New Releases for the week of May 17 - 23
Emma.
Emma Woodhouse (Taylor-Joy) is a charming young English woman living in the 1800s. With little to fret about in her day-to-day life thanks to her father's (Nighy) fortune, she entertains herself by meddling in other people's relationships. Despite Emma's often genuinely good intentions, her penchant for matchmaking tends to amuse no one but herself -- that is, until she attempts to manipulate her governess Harriet's (Goth) love life, a move that leads to a string of romantic propositions, with Emma at the center of them. Now, with her own feelings on the line, Emma begins to understand the complexities of love and a lover's ability, despite her own stubbornness, to make her a better person.
Director: Autumn de Wilde. Stars: Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, Mia Goth, Tanya Reynolds, Callum Turner, Connor Swindells, Josh O'Connor, Bill Nighy. 2020. 124 mins. Comedy.
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic (Schwartz) is a blue hedgehog capable of running at supersonic speeds and, thanks to a bag of extraterrestrial ring portals he was gifted, interplanetary travel. After a close encounter with a group of echidnas who seek to steal his powers, Sonic hides out on planet Earth. One day, after a long bout of loneliness and boredom, he runs at supersonic speed while playing a solo game of baseball. This creates an electromagnetic pulse that makes his presence known to Dr. Robotnik (Carrey), a mad scientist who is then enlisted by the government to track him down. With only his rings, quill and his two human allies, Tom (Marsden) and Maddie (Sumpter), to count on, Sonic falls into a chase that spans countries and planets.
Director: Jeff Fowler. Stars: Ben Schwartz, Jim Carrey, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Lee Majdoub, Adam Pally, Melody Nosipho Niemann. 2020. 99 mins. Action.
The Way Back
Once a promising high school basketball star, Jack Cunningham (Affleck) finds himself a middle-aged, alcoholic construction worker in a broken marriage. Out of the blue, he receives a call from his alma mater, offering him a position as the basketball team's coach. With nothing to lose, he accepts, and finds a second chance at life in the game and passion that defined his glory days.
Director: Gavin O'Connor. Stars: Ben Affleck, Janina Gavankar, Michaela Watkins, Al Madrigal, Glynn Turman, Will Ropp, Brandon Wilson. 2020. 108 mins. Drama.
The 'Worst': New celebrity recruits are put to the test
Tyler Florence and Anne Burrell host "Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition"
Married to Medicine: Los Angeles, on Bravo
Play hard and work harder in a new episode of this reality series that explores the busy, dramatic lives of female doctors and doctors' wives. Season 2 welcomes OB-GYN Dr. Kendra Segura and "girl boss" Lia Dias who are sure to inspire and entertain.
Putting baby first: Kristin Davis assists with 'Labor of Love'
Kristy Katzmann and Kristin Davis from "Labor of Love"
Joker, on HBO
Beaten down by society and his own mental health at every turn, party clown Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) reaches a breaking point and begins to spiral into villainy in this film. This unique take on the DC Comics villain earned high critical praise.
Betty, on HBO
It's Janay's (Dede Lovelace) birthday, but she wants to spend it in a strange way in this new episode. Elsewhere, Honeybear (Moonbear) is still spending all her time dodging her crush. This female-led teen skateboarding drama also stars Nina Moran.
Q: Where does the word "blockbuster" come from?
The war picture has been a mainstay at the box office, but it had a real (although grim) heyday in the 1940s during World War II. Hollywood was cranking out loads of them to get people on board for the war effort and to bring some of those real-life happenings to the home front.
The term "blockbuster" comes from that period and comes from a type of large bomb, in use at the time, nicknamed a block-buster, so called because it was powerful enough to destroy an entire city block.
It's a thin line: The love and hate of 'Killing Eve' returns on AMC
Kim Bodina, Jodie Comer, Sandra Oh and Fiona Shaw star in "Killing Eve"
The Hangover, on AMC
When the groom-to-be goes missing after his unwanted bachelor party, his three friends go on a wild goose chase through Las Vegas trying to pin down what they did the night before. Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis and Justin Bartha star.
Q: I would like to know why Mark Walberg is no longer on "Antiques Roadshow." The only voice I hear is a woman's.
No one has said why, but two possible (related) theories present themselves, and both suggest that we probably should have seen this coming.