#meagan boone

[dcminions]

gif packs i’m hoping to get out before the end of the year:

brandy in i still know what you did last summer.

amanda seyfried in mamma mia.

jacob latimore in house party.

justice smith in dungeons & dragons.

paola locatelli in dangerous liasons.

nathalie emmanuel in the invitation.

ritu arya in polite society.

jay ellis in somebody i used to know.

sofia black d’elia in single drunk female s2.

myha’la herrold in industry s1.

deborah ayorinde in riches s1.

tiffany boone in hunters s1.

barrett doss in the noel diaries.

chantel riley in frankie drake mysteries s2.

auli’i cravalho in the power s1.

arden cho in partner track.

nicole byer in grand crew s2.

tessa thompson in sylvie’s love.

and maybe coco in s2 of bel - air.

also maybe to meagan in s2 of harlem.

[blackfemmecharacterdependency]

AUGUST Celebrity Birthdays & Events

August Birthdays

Leo Stars (July 23-Aug 22) 1: Tempestt Bledsoe, Oluchi Onweagba 2: Alvina August 3: Chandler Kinney, Jo Marie Payton 4: Eris Baker, Yolonda Ross 5: Chip Fields, Janet DuBois, Thishiwe Ziqubu 6: Merrin Dungey, Regina Van Helvert 7: Kheris Rogers 8: Meagan Good, Kimberly Brooks, Tawny Cypress, Sherri Marina 9: Whitney Houston, Angely Gaviria, Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson, Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut 10: Yaani King 

11: Viola Davis, Sophie Okonedo 12: Imani Hakim, Yvette Nicole Brown 13: Dawnn Lewis, Deborah Ayorinde 14: Jackée Harry, Halle Berry, Marsai Martin, Aliyah Moulden, Kabrina Adams 15: Christine Adams, Andrea Lewis, Tanedra Howard 16: Angela Bassett, Simone Leigh, Karen Obilom 19: Sara Martins, Tracie Thoms, Paula Jai Parker 20: Ashley Nicole Williams 21: Loretta Devine, Kelis, Kaliegh Garris, Kiami Davael 22: Rachel Adedeji

Virgo Stars (Aug 23-Sept 22) 23: Angelique Noire, Clarissa Thibeaux 24: Ava Duvernay, Harriett D Foy 25: Ashley Winfrey, China Anne McClain 26: Ola Ray, Keke Palmer 27: Chandra Wilson, Demetria McKinney, Tiffany Boone 28: Samantha Liana Cole, Jessieca Alford, Quvenzhane Wallis 29: Kelly McCreary 30: Angel Coulby, Xernona Clayton 31: Phina Oruche, Jaylen Barron

August Events:

1: Spiderman Day | 2: International Friendship Day | 9: International Day of the World's Indigenous People | 13: Pan-African Flag Day | 23: National Dark Skin Day | 26. ANNOUNCEMENT: WE DO NOT CELEBRATE WHITE WOMEN'S RIGHT TO VOTE DAY HERE | 28: Power Rangers Day | 31: International Day for People of African Descent

[keep-it-light]

STAY ANGRY

“THIS IS A SHIT SHOW!” -Michael DeSanta GTA 5

I started to watch the Blacklist a few months ago. My mom was buying me the seasons on Amazon and I was binge watching them. I binge watched 5 seasons of the show and stopped when I saw where they were taking it, let’s just say I was not pleased like some of you. I didn’t like that they weren’t making Liz a likable character and always making her prod and preen for information from Red, it was pissing me off so much that I ended up hating her. I’m someone who actually understands that somethings are best left forgotten and somethings are best left untold which the character of Liz should’ve know throughout the show, but the writers didn’t think so and made her a bitchy character that goes behind the man who’s been protecting hers back and continually tries to kill him. You see the problem here, right? 

I will come clean and say I really never liked her dumb fuck of a husband Tom because he’s another example of poor writing decisions. Instead of making him trust worthy and reliable they made him idiotic and utterly useless and go behind Red’s back to get as the show calls it “THE TRUTH”. Well here’s the TRUTH for you all, maybe Liz shouldn’t know everything about herself. Like I said before,  somethings are best left forgotten and somethings are best left untold. Maybe the information that Liz so desperately wants to know would put her in more danger than she already is, either way she would not like what she would hear.

I haven’t been watching the show, I’ve been getting my information about what’s going on from you Blacklist fans on here and from what I can tell I would be screaming at my tv saying “WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU IDIOTS DOING!?”      I find the whole Rederina thing really fucking stupid, I mean come on! Raymond Reddington is RAYMOND REDDINGTON! He’s not anything else, he’s a businessman with great taste in clothing / food / transportation / and places to travel. Red has a heart and actually cares, not only that he’s a father. Yes, I said it, Raymond “Red” Reddington is Elizabeth Keens father. (I’m not a Lizzington shipper) All he ever tries to do is protect her and make sure that she doesn’t do anything that she’ll regret. I’ll say it again, Red is Liz’s father. END OF STORY.

NBC was fucking Meagan Boones character for so long that I really feel bad for her and feel the same way for James Spader, he is Red and there destroying what Red is. I hate seeing the shows I love get destroyed by the horrible disease that is post-modernism, and this show has sadly been infected with the disease for awhile and it’s really sad. To everyone out there that hates where they have taken the BLACKLIST, I feel your pain. As OverlordDVD on YouTube would say “STAY ANGRY”.

[dpromophotospal-blog]

#TheBlacklist 5x22 "Sutton Ross" (Finale) Sneak Peek Promotional Photos & Synopsis 

[owlobservatory]

boone and meagan do this every morning without fail.... yoga buddies

[coolhandlook]

2018:78 — The Sand

(2015 - Isaac Gabaeff) *

Some bad movies are still fun to watch — so bad they’re good. This was not one of those movies.

[lakecountylibrary]

Pride Month Reads for Middle Grade

Middle schoolers need Pride Month too. Here are LCPL Assistant Librarian Meagan’s recommendations for great LGBTQ+ reads!

[ID: Pink background with illustrations of rainbow sunglasses, a person holding a pride flag, and a group of three people with a rainbow heart arranged around book covers for books reviewed below. Text reads Read with Pride. June is Pride Month. Celebrate it. Suggestions made by LCPL Youth Librarians. /ID]

Star-Crossed by Barbara Dee A.R Level – 4.3, 7 points Lexile – 630, 14 points

Mattie was not invited to a popular girl's Halloween party. Her well-meaning friends convinced her to sneak in anyway. When Mattie meets Gemma, a smart and pretty British girl, she must try to navigate and understand her new growing feelings for Gemma as they are cast in the lead roles of Romeo and Juliet.

With a hint of Romeo and Juliet in the storyline, this is a sweet and relatable story for middle school situations as Mattie struggles with getting over an ex-crush, not being invited to a popular girl's party, and her new growing feelings for her co-star Gemma.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier A.R Level – 2.3, 1 point Lexile – 320, 5 points

Eucalyptus Middle School is casting for the fall production: Moon over Mississippi. Callie adores drama and theater but prefers to be behind the scenes. A talented set designer, she is full of ideas for this production. As preparations are underway, a real drama unfolds, and Callie is swept off her feet by it. Will the show go on?

Callie's story is a fun story that will appeal to readers who enjoy theatre and developing friendships. Through her passion about set design, Callie meets two vibrant brothers, Justin and Jesse. She learns to be a supportive friend to them and helps the school put on the best production. The audience will love following along with the drama at Eucalyptus Middle School.

The Other Boy by M.G. Hennessey AR Level – 4.2, 6 points Lexile – 560, 12 points

Middle-schooler Shane Woods has it all—a great best friend, a supportive mother, and a natural talent for sports. Little does Shane know his life is about to be turned upside down when another student at his school reveals a secret about Shane the he thought he had escaped.

In this story about a boy in the process of transitioning, readers will find it heartbreaking that he is afraid to tell people his true self due to the hate people would give him. With strength and the right support group, Shane learns he can build the life he wants to live.

One True Way by Shannon Hitchcock AR Level: 4.0, 4 points Lexile: 560, 9 points

In 1977, Allie moves to a small town in the south, Daniel Boone Middle School, where she meets Sam. Sam is a well-liked school basketball star. Allie and Sam become fast friends, but that soon changes when Allie realizes she might feel more for Sam than just friendship.

Readers will appreciate Allie and Sam's bravery in coming out during the 1970s, a time when it was scary to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community.

See more of Meagan’s recs

[the-record-obituaries]

Feb. 19, 2020: Obituaries

Chloe Huskey, 12

Miss Chloe Reese Huskey, age 12 of North Wilkesboro, daughter of Ronnie Huskey and Alisha Adams Huskey, passed away Saturday, February 15, 2020, at her home.                               Reese touched the lives of many with her infectious smile, her sincere kindness, and her incredible and courageous journey.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM, Thursday, February 20, 2020, at Fairplains Baptist Church with Pastor David Dyer officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 PM Wednesday, February 19, 2020, at Reins Sturdivant Funeral Home.

Reese was born February 7, 2008, in Catawba County to Ronnie and Alisha Adams Huskey. She was a member of Arbor Grove United Methodist Church.  Reese was a student at Central Wilkes Middle School and attended North Wilkesboro and Wilkesboro Elementary  Schools during her elementary school years.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather; Gene Adams, her paternal grandfather; Troy Huskey and an uncle; Tommy Huskey.

Reese is survived by her parents of the home, maternal grandparents; Dean and Linda  Absher of Wilkesboro and Cleo Huskey of North Wilkesboro, a sister; Reagan Adams of Charlotte, a brother; Reid Huskey of North Wilkesboro, aunts and uncles; Angel Minton and husband Jeff of Wilkesboro, Alison Thornton of Mooresville and Alison Huskey McCormick, cousins; Alex Minton, Lauren Minton, Raylan Minton, Aubree Thornton, Pierce Thornton, Cole Huskey, Alaina Grit, her special person, Deana Wyatt, and other relatives and friends who loved Reese very much.

The family would like to thank the doctors and staff of Levine's Children's Medical Center CVICU and Sanger Pediatric Heart Institute for their excellent care provided to Reese.  A very special thank you to Mountain Valley Hospice for the incredible care and compassion provided to Reese and the entire family.  The family appreciates all of the prayers and concerns extended to them during this time.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice 401 Technology Lane Suite 200 Mount Airy, NC 27030, Camp Luck PO Box 5159 Charlotte, NC 28299, American Heart Association 10 Glenlake Pkwy NE South Tower Suite 400 Atlanta, GA 30328 or Ronald McDonald House Charities 26345 Network Place Chicago, IL 60673-1263.

 Eldon Gentry, 81

Mr. Eldon Gentry age 81, of Roaring River passed away Saturday February 15, 2020 at SECU Hospice Center. Mr. Gentry was born March 30, 1938 in Wilkes County, to Lonnie Spurgeon and Ruby Walters Gentry.

Eldon was a Retired farmer and a member of Benham Baptist Church.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mable Billings Gentry; and a brother, Bob Gentry. Survivors include: son, Eddie Gentry and wife Rhonda of Wilkesboro; brother, Raymond Gentry of Roaring River; granddaughter, Meagan Leigh Gentry of Raleigh, and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service with be conducted Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at 2:00 pm at Benham Baptist Church, with Rev. Keith Lyon, and Rev. Joe Souther officiating. Burial will follow in the Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6:00-8:00 pm at Elkin Funeral Service.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to Mtn. Valley Hospice and Palliative care, 688 N. Bridge St., Elkin N.C. 28621

  William Jennings, 51

William "Billy" Jennings, age 51, of Hays, passed away, Saturday, February 15, 2020 at his home. He was born May 29, 1968 in Portsmouth, Virginia to Roy Glenn and Onnolea Jean Johnson Jennings. Billy loved his model car collection, building and collecting hundreds of models. He loved NASCAR, the Pittsburgh Steelers and golf. He Loved and adored his family. Mr. Jennings was preceded in death by his parents; and wife Chrystal Jennings.

Surviving are his wife, Natasha Wingler Jennings; daughters, Stormy Dawn Davalos and spouse Alejandro of North Wilkesboro, Shandy Rae Miller and spouse Daniel, Kaylea Gentle all of Hays; grandchildren, Davari Davalos, Leticia Davalos, Zaiden Davalos; sisters, Angela Jennings Reed of Jefferson, Vickie Fox of Hays.

Funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at Miller Funeral Chapel with Jamie Rollyson speaking. Burial will follow in Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Miller Funeral Service from 12:00 until 2:00 on Wednesday, prior to the service. Flowers will be accepted. Memorials may be made to the SECU Family House, 1970  Baldwin Lane, Winston Salem, NC 27103. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.  

 Gary Miller, 66

Gary Wayne Miller, age 66, of Millers Creek, passed away Friday, February 14, 2020 at Alleghany Health. He was born June 11, 1953 in Wilkes County to Issac Lester and Adna Ruth Miller. Mr. Miller was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Loretta Miller; several brothers and sisters. He was of the Baptist Faith and employed with W&L Motor Lines as a truck driver.

He is survived by his daughter, Rebecca Billings and spouse Dwayne of Millers Creek; son, Richard Bryant and spouse Shelley of Millers Creek; brother, Lee Miller of Millers Creek; sister, Louise Beverley of Greensboro; grandchildren, Christopher Queen and spouse Rebecca, and Breanna Billings all of Millers Creek.

Funeral service was February 17, at Miller Funeral Chapel with Rev. Danny Dillard and Rev. Don Bowling officiating. Burial followed in Miller Cemetery.  Flowers will be accepted. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.  

 Linda Brown, 66

Mrs. Linda Mae Wagoner Brown, 66, of North Wilkesboro, passed away on February 12, 2020 at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital.  

Linda was born on March 25, 1953 in Wilkes County to Dollie Odell Wagoner and Gladys Eddie Brown Wagoner.

Linda is preceded in death by her parents; sons, Randall Shannon Wagoner, Allen Parsons and many brothers and sisters.  

Linda is survived by her husband, Christopher Brown; granddaughters, Kaitlyn Wagoner and Erica "Hannah" Wagoner both of North Wilkesboro ; mother in law and father in law, Vea and Paul Brown of North Wilkesboro; sisters, Marlene Testerman ( Jerry) of Millers Creek, Rebeca Blevins (Dewey) of Wilkesboro, Jeanne Shumate of Millers Creek, Sue Absher of Wilkesboro, Shirley Osborne (Robbie) Gallatin, TN, Sandra Stewart of Grover, NC; brothers, Fred Wagoner (Delores) Taylorsville, James Brown of Forrest City, Danny Brown (Kathy) of China Grove.

A visitation was held at the Mountlawn Memorial Park Chapel  February 14, and graveside service   followed.  

Pastor Scott Wagoner  be officiated. The family request no flowers or food please.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to the American Heart Association, 128  S Tryon St #1588, Charlotte, NC 28202.

Adams Funeral Home of Wilkes has the honor of serving the Brown Family.

 Billy Anderson, 75

Mr. Billy George Anderson, 75, of North Wilkesboro, passed away on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at his home.  

Billy was born on August 3, 1944 in Wilkes County to John Olden Anderson and Johnsie Bell Miller Anderson.

Billy is preceded in death by his parents; son, Jason Dewayne Anderson; brother James "Jimmy" Anderson; sister, Mary Jane Lowe and grandson, Zackary Cochran.  

Billy is survived by his wife of 57 years, Wanda Lee Cain Anderson; daughters, Gail Parks (Ricky) of Yadkinville, Penny Cochran (Larry) of North Wilkesboro; sons, Tim Anderson of Denver NC, Dalton Anderson (Anne) of North Wilkesboro; brother, David Lee Anderson of North Wilkesboro; five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held February 22,  at Adams Funeral Home of Wilkes Chapel, 2109 Moravian  Falls Rd, Moravian Falls.  

Rev. Charles Cain will be officiating.

Adams Funeral Home of Wilkes has the honor of serving the Anderson Family.

 Kent Greer, 81

Mr. Kent Tracy Greer, age 81 of Wilkesboro, passed away Tuesday, February 11, 2020, at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

A private burial service for the family was at Mount Lawn Cemetery in Boone, February 15. Masonic rites were conducted by Ashler #373 and Military Honors were provided by the United States Air Force Honor Guard.  A Celebration of Life service followed with Reverend Shannon Critcher and Reverend Jim Gore officiated.

Mr. Greer was born on February 9, 1939, in Watauga County, North Carolina, to Walter Monroe and Viola Nichols Greer. He was a devoted husband to Kate for fifty-two years, a beloved father, and grandfather. He was a member of Millers Creek Baptist Church. Throughout his entire life, Kent had an adventuresome, entrepreneurial and get it done spirit. He served in the United States Air force for four years, which took him to several countries. Later, he took his wife, Kate, to many more countries abroad and all fifty states. Known for his sense of humor and fun-loving nature, Kent readily shared laughs, jokes, and hugs with people he knew and didn't know. Regularly, Kent stated, "I've had the best life of anybody I know."

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife; Lenna Kate Greene Greer, a sister; Anna Lee Greene and four brothers; W.M. Greer, Jr., Fayne Greer, Brook Greer, and Quentin Greer.

He is survived by a daughter; Janet Greer Brown and husband Mike of Banner Ek, North Carolina, two sons; David Kent Greer and wife Nicole of Concord and Philip Ray Greer of Wilkesboro, six grandchildren; Zach Brown and wife Emily, Jenna Brown, Kent Richard Greer, Katelyn Greer, Tracy Greer, and wife Kelsey and Amanda Greer Stewart and husband Chris and four great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 9, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 or Mountain Valley Hospice, 201 Technology  Lane, Suite 200, Mount Airy, NC 27030.

  Brenda Savage, 74

Mrs. Brenda Joyce Caul Savage age 74 of Wilkesboro passed away Sunday February 9. 2020 at Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston Salem.

Funeral Services were February 15,  at Rickards Chapel AME Zion Church with Rev Richard Watts Officiating.  

Mrs. Savage was born January 24, 1946 in Wilkes County to Anthony and Cynthia Marie Rouseau Caul. She retired from Tyson Foods and was a member of Rickards Chapel AME Zion Church.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Bobby Joe Campbell and a brother Reginald Keith Caul.

She is survived by her husband, Lavon Savage, two daughters Yolanda Burgess and husband Stephen of Walnut Cove and Lola Porter of Statesville;  two sons John Porter and wife Staci of Louisville, KY, Billy Campbell of Wilkesboro, and two step sons Terry Calhoun of Wilkesboro and Rashaun Calhoun of Wilkesboro; nine grandchildren, three great grandchildren and four sisters Jacqueline Barber and husband Marvin of Wilkesboro, Deborah Carlton of Wilkesboro, Linda Howell of Wilkesboro, Maria Harris and husband Ronald of Wilkesboro; and one brother Timothy Caul of New Philadelphia OH.

Flowers will be accepted.

 William Childress, 64

Mr. William Cole Childress, better known as Bill, age 64, passed away Sunday, February 9, 2020 at his home in Moravian Falls.

Funeral services were February, 14, 2020 at Reins Sturdivant Chapel with Rev. Ronnie Murray and Pastor Rodney Blake officiating. Burial will be in Scenic Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 prior to the service at Reins Sturdivant Funeral Home.

Mr. Childress was born March 19, 1955 in Wilkes County to Luther and Pauline Annalee Porter Childress. He retired from Louisiana Pacific after 44 years of service. Bill liked to fish, loved to go out on his boat and going to Auctions. He loved his family and grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife; Ellie Minton Childress, a daughter; Jennifer Childress, two sisters; Florence White and Mary Kay Childress and a brother; Edward Gray Childress.

He is survived by a daughter; Sally Hampton of North Wilkesboro, three grandchildren; Katie Hackett, Michael Walker and Malcolm Walker, a great granddaughter; Journee Hackett, two sisters; Elizabeth Murray and husband, Ronnie of North Wilkesboro and Carolyn Parks and husband, Alan of Lenoir, a brother; Harold Childress and wife Betsy of North Wilkesboro and a girlfriend and caregiver; Virginia Dancy and her family of Purlear.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Wake Forest Hospice 126 Executive Drive Suite 110 Wilkesboro, NC 28697 or American Cancer Society PO Box 9 North Wilkesboro, NC 28659.

 James Garris, 94

James Arthur Garris, age 94, of Traphill, passed away Sunday, February 9, 2020 at Woltz Hospice Home. He was born June 9, 1925 in Wilkes County to Isom and Oma Wiles Garris. He was a member of Christian Home Baptist Church. He enjoyed coon hunting and fishing. James was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Floie Prevette Garris; daughter, Lois Gregory; son, Willie Garris; brothers, Guilford Garris, Troy Garris, Lester Garris; sisters, Estelle Walls and Edith Tucker.

Surviving are his children, Billy Garris and spouse Janet of Traphill, Dottie Stanley of State  Road, Buck Garris of Traphill; sisters, Cordie Bauguess of Traphill, Ruth Martin of Lexington; special friend, Mary Pruitt of Hays; eleven grandchildren; eighteen great grandchildren; and ten great great grandchildren.

Funeral service was February 13,   at Miller Funeral Chapel with Rev. David Key officiating. Burial   followed in Christian Home Baptist Church Cemetery.  Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Joan & Howard Woltz Hospice Home, 945 Zephyr Road, Dobson, NC 27017. A special thanks to Rose Glen Manor and Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice.                                 Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.millerfuneralservice.com

Pallbearers were Scotty Garris, Marty Garris, Rocky Garris, Tracy Ward, Chris Gregory, Aaron Thomas.

 Angel Brown, 31

Angel Nicole Brown, age 31, of North Wilkesboro, was called home early on Thursday, February 6, 2020 and left her worldly struggles behind. Angel was born June 3, 1988 in Wilkes County to Gary Maurice and Bessie Bell Bledsoe Brown. She enjoyed cooking, camping, wild crafting herbs and loved to sing.      

Angel graduated from North Wilkes High  School with honors and was a former cashier with Dollar General. She was preceded in death by her father, Gary Brown; grandparents, Ruth Ann Edwards and Faye S. Goss.

Surviving are her son, Channon Roark of the home; fiancé, Chancey Roark of the home; mother, Bessie Brown of Hays; sister, Ashley Brown and spouse Kenny Ashley of Hays; niece, Riley Ashley of Hays; nephew, Bentley Ashley of Hays.

Memorial service was February 16,  at Miller Funeral Chapel with Rev. Robert Harris officiating. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to the family for her son, Channon.

Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.  

[weekendwarriorblog]

The Weekend Warrior’s January 2021 Preview

Happy New Year!

So we’re gonna do things a little different this month. If it works out, I might do this as a regular thing until I feel comfortable writing about box office on a weekly basis again. It may be a long while. As you’ll see, this is a fairly comprehensive preview of the month ahead, as it stands on the first day of posting this, which hopefully is Wednesday, January 6.

I will be updating this post regularly with reviews and any date changes, etc.  If you want to keep track of which movies I’ve reviewed, your best option is to bookmark my Rotten Tomatoes page, since more than likely, any new reviews will be added there at the same time they’re posted here.

Why do I have this bad feeling that doing the column this way is just gonna give me more work? (I was correct. Instead of writing about 6 movies every single week, I ended up writing about nearly 30 movies in one week.)

What’s surprising is that there are far fewer wide releases in January than any previous year, as I only count two or three in total. That’s not good.

Definitions:

Theatrical – Movie will play in any number of movie theaters, either in select locations or nationwide. Some of these may have a digital/VOD component.

Streaming – Movie is available to watch any time as part of a subscription streaming service aka Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Apple TV+, Shudder, Hulu, etc.

Virtual Cinema – Movie is available to watch through a ticketed system which shares profits with any number of local or nationwide arthouses or festivals. Some of these may be geoblocked.

VOD – Video on Demand, movie can be rented, downloaded and watched either for a set amount of time (24 hours+) or bought to watch any time, available on a variety of platforms including iTunes, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango Now and others. (Also may be called “Digital,” “PVOD,” “TVOD,” or merely “On Demand,”)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 5

Digital/VOD: Gun and a Hotel Bible (Freestyle Digital Media) Scooby Doo director Raja Gosnell teams with Alicia Joy LeBlanc to adapt the award-winning play starring Bradley Gosnell as Pete, a desperate man who is about to commit a violent act when he encounters Daniel Floren’s Gideon, a personified hotel bible, as they get into a philosophical discussion. It will be available to buy or rent on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, DirecTV, On Demand, YouTube Movies, Vudu, Xbox, & FandangoNOW.

Streaming:

History of Swear Words (Netflix) No less than Nicolas Cage stars in Season 1 of the “educational series” on swear words that goes into the origins of all of your favorites!

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6

Virtual Cinema:

MY REMBRANDT (Strand Releasing) Dutch filmmaker Oeke Hoogendijk’s documentary looks at a few of the just 37 private owners of Rembrandt paintings, particularly Amsterdam’s Jan Six, a young art dealer and member of a family who has owned many Rembrandts, but he’s obsessed with an unknown painting that might even have Rembrandt having painted himself into the picture. Another owner, Baron Eric de Rothschild, is obsessed with selling two paintings, creating a bidding war between two top art museums.  The film will be available through New York’s Film Forum Virtual Cinema and others.

Streaming: SURVIVING DEATH (Netflix) The new six-episode doc series is directed and exec. produced by Ricki Stern (Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work) and based on Leslie Kean’s best-selling book that looks into the possibility of an afterlife.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7

Streaming:

FEATURED FLICK!

PIECES OF A WOMAN (Netflix) Kornél Mundruczó’s drama starring Vanessa Kirby and Shia Labeouf as a Boston couple who lose their baby in a difficult home delivery will hit the streamer.  You can read my review of the film here.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 8

Theatrical:

FEATURED FLICK!

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI… (Amazon Prime Video)   Regina King’s narrative directorial debut will open in more theaters after playing in Miami over the past few weeks will expand to other cities nationwide for a one-week theatrical release before streaming on Prime Video. You can read my reviews of the film here and here.

FEATURED FLICK! 

THE REASON I JUMP (Kino Lorber) Naoki Higashida’s best-selling book that was translated into English by David Mitchell (Cloud Atlas) is turned into an arty doc directed by Jerry Rothwell. It’s based on Higashida’s revelations as a 13-year-old boy suffering dealing with autism blended with portraits of five other young people with autism.

Quick Thoughts:  I haven’t read Higashida’s book or its English translation, but it makes a beautiful and lyrical  accompaniment, as narrated by Jordan O’Donegan, for this look inside the life of a number of young autistic people, as their parents talk about trying to help their children without fully understanding what they’re going through. In many ways, this doc may offer some of the best insights into what it’s like to be autistic or dealing with an autistic family member in order to create some much-needed empathy for a condition so many face. The film is haunting and even horrifying at times, but it’s beautifully filmed to create a fully immersive experience.

REDEMPTION DAY (Saban Films) Hicham Hajji’s action thriller stars Gary Dourdan (CSI) as U.S. Marine Captain Brad Paxton whose wife Kate (Serinda Swan) is kidnapped by a terrorist group while working in Morocco, which forces him back into action to save the woman he loves. It also stars Andy Garcia, Ernie Hudson and Martin Donovan, and it will get a limited theatrical release and be available on Tuesday, Jan. 12, On Demand and Digital.

Quick Thoughts: While Hajji seems to bring some authenticity to this Mideast revenge thriller, the film starts out as a tribute to our fighting troops but then soon turns ridiculous, first with the kidnapping of his wife less than 24 hours after going to Morocco, and then some of the politics involved with helping her. Eventually, Dourdan goes in guns a-blazin’ in a way more apt for a movie from the ‘90s, and Hajji undoes a lot of the good will the film would have received if things were handled even somewhat tastefully.  Appearances by better-known actors like Garcia, Hudson and Donovan tends to distract from the story more than adding or enhancing what was already a problematic premise.

IF NOT NOW, WHEN? (Vertical) Actors Meagan Good and Tamara Bass make their directorial debuts with this movie about four high school friends (Good and Bass are two of them, presumably) who are brought back together to help one of them during a crisis. From the official summary: “It’s a story of love, forgiveness and the incredible bond between women.)

Digital/On Demand:

STARS FELL ON ALABAMA (Samuel Goldwyn Films) V.W. Scheich’s romantic comedy stars James Maslow as successful Hollywood agent Bryce Dixon who returns to Alabama after 15 years for his high school reunion, only to learn that he is one of his few friends not married with children, so he pretends his client Madison Belle, to pretend to be his girlfriend. American Idol winner Taylor Hicks appears in the movie as himself.

FEATURED FLICK!

THE DISSIDENT (Briarcliff Bryan Fogel’s documentary about the murder of journalist Jamal Kashouggi will be released On Demand today via ITunes. Reviewed in the previous Weekend Warrior column.

Deon Taylor’s thriller Fatale (reviewed last month) will also be available to watch via VOD starting today.

Streaming:

WORTH WATCHING!

PRETEND IT’S A CITY (Netflix) No less than Martin Scorsese directs this 7-part limited series about his long-time friend, critic and essayist Fran Lebowitz, as they explore New York City, presumably pre-pandemic. As someone who is celebrating my 34th year in New York City this week, I absolutely loved the series. Lebowitz is absolutely hilarious and Scorsese really pulls some amazing stories from out of her in this series that’s like a “how-to” for anyone who might ever want to live here. A truly joyful albeit crotchety take on New York living, which is the perfect combination to keep this series entertaining.

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HERSELF (Prime Video) Phyllida Lloyd’s dramedy, starring Clare Dunne (who co-wrote the script) as a single mother trying to create a home for her two daughters and who decides to build an affordable home for them, hits the streamer today.  Also reviewed in the previous Weekend Warrior column.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 10

Critics Choice Super Awards The inaugural edition of the Critics Choice’s genre film and television awards show will be broadcast on the CW tonight, hosted by Kevin Smith and Dani Fernandez.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 12

Digital/VOD: SKYFIRE (ScreenMedia) The Simon-West directed thriller is set on the Tianhuo Island in a Pacific Rim volcanic belt where a young scientist (Hannah Quinlivan), who has invented a volcanic warning system, returns to prevent more death only to find that it’s been turned into a volcano theme park by Jason Isaacs. Okay, then. This will available On Demand.

THE BID (GVN Releasing) Marquis Boone’s directorial debut has him and co-writer Richard Harris (not that one) playing Philadelphia rappers who get framed by a police officer who sends them to prison to fight the prison system from the inside. As I started that last sentence, I presumed it was a comedy until I got to the last half of it.

CURSE OF AURORE (Freestyle Digital Releasing) Mehran C. Torgoley’s horror film is about a “Dark Web” thumb drive found by a YouTuber that involves a trio of American filmmakers including Liana Barron’s Lena, who are in Quebec researching the true crime case of a young girl named Aurore Gagnon, murdered in 1920 by her parents in a case of child abuse. As the filmmakers investigate the place where she was killed, they experience paranormal occurrences… and yes, it’s 2021 an we’re still getting Blair Witch Project “homages.”

GO/DON’T GO (Gravitas Ventures) Alex Knapp writes/directs and stars in this “psychosexual thriller” in which he plays the sole survivor after an unknown cataclysm with visons of his best friend Kyle (Nore Davis) introducing him to Olivia Luccardi’s Kay, the love of his life. It will be out via digital and cable VOD platforms.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13

2021 New York Jewish Film Festival This long-running series from Film at Lincoln Center will run virtually this year, beginning with the Ophir Award-winning Here We Are from director Nir Bergman (who won Best Director), a road trip tale of a divorced dad hitting the road with his autistic son. The festival’s centerpiece is Winter Journey, co-directed by Anders Østergaard and Erzsébet Rácz, and starring the great Bruno Ganz. The festival also includes Israel’s entry to this year’s Oscars, Ruthy Pribar’s Asia. You can read all about the films in the program here and can get a 17-film All-Access pass for the entire line-up for $125.00.

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THE WHITE TIGER (Netflix) Ramin (99 Homes, Man Push Cart) Bahrani directs this comedic adaptation of Balram Halwai’s 2008 Man Booker Prize-winning bestseller. Halwai is played by Adarsh Gourav, as it follows his journey from being a poor driver who uses his wit and cunning to become a successful entrepreneur in India.  Although Balram has been trained by society to only be a servant, he finds a way to work his way up through the system and try to change things from a new position within society. This will get a very limited theatrical release today before hitting Netflix on January 22.

Streaming: STALKER: THE HUNT FOR A SERIAL KILLER (Netflix) Tiller Russell’s docuseries tells the story about a serial killer that struck Los Angeles in 1985 in the middle of a record-breaking heatwave, the victims ranging from six to 82 years old.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14

Theatrical/On Demand:  BLOODY HELL (The Horror Collective) Alister Grierson’s violent horror-comedy stars Ben O’Toole as a man with a mysterious past who flees the country to escape his personal hell only to end up somewhere much worse. It opens in select cities and On Demand, and then will be on DVD and Blu-ray on Tuesday, January 19.

Streaming:

LOCKED DOWN (HBO Max) The Doug Liman-directed romantic comedy, starring Anne Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor, about a heist set during a pandemic that’s written by Steven Knight will hit the streamer today. This movie was fully made during the pandemic.

HUNTED (Shudder) The live action English debut from Persepolis and Chicken with Plums director Vincent Paronnaud will stream on Shudder today. It stars Lucie Debay as Eve, who becomes the target of a misogynistic plot against two men who pursue her through the forest where she’s forced to survive. From the synopsis: “But survival isn’t enough for Eve. She will have revenge!” (Okay, that exclamation point is my own. Definitely sounds like something that would require one.)

FRIDAY, JANUARY 15

Note: This is Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday weekend, so many government agencies and schools are off on Monday. Not sure that will really have an effect on anything.

Theatrical:

THE MARKSMAN (Briarcliff/Open Road) (NEW REVIEW!) Liam Neeson stars in his second theatrical release in the past six months, Robert (Trouble with the Curve) Lorenz’s action-thriller in which Neeson plays a rancher on the Arizona border who ends up defending a young Mexican boy who is trying to escape from cartel assassins that followed him into the States. I haven’t seen this yet, nor do I know if I’ll have a chance. I’m guessing this is being released as a typical January release and not as an awards contender with the Oscar deadline pushed back to February 28.

Mini-Review:  Here we’re into a brand new year, and yet, we’re getting the third movie about an old man watching over a young child. This time it’s Liam Neeson as Vietnam sniper Jim Henson, who is living on his ranch in an Arizona border town with his dog Jackson with financial problems that might take his home away from him. A chance encounter on the border when Jim witnesses a single mother with her son being chased by the cartel, leaves the mother dead and the young, Miguel (Jacob Perez), in danger of being next. Jim decides to take the boy across the country to his family in Chicago, chased the entire way by the cartel.

While The Marksman attempts to create a topical action-thriller, it isn’t one that necessarily feels very timely, only because we’ve seen so many border-set movies over the past few years, maybe for obvious reasons. Director Robert Lorenz is a long-time Clint Eastwood collaborator, both as producer and assistant-director, and you probably will notice a number of similar stylistic flares in common –  you also can totally see Eastwood playing the Neeson role if he was twenty years younger.

The movie comes across more like last year’s Let Him Go rather than Neeson’s own 2020 movie, Honest Thief, and maybe that’s for the better since this seems to be better suited for his specialized skills, both in terms of action and drama.  Not that there is a ton of action in the movie, but the few shootouts and chases are decent enough, but nothing too insane. I’m sure ultra-liberals might have issues with certain scenes like how easy it is for Jim to buy a gun or teaching the young Miguel to use one, but that just seems creating an unnecessary political overlay.

While the majority of the film is Jim and Miguel on this road trip, there’s a nice role for Katheryn Winnick as Jim’s border police—well, it’s never really clear if she’s his daughter or not--but otherwise, the Mexican actors are not particularly good compared to Neeson – sadly, very stereotypical – and the writing is probably on the weaker side compared to the score by Sean Callery that goes a long way towards enhancing the emotions and tension when needed.

The Marksman is a decent enough dramatic thriller that feels a little by-the-books but gains enough humanity from Neeson’s performance to make it a worthwhile watch.

Rating: 7/10

THE DIG (Netflix) Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes star in this drama that takes place just before WWII with Mulligan playing a wealthy widow wo hires Fiennes’ archeologist to excavate the burial mounds on her estate in which they make a historic discovery. I like when movie titles are very literal like this one. Will be released to select cinemas before its Netflix debut on January 29.

MLK/FBI (IFC Films) Sam Pollack’s doc that’s had a successful festival run will get a small limited run as well as be available On Demand today. As the title implies, it studies the FBI’s attempts to discredit Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as his movement towards the Civil Rights Act continues to gain momentum. I didn’t like this as much as a few of Pollack’s other docs, including the recent Two Train Runnin’ and his co-directed doc, Mr Soul!

SOME KIND OF HEAVEN (Magnolia Pictures)

Lance Oppenheim’s first feature doc, co-produced by Darren Aronofsky, looks at the largest retirement community in America, the Villages in Central Florida, where a few residents are unable to find happiness despite the community’s pre-packaged paradise.

Quick Thoughts: This was a very different movie than I was expecting, since at first it seemed to thrive on the quirky personalities of the resident and their party-centric activities, but it then quickly focuses on three very particular cases, an elderly man named Dennis who is living in his van on the site of the Villages, trying to find himself a relationship (hopefully one with money). There’s also a couple who has been married for 47 years with a woman who has to deal with her husband’s ever-increasing eccentric behavior that involves drugs and troubles with the law. Lastly, there’s a widow who is trying to find happiness and companionship in the Villages, which is a particularly lonely experience as she goes from one group or club to another. All three of these stories keep the viewer invested but especially Oppenheim’s look at loneliness of people in that age group, which made it impossible for me not to think of my mother who has been suffering through the loneliness of the pandemic and not being able to be around other people her own age because of it. A terrifically insightful film that makes you think and hard about your own aging and mortality.

FLINCH (Ardor Pictures) Camron Van Hoy’s crime-thriller stars Daniel Zovatto as a young hitman who lives with his mother (Cathy Moriarty) who falls in love with a girl (Tilda Cobham-Hervey) who sees him kill someone. Since he can’t kill her, he instead brings her home and learns there’s more to her than he thought. This will ALSO be on TVOD starting on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

ACASA MY HOME (Zeitgeist, Kino Lorber) Romanian filmmaker Radu Ciorniciuc’s directorial debut doc, which premiered at Sundance last year (receiving an award for its cinematography), about the Enache family who lives in harmony with nature in the wilderness of the Bucharest Delta. When the area is turned into a public national park, they’re forced to move to the city where things are very different. It will open in select cities and via virtual cinema.

GOODBYE, BUTTERFLY (Gravitas Ventures) Tyler Wayne’s directorial debut is this crime thriller starring Adam Donshik (House of Cards) as Ryan Olsen, a family man whose five-year-old daughter is murdered, but with no leads, Ryan starts suspecting his oddball neighbor Stan (Andy Lauer), so Ryan takes the law into his own hands. This is getting day and date theatrical with TVOD (no idea what that is) and digital.

VOD:

AMERICAN SKIN Nate Parker’s second film as a director following the Sundance Prize-winning Birth of a Nation has him starring as a Marine veteran working as a school janitor who tries to fix things with his son, who is killed by a police officer who isn’t even put to trial for the death so he takes matters in his own hand. The drama also stars Omari Hardwick and will be available on iTunes and other VOD platforms.

Two of my favorite movies of 2020, Emmerald Fennell’s Promising Young Woman (Focus Features), starring Carey Mulligan, and Paul Greengrass’ News of the World (Universal), starring Tom Hanks, will be available starting today via PVOD, rentable for 48-Hour rental. These both should be in the Oscar race, so don’t miss them!

Virtual Cinema: 

TRIBUTE TO SAM POLLARD Film at Lincoln Center is running a one-week retrospective to editor, producer and director Sam Pollard to tie in with the release by IFC Films of MLK/FBI, which played at the New York Film Festival last year. It will include some of his own docs (including, hopefully, the excellent Mr. Soul!), as well as his collaborations with Spike Lee, St. Clair Bourne and Henry Hampton. Hopefully, there will be a line-up as it gets closer to the series start, and I’ll add that when it becomes available.

FILM ABOUT A FATHER WHO (Cinema Guild) Over a period of 35 years between 1984 and 2019, Lynne Sachs used various media, including 8 and 16mm film, videotape and digital images to capture a portrait of her father, Ira Sachs Sr, a Park Cit, Utah businessman, in order to understand the web that connects a child to her parents and a sister to her siblings. This will open in Virtual Cinema through the Museum of the Moving Image, Laemmle and others around the country. MOMI will also be holding a  30-year virtual retrospective of Ms. Sachs’ work, starting on Jan. 13.

MY LITTLE SISTER (Film Movement) Switzerland’s official Oscar entry is Stéphanie Chuat and Véronique Reymond’s drama starring Nina Hoss (Phoenix) as Lisa, a brilliant playwright who has stopped writing and now lives with her family in Switzerland. She dreams of returning to Berlin to be with her stage acting twin brother Sven (Lars Eldinger from Proxima) who is facing an aggressive leukemia. Lisa’s attention to her brother causes a rift in her marriage, but she hopes to write something that will get Sven back on stage before the inevitable. You can find a list of theaters showing this via virtual cinema here.

THE WAKE OF LIGHT (Laemmle) Renji Phillip’s drama stars Rome Brooks as a young woman who has to choose between seeking love with Cole (Matt Bush), a young man she meets who wants her to join him on his road trip, or caring for her aging father . This will have a virtual theatrical release through Laemmle Theaters today and then be available through Digital Platforms on February 15.

MANDABI (Janus Films) Senegalese novelist and the “father of African film” Ousmne Sembène’s 1968 film about an unemployed man who finds a windfall of money will get a release through Film Forum’s Virtual Cinema.

Streaming:

OUTSIDE THE WIRE (Netflix) Anthony Mackie stars in Mikael Håfström’s sci-fi thriller, playing android officer Leo who is teamed with drone pilot Harp (Damson Idris) to locate a doomsday device in a militarized zone before insurgents do.

WANDAVISION (Disney+) The long-awaited Marvel Studios television series that ties directly into the MCU, spinning-off Elisabeth Olsen’s Wanda and Paul Bettany’s Vision into their own series that seems to be playing with other dimensions and worlds but also

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI… (Amazon Prime Video) Regina King’s powerful drama will finally stream on Prime Video, so those who haven’t had a chance to see it at a festival or awards screening or in theaters will get to see it. Woohoo!

SATURDAY, JANUARY 16

Streaming: SERVANT (Apple TV+) Season 2 of the M. Night Shyamalan produced thriller series will debut.  I hope to have some more to write about as it gets closer, since it’s currently under embargo.

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MONDAY, JANUARY 18 VOD/Digital:

STALLONE... FRANK, THAT IS (Branded Studio) Derek Wayne Johnson’s documentary takes an in-depth look into the life and career of Frank Stallone, the younger brother of the far-more-famous Sylvester Stallone, whose own four decade career has earned him three Platinum Albums, ten Gold Albums and five Gold Singles… which is odd, since I don’t think I could name a single one of his songs. He’s also done soundtracks for many of his brother’s films including The Expendables 2, the first three Rocky movies, Rambo II and more and appeared in 75 films and TV shows. Obviously, I’ll need to watch this doc to learn more about him.

YUNG LEUN: IN MY HEAD (Momento Film/Nonstop Entertainment) Henrik Burman’s doc about Swedish hip-hop artist Yung Leun aka Jonathan Leandoer, who turned his love for rap music into a career by making music on his computer and putting the results up on YouTube, but soon, the imaginary character he has been portraying starts to take over, leading to drugs and mental illness.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20

Virtual Cinema:

THE SALT OF TEARS (Distrib Films) Philippe Garrel’s black and white drama about toxic masculinity involving one young handsome man put amidst three vulnerable women will play as part of Film Forum’s Virtual Cinema.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 22

Theatrical:

NO MAN’S LAND (IFC Films) Conor Allyn’s thriller stars Frank Grillo as border “vigilante” Bill Greer, whose son Jackson (Jake Allyn) accidentally kills a Mexican immigrant boy while on patrol. Although Bill tries to take the blame, a Texas Ranger, played by George Lopez, urges Jackson to flee south via horseback into Mexico to hide out, chased by both rangers and Mexican federales, as he seeks forgiveness from the boy’s father (Jorge A. JIminez). Simultaneous theatrical and VOD.

FEATURED FLICK!

OUR FRIEND (Gravitas Ventures/Universal) Casey Affleck, Dakota Johnson and Jason Segel star in Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s adaptation of Matthew Teague’s novel The Friend: Love is Not a Big Enough Word (adapted by filmmaker Brad Ingelsby), which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2019. It tells the story of the Teague family – Afleck’s Matt, a journalist, his wife Nicole (Johnson) and their two daughters – and how their life is upended when she’s diagnosed with terminal cancer, forcing Matt to take on more responsibilities as her caretaker and parent, so the couple’s friend Dane (Segel) offers to help out. The film will be in select theaters and On Demand.

THE HUMAN FACTOR (Sony Pictures Classics) Oscar-nominated doc The Gatekeepers director Dror Moreh takes a look at the peace process between Israelis and Arabs over the past thirty years through the eyes of American mediators, spending time with all of the key players in the conflict trying to find a solution.

BROTHERS BY BLOOD (Vertical) Jérémie Guez’s revenge thriller, based on Pete Dexter’s novel, stars Joel Kinnaman as Peter Flood, who as an 8-year-old saw his little sister be killed in a reckless driving accident, for which his father sought violent revenge. 30 year later, he’s still trying to deal with his guilt and tries to distance himself from his family crime business and his cousin Michael (Matthias Schoenarts) who has been rising up in the business. In select theaters, and on VOD/Digital.

PG: PSYCHO GOREMAN (RLJfilms/Shudder) Steven Kostanski’s horror-comedy follows siblings Mimi and Luke (Nita-Josee Hanna, Owen Myre), who resurrect an ancient alien overlord who had been entombed million years ago, nicknaming the evil creature “Psycho Goreman” aka PG (Matthew Ninaber), using an amulet to make him obey their wishes. Soon, lots of PG’s friends and foes from across the galaxy realize he’s been released, and they come to Mimi and Luke’s town to resume their battle.  This will also be in select theaters, On Demand and digital.

BORN A CHAMPION (Lionsgate)  (NEW ADDITION!) Dennis Quaid and Sean Patrick Flanery (The Boondock Saints) star in this mixed martial arts film directed by Alex Ranarivelo (American Wrestler: The Wizard) that hits select theaters, digital, and On Demand today before being released on Blu-Ray and DVD on Tuesday, January 26. Flannery plays fighting legend Mickey Kelly, who lost a blood-soaked jujitsu match in Dubai only to learn many years later, that his opponent cheated, so he has to get in shape for a revenge match.

Digital/VOD/Virtual Cinema:

IDENTIFYING FEATURES (Kino Lorber)  (NEW ADDITION!) Having just won the Gotham Award for Best International Feature on Monday (after winning the audience and screenplay awards in the World Cinema category at Sundance last year), Fernanda Valadez’s Mexican border thriller will be released on Kino Marquee and via various virtual cinemas nationwide. It stars Mercedes Hernandez as middle-aged Magdalena, who has lost contact with her son after he’s left their town to cross the border into the U.S. to find work. She ends up following on an equally dangerous journey to find him while a young man named Miguel (David Illescas), recently deported back to Mexico crosses paths with her. 

ATLANTIS (Grasshopper) Ukraine’s Oscar selection is this film from Valentyn Vasyanovych  set in a desolate post-war Ukraine where former soldier Sergiy delivers the rare resource of water and volunteers his time to recover the dead bodies of fellow soldiers in hopes of healing. This will open exclusively in Metrograph’s Virtual Cinema system Friday.

NOTTURNO (Super) (NEW ADDITION!) Gianfranco (Fire at Sea) Rosi’s new documentary is Italy’s entry to the Oscars, as the filmmaker spent three years on the borders of Iraq, Kurdistan, Syria and Lebanon capturing the day every day life that follows the tragedy of the dictatorships and civil wars within those countries.  It will get an exclusive virtual cinema launch today and then be available on Hulu and On Demand starting Jan. 29.

COMING CLEAN The new doc from Ondi Timoner (Dig!, We Live in Public) takes a comprehensive look at the opioid crisis, and the part in it played by Purdue Pharmaceutical and how it deceived patients (and doctors) to lure them in and get them hooked. Available via Virtual Cinema after its virtual festival run.

PREPARATIONS TO BE TOGETHER FOR AN UNKNOWN TIME (Greenwich) Hungarian filmmaker Lili Horvát makes a love story set in the male-driven world of neurosurgery, starring Natasa Stork as Márta Vizy, who returns to Hungary after time in America to discover that a colleague with whom she had a passionate affair says he’s never seen her before. This will open in Virtual Cinema at Film at Lincoln Center and other places. Part of Lincoln Center’s Virtual Cinema, as well as Hungary’s official entry for the International Film Oscar.

BREAKING FAST (Vertical Entertainment) Mike Mosallam’s romantic dramedy set in West Hollywood stars Haaz Sleiman as Mo, a practicing Muslim who recently had his heart broken. When All-American Kal (Michael Cassidy) agrees to come to nightly Iftars (the traditional Ramadan meal), they soon learn that they have more in common than they thought. Available on VOD and digital.

Streaming:

THE WHITE TIGER (Netflix) Ramin (99 Homes, Man Push Cart) Bahrani’s comic adaptation of Balram Halwai’s bestseller hits the streaming service today.

THE SISTER (Hulu) Neil Cross adapted his own novel Burial into this four-part original series starring Russell Tovey as Nathan, who has been keeping a secret from his past, a party that ended with the shocking death of a young woman. Only Nathan and Bob (Bertie Carvel) knew what happened, but then Bob appears on Nathan’s doorstep with horrifying news.

PIXAR POPCORN (Disney+) The Disney streamer debuts a series of short films starring your favorite Pixar characters from Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Cars and The Incredibles.

Blown Away and Busted! (Netflix) Season 2 of the glass-blowing competition reality series and Season 3 of the amateur celebrity sleuth series begin.

Fate: The Winx Saga (Netflix) Brian Young’s live-action version of the Italian cartoon “Winx Club,” a coming-of-age journey that follows five fairies as they enter the magical boarding school called Alfrea.

Derek Delgaudio’s In and Of Itself (Hulu) The comedy directed by Frank Oz and exec. produced by Stephen Colbert that’s “a new kind of lyric poem.” Telling “the story of a man fighting to see through the illusion of his own identity, only to discover that identity itself is an illusion.” Yeah, no idea what that means but even Oz isn’t able to describe it, so that’s pretty weird.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 26

Theatrical:

WRONG TURN (Saban Films) Mike P. Nelson’s remake of the 00’s horror franchise will debut as a Fathom Event today. It stars Charlotte Vega, Adain Bradley, Bill Sage, Emma Dumont, Dylan McTee, Daisy Head, Tim DeZarn and Matthew Modine. It involves a group of friends hiking the Appalachian Trail who… you guessed it… make a wrong turn and end up in the land of the Foundation, a community of mountain dwellers who want to protect their lifestyle.

Digital/VOD:

CAGED (Shout Factory) Aaron Fjellman’s thriller stars Kenyan-born actor Edi Gathegi (The Blacklist), Melora Hardin, Angela Sarafyan, Tony Amendola and James Jagger. Gathegi plays an affluent African-American psychiatrist who is convicted of murdering his wife (Sarafyan) and sentenced to life and put in solitary. While trying to file an appeal, he’s pushed to the breaking point by an abusive female guard (Hardin), causing him to question his innocence and sanity.

#LIKE Sarah Pirozek’s thriller stars Sarah Rich as a Woodstock, NY teenager named Rosie who a year after her sister Amelia’s death from suicide after being cyberbullied learns that the man responsible (Marc Menchaca) is back online looking for new victims. It will be available via TVOD on iTunes, Amazon Prime, Vudu, FandangoNow and more.

A WOMAN’S WORK: THE NFL’S CHEERLEADER PROBLEM (1091) (NEW ADDITION!) Yu Gu’s documentary, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2019, will be released on VOD today. It looks at a couple cases of professional NFL cheerleaders who re making far less than deserve, almost working at minimum wage while having to pay out of pocket for their own beauty, transportation and uniforms, putting them into debt. So they sue the Oakland Raiders in a class-action lawsuit.

WEDNESDAY, JANURY 27

Streaming: PENGUIN BLOOM (Netflix) Glendyn Ivin’s adaptation of Bradley Trevor Greive’s novel stars Naomi Watts as Samantha Bloom, an Australian mother of three boys who travelled with her husband Cameron (Andrew Lincoln from The Walking Dead) in 2013 and became paralyzed from the waist down after falling from a rooftop. She ends up bonding with a black and white bird her kids name “Penguin” that helps her heal.  

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 The Sundance Film Festival begins today, running until February 3. Hope to have some coverage here and on Below the Line.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29

Theatrical:

FEATURED FLICK! THE LITTLE THINGS (Warner Bros/HBO Max) John Lee Hancock directs this psychological thriller that puts Oscar winner Denzel Washington back into Bone Collectormode, as he plays Kern County Deputy Sheriff Joe “Deke” Deacon, who is sent to Los Angeles to gather evidence but ends up looking for a killer terrorizing the city with a local Sergeant, played by Oscar winner Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody). Getting involved in the case, brings up secrets from Deke’s past. A third Oscar winner, Jared Leto, presumably plays the killer. This will be in theaters and streaming on HBO Max day-and-date. I will have a review for this closer to release.

FEATURED FLICK! SUPERNOVA (Bleecker Street) Harry Macqueen’s drama stars Colin Firth and Stanely Tucci as twenty-year partners Sam and Tusk, who travel across England in a camper van visiting friends, family and places from their past after a life-changing diagnosis that will test their love for each other. Look for my review of this very soon.

FEATURED FLICK! MALCOLM AND MARIE (Netflix) (NEW ADDITION!)

A week before its debut on the stream, Euphoria creator Sam Levinson’s new drama, starring John David Washington and Zendaya, will hit select theaters. Made during the pandemic, Washington plays a filmmaker on the night of the premier of his first feature gets into a very heavy conversation about their relationship with his partner (Zendaya) who doesn’t think he appreciates her and her contribution to his craft. Will have a review of this sometime later this week.

SAINT MAUD (A24) (NEW ADDITION!) Rose Glass’ acclaimed directorial debut starring breakout star Morfydd Clark as Maud, a hospice nurse who becomes obsessed with saving the soul of her dying patient (played by Jennifer Ehle) but sinister forces try to stop her. This will get a theatrical release today and then will get some sort of Epix Pay TV release on February 12. The movie just received eight nominations from the London Film Critics Circle, but honestly, I saw the movie so long ago, I don’t really remember it very much.

APOLLO 11: QUARANTINE (NEON) (NEW ADDITION!) This new doc short by Todd Douglas Miller follows up his Emmy-winning documentary, Apollo 11, this one covering the astronauts of the first spaceflight to the moon as they quarantine for three days after arriving back on earth. This will open in IMAX theaters this day and then be available On Demand starting February 5.

FINDING YOU (Roadside Attractions) Brian Baugh’s adaptation of Jenny B. Jones’ novel There You’ll Find Me is a romantic drama starring Rose Reid as violinist Finley Sinclair who is studying abroad at an Irish coastal village after failing to get into a New York music conservatory. Once there, she meets heartthrob movie star Beckett Rush (Jedidiah Goodacre) who is there filming his fantasy-adventure franchise, and a romance blooms between them.

THE NIGHT (IFC Midnight) Kourosh Ahari’s horror-thriller stars Shahab Hosseini and Niousha Noor as a married couple with a baby who take shelter in the eerie Hotel Normandie after a night out partying with friends. Over the course of the night, they realize they’re locked in with a malevolent force.

HAYMAKER (Gravitas Ventures)   Nick Sasso wrote, directed, edited and stars in the action-thriller in which he plays a retired Muay Thai fighter working as a bouncer who rescues a transgender performer (Nomi Ruiz) from a thug and becomes her bodyguard and protector in a relationship that also forces him back into the world of fighting. It will open in select theaters, On Demand AND Digital.

Virtual Cinema: DEAR COMRADES! (NEON) (NEW ADDITION!) Andrei Konchalovski’s 1962-set Russian drama about a rebellion and a strike following the rising of food prices in the industrial town of Novocherkassk and the massacre that follows. Following its December one-week qualifying, it will open in virtual cinemas this Friday (Jan 29) and then will be available On Demand and on Hulu starting February 5.

On Demand/Digital:

SAVAGE STATE (Samuel Goldwyn Films) David Perrault’s French-tinged Western takes place at the start of the Civil War as a family of French colonists in Missouri decide to return to France, but first they have to cross the entire country to get back to New York, led by a dangerous mercenary named Victor (Kevin Janssens).

Virtual Cinema: WHAT HAPPENED WAS... (Oscilloscope) Actor Tom Noonan’s 1994 directorial debut is a dark comedy about dating based on his own play, starring Noonan and Karen Sillas as co-workers who are stuck together on a Friday night after an intimate dinner that goes sideways. This won the Grand Jury Prize and Screenwriting Award at the 1994 Sundance, and will be added to Film Forum’s Virtual Cinema.

THE FUNERAL HOME (Uncork’d Entertainment) (NEW ADDITION!) Mauro Iván Ojeda’s supernatural thriller, which premiered at the Fantasia Fest last year, will hit virtual theaters today before its digital release on Tuesday, February 2. It’s about the dysfunctional family of an undertaker who experience all sorts of paranormal manifestations, but it could just be that they’re all MAAAAAD!

THE REUNITED STATES (Dark Star Pictures) (NEW ADDITION!) Ben Rekhi’s doc is about a group of unsung heroes trying to bridge the political and racial divides in the country as it’s being ripped apart at the seams.It will be available via virtual cinema today and on VOD platforms February 9.

Streaming:

THE DIG (Netflix) The Cary Mulligan-Ralph Fiennes drama is scheduled to hit the streamer.

PALMER (Apple TV+) Justin Timberlake stars in the Fisher Stevens-directed drama as an ex-convict who strikes up a friendship with a boy from a troubled home, played by Ryder Allen. It also stars Juno Temple and June Squibb.

BEGINNING (MUBI) (NEW ADDITION!) Georgia’s (the country, not the state) Oscar entry is the debut feature from  writer-director Dea Kulumbegashvili, a drama about a Jehovah’s Witness who undergoes a dramatic crisis of faith. Ila Sukhitshvili plays Yana, the wife of a Jehovah’s Witness leader whose community is attack from an extremist group that creates Yana’s discontent to grow.

WE ARE: THE BROOKLYN SAINTS (Netflix)

The new four-part docuseries from Rudy Valdez (The Sentence) looks at the youth football program in East New York, Brooklyn, where the Brooklyn Saints program gets 7 to 13-year-old boys ready to play and succeed in athletics, while also creating a community.

That’s it for January. Again, check back over the course of the month to see what reviews/movies have been added. Hopefully, we’ll be back to your normal weekly Weekend Warrior by February, but we’ll see.

[youngfcs]

cib, pode me indicar uma irmã para Melie Tiacoh? Na faixa de 25-29 anos. agradeço ♡♡

Bom, ela tem ascendência Francesa, Italiana, Africana e Libanesa, vou tentar colocar alguém que tenha pelo menos uma dessas.

Maisie Richardson-Sellers (25-27 anos) Meagan Holder (27-35 anos) Naressa Valdez (19-26 anos) Samira WIley (24-32 anos) Tiffany Boone (23-32 anos) Vanessa Morgan (17-27 anos) Zazie Beetz (20-28 anos) Zoe Kravitz (22-30 anos)

(cib) 

[daniellethamasa]

Hey all, Dani here.

Whew, another month has come and gone. It is officially fall where I live, and I am ready to curl up with a hot beverage and a comfy blanket and some great reads. First I just need the weather to cool down a bit more. It’s still really hot here.

First up, let’s check in on progress for the yearly goals.

Reading: I finished 22 books and got about halfway through two others, so overall I’m at 164 books read for 2019 so far, which is outstanding.

Blogging: There was a blog post up every single day in September, so I’m still on a roll in this area as well

Writing: I’m about two months into my Weekend Writer blog post series now, so I’m diving deep into research into the writing craft, but I really haven’t done much creative writing. Hopefully I’ll have more to report next month.

Conventions: We went to Cincinnati Comic Expo this month to work at the Colorworld Books booth, and it was amazing, but it also gave us a lot to think about when it comes to our lives and the possibility of how our future could be.

Next up is the wrap up section of today’s post. As always, if I have a review up already then I will include the link just in case you’d like to check it out.

Sorcerous Stabber Orphen Vol 1 by Yoshinobu Akita and Mungi — 3.5 stars

Platinum E.N.D. Vol 1 by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata — 3.5 stars

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson — 5 stars

Delicious in Dungeon Vol 5 by Ryoko Kui — 4 stars

Magus of the Library Vol 1 by Mitsu Izumi — 5 stars

Hunted by Meagan Spooner — 3.5 stars

Critical Role Vox Machina Origins II #3 by Jody Hauser, Matthew Mercer, Olivia Samson, Msassyk, and Ariana Maher — 5 stars

How to Hack a Heartbreak by Kristin Rockaway — DNF

Escape from Castle Ravenloft by Matt Forbeck — 5 stars

The Mad Mage’s Academy by Matt Forbeck — 5 stars

The Girl from the Other Side Vol 7 by Nagabe — 5 stars

Great Goddesses: Life Lessons from Myths and Monsters by Nikita Gill — 5 stars

Well Met by Jen DeLuca — 5 stars

Uncanny Collateral by Brian McClellan — 4 stars

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir — 4.5 stars

Accomplishments of a Duke’s Daughter Vol 1 by Reia and Suki Umemiya — 3 stars

Victor Boone Will Save Us by David Joel Stevenson — 4 stars (review to come Oct 3)

Suggested Reading by Dave Connis — 5 stars

Wonderbook by Jeff Vandermeer — 4.5 stars

The Beautiful (Sampler) by Renee Ahdieh — too soon to give a rating, but I like it so far

A Guide to Being a Dog by Seamus Wheaton, Wil Wheaton, and Lar Desouza — 4.5 stars

Mythical Beast Investigator Vol 1 by Keishi Ayasato and Koichiro Hoshino — 4 stars

The Sacred Blacksmith Vol 1 by Isao Miura and Kotero Yamada — 4 stars

Okay, book haul and OwlCrate Unboxing time. Well…we bought quite a few books this month. Oh man, I doubt that next month will be much better because there are so many books I’m looking forward to, and B&N is having a Kodansha Comics sale (Buy 2 get the 3rd free) through Oct 29, so yeah, I’m probably going to be buying a bunch more manga.

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Finally, let’s talk TBRs. I’m not putting my TBR up yet for Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon, because it is at the end of the month and I don’t know what I’ll be in the mood to read. Other than that I’m feeling like some spooky and/or atmospheric fantasies are what I want to read.

How was your September? Let me know in the comments, and I’ll be back soon with more bookish content.

September Wrap-Up and October TBR Hey all, Dani here. Whew, another month has come and gone. It is officially fall where I live, and I am ready to curl up with a hot beverage and a comfy blanket and some great reads.

[secretofpet]

Step-by-step: The Worst Holiday ‘Gift’ My Pet Ever Gave Me

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Simple –

Thinkstock

Think your pet is particularly naughty this time of year? You’re not the only one. We bet a lot of pet owners can relate to these holiday mishaps.

We like to think that our pets are always on Santa’s nice list, but every now and then, they do something, ahem, a little naughty. The holiday season — with its sparkling trimmed trees, luminous lights and perfectly wrapped presents — seems to be an opportune time for dogs and cats to get into mischief (at our expense). It’s a good thing our four-legged friends are so cute, because at the end of the day, many of us can’t help but laugh at their antics. In that vein, we’ve asked our Facebook fans to share the worst “gifts” they’ve ever received from their pets during the holidays. Some of these antics could have ended badly for the pet, though, so be sure to consider how you can avoid having your pet get into this kind of trouble this season. Brace yourself for stories of downed Christmas trees, furry “surprises” and unwrapped, er, ripped-open presents.

So Long, Tree

Reader Sonjalyn Dickson Rine’s cat, Figaro, was all about climbing the Christmas tree and sending it crashing down. “He would sit, walk a few feet away and sit and look back at it, as if to say, ‘Go ahead and put it back up. Make my day,’” Rinesays. Cats really know how to mock us, don’t they?

Cats usually get the blame for knocking the Christmas tree over. But dogs do it, too, as evidenced by this story from Facebook fan Angelina King: “Our pups — a Heeler mix and a Siberian Husky — were playing the night after we got our tree up and ran right into it. Needless to say, it came tumbling down and now leans to one side. Ha-ha.” At least King can laugh about it, right?

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Catching a squirrel is probably the No. 1 dream for most dogs. Well, reader Cindy Lynn Ostergard’s Weimaraner, Katie, made that impossible dream come true. The dog left a dead one at Ostergard’s feet while she was eating breakfast with her mom on Christmas Eve. “Katie was so proud,” Ostergard writes. Oh, we bet she was.

Don’t Forget the Decorations

Sparky the cat, who was owned by Facebook fan Nora Coombs (and lived more than 20 years), certainly lived up to his, well, electric name. Coombs says “he would pop the twinkle lights off the string and then play with them.” What a shocking habit!

Surprise, I Ruined the Surprise!

Who cares about unwrapping presents on Christmas morning? Reader Lisa Boone’s daughter’s mini dwarf rabbit took care of that holiday chore by tearing open all the presents under the tree. The rabbit also chewed the boxes open and left paper all over the place. Surprise!

Not Always Naughty

It turns out, our pets aren’t always so bad during the holiday season. Even with all the temptations, sometimes they — gasp — ignore them. (If your dog does get into trouble this time of year, brushing up on these commands can help.) With that in mind, we leave you with this nice message from Facebook fan Meagan Reardon, “So far the kids have been really good. I think they know it’s something special. And Santa always brings them something good.”

We wish you and your pets a happy — and safe! — holiday season. Although we can laugh at the anecdotes above, if your dog or cat does something dangerous like chew on electric cords, scarf down chocolates or find his way to another holiday hazard, contact your veterinarian immediately. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories; if you’ve got one, please write it in the comments below.

More on Vetstreet:

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Step-by-step: The Worst Holiday ‘Gift’ My Pet Ever Gave Me

from Secret Of Pet All Goods For Our Friends

[news-mashable-yahoopartner-blog]

Here's a list of the best Beatles masturbation puns that no one asked for

In GQ's profile of Paul McCartney that published Tuesday, the musician revealed that he and feelow Beatle John Lennon once masturbated with three other people. 

Here's the excerpt from GQ: 

Naturally, the internet had a lot to say about this, and numerous jokes and puns about The Beatles and masturbating began to circulate.

SEE ALSO: The mystery of who wrote a 50-year-old Beatles song is solved, thanks to math

We put together a round up of the best Beatles masturbation puns, which range from playful and goofy to downright raunchy. 

1. "Beat the Meatles"

I was not ready for the NY Post today pic.twitter.com/Fber9jWFRP

— Kate Hinds (@katehinds) September 12, 2018

I've thought about the Paul McCartney and John Lennon thing all morning and here's the only take my brain will let me produce... Beatles? More like Beat my Meatles

— Melanie Bracewell (@meladoodle) September 12, 2018

2. "Beatlejuice"

Is NOBODY going to call this Paul McCartney and John Lennon story "Beatlejuice"?

— Brian Boone (@brianbooone) September 11, 2018

4. A bounty of "Come Together" jokes

That awkward moment when you find out what The Beatles meant by Come Together.

— WhatserName™ (@IamEveryDayPpl) September 12, 2018

Strange news but Paul McCartney admitted that the Beatles masturbated in each others company. I guess that is how they wrote Come Together?

— W (@WWarped) September 12, 2018

Paul McCartney on the origins of their hit song “Come Together” https://t.co/2opvdsRAs0

— Pretty Much It (@PrettyMuchIt) September 12, 2018

5. "I don't wanna 'Imagine'"

Paul McCartney says he masturbated with John Lennon: "It was good harmless fun’ Hey, Sir Paul, that’s an image I don’t wanna ‘Imagine.’

— Paul Lander (@paul_lander) September 12, 2018

6. The crudest "Yellow Submarine" reference known to man

We all jizz in a yellow submarine Yellow submarine Yellow submarine #paulmccartney

— Black Fardoche (@vrai_fardoche) September 12, 2018

7. Many, many jokes about the origins of The Beatles' name

Is this why they called their band "the Beatles" https://t.co/DGN95Bfvkh pic.twitter.com/OlXzLQHAOS

— Hillary Busis (@hillibusterr) September 11, 2018

Oh God, is that where they got the name the Beatles?

— John Quaintance (@John_Quaintance) September 12, 2018

well they were the BEATles https://t.co/wRyMCCHDte

— Matt Will Post (@MattPostSaysHi) September 11, 2018

8. This filthy Ringo joke

“Ringo wasn’t even the best cummer in the Beatles.”

— Rob Manuel (@robmanuel) September 11, 2018

9. These riffs on classic Beatles tunes

"Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey That I Am Spanking"

— andi zeisler (@andizeisler) September 12, 2018

We Can Wank It Out

— Rachel Good (@RachelWithAnR) September 12, 2018

i get off with a little help from my friends https://t.co/39I4JqfpyP

— meagan (@meaganaversa) September 12, 2018

#Beatleswankingsongs I wanna hold your gland

— Chris Peacock (@chapmanj100) September 12, 2018

We Can Crank One Out Here Comes The Spunk I Wanna Hold Your Gland Magical Mystery Tug https://t.co/eLUuFlGrBO

— Jinzo Ningen (@Jinzo_Ningen) September 12, 2018

Oh Blow Di, Oh Blow Da! #Beatleswankingsongs

— joe stewart (@p33jst) September 12, 2018

Got to get you into my wife #BeatlesWankingSongs

— Terry P (@ElTele) September 12, 2018

Penis Lane #BeatlesWankingSongs

— Gammon Feel The Noize.. (@TheStalker3324) September 12, 2018

Maxwell's Silver Splatter #Beatleswankingsongs

— Bruce Gorrie (@bsgorrie) September 12, 2018

Sorry. 

WATCH: Type your song lyrics in the handwriting of your favorite rockstar

[chenstead]

all i have posted today is the Blacklist....I think i may have a new obsession...