About twenty minutes into the new Netflix thriller “The Mother,” star Jennifer Lopez locks eyes with a snarling, angry wolf in the snowy Alaskan wilderness. Just as Lopez raises her rifle, a bunch of cute wolf babies emerge from their snowy home. The wolf stops growling and runs over to her babies. The wolf represents Lopez in a heavy-handed metaphor that acts as a through-line for the overly-long, utterly preposterous movie.

Continue reading ‘The Mother’ Review: Jennifer Lopez Leads A Soulless Faux-Feminist Netflix Thriller at The Playlist.

Have “The Handmaid’s Tale” finally turned the corner? After four seasons of horrors and betrayal, our heroine, June/Offred (Elisabeth Moss) was pushed, almost against her will, into the relative freedom of Canada. Meanwhile, her former captors and abusers, the Commander (Joseph Fiennes) and Serena Waterford (Yvonne Strahovski) are also in the Great White North. The pair have been on trial for numerous crimes against humanity in a de facto United States courtroom.

Continue reading Joseph Fiennes Teases An Optimistic Future For ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ [Interview] at The Playlist.

Even for a show as harrowing as Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” the fourth season of the series, based on Margaret Atwood‘s famous dystopian novel and cautionary tale, is surprisingly bleak. Granted, a show dealing with an apocalyptically totalitarian society, known as Gilead, that subjects women, known as “Handmaids,” to child-bearing slavery and servitude, isn’t much of a joyride. However, in the series’ fourth season, the protagonist and central handmaiden, June Osborne’s (Elisabeth Moss) personal demons, threaten to undermine and engulf her in a way that’s unsettling.

Continue reading ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Is Bleak & Harrowing, But Still Undercut By Its White Feminist Perspective [Review] at The Playlist.

It’s a great time to be a Terrence Malick fan. After an era of his career where people started to debate the quality of his recent works, it would appear, thanks to the rapturous reception of “A Hidden Life” from this year’s Cannes, that the filmmaker is firing on all cylinders once again. And he’s not slowing down anytime soon, as he’s already beginning work on what is reportedly his next feature, “The Last Planet.”

And thanks to a couple of new reports, Malick is deep into production on the film, with cast members being announced.

Continue reading Mark Rylance, Joseph Fiennes, Matthias Schoenaerts & More Reportedly Join Terrence Malick’s Upcoming ‘The Last Planet’ at The Playlist.

Hulu subscribers have to wait until April 25, but for a select few the streaming service unveiled the first episode of “The Handmaid’s Tale” season two Thursday night at the historic Grauman’s Chinese Theater on Friday night.  And, of course, the handmaid herself, Elisabeth Moss, took center stage.

Before the premiere began series showrunner Bruce Miller and executive producer Warren Littlefield made some short remarks before introducing the cast on hand including Moss, Joseph Fiennes, Emmy-winner Ann Dowd (somehow even better in the new episodes), Emmy-winner Alexis Bledel (who has a larger role on season two), Max Minghella, Samira Wiley Moira and Madeline Brewer, among others (Yvonne Strahovski was under the weather and unable to attend).

Continue reading Elisabeth Moss Brings ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Season 2 To Hollywood at The Playlist.

Hulu‘s “The Handmaid’s Tale” made waves last year upon its first season release. What could possibly be more timely than a female-led show, based on Margaret Atwood‘s classic feminist text about the evils of a theocratic, patriarchal society? It would have spawned thousands of think-pieces even if it wasn’t any good—which, thankfully, it was. From its get-go, “The Handmaid’s Tale” contained some of the very best acting, cinematography, and direction on all of TV.

Continue reading ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Season 2 Trailer: What The Actual F*** at The Playlist.

Fresh off two major Golden Globe wins—Best TV Drama and Best Actress In A TV Drama (Elisabeth Moss)— and eight Emmy wins this past September, Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” is back with what is arguably the most successful show on Television at the moment. And for real. While prestige shows like, “True Detective,” “Mindhunter,” “Master Of None,” etc.

Continue reading ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Season 2 Trailer Burns With Haunting New Images at The Playlist.

Offred, the central character who narrates Margaret Atwood‘s 1985 novel “The Handmaid’s Tale,” often closes a chapter with a pithy summation of her state of mind: “My self is a thing I must now compose, as one composes a speech” or “How can I keep on living?” or “So it was worse than I thought.” Offred, the narrator of Bruce Miller‘s adaptation of Atwood’s book, played by Elisabeth Moss, is pithier still; one of the first three episodes of Hulu‘s terrific new show, which will be available to watch on April 26th, ends with her internal monologue whispering just one word: “Fuck.”

It’s an indication that this is a updated take on the story — this ain’t your momma’s ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ — but the motives the behind the changes do not feel as crassly commercial as they so often do.

Continue reading ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Is A Superb, Necessary Show For 2017 (And For Hulu) [Review] at The Playlist.

Are you a Hulu subscriber? If not, it might be time to add it your schedule because they have what will easily be one of the year’s most-talked-about new shows in “The Handmaid’s Tale.” The makers obviously didn’t know the political climate their show would land in, but the series feels like it will be the most timely thing on television this spring.

READ MORE: 2017 Best Lead Actress In A Drama Series Emmy Awards Predictions

Based on Margaret Atwood‘s acclaimed book, and led by Elisabeth Moss, the story takes place in a distant future where the threat of terrorism and a sudden wave of infertility has placed women capable of child-rearing under brutal government lockdown in a society that has veered into totalitarianism.

Continue reading Wake Up To The Dystopian Future Of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ In The Intense New Trailer at The Playlist.

There are some controversies you just can’t outrun. When it was announced a year ago that Joseph Fiennes would be playing Michael Jackson in an episode of the upcoming anthology series “Urban Myths,” a storm of concern erupted over the decision. The episode of the series, “Elizabeth, Michael & Marlon,” went ahead into production anyway, and this week, the first teaser of Fiennes performance went online….and time did not heal all wounds.

Continue reading ‘Urban Myths’ Episode Featuring Joseph Fiennes As Michael Jackson Yanked From Release at The Playlist.

Almost exactly a year ago, a minor controversy erupted when it was revealed that Joseph Fiennes had been hired to play the late King Of Pop, Michael Jackson, in an episode of Sky Arts‘ “Urban Myths.” As the title suggests, the series brings to life probably-not-true stories about major celebrities, and the episode “Elizabeth, Michael & Marlon” chronicles the legend that after the 9/11 attacks, Michael Jackson, Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor left New York City and took a road trip.

Continue reading First Footage Of Joseph Fiennes As Michael Jackson In ‘Urban Myths’ Revealed at The Playlist.

“The Handmaid’s Tale” (aka Paul Ryan’s Feel Good Show) might arguably be one of the biggest series Hulu has on their calendar this year, as the streaming service tries to wedge itself into the same streaming space that Netflix and Amazon currently own. And certainly, it’s one of their most attractive offerings yet, with Elisabeth Moss leading the adaptation of Margaret Atwood‘s scarily relevant classic novel.

Continue reading Elisabeth Moss Fights To Survive In First Trailer For ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ at The Playlist.

Joseph Fiennes To Play Michael Jackson In Post 9/11 Road Trip TV Comedy 'Marlon, Michael & Elizabeth'

Continue reading Joseph Fiennes To Play Michael Jackson In Post 9/11 Road Trip TV Comedy ‘Marlon, Michael & Elizabeth’ at The Playlist.

Watch: Jesus Is Resurrected In Trailer For Bible Movie 'Risen' From 'Waterworld' Director Kevin Reynolds

Continue reading Watch: Jesus Is Resurrected In Trailer For Bible Movie ‘Risen’ From ‘Waterworld’ Director Kevin Reynolds at The Playlist.

Review: Thriller 'Strangerland' Starring Nicole Kidman Is Promising But Gets Lost In The Aussie Outback

Continue reading Review: Thriller ‘Strangerland’ Starring Nicole Kidman Is Promising But Gets Lost In The Aussie Outback at The Playlist.

'Chariots Of Fire' Story Will Continue In Followup 'The Last Race' Starring Joseph Fiennes

Continue reading ‘Chariots Of Fire’ Story Will Continue In Followup ‘The Last Race’ Starring Joseph Fiennes at The Playlist.

Watch: Joseph Fiennes Investigates Resurrection of Jesus Christ In Trailer For ‘Risen’ Which Apparently Is Like ‘Chinatown’

Continue reading Watch: Joseph Fiennes Investigates Resurrection of Jesus Christ In Trailer For ‘Risen’ Which Apparently Is Like ‘Chinatown’ at The Playlist.

Watch: Nicole Kidman, Hugo Weaving, And Joseph Fiennes Discover 'Strangerland' In New Trailer

Continue reading Watch: Nicole Kidman, Hugo Weaving, And Joseph Fiennes Discover ‘Strangerland’ In New Trailer at The Playlist.

Sundance Review: 'Strangerland' Starring Nicole Kidman, Joseph Fiennes, And Hugo Weaving

Continue reading Sundance Review: ‘Strangerland’ Starring Nicole Kidman, Joseph Fiennes, And Hugo Weaving at The Playlist.

Watch: Eerie, Haunting Trailer For 'Strangerland' Starring Nicole Kidman And Hugo Weaving

Continue reading Watch: Eerie, Haunting Trailer For ‘Strangerland’ Starring Nicole Kidman And Hugo Weaving at The Playlist.

Review: 'Hercules' Starring Dwayne Johnson, Ian McShane And John Hurt

Continue reading Review: ‘Hercules’ Starring Dwayne Johnson, Ian McShane And John Hurt at The Playlist.

First Look: Saoirse Ronan In 'Brooklyn' & Nicole Kidman In 'Strangerland'

Continue reading First Look: Saoirse Ronan In ‘Brooklyn’ & Nicole Kidman In ‘Strangerland’ at The Playlist.

Continue reading TV Dial: Portia De Rossi Is Lily Munster; ‘Dexter’ Puts Yvonne Strahovski On The Block & Joseph Fiennes Joins ‘American Horror Story’ at The Playlist.