Release: McCain

McCain
Genre: Biography/Drama/War
Director: Clint Eastwood
Writer: Dwight Gallo
Cast: Chris Pine, Kevin Costner, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Scoot McNairy, Lambert Wilson, Dustin Nguyen, Erin Moriarty, Susanna Thompson, Lucas Till, Tom Selleck, Karen Allen



Budget: $59,000,000
Domestic Box Office: $179,833,120
Foreign Box Office: $56,900,276
Total Profit: $100,969,888

Reaction: Another big surprise hit for the studio this season. With McCain this season and Of Rocks and Sand last season, Chris Pine is definitely starting to cement himself as a star for LRF. It's also another hit for the studio from Clint Eastwood, making him 4-for-4 at the box office for LRF.

"Chris Pine gives the best performance of his career to date in a very difficult role, both to play and to try to live up to, in American hero John McCain from ages 30-46. He has to be an immediate contender for the Best Actor GRA." - Charles Yost, Oregonian

"While the film loses a little steam and confidence in its story telling in the latter post-war bits, the first two-thirds of the film is so well done that it is pretty easy to look past some of the weak spots." - Charles Triano, Los Angeles Times

"McCain's story has long been destined for the big screen treatment, and it is brought to life in an efficient and entertaining fashion from the steady direction of the legendary Clint Eastwood and the sure-handed writing of Dwight Gallo." - Paul Landon, Film School Rejects

Rated PG-13 for some sequences of intense war violence and torture, language and some sexuality.

Fact to Film: McCain

For the latest edition of Fact to Film, we will take a look at the cast of the biopic McCain, which will cover the early life and military career of the late John McCain (played by Chris Pine). Clint Eastwood (Buried Child, The Temptations) directs from a script by Dwight Gallo (The Andromeda Strain, Born in Brooklyn).

Now Showing: McCain

McCain
Genre: Biography/Drama/War
Director: Clint Eastwood
Writer: Dwight Gallo
Cast: Chris Pine, Kevin Costner, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Scoot McNairy, Lambert Wilson, Dustin Nguyen, Erin Moriarty, Susanna Thompson, Lucas Till, Tom Selleck, Karen Allen

Plot: 1968. John McCain (Chris Pine) is dragged out of his dirty and wet cell in Hoa Lo Prison, also known as the Hanoi Hilton, in North Vietnam. He is in a crude chest cast with two broken arms and one broken leg. He looks emaciated and his hair has gone white. He is finally forcefully dragged into a much cleaner room and placed onto a hospital bed. Vietnamese soldiers stand by as French journalist Francois Chalais (Lambert Wilson) enters the room with his camera crew. Chalais offers John a cigarette, which he gladly accepts, using the one arm he's barely able to move to hold it. Chalais tells John that the camera is rolling and asks his name. John gives him his full name. Chalais then asks John about his father. John tells Chalais that his father is Admiral Jack McCain and that he is Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Naval Forces in Europe.

1966. John McCain has managed to infiltrate the Officer's club at Naval Air Station Meridian in Mississippi where he is stationed. He holds court over the higher ranking officers, who are entertained by his drunken telling of the story of when he collided with a bunch of power lines while flying too low over Spain. After a long night of drinking, John drunkenly stumbles into bed, where his wife Carol (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) had already been asleep.

In the morning, Carol cooks bacon and eggs and pours John a large mug of coffee as he nurses a bad hangover. John finally gets dressed and reports to the base where they are getting ready for a ceremony to name the base's air field after his grandfather. John runs into his father, Admiral Jack McCain (Kevin Costner) at the base and gives him a salute. John mentions that he heard about Jack's promotion to Commander-in-Chief of the forces in Europe. Jack speaks to his son in a stern and professional tone rather than that of a father to his son. John comments that he knows his father has pulled strings to keep him away from combat, but that he doesn't want him doing that. John requests that his father get him stationed on a ship where he can fly some missions or something. Jack asks his son if he's sure he really wants that. John nods his head to his father. At the ceremony that night, the entire family is in town, including John's mother Roberta (Susanna Thompson) and brother Joe (Lucas Till).

1967. John McCain is assigned to the USS Forrestal, which is set to depart Norfolk for duty off the shores of Vietnam. John is pleased about the orders, but when he shares the news with Carol, she becomes angry with him. She wants to know if he requested combat duty. He asks her why that matters, and she begins yelling and throwing things at him until he finally admits that he requested duty on ship bound for combat. Carol begins crying. John puts a hand on her shoulder and tells her that he doesn't see the point in serving if he isn't fighting.

John McCain is getting ready to climb out of his A-4E Skyhawk jet on the deck of the USS Forrestal after a bombing mission. Suddenly one of the jets next to him is struck by a Zuni rocket accidentally fired from an F-4 Phantom on deck. Flames are everywhere as John jumps from his jet onto the burning deck. John's flight suit catches fire, but he manages to put out the flames. He then rushes over to help another pilot trying to escape the flames when a rocket explodes, sending John flying 10 feet backwards. When John comes to he starts helping other pilots throw rockets and bombs over the side of the ship before they can explode from the flames and heat.

John is selected to be part of an operation of 20 planes being sent to strike a the Yen Phu thermal power plant in central Hanoi. As John makes his approach, the warning systems in his plane alert him that he is being tracked by enemy fire-control radar. John decides to not break off from his mission. He releases his bombs, and as he starts to pull up, the wing of his plane is blown off by an anti-aircraft missile. His plane goes into a vertical inverted spin. McCain bails out of his plane upside down at high speed. The force of the ejection breaks knocks him unconscious. He wakes up in the Truc Bach Lake in Hanoi. The weight of his equipment begins pulling him beneath the surface of the water. He finds that his arms are broken and he is unable to move them as he tries to pull at the cord to inflate his life vest. As he struggles to keep his head above the water, John finally manages to pull he cord and inflate his life vest with his teeth. He is soon pulled ashoe by a group of Vietnamese. Once he is on the ground, the mob of people begin kicking and spitting at John. He is beaten with the butt of a rifle until he loses consciousness.

John wakes up in Hoa Lo Prison, the so-called Hanoi Hilton. He starts yelling that he is injured and needs medical attention. The Vietnamese soldiers in charge refuse to give him medical care unless he gives them military information. John only offers his name, rank and date of birth. They ask for more information, but he weakly replies that is all he is permitted to give them. The soldiers  throw him into a cell with Bud Day (Scoot McNairy), who is shocked at how badly injured McCain is. He comments that if McCain is going to need one strong will to live to survive something like this.

The Vietnamese commander in charge of the prison, Lan (Dustin Nguyen), discovers that McCain is the son of Admiral McCain. Lan has John brought to him. He offers John medical care. John says his leg is broken. Lan calls in a doctor, who quickly and painfully sets John's leg. John cries out in pain. Lan demands more information from John. When John refuses, Lan has his men restrain John and stick bamboo shoots under his fingernails. John finally breaks a bit and reveals the name of his ship.

Lan smiles and tells John that he can be released if he would like. John says that he will only leave if every soldier captured before him is also freed. Lan asks why John would act so selfless, and John says that he is simply following the US Code of Conduct. Angry that John would defy him, Lan has him subjected to more and more vigorous torture methods. After four days straight of torture, John tries to kill himself by strangling himself with a blanket, but the Vietnamese guards stop him and leave him on the ground, lying in his own waste, gasping for air. He is dragged into a solitary cell. John bangs on the wall in Morse code. The man in the next cell, Bud Day, asks what that is supposed to mean, and John begins explaining Morse code to him.

1969. On Christmas Eve, Carol is driving outside of Philadelphia as it begins to dump snow outside. As she tries to take a corner, Carol's car skids and crashes into a telephone pole. Carol is brutally thrown from the car and into the snow. She tries crawling away, but quickly loses consciousness. When Carol wakes up she is in the hospital in a traction cast. A doctor sees her and tells her that she has two broken legs, a broken pelvis, a broken arm and a ruptured spleen. Carol begins crying, bemoaning that first her husband is taken prisoner in Vietnam and now she is a cripple. The doctor gives her a moment before telling her that he suggests they get her into surgery soon to rebuild her leg bones with rods and pins so she can get back to walking.

1970. In Los Angeles, Joe McCain sits in a bamboo cage eating simulated POW food at a protest. Later, over the phone, his father Jack chastises Joe for a foolish display, regardless of the motivation or intent. His mother Roberta gets on the phone and commends him for caring so much about his brother, but agrees that his time could be better spent. Joe apologizes to his parents. He says that he just wants the war to end so that John can come home.

1972. Admiral Jack McCain, now in charge of the Navy's Vietnam War efforts, orders a series of bombings near Hanoi on Christmas Eve, knowing his son is being kept at the Hanoi Hilton. John smiles in his cell as the bombings shake the walls of the prison. Through the wall, Bud asks John if he thinks those were good bombs or bad bombs. John says those were the good kind of bombs.

1973. In March, the Vietnamese guards load all of the prisoners of the Hanoi Hilton into buses where they are taken to waiting U.S. forces. Bud and John talk on the bus about their plans. John says he just wants to see his family, he doesn't care about the rest. Bud comments that he received a promotion while imprisoned for the past five years, so he plans on staying in the Navy and seeing out that promotion to Colonel. John wishes Bud luck and closes his eyes.

Back in the US at a base in San Diego, John reunites with Carol and their kids. Despite being in a wheelchair himself, he is stunned to see Carol walking with crutches. He comments that she looks shorter and asks her what happened. She tells him that she was in a bad car accident. She didn't tell him in any letters because she didn't want to worry him. John hugs his wife while looking around the room, seeming uncomfortable.

At a ceremony, John McCain is awarded the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, three Bronze Star Medals and a Purple Heart Medal by President Richard Nixon. A short while later, John is additionally awarded the Navy Commendation Medal by his own father. As Jack puts the medal around McCain's neck, he smiles and nods at his son, telling him it's good that he's out of harm's way now. John struggles to smile to the crowd as he accepts his medal.

Hailed as a war hero, John McCain and Carol are invited to dine with California Governor Ronald Reagan (Tom Selleck) and his wife Nancy (Karen Allen) at the Governor's Mansion in Sacramento. When they arrive at the large mansion, they are intimidated. During the dinner, McCain and Reagan get along okay, but Nancy and Carol hit it off in a big way, becoming quick friends. After dinner, John and Reagan smoke a cigar in a back porch of the governor's mansion while Nancy and Carol are inside drinking coffee. Reagan asks John how it feels to be back home. John says it feels different than before he left, almost like he isn't the same person anymore. Reagan says he can only imagine what that would feel like and offers John a drink.

1977. John McCain dips his toes in politics for the first time when he is named as the Navy's liaison to the US Senate. He and Carol move to suburban Virgina. Around the capitol, John quickly becomes popular among the Senators in Washington and goes far beyond his job description and helps gain congressional financing for a new Naval supercarrier, even though everybody in town knows that President Carter is against it. Jack gives his son a call and commends him on his work getting the ship paid for. John thanks his father for the compliment and tells him that maybe politics is what he wants to do with his future. John tells Jack that he has started thinking that maybe he would be able to do more good in Washington than he can in the Navy, especially since it has become clear that he'll never be an Admiral, not like Jack or his father.

1979. John McCain meets Cindy Lou Hensley (Erin Moriarty) at an event in Hawaii. He takes an immediate liking to her and offers to buy her a drink. She pretends to be older than she is to impress John, claiming she's 30 years old. After several drinks, John and Cindy walk along the beach together. They eventually begin kissing in the sand. John and Cindy wake up on the beach in the morning. She asks him if he has any meetings to go to, and he tells her he doesn't care and gives her another kiss.

When McCain returns to Washington, he immediately goes out for drinks with several other capitol employees. When he returns home, John asks his wife Carol for a divorce. Carol is stunned and asked what she did. John scoffs and says that it has nothing to do with her, he just isn't happy. Carol yells at John, saying he needs to stop acting like he's 25 years old, pointing out that he's in his 40s now. John says he doesn't want to have some long, drawn out discussion. He's made up his mind. Carol says fine, and agrees to the divorce.

Following the divorce, Carol moves out to California when she is offered a job as Nancy Reagan's assistant. When Carol describes how John asked for the divorce. Nancy is aghast and immediately tells Ronald Reagan about the situation. Reagan tells his wife that he really doesn't want to get involved in picking any sides.

1980. John McCain leaves his post in Washington and moves out to Arizona to be with Cindy. They quickly get married at her wealthy family's ranch outside of Phoenix. As they are setting up their first home in Phoenix, John tells Cindy that he has decided to officially retire from the Navy and do something else with his life. She asks what that would be, and John mentions that he once told his father that he'd like to get into politics.

1982. John McCain is announced as the newly elected representative for Arizona's 1st congressional district. As John and Cindy celebrate, a local yells out that John is a carpetbagger stealing political positions from real Arizonans. John tells the man that his entire family was in the Navy, so he never had the luxury of putting down roots in a place as nice as the First District of Arizona, but he was busy defending the country. John is about to end the conversation, but then adds that the longest he has ever lived in one place was a prison in Hanoi.

John is sweating and kicking in his sleep. Cindy wakes him up to calm him. John tells her that he was having a nightmare he was back in the Hanoi Hilton. Cindy says that she thinks he needs closure with the Vietnam War. John asks her what she has in mind.

John and Cindy get off a plane in Saigon. John is nervous as he unboards the plane, taking each step down from the plane with a deep breath. Cindy holds her husband's hand, which he is squeezing. Cindy tells John that everything is going to be okay.

Release: Heights

Heights
Genre: Drama
Director: David Fincher
Writers: Alex Conn & John Malone
Cast: Tom Cruise, Bill Murray, Martin Sheen, Ellen Burstyn, Adam Scott, Ingrid Bolso Berdal, Jane Levy, Michael Stuhlbarg




Budget: $67,000,000
Domestic Box Office: $93,774,098
Foreign Box Office: $66,901,222
Total Profit: $17,500,804

Reaction: Certainly not a record breaking hit, but it isn't every day that a drama grosses over $160 million at the box office - a true testament to the ongoing star power of leading man Tom Cruise.

"I was not expecting to see Tom Cruise playing a Gordon Gekko meets Donald Trump type of ruthless real estate mogul. That said, Cruise brought his A-Game, reminding the audience of past performances from films like Magnolia or Collateral where the character's actions should make us dislike him, but yet some how through Cruise's charisma and talent, we still find ourselves rooting for." - Glenn Magnus, Maxim

"The filmmakers have surrounded star Tom Cruise with reliable character actors that are able to hold their own opposite the A-Lister. In addition to Cruise, I could see some awards buzz for Bill Murray's cantankerous performance as NYC Mayor Ed Koch." - Willa Pulaski, Salon.com

"The film is clearly inspired by some of former real estate mogul and current US President Donald Trump's business exploits of the 1980s, but don't let that dissuade you from watching this one. While some of the events are very similar, Fincher and Cruise have created an original, lively character to live them." - Ken Hammerschmidt, Washington Post

Rated R for language and sexuality

Top 10 Biopics (Version 2)

Sherman J. Pearson here for another edition of Top 10. With the John McCain biopic due out in theaters this round, I decided to take a fresh look at the various biopics released by Last Resort Films. You can take a look at the previous version from Season 13 here: https://hmsfilms.blogspot.com/2019/09/top-10-biopics.html

Top 10 Biopics (Version 2)
10. Kurt & Courtney: All Apologies (Kurt Cobain)
9. The Life of the Party (Fatty Arbuckle)
8. American Playboy (Hugh Hefner)
7. Harrelson (Charles Harrelson)
6. Stained (Monica Lewinsky)
5. Libra (Lee Harvey Oswald)
4. The Tower (Charles Whitman)
3. Crowley (Aleister Crowley)
2. Misfit (Montgomery Clift)
1. Hated: The Ballad of GG Allin (GG Allin)

Now Showing: Heights

Heights
Genre: Drama
Director: David Fincher
Writers: Alex Conn & John Malone
Cast: Tom Cruise, Bill Murray, Martin Sheen, Ellen Burstyn, Adam Scott, Ingrid Bolso Berdal, Jane Levy, Michael Stuhlbarg

Plot: 1990. Howard Prince (Tom Cruise) cuts the ribbon at the Prince Royal Palace Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, for opening night with the beautiful Georgia Grant (Jane Levy) at his side. As the star-studded opening night wages on, things start going wrong. The elevator breaks down and as soon as that problem is fixed, over half of the slot machines shut down for seemingly no reason. Prince orders his brother Peter (Adam Scott) to find out what's going on immediately before he is ruined. Peter assures Howard he will look into it. Prince grabs his brother by the shirt and tells him that he has $1 billion tied up in the place, so nothing more can go wrong. Peter hurries off to investigate the problems while Prince watches the casino floor from an office above, allowing a brief look of panic come across his face before he is able to collect himself.

1985. A slightly younger, slightly less on edge Howard Prince enters the office of his father, Alan Prince (Martin Sheen), found of Prince & Son real estate development company. Howard tries to convince his father for the umpteenth time to start investing more on Manhattan rather than settling for being the biggest real estate development firm in Queens. Alan tries to impart on his son that there is nothing wrong with being a big fish in a small pond. Prince begs to differ, saying that a big fish can outgrow a small pond and run out of smaller fish to eat. The argument between Alan and Howard begins to get heated and Peter enters the office. Howard Prince gets up and leaves the office. He speaks to his mother Ruth Prince (Ellen Burstyn) about how he feels the company is running out of room to grow, and she tries to explain that he simply thinks differently than his father. While Alan has managed to build a small real estate empire, it is clear to her that he has grander ambitions than that, and there's nothing wrong with either way of thinking. In the morning, Alan presents his son with an envelope. Howard opens it and finds a check for $10 million. He is shocked by the number of zeroes on the check. Alan says that should be enough for Howard to start his own empire. Howard thanks his father, but Alan tells him not to thank him. It's a loan, not a gift, and he fully expects Howard to be able to repay him the full amount, plus interest within five years.

Howard takes the loan from his father and purchases a large rundown hotel in the heart of Manhattan. He throws a party to celebrate the purchase, which he holds in the now under construction hotel. His father Alan asks Howard what his ultimate goal is, and Howard tells his father that he thinks that the greatest city in the world, New York City, should be home to the greatest, tallest building in the world. Alan asks Howard what makes him think he can accomplish such a feat. Howard tells Alan that everyone always says that the sky is the limit and he intends to reach those heights.

With the structural upgrades complete on his hotel, Howard begins interviewing potential interior designers to give the interior of the hotel the luxurious design he envisions. After several interviews, in walks Svetlana (Ingrid Bolsø Berdal). Howard looks over her resume. She has no references and her experience is completely lacking. He asks her why he should hire her. Svetlana tells Howard that she wants to make his dream for the hotel come true. She tells Howard that her dream has already come true by leaving her Communist home country and coming to America. As soon as she saw the hotel and saw Howard, she knew that their dreams were aligned. She stares at Howard in the eyes and leans in to kiss him.

Howard throws a gala event for the grand opening of the Grand Central Hotel, named for its close proximity to Grand Central Station. He has invited every news outlet in the city to cover the event. When his parents arrive, his mother Ruth commends Howard on his accomplishment, but Alan is less impressed. Howard introduces Svetlana to his parents, referring to her as his girlfriend. Ruth is excited to meet her. Svetlana tells Ruth that she helped design the interior. Ruth insists that Svetlana show her around and takes her by the arm. Alan looks around at the press taking pictures and asks Howard if he's trying to make a fortune or trying to make himself famous. Howard thinks about the question for a moment, and then asks his father why the two things have to be mutually exclusive.

Howard and Svetlana are married in a lavish ceremony held at the Grand Central Hotel. Once again, Howard has invited the New York press to cover the event. He becomes excited when he notices that a writer and photographer from the New York Times Style section has taken him up on the invitation to cover the historic wedding event.

Howard stands at the altar with his brother Peter at his side as his best man. Svetlana begins walking down the aisle. Alan walks her down the aisle since she has no family in the country. As Svetlana gets closer, Peter pats Howard on the back, congratulating him on his big day. Howard looks around at the crowd of family, friends, employees, press, and finally at the beautiful Svetlana walking toward him. Howard smiles and tells Peter that it really is a big day.

After the wedding, Howard is asked by a reporter what's next for him. Howard tells the reporter that following the success of the Grand Central, he feels it is now time to put his stamp on New York City's skyline. Howard meets with his accountants, who tell him that he lacks the collateral to secure the financing for his dream building, but that he can surely get the funds for something slightly more modest. Howard is annoyed by this answer, but accepts it.

Harry Schilling (Michael Stuhlbarg) finishes giving an urban design and architecture lecture at NYU when he notices Howard Prince sitting in the audience. Howard then approaches Schilling, and tells him that he wants him to design the next great New York City skyscraper. The two men sit at the front of the classroom discussing what Prince wants in the building. Howard tells Schilling there is a catch to the job. He wants Schilling to design two different buildings to occupy the space: the building they intend to build, and a different ugly tower that nobody would want built in the heart of Midtown. Schilling is confused by the task, but accepts the job nonetheless.

Howard, wanting to ensure that his new building will remain the tallest building on the block, sets about to purchase the air rights to the buildings next to his site. He offers what he considers to be a fair price, but is rebuked. Howard then shows them the purposely hideous design that Schilling mocked up. He threatens to build that design if they don't sell him their air rights. Not wanting their property rights to plummet for being next to an eyesore, the owners all begrudgingly sell Howard the air rights to their property for Howard's original offer.

Howard holds a press conference to announce the construction of his new building, a 60-story building he has dubbed Prince Tower. After the press conference, Howard invites his family to come over dinner at his penthouse atop the Grand Central Hotel. Ruth asks Howard and Svetlana when they're going to get a real home and settle down. Svetlana tells them that she is actually pregnant. Ruth is excited to be a grandmother. Howard then adds that he is having a special penthouse built into Prince Tower that will be their home. Alan laughs at the idea of raising a family in a skyscraper.

During the construction of Prince Tower, Schilling informs Howard that there is an issue with the design and they can only make the building 58 stories. Howard asks if there is any way around that, but Schilling says their hands are tied and it's too late to change the design. Howard insists that the top floor still be the 60th floor. Schilling asks how Howard expects that to happen, and Howard tells Schilling to simply skip two numbers on the elevator buttons.

Howard invites New York City Mayor Ed Koch (Bill Murray) to the grand opening of Prince Tower. Koch shakes Howard's hand for a photo op, and Howard tells him that he has some really good development ideas for the city that he'd like to discuss with him. As cameras flash in front of them, Koch brushes Howard aside, telling him that he'd have to present any of his ideas to the city council like everyone else.

Howard sits in his unfinished office with Peter. Howard is looking at fabric swatches for his the couch for his new office while Peter tells him that he thinks he's stumbled upon a great real estate opportunity. Howard tells Peter that he already has a new project in mind - building the world's tallest building in New York City. Peter tells Howard to hear him out and presents him with the idea of investing in a new casino in Atlantic City. Howard says his business is in New York, not New Jersey. Peter says that the newer, more entertainment focused casinos in Las Vegas are making a mint and taking over all the business from the older gambling focused establishments. He believes that they can do the same thing in Atlantic City by building a luxury casino resort on the Jersey Shore.

Howard and Peter purchase some property along the Atlantic City boardwalk. When meeting with the accountants to find the money to start construction, Howard is informed that his savings are depleted after using a good amount of his own money in the process of building Prince Tower. Howard says that they should have no problem securing outside investments once construction is started. Peter says they don't have the money to get construction started, but Howard tells him that they just have to make it look like construction has started to the potential investors.

Peter rents a bunch of construction equipment and has a fence erected around the future site of he casino. Howard brings some investors by to show them that construction has begun on the casino. Based on the success of Prince Tower and the Grand Central Hotel, the investors all get on board and sign on to cover the expenses of constructing and opening the casino.

Howard goes to his father's office in Queens and tells him that the perfect location for his dream project has finally come up for sale: a former railroad yard along the water on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Alan is surprised that Howard is still chasing this dream. Alan suggests that if Howard is going to pursue such a costly and lofty endeavor that he waits until the Grand Central Hotel and Prince Tower reach profitability. Howard says that the land is going to go quick and he has to strike while the iron is hot.

Howard is at home in his penthouse coldly watching Svetlana read a story to their young son, Howard Jr. Howard feigns a smile when Svetlana looks over at him. Howard gets up and tells and tells Svetlana that he has a business dinner to attend to. She asks him when he'll be back. He says that the potential clients are on Japanese time still, so he could be out pretty late. He kisses his wife and son on their foreheads and leaves the penthouse. He goes to the bar at the Grand Central Hotel where he notices a young woman, Georgia Grant (Jane Levy), having drinks with some friends. Howard calls over the bartender and tells him to bring a bottle of their finest bottle of champagne over to the young woman's table. Georgia comes over to thank Howard for the champagne, and asks where she knows if from since he looks familiar. He tells her that he owns the Grand Central Hotel, among other luxurious properties. Georgia is impressed and sits down next to Howard. He asks her what she does, and Georgia tells him that she's an actress on a soap opera.

Howard has managed to secure a meeting with Mayor Ed Koch after all, with his architect Harry Schilling in tow, where Howard presents plans for his dream project. Koch scoffs at the idea of another skyscraper with no real purpose mucking up the city's skyline. Howard proclaims that New York City is the greatest city in the world, so it only makes sense for it to be home to the world's tallest and greatest building. Koch tells Howard that what the city needs is more low income housing, and he intends to recommend the city zone the rail yard land for such purposes. Howard leaves the mayor's office, furious.

Howard demands another meeting with Mayor Koch to re-propose his plans for the rail yard land. Koch tells him where he's having lunch that day, and if he wants to talk to him he can be found there. Howard heads over to the restaurant where Koch is eating lunch with a few of his aides. Howard shows Koch the mock-up of his plan again and points out one of the buildings. Koch asks what's special about the building, and Howard proudly tells him that he has had his plans adjusted to include affordable low-income housing, just like Koch wanted. Koch asks Howard if that's all. Howard nods, and Koch tells him that he'd like to get back to his lunch.

Howard is meeting with Harry Schilling to work on the plans some more. Schilling tells Howard that he heard from some friends on the urban development board that Mayor Koch has been trying to get the city council to sign off on renovating a small park in the city. Howard asks what's so special about the park that the mayor himself would take an interest in it. Schilling tells him that it is the park Mayor Koch played at growing up. Howard donates the necessary money to the city to pay for the renovations.

At the ribbon cutting ceremony for the park, Mayor Koch publicly thanks Howard Prince for helping beautify the city. After the cameras are gone, Mayor Koch tells Howard that he deserves all the kudos in the world for ponying up the money for the park and he is truly appreciative that a piece of his childhood will be preserved for future generations, but that he is not going to approve Howard's plans for the world's tallest building.

Howard returns home to the penthouse. Svetlana asks Howard how the ribbon cutting ceremony went, and Howard yells at her that it didn't go well at all. It doesn't seem to matter what he does, Mayor Koch won't sign off on his dream project. Svetlana tells him that it's just a building. She then suggests that he just build a different building somewhere else. Howard tells her it's his dream, but Svetlana tells him that it isn't a dream - it's a building. Howard storms off into his office, slamming the door behind him.

Howard watches the opening night of the Prince Royal Palace Hotel and Casino from his office above the main floor. The night has been a complete disaster between the lack of customers and the unplanned shutdown of all the casino's slot machines. Georgia puts her hand on Howard's shoulder and tells him that everything will be alright. Howard says that he wishes he could blindly believe those words, but he's far too pragmatic for such a phrase.

Howard returns home to his penthouse the next afternoon, feeling defeated from the failure of the opening of his new casino. Svetlana throws a newspaper at him as soon as he enters through the front door. Howard is caught off guard and asks what she thinks she's doing. She points out several pictures of Howard and Georgia in the tabloids, holding hands and kissing. She says that she figured he had someone on the side, but is especially furious that Howard would flaunt his mistress in front of the press like that. Howard tells her that it is none of her business what he does and who he spends his time with. She says that it is because she's his wife. Howard begs to differ. Svetlana tells Howard that she wants a divorce. Howard tells her that she can pack up her things and direct any inquiries directly to his lawyers. Svetlana begins packing a bag of her things, tears streaming from her eyes. Svetlana gets Howard Jr. and gets him ready to leave the penthouse. Howard turns and walks out of the penthouse.

Howard holds a conference with his lawyers and accountants. They inform him that now is not a good time to be getting a divorce, even with a solid prenuptial agreement. Howard asks why not, and they tell him that after the construction of Prince Tower and the casino, that Howard is $2 billion in debt. Howard fails to grasp the dire situation of his finances until they tell him that he faces the possibility of bankruptcy if he can't find some sort of bridge loan to keep him liquid until one of his properties starts turning a profit. Howard, annoyed, admits that his father was right. Howard then tells the accountants to round up representatives from different banks and financial institutions.

In a Prince Tower board room, Howard stands before the heads of several multi-national banks and financial firms. He tells them that he doesn't believe in the word failure, despite the lack of success of the Prince Royal Palace and the stinginess of the Mayor's office. He does not ever intend to be a failure, but for once he is going to need a little help from them. He asks them for enough money to cover his debts and keep his company operational. In return, they will get a percentage of the profits of his various enterprises, current and future, until their he has paid them back in full.

Howard Prince is all alone, drinking scotch in his office. Citizen Kane plays on television in the background, but Prince is not watching it. He is busy looking out of the window at the New York City skyline, reflectively. Howard smiles and pulls out his checkbook. He writes a check to his father in the amount of $15,000,000 to repay the loan his father gave him to start his own empire - plus interest.

In Development

Coma: Rounding out the cast of Jeff Nichols' Coma will be Jeremy Piven ("Mr Selfridge", Entourage) as a shady hospital anesthesiologist, Mireille Enos (Alan Wake, "Hanna") as the director of the mysterious Jefferson Insitute, and Ed Begley Jr. (The Fall Guy, Plus One) as Elizabeth Olsen's Alzheimer's affected father. Matt Parker penned the adaptation based on the novel by Robin Cook.

Excalibur: Nell Tiger Free ("Servant", "Too Old to Die Young"), Caleb Landry Jones (Batman: Arkham, Outlaw Country), Douglas Booth (Pirate Latitudes, The Hazel Wood) and Karl Glusman (Martian Manhunter, "Rolling Stone") have all joined George MacKay, Christina Hendricks and Daniel Craig in Nicolas Winding Refn's Excalibur. Free will play Guenevere, Arthur's love interest, while Jones, Booth and Glusman will all play Arthur's Knights. Roy Horne penned the film based on the 1981 film.

Gambit and Rogue: W. Earl Brown (Ypsilanti, The Highwaymen), Jodie Comer (Hollow Creek, "Killing Eve") and Thomasin McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit, "Boreas") have joined the Marvel Universe film Gambit and Rogue. McKenzie will play a young mutant, Brown will play the leader of the Thieves Guild, while Comer will play a member of the Assassins Guild. Garrett Hedlund headlines the film which introduces the characters of Gambit and Rogue (played by Diana Silvers) to the X-Men series and Marvel Universe. Alma Har'el is directing the film from a script by Chad Taylor.

Revelations: Fresh off the acclaim last season for his role in Misfit, Joaquin Phoenix (Bastion, Misfit) has signed on to star in the new drama from writer James Morgan (Of Rocks and Sand, Walker). Phoenix will play the son of a famous televangelist family, with Anthony Hopkins (Uncharted 2, Driving Around the Time) and Susan Sarandon (Runaway, The Jesus Rolls) as his parents. Todd Haynes (Guilt, Dark Waters) has signed on to direct the film.

Maximum Ride: School's Out Forever: Joss Whedon (Evangelion, Maximum Ride) is back to direct the sequel to his Season 8 film, Maximum Ride. Olivia Cooke (Maximum Ride, Trip), Dylan Sprayberry (Maximum Ride, Crush) and Nicholas Hamilton (Maximum Ride, Maximum Max) will all return in the lead roles as teenagers who were genetically modified with bird DNA to give them wings. HG Hansen (The Cape, Sabbatical Recovery) is back to write the adaptation once again.

Fractured: Shia LaBeouf (Our Father, The Raven), Ben Foster (The Flash, Kurt & Courtney: All Apologies) and Rose Byrne (Blood on the Moon, Pressing Luck) have all signed on to star in the mixed martial arts film, Fractured. LaBeouf will play a homeless young man who becomes a MMA-fighter when he is taken under the wing his childhood friend, played by Ben Foster. Byrne will play the wife of Foster's character. Jimmy Ellis (Should've Been Here, Lady Red) and Chad Taylor (Oklahoma!, Misfit) penned the script which is being directed by Ukranian filmmaker Myroslav Slaboshpytskyi (The Tribe).

LRF NOW Original Film: Empty Nest

Empty Nest
Genre: Animation/Family
Director: Karey Kirkpatrick
Writer: Malcolm Taylor
Cast: Caleb McLaughlin, Whoopi Goldberg, Michael K. Williams, Tom Kenny, Keith David, Gilbert Gottfried, Chelsea Peretti, Phil LaMarr, Isabela Merced

Plot: A young little penguin named Dexter (Caleb McLaughlin) and his family are living off the shores of southern New Zealand. Dexter’s father Terry (Phil LaMarr) prepares him for his first solo hunt, a symbolic passage into manhood. Dexter’s hunt proves successful but when he returns, he sees his family in the distance being taken by humans - leaving Dexter all alone.

He tries to follow them but finds it difficult since he is a flightless bird. His plight is observed by Nessa (Whoopi Goldberg), a motherly white swan who offers to help. She tracks them and finds that they have been taken to the local zoo. Dexter doesn’t know what that is so she explains it to him. He asks if there is anyway to help them and she says the only thing she knows is to attempt a breakout. A heist, if you will. Dexter is eager to do this but Nessa reminds him that there is a chance they all get caught and taken into captivity.

A recruitment montage of different birds begins to help with the heist. Cosmo the Parrot (Tom Kenny) is at the top of Nessa’s list as he is the only bird who can speak human language, thus his translation will be key. Chester the Owl (Keith David) is one of the smartest birds and can help them crack locks. Wendy the Cardinal (Chelsea Peretti) is a small, agile, and sarcastic bird who can act as the eyes of their operation. And finally, instead of a getaway driver, they need someone who can cause a distraction to aid their escape: Olly the Ostrich (Gilbert Gottfried).

They start their journey and plan their moves. However, unbeknownst to them, they are being tracked by Victor the Vulture (Michael K. Williams) - waiting for any slight misstep as he is on the hunt for roadkill. There are some close calls but they manage to escape him each time.

They reach the zoo and begin their extraction plan. Wendy the Cardinal, the most devoutly religious of them all, says a prayer before they begin. Each member of the squad has a role to play and they do it well except for Dexter, whose lack of flight ability is a challenge. That is until Nessa, the main person needed to get them out of the exhibit, gets distracted by seeing a familiar face: Elle (Isabela Merced), her young daughter. It is then that she reveals the truth to Dexter and the crew: she has been trying to find a way to get back to her daughter for a while now. So while they have the opportunity to escape, she is going to stay behind to be with her family. They try to convince her otherwise but she has made her decision.

Dexter is reunited with his family and the escape begins. However, when Nessa talks to Elle, her daughter reveals that no one likes being gawked at at the zoo and that she yearns for fresh air. It becomes clear that Elle wasn’t captured but left for the zoo voluntarily, but now immensely regrets it. They join up with the rest of the crew as Olly makes for a perfect distraction before joining the others and escaping the zoo.

Once they get back out of the zoo, they are faced with one final confrontation with Victor before they can return to their environment. Chester comes up the idea to use Dexter’s lack of flight as an advantage, so that he can lead Victor to the water - where the vulture would be out of his element. When they do this, Dexter has his triumphant moment and Victor finds himself crosshairs of the zookeepers, who take him in. Dexter introduces Nessa to his family, who thank her for taking Dexter literally under her wing. Meanwhile, she introduces Dexter to Elle, as they are around the same age. Elle tells everyone that one thing is really biting at her: all of her friends at the zoo, of many different kinds, who also want to be liberated.

"Empty Nest is a harmless family film that won't leave parents too bored and should entertain the younger children as well as any of LRF's theatrical animated films."







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The Trades with Reuben Schwartz (Season 16)

Welcome to the latest edition of The Trades! As a reminder, this post will take a look at the news, casting, rumors, and general hullabaloo surrounding the studio each season.

Season 16 already feels a bit different with the introduction of two new institutions at the studio: LRF NOW and LRF News! While I love the addition of LRF NOW, there’s not much of relevance for this article as the releases/re-releases on the platform tend to be a surprise (much like when new films on drop on Netflix out of the blue). Meanwhile, as an avid follower of casting news, I’ve quite enjoyed LRF News. Of relevance here, it gives me more information to preview for the article! So let us begin…

A lot of interesting films are on the horizon for the studio, even if there don’t seem to be a lot of sure-fire hits. In this next round alone, we have three films that have building buzz but are quite different from each other. Heights, the first collaboration between John Malone and Alex Conn, will be Tom Cruise’s first non-action/sci-fi movie for the studio. It sounds like a very strong role on paper so it’s not a surprise to see Tom’s name already showing up on GRA prediction lists. But we won’t know for sure until the film comes out.

Speaking of Best Actor contention, Chris Pine in a biopic of a famous public figure also sounds right up the awards alley. Clint Eastwood’s last two films with the studio have been big hits with critics so it’ll be interesting to see if the nonagenarian can keep up his streak. And to finish off this round, we’ll see the first spin-off of the studio’s X-Men franchise. The second half of the schedule is relatively lite on superheroes so I’m sure the studio is hoping for a hit.

Eastwood is not the only GRA-nominated director who will be showing up in the second half. Much like Cruise’s next move, Matt Parker’s Coma will be the first time that we see Jeff Nichols take on more grounded material. Meanwhile, Roy Horne’s Excalibur is already gaining a lot of buzz around town. 3-time-nominated director Nicholas Winding Refn returns to the studio for the first time since Season 10 and he’s got a hell of a cast shaping up. He reunites with The Question actress Christina Hendricks, who demands eyes for any role she signs on these days. As if that’s not enough, also headlining are the always-great Daniel Craig and up-and-comer George MacKay. It’s hard to predict the commercial and awards appeal of a fantasy film of this magnitude but all the right pieces are in place.

Elsewhere, there is some unknown in the final stretch of the season. Zatanna will continue the DC Universe’s trek into the Dark side of the universe (and it’s always good to see more female-led films of that scale). Although not much is known about casting, Alex Conn has hyped up his epic family tragedy Haunted as one of his best and has been doing early work to get it in the minds of GRA voters. Additionally, I’ve heard that the likes of Eastwood, Fincher, Nichols and Refn aren’t the only big name directors on the slate for the remainder of the season.

In regards to current awards races, our current Best Actress race looks like it could be an all-star game of LRF greats. Larson, Hendricks, Mackenzie Foy, Margot Robbie, oh my. Actor is a little more interesting and open. Who would you say is the front-runner right now? I think there’s been a few interesting lead performances, I don’t think there are any clear favorites (again - Cruise and Pine are safe bets to shake up the race).

It should be a good, unpredictable second half of Season 16! I will check in with you all again at the end of the season for the annual For Your Consideration post. I’ll be going now.