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The Best TV Shows And Movies Coming To Netflix In April 2023

• Wednesday 23:09

The sun never sets in the world of streaming. After a jam-packed March that saw both "Star Wars" and "Star Trek" series going head-to-head with "Ted Lasso" -- not to mention, the much-buzzed-about return of "Yellowjackets" (nope, still not prepared to retire that joke) and the final hurrah of the Shakespearean tragedy that is "Succession" — it seems April is angling to keep the party going. Between "Schmigadoon!" and "The Afterparty" coming back, "Barry" setting sail for the Grey Havens with its final season, and whatever the hell Tara Hernandez and Damon Lindelof have cooked up for us with "Mrs. Davis," next month won't be hurting for appointment TV.Not about to be left in the dust by its competitors, Netflix has its own plans for April. In addition to its typical monthly smattering of non-exclusive titles, the streamer will be dropping a 30th anniversary "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" reunion special, "Once & Always," just to make all you Millennials out there feel both extra weepy and creaky in your bones. The sixth and final season of "Better Call Saul" will also be arriving for those who've been following the tragic tale of Jimmy McGill, along with the ongoing adventures of Gus the deer boy in "Sweet Tooth" season 2. Alternatively, if you're not in the mood to get stabbed in the feels, consider watching "John Mulaney: Baby J," a stand-up comedy special based on material from Mulaney's recent tour (which /Film's Chris Evangelista saw him perform last year and has described as "very funny").Here are our special picks for April, along with everything else coming to Netflix that month.The Bourne SupremacyPaul Greengrass' "The Bourne Supremacy" was recently -- and, without question, justifiably -- featured as part of /Film's "Best Action Scene Ever" column series thanks to its climactic, brutally destructive Moscow car chase. It's a practical stunt-heavy sequence so frantically yet meticulously edited and carefully staged that it arguably has yet to be truly surpassed, even close to 20 years later. As for how the heck nobody died while shooting this thing? That remains one of life's greatest mysteries.Where other action movies from the early 2000s have come to show their age (Hollywood was sure in love with post-"Matrix" bullet-time photography back then, wasn't it?), "The Bourne Supremacy" remains as viscerally captivating and politically intrepid now as it was in 2004. After his attempts to lead a quiet and peaceful life in India are cut short and his lover Marie (Franka Potente) gets caught in the crossfire (okay, I admit, I always hated that the movie fridges Marie, much as I get the narrative reasoning behind it), it falls to Matt Damon's retired CIA assassin to unravel a conspiracy involving his former bosses at Treadstone, who intend to frame him for the murder of a Russian government agent turned mole. What follows is one of the best action movie sequels ever made by modern Hollywood, and one that's absolutely worth revisiting.How To Train Your DragonWhy wait for the live-action remake coming in 2025 when you can just watch (or rewatch) the original animated "How to Train Your Dragon" on Netflix in April? Loosely adapted from Cressida Cowell's book of the same name, the film centers on Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III (Jay Baruchel), a misfit from the mythical Viking village of Berk who comes to question their dragon-hunting ways upon befriending a rare Night Fury dragon, whom he dubs Toothless. There's so much to love about the movie, from John Powell's adventurous score to the majestic flying sequences and the animated visuals, which are still a pleasure to behold 13 years later. Similarly, the film's themes about the importance of questioning what you were taught growing up and realizing the world might not work the way you believe continue to influence other movies to this day (including Netflix's own Oscar-nominated animated feature, "The Sea Beast"), and for a valid reason.The Land Before TimeFor a movie that only runs 69 minutes (with credits!), I love how much of "The Land Before Time" is devoted purely to sitting with the film's characters as they feel out their emotions. Don Bluth's animated classic turns 35 this year (I know, I know, apparently I'm just in the mood to make everyone feel extra old today), so there's no better time to either re-experience this animated prehistoric adventure or traumatize yourself by watching it for the first time. The story, as it were, centers on Littlefoot (Gabriel Damon), a kind-hearted young "Longneck," aka Apatosaurus, who -- his emotional wounds still fresh from a personal tragedy -- sets out with a motley crew of fellow dinos his age to find a legendary oasis known as the Great Valley. Even after a whopping 13 direct-to-video sequels, Bluth's original film has lost none of its potency. Lovingly visualized and deeply felt, it's a tale that reminds us: Family and home are always what you make them.The Last StandPerhaps in anticipation of Arnold Schwarzenegger's upcoming action-comedy series "FUBAR" hitting the streamer in the foreseeable future, Netflix will make the bodybuilder-turned-actor's (also, let's not forget that whole dabbling in government phase) quirky 2013 action-thriller "The Last Stand" available to stream just in time for its 10th anniversary. Having resigned from the LAPD after an operation goes horribly sideways, Schwarzenegger's Ray Owens just wants to lead a peaceful existence as the sheriff of the sleepy, oddball small town of Sommerton Junction, Arizona. But, wouldn't you know it, who should come speeding towards Sommerton but the boss of a deadly international drug cartel hoping to evade the FBI and cross the border into Mexico? Under the steady guidance of director Kim Jee-woon ("The Good, the Bad, the Weird"),"The Last Stand" works almost as much as an off-beat sendup of Arnold's macho-fests from the '80s and '90s as it does an exhilarating neo-Western action-comedy.BeefIf there's one must-watch Netflix Original to catch in April, it would have to be "Beef." A collaboration between Netflix and A24 (an intriguing meeting of artistic entities in and of itself), the upcoming series follows leads Danny Cho (Steven Yeun) and Amy Lau (Ali Wong) after a petty road rage incident escalates into something far bigger and more twisted, spiraling out of control in ways neither one of them could've imagined. /Film's Jeremy Mathai had high praise for creator, showrunner, and executive producer Lee Sung Jin's dark comedy in his review, writing, "But underneath all the melodramatic trappings, 'Beef' contains a beating heart, a viciously sarcastic mean streak, and a sense of daring that immediately sets this apart from the chaff." If that's not enough to sell you on this one, know that it also counts the likes of writer Alice Ju ("Russian Doll," "Poker Face") and director Jake Schreier ("Robot & Frank") among the ranks of its impressive creative team.Movies And TV Shows Coming To Netflix In April 2023Dates TBA:Ex-Addicts ClubWelcome to Eden: Season 2Available April 1, 2023:28 DaysA League of Their OwnAmerican HustleBattleshipThe BirdsBorn on the Fourth of JulyThe Bourne IdentityThe Bourne SupremacyThe Bourne UltimatumCharlie Wilson's WarConan the DestroyerDr. Seuss' The Cat in the HatDr. Seuss' The LoraxFriday Night LightsHatfields & McCoys: Season 1Hoarders: Season 12Hotel TransylvaniaHow to Lose a Guy in 10 DaysHow to Train Your DragonI, FrankensteinInceptionInside ManThe Land Before Time (1988)MarnieMatilda (1996)The NegotiatorNot Another Teen MoviePsycho (1960)Puss in BootsShark TaleShrek Forever AfterSmokey and the BanditSmokey and the Bandit IISpider-ManSpider-Man 2Spider-Man 3Thomas & Friends: The Mystery of Lookout MountainZombielandWeatheringAvailable April 2, 2023:War Sailor: Limited SeriesAvailable April 3, 2023:Magic Mixies: Season 1Surviving R. Kelly Part III: The Final Chapter: Season 1Available April 4, 2023:My Name Is Mo'NiqueThe SigningAvailable April 5, 2023:Lewis Capaldi: How I'm Feeling NowAvailable April 6, 2023:BeefThe Last StandAvailable April 7, 2023:ChupaHoly SpiderKings of Mulberry Street: Let Love ReignOh BelindaThicker Than WaterTransatlanticAvailable April 8, 2023:HungerAvailable April 10, 2023:CoComelon: Season 8Available April 11, 2023:All American: Homecoming Season 2Leanne Morgan: I'm Every WomanAvailable April 12, 2023:American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon BombingCELESTE BARBER Fine, thanksOperation: NationSmother-in-Law: Season 2Available April 13, 2023:The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib: Season 2Florida ManObsessionAvailable April 14, 2023:PhenomenaQueenmakerQueens on the RunSeven Kings Must DieAvailable April 15, 2023:Doctor ChaTime TrapAvailable April 16, 2023:The Best Man HolidayThe MustangThe Nutty Boy Part 2Available April 17, 2023:Oggy Oggy: Season 2Available April 18, 2023:Better Call Saul: Season 6How to Get RichLongest Third DateAvailable April 19, 2023:Chimp EmpireMighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & AlwaysAvailable April 20, 2023:The DiplomatTooth Pari: When Love BitesAvailable April 21, 2023:A Tourist's Guide to LoveChokeholdIndian Matchmaking: Season 3One More TimeRough DiamondsAvailable April 22, 2023:Ada Twist, Scientist: Season 4Available April 25, 2023:The Hateful EightThe Hateful Eight: Extended Version: Season 1John Mulaney: Baby JAvailable April 26, 2023:The Good Bad Mother:Kiss, Kiss!Love After MusicWorkin' Moms: Season 7Available April 27, 2023:Firefly Lane: Season 2 Part 2The MatchmakerThe NurseSharkdog: Season 3Sweet Tooth: Season 2Available April 28, 2023:AKAInuYasha: Season 6King of Collectibles: The Goldin TouchRead this next: The 14 Greatest Action Movies Of The 21st CenturyThe post The Best TV Shows And Movies Coming To Netflix In April 2023 appeared first on /Film.

The Mission Impossible Sequels Just Pulled Their Biggest Stunt Yet — Getting Rolf Saxon Back

• Wednesday 22:50

The "Mission: Impossible" sequels aren't done casting up just yet, and another blast from the past will be returning to the fold. As revealed by director Christopher McQuarrie on Instagram, none other than Rolf Saxon will be returning to the franchise for the first time since the original film hit theaters back in 1996. Indeed, we will be seeing CIA Analyst William Donloe back in action, and that raises some pretty big questions. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Christopher McQuarrie (@christophermcquarrie)McQuarrie, unfortunately, didn't specify whether or not we'll be seeing Saxon in "Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One," which arrives in theaters on July 14 of this year, or if he will be in next year's sequel. It seems far more likely that Saxon will be in "Part Two," given that the movie is currently filming and the first installment has been in the can for a little bit now. In any event, this marks another actor from the original film who is returning after nearly three decades, as Henry Czerny will appear in this summer's installment as Eugene Kitridge.It is believed that "MI7" and "MI8" will be wrapping up the story for Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt. That being the case, it makes sense for McQuarrie and Co. to revisit the past and try to bring things full circle. The bigger question now is, what the hell has Donloe been doing for all these years? Presumably, it hasn't been fun.What Has Donloe Been Up To All These Years?For those who haven't seen Brian De Palma's '96 blockbuster in some time, it is worth explaining that William Donloe was the gatekeeper for the Non Official Cover list of agents embedded in various organizations around the world. This is a list that Ethan Hunt and his crew ultimately stole, much to the dismay of Donloe. As a result, he was removed from his station and sent to work at a remote substation in Alaska. This to say, he probably has a bone or two to pick with Ethan. Is it possible he's going to be a villain? Or is he just going to be back at the CIA and finding a way to make Ethan's life hard? Either way, they will surely have words for one another.Meanwhile, the cast for "Part Two" has been shaping up quite nicely, as Nick Offerman ("Parks and Recreation") and Hannah Waddingham ("Ted Lasso") have also signed on for undisclosed roles in the film. Paramount is sparing no expense either, as this summer's installment is going to be one of the most expensive movies ever made with a budget near $300 million. That may not have been the plan, but the pandemic major complicated things, and they are now relying on a big hit. One assumes they will try to reign that number in for next year's sequel, but they clearly aren't skimping on talent."Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part Two" is set to hit theaters on June 28, 2024.Read this next: 23 Movies Like John Wick That Will Get Your Adrenaline PumpingThe post The Mission Impossible Sequels Just Pulled Their Biggest Stunt Yet — Getting Rolf Saxon Back appeared first on /Film.

The Mandalorian Decides Jetpacks Are Old And Busted, Introduces New Hotness

• Wednesday 22:00

In the world of "Star Wars," Mandalorians are the embodiment of a good action figure. They don't need to be people, per se, just have a bunch of gadgets that both inform you of who they are and look cool. A flame thrower and a jetpack with a rocket launcher. Boba Fett didn't need more than that to become legendary in the minds of millions of Gen Xers back in the '80s.Those two accessories have become synonymous with Mandalorians, and we can't say we're surprised. The helmet is rather unique and has strong iconography, and jetpacks just plain rule. You can fly with one, you can shoot missiles out of some of them -- they're awesome.But it seems like "Star Wars" is ready to move away from jetpacks. This is a bit surprising, considering they were all the rage in the first season of "The Mandalorian," with Din Djarin experiencing a triumphant moment when he acquired enough beskar to get The Armorer to make him a jetpack. But just like the Kenner company decided rocket launchers were dangerous in the hands of kids and recalled the original Boba Fett toys that included those rocket launcher, maybe Lucasfilm and Disney don't want kids pestering their parents asking for a jetpack. At the very least, the latest episode of "The Mandalorian" makes it clear that jetpacks have their limits. Out with the old, in with the new hotness.New FoundlingsIn the latest episode of the series, amidst thrilling flashbacks to when Jar Jar Binks may have saved Grogu, we also saw yet another Mandalorian kid get kidnapped by a giant creature right outside the Mandalorians' doorsteps. Though they all rush in to save the kid from the giant pterodactyl-looking thing, none of them manage to catch it before their jetpacks run out of fuel. Turns out, Mandalorian jetpacks are just like dwarfs in "The Lord of the Rings": In the words of Gimli, they're "wasted on cross-country," but "very dangerous over short distances."When they do eventually reach the nest of the creatures they call raptors, they rescue the kid and kill the raptor mama, but only after seeing that she was just kidnapping tiny children in order to feed her own babies — like any good parent would. Of course, the Mandalorians are selfish and violence-prone, so they just butcher the mom and leave the orphaned babies out to die alone on a cliff ... or do they?In the final scene, we see Bo-Katan somehow fit like 10 Mandalorians and also three giant raptor babies on her ship (which is now more like a clown car), and introduces the chicks as "foundlings." It is very unlikely we'll see the birds with Mandalorian helmets and guns in the future, so it is more probable that the raptors will instead fix a major problem for the Mandalorians and replace their jetpacks.Old Habits Die HardWhile the idea of Mandalorians riding giant birds into battle might sound weird at first, it would actually just continue a long-standing tradition from before we ever even met a Mandalorian on the big screen.That's right, I'm talking about Boba Fett. Ever since he was first introduced in the "Star Wars Holiday Special," the character has been riding some kind of creature as a mount. First, in animated form, it was the panna dragon. Then in "The Book of Boba Fett," he rode a massive rancor into a fight, and it was the coolest thing in that show. Maybe it is time to retire the jetpack. After all, they can only be used in short distances, and even then, they can be shot at and blown up. A raptor, however, is smart and can maneuver in a fight to avoid damage. Sure, "Star Wars" doesn't have the best track record with mounts — both Obi-Wan's veractyl and Luke's tauntaun were killed — but it's time we get a mount that survives for more than one episode. Plus, Grogu is going to love it, and at the end of the day, isn't that what really matters?Read this next: Star Wars Movie Villains Ranked Least To Most PowerfulThe post The Mandalorian Decides Jetpacks Are Old And Busted, Introduces New Hotness appeared first on /Film.

The Mandalorian Gives Ahmed Best The Redemption Arc He Deserves And Pokes Fun At A Prequel Theory

• Wednesday 21:00

For all the good things the "Star Wars" franchise has given pop culture, for all its joy and creativity, it is also a franchise plagued by bullying and harassment. From Kelly Marie Tran and Jake Lloyd to John Boyega and Ahmed Best, fans have made life hell for people associated with the franchise. Since his debut in "The Phantom Menace," Jar Jar Binks has always been the butt of every joke about "Star Wars," in parodies like "Robot Chicken" and a cameo that never was in the film "Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers." The backlash against the character was so bad it led actor Ahmed Best to contemplate suicide.Thankfully, it seems Ahmed Best is coming back around on the franchise, and the audience is embracing him again, from his appearances at Star Wars Celebration to Best hosting the reality competition series "Jedi Temple Challenge," where he played a Jedi master named Kelleran Beq.But what could easily have been a one-off character for a show tangentially related to the main franchise has now been given one of the highest honors and roles in the entirety of the "Star Wars" franchise: Saving Baby Yoda in the latest "The Mandalorian" episode. Best is back!A Jedi MasterIn the latest episode of "The Mandalorian," Grogu has a flashback to the Siege of the Jedi Temple, when Anakin Skywalker led the 501st Legion of clone troopers to execute every single Jedi they could find in the temple — even the younglings. We knew Grogu was living in the temple at the time, but we hadn't seen how he got out until now. What makes the scene effective is that it is not a known Jedi who saves the now-Mandalorian foundling. We don't see Obi-Wan, or Jocasta Nu, or Shaak Ti, or even Grogu's possible mother, the late Yaddle. No, it is Ahmed Best's own Kelleran Beq who saves the little youngling from being killed by clones, wearing a very cool engraved robe and wielding two lightsabers like a badass (one of very few Force users to do so). This is an incredibly rad scene, featuring some great lightsaber movies and the inclusion of Temuera Morrison voicing the clone troopers again.The fact that Beq not only is part of the canon now, but has such an important role in a key event in "Star Wars" canon is a fantastic gesture of goodwill. His appearance also pokes fun at the popular Darth Jar Jar theory that imagines the Gungan was always meant to be unveiled as a Dark Lord of the Sith, based on comments from Lucas about the character having a big purpose to the story of the prequels. To see Best play not a Sith, but a Jedi, feels like the best way to acknowledge this joke.But wait, it gets better.The Biggest Savior In The FranchiseBefore Beq can transport Grogu to safety, he is surrounded by clone troopers. They are saved when a squad of Naboo security guards like the ones we saw many times in the prequels arrives, in an H-Type Nubian ship similar to the one Padmé used when traveling from Naboo to Tatooine with Anakin. It's clear someone from Naboo is responsible for saving Grogu's life.It would be easy to assume it's Padmé, who was friends with Jedi, was a former queen, and is a senator at this time — but the timeline doesn't work. She knows about an attack on the Jedi Temple, but has no idea Jedi are being killed until much later, when Anakin arrives at their apartment and tells her of the supposed coup the Jedi attempted on Palpatine. So it has to be someone else who saves Beq and Grogu, someone with access to security detail and a ship, someone with a high rank from Naboo. Who else could this be but Jar Jar Binks himself? After all, he is a senator from Naboo at this time, he is friends with the Jedi, and we know he is very quick to answer the call for help from his friends.Unfortunately, Jar Jar is also the senator responsible for convincing the Senate to vote on giving Chancellor Palpatine emergency powers, leading to the formation of the clone army and, ultimately, the creation of the Empire.To make Jar Jar the person responsible for saving the cutest creature in "Star Wars" after a lifetime of hate would be an incredible gift to Ahmed Best's legacy -- especially if that means we eventually see an older Jar Jar meet Grogu in a future episode.Read this next: Sci-Fi Box Office Bombs That Deserve A Second ChanceThe post The Mandalorian Gives Ahmed Best The Redemption Arc He Deserves And Pokes Fun at a Prequel Theory appeared first on /Film.

John Wick 4 Was Originally 4 Hours Long, And The Director Was Worried

• Wednesday 20:05

Much has been made about the runtime of "John Wick: Chapter 4" in the lead up to the film's release. While the first three entries in the series were tight, two-ish hour action extravaganzas, director Chad Stahelski has delivered a monster 169-minute return for Keanu Reeves' expert assassin. Yep, nearly three hours of Mr. Wick doing his thing. But as we've now learned, the original cut of the film was far longer, and the filmmakers really had to work to get it down to something releasable.Stahelski and the film's editor, Nathan Orloff, recently spoke with the folks at IndieWire, and during the conversation, the director revealed that the first cut they assembled was damn near four hours long. "To be really honest with you, zero was planned out. Our first cut was three hours and 45 minutes, and it felt like three hours and 45 minutes. We were like, 'Ih, we're so screwed,'" Stahelski explained. So, how did they manage to get it down to what audiences will see in theaters? A painful process of compression. Orloff had this to say about it:"You just compress, compress, compress. I went through a pass where anytime someone repeated an idea they had already expressed, I cut it out. No repeated ideas. It's a very linear story, so there wasn't a ton of reconstruction or rearrangement we could do. It was just a matter of sifting out what we didn't need."A Small Piece Impacts The WholeWhile it sounds like the task of getting the fourth installment in the series down to a reasonable runtime was difficult, the results seem to speak for themselves. Early reviews for the film have been glowingly positive, and you can read our 9 out of 10 review from the SXSW Film Festival right here. But Stahelski also explained that this process was a grueling one for the editing team. Why, exactly? Because every single time they trimmed something from the cut, they would watch the whole thing again."My editorial staff probably hates me because even if we just took 30 seconds out of something, I'd make everybody watch the movie again. That's the only way you know you have the right pace. You feel that bump in movies all the time because they were doing it in pieces and not seeing it as a whole. The last thing you want to do is treat it as a bunch of parts."It's fairly commonplace for filmmakers to create incredibly lengthy runtimes for early cuts of blockbuster movies these days, but this case is notable because the final trimmed movie still ended up being comparatively long in relation to other films in this franchise. That's not necessarily to say there was two movies' worth of story to tell in "John Wick: Chapter 4," but at the same time, we certainly wouldn't be mad if Stahelski released a "Wake Up, Ron Burgundy!"-style project cobbling together unused bits from the three hour and 45 minute cut. Hey, a man can dream."John Wick: Chapter 4" hits theaters on March 24, 2023.Read this next: John Wick Moments That Went Too FarThe post John Wick 4 Was Originally 4 Hours Long, And The Director Was Worried appeared first on /Film.

Marvel Fans May Recognize Zava From Ted Lasso Season 3

• Wednesday 20:00

This post contains spoilers for "Ted Lasso" season 3 as well as "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."Zava: The man, the myth, the legend. The latest teammate to join AFC Richmond, the plucky team at the heart of "Ted Lasso," is none other than a fictional football great with an enigmatic presence and a flair for the dramatic. Zava (Maximilian Osinski) declared his intentions to join the team at the end of the season's second episode, right as he was about to very publicly sign on to the Chelsea roster. We don't know much about Zava yet, except that he eats too much asparagus, parades around in a man-bun and fur coat, and is able to easily hold the attention of soccer fans and players worldwide.After the Richmond players and coaches hyped him so much ahead of his appearance, I expected Zava's role to end up being a bit of stunt casting, with one of Jason Sudeikis' former "Saturday Night Live" coworkers or another super-familiar face to appear. But it's smart of the show to continue the trend that's worked for it so far — choosing an actor who's right for the job as opposed to a headline-grabbing A-lister. Still, for some audience members, Zava likely looks awfully familiar already.Here's Where You've Seen Maximilian OsinskiMaximilian Osinski will surely be synonymous with Zava in no time after joining the cast of one of the most celebrated shows on TV, but he's already made a name for himself with a few key roles in the past. Osinski has appeared in guest roles on shows like "Shameless" and "New Amsterdam," popped up in movies like "Love & Other Drugs," and even played a military leader in the second season of "The Walking Dead: World Beyond." But Osinski's most popular work to date is likely "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," the long-running ABC series that started as connective tissue between the MCU's film installments before growing into an MCU cult favorite in its own right.Osinski appeared in the show as the character James Davis, a loyal S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who popped up in 27 episodes, mostly between seasons 4 and 6. Davis piloted the Zephyr One on several missions, formed one-half of a fan-favorite dynamic duo with Agent Piper (Briana Venskus), and was nearly killed by Aida (Mallory Jansen) at the end of the fourth season. Unfortunately, Davis is probably most remembered for his shocking death. In the show's sixth season, a pink-haired, alien-like being named Izel (Karolina Wydra) started possessing members of the S.H.I.E.L.D. crew. After repeated attempts to stop her were thwarted, Izel took Davis' body for a walk off a ledge, resulting in an abrupt end for a character who never got a proper sendoff.Davis Is Gone, But It Looks Like Zava's Here To StayWhile fans of Maximilian Osinski's character on "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." might still be bitter over the character's unceremonious exit (he didn't even fall that far), the good news is that the actor seems poised to stick around "Ted Lasso" for a while. The season's second episode ends with Zava declaring his intentions to join AFC Richmond, and fans wearing Zava jerseys can be spotted in the trailer for season 3. The decision to add the wild card player to the team seems counter-intuitive to Ted's "just have fun" ethos, but he's also likely the key to raising the team's spot in the rankings, where they were initially predicted to finish in last place this season. Thus, it looks like we'll be seeing a lot more of Zava's man bun. Step aside, Jamie Tartt, it seems there's a new diva in town."Ted Lasso" streams new episodes each Wednesday on Apple TV+.Read this next: The Best TV Shows Of 2022, RankedThe post Marvel Fans May Recognize Zava From Ted Lasso Season 3 appeared first on /Film.

Only Keanu Reeves Can Do What Keanu Reeves Does

• Wednesday 19:00

Hollywood was in the midst of its Brat Pack fervor when the director/screenwriter team of Tim Hunter and Neil Jimenez jolted moviegoers with "River's Edge." It was the grimy, dead-souled antithesis to John Hughes' peppy tales of suburban woe. The Northern California high schoolers in Hunter's film are dead-enders who, aware of their paltry worth to society, have little value for human life. When their friend John (Daniel Roebuck) claims he's murdered his girlfriend Jamie (Danyi Deats) and takes them to see her nude corpse, which he's discarded like a dog toy next to a riverbank, they do not recoil in horror. They are at most dumbstruck, and at worst eager to aid John in covering up the crime.We should be shocked by their lack of revulsion, but Hunter lets us hang out with these kids for a good 15 minutes before taking us to Jamie. They're future burnouts with no stated ambition outside of hooking up and getting high. The only semi-motivated member of the group is Matt, who wants to skip town for Portland. Why? "Well, because no one knows us up there."This kid Matt, with his dark, stringy hair, clad in a jean vest draped over a leather jacket, at least senses the futility of his existence. He wants out, even if he has no idea what he'll do when he gets to wherever he's going. He's at war with his mother and hates his blossoming sociopath of a little brother, but he's not all the way gone like his unhinged best friend Layne (Crispin Glover). There's a flicker of a good person behind the loser facade, a guy looking to get right with the universe. There is the seedling of an enigma that we know and worship today as Keanu Reeves.A Rebel Without A Rebellious StreakUnlike James Dean post "East of Eden," Keanu's rebel portrait in "River's Edge" didn't compel infatuated youngsters to plaster their bedroom walls with his sullenly sexy image. Keanu initially belonged to the cool kids. In the 1988 duo of "Permanent Record" and "Prince of Pennsylvania," he emitted an alternative rock type of edginess that, as the Brat Pack heartthrobs were supplanted by the vacuous, non-threatening likes of Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, and Kirk Cameron, hit like The Cure to their Bon Jovi.Hollywood, however, had other ideas, and Keanu needed to make a movie that received a wide theatrical release. While "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" delivered at the box office, most critics savaged it as a brainless comedy. But OG Keanu fans rolled with it. Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon's uproarious script allowed Keanu and Alex Winter to work kind-hearted variations on the tortured (or, in Winter's case, vampiric) teens they'd played in the past. For Keanu, it cracked open a surprising capacity for self-deprecating comedy; he'd mostly been playing the same slacker dude note since "River's Edge" (even in "Dangerous Liaisons"), so to see him exaggerate this persona only made him more endearing as a performer. He got it, and he trusted us to play along. Keanu modulated this persona as Tod, the affable loser boyfriend of Martha Plimpton in Ron Howard's "Parenthood." The way Tod delicately conveys Joaquin Phoenix's struggle with incipient puberty – "I told him that's what little dudes do" — to Dianne Wiest is inimitable. Only Keanu could hit the spacy emotional bullseye like that.There was only one logical move for Keanu from here, and that was to make a Queer Cinema classic while starring in the most ludicrously adrenalized action movie of the 1990s.Straddling The Border Of Utah And IdahoKathryn Bigelow's 1991 classic "Point Break" comes on hard in every sense of the phrase. It's a full-throttle action flick that pulsates with the top-this machismo that dares not speak its name too explicitly. We know precisely what's at play between Patrick Swayze's Bodhi and Keanu's Johnny Utah, and it's deliciously erotic.Bodhi: "Ever done this before?"Utah: "Once."Bodhi: "Pure adrenaline, right?"When Utah spares Bodhi during their foot chase in the Los Angeles River then rolls over and fires his pistol into the air, the source of his frustration is achingly clear. Pure adrenaline? Try pure lust.And then there's the Queer Cinema classic. Gus Van Sant's "My Own Private Idaho" is an exquisitely instinctive adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Henry IV" duology. Keanu and River Phoenix star as a couple of street hustlers who find solace and familial love under the tutelage of William Richert's Falstaff figure. The betrayal of Shakespeare's saga stings anew when Keanu's Hal returns to inherit his wealthy family's fortune.Phoenix is the focal point of Van Sant's film, an inveterate wanderer prone to narcoleptic episodes that break up the peripatetic nature of his life into chapters, but Keanu's Hal is, for a time, the ideal travel companion. And yet Hal is just a tourist in this world. Keanu, who is to become whatever Henry V is in Van Sant's world, understands this. He grieves for the death of their relationship, and the vagabond clan he's left behind, at the moment he is to be mourning his father's death. The emotion is real. It's always real with Keanu. And that's the key to his longevity. That and being in remarkable shape.How To Be Like Keanu In An Un-Zen WorldI've read countless celebrity profiles of Keanu Reeves, and even the well-written ones scramble for profundity. He's one of entertainment's most enticing mysteries. What's going on under the hood?This is not for me, nor is it for you. His tragedies are on the public record, and they suck. Life happens to us all.Jan de Bont's "Speed" refocused the conversation on Keanu. His dude-ish demeanor was right on time for the heyday of Hollywood action filmmaking. The haircut, his chemistry with Sandra Bullock, his casual willingness to perform stunts ... after a few false starts (namely Andrew Davis' wannabe blockbuster "Chain Reaction"), he hit the sweetest of spots with "The Matrix." The distance between Keanu and his audience closed. More importantly, he helped us visualize the virtual world in which we now live. He's our righteous avatar. Our champion.And he is now holding down the fort in the "John Wick" franchise as a hitman whose only shot at retirement is to kill his way out of the gig. This isn't Zen. Or is it? When your every encounter in the real world — be it at work, the grocery store or, god forbid, at school — is an act of life or death, perhaps Keanu's Wick is the pistol-packing co-pilot we need. Or maybe there's a third way. Maybe we could be more like Tod.Read this next: The 18 Best Action Movie Actors RankedThe post Only Keanu Reeves Can Do What Keanu Reeves Does appeared first on /Film.

Is There A Credits Scene In John Wick: Chapter 4? A Spoiler-Free Guide

• Wednesday 18:04

Keanu Reeves' brutally efficient assassin John Wick has been away from our screens for an extended period of time, largely thanks to the pandemic, but that all changes very, very soon with the release of "John Wick: Chapter 4." Reeves has once again reunited with director Chad Stahelski for what figures to be an epic adventure in the secret world of assassins, as this entry clocks in at just shy of three hours. That's a lot of headshots. That raises the rather important question: do viewers also have to sit through the credits?While superhero movies have mode post-credits scenes commonplace, the "John Wick" series has not really been subject to them up to this point. But for those who are curious, we're here to offer up a spoiler-free guide for "Chapter 4." Seriously, no spoilers here, just information that you, dear reader, can put to good use when you see the movie in theaters. Let's get into it, shall we?Does John Wick 4 Have A Credits Scene?Yes, breaking with tradition, "John Wick: Chapter 4" does indeed have a post-credits scene. Also, there is merely a single scene and not multiple scenes that are spread out throughout the credits. The only downside is that the scene in question plays after the entirety of the credits roll, so viewers will need to sit patiently and wait to see what happens. There might even be enough time for a quick bathroom break for those who have been desperately holding it in through all of the blistering, bullet-filled action. Whatever the case, just be certain to stick around, as this scene is certainly worth watching.How Important Is The Scene?In some cases, post-credits scenes aren't all that important and are just a way of having a little fun with the audience. Think of the shawarma scene in "The Avengers" or the tag at the end of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." That having been said, the one that Stahelski has cooked up for his fourth entry in this particular franchise is indeed very important and is absolutely worth sticking around for. So be warned: don't bail once the credits start rolling unless you want to miss some crucial information. While we won't get into specifics, this absolutely falls into the extremely consequential camp of post-credits scenes.The cast also includes Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgard, Laurence Fishburne, Hiroyuki Sanada, Shamier Anderson, Lance Reddick, Rina Sawayama, Scott Adkins, Clancy Brown, Natalia Tena, Marko Zaror, and Ian McShane. Shay Hatten and Michael Finch penned the screenplay."John Wick: Chapter 4" hits theaters on March 24.John Wick (Keanu Reeves) uncovers a path to defeating the High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes.Read this next: John Wick Moments That Went Too FarThe post Is There A Credits Scene In John Wick: Chapter 4? A Spoiler-Free Guide appeared first on /Film.

John Wick: Chapter 4's Hiroyuki Sanada On 'Sword Fu' And Fighting Donnie Yen [Exclusive Interview]

• Wednesday 18:00

Some brotherhoods may span across lifetimes after all.If anyone believes Shimazu Koji (Hiroyuki Sanada) and John Wick (Keanu Reeves) of "John Wick: Chapter 4" are reincarnations of their characters in 2013's "47 Ronin," Ōishi and Kai, no one would hold that against you. Even when the world of both men is less feudal-mystical and more assassins in ballistic chic and consecrated killer hotels, they again assume their prior positions as rescuer and rescuee. With Wick's fight against The High Table, our very tired protagonist is in desperate need of rest, and thankfully, the Osaka branch of The Continental Hotel (run by Sandada's character, Shimazu, and his daughter, Akira, played by Rina Sawayama) are willing to oblige him. For the moment, anyway.The presence of the seasoned actor, martial arts practitioner, and Sonny Chiba's protégé is just one of many crucial Japanese elements in Chad Stahelski's globe-hopping, stunt-filled, and clubbing-aplenty franchise. In fact, the full title of "John Wick: Chapter 4" reportedly used to have the subtitle "Hagakure," possibly a homage to Yamamoto Tsunetomo's historical text about the connection between bushido — the samurai warrior's code — and death.I had the fortune to chat with Hiroyuki Sanada about becoming Shimazu (and at last joining the "John Wick" crew), building chemistry with his co-stars (Sawayama and Donnie Yen), and an upcoming limited series that will mark the first producing credit of his career.Note: This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.'Chad, The Director, Wanted Me To Use The Japanese Sword, Putting Some Japanese Flavor Into The Gun-Fu Style'For Shimazu, did you have any input on how he should look, move, or think?Yes. Basically, Shimazu Koji grew up with John Wick together. They trained together. So my basic style is just like John Wick, gun-fu style. I had to learn that first. And also, Chad, the director, wanted me to use the Japanese sword, putting some Japanese flavor into the gun-fu style. So that was a theme of mine. During the three-week training before we started shooting, I put in a lot of ideas for my fighting style, gun-fu plus Japanese sword. So yeah, "sword-fu" or "sword gun-fu" or something [laughs]. Use everything together. Shimazu came from that mixture.This is I think just a minor detail, but I find it really refreshing that Shimazu is from Osaka, instead of the typical Tokyo.Yeah. But who knows if he did grow up in Osaka, right? He grew up with John Wick and then he went all over the world to work, to kill somebody [laughs], and then the High Table decided to make a Continental Hotel in Osaka, not Tokyo, so he went there as a manager. He wasn't necessarily [an Osaka native]. I didn't use any Osaka dialect.How was the process of building chemistry with Rina Sawayama, who plays your daughter?Oh, yes! We spent as much father-daughter bonding time as possible during rehearsal, because it was her first time acting, so she was so nervous. We spent a long, long time -- every day we had a dialogue session or sometimes movement acting, or we tried another approach. And I gave her some pointers for the acting or action, how to show your character. She took that in so quickly — she was a great learner, and of course, she has great talent, so immediately she understood what I was saying. Day by day, she would get better. On the very first day of shooting, we felt like we were a real father and daughter [unit] already. And she had confidence. She was living as Akira, her role. I'm so happy she's done well.'I'm Not A Martial Artist, Per Se'Drawing upon your martial arts background, how was it being directed by a stuntman or being surrounded by people who know action choreography?I'm not a martial artist, per se. I was a child actor. When I was five years old, I started acting. In the process, I started learning everything — singing, dancing, martial arts -- as one of my skills as an actor. I just continued doing this and learning. But my background is acting, and then I learned [more] skills. It's a little different from other action stars, I think.But my hope is to [not have to] separate drama and action. The best way is to have a mixture. So this time, the director knows about action, so it was easy to collaborate and then we could try to make good action with emotions, with drama. For me, it was like a dream come true this time.I think a lot of people would say they can see that mixture of action and drama best when Shimazu fights with Caine, Donnie Yen's character. How was it working with him?Yeah, it was a great cooperation with him. We both had the experience to create the action scenes, and also we know what the important things are in the action scenes. So we put some ideas together, and Chad just gave us freedom, watching us and enjoying the chemical reaction between us with our different fighting styles, different backgrounds, all at once. Then after we created the choreography, Chad gave us some pointers, adjustments, and then, "Let's shoot." One take. Two takes. And done, high-five! And then next. It was an easy and fun collaboration.Finally, you have an upcoming series called "Shōgun," which will also be your first time as a producer as well. Congratulations.Thank you so much.What can we look forward to in it?It was a great cooperation with the Western crew and the Japanese cast and crew. International project. We tried to make it authentic as much as possible. It was a dream team for me. So I'd like to continue [doing] those kinds of things, and then introduce great talents from Japan to the world. I think that's another important mission in my life from now on.Do we have a release date for that? I can't wait for it.We have not decided the release date, but sometime late this year, I think. Fall or winter, I don't know yet. We are still in post-production."John Wick: Chapter 4" arrives in theaters on March 24, 2023.Read this next: 23 Movies Like John Wick That Will Get Your Adrenaline PumpingThe post John Wick: Chapter 4's Hiroyuki Sanada on 'Sword Fu' and Fighting Donnie Yen [Exclusive Interview] appeared first on /Film.

The Mandalorians Meet Yet Another Monster Neighbor That Wants To Eat Them

• Wednesday 17:42

This post contains spoilers for episode 4 of "The Mandalorian" season 3.Our main takeaway from this week's episode of "The Mandalorian" is that it's probably a good time for the Children of the Watch to find some other planet to live on — one where there are less giant monsters trying to eat them. The first episode of season 3 opened on a tasty looking, giant alligator creature attacking the tribe. In episode 4, there's yet another natural threat waiting just a mountain over.After our brief interlude to Coruscant under the New Republic last week, "The Foundling" refocuses back to our core cast. After physically seeing the Mythosaur in the Living Waters, Bo-Katan continues her new crisis of faith as she takes new comfort in living by the creed. Now that Din has returned to his people as a redeemed man, he plans to integrate Grogu into the orthodox tribe as well. How does he plan to do that when Grogu is far too young for his own set of Beskar armor? The answer is pure, dad-like faith in Grogu's abilities. Using the Force, Grogu bests one of his peers in combat, who happens to be the son of Paz Vizsla (voiced by showrunner Jon Favreau), named Ragnar (Wesley Kimmel), the boy who had just taken the creed back in the season 3 premiere's opening minutes.Ragnar, embarrassed by his defeat at the hands of baby Grogu, runs away from the tribe and right into trouble. Little did he know, in the outskirts of their desert planet oasis is yet another creature with a hunger for fresh Mandalorian. All of a sudden, a giant bird monster swifts Ragnar away to feed its nest of baby birds, and it's up to the rest of the tribe to find and rescue him.Yet Another Original Creature Design For Season 3So, what's the name of the bird creature that attacks Din's clan, and is there any basis for it in canon? At first glance, it appears to be the pterodactyl-like Pterosaur from Star Wars Legends. Upon further inspection, however, it seems to be an entirely original creature made for the show. As for now, it is also unnamed, just like the mega-gator that made its appearance in the season 3 premiere. Still, both these two creatures represent something that makes this season of "The Mandalorian" feel a lot more authentically "Star Wars"; the wide variety of non-human creatures, both those familiar and new. From the tree of Kowakiaan Monkey Lizards on Nevarro to the threats around every corner of the desert planet the Children of the Watch hide on, it makes the show's universe feel much more textured and alive despite its budgetary limitations.In the end, Din and his tribe are able to defeat the bird creature and save Ragnar from its nest. They even take the three children and decide to raise them for their own. (Is this barbaric? Either way, the mother attacked first.) It's Bo-Katan's contribution to the fight that is especially honorable. Two episodes ago, she deemed Din and the Children of the Watch cultists, and now she's fighting beside them and protecting their own. In a short amount of time, we've watched Bo-Katan internally battle everything she once previously believed in. Is ruling Mandalore and taking possession of the Darksaber still her ambition? Or has she finally found belonging in the Mandalore diaspora?Whatever happens next, it would do everyone good if the Children of the Watch found a safer home. Maybe third time's the charm?New episodes of "The Mandalorian" premiere Wednesdays on Disney+.Read this next: The Biggest Questions The Mandalorian Season 3 Needs To AnswerThe post The Mandalorians Meet Yet Another Monster Neighbor That Wants To Eat Them appeared first on /Film.

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