Gothamreturns Monday night with the episode “Rogues’ Gallery,” as James Gordon (Ben McKenzie) adjusts to his new job as an Arkham Asylum corrections officer (Homelandand Firefly vet Morena Baccaringuest stars as Dr. Leslie Thompkins).
Part of Gotham’s allure centers on the gradual development of the city’s heroes and villains. With everyone’s origin story on display, one of the characters that should receive a ton of attention down the road is justice seeker Harvey Dent (Nicolas D’Agosto). Dent’s story was effectively covered in Christopher Nolan’s masterwork The Dark Knight Rises, and now Gotham is taking a crack at Dent’s morally complex universe.
Ben McKenzie and Nicholas D’Agosto in ‘Gotham.’ Cr: Jessica Miglio/FOX
In the Fox Audio Central video below, Agosto (Masters of Sex), talks about how he landed the role of Harvey Dent:
As for the emergence of Two-Face, D’Agosto doesn’t see that happening on Gotham anytime soon. Click on the Soundcloud audio below to hear the actor talk about Harvey Dent’s emergence in Gotham:
Gotham’s new episode “Rogues’ Gallery” airs Monday, January 5 on Fox (8 pm et/pt)
Movie buffs may be familiar with such screen sirens as Rita Hayworth and Lana Turner or tough minded leading ladies Barbara Stanwyck, but lately I’ve been digging deeper into film noir’s rich history and have recently discovered an unforgettable actress: Audrey Totter.
The 95-year-old died December 2013 of congestive heart failure in West Hills, Ca.. It’s the city of my childhood, and if I knew of Totter’s work before her passing, maybe I would have tracked her down and requested an interview.
But that’s speculation. What’s actually real is Totter’s lasting impact on the film noirs of yesteryear.
Although she also had a successful run on the TV series Medical Center (as Nurse Wilcox), Totter’s cinematic forays were her calling card.
Audrey Totter in ‘Lady inthe Lake’ (Warner Bros.)
“We didn’t realize back then (the films) were as good as they were. I’ve always been fond of Lady in the Lake, Alias Nick Beal, The Set-Up, and Tension,” said Totter in Eddie Muller’s book Dark City Dames: The Wicked Women of Film Noir. “They were, I suppose, B movies, at a time when the studios put all their energy into the costume pictures, the big musicals. Now it turns out that people look at these B’s far more than the big musicals. There’s a whole cult around them, fans that love film noir, and run these pictures over and over.”
Here are two Audrey Totter pictures I’ll be running “over and over”:
LADY IN THE LAKE (1947)
Directed by and starring Robert Montgomery, Lady in the Lake (105 minutes) is a unique installment look at principled private eye Philip Marlowe, thanks to its subjective, point-of-view camera work from cinematographer Paul C. Vogel.
Marlowe (Montgomery) submits his mystery story “If I Should Die Before I Live” to a crime magazine, and publishing executive Adrienne Fromsett (Totter) takes an immediate liking to Marlowe. Even though Marlowe tries to play it cool with Fromsett by checking out her platinum blonde receptionist (Lila Leeds), Fromsette has Marlowe in her grips from get-go.
Knowing she’s not exactly a spring chicken, Adrienne Fromsett is determined to marry her boss, Derace Kingsby (Leon Ames), but first she hires Marlowe to find Kingsby’s missing wife. With the wife out of the way, our femme fatale can live happily ever after with the well to do Kingsby.
Though Montgomery plays Marlowe as a cranky private eye who’s exasperated with Fromsette’s schemes, a seeming damsel in distress is our hero’s Achilles heel. Fromsette, however, is not just a helpless, desperate lady or a subtle manipulator – she’s a little bit of everything. During the narrative’s final moments, we have no idea if Marlowe’s gamble to trust Fromsette is his winning hand or a fool’s bet – and Totter plays all of Fromsette’s shadings with inspired fervor.
Audrey Totter in ‘Lady in the Lake’ (Warner Bros.)
Though Lady in the Lake is an initial must-see for the subjective camera work (Brian De Palma paid homage to Montgomery’s visual aesthetic during a sequence in The Black Dahlia), the picture’s most alluring special effect is Totter’s piercing eyes and scene stealing work (although it’s a Marlowe film, she’s the most memorable character in Lady in the Lake).
TENSION (1949)
Barry Sullivan & Audrey Totter in ‘Tension’ – (Warner Bros.)
I love underdogs, and it’s a total shame that Tension (95 minutes) isn’t as well known as Totter’s most signature films (Lady in the Lake and The Set-Up). Cinematographer Harry Stradling (he lensed the Alfred Hitchcock movies Suspicion and Mr. and Mrs. Smith), knows his way around light and shadows in this beautifully shot noir (the night scenes are particular standouts).
Audrey Totter is Claire Quimby, the disenchanted and materialistic wife of bespectacled pharmacist Warren Quimby (Richard Basehart). As Warren works himself to the bone to purchase his dream house in Culver City, Claire galavants around town with any guy that carries a fat wallet and owns a fancy car.
After Claire leaves Warren for a Malibu residing meathead named Barney Deager (Lloyd Gough, whose career would eventually effected by the Hollywood blacklist), Warren changes his meek ways and transforms himself into Paul Sothern, a traveling cosmetic salesman. With a fake identity in tow, Quimby plans to kill Barney and win his wife back in the process.
Upon landing an apartment in Westwood, Sothern/Quimby falls in love with kindhearted neighbor Mary Chanler (a subtly luminous Cyd Charisse), thus putting his murder operation in jeopardy.
Audrey Totter in ‘Tension’ – (Warner Bros.)
Totter knocks this role out of the park, as Claire is a lady who’s looking out for number one. Whether it’s seducing a cop (Barry Sullivan, who also serves as the film’s opening narrator), cuckolding her puppy dog eyed hubby, or giving her latest lover the surprise of his life, Claire’s end goal is living in the lap of luxury (even if a few men die in the process).
It’s surprising that Tension director John Berry didn’t get a crack at more film noirs, as he has a confident command of the genre (his last film was the 2000 drama Boesman and Lena which starred Danny Glover and Angela Bassett).
Both Lady in the Lake and Tension are prime examples of Totter’s scenery stealing talent, and though I haven’t checked out High Wall and The Set-Up, I’m sure Totter delivers the goods.
May In The Summer, the latest drama from director and writer Cherien Dabis(Amreeka), hits Blu-ray and DVD January 30 via Cohen Media Group.
The storyline centers on May Brennan (Dabis), a woman who is set to marry a New York scholar (Cairo Time actor Alexander Siddig). Her trip to the altar, however, is filled with complications as her Christian mother (Hiam Abbass) disapproves of the scholar’s Muslim faith.
Bill Pullman (The Zero Effect, Independence Day) co-stars as May’s estranged dad and Alia Shawkat (Arrested Development).
Special features on the Blu-ray and DVD include a featurette, stills gallery, and trailer.
Premiering on ABC Tuesday, January 6 (8-10 pm et/pt), Marvel’s Agent Carterfollows Peggy Carter’s (Hayley Atwell) post-Captain America adventures, as she works for the covert organization SSR (Strategic Scientific Reserve).
Though she’s proven her mettle in the battlefield, Peggy has to balance doing administrative work for Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper) while undertaking secret missions on the side.
Hayley Atwell, whose previous film credits include the Woody Allen drama Cassandra’s Crossing and The Duchess, talks about Carter’s dilemma when the 7-episode series begins:
We find her in 1946, the year after the end of the first Captain America – we know that she’s lost Steve and she finds herself working at the SSR. It’s a position that’s one that she wants but she’s not used to the full extent of her abilities.
We’ve got the backdrop of gender roles and the politics involved in an environment like that – in a male dominated world for her. So she’s very frustrated – she’s not doing what she’s set out to do. She’s nowhere near (to) fulfilling her destiny. And we see the frustrations (and) what that means to her and her fight to be taken seriously.
Hayley Atwell in Marvel’s Agent Carter – (Credit: ABC/Eric McCandless)
The show also stars Chad Michael Murray (“Agent Jack Thompson”), Enver Gjokai (“Agent Daniel Sousa”), and Boardwalk Empire’s Shea Whigham (“Chief Roger Dooley”).
Tuck, filmmaker Kevin Smith’s return to cinema, hits Blu-ray and DVD December 30 via Lionsgate Home Entertainment.
Tusk – Lionsgate Home Entertainment
The story, penned by Smith, centers on a podcaster (Justin Long) who travels to remote area of Canada to interview a recluse (Michael Parks) who has a strange fixation for walruses.
Believing he’s landed a huge story, the podcaster is transformed in more ways than one. Genesis Rodriguez, Haley Joel Osment, and Johnny Depp are among the film’s co-stars.
Ricky Jay is the subject of the Season 29 premiere of American Masters, as Ricky Jay: Deceptive Practicepremieres Friday, January 23 at 9 p.m. (PBS).
Known for his lifelong collaboration with director/writer/playwright David Mamet (House of Games, The Spanish Prisoner) and his recurring role on HBO’s Deadwood, Jay has carved out a successful career as a magician, bestselling writer, history and actor.
Ricky Jay: Deceptive Practice, narrated by Dick Cavett, features rare performance footage of Jay and new interviews with his friends and collaborators (Mamet is also interviewed in the special).
“I am truly honored to be included in this iconic series, and grateful to be able to introduce viewers to the great sleight-of-hand artists who were my mentors and my inspiration,” says Jay.
Ricky Jay. Photo credit: Theo Westenberger/Autry Museum
Opening in select theaters December 25, American Sniper centers on U.S. Navy Seal Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper), a war vet who spent four tours of duty in Iraq. Known as the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history, Kyle’s autobiography (which the film is based on) spent 18 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.
Sienna Miller also stars as Kyle’s iron-willed wife Tara Kyle in the film, which is directed by Clint Eastwood.
During the American Sniper press conference Tara Kyle praised the dedication screenwriter Jason Hall, Bradley Cooper and Clint Eastwood had while making the film.
“I do know before they left, (Clint) stopped and he was a little choked up and said, ‘I just want you to know, that your story has my heart.’ I can’t ask for better than that – truly. I feel like this is about the heart of our men and women who serve and their families.”
To hear Tara Kyle’s full answer, please click on the media bar below.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies was the number one film over the holiday weekend, as it took in $56.2 million. Coming in a distant second was Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb with $17.3 million, followed by the critically panned musical Annie ($16.3 million). Here’s this weekend’s top 10:
The Hobbit – $56.2 million
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb – A disappointing weekend, as the film’s budget is estimated at $127 million. $17.3 million.
Annie – A solid debut with $16.3 million, as its estimated budget is $65 million.
Exodus: Gods and Kings – $8.1 million this weekend, and an unspectacular $38.7 million domestically in its two weeks of release.
Opening December 25, Big Eyesis the true story of Margaret Keane (Amy Adams), a woman who claimed she was the true artist behind Walter Keane’s (Christoph Waltz) work.
Directed by Tim Burton, the feature deals with Margaret’s journey in stepping out of the shadows of her husband’s popularity and claiming what is rightfully hers.
The new Big Eyes featurette, exclusively available on Yahoo! Screen, contains archival footage of Walter Keane that hasn’t been viewed by the public in over 40 years (it was revealed on last week’s installment of CBS Sunday Morning).
(L-R) AMY ADAMS and CHRISTOPH WALTZ star in BIG EYES
The featurette also contains interviews with Margaret Keane, clips from the movies, and interviews with Big Eyes writers/producers Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski.
The Babadookhas been critically acclaimed and praised for its horrifying premise (can a child’s storybook monster actually be real?) and execution, so in the spirit of the holiday season, IFC Midnight has released a video featuring Santa Claus.
Kris Kringle’s merry chimney excursions take a bit of a violent left turn, unfortunately, and before I spoil the video for you, here it is:
*****The Babadook is now playing in select theaters and is available on VOD.
The Babadook’s Boilerplate Summary:
Six years after the violent death of her husband, Amelia (Essie Davis) is at a loss. She struggles to discipline her ‘out of control’ 6 year-old, Samuel (Noah Wiseman), a son she finds impossible to love. Samuel’s dreams are plagued by a monster he believes is coming to kill them both.
When a disturbing storybook called ‘The Babadook’ turns up at their house, Samuel is convinced that the Babadook is the creature he’s been dreaming about. His hallucinations spiral out of control, he becomes more unpredictable and violent. Amelia, genuinely frightened by her son’s behaviour, is forced to medicate him.
But when Amelia begins to see glimpses of a sinister presence all around her, it slowly dawns on her that the thing Samuel has been warning her about may be real.
