Melissa leo

Ever since Wayward Pines was announced as an M. Night Shyamalan project, the threat of the twist ending is one that’s hung over the entire series. For better or worse, Shyamalan’s name is associated with stories that try to come out of left field in the apex of the third act and surprise you with the idea that nothing you’ve witnessed is what it seems, ends that enjoy their trickiness so much it keeps them blind to the fact that they don’t bear up under scrutiny. And given the early ads for the show, which were heavy on that symbolism—as well as too heavy on imagery and quotes that invited unflattering Twin Peaks comparisons—it was hard to dissuade yourself of that expectation going in.

Ever since the true nature of Wayward Pines was revealed back in “The Truth,” the idea of sacrifice has hung over the bulk of the show. In order to save humanity, Pilcher, Pam, Megan, and every member of the support team had to give up their lives as they knew them. In doing so, they gave themselves the authority to force the sacrifices of countless other individuals, those they deemed necessary to ensure humanity’s future.

You can say this for Wayward Pines: for a show that’s built on big mysteries and has a lot of actors that most shows would kill to have around for a few episodes, it’s not a show that has any reticence about making big moves.

There’s nothing short about the list of big name actors in the cast for the upcoming movie by Anchorman helmer Adam McKay. Deadline reported on Tuesday that Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell, and Brad Pitt are set to join Melissa Leo and Marisa Tomei in McKay’s adaptation of Michael Lewis’ book, The Big Short: …

While Denzel Washington shares the same name as Edward Woodward’s character from The Equalizer television show, that’s exactly where the similarities end. The word equalizer isn’t even mentioned except for the credits. Further establishing differences between the two McCalls are the digs they occupy. Rather than roll around in a flashy Jaguar, Washington’s McCall takes public transportation and spends his days in anonymity working for Home Depot. He comes home to a fairly bare apartment in a lower-class corner of Boston. Nights when Robert can’t sleep he reads Cervantes in diners. This life is simple and it’s what he promised someone he loved.

The Angriest Man in Brooklyn Written by Daniel Taplitz Directed by Phil Alden Robinson USA, 2014 When one thinks of comedy, one name always comes to mind. He is a man of supreme funny-man power, impeccable timing, and an almost unlimited supply of improvised genius: Robin Williams. Over the course of four decades, Williams has delighted …

Overstuffed with an A-list cast, Denis Villeneuve’s (Incendies, Polytechnique) Prisoners is a funereal and often shocking meditation on what people are capable of doing for their loved ones. Permeated with savagery and blood, this is a film that forces ghastly situations on the audience which they’ve likely seen before but are hopefully not entirely numb to processing from a victim’s point of view. The drive behind what holds a family together for better or worse is showcased in painful detail. Gruesome, agonizing, and distressing, Prisoners goes for the jugular and leaves everyone wincing at the hideous view of the human condition that it leaves in its wake.

Oblivion is what one might classify as an amalgamation sci-fi. Though many a contemporary feature in the genre is in clear debt to a prior work, Oblivion is one such example where the narrative similarities and likely intentional visual references cover a particularly wide array of films and literature, including La Jetée, WALL-E, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Mad Max, Jin-Roh, I Am Legend, and one particular sci-fi of the past decade that simply mentioning would probably provoke likely guesses of a major plot development in one’s mind before seeing the film.

When Homicide: Life on the Street premiered in January 1993 after the Super Bowl, it leaped into a different world than the standard hour-long dramas. There were a few exceptions like Hill Street Blues that provided an inspiration, but Creators Barry Levinson and Tom Fontana were entering uncharted territory. The cast lacks the typical pretty …

  Francine Directed by Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky Written by Melanie Shatzky and Brian M. Cassidy U.S.A./Canada, 2012 Everybody is wired a little bit differently, which is what makes each person a fully fledged individual. Of course, such idiosyncrasies do not always result in the most respectable or even relatable humans beings. While …

Treme, Season 3, Episode 4: “The Greatest Love” Written by David Simon (Story), Mari Kornhauser and Chris Yakaitis (Teleplay) Directed by Ernest Dickerson Airs Sundays at 10pm (ET) on HBO This week, on Treme: LP feels the heat, romance is in the air (or it isn’t), and LaDonna’s is the place to be on Sundays …

Treme, Season 3, Episode 3: “Me Donkey Want Water” Written by George Pelecanos Directed by Adam Davidson Airs Sundays at 10pm (ET) on HBO This week, on Treme: Janette and Annie get deals, Big Chief Lambreaux gets a diagnosis, and Toni gets serious In Treme terms, “Me Donkey Want Water” features an explosion of action. …

Treme, Season 3, Episode 1: “Knock with Me – Rock with Me” Written by David Simon and Anthony Bourdain (Story) Directed by Anthony Hemingway Treme, Season 3, Episode 2: “Saints” Written by Eric Overmyer Directed by Jim McKay Airs Sundays at 10pm (ET) on HBO Treme is a show unlike any other on TV at …

Louie, Season 3, Episode 2: “Telling Jokes / Set Up” Written by Louis CK Directed by Louis CK Airs Thursdays at 10:30pm ET on FX Louie is one of the only shows running right now that allows for easy access for newcomers. For the most part, it eschews serialization, toys with tone and format on …