Top 10 War Films

Sherman J. Pearson here for another edition of Top 10. Days Without End was just released, the lone war film from the studio this season, so I decided to look at the best war films from the studio.

Top 10 War Films
10. The Banded Ants 3 - Showdown
9. Days Without End
8. The Banded Ants 2 - The Mortal Enemy
7. Missing Men
6. Nation's Pride
5. The Banded Ants
4. Delaware
3. A Farewell to Arms
2. Shake Hands with the Devil
1. To the White Sea

Now Showing: Doctor Love

Doctor Love
Genre: Drama/Comedy/Sports
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Writer: Mo Buck & Chad Taylor
Cast: Jon Hamm, Chris Hemsworth, Billy Magnussen, Wyatt Russell, John Carroll Lynch, Alice Eve, David Harbour, John David Washington, Jason Schwartzman, Greg Kinnear, Hafbor Jullius Bjornsson

Plot: We’re in 1986, in the backstage area of a crowded arena, where thousands of people watch two wrestlers doing what they do best: entertain. During this time, Dr. Hank Love (Jon Hamm), is giving steroids to his best friend, Tommy Goode (Chris Hemsworth). Goode is one of the most popular wrestlers on Earth, everyone knows his name, thanks in large part to his out-of-this-world physique. Goode has always been jacked but since he met with Dr. Love, he has been even larger than he ever imagined. His physique brought him to the top of the wrestling world, where he holds the Championship belt of the biggest company in the world, World Wrestling United, based in the United States. The syringe is still in Goode’s calf when Stu Benson (Greg Kinnear), owner of said promotion comes in. He tells them that he’s tired of seeing them doing drugs and they should do that somewhere else, the government is watching them. Stu says he’s been under fire recently for the steroid usage in his company and Tommy Goode is one of the only reasons why. He thinks that it would be for the best if they send him down to another, smaller promotion to lay low until this whole government things cools down. Love says that there’s no way he remains here while Goode leaves and Benson tells him that he must go to, because, after all, he’s the one giving the drugs to the wrestlers. Before he leaves, Stu adds, to Goode’s anger that he’s dropping the title tonight and that he will fake quitting after the match. It doesn’t sit well with him, but he agrees. Goode gets up to leave the room, but Love forgot to remove the syringe from his calf. He hits the door and pushes the syringe further into his calf. He’s in pain, as Love removes it and says he’s sorry.

We see Candi Johnson (Alice Eve), a wrestling valet for Sun Belt Wrestling (SBW), from behind, giving a blowjob to her husband, the much older owner of SBW, Jules Jamieson (John Carroll Lynch). Jamieson is on the phone with Stu Benson. Jamieson is one of the many wrestling promoter who wants Tommy Goode working for him. He tells Candi to slow down and he negociates with Stu. A pesky manager in the organizaton, Ephraim Goldstein (Jason Schwartzman) watches them through the window. Jules says that he's willing to pay top money to get Goode, but he should get a discount because he's helping Benson to get out of trouble, and thus keeping him in business (a steroid scandal could kick the company out of business). Stu accepts with the discount, it's much higher than any other offers he received so far. Jamieson is power hungry and he has big dreams for SBW. He's not afraid to throw in the big bucks to get his company to the next level, as shown with the Goode deal. As Stu accepts, Candi finishes her job and she cleans everything. Jules orders her to keep it a secret, he wants to keep the surprise. As Candi leaves, she notices Ephraim and his clear erection and calls him a creep.

2 Weeks Later; Hot Springs, Arkansas. A group of wrestlers hang out backstage at SBW - a southern based promotion that is much more regional than the one we've seen before (and is hoping to reach that level in the future). George Shaw (David Harbour) is the most respected of the group as a 16-year veteran of the business. He has plenty of stories to tell, especially about the way the business has changed from when he first started. "Pretty Boy" Phillip Lord (Billy Magnussen) is the most social and outspoken of the group, particularly about his racist, sexist, and homophobic views. This notably clashes with his in-ring character who is overly effeminate and flaunts traits commonly associated with queer cultures (even though they won't outright say that the character is gay). Since SBW is based in the south, this character gets the most reaction out of the audience, who hate him with a passion. The only person he tones down the racism around is Clarence "Motown" Brown (John David Washington) - mainly because Motown is SBW's resident drug dealer. General Rhett Gunn (Wyatt Russell) is sitting on his own, wrapping his wrists with tape and keeping his head down. His in-ring character is draped in military regalia, a nod to Gunn's own past service.

Ephraim Goldstein waltzes in and, in a whispery tone, says that he has heard rumors that there is going to be a new arrival with a big ego tonight - but you didn't hear that from him. Every one eagerly turns their eyes to the door but in walks Goldstein's 7-foot managerial client Goliath (Harbor Julius Bjornsson) eating a triple cheeseburger. Goliath, who does not speak English, sees everyone looking at him and gives off a big smile with the food still in his mouth. He is soon followed through the door by a slightly drunk Jules Jamieson. He informs them that he has just acquired a major talent for the promotion and that this could be huge for taking them to the next level. In walks Goode and Love, followed by some shocked faces and minor groans. Goode immediately complains about the conditions while Love introduces himself as Goode's personal physician. With a big grin on his face, Pretty Boy whispers to Motown that he is going to use Love to get to get to Goode's physique and become a top wrestler in the world. Goode, meanwhile, catches a glare from George Shaw who is staring him down. Goode gives him a wink.

Candi is the first one to have an appointment with Dr. Love. She kisses him on the border of the mouth, which bothers Love. He doesn't want to have a relationship with a patient, it's the ethical thing he maintains, because the rest of his practice is sketchy, at best. Candi complains about back pain and she's really forward with Love. She keeps bending over to show her backside to him and she flirts with him. Love rejects her advances and he reminds her that she's a married woman. She acknowledges thst fact, but she adds that she's married with an old man. She gets closer to Hank and he kicks her out of his office, irritated. The next person to pay him a visit is Pretty Boy, who invites Love to go out drinking with the boys after the show tonight. Love is reluctant but is already feeling lonely here in Arkansas and accepts the offer to come along with the caveat that he is sober and won't drink. Pretty Boy then tells Doc about his ambitions to bulk up, turn face and leave SBW for the big leagues - giving Doc a wink while he says this. Love remains stoic but says that point him to the right diet regime that might help him reach his goal.

On the town, the group is segregated into good guys and bad guys (character-wise) as they must maintain pro wrestling's illusion in public. Some of the guys noticed Candi's fixation on Dr. Love and Motown thinks it is a gold digger back up to her old tricks (because Love is likely more affluent than Jules). Things escalate fairly quickly when Pretty Boy starts to get drunk and run his mouth. In a one-way conversation with Goliath, he says that he is happy that Doc Love is here because this means that he can fulfill his drug needs from a white man. A drunk game of telephone ensues as word gets around to Motown that Dr. Love might threaten his throne as SBW's head dealer. At the bar, Love gets Gunn to open up as Gunn says he is in need of anti-depressants. Love starts to ask him about his time in the military but they're interrupted when a fight breaks out in the background between Pretty Boy and Motown. Chaos ensues as people start to take sides - Gunn throws a punch Pretty Boy's way while Shaw and Goode seize upon this opportunity to go after each other. Ephraim - as a proxy voice for Jules - breaks up the fight and scolds Goode and Shaw for breaking kayfabe as they are both fan favorites and should be on the same side.

On the ride to the next town, Love asks Goode why he is already contentious with George Shaw. Goode explains that when he first entered the business, Shaw was his mentor. However, despite being better in the ring, Shaw grew irritated that Goode became a bigger hit with the fans and has been resentful ever since. Love seems skeptical of Goode's explanation but nods his head in agreement. At the next show, Candi seeks out Doc to apologize for her behavior in Hot Springs and says she felt terrible about risking Love's job given her husband is the owner. She explains that she was young and naïve and Jules was someone who could give her stability (in the form of semi-permanent employment). He responds by apologizing for her lashing out against her but that he is peculiar about his moral code. Their conversation feels much more natural this time than before and they share a few laughs at the expense of the other wrestlers.

The next day, Pretty Boy enters Love’s office with one clear goal in mind, getting steroids. Love denies that he’s a drug distributor, but Phillip tells him that everyone knows why he got fired from the previous company, but nobody will talk about it, well, except Phillip Lord, who says everything that crosses his mind, offensive or not. Pretty Boy wants to get bigger, it could do wonders for his career. Love starts to whisper and he opens a suitcase full of steroids. He gives some to Phillip, but he warns him to shut up his loudmouth and nobody needs to know that he gave him that. Pretty Boy leaves and as soon as he exits, Ephraim enters. He gives Love an advice, he should be careful about what he’s doing, because there’s a rumor around that there’s an FBI informant within Sun Belt Wrestling. They go to the locker room area, where Ephraim helps Love figure out all the possibilities. Is it Goliath, the giant who never speaks and only eats cheeseburgers ? Is it Pretty Boy, the loudmouth who think rules don’t apply to him? Is it Rhett Gunn, the ex-military who’s on antidepressors? Is it George Shaw, the grizzled veteran with a phantomic presence in the locker room? Could it even be Motown Brown, the notorious pusher of SBW? No one knows…

As Ephraim leaves, Candi grabs Love by the arm and drags him in his office. She complains about back pains again, but this time, she’s not sexually suggestive. She has a bruise on her upper-body that Love notices when he examines her. He asks her how she got that and she doesn’t want to talk about it. Love insists and she starts crying. She reveals him that her husband, Jules, was drunk (as always) yesterday and he forced her to do things that she didn’t want to do and when she refused, he started to hit her until he fell asleep. Love thanks her for opening to him and he tells her that the back pains could come from those wild nights. Candi says he’s lucky to not be in a relationship like that. Love says that he once in a relationship with a woman, but at one point, when Love’s career really started to take off, she decided she wanted a divorce. She attacked him in court on all fronts and, in part due to his alcoholism, he lost access to his kids and his house in the process. He hasn't drank a sip of alcohol a day since. Love is now crying with Candi and they share a hug, to try to console the other from their past or present suffering.

Hank vents his frustration over the rumored FBI informant to Goode, who is also obviously worried by this. They both feel like they're being black-balled from the industry as sacrificial lambs. The next day, Shaw suffers a shoulder injury in a match and Love treats him after the match. Hank tells him that his initial fear is that Shaw might have just wrestled his last professional match but he will have more medical tests done to see. Shaw tells him that he can't give up wrestling just yet as he has to have a match with Tommy to prove his worth. Hank, thinking back on what Goode told him earlier, tells Shaw that he will be remembered as just influential in the business (if not more) than Goode. George tells him it is more than that - Goode falsely accused of rampant racism and ended up costing him career in the big leagues which is how Shaw ended up banished to regional promotions in the South for so many years. This was likely Goode's way of getting Shaw out of his way for the spotlight. And that's why Shaw wants a match to prove those years did not go to waste. When Motown goes to visit Love after his match, things seem a bit awkward between them and Motown asks if he has heard about a possible FBI informant and Love affirms. They come to agreement that they will watch each other's backs, but Motown warns Hank not to get too comfortable on Motown's turf.

As Gunn and Hank walk to a private room, Pretty Boy struts on by as he walks towards the entrance ramp with a long sequined yellow robe and two oiled up younger men following behind to him to ensure that his robe does not touch the ground. Hank gives Gunn the meds he was asking for and Gunn starts to break down crying. Hanks consoles him and says he understands as his dad fought in the Second World War but Gunn tells him it isn't that. He says that, as a gay man, his military experience was a unique one. He loved his country but not the warped sense of values that it is laced with and he felt the brunt of that while in the Army. Now he is pigeon-holded by his veteran status and is constantly reminded of his tortured past by dressing up in military regalia every night. And on top of that, there is a homophobic asshole in Pretty Boy who goes out every night and leeches off the crowd's hatred of gays while exuding every stereotype under the sun. Hank is a bit stunned by all of this but offers a sympathetic ear to Gunn as he vents. Once they leave, Goliath peeks his head from an adjoined room and leaves with a scantily-clad young lady once they see the coast is clear.

On the road, Goode asks Hank how he likes it with this promotion. Love says he is actually enjoying it and able to connect with these wrestlers more than he has in the past. Tommy suggests Love maybe consider staying down here at SBW when Goode goes back to Benson. Meanwhile, Motown starts to notice his sales take a hit and puts two and two together that it is Hank's dealings that is the cause. Backstage, he confronts Hank about this and gets physical, which causes Goode to step in between and push Motown back. This turns into a brawl which results in a broken jaw for Motown - which spells trouble for Jules as Motown is the face of the promotion. In the background, Ephraim whispers to Pretty Boy that he has heard a rumor that Rhett Gunn might be gay. When Pretty Boy asks where he heard this, he says Doc Love told him.

Just as things calm down a bit in the locker room, Pretty Boy decides to tease Gunn by making a veiled homophobic joke. Instead of sitting in silence per usual, Gunn stands up and shoves Pretty Boy to the ground - prompting Phillip to say "So it's true?!". Gunn cocks back his fist to punch Lord but he opts to walk out instead. All the wrestlers are shocked at both the revelations and what just went down. Ephraim starts a rumor that Gunn told that to Love in confidentiality but he broke it by telling Pretty Boy. Jules enters the chaos and is absolutely furious at all that has went down. In a panic about Motown's injury, he says they might as well use this heat to earn some profit and so their new top feud will be Gen. Rhett Gunn vs. Pretty Boy Phillip Lord. There is a general sense among the locker room that this is a scummy move by Jules, but who are they to say something.

In his office, Jules comes to the conclusion that Goode is to blame for the recent chaos and so he has to punish him in some way. Looking at his papers, he sees Shaw's name and a lightbulb goes off. He calls Goode into his office and tells him he will be facing George Shaw at the next show and taking the pin clean. Goode is furious about this.

The night before the big show, there is a doomed feeling in the air. Love realizes that something is wrong when everyone - including Candi - seem to look at him with disgust. At the hotel, Love sits alone in his room and stares out the window at a neon sign for a bar. In his room, Jules is drinking heavily as he worries about the show going off well. When Candi asks if they can go out tonight for dinner, he backhands her hard enough to leave a bruise. Crying, she storms out and wanders down the hallway. Meanwhile, Love is leaving his room (presumably to go to the bar outside) and encounters a hysterical Candi. She breaks down into his arms and he helps her back to his room. Candi asks Hank why he outed Gunn and he swears that he would never do anything like that and she believes him. When she tells him what happened with Jules, Love said he is going to go down there and take care of Jules - employment be damned. Candi tells him not to do that and instead just make her feel loved. The sexual tension is too undeniable for Hank this time as he carries her to his bed and they have sex. Later, a drunk Jules sits at the end of the hallway, waiting for Candi to arrive back. He sees her leave Love's room but she doesn't see him. He makes note of that door number and later discovers that the room belongs to Love.

The show with Goode-Shaw and Gunn-Lord is a massive success for the company but Jules is on a path of revenge and is still unsatisfied. He pulls Pretty Boy into his office and tells him of his new plan to betray his agreement with Stu Benson. He plans to convince Stu to take back Goode, which he will presumably do after the success of last night. Since Goode is going, Love will likely follow and Jules is also going to offer Lord. Pretty Boy's eyes light up, seeing this as his opportunity to make it big. Jules tells him to cool his jets as he will have a specific purpose: plant the drugs given to him by Love into the bags of the WWU wrestlers and then call the authorities. Jules says this will cause a massive scandal for Stu that will be hard to recover from and thus SBW will have a shot at becoming top dog - and Pretty Boy will be their top star. This prompts Lord to have a big grin and he says the plan is crazy but it might just work.

On the road to Michigan, Love laments his downfall at SBW to Goode. He is bummed about being falsely accused at betraying a patient's confidentiality. He confesses to Goode that he slept with Candi but Tommy shrugs his shoulders and says that Jules was a dick, so it's whatever. At WWU, Pretty Boy has the drugs on him but is contemplating which way his best shot at stardom. Unfortunately (or luckily) for him, he does not have to make the decision as Tommy Goode rats him out immediately to Stu Benson, who is disgusted by Lord's plotting. He fires him on the spot, even though he insists he had no bad intentions. Additionally, Goode betrays Love by telling Stu that Love slept with one of his patients at SBW. Even though he is used to turning a blind eye to Love's distribution of steroids to Goode, Benson tells Love that he can't be employed here if he will be doing stuff like that. Love is in shock and, on his way out, Goode tells him "It was either you or the both of us."

Driving away from the arena, Love contemplates what just happened. He wonders to himself if Goode is the one in cooperation with the FBI and was ready to sell his friend out. He pulls over and stops at a restaurant for a bite to eat. He asks to use their phone, which he uses to call Candi and tell her he is coming back to see her and that they can go anywhere she wants. He hangs up the drink and orders a coffee. The door to the restaurant slings open and a man wearing an FBI jacket walks in. He goes in the opposite direction of Love and so they don't see each other. Love sits lonely in his booth, fiddling with his napkin. He calls the waitress back to his table and tells her to scrap the coffee and get him a whiskey on the rocks.

Release: Days Without End

Days Without End
Genre: Drama/War
Director: Doug Liman
Writer: Jimmy Ellis
Based on the novel by Sebastian Barry
Cast: Jack Reynor, Joe Keery, Ben Mendelsohn, Adam Beach, Q'Orianka Kilcher, Jack Huston, Barry Pepper, Olivia Colman, Willem Dafoe, Matt Bomer, Vincent Cassel, Eva Green



Budget: $49,000,000
Domestic Box Office: $38,711,928
Foreign Box Office: $32,362,222
Total Profit: -$23,069,539

Reaction: Being a period war drama without big action scenes or big names, the film was not easy to market. We were hoping the film would find an audience regardless, but that didn't happen this time around.

"The film ends up being a really odd selection of elements (war, drama, cross dressing?) that may have worked together on the page, but struggle to find a cohesiveness on the big screen." - Pearce Chayka, Daily Telegraph

"Jack Reynor shows that he is an actor on the rise with this challenging lead role. The film is a bit all over the place, but Reynor's confident portrayal grounds the story." - Mark Brown, Austin American-Statesman

"Like many of Doug Liman's films, Days Without End, is a bit of a messy film that probably shouldn't be as enjoyable as it turned out. The film briskly moves from place to place and supporting characters come and go at a rapid pace, but some strong performances and entertaining scenes tie it all together." - Henry Daniels, Vancouver Sun

Rated R for scenes of graphic war violence and some sexuality/nudity

In Development

Doctor Love: John David Washington (Missing Men, "Gauntlet"), Jason Schwartzman (Wine Country, The Polka King), Greg Kinnear (Libra, "House of Cards") and Hafbor Jullius Bjornsen (Mortal Kombat, "Game of Thrones") will round out the cast of the wrestling film Doctor Love. Washington will play a drug dealing wrestler, Kinnear will play a major wrestling promoter, Schwartzman will play a weasly wrestling manager, while Bjornsen will play a foreign wrestler. Steven Soderbergh directs from an original script by Mo Buck and Chad Taylor.

The Reign of Lady Morgana: The upcoming Sam Raimi-directed horror film has added Ella Purnell (Resident Evil, "Sweetbitter"), Peter Dinklage (Bravo/Samurai, Lucky Luke and Billy the Kid) and Michael Madsen (The Squared Circle, Atlantic City). Andrew Doster penned the screenplay.

Kindred: The upcoming film from director Ava DuVernay and writer Jimmy Ellis has added Trevor Jackson (Standing Back, "Gauntlet", Nicole Beharie (XIII, "Sleepy Hollow"), Zoe Kravitz (Trip, "Leaving Everything") and Aml Ameen (Yardie, The Maze Runner) to its ensemble cast in supporting roles.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic: Timothy Olyphant (Halo 3, Sisters), Maisie Williams (Blue Heat, "Game of Thrones"), Vincent Cassel (Blackbird, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory) and Daniel Cudmore ("Brimstone", X-Men: Days of Future Past) have signed on to the upcoming Star Wars film from director Michelle MacLaren and writer Roy Horne. Olyphant will play a Republic soldier, Williams will play an alien thief, Cassel will play a mercenary and Cudmore will play a Wookiee.

Scion 3: Saoirse Ronan (One for the Ages, Hippies in New York), Harris Dickinson (Trip, Scion 2) and  Jovan Adepo (Scion 2, Overlord) have all signed on to return for the highly anticipated finale of the Scion trilogy. Jeff Nichols (Animus, Scion 2) is returning to direct with a script once again written by John Malone (Scion 2, Nevada, Iowa) and Chad Taylor (Orchid, Buried Child).

The Mutation: As soon as he's done working on Doctor Love, Billy Magnussen (Justice League International, Missing Men) will star in The Mutation, an upcoming fantasy horror film from writer Ben Collins (Stray Dogs, Black Dublin) and director Guillermo del Toro (Nexus, The Banded Ants 3 - Showdown). He will play a young man who visits a troubling New England fishing village. He will also be joined in the film by Ana de Armas (Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Girl/Girl) who plays the daughter of the mayor who falls in love with Magnussen's character.

Now Showing: Days Without End

Days Without End
Genre: Drama/War
Director: Doug Liman
Writer: Jimmy Ellis
Based on the novel by Sebastian Barry
Cast: Jack Reynor, Joe Keery, Ben Mendelsohn, Adam Beach, Q'Orianka Kilcher, Jack Huston, Barry Pepper, Olivia Colman, Willem Dafoe, Matt Bomer, Vincent Cassel, Eva Green

Plot: Set in America during the 1850s and 1860s, we open with, Thomas McNulty (Jack Reynor), recounting his younger years as a soldier in the Indian wars. Thomas is originally from the port town of Sligo, Ireland, but he lost his family during the Great Famine. As a 13-year-old orphan, he joined a wave of Irish emigrants who travelled to America in search of a better life, a grueling journey that took him first to Canada before settling in Missouri. Thomas meets a boy his age, John Cole (Joe Keery), when they both seek shelter under the same hedge. From this moment onwards, they become inseparable. They travel together to a mining town called Daggsville, where they are hired to dance and act like women in a saloon owned by a man named Titus Noone (Jack Huston). Thomas and John Cole’s friendship deepens into an intimate relationship, which they hide from the public.

When Thomas is 17, the pair enroll in the army. They are commissioned to fight in the Indian wars, a series of armed conflicts against Native American groups. One of their first attacks is on the Yurok people, prompted when some European settlers in the nearby town of Fort Kearney complain about them. The attack is brutal and violent, but Thomas finds this oddly satisfying. When they are not fighting, the troopers pass the time by playing cards and bonding, which helps them forget their hunger and make it through the cold winter.

One day, the troop encounters the Oglala Sioux tribe. The chief, Caught-His-Horse-First (Adam Beach), generously offers them meat, which helps them make it through the harsh winter ahead. Some soldiers get frostbite and die a few months later, and the troopers make sure to honour their dead compatriots. One of them, Trooper Watchorn, undergoes an elaborate embalming process after his death, The troop relocates to Fort Laramie, where there is a great gathering of government officials, Native American chiefs, emigrant representatives, and troops. The leaders negotiate, and the event concludes when the troop’s major, Tilson Neale (Barry Pepper), signs a treaty with the Sioux leader, Caught-His-Horse-First. The treaty is violated when two emigrants trespass Sioux territory, and are subsequently killed by some Sioux men. This triggers a deep-seated feud between the troops and Caught-His-Horse-First’s band.

As a response to the murdered emigrants, the troop’s leaders decide to retaliate. They divide into two groups and search for the Sioux village, but one of the groups is brutally massacred. Thomas and the others arrive just in time to save their only surviving comrade, Caleb Booth. The troop’s leader, Sergeant Wellington (Ben Mendelsohn), hates Native Americans and makes it his personal mission to find Caught-His-Horse-First and take his revenge. Two years pass and the the troop finally finds the village where Caught-His-Horse-First is rumoured to have been seen. They attack and murder all the adults, but Caught-His-Horse-First escapes. The troop captures the orphaned children and brings them back to the fort. Among them is Winona, Caught-His-Horse-First’s daughter, whom Mrs. Neale (Olivia Colman), the major Neale’s wife, teaches at the fort’s school. Caught-His-Horse-First returns some months later. Unarmed and weak, he desperately wants his daughter back. The major agrees, but she is killed when one of the troopers accidentally sets off his gun, triggering a quick and violent conflict between the men. Caught-His-Horse-First is stabbed by one of the troopers, Starling Carlton (Matt Bomer), but he escapes.

Some years pass and Thomas bonds with one of Mrs. Neale’s students, who is Caught-His-Horse-First’s niece. He names her Winona (Q’orianka Kilcher) since that is the only Native American name he knows. Thomas and John Cole are discharged when the latter becomes ill, and Thomas takes Winona with them to be their servant apprentice. They soon grow fond of her and treat her like she was their own child. The three of them move to the town of Grand Rapids where they reunite with Titus Noone. They perform in his entertainment hall to earn money, which requires Thomas to play a woman like he used to in his teenage years. The show is successful and Thomas, John Cole, and Winona buy a house and settle down as a family. Thomas often wears dresses when he is alone with them, as he starts to feel more comfortable in them than in men’s clothes.

When the Civil War begins, Thomas and John Cole decide to join the Union army in Massachusetts, where they reunite with the major and some of their old comrades. The troop is dispatched to fight the Confederate army in North Virginia. The battles are bloody and brutal, but Thomas and John Cole manage to stay alive. One day, the Rebels attack their regiment without warning and Union troops are forced to surrender. Thomas and the other soldiers are held as prisoners in Andersonville for many months. They live in grisly conditions and the lack of food affects even the camp guards. The black prisoners are killed en masse, and white prisoners are threatened if they help them. Thomas and John Cole are finally set free when the Federal government negotiates a prisoner swap. They reunite with Winona in Grand Rapids and are nourished back to health. The war officially comes to an end.

Thanks to Thomas’s convincing crossdressing-turned-alter-ego (Thomasina), he and John Cole marry. They receive an invitation from their old comrade, Lige Magan (Vincent Cassell), to move to his farm in Paris, Tennessee. They accept but are attacked on the way by a gang of Rebel soldiers, and Winona is almost killed. They finally arrive at the farm, where they live peacefully for some time with Lige, his partner Rosalee (Eva Green), and her brother Tennyson. The gang of Rebels find them and attack the farm, but most are killed thanks to Lige’s sharpshooting abilities.

Starling Carlton pays a surprise visit to the farm in search of Winona. He explains that Caught-His-Horse-First kidnapped the major’s wife, Mrs. Neale, and their two daughters. Mrs. Neale and one of the daughters were killed, but the other daughter was spared in exchange for his niece, Winona. Thomas and John Cole refuse to let her go, so Starling Carlton kidnaps her the next morning. Thomas goes after them and finally reaches the fort, where he tries to speak to the major about saving Winona. Seeing the major stricken by grief, Thomas is unable to find the words to ask for Winona back. The hostage exchange thus takes place: the major’s daughter is returned, and Winona is given back to Caught-His-Horse-First. But this peaceful settlement does not last. Consumed by rage and grief, the major orders the troop to ruthlessly kill all members of Caught-His-Horse-First’s village. Starling Carlton threatens to kill Winona, but Thomas kills him to protect her. Disguised as a woman, he flees fort with Winona and they return to the farm.

Fearing that the troopers may come after him for killing Starling Carlton, Thomas happily maintains his disguise. He realizes that he feels more himself as a woman than as a man. Corporal Coulson (Willem Dafoe), one of the regiment’s leaders, comes to the farm to arrest Thomas for desertion. Although he at first plays along with Thomas’s disguise, he nonetheless recognizes him and urges Thomas to turn himself in to the authorities. Unable to find a solution, Thomas gives in and is sent to prison. During his trial, a witness recognizes him as Starling Carlton’s murderer and he is sentenced to death. As Thomas awaits his execution, the major visits him in his cell. He explains that he defended Thomas’s case to the federal government and managed to revoke the death sentence in exchange for a hard labour sentence. Grateful and relieved, Thomas serves his time and returns to Tennessee, where he reunites with John Cole and Winona.

Release: Assassin's Creed: The New Order

Assassin's Creed: The New Order
Genre: Action/Sci-Fi/Historical
Director: James Cameron
Writer: Meirad Tako
Based on the video game series
Cast: Yoshi Sudarso, Iko Uwais, Sean Harris, Lea Seydoux, Yayan Ruhian, Karl Glusman, Liu Yifei, Christian Berkel, Joe Taslim, Michael Caine




Budget: $168,000,000
Domestic Box Office: $81,289,440
Foreign Box Office: $206,539,192
Total Profit: -$18,551,432

Reaction: This film was almost saved the foreign box office and some very big home video sales, but in the end it all came up just a bit short. We at the studio believe the lack of big name actors, as well as the less than recognizable historical setting, hurt this film's chances at the box office.

"This Assassin's Creed tale is clever story that features a less than obvious setting and some interesting characters with intriguing moral compasses. The action is quick and brutal, and more importantly, entertaining." - Rick Green, New Yorker

"Despite some strong elements, the film struggles in the acting department. There are some solid character actors in supporting roles, but stuntman Yoshi Sudarso clearly isn't cut out for a role this size at this point in his career." - James Tubbs Jr., Vice Magazine

"Assassin's Creed: The New Order has its share of interesting scenes, but it doesn't always seem to know how to tie them all together into a coherent whole. The result is a jumbled film with some very strong action scenes, but a lack of character development." - Brenton Smalls, Playboyr

Rated R for graphic violence and thematic elements

Interview: Meirad Tako

In this first Season 12 edition of Interview, Last Resort Films president Phil Dolan sits down with writer Meirad Tako (Driving Around the Time, Police Story: The Return), to discuss his upcoming film Assassin's Creed: The New Order, as well as some films from the past few seasons that maybe didn't work so well....

PD: What inspired you to write an original story set within the world of the Assassin's Creed video games?

MT: First of all, thank you for once again have an interview with me. I'm don't really know what inspired me, it just come to my mind. And I just love to make an original story inside an already built world, like with Evangelion. I think some people thought I directly adapted the actual Evangelion, but I actually just made a story within the Evangelion's world.

PD: The video games are set in various historical time periods and locales. What gave you the idea to pick the unique setting featured in your film?

MT: The main idea is just that i want to share my country's history, I think all of you want to do that as well. For a little information about why it's called " The New Order", it is a kind of good and bad era at the same time for Indonesia, it was an era of dictatorship lead by president Suharto, our second president that took over by dethroning our first president by accusing him being a Communist.

PD: Season 9 was a rough season for you as a writer with both of your films that season, Alternative and Evangelion, lost a great deal of money at the box office. Do you have any regrets regarding those two films?

MT: I actually have a kind of regret for Alternative. I totally regret of my decision to keep Tim Burton and some other cast. After the screening I feel like they are not ripe enough. And for Evangelion, that regret is that I didn't give any detail for the viewers before the screening that it is not an actual Evangelion. I really love Evangelion and don't think I made a good live action adaptation. I'm so sorry to make all Evangelion fans upset.

PD: Last season you had a surprise success with Police Story: The Return. Do you plan on revisiting those characters?

MT: For Police Story, it is kinda crazy that it got a good little profit, and I totally have a sequel idea, but the problem is that idea is kind of similar to the other Police Story films. I still need more time to refine the story, but still I cannot promise that it would be totally different from the previous Police Story films.

PD: What's next for you?

MT: The next... I actually don't remember what movies I have coming out next, but I got one that still fresh in my mind that I just turned in. It's an idea for a trilogy of films. The first one, The Refugee, I have been pitched. I hope it gets enough profits so it can get greenlighted for the second and/or third film. And believe it or not, but I was inspired for the Fantasy/Action idea from watching a YouTube video from someone named "Graystillplays" (shout out yo!). And once again thank you so much for interviewing me!

Now Showing: Assassin's Creed: The New Order

Assassin's Creed: The New Order
Genre: Action/Sci-Fi/Historical
Director: James Cameron
Writer: Meirad Tako
Based on the video game series
Cast: Yoshi Sudarso, Iko Uwais, Sean Harris, Lea Seydoux, Yayan Ruhian, Karl Glusman, Liu Yifei, Christian Berkel, Joe Taslim, Michael Caine

Plot : Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, 2019. Dodi 'Brian' Mulyo (Yoshi Sudarso), a racer who is racing in Circuito de Jerez. He's alone with the distance between him and the racer on position number 2 is 300 meters. Everything is fine, but suddenly he fell from his bike. The spectators scream hysterically because the sudden event that occur too fast, two yellow flags raised and the racers slowed down and let the medical car to take Dodi away.

Dodi can see nothing but blur, he only can hear the sound of people and the medic car's siren. A few second later he completely went black and can't hear anything from the outside world.

After days and days just looking at the dark 'screen' he finally open his eyes, the first thing that he see is the dark metal ceiling. He look around, there many depressed-look people with white uniform same with the uniform that he uses. He starts to think about what had happened to him, the last thing that he remember is he was on his bike, he lead the race just 300 more meters to win the race until something 'Stung' his neck then he went black.

While thinking, a big metal door in front of his bed opened and a woman walks in. She start a conversation with Dodi, she says that her name is Prof. Ascelina Belmont (Lèa Seydoux). She ask Dodi to walk with her. They walk across a hall that is full of people with a white uniform just like him. She explain him that anyone with white uniform including Dodi, is a person that are predicted has a bond from the past that probably had a contact with the 'people' from the first civilization. Dodi doesn't really get it and just nodding his head and 'hm'ing all the way.

They arrived on another room, it is a not too big room with 2 'unique' beds and on one of the bed lies a topless guy with some weird wire attached to his body, he is sweating really bad. Suddenly, a stranger with white coat appear before Dodi. He introduce himself as Prof. Vsevolod (Sean Harris) and as the mentor of all Professors in the Abstergo industries. He also explain about the weird bed. It is the Animus Version 1.9.9.7, it is a device that can take the important DNA called Gegonota that 'Swim' inside the human body and with a special machine that also crafted with Animus can projecting the memories of the DNA. And in this case. Both of Dodi and Joshua (Karl Glusman) (the guy that's lying on the bed) is an important people. And to prove that Dodi has to provide them with his DNA to be projected by the Animus.

Dodi agree, he put off his shirt and starts to lie on the bed. Prof. Vsevolod and Prof. Ascelina attaching some wire to Dodi's body. After that Dodi has to be relax and let the blood flow without any rush so the Gegonota DNA is easily taken by the needle that is on his body because of the wire that was attached to his body. Dodi inhale and exhale the oxygen slowly and gently until he can see some white sparks although he is closing his eyes and a few second later the sparks become just a white 'screen'.

After Dodi get the reaction of 'Disappearing' Prof. Vsevolod attach one more wire from Joshua's head to Dodi's head and hopping that his plan works as smooth as an ice cream. Then he look at the blank tv that starts blaring.

Jakarta, Indonesia, 1965. The smoke of a burning buildings are raised to the sky, the people is running angrily. Thousands of dead body lies on the road with the blood covering their body, the people with mass amount rush to the main office of the Indonesian Communist Party (Partai Komunis Indonesia (PKI)) at Kramat street, Central Jakarta. The communist was accused to kill 7 flag officers that starts in the 30 September 1965 to the morning of 1 October 1965 and going to start a coup. So the general military, Soeharto. Starts to spread the news and flick the anger of people and hunt down the Communist Party.

Between the random angry people, there's one guy wearing a white robes with hood that cover his head and shadowing his face so people will hardly recognize him. He walk slowly in to the office, many armed member of the party surprised by his calm walk in. With revolver Smith & Wesson Model 67 in both of his hands.

He starts to shoot the member with both of his revolvers brutally. The blood and brain that was spread out of blown head are everywhere. After shooting and out of bullet, he take out a black dagger from his waist. The Communist Member shooting him with Colt m16. The rain of bullet throw him until he smashed the wall cause of the force that he got from the bullets, but he stand up again. No one believe what they've just saw. With the silence moment like this. He move fast and cuts the throats of the member.

After everyone on the room died, he continued to the leaders room. He was welcomed with a shotgun to the head. The shot of shotgun threw his metal mask and tear his hood apart. The leader of Indonesian Communist Party, DN Aidit (Joe Taslim) can't believe that the guy that gonna end his life is his best friend, Ton 'Anton' Ilham (Yayan Ruhiyan). Aidit un-aims his shotgun, he convinces Anton to spear his life so that he can make Indonesia a better country.

Anton, can't believe the word that Aidit throws at him. Anton tell him every bad thing the communist had done to the country. Communist doesn't fit to Indonesia, Indonesia is a large multi-ethnicity country. To 'flat' these ethnicity and say everyone can have someone's thing equally, even their wives is not gonna work and never going to work not just in Indonesia but also in the world.

Aidit is angry because his belief was disagreed by someone that doesn't understand it and starts to aim his shotgun to Anton's head. Anton walk slowly toward him with hidden-blade that already shows it's 'eye'. Aidit shot his gun to Anton's head. Some blueish spark occur and Anton successfully dogde Aidit's bullets and stab him on the throat and heart. Blood started to flow out of his mouth. Anton kicked him to the wall, Aidit's dying body try to say something slowly and unclearly.

"Indonesia tidak akan merasakan perdamai, bahkan jika Soeharto memimpin Indonesia (Indonesia will never feel peace, even if Soeharto lead Indonesia)"

Anton also say something but nothing out from his mouth, instead the sound of blaring tv.

Abstergo Industries, 2019. Dodi slowly opens his eyes, he blink a couple of time to adjust the lamp light to his eyes. He asked Prof. Ascelina what happened and what is the movie-like vision that he saw. Prof. Ascelina just keep her mouth shut and convince Dodi that Prof. Vsevolod will explain what he saw. He look at Joshua's body for a while. Joshua just lie on the bed with no sign of waking like him.

Dodi sent back to his room but this time, he is alone. He was going to sleep when a someone stood before him. He is a bit transparent and wondering in the room. Dodi was going to ask who he is before he disappeared.

Tanjung Priok, Indonesia, 1966. Anton has just finished assassinate a 'big-boss' that rule the city with iron arm. He stabbed him in the eyeballs and shot his heart. Anton was going to leave but he saw a kid that he knew the son of the big boss but the kid is only made by some weird computer program. He's looking at Anton deeply and stated that he already know that Anton is coming when his vision turned blue, he say that with blaring voice. Anton say nothing and leave him but before he leave. He gives him a necklace with Assassin"s Symbol.

Abstergo Industries, Somewhere, 2019. Dodi wakes up and get up slowly. He shakes his head a bit because of the headache that he got. After that he's thinking about some weird feeling that he got by the kid. He somewhat feel a bond with it, although the kid is only a computer program looking kid.

The big door once again opened and Prof. Ascelina ask him to walk with her again to the hall. There many people just don't move, they're looking at the floor with a 'dark' eyes and no sign of life in them. Ascelina left him for a while, while she's going somewhere because she received a call from Prof. Vsevolod. The situation just 'normal' when Prof. Ascelina is in the room but after she left the room. The people there looking at Dodi and approaching him. Dodi confuse cause they all talk different thing at once, but he managed to catch some of them. They say that he is the boy that can save the world and he is the greatest connection to the truth and something about his father. He doesn't even who his father was cause he was adopted since he still a baby and doesn't know anything about who his father or mother.

When the footsteps of Prof. Ascelina sound near from them, they get back to the 'depressed-looked' mode.

Prof. Ascelina bring him to another different room that filled by some old paper on the wall and a hologram projection who wear a white robe with red scarf that had a symbol with triangle shape with hidden blade on the right hand and dagger on his other hand. Prof. Vsevolod stand beside it and explain Dodi who is it. He is the current Master Assassin, he who was gifted the eternal youth and strength by the creator of human. He who keep the key of the world in his head. He is the important person that only Dodi can show to them. Dodi is just silence but he start to think, if the DNA was brought by the parents could that guy is his dad.

Prof. Ascelina bring him back to the animus room. Before he lies on the animus, he ask Prof. AscelIna where Joshua is and Prof. Ascelina tell that his part is done so he was brought back to his place and she say the word 'graveyard' as low as she can and Dodi couldn't hear that and lie on the Animus.

Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, Indonesia, 1984. The loud noise of gun shot from country apparature to people that doing demonstration and criticize the president but the president doesn't like it and order his man to shut them but instead of calming the demonstrator the president order his man to shoot them. Between the demonstrator that fall one by one there's one young man still shouting their thought and critique although other demonstrator starts to run and left him alone. With a sign on his hand he shout about what they want although all apparature are surrounding him with a rifle to his head, he was beaten by the apparatures until he is dying and thrown to the nearest river. His body floats while the force of water bring his body with them.

Few Hours later, Central Jakarta. Anton is walking on the river side until he saw a body floating on the water he immediately save him from the river and take the body to the river side. The young man woke up and cannot remember what had happened. Anton decided to bring him to his house because he recognize the necklace that the kid is wearing, it is the necklace that he gave 18 years ago to the kid after he killed his father.

He brings him to his house, there they welcomed by a Chinese girl. Anton told him that her name is Shun Ling (Liu Yifei) his adopted daughter. They get in to the the dining room because Shun had prepared the dinner. They sit on the chair and enjoy the simple dinner, after that Shun ask Anton to talk privately and they go out.

Shun ask her mentor why did he brought him here. She's afraid that he is a spy or something like that. But Anton ensure her that it won't happen. She can do nothing but agree although she still worry.

They get in again and the young man still sit. Anton tell him that he cannot call him if he doesn't know his own name, so he offer him a name and he accept it. Now his name is Satria (Iko Uwais).

He live as normal as anyone else but he's wondering why Anton and Shun always go out at night with weird robe and guns, he always think that they are some kind of police or soldier but neither police nor soldier wear something like that. Until one night, both of them come back and Shun got injured badly. Anton was panicked he doesn't know what to do. Luckily, Satria quite understand what to do.

Because there were nothing to suture it, he only use bandages to close the wound on her chest and hope her body to take care of it. Satria asked what had happend. And Anton explained that the treasure of the world named 'The Fruit Of Immortality' is been stolen. It is the fruit that was given by the creator of human himself. He left the fruit for the deserved human and for millenniums people hunt it with bad desire and that's the purpose of the Assassin was built. To keep the society and the Fruit save whatever it takes.

Satria just shut, he doesn't understand what is he talking about and turn his back and look at Shun that's already lost her consciousness. Anton touch his shoulder and say that he has to replace her cause. Satria just nod his head, Shun is like a younger sister for him. And want a payback for it.

Bengkulu, Province Bengkulu, Indonesia. 18-March-1988. The sun is raising, Anton and Satria stand side by side, Satria wear the robe that wore by Shun before she decided to stop using it because of her wound that not 100% healed. They run after Boyden de Bakker (Christian Berkel) the person the injured Shun and the one who took the Fruit of immortality. He is the seed of New Communism in Indonesia and a Templar from Holland.

On the dock, they can see Boyden and his man get in the taxi and drive to a place village named Pal-30. They are waiting for the solar eclipse because when the solar eclipse occur the human creator will come before the apple and give the permission to eat it and gain the immortality.

But suddenly 2 of his men was shot down and everybody put on their armor and start the shoot out while Boyden run for himself and Satria run after him. Boyden was good at running but he lost of breath and stop. Satria walk slowly toward him with the Hidden blade on his right hand.

Satria told Boyden to give the Fruit back while the Solar eclipse starts, Boyden take out his pistol and shooting Satria but it doesn't effect anything and Satria kill him by stab his heart many times and take out the Fruti from his suit and when the full solar eclipse occur. A weird light come out from the fruit.

Other things seemed to stop even the bullet doesn't move a bit. Suddenly a hologram looked human appear. He claimed that he is The Creator (Michael Caine). He is the one who make human kind and he told Satria to eat the fruit. At first Satria hesitates to eat it but The Creator force him to eat it. When he eat it, lights come out from his body for a second and then disappear. The Creator told him to keep it somewhere and tell the location but the sound of the location is distorted.

Abstergo Industries, Somewhere, 2019. Dodi woke up, the building is on fire, few people with white robe jump all over the place. The professors is killed brutally.

Dodi runs out of the room and he face to face with Satria and pointed with Hidden blade.

"Hai, son. Im so sorry to do this. But I will do everything to keep the fruit from every bad desire."

Premiere Magazine #112

The Roundup with Jeff Stockton (Season 12 Round 2)

  Not exactly a round that set the season on fire, but here's The Roundup....

3. Crimson Fox
I had problems with this film, but ultimately I did appreciate the quality of world-building featured in the script. The story moved fast and had an entertaining third act set piece.

2. Ana Lily Amirpour
She's a terrifically talented young director. I loved her film The Bad Batch and she was an inspired, creative choice for a big budget superhero project. She definitely managed to elevate the material a bit.

1. Lucas Hedges
Hedges is one of the best young actors working today. He did what he could with a less than stellar role in Theater Kids.

3. Crimson Fox
Like I said, I had problems with this film. The lead characters weren't very interesting and the super powers were decidedly less than cinematic. Crimson Fox just doesn't feel like a character that needs her own film. Hell, Crimson Fox has never even been deemed worthy of her own comic series, and now there's a big budget film based on the character?

2. Prey
Prey was too generic for me. The plot felt very paint by numbers and the talented cast was wasted on cookie cutter roles.

1. Theater Kids
Yes, it was better than Hippies in New York, as the critics have mentioned, but I still had a hard time getting through it. And don't get me started on that soundtrack....

Release: Theater Kids

Theater Kids
Genre: Drama/Comedy/Romance
Director: Greta Gerwig
Writer: Alex Conn
Cast: Lucas Hedges, Kaitlyn Dever, RJ Cyler, Laurie Metcalfe, Tracy Letts, Bruce Dern





Budget: $18,000,000
Domestic Box Office: $22,057,882
Foreign Box Office: $17,391,182
Total Profit: $2,337,504

Reaction: Well, it certainly performed better than Gerwig and Conn's previous collaboration, the abysmal Hippies in New York, so that's a plus. In the end it is not a story that is very marketable, so we're happy it managed to break even.

"It has a lot of the same problems as the last film writer Alex Conn and director Greta Gerwig produced, Hippies in New York. Namely unlikable, annoying characters and an air of self-importance from the story."  - Tim Durand, San Francisco Chronicle

"It's way better than Hippies in New York, but that it still isn't what I would call a good film. The film can come across as pretentious at times, and for a film marketing itself as a comedy, there is a dearth of laughs to be had." - Jon Farrell, Hollywood Reporter

"Lucas Hedges gives the lead role his all, which that alone makes the film watchable. He does everything he can to make his character interesting to follow." - Sean Williamson, Toronto Star

Rated PG-13 for some language and sexual content

Last Resort Films Jukebox: Theater Kids

1. "Since U Been Gone" - Kelly Clarkson

2. "Ironic" - Alanis Morissette

3. "The Suburbs" - Arcade Fire

4. "The Only Exception" - Paramore

5. "Delicate" - Taylor Swift

6. "Rusholme Ruffians" - The Smiths

Now Showing: Theater Kids

Theater Kids
Genre: Drama/Comedy/Romance
Director: Greta Gerwig
Writer: Alex Conn
Cast: Lucas Hedges, Kaitlyn Dever, RJ Cyler, Laurie Metcalfe, Tracy Letts, Bruce Dern

Plot: The film is set in suburban Westchester, NY, and it opens with a theatre club meeting with all the kids in the attendance and the theatre director is explaining the plot of Les Miserables which is the play the theatre club and the theatre director chastises a young couple for making out this couple is Theodore (Lucas Hedges) and Jenna (Kaitlyn Dever).

The film cuts to Theodore and Jenna in the forest making out and after they make out Theodore reveals his has applied to Julliard and tries to convince Jenna to apply but Jenna explains that she has other plans and Theodore keeps pressing and pressing and she finally admits that she doubts her parents would let her do so. Theodore encourages her to at least try.

During dinner right after the dinner prayer Jenna reveals to her mom (Laurie Metcalfe) and dad (Tracy Letts) who are a nurse and small businessman respectively. Jenna reveals that her parents and Jenna’s fathers parents came from nothing and they are not going to let her embarrass the family and throw away the family for future generations. Jenna goes to her room

Theodore is meeting a boy named John (RJ Cyler) for lunch. John is another really talented actor. John is openly gay and comes from the richest family in the town asks Theodore on a date and he says he has a girlfriend in Jenna. John still says he wants to be friends.

Jenna then talks to Mr. Snow (Bruce Dern) about her predicament with her mother and Mr. Snow explains his story as an actor playing in Off Broadway productions and how when his girlfriend had an unwanted pregnancy he deciding to get his Teaching degree.

Jenna makes a deal with her parents that they would pay for drama school if she got nominated for a Metro which is a student award. The parents accept.

The auditions for Les Miserables is on. We see a bunch of really terrible auditions including a kid dressed up in a Madea costume singing a song.

The play is finally in rehearsals. Jenna asks a question to Theodore he give her acting lessons to ensure she gets nominated for a Metro. Jenna offers payment but John says he’ll do it for free.

The first lesson happens in the bedroom. John and the film turns into a montage of their lessons and the happiness.

The montage ends and Jenna and Theodore are talking. They both have bedhead. They are discussing acting and acting techniques and method acting.

The play is finally on and everyone is getting ready and there’s a Friday night show and a Saturday morning and night show. The Friday night and Saturday morning shows go great. All of the actors eat chicken fingers and fries and play an improv game and then the seniors go up and say speeches about how theatre group has changed their lives and good memories. Theodore thanks theatre group for meeting his lovely girlfriend Jenna and everyone claps in Jenna’s direction. Then Jenna is the last one to say her speech and she is nervous and she admits some of her issues and says this play is the key to the future and everyone claps.

The show goes on and is going well until a song in Act 2 where everything goes wrong and she starts crying and everything this is cause she noticed both the Metro guy and her mom in the audience. The rest of the show goes fine.

It is 2 weeks later and Jenna is watching the Metro stream and her name is not mentioned in any of the categories. Theodore texts Jenna about this and tries to convince her to not give up on her dream but her mom won’t pay for drama school.

We then cut to Theodore and John and Theodore and John start talking to each Other on what they should do to help Jenna. John offers a wildcard idea on asking his rich parents to contribute to Jenna.

We then cut to John having lunch with his dad and offering up the idea of giving Jenna the money she needs to pay for Julliard as her parents aren’t supportive. His dad is initially resistant but eventually supports the idea.

Theodore then texts Jenna about the idea. Jenna is thinking about it and she brings it up over dinner which leads to a screaming match over dinner. Jenna then leaves and goes to Theodore’s house. Theodore’s mom accepts the idea.

Back at Jenna’s parents her parents argue about it and her mom cries as her daughter is 18 and can technically leave if she wants.

John and Theodore are talking and John is debating how to finally come out as bisexual to Jenna.

Theodore goes to the guest room and finally comes out to Jenna and she accepts him for who he is.

Jenna the next day is accepted for an audition at Julliard and at the same time her mother shows up at the house and says she accepts she’s an adult but she wants her to come home. She eventually comes home.

Theodore drives Jenna to the audition and she is waiting for them to call her.

The film ends with an audition that Jenna gives to Julliard and it ends ambiguously on whether she gets in or not.

Resume: Lucas Hedges

 

 With another film, Theater Kids, right around the corner, Lucas Hedges has once again cemented himself as one of the most sought after young actors working today. In his young career, Hedges has been nominated for both lead and supporting performances and is showing no signs of slowing down. In this edition of Resume, we will take a look at the filmography of this in-demand young star....














Season 2

The Hunt
Director: Kenneth Lonergan
Writer: Ann Morrow








Budget: $38,000,000
Domestic Box Office: $68,225,074
Foreign Box Office: $60,685,106
Total Profit: $86,792,538


Hedges re-teamed with his Manchester by the Sea director, Kenneth Lonergan, for this film where he played the teenage son of Mark Ruffalo's disgraced school teacher. The film was mostly well-received by critics and was a surprise hit at the box office.

Season 3

Amelie
Director: Wes Anderson
Writer: Ann Morrow



Budget: $44,000,000
Domestic Box Office: $23,537,084
Foreign Box Office: $28,465,587
Total Profit: -$30,654,103


Hedges once again appeared in a supporting role in a remake penned by Ann Morrow. This one was not the hit The Hunt was and was not received kindly by the critics. Hedges played the love interest of Ronan's title character.

Season 6

Be More Chill
Directors: Akiva Schaffer & Jorma Taccone
Writer: Chad Taylor



Budget: $33,000,000
Domestic Box Office: $41,082,067
Foreign Box Office: $50,355,539
Total Profit: $9,565,708


Hedges finally secured his first lead role for the studio in this musical comedy from writer Chad Taylor. Hedges plays a high schooler who wishes to be cool, even taking a drug to make it happen. The film was successful at the box office and critics didn't hate it.

Season 9

Outlaw Country
Director: David Michod
Writer: Dwight Gallo



Budget: $49,000,000
Domestic Box Office: $69,904,375
Foreign Box Office: $40,389,121
Total Profit: $19,760,518

Relegated back to supporting status, Hedges played the younger brother of Aaron Paul and Caleb Landry Jones in this western action film. Hedges portrayed the real life character, the youngest Younger brother, Bob, a member of the James-Young Gang. Hedges received his first GRA nomination for the film for Best Ensemble Cast.

Hippies in New York
Director: Greta Gerwig
Writer: Alex Conn



Budget: $22,000,000
Domestic Box Office: $10,159,113
Foreign Box Office: $4,021,775
Total Profit: -$25,007,916


Hedges' busy Season 9 continued with Hippies in New York, his second of three films on the season. He played a young man coming of age in 1970s NYC. The film became the lowest grossing film in the studio's history, and it was trashed by critics who found it to be an annoying, pretentious mess of a film.

To the Moon
Director: Charlie McDowell
Writer: Seth Overton



Budget: $40,000,000
Domestic Box Office: $69,045,222
Foreign Box Office: $44,800,147
Total Profit: $11,054,880

Hedges rounded out Season 9 with a supporting role as the younger version of David Harbour's character in To the Moon. Not only was the film a success at the box office, but it also went on to win the GRA for Best Picture.

Season 10

Life of a Champion Part 2
Director: Derek Cianfrance
Writer: Alex Conn



Budget: $25,000,000
Domestic Box Office: $28,306,120
Foreign Box Office: $17,155,567
Total Profit: -$16,003,119


Hedges next took on a role in the prequel to Life of a Champion. He played the younger brother of Dane DeHaan's character. The film tanked at the box office, and was not received as warmly as its predecessor.

Letter to Myself
Director: Mo Buck
Writer: Mo Buck



Budget: $27,000,000
Domestic Box Office: $33,906,332
Foreign Box Office: $25,457,890
Total Profit: $6,219,396

Lucas Hedges next took on the role of Mo Buck himself in Buck's auto-biographical directorial debut. The film was nominated for seven Golden Reel Awards, including two for Hedges in the categories of Best Starring Couple and Best Actor.


Up Next: Hedges will next star in another film from writer Alex Conn and director Greta Gerwig, Theater Kids. After that, Hedges is attached to two projects set for release next season.

Review:

• Highest Grossing Film: The Hunt ($128,910,180)
• Most Profitable Film: The Hunt ($86,792,538)
• Most Awarded Film: Letter to Myself (2 wins, 5 nominations)
• Best Reviewed Film(s): To the Moon and Letter to Myself (Metascore: 83)