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Kevin Bacon

On The Screen Vol. 6 (October 6)

October 6, 2015 by Jacob Sahms

SmallScreen

This week, we take a look at life post-rapture, the struggle to find purpose in the day to day, and the battle between good and evil. Depending upon how you look at it, that description could have described any of these…

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 01: Justin Theroux films HBO's "The Leftovers" on April 1, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Steve Sands/GC Images)

The Leftovers: The Complete First Season – When You Get Left Behind

Three years ago, two percent of the world’s population vanished. No one knows what caused them to disappear or what their fate is, but those who remain struggle with the group’s absence. Based on Tom Perralta’s novel of the same name, the show was created by Perralta and?Lost?alum Damon Lindelof, with direction by Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights,?Lone Survivor). Following the many factions?that now exist, the show asks questions about how we move forward after a loss, and what it means to have everything you thought you knew torn away from you.

The main focus is on the sheriff of Mapleton, New York, Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux), as he wrestles with order and grief, but it also pulls back the curtain on the Holy Remnant and the followers of Holy Wayne, two different cultic organizations. Some of the people claim that God did “this” as judgment for all of society’s crimes; others claim God had nothing to do with this, and there’s something more scientific, sinister, or alien that caused the events. From a faith-based perspective, after a healthy reading about how John Nelson Darby invented the rapture, one might begin to question what it means for people to see change happen in their own lives, after an event that steals their heart, their soul, and their joy. Somehow, the cause of the event isn’t as important as the way we respond afterward.

 

happyish

Happyish: Season One – What Are You Settling For?

Steve Coogan and Kathryn Hahn are terribly funny human beings, but together, they make the twenty-first century couple, Thom and Lee Payne. [It’s no coincidence that their last name is synonymous with “pain,” as both of them are obviously struggling.] Thom discovers that his medicines are conflicting with each other, a splendid insight into the way that we’ve overmedicated ourselves to drown out the noise, and just end up causing more problems. However,?this is merely the entr?e into?Happyish…

What we see is a guy who is settling, for, well, happyish. What we might recognize as we watch him struggle at work, at home, and in society, is that he has pursued a feeling (happiness) rather than a state (joy). Too often, we want to understand our lives but we chase momentary situations instead of lifelong patterns. We want Thom to get to a point where he sees something big picture that can change his life; we want him to understand 2 Corinthians 4:17 – “for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

 

following

The Following: The?Third and Final Season – The Cycle Of Violence

Kevin Bacon is making a real career out of playing FBI agents. But before he was crushing insubordinates in?Black Mass, his profiler, Ryan Hardy, was chasing Joe Carroll (James Purefoy). With that case supposedly wrapped up, Hardy now tangles with another psycho, remaining twin, Mark Gray (Sam Underwood). For fans of the first two seasons, this one provides the kind of send-off we’d expect after the pain that Hardy has been through, but new fans might want to rewind at least to the second season.

After it’s all said and done, with the relationships and crime solving tabled, this is a horror series. The creators have taken much more pride in building up the brokenness of the evildoers and their cults than in showing us the moral integrity of the ‘good guys.’ But even the good guys here have a dark side, a pain that won’t let them go… and yet, they do rise to face evil every time it shows its face.?The Following?tells stories about those who do right, even when they’re not perfect, who do right even when it costs them something.

 

October 6, 2015 by Jacob Sahms Filed Under: DVD, Reviews, SmallFish, Television Tagged With: Happyish, Justin Theroux, Kevin Bacon, Steven Coogan, The Following, The Leftovers

TIFF Hits: BLACK MASS

September 17, 2015 by Steve Norton

blackmassheader2

Johnny Depp is back.

At least that’s what everyone is saying.

In some ways, it’s odd to think of Depp being ‘back’ when he never really went away. Certainly, he remains?beloved by people around the globe (especially evidenced in?the borderline chaos that erupted when he arrived in Toronto). Although,it’s fair to say that, by filling up his time with Tim Burton films and the Pirates franchise, the actor hasn’t really had a role to sink his teeth into over the past few years.

With?Black Mass, that trend has changed dramatically.

Taking place in 1970s Boston, Black Mass tells the true story of James “Whitey” Bulger (Depp), the infamous crime lord. ?Approached by FBI agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton), Bulger is convinced to form an alliance with?the agency in order to bring down the Italian mob. As their unholy alliance begins to spiral out of control, Bulger increases in his power, becoming one of the most infamous gangsters in U.S. history.

20150430_BlackMass_trailer

Deftly directed by relative newcomer Scott Moore,?Black Mass is a dark exploration of the nature of evil. Backed by a solid script, he depicts Boston with?grainy, bland colours reminiscent of 70s noir thrillers that remind us this is a world with a neutralized sense of morality. Most importantly though,?Depp’s performance as Bulger creates a hurricane of chaos in the lives of the other characters, pulling them deeper into his own darkness. However, even though Bulger is clearly?a man to be feared, he also maintains a human side that never quite disappears. Even in his darkest moments, Bulger is (mostly)?seen?as a man of loyalty to his family and friends.

With a performance as strong as Depp’s, one might imagine that supporting players would fade into the background. However, the film is also buoyed by strong performances by Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jesse Plemons and (even) Dakota Johnson. (Incidentally, Edgerton really takes things up a notch as conflicted Agent Connolly. Called to play a man who is torn between loyalty to Bulger and the law, he attacks the role and (almost) steals a scene or two from Depp.)

Even so, it’s Jimmy’s?world–and the rest are caught up in it.

blackmass-1024

At it’s heart,?Mass?uses it’s characters to explore?the relationship between humanity and evil. For instance, through Bulger, the narrative asks whether he is?an example of evil incarnate or merely a broken man who was the victim of a darkened world.?Meanwhile, through characters such as Connolly and William Bulger (Benedict Cumberbatch), the film asks whether or not it is possible to associate with darkness without being pulled inside yourself. In?Black Mass, there is no clear sense of good or evil as the lines between them begin to blur. This depiction of sinful humanity reminds us that, if we are left to our own devices, redemption needs to come from outside ourselves.

Black Mass?is sure to be in the conversation come Oscar season, not only as a film but definitely for Depp’s performance. This is the type of role that reminds us of his incredible talent when given material that suits him.

After all, it’s Depp’s world–and the rest of us are caught up in it.

black-mass---official-trailer-1-2015-johnny-depp-action-drama-movie-hd

 

 

Black Mass

Starring Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch

d. Scott Moore

Rated R for violence, language

****1/2 (out of 5)

September 17, 2015 by Steve Norton Filed Under: Current Events, Film, News, Reviews, TIFF Tagged With: Benedict Cumberbatch, Black Mass, Corey Stoll, Dakota Johnson, James Bulger, Jesse Plemons, Joel Edgerton, Johnny Depp, Kevin Bacon, Peter Sarsgaard, Toronto, Toronto International Film Festival

TIFF Hits: Shooting Stars

September 15, 2015 by Steve Norton

 

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At ScreenFish, we’re very conscious of those moments where faith and film collide… but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun as well! ?Here are some exclusive shots of?the celebs?around the city as the Toronto International Film Festival enters it’s second half. ?Pics will be updated as new sightings occur…

Black Mass premiere:

Johnny Depp

IMG_1140? ? ?IMG_1150? ? ?IMG_1164

Joel Edgerton

IMG_1159? ? ??IMG_1158

Peter Sarsgaard

IMG_1040? ? ?IMG_1044

Kevin Bacon

IMG_1135? ? ?IMG_1136

John Morris ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Dakota Johnson

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Freeheld?Premiere: ?Michael Shannon, Ellen Page, Julianne Moore, dir. Peter Sollett

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Sicario?Premiere: ?Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, dir. Denis Villeneuve

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Forsaken Premiere: Donald Sutherland, Keifer Sutherland, d. Jon Cassar (24)

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Team from?Beast: ?Chad McKinney, dir. Tom and Sam McKeith, Garret Dillahunt

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The Man Who Knew Infinity: ?Jeremy Irons; Dev Patel; Devika Bhise

IMG_1265? ? ?IMG_1267? ? ?IMG_1280

 

Other Celebs:

Penelope Cruz

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Sarah Silverman

IMG_1230? ? ?IMG_1225

Susan Sarandon ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Rachel McAdams

IMG_0957? ? ?IMG_0971

Nick Robinson

IMG_0989? ? ?IMG_0994

Rob Reiner ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Carey Elwes ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Michael Moore

IMG_1006? ? ?IMG_1025? ? ?IMG_0857

 

September 15, 2015 by Steve Norton Filed Under: Current Events, Film, News, TIFF Tagged With: 24, Benicio Del Toro, Black Mass, Carey Elwes, Chad McKinney, Dakota Johnson, Denis Villeneuve, Donald Sutherland, Ellen Page, Emily Blunt, Forsaken, Freeheld, Garret Dillahunt, Joel Edgerton, John Morris, Johnny Depp, Jon Cassar, Josh Brolin, Julianne Moore, Keifer Sutherland, Kevin Bacon, Michael Moore, Michael Shannon, Nick Robinson, Penelope Cruz, Peter Sarsgaard, Peter Sollett, Rachel McAdams, Rob Reiner, Sam McKeith, Sarah Silverman, Susan Sarandon, Tom McKeith, Toronto International Film Festival

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