CAYOM YEAR 5 - PART I - MOVIE SUBMISSION

[SLAM!]

Peak

 

Studio: New Journey Pictures

Director: Stephen Chbosky

Release Date: August 27th, Y5

Genre: Adventure

Major Cast: Luke Prael, Josh Hamilton, Lisa Kudrow, Issey Ogata, Koyu Rankin

Theater Count: 2,235

MPAA Rating: PG for Thematic Elements

Runtime: 1 hr 31 min

Production Budget: $25M

Plot Summary: A 14-Year-Old climber named Peak must go with his father to Mt. Everest to avoid a jail sentence and help his father's business.

 

Spoiler

 

(Sourceofsummary: http://www.supersummary.com/peak/summary/)

 

Edited September 11, 2023 by SLAM!

[YM!]

One Last Time

Studio: Infinite Studios 

Release Date: 1/1/Y5

Genre: Concert 

Director: Bruce Hendricks

Original Song: “free” by Ariana Grande

Rating: PG-13

Budget: $7M

Theater Count: 2,450

Format: 2D and 3D

Runtime: 98 minutes

 

Plot: Ariana Grande does a concert with 3D and stuff. We also learn more about her as well as the debut of new song “free”. Nuff said.

[Ezen Baklattan]

Best Friends

Genre: Comedy/Drama/Romance

Director: Jesse Peretz

Date: April 23rd

Theaters: 2,748

Runtime: 107min (1hr, 47min)

Rating: R for language and some alcohol use

Budget: $15 million

Music: Rolfe Kent

Cast: Channing Tatum (Jonathan), Aaron Paul (Kevin), Carrie Coon (Claire), Gavin Warren (Sammy), Rachel Brosnahan (Molly), Danny Glover (Jack)

 

Plot: A successful husband must help his best friend from high school, who lost his way in life.

 

Spoiler

When the two were in high school in Akron, Ohio, Jonathan and Kevin were the best of friends. They were both class clowns, making other people laugh in crazy ways and, more often than not, getting in trouble for it. However, once graduation came, things began to change. Jonathan had strict parents who wanted him to attend a high quality school in New England, while Kevin was only able to get into a nearby community college. Kevin also had more of an erratic and sometimes violent personality. The two still kept in touch in college, but as time progressed, each of them grew increasingly distant from one another, and they just faded away from each other’s minds.

 

Jonathan was able to get a job as a manager for a local real estate company, and he also met a kind woman named Claire. The two soon got married and they had a boy named Sammy. The family now lives back in Akron, OH, the site of Jonathan’s childhood. Kevin, on the other hand, did not do so well. His carefree and foolish personality remained throughout his life, and as a result, he wasn’t able to find a job to pay for his already cheap apartment. Even worse, he’s had a few instances in a local jail for two occasions, once for public indecency, and the second for getting into a drunken fight. Kevin still tried to maintain a positive outlook on life, but it became hard for him to keep doing so if this is what life really had in store for him.

 

It is a Saturday afternoon at Jonathan’s house. Jonathan is at the stove, making grilled sandwiches for his family. The scene is pretty calm, with Claire checking her emails and Sammy playing with his toys. After lunch, Sammy asks Jonathan a question. Out of boredom, he decided to explore the attic, and he found one of Jonathan’s yearbooks. He wanted to know which one was dad. Jonathan, smiling, points out a picture of him, one where he is hanging with Kevin. Sammy asks if he remembers the person who he was with in the picture. Jonathan soon thinks for a moment, and in a lesser voice, he tells him that it was just an old friend who he had to part ways with. Jonathan soon leaves, remembering the times he had with Kevin, but that was all behind him now. He was different from who he was in High School, and he laments Kevin’s new life, which was just getting bad before the two stopped talking.

 

At a small, rundown apartment building near downtown Akron, at the same time, we see a messy apartment and a man sleeping on his couch. He soon gets up as a result of strong knocking on the door. It’s the landlord of the apartment building and he’s extremely furious with the man, who introduces himself as Kevin. Kevin had not paid his eviction notices before the deadline, not to mention the awful state he keeps his apartment in. As a result, the landlord has had the last straw. Kevin is being kicked out right now, and he has three hours to pack his bags and leave. Kevin asks for a second chance, saying how he’s starting to find a job that might work out, but the landlord won’t have any of it. Besides, this was probably his fourth or fifth chance. Pretty soon, Kevin takes several trips to the nearby dumpster, and he is left waiting outside the building with only his suitcase. He had nowhere to go, and this was his biggest low in his life. He longed to relive the days of his high school glory.

 

That night, Kevin is lying out at the same curb, but he’s bought some fast food to eat. He convinces himself that the world is his own place to live, and that he’s coming back to be stronger than ever. He yells at nothing, which causes many pedestrians to give him a look of confusion. Meanwhile, Jonathan and his family had just gone to the movies, and they were on their way home. Jonathan soon passes by Kevin in the street, and he stops the car. Jonathan looks at Kevin, shocked that he was now without a home. He had no idea that his life had come to this. Kevin soon looks at him, and he becomes very excited. Kevin recognized him instantly, and he was more excited about this encounter than Jonathan was. Kevin soon begs him to take him in, just for a little while. Jonathan, thinking for a second, tells Kevin to give him a moment, and he closes the window. He and his wife soon get into a debate over what to do. Claire says that he just can’t take a homeless guy off the street just because they were once friends. Besides, he might run off in the morning and steal some things. However, Jonathan feels bad about just leaving his friend out in the cold, so the two of them compromise. They’ll let him stay for a few nights, but then he has to leave. Kevin, ecstatic by the news, gets into the car.

 

Kevin sits next to Sammy, who tells him that his daddy told him about the friend. Kevin smiles at him, just as Jonathan goes over some rules for the house. They’re mostly pretty obvious ones, such as “don’t steal anything” and “don’t have friends over without our approval,” and if Kevin breaks one of the rules, they’re kicking him out, no expectations. They soon arrive at the house. Kevin and Jonathan carry the suitcases to a guest bedroom, where Kevin will be sleeping. Kevin admits that this is far better than any of his prior sleeping conditions, and he thanks his friend for doing him this favor. He soon crashes. Later on, he and his wife are in bed. Claire hopes that he would be able to trust him for the time that he is here, and Jonathan re-assures him that he’s essentially harmless, if how he was in high school was any indication.

 

The next day, a Sunday, involves Jonathan setting his alarm early to make sure that Kevin didn’t make off with anything. He goes into the guest bedroom, and he is shocked that Kevin isn’t there. He runs down the stairs in anger, thinking that he must have stolen something, but he instead finds Kevin sleeping on the couch. He must have woken up and gone downstairs, only to fall asleep once more on the couch. Jonathan gives a sigh of relief to seeing this. Throughout the day, Kevin doesn't exactly prove to be a great house guest. Everyone except for Sammy is annoyed by him in multiple instances, especially Jonathan. However, he and Sammy are getting along well. The two play video games together and talk about cool games coming out soon. Sammy says that Jonathan rarely has any time to play with him, because his work schedule has made him so busy. Jonathan overhears this, and he decides, to prove Sammy that he will play with him, to make it a three player game. During the game, Jonathan realizes that his gaming skills have diminished over the years, and he is easily beaten by Sammy and Kevin. He still smiles at his son having fun with their guest.

 

The next day, everyone has to go into work, except for Kevin. Jonathan soon gets an idea. As part of his job, Jonathan has to work closely with a house construction company, and their work force is getting rather skimpy. They could afford to hire more workers, and Kevin may be a suitable candidate, but Jonathan needs to get him the job first. At his office, he talks to his sharp tounged co worker, Molly, who says that she can arrange an interview between the construction company employer and Kevin to get a job. Jonathan thanks Molly for this, and she soon makes a call to the employer. On the road home from work, Jonathan thinks about any suits that he has that will help Kevin find a job. He eventually finds one suit that might work. It fits him pretty well. However, Kevin decides that getting a job at a construction firm would not be very much fun. Jonathan tells him bluntly that this may be his only shot at a job, and that he’ll do fine on the interview, with some practice at the very least. The two eventually go into work one day, and Kevin is ready to be interviewed. He meets the boss of the construction company, who look at him and mutters to himself, “this will be an interesting interview.” With Kevin’s lack of concern and focus, the interview is an utter disaster. Jonathan receives an email from the employer shortly after, saying that he wouldn’t hire him if he were the reincarnation of an ancient god. However, Molly admits that she had a liking to him.

 

Jonathan brings this news to Kevin in less scathing terminology. Kevin is slightly disappointed, but he’s fine staying at the house for a little while.  An irritated Jonathan considers kicking him out now. He only promised a stay of a few nights anyway, but he became a bit generous, allowing him to stay a week and a half so far. He’s been behaving himself pretty well, and he’s definitely trying to do his fair share around the house. That, and Sammy seems to like him a lot. He lets him stay until he can finally get a job, but he insists that he will cave to him no more. The two compromise and decide to get drinks at their favorite club from childhood, Cool Jack’s Crazy Shack.

 

The place is a tavern with a set up of a few arcade games, several TV screens, and memorabilia scattered across the walls. Jack welcomes the two to his place, especially Kevin. Kevin was definitely a regular at this place, and he knew Jack well. Jack is the owner and main bartender of the place, and he’s just as carefree and loose as Kevin is. The two drink to the fact that the interview happened, not that it was a complete disaster. Much to Kevin’s surprise, Emily is also there at the bar. The two begin to talk it up, and they seem to get along very well. They even dance together with songs from the jukebox. Meanwhile, Jack and Jonathan are talking at the bar. Jack tells him that Kevin’s been having a bit of a hard time lately, and this place was the main thing that still made him happy in life. However, Jack was getting close to retiring, and due to the lack of business, the bar may close for good. He asks Jonathan not to tell him this, because it might hurt his spirit. He agrees to this, and he and Kevin soon go home. Kevin talks about how he might have a bit of a crush on Jonathan’s co-worker, but she’s actually quite an awesome girl. In fact, the two agreed to meet at the tavern again on a later date. It seems like things were going to start getting better.

 

The next few weeks pass by with some progress, but not very much. Kevin has applied to many jobs over this time period, but he seems to be landing none of them. However, Jonathan and his family are beginning to open up more to Kevin, and the four of them do things together amicably while Jonathan and Claire try to teach him a few tricks to get back up on his feet and start his life anew. In fact, the family goes to a local video game tournament, where Kevin, Jonathan, and Sammy enter as a team. The three of them eventually get to second place. They lose the championship round, but they still had a good time, while Claire and Molly were cheering them on the whole time. The family, along with Molly, decides to go to Crazy Jack’s Tavern to celebrate.

 

While the family sits at a booth in the place, much like any other restaurant, Charlie and Molly are chatting at the bar. Jonathan is happy for the two of them, as is Claire. She was mainly convinced by their time spent together at the video game tournament, and how it seemed like the lot of them was truly having a good time. She can’t remember the last time that they were this happy. It’s quite ironic for her to say this about watching someone else play video games, she admits. Even Jonathan reminisces about the time that the two spent together, including their trip to the bar they day they graduated from high school. At the bar, Jack tells Kevin that he probably had a little too much to drink, and how he should probably lay low for a little bit, Kevin insists that he’s perfectly fine, although he is acting rather clumsy and he is clearly slurring his words. Meanwhile, a fellow bar patron begins to hit on Molly, not realizing that she is with Kevin. Kevin soon gets up out of his stool and tells the man to knock it off. After he refuses, the two get into a fight. The fight becomes very intense, and it’s even taken outside. Molly, Jonathan, and Claire look onto the scene in horror, while Sammy begins to cry. The man that was becoming a role model to him was doing something so mean and violent. The police soon come and arrest Kevin. Before they leave, Jonathan comes up to him. He says that he’ll pay for his bail, but is still furious with Kevin.

 

After Jonathan coldly drives them home, with Molly deciding to get her own ride, Kevin begins to lash out again, feeling that he's being treated like he just killed someone. He elevates another fight that leads to them getting home, escalating in smashing Sammy's video game console. Jonathan has had it, the deal is off; the deal is off. Kevin is no longer welcome to stay with the family. In bed, Sammy says that he doesn't want Kevin to come back, and the two parents admit that they agree with him, and how they won’t let him come back. Jonathan tucks Sammy into bed that night, and he apologizes for Claire, for thinking that his former best friend could be helped.

 

In a local hotel,, Kevin has another anger attack. He is angry with himself for losing control at the bar, as well as causing the only person to believe in him to lose hope. He truly thought that this was going to be his ticket to a better life, but this was all he got. However, Kevin knows that he is truly to blame here, so he sits in the corner of the room, feeling sad and sorry for his actions that night. He is soon able to read a local newspaper, one that depicts the fight that happened at the bar. In fact, it’s in the main section of the newspaper, but it’s fortunately not the front page article. However, he soon finds something in the article that makes him feel worse. It reveals that Cool Jack’s Crazy Shack is going to close soon, due to the owner retiring. After glancing through the rest of the newspaper, Kevin crumples the Newspaper into a ball and throws it. After sitting in silence, he soon gets up, realizing that he has an idea.

 

Later on, Jonathan decides to go to the hotel to visit Kevin. Claire believes that this is not a very good idea, but Jonathan insists that Kevin truly needs a companion at this point in his life, even if he is certainly mad at him. He goes to visit Kevin, who is truly gratified to see him. Kevin, with little hesitation, immediately shows him the newspaper. Jonathan asks with an odd glance if he wanted him to see the story of his arrest. Kevin grumbles and turns the page to a regional video game tournament, where the first place prize is huge. It’s so huge, that it might allow Kevin to buy the bar and keep it from closing. Jonathan thinks that it’s a stupid idea. Kevin asks Jonathan if it was a stupid idea to take him in when he had no hope. Jonathan says that, quite frankly, it did not have much payoff in the end for either one. Kevin admits that this wasn’t a great way to say his words. Rather, he wanted to say that being with him helped him to change and become more responsible, and he promises that this was a one-time thing. He ends this by begging Jonathan to be in a team with him and Sammy for the tournament. He’ll be released before registration even closes. Jonathan sighs, and the screen cuts away. We then cut back to Jonathan’s house, where he drops a stack of video games on the kitchen table and tells him that they’ll need some practice. Molly lends her console, revealing herself to secretly be a high score player, but refusing to acknowledge Kevin further.

 

The day of the video game tournament soon comes, and the teams mostly consist of college age kids and teenagers. The tournament lasts a couple days at a nearby hotel. This is quite a competitive group, especially compared to that of two thirty-something men and an 8-year old. Claire and Molly are both there, even though they are both still mad at Kevin. The first round commences, and Kevin, Jonathan, and Sammy just barely win. They continue to win several rounds and they eventually reach the championship. Given their plight, a lot of people begin to root for them in the audience, and they are a highlight of local news coverage of the event. Even Jack and the bar patrons are watching the event live. However, their dreams soon become dashed. They lose the championship round, and their prize, while still substantial, is not enough to win back the bar. The family soon becomes saddened, even if the prize was quite impressive. The money would still be enough to get Kevin into a small apartment for a little while, but it won’t be enough to buy back the bar. However, the winning team decides that they were also going to use the prize money to save the very same bar from being closed down. After some thought at the bar, the people begin to cheer again, for the bar is saved. Jack breathes easy knowing that his place will be in good hands.

 

After the tournament, the family is celebrating in their hotel room, when Kevin knocks on the door. He wanted to apologize for everything that he has done that bothered the family, but he reassures all of them that he has finally found a way to get his life back on track. The winners of the contest are going to manage the bar together, and they’ve already agreed to employ Kevin as one of the bartenders. The family forgives him and decides to let Kevin celebrate with them. In the end, everyone is better off. Jonathan is now able to bond with his son more and even Claire decides that she might want to try some of these games, and Molly decides to forgive Kevin as well. The two get married, and it’s an awesome video game themed wedding. Jack retires happily, and he attends the bar regularly when Kevin is the tender. Jonathan decides that everyone has a capacity to get their lives back up when they fall. All they would need is just a little bit of a push.

[Ezen Baklattan]

Skyjumper

 

Genre: Sports/Drama

Date: July 9th 

Theaters: 2,966 (including Dolby Cinema)

Director: Gavin O'Connor

Cast: Daniel Kaluuya (Douglas Kemp), Gaspard Ulliel (Jean-Jacques Bonheur), Kiki Layne (Mary), Thomas Haden Church (George Connors)

Budget: $35 million

Rating: PG for intense situations, use of alcohol, and some language

Runtime: 105min (1hr, 45min)

 

Jean-Jacques Bonheur and Douglas Kemp are two of the world's most famous experts in extreme sports, from surfing to rock climbing. Bonheur is a young man from France from a fairly privileged family who refused to enter the family's business entrepreneurship, while Kemp started as a kid living in poverty with his family in Boston who took up skateboarding and other extreme sports to find an outlet for personal freedom and fulfillment. Given their fame and similar ages, the media is eager to place them together as rivals, often challenging them together in various sports. The two but they know that each one is formidable competition in each sport, but they still try to see and learn more about each other. The movie opens with them going against one another in a snowboarding contest. Both of them are fairly nervous, but the race is still very competitive, and Bonheur barely wins.

 

The two have never gotten to know each other well, so Kemp decides to buy Bonheur a few drinks to congratulate him for his win at the slopes. They go to a small bar outside of the town, one that Kemp had visited once before the race. Bonheur enjoys the experience, but he comments that he never got to experience something like this, as his family said that these kinds of places tended to attract scum. The two proceed to learn about each other through their ideals, including that Kemp wonders why Bonheur, who would put his life at risk on several occasions, still wouldn't go to a place as casual as a bar because of a fear of 'scum.' Bonheur also reveals his greatest wish wish, to break the world record for skydiving height. The two eventually go home, with Kemp feeling rather drunk and Bonheur driving. Bonheur leaves him at his home, smiling.

 

After that, Kemp is notified that Bonheur had gone missing that night, and his presumed to be dead after some time investigating. Feeling traumatized but guilty, but obligated to his new friend, Kemp decides that on his behalf, he will fulfill the wish of his rival, to break the 24-mile skydiving record set in 2012. Kemp begins to practice skydiving with skydiving expert Mary, feeling more scared than ever before, thanks to his lack of experience in sky-high extreme sports, and the obligation to his friend prevents him from breaking free, especially with the media constantly on his tail now that his plans have gotten out. Mary, however, tells Kemp that he knew Bonheur once, and he had similar fears as well. It's not the end of all things if he cannot do it, but Mary knows that he can. The two also bond by sharing a kiss during a practice skydive. Bonheur appears in several of Kemp's nightmares, as he has dreams of continuing to compete with him and struggles to keep up. He's trying to do this to keep his memory alive and maybe hope that he could return one day.

 

Eventually, the day approaches where Kemp is ready to rocket himself into space and jump from a height of nearly 26 miles, only 5 miles below the upper limit of the stratosphere. The night before, Kemp has a nightmare that he is skydiving with both Bonheur and Mary, and both are missing parachutes. He tries to save them, but the wind resistance makes it incredibly difficult, and he wakes up just before the impact. That morning, Kemp puts a video online, announcing his big feat today. He pretends to show complete confidence, but one the record button is off, his fear is pushed into full gear. However, his support of Bonheur and his mission has inspired the world entirely.

 

The night before, Kemp is shocked to see Bonheur appear in his apartment. It turns out that he had been alive all along, but had used the accident as a cover to retreat back into his family business, having been pressured by his parents. Hurt by his betrayal, but relieved that he is okay, Kemp asks why he had lied. Bonheur tells him that he never intended to make a living of this, especially as he plans to start a family. He longed for the quiet, planned life he was forced out of having by his own arrogance. But at the same time, he knew Kemp would despise him if he had told him the truth, so he had to cave into the pressure and escape a life of danger he made for himself. Kemp refuses to forgive Bonheur, telling him that he needs to decide what he wants from life, but he needs to do it without lying to his friends. 

 

The day is then here. At the launching site, he meets George Connors, a man who will guide him through the liftoff and jump. He is a fairly humorous man, but he is able to take the situation seriously. Mary is also there, giving Kemp some last minute advice, but warning him that this is nothing like she had seen before, telling him to be careful. "We'll be waiting at the surface of the pale blue dot." Kemp smiles, saying that he can certainly hope. Kemp gets into the surface of the pod that will bring him up to 26 miles, and he takes a deep breath as he goes in, decked out in a space suit as he takes one last look at Mary. However, we find out that Bonheur wants to do the jump with him. Everyone is in shock, especially news pundits. Kemp is somewhat annoyed, but is eventually convinced to forgive Bonheur and take the jump together.

 

Several miles into space, Kemp and Bonheur have an incredible view of the world. Connors tells them that now is the time to jump, and we see them  doing so, after taking a deep breath in his suit and reciting, "One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, and four to go." They begin diving down to earth, reaching speeds of nearly 750mph, as people watch with excitement and fear all over the world. As the two follow, they remember their experiences together and feel almost a cosmic bond to one another. The jump is successful and makes news across the world. Eventually, Kemp is happy that Bonheur chose a more civil life, but he's still willing to partake in a few sports every once in a while. Bonheur has a daughter named Ciel, the French word for sky. Kemp continues to live on the extreme, much to Mary's slight annoyment and panic at times, but ultimately, all are happy. 

[Ezen Baklattan]

Train 38

Director: Park Chan-Wook

Genre: Horror/Fantasy/Drama/Thriller

Date: September 3rd

Theaters: 2,886

Cast: Lupita Nyong'o (Olivia), John C. Reilly (Peter), Vanessa Redgrave (Belle), Kodi-Smitt McPhee (Vincent), Natalia Dyer (Abigail), Mia Goth (Kristen), Min-sik Choi (Sang-je), Ah-sung Ko (Ji Youn), Caleb Landry Jones (Lance)

Composer: Clint Masnell

Runtime: 99min (1hr, 39min)

Rating: R for disturbing violent content, some strong language, brief sexual content including nudity, and smoking

Budget: $45 million

 

OVERVIEW: A woman is embarking on a train home from a sustainability conference, but mysterious parameters affect her journey, and she is determined to find out the truth of her travel home while maintaining her sanity.

 

Spoiler

In the opening credits sequence, we see a fast chain of events unfold: A woman named Olivia Jannis is attending the closing luncheon of a global summit on Sustainability in Paris, and she is checking out of her hotel and saying goodbye. She also takes some anxiety pills to help her on her journey. We then see her calling up her Husband, Michael. She tells him that she is about to get on her train to London, and that she’s excited to go through the Channel Tunnel again. “It was quite exhilarating, actually. The feeling that you are underneath the world, yet the connections to what you’ve always known are there.” Michael is very excited to see her, and he will have something special for her when she arrives home. Olivia laughs, saying how he always did go the extra mile. They part as Olivia arrives at the train station, waiting for her train, Train 38, to arrive.

 

The train eventually appears, right on time much to Olivia’s surprise, and she is about to embark on her trip home. On the way, we see a young teenage girl of Korean descent accidentally bump into her. Her uncle comes up and tells her that she needs to be more careful around standers. She promptly apologizes to him, and he apologizes to Olivia. They then realize that they are sitting next to each other, and they decide to board the train. The inside of the train looks fairly contemporary, at least the car she is in now. As the three move to their seats, they notice other passengers, such as Lance, a traveling blogger writing about different blogging experiences, and Abigail, a young college student return home to her family for the summer. Olivia recognizes the two Korean scientists as attendees at the convention, based on their nametags that they never took off.  The man is named Sang-Je, and his daughter is Ji Youn. They apologize for their lack of English skills, but Olivia remarks that she can speak Korean as well. They smile as they sit down in their seats.

 

A train attendant, Kristen, then enters the cart, welcoming all of them aboard the train. The expected arrival is at 3:42 local time, and they will be entering an underwater tunnel in order to arrive. Ji Youn comments how nervous she is about going underneath the sea, but Sang-je remarks that everything will be fine. “These trains travel to and from Paris several times, and there have almost never been any problems. If anything does happen, I will protect you.” Sang-je says in Korean. The two hug as Olivia smiles. She also comments that her first time going on this train was one of the most exciting travels she has ever done, and that it is not scary. Ji Youn quietly thanks her, as the train begins to signal its departure. Kristen then tells everyone to remain seated as the tunnel is entered, after which riders will be free to move around the train. We then see the train depart from the station and go under. Relaxing music and special lights go off in the train as the descent is made, something which captures Ji-Youn’s delight. Olivia then decides to take a nap for the rest of the ride, leaning against the window and closing her eyes.

 

Olivia wakes up after closing her eyes, checking the time. It is now 5:03, over an hour after the train was supposed to arrive. The train is still powering through the tunnel, however. Olivia curses, looking around and trying to find a train attendant. At the moment, she notices Lance continuing to write about his travel experiences. Olivia asks him a question, but he snaps, saying that she distracted him. She tells him about the timing problem, and Lance rolls his eyes. “You were knocked out, weren’t you? They said over the PA that there was a delay at the station, and the train would arrive later. Evolution gave us ears for a reason, you know!” Olivia, feeling uncomfortable, thanks him, and walks away to another cart. She is trying to look for Kristen, asking when the train will arrive in London. After noticing a sign for free wireless signals on the train, she pulls out her phone to try and call Michael, but she does not get a signal.

 

She goes towards the cafe section of the train afterwards, deciding that a warm beverage may help herself. In the Cafe, she notices Abigail, the student from earlier, listening to music on her headphones, specifically the song, “Keep Feeling Fascination” by The Human League, as she enjoys her tea. Olivia takes comfort in seeing another face, but is more confused that more people are not feeling concerned about this. She goes up towards the Cafe’s counter and accidentally bumps into a man in a nice jacket. He turns around to Olivia’s nervous apology, but he instead smiles, introducing himself as Peter and instantly recognizing Olivia. Olivia is confused, as she had never met him before, but Peter assures her that as one of the higher ups at Neptune Railways, the owner of the trains based on underwater tunnels, he recognizes her as a member of the premium rewards program. Olivia regains composure, but still feels a bit off about the connection, commenting on how nice it is to meet him.

 

Olivia then decides to ask him if the train was delayed, wanting a verification of what Lance has told her. Peter laughs and assures her that they will be arriving in London in less than an hour, and that all she needs to do is sit back and enjoy the rest of her travel. He then leaves to check on how other passengers are doing across the train, leaving behind a bag of change. Olivia notices it, and she runs to the end of the cart and into the next one to deliver it. The next cart, full of other passengers, does not have him inside. Olivia moves down another cart, but he is not there either. She calls out his name, but he eventually shows up behind her. Olivia returns his bag of change, and Peter is grateful for the deed. “Perhaps you will make it out of here well,” he says to Olivia, smiling and walking away.

 

Olivia then decides to return to her seat, and Ji Youn and Sang-je are sitting down there again. Ji Youn comments on how beautiful the train is, thanking her father and Olivia for helping to alleviate her fears. Olivia smiles and sits back down in the cart. We see Lance, seemingly acting calm as normal, returning to his seat after getting intoxicated at the train's bar.

 

Suddenly, a screen comes on in front of each seat, and a woman on the screen, dressed as a train attendant, announces that for the remainder of the travel, patrons will have access to watch a film on their seats using on demand technology. Kristen also comes in, adding that because of additional delays, this entertainment will be provided for free. Olivia sighs, but decides that she might as well watch something. She enters a selection of various videos, but she becomes very shocked upon realizing that all of them are videos about her growing up, from her interests as a child to her graduation, and eventually her wedding and the birth of his child. Olivia is somewhat frightened by these images, going up to Kristen and asking about the films. She does not understand what she is talking about, but Olivia goes to show her the screen. Everything is back to normal now, with the files of her childhood replaced by generic Hollywood movies.

 

Olivia stutters at the confusion, but Kristen asks her to sit down and relax. Olivia continues to try and talk about what she saw, but Kristen eventually pushes her down on the seat, saying in a much harsher voice that it would not be advisory for her to frighten other passengers in this manner, and that she is disturbing the peace. Olivia goes silent, and Kristen eventually thanks her, walking away. Olivia looks around, noticing how no one is reacting to that minor altercation. Olivia sighs, trying to regain her composure once again. She then watches a movie about an elderly woman named Belle who recounts the story of a lost love she once met on a train riding across the United States, a boy named Vincent, over 60 years ago. Olivia begins to fall asleep, but on all of the screens for all of the passengers, we see a cart with all of the passengers on the train so far. This is meant to be seen as a scene from the movie.

 

Meanwhile, as Peter is sitting in the train, Peter is drinking some coffee, but Kristen, feeling nervous, goes up to see him. She expresses concern that Olivia is starting to become more aware of her surroundings, and the travel may be compromised if she acts on what she is inevitably going to learn. Peter tells her to keep the train going at all costs, and that no one is to leave. “This must be the way things are kept,” she tells her. “We also have the advantage that she may not like what she sees, and that she will run away from it.” Kristen smiles and complies to Peter’s requests. Olivia, back in her seat, gets up and decides to walk around the train, as Lance shushes her for disrupting the movie. Olivia walks down a few carts (the train is surprisingly long) of seating until she eventually finds several unique carts, such as a shop, a cinema, a museum, and more. It seems as though anything she could possibly imagine is on this train. One odd cart, one that looks akin to her bedroom as a child. Even more surprising, Belle (as an elderly woman) and Vincent are there.

 

Olivia becomes confused and terrified upon this revelation, and she goes up against a wall, trying to hold back a scream. Belle comes up to her and slaps her. “You fool! You’re going to cause a ruckus in the whole train!” Olivia comments on how unexpected that remark was, but Belle says that it is no matter. Belle tells her that the train is trying to kill them all, and that the movie that have just seen was filmed right on it. “We have been on this train forever, and we are never getting off!” Vincent tells Belle that she needs to calm herself, but Belle dismisses it. Belle begins to rant even more loudly at the situation on the train, and how she would rather die than spend one more minute on this train. She continues on how the train is providing no good way to live for exactly one minute, and after that, a bullet comes from a small vent in the air and pierces her neck. She drops down in a pool of blood and violence. Olivia screams, but the train’s walls prevent sound from traveling. Vincent then points out the voice box on the train, thanking them for their cooperation in this brief drill. “All is now safe. Thank you for riding with Neptune Railways.”

 

Olivia decides to take Vincent to a small cabinet, asking him about what Bell was saying. Vincent says that in some part, it is actually true. The train has been traveling for so long, he cannot remember when it all began. The train provides means of having us do or see anything that we want to do, but none of it is real. “We’re all trapped inside of this train until the end of time, and that’s how Peter wants it. “ Vincent asks Olivia to look outside the cabinet again, and the cart has turned into her favorite pizza restaurant as a child. “It projects from the passenger’s memories and dreams and each one sees something unique to them.” When you saw your old movies, everyone saw theirs, too. We then cut to a montage of Ji Youn watching herself voice a famous and adorable cartoon, Sang-je as a master chef, Abigail accepting a Nobel Prize, and Lance having gratuitous sex. “Some minds are more fucked up than others, but at the same time, we’ve all got ‘em.” 
 

Peter overhears this conversation, saying that it was not enough to kill Belle. They both need to be taken out. Kristen asks about the ethics of this move, but he insists that someone is on this train who should not be, and that he must lay down the law to ensure the worthy passengers' safe journey, all in an eerily calm and relaxed, folksy manner. Without a second thought, he begins to fire bullets at both of them remotely, in the same manner that they killed Belle in. Through an intense escape sequence, all through one shot and somewhat similar to the fight scene in Oldboy, they are fired at from inside the pizza cart, and Olivia and Vincent run away. They run through the passenger seats, where they avoid getting shot, but several passengers are also caught in the misfire. One of the casualties is Lance, who falls on his laptop in a way that his bloodied chin lands on the ‘6’ and ‘9’ keys. Another his Sang-je, whose bloody head falls on Ji Youn’s chest. Ji Youn screams in horror, looking at Olivia and running to her. She hugs her and begins to cry, but Olivia tells her that she needs to run, and that they need to find Peter.

 

They continue to run through various carts, but not in the same order as she remembered, including new cars such as a rave, and an ice cream shop. Kristen begins to tell Pete that this is unethical, and other people shouldn’t have to leave the train because of her. Peter says that if she finds out the truth, she will never be able to live again. Even those who have died on the train will come back to life in a different setting. Kristen tells him that he cannot possibly know where they are going, but Peter restrains her, saying that it does matter what happens when they are gone. Everyone can believe whatever they wish to believe, and they will not stop them from doing that. Their debate increases in intensity as Vincent, Ji Youn, and Olivia go through the carts. They soon reach the cafe, where Abigail runs up to them from behind. “You’re okay...thank goodness. Wait a minute, aren’t you that actor from the movie I just saw? *Peter prepares to fire* It’s a pleasure to meet you, I can’t believe we’re on the same train!” *Peter decides to let her go.*

 

The four eventually walk to Kristen and Peter’s cart, where one last bullet tries to pierce them. Instead, it actually hits Peter in the neck, as if he had gotten in the way on purpose. As Peter collapses, we hear a dash of panic, as if it came as sound from a different plane, noisy and unclean, about panic for getting a rescue ASAP. The train needs to arrive at the station. Only Olivia hears it, but she does not say anything.

 

Peter begs for Olivia not to kill her, as if he dies, innocent people will die too. Kristen points a gun at her, but Vincent pulls one out as well. “I’ve always wanted to participate in a Mexican standoff," Peter jokes. Ji Youn then takes the gun from Vincent, saying that after they killed her father, she demands vengeance (in Korean). She adds in English that they’re all going to fucking die. Kristen tries to diffuse the situation, saying that if they go to their seats, everyone will be treated to whatever luxury service they wish for the remainder of the travel. Olivia then says that the only thing she wants is to get off the train, and to see her husband again. Peter, still bleeding, tells her that the train is actually the one thing that is keeping everyone alive. "This reality, this scene, this is the world that these people thrive in, but it's clear that Olivia and Ji Youn have no place," Peter yells at them. Regaining his composure, he then reveals to to Olivia that he hears of a special elixir that can take anyone off of the train or to their ultimate paradise. “You can escape now,” Vincent tells her.

 

As they walk through the train, the damage seems to come magically undone, and people begin to celebrate and enjoy their rides as if nothing happened. This appears in a surreal sequence where the party walk through the train's hallway to the bar, as damage gets undone in slow motion, all while the main characters walk as normal. Before Olivia and Jo Youn walk into the bar, Kristen guides Abigail back to her seat, as if they are being guided by force greater than them. She looks onto Olivia with a look of resigned sadness.

 

The train will return on its destination without any further hindrance. Peter then takes the four characters and Kristen to the bar, where Olivia is motioned to order the drink. Vincent whispers to her that it is called an ‘emergency exit.’ It has kind of an apple-ish flavor to it. Olivia makes the order, but Peter smiles and prepares it for her. Suddenly, without saying any other words, as Olivia sips, she hears more screams and horror, jumping horrifically to a reality where there a flashes of an explosion, screams, and water breaks. She immediately withdraws, putting together what happened. Noticing that he had made a drink for Ji Youn, Olivia takes her hand. "Why...why was it us? Everyone else had their dream...they accepted it. Why didn't we? Surely I'm not the only one who could have..." As Olivia begins to have a panic attack, Peter gently calms her and reveals that she finally understands that this journey was never meant for her, along with Ji Youn and Vincent. She and Ji Youn must finish their drinks now...or they will return to the train as well.

 

Olivia listens to this and takes a deep breath. “Ji Youn, Vincent, promise me that you will stay safe. May there always be someone to protect you wherever you go.” Olivia then picks up her drink, ‘The Emergency Exit,’ staring at the camera and finishing it all. As she begins to drink, the water begins to fill from inside the cup and floods the entire vicinity. As Olivia and Ji Youn wade through the increased floods, they look around the other carts again, seeing now that things are seemingly returning to the way they once were. As the flood reaches their heads, we see flashes of light surround them.

 

Cut to the bright daylight sky. A flood had broken the tunnel that the train was, and Ji Youn, Vincent, and Olivia were the only survivors, managed to be rescued in time. They are guided into a boat, traumatized and shaken. The boat's captain looks disturbingly looks like Peter, who remarks to them: "You have much to accomplish in this world...it is too soon to leave. You have been granted a gift from something beyond yourself." Olivia looks into the horizon with a state of despair and confusion, wrapped in blankets. Ji Youn sits next to her, as "Keep Feeling Fascination" plays one last time.

 

THE END

[Blankments]

A Woman in the Crowd

 

Writer/Director: Jeff Nichols

Genre: Romantic Fantasy Drama
Release Date: October 15
Major Cast:
Anya Taylor-Joy as Lyra Marshall
Trevor Jackson as Milo Hawkins
Jessica Rothe as Victoria Spar
Jack Reynor as Scott
Yaya DaCosta as Jackie Smith
Emily Carey as Sally
Hannah John-Kamen as Regina
Caleb Landry Jones as Rick
Nathanael Saleh as Tommy

Michael Shannon as the construction foreman (cameo)

 

Theater Count: 3,453
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for language, sensuality, and thematic content
Runtime: 107 min
Production Budget: $30 million
Music by: David Wingo
 
Plot Summary:  A woman cursed to always be forgotten attempts to start a relationship with the town gardener, despite her obvious disadvantages.
 

Note: Flashbacks are in italics. 

 

Plot: 

 

The film opens with Lyra simply strumming a lyre on the side of the road. Lyra narrates, saying when she was a kid and first heard about the lyre, she thought it was funny that someone named an instrument after her. She started playing it as a joke, but then eventually, she began to love music, especially music played on her lyre.

 

BLANKMENTS PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS. She continues her narration saying that this is her story, and not her story; rather, it is a story of human decency, friendship, and love. A JEFF NICHOLS FILM. The day passes, and people throw money into her hat laid out before her. Lyra smiles, seeing she has made, through only tips, twenty dollars today. Lyra narrates that she’s always happy to see the people of Hustonville, Kentucky (population 350) are so generous. She stops by the local café, a place where everyone in town will be. The waitress, Jackie Smith, walks up to her, surprised. She says they rarely get anyone new in town, especially with an interstate highway right by them. Lyra just smiles and says that she’s been here a few times before. Lyra then promptly narrates that this is her 184th visit to the café, and it is the 92nd time this particular waitress has waited on her. Lyra orders a chicken sandwich (which Jackie says will be three dollars); and waits for it to arrive. As Jackie leaves, Lyra shivers.

TWO YEARS AGO. Lyra arrives in town, snorting at why she has to spend her first summer out of college in this dump. Her friend/roommate, Victoria, tells her to stop over exaggerating; Lyra will only have to stay here for a few days. Lyra says that she’s only here since Victoria is her best friend, and she’s a city girl through and through. Victoria teases that if she’s a city girl, why does she play the lyre? Lyra snorts at this, but then comes back at Victoria, saying that a music major is going to help her a lot more than Victoria’s bizarre major. Victoria says her major in Medieval Renaissance Studies is awesome, and totally useful. Lyra rolls her eyes at this yet again, and says she’s going out to play her lyre; maybe she’ll be able to con a few bucks out of the small town. Victoria rolls her eyes, reminding Lyra she grew up here, but Lyra is already gone. 

Lyra, reading the newspaper, waits for her food. Jackie enters the dining room with the chicken sandwich, looking around for who ordered it. Lyra clears her throat, and Jackie looks at her with a smile. She remarks that they rarely get anyone new in town, especially with an interstate highway right by them. Lyra smiles at her, but Jackie sighs, saying she doesn’t know who ordered the chicken sandwich. Lyra asks if she can just have the sandwich, and Jackie says no, she has to pay for it out of her paycheck. Lyra says she’ll just pay the three dollars for it, since it does look good. Jackie thanks Lyra, and then leaves. Lyra goes back to reading the book as she shivers. Jackie then looks back, perplexed that someone is eating a chicken sandwich that she doesn’t remember serving. She shrugs.

It is a day later than the previous flashback. Lyra wakes up in an alley alone. Lyra feels incredibly cold. She gets up, and starts to walk to Victoria’s house, wondering just what happened the last night. People walk by and greet Lyra, like they’ve never seen her before. Lyra finds this odd, and then hunts down Victoria to ask her what is going on. Victoria introduces herself, and asks Lyra what her name is. Lyra gets in a panic, and begins running around town shoving herself into people’s faces, asking, demanding to be remembered. People are shocked, but within a minute, continue on their business, never remembering Lyra. Lyra begins to scream, asking why everyone is doing this to her. People look her oddly, but then continue on their way, never bothering to look at her. Lyra cracks, and, using some gasoline from a local station, sets the Town Hall on fire. Two policemen arrest her, but Lyra hugs them, happy she now “exists” in someone’s mind. However, by the time she arrives at the police station, the policemen start shaking their heads, and they then apologize to Lyra for the trouble, saying they were mistaken. Lyra leaves in despair.

Lyra finishes her sandwich and heads off to meet Victoria, who has taken a job as a local librarian. Another librarian, Scott, walks by, and Lyra asks if he can take her to Victoria. Scott obliges, but also compliments Lyra for her nice hoodie. Victoria, working the desk, welcomes Lyra, saying the library is always happy to have new visitors. Lyra smiles at this, and asks if she could speak with Victoria in private. Victoria asks why, and Lyra says it is a secret. Victoria is slightly weirded out, but allows Lyra to speak with her. Lyra gives Victoria her usual speech. “My name is Lyra Marshall, and you will not remember me. You won't even remember this conversation. Just like with everybody else I've ever met, everything I do or say will be forgotten. Every letter I've written will appear blank; every piece of evidence I've left behind will end up missing. Even evidence I leave upon myself disappears within a day. We see Lyra cut herself and her cuts heal within an hour. I'm stuck here in Hustonville because of the same curse that has made me so forgettable. We see Lyra attempt to leave town, but she only makes a few steps before falling down, freezing. Still, that doesn't stop me from doing the one thing that I love: making music. We see multiple days go by of Lyra just playing her lyre, trying to forget what is happening. If my melodies find their way into your heart, then there is still hope for me. If I can't prove that I exist, I can at least prove that my love for each and every one of you exists. Please, listen to my story, my symphony, for it is me.”

Two weeks after Lyra is cursed, she has had enough. She goes to the tallest building in town, which is four stories high. She gets on the roof and looks over onto the ground. She is ready to end it. Walking by the building is two men, one unknown and the other that will be soon known as Milo Hawkins. Seeing Lyra on the ledge, Milo tells his friend to get some help, any help. As the friend runs off, Milo tries to reason with Lyra. He tells her there has to be another way, but Lyra just yells at him to stop talking, and his words are meaningless. Milo promises to her he won’t forget her, but Lyra scoffs at this, and says that this town is just a prison to her. Milo tries once again to convince her not to jump, and Lyra just asks him straight out why she shouldn’t jump. Milo replies that she’s special, and the world would be a lot less worth enjoying if she left it. Lyra narrates that this was the moment she realized that she wasn’t the one repeatedly dying during the amnesiac episodes; it was everyone else who was having their moments stolen from them. Lyra then realized that this man had so much caring for her, despite never meeting her before this moment, that she does not deserve to give him such momentary displeasure. She smiles for the first time since she was cursed, and walks away from the ledge.

Victoria says she doesn’t understand, and Lyra calls over Scott. Scott immediately compliments Lyra on her hoodie, but Victoria interrupts, saying that Scott already said that. Scott insists he’s never seen Lyra before. Lyra tells Scott to please get her a book by Jane Goodall; she and Victoria are in very heated discussion and they need the book brought to them as soon as possible. Scott glares at her, but then goes off to grab the book. Victoria asks Lyra why she needs a Jane Goodall book, and Lyra says she doesn’t need the book; she just knows that it is shelved farthest away in the library. Victoria asks how she knows that; this is the first time Lyra has ever visited the library to her knowledge. Lyra says she’s been to the library multiple times, and in fact, she’s known Victoria for years. Victoria is confused, and Lyra says that she was Victoria’s college roommate. Victoria says that Lyra is crazy, but then Lyra replies in monumental detail just how many boyfriends Victoria had in college, by name. Victoria is shocked, but still unbelieving, asks if this is a prank one of her friends set her up to. Lyra replies by asking what kind of prank, and then listing multiple pranks Victoria has been the target of. Lyra then smugly says that maybe Victoria should get new friends. 

Victoria, in utter shock, asks just how Lyra knows this. Lyra says that Victoria has told her before, and they have had this conversation multiple times before. Lyra compliments Victoria for being intelligent but then points out that Victoria won’t remember any conversation they ever have. Victoria denies this, but then Scott returns with the Jane Goodall book. He blinks and then looks down at the book in confusion, asking why he brought it. Victoria tells Scott to stop being silly; Lyra asks for the book. Scott asks who Lyra is, but then tells Lyra that he digs her hoodie. Victoria says they’ve been talking for quite a bit, how did Scott not notice them? As Victoria and Scott begin arguing, Lyra tells Scott to forget about it, and Scott says he won’t, storming away. Lyra smugly, but sadly, comments that he’s probably already forgotten. Victoria asks what causes the forgetting, and Lyra says the two things are distance and time. No one can ever remember her after the sun sets.

Victoria, buying into Lyra’s story finally, asks how the curse even began and what happened when she first got cursed. Lyra says she cannot say; she doesn’t have enough time before Victoria forgets. Victoria tells Lyra to write it down, but Lyra says she can’t, the words will only appear to Lyra. Victoria says then they’ll drive off to Lyra’s parents and get medical help there. Lyra says that’s not possible; if they try to leave town, Lyra will be overtaken by an insanely cold power. She will be unable to move thanks to the intense cold. Victoria asks why she came, and Lyra stops, saying this could be awkward. Before when she’s visited, she came to ask for news of friends and happenings in Victoria’s life, but this time, it was because Lyra has been desperate. She sheepishly asks Victoria for a hug. Victoria looks at Lyra sadly and gives her a hug. Lyra smiles at this first affection towards her in two years. Victoria then ends the hug, and comes up with an idea: she’ll take a picture of Lyra with her, and then she’ll remember from the picture. Lyra tells her that won’t work, but Victoria is already rummaging through her desk to find a camera. She finds it but then Lyra shivers. Victoria looks at the camera, and Lyra decides she needs to leave, since she hates seeing Victoria forget her. 

Lyra goes to her house in the rain, a log cabin on the edge of town. She promptly goes to bed and wakes up at the crack of dawn the next day. Walking to the town square, she takes a slight detour to see a friend. We see a young man, Milo, gardening outside. He notices Lyra and says “Good morning, angel” to her. Lyra stops and smiles as Milo takes out a blue tulip and hands it to her. Lyra thanks him for it, even though it has happened to her several times before. Milo welcomes her to town, saying he’s never seen here before. Lyra narrates that Milo is the kindest man she has ever met, and she has become utterly smitten with him recently. As Lyra walks off, we cut to a montage of her explaining what she knows about Milo. He is a gardener, the only one in town. He wakes at the crack of dawn everyday as well. He does his weeding every morning before the sun rises too high. He is the sole reason the town is beautiful, in Lyra’s eyes. Most importantly, every day when Lyra passes him, he smiles to her, and says to her... 

“Good morning, angel.” The next day. Lyra says she is charmed by the tulip, and Milo says it is his pleasure. He welcomes Lyra to town and then Lyra walks away. Lyra goes back to explaining her infatuation with Milo. She explains that she’s watched Milo, and the only person that he ever calls “angel” is her. Everyone else (and Milo does talk to everyone) is simply “miss,” “ma’am,” or “madame.” Lyra begins wondering why she is the one who gets to hear the words: “Good morning, angel.” The next day; a huge rainstorm is going on. Both Lyra and Milo are drenched. Lyra changes up what she says for once in response, asking if the tulip folds out into an umbrella. Milo comments that if it did, it’d make his job a lot easier. They both laugh, and Lyra walks away. That night, Lyra goes to talk to Victoria about her crush on Milo. However, Victoria is out at a party, and it’s only Scott. Lyra smiles, and decides to ask him for romantic advice. Lyra shakes off this peculiar occurrence and then asks if it’s wrong to have a romantic relationship with this guy. Scott says there’s nothing wrong with a crush. Lyra feels apprehensive, but Scott says it only makes sense for a person to be attracted to another; it’s just the way of life. Scott asks if the man Lyra likes only gives him flowers. Lyra says yes, and Scott says that when a guy repeats the same action over and over again for a girl, that means that they really like her. Scott says it has to be that way, or else he would be extremely forgetful. Lyra frowns at this, but Scott continues that she should go for the guy. Scott tells her to peruse the guy, and to have a great time in town. Lyra smiles and leaves the library.

The next day, we see Lyra go out to the café. She particularly times her visit with Jackie’s lunch break. She sits at the counter next to Jackie and after introducing herself, Lyra asks Jackie for romantic advice. Never one to turn down the chance for advice giving, Jackie tells Lyra to shoot. Lyra tells her story, but when she says that the guy always says “Good morning, angel,” Jackie interrupts, asking if Lyra is serious. Lyra is confused, but then says after the guy says that, he always hands a flower. Jackie asks if it is a rose, and Lyra says no, it’s just a tulip. Jackie snorts and says that she’s pretty sure this guy is baiting her. If he was being serious, he’d use a rose. She calls it the oldest trick in the book, and Lyra sarcastically says that she’s certain Jackie has read the book several times. Jackie says that the first time she met a guy interested in her, she slapped him in the face. Lyra almost does a spit-take and asks why. Jackie answers it was a guy her age who had the gall to kiss her on the job. Lyra insists that the guy is nicer than that, and Jackie decides to level with Lyra. Jackie says most guys these days are only interested in getting laid, but if Lyra is serious about this guy, then she should just ask him straight out. Lyra thinks about and leaves the restaurant after paying for her food, vowing to do so tomorrow.

However, the next day, Lyra accidentally sleeps in a few hours late. She heads out to the town square, seeing that Milo has left his house as it is later in the day. There is a big hullabaloo going on over the engagement of two people in town. Lyra smiles at them, knowing they are perfect for each other. Victoria and Milo are talking together in the crowd surrounding the engaged couple and Lyra walks in next to them. However, as soon Lyra walks up to them, they walk away, not noticing her, to congratulate the couple. Milo begins to compliment the man of the couple, Rick, when his eyes suddenly shut halfway and he leans limply to the side. Victoria is worried for a second, but then smirks at it happening again. Rick nudges Milo awake asking him to stay with them. Milo’s eyes flutter open and he apologizes and then asks when the wedding is. The woman of the couple, Regina, answers within two months, and Rick says it’s funny; he was thinking of leaving the town about a year ago, but if he did, he’d never meet the love of his life. Milo remarks that it’s funny how fate is often swayed thanks to love. Victoria rolls her eyes at this, and asks Milo if he could lay it on any thicker. Milo then asks Victoria if she’s ever seen a happier couple. The couple laughs and says they have to go meet their parents at the café. They invite Milo and Victoria to join them, but they both say they have work to do, at the library and tending to the local flowers. Everyone else in the crowd leaves the square, leaving Lyra alone with a boy, Tommy, along with Victoria and Milo talking to themselves on the other side of the square. Lyra notices Tommy gazing at a girl, Sally, and Lyra smiles at this young love. However, Tommy realizes his brother, Rick, has left, and he runs off to join the party.

Meanwhile, Milo walks with Victoria to the library. Milo talks about how happy he is for the couple, saying he was worried about them once, but is happy they have proved him wrong. Victoria points out that it is almost as if Milo is jealous. Milo asks her what she means, and Victoria says whenever the town has a marriage, he always gushes over the couple. Victoria adds a question: Why doesn’t Milo get married himself? Milo awkwardly stops and says he doesn’t think that’ll happen anytime soon. Victoria says it always seems like the nicest people (she gestures to herself and Milo jokingly) are always married to their work. Milo says it’s really more that he hasn’t met that special somebody yet. Lyra watches on this conversation and then runs away afterwards. She convinces herself that she is Milo’s special somebody.

Later that day, she goes to the local dress shop. It’s a small emporium but everyone is celebrating the owner, Regina. Lyra goes up to talk to her about her impending marriage, and Regina apologizes for not recognizing Lyra. Lyra says it’s no trouble; she’s just one of Victoria’s college friends. Regina remarks that Victoria never told her she had friends visiting, but no matter. Lyra asks Regina how she knew Rick was “the one” and Regina says he qualified for all of her romantic dreams and more. Regina asks Lyra if she’s ever had a romantic dream.

The next day. Milo smiles at Lyra. He hands Lyra the flower. Lyra tells him that if she is an angel, then she has lost her wings many months ago. Milo looks at her with a sad expression, so Lyra apologizes and tries to leave. Milo grabs Lyra’s shoulder and asks her what she means. He insists that Lyra explains what he means. They go on a walk through the woods as Lyra explains her curse and how Milo will never remember this conversation is one of the worst possible things in her life. Milo says he understands, and he explains how. An angel clipped of their wings always looks for other ways to fly. Lyra swoons at this, and realizes that this, this is what her life is meant for. She tells Milo her name and begins crying into his arms. Before long, evening arrives. Lyra begins worrying that Milo will leave her and forget her. She invites him to her cabin, where she will play him a new composition she has written. To Lyra’s surprise, Milo is actually interested. They arrive at her house, and when they enter, Milo marvels at all the musical instruments Lyra owns. Lyra lights the fireplace, and realizes she is sweating through her hoodie. Lyra turns to Milo, and asks if the gentleman will oblige her wish to take off her hoodie. Milo does so, and Lyra smiles into his eyes. Milo moves in for a kiss, and then begins whispering her name into her ears. They both lie down in front of the fireplace, smiling at each other. Hours go on until they fall asleep, staring into each other’s eyes. Lyra wakes up, and sees the sunrise. Her heart begins racing, and Milo wakes, and asks her what is wrong. He says her name. Lyra begins laughing, overjoyed that someone finally remembers her. She goes in and kisses him passionately, finally finding a truly great reason to continue living.

Lyra blinks, ending the romantic dream. She then turns to Regina and says romantic dreams are just that: dreams. Regina looks at her in shock, saying maybe for Lyra, but for Regina, her dream came true. Lyra apologizes, but Regina continues, saying that in the horrifically depressing world of today, dreams are needed to continue on with life. Regina reasons that is simply human nature for love; after all, everybody is made to be loved. Lyra smiles at this, and tells Regina she’s happy her dream has come true. Regina thanks Lyra, and then says she just needs to learn one dance; otherwise, Rick’s parents will be extremely disappointed at the wedding. Lyra excuses herself from the building and heads home as the sun sets.

“Good morning, angel.” Lyra takes the tulip and smells it. She then looks at Milo and asks why. Milo blinks and, stammering, asks Lyra what she means. Lyra stares at Milo and asks him why she is an angel. Lyra narrates that at this point, she was taking deep breaths to prevent herself from ramming her head into a wall for sheer stupidity. Nevertheless, Lyra continues her line of questioning, asking Milo why he would call a random stranger something so flattering. Milo nervously scratches his head, saying she reminds him of... Lyra asks if it’s another girl, but Milo insists no, she reminds her of a memory. Milo apologizes, saying he shouldn’t have put her on the spot like that. Lyra yells that Milo has no reason to feel bad; she’s just curious since the tulip is beautiful. Milo comments that the tulip matches her blue eyes, and there’s rarely anything in nature that is as strikingly blue. Lyra giggles, saying she’ll buy that response, but Milo continues, saying as for what he said, it’s a long story. Lyra insists she has time, and Milo smiles. Milo says he knows Lyra must be a stranger around here since he’s never seen her before, but he is the city gardener of Hustonville. Lyra pretends to be surprised, and Milo continues, saying he didn’t want to be planting flowers for a living; his parents were both active members of the military. For as long as he remembered, he wanted to follow in their footsteps. Lyra says sincerely that that is interesting, and asks if it was simply because it is what his parents did. Milo says not entirely; he was sick a lot as a child, and even now he still frequently deals with dizzy spells. However, in his childhood there was always something that helped him through these episodes. Once, he was really sick, and he had a dream that somebody had taken away the sickness in the middle of the night. He woke up then and looked out the window, swearing he saw two blue eyes staring back at him. He soon realized it was only the moon. Other people said he was delirious, but he always swore he encountered his guardian angel. Lyra asks why he never joined the military, and Milo frowns, saying that it is not simple to join the military in his condition. Milo then smiles awkwardly at Lyra, thanking her for reminding him of that fateful night when he was a child; he wishes that everybody could have an experience where they met their guardian angel and waken up from it with memory. Lyra looks down, smiling, and says she wishes that everybody would remember something so wonderful. A thud is heard, and Lyra looks up. 

Milo is lying on the ground. Lyra covers her own mouth from screaming, but she still begins hyperventilating. She leans down and feels for a pulse. Thankfully, Milo is still alive. Lyra yells for help, screaming that Milo is hurt, and he has fallen unconscious. She calls for a doctor, but Victoria, walking by, tells Lyra to shut up. Lyra is confused, as Victoria walks to her, smiling. She asks if Lyra is new to town, but Lyra ignores the question, asking her to get help; they were just talking a few minutes ago. Victoria rolls her eyes as she goes to feel Milo’s brow. Victoria then tells Lyra that Milo is just having another cataplexic episode. Lyra, still panicking asks what that means, and Victoria explains that Milo has a rare form of narcolepsy, meaning he falls asleep suddenly and often during the day. Victoria then screams in Milo’s ears to wake him up, and Milo does in shock. Staying on the ground, he opens his eyes slowly and asks if he did it again. Victoria smiles at him and tells him not to sweat it, it was only three or four minutes. Milo frowns, saying this is the fifth time this week. Victoria says that Milo should apologize to his friend for freaking her out. Milo says he didn’t have company, but then, seeing Lyra, says “Well, good morning, angel.” Lyra looks around awkwardly, seeing her tulip, dropped on the ground. She apologizes for interrupting Milo’s day and rushes off, being sure to grab her tulip off the ground.

Lyra heads to the town’s park to play her lyre for money. She becomes quickly lost in the music and also in thought of Milo, wondering about what she has learned about him. She plays the music for a while until she suddenly hears someone singing along. Lyra opens her eyes, seeing Sally sitting next to her, happily singing to the music. Lyra screams in sudden fright and Sally, frightened too, apologizes for distracting Lyra. Lyra, calmed down, says it was fine, and it added to the music. Lyra compliments Sally on her singing voice, calling it a true talent. Lyra asks if she’d like for her to play another song, and Sally smiles at her, saying why not. Sally sings along to Lyra’s lyre, making a gorgeous melody out of the classical music. Lyra turns to Sally, and says that if she shared her voice publicly, like at the café or library, people would be throwing coins at her like no tomorrow. Sally nervously says that sounds painful, but then her cell phone rings with a text. She looks at the text, which says her friends are meeting her at the café. She runs off, thanking Lyra for the time. Lyra smiles, and goes back to play her lyre when she hears Tommy say that Sally sounded beautiful. Lyra turns to Tommy, who is standing nearby. Lyra asks Tommy if Rick knows he’s spying on girls, and Tommy says he wasn’t spying on Sally; he was merely researching her. Lyra laughs, saying that sounds familiar. Tommy says Lyra looks smart, and asks her for romantic advice. Lyra is at a loss for words, but then just says flowers is a good idea. Flowers are always a good idea. Tommy runs off to get flowers, and Lyra smiles, packing up her lyre, deciding tomorrow, she will start a plan to win over Milo.

A montage begins of “research” days. “Good morning, angel.” Lyra grabs the tulip and asks Milo what his favorite color is. He is at a loss for words, as Lyra adds in that it can’t be blue. Milo shrugs and says red. Lyra smiles back at him and tells him to have a wonderful day as she walks off. “Good morning, angel.” Lyra asks what his favorite smell is. Milo is utterly confused, and Lyra clarifies the question: what is his favorite fragrance? He begins thinking about it, saying he can’t really decide since he works with so many flowers. Lyra pushes, saying that there has to be one scent that is ultimately preferred. Milo says then that he does have a deep appreciation for jasmine flowers. Lyra then grabs the tulip (which Milo has been holding out the entire time), and thanks him for it. “Good morning, angel.” Lyra asks what his favorite musical composition is. Milo begs her pardon, as Lyra asks him that if he could, right now, listen to any single musical number that he had the ability to choose, what it would be. Milo asks if Lyra is a musician, but Lyra tells him to humor her. Milo thinks for a bit and then answers that he likes Ode to Joy, as they used to play it at military parades quite a bit. Lyra smiles, saying she can play that in her sleep, and then walks off, leaving Milo utterly confused. “Good morn-“ Lyra interrupts, asking him what his favorite place in town is. They are in the middle of town, and Milo is walking with Victoria. Milo is confused by the interruption and Lyra explains her question, if he could spend an entire afternoon doing nothing but lying back and enjoying the beautiful weather, where he would go in town to do it. Milo answers that he’d go to the lake on the east side of town, since staring into the waves makes him feel meditative. Lyra says that sounds wonderful, and skips off. Victoria asks what that was about, and Milo shrugs, ending the montage. Lyra begins scribbling a composition together, a rearrangement of Ode to Joy. She looks at a vase collecting all of Milo’s dozen tulips. She then goes through a cabinet, finding a red thread. She runs back to the tulips, and begins plucking the buds. She then runs off to Regina’s dress store. Tomorrow will be the day.

Victoria and Milo begin walking down the road, their usual morning stroll. Victoria says tomorrow the town will apparently be knocking down the east wing of the library, and Milo says that’s sad, it’s been open since he was a kid. Victoria teases him, saying that one day, his eye for beautiful things will be the end of... him? She finishes her statement with a question mark, as Milo turns around, and says “Good morning...” his heart skips a beat “angel.” Lyra smiles at him, wearing a gorgeous silken red gown with blue trim embroidered about the cream-colored seams in tiny floral patterns. Her lyre hangs from a blue sash draped over her left side. She is wearing a crown of tulips, made up of all the flowers Milo has ever given her. She replies to Milo, saying that isn’t he the charmer. Milo gulps and says quietly, he is only charmed, and then holds out a tulip for her. Lyra thanks him, saying he is too kind, but where could she put it? Milo stammers, saying he doesn’t know; he doesn’t want to ruin the beautiful woman in front of him. Lyra laughs, and asks if everyone in town is so poetic. Milo apologizes, saying he didn’t mean to impose. Lyra tells him not to be sorry, he’s just the man she was looking for. Milo asks what she means, and Lyra asks if he is Milo Barlow, the town gardener. Milo answers that yes he is, but why is she asking. Lyra says he’s supposed to be the local expert on flora, and she’s been meaning to speak with him. Victoria looks at Milo and Lyra, and then quietly exits the area. Lyra explains that she is a musician from Nashville and she was planning on performing some shows around town. She wants to have a good reputation, and thus wants to build a stage for her performances. In particular, she wants to have a beautiful floral arrangement surrounding her on the stage.

Milo, somewhat infatuated, says that that’s so pretty. Lyra smiles, as Milo quickly corrects himself by saying it’s a pretty good idea, and she came to the right man, it’s not like he’s a computer expert or anything. Lyra, noticing that Milo is nervously rambling on, asks if Milo is really the town’s only gardener. Milo, calming down, says there are plenty of farmers on the outskirts of the small town, but as for florists, he is the only one. Lyra says that’s why she came to him; if one is to be the only florist in a town, they must be a true expert on beauty, which is important for her stage. Milo modestly says no one should call him special, but then his eyes suddenly twitch and he tilts up his face for a second. Lyra is nervous that he will flip out, but instead, he smiles, and asks if he smells jasmine. Lyra smiles, saying that that is merely her perfume; most musicians strive to be the best in every way. Nervously, Lyra asks if it’s awkward, and too sophisticated for such a casual meeting. Milo smiles, saying not to worry about it; it is simply lovely. He then asks Lyra if she is looking for any particular type of flower. Lyra says she’s fine with any type, but she doesn’t want to take away too much time from Milo. Milo says time is no issue; he’s finished his morning rounds. Lyra asks him what that means, and Milo says that he goes from building to building each sunrise, making sure the flowers are still in bloom, keeping weeds from growing in the shopfronts. He was considering going across the street to the east wing of the library to pluck it free of wildflowers. Lyra, realizing this is the building about to be torn down, asks why, and Milo responds that he hates to see anything so colorful go to waste. He also says he’s sad that the building is going down; an antiquity will be lost forever. Lyra agrees with him, calling him a very thoughtful man. Milo thanks her for the compliment, and then says he knows just the place to show her an example of flowers, “Lyra.” Lyra smiles, but then stops, asking if he really just said “Lee-ra.” Milo, confused, says he thought that was her name, and Lyra laughs, saying that he’s pronouncing her name wrong. Milo asks how so, and Lyra explains she’s never heard anyone say it like that. Milo says that if he says it the normal way, it sound like “liar” which is a terrible thing to insinuate. Lyra says she guesses so, but she could’ve never guessed after trying so hard that he would mispronounce her name. Milo is confused by this, saying he’s never had a chance to say her name before. Lyra, trying to find a way to hide her curse, says that she’s a little delirious, since she’s not used to getting up so early in the morning. Milo smiles and says it happens to the best of them. He then asks Lyra to follow him. 

Milo takes Lyra to his greenhouse on the other side of town. Lyra looks in wonder at all the plants he has, as she has never actually visited the greenhouse before. Milo promptly shows her some carnations and daisies that he says would be perfect for a show. Lyra asks him if he likes living here, and Milo says of course, he prefers the tranquil peaceful life, compared to living in a hectic big city. Milo says he finds it amusing seeing city people come to this small town searching. Lyra asks what they’re searching for, and Milo answers completeness; after all, that’s all anybody truly wants in life. Milo then turns and grabs some carnations. He says that these would be perfect for any type of performance, and then he says, smiling, that they’d compliment her dress very much. Lyra asks what flowers would be good for, say, a private performance, and Milo asks if she means a serenade. Lyra slowly nods, and Milo cracks a smile, saying she wouldn’t need any help with that. Lyra frowns, but Milo reassures her, telling her that some things can’t be helped, as they are already perfect. Lyra puts her hand on Milo’s shoulder, and says that if there’s one thing she has learned recently, it’s that life can always be perfected; all it takes is the right moment and the right soul to share it with. Milo looks at her, and gives a slight smile. He calls Lyra a remarkable woman, and asks if she can play her lyre as well as she can say her sentences. Lyra turns around to grab the lyre from her sash, and says she believes she’s a better musician than speaker when she suddenly hears a thud. Lyra turns around and finds Milo unconscious on the ground. Lyra begins taking deep breaths, so not to panic. She begins stroking his hair rapidly, in an attempt to wake him up. After a minute, Milo begins to wake up, and Lyra asks him if he’s alright. Milo murmurs that he thinks so, and Lyra looks away, trying to find a way out. She comments that Milo took a nasty fall and he was lucky she was there to check on him. Milo asks if he bumped into something and Lyra says it’ll heal, and then says she’ll be on her way. Milo looks at her confused and says he thought Lyra was going to join him in picking flowers. Lyra automatically says thank you, but then turns around, surprised. She asks Milo if he remembers her. Milo shrugs, and says it’d be pretty rude if he forgot her. Lyra helps Milo up and then asks him to say her name one more time. Milo looks at her oddly and says, “Lyra. Lyra Marshall.” Starting to break down crying, Lyra murmurs in shock, asking where he wants to go. Milo raises an eyebrow and begs her pardon. Lyra then clears her throat in attempt to stop the light tears, and asks if they could take a walk together. Milo looks at the flowers and then back at her, and then says, yes, he’d like that. Lyra smiles at him, saying she knows just the place.

A few minutes later, they arrive at the lake. Milo smiles when he sees it, saying he’s always loved hanging out by the lake. Lyra smiles to herself, saying she’s always liked it too. As they walk along the shore, Milo remarks that few people frequent the lake, which he doesn’t mind since he does enjoy the quiet. Lyra asks if Milo considers himself a loner, and Milo answers only on occasion. He then asks the same question to Lyra, and she answers yes, but not by habit. They continue making small talk, with Milo asking if she is on the road often thanks to her music. Lyra says, no, she just doesn’t socialize. Milo is surprised by this, saying Lyra is quite a talker, although she is perhaps a wee bit too philosophical. Lyra smiles at him, asking if it’s wrong for a woman to philosophize. Milo smiles back, saying there’s nothing wrong with it; he just figures that a woman would rather live than be stuck in a never-ending debate over the world’s state. Lyra, winking, says that there’s more to a woman than cooking, cleaning, and giving birth. Milo stops and says that’s not what he meant; he means that there are many beautiful things in this world, and the majority of them happen to be demonstrated by women. Lyra giggles, and jokingly calls Milo a strange man and a tad backwards. Milo says that walking backwards is a good way to practice for doing what counts going forwards. Milo then thanks Lyra for helping him back to his feet at the greenhouse, and asks her if she’s tired of walking. Lyra asks if they could sit down, and Milo escorts her to a flat stretch of grass. They both sit down gently and take in the sight of the lake for a bit.

Milo says he didn’t always enjoy this peacefulness. Curiously, Lyra asks if it was by choice. Milo says actually, no, he grew up in a military household, meaning they never stayed in the same place for long. Most kids could adapt to be on the move constantly, but with Milo’s narcoleptic condition, he didn’t really fare too well. Lyra says that it must’ve been unnerving to have grown up without a firm base and without an anchor when he was ill. Milo replies that his parents were his anchor, along with the other people they worked with. He says he has always had the deepest respect for the military, but he wishes he could contribute more than that. So many men his age have given their part, but he has never had the chance to do so. Lyra asks bravely if it is because he has something to prove. Milo smirks and says it’s more like something to gain. Lyra asks what, and Milo answers clarity. He wants clarity of what to do with his life, as he’s recently has been fearing that it’s too late to do anything. Lyra nods, saying either they can analyze the past to death or they can recreate what was lost with the gifts they now have. Milo says he doesn’t understand, but Lyra shushes him. She quietly pulls out her lyre and plays her beautiful arrangement of Ode to Joy on it. When the song is over, Milo stammers that that was amazing; the most delightful rendition of the song he has ever heard. Lyra giggles and says she’s practiced and- she’s cut off by Milo beginning to softly cry. Milo says that his parents used to march that song. He would watch them from the compound fence after school, and then they’d walk home together. He’d always march along with them poorly from behind the fence. They always believed him, and he won’t give up on making it into the military. Milo feels like he owes to them, to their legacy.

Lyra realizes that Milo’s parents have died, and she asks Milo what happened. Milo coldly answers they were on a ship overseeing a supply drop-off; an entire military detachment was sent to guard the supplies. One night, there was a rupture in the ship’s steam tanks and that was that. Lyra apologizes, saying she had no idea and she is sorry to hear that. Milo tells her not to be sorry. Usually when he hears Ode to Joy, it is merely a carefully orchestrated arrangement with no soul to it all, but Lyra’s arrangement makes him feel like it is personally for him. It makes him feel like the dead are alive. Lyra looks at her lyre sadly, and says that sometimes, she feels too much. Milo asks curiously why’s that, and Lyra responds with a question: does he ever feel like he stumbled upon a moment that he felt as if he was meant to be there at that place and at that time for a purpose? Milo thinks about and says once or twice. Lyra sadly says she feels that every day, with more and more intensity as time passes, but there is never any reward to them. Milo says that perhaps she just needs to seize the moment; perhaps every time she reaches the edge of that moment she never takes the leap of faith toward it’s reward. Lyra looks away, realizing that she, she will always have infinite moments like this, but this is Milo’s one and only moment like this. Milo looks at Lyra, sad but confused. He says he doesn’t understand and asks Lyra what she means. Lyra shushes him and grabs his hand. She asks him if he remembers what he thought she was when they first met. He strains for the answer but then murmurs, smiling, “Angel.” Lyra looks away, beginning to softly cry.

Lyra then turns back to Milo, telling him he is his own guardian angel. When he suffered through illnesses as a child, when he endured the loss of his parents, when he fought over and over again to achieve his dream of joining the military, and finally when you settled for his humble life here, it's been him and him alone whom he’s had to thank for such strength. Lyra says she only wishes he would accept that which has made himself strong, that which is here for him here. He doesn’t have to keep searching. Milo gazes at Lyra, and says that he didn’t know he was searching until he met Lyra. After all Lyra has said to him within the span of only a few hours, he’s starting to finally feel secure. He looks directly into Lyra’s eyes and asks her just who she is. Lyra stops lightly crying, and realizes what she must do. She says in a monotone that she’ll tell him more, but first – her voice cracks – she needs for him to do something for her. Entranced, Milo murmurs that he’ll do anything. Lyra searches to find something; she sees marigolds under a tree about thirty-five feet away. Lyra weakly points and asks if Milo can grab her one or two of those marigolds. Milo looks at the marigolds and then back to Lyra, and asks why. Lyra lightly giggles, saying that she wants to explain something, and she needs to make an analogy. Milo nods, and says he’ll be right back. He gets up and leaves. Lyra stays sitting until a few minutes pass and she hears Milo say that it’s interesting that marigolds are here, but he has plenty of them in his greenhouse. Lyra gets up and walks away, lightly crying. Milo then asks himself why he is spending a good afternoon gathering more of them.

Lyra runs back to her house, wanting just the day to be over. She takes off her crown of tulips, and just stares at it sadly. She puts it down, and without taking off her dress, lies down on her cot. She begins crying herself to sleep. The next day, we see Victoria and Jackie standing outside the library, or rather, outside a safety perimeter. Lyra walks into town, and asks Victoria what’s going on. Victoria, without really paying attention to Lyra, says that they’re about to blow up the east wing of the library. A crowd begins forming to watch the implosion. Victoria turns to Jackie and says it feels like something’s missing. Jackie snorts and tells Victoria not even to joke about things like that, and Victoria replies that Milo isn’t here. The construction workers start the timer for the implosion as Lyra freezes up and Victoria says that it’s a shame; she knows he’d be sentimental about the building. Victoria then screams suddenly, and Jackie asks her what’s wrong. Victoria points to the side of the east wing. Lyra looks there, and sees, in terror, that Tommy is right next to the library. The construction workers have no idea how he got past their sweep of the building, but it’s no matter. Tommy is grabbing several wildflowers around the building, and Lyra horribly realizes that if she hadn’t distracted Milo the previous day, the flowers wouldn’t be there. Jackie calls Tommy an idiot and tells him to get away from there. The construction foreman stops Jackie from saving Tommy, saying the place is about to blow; no one can go help. The foreman then yells at Tommy, saying he needs to get out of there; the place is going to blow up. Tommy hears this and tries to leave; however, as he gets out of the flowerbed, his foot gets caught by some weeds. Victoria screams that someone should go help him, and then suddenly, Milo’s voice is heard, saying he’ll go help him.

Lyra turns and sees Milo run from his flower cart to Tommy, and he helps him out of the weeds, shooing him ahead to run out of the construction site. Milo follows Tommy for two seconds, but then, wheezing, collapses onto the ground unconscious. Tommy hears the thud, and then looks back at Milo, trying to drag him, to no avail. The foreman yells there’s thirty seconds until it blows.  Victoria pushes off Jackie, who had been holding onto her, and runs forward to rescue Milo and Tommy. However, Lyra runs past her, and Victoria stops in bewilderment for a second. The foreman then grabs Victoria, holding her back. Lyra arrives, and Tommy asks if she can help him lift Milo. Lyra says there is no time, and then tells Tommy to sit on top of Milo. Tommy is confused but does so. Suddenly, the building explodes and Lyra gets on top of Tommy and Milo, completely covering them. She is willing to risk her life for theirs. Much to her luck, wood and nails rain around her, but she is merely cut all over her body. After the rain of various building parts end, she gets off of them, and smiles, happy to have survived. Tommy asks her how she’d know that would work, and Lyra says grimly that she fully expected to die. Tommy gets off of Milo, worried, and he yells that Milo isn’t moving. Lyra says he’s alright, they’re all okay. Lyra cracks a huge smile. Victoria runs up to them, and asks them if they’re okay. Lyra says they may need medical attention for various cuts and bruises, but they were lucky nothing huge landed on them. Victoria begins ignoring Lyra, and runs to Milo’s unconscious body. She yells to Jackie to get the town doctor, and Tommy begins blubbering, apologizing for his stupidity. Victoria rolls her eyes, and says she needs to take Tommy out of here; she turns to Lyra, smiling. She asks if Lyra can watch Milo for a minute. Lyra, confused, says yes, and Victoria smiles at her but looks at Milo in worry. Victoria then takes Tommy with Jackie to the doctor leaving Lyra alone with Milo. 

Lyra looks at Milo in love, cradling him in her hands. She brushes his hair aside, seeing the various cuts and bruises he has on his face. Finally, she kisses him on the cheek, breaking down into quiet sobs. She says that she loves him, even though he’ll never know that. She kisses him again, and leaves before Jackie, Milo, and Victoria arrive with the doctor. The next day, Lyra sits on her bench alone, not even playing the lyre. Tommy walks by, sad, and sits down under a tree next to Lyra. Lyra turns to him and asks him why he is so glum. Tommy looks at her and says sadly he almost got somebody killed yesterday. Lyra smirks and says he doesn’t look like the murdering type. Tommy explains that he did something stupid yesterday by looking for some flowers for a girl. Lyra says that’s sweet, but he’s a little young to be crushing on girls, isn’t he? Tommy rolls his eyes, saying that’s what all his friends say. Sally walks by, and Tommy freezes up. Lyra looks at the two stare at each other for a bit in silence. Tommy eventually says hello, and Sally returns the greeting. Tommy stammers and says that Sally has a good singing voice, from he’s heard. Sally looks down, and Tommy continues saying that Sally’s like the coolest girl he knows, and she seems really awesome and- Sally then promptly throws up in front of Tommy. Tommy jumps back in disgust, and Sally immediately begins apologizing, saying she doesn’t know what came over her. Tommy says it’s okay; that was awesome, he’s never seen anyone throw up like that before. Sally asks if that’s really true, and Tommy says yes. Sally asks if Tommy wants to play with her and her friends, and Tommy immediately says yes. They run off to have a fun time.

“They are so sweet,” says Victoria as she walks down the street. Lyra turns to her in surprise. Victoria continues, saying that the people of the town are being too hard on poor little Tommy. Lyra says in a monotone that she doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Victoria says it was her fault; she should’ve convinced the construction workers to put more protection around the library before the implosion. Lyra says that Victoria seems distracted, and then it hits her. Lyra coyly asks, “Who?” Victoria shrugs, saying it doesn’t matter; besides, the guy she likes needs someone more sweet and caring than her. Lyra says that what somebody needs, they often already have. Lyra adds that the people who search the hardest always end up alone. Victoria muses that there are worse fates, and Lyra nods in agreement. Victoria walks off, saying good-bye, and Lyra waves to her, trying to figure a way to help Milo. 

The next day, Victoria walks into the wing of the library still standing, the west wing. Scott says something came in for her, and she asks if it’s a new book she asked for. Scott says it’s on her desk, and Victoria goes to check her desk. Sitting on top of it is a crown of tulips. Victoria gasps and then picks them up, marveling at them. A few minutes later, Scott walks into her office to ask her to help him move some new arrivals, but he stops, seeing Victoria has left, and there is nothing on her desk. Meanwhile, Milo is at his usual location in town, still bandaged but mostly healthy. He goes to grab a flower from his cart when he sees Victoria standing in the way. Milo gasps but then smiles, asking her if she wants him to collapse everyday. Victoria stares at him, asking if he wants to see her wear them. Milo asks her what she means, and Victoria takes out the crown of tulips from her back and places it on her head. Milo says that they are remarkably fresh tulips, even though they are a few days old and compliment her well. Victoria says that only Milo could make such fresh flowers last so long. Milo looks at her oddly, as Victoria realizes that he didn’t send them. Victoria says this to him, and Milo stammers, asking how did she think that could be his doing. Victoria says ashamedly that she knows it is silly, and she throws the crown to the ground. Milo asks what she means, and Victoria says that when he looks at couples that are happy, he looks at them the same way he looks at her. Victoria continues, saying it’s stupid they lie to themselves since they know they feel the same way about each other. Milo says he knows, but Victoria continues, saying that she always feels like she’s searching and searching, but she’ll always be alone. Victoria begins to tear up, saying she almost lost Milo two days ago, and she was afraid she wouldn’t have the chance to do this. Milo tells Victoria that he’s been afraid to do this. He’s been afraid that Victoria knows more than he ever did about what he wants to do with his life, and she’s so much stronger than him too. He would never be able to protect her, since he’s weak. Victoria tells him that he can protect him more than he can expect. Milo looks at her, and then bends down to grab the crown. He then places it back on her head, and Victoria smiles through her tears, saying she doesn’t think they match her eyes, and Milo responds that they match her smile. Victoria leans in and Milo kisses her.

Victoria and Milo continue kissing as we see Lyra watching the scene. She smiles and concludes her voice-over finishing the movie: “I may or may not find an escape from this horrible curse of mine.  Sometimes, more than anything, I just wish that somebody would love me. Oftentimes, I wonder if I’m important to the world, despite my apparent lack of existence. I just feel like an extra in a movie, but moments, moments like this? They make me remember that day I could’ve ended it all, but didn’t, and for good reason. People like Jackie, Victoria, and Milo make me realize life is worth living, even without actually having a life. I'm Lyra Marshall. I’m the lovely melody stuck in your head, even without you remembering where it came from. I’m Milo’s guardian angel, even without him ever remembering me. Most of all, I am merely A WOMAN IN THE CROWD.”

 

 

Edited March 19, 2019 by Blankments

[Blankments]

Life of Galileo

 

Director: Baz Luhrmann

Genre: Period Drama

Release Date: January 15

Formats: IMAX, Dolby Cinema
Major Cast:
Kate Winslet as Galileo Galilei

Leonardo DiCaprio as Andrea Sarti

Tom Hiddleston as Ludovico

Carey Mulligan as Virginia

Noomi Rapace as Sagredo

Graham Miller as Cosimo de Medici

Tobey Maguire as Clavius

Corey Stoll as Bellarmine

Michael Keaton as Barberini/Pope Urban VIII

Liam Neeson as the Cardinal Inquisitor

With Charlie Heaton as Charles Laughton

And Daniel Bruhl as Bertolt Brect

 

Theater Count: 3,824
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for language and sexuality
Runtime: 119 minutes
Production Budget: $80 million
Music by: Craig Armstrong

 

Note: The film only cuts where it says cut. The rest are mostly invisible edits to make it appear as one take. Also, it cuts when it switches to the 40s narrative (obviously).

 

Plot Summary: An adaptation of the classic play, but with Galileo as a woman and facing the struggles of her time.

 

Plot: 

 

The film opens with footage of Hiroshima being bombed. We see an man, Bertolt Brecht, watch this and be horribly disgusted. The next day, he goes through his manuscripts and finds Life of Galileo. He looks at his desk and sees an note he's long ignored from Charles Laughton. He chooses to take a flight the next day to New York and meets with Laughton. Brecht explains to Laughton that he wishes to translate Galileo into English for the first time, but would like to make a few changes. Laughton, eager to play the role on Broadway, asks to hear the pitch. Brecht smiles, and delivers his pitch.

LIFE OF GALILEO

The camera pans across Renaissance-era Italy, beautifully realized in CGI shots.

In the year 1609
Science' light began to shine
At Padua City, in a modest house,
Galileo Galilei set out to prove
The sun is still, the earth is on the move

Galileo is washing herself (while wearing clothing) when suddenly, her aide, Andrea Sarti walks in with a giant astronomical model of the universe. Galileo sighs, and Sarti asks what's wrong. Galileo states the model is hopelessly outdated. Sarti apologizes, but is confused. He mentions that this is his first day on the job, assigned to Galileo as a member of the clergy to make sure what she is doing is fine. Galileo mumbles that of course the clergy doesn't trust a woman. Sarti takes offense to this and says he took this job because even as a clergy member, he is interested in science. Sarti states that he knows Earth is at the center of the universe is correct, so what is wrong with the other planet's position. Galileo groans and begins to explain Copernicus' theories the earth moves around the sun. Sarti is at first outraged at this idea as an employee of the clergy should be, but Galileo continues to explain, stating that she knows a woman should frequently be dismissed, but Copernicus was a man, and thus this should make sense. Sarti sees the logic... but of Galileo's reiteration of the explanation, rather than of the sexist notion. Sarti asks if he may tell people in town of it, but Galileo would much rather keep quiet on it for the moment. Suddenly, there is a knock at the door.

Sarti asks if he should get it, but Galileo smiles at him, and tells him to unpack his things into the guest bedroom; she'll handle this. She opens the door, and the man on the other side is surprised. "The famous Galileo Galilei is a woman?" he asks, and Galileo replies that her husband died just a few months after she gave birth to their daughter, Virginia. Her husband may have begun their work, but she is trying her hardest to finish it. The man apologizes for bringing up any bad feelings, but Galileo instead asks him what his business here is. The man introduces himself as Ludovico, and he's a rich man from Holland who seeks to learn from Galileo. Galileo asks if he's rich, how much money will he be paid? Ludovico answers that he can pay thirty scudi a month, and Galileo agrees on the fare. Galileo asks Ludovico how Holland is in the scientific community, and Ludovico answers that he doesn't know much about the scientific community, but there's a fascinating new invention called the telescope. Galileo asks how it works, and Ludovico explains the inner workings of a telescope, getting some of the specifics wrong. Galileo then sends Ludovico off, telling him the first lesson will be tomorrow.

The chancellor for the University where Galileo teaches comes to visit. Galileo asks for a raise, but the chancellor denies to her, stating that it is already controversial enough that their university has a woman as head science professor, but Galileo shrugs at this. The chancellor states that if Galileo would invent something, perhaps she could sell it at local markets. This gives Galileo an idea, and then she asks the chancellor to leave. The chancellor apologizes to Galileo, but Galileo ignores him. Sarti returns from his room and asks if he can do anything to help Galileo. Galileo hands Sarti one scudi and asks him to buy her some lenses from the lense grinder. Galileo reiterates her desire for no one to hear about her theories. The camera then flies into the sky, taking us across CGI Italy as we see the following on the screen:

No one's virtue is complete:
Great Galileo liked to eat.
You will not resent, we hope,
The truth about her telescope.

Venice. Galileo is on top of a cart, pitching to the audience a new invention: her telescope. She claims she has been working on it for years, and Sarti verifies the claim. The chancellor endorses the telescope, saying he finds the invention marvelous. Meanwhile in Venice, Ludovico is checking in on Galileo's daughter via Galileo's request (they traveled together for a "field trip" to Venice). Virginia sees Ludovico and instantly finds him lovely. Ludovico feels the same for Virginia, and then asks Virginia to take his hand to meet with her mother again. Galileo is handing out telescopes for 20 scudi each for the elite of Venice. Virginia sees this and remarks on what a fascinating invention this is. Left in the dark about Galileo's plan for deception, Ludovico immediately feels awkward, and when Virginia pressures him to compliment Galileo, Ludovico merely mentions how her income must be doing better. Galileo gives a slight smile, looking very uncomfortable. The camera again flies back to Padua as words appear on the screen:

January, 1610
Galileo Galilei abolishes heaven.

Sagredo, an old friend of Galileo, has come to visit. She and Galileo are out on the roof, staring at the moon through Galileo's telescope. Galileo excitingly explains that the light they see is not the moon's own, but rather, the sun reflected off the earth. Sagredo puts down the telescope and earnestly asks Galileo if she's heard about Sagredo's own husband. Galileo shrugs and says much news doesn't reach her. Sagredo explains that her husband, Giordano Bruno, burned at the stake for claiming the moon and the earth were the same. Galileo apologizes to Sagredo, and Sagredo begins to cry, stating that she thought her husband had gone insane. Galileo, not being the best at being socially aware, agrees, causing Sagredo to glare at her.

The chancellor of the local university barges onto the roof where Sagredo and Galileo are staying. Seeing the two are close to each other, the chancellor's outrage doubles, saying that if they are being intimate, then he has double reasons to fire Galileo. Sagredo says that she was just about to go use the facilities, and excuses herself. Galileo feels awkward about her social faux pas, but what can she do - wait a second! Galileo explains to the chancellor that Sagredo is merely a friend from her childhood visiting, and is outraged that he presumed they were being intimate. Galileo asks the chancellor if he was close to his friends when they visit. The chancellor ignores the question and tells Galileo that a shipment of telescopes arrived in Venice, and thus the overpriced earlier telescopes are useless. The chancellor's good reputation has been ruined in Venice and thus, he fires Galileo. Before Galileo has a chance to respond, the chancellor storms out as Sagredo returns, and asks what the chancellor was all about.

Galileo ignores the question and instead, apologizes for offending her about her husband. In order to make up for her massive social faux pas, tells Sagredo of a new discovery, and she'll be the first one to hear of it. Sagredo asks what it is, and Galileo responds that she has seen through her telescope that the satellites around Jupiter moon, making it another sun in the sky. Sagredo sighs, and asks where God fits into Galileo's ideas. Galileo answers that he exists either only in ourselves or nowhere. Sagredo is shocked.

Sagredo then asks again why the Chancellor visited. Galileo shrugs, and says she has been fired. Sagredo asks how she could be taking it so well, and Galileo answers that she was going to move to Florence to prove her discoveries to the clergy and outdo Copernicus's studies. Sagredo warns her to please not provoke the Pope, but Galileo ignores these worries, insisting on going to Florence. The camera takes off into the air, as Galileo has a voice over:

"By setting the name of Medici in the sky, I am bestowing immortality upon the stars. I commend myself to you as your most faithful and devoted servant, whose sole desire is to reside in your highness' presence, the rising sun of our great age."

Florence. The nine-year-old Grand Duke of Florence, Cosimo de Medici, visits with a mathematician and a philosopher and decides to take a look through Galileo's telescope. The mathematician and philosopher deride the telescope, calling it a toy, and Sarti defends Galileo, stating that the earth can go around the son. The philosopher slaps Sarti, telling him to know his place. The mathematician then asks Galileo about if she truly believes what Sarti is saying, and Galileo dodges the question while discreetly hiding a Copernican model of the universe. Galileo mentions that she has named stars after Medici, and then aims the telescope at the satellites around Jupiter. The mathematician refuses to let Medici look, sstating that it's unnecessary to have new planets; the ones they have is enough. The philosopher states it's unnatural for women to name anything; if there were new planets, a distinguished man should name them. The mathematician says Galileo must be wrong as her ideas conflict with Aristotle's. Galileo grimaces her teeth and states that Aristotle did not have a telescope. Galileo then points that the telescope is becoming a widespread invention; citizens of Italy should soon be able to look at the stars and question the religious monopoly on the sciences. The two men, nervous, escort Medici away, but the mathematician does manage to tell Galileo that her ideas will be looked at closely by Clavius, the papal astronomer. The camera flies into the air to Rome.

Things take indeed a wondrous turn,
When learned men do stoop to learn.
Clavius, we are pleased to say, 
Upheld Galileo Galilei.

For the entire scene, Galileo sits on a bench. Two monks blatantly stand in front of Galileo and deride her ideas, stating there's no possible way anyone could believe these ideas. An older cardinal walks by and stares at Galileo, screaming at her that she is an enemy of mankind; a succubus of Satan's army. Why would God send his Son to live on just one star? Galileo's ideas are insults to God and the church. Clavius enters the plaza and everyone becomes quiet. Clavius states three words: "she is right." Galileo smiles and gets up from the bench to walk away. However, the Cardinal Inquisitor stares at Galileo as she leaves. Galileo heads to a ball a few blocks away and the camera follows her the full way there.

When Galileo was Rome
A Cardinal asked her to his home.
He wined and dined her as his guest
And only made one small request.

Galileo waits at a table at a ball. Ludovico asks Galileo for her permission to dance with Virginia. Galileo smiles and says passive-aggressively that Ludovico is the man; he can do whatever he wishes. Ludovico, not noticing the aggressiveness, thanks Galileo and walks away. Suddenly, Galileo is greeted by two cardinals, Bellarmine and Barberini. Bellarmine tells Barberini to humor Galileo's ideas, excepting the ones that contradict the Bible. Galileo asks if the clerks sitting at her table were assigned there to minute the conversation and Barberini answers with a yes. Barberini states that Galileo must research only under the mathematical hypothesis banner, instead of true science banner. Bellarmine states that she is a very beautiful woman, and should consider giving upt the sciences if it's merely going to be hypothetical. Galileo rolls her eyes at this and Barberini gives Bellarmine a nudge as if to point out that's inappropriate. Galileo is annoyed but tells the men that she'll do wahtever it takes to continue her research. Barberini smiles at Galileo and leaves. Meanwhile, Ludovico and Virginia are dancing and the Cardinal Inquisitor asks Ludovico if he may have a dance. While they dance, the Inquisitor tells Virginia that soon, she'll desperately need to support her mother. Galileo leaves the ball, taking her metaphorical mask off and beginning to quietly sob on the way back home. The camera goes into the sky as a day passes quickly.

Galileo, stifled by sirs,
Had Sarti come to visit her.
Now, Sarti was born of common folk
It was of science that they spoke.

Sarti comes into Galileo's room, and Galileo, feeling better from the previous night, asks Sarti what's up. Sarti starts off by telling Galileo he deeply respects her but has issues with her teachings in a theological sense. Galileo groans asks Sarti what is wrong this time. Sarti explains that he feels as though if this went to the public people, they would lose their purpose. The only reason people in poverty live happily is because they are convinced they will go to the stars when they die. If Galileo's theories are correct, then that belief will forever be gone. Galileo sympathizes with Sarti, but argues that the church should be against lying to the common people. Sarti feels awkward, and confesses he lied when he took his job. Galileo asks what he means, and Sarti answers that he's always had a thing for smart women, and he asked the clergy for this job for an ulterior motive: he wanted to get to know a truly smart woman. Galileo smiles, and the camera cuts away to the two of them having sex.

 Laughton interrupts Brecht, back in the 1940s. Laughton asks what role would he play in this production. Brecht, lost in his explanation, says that he didn't know Laughton wanted a role in the show. Laughton grimaces and says that if he is going to produce the show, he would like a major role. Brecht answers that he guesses Laughton would have to be Andrea Sarti. Laughton, annoyed, attempts to convince Brecht to, if he must genderswap a role, to swap Sarti's, so he can portray Galileo. Brecht screams at Laughton that he is missing the point. Laughton is quiet, and asks Brecht to finish his pitch. Brecht continues as the camera cuts back to the two in bed. Sarti asks Galileo again to be quiet about her beliefs; if just so they can remain together. Galileo smiles and agrees. The camera flies into the sky.

 Eight long years with tongue in cheek
Of what she knew she did not speak
Then temptation grew too great
And Galileo challenged fate

Galileo and Sarti have married, and now Virginia is preparing to marry to Ludovico. However, Galileo is losing her sight. She has become the most renowned female scientist in Europe, probably by virtue of the church. Galileo and Sarti together look at the stars when Ludovico appears at the door unexpectedly. Virginia runs to her room to show Ludovico her wedding dress, but this is not why Ludovico has come. Ludovico tells Galileo and Sarti that the Pope is dead, and Barberini will succeed him. Galileo is pleased; after all, Barberini was always kind to her when in confrontations. Galileo states that she will immediately return to her own studies, but Ludovico objects, stating that Galileo mustn't return to her studies, or else he won't marry Virginia. Sarti tells Ludovico he has no right to act like that, and Ludovico states that as a rich man, he can only marry those who won't hurt his reputation. As Sarti and Galileo both don't budge on their stance, Ludovico leaves without saying good-bye to Virginia. Virginia then returns to the room and asks her two parents where Ludovico has gone. When none of them answer, she faints. Ludovico returns, and Sarti asks why he has returned. Ludovico states that he was sent by the old Pope before his death to find out if Galileo would return to science. Since the answer was yes, the Pope's last act was to send Galileo to the Inquisition.  The camera goes out of the house and into the marketplace.

On April Fools' Day, '32
Of science there was much ado.
People had learned from Galilei:
They used her teachings in their way.

Kanye West enters the film and begins to rap a story about Galileo and her ideas freaking out the locals. It's shot in a sense that Kanye is a bard of the town. This is an original song for the movie, speaking about science vs. faith. The camera then goes to the Vatican.

The depths are hot, the heights are chill,
The streets are loud, the court is still.

Barberini is being robed for the first time as Pope Urban VIII. The Inquisitor speaks to him, telling him that Galileo's mathematical charts should be destroyed. The Pope is against this, but the Inquisitor points out that people are beginning to doubt the Vatican; soon they might doubt the Gospel. The Pope states that Galileo is a genius, but the Inquisitor brings up that soon, women may uprise too that Galileo is the only woman who had the opportunity to become a scientist. The Pope sees his point and agrees with the Inquisitor to threaten - but not hurt - Galileo. The Inquisitor asks about hurting her husband. The Pope grimaces, but says that's okay. The camera moves out of the Vatican and into a plaza.

June 22, 1633,
A momentous day for you and me
Of all the days that was the one
An age of reason could have begun.

Virginia and Sarti wait outside the garden. They worried about Galileo's inquisition trial. Sarti states that he is confident Galileo will never break under the pressure, but Virginia is not so sure. An official announces that Galileo will recant at 5pm. Sarti cannot believe it, but Virginia frowns. The bells ring at 5pm and Galileo walks out, looking decrepit. Sarti looks at her, feeling utterly betrayed, tells Galileo they are through. Galileo nods, understanding sadly, saying she would say the same about him. Sarti states that "unhappy is the land that breeds no hero." Galileo replies that "unhappy is the land that needs a hero." The camera flies into the sky and out to Pluto through the solar system. It then goes to the sun and back to earth as Galileo narrates:

"You can plainly see that if a horse were to fall from a height of three or four feet. It could break its bones, whereas a dog would not suffer injury. The same applies to a cat from a height of as much as eight or ten feet, to a grasshopper from the top of a tower, and to an ant falling down from the moon. Nature could not allow a horse to become as big as twenty horses nor a giant as big as ten humans, unless she were to change the proportions of all its members, particularly the bones. Thus the common assumption that great and small structures are equally tough is obviously wrong."

As the camera returns to Italy, the following pops on the screen:

1633-1642
Galileo Galilei remains a prisoner
of the Inquisition until her death

Virginia receives a gift of two plucked geese and heads off with the guard they have to roast the geese. We see Galileo, completely blind and alone, sitting in a chair. Suddenly, the door opens and Sarti enters. Galileo bitterly asks what he's doing here, and Sarti answers that he heard his wife was not doing so great. Galileo asks if she's truly his wife if they haven't seen each other in four years. Sarti states that he regrets that, but Galileo should've never recanted. Galileo blows up at Sarti and states the only reason she recanted was to save Sarti's life. Galileo explains that they threatened her with the Inquisition, but she used her fame to reason they couldn't hurt her. The Inquisitor had replied that she would never be hurt, but her husband was expendable. Sarti is shocked, and starts apologizing. Galileo ignores the apology, and tells Sarti to look under her seat. Sarti puts his hand her chair and finds a book, the Discorsi. Galileo states it has been her hardest challenge to write her final book, but she has done it. Galileo wishes for Sarti to take the book to Amsterdam and publish it. Sarti, realizing all Galileo has sacrificed for him, apologizes for being gone for four years. Galileo answers that she'll never be able to accept his apology until she hears of her book being published. Sarti leans to kiss Galileo one last time, but Galileo turns away, denying Sarti. Sarti begins to tear up but then walks away as the camera follows him.

The great book o'er the border went
And, good folk, was the end.
But we hope you'll keep in mind
You and I were left behind.

At the borders of Italy, a guard asks Sarti about his book, and Sarti answers it's in Latin. The guard states it's useless then and lets Sarti out of Italy. Sarti walks past a boy screaming at a woman that she's a witch, and Sarti hands him a telescope, revealing the woman is just cooking porridge rather than stirring hellbroth. The boy runs away, telling Sarti he's a liar. The camera zooms out into the galaxy again.

May you now guard science' light
Kindle it and use it right,
Lest it be a flame to fall
Downward to consume us all.

Brecht finishes his pitch smiling. Laughton states that he'd be honored to work with Brecht, if only he could make a few changes. Brecht answers that Laughton can do whatever he wants with the play; even though he was rude earlier, he believes Laughton is an intelligent man and trusts him with adapting it the way he wants to. Brecht then leaves, as Laughton stares at him as he exits.

 

Edited March 17, 2019 by Blankments

[YM!]

@Xillix

I’d like to add an Amazon Prime showing for Green Lantern Corps on Saturday, April 24th at 5:00 pm in 800 theaters.

 

Also move the Amazon Prime Squirrel Girl screening to Saturday December 11th at 3:00 pm

Edited March 17, 2019 by YourMother the Edgelord

[Blankments]

Miserable Fans

 

Directors: Rhys Thomas and Alex Buono

Writers: John Mulaney and Bill Hader

Genre: Parody Comedy

Release Date: April 2

Major Cast (in order of appearance):

John Mulaney as Jack Giano

Eugenio Derbez as Javier

Stellan Skarsgard as Barney Shop

Lucy Liu as Fiona Tine

Fred Armisen as the story supervisor

Jack Black as Mr. Adare

Maya Rudolph as Mrs. Adare

Bill Hader as Bill Hader

Awkwafina as Carly Tine

Emma Watson as Elle Adare

John Boyega as Matt Pont

Zac Efron as Ethan Ercym

 

Theater Count: 3,229

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for language, some violence, sensuality, sexual humor, and thematic elements.

Runtime: 97 minutes

Production Budget: $45 million

Music by: Mark Mothersburgh

 

Plot Summary: Jack Giano leaks a script and stuff happens.

 

Plot: 

 

The film opens at Nickelodeon Studios. We see animators working hard on a new episode of SpongeBob SquarePants. They all complain about how the show has ruined their careers, and they feel like slaves under the supervising animator, Javier. We see our hero, Jack Giano, working hard on animating Squidward, when Javier calls him up. Javier tells Jack that his four seasons of being stuck exclusively on this show are done; Jack argues that he never deserved this punishment, since all he did was send his dying nephew the script to the SpongeBob movie. Javier says he does not care, and refers to Jack as animator #36. Jack says his name is Jack Giana, but Javier tells him to shut up. He is let go from his job, much to Jack’s relief, but Javier informs that Jack will be blacklisted from all future jobs in animation. Jack frowns, but knows this would happen.

We see Jack try to get jobs at Blankments Channel, Cartoon Station, and the World being turned down for his blacklisting. He even tries some movie studios, but all of them turn him away. We see him lose his house thanks to the lack of income, and he goes to a soup kitchen in Burbank. The manager, Barney Shop, offers him shelter, but Jack won’t take it. Barney insists, and Jack stays a night at Barney’s house. That night though, Jack sees an antique cel of the first Bugs Bunny cartoon, which he realizes that if he sold it on eBay, he’d get a lot of money from. Jack steals the cel, but the police catch him. Barney, realizing how lost Jack is, says that he gave Jack the cel, but he forgot the original reel of the Bugs Bunny short. Jack is in shock that Barney is letting him get away with it.

Jack walking down the street thinks about how much wrong he has done, since he entered the animation industry to give people happiness, yet he has stolen from a good man. Jack rededicates his life to the animation industry. He goes to a museum and donates the cel and reel to it. He then goes to a federal building to legally change his name to Sir Madd, which he figures sounds like a good name for an eccentric cartoonist.

FOUR YEARS LATER. We see that Jack, under the guise of Sir Madd, has worked his way up in the history, and he is running a popular show on Cartoon Station, an animated adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities set in 7^th Century China (titled A City’s Tales); he is also in the middle of a campaign to become mayor of Burbank. However, Burbank is not in good conditions, as the unemployed have gone up, with the fall of unions thanks to increased powers for the major studios. We see homeless people complain about how the rich don’t care about them.

However, inside Cartoon Station Studios, life isn’t happy either. We look at the writing department, where the story supervisor is repeatedly checking out a writer, Fiona Tine, who just so happens to be the writer that writes the fandom’s favorite episodes. The other writers begin gossiping about how they heard Fiona has a bastard child and isn’t so innocent. When the story supervisor leaves the room, one of the writers pick-pockets Fiona’s cell phone and looks at a text from Mr. Adare, which says that he needs money for Fiona’s daughter, Carly. Fiona gets in a fight with her, telling her to leave her alone. Jack enters, and Fiona asks for help. Jack is about to help, but Javier arrives, saying he is looking for a man who used to work for him. Jack goes to speak with Javier, but tells the story supervisor to settle the problem.

The writers say that Fiona is always an issue, and she writes all the characters on the show terribly. The story supervisor, never seeing the show before, believe the writers, but Fiona says she can’t lose this job; in the current economy, there’s always a person in Burbank willing to work for less than she can afford. The story supervisor takes her into a backroom, and says that he’d be willing to keep her on board, even a promotion, if they would go on date. Fiona is apprehensive, but then, the story supervisor slaps her butt, and she slaps him in the face as recommence. The story supervisor fires her, and blacklists her from other animation studios. Left on the street, Fiona wonders why her life has gone horribly wrong. She remembers a time where she was dating a great cartoonist, the great-grandson of Walt Disney. However, the man left her after she got pregnant with Carly. She breaks down in despair, realizing she’s going to have to go into a career of writing fanfiction that rabid fans will treat as canon. Meanwhile, Jack talks to Javier, who is looking for someone to share a Comic Con panel with. Jack apologizes, saying that he has no plans to go to Comic Con. Javier sighs, saying okay, but then looks at Jack. He comments that Jack looks like somebody that he used to know, and Jack says he gets that a lot. 

Fiona goes to the place for commissioned fanfictions; a harem of ex-writers who just write shipping versions of TV shows. She takes the job literally to support Carly. She struggles writing it, but Fiona does it regardless for two people. However, the third fan who walks in recognizing her as his favorite writer. He throws her an extra $20, saying that he wants to take her to bed. Fiona refuses, but the fan tells her that she is required to; it is the rules of this part of Burbank. The fan rapes her, and then Fiona slaps the man ferociously, cutting him. Just that moment, Javier drives by, seeing the violence. He pulls over, asking what happened. The fan says Fiona attacked him brutally. Javier says he won’t let that happen in Burbank, and throws Fiona in his car, who is emotionally broken by this turn of events. Jack then pulls up, and asks Fiona what’s wrong, recognizing her from his workplace. Javier answers that Fiona attacked an innocent man, but Jack tells Javier to hush up. Fiona spits in Jack’s face, saying that he let the story supervisor fire her and force her to take this job. Jack breaks down crying, saying he never meant this to happen. He takes Fiona to the hospital, against Javier’s recommendations.

Javier follows, and at the hospital, after Fiona is checked in, Jack is asked by a little girl to sign her cast. Jack complies, drawing a Squidward on her cast. Javier sees this, and realizes that Sir Madd is Jack Giano. However, Javier then gets a call, saying that Jack Giano has been caught working at the Hub, and he is about to be sent to Korea to work in a sweatshop animation studio. Javier tells Jack this, and Jack goes back to his now lavish house, sure that Fiona will get proper treatment. Jack then thinks about his identity, and he realizes he cannot let an innocent man be deported because of him. He runs to the trial, and confesses that he is Jack Giano, animator #36.

Jack then runs off to see that Fiona is okay, and to try to find a showrunner before he is deported. However, the nurse tells Jack that Fiona is dying, and she will be dead within five minutes. Jack goes to speak to her, and Fiona tells him she needs him to pick her daughter from the Adares and raise her as his own. Jack agrees, but does not know what he is getting into. He reassures Fiona everything is okay, and Fiona dies happy. Javier comes in to confront Jack. Javier says that he personally will make sure Jack is deported, but Jack asks for three days to find Carly a place to stay. Javier says he won’t buy it, and he grabs a pen to attempt to stab Jack. Jack grabs a paintbrush and they fight, until Jack knocks out Javier to escape.

Meanwhile, at the Adares’ bed-and-breakfast, we see Mrs. Adare giving TV control to little Elle. Mrs. Adare tells Carly to make dinner while they watch A City’s Tales. Carly complains about she loves A City’s Tale, but she can only watch reruns. As Carly makes dinner, Mr. Adare comes downstairs, saying he’s ready to get a customer for the bed-and-breakfast. Mr. Adare, Mrs. Adare, and Elle team-up to con Bill Hader (who is in town to pitch his own animated series) into a night at their place. The door knocks after this conning, and Mr. Adare is ready to con again, but it is Jack Giano, who introduces himself as Sir Madd. He says that Fiona has tasked him to take away Carly. Carly hears this and smiles, recognizing him as the creator of A City’s Tales. The Adares pretend to have concern for Carly, so Jack pays them $2000 and an outline for the following season of A City’s Tales. They let him take Carly, much to Carly and Jack’s joy. However, as soon as Jack and Carly leave, Mr. and Mrs. Adare realize they received way too little money for Carly.

FIVE YEARS LATER. Burbank is in outrage. Gus, a little boy, tells the audience how Mr. Turner, the executive of Cartoon Station, is deathly ill, and the successor, Stuart Snyder, has repeatedly said he has no respect for the fans. He also explains that after Sir Madd mysteriously disappeared, Javier took over A City’s Tales, which still airs, but diehard fans hate what the show became after season 2. Matt Pont and Ethan Ercym, teenaged huge fans of the first two seasons of A City’s Tales, talk about how bad the show will become once Snyder becomes the executive. The Adares have now lost their bed-and-breakfast, but instead run a fanfiction peddling gang. They prepare to try to sell some of A City’s Tales popular fanfictions to two pedestrians, who happen to be Jack and Carly. Elle, staying with her parents, sees Matt, who she is hopelessly in love with. Mrs. Adare calls back Elle, saying they her to help. Matt walks up to talk to Elle, but Elle shoos him away. Ethan sees Jack, and recognizes him as Sir Madd, and he has an idea. Matt walks away, but accidentally runs into Carly, instantly falling in love with her. He asks her what her favorite show is, and she answers A City’s Tales. Matt is convinced this is his soulmate.

Meanwhile, Jack is recognized by Mr. Adare. Mr. Adare demands money from him, but Jack plays dumb when Javier shows up, causing everyone to look down. Javier stops the Adares’ attempt to rob Jack, but after Jack and Carly run away, Mr. Adare tells Javier that that was Sir Madd, the showrunner before Javier. Javier realizes that his chance of getting rid of the bothersome Jack has returned, and he vows to recapture Jack and finally deport him to Korea. Elle retroactively recognizes Carly from when they were children. Matt then convinces Elle to help him find Carly, and, despite her own romantic feelings for Matt, Elle agrees to help.

At a restaurant, Ethan prepares the local fan club for A City’s Tales for a fandom revolution; they will march on and take Cartoon Station to reinstate Sir Madd as showrunner and finally get a proper season 3, instead of Javier. Not everyone is certain if this is proper, but Ethan gives a great speech showing how this can work. No one is up for it, but Gus arrives, announcing that Mr. Turner has tied. Ethan leads the fans on a march on the streets of Burbank. Meanwhile, at Jack’s and Carly’s house, Carly thinks about how she is in love with Matt. Carly asks about her mother, but Jack refuses to tell her, saying she is not ready to her about his past or her mother’s past. Elle leads Matt to the house.

Matt introduces himself to Carly and vice versa. They confess their love for each other, and they realize just how much they’ve been missing each other. Elle looks on in sadness when suddenly, Mr. Adare and his gang arrive to rob from Jack, believing him to still be rich from his time of running A City’s Tales. Elle stops them by screaming, but when Jack hears the screaming, Carly tells him it was her who screamed. Jack believes that Javier was outside the house, and tells Carly they must leave the state and move to New York City, much to Carly’s heartbrokenness.

That night, Jack prepares to go to New York. Carly and Matt sadly part. Elle mourns her loss of Matt’s love. Ethan goes down the streets, rallying all the fans of A City's Tales to join in his revolution. Matt ponders if he should follow Carly to New York City, or join the fans in the taking of Cartoon Station. Elle takes Matt to the fandom, and when the two arrive, Matt tells Ethan he will fight with them, while Elle secretly joins them as well. Javier tells his animators that he plans to infiltrate the fandom to take down the revolution from the inside. The Adares go to hang out at the local airport to rob the suitcases of the fandom that is sure to be deported to Korea. Everyone then ponders what the revolution will bring. 

At the morning of the next day, a janitor is about to open up Cartoon Station Studios when he hears a stampede. The fandom has arrived. Despite security guards attempting to stop them, the fans manage to take the studio and throw out computers and writing desks to make a barricade. Matt and Ethan do not recognize Javier was with them the entire time. He volunteers to go spy on the animator’s reinforcements AKA the Burbank Police Department. Matt then discovers Elle has disguised herself as the lead of the show, and she believes that they can save A City’s Tales. Matt sends her to safety by making her deliver a farewell letter to Carly, as he gets no service in the building. Jack intercepts the letter, promising Elle he will tell Carly about it. Jack reads the letter, learning of Matt and Carly’s love, and also of how the fandom needs to find Sir Madd. Elle then walks the streets of Burbank alone, realizing her dream of love is dead. Elle begins to return to the fandom at the studio.

The fandom gets a message via Skype, telling them they must surrender or they will be deported to Korea. The disguised Javier returns, and tells the fans that the police force will attack. However, Gus exposes him as a spy, and the fans detain him. Elle returns to the barricade, but before she can, an officer captures. As she is thrown into a plane heading to Korea, Elle texts Matt, telling him that she feels no pain and she loves him. Matt texts back that he won’t let her leave; Elle is fine with this but then her phone dies, and she has no recharger. Matt mourns her loss, while Ethan and the other fans are devastated at the first causality of their revolution. Jack arrives at the barricades to see Matt but also offer himself as Sir Madd to help the fans. The fans cheer at the arrival of Sir Madd, believing their goal is achievable. However, a battle commences between the police officers and the fans. As the fans throw their role-playing bayonets, Jack rescues Ethan by knocking out an actual sniper. The battle ends, and Jack asks if he can be the one to take care of the imprisoned Javier. Ethan grants his request. As soon as the two are alone though, Jack orders Javier to leave the building safely. Javier says that if even if he leaves, he will still attempt to end Jack’s life. Jack doesn’t care and he shoots the sky with his fan-made rifle from the show. Javier escapes, and later that night, Matt mourns over Carly yet again, but Jack overhears him. Matt soon falls asleep, and Jack prays to Walt Disney to let Matt survive and not be deported. 

The morning arrives, and Ethan realizes that the Burbankians have given up on the revolution. Ethan tells all parents to leave, but the diehard and young fans will stay onto get their new season; after all, they have Sir Madd on their side. Gus climbs over the barricades to grab some actual weapons, but the army of the police officers captures him and deports him to Korea. Ethan and the fans realize they will probably all be deported and never see each other again. The officers give a final warning of surrender, but the fans refuse. All are deported except for Jack and Matt who escape. Carrying an unconscious Matt on his back, Jack escapes to the Burbank airport, with Javier following behind him. Mr. Avare has been looting suitcases. Jack passes out when passing Mr. Avare, and Avare attempts to rob him. However, Jack wakes up and Mr. Avare runs away. When Jack reaches the exit of the airport, he runs into Javier, who has been waiting to finally end Jack’s life. Jack begs Javier to allow him to take Matt to a doctor, and Javier reluctantly agrees. Javier finds that he cannot kill Jack, since he saved his own life. Javier, horribly confused, self-deports himself to Korea, hoping to meet up with the fans over there and find a way to get them back to the U.S.

ONE MONTH LATER. Back on the streets of Burbank, women mourn the loss of their children while Matt mourns that he will never see his friends again. Matt wonders who saved him from the barricade as Carly comes to comfort him, and they reaffirm their love. Jack realizes that Carly needs Marius, and he gives Marius his blessing. Jack then confesses to Matt that he is a blacklisted man and must go away because his presence would endanger their future as a couple. Jack then makes Matt promise never to tell Carly. Matt and Carly then marry, but the Avares crash the reception. Mr. Avare tells Matt that Jack is a murderer, saying he wanted to murder Matt rather than having him deported in the airport. Matt realizes that Jack saved his life. Matt punches Mr. Avare out and he leaves the reception with Carly. Mrs. Avare enjoys the life of the party however.

Meanwhile, Jack prepares to pass away in a movie theater, having nothing to live for anymore. Fiona’s spirit appears, thanking him for saving Carly and giving her a good life. She tells him she is taking him to heaven for animators, a place where Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse reign with love and affection. Carly and Matt run in to say good-bye, and Jack thanks Fiona for letting him see Carly again. Matt thanks Jack for saving his life. Jack then passes away, as Fiona and Barney lead him into heaven. However, they take a slight detour to Korea, where they see all the deportees (plus Javier) have not given up home on fandom power, and Jack smiles at the movement he has made, and he goes to heaven, smiling.

Edited March 18, 2019 by Blankments

[Blankments]

An Odd Road Trip

 

Director: Ben Stiller

Genre: Comedy

Release Date: June 25

Major Cast:

Tobey Maguire as Robert Wolfe

Sharlto Copley as Bill Erikson

Charlie Day as Jeff

Patton Oswalt as Mr. Brown

Ben Stiller as Sheldon

Will Ferrell as David

Peter Dinklage as Edward Besser

Rose Byrne as Mandy

Tina Fey as herself

 

Theater Count: 3,693

MPAA Rating:  R for violence, drug use, strong language, and sexuality.

Runtime: 101 minutes

Production Budget: $70 million

Music by: Christophe Beck

 

Plot: The film opens with a dream sequence of the hero, Robert Wolfe, who dreams of managing a restaurant. See, Robert works at a local chain of restaurants and he should be next in line for being the manager of the restaurant opening the next day. Robert wakes up and rushes over to the grand opening of the new restaurant, and hopes loudly that his boss, Mr. Brown, will make him manager. However, at the ceremony, Robert is ignored and instead the job goes to his jackass co-worker, Edward Besser, who just works for the money and doesn’t care at all about the food quality. When Robert asks why he wasn’t given the job, Brown answers that he just didn’t feel Robert could handle the responsibility.

Meanwhile, Sheldon, Brown’s number one business rival, devises a plot to steal the recipe for Brown’s #1 dish, the Double Steak Deluxe, and then frame Brown before anyone can notice it. Sneaking into mob boss Jeff’s house, he manages to steal his toupee and then instantly mails it to Las Vegas with no return address. That same night, Robert, determined to prove his maturity, goes to a bar to drown his sorrows with his best friend Bill Erikson. However, they get much too drunk and the next day, wake up with hangovers. That day, Jeff busts into Brown’s restaurant and assaults Brown for stealing his toupee, as Sheldon has managed to convincingly frame Brown for this happening. Robert arrives to work drunk and insults Brown multiple times, but when Jeff shoots Brown in the arm, suddenly Robert is sober. He likes his boss well enough not to want him to die, and thus, promises Jeff he’ll get his special toupee back for him in six days. Jeff says okay to this condition, but Jeff is keeping Brown locked up in a box until then. Robert and Bill then leave for Las Vegas in an awesome minivan.

Now that the restaurant is abandoned, Sheldon can easily sneak in to steal the recipe for the Double Steak Deluxe, and he starts using it his own restaurant, Yummy Bricks, claiming that Brown, convinced he was going to die at Jeff’s hands, left the recipe to him in the will. To make sure Robert and Bill don’t return with the toupee and free Brown, he hires a hitman named David to pursue and kill them. As everyone begins eating at Yummy Bricks, Edward realizes something is up, and confronts David about stealing Jeff’s toupee and attempts to call Jeff and inform him. However, Sheldon has given out a free brick with every steak, which causes all of the restaurant’s attendees to be mind controlled by him. Everyone is under his control, and he renames the town Sheldonland.

Meanwhile, Robert and Bill have to drive over the Grand Canyon. Jeff’s girlfriend, Mandy, believes in Robert and Bill’s story, and shows them a way around the Canyon. However, once they pass it, David finds them and kidnaps them. He takes them to Las Vegas himself to try to sell them on the illegal human trafficking stage. However, when Robert begins crying to himself, he cries so much that the sprinkler system in the human pens go off, allowing their bars to rust so they can escape. Robert and Bill realize that David is holding onto the toupee and he’s escaped in a car. They run into Tina Fey, and take her car to chase David, eventually accidentally killing David in the process but getting the toupee.

Tina Fey drives them back to the restaurant where Jeff has taken Mr. Brown to kill publicly. However, Bill and Robert show up with the toupee, saving Mr. Brown’s life and they all go take down Sheldon. However, Sheldon throws a brick at Jeff, putting him under mind control. However, Robert embraces his immaturity and dances for Sheldon, terrifying him with his awful dance moves. Moreover though, the dance moves are so bad, those mind-controlled by the bricks stop being mind-controlled and instead start booing Robert. When Jeff’s mind control breaks, he shoots Sheldon dead on the spot and thanks Robert for saving him. Mr. Brown, to thank Robert, fires Edward and gives the job of manager to Robert. Happy ending!

 

Edited March 17, 2019 by Blankments

[Ezen Baklattan]

The Winter Star

 

Genre: Survival/Drama/Christmas

Director: Niki Caro

Major Cast: Chris Pine (Justin), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Rachel), McKenna Grace (Colleen)

Composer: Nicholas Brittel

 

Release Date: November 12th

Theater Count: 3,004

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for peril, some disturbing images, thematic material, and brief strong language

Runtime: 110min (1hr, 50min)

Production Budget: $30 million

 

Spoiler

Rachel, a local professor in Library Sciences, and Justin, a marine wildlife veterinarian, live an idyllic life in the fictional New England town of Heaven's View, New Hampshire, with their 10-year old daughter Colleen. As both face contrasting opportunities in their careers, it had set of a series of a events that had been challenging their marriage, on top of an already uncertain and unstable relationship. However, every year, the weekend after Thanksgiving, one thing always brings them together: They go out on Justin's boat, the Marigold Express, to look at a special constellation in perfect view at this time of year. As Rachel falls sick, she wants Justin and Colleen to go without her, just so they can still experience it. As they go out into the sea at night, further away from the coast than is typically recommended, the view is simply serene. Colleen wishes the moment would never end, but only that her mother were here as well.

 

Soon, however, terror strikes when an unexpectedly brutal storm begins to brew, and Justin rushes to get back to shore. However, as it worsens, Colleen is thrown overboard. In a moment of sincere terror, Justin manages to save Colleen just in time, but a large wave is about to hit, and the two hide inside the cabin of the ship, knowing they cannot steer away, and with Justin desperate to protect his daughter. After the storm relaxes, they find that the ship's GPS equipment and motor is damaged beyond what their tools can repair. They are completely stranded, and have been pushed even further from the coast than before. With no idea where they are, they struggle to take inventory. Luckily, Colleen, had brought an ample deal of food, and they will be able to catch fish with the rods that Justin has. However, they both soon find out that they at least have some access to the ship's functional communication channel. With it, they try to contact a local rescue team, but without the proper equipment to track location, there is little they can do. However, they also realize that they can get to Rachel.

 

Rachel, horrified as to what had happened, is relieved that the two are still alive. It is uncertain how long at sea the group will be, but they know that they have to find a way to get back to shore. Rachel desperately reaches out to local police and rescue teams, which begin to send out search teams into the water to try and find the two. As Colleen and Justin continue to fend for themselves at sea, Colleen learns a great deal from her father. However, she feels uncertain and worried about her own future. She has noticed that her parents had been fighting a good deal as of late, and she asks if they still love each other. Justin assures her that she has nothing to worry about, and that Rachel will find them and organize a rescue very soon. Moreover, they begin to speak with one another, night after night, telling stories to one another and keeping each others' spirits alive.

 

It turns out that the police and rescue boats are unable to find anything within a week. As Christmas spirit takes over the town, Rachel begins to try and mobilize her community to try and save her family, bringing them home for Christmas. Feeling powerless and uncertain in the situation, she knows that the best thing that can be done at this point is to try and find a way to set things right. However, as the struggle continues, Justin begins to become frustrated with Rachel, who should have been able to get better help by now. As this escalates into a fight, we hear it all from inside the cabin, as Colleen hears the noise from above and tries not to cry. As Justin and Rachel leave one another, Justin goes to comfort Colleen. However, both begin to notice that despite the work they had done, they are starting to run low on resources and food. They need a miracle soon, especially as the weather gets colder.

 

One morning, it's so cold that Colleen can barely leave the cabin, instead staying inside. Realizing that it's only one week away from Christmas, she laments the joy of being home with her family, getting cookies with her friends, and more as she starts to prepare for the worst. She looks through several photos and family memories that Justin had kept in the cabin. We see that Justin is starting to develop even more of a sickness himself, feeling weaker than he normally had been. Colleen struggles to try another shot at fixing the navigation system, but even that would not repair the motor. Eventually, Justin passes out inside the cabin, and Colleen sees a passing ship go by. She tries to call it for help, but it is too far away to make any impact.

 

Rachel feels the melancholy as Christmas fast approaches, begging for help one more from her local community. She goes to anyone who can possibly help as she had persistently done for some time, but that night, she hears from several local fisherman and navigators that plan to embark together to find the two. Moreover, her story begins to take coverage of a local news team, which begins to spread the story to bring Colleen and Justin home. They leave on December 23rd. Eventually, Justin's condition worsens, and he realizes that he may be close to death. but Colleen refuses to give up. Resorting to her final chances, she uses a rod in the ship to spark one of the wires, lighting the rod on fire. As the night grows colder and darker, and things become more and more hopeless...they are soon found and rescued by one of the ships.

 

They eventually rush to the hospital to have Justin's condition treated, but while it looks like Colleen will be safe, it is too late for Justin, who suffered a medical paralysis as a result of the starvation, intense cold, and unfiltered water. However, a major kicker may have been a gas leak as Colleen lit the fire that got them saved. Colleen sobs, believing that this was all her fault; not just lighting the fire but also falling out in the first place so they couldn't return to shore. Rachel tearfully reunites with Colleen but feels heartbroken that her husband died, blaming herself for not acting stridently enough. As Christmas approaches, many people in the local community invite Rachel and Colleen to a dinner to honor his life. A town came together to try and do what was right, and although their mission was not as successful as they hoped for it to be, a young girl's life was saved, and a town was more unified than ever.

 

[Ezen Baklattan]

@Xillix please move Best Friends to April 23rd. I'll add this surprise 2.0 bomb here.

<--PSYCHONAUTS-->

“The most mind-blowing movie of the year - literally!”

Genre: Animation (Stop Motion)/Comedy/Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Horror
Date: September 24th
Theaters: 3,381
Directors/Writers: Duke Johnson and Tim Schaffer
Composer: Danny Elfman

Cast: Sunny Suljic (Raz), Tom Kenney (Dr. Loboto AND Ford Cruller), Storm Reid (Lili), J.K. Simmons (Coach Oleander), Keanu Reeves (Sasha Nein), Salma Hayek (Milla Vodello), Finn Wolfhard (Bobby), Kate Miccuci (Dogan), Tim Schaffer (Linda/Mr. Pokeylope), Timothy Olyphant (Raz’s Father)

Rating: PG for scary images and action, language, some thematic elements, and crude humor
Runtime: 107min (1hr, 47min)
Budget: $55, million

 

Spoiler

We see a picture of a human brain, each part color coded and labeled, projected onto a rock. “The human mind,” a rusty voice narrates. We later see that the voice is of Coach Oleander, a militant camp counselor at Whispering Rocks Summer Camp. He is with Sasha Nein and Milla Vodello, two famous psychonauts. He then goes off on an epic military speech about how the kids before him will become psychic warriors, although not all of them will be able to survive the intense psychic training that they must go through. He then goes on to tell them that if they succeed, they will become psychonauts, international psychic agents. The rest of them will die. The kids are looking at Coach Oleander, all clearly terrified. One of them, a short kid named Dogan, actually begins to cry. A girl named Lili comforts him, saying that nothing ever happens at this camp, but Bobby, yet another kid, tells him about a “lake monster” in the camp, to which he begins to cry again. Suddenly, we hear a rustling from the bushes, and everyone freaks out. “LAKE MONSTER!” Dogan cries out. Sasha, Milla, and Coach try to use psychic powers to find what’s in the bushes, and surprisingly, it’s a young boy of about 12-years, like most of the other campers. Dogan still sees him as a lake monster, even though his appearance says nothing of the sort.

 

“My name-” “Starts with a D!” “-Is Razputin.” Coach oleander is frustrated when he is unable to read the mind of the camp crasher. Razputin introduces himself as a kid just like the others, feared and disrespected at home for his psychic powers, but wanting to find a place where he can belong. The counselors won’t let him stay with the camp, though, even if Razputin begs them to do so. Milla plans to call his parents to pick him up, reading his mind to find out who they are. In a last ditch attempt to win them over, Raz talks about his childhood in a circus family, where his father had hated psychonauts for unknown reasons. Raz recites part of what’s on the camp brochure to use pathos and persuade the psychonauts to let him stay. Finally, Coach caves, simply saying, “Get that kid a bunk bed.” Later that night, Milla tells Raz that his father will pick him up in three days, while most kids will still be there for five weeks! Raz panics, because he only has two days to become a Psychonaut. He comes up to Dogan, who has incredible, if uncontrollable psychic powers, (He once set peoples’ heads on fire! - unintentionally, of course.) but is painfully shy and awkward. Raz becomes friends with him, telling him that he’ll be a psychonaut by the time that his father comes to pick him up. That night, he has a dream (or was it?) that he met a mysterious psychonaut named Ford Cruller. “Aren’t you the janitor of the camp?” Yes, but he’s also a psychonauts, and nobody there knows it! He liked what he did that night, so he promises to help him learn a variety of psychic powers over the next two days. Raz thinks to himself that this may be his trick to becoming a psychonaut!

The next morning, Raz decides to talk to Lili, but she’s reluctant to talk to him, coming off as aloof. However, she thinks to herself how unbelievably cute, unaware that Raz can read thoughts. She runs away, feeling embarrassed, while Raz feels just as awkward.Bobby also comes up to him, telling him “in terms he’ll understand” that he’s the strong man here. Raz mocks him, calling him the cotton candy due to his big, puffy hair. With that, Raz has knowingly becomes Bobby’s ultimate nemesis. Meanwhile, Dogan accidentally causes a squirrel to explode, claiming that it’s telling him to “kill everyone.” Soon, Coach’s basic training begins, and the counselors decide with hesitance to let Raz participate, calling him out if something bad happens to him. Raz is literally sucked into his mind by a door that Coach players on his own forehead. Raz is sucked into this military obstacle course in his head, along with all of the other psychic students. Raz is shocked as he sees a kid explode, seemingly dying. Coach tells him that he was just kicked out of his mind, but he’s still okay. Eventually, Raz must fight through the wacky obstacles in this twisted world, as figments of the coach’s imagination floats around in the background. Meanwhile, we see a suitcase crying, and Coach tells Raz to ignore it, as it’s just emotional baggage. After some intense and humorous moments, especially in competing with Bobby, but he ends up beating the course before anyone else! Raz soon becomes increasingly popular with the camp mates, and the counselors decide to let him participate in more training. For example, Milla teaches him to levitate by inviting her into the dance party in her mind. This brief scene is vivid in color. Meanwhile, Sasha shows Raz a special device known as the brain tumbler, which is able to transport people into all kinds of minds. Raz is teleported into the mental world, but the tumbler breaks, leaving Raz standing lifelessly in the real world. Sasha looks on awkwardly at what just happened.

However, Raz is still in the mental world, where he is able to meet Ford Crueller yet again. This leads to a humorous montage of Raz trying to learn all of these crazy mental powers, from pyrokinesis to clairvoyance. When Raz accidentally hits him, Ford replies, “Now try hitting something that won’t set your head on fire when it makes you angry!” After some training, Raz seems to vanish. He’s back into the real world after Sasha gets the brain tumbler starts to work again. That night, Lili talks to Raz again, still refusing to admit her true feelings for Raz, feeling to proud to do so. That night, Raz has yet another one of those may-or-may-not-dreams. This times, he hears a familiar scream. It’s Dogan’s scream. Raz runs through a creepy dirt road down to a castle, where Dogan is being treated by an extremely creepy dentist, Dr. Loboto. The bad news is that Dogan’s brain was going to be extracted right out of his body and placed into a tank of psychic energy that will destroy the world! The good news is that his insurance will cover the whole procedure. Dogan screams in the dentist chair as Dr. Loboto applies pepper to his nose. We hear Dogan about to sneeze, and he does, but in a separate shot. We then see a brain come flying towards the fall. Dogan had literally sneezed his brain out! Dr. Loboto gives a diabolical laugh, saying how this is the first big victory for Coach Oleander’s epic plan! Raz is shocked: Coach Oleander is really trying to steal everyone’s brains! Raz spends the next morning trying to find Dogan, to make sure it was just a dream. He sees Dogan outside his cabin, heading towards the mess hall. Raz asks him, without thinking, if he has his brain. “Teee-veeee,” he replies. Raz is mortified. “Must..watch...hackey...sack...on..teee...veeee..” When people lose their minds, they become obsessed with television and hackey sack! Dogan has gone mindless!

Raz tries to find Sasha and Milla, but they had to leave the camp on official psychonauts business, and there’s no one else who can help him! He talks to Lili, but he simply tells him that Dogan was always like that. Throughout the day, more kids, including Bobby, have also lost the game, and everyone at the camp is watching the Universal Ultimate Hackey Sack Battle on the camp TV. He goes to tell Ford about the issue, to which he pretends to be just like them, saying
“tee vee!” Raz screams, but Ford tells him that he was kidding. He tells him that the castle is real, and its actually on an insane asylum, located in the lake next to Whispering Rocks. In retrospect, it wasn’t probably a good idea to put a children’s camp and a place for the mentally insane right next to each other. Raz must go there and get back everyone’s brains, and this is actually the last night Raz has before his dad picks him up, so it’s really important! Raz acts strangely to going out on the water for a reason he won’t say. If something bad happens, Ford gives him a piece of bacon and hides in his ear. Shaking the bacon will cause him to jump out of his ear and give good advice! This will be a very important night.

Eventually, only Raz and Lilli are left without their minds taken from Dr. Loboto. He tells Lili about the plan, and how they’re the only ones left who can save the world! “Oh my god! Let’s make out!” Lili exclaims, but Raz is startled. Suddenly, a giant lungfish, mutated with legs, comes up to shore and grabs Lili. she begins to freak out, while Raz tries to defend her using psychic powers. The lungfish slaps Raz away, to which Lili responds in a sassy voice, “Oh no! You did not just hit my boyfriend!” “What?” Raz asks. Soon, the lungfish goes out in the water, putting Lili in its mouth. She says in the distance, “It’s not eating me! I think it’s trying to take me somewhere! Help me, Raz!” Raz goes into the water, but he begins to panic when something in the water attacks him. That’s when he remembered - there was a family curse in which his entire family cannot swim at all. He looks around for another way to help Lili, and he finds a Canoe. He goes out into the lake, but the lungfish is too deep. This negated his plan of trying to whack it repeatedly with a paddle. Sighing, he creates a psychic shield around himself to block off the water and goes in. Raz begins to fight the Lungfish, while trying to stay alive within the psychic shield. Raz eventually wins, but he decides to go into the Lungfish’s mind to see whats up.

Inside the mind of the lungfish, we see a big city, where all of the people are mutated lungfush - just like the one that took Lili. The lungfish talk and carry out their daily lives just like humans. However, we see a huge monster who steps on a building. Raz realizes that he’s a giant in this world, and he has to try very hard not to kill anymore populants of Lungfishopolis. The next scene is an parody classic monster movies. Raz stomps around the city, apologizing for any damage he causes, while he is confronted by a gang of lungfush. Fortunately, they are lungfish revolutionaries who are trying to overthrow Kocahamara, an evil ruler of Lungfishopolis. Raz follows the revolutionaries, while accidentally stepping on one, to Kochamara’s central base. Raz soon finds out that Kochamara is representative of Coach Oleander (“Koch” sounds like “Coach...”) Raz realizes that this was one a normal lungfish, but it was mutated for Coach’s evil plan to take children to the insane asylum to have their brains removed! Raz soon defeats Kochamara, freeing the Lungfish from the control of Coach. The lungfush soon gives Raz a ride to the insane asylum so that he can save everyone. The lungfish soon introduces herself as Linda. Unfortunately, she had already given Lili to Dr. Loboto, and Raz must hurry in order to save her. Raz comes up to Linda and says, “no hard feelings.” After she swims away, Raz says to himself, “What a beautiful creature.”

Raz sneaks near the front gate of the asylum, but he finds a guard, Boyd, guarding the gate. Raz, realizing that he can’t talk his way into the asylum, thinks that getting into his mind could be helpful. He throws the door to minds on Boyd’s forehead, soon being sucked into a very bizarre setting. It’s like a neighborhood, except that the streets bend all over the place, and there are detectives in very small disguises, saying humorously obvious things. (For example: One detective becomes a road crew worker by holding up a stop sign. Also, one detective says, “I am a grieving widow. These are my flowers. I wish that my loved one was currently not dead.” and so on.) Raz tries to walk down the street, but he is being spied on by a group of young girl scouts, all of which are following him without his even noticing. He catches the sight of one young girl, and he begins to ask what they’re doing. “Shut up! You’re going to reveal the Milkman’s secrets!” Raz is utterly confused. He soon finds out that all of the detectives, and even the girl scouts, too, are obsessed with the milkman. Upon doing some investigation of the town, Raz realizes that the detectives are searching for the milkman, but the girl scouts are trying to protect her. Raz soon must fight the den mother of the girl scouts, who is also a crazed woman with insane powers, in order to find the milkman once and for all. Raz soon finds the milkman in a cryogenic chamber, awakened with the cult-like chanting of the litter girls. The milkman soon goes on a rampage, destroying huge parts of the neighborhood, while detectives are going like, “I am on fire. My flesh is slowly being destroyed.” “The milkman has been found. I am clearly terrified.” Raz soon gets out of his head right away, and Boyd opens the gate, seemingly bent on destroying the asylum!

Raz hurries into the asylum grounds, where he finds three insane people: One of which is a tall, thin man, who firmly believes that he’s Napoleon Bonaparte. Another is a former actress, who is actually only performing to her plants! Finally, we have a Spanish painter trying to find his ultimate inspiration. All the meanwhile, a short woman with a high voice is spying on Raz. While the three people drive Raz crazy with their problems, he begins to freak out. Raz realizes that he must help each of them face their own demons. Raz finds out that the tall man is trying to win a strategy game with the actual Bonaparte in his mind, and that he needs to have the support of all of his pieces in order to win. The actress is just terrified because she is thinking about an evil critic who trashed her work, and now he’s trying to sabotage her big show. Finally, the painter is heartbroken because his high school lover has rejected him for a more attractive matador, and he’s seeing this as a metaphor for himself being a bull. Through this amusingly awkward and fast group therapy session, while we'll see what Raz is doing in the real world rather than the mental world, we soon find that the three insane people have been cured.They begin to act normally, thanking Raz for helping them out. In return, they help Raz come up with a disguise to get past Dr. Loboto’s assistant, using a portrait of Loboto, and some other tools, to make Raz appear like the doctor himself to the assistant. Raz insists that it couldn’t possibly work, but lo and behold, it does. Raz is able to climb up to the top of the asylum, finding the missing brains of his campmates in a secret closet along the way.

Just as Raz is about to get to the top, he uses clairvoyance on Lili’s bracelet to see if she’s OK. She’s in the dentists chair, about to have her brain removed! However, Lili isn’t really scared. She’s just flat out irritated with Dr. Loboto’s nonsense. Suddenly, the female stalker of Raz tells him to stay away from Dr. Loboto, or bad things will happen. This turns out to be Sheegor, a female “Igor” and assistant to Dr. Loboto. Raz ignores her, heading up to find Sasha, Milla, & Lili all locked up. Sasha and Milla weren’t on official psychonauts business! They were captured! Fortunately, Lili did not work with the brain removing sneezing powder, due to a special “anti-allergy” that she has. Sheegor returns to Dr. Loboto, where it is revealed that he’s holding her pet turtle, Mr. Pokeylope, hostage, forcing her to work for him. Raz uses the bacon to summon Ford out of his ear to come up with a plan to stop Loboto, and he certainly gives him one. As Ford jumps back into his ear, the other three in the room stare, in a manner of “What the hell just happened?” Soon, Raz uses telekinesis from afar to free Pokeylope from his cage and back into the hands of Sheegor. Pokeylope surprisingly has a great level of intelligence, as well as a suave voice, to which he comes up with a plan to destroy Dr. Loboto. The plan involves blowing up his office and knocking him off the side of the window. Lucky enough, it works. However, we see a familiar face return - Coach Oleander.

Sasha and Milla get into a fight with Coach, pushing Raz and Lili aside and safetly onto the ground. However, we also see Boyd (in full milkman mode) coming towards the tower with bombs in each hand. One thing leads to another, and boom - the tower has exploded. We see that the others made it out safely using their special psychic powers, but Coach had already channeled his brain energy into the special tank that he was working on, where it already has the brain energy of all the other campers. (Once the energy was drained, there was little use for the actual brain, hence their being in a closer.) However, a vial of sneezing powder hits Raz, causing him to sneeze his brain out - right in the direction of the death tank. With this startling moment, Raz and Coach’s mental energies collide, causing everything to white out for a moment. Raz wakes up in the long road that he saw in his dream a day ago. He also sees a circus cart, and a child is trying to call him over. Raz enters the cart, but becomes terrified. It’s a circus - but most things are made out of meat! It’s the dreaded meat circus. Raz sees that the child was actually a younger version of Coach Oleander, and he’s terrified of his dad - the butcher. Coach’s father is a huge, aggressive, and mean butcher - and Raz comes to realize that the hatred of his father caused the inner demons of the Coach to rise up, fueling his desire for the evil plan. Raz soon realizes that that’s just the start. The butcher actually contains elements of Raz’s own father - the one that Raz ran away from to come to this camp. Raz realizes that he must fight this fusion of the fathers in order to set things right. The fight gets off to a bumpy start. Raz has a huge array of psychic powers, but the father is too strong - not to mention too big. It seems that all hope is lost for Raz, but someone else joins the fight on Raz’s side - his own father.

Raz’s father is a tall man who looks similar to Raz, except for his smaller, more stern eyes, and his short beard.Raz discovers that his father was a psychic, just like him, and he only tried to hide their psychic roots because they knew that the world was unkind to psychics, as a whole. With this bond of father and son restored, the two team up to defeat the fathers once and for all. In the end, Raz had finally helped the Coach defeat his inner demons, and the threat had been averted once and for all. The next day, Sasha, Coach, and Milla give everyone their brains back, while Coach apologizes for letting his inner demons get the best of him. He also acknowledges Raz as the hero that had helped him, and the campers cheer for him. Even Bobby, the kid who picked on Raz, has some respect for him now. On top of that, Ford Cruller comes up, surprising everyone there. Better yet, he decides that Raz is worthy of becoming a psychonaut, based on his great deeds of heroism. Raz accepts this honor, taking on a whole new look, trading his jacket and goggles for a black suit and some hair products. Later on, Raz talks to his father again, who decides to let him stay as a psychonaut, apologizing once again for the way he was. Meanwhile, Raz and Lili finally confess their love for each other, and the two kiss. However, the peace doesn’t last for long. Lili’s father, who was also the head of the psychonauts - has been kidnapped! In the end, we see Lili, Raz, Coach, Sasha, Milla, and Ford board a huge plane that comes out right under the base of the camp, and it takes off in the direction of the audience. The psychonauts have a new mission.

THE END

Credits: We see stylized animations of the various psychic worlds that were featured in both the game and the movie.

[Ezen Baklattan]

Next Vegas

 

Date: February 5

Theaters: 2,637

Genre: Action/Crime/Thriller

Director: Anna Foerster

Budget: $30 million

Cast: Kate Beckinsale (Audra Keyes), Guy Pearce (Derek Mayzer)

Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of action, language, some sexuality, drug and alcohol use, and disturbing images

Runtime: 104min (1hr, 44min)

 

In the near future, advancements in technology will drive Las Vegas to further madness, turning the city into a crazier and more colurful playground in the style of cyberpunk. Unfortunately, crime and corruption have advanced as much as the city, and murders and theft are commonplace in the city. Audra Keyes is a detective working for the city police department, who has developed a strong understanding of the ins and outs of criminal activity, and she has managed to sabotage several crime rings in the city during her career, thus forming a seemingly strong bond of mutual trust between her and the LVMPD, especially with her boss, Derek Mayzer.

 

Things began to change for the worse, one fateful day. After chasing down a man who smuggled a gun into the newly-futuristic Golden Nugget casino, Audra is shocked to discover that the police are after both of them. Audra is accused of being a part of a large drug smuggling ring in the city, much to the disappointment of Mayzer. She then escapes the police and sets out to prove her innocence, making moves that investigate the drug ring, known as Eden's Suppliers, where she plants herself as a member in disguise. The police continues to track her down, but she remains one step ahead.

 

Upon her shock, she discovers that the police have made a deal with Eden's Suppliers to take Keyes down, working with several other criminal organizations to accept bribes to lay off of them. Keyes' investigations was shaking this fragile, if unethical, peace. Keyes confronts Mayzer on the issue, realizing that he was the one behind the deal. The two soon get into a fight, which leads to Keyes's victory, and the Nevada government moving in to try and set things right and cover up the incident. Keyes has abandoned her role as a police detective and has moved on to work on her own.

[4815162342]

Another one from the 2.0 filler vault:

 

 

The Poet

 

Genre: Thriller

Cast: Casey Affleck (Jack McEvoy), Elisabeth Moss (Rachel Walling), Charlie Hunnam (Robert Backus)

Directed By: Baltasar Kormákur

Release Date: February 19, Year 5

Theater Count: 2766 Theaters

Budget: $28 million

Running Time: 112 minutes

MPAA Rating: R for scenes of violence, strong language, and some sexuality

 

Plot Summary:

 

Jack McEvoy (Norton) is a crime reporter for the Rocky Mountain News, and after a couple early scenes that show his skill as a journalist he learns of the death of his brother Sean. Sean was a homicide detective with the Denver Police, who was found dead in his car in a remote parking lot. A one-sentence suicide note was found in the car with him, and it seemed impossible that someone else could have killed him. McEvoy, though, is reluctant to accept that his brother had succumbed to depression resulting from his investigations, even though the last one was particularly brutal: Theresa Lofton, a young college student, who was found in a park in two pieces.

 

After much investigation on his own, including retracing his brother's investigation into the Lofton case, Jack concludes that his brother's death was simply made to look like a suicide by a serial killer. By focusing on homicide detectives who committed suicide in a similar fashion and left a one-sentence note quoting the works of Edgar Allan Poe (as Sean's did), Jack finds three clear matches to his brother's death. When the FBI finally realizes that he is on to something and attempts to block him from further access, he is able to trade his knowledge of the other deaths (one of which the FBI had not uncovered) for a role with the FBI investigative team headed by Robert Backus (Hunnam), the son of a famous agent within the bureau who has been overshadowed by his father's legend. Assigned the duty of handling him is agent Rachel Walling (Moss), one of Backus' main proteges, and the two of them become personally involved. The FBI nicknames the serial killer "The Poet" due to his use of Poe's lines with the victims.

 

As the case focuses on an Internet network of pedophiles and one in particular (William Gladden), McEvoy is taken along on the operation to arrest Gladden, who is suspicious of the set-up and kills the FBI agent trying to arrest him, Gordon Thorson (Walling's ex-husband). McEvoy ends up killing Gladden himself while being held hostage. However, Gladden's comments about his brother's death lead McEvoy to believe that Gladden was not the killer, even though the case has been officially closed. He then finds evidence that the killings had a connection to the FBI and identifies a phone call to the FBI from Thorson's room that he links to a "boasting" fax sent to the bureau by The Poet. Since McEvoy knew that Walling had sent Thorson on a fake errand during the time the fax was sent, he suspects Walling of being The Poet and of posting to the pedophile network under the name "Eidolon", another Poe reference. He then learns that Walling's father, a cop, had committed suicide when she was a teenager ... and had been suspected by the investigating officers of molesting Rachel over a period of time. Since pedophiles tend to have been abused as children, McEvoy becomes worried enough to tell Backus of his suspicions. Backus tells McEvoy that they'll set a trap for Walling and then takes him to a remote location -- where Backus drugs McEvoy into nonresistance. He admits that he himself is both Eidolon and The Poet, because the room mistakenly billed to Thorson was actually the one in which he stayed. He admits to all of the deaths and to his setup of Gladden as the "fall guy" for the murders.

 

As Backus prepares to kill McEvoy, Walling (who was suspicious because of messages that she had received from both men) shows up and eventually saves McEvoy's life by knocking Backus out the window and down a long hill. Later the police find a body, however it is left open if this is Backus. Meanwhile, as the facts of the case become known, Walling's judgment is called into question due to her personal relationship with McEvoy and her professional relationship with Backus. A tabloid publishes a photo of McEvoy and Walling together. However, because McEvoy suspected her, Walling ends their relationship and takes a leave to Italy. McEvoy then takes a leave from his paper to write a book about the events.

[YM!]

Okay, I confirmed with @Blankments and I can have the 100 theaters in IMAX for Squirrel Girl 

 

@Xillix

[Blankments]

The Three-Month Funeral

 

Writer/Director: Theodore Melfi

Genre: Dramedy
Release Date: December 22
Major Cast:
Andrew Garfield as John Myers

Glenn Close as Laura Myers

Michael Keaton as Robert Myers

Karen Gillan as Megan Myers

Michael B. Jordan as Matt Tucker

Billy Magnussen as Alex Katzmarek

Dennis Quaid as Will Jones

Jason Isaacs as Jake Berry

David Henrie as Tyler Myers.
 

Theater Count: 3,149
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for thematic content, brief nudity and sensuality, and language.

Runtime: 127 min
Production Budget: $50 million
Music by: Benjamin Wallsfisch
 
Plot Summary:  An adopted son must resolve his father issues when his brother dies and stipulates in his will that they must wait three months to bury him. Meanwhile, a woman bonds with her mother-in-law in the last three months of her first pregnancy. At the same time, a gay roommate falls in love during the three months and tries to hide it from the homophobe father. 

 

Plot:

 

The film opens with Tyler Myers typing furiously at his computer, with only shorts on. His roommate, Matt Tucker, walks in, asking him what’s wrong; he’s never up this late. Tyler says he’s adjusting his will for something hopes will never happen. Matt asks why, and Tyler responds that his family needs to get it together. He saves the file and goes to bed.

 

He wakes up with no clothes on. THREE YEARS LATER appears at the bottom of the screen. He gets dressed while the opening credits begin, set to “Just One Day,” an original song by fun. BLANKMENTS PRODUCTIONS PROUDLY PRESENTS. Tyler looks at his calendar, and sees it is two days before his parents’ thirty-second anniversary. A THEODORE MELFI FILM. He says good-bye to Matt, who is still half-asleep. ANDREW GARFIELD. Tyler packs his things and gets in the car. GLENN CLOSE. He begins driving from his home in Nashville and up to Fort Wayne, Indiana. MICHAEL KEATON. He passes the Kentucky-Indiana Border. KAREN GILLAN. He arrives in Fort Wayne. MICHAEL B. JORDAN. His GPS says the next is two blocks away from his destination. BILLY MAGNUSSEN. He sighs, happy to be done with the trip. He merges into the exit, but he hears a loud honk. A semi-truck didn’t see his merge, and crashes into the side of his small car. Tyler is sent off the side of the road, falling down a large crevice. We follow the car down, until it stops, and we see Tyler’s face, incredibly bloody. He is dead.

THE THREE-MONTH FUNERAL

We cut to John Myers pulling into his driveway. His wife, Megan, is in the car with him. John starts making small talk as he parks about how happy he is the check-up went fine. Megan tells him to stop worry; their kid will be fine. Megan teases that being adopted means no inheritance of his parents’ poor luck with miscarriages. John stiffens up, saying that’s nothing to joke about, Megan apologizes, seeing she has struck a nerve with John and his family issues. John and Megan go inside their house, and John, showing his acceptance of Megan’s apology, feels his wife’s belly. He remarks that it’s only three more months. They head to their bedroom, and the see the answering machine has a message. They listen to it, and hear the terrible news. The message is from a lawyer’s office in Nashville. The man on the other end introduces himself as Jake Berry, and says that John’s brother, Tyler, was in a terrible accident, and has passed away. Jake says that, as the executive of Tyler’s will and meager estate, he has been ordered to call John and have him go down to Fort Wayne for the reading of the will, which has been ordered directly from Tyler to be read before the funeral. The message ends.

Megan leans into John, who is visibly stuck by the news.. Megan says that they need to begin packing their bags, and John says no, they aren’t. Megan tells him that she thought he loved Tyler. John says he does love Tyler, and hell, he even loves his mother, but there’s no way in hell anyone could make him go back to the hell he lived has a child thanks to his dad. Megan says that John needs to respect Tyler’s last wish and go to Fort Wayne, but John just stands up, and tells Megan he’s going to take a shower. He walks into their master bathroom and slams the door shut. Megan stares at the door as we hear the shower turn on. Slowly, she opens the door, and sits on the toilet. Megan asks John what he really thinks. John doesn’t respond, and Megan says that she grew up as an only child; she doesn’t know what a sibling relationship is really like, but she’s pretty sure you can’t just ignore it when your brother dies. We cut to John in the shower; we see that he is in the shower just to hide his tears. Megan asks him if he feels like Tyler would appreciate John’s immediate response to ignore his death. John breaks down, and pulls open the shower curtain, telling Megan in sobs that they’ll be on the first plane out tomorrow. Megan smiles at him, and tries to comfort him by putting a bathrobe on him and kissing him.

Fort Wayne, earlier in the day, at the Myers household. It’s a small, house with one guest room and one master bedroom. Based off the lighting of the room. it is visible that it is late morning. The two residents are still asleep when the phone rings. The woman of two, Laura, wakes up and answers the phone groggily. It is a police officer, who tells her he has terrible news. Cut to Laura and her husband, Robert, sitting in a waiting room in silence. A doctor comes out and tells them he is so sorry. They walk back to their car, still in silence. Robert asks Laura if she could drive home. Laura hesitates, but then sees her husband’s eyes are watery. They begin driving home, but after a minute in silence, Robert breaks down, crying over the loss of his son. Laura begins crying as well, but whereas she has a few teardrops, Robert is outright sobbing. Laura pulls over the car, and they cry into each other’s arms.

That night, Laura and Robert are both getting ready for bed. Robert is in the shower when Laura pulls out a scrapbook. She goes through it, which starts with John’s adoption and infant months. Laura drops few tears over them, and she turns the pages, seeing that there are virtually no pictures of John with Robert, and a lot of pictures of Tyler with Robert. She then turns to a page which is supposed to have professional photographs of each of their children’s lives up to age eighteen. Whereas Tyler’s is completely full, and even go past age eighteen, John’s awkwardly doesn’t have pictures for year seventeen and age eighteen. Laura sighs to herself and puts away the scrapbook.

LAX. We see John and Megan board a plane, which quickly takes off. John begins dropping some ground rules for Megan. They’re staying for a week ant the longest, and there’s no way he is going to talk to his father. Megan asks why, but John won’t say.. Megan brings up how much she loves her own dad, but John points that’s different. Megan says she knows she has a single dad, but that doesn’t mean John’s father doesn’t love him. John leans on, and then looks out the window. They land in O’Hare International Airport, and Megan asks if they have a valet. John starts to say something, but someone runs toward and hugs him. It is Matt, whose excited to see John. He remarks that he hasn’t seen John for a couple of years. John smiles sheepishly, saying he and Tyler were free to visit Los Angeles whenever they liked. Matt frowns, saying John should know Tyler’s job didn't allow much travel. John scoffs, saying Tyler was a programmer; he didn’t need to stay in Nashville forever. Gritting his teeth, Matt says that John should know the other reason they couldn’t travel much, and John blushes, embarrassed. Megan is confused, but before she can asks anything, Matt smiles at her, saying the last time he or Tyler saw John was at John and Megan’s wedding. Matt they abruptly says that he guesses there’s going to be a new addition to the family soon. Megan deadpans that she’s not pregnant. There is an awkward silence until she bursts out laughing, saying she’s kidding; she’s due in three months. Matt laughs at the jest, but then checks his watch. He says they need to get going. Cut to Matt driving a car with John and Megan in the back seat. They drive on Lake Shore Drive and through a montage, we see the three travel to Fort Wayne.

Cut to Laura and Robert asleep in bed. The doorbell rings and Robert wakes up and answers the door in his robe. Jake has arrived. Jake lets himself in the house, telling them he’s sorry for their loss and he’s here for the reading of the will. Laura walks out in her nightgown, while Robert says they were planning on reading the will after the funeral. Jake says that Tyler insisted that the will was read before even making funeral arrangements. Robert begins to argue, but Laura says alright. Jake smiles and tells them to meet him at the Town Hall; he has rented out a room for the reading of the will. Laura asks if anyone else is coming to the reading, and Jake says that Tyler wished for his parents, his brother, his sister-in-law, and his roommate to be present. Robert’s eyes widen as Laura quickly shoos Jake out the door.

After Jake has completely left, Robert turns to Laura in fury, asking why Tyler asked his brother to come. Laura says that John is their son too, but Robert scoffs at this. He says he was always against adopting John, and the idea that they’re to speak to him during the death of death of their actual son is utterly stupid. Laura quietly says that John is their son, and Tyler’s brother. She continues, saying that even if Robert refuses to accept John after his running-away, he needs to respect Tyler's wishes. Robert, begrudged, agrees to respect John at this meeting. He then asks Laura if she knew John had got married, and Laura says she did know John was married, but she’s never met the girl.

Cut to the car with John, Megan, and Matt. They pass by the “Welcome to Fort Wayne”sign. Matt asks what time it is, and, checking his watch, John says it’s 6:30 PM. Matt says they need to get to Town Hall as soon as possible; they shouldn’t be late. Megan asks what they’ll be late for. Matt says the will is being read there that night in a half hour. John is surprised, and asks why it’s so early, but Matt doesn’t know. Megan feels awkward and asks, if with their dress shirts and black pants, if they’re under-dressed. John shrugs.

The three arrive at the Town Hall, and run inside, worrying if they are late. John asks a receptionist where to go, and they follow her directions to the room. John takes a deep breath, and enters the room alone. Laura and Robert are sitting alone at a table, facing away from him. John quietly says, “Mom.” Laura and Robert turn around, and Laura stands up and hugs John. John awkwardly lets her hug him, while glaring at Robert. Robert looks away, and John notices he’s wearing a Hawaiian shirt. Laura asks John where his wife is, John goes to let Megan and Matt in. Robert goes to Laura, curious to see who John has married. Matt enters the room. Robert is in shock for a second, and asks if John is gay. Laura, John, and Matt look at him in utter shock, but then Megan enters, laughing and saying no, she’s John’s love.Robert blushes in embarrassment as Laura hugs Megan, and Matt explains he was Tyler’s roommate. Robert shakes Matt’s hand and apologizes for the insinuation. Matt looks at him oddly, but lets the bizarre comment go. Laura exclaims that John never told her they were expecting a child. Megan begins to says she’s not pregnant, but John interrupts, saying that she’s due in three months. Robert congratulates them, and the door opens, revealing Jake has arrived with an envelope in hand. He asks them all to sit down a row, which they do. From left to right, they sit in the order of Robert, Laura, Matt, Megan, and John.

Jake begins speaking about how they all miss Tyler, and this is indeed a time of tragedy. Robert is antsy, and asks Jake just to open the envelope. Jake says that there’s actually a funny story about that. The envelope he is holding is not the will; rather, it is something that Tyler demanded be read before his will. Jake opens the envelope and begins reading silently, as the five look in bewilderment. Jake clears his throat, and says that according to this official document, Tyler has quite an interesting stipulation to his will. Megan turns to John in confusion as Jake continues. Three years ago, Tyler gave Jake this envelope, which contains a legally binding document that refuses to let the will be read until certain requirements are made. Laura asks what kind of requirements, and Jake says the requirements are very interesting. If any of the five want to touch any of Tyler’s estate, they must live together in the same house for three months - along with Tyler’s corpse in the freezer. There is an awkward silence until John and Robert yell “What?” in confusion. Jake continues reading, saying that if these conditions are not met, then all of Tyler’s estate will go to himself (Jake.) John gets pissed, telling him that he must be bullshitting. Robert agrees, and grabs the letter from Jake. He reads it, and his face goes pale. Jake is telling the truth.

John tries to get out of this, saying that he has a life to get to back to and his wife is due in three months. Jake says that they could agree not to live together, but they wouldn’t get to touch anything Tyler owned. John and Robert are fine with this, but Jake then points out that he went to the liberty of looking up who Robert and Laura’s house is technically owned by. John is confused, and Robert’s face goes pale. Laura remembers, saying that Tyler bought them their house for their retirement two years ago, on their fortieth anniversary. Matt points out that if they don’t go through with living together for three months, Jake gets the house. Laura and Robert look at each other, realizing that they have to go through with it; otherwise, they will be homeless. John still doesn’t realize the gravity of the situation, and he tells Megan they’re leaving. Megan whispers to him, asking if they should stay. John says no way a little too loudly, and Robert is greatly offended. He yells at John that he’s too irresponsible and even if John doesn’t like Robert, John needs to do this for Laura and Tyler. Matt awkwardly excuses himself to use the bathroom as the room becomes deathly silent. Laura tells Robert to calm down, and Megan tells John that they do need to do this, for Tyler. Megan says she’s fine with having their child in Fort Wayne, and Laura walks over to John, saying that if they’re going to do this living together thing, just show up at Laura and Robert’s house in the morning. John sighs, and heads to Matt’s car.

Jump ahead to the next day. John, Matt, and Megan pull into the driveway of the house. Laura opens the door for them, and says that Tyler’s already in the fridge. DAY 1 appears at the bottom left of the screen. John and Megan get settled in the guest bedroom as Matt tries to work a fold-out couch. Robert comes out and helps him with it, and Matt asks him how he’s doing. Robert rolls his eyes and says that he’s just counting down these three months. Matt feels alienated and thus, excuses himself to use the bathroom. He discovers a terrible truth: the only bathroom in the house is the master bathroom... and there’s no lock on the door. Meanwhile, John is telling Megan that he feels like they’re going to regret this. Megan says they don’t really have a choice. John groans, but agrees with his wife. Matt finishes his bathroom when Laura walks in on him with his pants down. She screams, and Matt quickly excuses himself. He goes to get a drink in the kitchen and opens the fridge. He screams in shock at Tyler’s corpse, and everyone in the house runs to see him. Matt points at the corpse as Laura quickly shuts the door. Robert says that he’ll buy a new fridge just for these three months.

Laura, eager to try to resolve Robert and John’s differences, asks John to go with Robert shopping for a fridge. John and Robert both glare at Laura, but then Megan says that’s a great idea. The two of them are shooed out the door, and so Robert gets into his car with John awkwardly in the passenger seat. They drive to the local appliance store in absolute silence. Robert gets out of the car, and asks John if he’s going to come in. John thinks about it for a second, but finally just decides to go inside. They walk in, and Robert asks for a salesperson. John sees the same model as the freezer from the house right in front of him, and tells Robert that they don’t need a salesperson; they can just order that one. Robert glares at John, and tells him he knows how to shop. The salesperson arrives, and asks them what they’d like. Robert asks to show them some refrigerator models, but John is strongly against this. John says he’d like to purchase the fridge he saw when he walked in, but Robert tells the salesperson to ignore John; he’s not the one who will be buying the fridge. John tries to speak up, but Robert ignores him and the salesperson takes Robert around the store. Annoyed at being ignored, John leaves to walk back to the house.

Meanwhile, Laura helps Megan and Matt settle in. Matt excuses himself to take a shower, and Laura tells him she’ll make sure not to walk in on him this time. Megan begins talking to Laura about how she doesn’t understand why John hates his father so much. Thunder strikes and we see rain fall behind the window as Laura sighs, and says she doesn’t understand why Robert dislikes John as well. Megan asks if there’s any possible reason she knows of, and Laura sits down on the bed, saying that she has a tragic tale to tell her. Back when she first got married to Robert, they desperately wanted to have children. They tried to have a kid once, but Laura suffered a miscarriage. Laura and Robert tried again, but there was another miscarriage. After the second miscarriage, Laura wanted to give up, but Robert wanted to try one more time. They did, and there was a third miscarriage. Laura then convinced Robert that they would adopt a child, since she was too dejected to try a fourth time. Robert agreed, even though he seemed against it. They adopted John as an infant, who was abandoned by his birth mother. Laura loved him and Robert did too, just not as much, and not as a father should have. Two years later, Laura became pregnant again, but this time, she didn’t have a miscarriage. She gave birth to Tyler, and Robert loved Tyler as a father should. As the years went by, Laura was sure to give equal treatment to both of her children, but Robert clearly favorited Tyler. After all, Tyler was athletic, much like Robert was in his earlier years, whereas John was artistic. Robert thought it was a wimpy thing to do, and always ignored John’s accomplishments. Laura and Tyler tried to show John that they loved him regardless of Robert’s thoughts, but at age 16, John had had enough, and he ran away from home. He paid his own way through college and cut off all contact with his parents. The only news they received about John was though Tyler. Megan realizes how terrible a life her husband has had, and she says that John never told her any of that. Laura gives a pained smile, and says that her goal for these three months is to get Robert to finally love John like the son he is. Laura asks Megan to help her, and Megan agrees that she will when the doorbell rings.

Laura goes to answer it and sees John, drenched with water. Laura asks John what happened, but John just walks past her, saying that he knew this would happen. He yells that he’s going to take a shower, and goes into the master bathroom. He runs into Matt, who is wearing just a towel. John tells Matt to get out, and Matt complies, although he is annoyed that people keep on interrupting his bathroom usage. Laura looks at Megan sadly, and Megan says they have their work cut out for them. A montage follows of the first week, which shows just how awkward Robert and John sharing a house is. The fridge arrives and Robert enlists Matt exclusively to just pick it up. We see John spends this time mostly in the guest room where he does his job, an editor of a news site, strictly from his bed. Megan leaves the room to get him food the whole time, and Laura is concerned for Megan’s well-being. The montage ends, and we see in the corner of the screen that it is DAY 17. Laura goes into the bedroom to confront John. John is cheerful towards his mother, and asks her what she wants. Laura points out that his wife is pregnant, and John says it is kind of hard to forget that your wife is pregnant. Laura rolls her eyes at this, and tells him he needs to get out of this room, and get his own food instead of having his wife do it for him. John realizes he’s been acting like a child, and tells Laura that he’ll get his own food from now on. Laura smiles, and says they’re going to be having a family dinner tonight. John protests, but Laura won’t have it. She says she hasn’t had a family dinner since John left as a kid, and they’re going to have one if it kills her. John sighs, and says he’ll be there. Laura leaves satisfied.

Laura then goes to speak with Megan in the kitchen, and she begins complaining that John and Robert are keeping up their feud, despite having to spend the three months in the house together. Laura says she’s always wished they could spend time together, like an actual family. Megan agrees, saying it’s ridiculous. However, she comes up with a new idea: they need to start leaving John and Robert home alone so they can resolve their own problems. Laura agrees with this, and says she will take her shopping for maternity clothes later tonight. Matt walks into the kitchen, overhearing their plan. He points out that he will be home, and Megan asks Matt if he’d like to go shopping with them. Matt is hesitant for a second, but then decides to go ahead with it. Laura asks Matt if he knows how to cook, and Matt says that he loved cooking class when he was younger, and when he lived with Tyler, he cooked all the meals. Laura smiles at this, and the two get to cooking as Megan heads into the family room. Robert is sitting in an armchair, watching the pregame show for the second game of the World Series. Megan starts talking to him one-on-one for what is essentially the first time ever. She asks him what he likes to watch, and Robert answers that any sport is fine by him. Megan looks at the game, and asks Robert who he’s rooting for. Robert comments it’s not that he’s rooting for the Mets; he’s rooting against the Yankees. Besides, the Yankees won last night, he points out, and he prefers when the series takes the full seven games. Megan laughs at this, and comments how she remembers watching the Angels with her father when she was younger. Robert smiles at her, saying that one of his fondest memories of Tyler was his playing on the high school baseball team. Megan tells him that based off what John has told her, Tyler seemed like a great guy. Robert gives out a long sigh, and says that John was lucky to find such a considerate wife. Megan winks, and says she was lucky to marry a man with such a nice father-in-law. Robert sighs at this, and they watch the pregame together.

John is typing furiously on his laptop, editing a major story, when there is a knock at the door. It is Matt, who is here to report that dinner is served. John goes to the table, seeing it is Mexican night. Laura smiles, saying Matt makes an excellent enchilada. John smiles, saying he knows Matt is a good cook. John looks at the two fridges next to each other, and sighs in annoyance. He goes to grab a Coke from one, but he accidentally opens the one with Tyler’s corpse in it. He blinks in shock at it for a few seconds, and Laura rushes up to close it and grab John a Coke from the other, useful, fridge. John thanks his mother, and declares that he can eat dinner now. However, only Matt, John, and Laura are in the dining room, and Laura calls for Robert. Megan responds for the both of them, saying to wait after the ending of the first inning. John sighs, realizing his wife has warmed up to Robert. Laura says they’ll wait for them, and she brings out some bean dip and salsa. They shoot the breeze, and Laura asks Matt if he’s always been a good cook. Matt shrugs, and says that he didn’t really know he was that great a cook. John is begins to stay something when suddenly, Robert storms in, grabs a plate with an enchilada already on it, and then heads back out. Laura is confused, when Megan walks in and does the exact same thing. John asks Megan what’s going on, and Megan says this game is great; and is really exciting so they can’t miss a bit of it. Laura glares at Megan, and says that she was planning on taking Megan shopping tonight. Megan’s face goes pale, and she says that that sounds right. John asks if he can come along, but Megan says no, Matt’s driving them, and there’s not enough room for him. John finds this explanation sketchy, but he takes it anyway. Megan says they’ll leave after the second inning, leaving John enough time to eat his enchilada with Matt and Laura before heading back into his room.

John goes back to typing his story when Megan comes in, and tells him she is leaving, and that he should go watch the game with Robert. John snorts at this, but Megan closes his laptop on him, and asks him to please do it, for her. John sighs, and is about to argue when Matt yells for Megan. Megan gives him a glare, as she heads out. John continues working on his story for a minute, but then hears his dad scream at the TV. He sighs, and closes down the laptop. John goes outside of his room, and sits down on the couch next to Robert. Robert looks at him in surprise, and they sit together in silence. John asks who’s playing, and Robert answers that it’s the Yankees against the Mets. John smiles, saying he remembers when he played Mr. Applegate in Damn Yankees. Robert looks at him confused, and John says never mind. Robert asks how life’s been treating him, and John says that he runs a pretty big website. Robert says he never really learned how to use a computer, and John says he can teach him if he wants. Robert grunts, and says maybe after the game. John watches the game, trying hard to be interested in it but failing. Nevertheless, he watches the game with Robert, who doesn’t mind spending time with his son.

Meanwhile, Laura, Matt, and Megan arrive at a local department store. Laura takes Megan to the maternity section. Megan begins trying on a whole lot of clothes, as Laura finds it increasingly more enjoyable. Matt asks if he can leave the maternity section and get himself some new pants. Laura doesn’t mind that, and he heads off. However, this being an independent department store, he can’t find the men’s section. He finds a sales representative, and asks him to take him there. The sales representative introduces himself as Alex Katzmarek, and he takes Matt to the men’s department. Matt thanks Alex, but Alex won’t leave. Alex asks Matt if there’s anything else he would like, and Matt says he’d like some advice on the clothes. Alex says awkwardly that’s not really his area of expertise and Matt apologizes. Alex begins to walk away, but then stops, and tells Matt that he’ll give his advice. Matt is surprised by this, but says nothing about it. Matt tries on some pants, and then asks Alex how they look. Alex says they look really nice and fit Matt well. Alex looks around awkwardly, and excuse himself once again. Matt asks him what’s wrong, and Alex says it may be awkward, but he finds Matt to be really cute. Matt is struck by this comment, but not in a bad way. Matt asks Alex if he is gay. Alex says yes, although he is ashamed by this. Alex says he has been completely unprofessional, and he apologizes for this. Matt says it’s fine; he thinks Alex is kind of cute too. Matt asks Alex if he’d like his number. Alex says he’ll take it, and Matt writes out his number for Alex. Alex says he doesn’t have any plans for Friday, if Matt’s available, and Matt smiles, saying sure, it’ll be a good time. Alex leaves and Matt heads back to Megan and Laura. During this time, Megan and Laura have bonding together through all the trying on of clothes. Laura asks if this is what having a daughter feels like, and Megan says she doesn’t know what having a mother feels like either. They laugh, and Laura is momentarily saddened by the fact she hadn’t met Megan sooner. However, her sadness is removed once she finds a cute top for Megan to try on. Three outfits later, they are done shopping when Matt arrives. They go to check out the clothes, and head back home at around 11PM.

Matt knocks on the front door of the house, and there is no answer. Laura opens the door with her key, and finds that both Robert and John are fast asleep on the couch. The TV blares that the Yankees won again. Megan groans at this result, but John and Robert are fast asleep on the couch. Matt tries to wake them up, but they won’t move. Megan and Laura laugh at this, but Matt is annoyed, saying he has nowhere to sleep tonight. Laura says there’s an inflatable mattress in her closet, and Matt can use it for the night. He gets out, and he lays down to go to bed. We jump ahead a few days via montage, seeing that John gets more and more involved with watching the World Series every night, and everyone is watching it: John, Matt, Laura, Megan, and Robert. However, John still refuses to sit next to Robert. Meanwhile, Matt is getting ready for his big date. We arrive day of the Matt’s date, DAY 23. We see Matt getting ready for the date, as Laura and Megan making dishes in the kitchen. The record for the World Series is now Yankees three games and Mets two games. Robert is panicking over the fact that the Mets have to win, since he freaking hates the Yankees. John is finishing up his workday in preparation for the day when Matt walks in his room, being sure to close the door behind him. John asks Matt what’s up, and Matt says he has a date tonight with someone he met at the department store. John looks at him for a second in shock. Matt says that he knows it probably wasn’t the best choice, but John interrupts, saying that he warned Matt about this. Robert cannot find out Matt and Tyler were boyfriends, it would crush him utterly. Matt says it’s stupid that Robert is a homophobe, and John agrees with him. However, if Robert was to find out his beloved Tyler was gay, he would probably go insane and try to kill Matt. Matt laughs this off, saying that John is exaggerating. John says fine, he is, but still, Matt would probably get kicked out of the house for that. Matt says that can’t happen. Tyler was the one who owned their place back in Nashville, and Matt is effectively homeless now that Tyler passed on. Matt says he’s still going on his date, and John needs to cover for him. John sighs in frustration, but agrees to it.

Matt drives to his date’s house to pick him up. Alex gets in the car, and asks where they’re going. Matt says that Ben Affleck just came out with a new movie, and he asks Alex if he likes Affleck. Alex says he finds him a crappy actor, but likes him as a director. Matt says he doesn’t think Affleck acts in this movie, so they should be good. First though, they go to dinner at a Texas Roadhouse. Alex asks Matt what brought him to Fort Wayne, and Matt says it’s kind of weird. Alex demands to just be told, and Matt explains the ordeal he’s been going through. Matt says that his boyfriend died a month ago and his will had this stipulation that he has to live with his boyfriend’s family for three months or else nothing comes from the estate. Alex looks at him, and says that is the single most bizarre thing he’s ever heard. Matt says he won’t blame him if he doesn’t believe him, but Alex says it sounds legitimate. Matt smiles at this, and they continue talking to each other about how the day is and about each other’s lives. Matt says he likes to cook, and Alex says he likes to act in community theater. Matt looks at Alex, and then begins to feel guilty. He tells Alex this was a bad idea; it’s much too soon after Tyler dying to even consider finding someone else. Alex tries to reassure Matt, and he tells him that Tyler would’ve wanted him to move on, and that he should move on. Matt asks Tyler how he knows that, and Alex points out that Tyler wanted his family to live together in the same house so they could fix their problems and live a happy life, right? Matt doesn’t understand, but Alex continues, saying that if Tyler kept mourning after him, he wouldn't be happy, would he? Matt sees what he’s saying, and he smiles at Alex, thanking him for all the reassurance. Alex says it’s no problem. Eventually, the dinner ends, and they head off to see the Ben Affleck movie.

Meanwhile, back at the house, Laura asks John where Matt is. John says that Matt was off seeing a movie with someone he met from the department store. Megan finds this weird, but Robert says that he is hungry, interrupting her suspicions. Laura and Megan bring out chips, dip, and some pizza. All four of them watch the game excitedly, even though Laura couldn’t care less. It’s a very close game, with the Mets leading in the sixth inning. However, Megan’s phone rings. She sees that is her father, Will, and she excuses herself to have the conversation in her room. Will asks Megan how the corpse in the fridge experience has been. Megan says there’s been a few hiccups as it’s gone along, but it seems like John is finally starting to love his father. Will says that’s good and then asks how the baby seems to be doing. Megan says it feels fine to her, and she and John have been getting really excited for the birth. Will says that’s wonderful, and he has a surprise for her: he will be flying into O’Hare to stay with her for the rest of her pregnancy. Megan looks around at the already sparse lodging, and tells her father that’s unnecessary, as much as she loves him. Will is dejected by this, telling Megan that he loves her, and he needs to be there for the birth of his first grandchild. Megan is torn, and asks him to hold on for a second. She puts Will on hold as she goes out to ask John, Robert, and Laura about it. Robert nods his head yes, although he isn’t paying attention. John says he’s fine with that, but Laura asks where he will stay. Megan says that’s what she was thinking. However, Robert points out the inflatable mattress Matt did not put away from a few nights ago. Laura says that would be fine for Megan’s father to sleep in. Megan goes back into her room to relay this news to Will, who overjoyed that he can be with his daughter during this important time in her life. The call wraps out, and Megan goes out to watch the rest of the game.

Cut to outside of the movie theater. Matt and Alex are leaving the theater, talking about the movie. Alex says the movie was intense, and Matt says he thought Naomi Watts was phenomenal in the film. Alex agrees, and he says that Bradley Cooper jumped to the top of his favorite actor list after that movie. Matt drives Alex back home, and Alex asks if they can do this again sometime. They set up another date for the next week. Matt smiles, truly happy for the first time since Tyler’s death. He pulls into the Myers household, and knocks on the door. Laura answers it, but screams of agony from John, Megan, and most notably, Robert can be heard. Matt asks what happened, and Robert screams that the damned Yankees won the World Series. Matt sighs in relief, worried something bad had happened. Laura says that Robert should just sleep it off. Robert agrees, and says good night to Megan and Matt. Then, he turns to John and gives him a nod. John smiles at this acknowledgement. However, Megan gives Laura a look, and she gives her a nod in response. Megan and John go off to bed as Matt gets the couch ready for his falling asleep.

However, Laura isn’t willing to let Robert fall asleep. She says they need to talk. Now. Robert says he needs to sleep off the Yankees winning, but Laura won’t take this. She tells him that John has actively been trying to work on their relationship, and a simple nod won’t do for the last four games of bonding they spent together. Robert shrugs and says he hasn’t been ignoring John. Laura says that’s not tolerable; John hates sports, and he spent approximately twelve hours this week watching them just to be with Robert. Robert says he’ll start trying to be treating John with more respect. Laura says that’s not enough; he needs to begin treating John like a son. Robert won’t take that, and he insists that his only son died a month ago. Laura begins crying, and Robert is hurt by his wife’s display of emotion. Robert tells her he’ll begin doing things John likes to do, although he still won’t treat him like a son. Laura stops crying and says that will be fine... for now, but she hopes he realizes John is his son soon. Robert looks away from Laura to roll his eyes at this. They then both go to bed.

The days pass by quickly in yet another montage. We see Megan go to a check-up where we see that the baby is fine. John and Robert are growing closer, but still aren’t in a good father-son relationship. We see the growing closer when Robert goes to a movie with John and John watches a football game with his dad on TV. Laura smiles at all of this progress. Matt and Alex’s relationship through more dates, and Matt tries to hide it from Robert nonstop. We go through about two dates with them, and we see on the third one, they go to the movies... the same time as John and Robert. Matt changes the movie at the last second just so they don’t have an accidental encounter with the two of them. Alex thinks this is weird, but he shrugs it off. We see that date wrap up, and we see the day after the movie, John gets into an argument with Robert over how to prepare the perfect omelet. Robert refuses to say that a cheese omelet is worth it, whereas John says cheese omelets are the only omelets that are good. Laura comes in, and facilitates the argument, telling Robert and John she’ll just make two omelets. John looks away from Robert, but Robert apologizes for making such a big deal out of it. John smiles at his father, seeing the relationship is clearly becoming better. A few days later, on their next date, Alex kisses Matt. Finally, the montage ends at the breakfast table on DAY 42. Laura smiles, saying that this will make up for what happened a while ago. John asks what she means, and she explains that they were never able to go on the anniversary dinner thanks to Tyler’s passing. Robert says that’s too bad, but Megan says they have a surprise. Laura says they’ll be going out to a fancy restaurant tonight called Stablearrow’s. Robert says that he doesn’t feel like they should be going, but Laura says they haven’t eaten out in over a month, and it’s high time they take out John and Megan. Robert says fine, but Matt asks about what he’ll have for dinner. Laura awkwardly says she only reserved a table for four, but Matt says it’s fine; he’ll just make his own dinner at home. The day passes as John, Megan, Robert, and Laura get ready for their first fancy dinner in quite sometime. Meanwhile, Matt calls up Alex and tells him that he wants to spend the evening with him, and cook him a meal. Alex says he’s free and will be over at 6.

At 5:30, John begins driving Megan, Laura, and Robert to Stablearrow’s. They arrive, and awkwardly wait for a bit. Robert, being ever so impatient, asks for a menu to read so they can order as soon as they’re seated. Meanwhile, Alex arrives early at the house, and Matt is excited to show off his cooking skills. However, thanks to Alex arriving early, the food is not ready. Matt shows Alex to the main room, and Alex turns on the TV and watches some of the news while Matt continues cooking. Alex gets up to grab a Coke, but accidentally opens the freezer with Tyler’s corpse. He screams in terror, and Matt runs to slam the door. Alex says that he didn’t really believe the story until he saw the corpse. Matt says that he knows seeing a dead body in the freezer can be a surprise. Back at the restaurant, the four Myers are seated. However, no one shows up to take their order. Robert gets annoyed, and starts eating all the rolls. Laura tells him to be patient, but Robert replies that this is why he never goes to fancy restaurants. Megan smiles, saying John is the same way. John just says it’s different in California where there are In-and-Out Burgers compared to Indiana, where there’s just McDonald’s. Megan shrugs.

Back at home, Matt finishes making his taco pie. Alex asks Matt if he specializes in any type of food. Matt says without hesitation that he knows how to make Mexican food. They eat together with candles lit around them, a special touch Matt added. Afterwards, Alex says he’s ready to do what he came to do. Matt smiles, grabs some ice cream, and drops in a DVD of By the Balls. Alex dims the lights. Cut away to the restaurant, where the waiter finally shows up to take their order. Laura starts to complain that she reserved a 6:00 table, but it is 7:00 and they finally are getting their orders taken. The waiter apologizes and takes their orders. Thankfully, the wait for the food isn’t nearly as long as the wait for the service, but there is a catch to the food. When serving the food, the waiter says to John, “And for the cutest I’ve seen all day, his cheese manicotti.” Megan laughs at this, and John blushes. However, Robert won’t take it. “Excuse me?” he asks the waiter. Laura tells him to calm down, but Robert asks if the waiter is hitting on John. John tells Robert to let it go, but Robert repeats the question to the waiter. The waiter asks what’s so bad about it. John tells Robert to stop it, he’s embarrassing him. Robert points out, that for one, John is married, but more importantly, John is a guy. Robert tells the waiter to go hit on some girls, and Laura looks away in embarrassment. The entire restaurant is looking at them. The waiter tells Robert if he has a problem, to go report it to management. Robert loses his temper and he stands up and grabs the waiter by the shirt in the face, telling the waiter not to treat “his son” that way. John says coldly, “Oh, now, I’m your son?” Robert, struck by this utterance, sits down quietly, and looks down at the floor. Despite the terrible happenings, Laura smiles at Robert calling John his son.

 Cut back to the house. The doorbell rings. Matt gets off of Alex, and tells Alex to get his pants on. As Alex gets his pants on, the doorbell rings again and Matt begins panicking since he lost track of time. He takes Alex into the guest bedroom, and hides him in John and Megan’s closet. He then goes to get the door, finding a police officer standing there with Laura, Robert, John, and Megan. The police officer explains that these people were in an issue at a local restaurant, and he was just making sure they got home safely. Matt asks what happened, and Robert mutters that the stupid waiter called the cops on them for “disturbing the peace, what a bullshit charge.” Laura hushes Robert and thanks the officer for not involving the courts, and to come in for some ice cream, her treat. The officer says he doesn’t take bribes, but Laura insists it’s fine. Megan goes to get the ice cream with Laura and the police officer, and Robert sneaks off to bed, embarrassed. John heads into his bedroom as Matt goes to keep John away from Alex. However, John wants to put away his coat, but Matt blocks him from the closet. John rolls his eyes, and asks Matt what he is hiding. In the kitchen, the officer is enjoying his ice cream, and Megan goes to put it away. Unfortunately, she is distracted and accidentally opens Tyler’s freezer. She screams in shock, and the officer sees Tyler’s corpse. The officer promptly leaves, saying he’s going to investigate this. Laura tells him not to bother; the body permit is on file at Town Hall. The officer leaves as Alex gets out of the closet, and John looks at him in shock. Matt introduces Alex, and then Alex jumps out the window. John tells Matt that his father just beat up a waiter for hitting on him; Matt can’t keep up this relationship if he wants to survive this house. Matt tells John just to trust him; he knows what he is doing. John frowns, and tells Matt to leave; he and Megan are going to bed. In the master bedroom, Robert is already half-asleep, but Laura tells him that she is proud of him calling John his son. Robert mutters that it was instinctive, and Laura kisses him.

A week passes as the Myers and Matt get ready for the arrival of Will. Matt stacks up on food, while Robert and John put up a Christmas tree, although it hasn’t even been Thanksgiving yet. Robert demands it up though, so up goes the tree. Laura gets Megan ready for the arrival of her father, and Megan says not to worry, she has a great relationship with her father. Laura smiles at this, and we arrive on DAY 49. Matt and John drive out to O’Hare to pick up Will, who has flown in from Seattle. Will gives John a big hug while Matt awkwardly stares on. Seeing Matt is left out, Will gives Matt a hug too, much to Matt’s chagrin. They drive back to Fort Wayne, with John driving. Matt receives a call from Alex on the ride back to Fort Wayne, who invites him to opening night of a show he’s been working on for the Fort Wayne community theater. Matt accepts Alex’s free ticket over the phone. When they arrive at the house, there is a nice dinner that, of course, Matt made. It’s a huge Mexican style meal, with steak fajitas. Laura asks Will what he does for a living. Will replies that he’s retired, much like Laura and Robert. Laura apologizes for the question, but Will says there’s no problem. Robert asks Will what he likes to do. Will says he’s a huge fan of baseball, which Robert smiles at. Robert asks Will what he thought of the World Series, and Will grimaces, still pissed off over the Yankees winning. Robert turns to Megan, and tells her her dad is awesome. Megan smiles at this, and Laura does too, realizing she’s finally getting her family dinner. Laura has a surprise for Robert and John later, and she’s pleased that everything is going her way for once.

The night passes, and the family plus Matt watch Field of Dreams on TV for a nice family night. When the movie finishes, Will comments that he always thought the ending of the movie was cheesy. John asks why, but Matt agrees with Will, saying the ending is stupid. Robert turns to Laura, and asks her not to say what Matt and Will are idiotically saying, and John repeats the sentiment to Megan. Megan and Laura look at each other, and Laura tries to gently say she doesn’t like the ending either, but Megan bluntly says the ending is one of the worst movie endings ever. John and Robert are outraged, and begin arguing, for different reasons why the ending is great. John says that the ending perfectly resolves Ray’s arc, while Robert says that the ending perfectly follows the spirit of baseball. Megan puts her hands up, and Laura says it’s stupid to argue over. John and Robert begin to speak again, but Matt says he’s tired, and he wants to go to bed. John and Robert give up, and then they place the inflatable mattress in front of the TV and the couch for Will to sleep on. Will apologizes to Matt, saying that he snores. Matt says he can sleep through anything, and Will smiles at that. Later, in bed, Laura tells Robert her surprise. She bought two tickets for the opening night of a local community theater’s production of Damn Yankees next week. Robert groans at this, and he calls theater a “place for gay people.” Laura groans, telling him that his attitude towards gay people is the one thing she doesn’t love about him. Robert tells her that it’s unnatural, but Laura says she doesn’t want to have this argument now. She does point out that John, who did theater in high school, is married to a woman who is a month and a half away from childbirth, so clearly his stereotype is incorrect. Robert mutters, annoyed at this, and Laura brings up that the show is about hating the Yankees. Robert is amused by this, and says maybe it won’t be terrible. Laura kisses Robert, thanking him for giving the play a chance. Robert says it’s no problem.

Another week passes with Will never leaving the house. John is told about the night out with Robert, and he is excited for it, much to his own surprise. Matt is also excited for seeing Alex perform for the first time. Will bonds with Laura and Robert, who both find Will delightful. However, the beginning of the end is about to arrive as the dawn of DAY 56 arrives. Matt texts Alex, realizing something really stupid: he never asked what play Alex is in. Alex texts back, saying he is playing Joe Hardy in Damn Yankees. Matt realizes in shock this means he’s going to be with Alex in a place where Robert could see him. Matt tries to ask if he can go tomorrow night instead, but Alex says that his other free seats are taken, and he really wanted someone there on the opening night. Matt apologizes, and says him staying for the show should be fine. However, when John wakes up, Matt pulls him into the master bathroom to talk him in private. John asks what’s up, and Matt says he’s seeing Damn Yankees tonight as well. John asks why, and Matt answers that his boyfriend - the one that jumped out the window - is the lead, and he needs to be there for opening night. John says he can’t go, but Matt promises he’ll avoid John and Robert. John shakes his head at Matt, saying he hopes nothing goes wrong. Matt asks John if John would stick up for Matt, and John says of course he would. Matt is relieved at this.

The day goes by slowly, and Will says he wants to get out of the house for once. Laura and Megan then plan a night out with Will, planning on seeing a movie after a dinner at a steakhouse. They ask Matt if he’d like to tag along, but Matt says he made plans with a friend. Megan looks at him weirdly but says nothing. Matt leaves the house early, to hang out with Alex backstage before the show. Robert and John plan the day, excitedly. Robert still is slightly apprehensive of going to his first ever theatrical production, but John says that he’ll love it. John reminds Robert that he was actually in Damn Yankees in high school, and Robert apologizes for being unable to make it. John smiles, realizing this is the first time his father has ever apologized to him. Night arrives, and John drives Robert to the show. Will, Megan, and Laura get ready to leave, but find that there is no car available. Will frowns, but Megan says they can still have fun here. Laura orders in some Chinese food, while Megan looks for a DVD they can watch. Will finds Matt’s copy of By the Balls, and he comments that he’s never seen this movie. Megan hasn’t either, along with Laura, so they decide to watch with their food.

At the theater after being seated, John tries to look for Matt without Robert seeing it. He sees that Matt is up in the very front row of the small theater. The production begins and Alex owns the role, completely convincing as Joe Hardy. John finds the production boring though, and he quietly sings along to a few of the songs. Matt is overwhelmed with emotions throughout the show, loving Alex and his performance. Robert is the most enraptured though, completely becoming involved with the story and loving the entire production. At the end, he jumps up to begin the standing ovation, and everyone agrees with him. As Matt goes to meet Alex at the front of the stage, John is eager to get out of the theater to avoid Robert from seeing Matt, but Robert says he wants to compliment the leads. As Robert goes to get in a line, John, panicking, calls Matt’s cell phone. Matt answers, and John says he needs to leave now. Matt understands, seeing Robert enter the line to speak to Alex. Matt tells Alex he’ll be right back; he needs to use the restroom. Robert reaches the front of the line within five minutes, and he compliments Alex, saying he always thought theater was a gay place, but this show convinced otherwise. Alex is offended, but remembers reading something in the paper a while ago about a crazy old man who attacked a homosexual waiter at a fancy restaurant in the area. Alex decides not to take any chances, and smiles at Robert, who leaves promptly after another compliment towards Alex. Matt walks up to Alex, and apologizes, saying that Robert is the man he has to live with for a long time. Alex rolls his eyes, apologizing for Matt having to live with that crazy man. Matt says he’s thinking of coming out to his family, but he’d be homeless otherwise. Alex says Matt can live with him if he wants to, and Matt says he’ll think about it. 

By the Balls ends and Laura, Megan, and Will stare at the TV in shock. They cannot believe what they just watched. Conveniently though, the doorbell rings in the middle of the credits. John and Robert have returned from the play. Laura asks them how it was as Megan and Will are still in shock from the film. John says it was okay, but Robert starts going on about how great it was. Megan says that that’s great to hear, and Laura agrees with her. Will asks if they’ve seen this movie, and John says that it must be Matt’s copy. Will says he didn’t like it, but Megan thought it was interesting. As Will goes off to get some Coke from the fridge, Laura says that she’s happy the two of them had a fun time, and it’s great that the last month and a half of this experience will be smooth sailing from now. Robert puts his hand on John’s shoulder and tells him that he hasn’t always been there for him, but from now, he isn’t missing a thing John does. The moment is ruined by Will screaming in terror, having accidentally opened Tyler’s fridge. Laura goes to help, as John smiles and quietly thanks Tyler. Everyone heads off to bed, and Matt arrives late, conflicted over what he should do with Alex and Robert’s homophobia.

Yet another week and a few days go by, and Matt begins hanging more and more often with Alex. He ultimately decides to reveal to the family what is going on. DAY 66. It is a family dinner that Matt cooked. Matt has an announcement to make: he will be having a good friend over that night, Alex. John nearly does a spit take at this and asks Matt to speak to him in private. Matt follows John into his room as John locks the door behind him. Matt starts to speak, but John interrupts, saying he knows Matt is in love with Alex, but he can’t tell Robert that. Matt says that it’s ridiculous that he has to hide himself in this house, and Alex offered him lodging for the remaining twenty-four days. John says he needs Matt to stick around, since Megan is due in three weeks, and Matt has become John’s best friend in the past two months. Matt apologizes, saying that the truth about him, Tyler, and Alex is coming out tonight. John points out that they need Matt to continue living with them to finish up the last month, and Matt says he went to Town Hall to take another look at the will, and he discovered a loophole. All that matters is that Matt stays the night at the house. During the day, he can go live with Alex. John sighs, and says he hopes Matt knows what he is doing. The doorbell rings, and Will gets it.

Alex is at the door. Will is confused, and he tells Alex he’s never seen him. Alex says he’s aware; he’s Matt’s friend. Will accepts this and lets Alex in. Matt leaves the room with John following him, and Matt hugs Alex. Megan shoots another suspicious look at John, and John sheepishly looks away. Robert walks in, and sees Alex, recognizing him from the play. Robert asks if this is Alex’s friend, and why didn’t he tell them. Laura, holding a plate with chips on it, looks concerned and asks Matt who this is. Matt begins to explain that Alex is his... boyfriend. Laura drops the plate in shock, but John grabs it. Robert, in shock, asks if this is true. Alex says yes, and he kisses Matt. Megan mutters that she knew it, as Robert begins become enraged. Will excuses himself, saying he needs to use the restroom. Robert asks Matt if it’s always been this way. Matt says yes, and he and Tyler were more than just roommates. Megan gasps as Laura goes to Robert to try to calm him down, but Robert won’t have it. “You’re telling me my son was a fucking queer?” he asks Matt. Matt doesn’t answer. Robert begins screaming at Matt, telling him to leave his house, and he’s lying about Tyler. Alex steps up and ensures Robert that Tyler and Matt did have a thing. Robert won’t take this, and he leaves the room in disgust. Laura follows after Robert as Matt turns to John, saying that went over surprisingly well. John attempts to laugh at this, while Megan looks them disgusted, saying that this changes everything. John asks his wife if she’s saying what he thinks she’s saying. Megan says that she’s not a homophobe, but there’s no way Robert is going to let Matt stay for the next twenty-four days. Alex says not to worry, they have it worked out. He then shakes Megan’s hand, and Megan, though still concerned, buys it. 

In the room, Laura is dealing with Robert’s near mental breakdown. Robert says that he wants Matt out of the house. Laura says he knows they can’t do that, for Tyler. Robert turns to her in anger, saying who gives a shit about Tyler. He was gay, which means he’s as good as never being their son. Laura says that two months ago, he was saying John wasn’t their son; now, he’s saying that Tyler wasn’t their son. Robert says that it’s different; John ended up married with a kid on the way in two weeks. Laura tells him he needs to calm down. Robert says Matt can go screw himself and leave Fort Wayne and his house. Will comes out of the bathroom, cutting the tension and running out of the room, seeing it’s an awkward moment. Laura tells him Matt needs to stay for twenty-four days at least. They’ve made it this far; there’s no way they’re stopping now. Robert growls, saying they can, and will. Laura stands up to him, saying Matt will continue staying at their house, and Robert’s going to have to deal with it. Robert says he will not leave his room as long as Matt is here. Laura says she guesses that’s the way it’s going to have to be.

 Alex and Matt move the inflatable mattress to Megan and John’s room, and says he hopes they don’t mind it. Megan says it’s fine, as long as he doesn’t snore. Matt says that’s Will, not him. Alex gives Matt a goodbye kiss, and he leaves. The next day arrives, and Matt leaves to spend the day with Alex. John goes to tell Robert this, and Robert leaves his room. Robert puts his hand on John’s shoulder, and tells him he appreciates John is sane. John smiles at this compliment, but then realizes the somewhat sinister underlines. John goes to bed; however, while Megan falls asleep quickly, John tosses and turns for hours on end. Finally, he gets up, and goes to the kitchen. He pulls up a chair to the fridges, and then On purpose, he opens Tyler’s fridge. John, although feeling awkward, begins speaking to Tyler, saying that this whole three-month funeral thing saved his relationship with Robert, but it retroactively ruined Tyler’s relationship with Robert. John apologizes to Tyler, saying he saved his family relationships, but he feels terrible for ruining Robert’s image of Tyler. Not only that, John says that he knows Matt is a great guy, and John feels awful that both of their images are ruined for Robert, who ended up being a nice guy. John says he’s going to fix this before their time together is up, and he will get Robert to forgive Matt.

 As John closes the fridge, we go into the final montage of the film, one that elapses two weeks. John begins planning with Megan, Laura, and Will about how they’re going to get rid of Robert’s homophobia. Laura says that it will be hard, maybe even impossible. Megan says nothing is impossible, and Will says that’s how he raised his daughter: to believe everything is possible. John smiles, and lays out his plan, which we do not hear. We see Robert drowning his silent sorrows on ESPN, but also spending quite a bit of time with John, to make up for him “choosing the wrong son.” Thanksgiving goes by, with the five eating together, and we also see Alex and Matt have a much smaller Thanksgiving. Matt arrives and leaves the house several times, showing the passage of time. Matt begins fixing up Alex’s place, making it look quite fancy. Finally, the montage ends as DAY 80 arrives.

Laura tells Robert that they’re going out for dinner. Robert doesn’t want to go, but Laura insists, since he hasn’t left the house in the past two weeks. Robert agrees, although he is very begrudged towards it. As Laura drives off with Robert alone, we see that Matt has already picked up Will, Megan, and John and taken them to Alex’s house, which has a small sign in front of now saying “Menudo Deliciosa.” Alex and Matt have remade Alex’s front room to be a dining room for a Mexican restaurant. Matt drives off to pick up people who they’ve hired to be other people in the restaurant. He picks up Jake, some of Alex’s friends from Damn Yankees, the waiter from Stablearrow’s, the town hall secretary, the fridge salesman, and the police officer. After John pays them money, they all begin eating enchiladas at separate tables. There is still one table available with two seats.

 

Laura arrives with Robert, saying that she wanted to try this new Mexican place. Robert refuses to go in, and Laura asks why. Robert says he’s not an idiot, and he knows this isn’t an actual restaurant. Laura says that she doesn’t know what he’s talking about, and Robert says he knows this is Alex’s place and they’re going to try to convince him that homosexuals aren’t evil, but he knows that they’re wrong. Laura drives away from Alex’s house and begins talking to Robert. Laura says that she knows Robert hates gays, but why. Robert says they aren’t natural, but Laura once again asks why. Robert doesn’t have an answer. Laura pulls over the car and begins speaking to Robert, and tells him not to interrupt:

“Look, I know you don’t like gay people. It’s painfully obvious. I’m not asking you to love gay people; I am asking you to love our family. You loved Tyler his entire life, and now you’re going to stop just because he doesn’t agree with your viewpoint on the world? News flash, Robert, I don’t agree with you on everything; no one agrees with anyone on everything. Look at John. You refused to consider him your son for so long, but once you gave him a chance, you realized you loved him. You may hate to say it, but Matt has become our family in these last few months too. Look at the trouble he’s going through to get you to accept him again. Sorry, honey, but if you don’t think that Tyler loved you just because he was gay, you’re sorely mistaken. You loved Tyler before you knew he was gay; I remember you saying multiple times that Tyler was a great boy and that you loved him more than you loved anyone else in the world besides me. Remember that? Now, you may think you were the only one to gain a son in the last few months, but Matt’s become our son too. Now, we are going to the restaurant so our ‘son’ has a chance to win you back over, just like John.”

Laura waits for a response from Robert, and Robert turns to her, saying he understands finally, at least he think he does. He’s ready to go to the restaurant. Laura smiles in relief, as a single teardrop falls from her eyes. They drive back to Alex’s house and enter it, and Robert looks in awe at all the people Matt and John recruited just to convince him that Matt is an all right guy. They are served dinner by Alex, who smiles at Robert. Robert smiles back, still shocked at what’s going on. They eat dinner, which is some nice tamales. At the end of the meal, Matt comes out of the kitchen, who Robert gives a hug, telling him he accepts him and Tyler for who they are and were. John and Megan smile at this, and Will walks out, saying that the food is delicious; Matt should seriously consider opening his own restaurant. A few of the “patrons” agree, saying that if this restaurant was an actual restaurant, they’d go to it once a week. Matt smiles at the compliments, and then drives home with John, Megan, and Will. Robert smiles, saying that Matt and Alex are always welcome in his house now. Matt smiles at this.

 DAY 88. It’s just a typical day, and Alex is hanging out with Matt, Will, and the Myer family when suddenly, Megan’s water breaks. The next few hours are a blur as we see her rushed to the hospital, and John waits around nervously with the rest of the family, occasionally being called in to help Megan with the pain. Finally, on DAY 88... DAY 2, John is invited in to see his new daughter in Megan’s arms. Megan says she’s already decided a first name and John can come with the middle name. John does another idea, and they name her Willow Tilda Myers. A week passes with Megan still in the hospital for recovery, keeping the last days of the commitment on hold. On DAY 88... DAY 8, Megan returns to spend the last three nights in the house with Willow, John, Robert, Laura, Will, Matt, and even Alex.

 

DAY 90. It is 11:59PM. We see it slowly change to 12:00AM, and we see that everyone has stayed up, excited to see the end of the three months. It is December 23. As Robert makes the call to finally arrange the funeral, he finds that they can have the service on December 26. Some arrive, and they move out Tyler’s body to stay at the funeral home. The entire family sticks around the house, and DAY 91 appears on the screen. The Christmas Eve dinner occurs, with Matt’s fantastic cooking making it one of the best Christmas dinner ever. John raises a toast to Tyler, saying that without him, he would be a lost man without a family still, but the last three months allowed him to realize how great his family truly is. Matt adds onto the toast, saying that Tyler is the best friend he’s ever had, and without this whole three-month funeral thing, he would’ve never met Alex, and never realized just how much he truly loved Tyler. Robert finishes off the toast, saying that three months ago, he refused to acknowledge John as his son. Tyler was his only offspring three months ago, but now, now John is his son and Megan is his daughter-in-law. Even Matt has become family, despite some major differences. Over the past three months, Robert has learned a lot of things, including finally learning how to love. Laura begins silently crying at this; her dreams of having a loving family have finally been realized.

 The next day is Christmas, and it’s honestly the best Christmas any of them have ever had. The wake and funeral soon follow, and we hear John speak at the funeral about how before the last three months, he utterly hated his family, but now, he loves them all, even those who he didn’t know were in his family. After Tyler is finally laid to rest, we see the aftermath the entire experience. Alex and Matt moved into together full-time, and Matt is using the money he received from Tyler’s estate to open up an actual Mexican restaurant. Robert and Laura are still deeply in love, and have no plan of leaving Fort Wayne. John and Megan moved back to Los Angeles with Willow, but after half a year, Megan quit her job to become a homemaker and they, along with Megan’s dad, moved back to Fort Wayne so that way Willow could see her grandparents growing up. The film ends on a shot of Willow’s eight-month celebration, with Robert, Laura, John, Megan, Alex, Matt, and Will smiling around her. THE END.

 

 

 

Edited March 18, 2019 by Blankments

[SLAM!]

OF PAGANS AND PAUPERS

 

Studio: New Journey Pictures Classics

Director: Andrea Arnold

Release Date: November 12th, Y5

Genre: Drama

Major Cast: Barry Keoghan, Harry Styles, Raffey Cassidy, Mark Rylance, and Helena Bonham Carter

Theater Count: 1,845

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for Thematic Elements and A Brief Argument

Runtime: 83 Minutes

Production Budget: $7.5 Million

Plot Summary: A young pauper in early 1900s Britain has a defining life experience when he when he meets a young man who dances in the hills.

 

Spoiler

Eadric (Barry Keoghan) works as a shoe shiner in the city streets of London. His clientele say amongst themselves that he is the best, most thorough shoe shiner in the business. It is not that Eadric wants to stick to the humble trade of shoe-shining for much longer. It is that he finds joy in shining the shoes of the passing men.

 

One fateful day, Eadric is shining shoes as usual when an enigmatic young man (Harry Styles) introduces himself as Oliver. Eadric asks if he wants his shoes shined, but Oliver insists that he shines Eadric’s shoes, for free. Eadric allows Oliver to shine his shoes—why not, he surmises.

 

They ask each other a lot of questions in an elongated shoe shining scene. Things we learn: Eadric lives as part of a poor family; his parents don’t want him to work with the machinery in the factories like they do and insisted that he’d be able to find another trade. Therefore, he shines shoes. Oliver, on the other hand, lives off the land in the countryside. He sells bouquets made from flowers that grow in the fields.

 

Eadric asks Oliver why he likes flowers so much. Oliver smiles, and says that he feels at peace among the flowers, that he talks to the flowers, that he dreams of the flowers.

 

Oliver invites Eadric to a festival in the hills. Eadric refuses; he needs to continue shining shoes for his family. Not only that, but Oliver is giving him a bad vibe (though he doesn’t say that to his face, of course—we see that through his mannerisms).

 

Eadric goes back to his small home for a porridge dinner with his father (Mark Rylance), mother (Helena Bonham Carter), and sister (Raffey Cassidy). The father tells a harrowing story of his day at work—his clothes had gotten caught in a machine. To him, he is unscathed by the grace of God and nothing more.

 

The sister, Tabitha, announces to the family that she is considering becoming a Catholic Nun. The most shocking thing about this announcement is that it was unprompted—she made this decision herself. Out of the family members, the father is the one that supports the decision the most.

 

The mother, stone-faced, picks empty dishes from the table and takes them to the makeshift kitchen.

 

Eadric tells his family of his chance meeting with Oliver. Tabitha knows exactly who Oliver is—she’s seen him selling his flowers many times before. Tabitha warns Eadric that he is not like other young men. There is something… different about him. Strangely different, perhaps.

 

For economic reasons, Eadric’s father forbids him from going to the hills with Oliver. The family needs the money he’s making from his shoe-shining.

 

The next day, Eadric is at his place of business, waiting for customers, when Oliver walks past him with a bouquet of flowers in his hand. Oliver winks at him and disappears around the corner.

 

Overcome with curiosity, Eadric follows Oliver through a bustling crowd of people. Before he realizes, he is in front of a train, and Oliver is getting in a boxcar of the train. As the whistle blows, Eadric hesitates for a long time before ultimately deciding to get on.

 

“I knew you’d follow me here,” Oliver says to him.

 

The train begins its slow acceleration. A mother stands with her young daughter, and Oliver throws the bouquet to the daughter, who is overjoyed. When Eadric asks him why he did that, Oliver says, “flowers serve many purposes.”

 

The train rolls on its tracks towards the unknown. The image slowly dissolved to a field of flowers—petals of all colors are present. Oliver introduces Eadric to a posse of young men and women dressed in white dresses and flower headbands. Oliver dresses into a white dress and flower headband, though his crown is differentiated because its flower petals are the same color as the cloudless blue sky.

 

Before Eadric knows it, he’s holding hands with the other individuals, and they’re running around in a circle. Oliver is having the time of his life, as evident by his jubilant facial expression. Eadric does not sense a negative vibe from this. Rather, he smiles.

 

On the train ride home, Oliver and Eadric sit together in the boxcar, and Oliver asks Eadric if he enjoyed his time in the hills. Eadric nods—no words come to him. Oliver tells him that he is always welcome in the hills—always. All he needs to do is follow him onto the boxcar of the train.

 

When Eadric arrives at his home, his father chooses to emulate the father in the story of the prodigal son, and he invites him in, no questions asked—of course, to the ire of the mother.

 

At dinner, Tabitha announces that she’s completed the convent’s application process, and that she’ll be waiting for a letter of confirmation. The father says that this is good.

 

Eadric admits that he had gone to the hills with Oliver—that he was aware of the business he’d missed, and that he doesn’t want to go to the hills again—he’s been there once, he’s been there enough.

 

Tabitha is appalled. She insists that Eadric is now but a fish on Oliver’s hook. She tearfully storms away.

 

The next day, Eadric is shining shoes in his usual business spot. When the clients ask where he’d been, he says he’d gone “sightseeing.” When Oliver appears and tries to coax him to the hills, Eadric pretends not to notice him. But Oliver isn’t that stupid.

 

That night, Eadric is sleeping in his home when his mother wakes him up and tells him that he has a visitor—one who is requesting to discuss an urgent matter. Eadric goes outside with a lantern to see who it is. Sure enough, it’s Oliver.

 

Oliver asks why he wouldn’t go to the hills with him. Eadric tells him the excuse that he had to shine shoes. Oliver retorts back, saying that he “has to” sell bouquets for a living, and that Eadric doesn’t know the meaning of true freedom. Eadric argues that he does—and that’s precisely why he shines shoes. Oliver accuses Eadric of shunning away nature by keeping himself in the city. Eadric snidely snaps that, at least, he’s not making a habit of trampling daisies under his feet—thus, suggesting that Oliver is a hypocrite.

 

A crushed Oliver asks Eadric what he believes in. Eadric states that he believes in the creator, not the creation. Oliver runs off crying.

 

Eadric steps back into his home. His mother motions him toward the dinner table and talks to him about how actions have consequences. Eadric buries his face in his hands and weeps.

 

The next day, Eadric is shining shoes with a stone-faced expression when Oliver approaches him directly. Oliver swears that he won’t try to take him to the hills again. He just wants to talk. That’s it.

 

Eadric and Oliver meet each other in a secluded alleyway. They apologize to each other for the words they’ve spoken to each other. They talk to each other about their beliefs. Eadric’s family is a family of the Christian faith. Though Oliver doesn’t smile, his eyes light up—he had assumed that, when Eadric said he praised the creator rather than the creation, he was praising man. Oliver is disgusted by the idea of praising man.

 

Oliver admits that he is a pagan who worships nature. He is worried about what man may be doing to the environment—he says that the sky and the earth and the flowers surely do not appreciate the smoke that rises from the factories. So, without concern, Oliver has built his life around the nature of the earth.

 

Eadric remains adamant, in a respectful way, that he will continue to praise the One who created the sky and the earth and the flowers. Oliver points to the towel in Eadric’s hand which is used for shining shoes; Oliver pleads for Eadric to continue wiping the dirt and ash and grime off the feet of the people, to reduce the harmful tread of man on the Earth. He says that Eadric is always welcome in the hills, and that, the next time he tramples daisies under his feet, he’ll think of Eadric’s God.

 

They embrace each other with a hug and go about their way.

 

Time skips ahead; Tabitha is dressed in a nun’s uniform. Eadric and his parents talk about her uniform and say that it’s a beautiful thing for her to dedicate her life to God. They embrace her, and off she goes to the convent.

 

And so, Eadric shines shoes with a smile on his face. He looks into the cloudless blue sky. A shot of his face dissolves into a shot of Oliver, happy as can be, running in a circle on the flower coated hill.

 

 

Edited September 22, 2023 by SLAM!

[Ezen Baklattan]

This is probably a rights grey area since it's adapting music and not films but it should be fine? It's a 2.0 port FWIW.

 

On the Record
Genre: Musical/Revue/Comedy/Romance

Director: Jason Moore

Date: December 10th

Theaters: 3,153

Cast: Laura Osnes (Diane), Skylar Astin (Nick), Ethan Slater (Julian), Jessie Mueller (Kristen), Damian Lewis (Producer), Aubrey Plaza (Sound Producer)

Runtime: 108min (1hr, 48min)

Rating: PG for some thematic material and brief mild language

Budget: $35 million

 

*Note: The film is primarily told though music, with little to no dialogue (the producer and sound producer do not sing, though). During the song, some neat editing occurs, featuring thought bubbles, little animations on the side, and more. It is loosely based on the Disney musical revue of the same name.

 

Four talented Broadway stars are cast to record a CD full of Disney's greatest hits, from "When You Wish Upon A Star" to "How Far I'll Go" to everything in between. Kristen is a young up-and-comer who has broken out on Broadway. Nick is a teen heart-throb who has been in recent trouble with the law, seeking redemption in the public eye. Diane is a pop star who has gained a lot of fame in the past few years. Julian is Diane's ex-boyfriend, although he's just as talented. The four seem excited (except for Nick) in recording the album, and the first few recording sessions go very well. The Sound Producer is enjoying mixing the sounds together, getting creative with the beats and even imagining them in the scenarios of the movies, from deep under the sea to soaring above the world in a magic carper. The producer, on the other hand, is so concerned about getting the album together that he always seems to be freaking out on screen.

 

Things get a bit hairy once Kristen and Julian seem to be getting into a bit of an item. Diane becomes jealous, but she tries her best to just keep her past behind her, remembering how it was Julian that broke up with her, and not the other way around. There was bad blood between them, but they decided to remain on good terms. Nick, on the other hand, is reminded of why he never wanted to be in the dating business. ("Why Should I Worry?") However, when Diane finds out that Julian had been bad-mouthing her behind her back, she becomes upset and angry. After tensions boil after a recording session of "For The First Time In Forever" (Including Diane changing the lyrics to talk smack about Kristen), she storms out of the studio and leaves the recording. Julian also reveals some of his own true colors at the session, and Kristen. Nick, still the most cynical of the group, talks to the producer about how unhappy he is about the project. The producer rolls his eyes, telling him that's the Music Industry for you. 

 

Nick, however, can't shake the feeling that this was still something that could have been set right, and he decides to team up with the sound producer to set things right. He runs to Julian and Diane, getting them to re-concile and get Julian to apologize, whereas they also stop Kristen from getting to Grand Central Station and returning home. (The sound producer is grateful that it's not an airport. The TSA don't let just anyone through anymore.) Eventually, Nick becomes more optimistic, and the other three make up, with Kristen and Julian still dating. They decide to finish up the album, which becomes a big hit. This causes the Producer to immediately wan't to make another album, but the four, now friends, collectively decide they want a break.

 

The film ends with the wedding of Julian and Kristen, with Nick and Diane as the best man and maid of honor respectively. The film ends to a medley of "When Can I See You Again", "I-2-I", and "Can't Help Falling In Love".

[Blankments]

Broadway Selects: Hello, Dolly!

 

Director: Jerry Zaks & Michael John Warren

Genre: Musical/Comedy

Release Date: February 5

Major Cast:

Bette Midler as Dolly Gallagher Levi

David Hyde Pierce as Horace Vandergelder

Gavin Creel as Cornelius Hackl

Kate Baldwin as Irene Molloy

Charlie Stemp as Barnaby Tucker

Molly Griggs as Minnie Fay

Will Burton as Ambrose Kemper

Melanie Moore as Ermengarde

Alli Mauzey as Ernestina

 

Theater Count: 2,283

MPAA Rating: G

Runtime: 145 min

Production Budget: $500,000

 

Plot Summary: A filmed version of the Broadway show, made up of the final weeks of the Broadway run.

 

Plot: 

 

As the 19th becomes the 20th century, all of New York City is excited because widowed but brassy Dolly Gallagher Levi is in town ("Call on Dolly"). Dolly makes a living through what she calls "meddling" – matchmaking and numerous sidelines, including dance instruction and mandolin lessons ("I Put My Hand In"). She is currently seeking a wife for grumpy Horace Vandergelder, the well-known half-a-millionaire, but it becomes clear that Dolly intends to marry Horace herself. Ambrose Kemper, a young artist, wants to marry Horace's weepy niece Ermengarde, but Horace opposes this because Ambrose's vocation does not guarantee a steady living. Ambrose enlists Dolly's help, and they travel to Yonkers, New York to visit Horace, who is a prominent citizen there and owns Vandergelder's Hay and Feed. 

Horace explains to his two clerks, Cornelius Hackl and Barnaby Tucker, that he is going to get married because "It Takes a Woman" to cheerfully do all the household chores. He plans to travel with Dolly to New York City to march in the Fourteenth Street Association Parade and propose to the widow Irene Molloy, who owns a hat shop there. Dolly arrives in Yonkers and "accidentally" mentions that Irene's first husband might not have died of natural causes, and also mentions that she knows an heiress, Ernestina Money, who may be interested in Horace. Horace leaves for New York and leaves Cornelius and Barnaby to run the store.

Cornelius decides that he and Barnaby need to get out of Yonkers. They'll go to New York, have a good meal, spend all their money, see the stuffed whale in Barnum's museum, almost get arrested, and each kiss a girl! They blow up some tomato cans to create a terrible stench and a good alibi to close the store. Dolly mentions that she knows two ladies in New York they should call on: Irene Molloy and her shop assistant, Minnie Fay. She tells Ermengarde and Ambrose that she'll enter them in the polka competition at the upscale Harmonia Gardens Restaurant in New York City so Ambrose can demonstrate his ability to be a breadwinner to Horace. Cornelius, Barnaby, Ambrose, Ermengarde and Dolly take the train to New York ("Put on Your Sunday Clothes").

Irene and Minnie open their hat shop for the afternoon. Irene wants a husband, but does not love Horace Vandergelder. She declares that she will wear an elaborate hat to impress a gentleman ("Ribbons Down My Back"). Cornelius and Barnaby arrive at the shop and pretend to be rich. Horace and Dolly arrive at the shop, and Cornelius and Barnaby hide from him. Irene inadvertently mentions that she knows Cornelius Hackl, and Dolly tells her and Horace that even though Cornelius is Horace's clerk by day, he's a New York playboy by night; he's one of the Hackls. Minnie screams when she finds Cornelius hiding in the armoire. Horace is about to open the armoire himself, but Dolly, Irene and Minnie distract him with patriotic sentiments related to subjects like Betsy Ross and The Battle of the Alamo shown in the famous lyrics "Alamo, remember the Alamo!" ("Motherhood March"). Cornelius sneezes, and Horace storms out, realizing there are men hiding in the shop, but not knowing they are his clerks.

Dolly arranges for Cornelius and Barnaby, who are still pretending to be rich, to take the ladies out to dinner to the Harmonia Gardens restaurant to make up for their humiliation. She teaches Cornelius and Barnaby how to dance since they always have dancing at such establishments ("Dancing"). Soon, Cornelius, Irene, Barnaby, and Minnie are happily dancing. They go to watch the great 14th Street Association Parade together. Alone, Dolly decides to put her dear departed husband Ephram behind her and to move on with life "Before the Parade Passes By". She asks Ephram's permission to marry Horace, requesting a sign from him. Dolly catches up with the annoyed Vandergelder, who has missed the whole parade, and she convinces him to give her matchmaking one more chance. She tells him that Ernestina Money would be perfect for him and asks him to meet her at the swanky Harmonia Gardens that evening.

 

Horace tells the story of how he became rich ("Penny in My Pocket"). Cornelius is determined to get a kiss before the night is over, but Barnaby isn't so sure. As the clerks have no money for a carriage, they tell the girls that walking to the restaurant shows that they've got "Elegance". At the Harmonia Gardens Restaurant, Rudolph, the head waiter, prepares his service crew for Dolly Gallagher Levi's return: their usual lightning service, he tells them, must be "twice as lightning" ("The Waiters' Gallop"). Horace arrives with his date, but she proves neither as rich nor as elegant as Dolly had implied; furthermore she is soon bored by Horace and leaves, as Dolly had planned she would.

 

Cornelius, Barnaby, and their dates arrive, unaware that Horace is also dining at the restaurant. Irene and Minnie, inspired by the restaurant's opulence, order the menu's most expensive items. Cornelius and Barnaby grow increasingly anxious as they discover they have little more than a dollar left. Dolly makes her triumphant return to the Harmonia Gardens and is greeted in style by the staff ("Hello, Dolly!") She sits in the now-empty seat at Horace's table and proceeds to eat a large, expensive dinner, telling the exasperated Horace that no matter what he says, she will not marry him. Barnaby and Horace hail waiters at the same time, and in the ensuing confusion each drops his wallet and inadvertently picks up the other's. Barnaby is delighted that he can now pay the restaurant bill, while Horace finds only a little spare change. Barnaby and Cornelius realize that the wallet must belong to Horace. Cornelius, Irene, Barnaby and Minnie try to sneak out during "The Polka Contest", but Horace recognizes them and spots Ermengarde and Ambrose as well. The ensuing free-for-all culminates in a trip to night court.

Cornelius and Barnaby confess that they have no money and have never been to New York before. Cornelius declares that even if he has to dig ditches the rest of his life, he'll never forget the day because he had met Irene. Cornelius, Barnaby, and Ambrose then each profess their love for their companion ("It Only Takes A Moment"). Dolly convinces the judge that their only crime was being in love. The judge finds everyone innocent and cleared of all charges, but Horace is declared guilty and forced to pay damages. Dolly mentions marriage again, and Horace declares that he wouldn't marry her if she were the last woman in the world. Dolly angrily bids him "So Long, Dearie", telling him that while he's bored and lonely, she'll be living the high life.

The next morning, back at the hay and feed store, Cornelius and Irene, Barnaby and Minnie, and Ambrose and Ermengarde each set out on new life's paths. A chastened Horace Vandergelder finally admits that he needs Dolly in his life, but Dolly is unsure about the marriage until her late husband sends her a sign. Vandergelder spontaneously repeats a saying of Ephram's: "Money is like manure. It's not worth a thing unless it's spread about, encouraging young things to grow." Horace tells Dolly life would be dull without her, and she promises in return that she'll "never go away again" ("Hello, Dolly" (reprise)).

 

 

Edited March 18, 2019 by Blankments

[Blankments]

Broadway Selects: School of Rock

 

Director: Laurence Connor & Michael John Warren

Genre: Musical/Comedy

Release Date: September 10

Major Cast:

Justin Collette as Dewey Finn

Mamie Parris as Rosalie Mullins

Jonathan Gould as Ned Schneebly

Lori Marinacci as Patty DiMarco

Ava Briglia as Summer

Layla Capers as Tomika

Matthew Jost as Zack

Jordan Cole as Lawrence

Levi Buksbazen as Freddy

Montgomery Lamb as Katie

Madison Elizabeth Lagares as Shonelle

Sarah Walsh as Marcy

Hudson Loverro as Billy

Nirvaan Pal as Mason

Dallow Golub as James

Madalen Yarbrough Mills as Sophie

Katie Greendorfer as Madison

 

Theater Count: 2,483

MPAA Rating: PG for crude humor and some language

Runtime: 120 min

Production Budget: $500,000

 

Plot Summary: A filmed version of the Broadway show, made from the January 13, 2019 performance.

 

Plot: 

 

The musical begins with a performance by the band  No Vacancy. The band's guitarist, Dewey Finn, repeatedly attempts to upstage the lead singer ("I'm Too Hot for You”) which leads to the band agreeing to kick him out for his antics after Dewey leaves the stage. The next morning, Dewey is awoken in his bedroom by his longtime friend, Ned Schneebly, and Ned's domineering girlfriend, Patty Di Marco. Patty demands rent from Dewey while Ned cowers behind her. After they leave, Dewey goes about his day, getting kicked out of his band and fired from his job at a record store, all while dreaming about getting his break and becoming a superstar ("When I Climb to the Top of Mount Rock.") Afterwards, Dewey receives a call from Rosalie Mullins, principal of the prestigious Horace Green School. She asks to speak to Ned, saying that the school has an open substitute teacher position that will pay over nine hundred dollars a week—enough to meet the rent. Dewey, pretending to be Ned, accepts. 

At Horace Green, Rosalie does her best to keep everything running smoothly while greeting parents who come to drop off their children ("Horace Green Alma Mater.") Dewey arrives late both hung over and unprepared for the day, and the principal warns that "Ned" will be expected to meet the school's high standards. ("Here at Horace Green.") Dewey enters his classroom and introduces himself as Mr. Schneebly. His thirteen students are immediately wary of him, and one of them, uptight Summer Hathaway, attempts to explain to him how the classes run, and Dewey is disgusted by the rigid system. With no food to treat his hangover, Dewey spends most of the day sleeping, leaving the students to run wild.

At the apartment, Patty asks Ned to go on a jog with her, but he declines, claiming he has a lot of papers to grade. Understanding, Patty goes. As soon as she's gone, however, Ned pulls out his Guitar Hero console and begins playing. When Dewey comes home, he joins Ned and they discuss various topics such as teaching and their old band ("Variation 7”). After their game, Dewey attempts to convince Ned to rejoin him in their music career, by reminding him of all the perks of being a rockstar ("Children of Rock”). However, Patty arrives and breaks the men's reminiscing session up. Angry at Dewey, Patty reminds him that he's nothing more than a dreamer who will never succeed in the rock business, and gives him an ultimatum: pay the rent in thirty days, or they’ll kick him out ("Give Up Your Dreams").

The next day at school, Dewey argues with another teacher and hears music coming from one of the classrooms. Upon learning that his students are in music class with Rosalie ("Queen of the Night"), he inquires in amazement about what instruments they play. Dewey then tells his students that they're now a part of his new band set to compete in the Battle of the Bands. First, he puts together the instrumentals of his band: Zack on electric guitar, Katie on bass, Lawrence on keyboard, and Freddy on drums. He also makes two of the girls—Shonelle and Marcy—backup singers, and two other girls—Madison and Sophie—roadies. Then he moves onto technical jobs. Mason is put in charge of lights, James is made the security officer, and an ecstatic Billy is made the band's stylist. Summer is angry that she hasn't been given a job and says "groupies are sluts" in response to Dewey's first suggestion. Dewey then makes her the band's manager. The only student left without a job is Tomika, the shy new girl ("You're in the Band"). Confident about their prospects, Dewey hands out famous CDs to the students to listen to as homework ("You're in the Band (Reprise)”).

The children go home, and a glimpse is seen into some of their home lives. Freddy tells his father about the music he was assigned to listen to, but his father belittles him, saying that he's not smart like the other children at Horace Green. In another part of town, Billy is reading a Vogue Magazine disguised as a Sports Illustrated magazine due to pressure from his father to take up football. Elsewhere, Tomika tells her fathers that she's not making friends or doing well in her new school, but her parents dismiss her since they love Horace Green. Finally, Zack attempts to talk to his father about his day, but his father is on a business call and shouts at Zack for trying to speak to him, telling him to go away. Frustrated, Zack, Tomika, Billy, Freddy, and the other students lament that they have so much to tell and offer their parents and the world, but they just won't listen to them yet ("If Only You Would Listen.") Later, Shonelle and Marcy say that they should call the band School of Rock. Dewey loves it, and makes up a song to create the impression that he is prepared ("In the End of Time (A Cappella Version.)")

In the Faculty Lounge, the other teachers complain that the children have become undisciplined under Dewey ("Faculty Quadrille.") In the classroom, the band continues practicing Dewey's new song ("In the End of Time (Practice Version.)") After playing, Dewey tells everyone they're doing great. However, Zack is playing in an uptight and rigid manner, and Dewey says that Zack needs to get angry at "the man" in order to really rock. He explains that the man is responsible for everything wrong with the world, and Dewey and the kids get angry and shout about how they're going to stick it to the man ("Stick it to the Man.") Due to being stuck in school, Dewey and the kids end up sneaking out of the building in order to make it to the Battle Of The Bands auditions on time. The children and Dewey sadly arrive late at the auditions, With the manager about to leave, Summer convinces him to stay with a lie about a terminal illness and the class is able to compete ("In the End of Time (The Audition.)") They qualify and celebrate their success ("Stick it to the Man (Reprise.)") 

Thirty-six hours before the Battle of the Bands, the students are hard at work preparing for the event while Dewey attends a faculty conference. The students conclude that the one outstanding issue is the costumes, which Billy has yet to show anybody. He argues that they aren't finished yet, but Summer makes him show them anyway. Billy, using Lawrence as an unwilling model, shows everyone, and they hate them. Billy, annoyed but not disheartened, goes back to the drawing board ("Time to Play.") At the faculty meeting which Rosalie uses to stress the importance of parents' night, Dewey discovers that she is secretly a rocker, and loves Stevie Nicks. Dewey panics when he gets back to the classroom and begins to think of a cover. Tomika summons the courage to speak to him saying that she wants to sing. When Dewey asks why she didn't respond to the call for backup singers, she states that she's a lead singer. Although initially too nervous, Tomika begins to sing when others are not looking and captivates her audience ("Amazing Grace.")

Upon hearing that Rosalie is coming, students quickly cover their instruments with Thanksgivingthemed items and Dewey breaks into a fake lesson. When she challenges this, Dewey accuses other teachers of being on crack before admitting that he uses music to teach "boring" subjects. After arguing that there are no boring subjects, Rosalie announces that she'll be sitting in for the rest of Dewey's lesson. Nervous, Dewey pulls out his guitar and improvises a song about math ("Math Is a Wonderful Thing.") Rosalie is unimpressed, but Dewey decides to ask her out to a bar regardless. Later that night, Rosalie and Dewey meet at the bar, and, after having a few drinks, Dewey plays a Stevie Nicks song on the jukebox, causing Rosalie to let loose and laments about how she feels she's lost her inner music. Stating that Dewey has reminded her about it, she promises that if the parents' meeting goes well the next day, she'll help Dewey and School of Rock go to The Battle of the Bands ("Where Did the Rock Go?") Dewey impulsively kisses Rosalie, and they part ways.

Dewey arrives home just as Patty and Ned are going through the mail. Prompted by the discovery of Dewey's paycheck made out to Ned, Dewey explains his impersonation idea. Ned goes into a panic attack, but Dewey manages to calm him down and make him promise not to tell Patty. The next day, the students go to rehearse their song, but then Zack reveals that he wrote his own song for the band in his free time. Dewey is floored by Zack's talent, and has Zack teach the song to the rest of the band ("School of Rock (Band Practice.)") However, in the middle of the practice, Rosalie unwittingly brings the students' parents into the classroom, and they are appalled by what is going on. Focusing on the talent of each child, Dewey slowly convinces the parents to see the band in a positive light until Patty and Ned burst in. Having extracted the information from Ned, Patty reveals that Dewey is not Ned Schneebly and sends the parents into a rage. In the commotion, Dewey and the children escape to go to The Battle ("Dewey's Confession.")

As Rosalie paces nervously in the halls, she finds Mason and reminds him that Dewey isn't who the students think he is. Mason counters that he is a role-model regardless of his name. Touched by this, Rosalie misleads the parents to buy the children more time. The children use this time to reinvigorate Dewey who has given up on his dream and returned to his room. Led by Tomika, they all explain how much they need him ("If Only You Would Listen (Reprise.)") Patty makes one last attempt to stop them but Ned finally stands up to her and accompanies them to the battle. The band arrives just as No Vacancy is finishing up their performance ("I'm Too Hot For You (Reprise.)") Dewey decides that they should play Zack's song and accepts new costumes from Billy. The parents arrive, but are not allowed backstage by the security guards. As the students go to perform, Zack's father begins shouting at his son, telling him that School of Rock is ridiculous and stupid. Zack, finally having enough, stands up to his father and tells him that the band means more to him than he does, and then Zack goes to play.

They perform Zack's song and the crowd goes wild. Their parents watch on from an empty box seat, and each of them slowly fall in love with the band and how amazing their children are. Each of the instrumental students get a solo, and Tomika sings lead with Dewey as well. By the end, Zack's father is frozen with pride, and has to be pulled away by Summer's mother ("School of Rock (Teacher's Pet.)") After the performance, Rosalie and the band's parents congratulate the group, as well as Ned who has decked out in full heavy metal gear for The Battle. Dewey watches the parents and their kids, and finally feels as though he has accomplished something worthwhile. The winner of the competition is announced as No Vacancy, but Dewey assures everyone that winning didn't really matter, because they did something even more special. Patty then enters with a police officer and tries to get Dewey arrested for fraud, but Rosalie convinces the officer that Mr. Finn is Horace Green's official Band Coach. To please an enthralled crowd, the band plays an encore ("Stick It to the Man (Encore.)") After their song, Dewey and Rosalie kiss again, and Rosalie mixes her classical singing with the heavy rock music of School of Rock, implying that a change is coming to Horace Green and its curriculum because of the band and Dewey ("Finale.").

 

 

Edited March 18, 2019 by Blankments