearing completion; Nick Nolte is a late addition to the cast of Darren Aronofsky's Biblical epic, Noah. The director tweeted the announcement, revealing that Nolte would be taking on the role of the Watcher Samyaza, the part which previously had Mark Margolis attached.  Samyaza is a fallen angel whose interactions with humans bore God's wrath, leading directly to the Great Flood. Noah opens on March 28th.

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Josh Hutcherson goes 'Ape'; Paddy Considine joins 'Child 44'; Rosamund Pike stars in 'Return to Sender'

*His voice is currently being heard in the animated forest adventure, Epic, and this fall he'll do battle in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, but Josh Hutcherson will jump into psychological thriller territory for his next film. He's set to produce and star in Ape, to be directed by Miguel Sapochnik (Repo Men), and centers on "a young man's struggle with mental illness, love and a deep-rooted family secret".

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Richard Linklater to direct 'A Walk in the Woods' with Robert Redford and Nick Nolte

There have been numerous attempts to bring Bill Bryson's humorous travel memoir A Walk in the Woods to the big screen. Robert Redford first announced his plans to play Bryson in the film more than eight years ago, with a failed hope of getting his old pal Paul Newman to co-star. Barry Levinson and Chris Columbus circled the directing chair for awhile with little movement taking place until a couple of years ago when Nick Nolte came aboard. Nothing was heard from it since until now, with the LA Times reporting it will be Richard Linklater who directs.

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New trailer for Robert Redford's 'The Company You Keep'

A new trailer has been released for writer/director Robert Redford's political thriller, The Company You Keep. The film had a lot of buzz early on thanks to a cast including Shia LaBeouf, Brit Marling, Susan Sarandon, Anna Kendrick, Nick Nolte, Terrence Howard, Chris Cooper, and Stanley Tucci. Only a guy like Redford can pull something like that together, and it sounded like maybe this would be a return to prominence for the screen legend. So where's the film been?

Word has been mixed-to-negative ever since it debuted on the festival circuit, which might be why there's practically no heat behind it now. The general consensus is that it's another in a long string of heavy-handed message films from Redford, with this one dealing with privacy rights and government overreach. Redford plays a former political activist with ties to a domestic terrorist outfit, who sees his quiet life disrupted by an ambitious reporter (LaBeouf) outing his identity.

The latest trailer shows off the impressive ensemble, but the pace is strictly slow burn material. Could be a solid morality tale with obvious real-world relevance. We'll find out when The Company You Keep arrives on April 5th.

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Review: 'Parker' starring Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez

"I don't steal from those who can't afford it, I won't hurt those who don't deserve it". The latest edition to Jason Statham's annual butt-whoop-A-thon is Parker, and much like his role in The Mechanic, this one comes with a familiar history attached. Based on the novels by Donald Westlake, Parker has been seen on screen numerous times, with Mel Gibson playing him in Payback. He's a hard-nosed thug with a strict moral code, which could be plastered on the poster of practically every single film Statham has done. But it's a role he's perfectly suited for, and with a ton of talent in front of and behind the camera, Parker continues Statham's red-hot streak of bad ass action flicks.

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Review: 'Gangster Squad' starring Ryan Gosling and Sean Penn

There was a time when Gangster Squad was one of the hottest tickets of 2012, and how could it not be? Featuring a stone cold awesome cast of superstars like Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn, and Emma Stone paired up with other recognizable stars in a gritty 1940s mobster shoot 'em up, the film looked like a lock for Oscar consideration. And then the tragedy struck in Aurora, CO, and the studio took measures to bump the film back to January to remove a scene that was a little too similar.

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Jason Statham looks for payback in the latest 'Parker' trailer

So you're Jason Statham and basically you've been making the same movie for a decade, with great personal success. What's your next move going to be? Do another one just like all the rest, of course, only there are some reasons why Parker could be a bit better than everything else Statham has been feeding us.

For one, his character is based on the protagonist of Donald Westlake's popular novels, seen in prior movies such as Payback and Point Blank. He's got a better director than time than normal, with Taylor Hackford(Ray) behind the camera. Oh, and he gets to stick close to Jennifer Lopez, probably the best actress he's had a chance to make one of these generic action flicks with. Nick Nolte co-stars alongside Michael Chiklis and Clifton Collins Jr., so we know the cast is superb regardless of the end-product. Statham plays the titular criminal with a moral code, who seeks bloody vengeance on those who betrayed him and left him for dead.

The first trailer didn't inspire a lot of confidence, but a brand new one has been issued which is better suited to Statham's strengths, mainly outlandish and over-the-top violence. Parker opens on January 25th....[IGN]

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Kristen Wiig, Hailee Steinfeld, Guy Pearce, and Nick Nolte find 'Hateship, Friendship'

How do you manage to keep a film starring Hailee Steinfeld, Kristen Wiig, Guy Pearce, and Nick Nolte hidden until its mere days away from shooting? I don't know but the people behind the indie dramedy Hateship, Friendship deserve a friggin' medal or something.

The foursome will star in the film from writer/director Liza Johnson(Return), and based on Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage, a collection of short stories by Alice Munro(Away From Her). Rather than unpacking the plot, here's the official book synopsis...

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