New Releases for the week of July 9-15
The Fate of the Furious
While enjoying his honeymoon, street racer Dominic "Dom" Toretto (Diesel) is approached by a mysterious woman named Cipher (Theron), who convinces him to work for her cyberterrorist organization. While he and his team of street racers are performing a heist for the government, Dom betrays his longtime friends and makes off with the device that they'd been hired to steal, taking it to Cipher instead. With Dom now working for the enemy, his loyalty to his crew is thrown into doubt, and the strength of their friendship is tested like never before.
Director: F. Gary Gray. Stars: Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Charlize Theron, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris. 2017. 136 min. Action.
The Lost City of Z
While surveying the Amazon rainforest, British officer and explorer Percey Fawcett (Hunnam) is told of a magnificent city deep in the jungle that's filled with gold and people. Although dismissive of the story at first, when he finds shards of broken pottery and carved figurines he becomes convinced that the legendary lost city is real. Back in England, he secures funding for a series of expeditions to search for the "Lost City of Z," but the rigors and dangers of the rainforest take their toll on the inexperienced members of his party. Based on true events.
Director: James Gray. Stars: Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller, Tom Holland, Edward Ashley, Ian McDiarmid. 2016. 141 min. Adventure.
Smurfs: The Lost Village
When Smurfette (Lovato), the only girl Smurf in Smurf Village, ventures into the Forbidden Forest in pursuit of a strange Smurf-like creature that she saw watching her, she finds only a hat that's been dropped before she is captured by the villainous wizard Gargamel (Wilson). Although she manages to escape, both she and Gargamel are able to learn the location of a hidden Smurf village, which both the wizard and Smurfette set out to find before the other one does.
Director: Kelly Asbury. Stars: Demi Lovato, Rainn Wilson, Joe Manganiello, Jack McBrayer, Danny Pudi, Mandy Patinkin, Frank Welker. 2017. 90 min. Animation.
Q: Why isn't "The Sopranos" being rerun?
There are a couple of reasons why Tony Soprano and company don't show up on television much these days, but what it seems to come down to is the fact that regular TV just can't handle that show.
The groundbreaking mob drama's violence was famously casual, and its characters famously foul-mouthed -- two things that broadcast and basic cable can't abide. There are standards for this sort of thing.
Killjoys, on Syfy
In the outer reaches of the Quad, Dutch (Hannah John-Kamen), John (Aaron Ashmore) and D’avin (Luke Macfarlane) face more danger at every turn in this new episode. The interplanetary bounty hunters chase deadly warrants throughout a distant system on the brink of war.
Goldie's gold: Melissa Leo stars in '70s stand-up comedy drama 'I'm Dying Up Here'
Clark Duke as seen in "I'm Dying Up Here"
The '70s were known for a lot of things: feathered hair, disco and what many considered the golden age of stand-up comedy. Legendary performers such as Jay Leno ("The Tonight Show With Jay Leno"), Robin Williams ("Good Will Hunting," 1997) and David Letterman ("Late Show With David Letterman") rose through the ranks of L.A.'s iconic the Comedy Store.
Zoo, on CBS
In the year 2027, the future of the human race hangs in the balance as an army of hybrids sets out to take over the planet in this new episode. Based on the bestselling novel by James Patterson, the series began with a wave of violent animal attacks.
Q: Do you know if the Beatles and Bee Gees "Grammy Salute" TV specials will ever be released on DVD or Blu-ray?
Unfortunately, I don't know, and neither does the Recording Academy (a.k.a. the Grammys).
In 2014, CBS aired "The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to The Beatles," and it followed that up earlier this year with "Stayin' Alive: A Grammy Salute to the Music of the Bee Gees." Both specials were ratings hits, but neither has been released on home video.
Hair Goddess, on TLC
Christina Oliva and her close-knit crew invite viewers into their lives as Oliva opens her first hair salon in Manhattan in this new episode. Oliva tackles various challenges while also offering her clients complete hair transformations.
Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular, on NBC
Willie Geist and Tamron Hall celebrate America's birthday as they co-host a star-studded concert in this special. The program also includes coverage of New York's stunning fireworks display, featuring more than 56,000 pyrotechnic shells.
Q: I was trying to find the start time for the next season of “APB,” and there seems to be some suggestion that it won't return. Sure hope that’s not true.
Sadly, it's not a suggestion anymore. "APB" has been canceled.
The techno-thriller cop show finished its first season Monday, April 24, and at least Fox was merciful -- it officially canceled the show just a few weeks later, on May 11.
Preacher, on AMC
Jesse (Dominic Cooper) continues his mission to find God in this new episode. Based on the comicbook of the same name by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, the supernatural drama also stars Ruth Negga as Jesse's gun-toting ex, Tulip, and Joe Gilgun as Irish vampire Cassidy.
