Welcome to “Flipping the Script,” a monthly column where I will reconsider recent films that have been panned, frowned upon, or simply under appreciated. I believe that movies should speak to us on a deep, personal level, and this column will consist of films that have done that for me despite widespread derision or apathy. Join me on my noble quest for cinematic redemption! This month we go on the search for the Third Star!
Exclusive: Sophie Tweed-Simmons Talks ‘Country Crush’ And Music Journey
Country Crush is a musical that’s available starting March 14 (it’s a Walmart exclusive) and I’ll be posting a review this week on Hollywood Outbreak. I really enjoyed the performances and music featured in the project (if you love old-fashioned entertainment that’s filled with good songs, this may be your cup of tea).
Actress/singer Sophie Tweed-Simmons, who plays a sassy and uninhibited woman named Ainsley in the feature, talked about Country Crush and her own promising music career. Check out our interview after the jump!
‘American Crime’ Delivers “Cascade Effect” With Immersive Storylines
Along with its deft and balanced handling of topical issues, American Crime explores the fabric of humanity from different locations. The third season, premiering tonight, takes place in Alamance County, North Carolina, as immigration, sex trafficking, and class struggles are all part of this eight-episode universe. During this year’s ABC TCA panel, the ensemble and creator John Ridley gave us a preview of this highly anticipated season.
Blu-ray Pick: Gael García Bernal Publicizes the Migrant Experience in Jonás Cuarón’s ‘Desierto’
The best kinds of movies provide emotional context to the thorniest political, ideological and philosophical issues that plague us as a species. Now available on DVD and Blu-ray, Desierto, Jonás Cuarón’s Spanish-language feature, tackles one of the most topical concerns of the current United States administration: illegal immigration. By laying out the issue in narrative form, Cuarón adds a relatable, human face to a contentious concept, and delivers a thriller of a cat-and-mouse chase along the way.
‘Batman’ – Movie Pop Culture Icon and New Adventures
A billionaire playboy and business and a vigilante at night, Bruce Wayne is the “dark knight” of the DC Universe. Created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger back in 1939, Batman continues to gain momentum thanks to his stature in comic books, cinema, and video games. No matter which corner you turn, the Caped Crusader is just a few steps away!
Sidney Torres Shares Important Life & Business Lesson With ‘The Deed’
Real estate mogul and Sidney Torres, star of CNBC’s The Deed, helps developers achieve their dreams. But Torres, whose business portfolio is filled with investments in his beloved New Orleans, isn’t offering out handouts. In the video clip below, Torres explains how an early life lesson (after he first made his first million) shaped his career path (especially in working with other people).
Milo Ventimigilia And Mandy Moore Talk ‘This Is Us’ Chemistry – And Bell Bottoms!
Most episodes of This Is Us has viewers reaching for the nearest tissue, but more importantly the show manages to pull at the heartstrings while also evoking the bittersweet truths of the human condition. Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore’s portrayal of the seemingly perfect couple Jack and Rebecca Pearson speaks directly to that reality, and in our video below the actors talk about their mutual chemistry and respect for each other.
Emma Watson’s ‘Belle’ An “Activist” In ‘Beauty and the Beast’
Beauty and the Beast, one of this year’s most anticipated films, may be a grand romance and adventure. However, it also manages to subtly spotlight the importance of reading and expanding one’s knowledge and imagination. Audio from Emma Watson, as she talks about how Paige O’Hara influenced her as a child, is found after the jump.
Blu-ray Pick: Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton Deliver Powerhouse Performances in ‘Loving’
For such a groundbreaking story, Jeff Nichols’ Loving, now available on DVD and Blu-ray, is notable for its silence. Although the quiet solemnity of a sparse script served Nichols well in the case of his other 2016 critical darling, Midnight Special, the historic Loving v. Virginia Supreme Court decision invalidating laws that prohibited interracial marriage may have required a bit more dramatic build-up. Fortunately, Loving’s two lead actors – Ruth Negga, nominated for an Academy Award for this role, and the chameleon-like Joel Edgerton – elevate the movie through their characters by tenderly tapping into the steady strength that defines their humanity.