CBS’s award-winning sitcom “Mom” is being canceled after eight seasons. On Wednesday, March 17, Emmy and Oscar winner Allison Janey told “The Late Late Show” host James Corden that she felt “sad” over the cancelation of the show.
I wish that we’d had at least another year for the writers to have that much time to ramp up to the ending. We sort of found out sooner than we thought we would.
The network announced in February 2021 that the eighth season which premiered on November 5, 2020, will be the show’s final season. The day after CBS announced their decision, the star wrote a passionate tribute to the series, thanking her colleagues and sharing a link to a petition to save the show.
The series premiered on September 23, 2013. Janey & Anna Faris star as a mom and daughter duo — Bonnie and Christy Plunkett — until Faris’ departure last season. The show is set against the backdrop of Napa County, California. It highlights the rebuilding of their relationship while both are struggling with substance abuse after being estranged for several years.
Mom was created by Chuck Lorre, Eddie Gorodetsky, and Gemma Baker. Lorre and Grodetsly also serve as executive producers along with Nick Bakay.
The show has received multiple awards, including Janney winning two consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Actress in a Comedy Series. The show has also garnered nominations from the Critic’s Choice Television Awards and The People Choice Awards.
Written by Ebonee Stevenson
Edited by Cathy Milne-Ware
Sources:
Entertainment Weekly: Allison Janney reveals why she thinks Mom is ending ‘sooner than we thought; by Joey Nolfi
People: Allison Janney Says She Thinks ‘Most of’ the Reasons
CinemaBlend: How Allison Janney Reacted To Mom’s Cancellation On CBS; by Adreon Patterson
Images Courtesy of Viacom|CBS – Used With Permission
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Tom Hanks’ Engaging Film ‘News of the World’ Rates 5 Stars [Video]
“News of the World” follows Tom Hanks as he moves from town to town, reading the news to those who are too busy or unable to read the local, state, and federal news. His character, Capt. Jefferson Kyle Kidd reads with great enthusiasm — he is a spectacular storyteller. Hanks’ 12-year-old co-star, Helena Zengel, plays twice orphaned Johanna Leonberger. Both performers and their performances keep the audience engaged, earning the actors and film a 5-star rating.
Hanks, like most others in the film, lost everything during the Civil War; his wife and business. In his travels, Capt. Kidd comes upon a wrecked wagon; he spies a lynched Black man and hears someone scurrying away. Hanks pursues the sound to discover a young, fearful girl with the brightest blue eyes.Immediately, Hanks realizes she does not speak English and as the film moves along, the audience experiences the joy of watching someone learn a new skill. She shares her language, Kiowa, with him, and he teaches her English as they traverse the untamed landscape of Texas.
The duo meets with heartbreak, fear, and unwanted memories. As Zengel begins to relax in Hanks’ company, her feelings become easier to see. On the other hand, even with a full beard, Hanks’ ever-present visual cues — his eyes, posture, and general demeanor — reveal his feelings.
Throughout their adventure, the bond between them grows; they become dependant on one another’s presence. Even though the film’s storyline seems like it is based on a true story, “News of the World” is based on Paulette Jiles’ fictional novel of the same name.
Hanks is a skilled actor who appears comfortable portraying a myriad of different character types. He portrayed a young man pretending to be a woman in “Bosom Buddies,” and he has been stranded on a desert island with only a basketball to keep him company in “Wilson.”Hanks earned his chops and grew his fanbase with each new movie and the amazing ability to make audiences believe each uniqueness of his characters is part of his own persona.
Twelve-year-old Zengel is a Hollywood newbie. “News of the World” is her 10th film credit; all previous projects are foreign-based.
During an interview, she talks about what it is like to work with Hanks. In the film Capt. Kidd must grab her clothing or the back of her neck to “encourage” her cooperation and to keep her from running away. She told ABC Chicago how that felt:
Well, you know, sometimes a little wearied, always having somebody grabbing you at the neck, and pulling you around but I did know the way so I could follow him, so I wouldn’t feel it. And always he was really soft, so it was all good.
“Since this is Tom Hanks we’re talking about, kindness is the dominant note, and the drama arises less from the character’s internal ethical struggle than from the external challenges he faces in his quest to do the right thing,” writes movie reviewer A.O. Scott for The New York Times.
Google reports 85 percent of its users like the movie. Prashast Singh wrote:
The film’s plot centers around a journey, and hence it feels like a collection of several episodes, which is suitable given the theme. The score by James Newton Howard is captivating, and a reason enough to stay during the credits. The cinematography is splendid, capturing the picturesque locales with brilliance. Editing is also good, as the pacing doesn’t remain the same throughout and changes as per the scenes, which becomes evident especially during the action sequences.
Vikas Joshi’s review includes:
“Find where you belong.” These lines are quite a clear intro to this remarkable piece of cinema. Oscar-winner iconic actor Tom Hanks & Oscar-nominated director Paul Greengrass worked again and delivered yet another top-notch cinematic piece. [he best] thing about this movie is its very feel which is about finding your way in other words movie directly quotes that it’s not the relations [that] binds the people but it’s the humanity [that] does.
God works in mysterious ways one can’t expect how long a journey will last or how two strangers could develop an unbreakable bond more immaculate than any other thing. Tom Hanks is a great actor his movies have [a] real intro of life lessons and ]the] same is here life is mysterious no one knows how agonizing it could be and at [the] same time how blessed it could have been.
When watching the film, my husband and I were moved to tears several times. We found ourselves in awe of Hanks’ ability to show his emotions without outwardly expressing them. He and Zengel were in synch with one another’s character, which credits not only the actors but also the director.
Hanks is one of my favorite actors. No matter what character or storyline he is performing, I watch him; a few films do not make it to my “watch again list,” but most do. I highly recommend “News of the World” to Hanks’ fans and soon-to-be fans — because if a person is not a fan before viewing this amazing movie, they likely will.
The film was released on December 25, 2020, and is now available to rent on YouTube, Vudu, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video.
Review by Cathy Milne-Ware
Sources:
ABC News: ‘News of the World’ star talks about making film with costar Tom Hanks; by Janet Davies
IMDb: ‘News of the World;’ Tom Hanks; Helena Zengel
The News York Times: ‘News of the World’ Review: Tom Hanks Does the Strong, Silent Type; by A.O. ScottFeatured and Top Image Courtesy of Lauren Ayres’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
First Inset Image by John Bauld Courtesy of Wikimedia – Creative Commons License
Second Inset Image by Harald Krichel Courtesy of Wikimedia – Creative Commons License -
Meghan and Harry Speak About the Racism They Face in UK’s Media
When Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex — Meghan Markle — first began their relationship in 2015 British newspapers began their racist remarks. For example, a headline on Mail Online stated that Meghan was almost “straight outta Compton.”
The Daily Star had one that suggested that Harry would be marrying “into gangster royalty.” The headlines that broke in 2016 set the harmful stereotypical tone that began part of the United Kingdom’s media. These tones were especially harsh in the U.K.’s tabloid newspapers. They treated Meghan’s arrival into the royal family as one who stood out due to her race.
Due to the tabloid’s focus on the Dutchess’ race, Harry and Markle sued several papers. They singled out the tabloids because they were waging a “ruthless campaign” against the couple.
On March 7, 2021, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex sat down with Oprah Winfrey for a bombshell interview. Harry told Winfrey that they had no support from the royal family against the racism they faced from the media. The Duke further told Winfrey that his “family said” nothing “over those three years.”Meghan continued her husband’s thought with the media coverage “was bringing out a part of” everyone “that was racist.” Harry and Meghan are not the first ones to face prejudice from the U.K.’s media. According to a 2016 European Commission against Racism and Intolerance report, hate speech in traditional media and tabloid newspapers is a continued “serious problem.”
Many critics feel that Meghan’s treatment by the media contrasted deeply then what they gave to the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. These critics believe this could be due to the lack of newsroom diversity. There are very few reporters and editors who hail from diverse backgrounds.
Marverine Duffy — director of undergraduate journalism at Birmingham City University — believes that the “right-leaning media” are heading the “charge against Meghan” purely due to the fact that “she’s Black.” Duffy is also a member of the editorial board of the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity.
According to Meghan and Harry, they also faced racist remarks from some of the royal family’s staff. As they focused on their son Archie’s skin color. The Duke and Duchess said they received these hateful and hurtful remarks from the lowliest Palace footman to the most senior royals.
Since their interview with Winfrey, many people have taken to social media to voice their opinions. Many people were shocked. Some — like Serena Williams — voiced their support for Meghan and Harry. Others like Piers Morgan were irritated by the Duke and Duchess’ admission.
Morgan said that the couple’s interview was a “two-hour Oprah whine-athon.” Further calling it “a disgraceful diatribe of cynical race-baiting propaganda.” That was “designed to damage the Queen as her husband lies in hospital – and destroy the Monarchy.”
Even though the interview aired Sunday evening they filmed the whole thing three weeks prior. This was before the Queen’s husband was admitted into the hospital.
Written by Sheena Robertson
Sources:
Express: Oprah interview: Meghan and Harry SILENT on royal racist, the only truth we REALLY needed; Paul Baldwin
CNN: One reason Meghan suffered racist UK coverage: The media is not diverse; by Hanna Ziady
Featured Image Courtesy of Brecht Bug’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
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41st Razzie Awards Go to 2020 and Mike Lyndell Among Others
The 41st Golden Raspberry Awards once celebrated the worst in cinema in April 2021. On Saturday, the Board of Governors handed out “Razzie” statutes to winners in nine categories.
One thousand and ninety-seven Razzie members in 50 states and about 25 countries voted for Worst Picture, Actor, and Actress and the six others.
The Worst Picture and Worst Actor Razzie awards went to Mike Lindell, the MyPillow Guy for “Absolute Proof.” The pillow-dude self-produced a film billed as a 2 1/2 hour documentary despite being packed with dis-information and fallacies about the 2020 presidential election. YouTube banned “Absolute Proof” but was shown on conservative news outlets.
“Music,” a fantasy drama about an autistic teen, won three Razzies — Worst Actress, Kate Hudson; Worst Supporting Actress, Maddie Ziegler; and Worst Director, Sia. In February
2020, Roger Ebert said the film was “bad. Mystifyingly bad. Verging on ‘What were they thinking?’ bad.”Rudy Giuliani and his zipper took home the Worst Screen Combo Razzie for their appearance in “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.” While the Borat flick was well-received, former President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer’s performance was ghastly and fitting for the scoundrel who led the country in a crazed state-to-state search for a judge who would hear his unsubstantiated claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Trump.
“Dolittle” earned the Worst Remake, Rip-Off, or Sequel Razzie. The film starring Robert Downey Jr. did not do well. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes wrote, “Downey brings a sense of bemused confusion” (Richard Crouse); “The story is silly and hyperbolic. The performances are manic, at times” (Candice McMillan/KOMO News), and “Dolittle announces itself as an adventure comedy, yet the adventure is nascent, and the comedy is tedious” (Andrew Kendall).
For the Worst Screenplay, the Razzie went to “365 Days.” Tomasz Mandez wrote the screenplay and co-directed the Polish erotic romantic drama film based on the first novel of
a trilogy by Blanka Lipińska.After a year that brought the world a novel coronavirus pandemic, face masks, darkened movie theaters, restaurants closed, and over 225,000 COVID-19 deaths in the United States, the Golden Raspberry board decided to give out an extra award – Razzie’s board awarded a “Middle Finger Statue” to the worst calendar year ever, 2020.
Written by Cathy Milne-Ware
CNN: Rudy Giuliani and the MyPillow Guy among ‘winners’ in 41st Annual Razzie Awards for worst in cinema; by Claire Cobert
Business Insider: MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell was honored with two awards for having the worst film in 2020; by Yelena DzhanovaFeatured, Top, and First Inset Images Courtesy of Gage Skidmore’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Second Inset Image Courtesy of Prachatai’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
