Copper is a new show coming to BBC America August 19th. It's set in NewYork's Five Point in 1864 and centers on a police officer/Copper who has demons of his own.We're lucky, there will be 10 episodes instead of the Brits usual 6 or 8.
I was able to watch the first two episodes and found them action packed. It's a lot like every other Cop show, only the time period allows the officers to behave in all sorts of out of the question ways today. No one is having their Miranda rights read and hey if someone dies why not help yourself to some of their stuff?
It's a pretty gritty world and just about everyone needs a bath in every episode.The class system is in full force, even in the brothels. Both the stories and the lighting are very dark, but I'll be watching to see where this show goes.
This is BBC America's first original scripted drama but hopefully with it's success there'll be more to come!
ParaNorman is a new noir kid movie opening August 17th. My 8 year old daughter and I attended a screening last week and both loved it. Probably for very different reasons.
First the kids review. My daughter loves these "scary" movies. She's seen them all. So you could say she was a sure thing going in. If your child isn't that thrilled by scary movies, I asked my daughter to rate this one compared to others. She said ParaNorman is scarier than Igor but not as scary as Coraline. She also thought it was very funny with lots of gross out and bathroom humor.
I'd give you an appropriate kids age range but really you know your kid best. My little one could have seen this at 5 but there were 8 year olds that had to leave the theatre at certain scenes.
Now from the parent: I agree with my kid. But I also think the movie has so much more to offer than ghosts and Zombie. The film has a bit of a 50's horror vibe and like all great 50's horror flicks it has an underlying message. ParaNorman has a great moral about bullying, mob mentality and that weird kid, that receives so much of their attention.
Norman is different than everyone else but that is what makes him special and in the end what turns out to be exactly what all of his classmates and towns people need. No one in the film is really painted as a bad guy (not even the zombies, believe it or not) just people making poor choices.
Finally, there is a wonderful message about letting go of anger and not letting it make you as wrong as those who have done you wrong. OH yeah and there's a whole thing about stereotyping...Really the list goes on and on. And then there are the ghost and zombies to make it all extremely palatable for all the kids and frankly, a lot of parents who could use the message too.
I highly recommend this film, and maybe a conversation about it's moral afterwards.
Hope Springs opening August 8th stars Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones as a couple with 31 years of marriage but absolutely no communication skills. The majority of the film takes place during their couples counseling and home exercises.
Going in I thought it would be more comedy, like It's Complicates or Somethings Gotta Give, but it's pretty heavy. I'd go as far as to say a bit "cringy" in it's revealing their personal problems, even if they are fictional.
It could be called a" feel good" movie, just for the sole reason that unless you're on the precipice of divorce, this movie makes your marriage look great. In seriousness it is an interesting look at what it takes to pull a marriage back from the edge. Both Meryl and Tommy are great. Just be prepared for more drama than comedy and maybe a few tears at the end.
Come enjoy PBS and Jet Blue's Summer Reading event on August 7th at the LA
Central Library. Featuring a live performance from PBS Kids’ Mr. Steve! There will also
be character (Hooper and Super Why) meet and greet opportunities as well as literacy themed activities
for the little ones. It is sure to be a fun filled day. You can find more details and registration information at http://soarwithreadingla.eventbrite.com/.
Visit www.soarwithreading.com for summer literacy resources for your family or to post your child's favorite book online. For every "favorite book" submitted on the website Jet Blue will donate a book to children in need including pre-schoolers from Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP). For information on the library visit: www.lapl.org
Very excited to say The Hour is coming back to BBC America this November. I don't have an exact date just yet, but the end is near.
I got to see a trailer here at The BBC America press tour and the show will resume 10 months later. Hector will be up to some wild philandering, Freddie is sporting a slightly more masculine look, and by Romola Garai own admission Bel is screaming at both of them all the time.
I really love this show, and highly recommend getting your hands on the first season if you haven't already.
