Latest Movie News From Moviefone |
- Jennnifer Lawrence & Chris Pratt Might Star in a Movie Together
- The 'Frozen' Soundtrack and 'Let It Go' Won Grammys Last Night
- 10 Animals That Deserved Oscars
- 'Better Call Saul' Has Already Broken Cable Ratings Records
- The Week in Hollywood: February 9 - 13 (PHOTOS)
- 'Straight Outta Compton' Red Band Trailer Reveals N.W.A. Origins (VIDEO)
- Oscars 2015: 'Boyhood,' 'Birdman,' Backlash, Behavior, and Backstory
- Kevin Hart Will Host Comedy Central's Justin Bieber Roast
- 'Thor's' Lady Sif to Return to 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'
- 'Walking Dead' Alum Emily Kinney May Star as 'The Flash' Villain
- Yep, That Was Kristen Wiig Dancing at the Grammys with Sia (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
- What's New on TV, Netflix Streaming, Digital, and DVD/Blu-ray This Week: February 9 - February 15
- Check Out This Stunning, Soviet-Style 'Child 44' Poster (EXCLUSIVE)
- The Two 'Fifty Shades of Grey' Sequels Are Happening
- 'The Walking Dead' Season 5 Midseason Premiere Recap: Road Trip
| Jennnifer Lawrence & Chris Pratt Might Star in a Movie Together Posted:  Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt have proven that they're both bankable box office stars and likeable offscreen personalities. So what if they teamed up for a new movie? That's a very real possibility, with both Variety and TheWrap reporting that the stars are both being courted to play the leads in a romantic sci-fi flick called "Passengers." Per Variety, Lawrence is in early talks for the role; TheWrap later reported that Pratt was also in preliminary negotiations. The synopsis, per Variety:
According to TheWrap, Lawrence's involvement is the most problematic at the moment, since the Oscar winner has a jam-packed schedule -- including "X-Men: Apocalypse" and Wonder Mop biopic "Joy" -- on the horizon. And "Passengers" has had a rocky road to development, with actors including Keanu Reeves, Rachel McAdams, and Reese Witherspoon all attached to the project at one point. The current iteration of the flick was written by "Doctor Strange" and "Prometheus" scribe Jon Spaihts. Oscar nominee Morten Tyldum ("The Imitation Game") is slated to direct. [via: Variety, TheWrap] Photo credit: Getty Images This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The 'Frozen' Soundtrack and 'Let It Go' Won Grammys Last Night Posted:  The seemingly-endless reign of "Frozen" continued Sunday night, with the flick picking up two statuettes at the 57th Grammy Awards.The hit Disney animated musical collected a trophy for "Let It Go," which won in the best song written for visual media category. Co-writers Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez also snagged an Oscar for the track at the 2014 Academy Awards. The "Frozen" soundtrack was also cited as the best compilation soundtrack for visual media. Lopez and Anderson-Lopez shared that award with producers Tom MacDougall and Chris Montan. There weren't any "Frozen"-centric performances during the broadcast ceremony -- both of the movie's awards were handed out at a pre-telecast event -- but Taylor Swift wore a dress that looked a lot like Elsa's, so at least the film was represented in spirit. Audiences can next see the "Frozen" characters in action in the sequel short, "Frozen Fever," which will premiere before Disney's live-action "Cinderella," in cinemas on March 13. [via: Variety] Photo credit: Disney This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 10 Animals That Deserved Oscars Posted: For decades, people have been trying to determine what non-human beast has delivered the best performance of all time and, well, let's settle the debate once and for all. From "The Wizard of Oz" to "Jaws," here are 10 animals that deserved to take home Oscars. It's about time these furry and ferocious thespians got some love.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'Better Call Saul' Has Already Broken Cable Ratings Records Posted:  "Better Call Saul," the new "Breaking Bad" spinoff series, had some serious shoes to fill following the end of that acclaimed drama. It turns out that AMC had nothing to worry about, as "Saul" debuted to almost universal critical acclaim, and now monster ratings, too."Saul" has already nabbed 6.9 million total viewers for its Sunday series premiere, and a whopping 4.4 million viewers in the coveted 18-49 demographic. That latter figure is a record-breaker for cable, marking the highest-rated cable series debut ever in that demo; it bested previous champ "The Dead Zone," which premiered to 4 million 18-49-year-old viewers in 2002. And those numbers aren't even taking into consideration "Saul"'s eventual time-shifted viewership (DVR and on demand views) totals, which should be available later this week. The two-night series premiere of "Better Call Saul" continues Monday night at 10 p.m. on AMC. [via: The Hollywood Reporter, TVMoJoe] This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The Week in Hollywood: February 9 - 13 (PHOTOS) Posted: Wondering what your favorite Hollywood stars are up to? We've got lowdown -- in photo form -- of the premieres, parties, and other celebrity-filled events taking place all week long.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'Straight Outta Compton' Red Band Trailer Reveals N.W.A. Origins (VIDEO) Posted:  The first red band trailer for N.W.A. biopic "Straight Outta Compton" has arrived, and the enthralling clip takes a no-holds-barred approach to telling the story of the controversial rap group's origins. N.W.A. co-founders Ice Cube and Dr. Dre provide a short introduction to the clip, in which they talk about how today's cultural climate made the timing right to finally tell the group's story. "We let people know that it's okay to say what you want to say," the rappers explain of the group's importance. The trailer begins in Los Angeles's rough Compton neighborhood in 1987, as the trio including Ice Cube (played by the rapper's own son, O'Shea Jackson Jr.), Dr. Dre (Corey Hawkins), and Eazy-E (Jason Mitchell) begin forming N.W.A. We see the recording of iconic song "Boyz-n-the-Hood" and the pushback from some members of media, who deem the group's songs, especially "F--k tha Police," as glorifying drugs and violence. "Our art is a reflection of our reality," Cube declares at a press conference. Later, in defiance of an order not to perform "Police" at a concert, Cube leads the crowd in raising his middle finger to the ban, then launches into a manic rendition of the incendiary track. It's a goosebump-inducing moment in a movie that's no doubt chock full of similar scenes. Check out the full (NSFW) trailer below. "Straight Outta Compton" is slated for release on April 14, 2015. [via: Rolling Stone] Photo credit: Universal This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Oscars 2015: 'Boyhood,' 'Birdman,' Backlash, Behavior, and Backstory Posted:  For all the months of campaigning surrounding Oscars season, this week is the one week that actually counts. Ballots for the final vote went out to Academy members on Friday, February 6, and must be submitted by next Tuesday, February 17. So whatever happened before, it's what's on voters' minds this week that matters.The two big questions this week are: 1.) Does "Boyhood" or "Birdman" have the edge? and 2.) Which individuals would voters like to see up on the podium thanking their agents, spouses, and higher powers (God, Harvey Weinstein, et al)? "Boyhood" and "Birdman" have been locked in a tight race for Best Picture for nearly three months. For most of that time, "Boyhood" seemed to have the edge, but its early momentum is now nearly spent. "Birdman" has won the trifecta of the major guild prizes. Last month, it won at the Producers Guild and Screen Actors Guild Awards, and on Saturday, it completed the trio with a Directors Guild Award for Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu. The DGA prize is traditionally a very strong predictor, not just of the Oscar for Best Director, but for Best Picture as well. (In its 65-year history, the DGA prize has presaged the Academy Award for Best Director all but seven times.) The overwhelming support of Hollywood's professional guilds, whose memberships tend to overlap with the roll of Academy voters, for "Birdman" suggests that the surreal Michael Keaton film is now the favorite. Indeed, it has more Academy Award nominations than any other movie this year except "The Grand Budapest Hotel" (they're tied with nine; "Boyhood" has six), but since Oscar seldom rewards comedies, "Birdman" has the edge there, too. (For those who are keeping track, the DGAs gave their documentary prize to Laura Poitras, adding to the awards tally for Best Documentary Oscar nominee and likely winner "Citizenfour.") During the long period when "Boyhood" and "Birdman" were neck-and-neck, critics praised both films for their creativity and technical achievements, and while many preferred "Boyhood" for displaying more heart, they saw both films as Oscar-worthy. Now, however, there's even the beginnings of an anti-"Boyhood" backlash, as evidenced by an essay that ran Friday in the New York Times. In the article, Times weekend culture editor Mary Jo Murphy slams "Boyhood's" narrative strategy -- showing the characters growing and changing over a 12-year span by filming the actors once a year for 12 years -- as derivative of Michael Apted's celebrated "Up" series of documentaries, which has revisited the same group of Britons every seven years for the last half-century, since they were seven years old. The implication is that the Academy shouldn't reward Richard Linklater's film for its gimmickry and lack of originality. As Scott Feinberg has noted in The Hollywood Reporter, this attack is suspicious. First, Linklater has acknowledged in interviews the influence of the "Up" films on his work. (If any of Linklater's movies deserve comparison to the "Up" series, it's his "Before" trilogy, which has revisited the same fictional couple every nine years.) Second, Apted has praised "Boyhood" and has noted the substantial differences between it and his "Up" movies. Finally, the timing of the article's publication is strange, since "Boyhood" has been in theaters for nearly eight months. Why blast it now, unless one wants to sabotage its Oscar chances? At the very least, the timing of Murphy's piece suggests that "Birdman" will benefit from the narrative that it's been an underdog throughout this awards season. (Consider how well that worked for "Argo" a couple years ago.) As far as the second question, of who belongs on the Oscar podium, that's being decided this week by the subtler aspects of campaigning, as the nominees work to prove themselves capable of appearing gracious on camera. The biggest test came last Monday at the annual nominees' luncheon at the Beverly Hilton, a once-casual event that, over the past two decades, has become as rigorous a public rite of passage as any of the awards season red-carpet ceremonies. Reporters are invited to watch nominees profess their admiration for each other, pay rapt attention while Academy biigwigs urge them to keep their acceptance speeches brief if they win a trophy on Feb. 22, pose for a massive group photo, and display their table manners while they eat. Surely nyone who can withstand that kind of scrutiny deserves some sort of prize. According to press accounts of the event, everyone who showed seemed to pass with flying colors. (Notably absent: "Birdman" director Iñarritu, who's currently filming on location, and Benedict Cumberbatch.) Rosamund Pike said she didn't know there were going to be reporters there, but she answered their questions like a pro. Bradley Cooper and Clint Eastwood deftly deflected questions about the controversies surrounding "American Sniper," saying the important thing was to get viewers talking about the hardships soldiers face. Eastwood's fellow 84-year-old, Robert Duvall, suggested he wasn't nervous about the Oscars because he knows he won't win. (If he did, the Supporting Actor nominee for "The Judge" would be the oldest actor ever to win an Oscar, but J.K. Simmons is the category favorite for his turn in "Whiplash.") Posing for the group photo, "Whiplash" director Damian Chazelle seemed appropriately humbled at being asked to stand next to Oprah Winfrey (present as nominated producer of Best Picture contender "Selma"). Marion Cotillard managed to stand longer than any other woman in spiked heels. Laura Dern brought along her dad, Bruce Dern, who was nominated for an Oscar last year for his performance in "Nebraska." Due deference was paid to Ted Sarandos (producer of nominated documentary "Virunga"), who, as the chief content officer of Netflix, seemed to hold in his hand the future careers of everyone else in the room. The good-behavior tour continued on Sunday with the BAFTAs, the British answer to the Academy Awards. Again, it's not like the Oscar voters back in Los Angeles pay much attention to whom the Brits voted for -- they picked "Boyhood" for Best Picture, Director, and Supporting Actress (Patricia Arquette), along with Eddie Redmayne for Best Actor, Julianne Moore for Best Actress, and J.K. Simmons for Best Supporting Actor -- since almost all their choices, save perhaps "Boyhood," were already Oscar favorites. But the Academy members in Hollywood do pay attention if something scandalous happens at the BAFTAs. Back in 2002, Russell Crowe notoriously punched out a BAFTA telecast producer who cut short his acceptance speech (which included a poetry reading). News of the incident is widely credited with costing Crowe an Oscar for "A Beautiful Mind," with the Best Actor prize going instead to Denzel Washington for "Training Day." (Yes, Washington could have won the award on merit alone, but his win also insured that there'd be no BAFTA-like boorish behavior from Crowe at the Oscar podium.) Thankfully, there weren't any reports of Crowe-like crudeness from the BAFTAs. Still, 14 of the 15 performers nominated for both BAFTAs and Oscars made a point of making the transatlantic trek and smiling for the cameras. (Only Emma Stone, currently acting on Broadway, didn't make it to London.) All of them were showing the Academy what troopers they can be, especially the British stars. Eddie Redmayne, Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Felicity Jones, and Rosamund Pike have certainly been racking up the frequent flyer miles this awards season, crossing back and forth between L.A. and London for various red-carpet events. The fine line the nominees have to walk, even on the red carpet, was illustrated by another New York Times article, by awards columnist Cara Buckley, who suggested a revolt is brewing among actresses tired of being treated as mannequins by awards-show reporters, citing recent refusals of nominees Julianne Moore and Reese Witherspoon to show off their nails for E!'s mani-cam. On the one hand, Buckley notes, actresses want to be taken seriously, especially at a time when they have to fight for well-rounded roles. On the other, the question "Who are you wearing" isn't so inane when you consider the deal most actresses have to make in order to get loaned couture to wear on the red carpet: be a walking, talking billboard for the designer. The article cites the example of Lupita Nyong'o, whose elegant red-carpet appearances last year led not only to a lucrative cosmetics endorsement but to an Oscar. Sure, she could have won for "12 Years a Slave" on merit alone, but it helped that she looked and acted the part of a glamorous and gracious winner. As the makers of "Boyhood" and "Birdman" are discovering, the behind-the-scenes narrative counts, too. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Kevin Hart Will Host Comedy Central's Justin Bieber Roast Posted:  Justin Bieber wanted to get roasted, and now he knows just who will lead the insult assault. Comedy Central revealed on Twitter on Monday that comedian Kevin Hart would serve as roast master for the event, which is now slated to air on the network on March 30. Bieber was announced as Comedy Central's latest roast target back in January. "Justin has been asking us for a few years to roast him, and we just kept telling him to go create more source material first," said Kent Alterman, president of Comedy Central's content development and original programming, in a statement in January. "We're thrilled he listened." Bieber joins a list of other notorious celebs to get the roast treatment from the network, including Donald Trump and Charlie Sheen. The last person to be featured on the recurring special was James Franco in 2013. [via: Comedy Central] Photo credit: Getty Images This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'Thor's' Lady Sif to Return to 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' Posted:  "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." is getting another dose of Asgardian: Actress Jaimie Alexander is set to reprise her role as Lady Sif on the ABC series. This will mark the "Thor" actress's second appearance on "S.H.I.E.L.D.," and according to TV Insider, things will be different for Sif this time around. The synopsis, per TV Insider:
According to "S.H.I.E.L.D." executive producer Jeffrey Bell, that confusion will make for interesting interactions between Sif and the rest of the series's regulars. "Sif has no idea who Thor is or that she serves a king, and we're going to have fun with that," Bell told TV Insider. "It'll give us some much-needed humor in a season that's been full of betrayal and death. Sif can't even recall who she came here from Asgard to stop, but Agent Coulson [Clark Gregg] and his team will try to help her figure all that out." Bell added that Sif still has her childhood memories intact, and will use her knowledge of the universe at large to assist the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." returns from hiatus on March 3. Alexander's appearance is slated for the following week's episode. [via: TV Insider] Photo credit: Getty Images This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'Walking Dead' Alum Emily Kinney May Star as 'The Flash' Villain Posted:  Fresh off her stint on "The Walking Dead," Emily Kinney may be tackling yet another TV series inspired by comics. PUNKD images reports that Kinney was recently spotted in Vancouver, where she's rumored to be shooting an episode of CW series "The Flash." Her role? Apparently, she'll be playing a gender-swapped version of the Bug-Eyed Bandit, known as Brie Larvan (Bertram Larvan in the comics). Kinney's reported cameo comes on the heels of the revelation of Brandon Routh's Atom character on the series. Bug-Eyed Bandit was an Atom antagonist from DC Comics lore. No official word from The CW on Kinney's appearance has been announced. Stay tuned to see if and when her role will be revealed. [via: PUNKD images, h/t Screen Crush] Photo credit: Getty Images This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Yep, That Was Kristen Wiig Dancing at the Grammys with Sia (PHOTOS, VIDEO) Posted:  Eagle-eyed viewers may have noticed a familiar face performing with Sia at the Grammys on Sunday night: Kristen Wiig. The "Saturday Night Live" alum helped 12-year-old dancer Maddie Ziegler recreate the singer's "Chandelier" video for the Grammy broadcast, donning a platinum wig and performing an interpretive dance. Sia, who's become rather secretive in recent years, declined to face the audience for the song, instead standing against a wall while Wiig and Ziegler took center stage. There's no full (legal) video from the event online yet, but check out a short clip of the performance -- along with some photos -- below. Maybe if this whole "Ghostbusters" thing doesn't pan out, Wiig can take up dancing full time?    [via: Time]Photo credit: Getty Images, Getty Images for NARAS This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| What's New on TV, Netflix Streaming, Digital, and DVD/Blu-ray This Week: February 9 - February 15 Posted:  At a loss for what to watch this week? From new DVDs and Blu-rays, to what's streaming on Netflix, we've got you covered.New on DVD and Blu-ray "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" This adaptation of the beloved children's book got mixed reviews, but it's fine if you're looking for a rather harmless family feature. Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner co-star as the equally frazzled parents of young Alex (Ed Oxenbould). Check out this exclusive clip!  "Force Majeure" They say that how you react in an emergency reveals your true nature and feelings. Are you out for number one, or is your family your first concern? A seemingly perfect Swedish family has to face that exact question when an impending avalanche threatens to ruin their ski trip to the Alps. "Nightcrawler" If you're already a fan of Jake Gyllenhaal's performance as a creepy crawly freelance TV journalist -- the kind that shoots and sells footage of accidents and crime scenes -- you'll want to add this Blu-ray to your collection. TV Worth Watching "2 Broke Girls" (CBS, Monday at 8 p.m. EST) The multitalented rapper/comedian/actor/writer Jean Grae has a cameo on this week's sitcom, which is reason enough to tune in. "Better Call Saul" (AMC, Monday at 10 p.m. EST) The second episode of this popular "Breaking Bad" prequel debuted Sunday night, and this second episode is an extra taste to get you hooked. "Fresh Off the Boat" (ABC, Tuesday at 8 p.m. EST and 8:30 p.m. EST) Here's another double-header of this increasingly popular sitcom, with two new episodes in a row about the Huang family. New on Netflix "Elsa and Fred" There aren't too many rom-coms devoted to senior citizens, which is all the more reason to check out this sweet film starring Shirley MacLaine and Christopher Plummer. "The Overnighters" This is a surprising story about the men who come to North Dakota in search of jobs on the oil fields, and the local pastor who's determined to help them get back on their feet. "The Two Faces of January" Based on the mystery by Patricia Highsmith, this sun-drenched drama about a con man, his wife, and the stranger they enlist to help them is full of twists and turns. Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst, and Oscar Isaac star. New Video on Demand, Rental Streaming, and Digital Only "Nurse Jackie" Get up to speed on the last season of this dramedy about a pill-popping nurse, starring Edie Falco. "Olive Kitteridge" Don't have HBO? Now's the perfect time to watch this mini-series with Frances McDormand as a no-nonsense middle school teacher in New England. Richard Jenkins, Ann Dowd, John Gallagher Jr., Rosemarie DeWitt, and Zoe Kazan co-star. "The Voices" This hit iTunes last week, but it's still worth a mention. Ryan Reynolds plays a guy whose pets talk to him; although his dog is cool, his cat's advice is very dark indeed. Unfortunately, he begins listening to his cat when he's stood up by his date. Marjane Satrapi ("Persepolis," "Chicken With Plums") directs this dark comedy/genre fare. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Check Out This Stunning, Soviet-Style 'Child 44' Poster (EXCLUSIVE) Posted:  When we first saw the trailer for "Child 44," we commented on Tom Hardy's amazing Russian accent and the fact that a Soviet-era thriller, especially in today's turbulent political climate, could be really, really cool. Well, we are here to debut the brand new poster for the film (opening on April 17th), which reinforces the movie's fertile setting while paying homage to stylized Soviet propaganda. It's a really great poster."Child 44," which costars Vincent Cassel, Noomi Rapace, and Gary Oldman, is based on Tom Rob Smith's best-selling historical novel of the same name and was, in turn, based on a series of real-life child murders committed by a man dubbed the Red Ripper (he claimed to have killed over 50 women and children). What makes the story even more compelling, of course, is that it was committed during Stalin's reign in Russia, a supposedly perfect Communist state free of messy complications like serial murders. This poster really captures the feeling of Soviet-era Russia, with its stark design and giant star, evoking the propaganda posters from the same period, a stylization that has been evoked many times ever since, from other movie posters like "V for Vendetta" to things like Franz Ferdinand album covers. The poster goes a long way in establishing the mood and tone of "Child 44" and the time period when it's set, complete with an eerie tagline: "Those who seek truth will be silenced." Now that is moody.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The Two 'Fifty Shades of Grey' Sequels Are Happening Posted:  Brace yourself folks, preferably with some kind of high-grade leather whip: the two sequels to "Fifty Shades of Grey," "Fifty Shades Darker" and "Fifty Shades Freed," are officially being developed as major motion pictures that film journalists everywhere will only have a cursory interest in seeing. According to MTV this bit of news was announced at a fan screening of the film held in New York on Friday morning, where director Sam Taylor-Johnson, author E.L. James, and stars Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan made an appearance. There were apparently gasps and screams of ecstasy from the audience. The first adaptation of the trilogy, "Fifty Shades of Grey," opens this weekend and has already reported record-breaking pre-release ticket sales. The film concerns the BDSM relationship between a young woman and a powerful millionaire (or something). This was the book that women everywhere were pretending was another book while reading it on the subway. While Dornan and Johnson are locked into the three-movie deal, it's unclear if Taylor-Johnson will return for the subsequent films given with how publicly she didn't get along with author James on the first film (to the point where James overruled Taylor-Johnson's preferred ending for the movie). It's not like Dornan and Johnson have gotten along much better, but hey, that's what ironclad contracts are for, right guys? Talk about bondage. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 'The Walking Dead' Season 5 Midseason Premiere Recap: Road Trip Posted:  In case you didn't notice, AMC really wants you to watch "Better Call Saul," the new series that's been spun off from the network's dearly-departed drama "Breaking Bad." Promos for "Saul," which debuted directly following this week's midseason premiere of "The Walking Dead," were ubiquitous throughout the broadcast, but it seems that the "TWD" writers aren't ready to let "Breaking Bad" go just yet, judging by all the Walter White-approved symbolism and hallucinations that dominated the episode. Just how successful said imagery was, however, is debatable. (I'm on Team It Wasn't.) Tyreese took viewers on a long, strange trip, but unfortunately for him - and for viewers - it wasn't the kind favored by Jerry Garcia and co. Instead, Ty was presented with a parade of ghosts from his recent past as he sat dying in Noah's old house, the victim of not one but two zombie bites. Our late friend had joined Rick, Michonne, and Glenn on a trek back to Noah's old stomping grounds in Virginia, led by the young man. Noah had promised that his people were safe in a walled compound, and that Beth had expressed a desire to join him there before her sudden demise in the midseason finale. Two months have passed for viewers since that episode, and it's clear that some time has passed on the show, too; we overhear the survivors discussing being about 500 miles outside of Atlanta, and they've already made a camp somewhere while the aforementioned search party goes to check things out in Richmond. Sadly, they don't quite find what they're looking for. All the houses in the gated community have some sort of fire damage; bodies litter the streets - some of them charred - and a few stray walkers wander around. Later, they uncover a trove of random body part - remnants, perhaps, of a roving cannibal band, proving that Gareth and his group of Terminites weren't anomalies but an abhorrent new normal. Noah races to his former home to find (presumably) his mother's body, head bashed in. As Noah reels from that loss, Tyreese ventures further into the house to check for zombies, and winds up distracted by photos of Noah's twin brothers, all smiles in a world before the outbreak. And then one of them chomps on Tyreese's arm. Noah comes running, and quickly dispatches of the young walker with a toy airplane to the eye, but it's too late - Ty has been bitten, and he's losing blood fast. Noah runs for help (and gets trapped by some walkers himself; between that and his capture at Grady, how on earth did he survive the long trip from Richmond to Atlanta?), and that's when Tyreese's visions begin. We're meant to assume that these hallucinations represent the zombie virus kicking in, consuming Tyreese's mind before ultimately killing him, though I found them insufferable and heavy-handed. Bob shows up, Martin (the Terminte Tyreese failed to kill) sneers at him, psycho killer Lizzie and her adorable bloodied sister Mika pop by, Beth is singing for some reason, and then The Governor walks in. It was just...a little much. They're all doing their best to convince him it's time to die (some more nicely than others - way to be a dick in both life AND death, Gov.), but after the girls assured him "It's better now" for the zillionth time, I was kind of over it. The fact that Tyreese fended off yet another zombie, got his arm chopped off, and survived the harrowing trip back to the car, all before these hallucinations stopped, proved that their usefulness was more than worn out by the time Tyreese's life was. "I wanted to die for what I'd lost ... but I just kept going," Tyreese told Noah earlier in the episode, consoling him after they realize Noah's home is no more. "This isn't the end," Ty insists. The irony of that speech is more than a little cruel, and also drives home one of the central points of the show: Characters can have a change of heart, hope can continue - but the zombie apocalypse almost always wins. Other thoughts: - This week's installment was called "What Happened and What's Going On," which may be one of the worst episode titles ever, for any series. It's sort of reflective of the hallucinations, though, since it's both over-simplified and overly-long. - I'm stumped, though, by the meaning of the British-accented fellow giving radio broadcast updates about the apocalypse during Ty's fever dream. Just another means of exposition (explaining that there were indeed reports of cannibals loose in Virginia), or foreshadowing that there's more trouble -- and perhaps some English ex-pats -- on the horizon for the group? - I remarked late last season that it was odd for "The Walking Dead" to leave so many cast members alive after so many episodes, and it seems I may have jinxed the group. My bad. - What a way for Tyreese to go, though. It was both boring and badass, if that's possible. He lasted for ages after losing A LOT of blood, and even used his wrecked, zombie-chomped arm as a weapon to fend off another walker. If that doesn't go down as one of the most baller moves in "Walking Dead" history, I don't know what will. - Glenn lets out his feelings about Beth's death by snapping a CD in half. Way to be an emo teenager, dude. - Speaking of the reaction to Beth's death, we still haven't dealt with how her loss is affecting the group at large. Considering how Maggie and the suddenly-grieving-even-though-he-talked-to-her-maybe-twice Glenn didn't even bat an eyelash the entire time she was missing, I fear there's not much more mourning on the horizon on behalf of the youngest Greene girl. Not even the grave digging and eulogizing teased in the cold open were for her; Tyreese stole both her funeral, and her dying thunder. (To be fair, I'll miss Tyreese more. That closing shot of his beanie hanging off the cross was heartbreaking.) - Morgan Watch: Week Nine: C'mon - after only two appearances in the span of eight episodes, did you really expect him to show up this week, too? That would be too kind of the writers. We know he thinks Rick and co. are already in Washington, thanks to finding Abraham's helpfully-inscribed map in the church; will he be there to greet our survivors when they finally arrive? After this bummer of an episode, we could all use a win. Photo credit: Gene Page/AMC This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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