Today, the La Costa Film Festival (www.lacostafilmfestival.org) proudly announced its lineup of narrative and documentary features and short films for this year’s festival. The impressive program features some of the most engaging films of the past year. The La Costa Film Festival will make its grand debut October 24-27, 2013 at the world famous Omni La Costa Resort and Spa.
The delightful documentary THE SHORT GAME will feature as the opening night film, reflecting the Omni La Costa Resort’s long tradition of golfing and family. The film follows the lives of eight of the best seven-year-old golfers in the world as they train for and compete in the World Championships of Junior Golf. The film has received numerous accolades, including Audience Awards at the SXSW and Maui Film Festivals, and is Executive Produced by Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel.
Closing the festival will be AT MIDDLETON, which stars Andy Garcia, Vera Farmiga, and Taissa Farmiga in the story of two wildly different parents who meet and discover they have an irresistible chemistry while taking their kids on a college tour.
Both the opening and closing red carpet galas will feature screenings and parties under the stars at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa.
The juried sports competition includes a variety of compelling documentary features: THE CRASH REEL follows snowboarder Kevin Pearce and the traumatic brain injury that kept him from competing for Gold in 2010; MAIDENTRIP reveals the journey of Laura Dekker, the youngest person to ever sail around the world alone; MCCONKEY is about Shane McConkey, a revered pioneer of free-skiing and ski-BASE jumping; and the story of two young surfers who battle nature in a remote, arctic island in Northern Norway in order to catch the perfect wave is the focus of NORTH OF THE SUN. The opening night film, THE SHORT GAME, will also compete.
Shorts in competition include: SLOMO, THE RED PILL, CROOKED LINES, and MAGNESIUM. The jury will be announced in the coming weeks.
The winner of the local high school competition is the short film ROUTINES, which will premiere at the festival. ROUTINES was co-directed by Canyon Crest Academy senior Jason Lee Phillips and former CCA student Jason Lee Segal, who is now at Chapman University. Canyon Crest Academy will receive a cash prize from the La Costa Film Festival for its distinguished Envision Cinema program.
The Narrative spotlight section features favorites from this year’s festival circuit: the Belgian drama BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN is flavored with American-style bluegrass and was awarded the Panorama Audience Award at the Berlin Film Festival, as well as Best Actress and Best Screenplay awards at Tribeca; based on a true story of one woman’s fight against breast cancer, DECODING ANNIE PARKER stars Helen Hunt and, winner of the Best Actress award at the recent Seattle International Film Festival, Samantha Morton; French dramedy JUST A SIGH premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival this year; and winner of a Special Jury Prize at Tribeca, STAND CLEAR OF THE CLOSING DOORS.
The Documentary Showcase also has its share of acclaimed titles: an intimate portrait exploring the tragedy of Alzheimer’s, THE GENIUS OF MARIAN premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival; WALKING THE CAMINO is a festival audience favorite about the experience of walking the ancient 500-mile pilgrimage across Northern Spain known as “The Camino de Santiago;” and winner of the Grand Jury Prize at this year’s SXSW, WILLIAM AND THE WINDMILL follows a young Malawian who rescued his family from famine by building a power-generating windmill from scrap parts.
There will also be a special outdoor retrospective screening of the 1989 Kevin Costner classic, FIELD OF DREAMS, in which an Iowa farmer is inspired by a voice he can’t ignore to pursue a dream he can hardly believe.
In another nod to the area, two films will screen as part of the festival’s Surf Spotlight: ISOLATED and H2INDO.
The festival’s family film will be KHUMBA, an animated comedy from South Africa, which recently premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, and features the voices of Steve Buscemi and Laurence Fishburne.
“We’re very proud to welcome so many talented filmmakers from around the world and present their work to our community,” said festival founders, Mike and Ruby Callihan. “In turn, once they experience the beauty, hospitality, and wonder of Carlsbad, we believe it will leave a lasting impression, and they’ll want to return often.”
Festival Producer and Head Programmer, Nancy Collet, added, “This is an incredibly diverse and high-quality line-up of films. All of these titles have been awarded with accolades and have proven to be audience favorites on the festival circuit over the past year.”
More information about all the films in the line-up, along with a schedule of screenings, can be found below athttp://www.lacostafilmfestival.org.
Tickets and Passes
The inaugural La Costa Film Festival runs October 24-27 at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa, located at 2100 Costa Del Mar Road in Carlsbad, CA. Additional screenings will take place at nearby venues, including Cinepolis Theaters and the Ruby G. Schulman Theater. Festival Passes are currently on sale at the festival’s website, with special early bird pricing until October 1, when individual screening tickets go on sale. For more information please visit www.lacostafilmfestival.org or follow us on Twitter (@LaCostaFilmFest).
Press materials available at www.lacostafilmfestival.org.
ABOUT THE LA COSTA FILM FESTIVAL
Founded by La Costa residents Michael and Ruby Callihan in 2013, The La Costa Film Festival will deliver a new cultural experience to North San Diego County, integrating a series of film screenings, panels, retrospectives, and gala events in celebration of the art and impact of motion pictures. All net proceeds of the festival will go to the local Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad.
The annual event will showcase some of the most engaging international documentaries, narrative features, and short films of the past year and present them in a variety of unique local venues. The Opening Night Gala will feature a red carpet and a screening under the stars on the beautiful grounds of the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa. Additional screenings will be offered at the nearby, luxurious La Costa Cinepolis Theaters, as well as the spacious Ruby G. Schulman Theater, at the Carlsbad Dove Library next door to the Resort. Film enthusiasts may join in Q&As and mingle with participating filmmakers as well as celebrity guests at numerous intimate parties where all pass-holders are welcome.
In recognition and celebration of the La Costa area’s love of sport, in particular the world-class championship golf and tennis that the resort is known for, the La Costa Film Festival will feature a special competition focusing on sports-themed films.
There will also be a special shorts competition for local high schools, offering them the opportunity to exhibit their talent and to participate in the festival. The winning school will receive a cash prize to support its film program.
ABOUT OMNI LA COSTA RESORT AND SPA
Fresh from a $50 million renovation and nestled among the beautiful coastal foothills of Carlsbad, Calif., Omni La Costa Resort & Spa boasts a new look with no part of the resort untouched. California’s original destination for Mind, Body + Sport, Omni La Costa’s re-designed areas include 607 newly imagined guestrooms and suites, an adult-only pool venue, the Coastal Events Center featuring 110,000 square feet of meeting and event space, an expanded Athletic Club as well as two golf courses, including the all-new Champions Course, recognized by Golf magazine as “Southern California’s Only Gold Medal Golf Resort.” Honored as the #1 Wellness Spa in the Nation by Spa magazine, the 43,000-square-foot Spa at Omni La Costa includes a private pool, café and therapeutic reflexology path. Acclaimed restaurants – Legends Bistro and BlueFire Grill – present an updated take on locally inspired cuisine and culinary delights prepared by Chef Gregory Frey, Jr. For more information on Omni La Costa, call (800) 854-5000 or visit www.lacosta.com.
OPENING NIGHT GALA
THE SHORT GAME
USA / 2013 / 90min
Director: Josh Greenbaum
Cast: Edd Hall, Jennifer Van Horn, Allan Kournikova, Zamokuhle Nxasana, Alexa Pano, Yang Kuan, Jed Dy, Augustin Valery, Sky Sudberry, Amari Avery
The best seven-year-old golfers from around the world descend on the world famous Pinehurst Golf course in North Carolina to determine the next world champion and who might become golf’s next phenomenon. Most of these young prodigies have been holding clubs since before they could walk and are better by the time they are six than most people will be in their lifetime. This is the breeding ground for the PGA and the stakes are huge. THE SHORT GAME follows nine young golfers vying for the title of ‘world champion’.
CLOSING NIGHT GALA
AT MIDDLETON
USA / 2013 / 100min
Director: Adam Rodgers
Writers: Glenn German, Adam Rodgers
Cast: Vera Farmiga, Taissa Farmiga, Andy Garcia, Tom Skerritt, Peter Riegert, Nicholas Braun, Daniella Garcia, Tony Doupe, Spencer Lofranco, Sean Cook, D.R. Anderson, Stephen Borello IV, Kent Kimball, Kenny Parks Jr.
It’s not only teenagers who find themselves when they go off to college. Two brilliant actors best known for dramatic roles join forces in a romantic romp, and they have a ball. Vera Farmiga and Andy Garcia play strangers who meet while escorting their teen children to campus-tour day at a mythical college named Middleton (the film is in part a hilarious parody of American college life).
SPECIAL “UNDER THE STARS” RETROSPECTIVE SCREENING
FIELD OF DREAMS
USA / 1989 / 107min
Director: Phil Alden Robinson
Screenplay: Phil Alden Robinson
Cast: Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, Gaby Hoffman, Ray Liotta, Timothy Busfield, James Earl Jones, Burt Lancaster, Frank Whaley, Dwier Brown
An Iowa corn farmer, hearing voices, interprets them as a command to build a baseball diamond in his fields; he does, and the Chicago Black Sox come.
SPORTS COMPETITION
THE CRASH REEL
USA / 2013 / 90 min
Director: Lucy Walker
Cast: Kevin Pearce, Shaun White, Mason Aguirre, Jake Burton, Danny Davis, Scotty Lago, Jack Mitrani, Luke Mitrani
Fifteen years of vérité footage show the epic rivalry between half-pipe legends Shaun White and Kevin Pearce, childhood friends who become number one and two in the world leading up to the Vancouver Winter Olympics, pushing one another to ever more dangerous tricks, until Kevin crashes on a Park City half-pipe, barely surviving. As Kevin recovers from his injury, Shaun wins Gold. Now all Kevin wants to do is get on his snowboard again, even though medics and family fear this could kill him.
MAIDENTRIP
USA / 2013 / 75 min
Director: Jillian Schlesinger
Writers: Laura Dekker, Penelope Falk, Jillian Schlesinger
Cast: Laura Dekker
14-year-old Laura Dekker sets out on a two-year voyage in pursuit of her dream to become the youngest person ever to sail around the world alone.
MCCONKEY
USA / 2013 / 109 min
Director: Murray Wais
Writers: Rob Bruce, Scott Gaffney, Murray Wais, Steve Winter, David Zeiff
Cast: Shane McConkey, Sherry McConkey, J.T. Holmes, Glenn McConkey, Jim McConkey, Jonny Moseley, Miles Daisher, Travis Pastrana, Bob Burnquist, Mike Douglas, Kent Kreitler, Scot Schmidt
A heartfelt examination of the legacy one athlete left to the progression of his sports, and the path he paved to conquer his dreams. Shane McConkey is revered as a pioneer of freeskiing and ski-BASE jumping, and through his talent and ability to use his trademark irreverent humor he’s an inspiration to countless lives.
NORTH OF THE SUN
Norway / 2012 / 46 min
Director: Jorn Nyseth Ranum, Inge Wegge
Writers: Jorn Nyseth Ranum, Inge Wegge
Cast: Jorn Nyseth Ranum, Inge Wegge
Inge Wegge (25) and Jorn Ranum (22) spent nine months of cold, Norwegian winter in the isolated and uninhabited bay of a remote, arctic island by the coast of Northern-Norway, facing nothing but the vast Atlantic Ocean. There they built a cabin out of driftwood and other cast-off materials that washed up on shore, and ate expired food the local stores would otherwise have thrown away. But the boys brought with them two items of utmost importance: their surfboards – perhaps their biggest motivation for the arctic adventure. Because the remote bay holds a well kept secret; some of the world’s finest waves.
THE SHORT GAME
USA / 2013 / 90min
Director: Josh Greenbaum
Cast: Edd Hall, Jennifer Van Horn, Allan Kournikova, Zamokuhle Nxasana, Alexa Pano, Yang Kuan, Jed Dy, Augustin Valery, Sky Sudberry, Amari Avery
The best seven-year-old golfers from around the world descend on the world famous Pinehurst Golf course in North Carolina to determine the next world champion and who might become golf’s next phenomenon. Most of these young prodigies have been holding clubs since before they could walk and are better by the time they are six than most people will be in their lifetime. This is the breeding ground for the PGA and the stakes are huge. THE SHORT GAME follows nine young golfers vying for the title of ‘world champion’.
COMPETITION SPORTS SHORTS
CROOKED LINES
USA / 2013 / 19 min
Director: Lucy Walker
Cast: Denise Tan, Samira Maas, Vanja Rukavina
Ailson Eraclito Da Silva is the best rower in Brazilian history, the Michael Phelps of his sport. Growing up in a leper colony on the banks of the Amazon River, he’s constantly discriminated against. But his dream to win Gold for Brazil at the Olympics is within his grasp. He’s got the talent. But there’s a twist, and this gets more interesting than any Olympics featurette. Because Ailson has an achilles heel — he’s heavy for the lightweight category he competes in. Usually, he makes his weight by not drinking ahead of regattas. This time, his plan fails: he’s disqualified from the Olympic trials. Everyone plays the blame game, until Ailson goes home and faces up to the real reason he can’t control his weight
MAGNESIUM
Netherlands/ 2013 / 20 min
Director: Sam de Jong
Cast: Denise Tan, Samira Maas, Vanja Rukavina
A talented gymnast makes a life-changing discovery as she prepares for an important tournament, which is her last chance to reach the top.
THE RED PILL
USA / 2013 / 14 min
Director: Lucy Walker
Cast: Anjali Forber-Pratt, Jean Driscoll
Illinois-based Paralympian Anjali Forber-Pratt was adopted from India as an infant and became paralyzed shortly after arriving in the US. Despite daunting obstacles – told by teachers she couldn’t go to college, having to sue her school district – Anjali is now a PhD graduate and world record holder in 200m wheelchair racing. And she says if she could do it all over, she’d pick being disabled.
SLOMO
USA / 2013 / 17 min
Director: Joshua Izenberg
Cast: John Kitchin
SXSW ’13 (Best Short Doc), Big Sky Documentary FF ’13 (Best Short Doc)
Depressed and frustrated with his life, Dr. John Kitchin abandons his career as a neurologist and moves to Pacific Beach. There, he undergoes a radical transformation into SLOMO, trading his lab coat for a pair of rollerblades and his IRA for a taste of divinity.
NARRATIVE SPOTLIGHT
BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN
Belgium / 2012 / 111min
Director: Felix Van Groeningen
Writer: Johan Heldenbergh, Mieke Dobbels, Carl Joos, Felix Van Groeningen
Cast: Veerle Baetens, Johan Heldenbergh, Nell Cattryse, Geert Van Rampelberg, Nils De Caster, Robbie Cleiren, Bert Huysentruyt, Jan Bijvoet, Blanka Heirman, George W Bush
Elise and Didier fall in love at first sight, in spite of their differences. He talks, she listens. He’s a romantic atheist, she’s a religious realist. When their daughter becomes seriously ill, their love is put on trial.
DECODING ANNIE PARKER
USA / 2013 / 91min
Director: Steven Bernstein
Writer: Adam Bernstein, Steven Bernstein, Michael Moss
Cast: Samantha Morton, Helen Hunt
Love, science, sex, infidelity, disease, and comedy. The wild, mostly true, story of the irrepressible Annie Parker and the almost discovery of a cure for cancer.
JUST A SIGH
France, Belgium, Ireland / 2013 / 104min
Director: Jérôme Bonnell
Writer: Jérôme Bonnell
Cast: Emmanuelle Devos, Gabriel Byrne, Gilles Privat, Aurélia Petit, Laurent Capelluto
Alix and Doug were not supposed to meet, but they did. They did because Alix, whose relationship with her husband was at a crossroads, fancied this handsome serious-looking gentleman on the Paris-bound train. They did because Doug, although not in the mood for love, quickly fell for her. They were not supposed to meet but their brief encounter would prove to be overwhelming.
STAND CLEAR OF THE CLOSING DOORS
USA/ 2013/ 102min
Director: Sam Fleischner
Writer: Rose Lichter-Marck, Micah Bloomberg
Cast: Andrea Suarez Paz, Jesus Sanchez-Velez, Azul Zorrilla, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Tenoch Huerta Mejia, Kevin Bewersdorf
The story of an autistic youth named Ricky who, after a particularly difficult day at school, escapes into the subways. It’s here that he starts his real journey, on a days-long voyage of discovery while, above ground, his mom frantically searches for him.
DOCUMENTARY SHOWCASE
THE GENIUS OF MARIAN
USA / 2013 / 85min
Director: Anna Fitch, Banker White
Cast: Pam White, Marian Steele, Banker White
The Genius of Marian follows Pam White in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Her son, the filmmaker, works with her as she attempts to write a book that tributes her mother, the artist Marian Steele. As Pam’s family comes together to support her, they must also prepare for the new reality that Alzheimer’s brings. Both an intimate look at a much-feared illness and a loving portrait of the meaning of family.
WALKING THE CAMINO
USA / 2013 / 76min
Director: Lydia B. Smith
The story of walking the ancient 500-mile pilgrimage across Northern Spain known as ‘The Camino de Santiago’. The documentary follows six strangers from incredibly diverse walks of life as they attempt to cross an entire country on foot with only a backpack, a pair of boots, and an open mind. Each pilgrim throws themselves heart-and-soul into their physical trek to Santiago de Compostela, and their personal journey to themselves. As you watch, you will learn the rich history of this honored tradition, as well as witness the Camino’s remarkable ability to change lives and provide those who choose to walk its paths with a greater sense of self and spiritual knowledge.
WILLIAM AND THE WINDMILL
USA, Malawi, South Africa / 2013 / 95min
Director & Producer: Ben Nabors
Cast: William Kamkwamba,Tom Rielly
Fourteen-year-old Malawian William Kamkwamba teaches himself to build a power-generating windmill from junk parts, successfully rescuing his family from poverty and famine. He becomes an energy icon for the developing world and meets American entrepreneur and mentor Tom Rielly, who helps him imagine a new future. Fame, opportunity, stress, and isolation follow his invention, and his life is transformed. As William struggles with the potential of his promising future, he privately yearns to distance himself from the windmill that made him famous. This is a story about a complex young man straddling two cultures, carrying the burdens of his past achievements, while boldly pursuing a bright future.
SURF SPOTLIGHT
ISOLATED
USA, Indonesia / 2013 / 106 min
Director: Justin Le Pera
Writer: Justin Le Pera
Cast: Ryan Phillippe, Travis Potter, Jenny Useldinger, Jimmy Rotherham, Josh Fuller, Andrew Mooney
Five world-class surfers travel to New Guinea in search of undiscovered waves, but end up discovering so much more.
H2INDO
USA / 2013 / 76 min
Director: Brent Deal
Writer: Brent Deal
Cast: Dave Kalama, Connor Baxter, Chuck Patterson, Slater Trout, Talia Gangini, Dave Boehne, Jamie Mitchell
Seven of the world’s greatest surfers, Dave Kalama, Connor Baxter, Slater Trout, Talia Gangini, Chuck Patterson, Dave Boehne, and Jamie Mitchell, travel to Indonesia to Stand Up Paddle Indo’s most famous surf breaks. The result is the compelling story of these athletes and the World’s fastest growing sport. The surfing images as well as the underwater scenes are breathtaking.
FAMILY FILM
KHUMBA
South Africa / 2013 / 85 min
Director: Anthony Silverstein
Writers: Anthony Silverstein, Raffaella Delle Donne
Cast: Steve Buscemi, Liam Neeson
Rejected by his superstitious herd, a half-striped zebra embarks on a daring quest to earn his stripes but finds the courage and self-acceptance to save all the animals of the Great Karoo.
SHORTS PROGRAM
ROUTINES – High School Student Short Winner
USA / 2012/ 11min
Directors: Jason Phillips, Jason Segal
Writers: Jason Phillips, Jason Segal
Cast: Jerrin Padre, Jason Phillips, Helen Segal
ROUTINES begins with a boy who is trying to cover up his loneliness by using routines. He creates these routines to hide from real life and so that he will be protected by the spontaneity that the world has to offer.
ANNA ET JEROME
France / 2013 / 21min
Director: Melanie Delloye
Writer: Melanie Delloye
Cast: Elodie Bouchez, Malo Blondel, Jarome Boyer, Laurent Cyr
Anna hasn’t always done things right, but she wants to change. She dreams of taking Jerome far away and starting over somewhere else. They could be happy, just the two of them.
ANNIVERSARIO
USA/ 2013 / 11min
Director: Jeffrey DeChausse
Writer: Jeffrey DeChausse
Cast: Astrid Carranza, Osvaldo Andersson
Carmela visits the beauty salon in preparation for an evening out on her 45th wedding anniversary. She’s greeted by her two favorite hairdressers, Chu Chi and Pepe. But in a tragic twist, Carmela becomes the most important makeover of their lives.
DEATH, TAXES AND APPLE JUICE
USA/2013/ 8min
Director: Tamar Halpern
Writer: Tamar Halpern, George Roth III
Cast: Aymeric Dauge-Roth, Claire Dauge-Roth, Hannah Perrault
A little girl ponders the meaning of life as her friend helps her file taxes.
THE MAKING OF LONGBIRD
UK/2012/16min
Director: Will Anderson
Writer: Will Anderson, Ainslie Henderson, Vitalij Sicinava
Cast: Will Anderson, Tobias Feltus, Vitalij Sicinava
A ‘behind-the-scenes’ look at an Animator/Filmmaker as he struggles with his character.
BIRD FOOD
Ireland/ 2012/ 5min
Director: Richard Keane
Writer: Richard Keane
A man plans to eat his lunch in the park, but the local pigeons have other ideas.
THE FEAR OF FLYING
Ireland / 2012/ 9min
Director: Conor Finnigan
Writer: Conor Finnigan
Cast: Mark Doherty, Aoife Duffin, Steven Courtney
A small bird with a fear of flying tries to avoid heading south for the winter.
CHOPPER
Belgium / Netherlands / 2012 / 2min
Director: Lars Damoiseaux, Frederik Palmaers
Writer: Lars Damoiseaux, Michael Palmaers
Cast: Ruud Lammers, Duncan Meijering
The circle of life. A mantis gets eaten by a frog, the frog has been swallowed by a stork while the stork itself is eaten by a crocodile before the crocodile gets shot by a hunter.
CAFÉ REGULAR, CAIRO
Egypt / 2012 / 11min
Director: Ritesh Batra
Writer: Ritesh Batra
Cast: Mai Abozeed, Alaa Ezzat
In a regular cafe in Cairo a relationship goes through its first big test.
A gang of misfit kidnappers find their tiny target far more bloodthirsty than they bargained for!
So, unfortunately, the trailers gave it away and let’s be real that’s why most of us are here, the knowledge that the kidnap victim Abigail (Alisha Weir), codenamed by the would-be kidnappers appropriately as ‘tiny dancer’, is in fact, a vampire. Not a spoiler, point of fact, one of the film’s actual great selling points. And the reactions from the misfit club when faced with a real actual f*cking vampire, range hilariously from the blunt “no such thing as vampires” all the way to, “Are we talking True Blood or Twilight rules or what?” all while covered in buckets and buckets of blood.
Anyway, the gang manages to subdue and abscond with the aforementioned Abigail, in a pre-prepared duffle bag, like you do, and converge to a new location, a house oddly similar to the one she was just taken from. Welcomed and given codenames by a man who introduces himself as Lambert (Giancarlo Esposito), our misfit club is told to simply hold down the fort in this strange old house with the girl chained up in a room and one person to attend her, for twenty-four hours, and they’ll all get paid.
As inevitable as the tides, the dopey druggie Dean (Angus Cloud) is the first to die, and we’re going to give that death-style points for inspiring terror right off the bat. The very controlling Frank (Dan Stevens, holy crap yes that is the guy from FXs Legion) is also of course the most suspicious – of everyone around him, sure, but also he himself is totes sus. We don’t learn terribly much about the musclebound tank who gets dubbed Peter (Kevin Durand), he’s your pretty typical little-brains-heart-of-gold muscle-for-hire any proper gang needs, right down to the bottle problem. Sammy (Kathryn Newton), well, even for being a purported hacker-type, she has, like, reality issues. Rickles (William Catlett), he’s arguably the most dangerous among them, ex-military and yet somehow here and involved in kidnapping for a few mills. Joey (Melissa Barrera) is our Final Girl, and though she has the inevitable problems in her recent past, she seems more capable of doing the hard thing and still somehow empathizing at the end of the day. Must be her burning desire to get back with her son.
The fit hits the shan pretty quickly, and Abigail morphs from tiny dancer to tiny monster, though honestly, the way Abigail spoke the entire time in the film, if the ‘nappers had been paying close enough attention, would have been a solid clue. The performance from Alisha Weir as Abigail is incredible, as she literally dances a fine line between comedy, tragedy, and outright monstrosity. With a face full of makeup and the force of a tiny tornado to back it up, Weir brings to mind the great performances of the vampires in 30 Days of Night who saw the practicality in the need to trap their food, but also, play with it a bit first before feasting! Anything else would give away the absolute fun time that is Abigail, so you should go see it, out in theaters now!
Fans of the beloved medical comedy series Scrubs were recently treated to a thrilling surprise when John C. McGinley, who portrayed the iconic Dr. Perry Cox, dropped a photo on Twitter hinting at a potential reunion project. The image, showing McGinley alongside his former co-stars, sparked a wave of excitement and speculation among fans who have been longing for more adventures with the beloved Sacred Heart Hospital staff.
While details about the reunion project are still scarce, the mere possibility of seeing the gang back together again has sent waves of nostalgia through fans who fondly remember the show’s original run from 2001 to 2010. Scrubs was not just a sitcom; it was a heartfelt exploration of friendship, love, and the chaotic world of medicine, all wrapped up in a quirky and often hilarious package.
At the heart of the show was the bromance between JD (played by Zach Braff) and Turk (played by Donald Faison), whose antics and deep bond served as the emotional anchor for the series. Their dynamic, along with the sage wisdom (and relentless sarcasm) of Dr. Cox, provided viewers with memorable moments that have stood the test of time.
As we eagerly await more news about the Scrubs reunion project, one thing is for sure: it’s time to dust off those old DVDs, rewatch our favorite episodes, and get ready to welcome back our favorite gang of doctors, nurses, and janitors for what promises to be a memorable reunion.
But Scrubs was more than just its main characters. The supporting cast, including the eccentric Janitor (played by Neil Flynn), the neurotic Elliot (played by Sarah Chalke), and the wise-cracking nurse Carla (played by Judy Reyes), each brought their own unique flavor to the show, creating a rich tapestry of characters that fans grew to love.
While the photo shared by McGinley has fueled speculation about what the reunion project might entail, whether it’s a one-off special, a new season, or something else entirely, one thing is certain: fans are eagerly awaiting any opportunity to dive back into the world of Sacred Heart Hospital.
In an age where reboots and revivals are commonplace, Scrubs stands out as a series that has the potential to recapture the magic that made it a fan favorite in the first place. With its blend of humor, heart, and unforgettable characters, a reunion project has the opportunity to not only satisfy longtime fans but also introduce a new generation to the joys of life at Sacred Heart.
The story of the rise of Coriolanus Snow, from teenage Capital City pawn to rising Dictator of the Hunger Games!
Apparently no one out here in post-apocalyptic Panem has heard of irony and so they name their children things like Coriolanus (Tom Blyth), Tigress, and further off in Hunger Games lore, after swamp plants like Katniss. Corio’s father was a legendary general and that is pretty much the only reason young Snow and his meager family of grandmother called Grandma’am (Fionnula Flanagan) and sister Tigress (Hunter Schafer) are tolerated here in the Capital City at all.
Most of the snotty youngsters at the academy won’t let Snow forget how far his family has fallen, but he’s generally not concerned with them. What is concerning is the strong disapproval of the drugged-up Dean Casca Highbottom (Peter Dinklage) and the creepy attention of Dr. Volumnia Gaul (Viola Davis) as she lurks in the classroom sniffing out talent. The Dean feels very strongly the annual Hunger Games should end, while Gaul is violently adamant that not only do the Games continue, but that they get as much more attention as possible. And young Snow is stuck in the middle, when the yearly prize money normally awarded to the academy student with the best grades gets switched out for, you guessed it, the student that can make this years’ Hunger Games as entertaining as possible.
Whilst the students are protesting this sudden change, the annual Reaping is about to commence, and big shock and surprise, Corio’s candidate from District 12 Lucy Grey Baird (Rachel Zegler) is chosen as a Tribute. This is where the film begins to really take off on musical wings, for as it turns out, Lucy Grey can sing. Boy, can that gal sing! She can sing, she can play guitar, she can work a crowd, she can calm things down, she can fire ‘em up too! And Corio, being no dummy himself, instantly plots ways to use his Tributes amazing voice to draw attention to her, and admittedly his own, plight!
Though far too many people sneer at the idea, Corio takes his position as Mentor to his Tribute seriously enough to sneak onto the tram taking the Tributes to their habitat, which turns out to be a completely appropriate moniker, as this year the Tributes are held before the Hunger Games in a large zoo habitat so the weatherman ‘Lucky’ Flickerman (Jason Schwartzman), host of this years games, can MC the hell out of everything up close and personal!
What happens at this years Hunger Games and the subsequent consequences to both Corio and Lucy Grey is actually only half the story, and the movie. Coriolanus has always had to be opportunistic, but learning to be absolutely ruthless when necessary under the tutelage of Dr. Gaul, who basically thinks it’s always best to be merciless, is an eye-opening education indeed. Even after they’ve both been consigned to military service and his friend Sejanus Plinth (Josh Andres Rivera) decides to finally rebel, Corio and Sejanus continue to deceive each other and themselves, to accomplish their separate goals. Not even the love Corio swears he feels for Lucy Grey can save him, or them, from the adamant absolute necessity of the Hunger Games continuing. And after all that’s happened, Coriolanus Snow has gotten a terrific education in the best way to be the absolutely ruthless next Hunger Games advocate, and oh yeah, President of Panem.
The movie does itself no favors by trying to stuff not one but two major storylines and a bunch of side storylines sadly introduced and then ignored, into the film. It would have been entirely possible to turn Ballads of Songbirds and Snakes into two different movies, separated between feathers and scales if you like, and do justice to the major storylines in both. Blyth gives a fine performance as a young Coriolanus Snow, but the fact that President Snow is played by Donald Sutherland in all three of the Hunger Games films means Blyth has incredibly large shoes to fill. Rachel Zegler as Lucy Grey is absolute fire, and yes the actress did sing the songs in the film herself, including the Hunger Games franchise epic song, ‘The Hanging Tree’. Every time Lucy Grey opens her mouth and sheer soul-searing music comes out, it provides a distinct counterpoint to the soul-crushing ambition of Coriolanus Snow and further demonstrates the District and Caste separation Hunger Games is known for. And if, by the end of the film, Coriolanus Snow has come to agree that the Hunger Games must continue but perhaps under his own auspices, he has no one but himself to blame when another younger but still rebellious female blows it all up in his face!
Choose rebellion or conformity for yourself in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes!
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